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At least 22 people killed as gang violence erupts in Ecuador

At least 22 people have been killed in Ecuador’s port city of Guayaquil after rival factions of a drug trafficking gang exchanged gunfire, highlighting the worsening law and order situation in the country before a presidential race.

Another three people were wounded in the violence, the police said in a statement as the death toll increased from 19 to 22 on Friday.

Police said the gunfight erupted on Thursday after opposing factions of a gang called Los Tiguerones, one of the most powerful in this formerly peaceful country, were caught in a dispute.

Guayaquil’s El Universo newspaper described the killing as a “massacre”, adding that the gangs were fighting over the territories they control.

According to the newspaper, several homes in the Socio Vivienda district of the city were targeted by at least 20 armed gang members, resulting in the multiple deaths.

Images and videos posted on X showed several heavily armed men running around the district of Socio Vivienda during the attack.

Emergency medical workers were also seen rushing injured people for treatment, as dozens of government security forces were deployed to the area.

The latest deaths bring to more than 400 the number of people killed in the area in recent months, El Universo reported.

Ecuador is home to an estimated 20 criminal gangs involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping and extortion, wreaking havoc in a country of 18 million squeezed between the world’s biggest cocaine producers, Peru and Colombia.

In recent years, Ecuador has plunged into violence amid the rapid spread of transnational cartels that use its ports, like Guayaquil, to ship cocaine to the United States and Europe.

Homicides, for example, have risen from six per 100, 000 inhabitants in 2018 to a record 47 in 2023.

Experts say the gangs are constantly mutating and growing stronger with profits from crime.

Guayaquil is the capital of Guayas, one of seven provinces where a state of emergency has been in force for the past two months as the government battles the gangsters.

Last month, the right-wing President Daniel Noboa, who is seeking re-election, said he would ask unspecified allied countries to send special forces to help him wage this fight.

The violence is not letting up as Ecuador gears for a run-off election on April 13 in which Noboa will face leftist Luisa Gonzalez.

Noboa had taken an “iron-fisted” approach to crack down on violent crime, including declaring a state of emergency and deploying the army to the streets.

Human rights groups claim the aggressive use of armed forces has led to abuse, including the murder of four boys&nbsp, whose charred bodies were recently found near an army base.

When Lauren Price met the Prince of Wales

Before winning gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Welsh boxer Lauren Price sat down with the Prince of Wales to talk about her sporting ambitions and her background in football, kickboxing – and even driving taxis.

Price faces Liverpool’s Natasha Jonas on Friday with the WBC, IBF and WBA welterweight world titles on the line.

READ MORE: ‘ Uncalibrated ‘ scales drama at weigh-in

Newcastle defender Botman out for eight weeks

Getty Images

Newcastle United centre-back Sven Botman will be out for about eight weeks because of another knee injury, says manager Eddie Howe.

Botman, 25, returned from a 10-month absence in January after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in March 2024, but has now injured his other knee.

The Netherlands international, who has been limited to just five appearances this season, has missed Newcastle’s past five matches with the new knee injury.

The issue requires an operation and will keep Botman out for about two months.

“We have been trying to get him back to full fitness, he was very close to the Brighton game]on 2 March] but the day before he felt something again in his knee”, said Howe.

“This week he has had the same discomfort so it looks like he will have to have an operation.

Botman joins defender Lewis Hall and forward Anthony Gordon on the list of absentees for the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool on 16 March.

Hall, 20, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a foot injury.

Gordon was sent off in the Magpies ‘ FA Cup fifth-round defeat by Brighton last weekend for raising hands to the face of defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

The former Everton winger will be banned for the final at Wembley after Newcastle decided not to appeal against his dismissal.

” There was no intention from Anthony. He didn’t mean to hurt anybody, “said Howe.

