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Ronaldo Agrees Personal Terms With Manchester City

By
Emenike Agu
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Cristiano Ronaldo has  agreed on personal terms with Manchester City ahead of a transfer and long-awaited return to the Premier League.

Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes flew into Turin this Thursday to secure his client’s Juventus  exit and according to multiple sources he is now ready to join the Citizens.

Ronaldo kick-started the transfer rumour mill on Sunday when he requested to be left out of Juventus’ starting XI for their Serie A opener with Udinese.

Juventus vice-chairman Pavel Nedved played down speculation that this meant Ronaldo was looking to leave, but reports in Italy later emerged claiming the 36-year-old had informed his teammates he wants to join Man City.

Ronaldo’s agent, Mendes, headed to Turin on Thursday to speak with his client, and the meeting with Juventus was reportedly tense.

Manchester City are yet to make a formal offer for Ronaldo, but the player and club are said are to have shaken on a deal.

Man City had prioritised signing  Tottenham  striker Harry Kane this summer but were quoted £150million to sign the England international.

Manchester City offered Spurs £75million plus £25million in add-ons, but Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy rejected the bid

With time running out in the transfer window, Kane tweeted on Wednesday: “It was incredible to see the reception from the Spurs fans on Sunday and to read some of the messages of support I’ve had in the last few weeks.

“I will be staying at Tottenham  this summer and will be 100 per cent focused on helping the team achieve success.”

Ronaldo’s proposed transfer will come as a shock for Manchester United fans, who were hoping the Red Devils were going to bring the Portugal international home.

Kylian Mbappe Holds Transfer Talk On Liverpool Owner’s Private Jet!

By
Emenike Agu
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Kylian Mbappe is the subject of intense transfer speculation after the Paris Saint-Germain sporting director confirmed the Frenchman’s intentions to leave.

Real Madrid have already made a £140million bid for the World Cup winner, which has been rejected by PSG.

The Ligue 1 giants are holding out for a fee of around £170million, but the onus is on them to sell this summer given the fact that Mbappe is out of contract in 2022.

Mbappe has made it clear he has no intentions of signing a new contract in France.

Paris Saint-Germain sporting director Leonardo told RMC: “Kylian Mbappe wants to leave, that seems clear. If he wants to leave, we will not stop him, but on our terms.”

If PSG refuse to sell Mbappe for a fee this summer then they risk losing him on a free next season. Mbappe has previously been linked with a move to Liverpool,   with Jurgen Klopp a big fan of the striker and the Frenchman an admirer of the Champions League and Premier League-winning boss.

In fact, Mbappe was close to joining the Reds from Monaco back in 2017, with French publication claiming the forward held a two-hour meeting with Liverpool owner John W Henry.

The meeting is said to have taken place on Henry’s private jet, with the American flying Mbappe and his family over the bay of Nice and the surrounding area as they discussed the youngster’s future.

Speaking in 2018, Klopp said of Mbappe to RMC Sport: “I love him, to be honest. What a player he is and a nice lad as well, so he’s a really good kid. What a player, what a player.

“Everyone knows him since he was 16, 17, when he impressed in Monaco’s youth teams, and I saw videos of him when he was 17 and he destroyed defensive lines as he is doing now.

“He’s at an unbelievable level of consistency at that age. He’s an outstanding player, that’s clear, but he can deliver, deliver and deliver, which shows he’s really good educated boy and he knows what he is doing.”

Mbappe, meanwhile, said of Klopp in 2020: “This season, Liverpool have been a machine in the Premier League.

“They have made winning look easy but the truth is that it is never easy.

“Performances, like they have been having, don’t just happen. To be as ruthless as they have been would come from lots of hard work in training and from having a very good manager.”

Cybersecurity: Biden And Tech Bosses Talk After Ransomware Attacks

By
Elizabeth Williams
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U.S President Joe Biden gathered Wednesday with business and government leaders to discuss improving cybersecurity following high-profile attacks that raised questions about the vulnerability of so-called critical infrastructure.

