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Trump Slams U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, as ‘Loser’ After Athlete Voices Unease About Representing America

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Trump Slams U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, as ‘Loser’ After Athlete Voices Unease About Representing America

President Donald Trump has publicly rebuked U.S. Olympic halfpipe skier Hunter Hess, labeling the athlete a “real loser” after Hess expressed discomfort about representing the United States amid what he described as troubling developments at home, comments that have sparked a wider political backlash and renewed debate over athletes’ public speech.

The exchange unfolded after Hess, 27, a Bend, Oregon, native and member of Team USA, was asked what it meant to compete for the United States at the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. In remarks to Reuters, Hess said representing the country was “a little hard,” citing broader dissatisfaction with current events in the United States.

“There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t,” Hess said. He added that wearing the American flag did not mean he endorsed everything happening in the country, explaining that he instead viewed himself as representing the values he believes are positive about the United States.

Trump responded sharply to those remarks in a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday morning, casting the comments as unpatriotic and questioning Hess’s place on the national team.

“U.S. Olympic Skier, Hunter Hess, a real Loser, says he doesn’t represent his Country in the current Winter Olympics,” Trump wrote. “If that’s the case, he shouldn’t have tried out for the Team, and it’s too bad he’s on it. Very hard to root for someone like this. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

The president’s post quickly amplified the controversy, drawing in conservative commentators, social media influencers and political activists who framed Hess’s remarks as disrespectful to the country he is set to represent on the international stage.

Right-wing activist Jack Posobiec shared a video of Hess on social media with the caption, “Easily solved. Get out,” echoing a growing sentiment among Trump supporters who argue that athletes critical of U.S. policies should not compete under the American flag.

Jake Paul, a Trump-aligned YouTuber-turned-boxer, weighed in with a profanity-laced message aimed at Hess, writing that athletes unwilling to represent the country enthusiastically should “go live somewhere else.” Paul attended the Olympic events over the weekend alongside Vice President JD Vance, underscoring the political visibility surrounding the games.

Another influencer, Vance Langman, went further, publicly stating that he was rooting against the U.S. men’s Olympic ski team as a protest against athletes who criticize the country while competing for it.

The backlash, however, has not been limited to Hess. Other American athletes have also spoken openly about social and political concerns, prompting similar reactions from political figures and commentators.

Fellow freestyle skier Alex Hall Lillis addressed the issue in separate comments to the media, acknowledging that many athletes are reluctant to discuss political views but saying he felt compelled to speak out.

“A lot of times, athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things,” Lillis said. “I feel heartbroken about what’s happening in the United States.”

Pressed to clarify his remarks, Lillis pointed to immigration enforcement and protests, saying the country should focus on respecting rights and treating people with dignity. Despite his concerns, he emphasized that there was no other nation he would rather represent in international competition than the United States.

Figure skater Amber Glenn has also addressed politics publicly, telling reporters that political decisions affect athletes and citizens alike. “Politics affects us all,” Glenn said. “It is something I will not just be quiet about.”

Her comments drew a sharp response from conservative media personality Megyn Kelly, who wrote on social media, “Another turncoat to root against,” reinforcing the divide over whether athletes should publicly express political views while competing for the nation.

The growing controversy highlights a recurring tension in American sports, where elite athletes often find themselves navigating the expectations of national representation alongside personal convictions. Critics argue that representing the United States at the Olympics carries an obligation to project unity and pride, while supporters of athlete expression contend that patriotism does not require silence on social or political issues.

Hess’s own journey to the Olympic stage has been marked by significant setbacks, adding another layer to the public debate. In an interview with KTVZ, Hess described a string of injuries and medical emergencies that derailed his previous Olympic qualification attempts.

“The last Olympic qualifying process was crazy,” Hess told the station. “Everything that could possibly go wrong went wrong.”

He said he tore his medial collateral ligament, underwent months of rehabilitation and was on track to return to training, only to suffer a sudden medical emergency days before resuming workouts.

“I woke up in the middle of the night with appendicitis,” Hess said. “I drove myself to the hospital, had immediate surgery, and was out even longer.”

Hess ultimately completed his comeback in January, when he confirmed his qualification for the Cortina games, a milestone that capped years of recovery and perseverance.

Sports analysts note that the clash between Trump and Hess reflects a broader pattern in which Olympic athletes become focal points in national political debates, particularly during election cycles and periods of heightened polarization. Social media has accelerated that dynamic, transforming isolated remarks into viral flashpoints that draw responses from the highest levels of government.

Supporters of Trump argue that athletes representing the United States should refrain from comments that could be interpreted as undermining national unity, especially during international competitions. Others counter that athletes, like other citizens, retain the right to voice concerns about their country while still competing under its banner.

The International Olympic Committee has historically sought to limit overt political demonstrations at the Games, though enforcement and interpretation of those rules have evolved in recent years. In the United States, the question of whether athletic platforms should remain separate from political discourse remains deeply contested.

For now, Hess is preparing to compete in Milan-Cortina under intense public scrutiny, his athletic performance intertwined with a political debate that shows little sign of cooling. Whether the controversy will affect his standing within Team USA or his reception by American fans remains uncertain, but the episode underscores how quickly sports, politics and social media can collide on the global stage.

TheIndependent

South Sudanese Groom Secures Marriage After Presenting $77,000 Dowry With Nearly 300 Cattle in Competitive Courtship

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South Sudanese Groom Secures Marriage After Presenting $77,000 Dowry With Nearly 300 Cattle in Competitive Courtship

A South Sudanese man secured marriage to his bride through a lavish dowry presentation totaling $77,000 in cash, 297 cattle and multiple land parcels, prevailing over a rival suitor in a highly publicized courtship competition that has reignited continental debate about evolving traditional marriage practices and escalating bride price expectations.

Thon Chol Riak married Atong Aguto Monyroor on February 1, 2026, in an elaborate wedding ceremony that concluded months of intense public fascination surrounding competing dowry offers from two prominent South Sudanese families seeking to formalize the union through customary Dinka cultural protocols.

Social media imagery from the celebration documented a grand affair confirming the marriage after the protracted negotiation process captured widespread attention throughout South Sudan and across African digital platforms. The union represents one of the most publicized traditional marriages in recent South Sudanese history, with rival families presenting extraordinary wealth transfers that sparked national conversation about cultural preservation versus economic accessibility of marriage.

The courtship competition commenced in December 2025 when two influential family networks presented competing proposals for Atong Aguto Pach’s hand in marriage, each attempting to demonstrate superior capacity to provide for the bride and her family through substantial material commitments. Video documentation shared by GD Maniir Media chronicled the traditional negotiation process that culminated in Riak’s successful courtship.

The Awulian community, supporting suitor Mabior Abit Biar, presented an initial offer comprising 158 cattle, 161 goats and dozens of sheep—livestock holdings representing substantial agricultural wealth in South Sudanese pastoral economies. The proposal extended beyond animal assets to include urban real estate consisting of a town bungalow and seven land plots in Juba, the national capital, plus two motor vehicles and approximately 3.2 million Kenyan shillings ($25,000) in cash.

