This afternoon’s headlines are dominated by a deepening political crisis in Rivers State, a heartbreaking personal loss for a global literary icon, and significant shifts in U.S. foreign policy. In a historic move, the Rivers State House of Assembly has formally initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Rivers Assembly initiates impeachment against Fubara, deputyThe Rivers State political crisis reached a boiling point today as 26 lawmakers, led by Speaker Martins Amaewhule, signed an impeachment notice against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Governor Ngozi Oduh. ‘Nyash,’ ‘Amala,’ ‘Moi Moi’ enter Oxford english dictionaryNigerian English has achieved a new milestone with the addition of several local words to the OED. Nigerian fatally shot at Toronto bus terminalA 46-year-old Nigerian, Osemwengie Irorere, was killed in a shooting at the Yorkdale GO Bus Terminal in Canada last Sunday.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Thursday inaugurated its Zonal Congress Committees across three geopolitical zones, reaffirming its commitment to internal democracy and firmly dismissing reports of political alignment with prominent national political figures. According to the communique, the South-West Zonal Congress Committee was inaugurated in Ekiti State on January 7, 2026. In the South-East, the Zonal Congress Committee was inaugurated in Enugu State on the same date, January 7, 2026. Barrister Adamu Ado Dauda was appointed to head the Congress Committee, with Mrs. Iyabo Salami Alibi leading the Appeal Committee. Similarly, the North-Central Zonal Congress Committee was inaugurated earlier on January 5, 2026.

British heavyweight Joshua was with Ghami and Ayodele when the vehicle they were travelling in struck a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos on December 29. “Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers,” Joshua posted on Instagram. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. May God have mercy on my brothers.”Last Friday, the Ogun State Police Command confirmed Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, who was driving the car with Joshua as a passenger, had been charged over the crash. Joshua, who was born in Watford to Nigerian parents, was on holiday in the African country following his sixth-round knockout win over Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.

A lawmaker representing Iwajowa State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Anthony Ogunsola, has called for a decisive security crackdown following the deadly ambush on the National Park Office at Oloka Village, Orire LG Area. I am calling on our security agencies to move with full force, track these elements to their dens, and crush them decisively. Our council area is a gateway, sharing a boundary with the Ayegun/Wasinmi border community that links Nigeria with the Republic of Benin. Security is a shared responsibility; I urge our people to provide the intelligence needed to smoke out these perpetrators. The mention of Ayegun/Wasinmi is critical because it is a known international transit point between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

7.2 million Nigerians could face key health, humanitarian, and development programme challenges following the United States’ decision to withdraw from dozens of United Nations and non-UN international organisations. The decision followed a review of all international intergovernmental organisations, conventions, and treaties in which the United States is a member or financially supports. UN humanitarian and development data indicate that about 7.2 million Nigerians currently depend on assistance supported through UN-coordinated programmes, particularly in health care, reproductive health, humanitarian response, protection and climate-related interventions. The White House defended the decision as part of a broader effort to “restore American sovereignty”. The White House did not provide country-specific assessments of the impact of the withdrawals.

Prices to be announced on 13 JanuaryWill get a new turbo-petrol engineAhead of its launch, scheduled to take place on 13 January, Tata Motors has revealed key details of the new Punch facelift. Coming to the key variant-wise features, the base Smart variant of the Tata Punch facelift will come equipped with six airbags, LED headlamps, drive modes (Eco and City), ESP, remote keyless entry, iTPMS, and what Tata calls a ‘Corporate steering wheel’. The next variant, called Pure, receives rear AC vents, steering-mounted controls, rear defogger, and a day-and-night IRVM. The 2026 Punch facelift Accomplished variant will come equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, 10.25-inch touchscreen system, LED DRLs, LED taillights, extended thigh support seats, and automatic climate control. Under the hood, the facelifted Tata Punch will get a new turbo-petrol engine at launch.

Ghana’s former finance minister, who is wanted at home on suspicion of corruption, has been detained by US immigration, his lawyers said. Ken Ofori-Atta, 66, has been in the United States since January last year to receive medical treatment, including prostate cancer surgery. They said the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement took Ofori-Atta into custody on Tuesday over “the status of his current stay in the United States”. ICE’s online database listed Ofori-Atta as being held at a facility in the US state of Virginia. Ofori-Atta served as finance minister from 2017 to 2024 under former President Nana Akufo-Addo and oversaw contentious tax reforms and negotiations with the International Monetary Fund.

A member of the House of Representatives from Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, on Wednesday, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the Action Peoples Party (APP). He accused the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, of being responsible for the crisis in the PDP. Mr Ugochinyere also accused Mr Wike and his loyalists in the PDP of changing the executives of the party in Imo State and installing Austin Nwachukwu as its state chairperson. Another faction of the party backed by Mr Wike is being led by its Acting National Chairperson, Abdulrahman Mohammed. Meanwhile, Mr Ugochinyere has been critical of Mr Wike in recent times mainly due to his alleged role in the previous political crisis and current tension in Rivers State.

