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Libyan ministers resign as protesters call for government to step down

Several ministers with Libya’s internationally recognised government have resigned in support of the protesters calling for Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah to step down.

The government late on Friday said a police officer was killed in an “attempted assault” on the prime minister’s office as thousands of Libyans marched into squares and various areas in the capital, Tripoli.

“He was shot by unknown attackers and succumbed to his injuries,” a statement said, adding that members of a group who mixed with the protesters tried to set the office on fire using Molotov cocktails.

Economy and Trade Minister Mohamed al-Hawij, Local Government Minister Badr Eddin al-Tumi and Minister of Housing Abu Bakr al-Ghawi resigned, according to a video released by two of those ministers as well as local media reports.

The government had earlier on Friday denied reports of the ministers’ resignations.

Meanwhile, in the city of Misrata, protesters gathered in support of Dbeibah and his government.

Demonstrators demand PM Abdul Hamid Dbeibah’s resignation, May 16, 2025 [Ayman al-Sahili/Reuters]

The protests follow a wave of violence in Tripoli in the past week that led to the deaths of at least eight civilians. The deadly clashes started after powerful militia leader Abdelghani al-Kikli, also known as Gheniwa, was killed in an ambush at a military base.

Dbeibah attempted to consolidate power and assert control after the killing, with more clashes following later in the week.

Before the demonstrations, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) had emphasised “citizens’ right to peaceful protest” and warned against “any escalation of violence”.

Reporting from Tripoli, Al Jazeera’s Malik Traina said Libyans want to see a major change as people are “extremely frustrated” with the security situation.

“Libyans are calling for elections and want to be able to voice their opinion and put those that they want in power,” he said.

Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Saturday that Cairo was closely monitoring developments in Libya, and urged all parties to exercise “maximum restraint”. It also advised Egyptian citizens in Libya to remain cautious and stay in their homes until the situation is clarified.

Libya has been in turmoil since a NATO-backed uprising in 2011, which ended up dividing the country between two rival administrations.

Dbeibah’s Government of National Unity (GNU) has maintained control over western Libya since 2021, while an administration backed by renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar leads in the east.

Witness Testifies Against Works Ministry Director, Surveyor In EFCC’s Alleged ₦1.9b Fraud Case

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has presented the first prosecution witness, William Abimbola, in the ongoing trial of a former deputy director of Highways of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Augustine Olowoniyan, alongside a surveyor, Sulaiman Muhammed, of the Department of Highways and Planning.

On Thursday, they stood before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja.

A Friday statement by the Commission said they are being prosecuted on a three-count charge bordering on alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds amounting to about ₦1.9 billion, contrary to Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The sum is reportedly earmarked for acquiring titles for federal roads nationwide between March 4, 2019, and July 17, 2020, which they allegedly converted to personal use.

At the Thursday proceedings, EFCC said the witness, a compliance officer with the United Bank of Africa, UBA, while being led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Abba Mohammed (SAN), stated that the bank received a request letter from EFCC concerning an investigation into the accounts of some of its customers.

According to the statement, the first defendant, Olowoniyan, has three accounts with the bank, while Mohammed, the second defendant, also has an account with the bank.

He was said to have disclosed that he received yet another letter from the Commission regarding another customer, Ogueri Paschal, who had two accounts with the bank.

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“The EFCC requested statements of accounts and account opening packages. The statement was extracted from the bank’s server system and compared with what we have on the computer to ensure that it is the same. Our information is stored in the computer.

“We retrieve soft copies, which were then sent to printers to generate hard copies. After generating the hard copies, we printed the documents, that is, the statement of accounts opening packages.

“I compared the printout with what was on the system to ensure that it was accurate. The details were the same. This was then dispatched to the EFCC with a cover letter and certificate of identification. I signed the certificate on behalf of my supervisor, Edward Balande, because he was on leave at that time in Lagos,” he said.

The court then admitted the EFCC Letter of Investigation Activities to UBA, dated October 30, 2023, and UBA replied to the EFCC letter, dated October 31, 2023, with a certificate of compliance as Exhibit PW1 A.

The court also admitted in evidence a reply from UBA to EFCC letter dated October 31, 2023, with a certificate of compliance for Paschal Ogueri, marked as Exhibit PW1B.

Frank Skinner’s wife rejected proposals from him four times before secret wedding

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Frank Skinner, 66, secretly married girlfriend Cath Mason in a ‘small do’ as she’s said she doesn’t want a big wedding, but before then he faced a round of rejections from her

Frank is opening up about his relationship with now wife, Cath Mason

Comedian Frank Skinner revealed he and his long-term partner Cath Mason have tied the knot in a secret ceremony. But before the secret wedding, the comedian said Cath had rejected his proposals four times.

