Bamise, slain fashion designer for burial on December 16 (Vanguard)
The family of the slain 21 years old fashion designer, Ayanwola Oluwabamise, on Wednesday, announced her burial for December 16, 2022.
The Ayanwolas disclosed this during the 22nd posthumous birthday which took place in Oko-Oba, Agege area of Lagos.
Bamise’s elder brother, Pelumi Abegunde announced the burial date which will take place in Lagos.
The posthumous birthday was graced by family, friends and members of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Lagos State, led by Comrade Kehinde Adeoye who seized the ocassion to call on the state government to prosecute the prime suspect for Bamise’s murder in a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with the law of the land. Read more
NYSC commissions corps member’s eye clinic project in Lagos (Guardian)
Lagos State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Coordinator, Yetunde Baderinwa, has commissioned an eye clinic centre for Ilasa/Isolo community in Lagos State.
The project was a personal Community Development Service (CDS) of a corps member under the Oshodi-Isolo Local Council, Dr. Odede Joseph Oluwatosin.
Baderinwa, who applauded Oluwatosin for the project and advised corps members to emulate what he has done by identifying the needs in places they find themselves.
Meanwhile, Oluwatosin, a graduate of Optometry from Madonna University, Okija, who appreciated the NYSC, firms and Ilasa community for their donations towards the project, urged corps members to think of what they could do for the country and not what the country could do for them. Read more
LASPA warns Lagosians against patronising illegal park operators (Punch)
The Lagos State Parking Authority has warned Lagosians against patronising illegal car park operators in the state, for the safety of their vehicles.
This is as the agency also accused some illegal private park operators of damaging government property used in clamping vehicles and controlling indiscriminate parking.
The General Manager of LASPA, Adebisi Adelabu, who was represented by the Director, Operations of LASPA, Ayokunle Akinrimisi, said this during the monitoring and enforcement exercise in Marina, Lagos, on Wednesday.
Adelabu said the private car park operators were operating illegally and this would have a negative effect on Lagos residents who parked their vehicles within their premises and gave out their car keys to operators at the owner’s risk. Read more
Interswitch to sponsor CeBIH 2022 Conference (ThisDay)
Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce company, Interswitch, has been announced as the premium sponsor of the 2022 annual conference of the Committee of e-Business Industry Heads (CeBIH) holding on Friday, December 2, 2022, in Lagos.
The Annual Conference, which has enjoyed keen support from the technology giant, has over the years come to be regarded as the point of convergence for stakeholders representing the different sectors of the Nigerian Payment Industry (NPI).
Interswitch’s headline sponsorship of the conference highlights the digital payment giant’s interest in fostering deeper collaboration between banks and fintechs within the financial ecosystem especially as it celebrates its 20th year in existence.
With the theme, “Leveraging Ecosystem Synergy to Combat Fraud”, the 2022 conference is tailored to emphasize the need for and importance of ‘Payments Ecosystem Players’ (PEP) to collaborate to win the fight against electronic payment fraud. Read more
Remanded Aisha Buhari’s critic ought to sit exams on Monday – Lawyer (DailyTrust)
CK Agu, counsel for Aminu Adamu, a student at the Federal University, Dutse, who was arrested after criticising First Lady Aisha Buhari on Twitter says he requested bail for his client to enable him start his final exams on December 5.
Aminu was arrested over a comment in Hausa that means “Mama is feeding fat on poor people’s money,” posted on his Twitter handle.
According to his uncle, Aminu was taken to the Presidential Villa where he was beaten before he was remanded at Suleja Prison in Niger State.
But the student’s lawyer told the BBC Hausa that his client was arraigned in Abuja and pleaded not guilty to the crime he was accused of. Read more
No PVC, no voting in 2023 elections, INEC declares (ThisDay)
With 86 days to the February 25 presidential general election, the Independent National Electoral commission (INEC), yesterday, declared that there would be no voting by anybody without his or her Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC).
Also, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, has vowed to arrest and prosecute touts obstructing campaigns by opposition political parties as well as politicians indulging in vote buying during the 2023 poll.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, has revealed that a discreet operation undertaken by the commission to tame vote buying ahead of the 2015 election, revealed that a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, paid out about $115 million to politicians to compromise the election.
At the same time, the Ebonyi State Police Command, has clarified that no sensitive materials were lost to the fire that gutted the INEC office located in Iboko community, Izzi Local Government Area of the state. Read more
FEC okays National Language Policy for primary education (Nation)
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the use of the mother tongue as a compulsory medium of instruction in primary schools across the country.
Education Minister Adamu Adamu announced this while addressing State House correspondents after the week’s FEC meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa yesterday in Abuja.
While conceding that the government was aware that the implementation would be difficult, the minister said the adoption of the mother tongue would be used exclusively for the first six years of education while it would be combined with English language from Junior Secondary School (JSS).
Adamu assured the nation that all Nigerian languages are equal and would be treated as such. Read more
Christine McVie, Fleetwood Mac singer-songwriter, dies aged 79 (BBC)
Christine McVie, who played with Fleetwood Mac and wrote some of their most famous songs, has died aged 79, her family has said.
