*Lunchtime News: Friday 23 May 2025* *Headlines* *Zimbabwe Excluded From €500 million EU Aid Package* *'Rise Of 'Blank' Tagwirei To Presidency A Disaster That Should Be Stopped': Biti* *Mutsvangwa Blames Opposition Run Councils For Healthcare Woes* *Poverty-Stricken Young Mother Poisoned Infant Daughter, Gets 7-Year Sentence* *Panic Hits Chinhoyi Over “Stray Lion” Caught On CCTV* *Fake Anti-Corruption Officer Arrested In USD 5,000 Extortion Scam* *Highway Of Horror: Heroic Officer Dies Trying to Save Another In Shocking Double Tragedy* *Zambia’s Maize Harvest Doubles To Record High After Drought, Smallholder Farmers Lead Recovery* *South Africans Exasperated By Trump False Claims During Ramaphosa Meeting* *Activist Freed In Tanzania After Kenyan Government Demand* *Some Flour Reaches Gaza As Blockade Eases, Aid Groups Call For More* *England Pummel Zimbabwe In Run Fest At Trent Bridge* *Modric To Leave Real Madrid After Club World Cup* *'I Play 20 Minutes': Garnacho Puts Man Utd Future In Doubt* Join our *Ad-free* News Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VacXkvFJJhzd2UoZYF1F *Stories in Detail:* *Zimbabwe Excluded From €500 million EU Aid Package* Zimbabwe has been excluded from a new €500 million aid package from the European Union (EU) to Africa, following the recent enactment of the controversial Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) Amendment Act by President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The legislation, signed into law last month, has drawn sharp criticism from civil society and the international community, who argue that it imposes severe restrictions on non-governmental organisations (NGOs), potentially undermining human rights advocacy and social justice work in the country. Ahead of the EU-African Union (AU) Ministerial Meeting that began today in Brussels, a European Commission spokesperson confirmed to NewsDay that Zimbabwe would not benefit from the bloc’s humanitarian assistance programme this year. "For Africa, an initial total of €500 million will support vulnerable people across the continent," the spokesperson said, noting that the aid would prioritise conflict-affected and high-need regions such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan. According to the EU, €160 million of the package has already been earmarked for humanitarian assistance in Sudan, with additional funds directed to neighbouring countries like Chad, which is hosting large numbers of Sudanese refugees. The aid will be channelled through United Nations agencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and approved NGOs. While Zimbabwe will not receive humanitarian funding, the EU has signalled its willingness to maintain economic and trade ties with the country. Speaking at the inaugural EU-Zimbabwe Business Forum in Harare, EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe Jobst von Kirchmann reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to building sustainable trade partnerships with Zimbabwe. "Our main goal with this platform is to elevate our trade relationship and, for the first time, bring EU firms to Zimbabwean shores to strengthen our relationships," von Kirchmann said. The business forum, which focuses on key sectors such as horticulture, mining, and renewable energy, is part of broader efforts to boost trade volumes between Zimbabwe and the EU, which currently exceed US$1 billion. Foreign Affairs and International Trade permanent secretary Albert Chimbindi welcomed the engagement, describing it as a turning point in bilateral economic relations: "We are poised for a new era of trade partnership." Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) chief executive officer Tafadzwa Chinamo said the presence of European investors at the forum was a strong vote of confidence in Zimbabwe’s economic potential. "The EU firms were able to see first-hand opportunities in all sectors of the Zimbabwean economy and we’re glad they managed to see for themselves what Zimbabwe has to offer," Chinamo said. Despite positive developments in the trade arena, the government’s regulatory stance toward NGOs remains a major sticking point in its relations with the EU. The PVO Amendment Act, which grants authorities sweeping powers to regulate, suspend or ban civil society organisations, has raised fears of further democratic backsliding ahead of the next electoral cycle. *thezimbabwemail* *'Rise Of 'Blank' Tagwirei To Presidency A Disaster That Should Be Stopped': Biti* The potential rise of ZANU-PF benefactor Kudakwashe Tagwirei to the presidency could have dire consequences for Zimbabwe, former opposition MP Tendai Biti has said. Biti has criticised Tagwirei, who has wormed himself into the ruling party after being nominated for the Central Committee by ZANU-PF’s Harare Province. Former ZANU-PF member and war veteran Blessed Geza claims that Tagwirei’s promotion to the Central Committee is a stepping stone to the presidency, positioning