Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Vinícius Jr Crowned Best Player At Globe Soccer Awards. Brazilian football sensation Vinícius Jr has been officially named the Best Player at the Globe Soccer Awards, cementing his status as one of the world’s elite football talents. The accolade comes amid ongoing discussions surrounding the Ballon d’Or, with football legend Cristiano Ronaldo expressing his belief that Vinícius Jr deserved the prestigious award. “In my opinion, it was clear that Vinícius should have won the Ballon d’Or,” Ronaldo stated. “It was unfair. This is why I love the Globe Soccer Awards; they are honest.” Vinícius Jr, who has been…

Azerbaijan Airlines Blames External Interference For Deadly Crash. Azerbaijan Airlines has attributed the tragic crash of its Embraer jet in Kazakhstan on 25 December to “physical and technical external interference,” according to preliminary findings. The incident, which occurred 3km short of Aktau airport’s runway, claimed 38 lives, with 29 passengers surviving the ordeal. The aircraft had initially attempted to land at Grozny airport in southern Russia but was diverted to Kazakhstan following reports of an explosion. Witnesses recount hearing a blast before the diversion, adding to speculation surrounding the crash. Russia’s civil aviation agency cited “very complicated” conditions in…

Wolves Dominate 10-Man Manchester United As Bruno Fernandes Sees Red. Wolves secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Manchester United, continuing their perfect start under new manager Vitor Pereira. The match saw United captain Bruno Fernandes sent off for the third time this season, a setback that ultimately tipped the scales in Wolves’ favour. Fernandes received his marching orders just two minutes into the second half after picking up a second yellow card. Having already been sent off against Tottenham and Porto earlier in the campaign, his dismissal further exposed United’s defensive vulnerabilities. Wolves capitalised on their numerical advantage in…

Tragedy Strikes Sydney To Hobart Yacht Race Two participants in Australia’s iconic Sydney to Hobart yacht race have tragically lost their lives in separate incidents after being struck by a boom, authorities confirmed. The fatalities occurred aboard the Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline, with both incidents reported within hours of each other. The boom, a large horizontal pole at the base of a sail, proved fatal in these unfortunate accidents. New South Wales (NSW) police reported that the first incident was communicated by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority just before midnight on Thursday local time. Despite efforts to…

Liverpool Strengthen Title Push With Comeback Win Against Leicester. Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points with a determined 3-1 victory over struggling Leicester City at Anfield. Despite Leicester’s recent poor form, which included five defeats in seven matches, the visitors shocked the home crowd early on when Jordan Ayew found the net with a sharp finish in the sixth minute. Liverpool endured a frustrating first half as Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah both struck the woodwork. However, just before the break, Cody Gakpo levelled the score with a sublime curling…

Elanga Shines As Forest Climb To Third In Premier League. Nottingham Forest’s resurgence under Nuno Espírito Santo reached new heights as Anthony Elanga’s first-half strike secured a 1-0 victory over Tottenham, propelling Forest to third place in the Premier League. Elanga’s goal marked his third in consecutive games, extending Forest’s winning streak to four matches in the top flight for the first time since 1995. This victory also gave manager Nuno his first win against his former club, Tottenham, since his departure three years ago. Nuno’s tenure at Tottenham ended abruptly in 2021, but his work at Forest…

UN Health Chief Caught in Yemen Airport Air Strikes Amid Escalating Conflict. The Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and other UN staff were at Sanaa International Airport on Thursday during a series of Israeli air strikes, which reportedly claimed six lives. The Houthi-run Saba news agency stated that three people were killed and 30 injured at the airport, with another three fatalities and ten injuries reported in Hodeidah province. The air strikes, which also targeted power stations and ports, have been condemned as “barbaric” by the Iran-backed Houthi rebel group. Dr…

Clashes Erupt In Syria As Assad Loyalists Resist New Leadership. Syria’s new ruling authorities have reported the deaths of 14 interior ministry troops in an ambush by loyalists of ousted President Bashar al-Assad. The incident occurred near Tartous, a stronghold of the Alawite Muslim sect to which Assad and many of his former regime’s elite belonged. The ambush marks the first significant challenge to the authority of Syria’s de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, since his Islamist faction, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led a swift offensive that toppled Assad’s regime earlier this month. In response, Syrian state forces…

Super Eagles B Set Sights On Victory In CHAN Qualifier Against Ghana. The stand-in Head Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles B team, Daniel Ogunmodede, has emphasised the team’s unwavering focus on victory as they prepare to face Ghana’s Black Galaxies in the second leg of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers. The crucial match is scheduled for Saturday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. Following a goalless draw in Accra last Sunday, the decider is finely balanced, with both regional rivals aiming for a spot in the CHAN finals set to take place in East Africa from 1…

Protests Erupt Across Syria Following Burning Of Christmas Tree. Widespread protests have erupted in Syria after a Christmas tree was set ablaze in Suqaylabiyah, a predominantly Christian town in central Syria. The incident, captured on video and shared widely on social media, shows masked individuals pouring an unidentified liquid on the tree in the town’s main square before it was engulfed in flames on Christmas Eve. The arson attack has caused outrage among Syria’s Christian community, who viewed it as a direct affront to their faith and traditions. Although the perpetrators’ intent remains unclear, with speculation about whether they…

Akeredolu’s Widow Criticises Ondo Governor Over Planned Memorial Lecture.  Betty Akeredolu, widow of the late former Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, has accused Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of attempting to exploit her husband’s legacy for financial gain. The controversy arose over a memorial lecture scheduled by the Ondo State Government as part of activities to commemorate the first anniversary of Akeredolu’s death on 27 December 2023. The lecture, set to take place on Friday in Akure, was announced with renowned lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) as the keynote speaker and Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa as the chairman of the Akeredolu Leadership…

Federal Government Allocates N6 Billion For Ajaokuta Steel Workers In 2025 Budget The Federal Government has earmarked ₦6.21 billion for the salaries of workers at the dormant Ajaokuta Steel Company in the proposed 2025 budget, reflecting a 44.76% increase from the ₦4.29 billion allocated in 2024. This substantial allocation comes despite the company’s longstanding inactivity, with no steel production achieved since its establishment in 1979. The Ajaokuta Integrated Steel Complex was envisioned as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrialisation, designed to host a metallurgical process plant, engineering facilities, and auxiliary units capable of generating extensive economic activity. At its…