Reps pass Tax Reform Bills for second reading (DailyTrust)
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the tax reform bills for a second reading following an extensive and robust debate on the general principles of the legislation by lawmakers.
The House had earlier consolidated the four tax reform bills sent to the House by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last year into one before beginning the debate on the general principles.
The consolidation of the bills followed a motion by the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, following the leave granted by the Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen. Read more
LP fielding Peter Obi against Tinubu In 2027, says Arabambi (Channels)
Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Labour Party (LP) says it would field former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, as its candidate.
Obi was the LPโs presidential candidate in 2023 but lost to President Bola Tinubu, the then-candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He came third in the polls, trailing behind former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking on Channels Televisionโs Politics Today, National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, said Tinubu would not have a smooth sail in the next general polls. Read more
2027: APC not jittery over gang-up โ Uzodimma (Tribune)
Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Senator Hope Uzodimma has said the party was not afraid of recent meetings by leading opposition parties and their chieftains ahead of next general elections.
Uzodimma made the remarks on Wednesday at the party national secretariat in Abuja where the APC National Working Committee signed an agreement with a firm, Tunmef Global Limited, for the commencement of digital membership registration exercise, aimed at having a comprehensive and up-to-date database of its members.
Findings revealed that certain chieftains of the predominant opposition political parties have been involved in coalition talks ahead of the 2007 general elections. Read more
Lagos pledges to curb underage gambling (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to combat underage gambling, emphasising its zero-tolerance policy for such practice.
This was reaffirmed by the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority during a press conference with key stakeholders in the gaming sector in Lagos on Tuesday.
The Chief Executive Officer of LSLGA and Chairman of the Federation of State Gaming Regulators of Nigeria, Basir Are, emphasised that preventing underage gambling remained a top priority for both the authority and the Lagos State Government. Read more
Odukoya, UNILAG Prof, pays his academic debt (Sun)
A Professor of Comparative Political Economy and Dean, Faculty of Social Science, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Prof. Adelaja Odukoya, has paid his academic debt to the Nigerian University System (NUS) with the delivery of his Inaugural Lecture.
He paid his academic debt when he delivered the 6th inaugural lecture in the 2024/2025 academic session titled: โArmageddon โโ.
Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, discharged Odukoya for paying his academic debt and the pronouncement by the VC attracted a thunderous applause from his colleagues, his family members and guests. Read more
Okonkwoโs resignation from LP โโgood riddanceโโ โ Arabambi (Vanguard)
The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP), Abayomi Arabambi, has described the resignation of Kenneth Okonkwo as a relief for the party, emphasising that the LP remains strong as it prepares to challenge the current administration in 2027.
Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television program, Arabambi dismissed concerns over Okonkwoโs departure, insisting that the party is not in crisis.
His remarks come after Okonkwo, a former spokesperson of the party, announced his resignation on Tuesday. Read more
Tinubu congratulates Amb Adeoye on AU re-election (Nation)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Ambassador Bankole Adeoye on his re-election as the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, describing it as a โwell-deservedโ victory.
โHis leadership and dedication to conflict resolution, governance, and regional stability have been instrumental in advancing Africaโs security architecture,โ Tinubu stated on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, on Wednesday.
In another diplomatic milestone, Nigeria was also re-elected to the AU Peace and Security Council with an overwhelming 46 votes out of 47, further solidifying the countryโs role as a key player in African security and diplomacy. Read more
Immigration arrests suspected trafficker, rescues 2 victims en route to Libya (Guardian)
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Illela Border Command, Sokoto State, has apprehended a suspected human trafficker, Sirajo Illela, and rescued two women allegedly bound for Libya.
The commandโs Comptroller, Mr Tony Akuneme, disclosed this in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Mohammed, in Abuja yesterday.
Akuneme revealed that the suspect was arrested at his family residence in the Yar Kara area of Illela Local Council.
