We’re conscious of HIV/AIDS prevalence, dangers – Lagos residents (Guardian)
In spite of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, Lagos State residents say they are conscious of the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and its dangers, while few others claimed ignorance of its existence.
They spoke in a survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in some parts of Lagos State ahead of the 2020 World AIDS Day slated for Dec. 1.
Theme of the Day is: “Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic: Resilience and Impact.”
The residents also spoke on the challenge of HIV/AIDS, which has now been pushed to the background due to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
Again, hoodlums attack Lagos firemen (Punch)
Officials of the Lagos State and Rescue Service have been attacked by suspected hoodlums at the Agege area of Lagos State.
Three firemen were injured, according to a statement by the acting head of the agency, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, on Monday.
The statement was titled ‘hoodlums attack Lagos firemen, destroy fire engine’.
Adeseye explained that a fire engine belonging to the Agency damaged by hoodlums, who attacked the officials in the course of duty on Sunday. Read more
Lagos East by-election: opposition parties back Abiru (Nation)
No fewer than 58 opposition political parties have endorsed the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tokunbo Abiru, for the by-election holding in Lagos East District on Saturday.
They also endorsed the APC candidate for the House of Assembly by-election in Kosofe Constituency 11, following their resolution at an endorsement ceremony held at Ogudu, Lagos suburb.
The parties under the umbrella of ‘The Coalition of Political Parties in Lagos State (COPPILS)’ urged Lagosians to vote for the two flagbearers. Read more
HIV/AIDS transmission rate drops in Nigeria (Guardian)
Prof. Sulaimon Akanmu of Haematology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, says evidence abound that rate of transmission of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria has dropped.
Akanmu made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on the challenges that HIV/AIDS had taken a backstage in 2020 due to the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic.
According to him, on the whole, we have evidence that the rate of transmission of the virus in the community as a whole has come down. Read more
Police arrest suspected gunrunner in Cross River (Punch)
The police in Cross River State have arrested a 52-year-old man, Cyprian Mbe, in connection with alleged arms supplies and promotion of native wars in the state.
The State Commissioner of Police, Abdulkadir Jimoh, who briefed journalists on Monday in Calabar, said the suspect had been a gunrunner for a long time and a promoter of native wars in parts of the state and Etung Local Government Area where he was arrested.
He said the vigilant Etung Division patrol team on a routine stop and search assignment arrested Cyprian at the weekend at Bendeghe in Etung LGA.
Jimoh said, “During a stop and search by the Etung Divisional Patrol team, one Cyprian Mbe, a native of Bashia Village in Boki LGA was intercepted with 299 live cartridges concealed in a black bag. He is a suspected gun runner and promoter of native war. Read more
Ekanola emerges new UI acting VC (Nation)
The Senate of the University of Ibadan (UI) on Monday elected the institution’s deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Babatunde Ekanola as Acting Vice Chancellor (VC) of the university.
At a Senate meeting held on Monday morning, Ekanola won with 275 votes to defeat four other nominees.
Other nominees defeated Professor Ayo Oluleye with 80 votes; Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Professor Olanike Adeyemo with 13 votes; Professor Adigun Agbaje, 15 votes and Professor Gbemisola Oke, 14 votes.
Ekanola, who is expected to be the institution head for the next six months, will assume office December 1, 2020. Read more
Court rejects EFCC’s exhibit in trial of ex-NNPC GMD, Andrew Yakubu (Guardian)
The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, refused to admit a document sought to be tendered in evidence by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Andrew Yakubu.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in a ruling, held that the motion was inadmissible because the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was unable to bring to the court its certified true copy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Counsel to EFCC, Mohammed Abubakar, had, on Nov. 5, tendered a document in which Yakubu, who is the 1st defendant witness (DW1), tendered at the Supreme Court, seeking for an order of stay of execution restraining the Federal Government from taking over the money which the anti-corruption agency took away when its operatives raided his residence. Read more
3 to die by hanging for kidnapping Reverend Sisters (Nation)
Three persons who kidnapped three Reverend Sisters at Onipetesi area along the Ore-Lagos highway have been sentenced to death by hanging.
