Troops rescue 4 kidnap victims in Kebbi (Nation)
Troops of the Nigerian Army and local vigilantes rescued four hostages abducted by bandits in Sabon Birni village in Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi on Monday.
Malam Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser to Gov. Nasir Idris on Media and Publicity, stated in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday that the three- male and one-female hostages who were rescued in good condition had been reunited with their families.
Troops of 1 Battalion, Dukku Barracks, Birnin Kebbi, in conjunction with vigilantes raided Sabon Birni village in Shanga LGA of Kebbi State, on Monday. Read more
Firearms proliferation, cultism in Edo worrisome – Police (Vanguard)
The Commissioner of Police in Edo, Mr Funsho Adegboye, has described as worrisome the spate of proliferation of firearms and cult attacks in the state
Adegboye, while responding to a question on the incessant cult attacks in Benin on Tuesday, however, assured that the police would fish out the perpetrators of the act.
“We are equally worried by the proliferation of firearms in this state. Read more
FCT primary school teachers protest non-payment of salary arrears (Channels)
Primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, staged a protest at the Unity Fountain in Abuja.
The protesting teachers accused the FCT Area Councils of poor attention to their welfare.
The teachers protested the non-payment of salary arrears, promotion arrears and new minimum wage arrears since 2019. Read more
Obaseki, Shaibu’s feud takes takes toll on worship in Government House Chapel (Sun)
The feud between Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu, has taken a toll on religious worship as the weekly Tuesday Mass that normally holds at the Government House Chapel at the instance of Shaibu has been forced to relocate from the Government House to the new office of Shaibu outside Government House.
Consequently, the mass was held in the open field of the new deputy governor’s office along Commercial Avenue and was attended by Shaibu and his wife, civil servants attached to his office, some aides and political associates.
An official in the Government House Chapel said they received a directive from the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Obaseki on Religious Matters last Monday “to come and remove our things from the chapel including the station of the cross, the pulpit and other items. Read more
SNM fault calls for scrapping of the NYSC scheme (Guardian)
Save Nigeria Movement (SNM) has cast aspersions on those behind the clamour for the scrapping of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
SNM convener, Rev Solomon Semaka at a press conference held in Abuja on Tuesday, described such idea as retrogressive and highly detrimental to the interest of the nation.
SNM wondered why the Human Rights and Justice Group International chose to hide under the banner of CSOs to attack the NYSC and by extension the unity of the country without any justification. Read more
Public outrage over kidnapping unnecessary, says Wike (Punch)
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has blamed politicians for creating tension and propaganda to gaslight kidnap cases in the capital city.
He stated this in a now-deleted video shared by a platform – Symfoni News on its YouTube handle.
However, an extraction of the video was shared on the X platform before it was deleted. Read more
Ogun speaker impeached, Osoba’s loyalist takes over (DailyTrust)
Olakunle Oluomo, the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, has been impeached.
Our correspondent gathered that Oluomo, representing Ifo I constituency, was impeached by 18 out of 26 members of the assembly.
In his stead, Elemide Oludaisi representing Odeda constituency has been elected the new speaker. Read more
Why Abba Kyari fought me till death — Femi Adesina (Tribune)
Former presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, has revealed the behind the scene intrigues that set him up against the late Abba Kyari, indicating that they had a strained relationship from the point he was appointed the first Chief of Staff (CoS) to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Writing in his new book, “Working with Buhari: reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023),” Adesina disclosed that Kyari objected to his direct relationship with the president even though he was merely obeying Buhari’s advice upon becoming his spokesman.
He wrote in the book that for five years until he died, Kyari, the chief administrative officer of the presidential villa, denied the office of the media the necessary operational funds which had existed under previous administrations. Read more
With Oppenheimer, Emily Blunt scores her first-ever Oscar nomination (People)
Emily Blunt is an Academy Award nominee! But it may surprise fans of the British actress to learn that Oppenheimer marks her first and only Oscar nomination.
For her performance as Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer, wife of physicist and Los Alamos director J. Robert Oppenheimer, the 40-year-old actress earned an Academy Award nod for Supporting Actress on Jan. 23.
Joining the Mary Poppins Returns star in the Supporting Actress category are Danielle Brooks for The Color Purple, Da’Vine Joy Randolph for The Holdovers, America Ferrera for Barbie and Jodie Foster for Nyad. The winner will be unveiled March 10 at the 96th Academy Awards. Read more
Billy Joel is releasing his first new single in 17 years (NBC)
Fans of legendary “Piano Man” Billy Joel are about to get new music.
The Grammy winner, 74, is gearing up to release his first single in nearly two decades, titled “Turn The Lights Back On,” Joel’s official website announced Jan. 22. The song will hit streaming services on Feb. 1, and will also be released on limited-edition 7-inch vinyl.
Joel also plans to release a lyric video for the song, which he co-wrote with Arthur Bacon, Wayne Hector and Freddy Wexler, who produced the track. Read more
Model’s nipples started dying after £3,000 boob job in Turkey (Metro)
A model was left in agonising pain after a botched boob job led her nipples to die.
Chloe Rose, 22, was left in agony and needed emergency surgery and surgeons in Istanbul took too much skin from her breast which lead to a loss of circulation.
Her nipples then contracted necrosis, which is the death of bodily tissue, leaving Chloe ‘petrified and traumatised’. Read more
Pope Francis thanks Vatican journalists for reporting on scandals in the Church (CNA)
Pope Francis thanked the Vatican press corps on Monday for reporting on scandals in the Church with “delicacy” in a media environment that he said often “distorts religious news.”
Journalists accredited to the Holy See Press Office met the pope in a private audience at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Jan. 22.
