The Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities has disbursed N1 million as bursary allowance to 14 indigent students of Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto.

Speaking at the occasion on Wednesday, the ASUU Chairman UDUS branch, Prof. Nuraddeen Mustapha, said two students obtained ASUU national body scholarship awards of N200,000 each.

Mr Mustapha said 12 other beneficiaries received N50,000 each from ASUU UDUS branch to reduce the hardship faced by indigent students and encourage excellence among students.

He said ASUU initiated the bursary scheme in all the state and federal universities, where one person “is entitled in each of the 80 designated institutions in the country.”

He noted that local branches were also allowed to support indigent students within their means.

According to him, this year, the gesture is increased to two students per institution on national ASUU scheme, while the amount is increased from N100,000 to N200,000, considering the present financial difficulties.

Stressing that the funds were from members’ contribution, the chairman enjoined the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the money to achieve their learning objectives.

Similarly, the chairman said the union was extending support to Internally Displaced Persons where about 250 persons benefited from foodstuff in Sokoto State.

He added that ASUU had expended about N25 million in the North-West in fulfilment of the gesture among other supportive programmes.

Mr Mustapha called on citizens to join hands with ASUU to prevail on President Bola Tunibu’s administration to change its students’ loan scheme to students’ grants.

The chairman stated, “Students’ loan is detrimental to individual and collective development, because it only benefits investors and subject citizens to hardship of loan repayment even after death, because guarantors must repay the loan collected.”

In his remark, the ASUU Zonal Chairman, Prof. Abubakar Sabo, represented by Prof. Faruk Tambuwal, described the gesture as distinct and a form of encouragement to the less-privileged students in the universities.

Mr Tambuwal said ASUU had been pursuing human interest policies in Nigeria such as; good governance, people friendly policies and overall national development, “but we were sometimes misunderstood by the citizens.”

The Vice Chancellor, UDUS, Prof. Lawal Bilbis, represented by Prof. Aminu Muhammad, commended ASUU for the initiative and encouraged them to sustain the tempo.

The VC pledged to sustain the award to any beneficiary who scores 3.5 CGPA above the 3.00 bursary criteria for ASUU, explaining that ASUU’s support was just for one academic session per student.

Dean Students’ Affairs, Prof. Shehu Tsagem and Students’ Union Government leader, Abdullahi Sanusi, described the gesture as commendable and appealed to other bodies to emulate the association.

A cross section of benefiting students, Isa Abdurrashid, Jimoke James, Usman Khalid, Fatima Sani and Solomon Moses, expressed happiness for the support and assured judicious use of the money.

President Macky Sall has announced that Senegal’s election will hold on March 24, after the constitutional court declared the April 2 date “unconstitutional.”

Mr Sall also replaced Prime Minister Amadou Ba with Interior Minister Sidiki Kaba, leaving Mr Ba, who is the ruling coalition’s presidential candidate, to focus on his electoral campaign.

“The President of the Republic informed the Council of Ministers that the date of the presidential election had been set for Sunday 24 March,” the council of ministers said in a statement on Wednesday.

This followed Senegal’s apex court verdict nullifying Mr Sall’s first announcement that election would hold on June 2, after leaving office on April 2.

Senegal’s election date reschedule comes as another episode since Mr Sall on February 3 unilaterally postponed the presidential election scheduled for February 25.

With this latest development, Senegalese will go to the polls on March 24, before Mr Sall leaves office on April 2.

Mr Sall, 62, who assumed power in 2012, already set precedence as the president who got Senegal’s election calendar disrupted with his “unlawful” election postponement.

Since 1960, Senegal, a bastion of democracy among neighbouring countries notorious for coup d’états and military takeovers, has enjoyed stable democracy.

Super Falcons winger, Rasheedat Ajibade is delighted to be named Atletico Madrid Player of the Month for February.

Ajibade was one of the standout performers for Atletico Madrid last month.

The pacy winger was overwhelmingly voted for by the fans, who recognised her impressive displays.

The 24-year-old took to social media to celebrate the award.

“Grateful to be named the POTM of February. To My God, My El Roi, be all the glory. First off, thank you so much to everyone who voted for me. This award is truly an honour, but I want to be clear: it wouldn’t be possible without any of you.

