The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will set up a special committee to investigate all major scam-related cases nationwide, says Justice Minister Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon Naowarat.
His announcement follows a recent meeting of the committee on technology crime prevention and suppression, chaired by Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. He said the Ministry of Justice would lead efforts to combat online crime and scam syndicates. The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) and the Bank of Thailand (BoT) will cooperate with the committee.
Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon added the committee will cover allegations linking certain Thai politicians to scam operations and the relationship between Prince International Co Ltd and Prince Group, a conglomerate led by Chen Zhi, a Chinese-Cambodian businessman blacklisted by the United States. The minister said no Thai politicians have yet been named but emphasised that anyone found involved will face legal action regardless of their status.
He said he also welcomes cooperation from People’s Party MP Rangsiman Rome, who has been exposing alleged links between politicians and scam groups, saying the committee is open to receiving any credible evidence. Regarding the Prince Group case, Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said it is among the priority cases under the committee’s investigation. The committee is verifying information with foreign authorities to determine whether Prince International is directly connected to Mr Chen’s firm.
Amlo secretary-general Thepsu Bawornchotdara said his agency is examining whether Mr Chen holds any assets in Thailand.
Thailand faces a growing challenge in curbing the illegal, industrial-scale scam operations being run out of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. Criminal gangs have been forcing trafficked victims to lure people on social media and dating applications.
Climate action has become a cornerstone of Azerbaijan’s national agenda, reflecting the country’s commitment to global sustainability goals. Hosting the COP29 United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2024 and forging partnerships such as the one with COP30 in Brazil underscore Azerbaijan’s leadership role in international climate diplomacy. Against this backdrop, Azerbaijan’s space agency, Azercosmos, is leveraging cutting-edge satellite and AI technologies to address pressing climate challenges – especially in agriculture, water management, and environmental monitoring.
In 2024, marking 10 years since the launch of its first satellite, Azercosmos announced a milestone: a $10 million business portfolio forged through space-based commercial projects. According to Fuad Aslanov, Deputy Chairman of Azercosmos’ Board, this achievement highlights the agency’s evolution from simple geographic data collection to advanced digital solutions. Since establishing the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Center in 2022, Azercosmos has implemented over 100 commercial projects utilizing AI-powered platforms.
Among these, the FarmUp platform stands out as a game-changer for sustainable agriculture. By precisely mapping arable lands, measuring crop productivity, and providing forecasting tools, FarmUp enables farmers to optimize land use and supports agricultural insurance schemes. Such tools are critical in a sector highly vulnerable to climate variability, offering data-driven ways to adapt and mitigate risks while improving yields.
Similarly, the Platerra platform harnesses AI to monitor water basins, forests, and agricultural areas with high accuracy, facilitating better resource management and environmental conservation. The WebGis platform enhances decision-making by integrating spatial data with user-generated analyses, reflecting growing demand for customizable, data-driven solutions.
Crucially, Azercosmos’ Climate Report System uses AI to monitor both natural and human-induced climate changes, providing government agencies and international bodies with deep insights into environmental trends and their root causes. This system enhances climate resilience by enabling early detection of shifts that require policy or operational responses.
Beyond commercial applications, Azercosmos has built an extensive archive of over 80,000 satellite images from its Azersky satellite, enabling long-term environmental monitoring and scientific research. As highlighted by Dunay Badirkhanov, Acting Chairman of Azercosmos, these images are pivotal in assessing and responding to large-scale emergencies not only in Azerbaijan but also in neighboring countries, demonstrating regional cooperation in climate resilience.
Supported by international grants, including from the World Bank, Azercosmos has expanded its footprint with projects across Central Asia and the Caucasus, particularly in agriculture, cadastral services, and water management. These efforts underscore a sustainable business model aligning commercial success with environmental stewardship.
Artificial intelligence has emerged as a vital tool in global climate strategies, particularly in sectors like agriculture which are both sources of greenhouse gas emissions and vulnerable to climate impacts. AI’s strength lies in its capacity to process vast datasets – ranging from satellite imagery to weather forecasts – and transform them into actionable insights.
In Azerbaijan, AI-driven platforms like FarmUp exemplify how precision agriculture can enhance food security amid climate uncertainty. By analyzing soil health, moisture levels, pest pressures, and crop growth patterns, AI enables farmers to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides more efficiently. This precision reduces waste and emissions while boosting productivity – critical outcomes for national food resilience and rural development.