This comprehensive package would constitute exceptional wealth by South Sudanese standards, where per capita gross domestic product remains among the continent’s lowest following decades of civil conflict and ongoing political instability. The inclusion of urban property and vehicles alongside traditional livestock offerings demonstrates how contemporary dowry practices blend customary expectations with modern economic realities.

However, the Abang community, backing eventual successful groom Thon Chol Riak, countered with a substantially larger presentation promising 297 cattle—nearly double the rival offer’s bovine component—plus 9.9 million Kenyan shillings ($77,000) in cash, unspecified land holdings, additional assets, and educational sponsorships for two of the bride’s relatives. This commitment to finance family members’ schooling reflects growing recognition that educational access constitutes valuable long-term investment comparable to immediate material transfers.

The scale of competing offers generated polarized reactions within South Sudan and broader African communities observing the spectacle. Supporters characterized the lavish presentations as authentic expressions of cultural identity and tangible demonstrations of grooms’ capacity to sustain families according to time-honored Dinka traditions that have governed marriage formation for generations.

Critics expressed alarm about escalating dowry valuations that increasingly place marriage beyond economic reach of ordinary South Sudanese men, potentially contributing to delayed family formation, cohabitation without formal marriage, or financial hardship as families strain to meet inflated expectations. This tension between cultural continuity and practical accessibility represents a fundamental challenge facing traditional societies navigating modernity’s economic pressures.

Among many South Sudanese communities, particularly within Dinka, Nuer and other pastoralist ethnic groups, marriage constitutes a union between extended families and clans rather than merely joining two individuals. This conceptual framework positions dowry payments as establishing reciprocal obligations and social bonds transcending the couple, incorporating entire kinship networks into relationships of mutual support and responsibility.

Cattle carry profound cultural significance extending beyond their economic value as agricultural assets or wealth stores. Bovine ownership historically indicated honor, social standing and masculine achievement within pastoral societies where herding expertise and livestock accumulation demonstrated capacity to provide sustenance and security. The prestige associated with cattle ownership persists despite South Sudan’s partial urbanization and economic diversification.

The tradition of bride price payments—labeled dowry in common usage though technically constituting bride wealth transferred from groom’s family to bride’s family—reflects fundamentally different marriage economics than Western dowry systems where brides’ families provided assets to grooms. African bride price compensates the bride’s family for losing a productive member while establishing the groom’s commitment and capability to fulfill husbandly responsibilities.

Contemporary bride price negotiations increasingly incorporate modern assets alongside traditional livestock. Urban real estate, motor vehicles, cash payments and educational sponsorships supplement or partially replace cattle in communities where pastoral lifestyles have yielded to wage employment and urban residence. This evolution demonstrates cultural adaptation while maintaining core principles of demonstrating provider capacity and cementing family alliances.

The publicized nature of Riak and Monyroor’s courtship competition represents a relatively recent phenomenon enabled by social media connectivity and smartphone proliferation. Traditional marriage negotiations historically occurred privately among family elders through deliberative processes shielded from public scrutiny. Contemporary documentation and online sharing transform intimate family matters into spectacles subject to public commentary and debate.

This transparency generates both benefits and complications. Public awareness can hold families accountable to cultural standards and prevent exploitation, but exposure also invites external judgment and can intensify competitive pressures as families seek to avoid perceived inadequacy. The viral attention surrounding this particular marriage likely influenced the escalating offers as competing families recognized their proposals would be evaluated by national audiences.

The economic implications of these elevated dowry expectations extend beyond individual families to influence broader social patterns. Young men facing astronomical marriage costs may postpone unions indefinitely, contributing to demographic shifts including later family formation and reduced fertility rates. Some resort to debt or risky income-generating activities to accumulate necessary resources, potentially destabilizing their financial futures.

Women’s agency within these traditional frameworks remains contested. Critics argue that substantial bride price payments commodify women and reinforce patriarchal control by framing marriage as a transaction where husbands acquire rights over wives. Defenders contend that bride wealth validates women’s value and ensures families invest significantly in marriages, theoretically increasing commitment and reducing casual abandonment.

The educational sponsorship component of Riak’s successful offer introduces an intriguing dimension suggesting evolving priorities. By committing to finance relatives’ schooling, the groom’s family acknowledges education’s transformative potential and positions themselves as investing in the bride’s extended family’s long-term prosperity rather than merely transferring immediate wealth. This forward-looking element may represent emerging trends in dowry practices.

South Sudan’s specific context—emerging from decades of civil war, achieving independence in 2011, then descending into renewed internal conflict from 2013—shapes how communities approach marriage traditions. In societies disrupted by violence and displacement, cultural practices like elaborate marriage ceremonies and substantial dowry payments represent assertions of identity continuity and normalcy amid chaos.

The February 1 wedding ceremony’s lavish nature, documented through social media imagery showing festive gatherings and celebratory rituals, served multiple functions beyond formalizing one couple’s union. Such events demonstrate community resilience, provide opportunities for dispersed families to reunite, and reassert cultural values that conflict and displacement threaten to erode.

Linda Ikeji’s coverage and Tuko’s documentation of the marriage ensured the story reached pan-African audiences, sparking conversations about tradition and modernity across the continent. Similar debates occur throughout Africa as urbanization, education access and economic change reshape courtship and marriage practices that evolved in predominantly rural, agricultural societies.

The intersection of tradition and contemporary economic realities creates unique pressures in societies like South Sudan where many citizens maintain strong cultural identities while confronting modern cash economies, urban lifestyles and global connectivity. Navigating these tensions without abandoning valued traditions or creating unsustainable economic expectations represents an ongoing challenge.

As the newlyweds begin their life together, their highly publicized union will likely continue influencing South Sudanese discourse about appropriate dowry levels, cultural authenticity and marriage accessibility. Whether their story inspires emulation or prompts reconsideration of escalating expectations remains to be determined as communities grapple with balancing cultural preservation and practical sustainability.

LindaIkeji/Tuko

Nigerian National Receives Eight-Year Federal Sentence for $6 Million Inheritance Fraud Targeting Elderly Americans

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Nigerian National Receives Eight-Year Federal Sentence for $6 Million Inheritance Fraud Targeting Elderly Americans

 A federal court sentenced Nigerian national Tochukwu Albert Nnebocha to 97 months in prison Friday for orchestrating a sophisticated transnational inheritance fraud scheme that extracted more than $6 million from over 400 elderly and vulnerable Americans during a seven-year criminal enterprise spanning multiple continents.

The U.S. Department of Justice disclosed in a statement published on its website that Nnebocha, 44, and his international co-conspirators “operated a lucrative transnational inheritance fraud scheme that exploited vulnerable people in the United States” through meticulously crafted deception targeting seniors’ financial vulnerabilities and trust.

