If you hate me now, don’t post my pictures when I am dead, Shan George blows hot (Tribune)
Piqued by the bad blood and fake friendship running relationships among celebrities in Nigeria, veteran actress and movie producer, Shan George has warned that anyone who failed to celebrate her while alive should not bother posting her pictures when she dies.
In a video shared on Sunday evening, the veteran thespian maintained that it is now common among celebrities to quickly post pictures of their colleagues’ death but would not use the same energy to post their works and achievements while they were alive.
Livid George in the one-minute video added that celebrities would turn blind eye to the struggles of their colleagues but they would be the first set of people to start posting pictures of when the person eventually dies.
“I am making this video to warn anybody that has not supported or cheered or celebrated me for once or posted my work but is waiting till the day I die to start shedding crocodile tears and writing needless captions not to bother. Read more
Lagos agency slams company workers for attacking officials (Punch)
The Lagos State Central Business District has debunked allegations that its officials brutalised and detained three workers of the Erisco Foods Limited in a Black Maria at the agency’s office in the state.
PUNCH Metro had reported that the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Eric Umeofia, in separate petitions to the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the management of the CBD, said the agency’s officials brutalised and detained one of his drivers, a motor boy and worker in a Black Maria for over six hours like criminals.
Reacting to the development, the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, CBD, Olaoye Olusegun, slammed the company’s workers for mobilising hoodlums to attack its officials while doing their lawful duties in the state.
Narrating how the incident happened, Olusegun said, “On Friday, October 21, 2022, along Billings way, two trucks were sighted by CBD patrol team parked along a busy road where “NO STOPPING” “NO PARKING” signage was conspicuously erected. Read more
Inside Atiku, Tinubu, Kwankwaso, Obi’s battle for Kano, Lagos, Rivers (DailyTrust)
With 90 days to the February 25, 2023 presidential election, the four major contenders for the race–Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP)–have intensified moves to win Kano, Lagos and Rivers states.
The three states, Daily Trust on Sunday reports, are considered battlegrounds as they account for 16.5 million of the 96.2 million registered voters, according to the statistics released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Lagos State has 7,075,192 registered voters; Kano, 5,927,565; and Rivers, 3,532,990.
A total of 18 candidates have been cleared for the presidential race, but the pendulum seems to be swinging to the candidates of the PDP, APC, NNPP and LP. Read more
Explosion causes panic in Ogun community (Punch)
An explosion that occurred around a refuse dump at the front of the EDP Center Computer Audit Laboratory on Limson Road, in the Berger area of Ogun State, caused panic on Sunday.
During a visit to the area, our correspondent gathered from residents that the explosion, which occurred around 4.45am, caused a ditch at the scene.
The company’s security guard, Vitus Anyanwu, while expressing concern over the sudden explosion, said he alongside other persons on the premises of the company scampered to safety due to the incident.
He said, “I was on the premises when I heard a loud bang. I also saw how it lifted the particles around it. While I tried to run inside, I saw my son also running towards me and asking what happened. The effect of the blast shook the building.” Read more
ASSBIFI unveils multi-million naira edifice (Sun)
The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) on Thursday joined other trade unions making a difference in the movement when it unveiled a multi million naira hotel and event centre in Alausa, Ikeja area of Lagos State.
Some handful of unions, like National Union of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employees (NUFBTE), Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN), National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), have hotels and other businesses running profitably. This is an innovation and ingenuity to save the unions as economic indices continued to impact negatively on their finances.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Lagos, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige who was represented by the State Controller, Lagos State, Mr. Nnamdi Enuah said it is not just a misery, but a paradox that an association would be able to carry out such a huge project.
He commended the association for not being in the news for a bad purpose as many members of staff of some unions had petitioned the Ministry of Labour for non-payment of their salaries and entitlement. Read more
Lagos generating highest revenue from cooperatives — CFN (Punch)
The president, the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, Ayeola Oriyomi, has said that the cooperative sector provides the highest Gross Domestic Product to the Lagos State revenue.
