Security breach at Lagos airport as thieves gain access to Arik Air (Sun)
There was security breach at the domestic terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport Lagos, as a Boeing 737-73V, with registration number EI-ULN, belonging to Arik Air was burgled and its Flight Management System, stolen.
The FMS is a computer designed to provide virtual data and operational harmony between closed and open elements associated with a flight from pre-engine start and take-off, to landing and engine shutdown.
The aircraft was leased from Eznis Airways LLC, an airline based in Mongolia.
A source at the airline confirmed to Daily Sun that the theft took place in the late hours of Wednesday 19 to the early hours of Thursday 20 and this led to flights cancellations and postponement. Read more
Adeniran-Ogunsanya didn’t die a coward, Jandor mourns (Independent)
Olajide Adediran, popularly called Jandor, lead visioner, Lagos4Lagos Movement has received the sad news of the death of the apex chairperson of the Lagos4Lagos Movement, Princess Adenrele Adeniran-Ogunsanya, stressing that the former Lagos State Secretary of Government did not fue a coward.
Ogunsanya died in Lagos in the early hours of Tuesday.
Describing her death as painful beyond words, Jandor said that the motherly role the Ikorodu born politician played in driving the mission of the Lagos4Lagos Movement is invaluable.
He noted that she was a great pillar of support and encouragement to him and members of the movement, adding that she stood decidedly by the movement at a time when it was dangerous and unfashionable to associate with them. Read more
Kosoko family dissociates self from Lagos Island unrest (Guardian)
The King Kosoko Royal family and the Oloja of Lagos Chieftaincy Family have distanced themselves from the gang fight that erupted in Idumota area last Friday, leaving no fewer than three people dead.
It was learnt that two factional area boys clashed in the area around noon, displaying machetes, bottles and other deadly weapons, which forced traders, workers and buyers to desert the bustling commercial centre for dear lives.
The joint statement released yesterday, a copy of which was made available to The Guardian, they revealed that the fracas titled: “Idumota vs Kosoko,” was perpetrated by street gangs for selfish motive, noting that the unrest has nothing to do with the palace or the family.
The statement, signed by Prince Abiola Olojo-kosoko, Oloja of Lagos (Elect) and Alhaja Mutiat Ashabi Alli-Balogun, Head of the King Kosoko Royal Family, they enjoined the general public to desist from implying in any way that the family is a party to the disturbance. Read more
‘Eko Excel improves students’ fluency’ (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has said the Eko Excel initiative has improved students’ reading fluency compared to their performance before the scheme was introduced.
The Executive Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr Wahab Alawiye-King, said this in a statement on Tuesday.
Alawiye-King was quoted to have said this while commemorating the 2022 International Day of Education themed ‘Changing course, transforming education.’
He said, “The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed January 24 as the International Day of Education in 2018 to celebrate the role of education for peace and development and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu launched Eko Excel initiative in 2019 to provide quality education and upgrade the skills of teachers through technology. Read more
Adesua Etomi, husband Banky W, celebrate son, Hazaiah, as he turns 1 (Leadership)
Nigerian singer, actor and celebrity, Olubankole Wellington popularly known as Banky W and wife, Adeshua Etomi, a Nollywood atress, have celebrated their son, Hazaiah Olusegun “Champ” Wellington as he celebrates his first birthday anniversary.
The couple separately shared their gratitude on their social handles with photos of and video.
The touching video was also a compilation of the different interesting reactions from friends and loved ones of the couple after they were told about Adesua’s pregnancy and how she was expecting a baby boy.
Adesua recounted her ordeal “A year ago, God saved my life after suffering a postpartum haemorrhage and I’m still here only because he had his way.’’ Read more
Nurses’ association seeks justice for murdered member (Punch)
The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Abuja Council, has called on the authorities to unmask the killers of one of its members, Grace Dauda.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Dauda was murdered on January 5 at her residence in Auta Balefi, Karu Local Area of Nasarawa State, by unknown persons.
NAN also reports that the late Dauda was, until her death, was the Chief Nursing Officer of Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja.
Chairman of the association, Deborah Yusuf, who expressed sorrow over the murder at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja, said that NANNM was sad that the killers had yet to be apprehended. Read more
2023 Elections: We are tired of seeing ‘old faces’ – Afegbua (Channels)
A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kassim Afegbua, has said that Nigerians are tired of seeing the same set of people contesting for president and that his party ought to change its strategy ahead of the coming 2023 elections.
