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ISRAEL killed at least 10 Palestinians across Gaza, just as the United States announced that the two sides had progressed to the second phase of a 20-point ceasefire deal with Hamas to end the conflict. The Wafa news agency reported that the Israeli military bombed two houses belonging to the al-Hawli and the al-Jarou families in the central town of Deir el-Balah on Thursday evening, with health officials confirming a 16-year-old minor was among six killed. The Israeli military announced that one of the victims, Muhammad al-Hawli, was a commander in the Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas. Reporting…

INDIA has shut down a medical college in Indian-administered Kashmir in an apparent capitulation to protests by right-wing Hindu groups over the admission of an overwhelming number of Muslim students into the prestigious course. The National Medical Commission (NMC), a federal regulatory authority for medical education and practices, on January 6 revoked the recognition of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Medical Institute (SMVDMI), located in Reasi, a mountainous district overlooking the Pir Panjal range in the Himalayas, which separates the plains of Jammu from the Kashmir valley. Of the 50 pupils who joined the five-year bachelor’s in medicine (MBBS) programme in…

LIBYAN authorities have uncovered a mass grave containing the bodies of 21 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, local media reported Thursday. News outlets cited government sources as saying a Libyan national has been arrested on suspicion of killing the migrants and holding others captive on a farm in the northeastern town of Ajdabiya. Libya is a key transit country for thousands of migrants attempting to reach Europe each year, with deaths among migrants frequently reported. The Internal Security Agency for Libya’s east said it had “discovered a mass grave containing the bodies of 21 individuals of various African nationalities”, according to…

VOTES are being counted in parts of Uganda amid an internet shutdown and opposition accusations of rigging in presidential and parliamentary elections. “Massive ballot-stuffing reported everywhere,” declared presidential hopeful Bobi Wine in a post on social media, without providing documentary proof. The authorities have not responded to his allegations of electoral fraud, nor to his claim that “many” polling agents and supervisors belonging to his NUP party were “abducted, and others chased off polling stations”. Delays of up to four hours have been blamed on malfunctioning biometric machines used to verify voters’ identities. Some have linked the problems to the…

GOALKEEPER Robert Sanchez made errors that contributed to two of Arsenal’s three goals in a dramatic Carabao Cup semi-final first leg – but Alejandro Garnacho scored twice to keep Chelsea in the tie. Sanchez failed to claim Declan Rice’s corner, allowing Ben White to head in Arsenal’s seventh-minute opener from close range – and the goalkeeper let a cross squirm through his fingers shortly after half-time for Viktor Gyokeres to make it 2-0. Garnacho pulled one back 12 minutes into the second half, but Martin Zubimendi’s brilliant shimmy and finish restored Arsenal’s two-goal advantage. The former Manchester United winger then…

UNITED States President Donald Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East has announced the launch of the second phase of a US-brokered plan to end Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Steve Witkoff said in a social media post on Wednesday that Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan is “moving from ceasefire to demilitarization, technocratic governance, and reconstruction”. The second phase will establish a transitional administration to govern over the bombarded Palestinian territory and see the “full demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza”, Witkoff said. “The US expects Hamas to comply fully with its obligations, including the immediate return of…

IRAN has temporarily closed its airspace to most flights amid attack threats by United States President Donald Trump, the US aviation authority said. Most flights were prohibited from Iranian airspace between 1:45am and 4:00am local time (22:15 to 00:30 GMT) and again from 4:44 am to 7am (01:14 to 03:30 GMT) on Thursday, according to the notices posted by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The restrictions applied to all commercial flights without “prior approval” from Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation (CAO), according to the notices. FlightRadar, an online flight tracking service, showed just three aircraft over Iran as of 6:05am…

UGANDA’s opposition leader told AFP on Wednesday that he would call for protests if President Yoweri Museveni rigs this week’s election and said he would welcome an intervention by the United States. More than 20 million people are registered to vote in the east African country on Thursday, with 81-year-old Museveni widely expected to continue his four-decade rule thanks to his near-total control of the state and security apparatus. His main opponent is singer-turned-politician Bobi Wine, 43 — real name Robert Kyagulanyi — who is taking a second run at the presidency after his 2021 campaign was met with violent…

FOR weeks, Somalia has been engaged in intense diplomatic efforts to rally international support after Israel recognised its breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state. Through diplomatic outreach and high-level phone calls, Somalia’s government has won the backing of many countries across Africa and the Middle East, rallying them to oppose the recognition. But one relationship has sharply deteriorated – Somalia’s long-standing partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). For years, the oil-rich Gulf state has been viewed as a significant player in Somalia’s security, economy, and politics, as the country has a coastline of more than 3,000km (1,864…

SADIO Mane scored the winner as Senegal beat Egypt to reach the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and end Mohamed Salah’s hopes of winning his first continental title in Morocco. Mane struck the only goal of a cagey contest with 12 minutes remaining in Tangier, firing a right-footed shot inside the left-hand upright after the ball broke to him outside the box. It marks the third occasion that the Senegal forward has got the better of his former Liverpool team-mate in a high-stakes international match. Both of those previous wins came four years ago, as the…

