The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that the foreign exchange restrictions placed on 43 items in 2015 under Godwin Emefiele’s leadership have been lifted.

CBN’s spokesperson, Isa Abdulmumin, made this known on Thursday in Marrakech, where he restated the apex bank’s commitment to boosting liquidity in the FX market.

“Importers of all the 43 items previously restricted by the 2015 Circular referenced TED/FEM/FPC/GEN/01/010, and its addendums are now allowed to purchase foreign exchange in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market,” he said.

He said the apex bank would continue to promote orderliness and professional conduct by all participants in the market.According to him, the idea is to ensure that market forces determine exchange rates on a “Willing Buyer-Willing Seller” principle.

“The CBN reiterates that the prevailing FX rates should be referenced from platforms such as the CBN website, FMDQ, and other recognised or appointed trading systems.

“This is to promote price discovery, transparency, and credibility in the FX rates,” he said.

The director said that as part of its responsibility to ensure price stability, the apex bank would boost liquidity in the Nigerian FX market by interventions from time to time.

“As market liquidity improves, these CBN interventions will gradually decrease.

“The CBN is committed to accelerating efforts to clear the FX backlog with existing participants and will continue dialogue with stakeholders to address the issue.

“The CBN has set as one of its goals the attainment of a single FX market. Consultation is ongoing with market participants to achieve this goal, ” he said.

The bank had placed foreign exchange restrictions on margarine, meat and processed meat products, rice, cement, palm kernel, vegetable oil, iron rods and reinforcing bars, roofing sheets, head pan, and wheelbarrows, among others.

The House of Representatives has tasked the federal government to strive to enrol out-of-school girls by introducing free and compulsory education across the country.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Kafilat Ogbara (APC-Lagos) on the floor of the House in Abuja on Thursday.

The motion was on the commemoration of the 2023 International Day of the Girl Child.

She said the last survey by UNICEF revealed that 18.5 million children were out of school in Nigeria, 60 per cent of which were girls.

Ms Ogbara said adolescent girls had the right to a safe, educated and healthy life, adding that investing in girls’ leadership included creating space and platforms for girls to raise their voices at every policy-making level.

“The International Day of the Girl Child acknowledges the importance, power and potential of adolescent girls around the world by spotlighting other issues such as poor learning opportunities,” he said.

These, according to her, included discrimination, tackling issues posed by stereotypes and exclusion of children with disabilities and those living in marginalised communities.

Ms Ogbara expressed concern over the high number of out-of-school girls engaged in drug abuse and other vices in Nigeria.

She said investment in critical steps, such as the Girls Rights under the Convention of the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), would help to fast-track the SDG goals.

The lawmaker added that the current trend in Nigeria revealed that young girls their parents and guardians sexually abused returned to the same house after police intervention.

The House urged government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) saddled with the responsibility of training and empowerment to ensure compulsory vocational skills for the girl child.

The House mandated its Committee on Women Affairs to engage with all relevant MDAs to ensure compliance.

Eight United Nations (UN) peacekeepers stationed in Beni, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, have been arrested in connection with reports of alleged sexual exploitation and acts of violence.

According to internal documents obtained by AFP from the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), an officer was also suspended over the development.

AFP reported that the UN Mission made an announcement on Wednesday regarding “strong measures” taken against peacekeepers who are under suspicion of “serious misconduct”.

According to the documents obtained by AFP, the peacekeepers were arrested on October 1 while the officer was suspended a week later.

The concerned individuals are part of the South African contingent of the UN Force and may be linked to a “systematic widespread violation” of UN regulations, as described in internal reports.

In a statement released late Wednesday, MONUSCO stated, “The Office of Internal Oversight Services has been informed, and precautionary measures have already been implemented in line with the UN Secretary-General’s zero-tolerance policy.

“These measures include the suspension, detention, and confinement of the peacekeepers involved, with a strong condemnation of such behavior as “unworthy of UN personnel”.

One of the internal documents indicates that establishments with names like ‘Soweto’, ‘Bloemfontein’, and ‘Cape Town’, mirroring South African towns, have emerged near the MONUSCO base at Mavivi, near Beni.

A preliminary report also mentions that the officer in question “intimidated and verbally threatened UN personnel” following the arrest of the peacekeepers.

