Ayra Star apologises over sultry outfit to an event (Vanguard)
Nigerian singer, Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe known professionally as Ayra Starr, has tendered an apology to Nigerians over the skimpy outfit she wore to a recent event.
The singer was criticized over the provocative dress she wore to the Meta event held on Thursday in Lagos.
In the viral video trending online, The Rush crooner was seen rocking a miniskirt on stage.
Twitter fans went crazy over the skirt, which hardly even covered her private part, while others criticized her wardrobe choice. Read more
Lagos deploys 16 new ways to tackle violence against women, girls (Guardian)
Lagos State government through its Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency has commenced the 16 Days of Activism to rid the State of the menace of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
In a statement, on Friday, the Executive Secretary Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency DSVA, Mrs TitiLola Vivour-Adeniyi said the State Government is kicking off the 16 Days of Activism with 16 pivotal ways to ameliorate and address the grappling issues of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence that individuals and communities are faced with, a resultant impact which in most cases is devastating to the good.
“Today, each of the 16 Days of Activism will be saddled with a New hope to be given by the Governor, Mr Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu.
Some of the activities earmarked for the 16 days activities include: Advocacy Walk in Epe; Engagement of 3000 children on preventing Child Abuse; Door to door community engagements; Market fiestas, and engagement of the youth
“We would also use this opportunity to showcase the different interventions of the State, under the able leadership of Governor Sanwo OLU. Some of these include, the provision of shelter for survivors of domestic violence, the launch of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Trust finds, the provision of 24/7 access to free legal, psychosocial, rescue and Counselling services, not forgetting the launch of the Sexual Intervention Trust Fund which now provides access to FREE medical attention to survivors of Domestic and sexual violence at designated Government facilities. Read more
Fuel scarcity will linger till January, say marketers (Punch)
The frequent appearance of queues of desperate motorists at filling stations in search of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as petrol, could affect the Christmas and New Year festivities, oil marketers stated on Friday.
It was also gathered that oil marketers were now free to sell petrol at any rate as the Federal Government was no more restraining them from dispensing the commodity at a regulated price.
Fuel queues have continued to appear and disappear since January this year despite the hike in the cost of the commodity by oil marketers without any approval from the Federal Government or sanctions imposed on them.
Rather than speak on the matter, the Federal Government, through its Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, chose to remain mute. Read more
Sammie Okposo singing with angels – Family (Sun)
Popular gospel singer and Welu Welu crooner, Sammie Okposo, who died yesterday is singing with the angels, according to his family.
The musician slumped and died on Friday morning at the age of 51. However, according to the statement released by the deceased’s sibling, Hector Okposo, the family is consoled because Sammie is happily singing with the angels in heaven.
“We are consoled because we know he (Sammie) is with Jesus singing with the angels,” the statement noted. “We kindly request that the family is allowed to grieve peacefully at this time.”
Sammie Okposo made headlines early in the year after he publicly apologized to his wife, Ozioma for cheating on her with another lady in the United States.
In the statement of apology, which was shared on his Instagram page, the deceased lamented and regretted the incident, which he noted happened in 2021. Read more
Why I’ll never attend Arise News presidential town hall meeting – Tinubu (Vanguard)
Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has maintained that he will not grant Arise News invitation to attend its presidential town hall meeting.
Tinubu, made this assertion in a statement signed and made available to Vanguard by Bayo Onanuga, the Director, Media & Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council on Friday.
The APC presidential candidate expressed concern over an advertisement by Arise News in connection with a Town Hall meeting scheduled for 4 December.
The statement reads, “We are surprised that the TV station listed our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a participant, when there was no prior consultation with him and his aides and no consent of the candidate obtained for the advertisement. Read more
Lagos to host Beauty West Africa Show (Guardian)
A record over 4,500 visitors are expected to attend the Beauty West Africa show at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event holds between November 29 and December 1.
The event, Africa’s largest international beauty, hair and cosmetics trade show will also welcome more than 220 exhibitors from across the world.
In this year’s event, visitors will have the opportunity to take part in seminars and product demonstrations as well as attend a beauty conference and meet with celebrities and influencers from the beauty world.
Countries for the exhibition are drawn from Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America, with five countries hosting pavilions for exhibitors from Indonesia, South Africa, Senegal, Pakistan and Egypt. Read more
Hoodlums raze Benue PDP chieftain’s house after car gift from Ortom (Nation)
The resident of Hon. Akaa Lim, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Gboko, Benue State was set ablaze by suspected hoodlums on Thursday, barely 24 hours after he received a car gift from Governor Samuel Ortom of the state. The Nation investigation revealed that Hon. Akaa Lim contested the Buruku State House of assembly ticket for Buruku State Constituency on the platform of PDP, but lost at primaries.
