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2018 Grammy nominations are here! On Tuesday (Nov. 28), Andra Day revealed the Big 4 categories -- best new artist, record of the year, song of the year, and album of the year -- live on CBS This Morning, and shortly thereafter, the Recording Academy announced the nominees in all 84 categories. JAY-Z leads the pack with eight nominations this year, including nods for album of the year, record of the year, song of the year and best rap album. Kendrick Lamar follows with seven nods, while Bruno Mars is the third most-nominated artist with six. SZA is 2018's most Grammy-nominated woman with five nods; Khalid, Childish Gambino and producer No I.D. also scored five noms. *Best New Artist:*  Alessia Cara  Khalid  Lil Uzi Vert  Julia Michaels  SZA *POP FIELD* *Best Pop Solo Performance:*  “Love So Soft” — Kelly Clarkson  “Praying” — Kesha  “Million Reasons” — Lady Gaga  “What About Us” — P!nk  “Shape Of You” — Ed Sheeran *Best ...

The glow from a ring of incandescent red lava in the crater of Bali’s Mount Agung is clearly visible, as the likelihood of a large eruption on the popular holiday island continues to grow. The burnt orange glow atop Mount Agung could be easily seen at night and in the thick ash column that Indonesia’s disaster agency said was being sent nearly two miles (3km) into the atmosphere. “We could see the magma tonight,” Nyoman Karyiarsa, a resident of Rendang village, told the Guardian on Monday evening. “From 7 pm to 8 pm, we could see a bright red colour from the crater, but it hasn’t come out yet.” The Rendang monitoring post registered powerful and continuous tremors at about 2 pm on Tuesday in Bali, with locals and journalists told to evacuate. The last big eruption in 1963 was preceded by continuous tremors. About 100,000 people in 22 villages within a six-mile red zone around the volcano have been told to leave immediately. Watch video here : http://v.duta.us/mo-WtwAA

Japanese authorities are trying to identify eight people whose partially skeletonised remains were found on a wooden boat that washed up on a beach in the northern Akita prefecture. It comes days after a group of men claiming to be North Korean fishermen washed onshore in the same area. Crew-less boats or vessels with bodies on board, known as "ghost ships" and thought to be North Korean fishing boats, regularly wash up in Japan. They have usually been found on the western coast, which faces North Korea. The discovery is the latest in a string of similar incidents. On Friday, a wooden boat carrying eight men - alive and in reasonably good health - washed up at Yurihonjo city. Reuters news agency reported that two bodies were also found over the weekend at Sado island, with a pack of North Korean cigarettes and other belongings with Korean lettering. The BBC's Celia Hatton says the appearance of "ghost ships" is thought to be a consequence of North Korea'...

Arsene Wenger has assured the Arsenal fans and quashed the hopes of rival clubs by categorically stating that his star players - Mesut Ozil & Alexis Sanchez will at least stay with the Gunners till the end of the current season. When asked whether Alexis and Ozil would remain at Arsenal beyond the January window, Wenger replied: “Yes, of course. No doubt. I don't think every day about that at the moment. As long as they are here, they give their best for the club. As far as I'm concerned, they'll stay until the end of the season unless something unbelievable happens."    "In press conferences, you confront me with speculation, but for me they stay until the end of the season - that's what we decided at the start of the season.”

Director Denis Villeneuve has responded to the criticism he faced over the portrayal of women in his film 'Blade Runner 20149'. The film was released this year and was a sequel to Ridley Scott's original movie starring Harrison Ford. Ford reprised his role of Rick Deckard in the sequel, which also featured actor Ryan Gosling as Agent K. Critics claimed that world in the film was hostile to women and criticised the representation of its female characters. "I am very sensitive to how I portray women in movies. This is my ninth feature film and six of them have women in the lead role," he said in an interview. "The first Blade Runner was quite rough on the women; something about the film noir aesthetic. But I tried to bring depth to all the characters. For Joi, the holographic character, you see how she evolves. It's interesting, I think," he added. The 'Arrival' director also said that cinema shows a mirror to the society and feels 'Blad...

