Terrorists abduct Zamfara villagers, Imo politician, demand new naira (Punch)
Suspected terrorists have abducted four persons consisting a man, woman and two children, in Kolo village, in the Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that following the victims’ abduction, the suspects demanded N10m ransom and rejected the old naira notes.
An indigene in the area, Mohammed Ibrahim, said the bandits later reduced the ransom to N5m, adding that people in the village had been trying to raise the money to secure the safe release of the victims.
“As we were trying to gather the money demanded by the terrorists, they sent another message this morning that they would not collect old naira notes. Read more
Body of 16-yr-old girl found in Bayelsa hotel’s wardrobe (Vanguard)
The coastal town of Twon Brass in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State was thrown into confusion on Monday, following the discovery of the corpse of a teenage girl in a hotel wardrobe.
The deceased, aged 16, was identified as Miss Nengi Enenimiete, an indigene of the area.
Vanguard learned that the corpse, which had started giving off a foul smell, was discovered by the manager of the hotel.
It was, however, learned that the corpse showed no sign of physical injuries, mutilation or strangulation. Read more
Abuja woman commits suicide, corpse, baby found in bush (Punch)
A yet-to-be-identified nursing mother has committed suicide, abandoning her child in a bush where her corpse was discovered along Suuka Airport road, in the Federal Capital Territory.
PUNCH Metro gathered that an empty bottle of insecticide was found beside her corpse in the bush on Monday.
A resident in the area, who identified himself simply as Nnaji for security reasons, told our correspondent that the victim’s corpse was found when passers-by heard her baby crying in the bush.
Nnaji said, “The corpse of a middle-aged woman was seen in a bush in our area on Monday evening. A two-year-old girl was sitting close to her crying. Read more
Sanwo-Olu urges Reps to allow states’ input into Electricity Bill (Tribune)
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday called on the House of Representatives to allow state governments to have input into the Electricity Bill 2022, which will allow states to generate their own electricity and develop at their pace.
Sanwo-Olu made the call during the handover ceremony of the Lagos State Integrated Energy Resource Plan (IRP), put in place by the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, in collaboration with the United States of America through the USAID and Power Africa Nigeria Power Sector Program, PA-NPSP.
Sanwo-Olu, in his address at the ceremony, said the project was about a power partnership which started eight years ago by the Obama administration, noting that Lagos could currently boast of being the biggest gas supplier in this country.
The governor, however, quickly said Lagos needed to increase its electricity generation capacity to help small businesses grow the GDP of the state and Nigeria, expressing the hope that in years to come Lagos IRP would have impacted more people. Read more
Police arrest man for robbing student (DailyTrust)
The police in Lagos State have arrested a 22-year-old man for attacking and dispossessing a student of valuables.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, wrote on his twitter handle that: “At 1:02 a:m, a student just arrived in Ojota from Abuja and was trekking home nearby.
“The suspect and one other, still at large, attacked and dispossessed him of all his valuables.
“Thanks to the eagle-eyed RRS patrol officers around the scene.” Read more
Fuel queues resurface in Lagos, marketers blame depots (Punch)
Long queues surfaced in Lagos on Tuesday as motorists spent hours at filling stations while waiting to buy the product.
The situation was worse in Ikosi-Ketu, Arepo area of New Lagos, Obalende, Maryland and Iju-shaga in Lagos State.
Commuters lamented the hike in prices of transportation fares in the state on Monday and Tuesday, as petrol was sold between N195 and N200 per litre.
Queues were also reported along the Alausa Secretariat road, as the NNPC (former Oando) was closed to motorists. The same situation was also noticed at Total filling stations in Ojota and Palm Grove. Read more
Cleric charges Christian leaders to get involved in politics (Guardian)
Former Deputy Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly and Presiding Pastor of Livingspring Chapel International, Femi Emmanuel, has said that the only way to rescue the nation from its current predicament is for various church leaders to get themselves and their members involved in politics right from the ward levels.
He said that is the only way through which the country could be saved from the serious predicament confronting it, or else it stands perilously on the threshold of an explosive catastrophe.
The cleric, in his book titled: “Urgent need to save Nigeria: The Critical Role of Christian Leaders,” said that a huge responsibility of what goes beyond prayers but which also requires strategic steps needed to be taken by Christian leaders to save the country as it moves towards another transition election.
“In Nigeria, the leadership crisis is truly vexatious. The worst set of people are ruling us, governing us, making unreasonable laws and putting together hostile and obnoxious policies that are largely retrogressive and of no significant value to the populace,” the cleric said. Read more
FMN Women Network builds capacity for gender inclusion (ThisDay)
Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc (FMN) has continued to commit to driving gender parity and inclusivity within the organisation and across the country through the Flour Mills of Nigeria Women’s Network (FMNWN).
