Global Pulse

分类： world

  • Tearful Gazans finally reunite after limited Rafah reopening

    Tearful Gazans finally reunite after limited Rafah reopening

    A limited reopening of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza facilitated emotional, long-awaited reunions for a small number of Palestinians on Monday, February 3rd, 2026. The crossing, which serves as Gaza’s sole access point to the outside world not controlled by Israel, had been effectively sealed since Israeli military forces assumed control in May 2024 during the ongoing conflict with Hamas.

    Jubilant yet tearful scenes unfolded at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis as returnees arrived late Monday. AFP footage captured crowds gathering around a bus, with individuals filming the poignant moments on their phones. The emotional weight was palpable as women wept upon embracing family members and a man held a young child up to a window to greet arrivals.

    However, the return was marred by hardship and stringent Israeli inspections. Rotana Al-Riqib, a Palestinian woman in her thirties returning from Egypt, described the experience as a ‘humiliating journey,’ detailing interrogations and the confiscation of all belongings, including her children’s possessions, leaving them with only some clothes.

    The reopening fell drastically short of initial expectations. While Egyptian officials had anticipated around 200 people to transit, sources on both sides reported only approximately two dozen movements in total. Gaza’s Hamas-operated Interior Ministry confirmed merely 12 individuals—nine women and three children—were permitted to return from Egypt, with only eight departing. An Egyptian source cited 12 admissions from Gaza, comprising five injured patients and seven companions.

    Ali Shaath, head of a Palestinian technocratic committee for Gaza’s governance, termed the reopening a ‘window of hope’ for a territory shattered by two years of war. For many, particularly the estimated 20,000 patients in urgent need of medical care, the crossing represents a critical lifeline. The reopening is a component of a U.S.-backed truce plan, long demanded by the UN and aid agencies. Yet, Israeli coordination bodies have not indicated any plans to facilitate the long-awaited surge of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory, leaving dire conditions largely unaddressed.

  • Russia says India has not said it will halt oil purchases

    Russia says India has not said it will halt oil purchases

    The Kremlin has officially stated that it has received no communication from the Indian government regarding any intention to cease purchasing Russian crude oil, directly contradicting claims made by former US President Donald Trump about a bilateral trade agreement.

    Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed reporters on Tuesday, emphasizing that Moscow had not been notified of any changes to the energy partnership between Russia and India. This statement came in response to Trump’s assertion on social media that he had negotiated a trade deal with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that included tariff reductions and a commitment from India to stop buying Russian oil due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

    Trump announced he had reduced tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, reversing previous reciprocal tariffs imposed specifically in response to India’s continued purchases of Russian energy. While Prime Minister Modi publicly thanked Trump for the ‘wonderful’ phone conversation and tariff relief, he notably omitted any reference to halting oil imports from Russia in his official statements.

    The energy relationship between Moscow and New Delhi has expanded dramatically since Western sanctions reshaped global oil markets following Russia’s 2022 military operations in Ukraine. India emerged as a major purchaser of discounted Russian crude, with imports reaching approximately 1.8 million barrels per day in 2024, representing nearly 36% of India’s total crude imports.

    Despite the strong energy ties, bilateral trade remains heavily imbalanced at $68.7 billion for the 2024-25 period, with Russian energy exports dominating while Indian exports to Russia accounted for less than $5 billion. The partnership has continued to strengthen, with Russian President Vladimir Putin personally assuring ‘uninterrupted shipments’ during his late 2025 visit to New Delhi.

    Market analysts note that Trump’s previous tariff imposition had already impacted energy flows, with Indian media reporting a 38% monthly decline in Russian oil imports following the implementation of reciprocal tariffs, according to Commerce Ministry data.

  • Collision between migrant speedboat, Greek coast guard vessel leaves at least 14 dead

    Collision between migrant speedboat, Greek coast guard vessel leaves at least 14 dead

    A devastating maritime accident occurred in the eastern Aegean Sea near the Greek island of Chios on Tuesday, resulting in significant loss of life when a speedboat carrying migrants collided with a Hellenic Coast Guard patrol vessel. According to official statements, at least 14 individuals perished in the incident, while rescue operations continue to locate potentially missing passengers.

