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…
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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…
MANCHESTER City are four points clear at the top and in control of the Premier League title race, but their manager Pep Guardiola still wasn’t happy after his side’s 2-1 win over Leeds. Goal machine Erling Haaland and match winner Ilkay Gundogan were the players who felt his wrath with Guardiola reminding them that “this is a business” after seeing a late penalty miss allow Sam Allardyce’s side back into the game. Leading 2-0 with six minutes to go, City were cruising towards a 10th-successive victory and were handed a chance to wrap up the points when Phil Foden was…
NIGERIA’s Golden Eaglets will aim to book a spot in the quarter-final of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) when they take on South Africa. Coach Nduka Ugbade’s side were heartbroken following a 0-1 loss to Morocco in their second Group B game on Wednesday. While they dominated proceedings in the encounter and missed a couple of chances, an early own goal sealed their fate for the day. “We controlled the game but tactically Morocco controlled the outcome,” the coach said. “We had some few mistakes as well but we created so many chances, and the only problem is…
REAL Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti says his players’ focus is fully on Saturday’s Copa del Rey final and not the crucial upcoming Champions League clash with Manchester City. The Spanish giants host City in their semi-final first leg next Tuesday. But they have the chance to win a trophy before then when they take on Osasuna in Seville. “We will go out there without thinking about what’s happening the next day,” Ancelotti, 63, said. “We will go out with all the energy in the world to win another title. The players are motivated.” Cup competitions are crucial for Real Madrid…
THE World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that Covid-19 no longer represents a “global health emergency”. The statement represents a major step towards ending the pandemic and comes three years after it first declared its highest level of alert over the virus. Officials said the virus’ death rate had dropped from a peak of more than 100,000 people per week in January 2021 to just over 3,500 on 24 April. The head of the WHO said at least seven million people died in the pandemic. But Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the true figure was “likely” closer to 20…