Lagos welcomes 1st babies of the year (VON)
The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has celebrated the arrival of the first babies of 2025 across three general hospitals in the state.
Amid smiles and applause, Baby Olaolu, Twins Osayomi, and Baby Lawal were warmly welcomed as symbols of a promising year ahead.
The celebrations took place at Ikorodu General Hospital, Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital, and Isolo General Hospital, where the First Lady, joined by the Wife of the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat presented gifts to the newborns and their families. Read more
Gbajabiamila celebrates 2025 Surulere Baby of the Year (Nation)
Chief of Staff to the President/Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday unveiled and celebrated the 2025 Surulere Baby of the Year.
Gbajabiamila, who served as the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives (2019-2023), has been celebrating Surulere Baby of the Year since his days in the House of Representatives.
He was in a joyous mood when he visited Gbaja Maternal and Child Care Centre, Surulere, where the Baby of the Year, Ikeatu Okika Chiamaka, was born at about 12 am. Read more
Imo Catholic priest shoots boy dead over knockouts during New Year mass (Punch)
A Catholic Reverend’s Father has allegedly shot a boy dead after the latter set off knockouts within the church premises.
The incident which happened during the New Year Mass held on January 1, 2025, in Amaimo, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, has attracted reactions from social media users.
However, PUNCH Online couldn’t verify the name and parish of the priest and the name of the deceased. Read more
Akwa Ibom, Imo Governors sign 2025 Appropriation Bills into law (ThisDay)
Akwa Ibom State government is to spend the sum of N955 billion in the 2025 financial year.
This followed the signing of the State’s 2025 appropriation bill tagged, “Budget of Consolidation and Expansion,” into law by the State Governor, Umo Eno.
Also yesterday, Governor Hope Uzodimma signed into law the Imo State 2025 appropriation bill that was raised by the State’s Assembly to N807 billion from the N756 billion presented to them by the Governor. Read more
2024: NDLEA seizes 8,400kg drugs, arrests 1,345 suspects in Kano (Leadership)
The Kano State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said it seized a total of 8,430.239 kilograms of illicit drugs and arrested 1,345 suspects in 2024.
The arrests included 1,301 males and 44 females, while substances ranging from Cannabis Sativa to cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, Tramadol, and codeine were confiscated in the year under review.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Sadiq Muhammad Maigatari, in a statement added that the anti-narcotic agency recorded one of its biggest bursts with the interception of over five million tramadol tablets along the Zaria-Kano Road. Read more
Yar’Adua rejected Dangote’s bid to run Nigeria’s refineries – Obasanjo (DailyTrust)
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how his successor, late President Umar Musa Yar’Adua, rejected Alhaji Aliko Dangote’s bid to manage Nigeria’s refineries on a public-private partnership basis.
Obasanjo revealed this in an interview with Channels TV on Thursday, while discussing Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries during his presidency.
The former president explained how he sought external help to rehabilitate and manage the facilities but faced resistance. Read more
Former Federal works controller killed on New Year’s Day in Kwara (Vanguard)
A retired Controller of work at the Federal Ministry of Work and Housing, AbdulRazaq Ajani, was brutally murdered on New Year’s day, (Wednesday, January 1, 2025) in Ilorin, the state capital, shortly after returning home from his trip to Offa, Kwara State, where he celebrated Christmas and New Year festivities with his family members
Vanguard Correspondent reliably gathered that Ajani was said to have been attacked by his assailants who allegedly tracked him to his residence after the yuletide celebrations.
The incident occurred at about 3 pm at Dele Gege Street, Aderoju area, off Awolowo Road in the Tanke Area of Ilorin the state capital. Read more
Gombe partners China-based firm to promote animal feed production (Tribune)
In a move towards adopting sustainable options to provide livestock feeds, combat desertification and create job opportunities for youths and women in the state, Gombe State under the L-PRES and ACReSAL Projects has initiated a joint technical committee meeting with China based JUNCAO Technology Development Center.
The initiative, according to Gombe L-PRES Project Coordinator, Prof. U.B. Abubakar, is in line with the vision of the State Governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya led administration to revamp the livestock sector for economic growth and development.
