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    A possible World War III looms as Russia pledged to fight for China if it goes to war with Taiwan

    There are fears of a possible World War 3 after a top Russian senator pledged that his country will come to China’s aid if there is escalation with the US over Taiwan

    his country’s support if China goes to war over Taiwan.

    Speaking after tensions in the region rose following the visit of US Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, Vladimir Dzhabarov said he sees “no grounds to refuse to help China.”

    In his role as first deputy chairman of the international committee in Russia ’s Federation Council, he said he hopes help for China would be “a two-way movement” as Russia continues its war in Ukraine.

    He said; 

    “It means that we should have some benefits from this cooperation.

    “I am convinced that in this case China hopes for a certain assistance from Russia.”

    Also alluding to the possibility of a Chinese confrontation with the US, the Putin ally insisted China was behaving in a “restrained manner” and that he is convinced it will be difficult for them to go toe-to-toe with the US without support from Russia.

    Taiwan which is an Asian Island, brands itself the Republic of China (ROC), is where the nationalist party fled to after the CCP took control in 1949 following a civil war.

    Away from the authoritarian communist rule on the mainland, Taiwan is now a self-governed democracy with a military of its own after years of reform and an economic boom.

    While only a handful of countries formally recognise it, to do so would mean breaking diplomatic ties with China, most Western countries have unofficial and informal relations with it.

    Inspiration: “I left fame to mop floors in UK because of my kids – Sola Sobowale [VIDEO]

    ola Sobowale, the ace actress, has recalled how she left Nigeria to do menial jobs in order to cater to her children who were schooling in the United Kingdom.

    Speaking in the latest episode of #WithChude, the film star said she left the fame and stardom to give her children the motherly love they so “richly desire” while they were studying in UK varsities.

    Sobowale also recounted how she left her mouthwatering acting job, which was fetching her over N5 million within months — during the early 2000s — for menial jobs in England.

    She said while in the UK, she worked multiple “7.5 pounds per hour” jobs like cleaning, cooking, and mopping office floors to make ends meet.

    “I went back to England and noticed the kids lack motherly touch. Then I moved to England and forget stardom,” she told Chude Jideonwo, the media personality.

    “Now, all of them are working and now they appreciate me for my sacrifice and ask me to go back to what I know how to do best so that’s why I’m back in Nigeria.

    “I was practically living in Enugu because I shot a movie, ‘Christ In Me’, after the movie the fame came. So I was given another job, to film one and come back, but eventually, I got over 10 movies so I was stationed at Enugu. And in one location I spent one week. In that one week, I was on N800,000 and that was in the year 2000.

    “So like that, when I’m coming back to Lagos, I had over N5 million within how many months, the money was blowing.

    “So I left that for 7 pounds per hour jobs in England. Then before I could make 1000 pounds I have to work extra hard. There is nothing this woman cannot do because I know what is called dignity in labour. I will sweep anywhere so far it will put food on my table, cloth on my children, and shelter on my head.

    “I swept, cooked, washed, mopped, cleaned offices. Yes, I did all those. The other thing is I wasn’t sleeping. On the train or bus, I make sure I wear my uniform with the name of the company like that.

    “Then you hear Nigerians say ‘She isn’t the one’, ‘Sola Sobowale, no she isn’t the one’. I will then tell them it’s me, my name is Sola Sobowale, so they will ask what I’m doing here and I ask them the same question. I made a lot of friends. Now, I’m happy because it’s now history.”

    She also revealed that she had initially wanted them to attend one of the top varsities in Nigeria but was discouraged due to the incessant strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    “Education is the only legacy you can give your children. So inside me, I said if my children want to go to university they will either go to the University of Ibadan, Ife, or Lagos but unfortunately, they always strike. So a course of 3 years ends up to be 6 years,” she added.

    “So I thought if I can pay this much for primary and secondary, I should be able to for university too. So let my children leave Nigeria, that was why I moved my children to London.”

    Watch the video below:

    Abroad-based Nigerian returned home to find that his wife has sold his house for just N10M and disappeared (video)

    A man has cried out after his wife sold his house for 10 million Naira.

    The husband said he bought the land for 9.5 million Naira then spent more millions to build the house, which contains four flats.

    He also spent a lot of money to pay the community for development fees as well as other fees.

    When the house was completed, he said he traveled and, upon his return, he discovered his wife had sold the house for just NGN10 million and absconded with the money.

    He also questioned why a buyer will purchase a house of such magnitude for just 10 million Naira without getting suspicious.

    Watch the video below…

    Naira strengthens to N665/$ at parallel market — days after EFCC raided Bureau de Change

    The naira, on Tuesday, sustained its momentum at the parallel market, appreciating to N665 per dollar a few days after security operatives raided Bureaux De Change (BDC) hub in Abuja.

    The development represents N30 or 4.3 percent gain compared to the N695 to a dollar on Monday.

    Currency traders known as Bureaux De Change operators (BDCs) at the Ikeja area of Lagos, who spoke to TheCable, quoted the buying rate of the greenback at N650 and the selling price at N665 per dollar.

    According to the traders, the gains are largely influenced by increased dollar liquidity in the market.

    “Dollar is plenty in the market now. Some oil companies also brought out dollars to sell,” a BDC operator told TheCable.

    On the official market side, the naira appreciated by 0.03 percent to close at N428.88 to a dollar on Monday, according to data on FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange, a platform that oversees official foreign-exchange trading in Nigeria.

    Last week, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) raided Wuse Zone 4, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, over allegations that some Bureaux De Change (BDC) operators are mopping up foreign currencies.

    “The raid by EFCC in Abuja BDCs last week dampened demand,” a source told TheCable.

    “There were large buyers last week that many had to queue up!

    “The current situation tells you that if you allow the market to work, it will find its level. We were blaming aboki fx before.”

    Aminu Gwadabe, president of the Association of Bureaux De Change (BDC) operators, told TheCable that the “market surveillance” was done in collaboration with the association.

    “We have a cordial relationship with the security agencies and ongoing collaboration with the agencies on the exchange rate issues,” he said.

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regularly intervenes in the official foreign exchange market to maintain stability.

    Last week, Osita Nwasinobi, spokesperson of the CBN, said the apex bank would continue to make deliberate efforts in the forex sector to avoid further downward slides in the value of the naira.

    He further advised forex buyers not to succumb to speculative activities of some players in the FX market to save the naira from further decline.

    [TheCable]

    Peter Obi not in support of IPOB – Baba-Ahmed says

    Datti Baba Ahmed, vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has said that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is not in support of the Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its activities.

    Baba-Ahmed made this known when he appeared on Trust TV’s Daily Politics on Monday.

    “I sharply disagree that Peter Obi is in support of IPOB because I wouldn’t be with him today (if he is),” he said.

    He noted that those allegations are unsubstantiated.

    He said, “It’s the same kind of interview they did for me when I said I want to be addressed for 2023 election as a Nigerian. There is nothing that people cannot say. Just this morning, I had to do a press conference to the multiplicity of fake news all around … those allegations are yet unsubstantiated.”

    Baba-Ahmed added that before he agreed to be Obi’s running mate, he did all the investigations he could and nothing linked the former Anambra State governor to IPOB.

    He said, “For example, they said Northerners were treated unfairly by being made to wear ID cards, before I decided to join Peter Obi’s ticket. Within weeks I did all the investigations I could. Mobile phones were already carrying cameras, I asked for and even offered some compensation ‘can I see just one picture of anybody who stood and said that while Peter Obi was governor in Anambra State, he made me to wear this?’ and there was none.

    “And I should sit down and believe reckless people who just talk anyhow because you’ve come out in politics when I know the kind of politics that we play.”

    Goodnews! Twins conjoined in the skulls/brains successfully separated in Brazil

    Twins conjoined in the skulls/brains have been successfully separated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after a laborious 33 hours of operations.

    The surgeons spent months trialling techniques using virtual reality before beginning the real procedures on the three-year-old boys.

    Bernardo and Arthur Lima underwent several surgeries under the direction of UK-based paediatric surgeon Noor ul Owase Jeelani from London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital.

    The three-year-old boys had a total of seven operations, involving more than 33 hours of operating time in the final two surgeries alone, and 100 medical staff were involved.

    Their surgery was led by Mr Jeelani, alongside Dr Gabriel Mufarrej, head of paediatric surgery at Instituto Estadual do Cerebro Paulo Niemeyer.

    Mr Jeelani described the operation as a “remarkable achievement” by medics, but added the charity, Gemini Untwined, relies on public donations to keep its work going.

    He said: “The successful separation of Bernardo and Arthur is a remarkable achievement by the team in Rio and a fantastic example of why the work of Gemini Untwined is so valuable.

    Not only have we provided a new future for the boys and their family, we have equipped the local team with the capabilities and confidence to undertake such complex work successfully again in the future.

    “It is through this process of teamwork and knowledge-sharing globally that we can hope to improve the outcome for all children and families that find themselves in this difficult position.

    “This is only possible through generous donations from members of the public.”

    Gabriel Mufarrej said the hospital where he works had been caring for the boys for two and a half years, and their surgery will be “life-changing”.

    He said: “Since the parents of the boys came from their home in the Roraima region to Rio to seek our help two and a half years ago, they had become part of our family here in the hospital.

    “We are delighted that the surgery went so well and the boys and their family have had such a life-changing outcome.”

    2023 elections: Peter Obi supporters flag off national mobilisation team

    The presidential campaign of the Labour Party candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, received a boost on Tuesday in Abuja with the inauguration of the national council of the coalition known as the “Obidient Movement.”

    The coalition says Obi represents as a “paradigm shift that would deliver Nigeria from the current woes in the country.”

    The group told newsmen in Abuja that a National Coordinating Council of the movement is to be headed by leaders drawn from the country’s six geopolitical zones to commence nationwide mobilisation.

    The former Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Mallam Tanko Yunusa, said that the Obi presidency would address national woes ranging from a high unemployment rate to insecurity of lives and property.

    Yunusa described President Muhammadu Buhari’s government as the worst administration since independence in 1960.

    He said: “The country has indeed been confronted with diverse security threats ranging from election violence, census crises, ethno-religious conflicts, communal clashes, militancy, and terrorism but most of these were either localised or sporadic before this administration.

    “Unfortunately, what we have been witnessing since 2015 is the amalgamation and molten mix of all these crises, all happening simultaneously, unhindered and in a terrifying fashion across Nigeria.

    “Nowhere is safe in the 36 states of the country with road, rail and air travels constituting a nightmare for Nigerians. The country is under the siege of terrorists, bandits and other criminal gangs holding sway over swaths of ungoverned territories from the North to the South, East, and West.”

    He further said: “The most disheartening of these challenges is the fact that there is a well-orchestrated plan by foreign terrorists with their sponsors to cause more havoc and entrench a chaotic atmosphere and a dangerous agenda. While the daily killings and bloodletting of Nigerians have continued unabated under the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government.

    “To make matters worse, President Buhari’s administration from all indications looks dazed, clueless and incapable of taming the deteriorating economic and political situation in the country.

