Yemi Alade releases new EP ‘Mamapiano’ (Channels)
African superstar Yemi Alade is back in the limelight with her latest EP release, ‘MamaPiano.’
The four-track EP, released on Friday, is a fusion of Alade’s profile as “Mama Africa” and her venture into Amapiano, the popular South African genre gaining global recognition.
The opening track, ‘Amazing Grace,’ serves as a celebration of Alade’s journey as a superstar, showcasing her longevity in the music industry. Read more
Backlash as woman marries friend’s husband after their divorce (Guardian)
A Nigerian woman known as Safiyyah has become the centre of social media chatter after tying the knot with her friend’s ex-husband, Ruffy, a mere six months after his divorce.
The buzz began circulating on the X platform as Safiyyah shared videos and photos from her weekend wedding with Ruffy. Speculations abound regarding the reason behind Ruffy’s divorce from his former wife, Kawthar, with some suggesting it was sparked by her adoption of feminist beliefs during their marriage.
In 2020, Ruffy and Kawthar exchanged vows. Notably, Safiyyah congratulated Ruffy on his marriage under a post he made, to which he responded with gratitude. Fast forward three years, and Ruffy is divorced from Kawther, entering matrimony with Safiyya in less than half a year. Read more
Sanwo-Olu pledges to tackle Lagos housing deficit (Punch)
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, reiterated his administration’s commitment to tackling the housing deficit in the state.
The governor, who made the pledge during the unveiling of Greenwich Gardens, a 101-housing-unit project at Ajelogo, in the Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area of the state, also said that he was committed to creating enabling an environment for the private sector to invest in the real estate sector.
The Greenwich Gardens comprises 66 units of two-bedroom flats, 20 units of three-bedroom terraces, 14 units of three-bedroom semi-detached houses, one unit of four-bedroom detached houses, and 65 residential plots (sites and service scheme). Read more
Lagos pledges security of participants at 3-day fiesta to usher in 2024 (Tribune)
Lagos State government on Friday pledged to provide watertight security at the designated venues for the 2024 Greater Lagos Fiesta countdown, saying that over 25,000 participants would attend the three-day fiesta of celebration of music, entertainment and the vibrant spirit of Lagos.
The State’s Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, gave the assurance at a press conference held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Center in Lagos.
The commissioner flanked by the Special Adviser (SA) to the Lagos State Governor on Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr. Idris Aregbe and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Oloruntoyin Atekoja, said the state had put in place security measures that would prevent any form of violence during the three-day fiesta. Read more
Tinubu receives ambassadors, mandates them to focus on new investments (Nation)
President Bola Tinubu has charged foreign ambassadors in Nigeria to prioritize the exploration of new frontiers of trade relations that will be mutually beneficial as they carry out their duties in the country.
President Tinubu gave the charge on Friday after receiving Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Hungary, Lorand Endreffy; High Commissioner of Rwanda, Christophe Bazivamo, and Ambassador of Ukraine, Ivan Kholostenko, at the State House, on Friday.
According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President also assured foreign investors of diligent and predictable fund repatriation and the streamlining of the tax system. Read more
Musawa proposes establishment of National Museum, Theatre in Abuja (Vanguard)
The Ministry of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy is to establish a National Museum and a National Theatre in a Creative City to be located in Abuja.
The Minister, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa made this known when she presented the 2024 Appropriation Budget draft to the Senate Committee on Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy on Thursday at the National Assembly.
Musawa stated that the establishment of the two edifices were top on the list of projects of the Ministry which is intended to create employment, not only for creatives but also for Nigerians in general. Read more
Power Minister returns to APC, gives reason (DailyTrust)
The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, said on Friday that his return to the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Accord Party had nothing to do with succeeding Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in 2027. He said the move was to support President Bola Tinubu.
Adelabu said this during his official return to the APC at the party’s secretariat at Oke-Ado, Ibadan on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Adelabu in May 2022 left the APC to join Accord party after failing to secure the governorship ticket of the party. Read more
Court issues arrest warrant against CBN controller for disobeying order (Leadership)
A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos, the state capital, Wednesday, issued a warrant of arrest against the state’s Controller of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Jonah Akama, over disobedience to court order.
The arrest warrant was shown to journalists in Jos on Friday and signed by Honourable Justice N.D. Shaseet, read that any police officer who comes across Akama should arrest him.
It said the arrest warrant followed Akama’s failure to appear before the court over a case involving John Eche Okpe, Esq. Read more
Something we’ve always feared about our phones turns out to be true (Metro)
Yes, our phones are listening to us. But they’re not the only ones. So are companies, and they’re using our conversations to target us with ads, according to an investigation.
We’ve all been there. You mention something one day – a new jacket, a holiday, double glazing – and sure enough the next day ads for it are all over your social media.
In the past this has always been waved off by big tech as evidence of its superior ad tracking and our own paranoia. You might not think you’ve searched for something, but actually you lingered on an Instagram post about a similar product and bam! It knows you’re in the market. Read more
Gospel singer Pedro Henrique collapses, dies onstage at 30 during concert (NYPost)
Gospel singer Pedro Henrique collapsed and died during a performance in Brazil — and the whole incident was caught on camera. He was 30.
Henrique was performing in Feira de Santana, Bahia, at a private event for influencer Lôise Abreu.
The event was also broadcast live on social media platforms. Read more
DRC: Corneille Nangaa joins forces with M23 to create political platform (AfricaNews)
A few days ahead of the presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo, scheduled for December 20th 2023, is causing a stir on the web and leaving public opinion stunned.