African Player of the Year & Player of the Year  Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Liverpool)  Bertrand Traore (Burkina Faso & Olympique Lyon)   Denis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)  Karim El Ahmadi (Morocco & Feyenoord)  Keita Balde (Senegal & Monaco)  Naby Keita (Guinea & RB Leipzig)  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Borrusia Dortmund)  Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)  Victor Moses (Nigeria & Chelsea)  Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon & Porto)   Yacine Brahimi (Algeria & Porto)    African Player of the Year & Player of the Year (Based in Africa)   Achraf Bencharki (Morocco and Wydad Athletic Club)   Ahmed Fathi (Egypt and Al Ahly)  Ali Maaloul (Tunisia and Al Ahly)   Aristide Bance (Burkina Faso and El Masry)  Ben Malango (DR Congo and TP Mazembe)   Denis Onyango (Uganda and Mamelodi Sundowns)  ...

The Adamawa chapter of All Progressives Congress has confirmed the receipt of the resignation letter of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. The State Secretary of APC, Saidu Nera, confirmed the development on Sunday to News Agency of Nigeria in Yola. Nera said he had yet to get the letter, but the party officials of Jada 1 Ward in Jada Local Government Area where Atiku registered had told him that they had received the letter. Meanwhile, the former vice president, who, on Friday, announced his decision to leave APC, has arrived in Yola where he is now engaged in a series of meetings with Peoples Democratic Party officials at all levels who keep trooping to his house to woo him back into the party. NAN reports that the former vice president has, so far, met with Adamawa PDP executives at all levels, as well as state chairmen from the six states that constituted North East, including the National Vice chairman North East of the party. Commenting on the meeting between Atiku and t...

Manchester City maintained their march towards the Premier League title with a gripping win at Huddersfield, while Ashley ensured Manchester United remain their closest rivals. Liverpool and Chelsea shared the spoils, but Alexis Sanchez lifted Arsenal. Here AFP Sport looks at five things we learned from the Premier League this weekend: City a team for all seasons Trailing to a Nicolas Otamendi own goal on a rain-lashed, freezing afternoon at Huddersfield, for Manchester City this was an acid test. The cynics who greeted Pep Guardiola’s arrival in England with taunts about the Spaniard not knowing what it takes to win in the league’s most inhospitable venues were about to start crowing. But City had the perfect response as Sergio Aguero equalised from the penalty spot before Raheem Sterling’s late winner moved the leaders eight points clear of second placed Manchester United. Guardiola admitted he was delighted with the way City had coped with the test. “The Premier League is so to...

  Armed police are responding to reports of shots being fired at London's Oxford Circus Tube station. The Met said it was responding as if the incident was terrorist related and urged people on nearby Oxford Street to take cover inside buildings. "Oxford Circus Station is closed while we investigate a customer incident," Transport for London said. The Met said armed and unarmed police were at the scene. "At this stage police have not located any casualties," the force said in a statement.  Nearby Bond Street Tube station had also been closed, to prevent overcrowding. In a statement on Twitter, British Transport Police said: "We continue to respond to an incident at Oxford Circus. "The station is currently closed, please avoid the area at this time. Officers are on scene."  UPDATE: 'No suspects, no shots, no casualties' say police Police have found no evidence of shots having been fired, no suspects and no serious casualties after pan...

Living near a busy road may leave men infertile, a study suggests. Experts found those exposed to high levels of air pollution were more likely to have poor quality sperm. The research suggests moving to the countryside could boost their chance of conceiving. There is growing evidence linking tiny particles of traffic fumes, known as particulate matter, to a wide range of health dangers. Researchers looked at the sperm quality of nearly 6,500 men in Taiwan. They also assessed smog levels near each participant’s home address. Those with the highest exposure to fine sooty particles – known as PM2.5 – were most likely to have abnormally-shaped sperm. And increasing levels of pollution also resulted in a significant drop in healthy sperm. One theory is that the heavy metals in dirty air damage DNA and alter sperm production. Scientists from the Chinese University of Hong Kong claim the changes could spell infertility for “significant number of couples.” The study, published in the ...

