A boat carrying over 26 Ethiopians has capsized killing 19. The tragic incident occurred on Saturday as the group of individuals traveled to a funeral on a home-made wooden vessel on the Tekeze River, near Ethiopia’s border with Eritrea. Efforts are underway to retrieve the victims’ bodies, with only two recovered so far. Ethiopian authorities have yet to comment on the incident.
The Tekeze River serves as a crucial escape route for illegal migrants and civilians fleeing conflicts in Amhara and the neighboring Tigray region. At the peak of the Tigray civil war, thousands of Ethiopians crossed to Sudan using the river. Boats often capsize on this perilous route as smugglers transport illegal migrants to the Gulf of Aden and onwards to the Middle East and Europe. Refugees frequently report sighting dead bodies floating on the river.
An ongoing conflict in Amhara, involving Ethiopian federal forces and an Amhara nationalist group known as FANO, has escalated civilian displacement. Many have been undertaking risky migrations to escape the violence.
This boat accident occurred as Ethiopians mourn the deaths of at least 257 people in recent mudslides in the country’s south. Lawmakers declared a three-day period of national mourning that began on Saturday.
The 2024 Paris Olympics has seen a significant expansion of the Olympic refugee team, with 37 athletes from 11 countries competing under the Olympic flag. This growth highlights the increasing focus on global migration issues and the push for greater inclusion of displaced individuals in international sports.
Among these athletes is 21-year-old Perina Lokure Nakang, a South Sudanese runner who began her athletic journey with a 9-mile run near her refugee camp in northwestern Kenya. Nakang’s story exemplifies the transformative power of sports for refugees, as she now competes on the global stage of the Olympics.
“I told myself if I continue running this, it is going to change my life,” Nakang said. “In the Olympics, everyone is looking to me to represent them.”
The Olympic refugee team, a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has grown significantly since its inception at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where it featured just 10 athletes from four countries. The team now includes athletes who have fled nations ranging from Cuba to Afghanistan and South Sudan.
Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, emphasized the team’s symbolic importance. “It is a symbol of inclusion, of equality, of achievement for a large community around the world of refugees and displaced people,” Grandi told The Associated Press. His support for the Olympic refugee team was recognized during the opening ceremonies, where he received the Olympic laurel.
The expansion of the refugee team comes at a time when the Olympics are underlining themes of diversity and inclusion, set against a backdrop of historic global migration. However, the Games are also taking place during a period of tension in France, with the rise of anti-immigration policies and controversies surrounding the treatment of migrants in Paris.
Former refugee Olympians like Yiech Pur Biel, who competed in 2016 and now works with UNHCR, see the Olympic platform as crucial in humanizing refugees and displaced individuals. Biel hopes the team can “bring back the dream of refugees” and demonstrate “what refugees can do.”
While the growth of the refugee team is celebrated, there’s also a bittersweet aspect to its expansion. As Biel notes, “We don’t want to see (refugee populations) growing, but no one can control what is happening in the world.” The ultimate goal, he says, is to end the need for a refugee team altogether.
As the Paris Olympics progress, the refugee athletes continue to captivate audiences and spark discussions about global migration, inclusion, and the power of sports to transcend borders and conflicts. Their performances not only showcase individual talent but also represent the resilience and potential of millions of displaced people worldwide.
The presence of the refugee team at the Olympics serves as a powerful reminder of sport’s ability to unite people across diverse backgrounds and experiences, offering hope and dignity to those who have been forced to flee their homes.
Tensions between Israel and Lebanon have sharply escalated following a series of strikes and counter-strikes, prompting intense diplomatic efforts to prevent a wider regional conflict. The latest developments come amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, raising fears of a potential expansion of hostilities.
Early Monday, Israeli strikes killed two people and injured three others in southern Lebanon, according to Lebanon’s state-run news agency. The strikes reportedly hit a motorcycle near the Lebanon-Israel border, killing two riders and injuring a child. In a separate incident, two more individuals were injured in another strike in southern Lebanon.
These attacks follow a deadly rocket strike from Lebanon over the weekend that killed 12 children and teenagers in Majdal Shams, a town in the Israel-controlled Golan Heights. Israeli military officials have described this as the deadliest attack on civilians since October 7, marking a significant escalation in the conflict.
As Israel contemplates its response to the weekend attack, diplomatic channels have been working overtime to prevent further escalation. Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati has engaged in “intensive diplomatic contacts,” including a call with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Both leaders emphasized the need for restraint to prevent escalation, acknowledging that a widening of the conflict would not serve anyone’s interests.
