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FORMER Arsenal, Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Mesut Ozil has retired from football at the age of 34. Ozil won nine trophies during his club career including four FA Cups and the Spanish La Liga title in 2012. He also won 92 caps for Germany and was part of the team that lifted the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. “It has been an amazing journey filled with unforgettable moments and emotions,” Ozil said in a statement on social media. “I’ve had the privilege to be a professional football player for almost 17 years now and I feel incredibly thankful for…

THE Saudi Arabian and Iranian foreign ministers spoke by phone to mark the beginning of Ramadan and have agreed to meet “soon” to start the process of re-opening embassies and consulates, according to Saudi Arabia’s foreign affairs ministry. The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, had a call with his counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and the pair “exchanged greetings and congratulations on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan”, which begins on Thursday in both countries, the ministry said. “The two ministers agreed to hold a bilateral meeting soon, to pave the way for the reopening of…

THE US central bank has raised interest rates again, despite fears that the move could add to financial turmoil after a string of bank failures. The Federal Reserve increased its key rate by 0.25 percentage points, calling the banking system “sound and resilient”. But it also warned that fallout from the bank failures may hurt economic growth in the months ahead. The Fed has been raising borrowing costs in a bid to stabilise prices. But the sharp increase in interest rates since last year has led to strains in the banking system. Two US banks – Silicon Valley Bank and…

ZIMBABWE has awarded civil servants a 100% salary increment as part of efforts to improve their welfare, the government-owned daily The Herald reports. However, the increase just about keeps pace with Zimbabwe’s high inflation, which stands at 92.3% according to latest figures. This means the prices in shops are rising at almost the same rate as the salary hike. The pay review includes an improved $250 Covid-19 allowance for all civil servants and a $80 monthly allowance for teachers, a statement from the finance ministry is quoted as saying. The review takes effect from 1 March in the security sector…

KENYA and Uganda have increased surveillance on their border with Tanzania after the Marburg virus killed five people in the neighbouring country. High fever is a common symptom of the deadly Ebola-like virus, often followed by bleeding and organ failure. Uganda has ordered immediate screening and testing at its southern border. Health teams have also been put on high alert at border crossings in the districts of Kyotera and Isingiro. Kenya’s Health Director General Patrick Amoth has advised members of the public to report any unusual increase in people who have a high fever and recently travelled to Tanzania. “Such…

THE lawmaker representing Kano North in the Senate, Senator Jubrin Barau, has officially announced his intention to run for the position of President of the Senate in the 10th National Assembly. His declaration is coming a day after the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, said it is his turn to be the Senate President of the country. Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly Wednesday morning, Senator Barau said competence, capacity and experience should be the factors to determine who should be the President of the Senate in the 10th Assembly. On the matter of religious considerations bearing…

ARGENTINIAN Jorge Sampaoli was sacked as coach of struggling Sevilla on Tuesday, with the club just off the relegation zone. “Sevilla FC have today relieved Jorge Sampaoli of his duties,” the club said in a statement. “Following the defeat at Getafe, which leaves the side just above the relegation zone, the club have decided to part ways with the Argentine coach ahead of the international break.” “Sevilla FC would like to thank Jorge Sampaoli for his dedication and commitment at the club and wish him the best of luck in his future.” The former Chile and Argentina coach joined Sevilla…

FORMER England manager Roy Hodgson has been reappointed as Crystal Palace boss until the end of the season. Patrick Vieira, who replaced Hodgson at Selhurst Park in July 2021, was sacked by Palace on Friday after a 12-match winless run in all competitions. Hodgson, 75, managed Watford from January to May 2022, leaving after they were relegated to the Championship. “It is a privilege to be asked to return to the club, which has always meant so much to me,” said Hodgson. “Our sole objective now is to start winning matches, and to get the points necessary to ensure our…

THE holy month of Ramadan will start on Thursday, authorities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia have announced, based on the expected sighting of the crescent moon. Saudi Arabia’s supreme court declared on Tuesday evening that Wednesday would be the last day of the Islamic calendar month of Shaban, which precedes Ramadan, meaning the Muslim holy month will begin the following day, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. Ramadan is determined by the Islamic lunar calendar, which begins at the first sight of the moon. Officials in the Palestinian territories and in Egypt also announced that Ramadan would begin on Thursday.…

AT least 13 people have been killed and more than 200 injured after a powerful earthquake shook large parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The 6.5-magnitude quake damaged buildings, triggered landslides and sent people running into the streets. It struck on Tuesday evening, centred in a mountainous region in Afghanistan’s north-east near the border with Pakistan. Tremors from the remote Jurm valley were felt as far as India. “It was a terrifying tremor. I had never felt such a tremor before in my life,” Kabul resident Khatera told AFP news agency after rushing out of her fifth-storey apartment. Nine of the…

