Russian bombardments in eastern Ukraine ramped up overnight, killing two people, as Ukraine hit Russia’s Engels military airfield in the country’s southwest region of Saratov with drones.
Both Russia and Ukraine stepped up aerial attacks in the early hours of Thursday as United States President Donald Trump pushes both sides to agree to a ceasefire after more than three years of fighting.
Ukrainian officials in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv regions said two people were killed and several others injured after Russia dropped more than three dozen glide bombs on the towns in the border regions.
Russian drone attacks on the town of Kropyvnytskyi, hundreds of kilometres from the front line, wounded 14 people and damaged rail infrastructure.
“Kropyvnytskyi underwent the most massive enemy attack. Peaceful residential buildings were destroyed,” regional governor Andriy Raikovych said.
The Ukrainian Air Force said that the Russian barrage, including on Kropyvnytskyi, consisted of 171 drones, of which 75 were shot down. Another 63 were downed by electronic jamming systems or were lost.
Elsewhere, Ukraine struck Russia’s Engels airbase in the Saratov region with attack drones overnight, causing a fire and explosions in the area, the Ukrainian military said on Thursday.
The airbase hosts Russian strategic bombers that are used to attack Ukraine and also has a warehouse holding cruise missiles and glide bombs, an official at the Security Service of Ukraine said.
Landlocked Ethiopia has no intention of starting a war with neighbouring Eritrea in order to gain access to the sea, the country’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said.
Abiy’s comments to parliament on Thursday came amid fresh concerns that the neighbours, which have had a fractious relationship in the past, could be involved in a conflict again.
The prime minister said the issue of sea access for the world’s most populous landlocked nation should be resolved through diplomacy and mutual benefit.
“Our intention is to negotiate based on the principle of give and take. What the Eritrean people need is development, not conflict. Our plan is not to fight but to work together and grow together,” he said.
Nevertheless, he stressed that discussions around a seaport should not be taboo and that global norms support the idea that large nations require maritime access.
In recent weeks, there have been fears that the war in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region could resume, possibly with the involvement of Eritrea.
A two-year civil war, which cost hundreds of thousands of lives, came to an end in November 2022, but elements of the peace deal have started to fray as politicians in Tigray have fallen out.
There have been accusations that Eritrea is interfering in the region’s internal political divisions.
Algeria will aim to go a step closer to securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup when they clash with Botswana at Francistown Stadium on Friday.
The visitors are top of Group G, while the hosts are third in the standings with six points, three adrift of Friday’s opponents.
Botswana started their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign with a 3-2 loss at home to Mozambique on November 16, 2023, before a surprise 1-0 win over Guinea five days later.
Following their first two encounters in the qualifying series, the Zebras recorded a 1-0 loss to Uganda but soon returned to winning ways with a 3-1 triumph over Somalia – a result which saw them go third in their group with six points, three behind Friday’s opponents.
However, their qualification bid for the 2026 World Cup suffered a setback with the resignation of erstwhile manager Didier Gomes Da Rosa, who departed to take charge of Al Ahli.
However, Morena Ramoreboli stepped in an interim capacity, subsequently leading the team to two draws in their final two Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures, which was enough to secure them a spot at the continental competition for only the second time in their history.
Now named the permanent manager, Ramoreboli and his charges will be buzzing, but the Zebras will still be wary of the threat posed by the visiting Algeria, who have won three of their four matches in the qualification series.
Heading into this contest, the home side will be buoyed by their current four-game unbeaten run in competitive matches.
A victory for the home side will not only take them level with Algeria on nine points, it will be their first win over the North Africans in a competitive fixture.
Algeria have enjoyed a near-perfect start to their 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, recording three wins, with the only blemish being a 2-1 loss to Guinea.
Besides that loss in June, the visitors have been unbeaten in their last seven fixtures, which include five victories and a solitary draw.
Five of those wins came in the qualification campaign for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, handing Vladimir Petkovic‘s team a chance to atone for their disastrous outing in Ivory Coast, where they failed to go beyond the group stage.
Level on points with Mozambique, the Fennecs will be desperate to stay at the top of the table, as the race for the 2026 World Cup approaches the business end.
Having missed out on the last two editions of the World Cup, the Fennecs will be keen to make a return to the global stage once again.
Algeria have been impressive in the past months, and with the quality within their squad, the visitors should claim a routine 2-0 win that takes them a step closer to next year’s World Cup.
