Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of Edo State High Court sitting in Benin City, on October 24 and 25, 2023 convicted and sentenced 13 internet fraudsters to prison for fraud.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Saturday made this known on its Facebook page.

The convicts are Eboh Chukwuma, Omozuafo Collins, Elect Osayuwu, Omorogbe Christian, Odiete Timothy, Odede Enitome Patrick and Benjamin Kennedy Ese.

Others include Ayodele Eugene, Eric Onwusiwekwu, Bolum Ogechukwu, and Courage Sule.

They were jailed after pleading guilty to one charge bordering on possession of proceeds of crime and unlawful possession of fraudulent documents.

Delivering the verdict, Justice Ikponmwonba convicted and sentenced Odukwe, Patrick, Christian , Osayuwa, Collins, Onyeka, Eugene, Onwusiwekwu, Chukwuma, Ogechukwu and Sule to three years imprisonment each, with an option of fine of N200,000.

Ese and Timothy bagged two years imprisonment or a fine of N200,000.

Former Super Eagles midfielder, John Mikel Obi, has revealed he was always terrified to play against Ivory Coast legend, Didier Drogba.

Mikel Obi and Drogba played together at Chelsea in the Premier League and won many titles together.

But they faced each other a few times at the international level.One of those came at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

In a video shared on CAF’s online social media, Mikel Obi said he was scared of Drogba because the striker is a great goal scorer.

“Obviously, the player I never wanted to meet, that I was lucky I didn’t meet quite a lot, was Didier Drogba. You know, I was always scared of meeting him. Because I knew at some point in the game he would score,” he said.

Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola has hit back at Manchester United winger Facundo Pellistri after the 21-year-old claimed he only ever sees the Red Devils fans in the city centre.

Both rivals will go head-to-head at Old Trafford in Sunday’s Premier League derby at Old Trafford.

In the build-up to the derby, Pellistri aimed a dig at Man City by claiming he plays a game with his girlfriend where they try to spot City supporters while out and about in Manchester – but they never find any.

“I don’t go out much but obviously here in Manchester when I go out and I see things, it is all United, you barely see any City,” Pellistri told the Uruguayan radio station Carve Deportiva.

Reacting to Pellistri’s comments during his pre-match press conference on Friday, Guardiola jokingly suggested he would get in touch with the club’s shirt manufacturer Puma.

Asked about Pellistri’s comments, Guardiola replied: “I will speak with the Puma department and see what happened, why we don’t have shirts.

“It is okay. If this guy and his girlfriend believe that, it is fine.”

The Osun State Security Network Agency (Amotekun Corps) have arrested a suspected kidnapper and murderer, Banji Olaniyi Julius.

The 31-year-old, according to the security outfit, is responsible for the sudden disappearance of Damilare Akinranti, a native of Moro, to a press statement made available by the Osun Amotekun Corps Commander, Brigadier General Bashir Adewinmbi, rtd. on Saturday, Akinranti disappeared on November 6, 2022 after the suspect lured him.

According to the statement, “Eleven (11) months ago, Sunday, November 6, 2022, at about 0900hrs, Banji Olaniyi Julius convinced Damilare Akinranti, age 24, to follow him to a farm in Iguede, Area 5, a distant farm in that same local government area; only for Damilare to get missing till date.

“The suspect who lured his victim to a farm in Iguede without his family members’ knowledge had since absconded from home when it was discovered that he took Damilare to a farm in Iguede and did not return with him. Aside from changing residence, he has changed his mobile phone number.”

Confirming his arrest, Adewinmbi affirmed that the suspect, who was arrested in Jagun village of the Irewole Local Government Area, has been on the radar of the security outfit after a complaint was lodged against him by the family of the missing person at the Ife North Command of the Corps.

General Adewinmbi said, “Luck ran out of Banji, following a tip-off from our extensive intelligence gathering network.”

The Osun Amotekun boss reiterated that the Corps’ commitment is proactively identifying such criminal elements in the state to face the wrath of the law.

He added that upon his arrest and preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed to having lured the missing person and many others to the same farm in years past.

“The suspect, after extensive investigation, has been handed over to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and Other Related Matters (NAPTIP) for further interrogation and prosecution as the law stipulates,” Adewinmbi concluded.

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackle public smoking and the illegal use of tobacco among children in Nigeria.

Jamila Ibrahim, Minister of Youth and Development, said this in Abuja on Friday when Bintou Camara, Regional Director, Tobacco Control Programme (AFRO) Campaign for Tobacco – Free Kids, paid her a courtesy visit.

