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Russian cyclist Vlasov turns down Olympics spot

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Russian cyclist Vlasov turns down Olympics spot

Russian cyclist Alexander Vlasov has declined to take part in the Olympic Games in Paris due to his “very busy calendar”, a top Russian sporting official said Thursday.

Vlasov, 28, was one of 14 Russian athletes approved to compete in the Games under a neutral flag by the International Olympic Committee on Saturday.

The IOC suspended Russia from the 2024 Games last year but gave the green light for its athletes to compete as neutrals as long as they did not actively support the Kremlin’s offensive in Ukraine.

“The profile of the Paris track doesn’t suit him,” the head of the Russian Cycling Federation, Vyacheslav Ekimov, told the state TASS news agency.

“And the athlete has a very busy calendar,” he added.

Vlasov won the 2022 Tour of Romandie and came fourth in the 2021 Giro d’Italia.

Fourteen Russians were included on the IOC’s initial list of “Individual Neutral Athletes” (AINs) eligible to compete in the Paris Games. More than half were wrestlers and the others were from trampoline gymnastics and road cycling.

The athletes had to qualify for the Games and pass two checks, first by their international sports federations and then by the IOC, to prove they did not actively support the conflict in Ukraine or have any links with the army.

The IOC will update its list as other sports complete their qualifying competitions.

The 2024 Olympics, scheduled to take place in Paris from July 26th to August 11th, promises to be a celebration of athletic prowess and global unity.

AFP

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I could start a church if I wanted

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I could start a church if I wanted

Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun, better known by his stage name Wizkid, on Thursday, made a series of thought-provoking statements on social media platform X.com

The Grammy-award-winning Nigerian singer, widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential artists in Africa, took to X on Thursday to share his views on religion and spirituality.

Wizkid, who has achieved global recognition with hit songs like “Essence,” “Come Closer,” and “Ojuelegba,” among others, wrote, “I could start a church if I wanted.”

This statement has since caught the attention of his massive fanbase, sparking speculation and discussions. However, it is unclear what his genuine intentions were when he posted those.

The 33-year-old Afrobeats, R&B, and pop music artist, further in a series of posts added, “Jesus is King,” and “After God na God. No go whine.”

Wizkid, who hails from Lagos, Nigeria, has achieved numerous accolades throughout his career, including a Grammy Award for his contribution to the album “Brown Skin Girl” by Beyoncé. He has also won several other prestigious awards, such as BET Awards, Billboard Music Awards, and MOBO Awards, among others.

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Euro 2024: My role means nothing when Croatia wins

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Euro 2024: My role means nothing when Croatia wins

Under-fire Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic hit out at his critics on Thursday after their Euro 2024 draw with Albania, saying that when his team are successful he “means nothing”.

Croatia are in danger of a surprise group-stage exit from the tournament after losing 3-0 to Spain and then conceding a 95th-minute equaliser to be held 2-2 by Albania on Wednesday.

They will likely need to beat Italy in their final Group B match on Monday to reach the last 16 for a fifth straight major final.

Dalic has come in for criticism back home, despite having led the team to the 2018 World Cup final, 2022 World Cup semi-finals and last year’s Nations League final in an unprecedented spell of success.

“We will do everything to prepare for Italy. I have learned some things in these seven years where there have been far more successes than failures,” he told reporters.

“I’m also used to criticism. I always say it’s my responsibility. I am aware that when medals are won, my role ‘means nothing’ and that I am there by accident, but that’s how it is in Croatia.”

Croatian media have questioned Dalic’s faith in his more experienced players.

He stuck with his midfield trio of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic against Albania, but replaced Brozovic at half-time with 21-year-old Luka Sucic who impressed in the second period.

“Those who deserve to play, play,” Dalic insisted. “I choose with the staff what I think is best.

“Of course, some others have merit, but those who I think are the best play. Here are those who deserve to be here.

“This probably applies to the older players and I will be with them as long as I live, but those who deserve to play, play.”

Croatia’s fate is still in their own hands as they prepare to face holders Italy.

They came through similar situations in the last two major tournaments.

Dalic’s men beat Scotland in a must-win final group match at Euro 2020, before clinching a tense goalless draw with Belgium in their last group game at the Qatar World Cup to also progress.

“We were on the verge of elimination both in Qatar and at the last Euros.

“Victory means we’re through, defeat puts us out. We must accept responsibility and correct our mistakes. In Russia (2018), we conceded only one goal in the group and five this time…

“We have to change that and we are aware of it. For us, this is the knockout stage.”

