Lagos Demolition: Unite realtors, Odunzeh tells Sanwo Olu (Sun)
A former governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the Imo State poll, Uche Ben Odunzeh, has advised Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to unite realtors in order to forestall construction of illegal buildings in the state.
The Lagos State government had embarked on a demolition spree of unapproved buildings even though some house owners claimed that they obtained clearance from the ministry of land and housing.
But Odunzeh, in a statement on Friday, said the exercise would not have occurred if previous administrations had sanitised the housing sector. Read more
Lagos NURTW re-elects MC Oluomo as chairman (Punch)
The Lagos Chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers has re-elected Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, also known as MC Oluomo, as its chairman.
Oluomo, along with his Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Sulyman Ojora, the Treasurer, Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle (Sego), and 28 other executive members, were elected unopposed on Thursday at the 10th Quadrennial State Delegates Conference in Lagos.
The officers were subsequently sworn in by a lawyer, Mr Adejare Kembi. Read more
5 rooms destroyed as fire guts Ikeja duplex (Channels)
Fire engulfed a duplex at 3 Michael Ogun Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, destroying five rooms in the building.
According to a statement by the Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, the fire incident happened around 4:11 am.
She said the incident occurred on the upper floor of a duplex building used as a residence. Read more
Court remands prime suspect in murder of FUT Minna Professor (Nation)
The prime suspect arrested in the murder of an Associate Professor of Biochemistry at the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna, Professor Funmilola Adefolalu has been remanded at the Children Correctional Centre in Minna.
The suspect, 14-year-old Joy Afekafe was arraigned before a Minna Chief Magistrate Court on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and armed robbery.
The prosecutor told the Chief Magistrate, Fati Hassan Umar that two other suspects in the crime identified as Wallex and Smart are still at large. Read more
Nigeria records progress in HIV/AIDS response- Minister (Vanguard)
The Federal Government says Nigeria has made huge progress in the HIV/AIDS response and is on the way to ending the disease by 2030.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Thursday during a media conference to mark 2023 World AIDS Day.
The theme of the 2023 commemoration is “Let Communities Lead.” Read more
Umahi reiterates Tinubu’s commitment to road infrastructure devt (Tribune)
The Honourable Minister of Works, David Umahi has reiterated the determination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in fixing the ailing road infrastructure across Nigeria.
According to the Minister, the President’s intervention on the road infrastructure deficit in the country was part of his roadmap towards revamping the economy of the nation.
Umahi in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Uchenna Orji stated this when he received Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello and the newly elected Governor of the State Ahmed Usman Ododo in his office. Read more
112 Katsina varsity students bag 1st class degrees (ThisDay)
A total of 4,365 students of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina State, would be awarded various degrees during the 7th and 8th combined convocation of the institution.
The Vice Chancellor of FUDMA, Professor Armaya’u Bichi, disclosed yesterday at a pre-convocation press conference that 112 students graduated with first-class honours.
Bichi explained that 1,131 students have second-class upper, 2,476 have second-class lower, while 646 students would be awarded third-class degrees during the combined convocation ceremony. Read more
‘You’ll be sanctioned’, RCCG warns Camp residents, guests over indecent dressings (Vanguard)
General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye has warned the residents and guests in the Redemption Camp to desist from indecent dressings or risk sanctions.
The cleric also urged parents and guardians to warn their children and wards against demeaning dressings in the camp ground, adding that security agents will be on duty to arrest those who violate the rules.
The riot act from the leadership of the RCCG was contained in a memo by an Assistant to the General Overseer, Pastor Oladele Balogun. Read more
Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost have stylish date night at American Museum of Natural History’s 2023 Gala (People)
Scarlett Johansson and Colin Jost are nailing red carpet chic!
The husband and wife duo attended the American Museum of Natural History’s 2023 Museum Gala at the American Museum of Natural History on Thursday where they looked seriously stylish in monochrome.
39-year-old Johansson wore a long white coat over her black gown, which she paired with matching black pumps and a clutch. The actress added a pop of color to her ensemble with a swipe of red lipstick. Read more
“I wake up in pain”: Refugees struggle in Tunisian winter (AlJazeera)
Tunis, Tunisia – “It’s very cold. I don’t have no tent,” the 22-year-old woman, who says her name is Jessica, tells Al Jazeera, her friend’s baby boy hanging from her neck.
“I just use the carton,” she says of the cardboard she sleeps upon. It is her only protection against the cold and the night air. “I hurt when I wake up.”
Jessica fled a life of destitution in Freetown, Sierra Leone four years ago, eventually travelling to Oman. Read more
Rihanna wants a big family and would “Love to Have” a baby girl with ASAP Rocky: Source (USMagazine)
Rihanna and ASAP Rocky are a happy family of four, but she’s not opposed to adding more little ones into the mix.
“Rihanna adores her boys, but she’d still love to have a girl one day,” a source exclusively reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly. “She’s always wanted lots of kids, so that’s definitely something they discussed.”
Rihanna and ASAP Rocky, both 35, began dating in 2020. The pair welcomed their first son, RZA, two years later. Less than a year after giving birth, Rihanna announced during her Super Bowl LVII halftime performance that she was pregnant again. In August, the family of three expanded with son Riot Rose.
Now, “the duo are “thrilled to be living out their dreams together,” a second insider tells Us. Earlier this month, Rocky gushed over how creating a family with Rihanna has been some of their best work so far. Read more
Peacock acquires ‘‘We Dare to Dream,’’ doc backed by Angelina Jolie and John Legend, for Oscar push (Variety)
Peacock has acquired U.S. rights to Waad Al-Kateab’s second feature-length documentary “We Dare to Dream.”
