Israeli is offering 30,000 African asylum seekers permanent residency in exchange for joining the army in the Gaza conflict, raising ethical concerns about exploitation.

400 rifles, pistols allegedly sent from US seized in intelligence operation, says minister

Cyril Ramaphosa rejects the notion of limited veto power for Africa’s potential UNSC seats, emphasizing the need for full participation and equal status for the continent.

The United States has proposed a significant expansion of the UN Security Council, including the creation of two permanent seats for African nations.

 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).

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.

Egypt confirmed that serious cease-fire talks regarding Gaza concluded in Doha, offering hope for ending the ongoing war.

Mali desert clash raises doubts over Wagner’s effectiveness as Russian mercenaries face off against Tuareg rebels and militants.

The who chief condemned deadly Israeli airstrikes on a Gaza safe zone and called for an immediate ceasefire.

South Africa will submit a memorial next month in its ongoing genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, with several countries supporting the case.

The Democratic Republic of Congo has received 50,000 additional mpox vaccine doses from the United States to help combat the ongoing epidemic.

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.

Israeli officials are urging US Congress members to convince South Africa to withdraw its genocide case against Israel, which is currently pending at the International Court of Justice.

Hungary defies Western trend by deploying soldiers to Chad, a strategic move amidst growing Russian influence in the Sahel region.

The killing comes amid concerns about a crackdown on dissent and a return to the repressive policies of the previous president.

Turkey’s participation in the upcoming meeting is seen as part of its broader efforts to strengthen cooperation in the region

Palestinian photographer Loay Ayyoub won the top prize Sunday at the Visa pour l’image festival in Perpignan, France, one of the world’s most prestigious photojournalism competitions. Ayyoub was awarded for his powerful photograph depicting the human suffering in Gaza. In his acceptance speech, delivered via video conference, he dedicated the award to “all journalists and Palestinians who have been killed while carrying out their duties in Gaza.” His reference to the Palestinian group Hamas as the “resistance movement of Palestine” during his speech drew a reaction from Perpignan’s far-right mayor, Louis Aliot, who called for the award to be rescinded. However, the festival’s organizers rejected Aliot’s demand.  Jean-Francois Leroy, the director of the Visa pour l’image festival, defended the jury’s decision in an interview with Spain’s EFE news agency. “Our jury consists of international photo editors and experts. Whether I agree with them or not, I have always respected their decisions,” he said. Leroy also highlighted the challenges faced by foreign media in Gaza, noting that Israel has restricted their work, leaving local journalists as the primary source of information from the conflict zone.

The UN is considering a new peacekeeping operation in Haiti as the current Kenya-led mission faces challenges and funding shortages.

The Turkish leader framed his recent diplomatic efforts, including moves to improve relations with Egypt and Syria, as part of a broader strategy to build solidarity against Israel’s actions