“To my coaches, thank you for your guidance and pushing me to be the best player I can be. To my teammates, you’re my sisters on the field, and this award is a reflection of all the hard work we put in together. And lastly, to my family and friends, your unwavering support means the world to me.

“This is a special moment, but let’s not forget that the season isn’t over. We have more work to do, and I’m excited to keep pushing forward with this amazing team. Thank you again!” writes Ajibade alongside the pictures above, which show her holding her prize.”

A Federal High Court in Ibadan on Wednesday ordered the remand of a woman and two men for their roles in the January 16 Bodija explosion in Ibadan.

The police charged Ramatu Camara, 47, Ganiu Malik, 20, and Abubakar Samasa, 64, with conspiracy, use of weapons of mass destruction, stockpiling of radioactive materials, and dispersal of biological weapons, but they pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Justice E.U. Akpan ordered that they be remanded in the Agodi correctional centre, and adjourned the suit until April 11 for a hearing on their bail applications.

The police prosecutor, Michael Ojeah, had informed the court that Camara, Malik, and Samasa were facing a five-count charge.

Ojeah further added that the defendants and others at large committed the crime at about 7.30 p.m. on Jan. 16, at Aderinola of Dejo-Oyelese Street, Adeyi Avenue, Old Bodija Ibadan, Oyo State.

The prosecution said the defendants stored radioactive materials inside a building, which exploded and led to the deaths of a 65-year-old woman known as Bolanle Badmus and 13 others.

He subsequently informed the court that he was prepared to present his case.

However, the defense counsel, Mr Adeola Adebayo, prayed the court for a short adjournment in order to file some applications.

The prosecutor said the offense violated the provisions of sections 26, 42 (A) and (B), 43(1) (A), and (2) (C) 1 (A) 58 (1) (A) of the Terrorism, Prohibition, and Prevention Act 2022.

The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the immediate commencement of staff promotions at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, RSUTH.

The announcement was made during a meeting with the newly inaugurated RSUTH Management Board on March 4, 2024.

Fubara charged the board to swiftly initiate the promotion exercise for the hospital’s workforce.

The Chief Medical Director of RSUTH, Professor Chizindu Alikor, said the development highlights Fubara’s commitment to prioritizing the well-being of healthcare workers and strengthening the healthcare infrastructure in the state.

He said the gesture is expected to boost the morale of RSUTH staff, motivating them to continue providing healthcare services to Rivers State citizens.

It was reported that RSUTH workers have not been promoted for over a decade.

The lingering issue traces back to the previous administration under the leadership of former Governor Nyesom Wike, who currently serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Throughout his eight-year tenure as governor, the promotion of workers across Rivers State was neglected.

Not only did the administration fall short in promoting health workers, but it also neglected the essential task of recruiting additional healthcare professionals into state health institutions.

Nigerians studying overseas, under the Bilateral Educational Agreement, BEA, Scholarship, have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to pay them their prolonged stipends.

The coalition, which represents Nigerian scholars in countries like Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, and Hungary, pleaded with the Federal Government to honour its financial commitments as many students are facing severe hardships.

The spokesperson for the Coalition of all the Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement, BEA, Student Association, Ayuba Anas Yushau, voiced the collective concerns of the students in a statement on Wednesday.

“For the past six to eight months, scholars enrolled in various institutions abroad have endured financial strain due to the delay in receiving their stipends.

“In addition, from the last payments we received (March-August), there was a shortfall of practically two and a half months’ payment. Moreover, some students in China have not received any stipends since they arrived in April and May 2023.

“In some cases, there has been a shortfall of nearly two and a half months’ worth of payments, and this has had serious consequences for our well-being,” he revealed.

Yushau noted that the critical stipends intended for basic living expenses have been withheld, leaving the students without the means to afford housing, utilities, or food.

He further lamented that In Russia, the increased cost of living coupled with the stipend delays is pushing Nigerian students to the brink.

“We earnestly plead with our President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a father figure and a visionary in education, to intervene in this pressing matter. His intervention in ensuring the prompt disbursement of our stipends will not only alleviate our current hardships but also allow us, his scholars, to focus wholeheartedly on our studies.

“We are confident that under President Tinubu’s compassionate and forward-thinking leadership, swift action will be taken to resolve this issue, enabling us to continue our academic pursuits without the burden of financial strain,” the statement read.

Peru’s Prime Minister Alberto Otárola has resigned over allegations he attempted to use his influence to help a woman gain lucrative government contracts.

