9 Nigerian stowaways captured at Gambia sea returned to Lagos (Leadership)
Nine Nigerian stowaways who attempted to travel to Europe through The Gambia have been received by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.
The stowaways, who are between the ages of 21 and 30, were discovered by the captain of the ship they were hiding on and were handed over to the Gambian immigration authorities. They were then repatriated to Nigeria through Asky Airlines.
The Comptroller of NIS, MMIA Command, Mrs. Adesola Adesokan, warned Nigerians against embarking on such dangerous journeys, saying that they are “a deathtrap waiting to happen.” Read more
Opebi-Mende-Ojota link bridge ready in second quarter 2024 – Sanwo-Olu (Punch)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that the Opebi-Mende-Ojota Link Bridge and other arterial roads connecting the bridge will be ready for commuters by the second quarter of 2024.
Speaking with journalists at the Odo Iya Alaro area of the state, after an inspection tour of the Opebi- Mende- Ojota Link Bridge, on Tuesday, Sanwo-Olu said the project conceived over a year ago is currently at about 65 per cent completion stage.
The governor, who was accompanied by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, and some members of the State Executive Council, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly and other stakeholders during the inspection tour, expressed satisfaction with the level of ongoing construction works by the contractor. Read more
Tinubu arrives in Abuja from COP28 Summit (Channels)
President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, returned to Abuja after attending the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference, which took place in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Apart from participating in the conference, the President had bilateral talks with King Charles of England, the President of UAE, and leaders of several countries and multilateral partners to concretize engagements.
President Tinubu also witnessed the signing of an accelerated performance agreement between Nigeria and Germany to improve Nigeria’s electricity supply and hosted a high-level meeting with stakeholders and investors on the Nigeria Carbon Market and the Electric Buses Rollout Programme on the margins of the COP28 climate summit. Read more
2024 budget: Tinubu, Shettima, aides to spend N15.961bn on local, foreign trips (Vanguard)
President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and theirs aides at the Presidential Villa are to spend the sum of N15.961 billion on international and local travels in 2024.
The figure is contained in the 2024 Appropriation Bill, now being considered by the National Assembly.
The breakdown of the figure showed that President Tinubu would spend the sum of N7. 630 billion on travels, with the bulk of the money to be spent on foreign trips. Read more
Stakeholders in Lagos, Edo pledge commitment to end gender-based violence (Guardian)
Stakeholders have called for a timely report of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), saying that it will facilitate the prosecution of perpetrators and curb its prevalence in the state.
They said this during the GBV sensitisation on sexual and gender-based violence among adolescents and young persons, organised by Centre for Integrated Health Programme (CIHP) as part of efforts on 16 days of activism against GBV in Lagos.
Gender Integration Associate, Aisha Sule, said that GBV goes beyond sexual violence, adding that men are also victims of GBV. She, therefore, urged school administrators to be sensitive and swift to report any of such occurrence as adolescents spend more time in school than at home. Read more
Kaduna ‘‘mistaken’’ airstrikes another gory episode of security agencies – Kwankwaso (DailyTrust)
The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 elections, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has expressed sadness over the Sunday night bombing by the Nigerian Army that killed dozens at Tundun Biri, Kaduna State, during Maulud celebration.
The former Kano State governor described the “mistaken” airstrikes as another gory episode of security agencies, calling on the relevant authorities to ensure justice is served.
He also urged the government to compensate families of the victims of the bomb attack. Read more
Army explains accidental drone attack on villagers (Nation)
The Army yesterday apologised for its error in bombing worshippers in Kaduna State on Sunday night.
A routine air strike by the Army intended to attack terrorists hit some civilians during a religious celebration at Tudun Biri village, Afaka ward of Rigasa District in Igabi Local Government Area.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered a thorough probe to prevent a recurrence as Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani did on Tuesday. Read more
ICPC arraigns civil servant for ‘‘signing off’’ incomplete project (Vanguard)
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned in Court, a civil servant with the Border Communities Development Agency (BCDA), Mr. Suleiman Austin Adavize, for allegedly signing-off a contract that was not completed.