Indonesia’s parliament has passed controversial changes to legislation that will allow its military a bigger role in government.
Critics warn that the move could return Indonesia to the dark days of Suharto’s military dictatorship, which lasted 32 years until he was forced out of office in 1998.
The revisions backed by President Prabowo Subianto – a former special forces commander and Suharto’s son-in-law – allow military officers to take up positions in government without first retiring or resigning from the armed forces.
Hundreds of pro-democracy activists have camped outside parliament since Wednesday evening to protest at the changes.
The revisions allow active military personnel to hold positions in 14 civilian institutions, up from 10. They also raise retirement age by several years for most ranks. Highest-ranking four-star generals can now serve until 63, up from 60.
By Thursday evening, the crowd of protesters outside parliament had grown to nearly a thousand. “Return the military to the barracks!” “Against militarism and oligarchy,” read the banners they held.
Police officers and military personnel stood guard around the protesters.
While there have been efforts over the past 25 years to limit the military’s involvement in politics and governance, local human rights watchdog Imparsial found that nearly 2,600 active-duty officers were serving in civilian roles even before the law’s revision.
The changes signal a “broader consolidation of power” under Prabowo, said Dedi Dinarto, lead Indonesia analyst at public policy advisory firm Global Counsel.
That the main opposition party endorsed the changes – despite initial opposition – further underscores this shift, he noted.
Men whose female sex partners get the itchy vaginal infection called bacterial vaginosis may also start being offered treatment for the condition. That’s because a new study has determined that the infection isn’t simply a women’s health issue but is actually a sexually transmitted disease.
The findings, published this week in The New England Journal of Medicine, mark a major shift in how bacterial vaginosis (BV) is understood and defined, challenging long-held views that it was not an STI. BV develops when there is an imbalance in vaginal bacteria, and research now confirms that sexual activity—particularly with new or multiple partners—can introduce or spread the bacteria that cause it.
Left untreated, bacterial vaginosis (BV) can increase the risk of getting other STDs, including HIV, and also increases the risk of problems during pregnancy and birth. It is the most common cause of vaginal discharge among women of reproductive age. Until now, there has been no way to prevent the infections.
One-third of women worldwide develop BV in their lifetime, and many repeatedly battle the infection, which in addition to itching and discharge can cause a fishy smell and burning during urination. More than half of women with BV experience a recurrence within three months after taking a weeklong course of oral antibiotics, the researchers noted.
“We’ve suspected for a long time that it’s a sexually transmitted infection (STI) because it has a similar incubation period (after sex) to most STIs and is associated with the same risk factors as STIs like chlamydia, such as change in sexual partner and not using condoms,” said researcher Lenka Vodstrcil, PhD, deputy head of the Genital Microbiota and Mycoplasma Group at Monash University’s Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, in a news release.
The study included 164 couples in Australia. The women all had BV infections and were in monogamous relationships with male partners. Researchers randomly assigned the couples to follow either traditional treatment (antibiotic for the woman only) or for the woman and the man to take antibiotics, plus for the man to apply a topical antimicrobial cream to the penile skin twice daily for seven days.
The research trial was halted early by a research safety oversight panel because it was evident that treating the woman only was inferior to treating both partners. The recurrence rate was 65% among women whose partners weren’t treated and 35% among women whose partners were treated.
Some treated men did report side effects, including nausea, headache, and metallic taste.
“Part of the difficulty in establishing whether BV is sexually transmitted has been that we still don’t know precisely which bacteria are the cause but advances in genomic sequencing are helping us close in on that mystery,” said fellow researcher Catriona Bradshaw, PhD.
In an editorial published alongside the research results, a pair of infectious disease experts said the evidence that the associated bacteria are transmitted sexually represents a paradigm shift.
The findings “also signify a need for a major change to the treatment approach of women with bacterial vaginosis with respect to how women should be counseled regarding the origin of their infection and to the need to engage their male partners in sharing responsibility for transmission and treatment,” the editorial authors wrote. “To date, there have been no effective strategies to prevent sexual transmission of bacterial vaginosis–associated bacteria, apart from consistent use of condoms.”
Niger and Morocco resume their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in Group E with a crucial clash at the Honneur Stadium on Friday.
The Atlas Lions currently lead the group with a perfect nine points from three matches and will secure automatic qualification if they maintain their dominance, while the Menas sit second with six points and will be eager to boost their chances of at least securing a play-off spot.
