Headlines
Zambia Cancel Friendly Match with South over Xenophobic Attack, Eagles Kick
Nigerian players have taken to the social media to condemn the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and citizens of other countries living in South Africa.
Their reactions came in the wake of recent images and videos that surfaced online showing alleged killings of other countries’ nationals in South Africa.
South Africans commenced fresh attacks, looting and burning of businesses and properties belonging to Nigerians and other nationals and in the process killed three people, according to reports.
The recent killings gained prominence on social media, especially Twitter, with various hashtags such as #SayNoToXenophobia #XenophobicAttack and #StopXenophobia.
Among the Eagles stars who reacted are Chidozie Awaziem, John Ogu and Victor Osimhen.
While uploading a picture reading “pray for Nigerians in South Africa”, Awaziem posted, “Say no to xenophobia.”
On his part, Ogu described the attack as totally unacceptable, urging Nigerians to pray for their countrymen in South Africa.
“This is totally unaccepted. Say no to xenophobia,” the Super Eagles midfielder tweeted.
“South Africa, it will not be well with you,” Osimhen wrote on his Instagram handle.
Apart from the Super Eagles players who expressed their displeasure, the Football Association of Zambia has reportedly cancelled the international friendly match between its national team and South Africa on Saturday.
However, FAZ President Andrew Kamanga was said to have confirmed that the international friendly was cancelled over xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
“The game is off, and we communicated that to South Africa Football Association and they understood. We have been talking to try and monitor the situation,” he was quoted as saying on Metro FM/Radio 2000 on Tuesday.
The SAFA was said to be organising another friendly match with Madagascar.
The first hostages freed from Gaza under a long-awaited ceasefire agreement are back in Israel. The news sparked jubilant scenes in Tel Aviv where large crowds gathered ahead of their release.
The three freed Israeli hostages – the first of 33 to be released over the next six weeks – are Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. They are said to be in good health and are receiving treatment at a medical center in Tel Aviv.
In exchange, 90 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are set to be released by Israel from Ofer Prison in the occupied West Bank.
The Israeli military withdrew from several locations in southern and northern Gaza after the truce began earlier on Sunday, an Israeli military official told CNN.
Displaced Gazans have started returning to their homes, while the aid trucks laden with much-needed supplies have crossed into Gaza. Here’s what we know about how the ceasefire deal will work.
Hamas, despite suffering devastating losses, is framing the Gaza ceasefire agreement as a victory for itself, and a failure for Israel.
One of Hamas’ main goals for taking some 250 people during its brazen October 7, 2023, attack on Israel was to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. As Israel pounded Gaza in response, Hamas vowed not to return the hostages until Israel withdrew its forces from the enclave, permanently ended the war, and allowed for rebuilding.
Source: CNN
The leader of UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has said she doesn’t want Britain to be like Nigeria that is plagued by “terrible governments.”
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised by Onward, a British think tank producing research on economic and social issues, Badenoch expressed fears that Britain may become like Nigeria if the system is not reformed.
“And why does this matter so much to me? It’s because I know what it is like to have something and then to lose it,” Badenoch told the audience.
“I don’t want Britain to lose what it has.
“I grew up in a poor country and watched my relatively wealthy family become poorer and poorer, despite working harder and harder as their money disappeared with inflation.
“I came back to the UK aged 16 with my father’s last £100 in the hope of a better life.
“So I have lived with the consequences of terrible governments that destroy lives, and I never, ever want it to happen here.”
Badenoch has been in the news of late after she dissociated herself from Nigeria, saying she has nothing to do with the Islamic northern region.
She also accused the Nigeria Police of robbing citizens instead of protecting them.
She said: “My experience with the Nigeria Police was very negative. Coming to the UK, my experience with the British Police was very positive.
“The police in Nigeria will rob us (laughter). When people say I have this bad experience with the police because I’m black, I say well…I remember the police stole my brother’s shoe and his watch.”
