ISRAEL’s military has advanced beyond the Litani River in southern Lebanon for the first time since 2006 and appear poised to encircle the major city of Nabatieh. Senior Lebanese military sources on Saturday told the Turkish state news agency Anadolu that Israeli forces had crossed the Litani River, which Israel has declared the perimeter of its unofficial buffer zone. Israeli forces are now on the outskirts of Nabatieh, a city that is key to southern Lebanon’s economy and a cultural hub for the region. If the Shia-majority city were to fall, it would mark a significant development in Israel’s war…
Author: Editor
Read More
THE head of the United Nations health agency is visiting the epicentre of a deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), urging local communities to lead the fight against a disease whose confirmed cases have nearly doubled in two days. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the World Health Organization (WHO) director-general, arrived in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, on Saturday. “The international community is involved under the leadership of the government of DRC, and at the same time, community ownership is important; that’s why we’re here to discuss with the community to see how the response is…
RWANDA’s new nuclear cooperation agreement with Russia may look technical on paper, focused on science, nuclear medicine and energy, but it signals a deeper shift in the geopolitical balance across Africa. While Moscow is deepening its presence on the continent, Washington and other Western powers are increasingly viewed as inconsistent partners, leaving room for countries like Rwanda to explore new alliances. The agreement was signed on May 19 at the Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit in Kigali, where Rwanda’s government emphasised its ambition to become a regional hub for technology, innovation and advanced healthcare. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covers nuclear…
ARSENAL were denied a first Champions League triumph as they lost a penalty shootout to Paris St-Germain who won the competition for a second successive year. The French champions beat Arsenal 4-3 on penalties to win the 2025-26 edition of the competition at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday. The match had finished 1-1 after 120 minutes before PSG held their nerve from the spot to clinch back-to-back European titles. Kai Havertz gave Arsenal the lead in the sixth minute after a midfield clearance by Marquinhos deflected into his path, with the German slotting past Matvei Safonov. Ousmane…
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday said the removal of fuel subsidy by his administration saved the country from imminent bankruptcy and laid the foundation for the gradual recovery of the nation’s economy. News Point Nigeria reports that Tinubu spoke when he hosted state governors who came to celebrate with him the Sallah and the third anniversary of the administration. In attendance were the Governors of Lagos, Nasarawa, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Taraba, Niger, Ekiti, Delta, Ondo, Edo, Adamawa, Benue, Enugu, Ogun, and Kogi States, as well as the deputy governors of Borno and Kano. President Tinubu acknowledged that the decision…
CHAMPIONS League finals are often decided by a single moment of magic, and both Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain are relying on their unselfish star wingers to conjure that up in Budapest. Arsenal depend on a staunch defence, but Bukayo Saka’s return from injury near the end of the season boosted Mikel Arteta’s team as they clinched the Premier League title. Luis Enrique’s PSG are a more thrilling attacking force, but one player has stood out this season, above all in Europe: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Saturday’s final at the Puskas Arena might hinge on which winger shines brighter. Kvaratskhelia has been, arguably,…
US President Donald Trump said Friday that he was making his decision on a potential deal with Iran, though Tehran insisted there was still “no final agreement” on ending the Middle East war. US sources had told AFP the deal was just waiting on Trump’s sign-off following weeks of halting negotiations to end a conflict that has engulfed the Middle East and shaken the global economy. Trump attended a two-hour meeting in the White House Situation Room on Friday, but did not reach a decision on any new deal with Iran, The New York Times reported. Trump announced the meeting…
AT least 14 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes targeting towns in southern Lebanon, according to state-run media, as Lebanese and Israeli military delegations hold security talks at the Pentagon. The attacks on Friday came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces had crossed the Litani River in Lebanon, which runs about 30 kilometres (about 19 miles) north of their shared border, in an expanded ground offensive. Israel’s latest military operation started despite the “ceasefire” that began on April 17, and was extended for 45 days on May 17 following indirect talks mediated by the United States.…
THE parliament in Ghana has approved a new bill criminalising homosexuality and the promotion of LGBTQ+ activities. Identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual transgender or queer can be punished by up to three years’ imprisonment. The bill also introduces a “duty to report” prohibited acts to police. Religious leaders have pressured President John Dramani Mahama, who still needs to ratify the legislation, to strengthen anti-gay laws since he came to power last year. The ban has been sharply criticised by international organisations, including Human Rights Watch, which said it placed LGBTQ+ peoples’ lives at risk while also “encouraging citizens to surveil…
EIGHT students alleged to have been involved in a suspected arson attack at a Kenyan girls’ school that killed 16 pupils have been arrested, police say. The fire in the early hours of Thursday morning at the Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, about 120km (77 miles) north-west of capital city Nairobi, tore through the upper floor of a dormitory which had 135 bunk beds. After interviews with students and staff and a forensic review of CCTV footage, eight pupils at the school were identified as “persons of interest in connection with the planning and execution” of the fire, the National…
