Gaza, Bangladesh, Uganda
Today's three stories you should know
Gaza
Two siblings were killed and at least seven people wounded in an Israeli drone attack on a tent in Gaza despite an ostensible ceasefire that was agreed last October, according to a hospital where the victims were taken. The strike on tents in a camp for displaced people killed 15-year-old Islam Moussa and her 30-year-old brother, Abdullah Moussa. The Israeli military confirmed it had attacked the camp, saying it was targeting a Hamas member. In a separate incident, 13-year-old Eileen al-Farra was killed by shrapnel from Israeli tank shelling. More than 1,000 people in Gaza have now been killed by Israel since it agreed the ceasefire with Hamas last October, according to health ministry figures.
More from the New Arab here.
Episode 5 of The Proximities Podcast, a conversation with journalist and author Sally Hayden, is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
Coming this week: How archaeology has become a political issue in the West Bank.
Bangladesh
The former leader of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, has vowed to return from exile in India this year despite a death sentence handed down against her in absentia. Hasina dismissed the sentence as “illegal, unconstitutional and politically motivated.” The 78-year-old was forced to flee when demonstrators converged on her official residence during youth-led protests in August 2024. Hasina, whose Awami League party was banned after she left, said she would return to restore democracy and political rights. “I do not fear death,” she added.
More from Reuters here.
Uganda
Uganda’s erratic army chief, who is also the son of President Yoweri Museveni, has ordered the closure of one of the country’s biggest news organizations. Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba warned that all media “will follow the rules” as soldiers were deployed outside the Kampala offices of the Daily Monitor newspaper. It is widely believed that 81-year-old Museveni has groomed his eldest son to succeed him and some analysts believe he has already become Uganda’s de facto leader. Earlier this month he had prominent lawyer and opposition leader Erias Lukwago arrested and posted taunting images of a blindfolded Lukwago on his X account.
More from AP here.