Niger endured a frustrating start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Tanzania in November, but they responded well with a 2-1 victory over Zambia before being awarded three points after Congo failed to turn up for their scheduled fixture in Kinshasa.
With six points to their name, the Menas have put themselves in a strong position in the five-team group, particularly after Eritrea’s withdrawal, and a positive result against Morocco would further strengthen their bid for a top-two finish.
However, Niger’s recent form is concerning, as they are winless in their last four outings, suffering a defeat to Burkina Faso in a friendly before playing out three consecutive draws.
Their historical record against Morocco also makes for grim reading, with four defeats in as many meetings, conceding eight goals and failing to score in any of those encounters.
In contrast, Morocco are one of Africa’s in-form sides and have enjoyed a remarkable run of results, with the Atlas Lions unbeaten in their last 10 matches across all competitions and have won each of their last eight.
Their most recent outing saw them demolish Lesotho 7-0, part of a staggering run that has seen them score 21 goals in their last four matches while conceding just once.
Walid Regragui‘s men have been flawless in World Cup qualifying so far, winning all three games, netting 10 goals, and conceding only once to top Group E.
Given that this fixture will take place in Morocco due to Niger’s lack of an approved stadium, the Atlas Lions hold a clear advantage despite being the nominal away team.
Niger boss Badou Ezaki has named a 25-man squad for this month’s qualifiers, featuring a core group of players who participated in the last Africa Cup of Nations.
Morocco are overwhelming favourites to claim all three points, given their superior quality and impressive form heading into this encounter, while Niger have yet to face an opponent of Morocco’s calibre in the World Cup qualifiers and are currently enduring a winless run, which is why we anticipate a dominant victory for the visitors.
Aiming for a strong start with Nigeria, Eric Chelle‘s Super Eagles travel to Rwanda in World Cup 2026 qualifying, needing a positive result in Friday’s Group C encounter at the Amahoro Stadium.
The three-time African champions find themselves second-bottom entering the fifth round of matches, trailing the joint leaders by four points, and they can ill afford further slip-ups as they attempt to qualify for the global finals.
Rwanda dare to dream after four games in World Cup qualifying, as the Amavubi sit joint top with South Africa and Benin on seven points in Group C heading into Friday’s match against the African giants.
Despite suffering a 1-0 loss to Benin last June, the Wasps responded with a narrow victory away from home by defeating Lesotho, placing them in a promising position ahead of the first of two home fixtures.
Having never participated in a World Cup finals, new boss Adel Amrouche hopes to secure a victory in his first match in charge of the East African nation as qualification reaches its halfway point.
Aiming to capitalise on a pair of games in Kigali, Rwanda hope for the best-case scenario over the next two fixtures, with Bafana Bafana facing Lesotho on five points and Gernot Rohr‘s ambitious Benin.
Success in both matches could put the Amavubi in a favourable position, so you could forgive the home support for thinking ahead before Nigeria’s visit.
Chelle’s appointment by Nigeria in January, seven months after that June 2024 setback, received mixed reactions in the West African nation, and the Abidjan-born Malian manager aims to secure results to win over the sceptics.
Achieving success in his Super Eagles debut is almost crucial for the three-time African champions, who sit on three points heading into Friday’s match in Kigali, if they wish to maintain realistic hopes of qualifying for the 2026 tournament after missing out in Qatar.
Nigeria have never been uninvolved in consecutive finals since their 1994 debut in the United States, qualifying in 2010 after narrowly missing out four years earlier; this iteration, which features the continent’s best players over the past two years — Victor Osimhen (2023) and Ademola Lookman (2024) — strive to avoid the shame.
However, the Super Eagles, winless in their last three encounters with Rwanda and suffering a 2-1 defeat at home in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match in November 2024, must secure their first win in the East African natiion to bolster their World Cup chances.
Four-time African champions Ghana return to action in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers when they go head to head with Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium on Friday.
While the visitors find themselves rock-bottom in Group I, the Black Stars have enjoyed a solid qualifying campaign, claiming seven points from their four games so far to sit third in the table, only behind second-placed Chad in the playoff spot on goal difference.
Ghana Black Stars
Ghana failed to secure their spot in the 2025 African Nations Championship as they suffered a 3-1 aggregate defeat at the hands of fellow West African powerhouse Nigeria in their final outing of 2024 back in December.
