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Israeli military tells Gaza City residents to evacuate as offensive looms

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The Israeli military has urged civilians still in Gaza City to leave immediately, warning that a major assault could be imminent as its forces expand operations in the densely populated area.

Military spokesman Avichay Adraee issued the evacuation call Saturday on social media, advising residents to move toward the Al-Mawasi zone on Gaza’s southern coast. Israel designates the area as a “humanitarian zone” and said it contains field hospitals, desalination facilities, food, tents, and medical supplies, supported in cooperation with the United Nations and other international groups.

“Take this opportunity to move early to the Al-Mawasi humanitarian zone and join the thousands of people who have already gone there,” Adraee said. The military offered no timeline for the expected ground assault, noting in past statements that it would not announce operations in advance to maintain the element of surprise.

Residents voice distrust of evacuation order
 Despite the call, many residents expressed skepticism. Abdel Nasser Mushtaha, 48, who fled his neighborhood in Zeitoun and now lives in a tent in Gaza City’s Rimal district, told AFP the warnings feel meaningless.

“Some say we should evacuate, others say we should stay,” he said. “But everywhere in Gaza there are bombings and deaths. For the past year-and-a-half, the worst bombings that caused massacres of civilians have been in Al-Mawasi, this so-called humanitarian zone.”

His daughter, Samia Mushtaha, 20, said displacement offers little safety. “Wherever we go, death pursues us, whether by bombing or hunger,” she said.

Israel first declared Al-Mawasi a safe zone early in the war but has carried out strikes there, arguing that Hamas militants were using the area for cover.

U.S. intensifies pressure and negotiations
 The evacuation call came as Israel faces growing international pressure to halt the nearly two-year conflict. Hamas last month accepted a ceasefire proposal involving phased hostage releases, but Israel rejected the terms, demanding the militant group free all captives at once, disarm, and relinquish control of Gaza.

At the White House on Friday, President Donald Trump said the United States is in “very deep negotiation” with Hamas over hostages still held in Gaza.

“There could be some that have recently died, is what I’m hearing. I hope that’s wrong, but you have over 30 bodies in this negotiation,” Trump said, warning that Israel’s demands must be met for progress.

Hamas seized 251 hostages during its October 2023 attack on Israel, which left 1,219 people dead. The Israeli military says 47 remain in Gaza, including 25 believed to be dead.

“We said let them all out right now, let them all out, and much better things will happen for them,” Trump said. “But if you don’t let them all out, it’s going to be a tough situation, it’s going to be nasty.”

UN warns of humanitarian disaster
 The United Nations estimates nearly one million people remain in and around Gaza City, where it declared a famine last month. It has warned of a looming “disaster” if Israel proceeds with its expected ground assault, which could displace another million civilians further south.

Nearly all of Gaza’s population of more than two million has already been displaced at least once during the war, which began with Hamas’s 2023 assault on Israel.

Since then, Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed at least 64,300 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry. The UN considers the figures reliable, though restrictions on media access mean the numbers cannot be independently verified.

Reuters

Trump explores federal takeover of 9/11 memorial in New York City

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Washington (BN24) – President Donald Trump’s administration confirmed Friday that it is examining whether the federal government could assume control of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City, a move that could shift oversight of one of America’s most solemn sites away from its current private management.

The memorial, which sits on the former World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan, includes two reflecting pools with cascading waterfalls inscribed with the names of nearly 3,000 victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, as well as an underground museum. Since its 2014 opening, it has been operated by a nonprofit foundation chaired by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, a frequent Trump critic.

White House officials acknowledged “preliminary exploratory discussions” had taken place but offered no details. During his presidential campaign last year, Trump pledged to designate the memorial as a national monument maintained by the federal government.

Pushback from New York officials and museum leaders
 Leaders of the memorial foundation argued Friday that federal control would not only be legally complex, given that the land belongs to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, but also unnecessary. Beth Hillman, the foundation’s president and CEO, said the nonprofit has raised more than $750 million in private funds, welcomed over 90 million visitors, and generated annual surpluses while maintaining independence.

“We’re proud that our exhibitions tell stories of bravery and patriotism,” Hillman said. “Our current operating model has served the public honorably and effectively.”

