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UK agrees to end tax on US tech giants when global deal takes effect

The UK has agreed to phase out its tax on US tech giants such as Google and Facebook, averting the threat of retaliatory tariffs from the United States.

A deal between the two countries will keep the digital services tax in place until 2023, when it will make way for a newly agreed global tax system.

The UK, US, Austria, Britain, France, Italy and Spain all reached an agreement on Thursday on the transition from national digital services taxes contested by Washington to a new global tax deal.

The agreement was reached after 136 countries agreed on a plan under which large multinational companies pay tax in the countries where they do business, and committed themselves to a minimum 15% corporation tax rate.

The UK’s digital services tax was introduced in April last year and charges 2% on the gross revenues of the digital titans.

The Treasury said on Thursday that it had convinced Washington not to levy tariffs in retaliation for the tax, which ultimately hits many US companies hardest.

But in return it has agreed to remove the tax in time in favour of the global solution. This “was always the UK’s intention”, the Treasury said.

“The UK has been spearheading the push for an international solution to the challenge of taxing technology multinationals for nearly a decade, with the chancellor making securing a global agreement a key priority of the UK’s G7 presidency,” the department said. “The credit system provides a fair and sustainable solution.”

Discussions are set to continue in the coming months as world leaders figure out how to implement the tax.

The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, said: “Following the landmark deal achieved earlier this month, I am delighted we have agreed a way forward on how we transition from our digital services tax to the newly agreed global tax system.

“This agreement means that our digital services tax is protected as we move to 2023, so its revenue can continue to fund vital public services.”

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Police arrest three suspected r3pists for def!ling children in Kebbi

The Kebbi State Command has arrested three rapists for defiling children.

The spokesman for the command, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, January 13, 2024.

“On the 5th of January 2025, at about 1600 hrs, one Kalifa Ibrahim ‘M’ aged 19 yrs of the Gwazange area, Argungu, enticed one Rukayya Umar ‘F’ aged 8 yrs of the same address, to a hidden area and had s3xual intercourse with her,” the statement read.

“On receipt of the complaint, a team of policemen responded promptly and arrested the suspect.

“In the same vein, on the 5th of January, 2025, at about 1230, the suspect, one Abdullahi Abubakar ‘m’ aged 32yrs of Gwandu town, lured one Fatima Abubakar ‘f’ aged 4yrs of the same address, to an uncompleted building and had s3xual intercourse with her. Investigation into the case is ongoing.

“Similarly, on the 6th of January, 2025, at about 1120 hrs, one Okada rider named Fahad Kabiru ‘M’ of Gesse Phase 1, Birnin Kebbi, impregnated one Hafsat Sa’idu ‘f’ aged 16 yrs. The suspect has been arrested and confessed to the crime.”

The statement further said that the Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Bello Sani, had directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department, to conduct a thorough investigation of the cases and ensure diligent prosecution accordingly.

The CP equally called on the good people of Kebbi State to always watch over their children and be conscious of the people to entrust with their children.

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Court Sacks Rivers PDP Chairman, Nullifies Congresses

A Port Harcourt division of the Rivers State High Court has barred the state executives of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by Aaron Chukwuemeka from parading themselves as Exco of the party.

This was contained in a ruling on an interlocutory injunction delivered by presiding judge, Justice Stephen Jumbo, on Monday.

The case was filed by two Port Harcourt based legal practitioners, Edwin Woko, Love Otuonye, and two others who are members of the PDP against the party’s National chairman, state chairman, and nine others praying the court to declare null and void the purported PDP local government and ward congresses conducted the 319 wards and 23 LGAs by pro-Wike supporters on 27th of July, 10th August, and 31st August last year.

The applicants had contended that all the congresses were done in disobedience to an order of the Rivers State High Court issued on the 16th of July 2024 stopping the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as their agents and privies from conducting congresses pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons already filed.

This ruling is coming on the heels of a similar decision last year which also nullified the ward, local government, and state executives of the All Progressive Congress (APC) which had produced Tony Okocha.

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Governor Makinde presents Staff and Certificate of Office to New Alaafin

The governor of Oyo state, Engr Seyi Makinde, has officially presented the staff and certificate of office to the 46th Alaafin of Oyo, Prince Akeem Abimbola Owoade.

The presentation signals the formal ascension of the new monarch to the revered throne of Alaafin of Oyo.

Governor Makinde made the presentations in a brief ceremony held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan on Monday, January 13. The governor highlighted the traditional importance of the Alaafin of Oyo, not just as a traditional ruler but custodian of rich history and tradition.

He expressed the belief that Oba Owoade will lead with wisdom, integrity, and a commitment to the unity of the Oyo kingdom.

For his part, the new Alaafin expressed gratitude to the people of Oyo and pledged to prioritise the development of the kingdom and the welfare of its residents.

Oba Owoade succeeds the late occupant of the throne, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III who reigned for 51 years before joining his ancestors.

Oyo State government announced the appointment of Prince Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo on Friday.