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Malaria devastating Nigerian families daily, APPMED laments

The Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (APPMED) has raised the alarm over the devastating effects of malaria on Nigerian families.

The association’s president, Reverend Kubiat Akpan, raised the alarm during a public enlightenment campaign against malaria in Lagos.

In a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, Akpan said medicine dealers, as frontline healthcare providers, witnessed the toll of the disease on families daily.

He described malaria as a major public health challenge requiring the collective intervention of individuals, organisations and governments.

Akpan pledged that members of the association across the country would intensify efforts to reduce the prevalence of the disease.

‘As medicine dealers on the frontlines of healthcare delivery across every ward and local government in Nigeria, we see the devastating impact of malaria on families every single day,’ he said.

‘When we align community health practitioners with the passion of our youth, malaria will have no hiding place in Nigeria.’

He said the fight against malaria could not be left to the government alone, stressing that patent medicine dealers, who are often the first point of contact in many communities, had critical roles to play in early detection, appropriate referral and public education.

The APPMED president added that sustained public enlightenment, youth engagement and community-based action were essential to winning the fight against malaria.

As part of its commitment to the national anti-malaria campaign, the association recently endorsed the Geneith Health Competition, a 1 billion youth-driven malaria awareness initiative organised by CEOAFRICA and sponsored by Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited.

Azerbaijan, Syria discuss prospects for expanding economic ties

Azerbaijan and Syria have discussed prospects for expanding economic cooperation.

According to Azerbaijan’s Cabinet of Ministers, Prime Minister Ali Asadov met with Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Mohammed Nidal al-Shaar.

The sides highlighted the importance of the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum.

They noted that relations between Azerbaijan and Syria have been developing with positive momentum in recent months.

The sides also stressed that meetings and regular contacts between President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Syrian transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa have created favorable conditions for strengthening bilateral political dialogue and expanding cooperation in various areas.

The supply of Azerbaijani natural gas to Syria was highlighted as an important example of economic cooperation between the two countries producing practical results.

The sides also emphasized the importance of humanitarian initiatives, including a project aimed at restoring educational infrastructure in Syria with the support of the Azerbaijani government.

The meeting focused on prospects for developing cooperation between Azerbaijan and Syria in trade and the economy, investment, energy, infrastructure and humanitarian affairs.

Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Samir Sharifov also attended the meeting.

Earlier, on the first day of the 2nd Azerbaijan International Investment Forum in Baku, Syrian Minister of Economy and Industry Mohammed Nidal al-Shaar announced the establishment of the Syria-Azerbaijan Joint Business Council.

WTA says ‘health and safety’ first after Tatiana Prozorova exit

Tatiana Prozorova said she was forced to withdraw from her Singapore Open women’s singles semifinal after a ball off an opponent’s smash hit her face during a doubles match on Friday night.

Prozorova and her partner Sofya Lansere were three points away from losing their quarterfinal match before Japan’s Miyu Kato inadvertently hit her.

‘Guys, unfortunately, the organizers withdrew me from the WTA Singapore Open 500 [semifinal match],’ Prozorova posted on Instagram.

‘Today, during the doubles match, one of the opponents hit a smash in my direction; it grazed my cheek and hit my shoulder. Things like that happen sometimes.’

The 22-year-old Prozorova received medical attention before retiring from the doubles match and was later pulled out of her singles semifinal duel against Australia’s Talia Gibson. Gibson is now in the final via walkover and will face the winner between Leylah Fernandez and Maja Chwalinska.

According to the WTA, Prozorova was ‘clinically assessed by the WTA’s on-site sports medicine team and the Tournament Physician’ and was ruled unfit to compete.

‘Under the WTA Physical Incapacity Rule and Concussion Protocol, a player who is diagnosed with a concussion is not permitted to compete and will be ruled physically unable to do so,’ the WTA said in a statement emailed to the Inquirer.

