European champions Real Madrid overcame Al-Hilal in an eight-goal thriller at the final of the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday night to seal a fifth title in nine years.
The game, played in the Moroccan capital, saw Nigerian forward Odion Ighalo feature in the final minutes for the Saudi Arabian side.
Asian champions Al-Hilal, who trailed by two goals before 18 minutes, did put up a monumental fight against their European counterparts but it was Real who clinched the victory with a 5-3 scoreline.
Al-Hilal goalscorers were Luciano Vietto (a brace) and Moussa Marega while Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde netted a brace each for Real Madrid, and Benzema scored a goal.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team successfully added to their four cups from 2014 to 2018, and their triumph meant European teams have won the past 10 editions of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the competition features reigning continental champions and champions of the host country. But FIFA has announced its intentions to change the format from June 2025 to feature 32 teams and be held every four years
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has petitioned the International Criminal Court (ICC) to “promptly seek authorisation from the ICC Chamber to commence an investigation into the situation in Nigeria in relation to the growing cases of pre-election violence, which if not addressed may escalate and lead to post-election violence in the country.”
This petition was signed by the SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, following reports of election-related violence in several states including Lagos, Rivers, and Kaduna states.
The petition dated 11 February, 2023 was sent to Mr Karim Khan, QC, Prosecutor, ICC.
Over 4,000 cases of violent attacks and 11,000 fatalities were reported across the country between 1 January 2022 and 3 February 2023 alone.
The petition, read in part: “SERAP urges you to seek authorisation from the ICC Chamber to commence an investigation into the situation in Nigeria in relation to election-related violence that may be committed during and after the elections scheduled for February and March 2023.
“SERAP also urges you to identify the suspected perpetrators of election-related violence and those individuals who bear the greatest responsibility for encouraging or facilitating these crimes, and to ensure their effective prosecution by the ICC.”
“These are not isolated acts, but part of growing cases of election violence, thus constituting crimes against humanity.”
“Seeking authorisation from the ICC Chamber to commence an investigation in relation to election-related violence that may be committed after the general elections is consistent with Article 53(1)(a) of the Rome Statute which allows investigation into ‘a crime which has been or is being committed.’
“SERAP notes that the Prosecutor has consistently relied on the provisions of Article 15 of the Rome Statute and Regulation 49 of the ICC to investigate cases of election-related violence in other countries, including Cote d’Ivoire and Kenya.
“The requested investigation is neither frivolous nor politically motivated. Cases of election-related violence are rarely investigated by the Nigerian authorities. Nigerian authorities are unwilling or unable genuinely to carry out the investigation or prosecution.
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“As a result, suspected perpetrators and those who encourage or facilitate their crimes continue to enjoy impunity. Victims continue to be denied access to justice and effective remedies.
“The escalating cases of election-related violence in Nigeria meet the requirements of the Rome Statute and provide reasonable basis for you to promptly commence an investigation, particularly given the gravity of these cases and the interests of victims.
“It is necessary to ensure that any request for authorisation covers investigation into ongoing and continuing election-related crimes during and after the elections, especially given the volatile political environment in the country and the entrenched impunity for these crimes.”
An old World War II bomb “unexpectedly” exploded on Friday in the seaside town of Great Yarmouth in the United Kingdom, the Norfolk Police revealed in a statement.
The police said the 250kg bomb was discovered on Tuesday by a contractor working on the third crossing over the River Yare and exploded as workers attempted to diffuse it, though no one was hurt in the incident, which pre-empted an army disposal team’s plans for a controlled explosion.
The statement added that army specialists had been cutting the bomb using a technique that creates a slow burn of the explosives.
After the explosion, the Norfolk Police wrote on its Twitter page:
The unexploded bomb in #GreatYarmouth detonated earlier during work to disarm it. Our drone captured the moment. We can confirm that no one was injured. Public safety has been at the heart of our decision making all the way through this operation, which we know has been lengthy. pic.twitter.com/9SaeYmHkrb
Messi’s current deal expired at the end of the current season and nothing has been finalised on a new contract.
The Argentine is looking at some jaw-dropping offers from Saudi Arabia and Major League Soccer and could be on his way out of PSG.
The PSG President for this reason is said to have identified the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations finalist as a potential replacement for the football king.
Salah has scored 17 goals and has provided seven assists in 31 games across competitions for the Red this season despite Jurgen Klopp’s side struggles.
The Egyptian forward, who moved to Anfield in 2017, has scored 173 goals in 285 games and provided 70 assists for the Reds, helping them win the Champions League and the Premier League
The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday hailed the Supreme Court over its ruling on the naira redesign.
A seven-member panel of the apex court had earlier on Wednesday restrained the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from going ahead with the February 10 deadline for the withdrawal of the old naira notes from circulation was discussed by the two leaders.
The court delivered the ruling in an application filed by Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), and Bello Matawalle (Zamfara).
The court also adjourned the case to February 15, 2023.
Tinubu, who reacted to the judgement in a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity in the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Omanuga, said the ruling saved Nigeria from anarchy.
The former Lagos State governor charged the Nigerian government to revise the policy in the interest of Nigerians.
He also commended the three APC governors who took the matter to the apex court, saying he was in the presidential race to make life better for Nigerians.
The statement read: “I want to salute the courage of our governors and most especially the progressives governors in APC who acted to save our country from avoidable and dangerous political crises and social unrest which the central bank policy on new naira notes has brought on our country,”
“Our country was dangerously careering toward anarchy and political and economic shutdown. But with the Supreme Court interim ruling, our country has been pulled back from the precipice.
“We thank our Supreme Court justices for ruling wisely on the side of the people who have been subjected to undue agony and pains since this policy was announced.
“The federal government and relevant stakeholders can now sit down and work out a better framework on how to proceed with the new policy without causing any social and economic disruption and inconvenience to our people. We have examples of other countries that have successfully and seamlessly changed their currencies to learn from.
