Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

President Tinubu Lands In Brazil For Historic BRICS Summit Appearance. President Bola Tinubu touched down in Rio de Janeiro on Friday evening, 4 July 2025, to attend the 17th BRICS Summit, marking Nigeria’s inaugural participation as a “partner country” in the influential economic bloc. Arriving at Rio International Airport at approximately 8:45 p.m. local time, the Nigerian leader was warmly received by Brazilian officials, including the Secretary for Africa and the Middle East and the Secretary for Innovation and Commerce, following a state visit to Saint Lucia. The summit, scheduled for 6-7 July, represents a significant moment for Nigeria’s growing…

Ahmed Musa Appointed General Manager Of Kano Pillars In Bold Move For NPFL Club. Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has named former Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa as the new General Manager of Kano Pillars Football Club, marking a significant step in the club’s ambition to reclaim its status as a powerhouse in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The appointment, announced on Friday, 4 July 2025, by the governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, forms part of a broader initiative to restructure the club’s management board and enhance its performance in the upcoming 2025/2026 season. Musa, a…

Russia Officially Recognises Taliban Rule In Afghanistan, Marking Global First. Moscow, Russia – In a historic move, Russia has become the first nation to formally recognise the Taliban’s government in Afghanistan, a decision that has sparked widespread international discussion. The announcement, made by Russian authorities on Thursday, marks a significant shift in global diplomacy towards the Taliban, who have been in control of Afghanistan since August 2021. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the recognition reflects a pragmatic approach to engaging with the Taliban government, citing the need for stability in the region and cooperation on issues such as…

Matheus Cunha Takes Manchester United’s Iconic Number 10 Shirt From Marcus Rashford . Manchester United have confirmed that their new signing, Matheus Cunha, will wear the prestigious number 10 shirt for the upcoming 2025/26 season, a decision that signals the end of Marcus Rashford’s tenure at Old Trafford. The club informed Rashford’s representatives in advance of the move, which sees the £62.5m arrival from Wolves inherit the iconic jersey previously worn by club legends such as Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Bobby Charlton. Rashford, 27, has been a significant figure at Manchester United since breaking through as an…

Peru Updates Health Policy To Classify Homosexuality As Mental Disorder. The Peruvian government has issued a decree classifying homosexuality as a mental disorder, as part of an update to the country’s Essential Health Insurance Plan. Signed by President Dina Boluarte on 10 May 2024, Supreme Decree 009-2024 aims to ensure broader mental health service coverage, according to the Ministry of Health. The classification includes “ego-dystonic sexual orientation” and other gender identity-related conditions, drawing from the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10). The decree also lists “transsexualism, dual-role transvestism, and fetishistic transvestism” as mental health conditions, aligning them…

Governor Mbah Advocates For New South-East State, Rotational Presidency, And State Police. Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has urged the creation of an additional state in Nigeria’s South-East region to address the long-standing imbalance in the country’s geopolitical structure. Speaking on Thursday at the Government House in Enugu during a courtesy visit from the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment, Mbah highlighted the need for constitutional reforms to promote equity, security, and national unity. His proposals include not only the creation of a new state but also the adoption of a rotational presidency and the establishment of state police services.…

Nigerian Banks Restore International Transactions On Naira Cards After Years Of Suspension. In a significant boost for Nigerian consumers and businesses, several commercial banks in Nigeria have reinstated international transactions on naira-denominated cards, marking the end of a nearly three-year suspension. The move, announced by major financial institutions including United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Wema Bank, allows customers to once again use their naira cards for global payments, online shopping, and ATM withdrawals abroad. This development is set to enhance financial flexibility and support Nigeria’s growing digital economy. The decision to resume international transactions comes after a period…

CAF Boosts WAFCON 2024 Prize Money With $1 Million For Winners. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a substantial increase in prize money for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), set to take place in Morocco from 5 to 26 July. The winners of the tournament will now claim a record-breaking $1 million (£780,000), doubling the previous edition’s prize, while the total prize pool has surged by 45% to $3.475 million (£2.7 million). This significant financial uplift reflects CAF’s commitment to advancing women’s football across the continent. The runners-up will receive $500,000 (£390,000), with the…

NIMC Restores NIN Verification Services Nationwide After System Upgrade. The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has successfully restored its National Identification Number (NIN) verification services across Nigeria, bringing relief to millions of citizens and organisations reliant on the system. The announcement, made on Friday, follows the completion of a technical maintenance exercise that temporarily disrupted services. The restoration of the NIN verification services is a significant development for banks, telecommunications companies, and government agencies, which depend on real-time NIN verification for customer onboarding and service delivery. The downtime had caused delays in various operations, but the NIMC has now…

Real Madrid Players Set For €1 Million Bonus Each If They Win 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. In a bold move to incentivise their star-studded squad, Real Madrid have announced that each player will receive a staggering €1 million bonus should they emerge victorious in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The news, reported by Spanish outlet Diario AS, underscores the club’s determination to claim the inaugural expanded tournament, which will take place in the United States from 14 June to 13 July 2025. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup marks a significant evolution of the competition, expanding…

Former Arsenal Star Thomas Partey Charged With Multiple Counts Of Rape And Sexual Assault. Thomas Partey, the former Arsenal midfielder and Ghana international, has been charged with five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault, the Metropolitan Police Service confirmed on Friday, 4 July 2025. The charges, which relate to alleged incidents involving three women between 2021 and 2022, follow a lengthy investigation that began in February 2022 after an initial report of rape was made to authorities. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised the charges after reviewing a comprehensive file of evidence compiled by Metropolitan Police…

Breaking: Court Orders Senate To Reinstate Suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. A Federal High Court in Nigeria has ruled that the Senate must immediately recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, declaring her six-month suspension unconstitutional and excessive. The decision, hailed as a significant victory for the senator and her constituents, was announced on Friday, 4 July 2025, sparking widespread discussion across the country. The court’s ruling came after a legal challenge against the Senate’s decision to suspend Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who represents Kogi Central. The suspension, enacted earlier this year, was deemed to violate Section 14(2) of the Senate’s Privileges Act, which governs…