Davido breaks silence on Dammy Krane’s debt allegations (Punch)
Award-winning music star, Davido, has responded to his colleague, Oyindamola Emmanuel, popularly known as Dammy Krane regarding the allegations of unpaid debts, stating that he had never received compensation for the three verses he contributed to Dammy Krane’s song nine years ago.
Dammy Krane in a post on Tuesday claimed that Davido owed him for their successful collaboration on the song “Pere” and appealed to the musician to settle the debt, citing his daughter’s impending school fees as the reason.
Responding to the allegations on Friday, Davido, in a post on X, pointed out that he had never received compensation for the three verses he contributed to Dammy Krane’s song nine years ago. Read more
EFCC detains Emefiele after his release by DSS (Vanguard)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has detained the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
Emefiele was picked up on Thursday night, less than an hour after he regained his freedom from the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.
The former CBN governor, it was learned, is currently being interrogated at the EFCC headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. Read more
Jonathan visits Tinubu at Aso Rock (DailyTrust)
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has described himself as a “roving ambassador”.
He spoke on Friday while fielding questions from State House reporters after a closed door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The former president called on political leaders and former presidents to come together so that citizens would not suffer. Read more
“10,000 Houses Coming in Ogun” (ThisDay)
Ogun State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun, has assured that his administration would provide an additional 10,000 affordable houses and complete all ongoing road projects, including the agro-cargo airport in the next four years.
Abiodun also promised to refurbish Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in the 236 wards in the state.
He gave the assurance when he spoke at the Town Hall Meeting on the 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2024 Budget for Remo Division, held at the Akarigbo Palace, Sagamu. Read more
FG pledges support for Lagos on affordable healthcare (Punch)
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, has said that the Federal Government is willing to support the Lagos State Government to ensure more affordable and accessible healthcare service delivery to its residents.
Dr Alausa made the pledge when he paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the Lagos House in Lagos state.
A statement by the Director of Media and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health, Patricia Deworitshe quoted the Minister as saying, “What we have is not working the way it should. Our indicators are quite appalling, but we have a mandate given to us by President Bola Tinubu to reshape, revitalise and get the healthcare system to where it should be, where citizens can have comprehensive healthcare. Read more
Task force dislodges illegal use of Amuwo-Odofin (Guardian)
A joint environmental task force has stormed the Amuwo-Odofin area of Lagos State to dislodge the illegal use of the environment.
The visit of the task force was disclosed by the Chairman of the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area (LGA), Valentine Buraimoh, on Friday.
“The joint task force, ably led by its chairman, Hon. Gbenga Nathaniel Akinbinu, is not relenting on ensuring that the mandate to recapture the glory days of the environs is upheld,” Buraimoh wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Read more
DSS mum over Emefiele’s release (Nation)
The Department of State Services (DSS) has kept mum over the reported release of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Emefiele was reportedly released from custody on Thursday night but was promptly picked up by operatives of the EFCC.
It could not be immediately established if he was released by the Service and thereafter arrested by the EFCC or if he was handed over officially. Read more
Reps call for auctioning of police barracks (Vanguard)
The House of Representatives has called for the auctioning of police barracks across the country to tackle the deplorable living conditions of officers.
The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep. Murphy Omoruyi (LP-Edo) during plenary in Abuja on Thursday.
Leading the debate, Omoruyi said that the National Assembly passed the Police Reform Bill 2020, which was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari on September 16, 2020. Read more
Taylor Swift reaches billionaire status (Sky)
Taylor Swift has been declared a billionaire by business news outlet Bloomberg, as a result of her re-recorded albums, worldwide Eras tour, and lucrative concert film.
The outlet estimates 33-year-old Swift’s net worth to be $1.1bn (£907.2m).
Her music catalogue since 2019 is worth an estimated $400m (£329.9m), ticket and merchandise sales from concerts have earned her $370m (£305.1m) while streams from Spotify, YouTube and other platforms are worth $120m (£100m). Read more
Sudanese families seek refuge in South Sudan (AfricaNews)
In a distressing turn of events, families escaping violence and turmoil in Sudan are arriving in remote areas of northern South Sudan. These displaced individuals are seeking refuge in a region where humanitarian organizations are grappling with the immense challenge of providing emergency assistance.
Among those affected is Umjuma Achol Mut, a 29-year-old woman who fled her home in Bentiu, South Sudan, back in 2016, scarred by the brutal violence that forced her to escape. She initially sought refuge in a camp in Ethiopia’s Gambella region but later moved to Sudan in the hope of rebuilding her life. Unfortunately, when conflict erupted in Sudan in April, she and her family had to make a perilous journey across the border into South Sudan.
The crisis is further exacerbated by the rainy season and a severe lack of donor funding, which is impeding efforts to relocate people away from the border. This has worsened the already dire humanitarian situation in the overcrowded transit center located in the border town of Renk. Read more
The Beatles to release emotional final song, “Now and Then”, next week (BBC)
More than 50 years after The Beatles broke up, the band have announced the release of their “last song”.
Called Now And Then, it is based on a 1970s demo recording by John Lennon, and was completed last year by Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Ringo Starr.
Sir Paul teased the song in a BBC interview this summer, saying AI technology had been used to “extricate” Lennon’s vocals from an old cassette.
The track will premiere at 14:00 GMT on Thursday, 2 November. Read more
Doctor Who specials to premiere on Disney+ Nov. 25 (UPI)
The first of three new Doctor Who specials, starring David Tennant as the 14th Doctor, is to premiere in the United States on Nov. 25.
