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Two killed in suspected Palestinian ramming and knife attack in Israel

Two people have been killed in what police say was a “rolling terror attack” in northern Israel.

Police said the attacker ran over a pedestrian in the eastern city of Beit Shean, then drove on before stabbing a woman near Ein Harod, about 8 miles (12.5km) to the west. The suspect was eventually shot and wounded by a civilian outside the city of Afula, according to police.

Shimshon Mordechai, a 68-year-old man, was killed and a 16-year-old boy was hurt in Friday’s ramming, officials said, while the stabbing victim was Aviv Maor, aged 18.

A day before the attack, an Israeli reservist was fired after video emerged of him ramming a praying Palestinian with a quad bike.

The suspect in the attack came from the village of Qabatiya, in the northern occupied West Bank, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said.

Following the incident, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was preparing to carry out an operation in the Qabatiya area. Katz said he had instructed the IDF to act “forcefully and immediately”.

The IDF said the suspect had “infiltrated into Israeli territory several days ago”.

Israel’s Kan News public broadcaster said the 37-year-old man had been working illegally in Israel and had used his employer’s vehicle in the attack.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed “deepest condolences” to the victims’ families.

In a post on X, he also praised “the heroic citizen who neutralised the terrorist”.

The incident comes a day after the army reservist drove a quad bike into a Palestinian man who was praying on a roadside in the West Bank.

Video shows the man, dressed in civilian clothes but with a firearm, ramming the victim with the vehicle. Reports say the victim was unhurt.

The Israeli military said the soldier – who had earlier opened fire in a nearby village – had been fired and his weapon confiscated.

Attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians have surged in the West Bank in recent years, according to the United Nations, with more than a thousand killed since the Hamas attacks on Israel of 7 October 2023 in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 abducted into Gaza.

More than 70,600 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry. (BBC)

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Lagos police recover illegal fireman during stop-and-search in Ishashi

The Lagos State Police Command has said the recovery of a locally made firearm in the Ishashi area underscores its continued reliance on stop-and-search operations as part of broader efforts to prevent crime across the state.

In a statement posted on its official X handle on Friday, the command disclosed that operatives of the Anti-Crime Unit attached to the Ishashi Division recovered a cut-to-size double-barrel firearm and two cartridges during a patrol on Tuesday at about 10:45 p.m.

The police said the recovery was made in the course of a routine stop-and-search operation carried out within the division’s jurisdiction, adding that the operation was led by the Divisional Police Officer.

Reaffirming its position on preventive policing, the command said such measures remain central to disrupting criminal activity before it occurs and strengthening public safety.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has said recent intelligence-led operations across several states resulted in the arrest of 22 suspects and the recovery of firearms, vehicles, motorcycles, illicit drugs and other items linked to criminal activities.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the operations were carried out by operatives of the Force Special Tactical Squad and targeted offences ranging from armed robbery and kidnapping to banditry, cattle rustling, impersonation and drug trafficking.

Hundeyin said six firearms were recovered during the operations, including “one LAR rifle, one pump-action gun, one AK-49 rifle, one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle, alongside two rounds of live ammunition”. He added that a total of 45 other exhibits were also recovered, comprising vehicles, motorcycles, illicit drugs and items suspected to have been used in committing various crimes.

According to the police, one of the key operations took place along the Kaduna–Abuja Expressway, where operatives intercepted a J5 vehicle conveying 13 brand-new motorcycles, weapons and other incriminating materials. Hundeyin said further investigation led to the arrest of a 35-year-old suspect, Luke Ifeanyi, in connection with alleged armed robbery and economic sabotage.

He also disclosed that, in a separate operation within the Federal Capital Territory, operatives arrested a Kuje Custodial Centre escapee, Ayo Abiodun, who is suspected to have carried out a violent robbery involving a serving Nigerian Army officer.

The police spokesperson said another suspect, 40-year-old Yusuf Shehu, was arrested with a stolen tricycle and was found to be impersonating a police officer. “A police mobile uniform and a police identity card were recovered from him,” Hundeyin said.

He further stated that operatives intercepted a vehicle conveying large quantities of leaves suspected to be cannabis and other controlled substances during routine patrols.

In Edo State, Hundeyin said four suspects were arrested for unlawful possession of prohibited firearms and alleged violent attacks on a community. He added that in Lagos and Ogun states, two suspects linked to a car-snatching syndicate were also apprehended.

