Doctor dies from Lassa fever after collapsing during surgery (Nation)
Amedical doctor at the Garaku General Hospital in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Isaiah Ahmed, has died from Lassa fever.
He first complained of fever but continued working, only to collapse while carrying out a surgery.
Nasarawa State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr Peter Attah, said the doctor died on December 31.
He said: “As an association, we got information when he was already dead.
“From our investigation, the sickness started like a fever, but he kept working even when he was on treatment. Read more
Dokpesi: UK police deepen probe, controversy surrounds airport incident (Punch)
The London Metropolitan Police, United Kingdom, has said it is probing a 71-year-old man who was arrested at Heathrow Airport on Sunday on suspicion of rape.
This is as controversy surrounded the arrest of the founder of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who was delayed by the Met Police at Heathrow Airport on Sunday for a few hours.
Dokpesi had arrived via Frankfurt from Abuja on a Lufthansa airlines flight but was invited off the plane before other passengers disembarked.
Confirming the development in a statement on Monday, the DAAR Communications management explained that Dokpesi was in the UK in connection with the invitation extended to the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, by the British government to speak on the 2023 presidential elections. Read more
Why I can’t be faithful to one woman — Don Jazzy (Vanguard)
Popular music producer, Michael Collins Ajereh better known as Don Jazzy, has shared some fascinating insights about his life.
In a recent podcast interview with media personality, Nedu, the founder of Mavins was open and honest about his personal life.
Don Jazzy discussed his relationships while acknowledging that he isn’t the kind of guy to stick to one woman.
He claimed that although things might change once he locates his lost rib, for the time being; he can’t stay committed to just one woman. Read more
Lagos Labour Party chairman, Kayode Salako resigns (Tribune)
The Chairman of the Labour Party in Lagos State, Mr Kayode Salako, has handed over the party structure in the state to Mrs Dayo Ekong as the new chairman.
Meanwhile, The Outgoing Chairman has been elevated to the position of Special Adviser on Lagos Affairs and Liaison operations to the National Chairman of the Party, Comrade Julius Abure.
In his handover speech at the Stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday in Lagos, Kayode said he cannot be a mole in the political party he is contesting and that the party made him not the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Outgoing Chairman described himself as sincere and honest, adding that the party asked him not to go when he wanted. Read more
UNILAG holds all-postgraduate 53rd convocation, unveils octogenarians, Duyile, Okonji as oldest graduates (Independent)
The management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), on Tuesday at the Akoka main campus, unveiled activities for the 53rd Convocation celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the institution.
At the press briefing which was held at the hallowed chamber of the Senate building, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folashade Ogunsola disclosed that among the 2,251 graduating postgraduate students were Mr Dayo Duyile, a veteran journalist and media guru who emerged as the oldest Ph.D. holder at 83 years old.
According to her, the oldest octogenarian (Female) is Okonji, Bridget Obiageli who obtained her M.Ed. in Guidance and Counselling at the age of 82 years.
Duyile, who hails from Ondo town, Ondo State, has successfully defended his PhD thesis on “A Historiography of Emergence of Development of Early Newspapers in Nigeria.” Read more
Rivers Police bust child trafficking syndicate, rescue pregnant teenagers (Channels)
In a move hailed as a major achievement, the Rivers State Police Command has busted a child trafficking syndicate operating in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
Acting on intelligence, the C4i Intelligence Unit Operatives of the Command over the weekend raided two buildings at Igwuruta and Omagwa communities respectively, both in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state where victims of child trafficking were being kept.
Some of the victims are as young as 15 years old and are heavily pregnant while others nurse infants.
They are lured by the promise of financial reward depending on the sex of the baby they deliver. Read more
Buhari: I’ve fulfilled my promises to Nigerians (DailyTrust)
President Muhammadu Buhari says he has fulfilled his promises to Nigerians on tackling Boko Haram insurgency, reviving the economy and fighting corruption.