Moreover, AI-powered early warning systems for extreme weather and climate-related disasters improve preparedness and reduce economic losses. Integrating satellite observations with AI analytics allows for more accurate forecasting and timely interventions.
Azerbaijan’s pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030 and 40% by 2050 aligns with global climate efforts and national development goals. Azercosmos’ innovative technologies contribute directly to these targets by enhancing environmental monitoring, supporting sustainable agriculture, and informing climate policies with robust data.
Importantly, these technologies foster a new era of collaborative, flexible partnerships – linking government agencies, international organizations, and the private sector. As Fuad Aslanov notes, satellite technology is not only a tool for data and analytics but a bridge to innovation-driven cooperation capable of addressing complex challenges.
As Azerbaijan advances its green transformation, Azercosmos stands at the forefront of integrating space-based technologies and AI to tackle climate change. The agency’s platforms exemplify how technological innovation can empower adaptive, mitigation-focused strategies across sectors, particularly agriculture and natural resource management.
For Azerbaijan, the challenge ahead lies in scaling these technologies responsibly and ethically to maximize their climate benefits. With the right policies and partnerships, space technology can become a powerful ally in safeguarding the environment, securing livelihoods, and positioning Azerbaijan as a regional leader in climate-smart innovation.
There are basically the following four alternative socioeconomic systems:
1.1 The Traditional Economy: The term “traditional economy” refers to an ancient and spontaneous type of socioeconomic system that, in modern times, exists in rural parts of developing countries, and that is typically based on small-scale, subsistence-type of, farming mainly intended to meet the basic needs of families with little or no surplus output for sale, and that is accomplished by means of hoes, axes, sickles, and other archaic and less-productive forms of farming technology. It is alternately referred to as the “traditional economic system.”
1.2 The Free-Market System: The “free-market system”—also referred to alternately as the “capitalist system,” the “laissez-faire system,” or simply the “market economy”—is essentially a socioeconomic system that is generally characterized by the following features:
(a) Private ownership of such means or factors of production and distribution as land and the various forms of capital—including raw materials, financial assets and institutions, manufacturing facilities, assembly plants, machinery and equipment, transportation facilities, service centres, and retail outlets.
(b) Multi-party politics, including political parties whose platforms are based on a diversity of political, economic and other facets and aspirations of human endeavour.
(c) No government ownership or control of news outlets. And
(d) A pluralistic social system—that is, a social system characterized by a multiplicity of interest groups, including cultural, political, religious, environmental, and other non-governmental groupings.
The “free-market system” is founded upon the ideology of capitalism or the free enterprise ideology, whose core elements are individualism, freedom to promote and protect one’s personal interests, private property, profit, equal opportunity, competition, the work ethic, and limited government.
1.3 The State-Controlled Economy: Essentially, the state-controlled socioeconomic system is generally characterized by the following features: (a) state ownership of the means of production and distribution; (b) total ownership and control of all news outlets; (c) price and foreign exchange controls; (d) strict investment restrictions; (e) monopolistic, single-party politics; and (f) a monolithic or homogenous social system.
Such a system is characteristic of communist countries, examples of which include China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam. It is alternately referred to as the “communist system,” the “command economy,” the “centrally planned economy,” the “centrally controlled economy,” the “centrally planned socioeconomic system,” or the “centrally controlled socioeconomic system.”
1.4 The Intermediate System: The term “intermediate system” refers to a socioeconomic system that generally possesses the following characteristics: (a) existence of both private and state ownership of the means of production and distribution; (b) limited or generally prohibited multi-party politics; (c) a pluralistic social system; and (d) total ownership and control of the national communications apparatus and allowance for continually censored locally based news outlets.
It is alternately referred to as the “socialist system,” the “mixed economy” or the “mixed socioeconomic system.” Examples of countries which portray characteristics of a mixed socioeconomic system include Great Britain, Canada, France, and Italy.
Note: Government coercion increases in the direction of the centrally controlled socioeconomic system away from the capitalist system, while political, social and market freedom increases in the direction of the capitalist system away from the state-controlled socioeconomic system.
And societal members’ demands on, and expectations of, business institutions are greater in socialist and capitalist systems than they are in centrally planned socioeconomic systems.
This should perhaps be expected considering the fact that people in centrally planned economies are mainly served by coercive governments and monopolistic, state-owned companies, which are generally insensitive to their special needs, demands and expectations.
