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Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Japan midfielder Wataru Endo from Stuttgart, subject to a work permit and international clearance. The 30-year-old Japan international has signed a four-year contract which will keep him at Anfield until 2027, in a deal worth £16.2m.  Endo, who arrives on Merseyside after four seasons at Stuttgart, where he made 133 appearances and scored 15 goals, told the club's website: "I'm very happy right now and I'm so excited to join a big club in Liverpool. "It feels amazing and this is my dream. It's always [been] a dream to play [in the] Premier League and with one of the biggest clubs in the world. It's a dream come true for me.  "It's going to be the first time for me that I play at Anfield. I can't wait to play at Anfield in front of Liverpool fans. "I play as a No 6 and I'm like a bit more [of a] defensive player. I think I can help this club defensively and I will have a good organisati...

  An American journalist and New York University graduate was killed during a freak rope-swinging accident on Aug. 12, according to her employer KCRA. Kathryn Hoedt, 23, died after witnesses say she fell 30 feet from the rope swing onto rocks along the shoreline at Folsom Lake, just 24 miles outside of Sacramento, California.   Friends who were with Hoedt helped carry her to a nearby boat ramp where park officials were located at the time. An off-duty doctor performed CPR before an ambulance arrived to transport Hoedt to a Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.   “I can’t believe it’s real, you know, she was such a bright light,” her mother Beth told KCRA. “Today, I tried to get some work done, and it was really, really hard because I knew Katie’s never going to be calling me again, and it’s going to be just something that I’m never going to get used to.” Hoedt, graduated from San Jose State University in 2021 before she earned her Master’s degree from Ne...

  The organisers of the Africa Muzik and Magazine Awards have released the nominees' list for the 2023 edition of the ceremony. The ‘Unavailable’ crooner, Davido, leads the pack with six nominations. The pop star is nominated in categories, ‘Album of the Year’, ‘Song of the Year’, and ‘Artiste of the Year’, among others.  Davido was followed by Rema and Burna Boy, who grabbed three nominations each while Tiwa Savage, Odumodublack, and Omah Lay who earned two nominations each. The nomination list for this year’s edition was published on AFRIMMA’s official website on Thursday afternoon, August 17.  The ceremony is scheduled to be held on September 17 at the Monumental Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. See the full list below: Best Male West Africa Adekunle Gold – Nigeria Black Sheriff – Ghana Bnxn– Nigeria Santrinos Raphael– Togo Asake– Nigeria Didi B – Ivory Coast King Promise– Ghana Tonton Pal – Mali Omah Lay – Nigeria   Best Female West Africa Amaar...

  The names of the top three nominees for the 2022/23 UEFA Men's Player of the Year award have been revealed. Manchester City stars, Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and and former PSG and now Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi are the three nominees for the 2022/23 Men’s Player of the Year Award.   “UEFA has announced the names of the top three nominees for the 2022/23 UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award,” the statement reads. According to UEFA, its technical study group made the shortlist based on the performance of players in the 2022/23 season. Performances for both club and country were considered.   The group trimmed the nominees to three via the votes of a jury consisting of coaches of clubs that participated in the group stage of European club competitions last season. National team coaches and selected journalists’ groups completed the jury. The winner will be announced at the Grimaldi Forum, Monaco, on Thursday, August 31.

  A 17-year-old boy from West Philadelphia has been arrested in the U.S. in an ongoing terrorism investigation following an FBI raid at a home along Woodbine Avenue.  He is accused of communicating with a group affiliated with Al-Qaeda.   The teen, who was arrested on Friday, August 11, is being charged as a juvenile, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said at a news conference. "The young man who is under arrest is -- was an aspiring terrorist who was not merely thinking, but was doing things that are deeply disturbing and presented a grave danger to everyone," Krasner said.   The teen allegedly had acquired chemicals and had taken steps to build a weapon of mass destruction. "Among the items he purchased were tactical equipment, wiring, chemicals, and devices often used as remote detonators," FBI Special Agent in Charge Jacqueline Maguire said at the news conference. "He had not only taken steps in acquiring those items and materials that...

  Terrorists have claimed responsibility for a Nigerian Air Force surveillance helicopter which crashed in Badna, Chukuba ward of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.   The Nigerian Air Force had confirmed the crash on Monday, August 14, adding that they've commenced a probe to determine the probable cause of the incident.   However, in a two-minute-and-seventeen-second video making rounds online, some terrorists claimed they brought down the helicopter using AK47 rifle.   Daily Trust Fact-Check team verified the video which they said is new on the internet and has high chances of being real. The narrator in the video who spoke in Hausa, said they belonged to Dogo Gide group, one of the notorious bandits that had terrorised parts of Niger State, causing deaths of many farmers and security operatives.

