The New Development Bank has provided a $345 million financing package to address water scarcity in Rajasthan, India's driest state. The funds will support the Rajasthan Water Sector Restructuring Project for the Desert Areas, focusing on the rehabilitation of the Indira Gandhi canal system. The project aims to improve water use efficiency and increase water availability for drinking and irrigation, with completion expected in 2025. This initiative is a collaboration between NDB and the Government of Rajasthan, aiming to enhance agricultural yields and support sustainable development in the face of climatic challenges.

Israel's legal team is set to respond to South Africa's allegations at the International Criminal Court that Israel's military operations in Gaza, targeting Hamas militants, amount to genocide. South Africa has argued that Israel's actions are intended to eradicate Gaza's civilian population and has called for provisional measures to stop the violence and allow humanitarian aid. Israel maintains that its military actions comply with international law and denies any intention to remain in Gaza or harm civilians.

The BGTN MasterBox Action Boxing tournament is taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa, featuring around 40 fighters over the age of 35, including former professionals. The event includes a cruiserweight division fight between Jared Lovett and Johnny Anthony. The tournament is broadcast live on Startimes Channel 120 with commentary from BGTN sports reporter Ben Rikhotso and programming head Ray White.

Changpeng Zhao, CEO of Binance, pleaded guilty to US money laundering violations and resigned, resulting in the cryptocurrency exchange paying over $4 billion in penalties. The settlement includes a $50 million fine by Zhao and penalties from the Treasury Department's agencies totaling $4.368 billion. Binance admitted to willful failures that facilitated illicit money flows, including transactions supporting terrorists and cybercriminals. The company is also under a five-year monitorship and must report past suspicious transactions. Binance's rapid growth led to inadequate compliance controls, which they are now restructuring, with Richard Teng taking over as CEO. The SEC has separate ongoing charges against Binance.

UNICEF reports a 550% increase in children killed and injured in Darfur over the last seven months compared to 2022. The conflict in Sudan has led to severe risks to children's rights and protection, with 51% of all killing and maiming incidents in Sudan involving children in Darfur. The region also accounts for 48% of reported sexual violence cases in Sudan. Over 1.2 million children under five are acutely malnourished, and the recent surge in fighting has displaced 1.7 million people in Darfur, nearly 40% of whom are children. Vital services have collapsed, and almost all of the region's 4,000 formal schools remain closed. UNICEF calls for increased international funding, a humanitarian ceasefire, and respect for international laws to provide unhindered access to aid for vulnerable children and families.

An International Forum on Propaganda of Hatred and Violence in Media is set to take place in Jeddah, aiming to tackle anti-Muslim propaganda amid the Gaza war. Co-organized by the Muslim World League and the Union of OIC News Agencies, the event will bring together Islamic and international news agencies, religious and human rights figures, and leaders of international organizations. The forum will focus on media bias and misrepresentation, particularly regarding the Palestinian issue, and seeks to form an international alliance against media-incited hatred.

UNESCO's 42nd General Conference approved the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) as a Category 2 Center, headquartered in Riyadh. The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA), led by Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi, aims to position the Kingdom as a leader in data-driven economies and has developed a national strategy for Data & AI, approved by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. ICAIRE will focus on AI research, ethics, policy recommendations, and international cooperation, aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

NEOM has revealed Epicon, a luxury coastal tourism destination situated on the Gulf of Aqaba. The project features two towers with an ultra-premium hotel and luxurious residences, a resort with 120 rooms and 45 residential beach villas, and a range of world-class facilities. Epicon aims to redefine hospitality and architecture standards within NEOM's desert landscape, offering a variety of experiences and activities that contribute to NEOM's ecotourism offerings.

US President Joe Biden has advocated for the reauthorization and modernization of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), emphasizing its importance for trade with sub-Saharan Africa and its role in facilitating economic growth in the region. The AGOA Forum is taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa, and while Biden is not in attendance, he has urged Congress through the White House to extend AGOA beyond its 2025 expiration. The act provides duty-free access to the U.S. market for many African products, benefiting both Africa and U.S. businesses. Biden's commitment to work with Congress and African partners aims to strengthen trade relations and promote regional integration.

The Springboks and All Blacks are set to compete for a record fourth Rugby World Cup title. South Africa leads the world rankings after defeating England, while New Zealand secured their final spot with a win over Argentina. The final will take place at Stade de France, where South Africa has an undefeated record in finals. An incident of alleged racism involving Springbok Bongi Mbonambi and England's Tom Curry during the semi-finals is under investigation by World Rugby.

South Africa is preparing to host the 2023 BRICS Games from 18-21 October in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. The event, organized by the South African Government and the National Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture, will feature athletes from Brazil, Russia, India, and China competing in various sports. This edition is notable for being the most inclusive, with Paralympians participating in tennis and table tennis. Minister Zizi Kodwa highlighted the event's role in uniting people and deepening connections between BRICS nations.

South Africa faces a youth unemployment crisis with a rate of 61%, prompting a shift away from traditional career paths towards content creation, especially on TikTok. The #LevelUpAfrica program by TikTok offers masterclasses to South African creators, fostering a creative online community. Comparatively, Brazil's unemployment rate has decreased to 7.8%, Russia's remains at a historic low of 3%, India's averaged 8.15% over five years, China's urban unemployment rate dropped to 5.2%, and Saudi Arabia's decreased to 4.9% with notable gender disparities.