2023: We are always under pressure to compromise elections — Military (DailyTrust)
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has said security agencies are always under pressure to compromise elections in the country.
He spoke on Thursday while featuring at the 61st session of the Ministerial Media Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Irabor, however, called on Nigerians to have implicit confidence in Nigerian military officers and men who would remain totally committed to being neutral and apolitical.
The CDS, who said security personnel came under pressure through inducements, stated that necessary measures were being put in place to ensure that security personnel obey President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent directive to maintain neutrality. Read more
9 terrorists killed in gun battles with troops in Kaduna (Leadership)
No fewer than nine bandits were killed during gun battles with the troops and Special Forces of the Nigerian Army in some locations in Giwa local government area of Kaduna State.
The Kaduna State government, in a statement by the Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, on Thursday, explained that the troops cleared a bandits’ camp at a river line around Rafin Sarki and neutralised five bandits in the vicinity, while many others fled.
Aruwan said in another leg of the fierce encounter, the troops and Special Forces cleared a hideout around Galadimawa forest, where four bandits were engaged and neutralised.
The statement said more than a dozen kidnapped women and children were rescued by the troops, having been abandoned by their captors. Read more
Christian-Christian ticket coming, says Tinubu’s wife (Punch)
The wife of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the party will set a new tone in the country’s political landscape after 2023.
Tinubu’s wife stated this on Wednesday during the APC South-West women’s presidential rally held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos.
She said, “As regards the Muslim-Muslim ticket, this one will set the tone for the future. Sometime in the future, we will have a Christian-only ticket. What God has done in our land is marvelous.
“I bring you warm greetings from the First Lady, Her Excellency Aisha Buhari. She sends love to Lagos and wishes you well, as does the governor who is making things work in Lagos State. Read more
NASR insist on implementation of SSB tax (Guardian)
Health advocates under the aegis of National Action on Sugar Reduction (NASR), on Wednesday, insist on the implementation of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) tax.
It also condemned attempts by beverage companies to halt the 10 naira per litre sweetened beverage tax from the Finance Act, saying sugar-sweetened beverages are harmful to health and consumption must be discouraged.
A statement by the Coalition Spokesperson, NASR, Omei Bongos-Ikwue, while reacting to the Federal Government on passing the tax, maintained that a higher tax rate is needed to make a real health impact.
According to her: “The consumption of sugary drinks is known to be a risk factor for diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancers. As one approach to relieve the burden on Nigeria’s over-stretched health systems, the taxes can lead people to buy and consume fewer soft drinks.
“This would result in reduced diabetes incidence, increased economic productivity, and lower healthcare costs.” Read more
Sanwo-Olu urges residents to be cautious of dubious real estate agents (Independent)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has expressed concern over the rate of unprofessional practices in the real estate sector, saying the development calls for increased vigilance on the part of all genuine real estate practitioners and the government.
This is as the governor pleaded with Lagosians and everyone interested https://punchng.com/fan-flaunts-eagles-jersey-in-qatar/ the real estate business to be cautious in any financial transaction they engage in by fact-checking the track records of the organizations they are dealing with to ascertain if the individual/organization is registered with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) and other relevant government Agencies in the built sectors.
Sanwo-Olu said that given the rate of reported cases of dubious acts by some real estate agents who are taking undue advantage of the real estate market, being one of the fastest growing industries in Nigeria and Lagos State, in particular, registered real estate practitioners must uncover the quacks in the profession to salvage the image of the real estate practice. Read more
Thugs invade residence of pro-Atiku PDP chieftain in Rivers (DailyTrust)
Thugs broke into the Port Harcourt residence of Senator Leah Meaba, a strong supporter of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, destroying some vehicles.
An eyewitness told Daily Trust that the thugs armed with dangerous weapons attacked the elder brother of Meaba who resides in the building located in Port Harcourt.
Meaba fell out with Governor Nyesom Wike after the governor distanced himself from the campaign of Atiku.
The Rivers State Government had revoked the Certificate of Occupancy of land allocated to the former Senator at the Golf Course axis of GRA in Port Harcourt. Read more
FAME decry gender based violence among Nigerian school girls, rally Abuja school girls against menace (Guardian)
FAME Foundation in conjunction with the France Embassy in Nigeria has expressed concern over the rising incidence of School-Related Gender-Based Violence (SRGBV) among girls in Nigeria.
The Program Officer of technical cooperation of the France Embassy, Camille Oren claimed that no fewer than 44 percent of girls in the country have experienced one or more forms of physical and sexual violence perpetrated by their teachers or classmates.
The envoy who spoke yesterday during a training programme organised for fifty Abuja school girls observed that the violence has far-reaching consequences on the child’s physical, mental, sexual, and emotional well-being.