A KENYAN governor has ordered newly appointed county executives to regularly give 10% of their income to the church, a local newspaper reports. Nandi Governor Stephen Sang said the directive was after he established that local churches require support from leaders and the county government. “Chief officers serving in my final term must act differently and work smart by paying back to society,” he is quoted as saying by the Daily Nation website The governor made the remarks during the swearing-in of the officials in an event attended by church leaders. It’s unclear how the governor plans to enforce the…

THOUSANDS of Namibians on Tuesday flocked to the VIP tent at the independence celebrations after President Hage Geingob ordered all invited guests to forgo their prepared lunch. Local media reported chaos in Outapi, the capital of the northern region of Omusati, where the celebrations were held. Some attendees reportedly stormed VIP tents when rumours about shortage of food prepared for the day started spreading among the crowd. Audrin Mathe, a senior official in the ministry of communication, said organisers of celebrations initially catered for 15,000 attendees but that number grew to more than 20,000 people. “That is why President Geingob…

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari rejoices with distinguished banker, economist, and philanthropist, Tony Elumelu, CFR, on his 60th birthday, March 22, 2023, sharing joy and warmth of the occasion with the entrepreneur, who was ranked amongst World’s 100 most influential personalities in 2020 by Time. President Buhari felicitates with Chairman of the United Bank of Africa (UBA) Group on the milestone, affirming the honor and pride that the benefactor has brought to Nigeria, and Africa, with his achievements, lighting the way for many to grow through inspiration, mentorship and training, with focus on raising generation of entrepreneurs. The President believes Elumelu’s benevolence…

THE Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria has voted to increase the benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points to 18. per cent, News Point Nigeria understands. The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, disclosed this while reading the communiqué of the second MPC meeting of the year on Tuesday. Addressing journalists at the end of the two-day meeting in Abuja, Mr Emefiele, said the committee voted to keep the asymmetric corridor at +100 and -500 basis points around the MPR. Analysts in the country had predicted the Central Bank of Nigeria and the MPC may not raise the…

TUKUR Mamu, former terrorist negotiator, on Mamu is accused of receiving ransom payments in the sum of 120,000.00 dollars  on behalf of the Boko haram terrorist group from families of hostages (victims) of the Abuja/Kaduna train attack. The federal government said the offence contravenes the provisions of the Section 21 (3) (a) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The attorney general also alleged that Mamu, sometime in the 2022 in Kaduna received ransom payments in the sum of NSOO, 000  on behalf of the Boko haram terrorist group from families of hostages (victims) of the Abuja/Kaduna train attack.…

THE Federal Government will, today, arraigned Tukur Mamu, ex-terrorist negotiator, on 10-count charge bordering on terrorism financing among others. Mr Mamu, who will be arraigned by the office if the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, on behalf of the FG, will be arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Nkeonye Maha of a sister court had, on September 13, 2022, gave the State Security Services, SSS, a go-ahead to detain the former terrorists’ negotiator for 60 days to enable it conclude its investigation on Mr Mamu, who led…

PSV Eindhoven have banned a supporter from their stadium for 40 years after he was found guilty of attacking Sevilla goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic during a Europa League match. The 20-year-old man, who was already serving a national stadium ban and should not have been in the ground, was given a three-month prison sentence. He was also banned from the area around PSV’s Philips Stadium for two years. The Dutch club also said it will look to recover financial damages from him. PSV can expect a heavy fine after Uefa opened a disciplinary case against them following the incident. The pitch…

PARIS St-Germain fell to their first Ligue 1 home defeat since April 2021 as Rennes completed a league double over the runaway leaders. The visitors scored either side of half-time with Karl Toko Ekambi firing them in front before Arnaud Kalimuendo added a second three minutes after the break. PSG saw their unbeaten league run at the Parc des Princes ended at 35 games. Reims also saw their 19-match unbeaten run stopped by defeat to Marseille. They had last lost a league match in September in a 3-0 loss to Monaco. Reims, managed by Belgian-born Englishman Will Still, took the…

CONVERSATIVE media tycoon Rupert Murdoch will tie the knot for the fifth time, at the age of 92 years, he said Monday in an interview with his own newspaper, the New York Post. Murdoch is engaged to Ann Lesley Smith, a 66-year-old former police chaplain in San Francisco and widow of American country singer and media executive Chester Smith. “I was very nervous. I dreaded falling in love — but I knew this would be my last. It better be,” he told the tabloid. “I’m happy.” Murdoch divorced his fourth wife, model Jerry Hall, last year after six years of…

FOR the sixth year running, Finland was named the world’s happiest country in an annual UN-sponsored index Monday that saw acts of kindness grow in Ukraine despite the Russian invasion. With thousands of lakes and near endless forests, the Nordic country is known for its extensive welfare system, high trust in authorities and low levels of inequality among its 5.5 million inhabitants. While Ukraine’s ranking improved from 98 to 92 this year, despite the Russian invasion, its overall score fell from 5.084 to 5.071, on a scale of zero to 10. Professor Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, an editor of the report,…