Zimbabwe’s former president Robert Mugabe was granted immunity from prosecution, sources close to the negotiations said on Thursday. According to the source, Mugabe was assured that his safety would be protected in his home country as part of a deal that led to his resignation. Mugabe ruled Zimbabwe for close to four decades but stepped down on Tuesday after the army seized power and the ruling party turned against him. Emmerson Mnangagwa, the former vice president, is set to be sworn in as president on Friday. Zimbabwe was once one of Africa’s most promising economies but suffered decades of decline as Mugabe pursued policies that included the violent seizure of white-owned commercial farms and money-printing that led to hyperinflation. Most of its 16 million people remain poor and face currency shortages and sky-high unemployment, something Mnangagwa promised to address. “We want to grow our economy, we want peace in our country, we want jobs, jobs, jobs,” he told the crowd, a...

A man was stabbed 100 times, beheaded and had his heart cut out by alleged El Salvadorian gang members in a park near Washington DC, a court reportedly heard on Thursday. Miguel Lopez-Abrego, believed to be a member of the notorious “MS-13” gang, appeared in Montgomery County District Court charged with murder and was remanded in custody, according to Montgomery Community Media. The 19-year-old, who was arrested in North Carolina earlier this month, was one of 10 alleged gang members who planned and took part in the murder at Wheaton Regional Park, just north of the U.S. capital. Police only became aware of the murder in September, when an informant led them to a shallow grave in the park. They have yet to identify the victim, described as a Hispanic male, and believe the murder took place between last December and last March. Prosecutor Kelly McGann told the court that Lopez-Abrego helped dig the grave before the murder, and used a walkie-talkie to inform other gang m...

The Enugu State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has threatened to drag the All Progressives Congress in the state to court over alleged defamation. The PDP made the threat after the APC claimed that Enugu State commissioner for transport, Mr. Vitus Okechi, led thugs to abduct and beat up APC gubernatorial candidate in 2015, Mr. Okey Ezea, during the November 4, 2017, local council elections in the state. APC chairman in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye, had informed journalists that the commissioner ordered the attack on Ezea after he (Ezea) insisted that result sheets must be presented before the commencement of voting in one of the polling units in Igboeze South Local Government Area. The APC also demanded the commissioner’s arrest and prosecution. However, reacting to APC’s allegations on Thursday, the PDP in Enugu State said there was no truth in claims that Ezea was attacked during the local council polls. Speaking on behalf of the PDP, the member representing Igboeze Sout...

Juan Mata wants to follow in the footsteps of Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs and play into his forties at Old Trafford. Manager Jose Mourinho’s arrival in 2016 sparked talk that the 29-year-old could be surplus to requirements because the Portuguese had let him leave Chelsea in January 2014. However, the Spanish playmaker has become an influential figure under Mourinho, whose side are second in the Premier League table. Mata’s contract at United runs out at the end of the season. The club hold the option to add a further year and the Spain international is open to discussing a longer stay. Asked if he can see himself finishing his career at United, Mata told ESPN FC: “Why not? I’m 29 and hopefully I can play football for some more years. “It would be great to play until I’m 40 like Ryan Giggs. But that’s still a bit far, still 11 years. “I’m happy here. The club is massive, the support we have is massive. I’ve been settled down in the city since year one. Now it’s my fourth...

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has taken responsibility for the Peoples Democratic Party’s defeat in the 2015 presidential election. He, therefore, said his priority now “is how to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party regains the Presidency in 2019.” Jonathan said this when Chief Olabode George and his campaign team paid him a courtesy visit in his country home in Otuoke, Bayelsa State on Tuesday. A statement by Bode George Media Office after the meeting quoted the ex-President as saying it was his responsibility to ensure that the PDP rose again as a strong political platform to win the next elections. Jonathan said, “Whether I like it or not, I must take responsibility for the defeat because I led the party to the election. The only thing that will make me sleep well is to ensure that the PDP comes back to power.” The former President said he was working with other stakeholders to ensure that the party was well organised to achieve this purpose though he preferred to w...