    The coast guard confirmed that 24 migrants, including approximately 11 children, were successfully rescued from the waters and transported to the local hospital on Chios for medical treatment. Two coast guard officers also sustained injuries during the collision and received hospital care. The exact number of passengers aboard the migrant vessel remains undetermined, complicating rescue efforts.

    Emergency response teams have deployed substantial resources to the area, including four patrol vessels, an air force helicopter, and a privately-operated boat carrying professional divers. Video documentation from local media outlets depicted distressing scenes of survivors being carried ashore in blankets, with children visibly injured and limping as they were guided toward emergency vehicles with flashing lights.

    Michalis Giannakos, head of Greece’s public hospital workers’ union, reported that medical staff were placed on high alert to manage the sudden influx of casualties, with several patients requiring immediate surgical intervention. The circumstances surrounding the collision remain under investigation, with authorities yet to determine the precise sequence of events or identify the nationalities of those involved.

    This tragedy occurs within the broader context of migration patterns through Greece, which serves as a primary entry point to the European Union for individuals fleeing conflict and economic hardship across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The short but hazardous crossing from the Turkish coastline to nearby Greek islands has frequently resulted in fatal accidents, though increased patrols and allegations of pushback operations have reportedly reduced crossing attempts in recent months.

    The incident highlights ongoing challenges within European migration policy, where the EU has been systematically overhauling its approach through streamlined deportations and increased detention measures. This hardening of migration policies reflects shifting political dynamics across the continent, with far-right parties gaining influence and public debate intensifying around border security and humanitarian responsibilities.

  • Rafah crossing receives 2nd group of Palestinians returning from Egypt to Gaza

    Rafah crossing receives 2nd group of Palestinians returning from Egypt to Gaza

    The Rafah border crossing has witnessed the return of a second contingent of Palestinian civilians to the Gaza Strip from Egypt, marking a significant humanitarian development in the ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. According to Egypt’s state-affiliated Al-Qahera News TV, these individuals—comprising war-wounded patients and their accompanying relatives—completed entry procedures on the Egyptian side before transiting back into Gaza on Tuesday.

    This repatriation follows the crossing’s official reactivation on Monday, its first operational resumption since May 2024. The movement is part of the second phase implementation of the ceasefire agreement brokered between the conflicting parties. Palestinian media confirmed that an initial group of 12 returnees arrived via bus at Khan Younis’ Nasser Medical Complex on Monday evening.

    The returning Palestinians had previously received critical medical treatment and healthcare services in Egyptian hospitals. Gaza’s health authorities emphasize the staggering scale of medical need within the enclave, reporting approximately 22,000 Palestinians requiring urgent external medical treatment, including over 400 cases classified as immediately life-threatening.

    In preparation for continued medical transfers, Egypt’s Ministry of Health has mobilized substantial medical resources, placing approximately 12,000 doctors across 150 hospitals on high alert to receive additional wounded Palestinians and patients.

    The current fragile ceasefire took effect on October 10, 2025, concluding two years of devastating conflict that Gaza health authorities report resulted in at least 71,800 Palestinian fatalities and 171,500 injuries.

  • Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, son of Libya’s late dictator, killed in north Africa country, officials say

    Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, son of Libya’s late dictator, killed in north Africa country, officials say

    Libyan officials confirmed on Tuesday the death of Seif al-Islam Gadhafi, the once-presumed heir to former dictator Moammar Gadhafi, in what security sources describe as a targeted killing. The 53-year-old was slain at his residence in Zintan, located approximately 136 kilometers southwest of Tripoli, according to anonymous security officials from western Libya.

    Multiple sources verified the incident, including Khaled al-Zaidi, Gadhafi’s legal representative, who announced the death via social media without elaboration. Abdullah Othman Abdurrahim, who led Gadhafi’s political team in UN-mediated peace talks, similarly confirmed the killing on Facebook. Local media outlet Fawasel Media, citing Abdurrahim, reported that armed assailants carried out the assassination at Gadhafi’s home, prompting an immediate prosecutor-led investigation.

