Dalai Lama confirms he will have a successor after his death

6 hours agoShareSaveGeeta PandeyBBC News, DelhiSamira HussainBBC News, DharamshalaShareSaveReutersThe Dalai Lama delivered the long-awaited announcement in his 90th birthday week

Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has confirmed he will have a successor, putting to rest speculation over whether the 600-year-old institution will end when he dies.

In a video message keenly-awaited by his followers, he said only the trust that he founded could appoint his successor and "no-one else has any authority to interfere in this matter".

According to Tibetan tradition, Dalai Lamas are "reincarnated" after they die. China annexed Tibet in 1950 and the current Dalai Lama lives in exile in India, making succession a highly contentious issue.

Beijing rejected the statement, saying his successor would be from inside China and must be approved by the government.

Watch: Dalai Lama blesses followers as 90th birthday celebrations begin

Hundreds of followers gathered on Wednesday to hear the long-awaited announcement in the Indian town of Dharamshala where the Dalai Lama lives.

The Dalai Lama Library and Archive centre, where the video message was broadcast, resembled a sea of maroon with monks from all over the world in attendance.

"I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue," the Dalai Lama's statement said.

He reiterated that "the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama… should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition".

Who is the Dalai Lama and why does he live in exile?

Dharamshala is holding the Dalai Lama's milestone 90th birthday celebrations which began on Monday – his birthday according to the Tibetan lunar calendar – and will conclude on 6 July, his official birthday.

Celebrations will be attended by more than 7,000 guests, including a number of Indian ministers. Hollywood actor Richard Gere, a long-time follower, is also taking part.

ReutersMonks from all over the world had gathered to hear the Dalai Lama

In the past, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism had been torn between whether to continue with the post of Dalai Lama or not. A few years ago, he said his successor might be a girl, or that there might be no successor at all.

But in recent years, he had also said that if there was widespread support among Tibetans-in-exile for the post – which there is – then it would continue and his office would choose a successor.

He has always insisted that his successor must be born outside China and his reiteration of the same on Wednesday did not go down well with Beijing.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said that the Dalai Lama's reincarnation must comply with Chinese laws and regulations as well as "religious rituals and historical conventions" and would need to be approved by Beijing.

Even though the Dalai Lama has always advocated a "middle way" to resolve the status of Tibet – genuine self-rule within China – Beijing regards him as a separatist. It says the standard of living of people in Tibet has greatly improved under its rule and denies suppressing their human rights and freedom of expression.

A dam ignited rare Tibetan protests. They ended in beatings and arrests, BBC finds

Dalai Lama furore reignites Tibet 'slave' controversy

How China's boarding schools are silencing Tibet’s language

Getty ImagesHollywood actor Richard Gere (right) is a long-time follower of the Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama's message "affirming that the continuation of the institution" has been welcomed by his followers.

Tsayang Gyatso, a 40-year-old businessman, said that for most Tibetans, the announcement is "a great relief and a moment of happiness".

"I always had a belief that the reincarnation will come. But having heard it from His Holiness, I feel elated," he told the BBC in Dharamshala.

Mr Gyatso, who had travelled from Delhi, said he felt "blessed to be here in person to witness His Holiness's birthday".

He said there was "a lot of propaganda from China on the appointment of the next Dalai Lama" which made him fear that the appointment process could be corrupted "but all that has been put to rest by His Holiness's announcement".

Robert Barnett, a Tibet scholar at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, told the BBC that the Dalai Lama's "message is indirect signalling" to China.

"He's signalling two things here. One is he's going to decide on his reincarnation, not China. And the other is he's showing China that he's made this decision through a kind of popular – almost democratic – process of asking the community whether they want his institution to continue."

That's a signal to China that his legitimacy is based on consent and not on force, Prof Barnett said.

Getty ImagesSunday's birthday celebrations will be attended by more than 7,000 people

Experts, however, say China is also expected to name its own Dalai Lama.

Dibyesh Anand, professor of International Relations at the University of Westminster, said, "After a period of a few months or a few years, they will have their own proteges identify a small boy as the next Dalai Lama and impose that. Of course, a majority of Tibetans are going to reject it and the majority of people in the world are going to make fun of it. But remember China has immense authority in terms of resources so they will try to impose that."

Youdon Aukatsang, an MP in the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, told the BBC that "despite all these years of trying to control the hearts and minds of Tibetan people inside Tibet", Beijing has "completely failed".

A Dalai Lama chosen by China, she says, "will not be recognised, not only by the Tibetans but the world will not recognise it because China doesn't have the legitimacy to find the future Dalai Lama".

"We are concerned but we know that irrespective of our concern, China will come up with their own Dalai Lama, we will call it the Chinese-recognised Dalai Lama. I am not worried that Dalai Lama will have any credibility in the Tibetan world or the Buddhist world."