Chelsea powered into the Champions League last 16 as Eden Hazard and Willian inspired a 4-0 thrashing of 10-man Qarabag on Wednesday. Antonio Conte’s side reached the knockout stages with a game to spare thanks to influential displays from Hazard and Willian at the Olympic Stadium that knocked Azerbaijanis Qarabag out of the competition. Chelsea will go into their last Group C fixture against Atletico Madrid, who take on Roma at the Wanda Metropolitano later on Wednesday, on 10 points and still in with a chance of finishing top. Hazard scored Chelsea’s first-half opener from the penalty spot after his pass to Willian provoked a foul on the Brazilian from Rashad Sadygov, who was sent off as incredulous Qarabag players questioned both the awarding of the penalty and the red card. Willian doubled Chelsea’s lead nine minutes before the interval, collecting Hazard’s deft back-heeled pass before rolling home. Cesc Fabregas netted Chelsea’s third from the spot in the 73rd minute after a...

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday declared that the party would follow the normal democratic process in choosing its flagbearer in the 2019 Presidential Election. He said the leadership of the party had not endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari as its sole candidate for the forthcoming presidential election. His statement was against the recent endorsement of President Muhammadu as the sole candidate of the APC for the 2019 election by the APC governors. Tinubu held a closed meeting with the leaders of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, the Afenifere, at the residence of the leader of the organisation, Pa. Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, the Ondo State capital. Tinubu, who was at the meeting with the Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, his deputy, Mr. Agboola Ajayi and the Acting Chairman of the APC in the state, Mr. Ade Ademehin, said Buhari was a man who believed in normal democratic process and the rule of law. ...

Robert Mugabe resigned as president of Zimbabwe Tuesday, parliament speaker Jacob Mudenda announced, bringing the curtain down on a 37-year reign. Mugabe was swept from power as his autocratic rule crumbled within days of a military takeover. “I Robert Gabriel Mugabe in terms of section 96 of the constitution of Zimbabwe hereby formally tender my resignation… with immediate effect,” said speaker Mudenda, reading the letter. The bombshell news was delivered to a special joint session of parliament. Lawmakers had convened to debate a motion to impeach Mugabe, who has dominated every aspect of Zimbabwean public life since independence in 1980. It was greeted on the streets of the capital Harare with car horns and wild cheering. It capped an unprecedented week in which the military seized control, tens of thousands of Zimbabwean citizens took to the streets to demand the president go and 93-year-old Mugabe wrestled to remain in power. Mugabe had ruled Zimbabwe almost unopposed sinc...

2017 AMA Final List of Winners We hope you enjoyed our coverage of this year's American Music Awards. Here's the final list of winners: _Artist of the Year_ : *Bruno Mars* _New Artist of the Year_ : *Niall Horan* _Collaboration of the Year_ : *Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber “Despacito”* _Tour of the Year_ : *Coldplay* _Video of the Year_ : *Bruno Mars, “That’s What I Like”* _Favorite Male Artist - Pop/Rock_ : *Bruno Mars* _Favorite Female Artist - Pop/Rock_ : *Lady Gaga* _Favorite Duo or Group - Pop/Rock_ : *Imagine Dragons* _Favorite Album - Pop/Rock_ : *Bruno Mars, 24K Magic* _Favorite Song - Pop/Rock_ : *Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee feat. Justin Bieber, “Despacito”* _Favorite Male Artist - Country_ : *Keith Urban* _Favorite Female Artist - Country_ : *Carrie Underwood* _Favorite Duo or Group - Country_ : *Little Big Town* _Favorite Album - Country_ : *Keith Urban “Ripcord”* _Favorite Song - Country_ : *Keith Urban “Blue Ain’t Your Color”...