Speaking to reporters,President Erdoğan said another 49,133 people were injured and a total of 6,444 buildings collapsed in the earthquake.
As of Tuesday morning, AFAD stated that 79,110 aid personnel are working in the region as part of relief efforts.
Tuesday evening, Vice President Fuat Oktay noted that they have started using all airports to organize aid efforts, and helicopters were set to continue work throughout the night as part of disaster relief efforts. Over 450,000 people have been sheltering in student dormitories, he added.
In an earlier news conference, Orhan Tatar, head of the Directorate of Earthquake and Risk Reduction called on all citizens to refrain from entering damaged buildings since unpredictable aftershocks could instantly cause them to collapse. He also called on citizens to not use telephones unless it is an emergency.
Two major earthquakes and 648 aftershocks, that occured since Monday according to the official data from AFAD, also affected sea levels, which rose particularly in the Iskenderun district of Hatay.
Roads, squares and workplaces in the coastal area are flooded, while buildings and workplaces on the boulevard were evacuated due to risks.
After two major earthquakes that shook Türkiye, the sea level rose on the coastal road in the Çay neighborhood of Hatay’s Iskenderun district and overflowed the area near Mete Aslan Boulevard.
The sea level rose in Iskenderun district of Hatay, following 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes that ocurred on Monday, Iskenderun, southeastern Türkiye, Feb. 8, 2023. (DHA Photo) The sea level rose in Iskenderun district of Hatay, following 7.7 and 7.6 earthquakes that ocurred on Monday, Iskenderun, southeastern Türkiye, Feb. 8, 2023. (DHA Photo) People, who visited the streets after the earthquake, were surprised that sea waters had flooded the roads, while it was notable that the sea did not recede even though it has been two days since the earthquake.
The Iskenderun District Governorate also warned people of the region not to enter damaged houses due to potential dangers posed by sea-water overflow in the coastal area. Citizens tried to remain in parks and closed neighborhood markets after the disaster.
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Meanwhile resuce operations are continuing in all 10 provinces, with consoling news coming in from worsely hit provinces Hatay and Kahramanmaraş, where an 80-year old citizen named Abdurrahman and 3-year old Arif Kaan were resuced from the rubble, among others.
Two strong earthquakes on Monday jolted the southeastern part of the country. The earthquakes also hit several neighboring countries in the region, including Syria and Lebanon. Syria, already reeling from a decadelong civil war, has been hit particularly badly with over 2,500 deaths and thousands of injuries.
Türkiye announced the closure of schools until Feb. 13 across the country and declared a week of mourning. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Tuesday also announced that a three-month state of emergency had been declared in the 10 provinces hit the worst by the deadly earthquakes
If you’re a fan of Nigerian music, then you’re probably familiar with Asake and his catchy new song Yoga. But what does the song mean? The song is about the never-ending cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The lyrics is about finding balance and peace within you, as he talks about being stuck in the same place and trying to find a way out.
Asake’s yoga lyrics also centre on the idea that he is doing yoga and that no one should bother him while he is doing so since he is attempting to relax and find some peace of mind. The song has resonated with many people, as it speaks to the human experience of overcoming challenges. It is a reminder that we all have the power within us to keep going, no matter what life throws our way.
The main theme of Asake Yoga’s songs is that, despite people’s obsession with their own perceptions of his life, he is on his journey and working toward doing what he does best.
Yoga by Asake contends that rather than trying to predict when he would fail or quit, people should realize that when they examine his life and attempt to gauge his accomplishments, they will never stop. As a result, they should accept this reality and continue on with their lives.
Asake‘s Yoga also discusses how individuals have committed themselves to mental clarity and renewal. In some ways, the words of Yoga by Asake depict the well-known situation of having people watch you so they may gauge your development and determine whether you are moving forward at all. Despite the deep message, the song is still catchy and enjoyable to listen to. It’s clear that Asake is a talent to watch out for in the future. So if you’re looking for a new artist to check out, be sure to give Asake a listen.
That’s what Asake Yoga lyrics mean.
Delivery
Asake’s delivery of his new song “Yoga” was fantastic! The music was catchy and upbeat, and Asake’s vocals were spot-on. The lyrics were clever and well-written, and the overall message of the song was positive and uplifting. It was clear that Asake put a lot of thought and effort into making this song, and it paid off. The song was a joy to listen to, and it’s sure to be a hit with fans of Asake’s music.
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When Asake released his new song Yoga, many people were quick to relate to its message. The song is all about continuing to push forward in life despite what others may think or say. Asake is urging people to stay focused on their goals and not to let anyone else get in the way.
For many people, this is an incredibly relatable message. We all have people in our lives who are quick to judge our every move and tell us what we should or shouldn’t be doing. It can be easy to get caught up in what others think of us, but Asake is reminding us that we need to stay true to ourselves.
This message is especially important for young people who are still figuring out who they are and what they want in life. With so many voices trying to tell us what to do, it’s easy to get lost. But if we can learn to tune out the noise and focus on our own inner voice, we will be much better off.
Asake’s Yoga is a reminder that we all need to stay true to ourselves and not let anyone else control our lives. It’s a powerful message that will resonate with many people.
Chorus Yoga yoga I dey on my away hey I dey maya Make nobody kill my yoga yoga Yoga yoga ha ha I dey on my away hey I dey maya Make nobody kill my yoga yoga
Yoga yoga yoga ha ha I dey on my away hey hey I dey maya Make nobody kill my yaga yaga Yoga yoga ha ha I dey on my away hey I dey maya Make nobody kill my yoga yoga
Verse Enemies I get them too much It’s better to get them surplus Who go dey for you no go take off Hmm hmm oju tele gan Oju tele gan Modupe mo thank God Omo olore mo gbaye mo keko Ori labi eteti egbe ko Ilu labi magic ko soro (Magic ko soro)
What can fa What can fa Keep distance if you wan come whine me Malo fa Malo far I still balance I still galant Alubarika Bara mi mecca Para pass para Alasake tin pa dollar ha
Chorus Yoga Yoga I dey on my away hey I dey maya Make nobody kill my yoga yoga Yoga yoga ha ha I dey on my away hey I dey maya Make nobody kill my yoga yoga
Yoga yoga yoga ha ha I dey on my away hey hey (Yogaga) I dey maya Make nobody kill my yaga yaga Yoga yoga ha ha I dey on my away hey I dey maya Make nobody kill my yoga yoga
This generation appears to enjoy documenting everything on camera, but Jay-Z isn’t into that way of life. The media magnate frequently avoids the spotlight and the prying paparazzi, and he was even seen gently dismissing a photographer at this year’s Roc Nation brunch.
