FG hikes fees for international passport (Leadership)
The federal government has announced an increase in the cost of obtaining Nigeria’s international passport.
The announcement which explained that the move is “part of efforts to maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Nigeria Immigration Service, DCI Kenneth Udo, in Abuja.
While the new charges takes effect from September 1, 2024, the statement stated that the fees remain unchanged in Diaspora. Read more
Many die as soldiers, bandits battle in Plateau community (Nation)
Many bandits and some soldiers have been reportedly killed during a gun battle in Gandiri community, Bashar District in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State, during a bloody raid.
The incident occurred two days after soldiers found the corpse of a police officer abducted last week around Kampani community in Bashar District was found in a bush.
Residents of the community said the latest clash occurred on Monday evening when the soldiers and vigilantes took the fight to the dean of the bandits following reports of banditry activities in the area. Read more
Enugu demolishes kidnappers’ dens (Tribune)
The Enugu State Government has demolished properties used by kidnappers to detain their victims on Wednesday in the outskirts of Enugu, the state capital.
The demolished properties included an incomplete storey-building with an underground tunnel at Nkwubor Layout in Emene Nike, where a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered, and a large farm with a poultry, piggery, and plantain plantation at Ogbeke Nike, all in Enugu East LGA.
At Nkwubor Nike, seventeen firearms were recovered, including eight AK-47 rifles, seven pump-action rifles, and two shotguns. Read more
Abducted Sokoto monarch dies in captivity (DailyTrust)
The District Head of Gatawa in Sokoto State, Isa Muhammad Bawa, who was abducted alongside his son and brother 25 days ago, has reportedly died in captivity.
Multiple sources confirmed the development to our correspondent on Wednesday.
A resident of Gatawa, Mahe Mukhtar, said the death was confirmed by the office of the deceased and there was a condolence message from the member representing Isa-Sabon Birni federal constituency on the death. Read more
E-hailing drivers reject fare slash, threaten strike (Punch)
E-hailing drivers under the aegis of the Amalgamated Union of App-Based Transporters of Nigeria have rejected the recent fare reduction arrangement announced by certain app companies and the Presidential Committee on the National Gas Initiative.
The union, representing over 120,000 drivers in Lagos and 300,000 nationwide, in a statement by its state chairman, Jaiyesimi Azeez, and obtained by PUNCH Metro on Wednesday, claimed it was not involved in the discussion and did not endorse the decision.
It further stated that a crucial decision such as fare reduction for riders should be discussed and agreed upon with its members who are the implementing arm of the transaction. Read more
EFCC denies sharing funds forfeited by Emefiele, associates (Channels)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has denied reports suggesting that its officials shared forfeited assets linked to the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele and his associates.
In a rebuttal statement issued on Wednesday, EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, faulted an online publication alleging that the anti-graft agency
He said the notion of sharing the proceeds of forfeited assets was strange to the agency, stressing that the publication was made out of ignorance and mischief. Read more
KWASU, US researchers study poor maths performance in Nigerian schools (Tribune)
A group of researchers from Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, the University of Ilorin, and the University of Alabama, USA, have conducted a study on effective methods for teaching Mathematics in Nigerian schools.
The study, titled “Exploration of the Effect of Scaffolding Instructional Strategy on Pupils’ Academic Performance in Mathematics,” found that using a scaffolding approach, which builds on pupils’ existing knowledge and skills, progressively enhances students’ performance in Mathematics. Read more
Ashanti confirms birth of baby with rapper Nelly (RTE)
Grammy-winning singer Ashanti has announced she gave birth four weeks ago to her first child with US rapper Nelly.
US star Ashanti, who rekindled her romance with Nelly last year after first being linked to him in 2003, shared a carousel of photographs of her wearing a blue robe on her Instagram.
“Four weeks postpartum. You have no idea what this body can do,” she says in a video. Read more
Senegal sets up commission to review oil and gas contracts (AfricaNews)
Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko officially set up Monday (Aug. 19) a commission tasked with reviewing the oil and gas contracts the country signed with multinational corporations.
The PM made the announcement on national TV insisting that the team of legal, tax, and energy sector experts will work meticulously to make sure all legal aspects are carefully examined.
Sonko brushed off rumours of nationalization reiterating his government’s ambition to rebalance the energy contracts in the national interest. Read more
Disney drops bid to stop allergy death lawsuit over Disney+ terms (BBC)
Disney has withdrawn its claim that a man could not sue it over the death of his wife because of terms he signed up to in a free trial of Disney+.
Jeffrey Piccolo filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Disney and the owners of a restaurant after his wife died in 2023 from a severe allergic reaction following a meal at Disney World, in Florida.
Disney had argued the case should instead go to arbitration because of a clause in the terms and conditions of its Disney+ streaming service, which Mr Piccolo had briefly signed up for in 2019. Read more
“Megalopolis” trailer pulled after using fake quotes from critics about other Francis Ford Coppola movies (EW)
Lionsgate pulled the trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis” after journalists and social media users discovered fake quotes from critics at the beginning of the video.
In a statement provided to Entertainment Weekly, a spokesperson for the studio wrote, “Lionsgate is immediately recalling our trailer for “Megalopolis”. We offer our sincere apologies to the critics involved and to Francis Ford Coppola and American Zoetrope for this inexcusable error in our vetting process. We screwed up. We are sorry.”
