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  The UN and the World Food Programme on Friday warned that a lack of funding could lead to the imminent suspension of humanitarian flights in coup-hit Niger, where 4.3 million people are in need of aid The international organisation had in mid-November announced the resumption of its humanitarian flights after they were suspended following a coup on July 26 which saw the military oust elected leader Mohamed Bazoum. The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) could be suspended imminently due to a lack of funding, the UN’s humanitarian response agency OCHA and the WFP said in a joint statement. It added that the 2024 budget of UNHAS — which is managed by the AFP — stood at $13.5 million but there was no guarantee of funding to date, even though half this amount was urgently needed. WFP’s representative and country director in Niger, Jean-Noel Gentile, said the UNHAS’s financial situation had already forced it to reduce its fleet to a single aircraft, down from the existing two.

  Japan’s Naomi Osaka admitted Saturday she almost gave up tennis but had rekindled her love of the sport after becoming a mother earlier this year as she prepares for a return in Brisbane. Osaka, 26, stepped away from the game in September 2022, citing mental health concerns following her withdrawal from the second round of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. In her time away, she gave birth to daughter Shai, and did not watch any tennis until last year’s Wimbledon. Although excited to be back, she conceded that retiring permanently had crossed her mind. “I would say right after Tokyo for, like, a month maybe I was thinking about retirement because I felt like all my joy went away for the sport,” she said at the season opening Brisbane International. “I felt like it kind of wasn’t fair, both for the people watching and myself. “But then I thought, I’ve played tennis since I was three and there’s so many more things that I want to do.” Osaka said since giving birth her approach to tennis ha

  Russia launched a massive air attack over Ukraine on Friday, killing at least 30 people and wounding scores across the country in the fiercest assault since the first days of the war nearly two years ago. Schools, a maternity hospital, shopping arcades and blocks of flats were among the buildings hit in the barrage, said Ukrainian officials. The attacks — during which a Russian missile passed through Polish airspace — triggered international condemnation and fresh promises of military support to Ukraine, which has been fighting off invading Russian troops since late February 2022. “Today Russia hit us with almost everything it has in its arsenal,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Ukraine’s military estimated Russia had launched 158 missiles and drones on Ukraine and 114 of them had been destroyed. Air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat told AFP that this was a “record number” of missiles and “the most massive missile attack” of the war, excluding the early days of constant bombardment. Ru

  LONDON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - England women's goalkeeper Mary Earps, Glastonbury music festival founder Michael Eavis and the widow of children's author Roald Dahl were among hundreds of people recognised by Britain in King Charles' New Year honours list. The trio were among more than 1,200 people who were honoured for community services and services to the fields of health, sport and the arts, the government said on Friday. Earps, 30, who helped England to the World Cup final earlier this year in Australia and was named the best keeper at the tournament, received an MBE, or Member of the Order of the British Empire. Eavis, who started Glastonbury festival in 1970 on his farm in southwest England, was knighted in recognition for his services to music and charity. Felicity Dahl, who set up a children's charity in memory of her late husband Roald Dahl in 1991, was awarded a damehood, the female equivalent of a knighthood. The New Year's honours, which have been awarded

  Dec 29 (Reuters) - Russia drew sharp criticism at the UN Security Council on Friday for launching massive missile and drone attacks against Ukraine, after Kyiv and its supporters called for an urgent meeting of the 15-member body to address the strikes. Russian strikes across  Ukraine on Friday killed 31 civilians and wounded more than 160 others in the biggest aerial attacks since the start of the war in February 2022, according to officials, and  Poland said a Russian missile  appeared to have flown into its airspace before returning to Ukraine. "Tragically, 2023 is ending as it began – with devastating violence against the people of Ukraine," UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari said after briefing the council on the attacks. "Once again, Ukrainians are forced to spend the holidays seeking shelter, clearing the rubble, and burying the dead, amidst freezing temperatures," he added. Most council members, including the United States, France and Britain, co

In the fast-paced world of American politics, speculations about the 2024 presidential election have reached a fever pitch, especially considering the advanced ages of the potential candidates. What if the 81-year-old Joe Biden or the 77-year-old four-times indicted Donald Trump decides to step aside? A recent Daily Mail/J.L. Partners poll sheds light on the intriguing alternatives and preferences on both sides of the aisle. Democrats seem to rally around the idea of a new era, with suggestions that Vice President Kamala Harris or former first lady Michelle Obama could step up to the plate. Meanwhile, Republicans are eyeing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as their preferred nominee. However, the poll reveals a lack of a charismatic savior figure to excite the electorate, as both Biden and Trump face low favorability ratings. Things take an interesting turn when independent voters are considered. Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor, emerges as a favored Republican nominee among in

Former Manchester United defender Eric Bailly recently experienced a rollercoaster of events, culminating in the termination of his contract with Turkish club Besiktas. The Ivory Coast international, who left Old Trafford in September after a loan spell with Marseille, saw his stint with the Premier League giants come to an end. In November, Bailly found himself in a heated altercation with teammate Tayfur Bingol during Besiktas' league clash at Antalyaspor, leading to his substitution at halftime. The month unfolded with only 27 more minutes of play for Bailly before December brought a string of misfortunes. Reports from the Daily Mirror suggested that a curse had been cast on Bailly, allegedly related to unpaid fees from his transfer to Besiktas. Messages on WhatsApp forewarned him, and subsequent events, including giving away a penalty, seemed to validate the curse. Amid the turmoil, Bailly's agent and uncle, Severin Bohui, revealed ongoing threats and blackmail from an indi