    “Similarly, the country’s economy is in shambles with little or no effort to turn things around. Poor fiscal and monetary policies, and a politically compromised Central Bank of Nigeria Governor in addition to a non-existent Presidential Economic Management Team have combined to usher in the worst form of inflation, scorched-earth economic policies, free fall of the Naira and badly managed petroleum industry, especially the downstream sector.

    “Consequently, Nigeria is occupying the unenviable position of the poverty capital of the world with poor development indicators in all spheres of the economy. The high rate of poverty has also exacerbated criminal activities and other forms of vices in society,” he said.

    He lamented that Nigerian students had been kept away from institutions of higher learning as a result of long avoidable strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities caused by the lack of education priority of the APC-led Federal Government.

    “What this ugly scenario shows is that APC and the Buhari administration have failed woefully in all indices and indicators of good governance. They failed miserably to deliver on the three key areas they anchored their administration on, which are to improve security, the economy and the anti-corruption fight,” Yunusa said.

    He accused the ruling party of breaking all the negative records and bringing the country to its lowest point, adding that it has only shown a capacity for propaganda and amplifying actions and decisions that further polarised Nigerians along our fault lines.

    “Another four or eight years under a party that has shown an absolute lack of capacity to govern would destroy this country. And we must collectively rise to stop this NOW,” Yunusa also said.

    Speaking on his candidate’s chances, he said: “Obi has most of the qualities of a hands-on 21st-century leader who understands the dynamics of governance both at the local, national and global levels. He represents a paradigm shift and an ideal for a new Nigeria that youths are proud to champion.

    “He is a fill-in portrait of what a 21st century Nigerian President should be, beyond the vagaries of a wasteful elite built on patronage and cronyism. Obi who has had a stellar performance both in private and public office has equally picked another breath of fresh air personality in Dr Yusuf Datti-Ahmed as his Vice.

    “The Obidient movement is also not limited to Nigeria as our Diaspora community consisting of some of the most brilliant brains in the world are actively involved.”

    Operation “show no mercy” launch on terrorists – Nigerian Air Force

    The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has launched an offensive operation tagged ‘Operation Show no Mercy’ against rampaging terrorists disturbing the peace of the country through various attacks.

    The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, while launching the operation at a meeting with NAF operational commanders in the various theatres of operation charged the senior air troops to ensure that they employ maximum firepower against the terrorists.

    According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the spokesman of the armed force, Edward Gabkwet, those the Air Chief met at NAF Base in Kaduna on Tuesday include frontline Air Officers Commanding and Air Component Commanders.

    Amao said launching an offensive operation against the adversaries would deny the terrorists freedom of movement, adding that it would also boost the confidence of the populace and ensure a peaceful country.

    The Air Chief explained that the security environment remains fluid and uncertain with terrorists moving between the northeast, northwest and north central.

    He, therefore, noted that there is a need to continually modify NAF’s air power strategies to stay ahead of the asymmetric and unconventional nature of terrorists’ activities is of paramount importance.

    ”We have a responsibility to secure our nation and give our citizens a sense of hope, trust and belonging. Therefore, we must ensure that we stay ahead of the enemy and envisage his next line of action.

    ”I, therefore, charge you to show no mercy against any terrorist and their accomplices while also denying them the freedom of movement and ease to cause mayhem against innocent Nigerians,” Amao said.

    He assured them that training of more combat pilots, imagery analysts and other specialities in the NAF would continue to be of utmost priority to address the manpower challenges within the operation areas.

    Other issues addressed during the interface included the need to ensure a speedy procurement circle of aircraft spares to minimise aircraft downtime among other issues.

    While commending them for their efforts as well as the improved synergy with sister services and other security agencies, Amao also underscored the need for effective allocation and utilization of all NAF platforms deployed for operations in the Northwest and Northcentral for enhanced operational effectiveness.

    “I think I was too ignorant” – Todd Chrisley

    Reality TV star, Todd Chrisley has recounted how he became a “slave” to money and material things before he was found guilty of bank fraud and tax evasion.

    Speaking during the most recent episode of his podcast, “Chrisley Confessions,” the 53-year-old reality TV star said he allowed fame get to his head, which pushed him into making some questionable decisions.

    He said; 

    “I got lost when I couldn’t tell the difference in my self-worth and my net worth.

    “And the bigger my net worth became, the less I focused on my self-worth because everything was being built around that net worth. Around stuff.”

    He further disclosed that because he wanted “to keep up with everyone” around him, he began purchasing “all these cars and all these houses.”

    He said; 

    “You become a slave to the things that you thought were going to bring you peace. So I got lost in that and for my whole life because I think I was too ignorant — and when I use the word ignorant [I mean] I [didn’t] know that I understood how to differentiate self-worth and net worth.”

    The Chrisley patriarch noted that in time he “finally realized” that his priorities were out of whack with what he really wanted.

    He added; 

    “I finally realized that I wasn’t competing with everyone else around me, I was competing with me because my self-worth is low.

    “And I think that God is showing me through so many things that he’s doing every day that I’m worthy. [He’s saying], ‘I’ve got you, son, I’ve got you in my right hand. I’ve got you right where I want you because your eyes are focused on me and you’re not taking them off of me.’”

    The TV personality further explained that thanks to that realization and continued faith in God, he and Julie have gotten to a very zen place despite their legal woes.

    He said; 

    “I’m willing to share what I have gotten from my therapy. 

    “It’s taught me that I’m not with myself. That I’m with my Lord and Savoir. That I’m with God who’s by my side 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    “It’s taught me that I’m doing nothing by myself to where before I did everything on my own.”

    On how his marriage has been affected with the recent stress, Chrisley said;

    “I said in my perspective it has drawn me closer to my wife. I feel like my marriage for me personally, internally, is the strongest that I’ve ever felt that it’s ever been — that’s for me, that’s how I feel.

     “I feel like for the first time in my life, in my marriage, I feel like my marriage is feeding a part of me that I didn’t even know was starving. I feel like I understand you from a different level [more] than I ever have before and I feel like that you have opened up more since all of this than you have the entire time that we’ve been in our marriage.”

    Back in June, TMZ reported that Julie and Todd, who also has two children, Lindsie, 32, and Kyle, 30, with his ex-wife, Teresa Terry, were found guilty of bank fraud and tax evasion.

    Prosecutors claimed that the couple submitted fake documents to banks when applying for loans. Julie also allegedly submitted false credit reports and bank statements when trying to rent a house in California.

    During the initial trial, Todd’s former business partner, Mark Braddock, testified against him and claimed that they were intimate for about a year in the early 2000s.

    The duo pleaded not guilty, but on June 7, they were convicted on all counts. Additionally, Julie, 49, was also charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of obstruction of justice after previously being accused of creating a fake credit report to rent a home. The pair’s sentencing hearing is set for October.

    McDonald’s worker killed over ‘cold’ French fries

    A McDonald’s worker in Brooklyn, New York, was shot during a fight over cold French fries.

    The 23-year-old victim was working at the fast-food joint at 1531 Fulton St. in Bedford-Stuyvesant around 7 p.m. Monday, August 1, when a female customer started hassling him over her fries.

    The woman, who complained that her fries were cold, was FaceTiming her 20-year-old son during the argument, and the son soon stormed into the restaurant and began fighting with the employee.

    They took the fight outside the restaurant and the son brought out a gun and shot the worker in the neck, cops said on Tuesday, August 2.

    The man is currently fighting for his life in a hospital.

    “I feel like crying. You shot someone over French fries?” a witness, who owns a local business, to The Post on Tuesday.

    Another witness said, “The co-workers, they were around [the victim]. They were on their phones, and they were crying.

    A man took off his shirt and put it on the neck to try to stop the bleeding. [The victim’s] right eye was swollen shut.”

    “He couldn’t talk,” the witness said of the wounded employee. “He was just shaking. His chest was heaving. He was still breathing when they put him on the stretcher.”

    McDonald employee killed

    The victim remained in extremely critical condition at Brookdale Hospital in Brooklyn on Tuesday, sources said.

    His distraught family and friends wept and consoled each other on the steps of the hospital’s emergency-room entrance Tuesday afternoon.

    “He is a good guy,” a coworker told The Post.

    A single .9mm bullet was recovered at the scene and the suspected shooter was taken into custody, police sources said.

    Charges have yet to be filed.

    The suspected shooter has been previously arrested several times, including for grand larceny in 2019 and assault and theft of service in 2018, sources said. He also has numerous sealed arrest cases against him, they said.

    TikTok star, Valdir Segato, A Tiktok star who injected himself with life-threatening oil, dies

    A Brazilian bodybuilder and TikTok star who went viral by injecting himself with life-threatening oil to create 23-inch biceps, has died on his 55th birthday in Ribeirao Preto.

    Valdir Segato from Sao Paulo, who was inspired by the physiques of Arnold Schwarzenegger and fictional characters like The Hulk, used synthol injections for years despite risking strokes and infections to produce hulking biceps, pectorals, and back muscles. 

    According to Mail Online, Segato was warned he faced amputation or nerve damage, and muscle disfigurement six years ago but continued to use the injections to bulk himself out. 

    The former construction worker even vowed that he wanted to get even bigger.

    Speaking in 2016, he said: ‘They call me Hulk, Schwarzenegger and He-Man all the time and I like that. I’ve doubled my biceps but I still want to be bigger.’

    He proudly posted images and videos to social media, calling himself ‘Valdir Synthol’ on Instagram. 

    According to local media, he died after after being taken to hospital complaining about shortness of breath

    One man named Moisés da Conceição da Silva said on the day Segato died, he had asked his mother for help, complaining about a shortness of breath.

    Valdir Segato

    ‘It was around 6 am, more or less. He came crawling through the back house and came to the front. Then he knocked on my mother’s window, knocked, knocked, then she woke up and he said ‘help me, help me because I’m dying,” Moisés said, according to Brazil’s Globo news publication.

    Valdir Segato

    He was taken to the North Emergency Care Unit (UPA) – a medical facility in the city  but could not be saved. 

    ‘They put him in the car and then the neighbour went to the UPA. He arrived at the UPA, he fell at the reception, having a heart attack. I think he had a heart attack’, Moisés told the news website.

    Valdir Segato

    Moisés’ brother, Jadson da Conceição, told Globo that this was not the first time Segato

    had to be rushed to hospital, and had previously complained of shortness of breath. The first time, he said, they were able to get him to the hospital on time. This time, he said, there was no saving him.

    Valdir Segato

    Over 7M online voter applicants failed to register at INEC centres – INEC says

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that over seven million Nigerians failed to complete their registration process at physical centres across the country.

    Recall that the continuous voter registration exercise (CVR) was concluded on Sunday July 31. 

    Data released by the commission showed that 10,487,972 Nigerians carried out their pre-registration online. Out of this number, only 3,444,378 Nigerians representing 32.8 percent, completed the process at a physical centre.

    The data also showed that 7,043,594 persons representing over 67 percent of those who began their registration process online, are not eligible to receive a voter card before the 2023 general election and will therefore not be able to vote.