The scandal escalated last week when a Peruvian TV broadcaster aired audio clips of what it said were conversations between the two.

Mr Otárola, 57, has denied any wrongdoing.

A formal investigation has been launched into the allegations.

According to the Panorama programme, which first aired the clips over the weekend, the woman Mr Otárola can be heard speaking to is Yaziré Pinedo, 25.

Ms Pinedo was reportedly awarded two contracts for work in the defence ministry in 2023 that earned her a total of 53,000 sol ($14,000; £11,000).

Mr Otárola was Peru’s defence minister until the end of 2022, when President Dina Boluarte took office and he was promoted.

In the audio clips, Mr Otárola can be heard declaring his love for the woman and asking her to send him her CV.

The remarks appear to contradict a statement he made prior to their release, that he had only met Ms Pinedo once at a meeting.

She told Peruvian broadcaster Canal N on Tuesday that she had previously had a brief relationship with him.

Both have said the audio recordings were from conversations in 2021 – before Mr Otárola became a cabinet minister.

Nevertheless, President Boluarte demanded he return early from an official visit to Canada, and his resignation followed.

“Those who have always wanted me out of the government… have not even hesitated to edit an audio with the veiled purpose of tarnishing my image,” Mr Otárola said in his resignation speech.

Among those he has accused of being part of a plot to disgrace him is former Prime Minister Martín Vizcarra, who said on social media that he “strongly rejected” the “delusional accusations”.

According to Peruvian law, all 18 members of Peru’s cabinet must follow Mr Otárola and hand in their resignations – but the president has the choice to reselect them again if she wishes.

Peru’s government is no stranger to shake-ups – Ms Boluarte has ordered several cabinet reshuffles since taking power as she attempts to quell opposition to her leadership.

A Western Australian man has been charged with aggravated assault after allegedly using cable ties to restrain three children.

Police said the man had detained the six-year-old girl and two boys aged seven and eight after finding them swimming on a vacant property.

Video circulated online appears to show two of the children tied up and crying.

Top state officials say they are “appalled” by the footage and police have called for calm in the community.

Authorities said the 45-year-old man had called them on Monday to report the incident in Broome, about 2,000km (1,200 miles) north of Perth, telling them he had found the children in an “unoccupied pool”.

Officers arrived to see two children “physically restrained” with cable ties and later found the oldest boy who had fled the scene, WA Police said.

Footage shared widely online shows two children – who appear to be Indigenous – in a driveway, while onlookers urge a man, who is white, to let them go.

Paramedics assessed the two children at the scene and they were reunited with their families shortly after, according to authorities.

Police said the “force used to restrain” the three children “was not proportionate” given their age and vulnerability.

The state’s children’s commissioner, Jacqueline McGowan-Jones, said she was disturbed by the footage.

“It would appear these are very young and small children. They appear to be quite frightened in the circumstances. He is quite a large man. And they appear to be very nervous,” Jacqueline McGowan-Jones told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday.

“They don’t have the neurodevelopment to understand cause and effect and consequences and actions. And that is legally known,” she added.

The man has been granted bail and is due to appear before the Broome Magistrates Court on 25 March.

According to recent government data, Indigenous Australians aged 10-17 are 29 times more likely than non‑Indigenous children to be in detention nationally. Ten is the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Western Australia.

The Kano Hisbah Board has reiterated its commitment towards checking immoral practices and social vices in the state.

The Commander General of the Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, made this known shortly after his return to the Hisbah office following a meeting with Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf, on Tuesday.

He advised those involved in immoral acts and other vices to repent and present themselves to the board for necessary counselling and rehabilitation.

“We will empower them with entrepreneurship skills and a start-up capital to make them self-reliant. We appeal to boarding schools in the state to establish Hisbah offices for constant sermons to pupils on proper conduct,” Mr Daurawa said.

He said that the state government would provide additional operational vehicles to the board to enable it intensify efforts on checking immoral conducts in an operation tagged “Operation Kau da badala.’’

On March 1, Mr Daurawa, resigned his appointment barely 24 hours after Mr Kabir-Yusuf expressed shock over alleged human rights violations committed by some members of the board.

In a meeting with chief Imams of Jumaat Mosques at the Kano Government House, the governor decried the way and manner the Shariah police maltreated some young men and women including students of various institutions of learning.

