Category: Refined Living

Renowned American climber Alex Honnold has completed a daring free-solo ascent of Taipei 101, scaling the iconic skyscraper without ropes, a harness or any form of safety equipment. The 508-metre (1,667-foot) tower in Taiwan’s capital, named after its 101 floors and designed to resemble a bamboo stalk, is one of the tallest buildings in the world. Honnold, famous for becoming the first person to climb Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan without protective gear, completed the skyscraper climb in one hour and 31 minutes. The feat was originally scheduled for Saturday but was postponed due to wet weather conditions. The ascent was streamed live on Netflix, which noted there would be a broadcast delay as a safety precaution. After reaching the top, Honnold summed up the experience with a single word: “Sick.” His time was more than twice as fast as the previous known ascent of the tower. French climber Alain Robert, also known as “Spiderman,” scaled Taipei 101 in four hours using ropes and a harness when the building was still the world’s tallest. Taiwan’s Vice President, Hsiao Bi-khim, praised the climber, writing on X that she could “barely watch” the nerve-racking ascent. Honnold was welcomed at the summit by his wife, who had earlier voiced concerns about the strong winds and intense heat during the climb. At one point, as he neared the 89th floor, spectators inside the building spotted him and began cheering and waving through the glass. Footage shared by Honnold and Netflix on Instagram showed him continuing calmly, unfazed by the distraction. Honnold has built a career around extreme, high-risk climbs. His 2018 documentary Free Solo, which chronicled his rope-free ascent of El Capitan’s 3,000-foot granite face, went on to win an Academy Award.

Andy Burnham has been prevented from contesting the forthcoming parliamentary by-election in Gorton and Denton after Labour’s ruling body refused to approve his candidacy. Burnham, the directly elected Mayor of Greater Manchester, required clearance from Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to stand. He applied on Saturday, but the NEC decided against granting permission, citing concerns over the cost and disruption of triggering a mayoral election. In a statement, Labour said the decision was taken to avoid an unnecessary mayoral poll that would consume significant public funds and party resources at a time when attention should be focused on addressing the cost-of-living crisis. The by-election was triggered after former Labour minister Andrew Gwynne resigned as MP on health grounds. Burnham, a former cabinet minister and ex-MP for Leigh, is widely viewed as a potential future leadership challenger to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer should he return to Westminster. The decision has angered a number of Labour MPs and party members, some of whom argue that local members should have been allowed to choose Burnham as their candidate. Critics within the party say blocking him is a risky move that could deepen internal divisions, especially as Labour continues to trail Reform UK in national opinion polls. One senior Labour source described the decision as a “huge gamble,” warning that the party was sidelining its strongest candidate in what could be a difficult by-election. The NEC decision was taken on Sunday morning by 10 members, including Sir Keir Starmer, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Labour chair Ellie Reeves. NEC sources said the vote was 8–1 in favour of blocking Burnham’s candidacy. Mahmood abstained as chair, while Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell voted in favour of allowing him to stand. According to party sources, concerns raised during the meeting included the financial burden of replacing Burnham as mayor and the risk of a divisive internal campaign. Allies of the prime minister argued that Burnham is performing well as mayor and that a replacement election could cost millions of pounds at a time of economic pressure. They also warned that Reform UK could significantly outspend Labour during the campaign. Labour said the NEC believed forcing a mayoral election would have a “substantial and disproportionate impact” on party resources ahead of key elections in May, including local council contests and devolved polls in Scotland and Wales. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell strongly criticised the decision, calling it “weakness and cowardice” and warning that it would provoke anger among party members. He dismissed claims that cost considerations justified the move, describing them as an “insult to people’s intelligence.” However, other Labour MPs welcomed the ruling. John Slinger said the swift decision would allow the party to move past what he described as a damaging period of internal drama. Burnham, who has twice unsuccessfully contested the Labour leadership, has not ruled out a future challenge to Sir Keir but said in a letter to the NEC that his intention in returning to Parliament would be to support the government, not undermine it. Gorton and Denton has long been a Labour stronghold. The party won the seat in 2024 with a majority of 13,000, though its popularity has since dipped, with Reform UK and the Green Party expected to mount strong challenges.