13-year-old girl abducted on her way home from school in Lagos (Leadership)
Miracle Adereti Kolawole, a 13-year-old student, was abducted by an unknown gang while returning home from school last Friday, December 1st, in the Ikotun area of Lagos.
Her father, Mr. Adereti Oluwadare Segun, recounted that he dropped Miracle and her younger sister at the bus stop where the school bus usually picks them in the morning before heading to work at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), where he serves as an air traffic communicator with the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). He received a distressing call in the afternoon informing him of his daughter’s kidnapping.
The incident was reported at the Afonka Police Station in Egbeda, Alimosho, Lagos, on the same day. Read more
Food Inflation: APC chieftain commends Tinubu for 50 per cent subsidy on agric input (Nation)
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State Olatunbosun Oyintiloye has commended President Bola Tinubu for the approval of 50 per cent reduction in the cost of agricultural inputs for farmers for the commencement of dry season in the country.
Oyintiloye said that the subsidy on farm inputs by the President would go a long way in assisting farmers to increase production and boost food availability despite present high inflation.
The APC chieftain said this while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo. Read more
Lagos to reduce methane emission by 45% 2035 (Punch)
The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, says the state aims to reduce methane emissions by 45 per cent by 2035.
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, methane is the second most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, accounting for about 16 percent of global emissions. Methane is said to be responsible for about 30 percent of the current rise in global temperature.
Sanwo-Olu, who is currently attending the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in the United Arab Emirates, made the commitment during a panel with the theme, ‘Lowering Organic Waste’, according to a post on his verified X account. Read more
Kano official arrested over diversion of palliatives (Channels)
In a startling revelation, the Kano State Government has unearthed a warehouse brimming with diverted food palliatives meant for the underprivileged.
Tasiu Al’amin Roba, a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abba Yusuf was apprehended by the Kano State Police Command in connection with the alleged diversion of these supplies.
The governor, alongside government officials and journalists, led a discovery mission to the warehouse situated at Sharada Industrial Estate on Saturday. Read more
$30b GDP: Igbo captains of industry embrace Mbah’s economic growth (Guardian)
Captains of industry and prospective investors from South-East extraction have expressed readiness to key into the investment and economic growth plans of Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State.
They expressed satisfaction with the administration’s effort at rallying local domestic business leaders and de-risking the state’s business environment, stressing that investments go to where the risks are less and return on investment (ROI) is high.
The business moguls gave the indication in Enugu at the weekend during the inauguration of the Enugu Investors Network, an initiative of the Enugu State Government for mobilising domestic investment. Read more
CAS orders probe into helicopter crash at Port Harcourt (Nation)
The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshall Hassan Abubakar, has ordered immediate investigations into the immediate and remote causes of last week’s crash of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) helicopter in River State.
The CAS said the outcome of the investigation would enable the NAF to “learn exactly what happened and prevent future occurrences”.
Abubakar announced this when he visited the five surviving crew members of the crash at NAF’s Medical Centre in Port Harcourt, the River State capital. Read more
Gunmen kill fisherman, abduct 4 others off Bayelsa coast (Vanguard)
Gunmen suspected to be sea robbers have attacked some fishermen off the Atlantic coast of Brass in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, killing one and abducting four others.
The gunmen also carted away the engines and fishing gears of their victims.
The incident, it was learned occured, weekend, in the coastal enclave where the locals are mainly fisher folks. Read more
Fire guts NTA office in Sokoto (DailyTrust)
A section of the Sokoto office of the Nigerian Television Authority has been gutted by fire.
It was learnt that the fire destroyed parts of the operational building of the national television station.
The authority in a post via its X handle on Sunday comfirmed the fire outbreak which lasted for hours before it was put out. Read more
At least 47 dead, 85 injured in Tanzania landslides (Punch)
No fewer than 47 people were killed and 85 others injured in landslides caused by flooding in northern Tanzania, a local official announced Sunday, with warnings the toll would rise.
Heavy rain on Saturday hit the town of Katesh, some 300 kilometres (186 miles) north of the capital Dodoma, district commissioner Janeth Mayanja said.
“Up to this evening, the death toll reached 47 and 85 injured,” the regional commissioner in the Manyara area of northern Tanzania, Queen Sendiga, told local media. Read more
Billie Eilish opens up about coming out (People)
Billie Eilish is revealing more about comments she made in a recent magazine interview.
The pop superstar, 21, caught up with Variety at the publication’s annual Hitmakers Brunch event Saturday, where she discussed having said that she is “attracted to” women in the magazine’s Power of Women issue last month.
“No I didn’t,” Eilish said when asked by Variety if she had intended to come out in the article. “But I kind of thought, ‘Wasn’t it obvious?’… I didn’t realize people didn’t know.” Read more
Kiss say farewell to live touring, become 1st US band to go virtual and become digital avatars (VOA)
On Saturday night, Kiss closed out the final performance of their “The End of the Road” farewell tour at New York City’s famed Madison Square Garden.
But as dedicated fans surely know — they were never going to call it quits. Not really.