Lionsgate is handling the American distribution for the film, which was self-financed by Coppola and his production company American Zoetrope. Read more
Adam Sandler explains why now was right time to revisit Happy Gilmore: “It Just Kind of Happened” (THR)
Adam Sandler‘s latest Netflix project, the stand-up special “Love You”, hits the streamer next week, but fans of the comedian are eagerly awaiting a future Netflix title: “Happy Gilmore 2”.
Netflix confirmed in May that it had ordered a movie sequel to the 1996 film, after Sandler and co-star Christopher McDonald said in separate interviews that such a project was in the works.
Now, making the rounds to promote “Love You”, Sandler is revealing more about what to expect from “Happy Gilmore 2”. On Tuesday’s Tonight Show, Sandler indicated that filming would begin in a couple of weeks in New Jersey, with real golfers and even a Travis Kelce cameo, after the Chiefs star and Sandler fan said he’d do “anything” to be in the film. Read more
5 bodies found by divers in Sicily yacht search, 1 person still unaccounted for (CBC)
Five bodies were found on Wednesday aboard the sunken wreck of a yacht belonging to the wife of British tech magnate Mike Lynch, with one still missing.
The identities of the victims were not immediately given by the authorities.
Rescue crews brought four body bags ashore into port at Porticello. Salvatore Cocina, head of the Sicily civil protection agency, said a fifth body had been located. Divers at the scene said they would try to recover it on Thursday while continuing the search for the final missing person. Read more
Hezbollah fires more than 50 rockets, hitting Israeli-annexed Golan Heights (GulfToday)
Lebanon’s Hizbollah has launched more than 50 rockets, hitting a number of private homes in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights.
The attack on Wednesday came a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with fellow mediators Egypt and Qatar as he pressed ahead with the latest diplomatic mission to secure a cease-fire in the war in Gaza, even as Hamas and Israel signaled that challenges remain.
Hamas in a new statement called the latest proposal presented to it a “reversal” of what it agreed to previously and accused the US of acquiescing to what it called “new conditions” from Israel. There was no immediate US response. Read more
AFCON qualifiers: Eagles open training camp Sept 1 (Punch)
The Super Eagles are expected to resume camping in Uyo on September 1 ahead of their 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
A team official, who disclosed this to our correspondent on Wednesday, said, “The backroom staff will be in Uyo from September 1, and we expect most of the players to arrive in good time.”
The three-time African champions will welcome the Cheetahs of Benin Republic on September 7 starting at 5 pm at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo and fly out to another 2026 World Cup qualifying rivals Rwanda, three days later for a second AFCON qualifier. Read more
Fulham agree fee of £12.7m with £4m in add-ons for Lyon’s Cherki (DailyMail)
Fulham agreed a £12.7m fee with £4m in add-ons for Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki on Wednesday night but the 21-year-old is unsure on the move.
Cherki, who made his debut for Lyon when he was just 16, has made 141 appearances for the French side, during which he has scored 17 goals and provided 25 assists.
Fulham have long-standing interest in Cherki having discussed a deal during the January transfer window. Read more
Chelsea transfer twist as Newcastle make new plan after £30m deal agreed (Mirror)
Newcastle are sizing up for a move for Chelsea star Axel Disasi as they continue to look for alternative targets to Marc Guehi.
The Magpies have seen several bids rejected for the Crystal Palace defender and have now given up hope of signing the England international. After having their latest £60 million bid turned down, Newcastle moved on to other targets.
One of them had been Joachim Andersen, but the Palace star is closing in on a return to Fulham, with a £30m fee agreed between the clubs. With Andersen now off the table, Newcastle have once again been forced to explore fresh options.
Ramsden shatters 40yo New Zealand mile record (RNZ)
Middle distance runner Maia Ramsden has shattered the New Zealand women’s mile record which has stood for 37 years.
Competing at the Borås Folksam meet in Sweden, Ramsden finished second in the race running 4 minutes 24.79 seconds to better Christine Pfitzinger’s 1987 mark by almost six seconds.
This result builds on a successful debut Olympic campaign, during which she lowered her own New Zealand 1500m record to 4:02.20 in the semi-finals. Read more
Antonelli set for Monza FP1 debut with Mercedes (F1i)
Mercedes is set to give their young protégé Andrea Kimi Antonelli his first free practice session in F1, with the young Italian taking to the track at the Italian Grand Prix next week at Monza.
Antonelli, who will turn 18 on race day at Zandvoort next weekend, is currently competing in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Prema.
But the teenager is also undergoing a rigorous private F1 test programme with Mercedes designed to ease his likely promotion next year to motorsport’s elite. Read more
Brazil police close investigation into Man Utd’s Antony (BBC)
A Brazilian police investigation into allegations of domestic abuse by Manchester United winger Antony has concluded without any charges being brought, but prosecutors could still look into the claims.
The 24-year-old, who has denied wrongdoing, remains the subject of a Greater Manchester Police investigation.
Allegations of domestic abuse were made against Antony by three women in September last year, though he has not been arrested or charged in either Brazil or the UK and denies the allegations. Read more