Day: September 8, 2025

Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, has warned that a ‘powerful hurricane’ will ‘strike the skies of Gaza City’ later today

Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, has warned that a “powerful hurricane” will “strike the skies of Gaza City” later today as the military continues to expand its assault on the territory’s largest city.

“Today, a powerful hurricane will strike the skies of Gaza City, and the roofs of the terror towers will,” he wrote in a post on X.

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Kenyan President Urges UN for Transition of Haiti Security Mission

Kenyan President William Ruto has called upon the UN Security Council to facilitate a “responsible transition” of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) in Haiti, as its current mandate approaches expiration in October, reports 24brussels.

Ruto’s remarks were made during a bilateral meeting with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley at the second Africa-Caribbean Community (Caricom) summit held at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He highlighted the urgency of addressing the security crisis in Haiti where armed gangs control nearly 90% of Port-au-Prince and other regions.

In a separate meeting with Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Edward Davis, Ruto discussed how the escalating insecurity in Haiti impacts neighboring countries and the broader region. He emphasized the necessity for prompt “consideration and adoption of a resolution that anchors international efforts in Haiti,” as the mission’s mandate nears its end.

The MSS, established at Haiti’s request and authorized by the Security Council in 2023, is primarily led by Kenya and financed by the U.S. After its deployment in 2024, the mission aimed to bolster Haiti’s security forces against heavily armed gangs. The mission currently consists of approximately 1,000 troops, predominantly from Kenya, with over 500 officers added from countries including Jamaica, Belize, the Bahamas, Guatemala, and El Salvador in January 2025.

Despite these efforts, violence in Haiti shows no signs of abating. UN data reported over 4,000 murders in the first half of 2025, a 24% increase compared to the previous year. Gang-related conflicts have displaced an estimated 1.3 million individuals from their homes.

The MSS’s mission is shadowed by memories of past UN operations in Haiti, which faced criticism for sexual exploitation of vulnerable women and responsibility for the 2010 cholera outbreak. Reportedly, nearly 2,800 killings were recorded between late 2022 and mid-2023 alone.

In response, Haitian civil society organizations have pressed for stricter accountability measures and enhanced human rights protections to prevent a repeat of past mistakes.

As of mid-2025, Ruto acknowledged setbacks in the mission, revealing that less than half of the promised 2,500 troops had been deployed, only 30% of the essential equipment had arrived, and the number of displaced individuals had surged to 1.1 million within a year of the mission’s deployment.

Ruto’s statements reflect the complexities and urgent need for effective international support in Haiti as the MSS grapples with mounting violence and operational challenges.

Belgium Secures Dominant Wins in World Cup Qualifiers

Belgium convincingly defeated Liechtenstein and Kazakhstan in their recent World Cup qualifying matches, rising to second place in Group J. The Red Devils triumphed 6-0 against Liechtenstein in Vaduz, followed by an identical scoreline against Kazakhstan in Brussels., reports 24brussels.

Coach Rudi Garcia lauded his team’s efforts after the match at Anderlecht’s Lotto Park on Sunday, stating, “We did an excellent job during the international break and gave more than was required.”

He acknowledged Kazakhstan’s previous performance against Wales, remarking, “Kazakhstan played a solid game against Wales on Thursday [a 1-0 defeat] and they didn’t deserve to lose. We played at our best today. I think we did a perfect job, and even more than that. This international break has been excellent, but we’re keeping our feet on the ground.”

New captain Youri Tielemans netted two goals against Liechtenstein, while Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku each scored twice against Kazakhstan.

Garcia praised De Bruyne’s impact on the team: “We cherish Kevin. It’s wonderful to see him at work here. He is so good, in a class of his own. His talent is obvious. He was still very motivated and is a true leader.”

“This international break has been excellent, but we’re keeping our feet on the ground.”

As it stands, North Macedonia leads Group J, one point ahead of Belgium and having played one game more. The two teams will clash at the Planet Group Arena in Ghent on 10 October, followed by Belgium’s match against Wales in Cardiff on 13 October.

The top team in the group earns an automatic spot in the World Cup next summer in the US and Mexico, while the second-placed team will enter a playoff.

Garcia acknowledged the challenges ahead: “Next month, we will be facing two opponents of a completely different calibre. Both matches will be decisive for World Cup qualification. We are looking forward to it, but we are not there yet.”

^{The Belgian team celebrates with fans following their 6-0 victory over Kazakhstan in Brussels, 7 September 2025 © BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR}