Turkey’s Erdogan calls for Islamic alliance against Israel
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
Elon Musk’s use of X for global political influence draws criticism
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.
Indian plane makes emergency landing over ‘bomb threat’
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.
14-year-old US student opens fire at school, killing four
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.
Chinese, Libyan leaders meet at FOCAC summit to boost relations
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.
Cholera cases surge 13 pct globally, deaths rise 71 pct — WHO
Conflicts, climate change, and inadequate sanitation contribute to the crisis.
China shadows synchronized Africa forum in Indonesia
Indonesia seeks to strengthen its ties with Africa but faces setbacks as many African countries choose to attend a separate forum in China.
Egypt’s Sisi makes historic visit to Turkey amid warming relations
President Sisi’s visit follows Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan’s trip to Cairo in February, which was his first since 2012
Starlink to block X in Brazil following court orders
Brazil’s Supreme Court banned X on Friday after platform openly defied court’s orders, failed to pay imposed fines
US defense chief to visit Germany to host Ukraine meeting
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel Thursday to the Ramstein Air Base in Germany to host the Ukrainian defense contact group on Sept. 6, the Pentagon said Tuesday. “The Secretary and chairman (US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown) will join ministers of defense and senior military officials from nearly 50 nations to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and the continued close coordination by the international community to deliver to Ukraine the support it needs to defend itself,” spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters. It will be the 24th meeting of the Ukraine defense contact group since Austin formed the international body in April 2022, he said. Austin will have a chance to meet Ukrainian and international partners later this week at Ramstein, where the US will be “very focused” on Ukraine’s security assistance needs. “In terms of any changes to our policy, I’m not going to have anything to provide again. There has been no changes. And as it relates to potential Ukrainian operations, I’m just not going to speculate or talk about potential future ops,” said Ryder. The US remains committed to supporting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself and to protect its sovereign territory, as well as build its ability to deter against Russia, he reiterated. The Pentagon recently announced its latest package of security assistance for Ukraine at up to $125 million. It included key weapons and ammunition to meet Ukraine’s most urgent needs, including air-defense capabilities.
Thousands protest in Israel to demand hostage swap deal with Hamas
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in Thousands of demonstrators protested Tuesday in cities across central Israel, including Tel Aviv, to demand a hostage exchange deal with the Palestinian resistance group, Hamas, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. Protesters blocked Begin Road in Tel Aviv and chanted slogans: “Whoever abandoned them (the hostages) should bring them back,” and “Netanyahu abandoned them and is unfit to govern,” as well as “We want them alive, not in coffins.” Fighting broke out between police and protesters on Begin Road, with police arresting several demonstrators, the newspaper reported. Another large demonstration took place in Rehovot, near Tel Aviv, where about 1,000 people gathered to support the family of Nimrod Cohen, a soldier held captive in the Gaza Strip. Protesters demanded his release. hundreds in Herzliya gathered near the home of Knesset member Yuli Edelstein, who chairs the Knesset’s Security and Defense Committee. Protesters also gathered at the Ra’anana Junction on Route 4, where drivers stopped to show solidarity, according to Yedioth Ahronoth. The protests escalated following the Israeli army’s announcement about the recovery of six dead captives from Gaza. Israel saw mass protests blaming the government for not bringing them home alive through a prisoner swap deal with Palestinian factions. Israel estimates that more than 100 hostages are being held by Hamas in Gaza, some of whom are believed to have been already killed. The US, Qatar and Egypt have been trying for month to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to ensure a prisoner exchange and a cease-fire deal and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. But mediation efforts have been stalled due to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’s demands to stop the war. Israel has continued its brutal offensive on Gaza following an attack on Oct. 7 by Hamas, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. The onslaught has resulted in more than 40,800 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and nearly 94,300 injuries, according to local health authorities. An ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins. Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern Gazan city of Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6. qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Kenyan police in Haiti struggle amid low morale and operational hurdles
