The trial of 51 individuals, including three Americans, accused of attempting to overthrow the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo last month, has begun.

The hearing is being broadcast live on national TV and radio from N’dolo military prison in the capital, Kinshasa.

The defendants were ushered into the military court wearing blue-and-yellow shirts, marking their first appearance in public since the failed coup.

Arrested during attacks on the presidential palace and the home of an ally of President Félix Tshisekedi, they face multiple charges, including financing terrorism, murder, and attempted assassination.

They have not yet been asked to plead in the case, which is being held under a marquee on the grounds of the jail.

The US State Department says it has not been given access to its citizens in custody.

Six people were killed during the attempted coup on 19 May, including the suspected leader of the plot Christian Malanga.

The rest of the defendants were detained after the attack on the Palais de la Nation and the home of Vital Kamerhe, who is the parliamentary speaker.

Local media reports said the assailants were members of the New Zaire Movement linked to Malanga, a formerly exiled DR Congo politician who had acquired US citizenship.

His son Marcel Malanga is among the US nationals who were arrested.

Another is 21-year-old Tyler Thompson, whose family told the BBC this week they had “zero idea” how he had become entangled in the plan.

Videos taken in Kinshasa after the incident show Mr Thompson being hit with the butt of a rifle and repeatedly struck in the head by Congolese security forces.
Other individuals of different nationalities were also involved and are on trial, according to army spokesman General Sylvain Ekenge.

One is a Congolese man who holds Belgian nationality and there is also a Canadian citizen originally from DR Congo.

According to the AFP news agency, there is also an investigation into the conduct of the soldiers who foiled the coup for allegedly committing executions after the operation.

President Tshisekedi was re-elected for a second term in disputed elections last year in December. He won about 78% of the vote.

Nearly 20 people were killed in election-related violence in the run-up to the vote.

DR Congo is a country with vast mineral wealth and a huge population, but despite this, life has not improved for most people, with conflict, corruption and poor governance persisting.

Much of the country’s natural resources lie in the east where violence still rages despite Mr Tshisekedi’s attempts to deal with the situation by imposing a state of siege, ceasefire deals, and bringing in regional troops.

For a proud country which boasts five continental titles and the most World Cup finals appearances by an African nation, the past two months have seen a very public row play out over who should coach the Indomitable Lions.

Last week Belgian Marc Brys was removed as boss – only to be reappointed within 48 hours.

But the sideshow off the pitch ahead of crunch 2026 World Cup qualifiers is only the tip of the iceberg in a battle for control of the game.

The man now running football in the Central African nation is former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto’o, a legend of the game on the continent and Cameroon’s record goalscorer, who was elected football federation (Fecafoot) president in December 2021.

But Eto’o has been described as a “dictator” by one former international team-mate because of the way he is steering the organisation – epitomised by the spat with the nation’s Ministry of Sport (Minsep) over Brys.

“Samuel was the biggest player in Africa but there’s a lot of trouble around him,” the retired player, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of a backlash, told BBC Sport Africa.

“He does not listen to advice. When you manage people you do not need to [act] like a dictator.

“I didn’t know he would be like that, and it will be hard for him to continue.”

Players have issued a plea for the team to be kept “politically free” but some fans have become so desperate that they have called on world governing body Fifa to suspend Cameroon.

The curious case of Marc Brys

The arrival of Brys as coach in April, after the departure of Rigobert Song following a last-16 exit at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), created a storm few would have expected.

Fecafoot expressed its “great surprise” when Minsep announced the appointment of the 62-year-old whose coaching career has been with clubs in Belgium, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.

Eto’o’s alternative list of high-profile candidates had reportedly included two-time Afcon-winning coach Herve Renard, Italian World Cup winner Fabio Cannavaro and ex-Nigeria boss Jose Peserio.

“The only problem was the salaries,” Cameroonian sports journalist Giovanni Wanneh told BBC Sport Africa.

