分类： world

In a significant development, Israel has announced the reopening of Gaza’s Rafah crossing on October 15, allowing humanitarian aid to flow into the war-torn Palestinian territory from Egypt. The decision, reported by Israeli public broadcaster KAN, comes as Gaza grapples with a severe humanitarian crisis following two years of conflict. The United Nations and various aid organizations have long advocated for the reopening of this crucial crossing to address the dire situation. According to KAN, 600 trucks of humanitarian aid, coordinated by the UN, international organizations, the private sector, and donor countries, will be dispatched to Gaza on Wednesday. The reopening follows a ceasefire agreement brokered by former US President Donald Trump, which included the release of hostages held by Hamas. While Hamas has released all 20 living hostages, it has yet to return the remains of all 28 deceased hostages. Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has threatened to halt aid if Hamas fails to return the remaining bodies. The decision to reopen Rafah was reportedly influenced by Hamas’s intention to return four more bodies, though this has not been confirmed by the militant group. The UN had previously declared famine in Gaza in August, a claim Israel disputes.

Dr. Zaheera Soomar, a South African activist and Sharjah-based mother of three, has returned to the UAE after a six-day detention by the Israeli army. Soomar was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian maritime mission aimed at breaking Gaza’s blockade by delivering humanitarian aid. The flotilla was intercepted by Israeli naval forces in early October, leading to the arrest of its participants. Soomar recounted her ordeal, describing crowded cells, aggressive handling by guards, and moments where she feared for her life. Despite the trauma, she remains resolute in her commitment to Palestinian justice and freedom. Soomar was deported to South Africa on Monday and arrived in the UAE on Tuesday morning. She expressed concerns about the recent ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, brokered by former US President Donald J. Trump, citing Israel’s continued restrictions on aid to Gaza. Soomar, a business executive and professor, has been advocating for Palestinian rights for over a decade, drawing parallels to her experiences growing up in apartheid South Africa. Her participation in the flotilla underscores her dedication to the cause, despite the personal risks involved.

The Cambodian government has expressed its expectation that the United States and the United Kingdom provide substantial evidence in their pursuit of Prince Holding Group and its Chairman, Chen Zhi. This follows coordinated sanctions imposed by both nations, accusing the conglomerate of orchestrating extensive online scams and exploiting forced labor. Touch Sokhak, spokesperson for Cambodia’s Interior Ministry, emphasized that Prince Holding Group has complied with all legal requirements and has been treated equally alongside other major investors in the country. He also clarified that Chen’s Cambodian citizenship was granted lawfully. While Cambodia has pledged cooperation if presented with formal evidence, Sokhak reiterated that the government does not currently accuse the group or its chairman of any wrongdoing. The U.S. Treasury Department and the U.K. Foreign Office announced joint sanctions on Tuesday, alleging that Chen’s network operates as a transnational criminal enterprise, defrauding global victims and exploiting trafficked workers across Southeast Asia. U.S. authorities have seized over $14 billion in bitcoin and charged Chen with wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies. British authorities have frozen Chen’s assets, including luxury properties in London. Experts warn that dismantling such networks requires targeting their online infrastructure to prevent rebranding and continued operations. Chen remains at large and faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted in the U.S. Prince Holding Group has denied involvement in scam operations and has not publicly addressed the latest allegations. Independent research highlights Cambodia’s role as a hub for online scams and money laundering, with over 200 documented scam centers in the country. Cambodia has pledged full cooperation with international partners, provided there is sufficient evidence.

In a dramatic escalation of tensions, Hamas has tightened its control over Gaza, launching a severe crackdown on alleged collaborators and outlaws. The group released a video on its official channel depicting the street execution of eight blindfolded and kneeling suspects, branding them as traitors. This comes as US President Donald Trump vowed to disarm Hamas, emphasizing a swift and potentially violent approach if the group fails to comply. The executions occurred amidst ongoing armed clashes between Hamas security units and Palestinian clans, even as a US-brokered truce with Israel entered its fifth day. Meanwhile, Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza City, and Hamas’s black-masked police resumed patrols, aiming to restore order. Trump’s 20-point plan, endorsed by world powers, calls for Gaza’s demilitarization and excludes Hamas from any future leadership role. For many Palestinians, the presence of Hamas forces has brought a sense of security after the recent conflict. However, Israeli families continue to demand the return of the remains of deceased hostages still held in Gaza. The military has identified some of the returned bodies, including Israeli nationals and a Nepalese student, as families seek closure. In Tel Aviv, celebrations for the release of living hostages were tempered by concerns over the unresolved fate of the deceased.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated into deadly border clashes, resulting in significant civilian casualties and widespread destruction. Early Wednesday, renewed fighting erupted along the shared border near the village of Chaman, leaving more than a dozen Afghan civilians dead and over 100 wounded, according to officials from both nations. The violence follows days of cross-border shelling that began on Saturday, with both sides reporting military casualties. Afghanistan claims to have killed 58 Pakistani soldiers in retaliation for alleged violations of its territory and airspace, while Pakistan’s military reported 23 troop fatalities. The clashes, concentrated in the Kurram district of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Afghanistan’s Spin Boldak district, involved heavy artillery and mortar fire. Pakistan’s state media accused Afghan troops of initiating “unprovoked fire,” while Afghanistan’s Taliban government countered that Pakistan used light and heavy weapons in its assaults. Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesman, claimed Afghan forces retaliated by killing several Pakistani soldiers, seizing military posts, and capturing weapons, including tanks. Pakistan’s military denied these claims, stating that the attacks were orchestrated by the Afghan Taliban and resulted in the deaths of 15 to 20 Taliban fighters. The fighting has displaced civilians near the border, with reports of families evacuating their homes to escape the violence. Despite temporary ceasefires brokered by Saudi Arabia and Qatar over the weekend, border crossings remain closed, and the situation remains volatile. The clashes highlight the deep-seated mistrust between the two nations, with Pakistan accusing the Taliban government of harboring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a militant group responsible for numerous attacks within Pakistan. Kabul denies these allegations, insisting it does not allow its territory to be used against other countries. The ongoing conflict underscores the fragile security dynamics in the region and the urgent need for diplomatic intervention to prevent further escalation.

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, erupted for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, releasing massive plumes of hot ash that covered nearby villages. Authorities have not reported any casualties so far. According to Indonesia’s Geology Agency, the first eruption occurred in the early morning, propelling lava and ash clouds up to 10 kilometers (6 miles) into the sky. A subsequent eruption less than nine hours later produced a mushroom-shaped ash column reaching 8 kilometers (nearly 5 miles) high. The volcano, located on Flores Island, had already erupted three times on Tuesday, with avalanches of scorching gas, rocks, and lava cascading down its slopes. The third eruption illuminated the night sky with glowing lava and lightning. Hadi Wijaya, head of the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, reported that several villages were blanketed in ash and debris. He also cautioned residents to remain alert for heavy rainfall, which could trigger dangerous lava flows in rivers originating from the volcano. Standing at 1,584 meters (5,197 feet), Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki has been under the highest alert level since its eruption on June 18. An exclusion zone of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) from the crater has been established due to increasing volcanic activity. The volcano’s major eruption in November 2024 resulted in nine fatalities and dozens of injuries, with another eruption occurring in March of this year. Indonesia, home to over 280 million people, is part of the seismically active ‘Ring of Fire,’ a horseshoe-shaped zone encircling the Pacific Basin, and boasts 120 active volcanoes.