Author: David Great

Nottingham Forest’s Champions League dreams took a major hit as Brentford cruised to a 2-0 win at the City Ground, registering their sixth victory in their last eight away league matches. Fresh off their FA Cup semi-final disappointment, Forest came into this game desperate to reclaim momentum in the top-five race. But it was Brentford, with little more than pride at stake, who looked sharper from the off. Sepp van den Berg nearly gave the visitors an early lead, only for Matz Sels to make a sharp save. Forest grew into the game, but frustrations mounted when Keane Lewis-Potter escaped…

Donald Trump’s national security advisor, Mike Waltz, is set to leave his position following a controversy involving a leaked Signal chat group, multiple US media outlets reported on Thursday. This marks the first major personnel exit of Trump’s second term, which has otherwise been notably stable compared to his first time in office. CBS News confirmed that both Waltz and his deputy, Alex Wong, are on their way out of the White House, though no official confirmation has been issued. Fox News indicated that President Trump is expected to comment on the development soon. Waltz, 51, a former U.S. congressman…

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has called for the immediate withdrawal of a proposed tax bill by the Federal Government, describing it as “insensitive” and “anti-worker.” Speaking during the 2025 May Day celebration in Abuja, the TUC President, Mr. Festus Osifo, strongly criticised the tax proposal, saying it unfairly burdens workers while leaving out the wealthy and corporate elites. According to Osifo, “The tax proposals were drafted without the involvement of workers. They impose heavy burdens on our meagre allowances — housing, transport, and even medical benefits, yet fail to promote a progressive taxation system that ensures the rich pay…

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has introduced strict new penalties for individuals found violating Hajj permit regulations, as part of efforts to strengthen control over access to Makkah during the annual pilgrimage. In a statement issued Thursday via the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the country’s Ministry of Interior announced that violators will now face hefty sanctions. Chief among them is a fine of $26,661 for anyone who applies for a visit visa on behalf of individuals intending to perform Hajj without proper authorization. The ministry emphasized that the new measures are part of intensified efforts to prevent unauthorized access to…

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for a nationwide extension of the retirement age for all categories of civil servants, demanding parity with the conditions already granted to specific sectors. This demand was made by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, during the May Day celebration held at Eagle Square in Abuja on Thursday. Presenting some of the union’s demands, Ajaero said, “It is imperative to extend the revised retirement age of 65 years or 40 years of service currently enjoyed by teachers, health professionals, and judges to all public servants.” The current retirement age of 65 years or 40 years…

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has returned to training for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in September, manager Pep Guardiola said on Thursday. The Spain international’s absence following surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament has been cited as a major reason City’s quest for a fifth straight Premier League title crumbled. While the 28-year-old Ballon d’Or winner’s recovery has probably come too late for this campaign, the news of his return to the grass is a welcome boost for City. Guardiola also said their Norway striker Erling Haaland is back in training, having not played since March…

Barcelona and Inter Milan played out a dramatic 3-3 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final, delivering a spectacle packed with goals, momentum swings, and standout individual moments at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. Inter got off to a dream start, stunning the hosts just 30 seconds into the match. Denzel Dumfries whipped in a low cross that Marcus Thuram stylishly flicked past Wojciech Szczesny to open the scoring. Inter doubled their lead in the 21st minute when Dumfries turned scorer, acrobatically volleying home after a deft flick-on from Francesco Acerbi. Barcelona responded swiftly. Lamine Yamal…

A Magistrate Court sitting in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State has sentenced controversial hip-hop artiste, Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, to three months’ imprisonment for assault. The sentence comes with an option of a N30,000 fine. Portable was initially arraigned before the court in April 2023 on a three-count charge involving assault and theft of musical equipment, under charge sheet number MIF/192C/2023. At the time, he was granted bail set at N300,000 with two sureties from his immediate family. The artist, however, reportedly failed to appear in court for subsequent proceedings. As a result, he was…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared a foreign national, Elie Bitar, wanted for his alleged involvement in a cryptocurrency investment fraud associated with the online trading platform, Crypto Bridge Exchange (CBEX). In an official bulletin released by the Commission, the EFCC stated that the 41-year-old is being sought in connection with a suspected fraudulent scheme that has defrauded several investors across Nigeria through CBEX. “The public is hereby notified that ELIE BITAR, whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for fraud allegedly perpetrated on an online trading platform called Crypto…

Former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, has expressed confidence in the party’s ability to return to power in the 2027 general elections, brushing aside concerns over recent defections and internal divisions. Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise TV on Wednesday, Baraje downplayed the impact of the recent wave of defections on the PDP’s strength, asserting that the party remains a resilient opposition force. “As far as I’m concerned, whether there are defections or not, the PDP remains a formidable opposition party. Concerning the recent defection of the Delta State Governor and his team, we’ve…