Borussia Dortmund have lifted the suspension on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with their star striker set to face Tottenham Hotspur in Tuesday’s Champions League clash. Dortmund’s director of sport Michael Zorc confirmed Aubameyang is back in the squad after his suspension for being late for training and an unauthorised video shoot at the club’s training ground. The Gabon international was left out of Friday’s 2-1 defeat at Stuttgart which saw the early season pacesetters drop to fifth in the Bundesliga table. Aubameyang, the Bundesliga’s top scorer last season, is in a goal drought. He has not added to his tally of 15 goals so far this season in his last five games, dating back to October 14. Third-placed Dortmund must beat Group H leaders Spurs and hope Real Madrid fail to win at APOEL, also on Tuesday, to keep alive their thin hopes of reaching the last 16. Spurs are already assured of a place in the knock-out stages, but a win will see them finish as group winners.

Consultant Endocrinologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Lagos, Dr Ifedayo Odeniyi, has said that less than 200 endocrinologists are currently practising in Nigeria. Odeniyi, who raised the alarm over the acute shortage of these diabetes care specialists in the country, spoke at a capacity building workshop organised by Sanofi Aventis Nigeria Limited as part of activities to mark the 2017 World Diabetes Day. The specialist said that a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet is non– negotiable if Nigerians were to reduce their risk of developing the disease which the World Health organisation has said affects at least 3.9 million Nigerians. He said, “As at now, we have less than 200 endocrinologists in the country and this shortage of specialists is the reason why Nigerians must live a lifestyle that will reduce their risk of getting diabetes. “Many are not exercising. In fact, we have househelps who are healthier than us because we keep sending them on errands back and f...

Arsenal have appointed Borussia Dortmund’s chief scout Sven Mislintat as their new head of recruitment, the Premier League club announced on Monday. Mislintat has spent 10 years at Dortmund and is credited with helping to recruit players such as Shinji Kagawa, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ousmane Dembele and Christian Pulisic. The 45-year-old German, nicknamed ‘Diamond Eyes’ for the talents he spots, will take up his new role in December. He will work alongside Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis to identify potential new signings. “We are delighted that Sven is joining us,” Wenger said in comments published on Arsenal’s website. “Identifying and developing talent is a core part of our philosophy and Sven has an outstanding track record over many years. We look forward to him taking our existing recruitment approach forwards.” Arsenal’s chief scout Steve Rowley has stood down, but will continue to work with the club on a consultancy basis. “We would lik...

Manchester City retained control of the Premier League title race after fine goals by Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne secured a 2-0 win at Leicester City on Saturday. Jesus and De Bruyne struck either side of half-time at the King Power Stadium as Pep Guardiola’s ruthless side registered a 16th successive victory in all competitions. Champions Chelsea climbed to second place with a 4-0 win at West Bromwich Albion in which Eden Hazard scored twice, while Arsenal engineered an impressive 2-0 win over derby rivals Tottenham Hotspur. City provisionally moved nine points clear at the top of the table, although Manchester United can trim their lead back to eight points if they beat Newcastle United in the day’s late game. City captain Vincent Kompany made his first league start since August following his latest calf injury, but fellow centre-back John Stones was forced off in the first half with an apparent hamstring problem. Jesus tapped in David Silva’s pass on the stroke of half-t...

The U.S Centre for Disease Control and prevention said on Friday in Abuja that it has spent over $4bn on HIV/AIDS response programme since 2004. The Country Director, Mr. Mahesh Swaminathan, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on the sideline of a conference on “Partnering for Sustainable HIV Epidemic Control in Nigeria.” The conference, which was organised by CDC for stakeholders in the health sector across the country, sought to discuss the way forward to tackle HIV/AIDS in the country. He identified Nigeria as the third largest country in the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief programme. According to him, the programme has contributed about 64 percent of the total HIV investment in Nigeria, as a major recipient of PEPFAR funds. “CDC has collaborated with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health to support sustainable, country-owned HIV prevention, treatment and care programmes to strengthen the country’s laboratory diseases surveillance. “Working...