20 kidnapped medical students: Police kill kingpin, arrest 2 others (Nation)
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, revealed on Sunday, August 25, that the leader of the gang involved in the abduction of medical students, who were rescued on Friday, has been arrested.
Egbetokun disclosed this while handing over the 20 rescued students to the Vice Chancellors of the University of Maiduguri and the University of Jos.
He said the police also rescued seven kidnapped victims alongside the 20 students. Read more
Acting CJN Kekere-Ekun, worthy role model — Oluremi Tinubu (Tribune)
The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has congratulated the newly sworn-in Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
In a statement she issued on Sunday “on behalf of every Nigerian Girl and woman,” she said the CJN is a worthy example of a role model.
The wife of the president said: “In these times where many youth feel they do not have worthy role models, you are an example that depicts the power of education, hard work, and consistency that is being laid out for all to see. Read more
FG defends invalidation of over 22,700 certificates from Togo, Benin Republic (Channels)
The Federal Government says it stands with its decision to void over 22,700 degree certificates obtained by Nigerians in some “fake” universities in neighbouring Togo and Benin Republic.
Education Minister Tahir Mamman, who was on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, said Nigerians who obtained degree certificates from such “illegal” tertiary institutions are denting Nigeria’s image.
He said the measure to invalidate degree certificates from illegal universities in the Benin Republic and Togo was not a harsh one as the authorities in the neighbouring Francophone West African countries also adjudged the concerned schools as fake. Read more
External Reserves Decline To $36.44bn On Retail Dollar Sales (Leadership)
Nigeria’s external reserves have recorded a marginal decline of 1.16 percent ($430 million) in the last two weeks since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reintroduced the retail Dutch auction in the foreign exchange (FX) market.
Data from the CBN showed that the foreign currency reserves dropped to $36.44 billion on Thursday August 22, 2024 from $36.86 billion on August 6, 2024.
The CBN undertook the sale of foreign exchange (FX) to end users through a Retail Dutch Auction System (rDAS) to reduce the demand pressure in the FX market and promote price discovery on Tuesday, August 06, 2024. Read more
DSS releases journalist, Soyinka, withholds passport (Punch)
The Department of State Services, on Sunday, released the Regional Editor of The Conversation Africa and an investigative journalist, Adejuwon Soyinka, hours after he was intercepted at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos after he arrived from the United Kingdom.
A distress message sent to The PUNCH by one of his friends on Sunday morning stated that Soyinka was picked up by DSS operatives shortly after arriving from the UK, adding that no reason was given for his arrest and Soyinka had been held incommunicado.
“Adejuwon Soyinka has been detained by officers of the Department of State Security at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The incident happened around 5.40 am on Sunday, the 25th of August, 2024, shortly after he arrived in Nigeria via a Virgin Atlantic flight from the United Kingdom. Read more
6 killed in fresh herdsmen attack in Benue (Vanguard)
At least six people have been reportedly killed and several others sustained injuries in two separate attacks by armed herdsmen on the Iwari and Olegahbane communities of Agatu Local Government Area, LGA, of Benue state.
According to a source in the area who spoke on condition of anonymity the two incidents occurred Friday evening.
He explained that the attack on the Iwari community claimed one life while five others were killed in the Olegagbane community. Read more
FCT CP mourns slain officers, says ‘Shiites have declared war on us’ (DailyTrust)
Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, Benneth Igweh, has expressed his displeasure over the killing of two his operatives during a procession by members of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria popularly known as Shiites.
Igweh also described as “provocative” the actions of the group by attacking security operatives without sparing two other policewomen who were critically injured during the melee that ensued in the nation’s capital, Abuja, on Sunday.
Daily Trust had reported that at least a trader was shot dead, while two police officers were killed in the clash between police and the group at popular Wuse Market, Abuja, and no fewer than three police vehicles were set also ablaze. Read more
Group petitions Akpabio, wants Mpigi’s seat declared vacant (Independent)
A Socio-Political group, Conscience of Ogoni People, COOP, have petitioned the Senate President, Senator Goodwill Akpabio to declare the seat of Senator Barry Mpigi vacant following his extended absence from the Senate and his constituency.