him to succeed President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Speaking in a recent online discussion, Biti warned that Tagwirei’s ascent would undermine the country’s reform efforts: "The next president could be Kudakwashe Tagwirei, and that would be a total disaster. The rise of this blank, totally vacuous comrado elite—so proximate to the seat of power—spells trouble for Zimbabwe," said Biti. Tagwirei, through his proxies, has secured lucrative government contracts, including a multimillion-dollar deal to construct the Mbudzi Interchange flyover. His business empire has expanded into mining, and he holds a near-monopoly in Zimbabwe’s fuel sector. Additionally, he oversees the controversial Command Agriculture programme and chairs the Land Tenure Implementation Committee. His company, Sakunda Holdings, was implicated in the misappropriation of $3 billion from the Ministry of Agriculture between 2017 and 2018. The United States of America sanctioned Tagwirei for allegedly enabling corruption among senior government officials. Though Tagwirei has remained silent, his name continues to circulate as a potential successor to Mnangagwa amid ZANU-PF’s internal factional battles. Biti further argued that the decline of liberation-era war veterans has created a vacuum, allowing opportunistic figures like Tagwirei—derisively termed "zvigananda" (parasites)—to exploit their proximity to power for political gain: "The vacuum left by the departure of the liberation generation is being filled by parasitic comrades with no social base, no shame, and no restraint—individuals who conflate themselves with the state. Some are being fast-tracked to the presidium," said Biti. *NewZW* *Mutsvangwa Blames Opposition Run Councils For Healthcare Woes* Zimbabwe’s Senate chamber descended into a heated debate on Tuesday as Zanu-PF spokesperson and senator Christopher Mutsvangwa pointed fingers at opposition-led urban councils for the country’s worsening healthcare crisis, triggering a sharp exchange across party lines. During deliberations on recapitalisation of public healthcare institutions, Mutsvangwa argued that the breakdown in service delivery cannot be viewed in isolation from the country’s economic challenges and the effects of international sanctions. However, he placed considerable blame on opposition-controlled local authorities for their alleged failure to deliver adequate healthcare at the municipal level. “The finger-pointing which is being done here in this House shows woeful ignorance about how the system of government works in this country,” Mutsvangwa declared. “Urban areas, which have been run by the opposition for the past two decades, are just as responsible as the Central Government for providing health services.” He cited Wilkins Hospital in Harare, a municipality-run institution, as an example of how local authorities should have leveraged urban productivity to support better healthcare infrastructure. Mutsvangwa insisted that local authorities have failed to attract meaningful investment to improve services, indirectly worsening conditions in hospitals. He called for unity and collaboration, stating: “If we can all pool our energies together, we can restore the health system of Zimbabwe.” Mutsvangwa’s comments sparked immediate reactions from across the chamber. Senator Maxwell Mdhluri painted a stark picture of the dire state of public hospitals. Recalling personal family experiences, Mdhluri told of how his grandmother received life-saving treatment after a landmine accident during the liberation war, only to later die from cholera due to lack of basic care in a modern hospital. “Cholera just requires a drip, but my grandmother died because she could not get one,” he said emotionally. “This is no longer about politics. It’s about human life. If our hospitals stay in this condition, what kind of future do we see for ourselves?” Mdhluri urged the government to capitalize on Zimbabwe’s strong relations with China to secure more medical supplies, equipment, and training. He also cited the recent death of a karate player after a road accident as further evidence of a broken healthcare system that the public increasingly associates with death rather than healing. “This is not a partisan issue,” he said. “We need all Hon. Members of this House to put our heads together.” Senator Sesel Zvidzai echoed Mdhluri’s sentiments, emphasizing that the Senate had long been raising alarms about Zimbabwe’s health crisis. He proposed a countrywide assessment of provincial hospitals to better understand the depth of infrastructure decay. He called for urgent reforms at the National Pharmaceutical Company (NATPHARM), especially to ensure that rural areas receive essential drugs and basic medical supplies. “We must map the state of dilapidation across our institutions to plan and respond effectively,” Zvidzai said. Despite political tensions in the chamber, the overall tone of the debate suggested growing consensus that Zimbabwe’s healthcare crisis demands an urgent and unified response. As hospitals continue to crumble, and with avoidable deaths on the rise, the Senate’s debate underscored the need for solutions beyond partisan lines – with some senators calling it a moral imperative that should transcend political rivalry. *Poverty-Stricken Young Mother Poisoned Infant Daughter, Gets 7-Year Sentence* The Gweru Circuit High Court has sentenced a young mother to seven years’ imprisonment after she administered poison to her seven-month-old daughter, leading to the child’s tragic death in March 2023. