CDS seeks extradition of Simon Ekpa (DailyTrust)
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has expressed hope that the government of Finland will extradite factional leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, to Nigeria to face justice following his arrest in the European country on Thursday.
Musa said this while expressing happiness with the arrest and detention of Ekpa who is believed to be behind the violence in the South East.
In a statement which the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, issued on his behalf, on Thursday, Musa said: “CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice.” Read more
Lagos warns against late detection of diabetes (Nation)
In commemoration of World Diabetes day, the Lagos State Health District IV has organised a free medical outreach for residents aged 18 and above across Yaba, Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland and Surulere local government areas.
This initiative is in continuation of Project 10 million, a medical outreach project organised by the Nigerian Governors Forum, to screen 10 million Nigerians for diabetes, hypertension and body mass index.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Health District IV, Dr Abimbola Bowale, while discussing the risks of late detection of Diabetes, urged the participants to know their status and take proactive steps. Read more
Sanwo-Olu presents N3t 2025 ‘‘Budget of Sustainability’’ to Assembly (ThisDay)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu Thursday presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill of N3.005 Trillion to the State House of Assembly.
According to the Governor, the budget has a Total Revenue of N2,597,034 Trillion and Deficit Financing of N408,902 billion. The budget deficit will be financed from external and internal loans and bonds.
The recurrent expenditure is N1.239 trillion, representing 41 percent, while the capital expenditure is 1.766 trillion, representing 49 percent. The total Internally Generated Revenue in the State is put at N1,970,897 trillion. Read more
Senate confirms Omolola Oloworaran as PenCom DG (Tribune)
The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Ms Omolola Oloworaran as the Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) following the consideration and adoption of the Report of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service during Thursday’s plenary.
It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had earlier requested the Senate to confirm the appointment.
Omolola Oloworaran was appointed Director General of PenCom in July, 2024. Read more
Police investigate human right violation allegations against ex-Falcon player (VON)
The Anambra State Police Command is currently investigating allegations of assault and human rights violations involving Maureen Madu, a former striker for the Super Falcons and operator of a local football academy.
This follows unsettling reports of an incident on October 19, 2024, when officers from the Anti-Cult Unit, Zone 13, Ukpo, reportedly invaded Madu’s academy in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, brutalized players, and detained her without a proper investigation.
In an official statement released and signed by Ikenga Tochukwu, the Command’s Public Relations Officer on Wednesday, acknowledged the serious nature of the allegations and emphasized the police’s commitment to transparency and accountability under the leadership of CP Nnaghe Obono Itam. Read more
Reps reject bill on 6-year single tenure for President, governors (Vanguard)
The House of Representatives yesterday at plenary, rejected a bill seeking to amend the 1999 constitution to provide for a single term of six years for the offices of the president, governors and local government chairmen.
The bill, sponsored by the member representing Ideato North, South federal constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere and 33 other lawmakers, also seeks zonal rotation of presidential and governorship seats, as well as holding of elections into the offices in one day.
The proposed legislation seeks to alter Sections 76, 116, 132, 136, and some others of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Read more
Five UNICAL students bag scholarships to study C’River gorilla habits (Punch)
Nigeria Conservation Foundation in partnership with Wilder Institute Conservation Calgary Zoo has offered a scholarship award to four Masters’ and one PhD students of the University of Calabar to research on the Cross River Afi Mountain gorillas.
The students were awarded the scholarship to study the habits of the Cross River gorillas living in the Afi Mountain and their relationship with the locals from the communities scouring the mountain.
Speaking on Tuesday during the presentation at the 5th Park Meeting for Community Conservation Graduate Students Scholarship Program for the Conservation of the Cross River State Gorilla, the Director of Business Development and Communication of the NCF, Mr Uchenna Achunine, said the program, which was funded by Wilder Conservation Calgary Zoo, is a five-year project running from the past two years. Read more
Tinubu, Wike, Onyejeocha, others for 10th National Industrial Summit in Kwara (Leadership)
President Bola Tinubu will on Tuesday declare open the 10th national industrial labour relations summit in Ilorin, Kwara State.
