The dollar surged and Bitcoin hit a record high on Wednesday as traders bet on a victory for Donald Trump, with the ex-president securing key swing states necessary to take the White House. This boosted expectations for fresh tax cuts, tariffs, and rising inflation.

While polls had shown the race on a knife-edge, the Republican candidate appeared to be faring better than his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, as results rolled in.

Both candidates had secured expected wins in safe states, but indications that the business tycoon was edging ahead boosted the so-called Trump Trade.

Although many key swing states were still too close to call, Trump won Georgia and North Carolina, with others still undecided.

News that the former president’s party had taken control of the Senate further boosted prospects for sweeping tax cuts, additional tariffs, and deregulation—seen as favourable for the greenback.

The dollar jumped by 1.5 per cent to 154.33 yen, its highest since July. It also rose by more than one per cent against the euro and by more than three per cent against the Mexican peso.

Bitcoin surged nearly $6,000, hitting a record $75,330.88, surpassing its previous peak of $73,797.98 in March.

Trump has pledged to make the United States the “Bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world” and to appoint tech billionaire Elon Musk to lead a wide-ranging audit of governmental waste.

“The price of Bitcoin has closely followed Trump’s position in the polls and on betting markets,” said analyst Russ Mould from AJ Bell ahead of Tuesday’s US election.

Investors are “potentially taking the view that a Republican victory would lead to a surge in demand for the digital currency,” he added.

Analysts stated that a clean sweep of Congress and the White House by Trump and the Republicans would likely boost the dollar and treasury yields, due to his plans to cut taxes and impose tariffs on imports.

Republican control of the Senate and House “could bring sweeping spending or tax policy shifts. However, congressional gridlock could suppress volatility,” said Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management.

Economist and Esho Capital founder Peter Esho noted, “The markets are scrambling to figure out what happens next, but for the time being, the market is pricing in a higher growth and higher inflation outlook.”

Such an outcome could pose a headache for Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell, who is still battling to bring inflation under control, with Trump’s plans considered inflationary.

The election coincides with the central bank’s latest policy decision, expected on Thursday, amid speculation it will cut interest rates by 25 basis points, following a 50-point reduction in September.

The dollar’s surge against the yen lifted stocks more than three per cent in Tokyo at one point, thanks to gains in exporters, while markets in Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore, Taipei, Mumbai, and Bangkok also rose.

However, there were losses in Seoul, Wellington, Manila, and Jakarta.
Hong Kong saw a steep decline, diving nearly two per cent at one point, due to concerns about the impact of a Trump presidency on China’s economy and the relations between Beijing and Washington.

Traders had received a strong lead from Wall Street, where all three main indices climbed by more than one per cent.

While the result of the election is being closely watched globally, it is of particular interest in China, after Trump vowed to escalate the trade battle with the economic giant by imposing massive tariffs on Chinese goods.

The vote comes as Chinese leaders hold a key meeting to discuss a package of stimulus measures aimed at kick-starting growth and supporting the struggling property sector, which is facing a painful debt crisis.

– Key figures around 0620 GMT –

Dollar/yen: UP at 153.85 yen from 151.60 yen on Tuesday

Euro/dollar: DOWN at $1.0746 from $1.0930

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2884 from $1.3035

Euro/pound: DOWN at 83.41 from 83.82 pence

Tokyo – Nikkei 225: UP 2.4 per cent at 39,405.19 (close)

Hong Kong – Hang Seng Index: DOWN 2.0 per cent at 20,585.45

Shanghai – Composite: UP 0.4 per cent at 3,400.69

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.8 per cent at $70.73 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.8 per cent at $74.19 per barrel

New York – Dow: UP 1.0 per cent at 42,221.88 (close)

London – FTSE 100: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 8,172.39 (close)

AFP

American political scientists John W Spanier and Robert L. Wendzel published a book in 1972, which they called Games Nations Play. In the book, they likened international relations to a game of chess played by various state actors who often disguise their real intentions in each move they make. 

I have adapted John Spanier’s title because I also believe that Nigeria’s ‘oil cabals’ are playing games with Nigerians. The word ‘cabal’ typically is used to designate political intrigues involving persons or entities of some eminence. Following from this, members of the oil cabal in Nigeria are the government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Dangote Refinery and oil marketers. No one really knows who is telling the truth among these entities, which seem to be playing some shenanigans with Nigerians over the pricing of fuel.

