The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 48 confirmed Mpox cases from 868 suspected cases across 35 local government areas in 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The latest Mpox situation report, covering week 34 (August 25), indicates no deaths from the disease this year. The report shows an increase in new suspected cases, with 57 reported in week 34 compared to 25 in the previous week. Confirmed cases also rose, with eight reported in week 34, up from one in week 33. Confirmed cases have been recorded in Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Abia, Delta, Imo, Edo, FCT, Anambra, Cross River, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Oyo, Kaduna, Ebonyi, Benue, Enugu, Osun, Kebbi, and Zamfara. Mpox is a rare viral zoonotic disease caused by the Mpox virus, related to the Orthopoxvirus genus. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention declared Mpox a public health emergency on August 13, 2024. The NCDC continues to coordinate the national response through its Emergenc...

Polytechnic graduates with Higher National Diploma (HND) without Industrial Training (IT) certification were sent back home from NYSC orientation camps. The move is part of the NYSC’s stringent enforcement of its entry requirements, emphasizing the importance of completing the mandatory IT program before participation in the national service. Affected graduates will need to fulfill this requirement before they can be re-admitted to future orientation camps. The National  Governing Board  also known as the Directorate  had announced that HND graduates must provide evidence of completing their one-year mandatory IT certificate before being registered in their respective camps. Video link https://youtu.be/56zuTfWCYyY

The Defense Headquarters (DHQ) reported that Nigerian troops on internal operations killed 1,166 terrorists, arrested 1,096 suspects, and rescued 721 kidnapped individuals in August. Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defense Media Operations, noted that several key terrorist leaders were eliminated in the North-East, including Munir Arika and Sani Dilla, among others. In the North-West, prominent figures neutralized included Kachalla Dan Ali Garin Fadama and Kachalla Dan Mani Na Inna. Troops also seized 391 weapons, 15,234 rounds of ammunition, and recovered stolen goods valued at over N5 billion. The recovered items included 208 AK47 rifles, 54 homemade guns, and substantial quantities of stolen fuel. Buba highlighted that the declining motivation among terrorists in the North-East is leading to increased surrenders. He emphasized that while the fight against terrorism is ongoing and complex, the military remains committed to achieving peace and safety for the nation.

  Canada has announced that individuals holding visitor visas are now prohibited from applying for work permits while in the country. This change, communicated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on Wednesday, is effective immediately. Originally set to expire on February 28, 2025, the policy has been terminated early as part of efforts to better manage the number of temporary residents and uphold the integrity of Canada's immigration system. The IRCC highlighted concerns that the policy was being misused to deceive foreign nationals into working in Canada without proper authorization. Applications submitted before August 28, 2024, will still be processed under the old policy. Introduced in August 2020, the policy was designed to assist visitors unable to return home due to COVID-19-related travel restrictions by allowing them to apply for work permits without leaving the country. It also permitted those who had previously held a work permit and then changed thei...

  Liverpool have settled a deal to sign Juventus winger Federico Chiesa. The English professional football (soccer) club  have agreed a fee of £10m for the Italy international, with a further £2.5m in add-ons based primarily on team performance. Chiesa, 26, is on his way to Liverpool for a medical and if all goes to plan he would become Arne Slot's first signing to arrive at the club. Speaking to Italian network Sportitalia, external outside an airport on Wednesday, Chiesa said he was "ready for this new adventure". The forward was a star of the Italy squad that beat England on penalties in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley. Chiesa scored 32 goals in 131 appearances for Juventus, including 10 in 37 matches last season. However, newly-appointed Juventus boss Thiago Motta has left him out of his first two matchday squads this season. Liverpool agreed to sign Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia in a deal worth up to £29m on Tuesday - but he will not join until...

  The Commissioner of Police for the Federal Capital Territory has presented 94 Shi’ite suspects in connection with last Sunday's violent clash in Abuja, which resulted in the deaths of two police officers and injuries to four others, including a female officer. CP Igweh described the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as the Shi’ites, as a banned terrorist organization. He reported that various dangerous weapons, including blood-stained cutlasses and knives used in the attacks, were seized from the suspects. CP Igweh emphasized that IMN, as a proscribed group, had no legal right to organize or assemble. He announced that the suspects would face legal action and that efforts were ongoing to identify and apprehend the group's sponsors and other members involved.

  Former House of Representatives member Lanre Laoshe has repaid his 1970s student loan of N1,200 with N3,189,217.00 to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). This repayment, made using historical exchange rates to reflect current values, is a token of his gratitude for the financial support he received during his education. NELFUND praised Laoshe’s action as an example of the impact of government support and the importance of honoring commitments. Laoshe calculated the current equivalent of his original loan using historical data and the present exchange rate, demonstrating the significant appreciation of the amount over time.

