Headline

Gaza War Rages On Christmas Eve As Biden Urges Caution

Published

2 years ago

December 24, 2023

Israel pushed on Sunday with its military campaign to destroy Hamas over the October 7 attacks, as the focus of the deadly combat shifted to southern Gaza where most displaced Palestinians are trapped.

US President Joe Biden stressed the “critical need” to protect civilians, in a call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who vowed Israel would “continue the war until all of its goals have been achieved”, officials said.

As heavy fighting raged on, the Israeli army said it had struck another 200 targets in the past 24 hours in the besieged Palestinian territory where it is seeking to defeat Hamas and free remaining hostages.

The army said 153 troops had died in Gaza since it launched its ground invasion on October 27. Ten soldiers were lost in battles on Saturday, one of the deadliest days for the Israeli side.

“This is a difficult morning, after a very difficult day of fighting in Gaza,” said Netanyahu. “The war is exacting a very heavy price… but we have no choice but to keep fighting.”

The army said soldiers had raided a northern Gaza compound near schools, a mosque and a clinic and found “explosive belts adapted for children, dozens of mortar shells, hundreds of grenades and intelligence documents”.

Hamas rejected those claims as lies meant “to justify their massacring of innocent civilians and their destructive aggression that has affected the entire infrastructure… in the already blockaded Gaza Strip”.

The bloodiest ever Gaza war broke out when Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7 and its Islamist militants killed about 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

The gunmen also seized around 250 hostages, 129 of whom are believed to remain in Gaza following the exchange of captives for Palestinians prisoners during a week-long truce late last month.

Israel’s withering military campaign, including massive aerial bombardment, has killed 20,424 people, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.

Vast areas of Gaza lie in ruins and its 2.4 million people have endured dire shortages of water, food, fuel and medicine due to an Israeli siege, alleviated only by the limited arrival of aid trucks.

Eighty percent of Gazans have been displaced, according to the UN, many now shielding against the winter cold in makeshift tents and forced into the south of Gaza even as ground fighting comes closer.

Near the far southern Gaza city of Rafah, Umm Amir Abu al-Awf, 27, suffered wounds to her hand and legs in a strike on her house early Sunday.

“Who won?” she said. “Nothing has been achieved except killing civilians… They keep saying Rafah is safe. It is not safe. Nowhere is safe. Every house has a martyr and injured.”

‘More hatred, less peace’
Israeli military spokesman Jonathan Conricus indicated that forces were close to gaining operational control in northern Gaza and that now “we focus our efforts against Hamas in southern Gaza”.

Fighting has raged in the main southern city of Khan Yunis, the birthplace of Yahya Sinwar, Hamas’ leader in Gaza and the man Israel holds most responsible for the October 7 attack.

Elsewhere, Palestinian rescuers scrambled again to pull survivors and bodies from the rubble of a destroyed residential building, after a strike hit in the central city of Deir al-Balah.

“I was praying when a huge explosion occurred,” said Yazan Moqbel, a wounded man whose sister was still under the broken concrete. “Rubble fell on us. I didn’t know what happened.”

The head of the UN refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, urged an end to the suffering in the third month of the war.

“For aid to reach people in need, hostages to be released, more displacement to be avoided and above all stop the appalling loss of lives, a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza is the only way forward,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“War defies logic and humanity, and prepares a future of more hatred and less peace.”

On Friday, the United States allowed the passage of a UN Security Council resolution that effectively called on Israel to allow “immediate, safe and unhindered” deliveries of life-saving aid to Gaza “at scale”.

World powers had wrangled for days over the wording and, at Washington’s insistence, toned down some provisions — including removing a call for a ceasefire.

One displaced Gazan, Ahmad al-Burawi, now living in Rafah in southern Gaza, said: “We just want to return to our lands, that’s all. We want a solution… People are dying.”

Silent Christmas

As the war rages on, Christians around the world celebrate Christmas Eve, and festivities are usually held in the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem where they believe Jesus was born.

But this year the city is almost deserted, with few worshippers around and no Christmas tree erected, after church leaders decided to forego “any unnecessarily festive” celebrations, in solidarity with Gazans.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas voiced hope Christmas would mark “a cessation of the Israeli war against the Palestinian people in Gaza, as well as across the occupied Palestinian territories”.

The Gaza war has heightened tensions across the Middle East, where Israel faces a range of enemies — Iran-backed armed groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen that have voiced strong support for Hamas.

Cross-border fire has erupted almost daily between Israel and Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah movement.

