Trump’s chief of staff John Kelly quits

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="400" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfPjLuVe6os8QfpkqVWsbfW_ItMpw9_a9QvgMCFtoFswRdL0jSrm7QBr_m4p-VYp1XBeDyN7ERTLT_C2YFX62bc-OCMGAcyvGXinOgS0ezaKqOv98nZvnV3VkEmRm0sAGExgoBKuTmvwzb/s400/trump+phone.png" width="400" /></div> <br /> President Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff John Kelly will leave his job at the end of this year, confirming speculations about another high profile departure from his team.<br /> <br /> Trump broke the news on Saturday and described the former Marine Corps general as a loyal aide during his tenure.<br /> <br /> “He’s a great guy,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for Philadelphia where he will attend the annual football game between the Army and Navy military academies.<br /> <br /> “I appreciate his service very much,” the president added. “We will be announcing who will take John’s place. It might be on an interim basis.”<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Trump, a freewheeling former businessman, brought Kelly in last year to restore order to his often chaotic White House, but clashed repeatedly with him in recent months.

Latest-News Trump’s chief of staff John Kelly quits

President Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff John Kelly will leave his job at the end of this year, confirming speculations about another high...

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Torreira’s sublime bicycle kick gives Arsenal victory over Huddersfield

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="630" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJBIQtKk0hFFNpP8uFpttZQ5Kvx_W6J6tL-GNzRlzS4Wu_8DEEkRNMT814oc07OdF7Nezf8xtBUu1tvNeLmPX6ugf-Vp6udRPCSXjPnMTKrZYGS7yvjBqc3P_komUFwWWQQkyEftKgdEGE/s400/torr.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> <br /> Lucas Torreira scored a sublime bicycle kick late on to break Huddersfield’s resistance and move Arsenal into the Premier League top four with victory at Emirates Stadium.<br /> <br /> The visitors, who slip into the bottom three, had looked on course for a valuable point with a resolute defensive display.<br /> <br /> But on 83 minutes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang found room at the back post and deftly chipped across the six-yard box for Torreira to acrobatically volley in.<br /> <br /> According to BBC, it was a rare moment of quality from the hosts, who failed to create regular chances, despite Alexandre Lacazette having a goal disallowed for offside shortly before the interval.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The France striker was replaced at half-time, with a slightly improved Arsenal scoring their 26th second-half goal of the season to extend their unbeaten run to 21 games in all competitions.<br /> <br /> The Gunners are third, a point in front of rivals Tottenham, who face Leicester at 19:45 GMT, with Chelsea two points further back before their match at home to Manchester City at 17:30 GMT.

Latest-News Torreira’s sublime bicycle kick gives Arsenal victory over Huddersfield

Lucas Torreira scored a sublime bicycle kick late on to break Huddersfield’s resistance and move Arsenal into the Premier League top four...

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United bounce back, thrash Fulham 4-1

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qgVNLVQzcSkLFHagAV5CVvH6E7Af5rCFVmyfOJYApdNqn1d1EBiXEhmhyphenhyphenJbVDbtaRRQWmRMH2ETzM91kn96kQUDxNj7vbjSTqDzDgzCxG_a7w8tEXHsb0pnzM-00H8FKSGibOm9B4diC/s1600/mourinho+man+united.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="657" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qgVNLVQzcSkLFHagAV5CVvH6E7Af5rCFVmyfOJYApdNqn1d1EBiXEhmhyphenhyphenJbVDbtaRRQWmRMH2ETzM91kn96kQUDxNj7vbjSTqDzDgzCxG_a7w8tEXHsb0pnzM-00H8FKSGibOm9B4diC/s400/mourinho+man+united.png" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> Manchester United recorded their biggest Premier League win of the season as they swept aside Fulham in a match Cottagers boss Claudio Ranieri described as “11 lambs against 11 wolves”.<br /> <br /> The victory – United’s first in five league matches – moved them up to sixth, while bottom-of-the-table Fulham have now conceded 40 goals in 16 matches.<br /> <br /> “In the first half we were shy, we were waiting,” said Ranieri after his fourth match in charge. “Why? Why were we waiting? The first half was a warm-up.<br /> <br /> “I want my team to play and fight for every single ball. We have to be stronger, more confident in our qualities.<br /> <br /> “In the first half it was 11 lambs against 11 wolves. The wolves ate the lambs.”<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> BBC reports that the hosts took the lead after 13 minutes when Ashley Young bustled his way into the penalty area and curled the ball into the far corner.<br /> <br /> Marcus Rashford set up Juan Mata for United’s second, before Romelu Lukaku finished from close range from Mata’s low cross.<br /> <br /> Substitute Aboubakar Kamara pulled one back with a penalty after he had been fouled by Ander Herrera, but Ranieri’s side were soon reduced to 10 men, when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa was dismissed for two bookable offences.<br /> <br /> England striker Rashford sealed United’s victory with a powerful strike from a tight angle that beat Sergio Rico at his near post.<br /> <br /> This was the first time this season the Red Devils had won by a three-goal margin in the league, though they did beat Young Boys 3-0 in the Champions League in September.<br /> <br /> The last time they won by three goals in the league was on 15 January, with a 3-0 home defeat of Stoke.

Latest-News United bounce back, thrash Fulham 4-1

Manchester United recorded their biggest Premier League win of the season as they swept aside Fulham in a match Cottagers boss Claudio Ran...

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Mexican beauty emerges 2018 Miss World

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0NOOkjf900sxJiqM0ovRCRLmEhVzk4EKYgnAAAYeVG_ZsmtX4QfbhX0wTELhN3OklrwsAFpQ9JHonCF9Xj8qBGVdmhvCQ5JPCGvRQ7zQoOaP2IVHUsaaHsudNUbsaKSLrgmRiF9WYPe2/s1600/Miss-World-2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="784" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK0NOOkjf900sxJiqM0ovRCRLmEhVzk4EKYgnAAAYeVG_ZsmtX4QfbhX0wTELhN3OklrwsAFpQ9JHonCF9Xj8qBGVdmhvCQ5JPCGvRQ7zQoOaP2IVHUsaaHsudNUbsaKSLrgmRiF9WYPe2/s320/Miss-World-2018.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> A Mexican model and volunteer was crowned Miss World at a glitzy event on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan on Saturday.<br /> <br /> Miss Mexico Vanessa Ponce de Leon, 26, has a degree in international business, volunteers for “Migrantes en el Camino” and is on the board of directors of a rehab centre for girls, according to the Miss World website.<br /> <br /> She was crowned as the 68th Miss World by last year’s winner, Manushi Chhillar of India, in the coastal city of Sanya.<br /> <br /> The colourful ceremony included US group Sister Sledge performing their 1979 disco anthem “We Are Family.”<br /> <br /> First runner up was Thailand’s Nicolene Pichapa Limsnukan, a 20-year-old studying business administration.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Miss Belarus Maria Vasilevich, Miss Jamaica Kadijah Robinson and Miss Uganda Quiin Abenakyo were also among the final five.<br /> <br /> It is the eighth time the Miss World final has been held in Sanya, which first hosted the pageant in 2003.<br /> <br /> At the finals three years ago controversy erupted as officials in Hong Kong stopped Miss Canada, Anastasia Lin, from boarding a plane bound for Sanya, telling her she would not receive a visa.<br /> <br /> The 25-year old actress claimed the decision was due to her stance on China’s human rights record, including its persecution of Falun Gong, a Chinese spiritual group of which she is a practitioner.<br /> <br /> (AFP)

Latest-News Mexican beauty emerges 2018 Miss World

A Mexican model and volunteer was crowned Miss World at a glitzy event on the tropical Chinese island of Hainan on Saturday. Miss Mexic...

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Obasanjo to Nigerians: Vote credible candidates

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="360" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipcF9c4A5T5x8557QHzQN8NOOPmXmwPKZcuKupiqFW-qmT0jgSc397dfjuq8-g5dqM6c-Qwo0Y2oMl1giAmApvgrJ1HrTb2Hah9Bs48BsdarUUwuBwXdh-MftoZDb63JzvSiUpdyaQQs0q/s400/Former-President-Olusegun-Obasanjo-360x225.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> Ahead of the 2019 general elections, former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday urged Nigerians to vote for credible candidates who will drive growth and development.<br /> <br /> Obasanjo, who spoke at the 27th annual Owu National Convention held in Iwo, Osun, said credible leadership would promote good governance.<br /> <br /> The former president, who said he would not campaign for any particular candidate, urged Nigerians to vote wisely.<br /> <br /> The Chairman of the Supreme Council of Owu Obas, Oba Hammed Oyelude, said Owu being the largest Yoruba speaking ethnic group in the South West Zone had been contributing to policy development in the country.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Oyelude, who is the Olowu of Owu Kuta, said the Royal Union of Owu People had been contributing to policy development in the country.<br /> <br /> He called on Owu people to participate in politics in order to contribute to national development.<br /> <br /> Oyelude also called on indigenes of Owu to support and vote for any indigene contesting for any political office.<br /> <br /> Dignitaries present at the occasion included Owu monarchs as well as indigenes of the ethnic stock. (NAN)

Latest-News Obasanjo to Nigerians: Vote credible candidates

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday urged Nigerians to vote for credible candidates who wi...

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Medview Airlines back!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyIWbljvvlphxdwTlcRy5Myyo7jvXD0vzYNPjSP_LODw0LFlh4w-_ySVJvX9G4Qm5xT1FFMRRYK0W_C_lgkaG_sfvZPJLzaLaJR2bxz8ODjeQMiEp_cfZijmhdZXM15qIMZmBQjt9wALG/s1600/medview-airline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqyIWbljvvlphxdwTlcRy5Myyo7jvXD0vzYNPjSP_LODw0LFlh4w-_ySVJvX9G4Qm5xT1FFMRRYK0W_C_lgkaG_sfvZPJLzaLaJR2bxz8ODjeQMiEp_cfZijmhdZXM15qIMZmBQjt9wALG/s320/medview-airline.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> Medview Airlines said on Saturday that some of its aircraft have returned from major maintenance checks abroad as it prepares to increase flight frequencies on some routes.<br /> <br /> In a statement by the airline’s Head of Commercial, Mr. Trevor Henry said the relaunch of its traditional routes is anchored on the re-fleeting program of the airline<br /> <br /> With the return of some of its aircraft from maintenance, Med-View Airline on Saturday said it will relaunch the Yola and Maiduguri routes on Tuesday, 18 December, and increase flights on Lagos-Abuja route, using the B737-800 NG aircraft.<br /> <br /> The number of flights on the Lagos-Abuja route will increase to three daily round trips on weekdays to offer better departure timings throughout the day.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Mr Henry commended the Med-View passengers for their continued patronage and assured them of better customer service and reliability.<br /> <br /> Med-View’s management said it wishes all its loyal passengers a Happy Festive Season and a prosperous New Year in advance.

Latest-News Medview Airlines back!

Medview Airlines said on Saturday that some of its aircraft have returned from major maintenance checks abroad as it prepares to increase ...

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‘Buhari deserves another term unopposed’

Latest-News ‘Buhari deserves another term unopposed’

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FG to float People’s Money Bank next year, says Osinbajo

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Buhari may present 2019 budget to NASS next week

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Pastor Adeboye warns traders using his photos to desist

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Oyedepo reveals what will happen in 2019

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Salah grabs hat trick as Liverpool go top with win at Bournemouth