‘The player may only return to competition once they have successfully completed the required graduated return-to-play protocol and have received appropriate medical clearance. This process is designed to protect the player’s health and safety and to reduce the risk associated with returning to competition before adequate recovery.’

The WTA’s decision did not sit well with Prozorova after her impressive campaign in Singapore came to an abrupt end.

‘The organizers’ decision really upset me. My dream week came to an today,’ she said.

Prozorova also called out the WTA for an ‘overreach of authority’ and urged the organizing body of women’s tennis to ‘reconsider your own rules.’

The WTA, however, stressed that player health and safety are their ‘highest priority.’

‘We fully understand that players want to compete whenever possible. However, following a head injury, our medical teams have a responsibility to protect player health and welfare and to follow established concussion protocols and internationally recognized guidelines when determining a player’s return to competition.’

‘Return-to-play recommendations are determined on an individual basis and kept under medical review. We will continue to support Tatiana and wish her a full and speedy recovery.’

Prozorova is on the entry list for the WTA 1000 China Open in Beijing, which begins on Wednesday.

The Russian World No. 180 is playing her best tennis, advancing to her first-ever tour-level semifinal after upsetting Alex Eala in the round of 16 on Thursday and China’s Wang Xinyu in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Ekiti community unveils devt plans

Osi-Ekiti community in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State has unveiled a series of development initiatives aimed at strengthening its economy, reviving academic excellence, promoting tourism and culture and creating opportunities for youths.

The initiatives were unveiled as part of activities marking the 2026 Uponna Olosi celebration themed ‘Our heritage: Building strength for development.’

The traditional ruler of the community, the Olosi of Osi-Ekiti, Oba (Dr.) Stephen Adegboyega Alabi said the annual event was being repositioned as a platform for unity, global participation, tourism and community development.

He said Osi Day, which was rechristened Uponna Olosi last year, was expected to grow into a major tourism and development platform for the community, while acknowledging the contributions of indigenes at home and abroad to the growth of Osi-Ekiti.

According to him, the community has established think tanks focusing on five key areas – industrial development, academic revival, promotion of arts, culture and tourism, sports revolution and legal advancement – as part of efforts to accelerate development.

He said the initiatives were designed to revive Osi-Ekiti’s leadership in academics, mentor young scholars, promote its cultural and tourism potential, develop sports as an alternative source of livelihood for youths and encourage indigenes to attain excellence in the legal profession.

The monarch disclosed that the event, which is to start with Prayer sessions from September 28, 2026, at the palace of Osi Ekiti by 8:00a.m will be coordinated by the chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

Oba Alabi said the community had opened a new market for farm produce on June 28, 2026, describing the initiative as a means of strengthening local commerce.

He further highlighted global honours to recognise outstanding sons and daughters of Osi-Ekiti, noting that the first edition honoured professors, a registrar of a federal higher institution, a trade union leader and first-class graduates.

Alabi said work on the new royal palace was also progressing steadily through contributions from the Osi Progressive Union and other partners.

He listed some of the improvements as the opening of a new entrance and exit for the royal grounds, landscaping of the palace forecourt, refurbishment of the customary court building into a Palace Hall, construction of a public toilet, refurbishment of the Olumayese Royal Platform and provision of royal furniture and other utilities.

Similarly, the community is pursuing the development of the proposed Sports Arena, with land donated for the project having been surveyed.

Global President of Osi Progressive Union, ACM Oludare Fadogba (rtd.), said the proposed sports complex would provide opportunities for talent discovery, healthy living and recreation, while also promoting discipline, teamwork, leadership, entrepreneurship and skills acquisition among youths.

Fadogba said the 2026 celebration, themed ‘Our Heritage: Building Strength for Development,’ would therefore go beyond cultural festivities to mobilise support for the completion of the Olosi’s Palace and development of the sports complex.

The community is seeking to raise N500 million through an appeal fund for the development projects during the grand finale of Uponna Olosi Day on October 1, 2026.

