The Day with Brent Goff - 8 July 2025 – DW – 07/08/2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Int'l Business Times
an hour ago
- Int'l Business Times
US Sanctions UN Rights Expert For Palestinian Territories
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday announced Washington was sanctioning the United Nations special expert on the Palestinian territories, following her criticism of Washington policy on Gaza. "Today I am imposing sanctions on UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese for her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt (International Criminal Court) action against US and Israeli officials, companies, and executives," Rubio said on social media. In a subsequent statement he slammed the UN expert's strident criticism of the United States and said she recommended to the ICC that arrest warrants be issued targeting Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Rubio also attacked her for "biased and malicious activities," and accused her of having "spewed unabashed antisemitism (and) support for terrorism." He said she escalated her contempt for the United States by writing "threatening letters" to several US companies, making what Rubio called unfounded accusations and recommending the ICC pursue prosecutions of the companies and their executives. "We will not tolerate these campaigns of political and economic warfare, which threaten our national interests and sovereignty," Rubio said. While Albanese was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council, she does not speak on behalf of the United Nations itself. The Italy-born expert released a damning report earlier this month denouncing companies she said "profited from the Israeli economy of illegal occupation, apartheid, and now genocide" in the occupied Palestinian territories. The report provoked a furious response from Israel, while some of the named companies also raised objections. Albanese has leveled broadsides against the policies of Israel in Gaza, and of US President Donald Trump, particularly the plan he announced in February to take over the Gaza Strip and resettle its residents elsewhere. That proposal faced a rejection from Palestinians, Middle East leaders and the United Nations. Albanese dismissed it as "utter nonsense" and an "international crime" that will sow panic. "It's unlawful, immoral and... completely irresponsible because it will make the regional crisis even worse," she said on February 5 during a visit to Copenhagen. US ally Israel on Wednesday commended Rubio's action against the rapporteur. "Albanese has consistently undermined the credibility of the UN Human Rights Council by promoting false narratives and pushing for illegitimate legal actions that ignore the realities on the ground," Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said.
DW
3 hours ago
- DW
Nigerians face new US visitor visa restrictions – DW – 07/09/2025
The US State Department has said it is going to issue single-entry three-month visas for Nigerians in non-immigrant and non-diplomatic categories, rolling back five-year multiple-entry visas. The US State Department has announced new visa rules for Nigerians wishing to travel to the US in the non-immigrant and non-diplomat categories. The US embassy in Nigeria posted to its website on July 8 that the US would issue single-entry visas with a three-month validity period. That rolls back the previous five-year multiple-entry visas that Nigerians enjoyed when it came to traveling to the US. US President Donald Trump has signed a directive banning the citizens of 12 countries, seven in Africa, from entering the US. A State Department memo from June indicated the US was considering a travel ban on 36 other countries, including Nigeria. That proposed, expanded, ban has not yet been officially announced. "We wish to underscore that as is standard globally, visa reciprocity is a continuous process and is subject to review and change at any time, such as increasing or decreasing permitted entries and duration of validity," the statement said. A Nigerian foreign ministry official told local media that Nigeria had no similar policy toward US citizens, according to Reuters news agency. Nigeria received nearly one-fifth of the non-immigrant visas issued by the US government in 2024 in Africa, according to the State Department. Meanwhile, President Trump is also hosting the leaders of five African nations — Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania and Senegal — to discuss commercial opportunities. Trump will host the leaders for a White House lunch, with closed-door meetings to follow through Friday. The Nigerian foreign minister last month warned that travel bans and tariffs could get in the way of potential trade deal with West Africa, particularly in the sectors of rare earth mineral and energy. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
DW
4 hours ago
- DW
Middle East: Houthis claim deadly Red Sea attack on ship – DW – 07/09/2025
Yemen's Houthis have claimed the attack on a ship in the Red Sea this week that killed several crew members. Meanwhile, US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu met for the second day running. DW has Houthis claim they have sunk the Greek-operated, Liberia-flagged vessel Eternity C in the Red Sea — their second strike this week after months of relative calm. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, saying the vessel had been headed toward Eilat in Israel. The attack was conducted using an unmanned vessel and six cruise and ballistic missiles, Saree added. The spokesman said the Houthis had "moved to rescue a number of the ship's crew, provide them with medical care, and transport them to a safe location." The attack left four dead, with six rescued and 15 still missing, sources at security companies involved in a rescue operation told Reuters news agency. The sinking of the Eternity C marks the most serious assault yet by the Houthis in the vital maritime trade route that once carried $1 trillion in cargo every year. The rebels previously claimed an attack on Sunday against another ship, the Magic Seas. Between November 2023 and December, the Houthis targeted more than 100 ships with missiles and drones, saying their campaign supports Palestinians in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas the Houthis reached a ceasefire with Washington in May, the militia has pledged to continue attacking ships they claim are linked to Israel. