Category: The Citizen

Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan addressed the nation on December 2, 2025, explaining the government’s response to the election-related unrest that erupted on October 29. She detailed several factors that led to the security bodies’ decisive actions.

During her address to the Dar es Salaam Region Council of Elders at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC), President Hassan stated that the unrest in Tanzania following the general election was not a spontaneous expression of public frustration. class=”article-picture” 6.5 class=”article-picture_caption” 8 A section of elders clap during a meeting with President Samia Suluhu Hassan in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

PHOTO | STATE HOUSE Instead, she claimed it was a planned operation aimed at destabilizing and ultimately overthrowing the government. Her remarks came as the country continued to face lingering tensions, sporadic acts of violence, and warnings from security authorities about efforts to mobilize young people ahead of December 9.

She asserted that the events of October 29 should not be viewed as protests but rather as “a manufactured event with a political agenda.” According to President Hassan, intelligence assessments indicate that the chaos was meticulously planned, funded, and coordinated by actors both within and outside the country.

“What took place was a manufactured event, and those who orchestrated it were determined to overthrow our government,” she said. “This was not an accident.

Those behind it had more significant intentions; they aimed to topple our state.” She described the violence as “a broad project of evil” with identifiable sponsors, supporters and implementers.

The President explained that the individuals involved had varying degrees of awareness: some were fully conscious participants, others were misled by political promises, and a portion, she noted, were paid to take part in the unrest. “We are accustomed to lawful demonstrations,” she added.

“However, burning government projects, police facilities, and private businesses is not a protest. Those were organized riots with a specific purpose.

” President Hassan questioned why this orchestrated violence occurred on Election Day itself. “What lesser response was expected from us?” she asked.

“Should we have simply watched as those who plotted an overthrow succeeded? Would that still result in a functioning state?” She compared Tanzania’s response to actions taken by governments globally when protests verge on insurrection. “We have seen in other countries that when demonstrations head in a dangerous direction, governments use strong measures,” she said.

Role of opposition parties The President accused unnamed opposition parties of attempting to shift blame for their electoral decisions onto the government. She said claims that opposition candidates were blocked from participating in the elections were false and aimed at “hiding their own embarrassment.

” “They knew they would not succeed because of the work we have done over the past five years and the public response to CCM’s campaigns,” she said. “No one prevented them from participating.

They refused on their own will after their internal discussions.” She said intelligence briefings showed that some opposition leaders avoided entering the polls to escape defeat.

“To conceal the embarrassment they would have faced, they triggered what happened,” she explained. “If there were rights they intended to demand, why choose Election Day?” President Hassan said the internal fractures within opposition groups, including defections to other parties and disputes between political and activist wings, were being unfairly projected onto the government.

“These are their own internal issues; they should not blame us,” she said. She expressed disappointment, recalling moments when she extended “a hand of reconciliation” during her early years in office.

She said she financially supported some returning exiles, facilitated the dropping of cases, and allowed opposition parties to resume political activities, including peaceful demonstrations. “I did all this believing I was speaking to mature Tanzanians,” she said.

“But if you give someone political space and they use it to disrupt the country, that is not politics.” The youth: Misled and mobilised A significant portion of the President’s address focused on the involvement of young people in the October unrest.

“Our young people were drawn into the streets, chanting slogans they didn’t understand,” she said. “They were told they were demanding rights–what rights? Which ones, specifically?” She questioned the claim that the youth poured into the streets due to economic hardship.

“A person genuinely struggling for survival does not march chanting songs,” she argued. “Most young people facing hardship were at work.

Those who joined had their own motives.” According to the President, the unrest revealed a deeper national challenge that young people were growing up without proper guidance and patriotic education.

“That is why I said we must establish a full Ministry of Youth, not just a unit within a larger ministry,” she explained. “Our youth had no reason to be in the streets; they were simply sent there and made to chant things that were not in their interest.

” Religious institutions: “Stay within constitutional limits” President Hassan also addressed concerns over the involvement of some religious voices in the unfolding political tensions. “In leadership, you must accept that at times you will lose popularity,” she said.

“But we must correct things and speak the truth.” She reiterated that the Constitution does not grant any religious denomination the authority to issue directives overriding others.

“No denomination has constitutional or legal authority to overrule another,” she said. “Tanzania has no single owner.