 What we can surmise from all their game is that there are obvious personal and institutional interests that need to be protected and probably none of the members of the cabal is telling us the whole truth. Take Dangote for instance. For a long time the belief among Nigerians was that once the Dangote Refinery came on-stream, the pump prices of fuel would fall drastically or at least moderate. For this, when Nigerians felt the government was using the NNPCL to frustrate the Dangote Refinery, they came out in support of the company and its founder, Aliko Dangote. They created a simplistic binary narrative in which Aliko Dangote(the man who successfully built a world-class refinery that the government couldn’t do) was held up as the good guy while the other members of the cabal were projected as the bad guys. However, as fuel prices continued to soar to the high heaves, amid the bickering between the NNPCL, oil marketers and Dangote, many are no longer sure where to put the blame. This is especially so as Dangote has understandably taken a public position that government should not be subsidizing fuel.  Of course government subsidizing fuel – something many Nigerians feel is the right thing to do if the corruption and opacity in the subsidy regime is frontally addressed – would be bad business for him. 

Dangote has also reportedly made moves to get the government to ban the importation of fuel while marketers are reportedly claiming that imported fuel will be cheaper for Nigerians than buying from Dangote. I admire what Dangote has been able to achieve for himself and the country as a businessman. But I can also see why ideologically his feat in building a refinery may make it more difficult for the forces arguing for subsidies to be brought back on the premise that subsidizing fuel would cascade better throughout the entire value chain of the country’s economy than subsidizing any other sector.

In my column of September 9, 2023 titled: ‘Was there really a consensus that fuel subsidy should go?’ I challenged the notion that there was a consensus that fuel subsidy should be removed. I argued that the wrong notion that there was a “consensus” that the subsidy on fuel price should be removed seems to have been amplified by a number of factors: 

One, is the media orchestration of the fact that the three leading candidates in the last presidential election – Tinubu of the APC, Atiku of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party are all free marketers, who in the course of their campaigns, had said they would remove subsidies on fuel if elected.

Two, is that the constant media repetition of this lie that there was a ‘consensus’ tended to make it acquire the toga of truth – in line with the dictum of Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda for the Nazi government of the Third Reich who infamously was quoted as saying: “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it people will eventually come to believe it.” 

Three, many Nigerians were disenchanted by the obvious corruption in the subsidy regime. For instance, a report by the Businessday of May 22, 2023 revealed that Buhari, who had called fuel subsidy a scam as an opposition politician, ended up spending more on fuel subsidy than his three predecessors in the current democratic dispensation combined.

Four, critical voices, essentially from the Lagos axis, who used to be the guiding spirits or quiet funders of anti-government protests, including the protest over the removal of fuel subsidy in January 2012 (aka ‘Shutdown Nigerian’ protest) became quiet or muffled when the APC came to power in 2015 as they became either emotionally aligned to the party or became weakened by that alliance.

I argued that checkmating the fraud in the subsidy regime and gradually reducing the level of the subsidy would have been more productive because maintaining a level of subsidy on PMS and fertilizer will also mean subsidizing food and manufacturing as well as the middle class (who are the most productive segment of the population). I further argue that maintaining a level of subsidy on PMS will cascade throughout the entire value chain of the country and therefore better than trying to narrowly target a particular demographic with handouts (otherwise called palliatives). Besides, I also contended that there was no logic in the government removing subsidy on fuel (where it is most needed) just to be able to create subsidies in other sectors – in a rather very inefficient and unconvincing manner. 

Obviously I do not think anyone who had invested billions of dollars to build a costly refinery as Dangote did would fold his hands for his investment to be ruined through government subsidy of fuel. I believe that a massive subsidy of fuel that would bring the pump price of fuel to less than N300 per litre would be a better and cheaper way of re-invigorating the economy and indirectly supporting our infant industries than whatever we are doing now to cushion the effects of removing fuel subsidy and floating the Naira. Yes, neoliberal economists would tell us the country cannot afford this – the way they had wrongly argued that only the elites were benefitting from fuel subsidy.  But just imagine for a while the impact of fuel costing N300 per litre on the economy!

As an undergraduate student of Political Science in the 1980s, our Marxist lecturers used to recommend that Africa should de-link from the world capitalist system. It did not make much sense to me at that time. However, with the war in Ukraine triggering imported inflation and street protests in several countries around the world, including in Nigeria, Ghana and Egypt, I began to understand better what the globalisation of markets means and what it would mean to de-link from that market or at least tactically engage it.  

The Tinubu government’s removal of fuel subsidies and flotation of the Naira almost at the same time exacerbated the imported inflation from the Russo-Ukraine War and inflicted perhaps the worst hardship in living memory on Nigerians.  Remarkably supporters of the government call these measures “reforms” as if they were different from what Babangida did when his government embraced an IMF/World Bank-supported Structural Adjustment Programme in the 1980s and 1990s. Babangida’s SAP not only emasculated the country’s middle class but also completely ruined the economy. When the SAP failed in every country it was introduced in Africa, the Bretton Woods Institutions changed the mantra from “rolling back the state” to “bringing back the state” – as they moved from market fetishism to glib talks about good governance and building of institutions. 

