More than a dozen migrants have died, and at least 150 others are missing after their boat capsized off the coast of Mauritania en route to Europe. This incident has triggered a large-scale search and rescue operation, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The boat, carrying 300 migrants, capsized on Monday near the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott. The Mauritanian Coast Guard has so far rescued 120 individuals, the IOM reported in a statement on Wednesday.
Tragically, 15 people were confirmed dead upon arrival,” the IOM stated, noting that search efforts for the missing migrants are still ongoing.
In recent years, there has been a significant surge of migrants leaving West Africa, particularly from Senegal, with many attempting the perilous journey north past Mauritania to reach Spain’s Canary Islands. The migrants in this latest tragedy were traveling on artisanal fishing boats, known as pirogues, which are highly vulnerable to strong winds and Atlantic currents.
While thousands have managed to survive this risky journey, many others have perished or disappeared along the way, with their remains sometimes washing up on the shores of the Atlantic.
Among those rescued on Monday were four unaccompanied and separated children, the IOM reported. Additionally, 10 survivors were taken to hospitals for medical treatment.
African migrants making this journey are often driven by poverty and instability in their home countries. Though the journey is fraught with danger, many feel compelled to take the risk in the hope of better outcomes for themselves and their families.
Nearly 20,000 migrants have arrived irregularly in the Canary Islands via the Mauritania route this year, nearly triple the number from the same period in 2023. According to the IOM, at least 1,950 migrants died on this route last year, marking the second-deadliest year on record.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games commence today with football and rugby sevens taking center stage. Nigeria’s Super Falcons, representing women’s football, will kick off their campaign in Group C against Brazil in Bordeaux.
Brazil, a top contender for a medal in women’s football, faces a determined Super Falcons team aiming to make a statement. Nigeria plans to target an early goal to unsettle the Brazilian team and set the stage for subsequent matches against Japan and Spain.
Recent reports suggest that coach Randy Waldrum’s strategy involves an all-attacking formation to secure early goals and disrupt Brazil’s game plan. Brazilian star Marta, one of the oldest strikers in world football, expressed confidence in her team’s ability to dominate and secure a spot in the knockout rounds.
The Super Falcons aim to secure at least a point to boost their chances against world champions Spain and former world champions Japan in their remaining Group C fixtures. Nigeria’s last Olympic outing in Athens 2004 ended in a 2-1 loss to Germany in the quarterfinals.
Having missed the last three Olympic Games, the Super Falcons are determined to showcase their talent and compete for a medal, drawing on their past Olympic experience and recent performance at the Women’s World Cup.
UCDA Tenerife of Spain forward, Rinsola Babajide, has extended her best wishes to the Super Falcons of Nigeria as they face Brazil in their Paris 2024 Olympics group opener today.
The Super Falcons make their return to women’s football at the Olympic Games after a 16-year hiatus, last participating in 2008 in Beijing, China. Today’s game will mark the third encounter between these two sides and their second clash at the Olympics.
Brazil previously defeated the Super Falcons 4-3 after extra time in the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup and followed this with a 3-1 victory in the group stage of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
With Nigeria seeking revenge against Brazil, Babajide, who is not participating in the 2024 Olympics, has expressed her support for the Super Falcons in their battle against the South American nation.
“Good luck to the Super Falcons who start their Olympics campaign today, I’ll be cheering the girliessss on all the wayyy, from home, let’s gooo!! ???????? #TEAMNIGERIA,” she posted on her X account.
The Super Falcons have solidified their reputation as a powerhouse in African football, defeating Cameroon and South Africa in the last two rounds of Olympic qualification, sealing their spot with an aggregate 1-0 win over the Banyana Banyana in the final round.
Buoyed by their strong performance at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the Randy Waldrum-led side is confident as they prepare to take on Brazil at the Stade Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux, France, in their first Group C match.
A two-storey building collapse at Wilson Mba Street, Arowojobe Estate, Mende, Maryland, Lagos, Nigeria has resulted in the deaths of five adult males. Five other individuals were rescued and are currently receiving medical attention.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) reported that the incident occurred early Thursday morning around 3:49 a.m. This prompted the immediate activation of the agency’s response team, who arrived at the scene by 3:58 a.m.
