Category: NEWS

* Describes the dastardly act as inhumane and unsportsmanlike 
Deji Elumoye in Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has formally reacted to the inhuman treatment of the Super Eagles players in a Libyan airport with a call on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to ensure that those behind the incident are made to face the music.
The president, in a release issued on Monday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said he expected the Disciplinary Board of CAF to conduct a thorough investigation and recommend appropriate action against those who wilfully violated the organisation’s statutes and regulations.
Although deeply moved by the inhuman treatment endured by the Super Eagles of Nigeria at a Libyan airport, President Tinubu has, however, warmly welcomed their safe return to Nigeria.
The harrowing experience of the national football team at the hands of their hosts and the Libyan authorities prompted the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to withdraw the Super Eagles from the scheduled match on Tuesday.
The president commended the proactive coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development in addressing the unfortunate episode and ensuring the safe return of our players.
President Tinubu applauded the players for keeping their spirit alive despite the excruciating ordeal in Libya.
The president recognised football’s unifying power in bringing nations and people together and views the treatment of “our citizens as unsportsmanlike and inhumane”, a stark contrast to the spirit of the game he deeply appreciates.
He fervently called on all lovers of the round-leather game and administrators to unite and work collaboratively to prevent and overcome such incidents in the future.

On October 14, the Associated Press reported that Nashville police confirmed a shooting incident during Tennessee State University’s homecoming celebration on October 12, resulting in one death and nine injuries.

During an interview, a spokesperson for the Nashville Police Department shared that as the crowd began to disperse around 5 PM, a confrontation broke out between two groups near the campus, leading to gunfire. He noted that evidence from shell casings indicates a firefight took place on a nearby street.

In a statement on social media, the police revealed that a 24-year-old man was killed in the shooting, while three teenagers, aged 12 to 14, sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Nashville Metropolitan Police Chief Anthony McLean commented that the shooting appeared to be unrelated to the university’s festivities. “Unfortunately, some individuals marred a joyous occasion,” McLean stated. “We must take action to put an end to this violence.”

On October 20, a representative from China News reported from Beijing that Liangma River, steeped in a century of history, has become a cultural and tourism gem for the city and a recommended night-time tour route for “Beijing Under the Moon.” With the opening of the 2024 Beijing Chaoyang International Light Festival, the river is shimmering with lights, while technology-driven light shows blend seamlessly with vibrant, everyday life, creating a beautiful scene that tells the captivating story of a city that never sleeps.

The cultural and economic corridor along Liangma River features the theme “Chasing Light, Beautiful Shadows.” It is divided into three areas: the Liangma River International Waterfront showcasing “Flowing Light and Art,” the Chaoyang Park section offering “Light Adventures,” and the Junwangfu area embodying “National Style Shadows.” This year’s event hosts over 50 light art installations, more than 10 entertainment activities, and incorporates both waterway and land routes for visitors to explore.

As visitors stroll along the banks of Liangma River, they are enveloped in enchanting light and vibrant life. Starting at Yansha Wharf, an AI dancer performs gracefully on nearby buildings in a dazzling projection show titled “Light Dance Blossom,” a captivating blend of digital artistic technology. Just a short distance away, the Kempinski Hotel continues the tech-forward visual style established at the inaugural light festival, showcasing a whimsical “Bright Horse” alongside enchanting flying membranes.

At Liangma Bay, various technologies come together in the whimsical architectural lighting of the platinum ship lock, with stunning lotus flowers blooming vibrantly. The visuals of red koi and phoenixes swimming freely create a captivating auditory atmosphere. Upon reaching Blue Harbor Wharf, the “Wonderful Night: Music Box” light show immerses viewers in a spectacle of music and visual arts, transforming the unique waterfront structural space into a stage of magic.

Crossing Guanquan Bridge leads to the “Illuminated Forest” within Chaoyang Park—a first in the country, featuring a “forest concert” using combined laser drawing and 3D light arrays. Visitors can walk among cascading crystal light curtains while enjoying the interplay of lights and music—a truly breathtaking experience. The “Mountain of Light” emerges subtly, skillfully sculpting representations of modern architecture in Chaoyang District, making it a popular photo spot.