    Though INEC said a total of 12,298,944 Nigerians completed their voter registration, 8,854,566 of that number are individuals who carried out all their registration process at a physical centre

    Diogo Jota signs up with Liverpool until 2027

    Diogo Jota has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2027.


    The Portugal international was today, August  2, rewarded with a new five-year contract for his fine form since joining from Wolves back in 2020.


    The 25-year-old netted 21 times in all competitions for the Reds last season, but he will face stiff competition for a place this term following the arrival of Darwin Nunez from Benfica.


    Well, [I’m] really proud, I have to say,’ Jota told Liverpoolfc.com after signing his new contract.

     Diogo Jota signs a new five-year contract with Liverpool that will keep him at Anfield until the summer of 2027


    ‘Obviously, since I arrived two years ago I established myself as an important player in this team – that’s what I wanted from the beginning.


    Now, signing a new long-term deal, it’s obviously from the club’s perspective proof of the belief in myself as a player. For me, obviously it’s really good to establish I’ll be here for a while.


    ‘So, the beginning of a new season, let’s do it.’


    Jota, who has scored 34 goals in 85 appearances since joining Liverpool, has not featured in Liverpool’s pre-season matches due to a hamstring injury.


    The forward is expected to miss out on Saturday’s Premier League opener on Saturday at newly-promoted Fulham.

    ‘Unfortunately for me I had an upset in this pre-season because I got injured [in the] last game of the season playing with Portugal,’ he added.


    ‘So I was coming back in this pre-season, I felt it a little bit again. So it will be a few more weeks, I would say.


    ‘When you fight for everything, like we did last year, you just want to do it again and to do it better, because it’s possible.

    ‘That drive is in me and I know it’s in my teammates and all the staff. We have everything to fight for those titles out there.’

    Peter Obi not in support of IPOB, says Baba-Ahmed

    Datti Baba Ahmed, vice presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has said that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, is not in support of the Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its activities.

    Baba-Ahmed made this known when he appeared on Trust TV’s Daily Politics on Monday.

    “I sharply disagree that Peter Obi is in support of IPOB because I wouldn’t be with him today (if he is),” he said.

    He noted that those allegations are unsubstantiated.

    He said, “It’s the same kind of interview they did for me when I said I want to be addressed for 2023 election as a Nigerian. There is nothing that people cannot say. Just this morning, I had to do a press conference to the multiplicity of fake news all around … those allegations are yet unsubstantiated.”

    Baba-Ahmed added that before he agreed to be Obi’s running mate, he did all the investigations he could and nothing linked the former Anambra State governor to IPOB.

    He said, “For example, they said Northerners were treated unfairly by being made to wear ID cards, before I decided to join Peter Obi’s ticket. Within weeks I did all the investigations I could. Mobile phones were already carrying cameras, I asked for and even offered some compensation ‘can I see just one picture of anybody who stood and said that while Peter Obi was governor in Anambra State, he made me to wear this?’ and there was none.

    “And I should sit down and believe reckless people who just talk anyhow because you’ve come out in politics when I know the kind of politics that we play.”

    How DSS apprehended Boko Haram commander in Ogun State

    There was palpable tension in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Sunday, following the arrest of a suspected Boko Haram leader.

    The suspect was arrested by the operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

    The suspected Boko Haram leader was arrested at Ijaye area of Abeokuta.

    However, the suspect initially put up a resistance before bowing to the superior power of DSS operatives.

    Also, the operation was carried out at night.

    The suspected terrorist reportedly arrived in Abeokuta from Katsina, took up security job at Ijaye, while gathering intelligence for terrorist attacks.

    Security source said he moved to Abeokuta to set up terrorists’ cell for kidnapping and terror attacks.

    And following intelligence gathering , the gun-wielding security operatives stormed his hideout and picked him up.

    “It was not an easy ride. Intelligence and the grace of God were sufficient for the operatives. There are still many of them around, but we are on top of our game,” the source said.

    Our correspondent gathered that suspect is still in the DSS custody.

    The development comes amid the reports of the the alleged plan of terrorists to attack some states in the South West.

    When contacted, the DSS Spokesman, Dr Peter Afunanya, neither denied nor confirmed the arrest.

    “No comment,” he said while responding to a text message from our correspondent.

    The Police Public Relations Officers in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said he was not aware of any arrest

    2023: Atiku Makes Fresh Appointment

    Atiku Abubabkar addresses ENDSARs Issue

    The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Vice Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has made a fresh appointment.

    Naija News reports Atiku appointed Ms. Lynne Bassey as Special Assistant on Gender Issues and Women Advancement.

    The appointment is in furtherance of his commitment to women and youths empowerment, his media adviser, Paul Ibe told our newsroom via a mailed statement on Monday.

    The statement noted that “Ms. Bassey is an alumnus of both University of Calabar where she is currently pursuing a Doctorate degree in Development Sociology and the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos Business School.

    “Her appointment as Special Assistant will make the fifth to be announced by the PDP presidential candidate in the past few weeks.”

    It added that “Ms. Bassey’s appointment is in keeping with the promise by Atiku Abubakar to reserve a good percentage of his appointment, if elected President, for women and youths.”

    [Naijanews]

    Naira depreciation: BDC operators tell CBN what to do

    The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), has advised the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to abolish its official exchange rates even though it is cheaper when compared to Black Market rates.

    This, it argued, would give the local currency strength against the dollar.

    The naira in recent times has continued to fall against the Dollar in the black market, hitting an all-time low of N718/$1 at the weekend.

    On Friday at the P2P market, it depreciated against the United States Dollar by N16 to sell for N736/$1 compared with the previous day’s exchange rate of N720/$1.

    Also, the Nigerian currency lost N2.80 or 0.66 per cent against the greenback in the Investors and Exporters (I&E) window of the FX market as it closed at N429/$1 in contrast to Thursday’s value of N426.20/$1.

    In the parallel market, the local currency had a breather as it appreciated against the US Dollar for the first time in some days by N5 to trade at N705/$1 compared with the previous day’s N710/$1.

    In the interbank segment, the Naira lost N2.48 against the Pound Sterling to sell for N504.21/£1 versus the preceding day’s N501.73/£1 and against the Euro, it gained 86 Kobo to settle at N421.32/€1 in contrast to the N422.19/€1 it closed on Thursday.

    Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, the President of ABCON, who made this known, maintained that if the central bank is serious about addressing the consistent depreciation of the naira against the dollar, it needs to do all it takes within its power to sustainably inject the dollar into the market.

    “It might sound counterintuitive, but the way out of the current frenzy is to abolish the official fixed exchange rate and allow the Naira to float. CBN should contemporaneously undertake a large-scale dollar intervention in the open market that can inspire confidence in the Naira and checkmate the current tailspin.

    “Once there is a significant positive movement, the market will react and, in all probability, spur an avalanche of panic selling and further buoy the Naira,” Gwadabe said as he argued that the loss in the value of the local currency is reversible.

    [TheCable]

    Folarin Balogun set to join French Club Reims on loan

    Arsenal striker, Folarin Balogun is set to join French club Reims on a season-long loan deal.

    The 21-year-old Nigerian striker signed a new four-year contract last April which runs until 2025 and remains a part of manager Mikel Arteta’s long-term plans. But the club is willing to let him leave on loan to aid his development with regular football having bolstered their frontline with the signing of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City. 

    According to Fabrizio Romano, Folarin Balogun is inching closer to signing for Reims in Ligue 1, despite having offers from Premier League clubs. The Gunners will let the 21-year-old forward depart on a loan deal as competition for places at the Emirates remains high.

    Balogun has made 10 appearances for Arsenal, though two have been starts, and scored twice.

    He also spent the second half of last season on loan at Middlesbrough and has scored six times in 11 appearances for England under-21s.

    See the list of British citizens banned from entering Russia

    Russia has banned 39 senior British politicians, businesspeople and journalists from entering the country, including the Labour party leader, Keir Starmer, the former prime minister David Cameron and media personality, Piers Morgan.

    The UK has been one of Kyiv’s most loyal supporters after Russian president Vladimir Putin sent troops to start attack Ukraine on February 24,

    Russia’s foreign ministry said the citizens listed, most of whom were politicians, government employees and journalists, ‘contribute to the hostile course of London aimed at the demonisation of our country and its international isolation’.

    ‘The choice in favour of confrontation is the conscious decision of the British political establishment, which bears all responsibility for the consequences,’ the ministry added.

    Moscow has banned several dozen British citizens, mostly politicians and journalists from entering Russia since the start of its military campaign in Ukraine.

    The new additions include several Labour MPs, Scottish politicians and members of the House of Lords.

    Meanwhile, the likes of Jonathan Munro, the head of the BBC’s newsgathering,  BBC News presenter Huw Edwards and ITV’s political editor Robert Peston joined Piers Morgan on the list of British media figures now blacklisted. 

    Reacting to ban, Morgan wrote on Twitter: ‘[Russia] wasn’t on my vacation to-do list.’

    British

    Russia’s foreign ministry said it would keep adding to the list which now includes more than 200 prominent Britons.

    ‘Given London’s destructive drive to spin the sanctions flywheel on far-fetched and absurd pretexts, work on expanding the Russian stop-list will continue,’ it said in a statement.

    This is the latest list of 39 high profile British citizens which the Russian foreign ministry today announced had been blacklisted in Moscow:

    1. David Cameron, former British Prime Minister;
    2. George Robertson, member of the House of Lords of the Parliament of Great Britain;
    3. Angus Robertson, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Relations;
    4. Fiona Hyslop, Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Economic, Labour and Cultural Affairs;
    5. Keir Starmer, member of the House of Commons of the British Parliament, leader of the Labour Party of Great Britain;
    6. David Lammy, Deputy of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from the Labour Party, the ‘shadow’ Minister for Foreign Affairs of Great Britain;
    7. Lisa Nandy, Deputy of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from the Labor Party, ‘shadow’ Minister for Social and Economic Development of Regions and Housing;
    8. Wendy Morton, Deputy Minister for Transport, UK;
    9. Ian Blackford, member of the House of Commons of the British Parliament, leader of the Scottish National Party faction;
    10. Nick Thomas-Symonds, Deputy of the House of Commons of the British Parliament from the Labor Party, ‘shadow’ Minister for International Trade;
    11. Kate Forbes, Minister for Finance and Economics, Scottish Government;
    12. Lorna Slater, Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Greens;
    13. Ross John Greer, Scottish MP for the Green Party;
    14. Alexander Cole-Hamilton, Member of the Scottish Parliament, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats;
    15. Neil Charles Gray, Minister for Europe and International Development for Scotland;
    16. Laurence Lee, Second Permanent Undersecretary of Defense of Great Britain;
    17. Bate Toms, head of the British-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce;
    18. Donald Wilson, Edinburgh City Councilor;
    19. Peter Ricketts, Member of the House of Lords of the UK Parliament;
    20. James Paul Gray, Member of the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from the Conservative Party;
    21. Paul Khan, partner at Renaissance Strategic Advisors;
    22. Clive Roads, founder of Royal Consulting;
    23. Christopher Samuel, founder of Christopher Samuel Associates;
    24. Anthony Whelan, Science Adviser, UK Department of Defence;
    25. Huw Walters, Head of Economic Security at the UK Department of Defence;
    26. Liam Fox, Member of the House of Commons of the UK Parliament from the Conservative Party;
    27. Helen Bower Easton, Foreign Office Spokesperson;
    28. David Aaronovich, columnist for The Times;
    29. Dan Sabbagh, War News Editor, The Guardian;
    30. James Crisp, European News Editor, Daily Telegraph;
    31. David Rose, freelance journalist;
    32. Caroline Wheeler, Political Editor, The Sunday Times;
    33. John Riley, head of Sky News;
    34. Jonathan Charles Munro, Head of BBC News;
    35. Edward William Robert Carr, associate editor of The Economist;
    36. Jerome Donald Starkey, military columnist for The Sun;
    37. Robert Peston, producer of corporations ‘ITV’
    38. Piers Morgan, presenter of TV channel ‘ITV’
    39. Huw Edwards, BBC presenter

    Edo government to recruit forest Police to tackle insecurity

    Edo State Government will be embarking on recruitment of forest police following the documentation and audit of the state’s forests.

