Days after the car crash that injured Anthony Joshua and killed two of his trainers ... the man behind the wheel has reportedly been discharged from the hospital -- and could face criminal charges for his role in the accident. The driver of the truck that Joshua's SUV smashed into fled the scene immediately after the crash ... and is now being hunted down by officials. The 36-year-old, who knocked out Jake Paul in the boxing ring 12 days ago, was taken to the hospital after he sustained minor injuries. Members of the boxing community were quick to send their thoughts and prayers to Joshua and those who were impacted by the accident, including Paul himself. "Life is much more important than boxing," Paul said on X.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country believed it would win in Ukraine, where Moscow has led an almost four-year offensive, in his New Year’s Eve address on Wednesday. Putin’s traditional speech was first aired in the far-eastern Kamchatka peninsula — the first Russian region to enter 2026. He became president of Russia on New Year’s Eve 1999, when Boris Yeltsin stepped down. The televised New Year’s Eve speech, which continues a tradition started by Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, is a holiday staple in Russia and watched in millions of households. It is aired on state TV just before midnight in each of Russia’s 11 time zones.

In due course, we will give you all the information that you require from the US–Nigeria strikes,” Onoja said. Responding to questions on whether terrorists were present at the bombed locations, Onoja said intelligence reports confirmed their presence in the area before the strikes. So we can also take it further since the proximity of the Sahel to Sokoto, intelligence reports have confirmed their presence there before those strikes were conducted against them. According to him, the armed forces are also engaging civilians to support security agencies with timely information. He said security agencies were working to prevent future attacks using intelligence networks and other measures.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of reneging on an agreement brokered by President Bola Tinubu to resolve the political crisis in the state. However, Wike claimed on Wednesday that the governor had failed to honour parts of what was agreed. “Very soon, we will let Rivers people know what we agreed before Mr President. This agreement was not done anywhere; before Mr President. If you can renege on what we agreed before, Mr President, then who are we?” he asked.

The Police Command in Oyo State says it has arrested a 22-year-old suspect for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl after intoxicating her with a substance. The Command’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), DSP Ayanlade Olayinka, disclosed this in a statement to newsmen on Tuesday in Ibadan. He said that preliminary investigations revealed that the 22-year-old male suspect allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of the minor after administering an intoxicating drink to her. The PRO said that the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Femi Haruna, has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet investigation. Olayinka said that the suspect has confessed to the crime and would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.

The Deputy National Chairman of the Labour Party, Clement Ojukwu, on Wednesday dismissed reports that he had defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), calling the claims false and misleading. In a statement issued by the party and dated December 31, Ojukwu said he remained a committed member of the Labour Party and had no intention of leaving the organisation he helped to build. “I remain a loyal member of the Labour Party,” Ojukwu said. He said he had no reason to leave the Labour Party for what he described as an unknown destination. He said party supporters had reaffirmed their loyalty to the current national leadership, led by Julius Abure, for whom he serves as deputy.

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele, has assured Nigerians that the new tax laws scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, will not involve automatic deductions from personal bank accounts, as the reforms are based on self-declaration rather than direct debits. The assurance was given during Channels Television’s end-of-year programme, 2025 In Retrospect: Charting a Pathway to 2026, aired on Tuesday. Oyedele dismissed claims that the government would monitor or debit individual bank accounts, stressing that taxpayers would only be required to declare their income at the end of the tax year. “People think that the government will debit their bank accounts from next year, and how they even came up with that, I have no idea. Meanwhile, PUNCH Online had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu said the implementation of the new tax laws, including those enacted on June 26, 2025, and others scheduled to commence on January 1, 2026, would proceed as planned.

The Federal Government has reaffirmed that Nigeria’s new tax laws will commence as scheduled on January 1, 2026, including those that already took effect on June 26, 2025, dismissing speculations about any suspension or reversal of the reform programme. According to the Presidency, the tax reforms represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a fairer, more competitive and resilient fiscal framework capable of supporting sustainable economic growth and strengthening the social contract between the government and citizens. The government stressed that the new tax regime is not designed to impose higher taxes on Nigerians but to deliver a structural reset of the tax system through harmonisation, efficiency and equity, while protecting the dignity of citizens and businesses. “These reforms are aimed at creating clarity, reducing multiplicity, and ensuring that the tax system works for both government and taxpayers,” the statement said, adding that the focus is on broadening compliance rather than increasing tax burdens. The Presidency assured Nigerians that the Federal Government will continue to act in the overriding public interest to deliver a modern tax system that promotes prosperity, shared responsibility and inclusive national development.

