Egypt Urges Maintaining Iran-'Israel' Ceasefire, Reaching Gaza Truce

By Al Mayadeen English

Egypt’s FM Badr Abdelatty urges regional de-escalation and an end to the war on Gaza and reveals that Cairo is working on a new ceasefire initiative.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty emphasized the urgent need to maintain the ceasefire between Iran and the Israeli occupation to help de-escalate tensions in the volatile region.

In a phone conversation with US President's Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Abdelatty called on both parties to adhere strictly to the truce and avoid further military engagement.

On June 13, "Israel" launched a surprise aggression on Iran, triggering an Iranian response involving a significant barrage of ballistic missiles, including hypersonic variants, targeting strategic nuclear, military, and industrial sites across the occupied Palestinian territories.

Abdelatty also underscored the necessity of reinstating a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. He stressed the importance of releasing prisoners and allowing medical and humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian enclave, currently facing a dire humanitarian catastrophe.

Egypt, Qatar, US propose 60-day truce deal

In a separate statement, Abdelatty announced that Egypt is actively working on a new Gaza ceasefire initiative.

The proposed deal, crafted jointly with Qatar and the US, calls for a 60-day truce in exchange for the release of several Israeli captives and the immediate entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“We’re working toward a durable solution and a permanent ceasefire,” Abdelatty said in a televised interview with OnTV.

He emphasized that the initiative is "a first step" toward a broader, long-term peace agreement.

Risks to stability amid Israeli aggression

Abdelatty cautioned that any resumption of aggression by the Israeli occupation regime "would pose a major threat to regional stability.”

He stressed the importance of incorporating guarantees into any agreement to ensure the sustainability of the ceasefire.

“There is an American vision and understanding of the importance of including guarantees in any upcoming agreement to ensure the sustainability of a ceasefire,” he stated.

Collapsed Jan. 19 Gaza truce

The latest proposal builds on the framework of the January 19 agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US.

That deal, intended to bring an end to "Israel's" genocidal war on Gaza, collapsed when the Israeli occupation military resumed its assaults on March 18.

Rejecting repeated international appeals for a ceasefire, "Israel" has continued its brutal war on Gaza since October 2023, killing at least 56,500 Palestinians, predominantly women and children.

None of 'Israel’s' Goals Achieved in War on Iran: Haaretz

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Israeli media

The report indicates that “Israel’s” declared goals of destroying Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs and cutting support for Resistance movements have failed.

None of the objectives set by “Israel” for its war on Iran have been achieved, pointed out the Israeli newspaper Haaretz in a report published Monday.

Goal 1: Eliminating Iran's nuclear program

According to the article, the primary objective declared by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to destroy “Iran’s nuclear program and the existential threat it poses.” However, the piece raises serious doubts about the extent of the damage caused by “Israel’s” strikes.

The article noted a near-consensus shared by the European Union, US intelligence, and even Israeli assessments that Tehran still possesses a stockpile of 60% enriched uranium. “Except for Donald Trump, no one claims otherwise,” the report added.

It indicated that while Iran’s nuclear program may have been delayed by a few months, “it was not destroyed,” as the country allegedly retains enough enriched uranium to potentially manufacture several nuclear weapons.

Goal 2: Destroying the ballistic missile program

The second stated objective was to dismantle Iran’s ballistic missile program, also labeled by Netanyahu as an “existential threat”. Haaretz mentioned that this claim was quietly dropped after the cessation of confrontations.

The newspaper cited a senior Israeli military official as admitting there was no solid intelligence basis for asserting that Iran’s missile production capability had been destroyed.

It noted that neither the Israeli occupation military nor Netanyahu now claims that Iran's ballistic missile program was eliminated.

The highest estimate of destroyed launch platforms stands at 60%, according to the article, which said that Iran still possesses hundreds of ballistic missiles and launch platforms.

Goal 3: Halting Iran's support for Resistance movements

During the war, Netanyahu added a third goal, which is to stop Iran from funding Resistance movements. This objective was introduced at the height of Israeli media euphoria during the confrontation, Haaretz said.

Despite this, the article alleged that there are no restrictions preventing Iran from continuing its support for Ansar Allah, Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq, or Hamas.

'Truth is, we were deterred'

The article concluded with an admission that “Israel” misled the public about the losses it suffered from Iranian retaliatory strikes.

It admitted that Israelis, too, were deterred by the Iranian response. “It’s no coincidence that Trump keeps repeating that both sides were exhausted,” it read.

Top Syrian GS, MoD Officials Involved in Alawite Massacres: Reuters

By Al Mayadeen English

Reuters has concluded that at least a dozen armed groups, including foreign fighters, now operating under the new government's command, were involved in the March killings.

A Reuters investigation has uncovered a clear chain of command linking the March massacres of Syrian Alawites to armed factions now operating under the authority of Syria’s new government in Damascus. One faction, the 400 Division, is an elite unit of Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

Nearly 1,500 Alawites were killed, with dozens still missing, and at least 40 separate sites of killings, looting, and revenge attacks against the minority were documented.

Reuters found that at least a dozen armed groups, including foreign fighters, now operating under the new government's command, were involved in the March killings. Nearly half of these factions have been under international sanctions for years due to human rights violations, such as killings, kidnappings, and sexual violence.

Units of HTS were involved

Among the former Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham units implicated in the Reuters investigation are the General Security Service, the main law enforcement agency; the 400th Division, an elite unit of fighters; and the Osman Brigade.

The report stated that other armed factions that recently joined government forces, such as the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade and the Hamza Division, were also involved in the killings.

Defense Ministry officials too

Mohammed al-Jassim, commander of the Sultan Suleiman Shah Brigade, told Reuters he was added to a chat group led by a top Defense Ministry official, whom he said he knew only as Abu Ahd. Abu Ahd al-Hamawi, Reuters explained, is the pseudonym of Hassan Abdel-Ghani, the Defense Ministry spokesperson.

Al-Jassim's Brigade, which is also known as Amshat, was ordered to reopen the coastal M1 highway linking Latakia and Jableh. He said his militia took up positions outside the city of Jableh.

As the massacres of Alawites unfolded, the Defense Ministry spokesman Abdel-Ghani said publicly the operation on the coast was proceeding as planned with the stated goal of keeping control of the region and “tightening the noose on the remaining elements of officers and remnants of the fallen regime,” according to SANA.

Behind the scenes, Abdel-Ghani was running the Telegram chat of militia leaders and military commanders, according to a dozen text and audio messages in an exchange between him and a senior commander from another faction, Reuters noted.

No charge made

Despite ongoing violence, including the recent killings of 20 Alawites between May and June in Latakia and Hama, no one has been charged in connection with the March atrocities. While the Syrian government has reported detaining dozens of suspects to the United Nations, it has yet to release an official death toll. The UN’s own count of 111 fatalities is believed to be a significant underestimation.

In response to the violence, President Ahmad al-Sharaa formed a committee to investigate and promote “civil peace” efforts. Committee spokesperson Yasser Farhan said findings will be delivered to the president within two weeks and cautioned Reuters against publishing its report before the official one is released, emphasizing the importance of preserving the “integrity of the truth.”

In Senegal, Luxury Sheep Shine at a Beauty Contest and Fetch a High Price

By CHINEDU ASADU

10:39 AM EDT, June 30, 2025

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The regal creatures are led into the open arena, stamping their groomed hooves as if to acknowledge the cheers, music and fireworks from the crowd of spectators. Their majestic figures embody pride and status, their towering size, prominent muzzle, curved horns and polished skin on full display as night falls.

