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Cindy Ngamba wins historic first medal for Refugee Olympic Team

World /

 Cindy Ngamba won the Refugee Olympic Team’s first-ever medal on Thursday when she bagged the bronze in women’s boxing. “It means the world to me to be the first-ever refugee athlete to win a medal. I hope I can change the (color of) the medal on my next fight – in fact, I will change it,” Ngamba said after the bout. “I was fighting a very tough opponent today … but I listened to my trainers and coaches, I stuck to the tactics and I stayed calm and composed,” she added. The 25-year-old became the first-ever athlete to win a medal for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, taking the bronze in the women’s boxing 75kg class after a semifinal loss to Panama’s Atheyna Bylon. Ngamba is one of 37 athletes competing in Paris as part of the refugee team. The first-ever refugee team took part in the Rio 2016 Olympics, followed by a 29-team competition at Tokyo 2020.

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Microsoft, Palantir forge AI partnership for US defense

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Microsoft and Palantir Technologies announced a major partnership Thursday, combining their advanced cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to deliver enhanced solutions for the US defense and intelligence sectors. The collaboration will integrate software and data integration firm Palantir’s software with Microsoft’s cloud services and Azure OpenAI Service, according to Microsoft’s statement on its website. This will enable the deployment of Palantir’s products within Microsoft’s Azure Government and classified cloud environments, specifically designed for sensitive national security operations. Azure Government is a service that provides a dedicated cloud enabling government agencies and their partners to transform mission-critical workloads to the cloud. Utilizing Microsoft’s cloud compute and powerful language models such as GPT-4, the partnership aims to operationalize AI-driven solutions for critical missions, providing tools for data integration, visualization and actionable insights. The goal is to enhance the operational capabilities of the defense and intelligence communities through advanced analytics and AI-powered applications. “This collaboration represents a step change in how we support our defense and intelligence communities,” said Shyam Sankar, Palantir’s chief technology officer. In addition to the technology integration, Palantir and Microsoft plan to offer training sessions and bootcamp experiences to help government personnel effectively utilize the new capabilities. The market reacted positively to the news, with Palantir’s stock rising as much as 11% to $29.23 per share before paring gains to around 9% by the end of the trading session, according to Business Insider.

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US military destroys Houthi missiles, uncrewed surface vessel

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 The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said Thursday that it destroyed two Houthi missiles and a ground control station in Yemen and a vessel in the Red Sea in the past 24 hours. “U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed two Iranian-backed Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles and one Houthi ground control station in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen,” CENTCOM wrote on X. “Additionally, USCENTCOM forces successfully destroyed one Houthi uncrewed surface vessel in the Red Sea,” it said. The weapons presented a “clear and imminent threat” to US and coalition forces and merchant vessels in the region, CENTCOM said. “This reckless and dangerous behavior by Iranian-backed Houthis continues to threaten regional stability and security,” it added. Yemen’s Houthi group has been targeting Israeli-linked cargo ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in solidarity with Gaza. The Red Sea is one of the world’s most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments. Earlier this year, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a multinational mission, Operation Prosperity Guardian, to counter Houthi attacks.

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Death toll in Nigeria from Lassa fever rises to 163

Africa /

 The death toll in Nigeria from Lassa fever, a deadly hemorrhagic disease, rose to 163 on Thursday. According to a statement from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Lassa fever outbreak continues to spread across 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The Nigerian government previously announced that three medications have been identified for treating the disease. During the dry season, which typically runs from November to May, Lassa fever cases tend to increase. In 2023, a total of 1,227 cases of Lassa fever were detected and 219 people lost their lives. Lassa fever, which is also found in several other African countries like Mali, Togo, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, was first detected in Nigeria in northeastern Borno state in 1969. On Jan. 23, 2019, the Nigerian government declared a state of emergency due to a Lassa fever outbreak. The disease is transmitted through contact with rat feces, can spread from person to person, and can cause fatal hemorrhagic fever. Authorities are warning the public to avoid contact with rats and other rodents.

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Former CAF president, Issa Hayatou, dies in Paris at 77

Africa /

Issa Hayatou, a towering figure in African football, died in Paris on Thursday after a prolonged illness, just one day before his 78th birthday. Born in Cameroon in 1946, Hayatou made a lasting impact on the sport during his nearly three-decade tenure as president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), a role he held until March 2017. Under his leadership, African football saw remarkable growth and global recognition, including the expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations, increased African representation in the FIFA World Cup, and enhanced football infrastructure across the continent. Hayatou also served as interim president of FIFA from October 2015 to February 2016, stepping in after Sepp Blatter’s suspension. Despite the turmoil, he guided the organization with his renowned composure and authority. Tributes have flooded in worldwide, highlighting his pivotal role in elevating African football to a prominent position on the global stage.