Nobody holds a certificate saying this country is theirs to run as they wish.” She urged religious leaders to avoid assuming powers beyond their spiritual mandate.

“Do not drape yourselves in robes suggesting you can overrun this nation. We will run this country by its Constitution and its laws,” she stressed.

The President said she had observed divisions within some religious groups over public statements issued in recent weeks. Despite these disagreements, she urged religious leaders to promote unity, peace and adherence to national laws.

“If you do not like Samia, there is no need to disrupt the country,” she said. “Whether the leader is a man or a woman, authority is given by God.

And we will defend this nation with all our strength.” Foreign coordinators and external pressure President Hassan warned that some of the unrest was supported by coordinators based outside Tanzania.

Some, she said, were motivated by personal economic difficulties abroad, while others were financially backed by actors seeking influence. “Some are paid by those who want these events to happen,” she said.

“They lack patriotism. And for some, Tanzania’s stability does not matter–they live abroad, unaffected.

” She also addressed what she described as attempts by foreign actors to “lecture Tanzania on how to manage its domestic affairs.” “They say Tanzania should do this and that.

Who are you?” she asked. “Is it because of the small amounts of money you give us?” Her comments came days after the European Union Parliament adopted a resolution to suspend 156 million Euros (about S00 billion) in aid earmarked for Tanzania in 2026, pending investigations into alleged human rights violations.

The suspended funds amount to roughly 0.7 percent of Tanzania’s national budget for 2025/26, which stands at Sh56.49 trillion.

Of this, S0.47 trillion is expected from domestic revenue, Sh1.07 trillion from foreign grants, and Sh14.95 trillion from domestic and external loans. In its resolution, which was adopted by 539 votes in favour, no votes against, with 27 abstentions, the EU MPs said there should be a fair investigation into suspects of killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other violations in Tanzania and insisted on the need for an African-led inquiry commission.

“The money is too little,” she President Hassan. “We are now talking about doing business where both sides benefit.

” The government, through the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, has since confirmed ongoing negotiations with the EU, with the final decision on the cooperation resting with the EU Commission. On calls for a new constitution Responding to renewed demands for a new constitution, President Hassan said the government had never rejected constitutional reform.

“No one has refused to amend the Constitution of this country,” she said. She reminded the elders that the Criminal Justice Reform Commission she formed had travelled nationwide gathering citizens’ views, and that 90 percent of the short- and medium-term recommendations had already been implemented.

“The long-term issue remaining is the new constitution,” she said. “And I have said we will implement it.

” She added that the CCM election manifesto commits her to forming a commission within 100 days to establish national consensus before entering the constitutional process. “How do you amend national laws when you are divided into pieces?” she asked.

“We must first reconcile.” Given the recent unrest, she said she had established a new investigative commission whose findings would inform the path forward.

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Dar es Salaam. After demanding and disappointing outings in the CAF Confederation Cup, Azam FC and Singida Black Stars return to domestic duty tonight in what promises to be a tense and high stakes Mainland Tanzania Premier League encounter at the Azam Complex.

Both teams enter the fixture carrying the weight of continental setbacks. Azam FC, under Congolese tactician Florent Ibenge, endured a difficult campaign in the CAF Confederation Cup, losing both group stage matches.

They first fell 20 away to Maniema Union in Kinshasa, DR Congo, before suffering a narrow 10 home defeat to Moroccan giants Wydad Club Athletic at the New Amaan Complex. The losses not only dented their continental ambitions but also exposed weaknesses that require immediate attention if the team is to regain confidence.

Singida Black Stars also faced their share of challenges on the continental stage. The Tanzanian representatives opened with a 20 defeat to Algeria’s CR Belouizdad before steadying themselves with a 11 draw against South Africa’s Stellenbosch FC, also at the New Amaan Complex.

Although they returned with a valuable point, the team still carries a sense of unfinished business as they shift focus back to the Premier League. Tonight’s match, scheduled to start at 9 pm, is expected to be one of the most competitive fixtures of the week.

Both sides are determined to recover and reposition themselves favourably in the league standings. Azam FC currently sit in 15th place with five points from three matches, an unfamiliar position for a club of their stature.

Singida Black Stars are in 11th place with seven points from the same number of fixtures. Despite their struggles in continental competitions, Azam’s domestic form under Ibenge remains steady.