Welcome to one of Senegal’s most anticipated beauty pageants – not for humans but for the locally bred Ladoum, the equivalent of a Ferrari among the woolly creatures.

The annual contest featured more than a dozen Ladoum, competing in three different categories as adult male, adult female and young/promising.

As each sheep is led into the open arena, a panel of judges note down their points based on distinct features like beauty, size, height, horns and body texture for each round. Winners, announced at the end, are rewarded with food and cash prizes.

This year’s Best Male Adult sheep is Prive, 1 year and 7months old, whose breeder estimated him to be worth more than $100,000 in the market.

“It feels good to be here, I cherish him so much,” Isaiah Cisse, Prive’s breeder said with a wide grin as he massaged the sheep for a successful outing.

Unlike the more common sheep eaten and used as sacrifices during Muslim celebrations, the crossbreed Ladoum are mainly seen as a living, breathing symbol of social prestige and luxury bred for years before they are sold.

Widely known as one of the world’s most expensive sheep, the older ones usually fetch a price of $70,000, compared to $250 for a regular sheep, and attract buyers from around the world to this West African nation of 18 million people, where livestock is a key source of livelihood.

Mostly weighing up to 400 pounds (181 kilograms) and up to 4 feet (1.21 meters) in height, the Ladoum are known for their physical grandeur with curling and symmetrical horns and lustrous sheen.

As the contest unfolded in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, each sheep is announced before it is led by the breeder onto an elevated stage where it is inspected by the judges, to the elation of the crowd.

Each receives joyful chants from a band troupe, featuring the local Senegalese instrumental Assiko music with the sheep’s praise names ringing out aloud.

“You can’t see a sheep like this in Africa or even in the world,” said Elhadji Ndiaye, a member of the judging panel. “Ladoum is special.”

Many agree with him.

Musa Faye, a 22-year-old breeder, said his 18-month-old sheep was named Diomaye, after Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, to show the sheep’s significance for him and his family.

“I spend a lot of time with him and play with him,” Faye said of his sheep. “I am preparing him for the next competition because I know he will win (the trophy),” he added.

The contest, which has been running for some years, took place alongside an exhibition that featured even young breeders like Ibrahim Diagne. At 12, he is anticipating bringing his Ladoum for the contest someday.

“My parents like this and have always done it, so I like it too,” Diagne said of his passion for the family’s sheep rearing business.

Such passion is common in Senegal where sheep rearing is an age-old tradition deeply woven into family life and culture.

Even animal traditions are passed down through the generations.

Maniane Ndaw’s prized sheep Alou won this year’s Best Junior Male, following in the footsteps of the sheep’s father who won several titles.

“For me, it’s a great, great pleasure,” Ndaw said. “It shows that the lineage is a good one.”

Targeting Gazans Carrying Flour ‘Heinous Crime by Fascist Israeli Army’, Says Hamas

Monday, 30 June 2025 11:32 AM

Palestinians carry bags of flour they grabbed from an aid truck near an Israeli checkpoint, as Gaza residents face crisis levels of hunger, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas resistance movement, in Gaza City. (File photo by Reuters)

The Palestinian Hamas resistance movement has vehemently denounced the Israeli military’s targeting of an ordinary citizen carrying a sack of flour on his back in the Shuja’iyya neighborhood of Gaza City as a “sadistic and brutal act.”

“These scenes document a moment from a heinous crime committed daily by the fascist occupation army, which targets starving people searching for food, amid a suffocating blockade and systematic starvation imposed by the war criminal Netanyahu’s government for nearly four months,” the Gaza-based group said in a statement released on Sunday.

The movement highlighted that the footage of the drone strike aired by the Al Jazeera television news channel exposed “a sadistic and brutal act by a criminal army stripped of all ethics or humanity, with no regard for values or laws.”

It went on to state that Israeli occupation forces have consistently taken the lives of innocent Palestinian children, women, and the elderly ever since the Zionist entity was created on May 14, 1948, and the troops have perpetrated the most egregious violations of human rights.

Hamas emphasized that the ongoing and unparalleled atrocities, which involve the systematic targeting of starving civilians and the relentless massacres against civilians across the Gaza Strip, necessitate that the international community, its institutions, and the collective human conscience take decisive action to halt these actions and bring the fascist offenders to justice in international courts.

The Israeli military has renewed its forced displacement orders for Palestinians to leave several areas in Gaza.

Local authorities said on Saturday that at least 66 Palestinian children have died from acute malnutrition in the Gaza Strip under Israel’s blockade since October 2023.

The deaths illustrate the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, where Israel has enforced a siege since the onset of its ongoing genocidal war on October 7, 2023, intensifying restrictions on aid and fuel.

The latest fatalities include three infants who died from malnutrition and lack of medicine this week.

At least 56,500 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 133,419 individuals injured in the brutal Israeli onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the besieged coastal territory.

Iran’s UN Ambassador Rejects ‘Unconditional Surrender’ as Path to Negotiation

Monday, 30 June 2025 6:55 AM

Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani (file photo)

Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations asserted that “unconditional surrender” cannot be considered negotiation, emphasizing the futility of engaging in talks with the US if they continue to dictate conditions to Iran.

“Negotiation has its principles, and it is a give-and-take process. So we should engage in the negotiation and discuss with each other, maybe we reach a conclusion or not, but the unconditional surrender is not negotiation,” Amir Saeid Iravani said in an interview with CBS News television channel on Sunday.

“If they are ready for negotiation, they will find us ready for that, but if they want to dictate to us, it is impossible for any negotiation with them.”

Iravani also reiterated that Iran will not halt uranium enrichment by any means.

The Iranian diplomat clarified that, although International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors in Iran remain secure, they are currently prohibited from accessing any nuclear sites in the country as their activities have been temporarily halted.

“They are in Iran and are in a secure situation, but their activities have been suspended. They are not allowed to access our sites. They have not performed their duties,” he said.

Iravani also noted that It is possible that some individuals, on a personal level, may hold the opinion that they should criticize the Agency or even make threats against its Director-General Rafael Grossi.

“However, our criticism is directed at the Agency itself. We assess that they have not fulfilled their duties and have paved the way for such aggressions against us.”

The Iranian foreign minister says the UN Security Council should recognize Israel and the US as the initiators of the aggression against the country.

Israel launched an unprovoked war of aggression against Iran on June 13, assassinating senior military commanders and top nuclear scientists in targeted strikes before attacking nuclear and military sites and residential areas.

The Iranian Armed Forces responded with 22 waves of missile strikes as part of Operation True Promise III, which targeted numerous strategic sites across the Israeli-occupied territories.

Ultimately, isolated and abandoned, the Israeli regime announced a unilateral ceasefire through US President Donald Trump in the early hours of June 24.

Pezeshkian: IAEA Must Abandon Double Standards, Respect Rights of Members

Monday, 30 June 2025 2:30 PM

The combo photo shows Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (L) and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has censured the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for its double standard policies, saying the agency should respect the rights of all member states.  

“The [IAEA’s] double standard behavior has caused several problems for security in the region and the world and the Agency is expected to observe the rights of the [member] countries and avoid dual attitudes while defending the rights of its member states,” Pezeshkian said in a phone call with French President Emanuel Macron on Sunday.

The Iranian president criticized the IAEA director general for presenting incorrect reports about Iran’s nuclear issue and his refusal to condemn the US airstrikes against the Iranian nuclear facilities.

The Iranian government, parliament and nation believe the IAEA chief has failed to observe impartiality in dealing with the country’s nuclear program despite full cooperation on the part of the Islamic Republic, Pezeshkian said.

“This behavior is not acceptable to us at all,” the Iranian president stated.

