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China Pledges $51 Billion in Funding to Africa, Promises One Million Jobs

Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged on Thursday to significantly increase China’s support for Africa, promising nearly $51 billion in funding over three years, backing for more infrastructure projects, and the creation of at least one million jobs. The announcement came during the three-yearly Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing, where delegates from more than 50 African nations gathered.

Xi emphasized the importance of China-Africa relations, stating, “China and Africa account for one-third of the world population. Without our modernization, there will be no global modernization.” Despite his previous emphasis on “small and beautiful” schemes, Xi committed to tripling the number of infrastructure projects across resource-rich Africa, focusing on advanced and green technologies in which Chinese firms have heavily invested.

The financial assistance package totals 360 billion yuan ($50.70 billion), with 210 billion to be disbursed through credit lines and at least 70 billion in fresh investment by Chinese companies. Smaller amounts will be provided through military aid and other projects. Notably, this assistance will be in yuan, potentially indicating a push to further internationalize the Chinese currency.

Following the opening ceremony, delegates adopted the Beijing Declaration on building “a shared future in the new era” and the Beijing Action Plan for 2025-2027. Xi called for a China-Africa network of land and sea links and coordinated development, urging Chinese contractors to return to the continent now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.

While Xi did not explicitly mention debt in his speech, the Action Plan included terms for repayment postponements and called for the establishment of an African rating agency. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that African countries’ inadequate access to debt relief and scarce resources could lead to social unrest.

Xi announced plans to launch 30 clean energy projects in Africa, offering cooperation on nuclear technology to address the continent’s power deficit. However, he did not reiterate his 2021 pledge to buy $300 billion worth of African goods, instead promising only to unilaterally expand market access. Analysts attribute this to China’s strict plant sanitary check rules, which have made it difficult to meet previous import promises.

The forum outlines a three-year program for China and every African state except Eswatini, which maintains ties with Taiwan. Last year, China approved loans worth $4.61 billion to Africa, marking the first annual increase since 2016.

African representatives at the summit expressed optimism about strengthening ties with China. Princess Dugba, Sierra Leone’s fisheries and marine resources minister, highlighted a Chinese-funded fish harbor project in her country, saying, “I’m here to see how best we can foster our relationship with China.”

As the summit concludes, attention turns to the implementation of these ambitious commitments and their potential impact on African development and China-Africa relations in the coming years. The outcomes of this forum underscore China’s continued economic engagement with Africa and its role as the world’s biggest bilateral lender to the continent.

Imane Khelif’s Olympic Gold Inspires Surge in Women’s Boxing in Algeria

Imane Khelif’s gold medal victory in women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics has ignited a wave of enthusiasm for the sport across Algeria, with coaches and athletes reporting a surge in interest, particularly among women.

Khelif, a 25-year-old welterweight, has become a national hero, her image adorning airports, highway billboards, and boxing gyms throughout the country. Her success has not only elevated her to celebrity status but has also inspired a new generation of female boxers.

In Ain Taya, a seaside town east of Algiers, the impact of what local media have dubbed “Khelifmania” is evident. Zougar Amina, a medical student and amateur boxer, describes Khelif as an idol and role model. “Since I’ve been boxing, my personality has changed: I’m more confident, less stressed,” Amina said, adding that the sport serves as “therapy to fight shyness, to learn to defend myself, to gain self-confidence.”

The local gym, a converted church, has seen a significant increase in interest. Coach Malika Abassi reports that all 23 young women and girls training there aspire to emulate Khelif’s success. “We’re getting calls from parents wanting to sign up their daughters,” Abassi said, expressing concern about the gym’s capacity to handle the growing demand.

Noureddine Bouteldja, a former amateur boxer and sports journalist, describes Khelif’s impact as transcending boxing to become a “social phenomenon” throughout Algeria. Her personal story and the international scrutiny she faced during the Olympics have resonated deeply with Algerians.

