Author: David Great

Former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales testified on Tuesday, maintaining that the kiss he shared with Spain’s Jenni Hermoso during the 2023 Women’s World Cup medal ceremony was consensual. Rubiales, 47, faces charges of sexual assault and coercion, with prosecutors seeking a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. The controversy erupted after the incident, which took place following Spain’s World Cup victory in Australia, leading to Rubiales’ eventual resignation. Speaking at Spain’s National Court, the former Spanish FA boss stated he was “totally sure” that Hermoso had agreed to the kiss. Luis Rubiales, ex-Spain football chief’s trial over Hermoso kiss begins Monday…

Arab nations have strongly opposed U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza and establish U.S. control over the region, according to Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty. During a meeting in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Abdelatty emphasized the urgency of rebuilding Gaza while ensuring that Palestinians remain in their homeland. A U.S. State Department statement released after the meeting did not directly address Trump’s plan. However, it highlighted the importance of close U.S.-Arab cooperation regarding Gaza’s governance and security, stating that “Hamas should never again govern Gaza or threaten Israel.” Egypt’s foreign ministry…

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has drawn attention to a strong warning issued by an APC member and political commentator Uche Diala, who cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s supporters, particularly those from the South West, noting that, they risk jeopardizing the party’s chances in 2027. Diala’s statement, shared on social media and amplified by El-Rufai, warned that growing friction between Tinubu’s administration and the North could have serious political consequences. He likened the situation to the mistakes that led to the downfall of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. “It is actually premature to be talking about 2027 elections…

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti believes the victor of his team’s Champions League clash with Manchester City will be a strong contender for the title. The two European giants are set to face off for the fourth consecutive season, with the first leg taking place in Manchester on Tuesday. However, this meeting comes earlier than usual, as both teams struggled in the newly formatted league phase, each suffering three defeats in eight matches. City narrowly advanced to the knockout rounds after a late comeback against Club Brugge, but their domestic form has been far from convincing. The reigning Premier League…

Despite playing the final 30 minutes with 10 men, Barcelona secured a crucial 3-1 victory over Sevilla, bringing them within two points of LaLiga leaders Real Madrid. Hansi Flick’s side claimed their ninth win in 11 games, capitalizing on the points dropped by the top two in the Madrid derby. Barcelona wasted no time asserting dominance, taking the lead just seven minutes in. A well-executed corner routine saw Iñigo Martínez head the ball into Robert Lewandowski’s path, allowing the Polish striker to slot home. However, their defensive frailties were exposed almost immediately, as Sevilla responded within a minute. Saúl’s incisive…

Valencia took a significant step towards LaLiga survival with a vital 2-0 victory over Leganes at the Mestalla, marking their first win against the visitors in six meetings. The result brings them within a point of escaping the relegation zone in what was an early-season six-pointer. Despite coming off a heavy Copa del Rey defeat to Barcelona, Valencia showed renewed confidence under new coach Carlos Corberan. The high-stakes nature of the match was evident from the outset, with Leganes pushing forward aggressively but failing to seriously test Liverpool-bound goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The breakthrough arrived in controversial fashion when the referee…

Plymouth Argyle delivered a remarkable FA Cup upset as the Championship’s bottom team shocked Premier League leaders Liverpool at a vibrant Home Park. Liverpool manager Arne Slot made 10 changes from the team that defeated Tottenham to advance to the Carabao Cup final, and paid the price as as Plymouth made the most of the opportunity to secure a spot in the fifth round. The match took a turn eight minutes into the second half when Plymouth were awarded a penalty after Harvey Elliott’s handled the ball, with Ryan Hardie confidently converting the spot-kick. Shortly after, Hardie nearly scored again…

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid battled to a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu, marking the seventh stalemate in their last eight encounters. The result keeps Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga, maintaining their one-point advantage over their city rivals. The high-stakes derby began cautiously, with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances in the opening exchanges. Early attempts from Samuel Lino and Vinícius Júnior failed to hit the target as both teams probed for an opening. Controversy struck just past the half-hour mark when referee César Soto Grado awarded Atletico a penalty after consulting the pitchside monitor. Aurelien…

An EFCC prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Chinese national Xiao Hong Will has revealed shocking details of how he and other Nigerian youths were allegedly recruited to carry out cyber fraud under coercion. Testifying before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, February 7, 2025, Rowland Turaki, a cyber security student, narrated how his employers instructed him to impersonate a woman to gain the trust of clients. “I met him at the office, where we work. He is one of our employers. Sometime in mid-November, I was on Jiji.ng looking for a…

In the face of expected US tariffs, Canada wants to strengthen its economic connections with the EU and upload international trade rules, Canadian commerce minister Mary Ng told Reuters on Saturday. Since 2017, the EU and Canada have enjoyed the benefits of a free trade agreement that has increased bilateral commerce by 65% and established a cooperation for raw materials in 2021. Ng met EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic for a lunch on Saturday following a meeting with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director general of the World Trade Organization in Geneva on Friday. “Trade agreements are one thing, and we have…