Since May, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi has been urging SADC (Southern African Development Community) countries, including South Africa, to deploy troops in support of the Congolese army, particularly in response to the M23 rebels who have captured significant portions of North Kivu province.

Furthermore, the DRC government has been advocating for an “accelerated” withdrawal of the UN Force by December, accusing it of failing to quell violence perpetrated by armed groups during its 25-year presence.

The management of the Federal Medical Centre, FMC, Jalingo, in Taraba State, has denied claims that its medical experts were negligent in the treatment of a 400-level student of the State University, TSU.

The hospital was recently accused of not being proactive when the 400-level student whose life was cut short by a hit-and-run driver was brought in as an emergency case to the hospital.

Denying the allegations in a press statement on Thursday, the FMC management in Jalingo, urged the public to disregard the report, describing it as misleading.

The hospital, through the Head of the Public Relations Unit, Agev Joseph Terlumun, claimed the author of the allegations did not balance the report before going to the press.”

The online news jumped to conclusions that the medical team of the hospital neglected to urgently attend to Joseph Afara upon presentation leading to his demise.

“Joseph Afara was presented to our facility by members of the Federal Road Safety Commission in their ambulance. He was wheeled into the accident and emergency unit of the hospital at a busy period with several patients presenting various emergency cases.” The hospital stated.

”The late student was promptly attended to by the casualty doctor on duty and the orthopaedic team on call.

He explained that the patient, after examination by the casualty officer, was assessed to have sustained multiple frictional burns, head injury, and an avulsion injury on the right thigh and was in shock.

The FMC then appealed to the press to always verify their sources before reaching out to the public

Former Liverpool ace, Danny Murphy believes Chelsea made a mistake by not including a buy-back clause in defender Marc Guehi’s contract before allowing the player to leave the club.

Guehi is maturing into a top-class centre-back since leaving Chelsea for Crystal Palace in 2021.

The 23-year-old has earned a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.He even started England’s last two matches, against Ukraine and Scotland, respectively.

He even started England’s last two matches, against Ukraine and Scotland, respectively.

Guehi is expected to keep his place for England’s upcoming games against Australia and Italy over the next week.

He is now attracting attention from some of the top clubs in the Premier League, with the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham both linked with moves over the summer.

“I think it’s always difficult when players are on a certain journey that doesn’t align with the club,” Murphy told talkSPORT.

“And what I mean by that is he wanted to play every week, he was probably at Chelsea at a time where players ahead of him were rightly ahead of him.

“And although you might see this potential and this emerging talent for a year or two years down the line, if he’s completely unsettled and there’s a value to get him gone and take the money for him and let him go, you [do that].

“I mean, they should have put a buy-back clause in of a reasonable amount maybe.”

Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc (DSR) says it has drilled no fewer than 50 boreholes across the five local government areas in the host communities as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Ngozi Ngene, the refinery’s spokeswoman, told journalists in the corporate headquarters of the sugar facility located in Numan Local Government Area.

She said the refinery had recently embarked on the renovation of health clinics and many schools across the five LGAs of Numan, Shellang, Lamurde, Guyuk and Demsa.

According to her, the factory has also provided scholarships to 200 indigent students from the local communities as part of its efforts to promote education in the area.

She added that 100 indigenes were recently trained in vocational skills and provided with starter packs to enable them to achieve self-sustainability.”

They received a three-month vocational training at the Sani Abacha skills acquisition centre in Kano.”

We selected 20 participants from each of the five LGAs that constitute the host community of the facility”, she added.

Dangote Sugar, alongside BUA and Flour Mills, has intensified production in the region, hoping to increase the country’s overall output for self-sustenance in the crucial commodity

By the powers vested in President Bola Tinubu as established in section 2 (3) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004, that “the Chairman and members of the Commission, other than ex-officio members, shall be appointed by the President,”

President Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Ola Olukoyede to serve as the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a renewable term of four years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.

Mr. Ola Olukoyede is a lawyer with over twenty-two (22) years of experience as a regulatory compliance consultant and specialist in fraud management and corporate intelligence.

He has extensive experience in the operations of the EFCC, having previously served as Chief of Staff to the Executive Chairman (2016-2018) and Secretary to the Commission (2018-2023).

