Mali has detained around 20 military personnel suspected of attempting to overthrow the ruling junta, according to AFP sources. A security official noted that the arrests have been ongoing for three days, with at least around 20 individuals taken into custody.
Among those arrested is General Abass Dembele, a respected officer and former governor of the Mopti region, who was apprehended by soldiers early Sunday in Kati, near the capital Bamako; the reason for his arrest remains undisclosed.
A lawmaker from the junta-backed National Transition Council claimed as many as 50 soldiers may have been arrested, all allegedly plotting to overthrow the regime. Sociologist Oumar Maiga suggests the arrests reflect internal discord within the military. He pointed to dissatisfaction among Malian soldiers who feel sidelined in favor of Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group and its successor, the Africa Corps.
Since taking power in back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali’s junta has increasingly suppressed dissent amid ongoing jihadist violence and economic instability.
The regime has shifted away from France and built closer ties with Russia, whose mercenary forces have supported counterinsurgency efforts, changes that some analysts believe are contributing to tension within the armed forces.
Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest footballer of all time, a player whose genius has mesmerized fans for nearly two decades. But even the G.O.A.T has faced moments when injuries forced him off the pitch, leaving his clubs to adapt without their talisman.
From early career setbacks at Barcelona to his recent blow at Inter Miami, Messi’s journey has been marked by resilience, determination, and unforgettable comebacks. Here’s a look at five notable downtimes in Messi’s career, and how his teams fared when he was sidelined.
1. The Latest Setback – 2025 Muscle Injury at Inter Miami
In early August 2025, Inter Miami fans were left holding their breath when Messi limped off the pitch during a tense MLS fixture. Initial reports confirmed a muscle strain that could keep him out for weeks. Without Messi’s vision and creativity, Inter Miami’s attack looked blunt in the following matches. Although the team scraped a couple of wins, the absence of their captain was evident in slower build-ups and reduced goal-scoring chances.
2. 2013 Hamstring Nightmare at Barcelona
The 2012/13 season saw Messi in frightening form, breaking goal-scoring records week after week—until a recurring hamstring injury forced him to miss several key matches in late 2013. Barcelona managed to stay competitive, thanks to Neymar and Alexis Sánchez stepping up, but their attacking rhythm wasn’t the same. The team finished the season trophyless, a rare occurrence in the Messi era.
3. 2015 Knee Ligament Injury – 8 Weeks Out
Messi suffered a tear in the internal collateral ligament of his left knee in September 2015, keeping him out for nearly two months. During this period, Barcelona adapted, with Luis Suárez and Neymar taking on the attacking burden. Interestingly, the famed MSN trio reunited just in time for the El Clásico, where Messi came off the bench to inspire a memorable 4–0 demolition of Real Madrid.
4. 2006 Thigh Strain – Missing the Champions League Final
One of Messi’s earliest career setbacks came in March 2006, when a thigh strain sidelined him during Barcelona’s Champions League run. Although Frank Rijkaard’s team lifted the trophy after defeating Arsenal in the final, Messi later admitted in interviews that missing that match was one of the most painful moments of his early career.
5. 2023 PSG Hamstring Injury Before Champions League Clash
During his time at Paris Saint-Germain, Messi picked up a hamstring injury that forced him to miss a crucial Ligue 1 match and raised doubts about his availability for the Champions League round of 16. Although he eventually returned, the injury disrupted PSG’s rhythm. Without Messi, the Parisians relied heavily on Kylian Mbappé, but their European campaign ended earlier than fans had hoped.
Resilience Beyond the Pain
Each injury in Messi’s career has been a test of his determination. Time and again, he’s returned not only to his peak but often in even better form. His clubs have managed to cope in his absence, but the reality remains that when Messi plays, football feels alive.
Tragedy struck the Yelewata community once again on Monday morning following a fresh attack that left at least three people dead, several others injured, and an unconfirmed number missing.
The assault, which occurred at about 8:00 a.m., has plunged the community into mourning and triggered a massive protest by residents, particularly women and youths, who blocked the Lafia–Makurdi federal highway in anger. Protesters displayed the bodies of the victims on the road, demanding urgent government intervention and the deployment of military personnel to the area, accusing the current security arrangement of being compromised.
