Ghana court jails Nigerian trafficking HIV patient for prostitution (Punch)
The Tarkwa Circuit Court in Ghana has sentenced a 32-year-old Nigerian woman, Patience Gold, to 20 years in prison for trafficking four young women, including one living with HIV from Nigeria to Ghana for forced prostitution.
According to Graphic Online, a Ghanaian news outlet, on Thursday, the presiding judge, Hathia Manu, found Gold guilty on four charges, including human trafficking, illegal abortion, assault, and prostitution.
“For human trafficking, she was handed a 20-year sentence. She received a five-year sentence for illegal abortion and two months each for assault and prostitution. Read more
Economic reforms not to punish Nigerians, but to avert collapse, says Tinubu (Vanguard)
President Bola Tinubu said on Thursday that recent government policies are not meant to punish Nigerians but are necessary interventions to prevent the economy from collapsing.
Tinubu made this known at the 55th Annual Conference of the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) in Abuja.
The president was represented by the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa. Read more
APGA policy of supporting govt at the centre hasn’t changed — Soludo (Channels)
The Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has assured President Bola Tinubu of his support, as well as that of his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Recalling that before joining APGA, the party had a policy of supporting the president and the ruling political party at the center, Soludo reaffirmed that this policy remains in effect.
He gave Tinubu the assurance at the Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, the capital of Anambra State, on Thursday during the President’s official visit to the state. Read more
Grid collapses, N4t debt stall Nigeria’s transition to competitive market (Guardian)
Nigeria’s ambition to transition its electricity sector into a fully competitive bilateral market is faltering as systemic weaknesses, including an unreliable national grid, a staggering N4 trillion market debt and unclear regulatory pathways, stall the market.
About eleven years after the privatisation of the power sector, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), in its most assertive step last year, issued a market order mandating that electricity distribution companies (DisCos) assume full responsibility for tariff setting and power procurement within 60 days.
The move, which would have removed the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), which had acted as the federal government’s intermediary buyer and risk absorber in power transactions, The Guardian gathered remained in limbo over the crisis with the grid system and the liquidity crisis in the sector. Read more
Foreign herders behind attacks on communities – DHQ (Sun)
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has said that violence attacks on local communities and killings of farmers in Plateau, Benue and other parts of the country are mostly perpetrated by foreign herders.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, stated this yesterday, while fielding questions from journalists on the identities of armed herders attacking farming communities.
Several communities,especially in Plateau and Benue states have recently faced series of attacks by armed herders with many killed and thousands rendered homeless. Read more
IPOB: Why we want Simon Ekpa back in Nigeria – AGF Fagbemi (Nation)
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) has explained why the Federal Government commenced moves to extradite Simon Ekpa, an associate of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu .
Fagbemi said Nigeria is working with the Finish authorities for the extradition of Ekpa to allow his prosecution here for the offences he allegedly committed against national security and the sovereignty of the country.
The AGF spoke in Abuja on Thursday at the quarterly stakeholders and citizens engagement programme organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice. Read more
Herdsmen Kill Royal Father, Farmer In Benue (Leadership)
Armed men suspected to be herders have invaded Otobi-Akpa community in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue state and shot dead the district Head of Odugbeho of Agatu Local Government Area, Chief Anthony Adejoh, alongside a farmer, Jerry John.
Our correspondent gathered from a local source who does not want his name in print that the royal father, alongside one Jerry John, were working on their farm in Otobi-Akpa, when the marauders ambushed and opened fire, killing them on the spot.
Confirming the development, the Chairman of Agatu LGA, Marvis Ejeh, said Chief Adejo was gruesomely killed on his farm at Akpa-Otobi by armed herders who invaded the area at about 10 am. Read more
‘Enthusiasm and joy’ in new Pope’s hometown of Chicago (BBC)
The church where Pope Leo XIV attended mass as a child and served as an altar boy is now an empty shell.
Only the stained glass windows remain intact inside the sturdy facade of St Mary’s of the Assumption on the far edge of Chicago’s South Side.
The disrepair is one indication of how the Catholic Church’s power and influence has been ebbing away in America’s big cities. Read more
Lorde announces world tour in support of new album ‘Virgin’ (FarOut)
Lorde has unveiled her world tour for later this year, which will take her across North America, the UK and Europe.
The extensive set of dates, which will see Lorde spend three months on the road, is in support of her forthcoming fourth album, Virgin, which will be released on June 27th. The New Zealander premiered the record last month with lead single, ‘What Was That’.
The arena tour will begin at the Moody Center in Texas on September 17th, before visiting stops in North America such as Chicago, Nashville, Toronto, Boston, Montreal, New York, Washington, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Portland, Berkeley, Inglewood and Las Vegas. Read more
Russia has violated own ceasefire hundreds of times, Kyiv says (Independent)
US president Donald Trump has suggested Russian leader Vladimir Putin should “ideally” accept a 30-day ceasefire, backing similar calls from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky after the two spoke on the phone on Thursday.