2. The Zambian Context
From the time of its political independence on 24th October 1964, Zambia has been governed by four political parties; that is, the United National Independence Party (UNIP), the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), the Patriotic Front (PF), and the United Party for National Development (UPND).
Let us examine the nature of the country’s socioeconomic system during the reign of each of the four political parties.
2.1 The UNIP Era. In April 1968, August 1969 and November 1970, former president, the late Dr. Kenneth D. Kaunda, made policy pronouncements in his addresses to the National Council of UNIP—pronouncements which were aimed at nationalising and/or expropriating privately owned enterprises.
By the end of 1969, State ownership of business entities encompassed all industrial and services sectors of the country’s economy under the Industrial Development Corporation (INDECO), including agriculture, airline and bus services, baking, hotels and tourism, milling, mining, real estate (partly the construction of houses), the timber industry, and the supply of electricity.
Essentially, UNIP’s socialist policies barred both local and foreign private investors from medium and large-scale commercial and industrial sectors of the country’s economy from the mid-1960s to 1991.
Naturally, the monopolistic position enjoyed by State companies in the country’s economy culminated in complacence and gross inefficiency because, in the absence of competition, they apparently found it unnecessary to seek or use technological inventions and innovations that would have improved the quality and quantity of their outputs.
The culmination of such a state of affairs was a national economy that was characterised by rampant and unprecedented shortages of commodities, and, among other socioeconomic ills, an escalation of black markets for the commodities.
2.2 The MMD Era. The late President Frederick T. J. Chiluba (1991 – 2002) embarked on an ambitious privatisation program upon his inauguration in October 1991 in a deliberate attempt to boost competition in commerce and industry, among other rationales.
In making the transition, he summed up his thinking about the role his administration was going to play in the creation of an economic system in which commercial and industrial activities were the preponderance of the private sector in the following words: “Never shall the Government allow the selling of soap and foodstuffs to be its business” (E. Nyakutemba, 1992:32), and “We will privatise everything … from a toothbrush to a car assembly plant” (M. Ham, 1992:41).
As D. M. Chilipamushi (1994:16) has noted, privatisation was expected to stimulate private investment, give economic power to a greater number of people through stock ownership, promote competition and encourage efficiency in commerce and industry, beef up government coffers through the sale of government holdings in state enterprises, as well as ease the financial burden of state companies on the public treasury.
And, as C. Pitelis and T. Clark (1993:7) have maintained, the reduction of government involvement in commerce and industry that would follow the privatisation of State enterprises was expected to result in reduced public-sector borrowing and government spending.
Also, State-owned assets and enterprises, to paraphrase G. N. Muuka and B. Abubaker (2002:16), could easily become vehicles for embezzlement and bribery for personal aggrandisement, often at the expense of the implementation of aid-financed projects, and could also foster the development of cronyism through patronage at the highest levels of government.
Moreover, they could bolster the siphoning-off of public resources for party, political or factional purposes, as well as trigger the packing of public enterprises with supporters of the ruling political party without regard for genuine personnel requirements.
The following excerpts should provide some of the other worthwhile benefits associated with privatisation:
“Privatisation of state enterprises is an extension of democracy because it removes political interference from the running of businesses” (V. Chitalu, 1996).
And
“There are heavy costs associated with the conversion of a State-controlled economy into a free market system, such as increased unemployment; in the long run, however, the free-market system holds great promise for everyone” (L. Mwewa, 1996:36).
The next MMD administrations of the late Levy P. Mwanawasa (2002 – 2008) and the late Rupiah B. Banda (2008 – 2011) did not tamper with the country’s socioeconomic system introduced by the late Frederick T. J. Chiluba.
2.3 The PF Era. During the late Michael C. Sata’s administration between 2011 and 2015, the Zambian government changed course and reverted to socialist economic policies pursued by UNIP between 1968 and 1991 by creating the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in 2014—a corporation that was different from the Industrial Development Corporation (INDECO) that was established by the UNIP government in abbreviation only.
According to the PF administration, IDC was a state-owned enterprise (SOE) charged with the mandate to spearhead the country’s commercial investments agenda aimed at strengthening the country’s industrial base and job creation. It is wholly owned by the government through the Ministry of Finance.
And, like its predecessor, IDC’s operations encompassed all industrial and services sectors of the country’s economy, including agriculture and forestry, energy, financial services, healthcare, information and communications technology, infrastructure, manufacturing, mining, real estate, tourism, and transportation and logistics.