Ms Ibrahim said that tobacco smoking among children was a big challenge facing the country.

The minister said Nigeria needs to partner and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to educate Nigerians to understand the health implication of tobacco smoking among young people.

“We will focus on adolescent health. It is the area we need to be proactive in putting mechanisms in place to achieve a preventive approach to tobacco smoking among the kids.

“We must work with the act that bans tobacco smoking in public places especially to prevent second hand smoke,” she said.

Also speaking, Ms Camara said that the organisation was in the country to campaign and educate Nigerians on the danger of tobacco smoking.

“We are the leading advocacy organisations in the world that advocate against tobacco smoking.

“We are focusing on tobacco control. Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths, that is why it is important that we tackle tobacco prevention,” she said.

According to her, tobacco companies target the young people in order to safeguard their profits.

Ms Camara said that it was important to tackle tobacco control because the world was facing an incredible enemy that may affect public health issues.

She said that the organisation had been working for more than 25 years to educate the youths on the danger of tobacco smoking.

“The organisation has fought to protect children and save lives from the cause of preventable death.

“Our vision is a future free of the death and disease caused by tobacco. Because tobacco has killed enough,” Ms Camara said.

According to her, It is the tobacco industry that is searching confidently to target young people in order to safeguard the profit over public health.

She said that Nigeria was the most important market in Africa and probably the world with beautiful, powerful and strong numbers of young people in the continent.

“Most important thing for us is to raise awareness, educate youths on the consequences of tobacco use.

“Tobacco smoking has killed eight million people a year and out of the number 1.2 million die from secondhand smoke which means you don’t have to be a smoker, you can die from it, suffer from it whether you want it or not,” she said.

Ms Camara said that the country had passed the tobacco smoking law, saying that implementation and enforcement was most important, especially for young people.

She described tobacco as the entering way to other drugs that generate negative consequences which include mental health, loss of productive life, loss of good health, and education among others.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to Nigeria, Hidayet Bayraktar, said that Nigeria was a rising power in Africa due to its population and large economy.

The envoy said this at the celebration of the country’s 100th year anniversary on Friday in Abuja.

Mr Bayraktar said that Nigeria and Türkiye relations was established in 1960 and developed on the basis of friendship and mutual benefits.

He added that in strengthening both countries’ bilateral relations, both President Tayyip Erdoğan and former President Muhammadu Buhari paid mutual visits to each country in 2021.

“These reciprocal high-level visits provided the opportunity to underline our shared goal of strengthening our bilateral ties in every field.

“We sincerely believe that we will continue to build and reinforced our partnership with Nigerian government which was newly established after the election in February.

“The challenges Nigeria and its immediate region face today such as terrorism and organised crime, are not just local problems of the region, but subject to international concern,” Mr Bayraktar said.

According to him, Türkiye supports Nigeria in her fight against terrorism, climate change and is ready to undertake the necessary responsibility to contribute to Nigeria’s efforts to combat the menace.

Mr Bayraktar added, “Similarly, we expect from all our friendly and brotherly countries, including Nigeria, to show more solidarity in our fight against terrorist organisations.

“Besides the fight against terrorism, our bilateral trade and economic cooperation trend upwards. Furthermore, our cooperation in the field of defence industry is improving.”

He said that Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Badaru Abubakar, paid a visit to Türkiye this week and met with Yaşar Güler, the Minister of National Defence of Türkiye.

He said, “We are glad about the ongoing cooperation on T-129 ATAK helicopters and other deals in the field of defence industry.

“First of two Offshore Patrol Vessels constructed by Dearsan Shipyards for the Nigerian Navy was launched yesterday in Gebze, Türkiye.

“The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu, also attended and honoured this event.

“I am so happy to inform you that the delivery of the first batch of T-129 ATAK helicopters are planned to be handed over next week. We also have a model of said helicopter.

“Turkish aerospace company was kind enough to send this model to our Embassy for exhibition, which Turkish investors are showing growing interest in Nigeria.”

Mr Bayraktar said that there were more than one hundred Turkish companies operating in Nigeria, providing jobs and contributing to the economy of Nigeria.

He added that Turkish Airlines flies to Abuja and Lagos nine times a week.

“We attach utmost importance to the cultural, educational and humane dimensions of our relations. In our country, last year 3,669 Nigerian students were studying in higher educational institutions.

