Author: David Great

Sri Lankan MPs have elected prime minister Ranil Wickeremesinghe as the country’s new president, despite his unpopularity with the public. Wickremesinghe faces the task of leading the country out of its economic collapse and restoring public order after months of mass protests. He defeated a party rival Dullus Alahapperuma on Wednesday in a vote held in parliament. Sri Lanka’s ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country last week. He bolted to the Maldives and then Singapore after thousands of protesters stormed his presidential residences and other government buildings, calling for his resignation. Wickremesinghe now acting President as Sri Lanka president flee…

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, to resolve Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike in two weeks. He also ordered that the grievances of other university-based unions should be resolved as well. The President gave the directive Tuesday after receiving briefings from the relevant government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) involved in the ongoing efforts to end the face-off with the university unions. Buhari had summoned them to get more information on why the strike had persisted for too long. ASUU had commenced one month warning strike on February 14, and other unions…

Barcelona have signed Poland striker Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich on a four-year contract worth 50m euros (£42.6m). The 33-year-old had one year left on his contract with the German champions but in May said: “My story with Bayern is over.”. Oh, Robert … we’re excited, too ???? pic.twitter.com/74HYaSOQ5d — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 19, 2022 He has joined his new team-mates in Miami as part of Barcelona’s four-match tour in the United States. “I’m finally here. I’m delighted to be at Barca,” Lewandowski said. “The last few days have been very long, but the deal is done and now…

Chelsea have agreed to pay Sevilla’s asking price of £51m plus £4m in add-ons for France defender Jules Kounde, 23. (Sun) The Blues are also in talks with Paris St-Germain over a £50m deal for Presnel Kimpembe, but fear the 26-year-old France defender will turn down a move to Stamford Bridge. (Standard) Chelsea are also preparing a bid to challenge Manchester United for the signing of Barcelona and the Netherlands midfielder Frenkie de Jong, 25. (Relevo, via Mirror) Paris St-Germain offered Brazil forward Neymar, 30, to Manchester City in exchange for their 27-year-old Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva, but the Premier League champions turned down the deal. (Le Parisien – in French) Liverpool have enquired about signing Ajax’s 22-year-old Brazil winger…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) says its huge asset base will be disclosed soon in view of its current status. Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd made this known on Tuesday at a media chat after the Presidential unveiling of the New NNPC Limited at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled the new NNPC Ltd which would operate as a profitable commercial entity and declare dividends to its 200 million shareholders. The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) provides for the transition of NNPC into a fully commercial entity, a Limited Liability Company incorporated…

Dana Air says an Abuja-bound Boeing 737 aircraft with registration mark 5N DNA had an emergency landing on Tuesday following an engine failure. The airline claimed that the aircraft have now been grounded for immediate repairs by its engineers. In a statement by Dana Air communication manager, Kingsley Ezenwa, the airline explained that the emergency landing became necessary after one of the engines developed a fault. Ezenwa explained that the chief pilot explained the situation to the passengers and landed the aircraft safely at the Abuja airport. Nigeria to audit Dana Air after safety issues “The pilot in command briefed…

There was chaos on Sunday after gunmen suspected to be operatives of Ebubeagu Security outfit opened fire and killed seven wedding guests in Oru, Imo state. The incident which occurred in the early hours of yesterday had put the state in a state of anxiety, as tears flowed freely within the community. The victims were going back to their community in Otulu in Oru East Local Government Area of the state from Awomama in the neighbouring Oru west LGA before the suspects opened fire on them. The president general of Otulu community, Nnamdi Agbor, who spoke to journalists confirmed that…

A wire fraud suspect, Fatade Idowu Olamilekan on wanted list of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, was on Thursday July 14, 2022, extradited to the United States for allegedly stealing over $3.5m worth of equipment in various cities across the US. His extradition was coordinated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, following a notice from FBI New York, through the US Legal Attache for his role in impersonating various cities, state and academic institutions across the US. Fatade was indicted by a grand jury in the Southern District of New York for offences of wire fraud, interstate…

The general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E. A. Adeboye has denied endorsing Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the APC for the 2023 election. In a statement by RCCG, Adeboye stated categorically that he will not endorse any candidate in the next election, stressing that, he will queue behind Christian associations and their opposition. He also added that he will explore legal actions if the false news circulated is repeated by the media outlets culpable. “It has come to our notice that some news outlets are reporting that a meeting between Pastor E. A.…

Bayern Munich have signed defender Matthijs de Ligt from Juventus for a fee believed to be around £68m. The 22-year-old Netherlands international signed a five-year deal until 30 June 2027. Herbert Hainer, Bayern president said De Ligt was a top priority for the club. “Matthijs de Ligt was a top target for us. With signings like this, the big aims that we have are achievable,” a statement on the club website said. “The future face of our team is increasingly taking shape, and this transfer is an important building block in the overall concept that we’re gradually putting into place.…