Author: David Great

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for the Islamic Republic to surrender unconditionally, stating that Iran will never submit to threats or pressure. In a televised statement read by a presenter on Wednesday, Khamenei stressed that Iran’s future would not be dictated by foreign powers. His comments come days after Israel launched a major aerial assault on Tehran, intensifying a volatile situation in the region. “Intelligent people who know Iran, the Iranian nation, and its history will never speak to this nation in threatening language because the Iranian nation will not surrender,”…

WhatsApp has expressed concern that its platform may be banned in Iran after the country’s state broadcaster called on citizens to delete the messaging app. The Iranian state television channel, IRIB, made the appeal on Tuesday, accusing WhatsApp of sharing user data with Israel, the country’s longtime adversary. According to IRIB, WhatsApp allegedly collects personal data such as “last known locations and communications” and shares them with Israeli authorities. The broadcaster’s warning comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries, which have exchanged fire for six consecutive days. Israel recently claimed to have targeted a nuclear site near Tehran. Responding…

Liverpool will begin their Premier League title defence with a home match against Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15 while Manchester United will host Arsenal at Old Trafford in their opening game two days later, the Premier League said on Wednesday. Manchester City, who are eyeing a seventh Premier League title under Pep Guardiola, take a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers for their season opener on August 16. The Premier League noted that the kick-off times of weekend and Bank Holiday matches are 15:00 UK time, while for midweek matches it is 19:45 unless otherwise stated. The new season begins with…

Israel began flying home citizens stranded abroad on Wednesday, launching a phased airlift operation after the country’s surprise military strike on Iran left tens of thousands stuck overseas. The first rescue flight, operated by national carrier El Al, touched down at Ben Gurion Airport early Wednesday morning, bringing home passengers from Larnaca, Cyprus. Worldwide, Israel’s transport ministry estimates that more than 50,000 stranded Israelis are trying to come home. El Al has said repatriation flights are already scheduled from Athens, Rome, Milan and Paris. Smaller rivals Arkia and Israir are also taking part in the operation. “We are preparing for…

The Niger State Government has disclosed that more than 700 people remain unaccounted for following the devastating flood that struck Mokwa town, the headquarters of Mokwa Local Government Area. Governor Umaru Bago, represented by Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba, made the revelation on Tuesday in Minna while receiving a condolence delegation led by Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to the late Gen. Sani Abacha. So far, 207 deaths have been confirmed, and over 3,000 households have been displaced due to the disaster. Additionally, about 400 houses sustained damage, while 283 homes and 50 shops were completely destroyed. Describing the…

The House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has commenced a comprehensive investigation into the alleged diversion of N1.12 trillion earmarked for the Anchors Borrowers Programme (ABP), initially designed to support farmers across Nigeria. At the investigative hearing held in Abuja on Tuesday, Committee Chairman Chike Okafor expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the disbursement process involving various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). He said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reportedly disbursed the funds to over 4.67 million farmers cultivating crops such as maize, rice, and wheat, using 563 anchors and 24 participating financial institutions.…

Despite its status as Africa’s top crude oil producer, Nigeria imported crude oil worth N1.19 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting the nation’s struggle to meet local refining needs due to inadequate domestic supply. This was revealed in the latest Foreign Trade in Goods Statistics report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for Q1 2025. The report listed crude oil imports—classified as “Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals, crude”—as Nigeria’s third most imported commodity for the quarter, accounting for 7.7% of total imports. Only gas oil (N1.83tn) and motor spirit (N1.76tn) surpassed it. A breakdown…

Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr and Al-Qadsiah have expressed interest in Tottenham Hotspur and South Korea forward Son Heung-min, 32, with the trio each prepared to pay £34m for him. (Talksport) Son Heung-min won the Europa League with Tottenham last season, the only trophy he won with the north London club (Chronicle NG) Manchester United have agreed a one-year contract with English goalkeeper Tom Heaton to keep the 39-year-old at Old Trafford. (Fabrizio Romano) Bournemouth and England right-back Max Aarons, 25, is a target for Rangers, with the Cherries favouring a permanent sale rather than a loan. (Daily Record) Chelsea’s…

Super Eagles winger Moses Simon is on the brink of completing a transfer to newly promoted Ligue 1 side Paris FC. According to hommedumatch.tr, the Super Eagles winger will sign a three-year contract with the French club, who will pay €6.5 million to acquire him from FC Nantes. The 29-year-old is expected to earn approximately €300,000 per month at his new club. Simon has spent the last six seasons with Nantes, where he became a key player. In the 2024/2025 Ligue 1 campaign, he registered eight goals and ten assists in 32 league appearances for the Canaries. His move marks…

Tottenham Hotspur has officially named Thomas Frank as the club’s new head coach, following an extensive recruitment process that evaluated more than 30 potential candidates. The appointment comes shortly after the club parted ways with Ange Postecoglou, despite his historic achievement of guiding Spurs to their first major trophy in 17 years by winning the Europa League. To secure Frank’s services, Tottenham paid £10 million in compensation to London rivals Brentford. Tottenham’s CEO, Vinai Venkatesham, explained the club’s selection process, “We ran a really, really thorough process at speed,” said Venkatesham. “We defined 10 characteristics that we think are important…