Author: Editor

KYLIAN Mbappe marked his first game as France captain on Friday with two goals and an assist as the World Cup finalists romped to a 4-0 win against a depleted Netherlands side in a Euro 2024 qualifier in Paris. Mbappe has succeeded long-standing France skipper Hugo Lloris and the new era got off to a flying start as the Paris Saint-Germain superstar set up the pink-haired Antoine Griezmann to score inside two minutes. Dayot Upamecano bundled in the second goal in the eighth minute and Mbappe got his name on the scoresheet to make it 3-0 before the midway point…

ROMELU Lukaku scored a hat-trick to lead Belgium to victory against Sweden in their Euro 2024 qualifier and upstage Zlatan Ibrahimovic on his international return. Lukaku headed in a first-half opener before turning in from close range, and then slotted in late on. Ibrahimovic, 41, came on in the 73rd minute to a standing ovation from the Swedish fans. It was his first international appearance for almost a year. At 41 years, five months and 21 days, Ibrahimovic had initially been hailed as breaking the the record, held by Italian goalkeeper Dino Zoff since 1983, as the oldest man to…

A WOMAN burned alive in a town square by her jilted ex-boyfriend died following five days of agony, Peru’s women’s minister said Friday, slamming police for their slow response. Katherine Gomez, 18, was admitted to the hospital last Saturday suffering from burns to 60 percent of her body. “She fought for her life but, unfortunately, the amount of damage she suffered made it impossible for doctors to save her life and they told us she has died,” Minister Nancy Tolentino told RPP radio station. The grim case has shocked Peruvians. According to police, the perpetrator was a 19-year-old Venezuelan who…

A PLANNED visit to France from Sunday by King Charles III has been postponed due to ongoing protests over pension reform, the French presidency announced.“Given the announcement yesterday of another national day of protests against pension reform on Tuesday March 28, the visit of Charles III, initially scheduled from 26-28 March, has been postponed,” a statement said. Charles was due to arrive with Queen Consort Camilla on Sunday evening before spending a day in Paris on Monday and travelling to Bordeaux in the southwest on Tuesday. The trip was due to be his first foreign tour as sovereign since ascending…

AT least 34 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa – including children and babies – are missing off the Tunisian coast after their boat capsized. It is the fifth migrant boat to sink in two days, with seven people confirmed dead so far, and 67 still missing. Authorities believe the boat was heading for Italy. The Tunisian coast guard has reportedly stopped 56 boats from leaving the country, bound for Italy, in the past two days. Houssem Jebabli from the Tunisian National Guard said that more than 3,000 migrants had been detained attempting to leave the country. Tunisia has become a launch…

PAUL Rusesabagina, a former hotel manager portrayed as a hero in the Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda, is to be released from prison in Kigali. Two years ago, he was sentenced to 25 years for terrorism by a Rwandan court in what supporters called a sham trial. A government spokesperson said Mr Rusesabagina’s sentence had been “commuted by presidential order”. Mr Rusesabagina, 68, is credited with saving some 1,200 people during the 1994 genocide. In a statement his family told the BBC: “We are pleased to hear the news about Paul’s release. The family is hopeful to reunite with him soon.”…

CRISTIANO Ronaldo celebrated his world-record 197th men’s international appearance by scoring twice as Portugal thrashed Liechtenstein in their Euro 2024 qualifying opener. The 38-year-old has now scored a men’s record 120 international goals. He made his international debut in 2003 and in Qatar last year became the first man to score in five World Cups. Ronaldo added to his goals tally with a second-half penalty before finding the top corner with a free-kick. The forward – now playing in Saudi Arabia for Al Nassr – had been frustrated in front of goal during the first period, blazing a clear-cut chance…

NEW France captain Kylian Mbappe said team-mate Antoine Griezmann’s disappointment at being overlooked for the role is “understandable”. Mbappe, 24, was named skipper this week after the international retirement of World Cup-winning captain Hugo Lloris. Griezmann, 32, was reportedly unhappy to only be vice-captain with one report suggesting he was considering retiring. “I spoke to Antoine because he was disappointed and frankly it is understandable,” Mbappe said. “I told him that I might have reacted in the same way. “What I told him was that as long as I am captain and he is vice captain, I won’t be superior…

HARRY Kane became England’s all-time record goalscorer as they opened their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a first victory in Italy since 1961. Kane wrote his name into the history books in the 44th minute when he beat Gianluigi Donnarumma from the penalty spot for his 54th goal, overtaking previous record holder Wayne Rooney. Declan Rice gave England an early lead when he scored from close range after Kane’s shot was blocked before the captain put memories of his penalty miss against France in the World Cup quarter-final in Qatar aside with an emphatic spot-kick. Italy, whistled off at half-time…

