Because of Israel’s suffocating blockade of aid, mothers in Gaza are forced to give their children water to keep them alive. Hind Khoudary from Al Jazeera explains.
Gaza mothers forced to give babies water as milk and formula run out
Royal Porthcawl ‘the hardest I’ve seen it’ – Harry
Prior to this week’s AIG Women’s Open, Ladies European Tour player Darcey Harry claims she has never seen her home course Royal Porthcawl set up more forcefully.
For the first time in Wales, the event is held.
Zamfara Security Situation Is Getting Worse – Shinkafi
Dr. Sani Shinkafi, the head of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara State, has vehemently condemned the recent murder of more than 35 kidnapped victims by armed bandits in the state’s Kaura-Namoda Local Government Area.
The former head of the committee, Shinkafi, addressed journalists in Gusau, the capital of Zamfara State, and demanded that the government be prosecuted for killings of bandits in the state. He also criticized the Federal Government for breaking its constitutional obligation to protect lives and property.
He narrated how the bandits executed the victims who had been taken from Banga village in February despite receiving ransom from some of their relatives.
Read more about Boko Haram’s Attempt to Plant IEDs On Borno Bridge.
The bandit kingpin imposed a ransom of N1 million per head, and only 18 relatives were able to pay, he said, adding that 53 of the innocent people who were kidnapped since February had already been done.
Shinkafi claimed that the victims’ accounts of being released showed horrifying crimes by kidnappers while they were being held captive.
“One of the bandits who was released informed the community that the other people had been brutally murdered.”
They were not murdered by bandits, but you carried your relation and killed him by yourself, two people who fought against the bandits’ demands and were immediately shot dead.
One newborn was brutally murdered while three women gave birth in captivity, according to Shinkafi’s harrowing tale.
One of the three women who gave birth to the child was crying, and the bandits complained that the baby was disturbing them after the three women had delivered the baby. The baby was smashed head-on by them as they pulled him out, held his legs, and slammed into a rock. His skull disintegrated, and the mother suffered a serious heart attack and passed away within thirty minutes.
Bello Turji, the notorious bandits’ leader, is accused of attempts by federal authorities to broker peace with Shinkafi, which raised other serious issues.
He claimed that higher authorities had issued orders to the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to stop its efforts to capture Turji.
According to Shinkafi, “The civilian JTF were on the verge of hand-to-hand arresting Turji, and the governor at the top had ordered the governor to put an end to the conflict,” Turji said.
Additionally, he further revealed that a committee led by an Bauchi State senator was allegedly having a peaceful conversation with Turji inside his hideout.
Senator Buba, a member of the Bauchi state’s Senate, traveled to Shinkafi, and he also traveled to our Emir. The Emir called me and confirmed to me that this committee had visited our Emirate, met Turji in his hideout, and agreed to meet him.
“After that visit, Turji released parts 1 and 2 of two videos exhorting other armed bandit groups to embrace peace. What are the methods, how do they embrace peace, and what are their tactics? He inquired.
Dauda Lawal, the governor of Zamfara State, was therefore instructed by Shinkafi to resist any pressure from bandits, under the pretext that previous peace efforts had been unsuccessful.
There is no need for the governor to engage in any peace talks with bandits because they are unreliable, untrustworthy, betrayers and blood lickers, as we hereby request.
Bello Matawalle and Abdulaziz Yari’s previous government negotiated with bandits, but negotiations have failed to produce any agreements.
India join World Cup qualifiers Iran and Uzbekistan in CAFA Cup
The regional football federation has confirmed that India will compete in the Central Asian Football Association’s (CAFA) Nations Cup next month along with Iran and Uzbekistan, both of whom qualified for the FIFA 2026 World Cup.
The second tournament’s schedule will run from August 29 to September 8 with the victory of Iran in the opening contest in 2023.
The hosts are Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
After decades of hostility and conflict since the Soviet Union’s fall in 1991, the regional tournament highlights a significant thaw in diplomatic ties between Central Asian nations.
With only one month left, CAFA said that preparations are in full swing for a tournament that will promote international cooperation and promote football in the area.
The six CAFA members, which include India, will also compete: Afghanistan, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
Oman will participate in the tournament for the second time after receiving an invitation.
Due to its membership in UEFA, Kazakhstan, a vast nation in Central Asia and a major regional power, will not play in the tournament.
The historic Uzbekistan’s victory in the World Cup finals last month was viewed as a sign of Central Asian nations’ rapid expansion, which has traditionally been more successful in combat sports than team sports.
The former Soviet republics of Central Asia have made a number of notable advancements in recent years.
All have a strong state support, with Emomali Rahmon, the president’s son, leading CAFA.
The Indian Super League (ISL), India’s top domestic competition, is currently without a coach, and is in danger of crashing due to a dispute between the federation and its business partner.
Sunil Chhetri, India’s renowned veteran striker, posted on X about the ISL’s future because of the current upheaval.
