Bode George, Lagos APC differ on democratic erosion claims
In a statement yesterday on Nigeria’s political and economic outlook for 2026, George said recent actions against dissenting political voices posed risks to federalism and multi-party democracy. George also criticised what he described as a disconnect between government actions and the economic realities facing many Nigerians. According to the Lagos APC, a weak and disorganised opposition poses risks to democratic development, noting that democracy thrives on the contest of ideas rather than persistent confrontation and what it termed institutional sabotage. The party maintained that criticism of government should be grounded in credible policy positions and accountability, rather than rhetoric and grievance-driven narratives. The statement further urged opposition parties to demonstrate greater acceptance of democratic outcomes, respect for the rule of law and responsibility in public discourse.
Source:The Guardian
January 06, 2026 12:55 UTC
Rosenior replaces Maresca as Chelsea’s head coach
Chelsea have appointed Liam Rosenior as their new head coach on a six-year contract, continuing the club’s managerial reshuffle under BlueCo ownership following the departure of Enzo Maresca. “I am extremely humbled and honoured to be appointed head coach of Chelsea Football Club,” Rosenior said in a statement published on the club’s website. The former Hull City manager becomes Chelsea’s fourth permanent head coach since the consortium took control of the club in 2022. That year, he was appointed Hull City manager in the Championship but was dismissed after 18 months. Chelsea’s Under-21s coach, Calum McFarlane, oversaw the senior side’s 1–1 draw away at Manchester City on Sunday.
Source:The Guardian
January 06, 2026 12:49 UTC
Badenoch calls US raid on Maduro 'morally right'
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has defended the United States’ military operation that removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power, describing the raid as “morally right” despite legal and diplomatic controversy. “I grew up under a military dictatorship, so I know what it’s like to have someone like Maduro in charge.”However, Badenoch cautioned that the raid raised “serious questions about the rules-based order,” and stressed that it was different from interventions in democratic countries. She cited Greenland, saying the territory’s future was rightly a matter for Denmark and its people. The UK government has so far avoided directly criticising the US action, describing Maduro as an “illegitimate president.” Opposition parties—including Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, and the SNP—have called for the government to condemn the operation and declare it illegal. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said she had reminded her US counterpart of his obligations under international law but reiterated that it was for the US to set out the legal justification for its actions.
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 12:42 UTC
2026 Tata Punch Unveiled: ADAS, Turbo Engine and New Features
The 2026 Tata Punch has been officially unveiled by Tata Motors ahead of its scheduled launch on January 13, 2026. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)When is the 2026 Tata Punch facelift launching in India? Does the 2026 Tata Punch come with a turbo engine? What are the main rivals of the Tata Punch facelift? Does the 2026 Tata Punch have a rear middle headrest?
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 12:06 UTC
Maria Machado Vows to Return Home to Venezuela
(FILES) Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado (C) cheers from a truck during a protest called by the opposition for election 'victory' to be recognised, in Caracas on August 17, 2024. (Photo by Federico PARRA / AFP)Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Machado said Monday she plans to return home “as soon as possible,” and slammed the interim president in Caracas. “I’m planning to go back to Venezuela as soon as possible,” Machado told broadcaster Sean Hannity on Fox News, speaking from an undisclosed location. Machado said Rodriguez is “rejected” by the Venezuelan people, and voters were on the opposition’s side. “In free and fair elections, we will win by over 90 percent of the votes, I have no doubt about it,” Machado said.
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 11:57 UTC
Nine soldiers killed in IED blast on Maiduguri – Gubio Road
Nine soldiers have been reported killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated along the Maiduguri–Gubio road in Borno State. The troops were travelling from Maiduguri through Gubio town for an operation in the Sasawa Forest, in neighbouring Yobe State, when the explosion occurred near Gubio, the headquarters of Gubio Local Council. A senior military source said several other soldiers sustained injuries from shrapnel, including burns to their limbs and heads. Clarifying the circumstances of the incident, the source said the attack was not an ambush, but the result of an IED planted along the road overnight. As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Army had yet to issue an official statement on the incident, including details of investigations and the number of casualties.
Source:The Guardian
January 06, 2026 09:49 UTC
Nigerian Tax Acts 2025: Benefits beyond the rhetoric
Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms have been widely mischaracterised as revenue tricks, mostly through epistemic closure and motivated reasoning, solely focusing on revenue figures, tax rates, and who pays what. A transparent, rules-based tax system reduces discretion, rent-seeking, and arbitrariness which are long-standing deterrents to investment in Nigeria. Perhaps, the most forward-looking aspect of the Tax Reform Acts is the emphasis on digitalisation and technology driven tax administration. Conclusion: A reform for the long termThe Tax Reform Acts are best understood as part of Nigeria’s long-term economic strategy. As earlier stated by President Tinubu, these tax reforms will be implemented with human face and full consideration of the Nigerian citizenry.
Source:The Guardian
January 06, 2026 09:44 UTC
Nigerians cut household spending by N14tn as inflation bites hard
Constant price data are adjusted for inflation, meaning they strip out the effect of rising prices to measure actual changes in economic activity. The fact that nominal spending rose while real spending plunged shows that Nigerians are spending more money but getting less value, with inflation swallowing a large share of household budgets. The steep fall in real household spending is consistent with the sustained double-digit inflation that characterised the year. While employers may have raised salaries on paper, those increases were not enough to keep pace with rising prices. In this case, the slump in real household spending signals weakening domestic demand, which is a key engine of economic growth.
