Lagos seals event centre for contravening protocols (Nation)
The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, has revoked the licence of Queens Park Event Centre, Oniru as the Lagos State Safety Commission also sealed the facility for contravening the COVID-19 protocols.
Commissioner for Tourism Uzamat Akinbile Yussuf said the step to withdraw the licence was taken in the best interest of the state and implored other event centres and venue owners to comply with the government’s laid down directives or risk losing their chances of doing business in Lagos.
She reiterated that the fight against the virus can only be successful if people follow the laid down public health and safety protocols. Read more
2023: I still have a role to play in politics, says Jimi Agbaje (Punch)
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 and 2019 Lagos State Governorship Elections, Jimi Agbaje, says he still has a role to play in the politics of the state and the country come 2023.
Agbaje, who was defeated in the last two elections by former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and incumbent Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu – both of the All Progressives Congress, however, said his running for office “is not at all cost”.
The politician and pharmacist spoke on Tuesday, noting that time and event would tell whether or not he would be re-contesting the governorship seat of Lagos State. Read more
23 dead, 33 others injured in Niger accident (Thisday)
At least 23 people have been confirmed dead while 33 others were injured in a lone trailer accident which occured at Masha village along the Makera- Mokwa road in Niger State on Monday evening.
Some cows and goats were also killed in the accident.
The trailer was said to be conveying cows, some agricultural produce and human beings to the southern part of the country.
Not less than 55 persons were reported to be in the trailer at the time the accident occurred but the driver and his conductor could not be found at the scene of the incident as eyewitnesses said they didn’t die. Read more
My creditors are on my neck: Man who lost N38m goods in #EndSARS riots tells panel (Sun)
Fifty-nine-year-old Demian Oyendikwe has appeared before the Edo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry for victims of SARS and Related Abuses seeking financial compensation over the loss of his goods worth N38 million.
He told the panel that his warehouse at Eribo Estate, Textile Mill Road, Benin, was completely looted by the hoodlums who hijacked the #EndSARS protest.
Oyendikwe said since the incident, his creditors have been on his neck, asking for their money and that he has no means of paying back and therefore decided to approach the panel for financial assistance.
‘The government should kindly assist me at this moment because the losses are enormous,’ he petitioned the panel. Read more
NiMet predicts 3-day sunshine, haziness (Guardian)
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunny and hazy weather conditions across the nation on Tuesday and Wednesday.
NiMet’s weather outlook released on Monday in Abuja predicted sunny and hazy conditions over the northern part on Tuesday.
According to NiMet, sunny and hazy conditions are expected over most parts of North Central except Abuja, Minna, Bida and Ilorin where dust haze is predicted with horizontal visibility of from two kilometres to five kilometres. Read more
Businessman in court for allegedly defrauding friend of N1.3m (Vanguard)
A businessman, Musa Zakari, on Tuesday appeared in a Grade I Area Court in Karu, FCT, for allegedly defrauding his friend of N1.3 million.
The police charged Zakari, 34, who lives in Kubwa, FCT, with three counts of Criminal conspiracy, Breach of trust and cheating.
The Prosecution Counsel, Ade Adeyanju, told the court that the defendant collected N1.3 million from his friend, Suleiman Buba, with a promise to secure him a job with the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Police.
Adeyanju said that Buba reported the matter at the Maitama Police Station. Read more
Kukah: I did not call for coup (Thisday)
As reactions continue to trail his Christmas message, Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has denied calling for a coup.
In a press briefing with some selected journalists held at St Bakhita Secretariat in Sokoto on Monday night, KuKah urged Nigerians to get the accurate statement rather than, relying on different lies being peddled about in his name.
According to the Bishop, the message was based on his love for the country and has no political or ulterior motive.
“I am saddened and pained that my critics never see that many innocent lives are being lost on daily basis. The loss of lives in the last ten years, even before the advent of this administration, calls for concern he stated. Read more
Police brutality: Family seeks release of son’s corpse, N50m compensation (Sun)
Family of a victim of alleged Police brutality, Godstime Akugbo, has called on the Rivers State Judicial Commission of Inquiry to prevail on the Nigeria Police to release the corpse of the victim to enable members of the family give him a befitting burial.
