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Worldnews

Russia Reports Ukrainian Drone Attack On Moscow Ahead Of May 9 Events

The attack comes as Moscow prepares to welcome foreign leaders from China and Brazil, among others. Russia has reported that it repelled a drone attack on Moscow as the capital city prepares to host a major military parade with foreign leaders in attendance. Russia’s air defence systems intercepted “four drones flying towards Moscow”, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Monday. The attack appears intended to unsettle Moscow’s preparations for events marking the end of the Great Patriotic War, commonly known as World War II elsewhere, on May 9. President Vladimir Putin has called for a 72-hour ceasefire to mark the occasion starting on May 8. However, Ukraine has demanded instead a 30-day truce aimed at agreeing to a permanent ceasefire in the conflict that began when Russia invaded in February 2022. Sobyanin said in a post on Telegram that there were no reports of injuries or damage. However, the attack did prompt a brief halt to air traffic at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport. Aviation regulator Rosaviatsia confirmed flights were suspended for about 90 minutes overnight to ensure air safety. Elsewhere, Russian officials said 17 drones were downed over the Bryansk region and five more over Kaluga. The Kremlin has branded Putin’s declaration of a three-day unilateral ceasefire a humanitarian gesture. Military operations will be paused during the truce, according to Russian authorities, as world leaders, including China’s Xi Jinping, Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, are expected in Moscow. However, Russia has rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposal, accepted by the United States, which is trying to broker an end to the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also dismissed the 72-hour truce, which came as US President Donald Trump suggested he is growing frustrated with Moscow’s failure to agree on a ceasefire, as “unserious”. He accused Moscow of “playing games to create a pleasant atmosphere to allow for Putin’s exit from isolation on May 9”. Zelenskyy also said Ukraine could not guarantee the safety of any foreign dignitaries, adding that Russia was responsible for its own security. “The Russians are asking for a ceasefire on May 9 and are themselves firing at Ukraine every day. This is cynicism of the highest order,” he wrote on the Telegram messaging app on Sunday. Putin said in his original declaration of the 72-hour pause in the fighting that Russian forces would respond if the country was fired upon. Russia has continued to bombard Ukraine despite its proposed ceasefire from May 8. On Monday, Ukraine’s air force said it had shot down 42 of 116 drones launched by Russia in an overnight attack. At least 11 people, including two children, were injured in the capital, Kyiv, during the attack, Timur Tkachenko, the head of the Kyiv city military administration, said on social media. Cherkasy in central Ukraine was also targeted. Emergency services reported that one person was injured and residential buildings and civil infrastructure were damaged. Meanwhile, war bloggers reported on Monday that Ukrainian forces have attacked Russia’s western Kursk region – a portion of which they occupied for months before being ejected last month, according to Russia’s military. Firing missiles, Ukraine’s forces were reported by several sources to have smashed through the border. There was no immediate comment from either Russia or Ukraine, but Russian war bloggers published maps showing Ukrainian forces trying to push over the border in two places. Follow Al Jazeera English:...