"The action taken by lawmakers... is a natural response to the unjustified, unconstructive and destructive conduct of the director general of the IAEA," Pezeshkian said, referring to the Iranian Parliament’s bill to suspend Tehran’s cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

On June 25, the Iranian Parliament approved the general and specific provisions of a bill to suspend Tehran’s cooperation with the IAEA following its politically-motivated resolution against the Islamic Republic. The parliamentary bill was later approved by Iran’s Constitutional Council.

Iran’s foreign minister has dismissed the IAEA chief’s insistence on visiting the country’s nuclear facilities as “meaningless” and “malign in intent.”

The Iranian president said the Israeli regime carried out its acts of aggression against Iran upon the green light it received from the United States at the same time as indirect nuclear talks were underway between Tehran and Washington.

Pezeshkian expressed regret that the self-proclaimed defenders of human rights and international law strived to justify the inhuman and illegal acts of aggression by the Israeli regime and the US instead of condemning them.

He said the IAEA’s attitude posed serious challenges to the Iranian nation’s trust in the UN nuclear agency.

Pezeshkian underscored the need for the IAEA to fully comply with its own rules and regulations as the first step in the process of rebuilding the Iranian people’s lost trust.

He reiterated Iran’s principled policy on avoiding war and insecurity while pursuing diplomacy in the settlement of issues.

The Iranian president hoped that international organizations, including the IAEA, would comply with their commitments to the member states to pave the way for promoting peace and security in the world instead of war and conflict.

On June 13, the Israeli regime launched an all-out aggression on Iranian soil, attacking nuclear and military infrastructure as well as residential areas with unprecedented military and intelligence support from the United States, its great benefactor.

The Iranian Armed Forces responded through coordinated defensive operations, deflecting incoming fire and engaging the hostile aircraft that brought down several Israeli warplanes.

Iran’s Armed Forces also launched hundreds of ballistic missiles, including multi-warhead and hypersonic variants, towards strategic nuclear, military, and industrial targets across the occupied territories.

On June 22, the United States joined the Israeli regime in the assault and bombed three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

During the phone conversation, the French president expressed condolences to Pezeshkian over the martyrdom of Iranians and said France was one of the first countries to condemn the acts of aggression.

He said France affirms Iran’s positions regarding the correct implementation of regulations by the IAEA.

Paris emphasizes the importance of continuing Tehran’s cooperation with the IAEA even within a new framework as well as the ongoing dialogue with European countries, the French president said.

Iranian President Says US, Israeli Attacks Undermine Status of Non-Proliferation Treaty

Masoud Pezeshkian stressed that this act of aggression happened during indirect talks on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program between Iran and the United States

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian Valery Sharifulin/TASS

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

MINSK, June 27. /TASS/. The US and Israeli strikes on Iran's peaceful nuclear facilities have seriously undermined the status of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated.

"On June 13, 2025, the Zionist regime [Israel] committed a violent assault and carried out illegal terrorist and armed attacks on the Islamic Republic of Iran. This act of aggression happened during indirect talks on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program between Iran and the United States," he said in a video message to participants at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

"Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities came under the attack. The US and the Zionist regime's military attacks on Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities, which have remained under the full supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, constitute a gross violation of all international norms and irreparably undermine the status of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as carried out by the permanent member of the UN Security Council," Pezeshkian stressed.

On June 25, Iranian lawmakers adopted a bill on the temporary suspension of the country’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The following day, Iran's Guardian Council approved the text of the legislation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noted that the new law clarified the framework of cooperation with the IAEA, but did not block interaction completely, leaving the decision of this issue to the discretion of the Supreme National Security Council.

In the early morning hours of June 13, Israel launched a military operation against Iran. Less than 24 hours later, Iran retaliated. Nine days later, on the morning of June 22, US jets attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities, entering the conflict. The following evening, Tehran launched a missile strike on Al Udeid, the largest US military airbase in the region, located in Qatar. According to the US authorities, there were no casualties or significant damage.

US President Donald Trump later announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a complete ceasefire that took effect on June 24.

Nazi Descendants Promoted to Leading Posts in West Purposefully — Russian Foreign Ministry

"The trend is obviously neo-Nazi," Maria Zakharova noted

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova Alexandr Ryumin/TASS

© Alexandr Ryumin/TASS

MOSCOW, June 28. /TASS/. The trend of appointing Nazi descendants to the leading posts in the collective West on purpose is obvious, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented on the future appointment of Blaise Metreweli, whose grandfather was a Ukrainian Nazi and war criminal during the Second World War, as the head of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6).

"The trend is obviously neo-Nazi: [German Chancellor] Friedrich Merz, [future UN General Assembly President] Annalena Baerbok, [Canada’s Transport and Internal Trade Minister] Chrystia Freeland, [Georgian ex-President] Salome Zurabishvili. Now the head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, can be added to the list. Someone purposefully and consciously puts descendants of the Nazis in leadership positions in the countries of the collective West," she said.

The diplomat said that some historians believe that Metreweli's grandfather Konstantin Dobrovolsky took part in the executions of Jews in the Babi Yar tract.

"Dobrovolsky said after the war that he was not in Babi Yar - standard behavior for war criminals seeking to avoid responsibility: he allegedly left Kiev a week before the execution. It's hard to believe that the Germans would have released such a valuable employee on the eve of a long-planned ‘action’," Zakharova continued.

After Kiev, having gained the trust of the Germans, he led executions of Jews in villages, she added.

"In 1943, he received permits from the SS to take his son Konstantin (the father of the future head of MI6) to Europe, after which the traces of the ‘Butcher’ are lost, there is no information about him in any of the open archives. Most likely, he was eliminated either by the advancing units of the Red Army during liberation of Soviet Ukraine, or after the war he received well-deserved punishment from the NKVD-MGB units, or his own people killed him in confusion or an attempt to escape justice," Zakharova said.

"But his son, Konstantin Konstantinovich Metreweli-Dobrovolsky, survived and fled with his mother, first to Hong Kong (then under the British rule), where his daughter Blaise Metreveli was born, and later to the metropolis. Blaise graduated from Cambridge, then disappeared from public view until she was confirmed as head of MI6."

Earlier, The Daily Mail newspaper, whose journalists studied documents stored in the archives of the German city of Freiburg, reported that Metreweli's grandfather was a Nazi collaborator from the German-occupied Ukrainian Chernigov, nicknamed The Butcher.

Russian Troops Liberate Eight Communities in Ukraine Operation Over Week — Top Brass

Russia strikes Ukrainian military airfield by Kinzhal hypersonic missile, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported

© Russian Defense Ministry/TASS

MOSCOW, June 27. /TASS/. Russian troops liberated eight communities in the Kharkov Region and the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) over the week of June 21-27 in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Friday.

"Battlegroup West units liberated the settlements of Novaya Kruglyakovka and Petrovskoye in the Kharkov Region through active operations… Battlegroup South units kept advancing deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlement of Dyleyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the ministry said in a statement.

Over the past week, "Battlegroup Center units continued developing their offensive on the territory of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Dnepropetrovsk Region. They liberated the settlement of Novosergeyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic through decisive operations… Battlegroup East units advanced deep into the enemy’s defenses and liberated the settlements of Zaporozhye, Perebudova, Shevchenko and Yalta in the Donetsk People’s Republic," it said.

Russia strikes Ukrainian military airfield by Kinzhal hypersonic missile

Russian forces delivered an overnight strike by precision weapons, including a Kinzhal hypersonic missile and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on a Ukrainian military airfield over the past 24 hours and conducted six combined strikes over the week, the ministry reported.

