Why I declined to marry terrorist commander – Train attack victim (Punch)
Lois Azurfa, a 21-year-old undergraduate, who was among the 65 passengers in the Abuja-Kaduna train kidnapped by terrorists on March 28, 2022 has shared her 191-day traumatic experience in an interview with Punch newspaper, explaining why she refused to marry the terrorist commander while in captivity.
Relaying her ordeal, she said, “We boarded 6 pm train, so we were on transit and at about 7:59 pm at exactly Rigena, there was a loud sound that rocked the train like an explosion, which made the train to derail and the train stopped”.
She said the passengers were asked to lie down flat in the train and it wasn’t long before they started hearing gunshots.
“Then, next thing, the gunmen just entered the train and started shooting sporadically. So if you’re not even careful, you can be hit by random shots and become a victim of stray bullets. Some people were killed and some got injured because they were being shot at. They asked us to go out, so we left the train and then we were asked to climb a hill, which we did”. Read more
Brothers remanded in prison for ‘‘enticing’’ married woman (DailyTrust)
A Shari’a Court sitting in Kano on Wednesday ordered the remand of two brothers, Saifullahi Hamisu, Mujahid Hamisu and one Hassana Surajo, in a custodial centre for allegedly enticing a married woman.
The defendants, who live at Bachirawa Quarters Kano, are facing a three-count charge of aiding, abetting and enticing a married woman.
The Prosecutor, Mr Aliyu Abideen, told the court that one Abubakar Ahmad of Fagge Quarters Kano reported the matter at SCID Bompai Kano on Dec.22, 2022.
Abideen alleged that on the same date at about 4:00pm the defendant criminally conspired and trespassed into the house of the complainant situated at Dorayi Quarters, Kano. Read more
Mbaka returns from monastery after eight-month suspension (Vanguard)
Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria Catholic Chaplaincy, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has returned to the ministry from the monastery after an eight-month suspension.
Recall that in October 2022, the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, had transferred Mbaka from chaplaincy to the monastery.
The church was also shut down with Mbaka getting banned by the Catholic Diocese of Enugu from making comments on political issues. Read more
4 people escape death at Toyota Bus stop auto-crash (Guardian)
Four people, yesterday, escaped death by whiskers when a private Lexus SUV collided with a commercial tricycle,also known as Keke Marwa at Toyota Bus Stop, along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos.
The accident, which occurred opposite Rutam House, corporate headquarters of The Guardian, occurred at about 5:20p.m.
It was learnt that four persons were involved in the incident, but one suffered minor injuries.
The Guardian gathered the injured, who identified herself simply as Joan, who was with her friend Rachael in the Keke Marwa, en route Oshodi from Iyana Isolo, sustained bruises on her arm and feet in the accident.
According to her, the Keke rider had stopped for a repair, when they saw a speeding Lexus jeep marked AAA 760 FZ skidded the culvert from the expressway towards them. They had to immediately bolt out of the Keke to escape for their lives with the driver also fleeing.
The rider, who plies Isolo-Oshodi route, said he parked the Keke to attend to a fuel leakage in the pipe, when the incident happened. Read more
Gafaru’s murder: Police unveil alleged killer-cop, body may be exhumed (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Police Command has identified Inspector Imeh Johnson as the officer who allegedly shot and killed Gafaru Buraimoh on December 7, 2022 in Ajah, Lagos State.
Inspector Johnson is attached to the Ajah Division of the Force.
The Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, explained that the alleged killer cop is in detention at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba as the case is being concluded.
Hundeyin said: “The orderly room trial of Inspector Imeh Johnson has been forwarded to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone 2, Lagos for final decision.” Read more
Nigerian leaders have queries before God, says Hamzat (Nation)
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, has advised youths to participate in the elections.
He said failure to vote would be detrimental to good governance.
The deputy governor noted that Nigeria needs good leaders to develop.
