NCS confiscates suspected cannabis worth N20.6m (Guardian)
Niger/Kogi Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has seized 253.6 kilogrammes of suspected cannabis sativa, worth N20.6 million on Abuja-Lokoja.
NCS Area Controller, Niger/Kogi command, Mr Busayo Kadejo, disclosed this on Tuesday in Minna, while handing over the suspected weeds to National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for discreet investigation.
Kadejo said that the item was confiscated by a patrol team of the service.
“We have obtained necessary approval from the Comptroller-General of NCS, Retired Col. Hameed Ali and I hereby hand over the seized suspected marijuana to the Niger State Commander of NDLEA for further action,” he said. Read more
Gunman shoots Abuja Uber driver, victim hospitalised (Punch)
An Uber driver, whose name is yet to be known, has been hospitalised following an attack by a gunman in the Garki area of the Federal Capital Territory at about 10pm on Monday, according to a police report.
Police sources told our correspondent on Tuesday that an argument had ensued on Monday night between the Uber driver and the gunman, who escaped after the attack at Gimbiya street, Garki.
Findings by our correspondent showed that Gimbiya Street is one of the busiest areas of the FCT, with a high influx of people at nightlife.
A resident, on Tuesday, told our correspondent that people were having fun on Monday night when they overheard the two men having an argument, before the shooting minutes later. Read more
Police nab Abuja big boy in Rivers over N15m forex racket (Guardian)
A 22-year-old dark-complexioned man identified as Salihu Nasiru Ibrahim has been nabbed by operatives of the Rivers State Police Command in Port Harcourt in a racket involving N15m for procurement of US Dollars in a foreign exchange deal gone sour.
The accused, Ibrahim, said to be the son of a Director at the National Agricultural Biotechnology Development Agency in Abuja, is now standing trial at the Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate Court 10 presided over by A.O Amadi-Nna where a battle for bail is raging.
According to a charge sheet made available to newsmen, Ibrahim is accused of obtaining the N15m from one Grace Ogolo to help her change it at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Dollars at the government rate but did not change it and did not return the money since July 2022.
The charge sheet prepared by a Superintendent of Police (SP), Sewari Alphaeus, said the offence contravened Section 1 (b,c) and is punishable under Section 1 (2,3) of the Advance Fee Fraud Laws of the Federation 2006. Read more
Lagos butchers hold special prayers for Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu (Nation)
The Association of Lagos State Butchers at the weekend organised a special prayer session for the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Its chairman Bamidele Kazeem said he was elated to be a part of the process.
“We want all our candidates to emerge winners in the 2023 forthcoming election and that is why we organised this prayer. He has been doing great in the campaign process better than other candidates, the only thing we need is God. That is why we have come to pray for them to emerge winners,” he said.
He said Sanwo-Olu has improved Lagos, making it more habitable for residents and deserving of a second term. Read more
10% of COVID-19 patients treated at LUTH have long COVID – Physician (Vanguard)
An infectious diseases physician, Dr Iorhen Akase, says 10 percent of patients treated for COVID-19 at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) have symptoms of long COVID.
Akase, Head of Infectious Diseases Unit of LUTH, made the disclosure in an interview with Newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), post COVID-19 conditions, commonly known as long COVID, can affect anyone exposed to SARS-CoV-2, regardless of age or severity of original symptoms.
Long COVID is an illness in people who have either recovered from COVID-19 but still report lasting effects of the infection, or have had the usual symptoms for far longer than would be expected. Read more
Diri vows to depose monarch who allow politicians to use guns to intimidate voters (ThisDay)
Ahead of the 2023 general election in the state, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has vowed to depose any traditional ruler in the state who allows politicians to use guns to intimidate voters in order to rig the forthcoming c general election in their domains.
Speaking during the flag-off of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign for Bayelsa Central senatorial district yesterday in Yenagoa, the governor also warned that youths leaders from the community where intimidation and rigging occur would also be sanctioned.
He urged the people of the state to rally round and support all the candidates of PDP in the election so that the party can correct the economic woes perpetrated in the country by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government.
Diri assured the people that the presidential candidate of PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has what it takes to reposition the country. Read more
Adamawa, Sokoto, 4 others most vulnerable, as 25m Nigerians risk hunger – UNICEF (Vanguard)
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised an alarm that 25 million Nigerians will be at the perils of food insecurity between June and August 2023, except urgent action is taken to address it.
UN agency, Monday, made this known on its website in a statement titled ‘25 million Nigerians at high risk of food insecurity in 2023.’
It revealed that the projection was made according to the October 2022 Cadre Harmonisé, a Government led and UN-supported food and nutrition analysis carried out twice a year.
It further disclosed that food insecurity would be caused by continued conflict, climate change, inflation and rising food prices noting that some Northern states are vulnerable. Read more
Ajube, Joint Forces bust bunkering syndicate in Ondo (Independent)
A syndicate siphoning crude from Chevron/NNPC rigs on the high sea in Ondo State has been busted by the joint special forces on Monday.
Leading the special joint military forces through the creeks with his men from Galaxy Security Services, High Chief Bibopere Ajube, one of the prominent crusaders for Niger Delta Development, tracked the evacuation points of the bunkering syndicate within elephant grass.