"Last night, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a combined strike by airborne long-range precision weapons, including a Kinzhal air-launched hypersonic missile system and unmanned aerial vehicles on the infrastructure of a military airfield," the ministry said.

Over the week of June 21-27, the Russian Armed Forces delivered six combined strikes by precision weapons and attack unmanned aerial vehicles, hitting enterprises of Ukraine’s military-industrial sector, fuel and energy and port infrastructure facilities supporting the Ukrainian army’s operations, air defense radars, ammunition and fuel depots, a mine and torpedo armament arsenal, workshops for the production and sites for the storage and launch of attack unmanned aerial vehicles, military airfields, and also temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations, nationalists and foreign mercenaries," the ministry said.

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicts over 1,355 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup North inflicted more than 1,355 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 16 enemy armored combat vehicles in its areas of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

"During the week, Battlegroup North units improved their forward positions. Combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and artillery struck massed manpower and equipment of five mechanized brigades, three air assault brigades, a jaeger brigade, four assault regiments of the Ukrainian army, two territorial defense brigades and the Chimera special operations detachment of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) in the Sumy Region," the ministry said.

In the Kharkov direction, Battlegroup North units inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade, two motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian army, four territorial defense brigades and a National Guard brigade, the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,355 personnel, 16 armored combat vehicles, 45 motor vehicles and 39 field artillery systems, including two Western-made weapons in those frontline areas over the week, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed two electronic warfare stations and 10 ammunition and materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicts over 1,410 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup West inflicted more than 1,410 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy tanks and eight armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

Over the past week, Battlegroup West units "inflicted losses on formations of four mechanized brigades, an assault brigade of the Ukrainian army, two territorial defense brigades, a National Guard brigade and two border guard detachments of Ukraine’s Border Guard Service," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,410 personnel, two tanks, eight armored combat vehicles, including a HMMWV armored vehicle and an M113 armored personnel carrier of US manufacture and a Turkish-made Cobra II armored vehicle, 68 motor vehicles, eight field artillery systems, among them two NATO weapons and 17 electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed 26 ammunition depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicts over 1,190 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup South inflicted more than 1,190 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and five armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

During the week, Battlegroup South units "inflicted losses on massed manpower and equipment of six mechanized brigades, a motorized infantry brigade, an airmobile brigade, an assault brigade, a mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian army, a National Guard brigade, two territorial defense brigades and the Azov special operations brigade [outlawed as a terrorist group in Russia]," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,190 personnel, a tank, five armored combat vehicles, including a US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, 26 motor vehicles, 15 field artillery guns, among them two Western-made weapons and four electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

In addition, Russian forces destroyed 15 ammunition and materiel depots of the Ukrainian army, it said.

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicts 3,295 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup Center inflicted roughly 3,295 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed an enemy tank and 29 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

Over the past week, Battlegroup Center units "inflicted losses on formations of eight mechanized brigades, two assault brigades, two air assault brigades, a mountain assault brigade, an airborne brigade, two assault regiments, an unmanned systems brigade of the Ukrainian army, three marine infantry brigades, two National Guard brigades and the Khizhak combined police brigade," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost an estimated 3,295 personnel, a tank, 29 armored combat vehicles, including two Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, four M113 armored personnel carriers and three HMMWV armored vehicles of US manufacture, 42 motor vehicles and 23 field artillery systems, among them two NATO weapons in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicts over 1,360 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup East inflicted more than 1,360 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed two enemy tanks and 12 armored combat vehicles in its area of responsibility over the week, the ministry reported.

During the week, Battlegroup East units "inflicted losses on manpower and equipment of two mechanized brigades, an assault regiment, an unmanned systems regiment of the Ukrainian army, a marine infantry brigade and two territorial defense brigades," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,360 personnel, two tanks, 12 armored combat vehicles, 38 motor vehicles, 15 field artillery weapons and three electronic warfare stations in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicts over 520 casualties on Ukrainian army in week

Russia’s Battlegroup Dnepr inflicted more than 520 casualties on Ukrainian troops and destroyed 18 enemy ammunition, materiel and fuel depots over the week, the ministry reported.

"Battlegroup Dnepr units inflicted losses on formations of a mechanized brigade, a mountain assault brigade, two coastal defense brigades of the Ukrainian army and two territorial defense brigades," the ministry said.

The Ukrainian army lost more than 520 personnel, an armored combat vehicle, 58 motor vehicles, eight artillery weapons, 23 electronic warfare and counterbattery radar stations and 18 ammunition, materiel and fuel depots in that frontline area over the week, it specified.

Russian air defenses destroy 1,221 Ukrainian UAVs, 32 JDAM smart bombs over week

Russian air defense forces shot down 1,221 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles and 32 American-made JDAM smart bombs over the week, the ministry reported.

"Over the week, air defense capabilities shot down 32 JDAM guided aerial bombs and two rockets of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system of US manufacture, a Neptune long-range missile and 1,221 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said.

Overall, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 663 Ukrainian warplanes, 283 helicopters, 65,806 unmanned aerial vehicles, 612 surface-to-air missile systems, 24,059 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,572 multiple rocket launchers, 26,656 field artillery guns and mortars and 37,365 special military motor vehicles since the start of the special military operation, the ministry reported.

'Israel' Failed to Topple Iran, Lost 12-day War, Larijani Says

By Al Mayadeen English

29 Jun 2025 23:01

Ali Larijani says “Israel” aimed to collapse Iran in 6 days but failed, revealing assassination plots, US base strikes, and calls to rethink diplomacy.

The Israeli regime and the United States both plotted to bring down the Iranian government in under a week, said Ali Larijani, senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. "They believed they could end the Islamic Republic in five or six days," Larijani added. “Netanyahu’s main goal was the surrender of the Iranian people.”

Larijani added that the plot extended beyond strikes targeting the leadership. “After planning to target the heads of the three branches of power, Israel intended to move on to assassinate the Leader of the Revolution, Sayyed Ali Khamenei,” he disclosed.

The Iranian official emphasized that this plan reflected a deep misunderstanding of the Iranian nation. “The Zionist enemy and the United States failed to grasp the culture and historical depth of the Iranian people,” Larijani said.

'They told me I had 12 hours to flee'

Recounting a personal threat he received during the war, Larijani revealed: “I received a call warning me that I had 12 hours to leave the country or I’d be killed.”

He described a turning point in the conflict on Saturday, June 21, when mediators began to intervene. “They realized Israel had reached a dead end,” Larijani said, noting that by Monday, June 23, Tel Aviv began scrambling for a ceasefire.

“They thought we would beg,” he said, “but by the end of the war, they were the ones begging.” Larijani pointed to The Guardian’s post-war analysis: “The Islamic Republic turned out to be far stronger than the US and Israel had assumed.”

Larijani unequivocally declared the war a failure for Tehran's adversaries. “The enemy was defeated in this battle,” he said, stressing that attempts to destabilize Iran through psychological warfare and internal division had backfired.

He added that Iran’s missile capabilities had shifted the balance of power, and that this played a decisive role in forcing the Israeli regime into a strategic retreat.

IAEA chief among the losers of the 12-day war

Larijani also criticized Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), for his role in the crisis. “Grossi was one of the facilitators of the 12-day war,” he charged. “He failed to do his duty.”

Larijani questioned the value of Iran’s continued participation in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). “Why should we remain committed to the NPT?” he asked, emphasizing, “Nuclear knowledge will never leave Iran.”

He added that the Iranian nuclear file was merely a pretext used to justify aggression: “It was never about the nuclear issue. It was about weakening the state.”