She pointed out that sexual harassment within the school environment can interfere with students’ educational opportunities, especially among girls. Read more
Teacher arrested for allegedly poisoning friend to death in Katsina (Channels)
A 29-year-old classroom teacher simply identified as Laminu Saminu of Bakin Kasuwa Quarters in Mani Local Government Area of Katsina State has been arrested by the State Police Command.
Saminu, a suspected killer friend of one ASC II Sanusi Bawa, an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Katsina State Command, is also a final year degree coursemate of the deceased at the Federal College of Education, (FCE), Katsina.
Parading the suspect before the Command Headquarters, Katsina on Tuesday, the Police Spokesman, SP Gambo Isah stated that the suspect was arrested on December 1st, 2022 at about 1300hrs.
He explained that nemesis caught up with the suspect when he lured the deceased into an unoccupied building in Mani Local Government Area of the State on November 26th, 2022 at about 1400hrs. Read more
Céline Dion reveals diagnosis with rare neurological disease called Stiff Person Syndrome (People)
Céline Dion revealed Thursday morning that she’s been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome, a rare and incurable neurological disease that can cause debilitating muscle spasms.
In a tearful video posted to her Instagram account in both English and French, the Canadian singer said her condition would force her to postpone and cancel a series of upcoming concert dates.
“I’ve been dealing with problems with my health for a long time, and it’s been really difficult for me to face these challenges and to talk about everything that I’ve been going through,” Dion, 54, wrote in the post’s caption. “It hurts me to tell you that I won’t be ready to restart my tour in Europe in February.”
“Recently, I’ve been diagnosed with a very rare neurological condition called Stiff Person Syndrome, which affects something like one in a million people,” she said in her video. “While we’re still learning about this rare condition, we now know that this is what has been causing all of the spasms that I’ve been having.” Read more
St. Vincent announces rock history podcast (MusicNews)
St. Vincent is launching a new podcast on the history of rock music.
The 40-year-old musician – whose real name is Annie Clark – delves into the Sex Pistols’ riotous US tour that led to the demise of the punk rock legends, and Jimi Hendrix.
Annie said: “It’s been so fun going back through rock history and revisiting some of my favourite artists and songs, including a bunch that don’t get the recognition they should.
“When you put it all together, you can see how history repeats and echoes through generations, how music links the past to the present, artist-to-artist. And some of these stories are absolutely wild.” Read more
Jennifer Lawrence reveals that she was pressured to lose weight for The Hunger Games (DailyMail)
Jennifer Lawrence has revealed that she was pressured to lose weight for her role in blockbuster movie franchise The Hunger Games.
The actress, now 32, starred as the sci-fi franchise’s leading lady Katniss Everdeen at aged 20 and has now admitted that weight was ‘the biggest conversation.
Sharing that while the massive role was an ‘awesome responsibility’, the star also explained: ‘I remember the biggest conversation was, “How much weight are you going to lose?”‘.
In the franchise, which is based on novels of the same name, Katniss is a starved young woman trying to stay alive in a survival game – with film executives suggesting that Jennifer would need to slim down to match this. Read more
Iranian forces shooting at faces and genitals of female protesters, medics say (Guardian)
Iranian security forces are targeting women at anti-regime protests with shotgun fire to their faces, breasts and genitals, according to interviews with medics across the country.
Doctors and nurses – treating demonstrators in secret to avoid arrest – said they first observed the practice after noticing that women often arrived with different wounds to men, who more commonly had shotgun pellets in their legs, buttocks and backs.
While an internet blackout has hidden much of the bloody crackdown on protesters, photos provided by medics to the Guardian showed devastating wounds all over their bodies from so-called birdshot pellets, which security forces have fired on people at close range. Some of the photos showed people with dozens of tiny “shot” balls lodged deep in their flesh.
The Guardian has spoken to 10 medical professionals who warned about the seriousness of the injuries that could leave hundreds of young Iranians with permanent damage. Shots to the eyes of women, men and children were particularly common, they said. Read more
BAFTA makes major changes for 2023 Film Awards (DigitalSpy)
BAFTA has announced some major changes to its Film Awards ceremony in 2023.
The awards season staple is set to take place on February 19 next year at the Royal Festival Hall in London, with voting opening later this week to decide the best films of 2022.
Ahead of the prestigious event, organisers have confirmed two major changes set to take place at the ceremony, including the final four categories of the night being broadcast live for the first time ever.
Whereas in the past, the BAFTAs has been aired on the BBC with an hour or two delay, now film fans can watch on as the results unfold and see the actors and filmmakers’ reactions live. Read more
French court upholds life sentence for Thalys train attacker (France24)
Paris’ appeal court on Thursday upheld a life sentence for an Islamist militant who in August 2015 opened fire aboard a high-speed train travelling through northern Europe but who was overpowered by three Americans before he killed anyone.
Moroccan national Ayoub el Khazzani was heavily armed when he launched his attack moments after the Thalys train crossed into France from Belgium.
