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 Nicki Minaj Hails Davido as an "Incredible Melody Maker" Renowned rapper Nicki Minaj has praised Nigerian Afrobeat artist Davido, calling him an "incredible melody maker" and songwriter. Minaj shared her admiration for Davido while explaining the reasons behind their recent collaboration on her track If It’s Okay. Responding to a fan's inquiry about her choice to work with the Afrobeat star, Minaj explained that she was eager to incorporate an Afrobeat vibe into her music. On her X (formerly Twitter) account, Minaj expressed her respect for Davido's talent, saying, "That man is an incredible writer & melody maker. It is always a pleasure working with him because of our mutual respect for one another. I asked him to be a part of it to bring out the Afrobeat tempo/feeling in it a bit more. Naija to the world."

 US Senator Lindsey Graham Threatens Sanctions on Allies Enforcing ICC Warrants for Netanyahu US Senator Lindsey Graham has warned that he will impose sanctions on allied countries, including Canada, Britain, Germany, and France, if they attempt to enforce the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The warrants were issued in relation to alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. In an interview with Fox News on Friday, Graham stated, "To any ally—Canada, Britain, Germany, France—if you try to help the ICC, we’re going to sanction you." He emphasized that any nation supporting the ICC's efforts to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant would face sanctions, adding, "You’re gonna have to pick the rogue ICC versus America." Graham's comments reflect the US government's opposition to the ICC's actions, which follow Israel’s military offensive in Ga

 Measles Infections Surge by 20%, Affecting 10.3 Million People in 2023 A recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that measles infections surged by 20% in 2023, affecting over 10.3 million people globally. This rise is attributed to gaps in immunization coverage, with more than 22 million children missing their first dose of the measles vaccine.  Despite the availability of a preventable vaccine, the surge led to an estimated 107,500 deaths, mostly among children under five. The WHO calls for urgent vaccination efforts, especially in regions with low coverage, to combat the rising cases and protect vulnerable populations.

 Festac Residents Petition IGP Over FHA’s Disregard for Court Order Residents of Festac Town in Lagos have submitted a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) regarding the alleged violation of a court order by officials of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA). Through their lawyer, Mr. Adetayo Bello, the residents accused the FHA of continuing to demolish properties in the Festac Extension 6th Avenue area, despite a valid court injunction prohibiting further demolitions. The petition specifically names FHA Zonal Manager Akintola Olagbenro, Chief Chuka Umenne, and Coach Sesi as being involved in the violations. On September 11, 2023, a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, under Justice O. Awope, granted an injunction preventing the FHA and its agents from demolishing any buildings in Festac Town’s 6th Avenue or other areas until the outcome of the ongoing case, No: ID/7397GCM/2023. The petitioners argue that these actions not only constitute contempt of court but also a misuse of

 Ologbondiyan: Fuel Subsidy Removal and Naira Float Have Weakened Nigeria Kola Ologbondiyan, former spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has stated that the removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the Naira have severely impacted Nigeria’s economy. Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Monday, Ologbondiyan argued that President Tinubu should have implemented a phased removal of the fuel subsidy, coupled with palliative measures like reducing public transportation fares, rather than offering subsidized rice to the masses. His comments followed a meeting of PDP governors over the weekend, where they called on President Tinubu to undertake significant economic reforms. Ologbondiyan, who aligned with the founding principles of the PDP, emphasized that the recent decisions by President Tinubu, particularly concerning subsidy removal and the Naira float, have caused severe damage to the country. Recalling past PDP policies, Ologbondiyan pointed out th

 South Africa Arrests 14 Illegal Miners Who Resurfaced from Abandoned Pit South African police arrested 14 people who emerged from an illegal gold mine, where hundreds of others are believed to be hiding. The arrests followed weeks of authorities monitoring an abandoned pit in Stilfontein, located about 150 kilometers (100 miles) southwest of Johannesburg, and intermittently blocking local residents from sending food and water to the miners to force them to surface. The operation has sparked controversy, with concerns that the miners, known as “zama zamas” (meaning "those who try" in Zulu), could be starving or dying underground. Police stated that 14 individuals resurfaced on Sunday night, dispelling claims that they were trapped, instead indicating they were deliberately avoiding emerging. Some miners ran back into the shaft upon seeing police presence. The arrested miners are all reported to be Mozambican nationals. The country has thousands of illegal miners, often from n

 DHL Cargo Plane Crashes Near Vilnius Airport, One Dead A DHL cargo plane traveling from Germany to Lithuania crashed early on Monday, November 25, 2024, near Vilnius International Airport, resulting in the death of one crew member. According to firefighters, the plane was just a few kilometers from the airport when it went down.  The crash caused a nearby house to catch fire, though all residents were safely evacuated. Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre, reported that the fire's cause remains unclear. The plane was confirmed to belong to DHL, as stated by company official Ausra Rutkauskien. The incident is under investigation.