'It’s time to reassess diplomacy'

According to Larijani, Iran must now “reconsider two key issues: negotiations and cooperation with the IAEA.” He also pointed out the silent role of three European countries backing the Israeli occupation throughout the war, without offering Iran any support in return.

“China and Russia,” he said, “realized the limits of American power during this war.”

Larijani concluded that Iran’s victory resonated globally: “All nations rejoiced in our triumph—even though we lost 18 senior commanders.”

Iranian missiles struck US base in Qatar

Larijani confirmed that Iran had directly hit a US military base in Qatar. “Six missiles with 400-kilogram warheads struck the base with precision,” he said. He accused US President Donald Trump of covering up the scale of the losses: “Trump falsely claimed only one missile hit the target.”

He continued, “At the beginning of the confrontation, Trump said he would wait two weeks to see what happens with Iran. But just two days later, he escalated.”

On the 10th day of the war, Larijani said, Trump ordered strikes on Fordow, Isfahan, and Natanz nuclear facilities. “The US Secretary of Defense rushed to claim that Iran’s nuclear infrastructure had been destroyed, attempting to deceive American and global public opinion,” he added.

Iran foiled Israeli plans

Ali Shamkhani, advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran, revealed that an Israeli assassination attempt against him had failed. Speaking in an interview with Iranian television, Shamkhani stated that he is aware of the motive behind the attempt but cannot reveal it at this stage. "I taught them a harsh lesson," he said.

Shamkhani explained that Tehran had recognized from the beginning that negotiations with the United States were not genuinely aimed at achieving an agreement. Instead, he said, the talks were used to create an atmosphere conducive to internal agitation and destabilization within Iran.

He emphasized that Iran's leadership had been fully prepared for any scenario, noting that "leaders were replaced within just 12 hours" and that all operations following the attempt were carried out according to pre-established plans. This preparedness, he added, reflected the country's robust military and security posture against any form of escalation or infiltration.

Israel Killed 580 Palestinians Waiting for Aid in Gaza

Monday, 30 June 2025 1:43 AM

Palestinian children wait at a food distribution point in Nuseirat, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 23, 2025. (AFP)

Palestinian authorities in Gaza have released alarming figures on the starving civilians killed by Israeli live fire while waiting in line for humanitarian aid.

The Palestinian authorities on Tuesday condemned the regime forces’ ongoing attacks on Palestinians seeking aid across the territory.

Gaza’s Government Media Office said approximately 580 Palestinians have been killed and over 4200 others injured as a result of Israeli attacks on civilians seeking aid.

It held Israel and its allies, particularly the US, the UK, France, and Germany, legally and morally responsible for supporting the systematic extermination of civilians in Gaza.

The office also urged the international community to pressure Israel to open Gaza’s crossings, lift its blockade, and allow the immediate entry of humanitarian aid before it is too late.

The new revelation came after Israeli media reported that soldiers have deliberately shot at unarmed Palestinians seeking aid in Gaza after being “ordered” to do so by their commanders.

UN agencies have also condemned the so-called US-Israeli food distribution system in Gaza, calling it a death trap.

Researchers have found that almost 100,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

The figure was published in a new study led by University of London economist Professor Michael Spagat and Palestinian political scientist Khalil Shikaki, who surveyed 2,000 households in the besieged Gaza, comprising almost 10,000 people.

The researchers concluded that, as of January 2025, some 75,200 people died a violent death in Gaza during the Israeli aggression, the vast majority caused by Israeli munitions, along with 8,540 killed via a non-violent death.

Researchers find that almost 100,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

Since January, more than 10,000 people have also been reported killed by the Gaza Health Ministry, bringing the combined fatality count to nearly 100,000.

The new death toll shows that the Gaza Health Ministry understates the true scale of the crisis caused by the Israeli aggression, compounded by hunger, disease, and gunfire at food distribution centers.

Iran’s Military Chief Praises Pakistan’s ‘Bold Stance’ During US-Israeli Aggression

Sunday, 29 June 2025 2:15 PM

Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi (File)

The Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces has expressed gratitude to Pakistan for standing by the Islamic Republic amid the 12-day aggression imposed on the country by the United States and Israel.

Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, in a phone call with Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir on Sunday, praised Islamabad’s “courageous stance.”

The top Iranian commander also thanked the people of Pakistan for their “bold positions” in response to the Zionist regime's unprovoked aggression against the Iranian people.

Islamabad voiced strong support for Tehran when the Israeli regime unleashed its brutal aggression on the Islamic Republic on June 13, assassinating Iran's senior military commanders and nuclear scientists in targeted strikes, and killing ordinary civilians, including women and children.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warns against the “disastrous consequences” of Western support for the Israeli regime.

During the 12-day aggression, General Mousavi said, US President Donald Trump’s administration “spared no effort in assisting the Zionist regime.”

On June 22, the US stepped in by attacking Iran’s three civilian nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow—all of which operate under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“In addition to taking part in the aggression, it [Washington] employed all its capabilities to defend the regime against Iran’s missile and drone attacks,” General Mousavi said.

“Alongside the US,” the military chief said, “several other Western countries also provided verbal and practical support to the enemy.”

The commander said, “Despite the losses we suffered — especially the martyrdom of some of our senior and capable commanders at the beginning of this war — we prevented the enemy from achieving its goals, to the point that they were forced to request a ceasefire.”

Israel unilaterally halted its aggression on Iran on June 23, after Trump announced a ceasefire, which, according to military analysts, the Tel Aviv regime had to accept to “save” itself as the aggression it launched exceeded its capabilities.

AI Drones Lead Breakthrough Against Malaria in Africa

Ndéa Yoka, host and producer of Business Africa, and her guest Yosuke Kaneko, founder of SORA Technology©

Africa News

By Ndea Yoka

 26/06 - 21:25

Business Africa

This week on Business Africa: AI-powered drones target mosquito breeding sites to fight malaria; in Abuja, African sovereign wealth funds organize to finance the continent’s infrastructure; and in Niger, the recent ban on livestock exports has hit thousands of herders hard.

Malaria: Tech Boosts a Crucial Fight for Africa

Malaria remains one of the biggest obstacles to Africa’s development. About 600,000 deaths are recorded annually, mostly among children under five, and up to $16 billion in GDP is lost each year, according to the World Economic Forum. Beyond the health issue, it is an economic and strategic challenge for the continent’s future.

In the face of this scourge, technology is changing the game. The Japanese startup SORA Technology is deploying an innovative solution in several African countries: AI-guided drones that detect mosquito breeding sites and apply larvicides in a highly targeted manner. This approach avoids costly, large-scale, and inefficient treatments.

“Our solution relies on the combined use of artificial intelligence and drones to precisely identify high-risk areas, then apply insecticides based on collected data,” explains Yosuke Kaneko, founder of SORA Technology.

Already operational in Ghana, the system has proven effective: up to 70% reduction in insecticide use, 40% savings on prevention costs, and a 50% decrease in labor expenses.

Building on these results, SORA raised $4.8 million in May 2025, primarily from Japanese investors, to expand its presence to six additional African countries. The funds will also support Health Ministries in locally integrating the technology.

“This time, funding is less public but offers an opportunity for the private sector. Health is not an expense, it’s an investment. In Africa, these solutions can emerge and provide highly valuable data sought worldwide,” says Mr. Kaneko.

Another advantage: this method reduces the risk of insecticide resistance, a critical problem for traditional systems.

“Reducing the amount of chemicals used extends their effectiveness and lowers overall investment. Our solution rates very well in terms of cost-efficiency.”

