“In the interest of the country, we must remain united.” Bangladeshi Prime Minister-in-waiting Tarique Rahman urged opposition parties to work with the incoming BNP government after its landslide victory in the first elections since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has asked Nigeria to spearhead Africa’s quest for a restructured global order, describing the country as uniquely positioned to lead the continent toward superpower status.
Guterres praised the economic reforms of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration as well as Nigeria’s leadership in stabilising the Sahel and ECOWAS regions despite facing its own security challenges.
The UN Chief made the remarks on Friday during a high-level bilateral meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Secures Permanent Seat On African Central Bank Board
Speaking during the talks, Guterres said Nigeria’s large population, sustained democratic governance, vast natural and human resources, and longstanding commitment to multilateralism place it in a unique position to lead Africa in the evolving global order.
“Given Nigeria’s demographic strength, democratic continuity and deep resource base, the country stands a real chance of leading Africa to becoming the next superpower in the evolving global architecture,” Guterres was quoted to have said in a statement by Shettima’s media aide, Stanley Nkwocha.
He said the UN Secretary-General and the Vice President discussed key developments in Nigeria, as well as the country’s expanding leadership role in promoting regional stability across West Africa and the Sahel.
Guterres commended the remarkable and outstanding reforms of the administration of President Tinubu, noting that Nigeria’s bold economic restructuring and security commitments have strengthened its continental standing.
The meeting focused on strengthening Nigeria–UN collaboration in advancing global economic growth, peace and security, sustainable development, and coordinated humanitarian response across Africa.
In his remarks, Vice President Shettima thanked the UN Secretary-General for his leadership in promoting global peace, saying Africa has benefitted immensely from his tenure, even as the United Nations undergoes internal restructuring.
“We remain committed to multilateralism and to deepening our partnerships with the United Nations and other global institutions,” VP Shettima said.
The Vice President also reiterated Nigeria’s longstanding call for comprehensive reform of the United Nations system to reflect evolving global realities.
He emphasised that Africa must have stronger representation in global decision-making structures and declared that Nigeria deserves a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made history for Brazil by clinching his nation’s first Winter Olympic medal with gold in the giant slalom.
Born in Oslo to a Norwegian father and Brazilian mother, Pinheiro Braathen won World Cup medals for the country of his birth before announcing his shock retirement in 2023 having lost his “joy of living”.
Exactly a year to the day later, having regained his love for skiing, he returned to the sport in the green and yellow of Brazil, wanting to honour his heritage on his mother’s side.
In snowy conditions in Bormio, he delivered a masterclass on the Stelvio piste to beat Swiss great Marco Odermatt to gold by 0.58 seconds, with Odermatt’s team-mate Loic Meillard taking bronze.
His gold also marks the first medal won by any South American country at the Winter Games.
In a race featuring 81 starters from 62 nations – including Madagascar, Eritrea and Kenya – Pinheiro Braathen had opened up a 0.95-second lead over Odermatt after the first run, with only seven skiers within two seconds of his pace.
Odermatt, the defending Olympic champion, put the pressure on the Brazilian with a scorching second run, but only a crash would have denied Pinheiro Braathen the top step of the podium as he held his nerve in worsening weather.
Winter Olympics 2026
6-22 February
Tom Banton’s unbeaten 63 led England to a five-wicket T20 World Cup victory over Scotland in Kolkata on Saturday that kept Harry Brook’s side on course for the Super Eights.
Victory in their final Group C match against Italy on Monday at the same Eden Gardens stadium will see England safely into the next round.
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After bowling Scotland out for 152, England racked up 155-5 in 18.2 overs, with Jacob Bethell scoring 32, Sam Curran 28 and Will Jacks (16 off 10 balls) hitting a six and a four to finish the job.
England wobbled at the start of their chase as the new white ball swung under the floodlights with the sun going down.
Phil Salt fell third ball to Brandon McMullen for just two and when Jos Buttler picked out McMullen off Brad Currie, they were 13-2.
Scotland bowled tightly until Bethell broke the shackles by hitting McMullen for a six and two fours in the fifth over.
Spinner Mark Watt also came in for some punishment, conceding 22 off his first over as Banton took him for three huge sixes.
A 66-run partnership ended when the left-handed Bethell, on 32, helped a leg-side delivery from Oliver Davidson into the grateful hands of Brad Wheal at short fine leg.
Captain Brook did not last long, scooping Michael Leask over his shoulder to Wheal to make it 86-4, but England were always in control and got home with 10 balls to spare.
Earlier, England’s bowlers found their mojo and vindicated Brook’s decision to field on winning the toss.
After being smacked to all parts of Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium in conceding 196 to the West Indies on Wednesday, England’s attack exerted much more control at Eden Gardens.
