Lagos sparkles city with Christmas decorations (NewTelegraph)
Lagos State Government has indeed proven that the state is the Centre of Excellence. It has made it sparkle with the Christmas decorations that dot the city. This is a project which the State, through its Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, carries out every year, adding fun, ecstasy and unforgettable memories to the Yuletide.
Bright lights of different designs, shapes and colours have not only turned the city into Wonderland, but Lagosians, who feed their eyes on a daily basis now have a feel of Christmas and are in a celebratory mood this festive season.
The Christmas lights have been installed in the following locations: Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island; Lekki-Ikoyi Toll Bridge; Marina Promenade/Outer Marina; Ikorodu Road; Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way; Allen Junction to Governor’s Road, Alausa and Mobolaji Johnson Avenue from 7UP to Alausa. Read more
2 police officers killed in gun battle against IPOB/ESN in Imo (Tribune)
Two operatives of the Imo State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit lost their lives in a gun battle while dismantling a notorious IPOB/ESN syndicate allegedly involved in kidnapping and armed robbery in the state.
The operatives also killed three of the suspected IPOB/ESN kidnappers, arrested two others, and recovered six AK-47 rifles, 131 rounds of ammunition, and two stolen vehicles.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Okoye Henry, disclosed this in a statement in Owerri on Wednesday. Read more
Govt failures caused food queue stampedes — Kukah (Channels)
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, has blamed government failures to address hunger crisis for the recent stampedes where people lost their lives during food distributions in Oyo, Anambra states and Abuja.
But in his Christmas message on Wednesday, Bishop Kukah said the stampedes are a metaphor for the situation of desperation that citizens have been thrown into.
“The tragedies that occurred in Okija, Ibadan, and Abuja where innocent people lost their lives in stampedes at food distribution points are a metaphor for the situation of desperation that citizens have been thrown into. Read more
Police foil kidnap attempt in Anambra, arrest suspect (Punch)
The Anambra State Police Command has said its operatives foiled a kidnap attempt and arrested a suspect, Chukwuma Obi, 32, for allegedly demanding a ransom of N1.2 million through abduction threats.
In a press statement on Wednesday, the command’s spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspect, who hails from Umuagu Village in Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government Area of the state, was arrested in connection with an alleged case of attempted kidnapping and extortion.
The statement read, “The Anambra State Police Command has arrested Chukwuma Obi, a 32-year-old male from Umuagu Village, Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government Area, in connection with an alleged case of attempted kidnapping and extortion. Read more
INTERPOL declares 14 Nigerians wanted for drug, human trafficking (Vanguard)
The International Police (INTERPOL) has released a wanted list comprising 14 Nigerians implicated in various offences, including human trafficking, narcotics, robbery, deception, and fraud.
According to Red Notices posted on INTERPOL’s official website on Tuesday, the individuals are sought by authorities in different countries for crimes allegedly committed within their jurisdictions.
According to the postings, Felix Omoregie, Jessica Edosomwan, Jude Uzoma, Uche Egbue, Chinedu Ezeunara, Benedict Okoro, Ikechukwu Obidiozor and Alachi Stanley were among the people who were sought. Read more
Tinubu felicitates APC Chairman Ganduje at 75 (Leadership)
President Bola Tinubu has enthusiastically congratulated Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as he celebrates his 75th birthday on December 25, 2024.
President Tinubu, in a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday, commended Dr. Ganduje, who’s his staunch political ally and close associate, for his exceptional leadership, steadfast dedication, and invaluable contributions to the development of Kano State and Nigeria.
The President acknowledged Dr Ganduje’s exemplary stewardship as National Chairman, which has led to remarkable electoral victories. He noted that Ganduje and his team’s efforts continue to strengthen and unify the party, driving it toward national development goals. Read more
Ex-Senate President Lawan preaches unity, tolerance at Christmas (Nation)
President of the 9th Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has underscored the importance of unity and tolerance for the progress of the country.
Lawan made this assertion in his message to Nigerians as they celebrate Christmas.