The officers have been primarily patrolling major roads in Port-au-Prince and conducting joint operations with Haitian police, with mixed results
Putin arrives in ICC member Mongolia despite arrest warrant
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on Monday in Mongolia, his first visit to a country that is member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) since the tribunal issued a warrant for his arrest in March 2023. “Vladimir Putin arrived in Mongolia on an official visit at the invitation of President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, to attend celebrations of the 85th anniversary of the joint victory of the Soviet and Mongolian armed forces over the Japanese militarists on the Khalkhin Gol River,” the Kremlin said in a statement. Putin’s visit will last two days, and on Tuesday several bilateral meetings are scheduled, including with Khurelsukh, as well as signing some documents and laying flowers at the monument to Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov. “During their talks, the two leaders will discuss prospects for further developing Russian-Mongolian relations of comprehensive strategic partnership and will exchange views on current international and regional issues,” the Kremlin said. Mongolian authorities have shown no intention of arresting the Russian leader on the ICC warrant, and instead organized a welcome ceremony. Putin was greeted by a guard of honor at the Ulaanbaatar Airport in the capital. Putin is also expected to hold talks with Mongolia’s parliament speaker Dashzegve Amarbayasgalan and Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene. On March 17, 2023, the ICC in The Hague issued an arrest warrant for Putin at the request of prosecutor Karim Khan. The Hague-based tribunal accused Putin of the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine after the launch of the “special military operation” in February 2022. Russia denies allegations, insisting that children were evacuated from the battle zone to save their lives, and that the warrant is not applicable as the country is not an ICC member state.
Biden blames Netanyahu for not doing enough for Gaza hostages
Biden criticized Netanyahu for not doing enough to secure the release of Gaza hostages, as the U.S. prepares a final proposal for a ceasefire deal.
China aims increased Africa trade before Western sanctions hit
African leaders meet in Beijing as China seeks to boost exports of electric vehicles and solar panels.
Germany completes withdrawal from Niger airbase
Germany has officially withdrawn its troops from an airbase in Niger, marking the end of its military presence in the Sahel nation.
Russian mercenaries withdraw from Burkina Faso to fight Ukraine
The withdrawal marks a significant setback for Russia’s influence in the West African nation.
WHO secures polio vaccination pauses in Gaza
A polio vaccination campaign in Gaza will include humanitarian pauses agreed upon with the Israeli army.
Israeli military kills five Palestinian fighters in major West Bank operation
According to Palestinian health authorities, at least 12 Palestinians were killed in Wednesday’s operations
Namibia blocks Israeli-bound ship carrying explosives
Ship carrying military cargo, including explosives, has been denied entry to Namibia’s port due to concerns about its destination and the potential implications for the conflict in Gaza.
Spain strengthens Africa ties to combat migrant crisis
New agreements aim to reduce the number of deaths on the perilous Atlantic route.
Algerian fuel tanker arrives in energy-starved Lebanon
An Algerian tanker loaded with 30,000 tons of fuel arrived at the port of Tripoli in northern Lebanon on Tuesday, marking the first installment of aid from Algeria to help restart power plants that have been shut down for about 10 days. Currently, Lebanon relies on private generators to provide electricity for public institutions and homes. Sonatrach, Algeria’s state-owned oil company, said in a statement: “Our fuel-laden ship is preparing to offload at Tripoli Port in Lebanon.” “In accordance with the directive of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to support Lebanon with energy and help it overcome its current crisis, Sonatrach announces the arrival of a fuel shipment to Tripoli Port in Lebanon which departed from Skikda oil port on August 22,” the statement added. Sonatrach said that this initial shipment consists of 30,000 tons of fuel, intended to restart power generation plants and restore electricity in Lebanon. On Aug. 17, Electricité du Liban (EDL), a state-owned electricity company, announced a nationwide power outage in Lebanon following a complete shutdown of all power stations. The next day, the North African country announced that it would immediately supply Lebanon with fuel to help the country overcome the electricity outage. The power outage has affected essential facilities, including Rafic Hariri International Airport, Beirut Port, prisons, wastewater treatment plants, and drinking water pumping stations, EDL said. Two years ago, the frequency of power outages in Lebanon significantly increased as the country faced a severe financial crisis, leaving it unable to secure the foreign currency needed to import fuel.Previously, Lebanon’s electricity production ranged between 1,600 and 2,000 megawatts daily, but fuel shortages in recent years have gradually reduced production to unprecedentedly low levels.