“Some of these students benefit from the scholarship our government grants every year to foreign students studying in Türkiye,” he said.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new leadership for the Federal Civil Service (FCSC), subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja, said that Prof. Tunji Olaopa would chair the leadership.

Other members include Daudu Jalo, representing Adamawa, Gombe and Taraba States and Gekpe Grace Isu, member representing Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

Others are Chamberlain Nwele representing Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu States, while Rufus Godwins will represent Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa States.

Adamu Husseini will represent Niger and FCT, Aminu Nabegu, Jigawa and Kano States, while Hindatu Abdullahi will represent Kaduna and Katsina States.

Others include Shehu Aliyu, member representing Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara States, while Odekunle Aduke will represent Kogi and Kwara States.

Jide Jimoh is appointed to represent Lagos and Ogun States while Festus Oyebade will represent Osun and Oyo.

“Upon confirmation, the new FCSC leadership is expected to commence work with effect from Nov. 30, 2023 as the tenure of the current leadership Chairman and membership expires Nov. 29.

“The President anticipates that the new FCSC leadership will competently facilitate the transformation, reorientation and digitisation of the federal bureaucracy.

“This will enable, and not stifle, growth and enhanced private sector participation in the development of the Nigerian economy, in full adherence to the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement added.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday visited the Presidential Villa to congratulate President Bola Tinubu on the Supreme Court judgement which affirmed his election.

Jonathan’s visit came barely 24 hours after the Supreme Court dismissed appeals filed against Tinubu’s election by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP.

Jonathan, who felicitated with Tinubu behind closed doors, said it was time for past Presidents to close ranks and device solutions that would help the masses wriggle out of poverty.

He said the ability of Nigeria to lead the African continent through its numerous challenges has become more imperative.

The former President said, “We need to bring all our political leaders including all our former Presidents together, we will not be fighting. If top leaders continue fighting they will not suffer that much but the downtrodden will suffer.

“And we want to end that tension, so we move forward. Elections are over and so we must move forward.”

Commenting on the need for Nigeria to assert its powers, he said the country has all it takes to lead Africa despite the current economic challenges.

“That is what all Africans are saying, I had a program on democracy dialogue and Prof Lumumba spoke there, he emphasized the need for Nigeria to take a lead in Africa. Yes, we have challenges economically now but we still have what it takes to lead Africa.

“These are some of the issues I will continue to have conversations with Mr President on, including briefing him on all my foreign programs.

“They are not personal issues, traditionally former Presidents, when they go outside the country for continental or regional programs, and even some international ones, when you come home you brief the President, that is the tradition.

“Most times when you see me here that is what we come to do, to move Nigeria forward, to move ECOWAS forward and to move the African continent forward,” Jonathan added.

He acknowledged the current economic concerns in the country, adding that Nigerians will overcome the challenges with adequate support for the government.

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has revealed when forward Christopher Nkunku will play for the Blues again.

Nkunku is currently recovering from a severe knee injury.

The France international sustained the injury during pre-season.

Providing an update on Nkunku ahead of Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Brentford this weekend, Pochettino said the attacker could be back in action for the west London club after the next international break.

“He [Christoper Nkunku] is doing well; I think he is close, and I hope he can be involved soon,” Pochettino said at his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“Maybe after the international break. Maybe not, not sure.”

Eighteen-year-old Mustapha Adamu Isa, aka Abbati, was paraded on Friday by the Gombe State Police Command for the alleged murder of Aishatu Abdullahi Adda Damori.

Damori, 58, a mother of eight children, was killed by unknown persons in her bedroom last Friday.

During the parade, Gombe State Police Command spokesperson, ASP Mahid Mu’azu Abubakar, explained that a formal complaint was received at Pantami Division from Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, the son of the deceased, who reported that his mother was murdered with a knife by an unknown person around 9:30 pm.

“The suspect was arrested last Sunday around 1:30 pm in connection with the case following credible intelligence received by the investigative team, headed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, SCID Gombe,” Abubakar said.

According to him, the suspect sneaked into the victim’s bedroom in search of his spanner, which she had earlier seized from him.

The victim returned from her neighbour’s house (Abbati’s family house) and found him snooping around in her room.

She ordered him to leave her room, but he refused, leading to a scuffle between them, which resulted in him strangling and killing her with a knife.

He subsequently escaped through the toilet to an unknown destination, leaving behind his bloodstained shirt and knife but taking with him the spanner.

Responding to questions from newsmen, the suspects claimed he was in Damori’s room to take the spanner to fix a motorcycle brought to the mechanic’s garage in front of the house.