A video of Hov strolling through the party went viral, showing him gently waving his hand at a photographer attempting to capture the ideal moment.
Elliott Wilson caught up with Jay for an interview with TIDAL, and during the chat, the Rap icon explained why is often avoids the cameras. “Yeah, we don’t come from that school,” he said. “We come from the don’t-you-ever-record-us school. What was the line? [He quoted lyrics from 2013’s “Oceans”] ‘See me in sh*t you never saw / If it wasn’t for these pictures you wouldn’t see me at all.‘”
He added, “We come from that school and we had fights over that. N—as trying to record — ‘Aye yo, don’t record me, champ. I ain’t into that.’ We come from a different world.” Hov further explained that this is “why The Black Album was so special.” He said “it was the first time cameras came into the studios and just lived with us.”
Meanwhile, Jay-Z also joined DJ Khaled, Lil Wayne, Fridayy, John Legend, and Rick Ross for a performance of “God Did.” He shared why he decided to return to the Grammy stage. “This ain’t your traditional song,” said the hitmaker. “It’s not your traditional structure of what you think a song that would be nominated for Song of the Year would sound like.”
It’s not what you expect. And for the culture and for hip-hop, we got to do that. We owe that. This thing that changed our lives. We got to do that. A four-minute verse performed at the Grammys. We owe it to the culture, and it ain’t even a burden. It’s a blessing. It’s easy and fun.”
All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has alleged that opposition political parties and enemies of democracy are taking advantage of the current scarcity of fuel and new naira notes to scuttle the forthcoming elections and cause strife in the country.
Tinubu, who addressed journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, said Nigerians must fight the plots and protect the country’s democracy.
The twin crises of fuel and cash scarcity had thrown Nigerians into unprecedented hardships, with some commercial banks accused of hoarding the new notes.
There were also reports of protest in different parts of the country as a result of the frustration resulting from the naira redesign policy recently announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Speaking on the situation in the country, the former Lagos State governor sympathized with Nigerians and called for calm.
He said: “This is a challenging period in the life of our country when our people are made to stay on the line for hours to get fuel and even get their own money from the banks.
“I empathize with Nigerians across the country, especially the poor masses who have been made to bear the brunt and pains of the CBN naira policy and fuel scarcity the most.
“While the government continues to work to solve these problems, let’s stay calm, maintain the peace and continue to shun and avoid any act capable of causing civil unrest and disharmony.
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“What the opposition and enemies of democracy want is to create a state of national siege and tension that can disrupt the coming general election and create an atmosphere of strife in our country.
“We must say no to them. We must be resolute and stand firm to protect our democracy by ensuring we hold our elections in a peaceful and orderly manner. I am in this race to bring renewed hope and prosperity to all Nigerians.
The Turkish chapter of the National Association of Nigeria Student (NANS-Turkey), has given a safety advisory to Nigerian students in the country following a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that hit the European nation on Monday.
The earthquake which rocked the country and neighbouring Syria, has reportedly killed over 4,000 people so far, with several thousands of others, including Nigerians, still trapped under rubble of collapsed buildings.
While giving the safety advisory on Tuesday, the NANS-Turkey President, Caleb Olasupo, advised Nigerian students living in the country to “stay calm and follow instructions from local authority.”
“Solidarity greeting to all Nigerian students. In light of the recent earthquakes of different magnitude that is occurring in Turkey,” the advisory reads.
“We would like to remind everyone to prioritise their safety. Please, follow any instructions from local authorities and avoid entering any damaged buildings or structures.
At the star-studded awards ceremony on Sunday night, the 64-year-old, seven-time Grammy winner introduced Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ performance of Unholy.
Earlier in the night, the duo won the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Petras made history by becoming the first transgender artist to win the award.
A different viewer commented: “So, I am just now watching the #GRAMMYs. Madonna doesn’t quite look like @Madonna to me.”
Madonna hailed the “the rebels out there” while brandishing a whip as she introduced the performance. The star asked: “Are you ready for a little controversy?”
At least 1,600 people died Monday in Türkiye when two major earthquakes and 145 aftershocks struck the southeast of the country, officials said.
Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said 1,651 people were killed and 11,119 others were injured following the earthquakes, which were felt in 11 provinces, including Malatya, Şanlıurfa, Osmaniye and Diyarbakır, although the toll threatened to climb much higher because of the heavy damage.
According to the country’s disaster agency, the strong earthquakes originated in the southern province of Kahramanmaraş.
Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) said the 7.7 magnitude quake struck at 4.17 a.m. (1:17 a.m. GMT) and was centered in the Pazarcık district.
The quake occurred at a depth of 7 kilometers (4.3 miles).
It was followed by a 6.4 magnitude quake that struck southeastern Gaziantep province.
A third earthquake with a 6.5 magnitude also hit Gaziantep.
The initial earthquake was also felt in other southeastern provinces, including Diyarbakır and neighboring countries including Lebanon and Syria.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan took to Twitter to convey get-well wishes to citizens affected by the initial earthquake.
He added that AFAD and other units are “on alert.”
He noted that rescue teams were immediately dispatched to the province affected by the earthquake.
“Our Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Health, the AFAD, provincial governorships and all other institutions started their work rapidly.”