Court documents revealed that Nnebocha and accomplices dispatched hundreds of thousands of personalized letters to elderly individuals throughout the United States, falsely claiming the sender represented a banking institution in Spain and asserting that recipients were entitled to receive multimillion-dollar inheritances purportedly left by deceased family members.

The elaborate fraud mechanism required victims to remit various advance fees before accessing the fictitious inheritances. “The conspirators then told the victims that, before they could receive their purported inheritance, they were required to send money for purported delivery fees, taxes, and payments regarding the inheritance,” the Justice Department statement explained.

The comprehensive fraudulent operation ultimately defrauded more than 400 American victims of amounts exceeding $6 million, with individual losses ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars as trusting seniors depleted savings accounts and retirement funds pursuing nonexistent fortunes.

Nnebocha was apprehended by Polish authorities in April 2025 based on an indictment filed in the Southern District of Florida. He remained incarcerated in Poland until September 2025 when he was extradited to the United States to face federal charges. He entered a guilty plea in November 2025 to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, acknowledging his central role in the international criminal network.

At sentencing, the federal court imposed 97 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release following incarceration, and restitution exceeding $6.8 million to compensate defrauded victims. The restitution amount slightly exceeds documented losses, likely accounting for additional financial harm and interest calculations.

Nnebocha made his initial federal court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida following his September extradition. The case proceeded through multiple jurisdictions as prosecutors assembled evidence from operations spanning the United States, Nigeria, Poland, Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom.

The Justice Department characterized this prosecution as “the second indicted case related to this international fraud scheme,” noting that eight co-conspirators from the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal and Nigeria had previously been convicted and sentenced for their roles in the criminal enterprise. Two defendants—Okezie Bonaventure Ogbata, extradited from Portugal, and Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, extradited from the United Kingdom—each received identical 97-month sentences from the Honorable Roy K. Altman for their participation.

The investigation involved extensive international cooperation among the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Legal Attaché in Poland, INTERPOL, Polish authorities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. This collaborative framework enabled evidence gathering across multiple jurisdictions and successful extradition of defendants residing in countries without automatic extradition agreements.

Senior Trial Attorney and Transnational Criminal Litigation Coordinator Phil Toomajian and Trial Attorney Joshua D. Rothman of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case, specializing in complex international fraud schemes requiring coordination across borders and legal systems.

The inheritance fraud methodology employed by Nnebocha and his network represents a particularly insidious variant of advance-fee fraud schemes that have victimized Americans for decades. By targeting elderly individuals specifically, the conspirators exploited cognitive vulnerabilities, isolation, and generational trust in written correspondence that younger, digitally-native Americans might immediately recognize as fraudulent.

The personalization of fraudulent letters—addressing recipients by name and fabricating detailed narratives about deceased relatives and Spanish banking procedures—required substantial preparation and access to databases containing names, addresses and potentially demographic information about elderly Americans. This operational sophistication distinguishes the scheme from mass-mailed generic scams, suggesting the criminal network invested significant resources in target identification and message customization.

The use of former victims as unwitting money mules demonstrates additional criminal ingenuity. By convincing initial victims to receive funds from subsequent targets and forward proceeds to conspirators, the network created buffer layers insulating primary perpetrators from direct financial transactions with most victims. This structure complicated law enforcement tracing efforts and enabled conspirators to continue operations even after some participants faced arrest.

The scheme’s seven-year duration before successful prosecution reveals challenges inherent in combating transnational fraud. Perpetrators operating from Nigeria and coordinating through accomplices in multiple European nations exploited jurisdictional complexities, varying international law enforcement priorities, and the difficulty of building cases requiring evidence from numerous countries with different legal frameworks.

The Justice Department’s successful prosecution relied on unprecedented international cooperation. INTERPOL’s coordination mechanisms, bilateral law enforcement relationships, and mutual legal assistance treaties enabled information sharing and coordinated enforcement actions that might have been impossible without established diplomatic and investigative partnerships.

For elderly victims who lost substantial sums pursuing nonexistent inheritances, the financial devastation extends beyond monetary losses. Many seniors who deplete retirement savings or liquidate assets to pay advance fees face dramatically diminished quality of life, potential inability to afford necessary medical care or housing, and profound psychological trauma from recognizing they were systematically deceived.

The $6.8 million restitution order, while symbolically important, likely provides limited practical relief to victims. Nnebocha presumably lacks assets approaching this amount, and his eight-year incarceration precludes substantial legitimate earnings. Restitution in fraud cases often remains partially or entirely uncollected, particularly when perpetrators have dissipated proceeds or hidden assets in jurisdictions beyond U.S. reach.

The case exemplifies broader Justice Department priorities targeting elder fraud through dedicated enforcement initiatives. The National Elder Fraud Hotline (1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311) provides support to seniors experiencing financial exploitation, staffed by experienced professionals who assess victim needs and coordinate reporting to appropriate agencies. The hotline operates Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time with multilingual capacity.

The Department’s Elder Justice Initiative webpage consolidates resources addressing various elder fraud categories including romance fraud, lottery fraud, tech support fraud and grandparent scams. Romance fraud involves perpetrators feigning romantic interest to extract money under false pretenses. Lottery fraud schemes deceive victims into believing they won nonexistent prizes requiring advance fee payments. Tech support fraud tricks victims into paying for unnecessary computer repairs. Grandparent scams impersonate family members claiming emergency financial needs.

The Consumer Protection Branch maintains enforcement information at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch, while the Federal Trade Commission accepts elder fraud complaints at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or 877-FTC-HELP. The Office for Victims of Crime provides additional resources at www.ovc.gov addressing elder fraud victimization.

The inheritance fraud variant prosecuted in Nnebocha’s case exploits psychological vulnerabilities distinct from other elder fraud categories. The promise of unexpected wealth from deceased relatives appeals to magical thinking and desire for financial security that may intensify as seniors confront retirement savings inadequacy. The authoritative presentation—purportedly from Spanish banking officials handling estate matters—leverages respect for institutional authority and unfamiliarity with international financial procedures.

Peoples Gazette previously covered Nnebocha’s April 2025 arrest in Poland and September extradition to face federal charges, providing Nigerian media perspective on a case involving a Nigerian national victimizing Americans while coordinating operations across multiple countries.

As transnational fraud schemes proliferate with digital communication enabling global criminal networks, the Nnebocha prosecution demonstrates that international cooperation can successfully identify, apprehend and punish perpetrators despite jurisdictional complexities. The eight-year sentence—near the statutory maximum for the charges—signals judicial determination to impose severe consequences for systematic exploitation of vulnerable populations.

For elderly Americans, the case underscores critical importance of skepticism toward unsolicited correspondence promising unexpected windfalls. Legitimate inheritances do not require advance fee payments, and reputable financial institutions do not contact potential beneficiaries through mass mailings requesting money transfers before releasing funds.

