Author: Ndarake Okon
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, described as the global second-in-command of ISIS, was killed during a joint military operation carried out by American and Nigerian forces in northeastern Nigeria. According to Reports, the operation took place in Metele, Borno State, an area long affected by insurgency linked to Boko Haram and ISIS-affiliated groups. Trump said the mission was “meticulously planned” and credited intelligence sources for tracking al-Minuki’s movements across Africa. He praised both U.S. troops and the Nigerian Armed Forces for what he called a flawless execution of the operation, which reportedly targeted one of the world’s…
Premier League side Chelsea F.C. have reportedly agreed a four-year deal to appoint former Real Madrid CF and Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso as their new head coach. Reports say the agreement was reached after weeks of discussions between Chelsea’s hierarchy and the Spaniard. Chelsea began searching for a new manager after the dismissal of Liam Rosenior in April, following a poor run of results and growing frustration among supporters. The club’s disappointing 1-0 defeat to Manchester City F.C. in the FA Cup final further increased pressure on the ownership to make major changes ahead of next season. Alonso…
A young boy was reportedly hit by a stray bullet during a chaotic scene that erupted after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency carried out a raid in Ikang community of Bakassi Local Government Area, Cross River State. According to reports, the incident happened when some residents allegedly attempted to obstruct the NDLEA operation, leading to confusion and panic in the area. Witnesses said the operatives came to the community on an enforcement mission targeting suspected drug-related activities before the situation turned violent. During the disturbance, gunshots were reportedly fired and a stray bullet struck a young boy,…
Ghana has announced plans to evacuate about 300 of its citizens from South Africa following a renewed wave of xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals, particularly migrants from other sub-Saharan African countries. The decision was confirmed through a statement shared by Ghana’s Foreign Minister on social media platform X. According to the minister, the affected citizens had already registered with the Ghana High Commission in South Africa, requesting assistance to return home due to safety concerns. Authorities say the situation has made many Ghanaians in the country fearful of further attacks linked to ongoing anti-immigration protests. The unrest in South Africa…
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have been knocked out of the NBA playoffs after the Oklahoma City Thunder completed a commanding 4-0 series sweep with a 115-110 victory in Game 4. Oklahoma City maintained its unbeaten playoff run and advanced to the Western Conference finals for a second straight season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander starred again for the Thunder, finishing with 35 points to lead his side in the decisive win. Ajay Mitchell also made a major impact with 28 points, while Chet Holmgren added 16 points and nine rebounds as Oklahoma City closed out the series in Los Angeles.…
Hopes for a breakthrough peace deal between the United States and Iran have weakened after former U.S. President Donald Trump sharply rejected Tehran’s latest counterproposal, describing it as “garbage,”. The rejection came after Iran submitted a response to a U.S. peace initiative aimed at ending the ongoing conflict. Tehran’s proposal reportedly called for a broader regional ceasefire, including an end to fighting in places like Lebanon, alongside demands tied to sanctions relief, compensation for war damage, and recognition of Iranian control over strategic issues such as the Strait of Hormuz. Trump dismissed the Iranian response as unacceptable and suggested it…
Sean Strickland reclaimed the UFC middleweight title after defeating Khamzat Chimaev by split decision in the main event of UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey. The bout ended with judges scoring it 48-47, 47-48 and 48-47 in favour of Strickland, handing Chimaev the first defeat of his professional MMA career. Chimaev started strongly and dominated the opening round with his grappling and takedown pressure, controlling Strickland on the ground and threatening with submission attempts. However, Strickland gradually recovered and began to dictate the pace with his jab, movement and improved takedown defence as the fight progressed. The fight had attracted…
The United States and Iran remain far apart on ending their ongoing conflict despite fresh diplomatic efforts led by Qatar. Relative calm returned around the Strait of Hormuz after days of clashes, but both sides have yet to agree on a peace framework or a permanent ceasefire. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was expecting a response from Tehran on proposals aimed at stopping more than two months of fighting and opening broader negotiations, including discussions on Iran’s nuclear activities. However, there was no sign of an immediate Iranian reply. A major development involved a Qatari liquefied natural…
