The United States House of Representatives has passed a bill prohibiting transgender men from competing in men’s sports and transgender women from participating in women’s sports. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced the development on Tuesday via X, stating, “Today is a great day in America because House Republicans just passed @RepGregSteube’s Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act ensuring men cannot compete in women’s sports. Men are men, women are women, and men cannot become women. It’s just that simple.” This decision comes ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next week. Trump, who previously banned transgender individuals from serving in the military, is speculated to revisit such policies during his administration. The  Human Rights Campaign , an LGBTQ+ advocacy group, noted that there has been “considerable disinformation and misinformation about what the inclusion of transgender youth in sports entails” and that trans students’ sports participation “...

Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have taken a significant step toward the successful organization of the 2025 Hajj by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement aims to enhance the pilgrimage experience for Nigerian Muslims through improved coordination and service delivery. The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria, under the delegation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar. Dr. Abdulfattah Mashat, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, represented Saudi Arabia in the signing ceremony. In a statement by Alkasim Abdulkadir, Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the MoU builds upon prior agreements and focuses on key areas such as accommodation, transportation, healthcare, and other essential services to ensure a smooth and enriching Hajj experience for Nigerian pilgrims. Ambassador Tuggar emphasized the enduring ...

Image courtesy of   u_lz4ssdkkjl  /  Pixabay Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly agreed to extend his contract with Al Nassr, a deal that will make him the highest-paid player in football history. The new contract is expected to be worth £173 million per season, solidifying the 39-year-old striker’s position as one of the sport's most lucrative talents. Ronaldo's current contract is due to expire in the summer, but he seems keen to continue his career with Al Nassr, despite being linked with other clubs, including Al-Hilal, where Neymar Jr. plays. Sources indicate that Ronaldo is not looking to join Al-Hilal, but rather to compete against them. Additionally, Ronaldo is seeking assurances from Al Nassr regarding significant spending in the upcoming summer transfer window. Since joining Al Nassr, Ronaldo has scored 81 goals in 90 appearances, adding to his goal-scoring legacy after becoming a centurion at previous clubs Manchester United, Real Madrid, and J...

An Oyo State High Court in Ring Road has granted bail to Naomi Silekunola, the former queen of the Ooni of Ife, alongside broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat and Abdulahi Fasasi, the Principal of Islamic High School. The court, presided over by Justice K.B. Olawoyin, made the ruling on Monday following a bail application submitted by the trio's legal counsel. The bail conditions include a N10 million bond, two sureties who must provide landed property documents within the court's jurisdiction, and the deposit of their international passports with the court. Additionally, they are prohibited from giving interviews while the case is ongoing. The defendants had been in custody since December 24, after their arrest in connection with a deadly stampede on December 18, 2024, during a funfair that resulted in the deaths of 35 children. The Oyo State Government charged them with murder, manslaughter, conspiracy, and criminal negligence. Counsel for Hamzat, Adekunle Sobaloju, confirmed that the ...

A funeral service was held on Sunday in memory of the late former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, in Abeokuta, Nigeria.  The tribute, titled “Jimmy Carter: The Departure of a Titan”, was read during a memorial service held on Sunday at the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun state. Speaking at the event, Obasanjo explained that the service was in memory of the life and times of former President Jimmy Carter for his selfless service to humanity through his Carter Centre. Obasanjo posthumously thanked Carter for saving his life from the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha. “By the morning of January 5, 2025, I received information that my friend and brother, Ambassador Andy Young, was looking for me. Of course, I knew that it would have been Andy’s desire that I should be at President Jimmy Carter’s funeral ceremony in Atlanta and in Washington DC, USA. “I knew that other people were pressing for...

President Bola Tinubu has approved a ban on homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, and cross-dressing within the Nigerian Military, deeming these behaviors inconsistent with the ethical standards of the armed forces. This is contained in Section 26 of the revised Harmonised Armed Forces Terms and Conditions of Service signed by President Bola Tinubu in December 2024. The section reads in part: “An officer must not engage in homosexuality, lesbianism, and bestiality. “He/she is not to belong to or engage in activities of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender or Trans, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual or Agender, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) group and cross-dressing, amongst others. “An officer must not engage in body piercing and tattooing of any part of his body. An officer shall not engage in any form of disorderly behaviour, brawl, or any action of public disgrace. An officer must not at any time be drunk whether on or off duty.” The section further prohibits officers from engag...