Author: starconnect
The By Our Chief Football Correspondent at Levi’s Stadium The World Cup thrives on absolute drama, and tonight in the sizzling heat of California, we witnessed a classic that will be talked about from Algiers to Amman for years to come. In front of a raucous crowd of 68,371 screaming fans inside the iconic Levi’s Stadium, North African heavyweights Algeria pulled off a sensational, gutsy 2-1 comeback victory over tournament debutants Jordan, saving their own tournament hopes while cruelly booting the brave underdogs out of their very first World Cup. For 45 minutes, an almighty upset was written in…
BY OUR CHIEF SPORTS WRITER AT METLIFE STADIUM THEY came to the Big Apple looking for Broadway style, but it was a towering Manchester City cyborg who delivered the ultimate blockbuster. Erling Haaland put on a masterclass of pure, unadulterated ruthlessness, plundering a magnificent second-half brace to book Norway’s ticket into the World Cup Round of 32. In a breathless, five-goal thriller that rocked MetLife Stadium to its very foundations, Ståle Solbakken’s red-hot Vikings proved they are no longer just tournament gatecrashers—they are genuine heavyweight contenders. The African giants of Senegal fought like cornered lions, inspired by a magical…
Mbath By Our Chief Football Writer in Philadelphia IT TOOK a literal act of God to slow down Didier Deschamps’ French football machine in Philadelphia, but even a ferocious, monsoon-like American thunderstorm couldn’t prevent a historic crowning moment for the undisputed king of world football. On a bizarre, rain-lashed night that stretched into an epic four-hour saga, Kylian Mbappé marked his landmark 100th international cap with a ruthless, majestic double to guide tournament favourites France into the World Cup knockout stages with a game to spare, brushing aside a stubborn but ultimately outclassed Iraq 3-0. For a long time…
BY OUR REPORTER I June 23, 2026 TERROR has struck the heart of Lagos after a devastating bomb explosion rocked the densely populated district of Mushin—while tone-deaf politicians and police chiefs were busy sipping tea and patting themselves on the back. As panic-stricken residents fled for their lives through smoke-chilled streets, Nigeria’s top brass were holed up in a lavish government house, spinning a bizarre alternate reality where Lagos is supposedly “the safest state in the country.” The shocking blast shattered the peace in Mushin, leaving locals reeling and demanding to know how bombers managed to penetrate Nigeria’s economic capital. Yet,…
: By SCM Correspondent LAGOS, NIGERIA — The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general elections, Mr. Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resign from office immediately. Obi labeled the current administration a “monumental failure in governance,” pointing to a sharp increase in economic hardship, a breakdown of security, and the rapidly declining standard of living across Nigeria. The former Anambra State governor made the demand in a statement released via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday. According to Obi, his call for the President’s resignation was prompted by…
Me BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT IN DALLAS LIONEL MESSI proved once again that he is not from this planet, overcoming a rare moment of human frailty to rewrite the history books and fire reigning champions Argentina into the World Cup knockout rounds. On a sweltering afternoon under the retractable roof of the Dallas Stadium, the greatest player to ever lace up a pair of boots endured a rollercoaster of emotions that would have broken lesser men. Two days shy of his 39th birthday, the little magician missed a crucial early penalty, leaving a stadium packed with thousands of fanatical, blue-and-white…
HAdmin I Monday, June 22, 2026 LONDON – The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Climate Group, formally marking Lagos State’s entry into the Under2 Coalition, the world’s largest network of states and regions committed to achieving net-zero emissions and building climate-resilient economies. The signing took place on Monday in London as part of the London Climate Action Week 2026, underscoring Lagos State’s growing role in global climate leadership and reinforced its commitment to advancing innovative solutions that drive sustainable development, economic growth and climate resilience. Convened by Climate Group,…
sECBy Our Foreign Desk WASHINGTON — The United States on Monday imposed counterterrorism sanctions on a sophisticated network of financial intermediaries operating across three continents, a move American officials say exposes how a decentralized Islamic State continues to move money through cryptocurrency, explosive specialists, and West African currency exchanges. The designations target three individuals and six entities spread across France, Syria, Türkiye, and Nigeria. U.S. officials described the network as a vital logistical spine keeping the fragmented terror group interconnected. Among those blacklisted is a Syria-based operator accused of using digital tokens to transfer funds to ISIS associates globally,…
By Our Foreign Desk BRUSSELS has pumped a massive €11 million (£9.2 million) into Moldova to help the frontline nation smash “hybrid attacks” blamed on Vladimir Putin. The European Commission confirmed the emergency funding package is designed to boost defenses against a wave of hidden warfare, including cyber-attacks and fierce disinformation campaigns. Moldova—a former Soviet republic nestled between Ukraine and Romania—has found itself squarely in the crosshairs of Moscow’s covert aggression since the invasion of Ukraine. Eurocrats say the cash injection will directly counter alleged Russian influence operations aimed at destabilizing the country’s pro-Western government. ”Hybrid attacks” use non-military…
By SCM Foreign Desk LUCKNOW, India – A fast-moving fire tore through a crowded three-story commercial building in northern India on Monday afternoon, killing at least 14 people, most of them young students trapped on the upper floors, local officials said. The blaze broke out around 3 p.m. in the Aliganj neighborhood of Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state. The building, located in a dense mixed-use zone, housed a veterinary clinic and a pet shop on its ground floor, while the upper levels contained a student library, a collegiate coaching institute, and a…