The meeting which held at the L- PRES Project conference hall on Thursday, was attended by the two Project Coordinators, Prof, Usman Bello Abubakar and Dr. Sani Adamu Jauro with Dr Lawandi Datti representing Juncao Technology. Read more
Julie Delpy to receive Lifetime Honor at Sweden’s Gotenborg Film Festival (THR)
French multi-hyphenate Julie Delpy will be honored with the Honorary Dragon Award at the 2025 Göteborg Film Festival, organizers announced Thursday.
The veteran filmmaker and actor will attend the Swedish festival to present her latest directorial effort, the satire “Meet the Barbarians”, and participate in an on-stage conversation about her four-decade career spanning both sides of the camera.
“Julie Delpy is a unique voice in the world of film. Her work blends humor, depth, and sensitivity in a way that resonates with audiences worldwide. She is a trailblazer and an inspiration–we are truly proud to honor her with this year’s Honorary Dragon Award,” said Göteborg Film Festival artistic director Pia Lundberg. Read more
Metallic space object crashes in Kenyan village (AfricaNews)
A metallic object believed to be part of a rocket’s separation stage has fallen from space into a village in eastern Kenya, according to the Kenya Space Agency and local media reports.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Maj. Aloyce Were, an official from the Kenya Space Agency, confirmed the discovery of the partially burnt metallic debris, weighing approximately 500 kilograms. The object, described as a metallic ring, is suspected to be space debris from a rocket.
“So indeed we can confirm we have located the item. The area locals should not be scared. It is a part of a space object which is in the form of a ring, a metallic ring, possibly from a rocket separation stage,” said Maj. Were. Read more
Police: 10 teens hurt in shooting outside of New York City event space (UPI)
Witnesses told police that four men walking down 91st Avenue approached the crowd standing outside and fired about 30 rounds at them. The suspects ran down 143rd Place where they jumped into a light-colored sedan and left. Police said the vehicle’s plates were from out of state but did not elaborate.
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“There is zero tolerance for these senseless shootings,” said NYPD Chief of Patrol Philip Rivera in a news conference on Wednesday morning. “Those responsible for this crime will be apprehended and brought to justice.”
Rivera said the 10 victims, six females and four males, were taken to various hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries and are expected to recover. He said their ages ranged from 16 to 19. He said police are looking for unaccounted-for gunshot victims as well who may not have stayed at the scene. Read more
Italy summons Iran’s ambassador to demand release of Italian journalist (ABC)
Italy summoned Iran’s ambassador on Thursday to demand the immediate release of an Italian journalist detained in Tehran, as the government and opposition ramped up public pressure on the politically sensitive case.
Cecilia Sala, a reporter for the Il Foglio daily newspaper, was detained in Tehran on Dec. 19, six days after she arrived on a journalist’s visa. Tehran confirmed Monday that Sala had been arrested on charges of violating the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.
The Italian foreign ministry said it summoned Iran’s ambassador Mohammad Reza Sabouri to demand her release and to ensure “dignified detention conditions in full respect of human rights,” including consular access and visitations. Read more
At least 10 shot outside Queens nightclub as multiple gunmen open fire (NBC)
At least 10 people were shot when three to four gunmen opened fire on a group standing outside a Queens nightclub where a private event was taking place Wednesday night, the New York Police Department said in an early morning press briefing Thursday.
All of the victims in the 144th Street shooting outside Amazura nightclub — six females, four males — are expected to survive, police said. Authorities are investigating if the shooting is gang-related. They say there is no nexus to terror.
According to investigators, police got multiple 911 calls shortly after 11 p.m. for a shooting at the club. Roughly 90 people were inside, upstairs at a private venue. The venue was at capacity, and about 15 were waiting to get in. Read more
Bangladesh court again rejects bail for Hindu leader charged with sedition (AlJazeera)
A court in Bangladesh has again denied bail to an outspoken Hindu leader advocating for the protection of minority groups in the country.
Krishna Das Prabhu did not appear at the hearing at the court in the southeastern city of Chattogram, where Metropolitan Sessions Judge Saiful Islam rejected his bail plea, according to Public Prosecutor Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan.
Security was tight at the hearing, with police and soldiers guarding the court. Violence had erupted following a previous bail hearing in November, with Prabhu’s followers accused of killing a Muslim public prosecutor. Read more
Islamic State-inspired driver expressed desire to kill before deadly New Orleans rampage, Biden says (CP24)
A U.S. Army veteran driving a pickup truck that bore the flag of the Islamic State group wrought carnage on New Orleans’ raucous New Year’s celebration, killing 15 people as he steered around a police blockade and slammed into revelers before being shot dead by police.
