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UK’s Starmer calls Trump’s remarks on allies in Afghanistan ‘frankly appalling’

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about European troops staying off the front lines in Afghanistan insulting and appalling, joining a chorus of criticism from ‌other European officials and veterans.

“I consider President Trump’s remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling, and I’m not surprised they’ve caused such hurt for the loved ones of those who were killed or injured,” Starmer told reporters.

When asked whether he would demand an apology from the U.S. leader, Starmer ⁠said: “If I had misspoken in that way or said those words, I would certainly apologize.”

Britain lost ‍457 service personnel killed in Afghanistan, its deadliest overseas war since the 1950s. For several ‍of the war’s most intense ‍years it led the allied campaign in Helmand, Afghanistan’s biggest and most violent province, while also fighting as the main ⁠U.S. battlefield ally in Iraq.

Starmer’s remarks were notably strong coming from a leader who has tended to avoid direct criticism of Trump in public.

Trump told Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” on Thursday the ​United States had “never needed” the transatlantic alliance and accused allies of staying “a little off the front lines” in Afghanistan.

His remarks added to already strained relations with European allies after he used the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos to again signal his interest in acquiring Greenland.

Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel condemned Trump’s remarks on Afghanistan, calling them untrue and disrespectful.

Britain’s Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, also weighed in. “Those sacrifices deserve to ⁠be spoken about truthfully and with respect,” he said in a statement.

“We expect an apology for this statement,” Roman Polko, a retired Polish general and former special forces commander who also served in Afghanistan and Iraq, told Reuters in an interview.

Trump has “crossed a red line”, he added. “We paid with blood for this alliance. We truly sacrificed our own lives.”

Britain’s veterans minister, Alistair Carns, whose own military service included five tours including alongside American troops in Afghanistan, called Trump’s claims “utterly ridiculous”.

“We shed blood, sweat and tears together. Not everybody came home,” he said in a video posted on X.

Richard Moore, the former head of Britain’s MI6 intelligence service, said he, like many MI6 officers, had operated in dangerous environments with “brave and highly esteemed” CIA counterparts and had been proud to do so with Britain’s closest ally.

Under NATO’s founding treaty, members are bound by a collective-defense clause, Article 5, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all.

It has been invoked only once – after the September 11, 2001 attacks on New ​York and Washington, when allies pledged to support the United States. For most of the war in Afghanistan, the U.S.-led force there was under NATO command.

Some politicians noted that Trump had avoided the draft for ⁠the Vietnam War, citing bone spurs in his feet.

“Trump avoided military service 5 times,” Ed Davey, leader of Britain’s centrist Liberal Democrats, wrote on X. “How dare he question their sacrifice.”

Poland’s sacrifice “will never be forgotten and must not be diminished”, Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said.

Trump’s comments were “ignorant”, said Rasmus Jarlov, an opposition ‍Conservative Party member of Denmark’s parliament.

In addition to the British deaths, more than 150 Canadians were killed in Afghanistan, along ‌with 90 French service personnel and scores ‌from Germany, Italy and other countries. Denmark – now under heavy pressure ‍from Trump to transfer its semi-autonomous region of Greenland to the U.S. – lost 44 troops, one of NATO’s highest per-capita death rates.

The United States lost ‌about 2,460 troops in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Department of Defense, a figure on ‍par per capita with those of Britain and Denmark. (JapanToday)

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Federal immigration agents fatally shoot second person in Minneapolis

A Border Patrol agent shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, local and federal officials said, the second such incident this month during a surge in immigration ‌enforcement in the northern U.S. city that residents and local politicians have fiercely protested.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said the Border Patrol agent fired in defense after attempting to disarm a man local police said was a U.S. citizen. Federal officials said the man who ⁠was shot approached them with a handgun and two magazines.

“This looks like a situation where ‍an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre law enforcement,” Gregory Bovino, a ‍Border Patrol official leading local ‍operations, said at a press conference. He said his agents had been searching for an immigrant before the shooting. ⁠Bovino did not provide details of what led to the shooting, which he said was being investigated.

Tensions are rising between Democratic state and local officials who say the presence of ​thousands of immigration agents has made the Minneapolis area less safe, and President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders, who accuse Democrats of fanning opposition and failing to protect immigration agents.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the man killed on Saturday was a 37-year-old city resident and a lawful gun owner with no criminal record other than traffic violations. O’Hara did not release the man’s name.

