TWO visitors and two security guards have been killed in a gun attack near Africa’s oldest synagogue, on the Tunisian island of Djerba. The attack took place during an annual pilgrimage to the island, which attracts Jewish visitors from Europe and Israel. A guard reportedly shot dead his partner before opening fire on visitors and security forces near the synagogue before being killed himself. His motivation was not clear. One of the visitors killed is a French national. Four other visitors and five members of the security forces were injured. It is not clear whether the visitors were pilgrims visiting…
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THE number of people displaced inside Sudan by fighting between rival military factions has more than doubled in the past week to around 700,000, a UN agency has said. The increase in displacements has raised fears of an escalation in violence despite ceasefire talks being held in Saudi Arabia. Air strikes and ground battles are continuing in the capital Khartoum. Entire neighbourhoods have become empty as residents flee their homes. Khartoum had a population of 5.4 million, but the once-peaceful city has been devastated by the conflict that broke out on 15 April between the army and the paramilitary Rapid…
PRESIDENT-ELECT Bola Tinubu has congratulated Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke over his victory at the Supreme Court, urging him to now move quickly to unite the state. The President-elect said with the final court in the land giving its verdict on the Osun governorship tussle, all must respect the judgement. Asíwájú Tinubu also commended the immediate-past governor of the state, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, for discharging himself creditably during his first term and for deepening democracy by pursuing his democratic rights peacefully to the end. In a statement on Tuesday by his office, the President-elect said: “I congratulate Mr. Ademola Adeleke…
RODRYGO Goes’s two goals earned Real Madrid the Copa del Rey and highlighted his taste for the big occasion, but Champions League semi-final opponents Manchester City need no reminder of that. The Brazilian’s dramatic strikes in the 90th and 91st minutes against City last season snatched City’s ticket to the final out of their grasp. Madrid clinched victory in extra-time at the Santiago Bernabeu to progress and went on to win the competition for a record-extending 14th time. In contrast, Pep Guardiola’s side are yet to get their hands on the trophy. With the lethal Erling Haaland leading the line,…
ARGENTINA and Paris Saint Germain veteran star Lionel Messi on Monday scooped a unique double, landing individual and team Laureus awards for his exploits and those of his World Cup winning nation. Messi, 35, finally landed a first World Cup winners medal in Qatar last December after a thrilling penalty shootout final win over France — enough to earn him an individual accolade while the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner also accepted the team award at a prestigious Paris ceremony. The Argentine, who attended the ceremony with wife Antonela Roccuzzo, previously had won the award jointly with British Formula One champion…
AT least 22 people died when a tourist boat capsized in India, officials said Monday, with many of those on board thought to be children. It was not clear why the double-decker boat carrying at least 30 people tipped over in the southern state of Kerala’s Malappuram district late Sunday. Dozens of people searched for survivors in and around the stricken vessel all night, which was partially submerged, and the search continued into Monday. Some used ropes to stabilise the boat while others were in the water, desperately looking inside the vessel’s windows for any survivors. “We have recovered 22…
A US court heard closing arguments Monday in a closely watched civil trial that accuses ex-president Donald Trump of raping and defaming an American former magazine columnist. Lawyers for accuser E. Jean Carroll urged the nine-person jury to find Trump liable for the alleged sexual assault in a New York department store in the mid-1990s. “No one, not even a former president, is above the law,” attorney Roberta Kaplan told the Manhattan federal court. Carroll, 79, sued Trump last year, alleging that he raped her in the changing room of the luxury Bergdorf Goodman store on Fifth Avenue in either…
SUDANESE military fighter jets are continuing with air strikes in the capital Khartoum and the adjacent cities of Bahri and Omdurman, despite ceasefire talks taking place in Saudi Arabia. Ground battles are also taking place between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in two areas in the centre of Bahri – Shambat and Halfiya. The fighting in Shambat is near a huge base of the army, while the battle in Halfiya appears to be for control of a key bridge, which is currently in the hands of the RSF. The fighting has left people terrified, forcing them…
SOUTHERN African countries have agreed to deploy forces to the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo where dozens of rebel groups are fighting. The decision was reached at a meeting of the regional body SADC, attended by several heads of state, including DR Congo’s Felix Tshisekedi. Since December an East African regional military force has been deployed in eastern DR Congo, mainly in response to the threat posed by the M23 rebel group. It is widely reported to be backed by Rwanda although Kigali denies it. Since it re-launched a rebellion in late 2021 close to a million people…
VICTOR Osimhen is now the highest-scoring African in the Italian Serie A following his strike against Fiorentina on Sunday. The Nigerian, who was pivotal to Napoli’s first league triumph in 33 years, netted his 47th Serie A goal in the 1-0 win, eclipsing Liberian legend George Weah (he scored 46). Weah’s record had stood since 1999. The 24-year-old Nigeria had scored the equaliser last week to earn his side their first Scudetto since 1990. Sunday’s strike took his tally in the league to 23rd this season. With four goals ahead of Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez, the Super Eagle is keen…
