Divisive influencer Andrew Tate and brother released from detention in Romania

A spokesperson for controversial social media personality Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan confirmed on Friday that the brothers will be released from their detention in Romania after being taken into custody on Dec. 29, 2022. 

       

Rahul Gandhi: India's Congress leader sentenced to jail for Modi 'thieves' remark

Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has been sentenced to two years in prison in a criminal defamation case.

Mr Gandhi was convicted by the court in Gujarat state for 2019 comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname during an election rally. 

Italy’s coast guard, navy, bring hundreds of migrants ashore

Italian coast guard and navy vessels on Saturday ferried hundreds of rescued migrants toward shore, while elsewhere in the Mediterranean Sea thousands of migrants overflowed from a shelter on a tiny tourist island.

US regulators shut down Silicon Valley Bank amid sudden collapse

                          

US regulators have shut down Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) amid its sudden collapse, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced in a statement on Friday.

SVB was closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, which appointed the FDIC as receiver, it said. 

Eight Dead in Shooting at Jehovah’s Witness Hall in Germany

    

A shooting at a Jehovah’s Witnesses center in the German city of Hamburg has left eight people dead, including the suspected gunman, police said Friday, as the motive for the attack remained unclear.

Several more people were injured in the attack on Thursday evening at the Kingdom Hall building in the port city of Hamburg, where Jehovah’s Witnesses members were attending a religious service.

Man dressed as 7ft pen*s arrested after women accused him of harassment

The police arrested the man costumed as a giant phallus in the city centre on Sunday for ‘acting suspiciously’. Been using his costume to chase women in the city’s parades.

New quake hits battered Turkey, Syria; 3 dead, hundreds hurt

A new 6.4-magnitude earthquake on Monday killed three people and injured more than 200 others in parts of Turkey laid waste two weeks ago by a massive quake that killed tens of thousands, authorities said. More buildings collapsed, trapping some people, while scores of injuries were recorded in neighboring Syria too.

Biden makes surprise visit to Ukraine nearly one year after Russia's invasion

President Joe Biden made a surprise and historic visit to war-torn Ukraine on Monday, a show of support and solidarity with a democratic nation battling for its survival after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded nearly a year ago.

The visit, including a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was kept under tight secrecy until Biden's arrival. 

Ghanaian soccer player found dead in rubble from Turkey earthquake

         

Christian Atsu’s body was found on Saturday as workers rummaged through the ruins of the building in the city of Antakya in southern Turkey, according to his manager. Atsu was 31 years old.

His manager, Murat Uzunmehmet, told the private Turkish news agency DHA that Atsu was found dead, and his belongings were still being removed.

U.S. ends its search for remnants of aerial objects shot down over Alaskan airspace and Lake Huron

U.S. Northern Command said Friday it recommended an end to the search for debris from two objects shot down in United States airspace this month.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin backed the recommendation, the command said in a statement. The end of recovery efforts could mean the country may never know what, exactly, the objects were, how they were propelled, and where they came from.

US Jets Intercept Russian Aircraft Near Alaska

Two American F-16 warplanes intercepted four Russian aircraft near Alaska, the joint US-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said Tuesday.

The “routine” intercept of the Russian planes — which included Tu-95 bomber and Su-35 fighter aircraft — occurred Monday, NORAD said in a statement.  

“Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace,” it said, adding that such Russian activity “occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat, nor is the activity seen as provocative.”

While the intercept of the Russian aircraft was routine, US warplanes stationed in North America saw rare offensive action this month, shooting down an alleged Chinese surveillance balloon and three unidentified objects.

Tesla will open 7,500 charging stations to all U.S. electric vehicles, White House announces

Electric car giant Tesla will, for the first time, make some of its charging stations available to all U.S. electric vehicles by the end of next year, under a new plan announced Wednesday by the White House.

The plan will make at least 7,500 chargers from Tesla’s Supercharger and Destination Charger network available to non-Tesla EVs by the end of 2024, the White House said. 