As the festival unfolds, the “Chasing Light” water shuttle service becomes a highlight. Blue Harbor serves as a key hub for this unique water-based illumination tour, allowing passengers to experience the enchanting blue harbor light show and the “Tide Surging” laser performance from Shell Theater, the perfect vantage point for this visual feast.

The festival has also introduced a range of activities across its waterfront venues, including the “2024 E-sports Beijing: A Night of National Style E-sports” event, which merges e-sports with traditional culture, along with a National Style Market featuring traditional attire, games, and culinary experiences. From October 18 to 20, the Beijing Bread Festival at Chaoyang Park brings together over 130 baking and beverage vendors, while the Bubble Mart “Adorably Odd” market draws younger crowds with its unique flower seating.

The Liangma River Cultural Economic Belt is recognized as one of the first national-level night-time cultural and tourism consumption clusters, receiving accolades for urban renewal and leisure districts. It has become a beloved destination for both locals and tourists, often referred to as the “chillest” living space in the capital. The inaugural light festival saw the “Jifeng Chaoyang” light show emerge as one of the standout performances, drawing over 1.13 million visitors to the nearby Blue Harbor and enhancing commercial activity along the riverside.

Looking ahead, the Liangma River Cultural Economic Belt aims to enhance and upgrade, inviting emerging industries and digital art activities to cultivate a trendy cultural hub and new consumption destination. With upcoming projects in Liqiwang and expanded waterfront experiences, the initiative seeks to elevate the overall commercial quality and create more internationally distinctive scenes, content, and activities within the region.

On October 16, parents and community members from Sutro Elementary School gathered to protest against the San Francisco Unified School District’s (SFUSD) decision to close the school. Despite boasting an impressive 94% enrollment rate and being recognized as a California Distinguished School in 2023, Sutro Elementary found itself on SFUSD’s closure list, prompting strong opposition from parents.

In a bid to amplify their voices, organizers formed the “Keep Sutro Open” initiative, aimed at preserving the 130-year-old institution. Abby Davis, president of Sutro Elementary’s parent-teacher association, expressed her frustration with SFUSD’s decision regarding a high-performing school. She emphasized that Sutro is a vital part of the community, providing quality education to a diverse student body.

Located in the Richmond District, Sutro Elementary is the only federally funded school in the area and is well-regarded for its Cantonese bilingual education. Parents are concerned that if the school closes, students will be forced to attend farther-away schools, disrupting their learning and creating significant challenges for families who rely on Cantonese bilingual programs.

Many parents are questioning the fairness of SFUSD’s closure decision. Zhao Jinpu, a Chinese parent, remarked, “If the criteria for closing schools are based on fairness, how can shutting down the only school in the Richmond District that offers Cantonese bilingual education be considered fair?”

Furthermore, parents highlighted that Sutro students consistently achieve higher scores in reading and mathematics compared to the district average, along with an exceptionally low teacher turnover rate. This has led many parents to believe that the school should not be included in the closure list.

Data provided by the protest organizers further underscore the perceived inequities in the SFUSD’s decision. Over 60% of Sutro’s students come from low-income families (compared to the district average of 51%), and 51.1% are English learners (against the district average of 29%). The student demographics show a significant representation, with 74% identifying as Asian, 10% as White, 6% as Latino, and 7% as multiracial.

During a recent visit to the children’s paradise in Fengshan Village, Longjin Town, Anyi County, Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province, we found a vibrant atmosphere filled with joy and laughter. Kids were having a blast on numerous attractions, including Koala Bungee, the Spinning Wish Tree, Rainbow Slide, Pink Sand Pool, and bumper cars.

“Not long ago, this area was just a wasteland filled with rundown buildings, weeds, and trash. Now it’s transformed into a beautiful children’s park. The environment has improved, and there’s finally a place for our kids to play,” commented Ms. Wang, a local resident.

The land, which was previously unused and over 40 acres in size, has been redeveloped into the Kung Fu Koala Children’s Paradise through strategic planning by Longjin Town. This initiative has not only revitalized dormant assets but also significantly enhanced the village’s financial capacity through collective investments and profit-sharing, thereby driving rural tourism development.

Mr. Li, another local resident, expressed his satisfaction, saying, “With such a large children’s park right at our doorstep, our kids are safe and happy playing here, which gives us parents peace of mind. The entrance fee is affordable, and all the attractions inside are free to play all day long.”

