Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

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…

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…