Punchng/Gazzettengr

Nigeria Defence Minister Marries Off 10 Children in Single Abuja Ceremony, Praises President Tinubu and Foreign Leaders for Attendance

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Nigeria Defence Minister Marries Off 10 Children in Single Abuja Ceremony, Praises President Tinubu and Foreign Leaders for Attendance

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, marked a rare and highly symbolic personal milestone on Feb. 6 as 10 of his children were married in a single joint Islamic ceremony at the National Mosque in Abuja, an event that blended private family celebration with the pageantry of high-level political presence.

The ceremony brought together five daughters — Maryam, Safiyya, Farida, Nana Firdausi and Aisha — and five sons — Ibrahim, Abdul Jalal, Surajo, Bello and Fahad — who were joined with their spouses under Islamic rites before a gathering that included senior Nigerian officials and foreign dignitaries. The couples, dressed in traditional and ceremonial attire, exchanged vows in what attendees described as a colourful and faith-centered celebration that drew attention well beyond the minister’s family circle.

President Bola Tinubu played a prominent role in the ceremony, serving as Wali, or guardian, during the wedding Fātiḥa of the couples. Punchng reported that the president’s participation underscored the significance attached to the occasion, which unfolded at Nigeria’s most prominent place of worship in the capital.

The religious rites were conducted by Professor Luqman Zakariyah, who officiated the ceremony and offered prayers not only for the newly married couples but also for the country and its leadership. In remarks delivered during the service, the imam prayed for the president’s health and longevity, describing Tinubu as a symbolic father figure for the brides and grooms during the ceremony.

“We pray to Almighty Allah to give our President, who is representing all, the father of all the brides and the grooms, good health,” the imam said. He also asked for divine guidance and success for Tinubu’s administration, adding prayers that the presidency would bring renewed hope to Nigerians facing hardship.

Matawalle, visibly moved by the president’s presence and role, later expressed his appreciation in remarks and in a message shared publicly. In the statement, he described Tinubu’s decision to act as Wali as a rare honour that carried deep personal and cultural meaning for his family.

“Today, I am deeply honoured and profoundly grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for graciously serving as Wali at the wedding Fātiḥa of my children, held at the National Mosque, Abuja,” Matawalle wrote. “I remain sincerely honoured by this rare privilege.”

The gathering also attracted notable figures from within and outside Nigeria. Among those in attendance was the President of São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Vila Nova, whose presence added a diplomatic dimension to the event. Governors Umar Namadi of Jigawa State and Nasir Idris of Kebbi State were also among the dignitaries present, alongside members of the Federal Executive Council, serving and former governors, lawmakers, traditional leaders, friends and extended family members.

In subsequent remarks, Matawalle extended special thanks to President Vila Nova, saying the attendance of the São Tomé and Príncipe leader lent additional meaning to the celebration. He described the turnout of senior officials and well-wishers as a reflection of shared respect and longstanding relationships built across political and personal lines.

Beyond expressions of gratitude, the minister used the moment to offer prayers for those who travelled from across Nigeria and beyond to attend the ceremony. He asked that God reward those who supported the family through prayers, messages and personal presence, and grant safe journeys to guests returning to their destinations.

“I also pray that Allah rewards abundantly all those who travelled from far and near to celebrate with us, and I ask Allah to grant you a safe and peaceful journey back to your respective destinations,” Matawalle said.

While the ceremony was first and foremost a family affair, its scale and the participation of the president and foreign leaders inevitably carried broader political and social resonance. In Nigeria, where public life often intertwines with cultural and religious traditions, high-profile family events can serve as informal venues for reaffirming alliances and signaling unity across political, regional and religious lines.

The decision by Tinubu to serve as Wali was particularly notable. In Islamic tradition, the role carries symbolic responsibility and moral authority, and its assumption by the president placed him at the center of a ceremony that blended religious obligation with national prominence. Analysts note that such gestures, while personal in form, often resonate publicly, reinforcing images of accessibility and cultural continuity in leadership.

The presence of a sitting foreign president further highlighted Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and the personal relationships cultivated by senior officials beyond formal state visits and summits. For observers, the attendance of President Vila Nova underscored the soft-power dimension of personal diplomacy, where cultural and family occasions complement official engagements.

At the same time, the mass wedding itself drew attention to enduring traditions within parts of Nigerian society, where joint ceremonies are sometimes embraced as expressions of unity, efficiency and shared joy. Hosting such an event at the National Mosque, a site closely associated with national religious life, amplified its symbolic weight.

Punchng, which first detailed the president’s role at the ceremony, noted that the event concluded with prayers and expressions of goodwill, as guests departed after hours of religious rites and celebration.

For Matawalle, the day represented both a personal milestone and a public moment of gratitude. In thanking the president, foreign leaders and fellow officials, he framed the occasion as one defined not only by family happiness but also by communal support and shared values.

As Nigeria continues to navigate political, economic and security challenges, events such as this — while celebratory — also offer insight into the ways tradition, leadership and public life intersect in the country’s evolving national story.

Punchng/TVNewsng

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu to Make Historic UK State Visit in March, First by a Nigerian Leader in 37 Years

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Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu to Make Historic UK State Visit in March, First by a Nigerian Leader in 37 Years

Britain’s royal household said Sunday that Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, will travel to the United Kingdom in March for a state visit, marking the first time in nearly four decades that a Nigerian leader has been accorded the highest level of diplomatic welcome by Britain.

Buckingham Palace said Tinubu and his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, are scheduled to visit the United Kingdom on March 18 and 19, where they will be hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle. Palace officials said further details of the program will be announced closer to the visit.

The trip will be the first state visit to Britain by a Nigerian president in 37 years, a milestone that both London and Abuja view as a symbolic reset in relations between the two countries, which share deep historical, economic and political ties dating back to the colonial era.

The announcement was first confirmed by Buckingham Palace and later echoed by Nigerian officials, including presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, who described the visit as a historic moment in Nigeria–UK relations.

In a statement shared on social media by the Royal Family, the palace said: “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accompanied by the First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, has accepted an invitation from His Majesty The King to pay a State Visit to the United Kingdom from Wednesday, 18th March to Thursday, 19th March 2026. The King and Queen will host the State Visit at Windsor Castle.”

Onanuga reposted the statement and underscored its significance, noting that it would be the first such visit by a Nigerian leader since 1989.

State visits represent the highest form of diplomatic engagement in Britain and are typically reserved for close allies or strategically important partners. They usually begin with a ceremonial welcome hosted by the monarch and often include a carriage procession, military honors and a state banquet attended by senior members of government, royalty and distinguished guests.

While the palace has not yet released a full itinerary, officials said the visit will include formal engagements with King Charles and Queen Camilla and is expected to feature discussions on bilateral cooperation, regional security and global challenges.

Tinubu’s visit will place him in rare company among Nigerian leaders. Previous state visits by Nigerian heads of state took place in 1973, when General Yakubu Gowon visited Britain; in 1981, when President Shehu Shagari made a state visit; and in 1989, under military ruler Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. No Nigerian leader has received a UK state visit since then.

