Author: Mayor

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld on Friday a law banning TikTok in the United States on national security grounds if its Chinese parent company ByteDance does not sell the short-video app by Sunday, as the justices in a 9-0 decision declined to rescue a platform used by about half of all Americans. The justices ruled that the law, passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress last year and signed by Democratic President Joe Biden, did not violate the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment protection against government abridgment of free speech. The justices affirmed a lower court’s decision that had upheld…

Rights groups fear “mass atrocities” in Uganda as it prepares for an election next year, with President Museveni seeking a seventh term, a crackdown on the opposition and violent threats from the heir apparent. President Yoweri Museveni, 80, will already have been in power for 40 years when the election takes place on January 12, 2026. He launched the process with a voter registration drive last week. The opposition says hundreds of their supporters disappeared or were killed during the last presidential election in 2021 when musician-turned-politician Bobi Wine presented the biggest threat yet to Museveni’s reign. Wine —…

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has signed a new nine-and-a-half-year contract, extending his stay at the club until 2034. The deal eliminates the release clauses included in his previous agreement, which was set to expire in June 2027. The contract, described by The Athletic as one of the most lucrative in sports history, cements Haaland’s commitment to the club. “I am really happy to have signed my new contract and to be able to look forward to spending even more time at this great club,” Haaland said. “Manchester City is a special club, full of fantastic people with amazing supporters,…

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday fixed January 20, 2025, for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to arraign the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko, and a former First Bank Managing Director, Stephen Onasanya, for allegedly looting N12.3bn from First Bank. Otudeko, a former Chairman of First Bank of Nigeria Holdings, and Onasanya are to be arraigned alongside a former board member of Honeywell, Soji Akintayo, and a firm, Anchorage Leisure Limited, allegedly connected to Otudeko. According to EFCC, the four defendants allegedly committed fraud in tranches of N5.2bn, N6.2bn, N6.150bn, N1.5bn and N500m, between 2013…

Since its debut in December 2023, Inside Sources with Laolu Akande on Channels TV has become a hub for deep and critical conversations about Nigeria’s governance, socio-political challenges, and economic future. Hosted by veteran journalist and former presidential aide Laolu Akande, the program provides a platform for thought leaders, policymakers, and activists to reflect on the nation’s current state and its trajectory toward progress. Asked what drives the programme, its guests and themes, Akande says: “it’s about the future of the country. We bring older people to come and reflect. Then we bring younger, newer voices to come and cast…

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed its strong support for the ongoing legislative process to pass President Bola Tinubu’s Tax Reform Bills at the National Assembly, describing the reforms as essential for modernizing Nigeria’s fiscal policies. In a communique issued after their meeting on Thursday, January 16, 2025, the governors agreed to retain the current Value Added Tax (VAT) rate and Corporate Income Tax (CIT) to ensure economic stability. They also endorsed a revised VAT sharing formula, which allocates resources as follows: 50% based on equality, 30% based on derivation, and 20% based on population. The communique, seen by…

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, has announced that Nigerians will face a 30-60 percent increase in the cost of calls, data, and other telecommunications services. Speaking on Tuesday while responding to questions Channels Television’s Politics Today, Tijani explained that the increase in call and data tariffs is necessary to sustain investments critical to the growth of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector and overall economic development. “The telecommunications tariff increase should not be more than 30 to 60 percent,” Tijani said. “The sector is about investment in infrastructure; the technologies are changing, so you have to keep investing in…

Bologna rescued a hard-fought point at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza with a second 2-2 draw in three league meetings, coming from behind to deny Inter Milan the chance to close the gap to Serie A leaders SSC Napoli. Nikola Moro set the tone early on, forcing Yann Sommer into a fine save to tip his effort onto the post before his mishit volley set up Santiago Castro, who slotted past the goalkeeper inside 15 minutes – a goal that ended Inter’Milan’s clean sheet streak in the league which dated back to early December. The Nerazzurri wasted no time responding, as…

Barcelona stormed into the Copa del Rey quarter-finals with a commanding 5-1 win over Real Betis at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday, thanks to a standout performance from 17-year-old Lamine Yamal. Yamal scored and played a key role in two other goals as Hansi Flick’s side delivered a dominant display, building on their Spanish Super Cup triumph over Real Madrid last weekend. Gavi opened the scoring in just the second minute, capping off a fluid team move initiated by Dani Olmo, who started as a false nine in place of the rested Robert Lewandowski. Olmo, controversially granted a temporary playing…

Arsenal moved up to second in the Premier League table after a spirited 2-1 comeback victory over Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium, completing their fifth league double over their bitter rivals. Following back-to-back cup defeats against Newcastle United and Manchester United, doubts loomed over Arsenal’s ability to challenge for major trophies. However, the Gunners entered the North London derby determined to revive their faltering title bid. In contrast, Tottenham, under Ange Postecoglou, faced far grimmer prospects, trailing Arsenal by 16 points ahead of the clash. Despite their struggles, Spurs held firm early on, with Radu Drăgușin blocking Leandro Trossard’s…