We have been lectured recently by a World Bank’s economic team  that we need to be on this “reform” path for at least 15 years before we could reap the supposed benefit. Obviously members of the team are unaware of the dictum by the British economist John Maynard Keynes that in the long run we are all dead. Sadly while the neo-liberal economics of the Bretton Woods Institutions could create a handful of people on the Forbes Rich List, it will simultaneously turn over 70 per cent of the population into multi-dimensional poverty.

Members of the Congress of University Academics, CONUA, have called on the Federal Government to pay their withheld three and a half months salaries, third party deductions and Earned Academic Allowances.

The congress, in a statement by the National President, Dr Niyi Sunmonu, also said the promotion arrears of some members had lingered for over seven years and should be looked into.

The body also frowned on the exclusion of its members from the committee that would renegotiate the 2009 agreement university workers entered into with the government.

It said: “The union wishes to once again call the attention of President Bola Tinubu to the continued withholding of the three and a half months salary due to the strike embarked upon by a sister academic staff union in the universities.

“CONUA, as a union, has consistently maintained that it never declared and was not part of the strike. What the government had done was to lump together those who embarked on strike with those who did not!

“This is unjust, and it is tantamount to punishing the innocent along with the guilty.  The federal government’s action actually goes against the judgment delivered on July 25, 2023 at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, NICN, which affirmed CONUA as an independent union.

“The President should note that withholding the three and a half months salaries of members of CONUA who neither declared nor participated in any strike, also contravenes Section 43 (1b) of the Trade Disputes Act CAP. T8, which states that ‘where any employer locks out his workers, the workers shall be entitled to wages and any other applicable remuneration for the period of the lock-out and the period of the lock-out shall not prejudicially affect any rights of the workers, being rights dependent on the continuity of period of employment.’’

CONUA also noted that invitation was not extended to it when the renegotiation committee was constituted on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.

It stated further:  ‘’The union has submitted protest letters to the minister of education and chairman of the eenegotiation committee, Alhaji Yayale Mahmud Ahmed, while all relevant government agencies such as the Senate president, speaker of the House of Representatives, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, the Chief of Staff, the Attorney General of the Federation and  minister of justice, etc, have been copied.

‘’CONUA is, therefore, using this medium to demand for its inclusion in the renegotiation committee, without further delay, as failure to do this will amount to shaving the head of its members in their absence.

“It was discovered that when the payment of the four months (March, April, May and June 2022) salaries out of the seven and a half months of salaries withheld by the government as a result of the strike embarked upon by ASUU was paid, through the presidential prerogative, the third-party deductions for April, May and June 2022 were not released, and they have not been released up till now.”

‘’Information on its whereabouts and when it would be released has not been provided by the federal government. The union is demanding, unequivocally, that the agencies of government involved be directed to immediately release these third-party remittances without further delay.

“Very many academic staff have promotion arrears spanning a period of up to seven years, in some cases. The delay in promotion, in most cases, is not the fault of these concerned academics and it will amount to double jeopardy if, having delayed their promotion, they are also made to suffer untold hardship with the delay in paying the promotion arrears.

‘’This dispiriting state of affairs should be addressed expeditiously to enhance the diligence of the many academics affected by the counter-productive delay in the payment of promotion arrears.

“The federal government agreed to pay the Earned Academic Allowance, EAA, for excess work done by academics in federal universities since the universities are battling with shortage of manpower. This EAA payment was supposed to cover academic sessions from 2008/2009 (Rain Semester) onwards. ‘’The federal government has so far released four tranches of EAA in 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2022. These releases did not cover up to four sessions completely, let alone the entire fourteen and a half (14½) sessions for which the payment is required.

‘’The union is using this medium to demand for the release of the EAA to cover these aforementioned periods and accelerate the optimal employment of more academic.”

On the minimum age for admission into higher institutions, the union advised that it should not start next year, but noted that the policy should be run through all stakeholders connected to education for their inputs before implementation, with a view to strengthening the existing 6-3-3-4 system.

[Vanguard]

Viktor Gyokeres scored a hattrick as Manchester City were thrashed 4-1 by Sporting Lisbon in their UEFA Champions League (UCL) encounter in Portugal on Tuesday night.

The in-form 26-year-old striker scored two of his three goals in the second half as Sporting came from a goal down to defeat the former UCL champions.

Led by Ruben Amorim, the new Manchester United coach set to take over at Old Trafford next week, Sporting went behind to Phil Foden’s fourth-minute strike from distance to put Pep Guardiola’s side ahead. The hosts managed an equaliser when Gyokeres beat the offside trap to run onto a threaded pass before slotting the ball beyond Ederson Moraes.

