Rorisang Modiba brings you daily global updates.
USA – Statues and murals in Bend, Oregon, have become a hot topic after someone stuck googly eyes on them. While many locals think the googly eyes are funny, city officials are removing them to protect the artworks. City spokesperson Rene Mitchell said, “Decorations like Santa hats and wreaths are allowed, but the glue on the googly eyes can damage the art.” Removing the eyes costs money, which has upset some people who think the city should focus on bigger problems like homelessness.
Kenya – Jacktone Odhiambo has been jailed for 50 years for the 2023 murder of gay rights activist Edwin Kiptoo. Kiptoo’s body was found in a metal box in Eldoret, and his death shocked the LGBTQ community in Kenya. Odhiambo, who was believed to have been in a relationship with Kiptoo, denied the charges. Being gay is still illegal in Kenya, and people can face up to 14 years in prison.
Nigeria – Nigerian footballer Ademola Lookman has won the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award. Lookman, who plays for Atalanta, beat top stars like Achraf Hakimi and Serhou Guirassy. He had a great year, scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final and helping Nigeria reach second place in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
USA – Gaia Wise, daughter of actors Emma Thompson and Greg Wise, has landed her dream role as Héra in The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. The animated movie is set 183 years before Peter Jackson’s famous trilogy and tells the story of Héra and her father, King Helm Hammerhand, as they defend their kingdom. Wise, a big fan of The Lord of the Rings, said she was so excited to get the role that she screamed so loudly her neighbours called the police. “Now they understand why I was excited,” she joked.
Pictured above: The statues with googly eyes.
Source: X