According to Zhang Kangkang, the village party secretary, the park has seen a remarkable rise in visitor numbers since its opening. “We’re averaging around 2,000 visitors a day, with peaks of up to 4,000. By the end of the year, we expect to host approximately 300,000 tourists, generating over 20 million yuan in revenue.”

Wei Xiang, the general manager of the Kung Fu Koala Children’s Paradise, shared future plans for the park. “We’re working on a second phase of development to create a comprehensive amusement experience that combines dining, shopping, and entertainment, all while boosting the sales of local agricultural products and creating job opportunities for residents. Our aim is to achieve a win-win situation for the village, its people, and the company.”

In recent years, Anyi County has embraced the integration of agriculture with tourism and village development, promoting comprehensive rural construction initiatives. This approach has led to the establishment of unique eco-villages and picturesque locales, painting a new picture of beautiful countryside where each household boasts scenic views, each village tells a story, and every road offers breathtaking sights.

On October 16, Canadian officials issued a statement condemning the recent attack by the Israeli military on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). In their remarks, Canada reiterated the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire.

Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly and Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan expressed their deep concern about the escalating violence in the Middle East. They emphasized that it must come to an end and urged the international community to seek diplomatic solutions before more humanitarian tragedies unfold. They called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages.

The statement also condemned the Israeli military’s intensification of attacks on civilian infrastructure in northern Gaza. It highlighted the increasingly dire humanitarian situation, noting that aid entering Gaza has significantly decreased, leaving many in an unacceptable and worsening predicament.

In addition, Canada denounced attacks on Israel by Hamas and Hezbollah, calling for all parties in the conflict to fulfill their obligations under international law and ensure the safety of civilians, emergency responders, and UNIFIL personnel.

On the same day, the Canadian government announced that it would provide transitional financial assistance to Palestinians who have recently fled Gaza and arrived in Canada as a result of the ongoing conflict. This aid aims to help meet their basic needs for food, clothing, and housing, as well as assist with settling in and seeking employment. However, specific details regarding these measures have yet to be released.

ReutersReuters reported that small protests were held on Saturday night by residents after the electricity grid failureHurricane Oscar has made landfall in eastern Cuba, packing winds of nearly 80mph (130km/h) on the third day of a nearly nationwide power outage.
On Friday, the island's main energy plant failed and knocked out electricity for 10 million people. Supply was partially restored on Saturday, before collapsing again.
Energy and Mining Minister Vicente de la O Levy said power would be restored for most by Monday night, while "the last customer may receive service by Tuesday".
The category 1 hurricane made landfall near the city of Baracoa at 17:50 local time (21:50 GMT), where waves reaching up to 13ft (four meters) high hit the seafront.
A few hours after landfall, Oscar weakened into a tropical storm, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC).
The NHC said the storm could still cause "significant" flash flooding and mudslides in eastern areas.
For many people since the outages began, it has been a few days with no air conditioning or fan. Food is now beginning to rot in fridges, and some families are having to cook with firewood. Many homes are without water as the supply depends on electric pumps.
Patience is wearing thin, certainly as expressed by many on social media.
It is an increasingly critical situation, with schools and businesses closed and fears for the continued functioning of hospitals.
There are fears that a significant storm would damage Cuba's creaking energy distribution infrastructure.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Saturday that authorities in the east of the island were "working hard to protect the people and economic resources, given the imminent arrival of Hurricane Oscar".
Friday's total blackout came after the Antonio Guiteras power plant in Matanzas – the largest on the island – went offline around 11:00 local time.
The communist president has blamed the decades-long US embargo for preventing much needed supplies and replacement parts from reaching Cuba.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez later echoed the president's words, posting on X that "if the embargo is lifted, there will be no blackouts. This way the US government could support the Cuban people… if it wanted to".
Cuba has also been hit this year by a drop in crucial fuel shipments from Venezuela.
On Friday, Cuban officials announced that all schools and non-essential activities, including nightclubs, were to close until Monday.
Non-essential workers were urged to stay home to safeguard electricity supply, and non-vital government services were suspended.
"This is crazy," Eloy Fon, an 80-year-old pensioner living in central Havana, told the AFP news agency.
"It shows the fragility of our electricity system… We have no reserves, there is nothing to sustain the country, we are living day to day."
Bárbara López, 47, a digital content creator, said she had already "barely been able to work for two days".
"It's the worst I've seen in 47 years," she said. "They've really messed up now… We have no power or mobile data."
AFPA few buildings in Havana still have electricityFuel in Cuba to become five times more expensiveCuba laments collapse of iconic sugar industry'The violence is getting out of hand': Crime grips Cuba's streetsPrime Minister Manuel Marrero addressed the public in a televised message on Thursday, blaming deteriorating infrastructure, fuel shortages and rising demand for the electricity failures.
"The fuel shortage is the biggest factor," he said.
The head of the National Electric Union (UNE) Alfredo López Valdés also acknowledged the island had been facing a challenging energy situation, with shortages chiefly to blame.
Extended blackouts – particularly one this widespread – are always a tense time in Cuba.
In part, because the ability to keep the lights on represents a potential public order issue for the Cuban government.
In July 2021, thousands of protesters spilled into the streets in demonstrations sparked by days-long blackouts in much of the country.
The Cuban government has become increasingly aware that many on the island have lost a degree of fear over speaking out about the many daily problems they face.
Some are even prepared to take to the streets and chant anti-government slogans, if conditions merit it.
In March, Hundreds of people in Cuba's second-largest city, Santiago, staged a rare public protest over chronic power blackouts and food shortages.