Man City had chances to regain the lead in the first half, but the oft-clinical side could not make them count, and Sporting made them pay in the second period. They took the lead seconds after the restart in a similar fashion to the equalizer, Maximiliano Araujo the beneficiary this time, and he slotted through Ederson’s legs for 2-1.

Gyokeres converted a penalty conceded by Josko Gvardiol for his second of the night and 3-1 for Sporting. Pep Guardiola’s side were handed a penalty of theirs but Erling Haaland hit the bar, and the home side further punished the miss.

Gyokeres netted another penalty awarded following a foul to complete the hattrick and an unlikely rout of the English Premier League (EPL) champions. Defeat is Man City’s third consecutive loss in all competitions.

Elsewhere, Liverpool moved closer to qualification for the knockout phase following a 4-0 win over Victor Boniface’s Bayer Leverkusen. Luiz Diaz also netted a hat trick in a match in which all four goals were scored in the second half. The victory maintained the Reds’ 100% status after four games, and Arne Slot’s side is top of the table with 12 points.

However, Real Madrid, the reigning UCL champions, suffered another defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu, losing 3-1 to AC Milan, their second defeat in the group stage.

RESULTS
Real Madrid 1-3 AC Milan
Liverpool 4-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Sporting Lisbon 4-1 Manchester City
PSV Eindhoven 4-0 Girona
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 Sturm Graz
Slovan Bratislava 1-4 Dinamo Zagreb
LOSC Lille 1-1 Juventus
Celtic 2-1 RB Salzburg
Bologna 0-1 AS Monaco

[TheCable]

As the world converges in Baku, Azerbaijan for the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) less than 11 days away, Nigeria has yet another unique opportunity to assert its interests and priorities in the global climate discourse. With the country’s vulnerability to climate change evident, it is imperative that Nigeria’s delegation pushes a bold agenda that addresses the nation’s pressing climate needs.

A top priority for Nigeria in Baku should be securing increased adaptation financing. While wealthier nations are primarily responsible for historic emissions, African countries, including Nigeria, suffer disproportionately from climate impacts. Notably, African nations received only 20% of global adaptation finance flows in 2021–2022, a figure far below the 45% allocated to East Asia and the Pacific region. As Nigeria faces intensifying climate impacts like rising temperatures, severe flooding, and drought, adaptation funding is vital to safeguard livelihoods and stimulate economic resilience.

In 2024, floods have affected 34 states, 217 local governments, and over a million people. Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) estimates that $142 billion is needed to build climate resilience by 2030. At COP29, Nigeria should advocate for increased financial commitments from developed countries, emphasizing the importance of grant-based funding and technology transfer. Furthermore, Nigeria’s climate response requires enhanced capacity and expertise across various sectors. Thus, COP29 offers a crucial platform to secure commitments for technology transfer, training, and capacity-building programs that could foster homegrown climate solutions and support green job creation.

Another key focus for Nigeria is enhancing its technological capabilities to fight climate change. The Federal Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (FMSTI) has initiated a needs assessment to identify essential technologies for climate mitigation and adaptation across agriculture, transportation, and biodiversity. However, constraints in trained manpower, suitable technology, and inadequate funding hinder progress in biodiversity conservation. By expanding partnerships with other countries and international organizations, Nigeria can address these gaps and protect its rich biodiversity. This collaboration is essential, given Nigeria’s high deforestation rate of 3.7% annually, one of the highest globally.

Food security also remains a significant concern as climate change disrupts Nigeria’s agricultural systems, which are highly dependent on rainfall. Droughts, floods, and erratic weather patterns have severely impacted crop yields, affecting the livelihoods of the 70% of Nigeria’s workforce involved in farming. Through climate-smart agriculture (CSA), Nigeria is working on seed improvement, hybridization, and climate-resilient crops. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) is promoting the Nigeria Farmers’ Soil Health Card Scheme (NFSHCS), an initiative aimed at enhancing soil fertility, improving productivity, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At COP29, Nigeria should seek investment in climate-smart seeds, irrigation systems, agroforestry, and land restoration technologies to address challenges like land degradation and desertification.

Nigeria’s energy sector, responsible for around 70% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, is also an area of critical focus. The government aims to produce 30% of its electricity from solar and wind power by 2030. Additionally, Nigeria has committed to the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge, which targets a tripling of renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency by 2030. Nigeria has made strides in renewable energy, with initiatives such as the Renewvia and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) solar mini-grids in rural areas, and the World Bank and African Development Bank-supported Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP). With these efforts, Nigeria is well-positioned to secure additional partnerships for its energy transition at COP29.