In a context where drug resistance is increasing and public funding is dwindling, SORA’s approach shows that technology, public health, and economic development can converge to address one of the continent’s greatest challenges.

Africa: Towards a New Era of Sovereign Financing

In Abuja, leading African financial players gathered for the 4th African Sovereign Investors Forum. The goal: mobilize more capital to finance the continent’s essential infrastructure through strengthened South-South cooperation.

Sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, public and private partners aim to move away from dependence on foreign aid. Nigeria, through NSIA, intends to play a leading role in this strategy.

“We need to change our mindset and invest our own capital in transformative projects,” urges Ada Osakwe, Chairwoman of NSIA’s Investment Committee.

Behind the scenes, several protocols were signed to launch major projects in energy, agro-industry, and transport. A report by Michael Dibie.

Niger: Herders in Trouble After Livestock Export Ban

In Niger, the recent ban on livestock exports, imposed in May to supply local markets ahead of Tabaski, has left a bitter taste. The goal was missed. Unsold animals piled up in markets, especially in Talladjé, Niamey.

The measure severely impacted herders and exporters in a country where more than 80% of the population depends on livestock. Some sheep priced up to 600,000 FCFA found no buyers, causing significant losses according to professionals.

The sector, which accounts for 62% of agricultural exports, was caught off guard. Orders destined for Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Gabon were blocked. Loans taken out to purchase livestock may now never be repaid.

In areas like Diffa and Agadez, specialized in export-oriented livestock farming, herders are now calling for consultations ahead of such decisions to avoid further weakening an activity vital to Niger’s economy.

Sudan Civil War Overwhelms Border Town in Neighbor Chad as Refugees Find Little Help

Refugees wait for food distribution at the Tine transit camp in Chad's Wadi Fara province Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Caitlin Kelly)

By CAITLIN KELLY

5:25 AM EDT, June 29, 2025

ADRE, Chad (AP) — Fatima Omas Abdullah wakes up every morning with aches and pains from sleeping on bare ground for almost two years. She did not expect Sudan’s civil war to displace her for so long into neighboring Chad.

“There is nothing here,” she said, crying and shaking the straw door of her makeshift home. Since April 2023, she has been in the Adre transit camp a few hundred meters from the Sudanese border, along with almost a quarter-million others fleeing the fighting.

Now the U.S.- backed aid system that kept hundreds of thousands like Abdullah alive on the edge of one of the world’s most devastating wars is fraying. Under the Trump administration, key foreign aid has been slashed and funding withdrawn from United Nations programs that feed, treat and shelter refugees.

In 2024, the U.S. contributed $39.3 million to the emergency response in Chad. So far this year, it has contributed about $6.8 million, the U.N. says. Overall, only 13% of the requested money to support refugees in Chad this year has come in from all donors, according to U.N. data.

In Adre, humanitarian services were already limited as refugees are meant to move to more established camps deeper inside Chad.

Many Sudanese, however, choose to stay. Some are heartened by the military’s recent successes against rival paramilitary forces in the capital, Khartoum. They have swelled the population of this remote, arid community that was never meant to hold so many. Prices have shot up. Competition over water is growing.

Adre isn’t alone. As the fighting inside Sudan’s remote Darfur region shifts, the stream of refugees has created a new, more isolated transit camp called Tine. Since late April, 46,000 people have arrived.

With the aid cuts, there is even less to offer them there.

235,000 Sudanese in a border town

Adre has become a fragile frontline for an estimated 235,000 Sudanese. They are among the 1.2 million who have fled into eastern Chad.

Before the civil war, Adre was a town of about 40,000. As Sudanese began to arrive, sympathetic residents with longtime cross-border ties offered them land.

Now there is a sea of markets and shelters, along with signs of Sudanese intending to stay. Some refugees are constructing multi-story buildings.

Sudanese-run businesses form one of Adre’s largest markets. Locals and refugees barter in Sudanese pounds for everything from produce to watches.

“There is respect between the communities,” said resident Asadiq Hamid Abdullah, who runs a donkey cart. “But everyone is complaining that the food is more expensive.”

Chad is one of the world’s poorest countries, with almost 50% of the population living below the poverty line.

Locals say the price of water has quadrupled since the start of Sudan’s civil war as demand rises. Sudanese women told The Associated Press that fights had broken out at the few water pumps for them, installed by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders.

Even food aid could run out shortly. The U.N. World Food Program says funding to support Sudanese refugees in Adre is guaranteed only until July, as the U.S. aid cuts force a 30% reduction in staff worldwide. The U.N. refugee agency has seen 30% of its funding cut for this area, eastern Chad.

Samia Ahmed, who cradled her 3-year-old and was pregnant with her second child, said she has found work cleaning and doing laundry because the WFP rations don’t last the month.

“I see a gloomy future,” she said.

Sudanese try to fill aid gaps

Sudanese are trying to fill gaps in aid, running private schools and their own humanitarian area with a health clinic and women’s center.

Local and U.N. authorities, however, are increasing the pressure on them to leave Adre. There are too many people here, they say.

“A vast city,” said Hamit Hadjer Abdullai with Chad’s National Commission for the Reception and Reintegration of Refugees.

He said crime was increasing. Police warn of the Colombians, a Sudanese gang. Locals said it operates with impunity, though Abdullai claimed that seven leaders have been jailed.

“People must move,” said Benoit Kayembe Mukendi, the U.N. refugee agency’s local representative. “For security reasons and for their protection.”

As the Chadian population begins to demand their land back, Mukendi warned of a bigger security issue ahead.

But most Sudanese won’t go. The AP spoke to dozens who said they had been relocated to camps and returned to Adre to be closer to their homeland and the transit camp’s economic opportunities.

There are risks. Zohal Abdullah Hamad was relocated but returned to run a coffee stand. One day, a nearby argument escalated and gunfire broke out. Hamad was shot in the gut.

“I became cold. I was immobile,” she said, crying as she recalled the pain. She said she has closed her business.

The latest Sudanese arrivals to Adre have no chance to establish themselves. On the order of local authorities, they are moved immediately to other camps. The U.N. said it is transporting 2,000 of them a day.

In Tine, arriving Sudanese find nothing

The new and rapidly growing camp of Tine, around 180 kilometers (111 miles) north of Adre, has seen 46,000 refugees arrive since late April from Northern Darfur.

Their sheer numbers caused a U.N. refugee representative to gasp.

Thousands jostle for meager portions of food distributed by community kitchens. They sleep on the ground in the open desert, shaded by branches and strips of fabric. They bring witness accounts of attacks in Zamzam and El-Fasher: rape, robbery, relatives shot before their eyes.

With the U.S. aid cuts, the U.N. and partners cannot respond as before, when people began to pour into Adre after the start of the war, U.N. representative Jean Paul Habamungu Samvura said.

“If we have another Adre here … it will be a nightmare.”

A Gold Mine Collapse Kills 11 Workers in Sudan

This is a locator map for Sudan with its capital, Khartoum. (AP Photo)

11:49 AM EDT, June 29, 2025

CAIRO (AP) — A gold mine partly collapsed in eastern Sudan, killing 11 miners, the state-run company in charge of the project said Sunday.

The collapse of the Kersh al-Feel mine happened over the weekend in the desert town of Houeid in the eastern Nile River province, the Sudanese Mineral Resources Limited Company said in a statement. Another seven workers were injured and transferred to a hospital, it said.

The company said it had stopped excavation and reiterated its warning to informal miners against working at the site.

Sudan is a major gold producer but mine collapses are common due to poor safety standards.

Similar incidents in recent years include a 2023 collapse that killed 14 miners and another in 2021 that claimed 38 lives.