A video circulating on ⁠social media and aired on cable news stations showed people wearing masks and tactical vests wrestling with a man on a snow-covered street before shots are heard. In the video, the man falls to the ground, and several more shots are heard.

Video from the area later showed armed and masked agents deploying tear gas on a growing crowd of protesters, who chanted “shame” and called them “traitors.”

Local and state police arrived to face off against the crowd as federal agents left the scene.

O’Hara asked people to avoid the area and said the site of the shooting was a “volatile scene.”

“Please do not destroy our city,” he said.

The nearby Minneapolis Institute of Art said it had closed for the day due to safety concerns.

Hours later, after federal agents appeared to have left the scene, the situation appeared to have calmed, though chanting protesters remained in the area.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called for an immediate end to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations in the state.

“How many ​more residents, how many more Americans need to die or get badly hurt for this operation to end?” Frey said at a press conference.

The state’s governor and two U.S. senators also called for federal agents to ⁠leave.

Trump, who has been briefed on the shooting, according to a White House official, accused local elected officials of stirring up opposition.

“The Mayor and the Governor are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric,” he wrote on social media.

The shooting came one day after more than ‍10,000 people took to the frigid streets to protest the presence of the 3,000 federal agents who have been ‌ordered to the state by Trump.

Residents have ‌been angered by several incidents, including the killing of U.S. ‍citizen Renee Good, the detention of a U.S. citizen who was taken from his home in his shorts, and the detention of school children, ‌including a 5-year-old boy.

Vice President JD Vance, who visited  Minneapolis on Thursday,  posted on social ‍media Saturday that ICE agents wanted to work with local law enforcement “so that situations on the ground didn’t get out of hand. The local leadership in Minnesota has so far refused to answer those requests.” (JapanToday)

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Netflix debated launching a theatrical movie business before Warner Bros. deal, Co-CEOs Say

Netflix has never been against putting its movies in theaters, according to the streamer’s top execs — but before it agreed to buy Warner Bros., it was too busy managing the fast-growing streaming business.

Co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters, speaking on the company’s Q4 2025 earnings interview, said the company had in the past internally debated whether or not to launch a business to distribute original Netflix films in theaters. But that always fell short of Netflix’s priorities list as the streaming side of the company continued to grow quickly.

Of course, the perception that Netflix doesn’t think theatrical is a great business was crystallized by Sarandos’ comments last year that moviegoing was “outmoded.” At the Time100 Summit in April 2025, Sarandos called the communal moviegoing experience “an outmoded idea.”

But that was then, and this is now, Sarandos told analysts Tuesday. “We were not in the theatrical business when I made those observations,” Sarandos said. “Remember, I’ve said it many times, this is a business, not a religion. So conditions change. Insights change. And we have a culture that we reevaluate things when they do.” He called out Netflix’s prior “pivots” around advertising, sports rights and live events — areas the company had previously said it had no interest in developing.

According to Sarandos, “we debated many times over the years whether we should build a theatrical distribution engine or not. And in a world of priority-setting and constrained resources, it just didn’t make the priority cut.”

When the WB deal closes, he said, “We will have the benefit of a scaled, world-class theatrical distribution business with more than $4 billion of global box office. And we’re excited to maintain it and further strengthen that business.” Sarandos, as part of his campaign to win over opponents to the megadeal, has committed to keeping Warner Bros. movies in a 45-day theatrical window.

Netflix’s default position going into talks with Warner Bros. Discovery was that “we were not buyers,” Sarandos said. “We went into this though with our eyes open, and our minds open. And when we got into, we both [Sarandos and Peters] got very excited about this amazing opportunity.”

Peters said that, based on Netflix’s film output deals, it already knew that the theatrical model is an “effective complement to the streaming model.” But when it came to recurring the question of building a theatrical distribution business, he said, “we were busy investing in other areas.”

Netflix has seen upside from special event releases of its originals in movie theaters, including the New Year’s Eve run of the “Stranger Things 5” finale (which generated more than $25 million at the box office) and the company’s limited runs of smash hit “KPop Demon Hunters.”

According to Netflix CFO Spence Neumann, the company sees the WB deal as an accelerant to its existing business. Roughly 85% of the revenue of the combined Netflix-WB, on a pro-forma basis, will come from the core streaming business with the added benefit of the Warner Bros. films and TV studios, he said.

