Veteran Yoruba actor, Charles Olumo ‘‘Agbako’’ dies at 101 (Vanguard)
Veteran Nollywood actor Abdulsalam Sanyaolu, popularly known as Charles Olumo or “Agbako,” has passed away at the age of 101.
Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as Mr. Latin and the President of the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN), confirmed the news of Agbako’s passing through an Instagram post, expressing condolences on behalf of the Nigerian entertainment community.
“#tampanglobal announces the passing of Pa Charles Olumo Sanyaolu, fondly known as AGBAKO,” he wrote. Read more
Sanwo-Olu, Edun, others hail Adebutu for building Media Centre (Leadership)
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Wale Edun, and other prominent Nigerians have commended billionaire businessman and philanthropist Chief Kensington Adebutu, known as Baba Ijebu, for building a 350-seater ultramodern Media Resource Center at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ).
In his address, Edun, who was at the commissioning of the Kensington Adebutu Media Resource Centre at the NIJ, noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to providing infrastructure development and access to quality education. Read more
Oshiomhole: I compelled Tinubu to pay above minimum wage when he was governor (DailyTrust)
Lawmaker representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, has recalled how he declared a massive strike to compel the Lagos state government under Bola Tinubu to pay above the N5,000 minimum wage.
Oshiomhole during his time as the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), also said he decided to fight some policies of the federal government under President Olusegun Obasanjo to ensure that workers’ dignity was respected.
He stated this at National Institute of Security Studies, Abuja, during a lecture organised for members of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 17. Read more
Unprofiled vehicles won’t be allowed in Abuja from 2025 — Wike (Channels)
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says starting January 2025, all commercial buses in the nation’s capital Abuja will be profiled by the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Wike stated this at the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme in Abuja on Thursday when he handed over some new cars to beneficiaries to use as taxis.
“They are not paying a dime. No; the government is saying this is our support to feed your family and reduce the cost of transportation in the city… Abuja should compete with other cities in the world,” said the minister. Read more
Man United fan killed by Arsenal supporter laid to rest as family demands justice (Vanguard)
The burial of 36-year-old man Benjamin Ndyamuhaki, a Manchester United fan, took place on Wednesday, October 30, at Kabungo Cell, Katenga Parish, Kaharo Sub County, Kabale District.
Ndyamuhaki, reportedly the victim of a fatal altercation with an Arsenal fan, was mourned by family and friends who gathered to bid farewell to the fifth of eleven siblings.
The incident occurred on Sunday, October 27, at Kyobugombe Trading Center after a heated exchange in a video room. Read more
UK naval vessel arrives Nigeria (Punch)
The United Kingdom Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel RFA Lyme Bay, on Wednesday, arrived in Lagos as part of a defence engagement tour across West Africa, aimed at bolstering regional maritime security.
The visit, under the framework of the UK-Nigeria Security and Defence Partnership, established earlier this year, includes stops in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Senegal.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer, British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, Ndidiamaka Eze, on Wednesday. Read more
EFCC recovers N248b, $105m in 1 year (Leadership)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said it recovered N248, 750,049,365.52 between October 18, 2023 when the current chairman, Ola Olukoyede was appointed and October 18, 2024.
In the same one year under the leadership of Olukoyede, the anti-graft agency also disclosed to have recovered $105,423,190.39; £ 53,133.64; €172,547.10; T1,300.00 Indian Rupees; CAD $ 3,400.00 Canadian Dollars; ¥74,859:00 Chinese Yuan; AUS $ 740:00 Australian Dollars; 170:00 UAE Dirham; 73,000:00 Korean Won; CFA 7,821,375:00 and R 50:00 South Africa Rands.
At a press briefing to mark the first year of Olukoyede in the office, EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren revealed that the commission has also charged four former governors to court over corruption allegations. Read more
FG to hold state funeral for Ex-Senate President Wayas (DailyTrust)
The federal government has finally fixed November 30 for public funeral service for the late former Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas.