“Being a journalist is a vocation, somewhat like that of a doctor, who chooses to love humanity by curing illnesses. In a certain sense, the journalist does likewise, choosing to touch personally the wounds of society and the world,” Pope Francis said. Read more
Ice Spice addresses pregnancy rumours after new photo sparks baby bump speculation (HipHopDx)
Ice Spice has cleared up rumours that she’s pregnant after a new photo she shared online sparked speculation.
The Bronx rapper took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday night (January 22) to share a photo of her wearing a skimpy outfit with her midriff on display.
After seeing the photo, fans flocked to social media to question if Ice Spice was pregnant based on her purportedly round stomach. Read more
Why has Belgium vowed to back the ICJ’s verdict on Gaza ‘genocide’? (AlJazeera)
As the world anticipates a preliminary verdict from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, leaders in the European Union remain divided on how to interpret the decision.
Shortly after the two-day hearing at the world’s top court in the Hague earlier this month, where South Africa told the ICJ that Israel’s actions in the Gaza strip violated the UN’s 1948 Genocide Convention, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic – staunch allies of Israel – rejected these claims. Hungary condemned the case, while Berlin declared that it would intervene on Israel’s behalf at the ICJ.
Last week, France, which is home to Europe’s largest Muslim and Jewish minorities and has been in the headlines for banning pro-Palestine protests since October 7, chimed in, saying Paris also does not support the ICJ case against Israel. Read more
China landslide death toll rises to 20; earthquake strikes Xinjiang Province (UPI)
The death toll from a massive landslide in southwest China’s mountainous Yunnan Province rose to 20, with 24 still missing, authorities said Tuesday.
More than a thousand people from nearby villages have joined the rescue operation in Liangshui village, about 35 miles west of the provincial capital Kunming but as of 2 a.m. EST another 12 bodies had been recovered, state TV reported, on top of the eight found in the hours following the landslide Monday.
Another three people among the 47 initially thought to have been buried in the landslide in which part of a mountainside came away and engulfed the village were found elsewhere safe and sound. Read more
Bring your a-game against Ngannou or risk career, legend Nelson warns Anthony Joshua (Leadership)
Boxing legend Johnny Nelson has issued a stark warning to Anthony Joshua, urging the former heavyweight champion to bring his absolute best to his upcoming fight against Francis Ngannou. Nelson believes that a loss to the former UFC champion could potentially spell the end of Joshua’s career.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Nelson acknowledged Joshua’s confidence in his ability but cautioned him against underestimating the risk involved. “Anthony Joshua is part of the reason there’s so much bigger money in the heavyweight division right now,” Nelson said. “Like it or not, he’s a household name. But what’s the attraction he had? That crossover appeal. I still believe he’s a big draw, one of the biggest out there.”
Nelson, however, disagrees with Ngannou’s current position as a potential challenger for the undisputed heavyweight title. “There are fighters ahead of him in the top ten rankings who have proven themselves,” he stated. Read more
AFCON 2023: Sports minister hails Super Eagles qualification for round of 16 (Guardian)
The Minister of Sports Development, Sen. John Owan Enoh, has commended the Super Eagles of Nigeria for qualifying for the round of 16 at the ongoing AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
The minister gave the commendation on Tuesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles on Monday in Abidjan piped Guinea-Bissau 1-0 in their last group A game to finish second in the pool and advance to the round of 16.
“Congratulations to the Super Eagles on your qualification to the next round of 16, having secured a win of 1-0 against Guinea-Bissau on Monday,” he said. Read more
No fans at Udinese game over Maignan racist abuse (BBC)
Udinese have been ordered by Serie A to play one match behind closed doors following the racist abuse directed at AC Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
The game was briefly stopped when Maignan told the referee about the abuse and Milan then left the field.
The match resumed about 10 minutes later with Milan going on to win 3-2. Read more
Title-chasing club urged not to sell striker to Arsenal ‘even for 100m euros’ (HitC)
Dusan Vlahovic is ‘destined’ to become a world-class centre-forward with Juventus urged not to cash in on the striker even for over £80 million amid interest from Premier League giants Arsenal.
Two years ago this month, Arsenal missed out on the Serbian centre-forward after he opted to follow in the footsteps of the legendary Roberto Baggio, making that controversial switch from Fiorentina to their bitter rivals in black-and-white.
Flash forward to January 2024, and HITC Football understands that Dusan Vlahovic remains a player of huge interest to the North London outfit. Read more
Lewis Hamilton’s name features on Brazilian football kit to commemorate anti-racist leaders (F1News)
To commemorate anti-racist leaders and speakers on the 100th anniversary of the Historic Response in Brazil, Lewis Hamilton’s name featured on the back of Brazilian football club Vasco da Gama’s shirts, in their recent Campeonato Carioca fixture against Sampaio Corrêa.
Hamilton’s name wasn’t the only one to feature on the back of shirts, with Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Jesse Owens having also had their names stitched onto kits.
The Campeonato Carioca fixture took place last Sunday and is the Rio de Janeiro State Championship. Read more
Novak Djokovic holds off American Taylor Fritz to reach Australian Open semifinals (NBC)
Novak Djokovic is back at the stage of the Australian Open where he’s never been beaten.
The 10-time champion held off Taylor Fritz 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in 3 3/4 hours on Tuesday to reach the Australian Open semifinals for the 11th time.
He’s won all 10 semifinals he’s contested at Melbourne Park, and all 10 finals.
In his record-extending 48th Grand Slam semifinal, he’ll play No. 4-seeded Jannik Sinner or No. 5 Andrey Rublev. They started their quarterfinal at 10:42 p.m. Read more