“Brys is not the best, but we’re not talking about someone we picked from the gutters. Minsep has played this card before and it worked out fine for Cameroon.”

In Cameroon, as is the case in several other African countries, the government pays the salaries of the national team’s coaching staff and feels entitled to weigh into Fecafoot’s affairs.

Eto’o did not turn up to the presentation where Brys signed his contract on 8 April, and their first in-person meeting on 28 May quickly descended into an unseemly row.

Fecafoot reacted by replacing Brys with an interim coach, only to quickly backtrack after pressure was applied by Minsep.

Yet a tense atmosphere continued this week when the Indomitable Lions squad assembled in Yaounde ahead of the visit of Cape Verde in World Cup qualifying on Saturday.

Players were met by two different sets of administrators at the team hotel, and Fecafoot did not provide kit for the first training session due to be held by Brys – leading forward Moumi Ngamaleu to call for unity.

“The responsibility is for you to help keep the team politically free and to maintain a clean environment for us to perform without problems,” his Instagram message read.

“We hereby approach you to overcome the differences, put the ego aside and remember we are all here to put the people of Cameroon on the map and give them honour.”

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana was among several players who reposted Ngamaleu’s message.

A senior Confederation of African Football (Caf) official said it is open to mediating in the row between Fecafoot and Minsep, although such a request is yet to be received.

‘Grave irregularities’ under Eto’o
Eto’o’s treatment of Brys is only the latest instance of his behaviour garnering negative attention since he assumed control of Fecafoot.

“The fact that you are a top footballer doesn’t automatically make you a great administrator,” said Wanneh.

“When he came in, I thought he was going to change the narrative in our football. But Cameroon football is living its worst moment.”

In July last year, a group representing amateur clubs in Cameroon called on the 43-year-old to resign, citing “grave irregularities” in the organisation.

That included Eto’o taking an ambassadorial role with a sports betting company – potentially in violation of both Fifa and Fecafoot rules.

Moreover, an investigation by Caf into allegations of improper conduct against Eto’o is ongoing.

“He is the legitimate president of the federation. But nobody is above the law,” Caf secretary general Veron Mosengo-Omba told BBC Sport Africa.

A battle for control

In Cameroonian sport, the influence of President Paul Biya has been keenly felt in the past.

He insisted on Roger Milla being included in the squad for the 1990 World Cup – with the then-38-year-old netting four times – while the appointment of Brys’ predecessor Rigobert Song in 2022 was made “on very high instructions” of President Biya.

It is the government financing and pumping in the money,” said Wanneh.

“Fecafoot is not structured in a way that it can cater for its burden and expenditure,” the journalist added. “If it was then we would not have this scenario.”

Countries whose governments interfere in footballing affairs are at risk of suspension by Fifa – a fate that has befallen many African nations in the past, including Cameroon – yet Minsep has so far trodden a path which has not provoked the Zurich-based governing body.

While Fifa’s social media channels have been bombarded by messages to take action, Eto’o retains the backing of many Indomitable Lions supporters in his bid to break free of perceived governmental control.

Diane Rwigara, an outspoken critic of Rwandan Kagame, has been barred from standing in next month’s presidential election.

Only Mr Kagame and two other politicians – Frank Habineza of the Democratic Green Party and independent Philippe Mpayimana – were cleared by the electoral body.

Ms Rwigara, who was also disqualified from the 2017 poll, took to X, formerly Twitter, to express her disappointment to Mr Kagame.

“Why won’t you let me run? This is the second time you [have] cheat[ed] me out of my right to campaign,” she said.

The 42-year-old, who is the leader of the People Salvation Movement (PSM), had earlier told the BBC’s Newsday programme that she had hoped to be able to stand this time round.

“I’m representing the vast majority of Rwandans who live in fear and are not allowed to be free in their own country,” she said.

“Rwanda is portrayed as a country where the economy has been growing. But on the ground, it’s different. People do lack the basics of life, food, water, shelter.”

