Author: Lifestyle & Wellness Desk

Washington, Utah a small town nestled just southwest of Zion National Park, surrounded by dramatic flat-topped mountains and known as a gateway to the American West’s natural beauty now grapples with disbelief following a shocking act of political violence. Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University this week, lived in the area, police confirmed. He is currently in custody after reportedly surrendering following persuasion from his father. Law enforcement officials, both local and federal, descended on the normally quiet neighborhoods of Washington and nearby St. George, conducting door-to-door investigations and closing off streets in a tense manhunt. Neighbors outside the Robinson family home expressed deep shock at the allegations. “It shakes up a community because you don’t expect something like this,” said 20-year-old Addi Jacobson, who recently moved into her grandmother’s house nearby. While Jacobson did not personally know the Robinsons, her grandmother did. “She said they seem like a good family, regular people,” Jacobson shared. “She described them as very patriotic.” Another neighbor, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the case and the heated political climate online, recalled Tyler Robinson as “a pretty quiet kid.” She noted his younger brothers were more active in community sports and activities. She described his mother as “an amazing parent” and his father as “a hard worker,” adding that both occasionally attended a nearby Mormon church. “That just shows you you can be a great parent, but your kid still makes their own choices,” the neighbor reflected. Utah Governor Spencer Cox echoed this sentiment on CNN Saturday, describing the Robinsons as “a good family” with “a normal childhood” things “you’d hope would never lead to something like this. And sadly, it did.” On September 10, Charlie Kirk was fatally shot in front of hundreds of students at Utah Valley University. The incident was captured on video and widely circulated on social media, prompting condemnations from President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and leaders from both major political parties. In her first public statement Friday evening, Kirk’s wife, Erika, said: “If you thought my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea what you just unleashed across this entire country.” The night before Robinson’s arrest, police swarmed a townhouse complex in St. George, about 10 minutes from Washington, where local media reported he had an apartment. Resident Sherri Steele described returning from an evening walk to find a heavy police presence, including helicopters overhead. “It just blows your mind, coming up the street and suddenly there are helicopters above your house,” she said, adding she never met Robinson. Nearby, 18-year-old Josh Kemp recalled seeing Robinson leave his house once with a roommate. According to an affidavit, police interviewed Robinson’s roommate, who shared messages Robinson allegedly posted on Discord. These messages referenced retrieving a rifle from a drop point, hiding it in bushes, monitoring the area, engraving bullets, and details about a unique rifle and scope. Utah County Attorney Jeff Gray plans to file formal charges against Robinson on Tuesday, with the accused set to make his first court appearance. While the nation including the White House watches closely, the small town of Washington remains stunned. Jacobson, playing in the park with her fiancé and baby, said, “I never imagined I was living next to someone capable of this. It makes you wonder how close you might be to someone else like this.”