He stated that although Christmas comes amid challenges and difficulties, it is the right time to band together and work for a brighter future. Read more
Maersk Nigeria relocates Lagos office to Victoria Island (DailyTrust)
Maersk Nigeria has announced the relocation of its Lagos office to a new business address as part of its ongoing strategic efforts to expand services and provide better support to its customers and partners.
According to a statement by the company, the new office is at 1226 Bishop Oluwole, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Activities will commence at the location by January 2, 2025. Read more
Beyoncé trolls Netflix over buffering issues ahead of NFL Christmas Gameday halftime show (Independent)
Beyoncé has decided to play into Netflix’s previous technology issues during a promotional video for her NFL Christmas Gameday halftime show.
The “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer will be performing at the halftime show during the Christmas Day NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium, in the Grammy winner’s hometown. To advertise the performance, Beyoncé shared a promotional video on both X (formerly Twitter) and in an Instagram post.
The video shows the “Halo” singer sitting on a football field as she strums the banjo. However, as she pulls down her sunglasses the screen immediately starts buffering, paying homage to previous issues the streaming service had when airing the Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul fight back in November. Read more
Sudanese women filmmakers defy war with stories of resilience (RFI)
Far from the frontlines of Sudan’s devastating war, a new generation of amateur women filmmakers is gathering in the formerly sleepy city of Port Sudan to explore the untold stories of their troubled country.
Armed with only their smartphones, the women, brought together in a project run by filmmaker Mohamed Fawi, have produced three short documentaries tackling education, independence and community resilience.
“After the war broke out, I felt compelled to keep contributing from within Sudan,” said Mohamed Fawi. He relocated 800 kilometres northeast to Port Sudan from Khartoum, where fighting between the regular army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated the city since mid-April 2023. Read more
David and Victoria Beckham delight fans with Christmas family photo as they ‘shun UK’ (Mirror)
David and Victoria Beckham, along with their children, have travelled to the US to spend the festive season in their Miami mansion, and shared a rare family photo with fans
David and Victoria Beckham are ringing in Christmas Day soaking up the sun thousands of miles away this year, mirroring fellow A-lister Simon Cowell’s festive plans.
The power couple have jetted off to Florida, where Golden Balls David reportedly still holds a ten percent stake in Inter Miami CF. On Christmas Eve, they shared a heartwarming picture update on Instagram to Victoria’s colossal army of 32.9 million followers, showcasing that their romance is as rock-solid as ever. Read more
Zelensky condemns ‘inhumane’ Christmas Day attack (BBC)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia made a “conscious choice” by launching a major attack on his country’s energy infrastructure on Christmas Day.
Ukraine’s air force said it had detected 184 missiles and drones, but many were shot down or missed their targets.
It said there were casualties from the strikes but gave no figures.
Moscow confirmed the attack and said its goal had been achieved. Read more
Richard Perry, producer behind ‘You’re So Vain,’ Ringo Starr album, dies at 82 (TimesofIsrael)
Richard Perry, a hitmaking record producer with a flair for both standards and contemporary sounds whose many successes included Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain,” Rod Stewart’s “The Great American Songbook” series, and a Ringo Starr album featuring all four Beatles, died Tuesday. He was 82.
Perry, a recipient of a Grammys Trustee Award in 2015, died at a Los Angeles hospital after suffering cardiac arrest, friend Daphna Kastner said.
“He maximized his time here,” said Kastner, who called him a “father friend” and said he was godfather to her son. “He was generous, fun, sweet and made the world a better place. The world is a little less sweeter without him here. But it’s a little bit sweeter in heaven.” Read more
Bald eagle officially becomes the United States’ national bird (UPI)
The bald eagle has been lauded as a symbol of the United States, but it wasn’t officially the national bird until Tuesday.
President Joe Biden on Christmas Eve signed into law Senate Bill 4610, which amends title 36 of the U.S. Code to officially designate the bald eagle as the national bird of the United States.
Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., sponsored the legislation that described the bald eagle as the “historical symbol of the United States representing independence, strength and freedom.” Read more
Many feared dead as Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashes in Kazakhstan (AlJazeera)
A passenger plane flying from Azerbaijan to Russia with 69 people on board has crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan.
Flight number J2-8243, an Embraer 190 aircraft with 62 passengers and five crew members on board, was forced to make an emergency landing on Wednesday about 3km (1.8 miles) from Aktau.
Health officials and medical workers said at least four bodies have been found and many more are feared dead, including the two pilots. At least 32 passengers have survived and were hospitalised, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office in Azerbaijan. Read more
Karate: Nigeria eyes more global triumph after C’wealth success (Punch)
Nigeria’s karate technical director Dave Jegede says the country will target more international success following Rita Ogene and Israel Jegede’s bronze medal-winning performances at the 11th Commonwealth Karate Championship in Durban, South Africa, The PUNCH reports.
Ogene claimed bronze in the women’s -68kg category, while Israel Jegede secured his medal in the men’s -84kg category as Nigeria was represented by five athletes alongside two coaches, one referee, a board member, and the Secretary-General at the championship.
“Nigeria proved a point at this championship. Our athletes have shown they are capable of competing at the highest levels. This result sends a strong message that Nigeria can be a force to reckon with in international karate,” Jegede said. Read more
2024 CHANQ: History not kind to us against Ghana –Ogunmodede (CompleteSports)
Home-based Super Eagles coach Daniel Ogunmodede says history has not been good to Nigeria when they face rivals Ghana.
The home-based Eagles will host the Black Galaxies of Ghana in Uyo on Sunday in the play-off of the CHAN qualifier.
In the first leg played in Accra at the weekend, the home-based Eagles held the Black Galaxies to a 0-0 draw. Read more
D Champs FC clinches maiden Rikky T- Football Tournament trophy (Nation)
The inaugural Rikky T Football Tournament, held on December 21 and 22, 2024, in Surulere, Lagos, concluded with a thrilling final that saw D Champs FC edge out Mushin FC 3-2 to claim the coveted trophy.
The two-day event featured eight competitive teams from across the Ikate-Itire Local Community Development Areas (LCDA), showcasing impressive talent and sportsmanship.
The electrifying atmosphere created by enthusiastic fans along the sidelines underscored the unifying power of football within the community. Read more
James Tarkowski: Everton confident of getting result at Man City (IrishExaminer)
James Tarkowski insists Everton’s players head to Manchester City expecting to get a result after some confidence-boosting results against Champions League-chasing teams.
Back-to-back goalless draws against Arsenal and Chelsea made it five clean sheets in the last six matches and just two defeats in the last 12.
That, rather than City’s faltering form, has left Tarkowski feeling they can head to the Etihad with some optimism, even if they have only won three league matches all season and have yet to find an answer to their goal scoring problems. Read more
Tottenham star eager to make up for lost time after “serving his punishment’’ (Express)
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has revealed that midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur is keen to make amends following his suspension as he prepares for a return against Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.
Bentancur has missed the last seven domestic games after receiving a Football Association ban for making racist comments about team-mate Son Heung-min.
The 27-year-old Uruguayan’s absence has been sorely felt by head coach Postecoglou, who has faced a December filled with injuries and inconsistent performances from his squad. Read more
NBA Star Anthony Edwards isn’t interested in acting again after hustle: ‘I don’t think I’m fit for that job’ (People)
Anthony Edwards is flying high and putting in the work — but the NBA star says he’s not planning on making an encore as an actor anytime soon.
“I don’t know, man. I’m not going to lie,” Edwards tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview paired with his partnership with Chipotle. “That’s hard. I’m not going to lie. I gained a new respect for acting once I did that movie. I don’t think I’m fit for that job.”
In the movie in question — 2022’s Hustle, starring Adam Sandler as an NBA scout — Edwards drew praise for his acting chops as trash-talking presumptive top draft pick Kermit Wilts. Read more