The victims, Maryam Akinosi, 40, from Ogun State, and Olatunde Abidemi, 26, from Oyo State, were reportedly travelling without valid documents and were intercepted before they could proceed further. Read more
Nicole Kidmanโs Babygirl gets Valentineโs Day theatrical rerelease (Variety)
Get ready to drink some more milk โ Babygirl is getting a theatrical rerelease on Valentineโs Day across the U.S.
The kinky erotic thriller stars Nicole Kidman as a tech CEO whose life begins to unravel when she has an affair with a younger company intern (Harris Dickinson).
The movie earned a six and a half-minute standing ovation at its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, where Kidman went on to earn the Volpi Cup for best actress. She also took home the National Board of Reviewโs best actress honor and earned a Golden Globe nomination. Read more
Elizabeth Holmes breaks her silence in first interview from prison (People)
Twice a week, for a few fleeting hours, life is sweet for 41-year-old Elizabeth Holmes. Itโs when her kids William, 3, and Invicta, 2, snuggle in her lap and talk excitedly about insects, ant farms and sea creatures. Her son builds Legos, and her daughter dismantles them.
Seemingly unaware of the beeping of metal detectors and the watchful eyes of guards at Federal Prison Camp Bryan in Texas, the children and their father, Holmesโs partner Billy Evans, 33, enjoy each moment together.
And like always, their most recent visit ended with a ritual when their time was up: The children pressed their fingers together to make a heart sign, saying in unison, โMommy, this is our love.โ To which their mother responded, โOur love is a superpower.โ Read more
Petition calling for Denmark to buy California reaches 200,000 signatures (NBC)
A satirical counter offer to President Donald Trumpโs proposal to buy Greenland has popped in the form of a petition which suggests that Denmark should buy California.
More than 200,000 people have signed up for the plan which says that the Scandinavian country needs โmore sunshine, palm trees, and roller skates.โ
โMรฅke Califรธrnia Great รgain,โ reads the top of the petition website, replacing some English letters with Danish ones. Read more
Ally McBeal star Greg Germann files for divorce (FilmNews)
Ally McBeal actor Greg Germann has called it quits on his marriage to wife Martha Champlin.
Germann has filed for divorce after 12 years of marriage.
In court docs obtained by TMZ, Germann cited irreconcilable differences and listed their date of separation as 3 March 2024.
Germann is requesting that spousal support not be given to his ex, an elementary school principal, and their shared home be divided up equally. He is also asking that everything else be treated as separate property. Read more
Disney+ rewords content warnings on old movies like Peter Pan and Dumbo amid DEI strategy shift (People)
Disney is planning to alter how it approaches content warnings presented in front of movies like 1941’s Dumbo and 1953’s Peter Pan.
On Tuesday, Feb. 11, Axios reported that Disney will remove the content advisory that runs ahead of some of its classic animated films on Disney+ that warns audiences the movie “includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of peoples or cultures” as part of a larger shift on its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in reaction to the Trump administration’s pressure on those programs across businesses.
Among other changes the company is making internally, the outlet reported that a new advisory that reads, “This program is presented as originally created and may contain stereotypes or negative depictions,” will play in front of some older titles, citing two anonymous sources. Read more
Lars von Trier admitted to care centre for Parkinsonโs disease (NME)
Lars von Trier has been admitted to a care centre for treatment for Parkinsonโs disease.
The acclaimed albeit controversial filmmaker revealed his diagnosis in 2022, though it was said that he was in โgood spirits and is being treated for his symptomsโ at the time.
Now, Louise Vesth, a producer at his production company Zentropa has said via a statement on Instagram: โLars is currently associated with a care centre that can provide him with the treatment and care his condition requires.โ Read more
Ukraine war talks start now, Trump says after Putin call (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has said he had a “lengthy and highly productive” phone call with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday in which the leaders agreed to begin negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he and the Russian president had “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately” and invited each other to visit their respective capitals.
Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had spoken with Trump about a “lasting, reliable peace”. Read more
Tems becomes 1st African woman to co-own US football club (Guardian)
Nigerian singer, Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has broken new ground as she joins San Diego F.C. as a part owner.
This move makes her the first African female musician to have a stake in a Major League Soccer (MLS) club in the United States.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the clubโs chairman, Sir Mohamed Mansour, in an official statement.
โWe are delighted that Tems has joined San Diego FC as a Club Partner,โ Mansour said.
โTems is a globally significant artist who will help us to reach new audiences and spread the word about our unique project, which of course has its foundations in sub-Saharan Africa through the unique Right to Dream organization.โ Read more
NPFL: Insurance Pip Enyimba 1-0 in Benin (Punch)
Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin on Wednesday defeated visiting Enyimba International Football Club of Aba 1-0 in a rescheduled week 20 Nigeria Premier Football League game, played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
The lone goal was scored in the 55 minutes by Kayode Oke, who deflected a shot from Nnamdi Anthony into the net of the visitors.
In what was a keenly contested match between the two teams, it was the homers who did enough to take all three points. Read more
Everton slow Liverpoolโs Premier League charge with injury-time leveller (AlJazeera)
The 120th and final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park delivered a stunning finish as James Tarkowski grabbed an equaliser for Everton in the eighth minute of stoppage time to secure a 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League.
With virtually the last kick of a game that ended with a mass scuffle and three red cards, Tarkowski smashed a shot into the roof of the net to spark wild celebrations inside one of English footballโs most venerable and atmospheric stadiums, which will be demolished at the end of this season.
The โGrand Old Ladyโ โ as Goodison Park is fondly called by the locals โ has been Evertonโs home since 1892. The club is moving to a new 52,888-capacity venue at Bramley-Moore Dock on Liverpoolโs waterfront. Read more
Brendan Rodgers calls Harry Kane โโbest striker in the worldโโ as he laments Celtic loss (Independent)
Brendan Rodgers praised Harry Kane as one of the best in the world in his position but bemoaned his sideโs actions after Celtic fell to a 2-1 loss in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie.
Kane volleyed in from a corner not long after half-time at Celtic Park to give the German side a 2-0 lead, with Michael Olise having opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time.
And though Celtic fought back and got a deserved goal when Daizen Maeda bundled in late on, it wasn’t enough as Kaneโs goal gave the Bavarians the win. Read more
Gatland leaves Wales coaching job after 14 straight Test losses (France24)
Warren Gatland has left his role as Wales head coach by “mutual agreement” after a record run of 14 straight Test defeats, the Welsh Rugby Union announced on Tuesday.
Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt will take temporary charge for the side’s remaining three Six Nations games against title favourites Ireland, Scotland and England.
WRU chief executive Abi Tierney said both parties had agreed an immediate change “is in the best interests of the Wales squad”.
“We are grateful to Warren for all he has done for the game in Wales. He remains our longest-serving and most decorated head coach in terms of the silverware he has won,” she added. Read more
Tyson Fury takes up โnew jobโ weeks after retiring from boxing (Mirror)
Tyson Fury appears to be enjoying the retirement life by training his wife Paris at a local gym in Lancashire.
Last month, the 36-year-old announced his decision to walk away from the sport of boxing following back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk. “Hi everybody, I’m going to make this short and sweet,” he said to the camera. “I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing. It’s been a blast, I’ve loved every single minute of it. I’m going to end with this. Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody, see you on the other side. Get up!โ
Fury was recently seen taking his family to Disneyland Paris. Tyson, his wife Paris, and their seven kids spent the day at the park, enjoying the rides and attractions. Paris shared photos from their trip on social media, showing the family having a great time. Tyson was seen pushing his youngest child in a stroller, smiling as they explored the park together. Paris captioned the wholesome post: “If you can dream it, you can do itโ Walt Disney.โ Read more