Mjkblog

 There is rising tension in Umuahia, Abia State, following an attack by gunmen on a newly established military checkpoint. The assailants targeted the location late Tuesday, sparking fears among residents. During the attack, the gunmen issued a stern warning to Governor Alex Otti. Authorities are investigating the incident, while security forces have heightened patrols in the area. No casualties have been reported so far.

  Firefighters are seen extinguishing fire following a Russian strike in Brovary, near Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Handout / Ukraine Emergency Service / AFP)   Russia escalated its attacks on Kyiv early Wednesday, launching waves of drones and missiles in its first combined aerial assault on the capital in more than 70 days, authorities said. The broadside came as Washington and Seoul echoed warnings from Ukraine that North Korean troops had begun “engaging in combat operations” alongside Russian forces on the border between the warring countries. A security source in Kyiv meanwhile told AFP that Ukraine was behind the assassination of a high-ranking Russian naval officer in a car bombing on the annexed Crimean peninsula. Ukraine’s air force said its units had downed four missiles and 37 drones launched by Russia over eight regions of Ukraine overnight and into Wednesday morning. “It is important that our forces have the means to defend the country from Russia

  Crypto-affiliated groups spent some $245 million on elections this year, according to the Federal Election Commission, much of it targeting the sector's Democratic opponents. Donald Trump’s triumphant return to the White House signals a potential golden era for cryptocurrencies, whose influential backers heavily supported his presidential bid. After years of ascendancy following Bitcoin’s emergence, the cryptocurrency industry had fallen into a “crypto winter,” plagued by scandals and hostile regulatory oversight. But Trump’s impending presidency has spurred an enthusiastic market response, with bitcoin surging more than 25 per cent in a week and breaking through the $90,000 mark for the first time. The president-elect previously voiced opposition to digital currencies, but as a candidate pledged to make the United States “the world capital of crypto,” a dramatic shift met with an influx of financial and other support from the sector. Crypto-affiliated groups spent some $245 mill

 Recall that last year, the court declined an emergency application seeking to compel top US law enforcement agencies to hasten the release of confidential information on President Bola Tinubu. United States’ law enforcement agencies have insisted Nigerians “have no right” to unfiltered access to President Bola Tinubu’s past records. The position was stated in a memorandum filed by the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration before the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, which renowned journalist, David Hundeyin, shared on Twitter on Tuesday night. Recall that last year, the court declined an emergency application seeking to compel top US law enforcement agencies to hasten the release of confidential information on President Bola Tinubu. Giving an update on the case, Hundeyin said the three US agencies had filed their defence against the summary judgment concerning President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dru

 Southeast governors have faced accusations of “willful neglect” regarding the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). This criticism was voiced by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a prominent socio-political organization in the southeast. In a statement signed by Secretary General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze Ndigbo remarked: “This ongoing inaction isn’t just an oversight; it represents a conscious betrayal of the trust and aspirations of the Igbo people. At such a pivotal time, we must examine both the nature of this neglect and the potential impact it could have.” On July 2, 2024, at the Lion Building in Enugu’s Government House, the Southeast Governors met with esteemed figures, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe. During the meeting, the Governors pledged to support Kanu’s release, committing to speak with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on this pressing matter. However, four months have passed wit

  Troops of the Nigerian Army have arrested 12 suspected kidnappers in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State. The kidnappers were reportedly apprehended after a distress call from residents of Chachanji village regarding the abduction of two individuals by a group of around 10 armed men on motorcycles on 7 November. The spokesman for 6 Brigade, Captain Olubodunde Oni, in a statement said said 14 motorcycles, two bags of Indian hemp, and a locally made pistol were recovered during the rescue operation. “Upon making contact with the armed group, the superior firepower of the troops forced the kidnappers to withdraw deep into the bush, leaving behind their locally fabricated pistol and two bags of Indian hemp,” he said, “The troops’ thorough exploitation of the area prevented further criminal activity and disrupted the kidnappers’ operations.” According to the statement,  in a follow-up operation, the troops seized 14 motorcycles at a local drinking joint in Mbhakyir village, close

   The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has banned the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun and Vigilante Corps from participating in the November 16 governorship election in Ondo State. The ban directive was contained in a statement on Sunday by the Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi. He said the IG ordered the deployment of officers from various specialised units, including the Special Intervention Squad, Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Special Protection Unit, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, and K-9 Unit among others. The police boss also ordered that aerial patrols be conducted with police helicopters, while gunboats would patrol the state’s waterways and riverine areas to ensure security across all terrains. As the Ondo State Gubernatorial Election, scheduled for November 16, 2024, draws near, the Inspector-General of Police has unequivocally assured the public of the Nigeria Police Force’s unwavering readiness to ensure a peaceful and orde

  Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko on Tuesday called for vengeance following what he described as attacks against supporters of his Pastef party by the opposition during the campaign for Sunday’s parliamentary elections. Sonko, who has been head of the government since it took office in April, spoke of clashes in the capital Dakar, the northern city of Saint-Louis and the central town of Koungheul. He blamed the attacks on supporters of Dakar mayor Barthelemy Dias, who heads a rival coalition. “Let every aggression suffered by Pastef on their part since the start of the campaign, let every patriot they have attacked and injured be proportionally avenged,” Sonko wrote in a Facebook post. “We will exercise our legitimate right to retaliate.” Sonko said that complaints had been filed but that there had been “zero arrests”. “Barthelemy Dias and his coalition should no longer campaign in this country,” he said. A meeting of Pastef party supporters is scheduled for later Tuesday near

  Thirty-five people were killed and 43 wounded after a car ploughed into pedestrians Monday evening in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, local police said Tuesday. A serious and vicious attack occurred at the Zhuhai Sports Centre, in which the suspect rammed a car into people who were exercising, resulting in 35 deaths and 43 injuries,” the police said in a statement.