In parallel efforts, Hezbollah’s head of foreign relations, Ammar Moussawi, met with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. Additionally, Amos Hochstein, a senior advisor to U.S. President Joe Biden, has reportedly been involved in delicate negotiations aimed at ensuring that potential Israeli retaliation and Hezbollah’s response do not spiral into an all-out war.
The international community is closely watching these developments, aware that any further escalation could have far-reaching consequences for the region. The situation remains highly volatile, with both sides on high alert and diplomatic efforts continuing to prevent a broader conflict.
As tensions remain high, the coming days will be crucial in determining whether diplomacy can prevail in containing the situation or if the region will see a further escalation of hostilities. The international community continues to call for restraint from all parties involved, emphasizing the devastating potential of a wider regional conflict.
Venezuela finds itself in a high-stakes political standoff following Sunday’s presidential election, with both incumbent President Nicolas Maduro and opposition candidate Edmundo González claiming victory. The disputed outcome has sparked concerns both domestically and internationally about the integrity of the electoral process.
Election officials announced Maduro as the winner with 51% of the vote, compared to 44% for González. However, the opposition, led by Maria Corina Machado, insists that González secured an “overwhelming” victory based on their own tallies from about 40% of ballot boxes.
The delay in releasing detailed vote counts has fueled suspicions and prevented independent verification of the results. This uncertainty has led several foreign governments, including the United States, to withhold recognition of the outcome.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed “serious concerns that the result announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.” Similarly, Chile’s leftist leader Gabriel Boric stated that “the Maduro regime should understand that the results it published are difficult to believe.”
The election was seen by many Venezuelans as a crucial opportunity to end 25 years of single-party rule. González, a 74-year-old retired diplomat, emerged as an unlikely opposition standard-bearer after Machado was barred from running by the Maduro-controlled supreme court.
Maduro, addressing supporters at the presidential palace, accused unidentified foreign enemies of attempting to hack the voting system, though he provided no evidence to support this claim.
The election’s outcome will have significant implications for Venezuela’s future and the broader region. The country, despite possessing the world’s largest proven oil reserves, has suffered a severe economic crisis under Maduro’s leadership. Plummeting oil prices, widespread shortages, and hyperinflation have led to mass emigration, with 7.7 million Venezuelans leaving the country.
Maduro’s campaign focused on promises of economic security, citing recent improvements in currency stability and inflation rates. The International Monetary Fund forecasts 4% economic growth for Venezuela in 2024. However, most Venezuelans continue to struggle with poverty, with many earning under $200 a month in a country where basic necessities for a family of four cost an estimated $385 monthly.
The opposition, led by González and Machado, campaigned on addressing these persistent inequalities and creating jobs to entice Venezuelan emigrants to return home.
As the standoff continues, the international community watches closely. The dispute’s resolution could have far-reaching consequences for Venezuela’s political landscape, its economic recovery efforts, and its relationships with other nations, particularly regarding U.S. economic sanctions imposed after Maduro’s contested 2018 reelection.
The coming days are likely to be crucial in determining Venezuela’s path forward, as both sides wrestle for control and legitimacy in the eyes of the Venezuelan people and the world.
Pop icon Lady Gaga appears to have casually confirmed her engagement to long-time boyfriend Michael Polansky. The revelation came during a chance encounter with French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal at an Olympic swimming competition on Sunday.
Lady Gaga, who was in Paris to perform at the Olympics Opening Ceremony, introduced Polansky as “my fiancé” to the Prime Minister, as captured in a video posted to Attal’s official TikTok page. This unexpected announcement has set social media abuzz with speculation about the couple’s relationship status.
The Oscar-winning artist and Polansky, a tech entrepreneur, have been dating for four years, having first gone public with their romance on Instagram during Super Bowl weekend in 2020. Throughout their relationship, the couple has maintained a notably low profile, with Lady Gaga only occasionally sharing glimpses of their life together on social media.
In a rare public acknowledgment of their relationship, Lady Gaga once wrote on Instagram about a lavish birthday gift from Polansky, stating, “When your bf sends you all the flowers in Rome for your birthday. I love you honey. I can’t wait to be home with you and our dogs, that’s all I need.” She has also previously alluded to Polansky in a Hollywood Reporter interview, saying, “My dogs and the man that I love are my whole life.”
