
Stakeholders and victims of terror attacks from Nigeria's Middle Belt region have called for urgent and coordinated action to end the cycle of violence. During a town hall meeting convened by News Central TV in Jos, Plateau State, community leaders, conflict victims, security agencies, and civil society representatives discussed the persistent violence. Joyce Ramnap, Commissioner for Information, speaking for Governor Caleb Mutfwang, affirmed the state government's commitment to addressing the root causes of the violence and ensuring accountability for perpetrators. Prophet Isa Elbuba, General Overseer of Evangelical Bible Outreach Ministries, described the killings as a test of the nation's conscience, emphasizing its humanitarian rather than political nature. Dr. Julie Sanda, Director General of the Plateau Peace Building Agency, highlighted the necessity of early warning and response mechanisms. Dr. Gideon ParaMallam, President of the Gideon and Funmi ParaMallam Peace Foundation, stressed the importance of victims' voices in driving policy. Victims shared accounts of loss and displacement, urging government and security agencies to prioritize protection and justice. Kayode Akintemi, Managing Director of News Central TV, stated the event aimed to find solutions to insecurity in Plateau State and promote peace across the Middle Belt. Participants agreed on the need for stronger collaboration among communities, civil society, and government to address insecurity, rebuild trus
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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.