    Crusoe Osagie, Special Adviser, Media Project to Governor Godwin Obaseki, who made the announcement on Monday August 1, said the recruitment is part of a renewed effort to enhance security across the state.

    Osagie said the state government in partnership with relevant stakeholders is strengthening the security architecture and adopting various measures to sustain security in the state, including bush combing, registration of motorbikes and marketplaces, signing of the anti-grazing laws, and residents’ registration, among others.

    The statement; 

    “The responsibility of any government in any society is to guarantee the security and safety of the people. No government can call itself a government if it cannot protect and secure the lives of the people that it oversees.

    “That is why for us in Edo, given what is going on in the country today, we have decided that security is now our number one priority. In the area of our forests, we have completed documentation and audit of all our forests in Edo State, particularly in Edo South.

    “We have done a flyover of all our forests and as we speak, we have set up a new forestry commission. Our forestry laws that have not been updated in more than 50 years now have been updated. And part of the provisions of the law is that we will now re-energise the institution of forest guards.

    “We are currently in discussion with the Federal Ministry of Environment and some other stakeholders to begin the recruitment of the first set of the new forest police as we will call them to support the activities of all the other security agencies.

    “In terms of squatters in markets, we are going to enforce the local government laws which stipulate that it is only the local government that is entitled to register markets and shut down illegal markets.

    “Any place where trading is currently taking place today and such a place has not been registered will be immediately shut down.”

    ALERT! State of emergency declared for California in response to Monkeypox

    California Gov. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in response to the monkeypox outbreak, becoming the second state in three days to take the step.

    Governor Gavin Newsom said the declaration will help California coordinate a government-wide response, seek more vaccines and lead outreach and education efforts on where people can get treatment and vaccination.

    “We’ll continue to work with the federal government to secure more vaccines, raise awareness about reducing risk, and stand with the LGBTQ community-fighting stigmatisation,” Mr. Newsom said in a statement announcing his declaration.

    “Public health officials are clear: stigma is unacceptable and counterproductive in public health response,” Michelle Gibbons, executive director of the County Health Executives Association of California said in a statement. “The fact is that monkeypox is primarily spread by skin to skin contact and sharing objects like bedding or towels, without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.”

    The type of monkeypox virus identified in this outbreak is rarely fatal, and people usually recover within weeks. But the lesions and blisters caused by the virus are painful, and they can prevent swallowing or bowel movements if in the throat or anus.


    The declaration in California came after a similar one in New York state on Saturday, and in San Francisco on Thursday. Mr. Newsom’s administration had said as recently as Friday that it was too soon for such a declaration.

    Mr. Newsom’s proclamation allows emergency medical personnel to administer monkeypox vaccines that are approved by the federal government.


    California has received more than 61,000 vaccine doses and has distributed more than 25,000 doses.

    “Beware of fake online registration portal” – INEC warns

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has alerted Nigerians of the existence of a fake online site urging Nigerians to enroll for “voter card pvc” registration.

    This comes barely 24 hours after INEC announced the suspension of voter registration across the country.

    The fake online portal claimed that the Federal Government has approved PVC registration online to avoid the unnecessary crowd in the “NIMC”.

    INEC warned that the site is not linked to the Commission and the link/portal is spurious and from a dubious source.

    The Commission said INEC is the only body constitutionally and legally mandated to conduct the registration of persons qualified to vote in any election in Nigeria and to update and revise the register when the need arises.

    It reiterated that the Commission is solely responsible for organizing, undertaking, and supervising national elections in the country and does not share this responsibility with anybody or organization.

    The Commission said it has concluded the Continuous Voter Registration exercise nationwide and does not need to open an additional site or portal for the purposes of registration of voters.

    US Military kills Al Qaeda leader Zawahiri in Afghanistan

    The United States has killed an al Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri in a strike in Afghanistan over the weekend, the biggest blow to the terrorist group since its founder Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011.


    Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon who had a $25 million bounty on his head, helped coordinate the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York.


    Zawahiri died after a U.S. drone strike in the Afghan capital Kabul at 6:18 a.m. (0148 GMT) on Sunday.

    US Military kills Al Qaeda leader Zawahiri in Afghanistan

    Reacting to the incident, U.S president, Joe Biden said; “Now justice has been delivered, and this terrorist leader is no more,” Biden,  said in remarks from the White House on Monday night, August 1.


     “No matter how long it takes, no matter where you hide, if you are a threat to our people, the United States will find you and take you out.”


    Biden said Zawahiri had been the mastermind behind or played a key role in attacks on the USS Cole and U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.


    “Zawahiri continued to pose an active threat to U.S. persons, interests and national security,” the official said on a conference call. “His death deals a significant blow to al Qaeda and will degrade the group’s ability to operate.”

    U.S. intelligence determined with “high confidence” through multiple intelligence streams that the man killed was Zawahiri, one senior administration official told reporters. He was killed on the balcony of a “safe house” in Kabul that he shared with other members of his family. No other casualties occurred.

    His death raises questions about whether Zawahiri received sanctuary from the Taliban following their takeover of Kabul in August 2021. 


    The drone attack is the first known U.S. strike inside Afghanistan since U.S. troops and diplomats left the country in August 2021 and happened without a military presence in the country.


    In a statement, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that a strike took place and strongly condemned it, calling it a violation of “international principles.” 


    Zawahiri succeeded bin Laden as Al Qaeda leader after years as its main organizer and strategist, but his lack of charisma and competition from rival militants Islamic State hobbled his ability to inspire spectacular attacks on the West. 


    Until the U.S. announcement, Zawahiri had been rumored variously to be in Pakistan’s tribal area or inside Afghanistan.


     The United States identified this year that Zawahiri’s wife, daughter and her children had relocated to a safe house in Kabul, then identified that Zawahiri was there as well, the official said.


    “Once Zawahiri arrived at the location, we are not aware of him ever leaving the safe house,” a US official said to Reuters.. He was identified multiple times on the balcony, where he was ultimately struck. He continued to produce videos from the house and some may be released after his death, the official said.


    In the last few weeks, Biden convened officials to scrutinize the intelligence. He was updated throughout May and June and was briefed on July 1 on a proposed operation by intelligence leaders. On July 25 he received an updated report and authorized the strike once an opportunity was available, the administration official said.

    “My wife demands money before intercourse” – man seeks dissolution of marriage

    Mr. Adegbenga Dada, who is a marine engineer and a prince from Eruku in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, has said his wife demands money before sex.

    He said this in a suit filed before a Kwara High Court, sitting in Ilorin.

    Dada is seeking the dissolution of his 28-year-old marriage to Roseline Dada over allegation of adultery.

    He alleged that his wife is promiscuous and this has affected her domestic duties, adding that she had involved their female children by sending them on errands to collect money from her numerous male friends.

    Adegbenga, who is from Kwara, but is based in Lagos, said: “My wife abandoned our bedroom and packed to the guest room. She would insist unless I issue cheque for substantial amount, she would not succumb to my sexual advances. Any failure to issue cheque will result in total denial.

    “The marriage has broken down because my wife and I are no longer able to sit down together to discuss about our lives and that of our children.”

    He also prayed the court to grant him custody of the three children produced by the union.

    Roseline in her response denied the allegations while accusing her husband of adultery.

    She, however, said that she was not opposed to the dissolution of the marriage but prayed the court to grant her part ownership of their Lagos building which she said was a joint project executed by her and the petitioner.

    During the trial, the petitioner through his counsel, Mr. Josiah Adebayo, said the nude pictures of the respondent with a lover retrieved from her phone was to add to the weight of the evidence and not to ridicule her.

    Delivering her judgement, Justice S.T Abdulqadri granted the dissolution of the marriage, saying she found the evidence presented before the Court on the allegations of adultery against the respondent to be true.

    She held that the respondent, Mrs. Dada had no joint ownership of a Lagos state residential property with the petitioner.

    The court did not however grant the custody of the three children of the 28 years old marriage to any of the parties, as it held that the children are adults who are above 20 years of age.

    Russian soldier’s life sentence for killing civilians reduced to 15 years by Ukrainian appeals court

    A Russian tank commander who became the first Vladimir Putin’s soldier to be jailed for war crimes in Ukraine has seen his life sentence reduced to 15 years on appeal.


    During the opening days of the war, Vadim Shishimarin, 21, shot dead 62-year-old Oleksandr Shelipov in cold blood in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region.


    He was later captured and brought to Kyiv for trial, where he pleaded guilty to war crimes charges back in May.

    But his lawyers were able to appeal, saying the sentence was unduly harsh given he had admitted wrongdoing and was acting on the orders of a superior.


    Today, an appeals court in the Ukrainian capital agreed and cut the penalty to 15 years. Viktor Ovsyannikov, Shishimarin’s lawyer, had been asking for 10 years.

    Ovsyannikov said it is highly likely that Shishimarin will at some point be traded back to Russia in a prisoner swap.

    Mr. Shelipov had been pushing his bike along a road in the Ukrainian village of Chupakhivka when he encountered Shishimarin and men from his unit, who were riding in a stolen civilian car.


    Fearing that Mr. Shelipov, a veteran of the Soviet military – was going to report their location to Ukrainian forces, Shishimarin’s superiors ordered him to kill the man.

    He fired several shots at Mr. Shelipov’s head from an automatic rifle, killing him.

    Russia has denied targeting civilians or involvement in war crimes.


    During the trial, Shishimarin told the court that he shot Oleksandr as he and several other Russian soldiers were retreating and trying to rejoin their units in Russia.


    The soldiers found a civilian car, a Volkswagen, which they hijacked. ‘We wanted to get to where our army was and go back to Russia,’ Shishimarin said.

    ‘On our way as we were driving, we saw a man. He was talking on the phone. He said he would give us up.’


    Shishimarin said another Russian soldier in the car, who he said was not his commander and who he called an ‘unknown’ soldier, ‘told me to shoot.’


