Legendary Nigerian musician and Afrobeat pioneer, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, will be posthumously honoured with a Special Merit Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
The Recording Academy recognised Fela as the “architect of Afrobeat,” highlighting his transformative influence on the genre and his enduring impact on generations of artists.
“An architect of Afrobeat, honoured for a lifetime of influence. Fela Kuti was a Nigerian musician, producer, arranger, political radical, activist, and the father of Afrobeat. In the 1960s, he created the genre by combining funk, jazz, salsa, calypso, and a blend of traditional Nigerian rhythms,” the statement said.
Fela will join an illustrious list of past recipients, including Whitney Houston, Cher, and Paul Simon.
His innovative fusion of musical styles in the 1960s laid the foundation for modern Afrobeat, and his influence reaches global stars such as Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, and Thom Yorke.
Fela’s legacy continues through his family, the Kalakuta Museum, and the New Afrika Shrine.
“His influence spans generations, shaping modern Nigerian Afrobeats and inspiring global artists such as Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, and Thom Yorke. His legacy continues to live on not only through music, but through his family and through the Kalakuta Museum and the New Afrika Shrine,” the Academy added.
The Special Merit Awards ceremony will be held on January 31, 2026, during Grammy Week, ahead of the main Grammy Awards event. (TVCNews)
The U.S. Supreme Court refused on Tuesday to let Donald Trump send National Guard troops to the Chicago area as the Republican president expands the use of the military for domestic purposes in a growing number of Democratic-led jurisdictions, a policy critics call an effort to punish adversaries and stifle dissent.
The justices denied the Justice Department’s request to lift a judge’s order that has blocked the deployment of hundreds of National Guard personnel in a legal challenge brought by Illinois state officials and local leaders. The department had asked to allow the deployment while the litigation plays out.
The National Guard serves as state-based militia forces that answer to state governors except when called into federal service by the president.
Trump ordered troops to Chicago, the third-largest U.S. city, and to Portland, Oregon, following his earlier deployments to Los Angeles, Memphis and Washington, DC.
The case has been characterized by starkly different portrayals of the protests against Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement in and around Chicago.
Trump and his allies have described Democratic-led cities as lawless, crime-ravaged and plagued with vast, violent protests. His administration has said troops are needed to protect federal property and personnel.
Democratic mayors and governors, along with other Trump critics, have said these claims are a false account of the situation and a pretext for sending troops, accusing Trump of abusing his power.
Federal judges have expressed skepticism over the administration’s dire view of protests that local law enforcement officials have called limited in size, largely peaceful and manageable by their own forces – far from the “war zone” conditions described by Trump.
Trump has relied on a law that lets a president deploy state National Guard troops to suppress a rebellion, repel an invasion or if he is “unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.”
Illinois and Chicago sued after the administration federalized 300 Illinois National Guard troops and also ordered Texas National Guard troops into the state, calling the actions unlawful. Officials have since announced the administration was sending home hundreds of National Guard troops who were dispatched to Portland from California, and to Chicago from Texas.
Chicago-based U.S. District Judge April Perry temporarily blocked the move on October 9, finding that the claims of violence during protests at an immigration facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview, Illinois, where a small group of demonstrators had gathered daily for weeks, were unreliable.
Perry, an appointee of Democratic former President Joe Biden, found that there was no evidence of rebellion or that the law was not being enforced, faulting officials for “equating protests with riots and a lack of appreciation for the wide spectrum that exists between citizens who are observing, questioning and criticizing their government, and those who are obstructing, assaulting or doing violence.”
A National Guard deployment would “only add fuel to the fire,” Perry said.
A three-judge panel of the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to lift Perry’s order blocking the deployment, concluding that “the facts do not justify the president’s actions in Illinois.” Two of the three judges were appointed by Republican presidents, including one by Trump.
The Justice Department told the Supreme Court that the assessment by local officials of the protests was “implausibly rosy,” and that federal agents “have been forced to operate under the constant threat of mob violence.”
Lawyers for Illinois and Chicago told the justices that the local protests have “never hindered the continued operation” of the Broadview facility, and that state and local authorities have responded to every request for assistance and contained any sporadic disruption.
Officials from Portland and Oregon are pursuing a separate legal challenge to Trump’s planned deployment to that city. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, permanently blocked that deployment in a November 7 ruling. The administration has appealed that ruling.
The Supreme Court in October asked the administration as well as Illinois and Chicago to provide written arguments over how to interpret the words “regular forces” in the law at issue in the case.
In an October 10 written ruling, Perry said that historical sources indicate that “regular forces” means only members regularly enlisted in the military, including the Army and Navy, as opposed to the National Guard.
Trump’s administration “made no attempt to rely on the regular forces before resorting to federalization of the National Guard,” Perry said, adding that there are other limits on the use of the military for domestic law enforcement purposes.