China 'coercing Tibetans into mass labour camps'

ChinaDalai LamaIndiaTibet

---

Sursa: BBC News

Ukraine fears increased Russian aggression after US halt of weapons supply

5 hours agoShareSaveLaura Gozzi & James ChaterBBC NewsShareSaveEPA

Kyiv has warned that an interruption of US weapons shipments will encourage Russia to prolong the war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year.

On Tuesday the White House said that it had cut off some weapons deliveries to Ukraine.

The decision was taken "to put America's interests first" following a Department of Defense review of US "military support and assistance to other countries", White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said.

Ukraine's foreign ministry said in a statement that "any delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities would only encourage the aggressor to continue war and terror, rather than seek peace."

It particularly emphasised the need for Kyiv to strengthen its air defences – as Russia continues to pummel the country with missiles and drones on a near-nightly basis.

A Kyiv-based US diplomat was invited to the foreign ministry for talks on Wednesday.

However, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said it had not received any official notification from the US about the "suspension or revision" of the weapons deliveries, and urged people not to speculate on the basis of partial information.

But in a statement the defence ministry also said that the path to ending the war was "through consistent and joint pressure on the aggressor".

At the weekend Ukraine endured its biggest aerial attack since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, with more than 500 drones and ballistic and cruise missiles launched at its cities.

US officials did not immediately say which shipments were being halted.

According to US broadcaster NBC the weapons being delayed could include Patriot interceptors, Howitzer munitions, missiles and grenade launchers.

The US has sent tens of billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, leading some in the Trump administration to voice concerns that US stockpiles are too low.

The Kremlin, for its part, welcomed news of the reduction in weapons shipments, saying reducing the flow of weapons to Kyiv will help end the conflict faster.

"The fewer the number of weapons that are delivered to Ukraine, the closer the end of the special military operation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Fedir Venislavskyi, an MP for Ukraine's ruling party, said the decision was "painful, and against the background of the terrorist attacks which Russia commits against Ukraine… it's a very unpleasant situation."

A Ukrainian military source quoted by AFP news agency said that Kyiv was "seriously dependent on American arms supplies, although Europe is doing its best, but it will be difficult for us without American ammunition."

Ukraine's European allies have spent billions in military aid over the last three and a half years.

However, military support for Kyiv is not endorsed by everyone on the political spectrum.

The Czech President and former Chair of NATO's Military Committee, Petr Pavel, has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine but told BBC Russian that he could "not guarantee" continued ammunition support for Kyiv, as that was dependent on the result of the upcoming Czech elections.

"I don't know what will be the priorities of a new government," he said.

The Pentagon's move is based on concerns that US military stockpiles are falling too low, a source told CBS News, although Anna Kelly stressed that "the strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned – just ask Iran".

Separately, US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said in a statement that the defense department "continues to provide the President with robust options to continue military aid to Ukraine".

However, he added "the Department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving US forces' readiness for Administration defense priorities."

ReutersUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met US President Donald Trump at last month's Nato summit

The pause comes less than a week after President Donald Trump discussed air defences with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky at the Nato summit in the Netherlands.

Trump said US officials "are going to see if we can make some of them available" when asked by the BBC about providing extra Patriot anti-missile systems to Ukraine.

Referring to his conversation with Zelensky, Trump said: "We had a little rough times sometimes, but he couldn't have been nicer."

The two had a heated confrontation in the Oval Office in March this year. Afterwards, Trump said he was pausing military aid to Ukraine that had been earmarked by the previous Biden administration. Intelligence sharing with Ukraine was also suspended.

But both pauses were subsequently lifted.

In late April, the US and Ukraine signed a deal that would give the US access to Ukraine's mineral reserves in exchange for military assistance.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday – the first time in over two-and-a-half years.

They spoke on the phone for more than two hours, Macron's office said, adding that the French president had urged a ceasefire in Ukraine and for talks to start on a "solid and lasting settlement of the conflict".

The Kremlin said Putin had "reminded Macron" that the West's policy was to blame for the war, because it had "for many years ignored Russia's security interests".

Last month Russia's long-time leader told a forum in St Petersburg that he saw Russians and Ukrainians as one people and "in that sense the whole of Ukraine is ours".

Moscow currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimea peninsula annexed in 2014.

Russia has made slow, grinding advances in Ukraine in recent months and claimed full control of the eastern Luhansk region this week. It has also claimed to have seized territory in the south eastern region of Dnipropetrovsk.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday a Ukrainian attack killed three people at a Russian arms production factory for making drones and radars in Izhevsk, more than 1,000km (620 miles) from the border with Ukraine.

'They took shrapnel from my heart' – the magnets saving lives in Ukraine

'Mariupol is diseased': Residents deny Russian claims occupied city returning to normal

Follow the twists and turns of Trump's second term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher's weekly US Politics Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.