This was even as the Commission may extend its public sitting by a month to enable it attend to all the petitions brought before it.
The Commission was set up by Governor Nyesom Wike, to probe into
alleged acts of violence, torture, brutality, murder and violation of fundamental rights of citizens committed by officers, men and operatives
of the Nigeria Police Force in the state. Read more
Bell stolen by Nazis to be returned to Poland (BBC)
A church bell that dates back to 1555 will be returned to its home in Poland, 77 years after it was plundered by the Nazis in World War Two.
Parishioners at Slawiecice in southern Poland began searching for the church’s old bell two years ago.
They were in luck because, as the Münster diocese in Germany explained, the Nazis melted down some 80,000 bells to make weapons or ammunition.
The bell was eventually tracked down to Münster by the Polish church’s pastor. Read more
Legendary designer Pierre Cardin dies aged 98 (Metro)
Legendary designer Pierre Cardin has died aged 98. The fashion icon’s death was confirmed by his family to Agence France-Presse. He died at the American Hospital of Paris, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, on December 29. Cardin, who was Italian born but naturalised French, was known worldwide for his Space Age designs and avant-garde style, which often ignored the female form and adopted experimental unisex styles. Read more
Girl killed and several injured as 6.4 magnitude earthquake hits Croatia (Metro)
A child has died after an earthquake of 6.4 magnitude struck a town in central Croatia today, leaving many people injured and houses destroyed. Rescuers have been trying to pull people from the rubble of collapsed buildings and army troops have been sent in to help deal with the aftermath. The GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said the quake hit at a depth of 10 km. The epicentre was in Petrinja, 50 km south of the Croatian capital Zagreb. Read more
‘Barbaric murders’: 50 journalists killed in 2020 (AlJazeera)
Fifty journalists and media workers were killed in connection with their work in 2020, the majority in countries that are not at war, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says.
The total number of journalists killed in 2020 was slightly lower than the 53 reported in 2019, although RSF said fewer journalists worked in the field this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s grim toll shows an increase in the targeting of reporters investigating organised crime, corruption or environmental issues, the watchdog said.
Eighty-four percent of those killed this year were “deliberately targeted” for their work, RSF said in its annual report, compared with 63 percent in 2019. Read more
Dad punched and kicked by kangaroo as he tries to defend children (Metro)
Footage shows the shocking moment an angry kangaroo kicks and punches an unsuspecting dad to the ground in Australia. The animal was digging holes in the front garden of Mitchell Robinson’s house at South West Rocks in New South Wales on Christmas Day. So Mitchell decided to attempt to move the large kangaroo on while protecting his children from it, MailOnline reports. Read more
Indian film star Rajinikanth ends political bid over health fears (AlJazeera)
Indian movie superstar Rajinikanth has cancelled his plans to enter politics, saying a health scare had been “a warning from God”.
The announcement came on Tuesday, one day after the 70-year-old Tamil action hero left hospital where he was treated for high blood pressure.
Rajinikanth, one of Asia’s best-paid actors, set off celebrations by his fans when he announced early in December that he would be launching a political party in a bid to bring “corruption-free” government to his home state of Tamil Nadu.
But the bus conductor-turned-actor said he could not go ahead in a long letter released on his Twitter account. Read more
Renowned Chinese pianist Fou Ts’ong dies of Covid-19 (BBC)
Fou Ts’ong, the first Chinese pianist to win global acclaim and success, has died aged 86 after contracting Covid-19.
Fou died on Monday in London, where he had been living since the 1950s.
His death was confirmed to the BBC by Jianing Kong, a professor at the Royal College of Music and student of Fou’s.
Responding to the news on Tuesday, the renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang described Fou as “a truly great pianist, and our spiritual beacon”. Read more
Joshua Cheptegei aims for ‘amazing’ Tokyo double (BBC)
Joshua Cheptegei has said his focus is on becoming just the eighth man to successfully complete the 5,000m-10,000m double at an Olympic Games.