    ‘He started to say in a forceful tone that I should shoot,’ he told the court. He said that I make up a danger if I don’t. I shot him at short range. It killed him.’


    Oleksandr’s wife Kateryna Shelypova had confronted Shishimarin in the Kyiv court and asked him what he felt when he killed her husband.


    ‘Tell me what did you feel when you killed my husband? Do you repent of this crime,’ Kateryna asked the former soldier on Thursday as he stood in the dock, looking straight ahead.


    ‘I admit my guilt. I understand you can’t forgive me. I ask forgiveness,’ he said.


    Kateryna added: ‘Tell me please, why did you come here? To protect us? From whom? From my husband who you killed?’

    Kateryna told the court that her husband was a tractor driver who was not carrying a weapon and was dressed in civilian clothes, according to quotes from Ukrainian journalist Daria Sipigina.

    Kateryna said she was in her garden when she heard shots being fired, and ran out calling for her husband before seeing Shishimarin with a Kalashnikov.

    He drove away with the rest of his squad, leaving her to discover her husband’s dead body lying on the side of the road.


    ‘The loss of my husband is everything for me. He was my protector,’ she said.

    INEC unveils dates for collection of PVCs in Nigeria

    Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed the dates the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) would be available for collection by Nigerians.

    According to the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, PVCs for persons captured in the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in the country would be ready between October and November.

    Festus Okoye, disclosed this while monitoring the concluding segment of the ongoing CVR in Awka, Anambra on Saturday, July 30.


    He reaffirmed that the exercise would end on Sunday.


    He said: “INEC has to bring the exercise to a close, to enable the commission to cross check data collated.


    “This will enable our system operators to eliminate double and multiple registrations before we produce the PVCs for distribution.


    “The law equally requires that we should display the register in the 774 Local Government Areas and 8, 809 registration areas for claims and objections.


    “And we have to print the PVCs, truck them to all the local government areas across the country for collection.”


    He said the PVCs for eligible voters who registered between January and June would be ready in October, while those who registered from July 1 to July 31 would collect theirs in November.

    “At least 276, 767 persons had completed their registration as of July 25.


     
    “The commission deployed a total of 110 INEC Voters Enrollment Devices (IVED) in the state out of which 10 malfunctioned,” the national commissioner added.

    Rafiatu Lawal Folashade wins Nigeria’s Gold, in the commonwealth games 2022 (videos)

    Rafiatu Folashade Lawal broke three Commonwealth Games’ records on Sunday, July 31 to win Nigeria’s second gold medal at the games event.

    Rafiatu clinched gold in the final of the women’s 59kg weightlifting event after lifting 90kg at the snatch category, setting a new Commonwealth Games record.


    The 25-year-old lifted 110kg at the first attempt, then at the second attempt lifted 115kg to set the new Games record, and then on the third attempt set another Commonwealth Games World Record, lifting 116kg.  England’s Jessica Gordon Brown won silver – 197kg while Canada’s Tali Darsigny claimed bronze: 196kg.

    Rafiatu Lawal Folashade

    A combined 206kg is a new Commonwealth Games Record in the women’s 59kg weightlifting event.

    Her victory came a few hours after Team Nigeria celebrated the bronze medal won by Edidiong Joseph Umoafia in the men’s 67kg Weightlifting event.

    METH laboratory discovered on VGC estate, Lagos – NDLEA

    Men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA on Saturday, July 30, raided a building in the popular VGC estate in Lagos state and discover a METH laboratory on a property.



    According to an internal memo released by the estate management, NDLEA officials have been on the trail of the occupant of the property, Mr Emeka Nzewi, since 2017.


    On Saturday, July 30, the anti-drug agency carried out a sting operation and was able to arrest the occupant and his wife.
     

    NDLEA says the boreholes and water supply located 500 meters from the raided building have been contaminated by the waste generated from the Laboratory.

    See the memo from the estate management below…

    METH

    Joan Laporta promised to try all in his power to re-sign Lionel Messi next summer

    Barcelona president, Joan Laporta has vowed to do all he can to re-sign Lionel Messi next summer when the PSG star’s contract expires.


    The Argentine playmaker, 35, exited the Nou Camp to join the French giants on a free transfer in 2021, ending his 21-year Barcelona career.


    Laporta, who admitted he feels ‘indebted’ to the Argentine superstar, is set to do everything to bring him back to the Catalan club next year.


    ‘I would like him to end his career in a Barca shirt, and be applauded at all the stadiums.

    ‘I feel partially responsible for how things ended, and I feel that this is a temporary end and that we will make this dream a reality. At least that is the dream.’


    Recall it was a bitter end for Messi after he submitted a transfer request via burofax after Barca were thumped 8-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League back in 2020.

    The playmaker almost made a U-turn to remain at the club, but the ongoing financial problems worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic prevented Barcelona from offering Messi a new deal, paving the way for him to join PSG.


    Messi notched 670 goals and 302 assists in 776 games during his two-decade spell with the LaLiga giants.

    Shakira may go to jail for 8 years and fined £19million over £12m tax fraud

    Pop star Shakira is reportedly facing up to eight years in prison she’s found guilty of an alleged massive £12m tax fraud.


    The Hips Don’t Lie’ singer, 45, is charged with defrauding the Spanish treasury out of millions over a three-year period between 2012 and 2014.


    Spanish prosecutors are pushing for the highest-possible sentence over six separate counts of tax fraud totalling 14.5 million euros (£12.2m).


    As well as an eight-year prison sentence, state prosecutors want the mum-of-two to be slapped with a 23 million euro fine (£19.2m).


    Shakira is accused of pretending to live abroad to avoid paying tax despite moving to Barcelona in 2011 to be with her ex, Spanish defender Gerard Pique.


    She has already paid out an estimated three million euros (£2.5m) to the Spanish taxman.


    She is accused of using the illegal arrangement from 2012 and 2014, when she was in a relationship with footballer Gerard Pique who lives and plays in Barcelona.


    The couple, who have two children together, split earlier this year amid allegations in local media that Pique had been unfaithful.

    Shakira

    Shakira is said to have tried to rekindle the relationship twice but was rebuffed by Pique, before the pair confirmed their separation.


    Despite the split, the couple seem to have remained on civil terms and have been seen attending their children’s sports games together.


    A spokesman for Shakira said: ‘Shakira has always cooperated and abided by the law, demonstrating impeccable conduct as an individual and a taxpayer, and faithfully following the counsel of PriceWaterhouse Coopers, a prestigious and globally recognized tax firm.


    ‘Unfortunately, the Spanish Tax Office, which loses one out of every two lawsuits with its taxpayers, continues to violate her rights and pursue yet another baseless case.


    ‘Shakira is confident that her innocence will be proven by the end of the judicial process.’


    Shakira, previously a tax resident in the Bahamas, only registered as a full tax resident in Spain in 2015.

    Official residents in Spain pay Spanish taxes on their worldwide income.
    People who spent more than 183 days in a given calendar year in Spain are considered Spanish residents for tax purposes.

    Tax inspectors spent more than a year checking up on Shakira, even visiting her favourite hairdressers in Barcelona and checking her social media to try to show she spent most of the three years in dispute in Spain.


    They concluded she had spent 242 days in Spain in 2012, 212 days in 2013 and 243 days in the country in 2014.


    Shakira could be jailed for eight years and fined and fined £19million if convicted.

    “Nigeria is currently broke” – Ngige

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, says Nigeria is currently broke.

    The Minister mentioned this while speaking at the 2022 World Day Against Child Labour.

    According to him, the Federal Government does not have money to prosecute capital projects next year, a development that might worsen unemployment and poverty.

    “I can tell you that Nigeria is broke. There is no money to fund capital projects next year. As you can see, the dollar that has been hovering around N500 and N600 is now above N700. The truth is that there is no money anywhere. The money that the FAAC (Federation Account Allocation Committee) has been sharing is money from taxes, customs and other revenue-generating agencies.

    The National Nigerian Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) no longer remits money to FAAC. So, the situation calls for patriotism from all Nigerians. The lack of money to fund capital projects would have implications on the capacity to create jobs. If jobs are not created, poverty will increase in the country.”?he said

    Child bride who killed her husband to be hanged in Iran

    A child bride in Iran who killed the man she was forced to marry when she was only 15 is among three women executed for murdering their husbands this week.

    Soheila Abadi, now 25, was hanged in prison after she was convicted of killing her husband over ‘family disputes’ according to the sentencing courts.

    Two other women executed on Wednesday were also convicted of murdering their husbands, Human Rights Watch said.

    Activists claim that most incidents of wives killing their husbands are sparked by domestic violence but the Iranian courts do not take this into account.

    The trio are among 32 people hanged in the country in just the past week.

    It comes amid a surge in executions across the country, with at least 251 people killed by the state killed in the first six months of the year, Amnesty International reported.

    The figure is more than double the number executed over the same period last year.

    The charity accused Iran of carrying out a ‘horrific spree’ of executions, with many of those sentenced to death not having had a fair trial.

    Of the 251 executed, 146 of them were for murder, and at least 86 were for drug offences which should not warrant the death penalty under international law. 

    Diana Eltahawy, deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said: ‘The state machinery is carrying out killings on a mass scale across the country in an abhorrent assault on the right to life.

    Beyoncé talks about Jay Z cheating on her in her new Renaissance album

    Beyoncé’s long-awaited and highly-anticipated album was released today July 29, and it has created quite a buzz already.

    While there’s quite a lot to be discussed following the album release, it was also noticed that the singer referenced her husbandJay-Z‘s past cheating, which were focal themes of her last album Lemonade and his project 4:44

    Bey also referenced the infamous lift incident which saw her sister, Solange physically attack Jay.

    Appearing to refer to the criticism around their relationship over the past six years on Plastic Off The Sofa, Beyonce sings: 

    “We don’t need the world’s acceptance.

    “They’re too hard on me, they’re too hard on you, boy.”

    She also appears to show a softer side towards Jay, who she married in a top-secret intimate wedding on April 4, 2008 — the fourth day of the fourth month, in honour of their favourite number

    Bey added; 

    “Boy, I know you can’t help but to be yourself around me, yourself around me.

    “And I know nobody’s perfect so I’ll let you be, I’ll let you be

    “It’s the way that you wear your emotions on both of your sleeves, til the face you make when I tell you that I had to leave.”

    She then confidently reminded Jay that she’s the “only” one. “I’m one of one, I’m number one, I’m the only one,” she sang. “Don’t even waste your time trying to compete with me. No one else in this world can think like me. I’m twisted, contradicted, keep him addicted.”

    Protecting her husband, who she met when she was 18 and in girl band ­Destiny’s Child, she sings:

    “I’ll always be your secret weapon in your arsenal.

    “And I know you had it rough growing up, but that’s OK, I like it rough. Baby when you let your feelings get in the way. I still like it, baby, oh I like it, baby.”

    Referring to the 2014 fight between her sister Solange and Jay-Z in a New York hotel lift, she sings; 

    “Jay and Solange have apologised to each other and we have moved forward as a united family.

    “They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in public.”