The ice cream makers have recorded one win and two draws in the league, remaining unbeaten and showing signs of resilience that could prove crucial tonight. Singida Black Stars, guided by experienced Argentine coach Miguel Gamondi, have been slightly more impressive with two wins and one draw so far.

JKT Tanzania currently lead the league with 16 points from nine matches, but both Azam and Singida know that a victory tonight could significantly close the gap and reshape their early season ambitions. Historically, the statistics heavily favour Azam FC.

The two clubs have met seven times since 2020, with Azam winning six of those encounters. Singida Black Stars have managed only one victory against the Chamazi based side, a record Gamondi is determined to challenge.

For Ibenge, maintaining his strong record against Singida is essential, not only for morale but also to steady the trajectory of Azam’s league campaign. With both coaches eager to prove a point and both squads desperate to regain momentum, tonight’s clash is more than just another fixture.

It is a test of resilience, character, tactical discipline and hunger for redemption. .

Democratic Republic of Congo’s army and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels traded accusations of ceasefire violations on Tuesday, two days before the White House is set to host the signing of an accord to end fighting in the country’s east. The United States and Qatar have been mediating talks aimed at restoring peace in North and South Kivu provinces where clashes have displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

Rwanda has denied backing M23, which says it is fighting to protect Tutsi communities in eastern Congo. Both sides accused the other on Tuesday of trying to sabotage the peace deals with attacks in South Kivu.

The Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) said its troops had come under attack in Kaziba, Katogota and Lubarika from the M23 rebel group and its allies. “These attacks clearly show the coalition’s intention to sabotage the Washington and Doha peace agreements,” army spokesperson Major General Sylvain Ekenge said in a statement.

Corneille Nangaa, leader of a rebel alliance that includes M23, said on X that Congolese forces, together with the Burundian army and other allies, had launched attacks in the same province since morning. “Faced with this violation of the ceasefire within the framework of the Doha peace process, the [alliance] has no choice but to defend itself and protect civilian populations,” he said.

The alliance’s spokesperson and M23’s president made similar assertions in posts on X. U.

S. President Donald Trumpis scheduled to host the leaders of Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday to sign a peace agreement.

M23 staged a lightning advance in eastern Congo this year, seizing the region’s two largest cities and raising fears of a wider war. .

Nyang’hwale. Small-scale miners across the country will now operate under stronger legal safeguards following a regulatory overhaul tightening controls over mining licences, foreign participation and revenue-sharing arrangements.

The reforms were outlined by the Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde, during a stakeholder meeting at Kasuguya gold mine in Nyang’hwale District. Addressing miners, youth groups, traders and local leaders from the Mbogwe Mining Region, which covers Bukombe, Nyang’hwale and Mbogwe, Mr Mavunde said the new measures aim to correct long-standing abuses and ensure Tanzanians, particularly small-scale operators, benefit more fairly from the country’s mineral wealth.

He said the mining sector has contributed Sh1 trillion to Government revenue, with about 40 per cent coming from small-scale miners. Tanzania remains among Africa’s top gold producers, and since the Bank of Tanzania began buying gold directly in October 2024, it has already acquired 15 tonnes.

“These gains have been driven by miners in places like Nyang’hwale,” he said. “Our responsibility is to ensure the rules protect the people doing the hard work.

” Local leaders, including Nyang’hwale MP Hussein Nassor Amar Kasu and District Commissioner Grace Kingalame, commended President Samia Suluhu Hassan for allocating mining blocks to small-scale operators and urged cancellation of dormant licences. The MP said small-scale miners in Nyang’hwale alone have contributed more than Sh20 billion to national revenue.

Regional small-scale miners’ secretary Misana Nyabange raised concern about the sharp rise in cyanide prices, which have increased from about Sh650,000 to more than Sh1 million per 50-kilogramme container. Youth representative Hamisi Mohammed said young people form the backbone of small-scale mining but remain stuck in casual work.

He called for fairer revenue-sharing and dedicated blocks for youth groups. Responding, Mr Mavunde said the issues raised were central to recent amendments to the Mining Act and the Mining (Mineral Rights) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025. A new rule requires written, approved contracts before miners can operate within a primary mining licence (PML) area.

