The visit includes the landing of Russian military aircraft, including strategic bombers, at Air Force Base Waterkloof.

 The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) condemned Israel’s decision Monday to ban it from operating in the country, calling the passage of the legislation “unprecedented” and warning of severe repercussions for Palestinians, particularly in Gaza. “The vote by the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) against UNRWA this evening is unprecedented and sets a dangerous precedent. It opposes the UN Charter and violates the State of Israel’s obligations under international law,” Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini wrote on X. Israel’s decision is part of an “ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role towards providing human-development assistance and services to Palestine refugees,” he added, saying the legislation would further devastate Palestinians, who have faced “more than a year of sheer hell.” Lazzarini expressed concern that the ban would deprive over 650,000 Palestinian children in Gaza of an education, threatening “an entire generation.” He called the Knesset’s passage of the bills “collective punishment,” stressing that the legislation would only escalate the challenges Palestinians already face. “Putting an end to UNRWA and its services will not strip the Palestinians of their refugee status,” Lazzarini said, noting that this status is protected under a separate UN General Assembly resolution until a “fair and lasting solution” is reached for Palestinians. He also emphasized the wider impact of the ban, cautioning that if the laws go unchallenged, they could “weaken our common multilateral mechanism established after World War 2.” Earlier, the Israeli Knesset passed a law banning UNRWA from operating in the country, which could affect its work in Gaza.  “The Knesset plenum approved Monday evening in its second and third readings a law to cut official ties with and halt the activity of UNRWA, some of whose operators are suspected of participating in the massacres (by the Palestinian group Hamas) on Oct. 7 (last year),” said a report by Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth daily. The vote saw 92 out of 120 Knesset members in favor of the ban, with 10 opposed. A separate bill from Knesset members Ron Katz, Yulia Malinovsky and Dan Illouz, which was approved by lawmakers in a 87-9 vote, mandates that Israel cut all ties with UNRWA, barring any cooperation or privileges the agency previously held. The legislation will take effect in 90 days. Israel has accused UNRWA employees of complicity in the Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border incursion by Hamas, alleging that the agency’s educational programs “promote terrorism and hatred.” UNRWA, headquartered in East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, denies the accusations and asserts that it remains neutral, solely focusing on supporting refugees. The Israeli army has continued a devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip since the attack by Hamas last October, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire. Over 43,000 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and more than 101,100 others 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 also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

South Africa has submitted new evidence to the UN’s top court, alleging that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

 UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy warned Sunday that an expanded regional war in the Middle East “would be catastrophic and is in no one’s interests.”  In a statement posted on X, Lammy stressed the UK’s dedication to urging a reduction in tensions and a resolution to the ongoing conflicts in both Gaza and Lebanon. “The UK continues to press for de-escalation and an end to the conflicts in Lebanon and Gaza,” said Lammy following discussions with Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The Israeli army has continued a devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip since a Hamas attack last year, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire. Nearly 43,000 people have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 100,000 others injured, according to local health authorities. The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the territory’s entire population amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water, and medicine. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.

La Liga condemned racist remarks from the Real Madrid stands directed towards Lamine Yamal during El Clasico and announced on Sunday that it would file a formal complaint with the National Police Information Brigade’s Hate Crimes Section. During the El Clasico against Barcelona on Saturday, Real Madrid fans hurled racist insults at Yamal. “In light of the events that took place during the match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona, where intolerable racist behavior was observed, LALIGA will immediately report the racist insults and gestures received by FC Barcelona players to the Hate Crimes Section of the National Police Information Brigade, as well as informing the Coordinating Prosecutor of the Hate Crimes and Discrimination Unit of the State Attorney General’s Office,” La Liga said in a statement on Sunday. “There is no place for this scourge in sport,” it added. The incident occurred during the Real Madrid-Barcelona match, where Yamal scored Barcelona’s third goal. Barcelona won the El Clasico 4-0 against Real Madrid at Santiago Bernabeu. Robert Lewandowski scored twice while Yamal and Raphinha added one on the road. – Real Madrid launch investigation Real Madrid launched an investigation into a reported racist insult at Yamal. “Real Madrid has opened an investigation in order to locate and identify the perpetrators of these deplorable and despicable insults so that the appropriate disciplinary and judicial measures can be taken,” Real Madrid said in a separate statement. Lamine Yamal, a 17-year-old Spanish footballer born to a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother, was subjected to racist insults by a group in the stadium during his celebration and corner kicks after scoring his team’s third goal. One of the most targeted players in the recent rise in racism in the Spanish top tier was Brazilian Vinicius Junior, who plays for Real Madrid. In response to incidents of racism directed towards Vinicius Junior, the Spanish courts sentenced four people to prison, fines, and sports bans in rulings made in June. Ahead of the Atletico Madrid vs. Real Madrid match on Sep.29, four people were detained for initiating a hateful, racist campaign targeting Junior on social media platforms.