The next PF government led by the late Edgar C. Lungu (2015 – 2021) did not make any changes to the socioeconomic system introduced by the late Michael C. Sata.
2.4 The UPND Era. Zambia’s socioeconomic system has not changed under the national leadership of Dr. Hakainde Hichilema (2021 to date) and the UPND Alliance. The country’s economy is, therefore, still captained by the IDC established by the late Michael C. Sata.
3. Concluding Notes
Zambia was a single-party state between 1972 and 1990 under the leadership of UNIP and the late Kenneth D. Kaunda. From 1991 to date, the country has been a multi-party state.
With respect to the country’s socioeconomic system, its economy is, by and large, still administered through the IDC established by the late Michael C. Sata.
And, to date, the country’s major newspapers—that is, the Times of Zambia and the Zambia Daily Mail—and its radio and TV broadcasting services are owned by the ruling political party. Privately owned and community-based TV and radio broadcasting services, on the other hand, are deliberately designed and restricted to cater to the needs of citizens in districts across the country as provided for by the Radio Communications Act No. 25 of 1994 and the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act No. 17 of 2002.
Zambia is clearly not a capitalist country; it is still a socialist country.
Finally, there is a need for Zambia—and other developing countries as a matter of fact—to provide adequately for various kinds of guarantees, inducements and essential public services and facilities designed to incentivize both local and foreign private investors in order to facilitate the country’s transition to a more robust market-based socioeconomic system, such as the following:
1. A well-developed transportation infrastructure and adequate transportation services to industrial, commercial and residential areas to ease or facilitate the distribution of production inputs and finished products;
2. Adequate public services (including police protection, fire protection, public utilities, and decent housing), as well as telecommunications, educational, vocational, health, and recreational facilities;
3. Equitable sales, corporate, and other taxes, as well as tax concessions and inducements that are more attractive than those in alternative countries or regions which investors are likely to consider for investment;
4. A viable and efficient financial system, including the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE) and all other financial institutions in the country;
5. Renunciation of both price and exchange-rate controls;
6. Assistance by the national government in nurturing entrepreneurial and management skills;
7. A reversal of the current emphasis on stabilizing inflation at the expense of job creation and economic growth by placing greater emphasis on job creation and economic growth through low interest rates and progressive reductions in taxes in order to stimulate investment, savings and consumption;
8. An ambitious program designed to lure private investments which can lead to the creation of new jobs, facilitate socioeconomic development, and create a more competitive economic setting that can promote efficiency, as well as compel business entities to improve the quality of their products, increase the quantity of their outputs, and charge relatively lower prices;
9. Political and civic leaders who are fair and honest in their dealings with private business institutions, and stable economic policies (including a formal assurance against nationalization and/or expropriation of privately owned business undertakings by the national government);
10. Political and civic leaders who are genuine and resolute in their fight against the scourge of corruption in both governmental and non-governmental settings;
11. Less bureaucratic licensing, import, export, and other procedures, and adequate information about investment and marketing problems and opportunities in the various sectors of a country’s economy and in cross-border markets;
12. A system of justice that is fair, impartial and independent in both word and deed;
13. Unyielding implementation of policies designed to protect the fragile natural environment, and to relentlessly address the various forms of environmental pollution, including air, water, solid-waste, aesthetic, and noise pollution; and
14. A social safety net designed to adequately cater to the needs of economically disadvantaged members of society that is not subject to political meddling or manipulation.
These inducements, services, facilities, and guarantees, among a host of other things, can enable economic units to operate more efficiently and eventually deliver economic and social outputs to society at reasonable costs and prices.
Long live the Republic of Zambia—61 years of political independence on October 24, 2025!
Henry Kyambalesa
Disclaimer: Much of the content of this article is mainly based on material excerpted and adapted from Kyambalesa, Henry, The Size and Functions of Government (Lambert Academic Publishing, 2022), Chapter 10; and Kyambalesa, Henry, International Trade: Theory, Strategy and Challenges(Saarbrucken, Germany: Lambert Academic Publishing, 2019), Chapter 7.
The cocreator/director of “Outer Banks” put his hands on a production assistant and shook her while shouting in her face, and several of the show’s stars had to intervene … TMZ has learned. Multiple sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … the…
Despite going through multiple shocking cast exits, Tracker is dropping hints about expanding the universe with a possible spinoff.
Before the season 3 premiere on Sunday, October 19, executive producer Elwood Reid spoke exclusively to Us Weekly about teasing another show focused on Jensen Ackles‘ character Russell.