The British singer-songwriter was behind hits including Little Lies, Everywhere, Don’t Stop, Say You Love Me and Songbird.
She died peacefully at a hospital in the company of her family, a statement said.
McVie left Fleetwood Mac after 28 years in 1998 but returned in 2014. Read more
Little Simz and Knucks share Best Album gong at Mobo Awards (MusicNews)
Little Simz and Knucks were named as the joint winners of the Best Album accolade at the Mobo Awards in London on Wednesday (30.11.22).
The 28-year-old rap star and Knucks became the first artists to ever share the award in the history of the Mobos, which seek to honour achievements in music of black origin.
The judges explained that both artists “showed where British rap can go, both production-wise and lyrically”.
Simz was recognised for her album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’, while Knucks received acclaim for his record ‘Alpha Place’. Read more
Ang Lee casts son Mason to play Bruce Lee in biopic (Guardian)
Ang Lee has cast his son Mason Lee as Bruce Lee in a new biopic.
The Oscar-winning film-maker of Life of Pi and Brokeback Mountain has taken on a project that has already seen four writers deliver different versions of the script. The latest rewrite will come from the Oscar-nominated Capote screenwriter Dan Futterman.
“Accepted as neither fully American nor fully Chinese, Bruce Lee was a bridge between East and West who introduced Chinese kung fu to the world, a scientist of combat and an iconic performing artist who revolutionized both the martial arts and action cinema,” Ang Lee said to Deadline. “I feel compelled to tell the story of this brilliant, unique human being who yearned for belonging, possessed tremendous power in a 135-pound-frame, and who, through tireless hard work, made impossible dreams into reality.”
The film, called Bruce Lee, has been something the director has reportedly been working on for a while in secret. His 32-year-old son has also been training for the last three years in Asia to prepare for the role. His credits include roles in The Hangover Part II, Limbo and Dead Pigs. He also made an appearance in his father’s 2016 drama Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk. Read more
Wakanda Forever to win post thanksgiving frame, but Violent Night could liven up box office (Deadline)
Before Disney’s 20th Century Studios’ Avatar: The Way of Water floods the box office with a potential $200M opening on Dec.16, Universal might have a surprise this weekend in the 87North holiday action movie Violent Night, starring David Harbour. Universal is hoping for $10M, maybe $12M on the Tommy Wirkola-directed movie for a second place take. However, rivals are truly excited by it, thinking it could do much more.
In the Pat Casey-Josh Miller scripted movie, Santa Claus must step in and save Christmas when a group of mercenaries attack the estate of a wealthy family. Violent Night is already 72% fresh among critics on Rotten Tomatoes, which isn’t that bad. Previews start at 5PM on Thursday.
Genre, unlike adult dramas, has shown to break through at the box office; Paramount’s Smile being one of the cornerstones of the fall with $105.5M stateside. The R-rated Violent Night is looking to draw older men and young females. The trailer that dropped on Oct. 5 has racked up over 115M views worldwide, and ran before such pics as Halloween Ends, Pray For The Devil with shorter and more PG-13-friendly pieces placed in front of Black Adam and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Read more
Country Singer Jake Flint dead at 37, hours after his wedding to wife Brenda (People)
Country music singer Jake Flint has died. He was 37.
The Oklahoma native was an up-and-coming artist with various studio albums and singles like “What’s Your Name?” and “Long Road Back Home.” He first found a love for country music after his dad was diagnosed with ALS and asked his friends to teach his son to play the guitar to remedy his inability to play sports with his son.
His publicist, Clif Doyal, told The Oklahoman that the singer died in his sleep hours after his wedding on Saturday.
His former manager, Brenda Cline, also confirmed the news on Sunday and expressed that Flint, whom she loved “much like a son,” had died shortly before returning to tour on Dec. 2 following his wedding festivities. Read more
Spotify Wrapped: BTS are the most-streamed K-pop artist globally in 2022 (NME)
BTS are the K-pop act most streamed around the world on Spotify in 2022, the platform revealed today in its Spotify Wrapped launch.
Today (November 30), Spotify launched its anticipated annual Wrapped event, where it shares data of its platform’s most-streamed artists, songs, albums and podcasts – and allows users to have a look at their own listening statistics for the year.
As the fifth most-streamed artist globally, behind Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift and others, BTS emerged the most-streamed K-pop artist globally. The top four on that list – BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE and Stray Kids – remain unchanged from 2021. However, the fifth spot this year was taken by SEVENTEEN, while last year it went to Tomorrow X Together. Read more
Horror as explosion hits Ukrainian embassy in Madrid with at least 1 injured (Express)
A letter bomb exploded early this Wednesday afternoon at the Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid, Spain. The explosion caused a slight injury. An embassy employee, believed to be a guard, who has been injured has been evacuated to the Nuestra Señora de América Hospital in the capital, police sources have reported.
The Police have activated the anti-terrorist protocol and have cordoned off the area where the Embassy is located, at number 52 Ronda Abubilla.
