Author: Editor

THE Israeli military says it has carried out air strikes on Yemen’s Hodeidah port and a cement factory, claiming the sites were used to support Houthi operations against Israel. The strikes on Monday injured at least 21 people, the Houthi-run health ministry spokesman Anees al-Asbahi said. According to the Israeli army, fighter jets struck infrastructure linked to the Houthis, including a cement factory east of Hodeidah that it described as “an important economic resource” used in building tunnels and military infrastructure. “The Hodeidah seaport serves as a hub for the transfer of Iranian weapons and equipment for military needs,” the…

THE Trump administration said Monday it will pay for the travel and give $1,000 to undocumented migrants who “self-deport” back to their home country. US President Donald Trump said some of the undocumented migrants who take advantage of the self-deportation scheme will be given a path to legally return to the United States. “We’re going to pay each one a certain amount of money, and we’re going to get them a beautiful flight back to where they came from,” Trump told reporters during an event at the White House. “We’re going to work with them so that maybe someday, with…

FOUR Kenyan police officers have been charged with the murder of a six-month-old baby nearly eight years ago. Eight other officers who had originally also been accused alongside the four have had the charges against them dropped by the public prosecutor, sparking criticism. The case relates to baby Samatha Pendo, who was fatally hit in 2017 as police were deployed to quell violence linked to post-election protests in the western city of Kisumu. On Monday, the four officers who are still accused denied multiple charges including murder as a crime against humanity. They also pleaded not guilty to other charges…

THE UN’s top court has dismissed Sudan’s case against the UAE accusing the Gulf state of complicity in genocide. Sudan alleged the UAE supported the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Sudanese civil war, in which tens of thousands of people have died, forced millions from their homes and left many facing famine. The UAE categorically denied the accusations, branding the case “political theatre” and “a cynical publicity stunt”. The International Court of Justice in The Hague ruled that the case could not proceed because the UAE had opted out Article 9 of the Genocide Convention, which means that…

BAYERN Munich were crowned German champions for the 34th time on Sunday, giving striker Harry Kane his first major trophy, after second-placed Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 at Freiburg. Bayern’s 3-3 draw at RB Leipzig on Saturday, when the Bavarians came from two goals down to take the lead before conceding a stoppage-time equaliser, meant defending Bundesliga champions Leverkusen needed to win at Freiburg to delay the title party. Leverkusen were two goals down before scoring twice in the last 10 minutes. But Xabi Alonso’s side could not find a third, as Bayern reclaimed the title at the first attempt after…

ISRAELI attacks on the Gaza Strip have killed at least two dozen people since dawn, medical sources tell Al Jazeera. And more than 3,500 children below the age of five in Gaza face “imminent death by starvation” and about 290,000 others are “on the brink of death”, as Israel continues to prevent the entry of baby formula, nutritional supplements and all forms of humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers and settlers have harassed a Palestinian activist featured in a recent BBC documentary that has received praise for shedding light on the plight of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. As the…

BRAZILIAN police said Sunday they had arrested two people in connection with a foiled plot to attack Lady Gaga’s packed mega-concert in Rio de Janeiro. Rio’s civil police force said that “together with the ministry of justice” it had “prevented a bomb attack that would have occurred at Lady Gaga’s concert in Copacabana” on Saturday night. Officials said the superstar’s free gig on the beach drew up to two million people. Writing on X, Rio police said it had arrested an adult who was “responsible for the plot” as well as a teenager in the operation codenamed “Fake Monster” —…

SUDANESE paramilitaries on Sunday struck Port Sudan, the army said, in the first attack on the seat of the army-aligned government during the country’s two-year war. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF), battling the regular army since April 2023, have increasingly used drones since losing territory including much of Khartoum in March. Army spokesman Nabil Abdallah said in a statement the RSF “targeted Osman Digna Air Base, a goods warehouse and some civilian facilities in the city of Port Sudan with suicide drones”. He reported no casualties and “limited damage”. Red Sea Military Region Commander Mahjoub Bushra told Sudan’s news agency…

A COURT in Tunisia has sentenced former Prime Minister Ali Laarayedh to 34 years in prison on a raft of terrorism charges. He is the latest high-profile critic of the president to be jailed as campaigners slam “sham trials” in the country. The 69-year-old is a prominent opponent of President Kais Saied and leader of Ennadha, a moderate Islamist party that holds the largest number of seats in parliament. Along with seven other people, Laarayedh was charged with setting up a terrorist cell and helping young Tunisians travel abroad to join Islamist fighters in Iraq and Syria. “I am not…

AT least 57 Palestinians have starved to death in Gaza as Israel’s punishing blockade of food, water, and other critical aid to the besieged enclave stretches into its third month amid relentless bombardment. Gaza’s Government Media Office said on Saturday that most of the victims were children, as well as the sick and elderly, condemning the “continued use of food by the Israeli occupation as a weapon of war” and urging the international community to exert pressure on Israel to reopen the borders and allow in aid. Gaza has been under total Israeli blockade since March 2, video obtained by…