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the incident occurred on 2 March 2023, mere hours after the offender, Felistas Mpofu, who was 19 years old at the time, arrived in Mandava, Zvishavane, from her rural home in Shumba Village, Mberengwa. The court heard that Mpofu arrived in the early hours of the morning and, later that same day, deliberately laced milk with rat poison, an organophosphate pesticide, and fed it to her infant daughter using a feeding bottle. The NPA said: Having no place to sleep, she approached a Good Samaritan in Mandava, seeking overnight accommodation. She was provided with a place to sleep. Throughout the night, the baby cried persistently, and in the morning, the Good Samaritan suggested taking the baby to the hospital. The baby later died at Zvishavane General Hospital, and the matter was initially reported as a “sudden death” pending investigations. When the offender went back to collect her belongings from the Good Samaritan’s home, the Good Samaritan became suspicious when she noticed a foul smell emanating from the offender’s belongings. She then discovered the feeding bottle containing milk with a strong chemical odor, which she handed over to the police. A post-mortem conducted at United Bulawayo Hospitals subsequently confirmed that the child died from the ingestion of a toxic substance. In court, Mpofu asserted that she took the life of her child due to an inability to provide adequate care and support. Now aged 21, Mpofu committed the offence at the age of 19. The High Court, in its deliberations, considered her youth, the challenging circumstances she faced, and the absence of any prior criminal record, ultimately sentencing her to seven years’ imprisonment. *Panic Hits Chinhoyi Over “Stray Lion” Caught On CCTV* National Parks And Wildlife @FarawoTinashe dismisses reports that have shut down school learning in Chinhoyi over an alleged stray lion spotted on a CCTV camera. (picture enclosed). A viral audio circulated early morning 22 May with a male voice saying, “ Hello guys there is a lion that has been found in our neighbourhood right now. I am standing at Bhebhe’s home. If you have children they must stay indoors. There is a line that has been spotted right now there are National Parks here now. “It was not caught, stay in home.” But Mr Farawo tells ZimEye there is lion at all. He tells the news network in a brief interview as follows; “There’s no need for people to cause unnecessary panic in the community by spreading fake news because our reaction team went to the ground and there was nothing. “What I am telling you is a formal report that when I receive such distress calls, we go on the ground and do assessments. We have gone on the ground to do assessments and there is nothing like that according to our assessment from our reaction team. Question- but there are lions, are there not, in the caves? Answer: “We have an enclosure and those lions are domesticated and they do not live in the wild; “ Question- And there’s no lion that has leaked? Answer: “No, no, no. There is no need to count. There are only two lions there.” *Fake Anti-Corruption Officer Arrested In USD 5,000 Extortion Scam* A man claiming to be a police and anti-corruption official has been arrested in Zimbabwe after allegedly attempting to extort thousands of dollars from a local housing trust executive, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) said in a joint statement. Edmond Nzombe, 50, who presented himself as a representative of the Southern Africa Regional Anti-Corruption Organisation (SARACO), was taken into custody following a sting operation conducted by ZRP and ZACC. In a statement, Nzombe is said to have approached Martha Mutamburi of Mikando Housing Development Trust in October 2024 and falsely identified himself as both a ZRP officer and an anti-corruption agent. "He offered to assist the complainant in a housing stands repossession case claiming he was working with officers from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission. The suspect demanded USD 5000.00 but was given USD 1,000.00," the statement read Nzombe’s scheme unraveled in May 2025 when he allegedly returned to solicit more money from the same complainant and the request triggered a coordinated sting operation. "A joint sting operation was then conducted