Woman marries daughter’s boyfriend in Kano (Vanguard)
In what could be described as wonder shall never end as a woman, Khadija in Rano Local Government area of Kano State dissolved her own marriage, proposes and married her daughter’s suitor.
It was gathered that the incident happened when the daughter, Aisha rejected her suitor and the mother jumped into a marital relationship with him.
Khadija who spoke on a local Radio in the state said she took the decision after realising that her daughter decided not to marry the man.
She said she felt that both of them should not lose him and so she decided to contact him to which he agreed and they went ahead to tie the knot. Read more
Robbers kill three drivers, sell vehicle to Chinese firm (Punch)
A suspected armed robber, Williams Abiodun, on Wednesday, narrated how his gang killed their victims and sold their vehicles in Benin, Edo State.
Abiodun, while being paraded alongside 10 other suspects at the command headquarters in Edo State, said he and four members of his gang usually disguised as site workers to lure unsuspecting drivers to where they robbed them of their vehicles.
He said, “When we get to the site, we collect their vehicles, kill them with blocks and sell their cars.
“We killed the first person, collected his car and sold it to a Chinese company. The second person was a tricycle operator whom we killed and sold his tricycle. But we were arrested while trying to sell a Toyota Sienna which we got during the third operation.” Read more
Lekki Port will revolutionise Nigeria’s maritime industry (ThisDay)
Promoter of the Lekki Deep Sea Port, Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise has stated that the Lekki Port will revolutionise maritime activities in Nigeria, noting that with the commissioning of the port recently by President Muhammadu Buhari, the port would facilitate trade volume growth and increase the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
The Managing Director of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (LPLEL), Mr. Du Ruogang, on the sidelines of the commissioning of the port said noted that Lekki Port remains a game-changer that would redefine maritime activities in Nigeria and the entire West African sub-region as its full operations scheduled to commence by the end of Q1 2023.
He highlighted other benefits to include; improvement of external trade competitiveness through improved port efficiency, cost-effective port operations & services, and improved turnaround time for cargo handling and clearance, a reduction in delays in the supply of raw materials and equipment, as well as reduced costs of importations and charges such as demurrage, among others. Read more
US slams Visa ban on Nigerians who ‘undermined’ democracy (Leadership)
The United States government has announced visa restriction on Nigerians who “undermined” the country’s democracy, stressing that the ban was not targeted at the Nigerian people or the government but specific individuals.
The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the sanctioned individuals, whose names were not mentioned, will not be eligible for US visas.
The US top diplomat noted that some family members of those barred from the US may also be refused a visa to the United States. Read more
Airport Customs generated N28b in 2022 – Comptroller (Punch)
The Murtala International Airport Command of the Nigerian Customs Service, on Wednesday, disclosed that it generated total revenue of N28bn last year.
The Customs Area Controller in charge of the command, Muhammed Gidado, in a statement, said that there was a N11.8bn increase in revenue when compared to the N19bn the command collected in 2021.
He attributed the increase to the integrity of passengers in the declaration of goods and the high level of compliance towards voluntary payment of duties. Read more
Gunmen kidnap Chawai traditional ruler in Kaduna (Vanguard)
Gunmen have abducted Chief Joshua Ahmadu, the District Head of Chawai in Kauru Local Government of Kaduna State.
Ahmadu’s abduction was confirmed on Wednesday by Mr Abel Adamu, President, Chawai Development Association (CDA).
Adamu, in a statement signed by Mr Raphael Joshua, Public Relations Officer of CDA, said that the traditional ruler was kidnapped Tuesday night “by unknown gunmen who invaded his house at Zambina”. Read more
Presidency: God won’t allow those threatening me win –Wike (Sun)
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has described as empty threats the talks by some politicians to deal with him when they eventually win the 2023 presidential election.
The governor said those issuing such threats were simply uncomfortable with his insistence on equity, fairness and justice within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He described such threats as laughable, because those threatening him will never win at the poll and therefore will not have the opportunity to carry out their sinister scheme. Read more
Michelle Yeoh makes history and becomes 1st Asian Oscar nominee for Best Actress (MyModernMet)
Actress Michelle Yeoh is having a history-making year. After winning a Golden Globe for her starring role in Everything Everywhere All at Once, the Malaysian actress has been nominated for Best Actress at the Academy Awards. Not only is it Yeoh’s first nomination, but it’s also the first time that the Academy has nominated an Asian-identifying actress in the category.
