An Azerbaijani Airlines has crashed in the Kazakhstani city of Aktau. The Embraer 190 aircraft made an emergency.The number of people on board has not yet been confirmed. Local media outlets reported that the plane was carrying 67 passengers and five crew. —-AP
People Protest In Damascus After Christmas tree was Set Ablaze
Hundreds of demonstrators have taken to the streets in Christian neighborhoods of Damascus after a Christmas tree burning heightened fears that the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad could presage crackdowns on Syria’s religious minorities.The protests on Monday night appeared to have been sparked after footage, verified by NBC News, showed hooded figures setting fire to the tree at a traffic circle in the Christian-majority town of Al-Suqalabiyah near the city of Hama in central Syria on Monday.A video circulating on social media showed crowds in Damascus chanting “Raise your cross, raise it!” and “We are with you to death, Suqalabiyah!”Syria’s de facto new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa has been trying to cast...
Government Dedicates Support as Presidential Committee for Super Eagles World Cup Quest Handed ₦3b
The Presidential committee tasked with securing the Super Eagles’ spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to receive a significant boost of ₦3 billion from the Federal Government. This funding has been allocated in Nigeria’s 2025 budget, demonstrating the government’s commitment to supporting the team’s World Cup ambitions. According to sports media outlet SCORENigeria, “The Federal Government has earmarked ₦3 billion to a presidential committee, now to be known as the Presidential Support Group (PSG), that will assist the Super Eagles in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.” “The start-up fund for the PSG has been captured in...
Inter Milan Narrow Gap to League Leaders Atalanta with 2-0 Win Over Como
Inter Milan secured a 2-0 victory over Como, reducing the gap to league leaders Atalanta to just three points. The Nerazzurri had two golden opportunities to take the lead in the first half. The first came in the 32nd minute when Denzel Dumfries received a pass from Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the right side of the box, but the Dutchman fired over the crossbar. Federico Dimarco had a chance to break the deadlock late in the first half. Lautaro Martínez delivered a pass to him inside the box, but Dimarco’s effort lacked power, allowing David Reina to make a comfortable save....
Manchester United and Victor Osimhen’s Move Debunked by Journalist and Friend Buchi Laba
Reports linking Victor Osimhen to Manchester United, as circulated by the Italian press, have been debunked. Italian based newspaper Il Mattino, reported on its official X handle, @mattinodinapoli that Manchester United plans to approach Napoli for Victor Osimhen, offering less than his £62 million release clause. The media outlet claimed the player’s agent had informed Napoli . However, Nigerian journalist and Victor Osimhen’s close friend, Mr. Buchi Laba, dismissed the rumors on his official X handle, @Buchi_Laba. He tweeted that the player does not currently have an agent and no discussions or contact have occurred between Victor Osimhen, and Manchester...
UN Investigative Team Says Syria’s New Authorities ‘Very Receptive’ To Probe of Assad War Crimes
The U.N. organization assisting in investigating the most serious crimes in Syria on Monday said the country’s new authorities were “very receptive” to its request for cooperation during a just-concluded visit to Damascus, and it is preparing to deploy.The visit led by Robert Petit, head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria, was the first since the organization was established by the U.N. General Assembly in 2016. It was created to assist in evidence-gathering and prosecution of individuals responsible for possible war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide since Syria’s civil war began in 2011.Petit highlighted the urgency of preserving...
U.S. Government Deport Colombia Drug Lord after Serving 20-Year-in-Jail
One of the founders of the Medellin drug cartel has returned to Colombia after serving more than 20 years in jail in the US for drug trafficking.Fabio Ochoa Vasquez, now 67 years old, was deported by the US government and landed in Bogota on Monday a free man.Ochoa was one of the founding members of the notorious cartel and had been a senior lieutenant to infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar.The Medellin cartel dominated the cocaine trade and waged a violent campaign against the Colombian state before Escobar was killed in 1993.On his arrival in Bogota, immigration officials ran Ochoa’s fingerprints...
Israel Confirms It Killed Hamas Leader Haniyeh in Tehran
Israel’s defence minister has for the first time acknowledged that Israel killed Hamas’s political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July.Israel Katz made the comments in a speech vowing to target the heads of the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen, which has been firing missiles and drones at Israel.Haniyeh was killed in a building where he was staying in the Iranian capital in an attack widely attributed to Israel.Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said some progress had been made towards agreeing a ceasefire in Gaza with Hamas, but he could not give a timeline for when a deal would...
NPFL Game Week 18: Remo Stars Stay on Top as Akwa United Secure Crucial Win
Ikorodu City suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Abia Warriors. Missing their captain, Waliu Ojetoye, who was on international duty, the Lagos-based club extended their winless run to three matches. Remo Stars beat Bayelsa United 2-0 to remain at the top of the NPFL table. Their head coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, was also unavailable as he was on duty with the Super Eagles B team. In a surprising result, Akwa United defeated Heartland FC 2-0 to climb out of the relegation zone. Full Match Results – Game Week 18 Kano Pillars 2-1 Niger Tornadoes Sunshine Stars 1-0 El-Kanemi Warriors Bendel Insurance...