A Paris court in December 2020 had found the defendant guilty of attempted murder with intent to commit terrorism.
The appeal court confirmed the verdict and life sentence, and added the man would spend at least 22 years in prison without parole. Read more
Saudi Arabia extends lavish welcome as China’s Xi heralds ‘‘new era’’ in relations (StraitsTimes)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received President Xi Jinping on Thursday as the Chinese leader heralded “a new era” in Arab relations, with a lavish welcome signalling Riyadh’s interest in deepening ties with Beijing despite US wariness.
Members of the Saudi Royal Guard riding Arabian horses and carrying Chinese and Saudi flags escorted Mr Xi’s car as it entered the royal palace in Riyadh, where Prince Mohammed, de facto ruler of the oil giant, greeted him with a warm smile.
It stood in stark contrast to the low-key welcome extended in July to US President Joe Biden, with whom ties have been strained by Saudi energy policy and the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi that had overshadowed the awkward visit.
The United States, warily watching China’s growing sway and with its ties to Riyadh at a nadir, said on Wednesday that the visit was an example of Chinese attempts to exert influence around the world and would not change US policy towards the Middle East. Read more
My father said I won’t be useful in life — Nnadozie (Independent)
Chiamaka Nnadozie, the Super Falcons goalkeeper, defied her father’s pronouncement on her that she would never make it, to achieve all that she had achieved as a professional footballer.
While speaking to Super Eagles tracker during an interview, the imposing goalkeeper said her father, at a time, swore that she would never made it and that she would never become somebody in life.
“I kept on going because of my Dad, at a point he swore that I will never become somebody in life,” she told Eagles Tracker in an interview session.
“He has concluded that I’m just going to be a useless person in life.
“At a point, my Dad chased me out of the house because I refused to learn a trade; then I gave myself time that if by 20years of age I don’t make it in life, I will go back to my Dad and ask for forgiveness,” she added. Read more
Fan flaunts Eagles jersey in Qatar (Punch)
Despite Nigeria missing out on the 2022 World Cup actions in Qatar, the Super Eagles kits still looks admirable to fans.
A trending video online showed a fan in Qatar feeling excited wearing the Nigerian jersey.
When the fan was asked by a Nigerian if he liked the kit, he responded, “Yeah Yeah, it’s a very beautiful jersey. I love Nigeria.”
The Eagles’ home shirt at the Russia 2018 World Cup was nominated by BBC among the all-time best 20 football shirts. Read more
Dutch hoping to ”change” memories of 2014 Argentina heartbreak (RFI)
The Netherlands will be bidding to “change” the memories from their semi-final loss on penalties in 2014 when they face Argentina again at the World Cup on Friday, said forward Memphis Depay.
One of the tournament’s most storied rivalries will add another chapter in the quarter-final clash at Lusail Stadium, eight years after Louis van Gaal’s side were a shootout away from reaching the final in Brazil.
Depay was an unused substitute that day, but is expected to start this time around.
“In 2014 I was there and things ended slightly differently (to how we wanted) but I’d like to change that now,” the Barcelona forward told a pre-match press conference. Read mor
Roma propose Smalling deal amid Inter Interest (FootballItalia)
Roma are offering Chris Smalling a new extended contract with a reduced salary, as the defender considers a free transfer to Inter.
The 33-year-old’s current deal with the Giallorossi is due to expire in June 2023 and there have been repeated reports in various different sources insisting that Inter have set their sights on him for next season.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Capital club would like him to remain, but are also eager to lower the wage bill.
The former England international currently picks up circa €3.5m per season net plus bonuses. Read more
Wimbledon set to make U-turn on Russian and Belarusian player ban (Tennis365)
Russian and Belarusian players are expected to play at Wimbledon next year with the All England Club (AELTC) reportedly on the verge of lifting its controversial ban.
The likes of Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka were forced to miss this year’s grass-court Grand Slam at SW19 after AELTC and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) banned players from Russia and Belarus from competing in tournaments in the United Kingdom.
The move came on the back of Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine in February, but the decision did not go down well with the ATP and WTA as they retaliated by stripping Wimbledon of ranking points.
The ATP this week also issued the LTA with a $1 million fine while the WTA went a similar route in July as the LTA was fined $750,000 and AELTC £250,000. Read more
Joe Cordina: Welsh boxer looking to reclaim IBF title he never lost (BBC)
Joe Cordina says he hopes his return to the ring will see him challenge for the world title he never lost.
Cordina, 31, became Wales’ 12th world champion boxer when he beat Kenichi Ogawa in Cardiff in June to capture the IBF super-featherweight title.
A broken hand subsequently saw Cordina stripped of the title before a defence, but he is now eyeing a fight with new champion Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov.
“It will 100% be Rakhimov next, I want to fight him,” Cordina explained. Read more