The Borno State Police Command has described as misinformation reports claiming that the Nigerian Army arrested a suspected suicide bomber in the state, insisting that the operation was carried out by the police and that no active improvised explosive device was recovered. Recall that on Tuesday night, PUNCH Online reported that troops of Operation Hadin Kai arrested a suspected suicide bomber, identified as Abubakar Mustapha, in Borno State. “At about 5:40 pm on Monday, December 29, 2025, personnel deployed at the Banki Central Mosque apprehended a suspected suicide bomber identified as Abubakar Mustapha,” he said. “The Borno State Police Command has observed with concern the circulation of social media videos alleging the recovery of improvised explosive device (IED) components in Banki, Bama Local Government Area of Borno State,” the statement read. According to the police, preliminary investigations indicated that the items recovered showed “no active IED fabrication or priming.”“The case has been transferred to the State Command Headquarters for comprehensive investigation.

The development is seen as a major setback for the PDP and a boost for ADC as political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections begin to take shape. Aborisade, a prominent figure in Oyo politics, attributed the defection to unresolved internal crises within the PDP, describing the party as increasingly incapable of presenting a credible candidate for the coming elections. “I have laboured for PDP, spent personal resources and worked tirelessly for the party, yet internal conflicts remain unresolved. Nigerians are looking towards ADC as a credible alternative capable of delivering positive change,” Aborisade said. Welcoming Aborisade and his supporters, Oyo Chairman of ADC, Yinka Olona, described the defections as part of a broader trend of political realignments across the country.

But all that changed on Monday night when the Atlas Lions responded with a bold statement in their last group game in Rabat, on Monday night, delivering a powerful 3–0 victory against former champions, Zambia. With over 70 per cent possession, sustained pressure around the box and reasonable territorial control throughout the contest, the Atlas Lions left no one in doubt of their readiness to go all the way. The Atlas Lions doubled their advantage in the 27th minute when Brahim Diaz found the net, capping off a dominant first half in which Morocco controlled possession, tempo and territory. The victory, apart from taking the Atlas Lions to the knockout stage, also restored the people’s confidence after recent controversy. With the win, Morocco finished Group A as outright leaders on seven points, unbeaten and brimming with confidence heading into the knockout stages.

Human resource and business leaders have urged organisations to prioritise employee well-being, embrace purpose-driven technology, and adopt policies that enable both workers and employers to thrive. “HR has a responsibility to help organisations improve culture, enhance leadership, support mental wellbeing, and ensure employees feel recognised, appreciated and connected to the value they bring. “The government must ensure policies remain favourable to both employers and employees. Creating a business-friendly environment has a direct impact on the quality of work experience and employee wellbeing,” she stated. He explained that leaders must genuinely connect with their teams, as performance suffers when employees do not feel cared for.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a bilateral meeting at the Trump Turnberry Golf Courses, in Turnberry south west Scotland on July 28, 2025. AFP reports on Wednesday that Trump vetoed the bipartisan-backed bills on Monday, the White House announced on social media. The White House said Trump also vetoed the “Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act” on Monday. During his first stint in office, Trump vetoed 10 bills. His predecessor, Joe Biden, vetoed 13 bills over his four-year term.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that Rivers State will “correct the leadership mistake” made at the state level in the 2027 elections. Wike made the statement during a thank-you visit to the people of Khana in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State. “We will not make the same mistake again at the state level in 2027. Giadom said this during Wike’s ‘thank you’ visit to the people of Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers. Describing Wike as a “dependable leader” in Rivers politics, Giadom assured the minister that there would be no political force in Gokana other than Wike.

Religion, psychology, and common sense all confirm that whatever occupies our minds consistently begins to dominate our emotions, decisions, and even physical health. Policy inconsistencies, budget chaos, governance failures, and rule of law erosionSystemic governance failures amplify daily anxiety. Executive dominance over legislative functions has left critical spending decisions unexamined, making public funds vulnerable to misallocation and misuse. States collectively budgeted over N1.3 trillion for healthcare in 2024, but actual spending was well under two-thirds of that amount, with per capita health spending staggeringly low. Only seven states implemented more than 80 per cent of their health budgets, leaving many communities with underfunded clinics or no access to basic services at all.