International

By Sabiu Abdullahi

South African international and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams has died at the age of 25, weeks after representing his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Adams was reportedly found dead on Saturday morning at a residential building in Schotschekloof, a suburb of central Cape Town. Authorities and members of his family have not disclosed the cause of his death.

His death came shortly after another tragedy in his family. His 72-year-old grandmother, Marianna Adams, died on June 17, one day before South Africa’s decisive group-stage match against the Czech Republic.

Despite the loss, Adams remained with the national team. He started the match and continued his World Cup campaign.

Brendine Johnson, the late footballer’s mentor and family representative, confirmed the news and spoke about the shock surrounding his death.

“This passing has ripped everybody apart, returning from the World Cup just now, and then getting such news. Nobody expected this,” Johnson said.

He added, “I had a close conversation with him on Thursday, the guy was really positive on returning back, and being able to return after the World Cup… knowing what lies ahead, he was prepared.”

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) also confirmed Adams’ death in a post on X.

South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, described the footballer’s death as a huge loss to the country.

“It is with profound shock and a heavy heart that I have learnt of the passing of Jayden Adams, midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana, at the age of 25,” McKenzie said.

The South African Football Players Union (SAFPU) also paid tribute to the midfielder.

“Jayden had only recently represented South Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, carrying the hopes of the nation with pride, courage, and distinction,” the union stated.

It added, “His passing is an immeasurable loss to his family, teammates, clubs, the football fraternity and country at large.”

Adams played a key role in South Africa’s historic World Cup campaign. The Bafana Bafana side reached the knockout stage for the first time in the tournament’s history. He featured in all three group-stage matches. He started against Mexico and the Czech Republic before coming off the bench in the team’s 1–0 victory over South Korea.

At club level, Adams enjoyed a successful 2025/26 season with Mamelodi Sundowns. He helped the club win the CAF Champions League title after joining from Stellenbosch FC.

By Muhammad Abubakar

Senegal captain Sadio Mane has announced his retirement from international football following his country’s dramatic 3-2 extra-time defeat to Belgium in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 34-year-old ends a remarkable 14-year international career with 132 appearances and 55 goals for the Lions of Teranga. Widely regarded as one of Senegal’s greatest footballers, Mane played a key role in transforming the national team into one of Africa’s strongest sides.

His greatest achievement came when he inspired Senegal to their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations title, cementing his place in the country’s football history. Throughout his international career, Mane was known for his leadership, consistency, and match-winning performances.

His retirement marks the end of an era for Senegal, with fans paying tribute to a player whose contributions helped elevate the nation’s status on the world stage.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The death toll from the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 has increased to 3,889, according to updated figures released by the country’s authorities on Thursday.

Government officials said the twin earthquakes, which measured magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, also left nearly 17,000 people injured. The disaster displaced close to 18,000 residents after their homes were destroyed.

The latest report, which National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez shared on Telegram, showed that the number of confirmed deaths had risen from 3,811 to 3,889.

As relief efforts continue, interim leader Delcy Rodriguez has appealed for the release of Venezuelan assets frozen abroad to help fund humanitarian assistance and reconstruction projects.

The United Nations is seeking about $300 million to support recovery efforts in the country. The Venezuelan government is also in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over access to its financial assets, according to IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack.

La Guaira, a coastal state that suffered some of the worst destruction, recorded extensive damage. Officials said more than 800 buildings sustained damage, while 190 structures collapsed completely.

Although emergency agencies have reduced search-and-rescue operations two weeks after the disaster, many families are still searching for missing loved ones.

One of them is Ciro Ocando, who believes he has identified the spot where his two teenage sons remain buried beneath the rubble in Playa Grande, La Guaira. Ocando said he no longer expects to find them alive and now hopes only to recover the bodies of his 13-year-old and 18-year-old sons.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has strongly criticised FIFA over its decision to suspend the automatic one-match ban handed to United States forward Folarin Balogun after his red card incident at the ongoing FIFA World Cup.