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Egyptian president calls for international efforts to end Gaza war

Africa /

 Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi called Thursday for international efforts to push for an agreement that would end Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip. The move came during a phone call he received from his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, according to a statement from the Egyptian Presidency. The statement said that El-Sisi, during his conversation with Macron, highlighted Egypt’s “intensive communications” with all parties to halt the escalation in the region and avoid slipping into “a new cycle of uncalculated conflict,” which “threatens to spark a full-scale regional confrontation.” He stressed the importance of international efforts to press forward towards a cease-fire agreement in Gaza, as the continuation of the war in the region is the “main driver” of the current escalation. According to the statement, the two presidents agreed to intensify efforts and coordination in the coming period to ensure the security and stability of the region and to prevent the expansion of the conflict, which threatens the welfare of the region’s people. In a related context, El-Sisi held a phone call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in which he reviewed the latest Egyptian efforts to end the war in Gaza and the exchange of detainees, according to a second statement from the Egyptian Presidency. He emphasized the “priority of delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, alleviating their suffering and advancing a political process based on the two-state solution.” El-Sisi also expressed Cairo’s desire to strengthen bilateral relations and increase trade between the two countries. The region is currently gripped by fears of war, particularly amid threats of military retaliation by Lebanon’s Hezbollah group following the assassination of its top commander, Fuad Shukr, in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut on July 30 and Iran’s threats to retaliate after the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh in the capital Tehran on July 31, an attack attributed to Tel Aviv. The escalation comes against the backdrop of an Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip which has killed nearly 39,700 people since last October following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas. Tel Aviv is continuing the war, ignoring the UN Security Council’s resolution to immediately cease hostilities, as well as the International Court of Justice’s orders to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

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U.N. counterterrorism chief sounds alarm on ISIS in Africa

Africa /

The Islamic State extremist group is intensifying its activities amidst the political turmoil in West Africa and the Sahel, with a continued focus on international attacks. On Thursday, a senior U.N. counterterrorism official warned the Security Council that the Islamic State and related terrorist groups could extend their influence over a significant portion of Africa. In his briefing, Vladimir Voronkov, U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Counterterrorism, revealed that IS affiliates have expanded their operational areas in West Africa and the Sahel. He described the situation as “challenging and complex,” noting that these groups are causing high casualties and destabilizing the region. Voronkov highlighted that two key IS affiliates, the Islamic State West Africa Province and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahel, have grown their influence. If their reach extends further into northern states, they could control territory stretching from Mali to northern Nigeria. He also noted that IS affiliates have increased their activities in other African regions, including Mozambique, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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11 killed in armed attack on mining site in Nigeria

Africa /

 Eleven people were killed Wednesday in an armed attack on a mining site in Nigeria’s Zamfara state Gunmen on motorcycles attacked the site in the Anka area, according to local media reports. Several people were also wounded in the attack. Nigeria has long faced attacks from armed gangs as well as terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISWAP, the West African branch of the Daesh/ISIS, in various parts of the country. Despite a mandatory death penalty for kidnapping in Nigeria, abductions for ransom are common. Armed groups often target villages, schools and travelers in the northern part of the country to demand ransom.

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Egyptian pound falls against foreign currencies

Business /

The Egyptian pound is declining against foreign currencies, nearing 50 per U.S. dollar following recent hikes in metro fares and fuel prices. On Tuesday, the currency was valued at 49.16 per U.S. dollar, according to the Central Bank of Egypt. After fluctuating between 47 and 48 per dollar in June and July, the pound has lost approximately 60% of its value since its initial public offering in March, falling to around 30 per dollar. This new exchange rate comes a week after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed its third review of Egypt’s financial situation, authorizing the release of $820 million as part of an $8 billion bailout package. This loan aims to support Egypt’s struggling economy, which faces challenges such as a foreign currency shortage, soaring inflation, and unrest in the Red Sea due to attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The IMF noted last week that while inflation remains high, it is decreasing, and a flexible exchange rate is central to the country’s economic strategy. Egyptians are dealing with significant inflation, with the oil ministry recently announcing a 10% increase in fuel prices. The last fuel price hike occurred in March, attributed to rising costs due to Red Sea attacks and the currency’s depreciation. The Houthis have targeted commercial ships in the Red Sea in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza, impacting global trade routes. Oil, natural gas, and grain passing through these sea lanes are crucial to the Suez Canal, which handles 12% of world trade. Additionally, Cairo Metro fares increased last week, now ranging from 2 to 5 Egyptian pounds, as reported by the National Tunnels Authority. This fare increase aligns with Egypt’s agreement with the IMF to double its bailout, which now totals $8 billion. The price adjustments are part of the conditions set by the IMF for continued financial aid.

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China discovers ‘ultra-shallow’ gas field in South China Sea

World /

China has claimed discovery of ‘ultra-shallow’ gas field in South China Sea, state-run media reported on Wednesday. China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) said the original gas in place (OGIP) of the Lingshui 36-1 gas field — the world’s first large, ultra-shallow gas field in ultra-deep waters — has been estimated at more than 100 billion cubic meters, Xinhua News reported. According to the company, the relevant authorities have approved the data. CNOOC also estimated that the OGIP of the Yinggehai, Qiongdongnan and Zhujiangkou basins in the South China Sea is more than 1 trillion cubic meters.

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