“I just threw [spinoff hints] in there hoping fans do some work. We just threw in a bunch of teases in these two upcoming episodes,” he noted. “[Jensen and Justin Hartley] [are] so much fun together and they complement each other in a weird way.”
Reid has loved writing scenes for the onscreen brothers, adding, “Jensen does not do what Justin does and Justin doesn’t do what Jensen does. They’re so interesting together to watch and then they play off each other in such an interesting way.”
While CBS hasn’t officially picked up a spinoff yet, Tracker is always laying the groundwork.
“I will always take Jensen whenever he’s available. I text him all the time and ask him about that. Right now, he’s gainfully employed on The Boys spinoff. But you never know,” Reid continued. “I put it in those scripts and I dangle it out there. Hopefully the audience will respond to it and hopefully the network will pay attention to it. But Jensen is someone who I’ve loved writing for for a long time.”
Tracker, which premiered in February 2024, quickly found success because of Hartley’s character Colter — with a little extra help from familiar faces such as Hartley’s wife, Sofia Pernas, Ackles, Melissa Roxburgh, Jennifer Morrison and more.
Before Tracker returned for season 3, Reid defended shaking up the show with Velma (Abby McEnany) and Bobby’s (Eric Graise) surprise departures.
“Justin has to carry so much of the show. So I don’t want the other characters that are in the show to just be phone-a-friend where whenever he’s in trouble, he just picks up the phone. The challenge in season 3 has been how do we build [an] actual good story out of [it],” Reid teased.
“Reenie takes a lot of the guilt [from her season 2 case] on and she’s brought Randy up there to fix it. You get to see them in the office. That forms a good bond between those two. Then we’re going to bring in another character as she tries to expand her law office a little bit. That will be interesting,” he shared. “It’s just building out those story lines. The challenge we set up for ourselves this season was to build out those people’s world a little bit.”
Reid continued: “It’s about trying to get a little bit of lightness [into the show] because sometimes Colter is doing some really dark and heavy stuff. It’s life or death.”
Tracker airs on CBS Sundays at 8:30 p.m. ET before streaming the next day on Paramount+.
If you’re looking for a reason to start your holiday shopping early, this is it. Amazon’s new Holiday Gift Hub just dropped, and it’s packed with stylish, practical and affordable picks for everyone on your list. Whether you’re shopping for family, friends or just yourself, consider this your one-stop gifting destination.
We combed through the hub to uncover 17 standout gifts that span across categories like fashion, beauty and home must-haves. Among the highlights? The celeb-loved Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask for glossy lips and this Yankee Candle Balsam and Cedar pick that’s perfect for gifting. Even better, every pick rings in under $50, so you can check off everyone on your list without overspending.
17 Under-$50 Finds From Amazon’s Holiday Gift Hub
1. Hydration Hero: The Stanley’s IceFlow 2.0 Tumbler makes the perfect for anyone — especially those you don’t know how to shop for.
2. Coziest Candle: With over 4,000 jars bought in the last month, shoppers are clearly prepping for the holidays with this Yankee Candle Balsam & Cedar find.
3. Softest Slippers: If you have a homebody on your list, they’re going to love these faux fur slippers that are made with a ultra-comfy memory foam padding.
4. Plush Pajamas: Get ready for cozy nights in with this flannel pajama set that’s made of breathable, 100% cotton.
5. Shopper Favorite: Reviewers are obsessed with The Ordinary’s caffeine eye serum — and it makes the perfect find for skincare lovers.
6. Fabulous Fragrance: You can never go wrong with bodycare set, especially Sol de Janeiro’s travel kit that smells heavenly.
7. Classy and Customizable: Chic yet personal, this gold beaded BaubleBar bracelet has a customizable initial detail.
8. Makeup Must-Have: This best-selling Tarte duo features the Maracuja Juicy Lip Plump and tubing mascara, making it a foolproof gift for any makeup fiends.
9. Very Viral: The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask has gone viral for a reason — it’s an essential for Amazon shoppers, Us editors and celebrities.
10. Lip Balm Lover: If you know someone who always complains of chapped lips, this Burt’s Bees Advent calendar is made for them.
11. New and Notable: K18’s new Heat Protectant Spray is winning over shoppers, and it’s a dream gift for haircare enthusiasts.
12. Glow for It: Made with niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, the Glow Recipe Watermelon Dew Drops gives the skin a glass-like glow.