War in UkraineUnited StatesUkraine

---

Sursa: BBC News

Elicopterul militar ugandez a luat foc într-un accident mortal în Somalia

acum 2 oreShareSaveSwaibu Ibrahim, Ibrahim Aden & Fardowsa HanshiBBC News, Kampala, Mogadishu & NairobiDistribuieSalveazăMunasar MohamedCauza accidentului elicopterului este neclară

Un elicopter militar ugandez s-a prăbușit și a luat foc pe principalul aeroport internațional din capitala Somaliei, Mogadiscio, ucigând cinci persoane aflate la bord.

Pilotul, copilotul și inginerul de zbor au supraviețuit cu „răni grave și arsuri severe”, a declarat purtătorul de cuvânt al armatei ugandeze, generalul-maior Felix Kulaigye, adăugând că este în curs de desfășurare o anchetă privind cauza accidentului.

„Am auzit explozia și am văzut fum și flăcări deasupra unui elicopter. Fumul a acoperit în întregime elicopterul.” Farah Abdulle, unul dintre angajații aeroportului, a declarat pentru agenția de știri Reuters.

Agenția de știri de stat din Somalia a relatat că incendiul a fost rapid stins de serviciile de urgență de la Aeroportul Internațional Aden Adde.

Trupele ugandeze fac parte dintr-o forță a Uniunii Africane (UA) formată din 11.000 de oameni care ajută guvernul să lupte împotriva grupării al-Shabab, legate de al-Qaeda, care duce o insurgență brutală în Somalia de mai bine de două decenii.

Elicopterul care s-a prăbușit efectua o „misiune de escortă de luptă de rutină”, a declarat generalul-maior Kulaigye, fără a oferi detalii suplimentare.

Șeful Autorității Aviației Civile Somaleze, Ahmed Maalim a declarat pentru BBC că elicopterul s-a prăbușit în secția militară a aeroportului după ce a zburat de la baza aeriană Balidogle din regiunea Lower Shabelle, la aproximativ 90 km nord-vest de Mogadiscio.

Accidentul a întârziat plecarea unui avion de pasageri Turkish Airlines, dar zborurile interne au continuat să funcționeze normal.

V-ar putea interesa și:

• Femeile din centrul boom-ului construcțiilor din Somalia
• Cum văd somalezii „Doborârea Black Hawk” luptă trei decenii pe
• Orașul în care proprietarii de magazine se tem că camerele lor CCTV i-ar putea ucide

Getty Images/BBC

Accesați BBCAfrica.com pentru mai multe știri de pe continentul african.

Urmăriți-ne pe Twitter @BBCAfrica, pe Facebook la BBC Africa sau pe Instagram la bbcafrica

Podcasturi BBC Africa

Focus on Africa

Acesta este Africa

UgandaSomaliaAfrica

---

Sursa: BBC News

Diddy a fost achitat de trafic sexual și extorcare, condamnat pentru alte două capete de acuzare

acum 2 oreDistribuieSalveazăMadeline Halpert și Sakshi VenkatramanBBC News, New YorkReporting fromCourtDistribuieSalveazăUrmărește: Reporterul BBC din sala de judecată prezintă reacția sa la citirea verdictului în cazul Diddy

Mogulul muzical Sean „Diddy” Combs a fost găsit nevinovat de acuzațiile de extorcare și trafic sexual, dar vinovat de transport pentru a se angaja în prostituție, după un proces federal de aproape două luni în New York City.

Procurorii l-au acuzat pe Combs că și-a folosit statutul de celebritate și imperiul de afaceri pentru a conduce o întreprindere criminală în care să facă trafic sexual cu femei și să-și ascundă crimele.

Un complet de 12 jurați a deliberat timp de 13 ore înainte de a-l achita pe Combs de trei dintre cele mai grave cinci acuzații cu care se confrunta.

Rapperul a recunoscut violență domestică, dar a negat orice întâlniri sexuale fără consimțământ sau o schemă de escrocherie mai amplă.

• Urmărește transmisiunea în direct aici

Atmosfera din sala de judecată a fost extrem de emoționantă după ce jurații au declarat instanței că l-au achitat pe Combs de cele mai grave acuzații de extorcare și trafic sexual.

Înainte ca Combs să părăsească sala, s-a pus în genunchi, și-a pus fața în scaun și a părut să se roage. Tremura.

Judecătorul va analiza dacă îl va elibera pe Combs pe cauțiune la ora 13:00 EST (18:00 BST).

Verdictul vine după ce jurații au declarat marți instanței că au ajuns la o decizie cu privire la acuzațiile de trafic sexual și transport în scop de prostituție împotriva lui Combs, dar nu au reușit să ajungă la un verdict cu privire la acuzația de escrocherie.

Jurații au declarat că au avut opinii „neconvingătoare” de ambele părți cu privire la acuzația, care este cea mai complicată dintre acuzațiile cu care se confruntă Combs și, de asemenea, cea mai severă.

Denumirea oficială a acuzației este conspirația de escrocherie sau dirijarea unei întreprinderi ilegale în temeiul Legii privind organizațiile influențate de escrochi și corupte (Rico).