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has instituted a lawsuit against the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) over their alleged failure to account for N128 billion in public funds. The suit, filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja, was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare. According to the statement, the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/143/2026, was instituted last Friday and is based on allegations contained in the Auditor-General of the Federation’s report published on September 9, 2025. In the action, SERAP is asking the court to issue an order of mandamus compelling the Minister of Power and NBET to account for what it described as “missing or diverted” N128bn allegedly traced to the Ministry of Power and NBET. The organisation is also seeking a court order directing the defendants to publicly disclose how the funds were spent, including dates of disbursement and the identities of beneficiaries or contractors involved. SERAP further wants the court to mandate the disclosure of the names, official positions and offices of all public officials who authorised, approved or were otherwise involved in the release of the disputed funds. The organisation said Nigerians continue to bear the brunt of corruption in the electricity sector, particularly in the face of persistent grid collapses and unreliable power supply. “There is a clear public interest in ensuring accountability and justice over these serious allegations,” SERAP stated, arguing that the reliefs sought would help address deep-rooted problems in the power sector. According to the group, compelling transparency would contribute to curbing corruption, reducing frequent transmission failures and improving access to stable and uninterrupted electricity nationwide. SERAP also warned that corruption has worsened the hardship faced by electricity consumers, noting that many Nigerians remain without power while still being burdened with exorbitant electricity bills. The suit was filed by SERAP’s legal team, comprising Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo, and is anchored on findings from the Auditor-General’s 2022 audited report, which allegedly highlighted several financial irregularities involving the Ministry of Power and NBET. SERAP cited relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution and international anti-corruption treaties, insisting that public institutions are legally obligated to uphold transparency, accountability and the eradication of corruption. No hearing date has been fixed for the matter.

A federal commissioner at the Federal Civil Service Commission, Henry Idahagbon, has called for the total dismantling of godfatherism in Nigeria’s political system, describing it as a harmful practice uniquely invented in the country. Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, Idahagbon, who represents Edo, Ekiti and Ondo states, said godfatherism remains one of Nigeria’s negative contributions to democratic development. According to him, while influential political figures exist in democracies across the world, including the United States, the Nigerian version of godfatherism is extreme and unmatched. “There are powerful political actors everywhere, but nothing compares with the Nigerian concept of godfatherism. It is a uniquely Nigerian creation,” he said. Idahagbon cited Edo and Rivers states as prime examples of the destructive effects of godfatherism, recalling the political crisis between former Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, and his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole. He recounted how tensions escalated to the point where Oshiomhole was declared persona non grata in a state he once governed, requiring private security escort from the airport to his residence. He added that Oshiomhole’s convoy was repeatedly attacked and that thugs once attempted to burn down his house. He noted that a similar situation is currently unfolding in Rivers State, where the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory is allegedly exerting undue influence over Governor Siminalayi Fubara after supporting his emergence. Idahagbon, a former attorney-general and commissioner for justice during Oshiomhole’s administration, stressed that Nigerian leaders must learn to disengage from power after leaving office. “When governors and presidents leave office, they should leave completely and stop trying to impose successors,” he said. He argued that the drive to handpick successors is often motivated by the desire for protection after leaving office, adding that leaders with clean records have nothing to fear. “If you have performed well in office, you don’t need to determine who succeeds you,” he said, citing Abia State Governor Alex Otti as an example. The commissioner urged Nigerians to embrace the principle of “one man, one vote” and reject godfatherism, calling for the mantra to become a national creed. “Godfatherism has far-reaching negative consequences for our polity. It is time we consciously say no to it,” he added.