Turkish shuttle diplomacy aids Ethiopian and Somali reconciliation talks in Ankara aiming for improved diplomatic ties.

Russian officials on Monday announced that evacuations are being implemented in border districts in the country’s Belgorod and Kursk regions. “In order to protect the life and health of our population, we are starting to move people who live in Krasnoyaruzhsky district to safer places,” Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram. Expressing that Ukrainian military activity was reported on the border of the district, Gladkov said he is certain that Russian troops will do everything to “cope with the threat.” The Krasnoyaruzhsky district lies east of Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region and south of Russia’s Kursk region. Gladkov further said the coordination of the evacuation is underway on the ground, and transport has been sent to the area. “I am sure that everything will be done in an organized manner, the main thing is that it will be done calmly, without panic, under the guidance of responsible persons,” Gladkov went on to say. Elsewhere, Kursk Governor Alexey Smirnov said on Telegram that the operational headquarters formed in the region decided to evacuate residents of the region’s Belovsky district. Smirnov further said he instructed Russia’s Transport Ministry in the region to prepare additional transport to evacuate residents from the district. A day earlier, Smirnov claimed that a Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group tried to cross into Belovsky, but that Russian forces “stabilized the situation.” Russia’s National Anti-Terrorism Committee announced on Aug. 10 that it introduced a counter-terrorism operation regime in the border regions of Belgorod, Bryansk, and Kursk amid Ukrainian incursions. Last Tuesday, Russia said that Ukrainian troops, including tanks and armored combat vehicles, attacked its military positions near two border settlements in the Kursk region. Since then, Moscow has reported that it has been repelling incursions into the border region by Ukrainian forces, in addition to countering air strikes launched at Kursk and surrounding regions, including Belgorod. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 7 accused Kyiv of “large-scale provocation” and “indiscriminate shooting.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later commented on the allegations, saying: “Russia brought the war to our land and should feel what it has done.”

 The Palestinian resistance group Hamas called Sunday on the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to hold an urgent meeting on Israel’s ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip. It emphasized the need to “make effective decisions that lead to halting the aggression and ongoing genocide against our people in the Gaza Strip and to cut any political, commercial or normalization relations with the Zionist occupation.” Hamas also called for “the implementation of the decisions made at the joint Arab and Islamic summit which took place in Riyadh on Nov. 11 last year to break the siege and deliver aid and relief to our besieged people in the Gaza Strip.” In addition, it called on the UN Security Council to “hold an emergency session and make a decision that obliges the occupation (Israel) to stop the aggression and genocide and to cease its blatant violations of laws and treaties, which have become an effective recipe for destabilizing regional and international security and peace.” Israel, flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas. The Israeli onslaught has since killed nearly 39,800 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 92,000 others, according to local health authorities. More than 10 months into the Israeli onslaught, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine. Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

 A stolen helicopter crashed into a hotel in Australia on Monday, killing the pilot. The incident occurred at around 2.00 a.m. (1600GMT, Sunday) in far north Queensland, when the helicopter hit the hotel roof, forcing the evacuation of around 400 people. No one was injured as one of the chopper’s blades fell on the walkway and another in the hotel pool. According to the owners, the helicopter was stolen before the pilot’s “unauthorized flight,” ABC News reported. The pilot was alone during the flight and has yet to be identified. Nautilus Aviation, which owns the chopper, has confirmed that its pilots were not involved in the incident.

The US enhances its military presence in the Middle East by sending the USS Georgia submarine, as Defense Secretary Austin reaffirms America’s commitment to Israel.

Erdogan and Abiy Ahmed review bilateral relations and discuss Israel’s Gaza offensive and Ethiopia-Somalia issues.

At least 100 Palestinians were killed early Saturday when the Israeli military bombed the Al-Taba’een school in the Al-Daraj neighborhood in eastern Gaza City. The school was housing displaced residents. Dozens were injured in the attack. Israeli military aircraft targeted the school while worshippers were performing the fajr (dawn) prayer, the Palestinian news agency, Wafa, reported. The Government Media Office in Gaza condemned the school “massacre,” saying that the attack is “part of a broader campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing against the Palestinian people.” In a statement, the media office said: “The occupation army directly targeted displaced civilians while performing fajr (dawn) prayers, (which) led to a rapid rise in the number of casualties.” It placed “full responsibility for the massacre on the Israeli occupation and the US administration.” The media office also urged the international community and global organizations to “put pressure on Israel to stop the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing of civilians and displaced people in the Gaza Strip.” Meanwhile, the Israeli army claimed the school contained an “operating military headquarters” for the Palestinian group Hamas. It claimed that “several steps were taken to minimize the risk of civilian harm.” With the bombing of Al-Taba’een School, the total number of schools targeted by the Israeli army in Gaza City over the past week has increased to six, according to an Anadolu tally. Despite appeals on Thursday from mediators, including Egypt, the US, and Qatar, to stop hostilities, reach a cease-fire, and a hostage exchange agreement, Israel persists with its deadly offensive on the Gaza Strip. This escalation came amid threats of 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 Israeli onslaught against the Gaza Strip has killed nearly 39,700 people since last October following a cross-border attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas. More than 10 months into the Israeli onslaught, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine. Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