With less than one week to the NNL pre-season seminar aimed at equipping second tier team coaches and media officers with good knowledge of how to handle issues related to the league, one of the resource persons, John Joshua Akanji has declared that the seminar will adequately equip the participants ahead of the beginning of the 2024/2025 season.
Akanji, a veteran journalist and former media aide to former Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, will be among senior journalists that will tutor media officers at the seminar expected to kick off on Monday, October, 28 at Remo Stars Complex, Ikenne, Ogun State.
According to him, the successes recorded in the league last season could be attributed to the seminar held at the same venue, noting that all the national leagues need such seminars inorder to upscale the knowledge of the coaches and team media officers on what are expected of them as the championship progresses.
” I want to commend the NNL board under the Chairmanship of Mr. George Aluo for this initiative in introducing the seminar.
“The maiden edition was a very huge success which contributed to the seamless league they had last season and I believe that this year’s edition will even be more successful because of the calibre of resource persons that will handle the seminar.”
He was particularly happy that the league board went beyond limiting the seminar to the coaches since he believes media officers are critical stakeholders because the reports they send out can have either positive or negative effect on the league.

On October 14, 2024, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, the Malaysia-China Life Sciences Research and Development Forum took place at Taylor’s University in Kuala Lumpur. The forum aimed to enhance collaboration and innovation in the life sciences sector between the two nations.

The event gathered over fifty experts and scholars from both Malaysia and China who are actively engaged in the life sciences field. Notable attendees included Datuk Lee Weng Chai, the Non-Executive Chairman of the Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation, and former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Wang Jianmin, as well as representatives from six leading universities in Malaysia.

A significant highlight of the forum was a technical workshop led by Chinese experts, where Malaysian scholars had the opportunity to learn about a groundbreaking microfluidic droplet technology that has received global patents. During the workshop, Chinese scientists provided live demonstrations and practical guidance, earning high praise from their Malaysian counterparts for their exceptional research capabilities.

Throughout the forum, scholars from the six Malaysian universities presented dozens of research topics in the life sciences, expressing their eagerness to collaborate with Chinese partners. In response, Chinese representatives committed to supplying each participating university with the necessary qPCR equipment and consumables to support their research projects and enhance the research capabilities of graduate students.

This cooperation is expected to significantly advance the application of techniques in molecular biology and genetic research at Malaysian universities.

On October 14, Xinhua News Agency reported that various Chinese institutions, including the National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center, have released detailed reports exposing the U.S. government’s indiscriminate surveillance of global telecommunications and internet users. These revelations highlight how the U.S. government agencies have engineered fictitious narratives surrounding Chinese cyber threats, all while serving the interests of certain political and economic groups.

