The Economic Community of West African States Authority of Heads of State and Government, on Sunday, in Abuja, issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Niger Republic military to release and reinstate President Mohammed Bazoum as the legitimate Head of State and government of the landlocked state. But  without delay , the Niger juntas shunned the whistle and warned ECOWAS against military intervention, saying, “We want to once more remind ECOWAS or any other adventurer of our firm determination to defend our homeland.” ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held an extraordinary meeting on Sunday at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, to discuss the next line of action on the developments in Niger Republic. Recognising Bazoum as the legitimate President, the bloc rehashed its earlier resolution to explore “all measures necessary” to restore democratic governance in Niger. “Such measures may include the use of force. To this effect, the Chiefs of Defence Staff of EC...

  Leandro Trossard scored twice as Arsenal defeat Barcelona 5-3 in an entertaining pre-season friendly at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Trossard's second-half double helped Mikel Arteta's side secure a comeback victory over the Spanish champions. Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz twice hauled Arsenal level in the first half before Trossard's goals put the Gunners in control after the break. Fabio Vieira added a stunning fifth after Ferran Torres cut the deficit. Arsenal, Premier League runners-up last season, begin their season on 6 August against Treble winners Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley. At the home of the NFL's Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring after seven minutes when he followed up Raphinha's saved attempt. Saka slotted in a 13th-minute equaliser, but the England international then sent a penalty wide midway through the first half. After Raphinha's free-kick deflected in off Mar...

Manchester United gained bragging rights over rivals Arsenal as first-half goals from Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho sealed a 2-0 friendly win at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The match was played in front of a stadium soccer record crowd of 82,262. Fernandes celebrated being appointed United's new captain by beating Aaron Ramsdale from 20 yards, although the Arsenal keeper could have done better. And Sancho doubled the advantage with a powerful shot into the top corner. The winger, playing as a false nine in an outfield line-up manager Erik ten Hag changed completely at half-time, finished after speeding on to a mistake from Gabriel. However, it was not all good news for United, who lost forward Amad Diallo to injury minutes after his introduction at the interval.

  The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace says it will get together with the United States on direct flight to Houston, Texas. The Permanent Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Meribole, made the promise during a visit to the Ministry by a delegation from the United States led by the Mayor of Houston, Texas, Sylvester Turner on Tuesday in Abuja. The ministry promised the US delegation that the Federal Government of Nigeria would work on its requests for a direct flight from Nigeria to Houston, a consulate office in Houston, and expand bilateral relations with the Government of America. According to a statement by a spokesperson for the ministry, Odutayo Oluseyi, all modalities required for the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) between Nigeria and the US for the direct flight to Texas would commence as soon as new ministers are appointed and deployed in Nigeria. The Mayor said the delegation’s visit to Nigeria is to strengthen the current relationship between Nigeria and the United...

Carlee Russell was on the phone with a family member when she pulled over to check on a child she saw walking on side of the Alabama interstate. She  told the dispatcher about the child around 9:35 p.m., called a family member to report the same information on I-459 South near mile marker 11 to check on the toddler, the Hoover Police Department said. From Hoover Police Around 9:34 last night the Hoover 911 Center received a call from a 25-year-old female on I-459 South near mile marker 11 near exit 10. She told them she saw a toddler walking on the side of the interstate. After calling 911 the caller stopped to check on the child and called a family member to report the same details. The family member lost contact with her, but the line remained open. Officers who were already en route to the location of the initial 911 call located the female’s vehicle and some of her belongings nearby, but were unable to find her or a child in the area. Hoover Police have not received any other c...

Justice Hamza Muazu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, has issued a one-week ultimatum to the Department of the State Security Service (DSS) to either charge the detained suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele to Court or set him free. The Judge issued the order while delivering ruling in a fundamental human rights suit instituted against the DSS and others by Emefiele. The judge said Emefiele hasn’t shown that his arrest and investigation is unlawful, but noted that it is within his right to get fair hearing. Justice Muazu further stated that the suspended CBN governor can’t remain in detention without a formal charge, adding also that the DSS can’t use the period of Emefiele’s detention to search for evidence against him. Justice Muazu held that the DSS has power to carry out its constitutional duties of making arrest, detain and ensuring prevention of internal crime but however said that such duties must be carried out within the la...

B attle-scarred,  Sudan is on the brink of a “full-scale civil war” that could destabilize the entire region, the United Nations warned Sunday, after an air strike on a residential area killed around two dozen civilians. The Ministry of Health reported “22 dead and a large number of wounded among the civilians” from the strike on Khartoum’s sister city Omdurman, in the district of Dar al-Salam, which means “House of Peace” in Arabic. After nearly three months of war between Sudan’s rival generals, the air strike is the latest incident to provoke outrage. Around 3,000 people have been killed in the conflict, survivors have reported a wave of sexual violence and witnesses have spoken of ethnically targeted killings. There has been widespread looting, and the UN warned of possible crimes against humanity in the Darfur region. A video posted by the health ministry on Facebook showed apparently lifeless bodies after the airstrike, including several women. The narrator says that resident...