Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Tragedy Strikes: South Korea Plane Crash Claims 179 Lives. A devastating plane crash at Muan International Airport in South Korea has left 179 people dead in what is being described as the country’s worst aviation disaster. The Boeing 737-800, operated by Jeju Air, was carrying 181 passengers and crew on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand, when it crash-landed early Wednesday morning. According to reports, the aircraft attempted to land without its wheels, skidded along the runway, and collided with a wall before bursting into flames. The tragic incident claimed the lives of all 175 passengers and four crew members. Remarkably,…

Guardiola Reaffirms Commitment To Manchester City Amid Poor Form. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has pledged to address the team’s current struggles, dismissing any speculation about his departure. After enduring a difficult run of nine defeats in their last 13 matches, City finds itself in an uncharacteristic seventh position in the Premier League. Guardiola attributed the dip in form to injuries to key players, including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, Ruben Dias, and John Stones. Despite these setbacks, the Spanish tactician remains steadfast in his resolve. “I will not give up,” Guardiola stated confidently. “We’ve faced challenges before, and…

Super Eagles-B Soar Past Ghana To Secure CHAN 2025 Qualification. Nigeria’s Super Eagles-B delivered a dominant performance in Uyo, defeating Ghana 3-1 in their CHAN 2025 qualifier to book their place in the tournament set for East Africa next February. The match started with intensity, and it wasn’t long before Sodiq Ismail broke the deadlock in the 18th minute. Receiving a perfectly weighted long pass from Nduka Junior, Ismail surged forward and coolly slotted the ball into the net, giving Nigeria an early lead. Moments later, Nduka Junior turned from provider to scorer. Pouncing on a defensive error…

Enyimba Part Ways With Coach Yema, Appoint Stanley Eguma As New Head Coach. Nine-time Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) champions, Enyimba International FC, have announced the departure of their head coach, Olanrewaju Daniel Yema, following a difficult period of nine winless matches across league and continental competitions. The club’s recent struggles, including two defeats in continental tournaments and a series of draws in the domestic league, prompted the management to make this tough decision. While acknowledging Yema’s significant contributions, the management believes a change is necessary to restore the team’s competitive edge. Fondly referred to as “Yema” by…

Military Clarifies Sokoto Fatalities As Secondary Explosions. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has attributed the deaths of approximately ten individuals in Sokoto State to a “secondary explosion” following military operations in the Silame Local Government Area. Earlier reports from the Sokoto State Government indicated that ten villagers had died, with several others injured, during the strikes. However, Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, explained during a briefing in Abuja that the fatalities were not caused directly by the military’s air strikes but by subsequent explosions at a terrorist logistics base. “One of the targets was a…

Putin Apologises For Tragic Plane Crash But Stops Short Of Accepting Responsibility. Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended an apology to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev following the downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines jet in Russian airspace, which claimed the lives of 38 passengers. However, Putin stopped short of admitting Russian responsibility for the incident. The tragedy occurred on Christmas Day when the aircraft, en route from Baku to Grozny, came under fire as it attempted to land in the Chechen capital. It was forced to divert across the Caspian Sea before crash-landing near Aktau, Kazakhstan. Of the 67 people…

Minority Caucus Condemns Crackdown On Criticism, Demands Release of Detained Citizens. The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives has criticised the Federal Government for its alleged crackdown on citizens who express dissent and demanded the immediate release of detained individuals. In a statement dated 22 December 2024, signed by the Minority Caucus Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, the group expressed concern over what it described as a growing trend of harassment and intimidation targeting critics of government policies. “The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives is very concerned about the growing controversial clampdown on citizens criticising government,”…

Access Bank Exceeds CBN’s N500 Billion Capital Target Ahead Of Deadline. Access Holdings Plc has made history by becoming the first Nigerian bank to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) N500 billion minimum capital requirement for banks with international authorisation, achieving this milestone well before the March 2026 deadline. The company recently concluded a successful Rights Issue involving 17,772,612,811 Ordinary Shares of 50 Kobo each, priced at N19.75 per share, raising an impressive N351 billion. With this achievement, Access Bank Plc, the flagship subsidiary of Access Holdings, now boasts a share capital of N600 billion, surpassing the regulatory…

Houthis Vow To Escalate Attacks On Israel Amid Intensified Air Strikes. A senior Houthi official has declared that the group will continue launching attacks on Israel in solidarity with Palestinians, despite escalating Israeli air strikes in Yemen. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, speaking to the BBC, stated that the Houthis would “escalate our military targeting of Israel” until what he described as “the genocide in Gaza” is halted. The statement follows a series of Israeli air strikes on Thursday targeting Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, as well as ports and power stations along the Red Sea coast. The attacks resulted in at least four…

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka Out For Over Two Months Following Surgery. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka is expected to be sidelined for “more than two months” after undergoing surgery to address a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old winger sustained the injury during the Gunners’ 5-1 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace on 21 December, leaving the pitch in the first half and departing the stadium on crutches. Saka has been instrumental for Arsenal this season, contributing nine goals and 13 assists in 24 appearances across all competitions. Speaking after Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Ipswich on Friday, which…

US Points To Possible Russian Responsibility In Azerbaijan Airlines Crash. White House spokesman John Kirby has revealed “early indications” that Russia may have been responsible for the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash on 25 December, which tragically claimed 38 lives. While Mr Kirby declined to provide further details, he confirmed that the US has offered assistance in the ongoing investigation. The Embraer 190 aircraft reportedly came under fire from Russian air defence systems while attempting to land in Chechnya. Diverted across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan, the plane ultimately crashed, killing all but 29 survivors. The Kremlin has refused…

Kai Havertz Secures Arsenal Victory Over Ipswich Town. Kai Havertz scored the decisive goal as Arsenal defeated a determined Ipswich Town 1-0 to climb to second place in the Premier League. The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Leandro Trossard delivered a precise cross from the left side of the penalty area, allowing Havertz to tap in from close range. Arsenal dominated possession, holding an impressive 83.5% in the first half, as Ipswich focused on frustrating the home side with defensive discipline. Despite Arsenal’s control, they struggled to extend their lead. Declan Rice narrowly missed with a curling…