Author: Editor

WORLD leaders reacted with shock to the wounding of Donald Trump in an assassination attempt against the former US president at an election rally. Presidents and prime ministers globally spoke out against political violence and expressed their support for those affected by the shooting on Saturday, which killed one bystander and left two other spectators critically wounded. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “deeply shocked” by the attack. “Political violence has no place in a democracy,” she said. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the shooting “despicable” and said “such acts of violence threaten democracy.” In neighboring…

FORMER President Donald Trump was rushed off stage with blood dripping on his face after gunshots rang out at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on Saturday, and authorities confirmed he was the target of a would-be assassin. Both the gunmen and an innocent bystander at the rally are dead, and two others are in serious condition. “This evening we had what we are calling an assassination attempt against our former president, Donald Trump,” Kevin Rojek, FBI special agent in charge, said at late-night press conference in Butler, Pa. The FBI has not released the name of the suspect or the…

SPAIN have dazzled on their thrilling run to the Euro 2024 final but just one of their 13 goals in Germany has come from striker and captain Alvaro Morata, who remains a lightning rod for criticism. By contrast, England struggled on the road to Berlin despite largely facing weaker opposition, yet still believe they can upset the odds on Sunday, especially if Morata’s drought continues. The Atletico Madrid forward’s profligate finishing has come under scrutiny in his homeland after netting just four times in 30 games for club and country, with his attitude also harshly judged. While explosive wingers Lamine…

AT least 90 Palestinians have been reported killed in an Israeli strike on a displacement camp in southern Gaza which Israel said targeted Hamas’ military chief, who was an alleged mastermind of the October 7 attacks. Footage from Al-Mawasi, which has been designated as a safe zone for Palestinians fleeing the fighting elsewhere, shows bodies in the street and destroyed tents. “I cannot describe to you the magnitude of the tragedy,” one resident told CNN. Mohammed Deif – the leader of Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing – was the figure targeted, alongside the head of the Khan Younis brigade, Rafe…

A FORMER Maldives climate change minister detained last month on allegations she performed “black magic” on the country’s president was released Saturday, police said. Fathimath Shamnaz Ali Saleem was arrested along with her sister and another person last month in the capital Male and stood down from her post shortly afterwards. Local media reported she was accused of performing “black magic” on President Mohamed Muizzu to win favour from his new administration. Police had asked for an extension of her detention twice, but on Saturday they had no reason to hold her any longer — although the case was still…

KENYAN police said Saturday that they had found more bags filled with dismembered female body parts in a grisly discovery at a rubbish dump that has horrified and angered the country. Detectives have been scouring the site in the Nairobi slum of Mukuru since the mutilated corpses of at least six women were found on Friday in sacks floating in a sea of garbage. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said Saturday that another five bags had been retrieved from the abandoned quarry, three of them containing female body parts, including severed legs and two torsos. “We want to assure…

THE Governor of Khartoum, Ahmed Hamza, has issued a 15-day ultimatum to foreigners to leave the Sudanese capital and the surrounding region starting from Friday 12 July 2024. In a statement from the Sudanese embassy in Nigeria at the weekend, the governor said the order directing foreigners to leave Sudan is designed to tackle insecurity in the country. “Some nationals of the neighbouring countries and from the region have become key fighters and mercenaries in the ranks of the Militia Rapid Support Forces,” the statement alleged. According to the statement, the order is to preserve lives during the period of…

ENGLAND will go in search of more history on Sunday when they take on Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin. Gareth Southgate has led his team to back-to-back European Championship finals and a first men’s major tournament final on foreign soil. Spain have been the great entertainers in Germany, while England have had to call on grit and determination as they steadily improved to reach the final. This newspaper looks at five key battles that could decide who lifts the trophy on Sunday. Rodri v Foden & Bellingham: The midfield is likely to prove crucial in the final,…

THE bodies of dozens of Palestinians have been retrieved from the Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood after Israeli forces withdrew from parts of Gaza City, Palestinian rescue workers have said. “The Gaza civil defence teams moved in to rescue survivors. They found dozens killed. Most of those killed are families, women, and children. Some bodies were eaten by dogs,” Gaza’s civil defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal said on Friday. “At least 60 bodies were counted. Some bodies were buried on the spot. Others were taken to nearby hospitals.” Israeli forces had entered the neighbourhood this week after ordering civilians to evacuate on Monday.…

PRINCESS Anne, the sister of British head of state King Charles III, returned to public duties Friday, weeks after she was treated in hospital after being struck by a horse. Anne, 73, presented awards and met winners at a charity horseriding event in Gloucestershire, southwestern England, in a reported phased return to public appearances. The Princess Royal, as she is also known, suffered concussion and minor head injuries at her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire in late June and spent five nights in hospital in Bristol. She has since been recovering at her home on the sprawling estate, and following…