The former Absolute Radio host and girlfriend Cath have been together for 24 years and share a son, Buzz, together – whom they welcomed in 2012. Frank, 68, and Cath, 56, tied the knot in a secret ceremony earlier this week, which was attended by one guest; their son Buzz.

In a candid revelation from last year, the comedian divulged that he had popped the question to Mason, a talent agent, multiple times. He recounted how Mason, turning down the conventional path, didn’t fancy a grand celebration or the traditional white gown but chose a “flowery dress” for their special day.

Frank and Cath
Frank and Cath tied the knot in a secret wedding with just their son, Buzz, as a witness

Previously, Skinner has spoken about his repeated proposals, all of which Cath had declined, prompting introspective musings from the funny man.

“Maybe it’s some terrible personal reason that I don’t know about,” he mused. “That she doesn’t actually like me as much as I think she does. Her parents got divorced, so she got a bit cynical about it and thinks if we get married it would be like a slight curse on the thing,” he told The Sun.

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He revealed meeting Cath, 55, through his management company and joked that, at their ages, calling her ‘my partner’ felt less romantic and more like a professional liaison.

Frank gushed over his secret wedding ceremony on the latest episode of his podcast, Frank Off The Radio. The news event surprised his co-hosts Pierre Novellie and Emily Dean, who cried with joy over the news.

The TV and radio star announced: “Can you brace yourselves? You’ll never guess what I did on Monday: I got married. I got f***ing married!

“Don’t be offended, we didn’t invite anyone. Buzz was a witness. We got married not in a room but on the stairs at Camden Town Hall.

“I said to Cath, ‘Will you marry me?’, and she said ‘I’m not having a f***ing party! I don’t want a load of guests. I’m not going in a church. I don’t want a ring. I’m not wearing a stupid f****ing white dress’. So it went on. ‘I’m not doing this!’ I said ‘Oh, forget it.’ And then about two weeks later I said, ‘Okay we’ll do it your way’. I felt bad for the friends. I would have invited everyone.”

Frank then revealed how they decided to wed in the secret, low-key ceremony. He revealed: “The thing that no one ever says about getting married is it’s quite embarrassing. How can I put it? It’s a bit basic getting married. We’ve been together 20-odd years. Cath’s not gonna wear a big white fluffy dress.

Frank Skinner, Emily Dean and Pierre Novellie in October 2024
The comedy legend reunited with his former Absolute Radio co-stars Emily Dean and Pierre Novellie to announce the news of his secret wedding(Image: instagram/@frankontheradio)

“We hadn’t told anyone except our child – I think you have to have them now, it’s a modern marriage! Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue… and your children!

“Anyway, we walk up the stairs me and Cath, and they said to Buzz ‘Just plug your phone in there and you can play the music. So we entered to Lie Dream Of A Casino Soul by The Fall. That sounds gimmicky, like getting married by Elvis in Vegas, but in fact The Fall meant so much to me and Cath when we were in our early days, so it was actually quite an emotional thing.”

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Giving more insight into the special day, Frank revealed Cath wore “a flowery dress” but “moaned about that”. He added: “I said ‘you can’t have leggings!’ When she was stripping away all the things we couldn’t have at the wedding, I said, ‘Can you at least wear…?’.”

Frank, who’s real name is Christopher Graham Collins, revealed Cath isn’t changing her name and won’t be wearing a ring. He explained: “She said ‘If I wear a ring, I’ll feel trapped.’ I said, ‘you’ll be married, you’re supposed to feel f***ing trapped! That what it symbolises. It’s like a shackle!'”

“I built LEGO’s Twilight Cullen House and it’s full of hidden details from the books and films”

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Building LEGO’s first-ever Twilight set was a trip down memory lane, bringing iconic scenes from the film saga to life

I loved building LEGO’s Twilight Cullen House set(Image: Phoebe Barton)

The moment LEGO announced its epic Twilight Cullen House set, I knew I had to add it to my ever-growing collection. I grew up with Stephenie Meyer’s The Twilight Saga, spending my teenage years reading the books and watching the films the moment they hit the cinema. I couldn’t wait to build LEGO’s set and relive some of the most iconic moments from the film series.

Priced at £189.99, the Cullen House has been designed for adults by California-based LEGO fan Nick Micheels, who submitted the proposal as part of the LEGO Ideas programme. The set includes seven minifigures from the Twilight film: Bella, Edward, Jacob (who also appears in wolf form), Carlisle, Alice, Rosalie and Charlie.

