William Ruto, president of Kenya, advised that anyone who looted or vandalized a business be shot in the leg and dealt with by the courts afterward. Following the anti-government demonstrations on Monday that attracted at least 31 people and caused his first comments.
In Gujarat, India, at least ten people died as a result of the collapse of the Gambhira Bridge into the Mahisagar River. As rescuers searched for victims, the bridge’s wide gap and the vehicles dangling over its edge can be seen on surveillance.
A senior US official waived nine anti-fraud and counterterrorism safeguards to accept a $30 million award last month to a contentious Gaza aid organization supported by the Trump administration and Israel, according to an internal memo.
Despite the fact that the GHF funding plan failed to meet the “minimum technical or budgetary standards,” the former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) associate Jeremy Lewin approved the award.
Kenneth Jackson, a former DOGE agent and acting deputy US Agency for International Development (USAID), sent the June 24 action memo to Lewin. The pair has managed the organization’s merger into the State Department and its dissolution.
According to two people with knowledge of the situation, Lewin overruled 58 objections USAID staff experts wanted GHF to address in its application before the funds were granted.
According to the “action memorandum” containing his signature on June 24, Lewin, who oversees the State Department’s foreign aid program, received the funds only five days after GHF submitted its proposal on June 19.
In an email sent to USAID leaders on June 25th, Lewin urged the organization to “ASAP” to distribute the funds. “Strong Admin support for this one.”
Lewin and Jackson haven’t made any comments yet. Despite the group’s lack of experience and the killing of hundreds of Palestinians close to its Gaza aid distribution centers, the documents highlight the priority the Trump administration has given GHF.
GHF, which works in close cooperation with the Israeli military, claims that the violence took place outside of its operations area.
Lewin and Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s office, as well as President Donald Trump’s negotiator for Gaza, were able to discuss the funds in the email.
He acknowledged that granting the funds would be contentious, saying, “I’m taking the bullet on this one.”
Requests for comment were not addressed to the White House. According to the Reuters news agency, Witkoff and Rubio did not respond to a question about whether they had any knowledge of or supported the decision to renounce the safeguards.
The State Department claimed in a statement that the $30 million was approved under a legal provision that allows USAID to make “emergency awards as quickly as possible” in response to “emergency needs.
The statement read, “The GHF award is still subject to strict oversight, including of GHF’s finances and operations.” GHF was subject to new reporting and control requirements as part of the award.
A GHF spokesperson responded to a request for comment by saying that “our model is specifically designed to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.” Every dollar we spend is protected in order to ensure that all resources, including those from the American taxpayer, reach Gaza’s citizens. The spokesperson continued, noting that these clarification requests from the US government regarding fund applications were frequent.
The spokesperson stated that “we are addressing each question in accordance with regulations and standard procedure and will continue to do so as required” when referring to the nine conditions that were waived.
At least 743 Palestinians have died and more than 4, 891 others have been injured while visiting GHF aid sites, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
In light of numerous rumor reports that its contractors and Israeli forces have opened fire on aid seekers, the GHF, which started operating in the bombarded Palestinian enclave in late May, has received a lot of negative feedback.
Leading human rights and humanitarian organizations have demanded the GHF’s immediate closure, accusing it of forcing “two million people into overcrowded, militarised zones where they face daily gunfire and mass casualties.”
The UN claims that the organization’s operations are “inhumane and deadly militarised scheme,” while Amnesty International has previously described its operations as “a humanitarian model that goes against humanitarian principles.
Despite the risks involved, Palestinians under bombardment in Gaza and the threat of a famine are left with no choice but to turn to the GHF for assistance.
The governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has debunked rumours that he is set to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor insisted that he has no intention of quitting the PDP for either the APC or the African Democratic Party (ADC), which was recently adopted by the opposition coalition.
Governor Lawal made this known during his appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday, maintaining that the story about his defection remains a rumour.
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“First of all, I’m glad that you said a rumour that APC, ADC and whatever political parties are calling on me to join their party,” Governor Lawal said when asked about the rumour.
“And I made it clear that I am a PDP card-carrying member and I am still in PDP, I have no intention of going anywhere.
“So, what you heard is a rumour but I am still in PDP and have no intention of going anywhere for now.”
He dismissed opposition forces in the state, stating that he has no need to seek refuge in the APC to shield himself from anyone.
He said that all the forces in the opposition were there in 2023 but that did not stop him from going on to win the governorship election in the state.
Governor Lawal insisted that he does not fear opposition figureheads in the state such as former governors Sani Yerima, Bello Matawalle, saying that he will defeat them again in the 2027 election.
He acknowledged that the PDP is facing an internal crisis but said the party is working on resolving that already and that it is just a matter of time for the dust to settle.
On his relationship with President Bola Tinubu, Governor Lawal said he has a very good relationship with the president but they remain in opposing parties.