Chief Gbongbon Denis, President of the United Farmers Benue Valley, confirmed the incident in a message to journalists, stating that suspected Lakurawa bandits were sighted in the early hours before launching the attack, which lasted less than 30 minutes before they fled.
This incident comes barely a month after a similar assault in Yelewata claimed over 200 lives and left more than 50 others injured, deepening fears among residents who say they are under siege.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as gunmen stormed the area, forcing many to flee for safety. Security operatives have since moved into the community to restore order and begin investigations.
Community leaders are calling the repeated violence a humanitarian crisis, urging both the federal and state governments to act decisively before more lives are lost.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from authorities regarding the latest attack.
Liverpool drew first blood with early goals from newcomers Hugo Ekitike and Jeremie Frimpong.
Palace hit back through Jean-Philippe Mateta’s spot-kick and a late equaliser by Ismaila Sarr, forcing spot kicks to decide the day.
The decisive moment came when Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson rose to the occasion—saving key penalties from Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott—before substitute Justin Devenny coolly converted the winner.
It was a double delight for Palace, who also claimed their first FA Cup trophy just months earlier.
Diogo Jota’s Tribute Cut Short
The match’s sombre prelude was marred by controversy: a tribute to the late Diogo Jota and his brother was cut short after a section of Palace fans disrupted the minute’s silence, drawing widespread condemnation.
What’s Next for Liverpool? For Liverpool, the loss highlights defensive weaknesses that overshadowed an impressive attacking display from summer signings.
Manager Arne Slot acknowledged the need for balance: “Adjustments” are required if his side hopes to kick off the new season stronger.
With the Premier League season looming, Liverpool head into the campaign on a note of introspection. They must address defensive fragility while integrating new signings effectively.
Under Slot’s vision, the Reds will need to strike the right balance between their vibrant attack and a more resilient backline to defend their domestic crown.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has stated that Ushie Rita Uguamaye’s Certificate of National Service (CNS) was withheld due to disciplinary issues, not because she criticized the government.
In its statement, the NYSC explained that Rita’s service year was extended by two months after she failed to participate in the April 2025 biometric clearance, a mandatory requirement under the NYSC Bye-Laws.
The scheme noted that she is among 131 corps members whose certificates were withheld over different infractions, stressing that extending service for such violations is a routine and longstanding practice.
NYSC further emphasized that its disciplinary measures are fair and impartial, and urged the public not to politicize its internal procedures. It reaffirmed its commitment to carrying out its duties in line with the constitution, upholding fairness and objectivity.
Residents of Pingtou village in southern China are reeling after experiencing the worst flooding in living memory, saying they had no warning before the water swept through their homes.
Located in Guangdong province, Pingtou has endured many typhoons and storms in the past, but nothing as destructive as this week’s disaster. On Friday, murky water still flooded the village’s main road, while residents dragged out waterlogged furniture and appliances. At least four houses collapsed during the storm.
“The older folks here say that in the 100 years we’ve been here, they’ve never experienced such flooding,” said Mr. Zhong, a villager in his 50s. His two-storey house had never been flooded before, but this time, the water surged in and damaged most of his belongings. Water stains on nearby homes showed flooding over one metre high.
It remained unclear if any lives were lost in the village.
In nearby Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, a record-breaking 622.6 mm (24.5 inches) of rain fell between August 2 and 6 — nearly three times the city’s typical August rainfall. At least seven deaths have been confirmed due to flooding in the area.
While heavy rainfall has affected both northern and southern China this season, with heatwaves gripping central regions, the central government has released 430 million yuan ($59.9 million) in new disaster aid, bringing total funding since April to over 5.8 billion yuan.
Despite the national response, villagers in Pingtou say they’ve received little help on the ground. Mr. Zhong said local officials told him that no relief aid was available. “There was not even a bottle of mineral water provided to us,” he said.
Although about 75,000 people were evacuated across Guangdong as a precaution, several Pingtou villagers said they were given no advance alert about flooding, leaving them unprepared.