Moreover, reducing emissions from the transportation sector is vital. The transportation industry, a significant carbon emitter, releases approximately 60 million tons of CO2 yearly, a figure expected to rise. At COP26, Nigeria pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 and aims to deploy 13 million electric vehicles (EVs) by 2050, with 100% adoption by 2060. As a step toward this goal, Nigeria announced the roll out of 100 electric buses at COP28, an initiative that can attract further investment in clean transportation. Borno and Lagos states are already making strides in EV adoption, with Lagos committing $260 million for 1,000 electric vehicles. Nevertheless, Nigeria needs to improve EV infrastructure to fully embrace electric mobility. At COP29, Nigeria should present its clean transport strategy to garner the necessary funding and expertise.

This year’s COP presents a pivotal moment for Nigeria and other climate-vulnerable nations to assert their priorities and gain substantial commitments from the global community. Nigeria’s delegation should be united in its efforts, with government, civil society, and private sector stakeholders all working together toward shared climate goals. Additionally, Nigeria can leverage the Nairobi Declaration to enhance its influence, using it as a blueprint to advocate for climate finance, climate justice, technology transfer, energy transition, climate-resilient agriculture, and capacity building. This approach will help Nigeria balance its development ambitions with the global climate response.

Following COP29, the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) is expected to hold a post-COP29 meeting to evaluate outcomes and develop an implementation plan. This will be a critical next step in ensuring Nigeria’s commitments translate into tangible climate actions.

All the best to our delegates at COP29.

Professor Daniel Musa Gwary is the director of the Centre for Arid Zone Studies, University of Maiduguri. His work focuses on climate adaptation and disaster risk management

The headlines of today are a stark reminder of a world grappling with public and private boundaries as high-profile figures repeatedly find themselves caught in the tide of scandal. Recent controversies surrounding Baltasar Ebang Engonga, Director General of Equatorial Guinea’s National Financial Investigation Agency (ANIF), and hip-hop mogul P. Diddy serve as prime examples of how morality and discretion have become blurred in the glare of the modern media spotlight. 

These incidents beg a larger question: Are we, as a society, falling into the trap of a modern-day Babylon, a world driven by indulgence, with societal boundaries slipping away at every turn? Are we seeing a cultural shift where the virtues of restraint and responsibility are losing ground to sensationalism and self-gratification?

To address these questions, we must delve deeper into the scandals, their broader implications, and what they reveal about society at large.

Public figures hold a unique position in society; they are role models, influencers, and, in many cases, symbols of what society values or aspires to become. When people in such influential positions are caught in controversial circumstances, it is natural for the public to react with a mixture of fascination and outrage. Baltasar Ebang Engonga, who occupies a prominent financial oversight role in Equatorial Guinea, has reportedly been implicated in a scandal involving explicit videos, footage that stands in sharp contrast to the responsibilities of his position. For a government official, such behavior could indicate not only a personal failing but a deeper vulnerability that may undermine the public’s trust in institutions intended to guard the public interest.

Similarly, P. Diddy, who has long been a significant player in the music and entertainment industry, faces allegations of sexual misconduct. While the details continue to unfold, the headlines and reactions have fueled a debate about accountability, power dynamics, and the extent to which fame can insulate people from facing real consequences. P. Diddy’s case also reflects a cultural fascination with the very thing that horrifies, stories of excess, indulgence, and power gone unchecked.

The ancient story of Babylon, a city notorious for its decadence, lives on as a cautionary tale of what can happen when a society loses its moral compass. The metaphor of Babylon resonates today, not simply because of high-profile scandals but because of society’s tendency to consume and propagate them. The media, both traditional and social, is constantly fueled by public interest, which thrives on scandal. Stories about the private lives of Ebang Engonga and P. Diddy do not just appear; they are disseminated, shared, and amplified because of society’s insatiable appetite for spectacle.

Yet this compulsion to scrutinize and even revel in the moral downfalls of public figures comes with consequences. As we continuously broadcast and consume these narratives, a kind of cultural desensitization sets in. What would have once been shocking or career-ending scandals are now absorbed into the fabric of our everyday media diet, rendering each new story less impactful than the last. This collective numbing is troubling because it suggests a gradual erosion of societal standards, where once-taboo behaviors become routine and expected.

Our technologically advanced world means that anything can be recorded, shared, and sensationalized in seconds. This digital transparency, while valuable in holding people accountable, has also brought us closer to the kind of voyeuristic society that ancient Babylon symbolized. In the case of Baltasar Ebang Engonga, the alleged explicit videos circulating on social media illustrate how modern technology can both reveal private indiscretions and magnify their impact.