“I saw the video clip, it is disheartening. A man grabbed a young girl and threw her into a Hilux van as if she were a goat. They were using sticks and hitting these young persons and chasing them even as they were trying to run away.

“What would it be like if this kind of cruelty led to spinal cord injury in one of them? We need not to be too hard on the young ones lest they stray away. We need to treat them with kindness and be gentle on them so that they realise their mistakes and do the right thing,” he said.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has impounded 123 vehicles over illegal parking around bridges across the Lagos Island.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos.

The statement was signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq.

Mr Babare-Oki noted that the development was in continuation of general enforcement operations to unlock traffic bottlenecks across the state.

Mr Babare-Oki who led the combined enforcement team with security personnel said the exercise was carried out based on the directive of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr Sola Giwa.

He noted that the agency swung into action after several warnings issued to both private and commercial bus drivers to stop indiscriminate parking/illegal garages around bridges were not complied with.

Mr Bakare-Oki confirmed that the 123 vehicles were impounded around Ebute-Ero by Idumota Bridge, Simpson Bridge, Apongbon under Bridge and Elegbata area of Lagos Island.

According to him, it’s nauseating seeing the private and commercial bus drivers constituting public nuisance by parking freewill around bridges thereby causing avoidable gridlock.

He said, “They also cause inconvenience to other motorists and road users using these bridges to link up with other parts of the state. We will continue to ensure free flow of traffic by scaling up our enforcement and clampdown on these stubborn private and commercial bus drivers.

Meanwhile, 19 notorious hoodlums were arrested during enforcement operation over illegal collection of parking dues from innocent motorists.’’

He said that investigation revealed that the arrested 19 notorious hoodlums impersonated themselves as approved government agents with fake identity cards to extort innocent motorists including illegal traders who sell by roadsides.

Mr Bakare-Oki disclosed that owners/drivers of these 123 contravened vehicles including 19 arrested hoodlums would be prosecuted at the Lagos State Mobile Court for contravening the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law, 2018.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Seme Area Command, Lagos, has seized a truckload of 400 bags of beans stockpiled in a warehouse at one of the exit corridors in the border.

Timi Bomodi, the command’s comptroller, disclosed this during a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos.

Mr Bomodi said the command seized the beans in the light of the present economic realities, where massive food shortages had been reported nationwide.

He added that it was seized in line with the directive to avoid the illegal export of grains, adding that the duty paid value (DPV) of the seized items was ₦61.45 million.

According to him, the item was deposited in the government’s warehouse for safekeeping and eventual sale to the public.

“In the same vein, the continuous surveillance of the border by our officers and men has resulted in the interceptions of 400 x 30 litres of petrol equivalent of 12,000 litres with a DPV of ₦8,347,680 in the early hours of March 2, 2024, along the creeks.

“The petrol seized will be auctioned in line with Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of sales of seized perishable items as directed by the service,” he said.

On revenue generation, he said the command had generated N1.16 billion between January and February 2024, noting that it was given a revenue target of N7.88 billion in the current year.

“In January 2024, the command collected ₦643,038,611, while in February, we collected ₦517,950,286, making a total of ₦1,160,988,897,” he said.

He said the command had processed 184 export declarations for 43 items with a total weight of 65,185.96 MT and an FOB of N13.06 billion.

“Total amount collected for the Nigerian Export Supervision Scheme was N65.3 million, and N24.4 million as an export surcharge for previously imported goods,” he said.

Mr Bomodi said the command successfully made 168 interventions in two months, resulting in the seizures of 2,193 bags of 50kg of rice, equivalent to three trailer loads.

“Others are 81,930 litres of petrol, nine vehicles, one 1,425 general merchandise, 265 parcels of cannabis sativa and other narcotics, 149 packs of codeine and two locally manufactured guns—all with a combined DPV of ₦365,888,696.00.

“A total of 13 suspects were arrested in connection with these seizures; six of them were granted administrative bails, and three were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further agency action.

“One was handed over to the Nigerian Police, while three suspects are still in our custody,” he said.

Troops deployed to Ochumekwu community in Apa Local Government Area of Benue State have reportedly been attacked by suspected armed herdsmen.

Force Commander, Operation Whirl Stroke, OPWS, Major General Sunday Iserihen Igbinomwanhia, confirmed this to newsmen in Makurdi on Monday.