The achievement has certainly not been lost on Yeoh, who spent the early part of her career as a breakout star in Hong Kong action films before transitioning to Hollywood. Best known for her memorable leading and supporting roles in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Crazy Rich Asians, she is grateful for the opportunity to represent her culture on such a large stage.
“It’s taken a long time. But I think this is more than me,” Yeoh shared shortly after the nominations were announced. “At the present moment, constantly, all the time, having Asians walking up to me saying, ‘You can do it, you’re doing it for us.’ It’s like, ‘I understand. I totally understand.’ All this time, they’ve not been recognized, they’ve not been heard.” Read more
Meat Loaf’s live band have released a new version of “Bat Out Of Hell” (LouderSound)
The Neverland Express onstage
(Image credit: Deko Entertainment)
The late Meat Loaf’s old live band, The Neverland Express, have released a cover of “Bat Out Of Hell”. Featuring American Idol winner Caleb Johnson on vocals, the new version of the 1977 classic comes from band’s reworking of the entire Bat Out Of Hell album, entitled Paradise Found: Bat Out of Hell Reignited, which is released via streaming platforms on Friday.
The new recording of Bat Out Of Hell also rectifies a 44-year-old problem. The original version of the song was recorded in the key of E, but the track needed to be sped up to fit alongside You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night), Heaven Can Wait and All Revved Up with No Place to Go on a single side of vinyl. The result was that the released version of the song had been pitched up to the key of F.
“This made Meat’s voice sound different, higher,” says Neverland Express guitarist Paul Crook. “The end result haunted Meat Loaf his entire career. Tickets buyers wanted to hear that voice. This always bothered him.” Read more
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige to keynote 2023 USC commencement (Deadline)
USC’s 140th commencement ceremony will have a familiar face as its keynote: Kevin Feige, producer and president of Marvel Studios. A 1995 USC graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts and frequent on-campus speaker, Feige will give the keynote address at the ceremony on May 12.
“I’m so excited Kevin Feige is our commencement speaker. He’s a creative force: an impresario who builds extraordinary teams and tells magical, diverse stories that captivate people around the world,” said USC President Carol L. Folt. “He sat in the same seats and walked the same paths as so many of our students — and look where his adventure has taken him. I can’t wait to hear his inspiring stories.”
Feige serves on the Board of Councilors at the School of Cinematic Arts. In 2017, he established a fund to foster success for cinema students at USC. The Kevin Feige Endowed Fund for Creative Producing supports courses that teach budding filmmakers how to turn an idea into a successful commercial release. Feige is also the 2014 recipient of the Mary Pickford Alumni Award for achievements that have brought distinction to the school and the entertainment industry. Read more
North West nabs ‘‘nepo baby’’ role with Kim Kardashian in PAW Patrol movie (PageSix)
She’s doing amazing, sweetie.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s oldest child, 9-year-old North, will make her voice-acting debut in the upcoming film PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie.
Paramount Pictures made the casting announcement on Wednesday. Kim will also lend her voice to the project, reprising her role as Delores, a sassy poodle that works in an animal shelter, from the first flick. Read more
Till Director Chinonye Chukwu calls out ”misogyny towards black women” after 2023 Oscars nominations (ET)
Chinonye Chukwu, the director of Till, is vo I’llicing her frustrations. The filmmaker took to Instagram on Tuesday — following the announcement of this year’s Oscar nominations — to express her disappointment and, at the same time, some semblance of a silver lining.
“We live in a world and work in industries that are so aggressively committed to upholding whiteness and perpetuating an unabashed misogyny towards Black women,” Chukwu wrote in the caption to the post she shared hours after Till was snubbed entirely at this year’s Oscars.
The film was not nominated in any category. Chukwu herself was not nominated for Best Director, while Danielle Deadwyle — who had been getting a great deal of Oscar buzz ahead of the show — was not nominated for Best Actress, for her performance as Mamie Till-Mobley, the mother of Emmett Till. Read more
Doja Cat dons fake mustache and eyebrows in latest Paris Fashion Week look (HipHopDX)
Doja Cat has made waves with her eccentric outfits throughout Paris Fashion Week and she’s added another bizarre look to her repertoire.
The Grammy-winning singer attended the Viktor & Rolf Haute Couture Spring Summer 2023 show on Wednesday (January 25). Doja pulled off a disguise of sorts with a mustache and dark eyebrows that appear to be made up of eyelashes to go with her vintage fit to the Dutch luxury house’s show.
