Olakunle Churchill’s cousin slams Tonto Dikeh over ‘mini man’ statement (Vanguard)
Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh has been hit back by Olakunle Churchill’s sister, Gbemisola, after the actress insulted her family.
On Tuesday, Tonto Dikeh brought up an incident with her ex, Olakunle Churchill, in which she called him a “mini man.”
The actress said that she used “her hard-earned money” to feed Churchill and his mother
“Almost all the Toms and Jerry’s who laughed when I confessed I married and fed a mini man and his mother with my hard earn money (playing sonita and destinabari) are the ones fighting for same reason.
“Life indeed is very freckle… Learn to be gentle. My point is to never ugh at a disappointment or fuckup because it’s not yours!.” Read more
I’m Lagos incoming deputy gov – Funke Akindele (Nation)
Award-winning actress-turned-politician Funke Akindele has declared herself the incoming Lagos Deputy Governor.
Akindele, the running mate to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Lagos, Olajide Adediran aka Jandor, expressed optimism they would win the poll during a chat at the premiere of her latest movie “Battle on Buka Street”.
The 45-year-old said her latest movie was more like a farewell to acting and movie production since she’s going to be busy with her new position.
She explained the need to allow the younger generations to take centre stage in acting and movie production but noted she would be in the background advising and supervising them. Read more
Bank of Industry disburses N2bn to NYSC Graduates (Guardian)
The Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprise in the Bank of Industry (BOI), Shekarau Omar, on Tuesday, hinted that it has disbursed about two billion naira to graduates in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
It announced its willingness to engage the graduate’s Graduate Employability Skills and Terraskills (GES) Foundation by helping them take their interest to the next level.
Omar gave this hint at the official launch of the Graduate Employability Skills – Maiden Edition – organized by TerraSkills Learning Systems Limited in Abuja
According to him:” Bank of Industry have graduates empowerment scheme in collaboration with National Youth Service Corps and have disbursed close to two billion naira to Corps members who are about leave the camp. We train them on various skills and quite a number of them are doing very well on their own. Read more
PSC promotes 745 senior police officers (Leadership)
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 745 senior Police officers to the next ranks after scrutiny.
The PSC also considered and approved proper placement for five Commissioners of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police, even as it also treated 14 appeals and petitions and nine pending disciplinary matters from dismissed and serving Police officers.
PSC spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, said the decisions were some of the highpoints of the 18th plenary meeting of the Commission, which ended in Abuja on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 and presided over by commission’s acting chairman, Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi.
He also said the PSC also promoted two Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) to Superintendents of Police, 696 Assistant Superintendents of Police to Deputy Superintendents of Police and 47 Inspectors of Police to unconfirmed Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASP11). Read more
British Council honours Grace Schools with ISA Award for 3rd time (ThisDay)
Grace Schools Gbagada in Lagos State has been awarded the British International School ISAAward for the third consecutive period. The award is based on the successful completion of the International Schools Award Portfolio Assessment of the school’s international work by the British Council.
The award is meant to reward schools that have shown commitment to embed international awareness and understanding within their school. It is also a badge of honor for schools that showcased outstanding work in international education.
Schools are encouraged through the British Council support in completing collaborative, curriculum-based work with several international partner schools, and involvement of the wider community.
It helps schools to learn new ways to develop and embed international education in schools. The award is available in 16 countries and is well-regarded by school inspection bodies. Read more
Jang absent as Atiku campaigns in Plateau (Punch)
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, has promised to revamp Nigeria’s economy if he wins next year’s presidential election.
Speaking at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium in Jos, Plateau State, on Tuesday during his presidential rally, Atiku also promised to restore peace and rehabilitate roads if elected.
The former vice president, who arrived at the stadium at exactly 2.03pm, had earlier visited the Anglican Bishop of Jos, Benjamin Kwashi; the Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Gyang Buba, as well as the home of an Islamic leader, Sheikh Yahaya Jingir.
Notably, former state governor Jonah Jang, who belongs to Governor Nyesom Wike’s camp, however, did not attend the rally as he was said to have travelled abroad for medical treatment. Read more
US-Africa Leaders Summit: Buhari restates energy target of 30 gigawatts by 2030 (Guardian)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Washington, United States of America, restated the determination of the Nigerian government towards achieving the vision of 30 Gigawatts of energy by the year 2030.
The President said this during the discussion panel on Just Energy Transition at the ongoing US-Africa Leaders Summit. He used the opportunity to outline the comprehensive Energy Transition Plan unfolded by his administration in response to the issues associated with climate change.
According to President Buhari, “as part of the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy, we set the vision 30:30:30 which aims at achieving 30GW of electricity by 2030 with renewable energy contributing 30% of the energy mix. Last year, Nigeria became the first African country to develop a detailed Energy Transition Plan to tackle both energy poverty and climate change, and deliver SDG7 by 2030 and net zero by 2060. Read more
3 men rape male commercial tricycle operator in Awka (DailyTrust)
Three young men suspected to be ‘Yahoo plus’ boys have raped a male tricycle operator in Anambra state.