Financial records show the museum generated $93 million in revenue last year while spending $84 million on operations, leaving a $9 million surplus after depreciation.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also criticized the idea, saying it risked politicizing the nation’s most significant modern memorial. “The 9/11 Memorial belongs to New Yorkers — the families, survivors, and first responders who have carried this legacy for more than two decades,” Hochul said. “Before he meddles with this sacred site, the President should start by honoring survivors and supporting the families of victims.”

Victims’ families divided on the proposal
 Anthoula Katsimatides, a board member who lost her brother John in the attacks, said the museum is already fulfilling its mission. “They do an incredible job telling the story of that day without sugarcoating it,” she said. “It’s being run so well, I don’t see why there has to be a change.”

Still, the memorial and museum have faced criticism from some victims’ families over ticket prices and exhibit decisions, concerns that Trump’s proposal could tap into as the debate unfolds.

Political backdrop
 The suggestion of a federal takeover comes months after Trump’s administration briefly cut staffing for a federal health program assisting survivors and first responders exposed to toxic dust from Ground Zero, before restoring funding under pressure. It also follows his efforts to reshape narratives at U.S. monuments and museums, raising fears in New York that federal involvement could alter how the Sept. 11 attacks are remembered.

Trump’s office declined to comment on the pushback.

In all, nearly 3,000 people were killed when hijackers crashed four commercial jetliners into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11, 2001. More than 2,700 of the dead were in New York when the twin towers collapsed.

New Ebola outbreak in DR Congo’s Kasai province claims 15 lives

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KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo (BN24) — A new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed at least 15 people in the central province of Kasai, health officials confirmed Thursday, marking the country’s 16th outbreak since the virus was first detected nearly five decades ago.

Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba said the outbreak was first identified on August 20 after a 34-year-old pregnant woman was admitted to a local hospital with symptoms consistent with the virus. Since then, 28 suspected cases have been reported in the region.

The confirmation raises new concerns as the DRC continues to grapple with infrastructure challenges that threaten to complicate containment efforts. While the outbreak has not yet reached urban centers, limited transportation networks and communication barriers could hinder timely medical response and vaccine distribution.

Kamba said the outbreak has been linked to the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus, the most lethal variant and the same strain responsible for previous deadly outbreaks. A vaccine is available and has proven effective in past responses, but officials warn that logistical hurdles may delay its rollout in affected areas.

The last confirmed Ebola outbreak in the DRC occurred in 2022, resulting in six deaths. The country’s deadliest episode between 2018 and 2020 claimed nearly 2,300 lives, largely in the eastern provinces. Ebola was first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the DRC and is believed to originate from fruit bats. The virus spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals and often leads to severe internal bleeding and organ failure.

Despite international support and the availability of medical tools, the DRC’s vast geography—nearly four times the size of France—and underdeveloped infrastructure continue to pose a significant challenge to public health interventions.

As response teams mobilize, authorities urge heightened surveillance, public awareness, and rapid deployment of medical resources to stem the spread of the virus in the densely forested province.

Australian Bank fires veteran employee after 25 years, replaces her with Ai she helped develop

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SYDNEY, Australia(BN24) — A long-serving Commonwealth Bank employee says she was dismissed after 25 years on the job, only months after unknowingly helping to train the artificial intelligence system that would ultimately replace her.

Kathryn Sullivan, 63, worked as a bank teller at Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), where her final tasks involved scripting and testing chatbot responses for the bank’s AI-powered assistant, Bumblebee. What she didn’t know at the time was that her contributions would lead to the elimination of her own role.

“I was completely shell-shocked,” Sullivan said. “We just feel like we were nothing—we were a number.”

Sullivan, who supported the integration of new technology to enhance customer service, said she believed in the responsible use of AI in the workplace. However, she expressed concern over the lack of regulation and oversight when AI is used to replace human workers.

“Inadvertently, I was training a chatbot that took my job,” she said. “While I embrace the use of AI, there needs to be regulation—especially to protect jobs and intellectual property.”

Sullivan was made redundant in July, alongside at least one colleague, after participating in AI trials where she assisted the chatbot when it failed to answer real customer inquiries. Although she was aware that some digital messaging operations might be outsourced in the future, she said she never imagined her role would be eliminated altogether.

