2015 Grammy Nominations for Album of the Year Revealed!

Things were a bit different this year when it came to releasing the nominations for the 2015 Grammys.

Instead of revealing all of the nominees at once, the nods for different categories were revealed throughout the day via Twitter, and culminated with the announcement of the contenders for Album of the Year contenders on A Very Grammy Christmas, which aired on CBS tonight.

The pre-taped telecast, hosted by LL Cool J, included performances by Pharrell Williams, Ariana Grande, Tim McGraw, Maroon 5, Mary J. Blige and Sam Smith.

"What we wanted to do is add a twist," Grammys longtime executive producer Ken Ehrlich told the crowd at the Shrine Auditorium ahead of the taping. "And everyone loves Christmas specials."

MORE: Check out some more Grammy nominations!

Each artist took the stage to belt a Christmas jingle, and also shared various holiday experiences.

But ultimately, it came down to revealing the celebs who have been recognized for Album of the Year, and we don't want you to wait any longer...

ALBUM OF THE YEAR:

•Morning Phase, Beck

•Beyoncé, Beyoncé

•X, Ed Sheeran

•In The Lonely Hour, Sam Smith

•Girl, Pharrell Williams

Find out who snags the top award when the 2015 Grammys air on Feb. 8.

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Pakistan raid kills top al-Qaeda leader

A top al-Qaeda leader, who has been indicted in the US over a bomb plot, has been killed during a raid in Pakistan’s tribal region, the country’s military said.

Adnan Shukrijumah was killed, along with two other suspected fighters, in Pakistan’s South Waziristan tribal area early on Saturday, a millitary source said.

“The al-Qaeda leader, who was killed by the Pakistan army in a successful operation, is the same person who had been indicted in the United Stated,” said a senior Pakistani army officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to talk to journalists.

The FBI had offered a $5-million reward for his capture.

Federal prosecutors in the US alleged Shukrijumah had recruited three men in 2008 to receive training in the lawless tribal region of Pakistan for bombng New York subway system.

The New York indictment links him to the Manhattan plot and a similar never-executed scheme to attack British subways.

Attorney General Eric Holder has called that plot one of the most dangerous since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

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Typhoon Hagupit barrels toward Philippines

Rain lashed parts of the Philippines on Saturday as Typhoon Hagupit barreled toward the coast, bringing roaring winds and the threat of massive storm surges.
Satellite images show the eye of the storm, which lost its super typhoon status again Saturday, about 250 kilometers (150 miles) off the eastern coast of the island nation.
The storm, the strongest so far this year, is expected to make landfall Saturday evening or Sunday morning, local time, over the Eastern Samar to Northern Samar area, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
It's packing sustained winds of 195 kilometers an hour (313 mph) near the storm's center, with gusts of up to 230 kph (370 mph).
Millions of people have been scrambling to get out of the typhoon's way, or battening down in hotels on higher ground, away from the coast.
Public storm warning signals have been applied in a number of provinces amid predictions winds could rip off roofs, cut power and damage buildings. Residents in low-lying areas have been warned about possible flash floods and landslides.
Preparing for the worst
While current forecasts show the storm skirting north of Tacloban, the people there aren't taking any chances.
They suffered enormously when Super Typhoon Haiyan smashed into the coast last November, killing more than 6,000 people and creating apocalyptic scenes of splintered houses, ships on streets and and debris piles for as far as the eye could see.
Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez said they're better prepared this year after learning the lessons of Haiyan a year ago. Residents are taking the storm warnings seriously and most people have fled the city, he said.

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Al Qaeda kills U.S. hostage during raid

Al Qaeda militants killed American hostage Luke Somers in Yemen during a raid conducted by U.S. forces to rescue him, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Saturday.
President Barack Obama ordered the raid because "there were compelling reasons to believe Mr. Somers' life was in imminent danger," he said.
During the raid Friday, the militants also killed a second hostage, South African Pierre Korkie, according to his employer, Gift of the Givers.
It was the second such attempt by U.S. forces in two weeks.
In the first attempt in November, U.S. and Yemeni special forces outfitted with night visors embarked on the mission about a few miles from a cave where al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula -- or AQAP -- was holding hostages.
A gunbattle ensued, and the special forces killed all seven abductors and freed eight hostages. But the militants had separated Somers and four more hostages from the group and moved them to another location two days before the raid.
This week, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula released a video threatening to kill Somers and showing the American photojournalist pleading for his life.
A spokesman read a statement saying Somers would meet his inevitable fate if Washington did not meet the terror group's demands. The spokesman did not name the demands but said the U.S. government knew what they were.
They gave U.S. officials three days to comply. That time was due to run out.
Family pleaded for his life

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Aliko Dangote has emerged as the Forbes Africa Person of the year2014

Nigerian business man, Aliko Dangote has emerged as the Forbes Africa Person of the Year 2014. Other finalists of the most coveted award were Thuli Madonsela, South Africa’s Public Protector, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Nigerian author, Arunma Oteh, Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigeria and Donald Kaberuka, President of the African Development Bank.
In selecting Dangote, the panel of judges noted that “Aliko Dangote is a lion of Africa in terms of business. He is second to none when it comes to investing in Africa, not just Nigeria. He is also a capitalist with a big heart. He puts his money where his mouth is and his foundation is a step forward for a man who wants to make a difference on the continent,”

Aliko Dangote
This was Dangote’s fourth nomination for the prestigious awards. Other past finalists include his Highness Dr. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (2011), James Mwangi (2012) and Akinwumi Adesina (2013). Also feted during the event was Donald Kaberuka, president of the African Development Bank. Kaberuka, who received the lifetime achievement award.
While giving his acceptance speech, Dangote said he considered it an honour to be nominated for the award and thanked the organisers for the priviledge of choosing him as the “Forbes Man of the Year”
“My thanks also go to my family for their unquantifiable support over the years; my diligent staff for their uncommon dedication to duty; my fellow Africans for believing in us; and my numerous friends across the globe, who have been a source of inspiration. I will also like to specially recognise and commend the other nominees for making it up to this stage. Their achievement is no mean feat, given the quality of the award”
Dangote said: “Of course there are challenges, but which are not unsurmountable as long as we stay united in our resolve to overcome them. If we all join hands together, we can emancipate Africa from poverty, ignorance and disease – the triple obstacles to our development as a people”
Chairman, CMA Investment Holding, Rakesh Wahi, described Forbes as a brand, synonymous with entrepreneurship, inspiration, success, failure, getting up after failure and never giving up despite all the odds. He said Forbes highlights journeys of hope; of trials and tribulations of people who despite all challenges have the courage and determination to see their dreams to fruition.

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