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Georgia Toffolo’s transitional knitted midi dress is now on sale and perfect for spring

Recently, Georgia Toffolo shocked fans by announcing her and fiance James Watt had secretly eloped and tied the knot in a private ceremony. Georgia, who’s more commonly known by her nickname Toff, and her new husband then quickly headed off on their honeymoon around the Scottish highlands, with Toff giving her Instagram followers a quick peek at her outfit before setting off.

Toff opted for Karen Millen’s Compact Wool Look Milano Knit Round Sleeve Midaxi Dress for the journey, and it was the perfect pick for the occasion. Just the right combination of comfy, cosy and chic, you can get your hands on Toff’s knitted midaxi dress on sale on the Karen Millen website now, where it’s been slashed by 35% from £129 to £83.85.

READ MORE: Emma Louise Connolly’s suede bag is ‘ fabulous quality ‘ and ‘ stylish and practical ‘

READ MORE: M&amp, S ‘ viral suede loafers now come in a backless version ready for spring

There’s even better news for bargain hunters too, because if you use the code EXTRA15 by the end of today (March 7) you’ll be able to snag an extra 15% off the dress. That means it’ll then cost you £71.28, a whopping £60 less than its original price.

The midi dress is made from a soft knitted fabric, and has a relaxed bodice and flared skirt that give you plenty of room to move and relax in. However the wide stretchy waistband panel helps create a flattering silhouette, preventing the dress from being too shapeless.

Toff showed off her cosy knitted midi dress (Georgia Toffolo/Instagram)
Karen Millen green knitted midi dress
Toff’s green knitted midi dress is now on sale (Karen Millen)

Its knitted fabric and high neckline are perfect for helping keep you warm in the cooler weather as we transition into spring, but it could just as easily be worn on those slightly warmer days with a lightweight jacket (or no jacket at all!). You can also effortlessly dress it up or down, with everything from loafers and a blazer for work to strappy heels and a clutch for evenings out or even trainers and a leather jacket during the day.

Toff opted to pair her Milano Knit Round Sleeve Midaxi Dress with a pair of chunky boots, a knitted headscarf and some sunglasses, making it the perfect outfit for this awkward in-between weather we’re currently having. Whilst Toff picked the sage green colourway, you can also pick up the dress in a cobalt blue shade, with sizes XS to large still available in both colours.

You can find a similar silhouette to Toff’s dress with the Love &amp, Roses Black Chevron Long Sleeve Knitted Midi Dress for £62 at Next. The black knitted dress has the same fit and flare shape, but features a pop of print with leopard print details on the waistband and the skirt’s chevron pleats at the bottom.

Meanwhile if something more figure hugging is what you’re after, H&amp, M’s Mixed-Knit Dress is down from £32.99 to £28.05 and has a fitted silhouette from top to bottom. It also comes in a similar khaki green shade that’s easy to style.

Nigerian Senate suspends female senator who made sexual harassment claim

The Nigerian Senate has suspended a female senator after she accused its presiding officer of sexual harassment.

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was barred from office from Thursday and will have her allowances and security withdrawn for six months after she made an accusation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who denied the claims against him.

On Wednesday, the Senate ethics committee rejected Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition about the alleged harassment, citing procedural rule violations. Her subsequent suspension&nbsp, was justified over an earlier argument that erupted in the Senate about a change in her seating arrangement.

In a TV interview on February 28, Akpoti-Uduaghan – one of only four women in the 109-seat chamber – alleged that Akpabio made unwanted sexual advances towards her in 2023.

“This injustice will not be sustained”, she said on Thursday after she was prevented from speaking in the Senate and escorted out of the chamber by the sergeant-at-arms.

Akpabio has publicly denied any wrongdoing. “Since the 20th of February, I have been inundated with phone calls from various Nigerians. I would like to state that at no time did I sexually harass Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan”, he said, speaking at the start of a plenary session on Wednesday.

Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Nigeria’s north-central Kogi Central district, shared a statement on her Facebook page in reaction to the suspension.

“Against the culture of silence, intimidation and victim-shaming, my unjust suspension from the Nigerian Senate invalidates the principles of natural justice, fairness and equity”, she said.

