WORLD - The African Mirror

Nov

21

2024

The growing list of sexual misconduct allegations against Trump’s picks

WORLD

A number of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet-level nominees have been accused of sexual harassment and assault, and one has faced allegations of child sex trafficking. Credible allegations of impropriety — let alone allegations of misconduct or assault — have often been cause for withdrawal or disqualification. But Trump — who has faced dozens of accusations of sexual misconduct dating back to the 1970s — has been known to surround himself with men who have also faced similar allegations. The president-elect typically denies the legitimacy of accusations related to sexual misconduct and defends the men in his orbit. In 2018, in response to sexual assault allegations against people in…

Nov

21

2024

By The African Mirror

1000 Days of War: Russia’s assault on Ukrainian civilians intensifies

WORLD

AS Russia's war on Ukraine marks its thousandth day, a devastating wave of attacks on civilian areas has left at least 30 dead in the past 48 hours, highlighting the continuing toll of a conflict that shows no signs of abating. In the northeastern city of Hlukhiv, a late-night strike killed nine civilians, including a child, and wounded 11 others, with rescue workers still searching through rubble. This attack follows deadly strikes in Sumy City and Odesa, marking one of the bloodiest periods in recent months. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has documented a pattern of attacks…

Nov

21

2024

By WILL WORLEY

At a pivotal COP in Baku, humanitarians try to define their climate role

WORLD

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian.By Will Worley HUMANITARIAN and climate policy are converging as crises overlap in a rapidly warming world. The pivotal COP29 climate summit offers a glimpse of the bumpy and bureaucratic road ahead. Amid a summit clouded by political turmoil, COP29 hosts Azerbaijan dedicated an entire day for sideline discussions on core humanitarian issues – from displacement and emergency response to peacebuilding and prevention. The 15 November Peace, Relief, and Recovery Day ran parallel to the official COP29 climate negotiations, which are focused on hammering out a new financial target called the New…

Nov

20

2024

By The African Mirror

Lazzarini: Annexation of Gaza won’t create lasting peace in Middle East

WORLD

The head of the UN agency for Palestine refugees, UNRWA, confirmed on Monday that a large convoy of humanitarian aid was looted inside Gaza at the weekend, amid a near-total a breakdown in law and order and harassment of the agency’s staff by Israeli soldiers. “More than 100 trucks have been looted, primarily [carrying goods for] UNRWA and the WFP, basically, 80-90 per cent of the convoy on that day,” said Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General. “What does it show? Well, we have been warning a long time ago about the total breakdown of civil order; until you know, four or…

Nov

20

2024

By The African Mirror

Here’s what we know about the investigations into Matt Gaetz

WORLD

FORMER Rep. Matt Gaetz, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, has long been dogged by allegations of illicit drug use and sexual relations with underage women, though he has never been charged. Now, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling for the release of a report from a House Ethics Committee investigation reportedly detailing damning accusations against him. Gaetz and his representatives have repeatedly denied all wrongdoing. The attorney general heads the Justice Department, which prosecutes federal crimes, brings major civil lawsuits and cases and intervenes in others. If confirmed, Gaetz would oversee thousands of attorneys, special…

Nov

20

2024

By The African Mirror

Lebanon: Increased violence along Blue Line and ‘horrific new normal’ for children

WORLD

IN southern Lebanon, peacekeepers have witnessed “shocking” destruction of villages along the Blue Line and ever-deeper Israeli ground incursions, while the situation of children across the country is becoming increasingly desperate, the UN said on Tuesday. Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), told reporters in Geneva that ground clashes inside Lebanon - some of them very close to UNIFIL positions - are becoming “more violent”. While the Mission’s monitoring capabilities are limited because of the ongoing hostilities, it did see Israeli forces carry out incursions about “two or three kilometres deeper” inside Lebanese territory before…

Nov

19

2024

By ROBERT DOVER

Ukraine war: following Donald Trump’s re-election, four likely scenarios are becoming clear

WORLD

WHEN he claimed victory in the early hours of November 6, Donald Trump said he was a man of his word. A hallmark of his second term as US president would be “promises made and promises kept”. Whether or not this would include his promise to resolve the conflict in Ukraine “within 24 hours” of taking office in January, he didn’t specify. On the face of it, that timeline is unrealistic. But a speedy resolution is possible – and all countries with an interest in the conflict are now trying to influence the president-elect to produce an outcome, whether it…

Nov

19

2024

By MARIEL PADILLA

‘Tell me to my face’: Women veterans react to Trump Defense pick’s disparaging comments

WORLD

WOMEN veterans, national security organizations, and military historians are pushing back against recent disparaging comments made by Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump, who chose to lead the Department of Defense. “I’m straight up just saying we shouldn’t have women in combat roles,” Hegseth, a Fox News host who served in the Army National Guard, said on a podcast last week while promoting his new book, “The War on Warriors.” “It hasn’t made us more effective. It hasn’t made us more lethal. It has made fighting more complicated.” Allison Jaslow, the chief executive of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said…

Nov

18

2024

By The African Mirror

UNHCR report reveals climate change is a growing threat to people already fleeing war

WORLD

PEOPLE forced to flee war, violence and persecution are increasingly finding themselves on the front line of the global climate crisis, a new report warns, exposing them to a lethal combination of threats but without the funding and support to adapt. The report, released today by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in collaboration with 13 expert organizations, research institutions and refugee-led groups, uses the latest data to show how climate shocks interact with conflict, pushing those already in danger into even more dire situations. Of the more than 120 million forcibly displaced worldwide, three-quarters live in countries heavily impacted by…

Nov

17

2024

By The African Mirror

1,000 days of full-scale war on Ukraine: UNHCR’s deputy chief urges solidarity with innocent victims

WORLD

AS we approach next week’s grim mark of 1,000 days since the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the needs of civilians are growing amid intense attacks and as another gruelling winter season sets in. Russia’s destruction of energy infrastructure has led to an overall loss of 65 per cent of energy generation capacity in recent months, and the attacks continue, disrupting electricity, heating and water supplies. The deepening emotional toll on innocent people became clear during my visit to the country last week; the intense attacks on critical infrastructure and civilian sites – and constant air-raid warnings – are…