According to his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the president said this during a banquet organised in his honour in Damaturu, Yobe State capital.
The president paid a working visit to Yobe on Monday.
In a statement, Adesina said Buhari also stated that nobody could blackmail him on inexplicable wealth and illicit enrichment while in office, saying ‘’I do not have one square-inch outside Nigeria.’ Read more
5 in NSCDC net for vandalizing highway bridges in FCT (Guardian)
Five members of a syndicate believed to be vandalizing critical national assets and infrastructure such as theft of manhole covers and galvanized iron pipes, have been arrested by the Intelligence and Investigations Crack Squad, (IICS), of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) headquarters in Abuja.
A statement from the Corps Public Relations Officer,(PRO), Olusola Odumosu, says that the five “members of the criminal syndicate were arrested following credible information and surveillance mounted by the Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation (DII) Crack Squad from the National Headquarters of the Corps with the support of other stakeholders”.
Commandant General of the Corps, Associate Professor Ahmed Audi, said the arrest is part of renewed determination aimed at protecting Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI), in the FCT following massive ongoing vandalisation of manhole covers, bridges and other such infrastructures.
Recall that worried by the incessant vandalism and theft of manhole covers on roads in the FCT, Audi tasked his operatives to redouble their efforts in ending the menace. Read more
Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” returns to No. 1 on Hot 100, The Weeknd & Beyoncé hit Top 10 (Billboard)
No problem: Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” rebounds to No. 1 this week, from No. 8, on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for a seventh total week on top. With this latest frame at the summit, Swift ties her longest Hot 100 command, first set by “Blank Space” in 2014-15.
Plus, David Guetta and Bebe Rexha’s “I’m Good (Blue)” blasts 19-4 on the Hot 100, notching its first week in the top five, and two songs soar to their first weeks in the top 10: The Weeknd’s “Die for You” (26-8) and Beyoncé’s “Cuff It” (38-10). The Weeknd achieves his 16th top 10 and Beyoncé banks her 21st.
All songs in the Hot 100’s top 10 surge in rank as holiday hits depart the chart (which reflects the Dec. 30-Jan. 5 tracking week). A week earlier, eight seasonal songs placed in the top 10, led by Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” which added its 12th total week at No. 1, the most for a holiday title in the chart’s 64-year history. This week is the third, following the 2019 and 2021 holiday seasons, in which the modern carol has left the list directly from No. 1, and it’s the only song to make such a disappearance (with Carey having celebrated its first: “Worth it haaa another record!”)
The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data. All charts (dated Jan. 14, 2023) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow (Jan. 10). For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Twitter and Instagram. Read more
Paul Mescal replaces Blake Jenner In Merrily We Roll Along film (BroadwayWorld)
Actor Paul Mescal has joined the upcoming film adaptation of the musical Merrily We Roll Along. Mescal steps into the role of Franklin Shephard, replacing originally announced lead Blake Jenner.
Directed by Richard Linklater, the Sondheim adaptation is set to be shot across the next twenty years and in reverse chronological order.
Star Ben Platt revealed last spring that production had completed the first sequence of the upcoming film. Filming is set to begin again in late 2023.
According to Variety, there is no word on whether production intends to start over or employ methods to preserve the original performances from the film’s other two stars, Golden Globe-nominee Beanie Feldstein and Tony Award-winner Platt. Read more
Flo Rida explains why he sued energy drink company Celsius (HipHopDX)
Flo Rida is suing energy drink company Celsius for allegedly cutting him out of profits.
The “Right Round” rapper and his attorney appeared on CNBC’s Squawk Box on Monday (January 9), and explained that he feels he popularized the product he got behind in 2014 but hasn’t seen the commission he is owed for it.