“If lashes are what y’all want, then lashes are what you’ll get,” she wrote. Read more
Families of Boeing MAX crash victims set to face company in US court (RFI)
Relatives of passengers who died in the twin Boeing 737 MAX crashes are scheduled to confront the airplane maker Thursday in a US court, some four years after the tragedies in Ethiopia and Indonesia.
The proceeding in Fort Worth, Texas, long sought by the families and resisted by the aerospace giant, is expected to include Boeing’s entry of either a guilty or not guilty plea in a US criminal settlement over the calamities that claimed 346 lives.
The families have already chalked up some victories from US District Judge Reed O’Connor, who last week ordered a Boeing representative to appear at Thursday’s arraignment after ruling in October that the Department of Justice deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with Boeing was negotiated in violation of the families’ rights. Read more
AFN officials relocate to Jalingo for Cross-Country race, AGM (Guardian)
Top officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) will, today, gather in Jalingo, Taraba State, to start final preparations for the maiden National 10km Cross-Country Championship, which holds on Saturday.
The race is being organised in fulfillment of the road map of the Tonobok Okowa-led AFN executive board to develop athletics across the six-geo-political zones of Nigeria.
Apart from the 10km Cross Country race, the AFN will also hold its Annual General Meeting in the city. The AGM, which was earlier fixed for Bauchi, will now hold in Jalingo. Read more
After Troost-Ekong, Salernitana tables N7b for Onuachu (Sun)
Italian Serie A campaigner, US Salernitana has included Super Eagles and KRC Genk striker, Paul Onuachu on its transfer wish list for this January.
Salernitana has struggled both in attack and in defence during the first half of the 2022/23 league season.
The Garnets have the worst defence in Serie A, having shipped 37 goals in only 19 games. Read more
Gerard Pique goes Instagram official with new girlfriend after bitter Shakira break-up (Mirror)
Gerard Pique has finally gone Instagram official with new belle Clara Chia in the latest swipe at ex Shakira.
The footballer, 35, and Colombian singer, 45, split in June last year following a 11-year relationship which sees them share two children; Milan, 10, and Sasha, 7.
The romance came to a bitter end amid allegations the Spanish star had cheated on the songstress and has now shown off his new belle to his 22million followers on the social media platform. Read more
Arsenal seek Mykhailo Mudryk revenge on Chelsea with Moises Caicedo pursuit (IrishIndependent)
Having lost out to Chelsea in the race to sign Ukraine star Mykhailo Mudryk, Arsenal are considering a move for Moises Caicedo and could once again go head-to-head with their London rivals as the battle for the Brighton midfielder intensifies.
Such a move, if Arsenal decide to act on their initial interest and succeed in holding off Chelsea, would be a major statement of intent as Mikel Arteta’s side pursue their first league title in almost 20 years.
Arsenal are five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table with a game in hand, but do not boast the same squad depth as Pep Guardiola’s side. Read more
Wout Weghorst scores first Man Utd goal as club put one foot in Carabao Cup final (Metro)
Wout Weghorst scored his first Manchester United goal as Erik ten Hag’s side put one foot in the Carabao Cup final with a 3-0 first-leg victory at Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals on Wednesday night.
Marcus Rashford was also on target – continuing his incredible form since the season restarted following the World Cup in Qatar – registering his 10th goal in 10 games, with Forest now three goals behind ahead of the second leg at Old Trafford as Bruno Fernandes made sure of the win in the 89th minute.
United, bidding to become the second side to reach the final on 10 occasions, started the game brightly and Rashford silenced the City Ground after just six minutes – picking up the ball 10 yards inside his own half on the left, bursting past Serge Aurier and Joe Worrall and smashing the ball past Wayne Hennessey. Read more
3 share 1st-round lead at Farmers Insurance Open (StraitsTimes)
Americans Sam Ryder and Brent Grant, and England’s Aaron Rai – three players who have never won a PGA Tour event in a combined 203 starts – share the lead after the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open on Wednesday in San Diego.
All three shot 8-under-par 64 at Torrey Pines’ North Course, leaving them one stroke ahead of Brendan Steele, who also played the North Course. None of the trio ever previously led or co-led after a round on Tour.
Sahith Theegala, Hayden Buckley, Sam Stevens, Andrew Novak, Gary Woodland, Harry Higgs and South Africa’s Garrick Higgo are tied for fifth at 66. All of them played the North Course except for Stevens and Novak, who played Torrey Pines’ South Course. Read more