Good morning. A man who says he was too afraid to go home because of the pandemic spent the last three months living inside Chicago’s O’Hare Airport undetected.

The craziness from 2020 just never knows when to stop.
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☕️QUICK BITES

‍RECOMMENDED

‍#ONTHISDAY

1841 China cedes Hong Kong to the British during the 1st Opium War.

1945 Franklin D. Roosevelt sworn-in for an unprecedented (and never to be repeated) 4th term as US President.

1961 The Democrat J.F. Kennedy is inaugurated as President of the United States, the youngest ever sworn in at 43 years.

1981 The US diplomats and citizens held hostage at the US embassy in Tehran are released and begin their journey home after 444 days.

2008 "Breaking Bad", created by Vince Gilligan and starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul premieres on AMC.

2009 Barack Obama, inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States of America, becomes the United States' first African-American president.

SECURITY

Ondo orders herdsmen to vacate Ondo forest

The Story
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to herdsmen to vacate forest reserves in the state.

Why?
The order is part of several measures taken by the state at addressing the root cause of kidnapping and other nefarious activities. In a statement issued on his official Twitter handle, Akereolu said the forests have been turned into a place for felons to carry out their criminal activities. He said, “Today we have taken major steps at addressing the root cause of kidnapping, in particular, and other nefarious activities detailed and documented in security reports, the press and debriefings from victims of kidnap cases in Ondo State".

Are there evidences to the herdsmen's complicity?
He said that as the Chief Law and Security Officer of the state, it is his constitutional obligation to do everything lawful to protect the lives and property of all residents of the state. “These unfortunate incidents are traceable to the activities of some bad elements masquerading as herdsmen. These felons have turned our forest reserves into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransom and carrying out other criminal activities", Akeredolu said.

How about legitimate herdsmen who don't commit crime?
The Governor gave the following orders saying, “All Forest Reserves in the state are to be vacated by herdsmen within the next 7 days with effect from today, Monday 18th January 2021. “In its usual magnanimity, our administration will give a grace period of seven days for those who wish to carry on with their cattle-rearing business to register with appropriate authorities.” SOURCE

CRIME

Nigerian sea pirates arrested for kidnapping Americans

The Story
Three suspected sea pirates have been arrested in Bayelsa and Rivers states in connection with the kidnapping of four expatriates from the United States of America.

How were they identified?
The suspects – Tony Ebiyepade, General Karinatei Timidiseghe and Godbless Oruboro – were reportedly tracked down through leaked telephone conversations. They allegedly specialised in kidnapping expatriates and collecting huge sums for their release. Detectives from the Intelligence Response Team began tracking the syndicate in August 2020, which consequently led to the arrest of a member.

Have they confessed to the crime?
It was gathered that two other suspects were later apprehended by the operatives recently. Ebiyepade, who lived on Ebi-Sam Road, Agudama in Bayelsa, said he participated in several kidnappings but was not involved in the abduction of the Americans. He stated, “I was a fisherman from my childhood. I was arrested by the police in Yenagoa in August 2020. At first, I did not know why I was arrested but when I got to the station, I was told that I was involved in kidnapping and sea piracy.

Ineffective Amnesty?
Timidiseghe, 35, who also denied his involvement in the kidnapping of the Americans, confessed that he specialised in drugs and made a fortune from them. Oruboro, father of two, stated that he got amnesty in 2009 and stipends from the FG but was lured into illegal bunkering, sea piracy and kidnapping. SOURCE

AFRICA

China - We're ready to help Kenya deal with its debt challenges

The Story
China stands ready to help Kenya deal with its debt challenges and both sides are holding “smooth” talks over the issues, the Chinese embassy in Nairobi said on Monday.

How indebted is Kenya to China?
China is one of its biggest external creditors, having lent it billions of dollars for the construction of rail lines and other infrastructure projects in the past decade. China has signed debt service suspension agreements with 12 African countries and provided waivers of matured interest-free loan for 15 African countries under the G-20 debt service suspension initiative, the embassy in Nairobi said.

What do they plan to do with Kenya's?
“China attaches great importance to debt suspension and alleviation in African countries including Kenya,” the embassy said in a statement. The East African country’s revenues have been pummelled by the coronavirus crisis, at a time when more of its debts are falling due and as it is still grappling with gaping fiscal deficits.

The embassy did not say whether Kenya will get relief through the same initiative as the other African countries or if a separate deal will be struck. Kenya secured a debt repayments relief deal with the Paris Club of international lenders last week and it is seeking further relief from non-Paris Club bilateral creditors. SOURCE

AFRICA

Tunisia: Protests over moribund economy spread to a dozen cities

The Story
Tunisians have taken to the street in a protest that has continued to spread to various cities across the country.

What's the protest about?
It's been majorly about the economy. Tunisians are angry that the country is on the verge of bankruptcy and has dire public services. Many feel disappointed that, on the 10-year anniversary of the revolution that ousted autocratic President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, there is little to show in terms of improvement. GDP shrank by 9% last year, consumer prices have skyrocketed, and one-third of young people are unemployed. The key tourism sector, already on its knees after a string of deadly attacks by armed groups in 2015, has been dealt a devastating blow by the coronavirus pandemic.

