Author: Editor

IT was a bold gambit by the 25-year-old Kenyan chess player to disguise himself as a woman to compete in his country’s female open chess tournament. Dressed head to toe in a burka and wearing spectacles, Stanley Omondi had registered himself as Millicent Awour. But Omondi’s daring move was exposed as the organisers got suspicious by the unknown player’s success. In his defence, he later wrote in an apologetic letter seen by the BBC that he had “financial needs”. He also said that he was “ready to accept all consequences”. Omondi did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment.…

BOTSWANA President Mokgweetsi Masisi on Thursday denied allegations that he planned to replace his deputy Slumber Tsogwane. This follows speculation that Mr Masisi would fire his deputy after the 2024 general elections. Speaking after chairing a meeting of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP), President Masisi said Mr Tsogwane had been a hardworking vice-president since his appointment to the position in 2018. “I’m very comfortable with Slumber taking up the leadership of this country if something happens to me,” Mr Masisi said, adding that there was no vacancy in the vice-presidency. He said he had never planned with anyone or…

THE Zamfara State Police Command says its operatives have rescued nine people who were abducted on April 11 from Kucheri in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state. The command’s spokesman, CSP Muhammad Shehu, while addressing journalists in Gusau said the victims, seven females and two males, were rescued on Thursday. “The rescue of the victims was sequel to credible information obtained from a good samaritan which the police used and successfully rescued the victims hale and hearty. “The victims underwent medical check at the police clinic in Gusau, debriefed by police detectives and thereafter reunited with their families,” Shehu…

MANCHESTER United conceded two own goals and lost Lisandro Martinez to a serious-looking injury in the final six minutes against Sevilla to put their Europa League hopes in jeopardy. United looked to be coasting to a quarter-final first-leg victory at Old Trafford thanks to Marcel Sabitzer’s first-half double. However, after Antony had hit the crossbar, Sevilla came back into the contest and profited from a terrible ending to the game for Erik ten Hag’s men. First Tyrell Malacia diverted the ball past David de Gea after former Manchester City man Jesus Navas had pulled a low cross back from the…

BAYERN Munich have left Sadio Mane out of their squad for Saturday’s league match against Hoffenheim amid reports he punched team-mate Leroy Sane. Reports in Germany alleged Mane hit Sane in the face following Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League defeat by Manchester City at Etihad Stadium. The pair reportedly had to be separated by team-mates after the altercation. Bayern said Senegal forward Mane has been dropped because of “misconduct” and confirmed he will also be fined. “Sadio Mane, 31, will not be included in the FC Bayern squad for this Saturday’s home match against 1899 Hoffenheim,” said Bayern in a statement…

A MAN who burned his ex-girlfriend alive on a town square in Peru has been tracked down in Colombia and arrested, the government in Lima said Wednesday. The man, Venezuelan Sergio Tarache Parra, 19, stands accused of dousing 18-year-old Katherine Gomez with gasoline and setting her alight on a central square in Lima on March 18. She had broken up with him days earlier. Gomez was admitted to hospital with burns to 60 percent of her body and died after six days of agony in a case that shocked Peruvians. Peru’s interior ministry said Tarache would be transferred from Colombia…

APPROXIMATELY 18,000 cows were killed in a blast at a Texas dairy farm earlier this week, according to local authorities. The explosion, at South Fork Dairy near the town of Dimmitt, also left one person in critical condition. Authorities believe that machinery in the facility may have ignited methane gas. Nearly three million farm animals died in fires across the US between 2018 and 2021. Castro County Sheriff’s Office said they had received a report of a fire at the farm at about 19:21 on Monday (00:21 GMT Tuesday). Photos posted by the Sheriff’s Office show a huge plume of…

TWO pastors of an Angolan religious sect, army of faith, have been arrested for allegedly donning replica Angolan Armed Forces uniforms, local media report. Novo Jornal website said the two were arrested on Wednesday by officers from Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) “with red pins similar to the ones worn by army generals”. SIC spokesperson Manuel Halaiwa is quoted as saying the two will be charged with illegal use of military uniform and exercising illegal religious activities “because their sect is not registered”. It follows a viral video that showed the two pastors presiding over a ceremony attended by more than…

THE president of the Democratic Republic of Congo has ruled out political negotiations with the M23 rebel group. As part of an internationally brokered peace deal the group has been withdrawing from areas it had captured. President Félix Tshisekedi said according to the agreement the M23 rebels are to demobilise before returning to civilian life. The group – which is widely reported to be backed by Rwanda – had previously said it was expecting negotiations with the Kinshasa government. Correspondents say with the president ruling that out, the peace process could stumble. Over the last 18 months around three quarters…

THE Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has assured that it will address the needs of youths and communities in the Niger Delta region. NDDC Board Chairman Lauretta Onochie disclosed this today when she and a member of the Board representing the North West, Prince Sani Iko Sami, received a delegation of the Ogoni Youths Peace Movement at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt. She said: “We are determined to ensure that youths of the Niger Delta are empowered according to their needs because everyone is different. So, we are going to carry out a needs assessment to be sure of…