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbJl58M-HsWvg03_kr2dO-_ohClfoODEBPwg46Lu6Vba_zi12SwI-Lf6ooth0_JPgr6UZvq2vnaaLUE-08HmPWgzFeyU2e4l4a-ZJTmIZSiTcMq5f2Wf1iLMdnQfNsP9IgDoW_yZlzCzG/s1600/bou+0-4++liv.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXbJl58M-HsWvg03_kr2dO-_ohClfoODEBPwg46Lu6Vba_zi12SwI-Lf6ooth0_JPgr6UZvq2vnaaLUE-08HmPWgzFeyU2e4l4a-ZJTmIZSiTcMq5f2Wf1iLMdnQfNsP9IgDoW_yZlzCzG/s400/bou+0-4++liv.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick as Liverpool eased to a 4-0 win at Bournemouth and returned to the top of the Premier League ahead of Manchester City's trip to Chelsea on Saturday evening.<br /> <br /> Salah struck once before half-time and twice after it, with a Steve Cook own goal in between, as Jurgen Klopp's side recorded the most comfortable of victories.<br /> <br /> After a slow start in which Liverpool dominated possession, the visitors carved out the first opening when Roberto Firmino's pass to Salah hit Nathan Ake's arm but Xherdan Shaqiri's free kick deflected to safety.<br /> <br /> Ake was booked for handball and Liverpool came forward again as the 15-minute mark approached with Shaqiri finding Salah who, from an angle, lashed his strike into the crowd.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> With Bournemouth struggling to put anything together in the south coast rain, Jefferson Lerma joined Ake in the book for a foul on Fabinho and an excellent Ake challenge ended Salah's threatening run.<br /> <br /> Naby Keita had a shot blocked after loose defending inside the Bournemouth box before the hosts flickered into life when a determined run by Josh King took him to the edge of the Liverpool area but he scuffed wide.<br /> <br /> Andrew Surman then threatened with a fizzing shot from distance but, within seconds, Liverpool raced to the other end to make the breakthrough.<br /> <br /> Salah appeared offside when Asmir Begovic could only block Firmino's effort from the edge of the box but followed up to fire past the keeper from 10 yards and put Klopp's side in front.<br /> <br /> With Bournemouth on the back foot, an excellent tackle from Charlie Daniels prevented James Milner from getting clear down the right, but the home side rallied to win a corner from which a Junior Stanislas strike was deflected wide.<br /> <br /> Home forward Josh King collided heavily with Liverpool keeper Alisson as the two contested a high ball inside the penalty area but was able to continue after treatment as half-time came with Liverpool in the lead.<br /> <br /> Within moments of the second half getting under way, the lead was doubled when Firmino fed Salah midway inside the Bournemouth half and he ran into the area to slide a low finish beyond Begovic.<br /> <br /> Daniels found King inside the area as Bournemouth looked for a way back into the game but the forward, under pressure from Alisson, lifted wide.<br /> <br /> Lerma's attempt from outside the area was blocked by Keita before Francis made a determined run to the edge of the area only to roll his final pass away from waiting teammates.<br /> <br /> With 65 minutes gone and an eye on Tuesday's crucial Champions League clash against Napoli, Klopp replaced Sahqiri with Sadio Mane and Keita with Adam Lallana, and soon saw his side take a 3-0 lead when Andy Robertson's cross cannoned in off the unfortunate Cook.<br /> <br /> Fabinho was booked for a clattering foul on Lerma 25 yards out, and Stanislas forced Alisson into action with a curling free kick before King lashed home from a Surman pass but was thwarted by an offside flag.<br /> <br /> Salah had the final word with 13 minutes remaining, running in behind Cook and dancing round Begovic before steering a nonchalant finish away from two Bournemouth defenders on the line.<br /> <br /> In a flurry of late changes, Liverpool replaced Firmino with Jordan Henderson before Bournemouth brought on Tyrone Mings for Stanislas and Diego Rico for Daniels, who had come close with a fierce 25-yard drive moments earlier.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Credit: ESPN</div>

Latest-News Salah grabs hat trick as Liverpool go top with win at Bournemouth

Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick as Liverpool eased to a 4-0 win at Bournemouth and returned to the top of the Premier League ahead of Man...

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Two die as tanker rams into three vehicles on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0a6Yd_AP2l6BvUv_UpxAgi1SOahTgNd5X_xLsQd203IuPSN2GhoY63Pyb71mU-xm6InFnYPZTNJmrvFH7NRRGJkK3RSeRtcCvGZ4eAXjQCAkHail5UYm2yco8-DGVZZ3Br_8TZ94QETjl/s1600/tanker.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0a6Yd_AP2l6BvUv_UpxAgi1SOahTgNd5X_xLsQd203IuPSN2GhoY63Pyb71mU-xm6InFnYPZTNJmrvFH7NRRGJkK3RSeRtcCvGZ4eAXjQCAkHail5UYm2yco8-DGVZZ3Br_8TZ94QETjl/s320/tanker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps said two persons died while six others sustained various degrees of injury in an accident involving four vehicles near Kara Bridge on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway on Saturday.<br /> <br /> TRACE Public Relations Officer, Mr Akinbiyi Babatunde, who confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria in Ota, Ogun, said that the incident happened at about 6.25am.<br /> <br /> Babatunde said the tanker was trying to avoid a vehicle that drove against the traffic when it rammed into three other vehicles thereby resulting in the death of two persons while six others sustained injuries out of the nine people involved in the accident.<br /> <br /> “The corpses of the two victims have been deposited at the mortuary at  General Hospital, Lagos, while the injured were also taken to the intensive unit of the same hospital,” he said.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> He explained that the four vehicles involved in the accident were a Mack tanker with registration number, APP-49 XS, a BMW saloon with registration number EPE-864 CN, GA Mitsubishi Canter bus with registration number KRD-935 XD, and a Toyota Carina with registration number GGE-883 AT.<br /> <br /> Babatunde, however, advised motorists to desist from driving against traffic to avoid accident.<br /> <br /> He also said that TRACE, the Federal Road Safety Corps and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority were on ground to ease the free flow of traffic on the road.<br /> <br /></div>

Latest-News Two die as tanker rams into three vehicles on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

The Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps said two persons died while six others sustained various degrees of injury in an acciden...

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LAUTECH appoints new VC

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pATRp2Y0kAReDxrNnLCNYTqgPb3_8C6_05tl_AVTtOsiO_m4_yKbDG0srHi95FYdLoBEQCNWsM7HkSM_CI_2g9G4QCzSYvJNBI39TypwaiINvRITAssEBGajyJ1eiJANhPrZYVQ4Pa3K/s1600/Lautech.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pATRp2Y0kAReDxrNnLCNYTqgPb3_8C6_05tl_AVTtOsiO_m4_yKbDG0srHi95FYdLoBEQCNWsM7HkSM_CI_2g9G4QCzSYvJNBI39TypwaiINvRITAssEBGajyJ1eiJANhPrZYVQ4Pa3K/s320/Lautech.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The Governing Council of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, has announced the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor and two other principal officers.<br /> <br /> A statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Lekan Fadeyi, named Prof. Michael Ologunde, a renowned professor of food science, as the new vice chancellor.<br /> <br /> The council also appointed Dr Kayode Ogunleye as Registrar and Mr Abayomi Okediji as Bursar.<br /> <br /> The newly appointed vice chancellor will take over the running of the institution from the incumbent, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin, whose five-year tenure will end on Feb. 14, 2019.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The council said that Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his Osun State counterpart, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, had approved the appointments as recommended by the Prof. Dapo Afolabi-led governing council.<br /> <br /> It hinted that the position of the University Librarian would be filled soon.<br /> <br /> “The council at its 135th special meeting held last week had directed that the vacancy in the position be re-advertised while the process of appointing a new University Librarian be concluded on or before Jan. 25, 2019,” it said.<br /> <br /> The statement explained that the appointments would take effect from Feb. 14, 2019.</div>

Latest-News LAUTECH appoints new VC

The Governing Council of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, has announced the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor and tw...

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Subsidy: Oil marketers deny reaching agreement with FG

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81-ZMGUNPTqRBFCFrouwL9yz8KSoUv58nmwb7h6XRabhC49-ptYvaLXgQB-iSWW7wNwdTV5BPxDtPFOxnkiXc8tFvzWBYGxDtu_znYsgLLAqOfhzwBZ0wIKk9PjvQuqy64L3gMeNa6SKN/s1600/Tanker+drivrs.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg81-ZMGUNPTqRBFCFrouwL9yz8KSoUv58nmwb7h6XRabhC49-ptYvaLXgQB-iSWW7wNwdTV5BPxDtPFOxnkiXc8tFvzWBYGxDtu_znYsgLLAqOfhzwBZ0wIKk9PjvQuqy64L3gMeNa6SKN/s320/Tanker+drivrs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Oil marketers on Saturday said they did not reach any agreement with Federal Government on the N800 billion subsidy arrears, saying their ultimatum to cease depots operations on Monday remained unchanged.<br /> <br /> Mr Olufemi Adewole, Executive Secretary, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria said in a statement in Lagos that offers by government failed to meet the legitimate demands of the association.<br /> <br /> “We did not sign the purported document with government as claimed. We still stand by our ultimatum which will expire on Monday.<br /> <br /> The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the Federal Ministry of Finance on December 6 said that the Federal Government and petroleum marketers had agreed on the settlement of outstanding claims.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> The ministry, in a statement issued by Mr Paul Abechi, Spokesman for the Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, in Abuja, assured that operations at all depots and sales would continue until further notice<br /> <br /> NAN also recalls that the oil marketers had on December 2 gave the federal government a seven-day ultimatum to settle outstanding N800 billion subsidy payment, failing which they would cease depots operations.<br /> <br /> However, the oil marketers said: “We refer to the press release from the Federal Ministry of Finance following the meeting with marketers under the aegis of DAPPMAN, MOMAN and IPMAN and most respectfully refute its contents with the following clarifications.<br /> <br /> “DAPPMAN reiterates that there was no agreement reached because offers by government failed to meet the legitimate demands of the association and we did not sign the purported document.<br /> <br /> “Hence, our ultimatum stands as we cannot continue to borrow from banks to pay staff salaries.<br /> <br /> “DAPPMAN’s demands made to the FG through the Honourable Minister of Finance and Debt Management Office was to pay cash and the total sum of indebtedness to marketers within the time frame.<br /> <br /> “This was expressed in communications with the government, Ministry and other relevant offices.”</div>

Latest-News Subsidy: Oil marketers deny reaching agreement with FG

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Buhari speaks on NLC President, Wabba’s new position

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Secondus warns Oshiomhole, speaks on canal controlling Buhari’s govt

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Oby Ezekwesili cannot rule Nigeria – Gay activist, Bisi Alimi

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APGA, ADP candidates getting ‘campaign help’ from Buhari

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PSG speak on being forced to sell Neymar, Mbappe

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIyXiFeDmokaT45QMeqLNSfTCYuQwMWkSfJA0p9EsT0SuHORDyxAitRYb60Y1WwvgfWhc0c3ne0vIMN7azTQkCDcOH4HghtX1-jakf8X1KyS9c9qQx7CV24Im25iYOIpFSINWsXyDPXJa/s1600/kylian+mbappe+2.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIyXiFeDmokaT45QMeqLNSfTCYuQwMWkSfJA0p9EsT0SuHORDyxAitRYb60Y1WwvgfWhc0c3ne0vIMN7azTQkCDcOH4HghtX1-jakf8X1KyS9c9qQx7CV24Im25iYOIpFSINWsXyDPXJa/s320/kylian+mbappe+2.png" width="320" /></a></div> Paris Saint-Germain have slammed reports claiming they could be forced to sell Neymar or Kylian Mbappe, to avoid Financial Fair Play (FFP) sanctions.<br /> <br /> French newspaper, L’Equipe, published an article on Friday, claiming PSG were considering cashing in on one of their prized assets to comply with UEFA rules.<br /> <br /> PSG – who spent a world-record €222million on Neymar in 2017 before completing the permanent €180m signing of Mbappe – swiftly and strongly refuted those claims as they questioned L’Equipe’s motives.<br /> <br /> “In an article published this Friday evening on its website, L’Equipe [French newspaper] dares to say ‘PSG is ready to lose Kylian Mbappe and Neymar Jr to avoid [FFP] sanctions’.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “Beyond denying this misinformation, ridiculous and only aimed to create once again a tough relationship between our club and this media, PSG is wondering, once more, about the main goal of L’Equipe and its underlying thought about its editing work concerning PSG.<br /> <br /> “There are so many examples of this kind of news aiming to bring a bad atmosphere around the club. Last one in date, last Wednesday, matchday against Strasbourg, with a frontpage which pretended there was a ‘Cavani issue’. In passing, regarding the incredible amount of frontpages involving PSG in this daily newspaper, proof of the club’s fame, PSG is asking itself about the schizophrenic behaviour of L’Equipe and its hierarchy.<br /> <br /> “Four days before an important game at Belgrade in the Champions League, PSG is inviting its community – fans, partners, former players… – to unite even more around the Red & Blue shirt, around its players, its values and its ambitions that the club will always hold with pride.<br /> <br /> “The huge support from our fans on the social networks and inside the stadium give strength to Neymar, Cavani, Mbappe and to all the players. Against the misinformation led by L’Equipe, and its insistence to put us in trouble, PSG, the most famous and successful French club, says once again it only wishes to speak to the good and legitimate media,” the statement read.</div>

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FG appoints 9 Perm Secretaries

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvB5XjDqKRJuXl_9icnCN5xbW1-ht_UArZl5iNWG25nboNwq_n0ivimbZaeVNCwFxYS8KwHLdl_DUV2uQsYY2m7PSljg9rBwfouRdkbVXnbdHEtJa-caJCO3nJ2HJjVYTYX9O9xLuaG5A/s1600/Winifred+Oyo-Ita.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJvB5XjDqKRJuXl_9icnCN5xbW1-ht_UArZl5iNWG25nboNwq_n0ivimbZaeVNCwFxYS8KwHLdl_DUV2uQsYY2m7PSljg9rBwfouRdkbVXnbdHEtJa-caJCO3nJ2HJjVYTYX9O9xLuaG5A/s320/Winifred+Oyo-Ita.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the appointment of nine (9) new Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.<br /> <br /> In a statement signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, the list of the successful Federal Permanent Secretaries and their states of origin are as follows:- Dr. Bakari Wadinga from Adamawa; Dr. M.K. Dikwa, Borno, State; Dr. Ajani Magdalene N. Olor from Delta; Mr. Umakhihe Ernest Afolabi, Edo; Mr. Mbaeri Maurice Nnamdi, Imo; Mr. Babatunde Lawal, Lagos; Engr. Festus Yusuf Narai Daudu, Nasarawa State; Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, Osun and Dr. Musa Hanafi Moriki from Zamfara State.<br /> <br /> Oyo-Ita said that new Permanent Secretaries who are yet to be assigned to a portfolio would be assigned to their places of work after they have been sworn in.<br /> <br /> The statement further said that their Swearing in and assignment of portfolios will be announced in due course.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a></div>

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The President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved the appointment of nine (9) new Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service. In a st...

