Tems leads Nigerian Grammy nominees with 3 nominations for 2025 (Punch)
Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has received three nominations for the 2025 Grammy Awards, bringing her career total to eight.
The nominations, announced on Friday, place Tems alongside fellow Nigerian nominees Yemi Alade, Asake, Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido, and Rema.
Tems leads the group of Nigerian artistes with her three nominations and joins the year’s top nominees list, with Beyoncé topping the charts with 11 nominations. Read more
EFCC arrests Chinese nationals, others over illegal solid mineral export (Tribune)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Enugu Zonal Directorate, announced the arrest of two Chinese nationals, Wang Jiang and Wang Richard, for allegedly attempting to export solid minerals without the required permit.
The commission reported that it received intelligence from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) on November 3, 2024, regarding this illegal activity. Additionally, two Nigerian individuals, Donatus Agupusi and Michael Agu, were also apprehended.
This information was shared through a statement posted by the anti-graft agency on its X handle on Friday. Read more
Sen Adegbonmire hails Tinubu’s approval of FUTA Teaching Hospital (Independent)
The lawmaker representing Ondo Central Senatorial District, Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire SAN has praised President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the Federal University of Technology Akure [FUTA] Teaching Hospital.
This development is a significant boost to the healthcare sector in Akure and Ondo State, showcasing President Tinubu’s dedication to enhancing healthcare infrastructure across Nigeria.
The FUTA Teaching Hospital project aligns with President Tinubu’s vision for quality healthcare in Nigeria, providing high quality medical education and healthcare services to the people of Ondo State. Read more
PENGASSAN condemns alleged assault of oil workers (Nation)
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has bemoaned the alleged brutality and use of force on oil and gas workers at the Oritsetimeyin Oil and Gas rig by the military and other security agencies hired by Dutchford E&P,
Selective Marine Services and its labour contractors.
This was contained in a statement by association’s President, Comrade Festus Osifo and the Secretary General, and Comrade Lumumba Ighotemu Okugbawa. Read more
Lagos boosts interstate travel (Punch)
The Lagos State Ministry of Transportation has introduced a new system to accredit interstate parks and digitise passenger manifests, aimed at enhancing safety, reliability and efficiency in interstate travel across the state.
The state Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, announced this at a news conference on Friday in Lagos.
According to Osiyemi, the initiative is an ambitious programme designed to standardise interstate parks and digitise the passenger manifest system. Read more
Sanwo-Olu unveils 50 youths for IBILE leadership training (Tribune)
The Lagos State Government has unveiled 50 youth participants who are qualified for the Ibile Youth Leadership Academy Training Camp, a key initiative aimed at fostering competent leadership for the future.
The 50 selected candidates were chosen from 500 applicants across the five divisions of Lagos State: Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, and Epe (IBILE).
During a one-day leadership seminar and unveiling ceremony held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to empowering and equipping youth for leadership roles in their communities. Read more
Wike appoints Olayinka, Fayose’s spokesman, as media aide (DailyTrust)
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has appointed Mr. Olalere Olayinka as the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media with immediate effect.
A statement late Friday by Anthony Ogunleye, the Director of Press in the Minister’s office, said Olayinka, a seasoned media and communications professional, would bring over 20 years of experience in journalism, public relations, and media management.
According to the statement, his career spans a wide range of roles in both the public and private sectors. Read more
Imo Assembly hails renaming of IICC after Iwuanyanwu (Vanguard)
The Imo State House of Assembly has hailed the renaming of the Imo International Conference Centre, IICC, after Chief Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu, the late Ohanaeze Ndigbo president general, by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a motion moved by the member representing Mbaitoli Constituency, Innocent Ikpamezie who expressed gratitude to the state Government for heeding to the appeal earlier made by the House.
Addressing the House, the Mbaitoli lawmaker noted that the renaming of the IICC after the late leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a mark of respect to what Iwuanyanwu represents in the political space of the country. Read more
Beyoncé is the leading nominee for 2025 Grammys with 11 nods, becoming most nominated ever (USAToday)
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has made Grammy history once again. Not only is the megastar the leading nominee for the 2025 award show, she is now the most nominated artist in history. She also scored nominations in the country and American roots categories for the first time.
Beyoncé was nominated for 11 Grammys Friday morning, including the top prize — album of the year — for her acclaimed eighth studio album, “Cowboy Carter.” She also is up for awards in the country and American roots field for the first time. All told, seven different songs from “Cowboy Carter” are nominated across four different genres.
Those nominations include best country album, best country duo/group performance for “II Most Wanted” featuring Miley Cyrus, best country song for “Texas Hold ‘Em,” best country solo performance for “16 Carriages” and best Americana performance for “Ya Ya.” Read more
Chad hosts over 680,000 Sudanese refugees (AfricaNews)
Over 680,000 Sudanese refugees have found safety in Chad, forced to flee the war raging back home.
In the last month alone, 60,000 new refugees arrived; the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said this week.
The vast majority of the new arrivals are women and children, many reach the border after walking for long distances before entering to neighbouring Chad. Read more
Diddy asks for bail again as lawyers cite other similar cases where defendants had been released (DailyMail)
Diddy’s lawyers have asked for bail again just a month after being denied in previous attempts; at this time they have cited similar cases in which defendants had been released.
The 55-year-old rapper’s attorney’s filed a new motion on Friday in another attempt to get him out of jail while awaiting his trial just days after being heard for the first time on a prison call with his children.
