ATTEMPTS by elements of Organised Criminal Groups to use various disingenuous modes of concealment to import consignments of illicit substances into Nigeria and export same to the United Kingdom, and United Arab Emirate through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja and Tincan seaport in Lagos have been thwarted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA. No less than 37.5 kilograms of such illicit consignments were intercepted in the past week, with the arrest of 11 suspects in interdiction operations that led to the seizure of almost four tons of skunk in Kaduna, Kano and Lagos state.…
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ANTHONY and Danielle Wilson awoke at their Essex home to find their Range Rover had vanished. The vehicle was later found loaded on a container at a UK port bound for the Democratic Republic of Congo in central Africa. The Wilsons’ experience, police warn, is becoming increasingly common. It took thieves just 63 seconds to steal the Wilsons’ Range Rover Sport from their gated home in a village near Bishop’s Stortford. The theft was caught on the family’s CCTV system. It shows two people involved – one stealing the Wilsons’ car and another driving the vehicle they arrived in. “You…
MALI’s junta leader has pardoned 49 Ivorian soldiers arrested in July and accused of conspiring against the Malian government, the presidency said in a statement on Friday. The soldiers’ arrest sparked a diplomatic dispute between Mali and neighbouring Ivory Coast, and widespread condemnation from regional leaders against a country already at odds with the international community. They were arrested at the airport in Mali’s capital Bamako last July. Malian authorities said the troops were acting as mercenaries, while Ivory Coast said they were part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali. Three who were women were later released, while…
WIKIPEDIA’s parent company has denied claims the Saudi government infiltrated its team in the Middle East. Two international human rights groups said Saudi officials had altered or deleted content on the website. The claims came after Wikimedia carried out its own investigation and suspended 16 users for “conflict of interest” editing in the Middle East. Wikimedia said “material inaccuracies” had been published but no evidence of Saudi infiltration was found. Wikipedia relies on teams of volunteer administrators and editors for its content. A statement by Smex and Democracy for the Arab World Now (Dawn) accused the Saudi government of using…
ANA Montes – among the best-known Cold War spies caught by the US – has been released from prison after more than 20 years in custody. The 65-year-old spent almost two decades spying for Cuba while employed as an analyst at the Defence Intelligence Agency. After her arrest in 2001, officials said she had almost entirely exposed US intelligence operations on the island. One official said she was among “the most damaging spies” caught by the US. Michelle Van Cleave, who was head of counter-intelligence under President George W Bush, told Congress in 2012 that Montes had “compromised everything -…
THE Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment said the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) can’t just go on strike without notifying the ministry. The spokesperson for the ministry, Olajide Oshundun, made this known in an interview with journslists in Abuja on Saturday. Oshundun, said, “Normally, they are to notify the ministry but I don’t think they have done that. However, they have a national body they report to, so they will take care of the matter. They can’t just decide to go on strike, there is a process to it.” The Petroleum Tankers Drivers, a branch…
THERE were giant-killings, late goals and much more to savour as the FA Cup third round continued apace on Saturday. Championship sides Blackpool, Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday all knocked out Premier League opposition, while National League Wrexham produced what may prove to be the shock of the round by defeating Coventry of the Championship in a thrilling tie. Elsewhere, non-league Chesterfield were denied a famous win by a late West Bromwich Albion equaliser, and World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister enjoyed a sparkling cameo on his second Brighton appearance since returning from Qatar. Newcastle have enjoyed an outstanding campaign so…
BURNLEY and Netherlands striker Wout Weghorst has emerged as a surprise loan target for Manchester United. Weghorst is currently on loan at Besiktas in Turkey, where he has scored eight goals in 16 appearances. The 30-year-old’s latest came in a 2-1 win against Kasimpasa on Saturday, after which he appeared to wave goodbye to Besiktas’ fans. It is understood there is no break clause in the loan from Burnley, so talks would involve all three clubs. Erik ten Hag has made no secret of his desire to bring in striking reinforcements following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. However, the United…
REAL Madrid slipped to just a second La Liga defeat of the season as they missed the chance to go back to the top of the table by losing at Villarreal. Yeremy Pino put the hosts ahead but a dubious handball call against Juan Foyth allowed Karim Benzema to level. Foyth then won a penalty of his own at the other end as David Alaba handled and Gerard Moreno slotted the winner. Real remain second, level on points with leaders Barcelona, who visit Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Villarreal climb to fifth after a deserved third successive win, having created the…
JUVENTUS edged past Udinese to secure an eighth consecutive Serie A victory and move second in the table. Brazil international Danilo scored the only goal four minutes from time, tapping in from close range following Federico Chiesa’s cutback. Massimiliano Allegri’s men face a huge match on Friday away at Napoli, who are four points clear at the top. Inter Milan lie in fourth place, seven points adrift of Napoli, after being held to a 2-2 draw at Monza. Former Manchester United full-back Matteo Darmian scored the opener before Patrick Ciurria equalised for the hosts. Argentine World Cup winner Lautaro Martinez…