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Electoral Act Bill: ECOWAS stopped Buhari from signing Bill – Senator Omo-Agege

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"Buhari would have breached ECOWAS protocol signing Electoral Bill"

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ubcXb7ygFC5dUGDYRk0qd6uMV6dZbUSzhoyo8R4Ea2YTI46Qgr2D6lxWcafGEFq1lPbxGFrU2dCrigV6DpkyzvXZLVN7jDcsbChq74ScXIyf-rS8D3nA7lyrydhyphenhyphen7YVsiI2fgnmvbbGi/s1600/buhari2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ubcXb7ygFC5dUGDYRk0qd6uMV6dZbUSzhoyo8R4Ea2YTI46Qgr2D6lxWcafGEFq1lPbxGFrU2dCrigV6DpkyzvXZLVN7jDcsbChq74ScXIyf-rS8D3nA7lyrydhyphenhyphen7YVsiI2fgnmvbbGi/s320/buhari2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) said the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance forbids President Muhammadu Buhari from signing the Electoral Bill.<br /> <br /> The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker gave this insight in a phone interview with newsmen in Abuja on Friday night.<br /> <br /> Article 2 of the protocol forbids member countries from making “substantial modification” to their electoral laws less than six months to elections “except with the consent of a majority of political actors”.<br /> <br /> Omo-Agege, who is a staunch supporter of the President, noted that with the elections less than three months away, signing the bill would violate the ECOWAS instrument.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> NAN reports that the presidential and National Assembly elections are slated for Feb. 16, 2019, while those of governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on March 2.<br /> <br /> Omo-Agege said, “I have yet to see the president’s letter to the Senate, but this bill means so much to Mr President. On a good day he would want to sign it.<br /> <br /> “However, without even seeing the reasons he has advanced so far, I am aware of the challenges posed by the ECOWAS protocol.<br /> <br /> “I don’t know if that is part of the reasons he has advanced, but with the bill coming two months or thereabout before the election, assenting to it will breach the protocol.”<br /> <br /> Newsmen report that Buhari did not mention the ECOWAS instrument as part of his reasons for declining assent to the bill for the fourth time.<br /> <br /> The president’s latest decision came in a letter dated Dec. 6, 2018 and addressed to both chambers of the National Assembly.<br /> <br /> He said signing the amendment bill with elections close by could “create some uncertainty about the legislation to govern the process”.<br /> <br /> “Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to the elections may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which law governs the electoral process,” he stated.<br /> <br /> Buhari, therefore, asked the National Assembly to specifically state in the bill that the amended Electoral Act would come into effect after the 2019 general elections.<br /> <br /> Reacting to the development, Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi, who represents Delta North on the platform of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the reasons given by the president were “untenable”.<br /> <br /> “It is not a good reason for him not to sign the bill because the Senate worked with INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) in preparing that bill.<br /> <br /> “If INEC felt otherwise, they would have advised us when we were working on it.<br /> <br /> “You are aware of the controversy that this issue of amendment of the act has generated, with people accusing the Senate of not wanting to amend the act.<br /> <br /> “We amended it, but he declined assent the first, second and third time; he made certain observations, which we agreed with.<br /> <br /> “We sent it again, and the reason he is giving now is that it will disrupt the election. It is really unfortunate,” he said.<br /> <br /> An Abuja-based lawyer and civil rights campaigner, Mr Frank Tietie, said the credibility of the 2019 elections was at stake without the compulsory use of card readers as proposed in the bill.<br /> <br /> Although, INEC has been using the card reader for elections since 2015, there is no provision for the technology in the extant electoral law, making its use optional.<br /> <br /> Tietie said, “Without the card reader and electronic transmission of results, our elections have been subjected to might, brute force and the power of money.<br /> <br /> “Card readers and electronic transmission of results have totally eliminated that, and there is need for a legal force to that.<br /> <br /> “This is what the amendment seeks. Buhari’s refusal to allow the card reader and electronic transmission of results will only lead to electoral compromise,” he said.<br /> <br /> In September, Sen. Ita Enang, Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant (SSA), said the president had no problem with the use of the card reader contrary to allegations by the opposition.</div>

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IT IS MADNESS! Keyamo speaks on why some people think Buhari’s ghost is at Aso Rock

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBwomdE-WaoZZyUcWufKSTyzeVRVsOWQfnP89FktMNqZNGWSA9BcuaBbRc-uis7H4iKV7ny5Q3oG6YZz7MqaA9EjUbzjXIEAyO6Qb5EJgKsDt6BbITetNWNWoIlQyCF8XaksLV9sfM9Js/s1600/Festus-Keyamo.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBwomdE-WaoZZyUcWufKSTyzeVRVsOWQfnP89FktMNqZNGWSA9BcuaBbRc-uis7H4iKV7ny5Q3oG6YZz7MqaA9EjUbzjXIEAyO6Qb5EJgKsDt6BbITetNWNWoIlQyCF8XaksLV9sfM9Js/s320/Festus-Keyamo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The Director, Strategic Communications of President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation, Festus Keyamo (SAN), has revealed why some people are spreading the false news of the death of President Muhammadu Buhari.<br /> <br /> Keyamo said the issue of the president’s death and his replacement by another Jubril from Sudan, was borne out of sheer hatred for Buhari.<br /> <br /> Speaking with Sun, Keyamo said, ‘It is madness and the height of impunity.<br /> <br /> “Insanity is brought about by their passionate hatred for the man. I give an example, if you passionately hate somebody so much that when the person is sick you conclude within yourself that the person must die and he would not come out alive, and all your juju men tell you that this person must die, when the person reappears and he didn’t die, you become hesitant to know whether you are seeing the person of a ghost because you have locked yourself up; you have locked up your psychology to assume the person is dead.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “So, when the person reappears, in order for you to maintain your sanity, you must begin to assume that this is a ghost and not the real person.<br /> <br /> “That is what they are assuming. Those who are assuming that he is not the real person are trying to maintain their sanity because they concluded that he was going to die, so when he came back they are only trying to maintain their sanity.<br /> <br /> “The fact that he is getting back to good health everyday, they cannot accept it and it is making them mad, that is why some actors are going mad; the so-called political opponents are going mad, all those separatist leaders are going mad. They are going mad because they cannot come to terms that he is bouncing back to good health; they cannot live with that fact.<br /> <br /> “I give you an example, there are some people in the US who so much hated Donald Trump, and supported Hillary Clinton. When Trump won, they could not live with the fact that Trump won, what they did was to set up a virtual White House in their computers at home, and put Hillary inside the White House in their computer.<br /> <br /> “So, every morning, they look at the White House and they see Hilary there, and say, ‘this is our president’, just to make sure that they don’t go insane because Trump is in the White House. It is just to keep their sanity, that is what is happening to those wishing Buhari dead.”</div>

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President Buhari approves NYSC, Law School for NOUN graduates

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHwlw4lYo4bL2x460ABYZSoKFzzKlowy925fwqv1Ndboj_iom3-YxSwzawJzVmNWkmsVKXk8lAM44ZupcWDHrBYCeC5RnEnLTfqypbK31ne9LYAeKpD7t92ml3rJmtA74FhGPpZ-IBIty/s1600/President+Muhammadu+Buhari.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOHwlw4lYo4bL2x460ABYZSoKFzzKlowy925fwqv1Ndboj_iom3-YxSwzawJzVmNWkmsVKXk8lAM44ZupcWDHrBYCeC5RnEnLTfqypbK31ne9LYAeKpD7t92ml3rJmtA74FhGPpZ-IBIty/s320/President+Muhammadu+Buhari.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the National Open University Amendment Act, to allow the institution to operate as all other universities in the country.<br /> <br /> With the assent, the graduates of the NOUN can now participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Nigerian Law School.<br /> <br /> Presidential Assistant on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Ita Enang announced the assent of the President while addressing State House reporters in Abuja.<br /> <br /> "President Buhari has also assented to National Open University Amendment Act, which allows the National Open University to operate as all other universities, having the same power and functions and the same administrative structures eliminating possible discrimination as some use to want to have on its products and programmes.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> "It has also allowed the establishment of some centers to be called study centers and given conditions for the establishment of such study centers,” he said.<br /> <br /> The National Assembly had passed a bill for An Act to Amend the National Open University Act Cap N6 LFN 1983 (Amendment) Bill 2017’.</div>

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2019 presidential poll result may take five days to announce

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRC-LYKA410xylridnRIxRTta0boInil0q_AabgW4ccHW08FA440rAQXlSfqHYg94RpysfpnRGrxHgHlF2Kf_S6kaXVGxVxksi1m5khyphenhyphenj1Zh9U6DY71VYpbDejTpiAcHtcHCzPvuoTdbj/s1600/Atiku-Buhari.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXRC-LYKA410xylridnRIxRTta0boInil0q_AabgW4ccHW08FA440rAQXlSfqHYg94RpysfpnRGrxHgHlF2Kf_S6kaXVGxVxksi1m5khyphenhyphenj1Zh9U6DY71VYpbDejTpiAcHtcHCzPvuoTdbj/s320/Atiku-Buhari.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The presidential election, which is scheduled to hold on February 16, 2019, may take five days to collate and announce its result.<br /> <br /> Multiple sources within the Independent National Electoral Commission told our correspondent that they envisaged three to four days because of the large number of candidates, which now stands at 73, as well as the number of registered voters, which is about 84 million.<br /> <br /> Checks showed that only two parties — the Peoples Democratic Party and the Alliance for Democracy — participated in the 1999 presidential election, which held on February 27 but its outcome was announced on March 1, two days after.<br /> <br /> In 2003, when 20 political parties contested, the presidential election held on April 19, while the result was announced on April 22, three days after.<br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> In 2007, when 18 parties contested, the presidential poll was conducted on April 21, while the outcome was announced on April 23, two days after.<br /> <br /> The presidential election of 2011 saw 20 parties contesting for the highest political office in the country. It held on April 16, while the result was announced on April 18.<br /> <br /> Fourteen candidates contested the presidential election in 2015, while the number of persons who voted was less than 30 million out of 68 million registered voters.<br /> <br /> The 2015 presidential election, which began on March 28, continued into the afternoon of March 29, while the outcome of the poll was announced in the evening of April 1, 2015.<br /> <br /> However, a senior INEC official told our correspondent that it might take five days to collate and announce the results from the over 120,000 polling units across the country.<br /> <br /> He said, “In 2015, only 14 candidates contested the election in which about 30 million persons voted. Today, there are 73 to 79 persons running for President, so, obviously, it will take longer than it did in 2015.<br /> <br /> “You know the size of this country and one thing Prof. Attahiru Jega did during his time was to make sure that he did not rely on the electronic copy of the results but waited for the Returning Officers from all the 36 states to come to Abuja and authenticate what they sent to the head office.<br /> <br /> “This is because we must see the handwritten results and compare them with the electronic one. But I believe it should not take more than four days in all. All the Returning Officers will have to travel from their respective states to announce the results of over 73 parties one after the other in Abuja.”<br /> <br /> The source stated that INEC would also be doing the collation manually and electronically in 2019 in order to avert the kind of political crisis that Kenya faced in 2017.<br /> <br /> He added, “No one can say for sure if it will be four or five days because, for us, the most important thing is to deliver a credible election. Even in the United States, the governorship election in Georgia State during the last mid-term elections took 10 days before a clear winner could be announced.<br /> <br /> “But we are planning to ensure that it doesn’t go beyond that. It could have been shorter but we cannot rely on the electronic results sent in from states.<br /> <br /> “If you recall what happened in Kenya last year, they tried to announce results obtained electronically very quickly but they messed up and the main opposition candidate, Raila Odinga, discovered loopholes and took the matter to the Supreme Court and the whole process was annulled. This plunged Kenya into crisis.”<br /> <br /> Incidentally, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, had told reporters in April that INEC would do the collation of results electronically and manually in order to ensure that the process was thorough.<br /> <br /> He added that this was meant to prevent Nigeria from being plunged into the kind of Kenyan controversy.<br /> <br /> According to INEC, in collating the results of presidential elections, Presiding Officers send results of polls to the Ward Collation Officers, who in turn send it to the Local Government Area Collation Officers, who shall collate results and send them to the State Collation Officer.<br /> <br /> The State Collation Officer collates results and sends to the Chief Electoral Commissioner who is the Chairman of INEC.<br /> <br /> The Chief Electoral Commissioner (Chief Returning Officer) collates results from the State Collation Officers, declares the result and returns the winner as President elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.<br /> <br /> Also speaking with our correspondent, a former INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Lai Olurode, stated that timeliness was very important but noted that a credible election was more important.<br /> <br /> Olurode said the fact that the results of the elections in 120,000 polling units would be sorted in 79 places could imply that the process would take longer than that of 2015.<br /> <br /> He added, “When you look at the population of the electorate, which is about 84 million, and consider the 79 political parties and the fact that you need to do sorting, it will take some time but whether it will take longer than 2015 will be difficult to say.<br /> <br /> “Don’t forget that some of the parties may record zero votes but, again, you need to do sorting in 79 places. Even if it is one vote that a candidate scores, you must sort it for him. You must count the votes in 79 places.<br /> <br /> “So, definitely, it will take more time to do sorting and more time to do collation and when you look at the entire country, it is large. About 120,000 polling units and you will move from ward level to local government to state constituency before you end up in Abuja.”<br /> <br /> When contacted on the telephone, the INEC Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said he could not say how many days it would take to collate and announce results.<br /> <br /> He stated, “I don’t think the number of candidates will affect the credibility of the election but on how long it will take, I don’t know.”</div>