The nation rallied behind Khelif in the face of criticism from international figures who falsely claimed she was transgender. Algerians largely interpreted these attacks as affronts to their nation, with most unable to conceive of a transgender athlete from Algeria.

“It’s the victory of a woman who has shown extraordinary resilience and phenomenal strength of character in the face of the campaign to denigrate her gender,” Bouteldja said.

Mourad Meziane, head of the Algerian Boxing League, anticipates a significant increase in registrations among young women at the start of the school year in mid-September. Currently, Algeria has 30 regional boxing leagues and 10,000 athletes participating nationwide.

“The impact is inevitable and will only be very positive for women’s boxing in Algeria,” Meziane said.

The influence of Khelif’s victory extends beyond sports. Attorney Aouicha Bakhti, a prominent feminist and political activist, believes Khelif’s story will have a lasting impact on Algerian culture, serving as a counterweight to societal elements that discourage women’s participation in sports.

“This kind of epic helps society, ours in this case, which is in the process of retreating in the face of fundamentalist ideals,” Bakhti said.

Despite widespread support, Khelif’s success has faced some criticism. A few prominent imams and Islamist politicians have objected to the example she sets by wearing her boxing uniform rather than a headscarf. However, amateur boxer Amina Abassi believes the overwhelming support for Khelif will outweigh such criticism.

“I’m convinced that even conservative families will allow their daughters to take up boxing,” Abassi said. “Imane has broken through the wall of false modesty and hypocrisy.”

As Algeria celebrates Khelif’s victory, the nation watches with anticipation to see how her success will continue to shape attitudes towards women in sports and society at large.

AP

Israeli Strikes Kill 6 in West Bank, 4 in Gaza, Palestinian Officials Say

Israeli strikes in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip have resulted in multiple casualties, according to Palestinian health officials, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues to intensify.

In the West Bank, Palestinian health officials reported that Israeli strikes killed six people, including the son of a prominent jailed militant. The Israeli military stated that all those killed were militants involved in attacks.

A strike overnight in the northern West Bank town of Tubas killed five people, including Mohammed Zubeidi, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Thursday. Zubeidi is the son of Zakaria Zubeidi, a well-known militant commander from the second Palestinian uprising in the early 2000s who took part in a rare jail break in 2021 before being recaptured.

The Israeli military claimed that the younger Zubeidi had participated in attacks against Israeli forces in the West Bank and was with a militant cell when targeted. In another incident, the military reported killing a fighter in an airstrike in the Al-Faraa refugee camp after he allegedly hurled a firebomb at Israeli forces.

Israel has been conducting large-scale raids in the West Bank over the past week, stating that these operations aim to dismantle militant groups and prevent attacks. However, Palestinians fear these actions may lead to a widening of the war in Gaza.

Simultaneously, in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian health officials reported that an Israeli strike on a tent camp near the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah killed four men and wounded two children early Thursday. An Associated Press reporter confirmed seeing the bodies at the hospital.

The Israeli military stated it had carried out a precise strike on a command and control center operated by Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group, which was allegedly embedded in a humanitarian zone.

A woman identified as Umm Mohammed Wadi, who was staying in a tent close to where the strike occurred, questioned the attack, saying, “What did they do to be struck while sleeping? No hospital is safe, nor any school or home.”

The ongoing conflict has displaced approximately 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people, often multiple times. While Israel has ordered mass evacuations into designated humanitarian zones, it occasionally carries out strikes in these areas as well.

Israel maintains that it only targets militants and tries to avoid harming civilians. However, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that at least 40,861 Palestinians have been killed and more than 94,000 wounded since the start of the war. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and fighters in its toll.

The war began after Hamas launched a wide-scale attack into Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting around 250 people. Approximately 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, about a third of whom are believed to be dead, after most of the rest were released during a ceasefire in November.