AFP

Two jailed for child theft, illegal adoption in Anambra

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Two jailed for child theft, illegal adoption in Anambra

The Children, Sexual and Gender-based Violence Court of Anambra State, sitting in Awka, the state capital, has convicted two suspects, identified as Kingsley Okeke, aged, 22 years and Chukwuemeka Nweke, aged, 27 years, for child theft and illegal dealing in children.

The suspects were arraigned before the court, sometime in 2023, on a four-count charge to wit: child stealing; illegal dealing in children; fraudulently enticing away and harbouring a one-year-and-two-month-old baby boy; forcefully isolating the child from the lawful possession of his parents; and infliction of physical injuries, punishable under the Criminal Code, Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991, the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition and Protection) Laws of Anambra State, 2017 respectively.

Delivering judgment on the case, the presiding Chief Magistrate, Genevieve Osakwe, stated that the defendants were found guilty of all the four-count charges brought against them and chided the defendants for wasting the time of the Court, by blatantly telling lies on oath, throughout the course of the case.

Specifically, the Court noted, “Based on the oral testimonies of the defendants, their written depositions, made at the earliest opportunity, the submissions of the plaintiff’s witnesses, as well as, other materials placed before the Court, in respect of the case; there were overwhelming pieces of evidence against the defendants, and the prosecutor had proved his case beyond reasonable doubts.”

During sentencing proceedings, the defence counsel briefly addressed the Court on the good characters of the defendants, each, and passionately prayed the Court to tamper justice with mercy, on the grounds that both defendants were first-offenders, and had sincerely expressed regrets for their wrongdoings.

However, the Chief Magistrate, Osakwe, acknowledged that in Law, justice is not one-way traffic, and stated that in passing sentences on the defendants, the Court would not be unmindful of the existing practice directions, prescribed in the Sentencing Guidelines of Anambra State of Nigeria.

Accordingly, the two defendants, Okeke and Nweke, were both slammed with prison terms as follows: one-year imprisonment in count one; six years imprisonment in count two; six years imprisonment in count three; and a term of two years imprisonment in court four.

“All the sentences would run concurrently, without any option of fine,” the court declared.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the Court’s judgment and warned intending offenders to leave the state, as the present administration would not hesitate to put them where they belong.

Obinabo also appreciated the efforts of the Court in seeing that children are protected in the state, and promised to do everything within her powers to bring the third suspect, now at large, to book.

RipplesMetrics: Comparing Nigeria’s inflation rate after one year of successive administrations

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RipplesMetrics: Comparing Nigeria’s inflation rate after one year of successive administrations

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate as of May 2024 rose to 33.95 per cent, according to the latest data released by the National Bureau of Statistics. The bureau said that food & non-alcoholic beverages and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels mainly drove the inflation rate.
In the same month under review, the food inflation rate was 40.66 per cent which is 15.84 per cent higher than the rate recorded in May 2023 (24.82 per cent).
These figures reflect how high the prices of goods have been in the local market, and the consistent increase, on a monthly analysis, translates to mean that prices of food increase by the day.
RipplesMetrics understands that the increasing figures may be connected to policies enacted within the last year under the current administration of Bola Tinubu as president of Nigeria. However, to mirror the realities of the figure, this organisation compared the growth rate across other past presidents’ first year in office.
Tinubu’s first year in office
When the president assumed office in May 2023, the inflation rate stood at 22.41 per cent but in one year, under the president’s administration, the inflation rate increased by 11.54 per cent to 33.95 per cent in May 2024.
READ ALSO:RipplesMetrics: Assessing Nigeria’s economy, one year after Tinubu’s assumption
Here are some of Ripples Metrics key findings:

This is the first time the inflation rate would consistently increase through the month during the first year of a newly elected president
The inflation rate is gradually surpassing precious rate figures to become the highest inflation rate Nigeria ever recorded. For instance, this inflation rate has surpassed the highest record, since Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999 and the rate obtained in 1996.
In the 2024 budget, Tinubu said the budget was targeted at reducing inflation by 21.4 per cent. To achieve this, it means beginning in June 2024, the inflation rate must gradually fall by an average of 2 per cent monthly.

Ripples Metric had reported the assessment of the economy under Tinubu’s administration in one year.
Other presidents’ first year in office
Tinubu’s predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari’s first year in office in May 2015, the inflation rate was 9 per cent, but increased to 15.58 per cent in one year. The rate rose by 6.58 per cent. Although, unlike Tinubu, during Buhari’s first year, the inflation rate dropped twice before consistently increasing from November 2015 to May 2016.
When Goodluck Jonathan was elected into office as president in May 2011, the inflation rate was 12.4 per cent and by May 2012 the rate was 12.7 per cent.
Nigeria’s minimum wage in question
Recently, there have been developing conversations around the increase of Nigeria’s N30,000 minimum wage. Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) embarked on a nationwide strike to protest the increment proposing over a 1000 per cent increase because of the reality of the economy.
With the recent inflation increase, it has become unaffordable for a Nigerian who earns N30,000 as minimum wage to survive. To put this into better perspective, as of April 2024, the cost of eating a healthy diet was pegged at N1,035. This means that anyone living in Nigeria would need N64,170 to eat at least two healthy diets daily for a month – 31 days.
By: James Odunayo
The post RipplesMetrics: Comparing Nigeria’s inflation rate after one year of successive administrations appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from TVN.