COOP, said Senator Mpigi who is representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District has been absent for over five months, neglecting his legislative duties and representation of his constituents.
This absence, according to the group, has negatively impacted the people of Rivers South-East Senatorial District, as they have been left without a representative to address their concerns. Read more
Jenna Ortega says she deleted Twitter after seeing explicit AI images of herself as a minor (NBC)
Jenna Ortega said she deleted X, then known as Twitter, after a “terrifying” experience encountering AI-generated pornographic images of herself on the platform when she was a minor.
In an interview with The New York Times, published on Saturday, the actress, 21, reflected on how she feels about artificial intelligence.
“I hate A.I.,” she told the publication, noting that while it “could be used for incredible things” it’s also been abused by some online. Read more
Ed Sheeran stuns Romanian fans with surprise appearance from Hollywood actor (Independent)
Ed Sheeran had a surprise in store for fans attending his concert in Romania on Saturday (24 August), as he invited a Hollywood star to join him onstage.
The British singer-songwriter was accompanied by Thor actor Chris Hemsworth, who played the drums while Sheeran sang his hit single “Thinking Out Loud” at the National Arena in Bucharest.
The stunt was carried out in front of nearly 70,000 fans as part of the Australian actor’s documentary series, Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, in which he takes on various challenges to explore issues people face such as pain, fear and social connection. Read more
Oasis expected to earn £50m from reunion with Liam Gallagher tipped to confirm news at Reading festival (Mirror)
Oasis stand to earn £50 million if they reform and embark on an epic world tour – as mounting reports suggest is about to happen.
The iconic indie-rock band, fronted by brothers Liam Gallagher, 51, and his older brother Noel, 57, ruled the charts in the UK from 1991 to 2009. During that time, the boys were cited by Guinness World Records as the most successful UK music act between 1995 and 2005 and they have sold over 75 million albums.
But the successful group imploded in 2009 when the star brothers bitterly fell out and vowed never to perform together again. Liam went on to enjoy success as a solo artist and with his band, Beady Eye, while Noel enjoyed success with his own outfit, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Inside Out 2 becomes 1st animated film to hit $1b at international box office (Variety)
Inside Out 2 has surpassed $1 billion at the international box office, one of 12 releases — and the only animated film — to ever cross that coveted milestone.
Though 55 films have grossed $1 billion globally (which is comprised of domestic and international ticket sales), just a dozen have managed to hit that benchmark from overseas markets alone — and 11 of those movies were live-action. While Disney’s 2019 The Lion King earned a staggering $1.1 billion internationally, the studio has categorized the remake as live-action rather than computer generated, so Inside Out 2 is technically the first animated release to join the coveted club.
Getting to $1 billion means Inside Out 2 has resonated pretty much everywhere, but the top foreign markets are Mexico ($102.2 million), Brazil ($80 million), the U.K. ($72.7 million), France ($62.6 million) and Korea ($60.8 million). Read more
#MeToo hits Kerala film industry: Siddique, Ranjith resign amidst Hema committee report fallout (GulfNews)
Veteran actor Siddique and acclaimed filmmaker Ranjith have resigned from their leadership positions in the Malayalam film industry on Sunday following allegations of misconduct.
Siddique stepped down as general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), while Ranjith resigned as chairman of the Kerala Chalachitra Academy.
Both resignations come in the wake of the Justice Hema Committee report, which exposed a culture of sexual harassment and casting couch practices within the industry. Read more
14 dead after Indian bus falls into river in Nepal (BBC)
At least 14 people have died after a bus carrying passengers from India fell into a river in Nepal, officials have said.
There were around 40 people on the bus, which was travelling to Nepal’s capital Kathmandu from Pokhara, according to reports.
