Lagos DSVA, police rescue pregnant woman assaulted by partner (Guardian)
The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) with the help of the Police in the early hours of Wednesday rescued a pregnant woman who was assaulted by her partner.
Lagos DSVA spokesperson, Adejoke Ladenegan-Oginni, in a statement, said after the agency received yet another distress call from a mandated reporter of an alleged case of domestic violence involving the woman and her husband.
Ladenegan-Oginni said this is happening in the wake of the recent report of a seven-month pregnant woman who lost her life as a result of domestic violence. Read more
Buhari defends Emefiele on Naira redesign (Vanguard)
Former President Muhammadu Buhari has stoutly defended the redesign of the Naira by the Central Bank of Nigeria ahead of the 2023 general elections, claiming that the policy gave the country what he calls ‘clean election’ but did not elaborate what it means.
Buhari’s position is contained in a new book: Working with Buhari: Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023), which was unveiled in Abuja by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.
In the book, Buhari spoke on elaborately on the controversial Naira redesign and why he did not sack the former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, when his posters for the presidency of Nigeria, hit the country physically and in the media. Read more
Stop paying ransom to kidnappers, says defence minister (Punch)
The Minister of Defence, Muhammadu Badaru, has urged Nigerians to stop the illegal payment of ransom to kidnappers and bandits.
At a briefing after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, Badaru said the payment would only embolden the culprits to demand more, thereby jeopardising public safety.
He said that the President, at a meeting on Tuesday with service chiefs, had directed security agencies to intensify efforts to flush out the perpetrators of criminal acts in society. Read more
Nigerian megastar Davido sells out London’s O2 Arena again (Guardian)
Nigerian Afrobeats powerhouse Davido has cemented his global dominance by once again selling out the illustrious O2 Arena in London, ahead of his monumental headline concert on January 28, 2024. This announcement, made by The O2 on X, confirms Davido’s place as a true titan of international music, capable of captivating massive audiences on the world’s biggest stages.
The upcoming sold-out show at the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena marks another pivotal chapter in Davido’s meteoric rise. It builds upon his historic 2019 achievement of becoming the first Nigerian solo artist to achieve this feat, further solidifying his status as a pioneer and legend of the Afrobeats movement.
This latest triumph is part of Davido’s “Timeless Tour,” which kicked off in 2023 following the release of his record-breaking fourth album, aptly titled “Timeless.” The tour has already seen him wow audiences across the globe, showcasing his electrifying stage presence and genre-bending sound. Read more
INEC visits APC, admits 5-year failure in party verification (Sun)
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has admitted that multiplicity of factors contributed in its failure to perform its statutory constitutional responsibility of conducting the verification of the status of political parties in the country.
Speaking during the verification exercise at the headquarters of the ruling party on Wednesday, Hawa Habibu, Director Election and Party Monitoring, confessed that the commission conducted the last verification in 2019.
She further disclosed that it failed to conduct the verification in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, just as she noted that multiple activities in year 2021 and 2022 stopped the commission from carrying out the exercise. Read more
Lagos begins construction of Ijake road February (Punch)
The Lagos State Government says it will commence the construction of Ijake Road in the Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area of the state in February.
The Special Adviser to the state governor on Rural Development, Nurudeen Agbaje, said the move was part of the efforts of the state government to improve road networks in rural communities, according to a statement on Wednesday.
Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting and the flag-off ceremony of the construction of the 400 metres Ijake Road, Agbaje assured that “the project is expected to be completed in six months,” adding that “construction would commence in February.” Read more
Don seeks upgrade in English language’s standard among students, workers (Nation)
Professor of Stylistics, Gabriel Osoba, has called for an upgrade in the standard of communicative competence in English language among students and staff in the Lagos State University (LASU).
Osoba, a lecturer in the Department of English, LASU, Ojo, made the call at the 94th Inaugural Lecture of the institution, in Lagos.
The theme of the lecture was “What God Has Brought Together, Language and Literature at the Altar of Stylistics”. Read more
FG orders probe into Ibadan explosion (Channels)
The Federal Government has ordered investigations into the explosion that rocked Ibadan Oyo State on Tuesday, claiming three lives and injuring 80 persons.
Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, saying that officers from the ministry will work and collaborate with Oyo State Government to know the actual cause.
