Author: Editor

THREE people have died after falling from the upper stand of a stadium in Algeria just after the final whistle as local football team MC Alger won the league title, the health ministry says. Dozens of others were injured when a security barrier collapsed, with fans surging forward to celebrate before falling on to the lower tier of the 5 July Stadium in Algiers, according to local media. More than 70 people have been treated in three hospitals, the health ministry says, adding that most have since been released. Players and staff from MC Alger have gone to the hospitals…

PRESIDENT Donald Trump has announced that the United States forces struck three Iranian nuclear sites in a “very successful attack”, adding that the heavily fortified Fordow nuclear facility is “gone”. Trump’s decision on Saturday to join Israel’s military campaign against Iran represents a major escalation of the conflict. “We have completed our very successful attack on the three Nuclear sites in Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan,” Trump posted on Truth Social, adding that the military planes were now on their way home. “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!” he added. Later, in a televised Oval Office address that lasted…

ENGLAND captain Harry Kane had a hand in both goals to help Bayern Munich beat Boca Juniors and reach the Club World Cup knockout stages. Striker Kane opened the scoring on 18 minutes by stroking home from 10 yards, before Miguel Merentiel converted a delightful equaliser in the second half. With six minutes remaining, Kane poked the ball into the path of former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, who netted the winner with a cool, side-footed finish from the edge of the area. A point for Vincent Kompany’s side in the final group game against Benfica will guarantee top spot…

AT least 26 people, including more aid seekers, have been killed in the latest Israeli attacks on Gaza. The attacks come as desperate Palestinians under Israeli blockade continue to wait at food distribution points amid an ongoing hunger crisis. Among those killed during Israeli attacks on the besieged enclave on Saturday, 11 were aid recipients at distribution centres run by the United States-and-Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which the United Nations has condemned for its “weaponisation” of aid. Meanwhile, Wafa news agency reported that at least three people were killed and several others wounded by an Israeli drone strike that…

PANAMA on Saturday declared a state of emergency in western Bocas del Toro province, where anti-government protesters are accused of setting fire to a baseball stadium and of looting businesses, including a provincial airport. The protests that erupted two months ago in Bocas del Toro, a major banana-producing region, intensified this week, culminating in clashes with police that left one person dead and around 30 people, including several officers, the police said. Over 50 people were arrested over the unrest. The clashes came after a huge police contingent was deployed to try clear roads that the protesters had blocked with…

THE President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, has described the recent wave of military coups in West Africa as not just a threat to democracy but an “economic emergency” that undermines the region’s growth prospects. Speaking through Ghana’s Finance Minister at the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja on Saturday, President Mahama warned that economic integration and trade cannot thrive in an atmosphere of political instability. “Trade cannot flourish where democracy is in retreat. Investment does not land where governance is broken. “The recent wave of instability and military takeovers in our region is not just a security concern—it…

NIGER Republic’s military junta says it will nationalise the majority French-owned local uranium company in the latest escalation in a row between the two countries. Somaïr is operated by French nuclear fuels company Orano, which Niger accuses of several “irresponsible acts”. Since seizing power in 2023, Niger’s military leaders have said they want to keep more local control of the country’s mineral wealth, and have distanced themselves from France, the former colonial power, moving closer to Russia. Niger is the world’s seventh largest producer of uranium and has the highest-grade ores in Africa. “This nationalisation will allow for healthier and…

NICOLAS Jackson was sent off four minutes after coming on as a substitute as Chelsea suffered a second-half collapse against Flamengo at the Fifa Club World Cup. The Blues led through Pedro Neto but conceded twice and lost Jackson to a red card in a disastrous six-minute spell after half-time. Neto’s cool finish under the goalkeeper’s legs delivered a positive start for the Premier League side but similar far post tap-ins from substitute Bruno Henrique and Danilo allowed the Brazilian team to take the lead. Referee Ivan Barton then quickly issued a red card after Jackson’s studs made contact with…

AT least 34 Palestinians have been killed and several others wounded by Israeli fire while waiting for humanitarian aid in central and southern Gaza Strip, hospital sources told Al Jazeera. At least 82 Palestinians were killed across Gaza by the Israeli army on Friday, sources said, including several in an attack where jets bombed a house west of Deir el-Balah. At least 37 people were killed in central Gaza, of whom 23 were aid seekers; another 23 people were killed in Gaza City; and 22 people were killed in the south of Gaza, 11 of whom were aid seekers, hospital…

UNITED States President Donald Trump has said his director of national intelligence was “wrong” when she testified that Iran was not building a nuclear weapon and that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had not re-authorised the country’s suspended nuclear weapons programme. The comments come after Trump earlier this week cast doubt on Tulsi Gabbard’s March 25 report to Congress, in which she reiterated the US intelligence community’s assessment. On Tuesday, Trump told reporters, “I don’t care” that the intelligence community’s finding contradicted his own claims, saying Iran was in the late stages of developing a nuclear weapon. But speaking on…

THE family of Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu says he will be buried in South Africa in a private ceremony following a row with the government over the funeral arrangements. Late on Thursday, President Hakainde Hichilema cut short a period of national mourning after Lungu’s family refused to allow his body to be repatriated from South Africa as planned. His funeral had been set for Sunday in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka. The family now says it will announce later when Lungu will be buried in Johannesburg in “dignity and peace”. It will be the first time a former head of state…

MORE than 200 gunmen on motorbikes have attacked a Niger army base near the border with Mali, leaving at least 34 soldiers dead, the country’s defence ministry said. The attackers – described by the ministry as “mercenaries” – raided the base in the western town of Banibangou on Thursday, injuring 14 other soldiers. The ministry said that its forces killed “dozens of terrorists” in the battle. Niger’s military is under pressure for failing to curb militant attacks, one of its justifications for deposing democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in 2023. “This Thursday, June 19, a cowardly and barbaric attack was…

THE National Opposition Coalition Group, led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and ex-Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has formally applied to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the registration of a new political party—the All Democratic Alliance. The application, dated June 19, was acknowledged by INEC on Friday, signalling the coalition’s determination to float a new platform instead of aligning with any existing political party. The formation of ADA, backed by some other key political heavyweights, including former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and Umar Ardo, convener of the League of Northern Democrats and former aide to President Olusegun…

PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu will choose his running mate for the 2027 presidential election only after formally accepting the party’s nomination during its convention in 2026. Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, disclosed this on Thursday in an exclusive interview with this newspaper. Responding to a question on why the presidency has remained silent amid growing controversy over the omission of Vice President Kashim Shettima from a wave of endorsements for Tinubu, Onanuga dismissed suggestions that the silence amounted to tacit approval of the vice president’s exclusion. “When I read the report, I dismissed it…

LIONEL Messi scored his 50th goal for Inter Miami as they came from behind to beat Porto for their first win at the Fifa Club World Cup. Porto took the lead after just eight minutes when Samu Aghehowa squeezed a penalty under the arm of goalkeeper Oscar Ustari. Martin Anselmi’s side could have been further clear by half-time but Francesco Moura saw a shot cleared off the line and Alan Varela struck the post. Telasco Segovia sparked the Inter Miami comeback when powering Marcelo Weigandt’s cut-back into the top corner. Messi then sealed the MLS franchise’s maiden victory in the…

AT least 92 people have been killed in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip as desperate Palestinians continue to seek food amid an ongoing hunger crisis. Among those killed since dawn on Thursday, 64 were in Gaza City and the north and 16 others were waiting for aid assistance near the Netzarim Corridor, which splits north and south Gaza. Starving Palestinians have gathered in the area daily to receive packages from the United States- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which the United Nations has condemned for its “weaponisation” of aid. Bassam Abu Shaar, who witnessed the Israeli attack at…

THE French Senate passed a bill late on Wednesday that includes lack of consent in the country’s criminal definition of rape, paving the way for its official adoption in the coming months. The vote comes several months after a court in Avignon found a French man guilty of drugging his wife so he and strangers could rape her. The case drew renewed attention to the widespread crime of rape and the issue of consent. The bill passed this week redefines all sexual assaults — including rape — as “any non-consensual act”. France’s lower house of parliament approved a slightly different…

CONTROVERSIAL South African opposition MP, central to a row over race relations in the country, has been denied entry to the UK. The Home Office said Julius Malema had been deemed “non-conducive to the public good” and that it was “undesirable” to grant him entry. In a letter released by Malema’s party, the Home Office cited his vocal support for Hamas, including a speech he made after the 7 October attacks in which he said his own party would arm the group if it came to power. The UK said Malema had made “statements calling for the slaughter of white…

THE Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have signed a provisional agreement aimed at stopping the conflict in eastern DRC, according to a joint statement from the two countries and the United States Department of State. The development late on Wednesday in Washington, DC, came after “three days of constructive dialogue regarding political, security, and economic interests”, the statement said. The draft agreement contains provisions on issues including disarmament, the integration of non-state armed groups and the return of refugees and internally displaced people. Eastern DRC has been riven by conflict for decades, with armed groups competing for…

FEDERICO Valverde missed a stoppage-time penalty as Real Madrid were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup on Wednesday. A large contingent of Real fans in a crowd of 62,415 at the Hard Rock Stadium were left frustrated after new manager Xabi Alonso’s first game in charge ended in a point share. For the Saudi club, with Italian Simone Inzaghi also making his debut on the bench, it was an impressive performance where they caused Real’s defence plenty of problems before securing a hugely encouraging surprise result. Al-Hilal started in effervescent fashion and…