Police reiterate ban on protests as court rules today

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Police reiterate ban on protests as court rules today

The Kano State Police Command has reminded residents that the ban on public protests, processions and unlawful gatherings is still in force.

This is contained in a statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, a copy of which was made available to According Online Thursday.

According to Haruna, the reminder was necessary as the Federal High Court sitting in Kano will today (Thursday) be presiding over sensitive matters on the emirship tussle.

“Members of the general public are called upon to remain patriotic and to shun any attempt by enemies of the peace from using them to cause violence as the lives of everyone are sacred and the priority of the Police to protect them including their property.

While the Police remain committed to the prevention and detection of all forms of crime, miscreants and the general public are hereby warned to note the following.

“Police alongside all law enforcement agencies in the state are strictly enforcing the total ban placed by Kano State Government on public protests, processions, and related unlawful gatherings and further committed to the preservation of law and orders.

“Accordingly, violators, including their sponsors, will be promptly identified and sanctioned according to the law of the land.

The police spokesperson further said, “There shall be adequate security deployments of security personnel embarking on the enforcement duties and to ensure no breakdown of law and order.

“Patriotic residents are called upon to note and cooperate with the large number of security personnel they will be coming across. They are expected to provide them with actionable information and intelligence to preserve the peace and detect, arrest, investigate and prosecute the deviants.

He said, “For the avoidance of doubt, all non-state actors, including vigilantes, hunters, and alike, are to clear from participating under the guise of providing security to any section of the community.

Ogun monarch, Towulade of Akinale is dead

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Ogun monarch, Towulade of Akinale is dead

The Towulade of Akinale in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, is dead.

Dr Kunle Adesina, on behalf of the family, in a statement issued on Thursday, confirmed the passage of the royal father, who died at 79.

The statement read, “With gratitude to God, the entire Ogunleye Family of Akinale and Delesolu Compound, Ago-Owu, Owu Kingdom Abeokuta, hereby announce the passing unto glory of our illustrious son, father and grandfather, His Royal Highness Oba (Dr.) Olufemi Okesooto lyanda Adewunmi Ogunleye, Towulade 1 of Akinale, Owu Kingdom Abeokuta.

“This solemn announcement marks the beginning of the celebration of a life well spent in selfless service to humanity in several sectors.

“It also kick-starts a list of activities to highlight the remarkable milestones in his life itinerary, starting from the lowly surroundings of Delesolu, Awaye and Oloosii compounds in Owu Abeokuta to the very heights. Of local and international journalism, public relations practice, as well as an impactful approach to royalty and law scholarship,

“With a deep sense of joy plus pride in the realisation of what Oba Ogunleye meant or represented to many people and organisations across the world, we promise to consult widely with all concerned, both high and low, in lining up a programme of events to mark and celebrate stages and stations in the life of this dignifyingly delightful Owu personage.

“A programme of events in this direction will be released as soon as possible.

“He is survived by his wife, Olori Olanike Ogunleye, children and grandchildren, among whom is Mr Bamidele Ogunleye of the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC), Abeokuta”.

The Bobajiroro of Akinale, Chief Ganiyu Lasisi, said that the passage of the royal father has thrown all the residents of the town into great mourning.

Lasisi said, “His passage is unexpected, it is a great loss that has thrown all of us into sorrow because he was indeed a very loving father, a leader who wanted the best for his people. We have really suffered a devastating loss in Akinale and we pray that God will grant all of us the fortitude to bear the loss”.

Oba Ogunleye, a seasoned journalist retired as the General Manager, Public Relations of the defunct Nigeria Airways.

N4bn school feeding program benefits 25,000 pupils in Kaduna

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N4bn school feeding program benefits 25,000 pupils in Kaduna

The Kaduna State government, on Thursday, gave the assurance that “almajiri children in the state would be given qualitative educational opportunities.”

Also, the government said about 25,000 school pupils spread across the 23 local councils of the state have already benefited from the school feeding programme, which cost the government N4 billion.

The assurance came from the Special Assistant to Governor Uba Sani on the school feeding programme, Dr. Fauziya Buhari-Ado, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja.

