Daily World Briefing, July 27
Aid airdrops resume in N. Gaza: sources
Airdrops of humanitarian aid resumed over various locations in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday evening as humanitarian conditions in the enclave continued to deteriorate, according to Palestinian sources and eyewitnesses.
Local sources told Xinhua that several boxes containing flour, sugar and canned goods were dropped by parachute over the Sudaniya area in northern Gaza.
6 civilians killed, 22 wounded in "terror" attack in SE Iran
At least nine people were killed, including six civilians and three gunmen, and 22 others injured in a "terror" attack Saturday morning on the building of the justice department in Iran's southeastern city of Zahedan, capital of Sistan and Baluchestan province, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported.
The attack has been claimed by Jaish al-Zulm, designated by Iran as a terrorist group, the report said.
Alireza Daliri, Sistan and Baluchestan's deputy police chief, told reporters the "Israeli-linked terrorists" sought to enter the justice department in the guise of ordinary clients at 8:30 a.m. local time (0500 GMT).
The security and law enforcement forces at the department's entrance identified the "terrorists" and engaged in an armed clash with them, Daliri said.
An assailant threw a grenade into the department's premises, killing several clients, including a woman and a one-year-old child, and injuring some others, he added.
The security forces killed three assailants and "currently the terrorist team has been dismantled," Daliri said, adding that the three assailants were wearing suicide vests.
Israel says Hezbollah commander killed in S. Lebanon
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that it killed a Hezbollah commander in southern Lebanon on Saturday.
The IDF said in a statement that its aircraft struck and killed Ali Abd al-Qader Ismail, a commander in the headquarters of the Bint Jbeil sector of Hezbollah.
It claimed that Ismail was involved in efforts to "rehabilitate" Hezbollah's capabilities in the area of Bint Jbeil.
Lebanon's Public Health Emergency Operations Center said that an Israeli drone targeted a car on the road in the Tyre district in southern Lebanon, resulting in the death of one person.
Sudan's paramilitary-led coalition announces formation of parallel gov't
A political coalition led by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Saturday the formation of a parallel government in Sudan, raising concerns about further division of a country already torn by more than two years of civil conflict.
"The leadership body of the Sudan Founding Alliance has agreed to appoint Mohamed Hassan Al-Taishi as Prime Minister of the Peace Government," Alaa El Din Nugud, the alliance's spokesperson, said in a televised statement broadcast via Telegram.
According to the statement, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo was selected as President of the Presidential Council, the highest sovereign authority in the new government, while leader of Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) Abdelaziz Adam Al-Hilu was appointed as Vice President of the Presidential Council.
An anonymous source within the alliance told Xinhua that the RSF secured 42 percent of the positions in the parallel government, while the SPLM-N received 33 percent. The remaining 25 percent was shared among the other groups in the alliance.
Greece requests EU assistance as wildfires rage across country
Greece on Saturday requested assistance from the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to combat multiple wildfires raging across the country, according to local broadcaster Mega Channel.
The request includes six water-dropping aircraft to help battle five to six major wildfire fronts burning simultaneously in various regions of the eastern Mediterranean nation. The EU mechanism has reportedly approved the request, Mega Channel reported.
The most concerning blaze erupted early Saturday afternoon near Kryoneri, a village north of Athens at the foothills of Mt. Parnitha. A firefighting force of 145 personnel, supported by 44 vehicles, as well as numerous volunteers and municipal water tankers, was deployed to the area. At least 17 firefighting aircraft operated until nightfall, according to Greek news outlet To Vima.
Cambodian, Thai envoys address UN meeting on border clashes
Cambodian and Thai envoys on Friday addressed the United Nations Security Council on ongoing border clashes, with Cambodia calling for unconditional ceasefire and Thailand urging the other side to "end hostilities and resume dialogue."
Cambodia's UN ambassador Chhea Keo called for an immediate ceasefire with Thailand following border clashes between the two countries.
Cherdchai Chaivaivid, ambassador and permanent representative of Thailand to the UN, told the Security Council on Friday that Thailand categorically rejects the use of force as a means to resolve international disputes, while remaining firmly committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes under the UN Charter, the Thai Foreign Ministry said.
"Thailand urges Cambodia to immediately cease all hostilities and acts of aggression, and resume dialogue in good faith," said Cherdchai.
Third court blocks Trump's birthright citizenship order nationwide after Supreme Court decision
Another federal judge on Friday halted the Trump administration's attempt to end birthright citizenship, marking the third nationwide court ruling against the administration's policy since a pivotal Supreme Court decision in June.
Judge Leo Sorokin, from the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, joined a federal judge in New Hampshire and a three-judge panel for a federal appeals court in San Francisco in blocking the Trump administration's restrictions on birthright citizenship, ruling that a nationwide injunction on the executive order remains in place under an exception to the Supreme Court ruling.
On June 27, in a 6-3 ruling, the Supreme Court held that lower federal courts may not issue broad nationwide or universal injunctions blocking implementation of executive actions across the country. ■