Afegbua who was a guest on Channels TV’s Politics Today on Tuesday, said this while discussing the party’s potential candidates, particularly former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who was the candidate for the PDP in 2019.
“It will be immoral for the north to want to represent the PDP as candidate of the party and at a time when a northerner will be finishing eight years,” he said.
“I was specific about the aspiration of a man who represented the party in the 2019 elections. I said we are tired of seeing old faces. Read more
NLC suspends Jan 27, Feb 2 nationwide protest over subsidy (Nation)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended its nationwide protest for Thursday and February 2.
The NLC said it took the decision at its National Executive Council meeting on Tuesday morning.
The Congress said the decision to suspend the protest was based on suspension of the proposal to stop subsidy on petrol by the Federal Government.
President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba broke the news at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja. Read more
‘The Governor with longest record of unpaid salaries’, Presidency mocks Ortom (DailyTrust)
The Presidency, on Tuesday, ranked Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State among the league of “failed politicians”, claiming he currently holds the country’s longest record of unpaid salaries and pensions.
A presidential media aide, Garba Shehu, passed the verdict in a statement titled “The Incongruence of Governor Samuel Ortom on Arise TV” in reaction to his constant attacks on President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said Ortom had continued to blame the President who didn’t owe federal workers for his woes, instead of raising money to settle unpaid salaries.
Shehu said the governor of Benue could not still not perform his task despite collecting Salary Bailout, Excess Crude Loan and Budget Support loan, each repayable in 20 years. Read more
Unvaccinated man denied heart transplant by Boston hospital (BBC)
A US hospital has rejected a patient for a heart transplant at least in part because he is not vaccinated against Covid-19.
DJ Ferguson, 31, is in dire need of a new heart, but Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston took him off their list, said his father, David.
He said the Covid vaccine goes against his son’s “basic principles, he doesn’t believe in it”.
The hospital said it was following policy.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital told the BBC in a statement: “Given the shortage of available organs, we do everything we can to ensure that a patient who receives a transplanted organ has the greatest chance of survival.” Read more
Jake Gyllenhaal to play a master thief in New heist thriller ‘Cut and Run’ (Collider)
After a pretty intense bidding war, New Republic Pictures has come out on top with heist thriller Cut and Run. The film is set to star Jake Gyllenhaal (Spider-Man: Far From Home, Source Code) assumedly as the ringleader of a group of thieves who spend their time stealing from super-yachts and escaping on high-powered speed boats. Yes, you read that correctly, super-yachts and speed boats. On top of starring in the film, Gyllenhaal is also producing Cut and Run at his company Nine Stories Productions.
John Glenn, whose previous credits include Eagle Eye, Law Abiding Citizen, and the television series SEAL Team, is writing the script as well as producing. Brian Oliver and Bradley Fischer at New Republic Pictures will also serve as producers for Cut and Run. This kind of movie fits right in with Glenn’s previous work, and from the description it sounds like it will be an absolute hit for anyone who loves a good popcorn action film. Glenn is also currently working on adapting The House On Hoarder Hill with Sam Raimi and Wiip Studios.
New Republic recently signed a first look deal with Nine Stories, making this collaboration a natural next step. The production company also has Michael Bay’s Ambulance coming later this year on April 8, which also stars Gyllenhaal alongside Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (The Matrix Resurrections, Aquaman), and Eiza González (Baby Driver). New Republic and Nine Stories also have plans to produce Oblivion Song, a film based on the graphic novel of the same title by Lorenzo De Felici and Robert Kirkman.
Gyllenhaal was also recently in talks to star in a Road House reboot at MGM, however, news on that project is still mostly speculation. Though Gyllenhaal faced a fresh wave of internet backlash after the release of Red (Taylor’s Version) late last year, including a short film based on their relationship, his ability to tackle the most ridiculous action flicks remains intact. Read more
Kathryn Kates dies: ‘Many Saints Of Newark’, ‘Seinfeld’ & ‘SVU’ actress was 73 (Deadline)
Kathryn Kates, a veteran character actress who appeared in such TV series as Orange Is the New Black, Seinfeld and Law & Order: SVU and The Sopranos prequel movie The Many Saints of Newark, has died. She was 73.
Her reps at Headline Talent Agency said Kates died Saturday of cancer in Florida.
“Kathryn has been our client for many years, and we have grown much closer to her in this last year since she knew of her cancer returning,” Headline Talent said in a statement. “She was always incredibly brave and wise and approached every role with the greatest of passion. She will be greatly missed.”