Earlier Tuesday, Netflix announced it was switching the $83 billion deal to buy Warner Bros. Discovery’s studios and HBO Max streaming business to an all-cash offer. That was driven by pressure from Paramount Skydance, which has been pursuing a hostile takeover attempt of Warner Bros. Discovery with what it alleges is a superior deal for WBD shareholders. Netflix and WBD expect the transaction to close in 12-18 months, but right now it’s unclear how much resistance the deal with face from regulators. (Variety)

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Friend of a Thief is a Thief, Musa warns Gumi, others sympathising with terrorists

Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has warned Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and others sympathetic to terrorists and bandits to stop their subversive endeavour, saying, “a friend of a thief is a thief.”

Musa cautioned against providing overt or covert support to criminal elements seeking to destabilise the country.

Speaking yesterday during an official visit to Maiduguri, the minister said those engaged in acts of terrorism and banditry did not represent any form of regional, ethnic, or religious brotherhood.

The warning came as the Nigerian Army said it had taken a significant step towards strengthening its manpower development and national security framework with the construction of a new training depot at Amasiri-Edda, located within Afikpo and Edda local government areas of Ebonyi State.

In another development, Poland identified Nigeria as a key pillar of stability in West Africa, acknowledging the decisive role played by the Nigerian Armed Forces in counter-insurgency operations and regional security initiatives.

Musa explained that his remarks were deliberate and purposeful, not merely symbolic. He stressed that Nigerians must refrain from supporting or justifying criminal activities in any form.

He said the warning directly responded to narratives previously advanced by Sheikh Gumi, who had referred to bandits hiding in forests as “our brothers” and suggested that society could not function without them.

Musa made a distinction between compassion and complicity, stating that while empathy for fellow citizens is important, excusing or normalising terrorism only emboldens criminal networks.

He said the criminal groups had ravaged communities, displaced thousands of families, and claimed countless innocent lives across the country.

He emphasised that portraying bandits as “brothers” neither reduced violence nor promoted peace; rather, it legitimised criminal behaviour and undermined ongoing national security efforts.

The defence minister warned that terrorism did not thrive on weapons alone but also on moral and rhetorical cover.

He stressed that individuals, who defended, excused, or shielded criminals—whether through words, influence, or silence—must recognise that they shared responsibility for the consequences of such actions.

Musa stated that Nigeria could not defeat terrorism and banditry while dangerous narratives blurred the line between victims and perpetrators. (ThisDay)

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‘Sinners’ breaks records at 2026 Oscar nominations

The horror film “Sinners” by Ryan Coogler broke Oscar history by earning a total 16 Oscar nominations on Thursday for the 98th Academy Awards, which will be presented on March 15. The previous record of 14 had been held by “All About Eve,” “Titantic” and “La La Land.”

The nominations were additionally notable as horror films tend to be excluded from Oscar honors.

Directed by Ryan Coogler, the film features actor Michael B. Jordan in a dual role of twin brothers who face supernatural forces in the southern US of the Jim Crow era. 

“Sinners” is considered a frontrunner in the best picture category. It will also compete for best director, best screenplay, best lead actor, and best original song, among others. 

A total of 10 films were nominated for the best picture Oscar on Thursday. In addition to “Sinners,” “One Battle After Another” and “Sentimental Value” are also seen as strong contenders. 

The latter, “Sentimental Value,” a family drama, recently swept the European Film Awards.

The other best picture nominees are “Bugonia,” “F1,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” “Marty Supreme,” “The Secret Agent,” and “Train Dreams.” The films were selected out of 201 contenders.

“One Battle After Another,” a father-daughter revolutionary saga, placed second for total nominations, with a total of 13 nods that included best director (Paul Thomas Anderson) and four best actor awards.

Alongside Coogler and Anderson, the other contenders for best director are Chloe Zhao (“Hamnet”), Josh Safdie (“Marty Supreme”) and Joachim Trier (“Sentimental Value”).

Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke, Michael B. Jordan and Wagner Moura all received nominations for best actor in a leading role, while Jessie Buckley, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, Renate Reinsve and Emma Stone were nominated in the leading actress category.

