ZAMBIA’S President Hakainde Hichilema has commuted the death sentences of 390 prisoners to life imprisonment. The announcement follows Mr Hichilema’s decision last December to abolish the death penalty. Home Affairs Minister Jack Mwiimbu told a media briefing that following the amendment of the penal code, no court could now impose the death penalty. But the law could not be applied retrospectively so some prisoners still face the death penalty unless pardoned by the president, the national broadcaster quoted him as saying. It is not known how many people remain on death row. Human rights campaigners have hailed Mr Hichilema for…
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THE authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo say the number of people killed during the latest protest against UN peacekeepers has risen to eight, with 28 others injured. The military governor of North Kivu province said the peacekeepers fired in self-defence when protesters attacked their convoy as it was returning to the city of Goma on Tuesday evening. Several UN trucks were set on fire and looted. Over the last year, there have been several protests against the UN peacekeeping force which is widely criticised for failing to stop rebel attacks in eastern DR Congo. Last July more than…
FORMER Everton, Newcastle and Rangers striker Duncan Ferguson says refusing to play international football after a fall out with the Scottish FA (SFA) was the “biggest regret in my career”. Ferguson, from Stirling, scored 124 goals in 423 club appearances and picked up seven international caps. However, he quit the national side from 1997 onwards, missing out on the 1998 World Cup in France. The forward’s decision to make himself unavailable was in protest at the SFA’s decision to ban him for 12 matches following a headbutt on Raith Rovers defender Jock McStay – an incident which led to him…
CODY Gakpo might have joined Liverpool too early and is struggling to find his feet in an underperforming team, says new Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman. The 23-year-old forward had a breakout World Cup in Qatar, scoring three goals in five matches as the Netherlands reached the quarter-finals. However, he has yet to score in six appearances for Liverpool since joining from PSV Eindhoven in January. “He has ended up in a team that is not doing well,” Koeman said. “If you don’t score or you’re not important and you don’t win any matches, it’s very difficult, especially for a young…
ANGER is growing in Turkey over the government’s perceived failure to prepare after thousands died in two huge earthquakes on Monday. On a visit to one of the worst-hit regions, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the official death toll in Turkey had climbed to 10,057. The main opposition leader has blamed him for the scale of the devastation. But Mr Erdogan hit back, saying it was “not possible” to be prepared for such a big disaster. Many in the worst affected areas have have criticised the response by the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) for being too…
NOTORIOUS Russian army captain and mercenary Igor Mangushev has died in hospital, days after he was shot in the head at close range in occupied Ukraine, his friends have said. Mangushev’s wife Tatyana described his killing as an execution. He commanded an anti-drone unit in occupied Luhansk, but had also been one of the founders of a mercenary group fighting Ukrainian forces in 2014. He took to a stage last summer holding a man’s skull. In a video posted on social media in August, Mangushev was filmed saying the skull belonged to a Ukrainian fighter killed defending the Azovstal steel…
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned a suspect identified as Ali Bello, a nephew of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, before Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court Abuja. In a statement, Head, Media and Publicity, EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, said Bello was arraigned alongside Abba Adauda, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, Rashida Bello (at large). The defendants were charged with 18 counts bordering on criminal misappropriation and money laundering to the tune of N3,081,804,654. Count one of the charge reads “That you, ALI BELLO, ABBA ADAUDU, YAKUBU SIYAKA ADABENEGE, IYADA SADAT, RASHIDA BELLO (at…
THE Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Michael Akabogu has been relieved of his appointment. The reason for the development was yet to be made public but it was learnt that his sack was not unconnected with alleged forgery of his National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate. An impeccable source at the fund, who confirmed this to Daily Trust said he was asked to step aside pending conclusion of an investigation being carried out by the police. “Yes, he has been asked to step aside,” an official of the fund, who pleaded anonymity told our…
THE International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised the Federal Government of Nigeria to extend the February 10 deadline for the validity of three old naira notes if citizens continue to find it difficult to get the redesigned N200, N500 and N1,000 notes. “In light of hardships caused by disruptions to trade and payments due to the shortage of new bank notes available to the public, in spite of measures introduced by the CBN to mitigate the challenges in the banknote swap process, the IMF encourages the CBN to consider extending the deadline, should problems persist in the next few days…
AN emergency meeting of the Council of State, called by President Muhammadu Buhari will hold on Friday to discuss national crises including petrol and naira scarcity, insecurity and others, ahead of the general elections. The national crises had led to protests in various parts of the country. Our source gathered that the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is expected to provide an update on the new currency redesign policy scheduled to take place at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja, at 10 am. Credible Presidency sources told this paper that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral…