But on issuing its provisional list of candidates, the electoral commission said Ms Rwigara had failed to provide the correct documentation to show she had no criminal record.

It also said she had failed to show she had enough support nationwide to stand.
“On the requirement for 600 signature endorsements, she did not provide at least 12 signatures from eight districts,” Oda Gasinzigwa, the electoral commission chief, was quoted as saying.

Another reason the commission gave was that Ms Rwigara had failed to prove she was Rwandan by birth. She once held Belgian citizenship but surrendered that in 2017 before her last bid to become a candidate.

But Ms Rwigara has told the BBC that she was born in Rwanda and dismissed all the other grounds for the rejection of her candidacy.

A total of nine applications to stand for president were received by Rwanda’s National Electoral Commission. Their final list will be announced next Friday as it still considering appeals lodged earlier in the process – though at this stage it is too late for the PSM leader to appeal.

In 2017 she was barred following accusations of forging the signatures of supporters for her application.

Ms Rwigara was imprisoned for more than a year but acquitted in 2018 over charges of inciting insurrection and forgery. She said the charges were politically motivated.

In March, a Rwandan court blocked efforts by prominent opposition figure Victoire Ingabire to lift a ban on her running in the presidential election.
She was freed in 2018 after spending eight years in prison for threatening state security and “belittling” the 1994 genocide.

In Rwanda, people who have been jailed for more than six months are barred from running in elections.

The two cleared candidates – Mr. Habineza and Mr. Mpayimana – were also the only candidates approved to stand against Mr. Kagame in the 2017 election.
Mr Kagame is running for a fourth term, which could extend his presidency to nearly three decades should he win.

He won the last presidential election in 2017 with nearly 99% of the vote.
The 66-year-old president has faced criticism from rights groups for cracking down on the opposition.

But he has always fiercely defended Rwanda’s record on human rights, saying his country respects political freedoms.

A teacher at Nyamira Boys High School in Kenya has reportedly taken his own life after losing a bet on an online casino.

Nyamira Township Assistant Chief, Johnson Manyara said Kelvin Omwenga died by suicide at his rented house on Wednesday night, June 5, 2024.

The administrator added that the teacher had lost about Sh50,000 in the betting.

“I was informed by locals about a teacher who had ended his life,” Mr Manyara said.

“I proceeded to his house and notified police officers who arrived and took the body away.”

The assistant chief added that Omwenga’s wife had given birth but was not at home when the incident occurred.

“His wife had travelled upcountry after the couple had been informed that Omwenga’s parents were sick. He told his wife to travel home,” the administrator said.

Nyamira Boys principal George Onkundi said the school fraternity was shocked to learn of the death.

The principal said Omwenga was hired by the Board of Management and he had been at the school for four years.

“He taught mathematics and chemistry. We got concerned when he failed to report to work on Wednesday,” Mr Onkundi said.

He said Omwenga never exhibited symptoms of depression but added that the teacher used to borrow money from colleagues.

“He did not exhibit signs of mental stress but had talked of domestic matters bothering him. He would often get financial help from teachers,” Mr Onkundi said.

Another teacher told the Daily Nation that Omwenga borrowed money from him often, promising to repay “soon”.

“Omwenga recently took a loan from me. He shared a plan on how the money would be repaid in small bits until everything was settled,” said the teacher who did not want to be named.

“I last talked to him on Tuesday. I am really shocked and saddened to learn about his death and the manner in which it is said to have happened. I cannot authoritatively say he killed himself, for that is an issue police need to investigate and make a report.”

A Wisconsin dad took a gathering at a high school graduation ceremony aback when he interrupted the proceedings by rushing the stage to prevent his daughter from shaking hands with the superintendent.

Matt Eddy, 49, brought the ceremony to a momentary stop when his daughter was about to receive her diploma. Eddy grabbed the superintendent Rainey Briggs by the arm and pushed him aside, shocking the attendees, according to Daily Mail.