Biden and key cabinet officials hosted chief executives of Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft, along with leaders from the finance and utilities sectors.

The gathering comes after hacks and data breaches that have targeted a major US oil pipeline, a meatpacking company and the Microsoft Exchange email system, as well as ransomware attacks hitting various sectors.

“I’ve invited you all here today because you have the power and the capacity and responsibility, I believe, to raise the bar on cybersecurity,” Biden said.

After the talks, major tech companies, including three global leaders in cloud computing, announced training programs and investments in cybersecurity.

Microsoft, for example, plans to inject $20 billion into its cybersecurity efforts over five years, as well as “$150 million to help US government agencies upgrade protections”, according to a tweet from CEO Satya Nadella.

Amazon promised in a statement to make its security training for employees available to the general public, and Google said it will invest $10 billion over five years to help “secure the software supply chain”.

The latest attacks, which affected Microsoft email servers and the widely deployed SolarWinds security software, raise questions about protecting 16 “critical infrastructure” sectors including energy, utilities, defense, food and manufacturing.

Some analysts have called for tougher sanctions against Russia and other countries accused of harboring cybercriminals. Others have suggested more scrutiny of cryptocurrency, which is used by hackers to collect ransomware.

Transport Infrastructure: NSC, FRSC To Address Gaps At Ports

By
Elizabeth Williams
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The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Emmanuel Jime, has said the collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has recorded great strides in the on-going development and operations of critical transport infrastructure, particularly the Inland Dry Ports(IDPs) and Vehicle Transit Areas (VTAs).

Jime stated this when the FRSC top echelon led by the Corps Marshal, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi, paid a courtesy visit to the agency’s headquarters in Lagos on Tuesday.

The NSC boss affirmed the agency’s collaboration with the FRSC to address the issue of quality of articulated trucks used in the maritime sector to complement the road marshals’ effort to make Nigeria’s highways safer.

According to a statement by Head, Public Relations NSC, Rakiya Zubairu, the NSC boss said the council, with the mandate as Port Economic Regulator and Trade Facilitation Agency, identifies critical issues challenging the performance of the nation’s logistics sector and growth of international trade.

Jime noted that the resolutions reached at the meeting with stakeholders in May 2021 have given further impetus to the collaborative partnership between the Council and relevant government agencies and Organised Private Sector (OPS).

The pact is expected to drive the development of a structural and sustainable haulage system and standardisation of trucks as it concerns the implementation of Road Transport Safety Standardisation Scheme (RTSSS) and Inter-State Road Transit (ISRT) Scheme.

He said the other areas include a joint awareness programme for truck owners and drivers on the use of reflective tapes.

On his part, the FRSC Corps Marshal, lamented the continuous breakdown of trucks on port access roads, noting that it was one of the issues causing congestion.

MultiChoice Stock Plunges After Nigeria Ordered $2.2-Billion Tax Bill

By
Elizabeth Williams
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South African Pay TV company MultiChoice, has been ordered by Nigeria Tax Authority (FIRS) to pay $2.2-billion in disputed taxes.

MultiChoice’s share fell 7.5% on the news, to R105,73, as investors digested the news that the sum is almost two-thirds of the firm’s market value of $3.3-billion, or R50.4-billion; almost three times the R10.4-billion ($698-million) the firm earned in operating profit in 2021.

Problems in Nigeria surfaced in early July when FIRS instructed local banks to freeze MultiChoice’s bank accounts to recover the $4.4-billion it claimed was owing. At the time, the tax authority claimed that MultiChoice had breached several agreements and that its data could not be trusted. Among other issues, it argues that MultiChoice had not accurately disclosed its number of subscribers and that the company had refused to grant access to its servers.

At the time, MultiChoice said its engagements with FIRS were ongoing and constructive, and that the matter would be resolved amicably. 

This is not the first time a South African company has run up against the Nigerian authorities. In 2015, MTN was slapped with a fine of over $5-billion for not satisfactorily registering new users on its cellular network. Following extensive negotiations, this sum was reduced to $1-billion.