And Yemen’s Huthi rebels have fired at cargo vessels in the Red Sea, leading the United States to build a naval taskforce to deter the missile and drone strikes.

The US military said four drones had targeted the USS Laboon, but had been shot down, and that an Indian-flagged tanker was hit and sent out a distress call.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Ali Bagheri, denied the Islamic republic was orchestrating the campaign, saying the Huthis act on their “own decisions and capabilities”.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, in an interview published Sunday, branded Iran “a thoroughly malign influence in the region and in the world”.

AFP

Headline

Top 5 Richest African Immigrants In US

Published

7 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Editor

The US is a country built on ambition and enterprise. Despite this, a handful of African immigrants have not only found their footing, but they’ve thrived.

Navigating the fast-paced, often unforgiving terrain of American capitalism, these individuals turned bold dreams into billion-dollar realities. From humble beginnings in places like Pretoria, Lagos and Alexandria, they stepped into industries like tech, medicine, entertainment and finance, fields that demand not just talent, but grit, resilience and a deep belief in one’s vision. Their stories are more than just financial success; they’re powerful testaments to what’s possible when opportunity meets determination.

These five remarkable men are among the richest African immigrants in the US today and their journeys continue to inspire across continents.

1. Elon Musk – $393.1 billion (South Africa)

Elon Musk stands at the pinnacle of global wealth as the richest African immigrant in the United States and the world. Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Musk moved to the US via Canada and went on to revolutionise transportation, energy and space exploration.

As CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, his ventures have redefined electric vehicles and private spaceflight. With a net worth of $393.1 billion, Musk’s vision extends from Earth to Mars, placing him leagues ahead in both ambition and fortune.

2. Patrick Soon-Shiong – $5.6 billion (South Africa)

South African-born Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong made his billions in medicine and biotechnology. A former surgeon, he developed the breakthrough cancer drug Abraxane and built two major pharmaceutical companies. Now based in Los Angeles, he runs NantWorks, a healthcare innovation hub, and owns The Los Angeles Times. With a net worth of $5.6 billion, Soon-Shiong is not only a medical pioneer but also a key player in media and technology in the US. He is now the 34th richest man in the world.

3. Rodney Sacks & Family – $3.6 billion (South Africa)

Rodney Sacks, originally a lawyer in South Africa, moved to the US and built Monster Beverage into a global giant in the energy drink market. That brought him up the list of world billionaires (54th). Co-founding the company in the 1990s, he helped turn Monster into a pop culture phenomenon through sponsorships in extreme sports, music, and gaming. Today, with a net worth of $3.6 billion, Sacks is among the top African-born business magnates shaping consumer tastes in America.

4. Haim Saban – $3.1 billion (Egypt)

Egyptian-born Haim Saban became a media powerhouse after moving to the US and creating the Power Rangers franchise. A veteran of the television and entertainment industry, Saban is also a savvy investor and philanthropist. He stands tall at 61st in the world billionaire ranking. His influence spans children’s programming, political advocacy and major media investments—including a past controlling interest in Univision. With $3.1 billion to his name, Saban remains one of the most successful African-born figures in Hollywood and beyond.

5. Adebayo “Bayo” Ogunlesi – $2.4 billion (Nigeria)

Nigerian-born Adebayo Ogunlesi is a towering figure in global finance. As the chairman and managing partner of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), he oversees investments in some of the world’s busiest airports and critical infrastructure. A Harvard-trained lawyer and banker, Ogunlesi has led high-stakes deals across continents. With a net worth of $2.4 billion, he stands as a symbol of African excellence in Wall Street’s upper echelons. He ranks 77th among the world’s billionaires.

Headline

‘This Is Why I Hate London’, Ivan Toney Fumes After His Car Is Broken Into

Published

7 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Editor

England international Ivan Toney has voiced his frustration after returning to find his car had been broken into during a trip to London.

Toney, who currently plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli, is spending his summer break in the UK.

However, his visit to the capital took a sour turn when he discovered his black car with its front and rear windows shattered.

The striker posted a photo of the damage on Instagram with the caption: “This is why I hate London.”

The incident occurred while Ivan Toney was back in the city, where he had been spotted attending Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park alongside fellow footballers Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho.

It remains unclear whether anything was stolen from the vehicle or where exactly in London the break-in took place. However, crime continues to be a concern across many boroughs, with over 950,000 crimes reported in the capital last year. Former Metropolitan Police officers have criticized the state of law enforcement, suggesting criminals act with impunity.