He also claimed it was his first time committing such a crime and did not know what came over him to kill the victim because she was his friend’s mother.

He insisted that he found the knife in her room and used it to stab her several times before he left with the spanner.

Abbati further claimed that he committed the crime alone, refuting his earlier claim that implicated Idris Abubakar Danjauro, whom he accused of being responsible for his sack from the garage.

The command’s PPRO affirmed that the knife, spanner, and Abbati’s blood-stained shirt were recovered as exhibits.

The National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said it has arrested no fewer than 66 drug hawkers across the nation.

The Director-General of the agency, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, stated this while destroying fake and expired goods in Sagamu, Ogun State, on Thursday.

Adeyeye, represented by the NAFDAC Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Francis Ononiwu, said 66 arrests were recorded from 50 raids across the country since January 2023.

According to her, antimalarials, codeine, cough syrups, aphrodisiacs, tramadol capsules, analgesics, and antibiotics worth N8 million were seized from people who hawked drugs on the street.

She recalled NAFDAC’s arrest of a suspect, Sunday Chibuike, who produced and sold unregistered alcoholic beverages.

The suspect, according to her, was concocting alcoholic drinks laced with substances suspected to be cannabis sativa and other harmful ingredients.

The alcoholic drink, Adeyeye disclosed, was packaged and sold as Japata Bitters in the Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos State.

The NAFDAC DG urged Nigerians to shun drug peddlers and patronise registered medicine stores in order to avoid the harmful effects of unregistered drugs.

Former Chinese Prime Minister, Li Keqiang is dead.

Kegiang died in the early hours of Friday at the age of 68.

He died after suffering a sudden heart attack in Shanghai, state news agency reported.

Kegiang suffered a heart attack late on Thursday and died on Friday after attempts to resuscitate him failed.

Recall that Kegiang had stepped down as premier in March after 10 years in office under Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He was born on July 1, 1955 in Dingyuan, in the eastern province of Anhui, the son of a functionary.

In 1974, during the Cultural Revolution, Kegiang was forced to go to the countryside like other intellectuals.

As one of only three per cent of all applicants who managed to gain admission, he studied law at Peking University and earned a doctorate in economics.

Kegiang was effectively sidelined by Xi, and eventually replaced by Li Qiang in March.

There had been rumours about his health for years.

Tosin Adarabioyo is set to sign a new contract at Premier League club, Fulham.

Adarabioyo rejected a new contract from the Cottagers in June.

Ligue 1 club, Monaco also had an £8.5m bid for the defender snubbed by Fulham in August.

According to the Standard, the centre-back could now start dialogue with the London club.

The 26-year-old can sign a pre-contract agreement with clubs overseas from January 1.

The Nigerian-born defender is currently recuperating from a groin surgery.

Adarabioyo joined Fulham from Manchester City in 2020.

Former Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba will present Lionel Messi with the 2023 Ballon d’Or award on Monday.

This was confirmed by football transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, on Friday morning.

Romano posted a short video of Drogba who has already arrived at Paris where the ceremony will take place and wrote: “Didier Drogba will give Lionel Messi his Ballon d’Or number 8.

“It will happen on Monday in Paris.”Messi, who now plays for Inter Miami in the MLS, will become the first footballer outside Europe to win the prize.

It will also be a record-extending eighth time for the 36-year-old.

The Jigawa government has distributed 54 tractors and other agricultural inputs to boost wheat farming in the state.

Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa announced this on Thursday in Dutse while presenting the items to the 27 local government councils of the state.

Mr Namadi said his administration would cultivate 40,000 hectares of wheat farm with the federal government.

The items included 54 new tractors with complete implements, such as tipping trailers, ridgers, harrows and ploughs.

“I want to inform you that we are going to clear field for the commencement of wheat plantation which is a federal and state’s government joint project as well as African Development Bank,” he said.

The governor said that Jigawa was challenged to cultivate 40,000 hectares of wheat, adding that the state had agreed to do it because it has the manpower, capacity and the land.

He said the tractors would be on the field on October 27, and that the tractors are not for decoration but for use by the rural farming communities across the state.Governor Namadi, therefore, asked the chairmen to make good use of the implements for the benefit of all farmers.

“Today is another important day in our efforts to revolutionised agriculture in Jigawa state. We have already promised that we will try to mechanised agriculture in Jigawa in order to ensure that our farmers get value for what they have done,” the governor said.