He said a soldier was killed and another injured in the attack by suspected herders.

Igbinonwanhia said the troops, in response, killed three and injured several of the herdsmen, adding that one AK-47 rifle and rounds of ammunition were recovered from them.

He said the OPWS is currently carrying out a clearance operation to flush out suspected armed foreign herders who have invaded the Kwande Local Government Area of the State.

It could be recalled that in February, a soldier was killed and two others were injured in Agatu local government when suspected herders laid ambush on the troops.

The Sokoto State Police Command has scheduled Wednesday, March 6, for a computer-based test as part of the 2022 recruitment in the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Rufa’I, disclosed this in a statement to journalists in Sokoto on Monday.

According to Mr Rufa’i, the next stage of the recruitment, the CBT, will take place nationwide on Tuesday and Wednesday.

He stated, “The CBT for applicants in Sokoto State will take place on Wednesday at designated centres, including; Blue Crescent Schools CBT Centre in Mabera Area and Penta M & F Technical Service Ltd. Centre 1 and 2 on Jega Road, Tambuwal LGA, Sokoto.

“Other centres are; Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto State University, Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic, Sokoto, and Usmanu Danfodiyo University.’’

He advised successful applicants to visit the recruitment portal to confirm their status, specific time, and date for the CBT.

“It’s important to note that the CBT tests are for general duty applicants, while a later date will be communicated to applicants of the specialist cadre for their practical test. Invited applicants are urged to conduct themselves orderly and avoid any form of examination malpractice.

Furthermore, the public is reminded that participation in the exercise is free and individuals not involved should refrain from the designated centres,” Mr Rufa’i advised.

The Katsina State Police Command says it has provided about 17 different computer-based test centres for the 2022 Nigeria Police Force recruitment examination across the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, disclosed this in a statement in Katsina on Monday.

He said the approved CBT centres were; Alqalam University, ⁠Barda International College, ⁠Beti ICT Centre, CBT Centre Quality Assurance, Malumfashi and Dr Aliyu Idris Funtua CBT Centre, Federal College of Education Katsina.

Sadiq-Aliyu listed others to include; Dr Yusuf Bala Usman College, Daura, Federal University Dutsinma takeoff Campus, Federal Government College, Daura, and ⁠ICT Centre Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic Katsina.

“Also on the list are; ⁠Ideas and Data Global, formerly Dialogue Computer Institute Katsina, CBT centre Isah Kaita College of Education, Dutsinma, and ⁠JAMB PTC Mega Centre 1, (JAMB WING) JAMB office Dutsin-ma Road by Al-Qalam University roundabout, Katsina.

“The remaining are; Mugaj Information and Communications, Kurami bypass Bakori, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University Computer Lab 1 Centre, Umaru Musa Yar’adua University Faculty of Natural and AMP Applied Science, and ⁠Zed Alpha International School, GRA Funtua,” he said.

Mr Sadiq-Aliyu said that successful candidates from the state, who applied for constable as general duty, and participated in the recent physical/credential screening exercise should note that the CBT has been slated for March 5 and 6.

According to the police spokesperson, “candidates are advised to log on to: https://www.apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng to verify their qualification status for this stage and print out the slip.

“The qualified candidates will see their CBT centres, date and time for examination on the slip, which must be produced at the examination centre together with other relevant documents.

“The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Aliyu Abubakar-Musa, has directed all Area Commanders to ensure adequate security of all the examination centres across the command to ensure a hitch free exercise,” he said.

Mr Sadiq-Aliyu added that the commissioner also advised the candidates to conduct themselves in an orderly manner and abide by the instructions provided during the examination.

He further called on them to be wary of fraudsters, as the exercise “is completely free.”

An Indian national was killed and seven others injured in northern Israel on Monday by an anti-tank missile attack by Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, Israeli sources said.

The missile struck an orchard in the community of Margaliot, hitting eight Indian workers, local media reported.

Israel’s rescue service of Magen David Adom said in a statement that two were seriously injured and others had moderate to light wounds.

They were evacuated by Air Force helicopters to hospitals.

The Israeli army responded by launching tanks and artillery fire towards the source of the missile attack, according to an Israeli military spokesperson.

The violence was the latest in 150 days of fighting across the Israel-Lebanon border amid the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip.

The German government said it would secure pensions to ease the long-term burden on the federal budget by investing in the capital markets.

