Yuletide: FG declares Dec 25, 26, Jan 1 public holidays (Vanguard)
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday 25th, Thursday 26th December 2024, and Wednesday 1st January, 2025 as Public Holidays to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year respectively.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani in a statement on Monday in Abuja said The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government.
According to her, the minister extended warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies. Read more
Tinubu flags off 2024 Christian pilgrimage to Israel, Jordan (Punch)
President Bola Tinubu has officially launched the 2024 main Christian pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan.
The airlift of pilgrims was flagged off on Sunday at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Relations, Celestine Toruka, and published on the Commission’s official X handle, #NGChrisPilgComm, on Monday. Read more
Wizkid offers N5m to anyone who returns missing phone (Sun)
Starboy Wizkid is offering N5 million to anyone who can bring him his missing phone following his performance at the Nativeland concert in Lagos on Saturday, December 21.
Wizkid’s appearance came as a major surprise and fans and fun-seekers were thrilled when the ‘Ojuelegba’ crooner gave an entertaining performance.
Things, however, didn’t turn out so well in the end as the artist’s phone went missing afterwards. Read more
Nigeria nominates Elias as candidate to International Court of Justice (DailyTrust)
Nigeria has formally presented Dr. Olufemi Elias as the country’s candidate to the world’s highest court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, Netherlands, for the term 2027 to 2036.
The ICJ is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations set up in 1945 after the World War II to settle disputes within states, in line with international law.
The World Court has a panel of 15 judges elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council for nine-year terms. An election for a seat at the court is expected to hold in 2026. Read more
AGF doesn’t represent constitution, chairmen remain suspended – Edo (Independent)
The brewing constitutional crisis in Edo State took a dramatic turn on Monday, as Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Edo State House of Assembly doubled down on their suspension of all 18 local government chairmen, defying a High Court order reversing the suspension and, in effect, prohibiting further interference in local council affairs.
Justice Efe Ikponmwonba of the Edo High Court issued a mandatory injunction on Friday, declaring the suspension null and void and restraining the state government and other parties from meddling in local government operations until the substantive case is heard.
However, state officials have flagrantly disregarded this ruling, signaling a direct challenge not only to the judiciary but also to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s hard-won victory on local government autonomy. Read more
Sanwo-Olu felicitates Oyebanji at 57 (Tribune)
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated his Ekiti State counterpart, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, on his 57th birthday, describing him as a committed and selfless public servant.
Governor Oyebanji, the helmsman of Ekiti State, turns 57 on Saturday, December 21, 2024.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement made available by his Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said that Governor Oyebanji has made significant contributions to the growth and development of Ekiti State, positively impacting the lives of its residents. Read more
Information Minister consoles families of stampede victims (VON)
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has commiserated with the families and loved ones of the victims of the tragic stampedes that occurred during food distribution exercises in Ibadan, Oyo state, Abuja, and Okija in Anambra State.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Assistant on media to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim.
The Minister said the tragedies are deeply saddening and underscore the importance of ensuring proper crowd management during such charitable activities, especially during the festive season. Read more
Concerned Shiroro Youths: Bandits have created a republic in Niger (ThisDay)
Despite the claim that respite has returned to troubled areas of Niger state, a group, the Concerned Shiroro Youths of Niger State, has said that bandits have created a republic in the state.
The Concerned Shiroro Youths also claimed that “these marauding terrorists now wield so much power that they roam unsecured villages with uncommon gusto and impunity, moving from house to house to carry out their heinous activities.”
In a statement made available to newsmen in Minna yesterday the youths also alleged that the bandits now determine “who to live and who not to live in their areas of strength and control.” Read more
Gwyneth Paltrow, Amy Schumer & Paul Feig among Hollywood stars standing with Blake Lively after bombshell Justin Baldoni Lawsuit (Deadline)
Hollywood stars have got Blake Lively‘s back.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Amy Schumer were among those standing with the actress after she filed a bombshell lawsuit against her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni.
Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment, including improvised kissing, and of enacting “a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation.” Baldoni has described the allegations as “completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious.” Read more
At least 38 people killed as bus and truck collide in Brazil (Guardian)
At least 38 people have been killed in a “tragic” traffic collision between a bus and truck in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, the Associated Press reported, citing fire department officials who attended the scene. The death toll had initially been put at 22.
A further 13 people were taken to hospitals near the city of Teófilo Otoni.
Authorities said the bus, which reportedly left São Paulo carrying 45 passengers, blew a tyre, causing the driver to lose control and crash into a lorry. Read more
France observes national day of mourning for victims of Cyclone Chido in Mayotte (IrishExaminer)
France has marked a national day of mourning for the victims of Cyclone Chido, which devastated the French overseas region of Mayotte earlier this month.
Flags were flown at half-mast across the country, and a minute’s silence was observed.
The cyclone, the most destructive to hit Mayotte in 90 years, caused extensive damage to the island, known as France’s poorest territory, and left 35 dead and around 2,500 injured. Read more
Biden commutes most federal death sentences (BBC)
US President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates, switching their penalty to life in prison without parole.
