Israel accused of arming Palestinian gang who allegedly looted aid in Gaza Abu Shabab’s group has previously been accused of involvement in smuggling operations linked to Egyptian jihadi groups. A security official told Israeli news outlet Ynet that the arming of Abu Shabab was approved and led by the Shin Bet internal security service, and described the operation as “planned and managed”, with the goal of “reducing Israeli military casualties while systematically undermining Hamas through targeted strikes, infrastructure destruction and the promotion of rival local forces.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/05/israel-accused-of-arming-palestinian-gang-who-allegedly-looted-aid-in-gazaReport: Israel contributed NIS 700m to Gaza aid mechanism it claims not to fundThe Israeli government has transferred hundreds of millions of shekels to fund the new humanitarian aid mechanism in the Gaza Strip, Kan news reported Wednesday, contradicting government officials who have insisted that Israel has no part in its funding. According to the report, the government approved the transfer of NIS 700 million (some $280 million) last month to an unclear source, identified by the government only as “the defense establishment.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-israel-contributed-nis-700m-to-gaza-aid-mechanism-it-claims-not-to-fund/https://archive.ph/7S4qFTurkish prosecutors investigate main opposition leader as five mayors dismissedThe clampdown is centred on Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival and leads him in some opinion polls. The CHP's Imamoglu was jailed in March pending trial on corruption charges, which he denies. The Istanbul prosecutor's office said in a statement that it had launched the probe into CHP leader Ozgur Ozel over comments he made about the chief prosecutor at a rally in Istanbul on Wednesday, criticising the targeting of the opposition.
https://www.newarab.com/news/turkey-probes-opposition-leader-sacks-five-mayors-crackdownGhana endorses Morocco's autonomy plan for Western SaharaGhana and Morocco also agreed to promote defense cooperation and work on a visa waiver deal. With Morocco home to fertilizers and phosphates giant OCP, the two countries agreed to cooperate on food security, the statement said. Moroccan fertilisers will help Ghana develop cocoa farming and reduce dependence on food imports, worth $3 billion annually, Okudzeto Ablakwa told reporters.
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ghana-endorses-moroccos-autonomy-plan-western-sahara-2025-06-05/Algeria pushes back 16,000 illegal migrants to NigerOn June 1 and 2, a total of 1,466 migrants arrived at the border town of Assamaka according to prefectorial authorities of the northern Nigerien city of Arlit. The first group, which arrived on Sunday, included 688 nationals from a dozen West African countries, including 239 Nigeriens, authorities said. The second group, which included 778 Nigeriens, 222 of them minors, arrived Monday on board 13 trucks and a van, they added.
https://www.newarab.com/news/algeria-pushes-back-16000-illegal-migrants-nigerHarassment by Ubisoft executives left female staff terrified, French court hearsIn four days of hearings, female former staff members variously described being tied to a chair, forced to do handstands, subjected to constant comments about sex and their bodies, having to endure sexist and homophobic jokes, drawings of penises being stuck to computers, a manager who farted in workers’ faces or scribbled on women with marker pens, gave unsolicited shoulder massages, played pornographic films in an open-plan office, and another executive who cracked a whip near people’s heads. The three men deny all charges.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/05/ubisoft-executives-harassment-trial-franceBolivia leftist Rodriguez back in presidential race; Morales kept outRodriguez's "Third System" party can participate in August's elections, the court ruled on Thursday. A recent Ipsos CIESMORI poll showed him as the leading contender for the left, after opposition candidates Samuel Doria - a businessman and economist - and conservative ex-President Jorge Quiroga.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/bolivias-rodriguez-back-ballot-presidential-race-morales-still-out-2025-06-05/Argentina’s Lower House Approves Pension Hike Despite Milei’s OppositionLawmakers also approved an extension of the pension moratorium program, which allows individuals who lack 30 years of social security contributions to purchase the missing years and thus qualify for a minimum pension. The measures passed with 142 votes from Peronist, centrist, and leftist lawmakers. Sixty-seven lawmakers voted against the proposals, including members of Freedom Advances — the party led by far-right President Javier Milei — and his allies, such as lawmakers from Republican Proposal, the party of former President Mauricio Macri. Nineteen lawmakers abstained.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/argentinas-lower-house-approves-pension-hike-despite-mileis-opposition/Protesters and police clash in eastern PanamaAuthorities and protesters were injured Thursday in eastern Panama when border police tried to open a highway blocked in an Indigenous community as part of monthlong demonstrations against changes to the country’s social security system. Border police in riot gear launched tear gas and fired rubber-coated metal balls to disperse balaclava-wearing protesters firing rocks from slingshots and throwing Molotov cocktails.
https://apnews.com/article/panama-police-protests-darien-93f64bcd72ffa57d1c60c9efe153dbf6Supreme Court rejects Mexico lawsuit against US gunmakers The court voted 9-0 to reject the suit, in the process upholding a 2005 law that shields gun manufacturers from liability if weapons they produce are misused. Mexico's government had argued that the "flood" of illegal guns across the border is a result of "deliberate" practices by US firms that they say appealed to cartel members with their products. The decision overturns a lower court's ruling that allowed the suit, brought against manufacturer Smith & Wesson and wholesaler Interstate Arms, to proceed.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1dez6rwz07o