LASEMA and other responders initially rescued three victims who were taken to Gbagada General Hospital. Subsequently, two more adult males were rescued, stabilized, and transferred to the trauma center at the general hospital.
The five deceased victims have been handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) for further processing.
Search and rescue operations are still ongoing at Ground Zero.
A 50-year-old Nigerian national, Amos Prince Okey Ezemma, has been sentenced to 85 months in prison in the United States for his involvement in a transnational inheritance fraud scheme. The sentencing, which took place on Monday, July 22, 2024, marks the conclusion of the prosecution of six Nigerian defendants linked to this case.
According to court documents, Ezemma was part of a group of fraudsters who sent personalized letters to elderly victims in the United States. These letters falsely claimed that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to a multimillion-dollar inheritance left by a family member who had died years before in Portugal.
Victims were instructed to send money for delivery fees and taxes to receive their supposed inheritance. The funds were then funneled through a complex web of U.S.-based former victims. Additionally, the defendants convinced previous victims to solicit money from new victims, further perpetuating the fraud.
The Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch has pledged to continue pursuing and prosecuting transnational criminals involved in defrauding U.S. consumers. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton emphasized the importance of international collaboration in addressing this type of criminal activity. The efforts of the Postal Inspection Service, the Spanish National Police, National Crime Agency, and Portuguese Judicial Police were highlighted for their contributions to this investigation.
Two children tragically lost their lives in Moroto District, Uganda on Wednesday due to flash floods. The incidents occurred in the areas of Katanga and Kakoliye, highlighting the dangers of crossing rivers during the rainy season. Moroto is in the northern part of Uganda.
In Kakoliye, 13-year-old Lucia Illukol and her companion Hellen Aleper attempted to cross a river when they were swept away by the torrents. While community members managed to rescue Aleper, Illukol was tragically carried away by the waters and drowned. The police have confirmed Aleper is in their custody and will be handed over to her parents.
We took Aleper into our custody, and we are waiting to hand her over to her parents,” said Mike Longole, the Karamoja Police spokesperson.
In another incident in Katanga, 2-year-old Evaline Subuwa was inside her house when floodwaters swept through. Despite being retrieved by residents and rushed to Moroto Regional Hospital, she sadly died shortly after arrival.
The police have issued warnings to the community about the dangers of crossing seasonal rivers during the rainy season and constructing homes near riverbanks.
However, residents have expressed frustration, blaming the government for failing to install essential infrastructure such as bridges within Moroto Municipality.
“The road from Kakoliye traversing the river is now the most dangerous, and yet the municipality is failing to install the bridge on it,” Joan Adome said.
London, United Kingdom - July 31, 2018: Ethiopian Airbus A350-900 airplane at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in the United Kingdom.
Eritrea has taken a drastic step by suspending all flights by Ethiopian Airlines, citing “consistent and persistent malicious trading practices.” The Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority made this announcement, effective immediately.
In an official statement, the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority accused Ethiopian Airlines of engaging in “systematic and organized passengers’ luggage theft, pilferage, damage, prolonged delays, and loss with no compensation.” These actions, coupled with “unjustified and unwarranted price hikes and other irregularities,” led to the suspension.
The authorities highlighted that the decision followed “repeated and relentless calls” to Ethiopian Airlines to address these issues. Despite these efforts, no significant action was taken to rectify the situation, prompting the suspension.
London, United Kingdom – July 31, 2018: Ethiopian Airbus A350-900 airplane at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) in the United Kingdom.
Ethiopian Airlines, responding via its social media accounts, confirmed receiving the suspension notice effective September 30. The airline, however, expressed confusion over the specific reasons for this suspension. Hanna Atnafu, a spokesperson for Ethiopian Airlines, mentioned to Reuters that the suspension came as a surprise, particularly because just 15 days prior, the Eritrean authorities had requested an increase in the weekly flight frequency from 10 flights to 15.
Recent traveler complaints have added to the controversy, with many citing exorbitant ticket prices. Some tickets reportedly exceeded $800 for a one-hour return flight, which travelers deemed excessive and unfair.
In a significant development that has raised eyebrows in East African political circles, Kenyan authorities have deported 36 Ugandan nationals for allegedly engaging in unauthorized political activities in Kisumu, Kenya. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday night, has shed light on the complex interplay of politics and security in the region.