Speaking with The Nation on the phone, the PDP chieftain said he was in Makurdi, Benue state capital when he got a call at about 10am his house in Gboko was on fire. “I immediately rushed to Gboko. Before then neighbors helped to put out the fire. But I observed that the arsonists broke part of the ceiling so that the fire can spread easily. I suspected the work of my political opponents because they vandalized property worth millions of naira in the house, before setting it ablaze.
“But nobody can intimidate me because of my support for Governor Ortom. I will continue to stand by him because he has done so much for Jemgbah people,” he said. Speaking recently on his official Facebook page, Lim had condemned some Jemgbagh leaders who are against Ortom’s senate ambition because of the rift between the governor and Senator Iyorchia Ayu. Read more
2 arraigned for mishandling corpse in Ibadan (Punch)
The police on Friday arraigned two men, Isah Abdulkabir and Daniel Emmanuel, before an Oyo State Magistrates’ Court at Iyaganku, Ibadan, for allegedly manhandling a corpse.
The defendants were accused of mishandling the corpse of one Patrick Alexandra.
The prosecuting counsel for the police, Foluke Adedosu, told the court that Abdulkabir, 39, and Emmanuel, 38, committed the alleged offence around 2pm on September 19, 2022, in the Odogbo area of Ibadan.
The defendants were arraigned on charges bordering on conspiracy and misconduct in form of ‘manhandling of a corpse.’ Read more
Shakira launches scathing attack on Spanish authorities over ‘unacceptable’ tax fraud drama (Metro)
Shakira has said she felt ‘violated’ by the Spanish tax authorities after being accused of a £12million fraud.
The singer and her legal team hit out in statements released on Friday ahead of a trial that could see her sentenced to eight years in jail if found guilty.
Shakira, 45, said: ‘It is unacceptable that, in its accusation, the tax authorities are not respecting the legal certainty that must be guaranteed to any taxpayer, not my fundamental rights.
A’s well as that they are trying to damage a reputation earned with the work of many years… in my case they have violated my right to privacy and the presumption of innocence, basic rights of any citizen.’ Read more
Pioneering music and business exec Charles Koppelman dies at age 82 (PageSix)
Charles Koppelman — the famed music executive who was the head of EMI Records, as well as Martha Stewart and Steve Madden’s companies, during his storied career — passed away on Friday at age 82, his family said.
A source told Page Six that Koppelman died after a long illness and spent his last days surrounded by friends and family.
His son, Brian Koppelman, co-creator of the hit show “Billions,” posted on Instagram Friday that he’ll be writing a longer tribute but, “The only thing that matters is how much I loved him. And how much he taught me about every single thing that matters. He lived exactly the life he wanted to live. And he spent his last days surrounded by those he loved the most. Pop, thank you.” Read more
Naked volunteers pose for Tunick artwork on Bondi Beach (BBC)
Some 2,500 naked volunteers have posed in the early morning light on Sydney’s Bondi Beach for an artwork designed to raise awareness of skin cancer.
The installation is American photographer Spencer Tunick’s latest project, aimed at encouraging Australians to get regular skin checks.
Legislation was changed to allow public nudity on the beach for the first time.
Australia is the country in the world worst affected by skin cancer, the World Cancer Research Fund says. Read more
M23 Rebels fight on in Eastern DRC despite truce (VOA)
M23 rebels were still fighting and advancing on one front of their offensive in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo on Friday as a cease-fire came into force, civilian and military sources said.
Clashes continued after the 1700 GMT deadline to cease fire near Bwiza, about 40 kilometers north of the provincial capital, Goma, local people told AFP by telephone.
“M23 is at Bwiza,” an administrative source said, adding that the rebels had taken over several villages in the area.
AFP was unable to independently confirm the account. Read more
Bodyguard cast then and now as Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner film turns 30 (Metro)
It has been 30 years since the release of smash-hit romantic drama thriller The Bodyguard, starring Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner.
The 1992 film, despite its lowly 38% rotten rating on Rotten Tomatoes (outrageous), was the second-biggest hit of the year and became the tenth highest-grossing film of all time at the time of its release.
As well as a weepy melodrama that many have enjoyed watching over the past three decades, The Bodyguard also blessed us with some of Houston’s defining hits, including I Have Nothing, Run to You and – of course – her stunning cover of Dolly Parton’s I Will Always Love You.
Unsurprisingly, noting the powerhouse singer’s stunning vocals and the enduring success of those songs, The Bodyguard’s soundtrack remains the best-selling soundtrack of all time, having shifted over 45 million copies. Read more
Squid Game actor O Yeong-su charged with sexual misconduct (BBC)
Squid Game actor O Yeong-su has been charged with sexual misconduct, South Korean judicial officials say.
The 78-year-old is accused of touching a woman inappropriately in 2017, officials said.
Mr O has denied the allegation, local media report.
He became the first South Korean actor to win a Golden Globe award for best supporting actor in a series after his performance in the chart-topping Netflix thriller earlier this year.
