Lewis Hamilton named GQ’s game-changer of the year

 

Lewis Hamilton has been named GQ's Game Changer Of The Year.

 

The Formula One racing star will be honoured at GQ’s Men of the Year Awards which is set to take place virtually on Thursday, December 3rd, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hamilton will mark his award win in GQ’s upcoming January/February issue.

 

 

The honour comes days after he won his seventh world championship earlier this month, which saw him equalling Michael Schumacher’s F1 record.

 

The 35-year-old British sportsman, who has been an active voice in the fight against racism, opened up about his own experience with racism.

 

Speaking about his younger years, he said: "I started experiencing racism when I was five and people looked upon it so lightly, when someone would throw out these words, the bullying, and the beatings and the intimidation ... My dad always said, ‘Do your talking on the track,’ so I held my tongue, but we suppress a lot of things and all my suppressed emotions came up and I was like, 'You know what? I have to do something. I cannot stay silent.’ If we all stay silent, it will continue for generations. I look at my niece and nephew and do not want them to experience what I experienced."

 

 

Hamilton also vowed to continue to speak and stand up for others.

 

Speaking to the January/February 2021 issue of GQ, he added: "If I believe it is important enough, I will. I will do it again ... Every weekend that I arrive we have the spotlight on us and every weekend there is an opportunity to raise awareness. 

 

 

We don’t live in a time when everything is OK. And I remember as I went through the day I was like, ‘OK, I’ve got to win this race. I can’t come second and wear this top.’ So I remember racing my heart out, pushing with every ounce for first place and I remember getting that win and I was like, ‘OK. I’m here for you, Breonna.’ And I put that shirt on and in the 70 years of our sport, no one’s ever stood up there for anything but themselves. And I was standing up there for someone else."

 

 

Speaking of Lewis’ game-changer award, GQ’s editor Dylan Jones praised the sports star and recognised his efforts in calling out racial injustice and inequality in society.

 

Jones said: ‘Despite winning more races than anyone else across an impressive 14 seasons in Formula One, it’s Lewis Hamilton’s actions off the circuit that make him GQ’s Game Changer Of The Year.’ 

FG reaches out to Niger Republic and US in search for Maina

 

The Federal Government has reached out to Niger Republic and the United States of America in search of ex-Chairman of Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) Abdulrasheed Maina who is believed to have jumped bail.

 

FG contacted the countries in its efforts to execute the arrest warrant issued by a court in Abuja against the former Pension boss. 

 

This was revealed in court today November 26, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a counter-affidavit it filed against the bail application Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume filed. 

 

The EFCC said in its counter-affidavit; 

 

“The prosecution has obtained the bench warrant and it is making frantic efforts to execute it while enlisting the support of other security agencies in the country as well as some foreign governments, particularly the Republic of Niger and the United States of America."

 

Recall that Justice Okon Abang had revoked the bail he granted Maina who is being tried for money laundering on November 18. He also issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

50-year-old Nigerian man shot dead in the US

 

A 50-year-old Nigerian man identified as Kamilu Boyede was killed in a deadly shooting incident which occurred on Wednesday morning.

 

Wichita Police Department in its announcement on Wednesday evening, said the incident occurred at a home in South Ida. Neighbors called the police around 11 a.m on Wednesday November 25, after seeing a door left open at a home in the 600 block of South Ida. 

 

Captain Wendell Nicholson of the Wichita Police Department said; 

 

“We talked to some neighbors in the area and they indicated that this morning at about 12:30 they saw an unknown male walking in the area.

"They were concerned because earlier this morning they heard some shots fired, they didn't call the police, but this morning when they walked ppast the residence in the 600 block of South Ida, they saw the door was ajar so they contacted 911."

 

 

Through an investigation, police think the incident occurred sometime after midnight and before 3 a.m. They believe Boyede was a target and this wasn't a random incident.

 

News of Kamilu's death has been attracting numerous tributes and condolences via social media from friends and other worried individuals.

 

 

Meghan Markle reveals she suffered devastating miscarriage months ago while carrying son Archie in her arms

 

Meghan Markle has revealed that she suffered a miscarriage after falling ill at her home.

 

The Duchess of Sussex said she was changing baby Archie’s nappy at their former home in Los Angeles when she "felt a sharp cramp"

 

The tragedy took place in July on a morning that “began as ordinarily as any other day”.

