Economy my priority now, Tinubu tells Anyaoku, others seeking new Constitution (DailyTrust)
President Bola Tinubu has told The Patriots, a group of eminent Nigerians, that retooling the economy for sustainable growth and development is the major priority of his administration and not working for a new Constitution.
The President, however, assured the group led by Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, who visited him at the State House on Friday, that their request for the convening of a national constituent assembly with the mandate to draft a new constitution will be reviewed.
Chief Anyaoku, speaking on behalf of The Patriots, appealed to the President to send an executive bill to the National Assembly, proposing two measures:
“The convening of a national constituent assembly with the mandate to produce a draft of the people’s democratic constitution. Read more
Flood cuts off Kano- Maiduguri highway in Bauchi State (Sun)
A heavy rainfall has cut off a significant portion of the Kano-Maiduguri Expressway.
Saturday Sun gathered that the incident happened at Malori-Guskuri community in the Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State.
The natural development has rendered the road impassable, forcing motorists to resort to alternative routes to continue their journey to their destinations. Read more
Obasa: Lagos accountants to use AI for enhanced service delivery (ThisDay)
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, has said accountants in the employment of the Lagos State Government would integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their operations, as a cutting-edge tool needed to ensure the delivery of quality services.
He said the use of AI would help to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and overall quality of financial services provided to the residents of Lagos.
Obasa made these remarks while addressing participants at the 15th annual public lecture organised by the Lagos State Public Service Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Read more
Abductors of Kogi varsity students demand N50m ransom (Tribune)
The abductors of two students of Kogi State University, Kabba (KSUK) have demanded a N50 million ransom for the release of the two students.
The students were kidnapped last week Friday, August 2, 2024; at the same spot and same day the Caretaker Chairmen of Kabba/Bunu Council area, Dare Micheal and his three aides were abducted.
While the CTC chairman, Dare was released due to ill health that didn’t allow him to trek quickly with the abductors, the other three aides and the two students are still with the abductors. Read more
I’ll not disappoint you, new Head of Service assures Tinubu (Punch)
The newly-appointed Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, has promised to serve the interest of Nigerians as captured in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Walson-Jack gave the assurance on Friday, after private talks with Tinubu at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
“I see it as a divine assignment, and I had the opportunity to assure Mr. President that, by the grace of God, I will not disappoint him,’ she said. Read more
Bandits kill village head, 2 others, abduct over 14 in Kaduna (Channels)
The village head of the Gefe community of Kufana chiefdom in the Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State has been killed by bandits along with two other people.
Although police authorities in Kaduna State are yet to confirm the attack, a community leader Silas Musa told Channels television that the bandits invaded Gefe village at about midnight on Thursday.
He said they went straight to the residence of the village head Emmanuel Idan and another local and shot them to death. During the operation, fourteen locals were abducted by the bandits and taken to an unknown destination. Read more
How Tinubu reduced costs with CNG, by minister (Nation)
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, announced on Friday, August 9, that the federal government has reduced the cost of fuel for drivers by deploying Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), which is a cheaper fuel.
Speaking in Abuja during the “Launch of Rideshare Conversion Incentive Program & the My CNG App”, the minister said that drivers are expected to lower the transport fare for their passengers.
Idris, who was represented by the Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr. Mohammed Bulama, emphasised that while the country is seeking to reduce the cost of petrol, the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGI) has proposed CNG as the alternative that the government has adopted for this purpose. Read more
Jenna Ortega says everybody in Hollywood wants to be ‘‘politically correct’’ but that ‘‘lacks honesty’’
(NME)
Jenna Ortega has opened up about Hollywood and politics and how always being “politically correct” can “lack honesty”.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, the Wednesday actress shared her belief that actors have to be politically correct and how it can affect their integrity. She also opened up about her Scream VI co-star Melissa Barrera, who was fired from the horror franchise following social media posts in support of Palestine.
“The business that we work in is so touchy-feely,” the actor told the publication. “Everybody wants to be politically correct, but I feel like, in doing that, we lose a lot of our humanity and integrity, because it lacks honesty.” Read more
Latto fuels Ice Spice feud on new album ‘Sugar Honey Iced Tea’ (HipHopDx)
Latto has added me fuel to her long rumbling feud with Ice Spice with lyrics on her new album Sugar Honey Iced Tea.
The project, which was released on Friday (August 9), features a song called “S/O to Me,” on which the ClayCo (Clayton County, Georgia) representative seemingly takes a shot at her rival.
During the first verse, Latto raps: “Bye sis, funny thing about it, you can’t look me in my eye, sis,” which plays on Ice Spice’s first name, Isis. Read more
Joaquin Phoenix abruptly drops out of gay romance movie after reportedly getting ‘‘cold feet’’
(Independent)
Joaquin Phoenix has reportedly exited Todd Haynes’s forthcoming untitled gay romance just days before filming was set to begin in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The 49-year-old Joker star was set to lead the new detective love story, which he also wrote the screenplay for alongside Haynes and Jon Raymond.
However, five days before production was scheduled to begin, Phoenix made the last-minute decision to drop out of the film after getting “cold feet,” a source told Variety. Read more
Adele confirms engagement to Rich Paul at gig (DigitalSpy)
Adele has confirmed she is now engaged to her partner Rich Paul.
After months of speculation surrounding the couple’s romance, the singer shared the happy news during her residency in Munich on Friday (August 9).
