COVID-19 guidelines: Lagos begins prosecution of defaulters (Punch)
The Lagos State government has commenced prosecution of inbound international passengers who fail to submit themselves for Day Two and Day Seven PCR tests as mandated by the Federal COVID-19 protocols and guidelines.
This is as the state government expressed concern over the dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases seen in the evolving fourth wave.
Speaking on the development, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, noted that the prosecution of defaulting inbound passengers became necessary in order to mitigate the evolving fourth wave of COVID-19 infection in the state.
He said, “Lagos State Government is concerned with the dramatic rise in cases seen in the evolving fourth wave. Identifying that our previous waves are associated with non-compliance of inbound passengers with the testing guidelines, we have commenced prosecution of inbound international passengers who fail to submit themselves for Day Two and Day Seven PCR tests as mandated by the Federal COVID-19 protocols and guidelines.
In addition, unvaccinated inbound passengers and anyone testing positive for COVID-19 are mandated to self-isolate at home for seven days. We will be sanctioning anyone found to be disregarding these guidelines, which are designed to minimise the community transmission of COVID and its variants.” Read more
Nigerian music has taken over the world – Brain (Independent)
Samuel Osemudiamen Udebhulu, better known by his stage name BRAIN, born on the 10th Day of May, in the late 19th century is a young Nigerian singer, songwriter and philanthropist.
The Nigerian born, South African based lyricist and entertainer, who hails from Edo state has been making waves and big moves for the years in his music career.
He schooled in Nigeria where he started his musical career as far back as 2018 in Lagos state, then relocated to South Africa where he fully continued his musical career.
Brain is well known for being an outstanding performer, excellent song writer, melodious vocalist and most importantly a very generous philanthropist. He was born and raised in the heart of the most commercial place in Africa, Lagos state as a promising son to the prominent Udebhulu Family. Read more
FEC approves 20% salary upgrade for police officers (Punch)
The Federal Government has approved a 20 per cent increase in salaries for personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.
Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, disclosed this to State House Correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
He added that the increase will take effect from January 2022.
According to Dingyadi, the upward review is a product of the issues raised during the #EndSARS protests in October 2020. Read more
2023: Kaduna people have suffered, I’ll return — Ex-Gov Yero (Vanguard)
Ahead of the 2023 governorship race in Kaduna state, a former governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has said that he will contest and return to the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House Kaduna because of the alleged ugly experience Kaduna people went through.
Yero said by now, the people of Kaduna State have seen the difference between the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
“It is left for the people to tell whether PDP was better after 16 years in office or APC’s eight years in office is better,” he said.
Yero, who was the state governor in 2015 when he lost the governorship race to Nasir El-Rufai, said in an interview that he would run again for the governorship in 2023. Read more
Vocational education, key to industrial development — NBTE boss (Vanguard)
Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education( NBTE), Prof. Idris Mohammed Bugaje has said that Industries and other employers of labour are key drivers for the development, delivery and quality assurance of skills in any given society.
Bugaje spoke to journalists in Kaduna, explaining that vocational education as a driver to industrial development, was part of the resolution of the 7th Industry stakeholders consultation on skills development.
He said.: “In the light of this, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in partnership with German international development agency (GIZ), under it Skills for Youth Employment programme (SKYE), organized the 7th industry stakeholder consultation on skills development which was held on 2nd December 2021 at Tsukunda House, constitution Avenue Abuja.”
He said over 130 industry players, development partners, sector skills councils ( SSCs), awarding bodies, training providers, MDAs, Organized private sector and the media were among those that attended the consultation. Read more
Lai: If not for Buhari, terrorists would have declared Islamic State in Nigeria (Daily trust)
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, has said if not for the actions of President Muhammadu Buhari, terrorists would have declared Islamic State in Nigeria.
Addressing reporters in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister said posterity will be kind to Buhari, whom he said has made security one of the cardinal focuses of his administration.
He said no administration in Nigeria’s recent history has provided the security agencies with the hardware needed to tackle insecurity as that of Buhari.
“The polity has recently been awash with heightened commentary on the security situation in the country. The commentary has been
triggered by genuine concerns in some circles, and crass politicking or sheer absurdity in others. Read more
FG committed to rejigging electricity industry for sufficient power supply (DailyTrust)
The minister stated this in Abuja on Tuesday while presenting the position of the ministry of power, at a public hearing on four bills in the power sector, including the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (Amendment) Bill, organised by the House Committee on Power.
Aliyu also said the bills being considered by the House of Representatives are coming at the right time when efforts are galvanized by all stakeholders to confront perennial challenges of inadequate power supply in the country.
