HMPV: ‘No serious threat for now,’ NCDC assures Nigerians (Channels)
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says the country is not under “serious threat for now” for the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV).
While there have been concerns over the outbreak of the virus in certain parts of the world, the NCDC has assured Nigerians that the country is safe and there is no cause for alarm.
“Let me say, there’s no serious threat for now. That’s one. Two, this HMPV virus, it’s not a new virus. It’s just that it’s not well-known. But it’s been implicated in many respiratory infections over the years, over the countries, especially in children, and elderly people,” the NCDC Director-General Jide Idris said on Thursday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily. Read more
Tinubu in closed door meeting with China’s foreign affairs minister (DailyTrust)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is currently meeting with the Chinese Minister of foreign Affairs Wang Yi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, is in Nigeria on a two-day working visit.
The Chinese foreign Minister was received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by Dunoma Umar Ahmed, permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Read more
Federal lawmakers seek more funding for 2024 capital projects (Nation)
Federal lawmakers have canvassed the release of more funds for capital projects in last year’s budget.
They decried the low level of fund releases for capital projects to ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
According to them, the Executive should take advantage of the extension of the 2024 budget till July 30 to make more funds available to execute capital projects. Read more
Lagos: Sanwo-Olu signs N3.366t 2025 budget (Sun)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, signed the 2025 appropriation bill into law.
The State House of Assembly had on Monday approved a total sum of N3,366,815,224,144 as the state’s budget for 2025.
The approval followed the presentation of a report on the budget by the chairman of the joint committee on appropriation and finance, Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh, and the subsequent voice vote by lawmakers during a sitting presided over by the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa. Read more
EXPOSE educates women, girls on hygiene, wellness in Makoko (Independent)
The critical importance of health, hygiene and wellness in the community were major issues discussed at a recent forum held in Makoko area of Lagos State.
The annual event which is being organised by EXPOSE, a non- governmental for women and girls every Christmas, came under the theme: “The Gift of Wellness: Mental Health, Menstrual Health and Education in Business Strategies”.
Speaking at the Makoko Vocational Center, the venue of the event, Founder of EXPOSE, Mrs. Monalisa Okojie affirmed that the theme of this year’s event was ideal, addinlg that it would go a long way in educating the women and girls on resilience, the importance of managing mental health, menstrual health and their businesses, which are an integral part of their daily life. Read more
Defection: We’re convinced Oborevwori is joining APC – PDP group (NewTelegraph)
The Concerned Leaders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State has said it is convinced that the state governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, is on his way to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This claim comes after Oborevwori’s Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, and PDP chapter Chairman, Chief Solomon Arenyeka, had earlier denied the rumour.
But the Concerned PDP Leaders, in a statement jointly signed by Theophilus Ekiyor, Ochuko Oghenekome and Ezekiel Chukwudi, said signs and facts of the governor’s defection are there to discern. Read more
Tinubu splits Nigerian Aviation College into 6 campuses (Guardian)
President Bola Tinubu has divided the Nigerian College Of Aviation Technology, Zaria – Kaduna state into six campuses.
The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) disclosed this on Wednesday in a post it shared on its official X account.
“President Bola Tinubu has decided to split the Nigerian College Of Aviation Technology, Zaria – Kaduna state into six campuses to ensure efficiency, national coverage and smooth operations,” the post read. Read more
Bandits kill Miyetti Allah Chairman in Katsina (Leadership)
Suspected armed bandits have killed chairman Miyetti Allah, Surajo Rufai, in an attack on Mairana village, Kusada Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The incident occurred on January 4, 2025, leaving the community in shock and mourning.
The bandits targeted the residence of the Chairman, shooting him and abducting his wife and daughter despite efforts by security to save him.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Sadiq Abubakar, a team of law enforcement led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Kusada, pursued the attackers to nearby Kofa village, where a fierce gun battle ensued. Overwhelmed by the operatives’ superior firepower, the bandits fled, but not before fatally shooting two more individuals during their escape. Read more
Emma Thompson, Anna Friel, Christopher Eccleston to star in drama ‘Hear Me Roar’ about 2000 UK trans marriage case (Variety)
Emma Thompson, Anna Friel, Christopher Eccleston, Julian Ovenden and Rebecca Root have joined the cast of feature film “Hear Me Roar,” a drama about a groundbreaking British trans marriage case.
The script is co-written by Lisa McMullin and Ashley Bayston, whose story it tells. The feature will be directed by Amy Coop and produced by Darren Stuart and David Nichols.
“Hear Me Roar” tells the story of a transgender woman who, in 2000, took on the British government in a lengthy legal battle which would change the lives of LGBTQ+ people in the U.K. Read more
Jennifer Aniston issues important PSA amid tragic Palisades fire (Parade)
Jennifer Aniston issued an important public service announcement as several neighborhoods in Southern California were engulfed by wildfires.
The Friends alum joined the wave of celebrities sending thoughts and prayers to those affected by the Palisades Fire, which began tearing through Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades neighborhood on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Many actors and actresses have been directly impacted by the fires as they faced evacuations and watched their homes burn.