In 2018, the Nigerian central bank took issue with MTN, in an alleged illegal repartration of profit back to South Africa.

The disputed case will be heard by Nigeria’s tax tribunal on 23 September, provided the company pays the sum instructed, FIRS said in its statement.

Ethiopia Unveils Ten-Year Power Project Plan

By
Elizabeth Williams
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Ethiopian Electric Power stated that the country has planned to build 71 power projects demanding over 40 billion USD over the next 10 years.

Ethiopian Electric CEO, Andualem Siae said the project cost is expected to be covered by private and public partnerships, the African Development Bank, the World Bank, other development partners and financiers, Ethiopian Electric Power and the Ethiopian government.

Among the projects planned to be built in the next 10 years are 16 water, 24 wind, 17 steam and 14 solar power projects, CEO said.

Based on the directive, two solar power projects will be built by Saudi Arabia’s Aqua Power Company, which is in the process of being developed by private developers and private and public partners and the company is preparing to begin construction.

As to Andualem, negotiations have also started with the United Arab Emirates Company Amia to build the Aisha 1 wind farm project, and bidding is underway to well sort out developers for other wind power projects.

According to the CEO, construction of the Tulu Moye and Corbeti steam power projects has also been commenced by private developers.

Blinken Estimates 1,500 Americans Await Evacuation From Afghanistan

By
Elizabeth Williams
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks about Afghanistan during a media briefing at the State Department,on August 25, 2021, in Washington,DC. - As many as 1,500 US citizens may still need to be evacuated from Afghanistan and the Taliban have pledged to allow some departures after US troops leave on August 31, Blinken said. (Photo by Alex Brandon / POOL / AFP)

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that as many as 1,500 Americans may be awaiting evacuation from Afghanistan, a figure that suggests this part of the US-led airlift could be completed before US President Joe Biden’s Tuesday deadline. Untold thousands of at-risk Afghans, however, are struggling to get into the Kabul airport.

Blinken said that the US State Department estimates there were about 6,000 Americans who wanted to leave Afghanistan when the airlift began August 14, and that about 4,500 of them have been evacuated so far.

The 6,000 figure is the first public estimate by the State Department of how many Americans were seeking to get out when the Taliban completed its takeover of Afghanistan.

“Some are understandably very scared,” Blinken told a US State Department news conference.

About 500 Americans have been contacted with instructions on when and how to get to the chaotic Kabul airport to catch evacuation flights.

In addition, 1,000, or perhaps fewer, are being contacted to determine whether they still want to leave. Blinken said that some of these may already have left the country, some may want to remain and some may not actually be American citizens.

Of the 1,000, the number who are “actively seeking assistance” to leave Afghanistan “is lower — likely significantly lower,” Blinken said.

Diplomatic Tension: Algeria Severs Ties With Morocco

By
Elizabeth Williams
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0

Algeria severed diplomatic ties with Morocco on Tuesday citing “hostile actions” from its neighbor, as relations between the two countries continued to deteriorate following an extended conflict mainly revolving around the Western Sahara.

At a news conference in Algiers, Foreign Minister Ramtane Lamamra accused Morocco of using Pegasus spyware against Algerian officials, supporting a separatist group, and reneging on bilateral commitments.

Last week, Algeria claimed, without evidence, that deadly wildfires were caused by what it said are Moroccan-backed groups it has labelled terrorists.

“Algeria has decided to break diplomatic relations with Morocco starting today,” Lamamra said. “The Moroccan kingdom has never stopped its hostile actions against Algeria,” he added.

Despite the break in diplomatic relations, consulates in each country will remain open, Lamamra said.

The Moroccan Foreign Ministry responded to the move, saying in a statement on Twitter it regretted the “completely unjustified but expected decision, in view of the escalation observed in recent weeks.”

“Morocco categorically rejects the fallacious, even absurd, pretexts underlying the decision,” the statement continued, adding that the kingdom would remain a “loyal partner for the Algerian people.”

Relations between the two North African countries have been strained for decades over territorial tensions.