He further said the bills being considered by the House Of Representatives show commitment of the legislative arm of government to complementing the efforts of the executive arm to ensure the delivery of sufficient power supply across the country.
The minister commended both chambers of the National Assembly for showing interest in ensuring that the right environment is created for efficiency in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. Read more
Kaduna Speaker confirms killing of lawmaker by bandits (Vanguard)
Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Yusuf Ibrahim Zailani has described as devastating, the death of Hon Lirwanu Aminu Gadagau, a member representing Giwa West in the Kaduna State House of Assembly.
This was contained in a statement signed by his SA Media and Publicity, Hon Ibrahim Dahiru Danfulani, dated on Wednesday.
The statement said that the remains of Gadagau were discovered in a morgue on Wednesday, suspected to have been one of those killed by bandits on Monday night along Kaduna-Zaria Highway.
” He died during bandits attack along Zaria highway. This is tragic and painful. We are in deep grief over this sad incident,” Zailani said. Read more
Osinbajo inaugurates fourth shared facility for MSMEs in Imo (Punch)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has on Tuesday inaugurated the fourth shared facility for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
The facility, which is located beside Amakohia Market in Owerri, Imo State, consists of a multi-million-naira garment factory in Owerri to assist tailors and fashion designers in the production of garments and clothing items.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this on Wednesday in a statement titled, ‘FG opens fourth shared facility for MSMEs, fifth ready Friday, eight more next year’.
Osinbajo who unveiled the facility at the 29th edition of the MSME Clinic in Owerri said it would improve the quality of locally made clothing, adding that federal facilities belong to all Nigerians. Read more
Tom Holland wants to make a Peter Parker movie without Spider-Man(DigitalSpy)
Spider-Man hero Tom Holland would be interested in reprising the role of Peter Parker without his arachnid superpowers.
His third solo flick as Spidey – titled Spider-Man: No Way Home – hit UK big screens today (December 15), but instead of repeating the trilogy’s CGI-heavy aesthetic in the future, Holland is up for going down the Joker route.
In case you needed reminding, Oscar-winning DC drama Joker painted Joaquin Phoenix’s Clown Prince of Crime in a more grounded light, with themes of mental health dominating the foreground.
In that vein, Holland has shared he’d like to explore a film focusing purely on Peter Parker and not necessarily his Spidey powers.
“I’d like to make a film about Peter Parker that has nothing to do with Spider-Man,” he recently told Fandom.Read more
Vice President Launches Rahul Rawail’s Book On Raj Kapoor On Showman’s 97th Birth Anniversary (OutlookIndia)
On tuesday, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu released the book “Raj Kapoor: The Master At Work” and remembered the late showman for his invaluable contribution to making Indian cinema “a vehicle of cultural diplomacy” across the world.
Published by Bloomsbury India, the book is written by filmmaker Rahul Rawail, who served as an assistant director to Raj Kapoor on films like “Bobby”, as told to Pranika Sharma. The book launch, held at India Habit Centre’s Stein Auditorium here, coincided with Raj Kapoor’s 97th birth anniversary and was also attended by the late director’s eldest son Randhir Kapoor and grandson Ranbir Kapoor.
The vice president described the book as a “labour of love and dedication”. “Raj Kapoor ji gave a new identity and direction to Indian cinema in the ’50s and ’60s, and his contribution to Hindi cinema as a sensitive producer and an eminent actor is invaluable. His films were based on the true characters that existed in the society. His films were lessons in life,” Naidu said.
His early films showcase the influence of Charlie Chaplin and his character of The Tramp, the vice president added. “Raj Kapoor ji’s persona of The Tramp was simple, honest and enduring, leading to his worldwide popularity,” he said.Read more
Joe Simon, Chart-Topping R&B Singer, Dead at 85 (Billboard)
Joe Simon, a Grammy-winning R&B singer whose hits included 1969’s “The Chokin’ Kind” and 1972’s “Power of Love” and was sampled in OutKast’s “So Fresh, So Clean” and other hip-hop classics, died Monday (Dec. 13) in his longtime hometown near Chicago. He was 85.
Born in Simmesport, La., Simon hated picking cotton and moved to Los Angeles to make it as a singer, spending his early years there homeless and living in a chicken coop. With nothing to do at night, he wrote 20 to 30 songs daily and developed his voice to the point that a label owner paid him $1,100 to record four songs written by others. He brought in local musicians including future funk greats Sly Stone and Larry Graham to play on 1964’s “My Adorable One,” which became Simon’s breakthrough hit.
