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GHANA’S Deputy Defence Minister Kofi Amankwa-Manu has apologised for military excesses after soldiers were deployed early Tuesday in Ashaiman, a suburb of capital Accra. The deployment followed the killing of a young soldier allegedly stabbed to death by unknown assailants in the area. Social media users have been sharing pictures and videos of alleged soldiers’ brutality during the operation. “If decent, innocent residents of Ashaiman were caught up in these operations, I, in my capacity as deputy defence minister, I apologise for that, ” Mr Amankwa-Manu said in an interview with a local TV. “It is only proper that we…

AN ELDER statesman, Alhaji Musan Musawa, is dead. Born on April 1, 1937, the deceased was a broadcaster, diplomat and astute politician. He died on Tuesday following a protracted illness. Alhaji Musan Musawa is survived by a number of children and other family members, including the deputy spokesperson of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Barrister Hannatu Musawa, who is also a weekly columnist with the LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group. Meanwhile, the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has expressed sorrow over the loss of the elder statesman. In a statement Tuesday evening by his media office, Tinubu described the late statesman from…

PETER Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), has received Ireti Kingibe, first female senator-elect of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Kingibe defeated Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Philip Aduda, who spent four terms at the National Assembly. The Senator-elect picked up her Certificate of Return at the International Conference Centre (ICC) on Tuesday afternoon and met with Obi later. See the pictures below:

NEYMAR is set to be sidelined for the rest of the season after Paris Saint-Germain said on Monday the forward will undergo ankle surgery and be out of action for three to four months. The Brazilian, who suffered the injury on February 19 against Lille in Ligue 1, “has had several episodes of instability in the right ankle in recent years,” said the club, adding that its medical staff “recommended a ligament repair operation” be undertaken in Doha. PSG, still waiting for a maiden Champions League title, bid to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit in the last 16 against Bayern…

NOVAK Djokovic extended his record of weeks as world number one to 379 in the latest ATP rankings released on Monday, although Carlos Alcaraz remains in hot pursuit. The 35-year-old winner of 22 Grand Slam titles edged ahead of Steffi Graf’s all-time record last week despite losing in the Dubai semi-finals to Daniil Medvedev. The Russian ended Djokovic’s 20-match win streak and perfect start to 2023 before claiming his third title in as many weeks with defeat of compatriot Andrey Rublev in Dubai. He moved up a place to sixth. Second-ranked Alcaraz will take over at the ATP summit if…

MANCHESTER United’s embarrassing 7-0 mauling by Liverpool was a brutal reality check for Erik ten Hag’s improving side but the manager has urged his men to bounce back this week. Just a week after winning their first silverware for six years, United were put to the sword by Jurgen Klopp’s revitalised side on Sunday, collapsing as Liverpool smashed in six goals in the second half at Anfield. Ten Hag’s men had travelled to the home of their biggest rivals with a spring in their step after just one defeat in 22 games and still on a high after beating Newcastle…

AFGHAN universities reopened on Monday after a winter break, but only men returned to class with a “heartbreaking” ban by the Taliban authorities on women in higher education still in force. The university ban is one of several restrictions imposed on women since the Taliban stormed back to power in August 2021 and has sparked global outrage — including across the Muslim world. “It’s heartbreaking to see boys going to the university while we have to stay at home,” said Rahela, 22, from the central province of Ghor. “This is gender discrimination against girls because Islam allows us to pursue…

A SUICIDE bomber killed nine police officers and wounded 16 others on Monday in an attack on their truck in southwestern Pakistan, officials said. “The suicide bomber was riding a motorbike and hit the truck from behind,” senior police official Abdul Hai Aamir told AFP. The incident took place at Dhadar, the main town of Kachhi district, some 120 kilometres (75 miles) southeast of Quetta in Balochistan. Mehmood Notezai, police chief for Kachhi district, told AFP the police were returning from a week-long cattle show where they had been providing security. Security forces have been battling a year’s-long insurgency by…

SOUTH Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed a former mayor, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, to the newly created position of electricity minister in an effort to address the country’s long-running power crisis. The new minister faces two vast challenges. Power cuts of up to 12 hours a day – the government has declared a national disaster- and allegations of high-level corruption at the state-run energy giant Eskom. The company’s former chief executive recently told the media that senior politicians were looting the firm. Eskom is massively in debt – almost $24bn (£19.9bn) in the red. The rolling power cuts are strangling the…

FOUR Terrorists prisoners escaped from a Mauritanian prison in the capital, Nouakchott, after killing prison guards, the interior ministry has said. The incident occurred on Sunday night amid a reported fire exchange in which the two guards were killed and two others wounded. The authorities have tightened security around the prison and a hunt for the fugitives is under way. The interior ministry has urged the public to report any information that could help apprehend the fugitives.

