Road Crashes: Lagos records 128 deaths in 10 months – FRSC (Vanguard)
The Lagos Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday said 128 people lost their lives in 376 road traffic crashes recorded in the state between January and October 2023.
The Lagos Sector Commander, Mr Babatunde Farinloye, said this at a news conference in Lagos.
According to NAN, the news conference was organised to mark the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Read more
LAWMA officials demolish stalls around Lagos school (Punch)
Officials of the Lagos Waste Management Authority and the state’s Ministry of Environment have demolished stalls built on drainage channels beside Silver Spring Schools in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.
The state’s Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in photos shared on his X handle on Thursday.
Wahab stated that the operation was carried out under his instruction to beautify the area per the state government’s #GreenerLagos policy.
Saheed Osupa graduates from UI (DailyTrust)
Fuji singer, Saheed Osupa, has added a feather to his cap as he recently graduated from the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, with a BSc in Political Science.
The Fuji maestro bagged a Second Class Honour, Upper Division.
Sharing pictures of the convocation ceremony, the 54-year-old artiste took to his verified Instagram account to share the good news. He wrote, “Today, I attended the Convocation Ceremony of the University of Ibadan, where I graduated, bagging a Bachelor of Science degree (BSc) in Political Science with Second Class Honour, Upper Division. Read more
Dependant Visa Ban: UK varsities hit with low revenues as Nigerians turn to Canada (Vanguard)
Recall that the UK Home Office under the sacked interior secretary Suella Braverman introduced the dependant visa ban policy that restricted Nigerians and other migrants from bringing family members with them starting from January 2024.
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, while speaking on the policy in June said it was implemented to avoid overburdening the British economy’s s housing infrastructure and to control the inflow of migrants.
Recounting the repercussions of the policy, the universities and business schools said they cannot meet the admission targets for the year 2024, according to a report by 023 Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) Annual Membership Survey.
“In what appears to be an early signal of the impact of an important change to UK visa policy, nearly half (44%) of the country’s business schools are reporting that they will miss their non-EU recruitment targets this year,” the report said. read more
Ribadu: Security has improved under Tinubu (Nation)
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Thursday, November 16, said that security has improved in the past five months under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Although he did not pass any blame on the past governments, Ribadu, however, revealed that the current administration inherited tough times in terms of security.
He said this while speaking on the security situation in the country during the ongoing 19th Annual Nigerian Editors Conference in Uyo with the theme: “Stimulating Economic Growth, Technological Advancement: Role of the Media.” Read more
Police nab traffic robber posing as beggar on Lekki expressway (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a suspected traffic robber identified simply as Ali in the Lekki area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said on Wednesday the “notorious traffic robber, one Ali ‘m’, was arrested in the Ikate area of Lekki” while carrying out “his nefarious activities on Tuesday through the combined efforts of residents and the police.”
“Preliminary investigation so far reveals that the suspect who posed as a beggar on the Lekki-Epe Expressway, terrorised unsuspecting motorists and robbed them of their cash and valuables under the threat of violence,” Hundeyin said in a statement.
In a statement also, the Lekki Concession Company Limited disclosed how its security operatives aided the arrest of the suspect. read more
Senate confirms Aminu Maida as Executive Vice Chairman NCC (Guardian)
The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Dr. Aminu Maida as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).
This followed the presentation and adoption of a report of the Committee on Communication by the Chairman, Sen. Bilbis Ikra (APC- Zamfara) at the Committee of the Whole on Thursday.
Presenting the report, Ikra urged the Senate to consider the request of President Bola Tinubu for the confirmation of Maida for appointment as NCC Chairman. Read more
No merger talks with PDP – LP (Nation)
The Labour Party (LP) has said it is not in talks with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over a merger to dislodge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from power at the Federal level.
LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had called for a merger to dislodge the APC ahead of the 2027 elections. Read more
Surprise! Drake announces new album Scary Hours 3 is dropping at midnight (MusicNews)
Drake has surprised fans by announcing his new album, ‘Scary Hours 3’, is arriving at midnight (17.11.23).
Less than 24 hours before its release and almost six weeks after dropping his latest LP, ‘For All The Dogs’, Drake has shared a poignant trailer for his next record, a follow-up to 2018’s ‘Scary Hours’ and 2021’s ‘Scary Hours 2’ EPs.
In the dramatic short, Drake explains: “I feel no need to appease anybody.
“I feel so confident about the body of work that I just dropped.” Read more
Lisa Kudrow thanks Matthew Perry for ‘‘best 10 years a person gets to have’’ (BelfastTelegraph)
Lisa Kudrow has thanked late co-star Matthew Perry for “the best 10 years a person gets to have” while filming Friends.
The US actress, who played Phoebe Buffay in the hit US sitcom, was the last Friends star to pay tribute to Perry following David Schwimmer, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox and Matt LeBlanc who all praised him for his “laughter and creativity”.
Sharing a Polaroid photograph of the pair on Instagram, Kudrow said: “Shot the pilot, Friends Like Us, got picked up then immediately, we were at the NBC Upfronts. Then… Read more
Jessica Biel and *NSYNC stand by Justin Timberlake at 1st red carpet since Britney Spears’ memoir (ET)
The singer stepped out to support the release of his new film, “Trolls: Band Together.”
Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel put on a united front as they hit the red carpet to attend a special screening of “Trolls Band Together” on Wednesday. The marked their first public appearance since the bombshell release of Britney Spears’ The Woman in Me memoir, in which she wrote about her past relationship with the singer.