The United States has introduced a new visa bond policy that could require Nigerian applicants for B1/B2 business or tourist visas to post bonds of up to $15,000. According to the US Department of State, the payment of a bond does not guarantee visa approval, and fees paid without the direction of a consular officer will not be refunded. Nigeria is among 24 African countries included in the updated list of “high-risk” nations, which also includes Benin, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, and The Gambia. The requirement will take effect in Nigeria on 21 January 2026. “Any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is otherwise found eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000,” the Department of State said.

Toronto police have charged 28-year-old Babatunde Afuwape with first-degree murder over the fatal shooting of 20-year-old University of Toronto student Shivank Avasthi on the Scarborough campus last month. “I’m not sure how he chose Shivank or what his ultimate plan was that day,” she told reporters. Avasthi, a third-year student from India, was remembered by friends and classmates as a kind and caring individual. The university’s cheerleading and powerlifting clubs also paid tribute to Avasthi on social media, highlighting his positive spirit and encouragement to others. The shooting, which appears to have been random, has shocked the campus community, underscoring concerns about student safety on and around university grounds.

The National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, on Wednesday alleged that the party was rigged out of votes in the 2023 presidential election, claiming that its tally was reduced from about 10 million to six million votes. According to the 2023 presidential election results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the All Progressives Congress scored 8,794,726 votes; the Peoples Democratic Party polled 6,984,520 votes; the Labour Party came third with 6,101,533 votes, while the New Nigeria Peoples Party recorded 1,496,687 votes. Speaking further, Abure argued that the party remained intact despite the defection of its 2023 presidential candidate, Obi, to the African Democratic Congress. “The Labour Party is intact; we will not let Nigerians down. “As a law-abiding citizen and a loyal party member, until the timetable is released by INEC and the leadership of the Labour Party calls for interested aspirants, I will not say anything about it.

The 2026 Tata Punch will be offered in six trim levels: Smart, Pure, Pure+, Adventure, Accomplished and Accomplished+ S.Tata Punch to get a new 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine option It also has a new Punch EV-inspired exterior design Updated digital instrument cluster, 360-degree camera among new features2026 Tata Punch revised trim line-upThe pre-facelift Punch has 10 trim levels: Pure, Pure (O), Adventure, Adventure+, Adventure S, Adventure+ S, Accomplished+, Accomplished+ S, Creative+ and Creative+ S.Tata Motors has simplified the Punch line-up with fewer trims. 2026 Tata Punch trims and features explainedSmartRight from the base Smart trim, Tata Motors will be offering 6 airbags, ESC and a tyre-pressure monitoring system (TMPS). AdventureNext, the Adventure trim will be quite well-equipped with features such as push-button start, rear wiper and washer, auto AC, auto headlamps and rain-sensing wipers. Tata Punch engine optionsThe updated Punch will get a new engine option – the 1.2-litre 3-cylinder turbo-petrol unit seen on the Nexon – although its exact specs and gearbox options are yet to be confirmed. We expect the Punch facelift to come at a slight premium, likely ranging between Rs 6 lakh and Rs 9.50 lakh.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday ordered the United States to withdraw from 66 international organisations. “Immediately upon returning to office, President Trump initiated the withdrawal of the United States from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement,” the White House noted. The message, officials said, is clear: international engagement must serve the United States first—or not at all. On X, the White House noted that from the 66 international organisations, 31 are UN entities while 35 are not. “Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum directing the withdrawal of the United States from 66 international organisations that no longer serve American interests including: 35-non UN organisations and 31 UN entities,” it concluded.

Aruna returns to WTT events in 2026 after the disappointment of missing out on the end-of-year WTT Cup Finals in 2025. For the first time in the history of the WTT Cup Finals, no African player featured in the 2025 edition, as both Aruna and Egypt’s Omar Assar missed qualification based on their overall performances last season. Aruna will renew his rivalry with China’s Liang Jingkun, while Goda faces a stern test against former world No. The Nigerian famously defeated the Chinese star at the 2021 WTT Cup Finals, but their first encounter at the 2018 Korean Open saw Jingkun dominate with a 4-1 victory. This marks the first time the Qatari capital will host the purple WTT Champions, adding further prestige to the season-opening event.

The upcoming new 2026 Tata Punch facelift is making headings ahead of its official debut scheduled for 13th January. Following multiple teasers and picture unveil, Tata Motors has now official revealed the variants lineup along with key feature details. Also Read: 2026 Tata Harrier & Safari Petrol Launched: Prices, Features, & SpecsThe updated Punch lineup will be offered in six trims, namely, Smart (new), Pure, Pure+, Adventure, Accomplished and Accomplished+. Below are the variant-wise features of the new Tata Punch. Competition & Price ExpectationsWhen launched, the new Tata Punch 2026 will continue to compete with the Hyundai Exter, Maruti Fronx and Citron C3.