First Lady unveils baby of the year in Abuja (DailyTrust)
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Wednesday welcomed Abuja’s first baby of the year 2025 at the Asokoro District Hospital.
Daily Trust reports that Favour Stephen Odion – a baby girl – was born to the family of Mr. Odion Oyinbo and Mrs. Chioma Odion at exactly 12:27 am on Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
The mother of the nation also received other babies born in the hospital, including the first baby boy of the year, Zimchikachim Ejiofor, born to the family of Mr. Ejiofor Nworie and Mrs. Delight Nworie at about 7:14am. Read more
Sanwo-Olu hangs out With Wizkid, Burna Boy, Olamide, Tiwa Savage at #GreaterLagosCountdown2025 (Channels)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was seen in several photos having a nice time with entertainers, including Wizkid, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Olamide and others at the #GreaterLagosCountdown2025.
In a statement shared by the governor on X on Wednesday, he thanked artists and residents who made the event remarkable.
He said “A heartfelt thank you to the incredible artists who honoured Lagos’ call to perform and made the night unforgettable—Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Burna Boy, Olamide, Seyi Vibez, and many more. Read more
2025: Monitor actions, decisions of political leaders, Atiku tasks Nigerians (Tribune)
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on Nigerians to hold political leaders accountable in 2025, urging citizens to embrace heightened vigilance and public awareness to safeguard democracy and national progress.
In his New Year message posted on X on Wednesday, Atiku emphasized the importance of actively monitoring the actions and decisions of government officials at all levels, describing the year ahead as a “momentous era” for reshaping national dialogue and fostering a collective commitment to accountability.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, invoked the timeless maxim on vigilance, stressing that the public must remain steadfast in ensuring that political power is not abused for personal gain. Read more
Simon Ekpa: Army Chief shares update on extradition (Sun)
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Christopher Musa has given an update on the extradition process of detained pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa.
Ekpa has been in custody since November 21, 2024, after being arrested by Finnish authorities for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media”.
During an appearance on Channels Television’s 2024 year-end review programme on Tuesday, Musa disclosed that most of the requirements for Ekpa’s extradition have been submitted. Read more
Lagos LG boss kicks as vandals throw communities into darkness (Punch)
The chairperson for the Epe Local Government Area in Lagos State, Surah Animashaun, has described the vandalisation of newly installed electricity cables in the area as a setback to an effort aimed at restoring the LG to the national grid.
Animashaun, in a statement made available to PUNCH Metro by her media office on Sunday, stressed that the action had left several communities in the LG in darkness.
She added that communities like Ererufu village between Ketu and Itokin, and also at Temu, Araga, and Sala, were affected by the vandalism. Read more
Passage of tax reform bills will yield more dividends of democracy, says Akpabio (ThisDay)
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has assured Nigerians that they will start enjoying better dividends of democracy when the National Assembly passes the landmark tax reform bills and assented to by President Bola Tinubu.
Akpabio, who stated this in his New Year message he personally signed, also wished Tinubu; Vice-President Kashim Shettima; the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; members of the National Assembly and officers and men of the Armed Forces, a happy and prosperous New Year.
He said: “From the various reforms put in place by the current administration, especially the proposed tax reforms, I can assure Nigerians that we will begin to enjoy sustainable dividends of democracy in this New Year. Read more
Give all films even-playing ground, don’t tell people what to watch – Femi Branch to Cinemas (Vanguard)
Nigerian actor and producer, Femi Branch has criticised some cinema owners, accusing them of unfair practices that promote certain movies over others.
In a recent Instagram post, the 54-year-old Sagamu-born filmmaker alleged that some cinema staff wear branded merchandise to advertise specific films, compromising their neutrality.
He also claimed that promotional materials for certain movies are removed from cinema counters, while others are prominently displayed. Read more
Nigeria will prosper in 2025, Betta Edu assures Nigerians (Nation)
Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Betta Edu, has assured Nigerians that Nigeria is poised for prosperity in 2025.
In her New Year message released on Wednesday to mark the beginning of 2025, Edu expressed optimism for the country’s future, describing the year as a time of restoration and opportunity.
She highlighted that 2025 would be a year to perfect President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Read more
Mary star Noa Cohen received death threats while filming in Morocco (JerusalemPost)
Noa Cohen, the young Israeli actress who plays Jesus’s mother in the Netflix movie, Mary, revealed on the show Good Evening with Guy Pines on Keshet 12 that she received multiple death threats while the movie was filmed in Morocco earlier this year.
While she was on the set from January to March in Morocco, her life was threatened over and over. “I got messages from Moroccan profiles [on social media] who said they know ‘what hotel you’re staying at.’ That didn’t make me feel the safest in the world. And you go to film in what is, after all, a Muslim country, Morocco… and you need a special visa to get in, and you have to have heavy security guarding you at all times.” Read more
Ivory Coast says French troops to leave country after decades (AlJazeera)
Ivory Coast has announced that French troops will leave the country this month after a decades-long military presence, becoming the latest African nation to downscale military ties with its former coloniser.
In an end-of-year address to the nation on Tuesday, President Alassane Ouattara said the 43rd BIMA marine infantry battalion at Port-Bouet in Abidjan – where French troops were stationed – “will be handed over” to Ivory Coast’s armed forces as of January 2025.
“We can be proud of our army, whose modernisation is now effective. It is in this context that we have decided on the concerted and organised withdrawal of French forces” from Ivory Coast, Ouattara said. Read more
Florence Pugh reveals why she “didn’t care” to watch We Live in Time after filming (MEN)
Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield, both riding high on a wave of recent successes, have teamed up for the romantic drama We Live in Time, which hits cinemas today, Wednesday, 1 January.