The Office of the Senate President has confirmed it would evacuate the remains of Wayas from the National Hospital Abuja to UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar and to his Bassang community in Obanliku LGA, Cross River State.
Past heads of state and former Senate Presidents have confirmed readiness to grace the funeral which is to hold at UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar before the body would be moved by road to the final resting place in Bassang community. Read more
Ana Matronic explains absence from Scissor Sisters reunion tour (NME)
Ana Matronic has shared a statement on her absence from Scissor Sisters‘ upcoming UK comeback tour.
The iconic New York pop-rock band announced their UK reunion tour today (October 31), where they will play their self-titled 2004 debut in full in honour of its 20th anniversary.
Founding members Jake Shears, Babydaddy, and guitarist/bassist Del Marquis are set to perform together for the first time in over a decade. However, Ana Matronic (who also founded the band) was noticeably absent from the lineup; Scissor Sisters have said they would “honour” the vocalist on their upcoming tour. Read more
Pakistan says China’s remarks on safety of its citizens “perplexing’’ (VOA)
Pakistan pushed back Thursday against China’s criticism of the safety of Chinese personnel in the country, calling the comments “perplexing” and contrary to established diplomatic traditions between the neighbors.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Baloch said at a weekly news conference in Islamabad that the government is dedicated to ensuring the security of Chinese nationals, projects, and institutions in Pakistan.
Baloch was responding to a rare public warning from the Chinese ambassador to the country, Jiang Zaidong, who urged Islamabad to take action against militants responsible for several deadly attacks on Chinese workers. Read more
Man allegedly pummels sleeping passenger in the face in bloody unprovoked attack on United Airlines flight (NBC)
A man is accused of viciously attacking a sleeping passenger on a United Airlines flight Monday afternoon, leaving him bloody and bruised, federal authorities said.
The assault occurred on a flight from San Francisco International Airport in California to Dulles International Airport in Virginia, court documents state.
Authorities said that about two hours into the flight Everett Chad Nelson left his seat in 35F and went to the bathroom at the front of the plane. Read more
Blur drummer Dave Rowntree criticises ‘‘psychopathic’’ assisted dying laws (BelfastTelegraph)
Blur drummer Dave Rowntree has criticised what he calls “psychopathic” assisted dying laws after his terminally ill ex-wife went to Dignitas in Switzerland earlier this year.
The 60-year-old musician said the current legal system showed “absolutely no empathy for the sufferer” after supporting former music industry and charity sector worker Paola Marra, whom he married in the 1990s, as she went through breast and bowel cancer.
Ms Marra made the decision to fly alone to Zurich in March following a terminal diagnosis because the “pain and suffering can become unbearable”, she said in a film called The Last Request, which was released after her death at the age of 53. Read more
Hugh Grant reveals his 2 youngest daughters’ quirky names (Standard)
Hugh Grant has revealed the names of his two youngest daughters and the “panic” he and his wife had landing on them.
The Bridget Jones actor, 64, has five children – two with former partner Tinglan Hong and three with his Swedish producer wife Anna Eberstein.
His kids with Hong are Tabitha, 13, Felix, 11, and he also shares John, 11, with Eberstein. Read more
Tom Hanks reveals this astrological oddity was a “good omen” before filming “cuckoo movie” Forrest Gump (DailyMail)
Tom Hanks won his second straight Oscar for Forrest Gump, but he revealed in a new interview that he called it a “cuckoo movie” and revealed a “good omen” on set.
The 68-year-old actor appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers on Wednesday, to promote his new movie Here, in theaters November 1.
That film serves as a reunion with his co-star Robin Wright, director Robert Zemeckis and screenwriter Eric Roth from the 1994 Best Picture winner Forrest Gump. Read more
Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu elected as Fiji’s new president (RNZ)
Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has been elected as the new president of the country on Thursday, despite opposition from women’s rights groups.