The FMNWN women recently held its conference themed: “Evolve- Innovate – Emerge: Building Capacity for Success– a call for the emergence of transformed women that are courageous enough to take leadership within and outside the organization.
The hybrid conference brought together key organisational stakeholders and industry captains such as the Chairman Board of Directors, FMN, Mr. John Coumantaros; the Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Boye Olusanya, who delivered his address virtually among others.
According to the company, the goal of this year’s FMNWN women’s conference was to create a platform to enlighten FMN Women on available opportunities and resources whilst inspiring them on strategies to attain sustainable success in their personal and professional endeavors. Read more
Pregnant soon after miscarriage no more risky – study (BBC)
Contrary to current advice, getting pregnant within a few months of an abortion or a miscarriage does not appear to be extra risky for the mum and baby, say researchers who have looked at recent real-life data.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least a six-month gap.
This is to give the woman time to recover.
But a study in PLoS Medicine, analysing 72,000 conceptions, suggests couples might safely try sooner for a baby.
The baby loss support charity Tommy’s says women who feel ready to try again immediately after a miscarriage should do so if there is no medical reason against it. Read more
Natalia Bryant files restraining order against gun enthusiast stalker who wants to have a child with her (Metro)
Natalia Bryant has reportedly filed a restraining order request against a man she says has been stalking her since she was a minor.
The model and daughter of the late Kobe Bryant filed the documents in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday.
Bryant, 19, claimed 32-year-old Dwayne Kemp has been messaging her since December 2020 ‘as if we had a romantic relationship, or as if he wanted to initiate such a relationship’ in the court documents, obtained by TMZ and Fox News.
The documents claim that Kemp has tried to find her on the University of Southern California campus, and turned up at her sorority. Read more
Sweeping changes to the Eurovision voting system from 2023 will eradicate ‘vote rigging’ (IrishIndependent)
Hold my cocktail and unplug the confetti cannon! Organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have announced sweeping changes to the voting system for next year’s competition in a bid to eradicate vote rigging.
From 2023, juries from individual countries will be banned from deciding which nations progress from the semi-finals to the so-called Grand Final, with the qualifying countries being determined by a public vote.
Further, viewers from countries not taking part will be able to vote for their favourite songs for the first time. In a bid to stamp out sleaze, Eurovision is essentially becoming a global reality TV competition.
The move follows the discovery last year of irregular voting among the juries of six countries during one of Eurovision’s two semi-finals: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania and San Marino. The countries had effectively all voted for each other. So organiser the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) set about finding ways to “protect the integrity of the event”. Read more
Offset shares emotional tribute to late Migos Rapper Takeoff (People)
Offset is missing his late friend Takeoff.
On Tuesday, Offset, 30, shared a photo of his cousin and fellow Migos member, who was killed in an early-morning shooting on Nov. 1.
Paying tribute to Takeoff (real name Kirsnick Khari Ball), Offset wrote alongside the image, “Missing everything bout you specially that smile.”
Takeoff, the youngest member of the rap trio, was shot dead outside a downtown Houston bowling alley, police previously confirmed. He was 28. Read more
Avatar: The Way of Water lands coveted China release (THR)
James Cameron’s long-awaited sequel Avatar: The Way of Water has landed a release date in China, Disney and 20th Century confirmed late Tuesday.
The movie will open in the Middle Kingdom on Dec. 16, the same day it hits North American theaters.
The Way of Water is one of the few Hollywood tentpoles to land a release in China since the pandemic began.
Cameron’s Avatar sequel hits the big screen more than 13 years after Avatar made history in becoming the top-grossing film of all time at the global box office, a crown it still wears today with more than $2.92 billion in ticket sales, not adjusted for inflation and including re-releases. Read more
Shang-Chi’s Simu Liu hits back at Quentin Tarantino’s Marvel criticism (DigitalSpy)
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’ Simu Liu has hit out at comments Quentin Tarantino has made about Marvel movies.
The Kill Bill and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood director told the 2 Bears, 1 Cave podcast that he believes audiences don’t care about movie stars anymore, saying that people are interested in Captain America rather than Chris Evans, calling it “the legacy of the Marvel-isation of Hollywood movies”.
The comments have sptoarked a similar debate to when Martin Scorsese compared Marvel movies to theme park rides rather than art, with Simu Liu defending the studio for taking people like him and putting them front and centre on the big screen.
“If the only gatekeepers to movie stardom came from Tarantino and Scorsese, I would never have had the opportunity to lead a $400 million plus movie,” Liu tweeted. “I am in awe of their filmmaking genius. They are transcendent auteurs. But they don’t point their nose at me or anyone. Read more
Moscow drag queens defiant as LGBTQ law looms (RFI)
Backstage at a bar in Moscow, a troupe of drag queens surrounded by make-up palettes and sparkling costumes join hands before taking to the stage for what could be one of their last legal shows.