The group, identifying themselves as members of the FDC-Katonga faction, a splinter group of Uganda’s opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), claim they were in Kenya for a week-long leadership training program. However, their presence and activities aroused suspicion among Kenyan security forces, leading to their arrest and subsequent deportation.
Paul Mugisha, an external security officer, provided insight into the circumstances that led to the group’s detention. According to Mugisha, the Kenyan government, in collaboration with Ugandan authorities, became wary of the group’s activities due to their lack of a designated contact person or coordinator in Kenya. This absence of clear leadership and organization raised red flags for Kenyan security officials, who viewed the group’s presence as a potential security threat.
The deportees were handed over to Ugandan authorities at 4:30 PM and assembled at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala. From there, they were to be transferred to police custody for further questioning and investigation.
Samuel Makokha Mugeni, who identified himself as the group’s coordinator, offered a different perspective on their activities in Kenya. Mugeni stated that the purpose of their visit was to enhance the leadership capabilities of the FDC-Katonga faction. He explained that the training was initially scheduled for December, prior to the FDC-Katonga delegates’ conference, but was moved forward.
“To improve the leadership of FDC Katonga and close the leadership gap, we sieved a number of people to get more skills in leadership and mobilize others,” Mugeni elaborated. He further claimed that the group had used official documents to enter Kenya legally.
The choice of Kenya as a training ground, according to Mugeni, was due to the need for a “better environment than Uganda” to train young members in leadership skills. The group had selected the Ukweli Pastoral Leadership Centre in Kisumu County as their venue. However, Mugeni alleges that as they were preparing to commence their training, they were surrounded by unidentified individuals, leading to their detention and eventual deportation.
This incident highlights the sensitive nature of cross-border political activities in East Africa. It underscores the vigilance of security forces in monitoring and controlling such activities, especially those involving opposition groups from neighboring countries.
The deportation of these 36 Ugandans, including three women, raises questions about the freedom of movement and political association within the East African Community. It also points to the challenges faced by opposition groups in finding safe spaces for organization and training.
As the deportees undergo further interrogation by Ugandan police, this event is likely to spark discussions about regional politics, security cooperation between East African nations, and the rights of political activists to organize across borders.
The incident serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between national security concerns and political freedoms in the region. It may also have implications for future cross-border political activities and the relationship between Uganda and Kenya, two key players in East African politics.
In a stark warning that has sent ripples through the defense community, the newly appointed British Army chief, General Sir Roly Walker, has declared that Britain has a mere three years to prepare for the possibility of war. This urgent call to action comes amidst growing global tensions and evolving military strategies.
General Walker, a former SAS boss, emphasized the critical nature of the timeline, stating, “We have just enough time to prepare.” Sources close to the matter suggest that the target date for military readiness is set for late 2027. While the General insists that war is not an inevitable outcome, he underscored the alarming reality that Britain’s potential adversaries are “increasingly aligned.”
British Army chief, General Sir Roly Walker
In his inaugural speech as Chief of the General Staff, General Walker stressed the importance of restoring “credible hard power to underwrite deterrence.” This call for military strengthening comes at a time when the British Army is at its smallest in over three centuries, with just 72,500 trained troops at its disposal.
Despite these limited numbers, General Walker has set an ambitious goal to triple the Army’s fighting power. This enhancement, he claims, will be achieved through superior weaponry rather than increased troop numbers. The General envisions a future where “any British land force will be able to destroy a force at least three times its size.”
This strategic shift represents a departure from traditional military thinking. General Walker acknowledged that commanders have struggled to adapt to the reality of no longer commanding a “big army.” He urged embracing the identity of a medium-sized force, emphasizing that raw troop numbers alone no longer determine fighting power.
The General’s strategy involves significant technological advancements. He projects that British forces will be able to “sense twice as far, decide in half the time, and deliver effects over double the distance with half as many munitions.” This approach is already showing promise in Ukraine, where British-developed software is being paired with cost-effective sensors and weapons to great effect.
The urgency of General Walker’s message is underscored by the convergence of global threats he foresees in 2027. He warns of a resurgent Russia seeking “vengeance” against the West, Iran potentially acquiring nuclear capabilities, and China’s ambitions regarding Taiwan. These simultaneous challenges, he cautions, could “detonate” each other, creating a volatile international situation.
