Tram derails in Milan; at least one killed, 40 injured

One person was killed and about 40 were injured when a tram derailed in central Milan and slammed into a shopfront, a local firefighters’ spokesperson said, in one of the city’s most serious public transit accidents in recent years. One of the injured was in critical condition, according to a police source cited by AFP. The tram — described by firefighters as one of the newest models in operation — came off the tracks on Vittorio Veneto Street, a key downtown corridor just outside Milan’s historic center, spokesperson…

Pakistan launches strikes on Afghan cities amid escalating cross-border violence

Pakistan strikes Kabul and Kandahar as border clashes with Taliban escalate ISLAMABAD — Pakistan launched airstrikes on targets in Kabul and Kandahar early Friday, officials in Islamabad said, after a night of heavy cross-border fighting with Afghanistan’s Taliban that shattered a fragile ceasefire and drove civilians to flee frontline towns. A spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban said on X that its forces responded with renewed attacks against Pakistani military positions along the frontier. The post was later deleted.…

South Sudan’s Conflict Sparks Humanitarian Crisis

Trapped in Conflict: South Sudan's Humanitarian Crisis The ongoing violence in South Sudan has left thousands displaced and vulnerable, with the fragile peace agreement under threat. Civilians face dire conditions as government and opposition forces continue to clash. Recent clashes have left 280,000 people displaced in Jonglei state. Humanitarian aid is restricted due to safety concerns and resource cuts. The peace process, established in 2018, is at risk of collapsing. Displacement and Loss: The Human Toll…

UN Reports Surge in Civilian Deaths Amid Sudan Conflict

Sudan's War: Rising Civilian Deaths and Unchecked Brutality The humanitarian crisis in Sudan escalates as civilian casualties more than double in 2025. The UN rights chief highlights the severity of the ongoing conflict. Conflict between Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claims tens of thousands of lives. Volker Turk condemns the brutality and urges diplomatic action. Displacement affects millions, increasing global humanitarian concerns. Conflict and Carnage Since April 2023, Sudan has been…

Israeli court allows humanitarian groups facing Gaza ban to keep operating

JERUSALEM — Israel’s Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a government move to shutter Gaza operations by dozens of international aid organizations after the groups petitioned against new rules requiring them to identify Palestinian staff. The High Court of Justice on Sunday issued a temporary injunction allowing the organizations to continue most of their work while it considers the petition, according to the groups involved. The order pauses enforcement of regulations that aid agencies say would have forced them to halt…

Djibouti Warns Israeli Base in North Western State of Somalia Endangers Horn of Africa Stability

Djibouti warns Israeli base in North Western State of Somalia threatens Horn of Africa peace DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti — Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh has issued a sharp rebuke of Israel’s recognition of North Western State of Somalia, warning that the potential establishment of an Israeli military base in the strategic port city of Berbera poses a direct threat to regional stability. In an expansive interview with Jeune Afrique, Guelleh accused Israel of exploiting North Western State of Somalia’s decades-long quest…

Somalia expands Digital Public Infrastructure to improve child immunization in Mogadishu

A digital lifeline for Somalia’s children: Inside Mogadishu’s experiment with an electronic immunization register On a bright morning in Kahda, a district on the southern edge of Mogadishu, a young mother stands at the immunization desk without the small, creased card that once governed her child’s medical future. For years, that paper card—easily misplaced during eviction, flood or displacement—was the only proof a child had been vaccinated. When it disappeared, health workers guessed which doses had been given, repeated…

DR Congo Signs U.S. Health Pact Amid Lingering Data Privacy Questions

Kinshasa — The Democratic Republic of Congo has signed a five-year, $1.2 billion health financing agreement with the United States, officials announced, joining neighboring Uganda in adopting Washington’s new government-to-government aid framework. Under the pact, the DRC will receive $900 million in U.S. assistance while committing to boost domestic health spending by $300 million. The arrangement targets a slate of priority interventions intended to strengthen disease control and maternal-child health services. Program…

Somalia expands digital public infrastructure to boost child immunization in Mogadishu

On a bright morning in Kahda, a fast-growing district on the southern edge of Mogadishu, a young mother steps to the immunization desk without the small, creased card that once governed her child’s medical future. Nurse Naima Muse turns from a crying toddler, taps a number into a desktop computer and summons the child’s vaccination record in seconds. “Before, if a mother lost the card, we had nothing,” she says. “Now, we just search.” The change is powered by Somalia’s Electronic Immunization Register, or EIR, a digital…

Epstein Documents Uncover Connections to West African Elite

Jeffrey Epstein's Connections with West African Elites Uncovered Newly released records from U.S. authorities have shed light on the extensive ties that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein forged with influential figures in West Africa. Noteworthy among these connections are Karim Wade, the son of former Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, and Nina Keita, the niece of Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara. According to the documents, Epstein and Karim Wade first crossed paths in 2010, quickly building a rapport.…