This potential engagement news comes at a high point in Lady Gaga’s career, as she continues to balance her music with acting and high-profile performances like the Olympics Opening Ceremony. The timing of this revelation, whether intentional or not, has added a personal touch to her professional appearance at the global sporting event.
As of now, representatives for Lady Gaga have not responded to requests for comment on the engagement rumors. Fans and media alike are eagerly awaiting official confirmation or further details about the couple’s relationship status.
This development marks a significant moment for Lady Gaga, known for keeping her personal life relatively private despite her public persona. If confirmed, it would be the star’s first engagement since her previous relationship with talent agent Christian Carino ended in 2019.
As the 2024 Paris Olympics continue, attention will undoubtedly be split between the sporting events and this unexpected celebrity news. Lady Gaga’s potential engagement adds a touch of romance to the global celebration of athleticism and international unity.
A Libyan court has handed down prison sentences to 12 officials for their roles in the catastrophic floods that devastated the coastal city of Derna in September 2023. The Court of Appeal in Derna issued sentences ranging from 9 to 27 years to those found responsible for managing the country’s dams, according to a statement from the Attorney General in Tripoli on Sunday.
The floods, triggered by Storm Daniel, resulted in the collapse of several dams, leading to thousands of deaths and leaving thousands more missing. The disaster swept away buildings and destroyed entire neighborhoods in Derna, a city of 125,000 residents.
According to a judicial source in Derna, the convicted officials face charges including negligence, premeditated murder, and waste of public money. The source, speaking to Reuters, added that the defendants have the right to appeal their verdicts. The Attorney General’s statement also noted that three of the defendants were ordered to “return money obtained from illicit gains,” though specific names and positions of those on trial were not disclosed.
This verdict comes in the wake of a January report by the World Bank, United Nations, and European Union, which characterized the Derna floods as a “climate and environmental catastrophe.” The report estimated that $1.8 billion would be required for reconstruction and recovery efforts. It also highlighted that the dams’ collapse was partially attributed to outdated design based on obsolete hydrological information, as well as poor maintenance and governance issues stemming from over a decade of conflict in Libya.
The sentencing underscores the complex challenges facing Libya in terms of infrastructure management and climate preparedness. Since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011, Libya has been grappling with political instability and divided governance. The country has been split since 2014 between rival power centers in the east and west, complicating efforts for unified national development and disaster preparedness.
This court decision marks a significant step in addressing accountability for the Derna disaster. However, it also raises questions about the broader implications for governance and infrastructure management in a country still struggling with political fragmentation and the long-term effects of conflict.
At least seven members of Benin Republic security forces and five rangers working with a conservation nonprofit have been killed in an attack by an armed group in Benin’s National Park W, which is overrun by militants, according to the conservation group.
The attack occurred earlier this week on Wednesday near the Mékrou River in the 10,000-square-kilometer (3,800-square-miles) park, which straddles the borders with Burkina Faso and Niger, the African Parks group said in a statement on Saturday.
Authorities in Benin have not yet spoken about the attack, which is common with the government and the military.
It is the latest in a surge in violence in which jihadis from the conflict-battered Sahel region that is south of the Sahara Desert have spread further into West Africa, targeting coastal states like Benin.
It was not clear which jihadi group carried out the attack in Park W, into which militants from troubled neighbors Burkina Faso and Niger have recently moved, raising fears they could use its vast protected area as a base for infiltrating other West African countries.
The al-Qaida linked JNIM group has been the most active in the Sahel and most recently in coastal West African states like Benin and Togo.
Although they were once believed to be spreading to the coastal states for better cover to recuperate, get financing and gather weapons to launch more attacks on Sahel governments, their fighters have started to attack communities and security forces as militancy begins to take root.
Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the 76-year-old kingpin and co-founder of Mexico’s notorious Sinaloa cartel, is now in US custody after decades of evading law enforcement. His arrest marks a significant milestone in the fight against one of the world’s most powerful drug trafficking organizations.
Zambada
Born in 1948 in Sinaloa, Mexico, Zambada’s criminal career spans over five decades. Starting as an enforcer in the 1970s, he rose through the ranks of the Juarez cartel before partnering with Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán to transform the Sinaloa operation into a global drug empire.
Zambada’s leadership style contrasted sharply with El Chapo’s flamboyance. Known for his strategic acumen and ability to broker deals, Zambada managed day-to-day operations while maintaining a low profile. His approach earned him the nickname “the George Washington of dope in Mexico,” according to journalist Elaine Shannon.