Louis Vuitton picks Pharrell Williams to lead men's designs

French fashion brand Louis Vuitton has hired Grammy-winning producer, rapper, singer and songwriter Pharrell Williams as its menswear creative director.

The label described Williams as "a visionary whose creative universes expand from music to art, and to fashion".

Funeral for entire volleyball team wiped out after travelling to Turkey for tournament

Twenty-four children who died in last week’s catastrophic earthquake following a volleyball tournament have all been laid to rest.

Turkey-Syria earthquakes: UN expects death toll above 50,000

The death toll has passed 33,000, but people are still being pulled from the rubble. The focus has shifted to helping the survivors. 

US-China tensions: Spy balloon was for collecting intelligence, part of huge aerial spying programme, US says

China’s balloon that crossed the United States was equipped to collect intelligence signals and was part of a huge, military-linked aerial spy programme that targeted more than 40 countries, the Biden administration said on Thursday (this morning NZ time), outlining the scope and capabilities of the huge balloon that captivated the country’s attention before the US shot it down. 

Earthquake death toll in Turkey, Syria passes 19,000

The disaster after the earthquake: How conditions in Turkey can cost more lives

Even after the wounded are treated and the trapped are freed from the rubble, the disaster of the earthquakes in Turkey may continue due to less immediate dangers.

Breaking Turkey-Syria earthquake: More than 15,000 confirmed dead - as frustrated Turks criticise Erdogan

                            

Turkey's president has admitted there have been "shortcomings" in his country's reaction to the devastating earthquake that has killed over 15,000 people.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing growing criticism from families left frustrated by a slow response from rescue teams, as hope dwindles that more survivors will be found.  

North Korea shows off largest-ever number of nuclear missiles at nighttime parade

   

Nuclear-armed North Korea showcased its missile production muscle during a nighttime parade, state media reported on Thursday, displaying more intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) than ever before and hinting at a new solid-fuel weapon.

Quake deaths pass 5,000 as Turkey, Syria seek survivors

The death toll from a 7.8 magnitude earthquake and multiple aftershocks rose to more than 5,000 on Tuesday as more bodies were pulled from the rubble of collapsed buildings.

Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktay said the total number of deaths in Turkey had risen to 3,419, with another 20,534 people injured. That brought the number of people killed to 5,102, with another 1,602 people confirmed dead on the Syrian side of the border.   

Napoli star Victor Osimhen climbs into the CROWD to apologise to a young fan after unintentionally hitting her during his warm-up against Spezia -

Napoli forward Victor Osimhen climbed through the crowd to apologise to a young girl after unintentionally hitting her with a ball during his warm-up against Spezia.

Chile wildfires kill at least 23 people as state of emergency extended further

Dozens of wildfires in Chile have claimed at least 23 lives, forcing the government to extend an emergency order to another region as a scorching summer heatwave complicates efforts to control the blazes.

More than 1,100 people have sought refuge in shelters while at least 979 have been reported injured by the raging fires, according to an official briefing on Saturday.

Mexican actor Pablo Lyle gets prison for road rage death

Mexican actor Pablo Lyle was sentenced Friday to five years in prison for involuntary manslaughter after fatally punching a man during a road rage confrontation in Miami in 2019.

The sentence came almost four years after Lyle was charged with murder in the death of a man he struck during a traffic incident.

Elon Musk found not guilty of fraud over Tesla tweet

Tesla founder Elon Musk has been cleared of wrongdoing for a tweet in which he said he had "funding secured" to take the electric carmaker private.

Mr Musk faced a class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of Tesla shareholders who argued he misled them with his posts in August 2018.

California Dad Loses Part Of His Skull After Drinking Too Many Energy Drinks

    

Aman in California has reportedly lost part of his skull — thanks to excessive consumption of energy drinks.

In a post (now deleted) shared on the Facebook page for Endres Photography, located in Sacramento, California, a woman who chooses to be known only as Brianna explained how excessive energy drink consumption led to her husband’s nearly fatal brain hemorrhage.