Having held on for a goalless draw in Accra on December 22, Ghana found themselves trailing by three goals inside 25 minutes one week later as Ismaila Sodiq, Nduka Junior and Isaac Savior hit the target to put Nigeria in a commanding lead before Stephen Amankona netted a 73rd-minute consolation.
This followed a forgettable campaign in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, where Ghana failed to win any of their six games in Group F, losing three and claiming three draws to finish rock-bottom in the standings with three points from a possible 18.
While Otto Addo‘s men have failed to win each of their last eight matches across all competitions, they now return to action in the World Cup qualifiers, where they have won three of their four matches in Group I, seeing off Madagascar, Mali and Central African Republic.
The Black Stars’ only defeat in the qualifiers came in November 2023, when they were beaten 1-0 by Comoros at the Stade de Moroni courtesy of a first-half strike from 26-year-old forward Myziane Maolida.
Chad, on the other hand, return to action in the World Cup qualifying race in desperate need of a spirit-lifting result as they find themselves rooted to the bottom of the Group I standings, having lost each of their four games so far.
Chad national football team
Having suffered consecutive defeats against Mali and Madagascar in November 2023, Les Sao fell to a narrow 1-0 loss against Central African Republic in June 2024, one week before losing 2-0 at the hands of Comoros at the Stade Municipal Oujda.
Chad’s poor performance in the qualifiers has been in no small part owing to their lack of cutting edge in attack, where they have netted just one goal so far while shipping nine at the opposite end of the pitch — only Mauritania are yet to register a goal in the qualifiers.
While Tahir Gardia‘s men will be looking to turn a corner this year and kickstart their qualifying race, recent results offer little optimism as they have failed to win any of their last 11 matches across all competitions, claiming five draws and losing six.
This poor run of results saw Chad finish rock-bottom in Group G of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers with just three points from a possible 18 before suffering a 4-2 aggregate defeat against Congo DR in December’s CHAN playoffs.
Ghana will be boosted by the return of Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey to the national team setup, ending the 31-year-old’s six-month absence due to several injuries.
Ghana will be licking their lips as they take on an inexperienced Chad side who have failed to win their last 11 matches across all competitions. Given the gulf in quality and depth between the two sides, we are backing the Black Stars to come away with a comfortable victory in Accra.
The Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has struck out murder charges against Ooni of Ife ex-wife, queen Naomi Silekunola; the owner of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat; and principal of Islamic High School, Abdullahi Fasasi.
DAILY POST recalls that the trio have been facing murder charges following the December 2024 children’s event stampede that led to the death of 35 children.
Justice B. K. Olawoyin delivering judgement on Thursday, ruled that holding the defendants liable could discourage the public from engaging in humanitarian activities.
The court dismissed the four count charge, which included acceleration of death, conspiracy, negligent acts causing harm and failure to provide adequate medical facilities and security.
Reacting to the court judge in an interview, the state Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, judgment, Biodun Aikomo, said “It is in the interest of justice to discontinue these case. So we withdrew the charge and it was struck out by the court. There is no case against them again, they are now free”.
Police authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say six persons have died and fourteen cars burnt following an explosion at the Karu Bridge in the nation’s capital.
The incident on Wednesday along the Abuja-Nyanya-Keffi sent panic among residents of the nation’s capital.
But in a statement hours after the incident, the spokesperson of the FCT Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said the accident involved a trailer that lost control and crashed into a stationary vehicle trapped in traffic.
“The impact engulfed fourteen vehicles in a raging inferno. Panic and chaos followed as bystanders and motorists scrambled for safety. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, battling thick smoke and intense heat to rescue those trapped,” the statement added.
“Six victims were pulled from the wreckage and rushed to the hospital, but tragically, they were confirmed dead by medical personnel on duty. Their remains have been deposited at Karu General Hospital Morgue.”
According to her, with the intervention of the police, fire service personnel, and security agencies, the inferno was contained and normal traffic flow was restored.
The incident in Abuja adds to the rising spate of explosions across Nigeria in recent months. Last week, two persons died and 12 vehicles were razed when an explosion happened at the Otedola Bridge in Lagos.
A tanker loaded with gas burst into flames at the bridge, leading to the fire that also destroyed a building in the area. Three other persons were also injured in the raging fire. It took the intervention of emergency responders to put out the fire.
