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US approves $1.3B in military aid to Egypt

Egypt /

The Biden administration will provide Egypt with $1.3 billion in military assistance, including funding that Congress had tied to human rights improvements, a US State Department spokesperson said Wednesday. “This decision is important to advancing regional peace and Egypt’s specific and ongoing contributions to US national security priorities, particularly to finalize a cease-fire agreement for Gaza, bring the hostages home, surge humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in need, and help bring an enduring end to the Israel-Hamas conflict,” a State Department spokesperson told Anadolu. The spokesperson added that Egypt’s role in promoting a cease-fire in Sudan and facilitating humanitarian assistance was also critical to the decision. The decision comes despite persistent concerns from rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers over Egypt’s human rights record under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who came to power one year after a military coup against democratically elected President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.  Out of the $1.3 billion in US military aid designated for Egypt, $320 million is tied to human rights related conditions. But for fiscal year 2023, Secretary of State Antony Blinken used a national security waiver to bypass conditions on $225 million of the $320 million. The remaining $95 million in conditional funding lacked a waiver and is subject to the statutory requirement that Egypt “is making clear and consistent progress in releasing political prisoners, providing detainees with due process, and preventing the harassment and intimidation of American citizens,” according to the State Department. However, Blinken informed Congress Wednesday that Egypt has met these conditions, allowing the release of the remaining funds.

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6 UNRWA staff killed in Israeli attack on UN-run school in Gaza

World /

 Six employees from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) were killed in an Israeli bombing of a UN-run school in the central Gaza Strip, the UN’s secretary-general said Wednesday. “What’s happening in Gaza is totally unacceptable. A school turned shelter for around 12,000 people was hit by Israeli airstrikes again today,” Antonio Guterres said on X. “Six of our @UNRWA colleagues are among those killed,” he added. His remarks came after at least 18 people were killed Wednesday in an Israeli bombing of al-Jaouni School housing displaced civilians in central Gaza, with several injured. “These dramatic violations of international humanitarian law need to stop now,” Guterres said. UNRWA said this was “the highest death toll” among its staff in a single incident. “Among those killed was the manager of the UNRWA shelter and other team members providing assistance to displaced people. Sincere condolences to their families and loved ones,” it said on X. The school has been hit five times since the Gaza war began last October, it said, adding: “Schools and other civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times. They are not a target.” Israel has continued its brutal offensive on Gaza since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas early last October, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire. Nearly 41,100 people, mostly women and children, have since been killed and more than 95,000 injured, according to local health authorities. The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine. Israel faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

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Kenya Airways delays amid airport strike and deal legal halt

Africa /

Passengers at Kenya’s main international airport are stranded following a workers’ demonstration on Wednesday protesting a planned deal between the government and a foreign investor. Since the protest began, all flights have been suspended. The government has proposed a build-and-operate agreement with India’s Adani Group, which would involve renovating Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, constructing an additional runway and terminal, and allowing the group to manage the airport for 30 years. The Kenya Airport Workers Union, which called the strike, argues that the deal would result in job losses and impose “inferior terms and conditions of service” for remaining employees. Kenya Airways announced on Wednesday that flight delays and potential cancellations are expected due to the ongoing strike at Nairobi’s main international airport. Last week, airport workers had initially threatened a strike but suspended their plans to allow for further discussions with the government. Local media reported concerns after unknown individuals were seen moving around with airport officials, taking notes and photographs, leading to speculation that the Indian firm’s representatives were preparing for the deal. On Monday, the High Court issued a temporary injunction halting the implementation of the agreement until a case filed by the Law Society and the Kenya Human Rights Commission is reviewed.

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 North Korea fires ballistic missiles into Sea of Japan

World /

North Korea fired several ballistic missiles Thursday, which are believed to have landed outside Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone in the Sea of Japan, with no damage reported to aircraft or vessels, according to the Japanese government. The Defense Ministry said the missiles were launched from North Korea’s west coast between 7.10 a.m. and 7.14 a.m. (2210GMT and 2214GMT Wednesday), with at least two reaching over 350 kilometers (217.5 miles) and a maximum altitude of about 100 kilometers (62 miles) before falling off the Korean Peninsula’s east coast, Kyodo News reported. Tokyo has lodged a strong protest with Pyongyang over the missile tests, the first since July 1. Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara criticized the launches as a “clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions” and deemed them “totally unacceptable.” The South Korean military confirmed that North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles from near Pyongyang toward the Sea of Japan, traveling approximately 360 kilometers (223 miles). Senior officials from Japan, the US and South Korea condemned the launches and reaffirmed their trilateral cooperation during phone calls, the Japanese Foreign Ministry reported. The launches followed North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s pledge on Monday to significantly increase the country’s nuclear arsenal, according to state media. The missiles were fired just before the start of official campaigning for Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership election to choose a successor to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

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Severe floods in Nigeria leave residents displaced

Africa /

Severe flooding in northeastern Nigeria has resulted in 30 deaths and affected over a million people, authorities reported on Wednesday. The disaster was triggered by the collapse of a major dam in Borno State on Tuesday, marking some of the worst flooding the region has seen since a similar incident 30 years ago. The dam had reached full capacity due to unusually heavy rainfall. Many residents have been forced to evacuate their homes. This latest flood comes nearly two years after Nigeria experienced its worst flooding in a decade, which claimed more than 600 lives nationwide. According to state police spokesperson Nahum Daso, about 15% of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, is submerged. Ezekiel Manzo, spokesperson for the National Emergency Management Agency, confirmed the death toll of 30 on Wednesday. An aide to the Borno governor stated that approximately one million people have been affected so far, with that number potentially rising to up to two million as efforts to account for displaced individuals continue. This surge in displacement coincides with some of the worst flooding West Africa has seen in decades, with over 2.3 million people affected across the region this year, a threefold increase from last year, according to the UN. A new report reveals that African nations are losing up to 5% of their GDP annually due to the impact of climate change, which has intensified in one of the continent’s hottest years on record. The World Meteorological Organization notes that many African countries are allocating up to 9% of their budgets to climate adaptation efforts. The governor’s aide emphasized that rescue operations are ongoing and that displaced people are currently seeking refuge at a former refugee camp outside the flooded areas.

