Tinubu, Chinese President to meet in Beijing (Vanguard)
President Bola Tinubu is expected to meet with the President of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing by the first week of September, the presidential spokesman, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, has said.
Although there was no specific date for the President’s departure to Beijing, Chief Ngelale said that the Nigerian leader will engage in a series of meetings with his Chinese counterpart and 10 Chief Executive Officers, CEOs of different major corporations for the economic benefit of the country.
He said that President Tinubu would also engage in bilateral agreements and sign Memorandum of Understandings, MoUs as well as agreements to deepen corporations in various sectors, including the green economy, blue economic development, and national planning cooperation among others. Read more
Celebration turns bloody as lawyer allegedly kills man in Ebonyi (Tribune)
An orphan, Nnamdi Nwite Ugo, has reportedly been shot to death by Abakaliki legal practitioner, Sunday Ununu.
According to sources who confided in Tribune Online, the tragedy occurred during the celebration of the Izzi Unuphu Power of Attorney Community election in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
It was learned that a loyalist of Ununu won a key position in the election, leading to jubilation organized by the group. During the celebration, Ununu reportedly fired his gun in celebration. Read more
Lagos probes sale of dead chickens after PUNCH report (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has launched an investigation into traders in the state repackaging and selling chickens killed by rodents.
The investigation followed a report by PUNCH Healthwise that spotlighted the deadly practice.
A Deputy Director in the state’s Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Mary Ogunleye, disclosed this when she contacted PUNCH Healthwise for more information about the report. Read more
NIMC, Galaxy Backbone to lead discussions at eGovt Summit 2024 (Sun)
The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and the Galaxy Backbone are set to lead discussions on eGovernance at the Nigeria eGovernment Summit, scheduled to hold September 20, 2024, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Lagos.
Themed ‘Transforming Governance with Technology for Improved Economy,” and organised by DigiServe Network Services Limited, the summit aims to promote eGovernment and share strategies for its effective deployment. Read more
ASUU restates sanctions on LASU over dismissed dons (Nation)
Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Universities (ASUU) has reaffirmed its sanction on academic collaborations at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, over dismissal of some lecturers.
It was after the ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at University of Ibadan on August 17 and 18.
The dismissed officials are Isaac Akinloye Oyewumi (chairperson), Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu (vice chair), Anthony Dansu (secretary), Adeolu Oyekan (assistant secretary), and Oluwakemi Aboderin-Shonibare (treasurer). Read more
EFCC asks NASS to enact whistle-blowing law (Channels)
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has asked the National Assembly (NASS) to enact a law which supports the whistle-blower policy of the government.
Olukoyede made this call on Tuesday at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Lagos which had the theme, ‘Lawyers in the spotlight: Essential anti-money laundering considerations for the legal profession’.
He noted that once the law is enacted, it will make it mandatory for law enforcement agencies to protect the whistle-blowers. Read more
Anambra shuts school over bullying (Vanguard)
The Anambra Government on Tuesday announced the immediate closure of Upcoming Star International School, at Ifite Road, Awka, over the alleged bullying of a seven-year-old pupil.
The state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, announced in Awka that the government responded to a report that the pupil’s classmate allegedly broke her leg.
Chuma-Udeh said when the school’s proprietor was invited for questioning, it was discovered the school was not approved to operate. Read more
US donates 10,000 mpox vaccine doses to Nigeria (Tribune)
The United States government donated 10,000 doses of the Jynneos vaccine to Nigeria to aid in the fight against mpox on Tuesday.
The Jynneos vaccine, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is designed to prevent smallpox and monkeypox in adults aged 18 and older who are at risk of infection.
During the official handover ceremony in Abuja, Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, expressed gratitude to the U.S. government for the generous donation. Read more
College student attempts to find information about his sperm donor. He discovers he has 40 siblings (People)
Ben Sanderson always knew he was conceived using a sperm donor. Growing up, his mom told him that when he turned 18, he could start searching for his biological father and potential siblings if he wished.
So, one Sunday last May, feeling both bored and curious, Sanderson, a theater student at Indiana University, decided it was the perfect time to explore his paternal family history.
Despite being across the country from his home in Los Angeles for a theater role in Indiana, he called his mom, who eagerly joined him in the search. Together, they logged into the sperm bank’s website, which featured a sibling registry and chat room where siblings of the same donor could leave messages to potentially connect with one another. Read more
Liam, Noel Gallagher reuniting for Oasis concert tour in 2025 (UPI)
Brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher, who have famously feuded for more than a decade, are getting their band Oasis back together for a 2025 concert tour.
“Oasis today end years of feverish speculation with the confirmation of a long awaited run of UK and Ireland shows forming the domestic leg of their OASIS LIVE ’25 world tour,” the group’s website said.
“Oasis will hit Cardiff, Manchester, London, Edinburgh and Dublin in the summer of 2025. Their only shows in Europe next year, this will be one of the biggest live moments and hottest tickets of the decade.” Read more
American Idol alum halts concert after seeing man allegedly assault woman in crowd (EW)
Country music star and American Idol season 10 winner Scotty McCreery abruptly stopped his concert at the Colorado State Fair over the weekend after he saw a man in the crowd allegedly assault a woman.
Videos shared by attendees at the event on social media show the “It Matters to Her” singer stop his performance of the song — which he told the crowd is his wife’s favorite — for over two minutes while he called the man out and waited for authorities to help.
“Right here, that’s a lady you just hit, sir,” McCreery, 30, can be heard saying in the video. “Absolutely not, who just hit the lady? Police? Security? Is she okay? Get the heck out of here.” Read more
Namibia to cull over 700 wild animals, including 83 elephants (AfricaNews)
Drought-stricken Namibia plans to cull over 700 wild animals, including 83 elephants, and distribute the meat to people struggling to feed themselves.
