Israeli jets have attacked the Lebanese capital Beirut, killing dozens of people and causing thousands to flee after Hezbollah launched rockets in response to the bombing of Iran. Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr breaks down what’s been happening as the Iran conflict spills over.
Airspace across much of the Middle East shut down after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory attacks. Thousands of flights were cancelled or rerouted, stranding passengers and disrupting travel worldwide.
Members of Nigeria’s Shia Muslim community are mourning Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who was killed by a US-Israeli attack in Tehran. Demonstrators carried his portrait and waved Iranian flags while they dragged American and Israeli flags along the ground.
The Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, has accused former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi and other opposition figures of double standards over the issue of electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act.
Wike, who spoke during a media chat on Monday, was reacting to the opposition’s rejection of the new 2026 Electoral Act recently signed by the president, particularly the proviso that allows manual transmission of results where electronic transmission fails because of bad network.
He accused Amaechi of persuading former President Muhammadu Buhari not to sign the provision approving electronic transmission of results when they were in power, questioning why the former minister is now complaining about a provision he once opposed.
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“Remember under Buhari, the issue of electronic transmission came. People like Rotimi Amaechi, they were in government, they said ‘no, don’t sign, if you sign you lose election’.
“And this is the same person now who is coming out in the public to say there should be electronic transmission, but he refused simply because he felt his boss would be affected,” Wike said.
He maintained that the new Electoral Act does not prohibit electronic transmission of results but seeks to prevent disenfranchisement by allowing manual transmission where electronic transmission fails.
“Now we are here, they did not say there should not be electronic transmission. All they said is in case, and which is likely, let us not disenfranchise people by not allowing their votes to be counted,” he said.
The former Rivers State governor also addressed another contentious provision in the Electoral Act requiring political parties to conduct direct primaries.
Wike argued that indirect primaries allow wealthy individuals, including governors and ministers, to dominate party structures.
He said the direct primary system introduced by the new law would correct that imbalance.
Wike further described Nigerians as “professional complainants,” arguing that they previously criticised indirect primaries for concentrating power in the hands of party elites and moneybags.
Last week, opposition parties including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), called on the National Assembly to immediately begin a fresh amendment process to remove what they described as “all obnoxious provisions” in the Electoral Act 2026.
The Six Nations trophy is to be “retired from ceremonial use” and replaced after being damaged by fire in an accident during transit.
The trophy was damaged after round three of the tournament, when the vehicle carrying it was involved in an incident, according to a statement on the Six Nations website.
No passengers were injured but the trophy sustained “fire damage” in the aftermath and the manufacturers decided it cannot be restored to its former state.
An “identical exhibition trophy” will be used for the remainder of the championship, with a new one being commissioned in time for the 2027 Six Nations.
“Whilst in transit during round three of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, an incident occurred involving the vehicle carrying the championship trophy,” the statement reads.
“Thankfully no passengers were injured, however the trophy sustained fire damage and following an assessment by the official trophy manufacturer, unfortunately it cannot be restored to its full presentation standard.
“In keeping with these presentation standards, respect for the significance of winning the Six Nations – one of sport’s most prestigious titles – and to preserve the integrity of the trophy and its heritage, it will be retired from ceremonial use.”
The trophy, which is 75cm tall and made of silver, was created in 2015 to reflect the tournament’s evolution to six teams after Italy joined the fold in 2000.
Current holders France are favourites to retain their crown after winning the opening three games of this year’s tournament.
“Whilst this accident is hugely unfortunate, the situation adds another chapter to the history of a trophy that represents one of global sport’s most celebrated tournaments, with its roots reaching back to 1883,” the statement continues.
“A new trophy will be commissioned in the same design as the original, with materials from the original being incorporated into the new trophy, ensuring its history is respectfully transferred to the new creation.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot says most Premier League games are no longer a “joy to watch” and his “football heart doesn’t like” the emphasis on set-pieces this season.
Of the total scored in the league this season, 27.5% have been non-penalty set-piece goals – the second-highest rate since 2009-10.
Arsenal’s prowess from set-pieces has been a key part of their title challenge, with their 16 goals from corners – three more than anyone else – equalling the most in a Premier League season.
All three of Liverpool’s goals in the first half of their 5-2 win against West Ham United on Saturday came from corners.
Set-piece coach Aaron Briggs left Anfield on 30 December and Slot’s side have scored the most goals in the league from set-pieces in 2026, excluding penalties.
“You have to accept it,” said Slot. “I think it’s mainly here in the Premier League. If I watch other leagues I don’t think there’s so much emphasis on set-pieces.
“If I watch an Eredivisie game, which I still do, I see goals being disallowed and fouls on goalkeepers being given and I think ‘wow, that’s a big difference’. Here, you can almost hit a goalkeeper in his face and the referee still says ‘just go on’.
“Do I like it? My football heart doesn’t like it. If you ask me about football, I think about the Barcelona team from 10, 15 years ago. Every Sunday evening you were hoping they would play.
“Now, most of the games I see in the Premier League are not for me a joy to watch but it’s always interesting because it’s so competitive.
“That is what makes this league great because there is so much competitiveness. Everyone can win against everyone.”
Slot accepted that set-pieces are the “new reality of the Premier League” and believes it could even become a theme at junior level.
“We aren’t going to change it,” added the Dutchman as he previewed Tuesday’s game against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Slot has suggested Florian Wirtz is poised to miss the back-to-back games against Wolves this week because of the back injury he sustained in the warm-up against Nottingham Forest last weekend.
The Germany playmaker missed Liverpool’s win against West Ham and is most likely to return in the Champions League game against Galatasaray on 10 March.
“I don’t have anything different to say to what I said on Saturday,” said Slot.
“The game on Tuesday will probably come too soon, and maybe the game on Friday as well.