In response to a sign in the audience that read: “Will you marry me?” Adele flashed her diamond ring, saying: “I can’t marry you because I’m already getting married!” Read more
Injuries after Boardmasters festival crowd surge (BBC)
A crowd surge at a music festival has left a small number of people injured with some requiring hospital treatment, police said.
The incident happened on Friday in Newquay at the Boardmasters music festival, which is expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors over five days.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the incident was isolated with festivities continuing, although organisers said a planned set by DJ and producer Sammy Virji had to be cancelled. Read more
Former Catalan separatist leader “in Belgium” after evading arrest (DailyMail)
Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont is now ‘back in Belgium’ after he evaded arrest in Spain for the second time in seven years following a dramatic escape in a getaway car.
Puigdemont, 61, made a much-anticipated return to Spain this week despite a pending arrest warrant against him for his role in a 2017 independence referendum deemed illegal by Spanish courts.
Amid a heavy police presence, he told a crowd of thousands of followers in the Catalan capital of Barcelona on Thursday that he aimed to revive the independence drive that plunged Spain into a political crisis in 2017. Read more
Plane crash in Brazil kills all 61 people on board (CBS)
A plane with 61 people aboard crashed in a fiery wreck in a residential area of a city in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state Friday, the airline said in a social media post on Friday. The airline said there were no survivors and that all 57 passengers and 4 crew members died at the scene.
The airline VOEPASS had previously said there were 62 people aboard. It confirmed in an earlier statement that the plane, headed for Sao Paulo’s international airport Guarulhos, crashed inside a gated community in the city of Vinhedo. The plane took off from Cascavel Airport at 11:46 a.m. local time, the airline said.
The statement didn’t say what caused the accident. Read more
Osimhen out of Napoli’s Coppa Italia squad (Punch)
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen will not feature in Napoli’s Coppa Italia first-round match against Modena today, as his future with The Blues remains shrouded in uncertainty.
The 25-year-old, who has been the subject of intense transfer speculation this summer, has been following an individual training plan at Napoli’s sports centre without participating in any of the club’s pre-season friendlies.
Osimhen, who earns £325,000 per week at Napoli, making him the highest earner in Serie A, signed a new contract with the club in December that includes a €130m release clause, which none of his suitors is willing to trigger. Read more
Okoye features as Udinese secure 4-0 win in Coppa Italia first round tie (CompleteSports)
Maduka Okoye kicked off the new campaign on a perfect note, as he was in goal for Udinese who thrashed Serie C club Avellino in the first round (round of 32) of the Coppa Italia.
Udinese took the lead with four minutes left in the first half thanks to Brenner.
With five minutes into the second half Florian Thauvin made it 2-0 after converting from the penalty spot. Read more
Olympics: Spain tops France in classic to win men’s soccer gold (ESPN)
Spain continued its long-running domination of international soccer in incredible fashion on Friday, claiming the men’s Olympic gold medal with a frantic, frenzied 5-3 extra-time victory over France in a match that included just about everything.
There was an early deficit, a spirited reversal, a blown two-goal lead, a dramatic VAR stoppage-time French penalty and, ultimately, Spanish superiority when it mattered most to leave French coach Thierry Henry, as well as a packed and passionate home crowd at the Parc des Princes, absolutely crushed.
“I’m very happy because our players sacrificed a lot to be here,” Spain coach Santi Denia said, “and they deserve to win the gold medal.” Read more
Transfer round-up: Chelsea swoop for Neto, Barcelona land Spain star Olmo, Spurs get Solanke (RTE)
Chelsea have agreed a £54m (€63m) deal to sign winger Pedro Neto from Wolves, after the club fended off interest from Tottenham to seal a surprise move for the Portugal international.
The 24-year-old, who arrived at Molineux from Braga in 2019, will move to Stamford Bridge for an initial £51.4m (€60) with a possible further £2.6m (€3m) in add-ons.
He has seen his last three seasons disrupted by injury and has been limited to just 51 Premier League appearances in that time, but was fit to play in three of his country’s Euro 2024 fixtures this summer. Read more
“A dream come true” – Algeria’s Imane Khelif defies critics to win Olympic boxing gold (National)
Algerian boxer Imane Khelif said her dreams had come true after she defeated China’s Yang Liu to capture Olympic gold in the women’s 66kg division on Friday night.
Khelif, who has seen her campaign in Paris overshadowed by a gender controversy fuelled by rampant misinformation, defied her critics as she comprehensively out-boxed Yang to earn a richly-deserved unanimous decision in front of thousands of noisy Algerian fans at Roland Garros.
Khelif, who only started boxing eight years ago, scored again and again with her jab and backed it up with her signature straight right hand as she swept all three rounds 5-0 for the biggest win of her career. Read more
Brazil wrestle to women’s gold in Olympic beach volleyball (RFI)
Top-seeded Brazilian pair Ana Patricia Silva and Eduarda Santos won Olympic gold in the women’s beach volleyball on Friday, finally nailing down victory after three tense sets in a bad-tempered game.
The duo beat seventh-ranked Canadians Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson, who will take silver, by 15/10 in a decider match.
The top-seeded pair took a while to get into their stride — but once they did there was never a dull moment on the sand as the two sides wrestled point-by-point towards gold in front of an illuminated Eiffel Tower. Read more