For public figures, the line between private missteps and public consequences is thinner than ever, creating a new reality in which they must constantly weigh the repercussions of every action. Technology not only exposes such acts but also accelerates the spread and consumption of scandalous content. And as society consumes these stories, technology also reshapes our relationship with them, allowing us to interact, comment, judge, and even participate in the lives of others in ways that were previously unimaginable.

The cumulative impact of these scandals raises larger questions about the moral direction of society. Are these high-profile downfalls isolated cases of individuals with questionable judgment, or are they symptomatic of a broader societal trend toward moral indifference? As each new scandal emerges, public outrage seems to subside faster, making space for the next scandal on the horizon. This pattern hints at a society that has come to accept, and perhaps even expect, the kind of behavior that once elicited public condemnation.

Moreover, when society routinely witnesses the powerful act with apparent impunity, it can foster a sense of disillusionment and moral confusion. If public figures such as Ebang Engonga and P. Diddy are allowed to retain their influence and prestige despite scandal, what message does that send to the public, particularly the younger generation? The lesson is both implicit and troubling: success and power can justify, or at least cushion, moral lapses.

At its core, the notion of a “modern-day Babylon” evokes a sense of lost boundaries and diminishing standards, where excess and self-gratification take precedence over restraint and accountability. But there remains an opportunity for society to choose a different path, one that emphasizes personal responsibility and communal values. While scandals like those of Baltasar Ebang Engonga and P. Diddy capture the headlines, they also serve as cautionary tales. They remind us of the potential fallout when people in positions of power are not held accountable.

If society wishes to avoid a descent into Babylonian-style moral decay, it must do more than simply watch these scandals unfold. It must demand accountability from its public figures and challenge the systems that allow such behaviors to go unchecked. It means calling for transparency, enforcing standards, and fostering a culture where influence is tied to integrity rather than power alone.

Are we living in a modern-day Babylon? The answer is not so straightforward. Society is undoubtedly witnessing a moment where traditional boundaries are tested, where private scandals of public figures like Baltasar Ebang Engonga and P. Diddy are dissected for all to see. Technology has brought the far corners of the world into our homes and our hands, but it has also blurred the boundaries of public and private, decency and voyeurism, accountability and indifference.

Ultimately, the choice of whether or not to indulge in these stories, and the values they reflect, lies with each individual. As we engage with these narratives, we are at once consumers and creators of the culture around us. Whether we continue to foster a modern-day Babylon or strive for a higher moral ground depends on the standards we set, the boundaries we enforce, and the responsibility we demand from both our leaders and ourselves.

In a world poised at a moral crossroads, let the scandals of today remind us not only of the dangers of excess but of the power of restraint, integrity, and accountability. Only then can we hope to avoid the path of Babylon and build a society where power is tempered by purpose, and influence is rooted in virtue.

Quincy Jones, a legendary figure in music whose 70-year career saw him excel as an artist, bandleader, composer, arranger, and producer, has passed away at the age of 91.

Jones died on Sunday night at his home in Bel Air, California, as confirmed in a statement from his representative, Arnold Robinson, shared with Entertainment Journalists. No cause of death was provided.

“With full but broken hearts, we share the passing of our father and brother, Quincy Jones,” the Jones family said. “This is a profound loss for our family, yet we celebrate the extraordinary life he lived, knowing there will never be another like him. He was truly one of a kind, and he will be dearly missed. We find comfort and pride in knowing that the love and joy that defined him were shared with the world through everything he created. Through his music and boundless spirit, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity.”

The news hit like a somber note. When I heard Quincy was dead, memories stirred deep within me, and nostalgia came rushing in, transporting me back to a time when Nigeria’s entertainment industry was not just thriving but vividly and excellently documented. This was not just about the individuals like Quincy who gave the industry its pulse and its rhythm. It was about an era when entertainment journalism in Nigeria brought life to our screens, papers, and minds.

In those days, reading about stars like Quincy and other music legends was an experience that extended beyond just the headlines. We saw their world through the pens of journalists who crafted stories with skill and respect for their craft. Publications like “Prime People”, “Vintage People”, “Quality”, and “Climax” coupled with entertainment pullout published in various daily newspapers in those days brought the stars closer, uncovering the lives of musicians, actors, and entertainers in a way that was both captivating and insightful.

In fact, these newspapers and magazines were the trusted voices of our entertainment industry, setting high standards for the quality and integrity of celebrity reporting. They not only celebrated the stars but also critically engaged with the challenges, the growth, and the changing tides in the industry. It was through these pages that we saw Quincy and other entertainers rise, evolve, and make waves both locally and internationally. The writers behind these publications saw entertainment as a serious beat, one that required dedication, research, and, most importantly, respect for those it covered.

