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 Sports Take Centre Stage as Gov. Buni Undertakes Massive Remodelling of Damaturu Stadium Sports development is taking centre stage in Yobe State as Governor Mai Mala Buni intensifies efforts to reposition the sector through the massive remodelling of the Damaturu Township Stadium. The night view of the facility reflects the scale and quality of work ongoing, as the once-aging stadium is being transformed into a modern sports arena capable of hosting major events and nurturing athletic talent. In a further boost to sports infrastructure, the Governor has also commenced the construction of a brand-new, state-of-the-art stadium in Buni Yadi, underscoring his administration’s commitment to inclusive development across all zones of the state. The twin projects are designed not only to enhance sporting activities but also to promote unity, social cohesion, and youth engagement. By providing safe and modern recreational spaces, the facilities are expected to serve as rallying points for ...

 Europe and India marked a historic moment as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the conclusion of a landmark free trade agreement, describing it as the mother of all deals.  The pact creates a massive free trade zone of nearly two billion people and is expected to significantly strengthen economic ties, investment flows, and strategic cooperation between the two sides. Beyond the economic breakthrough, the moment carried powerful cultural symbolism. Standing alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ursula von der Leyen was draped in the traditional Assamese Gamosa, bringing Assam’s cultural identity into the global spotlight during one of the most important diplomatic announcements in recent times. Von der Leyen said the agreement is only the beginning of a deeper strategic relationship between India and the European Union, with both sides set to benefit in areas such as trade, technology, sustainability, and global stability. The deal is being hailed...

 Zangon Kataf Council Announces Death Of Former Chairman, Hon. Francis Sani Zimbo The Zangon Kataf Local Government Council has announced the death of Hon. Francis Sani Amgwa, popularly known as Zimbo, the immediate past Chairman of the Council and Special Adviser to the Kaduna State Governor on Industrial Training. Zimbo reportedly passed away after a period of illness.  Until his death, he served as a key aide to the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, contributing to policies and initiatives in the area of industrial training and human capital development. During his tenure as Chairman of Zangon Kataf Local Government, Hon. Amgwa was widely credited with driving developmental initiatives, strengthening community relations, and promoting peace across the various communities within the local government area.  He was known for his grassroots engagement, political commitment, and dedication to public service. Described as a bridge-builder and a leader deeply connected to t...

 Human trafficker who tortured migrants in Libya jailed for 20 years in Netherlands An Eritrean people trafficker who tortured African refugees and migrants in camps in Libya was jailed for 20 years on Tuesday by a Dutch court, with a judge saying he had "no regard for human dignity". Judges said 42-year-old Amanuel Walid - known as Tewelde Goitom - ran a migration route to Europe via Libya. He was convicted on charges of membership of a criminal organisation, human trafficking and extortion, Reuters reported. Prosecutors, whose investigation focused on the period between 2014 and 2019, said Walid's group detained thousands of African migrants in warehouses and tortured them to extort ransoms from their families. "You and your co-perpetrators have treated (migrants) in a ruthless and merciless manner with no regard for human dignity and this, it seems, only to extort as much money as possible from vulnerable and helpless people seeking a better future," presidin...

 PHOTO NEWS Nigeria - Turkiye sign 9 Agreements to strengthen Bilateral relations.  EARLIER REPORT: STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE PRESIDENT TINUBU ARRIVES IN ANKARA, TURKIYE   President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Turkiye, on a State Visit. His plane touched down at precisely 9.03 pm local time.   He was received at Ankara Esenboğa Airport by a Turkish government delegation led by the Minister of National Education, Yusuf Tekin. The Chargé d’Affaires at the Nigerian Embassy in Türkiye, Ambassador Zayyad Abdulsalam, and other embassy officials were also on hand to welcome him. The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN,    Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa(rtd), welcomed the President to his hotel. Also at the hotel reception were the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; M...

 Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter calls for boycott of World Cup in the United States  Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has thrown his support behind a proposed fan boycott of World Cup matches scheduled to be played in the United States, citing concerns over President Donald Trump’s conduct and policies at home and abroad. Blatter said the political climate created by the Trump administration raises serious questions about whether the United States is a suitable host for the tournament, adding his voice to a growing chorus within the international soccer community expressing unease about the event. Blatter endorsed comments made by Swiss attorney and anti-corruption expert Mark Pieth, who previously oversaw governance reforms at FIFA and has been an outspoken critic of the organization’s leadership. In a recent interview, Pieth urged fans to avoid traveling to the United States, arguing that supporters could face arbitrary treatment by authorities and risk being denied en...