The summit is being organised by the Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies (MINILS) , Ilorin as part of efforts to set agenda for industrial harmony in the country.
The minister of State for Labour and Employment, Dr. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State will serve as hosts at the gathering of stakeholders in the nation’s labour relations system. Read more
“I’m very grateful for it”: Saoirse Ronan reacts to her viral Graham Norton appearance (IrishExaminer)
Fresh from her viral appearance on the Graham Norton Show, Irish acting royalty Saoirse Ronan recently joined Jessie and Lennie Ware on the Table Manners podcast and discussed the viral moment that sparked “a conversation that absolutely needs to be had”.
Saorise joined Denzel Washington, fellow Irish actor Paul Mescal and Eddie Redmayne on The Graham Norton Show late last month when a discussion arose about how Eddie Redmayne had been taught how to use a phone as a weapon while training for his role as an assassin in The Day of the Jackal. Read more
Travis Scott, Lady Gaga & Post Malone to headline Coachella 2025 (HipHopWired)
Years after Coachella removed Travis Scott from their lineup due to the tragic events of Astroworld in 2021, it seems like Cactus Jack is back in the good graces of the annual concert event as he and a few other big name artists are set to headline Coachella come 2025.
Taking to Instagram to announce their upcoming lineup, the “SICKO MODE” rapper will be joining the likes of Post Malone, Green Day and Lady Gaga when Coachella kicks off their two-weekend event on April 11-13 and April 18-20.
Other notable names joining the festivities will be the likes of Missy Elliott, GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion, and even Three 6 Mafia. We hope Three 6 Mafia breaks out their Oscar trophy from 2006. Don’t let that accomplishment die, y’all! Read more
Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2 sets Max premiere date (Deadline)
Academy Award winner Clint Eastwood‘s legal thriller Juror #2, starring Nicholas Hoult (upcoming Superman), has been set to begin streaming exclusively on Max on Friday, December 20.
News of the premiere date follows the film’s quite limited theatrical release on November 1 to less than 50 theaters nationwide. The move saw distributor Warner Bros. Pictures draw criticism from many corners for not properly supporting perhaps one of the final films of a legendary 94-year-old director — a project that has also happened to garner positive reviews, from someone with a longstanding history with the studio.
Among the prominent voices in the filmmaking community who have advocated on Eastwood’s behalf is Guillermo del Toro, who recently took to rising social platform Blue Sky to discuss his experience with the film. Said Del Toro in part, “We saw [the film] at the Grove with a significant crowd that was vocal and responsive all the way. I truly hope WB can hold it longer. Eastwood is a master filmmaker and the steady, unfussy craft reveals him still in great form. Go see it on the big screen!” Read more
Comcast to spin off portfolio of cable networks including MSNBC and CNBC (Guardian)
The US telecommunications giant Comcast announced plans to spin off cable networks including MSNBC and E! as traditional TV audiences continue to dwindle.
MSNBC, E!, CNBC, USA, Oxygen, SYFY and the Golf Channel will form part of a new, publicly traded company, while Comcast focuses on brands including NBC and Bravo.
“When you look at our assets, talented management team and balance sheet strength, we are able to set these businesses up for future growth,” said Brian L Roberts, chairman and CEO of Comcast. Read more
Sir Elton John’s $25m Broadway musical closing just days after opening (Mirror)
Sir Elton John ‘s musical has announced it is closing, just days after it opened on Broadway.
Tammy Faye – which was created by the Tiny Dancer singer, James Graham, and Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shears – officially opened at New York’s Palace Theater on 14 November but the curtain will come down on the production for good on 8 December following 24 preview and 29 regular performances.
The announcement was made amid poor box office performances for the Rupert Goold-directed production, with it bringing in a gross of $374, 371 (£296,323) in the week ending 17 November, with an overall attendance of 5,732 – just 63 percent of the venue’s capacity. It has also been criticised by US critics, with the New York Times branding it “strangely bland” and Variety dubbing the show a “misguided West End import”. Read more
UK former deputy PM John Prescott dies aged 86 (AlJazeera)
Britain’s former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has died following a battle with Alzheimer’s, his family announced.