  Queen Camilla, whose husband is Britain’s head of state King Charles III, will return to public duties on Tuesday with a shortened programme after withdrawing from events last week due to a chest infection, a royal source said. Camilla, 77, is expected to attend the Booker Prize reception later on Tuesday to meet the finalists of the prestigious literary award. But the book-lover will be there for a shorter period than initially planned. It will be the first public event for Camilla since her return from Australia and the Pacific island of Samoa, where she accompanied Charles at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting before falling ill. Camilla will also attend an event celebrating the film and television industry on Wednesday, but will likely not stay for the entire reception. She is also not expected to attend the global premiere of “Gladiator II” at London’s Leicester Square the same night. She was initially scheduled to meet director Ridley Scott and actors including Paul M

(From L to R) Booker Prize 2024 shortlisted authors, Australian Writer Charlotte Wood, US writer Rachel Kushner, British writer Samantha Harvey, Dutch writer Yael van der Wouden and Canadian writer Anne Michaels. The winner of the Booker Prize is to be announced on Tuesday, with a record five female authors vying to win the prestigious English-language literary award. Six authors from five countries have been shortlisted, with the winner of the £50,000 ($64,500) prize to be announced at a glitzy ceremony in London. (From L to R) Booker Prize 2024 shortlisted authors, Australian Writer Charlotte Wood, US writer Percival Everett, British writer Samantha Harvey, Dutch writer Yael van der Wouden, Canadian writer Anne Michaels and US writer Rachel Kushner pose during the Booker Prize 2024 Award photo call event, at the Southbank centre, in central London, on November 11, 2024. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) Last year’s prize was won by Irish writer Paul Lynch for his novel “Prophet Song” —

  The third most successful country in the AFCON with four titles have secured just two points from four Group F matches to lie third. Ghana have axed Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey for potential make-or-break Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Angola and Niger, with the first matchday five fixtures set for Wednesday. Embattled coach Otto Addo refused to disclose why he omitted the 31-year-old, who has scored 13 goals in 49 international appearances. “My reasons are confidential. I hope he will rejoin us for the next international window in March (World Cup qualifying),” he told reporters. In another decision involving Premier League stars, Leicester City forward Jordan Ayew has replaced West Ham United midfielder Mohamed Kudus as captain. Kudus led the Black Stars last month in home and away matches against Sudan, from which they took just one point, putting Ghana in danger of missing the finals for the first time since 2004. The third most successful country in the AFCON with

 Oyedele also said the federal government will reduce the overall tax burden on Nigerians while still ensuring that enough revenue is generated in the country. The Federal Government is eyeing a single-digit tax regime to reduce the burden of multiple taxation on Nigerians. Chairman Presidential Committee on Fiscal and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele revealed this in an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy. Oloyede explained that all taxes would be cut down to single digits when the ongoing reforms are concluded. A single-digit tax system allows less than 10 taxes to be paid by citizens or businesses within a period of time. He noted that his committee has put a framework in place to enhance cooperation between tax authorities and states in terms of data, tax intelligence and capacity building. Our hope is when we are done with our reforms, all the taxes will be down to single digit,” Oyedele said. He said, “We want to be able to let the authorities trained on tax matters collect ta

The prolific forward died at the age of 38 following complications from high blood pressure. Azuka Chiemeka, spokesperson for the Delta State Football Association, confirmed the sad news to PREMIUM TIMES. According to Mr Azuka, Atulewa succumbed to complications from high blood pressure around 7 a.m. on Tuesday. “We just buried the wife last month, that may have contributed to this development. He has blood pressure issues but he has been managing it, just day before yesterday, the condition became bad and he was taken to the hospital, they noticed he had malaria but aside from that, the blood pressure kept going up, we lost him this morning by 7 a.m.” The Delta State FA spokesperson told PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Azuka reflected on Atulewa’s recent involvement in football, saying, “As we are speaking, there is an ex-international football tournament going on in  Delta  State and he is part of the ex Uwei where he comes from, he is part of their team, he scored the first goal of the tournament

Adeola Ajayi, the director-general of the State Security Service (SSS), has finally allowed lawyers access to Nnamdi Kanu, Aloy Ejimakor, his special counsel, said on Monday. Mr Kanu, who is facing terrorism charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja, is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The IPOB leader has been in detention since he was repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya in June 2021 under controversial circumstances. His legal team has repeatedly accused the SSS of denying them access to Mr Kanu. Meanwhile, the judge, Binta Nyako, on 20 May this year, had ordered the SSS to allow Mr Kanu to receive visitors for three days a week – Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. On 18 October week, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the court threatened to jail Mr Ajayi, the SSS director-general, if he continued to deny lawyers access to the IPOB leader in violation of the court order.  In October, the court summoned the SSS director-general to “show cause” and defend himself over his a