As he intensifies a trade war that could have an impact on developing nations that depend on US trade, US President Donald Trump is meeting with leaders of five African nations.
According to a White House official, Trump held discussions with leaders from Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal at the White House on Wednesday, with the discussions slated to focus on business opportunities.
Trump claimed at the lunch that the participants were from “very vibrant places with very valuable land, great minerals, great oil deposits, and wonderful people.”
“Your continent is full of anger.” Trump cited a recent peace agreement that Rwanda’s leaders, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the United States have signed at the White House as proof that we have been successful in solving many of the issues.
According to statements from the White House and Liberia, the leaders are expected to discuss pressing issues of cooperation, including democracy, security, infrastructure, and economic development. Trump claimed that US tariffs were unlikely to apply to the five nations.
President Trump has a multilateral lunch with African leaders https://t.co/nkcx56xF74
Trump is anticipated to make soon announcements regarding the location of a larger summit with African leaders, possibly in September, when the UN General Assembly is taking place.
The most recent effort by successive administrations to dispel the myth that the US has neglected a continent where China has increasingly made economic strides is this week’s mini-summit.
The meeting on Wednesday is anticipated to concentrate on economics.
Brice Oligui Nguema, president of Gabon, stated at the meeting that while his nation is open to investment and wants to see its local raw mineral resources processed, it also requires significant energy investments.
We are not developing nations. When it comes to raw materials, we are wealthy nations. However, Nguema said at the meeting that we need partners to help us develop those resources through win-win partnerships.
Bassirou Diomaye Faye, president of Senegal, suggested that his nation also offered opportunities for tourism investment, including a golf course.
Trump could travel to New York to demonstrate his abilities, according to Faye, who stated that the course would only take place in six hours.
The Banio Potash Mine in Mayumba, Gabon, will receive project development funding from the US International Development Finance Corporation, which earlier announced its intention to reduce its import dependence.
DFC’s investments are backed by Conor Coleman, DFC’s head of investments, Conor Coleman, who stated that “DFC’s efforts not only benefit the nations and communities where they invest but also advance US economic interests by opening new markets, strengthening trade relationships, and promoting a more secure and prosperous global economy.”
The five countries that are meeting Trump’s leaders only trade in the US and Africa, but they also have untapped natural resources.
The Trump administration is concerned about drug trafficking, but Senegal and Mauritania, two of their main transit and origin nations, are also concerned about it.
However, African Union officials question how, under “abusive” tariff proposals and visa restrictions, primarily aimed at Africans, Africa could strengthen trade ties with the US.
Ambassador Troy Fitrell, the top US diplomat for Africa, has refuted claims of unfair trade practices by the US.
The US Agency for International Development wasdissolved earlier this month, and the organization’s management announced that it was no longer pursuing “a charity-based foreign aid model” and would instead concentrate on working with nations that “show the ability and willingness to help themselves.”
Stacey Solomon is always giving her fans tips and tricks for affordable DIY hacks that she uses to keep her home neat and tidy. And this week is no different, as she gave fans a peek into her cleaning routine for her utility, where she showed off one low-cost product she uses to organise her laundry area, and fans went wild.
Replies to her Instagram story flooded in, as followers were desperate to know where Stacey’s nifty gadget was from. While Stacey didn’t share the exact model she used, we think we’ve found a near-identical version of the wall-mounted laundry dispenser she showcased in her story—and it won’t break the bank.
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Currently available on Amazon, this Washing Powder Storage and Dispenser retails for £15.99 and has a capacity of up to 3 litres.
Boasting a transparent design, this laundry room organiser makes it easy for you to see what is stored inside and how much is left, ensuring convenient access and replenishment in no time. The clear plastic also allows for added features, like Stacey, if you feel like adding labels for easier and simpler organisation.
The wall-mounted container has a capacity of 3L. It is equipped with two compartments to store detergent and powders separately and different items at the same time, increasing the storage capacity and making your laundry routine that much faster.
This organiser, which can also be used as a cereal or rice storage container, features a wall-mounted design that lets you hang it on smooth walls or tiles, such as in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and other places. This offers more space for other items and makes it easy to reach and ensures it’s kept close to the area you need it, like Stacey mounting hers above her washing machine.
What makes it even more ideal is the two small cups that come with the dispenser, allowing you to pour the desired amount of detergent or powder to be poured seamlessly before use, making it the ideal choice for washing powder that requires a set amount for every wash.
This wall-mounted dispenser retails for the wallet-friendly price of £15.99 and has received plenty of praise from shoppers. One 5-star reviewer states, “I adore this product a lot. It is ideal to have above the washing machine. Everything is kept tidy and neat. It’s definitely something I would highly recommend.
While another person compliments Stacey, “It’s ideal for my utility room.”