Duterte Denies Threatening To Kill Congresswoman

Duterte Denies Threatening To Kill Congresswoman

House of Representatives Deputy Minority Leader France Castro has alleged Duterte threatened her life twice in recent months and asked state prosecutors to charge him.

Former president Rodrigo Duterte has denied he threatened to kill a congresswoman and urged state prosecutors to refrain from filing criminal charges against him, according to a deposition made public on Friday.

House of Representatives Deputy Minority Leader France Castro has alleged Duterte threatened her life twice in recent months and asked state prosecutors to charge him.

Duterte sent a written deposition to a Manila prosecutor on Monday after the official summoned him and Castro to present witnesses and supporting documents relating to the first alleged death threat, the justice department said.

“There was never any deliberate intent on my part to single out and threaten complainant, Castro,” Duterte said in the deposition, a copy of which was released to the press by the department’s National Prosecution Service.

The case “must be dismissed”, Duterte added.

Castro had alleged that Duterte committed the crime of “grave threats” under the Cybercrime Prevention Act during two interviews with broadcaster SMNI.

On Friday Duterte said he recounted at an October interview advice he had given to his daughter, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, on how she could use intelligence and confidential funds allocated to her office.

“Your first target with your intelligence fund is ‘You, you France’. Tell her, ‘It is you communists who I want to kill’,” Duterte said in the interview.

Duterte said in his deposition that his statements on Castro were just his “opinion and meant only to express… personal suggestion” to his daughter.

Duterte often threatened to kill people, including drug dealers and rights activists, when he was president from 2016 to 2022.

He also frequently labelled critics as communist sympathisers — a practice known as “red-tagging”, which can result in the arrest, detention or even death of the person targeted.

Castro told reporters Friday she expects the prosecutor to decide by next month whether there is enough evidence to charge Duterte in court.

Supreme Court Insists Nnamdi Kanu Must Face Trial, Overturns A’Court Judgement

Supreme Court Insists Nnamdi Kanu Must Face Trial, Overturns A’Court Judgement

In upholding the government’s appeal, the Supreme Court held that Kanu must face trial at the Federal High Court.

The Supreme Court has upheld the Federal Government’s appeal challenging the verdict of the Appeal Court which dismissed the charges against Nnamdi Kanu.

In upholding the government’s appeal, the Supreme Court held that Kanu must face trial at the Federal High Court.

The Supreme Court in the judgement delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, but prepared by Justice Garba Lawal, held that the Court of Appeal was wrong to rule that Kanu could not be tried again based on the illegality perpetrated against him by the Federal Government, following the invasion of his home.

Also, the Court held that although the Nigerian Government was reckless and unlawfully rendered Kanu from Kenya, such unlawful act has not divested any Court from proceeding with trial.

Justice Lawal said that no Nigerian law was cited in the suit seeking Kanu’s release on the grounds of unlawful abduction from Kenya.

According to the Court, at the moment, the remedy for such an action is for Kanu to file a civil matter against the act instead of removing the powers of the courts to continue with his trial for alleged criminal charges.

Kanu was not present in court for the judgement, the latest development in a case that has lasted for years.

Friday’s judgement was delivered amid tight security and followed calls by Ohanaeze and some others for Kanu’s release.

Kanu who is the leader of the proscribed secessionist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been in detention since June 2021 when he was re-arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria.

He and his legal team have accused the Federal Government of abducting him and illegally bringing him to Nigeria. He has challenged the alleged extraordinary rendition in court.

Upon his re-arrest in 2021, he was arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja on four charges of treasonable felony, conspiracy to commit treasonable felony, terrorism, illegal importation of radio equipment, and defamation of former President Muhammadu Buhari

The charges were later amended to a 15 bordering on terrorism and membership of a proscribed group.

Justice Binta Nyako of the trial court had in her ruling dismissed eight out of the 15 charges, saying that Mr Kanu had questions to answer in relation to the remaining seven charges.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Mr Kanu appealed to the Court of Appeal, which dismissed the remaining charges and ordered that Mr Kanu be released.