 

In a personal piece called The Losses We Share, Meghan wrote in the New York Times: “After changing his diaper, I felt a sharp cramp.

 

“I dropped to the floor with him in my arms, humming a lullaby to keep us both calm, the cheerful tune a stark contrast to my sense that something was not right.

 

“I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second.”

 

She added: "Hours later, I lay in a hospital bed, holding my husband’s hand. I felt the clamminess of his palm and kissed his knuckles, wet from both our tears.

 

"Staring at the cold white walls, my eyes glazed over. I tried to imagine how we’d heal."

 

Read Meghan's full article here.

US election: Joe Biden becomes first-ever presidential candidate to receive 80 million votes

 

President-elect, Joe Biden's total tally of votes has surpassed 80 million, making him the first-ever presidential candidate in United States history to achieve the feat.

 

The vote-tracking count from the Cook Political Report reported the Democrat has so far received roughly 51 percent of the national popular vote to Donald Trump’s 47.1 percent.

 

Biden is the first presidential challenger to capture more than 50% of the popular vote while running against an incumbent since Franklin Delano Roosevelt defeated Herbert Hoover in 1932.

 

A total of 80,033,996 ballots have been cast for Biden, according to Cook Political Report data.

The previous all-time record of 69,498,516 was set by Barack Obama (with Biden as his running mate) in 2008.

 

Trump’s vote total of 73,878,907 is the most ever for a Republican candidate, as well as the most ever for a presidential loser.

 

More than 156 million people voted in the 2020 election, a turnout of more than 66 percent. 

 

Mr. Biden is preparing to formally announce members of his incoming national security team after the federal agency responsible for his transition to the White House announced that it will begin after Democrats and watchdog groups criticised its chief for “stonewalling” at the president’s behest.

 

In a letter to Mr Biden, the General Services Administration’s Emily Murphy said“I was never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch official — including those who work at the White House or GSA — with regard to the substance or timing of my decision.”

Later, Mr Trump said that “in the best interest” of the US, he recommended that Ms Murphy “and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same”.

#EndSARS protest: FG is not panicking over UK lawmakers’ demand for sanctions, no serious government will take such decision based on fake news - Lai Mohammed

 

Lai Mohammed has reacted to the UK Parliament's call for sanctions against the Nigerian government over reports of alleged human right abuses during the #EndSARS protest. 

 

The minister of information and culture who reacted to this in an interview with NTA on Wednesday November 25, stated that the federal government is not panicking over the demand. 

 

Lai Mohammed who stressed that the entire #EndSARS protest was fuelled by fake news, added that no serious government will take a decision such as imposing sanctions based on ''fake news.''

 

He said; 

 

“We  earlier stated that government all over the world who have taken hasty decisions about Nigeria on this issue should please seek the truth.

“If the decision of any government all over the world is based on fake news, it is very risky. It brings me to the issue of the UK parliament resolution. We are not panicking at all as a government for two reasons – the resolution of the UK parliament is not the decision of the country and no serious government will take a decision such as imposing sanctions based on fake news.

“This is why we are warning foreign countries to seek the truth and beware of fake news. The entire #EndSARS protest was fuelled by fake news.”

FIFA unveils full nominees list of The Best FIFA Player of the Year Awards 2020

 

Nominees for the 2020 Best FIFA  Player of the Year awards have been announced ahead of the annual ceremony.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Lewandowski, Lucy Bronze and Sam Kerr are amongst the biggest names to have been nominated for this year's award.

 

The awards ceremony was introduced in 2016, after FIFA broke out from the Ballon d'or, and
Cristiano Ronaldo claimed the first prize, before retaining it in 2017.

 Luka Modric picked up the award in 2018, before Lionel Messi came out on top in 2019.

 

This year’s ceremony will be held on 17 December, and FIFA have announced their full list of candidates for the seven individual trophies on offer , stating that public voting open until 9 December at 11:59pm on FIFA.com.