Although this will be Tinubu’s first state visit to Britain since assuming office, it will not be his first engagement with King Charles. Both men came into their respective roles in 2023, Tinubu as Nigeria’s president and Charles as Britain’s monarch, and they have met on several occasions since.

In November 2023, Tinubu met Charles ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP28, in Dubai. Tinubu later described that meeting as an important step toward strengthening cooperation between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, particularly on climate-related issues affecting developing countries.

The Nigerian president was also received by King Charles at Buckingham Palace in September 2024 for a private meeting. According to Onanuga, the discussions focused on global and regional matters of shared concern, with climate change, energy transition and sustainable development featuring prominently.

Charles, while still Prince of Wales, visited Nigeria four times — in 1990, 1999, 2006 and 2018 — and has long expressed interest in the country, Africa’s most populous nation and one of its largest economies. Those visits laid the groundwork for personal familiarity between the British royal family and Nigeria’s political leadership.

Buckingham Palace said full details of Tinubu’s upcoming visit, including official ceremonies and any meetings with British government officials, will be released at a later date.

The state visit comes at a time when both countries are reassessing their post-Brexit and post-pandemic foreign policy priorities. For Britain, Nigeria represents a key partner in Africa, with close links in trade, education, security cooperation and the Commonwealth. Millions of people of Nigerian descent live in the United Kingdom, forming one of the country’s largest and most influential African diasporas.

For Nigeria, the visit offers an opportunity to attract investment, deepen diplomatic ties and reposition itself as a central player in African and global affairs under Tinubu’s leadership. His administration has pursued economic reforms at home while seeking to reassure international partners about Nigeria’s long-term stability and growth potential.

Analysts say the symbolism of a state visit should not be underestimated. While such trips are largely ceremonial, they often serve as a platform for behind-the-scenes diplomacy and can pave the way for agreements on trade, security cooperation or cultural exchange.

The emphasis on climate change in Tinubu’s previous meetings with King Charles is also expected to feature prominently. Nigeria faces mounting climate pressures, including flooding, desertification and energy transition challenges, while Britain has positioned itself as a global advocate for climate finance and emissions reduction.

At the same time, the visit may revive conversations about historical ties and unresolved issues stemming from the colonial era, including cultural restitution and migration. Nigeria has repeatedly called for the return of cultural artifacts taken during the colonial period, a subject that has gained traction in European capitals in recent years.

While neither government has publicly outlined specific deliverables from the visit, officials on both sides have framed it as a moment to reaffirm partnership rather than resolve any single dispute.

As preparations continue, diplomats say the visit’s real significance may lie less in pageantry and more in what it signals: a renewed willingness by both Nigeria and Britain to elevate their relationship at a time of shifting global alliances and growing competition for influence across Africa.

AP/TVCNewsng

Sudan Drone Strike on Displaced Families Kills 24 as Attacks on Aid Convoys Deepen Humanitarian Crisis

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Sudan Drone Strike on Displaced Families Kills 24 as Attacks on Aid Convoys Deepen Humanitarian Crisis

A drone strike blamed on Sudan’s powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces struck a vehicle carrying displaced families in central Sudan on Saturday, killing at least 24 people, including eight children, medical monitors said, in what rights groups described as another grave escalation in attacks on civilians and humanitarian operations.

The Sudan Doctors Network said the attack occurred near the city of Rahad in North Kordofan province, an area that has become increasingly volatile as front lines shift in Sudan’s nearly three-year war. The vehicle was transporting families who had fled fighting in the Dubeiker area, seeking safety from clashes that have engulfed much of the region.

Among the dead were two infants, the doctors’ group said, underscoring the toll the conflict continues to take on children. Several other people were wounded and rushed to medical facilities in Rahad, where hospitals and clinics face chronic shortages of medicines, equipment and staff, conditions mirrored across much of Kordofan.

In a statement, the Sudan Doctors Network appealed to the international community and human rights organizations to intervene, calling for urgent action to protect civilians and hold the leadership of the Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, “directly accountable” for what it described as serious violations.

There was no immediate response from the RSF, which has been locked in a brutal struggle with Sudan’s military for control of the country since April 2023. The conflict erupted after a power struggle between army chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and RSF commander Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti, collapsed into open warfare in the capital, Khartoum, and rapidly spread nationwide.

The strike on the displaced families came just one day after a separate drone attack hit a World Food Programme aid convoy in the same province, raising alarm among humanitarian agencies already struggling to operate in one of the world’s most dangerous aid environments.

Denise Brown, the United Nations’ resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan, said the WFP convoy was traveling to deliver “life-saving food assistance” to displaced people in the city of El Obeid when it was struck. One person was killed and several others were wounded, she said, as the trucks caught fire and food supplies were destroyed.

“Attacks on aid operations undermine efforts to reach people facing hunger and displacement,” Brown said, warning that repeated strikes on humanitarian assets threaten to cut off already desperate communities from assistance.

Brown also pointed to another drone strike earlier in the week near a WFP facility in Yabus, in Blue Nile state, which wounded a WFP staff member. She said she personally encountered the aftermath of Friday’s convoy attack hours later while leaving El Obeid, a stark reminder of the insecurity facing aid workers.

Emergency Lawyers, an independent Sudanese group that documents abuses during the war, blamed the RSF for the convoy attack. The Sudan Doctors Network went further, describing the strike as a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law” that amounted to a war crime.

International condemnation followed swiftly. Massad Boulos, a U.S. adviser for African and Arab affairs, denounced the attack in a message on X, calling the destruction of food aid and the killing of humanitarian workers “sickening.”

“The Trump Administration has zero tolerance for this destruction of life and of U.S.-funded assistance,” Boulos wrote. “We demand accountability.”

Britain’s minister for international development and Africa, Jenny Chapman, also criticized the strike, describing it as “disgraceful” and stressing that aid workers and humanitarian operations “should never be targeted” as civilians face widespread hunger.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry issued a strongly worded statement condemning a series of recent drone strikes attributed to the RSF, including the attack on displaced families, the WFP convoy and an earlier strike on a hospital in Kordofan that killed at least 22 people. The statement called on the RSF to halt attacks on civilians and aid convoys and criticized foreign actors that continue to supply “illegal arms, mercenaries and foreign fighters” — a reference widely interpreted as pointing to the United Arab Emirates. The UAE has denied accusations by rights groups and U.N. experts that it arms the RSF.

Kordofan has emerged as a major battleground in recent months, though Sudan’s military said it managed to break RSF sieges of two key cities in the region earlier this year. Despite those developments, civilians remain trapped between shifting front lines, with displacement accelerating as violence spreads.

The war has killed more than 40,000 people, according to United Nations figures, though aid organizations caution that the true death toll is likely far higher. More than 14 million people have been forced from their homes, creating what the U.N. describes as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.