Pentru a-l condamna pe dl Combs pentru această acuzație, procurorii au trebuit să dovedească faptul că acesta și-a folosit rețeaua loială de asociați pentru a conduce o întreprindere criminală în vederea comiterii de infracțiuni, inclusiv trafic sexual, răpire, trafic de droguri și obstrucționarea justiției.

În acest caz, rețeaua respectivă i-ar include pe angajații săi, despre care procurorii au susținut că au jucat un rol în înființarea „manifestărilor” din centrul cazului.

Avocații apărării au susținut că dosarul nu poate fi considerat escrocherie dacă membrii organizației dl Combs… personalul nu a fost complice în mod conștient.

Procurorii au chemat peste 30 de martori pe parcursul procesului de șapte săptămâni, inclusiv fosta iubită a lui Combs, muzicianul Casandra Ventura, rapperul Kid Cudi, mai mulți foști angajați și lucrători în domeniul securității hotelului.

Aceștia au susținut că Combs s-a bazat pe un cerc interior „loial” de angajați pentru a-și constrânge partenerele în așa-numitele „ciudățenii”, în care iubitele sale făceau sex cu un escort masculin în timp ce el urmărea și filma.

ReutersCombs’ Familia părăsește instanța miercuri

Guvernul s-a bazat pe mărturia doamnei Ventura, care a depus mărturie la opt luni de sarcină, și care a declarat instanței că Combs a presat-o să comită acte sexuale și a amenințat-o că va publica înregistrări cu ciudații dacă nu-l ascultă.

În centrul cazului lor se afla o înregistrare video cu rapperul bătând-o și târând-o pe doamna Ventura pe holul unui hotel din Los Angeles în 2016, imagini de supraveghere despre care angajații de securitate au mărturisit că Combs a încercat să-i plătească pentru a le șterge.

Avocații lui Combs au recunoscut că clientul lor a fost violent față de femei, dar au susținut că comportamentul său a fost motivat de droguri și gelozie, nu de dovezi ale unei scheme mai ample de trafic sexual și escrocherie.

Traficul sexual și escrocheria se pedepsesc cu închisoare pe viață.

Combs se confruntă, de asemenea, cu zeci de procese civile care pretind agresiune sexuală și violență.

Rapperul născut în Harlem a fondat Bad Boy Records în 1993, o casă de discuri care reprezenta unele dintre cele mai mari nume din hip hop – inclusiv Notorious B.I.G. și Usher. A continuat să înființeze o linie de îmbrăcăminte numită Sean John și o varietate de alte afaceri, inclusiv parfumuri, alcool și chiar o companie media.

Fixează toate actualizările despre proces pe BBC Sounds „Diddy on Trial” podcast disponibil oriunde vă ascultați podcasturile BBC.

‘Se considera rege’: Petrecerile care au dus la căderea lui Diddy

Sean „Diddy” CombsNew YorkStatele Unite ale AmericiiMuzică

---

Sursa: BBC News

Trump says Israel has agreed to conditions for 60-day Gaza ceasefire

55 minutes agoShareSaveWyre DaviesBBC NewsReporting fromJerusalemRushdi AbualoufBBC Gaza correspondentReporting fromReporting from CairoShareSaveAFPIsrael's military operation has continued across Gaza this week – pictured here is damage after a strike on a camp for displaced people in Khan Younis

Israel has agreed to the "necessary conditions" to finalise a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, US President Donald Trump has said.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the US would "work with all parties to end the War". He did not give details on the proposed truce.

"I hope… that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better – IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," Trump wrote.

Israel has not confirmed it agreed to the conditions. A Hamas official told the BBC the group was "ready and serious" to reach a deal if it ended the war.

A Palestinian official familiar with Hamas's negotiations with mediators told the BBC the proposal offered no substantive changes to an earlier offer the group rejected in June.

"The core issues remain unresolved," the Palestinian official said, referring to the talks currently taking place with Qatari and Egyptian mediators.

Earlier, Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told the BBC that the group was "prepared to agree to any proposal if the requirements for ending the war are clearly met or if they lead to its complete end".

In a statement the group said it was aiming to reach an agreement that "guarantees an end to the aggression, the withdrawal [of Israeli forces], and urgent relief for our people in the Gaza Strip".

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar posted on X that there is majority support in the government "for a framework to release hostages," and this opportunity "must not be missed".

For Israel, the key component of any deal will have to be the release of most, if not all, hostages still being held in Gaza.

Of the 50 or so hostages remaining in captivity, more than 20 are still thought to be alive and their plight has been at the forefront of regular demonstrations in Israel calling for an end to the war.

A recent Israeli newspaper poll suggested that a significant majority of Israelis wanted the war to end – but polling on Wednesday, from the Israel Democracy Institute, also suggested that most Israelis still did not trust Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, or his intentions.

Netanyahu has for months insisted on "complete victory" over Hamas before ending the war. It's unclear if his position will now change under renewed pressure from Washington – and the answer could be pivotal to reaching a deal.

But on the Hamas side, optimism remains low.