Canada  is set to implement a freeze on processing  Labour Assessments, starting September 26, 2024, Canada will freeze Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) for low-wage jobs in cities with unemployment rates of 6% or higher, as part of a broader reform of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. The changes aim to reduce reliance on foreign workers and prioritize local employment, lowering the cap on TFW hires from 20% to 10% of a company's workforce and shortening the maximum employment duration for low-wage workers. Exceptions apply to essential sectors like agriculture and healthcare. The government will review the program within 90 days, with potential further adjustments. Video link https://youtu.be/XCA4YlMBwBQ

  A former Florida sheriff’s deputy charged with killing a U.S. Air Force Airman from Atlanta who answered his apartment door while holding a gun pointed toward the ground was arrested on Monday, officials said. Former Okaloosa County deputy Eddie Duran, 38, was charged with manslaughter with a firearm in the May 3 shooting death of 23-year-old Roger Fortson, Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille announced Friday. The charge is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Duran was booked into the county jail Monday, records show. Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille confirmed his arrest to The Associated Press. “He did, in fact, turn himself in,” Marcille said in a telephone interview, adding that Duran’s initial court appearance will be via video link Tuesday morning. “He will be held in custody pending his initial appearance.” According to the internal affairs report of the shooting, Duran told investigators that when Fortson opened the door, he saw aggressio...

  On Monday, Malaysian authorities reported that they are working to recover a 45-year-old fast-attack naval ship that sank after hitting an unidentified underwater object. According to a navy statement, a leak was first discovered in the engine room of the KD Pendekar on Sunday, which led to rapid flooding of the vessel. The statement also noted that the crew was unable to repair the breach, and the 260-ton ship went under just hours later off the coast of southern Johor state. Fortunately, all 39 crew members were safely evacuated without injuries. The statement indicated that the leak is believed to have resulted from the ship striking an underwater object, and salvage operations are currently underway. An investigation into the incident has been initiated. Defense Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin has ordered an inspection of navy vessels over 40 years old, which constitute at least a third of the nation's fleet. The Pendekar, constructed by Karlskrona Varvet Shipyard in Sweden, w...

  The Nigeria Police Force has passionately  condemned what it described as an unprovoked attack by members of the proscribed Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), commonly known as the Shi’ite group, on police personnel in Abuja on Sunday. Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, said the incident occurred at Wuse Junction by the traffic light, where assailants targeted a police checkpoint and descended heavily on policemen on duty. He said the attackers, who were armed with machetes, improvised explosive devices, and knives, embarked on several violent attacks which left two police officers dead instantly and three unconscious, currently receiving treatment in hospital. Three police patrol vehicles were also set ablaze during the attack, according to Adejobi. “In line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun PhD., NPM., fspsp., the progressive efforts of police operatives have led t...

  The federal government has declared all degree certificates from Cotonou University, issued between 2017 and the present, invalid. Consequently, all personnel employed by the federal government holding these degrees are to be immediately terminated. In a press conference held in Abuja on Friday, marking his first anniversary in office, Minister of Education Tahir Mamman announced that the federal executive council, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, approved these actions. The decision extends to the termination of employees in both the public and private sectors who possess counterfeit degree certificates obtained from the Republics of Benin and Togo. Mamman revealed that the ministry had set up a committee to investigate the issue of fake certificates being acquired from neighboring countries. The committee’s findings were reviewed and sanctioned by the federal executive council about a month ago, leading to the current crackdown. He emphasized that the National Youth Serv...

Faith Racheal, a Nigerian woman, has been detained by Indian authorities in Delhi for allegedly trafficking a significant amount of psychotropic substances. Racheal was arrested on August 14 in the Mehrauli district. According to police reports, she was found with 3.87 kilograms of mescaline, a powerful hallucinogenic drug valued at approximately Rs15 crore on the international market. Racheal, who arrived in India on a medical visa in August 2022, had overstayed her visa and reportedly joined a drug smuggling cartel. The police revealed that Racheal was instrumental in coordinating the distribution of narcotics among couriers within the cartel. Mescaline, derived from the Peyote cactus and the San Pedro cactus, is known for its psychedelic effects and is commonly used as a party drug in various forms such as powder, tablets, capsules, or liquid. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, Amit Kaushik, noted that the drugs were concealed inside packages of branded toffee and fish foo...