 

See Full list of Nominees and categories below

 

The Best FIFA Women’s Player:

Lucy Bronze (England / Olympique Lyonnais / Manchester City WFC)

Delphine Cascarino (France / Olympique Lyonnais)

Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway / FC Barcelona)

Pernille Harder (Denmark / VfL Wolfsburg / Chelsea FC Women)

Jennifer Hermoso (Spain / FC Barcelona)

Ji So-yun (Korea Republic / Chelsea FC Women)

Sam Kerr (Australia / Chelsea FC Women)

Saki Kumagai (Japan / Olympique Lyonnais)

Dzsenifer Marozsán (Germany / Olympique Lyonnais)

Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands / Arsenal WFC)

Wendie Renard (France / Olympique Lyonnais)

 

The Best FIFA Men’s Player:

Thiago Alcântara (Spain / FC Bayern München / Liverpool FC)

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal / Juventus FC)

Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium / Manchester City FC)

Robert Lewandowski (Poland / FC Bayern München)

Sadio Mané (Senegal / Liverpool FC)

Kylian Mbappé (France / Paris Saint-Germain)

Lionel Messi (Argentina / FC Barcelona)

Neymar (Brazil / Paris Saint-Germain)

Sergio Ramos (Spain / Real Madrid CF)

Mohamed Salah (Egypt / Liverpool FC )

Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands / Liverpool FC)

 

The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper:

Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany / Chelsea FC Women)

Sarah Bouhaddi (France / Olympique Lyonnais)

Christiane Endler (Chile / Paris Saint-Germain)

Hedvig Lindahl (Sweden / VfL Wolfsburg / Atlético de Madrid Femenino)

Alyssa Naeher (USA / Chicago Red Stars)

Ellie Roebuck (England / Manchester City WFC)

 

The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper:

Alisson Becker (Brazil / Liverpool FC)

Thibaut Courtois (Belgium / Real Madrid CF)

Keylor Navas (Costa Rica / Paris Saint-Germain)

Manuel Neuer (Germany / FC Bayern München)

Jan Oblak (Slovenia / Atlético de Madrid)

Marc-André ter Stegen (Germany / FC Barcelona)

 

The Best FIFA Women’s Coach:

Lluís Cortés (Spain / FC Barcelona)

Rita Guarino (Italy / Juventus Women)

Emma Hayes (England / Chelsea FC Women)

Stephan Lerch (Germany / VfL Wolfsburg)

Hege Riise (Norway / LSK Kvinner)

Jean-Luc Vasseur (France / Olympique Lyonnais)

Sarina Wiegman (Netherlands / Dutch national team)

 

The Best FIFA Men’s Coach:

Marcelo Bielsa (Argentina / Leeds United FC)

Hans-Dieter Flick (Germany / FC Bayern München)

Jürgen Klopp (Germany / Liverpool FC)

Julen Lopetegui (Spain / Sevilla FC)

Zinedine Zidane (France / Real Madrid CF)

 

FIFA Puskas Award (Best goal award):

Shirley Cruz (CRC) – Costa Rica v. Panama [Concacaf Women’s Olympic qualifying] (28 January 2020)

Giorgian De Arrascaeta (URU) – Ceará SC v. CR Flamengo [Brasileirão - Brazil] (25 August 2019)

Jordan Flores (ENG) – Shamrock Rovers FC v. Dundalk FC [League of Ireland] (28 February 2020)

André-Pierre Gignac (FRA) – UANL Tigres v. Pumas UNAM [Liga MX - Mexico] (1 March 2020)

Sophie Ingle (WAL) – Arsenal WFC v. Chelsea FC Women [FA Women’s Super League - England] (19 January 2020)

Zlatko Junuzovi? (AUT) – SK Rapid Wien v. FC Red Bull Salzburg [Bundesliga - Austria] (24 June 2020)

Hlompho Kekana (RSA) – Mamelodi Sundowns FC v. Cape Town City FC [South African Premier Soccer League] (20 August 2019)

Son Heung-min (KOR) – Tottenham Hotspur FC v. Burnley FC [Premier League - England] (7 December 2019)

Leonel Quiñónez (ECU) – Universidad Católica v. CSD Macará [Serie A - Ecuador] (19 August 2019)

Luis Suárez (URU) – FC Barcelona v. RCD Mallorca [LaLiga[MG(1] - Spain] (7 December 2019)

Caroline Weir (SCO) – Manchester City WFC v. Manchester United WFC [FA Women’s Super League - England] (7 September 2019).

 

Lewandowski is the heavy favorite to win this year's men's award.