Mexico’s Congress Advances Controversial Bill to Elect All Judges, Causing Protests

Mexico’s lower house of Congress has passed a controversial bill that would require all of the country’s judges to stand for election, marking the most sweeping judicial overhaul in a century. The measure, which has sparked widespread protests and criticism, now heads to the Senate for consideration.

In a marathon session that stretched into the early hours of Wednesday morning, legislators were forced to meet in a gymnasium after protesters blocked access to the Congress building. The lower chamber approved the constitutional measure with a 359-135 vote in the first round, followed by a second-round vote later that morning. Both votes followed party lines, with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Morena party and its allies pushing the bill through.

The proposed reform would affect some 7,000 judges across Mexico’s judicial system. López Obrador and his ruling party argue that the current court system is corrupt and that elections would make judges more accountable to the people.

Critics, however, warn that the changes could severely undermine the independence of the judiciary. Human rights groups and legal experts have raised concerns about how such large-scale elections could be carried out without risking infiltration by drug cartels and criminal organizations.

The bill now faces a crucial test in the Senate, where Morena is one vote short of the required two-thirds majority. Observers expect a tight vote, with the possibility of the ruling party persuading an opposition senator to support the measure. If passed by the Senate, the constitutional proposal would then need approval from a majority of Mexico’s 32 state legislatures. Morena controls most state congresses, increasing the likelihood of the bill’s ultimate passage.

The proposed changes have fueled widespread protests across Mexico in recent weeks. On Tuesday, demonstrators blocked entrances to the lower house of Congress in an attempt to halt the debate. The country’s Supreme Court also voted 8-3 to join strikes, adding weight to the opposition movement.

Javier Reyes, a 37-year-old federal court worker participating in the protests, expressed concern about the potential consequences of the reform. “The party with the majority could take control of the judicial branch, and that would practically be the end of democracy,” he said. “They want to own Mexico.”

The bill would dramatically alter the current system, in which judges and court secretaries qualify for higher positions based on their records. Under the proposed changes, any lawyer meeting minimal qualifications could run for a judgeship, with some candidacies potentially decided by drawing names from a hat.

Other controversial aspects of the reform include the introduction of time limits for judges to rule on many cases, the creation of “hooded judges” with secret identities to preside over organized crime cases, and stripping courts of much of their power to block government projects or laws based on citizen appeals.

U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar has voiced concerns about the proposed changes, particularly the election of judges, warning that it could negatively impact investment and the Mexican economy. In response, López Obrador announced last week that he had put relations with the U.S. and Canadian embassies “on pause” after they expressed their concerns.

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, a close ally of López Obrador, defended the reform on social media, stating that it “does not affect our commercial relations, nor national or foreign private investments. On the contrary, there will be more and better rule of law and more democracy for all.”

As the bill moves to the Senate, opposition parties have vowed to vote against it. Alejandro Moreno, head of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, confirmed that his party members would oppose the proposal in the upper chamber, as they did in the lower house.

The contentious nature of the reform and its potential far-reaching consequences ensure that it will remain a focal point of political debate and public discourse in Mexico in the coming weeks. As the legislative process continues, all eyes will be on the Senate and state legislatures to see if this sweeping judicial overhaul becomes a reality.

Credit: apnews.com

Munich Police Kill Armed Man Near Israeli Consulate and Nazi-Era Museum

Munich police fatally wounded an armed man on Thursday during an exchange of fire near a museum dedicated to the city’s Nazi-era history and the Israeli Consulate, authorities said.

Police spokesperson Andreas Franken told reporters that officers responded to reports of a person carrying a “long gun” in the Karolinenplatz area, near downtown Munich, around 9 a.m. The ensuing exchange of gunfire resulted in the suspect sustaining fatal injuries. No other injuries were reported.

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said the suspect had opened fire on police before officers returned fire. The man, who was carrying an old make of firearm with a repeating mechanism, died at the scene.