The police said investigations into the various cases were ongoing, while efforts were being intensified to dismantle criminal networks operating across the country. (Guardian)

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Israel recognises Somaliland as independent state, Netanyahu says

Israel has become the first country to formally recognise Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland as an independent nation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel intended to immediately expand cooperation in agriculture, health, and technology. Somaliland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, called the development “a historic moment”.

Recognition by Israel could encourage other nations to follow suit, increasing the region’s diplomatic credentials and access to international markets.

Somalia’s prime minister, Hamza Abdi Barre, said his country categorically and unequivocally rejected what he called a deliberate attack by Israel on its sovereignty.

Abdullahi said in a statement that Somaliland would join the Abraham Accords, in what he called a step toward regional and global peace.

Somaliland was committed to building partnerships, boosting mutual prosperity and promoting stability across the Middle East and Africa, he added.

The decision has been condemned by the foreign ministers of Somalia, Egypt, Turkey and Djibouti, who in a statement affirmed their “total rejection” of Israel’s announcement.

The two countries had agreed to establish “full diplomatic ties, which will include the appointment of ambassadors and the opening of embassies”, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a statement on X.

“I have instructed my ministry to act immediately to institutionalise ties between the two countries across a wide range of fields,” he said.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s foreign minister held separate phone calls with his counterparts in Somalia, Turkey and Djibouti to discuss issues including Israel’s declaration.

In a statement, Egypt’s foreign ministry said the four countries reaffirmed their support for Somalia’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and warned against unilateral steps that could undermine stability or create what they called “parallel entities” to Somalia’s state institutions.

They also argued that recognising the independence of parts of sovereign states would set a dangerous precedent under international law and the United Nations Charter.

The statement added that the ministers reiterated their rejection of any plans to displace Palestinians outside their homeland.

Israel has for years been trying to bolster relations with countries in the Middle East and Africa, but recent wars including in Gaza and against Iran have been seen as a hindrance to democracy.

Historic deals struck late in Trump’s first term in 2020, known as the Abraham Accords, saw several countries including Muslim-majority United Arab Emirates and Morocco normalise relations with Israel, with other countries joining later.

Somaliland has a strategic position on the Gulf of Aden, and has its own money, passports and police force. Born in 1991 after a war of independence against former dictator General Siad Barre, it has grappled with decades of isolation ever since.

With a population of almost six million, the self-proclaimed republic has recently been at the centre of several regional disputes involving Somalia, Ethiopia and Egypt.

Last year, an agreement between landlocked Ethiopia and Somaliland to lease a stretch of coastline for a port and military base angered Somalia. (BBC)

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PDP crisis deepens as pro-Wike NWC sets up caretaker committee in Lagos

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has inaugurated a 19-member State Caretaker Committee to oversee the party’s affairs in Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the inauguration followed a fresh twist in the PDP’s ongoing national leadership crisis, after the Wike-backed National Working Committee, NWC, announced the dissolution of some state party executives, including those in Lagos.

The factional NWC is chaired by Alhaji Abdulraman Mohammed, with Senator Samuel Anyanwu serving as National Secretary.

At the ceremony held in Ikeja on Wednesday, the Deputy National Secretary of the factional NWC, Mr Adedeji Doherty, who represented the National Chairman, criticised what he termed blatant disregard for the PDP constitution by some party members.

Doherty, a former Lagos PDP Chairman and governorship candidate, accused certain party leaders among them Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Chief Olabode George of contributing to the protracted internal crisis.

He said the newly constituted caretaker committee had the backing of “recognised PDP leaders” and urged party members to close ranks to revive the party.

“We are issuing red cards to those hell-bent on destroying the PDP. The PDP is very important to us. Today marks a new chapter in the evolution of democracy and the party.

“We have heard a lot about court judgments and conflicting judgments on who the authentic chairman of the PDP is.

“As far as we are concerned, and as far as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is concerned, the Ibadan National Convention that produced the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP National Working Committee should not have taken place,” he said.

Doherty described the November PDP convention as illegitimate, alleging it was conducted in violation of democratic principles.

According to him, Mohammed remains the lawful National Chairman of the party.

He charged members of the Lagos caretaker committee to strictly comply with the PDP constitution and guidelines, adding that the conduct of party congresses would commence in January.

“I want the new caretaker committee to be so guided. We must return this party to the great days. We must not go against the tenets of the party and its constitution.

