Author: damazah@gmail.com

Armed groups in military-run Mali have launched renewed coordinated attacks in several towns across the country.The assaults on Saturday targeted army positions, including a base used by its troops and Russian forces.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listA separatist Tuareg-led group and a regional al-Qaeda affiliate claimed responsibility for the attacks, which took place more than two months after the capital, Bamako, and several other locations were targeted in a coordinated ⁠assault by the same groups.Here’s what to know:Where did the attacks take place?In an initial statement, the Malian army confirmed attacks on five positions: in Aguelhok, Anefis and…

In its statement, Nigeria’s foreign ministry said Iroegbu was reportedly killed in Pretoria by officers from the Tshwane Metro police department. Joe, killed on 28 June, was attacked outside his shop in the city of eMalahleni, the ministry said.Abuja said it was placing the South African government “on notice” and that “all options remain on the table… if the uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance and apartheid-style behaviour of South Africa against foreigners is not addressed”.Nigeria has said it will seek compensation from South Africa for its citizens who have left the country, adding that Abuja had begun documenting businesses…

Crude prices have fallen. So why is petrol still expensive? Consumers demand relief, while marketers insist on sustainable margins, reports Festus Akanbi For millions of Nigerians, the recent decline in global crude oil prices has brought little relief at the filling station. Although international oil prices have retreated sharply following the easing of tensions in the Middle East, the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has remained stubbornly high, rekindling debate over whether Nigeria’s deregulated downstream petroleum market is truly delivering the benefits of competition or merely protecting industry margins. The controversy has drawn regulators, marketers, refiners, economists and consumer…

As the afternoon heat rose to a dizzying 41.7C (107F) in eastern Brandenburg on Sunday, taking German temperatures to unprecedented highs, Mario, 65, took precautions but did not panic. Two years ago, a fierce heatwave had prompted him to buy a powerful device that few Germans own: an air conditioning unit.“The summers are slowly getting warmer,” says the retired handyman in Neuzelle on the German-Polish border, whose bungalow is now among the 6% of German homes with fixed air-conditioning. “And as you get older, the heat gets harder to endure.”Europe is reeling from its worst heatwave on record, and as…

Unlike many politicians who built their careers within party structures, Alex Otti entered government after decades in the financial sector, rising to Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank.  Vanessa Obioha examines whether the Abia State Governor is attempting to chart a different course ahead of the 2027 elections. Nigerian politics has a rich history of bankers who left the revolving doors of the banking halls for the swivelling chairs of politics. Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, falls into this category. It is generally expected that bankers should be more disciplined in public offices. After all, they spend years…

Six pieces of suspected space debris found washed up on north Queensland beaches could be “space balls” that are often left over from rocket launches, according to one expert.The Australian Space Agency confirmed on Sunday it was working to determine the nature and origin of the mysterious objects, which police said were suspected of containing hazardous chemicals.Reports showed the objects, washed up on beaches in the Forrest Beach area of Townsville, appeared to be large spheres.The Queensland Fire Department said on Sunday a total of six objects had been found washed up on beaches. Five had been “secured into drums”…

Real Madrid signed Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan on Sunday for a reported 20 million euros ($23 million). “(We) have reached an agreement for the transfer of player Denzel Dumfries, who will be with our club for the next four seasons, until June 30, 2030,” said Madrid in a statement. Attacking right-back Dumfries, 30, played with the Netherlands at the World Cup until they were eliminated in the round of 32 on penalties by Morocco. Dumfries adds further competition at right-back alongside England international Trent Alexander-Arnold. The Dutchman joined Inter Milan from PSV Eindhoven in 2021 and won…

You could call it the tamest of mid-life crises, but as I turned 40 last year, I decided to devote myself to a long-neglected ambition – learning the guitar. I dutifully set myself the task of practising for 30 minutes a day, with the aim of strumming my way through the Bob Dylan songbook by my 41st birthday.What stood in the way, of course, was life. With work and family commitments, I was lucky to find a free half-hour time more than once or twice a week. Each day that went by without practice left me feeling more demotivated, and…

According to the US Institute for Culinary Education, the cobb salad is an embodiment of “the spirit of American ingenuity”, thanks to a strangely familiar creation myth involving a restaurateur (in this case, at Hollywood’s Brown Derby) throwing it together for a late-night snack. It’s also perfect game-day food: satisfying, flavour-packed and, crucially, easy to eat while all eyes are on the pitch.Prep 30 minCook 30 minServes 4, and easily scaled up or down2 skinless chicken breastsSalt and black pepper2 eggs4 rashers streaky bacon2 heads cos lettuce100g watercress2 heads chicory12 cherry tomatoes100g blue cheese (roquefort, ideally), crumbled1 ripe avocado1 small…

A US man who has staked the uncontested claim of having the smallest penis in the world says he has booked a procedure to enhance his member at least somewhat after soliciting the online public’s financial support for that purpose.In a brief interview on Saturday, 38-year-old Michael Phillips described himself as “really thankful and surprised” over the GoFundMe platform users who supported his campaign for help to pay for the procedure in question.“I … never thought anyone would care enough to help,” said Phillips, who has previously explained that the procedure should relieve him of urinary issues resulting from his…