The other two chapters will debut on Dec. 2 and Dec. 9.
The sci-fi family show originally premiered on the BBC in 1963 and aired for 26 seasons. Read more
Freddy Krueger glove from A Nightmare On Elm Street among film props set for London horror auction (Standard)
Props from hit horror films including The Shining, Sweeney Todd and A Nightmare On Elm Street are to go under the hammer next month.
The film and TV memorabilia auction will feature more than 1,800 items during the four-day event starting on November 9, with auction house Propstore expecting to fetch over £12 million in total.
Among the top-tier horror items is Freddy Krueger’s (Robert Englund) screen-matched hero glove with razor blade fingers and an original hand-drawn design of the piece from 1984 classic film A Nightmare On Elm Street – which is estimated to sell for up to £400,000. Read more
Christine McVie: Fleetwood Mac star’s estate sells her music rights (Sky)
The estate of the late Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie has sold the rights to her music.
The singer and songwriter’s shares in the band’s biggest hits, including Go Your Own Way, Landslide, The Chain and Dreams, have been bought by asset management company HarbourView Equity Partners for an undisclosed sum.
McVie died aged 79 of an ischemic stroke in November 2022.
It is the latest in a series of high-profile stars cashing in on the lucrative rights to their back catalogues. Read more
Irish cinemas to screen Oscar-tipped French legal thriller “Anatomy of a Fall” (RTE)
Following its Palme d’Or win at Cannes, and with its Oscars momentum building, the French courtroom thriller “Anatomy of a Fall” will open in Irish cinemas next month.
Directed by Justine Triet and co-written by the director and Arthur Harari, “Anatomy of a Fall” stars Sandra Hüller, Swann Arlaud, and Milo Machado Graner – and is tipped to receive multiple Oscar nominations next year.
The synopsis for “Anatomy of a Fall” reads: “For the past year, Sandra, a German writer, her French husband Samuel, and their eleven-year-old son Daniel have lived a secluded life in a remote town in the French Alps. Read more
Eagles maintain 40th position in FIFA rankings (Punch)
Despite recording a win and a draw in their last friendly games during the international break, their only games since the last FIFA world rankings in September, Nigeria remained unmoved in the latest FIFA men’s rankings for October, The PUNCH reports.
Though the Super Eagles gained 1.62 points in the month under review to take their total point to 1490.48, they, however, maintained their position at 40th place.
The Eagles played a 2-2 draw with Saudi Arabia in their first game of the two friendlies before beating Mozambique 3-2 in their other game. Still, the results did not have much effect on their position on the rankings table. Read more
Orban on target for Gent, Dessers, Lookman fire blanks (ThisDay)
Nigerian international, Gift Orban, ended his goal drought last night as his Belgian side whitewashed Iceland’s Breidablik Kopavugar 5-0 in the UEFA Europa Conference League.
The forward scored his first goal since August and also his only goal so far of the group stage of the competition in the 69th minutes. It was the fifth of the night as the Belgian side ran riot with goals.
Orban’s Super Eagles teammate, Cyriel Dessers fired blanks as Rangers emerged with a precious Europa League point from Prague after a testing goalless night against Sparta. Read more
Liverpool 5-1 Toulouse: Clinical Reds cruise to Europa League win (Eurosport)
Darwin Nunez and Mo Salah were among those on target as Liverpool made it three wins from three in UEFA Europa League Group E courtesy of a thumping 5-1 victory over Toulouse at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp made eight changes from the side that eased past Everton in the Merseyside derby, but it mattered little as they proved too strong for last season’s French Cup winners.
Diogo Jota opened the scoring when he was allowed to surge through the centre of the visiting defence and coolly fire home on nine minutes. Read more
Brighton 2-0 Ajax: Seagulls win 1st European game in their history thanks to Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati goals (Sky)
Brighton won their first European game in the club’s history following a 2-0 Europa League home victory over beleaguered Dutch giants Ajax.
After a loss and a draw from their opening two games, the Seagulls finally breathed life into their debut European campaign thanks to goals from Joao Pedro and Ansu Fati.
The landmark victory over the 36-time Dutch champions, though, was an expected one with the Amsterdam side managerless and in poor form. The four-time European Cup winners have now won just two of their 12 games in all competitions this season and sit second-bottom in the Eredivisie. Read more
Newcastle star Tonali banned for 10 months for betting offences in Italy (AlJazeera)
Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali will be banned from football for 10 months over breaches of rules on betting on matches in Italy, the head of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has said.
Italy midfielder Tonali, who joined Newcastle from AC Milan this year, must also attend treatment sessions for problem gamblers and give a series of talks about his experience over a further eight-month period as part of a deal with the FIGC.
The plea-bargain agreement, which is expected to apply to international football, was confirmed by FIGC President Gabriele Gravina. It will rule Tonali out for the remainder of the club season and the Euro 2024 tournament in June and July. Read more
Republic have to build on strong start – Gleeson (BBC)
Republic of Ireland interim manager Eileen Gleeson says she wants her players to build on a strong start to the Women’s Nations League.
The Republic defeated Northern Ireland 3-0 in their League B Group One opener before winning 4-0 in Hungary.
Albania travel to Dublin on Friday in the first of a double-header between the sides.
“We want to build on these performances and give the fans an exciting experience,” Gleeson said. Read more