SERBIA’s President Aleksandar Vucic was on Saturday admitted to a military hospital in Belgrade on his return from the United States, his office said, without giving a reason. Vucic, who according to Serbian media cut short his trip to visit US President Donald Trump in Florida after feeling unwell, “was admitted to the Military Medical Academy immediately after landing” in Belgrade, his office said. It said it would release more detailed information on Vucic’s health “in good time”. Vucic was originally meant to meet Trump, but cut short his trip after feeling unwell on consultation with a doctor, national Serbian…

A UNITED Nations judge has been jailed for six years and four months for forcing a woman to work as a domestic slave. Lydia Mugambe, 50, was studying for a PhD in law at the University of Oxford when police discovered she had a young Ugandan woman at her home carrying out unpaid work as a maid and nanny. Mugambe, who is also a High Court judge in Uganda, was jailed at Oxford Crown Court on Friday after she was found guilty of modern day slavery offences in March. In sentencing, Judge David Foxton told the defendant she “showed absolutely…

SOUTH Africa’s government handed to his family Saturday the exhumed remains of a political activist whose execution by the apartheid regime 40 years ago caused an international outcry. The ceremony for Benjamin Moloise came amid new scrutiny of politically motivated atrocities committed during white-minority rule, which ended in 1994, with President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing last week an inquiry into delays in prosecutions. Apartheid authorities hanged Moloise in 1985 when he was 30 years old for the killing of a security policeman, which he denied. His execution sparked riots in South Africa and protests from several international capitals. The United Nations…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested the recently sacked managing directors and some top officials of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company. The officials were arrested over alleged mismanagement of funds earmarked for the rehabilitation of the facilities. The total amount under investigation is $2,956,872,622.36. Findings by this newspaper showed that the EFCC is probing the sum of $1,559,239,084.36 allocated to the Port Harcourt refinery, $740,669,600 released for the Kaduna refinery, and $656,963,938 approved for the Warri refinery. The ex-Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company Ltd is…

AFTER crushing defeats by Arsenal in the Champions League and Barcelona in the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid have one remaining ambition — defending their La Liga title. Los Blancos host Celta Vigo on Sunday, aiming to stay hot on league leaders Barcelona’s tail, despite bruises from the cup final fallout this week. Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger was banned for six matches for throwing an object at the referee, and also chose to undergo a knee operation, meaning he is out until the end of the season. Ferland Mendy and David Alaba were also ruled out injured for the…

THE governments of Ireland, Austria, among others, have condemned Israel’s over 60-day blockade of Gaza, as Amnesty International terms the blockage of food and medicine a “war crime”. Also, humanitarian coordinator Amjad Shawa in Gaza warned that more children likely to die from malnutrition as “the whole Strip is starving” due to Israel’s siege. And medical sources say at least 35 people have been killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza Friday alone, with one strike on Bureij killing nine members of the same family. Meanwhile, a ship carrying aid to Gaza in a bid to break Israel’s blockade has been…

PROSECUTORS said Friday a series of coordinated attacks on French prisons were carried out by drug traffickers, with at least one suspect thought to have ties to a notorious cartel. Attackers in April struck at several jails and other facilities across France, torching cars, spraying the entrance of one prison with automatic gunfire and leaving mysterious inscriptions. A total of 30 people, including four minors, were arrested this week in police raids across France. Seven of them were released without charge. The assaults have embarrassed the right-leaning government whose tough-talking ministers of justice, Gerald Darmanin, and interior, Bruno Retailleau, have…

A SOUTH African court on Friday found a woman guilty of trafficking her six-year-old daughter, who has been missing for more than a year, in a case that has outraged the nation. The two-month trial heard statements from various witnesses that Racquel “Kelly” Smith had revealed to them that she had sold her daughter Joshlin in February 2024, including claims she was paid 20,000 rand ($1,085). Judge Nathan Erasmus said the evidence of 35 state witnesses led him to find that Smith, 35, and her two co-accused — a boyfriend and a mutual friend — were guilty on the charges…

GENERAL Muhoozi Kainerugaba, the son of Uganda’s president, has confirmed the detention of an opposition leader’s bodyguard, who has been missing for five days. Edward Sebuufu, alias Eddie Mutwe, was reportedly picked up on Sunday by unidentified individuals in both civilian clothes and military fatigues in the central town of Kiwango, sparking public outrage and concern about his safety. In a series of posts on X, Gen Kainerugabai, who is also Uganda’s military chief, said Mr Sebuufu was “in my basement”, attaching the bodyguard’s photo with a clean-shaven head. He also threatened to use violence against Mr Sebuufu. Gen Kainerugabai’s…

MANCHESTER United took a huge step towards reaching the Europa League final as a stunning spell in the first half against 10-man Athletic Bilbao ensured they take a big advantage into the semi-final second leg at Old Trafford. Playing at a vociferous San Mames Stadium, the visitors could have been 2-0 down after Inaki Williams sent a header from a good position over, before Victor Lindelof blocked Alex Berenguer’s shot on the line. But the game turned dramatically in United’s favour in the 30th minute when Harry Maguire produced some good skill on the right before his cross was flicked…