The environment ministry says the cull will take place in parks and communal areas where officials believe animal numbers exceed available grazing land and water supplies.
In addition to elephants, animals to be killed include hippos, buffalo, impalas, blue wildebeest, zebras, and eland. Read more
NI nightclub celebrates 10 years in business after ‘‘putting town on music map” (BelfastTelegraph)
One of Northern Ireland’s most well-known music venues is set to mark an anniversary this weekend – with Secrets Nightclub in Magherafelt now open ten years.
The nightclub will mark the occasion with celebrations this coming weekend, August 31 and September 1.
Over the years Secrets has built its name by welcoming big names in the dance music industry, including Jack Jones and Don Diablo. Read more
Sullivan’s China visit expected to set stage for Biden-Xi final meeting (VOA)
US national security adviser Jake Sullivan met Tuesday in Beijing with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in an attempt to manage tensions between Washington and Beijing ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November.
Sullivan’s visit, which ends on Thursday, also aims to set the stage for President Joe Biden to hold his final summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping before Biden leaves office in January, analysts say.
Before holding the closed-door talks, Wang told reporters that China-U.S. relations were “critical,” of great importance to the world, but have taken “twists and turns.” He said he hoped the relationship between the two countries would become healthy and stable. Read more
Israeli military says captive rescued from Gaza tunnel (AlJazeera)
Israel says its special forces have recovered an Israeli captive from a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip in “a complex rescue operation”, as the war, now in its 11th month, shows no signs of abating.
Kaid Farhan al-Kadi, a 52-year-old Bedouin, was abducted by the Palestinian group Hamas during its October 7 attack on Israel, the military said in a statement on Tuesday.
The military said al-Kadi is in “a stable medical condition” and has been transferred to a hospital for medical checks. Read more
Nwagua dumps Rivers United for Saudi club (Punch)
Rivers United forward Nyima Nwagua is already in Saudi Arabia to finalise his move to Saudi Arabia’s second-division side, Al Sadd FC, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Nwagua last played for the 2022 Nigeria Premier Football League champions, and he was appointed captain of the team ahead of last season.
He joins Al Sadd as a free agent following the expiration of his contract with the Pride of Rivers, being among the 13 players whose contracts with the Port Harcourt side expired at the end of last season. Read more
AFCON 2025Q: Osimhen, Lookman, Troost-Ekong 20 others to face Benin, Rwanda (CompleteSports)
Captain William Ekong, wing-back Olaoluwa Aina and forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi are back in the Super Eagles’ nest, for next month’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda.
This year’s AFCON’s Man-of-the-Competition, Ekong, was discountenanced for the Matchdays 3 and 4 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying race in June as he was recovering from injury, while Aina, Awoniyi and reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen were out injured altogether.
There are three goalkeepers, including AFCON 2023 star, Stanley Nwabali, seven defenders, six midfielders and seven forwards. Read more
Dani Olmo seals Barcelona win with goal in “dream” debut (ESPN)
Dani Olmo celebrated a “dream debut” on his return to Barcelona as he scored the winning goal in Tuesday’s 2-1 comeback win against Rayo Vallecano in LaLiga.
Olmo, 26, missed Barça’s first two games of the season as the Catalan side were unable to register him because they remained in excess of their league-imposed spending limit, but his signing was finally processed this week and he made an instant impact in Vallecas.
The Spain international came off the bench at half-time and struck the decisive goal in the 82nd minute as Barça made it three wins from three to start of the season after Pedri had earlier cancelled out Unai López’s ninth minute opener. Read more
Liverpool moving for Federico Chiesa after Giorgi Mamardashvili becomes first Arne Slot signing (Standard)
Liverpool have clinched the signing of Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia, while reports claim they are also working to complete a deal for Juventus forward Federico Chiesa.
It has been a notably slow first transfer window in charge for new Reds boss Arne Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes, who have yet to welcome any new arrivals to Anfield with just three days remaining until the summer market closes for business.
Liverpool have now made highly-rated Georgian goalkeeper Mamardashvili their first signing of the post-Jurgen Klopp era, but the 23-year-old is set to remain in LaLiga with Valencia until the end of the current season before arriving on Merseyside in time for the 2025/26 campaign. Read more
Tennis: Former British No.1 wins out in longest-ever US Open match (RNZ)
Britain’s Dan Evans beat Russian Karen Khachanov 6-7(6) 7-6(2) 7-6(4) 4-6 6-4 in the longest ever US Open match of the professional era on Tuesday, moving to the second round after an extraordinary fight back from four games down in the final set.
Evans won the match in five hours and 35 minutes, exceeding the previous record of 5 hours 26 minutes when Sweden’s Stefan Edberg beat American Michael Chang in the 1992 semi-final.
Evans put up 14 aces across the gruelling affair that dragged on so long the Briton said he had to look at the monitor at one point to remember what set he was in. Read more
Keegan Bradley opens door to Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka ahead of Ryder Cup (Mirror)
Team USA captain Keegan Bradley has expressed his willingness to include players from LIV Golf in his team. The event is set to take place next year at Bethpage Black in New York next year.
Bradley’s aim is to reclaim the title that Zach Johnson and his team lost to their European counterparts in Italy last autumn. The selection process for the 2023 team has been one of the most eagerly awaited in the history of Team USA, especially given the division between the PGA Tour and LIV.
Several key players who contributed to the U.S. victory at Whistling Straits in 2021 have chosen to switch to the Saudi league. That includes Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau, all of whom have left the PGA Tour. Read more