Author: Amina Mohammed

The Kano State Government has declared Monday a public holiday in commemoration of the beginning of the new Islamic calendar year 1446 AH. This is contained in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Baba Dantiye on Friday. According to the statement, Governor Yusuf Abba urged citizens to use the holiday to reflect on the past year and engage in beneficial activities. He enjoined the people of the state to utilize the holiday to reflect on the previous year and commit themselves in mutually beneficial activities that will bring succor to them in these difficult and trying times. “The…

France downed Portugal on penalties in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals following a goalless draw on Friday to set up a last-four meeting with Spain. A largely dull 120 minutes saw both sides struggle to create clear chances in Hamburg, before Joao Felix was the only player to miss in the shoot-out and Theo Hernandez netted the winning spot-kick. AFP

Rivers state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has played down the gravity of the Thursday’s ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja which quashed the ruling of the High Court in Port Harcourt on the defection of Martins Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers. Addressing the concerns expressed by some persons over the pronouncements of the court, Fubara said there was no cause to worry because God has prepared him a table of blessings in the presence of his enemies. “I know that a lot of you will be wondering what is going on and all that. Government has its own challenges.…

UEFA on Friday said Manchester City and Girona can both enter the Champions League and Manchester United and Nice can play in the Europa League after addressing multi-club ownership concerns. Premier League champions City and Girona are both part of the City Group, while Jim Ratcliffe who owns 25 percent of FA Cup winners United also controls Nice through his Ineos company. UEFA said it had accepted the admission of the four clubs into next season’s European competitions, after previously opening proceedings into them for potential conflict with its ownership rules, “following the implementation of significant changes by the concerned…

Bangladesh’s top-ranked chess grandmaster Ziaur Rahman died Friday at the age of 50 after suffering a stroke and collapsing on his board in the middle of a national championship match, an official said. Bangladesh Chess Federation general secretary Shahab Uddin Shamim told AFP that Ziaur collapsed during his 12th round match of the championship against fellow grandmaster Enamul Hossain before he was declared dead at a hospital in the capital Dhaka. “Players and officials present in the hall room took him to the hospital quickly after he collapsed. Upon reaching there, doctors said he had already died,” Shamim said. Enamul…

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has declared Monday, July 8, 2024 as public holiday to commemorate the new Islamic year, Hijrah 1446. A statement issued by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Rasheed Aderibigbe which was published on the Ministry of Information bulletin on Friday, stated that the holiday is to allow Muslims in the state celebrate the new Islamic year. The Statement added that Governor Ademola Adeleke would preside over a special parade/March session as part of the activities to celebrate the new year. While wishing Muslims a happy celebration, the governor charged them to use the period to…

Sophia Momodu, the mother of musician David Adeleke’s (alias Davido’s) child, has told the Lagos State High Court sitting in Yaba that he should not be granted custody of their daughter. “The applicant is not fit to be granted custody of our daughter because he is not available and does not possess the ability to dutifully care for her,” she stated in a counter-affidavit she filed in opposition to Davido’s suit seeking custody. Contrary to Davido’s claim that he had consistently fulfilled his financial obligations towards his daughter, Ms. Momodu said the child was almost ejected from school because the…

Sir Keir Starmer has addressed the nation for the first time as Prime Minister, assuring that his government will serve the people. Sir Keir entered Downing Street amidst a crowd of cheering Labour supporters waving Union, Welsh, and Scottish flags. He began his address by acknowledging his predecessor, Rishi Sunak, commending him for his achievement as the first British Asian Prime Minister and recognizing the “extra effort” required for such a milestone. “The country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal and the return of politics to public service,” Sir Keir declared. He spoke about the public’s disengagement with…

Britain’s head of state King Charles III officially appointed Labour leader Keir Starmer as prime minister on Friday during an audience at Buckingham Palace. A photograph released by the palace showed the monarch shaking hands with Starmer, whose party won a landslide election victory. The king earlier accepted the resignation of Conservative leader Rishi Sunak. “The King received in audience The Right Honourable Sir Keir Starmer MP today and requested him to form a new Administration,” a palace statement read. “Sir Keir accepted His Majesty’s offer and kissed hands upon his appointment as Prime Minister and First Lord of the…

Kylian Mbappe said Thursday it would be “an honour” to play against his boyhood hero Cristiano Ronaldo when France and Portugal meet in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 in Hamburg on Friday. “It is an honour. Everyone knows about my admiration for Cristiano,” France captain Mbappe, 25, told reporters on the eve of the game. Growing up, Mbappe famously decorated his bedroom wall with pictures of Ronaldo and was introduced to the Portuguese superstar at Real Madrid’s training ground when the Spanish club tried to sign him as a young teenager. “I have got to know him over time. We…