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has discontinued the special concessions and registration procedures previously extended to candidates living with albinism for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), citing widespread abuse and examination malpractice. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Isaq Oloyede, disclosed that the decision followed findings that some individuals exploited the privilege by using artificial intelligence and other means to falsely present themselves as albino candidates during registration. According to him, more than 7,000 candidates claimed to be albinos in the previous UTME cycle, prompting the Board to abolish the special arrangement entirely. The announcement was made on Saturday in Ikeja, Lagos, during a meeting between JAMB management and Commissioners for Education from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, convened to review past admission exercises. Prof. Oloyede noted that despite several safeguards introduced by JAMB, some candidates and institutions remained intent on undermining the system. He also cautioned faith-based tertiary institutions to be transparent about their religious identity at the point of admission. According to him, it is misleading for institutions to present themselves as secular only to later impose compulsory religious practices on students. “If you are a faith-based institution, declare it clearly from the onset. The law permits the establishment of faith-based schools, but applicants deserve to know what they are signing up for,” he said. On examination malpractice, Oloyede revealed that investigations showed some undergraduates sit for UTME either to change courses or to impersonate other candidates. He cited a case from the previous year where the highest-scoring UTME candidate was later discovered to be a 300-level university student. He warned that any candidate already admitted into a tertiary institution who fails to disclose their status while sitting for UTME would be disqualified and risk losing their current admission. Addressing admission criteria, the registrar explained that federal institutions allocate 45 per cent of admissions on merit, 20 per cent to catchment areas, 20 per cent to educationally disadvantaged states, while the remaining slots cover other considerations. He encouraged state-owned institutions to allocate at least 10 per cent of admissions purely on merit to promote diversity. Oloyede also criticised states that establish new universities despite failing to exhaust their admission quotas in existing institutions. On underage admissions, he reaffirmed that 16 years remains the minimum entry age, noting that while over 42,000 candidates claimed to be underage last year, only 78 were found exceptional enough to be admitted after assessment. The meeting further agreed that parental pressure was a major factor driving premature educational advancement among children. As part of efforts to curb malpractice, JAMB has also banned the movement of computers between Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, ensuring that systems accredited to a centre remain permanently there. Providing an update on the 2025 UTME, Oloyede said about 974,855 candidates had secured admission out of nearly 1.95 million candidates who sat for the examination. He added that over ₦2.4 billion had been disbursed in the last decade to institutions that consistently complied with JAMB regulations. He concluded by warning state governments against partnerships with private CBT centre promoters that could be exploited to facilitate examination malpractice.

The Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) has explained that Friday’s national electricity grid collapse was caused by the simultaneous tripping of several 330kV transmission lines, along with the disconnection of some power generation units. The incident led to a sharp drop in electricity generation, which fell from over 4,500 megawatts to about 24 megawatts by around 1:30 pm. All 23 power plants connected to the grid reportedly lost output, leaving the country’s 11 electricity distribution companies with zero power allocation. In a preliminary statement issued on Saturday, NISO said the system-wide disturbance occurred at approximately 12:40 pm on Friday, January 23, 2026, resulting in a total outage across the interconnected power network. According to the operator, initial operational findings showed that the collapse was linked to the simultaneous tripping of multiple 330kV transmission lines and the shutdown of some grid-connected generating units, which together triggered the system failure. NISO said restoration efforts began shortly after the outage, with grid recovery activities commencing around 1:15 pm in line with established restoration procedures. The operator added that electricity supply had since been restored to areas including Abuja, Osogbo, Benin, Onitsha, Sakete, Jebba, Kainji, Shiroro, and parts of Lagos, while work continued to restore power in other parts of the country. NISO also confirmed that an investigation into the incident is underway to determine the root and contributing causes, stressing that full restoration and stabilisation of the national grid remain its top operational priority.