    Gadhafi’s political organization issued an official statement characterizing the event as a ‘cowardly and treacherous assassination,’ claiming that four masked individuals stormed the residence, disabled surveillance systems, and executed him following an altercation. The statement emphasized these actions as deliberate attempts to conceal evidence of what they termed ‘heinous crimes.’

    Seif al-Islam, born in Tripoli in June 1972, was the second son of the longtime ruler and held a distinctive position within the regime. Educated at the London School of Economics where he pursued doctoral studies, he frequently presented himself as a reform-oriented figure during his father’s authoritarian rule.

    His death represents another turbulent chapter in Libya’s unstable trajectory since the NATO-supported uprising of 2011, which culminated in Moammar Gadhafi’s overthrow and death after four decades in power. Captured by Zintan fighters in late 2011 while attempting to escape to Niger, Seif al-Islam remained imprisoned until June 2017 when a rival government granted him amnesty. He had resided in Zintan since his release.

    The younger Gadhafi faced significant legal challenges, including a 2015 in absentia death sentence from a Libyan court for inciting violence and murdering protesters during the revolution. Additionally, the International Criminal Court had issued warrants for his arrest on crimes against humanity charges related to the 2011 conflict.

    In a controversial political maneuver, Gadhafi declared his presidential candidacy in November 2021, generating substantial opposition from anti-Gadhafi factions across Libya’s divided political landscape. Although the High National Elections Committee ultimately disqualified him, the presidential election itself was postponed indefinitely due to persistent disputes between rival governments and armed factions that have controlled the country since the civil war.

  • Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of ex-Libyan leader, reportedly killed

    Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, son of ex-Libyan leader, reportedly killed

    Conflicting reports emerged from Libya on Tuesday regarding the alleged death of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the prominent son and once-presumed heir of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. According to statements from the head of his political team to the Libyan News Agency, the 53-year-old has been killed under unclear circumstances.

    Aisha Gaddafi, sister of the controversial figure, contributed to the developing narrative by telling Libyan television that her brother had died in the vicinity of the Libya-Algeria border. However, she provided no specific details regarding the cause of death, leaving a significant information vacuum.

    The reports remain entirely unverified, with various Libyan media outlets circulating competing accounts about the incident. This lack of official confirmation has created a cloud of uncertainty around the fate of a man who was long considered the most powerful and feared figure in Libya after his father.

    Saif al-Islam Gaddafi’s complex legacy includes playing a pivotal role in Libya’s diplomatic reconciliation with Western nations from the early 2000s until the regime’s collapse. Following the 2011 uprising that resulted in his father’s overthrow and death, Gaddafi faced imprisonment by a rival militia in Zintan for nearly six years.

    His political career was overshadowed by serious allegations from the International Criminal Court, which sought to try him for crimes against humanity related to his alleged involvement in suppressing opposition protests during the 2011 revolution. The current developing situation leaves many questions unanswered as the international community awaits verified information.

  • Colombian and Ecuadorian merchants and truckers protest escalating trade war between both nations

    Colombian and Ecuadorian merchants and truckers protest escalating trade war between both nations

    Truckers and merchants from Colombia and Ecuador converged at their shared border on Tuesday, voicing strong opposition to the escalating trade conflict between the two South American nations. The demonstrators demanded the immediate removal of recently imposed 30% tariffs on numerous goods, warning these measures would severely damage border economies and impact energy sectors on both sides.

    Carlos Bastidas, president of an Ecuadorian transportation workers association, articulated the protesters’ concerns, stating that tariffs ‘generate crises, they don’t help the economy.’ He emphasized their hope that both governments would eliminate these measures and establish effective dialogue mechanisms.