The Sinaloa cartel, under Zambada’s guidance, evolved into the world’s largest manufacturer and smuggler of illicit fentanyl pills and other drugs to the United States. The organization has diversified its operations to meet changing consumer demands, producing and trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana.
Zambada private jet
US law enforcement agencies have long sought Zambada’s arrest, offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his capture. He faces numerous charges in the US, including a recent indictment in New York for conspiracy to manufacture and distribute fentanyl.
The arrest of Zambada, along with Joaquín Guzmán López, son of El Chapo, occurred in Texas after they arrived on a private plane. This development raises questions about potential power shifts within the cartel and the future of its operations.
The impact of Zambada’s arrest extends beyond drug trafficking. The Sinaloa cartel is also implicated in migrant smuggling operations, contributing to the current immigration crisis at the US-Mexico border.
US officials view this arrest as a significant victory in their fight against drug cartels. FBI Director Christopher Wray highlighted Zambada’s role in overseeing the trafficking of “tens of thousands of pounds of drugs into the United States, along with related violence.”
However, the arrest also raises concerns about potential revelations. Shannon suggests that Zambada’s extensive knowledge of cartel operations and alleged collaborations with Mexican officials could lead to significant disclosures if he chooses to cooperate with US authorities.
As the legal proceedings against Zambada unfold, the implications of his arrest will likely reverberate through both the criminal underworld and political spheres in Mexico and beyond. The capture of such a high-profile figure marks a new chapter in the ongoing battle against international drug trafficking and organized crime.
Veteran Associated Press photographer Charlie Riedel has captured a striking image of Simone Biles at the 2024 Paris Olympics, encapsulating the gymnast’s highly anticipated return to Olympic competition. Riedel, a staff photographer based in Kansas City, Missouri, for 24 years, shares his insights on creating this extraordinary photo at his eighth Olympic Games.
Riedel’s goal was to convey the immense excitement surrounding Biles’ first Olympic appearance since her unexpected withdrawal from several events at the Tokyo Games in 2020. “Simone Biles has been considered the best gymnast in the world for many years,” Riedel explains, “and interest in her has only heightened since she walked away from the Tokyo Games three years ago.
To capture this historic moment, Riedel opted for a wide-angle shot that showcases both the vastness of Bercy Arena and the throng of photographers eager to document Biles’ comeback. Using a Sony A9iii camera with a 24-70mm lens, Riedel leveraged his privileged position as one of the few photographers with floor access to create a unique perspective.
“I wanted to show a sense of this excitement for her first Olympic appearance since dropping out at Tokyo,” Riedel says, “so I decided to go wide and include the vastness of Bercy Arena as well as the crowd of photographers capturing this historic moment.”
Simone Biles, of the United States, attends a gymnastics training session at Bercy Arena at the Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
The resulting image is powerful in its composition. Biles appears small within the frame, yet her presence dominates the scene. “I believe this photo works because Simone is a small part of the frame in a huge arena,” Riedel reflects. “But even though she is small in the frame, she is towering above all the people who are there to watch her.”
This photograph not only documents Biles’ return to Olympic competition but also captures the magnitude of her influence on the sport and her ability to command attention on the world stage. Riedel’s image serves as a visual testament to Biles’ resilience and the intense public interest in her comeback story.
As the 2024 Paris Olympics continue, Riedel’s photograph stands as a iconic representation of one of the Games’ most anticipated moments, showcasing the power of sports photography to capture the essence of athletic achievement and personal triumph.
Thousands of Taylor Swift fans have secured free seats to her concerts in Munich by gathering on a grassy hill near the concert venue. The Swifties packed Olympic Hill, or Olympiaberg, one of the highest elevations in the southern German city, for the second straight day on Sunday. This strategic perch offered a high vantage point for watching the singer’s sold-out concert in the nearby Olympic Stadium.
Thousands of Taylor Swift fans
On Saturday, fans braved the heat, with temperatures reaching 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit), and claimed their spots hours before the concert began. Police estimated that about 25,000 people gathered on the hill on Saturday, according to the dpa news agency.
On Sunday, fans returned, once again packing the grassy hill with so many people that from a distance the scene resembled an anthill. Rather than discourage the free viewings, the concert organizer handed out water and emergency blankets to those waiting to protect themselves from the sun, dpa reported.