Back then, entertainment journalism held an esteemed place. It was journalism in the true sense of the word, where stories were verified, sources were genuine, and the integrity of reporting mattered deeply. It was an era that respected the artist, the fan, and the reader. They told stories not for shock value but for the impact, for the historical record, and for the sheer love of documenting our culture.

Quincy’s passing has reminded me of this golden era, a time when every article, every interview, and every feature brought us closer to the stars while upholding the profession’s standards. Today, with digital media’s fast pace and the rise of social media “gossip” sites, much of that integrity has been lost, replaced with sensationalism and a rush to break the story first, often at the expense of accuracy and respect.

As we say goodbye to Quincy, perhaps it is time to reflect on what entertainment journalism could and should be. Let his legacy remind us not only of his talents but of an era that documented his and others’ lives with dignity, dedication, and a commitment to storytelling that today’s entertainment journalists can learn from and, hopefully, aspire to replicate.

Without a doubt, the recent passing of Quincy, a celebrated figure in the entertainment industry, has reignited conversations about the significance of entertainment journalism and its role in capturing the vibrant essence of showbiz. His legacy not only highlights the impact of influential personalities in the industry but also serves as a poignant reminder of a time when entertainment reporting thrived on authenticity, creativity, and deep engagement with artists. As audiences reflect on the golden era of showbiz reporting, characterized by in-depth stories and genuine connections with celebrities, there is a growing recognition of the need to revive this form of journalism to bridge the gap between entertainment and its audience.

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, where sensationalism often overshadows substance, the revival of entertainment journalism is both timely and essential. As fans crave insightful narratives that celebrate the artistry and human experiences behind the glitz, a renewed focus on quality reporting can enrich public discourse about the entertainment industry. This revival can also encourage new talent in journalism to embrace the craft’s rich storytelling traditions, fostering a more meaningful relationship between entertainers and their audience. Quincy’s death underscores the urgency of this endeavor, challenging journalists to reclaim their role as storytellers and curators of culture in a rapidly changing media environment.

The Sokoto State Government has issued a warning regarding the rise of a new terrorist faction in the region, identified as LAKURAWAS.

The State Deputy Governor Idris Gobir revealed this during a meeting with participants from Course 33 of the National Defence College, Abuja, who were on a study tour in Sokoto.

Naija News reports that Gobir explained that the group operates with a religious ideology and is equipped with advanced weaponry.

“Our assessment shows that LAKURAWAS is active in about five local government areas across the state,” he noted.

Gobir expressed concern over this development, especially as the state is already grappling with widespread banditry.

“The threat is expanding,” he said, adding that security agencies are working diligently to counter this new danger.

The Deputy Governor highlighted the state’s ongoing collaboration with federal security forces to safeguard lives and properties.

He emphasized various measures the state government has implemented to address these security challenges and hoped that insights from the National Defence College study tour would help authorities understand the evolving threats and devise effective strategies for securing peace.

Air Vice Marshal Titus Zuwahu Dauda, leader of the visiting delegation, provided background on the college, which was founded in 1992 as Nigeria’s premier military institution.

He explained that the college trains officers from the military, police, and strategic agencies, preparing them for high-level responsibilities. So far, 2,982 participants have graduated, including representatives from 30 African and Asian nations.

At the tour’s conclusion, Dauda stated, the team would present an oral and written report on their observations and recommendations for improving security in the state.

[NaijaNews]

Xabi Alonso returns to Anfield for the first time on Tuesday, as his Bayer Leverkusen side take on Liverpool in the Champions League, the trophy he helped the Reds win in 2005.

Alonso played 210 games for Liverpool between 2004 and 2009, with the highlight undoubtedly being the miracle comeback in the Reds’ Champions League final win over AC Milan in Istanbul.

The Spaniard scored Liverpool’s third goal in seven minutes to bring them level to 3-3 before they went on to win on penalties.

Alonso, 42, remains hugely popular with Liverpool fans and could have been in the home dugout had things gone differently.

Last season, after Jurgen Klopp’s shock decision to leave the club, Liverpool fans – who had taken notice of Alonso’s incredible run at Leverkusen – were hoping he could be headed to Merseyside.

Alonso though knocked back the reported interest from Liverpool as well as from former sides Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to stay at Leverkusen, who he had on track for a first-ever German top-flight title.

Alonso still speaks fondly of his time as a player on Merseyside and after Friday’s scoreless draw with Stuttgart, he said he was eagerly awaiting his return.

“Champions League at Anfield? It doesn’t get much better than that,” he said.

“This game means a lot to me. It will be a big game. To play in the Champions League, at Anfield, it’s difficult to experience anything better.