 The death toll from Israel’s onslaught on Lebanon since Oct. 8 last year has surged to 2,672, with 12,468 injuries, the Lebanese Health Ministry said Sunday. At least 19 people were killed and 108 injured in Israeli attacks across Lebanon on Saturday, according to the ministry. Israel has mounted a huge air campaign in Lebanon since last month against what it claims are Hezbollah targets in an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and the Lebanese group since the start of Israel’s brutal offensive on Gaza. Despite international warnings that the Middle East is on the brink of a regional war amid Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza and Lebanon, on Oct. 1 it expanded the conflict by launching an incursion into southern Lebanon.

Over 600 million women and girls are now affected by war, marking a 50% increase in a decade, and they fear being forgotten amid a global backlash against women’s rights, according to top U.N. officials. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted in a recent report that progress in women’s rights is eroding amid escalating armed conflicts. He noted that the goals of equal participation in peace negotiations, outlined in a Security Council resolution from 2000, remain largely unmet. Guterres pointed out that women’s leadership in peace efforts is being undermined, with decision-making predominantly male-dominated. He warned that as long as patriarchal structures persist, achieving peace will remain challenging. The report revealed alarming statistics: the proportion of women killed in armed conflicts doubled in 2023, cases of conflict-related sexual violence rose by 50%, and the number of girls affected by serious violations increased by 35%. Sima Bahous, head of UN Women, echoed these concerns, emphasizing the lack of attention to women’s voices in peace initiatives. She highlighted the dire situations faced by women in places like Afghanistan, Gaza, Sudan, and Myanmar, expressing that 612 million affected women and girls wonder if they have been forgotten by the international community. Bahous stressed the urgent need for action, noting that many women in conflict zones face severe food insecurity and high maternal mortality rates. Women’s participation in peace negotiations remains low, with less than 10% involvement in peace processes overall. To address these issues, U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed announced a “Common Pledge on Women’s Participation in Peace Processes,” calling for concrete commitments to include women as mediators and ensure their meaningful involvement in peace negotiations. Ambassadors at the meeting highlighted a persistent lack of political will to support women’s roles in peace processes, underscoring the need for renewed commitment from member states.

South Africa and Somalia have condemned the aggression and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for humanitarian aid.

French President Emmanuel Macron begins a three-day visit to Morocco to repair strained relations and strengthen strategic partnerships.

Egypt and the US discussed the urgent need for a cease-fire and humanitarian aid in Gaza and Lebanon, calling for an end to Israeli escalations.

Ivory Coast has begun evacuating nationals and diplomatic staff from Lebanon due to escalating conflict in the region.

Number of injuries since Oct. 7, 2023 also more than 100,800, according to new official figures

The statement emphasized Iran’s “obligation to defend against foreign aggression” under the right of legitimate self-defense, as outlined in Article 51 of the UN Charter

 Explosions were heard early Saturday in Tehran, according to Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency. “A few minutes ago, explosion sounds were heard in Tehran,” it said. There has been no further information disclosed about the report.

Residents described the chaos as they searched for loved ones under debris

12,000 North Korean soldiers, including high-ranking officers, have joined Russian forces in conflict zone, say Ukrainian intelligence officials

As Israel continues its airstrikes in Lebanon, France has announced a $108 million aid package to support the country at an international conference in Paris on Thursday. President Emmanuel Macron emphasized the urgent need for “massive aid” amid Lebanon’s escalating humanitarian crisis, which has seen over 2,500 Lebanese casualties and more than a million displaced due to the conflict with Iran-backed Hezbollah. In his opening speech, Macron highlighted the immediate needs of displaced families and host communities, stressing the importance of providing shelter, food, medical care, and education. He reiterated calls for a ceasefire and convened the conference to raise the $426 million urgently required by the UN to assist Lebanon. France aims for financial commitments from attendees to meet the UN’s target, while Italy and Germany have also pledged new aid totaling $75.5 million. Additionally, France seeks to restore Lebanon’s sovereignty and strengthen its institutions, as the country remains without a president for two years amid political gridlock.

South Africa’s President Ramaphosa urged global leaders at the BRICS summit to resolve conflicts through peaceful negotiation, calling attention to ongoing wars in Africa and Gaza.

Leaders of 36 states to meet in BRICS Outreach/Plus format, which includes countries that are not BRICS members but interested in strengthening their ties with economic bloc

Speaking at a BRICS+ meeting in Kazan, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin highlighted the widening conflict

Putin and al-Sisi met during the BRICS Summit to discuss strengthening economic ties and advancing joint projects, including Egypt’s first nuclear power plant.

As many as 22 heads of state and 6 heads of international organizations expected to attend event

Number of injuries since Oct. 7, 2023 also crosses grim landmark of 100,000, according to official figures

The BRICS summit, hosted by Putin, will take place in Kazan and feature key leaders like Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi