A car rammed into a group of schoolchildren crossing a street in front of an elementary school in northeast China on Thursday, killing five people and injuring another 18, state media said.
Police took the driver into custody and are investigating the cause of the incident in Huludao, Liaoning province, the official CCTV broadcaster said on its Weibo social media account.
Unverified videos circulating social media show a car veering onto the wrong side of the road and ploughing through the line of pupils, the impact from the crash throwing bodies across the road.
Other gut-wrenching footage showed at least two small children lying unconscious and bleeding on the street.
Victims of the crash are undergoing medical treatment, according to CCTV. The incident happened around noon.
Grisly car accidents are common in China, where transportation authorities have struggled to enforce safety regulations.
Earlier this month, at least 13 people died when a bus plunged off a bridge in Chongqing province, after the driver got in a fight with a passenger.
In September, 11 people died when a car struck a crowd in a public square in the central Hunan province city of Hengdong.
Police detained that driver, a man in his 40s, and described him as a “vengeful repeat offender”.
In February, a van packed with pressurised gas tanks and bottles full of petrol caught fire and ploughed into pedestrians in Shanghai, leaving at least 18 people injured.
Authorities concluded that it had been a “traffic accident”.
A 2013 incident was blamed on militant separatists.
Two tourists were killed at the time when a car rammed into bystanders in Beijing’s iconic Tiananmen Square before bursting into flames.
Three attackers also died in the incident, which Beijing blamed on separatists from the restive western region of Xinjiang.
LAGOS LAWMAKERS ADOPT RECOMMENDATIONS ON GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SERVICE BILL
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly has adopted the recommendations of the Committee on Physical Planning and E-GIS on “A Bill For A Law To Establish The Lagos Geographic Information Service, For The Harmonization Of All Geographic Information Service Projects, To Provide A Computerized Central Database And Base Map Integrated Software For All Land Related Records And For Other Connected Matters”.
The Bill aims to deliver efficient and reliable services to all stakeholders and as well ensure advance transparency of land management in the State.
It would be recalled that the House at its plenary session on Tuesday 5th March 2024 deliberated on the above Bill and committed the same to the Committee on Physical Planning and E-GIS for further legislative Scrutiny.
The Committee held a Day Public Hearing on the said Bill in order to seek inputs from stakeholders and Memoranda was submitted by the same on the proposed Law.
Presenting the report on the floor of the House on the second allotted day, The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ogunkelu Slyvester Oluwadahunsi expressed that the significance of the Bill cannot be overemphasized as it means a lot to the improvement of information technology and computerized central data base in the State.
He stated that the Bill is targeted at integrating governance with advancement in technology through the proposed harmonization of all geographical information service projects.
Hon. Ogunkelu added that the bill aims to prevent illegal acquisition of geographic information and enhance valuable geographic data that will increase spatial capabilities and innovations that will drive social and environmental benefits across the State.
Following the presentation of the report, the Lawmakers unanimously adopted the recommendations of the Committee as the resolution of the House.
Subsequently, the House adjourn till Tuesday, 24th June 2025
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has appointed Adeshina Oyetayo, a former columnist with Punch Newspaper, as his Special Adviser on Research, Media and Documentation.
Oyetayo
The appointment, which took effect in March, marks a significant addition to the Speaker’s team as Oyetayo brings with him fecund experience and expertise in the media ecosystem spanning over two decades.
Before his new role, he served as the CEO/Editor-in-Chief of XS-Proficient Media Services Ltd, publishers of theassemblyng.com, (a National Assembly-accredited platform devoted to reporting the activities of Nigerian lawmakers) and niche publications for state governments, institutions, and individuals.
August24news.com gathered that Oyetayo began his journalism career at TELL Magazine in 2002 and later joined Punch Newspaper in 2010 as an external columnist.
He went on to serve as Managing Editor of the Lagos Indicator magazine from 2014 and was an undercover reporter for the BBC Africa Eye. He is also the author of Behind the Streets, a book that profiles the personalities whose names are synonymous with certain areas in Lagos.
An award-winning journalist, Oyetayo was, among other recognitions and honours, a finalist in the CNN/MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year award 2006, Young Journalist of the Year 2005, Journalist of the Year at The Future Awards Africa 2007, and Best Music Writer, MTV MAMA Awards 2010.
Oyetayo studied Mass Communication at the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, and Philosophy at the University of Lagos. With his robust media knowledge, Oyetayo is expected to impact, influence, and advance the communication strategy of the Lagos Speaker’s office.
…Chain Reactions Africa, Integrated Indigo, and Partners Clinch Multiple Global Honours
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
The Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) is proud to announce and celebrate Nigeria’s remarkable performance at the 2025 SABRE Awards, one of the world’s most prestigious recognitions in public relations and strategic communications.
At this year’s edition, Nigerian campaigns led by Chain Reactions Africa and Integrated Indigo in collaboration with globally renowned brands and government institutions secured top honours across multiple categories, affirming the country’s rising global influence in the communications industry.
The Nigerian entries stood out among thousands of submissions across the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region, earning five highly coveted SABRE Awards:
1. Diamond SABRE Award – Company of the Year IndomieHeroesAward — Indomie Noodles with Chain Reactions Africa This award recognises the organisation that has demonstrated the most impressive reputation management over the past year.
2. SABRE Award for Superior Achievement in Research and Planning OdourPandemic — Nivea with Chain Reactions Africa Awarded for excellence in insight-led campaign development and execution.
3. Healthcare Category OdourPandemic — Nivea with Chain Reactions Africa Celebrating outstanding public relations efforts in the healthcare sector.
4. Public Sector/Government Category Striking Gold — Federal Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy (FMACCE) with Chain Reactions Africa Recognising impactful communication that bridges government policy with public engagement. 5. Financial Communications Category NB Rights Issue Campaign — Nigerian Breweries with Integrated Indigo Honouring effective financial communication strategy and execution.
Speaking on the historic win, Dr. Nkechi Ali-Balogun, fnipr, Chair/CEO of PRCAN, stated:
> “These awards are not just a win for the agencies and their clients, but a national triumph. They showcase the creativity, strategy, and global relevance of Nigerian public relations. We commend Chain Reactions Africa, Integrated Indigo and their clients for flying the Nigerian flag high and setting a new benchmark for excellence in the African communications landscape.”
She further emphasised that the wins reflect the transformative role of strategic communication in enhancing brand equity, influencing public policy, and solving societal problems.
About the SABRE Awards
The SABRE Awards (Superior Achievement in Branding, Reputation & Engagement), organised by PRovoke Media, are the world’s largest and most respected awards programme for public relations. They recognise campaigns that demonstrate the highest levels of strategic planning, creativity, and measurable results. The EMEA SABRE Awards, in particular, highlight the best work across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with entries reviewed by a panel of international experts.
About PRCAN
The Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN) is the umbrella body of public relations consultancy firms in Nigeria. Established under the provisions of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Act and constituted by its Bye Laws, PRCAN promotes professional excellence, ethical conduct, and capacity building among Nigerian PR firms. It is committed to advancing the standards and practice of public relations consultancy in Nigeria.