GWR: Nigerian begins crochet-a-thon, to knit wedding gown for 72 hours in Lagos (Guardian)
Nigerian crochetist and social entrepreneur, Okafor Chidinma Modupe, on Sunday afternoon kicked off her 72-hour crochet-a-thon to break Guinness World Record (GWR). The marathon crocheting will continue till December 27 at GOGE Africa, Maryland Lagos.
Crochet is a needlework made by looping thread with a hooked needle. It involves creating different stitches with different numbers of loops on the hook. For this crochet-a-thon, the 30-year-old crochetist plans to knit a wedding gown.
Chidinma who is ecstatic over this record-breaking feat told newsmen that she had made preparations to become a record-holder as this will fulfill her lifelong dream. Read more
Nigerians must unite against common enemies, support military – Defence chief (DailyTrust)
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, has called on Nigerians to unite against the nation’s adversaries and support the Armed Forces, in the spirit of Christmas and New Year celebrations.
In his Christmas message issued by the Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Tukur Gusau, in Abuja on Sunday, Musa expressed gratitude to the armed forces and Nigerians for their commitment, adding that the sacrifices of all uniformed heroes defending the nation should be acknowledged.
He stated, “Let us face challenges with unity and courage. Your bravery will not go unnoticed, and we commit to continuous support. May the festive spirit bind us as one, and the warmth of shared destiny resonate beyond this season. Read more
Yuletide: Be committed to Nigeria’s greatness, Omo-Agege advises Christians (Punch)
A former Deputy President of the Senate and Delta State Governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress in the 2023 general elections, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has called on Nigerians to use the occasion of the Yuletide to “renew their hope and commitment to the greatness of Nigeria.”
Omo-Agege made the call in his Christmas message issued by his media adviser, Sunny Areh, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State, on Sunday.
While also urging Christians to imbibe the virtues of hope, humility and love which he described as the hallmarks of the birth of Jesus Christ, Omo-Agege noted that “the Christmas celebrations offer Nigerians the opportunity to reflect on God’s love and compassion for man as epitomised in the gift of His only begotten son for man’s salvation.” Read more
Christmas: Support your prayers for Nigeria with positive actions, Saraki urges Christians (Leadership)
Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has congratulated Christians across the country and the world over this year’s Christmas celebration and urged those in Nigeria to also ensure that their prayers are supported by actions that can help achieve the development of the nation.
Saraki, in a statement released from his Media Office in Abuja on Sunday and signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that the prayers of religious groups like the Christians have sustained the country despite the numerous daunting challenges that were confronting it.
He added that citizens who take time to pray for their country are demonstrating patriotism and that such commitment needs to be supported with positive attitudes like compliance with the laws of the land, and tolerance of people of other religions and those with different viewpoints on issues. Read more
CP visits Nollywood actor Azeez Ijaduade in hospital, condemns shooting (Vanguard)
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, has condemned the shooting of a popular Nollywood actor, Azeez Ijaduade, by a cop in the state.
The police boss reacted to the incident during his visit to the actor at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state.
It will be recalled that the actor was rushed to the hospital after he was mistakenly shot by a trigger-happy cop attached to a Chinese expatriate. Read more
Man who murdered a lady in Abia, arrested in Cross River State (Sun)
Police have arrested a man who allegedly murdered his female friend in Aba, Abia State, in Cross River State.
According to a police report, on December 4, one Timothy Ekem Ocheche, 29, from Cross Rivers State had lodged the female friend identified as Fortune Nkano Ohiero, 30, also from the same Cross River State, in a hotel on Clifford Road in Aba, Abia State.
After killing the lady, the suspect was said to have fled the hotel unnoticed to an unknown destination. Read more
Troops neutralise 14 terrorists, rescue 14 kidnap victims in Kaduna, Niger states (Channels)
Troops of the One Mechanised Division of the Nigerian Army have neutralized 14 suspected terrorists during clearance operations in Kaduna and Niger states.
The troops also rescued 14 persons who were kidnapped by the insurgents during the operations.
