THE governments of Ireland, Austria, among others, have condemned Israel’s over 60-day blockade of Gaza, as Amnesty International terms the blockage of food and medicine a “war crime”. Also, humanitarian coordinator Amjad Shawa in Gaza warned that more children likely to die from malnutrition as “the whole Strip is starving” due to Israel’s siege. And medical sources say at least 35 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza Friday alone, with one strike on Bureij killing nine members of the same family. Meanwhile, a ship carrying aid to Gaza in a bid to break Israel’s blockade has been…
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PROSECUTORS said Friday a series of coordinated attacks on French prisons were carried out by drug traffickers, with at least one suspect thought to have ties to a notorious cartel. Attackers in April struck at several jails and other facilities across France, torching cars, spraying the entrance of one prison with automatic gunfire and leaving mysterious inscriptions. A total of 30 people, including four minors, were arrested this week in police raids across France. Seven of them were released without charge. The assaults have embarrassed the right-leaning government whose tough-talking ministers of justice, Gerald Darmanin, and interior, Bruno Retailleau, have…
A SOUTH African court on Friday found a woman guilty of trafficking her six-year-old daughter, who has been missing for more than a year, in a case that has outraged the nation. The two-month trial heard statements from various witnesses that Racquel “Kelly” Smith had revealed to them that she had sold her daughter Joshlin in February 2024, including claims she was paid 20,000 rand ($1,085). Judge Nathan Erasmus said the evidence of 35 state witnesses led him to find that Smith, 35, and her two co-accused — a boyfriend and a mutual friend — were guilty on the charges…
GENERAL Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Uganda’s president, has confirmed the detention of an opposition leader’s bodyguard, who has been missing for five days. Edward Sebuufu, alias Eddie Mutwe, was reportedly picked up on Sunday by unidentified individuals in both civilian clothes and military fatigues in the central town of Kiwango, sparking public outrage and concern about his safety. In a series of posts on X, Gen Kainerugabai, who is also Uganda’s military chief, said Mr Sebuufu was “in my basement”, attaching the bodyguard’s photo with a clean-shaven head. He also threatened to use violence against Mr Sebuufu. Gen Kainerugabai’s…
MANCHESTER United took a huge step towards reaching the Europa League final as a stunning spell in the first half against 10-man Athletic Bilbao ensured they take a big advantage into the semi-final second leg at Old Trafford. Playing at a vociferous San Mames Stadium, the visitors could have been 2-0 down after Inaki Williams sent a header from a good position over, before Victor Lindelof blocked Alex Berenguer’s shot on the line. But the game turned dramatically in United’s favour in the 30th minute when Harry Maguire produced some good skill on the right before his cross was flicked…
MEDICAL sources tell Al Jazeera that at least 31 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza throughout Thursday and more deaths have been reported from attacks early on Friday morning. Also Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Gaza describes Israel’s 60-day blockade on aid entering the territory as the “deliberate strangulation” of the civilian population. Meanwhile, the Israeli military’s primary goal in the war on Gaza is securing the return of the remaining captives, not the total destruction of Hamas, as claimed by Prime Minister Netanyahu this week, an unnamed Israeli military source has told The Times of Israel. “The…
THE CIA has launched a Chinese-language social media campaign calling on government officials in China to switch sides and leak secrets to the United States. The two videos released on Thursday depict fictional scenes involving Chinese officials who approach the top intelligence agency after becoming disillusioned with the ruling Communist Party of China (CCP). In one of the videos, an actor depicting a senior CCP member describes the fear he feels for his family as he witnesses officials around him being purged like “worn-out shoes”. “This man, who has diligently worked his way to the top throughout his life, now…
A KENYAN member of parliament has been shot dead in the streets of the capital Nairobi by gunmen on a motorcycle in a suspected assassination. Police said the attackers had been trailing Charles Ong’ondo Were’s vehicle before one of them got off the motorbike and shot him at close range. “The nature of this crime appears to be both targeted and predetermined,” police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga said in a statement. The opposition MP had two months ago complained about threats to his life, local media reported. After the shooting on late Wednesday, his driver and bodyguard, both unhurt, managed to…
THE authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo are seeking to lift former President Joseph Kabila’s immunity from prosecution after accusing him of backing rebels in the east. There was a “substantial body of documents, testimony and material facts” linking Kabila to the M23 armed group, Justice Minister Constant Mutamba said on Wednesday. The M23 currently controls parts of the mineral-rich east of the country after making significant advances earlier this year. Kabila, 53, has not commented on the accusations but has in the past denied any connection with the insurgents. He led DR Congo for 18 years, after succeeding…
BARCELONA and Inter Milan played out an intense 3-3 draw in their Champions League Semi-Finals clash on Wednesday, delivering a six-goal thriller that kept fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The match at Camp Nou exploded into life within the first minute as Inter’s Marcus Thuram opened the scoring with a clinical finish from a Denzel Dumfries assist, stunning the home side and giving the visitors an early advantage. Inter continued their early dominance, doubling their lead in the 21st minute when Dumfries turned from provider to scorer, slotting home an overhead kick after being…