The three convicts were said to have collected a ransom of N1m for the released of their victims.
Seven persons including a couple were initially arraigned for the kidnapping of the Reverend Sisters.
They were Reuben Akinbehinje (a.k.a Chairman), Saheed Oyewo (a.k.a Olaoluwa), Seun Lajuwomi (a.k.a Ebile), Abimbola Akinbehinje , John Imoleayo Uche (a.k.a Uchenna), Seun Iseoluwa Akintan (a.k.a Egbegbe) and Lateef Fayemi Hammed. Read more
Wizkid wins 2020 BET Soul Train Awards (Punch)
Self-acclaimed Starboy is a recipient of the 2020 BET Soul Train Award. He won the award alongside American superstar Beyoncé for their collaboration on the song, Brown Skin Girl.
The song is off Beyonce’s The Lion King: The Gift album.
The award show which held on Sunday, November 29 aired on BET and saw American superstar, Chris Brown, emerge top winner with four awards including, Best R&B/Soul male artist and Song of the Year.
The ceremony was hosted by Martin stars Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold. Read more
“Pandemic” named 2020 word of the year by Merriam-Webster (NYPost)
Merriam-Webster on Monday announced “pandemic” as its word of year.
“That probably isn’t a big shock,” Peter Sokolowski, editor at large for Merriam-Webster, told The Associated Press.
In its noun form, pandemic is defined by the dictionary as an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area (such as multiple countries or continents) and typically affects a significant proportion of the population. Read more
Jennifer Lawrence’s family farm burned to ashes in ‘horrible fire’ (PageSix)
Jennifer Lawrence’s family farm, which also serves as a summer camp in Kentucky, was obliterated by a “horrible fire” Friday evening, the camp said in a statement.
Camp Hi-Ho announced the news on Facebook Saturday, saying, “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm the news that we lost our barn last night in a horrible fire.”
“We are deeply thankful that no people or animals were hurt, but we are still mourning the loss of years of hard work and memories that occurred in these walls,” statement read. Read more
One of biology’s biggest mysteries ‘largely solved’ by AI (BBC)
One of biology’s biggest mysteries has been solved using artificial intelligence, experts have announced.
Predicting how a protein folds into a unique three-dimensional shape has puzzled scientists for half a century.
London-based AI lab, DeepMind, has largely cracked the problem, say the organisers of a scientific challenge.
Their program determined the shape of proteins at a level of accuracy comparable to expensive and time-consuming lab methods, they say. Read more
Rita Ora ‘sorry’ for breaking lockdown rules to attend birthday party (BBC)
Rita Ora says she’s “deeply sorry” for breaking English lockdown rules to celebrate her 30th birthday.
The singer says she attended a party at a restaurant in west London on Saturday.
“Given the restrictions, I realise how irresponsible these actions were and I take full responsibility,” she wrote in a statement.
It’s reported up to 30 people were at the party, although she describes the event as a “small gathering”. Read more
“Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman honoured by Marvel on what would have been his 44th birthday (Metro)
Marvel has paid tribute to Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman on what would have been his 44th birthday. The actor died in August aged 43 having battled colon cancer for four years. On November 29, Disney boss Bob Iger told fans to watch Black Panther on Disney Plus for ‘a special tribute to someone that was and will always be near and dear to our hearts’. Usually each Marvel film begins with a comic-book style animation followed by a highlight reel of its many big screen superheroes, including Iron Man and Captain America. Read more
Moderna follows Pfizer, seeks FDA authorisation for COVID-19 vaccine (USAToday)
Biotech company Moderna will apply Monday for an emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after receiving more good news about the safety and effectiveness of its candidate COVID-19 vaccine.
Moderna will be the second vaccine maker to request authorization from the federal government after similarly positive results for Pfizer and its German collaborator BioNTech’s candidate vaccine.
Moderna’s latest findings, according to a company press release, showed that of 196 people in the clinical trial who caught COVID-19, 185 of them had received the placebo, while only 11 received the active vaccine. That works out to an effectiveness rate above 94%. Read more
Sri Lanka prison riot over COVID-19 leaves 8 dead, over 50 wounded (NYPost)
At least eight inmates were killed and more than 50 injured when guards opened fire to control a riot in a Sri Lankan prison, officials said.
