Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Access Bank Exceeds CBN’s N500 Billion Capital Target Ahead Of Deadline. Access Holdings Plc has made history by becoming the first Nigerian bank to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) N500 billion minimum capital requirement for banks with international authorisation, achieving this milestone well before the March 2026 deadline. The company recently concluded a successful Rights Issue involving 17,772,612,811 Ordinary Shares of 50 Kobo each, priced at N19.75 per share, raising an impressive N351 billion. With this achievement, Access Bank Plc, the flagship subsidiary of Access Holdings, now boasts a share capital of N600 billion, surpassing the regulatory…

Houthis Vow To Escalate Attacks On Israel Amid Intensified Air Strikes. A senior Houthi official has declared that the group will continue launching attacks on Israel in solidarity with Palestinians, despite escalating Israeli air strikes in Yemen. Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, speaking to the BBC, stated that the Houthis would “escalate our military targeting of Israel” until what he described as “the genocide in Gaza” is halted. The statement follows a series of Israeli air strikes on Thursday targeting Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, as well as ports and power stations along the Red Sea coast. The attacks resulted in at least four…

Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka Out For Over Two Months Following Surgery. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka is expected to be sidelined for “more than two months” after undergoing surgery to address a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old winger sustained the injury during the Gunners’ 5-1 Premier League victory over Crystal Palace on 21 December, leaving the pitch in the first half and departing the stadium on crutches. Saka has been instrumental for Arsenal this season, contributing nine goals and 13 assists in 24 appearances across all competitions. Speaking after Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Ipswich on Friday, which…

US Points To Possible Russian Responsibility In Azerbaijan Airlines Crash. White House spokesman John Kirby has revealed “early indications” that Russia may have been responsible for the Azerbaijan Airlines plane crash on 25 December, which tragically claimed 38 lives. While Mr Kirby declined to provide further details, he confirmed that the US has offered assistance in the ongoing investigation. The Embraer 190 aircraft reportedly came under fire from Russian air defence systems while attempting to land in Chechnya. Diverted across the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan, the plane ultimately crashed, killing all but 29 survivors. The Kremlin has refused…

Kai Havertz Secures Arsenal Victory Over Ipswich Town. Kai Havertz scored the decisive goal as Arsenal defeated a determined Ipswich Town 1-0 to climb to second place in the Premier League. The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Leandro Trossard delivered a precise cross from the left side of the penalty area, allowing Havertz to tap in from close range. Arsenal dominated possession, holding an impressive 83.5% in the first half, as Ipswich focused on frustrating the home side with defensive discipline. Despite Arsenal’s control, they struggled to extend their lead. Declan Rice narrowly missed with a curling…

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…