According to a source, Hamas's representative in Cairo Ghazi Hamad is leading discussions on behalf of the group in Egypt.

However, the Palestinian official told the BBC that no new proposals had been put forward by the mediators. Instead, efforts appear focused on recycling, reworking the existing proposals by US special envoy Steve Witkoff – a framework that falls short of key Palestinian demands.

The current draft does not include guarantees that the war will come to a permanent end after the ceasefire expires, nor does it ensure an Israeli military withdrawal to positions held before 19 January.

Trump's announcement about a possible ceasefire comes before a meeting with Netanyahu scheduled for next week, in which the US president has said he would be "very firm".

He earlier said he believed Netanyahu wanted to end hostilities in Gaza. "He wants to. I can tell you he wants to. I think we'll have a deal next week," Trump said.

But without a guarantee to end the war, Hamas may question the value of releasing all the hostages if the Israeli military is likely to resume bombing Gaza.

Another consideration before an agreement could theoretically be signed is Hamas's demand for a partial Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, at least for the duration of the ceasefire.

The international community is also likely to lobby hard for the resumption of full-scale UN-backed aid deliveries into Gaza.

Prior to Trump's announcement, Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, told the BBC Israel was "absolutely" ready for a ceasefire.

Danon said Hamas was "playing hardball".

"We are putting pressure on Hamas, and if they will not come to the table, the only option we will have to bring back the hostages, is to apply more military pressure.

"The war will end when the hostages are back home," the Israeli envoy added.

Trump's comments come shortly after Israel ordered evacuations in northern Gaza ahead of increased military action. At least 20 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a seafront cafe in Gaza City on Monday, according to medics and eyewitnesses.

Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza after Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, in which around 1,200 people were killed. At least 56,647 have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

The Israeli military this week also said it was examining reports of civilians being "harmed" while approaching aid distribution centres in Gaza run by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said on Tuesday that as of 28 June, 408 people had been killed trying to reach aid at GHF aid sites.

More than 170 charities and other NGOs have called for the controversial group to be shut down. Organisations like Oxfam and Save the Children say Israeli forces "routinely" open fire on Palestinians seeking aid.

Israel denies this accusation and says the organisation is necessary to bypass Hamas interference in aid distribution.

In March, a previous ceasefire deal collapsed when Israel launched fresh strikes on Gaza. The Israeli military described the action as "pre-emptive strikes… based on Hamas's readiness to execute terror attacks, build up force and re-arm".

The previous ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas – which started on 19 January – was set up to have three stages, but did not make it past the first stage.

Stage two included establishing a permanent ceasefire, the return of remaining living hostages in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

Additional reporting by James Chater

Get our flagship newsletter with all the headlines you need to start the day. Sign up here.

More on this story

Israeli military investigates 'reports of harm to civilians' after hundreds killed near Gaza aid sites

Netanyahu hopes for boost from Iran conflict – but do Israelis still trust him?

US-Israeli backed Gaza aid group must be shut down, say 170 charities

Middle EastIsrael-Gaza warIsraelHamas

---

Sursa: BBC News

How 'blood gold' is fuelling conflict in West Africa

40 minutes agoShareSaveJacob BoswallBBC MonitoringShareSaveGetty Images

It has been a good year for gold. A host of turbulent events in the global economy has driven up prices for the glittery commodity to record highs in 2025.

In a world of tariffs and international conflict, gold appeals to investors as one of the few remaining stable assets. Everyone wants a piece of the action, from central banks to large institutions like hedge funds, and retail investors. But few know where their gold comes from, or much about the conflicts it may be fuelling in the countries where it is mined.

For the governments of West Africa's Sahel region, the stakes are even higher. Gold is a lifeline for the military juntas of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, who are beleaguered by jihadist insurgencies, regional isolation, and the ravages of climate change.

"Because gold prices have been at a historic high… the military governments are hoping that they will be able to benefit directly," Beverly Ochieng, a senior researcher at global consultancy firm Control Risks, told the BBC.

Together, the three Sahel states produce around 230 tonnes of gold per year, according to the World Gold Council's estimates, or about sovereignty" – though Russian firms are increasing their stake in the industry at the expense of Western-owned firms.

For example, Mali's junta leader Gen Assimi Goïta laid the foundation stone last month for a gold refinery, in which a Russian conglomerate, the Yadran Group, will have a minority stake. The refinery will reportedly create 500 direct jobs and 2,000 indirect jobs.

Burkina Faso is also building its first-ever gold refinery, and has set up a state-owned mining company, requiring foreign firms to give it a 15% stake in their local operations and to transfer skills to Burkinabé people.

Fake AI media campaigns have even been launched to celebrate the country's charismatic 37-year-old military ruler Capt Ibrahim Traoré for commanding such an important revenue stream for the nation.

"Mining gold from deepest dirt. But souls are rich and true," croons an AI-generated Rihanna in one recent song, pouring her silky, auto-tuned praise on Capt Traoré.