    In the album’s second song, Cozy, Beyonce appears to hint at the incident, singing: “She’s a god, she’s a hero, she survived, all she been through, confident and she lethal.

    “Might I suggest you don’t f*** with my sis, because she ­comfortable. Comfortable in my skin, cozy with who I am.”

    Beyonce and Jay Z

    Security camera footage at the time, showed Solange throwing punches at her brother-in-law before a bodyguard dragged her off the rapper.

    In the 58-second clip Beyonce was seen frozen in the corner of the lift.

    Renaissance marks Beyoncé’s first solo studio album since 2016’s Lemonade. Since then, she released Everything Is Love, a 2018 joint album with her husband, Jay-Z. In 2019, she put out Homecoming, essential the live album of her 2018 headlining Coachella performance, before releasing The Lion King: The Gift, a companion album to the live-action movie. The Gift featured several new Beyoncé songs, but none of these projects had the same weight as a solo album.

    While Lemonade currently stands at certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA, Everything Is Love has only reached Gold status, and the other projects haven’t crossed that threshold. Lemonade remains one of Beyoncé’s best-selling albums, matching 2006’s B’Day in Platinum status (3x). Only her 2003 album, Dangerously In Love, has sold more.

    US Mother kills her 3 kids then commits suicide

    A Connecticut mom was found dead at home along with her three kids and police said Thursday, July 28, that she strangled the children before taking her own life.

    Sonia Loja, 36, was found dead from suspected asphyxia by hanging at a single-family home on Whaley Street, Connecticut, where cops responded for a wellbeing check at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 27.

    US Mother kills her 3 kids then commits suicide

    Loja’s three children, identified as 12-year-old Junior Panjon, 10-year-old Joselyn Panjon and 5-year-old Jonael Panjon, were also found dead in the residence.

    “Pending an official autopsy, preliminary findings indicate that Ms. Loja strangled her three children before killing herself. However, this is still an active investigation,” Danbury police said today in a statement to The Post.

    Loja and her three kids lived at the home with two other adults who weren’t there when cops arrived Wednesday.

    Autopsies have been set to be conducted.

    US Mother kills her 3 kids then commits suicide

    Dwight McNeil signs up with Everton on 5-year deal

    Everton have signed Burnley winger Dwight McNeil in a deal worth £20million deal plus add-ons.

    The 22-year-old underwent a medical on Wednesday night and signed a five-year deal with the club until June 2027.

    McNeil is the Toffees’ third signing of the summer after ex-Burnley team-mate James Tarkowski and Portuguese defender Ruben Vinagre on loan.

    The England U21 international has plenty of Premier League experience, having already made 134 top-flight appearances for Burnley. He has missed just two Premier League matches since December 2018 and ranked second for dribbles in the top flight last season.

    “It is an amazing feeling to sign. When I heard about Everton’s interest I wanted to get it done straight away because of the club and how good the team is,” McNeil told evertontv.

    Dwight McNeil

    “Speaking to the manager about what they want going forward, it really excited me and appealed to me. I wanted to be part of it. He knows me as a player, as does [Director of Football] Kevin Thelwell. I want to work hard and do well for the team and for the fans.

    “I feel playing under a manager like Frank Lampard, he will help me to get my stats up – and that is what I want to do and improve my game.”

    The attacking midfielder, who has seven goals and 17 assists in the Premier League to his name, had also been attracting interest from London sides West Ham and Crystal Palace.

    Manager Lampard added: “I have been a big admirer of Dwight for some time. He has huge talent and is exactly the type of player we want to bring into the squad to help us improve.”

    91-year-old Emir of Daura takes new bride, She is 22 years old

    The Emir of Daura Emirate, Katsina State, Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk, has married a 22-year-old lady, A’isha Yahuza Gona. 

    According to sources who spoke to Daily Trust, the wedding took place in Safana town of Katsina State.

    The source also disclosed that the Emir married A’isha at a lowkey nuptials after a brief courtship that lasted barely a week.

    The bride is a daughter of former local government chairman of Safana, Alhaji Yahuza Gona.

    Another source told the publication that the new bride was already in her matrimonial home in Daura.

    Recall that the Emir married a 20-year-old lady, Aisha Iro Maikano, in December, 2021.

    The monarch had in 2015 married a much younger woman, Gimbiya Aisha Umar Farouk, and they both have two children together. 

    Emir of Daura

    Jules Kounde may sign up with Barcelona soon

    Barcelona have agreed a deal with Sevilla for defender Jules Kounde, with the Catalan club pipping Chelsea to the France international.

    The Spanish club confirmed on Thursday night, July 28, that they have reached an agreement with Sevilla for the signing of Kounde, with the defender now set for a medical in Catalonia before putting pen to paper on a contract.

    The deal comes as a big blow to Chelsea and manager Thomas Tuchel, who prioritised the France international in their attempt to rebuild the defence.  Kounde was reportedly very close to joining Chelsea for a fee upwards of €65 million, but Barcelona hijacked the transfer.

    Kounde will become Barcelona’s fifth signing in what is turning out to be a busy summer for the Laliga side, ifhe passes his medical.

    Chelsea have moved to block Marcos Alonso’s transfer to the Catalan giants in response to Barca snatching Kounde

    “There is high rate of cultism and internet fraud among police officers” – AIG laments

    The Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2 (Lagos and Ogun), Adeleke Adeyinka Bode, has lamented the high rate of cultism and internet fraud among police officers.

    The AIG, while addressing men of the Ogun State Police command Thursday, July 28, during his visit to the command in Abeokuta, said policemen engaging in criminal activities are sabotaging the efforts of the police force to rid the nation of crimes and giving the force a bad name.

    He pointed out that a policeman who belongs to a cult group would do everything to ensure members of his group are protected, even when they have committed an offense.

    He warned such officers to desist from acts that may trigger civil unrest like the one that happened during the End SARS protests.

    He then charged the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Bankole, to fish out cops involved in cultism and cybercrime.

    Adeleke said: “If you (police officers) are a cultist I don’t think you should show it to people because it is wrong; and do you know why it is wrong even if you are not wicked? if you belong to a cult group, there is no way you are not going to favour a member of your cult, unless you are not a good cult member.

    “In a situation where a police officer is a member of a cult group and people in the society know that he is a cultist, his activities are related to cultism, I think it is sad.

    “There are some of our policemen too now that are into cybercrime, popularly know as Yahoo-Yahoo, especially policemen who find themselves in places where we have institutions of higher learning; it is very common.

    “You (Commissioner) need to fish them out and you need to preach to them.”

    He proceeded to warn his men to be more professional and civil while dealing with members of the public to avoid a repeat of the End SARS protest.

    He said: “Another EndSARS may lead to the end of the police.

    “The criminals that perpetrated that act that time are going to come out more experienced. The mistakes they made then, they are not going to make them now and that is why your conduct towards the members of the public must be effective.”

    Johnny Depp makes £3M in few hours after selling his debut artworks

    Hollywood actor, Johnny Depp has made about £3m in just a few hours through sale of his debut art work collection.


    Hours after announcing the sale of his artworks on Instagram on Thursday, July 28, Depp sold 780 pieces through Castle Fine Art’s 37 galleries, including in London’s Covent Garden.

    The ‘Friends And Heroes’ collection depicts people who have inspired him, including Rolling Stone’s Keith Richards and Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor.

    Johnny Depp

    The actor said he used his art, which also depicted actor Al Pacino and folk legend Bob Dylan, to “reflect on those who matter most to me, like my family, friends and people I admire”.


    “I’ve always used art to express my feelings,” the 59-year-old actor fresh from winning a defamation court case against his ex-wife Amber Heard said.


    “My paintings surround my life, but I kept them to myself and limited myself. No one should ever limit themselves.”

    Framed individual images sold for £3,950 and the complete portfolio of four images sold for £14,950 each.

    Johnny Depp


    Depp’s post on Instagram, captioned only “NOW AT #CASTLEFINEART”, prompted a rush of traffic to the gallery’s website causing it to crash.


    In a press release, the gallery described the actor’s work as existing “at the intersection of pop art and street art” and as “pop art with feeling”.

    Earlier this month, Depp sold a series of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), called Never Fear Truth, which also depicted his close friends and heroes, raising nearly £660,000 ($800,000) for charity.

    “Russia doing better than expected despite sanctions” – IMF

    Despite damaging economic sanctions imposed on Russia by the West in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s economy appears to be doing better than expected as it benefits from high energy prices, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.


    The economic sanctions were meant to cut off Russia from the global financial system and choke off funds available to Moscow to finance the war.


    But the International Monetary Fund’s latest World Economic Outlook upgraded Russia’s GDP estimate for 2022 by a remarkable 2.5 percentage points, although its economy is still expected to contract by 6%.


    While major economies including the United States and China are slowing, “Russia’s economy is estimated to have contracted during the second quarter by less than previously projected, with crude oil and non-energy exports holding up better than expected,” the report said. 


    After starting the year below $80 a barrel, oil prices spiked to nearly $129 in March, before easing back to a little over $105, while natural gas prices are rising again and approaching their recent peak.


    Meanwhile, despite the sanctions, Russia’s “domestic demand is also showing some resilience thanks to containment of the effect of the sanctions.”


    The IMF added that Europe is facing the brunt of the fallout given its reliance on Russia for energy, and the situation could worsen dramatically if Moscow cuts off gas exports, and once the European Union imposes a ban on Russian oil delivered by sea starting next year.

    Cristiano Ronaldo to be released from the final year of his contract at Manchester United

    Manchester United striker, Cristiano Ronaldo has informed the club he wishes to be relinquished from his contract to free him to join a Champions League side.

    The Portuguese striker returned to Manchester United on Tuesday July 26, with his agent Jorge Mendes to discuss his future with the club after missing all of United’s pre-season tour to Thailand and Australia.

    The Mail report the Portugal superstar wants to be freed from the final year of his £360,000-a-week contract.

    United’s stance has not changed and they do not want to sell, nor have they received any enquires.

    Chelsea and Bayern Munich were interrested in signing Ronaldo but the clubs ruled themselves out of the race.

    Atletico Madrid have shown an interest, but there has been several backlash from their fans.

    The Ronaldo saga is set to rumble on over the summer, but he is likely to remain professional, the report added.

    He underwent medical tests and then trained on Wednesday July 27, before watching his team-mates in a behind-closed-doors friendly match against Wrexham.

    The Red Devils play friendlies against Atletico Madrid on Saturday, followed by a game against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday. It is thought that he could feature in the latter fixture at Old Trafford.

    North Korea threatens South Korea with Nuclear nukes – Kim Jong-un

    North Korea is ready to mobilise its nuclear forces, leader Kim Jong-un has claimed.

    Speaking at a Korean War anniversary event, Kim said boosting North Korea’s defence is an “urgent historical task” adding that the country was “fully ready for any military confrontation” with the US, state news agency KCNA reported.


    The comments come amid concern that North Korea could be preparing a seventh nuclear test, which the US warned last month could happen at any time.

    North Korea’s most recent nuclear test was in 2017. But tensions have been rising on the Korean peninsula.