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Seven people have been rescued off the coast of Yemen after their cargo ship came under continuous attack by what was suspected to be Houthi militants. The Reuters news agency cited security company sources as saying that four of the 25 people on board the Greek-owned Eternity C cargo ship were killed before the crew was forced to abandon the badly damaged vessel. The Eternity C came under attack in the Red Sea on Monday, with the assault lasting into Tuesday. The vessel eventually sank on Wednesday morning, the sources said. The seven rescued crew had spent more than 24 hours in the water before being take to safety. Yemen's exiled government and the EU blamed the Houthi rebels, as did the US State Department. The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the attack but did claim an attack another ship on Sunday, called the Magic Seas. "These attacks demonstrate the ongoing threat that Iran-backed Houthi rebels pose to freedom of navigation and to regional economic and maritime security," US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said. "The United States has been clear: We will continue to take necessary action to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping from Houthi terrorist attacks." Israel's military said that its forces had entered southern Lebanon in operations targeting Hezbollah's infrastructure. "Following intelligence information and the identification of Hezbollah weapons and terrorist infrastructure in several areas of southern Lebanon, the soldiers launched special, targeted operations to dismantle them and prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing itself in the area," The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) statement said. The IDF shared a video captioned "footage from a targeted nighttime operation of the 9th Brigade in southern Lebanon", showing troops walking on the ground. The footage cannot be independently verified. Israel has kept up its strikes on Lebanon, despite a November truce, saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives but also occasionally members of Palestinian ally Hamas. Two overnight Israeli airstrikes killed 20, including six children, Gaza's civil defense agency said Wednesday. The first strike hit a tent in Khan Younis after midnight (2100 GMT Tuesday) and the second one struck a camp in the north later, agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP news agency. The Israeli military said it was looking into the report. Israel's plan to move Palestinians into what it calls a "humanitarian zone" near Gaza's border with Egypt and then not allowing them to leave is illegal under international law, an expert told DW in an interview. The plan was shared on Tuesday by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. He told reporters the zone would be built on the ruins of Rafah city, where initially 600,000 Palestinians would be housed. Mark Klamberg, a professor of international law at Stockholm University, told DW that would be a "war crime, or crime against humanity, or both." "It Is possible to move a civilian population temporarily to protect them during a war or conflict. But this is something different — they want to do this on a permanent basis," he said, referring to Israeli authorities. Klamberg drew comparisons to the UN tribunal case on war crimes in former Yugoslavia, saying defendants from the latter had been convicted for crimes cases. He also said that the US "could be held accountable in addition to Israel if they are instrumental in pushing ahead with this policy." "I think the US should be careful with how they're proceeding with this," he warned. Israel's Defense Ministry plans to force more than 600,000 displaced Palestinians to southern Gaza, where it says they will be housed in a "humanitarian city." But rights groups warn it may lead to them being deported to other countries, which violates international law. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video French President Emmanuel Macron urged the UK parliament to recognize Palestinian statehood, saying it was the "only path to peace." Macron is being hosted by King Charles III for the duration of his three-day visit. He is the first French president to receive this honor since 2008. He is also the first European leader in Britain for a state visit since Brexit. "Calling today for a ceasefire in Gaza without any condition, is just telling to the rest of the world that for us as Europeans, there is no double standard, and as we are attached to human lives, as we are attached to territorial integrity, we want the ceasefire, no discussion," he said while addressing Britain's parliamentarians during an official visit. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy had earlier said he couldn't yet tell when the time would be right to recognize Palestinian statehood. Ireland, Spain, and Norway are amongst the European nations to have recognized an independent Palestinian state since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. France is hoping to do so jointly with the UK. The United Nations humanitarian office, OCHA said the fuel shortage crisis in Gaza had reached a critical point, with "virtually no additional accessible stocks left." "We need fuel urgently and we need it in large quantities to power the most essential parts, notably water desalination, hospitals and telecommunications," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. Fuel is required for running hospitals, ambulances and desalination of water among other vital functions, the statement said. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Donald Trump for the second time Wednesday. Netanyahu said their focus was on efforts to free hostages held in Gaza, and said he was determined to "eliminate" the capabilities of Hamas. The two leaders also spoke about "the great victory we achieved over Iran," Netanyahu said. This was their second meeting in two days during Netanyahu's visit to the US to discuss the situation in Gaza. Trump has said a ceasefire deal looks likely soon, and the US envoy to the Middle East said Israel and Hamas were close to an agreement. Qatar is hosting a delegation from both sides for indirect talks on a ceasefire. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video At the same time, Netanyahu announced that he had nominated Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize. Hello and welcome to DW's coverage of developments in the Middle East on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met US President Donald Trump for the second time, and the two discussed securing the release of all hostages in Gaza. Meanwhile, French President Macron called on Britain to recognize the state of Palestine. The United Nations said Israel's blockade of Gaza has reached a critical point and pleaded for fuel to power vital functions.