Thousands of people defied freezing temperatures on Friday to protest the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, as anger mounted over the detention of a five-year-old migrant boy. The demonstrations were accompanied by widespread business closures in protest of the ongoing federal operation in Minnesota. Dozens of restaurants, entertainment venues, and other businesses shut down as part of a coordinated day of action opposing the weeks-long immigration enforcement campaign. Public outrage intensified after images circulated showing a distressed preschooler, Liam Conejo Ramos, being held by immigration officers who were attempting to arrest his father. The crackdown has already drawn criticism following an incident in which a federal agent shot and killed a US citizen. The superintendent of Columbia Heights Public Schools said Ramos, a preschool pupil, and his Ecuadorian father, Adrian Conejo Arias both asylum seekers were taken from their driveway on Tuesday as they arrived home. She alleged that officers later used the child to lure others out of the house. One demonstrator told reporters he joined the march because “if we don’t fight, we don’t win,” holding a sign that read “five-years-old, dude,” in reference to the boy. Thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been deployed to the Democratic-led city as President Donald Trump intensifies efforts to deport undocumented immigrants nationwide. During a visit to Minneapolis on Thursday, Vice President JD Vance confirmed that Ramos was detained but said agents were acting to protect him after his father allegedly fled from officers. “What are they supposed to do?” Vance asked. “Let a five-year-old child freeze to death?” UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged US authorities to halt what he described as the harmful treatment of migrants and refugees. ICE records showed that Arias was being held at a detention facility in Texas, though the database does not disclose the locations of minors. Senior Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino defended the handling of the child, insisting officers were trained to deal with children. ICE commander Marcos Charles said officers made efforts to reunite Ramos with his family, alleging that relatives refused to open the door after the father ran. He added that both father and son would remain in custody pending immigration proceedings, claiming they entered the country illegally. Ramos’s teacher described him as a bright and enthusiastic student. As temperatures dropped to minus 23 degrees Celsius on Friday, protesters wrapped in winter clothing chanted “ICE out” across Minneapolis. Separate demonstrations were held outside Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport over its use in deportation operations. A Methodist pastor said about 100 clergy members were arrested at the airport during protests and charged with trespassing and disobeying a peace officer. Former vice president Kamala Harris condemned the child’s detention, calling it “outrageous” and describing Ramos as “just a baby.” School officials said at least four children in the same district have been detained this month. Protests in the city have grown increasingly tense since federal agents shot and killed US citizen Renee Good on January 7. An autopsy ruled the death a homicide, though the officer involved has not been suspended or charged. The lawyer representing Ramos and his father said they followed legal procedures in applying for asylum in Minneapolis, a sanctuary city. Minnesota authorities are seeking a temporary restraining order to halt the ICE operation, with a court hearing scheduled for Monday.

The University of Ibadan (UI) has been ranked as Nigeria’s leading university in both law and medicine in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject 2026. The rankings, obtained on Saturday via the THE website, place UI among the top-performing institutions globally in the two disciplines. In the law category, UI and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) were ranked in the 301–400 band, securing Nigeria’s representation among 425 leading law schools worldwide. The assessment was based on indicators such as teaching quality, research output, international outlook, and performance across constitutional, criminal, corporate, and international law. According to THE, the 2026 law rankings evaluate excellence in constitutional and administrative law, international law, commercial and corporate law, criminal law and justice, as well as legal theory and jurisprudence. Stanford University topped the global law ranking for teaching excellence. In medicine and health-related subjects, THE said the 2026 rankings assessed universities across medicine, dentistry, nursing, and other healthcare disciplines. The University of Oxford emerged as the world’s leading institution in the category for its strong performance in teaching, research, and industry engagement, with the University of California, Berkeley also making the global top 10. THE disclosed that 1,230 universities from 102 countries and territories were evaluated using 18 performance indicators, adjusted specifically for medical and health disciplines. Within Nigeria, UI led the medical and health rankings in the 301–400 band, followed by the University of Lagos in the 401–500 category. Ahmadu Bello University, Bayero University, the University of Benin, the University of Jos, and UNN were placed in the 601–800 band. Babcock University, Obafemi Awolowo University, and the University of Ilorin ranked in the 801–1000 band, while Lagos State University and the University of Port Harcourt were listed in the 1001+ category.