“That’s my daughter,” the man is heard saying in the footage, as his daughter looks mortified. At some point, he appears to say: “I don’t want her touching him.”

The motives behind Eddy’s actions at the Baraboo High School graduation ceremony remain unknown, but social media users have criticized him for allegedly ruining his daughter’s special moment.

One YouTube user said: “Can’t be that great of a father to do that to your daughter. She will only have one high school graduation, and he decided to make it about him.”

Another said: “I don’t think there’s anything in this world that could make me embarrass and disrespect my child like that. Her face and reaction made me want to cry for her.”

The school district, meanwhile, said in a statement: “Our primary focus remains on celebrating the achievements of our graduates. We want to ensure that the significance of this milestone and the hard work of our students are not overshadowed by this unfortunate event.”

The school district has stated that it is collaborating with law enforcement following the incident.

“We would like to emphasize that the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and community members is a top priority… The School District of Baraboo is taking this incident very seriously.”

The school board issued a statement addressing Eddy’s actions at the graduation ceremony.

“No employee of the School District of Baraboo should fear for their physical safety when fulfilling their job duties or at any other time,” the school board said.

“That this adult felt emboldened to behave in this way in front of hundreds of students and other adults should deeply trouble us all; this type of behavior will not be tolerated.”

A disorderly conduct charge against Eddy has been referred to the Sauk County District Attorney’s Office.

Baraboo High School previously made headlines in 2018 when a photo appeared to show students giving a Nazi salute.

In an exclusive interview then, Peter Gust claimed the predominantly white group of boys were simply waving goodbye to their parents, not making a political statement.

“I am very frustrated and find it reprehensible that people all over the world can snap to a judgment without knowing any facts and go ape — and it is coming from all over the world,” he said.

US President Joe Biden said in an interview Thursday he would not pardon his son, Hunter Biden, if he’s found guilty of criminal federal gun charges.

When asked by interviewer David Muir of ABC if he would rule out pardoning Hunter Biden, the president said, “Yes.”

Biden also affirmed he would accept the outcome of the trial, currently taking place in his home state of Delaware.

Hunter is accused of illegally purchasing and possessing a gun while abusing or being addicted to drugs, a violation of federal law.

He pleaded not guilty to the three charges, though he’s been open about his struggles with alcohol and crack cocaine addiction. The charges were brought by special counsel David Weiss.

The trial is a painful one for the Biden family, as Hunter Biden was struggling with drug addiction in the aftermath of his brother Beau’s death and even First lady Dr. Jill Biden, Hunter’s stepmom attended the trial before traveling to France to join her husband for D-Day commemoration activities.

The White House had said previously that Biden would not pardon his son.

“I’ve been very clear; the president is not going to pardon his son,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in December.

It’s the first time in US history that the child of a sitting president has been on trial.

Biden has previously voiced support for his son and said he was proud of his recovery from addiction.

“I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today,” the president said in a statement Monday as the trial was getting underway.


“Hunter’s resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has brought to his recovery are inspiring to us. A lot of families have loved ones who have overcome addiction and know what we mean,” he went on.


“As the President, I don’t and won’t comment on pending federal cases, but as a Dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength. Our family has been through a lot together, and Jill and I are going to continue to be there for Hunter and our family with our love and support.”

The trial comes after a New York jury returned 34 guilty counts against former President Donald Trump for falsifying business records in an attempt to cover up hush money payments to a porn actress.

A Russian female judge has been found dead after falling from a high window in Moscow.

Natalia Larina, 50, had a reputation for handing down punishments to Moscow authorities and was more known for handling prominent criminal cases.

An investigation has been launched into the cause of her death close to her apartment block on 1st Mashinostroeniya Street in the Russian capital.

Larina had a young daughter, according to reports.

Investigators are understood to be checking one theory in local reports which suggested she had lost a large sum of money to ‘telephone scammers’.