“I don’t want to rush my career,” Simon told Billboard in 1968. “I’ll take my time, because the artist who rushes overlooks a lot of things.”
Nonetheless, Simon’s career moved quickly, as he landed three No. 1s and 14 top 10s on what is now called the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and a best R&B vocal performance, male Grammy for “The Chokin’ Kind.” He collaborated with Philly Sound hitmakers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff for 1971’s “Drowning In the Sea of Love,” then created the theme to 1973’s Cleopatra Jones. During his peak hitmaking period, Simon started his own indie labels, Spring and Posse, signing funk stars such as Millie Jackson and Fatback Band.Read more
Kathy Hilton reportedly returning to ‘RHOBH’ after getting more cash (PageSix)
Kathy Hilton will be returning to film for “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” after producers reportedly agreed to pay her more money.
Hilton, 62, reportedly negotiated with Bravo producers for weeks until they were able to come to an agreement for the socialite to appear on the show as a “friend of” the cast and make regular appearances, TMZ reported.
The deal was apparently hammered out just in time to guarantee she will be on Season 12 of the franchise.
She is expected to begin filming with the rest of the “RHOBH” cast just after the holidays in 2022, the website reported.
In November, rumors swirled that Hilton hadn’t yet signed on as a “friend of” for the upcoming season because she was waiting for show producers to cough up more cash. Read more
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill embrace the grit of ‘Yellowstone’ prequel ‘1883’: ‘It’s not glamorous at all’ (USAToday)
After months of immersion in dusty fields and extreme weather, surrounded by horses and cattle in the open sprawl of Texas and Montana, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill forgot what it was like to experience the comforts of a luxury hotel.
“When we walked in, it was like, wow, this is what a hotel is like? After all the years I’ve been on the road, it took a minute to adjust because we’ve been that deep in it,” Hill said.
She and fellow country music powerhouse McGraw were celebrating the premiere of “1883,” the gritty Western prequel to “Yellowstone,” at the opulent Wynn Las Vegas last weekend.
Hours before arriving, McGraw said he and the cast were, “shooting in a 60-mile-per-hour dust storm on horseback through rough terrain chasing bad guys and then we get on a plane, land in Vegas and see all of these lights. We felt like it was in outer space.”
The married pair star as James and Margaret Dutton, the patriarch and matriarch of the Dutton family and great-grandparents of John Dutton, portrayed by Kevin Costner in “Yellowstone.” Read more
Starving Afghan mum sells baby For $104 to feed her 8 other children (Ibistimes)
An Afghan mother had to sell one of her twin babies so that she could feed her 10-member family amid a worsening food crisis in the Taliban-ruled country. This comes as more families are resorting to extreme measures like marrying off young girls to feed their children.
The desperate mom, identified as Bibi, sold her baby to a childless couple who paid her $104, reported Save the Children, an international non-profit organization.
The report added that the 40-year-old woman, who recently gave birth to a baby girl and boy, had no choice but to give one of them up so that she would get enough money to feed her other eight children. Her husband Mohammad, 45, supported her decision.
“We have nothing, so how could I take care of them (both)?” Bibi said. “I suffered from having to split them up. It was a very difficult [decision], more than you could imagine. It was especially difficult to give the baby away because of poverty.” Read more
South Africa’s ex-president to return behind bars (RT)
South Africa’s High Court has ruled that granting medical parole to Jacob Zuma was unlawful. The 79-year-old former president, who had been convicted of contempt of court, must now return to prison.
A court judgement decreed on Wednesday that former President Jacob Zuma must return to jail, dismissing a September verdict which granted him medical parole. The 79-year-old is serving a 15-month sentence for contempt of court.
“It is hereby directed that the third respondent be returned to the custody of the department of correctional services to serve out the remainder of his sentence of imprisonment,” the verdict read, according to local media.
Zuma handed himself over on July 7 to begin his prison sentence. He had been found guilty of contempt of court, having failed to turn up to hearings on alleged corruption during his nine-year tenure as president.
The former president’s detention triggered some of the worst violence seen in South Africa for decades. More than 300 died and more than 3,000 were arrested in widespread rioting and looting, which also stemmed from dire economic conditions and widespread unemployment. Read more
Tearful Aguero retires from football due to heart problem (Guardian)
Barcelona and Argentina striker Sergio Aguero on Wednesday announced his retirement from football at a tearful press conference, just over a month after the 33-year-old was diagnosed with a heart problem.
“I have decided to stop playing professional football. It is a very hard moment but I am happy with my decision. My health comes first,” said Aguero, who enjoyed 10 highly successful years at Manchester City before leaving at the end of last season.
