IRAN were the only country not represented as Fifa met on Thursday for its annual congress in Canada. But Gianni Infantino, president of world football’s governing body, reiterated again that the country “will be participating” in this summer’s World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico. There has been uncertainty over Iran’s participation in the tournament because of the war with the US and Israel. But Infantino added: “Of course, Iran will play in the United States of America. The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together.”…
Author: Editor
Read More
THE United States lost aerial equipment worth up to $2.8bn, according to a US-based think tank. Speaking at a televised Cabinet meeting on March 26, the US secretary of defense boasted of US military successes against Iran in the ongoing war. “Never in recorded history has a nation’s military been so quickly and so effectively neutralised,” he said, seated next to US President Donald Trump. The very next day, Iran fired missiles and drones that struck a US base in Saudi Arabia, wounding several US soldiers and destroying a radar surveillance plane that cost $700m. It was no one-off hit.…
REPORTERS without Borders (known by its French acronym RSF) has condemned Israel for “kidnapping” three journalists on board the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, which Israel intercepted while it was travelling in international waters. In a post on social media Thursday, RSF said it “condemns the kidnapping in international waters by the Israeli army” of French correspondent Hafed Mribah and Turkish cameraman Mahmut Yavuz, who both work for Al Jazeera, and journalist Alex Colston, who works for US media outlet Zeteo. Al Jazeera expressed “its deep concern for the safety” of its journalists. “The Network holds the Israeli authorities fully responsible…
A MAN has been sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of four toddlers at a nursery school in Uganda’s capital, Kampala, earlier this month. On 2 April, Christopher Okello Onyum, 38, entered the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Program and fatally stabbed the infants – Eteku Gideon, Keisha Agenorwoth, Sseruyange Ignatius and Odeke Ryan – all aged between one and two years old. While capital punishment has not been abolished in Uganda, it is rarely carried out, with the last recorded case taking place in 2005. Onyum, who holds both Ugandan and US citizenship, has 14 days to appeal…
A RUSSIAN paramilitary launched air strikes against rebel forces near Mali’s capital Bamako, video footage shows, following a shock offensive against the ruling military government. Insurgents and Tuareg separatist forces on Saturday carried out attacks across Mali and killed the country’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara. Russian forces claimed up to 12,000 fighters took part in the offensive. The Kremlin-controlled Africa Corps, which supports Malian military operations, has posted several videos since Saturday showing air strikes and attack helicopters engaging with rebel troops. BBC Verify located the clips to the town of Kati, around 20km (12 miles) from Bamako. Despite the…
SUPER Eagles Striker, Ademola Lookman missed numerous golden opportunities as Atletico Madrid and Arsenal settled for a dramatic draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final clash, leaving the tie finely balanced ahead of next week’s decisive return leg in London. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that both sides scored from the penalty spot in an incident-packed encounter at the Estadio Metropolitano, with Arsenal initially taking the lead before Atletico fought back strongly in the second half. The game began cautiously, with neither side willing to concede an early advantage in what was a tense and tactical…
TOP Iranian football officials have left Canada before the start of the FIFA Congress because of the behaviour of officials during immigration checks at Toronto’s international airport, Iranian media reported Wednesday. Iran’s football federation president and deputy secretary general “returned to Turkey on the first flight due to the inappropriate behaviour of the immigration officials at the airport and the insult to one of the most honourable organs of the Iranian Armed Forces”, several outlets reported, without providing further details. In 2024, Canada designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guards a terror group, barring its members from entering the country. The Iranian reports…
ISRAELI military forces have intercepted Global Sumud boats using jamming technology and armed boarding teams to halt the humanitarian fleet in the middle of the Mediterranean, according to organisers and Israeli media. “Our boats were approached by military speedboats, self-identified as ‘Israel’, pointing lasers and semi-automatic assault weapons, ordering participants to the front of the boats and to get on their hands and knees,” the Global Sumud Flotilla aid mission said on Thursday. “Boat communications are being jammed, and a SOS was issued.” Israel Army Radio cited an Israeli source as saying it began seizing control of aid ships heading…
PRESIDENT Donald Trump says the United States will continue its naval blockade of Iran until a nuclear deal is reached with Tehran. The US president told Axios on Wednesday that he does not want to end his blockade on Iranian ports, apparently rejecting the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz so that US-Iran talks could proceed. “The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing. They are choking like a stuffed pig,” Trump said of Iran. “And it is going to be worse for them. They can’t have a nuclear weapon.” Iran has set lifting the siege as a precondition…
THE youngest son of Zimbabwe’s late former leader Robert Mugabe is to deported from South Africa immediately, a court in Johannesburg has ordered. Bellarmine Mugabe pleaded guilty to pointing a firearm and illegally being in the country earlier this month after he was arrested following the shooting of a 23-year-old man at his home. The 28-year-old has also been ordered to pay a fine of $36,000 (£26,700). His co-accused, and cousin, Tobias Matonhodze – who pleaded guilty to attempted murder, illegal immigration, possession of ammunition and defeating the ends of justice – was sentenced to three years in prison. Both…
