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A picture shows a detail of a newly restored fresco in the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina where an angel is reported resembling Italy’s Prime…
A man sells newspapers in a street, following an attack on the international airport in Niamey, Niger, yesterday. Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack on the airport in Niger’s capital Niamey in a statement yesterday, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks militant activity and communications worldwide.The Islamic State affiliate in the region has been linked to high-profile attacks in Niger in recent months, killing over 120 people in the Tillaberi region in September and abducting an American pilot in October.The attack on the airport began on Wednesday night and involved gunfire and loud explosions before calm returned on Thursday morning.Niger’s military ruler, Abdourahamane Tiani, accused the presidents of France, Benin and Ivory Coast on Thursday of sponsoring the attack, without offering any evidence. He also vowed retaliation. Security forces control traffic in a street,…
South Africa ordered Israel’s top diplomat to leave the country within 72 hours yesterday, citing a “series of violations” and prompting the Israeli government to expel Pretoria’s own diplomatic representative.Ties between the nations are already strained by South Africa’s case before the UN top court in 2023 to argue that Israel’s war on Gaza amounts to genocide.The South African foreign ministry said it had informed Israel that its charge d’affaires, Ariel Seidman, was “persona non grata” and “required to depart from the Republic within 72 hours”.”This decisive measure follows a series of unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa’s sovereignty,” it said.Breaches included “the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch insulting attacks” on President Cyril Ramaphosa, the statement said.The foreign ministry also accused the embassy of a “deliberate failure” to inform South Africa of visits by senior Israeli officials.The Israeli foreign ministry swiftly responded that South Africa’s senior diplomatic representative, Shaun Byneveldt, “is persona non grata and must leave Israel within 72 hours”.South African officials were angered by a tweet from the Israeli embassy in November that commented: “A rare moment of wisdom and diplomatic clarity from President Ramaphosa.”The post was in reaction to a news story citing Ramaphosa as saying “boycott politics doesn’t work”, in reference to US President Donald Trump’s decision to not attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg.South African government officials also condemned as a breach of protocol a visit by an Israeli delegation this month to the Eastern Cape province where delegates reportedly offered to provide water, healthcare and agriculture expertise.South Africa is sharply critical of Israel and largely supportive of the Palestinian cause.The government filed a case against Israel with the International Court of Justice in 2023 saying that its war on Gaza — which followed the October 2023 storming of Israel by fighters from the Palestinian group Hamas — breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.Israel has denied that accusation.When more than 150 Palestinians flew into South Africa in November without departure stamps from Israel on their passports, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said there appeared to be “a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank”.There have been regular protests in South Africa against the Israeli government’s and military’s actions in Gaza, including calls for the embassy in Pretoria to be closed.South Africa’s ties with the Trump administration — a strong ally of Israel — have also deteriorated over the past year, with the case before the ICJ a major sticking point. Source link
A satellite image shows trucks amassed at the Rafah border crossing, between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The head of the Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) Ali Shaath yesterday announced that the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza will reopen next Monday. In a post on his social media account, Shaath stated he is officially announcing the reopening of the Rafah crossing after the completion of the necessary arrangements between the relevant parties for its operation in both directions, starting next Monday.He explained that tomorrow will be a trial day for testing the crossing’s operational procedures. Earlier yesterday, the Israeli occupation authorities officially announced the partial reopening of the Rafah crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt next Sunday, provided that travellers and those returning undergo Israeli security checks, after nearly 20 months of complete closure.They stated that travel from the Gaza Strip will be fully co-ordinated with Egypt and subject to Israeli security approval, and that return to Gaza will be limited to those who left the Strip during the war.The Israeli occupation army completely closed the Rafah crossing on May 7, 2024, following its invasion and occupation of Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip.The army seized control of the only land crossing connecting the Strip to the outside world, before later destroying all its buildings and facilities. Its reopening was one of the provisions of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, but the occupation refused to implement it.The closure of the Rafah land crossing throughout the past period has posed a major dilemma for residents of the Gaza Strip. It prevented the entry of humanitarian and medical aid during and after the war. According to the ministry of health, its closure resulted in the deaths of more than 1,000 patients and wounded individuals who were waiting to travel for treatment outside Gaza.Meanwhile, approximately 20,000 others are waiting to travel urgently for treatment. The closure has also shattered the dreams and futures of thousands of students who received scholarships to study at Arab and international universities. (QNA) Source link
People inspect one of the tents, housing displaced Palestinians in the Mawasi area of Khan Yunis, in southern Gaza Strip, following Israeli strikes. Two Palestinians were martyred and six injured yesterday as Israeli forces struck Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza and Khan Yunis in the south. A woman…