    North Korea has tested an unprecedented number of missiles this year – 31 compared to 25 during the whole of its last record-breaking year, 2019, according to the US special representative to North Korea Sung Kim.


    In June South Korea responded by launching eight missiles of its own.


    Although the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, North Korea claims it as a victory against the US. The annual “Victory Day” celebrations are marked by military parades, fireworks and dancing.


    In his speech to mark the event on Wednesday, July 27, Kim said nuclear threats from the US required North Korea to achieve the “urgent historical task” of beefing up its self-defence.


    The US had misrepresented North Korea’s regular military exercises as provocations, he added.

    Kim also addressed reports that South Korea is planning to counter the North Korean nuclear threat by mounting precautionary strikes in the event of an imminent attack.

    Kim said that South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol’s government and military would be “obliterated” if he carried out pre-emptive strikes.

    Since taking office in May, South Korean President Yoon has laid out a new, more aggressive defence policy towards North Korea. It would allow South Korean forces to pre-emptively strike the North, if Seoul believes it is under imminent threat of a nuclear attack from Pyongyang.

    This so-called “Kill Chain” strategy proposed by South Korea would allow South Korea to launch pre-emptive ballistic missiles and air strikes on North Korean targets, including taking out the North Korean military command and control structures. In other words, attempting to kill Kim Jong-Un himself.

    *******************

    North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says he is prepared to “wipe out” South Korea with nuclear weapons over Seoul’s provocative joint military exercises with the US, accusing the two countries of pushing the peninsula to the “brink of war”.

    Speaking on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the Korean War ending, Kim branded talk of military action against his country as a “suicidal act, absurd and extremely dangerous”.

    Kim also slammed Washington’s apparent demonization of Pyongyang’s military developments as provocations, and warned Seoul’s “military gangsters” to refrain from doing the same.

    Just IN: Panic as bandits attack Owo again with explosives

    Gunmen suspected to be bandits, on Wednesday night, launched attack in Owo, headquarters of Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State

    At the town’s Folahami Junction axis, where Craneburg Construction Company was located, the gunmen were said to have opened fire on everyone on sight.

    Sources told DAILY POST that during the attack, the gunmen also set off explosive devices.

    Few weeks ago, some suspected terrorists attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in the town murdering no less than 40 worshippers.

    With the exact number of casualties yet to be determined, many people were said to be injured in the attack.

    The incident was confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer for the Command, PPRO, SP Funmilayo Odunlami, who also stated that some persons were injured in the attack.

    She added that it was still unknown if the perpetrators were terrorists or merely bandits.

    [DailyPost]

    U.S economy is shrinking, raising fears of a recession

    The U.S. economy shrank from April through June for a second straight quarter, contracting at a 0.9% annual pace and raising fears that the nation may be approaching a recession.

    The decline that the Commerce Department reported Thursday July 28, in the gross domestic product the broadest gauge of the economy followed a 1.6% annual drop from January through March. Consecutive quarters of falling GDP constitute one informal, though not definitive, indicator of a recession.

    The report comes at a critical time as the country’s consumers and businesses have been struggling under the weight of punishing inflation and higher borrowing costs.

    The report comes just a day after the US Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.75 per cent for the second time in a row as it continues efforts to conquer the worst surge in inflation in four decades.

    The Fed is hoping to achieve a notoriously difficult “soft landing”: An economic slowdown that manages to rein in rocketing prices without triggering a recession.

    The strength of America’s job market, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference on Wednesday, “makes you question the GDP data”.

    Asked whether he thought the US was in a recession, Mr Powell said he did not think it was, citing the “remarkably strong” labour market and adding “it doesn’t make sense” for the country to be in a recession right now.

    Mr Powell also correctly noted that US GDP data is often revised at a later date. In its press release on Thursday morning the BEA noted that the GDP estimate was based on source data that are either incomplete or subject to revision from the source agency and that the second estimate for the quarter will be released on 25 August.

    The most widely accepted definition of a recession comes from the National Bureau of Economic Research, a group of economists whose Business Cycle Dating Committee defines it as “a significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and lasts more than a few months”.

    In a statement released by the White House, President Joe Biden said: “It’s no surprise that the economy is slowing down as the Federal Reserve acts to bring down inflation. But even as we face historic global challenges, we are on the right path and we will come through this transition stronger and more secure. Our job market remains historically strong, with unemployment at 3.6 per cent and more than 1 million jobs created in the second quarter alone. Consumer spending is continuing to grow.”

    Prior to the release of today’s data, forecasters surveyed by the data firm FactSet had estimated that the nation’s GDP made a tepid annual gain of 0.8 per cent between the beginning of April and the end of June. Others believed a more anaemic level of 0.2 per cent was possible.

    The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s running estimate of GDP growth, based on available economic data, signalled a 1.2 per cent second quarter decline was on the cards.

    “Tinubu not fit and qualified to be President, He’s 86” – His inlaw says

    Renowned flutist Tee Mac has garnered attention on Facebook by sharing his thought on the Presidential Candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli, a former President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), said he and Remi Tinubu are cousins and this makes her husband Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu his in-law but he stopped supporting Tinubu and stopped visiting the family.

    He made this known while responding to a Facebook user, Yemi Olakitan, who declared his support for the APC Presidential flag bearer.

    Tee Mac also said that Tinubu is 86 years old and not 70.

    He wrote: “Dear Yemi. Any body can choose any candidate, but an intelligent person will ask himself the question: do I choose rightly! Is the man qualified! Is he honest! Does he tell us the truth about his age, background and how he made his money! Is this man healthy enough at 86 to take up the task of a totally run down country?

    “You see Tinubu is my in-law. His wife Remi is my cousin. Her Itsekiri mother and my Itsekiri mother are sisters. I have know Tinubu since the mid 80s personally and even arranged for him to stay in my stepfather’s house ( Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony) in London when he went into exile.

    “I stopped supporting him and stop family visits etc when he sold that Buhari to the nation in 2015. My advise to the nation is that this man is absolutely not qualified to become our next president. Respectfully Tee Mac Omatshola Iseli.”

    "Tinubu not fit and qualified to be President, He’s 86" - His inlaw says

    Yang Huiyan, the richest chinese woman, loses over $12.7billion fortune as Chinese real estate sector crashes

    Asia’s wealthiest woman has lost more than half her fortune after China’s real estate sector was rocked by a cash crunch.

    Yang Huiyan, 41, a majority shareholder and vice-chairwoman of Chinese property giant Country Garden, saw her net worth plunge by more than 52 per cent from $23.7billion to $11.3billion in the past year, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

    Yang’s fortune took another major hit on Wednesday, July 27, when Country Garden’s Hong Kong-listed shares fell 15 percent after the company announced it would sell new shares to raise capital.

    The property sector is estimated to account for 18 to 30 percent of the country’s GDP and is a key driver of growth in the world’s second-largest economy. 

    According to report, the crash started when Chinese authorities cracked down on excessive debt in the property sector in 2020, leaving major players such as Evergrande and Sunac struggling to make payments and forcing them to negotiate with creditors as they teetered on the edge of bankruptcy.

    Yang inherited shares of the billion-dollar company from her father Yang Guoqiang. He set up property development company Country Garden in Guangdong, south China, in 1992.

    Guoqiang grew it into one of the largest property development companies in China.

    He transferred his shares to her in 2005 and she became Asia’s richest woman two years later aged just 26 after the developer’s initial public offering in Hong Kong gifted her with around $16billion.

    By 2020 she was worth more than $20billion but she is barely holding onto her title of Asia’s richest woman after China’s property crash cut her wealth in two.

    Chemical fibres tycoon Fan Hongwei has become a close runner-up with a net worth of $11.2billion as of Thursday.

    “We’ve killed 30 terrorists behind attack on Presidential guard troops” – DHQ says

    The Defence Headquarters has said that troops have eliminated 30 of the terrorists that attacked troops of the 7 guards battalion in the Bwari area of the federal capital territory (FCT).

    Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko disclosed this at the Bi-Weekly news conference on military operations in Abuja on Thursday July 28. 

    Onyeuko said the operation was conducted by troops of 7 Guards Battalion and 167 Special Forces Battalion in conjunction with the air component of “Operation Whirl Punch” between Sunday and Tuesday.

    Troops successfully cleared Kawu and Ido villages, neutralising the terrorists and destroying their enclave and hideout.

    The ground troops also recovered six motorcycles, two AK47 rifles, and one fully loaded LMG magazine amongst others during mop-up.

    Onyeuko said; 

    “The hierarchy of the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies wishes to re-assured Nigerians of its commitment and pact with all Nigerians.

    “With the recent operations carried out from July 23, we wish to assure residents of FCT in particular that we are undaunted and unrelenting in our efforts to ensure the safety of lives and properties.

    “People should go about their normal business as their safety is guaranteed.

    “The support and cooperation of all Nigerians is hereby solicited as security is everybody’s business.

    “Citizens are encouraged to report unusual persons in your community to security agencies. If you see something, say something.’ 

    Apostle Johnson Suleiman reacts to claims that he had extramarital affairs with lots of Nollywood actresses (video)

    Edo-based Clergyman, Apostle Johnson Suleiman, has reacted to claims that he is diabolic and has had extramarital affairs with a number of actresses, both home and abroad.

    Reports were rife online this week with claims that the clergyman who was enmeshed in a sex-scandal involving a Canadian-based lady, Stephanie Otobo, a few years ago, is diabolic. A list of the actresses he has allegedly had an affair with was also passed around.

    Responding to the allegation, Suleiman who was preaching in a crusade, described the people peddling the rumor as ”Fools”.

    In his words

    ”I heard that they are dragging me on social media, that the man is diabolic. Diabolic kill you there! You want to drag me? We will drag ourselves. 

    With regards to the list of actresses he has allegedly had intimate relationships with, the clergyman said he cannot deny his ”children” and the people who have visited his church before

    ”The list nor long sef” he said 

    He said no one drags him because he would use the dragging to gain more popularity for himself.

    Watch a video of him speaking below…

    Goodnews: 4th person cured of HIV disease

    A man who has lived with HIV since the 1980s has become the fourth person to be cured of the disease as announced by AIDS researchers on Wednesday July 27.

    The 66-year-old man named the “City of Hope” patient after the Californian center where he was treated, was cured of HIV after receiving a stem cell transplant for leukaemia.

    He was declared in remission in the lead up to the International AIDS Conference, which begins in Montreal, Canada on Friday.

    While the transplant was planned to treat the now-66-year-old’s leukaemia, the doctors also sought a donor who was naturally resistant to the virus that causes AIDS, a mechanism that first worked to cure the “Berlin patient”, Timothy Ray Brown, in 2007.

    As well as being the oldest, the patient has also had HIV the longest, having been diagnosed in 1988 with what he described as a “death sentence” that killed many of his friends.

    He has been on antiretroviral therapy (ART) to control his condition for more than 30 years.

    Doctors who presented the data ahead of the International Aids Society’s (IAS) 2022 meeting said that the case opened up the potential for older patients with HIV and blood cancer to access the treatment, particularly as the donor was not a family member.