Lawyers accuse Mexico of illegally sending cartel members to the US without extradition orders    A coalition of defense lawyers and relatives of prominent cartel figures accused Mexico’s government on Monday of violating the law by transferring dozens of Mexican citizens to the United States without formal extradition orders. The accusations follow a recent handover of 37 detained cartel members, bringing the total number of transfers since February of last year to 92 people sent north in three separate operations. Critics say the moves bypassed Mexico’s legally required extradition process, which typically involves lengthy court proceedings and judicial approval. The latest transfers have drawn intense scrutiny because they come amid escalating pressure from President Donald Trump, who has threatened military action against drug cartels. Observers say the handovers are part of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s broader strategy to demonstrate a tougher stance on organized...

 Iran’s crackdown kills at least 6,126 people, activists say, as the country’s currency collapses  Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests has left at least 6,126 people dead, with many more feared killed, activists reported Tuesday, as the country faces growing economic turmoil and heightened tensions with the United States. The rial has fallen to a record low of 1.5 million per dollar, intensifying public anger over skyrocketing prices for everyday goods. The figures come as a U.S. aircraft carrier group, including the USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying guided missile destroyers, arrived in the Middle East, providing Washington with the ability to respond militarily if needed. The protests, which began on Dec. 28 after a sharp decline in the rial’s value, have been met with an intense and violent government crackdown. Activists reported at least 5,777 protesters among the dead, along with 214 government-affiliated forces, 86 children, and 49 civilians who were not demonstr...

 Gunmen shoot at soccer field in central Mexico, killing 11 and injuring 12  Gunmen opened fire at a soccer field in central Mexico on Sunday, killing at least 11 people and injuring 12 others, officials reported. Salamanca Mayor Cesar Prieto said the attackers arrived at the end of a soccer match. Ten victims died at the scene, and another died later at a hospital. Among the wounded were a woman and a minor. Prieto described the shooting as part of a broader “crime wave” in the city and called on President Claudia Sheinbaum for federal assistance to curb the violence. The Guanajuato state prosecutor’s office said it is investigating the attack and coordinating with federal authorities to strengthen security in the region. Guanajuato recorded the highest number of homicides in Mexico last year, fueled by ongoing clashes between the local Santa Rosa de Lima gang and the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel. “Unfortunately, there are criminal groups trying to subjugate authori...

 Meta to trial paid subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp  Meta Platforms is preparing to test new subscription plans across Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp in the coming months. The paid models are expected to offer users access to additional features and enhanced AI capabilities, aiming to boost productivity and creativity. The subscriptions will integrate Meta’s recently acquired AI platform, Manus, which the company purchased in December for a reported $2 billion. Meta has been investing heavily in AI talent and technology, including its open-source Llama large language models, and the new plans could help the company generate returns on those investments. Features in the subscription packages may include full access to Meta’s AI-powered short-form video tool, Vibes, which allows users to create and remix AI-generated content; basic access to Vibes would remain free, with premium features reserved for subscribers. The new subscriptions are separate fro...

Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano erupts, lava fountain shoots 1,500 feet into the air   Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano erupted for the 41st time since 2024, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The latest eruption was observed Saturday morning by officials in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. By Sunday evening at 7:29 p.m. HST, the eruptions had paused, though intermittent glowing was still visible from the volcano’s north and south vents. USGS footage showed lava bubbling steadily before surging into a dramatic fountain reaching roughly 1,500 feet. The molten rock flowed down the mountain, forming rivers that slowly solidified overnight. Lava fountains covered much of the mountain, eventually blanketing 80–85% of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor. Falling ash and tephra reached communities as far as Hilo, creating health risks and potential contamination of water supplies. Kīlauea has been erupting episodically since Dec. 23, 2024, with each episode lasting under 12 hours and separated by pauses ...