by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the Zimbabwe Republic Police, leading to the suspect’s arrest after he received USD 200.00 from the complainant," the statement added. The arrest comes amid increased scrutiny on fraudulent individuals exploiting Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption structures for personal gain. ZACC and ZRP urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals posing as law enforcement or anti-corruption officials. *263chat* *Highway Of Horror: Heroic Officer Dies Trying to Save Another In Shocking Double Tragedy* A tragic road accident near Mutimurefu Prison along the Mutare–Masvingo Highway claimed the lives of two senior security officers yesterday, triggering renewed calls for urgent safety improvements along the accident-prone stretch. The deceased officers, Principal Correctional Officer Masimba Mandimutsira of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) and Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) Officer-in-Charge for Gutu District, Gift Nyama, lost their lives in two separate but linked accidents that unfolded around 6:00 PM. Nyama was travelling from Gutu to Masvingo when his vehicle collided with a stationary tractor obstructing the road. As officers and residents rushed to assist him, a Ford Ranger driven by Masvingo District Police Chief Superintendent Simangaliso Dube veered off the road and struck Mandimutsira, who was actively helping at the scene. Mandimutsira was rushed to Masvingo Provincial Hospital but was pronounced dead at 7:30 PM. Nyama also succumbed to injuries sustained in the initial collision. *Zambia’s Maize Harvest Doubles To Record High After Drought, Smallholder Farmers Lead Recovery* Zambia’s maize harvest is expected to more than double from last year’s 16-year low to a record 3.66 million tonnes, the government announced on Thursday. Smallholder farmers accounted for 93% of the crop, with large-scale farms accounting for the remainder, Acting Statistical Controller General Sheila Mudenda told reporters in Lusaka. This year’s output marks a rebound from the 1.5 million tonnes recorded last season, when a drought devastated over half of the country’s cropland. Acting Minister of Agriculture Sylvia Masebo attributed the recovery to improved rainfall and government support under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP), which provides subsidised seed and fertiliser to smallholder farmers. The economic fallout from last year’s drought is still being felt. The price of maize meal rose by 10.2% in April compared to the same month last year. The government now expects inflation to return to the Bank of Zambia’s target range of 6% to 8% by the end of the year, for the first time since May 2019. Despite the improved outlook, concerns remain. Ahead of the harvest, a national farmers’ lobby urged the government to ease restrictions on maize exports, warning that a glut in local markets could cause prices to collapse, threatening farmer incomes and discouraging future production. The government announced last week that it had ordered 195,000 tonnes of maize from Tanzania. *Newzwire* *South Africans Exasperated By Trump False Claims During Ramaphosa Meeting* South Africans expressed dismay on Thursday at how U.S. President Donald Trump's false claims of a white genocide dominated a conversation with President Cyril Ramaphosa, and many wondered if his trip to Washington was worth the trouble. Ramaphosa included popular white South African golfers in his delegation and he had hoped talks with Trump in the White House on Wednesday would reset relations with the United States, which have nosedived since the U.S. leader took office in January. But Trump spent most of the conversation confronting his visitor with false claims that South Africa's white minority farmers are being systematically murdered and having their land seized. "He didn’t get Zelenskyed. That's what we have to hang onto (He) did not get personally insulted by the world’s most horrible duo of playground bullies," Rebecca Davis of the national Daily Maverick wrote. At a February White House meeting, Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, calling him ungrateful for U.S. military aid, and Zelenskiy heatedly tried to argue his case. For some, though, Ramaphosa's cool composure raised the question of what was achieved by his having subjected himself to the onslaught. "I don't think it was the right call. I don't think we need to explain ourselves to USA," 40-year-old Sobelo Motha, a member of a trade union, said on the streets of Johannesburg. "We ... we know there's no white genocide. So for me, it was pointless exercise." The South African president arrived prepared for an aggressive reception given actions in recent months by Trump, who has canceled aid to South Africa, offered refuge to white minority Afrikaners, expelled the country's ambassador and criticized its genocide court case against Israel. But throughout, Trump