President Erdoğan who arrived at the Presidency of AFAD to coordinate the studies regarding the 7.7 magnitude earthquake, said that Türkiye was shaken by the biggest disaster since the 1939 Erzincan earthquake in the last century, adding: ”According to the findings so far, 1,014 of our citizens have lost their lives and 7,634 of our citizens have been injured. The number of people rescued from under the rubble has reached 2,470. The number of demolished buildings is 2,834.”
”Its center was determined as the Pazarcık district of Kahramanmaraş and its moment magnitude was measured as 7.7 according to the last evaluation. The earthquake was felt over a wide area,” the president maintained.
“The earthquake caused destruction in Kahramanmaraş, as well as in Hatay, Gaziantep, Kilis, Osmaniye, Malatya, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Adana provinces,” Erdoğan noted.
”Despite minor damage in other provinces relatively close to the earthquake center, it is understood that the real destruction has taken place here. Serious destructions have also occurred in the cities of our southern neighbor Syria, close to our borders. Our state has taken action with all its institutions since the earthquake occurred.”
“We are also coordinating our work after the earthquake. We hope that we will get through this disaster together as soon as possible and with the least damage. We will continue our work.”
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu also said that six earthquakes with a magnitude above 6.0 hit the country early Monday.
Western Syria A powerful earthquake killed dozens and injured hundreds in northern and western Syria early on Monday, state media said, as rescue teams battled heavy rain and sleet in a search for survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings.
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“No official numbers yet but dozens reported dead and hundreds injured, many trapped under the rubble,” the force, known as the White Helmets, said in a Twitter message.
Several buildings in the affected areas had already endured damage during Syria’s nearly 12-year civil war
This formed the basis of the text of a press conference jointly addressed by the Osun Civil Societies Coalition and the People’s Advocates on the lingering scarcity of fuel and the redesigned Naira notes in the country on Monday, February 6, 2023, in Osogbo.
The statement jointly signed by Waheed Lawal and Emmanuel Olowu, Chairman and Publicity Secretary, Osun Civil Societies Coalition and The Peoples Advocates alluded to the fact that Nigerians are going through hell to get fuel and cash for personal use and business purposes.
While accusing the CBN of refusal to make available the redesigned Naira notes, they alleged that it amounted to a deliberate attempt to punish Nigerians unjustly.
It also demanded that the Central Bank of Nigeria make enough amount of the new Naira notes available to the banks for onward disbursement to the general public.
“Considering the pains being experienced by the common men in getting cash for their livelihood, it would not be out of place to declare that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government is inconsiderate and insensitive to the plight of the citizens.
“We need not to tell you the agony of Nigerians who queue for more than six hours to get cash from ATM. Some people are even unlucky as they will not be able to get cash at the end of the day after spending several hours in the queue.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria led by Mr Godwin Emefiele has clearly been playing hide-and-seek in the circulation of the new naira notes. We acknowledged the fact that there are saboteurs among the top echelon of the banking industries but the CBN has not also released enough amount of the redesigned denominations to banks through which they can be disbursed to the generality of people. This is responsible for the ridiculous amount of cash being paid to people over the counter.
“Economically, the scarcity of cash has crippled many businesses and further pushed millions of Nigerians far below the poverty line. Petty traders no longer make sales because of cash transactions which their trading depends upon. We make bold to say that this financial policy of the Federal Government is doing more harm than good presently. There should have been another way round to maintain a balance between cash control and the wellbeing of the people.”
Describing the sufferings of Nigerians as double jeopardy, the Civil Societies Organisations added that President Muhammadu Buhari has been laying lip service to ensuring that fuel is available at an affordable rate for Nigerians even as he directly supervises the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
“It equally speaks volumes of a President that has been supervising everything that has to do with petroleum resources to ask for seven days to address the fuel scarcity.
“The two key issues have taken away the dignity of the majority of Nigerians. We have seen videos where men and women stripped themselves naked in protest against their inability to get cash. Car owners have long been sleeping at filling stations for fuel. Many people have been injured as a result of fights at filling stations and ATM centres. In Osun today, we have filling stations selling fuel between N350 and N400 per litre. The masses remain the end receiver of this economic mismanagement. The reverberating effect falls on the common people who go to the market to buy foodstuffs, board public transport, pay bills, etc.”
While calling for an urgent address of the calamities, the group warned that if action is not taken, violent protests may be triggered nationwide.
“It is the awareness of this fact, coupled with the intelligence report that made us to suspend the mass protest that was supposed to be held today. We do not want to create a platform for some elements whose only language is violence. The outcome of last week’s protest in Ibadan and Benin is an indication that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder. The hardship is becoming unbearable to the generality of the people.
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“While we suspend our protest for today, we will hit the streets anytime soon if the cash and fuel scarcity persists.”
The group also called on security operatives and anti-graft agencies to go after bank managers and other officials who have been hoarding the new naira notes and sabotaging other processes of getting the new denominations widely circulated.
Israel’s decision to expand firearms licensing for Israelis will only escalate tensions and further violence with Palestinians, Volker Türk – the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – has warned.
“Plans by the Government of Israel to expedite and expand the licensing of firearms, with the stated intention of adding thousands of (Israeli) civilians carrying firearms – coupled with hateful rhetoric – can only lead to further violence and bloodshed,” Türk said in a statement.
“We know from experience that the proliferation of firearms will lead to increased risks of killings and injuries of both Israelis and Palestinians. Therefore, the Israeli authorities must work to reduce the availability of firearms in society,” he added.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that more Israelis would be permitted firearms licenses last week.
The move comes amid rising tension in the Palestinian territories following an Israeli military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin last week that left 10 Palestinians dead. Seven Israelis were also killed in a shooting attack in occupied East Jerusalem.
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“Rather than fueling a worsening spiral of violence, I urge all those holding public office or other positions of authority – indeed everyone – to stop using language that incites hatred of the other,” Türk said. “Such fomenting hatred is corrosive for all Israelis, Palestinians, and society.”
The U.N. commissioner noted that 32 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli army fire since the start of the year, while seven Israelis have also been killed.
