Financial Fair Play: Man City Face Relegation

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August 13, 2024

Manchester City is facing a serious threat of relegation from the Premier League as the hearing into 115 alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play regulations is set to begin in early September.

The charges, dating back to 2009, have cast a shadow over the club, which has enjoyed immense success under Pep Guardiola, winning 15 major trophies since his appointment in 2016.

The potential consequences for Man City are severe, with journalist Martyn Ziegler reporting that if the most serious charges are proven, the club could face relegation or a significant points deduction.

This situation follows in the footsteps of recent penalties imposed on other clubs, such as Everton and Nottingham Forest, who were docked points for similar but less complex breaches.

The hearing is expected to last over 10 weeks, with a verdict anticipated in early January 2024. Meanwhile, City has launched its own legal case against the Premier League concerning associated party transaction rules, which is set to be heard within the next fortnight.

Amidst the ongoing legal battles, the odds of Man City being relegated this season have been slashed from 100/1 to 28/1, reflecting the gravity of the situation.

Despite the uncertainty, Manchester City captain Kyle Walker remains focused on the team’s on-field performance. Walker expressed confidence in City’s ability to secure a fifth consecutive Premier League title.

“I wouldn’t say it’s an ego, but we’ve done this now four times in a row – this is our trophy to lose,” Walker said.

“For us to go and do four in a row off the back of a Treble was a great achievement. Now, why can’t we go and do five in a row? That’s the motivation we have to create from us as a group of players, from me as a captain,” he added.

Marketers Project N600/Litre For Dangote Petrol

By

Emenike Agu

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August 13, 2024

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Independent petroleum marketers in Nigeria are hoping that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery will sell its Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, at N600 or N650/litre when it is finally released into the market.

Dealers under the aegis of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria said they believe that the Dangote refinery would crash the price of petrol as it did with diesel.

IPMAN National Vice President, Hammed Fashola, said the $20bn refinery would bring down the cost of fuel if it gets the needed support, especially as it has to do with crude supply.

According to him, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, which is the sole importer of PMS has been selling to marketers at N570/litre, but most IPMAN members buy from private depot owners at N700 and above.

“We are marketers, we go for the best. We have been buying from the NNPC, but if the opportunity of Dangote comes and the price is favourable, we will grab it. It depends on the price.

“The official price from the NNPC is around N570/litre, but the third parties, the private depots sell PMS to most of our members at N700 and above.

“Plus or minus, we hope Dangote can sell between N600 and N650/litre. N600 is still okay. However, it depends on the cost of the production from Dangote’s end. We have to be factual and sincere to ourselves. The NNPC we are talking about has an element of subsidy or what they now call under-recovery. I think something is hidden there,” Fashola stated.

Speaking about diesel price, Fashola recalled, “We know Dangote refinery crashed the price of diesel. When the refinery started producing, diesel was around N1,600 and it went down to N1,000.

“Now you can buy diesel at N1,150 or N1,200/litre. We expect the same with PMS, but this crude crisis is a major challenge. Even if Dangote is buying crude in naira, if it is at the international market price, it will make no difference. We have to be realistic.”

The IPMAN leader said the association has had business discussions with some officials of the refinery on a possible partnership, saying the marketers are waiting for Dangote.

“The discussion continues. We are on course. I think very soon we will conclude the discussion. We are waiting,” he stated.

Recall that the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had last month projected that the refinery would begin the production of petrol between August 10 and 12, 2024.

However, the 650,000 barrels per day capacity refinery could not roll out petrol on Monday for different reasons.

Findings showed that the ongoing crude supply crisis might be a setback to the refinery.

Kenyan Teachers Strike Looms Amid Calls for CBA Agreement Fulfillment

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Nzubechukwu Anodo

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August 13, 2024

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Kenya Nation Union of Teachers (KNUT) says tutors will not go back for third term unless the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is fully implemented.

The union’s Secretary General, Collins Oyuu said that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) had not yet implemented the second phase of the signed 2021-2025 CBA.

He said the union will continue to secure and maintain better terms of condition of service for teachers in this country and not leave anyone behind.

