Chelsea has appointed former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso as their new manager under a four-year contract, effective from July. The 44-year-old Spaniard became available after parting ways with Real Madrid by mutual agreement in January, having spent less than eight months on a three-year deal. He previously managed Bayer Leverkusen for three years, where he guided the German club to their inaugural Bundesliga title in 2024, in addition to winning the German Cup. The announcement of Alonso's appointment follows Chelsea's defeat in the FA Cup final against Manchester City. The Blues are optimistic that he will provide the stability the club needs after experiencing two permanent managers this season - Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior - while Calum McFarlane continues his second term as interim manager, a position he will maintain for their last two Premier League matches. • "Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs in world football and it fills me with immense pride to become...

  The Lagos State Government has penalized at least 15 money lending companies for breaching operational regulations and engaging in activities deemed harmful to the state's residents. The State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode, revealed this information during the 2026 Ministerial Press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, stating that this measure is part of the government's initiative to regulate the money lending industry and safeguard Lagosians from exploitation and fraudulent financial activities. Layode emphasized that the state government will persist in enforcing stringent compliance among money lenders operating in Lagos.  “The firms were sanctioned to ensure strict adherence to guidelines and to protect Lagosians from sharp practices by financial firms”. According to the commissioner, money lending remains a critical component of the economy because it provides quick access to credit for petty traders and small-scale business operators who often struggle to secur...

As of May 2026, the overall trends in gun violence and homicides in Atlanta are continuing to show a downward trajectory over multiple years, despite occasional spikes in localized violent incidents and persistent public concern. Official data tracking indicates significant improvements alongside specific challenges that city leadership is addressing. Data provided by the Atlanta Police Department (APD) reveals a consistent long-term decrease in shootings and homicides over the past three years. In early April 2026, Mayor Andre Dickens announced that the city had recorded 17 homicides thus far, confirming that the overall metrics for major violent crimes remain lower compared to the same periods in previous years with higher volumes. This downward trend faced a temporary challenge due to a highly publicized spike in early April (which coincided with 404 Day and spring break), resulting in two fatalities and nine injuries, including the tragic shooting of a 16-year-old girl at Piedmont ...

  On Wednesday, the United States announced that it would relax its requirements for bond payments from visa applicants, specifically for certain fans wishing to attend the World Cup. As part of one of President Donald Trump’s numerous initiatives aimed at curbing migration, the United States has started to require individuals from 50 developing nations to provide bond amounts ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 for a US visa, which will be refunded upon their return to their home countries. The State Department indicated that it would eliminate the bond requirement for team members participating in World Cup matches held in the United States, as well as for fans from competing nations who possess tickets and have registered for a priority visa system.  “We remain committed to strengthening US national security priorities while facilitating legitimate travel for the upcoming World Cup tournament,” said Mora Namdar, the assistant secretary of state for consular affairs. She noted t...

President Bola Tinubu has announced that Nigeria is expected to allocate approximately US$11.6 billion for debt servicing in 2026. As stated by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu expressed these views on Tuesday while heading Nigeria’s government, diplomatic, and business delegation to the Africa Forward Summit held at the Kenyatta Convention Centre in Nairobi. According to him, the debt to be repaid in the year is nearly half of the projected revenue. “Every single dollar that leaves our treasury to pay punitive interest rates is a dollar that did not go into our steel sector, our textile mills, our agro-processing plants, or our digital industries. It is a dollar that did not train a young Nigerian engineer or provide affordable power for our factories. Our industrial base is being starved of the blood it needs — long-term, affordable finance — while creditors and rating agencies treat African sovereigns as permanent high-risk borrowers, regardless of our fiscal performan...

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has urged state governments to reduce their reliance on overdrafts and short-term financing. A statement released by the apex bank on Sunday indicated that this recommendation was made by its Deputy Governor overseeing the Economic Policy Directorate, Dr. Muhammad Abdullahi, during a discussion with sub-national stakeholders, organized through the Nigerian Governors Forum Secretariat. Abdullahi recommended that they ensure their borrowing decisions are in line with debt sustainability thresholds, enhance budget realism and revenue forecasting, prioritize expenditures, and better align fiscal calendars with current macroeconomic conditions. He highlighted the essential role of State Governments in facilitating a successful transition to an Inflation Targeting (IT) monetary policy framework, emphasizing that sustained price stability can only be achieved through coordinated fiscal discipline across all levels of government. Abdullahi characterized the tr...

  Nigerian artist and songwriter, Rema, is set to join other international performers as the 2026 World Cup will showcase a trilogy of opening ceremonies, with each of the host nations — Mexico, the United States, and Canada — having its moment in a star-studded celebration.  Other global music icons, such as Katy Perry, Future, Alanis Morissette, Michael Buble, J Balvin, and Lisa, will also participate, as confirmed by the world governing body FIFA on Friday. Mexico will kick off the festivities, 90 minutes prior to the commencement of the tournament’s inaugural match between Mexico and South Africa on June 11 at Azteca Stadium, which will be referred to as Mexico City Stadium for the duration of the tournament.  The event will feature Colombian megastar J Balvin, the multi-Grammy-award-winning Mexican rock band Mana, and pop sensation Alejandro Fernandez, the son of the legendary ranchero king Vicente Fernandez. Mexico’s Latino pop princess Belinda and singer-songwriter...