This is an idea that was controversial inside and outside the government.

A capital stock of at least €200 billion ($217 billion) is to be created by the mid-2030s, dpa learnt from government circles on Monday.

An average of €10 billion is then to be paid out of the income each year as a subsidy to the statutory pension insurance scheme.

The plan is a central element of a pension package announced several months ago, which Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Labour Minister Hubertus Heil want to present to the public on Tuesday.

The scheme has proved controversial within the coalition government and among social organisations.

Last summer, the Greens’ pension expert Markus Kurth referred to the volatility of the financial markets, which could lead to high losses in the short term.

The Finance Ministry favours the steady return potential of the international capital markets.

The money should be invested long-term, broadly diversified and globally.

“Historical observations and studies show that such an investment strategy has reliably generated positive returns in the past,’’ the ministry said.

Chinese Ambassador Shen Minjuan handed over funds and goods in aid to Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene on Monday for fighting extreme wintry weather.

“Our two countries have always helped each other in the face of disasters,” Mr Shen said at a handover ceremony in the State Palace of Mongolia.

He added, “China is ready to provide more support and assistance to Mongolia.”

This winter, Mongolia has been hit by a severe dzud, a Mongolian term to describe a severely cold winter when many livestock die because the ground is frozen or covered by snow.

A dzud is an extreme weather event with temperatures dropping to -30 °C or lower, with strong winds, heavy snow, and ice.

Expressing his sincere appreciation to China, Oyun-Erdene said the country had taken the lead in extending a helping hand and standing once again as a model of a good neighbour.

“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

“I hope the two countries and bilateral relations enjoy leapfrog development and that the two peoples share happiness and prosperity,” said Mr Oyun-Erdene.

As Mongolia has seen much more snow than usual this winter, over 80 per cent of its territory has so far been blanketed with snow up to 100 cm thick, the country’s weather monitoring agency said.

About three million heads of livestock have so far perished across Mongolia due to the dzud, according to the state emergency commission.

Cambodian customs police at the Phnom Penh International Airport said they have arrested two South Korean nationals for an attempt to smuggle 2.27kg of narcotics to South Korea.

The man and woman duo were caught Sunday night while they checked in for a ZA215 flight bound for Seoul.

The General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia said in a news release on Monday.

In their body searches, our customs officials found many packs of drugs wrapped around their waists, the news release said.

“As a result, some 1.29kg of crystal methamphetamine and 0.98 kg of ketamine were seized from the two suspects’ possession,’’ said the authorities.

The Southeast Asian country has no death sentence for a drug trafficker.Under its law, someone found guilty of trafficking more than 80 grams of illicit drugs could be jailed for life.

According to the country’s Anti-Drug Department (ADP), Cambodia nabbed 3,899 drug-related suspects, including 106 foreigners, in 1,659 cases from January 1 to March 3, 2024.

According to the report, they confiscated a total of 2.79 tonnes of narcotics.

Most of the seized drugs were ketamine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine tablets, heroin, ecstasy, and cocaine.

AJapanese crew member of a fishing boat died after the ship ran aground off Kozushima, south of Tokyo, the Japan Coast Guard said Monday.

The 379-tonne tuna fishing boat, with 20 Indonesian and five Japanese crew, was drifting in waters off the island.

The coast guard said part of the Izu Island chain at around 5 p.m. local time (0800 GMT) on Sunday after its engine had malfunctioned.

Coast guard officials said they received a report from the captain shortly before 5:00 a.m. local time on Monday (2000 GMT on Sunday).

The guard noted that the vessel was tilting and a crew member in his 60s was missing after he fell overboard.

The coast guard searched the sea and recovered the man on Monday morning, who was later confirmed dead.

The remaining 24 aboard were rescued, according to the coast guard.

Anthony Joshua has vowed to deliver a knockout win over Francis Ngannou and “make a statement” in their super-fight in Saudi Arabia on Friday.

Joshua is currently on a three-fight winning streak and building back towards being in world title contention.

Last December, it took the British boxer five rounds to despatch Otto Wallin in a dominant display.

AJ is however expecting a different test against Ngannou in their non-title contest.

“I believe I can knock him out. Definitely. I would love to knock him out and make a statement.

“Physically I feel strong, feeling good. Strong enough to get the job done and mentally I’m in a place where I’m ready for war. I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Joshua told Sky Sports.