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Futbol

Ten-man Rangers produced a heroic performance to retain a fighting chance of Europa League progression, with Liam Kelly's late penalty save decisive in earning an unlikely draw with Athletic Bilbao. The Spanish side arrived in Glasgow as favourites with Rangers under pressure off the back of a record five consecutive defeats at home. Their cause seemed doomed when Robin Propper was adjudged to have brought down Inaki Williams. After a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention, as last man, his yellow card turned red after just 13 minutes. Rangers, though, held firm - and survived a number of scares - before substitute Alex Berenguer stepped up to take the most controversial of late penalties, but Kelly diverted the ball over with his leg to the delight of the home crowd. The omission of Jack Butland in goal after what head coach Barry Ferguson described as "one of the toughest things I've had to do", with Kelly in from the start, was such a big call on such a massive occasion. For him to emerge as the hero was full justification. Starting Kelly and 18-year-old midfielder Bailey Rice among six changes from the defeat by Hibernian last weekend showed Ferguson was true to his word to be decisive following another domestic downfall. Athletic Club clearly bring threat and Maroan Sannadi had already shown that before Rangers' suffered that disastrous early setback. Propper's challenge on Williams was rash and, as last man, it is hard to argue his overturned yellow card did not merit a red. It looked like Rangers' troubles were far from over, but yet again they mustered another memorable European performance to stay in the tie, with Ferguson saying the "few home truths" he had with his players had "sunk in". Sannadi was a constant threat until substituted. Early in the second half, he went down under Leon Balogun's challenge, was booked but seemed to have a case for a penalty. It was a big let-off. As it was moments later when Sannadi stretched to reach Inaki Williams' sharp cross and, with the goal gaping, and Kelly completely exposed, the striker blazed just wide. The visitors repeatedly pushed and thought they had the opener when Berenguer fired home from close range. Confusion reigned all around Ibrox as VAR intervened, offside was given to rule out the strike, but then a twist as Dujon Sterling was penalised for the slightest of handballs in the build-up. It was to be Kelly's big moment. He stuck up a leg as he dived to his right and clipped the ball over the bar to Berenguer's dismay. Big ties demand big moments and they do not come much bigger as Rangers survived mounting pressure to earn a memorable outcome. Where to start? It must be with Kelly. Ferguson's decision to drop Butland for what, to date, was Rangers' biggest game of the season was a huge statement. Kelly was thrust into this massive occasion and fully justified it. Surely he has staked his claim to continue as number one with that big moment and a more than creditable performance overall? Rangers have shipped goals for fun of late, but to emerge from this first leg unscathed, in these circumstances, was nothing short of incredible. Propper's red card ripped up their best laid plans. That they stood firm in a manner that belied belief would have been everything their interim boss would have demanded. It was a 0-0 that had nothing like 0-0 about it. What drama. It must feel like a win. It remains a tough task to travel and progress to the last four of this competition against opposition of this quality. However, to their credit, in the most dramatic of fashions, they held on to retain a fighting chance. Rangers interim head coach Barry Ferguson: "Really proud of the effort and the commitment that my players showed. Obviously difficult when you go down to 10 men. "What I've seen tonight out there was a team that took the instructions on. I think anybody watching the game would have seen a team that will run through brick walls for each other."

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News_Naija

Im A Bonafide Member Of Celestial Church, I Built A Parish K1 De Ultimate

Fuji icon, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate has exuded his love for the Celestial Church of Christ, admitting that he is a bonafide and proud member of the church. Ayinde, a Muslim, made this known during a pre-recorded interview with Agbaletu TV on Wednesday. CCC popularly called Cele is a white-garment church which was founded by late Samuel Oshoffa. Its members wear white one piece garments during worship, and must not wear their shoes whilst wearing their garments or while within the main church. According to him, in his quest to know God, he became a member of the church and he is proud to have joined. He relished that he explored both Islam and Christianity in the journey to know God and has never regretted his actions. “I attend Celestial church. I am a bonafide member of the celestial church. A proud one. In fact, I built a church. I sought different religions while trying to know God in both popular religions. There’s nowhere I didn’t try to find God,” he said. This revelation is coming after the veteran musician had recently made a catchy phrase which quickly evolved into a viral lingo that’s widely used across social media, at parties, on the streets and in casual conversations. Ayinde while discussing with an unidentified man, had used the phrase “Ganusi” in reference to some Islamic clerics (alfas) in the build-up to his mother’s burial. Although many interpreted the remark as implying that certain alfas attend such ceremonies primarily for financial gain. This led to an avalanche of criticisms from different Islamic clerics and other Nigerians who felt that K1 denigrated the clerics with that statement.
However, the singer doubled down on the remark and maintained that he had done nothing wrong, and did not see the need to apologise to them.

