DR Congo, Israel-Palestine, Kenya.
Today's three stories you should know.
DR Congo
Riot police in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) capital Kinshasa today fired teargas at protesters angry with Western governments over an escalating war in the country’s east. The demonstrators, who burnt the flags of the US and Belgium, DRC's former colonial power, say the West isn’t using its influence over Rwanda, who they and DRC’s government accuse of supporting the M23 rebel group. "The Westerners are behind the looting of our country. Rwanda doesn't work alone, so they must leave our country," one protester told Reuters. The M23 is reported to be advancing on the city of Goma, the east’s biggest and home to around two million people.
More from BBC here.
Israel-Palestine
All eyes are still on Gaza’s southernmost city of Rafah where more than one million people are crammed in and fearful the Israeli military is about to launch a ground assault. Last night, Israel carried out its heaviest bombardment of the city yet, killing 67 people, many of them children. Horrific images of dead children emerged, including (and I’m sorry to share this but it’s the reality) one girl hanging from a building with her legs blown off. It was reported that Israel bombed the city as a “diversion” so it could rescue two hostages who were being held there. I was struck today by the words of Ann Skelton, chair of the UN Child Rights Committee. "All children living in the Gaza Strip have lost their childhood. They are traumatized and will forever live with a permanent impact on their mental health," she said. Note her use of the world “all” and think about that for a second. There are more than one million children in Gaza. Those that survive will deal with this trauma forever.
More from the UN here.
Kenya
Very sad news out of Kenya. Kelvin Kiptum, the men's marathon world record holder, has been killed in a road accident. Kiptum, just 24, was already being spoken about as one of the greatest long distance runners the world had ever seen. It was widely expected that he would achieve the first sub-two-hour marathon in open competition.
BBC today published an obituary here.