Healthcare services were disrupted on Friday as resident doctors at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and several hospitals in Lagos State fully complied with a nationwide five-day warning strike declared by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD). The industrial action has left hundreds of patients stranded and in urgent need of medical attention. The strike, which commenced after the expiration of a 10-day ultimatum to the federal government, is in protest of several unresolved issues, including the non-release of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund, non-payment of five months’ salary arrears under the revised Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS), and outstanding specialist and hazard allowances. A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited UCH on Friday, observed that patients at the hospital’s accident and emergency unit were being turned away, with no doctors available to attend to them. A security official, speaking anonymously, confirmed that no patients had been admitted since the morning shift began. At the General Outpatients Clinic (GOP), one patient, Kazeem Ajibade, said that while a few people were seen briefly in the early hours, all patients were turned away after 8:00 a.m., the official start time of the strike. Speaking to NAN, the President of the Association of Resident Doctors at UCH, Dr. Gboyega Ajibola, said the strike was aimed at drawing the government’s attention to long-standing demands. He confirmed that the action would last five days unless there was significant progress in negotiations. “Our demands include the unpaid 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund for over 2,000 doctors across the country, salary arrears from the 2023 CONMESS review, unpaid 2024 equipment allowance, and delays in the issuance and recognition of postgraduate certificates,” Dr. Ajibola said. He also called on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to address the ongoing issues related to certification, adding that some resident doctors in Kaduna and Oyo states have faced prolonged neglect by their state governments. “Doctors at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, for instance, have been on indefinite strike since August 1 over non-implementation of the minimum wage,” he added. Full Compliance in Lagos Hospitals In Lagos, the strike also saw widespread adherence. Visits by NAN correspondents to key health institutions including the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi Lagos (NOHIL) confirmed that resident doctors had withdrawn their services. Dr. Benjamin Uyi, President of the Association of Resident Doctors at LUTH, urged the federal government to act before the strike ends. “These demands have been pending for too long,” he said. “Resident doctors are overworked, burned out, and yet expected to function without proper support. A doctor whose welfare is neglected becomes a risk to patients.” Dr. Babatunde Egberongbe, President of the ARD at NOHIL, described the situation as “deeply unfortunate,” and warned that continued neglect would only accelerate the ongoing exodus of healthcare professionals from Nigeria. “Doctors are leaving because they can no longer endure the poor working conditions. We are not asking for anything extraordinary just what is necessary to do our jobs and care for our patients,” he said. Despite the disruption to services, no official response had been issued by the federal government as of the time of this report. Meanwhile, many public hospitals across the country are experiencing service paralysis due to the mass withdrawal of resident doctors.

Utah, USA – September 13, 2025 A 22-year-old Utah man has been taken into custody in connection with the fatal shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, who was gunned down on stage during a university event earlier this week. The suspect, identified as Tyler Robinson, was arrested late Thursday following a 33-hour manhunt. Authorities say the arrest came after Robinson confessed to his father, who helped persuade him to surrender. News of the arrest was first shared by U.S. President Donald Trump, who called for the death penalty in the case. Kirk, known for his polarizing political views, was shot while participating in a campus debate at Utah Valley University on Wednesday afternoon. The killing shocked the nation and intensified ongoing concerns about political violence in the U.S. At a Friday press conference, investigators said Robinson had told his father he would rather take his own life than be captured. The father then contacted a family friend  a youth pastor who also works as a court security officer  for help. Together, they spoke with Robinson in an effort to calm him down before the pastor alerted U.S. Marshals. Robinson was arrested around 10:00 p.m. local time in Washington County. Utah Governor Spencer Cox revealed that surveillance footage showed the suspect arriving on the UVU campus nearly four hours before the shooting occurred. When taken into custody, Robinson was reportedly wearing clothing that matched CCTV footage from the scene. Authorities say Robinson had been exhibiting increasingly political behavior in recent years. A family member told investigators that the suspect had spoken of Kirk’s visit to Utah and described him as “full of hate and spreading hate.” Police also interviewed Robinson’s roommate, who showed investigators Discord messages allegedly sent from Robinson. The messages referenced retrieving a rifle from a “drop point” and described it as being hidden in a bush, wrapped in a towel. The FBI confirmed on Thursday that the suspected weapon a Mauser .30-06 bolt-action rifle with a mounted scope was found wrapped in a towel in a wooded area near the campus. Investigators also discovered engraved inscriptions on shell casings, including phrases like “Hey fascist! CATCH!” and “O Bella ciao, Bella ciao” — a reference to the Italian anti-fascist anthem. As of Friday, no other arrests have been made. Governor Cox said he was unaware of any additional suspects at this time. State prosecutors are expected to formally charge Robinson on Tuesday. According to a Utah County Sheriff’s Office booking sheet, he faces multiple charges including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and felony discharge of a firearm. Utah Valley University remains closed since the shooting, with heavy police presence still on campus. Students expressed both relief and sorrow after hearing about the arrest. “I’m definitely relieved,” said Anthony Shinkle, a UVU student. “But I’m anxious to understand why this happened.” Public records reviewed by the BBC indicate Robinson is registered as an unaffiliated voter in Utah and did not vote in the last presidential election. His parents are registered Republicans and the family is active in the Mormon church. Robinson, a third-year electrical apprentice at Dixie Technical College, lives in St. George, Utah roughly 250 miles southwest of the UVU campus.

The FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office on Friday released video footage showing the suspect in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk fleeing a rooftop moments after the attack on September 10, 2025. In a statement shared on X alongside the footage, the bureau said the video captures the gunman climbing onto a rooftop shortly before the shooting, then leaping off and escaping after firing the deadly shots. Investigators later recovered the firearm and ammunition used in the attack from a wooded area near the university. According to the FBI, trace evidence gathered at the scene included shoe impressions, a forearm imprint, and a palm print. “The FBI has released video and additional photos of the shooter in the Utah Valley incident,” the statement read. “The subject is seen jumping from a rooftop after killing Charlie Kirk. He abandoned the weapon and ammunition nearby.” The bureau urged anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit fbi.gov/utahvalleyshooting, adding that it is working with law enforcement partners to secure justice in the case. A $100,000 reward has been offered for details leading to the suspect’s identification and arrest. Meanwhile, two individuals wrongly identified online as suspects told AFP on Thursday they were living in fear after being targeted by false claims, as the search for the real killer continued.

Court documents in New Zealand revealed on Friday that a woman on trial admitted to killing her two children, whose bodies were later discovered in suitcases. However, her defence has argued she is not guilty due to insanity. South Korean national Hakyung Lee admitted administering nortriptyline, an antidepressant, to her children — six-year-old Minu Jo and eight-year-old Yuna Jo — which led to their deaths, prosecutor Natalie Walker told the jury this week. Police believe the killings occurred in June or July 2018, about a year after Lee’s husband died. Following the incident, she returned to South Korea. The children’s remains were only found more than four years later, when an Auckland family discovered them in an abandoned storage locker. Lee was extradited to New Zealand in November 2022 at the request of police. Pathologist Simon Stables testified that due to the advanced decomposition of the bodies, it was difficult to conclude whether the antidepressant alone caused the deaths. “It could have been the sole cause, or a factor in combination with something else,” he said, noting it may also have had a sedative effect. Investigators said the children were found wrapped in plastic inside separate peach-coloured suitcases. Lee is representing herself in the case, supported by two standby lawyers. During proceedings, defence lawyer Lorraine Smith argued that her client was “not guilty of murder by reason of insanity,” pointing to Lee’s deteriorating mental state after her husband’s death in 2017. According to Smith, Lee believed at one point that her family should all die together and attempted to administer antidepressants to them. Lee claimed she miscalculated the dosage and awoke to find her children dead. The trial is expected to run for four weeks.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, as he marks his 73rd birthday and 22nd anniversary on the throne. In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the monarch as a patriot who has devoted his influence to promoting unity, peace, and reconciliation across Nigeria. “Etsu Nupe has contributed immensely to nation-building. He has used his revered position to promote unity, harmony, religious tolerance, peace, and reconciliation in the country. His humility, courage, and leadership experience have been evident in his responsibilities as Chairman of the Abuja Mosque and Chairman of the Coordinating Committee of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria,” Tinubu said. Born in 1952, Alhaji Abubakar had a distinguished military career, rising to the rank of Brigadier-General before retiring. He ascended the throne in 2003 as the 13th Etsu Nupe. President Tinubu prayed for the monarch’s long life, wisdom, and a peaceful and prosperous reign over the Nupe Kingdom.