A native New Yorker, Kates had a few small roles in the early 1980s but got busier during the following decade. By the mid-’90s, she was guest starring on such series as Matlock, Thunder Alley and Seinfeld. She appeared as a counter clerk in two episodes of the NBC juggernaut: “The Dinner Party” (1994) and “The Rye” (1996). Read more
Euphoria’s Sydney Sweeney says people ignore her performance “because I got naked” (AVClub)
Acting on today’s buzziest teens-in-trouble drama means performing many uncomfortable scenes. And Euphoria lives up to its street name, “A24 Degrassi,” by putting its underage characters through the gauntlet.
But bearing it all for the camera comes at a price with few benefits, says Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney, who has found that going nude hasn’t done much to help her career. On the contrary, she told The Independent that critics ignore her performance on Euphoria because of it.
“I’m very proud of my work in Euphoria. I thought it was a great performance. But no one talks about it because I got naked,” Sweeney said. “I do The White Lotus and all of a sudden critics are paying attention. People are loving me. They’re going, ‘Oh my God, what’s she doing next?’ I was like, ‘Did you not see that in Euphoria? Did you not see that in The Handmaid’s Tale?”
Unfortunately, Sweeney’s willingness to do nude scenes has often been a retelling of a familiar Hollywood story.“I’ve had experiences where I want to go home and scrub myself completely raw because I feel disgusting,” she said. “I didn’t feel comfortable with my castmate or the crew, and I just didn’t feel like my character would be doing it. That made me even more self-conscious. I didn’t feel like I was able to speak up.” Read more
Metal detectorist found one of the UK’s first-ever gold coins and sold it for £648k (Metro)
A metal detectorist who found England’s ‘first-ever gold coin’ is celebrating after it sold for a world record of £648,000.
Michael Leigh-Mallory unearthed the coin on his first metal detecting outing in 10 years on a farmland in Hemyock, Devon, last September.
The King Henry III penny, struck in about 1257 by William of Gloucester, with gold imported from North Africa, measures just under an inch in diameter.
There are just eight of the coins in existence – with most of them in museums – and this one is thought to be the first to be found in 260 years.
The discoverer was completely unaware of the coin’s incredible rarity until he posted a picture of it on Facebook and it was spotted by a specialist at Spink auctioneers, London. Read more
Elton John tests positive for COVID-19, postpones Texas concerts (CST)
Despite being vaccinated and boosted, Elton John has contracted COVID-19 and is postponing two farewell concert dates in Dallas.
John “is experiencing only mild symptoms,” according to a statement. “Elton and the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour look forward to returning to the stage shortly.”
John was due to hit the American Airlines Center stage in Dallas on Jan. 25 and Jan. 26 but fans “should hold on to their tickets as they will be honored at the rescheduled dates to be announced soon.”
John’s rescheduled 2020 North American tour kicked off on Jan. 19 in New Orleans and was scheduled to make stops in Houston, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, New York and Miami. The Chicago dates include Feb. 4-5 at the United Center and Aug. 5 at Soldier. Read more
UNICEF calls for children to be evacuated from Syrian prison (UPI)
The United Nations Children’s Fund on Tuesday called on the international community to help more than 800 children imprisoned in a military detention facility in northeast Syria.
The organization — known as UNICEF — made the appeal in a news release, saying it has received “deeply worrisome reports of fatalities among children in the Ghwayran military detention facility, in al-Hasakah.”
The former school is the country’s largest facility for suspected members of the Islamic State, housing around 3,000 prisoners in poor conditions, according to The Washington Post.
An attack on the prison Sunday killed more than 25 members of the Syrian Democratic Forces, which are backed by the U.S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve. Read more
Collins ends Cornet run to reach Australian Open semi-finals (Metro)
Danielle Collins ended Alize Cornet’s dream run at the Australian Open with a 7-5 6-1 win to reach her second semi-final at Melbourne Park on Wednesday.
After breaking Cornet to take the first set, the American 27th seed ramped up the aggression to take the next five games at Rod Laver Arena.
Cornet, playing her first Grand Slam quarter-final in her 63rd main draw appearance at a major, finally held serve to make Collins serve out the match.
Collins showed no nerves as she hammered a forehand down the line to earn two match points, then sealed it when Cornet thudded a forehand into the net. Collins showed no nerves as she hammered a forehand down the line to earn two match points, then sealed it when Cornet thudded a forehand into the net. Read more
Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek transfer details as investment hint given (Mirror)
Anthony Martial and Donny van de Beek have both been offered escape routes out of Manchester United after struggling to make an impact on the first team this season.