wanted only to discuss the treatment of white South Africans, playing a video and leafing through articles that he said proved his allegations. Foreign ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri defended Ramaphosa's handling of the encounter, saying it was important that the two leaders engaged. "It's not in the president's (Ramaphosa's) nature to be combative. (He) looks at issues calmly, matter-of-factly. I think that's what we expect of our presidents," he told Reuters. Three decades after the end of apartheid in South Africa, some fringe groups lament the loss of white power that democracy brought and point to persistent economic crisis and corruption. Wider disillusion - not just among white South Africans - over the state of the country cost Nelson Mandela's legacy party its majority in last year's election. White South Africans make up less than 8% of the population and are still the most affluent group, controlling three-quarters of private land. While South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world - about 20,000 a year - most victims are Black. Data collected by white farmers themselves does not support the notion of a genocide. Afrikaner farmers' union TLU-SA has counted 1,363 white farmers murdered since 1990, or an average of 40 a year - far less than 1% of total murders. South Africa's richest man, Johann Rupert, owner of Richemont group that owns brands like Cartier, was at the White House meeting and told Trump crime was a problem "across the board". Still, for more than a decade, global far-right chatrooms have been circulating the notion that whites are persecuted, views that appear to have influenced Trump, a large number of Republican politicians and his ally, South African-born Elon Musk. "I think the misinformation campaign by various right-wing groups and various Afrikaner groups was extremely successful," white South African writer Pieter du Toit told Reuters. "They have been feeding the idea of white victimhood into the right-wing ecosystem in the United States for years." Back home, though, most white South Africans take a more nuanced view. "In its entirety, the violent crime in South Africa should be looked at," Owen van Roen, 47, a global commodity trader, said in the affluent streets of Johannesburg's Sandton financial district. "It's all been taken out of context (with) ... white genocide claims, which I don't think should be the focus." *Reuters* *Activist Freed In Tanzania After Kenyan Government Demand* An activist detained in Tanzania for three days has been released shortly after Kenya's foreign ministry demanded his release. A top official in the ministry, Korir Sing'oei, said on X that Boniface Mwangi was "now back in the country". Lawyer and fellow activist, Khalid Hussein, told the BBC they were together in Kenya's coast region. The Kenyan activist was arrested in Dar es Salaam on Monday alongside Ugandan Agather Atuhaire by suspected military officers and their whereabouts remained unknown. They had been in the country to attend the court case of opposition leader Tundu Lissu, who is accused of treason. The Tanzanian authorities have not commented on Mwangi's detention and deportation. But on Monday, President Samia Suluhu Hassan warned that she would not allow activists from neighbouring countries to "meddle" in her country's affairs and cause "chaos". Earlier on Thursday, Kenya's foreign affairs ministry issued a statement saying it had not been able to access the activist. It said that despite repeated requests, it had been "denied consular access" or information about him, and expressed concern about his health. It urged Tanzania to "expeditiously and without delay" allow access, or release him, "in accordance with international legal obligations and diplomatic norms". Later, Kenya's state-funded rights commission said it had received the activist in Kwale county, following his release from Tanzania. KNCHR posted a picture of him alongside other people including his wife, Njeri, and fellow activist Hussein and said he was "in high spirits". The commission said it was planning to transfer him to the capital Nairobi for medical attention. The activist was reportedly left at the Kenyan border on Thursday morning following his release by the Tanzanian authorities. *BBC* *Cholera Spikes In Khartoum After Drone Attacks Cut Power, Water* More than 2,300 people have been diagnosed with cholera in Sudan over the past three weeks, authorities said, 90% of them in the capital and surrounding areas where drone attacks have cut off electricity and water supplies. At least 51 people have died as a result, the health ministry's emergency operations centre said in a statement, with cases concentrated in greater Khartoum's Karari and Jabal Awlia localities. *Reuters* *Iran says will hold US responsible for any Israeli attack on nuclear sites* The United States would be held responsible in the event of an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites, Iran’s