He spoke at the closing of the 113th Islamic Vacation Course (IVC), organised by Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit, in Epe. Read more
Atiku ally removed as Wazirin Bauchi for disloyalty to governor (Sun)
The Bauchi Emirate Council has removed Alhaji Muhammad Bello Kirfi as the Wazirin Bauchi, a senior Councilor in the Emirate.
This was contained in a letter dated January 3, 2023, from the Bauchi Emirate Council.
“I am directed to refer to a letter received from the Ministry of Local Government Affairs of reference No: MLG/LG/S/72/T dated 30th December 2022,” the letter signed by Alhaji Shehu Mudi Muhammad, the Council Secretary, stated.
“The content of the said letter indicated your disloyalty and disrespect to the Executive Governor of the State and the Government. Read more
NAF appoints, redeploys senior officers in new shake-up (Leadership)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has appointed and redeployed senior officers in new postings to inject new blood into the system.
A statement by Group Captain Joel Abioye said the newly appointed and redeployed senior officers were expected to assume their offices on or before Friday, January 6, 2023.
He said the shake-up was part of routine exercise aimed at ensuring operational efficiency and effective service delivery.
Abioye said the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, by the foregoing approved the appointment and redeployment of new Branch Chiefs, Air Officers Commanding (AOCs), Commandants of Tri-Service and Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Institutions including a new Spokesperson and other senior officers. Read more
Iranian actor Taraneh Alidoosti released on bail (RFI)
Iranian actor Taraneh Alidoosti, jailed for almost three weeks over her support for the country’s protest movement, was released on bail on Wednesday, local media reported.
Iran has been gripped by protests since the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurd who was arrested for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress code.
Iranian authorities say hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed and thousands arrested in what they generally describe as “riots”.
Alidoosti, 38, was arrested on December 17 after making a string of social media posts supporting the protest movement — including removing her headscarf and condemning the execution of protesters. Read more
San Francisco is about to be hit with a ‘brutal’ storm (Fortune)
As it continues to clean up from a thorough drenching over New Year’s weekend, San Francisco is bracing for an even bigger storm that meteorologists warn could be catastrophic.
The National Weather Service’s Bay Area office issued a frank and dire warning to citizens in a statement, saying the storm, which is currently forecast to begin peaking Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, could bring about flooding and the loss of life.
“To put it simply, this will likely be one of the most impactful systems on a widespread scale that this meteorologist has seen in a long while,” the warning read. “The impacts will include widespread flooding, roads washing out, hillside collapsing, trees down (potentially full groves), widespread power outages, immediate disruption to commerce, and the worst of all, likely loss of human life. This is truly a brutal system that we are looking at and needs to be taken seriously.” Read more
Avatar sequel already one of the UK’s top 3 biggest films of 2022 (Standard)
Avatar: The Way Of Water is on course to become one of the biggest releases of 2022 at the UK box office – though it may struggle to knock Top Gun: Maverick off the number one spot.
The science fiction epic was released just before Christmas and has already taken £45.0 million in cinemas in the UK and Ireland, new figures show.
It is currently the third biggest film of last year and is close behind the movie in second place, Minions: The Rise Of Gru, which is on £46.9 million.
But it has some way to go to match the enormous £83.6 million taken by the Tom Cruise action blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick. Read more
Golden Globes: Quentin Tarantino, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis and Tracy Morgan Set as Presenters (THR)
The Golden Globes will have some stars onstage come January 10.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the first batch of presenters set to take the stage when the Globes return to NBC next Tuesday. Filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, Blonde nominee Ana de Armas, Everything Everywhere All at Once nominee Jamie Lee Curtis, Billy Porter, Ana Gasteyer, Colman Domingo, Globes winner Michaela Jaé Rodriguez of Pose, Natasha Lyonne, Nicole Byer, Niecy Nash-Betts and Tracy Morgan will present.