ALL eyes are on Rabat as two continental giants, Nigeria and Morocco clash in a blockbuster game in the semi-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the high-flying Super Eagles of Nigeria, parading the likes of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman among other game-changers, will face their biggest test yet in the tournament against the host nation. Morocco, on the back of a long-running unbeaten streak, are under pressure to deliver the AFCON trophy, having only won it once in 1976. With Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz leading the way for the…

A SELF-PROCLAIMED marabout (Babalawo) or traditional folk healer, who allegedly collected €33,500 by promising victory for Mali in the Africa Cup of Nations, was arrested for fraud after the team lost. Mali’s national team was eliminated last Friday in the quarter finals by Senegal 1-0. The man, identified only as Sinayogo, allegedly collected more than 22 million CFA francs in donations, according to an associate. Following Mali’s defeat, an angry mob showed up at his home before police intervened and removed him. Sinayogo was arrested in the Malian capital Bamako on Saturday for alleged “fraud” and was being held at…

AT least five Palestinian people have been killed in Gaza as a fierce winter storm toppled buildings damaged by Israeli attacks in its genocidal war on the territory, local health officials said. Dangerous living conditions persist in Gaza after more than two years of devastating Israeli bombardment and aid shortfalls. A ceasefire has been in effect since October 10. But aid groups say that Palestinians broadly lack the shelter necessary to withstand frequent winter storms. The people who died in Tuesday’s stormy conditions include two women, a girl and a man, according to al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza City’s largest, which received…

UNITED States President Donald Trump says he has cancelled all meetings with Iranian officials and has told protesters to “take over your institutions” amid Tehran’s crackdown. In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump said that “help is on the way” without offering further details. Trump has openly contemplated ordering military attacks on Iran over the last several days. “Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING – TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price,” Trump said on his website, Truth Social. “I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless…

UGANDAN authorities have imposed a nationwide internet blackout days before presidential elections in which President Yoweri Museveni is expected to prolong his 40-year rule. A government regulatory body instructed mobile network operators to block public internet access starting at 6pm (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday. Internet monitor NetBlocks later confirmed a “nation-scale disruption to internet connectivity”. The network outage has heightened concerns about repression in the run-up to the January 15 vote, in which 81-year-old Museveni, Africa’s third-longest-serving leader, is being challenged by pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine. Ugandan security personnel have rounded up hundreds of opposition supporters in advance of the…

NIGER Republic has revoked the licences of dozens of transport operators and drivers for refusing to deliver fuel to neighbouring Mali where they face possible attacks by jihadists. An al-Qaeda affiliate imposed a fuel blockade on Mali in September and began attacking petrol tankers on major highways. The landlocked country depends on fuel imports and in July had signed a deal with Niger to supply 85 million litres of fuel over six months to its vast, northern desert region, where various militant groups operate. Niger is an oil-producing country and a major ally of Mali – both run by military…

MICHAEL Carrick has been named Manchester United’s new caretaker manager until the end of the season, with the club set to make an official announcement shortly. Michael Carrick has also agreed to bring in former England assistant manager Steve Holland as his number two. Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion will also be part of Carrick’s staff. Former United and England midfielder Carrick agreed a deal on Monday night, with an announcement due on Tuesday once the necessary paperwork has been signed. United sacked Ruben Amorim after 14 months on 5 January and Darren Fletcher took charge as caretaker…

ALVARO Arbeloa has replaced Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid Head Coach, the club announced on Monday. In a statement, the club said Arbeola, B team manager, would take over the role as Real Madrid’s manager. According to the club, Alonso left by mutual agreement. In a separate statement Madrid then announced Arbeloa would take Alonso’s place, without specifying the length of the 42-year-old’s contract. “Arbeloa has been the coach of Castilla since June 2025 and has developed his entire coaching career in Real Madrid’s academy since 2020,” said Los Blancos. A day after the team lost the Spanish Super Cup…

THREE Palestinians have been killed in the southern Gaza Strip in Israel’s latest violation of October’s ceasefire in its genocidal war on the besieged enclave, according to sources in Gaza, as an anti-Hamas militia has claimed an attack that has killed a senior security officer. An Israeli quadcopter drone struck down three Palestinians in Khan Younis on Monday, the sources told Al Jazeera. According to the sources, a Palestinian woman was also wounded by Israeli gunfire in the al-Batn al-Sameen area of Khan Younis. The attacks came after Israeli army forces carried out air strikes and shelling across several parts…

IRANIAN Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has warned the United States that his country is ready for war if Washington wants to “test” it, after US President Donald Trump threatened to take military action in response to Iran’s crackdown on antigovernment protests. In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera Arabic on Monday, Araghchi said channels of communication with the US were open amid the ongoing unrest but stressed that his country was “prepared for all options”, claiming that Iran now has “large and extensive military preparedness” compared to last year’s 12-day war. His comments follow Trump’s remarks on Sunday, amid nationwide…