Authorities have not released information on the suspect’s identity or possible motives. The incident occurred on the 52nd anniversary of the attack by Palestinian militants on the Israeli delegation at the 1972 Munich Olympics, which resulted in multiple deaths. However, police have not indicated any connection between the anniversary and Thursday’s events.

Police increased their presence in Germany’s third-largest city but said they had no indication of incidents at other locations or of any other suspects. Five officers were present when the gunfire erupted, with additional forces deployed to the area afterward.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the consulate in Munich was closed when the shooting occurred, and none of its staff was harmed. The nearby Munich Documentation Center for the History of National Socialism, which explores the city’s past as the birthplace of the Nazi movement, reported that all of its employees were unharmed.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier about the incident. Herzog wrote on social media platform X that “together we expressed our shared condemnation and horror” at the shooting.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, speaking at an unrelated news conference in Berlin, described the shooting as “a serious incident” but declined to speculate on its nature. She emphasized that “the protection of Jewish and Israeli facilities has the highest priority.”

The incident has prompted heightened security measures in Munich, with authorities continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Ugandan Olympic Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei Dies After Severe Burns in Domestic Dispute

ELDORET, Kenya — Rebecca Cheptegei, a 33-year-old Ugandan Olympic athlete, has died at a Kenyan hospital where she was being treated for severe burns covering 80% of her body following an attack allegedly perpetrated by her partner.

Owen Menach, a spokesperson for Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, confirmed Cheptegei’s death on Thursday. Menach stated that the long-distance runner died early in the morning after organ failure. She had been fully sedated since her admission to the hospital.

Cheptegei had competed in the women’s marathon at the Paris Olympics less than a month before the attack, finishing in 44th place.

Joseph Cheptegei, the athlete’s father, told journalists at the hospital that he had lost a “very supportive” daughter and expressed hope for justice.

Trans Nzoia County Police Commander Jeremiah ole Kosiom reported on Monday that Cheptegei’s partner, Dickson Ndiema, allegedly bought a can of gasoline, poured it on her, and set her ablaze during a disagreement on Sunday. Ndiema also sustained burns in the incident and was being treated at the same hospital.

Menach informed that Ndiema remained in the intensive care unit with burns over 30% of his body but was “improving and stable.”

Cheptegei’s parents revealed that their daughter had purchased land in Trans Nzoia to be near the county’s numerous athletic training centers. A report filed by the local chief indicated that the couple was heard arguing over the land where her house was built before the attack occurred.

The Uganda Athletics Federation expressed its condolences on the social platform X, stating, “We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei, early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence. As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.”

Uganda Olympic Committee President Donald Rukare described the attack as “a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete.”

This tragic incident follows a series of violent deaths among East African athletes in recent years. In 2023, Ugandan Olympic runner and steeplechaser Benjamin Kiplagat was found dead with stab wounds. In 2022, Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Damaris Muthee was found dead, with a postmortem report indicating she was strangled. In 2021, long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was stabbed to death at her home, with her husband Ibrahim Rotich arrested and charged with murder in an ongoing case.

The death of Rebecca Cheptegei highlights the ongoing issue of domestic violence in the athletic community and beyond, prompting calls for increased awareness and preventive measures.

American Airlines Flight Diverted After Bomb Threat Discovery

An American Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Pittsburgh International Airport on Wednesday due to a bomb threat discovered onboard.

The flight, traveling from Newark, New Jersey to Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, was diverted after a flight attendant found a bomb threat written on a bathroom door, according to local news station WPXI. The message, barely legible and scrawled in pink ink, reportedly read, “there’s a bomb onboard.”

Upon landing in Pittsburgh, the FBI questioned the last two passengers who had used the bathroom. Officials and a K-9 unit searched the plane for a pink pen but were unable to find one.

As of Wednesday evening, no suspects were in custody, and it remained unclear when the note was written on the bathroom door. The investigation is ongoing.

