T he Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will only give Oscars for acting and writing to humans, a BBC report said. On Friday, May 1, the body behind Hollywood’s biggest film awards announced new rules for which movies and documentaries can enter the Oscars as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) increases. According to the updated guidelines, performances must be “clearly done by humans” and scripts “must be created by a person” to qualify for a nomination. The Academy called the update a “major” change to its rules. This marks the first time the Academy has formally said that Oscars for acting and writing can only go to people. Filmmakers have turned to AI tools more often in recent months to copy or replace human work. The BBC reported that actor Val Kilmer, who died in 2025, will be digitally recreated with AI to star in a new film. Last year, London-based actor and comedian Eline van der Velden revealed she built a fully AI-generated actor she hopes will “become a globa...

T he Osun State Government has called for a full investigation after Nigerian singer Adebayo Adeleke, popularly known as B-Red, survived an alleged assassination attempt in Osogbo on Thursday. The incident took place in the afternoon around the Oke-Fia area of the state capital. According to a statement from Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, B-Red was on a personal errand when a white Toyota Venza and several motorcycles began trailing him. B-Red, who is the son of Governor Ademola Adeleke, said his car was later blocked near Alekuwodo market by people he described as political thugs. He alleged that the group tried to stop his vehicle while shouting to confirm his identity. Fearing for his life, he sped toward the Government House to seek safety. The singer further claimed that a well-known local political enforcer was among those leading the chase. Security officers at the Government House gate quickly intervened, protected B-Red, and dispersed the ...

  F IFA has agreed to a major partnership with YouTube to make the 2026 World Cup easier to watch online. The move is aimed at attracting younger viewers who now spend more time on mobile devices than watching television. The tournament is set to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Under the agreement, broadcasters that already own World Cup rights can stream the first 10 minutes of each match live on YouTube. FIFA describes this as a “teaser” to draw in fans quickly. Once the preview ends, viewers will be directed to traditional TV or official apps to watch the rest of the game. With 104 matches on the schedule, the 2026 World Cup will be the largest in history.  In addition, some networks will be allowed to show full matches on their YouTube channels. This will help FIFA reach areas where fewer people still use cable TV. The partnership also covers more than live games. FIFA plans to upload a wide selection of past World Cu...

N igerian singer Peter Okoye, popularly known as 'Mr P', has signed a five-year, multi-million dollar distribution deal and confirmed the release date for his forthcoming single. In a statement released to fans on Friday, May 1, 2026, the singer disclosed that he recently entered an agreement with an undisclosed distribution company. He noted that release dates will now be “strategically scheduled under the contract,” limiting his control over rollout timelines. “Because of this agreement, I don’t have full control over exactly when songs or the album drop,” Okoye wrote. The first single from his 'OG Forever' album is set for release in May 2026, with three to four singles to precede the full album, expected between October and November 2026. Okoye revealed that over 30 songs were recorded for 'OG Forever', with 15 to 16 tracks to make the final cut. He added that he will share details of the recording process with fans beginning this month. The deal covers two ...

T he Lagos State Police Command has arrested two men over the alleged kidnap and killing of 17 year old Thompson Adams, who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. According to Punch Newspaper report. the incident happened in Ikorodu, Lagos State.   Lagos Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, gave details of the arrest on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Ikeja.   Tijani said the suspects, Elijah Emmanuel, 23, and Tony Ekwen Ogenata, 21, were arrested around 8 p.m. on Monday after the police received credible intelligence.   It was reported that Thompson Adams was returning from an exam hall on Wednesday, April 22, when he was attacked. Police investigations showed the suspects were Adams’ former secondary schoolmates. They tricked him into following them to their apartment and killed him there.   “On April 27, 2026, at about 20.00 hours, our officers acted on credible intelligence and arreste...

P resident Bola Tinubu has named Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu Nigeria’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs. The appointment comes after Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar resigned to take part in the 2027 elections.   Odumegwu-Ojukwu was the Minister of State in the Foreign Affairs Ministry before this new role.   The President also picked Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs. His nomination still needs approval from the Senate.   Before this, Enikanolaiye served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations. He is from Kogi State.   Enikanolaiye is an experienced diplomat with more than 30 years in Nigeria’s foreign service. He once worked as Permanent Secretary in the Foreign Affairs Ministry. He has also served in Nigerian embassies in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi.   Tinubu said these appointments will help reshape Nigeria’s foreign p...

P resident Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered security agencies to track down those behind repeated attacks in Plateau State. He also approved ₦2 billion to support victims of the March 29 attack in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North LGA.   Speaking on Tuesday during a meeting with Plateau stakeholders at the Presidential Villa, Tinubu said the Federal Government will take firm action against anyone responsible for the killings.   He called on community leaders to identify people causing violence in their areas. Tinubu said lasting peace depends on honesty, tolerance, and collective responsibility.   “If you know those fueling violence, report them. Government will act decisively,” he said. He added that justice, fairness, and inclusion must drive efforts to end the crisis.   The meeting was attended by Governor Caleb Mutfwang, former governors, traditional rulers, and other political leaders. Tinubu urged them to work together to find lasting solutions to the i...

C hief Augustine Nwalieze, a 65-year-old manager with Okeyson Transport, was allegedly killed by his gateman at his Ajah residence, in Lagos State, according to Vanguard Newspaper report.   The attack happened on Sunday, April 26,  leaving his family devastated. Nwalieze was said to have been assaulted right after he finished getting ready for church in the morning. A relative who asked to remain anonymous explained that the deceased had gone to the downstairs parking area of his home, where vehicle parts and a solar panel were stored.   Worry set in when family members could not get him on the phone and noticed all his cars were still in the compound.   “We saw that his cars hadn’t moved and he wasn’t answering calls. That’s when we became alarmed about his whereabouts,” the relative said.   The gateman drew suspicion after giving conflicting statements about Nwalieze’s location.   He initially told the family that Nwalieze left wi...

