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 WE’RE READY TO HOST MAIDEN NATIONAL INTERMEDIATE SPORTS FESTIVAL, SANWO-OLU •Governor inspects ongoing renovation work at Teslim Balogun Stadium   The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday, expressed the State's readiness to host the inaugural National Intermediate Sports Festival, scheduled from 1 to 15 October. Governor Sanwo-Olu stated that Lagos accepted the opportunity to host the first National Intermediate Sports Festival after the National Sports Commission awarded the hosting rights to the state. He described the event as a chance to enhance grassroots sports development and motivate young athletes to stay in the country. The Governor revealed that about 14,000 to 15,000 athletes are expected to participate, with facilities such as Rowe Park and other sports centres across the state to be utilised. The Governor made these remarks on Saturday during an inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation works at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, in prepar...

 NEW PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO RESTORE ONITSHA SPORTS CLUB’S GLORY By Uzo Ugwunze The newly elected President of Onitsha Sports Club, Chief Titus Adirika, has pledged to restore the club’s glory, rehabilitate its facilities and revive sporting activities while promoting unity among members. Adirika made the pledge on Aug. 5, hafter his election and handover ceremony, urging members to support the new administration in its efforts to reposition the club and restore its pride of place. He said members had taken a bold step toward better management, expressing confidence in the new executive, which he described as a team of professionals and reliable members. “Our club deserves better management and members have effected it today. I am proud of the team that will work with me. We have professionals and reliable gentlemen, and we believe that the club will be lifted again to regain its glory,” he said. Adirika said the administration would promote discipline, integrity, respect, honour and ...

 ARTMA CAUTIONS MOTORISTS ON WARNING SIGNS, ROAD HAZARDS, INTERSECTION SAFETY By MaryAnn Chukwuma The Anambra State Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA) has urged motorists to pay close attention to warning signs, road hazards and intersection signs to prevent crashes and promote safer roads. The agency gave the advice in a traffic safety advisory issued on Aug. 8, explaining that warning signs alert motorists to potential hazards ahead and require them to reduce speed, remain alert and drive with caution. ARTMA said the bend sign warns motorists of dangerous curves ahead, advising them to reduce speed, maintain proper control of their vehicles and negotiate bends carefully. It explained that the slippery road sign warns of road surfaces that may become slippery, particularly during rainfall, urging motorists to reduce speed and exercise greater caution. According to the agency, the road narrows sign indicates that the width of the road reduces ahead, requiring motorists to slow down,...

 Security Meeting In Ladduga Targets Stronger Surveillance, Peace, Community Collaboration Stakeholders in Ladduga District of the Kachia Grazing Reserve have held a security coordination meeting aimed at sustaining peace, strengthening community surveillance and improving collaboration between residents and security agencies. The meeting brought together traditional rulers, community leaders, local government representatives, vigilante groups and security personnel to deliberate on strategies for addressing emerging security concerns and maintaining peace across the area. The Special Adviser to the Kaduna State Governor on Vigilante and Local Security Coordination, Yusuf Usman Garba, attended the meeting and engaged with the District Head of Ladduga, village heads from across the district, community leaders and representatives of security agencies. Among those present were the Sardaunan Ladduga, Dr. Abdulmalik Muhammad Durunguwa; Vice Chairman of Kachia Local Government Area Counc...

Paramount-Warner Bros. merger clears UK regulatory hurdle as US legal challenges remain Paramount’s proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery has cleared another major regulatory hurdle, but the deal continues to face legal challenges in the United States. British regulators approved the merger Thursday, clearing the way for the transaction in the United Kingdom. The approval includes a requirement that Paramount maintain separate editorial control of Channel 5 News from CBS and CNN. Paramount said governments and regulatory bodies representing 66 jurisdictions have now either approved the transaction or declined to challenge it on competition or foreign investment grounds. European Union regulators also approved the deal last month. The merger would combine two major competitors in the film, television and news industries. Critics have raised concerns that the consolidation could reduce competition and lead to job losses, lower wages and changes in editorial policies...

 Houthi attacks kill several in Yemen as tensions grow over Red Sea shipping and regional conflict Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked a government-controlled port on the Red Sea on Sunday, killing at least seven people and raising fresh concerns about the security of crucial regional shipping routes and the possibility of renewed civil war. The Houthis targeted the port of Mokha with missiles and drones, killing four military personnel and three civilians and injuring 15 civilians, according to Yemen’s government-aligned forces. The attack damaged port buildings, piers, commercial goods and food supplies, while additional missiles landed in several locations. Mokha is controlled by Yemen’s internationally recognized government and has been upgraded to accommodate ships seeking alternatives to the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida. The Houthis said they were targeting military forces and warehouses. The rebels also claimed responsibility for a drone attack against an Aramco ...

 Netanyahu rejects Trump’s 15-point Gaza peace proposal, vows no Israeli withdrawal until Hamas disarms Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel will reject a 15-point Gaza peace proposal put forward by President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, insisting that Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed. Speaking at the start of a Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said Israel had rejected the proposal and that the Israel Defense Forces would maintain their positions in Gaza until Hamas no longer poses a threat. Netanyahu also said Israeli forces would continue taking action to protect their troops and Israeli citizens from potential attacks. Trump announced in July that Hamas had agreed to disarm as part of a U.S.-brokered framework that calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. The agreement was developed as part of a broader ceasefire arrangement reached the previous year. Netanyahu’s rejection of the proposal creates anoth...