Author: News Room

The Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, has lifted the suspension of Nollywood actress Halima Abubakar, restoring her eligibility to participate in guild activities and film projects. Abubakar had been under an indefinite suspension since October 2024, following allegations of defaming fellow actors and notable Nigerians. A two-year investigation conducted by a guild-appointed panel concluded that she was culpable, leading to her temporary exclusion from all AGN programs. The announcement was made by outgoing AGN National President, Emeka Rollas, during the inauguration of the guild’s new National Executive Council, NEC, on Thursday at the AGN national secretariat in Abuja. The event…

Former Arsenal star, Paul Merson, has advised manager Mikel Arteta to make significant changes ahead of their Premier League clash against Leeds United on Saturday. Merson believes it is time to shake up the starting XI by introducing Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli after Arsenal’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United last weekend. Arteta had left Gyokeres and Martinelli out of the lineup against Manchester United, choosing to start Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Trossard instead. “Leeds away won’t be easy, no doubt about it,” Merson stated during an interview with Sportskeeda. “Viktor Gyokeres and Gabriel Martinelli should come into the…

A Kano-based technology hub, Blue Sapphire Hub, on Thursday unveiled a new digital platform aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in local governance. The Strengthened Leadership Aware Citizen Digital Dashboard allows citizens to track government projects in real time, submit feedback, and hold officials accountable for service delivery. Speaking at the launch, Blue Sapphire Hub Programme Coordinator, Sani Sulaiman, said the initiative was designed to bridge the gap between citizens and government. “It creates an avenue for transparency, where people can see how public funds are being used, which projects are ongoing, pending, or completed, and even the budgets and…

An Illinois judge has sentenced a former sheriff’s deputy to the maximum 20 years in prison for the July 2024 fatal shooting of an unarmed black woman in her home after she called 911 to report a possible intruder, according to court records. Reuters on Thursday night reported that Sean Grayson, a former Sangamon County Sheriff’s deputy, was convicted in October of second-degree murder in the death of Sonya Massey, 36, at her home in Springfield, Illinois. The case drew national attention and was likened to other high-profile instances of law enforcement officers using excessive force against Black Americans. On…

FC Bayern Munich have confirmed that midfielder Leon Goretzka will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires. The confirmation was given by Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund, who said the 29-year-old will complete the season with the club before moving on as a free agent in the summer. According to Fabrizio Romano’s post on Friday, Freund was quoted as saying, “Leon Goretzka will leave FC Bayern in the summer as a free agent, not now. Leon’s time at FC Bayern will be over in the summer. He will go another way after 8 successful…

Bybit’s push to offer neobank-style services is testing how far crypto exchanges can expand into traditional finance (TradFi), highlighting regulatory hurdles and a growing reliance on licensed banking partners.Bybit CEO Ben Zhou announced the exchange’s push into retail banking on Thursday, with a planned February launch of its retail banking product, MyBank. The move would mark one of the most ambitious attempts yet by a major exchange to offer bank-like services to retail users. As crypto increasingly intersects with TradFi, industry observers and executives warned that Bybit’s neobank move could trigger major challenges as it enters largely uncharted territory for…

Kate Walsh returned to Grey’s Anatomy as Addison to drop a shocking revelation about her marriage. During the Thursday, January 29, episode of the hit ABC series, Addison paid a visit to Amelia (Caterina Scorsone), who was still on sabbatical from Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The doctors both helped to assist with a pregnant patient who was suffering from a tumor that affected her sight. In an effort to get Amelia to scrub back in, Addison revealed that her marriage to husband Jake (Benjamin Bratt) might be over. Addison refused to share any more details about their issues, but Amelia…

The police in Benue State repelled an armed attack at a checkpoint in Orakam, Obadigbo Local Government Area, killing four suspected bandits and recovering firearms, on Thursday. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Udeme Edet, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. According to Ms Edet, operatives of the Operation Zenda Joint Task Force were conducting a routine stop-and-search operation at about 5 p.m. when they intercepted a black Golf 3 car at a checkpoint in Orakam. “During the course of the search, occupants of the vehicle violently resisted the operatives,” she said. “In a desperate attempt to…

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has publicly extended heartfelt condolences to national teammates Samuel Chukwueze and Wilfred Ndidi following the painful loss of their parents, as Nigerian football continues to navigate a deeply emotional period. Osimhen’s message came amid widespread mourning within the football community, prompting the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to also issue an official statement offering support and sympathy to the affected players. Nigeria was still coming to terms with the tragic passing of Ndidi’s father when fresh heartbreak emerged on Thursday, with confirmation that Chukwueze had also lost his mother after a brief illness, compounding the grief…

Amnesty International Nigeria has revealed that no fewer than 23 people have been killed in different parts of the country as a result of mob violence, urging the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive action to curb what it described as a growing breakdown of law and order. The Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Mr. Isah Sunusi, disclosed this in Kano while unveiling a public awareness initiative under the organisation’s nationwide campaign against mob violence. Sunusi noted that Amnesty International has tracked at least 155 cases of mob violence across Nigeria over the past decade, many of which…