“PDP in Lagos State is going to witness a serious turnaround. I want to call on all those who left the PDP in Lagos for one reason or another to return and take managerial positions.

“We must join hands to rebuild our party again. Rebuilding the party at this period is more important to us than who becomes president in 2027,” he said.

On the 2027 general elections and the debate over a Southern presidency, Doherty said it would not be out of place for the PDP to support President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to complete a second term.

“It does not mean that we are going to abandon our PDP and declare for the APC. It also does not mean that when you see PDP governors declaring for the APC, they cannot return.

“I believe in Wike’s decision to support President Bola Tinubu in 2027. It is his prerogative,” he said.

He added that unseating Tinubu in 2027 would be extremely difficult.

“It is going to be a herculean task,” he said.

Doherty also lamented that the internal crisis had forced many prominent figures out of the party.

NAN reports that Mr Kayode Ogunbiyi was inaugurated as Chairman of the Lagos State Caretaker Committee, while Mr Jamiu Awofala was sworn in as Secretary.

Other members include Mrs Akinro Bolaji, Mr Ege Allen, Mr Audu Salami, Mr Gani Ogungbayi, Mr Ola Odunwa, Mr Samson Hundeyin, Mrs Adebimpe Mariam and Mr Solomon Yusuf. (DailyPost)

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AFCON 2025: Davido wins $96,000 after predicting Super Eagles’ match against Tanzania

Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, better known as Davido, has reportedly gained profit after correctly predicting the outcome of Nigeria’s opening match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The DMW Records boss staked a wager on the Super Eagles’ Group C encounter against Tanzania in Fes, Morocco, predicting that both teams would score in the fixture.

His forecast proved spot-on as Nigeria secured a 2-1 victory over the Taifa Stars in an entertaining contest on Tuesday.

A late strike from Ademola Lookman ensured all three points for the Super Eagles and handed Davido a hefty return on his investment.

Reports indicate that he earned a payout of $96,564 (approximately N150 million) from the successful wager.

Nigeria dominated possession for large periods of the match and sealed the win with Lookman’s decisive goal after Tanzania equalised through Mombwa seven minutes into the second half.

The win puts Nigeria in a strong position in Group C as they chase a fourth AFCON title.

Nigeria will face their next Group C opponents as they look to build on their opening day victory and advance to the knockout stages of the competition. (Punch)

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Two die as diesel tanker explodes in Lagos on Christmas Day

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has announced a fatal tanker explosion involving a Mack Truck conveying diesel, which occurred in the early hours of today at the Oto-Ijanikin axis, in the vicinity of the Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), inward Agbara, along the Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

Preliminary findings from security investigations indicate that the unfortunate incident was caused by excessive speed, as the tanker driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle while attempting to overtake another road user.

The vehicle subsequently crashed and erupted into a raging inferno, tragically trapping and claiming the lives of the driver and an adult female occupant.

LASTMA personnel who were actively monitoring vehicular movement within the corridor secured and cordoned off the affected stretch of the expressway to forestall secondary incidents, while immediately notifying the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (Ojo Unit), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Ijanikin Police Division for urgent emergency response and security reinforcement.

The LASTMA operatives prevented members of the public who had converged on the scene with containers from scooping the spilt diesel. This timely intervention effectively averted a potential escalation of the tragedy before the arrival of other emergency and security agencies.

Following the successful containment of the blaze and clearance by relevant authorities, the severely burnt tanker was evacuated from the expressway by LASTMA personnel to prevent further road mishaps along the busy transport corridor, while FRSC removed the remains of burnt bodies.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sorrow and extended condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased, particularly poignant during this festive season.

He described the incident as deeply painful and entirely avoidable, reaffirming the Authority’s steadfast commitment to road safety and the sanctity of human life.

Bakare-Oki further underscored the urgent necessity for tanker and articulated vehicle drivers to exercise heightened caution, observe prescribed speed limits and comply strictly with all traffic regulations, noting that reckless driving and speeding remain dominant factors in fatal road traffic crashes across the metropolis.

He also seized the opportunity to caution members of the public against the dangerous and irresponsible practice of scooping petroleum/Diesel products from accident scenes, emphasising that such conduct poses grave and far-reaching risks to both individuals and the general public. (Guardian)

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Afcon roundup: Mohamed Salah strikes again as 10-man Egypt hold off South Africa

Mohamed Salah scored a first-half penalty as 10-man Egypt defeated South Africa 1-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations Group B clash in Agadir to become the first team into the knockout stages of the competition.