The administration repeatedly has sought the Supreme Court’s intervention to allow implementation of Trump policies impeded by lower courts. The Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has sided with the administration in almost every case that it has been called upon to review since Trump returned to the presidency in January. (JapanToday)
Liverpool striker Alexander Isak will be laid up for two months with a broken ankle and fibula from a tackle that coach Arne Slot described as reckless on Tuesday.
Isak had surgery on Monday, two days after he was injured in the act of scoring the opening goal of a 2-1 win over Tottenham in the Premier League.
“It’s going to be a long injury, for a couple of months,” Slot said. “It’s a big disappointment for him and, as a result, for us.
“This was, for me, a reckless challenge. I’ve said a lot about the tackle of Xavi Simons (who was sent off for dragging his studs down the calf of Virgil van Dijk in the same game) which for me was completely unintentional.
“I don’t think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that. But the tackle of (Micky) van de Ven (on Isak), if you make a tackle like that 10 times, 10 times there is a serious chance the player gets a serious injury.”
Van de Ven slid into Isak and trapped his shooting foot just after he’d shot.
TV analyst and Liverpool great Jamie Carragher defended Van de Ven.
“There’s a lot been made about a lot of the challenges in the game from Tottenham players and a lot of them weren’t clever,” Carragher told Sky Sports on Monday.
“I’ve put myself in Van de Ven’s position and that’s a challenge I’d probably make. He’s trying to block it, it’s just the follow through. I don’t know where else anyone thinks his foot’s going to go. He has to make that challenge. You can’t let the striker just get a shot away there in that situation.
“It’s just really bad luck for Isak. It’s probably one of the first glimpses we’ve seen of his real quality in a Liverpool shirt.”
Slot was doubly disappointed for Isak because the Sweden international was just getting up to speed.
The $170 million British record signing didn’t have a preseason because of his dispute with Newcastle then his fitness was set back by a groin injury in October.
Liverpool was patiently building him up and he’d started five of the last nine games but Slot, who expects Isak back before the end of the season, doesn’t believe he’ll be as sharp as he was last season for Newcastle.
“It’s been a really challenging and difficult period for him. Usually when you join a new club — he was very excited as well — you want to show all the qualities you have but that was simply impossible,” Slot said.
“Maybe no one understands but if you haven’t trained on a serious level for three or four months with the team and you are playing in this league you have to be on top of your game to impact a game of football.
“That took months because there was no preseason, just games, games, games and hardly any time to train. We all knew it would take him time and that’s why he is so unlucky he is now injured because we all saw with his goal against West Ham and with this goal (against Tottenham) he gets closer and closer to the player he was last season at Newcastle.” (JapanToday)
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has announced automatic employment for the two sons of his police rider, Deputy Superintendent of Police Hussani Ibrahim, who died in a motor accident on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on Sunday.
Akpabio made the announcement on Tuesday on the floor of the Senate while formally informing lawmakers of the officer’s death.
The late DSP Ibrahim, who served as the Senate President’s rider, according to a Premium Times report, was killed on Sunday when a petrol tanker rammed into Akpabio’s convoy.
The incident reportedly occurred in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, after the Senate President was picked up at the airport following his attendance at the chieftaincy conferment for Senator AbdulAzeez Yari and Seyi Tinubu in Oyo.
Speaking on the incident during plenary, Akpabio said, “We went to Oyo State for the installation of our colleague and the vehicles that came to pick me at the Ibadan airport… Unfortunately, my dispatch rider was run over by a tanker driver, and his head was shattered. We just buried him 15 minutes ago in Kogi State. He left two wives and four children.”
The Senate President appealed to heads of ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government to grant automatic employment to the children of the late rider.
He added that if no vacancies were available, he would personally ensure their employment.
“By the grace of God, I’m recommending two of his senior children for employment immediately in any parastatals that may wish to, otherwise I’ll employ them personally in any of my private concerns,” Akpabio added.
In a solemn address, Akpabio paid tribute to the deceased officer, describing him as a disciplined and dedicated professional whose life was defined by service.
Addressing the bereaved family, the Senate President said, “Your late father understood the value of work and service. He devoted himself to it. Unfortunately, instead of earning a laurel for the devotion, he earned death.
“But it is death that is not in vain. It is death that testifies to his legacy of service. May the Lord accept his soul.”
Akpabio also extended condolences to the family of the deceased, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Nigeria Police Force, describing Ibrahim as courageous and fearless.
“I commiserate with the family, the Inspector General of Police and the Nigeria Police Force over the loss of this courageous, fearless, and daring officer.
“While I pray to God to accept his soul, may He in His infinite mercy grant the family and the Nigeria Police Force the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” he said.
The Senate President explained that the pledge of automatic employment for the late officer’s sons was a personal gesture aimed at honouring his sacrifice and years of dedicated service.