foreign minister has warned, after CNN reported that Israel could be preparing strikes. Iran and the US, Israel’s closest ally, will hold a fifth round of nuclear talks on Friday amid deep disagreement over uranium enrichment in Iran, which Washington says could lead to developing nuclear bombs. Tehran has consistently denied seeking a bomb and insisted its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes. "Iran strongly warns against any adventurism by the Zionist regime of Israel and will decisively respond to any threat or unlawful act by this regime," Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a letter addressed to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "I have called on the international community to take effective preventive measures against the continuation of Israeli threats, which if unchecked, will compel Iran to take special measures in defence of our nuclear facilities and materials," Araghchi said. The minister said Tehran would view Washington as a "participant" in any such attack. "The nature, content, and extent of our actions will correspond and be proportionate to preventive measures taken by these international bodies in accordance with their statutory duties and obligations," he added. Araghchi’s remarks follow a CNN report on Tuesday that described the US as having "new intelligence suggesting that Israel is making preparations to strike Iranian nuclear facilities". Israel has not acknowledged any preparations, though officials up to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have repeatedly threatened to strike Iran’s nuclear sites to prevent it from being able to obtain a nuclear weapon, should it choose to pursue one. The US and Iran are due to hold indirect talks on Friday in Rome in what would be their fifth round of negotiations over a possible deal that could see Tehran limit or end its enrichment of uranium, in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Israel has repeatedly opposed such an agreement between the US and Iran. Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which reports directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Israel would receive a "devastating and decisive response" if it attacks Iran. "They are trying to frighten us with war, but are miscalculating as they are unaware of the powerful popular and military support the Islamic Republic can muster in war conditions," IRGC spokesperson Alimohammad Naini was quoted by state media as saying. On Tuesday, Khamenei said US demands that Tehran stop enriching uranium are "excessive and outrageous". *Aljazeera* *Some Flour Reaches Gaza As Blockade Eases, Aid Groups Call For More* Flour and other aid started reaching some of Gaza's most vulnerable areas on Thursday after Israel let some trucks through, but nowhere near enough to make up for shortages caused by an 11-week blockade, Palestinian officials said. Many other trucks were still at the border, and people were still waiting to receive food, amid fears that desperate crowds would try to loot the vehicles when they arrived, the Palestinian Red Crescent warned. The Reuters Tariff Watch newsletter is your daily guide to the latest global trade and tariff news. Sign up here. Israel said it allowed 100 trucks carrying baby food and medical equipment into the enclave on Wednesday, two days after announcing its first relaxation of the restrictions under mounting international pressure. "Flour arrived from the (U.N.) World Food Programme, and we immediately started working," baker Ahmed Al-Banna said as flatbreads passed by on a conveyor belt behind him at his base in Deir al-Balah on Thursday. Bakeries across the south of the enclave started ovens that had been shut for two months, he added. "God willing, bakeries in northern Gaza will soon resume work." Israel imposed the blockade on all supplies in March, saying Hamas was seizing deliveries for its fighters - a charge the group denies. The UN has said a quarter of Gaza's 2.3 million people are at risk of famine. The Palestinian health minister said 29 children and elderly people had died from starvation-related reasons in Gaza in recent days and that many thousands more were at risk. Israel has repeatedly defended its controls on aid in Gaza, saying reports from aid groups of famine-like conditions were exaggerated and denying accusations of causing starvation. Bread distribution would start later on Thursday, Amjad al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network in Gaza, told Reuters. He said just 90 trucks had got through. "During the ceasefire, 600 trucks used to enter every day, which means that the current quantity is a drop in the ocean, nothing," he said. Bakeries backed by the WFP would produce the bread and the agency's staff would hand it out - a more controlled system than previously when bakers sold it directly to the public at a low cost, he added. Palestinian Red Crescent president