A CAMPAIGN Group, the North-West Advocates For Tinubu/Kashim (NATIK) has congratulated the president-elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Asiwaju Tinubu over his election as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In a signed statement by the Director-General of the group, Engr. Abubakar Abdulhamid Sadiq, made available to News Point Nigeria, Monday, the group assured Tinubu of their continuous support and assistance for the success of his administration. The statement reads in full: His Excellency, The Vice President–Elect, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Sir, CONGRATULATORY LETTER 1. On behalf of myself, my family, entire Northwest Advocates for Tinubi/Kashim(NATIK) executives and members…

A NIGERIAN Army personnel, Lance Corporal Nwobodo Chinonso has killed three soldiers and himself. Chinonso is reported to have opened fire and killed Lt. Sam Oladapo and others at the weekend. Oladapo was the Commander of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Rabah in Sokoto State. He also shot the FOB Command Sergeant Major (CSM), Sgt. Iliyasu Inusa, and a private soldier, Attahiru Mohammed. After killing his colleagues, the shooter turned the gun to himself and committed suicide. A source told PRNigeria that the Commander 8 Division Garrison and Commander 26 Battalion are at the base. The remains of the victims…

A LUFTHANSA flight LH566 from Frankfurt to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos, was on Friday diverted to Cotonou, Togo and later to Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, by the pilot. The pilot had announced to the over 200 passengers on board that the Lagos airport was closed. Our source gathered that among the passengers, 15 Malabo-bound passengers were scheduled to arrive Lagos by 5:45pm on March 3, before flying to Equatorial Guinea capital. But the flight later arrived Lagos at 2am on March 4. However, findings showed that the Lagos airport was not closed at any time on…

AHEAD of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June, some senators-elect have begun lobbying for the presidency of the upper chamber. Aspirants for the top Senate and House of Representatives positions are expected to start declaring interest in their choice positions once the National Assembly resumes from election break on March 14. Apart from the senate presidency, other positions that will be filled include the speaker of the House of Representatives and deputy senate president as well as the principal offices. The principal officers are leaders of the majority and minority caucuses, which are largely based on membership…

SOME ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Niger State have threatened to boycott the March 11 governorship polls over alleged non-payment of their allowances. The aggrieved ad-hoc staff who spoke to our source said they have not been paid their training and election allowances for the February 25 presidential and national assembly elections that they conducted. The aggrieved staff regretted that despite the rigorous stress and threats to their lives, they are yet to be paid their full allowances. Our source reports that there was concern that the biting naira scarcity in the country would affect…

REAL Madrid are now nine points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona after playing out a goalless draw at Real Betis. Barca’s 1-0 win over Valencia earlier on Sunday has put them further in control of the title race. Madrid had a goal ruled out by the video assistant referee because Karim Benzema’s free-kick hit team-mate Antonio Rudiger’s arm on the way in. Both goalkeepers were busy, especially in the second half. Betis goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, 39, made five saves including stops to deny Karim Benzema and Vinicius Jr. Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois made himself big to deny Juan Miranda in the…

ON_LOAN Everton forward Moise Kean was sent off 40 seconds after coming off the bench as Juventus lost at Roma on Sunday. Kean was sent on in the final minute of normal time before being shown a straight red card for kicking out at Gianluca Mancini. The Roma defender had earlier scored what proved to be the winner with a powerful low strike. Roma move back into fourth in Serie A with the win.

PRINCE Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will be invited to King Charles III’s coronation, a statement from the couple suggests. They say they have been emailed about the coronation, on 6 May, but will not confirm whether they plan to attend. It is understood that some prospective guests are being asked to save the date ahead of official invitations that will be sent later. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on invitations. There has been speculation about whether the US-based couple would be invited, and whether they would attend the coronation of King Charles and Camilla, the Queen…

BANGLADESH authorities are investigating the cause of a massive fire in a Rohingya refugee camp which has left 12,000 people without shelter. No casualties have been reported. But the blaze razed 2,000 shelters after spreading quickly through gas cylinders in kitchens, officials said. Police are investigating if the fire was an act of sabotage. One man has been detained, local media reported. The camp in the south-east is believed to be the world’s largest refugee camp. Most of its residents, Rohingya refugees, have fled persecution in neighbouring Myanmar. On Monday, hundreds had returned to the area, known as Cox’s Bazar,…

A COURT in Egypt has handed down jail sentences, ranging from life to five years’ hard labour, to 30 people for involvement with the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Ayesha Khairat al-Shater and her husband were given 10 years each. Her father was the Muslim Brotherhood’s first nominee for president in 2012 before he was replaced by Mohamed Morsi. She was arrested in 2018 and charged with misuse of social media and promoting terrorist ideas. Amnesty International and other rights groups had described her detention as arbitrary and campaigned for her release. The State Security Criminal Court acquitted one woman.