September 13, 2024

Daily News Brief

*) Chief of Israeli intel unit quits over October 7 failure The head of the Israeli army's notorious intelligence and surveillance unit has accepted responsibility for failing to prevent a raid by Hamas fighters on October 7 last year. Brigadier General Yossi Sariel, who led Unit 8200, told Chief of Staff Herzl Halevi he’s resigning. Sariel is one of seven high-ranking officials, including top military leaders, to step down amid backlash over Hamas' attacks on Israeli military sites and settlements, once Palestinian lands. *) New video, witnesses refute Israel's account of Eygi's killing The Israeli army says Eygi was "very likely" hit unintentionally during a "violent riot" aimed at the "key instigator." But new evidence opposes that claim. Video and witness reports suggest that the killing of Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the occupied West Bank was in fact a targeted assassination. In this Washington Post's investigation, it shows that Eygi was shot after 30 minutes when the clashes in Beita had ended. *) Biden, Gaza 'key factors' driving US support for Africa UNSC seats The US push for two permanent UN Security Council seats for Africa and a rotating seat for island nations is tied to boosting Biden's legacy and shifting focus from Israel's war on Gaza, a UN expert told TRT World. Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group said, "Biden might be remembered as the president who paved the way for Council reform." Gowan added that the move helps distract from the US's controversial vetoes on truce calls in Gaza saying "The US wants to be seen as a reformer, not a spoiler." *) Kim's visit reveals North Korea's uranium enrichment plant for first time North Korea’s Kim Jong-un has been wanting to expand his country’s nuclear capabilities for a while now. And now for the first time ever, he has publicly disclosed a uranium enrichment facility. Kim said he is aiming to exponentially boost the production of nuclear weapons for self-defence amid growing nuclear threats from the US and its allies. *) UNESCO 'deeply concerned' about possible looting from Sudan museums UNESCO has sounded the alarm over armed groups reportedly looting museums and heritage sites in war-torn Sudan. It said it was particularly concerned by reports of looting at the National Museum of Sudan, as well as the Khalifa House Museum in Omdurman and Nyala Museum in South Darfur. The National Museum, which opened in the 1970s, has been home to more than 2,700 objects including some important pieces from the ancient Egyptian Pharaonic dynasties and Nubian culture.