UEFA, in a statement released on Monday, said the move threatens the credibility of football regulations and could affect the integrity of the tournament.

The European football body stated that FIFA’s decision “crossed a red line,” insisting that rules governing the game must remain consistent and free from selective interpretation.

“Yesterday’s decision to suspend for a probationary period of a year the implementation of the one-match automatic suspension following the red card issued to the player Folarin Balogun crossed a red line,” UEFA said.

The organisation noted that football depends on strict adherence to established regulations to guarantee fairness in competitions across the world.

“Football, like any other sports, relies on rules, which are the basis for fair, honest and transparent competition. Sometimes rules are open to interpretation. In this case not,” the statement added.

UEFA maintained that an automatic suspension after a red card is compulsory and should not depend on discretionary decisions.

“A minimum automatic suspension of one match following a red card is not a discretionary option and does not require the decision of a competent body to be enacted.”

The football body also warned that allowing exceptions during a major tournament could create problems for future cases involving other players who served similar punishments without exemption.

According to UEFA, the principle of automatic suspension is already established within football regulations and should apply equally to all players and teams.

The organisation further warned that weakening confidence in football rules could damage the sport globally.

“When the certainty of rules is no longer guaranteed by its guardians, the integrity of the game is at stake and the credibility of a competition is undermined,” it said.

UEFA also argued that the decision may force FIFA to apply similar treatment in future incidents during the World Cup.

“where similar situations will now require an equal treatment, to the detriment of the competition.”

The body stressed that football enjoys worldwide trust because the same laws apply everywhere.

“Football is the most loved sport in the world because it is a beautiful game and is trusted because it is played everywhere with the same laws. A tournament is never a pure standalone and, if the tournament in question is the World Cup, it has the power to drive positive or negative consequences on the game as a whole,” UEFA stated.

The organisation described FIFA’s action as unprecedented and difficult to justify.

“We express our disbelief at such an unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable decision.”

The controversy surrounding Balogun’s eligibility has continued to attract reactions from football authorities and stakeholders. Critics argue that the decision raises concerns about fairness and consistency in the administration of the World Cup.

Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter also criticised the development after reports emerged that the White House allegedly contacted FIFA over the matter before Balogun was cleared to play against Belgium in Monday’s Round of 16 match.

“Red cards are not overturned by political phone calls. They are overturned by rules, evidence and independent bodies,” Blatter said.

He questioned FIFA’s handling of the issue and raised concerns over possible political interference in football matters.

“If a U.S. President intervenes with the FIFA President — and a player is suddenly cleared before a World Cup knockout match — the question is unavoidable: Quo vadis (Where are you going), FIFA?”

Blatter further warned against allowing politics to influence football administration.

“Football must never become a playground for political power,” he said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A member of the United States Congress, Riley Moore, has said the administration of President Donald Trump will closely observe Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

Moore, a Republican lawmaker from West Virginia, stated this during an interview with NoireTV, which was later shared on the platform’s social media pages on Sunday.

Speaking on the credibility of Nigeria’s next elections, the congressman said Washington would pay serious attention to how the exercise is conducted.

“What I’d say is that we’re certainly going to be watching these results and how these elections unfold and how they’re executed. And that’s something that myself and the administration are going to be paying very close attention to,” he said.

The lawmaker also revealed that the US House of Representatives was working on an appropriations bill that contains provisions concerning Nigeria. He said the proposed legislation focuses on issues surrounding religious freedom and American security assistance.

“We’re working on Chris (Smith)’s bill, which obviously I’m a co-sponsor of that bill. But I’d say, more importantly, what people need to pay attention to is the appropriations bill that we’re going to have on the floor today,” Moore stated.

According to him, the bill includes strong measures that could shape future relations between both countries.

“There’s a lot of language that I put on that bill that’s inside of it that relates to Nigeria and the persecution of Christians and restrictions on security assistance to the government of Nigeria, and steps that they have to take.