“The people of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory need their leaders to work – urgently – to create conditions conducive to a political solution to this protracted, untenable situation,” he added.
Liverpool crashed to a fourth defeat in their last seven games in all competitions when Wolves fired three goals against the Reds in a Premier League encounter on Saturday evening, a miserable run featuring only one win.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are languishing in 10th place, 10 points adrift of the top four amid their worst season of Klopp’s seven-year reign.
It is the first time since 2012 that Liverpool have lost three successive away league games, while they have already conceded more league goals this season than they did in the entirety of last term.
Facing a struggling team who kicked off in the relegation zone, Liverpool immediately crumbled as Joel Matip deflected Hwang Hee-chan’s cross into his own net after five minutes.
Wolves debutant Craig Dawson doubled the lead after 12 minutes when the defender smashed in from 10 yards.
With Wolves fans taunting Klopp with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning”, Ruben Neves sealed the rout with a 71st-minute finish from Adama Traore’s cross.
Former governor of Sokoto, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, has expressed his displeasure with Governor Nasir El Rufai of of Kaduna state for saying the north is in support of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Presidential Candidate of the ALl Progressives Congress (APC).
In an interview with BBC, Bafarawa, a chieftain of People Democratic Party (PDP), said other persons from the region were also pushing their candidates.
“He (El-Rufai) was insisting that Tinubu must win the election, whether people like it or not, they have already won. Who told him that the whole of the North is supporting the APC?
“This is just his opinion, in that case, he has no right to insist on the North because everybody has his candidate.
“The way he is campaigning for Tinubu that is how we are campaigning for our candidate. We will shock them, we will make them understand that this country belongs to nobody, likewise the North.” Bafarawa said.
The former governor noted that youngsters who reason well in their youthful exuberance are better than someone who is 100 years if we are to consider age.
“He is talking about being 63, doesn’t he see that there are still elders left in the North? For us, we see that these comments are lacking in responsibility.
“He thinks that we are not elders, he will understand that there are elders in the north. His comments lack being responsible and respectful, What is expected of him are comments that can lead to the development of the North and the development of the country at large.
“El-Rufai talked about contesting for elections and winning, if this is what he referred to as being responsible, we have contested and won before him,” he stated.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken decided to postpone a trip to China after the discovery of a high-altitude Chinese spy balloon over the U.S. on Friday.
White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Air Force One that President Joe Biden supported Blinken’s decision.
Blinken told his Chinese counterpart that it was “irresponsible” of Beijing to send a surveillance balloon over U.S. soil as he explained why he postponed a visit.
In a phone call with Wang Yi, Blinken noted China’s “statement of regret but conveyed that this is an irresponsible act and a clear violation of U.S. sovereignty and international law that undermined the purpose of the trip,” a State Department statement said.
The postponement of Blinken’s trip, which had been arranged in November by Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, is a blow to those on both sides who saw it as an overdue opportunity to stabilize an increasingly fractious relationship. The last visit by a U.S. secretary of state was in 2017.
A Chinese spy balloon was spotted at about 60,000 feet (18,300 meters) over the central United States, demonstrating a capability to maneuver, the U.S. military said on Friday.
The disclosure about the spy balloon’s maneuverability directly challenges China’s assertion that the balloon was merely a civilian airship that had strayed into U.S. territory after being blown off course.
“We know this is a Chinese (surveillance) balloon and that it has the ability to maneuver,” Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told a news briefing at the Pentagon, declining to say precisely how it was powered or who in China was controlling its flight path.
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday decided against shooting down the balloon as it floated over Montana due to U.S. military concerns about the likely dispersal of debris, American officials say.
The Pentagon expects the balloon to continue traveling over U.S. airspace for a few more days, Ryder said, declining to speculate on what options the U.S. military might develop in that time as speculation swirled about whether Biden could still order the balloon be destroyed or perhaps captured.
Ryder said the U.S. military would not specify where precisely the balloon was positioned over the central United States, saying he didn’t want to get into an “hour-by-hour” cycle of updates. He said people in any given U.S. state could look up into the sky if they wanted.
“The public certainly has the ability to look up in the sky and see where the balloon is,” Ryder said.
Sen. Roger Marshall from Kansas said the spy balloon was over the northeastern part of his state and his staff was in contact with law enforcement officials.
“I condemn any attempts the Chinese make to spy on Americans. President Biden must protect the sovereignty of the U.S.,” Marshall posted on Twitter.
Ryder added the balloon posed no risk to people on the ground.
He spoke amid growing political fallout over the Chinese balloon’s presence over the U.S.
Biden ignored questions about the balloon when giving remarks on the economy Friday morning.
Chinese spy satellites carry similar sensors to what U.S. officials believe is on the spy balloon, raising questions about why Beijing would risk such a brazen act on the eve of a major diplomatic event.
Still, the Chinese spy balloon has taken a flight path that would carry it over a number of sensitive sites, officials said. One such site could be military bases, including in Montana, which is home to intercontinental ballistic missile silos.
The Billings, Montana, airport on Wednesday issued a ground stop as the military mobilized assets including F-22 fighter jets in case Biden ordered that the balloon be shot down.
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has been named the Premier League’s Player of the Month for January 2023.
Rashford picked the prize up in September as well and has remained a crucial player for United ever since, racking up 18 goals and eight assists in 31 games across all competitions this season.
In January, Rashford netted three goals across four Premier League outings, earning himself the Player of the Month prize for the second time this season and the third time across his career.
He opened the month by netting in a 3-0 victory over Bournemouth, before he famously completed a United comeback in the Manchester derby against Pep Guardiola’s City with an 82nd-minute winner to seal all three points.
After drawing a blank against Crystal Palace, Rashford rounded out January with a screamer of a strike in a 3-2 defeat to Arsenal which was also nominated for the month’s Best Goal award.
Rashford came out on top of a seven-man shortlist that also included Newcastle’s Dan Burn, Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson, City’s Riyad Mahrez, Brighton’s Solly March, Brentford’s David Raya and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka.