In France, seamstresses are preparing costumes for Sunday’s Olympic closing ceremony, which will feature traditional elements like the athletes’ parade and the handover of the Olympic flag to the 2028 Los Angeles Games. As with the opening ceremony, all 120 costumes are crafted from recycled materials. Designer Kevin Germanier highlighted their use of repurposed items, including old VHS cassettes, to reflect the ceremony’s theme. The ceremony, set in a more conventional venue after the Seine River-based opening, will again be directed by Thomas Jolly. It will showcase over a hundred performers, including acrobats, dancers, and circus artists. Jolly emphasized that the Olympic spirit embodies a collective humanity. The closing ceremony will be held from 21:00 to 23:30 at the Stade de France in Paris.

A regional turboprop plane carrying 62 people crashed near São Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, resulting in the deaths of all on board, according to local officials at the crash site. Video footage shared on social media showed the ATR-made aircraft spiraling out of control before crashing behind a cluster of trees near residential homes, followed by a large plume of black smoke. Officials in Valinhos, close to the town of Vinhedo where the crash occurred, confirmed that there were no survivors. Remarkably, only one home in a local condominium complex was damaged, and no residents were injured. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed the nation shortly after the incident, expressing his deep sorrow and requesting a moment of silence for the victims. The airline, Voepass, reported that the aircraft had taken off from Cascavel, Paraná, and was en route to São Paulo’s main international airport when it crashed approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of São Paulo, in Vinhedo. Voepass, which operates the plane registered as PS-VPB, stated that they were unable to provide further details regarding the cause of the crash. In response to the accident, São Paulo’s state fire brigade quickly dispatched seven crews to the crash site. The aircraft was identified by flight tracker FlightRadar24 as an ATR 72-500 turboprop, a model produced by ATR, which is jointly owned by Airbus and Italian aerospace group Leonardo. ATR has yet to comment on the incident.

The summit will focus on finding a common ground regarding Ethiopia’s port deal with Somaliland and ensuring regional stability.

 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.

 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.

Manuel Chang found guilty in Brooklyn court of conspiracy charges linked to $2 billion Mozambique loan scandal.

Mali accuses Ukraine of terrorism after a deadly attack that killed Malian soldiers and Russian mercenaries.

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.

The United States has unveiled a substantial $424 million aid package aimed at alleviating the suffering of millions of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Cases have surged in Africa, with neighboring countries reporting infections.

Pope Francis on Wednesday renewed his appeal to avoid escalation of conflict in the Middle East, Vatican News reported. “I reiterate my appeal to all parties involved to ensure that the conflict does not spread and to immediately cease fire on all fronts, starting from Gaza where the humanitarian situation is extremely serious and unsustainable,” the pontiff said while addressing the weekly general audience. “I pray that the sincere search for peace will extinguish strife, love will overcome hatred and revenge will be disarmed by forgiveness,” he added. Israel has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians in Gaza since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas incursion. The relentless military campaign has levelled much of the territory and left most of the people homeless, and hungry.  Tensions have grown after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran’s capital Tehran on July 31. Iran and Hamas have blamed Israel, which has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility. The pope also asked the faithful to join his prayers for the “war-torn peoples” of Ukraine, Myanmar and Sudan.

A Pakistani national has been charged with murder-for-hire in an alleged plot to assassinate current and former government officials, the US Justice Department announced Tuesday. Asif Merchant, 46, arrived from Pakistan in April after spending time in Iran. He met an undercover FBI agent posing as a hitman and paid him $5,000 as an advance for the assassination plot, according to the statement. Merchant was arrested in New York and is currently in federal custody. In the statement, US Attorney General Merrick Garland noted the Justice Department’s commitment to countering threats from Iran. “The Justice Department will spare no resource to disrupt and hold accountable those who would seek to carry out Iran’s lethal plotting against American citizens,” Garland said. FBI Director Christopher Wray described the plot as “a threat to our national security” and vowed that it “will be met with the full might and resources of the FBI.” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters there is an ongoing investigation and that “there has been no evidence to suggest that the individual named in today’s indictment has any connection to the assassination attempt against former President (Donald) Trump that happened in Butler, Pennsylvania.” Merchant was arrested while trying to leave the country a day before Trump was shot on July 13. – Pakistan in touch with US officials Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson said they have seen the media reports and are in touch with Washington. “We are in touch with the US authorities and await further details. We have also noted the statements by US officials that this is an ongoing investigation,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in statement. “Before giving our formal reaction, we also need to be sure of the antecedents of the individual in question.”

Futuro Vegetal group says mansion is ‘illegal’ and blames some of ultra-wealthy for destroying the planet

Nigeria, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia previously issued similar warnings, advisory

Dmytro Kuleba’s historic visit to Zambia emphasizes Africa’s pivotal involvement in advancing peace and deepening bilateral relations.

Abbas, set to visit Moscow from August 12-14, condemned the killing as a “cowardly act” intended to escalate the war and hinder peace negotiations

Decision was taken after discussions with armed forces chiefs, leaders of political parties, representatives of civil society, leaders of student-led protest movement, presidency says