Northerners Plotting Against Tinubu Unpatriotic – Matawalle
Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence, criticized northern politicians for allegedly plotting against President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections. He labeled them as unpatriotic and lacking grassroots support. Matawalle defended Tinubu, highlighting the significant benefits the northern region has received under his leadership and urging unity among northern political leaders to support Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. He cited several key appointments of northerners in Tinubu’s administration, emphasizing their substantial roles in various government sectors.
Sancho Open to Juve Move
La Gazzetta dello Sport reported Jadon Sancho's interest in joining Juventus this summer. Manchester United prefers a €50m permanent transfer, while Juventus seeks a loan deal. Sancho, previously rejected by ex-coach Allegri, remains keen on the move. Juventus might consider a player swap involving Federico Chiesa. Sancho has also been offered to other clubs, but their offers haven't met Manchester United's demands.
Putin and Xi to meet at SCO summit to bolster security and counter the US
Photo credit: Reuters
Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping are due to meet on Wednesday at a summit of a Eurasian security and defence club seen by Moscow and Beijing as an instrument to counter the influence of the United States and its allies.
Putin and the Chinese president have expanded the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a club founded in 2001 with Russia, China and Central Asian powers, to include India, Iran and Pakistan as a counterweight to the West.
Putin is holding a series of bilateral meetings on Wednesday on the sidelines of the July 3-4 SCO summit in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, the Kremlin said.
Ahead of the meeting with Xi, Putin met Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the presidents of Azerbaijan and Mongolia, Ilham Aliyev and Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh.
India said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected in Moscow later this month, will not attend. He is sending Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar instead.
Russia and China regard the SCO, which promotes common approaches to external security threats, such as drug trafficking, and focuses on countering any domestic instability, as a means to project their influence across Asia.
"The leaders of the SCO member countries will discuss the current state and prospects for further deepening multifaceted cooperation within the organisation and improving its activities," the Kremlin said in a statement.
Tinubu Mourns Veteran Journalist Kabir Yusuf
Photo Credit: Leadership News
President Bola Tinubu has extended his condolences to the family of veteran journalist, Mr. Kabir Yusuf, who passed away on Tuesday.
According to a statement by Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, Yusuf, a veteran journalist, was the Federal Capital Territory correspondent for The Triumph Newspaper and Radio France Internationale Hausa.
He covered the State House for many years until his passing.
The President prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed and comfort to his family in this time of grief and always.