United Nations teams have collected over 90 truckloads of humanitarian aid from the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, following a three-day delay caused by security concerns along the approved route. The deliveries, which included essential supplies such as flour, baby formula, and medical equipment, were transported to storage facilities for distribution late Wednesday. Visuals shared with the BBC showed a bakery using the newly arrived flour to produce fresh bread. According to the UN, the delay in collecting the aid stemmed from safety concerns along the only authorized route, which aid agencies said exposed their teams to potential attacks from…
Author: Tosin Onisuuru
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Washington, D.C., aiming to rebuild strained diplomatic ties with U.S. President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk. The visit follows controversial and unsubstantiated claims from Washington about “white genocide” targeting Afrikaners in South Africa—allegations that Pretoria firmly denies. Ramaphosa was accompanied to the White House by prominent figures including golfing legends Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, along with South Africa’s wealthiest individual, Johann Rupert. Their presence appeared designed to resonate with Trump, an avid golf enthusiast. The White House confirmed that Elon Musk, a South African-born entrepreneur and close Trump advisor, would…
Augustin Matata Ponyo, former Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been sentenced to 10 years of hard labour after being convicted of embezzling $245 million in public funds. The ruling, delivered by the DRC’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday, also found Deogratias Mutombo, the former governor of the country’s central bank, guilty in the same case. Mutombo received a five-year sentence of hard labour. Matata’s lawyer denounced the verdict as unjust and politically driven, claiming his client is a victim of persecution. The funds were reportedly siphoned from the Bukanga-Lonzo Agro-Industrial Park, a major agricultural project meant…
Pope Leo XIV has called on Israel to allow unrestricted humanitarian aid into Gaza, expressing deep concern over the worsening conditions in the Palestinian territory. During his first weekly general audience on Wednesday in St. Peter’s Square, the newly elected pope described the situation in Gaza as “increasingly distressing and heartbreaking.” “I once again urge the opening of humanitarian corridors and an immediate end to hostilities, which continue to claim the lives of children, the elderly, and the infirm,” Pope Leo appealed. Formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, Pope Leo XIV was elected on May 8 to succeed the late Pope Francis.…
China has committed to contributing an additional $500 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) over the next five years, according to an announcement made by Liu Guozhong, Vice Premier of the State Council, during the World Health Assembly in Geneva on Tuesday. Liu reaffirmed China’s continued support for the global health agency, which is currently grappling with financial uncertainty following the United States’ decision to withdraw its funding. “The world is currently confronting the consequences of unilateralism and power politics, which pose significant threats to global health security,” Liu said. “Multilateral cooperation remains the most effective path to overcoming…
In the early hours of Tuesday, May 20, a verified X (formerly Twitter) account belonging to the Tanzania Police Force was compromised, leading to the circulation of alarming false information—including a fabricated announcement of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s death. The hacked account, which has more than 468,000 followers, was used by the attackers to post misleading content, including a live video broadcast. During the livestream, a fake statement in Swahili claimed the president had died, urging citizens to stay calm during the so-called “difficult period.” “With deep sorrow, we confirm the death of the president of the United Republic…
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled in favor of Equatorial Guinea in its longstanding territorial dispute with Gabon over a group of small islands located in the resource-rich Gulf of Guinea. In a binding judgment delivered on Monday, the ICJ affirmed that Equatorial Guinea holds legal ownership of the islands, referencing a 1900 agreement that divided colonial territories between France and Spain in West Africa. The court determined that this historical convention provided a valid basis for Equatorial Guinea’s claim. The court rejected Gabon’s claim, which was based on a 1974 agreement, stating that it did not…
Former Kenyan Justice Minister Martha Karua has been deported from Tanzania, sparking diplomatic tensions and raising concerns about political repression in the East African region. Karua, a prominent human rights advocate, claimed she was forced to leave Tanzania alongside two colleagues—lawyer Gloria Kimani and activist Lynn Ngugi—after arriving to attend the court hearing of Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is facing treason charges. The People’s Liberation Party (PLP), which Karua founded earlier this year, said the trio endured hours of unwarranted interrogation before being deported. They had traveled to Tanzania in solidarity with Lissu, leader of the opposition Chadema…
Hundreds of Rwandan refugees who fled to eastern Congo in the wake of the 1994 genocide have returned home, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) confirmed on Saturday. The repatriation comes amid increased instability in the region, where Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have recently gained control of key areas. Most of the returnees were women and children. According to local authorities, 360 individuals crossed back into Rwanda in buses arranged by the Rwandan government, with escort and logistical support provided by UNHCR and Save the Children. The long-term goal is to repatriate approximately 2,000 people. “We are pleased to welcome our…
Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones, according to a statement released by his office on Sunday. The diagnosis followed a medical evaluation last Friday after Biden, 82, reported urinary symptoms. Doctors identified a small nodule on his prostate, which was later confirmed to be cancerous. “This represents a more aggressive form of the disease,” the statement said. “However, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective treatment options.” Biden and his family are currently reviewing available therapies. Medical experts classified the illness with…