According to a statement by the Acting Army Public Relations Officer of One Mechanised Division Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, the troops on Saturday, December 23rd, neutralised two terrorists at the Madawaki area of Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State with others fleeing with gunshot wounds, while the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, magazines and a motorcycle in the encounter. Read more
SERAP sues NNPCL over ‘failure’ to account for oil production, revenues (Leadership)
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited before the Federal High Court in Abuja over its alleged failure to disclose details of Nigeria’s daily oil production and revenues generated since the removal of petrol subsidy in May 2023.
In the suit with number FHC/ABJ/CS/1719/2023, SERAP was seeking an order of mandamus to compel the NNPCL to disclose how much of the revenues generated from the production and exportation of oil have been remitted to the public treasury since the removal of subsidy on petrol.
The civil society organisation was also asking the court for an order of mandamus to direct and compel the NNPCL to disclose details of payment of N11trillion made as subsidy payments from 1999 to May 2023, including a detailed breakdown of the payments made. Read more
Nicki Minaj dropped as codefendant in husband’s sexual assault lawsuit (HipHopDx)
Nicki Minaj has been removed as a defendant in the sexual assault lawsuit against her husband, Kenneth Petty.
Legal Affairs and Trials with Meghann Cuniff is reporting that Jennifer Hough has amended the caption to leave Petty as the sole defendant, though Minaj is still prominently featured in the suit. Petty was found guilty in 1995 of attempting to rape Hough the year prior.
Hough has accused Minaj of making threats against her in an attempt to get her to recant her statements about Petty. Read more
Sophie Turner’s 2 kids to spend the holidays with Her in England amid her divorce from Joe Jonas (People)
Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas’ two daughters will celebrate Christmas and the New Year holiday in the U.K. with their mom.
Holiday plans for the couple’s young daughters — Willa and Delphine — have been set amid the couple’s ongoing divorce, according to court documents obtained by PEOPLE.
Per the legal papers, Jonas, 34, brought the children overseas to Turner, 27, earlier this month on Dec. 17. They will remain with the Game of Thrones alum through Jan. 7, when they will then have to return to New York City, the court documents state. Read more
Prince Andrew ‘tormented’ as Jeffrey Epstein documents set to be made public (Independent)
Prince Andrew is said to be “totally tormented” at the prospect of his relationship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein coming under further scrutiny after a judge ordered the release of secret case files.
US Judge Loretta Preska ruled on Monday 18 December that documents relating to more than 170 people who were either associates, friends or victims of disgraced financier Epstein should be made public.
They include 40 documents of evidence from Johanna Sjoberg, who has claimed the Duke of York touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside the US billionaire’s Manhattan apartment in 2001. Andrew has always strongly denied the allegations against him. Read more
Dixie Chicks founding member Laura Lynch dies aged 65 after Texas car crash, as bandmates pay tribute (LBC)
Laura Lynch, a founding member of the Dixie Chicks, has died aged 65 after a car crash.
The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that Lynch died on Friday after two vehicles were involved in a crash near El Paso. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Lynch was one of the founding members of the US country band, set up in Texas in 1989.
She featured on their first three albums as a singer and bassist before departing the group in the mid-1990s. Read more
Banksy artwork stolen in London; suspect arrested (CBS)
A man suspected of stealing an artwork by Banksy of a stop sign adorned with three military drones, was arrested Saturday, London police said.
A man in his 20s was in custody on suspicion of theft and criminal damage, the Metropolitan police said.
The sign was taken less than an hour after the elusive street artist posted a photo of the work on his Instagram page Friday. Read more
Russian shelling kills 4, injures 9 in Ukraine’s Kherson (VOA)
At least four people were killed and nine others wounded in Russian shelling in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson over the past 24 hours, regional authorities said on Sunday.
Russian troops fired 71 shells at Kherson, hitting the city center, residential areas, medical and educational institutions and “critical infrastructure facilities,” Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the regional military administration wrote on Telegram.
Prokudin said an elderly couple in their 80s and a child were among the victims. Read more
Pope Francis discusses West Bank city of Bethlehem in Christmas Eve Mass (UPI)
Pope Francis briefly discussed Israel’s war on Palestine during his celebration of the Christmas Eve Mass on Sunday, drawing attention to the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. His broader message warned against idolatry and consumerism when celebrating Christmas.
“Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war,” Francis said in reference to Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem. “By the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world.”
Francis condemned “the quest for worldly power and might” and fame and glory, which measures everything in terms of “results and numbers and figures.” Read more
AFCON: Eagles to play Burkina Faso, Cape Verde friendlies January (Punch)
Nigeria will play two friendly matches against Burkina Faso and Cape Verde in January ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations which holds from January 13 to February 11 in Ivory Coast.
The Super Eagles are hoping to win a fourth AFCON title next year and are in Group A alongside hosts Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau.
Nigeria’s first game will be against Equatorial Guinea January 14 at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium before facing hosts Ivory Coast January 18 while their last group game will be against Guinea Bissau January 22. Read more
Man Utd Supporters’ Trust issue statement after Sir Jim Ratcliffe deal confirmed (Mirror)
The Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) want to see the “proof in the pudding” before judging Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment.
British petrochemicals mogul Ratcliffe has finally agreed a £1.3billion deal with the Glazers to acquire a 25 percent stake in the club, which crucially gives his INEOS Group control over the club’s football operations. Ratcliffe, 71, is a boyhood United fan and has pledged a further investment of $300million (£236m) into the club, but MUST are wary that the power ultimately still lies with the club’s much-maligned owners, the Glazer family.
The Americans have been in charge since 2005 when they orchestrated a controversial leveraged buyout, with absent family members becoming increasingly unpopular during their 18-year tenure, a period which MUST won’t be forgetting amid the Ratcliffe fanfare. “During 18 years of debt, decay and mismanagement, Manchester United fans have loudly and consistently called for change at our Club,” their statement said. Read more
Max Verstappen blocked from hiring Mercedes car that goes 195mph while on holiday (Express)
Max Verstappen has reportedly been blocked from hiring a Mercedes AMG GT with speeds of up to 195mph while on holiday – despite racing at well over 200mph in his Red Bull F1 car.
The 26-year-old is the king of speed and one of the most trustworthy pair of hands behind a wheel.
But while enjoying some downtime with his friends in the Algarve, Portugal, he was blocked from driving a Mercedes because it would have breached an insurance policy. The Sun claim that Verstappen and his pals rented around 20 cars from Sixt at Faro Airport and were planning to drive them around the Autodromo Internacional do Algarve racing circuit. Read more
LeBron James scores season-high 40 points in Los Angeles Lakers’ win over Oklahoma City Thunder (CNN)
LeBron James once again proved that age is just a number as he scored a season-high 40 points on Saturday to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 129-120 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The 38-year-old produced an offensive masterclass as he became the first player in their 21st NBA season to record a 40-point game, going 13-for-20 from the field, including making all five of his threes. He also added seven rebounds and seven assists.
“We needed this win,” James, who turns 39 in a week, said afterward, per ESPN. “We didn’t want to end the road trip in a losing effort. To come in here to play versus a team that’s been playing extremely well throughout this season, it was a big win for us.” Read more
Dolphins top Cowboys, secure playoff spot on last-second field goal (ABC)
Jason Sanders kicked his fifth field goal of the game, a 29-yarder as time expired, and the Miami Dolphins secured a playoff berth with a 22-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Tua Tagovailoa threw for 293 yards and a touchdown for the AFC East-leading Dolphins (11-4), who beat a team with a winning record for the first time this season. He connected with Tyreek Hill twice on the decisive drive, which covered 64 yards and took the final 3:27 off the clock.
Hill, who leads the NFL in receiving yards, had nine catches for 99 yards after missing last week’s victory over the New York Jets with an ankle injury. Read more
India suspends newly-elected wrestling body after top athletes protest (AlJazeera)
India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has suspended the newly-elected governing body of the scandal-hit wrestling federation, accusing it of ignoring rules by hastily announcing championships.
The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has “been instructed to suspend all its activities until further orders”, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
Following the suspension, the ministry asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to create a temporary panel to govern the WFI, Indian media reports said. Read more