Mafia hitman found working as pizza chef in France after 16 years on the run

A mafia hitman who had been on the run for 16 years was arrested Thursday in France, where he had been working as a pizza chef.

Edgardo Greco, 63, who authorities say has links to Italy's notorious 'ndranghetha crime group and was convicted of killing two people in the early 1990s, was arrested by French police in the city of Saint-Étienne in southeastern France.

Man pleads guilty to treason offence, threatening to kill Queen Elizabeth

                       

A man caught carrying a loaded crossbow at late Queen Elizabeth’s Windsor Castle home pleaded guilty in a London court on Friday to an offence under the Treason Act and threatening to kill the monarch.

Chinese spy balloon: US tracks suspected surveillance device

The US is tracking a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been spotted flying over sensitive sites in recent days.    

30-year-old dog named world's oldest by Guinness World Records

          

Guinness World Records introduced Bobi, the world's oldest dog ever. Bobi is 30 years, 266 days old.

Guinness said in a statement Thursday that the Portugese dog took the record from a 23-year-old dog named Spike who was named the world's oldest living dog in January.

Australia's central bank says it will remove the British monarchy from its bank notes

  

Australia — Australia is removing the British monarchy from its bank notes.

The nation's central bank said Thursday its new $5 bill would feature an Indigenous design rather than an image of King Charles III. But the king is still expected to appear on coins.

Iranian couple handed prison sentence for dancing in the streets

   

A young Iranian couple appears alone in the video, dancing in front of the Azadi Tower in downtown Tehran. They smile as they move together. The woman’s uncovered hair trails behind her as he lifts her into the air.

Actor turned alleged cult leader arrested in Las Vegas

 

Las Vegas police on Tuesday arrested and raided the home of a former “Dances With Wolves” actor turned alleged cult leader accused of sexually assaulting young Indigenous girls during a period spanning two decades, according to police records obtained by The Associated Press.

Hulk Hogan 'paralysed from the waist down' after nerves removed in 11th back surgery

  

Kurt Angle has claimed long-time pal and former wrestler Hulk Hogan can no longer feel anything in his legs following his 11th back surgery.

Europe’s crackdown on Big Tech omitted TikTok — but now that’s set to change

TikTok is beginning to feel the sting of political and regulatory pressure in Europe, where the Chinese-owned app has largely evaded the scrutiny it’s faced in the U.S.

E.U. Commissioner of the Internal Market Thierry Breton warned TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in a meeting this month the bloc could ban the app if it didn’t comply with new rules on digital content well ahead of a Sep. 1 deadline. 

Strikes, Protests Hit France in Round 2 of Pension Battle

French labor leaders hope to bring more than 1 million demonstrators again into the streets Tuesday in the latest clash of wills with the government over its plans to push back France's retirement age.  

Death toll in Pakistan mosque blast rises to 83 - hospital spokesperson

The death toll in the suicide bombing in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar rose to 83 while at least 57 people were injured, several of them critically, a hospital spokesperson said on Tuesday.
  

Folarin Balogun scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser for Reims against Paris St-Germain.

On-loan Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser for Reims against 10-man Paris St-Germain.

The result means PSG miss the opportunity to open up a five-point lead over Lens at the top of Ligue 1.

Neymar had opened the scoring for PSG who then had midfielder Marco Verratti sent off.

Nigerian Newspapers this Monday morning

   

Good morning! Here is today’s summary from Nigerian Newspapers:

1. The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, on Sunday, extended the deadline for the exchange of old naira notes by ten days. In a press statement issued on Sunday, Godwin Emefiele, the CBN governor, said the new deadline is now February 10, 2023.

Zimbabwe - Human waste is detected in 15 boreholes in Harare

Harare City Council has temporarily decommissioned 15 boreholes that were contaminated with faecal matter and are believed to be the source of typhoid cases reported in three suburbs.