The mood is surprisingly upbeat at “Draglesque Brunch”, given they are facing new repressive legislation that could see their shows banned and the performers fined or potentially jailed.
“How gorgeous! How fun! The vibe is super warm … there’s a river of mimosas flowing in there already. So my dears, let’s enjoy today’s wonderful brunch!” says the host, who goes by the stage name of Margot Mae Hunt.
In a white gown and a wavy blond wig with yellow and lilac feathers, Mae Hunt, as well as the others in the green room, is relishing the moment — because what comes next is anyone’s guess.Read more
NPFL will resume in 2022 – IMC boss (Punch)
Chairman of the Interim Management Committee of the Nigeria Professional Football League, Gbenga Elegbeleye, has assured that the new NPFL season will start before the end of the year, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigerian topflight has been on break since July, with the IMC inaugurated by the sports ministry to replace the League Management Company in October.
Reports went viral on Tuesday that the IMC boss gave the hint to journalists in Abuja, and a further check by The PUNCH with close sources to Elegbeleye confirmed that the commencement of a new NPFL season is in the pipeline.
The IMC and representatives of 20 NPFL clubs met in Abuja, where Elegbeleye revealed that the commencement date for this season’s elite league would be made known after approval from the Nigeria Football Federation. Read more
USA captain Tyler Adams warns England his team are eager to hit back after Wales tie (DailyMail)
USA captain Tyler Adams insists his team are not intimidated by Gareth Southgate’s England and are ready to hit back after the 1-1 tie with Wales.
England began their World Cup campaign in sparkling style by beating Iran 6-2 in their Group B opener on Monday.
The two sides face each other next with USA showing in parts how good they can be at the Al Bayt Stadium against Wales.
‘We are eager to bounce back and now have the opportunity to do that against a good team,’ said USA captain and Leeds midfielder Adams.
Ondo govt to sell off Sunshine Stars FC (Punch)
The Ondo State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Bamidele Ologun, has said the state government is ready to sell off Sunshine Stars Football Club.
Ologun said this during a press briefing to end a four-day partnership scouting programme between Sunshine Stars and Moyero Football Club.
He explained that with the right investors the government would sell off Sunshine Stars FC which was set up by a former military administrator of the State, retired Col. Ahmed Usman, in 1995.
Ologun said that the state was looking for investors that would come on board and run the club professionally, different from what had been done in the past. Read more
Australia ”got punished” by France for mistakes – Graham Arnold (ESPN)
Australia coach Graham Arnold said he was confident his team would bounce back strongly after Tuesday’s deflating 4-1 loss to France, taking heart from their dream start against the world champions and Craig Goodwin’s shock early opener.
Goodwin scored Australia’s first World Cup goal from open play since Tim Cahill’s volley against the Netherlands eight years ago and had the Socceroos thinking big, threatening another major upset after Saudi Arabia beat Argentina earlier in the day.
Australia were quickly blown away by France, however, and remain without a World Cup win since 2010.
“We’ve built the belief and the energy and the focus. The last week since we’ve been in camp, we’ve been working hard and building that belief. And the way we started, I think that they believed,” Arnold told reporters. Read more
Swiatek speaks out over Polish tennis chief abuse claims (StraitsTimes)
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek spoke out on Tuesday after sexual harassment accusations against Poland’s tennis federation president Miroslaw Skrzypczynski.
On Monday, Polish parliamentarian Katarzyna Kotula told the media she had suffered abuse as a young teenager from Skrzypczynski, her then coach.
Swiatek, the reigning US and French Open champion took to Twitter to demand action in a lengthy post.
“As the current leader of women’s tennis I can’t remain silent,” the 21-year-old, who won eight titles in 2022 and dominated the women’s tour, wrote. “I consider the reports involving the Polish Tennis Association’s president as something serious. Read more
Ben Simmons preps for hostile return in 1st game in Philly (CBS)
Ben Simmons tilted his head in bemusement at the suggestion enough time had passed since his bitter split with the 76ers that his Philadelphia homecoming might be greeted with more affection than acrimony.
His look, which became an instant meme, had the appearance of a player who knew better.
The details of Simmons’ long-building split with the Sixers are too fresh for that. Like the time former coach Brett Brown asked him to shoot just one 3-pointer per game, or coach Doc Rivers simply asked Simmons to report on time and participate in practice — Simmons did neither.
Or when management and an entire fanbase that only wanted Simmons to embrace the city, play up to his contract and the talent that made him worthy of the No. 1 pick and chase championships with Joel Embiid could not get an honest answer on why he wanted out of Philadelphia. Read more