Sport

Germany Advance, Netherlands Hit Five Past Sweden

By Web News 83

By Maxwell Oyekunle

Saturday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 action produced goals, late drama and impressive individual performances as Germany and the Netherlands strengthened their positions in the group stage race.

In Group F, the Netherlands delivered one of the standout performances of the tournament with a commanding 5–1 victory over Sweden.

The Dutch attack was spearheaded by Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo, who both scored braces to overwhelm the Swedish defence.

Crysencio Summerville added the fifth goal to complete an emphatic outing, while Anthony Elanga scored Sweden’s only goal.

Brobbey’s movement and physical presence consistently troubled Sweden’s back line, while Gakpo once again demonstrated composure and attacking efficiency as the Netherlands strengthened their grip on Group F.

The Netherlands win made it 14 matches unbeaten in the global finals to set a new record.

They had shared it with Brazil, whom Garrincha and Pele propelled to 13 games without defeat from 1958 to 1966.

In Group E, Germany secured qualification into the knockout rounds with a dramatic 2–1 comeback victory over Ivory Coast.

Ivory Coast had taken the lead through Franck Kessié, putting pressure on the Germans.

Germany responded strongly in the second half through substitute Deniz Undav, who scored the equaliser in the 68th minute before completing the comeback with a stoppage-time winner.

With this result, Germany has registered a record 16th comeback victory in the World Cup.

Brazil are next on 15 while no other nation has rallied from behind to win on more than six occasions.

Elsewhere in Group E, Ecuador and World Cup debutants, Curaçao settled for a goalless draw.

Despite Ecuador creating several opportunities and controlling large periods of possession, Curaçao remained organised throughout.

Curaçao Goalkeeper Eloy Room emerged as one of the game’s defining figures with a composed display that helped his side earn a valuable point.

Attention now turns to Sunday’s fixtures.Tunisia face Japan in Group F, while Spain take on Saudi Arabia and Uruguay battle Cape Verde in Group H.

In Group G, Belgium meet Iran, before New Zealand square up against Egypt as teams continue their push for qualification.

Follow us on Telegram and YouTube, and join our WhatsApp Update Group for more updates.

Economy

Nigerians, greatest primary asset- Tinubu

By Web News 417

President Bola Tinubu has informed international investors that Nigerians are highly educated, highly skilled, and naturally industrious, are the primary asset and advantage the country wields.

The president  made the speech at a panel discussion in Berlin, Germany, titled, ‘Fostering Local Value Chains and Investments in Africa: The Role of the German Private Sector at the G20 Compact with Africa Economic Conference, hosted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

President Tinubu said Nigeria’s energetic youth population and well-educated populace represent the greatest incentive towards replication of China’s economic resurgence.

“We are dogged in our pursuit of natural gas development today, in tandem with hydrogen production for tomorrow. The world knows Nigeria as a leader in the energy sector. Our vast gas deposits and business-friendly environment make us an attractive investment destination. But we are going a step further now. We are creating fiscal responsibility and tax reforms as we reform our financial institutions to expeditiously accommodate foreign investments. We are eager and ready to partner with you”. President Tinubu stated.

We have the youngest, largest, and most vibrant youth population in Africa. Equally, we have every ingredient required in the making of a modern economy: a well-educated population, a massive market, and the political will to bring it all together under my leadership. Africa has moved beyond the false past notions of barriers to business and poor adherence to the rule of law. We now fully recognize the nexus between the inflow of investor money and the sanctity of contracts. We want to partner on the basis of who we are and what we do, rather than on the basis of long-held misconception”, the president stated.

President Tinubu emphasized the need to develop its economy for massive job creation, technological progress and new opportunities in Nigeria’s expanding information and communications technology space.

“Nigeria has consolidated on its democracy with several consecutive handovers of power. There is stability and predictability in the socio-political development of our country, which provides a conducive atmosphere for business operations and investment. Your money is safe. Since I assumed office in May 2023, we have embarked on transformative changes, removing all obstacles hindering businesses. We are reforming the economy based on the principle and philosophy of good governance,” the President affirmed.

While persuading German automobile firms to establish manufacturing plants in Nigeria, President Tinubu invited German businesses to take advantage of investment opportunities in multiple sectors identified during the visit of the German Chancellor to Nigeria in October.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had said the dynamic economic relations between the developed and developing nations of the world positioned Germany to enhance partnership with Nigeria and Africa on a mutually-beneficial basis.

“To be clear, this is not about traditional development aid with donor-recipient schemes. Instead, we now focus on investments that yield benefits for both parties. In Germany, as we strive for climate neutrality by 2045, we anticipate a substantial demand for green hydrogen, a considerable portion of which we plan to import, including from Africa. Many African countries possess larger potentials for renewable energy and competitive hydrogen production than we do. I am convinced that there are fantastic opportunities for expanding cooperation between German and African companies in this context. I highlighted this during my visit to Nigeria, where we already operate a hydrogen office and aspire to be a partner in the ambitious expansion of renewable energies,” the Chancellor stated.

