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PAKISTAN’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has announced that a peace agreement has been reached between the United States and Iran following intensive diplomatic negotiations, describing the development as a major breakthrough in efforts to end hostilities between the two countries. Sharif, who said Pakistan had been playing a mediating role in the talks, made the announcement in a statement posted on X, declaring that both sides had agreed to permanently halt military operations and pursue a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. “Following intensive talks, we are pleased to announce that the Peace Deal between the United States of America and…

VINICIUS Jr spared Brazil the embarrassment of defeat in an opening World Cup match for the first since 1934 as his spectacular solo goal earned a draw for the five-time winners against Morocco at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Brazil fell behind in the 21st minute when Ismael Saibari lifted the ball over the onrushing Alisson Becker from outside the area following a lapse in communication between the Liverpool goalkeeper and his defenders, Gabriel and Marquinhos. It was the first time the African champions had scored against South American opposition at the World Cup, having failed to do so against…

UNITED States President Donald Trump has said an initial agreement to end the US-Israeli war with Iran is “scheduled to get signed tomorrow”. But that announcement, made on Trump’s Truth Social account on Saturday, contradicts an earlier statement by Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei. In remarks carried by Iran’s IRNA news agency, Baghaei said a memorandum of understanding would not be signed on Sunday and that negotiators are not planning to travel immediately to Geneva, Switzerland, in preparation for such an event. According to Baghaei, a signing could happen “in the coming days”. Hours later, Trump wrote,…

AT least three Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, as casualties continue to mount in the enclave despite a “ceasefire” declared months ago. Two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air attack on the al-Amal neighbourhood of Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Saturday, according to medical sources. Several injured people, including a child, were transported to Nasser Hospital. Earlier in the day, an Israeli drone attack in the Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza killed one person and injured two others, reported the Wafa news agency. The Palestinian Information Center identified the person killed as Muawiya…

IN an interview with a local TV station, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said Israel’s recognition of Somalliland marked one of the darkest days in Somalia’s history. He said Mogadishu remained committed to peace in its pursuit of reunification. Israel recognized the breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent state in late December 2025, becoming the first country to do so. But Mogadishu maintains that the recognition is null and void. In Somaliland too, some are opposed to ties with Israel, citing atrocities in Gaza and the occupation of several Muslim countries. Dozens have been arrested for protesting against the alliance, including…

IN Bunia, the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the city’s private clinics are playing a major role in receiving and referring patients, as the population is reluctant to go to public hospitals for fear of contracting the virus. As part of the effort to combat the virus, the administrative authorities in Bunia have asked private clinics to refer suspected Ebola cases to the general hospital, where the Ebola treatment center is located, but some patients are reluctant to transfer. “There are some patients who sometimes refuse to go to the general hospital where the…

WORLD Cup co-hosts the United States and Canada enjoyed encouraging starts to their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaigns on Friday, with the Americans producing a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay while Canada fought back to secure a historic 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina. In Los Angeles, former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun delivered a masterclass, scoring twice as the United States opened their Group D campaign with an emphatic win over Paraguay before a passionate home crowd. Meanwhile, in Toronto, substitute Cyle Larin emerged as Canada’s hero, coming off the bench to score a crucial equaliser that earned the co-hosts their first-ever…

FORMER Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing trial in Britain on rape charges, has been denied a visa to enter Canada to play for Ghana in the World Cup, FIFA said on Friday. “FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s Team Base Camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government,” world football’s governing body said. FIFA said it was “not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas”.…

THE United Arab Emirates has agreed to unlock billions of dollars for Iran, pursuing a tactical shift after weeks of Iranian attacks on the wealthy Gulf Arab state amid its ongoing war with the United States and Israel, four sources told the Reuters news agency. The exclusive report on the move coincided with the final stages of broader negotiations between Tehran and Washington to end the war. Diplomats say those talks involve the release of tens of billions of dollars in Iranian oil revenues frozen in foreign banks under US sanctions. Two regional sources told Reuters that the UAE had…

PRESIDENT Donald Trump has said US forces have killed an “infamous leader” of Tren De Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that the administration has branded a global “terrorist” organisation and drug-smuggling cartel. “At my direction, the United States Southern Command delivered a swift and lethal kinetic strike to successfully execute Niño Guerrero,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social website late on Friday, referring to gang leader Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores. Trump added that the operation was in collaboration with Venezuela. In a statement, Venezuela’s government confirmed it participated in the operation in the southeastern state of Bolivar, stating…