With Ajube’s experience, two monster boats used for the illicit operations by the syndicate were located at different points where they were hidden within suspended residential raft houses in the Awoye island community.
Through intelligence gathering, he was able to track down the rigs from which the syndicate siphoned the crude oil, which was on the Atlantic Ocean in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. Read more
Glenmark launches drug to treat heart failure (MoneyControl)
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals on Tuesday said it has launched sacubitril and valsartan combination tablets in India for treatment of heart failure.
The prescription drug has been launched under brand ‘Sacu V’ and is priced at Rs 19 per tablet for a dose of 50mg (sacubitril 24mg + valsartan 26mg), Rs 35 per tablet for a dose of 100mg (sacubitril 49mg + valsartan 51mg), and Rs 45 per tablet for a dose of 200mg (sacubitril 97mg + valsartan 103 mg), Glenmark said in a regulatory filing.
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals EVP & Business Head India Formulations, Alok Malik said Sacu V is an advanced and affordable treatment option, which has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalisation and to improve symptoms associated with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
The company said Sacu V must be taken twice daily under doctor’s prescription. Its approved indication is to reduce the risk of cardiovascular related deaths and hospitalisations for patients with chronic heart failure with HFrEF. Read more
Haruki Murakami’s stories come to life in the beautifully-animated trailer for “Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman” (CreativeBoom)
Opening in the UK on 31 March, Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman is the debut feature film from director, composer and painter Pierre Földes. Having made its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Festival in 2022, the film has already won over critics with its bewitching and melancholic depiction of Murakami’s beloved tales.
And once you’ve watched the trailer, you’ll understand why. Deviating from other titans in the animation industry (hello, Ghibli and Disney), this movie released by female-led, social-issues-driven film distribution company Modern Films takes a somewhat more sombre approach to its source material.
Blending the strengths of both 2D and 3D animation, Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman is a haunting yet playful realisation of several short story collections, including the titular Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman, plus The Elephant Vanishes and After The Quake.
Set in the days following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman follows the lives of survivors and explores the external and psychological repercussions of the disaster. It includes an overworked office clerk pressured into getting results, a dissatisfied woman transfixed by news of the events, and the appearance of a humanoid frog creature on a mission to save Tokyo. Read more
Kevin Spacey accepts Lifetime Achievement Award as he awaits trial for sex crimes (Mirror)
Actor Kevin Spacey thanked the Italian National Cinema Museum as he accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award in Turin on Monday.
The 63-year-old said his heart felt “very full” to be honoured at the ceremony and commended the museum for having “the courage, the balls, to invite me”.
The award comes as Spacey is set to go on trial in June in the UK for a number of sexual offences, including indecent assault, sexual assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
He has strongly denied all charges. Read more
Sally Field to receive 2023 SAG Life Achievement Award (Deadline)
Multi-award-winning actor Sally Field has been named the 58th recipient of SAG-AFTRA’s highest tribute: the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment.
Field will be presented with the honor at the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony, which will be broadcast live on Netflix’s YouTube channel, YouTube.com/Netflix, Sunday, February 26 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT from the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
“Sally is an amazing actor with an enormous range and an uncanny ability to embody any character,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. “I joyfully watched her early career when she portrayed Gidget and the Flying Nun and then, in ever more challenging roles, as Sybil and Norma Rae. She never stopped being extraordinary, including as recently as Winning Time in which she was simply sublime as Jessie Buss. Read more
Madonna announces major world tour to mark 40th anniversary (Sky)
Madonna has announced a major world tour marking her 40th anniversary, including a show at London’s O2 Arena.
The announcement comes after weeks of speculation the Queen of Pop had been planning something big to celebrate her career since the release of her self-titled debut album, which launched her on the path to stardom with hits including Holiday, Lucky Star and Borderline.
Writing on Instagram – after previously clearing her page to make way for the news – Madonna simply said: “Come join the party!” In a statement sent to Sky News, she said: “I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes to give my fans the show they have been waiting for.”
The Celebration tour will feature the 64-year-old artist’s four decades of greatest hits, starting in Vancouver, Canada, on 15 July. The star will play gigs across Canada and the US between July and October, before starting the European leg at the O2 on 14 October. Read more
Noel Gallagher announces new album ‘‘Council Skies’’, shares single ‘‘Easy Now’’ (NME)
Noel Gallagher has announced a new album called ‘Council Skies’ – listen to the single ‘Easy Now’ below.
The former Oasis singer-songwriter is due to release his fourth studio record with the High Flying Birds on June 2 via Sour Mash.
Following on from 2017’s ‘Who Built The Moon?’, the full-length project sees Gallagher reclaiming his past and paying homage to his Mancunian roots. ‘Council Skies’ is described as the musician’s “most varied and accomplished solo record to date”.
“It’s going back to the beginning. Daydreaming, looking up at the sky and wondering about what life could be … that’s as true to me now as it was in the early ’90s,” Gallagher explained of the upcoming album. Read more
Ukraine yellow kitchen: Shock at image of apartment wrecked by strike (BBC)
Images of a bright, family kitchen in Ukraine, which was exposed to the world when a Russian missile strike tore off its external wall, have caused shock and sadness on social media.