He noted that the CBA signed 2017-2021 only catered for the teachers in the administration department like headteachers but classroom teachers were not considered.

He said it was unfortunate that the teachers will be forced to down their tools when schools re-open in September for the third and last term of the year, to press for the implementation of the CBA.

He added said it was unfortunate that parliament had failed to listen to the pleas by teachers to avert a crisis in the education sector.

He urged the Salaries Remuneration Commission to consider all teachers equal regardless of their responsibilities when they carry out the job evaluation.

Recall that President Ruto has recently signed into law the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2024 reducing government expenditure plans for the 2024-2025 Financial Year.

A total of Sh18.7 billion has been allocated for the confirmation of 46,000 intern teachers, and Sh30.7 billion for the capitation of Junior Secondary School (JSS) students including those transitioning to grade nine.

Additionally, a total of Sh23 billion has been allocated for universities for the Differentiated Unit Cost funding model, Sh31.3 billion for the Higher Education Loans Board for scholarships and loans and a further Sh17 billion to the University Funding Board for scholarships to university students.

Liberia Education Ministry Begins Profiling Volunteer Teachers and Staff

By

Nzubechukwu Anodo

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August 13, 2024

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The Ministry of Education in Liberia is launching a nationwide profiling of volunteer teachers and staff to enhance the quality of education in public schools.

The profiling exercise seeks to verify that all educators are properly credentialed and possess the necessary skills and abilities to deliver effective instruction and education services across the country.

Over the period, local media reports have highlighted issues with unqualified teachers in public schools, citing challenges such as difficulties in reaching remote areas.

Some volunteer teachers across Liberia have complained about not being included in the government payroll despite years of service amongs other issues.

However, the Ministry of Education said the process aims at gathering information on the total number of volunteer teachers and staff in the Liberia public school system.

This exercise will differentiate between volunteer teachers who have been working in the country and those on the government payroll.

Meanwhile, Phase II of the initiative will focus on skill assessments and will follow the profiling exercise.

Venezuela’s Maduro Calls For State ‘Iron Fist’ After Deadly Protests

By

Zoe Maven

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August 13, 2024

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Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has called for the state to use an “iron fist” after deadly protests in response to his July reelection which has been dismissed at home and abroad as a sham.

Addressing a Defence Council Meeting, the Socialist Leader said, “I demand from all the powers of state greater speed, greater efficiency and an iron fist against crime, against violence, against hate crimes.”

As the official protest death toll rose to 25, Maduro urged “severe justice” for violence he blames on the opposition, which insists its candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia had won the July 28 vote by a landslide.

Widespread protests broke out after Maduro was declared president-elect by the CNE electoral council seen as loyal to his regime with Observers having reported a brutal security force crackdown with more than 2,000 arrests.

Maduro, in turn, blames Gonzalez Urrutia and popular opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who was ruled out of running for the presidency by institutions aligned to the state.

Both leaders have gone into hiding, citing fears for their lives and threats of arrest.

The CNE declared Maduro the victor within hours of polls closing, giving him 52 percent of ballots cast even though it did not provide a detailed breakdown.

The opposition says its own tally of polling-station-level results showed Gonzalez Urrutia, a 74-year-old retired diplomat, had won more than two-thirds of votes.

But years of damaging sanctions failed to dislodge the president, who enjoys loyalty from the military leadership and state institutions, as well as Russia, China and Cuba.

International Criminal Court chief prosecutor Karim Khan said he was actively monitoring the situation after receiving multiple reports of instances of violence and other allegations.

The court has an open investigation into possible crimes against humanity committed by government forces during opposition protests in 2017 when more than 100 people were killed.

Venezuela’s regime-aligned parliament, meanwhile, has cancelled holidays for MPs to consider a swath of laws to regulate social media and NGOs.

Mixed Reactions Trail Miss South Africa’s Win Amid Controversy

By

Koko Lawrence

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August 13, 2024

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Mia le Roux’s recent crowning as Miss South Africa has sparked mixed reactions from both Nigerians and South Africans, as her groundbreaking win as the first deaf woman to hold the title is overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the competition. The divisive atmosphere arose after Chidimma Adetshina, a law student with Nigerian heritage, withdrew from the contest amid allegations and xenophobic backlash.