Acclaimed pianist, composer and producer Chloe Flower, who recently performed at the Kennedy Center Honors, is confirmed to perform at the show. The Sony Music artist will release a new song titled “Golden Hour” that is said to be “inspired by her upcoming appearance,” per the HFPA.
The news helps answer lingering questions about talent participation as many in Hollywood had been buzzing as of late about how the telecast would rebound from controversy and how many stars would show up in support. Over the past 18 months, HFPA underwent an overhaul, a new voting class was added, and its previous PR firm, Sunshine Sachs, parted ways with the organization. Read more
Rita Ora announces new single coming this month (MusicNews)
Rita Ora has confirmed her new single is coming later this month.
The 32-year-old singer shared a clip of new track ”You Only Love Me” on Tuesday (03.01.23) and revealed it will drop this month, while she also hinted at her highly anticipated third album.
Alongside a video of herself piling on the PDA with husband Taika Waititi, she wrote: “SURPRISE. I’M BACK! You Only Love Me XX/01/23 #RO3 (sic)”.
The ‘Anywhere’ singer previously spent time in her home country of Albania working on the deeply personal follow-up to 2018’s ‘Phoenix’, and she has promised fans can expect plenty of new projects as she looks to prove that it’s possible to “do more than one thing”. Read more
Dionne Warwick says she and Dolly Parton have a duet coming soon (NME)
Dionne Warwick has revealed that she and Dolly Parton have a new collaborative gospel song on the way titled ‘‘Peace Like a River’’.
Tamron Hall shared the news during an episode of her talk show this week that featured Warwick as a special guest. “[Parton] sent me a song that she wanted me to record, and I said, ‘Okay, that sounds like a deal,” Warwick said when asked how the forthcoming collaboration came about.
“She’s such a sweetheart, I know her. And she sent me another song, the one that we’re going to be doing as a duet. It’s a gospel song called ‘‘Peace Like a River’’. She wrote it, and I am very excited about this. I really am. I’ve done so many duets over the years, but this one’s going to be very special.”
While Warwick and Parton have not previously collaborated, there is a familial link. As Hall points out during the discussion, Parton wrote ‘‘I Will Always Love You’’ – famously covered by Warwick’s first cousin, the late Whitney Houston, for the 1992 film The Bodyguard. “It’s pre-ordained,” Warwick told Hall. “God’s got a purpose.” Read more
Russia planning new mobilisation to ‘‘turn tide of war,’’ Ukraine says (Global)
Ukraine‘s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was planning to call up more troops for a major new offensive, even as Moscow was facing some of its biggest internal criticism of the war over a strike that killed scores of fresh conscripts.
Kyiv has been saying for weeks that Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to order another mass conscription drive and shut his borders to prevent men from escaping the draft.
“We have no doubt that the current masters of Russia will throw everything they have left and everyone they can round up to try to turn the tide of the war and at least delay their defeat,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address on Tuesday.
“We have to disrupt this Russian scenario. We are preparing for this. The terrorists must lose. Any attempt at their new offensive must fail.” Read more
Historian likens Iwobi to father (Punch)
Not known for his outspoken nature, Nigeria international Alex Iwobi has become a force to reckon with in the Everton setup for his doggedness and resilience and a Nigerian historian and lawyer, Nze Ed Emeka Keazor, in his recent post on Twitter revealed the midfielder’s father, Chuka Iwobi, had the same characteristics during his early days as a footballer in the mid 1980s.
The historian, while sharing a picture of a young Iwobi and his father, said ‘Mehallah’, as Iwobi’s dad was fondly called back then, was one of the toughest and most skillful midfielders during their days as students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
“Perspectives – when young people see this pic, they see Alex Iwobi and his elderly dad.”
