The leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State has broken its silence and congratulated Prince Ned Nwoko, the senator representing the Delta North constituency, for his decision to join the party.

The party said Nwoko’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, marks a new and exciting chapter in the political landscape of Delta State.

“We are confident that his wealth of experience, leadership qualities, and commitment to the development of our state will be transformative,” APC stated.

In a goodwill message celebrating the senator’s entry into APC, the state party chairman, Elder Omeni Sobotie, noted that Nwoko, a respected political leader, philanthropist, and businessman, has long demonstrated an unwavering dedication to the welfare of the people of Delta State.

“His decision to align with the APC signals a strategic step towards bringing about positive change and good governance for the people of Delta,” he affirmed.

Sobotie went on to state that Nwoko’s presence in APC will serve as a catalyst for the much-needed reforms and progress in Delta State, as his influence and extensive network will undoubtedly bolster the party’s strength in the state, “further solidifying our commitment to creating a better future for all Deltans.”

Highlighting Nwoko’s track record of championing the interests of his people, coupled with his passion for sustainable development, the APC state chairman assured that the entire membership of the party welcomes him with open arms and looks forward to working together to foster greater unity, development, and prosperity for Delta State.

Chinese social media platform RedNote, known locally as Xiaohongshu, has seen an unexpected surge in users from the United States, nicknamed “TikTok refugees,” as fears of possible US ban on TikTok drove Americans to explore alternatives.

The influx of over 700,000 new users sparked a mix of excitement, curiosity, and controversy on the platform.

Chinese users greeted the newcomers with selfies and messages of welcome, while Beijing highlighted the importance of cultural exchange.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said during a press briefing, “China has always supported and encouraged strengthening cultural exchanges and promoting mutual understanding among the peoples of all countries.”

RedNote, typically used for lifestyle recommendations such as beauty tips and food reviews, became an unexpected bridge for US-China interactions. Users on both sides were swapping questions about pets, food, and daily life, marking a rare opportunity for direct engagement.

“There were not many such opportunities to directly interact with Americans in the past,” said Jacob Hui, a translator from Hangzhou, who joined a live chat co-hosted by influencers from both countries. Hui even asked about popular video games in the U.S., embracing the platform’s newfound role in fostering cross-cultural dialogue.

While state broadcaster CCTV described the platform as a “new home” for TikTok users, not everyone was pleased with the development. Some Chinese users expressed frustration over the changes to the platform’s content, while nationalist bloggers warned of potential American influence.

Ren Yi, a Harvard-educated commentator and grandson of a former Chinese Communist leader, wrote on his WeChat blog, “Propagandists from the United States can easily achieve their goals by following a simple routine – first praise you a few words to make you ‘relax your vigilance,’ and then bring their own goods to subtly influence you.” His post, initially published on Wednesday morning, was later deleted.

Independent industry analyst Liu Xingliang suggested the surge in RedNote’s popularity might be short-lived. “American netizens are in a dissatisfied mood, and wanting to find another Chinese app to use is a catharsis of short-term emotions and a rebellious gesture. You can see that Xiaohongshu is also caught unprepared; the experience on it is not very good for foreigners,” Liu said.

The surge in foreign users posed challenges for RedNote. Reuters reported that the platform was scrambling to develop English-language moderation tools and translation features to cater to its growing international audience. Some U.S. users also tested the platform’s censorship boundaries, with reports of posts about sensitive topics like the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown being removed.

China’s strict “Great Firewall” typically limits access to foreign social media platforms such as Instagram and X, while Chinese platforms like Weibo require local phone numbers for registration. RedNote’s lack of such restrictions made it uniquely accessible to international users, further fueling its appeal in the wake of TikTok’s potential ban.

For now, RedNote remains a lively forum for cultural exchange, but its future as a haven for “TikTok refugees” will depend on its ability to adapt to the challenges posed by its growing international audience.

News Central has announced renowned Nigerian broadcaster, Adesewa Josh, as the new anchor for its evening primetime news programme, “Tonight”.

According to the media company, with Josh’s extensive background in journalism and passion for storytelling, she is set to bring viewers fresh perspectives and comprehensive coverage.