“Talks with Russia/Ukraine continue. The US calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire,” Mr Trump said on his Truth Social network after speaking to Mr Zelensky.
Mr Trump has also threatened further sanctions on Moscow if any potential ceasefire is violated. “If the ceasefire is not respected, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions.” Read more
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock reunite for romantic thriller (DigitalSpy)
Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock are reuniting for another movie.
The actors, who previously co-starred in the 1994 action classic Speed and 2006 romantic drama The Lake House, are set to team up again for an untitled romantic thriller being developed at Amazon MGM Studios.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, plot details are being kept under wraps for the time being, but the film is described as “propulsive”. Read more
‘Leone!’ Vatican crowds hail Leo XIV as new pope of the Catholic Church (AlJazeera)
It felt like the square could talk in one voice: “Leone! Leone! Leone!”
Thousands of people in St Peter’s Square chanted in chorus the name adopted by Robert Prevost as he ascended to the papacy on Thursday: Leo XIV.
Just an hour and a half earlier, white smoke had billowed from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, announcing that a conclave of cardinals had elected a new leader for the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics. Read more
Sugababes singer Keisha Buchanan ‘beaten and controlled by ex in campaign of terror’, court hears (Standard)
Sugababe Keisha Buchanan’s footballer ex-partner is accused of blocking the singer from wearing red lipstick, watching TV, and going to the gym in an alleged ten-year campaign of harassment and coercive and controlling behaviour, a court has heard.
Taiwo Leo Atieno, 39, faces claims of multiple assaults against Ms Buchanan while they were dating, controlling aspects of her life, harassment after the breakdown of the relationship, and alleged breaches of a court order banning him from contacting her.
The singer says Atieno controlled her finances and use of the shower while they were living together, allegedly intervened in her eating habits, and only allowed her to go to the gym “at certain times”, Willesden magistrates court heard. Read more
Joshua picks four-man ‘dangerous’ hit list for December return (Guardian)
Anthony Joshua hasn’t fought since September last year. That was when the former two-time world heavyweight champion suffered a devastating loss at the hands of IBF champion Daniel Dubois, writes secondsout.com. He was put down in the first round and then stopped in the fifth, ending a good run before then that included wins over Robert Helenius, Francis Ngannou and Otto Wallin.
Since then, ‘AJ’ has been recovering from minor injuries and recently revealed he is due to have elbow surgery this month, which will keep him out until later in the year.
Joshua is 35-years-old and has had 32 bouts, including tough nights against the likes of Andy Ruiz Jr, and two tight 12-round battles with Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022, so he likely only has a few fights left. Read more
Zamalek sack ex-Super Eagles coach Peseiro (Leadership)
Egyptian giants Zamalek on Wednesday announced the sacking of former Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro.
Zamalek took the decision following their recent 2-2 draw with National Bank.
The Portuguese joined the White Knights on a two-year contract in February.
“Zamalek and Jose Peseiro agree to end the relationship by mutual consent. We wish him the best in future,” a statement on the club’s official website read.. Read more
Itoje picked as Lions captain for Australia tour (JapanToday)
Maro Itoje will captain a British and Irish Lions squad for the rugby tour of Australia that contains 15 Irish players, just two Welshmen and an Englishman with only one international cap to his name.
The 38-man squad was announced on Thursday in front of an audience of more than 2,000 rugby fans at The O2 arena in London, with the 30-year-old Itoje becoming first English player to captain the Lions since Martin Johnson in 2001. The lock will be heading on his third tour, after 2017 and 2021.
When his name was read out by Lions coach Andy Farrell, Itoje walked out in full Lions uniform — holding the lion mascot, Bill — to warm applause. Read more
Swiatek breezes through to Italian Open 3rd round (BBC)
Defending champion Iga Swiatek cruised through to the Italian Open third round with a crushing straight-set win over Italian wildcard Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Swiatek won 28 of 35 service points and did not face a break point as she wrapped up a 6-0 6-1 victory in just 52 minutes.
The Polish world number two is seeking a fourth title in five years in Rome, with 18 of her past 19 matches at the tournament being straight-set wins – the exception being when she retired from her 2023 quarter-final with Elena Rybakina. Read more
Man Utd beat Athletic Club to set up Europa League final with Tottenham (AlJazeera)
Manchester United produced a dramatic late comeback to beat Athletic Club 4-1 in the Europa League and complete an emphatic 7-1 aggregate semifinal victory, setting up a mouthwatering showpiece against Tottenham.
Fireworks crackled and red smoke filled an expectant Old Trafford on Thursday following an impressive 3-0 win against 10-man Athletic in northern Spain last week.But the air of excitement was tinged by the knowledge that Ruben Amorim’s United have shown a startling ability to implode during a horrendous Premier League season. Read more