The week-long celebration, scheduled for September 28 to October 4, will feature a prayer session, community clean-up, football competition, marathon race, youth carnival and cultural panorama, awards, royal procession, honorary chieftaincy installations and other cultural activities.

The grand finale will take place on October 1 at the Health Centre Complex, Iropora Road, Osi-Ekiti, with Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, expected as Special Guest of Honour.

The celebration will also feature the commissioning/opening of Mercy International Hospital on October 3, before the thanksgiving service on October 4.

John Bennett crashes into barriers on opening lap of Formula 2 race [PHOTOS]

Trident driver John Bennett crashed out on the opening lap of the Formula 2 feature race at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The British driver’s car hit the barriers, forcing him to retire from the race. His car was subsequently removed from the track.

The Formula 2 races are part of the support programme at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which is being held at the Baku City Circuit from September 24 to 26.

The event marks the 10th anniversary of Formula 1 racing in Azerbaijan, with the main Formula 1 race scheduled for September 26.

FULL LIST: Man City face points deduction, fine, expulsion as possible punishments for 114 financial breaches

Manchester City could face a range of sanctions after an independent commission found the club guilty of 114 of the 115 financial-rule charges brought against them.

The sanctions are yet to be determined, while City are expected to appeal the verdict.

The case relates to alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial regulations between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons, as well as alleged failures by the club to co-operate with the league’s investigation.

The Premier League charged City in February 2023 with 115 alleged breaches. The charges included 54 relating to financial information, 14 concerning player and manager payments, five involving UEFA regulations, including Financial Fair Play rules, seven concerning the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules, and 35 relating to alleged failures to co-operate with the investigation.

The league’s disciplinary rules allow an independent commission to impose several sanctions.

Points deduction

City could be handed a points deduction, potentially affecting their Premier League position.

The league has previously imposed points deductions for financial breaches. Everton, for example, initially received a 10-point deduction for breaching the Profitability and Sustainability Rules, which was later reduced to six points following an appeal.

No publicly established points tariff applies to the City case, so any deduction would depend on the commission’s assessment of the breaches and relevant mitigating factors.

Fine

The commission can impose an unlimited fine, with no fixed maximum amount under the disciplinary rules.

There is currently no indication of how much City could be ordered to pay if the commission imposes a financial penalty.

Suspension from Premier League matches

The commission can also suspend a club from playing Premier League matches for a period it considers appropriate.

Such a sanction would have a significant sporting impact on City, although the commission has not indicated it intends to impose a suspension.

Player-registration restrictions

The disciplinary framework also allows the commission to cancel or refuse player registrations in certain circumstances.

This could potentially restrict City’s ability to register players, although there is no indication that such a punishment will be imposed.

Compensation

Another possible sanction is an order for City to pay compensation.

The rules do not set a stated monetary limit on the amount of compensation that can be awarded.

Could Man City be stripped of Premier League titles?

The possibility of City losing titles won during the period covered by the charges has also attracted attention.

Title stripping is not expressly listed among the commission’s named sanctions. However, the Premier League’s disciplinary rules give the commission broad powers to impose a combination of penalties or ‘such other penalty as it shall think fit’.

City won three Premier League titles during the period covered by the case: 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18.

However, the Premier League has no established precedent for stripping a club of a title over financial-rule breaches, leaving the possibility uncertain.

Expulsion from the Premier League

The most severe potential sanction would be expulsion from the Premier League.

The league’s rules allow an independent commission to recommend that a club be expelled from its membership.

No domestic precedent exists for a financial case of this nature resulting in expulsion.

City previously faced a major European sanction when UEFA banned them from the Champions League for two seasons in February 2020 over Financial Fair Play breaches. The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the ban in July that year, while reducing the club’s fine.

For now, the sanctions against City have yet to be determined, with the club expected to appeal the commission’s verdict.

Azerbaijani FM, UN chief discuss South Caucasus peace process [PHOTOS]

On the margins of the UN General Assembley, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres.