The apartment was home to well known boxing coach Mykhailo Korenovsky, who was killed in Saturday’s attack. His wife and children reportedly survived.
A video of Korenovsky celebrating a recent birthday with his family in the same flat has also been published.
The strike in Dnipro killed 40 people.
The victims included three children, with more than 30 people still unaccounted for on Monday evening. Read more
Extreme heat halts Australian Open for hours (Punch)
The second round of the ongoing Australian Open in Melbourne was on Tuesday halted for three hours on all outside courts, as temperatures rose to 35⁰C.
The extreme heat led officials to suspend all play on the outside courts, who agreed that it was too dangerous to play competitive tennis is such condition.
The decision was taken just before 2.15pm local time – which is 3.15am GMT – and it was only until after 5pm that the matches could resume.
According to the Sun UK, the tournament referee was forced to act when the Australian Open Heat Stress Index – which takes into account the strength of the sun, air temperature in the shade, relative humidity and wind speed – reached its highest level of five. Read more
Beach Soccer Association lauds Gusau for strong support in developing the game (Sun)
The Nigeria Beach Soccer Association (NBSA) has commended the National President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)Alhaji Musa Gusau for his strong support towards the development of the beach soccer game in Nigeria.
The Association, stated this in a communiqué, jointly signed after their virtually general meeting,which was signed by Auwal Nasir, Busayo Olowokere,Rasheed Saraki and
Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde.
According to them,”the Congress appreciated the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under the leadership of Alhaji Musa Gusau for showing interest to develop the game of Beach Soccer after witnessing the successes recorded by the Association so far, particularly in the administration of a national league. Read more
Arsenal make ‘‘initial contact’’ as they look to strike a deal for €100m Bundesliga winger (Football365)
Premier League side Arsenal have made contact with Bayer Leverkusen over a potential deal for winger Moussa Diaby, according to reports.
The Gunners are hoping to sign a winger before the end of the January transfer window with the Gunners recently missing out on a deal for Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Mudryk signed an eight-and-a-half year deal at Chelsea in a €100m transfer with Arsenal now looking to secure other targets with a fortnight of the window to go.
Barcelona duo Raphinha and Ferran Torres have been mooted, while Brighton pair Leandro Trossard and Kaoru Mitoma are also understood to be on their radar. Read more
Alan Shearer predicts different outcomes for Liverpool and Chelsea’s disappointing seasons (Mirror)
Alan Shearer has predicted that Chelsea will improve after their poor run of form – but fears for Liverpool following their dismal 3-0 defeat at Brighton on Saturday.
Graham Potter’s side returned to winning ways with a 1-0 success over Crystal Palace as Kai Havertz struck to earn the Blues’ their first win in five matches. The result kept Chelsea in 10th, 10 points off the Champions League places but Shearer expects the Blues to close that gap in the coming weeks with players set to come back from injury.
Meanwhile, the all-time Premier League top scorer has aired his concerns over the Reds’ dismal recent spell, having shipped eight goals in three matches against Brentford, Wolves and the Seagulls. The defeat at the Amex Stadium was particularly damning as Brighton battered Liverpool and could’ve scored more than the three they netted. Read more
Novak Djokovic opens Australian Open return with 1st-round win (ABC)
The supportive signs and dozens of Serbian flags and loud chants of Novak Djokovic’s nickname filled Rod Laver Arena, providing a warm welcome marking his return to the Australian Open — a tournament he has dominated in the past but could not enter a year ago.
Djokovic acknowledged the greeting with a quick wave of his left hand when he stepped out onto the court at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, then got down to business by playing quite well and only briefly showing a hint of trouble from the balky left hamstring that was heavily taped.
He began the first-round match with an ace at 125 mph and a love hold, took control of that set with a 12-point run and was on his way to a 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 victory over 75th-ranked Roberto Carballes Baena that finished after midnight.
“Unbelievable atmosphere. Thank you so much for staying this late, everybody. Also, thank you for giving me such a welcome and a reception I can only dream of,” Djokovic told the crowd in an on-court interview. “I really feel very happy that I’m back in Australia and I’m back here on the court where I had the biggest success in my career.” Read more
Lewis Hamilton F1 retirement date comes to light as contract requests lodged with Mercedes (Express)
Lewis Hamilton has reportedly been offered a two-season extension to his Mercedes deal that will see him race into his 40s. The contract does not have a bonus for winning the world championship, though does outline his plans after his retirement.
Hamilton’s current deal with Mercedes expires at the end of the 2023 season, but Sportune report that an extension offer is now on the table. It will see him earn £62million per season, which is a considerable pay rise given that he currently earns £40m per season.
The contract is targeted at Hamilton’s retirement plans, with an agreement that he will remain a key figure within the Mercedes camp after his career draws to a close.
Toto Wolff would like the 38-year-old to become an ambassador, with a view for him to be involved in social projects. Hamilton is involved in two main initiatives, Mission 44 and Ignite, and they will receive funds as part of the new contract. Read more