Recently, these institutions released additional reports that further disclose the U.S. federal government’s collaborative espionage activities against China and other nations. Utilizing covert tools designed to mislead attribution analysis, U.S. intelligence agencies pay lip service to “false flag” operations, attempting to mask their own malicious cyber activities while blaming other countries. The “Typhoon” operation has been characterized as a carefully orchestrated political farce driven by U.S. government interests.

The Chameleonic Nature of Cyber Operations

Earlier this year, the National Computer Virus Emergency Response Center disclosed various cyber weapons developed by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). These analyses showcase the features and stealth tactics employed by U.S. intelligence in foreign cyber attacks, revealing only a fraction of the vast arsenal they possess.

For years, the U.S. has actively pursued a “preemptive defense” strategy, deploying cyber warfare units near rival nations to conduct reconnaissance and infiltrate online targets. To facilitate this strategy, U.S. intelligence agencies developed a covert “toolkit” called “Marble,” which allows them to obfuscate their malicious cyber actions and mislead attribution efforts. This framework helps developers camouflage identifiable characteristics within the code, effectively erasing their digital fingerprints and making it impossible for investigative bodies to trace the true origins of cyber weapons.

Moreover, “Marble” can embed strings in various languages, including Chinese, Russian, Korean, Persian, and Arabic, further misleading investigators and framing countries such as China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and several Arab nations as aggressors. This toolkit exemplifies the indiscriminate espionage activities conducted by U.S. intelligence agencies globally, implementing “false flag” operations to misdirect researchers and frame “rival nations.”

The Actions of the “Peeping Tom” in Cyberspace

Documentation from the NSA reveals that the U.S. maintains a significant technical and geographical advantage, allowing it to dominate critical transatlantic and transpacific undersea internet cables. The establishment of seven national-level traffic monitoring stations in collaboration with the FBI and the United Kingdom’s National Cyber Security Centre facilitates wholesale data interception, enabling widespread surveillance of global internet users.

Beneficiaries of this data surveillance range beyond just intelligence and military organs; they include numerous federal administrative agencies, including the White House, cabinet officials, and various departments like the Department of Commerce, State, Treasury, and others. The “Typhoon” operation thus involves not only intelligence agencies but a broader network of U.S. government bodies driven by shared interests.

The results of this intelligence-gathering inevitably yield vast amounts of readable and retrievable data. To manage this, the NSA has implemented two pivotal projects: the “UpStream” project, which archives raw communication data from intercepted undersea cables; and the “Prism” project, which classifies and analyzes this data while also mandating U.S. tech companies to provide user information directly from their servers.

NSA documents indicate that the agency’s Tailored Access Operations team conducts widespread and clandestine cyber intrusions, deploying over 50,000 spy programs targeting regions like Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and South America. Notably, major Chinese cities appear to be within the scope of these covert operations, with many command-and-control centers located in bases outside the U.S.

Unusual Events Indicate Deeper Issues

Following the release of the second report on the “Typhoon” investigation, American officials and their mainstream media remained largely silent. However, some former and current U.S. government officials, as well as cybersecurity firms, voiced skepticism about the investigation’s findings through social media and independent news outlets, expressing concern that the reports misrepresented their research.

One company’s sudden retraction raises eyebrows. They claimed that errors in their previous assessment led them to amend their findings related to the “Typhoon” report. This cursory explanation has generated further doubt, suggesting that their alterations were made under external pressure.

Sherrod DeGrippo, Director of Threat Intelligence Strategy at Microsoft, stated at the BlackHat conference that the so-called “Typhoon” group remains active with no signs of halting, yet offered no solid evidence to substantiate claims of support from the Chinese government.

For years, U.S. government agencies have politicized cyber attack attributions for their own gain. Companies like Microsoft and CrowdStrike, aiming to align with U.S. political interests, have embraced sensational names for hacker groups—resembling geopolitical stereotypes—such as “Typhoon,” “Panda,” and “Dragon,” without rigorous evidence backing their claims.

China firmly opposes the politicization of technical investigations into cybersecurity incidents, objecting to attributing cyber attacks to geopolitical motives. In contrast, U.S. agencies seem undeterred in fabricating non-existent cyber threats, seeking to extract substantial budget allocations from Congress. In the end, this recklessness may backfire, leading to a significant reckoning as informed scrutiny turns towards those crafting these deceptive narratives.