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EU, US, UK sign 1st-ever global treaty on artificial intelligence

Discover /

 The EU, US, and UK are among the countries that signed the first-ever international legally binding treaty addressing risks of artificial intelligence (AI), the Council of Europe said Thursday. The Council of Europe Framework Convention on artificial intelligence and human rights, democracy, and the rule of law was opened for signature during a conference of Council of Europe ministers of justice in Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania.
 The treaty is the first-ever international legally binding treaty aimed at ensuring that the use of AI systems is fully consistent with human rights, democracy and the rule of law. In a statement, the Council of Europe said that the Framework Convention was signed by Andorra, Georgia, Iceland, Norway, Moldova, San Marino, the UK as well as Israel, the US and the EU. Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric said that they must ensure that the rise of AI upholds “our standards, rather than undermining them.” “The Framework Convention is designed to ensure just that. It is a strong and balanced text – the result of the open and inclusive approach by which it was drafted and which ensured that it benefits from multiple and expert perspectives,” she said in the statement.
 Buric noted that the Framework Convention is an open treaty with a potentially global reach, hoping that these will be the first of many signatures and that they will be followed quickly by ratifications so that the treaty can enter into force as soon as possible. The treaty provides a legal framework covering the entire lifecycle of AI systems, promoting AI progress and innovation while managing the risks it may pose to human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

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Niger arrests over 245 linked to terror groups

Africa /

Authorities in Niger have arrested at least 245 people allegedly linked to terrorist groups as part of ongoing operations to combat crime and insurgency, officials said Thursday. The arrests were carried out by Niger’s Central Service for the Fight against Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime, according to the Integrated Operations Coordination Center (CICO).  Many of those detained are suspected to be members of armed groups involved in kidnappings and other criminal activities, operating along the Niger-Nigeria border, where the militant group Boko Haram is active. Additional arrests were made near the Mali-Niger border, an area where the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM) operates, as well as in the Agadez region, known for its gold mines. Among those arrested were nationals from Algeria, Chad, and Somalia. Security forces also confiscated over 559 kilograms of drugs, 108,381 tablets of various types, and arrested 139 traffickers. CICO stated that these actions are part of broader efforts to dismantle criminal networks in the region. The arrests coincide with the junta’s launch of two major military operations: Operation Almah in the Tillaberi region, located on the left bank of the Niger River, and Operation Garkoua in the Agadez region, aimed at rooting out criminals. Niger, along with neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) last September after ECOWAS threatened military intervention following the Niger coup in July. Earlier this year, the three nations formed the Alliance of Sahel States and announced the creation of a joint military force to tackle escalating security challenges posed by terrorist groups in the region.

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Russian Defense Ministry announces major naval exercise Ocean-2024

World /

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that over 400 warships, submarines, and support vessels will participate in the strategic command and staff exercise Ocean-2024. According to the ministry statement, the drills will be conducted across the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean, Caspian, and Baltic Seas. “The exercises will involve more than 400 warships, submarines, and support vessels from the auxiliary fleet, alongside over 120 aircraft and helicopters from the naval aviation and Aerospace Forces. The operation will also feature approximately 7,000 units of military and special equipment, and over 90,000 personnel,” the statement noted. It will also include operational groups from various law enforcement and federal executive agencies, such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Federal Security Service, the Federal National Guard Service, and the Federal Security Service of Russia. Military authorities and contingents from Russia’s foreign partner states have also been invited to participate in the drills.

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Death toll increases in Algeria and Morocco after catastrophic floods

Africa /

The death toll is climbing in Algeria and Morocco following severe flooding triggered by intense rainfall. Over 20 people have lost their lives, with dozens more reported missing as floods inundated villages in these typically arid regions. In Morocco, the floods have destroyed homes and severely impacted infrastructure, including roads, electricity, water supplies, and phone networks. Officials noted that the storms over the weekend brought rainfalls surpassing the annual average in some areas. This deluge comes at a time when the country is grappling with a water shortage due to six consecutive years of drought. Neighboring Algeria is facing similar devastation, with bridges and railways also affected by the flooding. The government has deployed thousands of civil protection and military personnel to aid in emergency response and assist residents trapped in their homes. Rescue operations are ongoing in both countries.

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Sudan floods death toll reaches 205

Africa /

The death toll from floods and rains in Sudan has gone up to 205, with deaths from cholera reaching 185, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. Some 268 new cholera cases have been recorded, including 6 deaths in the states of Kassala, Nile River, and Gedarif, the ministry said in a report. This brings the total number of cholera cases in the seven affected states to 5,692, including 185 deaths. On Aug. 12, the authorities declared cholera an epidemic in the country. In the same report, the ministry said the number of deaths from floods and rains has reached 205, with 886 others injured. More than 26,000 homes have been completely damaged, while 33,000 homes have been partially damaged due to floods and rains since June, it added. Earlier in the day, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced that more than 172,000 Sudanese have been displaced due to floods and rains in 15 out of 18 states since June.

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