He revealed this on Friday at the Medicals (Lagos Island) Cooperative Society inauguration of passenger boat services.
He said, “I commend LASCOMED for this initiative. The passenger boat service is a value-added service provided by the cooperative for the betterment of not only their members but also the people of Lagos State.
“Of course, the Lagos State government is trying but they can still do better in terms of aiding and assisting the movement to do more. They are aware that cooperatives manage resources better than any other sector. We are starting with two boats now, if we have a relationship with the government, we will be having 10 to 30 ferries and this is going to have multiple effects on the economy of Lagos State. Read more
Troops neutralise 4 bandits in Kaduna — Commissioner (Vanguard)
Troops of Operation Forest Sanity have neutralized four bandits during clearance operations in identified bandits’ hideouts around Tsohon Gayan, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna.
“The troops made contact and pursued the fleeing bandits, two bandits were neutralized during the engagement while credible human intelligence sources revealed that two others died from gunshot wounds.
“Credible sources in the general area reported that two of the four neutralized bandits have been identified as Dogo Mallam and Bello Mallam.” Read more
2023: You have 6 months to go, Adebutu tells Abiodun (DailyTrust)
A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has taunted Governor Dapo Abiodun, saying has six months left in the saddle.
Adebutu, who said Abiodun would be sent packing after next year’s election, said the state would witness “good governance and enjoy peace.”
He said this while addressing newsmen at the weekend at the annual Akesan day in Iperu, the hometown of Abiodun and Adebutu himself, in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state.
This year’s Akesan Day – an annual festival in Iperu witnessed a new twist as both Abiodun and Adebutu held separate celebrations at different locations in the town. Read more
Dua Lipa granted Albanian citizenship (PageSix)
Albania’s president on Sunday granted citizenship to British pop star of Albanian origin Dua Lipa for what he said was the artist’s role in spreading Albanians’ fame internationally through her music.
President Bajram Begaj said the “Levitating” singer was granted citizenship ahead of Albania’s 110th anniversary of independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Begaj said he considered it an honor to do so because Lipa, 27, has made Albanians famous throughout the world.
“I will be an Albanian with papers too,” Lipa said before taking her citizenship oath at Tirana city hall. Read more
Dwayne Johnson reveals Warner Bros. didn’t want Henry Cavill to return as Superman (Deadline)
Dwayne Johnson is celebrating the success of Black Adam in theatres and on iTunes. As everyone knows, Henry Cavill made a cameo as Superman, something that Johnson “fought hard” for despite Warner Bros. not initially keen on bringing back the actor.
In a video posted on Twitter, the DC star said he wanted to establish Black Adam “as the most powerful, unstoppable force in the DC universe.” To manage the latter, Johnson said, “We have to bring back the most powerful, unstoppable force of all time in any universe. And you guys know who I’m talking about? Of course, that is Superman. And that’s Henry Cavill.”
Johnson then revealed that the studio “inexplicably and inexcusably” did not want to bring back Cavill but he was not going to take no for an answer and his team got to work.
“This has been years in the making regarding bringing Henry Cavill back and years of strategic conversations and we were not going to take no for an answer,” he added. “There was no way, there’s no viable logical way that you can attempt to build out the DC Universe without the most powerful force and the greatest superhero of all time sitting on the sidelines. It’s impossible to do.” Read more
Antonio Banderas thinks Tom Holland would be a great Zorro in a reboot (CNN)
In the age of reboots, revivals and prequels, Antonio Banderas is sharing thoughts on who would make a great choice to follow in his masked footsteps as the legendary Zorro.
The actor, who played the swashbuckling hero in 1998’s “The Mask of Zorro” and sequel “The Legend of Zorro” in 2005, said his “Uncharted” co star Tom Holland would be a perfect fit for the role, in a video interview published Saturday with Comicbook.com.
“If they called me to do ‘Zorro,’ I would do what Anthony Hopkins did for me, which is to pass the torch,” Banderas said when asked about the possibility of doing a third film in the “Zorro” franchise, referring to how Hopkins passed the mantle down to him in the first movie.