In a twist, the court then granted a stay of execution of its judgment after the Federal Government told the court it would be appealing to the Supreme Court.

Niger Coup Leaders Agree To Transition Terms

Niger Coup Leaders Agree To Transition Terms

The sanctions and suspension of international finance and aid have left Niger, already one of the world's poorest countries, economically hanging by a thread.

Niger’s ruling military has agreed to terms and conditions of a transition back to civilian rule, and will present the plan to a regional bloc, the chief diplomat from mediator Togo announced Thursday.

Speaking on Niger’s national television, Togo Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said he had reached an agreement “on the content and timing of the transition” with Niger’s junta-appointed prime minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine and foreign minister Bakary Yaou Sangare.

“We are ready to present the plan… to the mediating heads of state and the ECOWAS Commission,” he said, referring to the Economic Community of West African States.

After Niger became the latest country in the Sahel to experience a coup with July’s ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum, the regional grouping imposed tough sanctions and suspended trade, while also floating the option of military intervention.

The sanctions and suspension of international finance and aid have left Niger, already one of the world’s poorest countries, economically hanging by a thread.

In October, the military leaders announced a 40-percent cut in the 2023 budget due to the “heavy sanctions imposed by international and regional organisations”.

On Sunday, ECOWAS leaders in Abuja said any easing of the punitive measures against Niger was contingent on a “short transition” period.

The bloc also decided that a committee made up of the presidents of Benin, Togo and Sierra Leone would lead negotiations with the Nigerien military leaders on the commitments to be implemented.

According to Niger’s broadcaster, Tele Sahel, mediator Dussey will return to Niamey in January with his counterpart from Sierra Leone, Timothy Kabba.

ECOWAS said on Thursday that Niger is now “suspended from all decision-making bodies” of the organisation, “until constitutional order is re-established”.

Niger’s military leaders have previously said they want up to three years for a transition back to civilian rule.

Since the coup, Niger — one of the Sahel nations battling long-running and bloody insurgencies by rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State group — has rowed back security cooperation with Western partners and expelled French troops based there.

Messi, Bonmati Make Final Shortlist For FIFA Best Player Awards

Messi, Bonmati Make Final Shortlist For FIFA Best Player Awards

Messi was awarded a record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or crown in October in Paris, while Bonmati took the women's prize after starring for Spain in their Women's World Cup triumph.

Lionel Messi and Aitana Bonmati were named as finalists for the FIFA best players of the year awards by world football’s governing body on Thursday.

Messi was awarded a record-extending eighth Ballon d’Or crown in October in Paris, while Bonmati took the women’s prize after starring for Spain in their Women’s World Cup triumph.

Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe are the other nominees for the FIFA men’s best player award, with Bonmati’s Spain teammate Jenni Hermoso and Colombian teenage sensation Linda Caicedo also named on the women’s shortlist.

The awards ceremony will take place in London on January 15.

The men’s finalists were named based on performances from December 19, 2022 until August 20 this year, with the women’s decided by achievements between August 1, 2022 and August 20, 2023, the day of the World Cup final.

Messi won his second FIFA best player trophy last year after helping Argentina win the World Cup.

Haaland, who finished second to Messi in the Ballon d’Or voting, scored 52 goals in his first season at Manchester City last term to help the English club to a treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League titles.

France striker Mbappe scored 41 goals in all competitions to help Paris Saint-Germain win Ligue 1.

Bonmati and Hermoso both scored three goals in the tournament as Spain lifted the Women’s World Cup for the first time, while Bonmati also won the Women’s Champions League with Barcelona last season.

Hermoso was forcibly kissed by then-Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales following Spain’s 1-0 final win over England, sparking a huge controversy and his eventual resignation.

Caicedo, 18, starred in Colombia’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals and has since signed for Real Madrid.

 

Liverpool Defeated In Belgium, Villarreal Reach Europa League Last 16

Liverpool Defeated In Belgium, Villarreal Reach Europa League Last 16

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp rang the changes with his team already secure as Group E winners and with an eye on the weekend's Premier League game against rivals Manchester United, starting six players aged 20 or younger.