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NYSC to punish Davido for violating service rules

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeIfDhCRBe_QEINe5lqYmdTfUVUKzsf2fZQV-Cx3M9qvC85x3L_I-G-ZNtCeVf66pojjECNUKamg2fLMJ85sNXHa9YDSplDBOrrI9OLsfJWamFlnhQEl0LsX8jSYX9zI8VbDOHd37rZl_/s400/davido+nysc+n.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> The National Youth Service Corps has sanctioned popular artiste, David Adeleke, aka Davido, for violating camp rules during the mandatory three-week orientation camp.<br /> <br /> Top sources in the NYSC told one of our correspondents that for “absconding” from the camp during the orientation camp, the Corps had to “dekit” the artiste, which brought to an end his participation in the 2018 Batch ‘B’ Stream II in Lagos State, where he had been posted.<br /> <br /> The source said, “The NYSC was constrained to “dekit” Davido for violating the rules guiding conduct and activities in the camp. As a matter of fact, he absconded because he was away from the camp without permission. That prompted the Corps to issue him a query which was sent from Abuja. So, he is no longer a serving corps member.”<br /> <br /> The artiste violated many of the scheme’s regulations.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Other NYSC bylaws violated by Davido include bringing vehicles into the orientation camp; disclosing official information; engaging in private practice; taking part in partisan politics and reporting late for duty.<br /> <br /> However, it was also gathered that he may be remobilised for the scheme.<br /> <br /> While replying to a post on Instagram during the week, the artiste had said that his NYSC programme had been terminated. He later deleted the comment from the post made by a friend.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Articles 2 and 15 under the Code of Conduct subtitle in the NYSC Bylaws (Revised in 2011) state that every corps member shall not leave orientation camp without the written permission from the state coordinator, and every member shall not bring vehicles or motorcycles into the orientation camp.<br /> <br /> The articles, however, stated that any member found guilty of violating these provisions, among other provisions, will be liable to be decamped and sent out of camp.<br /> <br /> Section 15 (ii) added, “Any member who brings vehicles or motorcycles to camp shall not be registered, and if already registered, shall be decamped.”<br /> <br /> The NYSC Director of Information, Adenike Adeyemi, whotold newsmen in a response to an enquiry, that the Corps had communicated with the popular musician over his activities during his service year, however, did not say what punishment had been meted out to him for breaking several bylaws.<br /> <br /> Davido’s enrolment for the NYSC had created a stir, as he became the cynosure of all eyes at the Iyana Ipaja, Lagos orientation camp when he arrived for registration in August 2018.<br /> <br /> He had also posted pictures of himself in the NYSC kit on Instagram, as other corps members in Batch ‘B’ Stream II swarmed him at the camp. Just afterwards, Davido left the camp and began a series of violation of the rules of the service.<br /> <br /> Our correspondent observed from his Instagram page that just after a few days in the camp, he travelled to Boston, Massachusetts, as he embarked on a tour of the United States.<br /> <br /> He thereby violated the Section 2 of the bylaw, which says all corps members must participate in all activities in the camp.<br /> <br /> It could not be ascertained if he did not violate the second law, which stated that corps members leaving the orientation camp should get the written permission of the state coordinator.<br /> <br /> But the Assurance crooner did not stop at Boston, as he also visited Philadelphia, New York, Washington DC, Georgia, Minnesota, London, Sao Tome, Accra, Mayotte, Lebanon, UAE, among others.<br /> <br /> Davido, within the period, was also actively involved in the electioneering of his uncle, Ademola Adeleke, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Osun State September 22 election.<br /> <br /> For weeks, the artiste shuttled between Lagos State, where he was based, and Osun State, where the election held.<br /> <br /> But the NYSC law not only prohibited participation in partisan politics, it also said corps members should not leave their place of primary assignments without the permission of their state coordinators.<br /> <br /> Davido’s manager, Asa Asika, declined comment, saying he does not speak to the press.

Latest-News NYSC to punish Davido for violating service rules

The National Youth Service Corps has sanctioned popular artiste, David Adeleke, aka Davido, for violating camp rules during the mandatory ...

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2019: No voting for Nigerians in diaspora – Presidency

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjLr2z6AlJ3BB6WlvAw2sfEPfjPnu6HJm2g6dNiaHHhYYUothPPm1HF1U56gYkwc1CbTclpgERk2nXAhQZSwkdmOQfQmQ7NNMR09CEa9Q6dj-lruGs1ZbxYrKf5DIy3wydpFu9UYeJTRV/s1600/Abike-Dabiri-Erewa1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="720" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsjLr2z6AlJ3BB6WlvAw2sfEPfjPnu6HJm2g6dNiaHHhYYUothPPm1HF1U56gYkwc1CbTclpgERk2nXAhQZSwkdmOQfQmQ7NNMR09CEa9Q6dj-lruGs1ZbxYrKf5DIy3wydpFu9UYeJTRV/s320/Abike-Dabiri-Erewa1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br /> The Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa has ruled out the possibility of voting for Nigerians in Diaspora in 2019 general elections.<br /> <br /> Dabiri-Erewa made the assertion while playing host to the Rwanda High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Stanislas Kamazi, in Abuja.<br /> <br /> She however said that the Federal Government was making necessary efforts to ensure that Nigerians in the Diaspora exercise their voting rights.<br /> <br /> “Nigerians abroad have the touch of the government, Nigerians in the Diaspora have remitted about 22 billion dollars annually.<br /> <br /> “But, beyond the remittance, they also want to vote and efforts are being made to achieving that; though, not in 2019.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> “It is one of what we hope that will happen in subsequent elections,” Dabiri-Erewa said.<br /> <br /> The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had at a forum said that the possibility of Diaspora voting in 2019 was not certain.<br /> <br /> Yakubu said that the National Assembly needed to amend the sections of the Constitution and the Electoral Act (2010 as amended) to make way for Nigerians living outside the country to participate in the electoral process and vote.<br /> <br /> “The law as it stands at the moment, says that you can only vote where you are registered,” the INEC chairman had said.<br /> <br /> Dabiri-Erewa said that those in the Diaspora were also interested in investing in the country and government was making environment conducive for that investment.<br /> <br /> “They want to invest in their own country; so, we are providing the structures to make that possible by working with other government agencies to make that possible.<br /> <br /> “Government is also working on data of those that have returned; lots of them are going into farming and they are not regretting investing in their country.<br /> <br /> “So, government is making sure that the Diasporas invest in their country to bring in their wealth of their experiences and resources to develop the country.<br /> <br /> “We want to ensure that Nigerians in the Diaspora be the best as they always be,” she said.<br /> <br /> Dabiri-Erewa said that there were a lot of lessons to learn from Rwanda Diaspora operation.<br /> <br /> In his remarks, the high commissioner said that there were a lot of lessons to learn from Rwanda Diaspora policy which has been in operation for some years.<br /> <br /> Kamazi said that Rwanda’s new administration had created a platform for the Diaspora to be part of the country and enjoy the same right as the citizens in the country<br /> <br /> “Apart from this, there is the personal contact. As a matter of fact, every year in Rwanda we hold constitutional meeting for strategy to develop the sub-sector.<br /> <br /> “The President of Rwanda has always been part of Rwanda Day in any part of the world bringing all Rwandans together and to interact with the dynamics of the country.<br /> <br /> “This forum formation led to the emergence of strategic investment that wants to be implemented in Rwanda and which triggers members of the Diaspora and also investors or economic operators in their host country.<br /> <br /> “They are mobilised to embrace Rwanda economic dynamics and the opportunities that are there,” he said.<br /> <br /> According to him, the diplomatic mission and embassy also have a clear directive to attend to members of the Diaspora.<br /> <br /> “When they come to us we have a lot of programmes to ensure that all their needs are met and ensure that they invest in their host countries.<br /> <br /> “The most important is to ensure that any Rwandan living outside the country enjoy the same right as those in the country, they gradually felt to be part of the nation not as it used to be in the past,” he said.(NAN).

Latest-News 2019: No voting for Nigerians in diaspora – Presidency

The Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa has ruled out the possibility of voting for...

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Nigeria's Seun Kuti nominated for Grammy’s best world album