“Well this started back in 2014. I was asked to be the brand ambassador for Celsius,” Flo explained. “I mean, this was a young company out of the state of Florida, and myself, I thrive on health. Since being in ninth grade, all I did was love fitness knowing that health is really wealth. So I was in this thing for the long haul, and basically when it came down to getting compensated…
“It was a time during the pandemic where I got to sit down and really check out all my business endeavors,” he continued. “And this one in particular, I checked it out and they were telling me that one of the products I was endorsing wasn’t selling and I got a chance to look at it and it was doing more than well.” Read more
Steve Lamacq announces UK tour to celebrate 10 years of Independent Venue Week (NME)
Steve Lamacq is set to embark on a UK tour for BBC Radio 6 Music to celebrate 10 years of Independent Venue Week.
The annual event, which encourages live music fans to get out and support their local venues, will take place between January 30–February 5, 2023.
The DJ legend will tour the UK for a series of special shows in independent venues, featuring performances from Suede, The Murder Capital, Sprints, Grove and Young Fathers.
Lamacq will broadcast from a different venue in a UK town or city each day – with stops planned for Ramsgate, Birmingham, Norfolk, North Yorkshire and Glasgow – where all the artists will participate in conversion with the DJ before performing. Read more
Dominic Brunt: Wolf Manor is a pure monster movie (FilmNews)
Dominic Brunt says his new film Wolf Manor is a pure “monster movie”.
The 52-year-old actor – who is famous for playing Paddy Kirk in British soap Emmerdale – took on directing duties on the British flick and he thinks that fans of the werewolf genre will enjoy it for it’s gore and humour, as well as the nods to John Landis’ 1981 lycanthrope classic An American Werewolf in London.
He said: “What I really liked about Wolf Manor is that it really is just a monster movie. There’s no back story, no characterisation, get up on the hills and get on with it. That’s horror in its purest form, really. That’s why I was drawn to this.”
Brunt and his wife Joanne Mitchell run production company Mitchell Brunt Films together and the couple have made several horror films, including Bait, Attack of the Adult Babies and Before Dawn. Read more
Avatar 2 and Puss in Boots 2 poised for extended cinema runs in China (Variety)
Disney’s Avatar: The Way of Water has been given permission to extend its current run in mainland Chinese cinemas beyond the 30-day theatrical period normally granted to Hollywood films imported into the country.
Such decisions are in the gift of the government regulators that oversee the sector and which have blocked Disney’s Marvel movies from playing in China for more than three years.
A spokesman for Disney in Asia confirmed to Variety that it has been informed of an additional 30 days of play for Avatar 2. Non-governmental sources have told Variety that the DreamWorks animation-produced Puss in Boots: The Last Wish has also been granted an extension, though specifics were unavailable.
Such extensions are far from unprecedented and appear to be granted when a longer run could be viewed as beneficial to Chinese cinema operators or to a Chinese investor or co-producer. Read more
Russia promises stronger military as Ukraine war drags on (AlJazeera)
President Vladimir Putin’s defence minister has pledged to build a deeper arsenal of weapons, bolster aviation technology to better evade air defences and improve drone production after a series of battlefield humiliations in Ukraine.
Since Putin sent troops into Ukraine on February 24, the once mighty army of a former superpower has been repeatedly outwitted and outmanoeuvred by the smaller Ukrainian army, which is supported by the United States and its European allies.
The conflict has turned into a grinding war of attrition that has killed and wounded tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides, as well as Ukrainian civilians, though there is no end in sight, and both sides are re-arming as fast as they can.
Defence minister Sergei Shoigu told top generals that to renew the army, they would have to take account of the experience of fighting in the Syrian civil war – where Russia intervened on the side of President Bashar al-Assad – and in Ukraine. Read more
We begged for money to celebrate Christmas – Flamingos players (Punch)
Seventy-two days after beating Germany to finish third at the U-17 Women’s World Cup in India, players and officials of the Flamingos are yet to receive their allowances and match bonuses with some of the players telling The PUNCH they virtually went begging for money to celebrate the Yuletide.
