Category: World

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has criticised UEFA for omitting details about the death of former Palestinian football star Suleiman al Obeid, widely known as the “Palestinian Pele,” in its tribute post. The Palestine Football Association said al Obeid, 41, was killed on Wednesday by an Israeli airstrike targeting civilians while waiting for humanitarian aid in the southern Gaza Strip. In a short post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, UEFA described al Obeid as “a talent who gave hope to countless children, even in the darkest of times” — but made no mention of how he died. Salah, an Egyptian international and one of the most influential Arab athletes in the world, responded publicly: “Can you tell us how he died, where, and why?” UEFA has told Sky Sports it will not comment on Salah’s remarks. Al Obeid, born in Gaza City, played for clubs across Gaza and the West Bank and was a key figure in Palestinian football for years. The Palestine FA’s tribute noted that he is survived by his wife, two sons, and three daughters. The criticism comes amid rising concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza. According to the United Nations, more than 1,000 people have been killed near aid distribution points and convoys in Gaza since late May, when the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation — a US and Israel-backed aid system — began operations. Salah has previously called for increased humanitarian aid access to Gaza during the ongoing conflict, which is approaching its two-year mark.

A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake off the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia has triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific region, prompting evacuations and emergency declarations in multiple countries. Tsunami Warnings Issued The massive undersea quake — among the strongest ever recorded — has prompted tsunami alerts for Japan, China, the Philippines, and parts of the United States, including Hawaii, California, and Alaska. The U.S. National Weather Service confirmed that the first tsunami waves had begun reaching Hawaii and the northern coast of California. Tide gauges detected rising sea levels, and authorities have warned residents to stay away from coastlines as the waves are expected to intensify with the incoming high tide. Evacuations in Hawaii Hawaii meteorologist Malika Dudley reported that “every single island in Hawaii” was affected, with significant traffic congestion as residents and tourists rushed to evacuate coastal areas. “Every single part of the coastline is in a tsunami evacuation zone,” Dudley said from Kauai, the state’s northernmost island. She emphasized the urgency of disseminating information, particularly to tourists and hotels located within evacuation areas. “We need to either vertically evacuate or evacuate inland,” she added, noting that communication systems and traffic coordination could be improved. Dudley explained that officials would continue to monitor wave patterns to determine when it would be safe to downgrade the alert level. “We cannot go from a warning to an advisory until the warning center sees a series of waves and a pattern of lowering wave heights,” she said. Despite the serious situation, she reported that the public remained calm. “Most people are putting their kids to bed and hoping for the best.” Tsunami Reaches California The National Weather Service in Eureka, California, confirmed that tsunami waves had reached the northern coast of the state. Officials urged residents to avoid beaches as wave activity was expected to build throughout the night. Russia Declares State of Emergency Meanwhile, Russia has declared a state of emergency on the Kuril Islands near the earthquake’s epicenter. Several tsunami waves flooded the main city of Severokurilsk, where waves reached over three meters, damaging boats, flooding a processing plant, and knocking out power. The Kuril Islands, which lie just south of the Kamchatka Peninsula, are a longstanding territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. The islands were seized by the Soviet Union during the final days of World War II, and the disagreement has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty. Surgeons Work Through Tremors A dramatic video shared by Russian officials shows surgeons in a cancer clinic holding onto a patient and medical equipment as the earthquake struck. Despite the violent tremors, the medical team managed to remain composed and continued their operation once the shaking subsided. Russia’s regional health minister praised the team as “heroes in white coats.” Authorities across the Pacific continue to monitor wave activity and damage assessments as the situation unfolds.