American billionaire Elon Musk is increasingly using his social media platform, X, to spread his political views worldwide, according to recent observations. Musk, who owns one of the most influential social media platforms, has not hesitated to utilize it as a tool to promote his worldview. His actions, particularly in the lead-up to the US presidential elections, have raised eyebrows. He has openly supported former President Donald Trump, engaged in a public spat with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, clashed with the UK government following far-right violence and recently had a disagreement with the Brazilian government. The incidents have fueled criticism that Musk is aligning himself with populist right-wing politics. Adding to the controversy, Musk recently stated that he is ready to serve in a Trump administration if the former president wins the election. Trump has announced plans to establish a “government efficiency commission” led by Musk should he be reelected Nov. 5. In response, Musk wrote on X: “Looking forward to serving America if the opportunity arises.” – Is X politically neutral? When Musk initially sought to acquire Twitter, now rebranded as X, in April 2022, he argued that the platform had failed to fulfill its potential as a bastion of free speech. Shortly after the acquisition, Musk emphasized that the platform must remain “politically neutral” to earn public trust. His commitment to the principle, however, is now under scrutiny. Experts suggest that Musk, who is the most-followed user on X with 196.6 million followers, is increasingly using the platform as a megaphone for his political views. The shift has raised questions about the platform’s role in global political discourse. -Open support for Trump in US presidential election As the presidential election approaches, Musk has made headlines with his statements and actions. Previously known for supporting Democrats, Musk has now seemingly shifted his allegiance to the Republican Party. On July 14, Musk took to X to express support for Trump, who recently survived an assassination attempt. It marked the first time Musk had openly endorsed Trump. This, however, was not Musk’s first foray into election-related commentary. Despite supporting Democrats in the last three elections, Musk had previously clashed with Trump. Musk’s evolving political stance and his use of X to promote it continue to spark debate about the influence of social media platforms on global politics. Musk hosted the official presidential candidacy announcement of Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on X in May 2023. Although the event ended unfavorably due to technical glitches, it marked a significant development in Musk’s desire to transform X into a “digital town square.” A recent interview Musk conducted with Trump also had technical difficulties, starting 42 minutes late. During the interview, Musk’s remark that he “wasn’t very political before” drew attention. – Criticism as ‘Trump’s lackey’ Musk also invited US Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris to the interview. While Harris did not respond to the invitation, her campaign reacted to Musk’s interview with Trump. In a statement from the campaign team, Musk was referred to as “Trump’s lackey,” accusing him of trying to seize control of American democracy. – Musk’s political shift after X Before X, Musk rarely engaged in public disputes with politicians or avoided them altogether. After acquiring X, however, Musk began to engage more frequently in disputes with governments and state leaders, unlike other social media platform owners. Musk’s political shift on X coincided with a period where social media platforms, notably Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, remained relatively distant from politics. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has never officially endorsed a presidential candidate. In contrast, Musk argues with those who do not share his views. – Disputes with governments, state leaders In April, Musk clashed with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government for the suspension of access to footage related to a church attack in Sydney. Musk criticized the Australian government’s censorship decision, while Albanese called Musk a “conceited billionaire” who sees himself above the law. In September 2023, Musk made an anti-immigrant post on X, sharing a media report about eight German NGO ships collecting irregular migrants in the Mediterranean “for offloading in Italy.” Germany’s Foreign Ministry responded. Musk also engaged in a social media spat with Maduro, who was declared the winner of the July 28 presidential election in Venezuela. The exchange took an interesting turn when Maduro challenged Musk to a duel. On Aug. 9, Maduro ordered a 10-day ban on access to X in Venezuela, claiming that the platform was spreading hate and violence. Musk continued to post about the election results in Venezuela while commenting on violence caused by far-right groups in the UK. Following attacks on hotels and mosques housing refugees and immigrants across the UK, Musk posted that “civil war is inevitable,” leading to a confrontation with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and government officials. Last week, the Brazilian Supreme Court announced a ban on access to X in the country “until a country representative is appointed and the fines are paid.” In response, Musk posted on X: “Freedom of speech is the cornerstone of democracy, and the so-called unelected judge in Brazil is destroying it for political reasons.” That put Brazil on the list of countries with which Musk has had clashes. – Investigation by EU In July, the EU Commission launched an investigation into X for violating the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) by allowing disinformation and illegal hate speech on the platform. Musk claimed that the Commission offered an illegal “secret deal” not to impose a penalty in exchange for quietly censoring conversations, which X did not accept.

An Indian passenger plane made an emergency landing Friday in eastern Turkey because of “security reasons.” The Vistara Airlines plane was en route from India to Germany when it landed at Erzurum Airport. Summarizing search efforts, Erzurum Gov. Mustafa Ciftci said: “As a result of our work, we have determined that the bomb threat was unfounded.”  He added a flight ban imposed at the airport has been lifted as of 11.30 p.m. local time. Stating that the plane will stay at the airport, Ciftci noted a new plane will arrive from Mumbai, India, at 7.25 a.m. Saturday to take passengers to Frankfurt. Vistara Airlines said in a statement after the landing that “flight UK27 from Mumbai to Frankfurt (BOM-FRA) has been diverted to Turkey (Erzurum airport) due to security reasons and has landed safely at 1905 hours.” Sources said Turkish emergency response teams, including the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD), medical personnel, police and firefighters were immediately dispatched to the airport following the landing. Ciftci, in a statement to Anadolu, confirmed that the plane was carrying 247 passengers and crew.

The latest in a series of mass shootings in the United States took place at a Georgia high school, where four people were killed and nine were injured.

Xi Jinping pledges China’s support for Libya’s stability and development during a meeting with Libyan leader Al-Manfi at the FOCAC summit in Beijing.

Conflicts, climate change, and inadequate sanitation contribute to the crisis.