“The illegal suspension does not withdraw my legitimacy as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and I will continue to use my duly elected position to serve my constituents and country to the best of my ability till 2027 and beyond”.

Ethics committee ‘ not fit for purpose’?

Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said Akpoti-Uduaghan should use her suspension to “learn the rules of the Senate”.

“I asked her what she will gain if she tries to pull the Senate president down”, Bamidele said during the consideration of the petition on the Senate floor.

Critics like Chioma Agwuegbo, executive director of the women’s rights organisation TechHerNG, condemned the ethics committee’s handling of the case, alleging bias.

“The ethics committee to which her petition was referred has shown that it is not fit for purpose”, Agwuegbo said.

Many prominent Nigerian figures and groups have called for a transparent investigation. Many women also expressed their anger over the expulsion on social media with some calling it “oppression”.

Two groups of protesters gathered at the National Assembly ground on Wednesday in the capital, Abuja, one in support of Akpabio and the other for Akpoti-Uduaghan, chanting “Akpabio must go”.

Akpoti-Uduaghan has filed a lawsuit against the Senate president, seeking 100 billion naira ($64, 000) in damages.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘blood-letting move that’s impossible to repair’

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have made a string of bombshell moves since they dramatically quit their royal roles.

But their most explosive came on this day four years ago, when their eye-raising interview with Oprah Winfrey was first aired on TV. The highly anticipated interview saw the couple lift the lid on life behind Palace walls and make several shocking allegations about their family.

One of the biggest talking points that emerged was when they revealed a senior royal questioned the colour of their unborn son’s skin. Harry also confirmed his relationship with brother Prince William had turned sour and that his father King Charles, then Prince of Wales, had stopped taking his calls.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Oprah
Harry and Meghan’s bombshell chat with Oprah Winfrey was broadcast four years ago today

After a subsequent Netflix series, which also contained damning claims, and Harry’s memoir Spare, the Sussex appear to have turned their backs on launching attacks at the Royal Family.

But despite their new track, royal expert Jennie Bond believes that even four years on, the repercussions are still very much being felt. The former BBC royal correspondent told the Mirror: “The interview was the catalyst for what appears to be an irreversible rift between Harry and William, and a deeply scarred, almost non-existent relationship with his father. It was also a breach of trust that will be impossible to repair.

” The implied suggestion that certain members of the family were racist cut deep and will never be forgotten. The rift the interview caused probably does work against Harry and Meghan with some potential projects. If it comes to staying onside with either Harry or William, the future King, a lot of people are going to choose William, with all the kudos that kind of connection brings. “

 Harry and Meghan have appeared to turn their backs on criticising the Royal Family
Harry and Meghan have appeared to turn their backs on criticising the Royal Family

But even though the interview is still causing huge ramifications, Jennie doesn’t believe that the Sussexes regret doing the chat. She added:” They had a lot to get off their chests and this was a spectacular blood-letting which probably felt good.

“I think, though, that Harry might have regretted the timing of the interview— with his grandfather lying gravely ill in hospital. Now Meghan is making her own way in her celebrity world, and Harry has a number of charitable projects. So I think they’re pretty OK”.

The anniversary of the Oprah chat comes a day after Meghan gave another TV interview – this time on daytime US TV, by appearing on the Drew Barrymore Show. During the chat, she told of her love of being able to “hold and touch and embrace” people after previously revealing her hugging had been ‘ jarring ‘ for the royal family.

Meghan appeared on the show to promote her lifestyle series and brand, and at one point during a baking segment, she was spotted moving a jar of her As Ever jam into the centre of the shot.

Meghan chatted about her “funniest, sweetest, most charming” husband, the Duke of Sussex and told Barrymore their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, have “very American accents” but say the word ‘ zebra ‘ with a British pronunciation. She was introduced to the audience by Barrymore as ‘ Meghan Sussex ‘ after having corrected comedian Mindy Kaling during her Netflix show for referring to her surname as Markle.

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