I built LEGO’s Twilight Cullen House set over two days, spending a few hours on it each day. I found it to be one of the most enjoyable builds to date. Bringing the iconic house to life was a nostalgic trip down memory lane, making me relive my teenage years.

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The Twilight Cullen House set joins a plethora of LEGO sets based on beloved films. Shoppers wanting to check out more builds will be delighted to hear both Very and Argos are currently offering dozens of sets on sale, including Harry Potter, Star Wars and Disney.

The Twilight set incorporates several details from the books and films, which brought me joy each time I spotted one, with some being more obvious than others. Here are all of the hidden features I found in the Cullen House set.

Twilight Cullen House

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£189.99

Buy here

Loch Ness Monster artwork

LEGO's Loch Ness Monster artwork on the wall behind the grand piano
The Loch Ness Monster artwork was a delightful surprise(Image: Phoebe Barton)

An unexpected element that made me laugh is the Loch Ness Monster artwork situated behind the grand piano. This is a nod to Breaking Dawn: Part Two when Jacob calls Bella and Edward’s daughter Renesmee ‘Nessie’, much to the dismay of Bella, who replies: “You nicknamed my daughter after the Loch Ness Monster?!”

Blue bathroom door

The bathroom of the LEGO set showing the transparent blue door
The bathroom door is a similar colour to the filter the Twilight film uses(Image: Phoebe Barton)

When I first removed the transparent blue bathroom door from the bag, I didn’t think anything of it. It wasn’t until I held it up, ready to attach it to the house, that I realised it gives everything a blue tint that’s very similar to the filter that the first Twilight film is shot in. I don’t know if this is intentional, but I’m taking it as the most impressive hidden detail of all.

Rosalie’s salad bowl

LEGO Rosalie standing in the kitchen holding the white salad bowl
LEGO Rosalie thankfully doesn’t break this salad bowl(Image: Phoebe Barton)

It’s safe to say Rosalie has some anger issues. In the Twilight film, the Cullens lovingly prepare a meal for Bella (despite never eating themselves), but things take a drastic turn when Bella tells them she has already eaten.

Consumed by rage, Rosalie crushes the salad bowl she’s holding. Thankfully, the bowl in the LEGO set is still intact and can sit proudly on the kitchen counter.

Graduation caps

LEGO Carlisle standing near the artwork comprising graduation caps
The artwork comprising graduation caps left Bella and Charlie perplexed (Image: Phoebe Barton)

The iconic graduation cap artwork that’s displayed on the wall in the Cullen house first appears in the 2008 Twilight film when Bella asks: “Are they graduation caps?” It’s a lovely moment when, in Breaking Dawn: Part One, Charlie asks the same question, creating a full-circle moment. I was delighted to see them feature in the LEGO set, as they sure do make a fabulous piece of art.

Thunderstorm baseball game

The LEGO baseball cap on a coffee table and the bats on the wall in the living room
The LEGO set features details from the iconic baseball scene(Image: Phoebe Barton)

One of the most memorable scenes from the 2008 Twilight film is when the Cullen family plays baseball during a storm. Muse’s Supermassive Black Hole plays in the background, bringing the scene to life.

Who could ever forget Alice’s ridiculously high kick before throwing the ball? The game is remembered in LEGO’s set, with a baseball hat sitting on the coffee table and bats hanging on the wall.

Bella’s cactus

LEGO Bella holding the cactus
Bella’s beloved cactus features in the set(Image: LEGO)

Last but by no means least – Bella’s pet cactus. When she first moves to Forks, Washington, she brings her teeny potted spiky plant with her to remind her of her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona.

We see her clutching the cactus as she gets out of the car upon arriving at her dad, Charlie’s, house. She’s still clinging on to it for dear life while exploring her new bedroom. It was an adorable little touch discovering it in LEGO’s set.

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The completed Twilight Cullen House has become the centrepiece in my bedroom, standing proudly on a chest of drawers. The only downside to the set is that it doesn’t include all members of the Cullen family. I thought it would, due to the higher price point of the set.

Group Decries Renewed Bandits’ Attacks In Southern Katsina

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The Katsina State Chapter of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over the renewed spate of deadly attacks by armed bandits across southern parts of the State, mostly in Funtua, Sabuwa, Kankara and Faskari LGAs.

The Coalition, in a statement on Friday, signed by its State Coordinator Abdullahi Kabir, recalled that on Tuesday, 13th May 2025, armed men brazenly invaded the General Hospital in Sabua LGA during daylight, disrupting medical activities and leaving citizens traumatised.

He said, even more shocking was the incident of Wednesday, 14th May 2025, when bandits launched an attack in Funtua town during Maghrib prayer, carting away over 50 cows and creating panic among residents.