DAVID De Gea made a huge goalkeeping howler as Manchester United suffered a 1-0 defeat at West Ham on Sunday that threatens to send their season into a tailspin. Just a few days ago United were heavy favourites to finish in the Premier League’s top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League but now they are wobbling badly while the Hammers look safe from relegation. The result hinged on a catastrophic first-half error by De Gea, who let a tame shot from Said Benrahma squirm past him in the 27th minute after his team had largely dominated the opening…
AT least 27 workers have died in a fire at a gold mine in a remote area of southern Peru, authorities said on Sunday. A short circuit caused the fire, which broke out Saturday in a tunnel inside the La Esperanza 1 mine in the Arequipa region, police and the public prosecutor’s office said. Public prosecutor Giovanni Matos told channel N television that there were “27 dead inside the mine.” Local media said the blaze started after an explosion at the mine in the remote Condesuyos province, a 10-hour drive from the city of Arequipa, the regional capital. The explosion…
EIGHT people have been killed in the US state of Texas after a car struck a group at a bus stop close to a shelter for the homeless and migrants. The incident happened in the city of Brownsville near the Mexican border at about 08:30 local time (14:30 GMT). At least five other people have been injured, some of them critically. The driver has been arrested and charged. Brownsville police say it is not clear whether the incident was intentional. Earlier US media reports quoted police as saying it appeared to be a deliberate attack. The director of the nearby…
A 27-YEAR-OLD electrical engineering student has died trying to fix the power at a hospital affected by the fighting in Sudan’s Darfur region. Muhammedin Fadul Idris Wadi, known to his friends as Ala Danedn, was electrocuted at Sayed al-Shahada Health Centre in Fasher city on Thursday. He was part of a group volunteers trying to keep the clinic going amid fierce clashes and looting. “He was known for his smile, even in the time of the war,” his friend said. “He gave his life as a servant of the people of Fasher,” Ahmed Ishaq, who studied with him at the…
NEARLY 400 bodies have been retrieved following floods and landslides that hit two villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo last week. The authorities had previously said 200 people had died following torrential rainfall on Thursday In several villages close to the shore of Lake Kivu, people have been digging through the mud with their hands in a desperate search for missing relatives. The Congolese Red Cross volunteers do not have body bags. They are having to pile up the bodies wrapped up in blankets in the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi in South Kivu province. It is now three…
THE authorities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo say the number of people known to have died in severe flooding and mudslides has risen to 203. The governor of South Kivu province said more people were still missing, feared buried under the mud. At least two villages by Lake Kivu – Bushushu and Nyamukubi – were submerged when rivers in eastern DR Congo burst their banks. There were also severe mudslides that destroyed homes made of wooden planks with corrugated iron roofs. Rescue teams say there are piles of bodies in muddy clothing. Local media is reporting that in one…
KENYA’s president has appointed a commission of inquiry into the deaths of more than 100 people who were members of a cult. They are thought to have starved themselves to death on the advice of the head of the Good News International Church, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie. He is expected to face terrorism charges but has not yet entered a plea. Earlier this the cult leader was arrested in connection with the deaths of two children but was released on bail. A government official said the commission of inquiry will examine whether administrative or intelligence lapses contributed to the deaths. The…
THE death toll after ethnic clashes in India’s remote northeast rose to 54 on Saturday, with fresh violence overnight despite authorities rushing in troops to restore order. Thousands of soldiers were sent to Manipur state after a protest march by a tribal group turned violent on Wednesday. Authorities imposed an internet blackout and issued shoot-at-sight orders in “extreme cases” in an effort to contain the unrest. The situation remained tense after a fresh bout of violence on Friday night, hours after the state’s top police officer warned that rioters had stolen arms and ammunition from police stations. Hospital morgues in…
A GUNMAN has shot and killed eight people shopping at a mall north of Dallas, Texas, emergency services say. Hundreds of people were evacuated from the mall in the city of Allen, as eyewitnesses described a man firing indiscriminately at passers-by. Police said they shot the gunman dead and believe he acted alone. Some of the victims are reported to be children. At least seven people are being treated in hospital, three of whom are critically ill. Allen Fire Chief Jonathan Boyd said seven people – including the gunman – were pronounced dead at the scene and two died later…
RODRYGO scored twice as Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2014 after beating Osasuna in the final in Seville. The Brazilian was on hand to fire the winner from close range after Toni Kroos’ shot deflected into his path. Osasuna, playing in only their second Copa del Rey final, had threatened an upset when Lucas Torro levelled. Rodrygo handed Real an early lead with the fastest goal in a Spanish cup final for 17 years after 106 seconds. Osasuna, backed by nearly 25,000 fans inside the Estadio de La Cartuja, had their chances as…