Timberlake and Biel stood proudly together, squarely facing the cameras with their hands interlocked. They each wore black monochromatic looks with fun detailing, while Timberlake accessorized with a pair of sunglasses. The pair offered up some fun poses, as well, flashing big smiles and gazing at each other. Read more
China: 26 dead and scores in hospital after Shanxi building fire (BBC)
At least 26 people have died after a fire tore through an office building in northern China, state media report.
The fire at the four-storey building in Luliang City, Shanxi province broke out at around 07:00 local time on Thursday (23:00 GMT Wednesday).
Of the dozens evacuated from the Yongju Coal Industry Joint Building, 63 people were taken to hospital. Read more
The Last of Us‘ Pedro Pascal eyed for major “Fantastic Four” role (DigitalSpy)
The Last of Us star Pedro Pascal is reportedly being eyed for the role of Mr. Fantastic in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s “Fantastic Four” film.
Though they’ve had a few iterations onscreen before – including two early noughties flicks featuring Chris Evans and Jessica Alba, and a soft reboot starring Kate Mara and Miles Teller in 2015 – the First Family have not yet featured as a whole in the wider cinematic universe created by Marvel.
That’s set to change with “Fantastic Four,” which is due to be released on May 2, 2025 – and recent reports that the production may have found its stretchy scientist Reed Richards have named Pedro Pascal for the role. Read more
Spain election drama: Sanchez wins backing for new term after Catalan deal (AlJazeera)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has won parliament’s backing for a new term in office after striking a controversial deal with Catalan separatists.
In exchange for supporting Sanchez’s Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), nationalists from the Spanish region of Catalonia secured a commitment from the PSOE leader to pass an amnesty law that would pardon those linked to the botched Catalan bid for independence six years ago.
More than 300 people accused of crimes in relation to Catalan independence between January 1, 2012, and November 13, 2023, could benefit from the legislation. Read more
Biden, Xi restore military ties despite ‘dictator’ comment (Guardian)
US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed at their first summit in a year on Wednesday to restore military communications between the two countries, even as Biden went off script by saying he still considered Xi a “dictator.”
The leaders shook hands and strolled around a garden at a historic California estate during four-hour talks aimed at preventing growing tensions between the world’s largest economies from spiralling into conflict.
They also agreed that China would crack down on the production of ingredients for fentanyl, responsible for a deadly epidemic of opioid abuse in the United States, with Xi saying he “sympathises” with US victims of the deadly drug, which has ravaged communities across the country. read more
Plumptre wins October player, goal of the month award in Saudi Arabia women’s league (Guardian)
Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre has won both October Player of the Month awards in the Saudi Arabia women’s Premier League.
Plumptre beat two other nominees to land the individual award.
She polled 53.5 per cent to finish first, the runner-up got 40.8 per cent while the third-placed player had 5.7 per cent.
Plumptre being named Player of the Month did not come as a surprise, as she bagged a hat-trick in her debut game for Al Ittihad, who beat Eastern Flame 3-0 in the league opener in October. Read more
11 schools for Dolphin swimming league (Punch)
Defending champions and hosts Grange More Schools and 10 others will take part in the fifth season of the first private school swimming competition, the Dolphins Swimming League which begins on Saturday November 18 in Lagos.
The tournament is organised by Dynaspro Promotion Limited in collaboration with Advanta Interactive Limited with the technical backing of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation and Lagos State Swimming Association.
The participating schools for the new season include hosts – Grange School, Meadow Hall, St Saviour’s Children International School, Lagos Preparatory and Secondary School, Lagoon/Whitesands, Greensprings Lagos, Riverbank and Italian Priory. read more
Tottenham join Newcastle, Arsenal in race for £47m star as Postecoglou eyes solution to big problem (Football365)
Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves is desperate to return to the Premier League and Tottenham have reportedly joined the race for his signature.
Neves ditched Wolves for the Saudi Pro League in the summer window after Al Hilal signed him for £47m – a club-record sale for the Midlands club.
The midfielder was a key player for Wolves. He made 253 appearances in a six-year stint at Molineux, scoring 30 goals and making 17 assists overall. He was handed the captain’s armband at the start of last season. Read more
Asian heavyweights win big to launch World Cup qualifying in style (France24)
Asia’s footballing heavyweights made fast starts to World Cup qualifying on Thursday with Australia, Japan and South Korea plundering 17 goals between them in big wins on home soil.
The long road to the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico began in earnest in Asia with 36 teams in action Thursday.
Australia, who reached the last 16 at the Qatar 2022 World Cup before bowing out 2-1 to Lionel Messi and eventual champions Argentina, hammered Bangladesh 7-0 in Melbourne. Read more
Lando Norris trolls Fernando Alonso as F1 rival “not OK” ahead of Las Vegas Grand Prix (Express)
Lando Norris has poked fun at Fernando Alonso’s struggles with jet lag ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, suggesting that the 42-year-old’s age may be contributing to his difficulties adjusting to the local time zones.
There is a five-hour time difference between Sao Paulo and Las Vegas, meaning drivers are feeling the effects of jet lag as they make their way to Sin City for what promises to be the most memorable event of the 2023 season.
Asked during Thursday’s press conference whether or not the jet lag was proving an issue for the drivers, Alonso replied: “No, it’s not OK, it’s not OK. But it’s the way it is. It’s a tough sport. This is not football.” Read more
Rory McIlroy’s ball lands in woman’s lap at World Tour Championship (ABC)
It was the most awkward lie of the day for Rory McIlroy.
The four-time major winner’s tee shot on the par-3 13th hole at the World Tour Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday somehow landed in the lap of a female spectator who was to the right of the green.
Amid much laughter, the rest of the spectators retreated, but the woman remained in place, with her feet crossed and the ball lodged between her legs. Read more