NBA to host games in London and Manchester
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For the first time since 2019, the NBA will play in 2026 and 2027 in Manchester before making a return trip to the United Kingdom.
On Sunday, January 18, 2026, the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies will play at London’s O2 Arena.
Since London hosted yearly games between 2011 and 2019, it will be the first NBA game to take place in the UK since the Washington Wizards’ victory over the New York Knicks in January 2019.
The teams involved in Manchester’s Co-op Live will be revealed before the start of the season before the start of the regular-season game will be played for the first time in 2027.
The city’s other significant indoor entertainment complex, known as AO Arena, was where the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Philadelphia 76ers previously played their pre-season game in October 2013.
London’s Mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan, stated that the NBA’s arrival to The O2 in January 2026 will further strengthen our position as the undisputed sporting capital of the world.
Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig continued, “Manchester once again has demonstrated what a magnificent draw it is for major events, and we are thrilled to welcome the NBA back to our city.”
In 2026, 2027, and 2028, the NBA will play two games in Europe.
Berlin and Paris will both host a match in 2026, while Paris will do so in 2027.
Before the start of those seasons, the teams that will play in the 2027 and 2028 matches will be named.
NBA’s matches in Europe in 2026, 2027 and 2028
2026
2027
2028
Four Britons attend the NBA announcement.
According to what Premier League sources, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Prime Minister Keir Starmer reportedly had a meeting on Wednesday morning.
In September 2024, Mayor of London Khan met with NBA deputy commissioner and COO Mark Tatum to discuss returning games to London. They have remained in touch regularly.
Khan and Silver discussed the return of the NBA to London and the city’s basketball industry earlier this week, according to what it is known.
Amari Williams, 23, was selected in the second round of the NBA Draft by Boston Celtics, the team that defeated the Boston Celtics, winning in the 2023-24 draft.
Williams will become the fourth NBA player to make an official start for the Celtics later this year.
The New York Knicks’ OG Anunoby is the league’s most recognizable player, while Brooklyn Nets’ OG Tosan Evbuomwan is their star player.
Although Jeremy Sochan (San Antonio Spurs) plays for Poland on a global level, he adds to the list of British NBA players.
CJ Fulton, who was born in Belfast, played for the Minnesota Timberwolves during the summer league, making it possible for him to sign with an NBA team later this year.
The NBA is considering starting a professional men’s league in every European country in collaboration with FIBA, according to NBA commissioner Silver’s announcement in March 2025.
A proposed semi-open league with up to 16 teams that would have permanent clubs in cities like London, Manchester, Berlin, and Paris is currently being considered.
Basketball is currently the second-most-popular team sport in the United Kingdom in terms of participation, with one-and-a-half million people playing on a weekly basis.
related subjects
- Basketball
Wiffen eighth in 800m final at World Championships
Olympic 800-meter freestyle champion Daniel Wiffen was unable to defend his world title after placing eighth in the Singaporean final.
After 300 meters, Wiffen, a native of Northern Ireland, took the lead, but he soon became reeled in and faded as the race progressed.
He had mentioned that he had appendicitis in the weeks leading up to the Worlds, and that despite avoiding surgery, he still felt “really weak” after making it to the final as the final qualifier from the heats.
The 24-year-old admitted to being “comfortable” in the opening moments but quickly sagged because his “stomach was in pieces”
“It’s obvious that I didn’t do my best job, from winning the Olympics last year to finishing eighth in the final,” said Wiffen.
“I’m happy to be in the final and making progress, man. Although not my best performance, I was pleased to be in the final.
Ahmed Jaouadi of Tunisia won the gold medal in a time of 7:36.88, ahead of Sven Schwartz and Lukas Martens from Germany.
After the opening 100 meters, when he was on a world record pace from the outside lane, Wiffen quickly emerged from the blocks and led the race.
At the 300-meter mark, he continued to lead the country, but Jaouadi, Schwatrz, Martens, and Bobby Finke, his American Olympic rival, quickly caught him and passed him.
As Jaouardi extended his lead, the Irishman continued to fall, and Wiffen eventually came home in eighth place, some 22 seconds behind the Tunisian.
After a blistering final 400 meters, Jaouadi’s time was the third-fastest ever in the sport.
When the heats begin on Saturday, Wiffen will attempt to reclaim his 1500-meter freestyle title despite a subpar defense of his 800-meter crown.
Danielle Hill also placed second in the 50-meter backstroke, posting the best time of the season, but fell short of the final by placing 12th fastest in the semi-finals.
After her swim, Hill posted a time of 27.71 seconds and described having “very mixed emotions.”
There is something we need to change in order to improve, she said, noting that I want to be in that final and have spent some time there.
Although I’m disappointed not to be in that final, this week’s test will be very difficult to learn.
related subjects
- Swimming
- Northern Ireland is a sport