FORWARD Marcus Rashford will be out for “a few games” with a muscle injury, Manchester United have said. The 25-year-old England international left the field holding his groin during the second half of United’s win over Everton on Saturday. United did not give a specific timeline for his return but said he is expected to play again this season. “I can’t give more details of it because we don’t know,” manager Erik ten Hag said. “We have to see how it develops, the injury. “Of course it’s a setback and he’s disappointed about it, but he’s not totally broke because…

STEFANO Pioli said that AC Milan should have given themselves more than a one-goal lead in their Champions League quarter-final derby with Napoli after their fellow Italians finished the first leg with 10 men. Milan had a quarter of an hour to extend their advantage earned from Ismael Bennacer’s first-half strike when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa was sent off for two quick-fire bookings. “It’s the only regret we have, we should have been more clear-headed,” Pioli told reporters. “It’s a shame but they gave a lot. It’s a good result after a good performance, let’s hope for the next one.” Milan…

JANUARY to March 2023 was the deadliest first quarter for central Mediterranean migrants since 2017, the United Nations said Wednesday, with 441 lives lost as crossings to Europe soar. The UN’s International Organization for Migration said delays in state-led search and rescue (SAR) operations played a part in several fatal incidents in the perilous sea crossing from north Africa. And the IOM said the 441 known deaths in the first three months of the year was likely an undercount of the true number. “The persisting humanitarian crisis in the central Mediterranean is intolerable,” said IOM chief Antonio Vitorino. “With more…

THE US believes the UN Secretary General is too willing to accommodate Russian interests, according to fresh revelations in classified documents leaked online. The files suggest Washington has been closely monitoring Antonio Guterres. Several documents describe private communications involving Mr Guterres and his deputy. It is the latest from a leak of secret documents, which US officials are scrambling to get to the bottom of. The documents contain candid observations from Mr Guterres about the war in Ukraine and a number of African leaders. One leaked document focuses on the Black Sea grain deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey…

A MALARIA vaccine developed by Britain’s Oxford University is to be used in Ghana, the first time it has received regulatory clearance anywhere in the world. “The vaccine has been approved for use in children aged 5-36 months, the age group at highest risk of death from malaria,” the university said in a statement. “It is hoped that this first crucial step will enable the vaccine to help Ghanaian and African children to effectively combat malaria,” it added. Professor Adrian Hill, chief investigator of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine programme and director of the university’s Jenner Institute, said it marked the “culmination…

MALI Terrorists affiliated to the Islamic State group have taken over a village in Ménaka – a region that is now largely under militants control. The Islamist militants seized another village – Tidermene – on Monday night following months of fighting. A local official who fled to the regional capital Ménaka confirmed the capture and said the insurgents were moving around the village with weapons. Since early last year, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara has launched a major offensive in the area as well as in Gao – another region of northern Mali. There have been battles with the…

Real Madrid 2 v Chelsea 0 CHELSEA have it all to do if they are to advance to the Champions League semi-finals after losing to holders Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Karim Benzema’s tap-in – his 90th goal in the competition – gave Real boss Carlo Ancelotti the perfect start against his former club. Real Madrid struggled to add to their lead before Ben Chilwell was shown a straight red card in the 59th minute for fouling Rodrygo as the Brazil forward threatened to go clean through on goal. Chelsea produced a battling performance but Real scored what could be…

NUHU Clark, a member-elect for Chibok constituency in the Borno House of Assembly, is dead. According to reports, the deceased died in India on Monday, while undergoing treatment. Babakura Abbajatau, The state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information, and Culture, confirmed the development in an interview with NAN in Maiduguri on Wednesday. Abbajatau said that the state government would soon make an official statement after speaking with the family of the deceased. While mourning the deceased, the Borno Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur, described the death as a huge loss to his immediate family, people of Southern Borno and the state at…

THE potential sale of Manchester United has gone to a third round of bidding. Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim and Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe both submitted a second bid to buy the Old Trafford club last month, with Finnish entrepreneur Thomas Zilliacus also saying he had submitted a bid. The Glazer family, who bought the club for £790m in 2005, announced they were considering selling in November. The Americans have established a valuation of £5bn-6bn for United. The second stage ended last month with uncertainty over whether the process had reached the point of exclusivity being granted. It is understood…

LIVERPOOL will not pursue a move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham this summer because of the money involved. The 19-year-old has been heavily linked with the Reds but any move for the England international could cost in excess of £100m at least. The size of the deal compared to the changes needed at Liverpool mean they do not consider it a viable option. The Reds are eighth in the Premier League and 12 points off the top four. Their struggles this season have seen manager Jurgen Klopp state there will be changes at the club in the summer and…