In a statement, the company said, “A multi-nominated, award-winning broadcast journalist, Adesewa has nearly two decades of journalism experience across four continents; Africa, North America, Europe, and Asia. She’s the creator and former host of Africa Matters on TRT World. She was also the former host of 21st Century, an Emmy-nominated documentary program which she co-produced with the United Nations Television (UNTV) in New York.

“In 2023, Adesewa joined RT International in Moscow as a global news anchor and later briefly as a freelance correspondent at Aljazeera English.

Miss Josh began her journalism career as a primetime news anchor and foreign affairs correspondent on Channels Television, an international cable news network in Nigeria. In 2014, she was the only Nigerian journalist invited by the White House to cover the inaugural African First Ladies Conference hosted by former U.S. First Ladies, Michelle Obama and Laura Bush, in Tanzania.

“She brings her wealth of experience as a raconteur of African stories on these global platforms to News Central TV. Adesewa holds a master’s degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and has received numerous accolades for her contributions to the media landscape.”

“We are excited to welcome Adesewa to the News Central family,” says Mr Kayode Akintemi, Managing Director of News Central. “Her wealth of experience and dedication to highlighting important issues will enhance our evening news programme and resonate with our audience.

The wife of Kwara State governor, Ambassador Olufolake Abdulrazaq, welcomed three babies of the year in the state yesterday.

Mrs Abdulrazaq welcomed the New Year babies at the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH) in Ilorin, the state capital, where she presented them with gifts.

Represented by the commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Opeyemi Afolashade, the first lady said that she visited the hospital to rejoice with the parents of the New Year babies and identify with the families for safe deliveries.

The chairperson of the Nigerian Governors Spouses Forum maintained that the state government, under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, was passionate about the wellbeing of the children.

The commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, explained that welcoming the New Year babies is a yearly programme of the First Lady as every newborn is precious, particularly in the new year.

El-Imam restated the determination of the state government to improve healthcare delivery in the state.

One of the parents of the New Year babies, Abdullahi Olaoye, thanked the first lady for her kind gesture.

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has welcomed the first baby of the year 2025.

She first visited the Asokoro General Hospital in Abuja, where she presented gifts to the first male child of the year, the first female child of the year, and other babies born on January 1st.

Represented by the wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, Mrs Tinubu pledged support to ensure a better life for Nigerian children.

This was disclosed in a press statement by the Special Assistant to The President on Media & ICT (Office of The Vice President), Kwapchi Bata, on Wednesday.

It partly read, “Favour Stephen Odion – a baby girl – was born to the family of Mr. Odion Oyinbo and Mrs. Chioma Odion at exactly 12:27 am on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, weighing 3.6kg. The mother of the nation also received other babies born in the hospital, including the first baby boy of the year 2025, Zimchikachim Ejiofor, born to the family of Mr. Ejiofor Nworie and Mrs. Delight Nworie at about 7:14am on Wednesday and weighing 3kg. Senator Oluremi Tinubu welcomed Favour and all the other children born on New Year’s Day in the FCT with baby gifts, including post-natal care products and other nutritional supplies, as well as cash presents.

“The First Lady, who was represented by the wife of the Vice President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, prayed for God to protect the children, wishing them long life, good health, and prosperity. She said, ‘I am here to represent the mother of the nation to welcome the first baby of the year and other children. So, I’m presenting this token and a beautiful package to our dear daughter. I want to wish her well – long life, prosperity, good health.

“Insha Allah, they (first baby and other babies) are the next generation to take over from us. I wish you all the best. Please take good care of her.” While congratulating and comforting the mothers of the newborn babies, the First Lady counselled them on the need for proper care for the babies in respect of exclusive breastfeeding, immunisation, and timely post-natal care, saying, “Good enough, this (Asokoro General Hospital) is closer to my house; I’m sure for the post-natal, they’re going to take good care of you.

She further presented birth certificates to the first baby of the year and the first baby boy just as she moved around the maternity ward, congratulating other new babies in the hospital.

“Earlier, the acting Chief Medical Director of Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Rosemary Nwokorie, while welcoming the First Lady, commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its unwavering commitment to transforming the nation’s health sector with a view to improving the healthcare services for every Nigerian.

“Nwokorie also applauded the First Lady and the wife of the Vice President for creating various intervention programs especially the Renewed Hope Initiative toward assisting vulnerable Nigerians, especially women and children in the country,” the statement added.