The reality is very different, according to Ms Ochieng, who explained that Burkina Faso and its neighbours need quick cash to fund counterinsurgency campaigns.

In the case of Mali, much of this has been outsourced to Russian mercenaries, including the Wagner Group and its successor, Africa Corps, which falls under the command of Russia's defence ministry.

Africa Corps has been involved in military training in Burkina Faso, but the junta officially denies its presence.

RIA Novosti / Anadolu / Getty ImagesRussia's President Vladimir Putin and Burkina Faso's Ibrahim Traoré have built a strong relationship

Although public spending transparency in the countries is poor, the governments are thought to devote large portions of their budgets to national security.

Military spending in Mali trebled since 2010, amounting to 22% of the national budget by 2020.

The governments are fighting jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State (IS).

But campaign group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Malian government and the Wagner Group of committing atrocities against civilians, including unlawful killings, summary executions, and torture.

It has documented similar atrocities by Burkina Faso's military and its allied militias.

For their services, the Wagner Group and now Africa Corps are often paid directly in gold or in mining concessions, according to Alex Vines of the London-based Chatham House think-tank.

"Very little [of the gold revenues] will trickle down to Malians and Burkinabés," he told the BBC, adding that in fact the armed insurgents themselves may be benefiting from gold.

Since the coup in Mali in 2021, brutal government tactics against communities suspected of harbouring or sympathising with jihadists have increased, pushing more civilians to join the very groups they are fighting.

Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate which is the most active jihadist group in the region, staged an unprecedented number of attacks targeting Burkina Faso military during the first half of 2025, a sign of the group's growing strength.

The armed groups are also literally cashing in on the increased global appetite for gold.

A large proportion of gold mining in the Sahel is from the artisanal and small-scale sector, which is often informal, meaning it takes place on unlicensed and undeclared sites away from government oversight, according to a 2023 report on gold mining in the Sahel by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Armed groups, including jihadist groups, and Sahel governments are in competition for control over many of these small-scale gold mines.

Gold provides an important revenue stream for militant groups, which appear to be expanding their territorial influence in both Mali and Burkina Faso.

The UNODC believes that most gold from this type of mining ends up in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a global centre for gold refining and trading.

"You do see overlap of violent extremist groups moving onto artisanal production areas for control," said Dr Vines.

The global spike in gold prices may be prolonging and exacerbating conflict in the Sahel – but, unfortunately for the diggers in artisanal gold mines, it has not led to owners increasing their wages.

Afrikimages Agency / Universal Images Group / Getty ImagesAs jobs are scarce, many people work in the informal mining sector

One gold miner in Mali's northern Kidal region agreed to respond to written questions from the BBC on condition of anonymity, for fear of his safety.

He estimated that, on a "good day", he earns 10,000 to 20,000 CFA francs, or approximately Prices went up, but the extra profit goes to mine owners… It's risky and uncertain, but for many of us, it's the only option," he added.

Dr Vines, who formerly worked as a blood diamond investigator for the UN, is concerned that gold has become Africa's new main conflict commodity.

He noted that gold has not received the same international attention as diamonds, which fuelled bloodshed in several African states throughout the 20th Century, especially during the 1990s.

Intervention by human rights groups and the UN led to the establishment of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in 2003, which did much to end the sale of so-called "blood diamonds" on the open market.

But attempts to crack down on "blood gold" have been less successful.

This is partly due to a lack of unified ethical standards. The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), a major authority in the gold market, requires refiners to comply with standards based on guidelines set by a global body, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OED).

The UAE's enforcement of these regulations has historically been patchy.

In 2021, the country announced its own standards for ethical gold mining – however, the framework remains voluntary. The issue of enforcement has caused tensions in the past between the Gulf state and the LBMA.

Tracing technology represents another hurdle.

"There is no 'DNA testing' for gold. With a lot of effort, you can trace diamonds before they get polished and cut… But I haven't seen ways of tracing the origins of a gold nugget," Dr Vines said.

Gold is smelted early on in the value chain, making it nearly impossible to trace and connect to potential conflict zones, he explained.

Dr Vines believes that it is likely that some blood gold from the Sahel ends up in UK markets.

"[Gold] gets smelted in [the] UAE, then goes onto the jewellery manufacturing industry, or into dentistry, or bullion. Some of it clearly comes into the UK. And once it is here, there is no way of testing what it is."

A UAE official told the BBC that the country had "a robust regulatory framework to maximize the security, integrity and transparency of every gold transaction, supported by rigorous enforcement actions".

The UAE's processes were in line with, and in some areas exceeded, OECD guidelines, the official said, adding: "They are supported by mandatory anti-money-laundering and know-your-customer procedures, annual audits and full enforcement at all points of entry."

Dr Vines said that another reason that it will be difficult to repeat the successes of the Kimberley process is because the certification system was not designed to deal with state governments.

"Kimberley was designed to deal with armed non-state actors in places like Sierra Leone and Liberia," he said.