TWO men have been hanged in Iran for allegedly killing a member of the military during nationwide protests. Mohammad Mahdi Karami and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini were found guilty of “corruption on earth” over their alleged involvement in the death of a paramilitary officer. Human rights groups have denounced what they described as a “sham” trial. The family of 22-year-old Mr Karami say they were not permitted to meet him before he was killed. Prosecutors claimed paramilitary officer Ruhollah Ajamian was stripped naked and killed by a group of mourners paying their respects to a recently-killed protester. Protests against Iran’s clerical…
A SIX-year-old boy opened fire in an elementary school classroom in the eastern US state of Virginia on Friday, seriously injuring a teacher, police said. No students were hurt in the incident at Richneck Elementary School in the coastal city of Newport News. “The individual is a six-year-old student. He is right now in police custody,” local police chief Steve Drew told a news conference, adding that “this was not an accidental shooting.” Police said that the victim was a teacher in her 30s and her injuries were believed to be life-threatening. “I’m in shock, and I’m disheartened,” said the…
DIDIER Deschamps said on Saturday he will remain France coach until the 2026 World Cup after leading the team to the final of the last two editions. Deschamps’ contract expired after the World Cup in Qatar where defending champions France lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout after a thrilling final on December 18. It had been reported that French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet only wanted to give Deschamps a two-year extension until the 2024 European Championship but the 54-year-old coach had insisted on staying in charge until the next World Cup in the United States, Canada…
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said it had created more centres to ease the ongoing collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the FCT. According to a circular released by the commission on Friday in Abuja, the period set for the collection of the PVCs from the designated centres, is between Jan. 6 and Jan. 15. It said that the collection of PVCs would thereafter return to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). It listed the venues to include Government Secondary School Garki, Area 10. The Garki centre comprised Garki Model Primary School, Lagos Street, Garki Village, LEA Primary…
ROMEO Beckham, son of former England captain David, has joined Brentford’s B team on loan from Inter Miami II until the end of the season. Beckham, 20, will link up with Neil MacFarlane’s second team “to continue his development”, the Premier League club said. “I’m very proud and very happy to be here,” said Beckham, who played 20 times for Inter Miami II last season. “I’m excited to come here and see what I can do.” Inter Miami II, the second team at the club which is co-owned by his father, finished sixth in the Eastern Conference last season, with…
MARCUS Rashford scored for a fifth successive game as Manchester United increased the pressure on Everton boss Frank Lampard with a deserved FA Cup victory at Old Trafford. Everton were applauded off by their travelling support for showing admirable character, after their side suffered the shock of going behind after just three minutes when Antony turned home Rashford’s far-post cross but had the character to fight back. Conor Coady rammed home a 13th-minute equaliser when David de Gea calamitously allowed Neal Maupay’s apparently harmless cross to roll though his legs as he appeared to think it was about to hit…
ENGLISH Premier League side West Ham have joined Southampton and Aston Villa in the chase for Super Eagles striker Terem Moffi. Moffi has had a spectacular season for Lorient, bagging ten goals in 16 appearances. The Nigerian striker has raised eyebrows with his consistency. His goals have contributed to Lorient’s fairytale run that saw them make an early push at the summit of Ligue 1. Moffi’s displays have not gone unnoticed, as Soccernet reported earlier that Brighton, Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace were keeping tabs on him. It appears that the three clubs are not the only ones interested in the…
AN Iranian journalist who interviewed families of protesters who had been sentenced to death has been arrested, his wife and Iranian media say. Mehdi Beik was detained on Thursday night, reformist newspaper Etemad, which Mr Beik works for, said. The reasons for his arrest are not known, but it comes amid an ongoing crackdown on anti-government protests. Iran has been rocked by months of protests since the death of an Iranian Kurdish woman in police custody. Protests erupted in September following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was detained by morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab, or headscarf,…
A UNILATERAL ceasefire called by Vladimir Putin appears to have had little effect on the ground, with Ukrainian officials accusing Russians of opening fire in several areas. A Ukrainian rescue worker was killed in a Russian strike, while Russian state TV said the city of Donetsk was hit. Russia ordered a 36-hour unilateral ceasefire, to coincide with the Orthodox Christmas. Ukraine rejected it saying Moscow might use it to reinforce troops. Russia’s defence ministry insisted it was observing the truce along the entire “line of contact”, starting at 12:00 Moscow time (09:00 GMT) on Friday. It blamed Kyiv for continuing…
TANZANIA’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan has sacked a top State House official barely two days after announcing his appointment. Former head of intelligence Diwani Athumani Msuya had on Tuesday been appointed as State House permanent secretary. But he was replaced on Thursday by Mululi Majula Mahendeka – himself a former State House official. No explanation was offered in a statement from the president’s office that announced the changes.