A FORMER French serviceman has been detained in Madagascar for allegedly taking part in a plot to destabilise the island, authorities say. Prosecutor Nomenarinera Mihamintsoa Ramanantsoa said the French national had been charged with multiple offences including criminal conspiracy and plotting to sabotage infrastructure such as power lines and thermal plants. Speaking in a video statement on Tuesday evening, he said other accomplices – including a Malagasy army officer – had also been charged for the alleged plot, set to be carried out on 18 April. Madagascar’s foreign ministry has also expelled a French diplomat for alleged involvement in destabilising…
KHVICHA Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele scored twice each as Paris Saint-Germain beat Bayern Munich 5-4 in an epic first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, an extraordinary encounter becoming the highest-scoring match ever at this stage of the competition. The first half alone was crazy, with Harry Kane giving Bayern the lead from a penalty only for Kvaratskhelia to equalise before Joao Neves headed the hosts in front at an enthralled Parc des Princes. Michael Olise made it 2-2, but a Dembele penalty in first-half stoppage time had the reigning champions back ahead at the interval. Kvaratskhelia, surely…
LEBANON’s prime minister has accused Israel of perpetrating a “heinous crime” in the targeting and killing of civil defence emergency workers, three of whom were among five people killed in a double Israeli strike in southern Lebanon. Two successive Israeli strikes on a building in the town of Majdal Zoun on Tuesday killed five people, including three rescue workers who went to help those injured in the initial Israeli attack on the targeted building, Lebanon’s Ministry of Health said. “Targeting elements of the Civil Defence in Majdal Zoun, and their killing while carrying out their humanitarian duty, constitutes a new…
THE United Arab Emirates has announced its decision to quit OPEC and OPEC+ to focus on “national interests”, dealing a heavy blow to the oil-exporting groups at a time when the US-Israel war on Iran has caused a historic energy shock and rattled the global economy. The move, which will take effect on Friday, reflects “the UAE’s long-term strategic and economic vision and evolving energy profile”, a statement carried by state media said on Tuesday. “During our time in the organisation, we made significant contributions and even greater sacrifices for the benefit of all,” it added. “However, the time has…
MALI’s military leader Assimi Goita has met the Russian ambassador to the East African country, according to his office. Goita’s office published photos of the meeting on Tuesday in what was his first public appearance since rebel attacks over the weekend that killed one of his ministers. The news release came after Russia said earlier in the day that it was seeking stability in the West African country. , in which it has won significant influence since Goita’s military government took power in a coup in 2021. West Africa’s al-Qaeda affiliate and the Tuareg separatist group on Saturday hit Mali’s…
KENYAN President William Ruto says his remarks on the brand of English spoken in Nigeria were misrepresented and taken out of context. Ruto had faced backlash after saying Nigerian English was inferior to that of his homeland. “Kenyans, you know our education is good, our English is good. We speak some of the best English in the world… that is true,” he had said. “If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don’t know what they are saying — you need a translator even when they’re speaking English.” However, speaking recently at the Kenyan mining investment conference — with Dele…
A COALITION of real estate developers in the Federal Capital Territory has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly to investigate the Managing Director/CEO of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Oyetunde Ojo, over allegations of land grabbing, extortion, and official high-handedness. News Point Nigeria reports that the developers alleged that Ojo’s tenure at the FHA has so far led to financial losses and the stagnation of dozens of multi-billion-naira projects, which they attributed to alleged land grabbing and extortion practices that have also resulted in multiple ongoing court cases. In a statement signed by the…
MARYAM Abacha American University of Niger (MAAUN) Maradi matriculates no fewer than 430 students for the 2025/2026 academic session to pursue undergraduate studies across various fields of human endeavour, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s continued expansion and academic development. The university, established in 2013 as the first bilingual university in Sub-Saharan Africa, has continued to play a vital role in the training of both undergraduate and postgraduate students in the sciences and humanities. This effort is complemented by its commitment to promoting research and innovation within Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Speaking during the matriculation ceremony held on Saturday,…
MANCHESTER United need just two more points to secure a Champions League return after first-half goals from Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko were enough for them to win an entertaining encounter with Brentford. Casemiro nodded home from an acute angle after Harry Maguire had guided a header to the far post after 11 minutes. Bruno Fernandes then claimed his 19th assist of the season, one short of equalling the Premier League record, when he teed up Sesko three minutes before the break. Michael Carrick’s side have four games left to complete the task set them by technical director Jason Wilcox in…
A MAN accused of trying to open fire on a media gala attended by Donald Trump in Washington this weekend was charged in court Monday with trying to assassinate the Republican president. Cole Allen, 31, faces a sentence of up to life in prison if convicted of attempting to kill Trump during the White House Correspondents Association dinner at a hotel in the capital. Allen, who wore a blue jumpsuit, was also charged with two firearms crimes. He did not enter a plea at the hearing in a federal court and was detained, pending his next court appearance. Prosecutors told…