Toney’s frustration comes at a time when phone thefts and gang-related youth crimes are also rising in the city. Public transport has not been spared either, with over 31,000 offences recorded across London’s network between January and August last year.

The 28-year-old forward moved to Al-Ahli from Brentford last year in a £40 million deal. He made an instant impact, scoring 30 goals in his debut season.

Despite the recent car trouble, it’s still uncertain whether Toney will be called up again for England’s upcoming fixtures. He was part of the squad for the June matches against Andorra and Senegal but saw limited action — remaining on the bench during the 1-0 win over Andorra and playing only briefly in the 3-1 loss to Senegal.

England are set to face Andorra again at Wembley in September, followed by matches against Serbia, Wales, and Latvia in the following months. Whether Toney features remains to be seen.

Headline

Anxiety As Trump Gives Russia 50 Days To Make Ukraine Deal

Published

14 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Editor

US President Donald Trump told Russia on Monday to end its war in Ukraine within 50 days or face massive new economic sanctions, as he laid out plans for infusions of weaponry for Kyiv via NATO.

Trump said he was “very, very unhappy” with Vladimir Putin, underlining his insistence that his patience had finally snapped with the Russian leader’s refusal to end the deadly conflict.

“We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days, tariffs at about 100 percent,” Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The Republican added that they would be “secondary tariffs” that target Russia’s remaining trade partners — seeking to impede Moscow’s ability to survive already sweeping Western sanctions.

Russia’s top trading partner last year was China, accounting for about 34 percent, followed distantly by India, Turkey and Belarus, according to the Russian Federal Customs Service.

Trump and Rutte also unveiled a deal under which the NATO military alliance would buy billions of dollars of arms from the United States — including Patriot anti-missile batteries — and send them to Ukraine.

“This is really big,” said Rutte, as he touted a deal aimed at easing Trump’s long-held complaints that the United States is paying more than European and NATO allies to aid Ukraine.

Germany, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Britain were among the buyers helping Ukraine, added the NATO chief.

“If I was Vladimir Putin today and heard you speaking… I would reconsider that I should take negotiations about Ukraine more seriously,” said Rutte.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had spoken with Trump and was “grateful” for the arms deal.

In a BBC interview published Tuesday, Trump expressed disappointment with Putin.

“I’m disappointed in him, but I’m not done with him,” the US president said.

When asked if he trusted the Russian leader, Trump replied: “I trust almost no one.”

– Growing frustration –

Trump attempted a rapprochement with Putin shortly after starting his second term, having campaigned on a pledge to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours.

His pivot towards Putin sparked fears in Kyiv that he was about to sell out Ukraine, especially after he and his team berated Zelensky in the Oval Office in February.

But in recent weeks, Trump has shown increasing frustration with Putin, as Russian has stepped up attacks rather than halting them.

Trump said his wife Melania had helped change his thinking about Putin.

“I go home, I tell the First Lady, ‘you know, I spoke to Vladimir today, we had a wonderful conversation,’” Trump said. “And she said, ‘Oh really? Another city was just hit.’”

He added of Putin: “I don’t want to say he’s an assassin, but he’s a tough guy.”

Washington has also U-turned on pausing some arms deliveries to Kyiv.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin would play a “decisive role” in the new weapons plan.

But EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Trump’s sanctions deadline was too far into the future. “Fifty days is a very long time if we see that they are killing innocent civilians every day,” she said.

Beijing opposed what it called attempts at “coercion”, including “all illegal unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction.”

“Coercion and pressure will not solve problems,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Tuesday.

– ‘Better late than never’ –
US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who are pushing a bipartisan bill on Russia secondary sanctions, praised Trump’s “powerful” ultimatum to Russia.

Trump’s special envoy Keith Kellogg arrived in Kyiv on Monday for what Zelensky called a “productive meeting.”

One Ukrainian soldier deployed in the war-scarred east of the country, who identified himself by his call sign Grizzly, welcomed Trump’s promise of fresh air defense systems.

“Better late than never,” the 29-year-old told AFP.

Russian forces meanwhile said on Monday they had captured new territory in eastern Ukraine with the seizure of one village in the Donetsk region and another in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Its forces also killed at least three civilians in the eastern Kharkiv and Sumy regions on Monday, Ukrainian officials said.

In Kyiv, Zelensky also proposed a major political shake-up, recommending economy minister Yulia Svyrydenko take over as prime minister, and appointing incumbent Prime Minister Denys Shmygal as defense minister.

AFP