On the night of the heaviest rain, 73-year-old Zhang was woken up by her daughter-in-law and rushed to her son’s two-storey home. The next morning, she found the roof of her own house had collapsed. “I’d been living in that house for more than 50 years,” Zhang said as she looked at her belongings covered in mud and debris.
Just outside the village, a fish and duck farmer, Hu Songlin, said the flooding washed away the fish in his ponds, leading to losses he estimated at 120,000 yuan. “Now we won’t be able to earn a single cent,” his wife Hua added.
Experts have connected China’s increasingly erratic weather patterns — from droughts to heavy rains — to the effects of climate change.
“We say that global warming can lead to heavier rainfall, but there’s only so much water,” explained Johnny Chan, a professor at the School of Energy and Environment at the City University of Hong Kong. “So if one area has more rain, another area will have less rain. So what we’re seeing is that there will be places which are becoming wetter and there will be places which will become much drier.”
A rapidly expanding wildfire northwest of Los Angeles has forced thousands to flee their homes as scorching temperatures and parched terrain fuel its advance.
Dubbed the Canyon Fire, the blaze broke out Thursday afternoon along the Ventura and Los Angeles county border. By Friday morning, it had ballooned from just 30 acres to nearly 5,000 acres.
Authorities in Ventura County reported that over 2,700 people have been ordered to evacuate, with another 14,000 under evacuation warnings. As of Friday, firefighters had made no progress in containing the blaze, which remains at zero per cent containment.
Hot, dry conditions and soaring temperatures have complicated efforts to gain control. The National Weather Service has predicted heat levels to climb to 100°F (37.7°C) in the days ahead, further increasing the fire risk.
Santa Clarita, one of the cities nearest to the fire’s path, remains on high alert. Local officials have urged residents to steer clear of impacted zones.
“The #CanyonFire is spreading fast under extreme heat & dry conditions near Ventura–LA County line,” LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger posted on X. “If you’re in Santa Clarita, Hasley Canyon, or Val Verde, take evacuation orders seriously—when first responders say GO, leave immediately.”
The #CanyonFire is spreading fast under extreme heat & dry conditions near Ventura–LA County line. If you’re in Santa Clarita, Hasley Canyon, or Val Verde, take evacuation orders seriously — when first responders say GO, leave immediately. Keep aware–please don’t risk lives. pic.twitter.com/2sHfVG63pq
— Supervisor Kathryn Barger (@kathrynbarger) August 7, 2025
As of Thursday evening, no injuries or home losses had been reported, according to the LA County Fire Department.
The Canyon Fire is one of several active wildfires currently burning in California. The most extensive, the Gifford Fire, has scorched nearly 100,000 acres across San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
Wildfire activity has become more intense and frequent in recent years, with climate experts pointing to global warming as a major factor. Longer dry spells and higher temperatures have made California’s fire seasons more severe.
Earlier this year, in January, the Eaton Fire devastated the Altadena area north of Los Angeles, claiming at least 31 lives and destroying thousands of buildings.
A South African court has ruled that the Zambian government may retrieve the body of former President Edgar Lungu for a state funeral, overruling his family’s wishes to bury him privately in South Africa.
Lungu’s family, who were visibly emotional in court, had sought to handle the burial independently following his death in June. They have announced plans to appeal the decision delivered by the Pretoria High Court.
The Zambian government welcomed the judgment, stating that while it sympathized with the grieving family, the late leader “belongs to the nation.”
The case highlights an ongoing rift between Lungu’s relatives and Zambia’s current administration, led by President Hakainde Hichilema. According to the family, Lungu had expressed that he did not want his successor to attend his funeral.
Judge Aubrey Ledwaba, in delivering the verdict, ruled that Zambia had the right to repatriate the former president’s remains and ordered the family to hand over the body to state officials without delay.
Lungu passed away at the age of 68 from an undisclosed illness. His family had initially agreed to a state funeral but later withdrew from the arrangement after disagreements with the government over specific details.
In court, Lungu’s elder sister, Bertha, broke down in tears as the ruling was read.
Speaking after the judgment, Zambia’s Attorney General, Mulilo D. Kabesha, said the outcome was not a victory for the government, but rather a matter of national importance. “When you are the father of the nation, you can’t restrict yourself to your immediate family,” he said, calling the court’s decision a “sound judgment.”