During their encore, the band’s current lineup — founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons as well as guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer — left the stage to reveal digital avatars of themselves. After the transformation, the virtual Kiss launched into a performance of “God Gave Rock and Roll to You.” Read more
Pogues’ Fairytale of New York battling Wham! and Mariah Carey for top chart spot (BelfastTelegraph)
The Pogues’ hit song “Fairytale Of New York” is in a battle for number one in the UK charts against Wham! and Mariah Carey following the death of the band’s frontman Shane MacGowan, the Official Charts Company has said.
Originally released in 1987, the band’s gritty festive track has never reached the top spot in the UK charts, peaking at number two and beaten to the Christmas number one spot in the year of its release by the Pet Shop Boys’ “Always On My Mind”.
After the death of MacGowan aged 65 on Thursday, there have been calls from his fans and wife Victoria Mary Clarke for the track to finally claim the coveted Christmas number one title in a few weeks time. Read more
Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan moving forward with “I Am Legend 2” (FilmNews)
Will Smith has revealed that he and Michael B. Jordan’s I Am Legend sequel now has a script.
Smith starred as U.S. army virologist Robert Neville in the original 2007 science-fiction blockbuster, which is now being revisited after its screenwriter Avika Goldsman signed a first-look deal with Warner Bros. earlier this year.
Early reports indicated Jordan was also on board, with Smith now confirming that he and his prospective co-star have received a script and are moving forward with the project. Read more
US destroyer shoots down drones after Houthi attack on ships in Red Sea (France24)
Three commercial ships in the Red Sea were struck by ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen on Sunday and a US warship shot down three drones in self-defence during the hours-long assault, the US military said. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran.
The attacks marked an escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war, as multiple vessels found themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi assault for the first time in the conflict.
In a statement, US Central Command said the attacks “represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security. They have jeopardised the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world.” It said the three commercial ships and their crews are connected to 14 countries. Read more
Venezuelans to vote in referendum over large territory under dispute with Guyana (NPR)
Venezuelans will vote Sunday in a referendum to supposedly decide the future of a large swath of neighboring Guyana their government claims ownership of, arguing the territory was stolen when a north-south border was drawn more than a century ago.
Guyana considers the referendum a step toward annexation and the vote has its residents on edge. It asks Venezuelans whether they support establishing a state in the disputed territory known as Essequibo, granting citizenship to current and future area residents, and rejecting the jurisdiction of the United Nations’ top court in settling the disagreement between the two South American countries.
Super Eagles can win AFCON 2023 –Dosu (CompleteSports)
The 34th Africa Cup of Nations will be staged in six stadiums in five Ivorian cities from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
The Super Eagles are in Group A of the tournament along with Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
In a brief chat with Completesports.com, Dosu said that winning the 2023 AFCON is a possibility for the Super Eagles if they do the needful. Read more
NPFL: Kano Pillars’ Yusuf nets 5 goals, secures win against Gombe United (Leadership)
Kano Pillars’ winger, Yusuf Abdullahi, on Sunday scored five goals to help his team secure maximum points away to Gombe United in a Nigerian Premier Football League match.
The Match Day 11 fixture of the NPFL 2023/2024 season, played at Pantami Township Stadium, Gombe, saw Kano Pillars thrashing the home team 5-2, with 18-year-old Abdullahi scoring all the five goals for the visitors.
In a post-match conference, the Technical Adviser of Kano Pillars, Abdullahi Maikaba, described the result of the match as “exciting and very nice.” Read more
Erling Haaland fumes on X after Man City denied winner against Tottenham by referee decision (Standard)
Erling Haaland was left fuming after Manchester City were denied a potential injury-time winner against Tottenham by a bizarre refereeing decision.
A thrilling game at the Etihad Stadium ended 3-3 with Dejan Kulusevski scoring in the final minute of normal time.
As City pushed for a winner in the final moments, Haaland was fouled by Emerson Royal and match official Simon Hooper played advantage to allow the striker to send Jack Grealish through on goal, only to second later below his whistle to bring the play back. Read more
UK government to back recommendations of Karen Carney-led women’s football review (BBC)
The UK government says it will back all recommendations in the women’s football review that was led by former England midfielder Karen Carney.
The report, published in July, called for the top two women’s tiers in England to become fully professional.
It also wanted a new regular broadcast slot to be made available. Read more
Scottie Scheffler wins Hero World Challenge, Tiger Woods finishes 18th (StraitsTimes)
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler shot a four-under 68 in Sunday’s final round of the Hero World Challenge to cruise to a three-shot win in the exhibition tournament at Albany Golf Course in the Bahamas.
The annual, unofficial tournament that benefits Tiger Woods’ charitable foundation saw Woods return to competitive golf for the first time since April.
Woods shot an even-par 72 on Sunday to finish even-par 288 for the event, placing 18th out of 20 golfers. It was his first competitive golf since undergoing ankle surgery eight months ago. Read more
Ronnie O’Sullivan shows true colours with message to Ding Junhui after UK Championship win (Express)
Ronnie O’Sullivan had a classy message for Ding Junhui after beating the Chinese snooker star 10-7 in the final of the UK Championship. The Rocket had nothing but positive words to say about his opponent, who he dubbed the “godfather of Chinese snooker” after a tough test at the Barbican in York.
Ding pushed O’Sullivan all the way at the Triple Crown event, clawing back from 4-1 down to tie 4-4 at the mid-session interval and then going frame-for-frame on Sunday evening. The eight-time tournament winner took the final three frames to seal his victory. Read more