Author: Olukayode Oke

US Government Shutdown Looms As Trump-Backed Bill Fails In House. The United States faces the imminent prospect of a government shutdown as a Republican-backed spending bill, supported by President-elect Donald Trump, failed to pass the House of Representatives on Thursday night. The revised funding proposal, which required a two-thirds majority to pass, fell short after 38 Republicans joined most Democrats in voting against it. The bill had sought to avert a shutdown by tying government funding to a two-year suspension of the federal debt limit, a move strongly criticised by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who called it “laughable.”…

Flamingos To Face Ghana In WAFU U-17 Girls’ Cup Final. Nigeria’s U-17 girls, the Flamingos, will face arch-rivals Ghana in the final of the inaugural WAFU U-17 Girls’ Cup on Sunday. This showdown will take place at the Ghana Centre of Excellence in Prampram, the same venue where the Flamingos secured their spot in the final with a 2-0 victory over Benin Republic on Thursday night. Sunday promises a double dose of football rivalry between the two nations, as Nigeria’s home-based senior men also face Ghana in the first leg of their African Nations Championship qualifier in Accra. …

Gisèle Pelicot’s Ex-Husband Jailed For 20 Years In Historic Rape Trial. Gisèle Pelicot’s ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of drugging and raping her, while also orchestrating the abuse of her by dozens of strangers over nearly a decade. The verdict marks the conclusion of France’s largest-ever rape trial, which has shocked both the nation and the world. The 72-year-old defendant was convicted of all charges in Avignon, southern France, and wept as he received the maximum sentence. He was tried alongside 50 other men, all of whom were found…

Six Sentenced For Extortion Plot Against Paul Pogba. Six men, including Mathias Pogba, the brother of France international Paul Pogba, have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to eight years for their involvement in an extortion scheme targeting the footballer. The sentences were handed down on Thursday, according to French media reports. The case dates back to 2022 when Paul Pogba revealed he had been the target of extortion attempts and threats from an organised gang. Among the accused was Mathias Pogba, who was placed under formal investigation. Paul Pogba, 31, informed the Paris prosecution office…

Wike Revokes Lands Of Prominent Nigerians Over Unpaid Fees. The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has taken decisive action by revoking land allocations belonging to several prominent individuals and organisations in Maitama II, Abuja, due to non-payment of Certificate of Occupancy fees. Among those affected by the revocation are former President Muhammadu Buhari, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume. In total, 759 individuals and organisations were impacted by the decision. The announcement was made in a publication issued by the FCT Administration…

NAFDAC Shuts Down Eziukwu Market Over ₦5 Billion Worth Of Fake And Expired Products. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has shut down 150 shops at Eziukwu Market, Aba, Abia State, in a decisive operation aimed at protecting public health and safety. https://twitter.com/NafdacAgency/status/1869431415512936888?t=C4pMDbNVqSNUDXE6xCGmcA&s=19 The two-day operation, carried out on 16 and 17 December 2024, uncovered fake and expired products including beverages, carbonated drinks, wines, spirits, vegetable oils, and revalidated food items such as noodles, powdered milk, and yoghurt, worth an estimated ₦5 billion. The move is part of NAFDAC’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on…

Pope Francis Reveals Escapes From Assassination Attempts In Iraq. Pope Francis has disclosed that he survived two assassination attempts during his historic visit to Iraq in March 2021. The startling revelation comes from excerpts of his forthcoming autobiography, Hope, which were published on Tuesday by Italian media. In the book, the Pope details how Vatican security was warned of the threats by British intelligence. “A woman packed with explosives, a young suicide bomber, was heading towards Mosul to blow herself up during the papal visit,” he wrote. He also mentioned a van speeding towards the same destination with similar…

Darwin Nunez Shines As Liverpool Secure Carabao Cup Semi-Final Spot. Liverpool advanced to the Carabao Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory over Southampton, thanks to Darwin Nunez’s opener and Harvey Elliott’s composed finish in the first half. The Uruguayan striker ended a six-game goal drought in style, capitalising on a fortunate deflection and an error by goalkeeper Alex McCarthy to put the Reds ahead after 24 minutes. Harvey Elliott, making his first start of the season, doubled Liverpool’s lead just eight minutes later with a well-placed shot into the bottom corner, deflecting off a Southampton defender. Southampton, under…

Arteta Hopes Hat-Trick Will Spark Gabriel Jesus’ Premier League Revival. Mikel Arteta is optimistic that Gabriel Jesus’ impressive Carabao Cup hat-trick will reignite the striker’s Premier League goalscoring form. The Brazilian forward scored three second-half goals against Crystal Palace, helping Arsenal overturn a deficit to secure a spot in the semi-finals. The treble marked Jesus’ first goals at Emirates Stadium in over a year and only his second scoring appearance this season. His other goal came in the EFL Cup against Preston in October. Despite his brilliance in the Carabao Cup, Jesus has not found the net in…

Nigerians Paid ₦2.3 Trillion In Ransom Over 12 Months, Says NBS. A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians paid an astonishing ₦2.3 trillion in ransom for kidnappings over a 12-month period, highlighting the significant financial burden of crime on citizens. The findings, drawn from the 2024 Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS), covered incidents between May 2023 and April 2024. The survey indicated that 65 per cent of households affected by kidnappings paid ransoms, with an average of ₦2.67 million per case. During the survey period, Nigeria recorded an…

Infrastructure, Security, And Education Dominate Tinubu’s ₦47.9 Trillion 2025 Budget Proposal. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has presented the 2025 budget proposal, titled The Resurrection Budget: Security, Peace, Building Prosperity, to a joint session of the National Assembly. The ₦47.9 trillion proposal, unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja, prioritises security, defence, infrastructure, education, and health as key sectors for national development.  Key Budget Allocations The President outlined the budget’s focus on addressing critical challenges facing the nation, with the following highlights: – Defence and Security: ₦4.91 trillion to tackle insecurity and strengthen the country’s defence systems. – Infrastructure: ₦4.06 trillion to drive…

250 Elderly Citizens In Kogi Benefit From Oluremi Tinubu’s Empowerment Scheme. In a bid to support senior citizens across Nigeria, 250 elderly individuals in Kogi State have benefited from the second phase of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Elderly Support Scheme, spearheaded by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The beneficiaries, aged 65 and above, were drawn from the 21 Local Government Areas in the state. The programme, which aims to enhance the welfare of elderly citizens, saw each recipient receive ₦200,000 alongside access to free medical check-ups and other items. At the presentation ceremony held at…