He signed a two-year deal with Barcelona but had made just five appearances, scoring one goal against Real Madrid, before being taken to hospital with “chest pains” after a match at home to Alaves in October.
Aguero was then diagnosed with a heart condition and forced to accept that he would not be able to play again.
“I took this decision because of problems I had a bit more than a month ago. I was in good hands with the doctors who also did their best and told me the best thing to do was stop playing,” he said at the press conference at the Camp Nou, which was attended by his Barcelona team-mates. Read more
Real Madrid’s Modric, Marcelo test positive for Covid (Vanguard)
Real Madrid’s duo of Luka Modric and Marcelo have tested positive for Covid, joining the growing number of players to have been infected with the virus.
The club did not, however, say if the two were suffering any symptoms, but that they have been moved into quarantine in line with Spain’s health protocol and will miss Sunday’s league game against Cadiz.
“Real Madrid C. F. inform that our players Marcelo and Luka Modric have tested positive for COVID-19,” read a club statement. Read more
CAF describes as ‘fake news’ reports suggesting that AFCON 2021 is on brink of cancellation
(AllnigeriaSoccer)
The Confederation of African Football has moved quickly to dismiss viral reports in the local and foreign press that the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations is on the brink of being cancelled.
Reports emanating from the French media previously claimed that Covid-19’s new variant omicron could lead to a cancellation of the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The report added that English Premier League clubs would like to keep their players as those called up have to undergo quarantine upon their return to the United Kingdom, which would deprive clubs of their players for a longer period.
The Confederation of African Football has cleared the air on the cancellation of the AFCON, with CAF Head of Media Relations and Operations, Lux September describing the reports as ‘fake news’. Read more
Woman burned to death in alleged car crash involving ex-NFL star
(RT news)
The 23-year-old woman who died in an alleged crash involving a former NFL player who is accused of driving under the influence burned to death in her car, a Nevada coroner has said.
Tina Tintor and her dog died in the fiery smash which authorities are blaming on former Las Vegas Raiders star Henry Ruggs II, who they claim was driving drunk and far in excess of the local speed limit.
Police state that Ruggs’ Corvette was travelling at a speed of 156mph in a 45mph zone before he collided with Tintor’s Toyota Rav4, rupturing her gas tank and causing her car to be enveloped in flames, killing the victim and her golden retriever, Max.
Tintor “died from thermal injuries due to a motor vehicle collision on Nov. 2”, according to the coroner, who added that “other significant conditions contributing to her death were inhalation of products of combustion, fractures of the nasal bones, right sided ribs … left forearm and (chest). Read more
Cesar Azpilicueta: Players ready for another social media boycott if companies don’t prevent abuse
(CNN)
Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta says footballers are ready and “waiting” to take part in another social media boycott if companies don’t clamp down on abuse on their platforms.
Earlier this year, players, clubs in the Premier League, English Football League, Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship, along with the game’s governing bodies and organizations such as Kick It Out, turned off their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for three days.
In a joint statement at the time, the group said the boycott hoped to “emphasise that social media companies must do more to eradicate online hate.”
However, a number of players — including Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Bukayo Saka and Wilfried Zaha — have since still been subjected to racist abuse on social media. Read more
Bubba Wallace opens up about working with team owner Michael Jordan
(Yahoo)
Bubba Wallace says the influence of team owner Michael Jordan has been tremendous for his career.
Wallace joined the 23XI Racing team last year that Jordan co-founded with fellow driver Denny Hamlin after coming over from Richard Petty Motorsports.
“M.J. stepping up in a way that he did for me has been — you know, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to thank him enough,” Wallace told People Magazine. “Just this opportunity this year and moving forward. He gave me an opportunity to shine and put my best foot forward.”
In October, Wallace became the first Black driver to win a NASCAR race in nearly six decades when he took the checkered flag in a rain-shortened race at Talladega. Read more
“We are friends” – Ex-Man United youngster Arnau Puigmal denies rift with passionate Nigerian star
(Soccernet)
The Spaniard has been crucial to Almeria’s unstoppable march towards La Liga, but he was at the receiving end of Umar Sadiq’s outburst at the weekend
Almeria midfielder Arnau Puigmal has brushed aside any report of a rift with club teammate Umar Sadiq, insisting that he is best of friends with the Nigerian striker.
The controversy started when Sadiq showed his anger towards Puigmal when the Spanish youngster failed to pass him the ball when better placed during the league clash with Real Zaragoza on Sunday at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterráneos.
Despite being Almeria’s leading goalscorer, Sadiq went into that gameweek 20 clash without finding the back of the net in his last seven matches. Read more