Captain Richie Berrington top-scored for Scotland with 49 off 32 balls with five fours and two sixes.
He and Tom Bruce put on 71 for the fourth wicket, but it was their only notable partnership.
Spinner Liam Dawson ended it in the 13th over when Bruce was caught for 24, Curran providing the safe hands at deep square leg.
When Adil Rashid trapped Berrington lbw in the next over, Scotland collapsed, losing their last seven wickets for 39 runs from 113-3.
Jofra Archer had been expensive in the two previous outings but made the early breakthroughs before finishing with a brilliant 2-24 off his four overs.
In his second over, he hurried George Munsey into top-edging to Banton and two balls later had McMullen caught by Salt in the deep.
Michael Jones (33) holed out to Bethell off Curran, and Scotland were 42-3 at the end of the six-over power play and never threatened a competitive total.
The vibrant Kabanci water display has been a standout feature at the ongoing Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival in Argungu, showcasing the rich riverine heritage of Kebbi State.
Kabanci, a traditional water skill practiced for centuries by the people of the old Kabi Kingdom, highlights how local warriors and fishermen historically mastered river navigation and survival techniques.
During the performance, participants demonstrated a range of impressive abilities, including deep-water diving, underwater manoeuvring, canoe driving, and traditional fish-catching methods — reflecting how the community once depended on the river for both livelihood and defence.
The presentation also included a Durbar-style procession, symbolising the strength of Argungu’s ancient army, alongside exhibitions of traditional occupations such as blacksmithing, which remain central to the area’s cultural identity.
The Kabanci display continues to draw large crowds and remains one of the major cultural highlights of this year’s festival.
See more photos below:
T20 World Cup, Group C, Kolkata
Scotland 152 (19.4 overs): Berrington 49 (32); Rashid 3-36, Archer 2-23
England 155-5 (18.2 overs): Banton 63 (41), Bethell 32 (28); Davidson 1-12
England won by five wickets
England had another wobble but got their T20 World Cup campaign back on track with a five-wicket victory over Scotland in Kolkata – a result that leaves the Scots on the brink of a group-stage exit.
After dismissing Scotland for 152 on a good batting pitch, England lost Phil Salt and Jos Buttler in the first two overs and were 86-4 when Harry Brook was caught for four.
Defeat would have had England facing a humiliating early exit but Tom Banton fought his way through the tension to play the most important innings of his international career to date and secure victory with 10 balls to spare.
He broke the shackles by hitting spinner Mark Watt for consecutive sixes and finished 63 not out around contributions of 32 from Jacob Bethell and 28 by Sam Curran.
Scotland’s application with the ball and in the field was admirable. They were ultimately punished for not taking advantage of the platform set by captain Richie Berrington’s 49, which had his side 113-3 in the 13th over.
Adil Rashid overcame an expensive start to finish with 3-36 for England, while an improved Jofra Archer took two wickets in the powerplay and finished with 2-23.
It means England will confirm their place in the Super 8s by beating Italy on Monday.
Having been lucky to escape against Nepal and been convincingly beaten by West Indies, England are still searching for a complete performance at this World Cup.
They have won World Cups before despite group-stage defeats but improvement is needed if they are to threaten the best in this tournament.
Scotland’s opening bowling consisted of Brandon McMullen and Brad Currie’s medium pace. They found far more movement than England’s bowlers and Salt and Buttler sliced catches to the off-side ring for two and three respectively.
There were no boundaries off the bat in the first four overs.
Bethell brought some calm with his patient knock but England were ultimately grateful to Banton who had not lived up to his talents in his previous 36 internationals.
Unlike Bethell, who was caught trying to help a scoop over short fine leg, and Brook – dismissed in the same fashion – Banton played straight and as a result looked more comfortable than any other batter.
He took only six from his first 10 deliveries and did not hit a boundary until his 11th.
Though Scotland’s score always looked 20 runs below par, England were troubled at one stage.
They took three wickets in the powerplay, including Archer having the dangerous George Munsey and number three Brandon McMullen miscuing pulls in a lively opening spell of three overs, but Berrington countered impressively.
Berrington, a good player of slow bowling, was particularly aggressive against England’s spinners. He hit Rashid for two fours and a six in his second over and was the aggressor in a partnership of 71 with Tom Bruce.
At 113-3 in the 13th over, 190 was Scotland’s target. Instead, the wicket of Bruce resulted in the innings sliding away.
He slog-swept Liam Dawson to deep square leg for 24 – one of six batters to wastefully pick out fielders in the deep.
In the next over Rashid pinned the sweeping Berrington in front as England’s leg-spinner, having gone wicketless for 26 runs in his first two overs, took 3-10 in his second spell.
Dawson, who took 2-34, added the wicket of Michael Leask, also caught in the deep.