The alleged victim first filed a complaint with the police against Mr O in December last year, according to Yonhap news agency. But the case was closed in April without a charge being brought against Mr O. Read more
More shelling in Kherson as Ukraine gradually restores power (AlJazeera)
The Ukrainian city of Kherson has faced multiple attacks for the second day in an escalation of shelling since Russia withdrew from the city two weeks ago following an eight-month occupation.
Ukrainian officials said Russia continued to bombard Kherson on Friday and that at least 10 people were killed in the previous day’s attacks.
Yaroslav Yanushevych, governor of the Kherson region, said on Telegram the region was shelled “54 times” on Thursday.
“The Russians targeted private and apartment buildings, a shipyard, a building on the school grounds, and gas pipes,” Yanushevych said. “The enemy also shelled the following settlements in the district: Zelenivka, Chornobayivka, and Stepanivka.” Read more
We will host Best ever sports festival, Delta pledges (Guardian)
After months of preparations, the 21st National Sports Festival tagged Delta 2022 will finally begin on November 30, with the State government insisting on delivering the best-ever games in the history of Nigeria sports.
With two brand new indoor sports halls, a new swimming pool, a new tartan track, new shooting range all within the Stephen Keshi stadium as well as a new hockey pitch at Okpanam and new hostel facilities at the NYSC camp at Issele-Uku, Secretary of Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chris Anazia declared yesterday that Delta would leave a legacy that will be difficult to surpass in the nearest future.
“Whenever Delta agrees to do anything, we always go for the best,” Anazia said. “We are not just going to host a sports festival, but the best ever in the history of the games. I am sure by the time the festival ends on December 10, all Nigerian athletes and officials will praise the government and people of Delta State for a job well done.” Read more
Saudi Prince promises players Rolls Royce for Argentina win (Punch)
The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, has promised each player in the national team a Rolls Royce Phantom for their win against Argentina in their World Cup opener in Qatar.
A resilient Saudi Arabian side on Tuesday shockingly defeated the Copa America winners 2-1 with all odds against them.
It is not the first time that a Rolls Royce would be awarded to a Saudi Arabian player. In the 1994 tournament Saeed Al-Owairan receiving one of the luxury cars after scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 victory against Belgium.
In 2022 however, despite having arguably the best player in the world on their team, seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, a struggling Argentina could not get any point out of the match although they were the dominant team for most of the game. Read more
England struggle to USA stalemate in underwhelming World Cup showing (Metro)
England’s World Cup momentum was halted somewhat after an underwhelming goalless draw with United States of America on Friday night.
Spirits were high after the 6-2 romp against Iran on Monday, but the Three Lions could not hit those heights again, with the Americans the better team for much of the contest.
While Gareth Southgate’s men were a near constant threat at the start of the week, they rarely bothered American goalkeeper Matt Turner in this one, with Jordan Pickford the more concerned of the stoppers over the piece.
Harry Kane probably had England’s best chance of the game, deep into stoppage time, but he sent his header from a Luke Shaw cross high and wide. Read more
Injury rules Neymar out of World Cup group stages (Guardian)
Neymar and Brazil international teammate, Danilo have been ruled out for the remainder of the World Cup group stages after suffering injuries during their tournament opener.
The Selecao opened up their Group G campaign in style on Thursday evening with a 2-0 victory over Serbia. It looked as though they would be left frustrated but two goals from Tottenham forward Richarlison – including an eye-catching bicycle kick – ensured Tite’s side got off to a winning start.
Despite the result, there were worrying scenes as Neymar was withdrawn in the 80th minute of the clash following a heavy collision with Nikola Milenkovic. He was then pictured in tears on the bench, whilst images of his swollen ankle began to circulate on social media after the match. Read more
Hearn believes Joshua could face Fury next year (Punch)
Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn is optimistic that a fight between his client and WBC champion Tyson Fury will happen next year, even before the undisputed title fight against Oleksandr Usyk.
Last week, The Gypsy King hinted at the possibility of the British blockbuster as he insisted he could not happily retire without sharing the ring with Joshua.
“I don’t think I can retire today because I need that Joshua fight. We have been trying to make that fight for years. It’s the fight that people want to see,” Fury said.
“It’s the fight that I want to see as a boxing fan. I think it would be an absolute dying travesty if me and Joshua didn’t fight in this era.” Read more
Valencia scores as Ecuador draw with Netherlands (BBC)
Enner Valencia scored his third goal of the World Cup before being taken off on a stretcher as Ecuador drew with the Netherlands to leave Group A wide open.
PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo had given the Netherlands the lead after just five minutes and four seconds – the quickest goal so far in Qatar – when he struck a shot beautifully into the top of the net.
But the Dutch struggled to build on their lead, with Ecuador’s Pervis Estupinan having a goal disallowed on the stroke of half-time.
Ecuador fans were bouncing with excitement throughout the second half at the Khalifa International Stadium as they equalised just after the break and continued to create chances against a rattled Netherlands side. Read more