Author: Festus Adeloye

Bangladesh’s president dissolved parliament on Tuesday, a key demand of student protesters who led demonstrations that ousted longtime ruler Sheikh Hasina, a statement read. “The president has dissolved parliament,” Shiplu Zaman, press secretary of President Mohammed Shahabuddin, said in a statement. The statement also said that Hasina’s arch rival, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister, had been freed from house arrest. Student protesters had threatened more demonstrations if parliament was not dissolved. The decision was taken following meetings with the heads of defence forces, leaders of political parties, student leaders and some civil society…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed telecommunications operators to simplify their tariff plans, bundles, and promotional activities. Of late, many Nigerians have expressed frustration about how their airtime and data plans which lasted longer before now evaporate in days amid agitation by telcos seeking NCC’s approval to hike tariff plans. NCC spokesman Reuben Muoka in a statement on Monday said the regulator has mandated all telcos to release clear, easy-to-understand, and accurate information about the cost of voice, short messaging service (SMS) and data services to all subscribers. “The guideline is the outcome of consultations with industry stakeholders, including…

Climate activists on Tuesday spray-painted a mansion on the Spanish holiday island of Ibiza belonging to Argentina football star, Lionel Messi, to highlight the “responsibility of the rich for the climate crisis.” Campaigners from the group, Futuro Vegetal, released a video showing two members standing in front of the house near the cove of Cala Tarida on Ibiza’s western coast holding a banner that read: “Help the Planet — Eat the Rich — Abolish the Police.” The activists then sprayed the white facade of the building with red and black paint. In a statement, the group said they wanted to…

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said financial sustainability rules must be changed to discourage clubs from cashing in on academy graduates as Conor Gallagher looks set to join Atletico Madrid. The England international would join Mason Mount, Lewis Hall, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ian Maatsen and Callum Hudson-Odoi as products of the Chelsea youth system to be sold over the past two years, while Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah are also expected to leave before the end of August. Chelsea have needed to recoup funds after splashing well over £1 billion ($1.3 billion) in the past four transfer windows to revamp the squad…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed concerns that those currently profiting from Nigeria’s profitable fuel importation sector may seek to undermine the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. This statement follows allegations by Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, who has accused certain ‘mafias’ of attempting to sabotage his $20 billion refinery project. The refinery has not started buying crude oil in naira yet, even though President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to do so. In an interview with the Financial Times, Obasanjo suggested that if the refinery succeeds, it could boost investment from both…

On Tuesday, a UK regulator said it proposed to fine three of England’s biggest water suppliers a combined £168 million ($214 million) for failure over sewage management. Ofwat said that Thames Water, Britain’s biggest supplier, was struggling to stay afloat financially and could be fined the largest amount at £104 million. The regulator’s decision comes as Britain’s water industry faces huge scrutiny, including from the new Labour government and environmentalists, over the pollution of rivers and other waterways. “Ofwat has today proposed that three water companies will be fined a total of £168 million for failing to manage their wastewater…

Western powers called Monday for calm in Bangladesh after long-ruling leader Sheikh Hasina fled, with the United States saluting the military for forming an interim government rather than cracking down further on protesters. Sheikh Hasina, who had particularly close relations with regional power India, enjoyed a mostly cooperative relationship with the West during her 15 years in power but had increasingly drawn criticism for her authoritarian turn. The United States called on all sides in Bangladesh to “refrain from further violence” as bullet-ridden bodies were strewn across hospital floors and looting swept the capital Dhaka. “Too many lives have been…

Acting Governor of Katsina State, Faruk Jobe has approved the review of the 24-hour restriction of movement order imposed on Dutsinma Local Government Area and other 33 Local Government Areas of the state. Jobe granted the review of the Dutsinma curfew after receiving a report of an improved security situation in the area. He had placed the LGAs on a 7:00 pm to 7:00 am curfew. The Acting Governor who chaired a meeting of the State Security Council on Monday evening, directed the ban on unusual gatherings and all types of protests to remain imposed throughout the state. He appreciated…

Tropical Storm Debby drenched Florida on Monday, killing at least four people and threatening southeastern US states with heavy rainfall and catastrophic flooding. A 13-year-old boy died when a tree was blown onto a mobile home in Levy County, the sheriff’s office there said, after Debby made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast earlier Monday as a Category One hurricane. Authorities said a truck driver was killed after his 18-wheeler plunged into a canal in Hillsborough County, while a 38-year-old woman and 12-year-old boy died in a car crash in Dixie County. The storm moved into Georgia overnight and is expected…

Nigeria’s Favour Ofili was in tears after she stormed to the final of the 200m race in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ofili qualified for the final after picking up the second automatic spot in the race on Monday, reigniting Nigeria’s hopes for a medal at the Games. She finished with a season’s best of 22.05s, falling behind St Lucia’s Julien Alfred – the 100m champion – who crossed the line in a time of 21.98s. The United States Mary Long was in third, finishing in 22:30s. Ofili is the first Nigerian to reach the milestone since Mary Onyali raced to…