 ‎ Condemnation has failed. To stop attacks on foreigners, Africa must use history, economic pressure, and the law. ‎ ‎BY- Egungwu Chukwuka Benjamin ‎W riting or discussing xenophobic attacks in South Africa requires caution and intelligence. If not handled carefully, especially on social media, it can easily escalate the conflict. Many videos and posts shared online often lack deep understanding or proper explanation of what is really happening. ‎Xenophobia in South Africa is not a new issue. Even before 1994, foreigners and immigrants already faced discrimination and attacks. This was mainly linked to competition for scarce economic opportunities. Some locals saw foreign workers, both legal and illegal, as a threat that takes jobs away from citizens. There was also market competition between foreign and local businesses, as well as complaints about foreigners building romantic relationships with local women. ‎Although locals appear divided, with some strongly condemning the attac...

P resident Bola Tinubu says the security problems in Nigeria will not stop him from running for a second term.  He spoke about the country’s security situation and accused his political opponents of using it to fight him.  “My enemies want to use insecurity in the country to get rid of me, but I’m a stubborn politician who refuses to go, and I will campaign for my second term,” Tinubu said. Many Nigerians are still worried about attacks and killings in different parts of the country. His statement has also reminded people of what he said about security before he became president. When he was in the opposition, Tinubu often said past governments failed to handle insecurity well.  He also supported the Bring Back Our Girls campaign. That movement became known around the world after Boko Haram kidnapped schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State, in 2014. Chibok is in the home state of Vice President Kashim Shettima. That fact still comes up in political talks about security. Watch ...

Y usuf Datti Baba Ahmed, who was the Labour Party’s vice presidential candidate in 2023, says he is leaving the party to join the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP. He shared his plan on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today. Baba-Ahmed said problems inside the Labour Party made him decide to leave. He stated that the party has moved away from the ideas it was built on. “I am leaving the Labour Party tomorrow, Wednesday. When there was peace in the Labour Party, they brought in someone for a special reason. Because of that person’s history, things became hard for me. The Labour Party today is not what it used to be,” he said. He added that he would officially leave the party at midnight. “I am leaving the Labour Party at midnight, and I am joining PRP. That is my new home. The PRP has a long history. It is about 75 years old,” he stated. The PRP was formed in 1978 by the late Aminu Kano. It is one of the oldest political parties in Nigeria and is known for it...

T he Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has told the public that reports about it selling scrap from its refineries are not true. In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, NNPC Limited said it has not asked for bids or given anyone approval to sell scrap metals, refinery parts, or any items from its warehouses. The company said it has heard that some people are claiming to be NNPC Limited staff or agents. These people say they can help buyers get “scrap metals” or refinery equipment. “These people are not working for NNPC Limited and they are trying to cheat the public,” the company said. NNPC Limited asked the public, businesses, and others in the oil industry to ignore such claims and be careful when dealing with anyone who makes them. “To be clear, NNPC Limited is not selling, and has not allowed anyone to sell, scrap metals, equipment, or refinery parts from any of our sites,” the statement said. The company explained that if it ever needs to sell any of its items, it w...

T wo Nigerian men have been killed in South Africa in separate incidents linked to rising hostility toward foreigners, sparking fresh worries over the safety of Nigerians in the country. The Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg confirmed the deaths on Monday, identifying the victims as Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew. According to Consul-General Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, Emmanuel died after he was allegedly beaten by officers of the South African National Defence Force on April 20. Andrew was arrested on April 19 in Booysens, Pretoria, following an alleged dispute with Tshwane Metro Police officers, Okey-Uche said. He was later found dead at the Pretoria Central Mortuary. Both deaths involved security officials and have triggered anger within the Nigerian community in South Africa. Diplomatic concerns have also been raised. Nigerians in South Africa are urging the Federal Government to urgently speak with South African authorities to guarantee their safety. The consulate has f...

G overnor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has publicly backed his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, to succeed him as Lagos State governor in 2027, saying Hamzat is capable and ready for the job. Speaking on Monday, Sanwo-Olu pointed to their seven years working together as proof of Hamzat’s character. “He is a man of integrity, loyalty, commitment, and support,” the governor said. The endorsement came during a private meeting at Lagos House, Marina. At the meeting, Hamzat informed the State Executive Council and senior leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, of his plan to run for governor, Sanwo-Olu told journalists after the session. A viral video from the gathering shows Sanwo-Olu raising Hamzat’s hand after praying for him, while those in the room applauded. Sanwo-Olu said stakeholders at the meeting all agreed to support Hamzat.  “We just received Mr. Deputy, who came with a very powerful delegation of our leaders in the state to inform us of his intention to contest for the governorship pos...

T he Federal Government has introduced a new National Textbook Ranking System for primary and secondary schools to improve quality and bring uniformity to classroom materials, the Federal Ministry of Education said Saturday in a press release signed by Director of Press and Public Relations Boriowo Folasade. The system will cover Primary, Junior Secondary, and Senior Secondary levels and is designed to reduce the flood of textbooks in schools, the Ministry said. Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa and Minister of State for Education Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad stated that the move will ensure only high-quality, curriculum-compliant books are approved for use. NERDC will keep its legal duty to approve textbooks, but every approved title will now face an extra ranking process to pick the most suitable ones for each subject and class level, the ministers explained. To carry out the rankings, NERDC will set up Standing Subject Committees of experts, the Ministry noted. The committees w...