“That bill’s likely to become law. We’re about to, hopefully, pass that here today. And so there’s some pretty strong and aggressive language in that bill that’s going to be binding as it relates to our relationship to Nigeria moving forward,” he added.

Moore further disclosed that he would continue discussions with the Trump administration on matters relating to Nigeria. He also said he was expected to meet the US president.

“I continue to work with the administration on next steps that we’re going to take. I’m actually going to see President Trump tonight. I’ll be having dinner with him and some other members, so yeah, I continue to talk to him about these issues, and it’s very important to him,” he said.

Moore is also a co-sponsor of the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026. The bill was introduced in February alongside Congressman Chris Smith.

The proposed legislation seeks to compel the US Secretary of State to provide regular reports to Congress on efforts aimed at addressing religious persecution and mass killings in Nigeria.

The bill also proposes reviews of Nigeria’s compliance with international religious freedom obligations. It covers US security support, sanctions, humanitarian assistance, and steps taken by the Nigerian government to protect vulnerable communities and prosecute attackers.

In April 2026, the US House Appropriations Committee approved provisions in its annual State Department funding bill that introduced stricter conditions for financial support to Nigeria.

The proposal, which has been forwarded to Congress, states that half of the funds allocated to Nigeria under foreign assistance programmes would remain withheld until the Nigerian government is certified to be taking “effective steps” to tackle religious violence.

The bill also demands support for investigations and prosecution of violence linked to Fulani militia groups. It further requires measures that would ensure the safe return of displaced persons.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has disclosed what he told Croatian midfielder Luka Modric after Portugal’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Croatia in the Round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Portugal recovered from a goal down to book a place in the Round of 16 after a tense encounter against Zlatko Dalić’s side.

Croatia took the lead in the 53rd minute through experienced forward Ivan Perisic. Portugal later responded in the 68th minute when Ronaldo converted a penalty to level the score. The goal marked Ronaldo’s first strike in the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup.

The match appeared set for extra time before substitute Goncalo Ramos scored a late winner with a header in the 94th minute to seal qualification for Portugal.

Croatia thought they had forced the game into extra time after Josko Gvardiol found the net in the 103rd minute. However, the effort was ruled out for offside.

After the final whistle, Ronaldo was seen speaking with Modric, his former teammate at Real Madrid. The Portuguese star later explained that he praised the Croatian midfielder for continuing to compete at the highest level despite his long career in football.

Ronaldo said, “I played many years with Modrić, it’s great to see him still playing at top level.

“I told him: congrats Luka, good luck for the future of your career”.

By Nura Jibo MRICS

The man, President Barack Hussein Obama, will never cease to amaze me. In 2008, when Obama was campaigning for his presidential bid against John McCain, I was in the Sudan Savanna region of Northern Nigeria, managing a N6 billion redevelopment of the Yankari Animal Game Reserve Holiday Resort and Safari Project in Bauchi State.

At that time, the 2i/c in my office, Dr Aminu Bashir, was scheduled to visit the United States. He asked me if there was anything that I needed him to buy in America. I humbly requested two (2) books: The Audacity of Hope and Dreams from My Father, both written by Barack Obama.

Indeed, it was a joyous moment for me the very day I laid my hands on the two of Obama’s international bestseller books. 

For those who are not aware of what qualifies a book to be labelled a bestseller, any book that its publishers sell an average of more than 10,000 copies within a week is automatically considered a bestseller under US standards. Obama’s “Audacity of Hope” immediately qualified for the New York Times bestseller list because of its profundity.

Today marks exactly 18 years since Barack Obama made history in the United States of America. And today, which marks the day of another victory with the launch of the Obama Presidential Centre on Juneteenth 2026, is not only a win for the US Democrats and democracy, but also a day when consistency meets sincerity and the ability to reemerge.

Chicago has been home to Obama, his wife Michelle, and their children, Sasha and Malia.