Egypt have six points from their opening two games and cannot finish outside of the top two in the group. South Africa have three points from their two games.

Salah won the penalty when he was clipped in the face by South Africa defender Khuliso Mudau as they tussled for the ball, and stepped up to easily convert for his second goal of the tournament.

Egypt lost right-back Mohamed Hany to a red card for an ugly stamp at the end of the first half and faced wave after wave of South African attacks in the second period, as the latter were denied a penalty of their own for handball following a lengthy video assistant referee check.

Lassine Sinayoko’s second-half penalty rescued a 1-1 draw for Mali to stop the hosts Morocco from booking their spot in the last 16 in Rabat. Morocco hit the front thanks to Brahim Díaz’s spot-kick deep into added time in the first half.

Díaz earned the penalty with a fine bit of individual work before Nathan Gassama handled in the area but Mali got their own penalty after a video assistant referee check after 64 minutes when Sinayoko was upended and he made no mistake. Morocco sit top of Group A on four points, with Mali and Zambia both on two.

Angola and Zimbabwe each earned their first point at the tournament following a 1-1 draw but the result leaves both facing early elimination. They both lost their opening Group B clashes and are now left with difficult assignments in their last matches next week which they will effectively need to win if they are to progress.

Angola went ahead in the 24th minute when To Carneiro’s chipped pass fell perfectly for striker Gelson Dala, who ran on to it and squeezed the ball in at the near post as Zimbabwe’s defence proved too slow in closing down.

There was a lengthy delay soon after as Angola goalkeeper Hugo Marques suffered a cut above his eye after a clash of heads with Zimbabwe’s Divine Lunga.

He was bandaged up and continued but, in the sixth minute of stoppage time at the end of the first, he was beaten as Zimbabwe’s veteran striker Knowledge Musona equalised.

Angola now go up against the group’s top seeds Egypt, in Agadir on Monday, while Zimbabwe take on neighbours South Africa in Marrakech at the same time.

Zambia’s hopes of making the knockout stages suffered a setback after being held to a goalless draw by Comoros in Casablanca.

Comoros, beaten by the hosts Morocco in their opening Group A fixture, thought they had taken the lead in the 19th minute through Myziane Maolida after he was played in by Rafiki Saïd, but the goal was ruled out by the VAR for a foul in the buildup.

Zambia struggled to break down their opponents with the captain Fashion Sakala sending an angled shot into the side netting. Comoros went close to snatching a late winner with 10 minutes left when Youssouf M’Changama floated in a deep cross from the left which Zambia’s goalkeeper Willard Mwanza failed to collect, but Faïz Selamani sent his close-range header over. (Guardian)

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Delroy Lindo, DeVon Franklin, Sony Pictures Classics and more among AAFCA Special Achievement Honorees

The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) announced the recipients of their special achievement honors – “Sinners” star Delroy Lindo (Beacon Award), DeVon Franklin (Ashley Boone Award), Erick Peyton (Game Changer Award), Jason Aidoo (Vanguard Award), Lawrence Lamont (Breakthrough Director) and Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group (Impact Award).

Sony Pictures Motion Group will be awarded the Impact Award. Led by Chairman and CEO Tom Rothman, SPMPG has delivered major franchises including “Spider-Man,” “Venom” and “Jumanji” while championing diverse and culturally resonant stories that reach global audiences.

The 2026 Special Achievement Awards luncheon honorees include: Nikkole Denson-Randolph (Spotlight Award), Lorrie Bartlet (Salute to Excellence), Michelle Satter (Film Advocate Award) and Sony Pictures Classics (Stanley and Karen Kramer Award).

Satter, the founding senior director of artist programs at the Sundance Institute, will be honored with the film advocate award. Through the Sundance Directors and Screenwriters Labs, she has mentored generations of filmmakers, providing creative support that has shaped the careers of many of today’s most influential directors and writers. Her commitment to artistic freedom and creative risk-taking has left an indelible mark on global independent cinema.

Sony Pictures Classics will receive AAFCA’s Stanley & Karen Kramer Award. As one of the most influential distributors of independent and international film in the world, the company has championed bold, socially conscious storytelling and brought acclaimed films to global audiences. Its dedication to filmmaker driven narratives and cultural relevance exemplifies the spirit of the Karen and Stanley Kramer Award.