Bayo Onanuga Reacts As Ceased Old Naira Notes Were Reportedly Linked To Tinubu

A member and spokesman of the Tinubu/Shettima campaign organization, Bayo Onanuga has cleared air on reports making rounds on social media that old naira notes were linked the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Protests erupt across US as video shows ‘heinous’ deadly police beating of Tyre Nichols

Protests broke out across the country late Friday after the release of police bodycam footage showing the “unconscionable” deadly beating of Tyre Nichols by Memphis cops.

Crowds flocked to the streets in major cities over the explosive video, which Memphis’ police commissioner warned had showed “acts that defy humanity.”

Protesters charged the Memphis and Arkansas Bridge shortly after the police department released the graphic footage Friday night and shut down all four lines of the roadway, the Daily Caller reported.

The group had started the takeover on the Blues Highway, where they briefly congregated to chant Nichols’ name as they stopped to chant, “Our streets,” a move that forces a semi-truck to brake just a few feet from the protestors, Town Hall reported.

The protesters then climbed the sloped grass to the upper level of Interstate 55, where they caused a major backup of hundreds of vehicles on the major thoroughfare.

The protesers stood in front of the cars and semi-trucks with their arms raised in a surrender signal as an irritated driver honks, video shows.

The driver of a semi-truck, the first stopped by the group, told the Daily Caller he empathized with the movement, but had a hard day of work and just wanted to pass.”

Holding up traffic don’t do nothing,” he told a protester. “Then what do we do, bro?” the protester responded.

Other protests were organized in New York City, as well as Sacramento, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Seattle, with police at the ready for potential violence.

The White House said it held a joint emergency call Friday with the mayors of at least 16 cities before the sickening video’s release “to brief them on federal preparations in support of state and local leaders.

“Participating mayors shared their perspectives on how important it is to recognize the pain felt by communities across this country, be prepared in advance with a game plan to provide adequate community support, and to reinforce the importance of peace and calm during these difficult moments,” the Biden administration said in a statement about the call, which included cities from New York to Atlanta, Washington, DC, Seattle and Portland. 

Transgender woman found guilty of rape moved to male prison

A transgender woman convicted of raping two women is being moved to a male prison.

The announcement came a matter of hours after Nicola Sturgeon confirmed she would not be held in Scotland’s only all-female jail.

Taiwan: Chen Chien-jen announced as new premier

Chen Chien-jen is to become Taiwan's new premier, President Tsai Ing-wen announced on Friday morning.

Announcing the appointment in Taipei on Friday, President Tsai said, "Today I announced that former VP Chen Chien-jen will take over as head of the cabinet from Su Tseng-chang." 

Police Testify Against Doctor Accused Of Defiling Wife’s Niece

            

An investigative police officer (IPO) Inspector Abe Leonard ohas testified in the ongoing trial of a 57-year-old medical director, Dr Olufemi Olaleye, who is accused of defiling his wife’s niece, before Lagos State Sexual Offences Court, Ikeja. 

Trump's Suspension from Facebook and Instagram Ends in 'Coming Weeks,' Meta Announces

Meta has announced that former U.S. President Donald Trump's suspension from Facebook and Instagram will end "in the coming weeks," according to a Meta Newsroom article penned by Nick Clegg, the company's president of global affairs.

Afghanistan: Freezing weather kills at least 124 people

At least 124 people died in freezing temperatures in Afghanistan in the past fortnight, Taliban officials say.

About 70,000 livestock had also perished in what is the coldest winter in a decade, a State Ministry for Disaster Management spokesman said. 

Nigeria bets on new deep seaport to drive economic growth

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari marked Monday (Jan. 23) the opening of a $1.5 billion, Chinese-funded deep seaport in the commercial hub of Lagos that authorities hope will help grow the West African nation's ailing economy.

Woman who killed ill husband in hospital faces murder charge

             

A woman who fatally shot her terminally ill husband inside a Florida hospital was taken into custody over the weekend after SWAT team members used a nonlethal explosive device to distract her and then tried to use a stun gun on her, authorities said Monday.
         

Multiple victims in another mass shooting in California

At least seven people were killed and one critically injured in two related mass shootings on Mondayn in Half Moon Bay in the US state of California.