Licence holders must keep a register of pit operators and compensate them if asked to leave. Existing miners must also be given priority in any new investment arrangement.

He stressed that “renting out” PMLs is illegal and said all dealings must be transparent and recorded with the Resident Mining Office. Nationally, the Government has cancelled licences covering 741,000 acres that were being hoarded without development and ordered a review of 191 exploration licences in the GeitaMbogwe area.

Foreigners are barred from operating directly under PMLs, with their role limited to technical support. Any group seeking such support must receive Mining Commission approval.

A new minimum revenue-sharing rule requires at least 30 per cent of proceeds to remain with the licence holder. The Minister added that 15 drilling rigs will soon be deployed to support small-scale miners, while mineral laboratories in Chunya, Dodoma and Geita will help reduce testing costs.

On the surge in cyanide prices, he said he has convened a meeting with relevant agencies to address domestic supply challenges. “Young people in Nyang’hwale rely on mining,” he said.

“Let us use these new protections wisely so the sector can transform lives.” .

Dar es Salaam. Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) Managing Director, Rosalynn Mndolwa-Mworia, has called on media organisations to take a frontline role in advancing digital literacy, elevating innovators, and fostering public understanding as Tanzania accelerates its march toward a $1 trillion innovation-led economy.

Speaking on Tuesday, December 3, at the Tanzania Start-up Week 2025, Ms Mworia stressed that the country’s ambition under Tanzania Development Vision 2050 hinges not merely on technological investment but on ensuring citizens possess the digital competence to fully engage in the emerging economy. “At the heart of this vision is not technology–it is people,” she said.

“Citizens who are digitally capable, empowered, and included.” Ms Mworia urged the media to move beyond traditional reporting and actively equip the public with the knowledge required to navigate new technologies, access digital public services, and understand evolving policy reforms.

“A nation’s digital future is built on trust, understanding, and participation,” she said. “This is where media becomes personal to me.

Stories shape confidence, shape possibility, and shape nations.” Citing MCL’s growing influence, she noted that the company’s 25 million monthly digital users demonstrate the media’s power to shape public perception of emerging technologies.

“When media explains artificial intelligence in simple terms, when it demystifies government services, when it combats misinformation–we are not merely informing; we are empowering.” Ms Mworia highlighted HabariHub, MCL’s digital journalism and innovation ecosystem, which provides young creators and entrepreneurs with mentorship and practical skills.

She also underscored the impact of MCL’s national platforms–such as the Mwananchi Thought Leadership Forum, Rising Woman, and MSME Summits–which have amplified national dialogue on digital transformation. During her address, Ms Mworia unveiled several initiatives in line with Vision 2050, including a Start-up Visibility Acceleration Programme and the expansion of HabariHub to reach more young innovators.

“Every innovator deserves a spotlight,” she said, emphasising the role of visibility in unlocking Tanzania’s digital potential. In a gesture to promote access to credible information, she announced one month of free access to MwanaClick–MCL’s digital content platform–for all Start-up Week participants.

“Credible information should never be a privilege; it must be a catalyst for an empowered Tanzania,” she said, reiterating the importance of inclusion in building a digitally capable society. Ms Mworia emphasised that achieving a competitive digital economy demands collaboration across government, private sector, and civil society.

“Tanzania will reach a $1 trillion digital economy not through technology alone, but through the courage of our youth, the resilience of our entrepreneurs, and our collective belief that the Tanzanian story is worth telling.” She reaffirmed MCL’s commitment to supporting innovators and entrepreneurs, positioning the organisation as a platform for ideas and a champion of inclusion.

“As Mwananchi Communications Limited, we commit to being a partner in transformation, a platform for innovators, a champion for inclusion, and a storyteller for the Tanzania we are building together,” she concluded. .

MelBet Affiliate Registration Guide: How to Sign Up to MelBet Partners The MelBet Partners Affiliate Program is an international traffic monetization system built specifically for the iGaming industry sports betting and online casino. It works with partners of all sizes, from solo webmasters to full-scale media teams, and turns their traffic into predictable affiliate earnings.

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MelBet Partners positions itself as a reliable, long-term solution: it offers flexible payout models (CPA, Hybrid, Revenue Share), ready-made creatives adapted to different countries, and even custom terms for top-performing partners. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to register, who exactly the program is for, and why many affiliates see it as a structured way to grow their income.