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Worldnews

Netanyahu Says Gaza Population To Be Moved In Intensive Israeli Operation

Reports say Israel is now eyeing occupation of the entire enclave, control of aid, and possible expulsion of Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that a new offensive in the besieged Gaza Strip will be an intensive military operation aimed at defeating Hamas, but stopped short of detailing just how much of the enclave’s territory would be seized. In a Hebrew-language video message on X, addressing the Security Cabinet-approved plan to expand the Gaza offensive, Netanyahu said on Monday that Gaza’s Palestinian population “will be moved, for its own protection”. Eighteen months of Israeli attacks have killed more than 52,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including thousands of children, and wounded nearly 120,000 others. Netanyahu also said Israeli soldiers would not go into Gaza, launch raids and then retreat. “The intention is the opposite of that,” he said. His remarks come as Israel’s political and military leaders approved plans to expand the Gaza offensive and take over aid deliveries to the devastated and starving enclave. Netanyahu’s cabinet unanimously approved plans to call up reservists and put the Israeli military in charge of food and other vital supplies to the 2.3 million people suffering under its blockade of the Palestinian territory. Newswires reported unnamed Israeli officials suggesting that the plans include the “conquest” and full military occupation of the entire Gaza Strip. The expanded offensive “could go as far as seizing the entire enclave”, the Reuters news agency reported. “The plan will include, among other things, the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories, moving the Gaza population south for their protection,” a source told the AFP news agency. The source added that Netanyahu “continues to promote” United States President Donald Trump’s plan for the departure of Palestinians from the enclave.   Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Mardawi told Al Jazeera the group would only accept a deal with Israel that includes a comprehensive ceasefire and the complete withdrawal from Gaza. “Our people have no choice but to achieve a comprehensive deal that guarantees security and safety for our people,” he said, adding that any Israeli efforts to achieve concessions through threats or mass killings would fail. A United Nations spokesman said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was “alarmed” by the Israeli plan that “will inevitably lead to countless more civilians killed and the further destruction of Gaza”. “Gaza is, and must remain, an integral part of a future Palestinian state,” said spokesman Farhan Haq. The plans have stirred significant tension inside Israel as well. While Netanyahu again asserted that the goal was to “defeat” Hamas and bring back several dozen captives held in Gaza, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, an Israeli campaign group, said in a statement on Monday that the plan is “sacrificing” those still held in the Palestinian territory. Heated disagreements also reportedly erupted during the cabinet meeting between the political and military figures. Army chief Eyal Zamir reportedly warned that Israel could “lose” the captives in Gaza if it pushed ahead with a full-blown military offensive. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that, as Israel has done in the past two months, it should continue to block all food, water, medicine, fuel and other aid from entering Gaza to starve the population. He also advocated for “bombing food warehouses and generators” so there are no more supplies and electricity is fully cut off. But Zamir warned this would “endanger” Israel as it would expose the country to even more allegations of violations of international law. “You don’t understand what you are saying. You are endangering us all. There is an international law, we are committed to it. We cannot starve the Strip, your statements are dangerous,” Zamir said, according to Israel’s national broadcaster, Kan. In an interview with Israeli Army Radio, opposition leader Yair Lapid questioned Netanyahu’s decision to mobilise tens of thousands of reservists, saying the prime minister was calling up troops and extending their service without setting a goal for the operation. Another opposition figure, Yair Golan, said Netanyahu was only trying to save his government from collapsing as the plan “serves no security purpose and does not bring the release of the hostages closer”. Ben-Gvir was reportedly the only member of the Security Cabinet who opposed the plan for Israel to bypass existing aid routes by international organisations. Israel, which has blocked the entrance of all supplies into Gaza since March 2, reportedly plans to use US security contractors to control the flow of aid into Gaza. However, the plan is not expected to come into effect immediately, as Israeli officials believe there is enough food in Gaza for now, even as Palestinians are starving to death. The Israeli plans also envisage the establishment of a new “humanitarian zone” in southern Gaza that would work as a base for aid. The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), a forum that includes United Nations agencies, said on Sunday that Israeli officials were seeking its consent to deliver aid through what it described as “Israeli hubs under conditions set by the Israeli military, once the government agrees to re-open crossings”. In a statement, the HCT said such a plan would be dangerous and would “contravene fundamental humanitarian principles and appears designed to reinforce control over life-sustaining items as a pressure tactic – as part of a military strategy”. The coalition said the UN would not participate in this scheme as it does not adhere to the global humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality. Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, told Al Jazeera the Israeli government wanted to “militarise, manipulate, politicise the aid by allowing only aid to a few concentration hubs in the south, a scheme where people will be screened where it’s a completely inoperable system”. “That would force people to move to get aid, and it would continue the starvation of the civilian population,” he added. On Monday, Hamas branded Israel’s plans to take over aid provision “political blackmail”. “We reject the use of aid as a tool of political blackmail and support the UN’s stance against any arrangements that violate humanitarian principles,” the armed group said in a statement, insisting that Israel is “fully responsible” for the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza. Follow Al Jazeera English:...