The pact comes after the 93-minute film made its world premiere in June at the Tribeca Film Festival and had an Oscar qualifying theatrical run at New York City’s IFC Center in October. The docu, about the refugee Olympic team at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, will begin streaming on Peacock on Dec. 1.
“The fact that Peacock has now acquired our film gives me hope that millions of people will be able to understand our story, and that we, the world’s refugees, are not the crisis,” says Al-Kateab. “We are a consequence of multiple crises in the world from climate instability to political conflict that are causing millions, like me and my children, to lose their homes and their way of life. With new crises at a breaking point today, I think that this story about the rights and dreams of refugees to participate fully in society could not be more urgent.” Read more
Taskmaster’s Ed Gamble announces new The Traitors project (DigitalSpy)
Taskmaster star Ed Gamble will present a new project from The Traitors franchise.
The comedian has been confirmed as host of The Traitors: Uncloaked, an all-new visualised podcast that will run alongside the second season of the hit BBC murder-mystery series.
The podcast promises to give fans access to exclusive cast interviews and content, in addition to behind-the-scenes gossip and post-episode commentary. Read more
Lana Del Rey shares cover of John Denver’s ‘‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’’ (FarOut)
Lana Del Rey has shared her new cover of the country classic ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads’. As angelic as expected, the singer pulls all the southern glamour out of the John Denver track.
Despite being born and bred in New York, Lana Del Rey has the air of a Southern lady, in the grand lineage of June Carter Cash, Tammy Wynette, Emmylou Harris and beyond. Therefore, Del Rey’s rich and characterful voice colours this track like a country superstar.
In recent years, Del Rey has strayed far away from the R&B beats that filled her debut release, Born To Die, back in 2012. Her recent albums, such as Blue Banisters, Chemtrails Over The Country Club and Norman Fucking Rockwell, have waded into folk and country waters. The singer-songwriter merged all these clear strains of cross-genre influence into most recent album which received four Grammy nominations. Read more
Israel resumes fighting against Hamas after truce to free hostages expires (CNN)
Israel’s military restarted fighting against Hamas in Gaza after a week-long truce to allow hostages to be released broke down on Friday.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had “resumed combat operations” and accused Hamas of violating the truce first by firing rockets toward Israeli territory.
Smoke could be seen billowing across parts of the densely populated enclave as the IDF declared it was once again “out to destroy” Hamas. Read more
Super Falcons thrash Cape Verde 5-0, on brink of 2024 WAFCON qualification (Leadership)
Nigeria’s Super Falcons moved a step closer to securing their place at the 2024 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco with a 5-0 thrashing of their Cape Verdean counterparts at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Thursday’s evening.
Uchena Kanu and Esther Okoronkwo both scored braces to help nine times African champions walloped their visitors in the second round of the WAFCON’s qualifiers to all but ensure they will qualify for 2024 continental soccer showpiece.
Gift Monday rocked the bar from a 22-yard free-kick in the 4th minute before Kanu reaped from a goalmouth melee that followed a corner kick to slot past goalkeeper Jacinta Rodrigues. Rodrigues did better two minutes later when she palmed a left-footed angled drive from captain Rasheedat Ajibade. Read more
Mourinho criticises Roma’s ‘superficial approach’ (BBC)
Romelu Lukaku gave the Italian side the lead in the first half but Chris Bedia levelled after the break in Geneva.
It leaves Roma in second place, two points behind leaders Slavia Prague.
“It seems that some people who don’t have much European experience play these games somewhat superficially,” said Mourinho. Read more
Everton lodge appeal against Premier League 10-point deduction (RTE)
Everton have filed an appeal against their 10-point deduction by the Premier League, the club said on Friday.
The Merseyside club were docked points with immediate effect last month after being found to have breached profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) relating to losses.
“Everton Football Club has today lodged with the Chair of the Premier League’s Judicial Panel its appeal of the decision by a Premier League Commission to impose a 10-point deduction on the club,” Everton said in a statement. Read more
Pep Guardiola sends Man City a warning ahead of Tottenham game (MEN)
Pep Guardiola has not seen anything from Tottenham’s recent defeats to suggest Manchester City will have an easier test this week.
Spurs were the early leaders in the Premier League playing a bold style of football under new manager Ange Postecoglou, who won the league’s Manager of the Month award for the first three months of the season. However, three successive league defeats has seen a brutal end to their unbeaten run and they will arrive at the Etihad under pressure to turn their form around.
Guardiola came up against Postecoglou in a 2019 friendly when the manager was in charge of Japanese side Yokohama F Marinos, and has followed his career closely since. The City boss has watched the recent Spurs defeats looking for opportunities for the Blues to exploit, although a change in performance hasn’t been seen despite the turn in results. Read more
Rafael Nadal announces tennis comeback in Brisbane after year out injured (Sky)
Rafael Nadal has announced when he will make his comeback after a year out injured.
The 22-time grand slam tennis champion has not played a competitive match since suffering a hip injury during his second-round defeat by Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open in January.
Having initially hoped the lay-off may only be for a few weeks, Nadal admitted in May that he was staring at the end of his career and that he hoped to be able to play a final year on tour in 2024. Read more
IOC eyes France to host 2030 Winter Olympics and Salt Lake City in 2034 (ESPN)
Salt Lake City being preferred as a shoo-in to host the 2034 Winter Olympics was expected. The surprise was the IOC favoring the French Alps bid for the 2030 edition on Wednesday.
Aiming to finalize back-to-back Winter Games hosts next year, the International Olympic Committee executive board has decided to enter exclusive talks with Olympic officials in France and the United States for Salt Lake City.
Salt Lake was alone in the 2034 race to bring the games back to Utah, which hosted the 2002 Winter Games, and the American bid’s support from all levels of government up to President Joe Biden was praised Wednesday. Read more