Disease outbreaks, collapsing health systems and blocked aid routes have pushed parts of Sudan into famine. A report released Thursday by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC, found that famine conditions had expanded to two additional areas in Darfur, months after famine was confirmed in a displacement camp there in August 2024.

The IPC warned that acute malnutrition is expected to worsen significantly in 2026, projecting a 13.5% increase among children under five and pregnant or breastfeeding women — rising from 3.7 million affected in 2025 to nearly 4.2 million next year. Severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form, is forecast to reach 800,000 cases.

Mohamad Abdiladif, Save the Children’s country director in Sudan, said children are already dying from hunger-related causes across large swaths of the country.

“Every day we hear devastating stories of parents selling the last of what they own simply to keep their children alive from one day to the next,” he said.

The twin drone attacks in North Kordofan — one on fleeing families, the other on food aid — illustrate how Sudan’s war has evolved into a conflict where civilians and humanitarian lifelines are increasingly in the crosshairs. Analysts say the growing use of drones by armed actors has expanded the battlefield, allowing strikes far from traditional front lines and deepening the sense of insecurity.

Targeting aid convoys not only violates international law but also compounds famine risks by disrupting fragile supply chains. Each destroyed truck represents thousands of missed meals in a country where millions already rely on humanitarian assistance to survive.

As diplomatic efforts to end the war remain stalled, the attacks underscore a grim reality: without sustained international pressure and accountability, Sudan’s civilians are likely to bear an even heavier burden, caught between armed forces willing to turn displacement routes and aid deliveries into lethal targets.

AP

Russia Says Suspect in Shooting of Senior Military Intelligence General Detained Abroad as Pattern of Targeted Attacks Grows

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Russia Says Suspect in Shooting of Senior Military Intelligence General Detained Abroad as Pattern of Targeted Attacks Grows

Russian authorities said Sunday that a suspect in the shooting of a senior military intelligence officer has been detained abroad and transferred to Russia, as investigators probe an attack that fits a growing pattern of targeted violence against high-ranking officials during the war in Ukraine.

Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, said the man accused of opening fire on Lt. Gen. Vladimir Alekseyev, a deputy chief of the country’s military intelligence agency, was apprehended in Dubai and subsequently handed over to Russian authorities. The agency identified the suspect as Lyubomir Korba, a Russian citizen.

Alekseyev, 64, was wounded Friday after being shot several times at an apartment building in northwestern Moscow. He was hospitalized with gunshot injuries, Investigative Committee spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said. Officials have not disclosed details of his condition beyond confirming that he survived the attack.

In a statement released through its official website, the FSB said it had also uncovered the involvement of two alleged accomplices. One was taken into custody in Moscow, while the other fled and is believed to have traveled to Ukraine, the agency said.

Russian officials have portrayed the shooting as part of what they describe as a campaign orchestrated by Kyiv to destabilize Russia from within. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking shortly after the attack, said the investigation would be handled by law enforcement bodies but characterized the shooting as an apparent “terrorist act” aimed at undermining diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

Ukrainian authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Kyiv has neither confirmed nor denied involvement in the Alekseyev shooting.

The attack came just one day after delegations from Russia, Ukraine and the United States concluded two days of talks in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, focused on pathways to end the nearly four-year war. Russia’s delegation to those discussions was led by Alekseyev’s superior, military intelligence chief Adm. Igor Kostyukov, adding diplomatic sensitivity to the timing of the shooting.

Alekseyev has served as first deputy head of Russia’s military intelligence agency, widely known as the GRU, since 2011. Over more than a decade in the role, he has been closely associated with some of Moscow’s most sensitive overseas military and intelligence operations.

He received the Hero of Russia medal for his role in the country’s military intervention in Syria. In June 2023, state television footage showed him in discussion with mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin during the Wagner Group’s brief mutiny, when its fighters seized a military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don.

Russian media provided additional details about the shooting. The business daily Kommersant described the attacker as posing as a delivery worker who confronted Alekseyev in the stairwell of his apartment building. The assailant allegedly shot the general twice, wounding him in the foot and arm. Alekseyev attempted to disarm the attacker and was then shot again in the chest before the gunman fled, the newspaper said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin was informed about the attack. Peskov added that security agencies must strengthen protective measures for senior military officials while the conflict in Ukraine continues.

The Alekseyev shooting follows a series of assassinations and attempted killings of prominent Russian military figures that authorities have repeatedly blamed on Ukraine. Kyiv has acknowledged responsibility for some of those attacks, while remaining silent or ambiguous about others.

In December, Lt. Gen. Fanil Sarvarov, head of the Operational Training Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces’ General Staff, was killed in a car bombing. In April, Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the General Staff’s main operational department, died after an explosive device detonated in his parked car outside Moscow.

In that case, a Russian man who previously lived in Ukraine pleaded guilty and told investigators he had been paid by Ukraine’s security services to carry out the attack. Days later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had received a briefing from Ukraine’s foreign intelligence chief regarding the “liquidation” of senior Russian military figures, adding that “justice inevitably comes,” without naming Moskalik.

Another high-profile killing occurred in December 2024, when Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s nuclear, biological and chemical protection forces, was killed by a bomb concealed on an electric scooter outside his apartment building. Kirillov’s assistant also died. Ukraine’s security service later claimed responsibility.

Alekseyev himself has long been a target of Western sanctions. The United States imposed penalties on him over allegations of interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The United Kingdom and the European Union also sanctioned him for his alleged involvement in the 2018 poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, using the nerve agent Novichok.

Beyond the immediate investigation, the attack on Alekseyev highlights the increasingly blurred line between battlefield confrontation and covert operations far from the front lines. The targeting of senior officers inside Russia reflects an escalation in tactics that analysts say is designed to apply psychological pressure on Moscow’s leadership and signal vulnerability even at the highest levels.

The timing of the shooting, coinciding with international talks, is likely to reinforce hard-line voices within Russia who argue against concessions in negotiations. At the same time, it complicates diplomatic efforts by raising questions about trust and security guarantees during dialogue.

For Russia, the detention of a suspect abroad offers an opportunity to demonstrate the reach of its security services and project an image of control. For Ukraine, silence or ambiguity may serve strategic aims by keeping Moscow uncertain about the scope of Kyiv’s capabilities.

As the war grinds on, the pattern of targeted attacks suggests the conflict is increasingly being fought not only with artillery and drones, but through intelligence operations that extend deep into each side’s perceived safe zones — a development that may further entrench the confrontation and make a negotiated end more elusive.

The Associated Press original

Bodies Recovered in Sinaloa Search Zone as Mexico Intensifies Hunt for 10 Missing Canadian Mine Workers

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Bodies Recovered in Sinaloa Search Zone as Mexico Intensifies Hunt for 10 Missing Canadian Mine Workers

Mexican authorities said Friday that bodies and human remains have been discovered in the northwestern state of Sinaloa during an ongoing operation to locate 10 workers who vanished last month from a Canadian-owned gold and silver mine, deepening concerns about cartel violence and security risks facing the mining industry.