Shortly after the announcement, Kogi West senator, Sunday Karimi, raised a motion for personal explanation to formally present the incident to the Senate through a substantive motion.
While sympathising with the Senate President, Karimi said the late dispatch rider was due for retirement next year.
He added that Mr Hussaini, a native of Kogi State, had served in Akpabio’s convoy since 2023, when he assumed office as Senate President.
Also on Tuesday, the Senate paid tribute to Alhaji Ibrahim Tukur, who died recently.
Tukur was described as a committed and dedicated driver who served for 25 years under the senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Jibrin Echocho.
The Senate observed a minute’s silence in honour of both deceased individuals and offered prayers for the repose of their souls. (Punch)
Senegal kicked off their AFCON 2025 campaign with a 3-0 victory over Botswana, powered by a brace from Bayern Munich striker Nicholas Jackson.
The Chelsea loanee opened the scoring in the first half and doubled the lead in the second, giving the Lions of Teranga a comfortable start to the tournament.
Second-half substitute Ndiaye wrapped up the win with a simple tap-in, sealing Senegal’s victory.
So far, Jackson is the only player to have scored twice in the competition, putting him in contention for the Golden Boot.
Senegal will face DR Congo in their next AFCON 2025 group-stage match on December 27, 2025. (Punch)
Venus Williams and Andrea Preti are married, the tennis great announced Tuesday on social media.
Williams and Preti became wife and husband over the weekend in Palm Beach, Florida, as part of a five-day celebration.
After becoming the second-oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match in July, the 45-year-old Williams gave thanks to her fiance, who was in the stands at the DC Open. Preti is a Danish-born Italian model and actor, according to the website IMDB.
Williams hadn’t played in a tournament in 16 months until entering the event in Washington.
The seven-time Grand Slams singles champion plans to play in a 33rd straight season on the WTA Tour, starting in Auckland in January. (JapanToday)
Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in their controversial Netflix-backed bout in Miami on Friday.
Two-time world champion Joshua made hard work of defeating his vastly less experienced opponent, but finally made his superior size and power count in the later stages of the eight-round fight.
A mediocre contest at the Kaseya Center — with the two men reportedly splitting a mammoth purse of $184 million — descended into farce at times, with Paul repeatedly dropping to the canvas and grappling at Joshua’s legs.
At one stage even referee Christopher Young appeared to be losing patience, warning the fighters in the fourth round: “The fans did not pay to see this crap.”
As Paul tired, Joshua finally began to land punches with more regularity and after knocking down the American twice in the fifth round the end came swiftly in the sixth.
Joshua backed the 28-year-old into a corner and after teeing up Paul with a crunching left, delivered the knockout blow with a right to the chin that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.
“It wasn’t the best performance,” Joshua, 36, admitted afterwards. “But the end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him.
“That was the request leading up, and that was on my mind. It took a bit longer than expected but the right hand finally found its destination.”
Joshua meanwhile praised Paul for lasting into the later rounds.
“I want to give him his props — he got up time and time again,” Joshua said. “It was difficult in there for him, but he kept on trying to find a way. It takes a real man to do that.”
Paul, meanwhile, his mouth bloodied from Joshua’s final assault, said he believed his jaw had been broken — but was satisfied with his performance.
“That was fun. I gave it my all,” Paul said. “I had a blast. I think my jaw is broken by the way. But Anthony’s one of the best to ever do it so. I’m gonna come back and get a world championship.
“I just got tired to be honest — like it was so much handling his weight. I think with better cardio I could have kept it up and kept on fighting. But he hits really hard.”
Friday’s made-for-streaming contest, which came just over a year after Paul had fought a 58-year-old Mike Tyson in a much-derided Netflix fight, had triggered alarm across boxing given the disparity in size and experience between the two men.
Yet the devastating first or second round knockout by Joshua that most had predicted failed to materialize as Paul scrambled desperately to stay outside of the 2012 Olympic champion’s range.
Joshua, fighting for the first time in 15 months, always looked the more threatening fighter though, landing 48 of 146 punches thrown compared to Paul’s meagre total of 16 punches landed. (JapanToday)
The Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has distributed more than 2,000 bags of rice and other relief items to constituents across the five local government areas in the district as part of her Christmas outreach.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by her Special Adviser on Media, Mike Idoko.
The distribution, which was carried out simultaneously in Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okene, Okehi, and Ogori-Magongo Local Government Areas, aimed to cushion the impact of rising food prices and ensure that families celebrate the festive season with dignity.
Speaking during the outreach, Akpoti-Uduaghan said the initiative was driven by compassion and her conviction that leadership must translate into tangible benefits for the people.
“Christmas is a season of love, sacrifice, and shared joy. At a time when many households are struggling with the cost of living, it is important that we stand with our people in practical ways.