Who Can Join the MelBet Partners Affiliate Program? Before looking at the form itself, it helps to understand for whom the program is designed. The MelBet affiliate platform focuses on several key categories of partners, each with their own traffic sources and promotion tactics: ul class=”rte–listSEO webmasters.

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rbitrage teams and media buyers. Professionals who manage ad accounts, traffic networks, or DSP platforms.

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MelBet affiliate registration guide The MelBet affiliate registration covers several concrete steps that create your future partner account and connect your traffic sources to the system: ol class=”rte–listSubmit an application on the platform. Registration starts with a standard request through the official MelBet Partners interface.

At this stage, you provide basic data about yourself or your team.Describe your active traffic sources.

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After the application is submitted, the system may ask for clarifications: proof of domain ownership, confirmation that you control certain traffic sources, or additional information. This security-focused approach is standard for large iGaming affiliate programs.

Once everything is approved, your melbet partner account is created, and all further work goes through this dashboard. From that moment, you have access to referral link generators, promo materials, and full analytics on clicks, registrations, deposits, and behaviour of your users.

Working with your MelBet partner account After registration and approval, the partner dashboard becomes the main control centre of your affiliate activity. According to the official documentation, the account provides: ul class=”rte–listtools for generating referral links with different parameters,a full set of promo materials banners, landing pages, deep links, and additional creatives adapted per country,filters and analytics to slice traffic by source, GEO, device and other markers,detailed reports on clicks, registrations, deposits, and key behavioural metrics of players.

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An important part of the system is anti-fraud logic. It filters out multi-accounting, artificial registrations, and other schemes that violate program rules.

For a serious affiliate, this is positive: it protects honest partners and keeps payout models sustainable over time. Payout models, earnings and withdrawals Any registration guide would be incomplete without explaining how and when affiliates get paid.

MelBet Partners supports three standard payout models, fully described in the program overview: ul class=”rte–listRevenue Share. A share of net revenue generated by referred players.

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That is why many experienced partners first create a standard player account on the main platform and explore the interface from the customer’s perspective. To simplify this, it is recommended to use MelBet GuideBook the official site of the MelBet online casino and bookmaker that collects expert guides, product overviews, and step-by-step instructions on registration, deposits, bets, and withdrawals.

For an affiliate, this resource serves as a reference manual: you can check how specific features look to players, follow ready-made onboarding checklists, and ensure your own content does not contradict the platform’s real flows. When your registration as a partner is combined with a clear understanding of the user journey from MelBet GuideBook, your campaigns become more accurate and your audience trusts your instructions more.

Support and long-term work with MelBet Partners From the moment your partner account is active, you are not left alone with statistics. MelBet Partners emphasizes technical and consulting support: affiliate managers help choose creatives, analyse traffic, select payout models, and optimise campaigns.

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Dar es Salaam. Fuel prices have increased slightly this month–ending a two-month period of stability–after the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (EWURA) announced new cap prices for petroleum products effective Wednesday, December 3, 2025. Under the new cap, motorists in Dar es Salaam will pay Sh 2,749 per litre of petrol, slightly lower than November’s Sh 2,752 but adjusted based on new cost components.

Diesel now retails at Sh 2,779, up from Sh 2,704 in November, while kerosene stands at Sh 2,653, compared to last month’s Sh 2,774. Prices remain marginally higher in Tanga and Mtwara due to transport and handling costs, as expected. Wholesale prices have also been revised accordingly, with updated December figures issued for Dar es Salaam, Tanga, and Mtwara ports.

The adjustment comes after a rare pause in November, when pump prices remained unchanged for the first time in months. In November, retail pump prices in Dar es Salaam stood at Sh 2,752 for petrol, Sh 2,704 for diesel, and Sh 2,774 for kerosene.

Prices were marginally higher in Tanga and Mtwara, where petrol was capped at Sh 2,813 and Sh 2,844, and diesel at Sh 2,766 and Sh 2,797, respectively. Kerosene was set at Sh 2,835 in Tanga and Sh 2,866 in Mtwara.

Wholesale prices for consignments received in November were also stable, with petrol priced at Sh 2,612.48 (Dar es Salaam), Sh 2,618.39 (Tanga) and Sh 2,618.69 (Mtwara). Diesel wholesale rates were Sh 2,564.79, Sh 2,575.81, and Sh 2,582.27, respectively, while kerosene was sold wholesale at Sh 2,634.35 across all ports.