The Cross River State Internal Revenue Service has sealed off the offices of the Cross River Basin Development Authority and the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital over alleged unpaid tax liabilities amounting to about N154 million. The enforcement exercise was carried out in Calabar as part of efforts to recover outstanding taxes from defaulting institutions. Officials of the revenue service explained that the action followed several failed attempts to get the affected institutions to comply with tax obligations. According to the agency, repeated assessment notices, demand notices, and pre-distraint notices were ignored before the sealing exercise was eventually carried out. Director of…
AFC Bournemouth have dropped Spanish defender Álex Jiménez from their squad ahead of the Premier League clash against Fulham F.C. after allegations surfaced online involving alleged text exchanges with a minor. The club confirmed on Friday that it was aware of “posts circulating on social media” and had opened an internal investigation into the matter. Reports from several media outlets claim screenshots of conversations between Jiménez and a girl said to be 15 years old were shared online, although the authenticity of the posts has not been officially verified. Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola said the club must first determine “what…
Health authorities are investigating a new suspected case of hantavirus linked to the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, as global contact tracing efforts continue. According report that the latest suspected infection involves a British passenger who disembarked on the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha after the vessel stopped there in mid-April. The outbreak has already resulted in the deaths of three passengers — a Dutch couple and a German national — while several others are receiving treatment in hospitals across Europe and Africa. Health officials said the outbreak involves the rare Andes strain of hantavirus, which unlike…
U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran remains in place despite renewed clashes in the Gulf region. Trump said American forces responded after three U.S. Navy destroyers were attacked while passing through the Strait of Hormuz, although no damage was reported to the vessels. The latest fighting reportedly began after Iran accused the U.S. of violating the truce through attacks on Iranian tankers and civilian-linked targets. Iran also carried out fresh military actions near the Gulf, while the United Arab Emirates said it intercepted Iranian missiles and drones aimed at its territory,…
English clubs enjoyed another memorable night in European football as Aston Villa and Crystal Palace secured places in continental finals after impressive semi-final victories. The two Premier League sides produced dominant performances to continue England’s strong presence in UEFA competitions this season. At Villa Park, Aston Villa overturned a first-leg deficit by thrashing Nottingham Forest 4-0 to advance 4-1 on aggregate into the UEFA Europa League final. Goals from Ollie Watkins, Emi Buendia and a brace from captain John McGinn sealed a famous comeback for Unai Emery’s side in front of an electric home crowd. Villa will now face German…
Tension continues to grow inside the Real Madrid CF dressing room following reports of repeated confrontations between players during training sessions. Spanish media outlets reported that midfielders Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni were involved in another heated clash this week, with the disagreement allegedly escalating into a physical altercation before teammates and coaching staff intervened. The situation has further intensified after reports emerged that defender Antonio Rüdiger also became involved in a separate dressing-room incident where he allegedly slapped a teammate during an argument. The reports claim frustrations inside the squad have reached boiling point following the club’s disappointing run…
Five indigenes of Cross River State and two babies were among 64 Nigerians arrested by Ugandan immigration authorities during a raid on a religious gathering in Kampala, Uganda. Reports said the operation was carried out by Uganda’s National Citizenship and Immigration Control (NCIC) over allegations of illegal church activities and immigration violations. The affected Cross Riverians were identified among the detained Nigerians after Ugandan authorities stormed the gathering in late April 2026. Authorities claimed many of those arrested lacked valid work permits and immigration documents required to conduct religious activities in the country. Sources familiar with the matter said the…
Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has strongly rejected claims made by former governor Benedict Ayade regarding political developments in Cross River North. Jarigbe accused Ayade of distorting facts and attempting to rewrite political history following comments suggesting that President Tinubu asked the former governor to withdraw from the Senate race. The senator described Ayade’s remarks as misleading and claimed that the former governor no longer holds the political influence he once enjoyed in the state. The exchange has intensified political tension within the region ahead of the next election cycle. Political observers say the public disagreement highlights deepening divisions among political…