In a perplexing turn of events, Vladimir Egorov, a Deputy of the Tobolsk City Duma from the ruling United Russia party, has been discovered lifeless in the courtyard of his residence. This incident adds to the unsettling trend of Russian elites meeting unclear fates in recent months, leaving the nation in speculation and unease. Egorov, aged 46 at the time of his demise, was a prominent figure in the political landscape, serving as the deputy chairman of the Duma before his untimely death. The news, as reported by Russian newspaper Kommersant, highlights the mysterious circumstances surrounding his passing. The Investigative Committee for the Tyumen Region in Russia, responsible for handling the case, has refrained from confirming details until the autopsy is complete. Authorities have stated that there are no apparent signs of criminal involvement in Egorov's death, further deepening the mystery. Russian state media outlet TASS corroborates the report, confirming Egorov's disc

In a grim turn of events, the central Nigerian state of Plateau witnessed a surge in violence over the weekend, with the death toll reaching a staggering 113, according to a local official on Monday 25th December 2023. This region has been plagued by recurring clashes between herders and farmers, and the recent outbreak marks the deadliest incident since May when over 100 lives were lost in similar conflicts. The Nigerian army, as reported by AFP news agency on Sunday, initially cited 16 casualties in the latest attacks. However, Monday Kassah, the acting chairman of Bokkos Local Government Area in Plateau State, disclosed a much graver toll, stating that 113 people had lost their lives in the brutal assaults that occurred on Saturday and Sunday. Kassah described the attacks as meticulously coordinated, targeting no fewer than 20 different communities. "We have recovered 113 lifeless bodies from those communities and more than 300 injured individuals," he grimly reported. The

In a harrowing update on X, UNRWA revealed that since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, at least 308 individuals seeking refuge in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) shelters have lost their lives, with an additional 1,095 sustaining injuries. These heartbreaking numbers underscore the human cost of the ongoing conflict. Disturbingly, on December 25, the UNRWA reported a grim incident at the Maghazi Prep School, stating that two individuals seeking shelter were killed and one injured due to a direct strike. The gravity of these events is intensified by the challenges of independently verifying the reported figures, as CNN has not been able to confirm the accuracy of these statistics. Thursday saw the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responding to inquiries by acknowledging their engagement in operations against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. The IDF's statement on the matter clarified that on December 24, 2023, IAF fighter

In a recent turn of events, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a stern warning to Texas, threatening legal action over its recently enacted immigration law. The clash between President Joe Biden and Texas Governor Greg Abbott regarding the management of the US-Mexico border has reached a new height. Governor Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 into law earlier this month, granting local law enforcement the authority to detain migrants and providing judges with the power to expel them from the United States. This legislation, scheduled to be implemented in March, has drawn sharp criticism from the White House, labeling it as "incredibly extreme." In response, the DOJ penned a letter to Governor Abbott, asserting that the law is in violation of the US Constitution, arguing that it undermines federal immigration enforcement. The letter, signed by Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian Boynton, conveyed the DOJ's intention to file a lawsuit to halt the enforcement

In a startling twist that further plunged the 2024 election into disarray, Maine joined Colorado in excluding Donald Trump from the ballot due to his association with the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot. The move by the Maine Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, a Democrat, mirrored a recent decision by the Colorado Supreme Court, intensifying the challenges for Trump's campaign and fueling the argument for the US Supreme Court to intervene, centering on the 14th Amendment's "insurrectionist ban." This unprecedented situation not only amplifies the turmoil surrounding the election but also deepens national divides. The escalating uncertainty demands a swift resolution, especially with Iowa gearing up to initiate voting in the Republican nominating race on January 15 and crucial ballot deadlines looming. While Bellows paused her decision, anticipating a potential appeal in state court, Trump's team has indicated their intention to file. Interestingly, on the same d

In a devastating turn of events, Russia has unleashed its most massive air assault on Ukraine since the commencement of the full-scale invasion, according to Ukrainian military reports to CNN. The onslaught, involving an unprecedented number of drones and missiles, has left at least 19 people dead and 132 others injured. The wave of attacks, which commenced overnight into Friday, struck nationwide, causing explosions in Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Lviv—cities far from the frontlines. Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson for Ukraine's air force, expressed astonishment at the intensity of the assault, stating, "It’s been a long time since we have seen so many enemy targets on our monitors in all regions and all directions. Everything was being fired." Russia employed 158 drones and missiles, including hypersonic Kinzhal missiles, cruise missiles, and Shahed drones, to target locations across Kyiv and various regions of Ukraine. Ihnat reported, "Today the enemy has struck a

  IMAGE SOURCE, AFP Image caption, Fighting on the Israeli-Lebanese border earlier this week Israel's military will act to remove Hezbollah from the border with Lebanon if its attacks continue, an Israeli minister has warned. Benny Gantz said the military would intervene if militants do not stop firing on northern Israel. Time for a diplomatic solution was running out, he added. Meanwhile, the head of the Israel Defense Forces said troops were in "very high readiness" for more fighting in the north. "Our first task is to restore security and the sense of security to the residents in the north, and this will take time," Chief of the General Staff Lt Gen Herzi Halevi said, after conducting a "situational assessment". Cross-border exchanges of fire have been escalating since Hamas's 7 October attacks on Israel. On Wednesday, Hezbollah launched its highest number of cross-border attacks in a day since 8 October, security sources told Reuters. It has le