Younis Al-Khatib said many trucks were still at the border at Karem Shalom and there was a risk of violence and looting when they arrived. "No civilian has received anything yet," he said. "It's very hard to hide the rush or the looting that will happen." On Wednesday night, boys and young men gathered after one vehicle arrived in the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis, but kept back as men, some holding guns, watched over the unloading of sacks. *Reuters* *England Pummel Zimbabwe In Run Fest At Trent Bridge* Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope scored centuries to take England to a massive 498 for three at the close on the first day of their one-off test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge on Thursday. Having pummelled the visitors’ military medium seam attack, Pope will resume on 169 from 163 balls with Harry Brook unbeaten on 10 as the home side scored at 5.66 runs an over in a dominant display in Zimbabwe’s first test in England for 22 years. Opener Duckett smashed 140 from 134 balls before he was caught at cover by Ben Curran off the bowling of Wessly Madhevere after putting on an opening stand of 231 with Crawley in 41.3 overs. The latter was more measured but reached a first test century in almost two years with 124 from 171 balls before he was trapped leg before wicket by spinner Sikandar Raza playing across the line. Crawley added 137 in 142 deliveries for the second wicket with Pope as Zimbabwe’s tame seamers failed to find a consistent line and length, and offered up far too many half-volleys and width that was easily punished. "It is a fantastic feeling to score a test hundred and a great day for the team as well," Crawley told Sky Sports. "With Ben playing as well as he did, I didn’t feel a heap of pressure. And then Ollie came in and played the same way. "I always want a big score and I was disappointed when I got out because there were more runs there for the taking." Joe Root passed 13,000 test runs before he attempted a hook off Blessing Muzarabani and was caught at deep fine leg by Sean Williams for 34. Pope will be eyeing his highest test score of 205 on Friday with England looking to bat once in the four-day match as they prepare for the series against India and later on the Ashes in Australia. Pope and Crawley have been short of runs in recent times, and with Jacob Bethell an option to come into the side, their centuries could not have been better timed, even if they came against a modest test attack. "You feel part of the team again, you don’t want to feel like you are hanging on," Crawley said. "There are certain times you feel like you are playing for your place and I have certainly felt that loads of times in my career. "There are so many great players in this team that you try and match them and keep up with them." Zimbabwe were handicapped when Richard Ngarava, arguably the pick of their four pacemen with none for 42 in nine overs, left the field shortly after lunch having pulled up clutching his back and hamstrings when chasing a ball. Ngarava returned late in the final session but did not bowl again before leaving the field once more. Earlier, Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine won the toss and fielded in the hope his attack could utilise the cloud cover above Trent Bridge, a ground renowned for aiding pacemen. His decision was all the more understandable given Zimbabwe’s 138-run thrashing by a youthful combined county side in their lone warm-up match last week. But while Zimbabwe’s four quicks got the occasional ball to deviate sharply, they also repeatedly over-pitched and bowled too short. *Reuters* *Modric To Leave Real Madrid After Club World Cup* Real Madrid captain Luka Modric has revealed he will leave the Spanish giants after the end of their Fifa Club World Cup campaign this summer. The 39-year-old Croatia midfielder, the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner, will play his last match at Real's Bernabeu home when they welcome Real Sociedad on Saturday in their final La Liga game of the season. "The moment has arrived. The moment I never wanted to come, but that's football, and in life everything has a beginning and an end," Modric said on Instagram. He has won 28 trophies, including six Champions Leagues and four domestic titles, since joining Real from Spurs in 2012. "I arrived in 2012 with the hope of wearing the jersey of the best team in the world and the ambition to do great things, but I couldn't have imagined what came next," he said. "Playing for Real Madrid changed my life as a footballer and as a person. "I'm proud to have been part of one of the most successful eras of the best club in history." Real will open their Club World Cup campaign against Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal on 18 June and will also face Mexico's Pachuca and RB Salzburg of Austria in the group stage. Modric bagged two goals and six assists in 34 appearances in