Investigation: WFP, US, state and military officials massive implicated in theft of relief food as hundreds of starving Ethiopians died in Tigray region
Some US officials privately accuse the UN food body of being untrustworthy. An internal WFP investigative report cites a May 2023 cable from Washington’s top US diplomat in Ethiopia at the time: “The scale and depth of diversion” in areas where the WFP managed food relief “calls into question WFP’s ability to be a faithful and principled” partner for distributing food in Ethiopia.
US presidential candidates scramble for Arab American votes in Michigan as Middle East burns
Michigan is one of three “blue wall” states that, along with Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, will help decide the election on November 5. Diverse voting blocs are key to winning virtually any swing state, but Michigan is unique with its significant Arab American population, which has been deeply frustrated by the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s offensive in Gaza following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Christians allied to Trump brand Kamala Harris a ‘Jezebel spirit’ as religious nationalism rocks campaign
The term ‘Jezebl spirit’ has a long history of being used in the US against women, especially Black women. During times of slavery, the idea was used to justify the systemic sexual assault and rape of Black women and girls. It has been used in the past to target other women such as Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, and to categorise movements such as feminism, abortion rights and LGBTQ+ rights.
Sinwar’s killing offers Israel opportunity to lock in strategic gains before US presidential election
US President Joe Biden is expected to use Yahya Sinwar’s killing to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to wind down the war in Gaza. But the Israeli leader may prefer to wait out the end of Biden’s term and take his chances with the next president, whether the Democratic candidate, Vice President Kamala Harris or Republican rival Donald Trump, with whom Netanyahu has had close ties.
UN envoy to Western Sahara wants the territory divided between Morocco and Polisario Front
Western Sahara is a region in northwest Africa that the United Nations has considered a “non-self-governing” territory since 1963, when it was a Spanish colony. It considers Polisario the legitimate representative of the Sahrawi people. Morocco controls the majority of the phosphate-rich region and considers it to be its “southern provinces,” while Polisario sees itself as a government in exile and operates out of refugee camps in southwest Algeria.
Rwanda accused of trying to shrug off ‘sportswashing’ by touting economic outcomes
Rwanda President Paul Kagame has built a close working relationship with Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, which has opened an office in Rwanda and held its annual meeting there last year. Now he is taking the biggest step yet in his ambition to transform the country into a global sporting power, with F1 executives confirming that they are in exploratory talks with Kagame’s government about a possible Rwandan Grand Prix.
Bionetwork: Environmental neglect in Uganda sets off ruthless rejection of humans by Nature
The Uganda government’s refocusing on Indians as the engine of economic development and on the Chinese as the source of foreign financing of development projects, simultaneously with building a refugee economy is threatening the natural belonging of Ugandans.
Court stops President Ruto from replacing impeached deputy president to hear petition
The high court in the capital Nairobi said Kindiki’s appointment as deputy president and the Senate’s resolution upholding impeachment charges against Gachagua were suspended until October 24, when a bench of judges appointed by the chief justice will debate the issue.
Kenya turns to starlicide to check soarig numbers of Indian crows as native birds count declines
Since being deployed, the starlicide has killed around 200 crows in a month in the coastal town of Watamu, said Eric Kinoti, a crow control officer at A Rocha Kenya.
Hours after senate impeaches deputy president, Kenya’s president nominates interior minister to replace him
Prof Kithure Kindiki, a close ally of Ruto, has held the interior ministry post throughout Ruto’s two years as president.