Ghana Actress Matilda Asare Earns Masters Degree from KNUST

By News Ghana 

June 28, 2025

Matilda Asare Graduates From Knust

Kumawood film star Matilda Asare has graduated with a Master of Science in Management and Human Resource Strategy from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

The actress received her degree during the university’s June 27, 2025, commencement ceremony in Kumasi, marking a significant academic milestone alongside her entertainment career.

Fellow actor Apostle John Prah joined Asare to celebrate the achievement, sharing video footage of the occasion on social media. The graduate wore traditional Kente cloth beneath her green KNUST academic regalia during the ceremony. Asare later posted highlights online, receiving widespread acclaim from industry peers and fans for balancing screen success with scholarly dedication.

The intensive one-year MSc program focuses on developing strategic leadership, analytical decision-making, and advanced management competencies. KNUST designed the curriculum to equip professionals with evidence-based approaches to organizational challenges. Asare’s accomplishment reflects a growing trend among Ghanaian entertainers pursuing formal education to complement creative work.

Her graduation coincides with national efforts to advance professional development across sectors, including recent banking and digital literacy initiatives. The actress has not publicly confirmed whether her degree signals a career shift or enhanced production roles within Ghana’s film industry.

Morocco: United Kingdom Withdraws From Renewable Energy Project

Work on the Moroccan solar power plant Noor I is nearing completion near Ouarzazate, Morocco, 24 April 2015

Africa News with AP

27/06 - 14:31

Morocco

The United Kingdom has withdrawn from a project to transmit power generated by North Africa's winds and sun via undersea cables and is turning to other projects considered less risky, British energy officials said Thursday.

The country's Department of Energy Security stated in a press release that it would no longer support the $33 billion project due to a "high level of inherent risk, related to both delivery and security."

The Morocco-UK energy project was announced by the British company Xlinks in 2021 as part of an effort to create a global energy network and move energy from places where it is cheap to produce to markets with high demand. Xlinks said the project would supply the equivalent of 8% of Britain's current electricity needs, or around seven million homes.

"There are more robust alternative options that we should focus our attention on," British Minister Michael Schanks said in a statement, highlighting the inherent risk to taxpayers and consumers.

The UK relies heavily on natural gas for its energy needs and aims to produce all of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. It closed its last coal-fired power station last year and has offered partial funding to a range of wind, solar, and energy storage projects to help it reach its goal.

These large-scale infrastructure projects typically rely on government support or fixed prices per megawatt-hour. Xlinks has a fixed-price agreement and has already received loans from investors such as French company Total Energies and development bank Africa Finance Corporation.

Dave Lewis, chairman of Xlinks, said in a statement that the company would continue with its project despite the government's decision.

"We are extremely surprised and bitterly disappointed," he said, noting that the company believed its plan would provide electricity at lower rates and more quickly than other proposals, including the expansion of nuclear power.

Xlinks is one of a series of projects that reflect how European countries are looking to North Africa for clean energy, testing whether it is cheaper to produce renewable energy in ideal conditions, far from home, and then ship it, or to produce it in-country.

The project involves transmitting electricity via nearly 4,000 km of submarine cables protected by plastic and steel, with minimal transmission loss. If completed, it will be the largest interconnector of its kind, although smaller submarine cable networks already connect the UK to neighboring European countries.

In addition to Xlinks, transmission projects in Tunisia and Egypt aim to connect solar and wind farms to Italy and Greece.

'Minerals': Researcher Explains U.S. Interest in DRC-Rwanda Truce

Dr. Samuel Igba, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pretoria

By Africa News with AP

28/06 - 17:36

The agreement signed between DRC and Rwanda has been touted by many as a major step towards ending years of war in Congo's east.

The United States which brokered the deal got involved after Kinshasa proposed a minerals-for-security offer.

But Dr. Samuel Igba, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pretoria says mineral wealth, is just one of the many drivers of conflict in the region and not the only one.

"The region is very rich in mineral resources like coltan, like cobalt, copper and these other resources that are very important for production in the West. And you have a lot of illegal owned mines by militia groups", Igba said.

While the agreement principally talks about Kinshasa and Kigali, there are dozens of armed groups and proxy forces in the picture, which could complicate any chances of a lasting solution.

One of those groups is Rwanda-backed M23, with which Congo is holding separate talks mediated by Qatar.

"There's a disconnect between the high-level peace building, the ones we see on TV, the Qatar process and the AU-led Luanda, Angola process... These peace processes have not led to any tangible agreement for over 30 years that this conflict has gone on, and we are seeing that there's a gap that these two high-level peace-building and the grassroots peace- building are not connecting", noted Igba.

At Least 37 People Killed in a Bus Collision in a Remote Part of Tanzania

8:12 AM EDT, June 29, 2025

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) — Dozens of people were killed when two buses collided and burst into flames in a remote part of northern Tanzania, officials said.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed deep sorrow in a statement Sunday following the crash that killed at least 37 people and left 30 others injured.

The collision happened on Saturday evening in the Sabasaba area along the Moshi–Tanga highway in the Kilimanjaro region. The identities and nationalities of the victims weren’t immediately known.

“I send my heartfelt condolences to Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner Nurdin Babu, the bereaved families, relatives, and friends,” Hassan said in a statement. “May God grant peace to the souls of the departed and a quick recovery to the injured. May He comfort and strengthen their families during this difficult time.”

The president called for stricter road safety adherence, saying such tragedies continue to take a toll on Tanzanian families.

Tanzania’s government has made repeated calls in recent years to curb road fatalities, which persist despite various safety campaigns.

SADC Leaders Gather in Maputo as Mozambique Turns 50

Online Reporter

 June 25, 2025

Welcome to our live coverage of Mozambique’s golden jubilee celebrations, marking 50 years of independence from Portuguese colonial rule.

In attendance is SADC Chairman, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, alongside other esteemed Heads of State.

The independence celebrations are being held at Machava Stadium in Maputo, a historic site where Mozambique’s founding President Samora Machel declared independence in 1975.

With an expected crowd of over 40 000, this event promises to be a vibrant and significant celebration of national pride and unity.

Stay tuned as our Reporter, Wallace Ruzvidzo, brings you all the highlights and insights from this momentous occasion.

Honouring the past

Heads of State and other dignitaries have started arriving for the wreath laying ceremony at the Mozambique National Heroes Monument.The ceremony precedes the main celebrations at Machava Stadium.

Former Presidents have also arrived.

A historic journey towards sovereignty

Mozambique, a nation nestled on the southeastern coast of Africa, boasts a rich tapestry of history, culture, and resilience.

Its path to independence from Portuguese colonial rule on June 25, 1975, was a pivotal moment not only for the country itself but also for the broader struggle against colonialism in Africa.

Colonial legacy and struggle for Independence

Portuguese explorers first landed on Mozambique’s shores in the late 15th century, marking the beginning of centuries of colonial domination. Over time, Mozambique became a crucial port and trading post in the vast Portuguese empire, with its resources exploited for the benefit of the colonial power.

However, the seeds of resistance were sown early. Movements advocating for independence gained momentum in the 20th century, inspired by global shifts towards decolonization and the assertion of national identities. Leaders such as Eduardo Mondlane and Samora Machel emerged as key figures in the struggle, rallying Mozambicans against colonial oppression and exploitation.

The path to Independence

The Mozambican War of Independence, launched in 1964 by the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), marked a significant turning point. FRELIMO, led by Mondlane initially and later by Machel, employed both military and diplomatic strategies to challenge Portuguese rule.

The conflict intensified over the years, with Mozambican fighters utilizing guerrilla tactics to combat the better-equipped Portuguese forces.