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="620" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggj2PF3ikQlECg0lMZs7IiGeL-uzkuk4ayNMoO0R-vyimOyUtWQKI-2meCPFQQ5el6K-Q3MoaA6BiEcKptA5em7nCYQLwXLadkaCx4zEJkzzb0sDcyLqPL8v0J-xVqJBRU-aIdAyFVzJRK/s640/seun+kuti.jpg" width="640" /></div> <b><br /></b><b><br /></b><b>Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti and his Egypt 80 band, has been nominated for 61st Grammy’s best world music album for his Black Times album.</b><br /> <br /> The youngest son of late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will be contesting the category with four other nominees: Bombino – Deran, Fatoumata Diawara – Fenfo, Soweto Gospel Choir – Freedom and Yiddish Glory – The Lost Songs of World War II.<br /> <br /> The nominations, which were announced Friday, saw Kendrick Lamar leading the field, with eight nods recognising his work for the “Black Panther” soundtrack, including the hit song “All the Stars” with SZA.<br /> <br /> Variety.com reported that Drake is right on his tails with seven nominations, and producer Boi-1da and Americana singer Brandi Carlile are just behind them with six apiece.<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> Cardi B, Lady Gaga, Childish Gambino, Maren Morris, R&B newcomer H.E.R., and producer Sounwave all notched five nominations..<br /> <br /> According to Variety.com, in a departure from last year, in which Jay-Z was the only artist to score nods in the top three categories, this time around, Drake, Lamar, and Carlile all garnered nominations for record, song, and album of the year.<br /> <br /> Drake’s single “God’s Plan” and his album “Scorpion” are both recognized; Lamar’s “All the Stars” and the “Black Panther” soundtrack he curated are vying for the top categories; and Carlile’s song “The Joke,” along with her album “By the Way, I Forgive You,” nabbed top nominations as well.<br /> <br /> The 2019 Grammy is set to hold on February 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, US.<br /> <br /> Read the complete nominations below:<br /> <br /> Record Of The Year:<br /> <br /> “I Like It” — Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin<br /> “The Joke” — Brandi Carlile<br /> “This Is America” — Childish Gambino<br /> “God’s Plan” — Drake<br /> “Shallow” — Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper<br /> “All The Stars” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA<br /> “Rockstar” — Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage<br /> “The Middle” — Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey<br /> <br /> Album Of The Year:<br /> “Invasion Of Privacy” — Cardi B<br /> “By The Way, I Forgive You” — Brandi Carlile<br /> “Scorpion” — Drake<br /> “H.E.R.” — H.E.R.<br /> “Beerbongs & Bentleys” — Post Malone<br /> “Dirty Computer” — Janelle Monáe<br /> “Golden Hour” — Kacey Musgraves<br /> “Black Panther: The Album, Music From And Inspired By” (Various Artists)<br /> <br /> Song Of The Year:<br /> “All The Stars” — Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Al Shuckburgh, Mark Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar & SZA)<br /> “Boo’d Up” — Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)<br /> “God’s Plan” — Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)<br /> “In My Blood” — Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris, Shawn Mendes & Geoffrey Warburton, songwriters (Shawn Mendes)<br /> “The Joke” — Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)<br /> “The Middle” — Sarah Aarons, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael<br /> Trewartha & Anton Zaslavski, songwriters (Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey)<br /> “Shallow” — Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)<br /> “This Is America” — Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino)<br /> <br /> <br /> Best New Artist:<br /> Chloe x Halle<br /> Luke Combs<br /> Greta Van Fleet<br /> H.E.R.<br /> Dua Lipa<br /> Margo Price<br /> Bebe Rexha<br /> Jorja Smith<br /> <br /> POP FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Pop Solo Performance:<br /> “Colors” — Beck<br /> “Havana (Live)” — Camila Cabello<br /> “God Is A Woman” — Ariana Grande<br /> “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?)” — Lady Gaga<br /> “Better Now” — Post Malone<br /> <br /> Best Pop Duo/Group Performance:<br /> <br /> “Fall In Line” — Christina Aguilera Featuring Demi Lovato<br /> “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” — Backstreet Boys<br /> “‘S Wonderful” — Tony Bennett & Diana Krall<br /> “Shallow” — Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper<br /> “Girls I Like You” — Maroon 5 Featuring Cardi B<br /> “Say Something” — Justin Timberlake Featuring Chris Stapleton<br /> “The Middle” — Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey<br /> <br /> Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album:<br /> <br /> “Love Is Here To Stay” —Tony Bennett & Diana Krall<br /> “My Way” — Willie Nelson<br /> “Nat “King” Cole & Me” — Gregory Porter<br /> 4. Standards (DELUXE) —<br /> Seal<br /> 5. THE MUSIC…THE MEM’RIES…THE MAGIC! —<br /> Barbra Streisand<br /> <br /> Best Pop Vocal Album:<br /> “Camila” — Camila Cabello<br /> “Meaning Of Life” — Kelly Clarkson<br /> “Sweetener” — Ariana Grande<br /> “Shawn Mendes” — Shawn Mendes<br /> “Beautiful Trauma” — P!nk<br /> “Reputation” — Taylor Swift<br /> <br /> DANCE/ELECTRONIC FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Dance Recording:<br /> “Northern Soul” — Above & Beyond Featuring Richard Bedford<br /> “Ultimatum” — Disclosure (Featuring Fatoumata Diawara)<br /> “Losing It” — Fisher<br /> “Electricity” — Silk City & Dua Lipa Featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson<br /> “Ghost Voices” — Virtual Self<br /> <br /> Best Dance/Electronic Album:<br /> <br /> “Singularity” —Jon Hopkins<br /> “Woman Worldwide” — Justice<br /> “Treehouse” — Sofi Tukker<br /> “Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides” — SOPHIE<br /> “Lune Rouge” — TOKiMONSTA<br /> CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Contemporary Instrumental Album:<br /> <br /> “The Emancipation Procrastination” — Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah “Steve Gadd Band” — Steve Gadd Band<br /> <br /> “Modern Lore” — Julian Lage<br /> <br /> “Laid Black” — Marcus Miller<br /> <br /> “Protocol 4” — Simon Phillips<br /> <br /> ROCK FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Rock Performance:<br /> <br /> “Four Out Of Five” —Arctic Monkeys<br /> “When Bad Does Good” — Chris Cornell<br /> “Made An America” — The Fever 333<br /> “Highway Tune” — Greta Van Fleet<br /> “Uncomfortable” — Halestorm<br /> <br /> Best Metal Performance:<br /> <br /> “Condemned To The Gallows “— Between The Buried And Me<br /> “Honeycomb” — Deafheaven<br /> “Electric Messiah” — High On Fire<br /> “Betrayer” — Trivium<br /> “On My Teeth — Underoath<br /> <br /> Best Rock Song:<br /> “Black Smoke Rising” — Jacob Thomas Kiszka, Joshua Michael Kiszka, Samuel Francis Kiszka & Daniel<br /> Robert Wagner, songwriters (Greta Van Fleet)<br /> “Jumpsuit” — Tyler Joseph, songwriter (Twenty One Pilots)<br /> “MANTRA” — Jordan Fish, Matthew Kean, Lee Malia, Matthew Nicholls & Oliver Sykes, songwriters (Bring Me<br /> The Horizon)<br /> “Masseduction” — Jack Antonoff & Annie Clark, songwriters (St. Vincent)<br /> “Rats” — Tom Dalgety & A Ghoul Writer, songwriters (Ghost)<br /> <br /> Best Rock Album:<br /> <br /> “Rainier Fog” — Alice In Chains<br /> “M A N I A” — Fall Out Boy<br /> “Prequelle — Ghost<br /> “From The Fires” — Greta Van Fleet<br /> “Pacific Daydream” — Weezer<br /> <br /> ALTERNATIVE FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Alternative Music Album:<br /> <br /> “Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino” —Arctic Monkeys<br /> “Colors” — Beck<br /> “Utopia” — Björk<br /> “American Utopia” — David Byrne<br /> “Masseduction” — St. Vincent<br /> <br /> R&B FIELD<br /> <br /> Best R&B Performance:<br /> <br /> “Long As I Live” — Toni Braxton<br /> “Summer” — The Carters<br /> “Y O Y” — Lalah Hathaway<br /> “Best Part” — H.E.R. Featuring Daniel Caesar<br /> “First Began” — PJ Morton<br /> <br /> Best Traditional R&B Performance:<br /> <br /> “Bet Ain’t Worth The Hand” — Leon Bridges<br /> “Don’t Fall Apart On Me Tonight” — Bettye LaVette<br /> “Honest” — MAJOR.<br /> “How Deep Is Your Love” — PJ Morton Featuring Yebba<br /> “Made For Love” — Charlie Wilson Featuring Lalah Hathaway<br /> <br /> Best R&B Song:<br /> <br /> “Boo’d Up” — Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon<br /> McFarlane, songwriters (Ella Mai)<br /> “Come Through And Chill” — Jermaine Cole, Miguel Pimentel & Salaam Remi, songwriters (Miguel Featuring J. Cole & Salaam Remi)<br /> “Feels Like Summer” — Donald Glover & Ludwig Goransson, songwriters (Childish Gambino)<br /> “Focus” — Darhyl Camper Jr, H.E.R. & Justin Love, songwriters (H.E.R.)<br /> “Long As I Live” — Paul Boutin, Toni Braxton & Antonio Dixon, songwriters (Toni Braxton)<br /> Best Urban Contemporary Album:<br /> “Everything Is Love” — The Carters<br /> “The Kids Are Alright “— Chloe x Halle<br /> “Chris Dave And The Drumhedz” — Chris Dave And The Drumhedz<br /> “War & Leisure” — Miguel<br /> “Ventriloquism” — Meshell Ndegeocello<br /> <br /> Best R&B Album:<br /> <br /> “Sex & Cigarettes” — Toni Braxton<br /> “Good Thing” — Leon Bridges<br /> “Honestly” — Lalah Hathaway<br /> “H.E.R.” — H.E.R.<br /> “Gumbo Unplugged (Live)” — PJ Morton<br /> <br /> RAP FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Rap Performance:<br /> <br /> “Be Careful” — Cardi B<br /> “Nice For What” — Drake<br /> “King’s Dead” — Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake<br /> “Bubblin” — Anderson .Paak<br /> “Sicko Mode” — Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee<br /> <br /> Best Rap/Sung Performance:<br /> <br /> “Like I Do” — Christina Aguilera Featuring Goldlink<br /> “Pretty Little Fears” — 6LACK Featuring J. Cole<br /> “This Is America” — Childish Gambino<br /> “All The Stars” — Kendrick Lamar & SZA<br /> “Rockstar” — Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage<br /> <br /> Best Rap Song:<br /> <br /> “God’s Plan” — Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron<br /> LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters (Drake)<br /> “King’s Dead” — Kendrick Duckworth, Samuel Gloade, James Litherland, Johnny McKinzie, Mark Spears, Travis Walton, Nayvadius Wilburn & Michael Williams II, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future &<br /> James Blake)<br /> “Lucky You” — R. Fraser, G. Lucas, M. Mathers, M. Samuels & J.<br /> Sweet, songwriters (Eminem Featuring Joyner Lucas)<br /> “Sicko Mode” — Khalif Brown, Rogét Chahayed, BryTavious Chambers, Mike Dean, Mirsad Dervic, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer, Aubrey Graham, John Edward Hawkins, Chauncey Hollis, Jacques Webster, Ozan Yildirim & Cydel Young, songwriters (Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk & Swae Lee)<br /> “Win” — K. Duckworth, A. Hernandez, J. McKinzie, M. Samuels<br /> & C. Thompson, songwriters (Jay Rock)<br /> <br /> Best Rap Album:<br /> “Invasion Of Privacy” — Cardi B<br /> “Swimming” — Mac Miller<br /> “Victory Lap” — Nipsey Hussle<br /> “Daytona” — Pusha T<br /> “Astroworld” — Travis Scott<br /> <br /> COUNTRY FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Country Solo Performance:<br /> <br /> “Wouldn’t It Be Great?” — Loretta Lynn<br /> “Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters” — Maren Morris<br /> “Butterflies” — Kacey Musgraves<br /> “Millionaire” — Chris Stapleton<br /> “Parallel Line” — Keith Urban<br /> <br /> Best Country Duo/Group Performance:<br /> <br /> “Shoot Me Straight” — Brothers Osborne<br /> “Tequila” — Dan + Shay<br /> ” When Someone Stops Loving You” — Little Big Town<br /> “Dear Hate” — Maren Morris Featuring Vince Gill<br /> “Meant To Be” — Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line<br /> <br /> Best Country Song:<br /> <br /> “Break Up In The End” — Jessie Jo Dillon, Chase McGill & Jon Nite, songwriters (Cole Swindell)<br /> “Dear Hate” — Tom Douglas, David Hodges & Maren Morris,<br /> Songwriters (Maren Morris Featuring Vince Gill)<br /> “I Lived It” — Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley & Ben<br /> Hayslip, songwriters (Blake Shelton)<br /> “Space Cowboy” — Luke Laird, Shane McAnally & Kacey Musgraves,<br /> songwriters (Kacey Musgraves)<br /> “Tequila” — Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds & Dan Smyers, songwriters (Dan + Shay)<br /> “When Someone Stops Loving You” — Hillary Lindsey, Chase McGill & Lori McKenna, songwriters (Little Big Town)<br /> <br /> Best Country Album:<br /> “Unapologetically” — Kelsea Ballerini<br /> “Port Saint Joe” — Brothers Osborne<br /> “Girl Going Nowhere” — Ashley McBryde<br /> “Golden Hour” — Kacey Musgraves<br /> “From A Room: Volume 2” — Chris Stapleton<br /> <br /> NEW AGE FIELD<br /> <br /> Best New Age Album:<br /> <br /> “Hiraeth” — Lisa Gerrard & David Kuckhemann<br /> “Beloved” — Snatam Kaur<br /> “Opium Moon” — Opium Moon<br /> “Molecules Of Motion” — Steve Roach<br /> “Moku Maluhia – Peaceful Island” — Jim Kimo West<br /> <br /> JAZZ FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Improvised Jazz Solo:<br /> <br /> “Some Of That Sunshine” — Regina Carter, soloist<br /> “Don’t Fence Me In” — John Daversa, soloist<br /> “We See” — Fred Hersch, soloists<br /> “De-dah” — Brad Mehldau, soloist<br /> “Cadenas” — Miguel Zenón, soloist<br /> <br /> Best Jazz Vocal Album:<br /> “My Mood Is You” — Freddy Cole<br /> “The Questions” — Kurt Elling<br /> “The Subject Tonight Is Love” — Kate McGarry With Keith Ganz & Gary Versace<br /> “If You Really Want” — Raul Midón With The Metropole Orkest Conducted By Vince Mendoza<br /> “The Window” — Cécile McLorin Salvant<br /> <br /> Best Jazz Instrumental Album:<br /> <br /> “Diamond Cut” — Tia Fuller<br /> “Live In Europe” — Fred Hersch Trio<br /> “Seymour Reads The Constitution!” — Brad Mehldau Trio<br /> “Still Dreaming” — Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Scott Colley & Brian Blade<br /> “Emanon” — The Wayne Shorter Quartet<br /> <br /> Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album:<br /> <br /> “All About That Basie” — The Count Basie Orchestra Directed By Scotty<br /> Barnhart<br /> “American Dreamers: Voices Of Hope, Music Of Freedom” — John Daversa Big Band Featuring DACA Artists<br /> “Presence” — Orrin Evans And The Captain Black Big Band<br /> “All Can Work” — John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble<br /> “Barefoot Dances And Other Visions” — Jim McNeely & The Frankfurt Radio Big Band<br /> Best Latin Jazz Album:<br /> <br /> “Heart Of Brazil”— Eddie Daniels<br /> <br /> “Back To The Sunset”— Dafnis Prieto Big Band<br /> <br /> “West Side Story Reimagined”— Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big Band<br /> <br /> “Cinque”— Elio Villafranca<br /> <br /> “Yo Soy La Tradición” — Miguel Zenón Featuring Spektral Quartet<br /> <br /> GOSPEL/ CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Gospel Performance/Song:<br /> <br /> “You Will Win” — Jekalyn Carr; Allen Carr & Jekalyn Carr, Songwriters<br /> <br /> “Won’t He Do It” — Koryn Hawthorne<br /> <br /> “Never Alone” — Tori Kelly Featuring Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin & Victoria Kelly, Songwriters<br /> <br /> “Cycles” Jonathan Mcreynolds Featuring Doe; Jonathan McReynolds, Songwriter<br /> <br /> “A Great Work” — Brian Courtney Wilson; Aaron W. Lindsey, Alvin Richardson & Brian Courtney Wilson, Songwriters<br /> <br /> Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song:<br /> <br /> “Reckless Love” — Cory Asbury; Cory Asbury, Caleb Culver & Ran Jackson, songwriters<br /> “You Say” — Lauren Daigle; Lauren Daigle, Jason Ingram & Paul Mabury, songwriters<br /> “Joy” — for King & Country; Ben Glover, Matt Hales, Stephen Blake Kanicka, Seth Moslely, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone & Tedd Tjornhom, songwriters<br /> “Grace Got You” — MercyMe Featuring John Reuben; David Garcia, Ben Glover, MercyMe, Solomon Olds & John Reuben, songwriters<br /> “Known”— Tauren Wells; Ethan Hulse, Jordan Sapp & Tauren<br /> Wells, songwriters<br /> <br /> Best Gospel Album:<br /> “One Nation Under God” — Jekalyn Carr<br /> “Hiding Place” — Tori Kelly<br /> “Make Room” — Jonathan McReynolds<br /> “The Other Side” — The Walls Group<br /> “A Great Work” — Brian Courtney Wilson<br /> <br /> Best Contemporary Christian Music Album:<br /> <br /> “Look Up Child” — Lauren Daigle<br /> “Hallelujah Here Below” — Elevation Worship<br /> “Living With a Fire” — Jesus Culture<br /> “Surrounded” — Michael W. Smith<br /> “Survivor: Live From Harding Prison” — Zach Williams<br /> <br /> Best Roots Gospel Album:<br /> <br /> “Unexpected” — Jason Crabb<br /> “Clear Skies” — Ernie Haase & Signature Sound<br /> “Favorites: Revisited By Request” — The Isaacs<br /> “Still Standing” — The Martins<br /> “Love Love Love” — Gordon Mote<br /> <br /> LATIN FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Latin Pop Album:<br /> “Prometo” — Pablo Alboran<br /> “Sincera” — Claudia Brant<br /> “Musas (Un Homenaje Al Folclore Latinoamericano En Manos De Los Macorinos), Vol. 2” — Natalia Lafourcade<br /> “2:00 AM” — Raquel Sofía<br /> “Vives” — Carlos Vives<br /> <br /> Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album:<br /> <br /> “Clairoscura” — Aterciopelados<br /> “Coastcity” — Coastcity<br /> “Encanto Tropical” — Monsieur Periné<br /> “Gourmet” — Orishas<br /> “Aztlán” — Zoé<br /> <br /> Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano):<br /> <br /> “Primero Soy Mexicana” — Angela Aguilar<br /> “Mitad y Mitad” — Calibre 50<br /> “Totalmente Juan Gabriel Vol. II” — Aida Cuevas<br /> “Cruzando Borders” — Los Texmaniacs<br /> “Leyendas De Mi Pueblo” — Mariachi Sol De Mexico De Jose Hernandez<br /> “¡México Por Siempre!” — Luis Miguel<br /> <br /> Best Tropical Latin Album:<br /> <br /> “Pa’ Mi Gente” — Charlie Aponte<br /> “Legado” — Formell Y Los Van Van<br /> “Orquesta Akokán” — Orquesta Akokán<br /> “Ponle Actitud” — Felipe Peláez<br /> “Anniversary” — Spanish Harlem Orchestra<br /> <br /> AMERICAN ROOTS MUSIC FIELD<br /> <br /> Best American Roots Performance:<br /> <br /> “Kick Rocks” — Sean Ardoin<br /> “Saint James Infirmary Blues” — Jon Batiste<br /> “The Joke” Brandi Carlile<br /> “All On My Mind” — Anderson East<br /> “Last Man Standing” — Willie Nelson<br /> <br /> Best American Roots Song:<br /> <br /> “All The Trouble” — Waylon Payne, Lee Ann Womack & Adam Wright, songwriters (Lee Ann Womack)<br /> “Build a Bridge” — Jeff Tweedy, songwriter (Mavis Staples)<br /> “The Joke” — Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)<br /> “Knockin’ On Your Screen Door” — Pat McLaughlin & John Prine, songwriters (John Prine)<br /> “Summer’s End” — Pat McLaughlin & John Prine, songwriters (John Prine)<br /> Best Americana Album:<br /> “By The Way, I Forgive You” — Brandi Carlile<br /> “Things Have Changed” — Bettye LaVette<br /> “The Tree Of Forgiveness” — John Prine<br /> “The Lonely, The Lonesome & The Gone” — Lee Ann Womack<br /> “One Drop Of Truth” — The Wood Brothers<br /> <br /> Best Bluegrass Album:<br /> <br /> “Portraits in Fiddles” — Mike Barnett<br /> “Sister Sadie II” — Sister Sadie<br /> “Rivers and Roads” — Special Consensus<br /> “The Travelin’ McCourys” — The Travelin’ McCourys<br /> “North of Despair” — Wood & Wire<br /> <br /> Best Traditional Blues Album:<br /> <br /> “Something Smells Funky ‘Round Here” — Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio<br /> “Benton County Relic” — Cedric Burnside<br /> “The Blues Is Alive and Well” — Buddy Guy<br /> “No Mercy in This Land” — Ben Harper And Charlie Musselwhite<br /> “Don’t You Feel My Leg (The Naughty Bawdy Blues of Blue Lu Barker) — Maria Muldaur<br /> <br /> Best Contemporary Blues Album:<br /> <br /> “Please Don’t Be Dead” — Fantastic Negrito<br /> “Here In Babylon” — Teresa James And The Rhythm Tramps<br /> “Cry No More” — Danielle Nicole<br /> “Out of The Blues” — Boz Scaggs<br /> “Victor Wainwright and The Train” — Victor Wainwright And The Train<br /> <br /> Best Folk Album:<br /> <br /> “Whistle Down the Wind” — Joan Baez<br /> “Black Cowboys” — Dom Flemons<br /> “Rifles & Rosary Beads” — Mary Gauthier<br /> “Weed Garden” — Iron & Wine<br /> “All Ashore” — Punch Brothers<br /> <br /> Best Regional Roots Music Album:<br /> <br /> “Kreole Rock and Soul” — Sean Ardoin<br /> “Spyboy” — Cha Wa<br /> “Aloha From Na Hoa” — Na Hoa<br /> “No ‘Ane’i” — Kalani Pe’a<br /> “Mewasinsational – Cree Round Dance Songs” — Young Spirit<br /> <br /> REGGAE FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Reggae Album:<br /> <br /> “As The World Turns” — Black Uhuru<br /> “Reggae Forever” — Etana<br /> “Rebellion Rises” — Ziggy Marley<br /> “A Matter of Time” — Protoje<br /> “44/876” — Sting & Shaggy<br /> <br /> WORLD MUSIC FIELD<br /> <br /> Best World Music Album:<br /> <br /> “Deran” — Bombino<br /> “Fenfo” — Fatoumata Diawara<br /> “Black Times” — Seun Kuti & Egypt 80<br /> “Freedom” — Soweto Gospel Choir<br /> “The Lost Songs of World War II” — Yiddish Glory<br /> <br /> CHILDREN’S FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Children’s Album:<br /> <br /> “All The Sounds” — Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats<br /> “Building Blocks” — Tim Kubart<br /> “Falu’s Bazaar” — Falu<br /> “Giants of Science” — The Pop Ups<br /> “The Nation of Imagine” — Frank & Deane<br /> <br /> SPOKEN WORD FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling):<br /> <br /> “Accessory to War (Neil Degrasse Tyson & Avis Lang)” — Courtney B. Vance<br /> “Calypso” — David Sedaris<br /> “Creative Quest” — Questlove<br /> “Faith – A Journey For All” — Jimmy Carter<br /> “The Last Black Unicorn” — Tiffany Haddish<br /> <br /> COMEDY FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Comedy Album:<br /> “Annihilation” — Patton Oswalt<br /> “Equanimity & The Bird Revelation” — Dave Chappelle<br /> “Noble Ape” — Jim Gaffigan<br /> “Standup For Drummers” — Fred Armisen<br /> “Tamborine” — Chris Rock<br /> MUSICAL THEATER FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Musical Theater Album:<br /> <br /> “The Band’s Visit” — Etai Benson, Adam Kantor, Katrina Lenk & Ari’el<br /> Stachel, principal soloists; Dean Sharenow & David<br /> Yazbek, producers; David Yazbek, composer & lyricist<br /> (Original Broadway Cast)<br /> <br /> “Carousel” — Renee Fleming, Alexander Gemignani, Joshua Henry,<br /> Lindsay Mendez & Jessie Mueller, principal soloists;<br /> Steven Epstein, producer (Richard Rodgers, composer;<br /> Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist) (2018 Broadway Cast)<br /> “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” — Sara Bareilles, Alice Cooper, Ben Daniels, Brandon<br /> Victor Dixon, Erik Grönwall, Jin Ha, John Legend,<br /> Norm Lewis & Jason Tam, principal soloists; Harvey<br /> Mason, Jr., producer (Andrew Lloyd-Webber,<br /> composer; Tim Rice, lyricist) (Original Television Cast)<br /> <br /> “My Fair Lady” — Lauren Ambrose, Norbert Leo Butz & Harry<br /> Hadden-Paton, principal soloists; Andre Bishop, Van<br /> Dean, Hattie K. Jutagir, David Lai, Adam Siegel & Ted<br /> Sperling, producers (Frederick Loewe, composer; Alan<br /> Jay Lerner, lyricist) (2018 Broadway Cast)<br /> <br /> “Once On This Island” — Phillip Boykin, Merle Dandridge, Quentin Earl<br /> Darrington, Hailey Kilgore, Kenita R. Miller, Alex<br /> Newell, Isaac Powell & Lea Salonga, principal soloists;<br /> Lynn Ahrens, Hunter Arnold, Ken Davenport, Stephen<br /> Flaherty & Elliot Scheiner, producers (Stephen<br /> Flaherty, composer; Lynn Ahrens, lyricist) (New<br /> Broadway Cast)<br /> <br /> MUSIC FOR VISUAL MEDIA FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media:<br /> <br /> “Call Me By Your Name” — (Various Artists)<br /> “Deadpool 2” — (Various Artists)<br /> “The Greatest Showman” — (Various Artists)<br /> “Lady Bird” — (Various Artists)<br /> “Stranger Things” — (Various Artists)<br /> <br /> Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media:<br /> <br /> “Black Panther” — Ludwig Göransson, composer<br /> “Blade Runner 2049” — Benjamin Wallfisch & Hans Zimmer, composers<br /> “Coco” — Michael Giacchino, composer<br /> “The Shape of Water” — Alexandre Desplat, composer<br /> “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” — John Williams, composer<br /> <br /> Best Song Written For Visual Media:<br /> “All The Stars” — Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Alexander William Shuckburgh, Mark Anthony Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar & SZA)<br /> “Mystery Of Love” — Sufjan Stevens, songwriter (Sufjan Stevens)<br /> “Remember Me” — Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters (Miguel Featuring Natalia Lafourcade)<br /> “Shallow” — Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)<br /> “This Is Me” — Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, songwriters (Keala Settle & The Greatest Showman Ensemble)<br /> <br /> COMPOSING/ ARRANGING FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Instrumental Composition:<br /> <br /> “Blut und Boden (Blood and Soil)” — Terence Blanchard, composer (Terence Blanchard)<br /> “Chrysalis” — Jeremy Kittel, composer (Kittel & Co.)