The Mexican Attorney General’s Office confirmed the recovery of remains in an area connected to the search for the missing workers but stopped short of disclosing how many bodies were found. Officials said preliminary indicators suggested that at least one of the bodies matched the physical characteristics of an individual reported missing after the abduction.

Federal prosecutors also announced the detention of four people believed to be linked to the disappearance of the mine workers, signaling what authorities described as a significant development in the investigation.

The Sinaloa state prosecutor’s office said the remains were located in the rural community of El Verde, within the municipality of Concordia, a mountainous zone where the mining operation is based. The region has been the focus of an intensive security operation involving federal and state forces.

In a related action, the Mexican Navy said it dismantled 10 makeshift camps in the same area that intelligence services believe were used by cartel gunmen. Authorities said the camps were destroyed as part of a broader effort to disrupt organized criminal groups operating in the area.

The mountainous terrain around Concordia has become one of several flashpoints in Sinaloa, where a violent struggle between rival factions of the powerful Sinaloa cartel has unfolded for more than a year. The conflict has fueled disappearances, ambushes and forced displacement in rural communities, complicating both civilian life and commercial activity.

The case came to light on Jan. 28, when Vancouver-based Vizsla Silver disclosed that 10 people had been taken from its mining facilities in Sinaloa. The company said the incident was immediately reported to Mexican authorities and that internal crisis management and security teams were activated to support the search.

Vizsla Silver did not immediately respond to requests for comment late Friday. In its earlier statement, the company said it was cooperating fully with authorities while prioritizing the safety of its personnel.

Following the abductions, Mexico’s federal government increased troop deployments to Sinaloa and launched a coordinated operation involving the military, National Guard and investigative agencies. Officials said the goal was to locate the missing workers, secure the mining corridor and weaken cartel influence in the region.

Authorities have not publicly detailed the identities or nationalities of all 10 missing individuals, though the mine is Canadian-owned and employs both local and foreign workers. The Attorney General’s Office said forensic teams are continuing examinations to confirm whether the recovered remains belong to any of those abducted.

The discovery of bodies in the search zone underscores the dangers posed by organized crime to Mexico’s mining sector, which has increasingly drawn the attention of criminal groups seeking to exploit valuable resources or extort companies operating in remote areas.

Mining sites have been targeted by organized crime in previous incidents across Mexico, particularly in states rich in gold, silver and other minerals. Security analysts say cartels view mines as lucrative opportunities, whether through protection rackets, theft of ore or direct control of extraction and transport routes.

In Sinaloa, the stakes are heightened by the ongoing cartel infighting, which has fractured traditional power structures and increased volatility. Experts say rival groups often use kidnappings and attacks on businesses as leverage in territorial disputes or as a means to finance their operations.

While authorities emphasized that the investigation remains active, they acknowledged the challenges posed by the region’s rugged geography and the entrenched presence of armed groups. The Navy said its operations in El Verde were aimed at denying criminal groups safe havens and gathering intelligence tied to the disappearances.

Beyond the immediate search, the case has reignited debate over security guarantees for foreign investment in Mexico, particularly in extractive industries operating far from urban centers. Canada is one of the largest foreign investors in Mexico’s mining sector, with dozens of companies active across the country.

Industry observers note that while mining companies often rely on private security and coordination with local authorities, those measures can prove insufficient in areas where cartel influence is strong and state control is limited.

The Mexican government has sought to reassure investors that it is committed to safeguarding strategic industries, pointing to the troop surge and arrests in Sinaloa as evidence of its resolve. Officials say the investigation into the abductions will continue until the fate of all 10 workers is clarified.

The arrests announced Friday could provide critical leads, but authorities cautioned that the presence of remains does not yet establish how many of the missing workers may be dead or alive. Forensic identification is expected to take time.

As the search continues, families of the missing workers remain in limbo, awaiting definitive answers. Human rights advocates say the case highlights the broader crisis of disappearances in Mexico, where tens of thousands of people have gone missing over the past decade, often in areas dominated by organized crime.

For now, the recovery of bodies in El Verde marks a grim turn in the investigation, reinforcing fears that the abduction of the mine workers may be tied to the violent struggle reshaping Sinaloa — and exposing the human cost of operating businesses in one of Mexico’s most contested regions.

AP

Ukraine Recovers Bodies of 2 Kenyans Killed While Fighting for Russia in Donetsk

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Ukraine Recovers Bodies of 2 Kenyans Killed While Fighting for Russia in Donetsk

Ukraine has recovered the bodies of two Kenyan nationals who were recruited by Russia and killed while fighting in eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian defense intelligence officials said, underscoring the expanding role of foreign fighters in Moscow’s war effort.

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said the remains were found near the city of Lyman in the Donetsk region, a heavily contested area that has seen repeated offensives and counteroffensives since the early stages of the war. The two men were identified as Ombwori Denis Bagaka, born Jan. 30, 1987, and Wahome Simon Gititu, born May 21, 1991.

Ukrainian officials said the identification was confirmed through passports and personal documents recovered from the bodies. The remains were located close to the position where another Kenyan national, Clinton Nyapara Mogesa, had previously been killed during fighting in the same area.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, all three men had been recruited outside Russia, having worked in Qatar for private security firms that promised stable and high-paying employment. Officials said the men were later funneled into Russia’s military recruitment system, a tactic Ukraine says has increasingly been used to bolster depleted Russian units.

Bagaka and Mogesa arrived at a Russian recruitment center in Yaroslavl on Sept. 27, 2025, Ukrainian intelligence said. Gititu joined them roughly a month later, arriving on Oct. 28. After what was described as a short period of military training, the men were deployed to the Donbas region and assigned to assault units involved in operations around Lyman.

Ukrainian officials said the three Kenyans were sent into active combat during an advance on the city, moving through terrain described as a “kill zone.” Ukrainian Defense Forces engaged the unit, and all three men were killed during the assault, according to the intelligence briefing.

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine said Russian commanders failed to provide adequate battlefield support or attempt evacuation during or after the engagement, leaving the bodies behind once the assault collapsed. Mogesa’s remains were discovered several days earlier at a former Russian position following a Ukrainian counterassault in the Donetsk region.

Officials said Mogesa had also previously lived and worked in Qatar before signing a contract with the Russian army and being assigned to a frontline assault unit. After his death, Ukrainian intelligence said, Russian forces did not recover his body, and his family has received no formal notification from Russian authorities.

The deaths of the Kenyan fighters come amid growing scrutiny of Russia’s recruitment of foreign nationals, particularly from Africa and Asia, to fight in Ukraine. Ukrainian officials say many recruits are lured with promises of high wages, residency benefits, or employment opportunities, only to be deployed quickly to some of the war’s most dangerous front lines.

