
A coalition advocating for former President Goodluck Jonathan's return to power has stated he will appear on the 2027 presidential ballot, despite Jonathan not yet formally accepting the proposal. Dr Tom Ohikere, Convener of the Coalition for Jonathan and a member of the African Democratic Congress, indicated in an interview that Jonathan would announce his decision within one to two days. Ohikere clarified Jonathan's previous comment about seeking the presidency not being a "computer game," explaining it meant the process is complex. The ADC is positioning itself as a platform for Jonathan's potential candidacy, which the coalition frames as a means for national healing and unity. Jonathan reportedly plans to consult widely before deciding. His eligibility to contest remains a legal question, with a Federal High Court suit challenging whether a return to the ballot would violate term limit provisions of the 1999 Constitution, given his previous service as president from 2010 to 2015.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadPope Leo, marking his first anniversary as head of the Roman Catholic Church, appealed to global leaders to seek divine guidance in reducing tensions and ending cycles of hatred. Speaking in Pompei, he urged God to "touch hearts, calm rancour and fratricidal hatreds, and enlighten those who have special responsibilities of government." This appeal followed a meeting at the Vatican with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, amidst reported tensions between the Holy See and Washington. The Vatican stated that both sides agreed to work towards improving bilateral relations, with officials describing the exchange as unusually frank. The U.S. embassy to the Holy See noted discussions focused on "topics of mutual interest in the Western Hemisphere." Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pope and former Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected on May 8, 2025. He has become increasingly vocal on global conflict, including criticism of the Iran war, which has drawn sharp reactions from U.S. President Donald Trump. He warned that "world peace is endangered by international tensions and by an economy that prefers the arms trade to respect for human life," and urged people not to become desensitised to conflict.

Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde has addressed speculation regarding a reported altercation with teammate Aurelien Tchouameni, dismissing claims of a physical fight. Valverde, currently sidelined due to injury, stated that false reports are being exaggerated during a challenging season for the club. He acknowledged a verbal disagreement but denied that either player struck the other, attributing his head injury to accidentally hitting a table. Valverde sustained a concussion and is expected to miss the upcoming El Clásico, with a recovery period estimated at 10 to 14 days. Real Madrid has not yet provided further public comment on the disciplinary matters, indicating updates will follow the completion of internal procedures.
BreakingA US warplane disabled two Iranian tankers on Friday to enforce a port blockade, as Washington awaited Tehran’s response to a proposed deal to end the Gulf conflict. US Central Command reported an F/A-18 Super Hornet used precision munitions to prevent the ships from reaching Iran, while Iranian media cited "sporadic clashes" with US vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. These incidents followed an overnight exchange of fire that raised concerns about the Gulf ceasefire. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in Rome that Washington expected Tehran's answer to the US proposal later that day, emphasizing that Iran must not control the Strait of Hormuz. The US, through Pakistani mediators, has proposed extending the Gulf truce to facilitate talks on a final settlement of the conflict, which began 10 weeks ago with US-Israeli strikes on Tehran. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed the proposal was "under review." Meanwhile, two Saudi sources informed AFP that the kingdom declined to allow the US military to use its airspace or bases for an operation to reopen the strait for commercial shipping. US Central Command also reported that its forces are preventing 70 tankers from entering or leaving Iranian ports. World markets and oil prices had initially reacted positively to hopes for a prolonged ceasefire and a negotiated accord, but stock markets declined again on Friday after the exchange in Hormuz, fueling fears that renewed fighting could delay or derail the

A recent global sports analysis has identified the world's most popular sports by estimated fan base, confirming football as the undisputed leader with an estimated 3.5 to 4 billion followers worldwide. The ranking, based on global viewership data, participation rates, and industry reports, places football far ahead of other sports due to its universal appeal and major international competitions like the FIFA World Cup. Cricket ranks second with over 2.5 billion global fans, thriving in South Asia, Australia, the UK, and emerging African markets. Basketball follows with 2.2 to 2.4 billion fans, driven by the NBA and FIBA competitions. Hockey, combining field and ice variations, has 1.3 to 2 billion fans, while tennis attracts 1 billion. Volleyball is popular with 900 million fans, and table tennis, dominated by Asia, has 850 million. Baseball garners 500 million fans, primarily in the United States, Japan, and Latin America. Golf has 450 million fans, and American football, while strongest in the United States, has 400 million global fans.