AS the curtain draws close on the 2025/2026 campaign across Europe and some parts of the world, Nigerian players were among those on the victorious sides, winning titles and achieving other personal feats. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that from the Turkish Süper Lig to Scotland and Portugal, Nigerian stars dazzled, helping their teams scoop titles. While some of them won leagues, others clinched cup titles, signalling their quality, class, and consistency across Europe. While Kelechi Iheanacho may no longer be in the English Premier League, the Nigerian forward enjoyed a productive campaign in the Scottish first division. The former…
LIONEL Messi will play in a sixth World Cup as he captains holders Argentina at the 2026 tournament. The 38-year-old forward, who led his country to a third World Cup triumph in Qatar with a penalty shootout victory over France four years ago, was named in Lionel Scaloni’s 26-man squad on Thursday. With 26 appearances, Messi holds the current record for the most World Cup matches by any player – and will join Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, as the only male players to appear in a sixth edition of football’s biggest event this summer. Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez, who…
THE United Nations has “added Israel to the blacklist of sexual violence in conflict zones”, prompting Israel to cut ties with UN chief Antonio Guterres, the country’s ambassador to the UN says. “We are done with this secretary-general,” Israeli ambassador Danny Danon added in a video posted on X on Thursday, denouncing the upcoming report from Guterres’s office. The UN secretary-general’s annual report on conflict-related sexual violence is customarily presented to relevant states before publication. Last August, the report warned that Israel could be added to the list of parties suspected of, or responsible for, sexual violence in situations of…
THE United States and Iran have reached a preliminary memorandum of understanding (MOU) to extend the ceasefire between the two countries for 60 days and start negotiations for permanently ending the war, according to officials. The US sources told Al Jazeera on Thursday that the framework still needs President Donald Trump’s final approval. If finalised, the agreement would be a major breakthrough after weeks of stalled diplomacy. But details of the tentative deal remain obscure. It is also unclear whether the 60-day extension represents a deadline for the negotiations. The ongoing truce is already open-ended. The MOU would come after…
THE death of 16 students in a fire on Thursday has once again sparked concerns over the safety of Kenya’s boarding schools. The tragedy, which occured at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, about 120km (77 miles) north-west of capital city Nairobi, follows a string of deadly fires at boarding schools in recent years. The authorities are still investigating the cause of Thursday’s fire but parents of the students, along with Kenyans on social media, have been questioning how prepared boarding schools are for fires and whether dormitories meet the required safety standards. Roughly 12 hours after the fire, several parents…
ONGOING conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo is hampering the Ebola outbreak response, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Ituri province in the east of the country was at the centre of a “catastrophic collision of disease and conflict”. In a statement posted on X, Tedros said the WHO could not “build community trust or isolate the sick while bombs are falling”. He is due to travel to DR Congo this week to spearhead efforts to contain the virus. Meanwhile Uganda has announced it is temporarily closing its border with…
SUPER Eagles head coach, Éric Chelle, has congratulated Man of the Match Femi Azeez following his impressive goal-scoring debut for Nigeria, while also highlighting areas of the Millwall winger’s performance that still require improvement. News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Azeez enjoyed a dream debut for the Super Eagles after scoring twice in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over the Warriors of Zimbabwe in the Unity Cup semi-final played at The Valley on Tuesday. The Millwall winger opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute after being set up by striker Terem Moffi. Moffi later provided another assist for Azeez, who…
CRYSTAL Palace on Wednesday beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the UEFA Conference League final in Leipzig to win their first European trophy in the club’s history. France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta turned in a rebound early in the second half to send departing manager Oliver Glasner out in style and dash Rayo’s own hopes of their first major trophy. Glasner departs with a third trophy in two years as Palace manager, the most successful period in the club’s history, after dashing Rayo’s hopes of landing their first major silverware. “I feel fantastic,” Mateta told TNT Sports. “First time in Europe, we…
UNITED States President Donald Trump has threatened to use military force against Oman if it collaborates with Iran to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz. At a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, a reporter asked Trump to weigh in on the idea of Oman and Iran overseeing trade on the strategic waterway, which handles more than 20 percent of the world’s global oil traffic. “Would you accept a short-term deal that allows Iran and Oman to control the strait?” the reporter asked. Trump replied with a seemingly offhand threat. “Nobody is going to control it. It’s international waters, and Oman…
THE UN climate chief said Wednesday that a record-breaking early heatwave scorching a swathe of western Europe was “a brutal reminder of the spiraling impacts of the climate crisis”. With temperatures remaining stubbornly above 30C across much of northern Europe and predicted to go up again Thursday, UN climate chief Simon Stiell said the “main culprit” was humanity’s burning of coal, oil and gas — the primary driver of climate change. “The science is clear that human-induced climate change is making these heatwaves more frequent and extreme,” Stiell said in a statement. He also noted extreme conditions gripping India, where…