This, he explained, happened right in an urban centre, highlighting the deteriorating security situation.

He added that reports from Faskari and Kankara LGAs also indicate ongoing attacks in several villages, where communities live in fear and uncertainty.

These tragic developments are, therefore, according to the Coalition, unacceptable, and they call for urgent attention and a robust response.

“We call on the Katsina State Government to review its current security strategy and adopt a more localised, community-driven approach that empowers vigilantes and traditional institutions.

“The Federal Government must, as a matter of urgency, deploy additional security personnel and logistics to the frontline areas and consider the establishment of a permanent military base in Southern Katsina,” the statement read partly.

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The group also urged relevant security agencies to intensify surveillance, intelligence gathering, and rapid response measures in the affected areas.

“While we decry these recent attacks, we must also acknowledge the positive impacts of dialogue and reconciliation efforts in areas such as Batsari LGA and Jibia LGA, where peace initiatives have contributed to relative calm. These efforts show that, when genuine and community-centred, dialogue can reduce violence and build trust between citizens and the government.

Q&A: Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo on his Olympic triumph; African sprinters

Doha, Qatar – Loud cheers greeted Letsile Tebogo when he stepped onto the track for the men’s 200-metre race at the World Athletics Doha Diamond League in Qatar and stepped away a winner a few minutes later.

The Botswanan Olympic gold medallist made his Doha debut with a time of 20.10 seconds on a balmy Friday evening, coolly glancing sideways at his closest competitor as he crossed the finish line 0.01s ahead of Courtney Lindsey of the United States (US).

It was a leisurely run compared with his triumphant 19.46s finish at the Stade de France nine months ago, when he left a star-studded American lineup – including 100m gold medal winner Noah Lyles – in his wake as he brought Botswana its first Olympic gold.

As a young boy, Tebogo was a keen footballer with a preference for manning the left wing, but was pushed towards athletics by his teachers.

Seven years later, the reluctant sprinter made the world sit up and take notice as he became the first African to win a 200m gold at the Olympics.

A day prior to the Doha Diamond League, the World Athletics 2024 Athlete of the Year sat down with Al Jazeera to reflect on his achievement in Paris and its the impact on the African continent:

Al Jazeera: How has life changed for you since winning the Olympic gold?
Letsile Tebogo: In so many ways.

To begin with, there’s increased awareness of the scale of my achievement, which has brought along commercial interest.

I now have multiple opportunities to support myself as multiple brands want to be associated with my name.

What I’m most excited about, though, is the impact I have made on aspiring athletes.

I have proved that by staying on the right track and working hard, it is possible to achieve your dreams no matter which part of the world you’re from.

Wherever you are, whatever you have, just make sure you put in enough effort and dedication.

Al Jazeera: How difficult is it for you to step out of your house when you’re in Botswana?
Tebogo: I’m never out unless it’s for an event. I stay locked up indoors because I don’t want to be out there too much.
I like having an element of mystery and want to leave people wondering: where is he, what’s he doing?

Al Jazeera: How does it feel to break the American and Jamaican hold on sprinting medals at the Olympics?
Tebogo: That’s always been my goal. To snap their dominance. It was sad to see only two nations rule the sport for decades.

I wanted to make a breakthrough for African athletes. I aspired to be the one to make it happen and then take in the world’s response. And that reaction has been heartwarming.

Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo (second left) sprints ahead of his American competitors Erriyon Knighton (left) and Noah Lyles (second right) in the men’s 200m final at the Paris Olympics 2024 [File: Al Bello/Getty Images]

Al Jazeera: When compared with the success in distance running, Africa has not been able to bag as many medals in sprinting. What challenges do African athletes face when it comes to sprinting at the highest level?
Tebogo: It’s mostly down to infrastructure and support but I am not entirely sure. However, I can see that Africa is looking towards investing in its athletes beyond distance running.

Once the governments are on board, it makes a massive difference to the sport.

Al Jazeera: Can you see the impact of your success for Batswana athletes?
Tebogo: It’s still early days but I’ve definitely seen athletes shed a layer of self-doubt. They are no longer afraid of coming forward to showcase their talent.

I hope the new [Botswana] government will take the next step and help these athletes.

Al Jazeera: How do you see the future of sprinting in Africa?
Tebogo: Africans are stepping up and we see an increased number of African athletes in global competitions.

I dream of an all-African lineup at the Olympics one day.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 08: Letsile Tebogo of Team Botswana celebrates winning the gold medal after competing in the Men's 200m Final on day thirteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 08, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Tebogo is the first African to win an Olympic gold medal in the men’s 200m category [File: Julian Finney/Getty Images]