The statement reads, “I am saddened with the news of the explosion that occurred yesterday night in Ibadan, Oyo State. The tragic incident had devastating effects on lives and property. Read more
IGP launches Special Intervention Squad to tackle kidnapping (Leadership)
Inspector-general of police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has launched a Special Intervention Squad (SIS), to tackle the activities of kidnappers terrorising the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the nation at large.
The SIS launched is for special operations deployed to all the area councils in the FCT and simultaneously launched in some states across the country.
Recall that kidnappers had taken over Abuja villages, where they have been wreaking havoc in places like Bwari, Dei Dei, Dutse, Mpape among other villages in the FCT. Read more
Sophie Turner files to dismiss child abduction petition against Joe Jonas (ET)
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas are one step closer to the finish line in their ongoing divorce case.
According to court documents obtained by ET, the Game of Thrones star on Tuesday filed paperwork in the Southern District of New York requesting that her lawsuit against the Jonas Brothers singer for “wrongful retention” of their two daughters be dismissed.
The request comes on the heels of the estranged couple hammering out and signing a temporary custody deal back in October. A judge in the U.K. signed off on that deal following a four-day mediation, and now a judge in New York has to sign off on Turner’s request to toss the lawsuit she filed against Jonas amid their tumultuous custody battle over their two daughters — Willa, 3, and Delphine, 1 — in order for their divorce case in Florida to move forward. Read more
Zambia: Authorities begin vaccination against cholera after 363 recorded deaths (AfricaNews)
Zambia has commenced the administration of the oral cholera vaccine. On Tuesday authorities rolled out some doses in in Matero township, one of the affected shanty compounds of Lusaka, the country’s capital, most affected by the current outbreak.
The countrywide cholera outbreak has so far killed 363 people, 30% of which were children under the age of five, and sickened more than 9,500, according to health authorities.
The outbreak, which started in early October has spread to most parts of the country but the largest number of recorded cases are in the capital city of Lusaka. Read more
Pierce Brosnan pleads not guilty to “petty offences” (FilmNews)
Pierce Brosnan has pleaded not guilty after allegedly entering prohibited areas of Yellowstone National Park.
The 007 actor faced two charges after he was accused of hiking into a thermal area in the Wyoming National Park in November last year.
The Mammoth Terraces hot springs and thermal area are both delicate ecosystems within the park. They are also dangerous; 20 people have died previously by falling into boiling water, and last November a deceased man was found floating in one of the hot springs. Read more
Director Matthew Vaughn shuts down Taylor Swift conspiracy theory she wrote ‘‘Argylle’’ book (Deadline)
Matthew Vaughn, director of “Argylle”, is clearing things up and shutting down conspiracy theories that claim Taylor Swift wrote the book on which the film is based.
Swifties are accustomed to the “Bejeweled” singer dropping Easter eggs about her upcoming projects, and many fans believed Swift was behind the Bryce Dallas Howard-starring film. Among the Swifties convinced the pop star wrote the source material for the film was Vaughn’s daughter.
“I’m not a big internet guy, and it was actually my daughter who came up to me — this is the power of celebrity and the internet — and said, ‘You never told me Taylor wrote the book!’ ” Vaughn said in an interview with Rolling Stone. “And I’m looking at her going, ‘What are you talking about that Taylor Swift wrote the book? She didn’t write the book!’” Read more
Snoop Dogg’s viral stop smoking ‘flop’ causes CEO change at stove company (HipHopDx)
Snoop Dogg and Solo Brands’ partnership is cooked.
Just months after the rap superstar revealed that his decision to “give up smoke” was part of a viral marketing campaign, Solo Brands, the company behind the stunt, has fired its CEO.
According to a report from The Daily Outdoor Retailer, the company is going in a different direction after the promo stunt failed to boost revenues. Read more
Bleachers share video for new single ‘‘Tiny Moves’’ starring Margaret Qualley (NME)
Bleachers have released their new single ‘‘Tiny Moves’’, backed by a music video directed by Jack Antonoff’s wife, Margaret Qualley.
The clip, co-directed by Qualley and Alex Lockett, depicts Qualley stopping in front of a car parked by the Hudson River at dawn before launching into a dance sequence which she also choreographed. At the end of the clip, Qualley walks over to the driver of the car – Antonoff himself – and the pair embrace as the sun rises over New York City.