The Ugandan, 24, set world records over bothdistances last year, adding to the 5,000m world gold he won at Doha 2019.
“It would be a mountain to climb, but the challenge is up to me,” he told BBC World Service Sport.
“It is demanding a lot, in terms of racing and mindset but I want to give myself a try to win both gold medals.” Read more
LeBron James, wife furious over strange Bronny-Larsa Pippen story (NYPost)
LeBron James and his wife, Savannah, were pushed over the edge by a report involving their son Bronny.
Black Sports Online claimed that the high school hoops star slid into the DMs of Larsa Pippen, the reality TV personality and estranged wife of Bulls great Scottie Pippen. The story, which appears to have since been taken down, was harshly criticized by Savannah.
“With everything going on in the the world right now, THIS is the s—t y’all talking about…,” Savannah wrote on Instagram. “At the end of the day y’all are talking about a minor. I don’t care what type of ‘celebrity’ y’all think he is, he’s a child and the bulls—t needs to stop. Y’all got the right one.”
LeBron added his own Instagram message after seeing his wife’s frustration: “Uh-oh y’all f—led with the wrong one now. Good luck. It won’t be cute!” Read more
Marcelo Bielsa provides Patrick Bamford injury update ahead of West Brom clash (Metro)
Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa says Patrick Bamford will be given every chance to prove his fitness before the side’s clash against West Bromwich Albion. The striker has been in scintillating form for the club this term, scoring ten goals in 15 appearances on the side’s return to the Premier League. Bamford struck early on from the penalty spot in a 1-0 win against Burnley on Sunday but the striker was seen struggling towards the end of the game with a leg injury. Read more
American footballer Jordan shoots self dead (Punch)
American football player, Ty Jordan has died after he accidentally shot himself in the hip at his home in Denton, Texas
The Christmas Day incident happened months after the 19-year-old University of Utah student lost his mother to cancer.
Jordan died at a hospital in Dallas where he was rushed to after he inflicted the injury on himself, a preliminary police investigation revealed. Read more
Grizzlies’ Ja Morant taken off in wheelchair after scary ankle injury (NYPost)
Memphis Grizzlies star guard Ja Morant was taken off the court in a wheelchair after hurting his left ankle Monday night during his team’s overtime win against the Nets at Barclays Center.
The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year’s left leg landed awkwardly on the foot of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot while trying to block the Nets guard’s shot late in the second quarter.
Morant appears to have avoided the worst, as an X-Ray didn’t reveal a fracture, according to ESPN.
Morant appeared to be in severe pain while hopping on his other leg all the way to the area behind the basket before crumpling to the ground. The 21-year-old was then put in a wheelchair and taken to the locker room. Morant has a left ankle sprain and will not return to the game, according to The Athletic. Read more
Neal Maupay sends warning to Arsenal ahead of Brighton showdown (Metro)
Neal Maupay insists Arsenal hold no fears for Brighton, despite the Gunners appearing to get their season back on track with a morale-boosting win over Chelsea on Boxing Day. Mikel Arteta’s side ended a run of seven games without a Premier League victory by defeating their London rivals at the Emirates and moving six points clear of the relegation zone. Failure, however, to back that encouraging result up at the Amex tonight would pile the pressure back on Arteta and Arsenal’s record on the south coast does little to inspire confidence that the Gunners are capable of posting back-to-back wins for what would be only the second time this season. Read more
Champions Lakers suffer second defeat in four games (BBC)
NBA champions the Los Angeles Lakers lost for the second time in their opening four games of the new season as Damian Lillard inspired the Portland Trail Blazers to a 115-107 victory.
The Lakers, playing for the second time in as many nights, led 85-84 going into the final quarter at Staples Center.
But Lillard’s 31 points were supported by 28 from Gary Trent Jr as Portland made it two wins from three matches.
“I thought we came out with great energy,” said Lakers coach Frank Vogel. “When they made their runs we weren’t able to sustain the energy we began the game with.” Read more