Author: Olukayode Oke

Manchester City’s Struggles Deepen With Defeat At Aston Villa. Manchester City’s disappointing season continued as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa, with goals from Jhon Durán and Morgan Rogers rendering Phil Foden’s late strike a mere consolation. The result saw City drop to sixth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Liverpool, despite having played two games more. Meanwhile, Villa leapfrogged the defending champions into fifth, keeping their hopes of a top-four finish alive. City have now endured nine defeats in their last 12 games across all competitions, extending their winless streak on the road…

Transfer Rumours Heat Up Ahead Of January Window. The January transfer window is set to be an eventful one as top clubs across Europe make strategic moves to strengthen their squads. Manchester United are reportedly open to allowing Marcus Rashford to leave on loan in January. The 27-year-old England forward has attracted interest from three Saudi Arabian clubs: Al Ahli, Al Ittihad, and Al Qadsiah. Meanwhile, United are also keeping tabs on River Plate’s 17-year-old Argentine midfielder Franco Mastantuono, who has a £38m release clause, and have secured Paraguayan left-back Diego Leon, 17, from Cerro Porteño, with the move…

Everton Under New Ownership As Friedkin Group Takes Control. Everton Football Club has entered a new era following the acquisition of a 98.8% stake by the US-based Friedkin Group, operating through Roundhouse Capital Holdings. This deal positions Everton as the 10th Premier League club under majority American ownership. Marc Watts, the executive chairman of the Friedkin Group, has assured fans of immediate financial stability and pledged a dedicated effort to revitalise the club’s fortunes. “This marks a significant turning point for Everton,” Watts stated, highlighting the group’s commitment to ensuring long-term success for the Merseyside club. The takeover…

US Scraps $10 Million Bounty For Syria’s New Leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. The United States has withdrawn a $10 million (£7.9 million) reward for the arrest of Ahmed al-Sharaa, the new de facto leader of Syria, following productive discussions between senior American diplomats and representatives of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Assistant Secretary of State Barbara Leaf, part of the delegation that met with Sharaa in Damascus, described him as “pragmatic” and characterised the talks as “very productive.” The US still designates HTS as a terrorist organisation, but the meeting marks a significant step in Washington’s approach to the group, which…

Five Dead In Strike On Russia’s Kursk Region Following Attack On Kyiv. Five people have been confirmed dead in the Kursk region of Russia after a reported Ukrainian strike on the town of Rylsk. The attack, which occurred at 15:30 local time (12:30 GMT) on Friday, also left nine people hospitalised and caused significant damage to a cultural centre, a fitness complex, a school, and several homes, according to acting governor Alexander Khinshtein. Initial reports had indicated six fatalities, including a child, but Khinshtein clarified on Saturday that there were five deaths, with no children among the victims. …

ICPC Releases 2024 Ethics And Integrity Compliance Scorecard.   The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has unveiled its 2024 Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS), highlighting significant disparities in the ethical performance of government institutions. Prominent bodies, including the Supreme Court and the Nigeria Press Council (NPC), scored zero in the assessment, while organisations such as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) excelled with scores exceeding 80 percent. Unveiled on Thursday at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, the report also listed…

Court Grants N30 Million Bail To Human Rights Activist Dele Farotimi. A magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti has granted bail to human rights activist Dele Farotimi, setting the amount at N30 million. The ruling was delivered on Friday by Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun, following Farotimi’s application for bail. The court outlined specific conditions, including the provision of two sureties who are deemed responsible members of society. Additionally, Farotimi is required to surrender his international passport to the court. As part of the bail conditions, the defendant is prohibited from granting media interviews while the case remains in progress. The…

Former Ikorodu City Player Emmanuel Uchenna Joins Sparta Prague. Former Ikorodu City FC standout, Emmanuel Uchenna, has officially joined Czech football giants Sparta Prague. This move marks a significant step in the promising career of the talented player, who previously showcased his skills for Ikorodu City in 2022. Uchenna’s transfer highlights the growing recognition of Nigerian football talents on the international stage, as Sparta Prague adds him to their roster in pursuit of continued success. This development is a proud moment for both Uchenna and his former club, Ikorodu City, whose efforts in nurturing young talents continue to…

Lagos State Enhances Security With Major Investment In Police Resources. The Lagos State Governor announced a major boost to security operations during the 18th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security. He revealed that 250 brand new patrol vehicles, alongside essential hardware, communication devices, and protective gear, had been handed over to the police force to improve their effectiveness. The Governor described the initiative as a significant step forward in strengthening security across Lagos State. He emphasised the importance of security in maintaining economic stability and safeguarding communities, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to ensuring safety for all residents. He also acknowledged…

Tottenham Edge Past Manchester United To Secure Carabao Cup Semi-Final Spot. Tottenham Hotspur survived a dramatic second-half comeback by Manchester United to claim a 4-3 victory and secure their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. Despite cruising with a 3-0 lead, Spurs endured a nervy finish after a series of errors from goalkeeper Fraser Forster nearly handed United an unlikely revival. The match began with Spurs taking the lead in the 15th minute as Dominic Solanke capitalised on a mistake by United keeper Altay Bayindir. The first half was tightly contested, but Spurs went into the break ahead. Seconds…

Marc Guiu Scores Hat-trick In Chelsea’s Conference League Triumph Against Shamrock. Eighteen-year-old Marc Guiu stole the show with a first-half hat-trick as Chelsea cruised to a commanding 5-1 victory over Shamrock Rovers, securing top spot in their Conference League group and maintaining their perfect record in the competition. Chelsea, already guaranteed a place in the last 16, showcased their dominance under Enzo Maresca with a youthful side that made it six wins from six in the group stage. Guiu opened the scoring early on, capitalising on a mix-up between Rovers’ Darragh Burns and goalkeeper Leon Pohls. Although Shamrock Rovers…

North Korean Hackers Steal $1.3bn In Cryptocurrency In 2024. North Korean hackers have been linked to the theft of $1.3 billion (£1.04bn) in cryptocurrency this year, making up more than half of the $2.2 billion stolen globally, according to a report by research firm Chainalysis. The figure marks a significant increase from last year’s $600 million attributed to hackers from the reclusive state. The report highlights a pattern of North Korean hackers infiltrating cryptocurrency and technology firms by posing as remote IT workers. This tactic has allowed them to breach security systems and steal digital assets, particularly by compromising private…