    The trade dispute originated when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, a conservative leader who has sought closer ties with the Trump administration, implemented tariffs last month on Colombian products. Noboa characterized these levies as a ‘security tax,’ claiming Colombia had failed to adequately combat cocaine trafficking across their border. He announced via social media platform X that the tariffs would remain until Colombia took ‘firm actions’ against drug cartels.

    Colombia responded with reciprocal 30% tariffs on Ecuadorian goods including rice and automotive parts, and additionally threatened to cease electricity exports to its neighbor. This energy threat carries significant weight as Ecuador depends heavily on hydroelectric power and experienced serious power shortages in 2024. These reciprocal trade measures took effect on February 1.

    Despite sharing a border, neither nation ranks as the other’s primary trading partner, with both producing similar export commodities including coffee, flowers, bananas, and oil. According to Colombia’s statistics agency, bilateral trade reached approximately $2.3 billion last year, with Colombia exporting about $1.7 billion worth of goods to its smaller neighbor.

    The economic impact is particularly acute in border regions. Edison Mena, president of a Colombian truckers association in the border city of Ipiales, revealed that 38% of his city’s economy depends on commerce with Ecuador.

    Critics of President Noboa suggest the trade war serves as a diversion from his government’s domestic challenges. The tariff announcement coincided with the publication of crime statistics showing Ecuador’s homicide rate reached 50 murders per 100,000 residents in 2025—the highest in the nation’s recent history. Since 2020, Ecuador’s homicide rate has quintupled as international drug gangs battle for control of the country’s ports, transforming the once peaceful nation into a major cocaine transit point.

  • ‘300 million don’t know if they will eat next meal’: Global aid leaders in Dubai

    ‘300 million don’t know if they will eat next meal’: Global aid leaders in Dubai

    DUBAI – Amidst high-level discussions on governance and innovation at the World Governments Summit, a stark warning emerged from global aid leaders about the escalating hunger crisis affecting hundreds of millions worldwide. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and World Food Programme Assistant Executive Director Rania Dagash-Kamara delivered sobering accounts of a humanitarian emergency reaching catastrophic proportions.

    The statistics paint a grim picture: approximately 300 million people globally face acute food insecurity, uncertain whether they will receive their next meal. This number represents what aid officials describe as the most severe category of hunger, where survival becomes a daily uncertainty.

    Russell emphasized the human tragedy behind the numbers, noting that 14 million children faced severe malnutrition risks last year – equivalent to nearly half a million classrooms of 30 children each. During hospital visits in conflict zones like Afghanistan and Yemen, she witnessed malnourished infants sharing beds, their bodies too weakened to even cry. “At that stage, children are not resting,” Russell stated. “They are simply trying to survive.”

    Dagash-Kamara provided harrowing field accounts, including a Somali mother who walked four days to reach a food distribution center after burying two children during her journey. “This is the level of desperation we are facing,” she told summit attendees.

    The crisis is compounded by the deadly synergy between malnutrition and disease. As Dagash-Kamara explained, “People don’t usually die from hunger alone. They die from the illnesses that come with it” – a consequence of malnutrition weakening immune systems.

    Despite proven solutions like ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) that can save severely malnourished children, aid organizations face critical funding shortages amid growing needs. Russell noted the paradox: “We know how to save lives. What we don’t always have is sufficient funding or access.”

    Both leaders highlighted school feeding programs as particularly effective interventions, describing them as long-term investments in children’s futures. Dagash-Kamara shared the story of a Syrian girl who saved half her school sandwich for her mother, illustrating how such programs provide both nutrition and dignity.

    The officials called for innovative partnerships with private sector entities and digital creators to amplify reach and engagement. With people spending over five hours daily on mobile devices, Russell emphasized that content creators “know how to reach people where they are and make them stop and care.”

    As Ramadan approaches, Dagash-Kamara highlighted initiatives like the “ShareTheMeal” app, which provides meals for just 80 cents, encouraging families to involve children in charitable giving.

    Russell concluded with a powerful appeal from the global platform: “Every child deserves what we want for our own children: health, education, and a future. These challenges are not insurmountable. They require collective responsibility.”

