Sunset News December 27, 2018
The massive importation of petroleum products better explained how the Federal Government avoided fuel scarcity this Yuletide season, even as 18 more ships laden with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol, are currently waiting at the Lagos ports to discharge products.
The Guardian gathered that eight of those vessels had arrived Nigerian shores since November, while the 10 others arrived this month. The vessels, which include one ship of kerosene, are currently awaiting Customs’ clearance. Read more
LUTH as ageing hospital in dire need of funding, refurbishment (Guardian)
The imposing medical facility lies between Idi-Araba, Surulere and Mushin. The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) Idi-Araba is the foremost tertiary hospital in Lagos State. It serves as the last resort and referral for all disease conditions. It is believed that if a medical case could not be treated at LUTH then the situation is hopeless. The only other teaching hospital of repute in Lagos is the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) Ikeja.
LUTH was established in 1962 to care for all-inclusive medical needs of Nigerians and has earned a reputation as the leading health care provider in the country, going by statistics of patronage. Read more
Scores of APC, SDP loyalists defect to PDP in Delta community (Leadership)
About 20,000 loyalists of the All progressive Congress (APC), Social Democratic party ( SDP) on Thursday defected to the People’s Democratic party ( PDP) in Ekuku Agbor Community, Ika South local government area of Delta State.
The defectors chanting victory and solidarity songs, were received by the wife of the State Governor,Dame Edith Okowa, and the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education,Mr, Chiedu Ebie including PDP Chieftains in the area. Read more
Nigeria needs $337bn to implement SDGs from 2019-2022 – UN (Vanguard)
Nigeria needs not less than 337 billion dollars to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 2019 to 2022, the UN Support Plan for the Sahel has estimated.
The cost of implementing the SDGs in Nigeria, according to the plan is 80.65 billion dollars in 2019, 82.83 billion dollars in 2020, 85.07 billion dollars in 2021 and 87.37 billion dollars in 2022.
On the investment needs in the Sahel, the plan reported the cost of implementing the SDGs in the Sahel is projected to be between 140.25 billion dollars and 157.39 billion dollars per year between 2019 and 2022 in the 10 Sahelian countries. Read more
Gunmen attack party goers in Plateau, kill five (PremiumTimes)
At least five people were killed by gunmen in a Plateau community on Wednesday, the police have said.
The attack occurred in Rawuru village of Fan District in Barikin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State
Two other people were injured in the attack said to be targeted at people returning from a party at about 9pm. Read more
DR Congo election: Tear gas fired at protesters (BBC)
Tear gas has been fired in Democratic Republic of Congo at protesters angry that several opposition strongholds have been left out of Sunday’s polls.
Electoral officials have postponed voting in three cities until March, citing insecurity and Ebola concerns.
But with the new president due to be sworn in next month, it appears the votes of more than a million people will be discounted. Read more
SA launches most advanced nanosatellite (SANews)
South Africa has successfully launched into space the continent’s most advanced nanosatellite to date – the ZACube-2.
The ZACube-2 will provide cutting edge remote sensing and communication services to South Africa and the region.
“This satellite will help us monitor our ocean traffic as part of our oceans economy and also monitor veld fires and provide near real-time fire information ensuring a quick response time by disaster management teams…” Read more
Diamond Bank Appoints Babade Acting Chairman (ThisDay)
Diamond Bank Plc on Thursday notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) that following the recent resignation of Mr. Oluseyi Bickersteth as Director/ Chairman
of the Board, the Board of Directors of the bank has appointed Mr. Dele Babade as acting Chairman effective December 24, 2018.
Babade holds Bachelors and Master’s degrees in Laws from University of London and was called to both the Nigerian and English Bar. Read more
Video evidence surfaces in sexual assault case against Kevin Spacey (HuffPost)
The felony sexual assault case against Kevin Spacey will include video evidence showing he attacked a young man at a bar in Nantucket in July 2016, according to a police report.
A Massachusetts State Police investigative report, obtained by MassLive.com, states that the victim in the case, the then-18-year-old son of Boston news anchor Heather Unruh, took a Snapchat video at the time that may prove Spacey groped him. Read more
Frenchman, 71, sets sail across Atlantic in a barrel (Telegraph)
A 71-year-old Frenchman set sail across the Atlantic on Wednesday in a barrel-shaped orange capsule, hoping to reach the Caribbean within three months thanks to ocean currents alone.
“The weather is great – I’ve got a swell of one metre and I’m moving at two or three kilometres an hour,” Jean-Jacques Savin said by telephone after setting off from El Hierro in Spain’s Canary Islands.
“For the time being my capsule is behaving very, very well and I’ve got favourable winds forecast until Sunday.” Read more
UAE to reopen Damascus embassy after seven years (Aljazeera)
The United Arab Emirates is set to reopen its embassy in Damascus – which has been closed for seven years – on Thursday, according to officials.
The UAE recalled its ambassador from Syria in 2011 after the start of a popular uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, which escalated into a brutal civil war that has now killed more than 360,000 people. Read more
Seattle bound flight makes emergency landing on remote Alaskan island (iNews)
Passengers flying from Beijing to Seattle on Christmas Eve were left confounded when their plane landed ahead of schedule on a remote Alaska island in the middle of the Bering Sea.
Engine problems prompted Delta Air Lines flight 128 to make an emergency stop on the tiny island of Shemya in the Pacific North Pole.
The 194 passengers on board were disembarked from the plane to a small facility for 12 hours, while Delta immediately despatched a new aircraft from the mainland, along with a team of mechanics, customer service operatives and crew, according to reports. Read more
Shows: Fans kick over habitual lateness by artistes (Nation)
Some Nigerian music fans have called on artistes to shun habitual lateness to shows, following the resurgence of the trend in recent concerts.
The complaints grew stronger on Thursday after Afro-fusion singer, Burna Boy showed up eight hours late to his headline concert.
The concert tagged ‘Burna Boy Live’ held at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre and was billed to start at 6pm. It, however, began at about 2:30 am leaving fans frustrated. Read more
Football fan dies amid Inter-Napoli clashes (BBC)
An Italian football supporter has died of his injuries after being knocked down by a van amid violence ahead of a match in Milan against Napoli.
The 35-year-old man, who was with a group of Inter Milan fans, was taken to hospital in the northern city on Wednesday evening but died in hospital.
The clashes took place not far from Milan’s San Siro stadium before a Serie A game. Read more
Serena Williams backs WTA increased ranking protection for new mothers (BBC)
Serena Williams has praised the introduction of more ranking protection for new mothers on the WTA Tour.
Players coming back from childbirth or injury can use their previous ranking to enter 12 tournaments over a three-year period.
In addition, they will not face a seeded player in an opening round. Read more