According to legal documents from TMZ, Diddy’s lawyers are offering a comprehensive bail package which includes a $50million bond in addition to 24-hour surveillance in order to ensure he doesn’t try to flee the country or intimidate witnesses. Read more
BBC Philharmonic Orchestra hosting free concert to celebrate video game soundtracks (NME)
The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra has confirmed that a free concert to celebrate video game soundtracks will take place later this month.
The Sound Of Gaming gig is set to take place on November 23 2024 at Salford’s Media City in partnership with BBC Radio 3. The show will feature music from a number of popular video game titles including Fortnite, Baldur’s Gate, World Of Warcraft, and God Of War: Ragnarök. Read more
Ernie Hudson praises Bill Murray for advocating for gis Ghostbusters return (People)
Bill Murray has always had Ernie Hudson’s back.
During a solo panel at Rhode Island Comic Con on Saturday, Nov. 2, Hudson, 78, opened up about a time when Murray, 74, stood up for him during their earlier Ghostbusters days.
“Bill Murray is the only actor I think I’ve ever worked with who when they tried to get him to do another [Ghostbusters] — remember it was about 20 years before we came back with another movie after the second movie. But Bill just basically said, ‘If Ernie Hudson’s not in it, I’m not doing it,’ ” the actor said. “There are not many people who sort of stand up for you. And that was just very, very special. So I love all the guys. They’re very, very supportive.” Read more
US charges man over alleged Iranian plot to kill Trump (BBC)
The US government has brought charges against an Afghan national in connection with an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Donald Trump before he was elected as the next president.
The Department of Justice on Friday unsealed an indictment against Farhad Shakeri, 51, alleging he was tasked with “providing a plan” to kill Trump.
The US government said Mr Shakeri has not been arrested and is believed to be in Iran. Read more
UN peacekeepers accuse Israel of ‘‘deliberate and direct’’ attack in Lebanon (AlJazeera)
United Nations peacekeepers in southern Lebanon have reported another Israeli assault on their positions as ground and air attacks on Lebanon continue to claim lives.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said on Friday that two Israeli military excavators and one bulldozer had destroyed part of a fence and a concrete structure at a UN base in Ras Naqoura a day earlier.
The Israeli military denied any activity after UN forces contacted it to protest, despite UNIFIL publishing footage of the incident online. Read more
Enyimba coach Olanrewaju expects tough Remo test (Punch)
The head coach of Enyimba Football Club, Yemi Olanrewaju has said that his boys are fully aware of what is at stake as they prepare to host current league leaders, Remo Stars FC on Sunday.
Remo Stars last season broke the hearts of Aba fans as they ran away with the three points, drawing the Aba Millionaires dream of a tenth league trophy backwards.
Coach Olanrewaju is hoping that the Sunday game goes well to pacify the Aba fans and maintain a good position on the league table.
CAF announces 52% increase in Women’s Champions League’s prize ,money (Leadership)
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced an increment in prize money for this year’s Women’s Champions League.
The new increment, published on CAF official website on Thursday, sees a 52% rise in the cash prize for all teams who qualified for the 2024 edition to be held in Morocco this month.
CAF first introduced prize money for the competition in 2022 after the inaugural edition, which did not offer cash prizes to the competing teams. Read more
Maresca confident Chelsea are at level to beat Arsenal (Independent)
Cole Palmer could play for Chelsea against Arsenal this weekend, Enzo Maresca has confirmed.
The England international was caught by a heavy challenge from Lisandro Martinez in the 1-1 draw at Manchester United on Sunday and missed training at the start of this week.
While not an option to face Noah in the Conference League on Thursday, due to not being in the squad, Maresca is hopeful he can return to training and then feature against the Gunners on Sunday. Read more
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola baffled by Lee Carsley’s Jack Grealish decision: England national team call up (SportsMole)
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola criticised the decision by interim England manager Lee Carsley to call up an injured Jack Grealish to the national team for the November international break.
City trail Premier League leaders Liverpool by two points, and while that deficit is by no means irrecoverable, the champions are in poor form having lost their last three matches, including a 4-1 defeat against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday.
The Cityzens were also deservedly beaten 2-1 against Bournemouth last time out in the top flight on November 2, with that match highlighting many of the team’s defensive struggles this season.
Echavarria, Greyserman co-lead PGA Tour’s World Wide Tech (ESPN)
Nico Echavarria moved into position to win consecutive PGA Tour events, shooting a 9-under 63 in calmer wind conditions Friday for a share of the lead in the World Wide Technology Championship.
The Zozo Championship winner two weeks ago in Japan for his first tour title, Echavarria matched Max Greyserman at 12-under 132 at El Cardonal at Diamante, a day after strong wind hit the Tiger Woods-designed layout.
“It was a very, very good round,” Echavarria said. “Obviously everyone knew that the scores were going to be lower. Different wind.” Read more
Bisping insists Jones should be stripped of heavyweight title (DailyMail)
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has insisted that he will not fight Tom Aspinall after Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 despite calls from Dana White and former champion Michael Bisping among others.
Jones and Miocic were originally scheduled to face off for the heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 295 last November.However, Jones suffered a torn pectoral muscle, with the UFC deciding to postpone the fight entirely instead of having backup fighter Sergei Pavlovich step in against Miocic. Read more