The Red Devils will also come up against Leeds United and Leicester City, before rounding out February with the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has alleged that his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro actively participated in planning for his supporters to storm government offices on January 8, as a senator revealed the former far-right president attended an anti-election plot meeting.
“Today I am well aware and will say it loud and clear: that citizen [former president Bolsonaro] prepared the coup,” Lula said in an interview with broadcaster RedeTV! on Thursday.
Refusing to accept Bolsonaro’s election loss, thousands of his backers broke into the presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court buildings in Brasilia a week after Lula’s inauguration.
The former president was not in the capital at the time and did not attend Lula’s inauguration. Bolsonaro has been in the US state of Florida since late December.
Protesters, supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, clash with police during a protest outside the Planalto palace building in Brasilia, Brazil, on Sunday, January 8, 2023 [Eraldo Peres/AP Photo]
“I am certain that Bolsonaro actively participated in that and is still trying to participate,” Lula added, when questioned about his predecessor’s role in the assault.
Lula’s allegations against Bolsonaro came the same day that Senator Marcos do Val accused the former president of attending a meeting on how to prevent the handover of power.
The plan, according to do Val, was to force Superior Electoral Court President Alexandre de Moraes to say something incriminating while secretly recording him.
De Moraes is a favourite target of Bolsonaro supporters, who allege he interfered in the election to help Lula.
Do Val, a former Bolsonaro ally, initially told Veja magazine that it was Bolsonaro who presented the plan to him, but later changed his version of the story, saying the former president remained “silent” during the meeting.
“’I annul the election, Lula isn’t sworn in, I stay in the presidency and arrest Alexandre de Moraes because of his comments,’” do Val quoted Bolsonaro as saying.
The former president, who has requested a six-month visa to remain in the United States, is being investigated as part of a sprawling probe into the January 8 assault
The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday voted to oust Ilhan Omar, one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
House Speaker was able to solidify Republican support against the Somali-born Muslim woman in the new Congress although some GOP lawmakers had expressed reservations. Removal of lawmakers from House committees was until the Democratic ousters two years ago of hard-right Republican of Georgia, and of Arizona.
The 218-211 vote, along party lines, came after a heated, voices-raised debate in which Democrats accused the GOP of targeting Omar based on her race. Omar defended herself on the House floor, asking if anyone was surprised she was being targeted, “because when you push power, power pushes back.” Democratic colleagues hugged and embraced their colleague during the vote.
“My voice will get louder and stronger, and my leadership will be celebrated around the world,” Omar said in a closing speech.
Republicans focused on six statements Omar has made that “under the totality of the circumstances, disqualify her from serving on the Committee of Foreign Affairs,” said Rep. Michael Guest, R-Miss.
“All members, both Republicans and Democrats alike who seek to serve on Foreign Affairs, should be held to the highest standard of conduct due to international sensitivity and national security concerns under the jurisdiction of this committee,” Guest said.
The resolution proposed by Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, a former official in the Trump administration, declared, “Omar’s comments have brought dishonor to the House of Representatives.”
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said Omar has at times “made mistakes” and used anti-Semitic tropes that were condemned by House Democrats four years ago. But that is not what Thursday’s vote was about, he said.
“It’s not about accountability, it’s about political vengeance,” Jeffries said.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, went took it one step further, saying that the GOP’s action was one of the “disgusting legacies after 9/11,” a reference to he Sept. 11, 2001, attack – “the targeting and racism against Muslim-Americans throughout the United States of America. And this is an extension of that legacy.”
She added, “This is about targeting women of color.”
Omar is one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress. She is also the first to wear a headscarf (Hijab) in the House chamber after floor rules were changed to allow members to wear head coverings for religious reasons.
She quickly generated controversy after entering Congress in 2019 with a pair of tweets that suggested lawmakers who supported Israel were motivated by money.
In the first, she criticized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. “It’s all about the Benjamin’s baby,” she wrote, invoking slang about $100 bills.
Asked on Twitter who she thought was paying members of Congress to support Israel, Omar responded, “AIPAC!”
The comments sparked a public rebuke from then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats who made clear that Omar had overstepped.
She soon apologized.
“We have to always be willing to step back and think through criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me about my identity. This is why I unequivocally apologize,” Omar tweeted.
Democrats rallied in a fiery defense of Omar and the experiences she brings to Congress.
Black, Latino and progressive lawmakers in particular spoke of her unique voice in the House and criticized Republicans for what they called a racist attack.
“Racist gaslighting,” said Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo. A “revenge resolution,” said Rep. Primila Jayapal of Washington, the chair of the progressive caucus.
“It’s so painful to watch,” said Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., who joined Congress with Omar in 2019, being among the first two female Muslims elected to the House.
“To Congresswoman Omar, I am so sorry that our country is failing you today through this chamber. You belong on that committee,” Tlaib said through tears.
Omar’s previous comments were among several remarks highlighted in the resolutions seeking her removal from the Foreign Affairs Committee.
The chairman of the committee, Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, argued for excluding Omar from the panel during a recent closed-door meeting with fellow Republicans.
“It’s just that her worldview of Israel is so diametrically opposed to the committee’s. I don’t mind having differences of opinion, but this goes beyond that,” McCaul told reporters in describing his stance.
Several Republicans skeptical of removing Omar wanted “due process” for lawmakers who face removal. McCarthy said he told them he would work with Democrats on creating a due process system, but acknowledged it is still a work in progress
The Foreign Ministry summoned the Norwegian ambassador to Ankara on Thursday. A statement by the ministry said the envoy was summoned upon learning that a Quran burning would take place in the Nordic country on Friday.
“It was emphasized to the ambassador that we strongly condemn Norway’s approach not to prevent the planned provocative act, which is clearly a hate crime, this attitude is unacceptable and we expect this act not to be allowed,” the diplomatic sources told Anadolu Agency (AA).
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu later told reporters that upon their warning to the country, Norway rescinded the permit for the act.
