WORLD - The African Mirror

Jul

10

2024

Scores killed, wounded in yet another in Israeli assault on Gaza, Hamas warns truce talks at risk

WORLD

SCORES of Palestinians were killed or wounded in an Israeli airstrike in southern Gaza, leading to a second warning from Hamas that the intensifying Israeli offensive could derail ongoing ceasefire negotiations. According to Reuters, the airstrike targeted tents housing displaced families near a school in Abassan, east of Khan Younis. The Israeli military said it was investigating the incident, while Hamas and Islamic Jihad reported that their fighters were engaged in fierce battles with Israeli forces using machine guns, mortars, and anti-tank missiles. Israel’s military confirmed close-quarter combat but did not comment on casualties, noting that over 150 fighters had…

Jul

09

2024

By The African Mirror

Latest Israel attack threatens ceasefire process – Hamas

WORLD

THE situation in Gaza remains perilous as the latest Israeli attacks threaten to derail ongoing ceasefire negotiations. Hamas has issued stark warnings, stating that continued Israeli military operations in Rafah could undermine efforts to reach a temporary ceasefire. These operations have included intensive airstrikes and ground incursions targeting what Israel claims are tunnels and weapons caches used by Hamas. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened dramatically. The United Nations and other international organizations have called for an immediate ceasefire to address the catastrophic conditions faced by civilians. The UN General Assembly President highlighted the urgent need to halt hostilities…

Jul

09

2024

By The African Mirror

White House denies reports of Biden being treated for Parkinson’s disease

WORLD

THE White House has officially denied that President Joe Biden is receiving treatment for Parkinson's disease. This clarification comes after reports surfaced suggesting that a doctor specializing in the disorder had visited the White House multiple times over the past year. Speculation about President Biden's health intensified following his stumble during a debate with Republican Donald Trump on June 27. The New York Times reported that White House visitor logs indicated Dr. Kevin Cannard, a neurologist specializing in movement disorders and a recent author of a paper on Parkinson's, had made eight visits to the White House from last summer…

Jul

09

2024

By MAE THOMPSON

Wars need oversight: Starmer’s opportunity for change

WORLD

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian. By Mae Thompson THE week marks six months since the US and the UK began hundreds of airstrikes on Yemen, a decision made by political leaders without heeding the views of Yemenis or consulting their own lawmakers. With new UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer vowing to centre human rights in all government action, now is a crucial moment to push towards a more just and accountable system by changing the way these choices are made. Ongoing for nearly a decade, the conflict in Yemen stands as a harrowing testament to human…

Jul

07

2024

By The African Mirror

Hamas accepts new truce deal

WORLD

HAMAS has accepted a U.S. proposal to begin talks on releasing Israeli hostages, including soldiers and men, 16 days after the first phase of an agreement aimed at ending the Gaza war. A senior Hamas source, speaking anonymously to Reuters, revealed that the militant group has dropped its demand for Israel to commit to a permanent ceasefire before signing the agreement. Reuters reports that Hamas would allow negotiations for a permanent ceasefire throughout the six-week first phase of the agreement. The news agency cites a Palestinian official close to the peace efforts, who suggested this proposal could lead to a…

Jul

07

2024

By The African Mirror

Moderate elected President of Iran

WORLD

IRANIAN voters have elected moderate candidate Masoud Pezeshkian as their new president, replacing hardliner Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash in May. Reuters reports that Pezeshkian, a 69-year-old cardiac surgeon, won Friday's run-off vote against former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili. Pezeshkian has pledged to pursue a pragmatic foreign policy, ease tensions over nuclear negotiations, and improve prospects for social liberalization. However, the news agency notes that many Iranians are sceptical about his ability to fulfil these promises, given that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holds ultimate authority in Iran. The report indicates that turnout was almost 50% in…

Jul

06

2024

By The African Mirror

New British Prime Minister’s pledge to his people

WORLD

BRITAIN’S new Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to rebuild the country following years of political turmoil. In his first address outside 10 Downing Street, Starmer acknowledged the significant challenges ahead after his Labour Party's landslide victory in the parliamentary election, which ended 14 years of Conservative rule. Reuters reports that Starmer emphasized the need to rebuild trust in politics, stating, "This lack of trust can only be healed by actions, not words." He promised that his government would serve all citizens, regardless of how they voted. The news agency describes scenes reminiscent of Tony Blair's 1997 arrival, with Starmer…

Jul

06

2024

By DANIELA MOHOR and STANLEY JÉRÔME

Is the lull in gang violence in Haiti just the calm before the storm?

WORLD

This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian. By Daniela Mohor and Stanley Jérôme AFTER months of deepening insecurity and political turmoil, Haitians have experienced some respite in the past few weeks as a new transitional government has formed and a Kenya-led stabilisation force has started to deploy. But many are fearful it is just a temporary lull, and that further troubles lie ahead.In the capital, Port-au-Prince, and neighbouring districts paralysed by gang violence since a major escalation in February, Haitians have been cautiously resuming some of their commercial and other daily activities, although attacks persist in some areas.…

Jul

04

2024

By MOHAMED SOULAIMANE

Five Palestinians on life after Israel’s Rafah invasion

WORLD

By Mohamed Soulaimane This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian. TWO months after Israel launched a ground invasion of Rafah, more than a million Palestinians have been displaced from the Gaza Strip’s southernmost city, while the accompanying disruption to aid efforts has pushed many nearer to starvation.The New Humanitarian recently spoke to five Palestinians who were displaced from Rafah to understand how Israel’s invasion has affected them and their ability to secure the basic necessities they need to survive.“Rafah is my hometown. My entire life is there,” said Rami Abu Abulenein, 47. “The [Israeli military] destroyed the residential…

Jul

04

2024

By WILL WORLEY

As the UN’s ‘fixer-in-chief’ steps down, a look at Martin Griffiths’ record

WORLD

By Will Worley This story was originally published by The New Humanitarian. AFTER three years, multiple crises, and an increasingly fractured global landscape, the United Nations’s relief chief, Martin Griffiths, is stepping down for health reasons. The under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator (ERC) is set to leave the job with widespread praise for his role as a skilled mediator and diplomat who did his best to alleviate human suffering amid heinous violence.But there’s also criticism that the leader of the UN’s humanitarian aid coordination arm, OCHA, has not done enough to help in some long-running conflicts, nor…