“I, on the other hand, see the mighty Chuka ‘Mehallah’ Iwobi, one of the most rugged and skilful midfielders at UNN, where we were both contemporaries in the early to mid 80s – and his son. Life,” he wrote. Read more
West Ham joint-chairman David Gold dies aged 86 following a ”short illness”, club announces (ITV)
West Ham joint-chairman David Gold has died aged 86 following a “short illness”, the Premier League club has announced.
David Gold, 86, died peacefully with his daughters, Jacqueline and Vanessa, and his fiancée Lesley, by his side, the club added.
Born in Stepney in 1936 and Mr Gold grew up directly opposite the club’s former home at the Boleyn Ground.
He represented the club’s boys’ team aged between 13 and 16 and later appeared in the youth team. Read more
Rahm expects ”tense” Masters champions dinner amid LIV Golf feud (France24)
Spain’s fifth-ranked Jon Rahm said Tuesday he expects more PGA Tour players to exit for Saudi-backed LIV Golf in 2023 and anticipates a tense champions dinner at the Masters.
Rahm spoke ahead of Thursday’s start of the PGA Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, Hawaii, a select event of tournament winners of Tour Championship qualifiers.
Rahm, the 2021 US Open champion, predicted more golfers will leave the PGA despite boosted prize money at selected events for the higher prize money offered by LIV Golf.
“I think we all know where we stand,” Rahm said. “There are still going to be players that choose to transition to LIV is my guess.
“But for a lot of us, I think we see the direction the PGA Tour is going toward. They’re making the necessary changes to adapt to the new age and I think it’s better for everybody.” Read more
Bethany England: Tottenham sign striker from Chelsea in British transfer record deal for reported £250k (Sky)
Tottenham have signed striker Bethany England from Chelsea for a domestic record fee for a British player in the women’s game.
The deal is worth a reported £250,000 and breaks the current record which was set by Lauren James’ £200,000 move from Manchester United to Chelsea in 2021.
England has signed a three-year deal at Spurs and will wear the number 19 shirt.
The 28-year-old leaves Chelsea after seven years at the club, having scored 74 goals in 164 appearances for the Blues where she won nine major trophies. Read more
Haas update team name and unveil new logo ahead of F1 2023 season (PlanetF1)
Haas have unveiled their new logo for the 2023 season after completing a sponsorship deal with US money transfer company MoneyGram.
Having terminated the sponsorship of Russian company Uralkali following the country’s invasion of Ukraine, Haas secured more funding in October 2022 when shortly before the team’s home grand prix in the US, they announced a multi-year deal with MoneyGram.
The US company joined as a title sponsor with Haas being rebranded to MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and now the constructor, who finished eighth in the 2022 standings, have unveiled their revised logo for the upcoming season.
The logo keeps its basic look with the H of Haas remaining in a red circle but now the red and white logo of MoneyGram can be seen as part of it. Read more
Australian Open doubles down on decision to let Russians play Slam after Wimbledon ban (Express)
Organisers of the Australian Open have doubled down on their decision to allow players from Russia and Belarus to play at their event. Last year, Wimbledon banned athletes from both countries from competing at SW19 – and Ukraine’s ambassador in Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko wants organisers at Melbourne Park to do the same.
Tennis’ governing bodies the ITF, WTA and ATP have agreed that Russian and Belarusian athletes can still compete at events under a neutral flag while the war in Ukraine continues. However, Wimbledon organisers went against that advice last year and were fined by the WTA and ATP Tours, who also removed ranking points from the Grand Slam.
Australian Open organisers look set to follow the policy from the governing bodies and allow the likes of former world No.1 Daniil Medvedev to compete at their tournament starting on January 16. A statement from Tennis Australia doubled down on their intention to let athletes from both countries compete.
It said: “Players from Russia and Belarus are only able to compete in international tennis events as individuals – and without flags or country recognition – which will be the case for Australian Open 2023. Tennis Australia continues to provide support to Ukraine and its community and players, particularly through the global Tennis Plays for Peace initiative, which includes a charity event prior to the Australian Open.” Read more