Our correspondent learnt that while their camping allowances from February 6 to June 5, 2022, had been paid, the team’s bonuses for qualifying matches they played against Congo, Egypt and Ethiopia were yet to be paid.
The World Cup bonuses for the matches against Chile, New Zealand, U.S.A, and Germany had also not been paid to officials and players of the Flamingos.
One of the players, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being victimised, said she and her teammates begged for money to celebrate Christmas and New Year. Read more
Messi set for first PSG appearance since World Cup as contract talks go on (Zawya)
Lionel Messi is expected to make his first appearance for Paris Saint-Germain since his World Cup triumph in a Ligue 1 clash at home against Angers on Wednesday, as the Qatar-owned club look to tie the Argentine down to a new contract.
The 35-year-old took part in training with his teammates on Tuesday, a little over three weeks after inspiring Argentina to victory over France on penalties in an epic World Cup final in Qatar.
He was granted a two-week holiday back in his home country following the tournament, before returning to Paris and being given a guard of honour at PSG’s training ground last Wednesday.
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, who scored 12 goals in 19 games this season for his club prior to the World Cup, did not take part in PSG’s win at third-tier side Chateauroux in the French Cup at the weekend. Read more
Top SA referee Makalima says hard work is paying off as she heads to the World Cup (TimesLive)
Top South African referee Akhona Makalima is excited to see her hard work paying off, after she was appointed to be one of the match officials at 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup.
The tournament, which African champions Banyana Banyana will be part of, is co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand from July 20 with the final scheduled for August 20.
Makalima is one of the 12 African match officials that will do duty in the tournament.
The 34-year-old Eastern Cape-born referee has been Fifa listed since 2014 and has officiated in the Premier Soccer League and Caf Champions League. Read more
Why Chelsea changed mind on Joao Felix transfer as Blues chiefs still not completely happy (Express)
Chelsea chiefs changed their mind over a deal for Joao Felix during internal meetings this week, according to reports. The Blues are claimed to have initially seen no value in a move for the Atletico Madrid star and are still disappointed there will be no option to buy the player.
Felix is set to join Chelsea on loan for the remainder of the season. The Premier League side will cover the 23-year-old’s entire salary and also pay a loan fee of just under £10 million.
Felix has not seen eye to eye with Atletico boss Diego Simeone and despite starting the 1-0 loss to Barcelona on Sunday, he will be playing his football elsewhere until the summer at least. Arsenal and Manchester United have also shown an interest in the player but Chelsea have won the race.
CBS Sports reporter Ben Jacobs claims Chelsea seriously considered Felix in December. At the time, Stamford Bridge chiefs did not see the value of a straight loan deal. Read more
Nadal feels in ”good shape” ahead of Australian Open defence (Eurosport)
Rafael Nadal says he is in “good shape” despite concerns over his fitness ahead of the defence of his Australian Open title.
Nadal, 36, has lost six of his last seven singles matches, the only victory a dead rubber against Casper Ruud at the Nitto ATP Finals.
He has not seemed completely healthy since last summer, when he withdrew from the Wimbledon semi-finals with an abdominal injury and then lost in the fourth round of the US Open.
In 2023, he was 0-2 after losing to Alex de Minaur and Cameron Norrie at the United Cup. Read more
Lewis Hamilton says he’s ‘‘incredibly grateful’’ for 2022 Mercedes woes (F1News)
Lewis Hamilton has revealed that he’s been praying “all the time” for the people of the world to be “more compassionate and caring”, with so much unrest currently going on wherever you look.
It has been an extremely challenging few years for everyone, with the Coronavirus pandemic having initially changed so many people’s lives.
Formula 1 drivers are included with that, after the sport was halted moments before the 2020 season opener in Australia was about to begin.
The drivers and the teams were then travelling the world whilst following strict guidelines, with travel restrictions having been implemented. Read more