Le Roux, a 28-year-old model and marketing manager, was recognised for her perseverance and determination, having overcome profound hearing loss diagnosed at just one year old, and now uses a cochlear implant to help her perceive sound.

In her acceptance speech, she expressed hope that her victory would inspire those who feel marginalised to pursue their “wildest dreams” and emphasised her commitment to supporting those who are “financially excluded or differently abled.”
“I am a proudly South African deaf woman, and I know what it feels like to be excluded,” Le Roux said. “I know now that I was put on this planet to break boundaries, and I did it tonight.”

However, the joy of Le Roux’s historic win is clouded by the controversy that unfolded before the final. Just a week before the pageant’s conclusion, Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old contestant born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, withdrew from the competition. Her decision followed a social media storm that questioned her right to represent South Africa, with accusations against her mother of possibly stealing the identity of a South African woman further fueling the debate.

Adetshina decried the hostility she faced, labeling it as “black-on-black hate” and pointing to a specific form of xenophobia in South Africa known as “afrophobia,” which targets people from other African nations. The backlash included criticism from a cabinet minister, adding to the mounting pressure on Adetshina.

The outcome of the pageant has since ignited a firestorm on social media. Nigerian superstar Burna Boy posted a picture of Le Roux with the caption, “So after all that…” accompanied by laughing emojis, hinting at the irony of the situation. Another user drew a stark comparison between Le Roux and Adetshina, highlighting the contrast in how each was received: “Mia Le Roux AKA JC Le Roux, Miss SA: parents from French descent. Loved by South Africans. Chidimma: Born in South Africa from a Nigerian father. Xenophobic South Africans hate her, they say she is not South African. Xenophobic South Africans are an embarrassment to our country.”

As the debate rages on, Le Roux’s win remains a significant milestone in South Africa’s history, symbolising both progress and the ongoing challenges of inclusivity and national identity.

Bangladesh Court Opens Murder Case Against Ousted Leader

By

Zoe Maven

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August 13, 2024

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A court in Bangladesh opened a murder investigation into ousted former premier Sheikh Hasina and six top figures in her administration over the police killing of a man during civil unrest last month.

Seventy-six year old Hasina fled by helicopter to neighbouring India a week ago, where she remains, while protesters flooded Dhaka’s streets in a rather unexpected demise to her iron-fisted tenure.

Over 450 people were killed during the weeks of unrest leading up to her toppling and the move is the first step in a criminal investigation under Bangladeshi law. The case accuses the seven of responsibility for the death of a grocery store owner who was shot dead on July 19 by police violently suppressing protests

Mamun Mia, a lawyer who brought the case on behalf of a private citizen said that the case has been filed against Sheikh Hasina and six more, adding that the Dhaka Metropolitan Court had ordered police to accept the murder case against the accused persons.

Mia’s filing with the court also named Hasina’s former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan and Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of Hasina’s Awami League party.

Also named are four top police officers appointed by Hasina’s government who have since vacated their posts.

Hasina’s government was accused of widespread human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killing of thousands of her political opponents.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus returned from Europe three days after Hasina’s ouster to head a temporary administration facing the monumental challenge of steering democratic reforms.

The 84-year-old won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work in microfinance, and is credited with helping millions of Bangladeshis out of grinding poverty.

He took office as chief adviser to a caretaker administration – all fellow civilians bar home minister Sakhawat Hossain, a retired brigadier general – and has said he wants to hold elections “within a few months”.

Ukraine Restricts Civilian Movements In Border Region

By

Zoe Maven

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August 13, 2024

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Ukraine is restricting the movement of civilians within a 20-kilometre zone bordering Russia in the northern Sumy region.

Kyiv’s general staff made the announcement on Tuesday as Ukrainian forces pressed on with a lightning incursion into Russia’s neighbouring Kursk region that has caused more than 100,000 civilians to flee their homes.

