Culture
3 days ago
A man who ran an illegal network of cryptocurrency ATMs was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday, in the first such criminal case in the UK. Such ATMs, which allow users to buy cryptocurrency or convert it into cash, are illegal to operate in the UK without approval from Britain's financial watchdog, the…
3 days ago
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday spoke to Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, urging him to release a British citizen and activist jailed in Cairo, Downing Street said. "The prime minister discussed the case of British national Alaa Abd El-Fattah with President Sisi. He pressed for Alaa's release, having met his mother Laila Soueif…
3 days ago
Lebanese on Friday conducted a delayed burial in a border village for more than 90 civilians and fighters from the Hezbollah movement who died during the war with Israel that ended with a November ceasefire. Under the truce, Israel had an initial 60 days, later extended to February 18, to pull out its troops from…
3 days ago
Pope Francis, in hospital with pneumonia, suffered a breathing "crisis" on Friday which caused him to vomit but he was given air and responded well, the Vatican said. The episode came just hours after a Vatican source said the 88-year-old pontiff's condition was no longer considered critical, following a series of incremental improvements. Francis, who…
3 days ago
Bitcoin and its cryptocurrency peers have slumped in value over recent days as tariff threats from US President Donald Trump and new scandals affecting the sector shake confidence in volatile assets. Bitcoin dived Friday to trade under $80,000 for the first time since November. Its low of $78,225.84 was more than 25 percent off levels…
3 days ago
Thousands lined the streets around the Israeli commericial hub Tel Aviv on Friday for the funeral procession of Tsachi Idan, a hostage killed in captivity in Gaza. The development engineer was abducted from his kibbutz of Nahal Oz during Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. He was taken to Gaza with his…
3 days ago
Germany's conservatives led by election winner Friedrich Merz held first talks Friday with the Social Democrats on forming a coalition government as the country faces multiple challenges at home and abroad. "The exploratory talks began in an open and constructive atmosphere," Merz's CDU/CSU alliance and the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) said in a joint statement,…
3 days ago
Russia on Friday named career diplomat Alexander Darchiev as new ambassador to the United States, filling a role vacant since last year in another sign of easing tensions. US President Donald Trump has sought to restore ruptured ties with Moscow since taking office, reaching out to President Vladimir Putin and initiating high-level talks for the…
3 days ago
Cyclone Garance barrelled across La Reunion island on Friday killing at least two people as fierce winds left destruction across the French Indian Ocean territory, authorities said. Winds of up to 230 kilometres (143 miles) per hour battered the territory of 900,000 people and the storm earlier forced the closure of the main airport on…
3 days ago
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro called a special cabinet meeting for Saturday after being accused of a conflict of interest over a contract involving one of his family's companies. Montenegro acknowledged on Friday that the accusations had caused "apprehension" as he called the cabinet meeting, vowing to "end this affair once and for all". The…
3 days ago
A week ago Donald Trump branded Volodymyr Zelensky a dictator. On Friday he will host the Ukrainian president at the White House and sign a deal granting Washington access to Ukraine's rare minerals. The extraordinary turnaround caps a week of frantic international diplomacy centered on Washington, as Kyiv seeks to shore up support despite Trump's…
26 Feb
Taiwan sent forces on Wednesday in response to China's "live-fire" drills off the self-ruled island, Taipei's defence ministry said, condemning the exercises as dangerous. China deployed 32 aircraft near Taiwan as part of a joint combat drill with Chinese warships and announced "live-fire exercises" in an area about 40 nautical miles (74 kilometres) off…
26 Feb
Freed Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas, whose wife and two sons were killed in captivity in Gaza, apologised Wednesday for being unable to protect his family during Hamas's October 2023 attack. "Shiri, I'm sorry I couldn't protect you all," he said in his eulogy at the funeral of his wife, Shiri, and two sons -- Kfir…
Latest
15 mins ago
The government of Jigawa, the third poorest state in Nigeria, spent the sum of 2,204,515,190.89 on SUVs, furniture for its government house, and construction of laundry and toilets at the presidential lodge, among others, in 2024. Other capital expenditures include the renovation of the governor's residence and the renovation of the G-9 guest house. The…
19 mins ago
An entrepreneur, Salisu Danjuma, from the Difa community in Yamaltu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State, says he earns over N2.5 million annually from tomato cultivation during the season. Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Difa, Danjuma described tomato farming as one of the most profitable…
24 mins ago
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has stated that caution must be exercised against sacrificing the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over unproven allegations. The frontline Yoruba group, which described Akpabio as a committed patriot, advised that the allegation should be thoroughly examined, particularly since the allegations were made after an act of discipline against Senator…
27 mins ago
The African Centre for Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR) has lauded Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara's resolve on the recent Supreme Court judgment, which he graciously accepted to implement after carefully reviewing its Certified True Copy (CTC). ACJHR, in a statement by its coordinator, commended the impressive state broadcast delivered by Governor Fubara on Sunday,…
32 mins ago
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has stressed the importance of securing a good ending in life, stating that a greater tomorrow is vital for every individual. Speaking during the church’s monthly Thanksgiving Service at its Lagos headquarters on Sunday, which coincided with his 83rd birthday, Adeboye underscored…
34 mins ago
It is both shameful and appalling that despite the prolonged persecution of the Dasuki family—from the dethronement of Sultan of Sokoto
34 mins ago
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has granted leave to former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon and others to challenge the judgment of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA)’s land dispute. The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III, who is also a member…
35 mins ago
Nigeria centre-back Calvin Bassey marked his first FA Cup match for Fulham by scoring as the Londoners eliminated holders Manchester United at the weekend. He headed past United and Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana just before half-time in a fifth-round tie at Old Trafford, which Fulham won on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Gambian Yankuba Minteh…
43 mins ago
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme has empowered no fewer than 505 rice farmers and 504 tomato farmers in Kano. Dr Kabir Yusuf, National Programme Coordinator of SAPZ, said this in a statement on Monday following the ongoing Field Day activity in Kano. He stated that the activity…
45 mins ago
Winning an Oscar is the dream of every filmmaker, but what many people don’t know is that the golden statuette comes with a strict rule, winners can never sell it. The Oscar trophy, covered in 24-karat gold, may look priceless, but it’s actually worth around $400, The Economic Times stated in a report. However, it’s…