A youthful Liverpool side lost 2-1 at Union Saint-Gilloise in their final Europa League group game on Thursday, while Villarreal snatched a place in the last 16 from Rennes with a dramatic victory in France.

Elsewhere, Azeri club Qarabag reached the knock-out play-off round and Slavia Prague finished top of Group G ahead of last season’s runners-up Roma.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp rang the changes with his team already secure as Group E winners and with an eye on the weekend’s Premier League game against rivals Manchester United, starting six players aged 20 or younger.

Saint-Gilloise, who needed a victory to keep alive their hopes of pipping Toulouse to second place, took the lead through Mohamed Amoura before Jarell Quansah hit back for Liverpool.

Cameron Puertas restored the hosts’ advantage two minutes before half-time with a low strike which beat Caoimhin Kelleher at his near post.

Klopp threw on Joe Gomez, Ryan Gravenberch and Darwin Nunez in the second half, but Saint-Gilloise held on for a famous win, although the Belgians dropped into the Europa Conference League play-off round after Toulouse beat LASK Linz 2-1 in the group’s other game to finish second.

Dani Parejo scored a late winner as Villarreal took top spot in Group F and direct qualification for the last 16 with a 3-2 victory at Rennes.

Lorenz Assignon hammered home in the 12th minute of injury time to seemingly send Rennes back to the group summit, but his goal was ruled out by VAR and scuffles broke out after the final whistle.

The Ligue 1 club only needed to avoid defeat to finish first, but instead will have to face a team dropping out of the Champions League in the play-off.

Qarabag finished second in Group H courtesy of a 2-1 success against Haecken.

They were a distant eight points adrift of group winners Bayer Leverkusen, though, as the Bundesliga leaders extended their unbeaten start to the season to 23 matches in all competitions by thrashing Molde 5-1.

Jose Mourinho’s Roma had to settle for a knock-out play-off berth despite beating Sheriff Tiraspol 3-0 as Slavia Prague thrashed Servette 4-0.

In the Conference League, Premier League high-fliers Aston Villa qualified for the last 16 as Nicolo Zaniolo netted his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw at Bosnian club Zrinjski.

Arsenal Boss Arteta Escapes Ban After Referee Rant Over Newcastle Win

Arsenal Boss Arteta Escapes Ban After Referee Rant Over Newcastle Win

The Gunners' boss was furious at the decision to let Anthony Gordon's goal stand in a 1-0 Premier League loss at St James' Park on November 4, labelling the verdict as "embarrassing" and a "disgrace".

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will face no punishment from England’s Football Association following his complaints about refereeing standards after a defeat by Newcastle last month.

The Gunners’ boss was furious at the decision to let Anthony Gordon’s goal stand in a 1-0 Premier League loss at St James’ Park on November 4, labelling the verdict as “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”.

Arteta was charged by the FA, which could have led to a touchline ban, but the case against the Spaniard was “not proven” according to an announcement on Thursday.

“An independent Regulatory Commission has found the charge against Mikel Arteta for an alleged breach of FA Rule E3.1 to be not proven,” said an FA statement.

“The manager was charged following various comments in media interviews after Arsenal’s Premier League game against Newcastle United on Saturday 4 November.

“It was alleged that his comments constituted misconduct in that they were insulting towards match officials and/or detrimental to the game and/or brought the game into disrepute.”

Rebecca Welch On Cusp Of History, To Become EPL’s First Female Referee

Rebecca Welch On Cusp Of History, To Become EPL’s First Female Referee

Last month she became the first woman to act as fourth official in a Premier League game as part of the team for Fulham's match against Manchester United.

Rebecca Welch will become the first female referee of a Premier League match after being appointed to oversee Fulham’s game against Burnley on December 23.

In 2021, she was the first woman to be appointed to referee a match in the Football League when taking charge of the fourth-tier fixture between Harrogate and Port Vale.

Welch was also the first female official to referee matches in the Championship and third round of the FA Cup.

Last month she became the first woman to act as fourth official in a Premier League game as part of the team for Fulham’s match against Manchester United.

Welch has also taken charge of several high-profile women’s fixtures, including games at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.