Renowned Nigerian Gospel music icon, Dr. Panam Percy Paul, received a heartfelt welcome upon his return to Jos after a recent motor accident.
Leaders and members of the Fellowship of Gospel Music Ministers of Nigeria (FOGMMON) and the Performing Musician and Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) joined family, friends, and well-wishers at the Yakubu Gowon Airport on Monday, November 20th, to celebrate the artist’s safe return.
Dr. Panam Percy Paul, a respected figure in the Nigerian gospel music scene, expressed his gratitude for the warm reception upon arrival. Despite the unfortunate incident that led to minor injuries, the veteran artist acknowledged the silver lining of being alive. He saw this as an opportunity to continue being a source of inspiration, sharing stories of divine intervention and blessings.
While recounting the incident, Dr. Panam Percy Paul emphasized the significance of life, stating that the accident, though a sober event, provided him with an extended period to impart the wealth of knowledge and experiences bestowed upon him by God. He highlighted his commitment to sharing these insights with the next generation.
Governor of Plateau PMAN, Comrade Humphary Colour, the Leader of the FOGMMON Plateau state Chapter, Minister Jid Vocals, and King Benny of Nugroove Multimedia who spearheaded the welcoming delegations, conveyed their joy and relief at the safe return of the Gospel music icon. They offered prayers for Dr. Panam Percy Paul’s continued well-being, recognizing his influential role in blessing numerous music ministers over the years.
Dua Lipa has reportedly filed a lawsuit against Samsung, seeking £11 million in damages over claims that the tech giant used her image without permission to promote its products.
According to court documents filed in the Central District of California, the Grammy-winning singer alleges that her photograph was used on the packaging of Samsung’s Crystal 43-inch ultra-high-definition televisions, which were marketed alongside the XITE Hits music channel.
The image in question was reportedly taken backstage at a 2024 music festival and later appeared on a large number of television boxes sold across the United States.
Dua Lipa’s legal team claims the use of her image created a false impression that she had endorsed or partnered with Samsung, potentially influencing consumers to purchase the televisions based on that perceived association.
Her lawyer, Christine Lepera, was cited as stating that Samsung used a copyrighted image of the singer “without authority or licence” and prominently featured it on retail packaging.
The lawsuit further alleges that Samsung ignored multiple legal warnings issued by the singer’s representatives before the case was formally filed.
The filing also included references to social media reactions, with some users reportedly saying they were drawn to or influenced to purchase the televisions because of Dua Lipa’s image on the packaging.
Dua Lipa, who has previously worked with global brands such as Nespresso, Puma, Porsche, and Yves Saint Laurent Beauty, is described in the filing as being highly selective about endorsement deals and would not have automatically agreed to such a partnership.
She is seeking at least $15 million in damages, though the final amount could reportedly increase if the case proceeds to trial.
At the time of the report, Samsung had not issued a public response to the lawsuit.
The organization behind the Academy Awards released new Oscar rules on Friday, including several that address the use of generative artificial intelligence.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said that only performances “credited in the film’s legal billing and demonstrably performed by humans with their consent” will be eligible for Academy Awards. Similarly, the academy said that screenplays must be “human-authored” to be eligible.
The academy also said it has the right to request more information about a film’s AI usage and “human authorship.”
Outside Hollywood, at least one novel has been pulled by its publisher due to the apparent use of AI, and other writers’ groups are declaring that AI usage makes work ineligible for awards.