13. Travel Essential: For the friend who’s always planning their next getaway, the Luocip Quilted Travel Duffle is a must.
14. Runner’s Pick: Now up to 25% off, the Adidas Run Falcon 5 Sneakers are a sleek, supportive pick any runner will appreciate.
15. Gamer Go-to: For the friend who loves hosting game night, the UNO Teams Card Game is a guaranteed hit.
16. For the Cook: The home chef on your list will adore this cast iron Dutch oven that does it all, including roasting and baking.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Rosa Fatch Mbilizi, has underscored the significant role of the Malawi-Zambia maize procurement deal in addressing the country’s looming food insecurity.
Speaking during the contract signing ceremony in Lilongwe on Wednesday, Mbilizi attributed the severe food insecurity to poor agricultural performance over the past two years.
The Minister said Mutharika’s new administration has priotised the urgency of addressing food insecurity, hence the implementation of several strategic interventions such as intesfied irrigated winter cropping and promotion of resilient crops.
Mbilizi from left
Speaking on behalf of the Zambian Government, Zambian Minister of Agriculture Rueben Mtolo commended the Malawi Government for prioritising addressing food insecurity over other challenges it is facing.
Mtolo said the Zambian Government is committed to supporting humanitarian efforts including addressing food insecurity hence the collaboration with Malawi.
Under the deal, Zambia will export 200,000 metric tons of maize to Malawi worth MK382.7 billion to help address the country’s food shortage.
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-It was a day to remember for Limbani Phiri, a newspaper vendor from Chilinde, who received a generous donation of clothes from Apostle Clifford Kawinga, founder of Salvation for All Ministries, as part of the apostle’s birthday celebrations.
Phiri, a familiar face on the streets of Lilongwe where he earns a living selling newspapers, was among several individuals who benefited from Apostle Kawinga’s charitable outreach.
The donation was part of the apostle’s birthday initiative, which focused on giving back to the less privileged in society.
In an interview, Phiri expressed gratitude for the unexpected gesture, describing it as life-changing.
“I am very thankful to Apostle Kawinga. He has shown us that giving truly comes from the heart. He doesn’t just give clothes he also helps families like mine by paying school fees for our children,” said Phiri, emotionally.
Apostle Kawinga, who was raised by a single mother in a family of seven, said the experience of growing up with limited resources continues to shape his outlook on life.
Apostle Kawinga
“I know what it means to go hungry. I know what it means to lack even the simplest things,” he said. “That’s why I chose to celebrate my birthday by giving to those in need. Apostolic ministry is about love and service about reaching out where it matters most.”
The birthday outreach event included distribution of food items, clothes, and financial support for school fees, targeting vulnerable households in Lilongwe.
According to Kawinga, this is just one of many initiatives that his ministry undertakes to uplift communities, especially those living in poverty.
“We don’t need to wait for special occasions to make a difference. But on this day, I wanted to use my birthday as a symbol of hope and love,” he added.
Community members have hailed the initiative, calling it a timely act of kindness amid tough economic times.
GAZA-(MaraviPost)-US Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Israel, reiterating the US commitment to supporting a Gaza ceasefire while warning Hamas that they will face severe consequences if they fail to comply with the agreement. Speaking in Jerusalem, Vance emphasized that the terms of the 20-point plan are clear: Hamas must disarm.
“If Hamas doesn’t cooperate, then, as the President of the United States has said, Hamas is going to be obliterated,” Vance stated.
However, he declined to set an explicit deadline for compliance, citing the complexity and unpredictability of the situation.
The US is working to establish an International Stabilization Force (ISF) to police Gaza, disarm Hamas, and clear the Strip of all weapons and ammunition. Vance suggested that Gulf Arab forces, with Egypt taking the lead, would likely play a key role in this effort.
Indonesia has offered to send 20,000 troops to participate in the ISF, with other Muslim countries expected to contribute as well.
Notably, the US has ruled out deploying American boots on the ground in Gaza.
“There are not going to be American boots on the ground in Gaza,” Vance said, echoing President Donald Trump’s stance.
The ceasefire remains fragile, with both sides accusing each other of breaches.
Vance’s visit aims to advance the Gaza talks to the second phase of the ceasefire, which would involve more difficult steps, including Hamas’ disarmament.
President Trump has warned that if Hamas doesn’t comply, the group will face severe consequences, tweeting that their end would be “FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL!”