<br /> “Infinity War” — Alan Silverstri, composer (Alan Silvestri)<br /> “Mine Mission” — John Powell & John Williams, composers (John Powell & John Williams)<br /> “The Shape of Water” — Alexandre Desplat, composer (Alexandre Desplat)<br /> <br /> Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella:<br /> <br /> “Batman Theme (TV)” — Randy Waldman & Justin Wilson, arrangers (Randy Waldman Featuring Wynton Marsalis)<br /> “Change The World” — Mark Kibble, arranger (Take 6)<br /> “Madrid Finale” — John Powell, arranger (John Powell)<br /> “The Shape of Water” — Alexandre Desplat, arranger (Alexandre Desplat)<br /> “Stars and Stripes Forever” — John Daversa, arranger (John Daversa Big Band Featuring DACA Artists)<br /> <br /> Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals:<br /> <br /> “It Was a Very Good Year” — Matt Rollings & Kristin Wilkinson, arrangers (Willie Nelson)<br /> “Jolene” — Dan Pugach & Nicole Zuraitis, arrangers (Dan Pugach)<br /> “Mona Lisa” — Vince Mendoza, arranger (Gregory Porter)<br /> “Niña” — Gonzalo Grau, arranger (Magos Herrera & Brooklyn Rider)<br /> “Spiderman Theme” — Randy Waldman, arranger (Randy Waldman Featuring Take 6 & Chris Potter)<br /> PACKAGE FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Recording Package:<br /> <br /> “Be The Cowboy” — Mary Banas, art director (Mitski)<br /> “Love Yourself: Tear” — HuskyFox, art director (BTS)<br /> “Masseducation” — Willo Perron, art director (St. Vincent)<br /> “The Offering” — Qing-Yang Xiao, art director (The Chairman)<br /> “Well Kept Thing” — Adam Moore, art director (Foxhole)<br /> <br /> Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package:<br /> <br /> “Appetite For Destruction (Locked N’ Loaded Box)” — Arian Buhler, Charles Dooher, Jeff Fura, Scott Sandler & Matt Taylor, art directors (Guns N’ Roses)<br /> “I’ll Be Your Girl” — Carson Ellis, Jeri Heiden & Glen Nakasako, art directors (The Decemberists)<br /> “Pacific Northwest ’73-74′: The Complete Recordings” — Lisa Glines, Doran Tyson & Roy Henry Vickers, art<br /> directors (Grateful Dead)<br /> “Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic” — Meghan Foley, Annie Stoll & Al Yankovic, art directors (“Weird Al” Yankovic)<br /> “Too Many Bad Habits” — Sarah Dodds & Shauna Dodds, art directors (Johnny Nicholas)<br /> <br /> NOTES FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Album Notes:<br /> <br /> “Alpine Dreaming: The Helvetia Records Story, 1920-1924” — James P. Leary, album notes writer (Various Artists)<br /> “4 Banjo Songs, 1891-1897: Foundational Recordings of America’s Iconic Instrument” — Richard Martin & Ted Olson, album notes writers (Charles A. Asbury)<br /> “The 1960 Time Sessions” — Ben Ratliff, album notes writer (Sonny Clark Trio)<br /> “The Product of Our Souls: The Sound and Sway of James Reese Europe’s Society Orchestra” — David Gilbert, album notes writer (Various Artists)<br /> “Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13 / 1979-1981” — Amanda Petrusich, album notes writer (Bob Dylan)<br /> “Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by WIlliam Ferris” — David Evans, album notes writer (Various Artists)<br /> <br /> HISTORICAL FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Historical Album:<br /> <br /> “Any Other Way” — Rob Bowman, Douglas Mcgowan, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Jeff Lipton, mastering<br /> engineer (Jackie Shane)<br /> “At The Louisiana Hayride Tonight…” — Martin Hawkins, compilation producer; Christian Zwarg, mastering engineer (Various Artists)<br /> “Battleground Korea: Songs and Sounds of America’s Forgotten War” — Hugo Keesing, compilation producer; Christian Zwarg,<br /> mastering engineer (Various Artists)<br /> “Rhapsody in Blue – The Extraordinary Life of Oscar Levant” — Robert Russ, compilation producer; Andreas K. Meyer & Rebekah Wineman, mastering engineers (Oscar Levant)<br /> “Voices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by WIlliam Ferris” — William Ferris, April Ledbetter & Steven Lance<br /> Ledbetter, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Various Artists)<br /> <br /> PRODUCTION, NON-CLASSICAL FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical:<br /> <br /> “All The Things That I Did and All The Things That I Didn’t Do” — Ryan Freeland & Kenneth Pattengale, engineers; Kim<br /> Rosen, mastering engineer (The Milk Carton Kids)<br /> “Colors” — Julian Burg, Serban Ghenea, David “Elevator” Greenbaum, John Hanes, Beck Hansen, Greg Kurstin, Florian Lagatta, Cole M.G.N., Alex Pasco, Jesse Shatkin, Darrell Thorp & Cassidy Turbin, engineers; Chris Bellman, Tom Coyne,<br /> Emily Lazar & Randy Merrill, mastering engineers (Beck)<br /> “Earthtones” — Robbie Lackritz, engineer; Philip Shaw Bova, mastering engineer (Bahamas)<br /> “Head Over Heels” — Nathaniel Alford, Jason Evigan, Chris Galland, Tom Gardner, Patrick “P-Thugg” Gemayel, Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Tony Hoffer, Derek Keota, Ian Kirkpatrick, David Macklovitch, Amber Mark, Manny Marroquin, Vaughn<br /> Oliver, Chris “TEK” O’Ryan, Morgan Taylor Reid & Gian Stone, engineers; Chris Gehringer & Michelle Mancini, mastering engineers (Chromeo)<br /> “Voicenotes” — Manny Marroquin & Charlie Puth, engineers; Dave Kutch, mastering engineer (Charlie Puth)<br /> Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical:<br /> Boi-1da<br /> Larry Klein<br /> Linda Perry<br /> Kanye West<br /> Pharrell Williams<br /> <br /> Best Remixed Recording:<br /> <br /> “Audio (CID Remix)” — CID, remixer (LSD)<br /> “How Long (EDX’s Dubai Skyline Remix)” — Maurizio Colella, remixer (Charlie Puth)<br /> “Only Road (Cosmic Gate Remix”) — Stefan Bossems & Claus Terhoeven, remixers (Gabriel & Dresden Featuring Sub Teal)<br /> “Stargazing (Kaskade Remix)” — Kaskade, remixer (Kygo Featuring Justin Jesso)<br /> “Walking Away (Mura Masa Remix)” — Alex Crossan, remixer (Haim)<br /> <br /> SURROUND SOUND FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Immersive Audio Album:<br /> <br /> “Eye in The Sky – 35th Anniversary Edition” — Alan Parsons, surround mix engineer; Dave Donnelly, PJ Olsson & Alan Parsons, surround mastering engineers; Alan Parsons, surround producer (The Alan Parsons Project)<br /> “Folketoner” — Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Anne Karin Sundal-Ask & Det Norske Jentekor)<br /> “Seven Words From The Cross” — Daniel Shores, surround mix engineer; Daniel Shores,<br /> surround mastering engineer; Dan Merceruio, surround producer (Matthew Guard & Skylark)<br /> “Sommerro: Ujamaa & The Iceberg” — Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer (Ingar Heine Bergby, Trondheim Symphony Orchestra & Choir)<br /> “Symbol” — Prashant Mistry & Ronald Prent, surround mix engineers; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer; Prashant Mistry & Ronald Prent, surround producers (Engine-Earz Experiment)<br /> <br /> PRODUCTION, CLASSICAL FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Engineered Album, Classical:<br /> <br /> “Bates: The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs” — Mark Donahue & Dirk Sobotka, engineers; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer (Michael Christie, Garrett Sorenson, Wei Wu, Sasha Cooke, Edwards Parks, Jessica E. Jones & Santa Fe Opera Orchestra)<br /> “Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1 — Mark Donahue, engineer; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer (Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)<br /> “John Williams At The Movies” — Keith O. Johnson & Sean Royce Martin, engineers; Keith O. Johnson, mastering engineer (Jerry Junkin & Dallas Winds)<br /> “Liquid Melancholy – Clarinet Music of James M. Stephenson” — Bill Maylone & Mary Mazurek, engineers; Bill Maylone, mastering engineer (John Bruce Yeh)<br /> “Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 11” — Shawn Murphy & Nick Squire, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer (Andris Nelsons & Boston Symphony Orchestra)<br /> “Visions and Variations” — Tom Caulfield, engineer; Jesse Lewis, mastering engineer (A Far Cry)<br /> <br /> Producer Of The Year, Classical:<br /> <br /> Blanton Alspaugh<br /> <br /> David Frost<br /> <br /> Elizabeth Ostrow<br /> <br /> Judith Sherman<br /> <br /> Dirk Sobotka<br /> <br /> CLASSICAL FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Orchestral Performance:<br /> <br /> “Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1” — Manfred Honeck, conductor (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)<br /> “Nielsen: Symphony No. 3 & Symphony No. 4” — Thomas Dausgaard, conductor (Seattle Symphony)<br /> “Ruggles, Stucky & Harbison: Orchestral Works” — David Alan Miller, conductor (National Orchestral Institute Philharmonic)<br /> “Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4” — Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor (San Francisco Symphony)<br /> “Shostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 11” — Andris Nelsons, conductor (Boston Symphony Orchestra)<br /> <br /> Best Opera Recording:<br /> <br /> “Adams: Doctor Atomic” — John Adams, conductor; Aubrey Allicock, Julia Bullock, Gerald Finley & Brindley Sherratt; Friedemann Engelbrecht, producer (BBC Symphony Orchestra; BBC Singers)<br /> “Bates: The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs” — Michael Christie, conductor; Sasha Cooke, Jessica E. Jones, Edwards Parks, Garrett Sorenson & Wei Wu; Elizabeth Ostrow, producer (The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra)<br /> “Lully: Alceste” — Christophe Rousset, conductor; Edwin Crossley-Mercer, Emiliano Gonzalez Toro & Judith<br /> Van Wanroij; Maximilien Ciup, producer (Les Talens Lyriques; Choeur De Chambre De Namur)<br /> “Strauss, R.: Der Rosenkavalier” Sebastian Weigle, conductor; Renée Fleming, Elīna Garanča, Günther Groissböck & Erin Morley; David Frost, producer (Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; Metropolitan Opera Chorus)<br /> “Verdi: Rigoletto” — Constantine Orbelian, conductor; Francesco Demuro, Dmitri Hvorostovsky & Nadine Sierra; Vilius Keras &<br /> Aleksandra Keriene, producers (Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra; Men Of The Kaunas State Choir)<br /> <br /> Best Choral Performance:<br /> <br /> “Chesnokov: Teach Me Thy Statutes” — Vladimir Gorbik, conductor (Mikhail Davydov & Vladimir Krasov; PaTRAM Institute Male Choir)<br /> “Kastalsky: Memory Eternal” — Steven Fox, conductor (The Clarion Choir)<br /> “McLoskey: Zealot Canticles” — Donald Nally, conductor (Doris Hall-Gulati, Rebecca Harris, Arlen Hlusko, Lorenzo Raval & Mandy Wolman; The Crossing)<br /> “Rachmaninov: The Bells” — Mariss Jansons, conductor; Peter Dijkstra, chorus master (Oleg Dolgov, Alexey Markov & Tatiana<br /> Pavlovskaya; Symphonieorchester Des Bayerischen Rundfunks; Chor Des Bayerischen Rundfunks)<br /> “Seven Words From The Cross” — Matthew Guard, conductor (Skylark)<br /> Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance:<br /> <br /> Anderson, Laurie: Landfall” — Laurie Anderson & Kronos Quartet<br /> “Beethoven, Shostakovich & Bach” — The Danish String Quartet<br /> “Blueprinting” — Aizuri Quartet<br /> “Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring Concerto For Two Pianos: — Leif Ove Andsnes & Marc-André Hamelin<br /> “Visions and Variations” — A Far Cry<br /> <br /> Best Classical Instrumental Solo:<br /> <br /> “Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 2″ — Yuja Wang; Simon Rattle, conductor (Berliner Philharmoniker)<br /> “Biber: The Mystery Sonatas” — Christina Day Martinson; Martin Pearlman, conductor (Boston Baroque)<br /> “Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46; Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26” — Joshua Bell (The Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields)<br /> “Glass: Three Pieces in The Shape of a Square” — Craig Morris<br /> “Kernis: Violin Concerto” — James Ehnes; Ludovic Morlot, conductor (Seattle Symphony)<br /> <br /> Best Classical Solo Vocal Album:<br /> <br /> “Arc” — Anthony Roth Costanzo; Jonathan Cohen, conductor (Les Violons Du Roy)<br /> “The Handel Album” — Philippe Jaroussky; Artaserse, ensemble<br /> “Mirages” — Sabine Devieilhe; François-Xavier Roth, conductor (Alexandre Tharaud; Marianne Crebassa & Jodie<br /> Devos; Les Siècles)<br /> “Schubert: Winterreise” — Randall Scarlata; Gilbert Kalish, accompanist<br /> “Songs of Orpheus – Monteverdi, Caccini, D’India & Landi” — Karim Sulayman; Jeannette Sorrell, conductor; Apollo’s Fire, ensembles<br /> <br /> Best Classical Compendium:<br /> <br /> “Fuchs: Piano Concerto ‘Spiritualist’; Poems of Life; Glacier; Rush” — JoAnn Falletta, conductor; Tim Handley, producer<br /> “Gold” — The King’s Singers; Nigel Short, producer<br /> “The John Adams Edition” — Simon Rattle, conductor; Christoph Franke, producer<br /> “John Williams At The Movies” — Jerry Junkin, conductor; Donald J. McKinney, producer<br /> “Vaughan Williams: Piano Concerto; Oboe Concerto; Serenade to Music; Flos Campi” — Peter Oundjian, conductor; Blanton Alspaugh, producer<br /> <br /> Best Contemporary Classical Composition:<br /> <br /> “Bates: The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs” — Mason Bates, composer; Mark Campbell, librettist (Michael Christie, Garrett Sorenson, Wei Wu, Sasha Cooke, Edwards Parks, Jessica E. Jones & Santa Fe Opera Orchestra)<br /> “Du Yun: Air Glow” — Du Yun, composer (International Contemporary Ensemble)<br /> “Heggie: Great Scott” — Jake Heggie, composer; Terrence McNally, librettist (Patrick Summers, Manuel Palazzo, Mark Hancock, Michael Mayes, Rodell Rosel, Kevin Burdette, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Nathan Gunn, Frederica von Stade,<br /> Ailyn Pérez, Joyce DiDonato, Dallas Opera Chorus & Orchestra)<br /> “Kernis: Violin Concerto” — Aaron Jay Kernis, composer (James Ehnes, Ludovic Morlot & Seattle Symphony)<br /> “Mazzoli: Vespers For Violin” — Missy Mazzoli, composer (Olivia De Prato)<br /> <br /> MUSIC VIDEO/FILM FIELD<br /> <br /> Best Music Video:<br /> <br /> “APES***” — The Carters, Ricky Saiz, video director; Mélodie Buchris, Natan Schottenfels & Erinn Williams, video producers<br /> “This Is America” — Childish Gambino, Hiro Murai, video director; Ibra Ake, Jason Cole & Fam Rothstein, video producers<br /> “I’m Not Racist” Joyner Lucas & Ben Proulx, video directors; Joyner Lucas, video producer<br /> “Pynk” — Janelle Monáe, Emma Westenberg, video director; Justin Benoliel & Whitney Jackson, video producers<br /> “Mumbo Jumbo” — Tierra Whack Marco Prestini, video director; Sara Nassim, video producer<br /> <br /> Best Music Film:<br /> <br /> “Life in 12 Bars”— Eric Clapton, Lili Fini Zanuck, video director; John Battsek, Scooter Weintraub, Larry Yelen & Lili Fini Zanuck, video producers<br /> “Whitney” — (Whitney Houston), Kevin Macdonald, video director; Jonathan Chinn, Simon Chinn & Lisa Erspamer, video producers<br /> “Quincy” — Quincy Jones Alan Hicks & Rashida Jones, video directors; Paula DuPré Pesmen, video producer<br /> “Itzhak”— Itzhak Perlman, Alison Chernick, video director; Alison Chernick, video producer<br /> “The King” — (Elvis Presley), Eugene Jarecki, video director; Christopher Frierson, Georgina Hill, David Kuhn & Christopher St. John, video producers