This sobering assessment is echoed by other high-ranking officials. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the Chief of Defence Staff, admitted that the UK’s military “is not as strong as we could be,” citing years of underinvestment in weapons, training, personnel, and technology.
The political response to these warnings has been mixed. While Labour has pledged to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP, party leader Sir Keir Starmer has not committed to a specific timeline for this increase.
In a related development, Germany has unveiled its own preparations for potential conflict. A 67-page document, adapted from Cold War-era plans, outlines a comprehensive strategy for life during World War 3. The plans include the reintroduction of national conscription, the conversion of subway stations and underground garages into bomb shelters, and even the suspension of weather forecasts.
Germany’s Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, has expressed a commitment to transforming the country into a “war-ready” nation, a move directly influenced by Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
As global tensions continue to simmer, the warnings from military leaders like General Walker serve as a stark reminder of the precarious nature of international peace. The coming years will be crucial in determining whether these preparations prove to be prudent precautions or necessary defenses in an increasingly unstable world.
Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio’s foray into eco-friendly fashion has hit a rough patch, as his investment in the British vegan shoe brand Wild Loci Ltd faces substantial financial losses. The company, known for its trendy Loci trainers, has reported a staggering £2.7 million in losses, including £712,103 owed to creditors. This financial setback follows a previous year’s loss of £966,809, painting a concerning picture for the sustainable footwear venture.
Wild Loci Ltd has gained attention for its innovative approach to shoe manufacturing. The company’s Loci trainers are crafted from recycled materials, including bamboo, foam, and rubber. Each pair of shoes impressively repurposes 20 plastic bottles, aligning with DiCaprio’s well-known commitment to environmental causes. Despite their eco-friendly credentials and a price tag of around £170, the brand has struggled to translate its ethical appeal into financial success.
The shoes have garnered a following among celebrities, with notable figures such as Princess Eugenie and Lily James spotted wearing the brand. However, this star power hasn’t been enough to offset the mounting losses. In response to the financial strain, investors, including DiCaprio himself, have injected £3 million into the company over the past 12 months in an attempt to keep it afloat.
DiCaprio, at 49, has long been a vocal advocate for environmental causes. His involvement with Wild Loci Ltd is just one facet of his broader commitment to sustainability. The actor’s journey as an environmental activist began in earnest in 1998 when he met then-US Vice President Al Gore to discuss global warming. That same year, DiCaprio established the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, which supports over 35 conservation projects worldwide.
Emmanuel Eribo, the founder of Wild Loci Ltd, speaks highly of DiCaprio’s involvement and vision. He describes the actor as “an absolute star” who shares the company’s worldview. Eribo emphasizes the significance of DiCaprio’s investment in a British brand, noting, “You can’t ignore it’s a British brand and he’s betting on it. He didn’t need to do this — there’s definitely something in there that is tugging on him.”
Eribo’s praise for DiCaprio extends beyond his financial contribution, highlighting the actor’s character: “If I could say things about Leo, I’d probably use two words: genuine and kind. You can care about the world and still want good things.” This sentiment underscores the alignment between DiCaprio’s personal values and the ethos of Wild Loci Ltd.
For his part, DiCaprio has expressed pride in his association with the brand. “I am proud to be an investor in LOCI, a brand dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact, and centered around creating cruelty-free, ethical footwear,” the actor stated. This investment represents a tangible manifestation of DiCaprio’s long-standing commitment to environmental causes and sustainable living.
The financial struggles of Wild Loci Ltd highlight the challenges faced by eco-friendly businesses in a competitive market. Despite celebrity endorsements and a noble mission, the company’s significant losses raise questions about the viability of sustainable fashion ventures. The situation serves as a reminder that even with star power and ethical production methods, businesses must navigate complex financial realities.
As Wild Loci Ltd grapples with its financial challenges, the company’s future remains uncertain. The continued support from investors like DiCaprio may prove crucial in determining whether this eco-friendly shoe brand can overcome its current difficulties and establish a sustainable business model. The outcome of this venture could have broader implications for the future of ethical fashion and celebrity-backed environmental initiatives.