The FBI said it was investigating the attack early Wednesday as a terrorist act and did not believe the driver acted alone. Investigators found guns and what appeared to be an improvised explosive device in the vehicle, along with other devices elsewhere in the city’s famed French Quarter.
President Joe Biden said Wednesday evening that the FBI found videos that the driver had posted to social media hours before the attack in which he said he was inspired by the Islamic State group and expressed a desire to kill. Read more
Lookman eyes 100th Atalanta appearance in Supercoppa Italiana (Nation)
African Footballer of the Year Ademola Lookman is set to hit a special milestone of 100 games for his Italian side, Atalanta should he as expected , play any role in his club’s Supercoppa Italiana semi-final clash against Inter Milan at Al-Awwal Park in Saudi Arabia.
The Nigeria international was part of the La Dea squad that arrived in Saudi Arabia on New Year’s Eve. They are gearing up for the crucial match tonight. Atalanta aims to upset the reigning Italian champions and secure a spot in the cup final.
Lookman, who joined Atalanta in the summer of 2022 from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig for €9.3 million, has flourished under the guidance of seasoned manager Gian Piero Gasperini. In his 99 appearances across all competitions for the club, Lookman has contributed 44 goals and 24 assists, establishing himself as a key player in the squad. Read more
Super Falcons prospect wins Liga F Player of the Month (CompleteSports)
Granada striker Edna Imade has won Liga F Player of the Month for December, reports Completesports.com.
The 24-year-old scored three goals and provided one assist during the month.
Imade beat Amaiur Sarriegi (Real Sociedad), Jone Amezaga (Athletic Club), Signe Bruun (Real Madrid CF), Esmee Brugts (FC Barcelona), Romane Salvador (RCD Espanyol) and Andrea Álvarez (SD Eibar) to the individual accolade. Read more
Katie Boulter loses epic to Iga Swiatek as Great Britain suffer quarter-final exit to Poland (SkySports)
Katie Boulter gave world No 2 Iga Swiatek a huge scare before suffering a 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-4 defeat as Great Britain were knocked out by Poland in the quarter-finals of the United Cup.
Boulter battled back from 4-1 down in the first set to take it on a tie-breaker and found herself an early break up in the deciding set before Swiatek fought back following an injury timeout.
The five-time Grand Slam champion won the next eight consecutive points when the action resumed to immediately break back, going on to close out an epic victory in just under three hours. Read more
Troy Deeney doubts £32m Mikel Arteta signing is ‘up to the level of Arsenal’ (Metro)
Troy Deeney doubts Gunners midfielder Mikel Merino is ‘up to the level of Arsenal’ despite describing his performance against Brentford as ‘quality’.
Merino, who completed a £32m move from Real Sociedad last summer, scored in Arsenal’s 3-1 comeback win over Brentford on New Year’s Day.
Bryan Mbeumo put the hosts ahead following a quick counter-attack but Gabriel Jesus equalised with his sixth goal in four games. Read more
Agnes Keleti, Holocaust survivor and oldest living Olympic gold medallist, dies at 103 (Independent)
Agnes Keleti, a Holocaust survivor and the oldest living Olympic medal winner, has died. She was 103.
Keleti died Thursday morning in Budapest, the Hungarian state news agency reported. She was hospitalized in critical condition with pneumonia on Dec. 25.
She won a total of 10 Olympic medals in gymnastics, including five golds, for Hungary at the 1952 Helsinki Games and the 1956 Melbourne Games. She overcame the loss of her father and several relatives in the Holocaust to become one of the most successful Jewish Olympic athletes. Read more
Chelsea star refuses to take pay cut with Blues unable to shift £190k-a-week outcast (Mirror)
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca wants to reduce the size of his squad in the January transfer window, but his efforts are being slowed down by Ben Chilwell, who isn’t playing ball
Chelsea may have to get creative in order to offload Ben Chilwell this month, with the defender refusing to take a pay cut to leave the club.Chilwell joined Chelsea in a £50million move from Leicester in 2020 and still has two and a half years left on his contract worth £190,000 per week. He has been frozen out of the first team by Enzo Maresca, who has made it clear he doesn’t have a future at Stamford Bridge. Read more