As firefighters continued battling the flames on Wednesday, Jan. 8, The Morning Show star posted her PSA on Instagram Stories to remind her friends and fans living in the Los Angeles area that fires don’t only impact people. Read more
Here’s where things stand for several major landmarks in the Los Angeles fires (NPR)
Southern California is fighting multiple major wildfires, exacerbated by hurricane-strength winds that have resulted in red flag warnings and evacuation orders in multiple zones. The current fires are the Palisades Fire in the Pacific Palisades, the Eaton Fire, the Hurst Fire in the Sylmar area and the Tyler Fire in Riverside County.
These offshoots of Los Angeles are home to many cultural institutions renowned for everything from iconic Hollywood nightlife to groundbreaking scientific research. Here’s where several of them stand as of Wednesday afternoon:
Will Rogers State Historic Park
The former home of actor, radio personality and humorist Will Rogers, a 186-acre ranch which was on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, was gutted by the Palisades fire. Read more
Barry Can’t Swim comes in at Number 3 on BBC Sound Of 2025 shortlist (NME)
Barry Can’t Swim has come in at Number Three on the BBC Sound of 2025 shortlist.
The Scottish electronic producer and DJ (real name Joshua Mainnie) was first featured on the longlist for this year’s prize alongside the likes of Chappell Roan, Kneecap and Ezra Collective.
As is customary, the names on the list were chosen by a panel of 180 music industry experts, who selected the acts with “the best chance of mainstream success” in the next 12 months. Read more
Australian television star forced to evacuate home as monstrous fires rage across LA (DailyMail)
Australia’s Next Top Model star Didier Cohen has been forced to evacuate his home as fires rage across Los Angeles.
The enormous blaze in the Pacific Palisades forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people, some of whom abandoned their cars and fled on foot to safety with roads blocked.
The American-born model, 39, took to his Instagram story on Wednesday to share a series of harrowing clips that showed the fires inching closer to his property. Read more
U2’s The Edge teases new music “very soon” and potential tour (MusicNews)
U2 are “in a great place creatively”.
Guitarist The Edge has teased that the ‘Vertigo’ rockers are planning to drop a new song imminently after wading through new material.
He told the ‘Sodajerker on Songwriting’ podcast: “There might be a new song happening very soon, which you’ll hear about. Can’t say any more than that. We’re in a great place creatively.”
Their last single was 2023’s standalone ‘Atomic City’. Read more
The Weeknd’s Billions Club Live concert film available to stream on Spotify (Variety)
For those who weren’t able to score a ticket to the “Billions Club Live With the Weeknd” show last month, Spotify is running it back with a 45-minute concert film premiering exclusively on the platform.
Starting today, fans can relive the Weeknd’s Los Angeles show on Spotify with the film, which was shot on location at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar and was produced by OBB Pictures. This marks the first concert film-streaming experience on Spotify, which staged its first-ever Billions Club live show with the singer on Dec. 17. Watch the Weeknd’s Billions Club Live show here. Read more
No Al Ahly interest in Iheanacho — Agent (CompleteSports)
Egyptian giants, Al Ahly have no interest in Kelechi Iheanacho, according to the forward’s agent, Roger Wittman.
Iheanacho linked up with LaLiga club Sevilla on a free transfer last summer.
The Nigeria international has however struggled for regular playing time at the former UEFA Europa League champions.Read more
Arne Slot delivers verdict on controversial Lucas Bergvall decision as Tottenham end Liverpool unbeaten run (Standard)
Arne Slot insisted there was “no debate” that the foul Lucas Bergvall committed on Kostas Tsimikas should have earned the Tottenham teenager a second yellow card minutes before he scored the winner against Liverpool.
Bergvall’s late strike was the only goal of the game as Spurs won 1-0 against the Reds in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final, ending Liverpool’s 24-match unbeaten run in all competitions. Read more
Nottingham Forest enquire about loan deal for Douglas Luiz (DailyMail)
Nottingham Forest have enquired about a loan deal for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz.
The 26-year-old has also been proposed to Manchester United, City and Fulham with Juventus ideally looking to recoup the £21 million they paid to Aston Villa in the summer.
Luiz, who plays for the same club as his girlfriend, Alisha Lehmann, has played just 13 times for Juventus this season and could already be on his way out of the club. Read more
Niemann and Nicolai Hojgaard accept special Masters invitations (France24)
Dane Nicolai Hojgaard and Chilean Joaquin Niemann have accepted special invitations into the 2025 Masters field, Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley announced on Wednesday.
The additions raise the field so far for the year’s first major championship on April 10-13 to 87 golfers.
Hojgaard will make his second Masters appearance after his 2024 debut, in which he was in the top six after each of the first three rounds and briefly led on Saturday before finishing tied for 16th. Read more
Emma Raducanu learns Australian Open fate with first-round opponent revealed (Metro)
Emma Raducanu will face Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round of the 2025 Australian Open.
The draw for the opening round took place overnight UK time, with the major tennis tournament getting started on January 12.
Raducanu heads into Melbourne Park unseeded as the world No.60, hoping to reach the third round of the Grand Slam event for the first time.
The 22-year-old’s preparations took a hit after she was forced to withdraw from the traditional warm-up ASB Classic tournament over a ‘back niggle’. Read more
‘Big challenge’ – Potter takes charge at West Ham (BBC)
Graham Potter says he is looking forward to a “big challenge” after being confirmed as the new West Ham manager.
The 49-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the London club, who sacked Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday after six months in charge.
“It’s a proud day to be head coach of this amazing club, big tradition, big history, big expectations, big challenge,” Potter said. Read more