Following the layoffs, Commonwealth Bank faced a surge in customer service issues, with increased call volumes indicating the AI system could not fully manage customer needs without human oversight. The bank eventually reversed its decision, acknowledging it had mishandled the process and offered reinstatement to affected employees.

Sullivan declined the offer, citing a lack of job security and the significant difference between the new position and her previous role.

“They ghosted me for eight business days after I was let go,” she added. “There was no communication, no answers.”

In a statement, a Commonwealth Bank spokesperson admitted the bank’s initial assessment was flawed.

“We acknowledge we should have been more thorough in our assessment of the roles required,” the spokesman said. “Our conclusion that 45 roles were not needed did not adequately consider all relevant business factors. These roles were not, in fact, redundant.”

The bank issued an apology and said it is now supporting impacted employees with options to return, pursue other roles within the company, or proceed with redundancy. It also confirmed an internal review is underway to improve how such decisions are handled in the future.

The incident has reignited concerns around the use of AI in banking and the speed at which traditional roles are being phased out—sometimes by the very employees helping to build the future systems.

Luis Suarez issues public apology after spitting incident following Leagues Cup final loss

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MIAMI (BN24)— Former Liverpool and Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has issued a public apology after appearing to spit at a member of the Seattle Sounders coaching staff following Inter Miami’s 3-0 defeat in the Leagues Cup final.

The 38-year-old forward, now playing for Inter Miami alongside Lionel Messi, was caught on camera confronting a Sounders staffer in the tense aftermath of the match, which saw Seattle lift the trophy at the expense of the star-studded MLS side. Video footage showed Suarez getting in the coach’s face before appearing to spit, as Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari attempted to defuse the situation.

Suarez, whose on-field conduct has long sparked controversy throughout his career, posted a written apology on Instagram Thursday, acknowledging that he had made a mistake.

“First of all, I want to congratulate the Seattle Sounders for their Leagues Cup victory,” Suarez wrote. “But more importantly, I want to apologise for my behaviour at the end of the game. It was a moment full of tension and frustration… but that doesn’t justify my reaction.”

Suarez described the act as out of character, emphasizing that his actions did not reflect the values of Inter Miami or the example he wishes to set for his family.

“I made a mistake and I’m sincerely sorry,” he added. “That’s not the image that I want to portray in front of my family, who suffer for my errors, and (Inter Miami) doesn’t deserve to be affected by this either. I did not want to miss this opportunity to recognise it and ask everyone for forgiveness who felt poorly about what I did.”

The striker concluded his statement by reaffirming his commitment to the team’s goals for the remainder of the MLS season.

Suarez’s conduct has been heavily scrutinized in the past. In 2011, he received an eight-match ban and a fine from the English Football Association for racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra. He later refused to shake Evra’s hand during a subsequent match.

In 2014, Suarez was suspended for four months during the FIFA World Cup for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini—his third biting offense after similar incidents involving Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and Ajax’s Otman Bakkal.

Despite a glittering career that has seen him play for some of the world’s top clubs, Suarez’s legacy continues to be marred by disciplinary issues on the pitch. His latest apology attempts to shift the narrative as Inter Miami push forward in their campaign for silverware this season.

President Trump to attend men’s US Open final in New York on Sunday

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NEW YORK (BN24)— President Donald Trump is set to attend the men’s singles final at the 2025 US Open on Sunday, a White House official confirmed to Fox News late Thursday.

The championship match will take place at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, located in the Queens borough of New York City. The finalists have yet to be determined, as the semifinals are scheduled for Friday.

No American players will feature in this year’s final, with Taylor Fritz—the last remaining U.S. contender in the men’s draw—eliminated earlier in the tournament.

Friday’s matchups include a highly anticipated clash between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, while Jannik Sinner will face off against Felix Auger-Aliassime for the other spot in the final.

President Trump has made several appearances at high-profile sporting events since returning to the White House. In July, he attended the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in New Jersey, joining Chelsea FC players on the field to celebrate their victory. Earlier in the year, he was present at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, where the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs. He also made an appearance at a UFC event in April, accompanied by senior administration officials.

Trump’s planned visit to the US Open final marks another high-visibility moment during a year of ongoing campaign activity and public engagement.