How are the authorities responding?
Tunisian authorities have responded with force. The Interior ministry spokesman, Khaled Hayouni, said on Sunday that a total of 632 people were arrested, notably “groups of people between the ages of 15, 20 and 25 who burned tires and bins in order to block movements by the security forces”. The defence ministry also said the army had been deployed in several cities.

So protests are not allowed in Tunisia too?
The protesters made no clear demands during the demonstrations – which authorities described as riots – around the country. In the run-down al-Tadamen area of the capital, Tunis, protesters, most of them teenagers, blocked roads and threw stones at police. Police fired water cannon and tear gas to disperse them. Some Tunisians have also expressed reservations over the protests. “These aren’t protests, it’s young people who are coming from nearby neighbourhoods to rob and entertain themselves,” said 26-year-old resident Oussama. “A protest would be during the day, faces visible.”

Other cities that saw protests included Mahdia, Sousse, Bizerte, Kairouan, Kebeli, Seliana, Nabeul, Manouba Gafsa and Monastir. Abdelmoneim, a waiter at a nearby cafe, said the people in the street were “bored adolescents”, but blamed the violence on the country’s post-revolution political class. “These delinquents are the result of their failure,” the 28-year-old said. SOURCE

WHAT ELSE IS FRESH...

Assistant police commissioner bags life sentence over stolen vehicle.

‘We are in a difficult situation’ — PTF speaks on the possibility of another lockdown.

FG releases N10bn to support local production of COVID-19 vaccine.

Lawyer: Maina has partial stroke, needs urgent medical attention.

‘He didn’t denigrate Islam’ — Soyinka hits Kukah’s critics.

‘God forbid’ — Yahaya Bello rejects COVID-19 vaccine, says it is meant to kill.

Drug abuse is unacceptable nonsense, says Marwa as he takes charge of NDLEA.

FG raises N2.36trn from capital market in 2020 – Onyema.

Pope Francis appoints Bishop Kukah member of Dicastery.

OAU announces resumption date, cancels 2020/2021 session.

Southern Kaduna Union: Those who threatened Kukah must be arrested.

Uganda lifts restriction on internet — two days after Museveni’s reelection.

Dangote completes Obajana-Kabba ‘longest concrete road’ in Nigeria.

FG: NIN is mandatory for foreign diplomats.

Nigeria lose Wafu U17 Cup final to Ivory Coast.

EFCC arraigns ‘Mama Boko Haram’ for N41.7m fraud.

Uganda election, clarion call for African youths, says Pan-African Youth Commissioner.

‘US won’t lift travel bans’.

US: Vice President-elect, Kamala Harris resigns from Senate.
 

Nestle's Hot Pockets recalled over potential glass and plastic contamination.

World on the brink of ‘catastrophic moral failure’ due to unfair vaccine rollouts, WHO chief says 

Pot-for-Shots: Michigan marijuana dispensary offers free weed to vaccine recipients.

Woman declared dead in 2017 fights to be recognized as alive​.

Messi gets two-match ban for first Barca red card.

PICKS OF THE DAY

Watch five of Martin Luther King Jr.'s most famous speeches. PBS

Is Eating Fish Healthy? BBC

How to Criticize with Kindness. Brain Pickings

Pound for pound, Taiwan is the most important place in the world. NYT

Why Being Kind to Others Is Good for Your Health. BBC Future

What ‘Backs’ The Dollar? Easy: Production. Forbes

How to Heal After Life's Most Challenging Moments. Entrepreneur

Silicon Valley-style investment doesn't work for African startups. Quartz

4 Ways to Have More Effective Brainstorm Sessions. Fast Company

The History of Inauguration Day, From George Washington to Joe Biden. Pocket

TODAY'S TRIVIA

A man shaves several times a day but still has a beard. Who is he?

QUESTION & ANSWER

QUORA QUESTION: 

What were the general opinions of the Roman citizenry when the Roman Empire was no more?

Lucifr Varii

Quite simple. The Roman Empire never really fell so they never knew.

Okay so hear me out.

When the Roman Empire “fell” in 476 AD people didn’t really know nor were much affected.

People were still doing business in the forum and going to the baths in the mornings.

Took years (maybe centuries) for everyone to stop calling themselves Romans (Holy Roman Empire doesn’t count).

A lot of people even called Italy the Roman Empire after its “fall”.

When Odoacer took the Imperial Throne and named himself King of Italy he was still a client of the Emperor in Constantinople. He also called himself King of the Romans in some historical accounts. (But so did the Ottomans in fairness)

So it’s hard to say what the Romans thought of Western Empire falling.

My guess is they didn’t realize it for quite a while.

“Opportunities multiply as they are seized”

-Luci SOURCE

TRIVIA ANSWER

A barber

LITERATURE

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My Happy Place

Poetry
Praise Osawaru: I Remember It Like Yesterday Because It Was

Satire
Satan Confirms Hell Is Just House Full Of Smoke Detectors But You Can Never Figure Out Which One Is Beeping

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