Gunmen kill Kaduna cleric while working on his farm (Sun)
Yet to be identified gunmen have allegedly killed a cleric while working on his farm located at Prison Farms, Kujama in Chikun Local Government area of Kaduna State.
Kujama is an agrarian town located about 15 minutes drive from Kaduna, the Capital City of Kaduna State.
According to the family source, Reverend Jeremiah Mayau who is in Charge of Tawaliu Baptist Church Kujama, was shot by his assailants in the afternoon of Wednesday, August 23. Read more
“Japa”: Nigerians stranded in UK after emptying savings on travel (DailyTrust)
Many Nigerians have been left with destitution, hunger, and joblessness in the United Kingdom after paying travel agents huge amounts of money to leave the country in search of green pastures.
According to Sky News, Nigerians who spoke on the condition of anonymity said they paid their respective agents to travel to the UK on skilled worker visas only to realise that the jobs do not exist.
One of the victims, laden with distraught spoke on the narrow corridor of a food bank, and said she is currently destitute in the UK despite being promised a job. Read more
Why Lagos Assembly refused to clear 17 commissioner-nominees (Nation)
Mixed reactions have continued to trail the rejection of 17 commissioner nominees by the Lagos State House of Assembly.
The rejection may not be unconnected with two key factors, according to keen political observers.
Last week, Muslims, under the umbrella of the Lagos Muslim Community, staged a protest over what they described as alleged marginalisation in the list of commissioner-designates. Read more
Commissioner of police warn against rising trend of counterfeit AK-47s, other pistols in Lagos (Guardian)
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, has expressed the rising trend of local firearms fabrication by criminal elements, with criminals producing fake foreign-made pistols, AK47s, and other rifles.
Owohunwa disclosed this on Wednesday at the unveiling of the state command Complaint Response Unit by the acting Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
He stated that the prevalence of this trend, coupled with the surge in activities linked to cult groups, poses a significant threat to the security landscape within the state. Read more
Senator adopts children of aide allegedly killed by rogue soldiers in Lagos, associates raise N55m (Punch)
The family, friends and colleagues of slain Adeniyi Sanni, an aide to Senator Solomon Adeola, came together on Wednesday to lay to rest the body of the deceased.
Sanni’s widow, children, relatives and other sympathisers shed tears as the remains of the late senator’s aide were displayed during the church service and interred at the Redeemed Camp vault, Mowe, along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Sanni was murdered in the early hours of Saturday, August 5, 2023, in Lagos. Read more
As gov, over 70% of roads I constructed were federal roads – Umahi (Channels)
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi has called on governors to help in the construction of roads, saying while he was a governor, a huge per cent of the road projects were federal roads.
He said this on Thursday while featuring on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
“So, I find it very funny when some people go to put up signboards because they’re trying to do palliatives and they say this is a federal road and it’s being done by the state government cause it’s still one government and one people. So, I advise state governors to come in.
“Over 70% percent of the roads I did in Ebonyi State, they were all federal roads and I wasn’t complaining. If there’s an avenue for refund so while others are moving for refund, my governor would also move for refund’’. Read more
Varsity Don advocates theatre arts for nation building (Tribune)
The Vice-Chancellor of Kashere University, Gombe, Professor Umar Pate, has stressed the need for the involvement of Theatre Arts professionals in the arts of nation-building.
Prof. Pate made this known in a lecture on the theme 60 Years of Theatre Practice in Nigeria as part of activities marking the 60th anniversary of the Theatre Arts Department of the University of Ibadan on Wednesday.
He said the practitioners, with their training, have all that it takes to lead the country. Read more
Nigeria’s unemployment rate falls to 4.1% (Vanguard)
Nigeria’s unemployment has plummeted from 33.3 per cent in 2020 to 4.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2023, and 5.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2022.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the 2020 statistics and the current one were calculated using different methodologies, after a two-year interruption.
The country’s unemployment figure which is an outcome of the labour force survey (LFS) conducted in Nigeria, is coming two years after the last official data of 33.3 per cent for the fourth quarter of 2020 which was released in March 2021. Read more
“It all adds up”: What Russians are saying about Prigozhin’s possible death (AlJazeera)
The head of the Wagner mercenary group, which in June attempted to topple Russia’s military leadership, has been reported dead after a plane crashed on Wednesday.
All 10 people on board were killed, but the Kremlin is yet to confirm Yevgeny Prigozhin‘s death, despite Russian officials saying he was on the passenger list.
Prigozhin‘s short-lived rebellion was seen as the biggest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s authority since he came to power. Since then, uncertainty has surrounded the fate of Wagner and its controversial chief. Read more
Chxrry22 regrets giving “More” on new song (RatedR&B)
XO Records’ frontwoman Chxrry22 has doubts about an unhinged bug-a-boo on her single “More,” which includes writing and production contributions from DIXSON.
On the track, Chxrry22 is irked by an abrasive partner who seems overly annoying since she shared her prized candy with him. He’s reminding her every day about an ex instead of taking things slow to win her affection.
“Calling my job, calling my girls / Giving obsessed (giving obsessed) / Begging for time / Every night / It’s giving pressed,” Chxrry22 sings. Read more
Roger Waters shares new reworked version of Pink Floyd’s ‘‘Time’’ (NME)
Roger Waters has shared a new solo version of Pink Floyd‘s 1973 song ‘‘Time’’.
The original track appears on the prog-rock band’s classic eighth album ‘‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’’, which Waters reimagined in full for a forthcoming record titled ‘‘The Dark Side Of The Moon Redux’’.