Ukraine’s air force said on Tuesday that Russia launched 38 attack drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles at Ukraine overnight, while Russia’s Defence ministry said its air Defence units destroyed 12 Ukrainian drones over the Kursk region.

Ukraine’s top military commander claimed on Monday that his forces controlled 1,000 square kilometers of Russian territory in Kursk region, the first time a Ukrainian military official has publicly commented on the gains of Kyiv’s lightning incursion.

Meanwhile, the United States has expressed concerns over reports that Iran is planning to deliver hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia with State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel, warning of a severe” US response if Iran moves forward with the transfer.

The governor of Russia’s Kursk region told President Vladimir Putin on Monday that 121,000 people have left or been evacuated from the front-line zone since Ukrainian troops and armour crossed the border early last week.

Governor Alexei Smirnov said Ukraine now controls 28 settlements in the border province and that Kyiv’s forces have advanced 12kilometers into Russian territory.

Earlier, Ukrainians poured into the Kursk region from several directions early on August 6, quickly overwhelming checkpoints and fortifications manned by lightly armed border guards and infantry along the 245km shared frontier.

Box Office: ‘The Betrayed’ Earns ₦14.7 Million After 1 Week In Cinemas

By

Koko Lawrence

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August 13, 2024

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According to a report published on Friday, August 9, 2024 by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) detailing the highest-grossing films at the box office between August 2 to August 8, The Betrayed finished in second place, making ₦14.7 million in its first week of release.

The Zulomoke Oyibo film follows a young woman going through a psychological journey under the thumb of a mysterious figure who suspects her husband of stealing millions from a crime syndicate.

The film, starring Uche Montana, Gabriel Afolayan, Adunni Ade, Ibrahim Suleiman, Jemima Osunde, Vine Olugu, and Stephanie Zibili, was the highest-grossing Nollywood film for the week.

The Hollywood film, Deadpool and Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, finished top of the list with ₦127 million this past week. Its total gross in two weeks is ₦354.5 million.

Pastor Emmanuel Iren’s What About Us grossed ₦9.9 million, placing it in third place. Its total gross since its release on July 12 is about ₦87.5 million.

Despicable Me 4 finished fourth on the list. The American animated comedy film, produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination, and distributed by Universal, has grossed ₦74 million since its release on June 28. This past week, it grossed a total of ₦9.3 million.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die ranked fifth with a weekly gross of ₦7.5 million. The action comedy, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, has grossed a total of ₦455.5 million since its release.

Lakatabu grossed ₦7.2 million last week, leaving it in sixth place. Since its release, the Nollywood epic drama has grossed a total of ₦190.9 million.

Inside Out 2 followed right behind, taking seventh place, with a ₦6.3 million gross last week and a total gross of ₦93.3 million since its release on June 14.

Taking eighth place was Twisters, released on July 19. The action thriller has made a cumulative gross of ₦31 million since its release. Last week, it grossed ₦4.8 million.

Sitting in the ninth position was A Quiet Place: Day One. Since its premiere on June 28, it has grossed a total of ₦142 million. Its gross in the past week was ₦4.6 million.

Liberia Education Ministry Begins Profiling Volunteer Teachers and Staff

By

Nzubechukwu Anodo

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August 13, 2024

0

The Ministry of Education in Liberia is launching a nationwide profiling of volunteer teachers and staff to enhance the quality of education in public schools.

The profiling exercise seeks to verify that all educators are properly credentialed and possess the necessary skills and abilities to deliver effective instruction and education services across the country.

Over the period, local media reports have highlighted issues with unqualified teachers in public schools, citing challenges such as difficulties in reaching remote areas.

Some volunteer teachers across Liberia have complained about not being included in the government payroll despite years of service amongs other issues.

However, the Ministry of Education said the process aims at gathering information on the total number of volunteer teachers and staff in the Liberia public school system.

This exercise will differentiate between volunteer teachers who have been working in the country and those on the government payroll.

Meanwhile, Phase II of the initiative will focus on skill assessments and will follow the profiling exercise.