The film delves into the lives of their characters across three different timelines, charting their journey through marriage, children, illness, and other life challenges, as they remain united in adversity.
Pugh portrays Almut Bruhl while Garfield takes on the role of Tobias Durand, with the narrative following their characters as they meet under extraordinary circumstances, sparking an undeniable bond. Read more
The Traitors makes a New Year’s Day return to BBC One (RTE)
BBC reality gameshow The Traitors makes a New Year’s Day return with a new group of strangers meeting at a castle in the Scottish Highlands to play a game which will test their trust, as well as their skills in detection and backstabbing.
They’re also battling with each other for the chance of winning up to £120,000 (€145,000).
One of those taking part in the show hosted by Claudia Winkelman is former British diplomat Alexander, 38, who said he joined the show to try something new. Read more
BBC Radio 2 poll reveals the UK’s favourite Elvis Presley song (Independent)
BBC Radio 2 listeners were asked to choose between classics such as “Always On My Mind”, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and “Suspicious Minds” as they voted for the UK’s favourite Elvis Presley song.
The station asked fans to choose Your Ultimate Elvis Song to compile a chart of the 40 most popular singles by the King of Rock and Roll, which led to more than 100,000 votes being cast.
The results landed on what would have been his 90th birthday, on 8 January 2025, revealing that Presley’s hit single “Suspicious Minds” had come out on top. Read more
Elon Musk changes his name to Kekius Maximus on X (BBC)
The world’s richest man, Elon Musk, has sparked speculation after changing his name on his social media platform X to “Kekius Maximus”.
The tech mogul – and close confidant of US President-Elect Donald Trump – offered no immediate explanation for the name or his new profile image which depicts the character Pepe the Frog – a meme that has been used by far-right groups.
The move has sent ripples through the cryptocurrency world, sending the value of a memecoin – a digital currency inspired by internet memes – that shares the same name skyrocketing. Read more
Justin Baldoni files $250m lawsuit against New York Times over Blake Lively article (People)
Justin Baldoni is suing the New York Times after it reported that he and his public relations team were behind a smear campaign against his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively.
In the 87-page complaint filed on Tuesday, Dec 31. and obtained by PEOPLE, Baldoni and a group of nine other plaintiffs, including his production company Wayfarer Studios, business partners and public relations team, are suing the Times for $250 million. They allege libel, false light invasion of privacy, promissory fraud and breach of implied-in-fact contract.
After Lively filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, the Times published “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine” on Saturday, December 21. Read more
Chukwueze may return for Milan derby Feb 2 (Nation)
Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze is expected to miss not less than eight crucial matches after he went out injured in the Serie A match against Roma on Sunday.
The incident which happened in the first half, came not long after Chukwueze made an attempt on goal as he fell to the floor clutching his hamstring. He immediately requested a change, with Tammy Abraham taking his place.
He was left out of the Milan travelling contingent for the Supercoppa Italiana in Saudi Arabia but following a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan yesterday, it has now been revealed that Chukwueze would miss the whole of January. Read more
Dani Olmo is unregistered by La Liga after Barcelona miss deadline (DailyMail)
La Liga have removed Dani Olmo and Pau Victor from Barcelona’s list of registered players after the club failed to meet a deadline.
Olmo only joined Barcelona from RB Leipzig in the summer in a £50m deal but could only be registered on a temporary arrangement until the end of 2024 owing to LaLiga’s ongoing financial constraints on Barcelona.
The Catalan giants had been trying to re-register the attacking midfielder so that he can play for them beyond December 31. Read more
Real Madrid give Liverpool two options with Trent ‘‘betrayal’’ ruled out, maximum offer revealed (Football365)
According to reports, Liverpool have been given two options regarding Trent Alexander-Arnold after Real Madrid submitted an ‘approach’.
The England international is one of the 20 best footballers who could become a free agent in the summer and Real Madrid are keen to sign him.
Liverpool pair Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are in the same boat, but Alexander-Arnold is perhaps the most likely to leave as he is Real Madrid’s preferred replacement for 32-year-old Dani Carvajal. Read more
Rain break helps Osaka overcome nerves to reach Auckland quarters (JapanToday)
Four-time major champion Naomi Osaka used a rain break to her advantage to power to a straight-sets win in the second round of the Auckland Classic on Wednesday.
The Japanese star shook off some early mistakes to beat unseeded Austrian Julia Grabher 7-5, 6-3 and book a place in Friday’s quarter-finals at the Australian Open warm-up tournament.
The first set went with serve to 5-5 before rain forced the players off court for just over an hour, allowing Osaka a chance to address a “nervous” start. Read more
Golfer Lydia Ko becomes a dame in New Zealand New Year’s honours (ABC)
Hall of Famer Lydia Ko has been made a dame in the New Year’s honours list in New Zealand for her services to golf.
Ko is the youngest New Zealander at age 27 to receive the honour.
The Korean-born Dame Lydia Ko won the women’s tournament at this year’s Paris Olympics and also in 2024 became the 35th and youngest inductee to the LPGA Hall of Fame.
Ko won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and a silver medal at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Read more
Schauffele: All American Ryder Cup pay slated for charity (ESPN)
Americans are getting paid to play in the Ryder Cup for the first time, and Xander Schauffele said Tuesday the plan is for them not to get a dime.
“I just see it as a whole lot of money going to charity and we’re going to take a lot of crap,” Schauffele said.The PGA of America voted last month to give the 12 players and captain Keegan Bradley $300,000 to donate to a charity of their choice and a $200,000 stipend. Bradley immediately said he will donate all of his to charity. Read more