The lessons I learned from the Obamas are not only about courage and conviction but also about inspiring me to rise and do more with my life.

1. Personally, Obama’s personality (behaviours and appearance), as defined in simple psychology, inspired me to write my first book that debuted in 2010, which I sent to him and his wife, Michelle, one copy each-in 2010, via the US Embassy in Nigeria. At that time, my aim was not really to practice quantity surveying as a meal ticket. My dream was to immerse myself in the study of global literature and novels by renowned authors, such as the Russian Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky and the Chinese Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. I sincerely cared less about studying physics and chemistry books because I believed they offered less to humanity, as they contributed more to inflicting havoc on the scientific world via bombs, drones, and missiles. 

I deeply thought that science was never favourable for me. I was quite surprised when I see myself today practicing a segment of it and excelling in quantity surveying at an appreciable speed and awe, because my thinking was to one day appear in a global debate with world leaders such as Barack Obama to discuss the West and Africa and seek an explanation from my Kanoonline super writer friend, Dave McEwan Hill’s candid observation, who averred that: “If we want to keep our best people at home we have to provide a better country for them to operate in. If Nigerian leaders were honest, progressive, and ambitious, they would have rewarded high achievers rather than multibillion-dollar thieves.” McEwan Hill believes that many of our best brains would have stayed at home to build the nation.

However, most of them have gone overseas to be in more satisfying and more remunerative employment in better-run communities.

While I can’t agree with Dave as little as he does, his double-decker challenge was just like the way the Obamas challenged the late McCain and Trump, with his trumpeting of our cosmopolitan world in a George Galloway manner. Indeed, Dave McEwan Hill acknowledged what he described as my impressive contributions that nonetheless read like special pleading to ignite curiosity that the “blacks” are any less intelligent than the “whites. ” To which the question is more complex than that, as he asserted elsewhere that all members of all races function just as well as each other when placed equally in advanced environments. The key question is why some environments get so far ahead of others. 

So far, I have repeatedly featured and succeeded in debating the world at the United Nations Conference of the Parties level for umpteenth times.

2. Hence, anytime I listen to Obama, I come away with something new and extraordinary, not in my professional field, but outside my constituency. For example, before the birth of Obama’s Presidential Centre, I established a 3-hectare tree shelterbelt and two high-powered solar boreholes as a community organiser and climate change advocate in Nigeria. In my shelterbelt, biodiversity has already been restored for the people of Asayaya village across a comprehensive 3-hectare area, with a grant of no less than £70,000 from the BCDA.

3. After succeeding in biodiversity restoration, I looked up to the United States of America to leverage the establishment and registration of a segment of my NGO: the African Climate Change Research Centre (ACCREC), which I affiliated with the UNFCCC Secretariat in Bonn, Germany, as its climate observer organisation for well over sixteen years now. Prof. Bello Makama–an African American Chemist of all time, painstakingly registered ACCREC in New York and became its first US Country Director at SUNY-ERIE, courtesy of following the Obama legacy.

4. Now that Obama has launched his Presidential Centre in Chicago, with Presidents George Bush Jr., Biden, and Clinton in attendance, only God knows what is going on in my mind regarding what I will come up with in a couple of months. I will not digress, but I take a huge lesson from the veracity of Obama’s amazing construction, which cost well over $850 million, with Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects and Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates as its landscape architects; the centre is designed to receive an average of 1,666 visitors every week. They will enjoy learning, sports, entertainment and music to the zenith.

5. Indeed, anytime I read and watch the Obamas, rest assured I will come up with something new, especially when I reflect on their times as a husband and wife in perfect harmony.

6. The time they spent in Chicago, with Michelle as an Associate Dean and Obama as a professor of law, often reminds me of the days I traversed and visited nearly fifty countries for my international career. I lived in Europe, North Africa, South America, West Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, sharing ideas and presenting my case studies to the international community, my immediate community and African neighbourhoods.