The death toll from the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has risen to 71,769 martyrs in addition to 171,483 wounded since October 7, 2023.Medical sources reported today that a total of 17 martyrs have arrived at Gaza Strip hospitals in the past 48 hours, including 12 new martyrs since dawn today, and 49 wounded. A number of victims remain under the rubble and in the streets, as ambulance and rescue teams have been unable to reach them.The sources indicated that the total number of martyrs since the ceasefire on October 11 has risen to 509, and the total number of wounded to 1,405, while 715 bodies have been recovered.She noted that 85 martyrs were added to the cumulative statistics of martyrs, whose data was completed and approved by the Martyrs Approval Committee from January 23 to January 30. Source link
Egypt has welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), including an understanding on initiating a phased integration process.In a statement issued today, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed Egypt’s steadfast position on the necessity of preserving Syria’s unity and supporting its national institutions.The statement also expressed Egypt’s continued support for all efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive and sustainable political settlement that fulfills the aspirations of the Syrian people for security, stability, and development, and paves the way for recovery and reconstruction. Source link
Waajidd produced a polished late-running performance to land the Wadi Al Sail Cup at the Al Uqda Racecourse Thursday.The four-year-old bay gelding, owned by Khalid bin Ghanem al-Kuwari and trained by Zuhair Mohsen, bounced back to form to get off the mark with authority, drawing clear by 1½ lengths under Szczepan Mazur to win the Thoroughbred Premium Maidens contest for 3-7-year-olds over 1200m.Settling midfield after the break, Waajidd was ridden with patience as Fine Art Dealer pressed forward to assume control and dictate the pace through the early and middle stages. He was closely tracked by Mockirr, Saniyaat’s Star and Beach Breeze, with the leading quartet opening up a clear gap on the remainder of the field as they approached the final bend.Turning for home, Mockirr moved up assertively to take the lead from Fine Art Dealer and the pair appeared set to fight out the finish. However, the decisive move was still to come. From the middle of the pack, Waajidd was unleashed with a sustained and telling run, producing a sharp turn of foot to sweep past the leaders and assert quickly. Inside the final 100m, Waajidd extended his advantage with each stride, pulling clear to secure a decisive victory. Manos Arriba, racing for Al Eida Racing and trained by Jassim al-Ghazali, finished strongly from the rear under Marco Casamento to take second, edging Mockirr by a neck. The Al Jasra Stud runner, trained by Abdulla al-Mulla, stayed on under Ivan Rossi to claim third.Alnood asserts authority to complete stable doubleEarlier in the day, Alnood continued her solid run of form with a decisive success in the fifth race, a Purebred Arabian Handicap for fillies and mares rated 65–85, for four-year-olds and up over 2000m, Class 4, contested by five runners. The five-year-old bay mare, racing in the colours of Injaaz Stud and trained by Julian Smart, recorded her second win of the season from four starts, to go with a runner-up finish in between, scoring by 1¾ lengths. She was partnered by Pierre Charles Boudot, who, like her trainer, completed a double on the day.The penultimate Local Purebred Arabian Handicap produced a dramatic blanket finish, with Al Mutaghatris, also trained by Smart and ridden by Boudot, prevailing by a narrow margin. Waajidd’s authoritative success then provided a fitting highlight to an absorbing 43rd Al Uqda Race Meeting. RESULTS43rd Al Uqda Race Meeting – Wadi Al Sail CupWINNERS: (Horse, Trainer, Jockey)1 – Wadi Al Sail Cup, Thoroughbred Premium MaidensWaajidd, Zuhair Mohsen, Szczepan Mazur2 – Thoroughbred Handicap (0-60)Perfect Approach, Mohammed al-Ghazali, Lukas Delozier3 – Purebred Arabian Handicap (45-65)La Quyood, Julian Smart, Pierre Charles Boudot4 – Local Thoroughbred Handicap (0-55)Mallhog, Fahad bin Mubarak bin Jassim al-Groon, Salman Fahad al-Hajri5 – Thoroughbred Handicap (55-75)Future Man, Mohd Ahmed Mohd Hasan al-Sulaiti, Fayos Martin Borja6 – Purebred Arabian Handicap, Fillies and MareAlnood, Julian Smart, Pierre Charles Boudot7 – Local Purebred Arabian Handicap (65-85)Al Mutaghatris, Julian Smart, Pierre Charles Boudot Related Story Source link
Combat sports is set to make its much-awaited debut in Qatar on Saturday when two WBA Muay Thai titles will be decided alongside a couple of MMZ bouts also lined up. Two WBC Muai Thai fights are also on the playing roster on Saturday, this was announced by Sheikh Fahad bin Khalid Al Thani, President of the Qatar Boxing Federation (QBF), at a press conference that also featured the fighters, on Thursday. Ali Aliev will take on Chip Moraza-Pollard in the Cruiserweight WBC Muay Thai World Title fight while Sajad Sattari is lining up a potential win against Kaonar in the WBC Welterweight Muay Thai Diamond Title bout, Sheikh Fahad said. In two MMA bouts, Qatar’s Ruslan Satiev will take on Bairam Shammadov while Kerimkhan Kerimkhanov will fight against Abdulwahab Mashareqi. In two WBC Asia Boxing Title fights, Idriss Labidi will lock horns with Rivo Rengkung while Jadalie Medeiros vs Shirin Shabani is also on the list of fighters. “This is a dream come true for Qatar in combat sports,” Sheikh Fahad, Qatar’s retired professional boxer, said on Thursday. “It’s a great honour to host these fighters. Such an event has been a dream of mine for a long time. Every WBC fighter dreams of winning belts. There are four belts on offer. I am sure fighters will showcase a new era of combat sports in Qatar,” Sheikh Fahad said. Aliev, who is primed to take on Moraza-Pollard, said on Thursday: “It’s a dream to have such events in Qatar. It’s a unique and prestigious sport. Our vision is to promote combat sports. We want to go teach self-discipline to young fighters. We have great champions here. Before coming here, I had intense training. I am ready.” Moraza-Pollard said: “Ali is one of the best fighters in the world. I am ready for the 5 rounds and put on a good show. I’ve already had this belt. I lost it. It’s an honour to fight for it again.” Sheikh Fahad bin Khalid Al Thani, President of the Qatar Boxing Federation (QBF), and Ghanem Saleh al-Kuwari, Head of Boxing at the QBF, pose…
The International Olympic Committee is known for its strict stance against political interference in sports, much more so than the ICC. TBS Report 31 January, 2026,…