At least 11 dead in mass shooting at Mexican football field

 

At least 11 people have d!ed with 12 others injured after gunmen opened fire at a football pitch in central Mexico on Sunday, January 25, authorities said.

 

Members of the Mexican National Guard were stationed where the attack took place on January 25 during a football match in the city of Salamanca, Guanajuato state, western Mexico.

 

Salamanca Mayor Cesar Prieto said the gunmen arrived at the end of a match at around 5.20pm at a soccer field in the Loma de Flores community in Salamanca.

 

Witnesses said several armed men arrived in two pickup trucks, got out, and fired 'indiscriminately' at players and spectators.

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle is not going anywhere, says NSC Director General

 

Director General of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, has dismissed speculation linking Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle with a move away from Nigeria amid reported interest from Tunisia, Gabon and Angola.

 Chelle has attracted attention following Nigeria’s bronze medal finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Malian coach currently has less than a year remaining on his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, sparking rumours about his future.

However, Olopade insisted that Chelle remains fully committed to the Super Eagles and will not be leaving his role.

 “Eric Chelle is not going anywhere. The countries claiming interest in him don’t have the kind of superstars that make his job easier,” Olopade said.

Former oil minister Alison-Madueke’s corruption trial begins in UK

 

The corruption trial of Diezani Alison-Madueke, a former Nigerian minister of petroleum resources and the first woman to serve as president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is set to begin in London on Monday, January 26.

Alison-Madueke, 65, faces five counts of accepting bribes and one count of conspiracy to commit bribery in connection with her tenure as Nigeria’s oil minister between 2010 and 2015, during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Prosecutors allege that she accepted “financial or other advantages” from individuals linked to two energy companies between 2011 and 2015. The alleged benefits include the use of several London properties, refurbishment work and staff costs at those properties, furniture, chauffeur-driven vehicles, a private jet flight to Nigeria, and £100,000 ($137,000) in cash.

India and Europe finalize ‘mother of all deals’ trade agreement

 

India and the European Union have finalized a long pending landmark trade deal, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, as the two sides seek to hedge against fickle ties with the US.

After nearly two decades of on-off negotiations, the deal will pave the way for India to open up its vast and guarded market to free trade with the 27-nation EU, its biggest trading partner.

“Yesterday, a big agreement was signed between the European Union and India,” Modi said.

“People around the world are calling this the mother of all deals. This agreement will bring major opportunities for the 1.4 billion people of India and the millions of people in Europe,” he said.

Ukraine Pres. Zelensky says US security deal is 100% ready to be signed

 

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said a US-backed document outlining security guarantees for Ukraine is “100 per cent” ready to be signed, describing it as a major step toward ending the war with Russia.

Zelensky said he was waiting for confirmation of the time and venue for the signing, after which the agreement would be sent to the US Congress and the Ukrainian parliament for ratification.

“For us, security guarantees are first and foremost guarantees of security from the United States,” Zelensky said. “The document is 100 per cent ready, and we are waiting for our partners to confirm the date and place when we will sign it.”

The announcement comes despite the absence of an immediate breakthrough from weekend trilateral talks involving Russian and Ukrainian negotiators and American mediators in Abu Dhabi. Shortly after the talks ended, Russia launched a fresh wave of overnight attacks on Ukraine, killing at least one person and leaving millions without electricity and heating during subzero temperatures.

Police launch manhunt as gunmen shoot (HRM} Ogoni king in Rivers Sate

 

The Rivers State Police Command has launched an investigation after gunmen attacked King of the Bangha Kingdom in Khana Local Government Area Local Government Area of the state, His Royal Majesty (HRM) Suanu Timothy Baridam. 

The monarch was shot in the leg while returning from an engagement in Okwale community on Sunday, January 25, 2026, according to sources. 

The attack occurred between Taabaa Junction and Sogho when armed assailants attempted to stop his vehicle. 

The driver reportedly refused to halt, prompting the gunmen to open fire, injuring both the king and his driver.

The monarch is receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt, the state capital. 

The motive for the shooting has not been confirmed, though initial reports suggested the attackers intended to assassinate the traditional ruler.

Former Disney actor Matt Prokop arrested in Texas on child porno charge

 Former Disney actor Matt Prokop has been arrested in Texas on allegations including possession of ch!ld p0rnography, TMZ has confirmed. Authorities in Victoria County said the former child star is being held without bail at the county jail following his arrest on Christmas Eve.