Best casting, the first new category to be added to the Oscars in 25 years, highlights the work of selecting actors for a film. Five films received nominations, including “Sinners.”

The animated musical smash hit “KPop Demon Hunters” received nods for best animated film, where it is considered the favorite, and for best original song for the earworm “Golden.” The film was released on Netflix — and went on to break the streaming platform’s all-time viewing record — but qualified for the Oscars based on a limited sing-along release in theaters.

Meanwhile, on the international front, films from Brazil (“The Secret Agent”), France (“It was Just an Accident”), Norway (“Sentimental Value”), Spain (“Sirat”) and Tunisia (“The Voice of Hind Rajab”) made it to the final for the best international feature film award.

Germany’s entry to the competition, “Sound of Falling,” did not make it to the final.

The full list of nominations is available at the Oscar website (DW)

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Senegal declares public holiday after AFCON win

Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has officially declared Monday a paid public holiday across the country in celebration of Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations victory.

This decision followed the victory of the Senegalese national football team (“Teranga Lions”) over host nation Morocco in the AFCON 2025 final, which took place on Sunday, January 18, 2026, in Rabat.

The Head of State declared the day off, and fully paid salaries to be paid to public sector workers to allow the nation to celebrate the victory.

Senegal on Sunday night defeated hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, in a match marred by controversy, prolonged stoppages and players briefly leaving the pitch.

The dramatic final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium was interrupted late in regulation time after a contentious penalty decision awarded to Morocco following a VAR review, sparking protests from Senegal players.

The penalty, awarded deep into stoppage time, led to chaotic scenes as Senegal players surrounded the referee, with play halted for several minutes.

Meanwhile, Football governing bodies FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have condemned the “unacceptable scenes” that marred Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, with CAF pledging to take “appropriate action” against those found guilty.

The AFCON final between hosts Morocco and Senegal was disrupted late in normal time when referee Jean Jacques Mdala awarded Morocco a penalty following a VAR review for a challenge on Brahim Diaz, with the match level at 0-0.

In protest, most Senegal players walked off the pitch, while clashes broke out in the stands involving some Senegalese fans and Moroccan security personnel.

CAF, in a statement issued on Monday, condemned the behaviour of some players and officials but stopped short of assigning blame to either team.

The body said it is reviewing all available footage and will refer the matter to its disciplinary bodies.

“The Confederation Africaine de Football (CAF) condemns the unacceptable behaviour from some players and officials during the CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 Final between Morocco and Senegal in Rabat last night,” read their statement.

“CAF strongly condemns any inappropriate behaviour which occurs during matches, especially those targeting the refereeing team or match organizers.“CAF is reviewing all footage and will refer the matter to competent bodies for appropriate action to be taken against those found guilty.” (Channels)

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Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, Akume others eulogise Akande at 87

Nigerians from all walks of life yesterday paid glowing tributes to former Osun State Governor and elder statesman, Chief Bisi Akande.

Chief Akande, who clocked 87 on Friday, received birthday greetings from prominent Nigerians, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Lagos State governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; a former member of the House of Representatives who represented Ife Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Rotimi Makinde, among others.

President Tinubu and Akume described Akande as a pillar of Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

They spoke at the 87th birthday celebration of Chief Akande held in Ila-Orangun, Osun State, where they praised his lifelong commitment to democratic ideals, principled leadership and selfless service to the nation, noting that his contributions to Nigeria’s political development remain enduring and invaluable.

Tinubu’s goodwill message was delivered by Senator Akume at the ceremony.

In the message, the President described Akande as a mentor whose wisdom and counsel have guided generations of political leaders through difficult moments in Nigeria’s democratic journey.

According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF) on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, he said the nation owes the elder statesman a debt of gratitude for his sacrifices and steadfast belief in democratic governance, praying for continued good health, strength and peace for him.

President Tinubu also expressed confidence that Akande’s legacy of integrity and patriotism would continue to illuminate Nigeria’s path towards unity, stability and progress.

In his personal goodwill message, Akume described Chief Akande as an embodiment of courage, humility and unwavering commitment to democratic values, noting that his service to the nation has left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s political history.

Recalling their political collaboration, Akume said they jointly launched a deliberate strategy aimed at dismantling the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West. (Nation)

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Tinubu congratulates Super Eagles on AFCON bronze medal triumph

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s senior national football team, the Super Eagles, on their bronze medal victory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), describing the feat as a proud moment for the nation.

