Egyptians and the wider Muslim and Arab world have been shocked by the death of Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president, who collapsed in court after years in solitary confinement. Alaa Abdellal, an Egyptian resident in Sheffield, spoke to Sheffield Live! of his sorrow at the death of the man who came to power in 2012 after the Arab Spring but was ousted a year later in a military coup, led by General Abdel Fath el Sisi, the current president. Baillor Jalloh reports.
As Zimbabweans worldwide await the results of a tightly fought election, Sheffield Live spoke to Michael Mazorodze of the optimism among Sheffield’s Zimbabwean community. The contest is the first since independence without Robert Mugabe on the ballor paper. Baillor Jalloh reports.
Dozens of Palestine solidarity campaigners mounted a protest outside Sheffield Town Hall to condemn the killing of Palestinian demonstrators marching near the Gaza border with Israel. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Sierra Leoneans in Sheffield have expressed concern for their families and loved-ones after mudslides killed more than 600 people with many more missing in the capital, Freetown. The country’s president, Earnest Bai Koroma, has declared a week of mourning after Monday’s heavy rain left hundreds of people homeless and fears mount over the outbreak of diseases such as cholera and typhoid. There are also concerns of further mudslides in the capital as heavy rain has been forecast for the next couple of days. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Nearly 900 academy football players, including from some of the world’s top clubs, are competing for the Youdan Trophy in Sheffield. The competition for young footballers was started three years ago as a way of providing up-and-coming referees with top level match experience. From just eight teams in the inaugural event it is now attracting top-flight clubs from as far as Japan and South Africa. The 40 teams taking part this year include under-14 and under-16 academy teams from Manchester United and Seattle Sounders as well as Sheffield’s two main clubs. Simon Thake reports for Sheffield Live!
Commentator, coach and former world champion Terry Griffiths looks back on 40 years of World Snooker in Sheffield. Griffiths won the World Snooker Championship in 1979 at one of the earliest tournaments at the Crucible. He is coach to 2017 semi-finalists Barry Hawkins and Ding Junhui. Sheffield Live reporter Azz Mohammed spoke with Terry Griffiths about how the game has changed.
With snooker leading this week’s Sheffield sports news and resident snooker player Ding Junhui into the semi final, Sheffield Live! took a peek behind the scenes with MC Rob Walker. Azz Mohammed reports.
Ding Junhui held his nerve to knock out five-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan in the World Snooker Championship 2017 at The Crucible. In a classic quarter final match Ding edged to a 13-10 win despite a strong start from O’Sullivan including a magnificent 146 break. It is Ding’s first ranking-event win against O’Sullivan since 2006. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed was at The Crucible.
The head of World Snooker Barry Hearn has defended himself against charges of bullying aired by snooker star, Ronnie O’Sullivan. Hearn responded at a press conference in which he rejected the allegations, adding “I don’t like being called a bully”. Discussing the future of the game, he predicted Europe as well as China will have a big say in shaping its direction. Hearn also announced that the the prize fund for the World Snooker Championship is set to increase again in 2018, with the winner to receive a whopping £425,000, an increase of £50,000 on 2017. Hearn spoke to Sheffield Live! reporter Simon Thake.
Following the Turkish referendum granting sweeping new presidential powers, Sheffield Live! spoke to members of Sheffield’s Turkish community. The narrowly-won constitutional amendments replace the country’s parliamentary democracy with a presidential system and abolish the role of prime minister. International observers said the vote took place in a political environment where “fundamental freedoms essential to a genuinely democratic process were curtailed”. Simon Thake reports.