Hezbollah Rejects Ceasefire as Mali Targets Militants, Ruto Defends Ebola Facility in Global Developments

WORLD IN BRIEF

Hezbollah has rejected a renewed US-backed ceasefire proposal between Israel and Lebanon, casting fresh uncertainty over efforts to end hostilities along the border. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem described the agreement as “humiliating” for Lebanon and argued that it primarily serves Israeli interests. The deal, announced by the United States, Israel and Lebanon, would establish security zones in southern Lebanon and require Hezbollah to halt attacks and withdraw fighters from frontline positions. Hezbollah, which was not involved in the negotiations, maintains that any ceasefire must be mutual.

Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton is expected to plead guilty to a felony charge linked to the retention of classified documents as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors. Bolton, a vocal critic of President Donald Trump, is reportedly set to pay a $2.25 million fine and could face a prison sentence of up to five years, subject to the court’s final decision. Prosecutors allege he improperly retained sensitive national security materials connected to personal diary entries from his time in government.

Several Lufthansa crew members and ground personnel were injured after the nose gear of a Boeing 787 aircraft collapsed at Frankfurt Airport before passengers boarded for a scheduled flight to Los Angeles. Emergency responders attended the scene and provided medical treatment to those injured. Lufthansa confirmed that no passengers were on board at the time of the incident.

Violence erupted in parts of Mogadishu after opposition groups challenged President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud over an extension of his tenure. Opposition figures accused government forces of attacking demonstrators preparing to protest election delays, while authorities said security operations were directed at armed militias. The clashes underscore deepening political tensions in Somalia amid persistent security challenges.

The Malian government has announced rewards worth billions of CFA francs for information leading to the capture of senior militant leaders, including Iyad Ag Ghaly. The move follows a series of deadly attacks linked to al-Qaeda-affiliated groups and highlights growing concern over deteriorating security conditions in northern parts of the country.

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the local office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Tripoli, demanding stronger measures on migration and refugee settlement. Demonstrators blocked access to the facility and called for migrants to leave Libya, reflecting rising tensions over migration issues in the North African nation.

Kenyan President William Ruto has defended his government's decision to host a US-backed Ebola quarantine facility despite legal challenges and public opposition. The planned 50-bed centre in Nanyuki is intended to accommodate Americans who may have been exposed to Ebola during the outbreak centred in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ruto said Kenya was fulfilling an important international health responsibility by supporting the initiative.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced plans to dispatch special envoys across Africa and other regions following recent violence targeting foreign nationals. Ramaphosa reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to peaceful coexistence and called for greater international cooperation on migration, as concerns grow over a resurgence of xenophobic attacks.