Prescott, an ex-merchant seaman who became a key figure in Tony Blair’s New Labour government, died “peacefully” in a care home at the age of 86, his family said on Thursday.
Blair, prime minister between 1997 and 2007, led tributes to his former deputy, calling him an “incredibly direct communicator” and adding that there was “no one quite like him in British politics”. Read more
US charges Indian billionaire Gautam Adani with fraud (BBC)
Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been charged with fraud in the US, which has accused him of orchestrating a $250m (£198m) bribery scheme and concealing it to raise money in the US.
The criminal charges, filed on Wednesday in New York, are the latest blow to 62-year-old Mr Adani, one of Asia’s richest men, whose business empire extends from ports and airports to renewable energy.
In the indictment, prosecutors alleged the tycoon and other senior executives had agreed to the payments to Indian officials to win contracts for his renewable energy company expected to yield more than $2bn in profits over 20 years.
CAF Awards 2024: Ajibade, Nnadozie nominated for Women’s Player of the Year (Sun)
Super Falcons duo, Rasheedat Ajibade and Chiamaka Nnadozie have been nominated for the 2024 CAF Women’s Player of the Year award.
The two players are nominated among eight other players.
Ajibade and Nnadozie were members of the Super Falcons squad for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The two players put up excellent performances for their respective teams. Read more
Edo Queens set sights on CAF WCL bronze (Punch)
Edo Queens coach Moses Aduku said his team were poised to end the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League on a high when they take on Masar FC of Egypt in the third-place match on Friday (today), PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigeria champion’s quest to reach Saturday’s final was halted on Tuesday by a deflating semi-final defeat to DR Congo side, TP Mazembe. Edo Queens led the game 1-0 until the final stages of the second half before eventually capitulating to a 3-1 defeat.
As a result, it means no Nigerian side has reached the final of the tournament which is in its fourth edition. Read more
Pep Guardiola signs a 2-year contract extension at Manchester City (DailyMail)
Pep Guardiola committed himself to Manchester City for another two years on Thursday and quickly set his sights on adding to his record-breaking reign.
Guardiola ended uncertainty about his future by signing a contract extension that would prolong his tenure as City manager to 11 seasons.
“I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for,” said the 53-year-old Catalan coach, whose current deal was due to expire at the end of this season. “Hopefully now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.” Read more
Chelsea goalkeeping coach Henrique Hilario resigns to join Thomas Tuchel at England (IrishIndependent)
Chelsea goalkeeping coach Henrique Hilario has resigned from his post ahead of an expected move to join Thomas Tuchel’s new England set-up.
Tuchel, who worked with the former Blues keeper during his Champions League-winning tenure at Stamford Bridge, will start work with the Three Lions on January 1 and wants Hilario as part of his staff after the previous goalkeeping coach, Martyn Margetson, left with Gareth Southgate.
Hilario spent eight years at Chelsea as a player, winning the FA Cup twice, before returning as part of Antonio Conte’s backroom team in 2016. Read more
2-time Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee retires (France24)
Alistair Brownlee, the first triathlete to successfully defend his Olympic title, announced his retirement on Thursday.
The 36-year-old Briton won gold at the 2012 London Games and retained his crown in Rio four years later.
Brownlee was also individual World Triathlon champion twice, won the European title four times and competed alongside his younger brother Jonny, two years his junior, at elite level.
“It’s time to close this chapter. This marks my transition from professional triathlon, a moment approached with both dread and excitement in equal measure,” Brownlee wrote on social media. Read more
Aaron Judge wins AL MVP, his second in 3 seasons; Shohei Ohtani expected to win NL honor (WashingtonTimes)
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was a unanimous pick to win his second American League Most Valuable Player Award in three seasons on Thursday, easily outdistancing Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
Shohei Ohtani was expected to win the National League honor later Thursday, his third MVP and first in the NL.Judge led the major leagues with 58 homers, 144 RBIs and 133 walks while hitting .322. Witt topped the big leagues with a .332 average, hitting 32 homers with 109 RBIs. Soto batted .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs. Read more