According to police, the charges include alleged possession of ch!ld p0rnography as well as resisting arrest. Local outlet Crossroads Today reported that Prokop was taken into custody for allegedly violating bond conditions linked to an earlier criminal case.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian calls on citizens not to join "rioters and terrorists" in protests

 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who has urged his country’s citizens not to join what he called “rioters and terrorists” participating in demonstrations across Iran, calling on parents not to allow their children to participate in the action.

In a televised speech made today, he said there was a difference between people peacefully protesting and the “rioters” who set out to “disrupt the entire society.”

“If the people have concerns, it is our duty to resolve their concerns, but the higher duty is that we must not allow a group of rioters to come and disrupt the entire society,” he said.

Super Eagles qualify for 2025 AFCON semi-finals after defeating Algeria

 

Nigeria Super Eagles have qualified for the semi-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The team defeated Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-final at the Grand Stade de Marrakech on Saturday, January 10.

Two second-half goals from Galatasaray's Victor Osimhen and Sevilla's Akor Adams ensured the Eagles made it through to the semi-finals.

Super Eagles will now face the host nation Morocco in one of the two semi-final matches of the competition with the hope of reaching the finals.

Gunmen abducted family of 4 in Kogi State

 

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted four members of a family during a midnight raid in Zone 12 of Zango community, Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State.

 Zango is a satellite community within the Lokoja metropolis, the Kogi State capital.

 

A resident, who pleaded anonymity, said the attackers struck late Friday night, January 9, 2026, throwing the community into panic.

"We were invaded last night. Regrettably, four individuals, including women and children, were abducted during the invasion,” the source told Guardian. 

Namibia president bans overseas trip for officials

President Hage Geingob of Namibia has suspended foreign travels of all ministers, deputy ministers and political office bearers with immediate effect, the President’s Office said in a statement Wednesday.

The measure, which will remain in effect till February, is in line with Geingob’s call to rein in official travel expenses.

On Jan. 25, Geingob, attended the 30th Ordinary Session of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with just two ministers.

Federal Govt frees 951 prison inmates, 430 others gain varsity admission

The Federal Government, through the National Stakeholders on Prison Reforms has freed 951 inmates across three geo-political zones of the country. The inmates had to meet conditions for release before benefitting from the prison decongestion programme. 430 inmates also gained admission to the National Open University while three more are on the verge of completing their doctorate degrees. This was disclosed by the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Prisons Service, DCP Francis Enobore at a joint news conference with the Executive Director, Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action PRAWA, Dr. Uju Agomoh.

He said:

Arsenal sign Borussia Dortmund striker, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for £56m

Arsenal F.C have signed Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund in a club record £56m deal. 

The Gunners had two bids for the 28-year-old rejected by Dortmund before agreeing a fee that eclipses the £46.5m July purchase of Alexandre Lacazette. Dortmund would only sell after finding a replacement, with Chelsea forward Michy Batshuayi to join on loan. 

Aubameyang scored 141 goals in 213 games for Dortmund since 2013, including 21 in 24 matches this season.  But he was suspended by the German club for their match against Wolfsburg on 14 January for missing a team meeting.

Gov. Ambode issues 20-day ultimatum for markets clean up or risk closure

The Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode has expressed displeasure with the present state of various markets across the State, saying that leaders of the various markets must prevail on their members to clean up their dirty surroundings within the next 20 days or risk closure of their markets.

The directive was issued in Alausa during a stakeholders forum with market leaders in the 57 local governments and local council development areas of the State.

Governor Ambode, who was represented at the event by Commissioner for the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami said the present administration abhors the dumping of refuse on roadsides, medians, bus stops as well as markets, urging market leaders to promptly rid their environment of waste.

He said dumping of refuse within the market environment poses health hazards, discourages customers and residents from patronising stalls within the markets, thereby reducing economic activity within the market environment.

Photos: President Buhari presides over the Federal Executive Council FEC meeting

President Muhammadu Buhari presided over the Federal Executive Council meeting held at the state House today January 31st. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Ministers and others were present at the meeting. See more photos below...

Former Italy football coach, Azeglio Vicini dies at 84

Former Italy national coach Azeglio Vicini, who led the Azzurris to third place at the 1990 World Cup on home soil, has died at the age of 84.

Vicini managed the national side from 1986 to 1991, leading them to the semi-finals of the 1988 European Championships and also the 1990 World Cup. 

He passed away at his home in the northern city of Brescia, the Italian press reported Wednesday. During his 13-year senior playing career, Vicini lined up for Vicenza, Sampdoria and Brescia.