Former Paris Saint-Germain star, Neymar has denied reports circulating in the media that he joined Saudi Pro League because of money. Recall that Neymar joined Al Hilal on a two-year deal and will be earning £129.4 million per year, an average of £2.5m per week salary. With a lot of years to still play for, Neymar has been accused of leaving Europe because of the eye-watering cash he has been offered in Saudi. The Brazilian star said that rather than money, his move to the Middle East was motivated by his desire to ‘be a global player’. “I have achieved a lot in Europe and enjoyed special times, but I have always wanted to be a global player and test myself with new challenges and opportunities in new places. “I want to write new sporting history, and the Saudi Pro League has tremendous energy and quality players at the moment.”

  A 35-year-old pregnant woman, Busisiwe Ngubo, was among four women who were brutally killed in separate incidents across KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.      Ngubo, who was pregnant with twins, was found dead a kilometre away from her home in the Ehlanzeni area in the Ubuhlebezwe local municipality on Monday, August 14, 2023.      She was supposed to give birth to her twins on Tuesday, August 15, 2023.      KwaZulu-Natal provincial social development MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday, said Ngubo left her residence after receiving a call from her police officer boyfriend.    "It is alleged she had been strangled and her body was discarded on the roadside. The victim was on the verge of delivering twins, a joyous occasion that was tragically cut short,” Khoza said.    “Reports indicate Ngubo had left her residence after receiving a call from her police officer boyfr...

Lionel Messi has helped his Inter Miami team reach the Leagues Cup final against Nashville on Tuesday night. The Argentina World Cup winner scored a stunning strike from 35 yards to lead Miami to an emphatic 4-1 victory over Philadelphia Union on Wednesday morning, August 16.   Miami made a whirlwind start with Messi's strike partner Josef Martinez scoring in just the third minute.  Messi later added to the score line with  Jordi Alba and David Ruiz also finding the net. 'We worked our way to the finals and we made it,' Messi said on Instagram after the game. 'We're still on the last step.'     Miami coach Tata Martino heaped praise on his star trio of Messi, Busquets and Alba after another commanding win. 'They (Messi, Busquets, & Alba) pass on this confidence to the younger players and (Messi) has this commitment to the game,' Martino said. 'He's working a lot, especially on recovery balls and this is infectious to his teammates....

Former American football star, Alex Collins has been confirmed dead following a motorcycle accident he was involved in at about 10:20PM on Sunday, August 13, in Florida.  Broward County Sheriff's Office Traffic Homicide Unit said Collins was riding a 2004 Suzuki GSX-600K in Lauderdale Lakes when the accident occurred.   Broward County said the investigation is still ongoing, but the information they've gathered thus far indicates a woman driving a Chevrolet Suburban made a turn, crossing over the lane Collins was traveling in, causing him to strike the rear passenger side of the SUV. Emergency responders rushed to the location, but Alex was pronounced dead on the scene. The woman remained on the scene and is cooperating with authorities who are still investigating the crash. Alex Collins, was running back who played five seasons in the National Football League. He had his two best NFL seasons with the Ravens in 2017 and 2018, and the team is remembering him “for the ...

Donald Trump has been indicted in Georgia for his alleged roles in trying to overturn the 2020 election in the state.    Fani Willis, the district attorney for Fulton County, Georgia, secured the 41-count indictment from a grand jury on Monday, and told a press conference the indictment alleged 'violations of Georgia law arising from a criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the election in this state.' He was charged along with 18 others - Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, Mark Meadows, Ken Cheseboro, Jeffrey Clark, Jenna Ellis, Ray Smith III, Robert Cheeley, Michael Roman, David Shafer, Shawn Still, Stephen Lee, Harrison Floyd, Trevian Kutti, Sidney Powell, Cathleen Latham, Scott Hall, and Misty Hampton.   The former president is accused in the 98-page charge sheet of the following felony counts, including:   Violating Georgia's racketeering act Solicitation of violation of oath by public officer Conspiracy to impersonate a public officer Conspiracy to ...

  American singer, Ciara took to Instagram to share new photos of her growing baby bump.   The star, who is pregnant with her fourth child shared images of herself rocking a crop top with low-rise jeans that showcased her bare belly.    This will be her third child with husband Russell Wilson, 34, who is a quarterback with the Denver Broncos. The couple already have son Win, three, and daughter Sienna Princess, six.     