Mr Namadi said the unveiling of the new tractors two per local government was in fulfilment of the promised he made to the teeming farming communities.

He explained that the idea of involving local government chairmen was because of their closeness to the people at the grassroots, noting that by involving them the rural dwellers will get the benefit of the tractors.

The governor, however, said that the tractors were not given free as it were, but the state government would only stand as a grantor for the supplying company to ensure it recovered its money from the councils instrumental.

Ahmed Garba, Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, appreciated the governor for making agricultural implements accessible to the farming communities in the state.

He assured the government that his ministry would also put monitoring mechanism to ensure judicious use of the equipment.

Rabiu Maigatari, the Managing Director, Jigawa Agricultural Supply Company Ltd (JASCO), said the idea of procuring the tractors for the local governments councils was in line with Namadi’s vision in mechanising agriculture in the state for maximum productivity.

“It is based on the directives of His Excellency that we entered into agreement with the local governments through the Ministry of Local Government Affairs on the supply of two tractors to each council,” he said.

Mr Maigatari said that the brand of Messey Fergusson Tractors is among the highest grade of tractors tested and found durable within the farming community.

He added that in order to ensure ease of payment by the council areas, installment plan of 12 months was approved by the state government, though the actual price of tractors was not mentioned.

“It is important to state that while considering the supply of the tractors, we are not unaware of the need of our large scale farmers from whom we receive individual requests to partake in this kind of project.

“In this regard, therefore, we are in talk with Directorate of Economic Empowerment to design a mechanism that will look into the requests of our large scale farmers with the approval of His Excellency,” he said.

According to him, the company is also displaying 10 combined harvesters of which JASCO is in liaison with the Directorate of Economic Empowerment in sourcing interested large scale farmers for possible supply.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has lauded the Supreme Court’s rejection of certificate forgery evidence by Atiku Abubakar to affirm President Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory in the February 25 presidential election.

Mr Sanwo-Olu, a political progeny of Mr Tinubu, disclosed in a statement shared on his X handle on Thursday, shortly after Supreme Court’s judgment.

“I am delighted by the Supreme Court’s verdict reaffirming H.E President Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory in the February 25, 2023 Presidential election.

“This judgment is a clear validation of the mandate freely given by the people of Nigeria to President Tinubu, who will lead our nation from May 29, 2023, to May 2027,” Mr Sanwo-Olu said.

On Thursday, the apex court affirmed Mr Tinubu’s victory, rejecting fresh evidence of certificate forgery tendered before it by opposition politician, Mr Abubakar.

“Facts and matters that were not rendered in the tribunal have no place in the appeal,” Justice John Okoro ruled, adding that “A petitioner shall not be allowed to introduce new evidences in an appeal.”

Last month, the Chicago State University, in a deposition, revealed that Mr Tinubu presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), following court order compelling the institution to grant access into Mr Tinubu’s academic records.

However, the Supreme Court’s rejection of fresh certificate forgery evidence on Thursday, left opposition counsel with no option to argue for Mr Tinubu’s ouster in line with Nigerian constitution. Section 137 (1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution (amended in 2010) states that no one would be legitimately elected president of Nigeria if the person “has presented a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission.”

Though Thurday’s judgement did not clear Mr Tinubu’s forgery scandal, sparking criticisms from Nigerians, the president, in an interview with state-owned NTA television, said the apex court’s judgement had put an end to “shenanigans, lies, media trial” against him.

Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command have arrested one Obioma Okafor-Ama, popularly known as Alagbon, who has been a torn in the flesh of residents of Nise Community in Awka South Local Government Area.

Alagbon, who has been on the police wanted list for a long time, was finally arrested by personnel from the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, in his hideout following a tipoff on October 19.

CP Aderemi Adeoye, Commissioner of Police in Anambra, confirmed the arrest to NAN in Awka on Friday.

Mr Adeoye said the suspect was arrested in his hideout in Nise by his men from RSS, Awkuzu, after days of intelligence.

He said he was presently in custody and would be charged to court after investigation was concluded.

Alagbon is alleged to be a ringleader of a notorious cult group that has terrorised residents of the town and neighbouring communities with attendant maiming and killing of victims.

“The notorious cultist and his gang have been on the wanted list of police for a long time.

“Alagbon is part of the group responsible for several cult related killings in Awka.

“We are happy and jubilating when we heard the news of his arrest,” a source said.

India has said it is exploring all legal options after a court in Qatar sentenced eight former Indian naval officers to death on unspecified charges.