“He’s so energetic and fun,” Banderas said of Holland. “He’s got this spark, too.” Read more
Rolls-Royce tests a jet engine running on hydrogen (BBC)
Business correspondent, BBC News
In a windswept corner of a military site on Salisbury Plain a small aircraft jet engine is undergoing tests that could one day lead to huge changes within the aviation industry.
The engine itself is almost completely conventional. It is a Rolls-Royce AE-2100A gas turbine, a design used widely on regional aeroplanes around the world.
What is wholly unusual about it is the fuel being used. This is the first time a modern aircraft engine has ever been run on hydrogen.
Devoid of bodywork, with its intricate wiring and pipework exposed, it sits securely fastened to a sturdy test rig, while engineers cluster around an array of screens in the control room, a safe distance away.
The tests are being carried out by Rolls-Royce, in partnership with the airline easyJet. Read more
Stormzy parties with Amaarae, Jacob Collier, Ms Banks and more in ‘‘This Is What I Mean’’ video (NME)
Stormzy has shared a music video for ‘This Is What I Mean’ – the title track from his just-released third album – starring the likes of Amaarae, Black Sherif, Jacob Collier, Ms Banks and Storry.
The video opens with a clip of phone-shot footage from the crowd at Stormzy’s album launch party last week, before switching to a scene of Collier miming the song’s grand piano intro from inside an empty, ominously lit warehouse. A title card informs us that the video was shot on the same night as the aforementioned launch party, jumping back and forth between the party itself and similar solo scenes from each of the featured artists.
Three of them – Ms Banks, Amaarae and Black Sherif – also have guest spots on the song itself. While Collier doesn’t, he was one of the song’s co-writers, and appears elsewhere on the namesake album. As revealed earlier this month, a total of 28 artists were involved in bringing ‘This Is What I Mean’ to life.
‘This Is What I Mean’ – the album – arrived last Friday (November 25) via Stormzy’s own #Merky label, and featured the singles ‘Hide & Seek’ and ‘Firebabe’. It was released alongside a personal message from the rapper, in which he implored fans to “listen to this album with an open heart”. Read more
Jon Batiste to sing for Macron at Biden’s 1st state dinner (VOA)
Musician Jon Batiste is on tap to perform at President Joe Biden’s first White House state dinner on Thursday that will highlight long-standing ties between the United States and France and honor President Emmanuel Macron.
“An artist who transcends generations, Jon Batiste’s music inspires and brings people together,” said Vanessa Valdivia, a spokesperson for first lady Jill Biden, whose office is overseeing dinner preparations.
“We’re thrilled to have him perform at the White House for the first state dinner of the Biden-Harris administration,” Valdivia said.
The black-tie dinner for Macron will be part of what is shaping up to be a busy social season at the White House. The Bidens’ granddaughter Naomi Biden was married on the South Lawn earlier this month. And first lady Jill Biden was set on Monday to unveil the White House decorations that will be viewed by thousands of holiday visitors over the next month. Read more
Ukraine struggles to restore utilities amid Russian artillery strikes, as winter looms (PBS)
Russian forces struck eastern and southern Ukraine early Sunday as utility crews scrambled to restore power, water and heating with the onset of snow and frigid temperatures, while civilians continued to leave the southern city of Kherson because of the devastation wreaked by recent attacks and their fears of more ahead.
With persistent snowfall blanketing the capital, Kyiv, Sunday, analysts predicted that wintry weather — bringing with it frozen terrain and grueling fighting conditions — could have an increasing impact on the conflict that has raged since Russian forces invaded Ukraine more than nine months ago.
Both sides were already bogged down by heavy rain and muddy battlefield conditions, experts said.
After a blistering series of Russian artillery strikes on infrastructure that started last month, workers were fanning out in around-the-clock deployments to restore key basic services as many Ukrainians were forced to cope with only a few hours of electricity per day — if any.
Balogun tipped for Rangers return (Punch)
Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun could make a return to the Scottish Premiership with Glasgow Rangers months after parting ways with the club in June.