On June 25, 1975, Mozambique finally achieved independence, marking the culmination of years of struggle and sacrifice. The declaration of independence was met with jubilation across the country as Mozambicans celebrated their newfound sovereignty and the promise of a brighter future.

Challenges post-Independence

In the years following independence, Mozambique navigated through various political and economic changes, including a devastating civil war that lasted from 1977 to 1992. However, the resilience of its people and the leadership of figures like Samora Machel helped steer the nation towards stability and progress.

Modern Mozambique: A Vision for the Future

Today, Mozambique stands as a testament to the spirit of resilience and determination. With a growing economy fueled by natural resources such as natural gas and minerals, the country is working to harness its potential for development and improve the lives of its people. Efforts in infrastructure, education, and healthcare continue to be priorities as Mozambique strives for sustainable growth and inclusive development.

Mozambique’s prominent nationalists

Mozambique’s prominent nationalists include figures who led the struggle for independence from Portuguese colonial rule and those who have led the country since independence.

These individuals, among others, played vital roles in shaping Mozambique’s history and achieving its independence from colonial rule.

Mozambique relishes in independence

The mood in Mozambique as it celebrates 50 years of independence is vibrant and festive.

There is a palpable sense of pride and unity among the people as they reflect on their journey and resilience over the decades.

Communities come together, sharing stories of struggle and triumph, while younger generations engage in discussions about the future.

The atmosphere is charged with hope and optimism, as citizens celebrate their identity and the progress made since independence.

Flags wave and laughter echoes, embodying a spirit of joy and reflection on their hard-won freedom.

RBZ Underscores Role of SMEs in Economy

Sunday Mail  

June 29, 2025

Nelson Gahadza

SMALL and medium enterprises (SMEs) continue to anchor economic growth and employment creation, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) said, as it commended private sector initiatives that promote financial inclusion.

Commending First Mutual Microfinance for coming up with innovative products to support SMEs, the central bank said the initiatives would stimulate entrepreneurship and support sustainable economic growth across the country.

This follows the launch of First Mutual Microfinance SME Loan Product on Friday, designed to address the enterprises’ unique needs, such as access to working capital needed to drive growth.

RBZ registrar, microfinance division, Mr Simbarashe Mashonganyika, who was the guest of honour, commended First Mutual Microfinance for the timely introduction of the much-needed financing solution targeted at SMEs, the engine room of Zimbabwe’s economy.

“Your commitment to supporting financially excluded and underserved sectors through tailored credit products is truly commendable and fully aligned with our national development priorities,” he said.

“Small and medium-sized enterprises continue to play a pivotal role in job creation, innovation and poverty alleviation. Yet many of these businesses face real challenges accessing capital due to limited collateral, informal operating structures or limited credit histories.”

He noted First Mutual Microfinance SME Loan Product’s calculated efforts to unlock the potential of small enterprises by offering them the lifeline they need to start, scale up and sustain their operations.

“This is not just about funding businesses; it is about transforming lives, households and entire communities,” he said.

Mr Mashonganyika said the RBZ, through its microfinance division, would continue to provide a supportive regulatory environment for the growth and stability of the microfinance sector.

He noted that some of the ongoing initiatives included the National Financial Inclusion Strategy II (NFIS II), which prioritises access to finance for women, the youth, rural populations and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The bank is also implementing capacity-building programmes to enhance the governance, risk management and financial literacy capabilities of microfinance institutions and their clients.

Further, the bank has rolled out initiatives such as monitoring and promoting responsible lending practices, which ensure that credit is not only accessible, but also sustainable.

The division is encouraging the adoption of digital financial services and fintech solutions to increase outreach, especially in remote and rural areas.

“Our goal is to build a strong, well-regulated microfinance sector that empowers individuals and drives inclusive economic growth, and today’s launch is an encouraging sign of progress towards that vision,” he said.

Mr Mashonganyika encouraged players in the microfinance ecosystem, including banks, non-bank financial institutions, policymakers and other strategic partners, to continue innovating and collaborating to close the financing gap and create an enabling environment for SMEs to thrive.

“To the entrepreneurs and SME owners who will benefit from this product, take full advantage of this opportunity, invest wisely and be the champions of the Zimbabwean dream,” he said.

First Mutual Microfinance general manager Mr Max Ncube said the product had been specifically designed for SMEs, given their strategic importance to the economy.

“It addresses their unique needs: flexibility, speed, low collateral requirements and access to working capital that enables growth,” he said.

“Whether it’s a grocery shop right here in Highfield looking to restock, a tailoring business in Gweru expanding into school uniforms or a transport operator in Mutare needing vehicle repairs, this product is for you.”

Mr Ncube noted that the product was a response to the challenges faced by the microfinance clients, reflecting the micro-lender’s belief in the potential of Zimbabwean entrepreneurs.

“With this loan, we are not just financing businesses — we are backing dreams,” he said.

Mr Ncube added that the product was strongly aligned with the RBZ financial inclusion strategy, noting that through collaborative efforts with the central bank, they were building a responsible, resilient and inclusive microfinance sector that supports the Government’s Vision 2030 and beyond.

“As a strategic arm of First Mutual Holdings Limited, we remain focused on integrating microfinance, insurance and financial services into a single, accessible value proposition,” he said.

“Our vision is to be the preferred

provider of financial solutions in our chosen communities, and today’s product launch is a bold step towards achieving that.”

Mr Ncube pointed out that since 2018, the microfinance entity had built a diverse portfolio offering salary-based and agricultural loans, value chain financing, cattle-based SME lending and pen fattening products, among others, all tailored to meet the varied needs of the customers.

He said in addition to the branch footprint, the institution operated a network of over 150 agents countrywide.

“Additionally, we have embraced technology and our clients can reach us via our website, telephone and most impactfully, our whatsApp platform, which simplifies onboarding, queries and loan access, all with ease and speed,” he said.

Mabika Lands ZANU-PF Manicaland Women’s League Chair

Online Reporter Manicapost  

June 29, 2025

Samuel Kadungure

News Editor

CDE Dorothy Mabika was this afternoon elected as the substantive Zanu PF Manicaland Provincial Women’s League chairlady, defeating her closest rival, Cde Mercy Sacco, by seven votes.

The party utilised the old list of executive members, prior to the addition of two new portfolios, with 39 provincial executive members forming the electoral college.

Cde Mabika secured 23 votes, while Cde Sacco, who had been serving as acting chairperson, garnered 16 votes.

Cde Mabika fills the vacancy left by Mrs Happiness Nyakuedzwa, who was removed from office last year.

The election, held in Mutare yesterday, was presided over by Zanu PF National Political Commissar, Cde Munyaradzi Machacha.

Cde Machacha said the election proceeded peacefully, and the result awaits endorsement by the Politburo.

“We were instructed to reconvene and re-run the co-option process for the chairwoman of the Zanu PF Manicaland Provincial Women’s League, and we have just completed that task, with Cde Dorothy Mabika emerging as the winner. Our results will, of course, be presented to the Politburo, and the final endorsement of those results will be made by the Politburo. However, thus far, everything has proceeded smoothly, without any hitches. We hope that, from now on, Manicaland will be united, and the women’s league will be united, focusing on organising and building our party in the province.

“The figures were 23 votes for Cde Mabika and 16 votes for Cde Sacco, and both ladies have demonstrated that they have a considerable following within the executive and deserve respect. Both ladies should now work together, unite as chairwoman and vice-chair, to ensure that they unite the entire Women’s League. They should also concentrate on programmes that empower women in Manicaland,” said Cde Machacha.