As such, he fulfils the statutory requirement for appointment as Chairman of the EFCC.

Mr. Olukoyede’s appointment follows the resignation of the suspended Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa.

Furthermore, President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda to serve as the Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a renewable term of five years in the first instance, pending Senate confirmation.

Mr. Muhammad Hassan Hammajoda is a public administrator with extensive experience in public finance management who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maiduguri and a Masters in Business Administration from the same university.

He began his career as a lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi. From there, he went into banking, including successful stints at the defunct Allied Bank and Standard Trust Bank.

President Bola Tinubu tasks the new leadership of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to justify the confidence given to them in this important national assignment as a newly invigorated war on corruption undertaken through a reformed institutional architecture in the anti-corruption sector remains a central pillar of the President’s Renewed Hope agenda.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President(Media & Publicity)

October 12, 2023

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will discover their group foes for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday (today).

The highly anticipated draw ceremony is billed for the magnificent Parc Des Expositions, Abidjan.

Placed in Pot 2, Jose Peseiro’s side could face defending champions Senegal, hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Atlas Lions of Morocco, Desert Foxes of Algeria, Carthage Eagles of Tunisia and Pharaohs of Egypt in the group stage.

The Super Eagles were eliminated in the Round of 16 of the competition at the last edition in Cameroon.

The West Africans started the competition on an impressive note, winning all their group stage games.

They however lost 1-0 to Tunisia to exit the competition.Cote d’Ivoire will host the competition from January 13 to February 11, 2024.

A single ticket sold in California has won $1.76 billion (£1.4 billion) on the Powerball – the second-largest lottery jackpot in history.

The identity of the ticket holder has not been disclosed.The winner has the choice of having the money paid out over 30 years, or receiving an estimated $774.1 million lump-sum payment.

The biggest ever win was $2.04 billion in November 2022.

That ticket was also bought in California.

The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 292.2 million.

In comparison, the odds of being struck by lightning over the next year is 1 in 1.22 million, according to the US National Weather Service.

The winning ticket was purchased at Midway Market & Liquor in Frazier Park, 75 miles (120 km) north of Los Angeles, Powerball said.

Tickets cost $2 each and are sold across the US, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

Huge billion dollar prizes have become more common as ticket prices have been raised.

The game has also been tweaked, with players now choosing five numbers from one to 69 instead of from one to 59 under the previous rules.

Players also select the Powerball – their sixth number – from one to 26, instead of the previous one to 35.

That decreases the chance of winning the grand prize from one in 175.2 million to the current one in 292.2 million.

On Wednesday, UN secretary general António Guterres voiced grave concern over the escalating conflict in Israel and Gaza and stressed the need to prevent the violence from spreading into the wider region.

The UN chief raised the alarm over clashes along the Blue Line, the demarcation between Israel and Lebanon, and reported attacks from southern Lebanon.

Mr Guterres, who made the call at a news briefing at the UN Headquarters in New York, appealed to all the parties to avoid further spread of the conflict.

“I appeal to all parties – and those who have an influence over those parties – to avoid any further escalation and spillover,” he said.The UN chief reiterated the need always to protect civilians, as guaranteed by international law.

“I call for the immediate release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza,” he said.

The UN chief underscored that UN premises, hospitals, schools and clinics must never be targeted and stressed the urgency of humanitarian access to the enclave.

“Crucial life-saving supplies – including fuel, food and water – must be allowed into Gaza. We need rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access now,” he said.

According to the UN Humanitarian Affairs Coordination Office (OCHA), the death tolls in Israel from attacks by Palestinian armed groups and in Gaza due to Israeli bombardments have continued to rise, with mass displacement soaring across the enclave.

OCHA cited Israeli media, which reported that as of Tuesday evening, more than 1,000 Israelis, including foreign nationals, were killed, and at least 2,806 people were injured, according to the ministry of health.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza said at least 830 Palestinians have been killed and 4,250 injured.

Over a tenth of the population in Gaza, more than 260,000 people, have been displaced since the current conflict on October 7, and the numbers are rising fast.

Amidst the volatile situation, the UN Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) reported that eleven of its staff members had been killed since Saturday, while 30 students at its schools died and a further eight were injured.