Other panelists at the event were the President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire; Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch of Morocco; President Macky Sall of Senegal; Sabine Dall’Omo, Chairperson of Afrika-Verein (German-African Business Association); and CEO of Sub-Saharan Africa, Siemens AG.

FRCN Abuja/Adetutu Adetule

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Economy

Germany, Ogun Deliberate on Easing Unemployment

By Web News 477

By Segun Folarin

Notable employers of labour and wealth creation experts have converged on Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital to fashion out ways of addressing the challenge of unemployment among Nigerians. 

The conference, put together by the Ogun State Government in collaboration with the German Agency for International Cooperation was also aimed at exploring public and private sectors collaboration to boost employment generation. 

The theme of the two – day event, tagged the maiden edition of Ogun State Employment Conference, is “Addressing Employment and Job Creation in Ogun state: Tapping into Local and Global Opportunities”. 

Addressing the participants, the Director, Employment and Wages, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr John Nyamali emphasized the need to strengthen the relevant employment policies in the bid to check the trend of mass unemployment. 

In a presentation entitled”  understanding the role of policy frameworks in stimulating growth and Job creation: pathways to sustainable employment and decent jobs” Dr Nyamali described the recent review of the National Employment policy as a veritable way to balance the country’s economic growth and address low capacity within the economy.

Dr Nyamali maintained that the high level of unemployment and chronic poverty were caused by flaws and contradictions in running a macro economic policy regime in a predominantly informal economic structure.

Declaring the conference open, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs Noimot Salako Oyedele said actionable steps and strategies must be taken to reduce unemployment to the barest minimum, both on the short and long-term basis. 

Governor Abiodun reiterated his administration’s commitment to the implementation of policies and programmes that would lift thousands of the State indigenes out of poverty, before the end of his tenure in office. 

In a remark, the team leader, Skills Development for Youth Employment, Detlef Barth explained that the conference was designed to propose policy recommendations that would foster inclusive and sustainable employment through the promotion of conducive employment framework. 

Dr Barth expressed the hope that the conference would foster a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of Employment and job creation in the context of global and current realities in Ogun state.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of  Industry, Trade And Investment, Dr. Olu-Ola Aikulola had described the situation of unemployment in the country as dreadful, hence the need for governments to devise pragmatic policies and rally the private sector to mobilize investments in the productive sectors for job creation.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Foreign

Sudan: Diplomats, Foreign Nationals Evacuated

By Web News 519

A growing list of countries have evacuated diplomats and citizens from Sudan’s capital as fierce fighting continues to rage in Khartoum.

The US and UK announced on Sunday they had flown diplomats out of the country.

France, Germany, Italy and Spain have also been evacuating diplomats and other nationals.

A vicious power struggle between the regular army and a powerful paramilitary force has led to violence across Sudan for more than a week.

US authorities said they had airlifted fewer than 100 people with three Chinook helicopters on Sunday morning in a “fast and clean” operation.

The US embassy in Khartoum is now closed, and a tweet on its official feed says it is not safe enough for the government to evacuate private US citizens.

The UK government managed to airlift British diplomats and their families out of the country in what was described as a “complex and rapid” operation. Foreign Minister James Cleverly said options to evacuate the remaining British nationals in Sudan were “severely limited”.

Culled / Titilayo Kupoliyi

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Foreign

Battlefield: US, Germany, Set to Send Tanks to Ukraine

By Web News 526

After months of reluctance, the US and Germany reportedly plan to send tanks to Ukraine, in what Kyiv hopes will be a game-changer on the battlefield.

The report says, US President Joe Biden’s administration is expected to announce plans to send at least 30 M1 Abrams tanks.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has also reportedly decided to send at least 14 Leopard 2 tanks. He is set to speak in parliament on Wednesday morning.

Russia’s ambassador to the US said the news was “another blatant provocation”.

And the Kremlin spokesman said Germany’s reported decision would “bring nothing good” and leave “a lasting mark” on relations with Russia.

According to Ukrainian officials, they are urgently in need of heavier weapons and say sufficient battle tanks could help Kyiv’s forces seize back territory from the Russians.

But until now, the US and Germany have resisted internal and external pressure to send their tanks to Ukraine.

Washington has cited the extensive training and maintenance required for the high-tech Abrams.

Germans have endured months of painful political debate amid concerns that sending tanks would escalate the conflict and make Nato a direct party to the war with Russia.

US media is reporting that an announcement regarding Abrams shipments to Ukraine could come as soon as Wednesday, with unnamed officials cited as saying at least 30 could be sent.

However the timing remains unclear, and it could take many months for the US combat vehicles to reach the battlefront.

German officials had reportedly been insisting they would only agree to the transfer of Leopard 2s to Ukraine if the US also sent M1 Abrams.

“If the Germans continue to say we will only send or release Leopards on the conditions that Americans send Abrams, we should send Abrams,” Democratic Senator Chris Coons, a Biden ally, told Politico on Tuesday.

Britain has already said it will send Challenger Two tanks to Ukraine.

Poland – one of 16 European and Nato countries that have German-made Leopard 2 tanks – has been pushing to send the vehicles to Ukraine, but under export, rules need Berlin’s permission.

