THOUSANDS of Tunisians have gathered in central Tunis in defiance of an official ban on their protest against President Kais Saied, calling for him to release detained critics and retract his controversial remarks on migrants. He recently blamed illegal immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa for violence and crime and said there was a plot to change the demographic composition of Tunisia. Demonstrators shouted “down with the coup” – referring to the fact President Saied has been ruling by decree since September 2021, after dissolving parliament, suspending the constitution and dismissing the government. “Stop racism and xenophobia” and “no to hate speech…
Author: Editor
Read More
LIVERPOOL delivered the complete performance and Mohamed Salah became the club’s record Premier League goalscorer as Manchester United were overwhelmed at a joyous Anfield. United’s renaissance under manager Erik ten Hag already has the tangible reward of the Carabao Cup but Liverpool unleashed a brutal reality check on their progress with a severe thrashing. Liverpool took control of what had been a tight game, with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford missing presentable chances, when former Old Trafford target Cody Gakpo applied a smooth finish to Andy Robertson’s perfect pass two minutes before the break. The second half was a tale…
REPORTS have it that ₦2,949,557,867 has been illegally transferred from the accounts of African fintech unicorn, Flutterwave. The tech giant’s counsel, Albert Onimole, reported the case to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba, Techcabal reported. According to Onimole’s letter, the hack on Flutterwave’s accounts occurred about some weeks ago revealing that the said sum was initially transferred to 28 accounts in 63 transactions. Although the accounts that received the money were listed, the police are yet to freeze the receiving accounts to prevent the money being moved. According to Flutterwave, some commercial banks allowed the…
A GROUP, Concerned Kano Citizens for Justice, has cautioned against tarnishing the image of the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Alhassan Ado Doguwa, while being investigated for an alleged crime. The group said following the arrest and subsequent arraignment of the House Leader, he has been put on a media trial and painted in grubby colours that are at variance with his well known reputation as a leader with integrity. In a statement on behalf of the group by Nura Khalil Tudun Wada, CKCJ said while under Nigerian laws, a suspect is assumed innocent until proven guilty…
POLICE in Bauchi neutralised two suspected kidnappers at Rafin Gora in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State on Friday and rescued their victim. Police spokesman, SP Ahmed Wakil, stated on Sunday in Bauchi that the gun-wielding assailants invaded the home of a resident at Rafin Gora and attempted to kidnap his 28-year-old son. “The victim resisted the kidnap attempt and was shot multiple times in his lower abdomen while trying to escape. “Police operatives in conjunction with a local vigilance group mobilised to the scene to confront the kidnappers who welcomed them with sporadic gunshots,’’ he stated. He added…
KYLIAN Mbappe scored a club-record 201st goal for Paris St-Germain in an entertaining 4-2 win over Nantes. He had to wait until the 92nd minute but was clinical as he turned to finish left-footed and go clear of Edinson Cavani at the top of the PSG goal list. The France forward, who turned 24 in December, has established himself as a footballing superstar. He has played at two World Cup finals, winning the trophy in 2018 and earning the Golden Boot as top scorer in 2022. Mbappe, who also won the 2021 Nations League with his country, scored a hat-trick…
DIEGO Simeone set a new record as Atletico Madrid coach on Saturday, taking charge of his 613th game at the club against Sevilla in La Liga at the Metropolitano Stadium. The Argentine, 54, overtook the late club legend Luis Aragones on 612, and, accompanied by his own children, was handed a commemorative shirt to mark the new milestone by Aragones’s son before kick-off. “Legend Simeone,” read the back of the shirt and electronic displays around the stadium as Atletico fans chanted their coach’s name in appreciation for his service. Simeone, who played for the club in midfield across two spells,…
DOZENS of Iranian schoolgirls across five provinces have been admitted to hospital in a suspected new wave of poisoning attacks, local media has reported. Hundreds of cases of respiratory distress have been reported in recent months among schoolgirls around the country, mainly in the holy city of Qom, south of Tehran, with some needing hospitalisation. The illnesses remain unexplained and Iranian officials believe the girls may have been poisoned and have blamed Tehran’s enemies. The Tasnim and Mehr news agencies on Saturday reported the latest incidents in western Hamedan province, as well as Zanjan and West Azerbaijan in Iran’s northwest,…
A PROVINCIAL governor in the central Philippines and five other people were shot dead by unknown gunmen on Saturday, his widow said, in the latest attack against local officials. Local police said six suspects carrying rifles and dressed in uniforms similar to those worn by the armed services entered the governor’s home in Pamplona town and opened fire. Roel Degamo, governor of Negros Oriental province, and five others were killed in the shooting, his widow said. “Governor Degamo did not deserve that kind of death. He was serving his constituents on a Saturday,” Janice Degamo, who is also the mayor…
LIBREVILLE, Luanda, Brazzaville, Kinshasa – France’s President Emmanuel Macron is on a whirlwind tour of African capitals as he tries to shift French policy on the continent away from military involvement. He can hardly be accused of ignoring Africa – this is his 18th presidential trip – but this comes at a time of ever-increasing competition from China and Russia, and growing resentment of the close economic ties between France and its former colonial, which some see as a form of continued exploitation. And he insists that he will come back, again and again, to a continent that he regards…