The toll of the war on Kenyan families was highlighted again this week when relatives of another Kenyan national killed while fighting for Russia held a memorial service without his remains. On Feb. 5, family members of Charles Wangari gathered in Mukurweini, in Kenya’s Nyeri County, to honor his memory after learning he had been killed on Christmas Day.

Wangari’s body could not be recovered from the battlefield, leaving his family unable to conduct a traditional burial. Relatives displayed his portrait during the ceremony, mourning a son they said had left Kenya in search of better opportunities abroad.

Wangari, a former player for Kubali FC from Laikipia West, had hoped to build a future in Europe, with Sweden among his intended destinations, according to family members. His journey instead led him into Russia’s war in Ukraine, where he was killed, adding to a growing list of foreign nationals who have died in the conflict.

Ukrainian officials say the recovery of the Kenyan bodies near Lyman serves as further evidence of Russia’s reliance on foreign fighters and the high human cost of the war, particularly for recruits who often lack full awareness of the risks they face once deployed to the front lines.

kenyans.co.ke

Gyokeres Double Sends Arsenal Nine Points Clear as Manchester United Surge and Pressure Mounts on Tottenham

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Gyokeres Double Sends Arsenal Nine Points Clear as Manchester United Surge and Pressure Mounts on Tottenham

Viktor Gyokeres struck twice to propel Arsenal nine points clear at the top of the Premier League, reinforcing the club’s strongest title push in more than two decades, while Manchester United extended their revival with a victory over Tottenham that intensified scrutiny on Spurs coach Thomas Frank.

Arsenal’s 3-0 home win over Sunderland on Saturday lifted Mikel Arteta’s side further ahead in the standings and strengthened belief that the club is finally poised to end a long wait for a league championship. United’s 2-0 success at Old Trafford earlier in the day marked a fourth consecutive Premier League victory under Michael Carrick and left Tottenham facing renewed questions about leadership and direction.

At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal dominated from the outset but did not break through until late in the first half. Martin Zubimendi opened the scoring in the 42nd minute, drilling a low shot inside the near post to beat Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs. The goal settled nerves and paved the way for a commanding second-half display.

Gyokeres, introduced as a substitute just after the hour mark, delivered the decisive contribution. The Swedish forward doubled the lead in the 66th minute with a composed finish before adding a second deep into stoppage time to complete the scoring. His brace secured Arsenal’s second straight league win and underlined his growing influence after a slow start to life in England.

The Gunners, who last lifted a major trophy with their FA Cup triumph in 2020, are chasing their first English league title since 2004. After finishing runner-up in each of the past three seasons and surrendering significant leads in 2023 and 2024, Arsenal now appear better equipped to handle the pressures of a title race.

Arteta, however, cautioned against complacency. “The lead means nothing if we don’t keep winning,” he said after the match. “There are still many games to play, and the focus has to stay exactly where it is.”

Arsenal’s position has also been strengthened by stumbles elsewhere. Second-place Manchester City, nine points behind, face a challenging trip to Liverpool on Sunday. Aston Villa, sitting third, lost further ground after being held to a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, leaving them level with City in points dropped relative to Arsenal.

The north London club’s momentum has been further boosted by cup success. A midweek win over Chelsea secured Arsenal a place in the League Cup final, where they will meet Manchester City at Wembley on March 22.

According to The Associated Press, Gyokeres’ recent surge has silenced early doubts about his adaptation following his move from Sporting Lisbon last summer. After scoring just three times in his first 11 appearances, he now has 13 goals this season, including six in his last eight games.

“He’s extremely demanding of himself,” Arteta said. “When players feel confident and trusted, that’s when they reach their highest level.”

While Arsenal strengthened their grip on the title race, Manchester United continued their upward trajectory. United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham marked four league victories in a row — a run the club had not achieved in two years — and added momentum to a season that looked in danger of unraveling only weeks ago.

Bryan Mbeumo gave United the lead in the first half, and captain Bruno Fernandes sealed the result late on with a controlled finish that marked his 200th goal involvement for the club since joining in 2020. Tottenham’s task became significantly harder after captain Cristian Romero was dismissed in the 29th minute, leaving Spurs to play more than an hour with 10 men.

United’s resurgence has coincided with the arrival of Carrick, who stepped in last month following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim. Initially appointed on a short-term basis through the end of the season, Carrick has overseen a swift turnaround in results and confidence.

“Michael knows this club and what it takes to win here,” Fernandes told TNT Sports. “He gives players responsibility and communicates clearly. That makes a big difference.”

The victory lifted United to fourth place with 44 points, already surpassing last season’s total haul. Although eliminated from both domestic cup competitions, a return to the Champions League would represent a significant achievement after two years away from Europe’s elite.

For Tottenham, the defeat compounded a difficult campaign and intensified criticism of Frank, whose side has struggled for consistency and discipline. Spurs have slipped behind several rivals in the race for European qualification, and frustration among supporters has grown.

Elsewhere in the Premier League, Chelsea climbed to fifth place with a 3-1 victory over last-place Wolves. Cole Palmer led the way with a first-half hat trick that included two penalties, making him the first player to score three first-half hat tricks in Premier League history.

West Ham boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation with a 2-0 win at Burnley, courtesy of first-half goals from Crysencio Summerville and Valentin Castellanos. The result moved West Ham within three points of their nearest rival in the survival battle and six behind Tottenham.

Newcastle’s struggles continued with a 3-2 home defeat to Brentford. Dango Ouattara struck the winner in the 85th minute, six minutes after Bruno Guimarães had equalized from the penalty spot. Newcastle have now lost three straight league matches and won only once in their last eight games across all competitions.

Everton, meanwhile, came from behind to secure a 2-1 win at Fulham, adding to the sense of volatility across the lower half of the table.

Arsenal’s commanding position at this stage of the season represents more than just a points advantage. Analysts note that Arteta’s squad appears deeper and more adaptable than in previous title challenges, with players like Gyokeres making decisive impacts from the bench. That flexibility could prove critical during the congested run-in.

The contrasting fortunes of Arsenal and Manchester City highlight a potential shift in Premier League balance. City’s recent struggles — just one win in six league matches — have opened a door that Arsenal seem determined to walk through. Should City falter again at Anfield, the psychological momentum may swing decisively.

Manchester United’s revival under Carrick has also altered the narrative of their season. While questions remain about whether his success can be sustained over a full campaign, the immediate improvement suggests a squad responding positively to clarity and trust after a turbulent period.

For Tottenham, the pressure is mounting. Discipline issues, inconsistent results and growing unrest among fans point to a critical juncture for the club’s leadership. Whether Frank can stabilize the situation or whether changes loom may shape Spurs’ immediate future.

Across the league, the weekend underscored how quickly fortunes can change. Title races, European ambitions and relegation battles all tightened or shifted, reinforcing the Premier League’s reputation for unpredictability — even as Arsenal begin to look increasingly like a team ready to end a long wait.

AP/Citizens

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