Latest-News Nigeria's Seun Kuti nominated for Grammy’s best world album

Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti and his Egypt 80 band, has been nominated for 61st Grammy’s best world music album for his Black Times album. ...

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Boko Haram attacks UNICEF clinic

<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="504" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfIR7rIzWMdWPemLHMf7NCA2FkLCaQQH6U2WMFbJIefJdxtumpvK1UFvGa6b5fGH31o0JBg25ZRfTqJh5YytOjhk_m71DvzhSDc_L9845cRGy4403gwboDBsaKbObK_uwKMdwS0El-spdS/s400/boko+haram+2018+s.jpg" width="400" /></div> <br /> About three settlements, including a clinic funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund in Borno State have been attacked by Boko Haram.<br /> <br /> Two of the attacks were hatched by the insurgents on Thursday in the Bama and Rann areas, while the third attack happened in Jakana on the Maiduguri-Damaturu Expressway Friday evening.<br /> <br /> The UNICEF funded clinic was razed.<br /> <br /> According to security sources, gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram members made an attempt to infiltrate Bama town on Thursday evening.<br /> <br /> A security source, who confided in our correspondent, said, “The insurgents wanted to invade the town to cause havoc, but unfortunately for them, they were met by battle ready soldiers who repelled them.”<br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a><br /> <br /> A resident of the town, Yusuf Abdullahi, told newsmen that the people of the town were suddenly woken up by the sounds of gunfire and rockets.<br /> <br /> He said throughout the night, no one could sleep in the town as the soldiers engaged the insurgents.<br /> <br /> In Rann, the Boko Haram were said to have destroyed the UNICEF clinic, the only healthcare centre in the town which at different times had been attacked by the insurgents.<br /> <br /> A military source told newsmen that the Nigerian military was able to repel the insurgents after a fierce gun battle on Thursday.<br /> <br /> A resident of the town, Yabawa Aji, in a telephone chat with newsmen with all manner of equipment and shot indiscriminately.<br /> <br /> He said the casualties could not be ascertained yet as many fled into the bush for safety, lamenting that some of the fleeing residents were caught in the crossfire.<br /> <br /> In a statement confirming the attack on Rann, the Chief of Communication at UNICEF, Eliana Drakopoulus, said: “Late last night, there was fighting in Rann and several structures were burned, including a UNICEF-supported clinic.

Latest-News Boko Haram attacks UNICEF clinic

About three settlements, including a clinic funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund in Borno State have been attacked by Boko Haram....

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Reasons why I declined signing the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 into law - BUHARI

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLL3c9TvJuXWeNqQpErSWoLYisB0QZubYqSDM4rgzDpPUuOZvL53cgk3wznDMRxKLx5ulwp4ViLjkAmkrirbe_vI4aS9W7ePifNksLmcCYKvXUtuJ5wj0hH_Qj1PNRJMrK9-ReQRy7nAbu/s640/buhari+a+looks.jpg" width="640" /></div> <br /> President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declined signing the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 into law, saying that it was capable of derailing preparations for 2019 polls. It was the fourth time he would reject the bill as previous rejections were based on observed errors.<br /> <br /> <br /> <a name='more' id="more"></a>The President said he did not want to impose on the country the electoral uncertainty his assent might cause. He said that changing the rules a few months to the next general elections could lead to disruption and confusion. He asked the National Assembly to save the nation’s democracy by ensuring that the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 comes into effect after the February 2019 polls.<br /> <br /> He also raised issues on four amendments to the bill and asked the National Assembly to revisit the observations. Buhari, who made his opinion known in a December 6, 2018 letter to the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, said he had decided to place the interest of the country above any other matter. The letter was titled,‘Presidential decision to decline assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018’.<br /> <br /> It reads: “Pursuant to Section 58(4) of Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), I hereby convey to the Senate my decision on 6th December to decline Presidential Assent to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2018 recently passed by the National Assembly.<br /> <br />  “I am declining assent to the Bill principally because I am concerned that passing a new electoral bill this far into the electoral process for the 2019 general elections, which commenced under the 2015 Electoral Act, could create some uncertainty about the applicable legislation to govern the process. “Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to the election may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which law governs the electoral process.<br /> <br /> “This leads me to believe that it is in the best interest of the country and our democracy for the National Assembly to specifically state in the Bill that the Electoral Act will come into effect and be applicable to elections commencing after the 2019 General Elections.<br /> <br /> “It is also important for the following drafting amendments to be made to the Bill: •Section 5 of the Bill, amending Section 18 of the Principal Act should indicate the subsection to which the substitution of the figure “30” for the figure “60” is to be effected. •Section 11 of the Bill, amending Section 36 should indicate the subsection in which the proviso is to be introduced. •Section 24 of the Bill which amends Section 85(1) should be redrafted in full as the introduction of the “electing” to the sentence may be interpreted to mean that political parties may give 21 days’ notice of the intention to merge, as opposed to the 90 days provided in Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act which provides the provision for merger of political parties •The definition of the term “Ward Collection Officer” should be revised to reflect a more descriptive definition than the capitalised and undefined term “Registration Area Collation Officer.” “Please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”<br /> <br /> President Buhari had refused to sign the Bill the first time as a result of the reordering of the election sequence by the National Assembly, and the second time because of what the Presidency called “drafting errors.” He also declined signing the bill the third time because of what the Presidency called “drafting issues that remained unaddressed.”<br /> <br /> National Assembly may override Buhari There were indications yesterday that the National Assembly may override President Buhari’s withdrawal of assent on the Electoral Act, 2018. Although several calls made to obtain the reaction of the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, yielded no result, a source close to the leadership of the Senate said the National Assembly would likely override the President on the Bill. It is, however, not clear whether the two chambers of the National Assembly can muster the required two-thirds majority to override the President. The source said: “It is obvious that the National Assembly has bent backward almost to breaking point to give the President the benefit of the doubt. “The National Assembly has no other alternative but to override the President because nobody is in doubt that he does not want to sign the Bill.” “The days ahead will determine what will happen.” Senators express divergent views Former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, and Clifford Ordia, who spoke with our correspondent in separate interviews yesterday, expressed divergent views on the refusal of the President to sign the Electoral Act amendment Bill. Ndume said the President must have his reasons for declining assent to the Bill. But the Borno South senator said the National Assembly was at liberty to respond as it deemed fit. He added that the rejection would not affect the conduct of the 2019 general elections, saying “the President does not conduct elections.” He said that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the body in charge of elections.<br /> <br /> “All the president needs to do is to provide the necessary support, which I am certain that he has done,” he said. Ndume added: “I cannot fully comment right now since I am not aware of the reasons given by the President. “I am sure his reasons will be contained in the letter addressed to the leadership of the National Assembly. Let us wait and see till next week.” Senator Ordia, on his part, noted that the rejection of the amendment bill by the President was a clear sign that the APC was not ready to conduct a free and fair election. The Edo Central senator said that the rejection will further cast doubt on the ability of the President to give Nigerians an election that will be accepted by all. Ordia said: “Many of us are not surprised. We knew the amendment bill was not going to be signed.<br /> <br /> “The earlier excuses advanced were just to distract everyone. “Now that we know, we also need to go back to the drawing board as a party and find a way to counter any plans the APC will be hatching.” PDP campaign urges N/Assembly to override Buhari The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) yesterday charged the National Assembly to save the nation’s democracy by immediately overriding President Muhammadu Buhari’s refusal to sign the amendment of the Electoral Act. The PDP Campaign said the legislative action had become imperative as the President’s decision was a calculated attempt to hold the nation to ransom. In a statement signed by the spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the President’s action was capable of injecting crisis into the electoral process and ultimately scuttle the conduct of the 2019 general elections.<br /> <br /> The opposition party insisted that the President was avoiding free and fair contest. The statement said: “President Buhari’s repeated refusal to sign amendments passed to check rigging in the election raises issues of his sincerity of purpose and has the capacity to trigger political unrest and violence, which can, in turn, truncate our hard-earned democracy. “The PPCO invites Nigerians to note that this is the fourth time President Buhari is withholding assent on the amendment, without any cogent reason following his rejection by Nigerians. “Nigerians can recall how the Buhari Presidency plotted to plunge the 2019 elections into a needless controversy by delaying the submission of the election budget to the National Assembly, presenting it at the time the legislators were commencing their annual vacation and asking for virement of funds already approved for development projects, instead of sending a fresh supplementary budget for the election.<br /> <br /> “It is unfortunate that Mr. President, in his desperation to hold on to power, has resorted to taking steps that are capable of destabilising our nation, just because the people are resolute in voting him out of office democratically. “It is also instructive to note that President Buhari is mortally afraid of the amendments because they essentially checked the All Progressives Congress (APC) rigging plans, including the use of underage and alien voters, vote-buying, alteration of results and manipulation of voter register; for which the APC and the Buhari Presidency have been boasting of winning the 2019 elections. “While urging the National Assembly to save our democracy and forestall an imminent electoral crisis, the PPCO also charges all political parties, other critical stakeholders and Nigerians in general to rise in the interest of our nation and demand the entrenching of rules and processes that will guarantee the conduct of free, fair and credible elections, as nothing short of that would be accepted.”<br /> <br /> It may affect deepening of democracy— CNPP The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) warned yesterday that the negative impact of not assenting to amendments to Nigeria’s Electoral Act as contained in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill (2018) before next year’s general elections will endanger the deepening of the country’s democracy. In its reaction to the rejection of the amendments to the bill by President Buhari, CNPP’s Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said in a statement issued in Abuja that “there are indications that a cabal that resents credible electoral process is bent on frustrating the signing of any amendment to the electoral laws ahead of 2019.”<br /> <br />  It urged the National Assembly to save the country’s democracy and veto the President’s assent. According to the umbrella organisation of all registered political parties and political associations in the country, “it has become obvious that while President Buhari may ordinarily wish to ensure credible electoral process, some persons around him, which constitutes the cabal, resent free and fair contest and may have again deceived him into withholding assent to the bill.<br /> <br /> “The CNPP as a body conceived as a common platform for political parties in Nigeria shares common concerns of well-meaning Nigerians on issues bordering on rule of law, promotion and defence of democratic principles and practices.<br /> <br /> “Therefore, this singular rejection of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill (2018) by Mr. President is another repressive attempt to stem multi-party democracy and have completely removed the last hope of level playing ground for all political parties in the forthcoming elections. “It is ironical that President Muhammadu Buhari has been promising free and fair elections and at the same time refusing to give effect to the only instrument that would have proven his commitment to credible electoral process in 2019.<br /> <br />  “As one of the greatest beneficiaries of free and fair election from the last administration, we thought that Mr. President and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should have been at the forefront of promoting transparency in elections. “However, to save our democracy and to take Nigeria’s electoral process to the next level of free and fair polls, not the next level of rigging, we demand that the National Assembly, as a matter of urgency, override Mr. President’s veto with a two-third-majority. “As it stands, the only hope Nigerians have left now rests on the National Assembly’s willingness to do the needful at this trying moment in our democratic journey.”

Latest-News Reasons why I declined signing the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 into law - BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday declined signing the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 into law, saying that it was capable of derailin...

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