    Jana Dickter, an infectious disease specialist at the City of Hope, told AFP that because the latest patient was the oldest yet to achieve remission, his success could be promising for older HIV sufferers who also have cancer.

    Dickter is the lead author of research on the patient which was announced at a pre-conference in Montreal but has not been peer reviewed.

    “When I was diagnosed with HIV in 1988, like many others, I thought it was a death sentence,” said the patient, who does not want to be identified.

    “I never thought I would live to see the day that I no longer have HIV,” he said in a City of Hope statement. “I am beyond grateful.”

    Also announced at the AIDS conference was research about a 59-year-old Spanish woman with HIV who has maintained an undetectable viral load for 15 years despite stopping antiretroviral therapy.

    Sharon Lewin, president-elect of the International AIDS Society which convenes the conference, said that it was not quite the same as the City of Hope patient, because the virus remained at a very low level.

    She also pointed to a “truly exciting development” towards identifying HIV in an individual cell, which is “a bit like finding a needle in a haystack”.

    Manchester United confirm £55m signing of Lisandro Martinez from Ajax

    Manchester United have completed the £55million move of Lisandro Martinez from Ajax.

    The Argentine international officially completed his move to Old Trafford on Wednesday, signing a five-year contract and reuniting with former Ajax manager Erik Ten Hag.

    Speaking after becoming United’s third signing of the summer, Martinez said: “It’s an honour to join this great football club. I’ve worked so hard to get to this moment and, now that I’m here, I’m going to push myself even further.

    “I’ve been lucky enough to be part of successful teams in my career and that’s what I want to continue at Manchester United. There will be a lot of work to get to that moment, but I firmly believe that, under this manager and coaches, and together with my new team-mates, we can do it.

    “I want to thank Ajax and their fans for all the support they gave me. I had an unbelievable time there but feel the moment is right to test myself in another environment. Now I am at the perfect club to do this.”

    Martinez made 120 appearances for Ajax after moving from Argentinian side Defensa y Justicia for £6.3m in 2019, and also played for Newell’s Old Boys. He has won seven caps for Argentina since making his senior debut in March 2019, and played once in the country’s successful Copa America campaign in 2021.

    Martinez played under Ten Hag at Ajax and won the Eredivisie title with the club in 2021 and 2022, as well as the Dutch Cup in 2021.

    Lisandro Martinez

    Over 18,000 cases of monkey pox recorded from 78 countries worldwide – WHO

    There have been more than 18,000 cases of monkeypox reported globally from 78 countries, with the majority in Europe, the World Health Organization has said.


    So far, 98% of cases outside the countries in Africa where the virus is endemic have been reported in men who have sex with men, the WHO said.


    The news from WHO comes after the UN health body declared the outbreak a global health emergency on Saturday.

    WHO Director-General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaking on Wednesday, July 27 urged the group of infected people to consider reducing the numbers of new sexual partners and swapping contact details with any new partners.

    “This is an outbreak that can be stopped… The best way to do that is to reduce the risk of exposure,” Tedros told a news conference from Geneva. “That means making safe choices for yourself and others.” read more


    Monkeypox is in the process of being renamed, to avoid the name being “weaponised” or used in a racist way, WHO emergencies director Mike Ryan said. 

    The WHO cautioned that it takes several weeks after getting the second dose of vaccine to be fully protected, so people should take other precautions until that point.


    Around 10% of patients have been hospitalized in the current outbreak and five have died, all of them in Africa, the WHO said.


    The disease generally causes mild to moderate symptoms, including fever, fatigue and painful skin lesions that resolve within a few weeks.


    Tedros said there were about 16 million doses of approved vaccine available, but only in bulk, so it would take several months to get them into vials.

    “No candidate violated law on multiple forms” – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that no candidate violated the provisions of Section 115 of the Electoral Act 2022 relating to the nomination of candidates.

    INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye who admitted that the commission is not vested with the power of arrest and investigation of criminal matters.

    Reacting to a report which claimed that President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State; Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and some others who obtained multiple forms ought to have been arrested as defined in Section 152 of the Electoral Act, Okoye said those who obtained and signed multiple forms were aspirants, and not candidates as defined by Section 152 of the Electoral Act.

    He told Punch;

    “Before someone will come within the compass and contemplation of the law as a candidate, the political party must conduct valid primaries and the sponsoring party must upload the list or information relating to the candidates they intend to sponsor to the commission’s candidates nomination portal and this is in compliance with Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

    “Thereafter, the personal particulars of the candidates will be displayed in the constituencies where they intend to contest the election and this is for claims and objections.

    “After this process, the candidates will now fill nomination forms (Forms EC13A, EC13B, EC13C, EC13D and EC13 E) in compliance with Section 30(1) of the Electoral Act. Section 30(1) of the Act provides that a candidate for an election shall be nominated in writing by such number of persons whose names appear on the register of voters in the constituency as the commission may prescribe.

    “This is the process covered by Section 115(d) of the Electoral Act. The last day for the submission of nomination forms for presidential candidates and National Assembly candidates is August 8, 2022 while that of governorship and state assembly candidates is August 18, 2022.

    “During the conduct of party primaries, the persons you referred to are aspirants as defined by Section 152 of the Electoral Act. The forms they filled as aspirants are the forms of their political parties and not that of the commission. The list submitted by the political parties under Section 29(1) of the Act is the list of candidates the party proposes to sponsor. The only documents signed by the candidates are the affidavit deposed by them. That is not the nomination form as contemplated by Section 115(d) of the Act.”

    Section 115(1) (d) of the Act provides that any person who signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment.

    Section 152 of the Act defines a candidate to mean a person who has secured the nomination of a political party to contest an election for any elective office.

    Conor McGregor and Floyd MayWeather getting set for a rematch worth £130M

    Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor are reportedly close to agreeing a deal to stage a sensational rematch.

    This is coming nearly five years since Mayweather defeated the UFC superstar in a boxing clash by securing a tenth round TKO victory in Las Vegas back in August 2017.

    The Sun has now reported that Mayweather is willing to once again put his unbeaten record on the line in a money-spinning match against McGregor.

    Mayweather has not fought professionally in the ring since his victory over the Irishman.

    It’s said the two parties are close to cutting a deal after Mayweather offered McGregor $157.9million (£130m) for a rematch.

    McGregor is only willing to fight Mayweather if the American’s 50-0 undefeated record is on the line.

    The fight would be at 155lbs, meaning McGregor would have to cut some weight after he has reportedly tipped the scales at over 190lbs since breaking his leg.

    It’s said that the Mayweather would see the rematch with McGregor as the ‘end of the Mayweather era’ and ‘start of the Gervonta Davis era’.

    Mayweather is looking at the bout to take place next March in the Middle East, with a potential fight between Davis and Ryan Garcia as an undercard fight.

    McGregor hinted at a potential rematch with Mayweather in a now deleted post he made on his Instagram account last month.

    Alongside a picture of their first fight, he hinted at the pair facing off one more time as he wrote: ‘I accept.’

    #Naira further crashes in value, now 710 to USD !

    The naira has crashed further in the parallel market, trading for N700 against the U.S. dollar.  The national currency which traded for N670 against the dollar on Monday, July 25, crashed even further by 6.7 percent today July 27.

    See a list showing the exchange rate of the Naira to other foreign currencies below

    #Naira further crashes in value, now 710 to USD !

    Chris Rock recieves a GOAT called ‘Will Smith’ live on stage 4 months after Oscars slap saga (video)

    Dave Chappelle Joins Chris Rock and Kevin Hart on Stage in New York City. https://www.instagram.com/p/CgZmqdpLF4e/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y%3D. Kevin Hart/Instagram Credit: Kevin Hart/Instagram Will Smith is seen backstage during the 2022 15th Annual ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards Luncheon at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on March 24, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

    Kevin Hart presented Chris Rock with a goat  called “Will Smith” onstage at the end of their  their recent comedy show.

    The actor, 43, presented the goat to the comedian, 57, during their Rock Hart: Only Headliners Allowed show at New York’s Madison Square Garden, with the goat’s name making reference to Chris’ Oscars altercation with the King Richard star.

    Recall, Will, 53, famously stormed on stage during March’s Oscars ceremony and slapped Chris across the face after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaven head,not knowning that she suffers from a medical condition namely alopecia.

    In a clip shared to TikTok, Kevin is seen holding the goat by a lead as he remarked: ‘What the f**k did you just say?’

    Dave Chappelle, 48, who joined the guys during the show, then said: ‘Don’t act like I’m crazy, you brought the goat here. This n***** [the goat] is confused with the f**k is happening. What you gonna name this goat Chris?’

    With Kevin then quickly jumping in to declare: ‘The name is Will Smith.’ 

    However, speaking on Monday’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Kevin explained the reason for gifting his pal the unusual present.

    He explained to Jimmy, 47: ‘Chris is a mentor, friend, inspiration. He’s a large part of the reason that I am where I am today in my career.

    ‘Just from his advice, his insight, etc. He’s my G.O.A.T [greatest of all time], he’s my guy. And I wanted him to feel that.’

    Neymar to face trial over transfer irregularities

    Neymar in tears after losing UEFA champions league final (Photos)

    Neymar da Silva Santos Junior, known as Neymar, is due to face trial in October over alleged irregularities in his transfer to Barcelona, judicial sources said on Wednesday.

    The Brazilian international, his parents, and former Barcelona presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu will be tried for alleged corruption related to the forward’s move from Santos to Barcelona in 2013.

    Rosell and Bartomeu will also face fraud charges in the trial which is scheduled to take place from October 17 to 31.

    Neymar left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 for a world-record 222 million euros, but it is his move from boyhood club Santos to Barca which has caused controversy.

    The case stems from a complaint by Brazilian group DIS, the former owner of a percentage of the player’s rights.

    Barcelona officially said the transfer cost 57.1 million euros ($63.6 million), with 40 million euros going to Neymar’s family and 17.1 million to Santos, but Spanish prosecutors later said it actually cost at least 83.3 million euros.

    The DIS, which received 6.8 million of the 17.1 million euros paid to Santos, have alleged that Barca and Neymar joined forces to hide the real amount of the transfer.

    The prosecution has requested a two-year prison sentence for Neymar, but he has insisted he was only focused on football and that he blindly trusted his father, who is also his agent.

    Bartomeu took over the Barcelona presidency from his good friend Rosell, after the latter resigned in January 2014 as he faced charges of corruption over the transfer.

    In 2020, Barcelona said they had been cleared by the Court of Arbitration for Sport over claims of fraud.

    A document in 2020 showed Neymar owed more unpaid tax than any other individual on a Spanish authorities’ blacklist.

    The tax office refused to say whether Neymar’s presence on that list was linked to his transfer from Santos to Barcelona.

    Neymar has also been in trouble with Brazilian tax authorities, being fined for tax evasion in Brazil.

    The 30-year-old has recently been playing on PSG’s pre-season tour of Japan as they build up for the season-opening French Champions’ Trophy against Nantes on Sunday in Tel-Aviv.