Shortly before her death, she allegedly reported to police that fraudsters convinced her that her bank account was under threat from people seeking to send her funds to help the armed forces of Ukraine.

She transferred her cash – said to be one million rubles (around £8,800) to another account, and in doing so became a victim of a scam.

Sources say she became upset that she was ‘deceived’, and left a note.

However, there is no official confirmation so far of this version of events.

Larina was a criminal judge for more than 15 years, and her death came months after she suddenly quit the Tagansky Court.

She had acted as a judge in various high-profile fraud cases.

In 2015, she remanded in custody artist Pyotr Pavlensky who set fire to a door of the FSB building in Lubyanka Square in a political protest.

Earlier she gave a judgement against the hardline National Bolsheviks. And in 2011, Larina sentenced Ministry of Transport official Vladimir Makarov, accused of sexually abusing his daughter.

Larina is not the only high-ranking Russian official whose death from falling out of a window has aroused suspicion since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In December 2023, Vladimir Egorov, 46 – the Tobolsk City Duma – dropped to his death from a third-floor window in the city.

He was a member of Vladimir Putin’s ruling United Russia party, and his corpse was found in the yard of his house.

In June of that same year, the glamorous vice-president of a Russian bank reportedly plunged to her death after falling from the window of her Moscow apartment.

Kristina Baikova, 28, allegedly fell from her 11th-floor apartment on Khodynsky Boulevard in the early hours. She died instantly at the scene.

In February, a top Russian defence official was found dead after plunging 160ft from a tower block window. Marina Yankina, 58, was discovered by a passerby at the entrance of a house on Zamshina Street in St Petersburg.

She is believed to have fallen from the 16th floor to her death.

A woman went with her family to a Golden Corral restaurant on May 4 for lunch but ended up giving birth when she went the the bathroom.

Tayvia Woodfork and her family arrived at the restaurant as a party of 11 but left as 12.

Tayvia went straight to the bathroom when her family arrived at the all-you-can-eat chain in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

“She was complaining that her stomach hurt,” Tayvia’s mother, Tameka Woodfork, tells TODAY.com.

Unknown to Tayvia, she was 37 weeks pregnant and in active labor.

What Tayvia experienced is called a cryptic pregnancy, a rare situation in which someone does not know they are pregnant for most or all of gestation.

Tayvia, 26, says she didn’t gain any weight or feel any fetal movement.

Woman who had no idea she

“There were no signs,” Tameka tells TODAY. “We had no idea.”

When 10 minutes had passed and Tayvia was still in the ladies room, Tameka went to check on her.

Right away, Tameka knew that her daughter was dealing with more than cramps. She was crying out in pain and needed medical attention.

“I didn’t know what was happening,” Tayvia tells TODAY.com.

“I said, ‘We have to go to the hospital,’ but she couldn’t move her legs, so we ended up calling 911,’” Tameka says.

Moments after paramedics arrived, Tayvia gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

Woman who had no idea she

“They were still trying to figure out what was going on when she goes, ‘It’s out! It’s out!’” Tameka recalls. “The baby was in the toilet.”

At this point, word had spread that a customer had given birth.

“When we walked out, everybody was clapping and people were lined up to see,” Tameka says.

Tayvia gave her son the name Tamaar Kylon Corral Woodfork.

Woman who had no idea she

People were suggesting “Golden” but Tayvia says she likes Corral better. Tamaar joined big brother Taylon, 2.

Golden Corral shared the news across its social media and crowned him the chain’s “youngest fan.”

“As surprised as our team was at the news of a baby being born at our restaurant, we are truly honored to play such a momentous role in little Tamaar’s life,” a Golden Corral spokesperson said in a statement. “But no honor compares to having Tamaar carry on the ‘Golden Corral’ brand name in his own name, Tamaar Kylon Corral Woodfork!”

Tameka says the restaurant surprised them with box of baby essentials and a Golden Corral gift card.

According to his mom, Tamaar loves to eat, which is only fitting for a baby born at an endless buffet!