Palestine eyes BRICS joining after Kazan summit
Palestine plans to officially apply for membership in the BRICS group of emerging economies at the upcoming summit in Kazan, Russia.
Denmark closes Sahel embassies, expands elsewhere
The country is also upgrading its existing embassies in South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, and Nigeria to regional hubs.
France extends detention of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov
Detention limited to 96 hours, after which he must be released or appear before a judge for possible indictment
Hamas delegation leaves Cairo after reviewing results of a cease-fire talks
Hamas’ negotiating team left Cairo after reviewing the results of the latest round of Gaza cease-fire talks with Israel from the Egyptian and Qatari mediators, the resistance group said. Izzat al-Rishq, a Hamas leader, said on Telegram that their delegation “left Cairo this evening after meeting with mediators from Egypt and Qatar and hearing from them about the results of the latest round of negotiations,” without giving further details. “The delegation demanded that the occupation adhere to what was agreed upon on July 2, based on the statements made by US President Joe Biden and the UN Security Council resolution,” he added. Hamas reiterated “its readiness to implement what has been agreed upon to achieve the higher interests of its people and to halt aggression against them.” He said the delegation “emphasized the necessity for any agreement to include a permanent cease-fire, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, residents’ return to their areas, humanitarian aid and reconstruction, and a serious hostage swap deal.” Earlier in the day, the Israeli negotiating team returned to Tel Aviv from Cairo after taking part in Gaza cease-fire and hostage swap deal talks with Palestinian factions, Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported. The authority, citing unnamed Israeli officials, indicated that “the chances of making progress in the talks today are slim.” “The delegation’s mandate does not allow for reaching an agreement regarding the Philadelphi Corridor” in the border city of Rafah with Egypt, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on maintaining military control over, the officials added. Israeli news website Walla reported that David Barnea, the head of Mossad, took part in a quadrilateral meeting that included the head of the CIA, William Burns, the head of Egyptian intelligence, Abbas Kamel, and the prime minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. – Philadelphi Corridor Netanyahu on Saturday pledged to US President Joe Biden that the Israeli army will withdraw one kilometer (0.6 miles) from the 14-km-long (8.7-mi) Philadelphi Corridor, which runs along the Gaza-Egypt border, while leaving a minimal number of military sites in the area. The pledge comes as part of ongoing discussions between Israel and the US over the military offensive on the Gaza Strip and the broader implications for regional security, reported Israel’s Channel 12. The broadcaster claimed that Egypt has agreed to provide Hamas with updated maps of Israeli army positions in the Philadelphi Corridor, although Cairo has made no official statement on the matter. The corridor, a demilitarized buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, remains one of the major sticking points in Israel-Hamas negotiations. For months, the US, Qatar and Egypt have been trying to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to ensure a prisoner exchange and cease-fire and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. But mediation efforts have been stalled due to Netanyahu’s refusal to meet Hamas’ demands to stop the war. Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas last Oct. 7, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire. The onslaught has resulted in over 40,400 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, and over 93,400 injuries, according to local health authorities. An ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins. Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over one million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.
More than 100 evacuated from east London tower block fire
More than 200 firefighters have responded to a fire at a high-rise tower block partly used by residents in Dagenham, east London. At least 100 people have been evacuated from the residential building after the fire started shortly before 3:00 a.m. (0200GMT). Four patients were treated at the scene according to the London Ambulance Service. Two patients were taken to hospital. “We were called at 2.52 a.m. today (26 August) to reports of a fire on Freshwater Road in Dagenham,” a spokesman said. “We sent a large number of resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, incident response officers, an advanced paramedic in critical care, emergency planning officers, a command support vehicle and members of our hazardous area response team.” “Twenty fire engines and around 125 firefighters are responding to a fire on Freshwater Road in Dagenham,” The London Fire Brigade wrote on X an hour after the fire started. Alan Bendell, a fire station commander, said the fire was “producing heavy smoke and we’re advising local residents to keep windows and doors closed.” A similar fire in 2017 caused the death of 72 people in London’s Grenfell Tower.