“This rice distribution is to ensure that families across Kogi Central can celebrate without hardship,” the senator said.
The distribution of the 25kg bags of rice cut across community groups, women’s associations, youth organisations, religious bodies, the elderly, and other vulnerable residents across the senatorial district.
Community leaders who supervised the exercise described the intervention as one of the largest Christmas rice distributions ever witnessed in the area.
“This is not symbolic support; it is real and far-reaching. The quantity and reach of this rice distribution show genuine concern for the grassroots,” a traditional leader in Okene noted.
The Christmas outreach adds to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s growing record of constituency interventions, including programmes in healthcare delivery, educational support, solar-powered infrastructure, water projects, as well as initiatives for women’s and youth empowerment across Kogi Central.
Addressing beneficiaries in Okehi, the senator reaffirmed her commitment to service-driven representation.
“My responsibility goes beyond the Senate chamber. Representation means being present, listening to the people, and responding with action that improves daily life,” she stated.
Beneficiaries expressed gratitude and offered prayers for the senator, describing the gesture as timely, compassionate, and reflective of people-centred leadership.
The development comes barely one week after Senate President Godswill Akpabio approached the Supreme Court over the legal battle arising from the suspension of the Kogi Central senator.
The move was confirmed in court documents dated December 1, 2025, made available to our correspondent on Sunday.
This followed a recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, which struck out the Federal Government’s brief of argument in the appeal linked to Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension.
The appellate court held that the brief was incompetent, having failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of the Court of Appeal Rules on formatting and procedure. (Punch)
South African singer Tyla has become the African artist with the highest number of monthly listeners on Spotify, overtaking Nigerian stars Burna Boy and Tems.
The achievement makes the 22-year-old singer the most-followed African artiste on the streaming platform, showing how quickly she has risen and gained international attention.
Born Tyla Laura Seethal, the Johannesburg-born singer broke into the global spotlight in 2023 with her hit single Water. The song became a viral success across social media platforms, especially TikTok, and helped introduce Tyla to a worldwide audience.
Water went on to chart in several countries and earned Tyla worldwide recognition.
The success of the track marked a turning point in her career, positioning her as one of Africa’s most visible music exports.
Since then, Tyla has released other songs such as Kick to Start, Truth or Dare, and Channel which have helped sustain her momentum and attract new listeners across different markets.
In 2024, Tyla won the Grammy Award for Best African Music Performance with Water, making her one of the youngest African artistes to receive the honour.
Beyond the Grammys, Tyla has also won several international awards. She has won the MTV Video Music Awards, the BET Awards and the MTV Europe Music Awards, recognising both her music and her impact as a rising pop figure.
Her growing list of accolades has helped position her as one of the most influential young artistes from Africa.
By surpassing Burna Boy and Tems in monthly listeners, Tyla joins a small group of African artistes whose music consistently attracts a massive global audience.
Burna Boy is known for his dominance and Grammy-winning career, while Tems has also enjoyed international success and also won several music awards, including the Grammys through collaborations and solo releases.
As Tyla’s fan base continues to grow, fans are glued to see more releases, tours and collaborations from her as we approach 2026. (Guardian)
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has said the command arrested 821 suspects for various crimes and rescued 377 kidnapped victims across the state in 2025.
Agbonika disclosed this on Monday, while addressing journalists during a press conference in Benin, where he presented a summary of the command’s major achievements for the year.
According to figures released by the police, the arrests included 39 suspects for armed robbery, 171 for kidnapping, 117 for murder, 62 for rape and sexual offences, 239 for cultism, 36 for unlawful possession of firearms, and 157 for other offences.
The command also recorded significant recoveries, including 11 stolen vehicles, 188 firearms of different calibres, and 422 rounds of ammunition. In addition, 377 victims abducted by kidnappers were rescued during police operations across the state.
“As we celebrate the Christmas season and prepare for the New Year, I wish the good people of Edo State a peaceful, safe, and prosperous festive period.
“I urge everyone to remain vigilant, law-abiding, and cooperative with security agencies,” Agbonika said.
The commissioner also issued a strong warning over the reported disappearance of corpses from some morgues in the state, describing the act as criminal and unacceptable.
“Such acts are criminal, inhuman, callous and gross violations of the sensitivity of the bereaved, and I assure the public that anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law without exception,” he said.
Agbonika further advised residents to make use of government-owned mortuaries, stressing the need for accountability and proper oversight.
“I also advise families and those in need of mortuary services to patronize government-owned mortuaries where proper oversight and accountability are guaranteed,” he added.
He reminded members of the public that the police emergency lines remain operational round the clock.
“Members of the public are once again reminded to utilize our 24-hour emergency contact lines which remains fully active,” the Commissioner said.
Agbonika thanked residents and the media for their cooperation with the police, pledging the command’s continued commitment to protecting lives and property in Edo State. (Punch)
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