THE Buhari administration under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has not only invested heavily in infrastructure development, it has also laid the foundations of commitment to social protection and welfare of citizens, particularly the poor and most vulnerable. Prof. Osinbajo stated this Tuesday in his speech at the National Delegates’ Conference of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja, where he was Special Guest of Honour. Speaking on the theme of this year’s conference, “Building People Power, National Unity and the Quest for a New Social Contract,” Prof. Osinbajo noted that when all Nigerians, especially its political elites, begin…
BODIES of people killed in the earthquake in southern Turkey on Monday are being left out on the street as the hunt continues for survivors. More than 7,850 people are known to have died in Turkey and northern Syria, which was also devastated by the quake. The United Nations warned that thousands of children may be among the dead. Monday’s 7.8 magnitude quake struck at 04:17 (01:17 GMT) near the city of Gaziantep. A later tremor was nearly as big, with its epicentre in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras province. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a three-month state…
THE South American nations of Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay have submitted a joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which will take place 100 years after the first tournament was held in Montevideo, Uruguay. Officials from the four countries came together on Tuesday with Alejandro Dominguez, president of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL), to announce their effort to bring the tournament back to “where football was born”. “The 2030 World Cup is not just another World Cup, it deserves a celebration with recognition for 100 years,” Dominguez said during the ceremony at the Argentine Football Association…
THE Premier League’s decision to charge Manchester City with breaking its financial rules has shocked the domestic game. The Premier League champions have become a dominant force in English football in recent years, winning six league titles since they were taken over by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008. But how have City got here? How significant are the charges? And could they really be kicked out of the Premier League? BBC Sport answers the key questions. Why are Man City being charged? After an investigation lasting more than four years, the Premier League released a statement on Monday…
TURKISH goalkeeper Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan has died following Monday’s earthquake in his home country, his club Yeni Malatyaspor has confirmed. More than 5,000 people have lost their lives in Turkey and Syria following the earthquake. “Our goalkeeper, Ahmet Eyup Turkaslan, lost his life after being under the collapse of the earthquake. Rest in peace,” the club said on Twitter. “We will not forget you, beautiful person,” it added. Turkaslan, 28, played six times for Turkish second division club Yeni Malatyaspor after joining in 2021 and also played for the national side 45 times. Former Crystal Palace and Everton winger Yannick…
THE company behind the Zoom video conferencing platform — which became a household name during the pandemic — announced Tuesday it is laying off about 15 percent of its staff. Zoom Video Communications chief executive Eric Yuan is also taking a 98 percent cut in salary this year and forgoing his executive bonus, he said in a blog post about the job cuts. He added that members of his executive leadership team are taking a 20 percent salary reduction and also forfeiting bonuses this year. While people and businesses continue to rely on Zoom “as the world transitions to life…
THE Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has restated the commitment of the Federal Government to the holistic inclusion of 28 million Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the country. Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, the Minister stated this during her presentation at the ministerial briefing on the President Muhammadu Buhari’s Score Card 2015 to 2023 on Tuesday in Abuja. The briefing was organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. Umar-Farouq said the establishment of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) was to enhance the lives of PWDs. She said the government of Buhari was passionate…
THE mother of Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, is dead. She died on Tuesday. The actress’ older sister, Olubunmi Akindele, announced their mother’s death in a statement on Tuesday. Details later…
RACISTS abuse directed at Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr is a problem for the whole of Spanish football, says manager Carlo Ancelotti. The Brazil forward, 22, has been abused by fans on at least three occasions this season. Mallorca fans were filmed allegedly racially abusing him during Sunday’s 1-0 win over Real in La Liga. “Vinicius is the victim of something that I don’t understand. It must be solved,” said Ancelotti. “It seems that the problem is Vinicius, and it is not like that.” Real face Egyptian side Al Ahly in the Club World Cup semi-final on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco.…
TURKISH President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced a three-month state of emergency in 10 provinces worst-affected by an earthquake that has killed thousands. Mr Erdogan said that the death toll in Turkey has risen to 5,022 people. More than 1,600 people are reported to have died in Syria. In a televised address, Mr Erdogan said the state of emergency is to ensure that rescue work can be “carried out quickly” in the country’s south-east. He said the measures would allow relief workers and financial aid into the affected regions, but did not give further details. The state of emergency will…