  Pop star, Beyoncé appeared to show supper Lizzo following her recent lawsuit for sexual harassment that was launched against the singer by three of her former backup dancers. During her concert on Monday night, August 14, in Atlanta, Georgia, Beyoncé confirmed she was sticking with the embattled rapper and singer by continuing to include her name in a list of inspiring women in her Break My Soul remix.   The 41-year-old hitmaker went even further, though, by shouting, 'I love you, Lizzo!' in the middle of the line.   Beyoncé had previously returned Lizzo's name to the lineup after removing it earlier in August, and her mother Tina Knowles downplayed the exclusion that it wasn't intentional.   According to her, Beyonce also didn't mention the name of her famed sibling Solange in the sequence at the show. 'She also didn't say her own sister's name [y'all] should really stop,' the Galveston, Texas native said in the thread.   The Boston s...

  Manchester United defender, Harry Maguire's £30 million move to West Ham has reportedly collapsed. The Hammers agreed on the fee for the defender last Wednesday as David Moyes looks to strengthen his squad for the new season. According to The Guardian, the Europa Conference League winners grew tired of waiting for the defender to finalise an exit from Old Trafford, with Maguire thought to want a pay-off of around £7m to leave the club. Maguire had agreed personal terms with Moyes' side, but was set to be on less money and hence he wanted appropriate compensation to leave the club.  But so far the two parties have been unable to agree a settlement and in turn the Hammers became frustrated by the lack of progress on the deal and have chosen to move on.   The 30-year-old has had a tumultuous time at United since his record-breaking £80m move from Leicester in 2019. However, in the past few years and faced heavy criticism as well as being stripped of the club captai...

  A final-year student of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Mbah Ezinne, has been found dead in her room.  The lifeless body of the Department of Anatomy student was found in her apartment on July 31, 2023, after she was not seen in her church. One of her brothers, Mbah Samson, on Monday, August 14, 2023, shared a Facebook post by one Akalu Moon, who accused a lady, Anita Josephine Ogona, of tarnishing late Ezinne's image online. The post also alleged that the deceased was murdered.  It was gathered that the deceased, who was a cherished member of the church community, had attended a praise night with her friends on Friday, July 28, 2023. The group dispersed around 4:am on Saturday to prepare for the Youth Day festivities slated for Sunday, July 30.  According to SaharaReporters, after the service began in the church on Sunday, Ezinne's friends and family attempted to reach her on the phone but a voice prompt repeated that her mobile...

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have killed a local chief and one other person and abducted many travellers in Enugu State.   The incident occurred at Neke along the Ugwogo-Neke-Ikem road in Isi-Uzo local government area of the state between 7:30 and 8 pm on August 11, 2023.  An eyewitness, Kingsley Odoh, who spoke to journalists in Enugu on Saturday,  said t he suspected kidnappers swooped on passersby along the road, shot sporadically at oncoming vehicles and killed two persons.    They also kidnapped passengers in a bus plying the Enugu-Ugwogo-Neke-Ikem road.   “ Chief Cyril Mbah from Neke Odenigbo-Nike was gunned down by suspected kidnappers along the Ugwogo/Isi-uzo road, near Neke Odenigbo junction,” he said.    "He was rushing home with his daughter in his car when he ran into a group of suspected kidnappers who suddenly opened fire on him. Unfortunately, he couldn’t survive the gunshots but nothing happened to his daughter  ...

  Anthony Joshua on Saturday night, August 12 delivered a seventh-round knockout of Finnish boxer, Robert Helenius making it his first Knock out win since he defeated Kubrat Puliev on December 12, 2020. The Former unified heavyweight champion was supposed to fight with Dillian Whyte at the O2 Arena in London bug Whyte failed a drug test last week, with Helenius who has just foight seven days ago in Finland, coming in as a last minute replacement. Helenius gave a good showing of himself attempting to counter punch and throw jabs in the first few rounds while Joshua wary of a repeat of the Andy Ruiz situation slowly threw his jabs and had to wait till the seventh round to strike the killer blow.   The fast right hand knockout sent Helenius tumbling after a three-punch combination. As Helenius rolled down the ropes the the referee didn’t waste time to end the match. With a potential fight against Deontay Wilder (who beat Helenius in the first round when the both fought)...

  American singer, Lizzo has denied she has split from boyfriend Myke Wright in the wake of shocking sexual harassment and abuse claims against her.   The Juice hitmaker, 35, and Wright, who started dating in 2021 after hosting MTV live music show Wonderland together in 2016, were hit by split claims after the pair unfollowed each other on social media with Lizzo deleting all their photos together.   However, a spokesman for the star has told DailyMail there is 'no truth' in claims the pair have gone their separate ways. A source had told the US Sun: 'Lizzo has taken the past few weeks very hard and her relationship has suffered. They had a big falling out and she is really upset. 'Both of them have thought of themselves as soulmates, so for it to end has been hard on them. 'Those close to them are hoping they will make up.'   The couple has been publicly linked since October 2021, according to People, with the Good As Hell singer confirming their rel...

