Author: Editor

PHILIPPE Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, has accused Israel of engineering the “most cruel and Machiavellian scheme to kill” in Gaza, which has become “the graveyard of children and starving people”. The UN’s World Food Programme says that as Israeli attacks intensify, hunger in Gaza is “worse than ever”, with 90,000 children needing urgent treatment from malnutrition. Meanwhile, as reported, the Israeli army plans to concentrate a vast percentage of Gaza’s population into a camp in south Gaza’s Rafah, from which they would not be able to leave. The plan is part of Israel’s proposed ceasefire…

THE United Nations has appealed to the international community to bolster its support for Haiti after a report revealed that gang violence has claimed 4,864 lives from October to June. More than 20 percent of those deaths unfolded in the departments of Centre and Artibonite, indicating that intense violence is spilling into the areas surrounding the capital, Port-au-Prince. In a report released on Friday, the UN explained that the growing presence of gangs like Gran Grif in those areas appears to be part of a broader strategy to control key routes connecting the capital to Haiti’s north and its border…

THERE are “reasonable grounds” to believe war crimes and crimes against humanity are being committed in western Sudan, said the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the United Nations Security Council on Thursday. Targeted sexual violence against women and girls of specific ethnicities was named as one of the most disturbing findings to emerge from an ICC investigation into crimes committed in Darfur. War broke out between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023, leading to what the UN calls “devastating civilian casualties”. ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said it was “difficult to find appropriate…

ON Monday, as anti-government protests swept across parts of Kenya, 12-year-old Bridgit Njoki sat watching television in her family’s modest home. She had no idea that the deadly clashes between these protesters and Kenya’s armed police would find their way into her living room. A single bullet pierced the roof, puncturing the ceiling and striking Njoki in the head, her mother, Lucy Ngugi, tells the BBC. Within hours, she was pronounced dead in hospital. “She was my everything,” Ms Ngugi says, while sobbing in her home just outside the capital, Nairobi. “She was all I had.” “Let me be the…

PREMIER League side West Ham United are reportedly eyeing a summer move for Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman as a potential replacement for Mohammed Kudus, according to Sky Sports France. With Kudus attracting serious interest from Tottenham Hotspur, the Hammers are preparing for his possible departure and have identified Nigerian international Ademola Lookman as a top target. The 27-year-old enjoyed a sensational campaign with Atalanta last season, scoring 20 goals and registering seven assists in 40 appearances across all competitions. His standout performances have placed him firmly on the radar of clubs across Europe. Lookman, who previously played in the Premier…

ISRAELI forces intensify air and ground attacks on Gaza, killing at least 82 Palestinians, including nine aid seekers, across the besieged territory in 24 hours, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry. The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees slams Israeli plans for the mass displacement of Palestinians towards Rafah in southern Gaza. Doctors at Gaza’s largest hospitals say the lives of more than 100 premature babies and 350 dialysis patients are at risk because of fuel shortages caused by Israel’s ongoing siege. Meanwhile, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) has urged Canadian Prime Minister…

MAHMOUD Khalil, a former student activist imprisoned for more than three months, has filed a wrongful detention claim against the administration of President Donald Trump, seeking $20m in damages. Thursday’s court filings allege that the Trump administration smeared his reputation, maliciously prosecuted Khalil and unlawfully imprisoned him. The claim names the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of State as defendants. In an interview with The Associated Press (AP), Khalil said he hopes his claim will show that the Trump administration cannot bully activists into silence. “They are abusing their power because…

LESOTHO has declared a national state of disaster over the country’s “high rates of youth unemployment and job losses” as uncertainty over US tariffs hits the landlocked nation. Lesotho was hit by higher tariffs than any other country – 50% – when they were announced by President Donald Trump in April, although they have since been paused. Deputy Prime Minister Nthomeng Majara said the state of disaster would be in force until 30 June 2027. Unemployment in Lesotho stands at 30% but for young people the rate is almost 50%, according to official figures. The declaration, in line with the…

KENYA’s President William Ruto has ordered police to shoot protesters targeting businesses in the legs, ensuring they are incapacitated but not killed. The UN and human rights groups have accused the police of using excessive force in the recent wave of anti-government protests – 31 people were killed on Monday, according to a state-run body. “Anyone caught burning another person’s business or property should be shot in the leg, hospitalised, and later taken to court. Don’t kill them, but ensure their legs are broken,” the president said. He further warned his political rivals against sponsoring and using violent protests and…

PARIS St-Germain demolished Real Madrid to set up a Fifa Club World Cup final against Chelsea on Sunday. This semi-final tie at the MetLife Stadium was over as a contest within 24 minutes as the Champions League winners tore the Spanish side apart. Fabian Ruiz tapped in the sixth-minute opener following a big mistake from Real defender Raul Asencio – after the referee let play continue following Thibaut Courtois’ foul on Ousmane Dembele. French winger Dembele raced away three minutes later to finish calmly after a mis-kick from Antonio Rudiger. Ruiz then slotted home the third after a fantastic give-and-go…