 Activists Raise Alarm Over High SGBV Rates in Osun, Launch Campaign at Churches A coalition of civil society groups, human rights activists, and stakeholders has expressed grave concern over the high rate of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in Osun State, calling for urgent action to address the issue. As part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, the group visited several churches to engage congregants in the fight against violence.  Lola Wey, the coordinator of the Movement Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Osun State, highlighted disturbing cases of abuse, including the rape of a 95-year-old woman who later died from the trauma. Osun ranks fourth in Nigeria for SGBV prevalence, and Wey urged community members, religious leaders, and the government to take stronger action against perpetrators and support victims. The campaign, which emphasizes the theme “End Violence Against Women and Girls, Break the Silence,” will continue wit

 NiMet Forecasts 3-Day Sunshine and Dust Haze Across Nigeria The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted a 3-day period of sunshine and dust haze from Monday to Wednesday across the country. In its weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet forecasted a slight dust haze for the northern region on Monday, with localized visibility ranging from 2 to 5 kilometers throughout the day. The North Central region is expected to experience sunny skies in a hazy atmosphere throughout the forecast period. For the southern region, sunny weather with patches of clouds is anticipated, along with the possibility of thunderstorms and light rain in parts of Cross River, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states during the afternoon and evening. On Tuesday, moderate dust haze is expected in the northern region, reducing visibility to less than 1,000 meters. The North Central region will see slight dust haze, while the southern region will continue to experience sunny skies with some clouds and af

 Nigeria and Other Nations Criticize $300 Billion Climate Finance Deal at COP29 At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Nigeria and several other developing countries expressed dissatisfaction with the final climate finance agreement, which includes a pledge from wealthy nations to provide $300 billion annually to poorer countries. Nigerian officials, including Nkiruka Maduekwe, the country’s climate change director, called the deal “unrealistic” and insufficient, highlighting that it fell short of the ambitious goals necessary to address climate challenges. Other critics, such as Sierra Leone’s Environment Minister and the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, accused developed nations of failing to show genuine support for the world’s most vulnerable regions, reinforcing claims that the final deal was heavily influenced by “invisible powers” with little regard for the needs of poorer countries. While the deal sets a target of $1.3 trillion in climate finance by 2035, many see the current pledg

 Zimbabwe charts ambitious return to global finance at debt conference Zimbabwe's president will host a conference of creditors and finance executives on Monday to discuss ambitious goals to clear debt arrears and restructure $12.7 billion in external debt, aiming to eventually tap international capital markets for the first time in more than two decades. Zimbabwe's debt pile accounts for 81% of gross domestic product, and clearing it will be a tough challenge for a country that has faced numerous financial crises in recent decades from repeated bouts of hyperinflation to multiple unsuccessful attempts to launch new currency regimes. Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the African Development Bank's (AfDB) president, Akinwumi Adesina, will attend the one-day meeting in Harare, along with creditors, development groups and private sector representatives, Reuters reported. Getting on track with bilateral creditors – and clearing arrears with the AfDB, the World Ban

 Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has expressed his condolences to the Catholic community in the state following the death of Nigeria's oldest Catholic priest, Monsignor Thomas Oleghe, who passed away at the age of 104 on Sunday morning. In a statement issued on Monday by the governor's Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Okpebholo described Fr. Oleghe's life as an exemplary model for Nigerians. He praised the late priest's humility, sacrifices, and the many lives he touched, noting that his legacy would never be forgotten. Okpebholo also prayed for strength for Fr. Oleghe’s family and the Catholic community in Nigeria, particularly the Auchi Diocese, to bear this significant loss. “Fr. Oleghe was from Igiode town in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State. Although he lived a full and blessed life, passing away at 104, we will miss his fatherly presence and the profound impact he had on many people’s lives,” Okpebholo said. On behalf of the