In a statement on Saturday, the President praised the team for their resilience and mental strength, noting that they showed remarkable character by bouncing back from the disappointment of their semi-final loss to host nation Morocco earlier in the week.

The Super Eagles secured third place after overpowering Egypt, a seven-time AFCON champion, defeating the North African giants in a penalty shootout after regulation time, during which Nigeria dominated large spells of the encounter.

President Tinubu commended the players and technical crew for refusing to allow the setback of the semi-final defeat define their campaign, stressing that their response reflected the fighting spirit for which Nigerians are known.

According to the President, the bronze medal is a fitting reward for a team that displayed discipline, unity and determination throughout the tournament.

“Despite their impressive run in the competition, the Super Eagles lost the semi-final match to Morocco on penalties last Wednesday, and our people’s hopes of lifting the trophy were dashed,” Tinubu said.

“However, our players remained undaunted. Exhibiting the resilience of the Nigerian spirit, they regrouped, refocused and ensured that their efforts did not end in disappointment.

“We are proud of them as they receive their well-deserved bronze medals on Sunday in Rabat. Their performance has once again demonstrated the determination, persistence and can-do spirit that define us as a people.”

The President added that the team’s ability to rise above adversity sends a strong message to Nigerians at home and in the diaspora about the power of perseverance and national unity.

“Thank you, our gallant Super Eagles. Thank you, our national team players. This bronze medal surely feels good like gold,” Tinubu said.

The President also urged the players to see the achievement as a foundation for greater success in future international competitions, assuring them of the nation’s continued support as they prepare for upcoming continental and global challenges.

Nigeria’s third-place finish at AFCON 2025 further reinforces the Super Eagles’ status as one of Africa’s most consistent footballing nations and offers renewed optimism for fans ahead of future tournaments. (Guardian)

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WAFCON 2026: Super Falcons Drawn Against Zambia, Egypt, Malawi

Defending champions, Nigeria, have been drawn against Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi in Group C of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The Super Falcons, record `10 times winners, will play the Group C games at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco.

Nigeria’s match against the Copper Queens will be a reenactment of their quarter-final outing in the 2024 edition of the tournament. The Super Falcons thrashed the Zambians 5-0 in that game.

Morocco, runners-up in the last two editions of the WAFCON, are in Group A against Algeria, Kenya, and Senegal. Games in that lot will be played at the Moulay Al Hassan Stadium in Rabat.

Meanwhile, former champions South Africa were drawn with Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania in Group B.

The Banyana Banyana are expected to make the knockouts and relaunch their bid to reclaim the title they won in 2022. All Group B matches are at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.

Giants Ghana and Cameroon will feature in Group D alongside Mali and Cape Verde at the Complexe Sportif de Fès.

The 2026 WAFCON runs from 17 March to 3 April 2026.

This year’s edition, which was originally scheduled for last year, will serve as the qualifiers for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The top four teams will represent Africa in the competition billed for Brazil. (Channels)

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He saved 262 Christians where govt failed — CAN mourns Imam Abdullahi

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has paid tribute to the late Imam Abubakar Abdullahi, recalling how his personal decision to protect others in a moment of extreme danger saved 262 Christians during a violent massacre in 2018 and left an enduring mark on the nation’s conscience.

In a statement on Saturday and signed by Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of CAN, the association mourned the Imam while reflecting on how his single, courageous act spoke to Nigeria’s deep divisions and the fragile bonds holding its social fabric together.

“The late Imam Abubakar Abdullahi will forever be remembered for his rare moral bravery and selflessness at a time of grave danger.

“By choosing to protect innocent lives at great personal risk, he saved 262 Christians during a violent massacre in 2018, standing firmly on the side of humanity when it mattered most.

“His actions transcended religious boundaries and powerfully affirmed that the sanctity of human life is sacred above all else.

“This singular act of heroism did more than save lives. It reinforced hope, strengthened interfaith harmony, and reminded our nation that peace is possible when conscience, love, and faith guide our actions.

“It was in recognition of this exceptional service to humanity that CAN honoured him with an award during its Sapphire Anniversary celebrations in 2021.

“CAN believes that such courage deserves not only remembrance but amplification.

“As we mourn his passing, we celebrate a life well lived in service to God and humanity,” the association added. (Vanguard)