A FUEL shortage at Mali’s main international airport led to flight cancellations and disruption on Wednesday, according to several air transport stakeholders. The West African country’s civil aviation agency has asked the regional air traffic control body ASECNA to notify airspace users of the “unavailability of Jet A1 fuel” at the capital Bamako’s Modibo-Keita International Airport from Tuesday until the end of July 15, in an official document seen by AFP. Jet A1 is a kerosene-type fuel widely used in civil aviation. AFP, in the report, said it was unable to obtain any official information from the Malian Civil Aviation…

A UGANDAN TikToker was condemned Wednesday to six years in prison for spreading “misleading and malicious” information after he insulted President Yoweri Museveni, his wife, and their son. According to prosecutors, Edward Awebwa between February and March posted “vulgar” videos about the first family. The 24-year-old had pleaded guilty. Awebwa “is pleading for mercy but he does not look remorseful at all for his actions,” Judge Stella Maris Amabilis said Wednesday as she read the court’s decision. “The court had the opportunity to see the video, the language that was being used was vulgar,” she said. “This court is of…

RUUD van Nistelrooy has returned to Manchester United to become an assistant to manager Erik ten Hag as part of a coaching reshuffle. Van Nistelrooy enjoyed five prolific seasons as a striker at the club after joining in 2001. The Dutchman scored 150 goals, putting him 11th on the club’s all-time list but left in controversial circumstances after falling out with Sir Alex Ferguson. He has been out of work since quitting as PSV Eindhoven manager just before the end of the 2022-23 season after he had won the Dutch Cup, with players unhappy with his coaching methods. The 48-year-old…

THE United States has announced new sanctions on several Israeli settlers and affiliated groups, accusing them of involvement in violence or threats of violence targeting civilians, seizure of property or other actions that threaten security in the occupied West Bank. The sanctions announced by the US Department of State and the Department of the Treasury on Thursday target Israeli individuals Isachar Manne, Reut Ben Haim, and Aviad Shlomo Sarid, and four illegal Israeli settlement outposts; Manne Farm, Meitarim Farm, Hamahoch Farm, and Neriya’s Farm. The US also blacklisted Lehava, an umbrella group for Israeli settlers, which it described as the…

AUSTRALIAN authorities have charged a soldier and her husband with spying on behalf of Russia. The couple, a 40-year-old army private and 62-year-old self-employed labourer, are accused of obtaining Australian Defence Force material to share with Russian authorities, Australian police said on Friday. The pair, both of whom are Russian-born Australian citizens, are due to appear in court on Friday to face one count each of preparing for an espionage offence after being arrested at their home in Brisbane the previous day, police said. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment under legislation introduced in 2018. Australian…

KENYAN President William Ruto announced Thursday the dismissal of almost his entire cabinet and consultations to form a “broad-based government”, as he scrambled to contain the fallout of deadly protests against his administration. The East African nation was left reeling after peaceful rallies last month over steep tax increases escalated into violence with police firing at crowds who stormed parliament, leaving it partly ablaze. Organised online and led largely by young, Gen-Z Kenyans, the protests plunged Ruto’s administration into the most serious crisis of his presidency, forcing him to abandon the finance bill containing the tax hikes. In the latest…

SENEGALESE customs said in a statement Thursday that they had intercepted more than 360 kilogrammes of cocaine worth $48.3 million in the southeast of the country. The authorities have made an increasing number of cocaine seizures in recent months from neighbouring countries — notably Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mali — which are reputed to be transit zones for drugs produced in Latin America on their way to Europe. In a statement, customs police said they seized 365.4 kilogrammes of cocaine in the town of Koupentoum from a lorry travelling from an unspecified “neighbouring” country. The drugs, worth 29.2 billion CFA…

ENGLAND will face Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday after a last-minute strike from substitute Ollie Watkins sealed victory over the Netherlands. Gareth Southgate’s side looked to be going into extra time for the third successive game after Harry Kane’s contentious first-half penalty equalised a thunderous early strike from Xavi Simons until Watkins struck. England dominated the first half, with Phil Foden outstanding, hitting the post with one long-range effort and drawing a fine save from Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen. The Netherlands, who saw Denzel Dumfries’ header hit the bar before the break, took control after…

THE Israeli military has ordered all Palestinians to leave Gaza City and head south, as it presses ahead with a fresh offensive across the north, south and central area of the Gaza Strip that has killed dozens of people over the past 48 hours. Leaflets dropped from the air on Wednesday urged “everyone in Gaza City” to leave and to take “safe routes” south towards Deir el-Balah and az-Zawayda. Gaza’s Interior Ministry has called on residents in Gaza City to refrain from following Israeli evacuation orders, saying the instructions are a part of the Israeli army’s psychological warfare against Palestinians.…

ELON Musk has won dismissal of a lawsuit claiming he refused to pay at least $500m of severance to thousands of Twitter employees he fired in mass layoffs after buying the social media company now known as X. United States District Judge Trina Thompson in San Francisco, California ruled on Tuesday that the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) governing benefit plans did not cover the former employees’ claims, and therefore she lacked jurisdiction. The case is one of many accusing Musk of reneging on promises to former Twitter employees, including former Chief Executive Parag Agrawal, and vendors after…