Armed group in Syria takes governor hostage for prisoner’s release

The UN reported that access for medical professionals to the Gaza Strip remains highly restricted, with over 100 health workers denied entry since March, impacting emergency medical teams. The humanitarian situation is described as "beyond catastrophic," with rising casualties and malnutrition-related deaths, while Israel continues to block essential supplies and shelter materials. Want More Context? 🔎

Sudan's air force bombed an Emirati aircraft carrying Colombian mercenaries at Nyala airport in Darfur, killing at least 40 people amid an ongoing conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Colombia's President Gustavo Petro is investigating the incident, while Sudan accuses the UAE of recruiting mercenaries for the RSF, which controls much of Darfur, amid claims of foreign military support. Want More Context? 🔎

Hezbollah has rejected a Lebanese government decision to disarm the group, claiming it undermines Lebanon's sovereignty and serves Israeli interests. Amid US pressure and ongoing Israeli strikes, the government plans to restrict weapons to its forces by the end of the year, prompting internal dissent and a call for dialogue on national security only after halting Israeli aggression. Want More Context? 🔎

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. has filed federal hate crime charges against the suspect linked to the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers outside a museum in Washington in May, according to court documents. The case highlights the ongoing concerns about violence motivated by hate in the U.S. Want More Context? 🔎

President Trump's administration has frozen $584 million in federal funding for UCLA, citing the university's handling of pro-Palestinian protests as allowing antisemitism. UCLA is negotiating the funding freeze while facing previous lawsuits over antisemitism and concerns from rights advocates regarding academic freedom and free speech amid broader government actions against universities. Want More Context? 🔎

The controversy arose when Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, incorrectly attributed a photo of a malnourished girl in Gaza to Yemen, leading to accusations of disinformation against a pro-Palestinian lawmaker. Experts highlighted the limitations and biases of AI tools like Grok, warning that they should not be relied upon for factual verification due to their potential inaccuracies. Want More Context? 🔎