The musician’s fresh take on ‘‘Time’’ pulls back the psychedelic sounds of the Pink Floyd single in favour of a more atmospheric production that puts his hushed vocals at the forefront. Read more
Hip-hop artiste jailed for 20 years after criticising Myanmar’s military leaders (BelfastTelegraph)
A Burmese hip-hop artist has been found guilty of criticising Myanmar’s military-controlled government and sentenced to 20 years in prison, a family member said.
The sentence given to Byu Har, also known as Min Oat Myanmar, appeared to be the most severe so far given to any of the celebrities detained for criticising the military rulers who seized power from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.
Byu Har, 38, was arrested at his apartment in Yangon on May 24, hours after he strongly criticised Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military government, and the electric power minister. Read more
Elvis Presley’s estate bans the use of his music in Sofia Coppola’s upcoming “Priscilla’’ (FarOut)
Sofia Coppola’s upcoming biopic, Priscilla, about the relationship between Elvis Presley and his wife Priscilla, will not feature any from ‘‘The King’’.
The director revealed that Elvis Presley Enterprises disapproved of the film, banning all use of the singer’s music within it. Coppola told The Hollywood Reporter, “They don’t like projects that they haven’t originated, and they’re protective of their brand.” However, she asserts that this has only forced her to “be more creative.”
Instead, Coppola’s husband, Thomas Mars from the French indie rock band Phoenix, will provide covers of classic songs for the soundtrack. Read more
Barbie is about to become America’s highest-grossing movie of 2023 (CNN)
Barbie is now the highest-grossing movie at the domestic box office this year, taking the crown away from Super Mario Bros.
According to studio estimates, Barbie has made $575.4 million at the American box office as of Thursday, edging past Mario’s domestic haul of $574.2 million.
It’s likely that Barbie,based on the iconic doll, will officially snatch the title from the video game adaptation, Super Mario Bros. on Thursday, when Wednesday’s box office results are released. Read more
Russia extends reporter Evan Gershkovich’s pretrial detention (UPI)
A court in Moscow, acting at the request of Russian authorities, on Thursday extended the pretrial detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich to November.
Gershkovich has been held since March 29 when he was arrested by Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, on espionage charges while on a reporting trip in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg.
“The court’s decision in respect of Gershkovich extended the period of detention for three months, and only up to eight months, that is, until November 30, 2023,” the court’s press service said. Read more
Ofili plans surprise gift for Nigerians, Akintola in high spirit for 200m showdowns (Guardian)
Two U.S.-based sprinters, Alaba Akintola and Favour Ofili, will be in action this evening to seek qualification tickets in the 200m male and female events.
Akintola entered the second round of the 200m event yesterday by finishing third in Heat Seven in 20.54 seconds.
The Tennessee, U.S.-based sprinter, with a personal best time of 20.26 seconds and season’s best time of 20.43 seconds, told The Guardian this morning at their Park Inn hotel, Radisson, that he is in high spirits and that he would do his best to pick up a ticket to the next round of the 200m event today.
“I am going to the stadium with a believe that anything can happen. It is a game for the best of the best, and I have prepared myself for the challenges here.” Read more
Transfer: Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye joins Udinese Calcio (Vanguard)
Nigerian international Maduka Okoye has signed a four-year deal with his new club, Udinese Calcio.
The Serie A club announced his signing on Thursday on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee from English Championship side Watford FC.
The 23-year-old goalkeeper signed for Watford from Eredivisie side Sparta Rotterdam after Ben Foster left the club but struggled to get minutes as he ended up appearing only two times in the FA Cup and League Cup throughout the last campaign. Read more
Sam Allardyce questions Everton staff over Dominic Calvert-Lewin injuries after new setback (Mirror)
Sam Allardyce believes questions need to be asked of Everton’s medical team over Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s damning injury record after the forward suffered yet another setback.
The 26-year-old was taken off in the 38th minute as the Toffees slumped to a 4-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday. Calvert-Lewin was admitted to hospital with blurred vision and a swollen cheekbone following a nasty collision with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Everton boss Sean Dyche revealed in his pre-match press conference that Calvert-Lewin will miss this weekend’s game against Wolves and is set to see a specialist on Friday. Calvert-Lewin has now made just 35 Premier League appearances since the start of the 2021/22 season. Read more
Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers wants defensive reinforcements after Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki injuries (Sky)
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is searching for a new centre-back after Cameron Carter-Vickers and Maik Nawrocki were ruled out for eight weeks.
Carter-Vickers went off halfway through Celtic’s recent league win over Aberdeen with a hamstring issue and the problem is worse than first feared.
New signing Nawrocki pulled up with a similar problem at the end of the Viaplay Cup defeat at Kilmarnock on Sunday. Read more
Carlos Alcaraz received ‘‘perfect lesson’’ from Novak Djokovic ahead of US Open (Tennis365)
Carlos Alcaraz won’t be too downbeat after his Cincinnati Open final defeat to Novak Djokovic as Alex Corretja feels it was the perfect preparation for the US Open.
Just weeks after Alcaraz got the better of the 23-time Grand Slam winner in a brilliant Wimbledon final, Djokovic turned the tables as he beat the world No 1 in a modern-day, three-set classic at the ATP Masters 1000 final in Ohio on Sunday.
That win came just a fortnight ahead of the season-ending US Open and many believe it now gives Djokovic the edge over his main rival for the title. Read more
Alonso insists no sorrow over Aston Martin podium chances (RN365)
Fernando Alonso has insisted he will not be disappointed if Aston Martin fails to score another podium this year.
Alonso secured six top-three finishes in the opening 12 races of the season to enjoy a dream start to life at his new team, having made the move from Alpine over the winter.
But since his second-place finish at the Canadian Grand Prix, Alonso has failed to reach the podium as Aston Martin’s rivals have offered challenges. Read more