Kabesha noted that the family’s intention to appeal is within their rights but described the situation as a “learning curve” for anyone aspiring to national leadership.
Until the appeal is heard, Lungu’s body will remain in Pretoria. Security services have reportedly been engaged to safeguard the remains, following attempts to remove the body without official clearance.
Edgar Lungu served as Zambia’s president from 2015 to 2021 before losing to Hichilema in a landslide election. Though he initially stepped away from public life, he had more recently re-entered the political arena.
Helicopters were deployed on Thursday to airlift people stranded by floodwaters in India’s Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, following a sudden flood and landslide two days earlier that left at least four people dead and several others unaccounted for.
As rainfall lessened and roads became accessible, emergency personnel reached Dharali, a village buried in sludge and debris from Tuesday’s surge. The village lies along the route to Gangotri, a sacred Hindu pilgrimage site.
Rescue helicopters began evacuating those trapped, according to the state’s chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, who posted updates on X. Dhami described the damage as “massive” and added that officials were still trying to determine how many people remain missing.
“If the weather supports us then we will bring every single person by tomorrow,” he told Reuters, referring to the ongoing rescue mission.
Authorities said around 400 people stranded in Gangotri were being evacuated by air. Among those unaccounted for were nine members of the army and seven civilians.
At the Matli village helipad, anxious families gathered, hoping for news of loved ones still missing.
One of them, Mandeep Panwar, said he was trying to reach Dharali, where his brother operated a hotel and hadn’t been heard from since the disaster.
“If you see the videos, ours was the first hotel to be hit by the deluge. I have not heard from my brother and he has been missing since,” Panwar said.
Rescue and communication efforts faced difficulties, with mobile service and power infrastructure still down after being washed away by the floods, officials said.
Footage from the scene showed army teams using both machines and bare hands to move boulders and debris from roads turned into muddy rivers. More than 225 army personnel were involved in the rescue, the Northern Command said on X.
“We saw Dharali falling before our eyes,” said Anamika Mehra, a pilgrim en route to Gangotri when the disaster occurred.
Dharali, home to about 200 people, sits at an elevation of over 1,150 meters (3,775 feet) in Uttarkashi district, along the path to the Gangotri temple.
Floods and landslides frequently strike Uttarakhand, a risk some experts say is growing worse due to climate change.
Ghanaian authorities have recovered the black boxes from the military helicopter that went down on Wednesday, resulting in the deaths of eight people, including two senior cabinet members.
Among those who lost their lives were Defence Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. Both were 50 years old.
In a national broadcast, President John Mahama pledged a thorough probe into the circumstances that led to the fatal crash.
The president noted that both the cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder — commonly referred to as “black boxes” — had been located, and that the armed forces were carrying out “a full and transparent investigation.”
“I shared a bond with many of those who died. Our nation is grieving,”Mahama told Ghanaians.
The helicopter, identified as a Z9 model, had three crew members and five passengers aboard when it went down in a forested area of the Ashanti region. The flight was en route from Accra to Obuasi, where the officials were scheduled to attend an event focused on addressing illegal mining. No one survived the incident.
Recovery teams have located the remains of all eight victims. Samples from the bodies have been sent to South Africa for detailed forensic examination and confirmation.
Also among those who perished were Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, who previously served as Agriculture Minister and was Deputy National Security Coordinator, and Samuel Sarpong, Vice-Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress.
A state memorial is scheduled to take place on August 15 in honour of the victims.
Preliminary reports suggest that poor weather conditions may have played a role in the crash, though investigators are awaiting data from the recovered black boxes to verify the cause. Aviation experts from Ghana’s Civil Aviation Authority and international partners are expected to collaborate on the investigation.
Flags across the country have been lowered to half-mast as Ghanaians mourn the loss of some of their most prominent public servants. Candlelight vigils have already begun in Accra, Kumasi, and other major cities, with citizens expressing sorrow and solidarity.
The tragic crash has sparked renewed conversations around the safety of government aircraft and the need for stricter maintenance protocols. Lawmakers have called for an audit of the nation’s military aviation assets to prevent future occurrences.
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