THE US and Canada have reached a deal to reject asylum seekers at unofficial border crossings, officials say. US President Joe Biden and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau will announce the pact on Friday during Mr Biden’s visit to Ottawa. The accord is expected to allow officials on both sides of the border to turn back such asylum seekers heading in either direction. The US side has also seen a rise in migrant crossings there from Canada. The move is part of efforts to limit an influx of migrants at Roxham Road, an unofficial crossing between New York state and the…

UKRAINE President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday told European leaders that “delays” sending fighter jets and long-range missiles could extend the war, after he paid a visit to the frontline southern region of Kherson. On the train home from the war-ravaged areas, Zelensky gave an emotional account of what he had seen as he addressed a summit of his EU counterparts gathered in Brussels via video link, an EU official said. But, while he welcomed a recent EU plan aimed at sending Kyiv one million artillery shells, he kept up his demand for modern warplanes and missiles he believes will be…

FOUR Kenyan MPs have been charged with unlawful assembly after taking part in anti-government protests on Monday, the Reuters news agency says quoting their lawyer. During the demonstrations police tear-gassed opposition leader Raila Odinga’s convoy in the capital, Nairobi. Running battles took place on the main Kenyatta Avenue between police and demonstrators, some of whom threw stones at the security officers. The protests also spread to other cities, with a university student reportedly shot dead in Kisumu. Speaking on Thursday, Mr Odinga condemned what he described as “illegal arrests” – two of those held were leading members of the opposition…

SOUTH African opposition minority party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has said Russian President Vladimir Putin is welcome to visit Pretoria despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him. The ICC, which South Africa is a signatory to, has accused Mr Putin of war crimes, which include the kidnapping of Ukrainian children in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Mr Putin is scheduled to travel to South Africa for the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in August. EFF leader Julius Malema on Thursday said no one was going to arrest Mr Putin…

INEOS owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim will submit improved bids to buy Manchester United after the initial deadline was extended at their request amid confusion on Wednesday night. Bidders were told they had until 21:00 GMT to submit second, revised bids. BBC Sport has been told several other proposed investors met the initial deadline. It is unclear when the new deadline will be. Ratcliffe and Sheikh Jassim are the only publicly declared bidders. Initially on Wednesday evening there had been strong indications that the pair had submitted fresh bids. It is now understood that over the…

FORMER Arsenal, Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil has retired from football at the age of 34. Ozil won nine trophies during his club career including four FA Cups and the Spanish La Liga title in 2012. He also won 92 caps for Germany and was part of the team that lifted the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. “It has been an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments and emotions,” Ozil said in a statement on social media. “I’ve had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for…

THE Saudi Arabian and Iranian foreign ministers spoke by phone to mark the beginning of Ramadan and have agreed to meet “soon” to start the process of re-opening embassies and consulates, according to Saudi Arabia’s foreign affairs ministry. The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, had a call with his counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and the pair “exchanged greetings and congratulations on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan”, which begins on Thursday in both countries, the ministry said. “The two ministers agreed to hold a bilateral meeting soon, to pave the way for the reopening of…

THE US central bank has raised interest rates again, despite fears that the move could add to financial turmoil after a string of bank failures. The Federal Reserve increased its key rate by 0.25 percentage points, calling the banking system “sound and resilient”. But it also warned that fallout from the bank failures may hurt economic growth in the months ahead. The Fed has been raising borrowing costs in a bid to stabilise prices. But the sharp increase in interest rates since last year has led to strains in the banking system. Two US banks – Silicon Valley Bank and…

ZIMBABWE has awarded civil servants a 100% salary increment as part of efforts to improve their welfare, the government-owned daily The Herald reports. However, the increase just about keeps pace with Zimbabwe’s high inflation, which stands at 92.3% according to latest figures. This means the prices in shops are rising at almost the same rate as the salary hike. The pay review includes an improved $250 Covid-19 allowance for all civil servants and a $80 monthly allowance for teachers, a statement from the finance ministry is quoted as saying. The review takes effect from 1 March in the security sector…

KENYA and Uganda have increased surveillance on their border with Tanzania after the Marburg virus killed five people in the neighbouring country. High fever is a common symptom of the deadly Ebola-like virus, often followed by bleeding and organ failure. Uganda has ordered immediate screening and testing at its southern border. Health teams have also been put on high alert at border crossings in the districts of Kyotera and Isingiro. Kenya’s Health Director General Patrick Amoth has advised members of the public to report any unusual increase in people who have a high fever and recently travelled to Tanzania. “Such…

THE lawmaker representing Kano North in the Senate, Senator Jubrin Barau, has officially announced his intention to run for the position of President of the Senate in the 10th National Assembly. His declaration is coming a day after the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, said it is his turn to be the Senate President of the country. Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly Wednesday morning, Senator Barau said competence, capacity and experience should be the factors to determine who should be the President of the Senate in the 10th Assembly. On the matter of religious considerations bearing…