The track itself features an upbeat rhythm marked by stabs of guitars and synthesisers, building towards a shout-along chorus which appears to be Antonoff’s tribute to Qualley: “The tiniest moves you make / Watching my whole world shake / Watching my whole world change“. Read more
Ecuadorian prosecutor investigating TV station attack has been assassinated, attorney general says (CNN)
An Ecuadorian prosecutor, who was reportedly leading an investigation into an attack on a local TV network, was assassinated on Wednesday in Guayaquil, according to Ecuador’s Attorney General Diana Salazar.
Cesar Suarez was killed in the northern part of the city, known for being one of the most violent cities in the country. He was a prosecutor for the Guayas province and he focused on organized transnational crime, Salazar said in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
According to CNN affiliate Ecuavisa, Suarez was leading the investigation into the storming of local network TC Television by armed men while it was broadcasting live on January 9. Read more
Super Eagles have nothing to fear against Cote d’Ivoire – Lookman (CompleteSports)
Ademola Lookman has said the Super Eagles are in buoyant mood heading into their Group B clash with hosts Cote d’Ivoire at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The three-time African champions will do battle with the Elephants at the Alassanne Quattara Stadium, Ebimpe, Abidjan on Thursday.
The Super Eagles held Equatorial Guinea to a 1-1 draw in their first game. Read more
Why I’ve to wear mask for rest of my career — Osimhen (Tribune)
Super Eagles and Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen, has explained that he will have to wear a mask for the rest of his career for safety reasons.
Speaking in an interview with Brila FM, Osimhen who is currently on national duty with the Super Eagles at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, said it is dangerous for him to play without his mask.
He said even with the mask he got a bloody face after the opposition’s goalkeeper hit his face the last match he played against Cagliari. Read more
AFCON 2024: Morocco cruise to 3-0 win over Tanzania, while Zambia held DR Congo (France24)
Shock 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco cruised to a 3-0 win over 10-man Tanzania as they opened their Africa Cup of Nations campaign on Wednesday, while 2012 champions Zambia held the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Captain Romain Saiss, Azzedine Ounahi and Youssef En-Nesyri all netted for Morocco in the Ivorian coastal city of San-Pedro, while Tanzania had Novatus Miroshi sent off.
Although an African powerhouse for decades, Morocco are seeking only a second Cup of Nations title, 48 years after lifting the trophy in Ethiopia. Read more
Hertha Berlin president Kay Bernstein dies unexpectedly aged 43 (ESPN)
Hertha Berlin president Kay Bernstein, a former ultra fan who surprisingly took over the presidency in 2022, has died at the age of 43, the club said in a statement on Tuesday.
Bernstein was a longtime ultra supporter and his presidential election win — a first for Bundesliga clubs — was hailed across Germany as a win for fans against the commercialisation of the sport.
“Hertha BSC are mourning the death of Kay Bernstein. The club received the terrible news on Tuesday that president Kay Bernstein has passed away unexpectedly aged 43,” the club said. Read more
Novak Djokovic influence laid bare by Coco Gauff after Australian Open win (Express)
Coco Gauff has revealed how she’s been learning from watching world No. 1 Novak Djokovic after her recent win at the Australian Open. She managed to secure a place in the third round with a hard-fought 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 victory over fellow American Caroline Dolehide.
After the match, Gauff spoke about how she had adjusted her game and credited Djokovic for his influence. She has been watching and studying his ability to return serves and made her own improvements.
“Yeah, definitely shortening the swing. I’ve watched a lot of Novak because I want to return like him. He’s probably the best returner,” she said. Read more
Dejan Milojević, Golden State Warriors assistant coach, dies after heart attack at 46 (NBC)
Golden State Warriors assistant coach Dejan Milojević died Wednesday, officials said, after he suffered a heart attack at dinner the night before in Salt Lake City.
The Warriors–Utah Jazz game, set for 7 p.m. MT Wednesday at the Delta Center, had been postponed shortly after the team announced that Milojević, 46, was hospitalized Tuesday night, having suffered “a medical emergency at a private team dinner.”
He had a heart attack and died late Wednesday morning, the team said. Read more