ABUJA—The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday convicted a commander of the Ansaru terrorist sect, Mahmud Usman, and sentenced him to 15 years in prison. Usman, also known by the aliases Abu Bara’a, Abbas, and Mukhtar, pleaded guilty to engaging in illegal mining and channeling the proceeds into acquiring arms for terrorism and kidnapping operations. He was arraigned on a 32-count charge alongside his deputy, Abubakar Abba, popularly called Mahmud Al-Nigeri or Isah Adam/Mallam Mamuda. While Usman admitted guilt on one of the counts, his co-defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges. Justice Emeka Nwite, who delivered the verdict, ordered that both men remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) until the remaining 31 counts are determined. In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, the Federal Government accused Usman, from Okene LGA of Kogi State, and Al-Nigeri, from Daura LGA of Katsina State, of aiding and abetting terrorist activities in Nigeria between 2013 and 2015. According to the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, M.B. Abubakar, the two men allegedly served as top commanders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (JAMBS/Ansaru), a proscribed group linked to Al-Qaeda. The defendants were also accused of receiving training in weapons handling, bomb-making, and guerrilla warfare from Jama’atu Nusratil Islami Wal Muslimin (JNIM), a terrorist organisation based in Mali. Additionally, they were implicated in the 2022 attack on Wawa Cantonment in New-Bussa, Niger State, an assault on a Nigerian Army facility that claimed several lives.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday described slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a “martyr for truth,” while blaming the “radical left” for fueling the rhetoric that led to his killing. In a video shared on Truth Social, Trump said: “For years those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism we’re seeing in our country today, and it must stop right now.” The president vowed to launch a crackdown on those behind the attack, warning: “My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to this atrocity, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund and support it.” Kirk, a prominent supporter of Trump known for rallying young voters, was fatally shot while addressing an event at Utah Valley University. Video footage showed him speaking to a large audience when a single gunshot rang out, causing panic. Investigators believe the shot was fired from a campus rooftop by an assailant dressed in black, in what they suspect was a targeted attack. The gunman remains at large.

A 2025 UNICEF Child Nutrition Report has sounded the alarm on a worsening global nutrition crisis, revealing that, for the first time in history, more children and adolescents are obese than underweight. The report, released Tuesday, shows that 391 million children and adolescents—roughly one in five worldwide—are overweight, with 42 percent classified as obese. Since 2000, the number of overweight school-age children has more than doubled, climbing from 194 million to 391 million. Strikingly, over 80 percent of these cases are now found in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting a dramatic global shift once thought to affect mainly wealthier nations. UNICEF attributes the surge largely to the aggressive marketing and widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks, which are steadily replacing nutritious options such as fruits and vegetables in children’s diets. The report emphasizes that childhood overweight and obesity are no longer isolated problems but a worldwide emergency. In 2025, a historic tipping point was reached: obesity rates among children aged 5 to 19 (9.4 percent) surpassed underweight rates (9.2 percent). UNICEF warns that these unhealthy eating patterns often begin in early childhood and continue into adolescence, where processed and sugary foods have become dietary staples. Globally, 60 percent of adolescents reported consuming more than one sugary food or beverage in a single day, while 32 percent consumed soft drinks and 25 percent ate more than one salty processed snack. The influence of junk food marketing is also widespread. A global U-Report survey revealed that three out of four young people saw junk food advertisements within a week, with digital marketing strategies increasingly targeting children beyond the awareness of parents and regulators. The report stresses that delaying action on malnutrition will worsen future health costs, raise risks of chronic diseases, and deepen inequalities. “Without bold action to transform food environments, today’s generation of children will face a lifetime burden of poor health,” it warns.

President Bola Tinubu has instructed a Federal Executive Council (FEC) committee to intensify efforts to reduce food prices across the country. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering a paper at a one-day capacity-building workshop for journalists covering the Senate. He said the committee’s work would focus on ensuring the safe passage of agricultural products along key routes nationwide to curb high transportation costs, a major factor driving food prices. Abdullahi stressed that the initiative aligns with Tinubu’s vision of achieving food sovereignty, which includes availability, accessibility, affordability, and nutritional adequacy of food on a sustainable basis. “The president has given a matching order, and the FEC committee is already handling it,” he said. He further revealed that other government programmes were in the pipeline, including the Farmer Soil Health Scheme and Cooperative Reform, both designed to support resource mobilisation, enhance productivity, and improve farmers’ livelihoods. According to him, President Tinubu has shown strong interest in strengthening cooperatives as tools for economic activity and community development. The workshop, themed “Parliamentary Reporting: Issues, Challenges and Responsibilities,” was attended by Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs Chairman Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Senator Ita Enang, and Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).