15-year-old boy known as ‘God’s Influencer’ set to become first millennial saint on Sunday

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VATICAN CITY (BN24) — On Sunday, September 7, Carlo Acutis, a British-born Italian teenager, will be officially declared a saint, making history as the first millennial to achieve sainthood. The canonisation ceremony will take place at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, where thousands of pilgrims are expected to gather to witness the event. Acutis, who passed away from leukaemia in 2006 at the age of 15, is being recognised for his deep faith and dedication to using technology to spread the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Acutis, often referred to as “God’s Influencer,” gained attention for his unique approach to evangelism through the internet. At a time when social media and digital platforms were rising in prominence, he used his skills to document Catholic miracles and promote the faith online. His efforts earned him widespread admiration, particularly among younger generations, for his ability to blend traditional devotion with modern technology. His body, dressed in jeans and Nike trainers, is displayed in a glass-walled tomb in Assisi, Italy, where it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

Born in London in 1991 to an Italian mother and a half-English, half-Italian father, Acutis spent most of his childhood in Milan. Though his parents were not particularly religious, Acutis became known for his strong commitment to Catholicism from a young age. He attended daily Mass and was noted for his acts of kindness, particularly towards bullied children and homeless individuals. Acutis also used his computer skills to create websites for his local parish and later for the Vatican-based Academy of Sciences, helping share the Catholic faith with a wider online audience.

His mother, Antonia Salzano, has spoken of the “special relationship” her son had with God. Acutis’ devotion was evident even in his youth. At the age of seven, he wrote, “My life plan is to be always close to Jesus,” a statement that would define his life’s mission. Upon being diagnosed with leukaemia in 2006, Acutis displayed remarkable courage. In his final days, he reassured his parents, saying, “I’m happy to die because I’ve lived my life without wasting even a minute of it doing things that wouldn’t have pleased God.” He passed away on October 12, 2006.

The Vatican recognised two miracles attributed to Acutis, which played a key role in his beatification in 2020 by Pope Francis. The first miracle involved the miraculous healing of a Brazilian child suffering from a rare pancreatic condition. The second miracle was the recovery of a Costa Rican student who had been seriously injured in a car accident. These miracles were crucial in advancing his cause for sainthood.

Acutis’ canonisation is the culmination of a rigorous process, which begins with a five-year waiting period following death. This is followed by a thorough investigation of the individual’s life, with a focus on heroic virtue, and the recognition of miracles attributed to them. After beatification, the canonisation process requires the confirmation of a second miracle. Over 800 pilgrims from Assisi are expected to travel to Rome to attend the ceremony, with many viewing it as a fulfilment of Acutis’ final wish to be buried in Assisi, the hometown of his 13th-century idol, Saint Francis, who devoted his life to serving the poor.

In addition to Acutis, the Vatican will also canonise Italian Pier Giorgio Frassati, a mountaineer and social activist who died of polio at age 24 in 1925. Frassati, who was beatified in 1990 by Pope John Paul II, is celebrated for his tireless work in helping the poor and the sick. His canonisation follows the recognition of a second miracle, which involved the inexplicable recovery of an American man who had been in a coma. Frassati’s casket bears the inscription “Verso l’alto” (“To the heights”), a tribute to his love for mountaineering and the challenges it symbolised.

Sunday’s event marks the first canonisation ceremony presided over by Pope Leo XIV since his election in May. The occasion also coincides with the Jubilee, a “Holy Year” that has drawn more than 24 million pilgrims to Rome, according to the Vatican.

The canonisation of Carlo Acutis is a landmark moment for the Catholic Church, highlighting the ways in which technology, faith, and youthful dedication can intersect to create a new path to sainthood. It also signifies a new chapter in the Church’s relationship with the millennial generation, embracing a modern saint whose legacy is defined not just by his age but by his ability to inspire through digital platforms and acts of kindness.

475 South Korean nationals detained in largest immigration raid at Hyundai plant in Georgia

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Atlanta (BN24) – Federal immigration agents detained 475 workers, most of them South Korean nationals, in what officials described as the largest single-site enforcement action in the history of Homeland Security Investigations. The raid took place Thursday at a Hyundai construction site in Ellabell, Georgia, where the automaker and LG Energy Solution are jointly building a massive electric vehicle battery plant.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) said the arrests followed a multimonth criminal probe into alleged unlawful employment practices at the site. Special Agent in Charge Steven Schrank told reporters Friday that those taken into custody were “illegally present in the United States or in violation of their presence, working unlawfully.” He added the operation “underscores our commitment to jobs for Georgians and Americans.”

