South Africa to deploy army against gangs and illegal mining
Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the deployment of the South African National Defence Force to assist police in combating criminal gangs and illegal mining operations.
- South Africa to deploy army against gangs and illegal mining
- UN says 6,000 killed in three days as RSF seized Sudan city
- WHO condemns halted US-funded vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau
- Report: US deported nine to Cameroon despite court protections
- Cyclone Gezani kills four in Mozambique
- US military prepares for possible prolonged Iran operations
- Iran foreign minister attacks Europe’s role in nuclear talks
- Israel approves West Bank land registration as state property
- Former Ukraine energy minister detained at border
- Obama condemns decline in US political decorum
Speaking during his annual State of the Nation Address, Ramaphosa described organised crime as “the most immediate threat to our democracy, our society and our economic development”.
South Africa continues to grapple with one of the world’s highest murder rates, with gang violence deeply entrenched in several provinces.
UN says 6,000 killed in three days as RSF seized Sudan city
More than 6,000 people were killed over three days when Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured el-Fasher last year, according to a United Nations report citing victims and witnesses.
The report documents mass killings, summary executions, torture, abductions and sexual violence that it says may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. The RSF has previously denied such accusations.
WHO condemns halted US-funded vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau
World Health Organization has criticised as “unethical” a now-halted US-funded hepatitis B vaccine trial in Guinea-Bissau involving newborn babies.
The study proposed giving some infants the vaccine at birth while delaying it for others until six weeks of age. WHO said the birth-dose vaccine is an essential, life-saving intervention used for more than three decades in over 115 countries.
The US health department, led by Robert F Kennedy Jr, had sought to examine broader health effects of the vaccine. WHO warned that withholding a proven intervention risked “potentially irreversible harm”.
Report: US deported nine to Cameroon despite court protections
The administration of Donald Trump secretly deported nine individuals to Cameroon despite several having US court protections against removal, according to the New York Times.
The individuals were reportedly unaware of their destination until placed on a Department of Homeland Security flight. Neither US nor Cameroonian authorities have publicly confirmed any agreement allowing Cameroon to accept deportees from third countries.
Cyclone Gezani kills four in Mozambique
Cyclone Gezani has struck Mozambique’s Inhambane province, killing at least four people after previously causing significant fatalities in Madagascar.
Winds of up to 215km/h brought down power lines and trees, cutting electricity to more than 13,000 people. Mozambique, frequently hit by extreme weather, has seen increasing storm intensity that scientists link to climate change.
US military prepares for possible prolonged Iran operations
US officials say the military is preparing for the possibility of weeks-long operations against Iran should President Donald Trump authorise action.
Additional aircraft carriers, troops and fighter aircraft have reportedly been deployed to the region as diplomatic efforts continue in Geneva, with Oman mediating talks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said reaching a deal remains “very hard”.
Iran foreign minister attacks Europe’s role in nuclear talks
Abbas Araghchi has criticised European powers as “irrelevant” in efforts to revive nuclear negotiations with the US.
He accused France, Germany and the United Kingdom — the so-called E3 — of paralysis, saying regional Gulf states were proving more effective interlocutors.
Israel approves West Bank land registration as state property
The Israeli government has approved a proposal to formally register large areas of the occupied West Bank as “state property”, marking the first such move since 1967.
The proposal was submitted by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and backed by other senior ministers. Palestinians and international legal experts argue that international law prohibits an occupying power from confiscating or settling land in occupied territory.
Former Ukraine energy minister detained at border
Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities have detained former energy minister German Galushchenko while he was attempting to leave the country.
The detention is linked to an alleged $100m embezzlement case that has intensified scrutiny of Kyiv’s anti-corruption drive amid the ongoing war with Russia.
Obama condemns decline in US political decorum
Barack Obama, former US president has criticised the erosion of “shame” and “decorum” in American political discourse following a racist video shared on social media by Donald Trump.
The video, later deleted by the White House, included offensive imagery of Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. Trump denied wrongdoing and said he had not seen the specific segment in question.