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 09:41 UTC
Tata Punch Facelift Revealed Ahead of Jan 13 Launch
Tata Motors is gearing up to launch the Punch facelift on 13 January 2026. As indicated in the previous teasers, the new Punch gets revised exterior styling. At the rear, the Punch facelift gets a new connected LED taillight setup with new detailing seen in the cluster. The 2026 Tata Punch will borrow the same interior layout as the Tata Punch EV offering a dual-tone theme comprising a light blue-charcoal upholstery, along with a new dashboard with a white insert. 2026 Tata Punch Facelift: Powertrain specsIt was recently revealed that the Tata Punch facelift will also be offered in a new iTurbo iteration, which will receive a 1.2-litre, 3-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine from the Tata Atroz Racer and Nexon.
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 09:37 UTC
Diplomats Praise Nigeria-US Counter-Terrorism Efforts
The diplomats gave the commendation at a press conference in Abuja while presenting an Assessment Report on the Ongoing War Against Terrorism in Nigeria. Unveiling the report, the UN-WCD Secretary-General, Prof. Tunji Asaolu, lauded the expanding partnership between the Nigerian military and the United States, describing recent joint operations as precise, disciplined and effective. According to him, the assessment revealed that despite the scale of recent military engagements, no civilian casualties were recorded, a development he said underscored professionalism and strict adherence to international rules of engagement. “We commend the United States military and the Nigerian Ministry of Defence for the progress recorded so far in degrading terrorist networks,” Asaolu said, adding that the collaboration has weakened insurgent strongholds across several regions. Although the United States has consistently supported Nigeria through intelligence sharing, training and military assistance, direct US airstrikes on Nigerian territory are rare and often attract public scrutiny.
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 09:19 UTC
2027 battle: Rivers crisis escalates as top APC govs back Fubara
Basiru, in a statement, asked the ex-Rivers State governor to resign his ministerial position and focus on what he described as his obsession with Rivers State politics. “I say it here, take this message to your National Secretary, leave Rivers State alone. Fubara’s switch effectively ended his long-standing ties with the PDP and positioned him as the APC’s leading figure in Rivers State. The letter was submitted through the party’s ward office at Bob-Manuel’s Compound, Abonnema, the council headquarters in Rivers State. He doesn’t own Rivers State, and he doesn’t own the people of Rivers State.
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 09:09 UTC
2026 Tata Punch Facelift Revealed; Launch On Jan 13
In a surprising move, Tata Motors has unveiled the 2026 Punch facelift through official images ahead of its launch on January 13, 2026. 2026 Tata Punch – What’s New? ExteriorFor 2026, Tata Motors has updated the Punch with significant design changes, especially at the front & rear end. Towards the rear, the SUV gets a slightly revamped tailgate, along with new connected LED tail lamps and a restyled rear bumper. 2026 Tata Punch Price and RivalsTata will announce the prices of the Punch facelift on January 13, 2026.
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 06:36 UTC
Kalu blasts Otti, says ‘gutter politics’ won’t win Abia
Kalu made the remarks while reacting to comments attributed to the Abia State governor, which he described as “vitriolic and desperate political attacks” aimed at undermining the growing influence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. In a statement issued by the Head of Media, Senator Kalu Media Office, Sunday Maduka, the senator accused the governor of resorting to personal insults rather than addressing the challenges facing Abia residents. According to Kalu, the comments reflected insecurity and fear over the increasing presence of the APC ahead of the 2027 polls. In doing these, I am fulfilling my duty to my party and the people of Abia State,” he stated. The senator urged Governor Otti to concentrate on addressing pressing issues such as healthcare delivery, youth unemployment and security, rather than engaging in political confrontations.
Source:The Guardian
January 06, 2026 06:27 UTC
Fans boo Osimhen after angry outburst at Lookman
Victor James Osimhen of Nigeria and Ademola Olajide Lookman of Nigeria gestures during the AFCON Group C match between Mozambique and Nigeria at Fes stadium, Fes, Morocco on January 5, 2026. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto)Nigerian football fans have criticised Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen for his angry outburst at teammate Ademola Lookman during Monday’s 4-0 victory over Mozambique in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Lookman had already created two chances for Osimhen at that point, with one being a direct assist and the other coming through Akor Adams. The incident sparked widespread criticism on social media platform X, with fans questioning Osimhen’s attitude despite the team’s dominant performance. Social media influencer Emma Ik Umeh (@emmaikumeh) wrote, “Victor Osimhen had a quarrel with his teammate Lookman.
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 06:01 UTC
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Tata Punch Facelift Revealed Ahead Of India Launch on January 13
-The new Tata Punch Facelift is set to go on sale on January 13. Tata Motors has unveiled the Punch Facelift ahead of its launch in India on January 13, 2026. Here’s everything you need to know about the changes in the Tata Punch Facelift. Also Read: Tata Punch Facelift to Get Turbo-Petrol Engine Option: Here's What to ExpectInside, the Tata Punch Facelift has also seen an array of thoughtful updates. Tata Punch Facelift: EngineThe Punch i-Turbo will likely use the 1.2-litre, three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine sourced from the Altroz Racer.
Source:Punch
January 06, 2026 05:14 UTC