Mr. Adavize was arraigned on Monday before Justice Peter Kekemeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on a three-count charge bordering on false statements.
One of the counts read: “That you, Suleiman Austin Adavize (m) sometime in May, 2022 or thereabout at the Federal Capital Territory Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court while being an Architect at the Border Community Development Agency did make a false statement in your progress report of September 2021. Read more
Barbie Director Greta Gerwig plays coy to potential “Ken” movie spinoff (Deadline)
Greta Gerwig hit box office gold with Barbie, the film starring Margot Robbie as the titular character and Ryan Gosling as Ken.
Following the movie’s success, there have been questions about following it up with a sequel. Warner Bros. nor Mattel have confirmed anything is in the works, but in a recent interview, Gerwig was asked about a potential Barbie spinoff revolving around Ken.
“I mean, the truth is, you know…I guess we’ll see,” Gerwig told Sharyn Alfonsi during a 60 Minutes interview. Read more
Paul McCartney shares touching tribute to Denny Laine after former Wings bandmate dies aged 79 (DailyMail)
Paul McCartney has shared a touching tribute to his former Wings bandmate Denny Laine after he died aged 79.
The late musician passed away following a long battle with lung disease, his wife Elizabeth Haines announced on Tuesday.
Penning a lengthy message to Instagram following the news, Paul, 81, said ‘it was a pleasure to know’ Denny. Read more
Daddy Yankee says goodbye to reggaeton to devote his life to his Christian faith (NBC)
Daddy Yankee is officially retiring from reggaeton to devote his life to his religious faith, the rapper said after ending his farewell tour, La Meta (The Goal), Sunday night in his homeland Puerto Rico.
The 46-year-old singer made the announcement in a lengthy speech following a larger-than-life performance of his global hit “Gasolina,” a song that marked the beginning of the globalization of reggaeton and catapulted him into mainstream success back in 2004.
“My people, this day for me is the most important day of my life. And I want to share it with you because living a life of success is not the same as living a life with purpose,” the artist, who also popularized the 2017 megahit “Despacito” with Luis Fonsi, said in Spanish. Read more
Jesse Darling awarded 2023 Turner Prize for “delirious” art (Sky)
The 2023 Turner Prize has been awarded to Jesse Darling, who was praised for how his art using unconventional materials conveyed a “familiar yet delirious world”.
The Oxford-born artist, who lives in Berlin, received the prestigious art award at Winter Garden in Eastbourne, East Sussex.
The award, established in 1984 and named after painter J M W Turner and worth £25,000, was presented by rapper Tinie Tempah. Read more
IDF issues rare apology after strike kills Lebanese soldier (TimesOfIsrael)
In a rare statement, the Israel Defense Forces on Tuesday expressed regret for killing a Lebanese soldier while striking a Hezbollah-linked target earlier in the day, the first such death since cross-border hostilities began in October.
The Lebanon-Israel border has seen intensifying exchanges of fire since the war broke out in Gaza between Hamas and Israel on October 7, with Israeli forces responding to attacks mainly involving Iran-backed Hezbollah, raising fears of a broader conflagration.
“An army military position in the… Adaysseh area was bombarded by the Israeli enemy, leaving one soldier martyred and three others injured,” the Lebanese army said in a statement. Read more
A 2nd Trump term ‘poses a threat to the existence of America as we know it,’ says The Atlantic’s top editor (CNN)
Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, refuses to go gently into that good night.
“We can’t participate in the normalisation of Donald Trump,” an impassioned Goldberg told me by phone on Monday. “I refuse to participate in the normalisation of Donald Trump.”
Goldberg is one of the few major newsroom leaders who has been exceptionally clear-eyed about the perilous storm on the horizon for American democracy. Using plain language, Goldberg and his team of writers at the renowned magazine have not shied away from portraying Trump as a vandal of civilised society and an outright menace to the U.S. Constitution. Read more
Tucker Carlson’s longtime producer accused of 2008 sexual assault (NBC)
Tucker Carlson‘s longtime executive producer at Fox News was sued on Monday for allegedly sexually assaulting another Fox employee in 2008.