  • US says it shot down Iranian drone flying towards aircraft carrier

    US says it shot down Iranian drone flying towards aircraft carrier

    A U.S. F-35C stealth fighter jet operating from the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln shot down an Iranian drone over the Arabian Sea on Tuesday after the unmanned aircraft made what officials described as an “aggressively approaching” maneuver toward the American warship.

    According to U.S. Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins, the incident occurred approximately 500 miles from the Iranian coastline when the drone advanced toward the carrier with “unclear intent.” The F-35C pilot engaged and destroyed the drone in what was characterized as a “self-defense” measure to protect the aircraft carrier and its personnel. No U.S. equipment was damaged and no service members were injured in the encounter.

    The confrontation unfolds against a backdrop of escalating military presence and diplomatic friction between Washington and Tehran. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military action against Iran should the nation refuse to negotiate restrictions on its nuclear program. The administration had previously suggested potential intervention during Tehran’s suppression of anti-government demonstrations.

    White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed following the incident that diplomatic negotiations between the two nations remain scheduled for later this week. While emphasizing Trump’s commitment to pursuing diplomacy as a first recourse, Leavitt noted that the president maintains “a range of options on the table, including the use of military force.”

    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has previously warned that any attack on Iranian territory would trigger a “regional war.” Tehran has not issued an official statement regarding Tuesday’s drone incident.

    In related developments, Leavitt announced that U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, serving as Trump’s senior overseas representative, will lead the American delegation in upcoming talks. Initial reports suggested a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Istanbul on Friday, though sources cited by Axios indicate Tehran has requested relocating the venue to Oman.

  • Israeli forces abuse Palestinians returning to Gaza at Rafah checkpoint

    Israeli forces abuse Palestinians returning to Gaza at Rafah checkpoint

    Palestinian civilians attempting to return to Gaza through the Rafah border crossing have reported systematic abuse and psychological torture by Israeli security forces. The allegations emerge as the crossing partially reopens after nearly two years of closure following Israel’s military occupation and destruction of the transit point in May 2024.

    Rotana al-Raqab, among the first group of returnees, provided a detailed account of her ordeal to local media. After entering via the Egyptian border, she and eleven others—including nine women and three children—were apprehended by Israeli-backed armed groups. The detainees were transported approximately half a kilometer inside Rafah to an Israeli military checkpoint.

    According to Raqab’s testimony, she, her mother, and another woman were separated from the group and held in custody from sunset until approximately 11 PM. During this detention, the women were blindfolded, handcuffed, and subjected to intense interrogation about matters they claimed to have no knowledge of or connection to.

    The psychological pressure included explicit threats against their families. One soldier threatened to remove Raqab’s children from Gaza and detain her indefinitely, while another urged her to permanently abandon the territory with her children. Raqab interpreted these tactics as deliberate intimidation, stating: ‘They want to deprive us of our children. They don’t want us to return to Gaza. They don’t want large numbers to return; they want large numbers to leave.’

    More disturbingly, Raqab reported that an Israeli officer attempted to recruit the women as intelligence assets within Gaza, while another soldier made threats of ‘improper things’ against another detainee. Israeli forces also confiscated all personal belongings except one bag of clothing, prohibiting essential items including food, children’s toys, and phone chargers.

    An elderly woman returning on Monday described similar treatment, detailing a three-hour interrogation despite her medical condition and characterizing the experience as ‘bad treatment.’

    The border reopening has been severely restricted, with Israeli authorities implementing strict limitations on both the identity and number of permitted travelers. Of the 42 Palestinians scheduled to return on Monday, 30 were turned away. Meanwhile, only five patients accompanied by 15 companions were allowed to exit Gaza for medical treatment—significantly fewer than the agreed daily quota of 150 departures.

    Hamas has condemned Israel’s actions at the crossing, calling on ceasefire mediators to ‘take immediate action to stop these fascist practices.’ The Palestinian faction described the alleged abuse as part of a systematic policy of collective punishment and intimidation designed to deter Palestinians from returning to Gaza.