ISRAEL intensifies air attacks across the Gaza Strip with a missile barrage pounding a densely populated residential area in Gaza City. Health officials warn hundreds of patients will die from power outages in hospitals in Gaza as fuel supplies expire because of Israel’s blockade. At least 105 Palestinians, including seven aid seekers, have been killed and 530 injured in Israeli attacks across Gaza in the past 24-hour reporting period, according to the territory’s Health Ministry. Meanwhile, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned continuing Israeli bombardment is driving up casualties, displacing civilians and destroying essential…

A SOUTH Korean court has issued an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk-yeol over his attempt to impose martial law on December 3. The arrest warrant was issued in the early hours of Thursday, according to the South Korean news agency Yonhap. Yoon had appeared in a Seoul court on Wednesday for a seven-hour hearing to review the arrest warrant requested by prosecutors, and was then taken to a detention centre while he waited for the court’s decision. Yoon, a conservative, was removed from his position as president by South Korea’s Constitutional Court in April over his martial law…

US President Donald Trump will host five leaders from West Africa Wednesday for a White House summit aimed at fostering trade to counter the growing regional influence of Russia and China. The White House is seeking to strengthen economic ties with the mineral-rich region as it curbs foreign aid to Africa, where countries have been hit by a 10 percent global import tariff announced by Trump. Talks with the presidents of Senegal, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Gabon are expected to focus on commercial opportunities and security. “This summit marks a pivot point and test for how the Trump administration’s foreign…

TUNISIAN opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi has been sentenced to 14 years in prison, adding to a string of other jail terms he has received in separate cases. Ghannouchi, who heads the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, was among 18 politicians and officials sentenced on Tuesday for “conspiring against state security”. Ghannouchi’s defence team denied the charges brought against the 84-year-old, saying the proceedings did not meet the standards of a fair trial. Over the past few years, rights groups have repeatedly denounced the jailing of opposition figures in Tunisia, saying the sentences highlight an aggressive crackdown against critics of President Kais…

CHELSEA reached the final of the Club World Cup as two goals from new signing Joao Pedro helped sink Brazilian side Fluminense. The 23-year-old, making his full debut against his boyhood club, curled home his first goal in the 18th minute after former Blues defender Thiago Silva failed to clear Pedro Neto’s cross. His second, a powerful shot which went in off the bar in the 56th minute, sealed victory. The win ensures Chelsea add £22m to the £60m already earned at the competition, with Joao Pedro quickly helping to repay some of the £55m paid to sign him from…

BRITISH Foreign Secretary David Lammy has decried the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying that the United Kingdom could take further action against Israel if a ceasefire deal to end the war in the Palestinian territory does not materialise. Speaking to the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Lammy also criticised the new aid distribution mechanism in Gaza via a group backed by the United States and Israel, dubbed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). “We’ve been very clear that we don’t support the aid foundation that has been set up,” Lammy said. “It’s not doing a good job. Too many people…

THE death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas rose to more than 100 on Tuesday, as rescuers continued their grim search for people swept away by torrents of water. Among the dead were at least 27 girls and counselors who were staying at a youth summer camp on a river when disaster struck over the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Forecasters have warned of more flooding as rain falls on saturated ground, complicating recovery efforts involving helicopters, boats, dogs and some 1,750 personnel. “There is still a threat of heavy rain with the potential to cause flooding,” Texas Governor Greg…

SOUTH Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has opposed what he calls the “unilateral” higher trade tariffs imposed on his country by the US. US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would subject imports from South Africa to a new 30% tariff from 1 August. It is the only country from sub-Saharan Africa that Trump singled out in his announcement, reflecting his strained relationship with Ramaphosa’s government. In a letter to Ramaphosa, Trump said South Africa’s trade relationship with the US “has been, unfortunately, far from reciprocal”. In his response, Ramaphosa maintained the 30% tariff “is not an accurate representation…

THE first malaria treatment suitable for babies and very young children has been approved for use. It’s expected to be rolled out in African countries within weeks. Until now there have been no approved malaria drugs specifically for babies. Instead they have been treated with versions formulated for older children which presents a risk of overdose. In 2023 – the year for which the most recent figures are available – malaria was linked to around 597,000 deaths. Almost all of the deaths were in Africa, and around three quarters of them were children under five years old. Malaria treatments for…

EKITI State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Monday dismissed a report claiming he, alongside some leaders and office holders in the state, were being led to the African Democratic Congress by the immediate past Governor of the State, Dr Kayode Fayemi. Oyebanji, who described the report as false and misleading, described it as “Nothing but another tissue of lies from the camp of some disgruntled elements in the state. “But, keeping quiet in the midst of such a bare-faced falsehood would amount to a disservice to the good people of the state, some of whom could be hoodwinked into believing the…