The first group will be honored at the 17th Annual AAFCA Awards on Feb. 8, 2026, at The Maybourne Beverly Hills, while additional recipients will be celebrated at AAFCA’s Annual Special Achievement Awards Luncheon on March 1, 2026, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club.

The two signature events will honor industry leaders, innovators, and institutions whose work continues to shape film, culture, and opportunity across the global entertainment landscape.

Gil Robertson, president and co-founder of AAFCA said, “Our Special Achievement honorees represent leadership, vision, and courage at every level of the industry.” He added, “From creative executives and advocates behind the scenes to institutions that have amplified bold and socially relevant storytelling, these honorees embody the values AAFCA was founded to celebrate.”

As previously announced, “Sinners” star Michael B. Jordan was named best actor. “Hedda” star  Tessa Thompson was named best actress, and Ryan Coogler earned best director and best writing for “Sinners. “KPop Demon Hunters” was named AAFCA’s best animated feature.

The winners will be also be celebrated at the AAFCA Awards ceremony on Feb. 8, 2026 at The Maybourne in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Variety)

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Call of Duty co-creator Vince Zampella dies aged 55 in car crash

Vince Zampella, the acclaimed co-creator of the video gaming juggernaut “Call of Duty”, has died in a car crash, gaming giant Electronic Arts confirmed on Monday.

According to local broadcaster NBC4, the developer and executive died on Sunday while driving his Ferrari on a scenic road north of Los Angeles. His studios created some of the world’s best-selling video games.

“For unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier and became fully engulfed,” the California Highway Patrol said in a statement, without identifying the two victims in the crash.

The CHP added that both the driver and a passenger, who was ejected from the vehicle, succumbed to their injuries.

Zampella was best known for co-creating the “Call of Duty” franchise and founding Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind “Titanfall”, “Apex Legends” and the “Star Wars Jedi” games.

After starting out in the 1990s as a designer on shooter games, he co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002 and helped launch Call of Duty in 2003. Activision later acquired the studio.

He left Activision under contentious circumstances and established Respawn in 2010, which Electronic Arts acquired in 2017.

At EA, he eventually took charge of revitalising the “Battlefield” franchise, cementing his reputation as one of the most influential figures in modern first-person shooter games.

“This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones and all those touched by his work,” Electronic Arts said in a statement.

“Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching,” the company added, saying that “his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment”.

A statement by Respawn, posted on the “Battlefield” X account, praised Zampella “for how he showed up every day, trusting his teams, encouraging bold ideas and believing in “Battlefield” and the people building it”.

Zampella “championed what he believed was right for the people behind those studios and our players because it mattered”. (France24)

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Explosion rocks crowded mosque in Nigeria, killing at least five

An explosion has ripped through a mosque in northeastern Nigeria as worshippers gathered for their evening prayers, killing at least five people and wounding dozens more, police said.

The blast took place at about 6pm on Wednesday (17:00 GMT) in the city of Maiduguri in Borno State, witnesses told the media.

Police said five people died and 35 were injured in the attack, which it said is likely a suicide attack.

“Preliminary investigations further suggest that the incident may have been a suicide bombing, based on the recovery of fragments of a suspected suicide vest and witness statements recorded, while investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause and circumstances,” Nahum Daso, spokesperson for Borno state police command, said in a statement.

Daso said police were conducting a sweep of the area in Maiduguri’s Gamboru market in search of secondary devices.

Mosque leader Malam Abuna Yusuf earlier told the AFP news agency that at least eight people had died in the attack, while a militia leader, Babakura Kolo, put the figure at seven.

Another witness, Musa Yusha’u, told AFP that he saw “many victims being taken away for medical treatment”.

The cause of the blast was not immediately known, but it occurred ‍in a ⁠city that has been at the heart of an armed rebellion waged by Boko Haram and ISIL’s (ISIS) offshoot in the region, the Islamic State West Africa Province, for nearly two decades.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but the use of suicide bombers has been heavily attributed to Boko Haram.

The conflict in northeast Nigeria has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced about two million from their homes since 2009, according to the United Nations.

Though the violence has waned since its peak about a decade ago, it has spilt into neighbouring Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

Concerns are also growing about a resurgence of violence in parts of the northeast, where armed groups remain capable of mounting deadly attacks despite years of sustained military operations.

Maiduguri itself – once the scene of nightly gun battles and bombings – has been calm in recent years, with the last major attack recorded in 2021. (AlJazeera)