7. Anyone who wants to know more about what I am up to in a couple of days can watch this space for my open letter to President Obama. This letter is certainly going to be different and very unique from the one I wrote and sent to President Donald John Trump at his house in Mar-a-Lago!

By Muhammad Abubakar

Anti-Muslim racism is widespread in Germany’s public institutions, with most Muslims reporting discriminatory treatment when dealing with state authorities, according to a recent survey highlighted by anti-racism advocates.

The findings, cited by the alliance against anti-Muslim hatred CLAIM, show that around 80 per cent of Muslims surveyed reported experiencing discrimination in their interactions with public institutions and authorities. The study examined experiences involving government agencies, public services, and other state institutions.

Researchers said the results point to persistent forms of institutional racism that affect Muslims in areas such as employment services, migration offices, law enforcement, and public administration. The study is among the most comprehensive investigations of racism within German federal institutions to date.

The survey comes amid growing concern over anti-Muslim hostility in Germany. A separate civil society report presented by CLAIM this week documented 4,096 anti-Muslim incidents nationwide in 2025, up from 3,080 cases in 2024. The incidents included discrimination, insults, threats, property damage, and violent attacks. Women accounted for nearly two-thirds of recorded cases where gender was identified.

CLAIM and other advocacy groups have called for stronger measures to combat anti-Muslim racism, including improved complaint mechanisms, better monitoring of discrimination, and expanded anti-bias training within public institutions.

Germany is home to more than five million Muslims, making it one of the largest Muslim populations in Europe. Recent studies have warned that discrimination and exclusion continue to pose significant challenges to social cohesion and equal participation in public life.

By Maryam Ahmad

A United Nations commission of inquiry has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, alleging that Israeli forces deliberately targeted Palestinian children and inflicted conditions aimed at destroying the future of the Palestinian population.

In a report released on Monday, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry said children accounted for nearly 30 per cent of the more than 67,000 Palestinians reported killed during the conflict. The commission argued that the use of heavy weapons in densely populated areas, attacks on essential services, and severe humanitarian conditions demonstrated genocidal intent.

The inquiry also documented widespread psychological trauma, attacks on healthcare facilities, and worsening conditions for children in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Israel strongly rejected the findings, describing them as false and politically motivated. Israeli officials said the military takes measures to minimise civilian casualties and blamed Hamas for operating within civilian areas and diverting humanitarian resources.

The report is likely to intensify international debate over the conduct of the war, which began after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel and has since resulted in heavy casualties and widespread destruction across Gaza.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

China has removed or suspended more than 12,000 university degree programs as part of a sweeping reform aimed at aligning higher education with the country’s economic and technological priorities.

According to data from China’s Ministry of Education, universities revoked or suspended about 12,200 undergraduate programs between 2021 and 2025 while introducing roughly 10,200 new ones. The changes affected more than 30 per cent of university programs nationwide. The cuts were concentrated in arts, humanities, foreign languages, and management-related disciplines.

Programs such as English literature, product design, and public administration were among those affected as universities reviewed courses deemed obsolete or less closely aligned with current labour-market needs.

The reforms come as China seeks to address a graduate employment challenge and strengthen its position in advanced technology industries. Officials and university administrators have increasingly emphasised programs that are seen as supporting national development goals and emerging sectors.

To replace the discontinued programs, universities introduced thousands of new degree offerings focused on advanced technologies and strategic industries. New majors include embodied intelligence, semiconductor engineering, and brain-computer interface technologies, among other fields linked to artificial intelligence and high-tech manufacturing.

The overhaul reflects Beijing’s broader ambition to build a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting innovation, technological self-reliance, and long-term economic growth. Supporters argue the reforms will improve graduate employability, while critics warn that reducing opportunities in the humanities could weaken intellectual diversity and critical inquiry within universities.

As China continues to reshape its higher education system, the reforms are likely to attract close attention from policymakers and educators around the world who are grappling with similar questions about the future of work and the role of universities in a technology-driven economy.