  Nigerian athlete, Tobi Amusan has been given the all clear to participate in the World Championship starting this weekend in Budapest Hungary.   Recall that on Tuesday, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) released a list of 26 athletes, who will be representing Nigeria at the world championship which holds from August 19 to 27, 2023.  But Tobi Amusan’s name was conspicuously missing following her suspension by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for missing three consecutive tests.   After she appeared before the jury on Thursday, August 10, Tobi Amusan’ got a favourable verdict.   The championships will run from August 19 to 27 and Nigeria’s contingent to Budapest will be seeking to add to the one gold, five silver and five bronze medals won by their predecessors from 1983.   Amusan and long jumper, Ese Brume, won Nigeria’s  only medals at the championships last year. She raced to a new world record time of 12.12secs in the semi-fina...

  Veteran Nollywood actor, Chinwetalu Agu, has recounted how he turned down N10 million offer from billionaire businessman Mike Adenuga, for a project. In an interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo, Agu said at the time the N10 million offer was made, he had not earned N1 million on his own, yet he insisted on getting N20 million.   The actor said he was about to leave Adenuga’s office when the business mogul eventually agreed to pay him N20 million for the project .   He described the contract agreement as the “most wonderful thing at that moment”.   In his words;   “Chief Mike Adenuga said, what I have for you in this contract is N10 million. I had not seen N1 million before when he was pricing me N10 million but I refused. I said, if it’s not N20 million, forget it. He insisted, I insisted. So, I pretend to rise up and said, give me money to go back to Enugu. If there’s any available flight, book it for me let me just quietly go back. They...

The High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg, has convicted 29-year-old Ntsikelelo Saki of the premeditated murder of Ekurhuleni West College Campus student, Mbali Hlongwane.     The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson-Gauteng Local Division, Phindi Mjonondwane, in a statement said they will argue for the harshest sentence on Friday, 11 August 2023.      "The accused and the deceased were both students at Ekurhuleni West College campus in Katlehong," the statement read.      Saki accused Hlongwane of taking a video of him urinating at a tavern and uploading it on the students’ WhatsApp group. An argument ensued between them.     The accused and the deceased also had another argument concerning the qualification criteria for writing an exam. The deceased was happy that she qualified and told the members of the WhatsApp group, sparking excitement from all those that qualified....

  Harry Maguire will reportedly be given a £10million payout to leave Manchester United ahead of a planned move to West Ham.    The Red Devils have agreed to the £30m move with the east London club, and personal terms are currently being discussed between Maguire and the Hammers.    According to  The Sun , Maguire will drop his wages from £190,000 a week to £120,000 a week when he officially joins West Ham, but the defender has received a £6m pay-off from the Red Devils.   West Ham coach, David Moyes is reportedly preparing to offer the England star the captain's armband in the wake of Declan Rice's departure earlier in the summer window.   The report claims that the England international knew that his time at the club had finished when he had the captain's armband taken away from him and handed to Bruno Fernandes.   Everton and Newcastle United are among the clubs to have also been credited with an interest in the former Sheffi...

  An American woman was arrested this week for performing a sex act on her dog after her ex discovered disturbing footage of the encounter on security cameras and turned it over to police. Brittany McClure, 30, was arrested for sodomy and animal abuse for the alleged assault of the couple’s dog Max, Fox 2 Detroit reported. The woman’s ex-boyfriend found a video of her performing the act on their dog while reviewing footage on surveillance cameras he set up in the living room of their shared home in Taylor, according to the outlet. Police said that the man turned the six minutes of footage, which he described as highly upsetting, over to investigators. “In that video, it shows defendant Brittany McClure lying on the living room floor on a mattress with a blanket. She opens the blanket and calls the dog over,” Taylor Detective, Philip Collop said in court on Wednesday, according to Fox 2. “She is heard saying ‘good boy’.” Another police with the Taylor police department s...

Former US President Donald Trump has vowed not to pledge to support the Republican party’s eventual 2024 nominee – a requirement in order to participate in the first GOP presidential primary debate, which he still hasn’t committed to attending.   “I wouldn’t sign the pledge. Why would I sign a pledge? There are people on there that I wouldn’t have. I wouldn’t have certain people as, you know, somebody that I’d endorse,” Trump, 77, told Newsmax host Eric Bolling during an interview on Wednesday, August 9. “I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president. So right there, there’s a problem,” Trump said of the Republican National Committee’s loyalty pledge requirement. Signing the “Beat Biden pledge” is a requirement that has been put in place by Republican party Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel in an effort to prevent intra-party fighting during the primaries and general election. Candidates who have met the Republican National Committee’s polling and fun...