Michael Beale, manager of Championship side Queens Park Rangers, is tipped to become the next Rangers manager after the Ibrox giants sacked Giovanni van Bronckhorst over poor results.
Beale, assistant manager to Steven Gerrard at Rangers, signed Balogun when he was released by Rangers and will want to re-sign the Nigerian defender, knowing his qualities.
Ibrox legend Ally McCoist was shocked that Rangers let Balogun go, especially with Van Bronckhorst struggling with defensive injuries, before being sacked. Read more
Ottawa soccer fans proud of Canada’s showing at World Cup (CTV)
Canadian soccer fans erupted into cheers inside Ottawa’s Glebe Central Pub when Canada scored their first goal at a men’s world cup, just minutes into the game Sunday.
Ottawa’s Eldrinson Vado was overcome with emotion.
“When you’ve been a football fan for more than 20 years, to see Canada score is a really special moment you can’t control,” said Vado.
“I think I blacked out for a second,” said Eddie Behin. “I can’t believe we scored that soon.” Read more
AFC Bournemouth confirm Gary O’Neil as head coach (ITV)
AFC Bournemouth have confirmed their caretaker boss Gary O’Neil as their new permanent manager.
O’Neil has signed a one-and-a-half year contract, which could be extended for a further year. It’s his first permanent job in management.
The 39-year-old joined the Cherries as first-team coach in February 2021 and was a member of the coaching staff as the Cherries regained a place in the Premier League after being promoted from the Championship last season.
He took charge of 12 games on an interim basis at the end of August and helped steady the ship following three defeats. Read more
Political leanings set aside as Richarlison takes over crucial Neymar role for Brazil (IrishIndependent)
“God bless you, golden boy,” says the hand-scrawled message on a No 10 shirt that Richarlison framed and now treasures at home. The jersey had been handed over by Neymar after the then Everton forward scored twice on his Brazil debut.
Four years on, and those encouraging words were not lost on Richarlison as he was ushered to doping control in the bowels of the Lusail Stadium for a routine sample on Wednesday night.
He had just executed a glorious scissor kick which will endure through the generations, but, while waiting inside the empty room for his bladder to fill, his first thought was to phone Neymar and check on his right ankle injury.
“I told him to put a lot of ice on it, to recover as quickly as possible. I think that’s the most important thing,” Richarlison said. Read more
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was given ‘clear instructions’ not to ‘fight’ Charles Leclerc (Express)
Ferrari star Carlos Sainz has said he was given ‘clear instructions’ not to fight Charles Leclerc in the season-ending Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi. The Monegasque driver had to finish ahead of Sergio Perez in the race to secure second place in the driver’s championship – a feat he achieved by a narrow margin with the Red Bull man just over a second behind as the chequered flag came down.
Sainz was unable to match the performances of his Ferrari teammate over the course of the season, finishing 62 points behind the 25-year-old in the standings. The Spaniard’s season was badly hampered by six retirements which prevented him from gaining any real momentum over the year.
As a result, Sainz had little to race for during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with Ferrari demanding that he help his team mate. Second place in the driver’s standings would bring the team considerable prestige, particularly on the back of two seasons where they had struggled towards the middle of the pack.
The former McLaren driver has now explained the team’s thinking as he insisted he was happy about what Leclerc had managed to achieve during the season. Read more
Ja Morant has triple-double, Grizzlies hold on to defeat Knicks (CBS)
Ja Morant had 27 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds in his fifth career triple-double, and the Memphis Grizzlies held off the New York Knicks 127-123 on Sunday.
Morant scored 10 points in the fourth quarter, hitting the go-ahead basket after rebounding his own miss with 13.9 seconds left in regulation.
Dillon Brooks scored 23 points and Jaren Jackson Jr. added 21 for the Grizzlies, who lost a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter but recovered for their second straight victory.
Jalen Brunson had 30 points and RJ Barrett added 22 for the Knicks, who have lost two straight and four of their last five. Read more