The Bauchi government has terminated the appointment of Aminu Umar, the chairman of the interim management team of Wikki Tourists Football Club.

This is contained in a statement by Muhammed Salis, the youth and sports development commissioner, on Wednesday in Bauchi.

“It is with a heavy heart that I write to inform you of our decision to terminate your role as the interim chairman of Wikki Tourists Football Club, effective immediately (today),” said the statement.

It added, “Your appointment as interim chairman was a testament to our belief in your ability to steer the club in the right direction. However, we have observed a series of actions that regrettably contravene the clear instructions and guidelines provided for the proper management of the club.”

The government noted that “these violations include, but are not limited to, borrowing funds without due approvals, making appointments without adhering to due process, a failure to accept and rectify mistakes after receiving warnings.”

The Bauchi government explained that the “actions compromised the transparency, accountability and effective governance we expect within the club” and “as a result, we are left with no choice but to terminate your interim chairmanship.”

The statement also mentioned that the Bauchi government appreciated the efforts he had put into the club and his commitment to its success.

“However, we must uphold the principles of good governance, responsible financial management and adherence to established procedures,” it said.

“We trust that this decision will serve as an opportunity for both you and the clubs to reassess and move forward in a manner that upholds the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.”

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has offered his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant further support following the Islamist militant group Hamas’s unprecedented killing of Israeli civilians.

On Wednesday evening, Germany gave the green light to Israel to use two of its Heron TP combat drones in its attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The German Ministry of Defence announced it approved an Israeli request to use unmanned aerial vehicles in the fight against the Islamist group Hamas.

Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, currently leases five drones from the Israeli arms manufacturer which builds them.

Two aircraft are in Israel, where German soldiers are trained to use them.

German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that Israel has suspended the training of the German pilots while the drones are redeployed.

Mr Pistorius, speaking on the fringes of a meeting of NATO defence ministers earlier on Wednesday, had said if the situation worsened, Israel would consult with its partners.

He said Germany is ready to help, including delivering humanitarian aid if Israel requests it.

Previously, Israeli officials had said that they “do not need support of a military or technical nature,” Mr Pistorius said.

“It is about political support,” he added.Hamas, the militant group that rules Gaza, launched a large-scale attack against Israel on Saturday.

Israel responded with ongoing airstrikes on the densely populated coastal enclave.More than 1,000 people on each side have been killed.

Several hundred people gathered for a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Vienna on Wednesday despite a ban to stop it.

The atmosphere during the unauthorised demonstration was heated, but the police did not report any violence, Austria’s APA news agency reported.

Police did not interfere with the demonstrators at Stephansplatz in the city centre but prevented them from continuing through the streets.

Police refused to issue a permit for the vigil after invitations featuring a Hamas slogan appeared on the internet.

The rally was banned because the organisers did not distance themselves from Hamas’ calls for violence against Israel.

Police chief Gerhard Pürstl said the violent conflict in the Middle East should not be carried onto the streets of Vienna.

Israel was stunned by a large-scale attack by Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip on Saturday and has retaliated with massive airstrikes on the territory.

More than 1,000 people have died on each side.

Hurricane Lidia made landfall on Mexico’s Pacific coast on Tuesday with very strong wind and rain, causing at least one death.

The eye of the storm, rated a category four out of five, impacted the town of Las Peñitas, 55km south-west of the resort of Puerto Vallarta.

With sustained winds of up to 220km per hour, according to the Mexican weather service.

In Punta de Mita in the western state of Nayarit, a falling tree killed a man in his car, the newspaper El Occidental reported on Tuesday evening, citing the civil defence authority.

According to the U.S. Hurricane Centre in Miami, Lidia had developed into an “extremely dangerous’’ hurricane shortly off the coast.

In the affected areas in the states of Jalisco and Nayarit, local authorities said schools would be closed until Wednesday.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador called on residents of the region to seek safety and stay away from low-lying areas and rivers.

Soldiers and civil defence officials were on duty, López Obrador wrote on the online platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Mexico’s weather service warned of very heavy rains in Colima, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Nayarit.

Waves up to nine metres high were expected along the coast.The hurricane season started in the Pacific on May 15 and the Atlantic on June 1.