December’s upward adjustments reflect renewed pressure from higher global oil prices, a weaker shilling, and shifts in import premiums. According to EWURA, Free On Board (FOB) prices from the Arab Gulf–used as the benchmark for imports–increased by 1.

7 percent for petrol, 4.8 percent for diesel, and 6.

4 percent for kerosene. The exchange rate applied for December also rose by 4.

48 percent, making petroleum imports more expensive for local suppliers. Premiums for products received through Dar es Salaam Port fell by an average of 2.

4 percent for petrol and 3.6 percent for kerosene, but rose by 3.

5 percent for diesel. Premiums for Tanga and Mtwara remain unchanged.

EWURA said fuel prices for other towns and regions across the country are detailed in Table 3 of the monthly pricing guide, which retailers are required to follow strictly. The regulator warned that legal action will be taken against any retailer or wholesaler who violates the cap prices or sells below the set floor price.

EWURA also reminded fuel operators and consumers of several mandatory compliance requirements. The authority noted that cap prices can be accessed free of charge through the 15200# mobile service, enabling the public to verify official pump prices at any time.

While fuel prices continue to follow broader market dynamics, EWURA said it will maintain transparency by publishing monthly price structures to guide both retailers and consumers. Oil marketing companies are permitted to set their own pump prices for competitive advantage, provided these remain within the official cap and above the approved floor price, as outlined in the 2022 and 2023 pricing regulations as well as the 2024 bulk procurement amendments.

All petrol stations are required to display clearly visible price boards showing pump prices, discounts, and promotions, with penalties imposed for failure to comply. Retailers must also issue Electronic Fiscal Pump Printer (EFPP) receipts for every fuel sale.

EWURA urged consumers to demand and keep these receipts, noting that they serve as essential proof in the event of disputes related to overpricing or fuel quality. EWURA said strict enforcement of these measures is crucial to protecting consumers, ensuring transparency, and sustaining fair competition in the local fuel market.

The new cap prices will remain in force until EWURA’s next monthly review .

Cairo/Jerusalem. Hamas said it will hand over a body of a hostage on Wednesday, as Israel said it would allow Gaza’s gateway to Egypt to open in the next few days so that Palestinians who need medical care could leave the war-ravaged territory.

The handover of the last two hostages’ bodies in Gaza would complete a key condition of the initial part of U.S.

President Donald Trump’s plan to end the two-year Gaza war, which also entails the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt opening in both directions. Israel has kept the crossing shut since the ceasefire came into effect in October, saying that Hamas must abide by the agreement to return all hostages still in Gaza, living and deceased.

Since the fragile truce started, Hamas has returned all 20 living hostages and 26 bodies in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners, but two more deceased captives – an Israeli police officer and a Thai agricultural worker – are still in Gaza. Israel says previous ‘findings’ not linked to hostages The armed wing of the Hamas-allied Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement, the Al Quds Brigades, said it had found a hostage body after conducting a search in northern Gaza, along with a team from the Red Cross.

Hamas said it would hand over the remains at 5 p.m.

local time (1300 GMT) on Wednesday. The group did not say which of the two remaining deceased hostages it believed it to be.

The two are Israeli police officer Ran Gvili and Thai national Sudthisak Rinthalak, both kidnapped during Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that triggered two years of devastating war in Gaza. Hamas had handed over remains on Tuesday to the Geneva-based Red Cross, which has acted as an intermediary between Gaza militant groups and Israel throughout the war.

Israeli forces said they sent the remains, which they described as “findings” for forensic testing. “The findings brought yesterday for examination from the Gaza Strip are not linked to any of the deceased hostages,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said in a statement on Wednesday.

Opening of crossing could allow out those needing treatment COGAT, the Israeli military arm that oversees humanitarian matters, said the opening of the Rafah crossing would be coordinated with Egypt, under the supervision of a European Union mission – a similar mechanism to that employed during a previous Gaza ceasefire agreed in January 2025. There was currently no coordination between Egypt and Israel to reopen the Rafah crossing in the coming days, state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV cited Egypt’s State Information Service as saying. Before the war, the Rafah crossing was the only direct exit point for most Palestinians in Gaza to reach the outside world and was a key entry point for aid into the territory.

