One person was killed and others injured in protests that spread Saturday across Iran after a surprise decision to impose petrol price hikes and rationing in the sanctions-hit country.
The death occurred Friday in the central city of Sirjan, where protesters had tried to set a fuel depot ablaze but were thwarted by security forces, semi-official ISNA news agency reported.
Protests erupted hours after it was announced the price of petrol would be increased by 50 percent for the first 60 litres and 300 percent for anything above that each month.
Sirjan’s acting governor Mohammad Mahmoudabadi said a civilian was …
Around a quarter-million Czechs flooded central Prague on Saturday to mark 30 years since the Velvet Revolution toppled communism in then-Czechoslovakia, with protesters demanding that billionaire Prime Minister Andrej Babis quit over allegations of graft.
Some demonstrators waved flags or brandished banners calling for Babis to step down and chanted “Shame!” and “Resign!”.
The CTK Czech news agency quoted Interior Minister Jan Hamacek as saying some 250,000 people had rallied at Letna park — the site of some of the biggest 1989 rallies — matching a similar protest in June.
It came on the eve of the 30th anniversary of …
Gunmen fired at buses carrying minority Muslim voters on Saturday as Sri Lankans elected a new president, with the powerful Rajapaksa clan eyeing a comeback seven months after Islamist extremists staged deadly bombings.
Minority Tamils and Muslims are seen as crucial in the close election, and the attack in the northwest of the island — in which no one was injured — was likely aimed at deterring people from heading to the polls.
But election chief Mahinda Deshapriya said over 80 percent of the 15.99 million electorate was estimated to have turned out Saturday, compared to 81.5 percent at the …
Bolivia’s interim leader Jeanine Anez said Friday that exiled ex-president Evo Morales would have to “answer to justice” if he returns, as five of his supporters were killed in fierce clashes with security forces.
Morales resigned and fled to Mexico after losing the support of Bolivia’s security forces following weeks of protests over his disputed re-election that has seen 15 people killed and more than 400 wounded.
“He knows he has to answer to justice. There is electoral crime. There are many allegations of corruption in his government,” Anez told journalists in La Paz.
The former president has said he …
Cape Town City midfielder Mpho Makola has been banned for six months after shoving a referee — an offence for which he was only yellow carded.
The 33-year-old former international used both hands to push referee Abongile Tom last month after opponents Kaizer Chiefs were awarded a penalty during a League Cup match.
Although a red-card offence, Tom only cautioned out-of-control Makola, who had to be dragged away from the match official by teammates.
The Makola ban has shocked many South African football followers used to offenders receiving light sentences for serious acts of ill discipline.
Match bans and fines …
Conor O’Shea has resigned from his role as Italy head coach with immediate effect, the Italian rugby federation announced on Saturday.
The 49-year-old Irishman’s contract had been due to run through to the end of May 2020.
“We have started a process and generated a new, well-founded hope, but I also believe that the end of the Rugby World Cup represents the best time for everyone to make changes in view of the new cycle,” said O’Shea.
“I loved every minute I spent in Italy and I really believe in what we have done and how it can be achieved …
The Netherlands, Germany and World Cup finalists Croatia expanded a list of big hitters to qualify for Euro 2020 on Saturday as the trio booked their places at next summer’s finals.
Austria also made it through to the multi-host tournament, which kicks off in Rome on June 12, with 16 sides now ensured of a spot at the 24-team event and only four places remaining from the main qualifying route.
They join other big names such like world champions France, Spain, Italy and England, with European champions Portugal one win away from qualification.
Ronald Koeman’s resurgent Dutch needed a point
The South African Premier Soccer League (PSL), boosted by a lucrative TV deal, posted record revenue of more than one billion rand last season.
A statement said TV rights and sponsorships from banks, telecommunication and engineering companies were responsible for the 1,005 billion ($68 million/62 mn euros) bonanza.
“The results are due to the renewal of our broadcast deals because they contribute a high percentage of income,” PSL chairman Irvin Khoza confirmed Sunday.
“We have reached the one billion rand mark and that augurs well for the clubs as the monthly grants to them will increase next season.”
The PSL …
Germany has secured qualification for Euro 2020, but coach Joachim Loew is running out of time to mould his fledgling team into title contenders before next June’s finals.
Despite dominating possession in Moenchengladbach on Saturday, Loew’s young team struggled against minnows Belarus before two Toni Kroos goals sealed a 4-0 win which confirmed their Euro 2020 qualification.
As magazine Kicker pointed out, the victory highlighted the “many obvious sites” under reconstruction.
By Loew’s pre-match admission, “many players still need a few more years to develop”, yet the Euro finals start in seven months.
The Germans and Dutch have now qualified …
Iheduru said that 117 of the affected persons were teachers drawn from eight Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) in the state, while the other 197 were security men.
According to him, some of them were due for retirement, but altered their ages and date of first employment, with the aim of extending their stay or remaining in service beyond
Sultan of Sokoto and Present-General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has enjoined Muslims in the six states in the South West of Nigeria not to take the law into their hands as they pursue the use of hijabs by Muslim female students in primary and secondary schools in the zone.
He disclosed this in his address during the formal opening session of the fourth general assembly of Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), with the tagline: “Muslim Unity and Contemporary Political Challenges in Nigeria,” held at the conference hall, University of
This has indeed portrayed the agency’s arrowhead by insisting that the sureties who stood for him must be the ones to collect him