American Airlines described the diversion as due to a “possible security issue.” The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of aviation security and the protocols in place to handle potential threats.

Daily MailOnline

Dallas Police Confirm Venezuelan Gang Tren de Aragua’s Presence, Raising Concerns About Transnational Crime

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The Dallas Police Department has officially confirmed the presence of the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua in North Texas. This acknowledgment, revealed to DailyMail.com, marks the first public statement by law enforcement officials about the gang’s activities in the area, validating long-standing rumors and raising serious concerns about public safety.

Dallas Police Department spokeswoman Jennifer Pryor stated, “We have had gang activity in the north Dallas area linked to the Tren De Aragua gang from Venezuela.” Pryor added that the department is collaborating with other agencies to address possible crimes linked to this and other gangs in the city, though specific details of ongoing investigations were not disclosed due to their sensitive nature.

Tren de Aragua, a criminal organization best known for sex trafficking and exploiting Venezuelan migrants, has reportedly expanded its operations across the United States in recent years. Law enforcement sources suggest that gang members have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border mixed in with asylum-seeking migrants, contributing to a crime wave stretching from Miami to New York.

The gang’s expansion into North Texas follows the establishment of its new headquarters on the U.S.-Mexico border, just south of El Paso, Texas. This strategic positioning has allowed Tren de Aragua to exploit desperate migrants, charging exorbitant fees for smuggling them across the border and, in some cases, kidnapping migrants for ransom.

In July 2023, the U.S. government designated Tren de Aragua as a transnational criminal organization. Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson emphasized the escalating threat the gang poses to American communities, stating, “Today’s designation of Tren de Aragua as a significant Transnational Criminal Organization underscores the escalating threat it poses to American communities.”

The gang’s activities have raised alarm about the safety of home delivery and ride-share services. Investigations have uncovered that some Venezuelan migrants, potentially affiliated with the gang, have infiltrated these services by renting or buying accounts that do not belong to them. This practice raises significant safety concerns, as many of these individuals may lack legal authorization to work in the U.S. or valid driver’s licenses.

In Dallas, the Venezuelan community is concentrated in an area known as Villa Dallas, located in the northern part of the city. Residents and local authorities report that this neighborhood has experienced an uptick in criminal activity, including illegal street races, violence, and extortion attempts.

One resident, who requested anonymity, described the situation: “Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the situation is out of control. These men hang around the complex drinking and doing drugs. Next thing you know, it’s bullets flying and people fighting.”

In response to the rising crime, the Dallas Police Department designated The Oaks at North Dallas apartment complex as a habitual crime property in July 2023 and increased police presence in the area. “Our Neighborhood Police Officers are setting up a crime watch meeting to speak with tenants and address the crime in the area,” a police statement indicated.

Immigration attorney Rolando Vazquez highlighted the professional nature of these criminals, stating, “A lot of these people are criminals from the (Nicholas) Maduro regime. Some are ex-security forces.

They are professional criminals or part of criminal organizations.” Vazquez also noted that some gang members may have been part of government-backed militias in Venezuela, known as ‘Collectivos’.

The leader of Tren de Aragua, Hector Guerrero Flores, remains at large with a $5 million bounty on his head. The gang, which originated in Venezuela’s Tocoron Prison, has transformed from a group of prison thugs into one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the world, rivaling groups like El Salvador’s MS-13 in notoriety.

As investigations continue, local and federal authorities are expected to intensify efforts to combat the gang’s activities and mitigate their impact on communities in North Texas and beyond.

The presence of Tren de Aragua in Dallas underscores the complex challenges faced by law enforcement in dealing with transnational criminal organizations and highlights the intricate relationship between immigration policies, border security, and public safety in American cities.

The situation remains fluid, with law enforcement agencies working to develop strategies to address this growing threat. As the community grapples with these developments, the full impact of Tren de Aragua’s presence in Dallas and its implications for public safety continue to unfold.