The unrest broke out Sunday over inmates infected with COVID-19 being transferred from other facilities to the prison in Mahara, which is on the outskirts of the capital of Colombo.
Prisoners have held protests in recent weeks at several facilities to demand more COVID-19 testing and separate isolation facilities for sick inmates. Read more
Confederation Cup: Former Arsenal star Song loses on his debut (BBC)
Former Cameroon international Alex Song has played in France, England, Spain, Russia and Switzerland
Former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Alex Song was unable to inspire his new club, Arta Solar 7 of Djibouti, from losing at home in a Confederation Cup preliminary round first leg.
Burkinabe Farouk Kabore scored on 24 minutes to give Egyptian club Al Mokawloon Al Arab (formerly Arab Contractors) a 1-0 victory in Djibouti City despite an energetic showing by the 33-year-old Cameroonian.
Song not only captains Arta but is also in charge of youth development at the club.
It was a winning return for Al Mokawloon, who won the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup three times under their former name, are back in a continental club competition for the first time since 2005. Read more
George Foreman thinks Tyson could get another shot at title (USAToday)
George Foreman became boxing’s oldest heavyweight champion when he was 45. Now, 26 years later, Foreman said he can envision the record being snatched away by 54-year-old Mike Tyson.
“If he gets in shape like he’s in now, and then gets his timing back, and all the other things fall into place, he can have an opportunity to fight for the title,” Foreman, the Hall of Famer, told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday. “If he can be managed right, a champion, the right champion, will come to him. And if the right one comes, he can knock him out.”
Foreman’s comments came a day after Tyson returned to the ring 15 years after his last fight. Read more
Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has surgery on fractured skull after David Luiz head clash (BBC)
Raul Jimenez was replaced by Fabio Silva after being carried off on a stretcher at Emirates Stadium
Wolves striker Raul Jimenez has had surgery on a fractured skull suffered in a clash of heads during his side’s Premier League win at Arsenal.
Sunday’s match at Emirates Stadium was in its early stages when Jimenez and Gunners defender David Luiz accidently collided at an Arsenal corner.
He was given oxygen on the pitch before being taken to hospital.
“Raul is comfortable following an operation last night,” Wolves said in a statement.
“He has since seen his partner Daniela and is now resting. He will remain under observation for a few days while he begins his recovery. Read more
Diego Maradona’s doctor says icon needed rehab, he is ‘scapegoat’ for death (NYPost)
Diego Maradona’s doctor tearfully claimed he was being made the “scapegoat” for the death of the soccer legend — who he said should have been in rehab for his ongoing battle with booze and drugs.
“They are trying to find a scapegoat,” Leopoldo Luque, 39, said during a televised news conference after his home in Argentina was raided Sunday during a probe into a possible case of involuntary manslaughter due to medical negligence. Read more
Edinson Cavani: Man Utd forward’s Instagram post to be looked into by FA (BBC)
The Football Association will look into a deleted social media post by Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani which contained a Spanish phrase that is offensive in some contexts.
Cavani sent the message after scoring the injury-time winner in United’s 3-2 comeback win at Southampton on Sunday.
It is understood the 32-year-old says he meant the phrase affectionately and that that is how it is used in his native Uruguay.
Once it was pointed out to Cavani how the wording could be interpreted in the UK, he deleted the post. Read more
Germany confirm Joachim Low will remain as manager after humiliating defeat to Spain (Metro)
The German FA have confirmed they will keep faith with Joachim Low as manager despite the side’s embarrasing 6-0 defeat at the hands of Spain in the Nations League. Low worked as Jurgen Klinsmann’s assistant before taking over the reins on a permament basis back in 2006 and became the longest serving manager in international football earlier this year. However, the 60-year-old – who steered Germany to World Cup glory in 2014 – has found himself under intense scutiny following his team’s disappointing group-stage exit in Russia two years ago. Read more