Quran burning demonstrations by Danish far-right politician Rasmus Paludan in Sweden and Denmark prompted global protests by Muslims in recent weeks. Norway is no stranger to such acts. Lars Thorsen, a well-known anti-Muslim extremist, burned a copy of the Quran in the country last year.
Although Türkiye repeatedly condemned such acts, Paludan’s provocation came at a time of tensions between Türkiye and Sweden over the latter’s NATO membership bid that needs to be ratified by Ankara. Paludan’s act was apparently in response to Türkiye’s opposition to Sweden’s NATO bid without desisting from harboring terrorists, namely those from the PKK and Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ), as the Danish politician chose a venue outside the Turkish Embassy to burn the Quran.
Manchester United secured their place in only a second major final in six seasons on Wednesday night with a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford.
Goals from Anthony Martial and Fred decided the game, bumping up an already comfortable aggregate lead from the first leg to 5-0, setting up a clash with Newcastle at Wembley this month.
The hosts had mild penalty appeals when Alejandro Garnacho went down under pressure from Neco Williams and Willy Boly. But nearly half an hour had passed before either side had a clear sight of goal, with a powerful Casemiro header saved by Wayne Hennessey’s outstretched right foot.
Despite chasing an aggregate deficit, Forest had seen very little of the ball but probably should have taken the lead on a rare foray forward. A throw-in gave Brennan Johnson the chance to dribble his way through, but the pacey Welshman’s finish straight at Tom Heaton lacked conviction.
Antony’s cleanly hit strike from outside the box in the closing stages of the first half had Hennessey worried as he flew to his left, seeing the ball just rise over the crossbar.
Wout Weghorst then struck the post right before the interval after an otherwise quiet opening 45 minutes from the Dutchman, while Forest winger Emmanuel Dennis had his head in his hands when his goal-bound effort was inadvertently blocked by teammate Sam Surridge.
United had stronger penalty appeals not long into the second half when Weghorst nicked the ball in front of Forest defender Scott McKenna, whose attempt to clear then upended the forward. It was given the VAR treatment but the on-field decision surprisingly stood.
Tempers flared a little around the hour mark, with tackles flying and Alejandro Garnacho involved in an ongoing fracas with Johnson and Williams on Forest’s right flank. The young Argentine forced Hennessey into a good save at the near post in one of his final acts before Ten Hag made a flurry of changes, including the return of Jadon Sancho after more than three months out.
With United already starting to turn the screw, those changes triggered the second half goals. The first went to Martial, capitalising on a rebound after fellow sub Marcus Rashford had seen an attempt blocked following an initial run by the Frenchman.
Sancho was then involved in the second goal not long after, feeding Bruno Fernandes on the right. The United skipper’s exquisite outside-of-the-foot ball to the far post was then put back across the box by Rashford for Fred to score an easy tap-in.
Heaton still had to have his wits about him late on to preserve his clean sheet, throwing a big hand up to parry a powerful drive from Danilo as Forest searched for a very late consolation. With the goal gaping, Surridge skied his own attempt on the rebound.
Man Utd player ratings (4-2-3-1) GK: Tom Heaton – 6/10 – A deserved opportunity but hardly a busy night until a spectacular late save.
RB: Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 7/10 – Took up an interesting position relatively high up the pitch and often tucked inside that made it difficult for Dennis and made space for Antony.
CB: Lisandro Martinez – 7/10 – Commanded every situation.
CB: Raphael Varane – 7/10 – Always composed and in control.
LB: Luke Shaw – 6/10 – Back after illness and can be satisifed with this performance.
CM: Casemiro – 8/10 – Another fine example of the type of performance that has really driven the whole team’s resurgence this season.
CM: Fred – 7/10 – Has been thriving alongside his fellow countryman and could play an awful lot more now that Christian Eriksen is out for a few months.
RM: Antony – 6/10 – Inches away from a great goal and posed a threat early on.
AM: Bruno Fernandes (c) – 8/10 – Put in a star turn, especially after moving to the right in the seconc half. Went close to a goal of his own late on.
LM: Alejandro Garnacho – 7/10 – Becoming more and more at home in this team.
ST: Wout Weghorst – 6/10 – A quiet opening 45 minutes until hitting the post on the stroke of half-time. Probably deserved a penalty after the break.
Substitutes SUB: Marcus Rashford (62′ for Garnacho) – 7/10
SUB: Jadon Sancho (62′ for Antony) – 7/10
SUB: Anthony Martial (63′ for Weghorst) – 7/10
SUB: Victor Lindelof (80′ for Casemiro) – N/A
SUB: Harry Maguire (80′ for Varane) – N/A
Manager Erik ten Hag – 9/10 – Went with a strong side to avoid any slip-ups, but it was the substitutions and slight tweak in shape as Fernandes moved to the right that made the difference.
Nottingham Forest player ratings (4-2-3-1) GK: Wayne Hennessey – 6/10 – Made a handful of saves to keep it 0-0 for at least a while.
RB: Neco Williams – 7/10 – Had his hands full with Garnacho but ultimately outlasted his imprssive opponent, before switching to the other side.
CB: Scott McKenna – 5/10 – Arguably fortunate not to give away a penalty for a swinging leg that caught Weghorst.
CB: Willy Boly – 6/10 – Stood tall for long periods until the resistance finally broke.
LB: Renan Lodi – 5/10 – Barely touched the ball and had a tough night of defending.
CM: Remo Freuler (c) – 5/10 – Tough night against a very good United midfield.
CM: Orel Mangala – 5/10 – Similar story to Freuler, found it hard going.
RM: Brennan Johnson – 6/10 – Should have done with a great first half chance that he created himself, having already done the hard bit.
AM: Gustavo Scarpa – 6/10 – Had promising moments just as in the first leg.
LM: Emmanuel Dennis – 5/10 – Late replacement for the injured Jesse Lingard and initially struggled to get into the game. Had one decent chance blocked by his own teammate.