“The atmosphere is great. Liverpool is one of the best teams in Europe at the moment. It’s a huge challenge but a beautiful challenge for us.”

Any regret at missing out on Alonso is likely to have subsided among Liverpool fans, given their impressive start under Dutchman Arne Slot.

With 13 wins and a draw from 15 matches – officially the best start of any new Reds manager – Slot has Liverpool sitting top of the Premier League table.

In Europe, Liverpool are alongside Aston Villa as one of only two sides to have won three from three.

[Leadership]

Danielle Trenney, a 39-year-old project manager from western Pennsylvania, is so anxious about Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election that she decided to put up a Christmas tree early this year to distract her family.

Trenney said she knew of other families doing the same in Bellevue, a Pittsburgh suburb and an electoral hotbed prized by  Democrat Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump, rivals in a race that analysts say will go down to the wire.

Bunecke, 68, a retired graphic designer who plans to vote for Trump. Bunecke is so sick of the anger, the constant calls from pollsters and the campaign ads bombarding her in the battleground state of Pennsylvania that she would instead tune out completely.

In recent days, Reuters correspondents spoke to more than 50 voters across the seven competitive states that will determine the next president. They encountered an electorate on edge: worried about how the country would look should their preferred candidate lose, worried the other side would make trouble, and worried the political divide would only grow deeper.

Some turn to religion, others to yoga, swimming or lifting weights. Some follow the news closely, while others have shut off their TVs and smartphones to lose themselves in books or take long walks outdoors.

“I wish my smartphone were smart enough to know I’ve already voted,” said Lynn Nicholson, 72, a Harris voter in Marietta, Georgia, who has found refuge from the deluge of campaign ads through walking, gardening and photography. “It’s overwhelming.”

Todd Harrison, 49, of Canton, Georgia, a pest control specialist leaning toward Trump, said he has stopped watching sports on TV because of the barrage of political ads.

“The closer I get to the election, the madder I get,” Harrison said.

Many voters worried about what could happen after the election, especially if Trump lost. They fear a wave of lawsuits and court hearings, demonstrations, and even violence.

Trump claims the only way Democrats can win is by cheating. Harris has said she is ready to confront Trump if he prematurely declares victory.

Sherry Gay-Dagnogo, a 57-year-old Harris supporter in Detroit, said she is concerned about what Trump’s incendiary rhetoric could provoke.

“It’s like he’s igniting a base of violence in advance,” she said. “It’s scary.”

However, Lillian Hall, a 68-year-old former teacher and retail store owner from Hendersonville, North Carolina, and a Trump supporter, said she was scared there would be rioting if Harris lost.

“I think there’ll be anger like we’ve not seen yet if Trump wins,” Hall said.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last month found widespread worries that the U.S. could see a repeat of the unrest that followed Trump’s 2020 election defeat when the then-president’s false claim that his loss was the result of fraud prompted hundreds of followers to storm the U.S. Capitol.

Some 74% of registered voters who responded to the Oct. 16-21 survey said they were concerned extremists would commit acts of violence if they were unhappy with the election results. Democrats were most likely to think that: 90% agreed, compared with 64% of Republicans and 77% of independents.

A few voters said in interviews they were trying to channel their anxieties by helping to get out the vote for their candidate.

Shirley Easton, an 85-year-old Tucson, Arizona, resident who described her mental state as “scared out of my mind,” said she had been mailing postcards to persuade people to vote for Harris.

Easton said she feared for the future of her seven granddaughters after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 reversed its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that legalised abortion nationwide.

“For my grandchildren, I’m terrified,” she said.

Lisa Fields, 60, a marketing professional, was so concerned that she travelled from her Manhattan home on Saturday to knock on doors for Trump in Delaware County, a critical suburb of Philadelphia.

She hopes Trump will bring peace to the Middle East and the country will become more unified regardless of who wins.

“We need to come together for the greater good. And I’ll focus on that the day after because while I disagree with people voting the other way, they’re entitled to, and that’s the beauty of America,” Fields said.

Other voters said they were trying to disengage from the election as much as possible.

Jean Thomson, 63, an executive coach in Marietta, Georgia, who voted for Harris, said the dozens of political flyers that arrive in the mail go straight into her trash.

“I don’t even look at them,” she said, adding she was meditating and spending more time in nature to cope with her stress. Only some people were headed to the woods.

When the results start rolling in on Tuesday, “I will be watching with my Xanax and my bottle of Sauvignon Blanc,” said Gillian Marshall, a 55-year-old Lyft driver in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Marshall, a Democrat who said she voted for Harris, echoed a sentiment nearly universal across political divides: “I just want this nightmare to be over.”

Source: Reuters