For now, gold's importance for Sahel governments and the patchy enforcement of ethical gold standards mean that the commodity is likely to continue changing hands, regardless of its origin.

Unfortunately for some communities in the Sahel, that may mean paying for the trade in blood.

You may also be interested in:

• 'I thought I would die' – freed captive tells BBC of life in jihadist base
• Why Burkina Faso's junta leader has captured hearts and minds
• 'We are poisoning ourselves': Ghana gold rush sparks environmental disaster
• The region with more 'terror deaths' than rest of world combined

Getty Images/BBC

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

BBC Africa podcasts

Focus on Africa

This Is Africa

Burkina FasoSahel Islamist insurgencyMaliNigerAfricaGold

---

Sursa: BBC News

Valul de căldură european dogoritor devine mortal în Spania, Italia și Franța

acum 27 de minuteDistribuieSalveazăMalu CursinoBBC NewsDistribuieSalveazăGetty ImagesOamenii se hidratează în Piazza di Spagna din Roma

Un incendiu de vegetație din Spania și temperaturile ridicate din alte părți ale Europei au făcut alte șase victime, în timp ce continentul se înăbușă la temperaturi care depășesc 40°C.

Doi fermieri au murit când au rămas prinși în flăcări în apropierea orașului Coscó din regiunea Catalonia din Spania. Autoritățile au declarat că un muncitor agricol a cerut ajutor șefului său, dar nu au reușit să scape, deoarece incendiul s-a răspândit pe o suprafață extinsă.

În Italia, doi bărbați au murit după ce s-au îmbolnăvit pe plajele de pe insula Sardinia, iar un bărbat de peste 80 de ani a murit din cauza insuficienței cardiace, după ce a intrat într-un spital din Genova.

O fetiță americană în vârstă de 10 ani s-a prăbușit și a murit în timp ce vizita Palatul Versailles, la sud-vest de Paris, au relatat știrile.

Potrivit postului de televiziune francez TF1, ea s-a prăbușit în curtea proprietății regale, în fața părinților ei, în jurul orei 18:00, ora locală, marți. În ciuda eforturilor depuse de echipa de securitate a castelului și de serviciile de urgență, ea a fost declarată decedată o oră mai târziu.

Ministrul francez pentru tranziția ecologică, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, a declarat anterior că în Franța au fost înregistrate două decese legate de căldură și că peste 300 de persoane au primit îngrijiri de urgență.

Continentul european se confruntă cu temperaturi extrem de ridicate, un fenomen despre care agenția ONU pentru climă a declarat că devine din ce în ce mai frecvent din cauza „schimbărilor climatice induse de om”.

Pentru Spania și Anglia, luna iunie a marcat cea mai fierbinte lună iunie de când au început înregistrările. Serviciul meteorologic spaniol, Aemet, a anunțat că temperatura medie de luna trecută de 23,6°C (74,5°F) a fost „recorduri pulverizate”, depășind media normală pentru iulie și august.

Cei doi bărbați care au murit în incendiul din Catalonia au fost identificați ulterior ca fiind fermierul proprietar și un muncitor în vârstă de 32 și 45 de ani.

Serviciile de urgență au declarat că incendiul s-a extins pe o suprafață de până la 6.500 de hectare.

Aemet a prognozat miercuri temperaturi de 41°C în orașul Córdoba din sudul țării și a anunțat că temperaturile peste noapte au ajuns la 28°C în orașul apropiat Osuna cu o noapte înainte.

Franța a înregistrat al doilea cel mai fierbinte iunie de când au început înregistrările în 1900. Iunie 2023 a fost mai fierbinte.

Patru departamente din Franța au rămas miercuri în alertă roșie pentru căldură, cel mai ridicat nivel. Printre acestea se numără Aube, Cher, Loiret și Yonne, potrivit Météo-France.

Getty ImagesOamenii se răcoresc în Parcul Montsouris din Paris, Franța

În Sardinia, unde temperaturile au depășit 40°C în ultimele zile, un bărbat în vârstă de 75 de ani a murit după ce s-a îmbolnăvit pe o plajă din Budoni. Un alt bărbat, în vârstă de 60 de ani, s-a îmbolnăvit în timp ce se afla pe plaja Lu Impostu din San Teodoro.

Doi muncitori în construcții din provincia italiană Vicenza au fost transportați de urgență la spital marți, la ora 15:30, ora locală, deoarece s-au îmbolnăvit din cauza căldurii în timp ce lucrau într-o groapă. Unul dintre muncitori este în comă, potrivit agenției de știri Ansa.

Între timp, două incendii de vegetație au determinat evacuări de urgență în Grecia, deoarece autoritățile avertizează asupra unui risc foarte ridicat de incendiu în multe regiuni, inclusiv Attica, Creta și părți din Peloponez și insulele din Marea Egee.

În Halkidiki, un incendiu rapid din apropierea satului de coastă Vourvourou a mistuit o pădure de pini extrem de inflamabilă, forțând locuitorii și persoanele în tabără să fugă. În zonă au fost raportate pene de curent, în timp ce 65 de pompieri, echipe terestre și unități aeriene se luptă cu flăcările pe terenul abrupt.