The season ends in both regions on November 30.

Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean waters.

Increasing global warming increases the probability of strong storms.

A hurricane is defined as a tropical storm system with sustained winds of at least 119km per hour.

Israel has pledged to cease all types of assaults on its citizens, according to Michael Freeman, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, who shared this commitment during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mr Freeman, also the permanent representative of Israel to ECOWAS, expressed concerns over the Hamas group’s killing of over 1,000 unsuspecting civilian Israeli citizens, describing it as terrorism.

According to him, Israel will do what it should to end wars against Hamas attacks.

Mr Freeman said, “So, Israel is going to react; we have declared war on Hamas.

“It is important to state at this point that this is not a war that is between Israel and Palestine; this is not about Israel and Palestine.

“This is about Israel and Hamas; this is about good and evil; this is about civilisation and barbarism.”

He assured Israel’s plan to do everything within its ambit to avoid civilian casualties during the war against Hamas.

He mentioned that the Israeli move would not be about religion—Islam, Judaism, or Christianity—but about evil and good.

The ambassador further said Israel did not desire war in any circumstances but would remain committed to protecting its citizens in all possible ways.

“If Hamas will surrender, this will be over tomorrow morning; if terrorism will be over, that is not realistic.

“I am focused on dealing with Hamas, and I am focused on stopping it,” the envoy added.

Earlier, the Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdallah Shawey, underscored the need to apply international laws to resolve the lingering crisis between Palestine and Israel.

Mr Shawey, while commenting on the ongoing war between the two countries, urged the international community to stop treating Israel as a nation above the law.

In response to the Palestinian government’s position about Hamas, the envoy said the group was not a terrorist organisation.

He said there should be fair treatment for all parties, saying the lives of all individuals mattered and thereby condemning the incessant killings ongoing in both countries.

Mr Shawey said, “The group is not a terrorist organisation, but it is fighting the course of the people to liberate their land from Israeli occupation.

“The ceasefire agreement between the warring parties depends on Israel, which owns a comprehensive military formation with support from allies like the United States.”

Hamas is a Palestinian political and militant organisation that governs the Gaza Strip, one of the two Palestinian territories with a presence in the West Bank.

A31-year-old driver, Seun Shittu, was on Wednesday docked in the Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing 35 bags of cashew nuts.

The police charged Mr Shittu with two counts of conspiracy and theft before Magistrate L K J Layeni.He pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Simon Uche, told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in May in the Abule-Osun Area of Ojo.

He alleged that the defendant, being the driver for MEDLOG Logistics Company, was entrusted with 35 bags of cashew nuts to convey to the company’s terminal in Ikorodu.

The police said the defendant conspired with others at large and stole the consignment.

He said the offence contravened sections 287 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

Magistrate Layeni admitted the defendant to N500,000 bail with two sureties.He adjourned the case until November 29 for trial.

Lionel Messi will not join another team on loan when the Major League Soccer season ends, says Guillem Balague.

The Inter Miami captain, 36, has been linked with a return to Barcelona and a switch to the Saudi Pro League.

Inter Miami are out of play-off contention after Saturday’s 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati and their season ends on 21 October.

Argentine World Cup winner Messi has only played 72 minutes in the MLS since early September due to injury.

After the MLS regular season ends, Argentina have World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Brazil on 17 and 22 November and Messi is then expected to take a month’s holiday.

“Messi will have around one month holiday, like other footballers. So forget any move to Saudi or similar,” says Spanish football expert Balague.

He will then return for pre-season in Miami with the MLS new season starting in February.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner joined Inter Miami from Paris St-Germain in July and guided the club to their first Leagues Cup victory in August, before losing the US Open Cup.

Although he has scored 11 goals in 13 games for the side, only one of those has come in his five MLS appearances.

Messi has been linked with a return to Barcelona ever since he left for PSG in 2021 after 21 years at the club.

Asked about the rumours after the loss to FC Cincinnati, Inter Miami manager Tata Martino said: “That’s surprising. I know nothing about that. If you’re telling me that he’s going to go visit Barcelona on vacation, yes, it’s probable, but I don’t have any information on the other part.”

