Month: February 2024

Paris 2024 Olympics: Brazil miss out on qualification as Argentina secure spot

News Briefing

Brazil, the defending champions, have failed to qualify for Paris 2024 after a 1-0 loss to Argentina. 

Brazil had been eyeing up a third consecutive gold in the men’s Olympic football tournament. They have won a men’s football medal at the past four Olympics.

Argentina, who won gold in 2004 and 2008, finished the final qualifying event with five points.

Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum: Marathon world record holder dies in road accident

News Briefing

Kelvin Kiptum, the world record holder for the men’s marathon from Kenya, tragically passed away in a car accident in his home country at the age of 24.

The accident occurred on a road in western Kenya on Sunday, claiming the lives of Kiptum and his coach, Gervais Hakizimana from Rwanda.

Kiptum rose to prominence in 2023 as a formidable competitor to fellow Kenyan marathon star Eliud Kipchoge.

Conservative ex-PM Alexander Stubb elected Finland president

Europe

Finland’s former conservative Prime Minister, Alexander Stubb, has won the presidential election held on Sunday, according to final results.

Stubb secured 51.6% of the vote, defeating his Green Party rival, Pekka Haavisto, the former foreign minister, who had 48.4%. Haavisto has conceded defeat.

This election marks Finland’s first since joining the NATO military alliance.

Israel rescues two hostages in Rafah as strikes reported

News Briefing

Israel rescued two male hostages in a raid in Rafah amid reports of Israeli airstrikes hit the southern Gazan city of Rafah. 

The Israeli military confirms the men are in “good medical condition.” The international community – including the UK –  had warned about Israel’s planned offensive in Rafah. 

Earlier, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said Rafah was under attack, with a number of deaths reported. 1.5 million people are sheltering in the southern city.

Sunday Papers – ‘By-election doom looms over Tories’

News Briefing

The upcoming by-elections are a hot topic in the news today, with reports that Conservative MPs have “predicted fresh attacks on Rishi Sunak’s leadership within days” in the run-up to by-elections in Wellingborough and Kingswood.

Elsewhere, several of the front pages feature comments from King Charles, who thanked the nation for their support since his cancer diagnosis.