The rapists allegedly had forceful carnal knowledge of the commercial tricycle rider for ritual purposes. According to a source, the young men negotiated the services of the tricyclist and took him to their house in Okpuno, a suburban town in Awka, where they lured him into their room and took turns raping him.
It was gathered that the incident happened on Monday. Read more
Demi Moore poses for holiday Christmas card with Bruce Willis, his wife, and kids (Parade)
Demi Moore is getting a head start on her holiday celebrations.
The actress, 60, took to her Instagram to share a series of photos with her family, including her ex-husband, 67-year-old, Bruce Willis and his current wife, Emma Heming Willis.
The first photo showcased the entire clan as they stood in front of a staircase and Christmas tree, posing for the photo. Pictured left to right were Emma, 44, Demi, Bruce—who held onto the Songbird actress’s dog, Pilaf—Scout, 31, Tallulah, 28, and Rumer, 34, all of which are Demi and Bruce’s children. In between Tallulah and Rumer were Emma and Bruce’s two daughters, Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8.
Other snaps in the carousel featured Emma and Bruce as they held hands at the dinner table with food surrounding them, along with an adorable photo similar to the one Tallulah previously shared on her Instagram a few days ago. Read more
Lizzo finds allegations she makes music for white people very “hurtful” (MusicNews)
Lizzo finds it “very hurtful” that she’s been accused of writing “music for white people”.
The “Good As Hell” hitmaker accused her critics of “diminishing” her identity with the accusation, insisting she makes music which is for “literally everybody and anybody” because she doesn’t want to “gatekeep” her message.
Asked how she feels about the criticism, she told DJ Howard Stern: “[It’s] very hurtful, only because I am a Black woman, and I feel like it really challenges my identity and who I am, and diminishes that, which I think is really hurtful.
“I don’t try to gatekeep my message from people. So all three of those things for me, I’m just like, ‘You don’t even get me at all’. Read more
The most expensive substance on Earth ‘costs $62t for just one gram’ (UNILAD)
Most people would think diamonds or gold are the world’s most expensive substances.
But they’d be very, very wrong.
The world’s most expensive substance is actually antimatter.
Yep, that mysterious thing that has plagued scientists for decades is a mega-pricey thing.
It was featured in the 2009 movie Angels & Demons, which starred Tom Hanks.
The plot of the film really wasn’t playing around when they said if it comes into contact with anything made of matter (so, pretty much everything) then everything goes ka-boom. Read more
Diddy teams up with PARTYNEXTDOOR on new single Sex in the Porsche (HipHopDX)
Diddy has teamed up with PARTYNEXTDOOR on his new single, “Sex in the Porsche”.
Released on Wednesday (December 14), the song serves as the second single off Puff’s upcoming album on Love Records, the R&B label he launched in partnership with Motown Records earlier this year.
The elusive OVO singer contributes a verse and handles the chorus on the sultry backseat anthem, with Diddy delivering the second verse.
In his verse, the Bad Boy mogul references his 1997 debut album No Way Out and Diddy–Dirty Money’s Last Train to Paris, while also borrowing a classic Biggie line from the “One More Chance” remix. Read more
Indiana Jones star addresses potential return for Dial of Destiny (DigitalSpy)
“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” will potentially welcome the return of Karen Allen’s Marion Ravenwood.
Like Harrison Ford and his iconic, eponymous treasure-seeker, actress Allen last played her character in 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, yet despite other legacy names like John Rhys-Davies (Sallah) coming back for next year’s fifth Indiana Jones movie, it’s on the hush-hush as to whether Allen is involved.
“I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you!” the star recently told Showbiz411. “Seriously, I can’t say a word”.
In the main, Dial of Destiny invites a whole new crowd to Indiana Jones’ table, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag) as his goddaughter Helena; Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal) as former Nazi Jürgen Voller; Antonio Banderas (Shrek 2) as Renaldo; Toby Jones (The Wonder) as Basil; Thomas Kretschmann (Westworld) as Colonel Weber and Shaunette Renée Wilson (Black Panther) as Agent Mason. Read more
James Cameron reveals why he thinks Terminator: Dark Fate flopped (NME)
James Cameron has shared why he believes Terminator: Dark Fate became a box office flop, citing the inclusion of both Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Cameron, who helped write and produce the 2019 sequel with director Tim Miller, reflected on the project after it lost over $120million (£100million) at the box office.
Speaking to Deadline, Cameron said he was “reasonably happy with the film”, despite some creative differences with Miller during production.
“Tim and I had our battles and we’ve both spoken about that, but the crazy thing is we’re still pals,” Cameron said. “Which is weird. I liked him before the movie, didn’t like him very much during the movie, and I like him now, and I think he feels the same way. Read more
Meta accused of enabling hateful Ethiopia conflict posts in lawsuit (Sky)
Meta has been accused of enabling violent and hateful posts from Ethiopia to flourish on Facebook in a new lawsuit.
Filed in Kenya, the suit claims the social media giant’s actions have inflamed the country’s civil war between the government and rebellious forces from the northern Tigray region, which has seen thousands of people killed and millions displaced.