Justin Wells was a producer of “On the Record” with Greta Van Susteren at the time of the alleged assault. The accuser, Andrew Delancey, alleges that Wells lured him to his apartment in New York, and then pushed him onto a bed and forcibly grabbed his genitals.
“Defendant Wells quickly began unbuttoning and trying to rip off Mr. Delancey’s jeans as the sexual assault progressed,” the lawsuit states. “Mr. Delancey was in complete shock. He yelled out, ‘no!’ and mustered up the strength to physically slow down Defendant Wells’s physical attack.” Read more
Super Falcons book ticket to 13th AWCON in style (Leadership)
Nine-time African champions, Super Falcons, have booked their ticket to the 13th edition of the Africa Women Cup of Nations in majestic style following a 2-1 defeat of hosts Cape Verde on Tuesday’s evening, making it 7-1 aggregate win in the final round of the qualification series.
The hosts started like a house on fire at the Santiago-Estádio Nacional Cabo Verde in Praia, raiding the Super Falcons’ goal area, and their quick-off-the-blocks approach paid off when Ivania Tavares Moreira got the ball past goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie for a goal in the 9th minute.
Sensing the possibility of being able to do the unexpected, the Cape Verdeans swarmed all over the Nigerian rear and earned a couple of corner kicks in the process, but the resilient Super Falcons, spurred on by members of the Nigerian community cheering in the stands, quickly repelled the onslaughts and launched some of their own. Read more
NPFL fines Gombe United N7m for match disruption (Punch)
The management of the Nigeria Premier Football League, on Monday, fined Gombe United Football Club over a fan’s alleged display of unruly conduct which disrupted a match with Kano Pillars on Sunday.
PUNCH Online reports that the fan allegedly pelted stones into the Pantami township stadium while the match was ongoing.
According to a press statement obtained on Tuesday by our correspondent, the management of Gombe United Football Club is expected to pay N7 million, with a one-match stadium ban to fans. Read more
Scotland 0-6 England: Beth Mead says England are “devastated” after missing out on the Nations League finals (BBC)
Beth Mead said England are “devastated” while manager Sarina Wiegman said it “really hurts” after her side agonisingly missed out on a place in the Women’s Nations League finals on goal difference.
The Lionesses thrashed Scotland 6-0 at Hampden Park but it was not enough to top the table as the Netherlands, who defeated Belgium 4-0, advanced on a night of high drama.
England’s game had finished when the Netherlands scored their decisive fourth goal in the 95th minute, ending the Lionesses’ Nations League campaign and also meaning Team GB will not be in the Paris 2024 Olympics football competition. Read more
Luton Town 3-4 Arsenal: Declan Rice gives Premier League leaders dramatic late win in Kenilworth Road thriller (Eurosport)
Declan Rice headed home the winner deep into stoppage-time as Arsenal moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League with a rollercoaster 4-3 victory at Luton Town.
The Gunners took the lead on 20 minutes when Gabriel Martinelli tucked home Bukayo Saka’s cut back but Luton hit back five minutes later through Gabriel Osho’s firm header.
Jesus then nodded Mikel Arteta’s men back in front on the stroke of halftime as they looked to reassert their authority. Read more
Houston Rockets’ Ime Udoka reveals reasoning behind altercation with LeBron James (SI)
A confrontation with LeBron James led to Ime Udoka’s first ejection as coach of the Houston Rockets. The dispute came late during the Rockets’ 107-97 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.
The quarrel led to double technical fouls for the two respective parties, which resulted in Udoka’s second of the night. His first technical foul came with 2:51 in the second quarter.
When the ejection occurred, Udoka was frustrated by the Rockets’ play. But following Monday’s practice, Udoka revealed a part of his altercation with James was a strategy to send a message to his team. Read more
F1 and Mercedes deny conflict of interest accusations against Wolff (F1i)
Formula 1 and the Mercedes F1 team have vehemently denied allegations of a conflict of interest involving Toto and Susie Wolff.
The couple are under investigation by the FIA Compliance Department following a comment made by Toto Wolff during a recent team principals meeting.
According to BusinessF1 magazine, Wolff’s remark to his peers in the meeting raised a few eyebrows as the information he conveyed could only have come from Formula One Management (FOM). Read more