Van de Beek has now been linked with January loan moves with two clubs interested in signing the Dutchman, while Martial seems set to seal his loan move to Sevilla.
French striker Martial has had quite the downfall at United following his £36million arrival in 2015 – but a decision on his long-term future is yet to be made.
And comments on what needs to happen at Old Trafford for Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe to invest in the club have re-emerged. Read more
AFCON 2021: Aboubakar in pole position for Golden Boot award (Vanguard)
In 2019, Odion Ighalo won the AFCON Golden Boot with a tally of five goals.
4Before the commencement of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, when people thought of strikers expected to make a lot of difference in the tournament and probable candidates for the Golden Boot award, all eyes were on the likes of Mo Salah, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane and Sebastian Haller.
However, since the tournament began, the striker who has been deadliest in front of goal has been Cameroon star, Vincent Aboubakar. Al Nassr FC’s Vincent Abubakar. He has netted 6 goals from four matches making him one of the most prolific strikers in Afcon history.
If he continues this way, Abubakar will surely join his compatriot and current Cameroon FA President Samuel Eto’o Fils who is the all time leading scorer with 18 AFCON goals. Read more
Marcus Rashford releases statement after he’s pictured with disgraced rapper Wiley (Metro)
Marcus Rashford has reinforced his opposition to antisemitism after being pictured with controversial rapper Wiley.
A photograph has emerged of the England international and his Manchester United teammate Jesse Lingard alongside the grime artist, who sparked outrage in 2020 with a series of inflammatory antisemitic posts on social media.
It is reported the picture was taken on Sunday in Dubai, where Wiley has been performing and a number of footballers are currently taking a winter break.
Rashford tweeted on Tuesday: ‘This picture has been brought to my attention which I understand now, given context, could easily be misconstrued.
‘I would like to reinforce that I do not and will not condone discriminative language or behaviour of any kind aimed at the Jewish community or any other community. Read more
‘Rory needs to find his self-belief’ – Harrington insists McIlroy must go back to basics (IrishIndependent)
Pádraig Harrington says Rory McIlroy must go back to basics and regain the self-belief that brought him four Majors in just three years.
Ahead of this week’s Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, which starts today, Harrington believes McIlroy will win more Majors, but he must regain his bullet-proof self-belief.
“When he was winning, he absolutely stood on the tee and didn’t care about anybody else,” Harrington said. “He knew if he played his game, he was going to win. Obviously, the field has caught up. There are plenty of other big guys out there – big hitters, good drivers of the ball. The depth is stronger now.
“It’s not as easy for him to win because there’s other good players, but I’d suggest, to bring the best out of him, he’s just got to be comfortable with who he is and what he’s doing.”
Hamilton wins Hawthorn Trophy for 11th time(PlanetF1)
Lewis Hamilton has won the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy for the 11th time in 15 years, as the highest-placed Commonwealth driver in the F1 standings.
Hamilton extended his record of winning the award more times than anyone else, handed out at the recent Motorsport UK Night of Champions.
The award originated in 1959 to honour the memory of Mike Hawthorn, Britain’s first Formula 1 World Champion and a winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, who died in a road accident just three months after winning the F1 title.
Nigel Mansell is behind Hamilton on the list having won the Hawthorn Memorial Trophy seven times, with other multiple winners including the likes of Jack Brabham, Jenson Button, David Coulthard, Damon Hill, and James Hunt.
Lukas’ Manager: Ref should be suspended; Split draw with Nyambayar should be overturned (BoxingScene)
Sakaria Lukas and his handlers realize that the Namibian featherweight’s career was positively impacted Saturday night.
They still want the result of his 10-round split draw with Tugstsogt Nyambayar changed to a no-contest. Scott Farrell, Lukas’ manager has informed BoxingScene.com that he intends to file a protest on his boxer’s behalf with New Jersey’s State Athletic Control Board.,
In accordance with the NJSACB’s regulations, a successful appeal can result at best in a no-contest, but not a victory for Lukas. Had referee Eddie Claudio called a knockdown for Lukas early in the eighth round, rather than a slip, Lukas (25-1-1, 17 KOs) would’ve won a split decision because each judge would’ve deducted a point from Nyambayar (12-2-1, 9 KOs) in the opener of Showtime’s tripleheader at Borgata Event Center in Atlantic City.
Instead, judge Robin Taylor scored their back-and-forth fight a draw, 95-95. Had Claudio correctly ruled a knockdown for Lukas, who sent Nyambar to the canvas with a short jab, he would’ve won 95-94 on Taylor’s card. Read more