According to the statement, Buhari-Ado spoke while hosting some Islamic and underprivileged school pupils as part of the Eid el-Kabir Sallah celebration held at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua bilingual primary school situated in Maraban Gonda, Sabongari local council of Kaduna state.

She stated that the “government decided to fete the pupils who combine both Western and Islamic education as part of an ongoing effort to ensure that children of the less privileged have access to quality education in the state.”

Fauziya further stated that the school feeding programme, which so far cost the state government over N4 billion has boosted school enrolment and retention as well as stimulated the local economy in the state.

She said already,” No fewer than 25,000 school pupils spread across the 23 local councils of the state are already benefiting from the school feeding programme.”

Fauziya also revealed that the event, which witnessed the slaughtering of the sacrificial ram, special Eid lunch, cutting of cake and distribution of free gifts, provided her the opportunity to interact with the pupils who were initially out-of-school children in the state.

An official of one of the Islamic schools, AbdulHamid Ahmed described the school feeding initiative as, “a welcome development since it has created the enabling environment for vulnerable children to have equal opportunities to acquire education in the state.

He acknowledged that the school feeding programme has impacted positively in a tremendous way by increasing school enrolment in his school.

The village head of Filin Malawa, Magaji Datiya, however, thanked Governor Sani’s led administration for the kind gesture.

Obi condemns rape, murder of 22-year-old UNIBEN graduate

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Obi condemns rape, murder of 22-year-old UNIBEN graduate

A former Anambra State Governor and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has condemned the recent rape and murder of 22-year-old Adekolure Glory in Benin, Edo State.

“I was horrified by the dastardly act against a 22-year-old Nigerian lady named Adekolure Idowu Glory, who was beaten, raped and killed by yet-to-be identified criminals, who eventually left her corpse close to her family’s home in the Iyowa community, Benin, Edo State,” Obi said.

According Online reported on Tuesday that Glory, a recent graduate from the University of Benin, had returned to her school for final clearance when she met her untimely end. She was said to have left home for the institution for her clearance on June 13, 2024, but returned lifeless.

A social media user, who tweets from @softbaba24, claimed the deceased, who was his younger sister, was returning home from school when the incident happened. He claimed she was beaten, raped, and killed in the Iyowa community area of Benin and her remains were dropped close to their house.

In a series of posts on X.com on Monday, the user sought help from Nigerians, particularly the police to unravel the mystery surrounding her death.

Reacting on Thursday via X, Obi lamented the rising tide of violence and sexual assault in the country, stating, “It is very painful that crimes and violence have not only continued to multiply in our society, but have taken a new dimension of fatal sexual assault on our women.”

The former governor called on all Nigerians to raise their voices against this “ugly development” and insisted that the perpetrators must face justice. “We must all raise our voices in condemning this ugly development in our society. Insecurity, crime and violence, in any form, must not be allowed to be fostered,” he said.

Obi added that his call is in alignment with the International Day Against Sexual Violence in Conflict, a day dedicated to standing against all forms of sexual assault.

“It is a day to stand against all forms of sexual assault in our society and insist that such offenders are brought to face the law,” he added.

The 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate urged security agencies to investigate Glory’s killing and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

“I urge the security agencies to investigate the killing of this young lady and ensure that those behind the dastardly act face the law. We must continue to work towards building a safe and secure society for all,” he said.

Obi further expressed condolences to Glory’s family and prayed for the repose of her soul.

“May God grant eternal rest to Adekolure Idowu Glory, and grant her family the fortitude to bear this sad loss,” he added.

Leicester city appoint former Nottingham Forest coach, Steve Cooper 

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Leicester city appoint former Nottingham Forest coach, Steve Cooper 

A former Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper has been appointed by Leicester City as it new manager on a three-year contract.

According to a statement from Sky sports’ website today, Cooper replaces Enzo Maresca, who left to join Chelsea earlier this summer, at the King Power Stadium after the club carried out a thorough due diligence and spoke to several candidates including Graham Potter.

The statement added, “Cooper had been out of work since being sacked by Nottingham Forest – Leicester’s East Midlands rivals – last December, as the club languished in 17th place in the Premier League after a run of just one win in 13 games.

“Before that, the 44-year-old guided Forest back into the top flight for the first time in 23 years and then kept them there.”

Speaking to Leicester’s official website, Cooper said, “I am really excited and proud to be appointed Leicester City’s first-team manager.

“This is a fantastic club with a rich history and passionate supporters. I am excited to work with such a talented squad and I’m looking forward to the challenge of achieving our shared ambitions in the Premier League.”

“The Leicester job will not be without its challenges for Cooper, with the Foxes facing a possible points deduction and potentially needing to sell players to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules,” the statement added.

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