It was not Grammy-winning Nigerian singer, Burna Boy’s night as he lost all seven nominations at the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards which was held at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on October 3, 2023, and broadcast Tuesday night (October 10, 2023).

He lost the Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Lyricist of the Year and Best Live Performer of the Year categories to Kendrick Lamar.

Burna Boy also lost: Hustler of the Year to 50Cent and Best Collaboration of the Year for ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World’ feat, 21 Savage to Lil Durk and J. Cole’s ‘All My Life.’

His other losses include Best Hip Hop Video for ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World’ feat, 21 Savage to Lil Uzi Vert’s ‘Just Wanna Rock’, and Song of the Year to the same song.

Meanwhile, Ghanaian prodigy, Black Sherif won the Best International Flow category defeating South Africa’s late AKA and K.O, France’s Gazo and Ninho, UK’s J Hus, Central Cee and others.

Charles Oliveira has pulled out of the rematch with defending lightweight champion Islam Makhachev at UFC 294 in Abu Dhabi through injury.

Brazil’s Oliveira, 33, split his eyebrow open in sparring on Monday and has been replaced with Australian featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski.

Russian Makhachev, 31, holds the belt after beating Oliveira at UFC 280 via unanimous decision last year.

UFC 294 takes place on 21 October.

Makhachev successfully defended his title at UFC 284 against home favourite Volkanovski in Perth, Australia by unanimous decision in February.

To set up the rematch, Oliveira defeated American Beneil Dariush in June.

Journalist Cheng Lei has returned home to Australia after more than three years of detention in China.

“She was met at the airport by the Foreign Minister Penny Wong,” Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, announcing her release.

Cheng Lei, 48, was working as a business reporter for China’s state-run English language TV station CGTN when she was arrested on 13 August 2020.

She was later accused of “illegally supplying state secrets overseas”.

Her charges were never made public.Ms Cheng was freed as frosty relations between Canberra and Beijing appear to be thawing. Tensions between the two countries deepened during the pandemic, which led to a Chinese ban on Australian exports like barley, coal, and timber. Those blocks were lifted earlier this year, the first signs of a gradual easing of the diplomatic impasse.

On Wednesday, following Ms Cheng’s release, Mr Albanese said it would facilitate his trip to China at a “mutually agreed time” this year.

He added that Ms Cheng has been reunited with her two children in Melbourne.”Her return brings an end to a very difficult few years for her family. The government has been seeking this for a long period of time and her return will be warmly welcomed not just by her family and friends but by all Australians,” Mr Albanese said, adding that he spoke to Ms Cheng over the phone earlier on Wednesday.

He noted that her case “was concluded through the legal processes in China”.

After her arrest in China,Ms Cheng spent the first six months of her detention in solitary confinement without charge.

Last March, she was tried in secret in a Chinese court. Australia’s ambassador to China Graham Fletcher, tried unsuccessfully to gain entry to the court to witness proceedings. Her family also did not know the charges she faced.

China’s Ministry of State Security said on Wednesday that Ms Cheng was deported after serving a sentence of two years and 11 months.

She had pleaded guilty to her charges, it added. Beijing has not said when she was sentenced. But it’s likely that the time Ms Cheng spent in detention before she was tried early last year is being counted towards her sentence.

Born in China, Ms Cheng migrated with her family to Melbourne, Australia, when she was 10 for her father to pursue a PhD programme. She later returned to China and joined CGTN in 2012.

In August, she spoke publicly for the first time about her imprisonment in an open letter to the people of Australia, which had been dictated to a group of diplomats who were able to speak with her each month.

“I miss the sun. In my cell, the sunlight shines through the window, but I can stand in it for only 10 hours a year. I can’t believe I used to avoid the sun when I was living back in Australia… It’ll probably rain the first two weeks I’m back in Melbourne.”

“I haven’t seen a tree in three years,” she said.Some critics have long accused China of using prisoners as political bargaining chips.

Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor were also detained in China between 2018 and 2021, accused of espionage.

They were released hours after the US extradition request against Huawei’s chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou was dropped, although Beijing denied any connection between the two matters.

One other Australian, Yang Hengjun, remains imprisoned in China under national security charges.

He was charged in August 2019 with espionage, and tried in May 2021. He has not been formally sentenced.