the Spanish top flight this season as Real were pipped to the title by Barcelona. He also featured in every game as Carlo Ancelotti's side reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Arsenal. Modric signed a one-year contract extension last year, which expires at the end of this campaign. Saturday's game will also be Ancelotti's last in charge of Real, with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso reportedly set to succeed the Italian. *BBC* *'I Play 20 Minutes': Garnacho Puts Man Utd Future In Doubt* Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho has put his future at the club in doubt by questioning Ruben Amorim's decision to play him for "20 minutes" in the Europa League final defeat by Tottenham. Brennan Johnson's first-half goal ended Spurs' 17-year trophy drought and with it ensured United would be without European football next season. Garnacho, 20, was benched in favour of Mason Mount in Bilbao and only replaced the England midfielder with 19 minutes remaining of normal time. The Argentina winger, who was linked with Chelsea and Napoli in January, was critical of Amorim's decision to hand him a limited role in the final. "Up until the final I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don't know," said Garnacho. "The final will influence [my decision] but the whole season, the situation of the club. I'm going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens afterwards." Garnacho posted an image on his social media six hours before kick-off upon learning that he was starting on the bench, depicting him celebrating in the 2024 FA Cup final and 2024 Community Shield. Roberto Garnacho, his brother, posted on his Instagram account that the winger had been "thrown under the bus". "Working as no-one else, helping every round, coming from two goals in the last two finals, just to be on the pitch for 19 mins and get thrown under the bus," wrote Roberto Garnacho. The post followed Amorim's post-match comments, in which the Portuguese head coach referred to a miss by Garnacho in the semi-final second leg against Athletic Bilbao. Asked if he should have brought Garnacho on earlier, Amorim said: "How many times have we had this conversation, and it was the opposite? Some players come in, like Mason Mount, against Bilbao and changed the game. "So now it is easy to say. Who missed the big opportunity in the first half against Bilbao? Yeah [Garnacho]. Of course, now it is easy for us to talk about a lot of views." Garnacho apologised to then United manager Erik ten Hag last season after 'liking' social media posts criticising the Dutchman following a Premier League defeat by Bournemouth. The winger, along with team-mate Marcus Rashford, was dropped for December's visit to Manchester City which Amorim said was down to "training performances, game performances and engagement with team-mates". In February, Amorim said Garnacho had apologised to the rest of the squad for walking down the tunnel after being substituted against Ipswich. Garnacho was not the only United player to raise question marks over his future, with captain Bruno Fernandes suggesting he could leave Old Trafford if the club choose to "cash in" on him. The 30-year-old has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. "I have always been honest," said Portugal midfielder Fernandes. "If the club thinks it's time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it's what it is. Football sometimes is like this. "I've always said I will be here until the club says to me that it's time to go. I'm eager to do more, to be able to bring the club to the great days. "The day that the club thinks that I'm too much or it's time to part ways, football is like this, you never know it. But I've always said it and I keep my word in the same way." Garnacho seemed at one point to be heading out of Manchester United in January, so the speculation around the young forward will only intensify following last night's events in Bilbao. His own social media post prior to the game becomes very pointed once his axing from United's starting line-up became real. An additional post by his brother will only heighten tensions. Like any manager, Amorim is judged on results. When they don't go well, team selections are criticised, from the standpoint we can never know what would have happened if a different team had started – it is assumed the performance would be better but that is all it is, an assumption. Garnacho has missed quite a lot of 'big' chances this season. He is absolutely not on his own but when Amorim bemoans a failure of his side to score, Garnacho is at least partly responsible. My personal view is he was afforded so many plaudits last season – and played so often – there was a false assessment of his abilities and where his career is at. Garnacho has talent, of that there is no doubt. But he is far from the finished product and needs to work hard on his game to make the improvements required. I a