HEALTH Ministry says 2,308 people, including 595 children, killed across Gaza since Israel broke ceasefire on March 18. Residents of Nuseirat in central Gaza describe an “earthquake” as an Israeli attack on a building killed at least eight people. At least 35 have been killed across Gaza in the past 24 hours, Gaza’s Health Ministry says. Day three of International Court of Justice hearings on Israel’s humanitarian obligations to Palestinians saw the United States and Hungary defend Israel and discredit the court and the UN as biased. Israel’s total blockade of Gaza has reached its 60th day, as the International…
PAKISTAN said on Wednesday it had “credible intelligence” that India was planning an imminent military strike and vowed to retaliate, as worries of spiralling conflict grew over a deadly attack in Kashmir. Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours have plummeted since New Delhi blamed its arch-rival Pakistan for last week’s assault on tourists in Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, the deadliest attack on civilians there in a quarter of a century. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the military “complete operational freedom” to respond to the attack during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday, a senior government source told AFP. Pakistan’s government has…
THE United Arab Emirates said Wednesday it had foiled a weapons shipment intended for the Sudanese army, which has accused the Gulf state of backing rival paramilitaries in the country’s two-year war. The announcement comes just days before the International Court of Justice is slated to issue a ruling in a case Khartoum filed against the UAE accusing it of complicity in genocide by supporting the RSF. “The security services succeeded in preventing the transfer of a quantity of military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces following the arrest of members of a cell involved in unauthorised mediation, brokering and…
MALI’s military leader Gen Assimi Goïta has won the backing of key political allies to be declared president for the next five years. The 41-year-old, who has seized power twice, was named transitional president after his last coup in 2021. At the time he promised to hold elections the following year – but has since reneged, in a blow to efforts to restore multi-party rule in the West African state. A national conference organised by the regime – but boycotted by leading opposition parties – has now recommended naming Gen Goïta president until 2030. He has not yet commented on…
PARIS Saint-Germain seized the advantage in their Champions League semi-final against Arsenal as Ousmane Dembele sealed a 1-0 win in the first leg on Tuesday. Dembele struck in the opening minutes at the Emirates Stadium and Luis Enrique’s side held on to the lead with a composed display that kept Arsenal at bay. PSG will head into the second leg at the Parc des Princes on May 7 as favourites to reach the final against Barcelona or Inter Milan as they look to win the tournament for the first time. But the French champions should take nothing for granted given…
UNITED Nations rights chief Volker Turk has called on the world to halt Gaza’s descent into a “new, unseen level” of “humanitarian catastrophe”, amid Israel’s total blockade on aid and relentless attacks on the territory. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has begun its second day of hearings into Israel’s humanitarian obligations to Palestinians, more than 50 days into Israel’s total blockage on aid entering the Gaza Strip. South Africa’s representative Zane Dangor has told the ICJ that “under the world’s watchful eye, Palestinians are being subjected to atrocity, crimes, persecution, apartheid and genocide” in Gaza. This is as a…
THE leaders of Japan and the Philippines have pledged to deepen their security ties, including increased intelligence sharing, as they grapple with territorial disputes with China. On his first visit to the Philippines since assuming office in October, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Tuesday that the two countries oppose “attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and the South China Sea by force or coercion”. Speaking after talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in Manila, Ishiba said the two leaders agreed to begin negotiations on a defence pact formally known as the Acquisition…
LEADING human rights organisations have renewed calls for investigations into the killing of protesters by Kenya’s security forces during demonstrations against a rise in taxes last June. It follows a BBC Africa Eye investigation, exposing members of the security forces who shot dead three protesters at Kenya’s parliament, igniting public outrage and demands for justice. Amnesty International and the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) said the officers identified in the documentary should “face the law”. Kenya’s government spokesman has responded by saying “every life is important”, the police watchdog is conducting an investigation and criticised the BBC documentary for being…
RWANDA escorted the troops of a Southern African force through Rwandan territory to Tanzania on Tuesday as they pulled out from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda’s foreign minister and army spokesperson said. The Southern African Development Community (SADC), which groups 16 states, said in mid-March it had terminated the mandate of its mission and would begin a phased withdrawal of its force, known as SAMIDRC, from Congo. The force was sent to assist Kinshasa’s fight against rebel groups in Congo’s eastern borderlands in December 2023, prompting protests by the Rwandan government, which said the deployment would aggravate the conflict.…
WHEN Inter Milan drew Barcelona in the semi-finals of the 2009-10 Champions League, few backed the Italian side to progress against Pep Guardiola’s world-beaters. Both were chasing their own piece of history. Barcelona were trying to become the first team to claim back-to-back titles in the Champions League era while Inter were seeking a first European Cup final since 1972 and a first win in the competition since 1965. It was a tie tinged with bitterness, with Inter boss Jose Mourinho going up against Guardiola, who had worked together at Barca but were now intense rivals. It was a tie…