The creation of the “Alliance Fleuve Congo” was made official on Friday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. At the helm is Corneille Nangaa, the former chairman of the Electoral Commission.
In a video posted on social networks, he openly allied himself with several rebel movements, including the M23, which took up arms against the government in November 2021. Read more
Israeli military says it killed 3 Gaza hostages, mistaking them for threat (UPI)
The Israeli military said Friday its troops killed three hostages in Gaza after mistakenly identifying them as a threat.
Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari called it a “tragic accident” and said, “This is an area where the soldiers encountered many terrorists, including suicide bombers.
The hostages killed by the IDF were Yotum Haim and Samar Talalka. The third hostage was not publicly identified by request of their family. Read more
Matthew Perry’s cause of death revealed (Deadline)
Friends star Matthew Perry died from “acute effects of ketamine,” the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office said today. The autopsy report also cited drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine — a drug used to treat opioid use disorder — as contributing to his death.
Ketamine is a drug used recreationally that dulls pain, causes forgetfulness, intoxication, disassociation and euphoria. It is also increasingly used under medical supervision to treat depression. That application was approved by the FDA in 2019.
The manner of death was ruled an accident. Perry died October 28 at his home in the Pacific Palisades area of Los Angeles. He was 54. Read more
Mayim Bialik out as host of Jeopardy! (CST)
Mayim Bialik won’t be giving answers as a host of Jeopardy!
anymore.
The Big Bang Theory actor posted news of her departure on Instagram on Friday.
“Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!” Bialik wrote. “I am incredibly honored to have been nominated for a primetime Emmy for hosting this year and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of the Jeopardy! family.” Read more
Nicki Minaj blocks release of ‘‘New Body’’ with Kanye West after ignoring his text (Mirror)
Nicki Minaj has shot down Kanye West’s hopes of releasing his collaboration track with her on his new album “Vultures”.
The “Super Freaky Girl” rapper shared a reply to a text message she received from Ye with her fans which was sent just hours before the rumoured release date of his new album. She then shot down his hopes of gaining her approval for including the track they previously collaborated on a few years ago on his release.
She said on an Instagram live: “Now regarding Kanye, chile, that train has left the station.” Nicki then cited her busy schedule around the release of her album “Pink Friday 2” as a reason why she doesn’t have time to work with Kanye. Read more
Women’s UCL: FIFA celebrates Nnadozie heroics in Paris FC’s win against Madrid (Guardian)
World football governing body, FIFA, has celebrated Chiamaka Nnadozie’s heroics in her club Paris FC’s win against Real Madrid.
Nnadozie inspired Paris FC to their first win in this season’s women’s UEFA Champions League as they beat Madrid 2-1 in Group D on Thursday night.
The highlight of the game was the Super Falcons’ first choice stopping a 28th-minute penalty taken by Spain’s 2023 women’s World Cup winner Olga Carmona. Read more
Ex-Super Eagles explains why African best player award was elusive (DailyTrust)
For 24 years, Nigeria had failed to win the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Player of the Year award in the male category probably due to complex and multifaceted reasons.
The dynamics of the award and the performances of players from other African countries must have played a negative role in Nigeria’s lack of success in this particular category of the annual awards.
Moreover, even as Nigeria boasts of several outstanding footballers, their individual performances may not have consistently stood out sufficiently to secure the award. Read more
Ange Postecoglou urges Tottenham to learn all-action style without ‘crossing a line’ after latest red card (Standard)
Ange Postecoglou says his Tottenham players must learn to play his high-intensity football without “crossing a line” after Yves Bissouma was sent off in Friday’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Bissouma will serve a third suspension of the season after being shown a straight red card for a studs-up lunge on Forest captain Ryan Yates with 20 minutes to play.
Destiny Udogie will also miss Everton’s visit on December 23 after a fifth booking of season at the City Ground – his second suspension of the campaign. Read more
Garcia’s injury-time header gives Osasuna win over Rayo Vallecano (USAToday)
Raúl García scored with a header deep into stoppage time to give Osasuna a 1-0 win at home against Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish league on Friday.
Osasuna’s first win in seven league games lifted it two places into 12th in La Liga. Rayo Vallecano remained 10th, one point clear, but has gone seven league games without a win.
Both sides were evenly matched at Estadio El Sadar and both hit the woodwork early on, but it was Garcia’s persistence that separated the sides. Read more
Tiger makes pro-am walk ahead of title hunt with son Charlie (France24)
Tiger Woods rejected using a golf cart in favor of walking on Friday during a pro-am round at the PNC Championship, feeling fit as he regains his form for 2024.
The 15-time major winner and his 14-year-old son Charlie will play in the 36-hole PNC Championship this weekend at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida.
Woods, who turns 48 on December 30, has struggled to walk during competitive rounds since a 2021 car crash in which he suffered severe leg injuries. Read more
Ja Morant says 25-game ban tough, with “some horrible days’’ (ESPN)
Days before his season debut, Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant expressed gratitude for the support he has received during his 25-game suspension and guilt for the team’s struggles without him.
Morant said basketball has been his therapy during his life and that taking the game away made things more difficult. He credited his family, his friends, the Grizzlies and others, as well as therapy, for helping him since NBA commissioner Adam Silver handed down Morant’s second suspension in a four-month span in mid-June. Read more