Bethlehem grotto set for first restoration in 600 years The cave in Bethlehem, traditionally recognized as the birthplace of Jesus, will undergo a major restoration for the first time in 600 years. The Grotto of the Nativity, located beneath the Church of the Nativity, will be refurbished in a joint effort by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land, a Catholic order responsible for maintaining holy sites in the region. Church officials described the project as a shared Christian commitment to preserve the spiritual, historical, and cultural significance of the grotto for future generations. The Grotto of the Nativity contains two primary sites: the exact location of Jesus’ birth, marked by a silver star, and the Chapel of the Manger, where he is said to have been laid after birth. Before the pandemic and regional conflicts, the site drew around three million visitors annually. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the renovation “a ...

 U.S sled racer Uhlaender claims she was wrongly blocked from sixth Olympic attempt Veteran U.S. sled racer Katie Uhlaender says she has been unfairly denied the chance to compete in her sixth Winter Olympic Games and is urging the International Olympic Committee to create a “wild card” spot so she can race in Milan Cortina next month. “This is about the integrity of sport and the code of ethics that upholds sportsmanship, fair play, integrity, respect, and community,” Uhlaender wrote on the social media platform X on Sunday. The dispute centers on a qualifying event held earlier this month in Lake Placid, New York, where athletes raced head-first down an icy track in head-to-head heats to earn points toward Olympic qualification. Uhlaender, 41, from Breckenridge, Colorado, performed strongly and appeared on track to secure enough points to make the team. However, at the last minute, the Canadian skeleton team withdrew four female athletes from the Lake Placid event. Because of the...

 Judge blocks DHS effort to end legal status for migrants in family reunification programs  A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from terminating the legal status of roughly 10,000 migrants living in the United States under family reunification parole programs, ruling that the government acted unlawfully in attempting to abruptly dismantle the system. In a 42-page order issued late Saturday, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani found that the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to end the programs was “arbitrary and capricious” and failed to account for the real-world consequences facing migrants who relied on the policy to lawfully reunite with family members in the U.S. The ruling applies to noncitizens from Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras who entered the country under a Biden-era initiative that allowed U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor relatives while they waited for immigrant visas to become a...

 Owners of Marilyn Monroe’s former Los Angeles home sue city over historic landmark status  The owners of a Los Angeles home once owned by Marilyn Monroe have filed a federal lawsuit against the city, arguing officials unlawfully blocked their plans to demolish the property by belatedly designating it a historic-cultural monument. In their complaint, Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank say the city waited more than six decades—despite long knowing of the home’s brief connection to Monroe—before acting, only after they secured permits in 2023 to tear the house down. The property sits at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in the Brentwood neighborhood, and the owners contend Monroe owned it for just six months in 1962, using it temporarily while working in Southern California. They argue her primary residence was in New York and that the 2,300-square-foot Spanish-style bungalow, which is not visible from the street, lacks meaningful historical significance. According to the lawsuit, the hou...

 Lagos Fire Rescued Aged Man From Attempted Suicide The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service received a distress call at exactly 10:09 hours concerning a rescue incident at No. 35A, Fadeyemi Street, Pipeline, Aboru, Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State. Upon receipt of the call, the Agency's Rescue Crew alongside personnel from the Abesan Fire Station were immediately dispatched to the scene and arrived at 10:20 hours. The incident involved an 84-year-old male adult who reportedly fell into a well estimated to be about 140 feet deep. Preliminary observations suggest a suspected case of attempted suicide, as the well was adequately protected and securely covered. The victim was successfully recovered by the rescue team and subsequently handed over to the family members for further necessary attention. The exact cause of the incident is subjected to further investigation. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reiterates its commitment to prompt emergency...

 ANAMBRA POLICE ARRESTS TWO SUSPECTS OVER A MISSING 16-YEAR OLD GIRL IN OZUBULU Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command attached to Ozubulu Division, acting on a technologically driven information on the evening of 26th January 2026 arrested two female suspects, Uzoma Nwabueze and Precious Monday, over a reported case of a missing 16-year old girl, Miss Oluebube Chukwuma in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the State. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being involved in the disappearance of the minor and disclosed that the victim is currently in Ghana. Given the above, the Commissioner of Police CP Ikioye Orutugu fwc mnips PhD directs immediate transfer of the suspects to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for discreet and comprehensive investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the relocation of the girl and identify any other person(s) involved. Further updates will be provided as the investigations progress. SP To...

 ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT REITERATES MANDATORY STAFF ATTENDANCE ACROSS CIVIL SERVICE. Azuka Offor  The Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr. Julius Chukwemeka, has reiterated the directive of the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, mandating all civil servants in the state to report to work consistently on all official working days. Engr. Chukwemeka emphasized that the practice of staying away from work—particularly on Mondays under the guise of the “sit-at-home” order must come to an end. He made this declaration during a management meeting with Heads of Departments held at the conference room of the Ministry of Power and Water Resources, Awka. The commissioner further said that effective from February 2026, the payment of salaries to civil servants will be based on a pro-rata system, strictly tied to verified attendance and the actual number of days worked. He warned that no staff member is permitted to write or sign the attendance register on behalf o...

 Onitsha South Mayor, Market Leaders Brainstorm On Way forward  By Juliana Nwachukwu  The Mayor of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Emeka Orji on January 22, met with the market leaders within the area to brainstorm on the way forward for the constituency. The meeting which was the first interactive meeting of the year with the market leaders witnessed the budget planning if the year 2026 and other important issues that will be beneficiary for the people of the area. Speaking immediately after the meeting at the Local Government Secretariat Hall, the Local Government Secretary, Paul Onuachalla Esq said, "We are planning  our budgets and we deemed it necessary to call the market leaders, stakeholders. "We ensure that they are integral part of our decision making process because some of them have businesses here but reside outside the area, their input will help us to govern better. "This is a political season, we also outlined the scorecards, the develo...

 Anambra Govt Reaffirms Partnership with JAMB, Pledges Support for CBT Expansion By Obiageli Nwankwo The Anambra State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, has described the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as an integral part of the state’s education system, assuring the Board of the government’s continued support to enhance its operations. She made the declaration when the Anambra State Coordinator of JAMB, Dr. Diana Obiano, led her management team on a courtesy visit to the Commissioner at the State Secretariat Complex, Awka. Prof. Chuma-Udeh said the state does not take JAMB’s role for granted, particularly in the conduct of qualifying examinations and placement of successful candidates into tertiary institutions. She commended the Board for establishing a 450-capacity Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre and pledged the state’s readiness to support the establishment of additional centres to improve access and efficiency. Earlier, Dr. Obiano said that ...

 VICE PRESIDENT SHETTIMA IN JOS  Vice president Kashim Shettima has arrived Jos, the plateau State capital. On arrival at the Yakubu Gowon airport Heipang he was received by Gov Caleb Mutfwang, members of the national and state Assemblies, leaders of the party as well as supporters. The VP led by Governor Mutfwang then proceeded to the Jos Polo ground, venue of the reception.

 13 BRIGADE NIGERIAN ARMY ARRESTS SUSPECTED GUN RUNNER IN ABI LGA Troops of 245 Battalion, under the operational control of Headquarters 13 Brigade Nigerian Army, arrested a suspected gun runner and ammunition racketeer during an intelligence-led operation in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State. The arrest took place on Sunday, 26 January 2026, following credible intelligence received by troops deployed in the area. The suspect, identified as Mr. Ojo Friday, is an indigene of Ochon, Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State but resides at Abomege in Ebonyi State. During the operation, troops successfully recovered 245 Pump Action Cartridges, which were intended for illicit distribution. The suspect and the recovered items have been secured in own custody, and preliminary investigations is ongoing. The Brigade remains committed to proactive measures that prevent the circulation of small arms and maintain peace and security within its area of responsibility. Commen...

 Connecting Communities: Ogun State Advances Road Infrastructure Across LGAs Ogun State continues to record visible progress in road infrastructure delivery, with a new batch of roads recently commissioned across several local government areas, while many others are now fully completed and ready for commissioning. These projects cut across Sagamu, Abeokuta, Ifo, Ijebu, Yewa, Imeko-Afon, Ipokia, Ikenne and other parts of the state, reflecting a deliberate spread aimed at improving connectivity, easing movement, and supporting economic and social activities in both urban and semi-urban communities. Beyond the newly commissioned roads, another group of strategic corridors has reached completion stage and is awaiting formal commissioning. These include key access roads linking markets, residential districts, agricultural zones, airport corridors and commercial hubs. Their completion further strengthens intra-state mobility, reduces travel time, improves safety, and enhances the overall...