  On Thursday, the Bangladeshi government reported that severe flooding in the eastern region has resulted in two fatalities and left around three million people stranded. Heavy rains and upstream water surges caused local rivers to overflow, leading to widespread inundation. A senior official, Ali Reza, stated that over the past three days, rescuers have evacuated approximately 75,000 people to safety out of the nearly 2.9 million affected. While Reza confirmed two deaths, local media suggests the toll could be four. The floodwaters have submerged homes, croplands, and roads. Due to submerged tracks, railway services between Dhaka and Chattogram have been suspended. Footage shows army troops and Bangladesh Red Crescent volunteers rescuing stranded villagers. The local weather office reported rising water levels in major rivers in the northeastern and eastern regions, with heavy rainfall expected to decrease by Friday morning. Video link https://youtu.be/SV3KFuGZN-Q

  A Chinese firm, Zhongshang Fucheng Industrial Investment Ltd, has completed the repossession of a luxury jet belonging to Nigeria, which was held in Canada. This move is part of a broader asset seizure campaign by Zhongshang targeting Nigerian assets worldwide. Recently, Zhongshang obtained custody of a Bombardier BD-700-1A10 aircraft from Canadian authorities in Montreal. This follows a Canadian court's ruling earlier this year that authorized Zhongshang to seize the jet. The court's decision came after Nigeria's attempts to retain ownership were overturned by Judge David Collier of the Superior Court of Quebec on March 21, 2024. The judge dismissed Nigeria's arguments, including claims of sovereign immunity, and criticized the country’s delay in responding to the lawsuit. The jet in question, valued at $57 million, was originally purchased by fugitive Dan Etete, who acquired it after a controversial oil field sale in 2010. Nigeria first seized the aircraft in 2016, ...

  Former Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, alongside other notable Nigerian political figures, is currently attending the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago as a special guest of the National Democratic Institute based in Washington, DC. Osinbajo, the LP presidential candidate in the 2023 polls and former Senate President Ken Nnamani were all invited according to the US-based NDI. The Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, was also said to have been invited, but it was not clear if he had honoured the invitation. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) is a notable non-profit and non-partisan organisation based in the United States that pushes Democratic values around the world. The attendance of Osinbajo on such an august occasion, some analysts say, further demonstrates his increasing global engagement and international political profiles since his leaving office in May 2023. The presence of these distinguished Nigerians at the Democrat...

  Former U.S. President and Republican candidate Donald Trump is set to hold his first outdoor rally since narrowly escaping an assassination attempt last month. The event will take place on Wednesday in North Carolina at an aviation museum in Asheboro. Following the attempt, which occurred during a previous outdoor rally and involved a gunman who fired from a rooftop in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump’s security measures have been significantly heightened. Reports indicate that bulletproof glass will be used around the podium to ensure safety. Despite recommendations from the Secret Service to avoid outdoor events, Trump has expressed his desire to return to open-air rallies. Since the shooting, he has conducted about a dozen indoor rallies. Trump, 78, has publicly committed to continuing outdoor events, stating that the Secret Service has agreed to enhance their security measures. Video link https://youtu.be/JB2EzK_C6BY

Mr. Taiwo Olasupo   By OLUSEYE AROWOLO, IBADAN, NIGERIA. Federal Government says it has launched over 2500 mining marshals to be deployed to mining sites across the country to curb illegal mining operation. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake stated this at the Nigeria Gemstones and Jewelry Expo at International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Oyo State. Mr Alake, represented by the Zonal Mines Officer, South-West, Engr. Gbenga Ajayi who berated the activities of illegal miners as a bane of nation's economic development said federal government is ready to harness the potentials in the sector for economic development.. In a keynote address, the South-West representative of Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, NEITI, Mr. Taiwo Olasupo explained that federal government is working round the clock to resuscitate and rejuvenate the solid minerals industry. Mr. Oladupo urged stakeholders in the sector to support federal government's efforts ...

Global humanitarian organisation, Amnesty International Nigeria has condemned the current onslaught against the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF). A statement signed by the organization’s Director, Isa Sanusi on Tuesday, described fresh allegations of terrorism financing by the Nigerian authorities against Ajaero and its leaders as an attempt to intimidate the unionists. The international group’s reaction comes following NLC’s threat to embark on a nationwide strike should the police detain Ajaero. Sanusi said, “Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the Nigerian authorities’ fresh attempts to further intimidate and harass Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) through threats of arrest of its President Joe Ajaero. We urge the authorities to end this pattern of brazen impunity and respect the right of the labour unions to agree or disagree with government and its policies. “Under international human rights law and the African Ch...

  Nigeria has not yet become the nation Chief Obafemi Awolowo envisioned, according to his daughter, Dr. Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu. In a recent appearance on the live talk show *State Affairs* with radio presenter Edmund Obilo, she spoke on her father's legacy and his dream of a united yet decentralized Nigeria. Dr. Awolowo-Dosunmu expressed regret that Nigeria has not realized Awolowo's vision, despite his lifelong commitment to his political ideals and enduring personal hardships, including the loss of her brother, Segun Awolowo, and his imprisonment under politically motivated charges. She described Awolowo as a staunch federalist who remained dedicated to a strong, unified Nigeria and opposed secession. She also praised her late mother, Mrs. Hannah Awolowo, for her supportive role and effective strategies in their family life. Awolowo-Dosunmu noted that although Awolowo proposed a clause in the independence constitution for regional opt-out, it was opposed and did not succeed...