TWO workers with the International Committee of the Red Cross were kidnapped Saturday in Mali, the organisation’s Mali branch said on Twitter. “We confirm the kidnapping of 02 of our colleagues this morning between Gao and Kidal”, it said, adding that the agency had been present in Mali for 32 years, and was “a neutral, independent and impartial organization”. “We ask not to speculate on this incident so as not to hinder its resolution”, it added. ince 2012, Mali has been in the grip of a serious security crisis. Violence, including kidnappings of foreigners and Malians, is common, the motives…
FOR the second time since the Supreme Court ruled that the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes will remain legal tender until December 31, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has refused to speak on the judgement. On Saturday, an official of the CBN told our source that the communications department has not been informed of any new developments on the Supreme Court judgement. Asked when the CBN will start releasing cash to banks, the official replied they “don’t have that information”. The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the old bank notes will remain as legal tenders while also…
Man City 2 v Newcastle 0 PHIL Foden’s superb solo goal helped Manchester City see off Newcastle and ensured the defending champions kept up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal. Foden struck after 15 minutes, gliding in from the right and holding off two challenges before seeing his shot deflected home off Sven Botman. Newcastle responded well and were causing plenty of problems until City substitute Bernardo Silva slotted home to put the game out of their reach midway through the second half. The win means City move to within two points of the Gunners, who play Bournemouth later…
THE Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar Badaru, has presented staff of office to the new Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Hameem Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi. The ceremony, which took place at Aminu Kano Try-Angle, Dutse, on Saturday, was witnessed by thousands of well wishers across Jigawa and neighbouring states. Badaru said the throne is the emir’s inheritance of his father’s legacy. “We advised you to copy your father’s legacy and perfect leadership,” the governor added. He prayed for the late emir of Dutse Alhaji, Dr. Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi, for his kindness and good leadership before during his lifetime and enjoined Allah…
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State has released the comprehensive result of the National Assembly elections conducted in the state last Saturday. Elections were conducted in the three senatorial districts and 13 federal constituencies of the state. The summary of the result shows that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won the three senatorial seats and nine out of the 11 federal constituencies where results were published. The other two federal constituencies were won by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Labour Party. The elected senators are the current Deputy Governor, Dr Mrs Ipalibo Harry-Banigo (Rivers West); Senator…
OPPOSITION parties in Nigeria’s fiercely contested polls will attempt to do what has been described as the impossible – getting a court to overturn the outcome of a presidential election in Africa’s most populous nation. Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, the second and third-placed candidates in the tightest presidential election since the end of military rule in 1999, are heading to court to challenge the result that saw Bola Tinubu of the ruling party declared the winner with 37% of the vote. While Atiku of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called the result “a rape of democracy” after…
MOROCCO and Algeria, two known adversaries are each racing to build a conduit pumping Nigerian gas to European markets, even as the continent aims to wean itself off fossil fuels, fuelling an age-old rivalry in the process. Both countries have moved to revive long-stalled projects in light of a gas supply crunch following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago. Prices surged and Europe — which was heavily reliant on Russian gas — had to look elsewhere for energy. Rabat is hoping the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, which would skirt the coastlines of 13 West African countries, could pump billions of…
PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will, on Saturday, March 4, leave for the 5th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LCDs) in Doha, the capital city of Qatar. This follows an invitation by the Emir of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The conference which is from 5th to 9th March, 2023 under the theme: “From Potential to Prosperity,” holds once in a decade and provides an opportunity to garner the support of the international community for accelerating sustainable development in the LDCs as well as assist them make progress towards achieving prosperity. In Doha, President Buhari…
NEYMAR will miss Paris St-Germain’s Champions League round of 16 second leg at Bayern Munich through injury, manager Christophe Galtier has said. The Brazil forward was carried off with an injured right ankle during PSG’s 4-3 home win over Lille on 19 February. “We will not have [Neymar] available for the next two games,” Galtier said on Friday, calling it a “big loss”. “Instead of having two midfielders, we will have three midfielders and two attackers.” Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are likely to form PSG’s forward line for Wednesday’s second leg. The Ligue 1 leaders are 1-0 down from…
BORUSSIA Dortmund beat RB Leipzig to move top of the German Bundesliga. Dortmund thought they had scored when England midfielder Jude Bellingham’s fine ball over the defence was converted by Julian Brandt but the goal was ruled out because of a handball. The hosts went ahead in the 20th minute when Marco Reus scored a penalty he had won, before Emre Can made it 2-0. Leipzig pulled one back through Emil Forsberg from David Raum’s cross but it was not enough to stop Dortmund. The victory takes them three points clear of Bayern Munich, although the reigning champions will regain…