Între timp, în Creta, un alt incendiu de vegetație din apropierea orașului Ierapetra a declanșat alerte de urgență în Achlia, Ferma, Agia Fotia și Galini, provocând evacuarea locuințelor și a hotelurilor.

Vânturile puternice au împins incendiul periculos de aproape de unitățile de cazare turistice, elicopterele și echipele de pompieri lucrând pentru a preveni răspândirea ulterioară.

Dimple Rana, specialistă în căldură și microclimat la firma de consultanță pentru dezvoltare durabilă Arup, a declarat pentru BBC că există „o legătură importantă între impactul căldurii și vârstă”.

În Marea Britanie, de exemplu, majoritatea deceselor legate de căldură au fost în rândul adulților în vârstă, a spus dna Rana. Copiii mai mici, în special cei sub cinci ani, au fost, de asemenea, expuși riscului.

Un alt factor de luat în considerare este faptul că adesea persoanele cu venituri mici desfășoară mai multe munci manuale, a spus dna Rana, ceea ce înseamnă că sunt mai expuse la temperaturi mai ridicate.

Valurile de căldură devin din ce în ce mai frecvente din cauza schimbărilor climatice cauzate de om, potrivit Grupului interguvernamental de experți privind schimbările climatice al ONU.

Vremea extrem de caldă se va întâmpla mai des – și va deveni și mai intensă – pe măsură ce planeta continuă să se încălzească, a declarat acesta.

Organizația Meteorologică Mondială (OMM), care este agenția ONU pentru vreme și climă, a declarat marți că schimbările climatice induse de om înseamnă că „căldura extremă devine mai frecventă și „intensă”.

Într-o declarație, OMM a adăugat: „Efectul căldurii asupra sănătății umane este mai pronunțat în orașe ca urmare a efectului de insulă termică urbană.

„Aici mediile urbane sunt semnificativ mai calde decât zonele rurale înconjurătoare, în special în perioadele caniculare, datorită abundenței de suprafețe pavate, clădiri, vehicule și surse de căldură.”

„Această căldură suplimentară din orașe exacerbează stresul termic și poate crește mortalitatea în perioadele caniculare.” Agenția a declarat.

Cât de neobișnuită este această căldură în Regatul Unit și sunt schimbările climatice de vină?

Patru moduri în care schimbările climatice agravează vremea extremă

Un ghid simplu despre schimbările climatice

EuropaValuri de căldură europeneValuri de căldură

---

Sursa: BBC News

Marwan al-Sultan, un cardiolog renumit și director al spitalului indonezian, este al 70-lea lucrător din domeniul sănătății ucis de atacurile israeliene în ultimele 50 de zile, declară organizația medicală palestiniană

Un atac aerian israelian a ucis unul dintre cei mai importanți medici din Gaza, o pierdere „catastrofală” pentru sistemul de sănătate deja decimat. Se pare că mai mulți membri ai familiei au fost uciși alături de el.

Dr. Marwan al-Sultan, un cardiolog renumit și cu vastă experiență și director al spitalului indonezian din Fâșia Gaza, este al 70-lea lucrător din domeniul sănătății ucis de atacurile israeliene în ultimele 50 de zile, potrivit Healthcare Workers Watch (HWW), o organizație medicală palestiniană.

Continuați să citiți…

---

Sursa: Guardian

Hamas declară că revizuiește propunerea de armistițiu a SUA, dar nu este clar ce termeni a fost de acord cu Israelul.

Donald Trump a susținut că Israelul este gata să accepte un acord de pace cu Hamas, în timp ce încearcă să medieze un armistițiu în războiul din Gaza, care a curmat aproape 60.000 de vieți, dar nu este clar ce condiții concrete a fost de acord cu Israelul.

Într-o postare pe Truth Social de marți seară, președintele SUA a scris: „Israelul a fost de acord cu condițiile necesare pentru finalizarea ÎNCETĂȚII FOCULUI de 60 de zile, timp în care vom lucra cu toate părțile pentru a pune capăt războiului.”

Continuați să citiți…

---

Sursa: Guardian

Criticii avertizează că suma uluitoare de 170 de miliarde de dolari dedicată Ice în proiectul de lege va amenința protecțiile umanitare și va perturba economia.

Mii de noi ofițeri de aplicare a legii imigrației. Zeci de mii de noi locuri de detenție. Noi taxe pentru cererile de azil. Și noi construcții la zidul de frontieră.

Proiectul de lege privind cheltuielile amploare al lui Donald Trump ar extinde considerabil mecanismul guvernului federal de aplicare a legii imigrației și, dacă va fi adoptat de Cameră, ar supraalimenta planul președintelui de a pune în aplicare ceea ce a promis că va fi cea mai mare campanie de deportare din istoria SUA.

Continuați să citiți…

---

Sursa: Guardian