Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

Open AI CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday denied allegations from his sister Annie Altman, who has filed a complaint accusing him of childhood sexual abuse. “…Annie has made deeply hurtful and entirely untrue claims about our family, especially Sam,” the boss of the California startup said in a letter co-signed by his mother and two brothers, and published on social platform X. “Our family loves Annie and is very concerned about her well-being. Caring for a family member who faces mental health challenges is incredibly difficult,” they wrote. One of Silicon Valley’s more charismatic figures, Altman shot to global fame…

The management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) says corps members in the country will soon start receiving ₦77,000 as their monthly allowance.  NYSC Director General, Brigadier General YD Ahmed, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja, according to a statement by NYSC spokesperson Caroline Embu. General Ahmed, who said his administration places a high priority on Corps welfare, added that arrangements for the payment of new corps members’ allowance have been concluded. The increase of the monthly allowance for corps members followed the review of Nigeria’s minimum wage from ₦30,000  to ₦70,000 in July 2024. In 2020, the NYSC…

Mexico’s government plans to offer up to $1,300 for people who hand in firearms including machine guns and assault rifles under a citizen disarmament program aimed at reducing violent crime. The financial incentives for people dropping off weapons at collection points in churches were published late Monday in the country’s official gazette. They include 8,700 pesos ($430) for a revolver, 25,000 pesos ($1,200) for an AK-47 rifle and 26,450 pesos ($1,300) for a machine gun. President Claudia Sheinbaum last month encouraged residents to participate in the “Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace” program, assuring those skeptical that they would not…

Peru’s record goalscorer Paolo Guerrero on Tuesday announced his retirement from international football at the age of 41. “The national team needs new people, new faces. What people are asking for are new players, so let’s give the youngsters a chance,” Guerrero told reporters. Guerrero made his national team debut against Bolivia in October 2004. He is Peru’s all-time leading scorer with 40 goals in 125 appearances. The former Bayern Munich, Hamburg and Corinthians striker’s final game for Peru was the 1-0 loss to Argentina in November in World Cup qualifying. Guerrero, who currently plays for Alianza Lima in his…

The Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, on Tuesday, defended the suspension of 18 elected local government chairmen by the State House of Assembly.  The governor who chronicled events that preceded and necessitated the suspension of the 18 local government councils chairmen, cited their inability to explain the purpose of contributing N800m monthly to leaders of a certain political party. The governor made this known during a meeting with acting local government chairmen at the Government House in Benin City, the state capital. Okpebholo vowed to support the acting chairmen whose elected chairmen were recently impeached by members of their…

Aloy Ejimakor, lead counsel for the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has rejected a request by the Federal Government to fix a date for the resumption of his client’s trial. Ejimakor disclosed the development in a tweet on Tuesday, noting that Kanu remains strong despite his continued detention, with three visitations allowed weekly. The Federal Government is prosecuting Kanu on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged treasonable felony and terrorism. The IPOB leader, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, was re-arrested in Kenya in 2021 and extradited to Nigeria. At the last court sitting on…

Retired military personnel have begun receiving credit alerts for the full payment of their long-overdue entitlements. As a result, they have started leaving the protest site and dismantling the canopies and chairs they had set up to block the entrance of the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja. The retirees had barricaded the entrance to the Ministry of Finance in Abuja as early as 7 a.m., using canopies and chairs, to demand the full payment of their entitlements. Their actions prevented staff members from driving into the premises, forcing many to park their vehicles outside. This protest followed a similar…

A Ugandan military court resumed the trial of abducted veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye on Tuesday, with one of his defence lawyers taken into custody and detained for nine months. Besigye was snatched last year from neighbouring Kenya while in Nairobi to attend a book launch by Kenyan opposition politician and lawyer Martha Karua, according to his spouse and rights groups. The 68-year-old retired army colonel has been accused of possessing weapons and other offences in a military court. He appeared in court alongside his co-accused Obeid Lutale and accompanied by his lead lawyer, Karua, following Uganda’s decision to grant…

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated John Mahama on his swearing-in as Ghana’s president and said Nigeria will support the West African country.  Mahama was inaugurated on Tuesday in Accra, marking his return to office years after he served as Ghana’s president. Tinubu who was among world leaders at the event noted the friendship between him and Mahama, pledging Nigeria’s backing for Ghana. “President John Mahama and I share a deep friendship. My dear brother, I am here to work with you,” Tinubu who was a special guest said in his remarks at the event. “You know you can count on…

Arne Slot stressed Tuesday that contract issues for some of Liverpool’s top stars are not a distraction following stinging criticism of Trent Alexander-Arnold for his performance against Manchester United. The England defender, linked with a move to Real Madrid, was at fault for Lisandro Martinez’s opener in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Anfield during a sub-par display. The right-back’s sloppy performance came during a long-running debate over his future with the Premier League leaders. The 26-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season, meaning he can now sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club. Spanish giants Real have reportedly…