Rescue operations are underway at the accident site on the bank of the Marsyangdi river in Tanahun district. Read more
Member of British journalist team dies after Russian missile hits hotel in eastern Ukraine (WashingtonTimes)
A British safety adviser working with a team of journalists was killed after a Russian missile struck a hotel in the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, Reuters news agency confirmed.
Ryan Evans, 38, was staying at the Hotel Sapphire with colleagues in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region when it was hit by a Russian missile Saturday night.
Two other members of the six-person Reuters crew were hospitalized with injuries. Read more
FIFA Ban: I wasn’t given chance to defend myself — Siasia (Punch)
Coach Samson Siasia has stated that he is renewed and ready to continue his lifelong passion for coaching, following his return to full-scale football activities.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Siasia, a renowned former Super Eagles player and coach, has completed a ban imposed by FIFA for a match-fixing allegation.
Initially a lifetime penalty, the ban was reduced to five years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2019. Read more
Osimhen makes bogus wage demand of £500K-a-week to join Chelsea (Leadership)
Chelsea’s move to sign Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, from Napoli FC is in major doubt because of the player’s bogus wage demands, according to reports.
The 25-year-old is believed to be asking for a contract which would see him receive £500,000-a-week. The extraordinary figure would make him the highest paid player in the English Premier League.
The Blues have been working all summer long to get the deal over the line and talks with the striker’s representatives and Napoli have been ongoing for a number of weeks but it is understood that an agreement was still nowhere in sight. Read more
Premier League: Arsenal pass Aston Villa test, Brighton rock Man Utd, Man City thump Ipswich (FirstPost)
Arsenal passed an early test of their Premier League title credentials with a 2-0 win at Aston Villa as Manchester United crashed to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat at Brighton on Saturday.
Erling Haaland’s hat-trick fired champions Manchester City to the top of the table with a 4-1 win over Ipswich, while Tottenham thrashed Everton 4-0.
Arsenal’s two defeats to Villa last season cost them a first league title in 20 years. Read more
Liverpool 2-0 Brentford: Diaz and Salah make the difference as Slot’s side ease to victory (Football365)
Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah scored as Arne Slot’s first competitive home game in charge of Liverpool ended with a 2-0 win over Brentford.
Slot was given a warm welcome at Anfield and serenaded in the closing stages as his side made it two from two in the Premier League against Brentford, who left out Ivan Toney for the second week in a row.
With Liverpool owner John W Henry watching on, Diaz put the Reds ahead after 13 minutes from a dizzying breakaway, before Brentford captain Christian Norgaard missed a gilt-edged chance later in the half. Read more
Max Verstappen hit with doping test at Dutch Grand Prix as Red Bull ace left “grumpy’’ (Express)
Helmut Marko has revealed that an early-morning visit from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) left three-time world champion Max Verstappen feeling ‘grumpy’ ahead of Friday’s on-track action at the Dutch Grand Prix.
Like all elite athletes, F1 drivers are regularly tested by WADA to ensure fair competition. On this occasion, they paid a 7am visit to Verstappen to collect a sample ahead of FP1 at the Zandvoort circuit.
This didn’t go down well with Verstappen, who did not appreciate the early start. “Max was a bit grumpy,” Marko told De Telegraaf. “It’s just a Friday, we shouldn’t make it bigger than it is. People from such an agency often come early, because then it’s easy to deliver a first pee.” Read more
Presidents Cup qualifiers locked in for US, International teams (StraitsTimes)
Half of the U.S. Team and half of the International Team for the 2024 Presidents Cup are now secured while some Americans are making a late push for their captain’s consideration.
Six players for both the U.S. and International teams qualified for the biannual team event Sunday following the conclusion of the BMW Championship.
To no one’s surprise, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler led the U.S. Team qualifying standings by more than 4,000 points over Xander Schauffele. Collin Morikawa, Wyndham Clark, Patrick Cantlay and Sahith Theegala rounded out the top six. It will be the first Presidents Cup appearances for Clark and Theegala. Read more