According to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the sides exchanged views on regional and international developments, including Azerbaijan’s engagement in the UN framework and its role in promoting dialogue, stability, and cooperation.

Azerbaijan’s active participation within the UN and its specialized agencies, its active contribution to multilateralism, international law, and the principles of the UN Charter was emphasised.

The discussions also addressed Azerbaijan’s contribution as a donor country and its humanitarian initiatives.

The discussion highlighted global climate action and sustainable development, noting Azerbaijan’s successful hosting of COP29, alongside expanding role in renewable energy, transport, and regional connectivity.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov briefed on recent progress in the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process, confidence-building efforts in the South Caucasus, large-scale reconstruction in liberated territories supporting the return of former IDPs, and demining efforts.

Hybrid campaign targets Azerbaijan-Trkiye brotherly ties

The temporary commission of the Milli Majlis against foreign interference and hybrid threats (the Commission) has examined an information campaign directed against Azerbaijan in recent days. According to the Commission, the campaign has been conducted from the territory of the Republic of Trkiye through social media platforms.

The findings paint a clear picture. Certain centers launched this effort not only to strike at the Azerbaijan-Trkiye partnership, but to confuse public opinion more broadly. The goal, investigators concluded, was to plant seeds of distrust in citizens toward their own state and its institutions, and to stir up division within society.

The campaign is coordinated. It relies on targeted advertisements, and it uses a mix of real and fake social media accounts to amplify its message and make manufactured outrage look like a genuine groundswell. This combination includes paid promotion and artificial voices.

It should be noted that the issue is particularly sensitive given the close and long-standing relationship between Azerbaijan and Trkiye. The two countries have repeatedly described their ties as those of two brotherly states, and the principle of “one nation, two states” has become a widely recognized expression of the relationship between the Azerbaijani and Turkish peoples.

Against this background, attempts to create mistrust between the two societies through social media can have an impact beyond individual online discussions. Information circulating on digital platforms can quickly reach large audiences, while misleading or deliberately manipulated content can make it difficult for users to distinguish between genuine information and coordinated campaigns.

The commission pointed out that some people in both Azerbaijan and Trkiye who have no malicious intentions have nevertheless supported or shared elements of the campaign. This makes public awareness and caution particularly important.

Azerbaijan and Trkiye continue to maintain particularly close political, economic, security and people-to-people ties. Cooperation between the two countries extends across a wide range of areas, while regular high-level contacts have reinforced the strategic character of bilateral relations.

For Baku and Ankara, maintaining public trust between the two societies remains an important part of the broader relationship.

In such a difficult period, it is necessary to remain vigilant and not to believe fabricated information.

Azerbaijan Grand Prix heads into final day of racing

The final day of the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix is underway in Baku, with Formula 2 and Formula 1 races on today’s schedule.

The first race will be the second Formula 2 feature race, starting at 11:00 and ending at 12:05.

The Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix will start at 15:00 and run until 17:00.

Mercedes driver George Russell will start the Formula 1 race from pole after topping qualifying. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start alongside him in second, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri will line up third.

Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar will start fourth, followed by McLaren’s Lando Norris, Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Williams driver Carlos Sainz and Haas driver Esteban Ocon.

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks the 10th Formula 1 race weekend in Baku and will conclude after today’s main race.

Rafael CSmara wins Formula 2 feature race at Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Rafael CSmara took victory in the Formula 2 feature race at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with the Invicta driver finishing ahead of Campos Racing’s Nikola Tsolov and Rodin’s Alexander Dunne.

CSmara claimed the top step of the podium, while Tsolov finished second and Dunne took third.

The Formula 2 weekend in Baku also saw Dino Beganovic of DAMS Lucas Oil win the sprint race, while Dunne took victory in the previous feature race.

The 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend is being held at the Baku City Circuit from September 24 to 26, marking the 10th anniversary of Formula 1 racing in Azerbaijan. The Formula 1 race, the main event of the weekend, is scheduled to start at 15:00 today.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix will conclude on September 26.