Morocco claims large parts of Western Sahara, while Algeria backs the Polisario Front, a group opposing Moroccan control of the Western Sahara and controlling part of the vast, arid territory.

Although Morocco continues to claim large parts of the Western Sahara, this is not recognized internationally.

Former US president Donald Trump had promised to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara, and Rabat normalized relations with Israel in return.

The move prompted fears in Algeria, however, that Israel might provide military support for Morocco.

While the border between Morocco and Algeria has been closed since 1994, diplomatic relations have not been broken since they were restored in 1988 following an earlier spat.

Israeli Rabbis Send Letter To Vatican Expressing Concern Over Papal Remarks

By
Elizabeth Williams
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Rabbi Ratzon Arusi attends a swearing in ceremony for the Rabbinate Council at the President's residence in Jerusalem, on October 24, 2018. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90 *** Local Caption *** è÷ñ äùáòú øáðåú îéðåééí çãùéí áéú äðùéà äøáðåú äøàùéú îåòöä äùáòä äøá øöåï òøåñé

Rabbi Ratzon Arusi, the chair of the Chief Rabbinate’s Commission for Dialogue with the Holy See, has expressed concern over recent remarks by Pope Francis about Jewish law, Reuters report.

According to the report, Arusi sent a letter to the Vatican requesting clarification of comments the pope made to a general audience earlier this month.

On August 11, Francis spoke at the Vatican about the first five books of the Bible, known in Hebrew as the Torah. The pope referenced the biblical story of God giving the Torah to the Jewish people: “God offered them the Torah, the Law, so they could understand his will and live in justice. We have to think that at that time, a Law like this was necessary, it was a tremendous gift that God gave his people.”

Later, however, Francis said: “The Law, however, does not give life, it does not offer the fulfillment of the promise because it is not capable of being able to fulfill it. The Law is a journey, a journey that leads toward an encounter… Those who seek life need to look to the promise and to its fulfillment in Christ.”

Arusi sent a letter on behalf of the Chief Rabbinate to Cardinal Kurt Koch, whose Vatican department includes a commission for religious relations with Jews.

“In his homily, the pope presents the Christian faith as not just superseding the Torah; but asserts that the latter no longer gives life, implying that Jewish religious practice in the present era is rendered obsolete,” Arusi reportedly wrote in the letter. “This is in effect part and parcel of the ‘teaching of contempt’ towards Jews and Judaism that we had thought had been fully repudiated by the Church.”

The rabbi asked Koch to “convey our distress to Pope Francis,” and requested clarification from the pope to “ensure that any derogatory conclusions drawn from this homily are clearly repudiated,” Reuters reports.

Koch’s office says today that he has received the letter and is “considering it seriously and reflecting on a response.”

2020 Tokyo Paralympics: Latifat Tijani Wins First Gold For Nigeria

By
Emenike Agu
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0

Team Nigerian has registered its first major success at the ongoing 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games as one of the country’s powerlifters, Latifat Tijani, won the gold medal in the female 45kg event.

Tijani made a top lift of 107kg to secure the top prize in the category ahead of China’s Zhe Cui who settled for silver.

The Bronze medalist was Justyna Kozdryk of Poland.

The feat by Tijani is an improvement on her previous record of 106kg at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio.

She also won the bronze medal in the women’s 45 kg event at the 2019 World Para Powerlifting Championships.

Before Tijani’s success, one of Nigeria’s para powerlifting medal hope at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Yakubu Adesokan, failed to reach the podium in the finals of his -49 class on Thursday morning.

Adesokan returned fourth with a lift of 155kg, conceding the podium to the trio of Qarada Omar Hamadeh of Jordan who won the gold, Le Van Cong of Vietnam, silver, and Mamnadov Parvin of Azerbaijan, bronze

After lifting 155kg in his first and second attempts, Yakubu attempted but failed 156kg in the third. He desperately moved for 161kg in a subsequent attempt to bridge the gap but also faltered.

Both Qarada and Le Cong made final lifts of 173kg but Qarada gained the advantage with more points from earlier lifts to edge Le Cong.

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