It has been mostly closed throughout the conflict. At least 16,500 patients in Gaza require medical care outside of the enclave, according to the United Nations.

Some Gazans have managed to leave for medical treatment abroad through Israel. Bloodshed continues Violence has tailed off since the October 10 ceasefire but Israel has continued to strike Gaza and conduct demolitions against what it says is Hamas infrastructure.

Hamas and Israel have traded blame for violating the U.S.

-backed agreement. Health officials at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza said on Wednesday that two Palestinians were killed by Israeli gunfire in the Zeitoun suburb of Gaza City.

The Israeli military said it was looking into the report. More than 350 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect, Gaza health authorities say.

Palestinian militants killed three Israeli soldiers during this time, Israeli authorities said. .

Washington. U.

S. immigration officials kicked off an operation in New Orleans to arrest immigrants in the U.

S. illegally, federal officials said on Wednesday, making it the latest city to be targeted by President Donald Trump’s crackdown.

The U.S.

Department of Homeland Security said the operation would target criminal offenders who had been released from local custody due to city policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Trump, a Republican, has ordered such operations in Democratic-led cities across the U.

S., including Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.

C., in a bid to drive deportations to record levels.

Residents and local officials in cities targeted by the immigration crackdown have pushed back, saying it has swept in many people with no criminal record and has used heavy-handed tactics that endangered residents. The operation in New Orleans was expected to run through the end of the year but its scope remains unclear.

Trump said during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the National Guard would be deployed to the southern city in several weeks. Some residents in New Orleans were already bracing for the possibility they could be subjected to profiling tactics and detained as part of the crackdown.

In one family-owned restaurant, a woman assembled makeshift beds on Tuesday, so family members could sleep there to avoid potentially being profiled by federal agents while traveling between home and work. Last month a federal judge terminated a 2013 consent decree that had limited the ability of the New Orleans Police Department to assist federal immigration enforcement.

Still, New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said in late November that the city would not enforce federal immigration law. The U.

S. Department of Justice labeled New Orleans a “sanctuary city” in a list published in August.

The action in New Orleans, with a population of around 384,000, follows a Border Patrol-led operation in Charlotte, North Carolina. in Midtown Manhattan, Mangione has pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges and is expected to face trial next year.

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Dar es Salaam. Prime Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has called on the public and state institutions to respect, support, and collaborate with the private sector, describing it as an indispensable engine of Tanzania’s economic progress.

Addressing delegates at Tanzania Start-up Week 2025 on Tuesday, December 3, Dr Nchemba applauded the individuals and companies creating employment opportunities across the country. He noted that such entrepreneurial courage is vital to dismantling barriers and accelerating sustainable economic growth.

“Young people taking this step are the future of Tanzania,” he said. “You have chosen to be an example that it is possible.

” He emphasised that society must recognise, encourage, and uplift such efforts rather than diminish them. Dr Nchemba underscored the urgent need for stronger cooperation between the public and private sectors.

A negative attitude towards private enterprise, he argued, only undermines national progress. “If our perspective toward the private sector is negative, then the only way to ensure young people are respected is to build a strong private sector,” he said, noting that no nation has ever achieved a robust economy through public institutions alone.

The Prime Minister highlighted ongoing government reforms aimed at easing business operations and cutting bureaucratic delays. He assured entrepreneurs that the government stands ready to listen and respond swiftly to their needs.

“In government, we will be ready–and I will instruct everyone–that when you need facilitation, suspend all other matters. Listen to them, meet officers at any level.

I will personally ensure that the doors remain open,” he said. Dr Nchemba urged society to embrace entrepreneurship as a legitimate pathway to prosperity, noting that successful business leaders–including billionaires–play an integral role in job creation and overall economic growth.

“This mindset must change. We must move towards facilitation and enabling business.

These have been the President’s directives: reducing unnecessary control in matters concerning business. Business requires facilitation, not the idea that spending long hours proves your importance,” he said.

He further stressed that innovation will be central to delivering Tanzania Development Vision 2050, calling for products and technologies capable of scaling globally. “It requires Tanzanian innovation that captures global attention and generates demand,” he said, adding that start-ups and emerging enterprises will remain at the heart of this transformation.

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