Source: Daily MailOnline

Student’s Texts to Mother Reveal Moments of Fear During Georgia High School Shooting

Text messages exchanged between a student at Apalachee High School and his mother have provided a harrowing glimpse into the moments when students learned of an active shooter on campus Wednesday morning.

Erin Clark received a message from her son, Ethan, at 10:23 a.m. stating, “school shooting rn (right now). I’m scared. I’m not joking.” Clark immediately responded, assuring her son she was leaving work. In a poignant exchange, Ethan wrote, “I love you,” to which his mother replied, “Love you too baby. Where are you?”

Ethan informed his mother he was in class and added, “someone’s dead.” NBC News has reported that two people have died and at least four more are injured in the incident at the Winder, Georgia, school.

The Burrow County Sheriff’s office confirmed that multiple casualties have been reported and one person has been taken into custody. Apalachee High School, located about 25 miles west of Athens, has approximately 1,900 students.

Clark later shared the exchange on social media, describing the ordeal as her “worst nightmare.” She reported that her son, a high school senior, heard “eight or nine” gunshots before his classroom door was closed and barricaded with chairs and tables by students.

As the situation unfolded, frantic parents gathered at the school, waiting for their children to be released. Reports indicate that students were moved to the school’s oval and are being released to parents.

One parent, who was waiting for her friend to pick up her children, described the scene in a live social media video: “It is very quiet. It was very loud when I first got here and now it’s very, very quiet. They say they’re going to release kids to parents but I haven’t seen anyone start walking this way.”

The woman noted the overwhelming police presence, saying, “There are so many police I can’t even tell you. The road is just completely blocked all the way up.”

News sources on the scene reported that distressed parents had to park up to a mile away from the grounds and make their way on foot to reach their children.

Another parent, echoing the sentiment of it being a “parent’s worst nightmare,” said her daughter was “shaken up but okay.” She added, “To hear my baby crying and saying she is scared, I felt helpless because I could not get to her. The shooting happened very close to her classroom. So close that she heard gunshots.”

As the community grapples with this tragedy, law enforcement continues to investigate the incident. School officials and local authorities are expected to provide more information as it becomes available.

The shooting at Apalachee High School adds to the ongoing national conversation about school safety and gun violence in educational institutions.

Jamie Foxx to Discuss Health Scare in Upcoming One-Man Show-TMZ

Actor Jamie Foxx has announced plans to discuss his 2023 health scare in detail during an upcoming one-man show, “One More Chance: An Evening with Jamie Foxx.”

Foxx, who was hospitalized in Atlanta for an undisclosed medical complication in April 2023, shared the news on his Instagram account this week. The show’s promotional image features the phrase “What Had Happened Was” against a black background, suggesting a lighthearted approach to the serious topic.

In his social media post, Foxx promised that the show would blend humor, heart, and inspiration. The actor has previously hinted at the severity of his health crisis, stating at the December Critics Choice Association Awards that he “nearly lost his life” during the medical emergency.

While Foxx has kept the specifics of his condition and diagnosis private, he is now set to reveal the full details during this three-night engagement scheduled for October.

American actor Jamie Foxx arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Columbia Pictures’ ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ held at the Regency Village Theatre on December 13, 2021 in Westwood, Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency)

The announcement comes after months of speculation and concern from fans and the entertainment industry about Foxx’s health. The Oscar-winning actor’s hospitalization last year led to his temporary withdrawal from ongoing film projects and public appearances.

Foxx’s decision to share his experience through a live performance aligns with his background in stand-up comedy and his reputation for engaging storytelling. The show is expected to provide insights into the actor’s personal journey through his health crisis and recovery.

Dates and venue details for “One More Chance: An Evening with Jamie Foxx” have not yet been released. The entertainment industry and fans alike are anticipating this rare, personal glimpse into the life of one of Hollywood’s most versatile performers.