ST: Sam Surridge – 5/10 – With little of the ball, frustrations got the better of him when he cleaned out Raphael Varane to pick up a yellow card.
Substitutes SUB: Alex Mighten (64′ for Johnson) – 5/10
SUB: Danilo (64′ for Freuler) – 6/10
SUB: Serge Aurier (65′ for Lodi) – 5/10
SUB: Oliver Hammond (86′ for Scarpa) – N/A
SUB: Detlef Osong (86′ for Surridge) – N/A
Manager Steve Cooper – 7/10 – Set up his side well and they did admirably to hold out for as long as they did.
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has backed Jadon Sancho to become an important player for the club once more following his long-awaited return to action on Wednesday night.
Sancho came off the bench to a rapturous reception at Old Trafford to contribute to United’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest to cement their place in the Carabao Cup final later this month.
The 22-year-old hadn’t featured since October before that, with initially illness and then concerns over fitness and also his mental wellbeing keeping him out of the team.
But Sancho showed even in flashes against Forest, playing an important role in the move that made the second goal for Fred, that he has the quality to make an impact.
“He already showed that [he can be a decisive player],” Ten Hag said afterwards.
“This season for instance, the game against Liverpool was a great goal. He scored against Leicester. He had some really good games, Spurs as well, so he already showed his great capabilities.”
Sancho is yet to consistently perform to those standards in a United shirt since his 2021 transfer from Borussia Dortmund, although he has faith from the boss and time remains on his side.
“He has really high standards,” Ten Hag continued. “He has great capabilities to contribute to our team and the team is improving, we are playing more in the opponent’s half and his capabilities are coming more to the fore. He can act on them more and have more touches on the ball and that gives him the best platform to perform.
“It is always important that players enjoy football because that gives energy and also the motivation to act and to perform.
“The reception from the fans to him was great and that will give him even more a push to continue in the way he is now acting. He has just started again, he is back in Carrington, and hopefully he can keep that and really contribute to the team because when he is in form, he is important to us.”
Sweden and Denmark’s permission for far-right figures like Danish politician Rasmus Paludan to burn the Quran on grounds of freedom of expression not only affects Muslims but raises concerns among other religious groups too, a Swedish rights activist said told Anadolu Agency (AA) on Wednesday.
Helene Sejlert, a political scientist and human rights defender, said that Paludan’s anti-Islamic acts are causing more problems, putting more people in danger.
“His actions are spoon-feeding racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. If the law can’t stop that, there’s clearly something wrong with the law!” Sejlert said.
His actions are harming so many, she said. “Large (different) groups are now scared of just saying that they are Muslims or Jews.”
“To escalate the hate against these groups is of course also the aim for a bigot like Paludan,” she added.
Paludan, who holds both Danish and Swedish citizenship, last week burned copies of the Quran on two separate occasions, first outside the Turkish Embassy in Sweden and later in front of a mosque in Denmark.
Burning Quran ‘bone-chilling echo of Nazi’ mentality
“The burning of the holy Quran, is a bone-chilling echo of Nazi book-burnings, where ‘the other’ was demonized and the ‘un-pure’ people or material should be exterminated,” Sejlert said. “This is a rhetoric Paludan (and other extremists) has used when addressing what he views as ‘The Muslim problem’.”
She also said there is “way too little knowledge on how to address and combat racism and Islamophobia” in Swedish society.
The opinions expressed by a few radicals, like in the case of Paludan, is not “just a cheap, isolated event, spread for the wind by a crazy lone wolf,” Sejlert said. “It is rather a reflection of the society we live in and an extension of the hate that is growing in every corner of our streets. Many times this hatred is directed at Muslims.”
She continued: “These few radicals get a free ride by media who gives them a platform to ventilate their racism and Islamophobia, and then social media drives the topic to a boiling point.
“As the emotions run wilder, normal limits of decency are trespassed, the words used to get more and more emotional and hateful towards ‘the other’ and starts to appeal to an even broader group.”
Police could have prevented attack, says Sejlert While there is already “a lot of hate-mongering and disinformation” across the society, Paludan did not only burn copies of Quran, but “set fire to an inflamed situation,” Sejlert said.
“Sweden should have acted wiser and more fair,” she asserted. “Sweden should have set an example to not hurt a large chunk of its population even more.”
Sejlert said, “the law is clear and the police could have called the provocation off by invoking security concerns, since the hateful act very well could result in violence.”
Sweden Democrats, an anti-Islam and anti-immigrant party, won 22% of the votes last fall and became a strong voice in the government and life in the country is getting harder and harder for Muslims, she argued.
Dave Bautista, better known to WWE fans as Batista, is preparing to say goodbye to the Drax the Destroyer character.
He made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut in the 2014 “Guardians of the Galaxy” film before appearing in other MCU movies such as Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2, Avengers Infinity War, Avengers Endgame, Thor Love & Thunder.
After the 2014 film, his Hollywood career took off. He played the character in the Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special and will bid farewell to the character in “Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3.”
The former WWE star previously confirmed that the upcoming film would be the last time he appears in an MCU movie because he wants to take his career in a different direction.
Bautista appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday night to promote his upcoming film, M. Night Shyamalan’s “Knock at the Cabin,” which will be released on Friday.
During it, he compared the end of his Drax run to the end of his career, which happend at WrestleMania 35 when he lost to Triple H.
“Yeah, it’s weird. I don’t know why it’s like news. So this is my seventh film as Drax and my third Guardians. It was like our trilogy. That’s kind of what we all signed up for, to do a trilogy, and I think this is going to be the last version of our Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s hard (to walk away), but it’s time. It’s the perfect exit. We had those perfect kind of character arcs and such a storybook ending. I constantly relate it to the way I ended my wrestling career. I ended it on a storybook note, and I would never go back and tarnish that. And it’s the same with this with Drax. I just got to end the perfect way. I would never sign up for another job as Drax just to get a paycheck. I would tarnish that, and I won’t do it,” Bautista stated.
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