Mr Naiqama was the current speaker of parliament and nominated by Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
He was elected after getting 37 out of 55 votes. Read more
WAFU Cup: Fans celebrate Flying Eagles’ 2-1 win over Ghana (Punch)
Football enthusiasts have commended Nigeria’s Flying Eagles for retaining the WAFU B U-20 trophy after defeating Ghana 2-1 in the final on Wednesday in Lome, Togo.
A cross-section of the Abuja fans who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria in separate interviews shortly after the match on Wednesday evening described the team’s performance as impressive.
Joseph Dauda, an entrepreneur, described the Flying Eagles’ defeat of their regional rivals as an early Christmas gift for lovers of football. Read more
12 arrested, L.A. bus set on fire following World Series win (ABC)
A dozen arrests were reported by Los Angeles police early Thursday after crowds took to the streets following the Dodgers’ World Series win.
Video showed some people throwing objects at police in Los Angeles as sirens blared and officers told them to leave the area after the Dodgers defeated the Yankees in Game 5 in New York. A bus was set on fire, and some in the crowd were seen breaking into stores.
There were some “unruly, and at times violent and hostile celebrations,” with several acts of vandalism, including the burning of a Metropolitan Transit Authority bus, Los Angeles police spokesperson Officer Drake Madison said in an email. Read more
Fermín López gets new Barcelona deal with €500m release clause (ESPN)
Barcelona have rewarded Fermín López’s early-season form with a new contract that keeps him at the Catalan club until 2029 and includes a release clause of €500 million ($544.4m).
López, 21, missed some this season with a muscle injury but played 45 minutes in Barcelona’s impressive 4-0 rout of Real Madrid in the Clásico last weekend.
That followed an eye-catching individual outing in Barça’s 4-1 win over Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League last week, in which he provided two assists. Read more
Nottingham Forest owner Marinakis ‘falsely accused of match-fixing’, court told (Standard)
The owner of Nottingham Forest FC is suing a Greek football rival for more than £2.1 million in a High Court libel claim over an alleged “smear campaign” including “false” allegations of “match-fixing practices including extortion, fraud and arson”.
Shipping magnate Evangelos Marinakis, who also owns Greek Super League side Olympiacos, is suing Irini Karipidis, the owner of league rivals Aris, over allegations made on a website, social media, and mobile billboards between November 2023 and March this year.
A hearing on Thursday was told the allegations, which Mr Marinakis denies, include that he was involved in match-fixing, transported oil through his shipping companies in breach of sanctions and that he was involved in a high-profile drug trafficking case in Greece. Read more
Max Verstappen slapped with grid penalty for Brazilian GP as Red Bull take gamble (Express)
Max Verstappen is set to start the Brazilian Grand Prix with a five-place grid penalty after Red Bull decided to give him a new engine for the race. The Dutchman is clinging to his position at the top of the Drivers’ Championship leaderboard after failing to win a race since the Spanish Grand Prix in June.
Verstappen saw his advantage over Lando Norris cut to 47 points on Sunday after the McLaren star finished four places above him at the Mexican Grand Prix.
The reigning champion was only able to muster a sixth-place finish to add eight points to his season tally, with Norris bagging 18 points by finishing second. Read more
Dodgers World Series celebrations overshadowed by violence; at least 12 arrests made (Fox)
The Los Angeles Dodgers are 2024 World Series champions after winning Game 5 against the New York Yankees Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium. While the Dodgers celebrated with champagne showers in the locker room, some celebrations in the City of Angels took a wild turn due to unruly fans leading to fires, looting and vandalism.
Fans who gathered at watch parties in LA’s Echo Park neighborhood, about a mile from Dodger Stadium, were horrified as they watched some fans set a Metro bus on fire at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Echo Park Avenue.Authorities said that initially, some members of the celebration crowd began vandalizing the bus before setting some of the seats ablaze. The unruly behavior prompted the Los Angeles Police Department to declare a city-wide tactical alert, which allows the agency to keep officers on duty beyond their normal shifts. Read more