The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan, has urged Nigeria to drastically cut its reliance on imports and deliberately harness its large population for productive industrial activity, warning that population size alone does not translate into economic growth. Speaking at the Redeemed Christian Church of God Lagos Province 35 Economic Summit on Saturday, Owan said the success of the Federal Government’s Nigeria-First policy hinges on policy consistency, coordinated implementation, and the effective use of public procurement to drive local manufacturing. He explained that President Bola Tinubu introduced the Nigeria-First policy in 2025 to prioritise Nigerian-made goods and services in government procurement, but stressed that implementation is now the critical challenge. According to the minister, engagements have begun between the Ministry of Industry and Development and the Bureau of Public Procurement to focus on key sectors such as textiles and apparel, automotive, medical equipment, furniture, and others. He noted that a well-structured procurement framework could create steady demand for locally produced goods and unlock significant private-sector investment. Owan described public procurement as a powerful but underutilised tool for industrial development, saying predictable government demand can accelerate domestic value-chain growth. He cited countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam, which built global manufacturing strength not through perfect infrastructure but through policy predictability, competitiveness, and focused value chains. He also argued that Nigeria could achieve self-sufficiency in areas like clothing and automotive manufacturing if procurement policies were deliberately used to encourage local production. As an example, he said multinational firms would be compelled to invest locally if government purchases were tied to domestic manufacturing. The minister revealed that manufacturers consistently emphasise the need for predictability rather than perfection. He said stable rules and clear policy direction are essential for businesses to invest, expand, and create jobs. “Predictability is the foundation of competitiveness,” Owan said, adding that uncertainty forces businesses to focus on survival instead of growth. He noted that the current administration’s reforms aim to shift Nigeria from consumption-driven policies to a rule-based, production-oriented economy, built on stability, fairness, and investor confidence. Owan warned that Nigeria’s youthful population could become a burden if industrial capacity is not expanded quickly enough to generate jobs, stressing that a large population only becomes an advantage when it is productive. He added that aligning industrial policy with procurement reform would reduce import dependence, strengthen local manufacturing, and ensure government spending supports Nigerian industries. “We are aligning policy, procurement, and production to turn population into demand, demand into production, and production into jobs,” he said. The minister concluded by expressing hope that reforms in 2026 would result in more jobs, stronger industries, increased trade, and deeper investment across the economy.

The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has rejected calls to remove Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate ahead of the 2027 general election, describing such a move as a serious political error. The forum, in a statement on Thursday in Abuja signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Zazzaga, responded to reports that some party members were pushing for Shettima’s replacement. Speculation intensified after the vice president’s photo was left off a banner featuring APC leaders from the North-East during the party’s zonal public hearing in Maiduguri on constitutional amendments. The banner included President Tinubu, five governors from the zone, and the party’s National Legal Adviser. The controversy has reignited debate over the viability of the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket for 2027 and Shettima’s political future. Some party stakeholders have suggested replacing him with a Christian from the North-Central region. However, the North-Central APC Forum warned that dropping Shettima would be disastrous for the party and could undermine Tinubu’s re-election prospects. The forum stressed that the North-Central region is focused on contesting the presidency in 2031, not the vice-presidency in 2027. It argued that injecting religion into the decision would be counterproductive, noting that there is currently no Christian candidate in the North with the grassroots support, national appeal, or political structure to match Shettima’s complementarity with Tinubu. “Changing a winning ticket is highly risky. We totally reject calls to drop Vice President Kashim Shettima as President Bola Tinubu’s running mate. We advise the President and party leaders not to heed such calls, as it would be a grievous political miscalculation,” the statement read. The forum accused proponents of Shettima’s removal of acting against the party’s and the President’s interests, claiming they had no intention of supporting Tinubu’s re-election. Analysing voting patterns, the forum said replacing Shettima would not attract new voters but could cost core northern support, potentially benefiting opposition candidates such as Peter Obi of the African Democratic Congress. “Those calling for a change did not back Tinubu in 2023 and are unlikely to support him in 2027, even if he drops Shettima for a Christian. This would risk alienating core northern voters and strengthen the opposition,” the statement warned. The forum also dismissed suggestions that foreign powers might pressure Nigeria to abandon the Muslim-Muslim ticket, insisting that Nigeria’s sovereignty must be respected. “The Muslim-Muslim ticket delivered victory in 2023. Nigeria is independent, and no external actor will dictate our political choices,” it said, cautioning that outside interference could undermine democracy and provoke conflict.