Videos posted on social media showed hundreds of workers lined up for questioning as federal agents conducted document checks and background reviews. Schrank emphasized the action was not a random sweep but rather the result of an extensive investigation. While 475 workers remain in immigration custody, no criminal charges had been filed as of Friday.

A judge unsealed a 15-page warrant authorizing agents to seize employment and immigration records tied to the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America construction project. The warrant also listed four individuals sought by authorities, though details remain sealed.

U.S. Attorney Margaret E. Heap said more than 400 agents participated in the enforcement action, part of the nationwide initiative “Operation Take Back America,” which she described as targeting illegal immigration, cartels and transnational crime.

South Korea raises objections
 Seoul responded sharply to the arrests. “In the course of U.S. law enforcement, the economic activities of our investment firms and the rights and interests of our nationals must not be unjustly infringed upon,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Lee Jae-woong. He said South Korea had expressed its concerns to the U.S. Embassy and would establish a task force in Georgia through its Atlanta consulate.

Charles Kuck, an immigration attorney in Atlanta representing two detainees, said his clients entered legally under the U.S. Visa Waiver Program and were not violating its terms. He described them as process engineers who were attending meetings and not performing unauthorized labor.

White House, Hyundai respond
 White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said President Donald Trump remains committed to making the U.S. “the best place in the world to do business, while also enforcing federal immigration laws.” She added that foreign workers must enter legally “with proper work authorizations.”

Hyundai said none of those detained were directly employed by the company. “We prioritize the safety and well-being of everyone working at the site and comply with all laws and regulations wherever we operate,” the company said in a statement. LG Energy Solution echoed that it was “closely monitoring the situation” and would cooperate fully with authorities.

Schrank said those arrested were employed through a network of contractors and subcontractors, which remain under federal scrutiny. Many of the detained workers were transferred to the Folkston immigration processing center in Georgia.

A high-profile economic project
 The Hyundai EV plant, valued at $7.6 billion, has been hailed by Gov. Brian Kemp as the largest economic development project in Georgia’s history. The facility began producing electric vehicles last year and employs about 1,400 people. The battery plant now under construction is expected to open next year, creating thousands of additional jobs.

South Korea, one of the world’s largest auto and electronics producers, has pledged billions in U.S. investments to expand its manufacturing footprint. Hyundai announced in March that it would raise its planned U.S. investment to $26 billion between 2025 and 2028, including projects in steel, robotics, and expanded auto production that are expected to generate roughly 25,000 jobs.

The immigration raid threatens to complicate those economic ties just as Washington and Seoul deepen cooperation on trade and investment.

Tesla proposes record $1 trillion pay package for Elon Musk with ambitious growth targets

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Texas (BN24) – Tesla’s board has unveiled a proposed $1 trillion compensation package for CEO Elon Musk, a plan that would become the largest corporate pay award in history and dramatically expand his control over the electric vehicle giant as it pivots toward artificial intelligence and robotics.

The proposal, disclosed in a regulatory filing, underscores the board’s confidence in Musk’s leadership despite mounting competition from Chinese automakers and slowing demand for electric cars. It would grant Musk as much as 12% of Tesla’s stock if the company reaches a market value of $8.6 trillion — nearly eight times its current level — with vesting tied to both market capitalization and operational milestones such as robotaxi deployment and humanoid robot production.

Musk, already Tesla’s largest shareholder with a roughly 13% stake, would see his influence grow substantially if the award is approved. The package dwarfs his contested 2018 compensation plan, valued at $56 billion, which remains tied up in legal disputes after a Delaware court struck it down earlier this year. Tesla has since reincorporated in Texas and is appealing the ruling.

The board insists the unprecedented award is essential to keeping Musk focused and incentivized, particularly as the company pushes to become the world’s most valuable business. But critics say Musk, as majority shareholder, already has strong financial motivation and warn the plan could worsen governance risks.