SOUTHWARK Council has confirmed that it has taken possession of a council property linked to Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Bio, following a year-long investigation. The development comes weeks after she discussed the property during an interview with BBC Global Women. During that interview, she spoke about escaping a proposed child marriage, seeking asylum in Britain and eventually becoming one of the most prominent women in Sierra Leone. She also defended retaining the south London council flat, saying: “My children are all British citizens.” She added: “I’m paying for my council house myself. I have not committed any crime.” With…

TWO opposition figures in the DR Congo were injured on Friday at a rally against government plans to change the constitution, broken up by police after clashes with pro-government supporters. In power since 2019, President Felix Tshisekedi, 62, comes to the end of his second, and under the current constitution, final five-year mandate in 2028. He recently declared, however, that he would agree to lead the conflict-plagued country for a third term “if the people wish it” after a referendum on reforming the constitution. The ruling majority has sought for weeks to remove the Congolese constitution’s iron-clad two-term limit for…

REAL Madrid have confirmed the reappointment of Jose Mourinho as head coach. The 63-year-old has agreed a three-year deal and will begin work when the squad return for pre-season training on 13 July. Real Madrid have paid Benfica £13m (15m euros) in compensation to bring the Portuguese head coach back to the Bernabeu – some 13 years after his first stint at the club came to an end. Florentino Perez had vowed to reappoint Mourinho as head coach if re-elected as club president earlier this month. Perez, 79, who has been in office since 2009, beat challenger and renewable energy…

UNITED States President Donald Trump has called off a planned military attack on Iran just hours after threatening to strike key Iranian oil facilities, claiming that negotiations had reached a breakthrough and moved to the highest levels of Iran’s leadership. The dramatic reversal was announced Thursday in a post on Truth Social, roughly five hours after Trump warned that the United States military would be “taking Kharg Island” and other Iranian oil infrastructure sites in the near future. “Based on the fact that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran have been brought to the highest level of Iranian leadership…

MORE than 60 members of the United States Congress have called on Israel to lift restrictions on Palestinian cancer patients in Gaza so that they may seek treatment in hospitals in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Fifty-one members of the House of Representatives and 11 members of the Senate signed Thursday’s letter, addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They include Senators Bernie Sanders and Chris Van Hollen and Representatives Madeleine Dean and Greg Casar. The letter calls on the administration of President Donald Trump to facilitate the medical evacuation of child cancer patients and their caretakers, as…

A DRONE strike on a funeral procession at a cemetery in the Sudanese city of el-Obeid has killed at least four people and injured several others, two rights groups, Sudan Doctors Network and Emergency Lawyers, have said. Both groups blame the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for the attack. Emergency Lawyers said it was part of a series of drone strikes that started on Wednesday evening in which at least 23 people have died in all. The RSF has not commented. El-Obeid, currently in the hands of the army, is a key battleground in Sudan’s three-year civil war which began…

RIGHT groups and the lawyer of jailed Moroccan feminist, Ibtissame Lachgar, warn that her health is declining rapidly because she is not getting the care she needs. She is currently serving a 30-month sentence for offending Islam by wearing a t-shirt that said “Allah” in Arabic, followed by the words “is lesbian”. Her lawyer, Ghizlane Mamouni, says Ibtissame – who is known as Betty, now requires surgery and could face life-threatening complications. “The only option today, given that the appeal is pending and that this is holding up the request for an alternative sentence, is in fact a royal pardon…

CO-HOSTS Mexico made a strong start to their 2026 World Cup campaign as they defeated nine-man South Africa at a packed Azteca Stadium in the tournament opener. Three players were sent off in all, with Mexico reduced to 10 men in the closing moments. Mexico had only needed nine minutes before they delighted their fans with the first goal of the finals. South Africa midfielder Yaya Sithole was tackled by Erik Lira and the ball dropped to Julian Quinones whose powerful strike went though the legs of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams. Quinones almost made it 2-0 just before half-time, but his…

GOVERNOR Abba Kabir Yusuf has approved the appointment of new Special Advisers and the reassignment of several serving advisers as part of a strategic restructuring aimed at strengthening governance and improving service delivery across Kano State. The development was disclosed in a statement sent to News Point Nigeria on Thursday by the Director-General, Media and Publicity, Government House Kano, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa. As part of the restructuring, the governor approved the scrapping of the offices of Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs and Special Adviser on Liaison Offices (Abuja), with the affected officials reassigned to other responsibilities. Following the changes,…

SOMALI referee Omar Artan said the “biggest dream of my life” had been ripped away after he was denied entry to the United States to officiate at the World Cup. Artan, who was named referee of the year in 2025 by the Confederation of African Football, has been dropped from FIFA’s list of officials after he was refused entry to the United States on arrival in Miami on Saturday. Somalia is one of several countries on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration as part of a broader immigration crackdown. A US State Department official told AFP…