Reports say the men, who worked with a private company in Qatar, were arrested last year on suspicion of spying.

Neither Qatar nor India have revealed the specific charges against them.

On Thursday, the Indian government said it was “deeply shocked” and would take up the verdict with Qatari authorities.

India’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it was awaiting the detailed judgment and attached “high importance to this case”.

“We are in touch with the family members and the legal team, and we are exploring all legal options,” the ministry said, adding that it would not make further comment right now because of the “confidential nature of proceedings of this case”.

The statement describes the men as employees of a private company called Al Dahra, but they have been widely reported to be former personnel of the Indian Navy.

Last year, in parliament, foreign minister S Jaishankar described them as “ex-servicemen” of the country. The families of some of the men have also confirmed their identities and background in the Navy to local media.

Their arrest in August last year had made front-page headlines in India, but there has been little confirmed information about the charges against them.

According to The Hindu newspaper, the men were allegedly accused of “breaching sensitive secrets” but neither of the governments have confirmed this. The BBC could not independently verify the allegations but has reached out to the Qatar embassy with questions.

Experts say the recent diplomatic tensions could impact relations between the two countries.

“There are over 700,000 Indians in Qatar and we have close economic ties. The Indian government has been following the case closely without doubt, but would need to take it up at the highest level to ensure their lives are saved,” Former Indian ambassador to Qatar, Deepa Gopalan, told The Hindu.

In December, Mr Jaishankar told parliament that the government was in constant touch with Qatar over the “very sensitive case”.

“Their interests are foremost in our minds. Ambassadors and senior officials are in constant touch with Qatar’s government. We assure, they’re our priority,” he said.

Millions of Indians live in the Gulf, with tens of thousands of them working in semi-skilled and unskilled low-income jobs.

These migrant workers have played a key role in building the economies of Gulf Arab states and also form an important source of remittances for India.

South Korea’s constitutional court has upheld a law banning same-sex relations in the military, in what activists have called a setback for LGBT rights.

The court said same-sex relationships could harm troops’ combat-readiness and undermine discipline.

Same-sex intercourse between civilians however, is not a crime.

Military service is compulsory in South Korea, with all able-bodied men aged between 18 and 28 are required to serve for about 20 months.

Activists condemned the ruling, saying it fuels violence and discrimination against gay soldiers.

The ban has “institutionalized discrimination, reinforced systematic disadvantages faced by LGBT people and risked inciting or justifying violence against them, both inside the military and in everyday life”, Amnesty International East Asia researcher Boram Jang said in a statement.

The court, in a five-to-four vote, ruled that article 92-6 of the military criminal act was constitutional. The act does not explicitly refer to same-sex intercourse but bans “anal intercourse” or “any other indecent act” during service.

It was the fourth time since 2002 that the court upheld the law, which carries a prison term of up to two years.

“The world has advanced toward the elimination of LGBT discrimination, but the minds of Constitutional Judges have not taken a single step forward,” said Centre for Military Human Rights Korea head Lim Tae-hoon in a statement.

Homosexuality may not be illegal in South Korea – since 2003 it is no longer classified as “harmful and obscene” – but discrimination remains widespread.

Same-sex marriage is not recognised and being gay is sometimes seen as a disability or even a medical condition in South Korea.

A man who fled to the Netherlands after being exposed as a drug dealer when police cracked an encrypted global messaging service has been jailed.

Cheshire Police said the national Encrochat investigation showed Andrew Phillips using it to supply drugs.

The force said the 38-year-old fled his home in Abbey Hey, Runcorn, but was tracked down to a house in Haarlem.

He admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and was sentenced to 14 years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court.

A police representative said an analysis of Phillips’s messages showed that between 27 March and 2 June 2020, he arranged multiple deliveries of cocaine and cannabis and the onward distribution of the drugs.

They said he supplied at least 26lb (12kg) of cocaine and 75lb (34kg) of cannabis during the period.

Officers went to his home address on 26 October 2021 to arrest him but he had fled abroad.

Working with the National Crime Agency and Dutch authorities, he was found and arrested as he left a house in Haarlem on 30 March 2022.

Speaking after sentencing, Det Insp Nick Henderson said Cheshire Police had been “relentless” in pursuing those who have so far been identified as using EncroChat.

He said criminals like Phillips had believed it “would always be a safe and secure service” which would allow them “to message freely and openly without being detected”, but while he “reaped the rewards of his criminality… it was always going to catch up with him”.