Tanzania acquires C-27J Spartan aircraft to become fifth African country to own the airplane
The Spartan offers the ability to carry up to 60 troops in high density configuration and a maximum of 46 paratroopers. In the medical role 36 stretchers and six attendants can be carried. Normal payload is 9,000 kg for the C-27J, although maximum payload is around 11 tonnes.
South Africa’s case at UN’s top court accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza captivates Palestinians
Israel has vehemently denied the genocide allegations and has chosen to defend itself, in person, for the first time, attesting to the case’s symbolic importance. South Africa is seeking binding preliminary orders to compel Israel to stop its current military campaign in Gaza.
China calls for Gaza peace conference as Hamas promises to disclose fate of Israeli hostages
Israel also says more than 1,200 people were killed in Hamas’ October 7 assault. The Gaza health ministry has said almost 24,000 people have been killed in the Israeli offensive that followed with more than 60,000 wounded.
Trump says Republican supporters can help him punish Biden and Democrats in closing pitch in Iowa
Even as Donald Trump predicted his supporters would deliver a substantial victory over his nearest rival, he sought to temper expectations that he could cross 50 per cent of the vote, a threshold never crossed in a contested Republican caucus.
After Egypt and Nigeria were held by minnows, Cape Verde beat Ghana to continue day of shocks at Cup of Nations
The earlier Group B game saw Mohamed Salah convert a stoppage-time penalty to spare Egypt’s blushes in a 2-2 draw with Mozambique, playing at their first finals since 2010.
Fear spreads Hamas plans to kill Israeli hostages as it airs a video of captives it promised to disclose their fate
Of some 240 people seized by Hamas in an October 7 cross-border killing spree that sparked the war, around half were released in a November truce. Israel says 132 remain in Gaza and that 25 of them have died in captivity.
Weakened Ivory Coast side kicks off Africa Cup of Nations with win in front of 60,000 home fans
Twice winners Ivory Coast next play on Thursday when they face Nigeria in the biggest match-up in the group, while Guinea-Bissau take on Equatorial Guinea on the same day. The games will again be played at Abidjan’s Alassane Ouattara Stadium.
No longer stay-in-box player: Why goalkeepers are now ‘keeper-backs’ in new modern football
Goalkeepers had played the odd pass outside their area before but HSV are part of a distinct recent trend. In the last few years, the keeper-back has spread beyond a few adventurous teams to become a familiar tactic, especially in England.
Two Navy SEALs are missing after a night mission off the coast of Somalia
Besides the defence of ships from launched drones and missiles shot from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, the US military has also come to the aid of commercial ships that have been the targets of piracy.
Nelson Mandela’s support for Palestinians endures with South Africa’s genocide case against Israel
Nelson Mandela regularly raised the plight of the Palestinians. Three years after apartheid and white minority rule was dismantled in South Africa and Mandela was elected president in historic all-race elections in 1994, he thanked the international community for its help. He added: “But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”