BBC/Taiwo Akinola

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Economy

Germany Rules Out Immediate End to Russian Oil Imports

By Web News 613

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock says  Germany will end oil imports by the end of the year, with gas following.

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised Germany for failing to curb Russian energy imports.

He described energy payments as “blood money”.

Proceeds from the sale of Russian oil and gas amount to around $1bn, £770m, a day, undermining international efforts to put economic pressure on President Vladimir Putin to end the war.

The US has already banned Russian oil imports and the UK plans to phase them out by the end of the year.

But according to report, European Union Countries are more heavily dependent on Russian energy, with Germany currently buying around 25% of its oil and 40% of its gas from Russia.

Mr Lindner told the newsmen that his country was working to implement an embargo on Russian energy but that he preferred using sanctions.

He said a sudden halt to Russian energy imports could see the physical shutdown of German producers such as manufacturers and carmakers.

Mr Lindner insisted that any calculation on Vladimir Putin’s part that Germany would continue to rely on Russian energy was “wrong”.
“In the end, we don’t want to have any further business with Putin,” he said.

Earlier this week, German economic institutes warned that immediately halting Russian imports would spark a sharp recession in Europe’s biggest economy by 2023.

However his stance was at odds with statements made by Germany’s foreign minister, Ms Baerbock, who is Green Party co-leader.

Ms Baerbock said Germany would halve Russian oil imports by the summer and eliminate them altogether by the end of the year, to be followed quickly by a reduction in Russian gas imports.

Germany’s finance minister was keen to sound tough on Russia and appears acutely aware of the criticism levelled at his country for dragging its feet over a full energy embargo on the Kremlin.

His basic message was – it is coming, but not quite yet, because it is impossible to enact immediately and would probably lead to shutdowns of large swathes of the German economy.

Mr Lindner said Germany would move as fast as possible, but did not confirm that would be within a year.

In Berlin this issue appears to be putting some stress on the three-party governing coalition.

Mr Lindner leads the free market FDP, not the normal bedfellows for the Social Democrats and Greens.

Meanwhile Green Party leader Annalena Baerbock, also the foreign minister, said dependence on Russian oil would definitely finish by the end of the year. The Chancellery under Olaf Scholz appears to be the most cautious on this issue.

BBC /Taiwo Akinola

Health

COVID19: WAHO, Germany Donate 8m Dollars PPEs to Nigeria

By Web News 787

The West African Health Organization, WAHO has donated assorted Personal Protective Equipment, PPE’s, worth Eight million dollars to Nigeria for COVID19 response.

 Presenting the items, in Abuja, the Director General of WAHO, Professor Stanley Okolo said the goods which are the first batch of the consignment were procured in collaboration with the Government of Germany.  

He said the organization was mindful of the need for a regional  response to the pandemic which has affected thousands.

The ECOWAS cluster coordinator and German representative, Mr Ludwig Kirchner highlighted the items to include over twelve thousand goggles, two hundred and Ninety four thousand gloves, over twenty three thousand Gowns, eight thousand one hundred and Ninety coveralls.

Other items included one thousand six hundred face shields, twelve thousand N95 masks, ten thousand surgical masks, five thousand hand sanitizers, two ventilators and over Forty thousand Diagnostics test kits. 

 Receiving the items the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, who thanked WAHO and the German Government for the donation, described the products as critical supplies for COVID-19 response.

He also promised to ensure that the commodities are put into proper use.

Emmanuel Kutara

Yoruba

Àarẹ Buhari késí ilẹ̀ òkèrè láti dọwọ́pọ̀ pẹ̀lú ilẹ̀ Nàijírìa

By Web News 761

Àarẹ Muhammadu Buhari ti rọ àwọn olùdóokowò láti orílẹ̀dè Germeny pé kíwọ́n wá gbé ilésẹ́ ajé kalẹ̀ papáà lẹ́ka ohun àmúságbara.

Nígbà tó ńgba ìwé ìwosẹ́ látọ̀dọ̀ asojú ilẹ̀ Germany sórílẹ̀èdè Nàijírìa Birgitt Ory, nílé àarẹ Buhari fọwọ́ ìdánilójú sọ̀yà fáwọn oní ilésẹ́ ajé láti orílẹ̀èdè Germany, pé ìjọba yóò buọlá fún àdéhùn gbogbo.

Ìwé àdéhùn lárin orílẹ̀èdè méjèjì lórí iná ọba yóò mú kí ìbásepọ̀ wọn gbòòrò si.

Nínú ọ̀rọ̀ rl, asojú ile Germany sórílẹ̀dè Nàijírìa, Birgitt Ory sọpé ànfàní ńlá lójẹ́ fún láti sisẹ́ sin ilẹ̀ Nàijírìa, èyí tóun ti fojú sọ́nà fun, lọ́jọ́ pípẹ́.

Tósì sàpèjúwe ilẹ̀ Nàijírìa gẹ́gẹ́ bí orílẹ̀èdè tótóbi jù tósì se pàtàkì jùlọ nílẹ̀ adúláwọ̀.

Kẹmi Ogunkọla/Oluwakayọde Banjọ