Specialised troops in the deactivation of explosives, Tedax, in addition to other police units, have moved to the place.
So far, the Embassy has neither confirmed nor denied the accident. Read more
Bayelsa Queens beat Rivers Angels in NWFL opener (Punch)
Defending champions, Bayelsa Queens began their Nigeria Women Football League title defense with a 2-0 win over rivals, Rivers Angels, on matchday one of the 2022/23 season at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa on Wednesday.
Two second half goals from Juliet Sunday and Mary Aderemi did the job for the Prosperity Girls who had to dig deep in the second forty-five minutes to overcome their rivals.
Bayelsa Queens edged Rivers Angels and other contenders to the NWFL title last season, picking the ticket to represent the country at the second edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League, where they finished 3rd.
In other results, Bankole Olowookere led Naija Ratels also began the season with a comfortable 3-1 win over newly promoted Heartland Queens, just as Osun Babes defeated Royal Queens 2-0 to wrap up the games in Group A. Read more
Poland goalkeeper Szczesny: I lost €100 bet with Messi over penalty (ESPN)
Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has said that he lost a €100 bet with Lionel Messi before the Argentina forward missed a penalty during his team’s 2-0 World Cup win at Stadium 974 in Qatar.
Goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez were enough to seal victory and top spot in Group C for the 2021 Copa America winners, who will now face Australia in the Round of 16 on Saturday.
And Poland also made it into the knockout stages, despite losing to Argentina, after edging out Mexico on goal difference to book a tie with world champions France on Sunday.
Szczesny’s penalty save from Messi would ultimately prove crucial for Poland in the goal difference battle with Mexico, but the decision by referee Danny Makkelie to award the spot-kick surprised the Juventus goalkeeper, who was judged to have caught Messi in the face with his arm while collecting an aerial ball. Read more
Didier Deschamps names his France XI for their final Group D match against Tunisia (DailyMail)
France’s starting XI for their final Group D clash against Tunisia has been revealed, with manager Didier Deschamps reportedly opting to bench star attackers Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.
Les Bleus have made a perfect start to their World Cup defence, beating Australia and Denmark to secure an early progression to the last 16.
France need only a point to guarantee top-spot in Group D, giving them a potentially easier fixture in the knockouts, though it could conceivably be Argentina they face in doing so – but according to L’Equipe, they will aim for first without Mbappe starting.
With maximum points from their two prior outings, Deschamps has been afforded the luxury of rotating his side for their final group game, which will come as a major boost given the extensive injury list the 54-year-old is having to negotiate. Read more
Stephanie Frappart to become 1st female referee of tournament in Germany vs Costa Rica (Sky)
France’s Stephanie Frappart will become the first woman to referee a match at the men’s World Cup after being selected to take charge of Thursday’s clash between Germany and Costa Rica.
The 38-year-old will lead an all-female on-field team for the Group E match at Al Bayt Stadium, with Brazil’s Neuza Back and Mexican Karen Diaz Medina chosen as her assistants.
Frappart has already made history at the tournament, having become the first female official for a men’s World Cup match when she was fourth official for the goalless draw between Mexico and Poland last Tuesday.
FIFA named three female referees on its list of 36 for the competition, with Rwanda’s Salima Mukansanga and Yoshimi Yamashita of Japan also in Qatar. Read more
Derek Chisora sparring partner shares masterplan to rock boxing world with Tyson Fury win (Express)
Tyson Fury beating Derek Chisora on December 3 has been viewed as a forgone conclusion by most boxing fans. However, Chisora’s sparring partner and fast-rising heavyweight contender Otto Wallin believes Del Boy has a chance if he gets his tactics right.
According to the Swede, Chisora can “make something happen” if he stays on Fury for the whole fight and targets the body. Fury and Chisora recently agreed to meet each other in the centre of the ring this weekend and “batter the f*** out of each other.”
This style of fight would certainly benefit the front-foot-heavy Chisora who is giving up a sizeable height and reach advantage to Fury. During their previous two encounters in 2011 and 2014 Fury was able to keep Chisora at bay and comfortably controlled the fight with long straight shots.
Wallin affirms that Chisora will find his success in making the fight ugly and veering the contest away from a technical boxing match. Read more
Mercedes pay class tribute to Niki Lauda at their HQ (GMS)
Mercedes employees will enter the team’s Brackley base via Lauda Drive from now on, after the Silver Arrows unveiled a fine tribute to one of F1‘s greats.
Niki Lauda was a three-time world champion and will go down as one of the best-ever F1 drivers, with him overcoming incredible odds and challenges in his life to achieve truly great things.
In 2019, we sadly lost the charismatic Austrian but he’ll forever remain in the hearts and minds of F1 and motorsport fans, and he now has an extra special place dedicated to him at Mercedes, with them unveiling a road named after him earlier this week.
The road enters their Brackley HQ and will serve as a reminder of what the great man did for Mercedes in their surge to becoming one of the most dominant forces in the history of F1, with him acting as a Non-Executive Chairman and also someone Toto Wolff, Lewis Hamilton and countless others in and outside of the Mercedes team could confide in. Read more