“This is a ridiculously large pay package. It raises lots of questions, but last year Musk moved Tesla from Delaware to Texas in order to avoid all those questions,” said Brian Quinn, a professor at Boston College Law School. “Given that Tesla’s stock price is basically all vibes and appears to have very little to do with the automaker’s actual performance, I suspect they will approve this package.”

Tesla emphasized that Musk will not receive a salary or cash bonus under the plan, echoing the structure of his previous compensation, with all rewards tied directly to performance. The company said the package reflects shareholder feedback and includes stronger governance safeguards, with the proposal reviewed by a committee of independent directors ahead of a November shareholder vote.

The filing comes as Musk has outlined sweeping ambitions for Tesla’s future. He has predicted that Optimus humanoid robots could one day account for 80% of Tesla’s value, potentially driving the company’s worth to $25 trillion.

The announcement has also been clouded by Musk’s growing involvement in U.S. politics. He has publicly clashed with President Donald Trump and recently launched the “America Party,” raising concerns among investors about potential distractions. The Tesla board has urged shareholders to reject a proposal that would require the company to adopt a political neutrality policy.

“It really seems like what Elon wants, Elon gets from the board and from his shareholders,” said Douglas Chia, president of Soundboard Governance, an independent corporate governance advisory firm. “As ridiculous as it is, they’ll pass it, I have no doubt.”

Tesla shares rose about 3% after the package was disclosed.

US to ease travel restrictions on Equatorial Guinea’s vice president accused of corruption – AP

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WASHINGTON (BN24) — The Trump administration is preparing to ease U.S. corruption sanctions against Equatorial Guinea’s vice president, Teodoro “Teddy” Nguema Obiang, allowing him to travel beyond New York for the upcoming United Nations General Assembly despite a long record of embezzlement and luxury excess.

Two U.S. officials confirmed Friday that the State Department is processing a one-month sanctions waiver for Obiang, who is widely seen as the heir to his father, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Africa’s longest-serving leader. The decision, they said, was driven by U.S. national security interests, particularly countering China’s growing influence in the West African nation and safeguarding American oil and gas investments.

The waiver would grant Obiang freedom to visit cities including Miami and Los Angeles, where he has owned property and luxury vehicles. In the past, he has faced restrictions that limited his U.S. travel to New York for U.N. meetings — a move that embarrassed him and strained relations with Washington.

Obiang, 56, has long been accused of siphoning off Equatorial Guinea’s oil wealth while most of the country’s 1.6 million citizens live in poverty. In 2017, a French court convicted him of embezzlement, handing down a suspended three-year prison sentence, a €30 million fine, and the seizure of multimillion-euro properties and supercars. He has also been forced to surrender assets in the United States, including a Malibu mansion, luxury vehicles, and Michael Jackson memorabilia valued at more than $30 million, following a Justice Department corruption case.

“Through relentless embezzlement and extortion, Vice President Nguema Obiang shamelessly looted his government to support his lavish lifestyle, while many of his fellow citizens lived in extreme poverty,” then–Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said in 2014 when announcing the U.S. settlement.

The vice president’s wealth has come under scrutiny elsewhere as well. South Africa seized two of his villas and a superyacht last year in a lawsuit alleging unlawful detention and torture by Equatorial Guinea’s government.

Despite his notoriety, U.S. officials argue that allowing Obiang broader travel serves strategic goals. Beijing is seeking to establish a naval base in Equatorial Guinea — its first on the Atlantic Ocean — while Moscow has also expanded its footprint in the region. By softening its stance, Washington hopes to maintain influence in Malabo and secure a favorable environment for American energy companies.

The move comes as the Trump administration has otherwise tightened visa policies, including blocking entry to Palestinian Authority officials, imposing restrictions on Iranian and Brazilian delegations, and cracking down on foreign students accused of pro-Palestinian activism. Critics say the contrasting treatment of Obiang underscores inconsistencies in Washington’s approach to human rights and corruption.

Neither the Equatorial Guinea government nor its U.N. mission responded to requests for comment. The State Department declined to address the waiver, saying visa applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Equatorial Guinea, a former Spanish colony, remains one of Africa’s most resource-rich yet economically unequal nations. While the Obiang family has amassed mansions, superyachts, and fleets of exotic cars, the World Bank estimates more than 70% of the population lives in poverty.

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