Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has declared over the weekend that his administration’s focus on widespread developmental projects, particularly in neglected rural areas. He said this will be instrumental in delivering the 2.5 million votes he has pledged to President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election. Speaking at a South-South Stakeholders forum of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) in Benin City, Mr Okpebholo emphasised his strategy of extending…

Middle-class families are increasingly seeking to leave Britain for southern Europe, as concerns grow over Labour’s tax agenda under Chancellor Rachel Reeves. New data shows a surge in UK applications for so-called golden visa schemes in countries like Greece and Portugal, offering residency in exchange for property investment. The trend has accelerated since Labour’s election victory last summer, driven in part by fears of further tax hikes in the autumn…

Sir Keir Starmer is under fresh pressure from within his party as Labour MPs prepare to rebel against plans to scale back inheritance tax relief for farmers measures critics warn could devastate family-run farms. More than 40 MPs are weighing up amendments to dilute the policy, which they say could leave farming families saddled with unaffordable tax bills. Their defiance follows a successful revolt this week that forced the Prime…

Kwara United made history on Saturday by clinching their first-ever President Federation Cup title after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over surprise finalists Abakaliki FC at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos. The closely contested final ended goalless after regulation time, but Kwara United held their nerve in the shootout to triumph 4-3, bringing decades of disappointment to an emotional end. The win also secured their qualification for the 2025/26…

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has launched a scathing attack on the expanded FIFA Club World Cup, calling it “the worst idea ever implemented in football” and warning of dangerous consequences for player welfare. Now head of global football at Red Bull, Klopp’s criticism comes just days after one of Red Bull’s teams, RB Salzburg, was eliminated in the group stage of the newly expanded 32-team tournament in the United…

Paulinho came off the bench to score a brilliant extra-time winner as Palmeiras edged fierce rivals Botafogo 1-0 in a tense all-Brazilian affair to reach the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals. The former Bayer Leverkusen winger cut inside from the right and rifled a low strike into the bottom corner in the 100th minute, securing a hard-fought win in front of 33,657 fans at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. His second…

England Under-21s clinched back-to-back UEFA European U21 Championship titles after edging Germany 3-2 in an enthralling final that went to extra time in Bratislava. A dramatic header from substitute Jonathan Rowe just two minutes into the added period secured the title for Lee Carsley’s Young Lions, who now join the elite company of successive U21 champions — a feat not achieved since Dave Sexton’s class of 1982 and 1984. This…

Paul Pogba fought back tears as he officially signed a two-year deal with AS Monaco, marking his emotional return to competitive football after serving an 18-month doping suspension. The 32-year-old former Manchester United and Juventus midfielder has been without a club since November 2023, when he and Juventus mutually agreed to terminate his contract in the wake of a provisional suspension. That suspension followed a failed drug test after Juventus’…

Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s trip to Saint Lucia, a Caribbean island nation. He described it as an inappropriate ‘holidaying’ amidst Nigeria’s severe socio-economic and security challenges. In a statement issued on his X page on Saturday, Mr Obi expressed his bewilderment at the Presidency’s announcement that Mr Tinubu would depart Abuja on Saturday for official engagements and personal leisure…

Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to roll back parts of his Government’s welfare reform plans could cost the Treasury as much as £3 billion, according to the Resolution Foundation. In a major concession to Labour rebels, the Prime Minister announced that existing recipients of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will continue to receive their benefits, with tougher eligibility rules only applying to new applicants. The move followed a mounting rebellion from…

The Conservative Party is developing plans for a new investment visa aimed at luring wealthy individuals back to the UK, in a bid to counter the exodus of high-net-worth individuals following Labour’s tax reforms. Shadow Business Secretary, Andrew Griffith announced the proposal during a speech at the Prosperity Institute, describing it as part of a “world-beating offer for wealth creators.” Griffith criticised Labour’s decision to abolish the non-domiciled tax regime…

Labour has turned down calls from one of its own MPs to offer council tax exemptions for families struggling to sell inherited retirement properties. Labour MP for Shipley, Anna Dixon had urged the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government led by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to extend the period during which grieving families are exempt from the second home council tax premium when trying to sell retirement homes.…