Author: Amina Mohammed

Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer went head-to-head over tax, immigration, gender and Brexit in their final debate before next Thursday’s general election. The Tory leader repeatedly accused Sir Keir of planning tax rises and having no plan to deal with illegal immigration, in the 75-minute BBC event. Sir Keir told him off for making constant interruptions and attempted to rebut the attacks by accusing Mr Sunak of making unfunded tax promises and of being “out of touch” with voters. The pair did not know the questions they faced from members of the public at Nottingham Trent University, with one…

Ecuador boosted their chances of reaching the knockout rounds of the Copa America on Wednesday after hanging on to beat Jamaica 3-1 in their Group B clash in Las Vegas. Ecuador, beaten by Venezeula in their opening match of the tournament on Saturday, held off a spirited second-half rally by the Reggae Boyz to claim a vital three points at the Allegiant Stadium. The South Americans looked to be cruising to victory after taking a 2-0 lead following a Kasey Palmer own goal and a penalty from Chelsea-bound teenager Kendry Paez. However, Jamaica pulled a goal back from veteran striker…

In the wake of the cholera outbreak in the country, the Federal Government yesterday initiated dialogue with the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, GAVI, to obtain emergency supplies of oral cholera vaccine, OCV, as Nigeria battles the disease amid a global shortage of the vaccine. Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, who disclosed this in Abuja, said the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, is leading the discussions with GAVI. The development came as NCDC yesterday announced an increase in the death toll and spread of…

Georgia are through to the last 16 of Euro 2024 after Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Portugal, a historic triumph in the former Soviet Republic’s first appearance at a major international tournament. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave Georgia a shock lead against a second-string Portugal team with just over a minute on the clock in Gelsenkirchen. Georges Mikautadze then ensured Georgia would claim the biggest football victory in the Black Sea nation’s history with a 57th-minute penalty. Willy Sagnol’s team qualify from Group F as one of the four best third-placed finishers after their first ever European Championship win, which set up a…

*Grants Orders To Maintain Status Qup Ante Bellum A High Court sitting in Sokoto and presided over by the Honourable Justice Kabiru I. Ahmed, on the 13th of June, 2024, granted in favour of the Plaintiffs/Applicants ( District Heads ), exparte applications for the maintenance of status quo ante bellum in Suit Nos: SS/M.290/2024 and SS/M.293/2024 , between Alhaji Buhari Dahiru Tambuwal and Alhaji Abubakar Kassim (the Plaintiffs/Applicants) V. the Governor of Sokoto State, Attorney General of Sokoto State and the Sokoto Sultanate Council (the Defendants/Respondents). The maintenance of status quo ante bellum order further directed, amongst others, a stay…

A group of protesters on Monday stormed the headquarters of the National Medical Services Laboratories in Pennsylvania, the United States over the outcome of a toxicology test reportedly conducted in the facility to determine the cause of death of late Nigerian singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad. A member of the Aloba family’s legal team, Taiwo Odumosu, disclosed this to PUNCH Online on Wednesday. PUNCH Metro had exclusively reported that the US-based lab refuted the claim by the Lagos State Government that the toxicology test was conducted at its facility. The revelation was in response to inquiries made by our correspondent,…

The Senate and House Representatives will on Thursday, June 27, reconvene from its Sallah and end of first session break. Both chambers had earlier adjourned plenary till Tuesday, July 2, but the chairman of Senate committees on media and public affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC-Ekiti South), and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria confirmed that the National Assembly would cut its break. Adaramodu in a statement said the resumption of plenary has become necessary to enable the lawmakers to attend to urgent national and constitutional issues and to carry out further oversight on the implementation of…

Kenya President William Ruto said Wednesday that a bill containing contentious tax hikes would “be withdrawn”, dramatically reversing course after more than 20 people died and parliament was ransacked by protesters opposed to the legislation. But he warned that the withdrawal of the finance bill would mean a significant shortfall in funding for development programmes designed to help farmers and schoolteachers, among others, as the East African nation struggles to lower its foreign debt burden. “I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 finance bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn,” Ruto told a press briefing, adding: “The…

Phil Foden has temporarily left England’s Euro 2024 camp in Germany due to a “pressing family matter” but is expected to rejoin the squad ahead of Sunday’s game. The 24-year-old Manchester City star played in the national side’s 0-0 draw with Slovenia last night. An FA spokesperson said the father-of-two had “temporarily left the England camp and returned to the UK for a pressing family matter”. The midfielder and his partner Rebecca Cooke are reportedly expecting their third child. Foden is expected to rejoin the squad ahead of Sunday’s game as England returns to the Veltins Arena. He has played…

The newly appointed Kano State Police Commissioner, Salman Garba Dogo, has firmly refuted claims that he is a blood relative of the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero. In a press briefing held at the Bompai Police Headquarters on Wednesday, Dogo dismissed the claims, emphasising his dedication to impartially serving all residents of the state. “I am first and foremost a Nigerian, and I am here to serve Nigerians. The news of me belonging to the same family as Bayero is new to me; this is the first time I am hearing it. For me, I will do my…