The three excluded from the measure include the Boston Marathon bomber and the man who killed Jewish worshippers in 2018.
In a statement, Biden said he was “more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level”. His measure does not include more than 2,000 people convicted to death by State authorities. Read more
Millie Bobby Brown gives tearful speech as filming finishes for Stranger Things finale (IrishIndependent)
Millie Bobby Brown has given a tearful goodbye to the crew of Stranger Things after filming finished for the show’s final series.
The British actress, 20, was launched to international fame when she appeared as Eleven in the first season of the supernatural drama in 2016.
On Friday, Netflix confirmed that filming had wrapped for the fifth and final series, which will air sometime in 2025. Read more
Strictly’s Giovanni Pernice wins Italian version of show and vows to marry partner Bianca Guaccero (DailyStar)
Former Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice has lifted the trophy on the Italian version of Strictly Come Dancing and hinted at a possible wedding with his co-star Bianca Guaccero.
The 34-year-old dancer scooped the top prize on Ballando Con Le Stelle after dazzling the judges on Saturday night, making quite the splash in his debut season following his tumultuous departure from BBC’s Strictly amid a probe into allegations of bullying directed at his 2023 partner Amanda Abbington.
Giovanni vigorously refuted these claims. Read more
Rocket from Yemen injures 16 in Tel Aviv, while Gazans mourn 12 children killed by Israeli strikes (PBS)
A rocket fired from Yemen hit an area of Tel Aviv overnight, leaving 16 people injured by shattered glass, the Israeli military said Saturday, days after Israeli airstrikes hit Houthi rebels who have been launching missiles in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Another 14 people sustained minor injuries as they rushed to shelters when air raid sirens sounded before dawn Saturday, the military said.
The Houthis issued a statement on Telegram saying they had aimed a hypersonic ballistic missile at a military target, which they did not identify. Israel’s military said it was investigating, adding that “we emphasize that aerial defense is not hermetic.” Read more
Musa relishes scoring return against Tornadoes (Punch)
Kano Pillars forward Ahmed Musa is basking in the euphoria of making a scoring return for the former champions in their nervy 2-1 win over Niger Tornadoes during a Nigeria Premier Football League match-day 18 game at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Saturday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
After missing their last two games due to a knock, Musa returned to the Sai Masu Gida’s starting lineup and scored a stoppage time goal to seal a 2-1 win for Usman Abdallah’s men.
It was the Super Eagles forward’s sixth goal of the season and the win powered the former champions to seventh in the league table. Read more
Arsenal lose Bukayo Saka for ‘‘many weeks’’ with hamstring injury (BelfastTelegraph)
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed Bukayo Saka will be sidelined for “many weeks”.
Forward Saka suffered a hamstring injury in Arsenal’s 5-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Asked about the 23-year-old England international’s condition, Arteta said: “It is not looking good. He will be out for many weeks.”
Saka was filmed leaving Selhurst Park on crutches, souring what had been a comprehensive second win over the Eagles in four days after Gabriel Jesus’ hat-trick secured Arsenal’s passage to the Carabao Cup semi-finals. Read more
Man City crisis deepens after another loss; Arsenal closes gap on Liverpool (JapanToday)
Manchester City’s stunning slump deepened after losing to Aston Villa 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.
Goals from Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers at Villa Park consigned the four-time defending champion to a ninth defeat in 12 games in a season that is unravelling. Pep Guardiola’s team has won just once during that run.
“We don’t have a defense for the results. They are not good,” Guardiola said.
Third-placed Arsenal closed the gap on league leader Liverpool to three points with a 5-1 win at Crystal Palace, but has played two games more. Read more
Michael Owen’s Premier League prediction coming true after latest Man City loss (MEN)
Manchester City are proving Michael Owen’s bold Premier League pre-season prediction right with their recent struggles.
Pep Guardiola’s side was among the favourites to retain their title when coming into the campaign as champions following their fourth consecutive success. However, their latest defeat away against Aston Villa leaves them way off the pace in the title race.
Few foresaw such a drop off from City, but Owen was one of those who did. Before the season began, the former striker anticipated Arsenal clinching the Premier League title, with Liverpool close behind and Villa coming third. Read more
Rickey Henderson, Hall of Famer and MLB’s all-time stolen base leader, dead at 65 (NYPost)
Rickey Henderson, who forged a Hall of Fame career as the game’s stolen-base king, has died, MLB confirmed on Saturday after reports of his passing began to circulate.
He was 65.
TMZ reported that Henderson, who would have turned 66 on Christmas Day, died Friday in the Oakland, Calif., area after battling pneumonia. Read more
F1 CEO issues ‘‘essential’’ Ferrari advice to Hamilton (RN365)
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has revealed the “essential” advice he gave to Lewis Hamilton ahead of his switch to Ferrari.
Hamilton contended his final race in Mercedes colours earlier this month, bringing an end to his highly successful stint with the team.
The 39-year-old won six F1 titles as a Mercedes driver, forming the most successful driver-team pairing in the sport’s history. Read more