It was brought against Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, by two Ethiopian researchers and Kenyan rights group the Katiba Institute.
They have argued that Facebook’s recommendations system amplified violent posts in Ethiopia, including several that preceded the murder of Abrham Mearag, the father of one of the researchers. Read more
Amusan listed as one of 2022 Diamond League history makers (Sun)
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan has been named among the hurdles history makers in the Wanda Diamond League meetings in 2022.
In the second part of the “Best of 2022” series on the Diamond League website, Amusan was celebrated for rewriting Africa history in the event in Paris and Zurich.
The website wrote thus about Amusan:
‘Tobi Amusan may not have picked up the most wins on the Wanda Diamond League circuit in the women’s 100m hurdles this year – that was Puerto Rico’s Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, with an astonishing six wins – but the Nigerian delivered in style and at just the right moments when she did deliver.
‘In Zurich at the end of the season, she posted a track-scorching 12.29 to successfully defend her Diamond Trophy and once again frustrate Camacho-Quinn in the battle for a major title. But it was her first win of the season, in Paris, which really caught the imagination. Read more
World Cup 2022: Morocco fans’ heartbreak as Doha flights cancelled (BBC)
Hundreds of Moroccan football fans have been left devastated as last-minute flight cancellations look set to stop them travelling to Qatar for Wednesday’s World Cup semi-final.
Morocco’s national airliner – Royal Air Maroc – had planned to run seven additional flights ahead of the game.
It made the decision after Morocco’s FA promised to give fans 13,000 free tickets to the clash with France.
But on Wednesday, it said Qatari officials had blocked the flights.
“Following the latest restrictions imposed by the Qatari authorities Royal Air Maroc regrets to inform customers of the cancellation of their flights operated by Qatar Airways,” the airline said in a statement to the Reuters news agency. Read more
NFF, Iraqi Football Association to explore avenues for greater collaboration (NewTelegraph)
The leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and that of the Iraqi Football Association will interface and cross-fertilize sometime next month with a view to exploring avenues for greater cooperation and collaboration in the football sphere.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, during a courtesy visit to the Ambassador of Iraq to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Anwer Saeed, President of the NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau expressed the keen desire of the NFF to collaborate with countries with pedigree in the game to ensure real growth for the Nigeria game from the grassroots.
“Our country has a solid pedigree in the game of football as well as over 200 million passionate football followers and stakeholders. We are aware of the fact that the people of Iraq are also very passionate about the game of football. It is important to seize the opportunity to explore areas of cooperation and collaboration that will benefit our two nations.
“Football is that big unifying factor that keeps getting bigger and stronger in holding the world together and assuming a greater role in international relations. It is also a soft power with a booming economy, and collaboration is needed to accomplish great things and attain higher levels.” Read more
Grant Wahl’s cause of death made public after World Cup journalist’s tragedy in Qatar (Mirror)
Grant Wahl died after suffering an aortic aneurysm while covering the World Cup in Qatar, his wife has confirmed.
“It’s just one of those things that had been brewing for years,” Wahl’s wife, Celine Gounder, said on CBS, per the Washington Post. Wahl, a well-regarded American sports writer, collapsed in his seat while reporting on last Friday’s quarter-final between Argentina and Netherlands.
He was attended by medical professionals after the incident at Lusail Stadium, which occurred during extra time, and his death was later announced. Wahl, who had visited a hospital the previous Monday after feeling unwell, was reporting at his eighth World Cup.
Earlier in the tournament, he made headlines after he was refused entry to a stadium for wearing a rainbow shirt in support of LGBT rights in Qatar, where there is a strict and prohibitive regime. Wahl’s brother, who is gay, claimed his sibling was killed but later retracted this allegation. Read more
Jack Wilshere tips ”topman-manager” Eddie Howe for England (Daily Mail)
Jack Wilshere believes Eddie Howe would be the ideal replacement for Gareth Southgate if the England boss decides to walk away.
Southgate is considering his future after England’s World Cup exit at the hands of France, and his departure would leave the Three Lions looking for a new manager with Euro 2024 just 18 months away.
Should Southgate decide to step down, Wilshere thinks the FA should approach Howe to succeed him, but has admitted that the Newcastle boss may feel he has unfinished business on Tyneside.
‘If Gareth Southgate does leave the England job, I’d love the FA to try and get Eddie Howe,’ Wilshere wrote in his column for The Sun. Read more
LIV expands with 3 events in U.S. added to 2023 schedule (ABC)
The LIV Golf League will stage tournaments in Arizona, Oklahoma and West Virginia as part of its expanded schedule in 2023.
LIV Golf announced on Wednesday that it will host events at the Gallery Golf Club in Tucson, Arizona, on March 17-19, Cedar Ridge Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on May 12-14, and The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, on Aug. 4-6.
“LIV Golf’s expansion to new U.S. markets adds to the growing excitement for the league launch in 2023,” LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman said in a statement. “More fans across the country and around the globe will experience the LIV Golf energy and innovative competition that has reinvigorated the sport, and these championship courses will contribute to the transformative season ahead for players, fans and the game of golf.” Read more