Olu of Warri: Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko crowned Ogiame Atuwatse III (Punch)
Prince Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko has been crowned the 21st Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III.
He seems to have derived the title from his father and 19th Olu, Atuwatse II, Godwin Toritseju Emiko.
His investiture is ongoing at the Itsekiri Kingdom in Warri, Delta State.
According to Itsekiri tradition, this is the dynastic name the new Olu will henceforth be addressed by and referred to.
The new Atuwatse III is the son of the 19th Olu Atuwatse II, Godwin Toritseju Emiko and Gladys Durorike Emiko.
Born on April 2, 1984, the new Olu is a descendant of Olu Akengbuwa. Read more
Police rescue 8-year-old boy from neighbours demanding N2.5m ransom (Punch)
Two suspects, Desmond Okafor and Iyke Egwuonwu, have been arrested by men of the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly kidnapping a minor, Daniel Chukwudi, in the Ajangbadi area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said in a statement on Saturday that eight-year-old Chukwudi was lured from his parents’ house in the Aboru area of Ipaja to Ajangbadi, where he was held for ransom.
He stated that the suspects, Okafor and Egwuonwu, demanded N2.5m ransom from Chukwudi’s parents to secure his release.
Ajisebutu said, “The Lagos State Police Command has arrested two male suspects, Desmond Okafor, 21, and Iyke Egwuonwu, 34, who conspired together and kidnapped an eight-year-old boy, Daniel Chukwudi, on July 11, 2021. Read more
Nigeria’s royal wedding: Private jets, glitz and glamour (BBC)
Private jets filled up the runway of the airport in the northern Nigerian city of Kano as members of Nigeria’s elite and West African dignitaries flew in for the wedding of the president’s son and the daughter of a prominent religious and traditional leader.
The marriage of Yusuf Buhari to Zahra Nasir Bayero is one of Nigeria’s biggest celebrity events of the year.
Thousands attended the event at the palace of the Emir of Bichi, a town in Kano state.
One historian told the BBC that a wedding between presidential and royal families was unprecedented in Nigeria. Read more
One dies as Toyota jeep rams into truck in Lagos (Tribune)
A lifeless body of an adult male was recovered at 11:30 pm on Thursday as a Toyota Jeep with registration number BDG732FD rammed into a truck from behind at 7 & 8 Bus Stop inward Airport Road in Lagos State.
Information gathered showed that the lifeless body was the driver of the Toyota jeep. The body has been recovered and handed over to his family.
According to the situation report by the Director-General, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the men of the agency have recovered the dead driver and wrecked Jeep.
He stated that further investigation revealed that the accident was due to reckless driving. Read more
Bishop Oyedepo, wife celebrate 39th wedding anniversary (Punch)
Founder and General Overseer of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo and his wife, Pastor Faith Oyedepo have taken to their social media pages to celebrate their 39th wedding anniversary.
The couple who got married in 1982 thanked God and expressed joy for their long lasting union on Saturday.
Faith Oyedepo on her Twitter page said, “Happy anniversary to my darling husband @DavidOyedepoMin. This journey that began 39 years ago seems just like yesterday.”
She further thanked her husband for being a blessing to her, their children, and the world at large. Read more
FG, resident doctors reach new agreements (Nation)
The federal government on Saturday morning agreed to pay N4.8bn Residency Training Fund to the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) in the next seven days.
The government also agreed to clear the arrears of the consequential adjustment of the National Minimum Wage from April when the bill was signed by President Muhammadu Buhari to December 2019.
The government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, also said it has forwarded a list from 38 hospitals to the Budget office for inclusion in the Service Wide Vote.
The agreement may have laid the foundation for the peaceful resolution of the ongoing strike by NARD which commenced on August 1, 2021. Read more
Singer Omawumi performs national anthem at Olu of Warri’s coronation (Punch)
Popular singer, Omawumi Megbele, performed the national anthem at the coronation of the 21st Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III.
The singer with the sonorous voice, who is a daughter of Itsekiri Kingdom in Delta State, gave the special rendition on Saturday.
The coronation ceremony is currently taking place at the Ode-Itsekiri (Big Warri), the ancestral home of the Itsekiris, in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
At the ceremonial event monitored by our correspondent, Omawumi was praised by her people as the Pride of Iwerre. Read more
Bandits shot dead in Ogun (DailyTrust)
Two bandits have been shot dead in a gun battle with police in Ogun State.
Two AK-47 rifles were recovered from the bandits during the crossfire.
The spokesman of the Command, Abimbola Oyeyemi told newsmen on Saturday that the incident happened at Bere forest in Onigaari area along Lagos-Ibadan Express way.
According to him, the operatives following a tip off on activities of arm bearing bandits had embarked on combing operation in the forest. Read more
Message in a bottle washes up after 3,000-mile journey (BBC)
A message in a bottle which floated 3,000 miles from Canada has been found by a dog walker in south Wales.
Amanda Tidmarsh, 52, from Brynna, was walking her two rescue dogs along the beach in Ogmore-on-Sea when she noticed the bottle mixed up with seaweed.
She said she was “so excited” to find it, having previously joked with her family that she was “always on the hunt for treasure”.
She is waiting to hear back from the crab fisherman who threw it overboard. Read more
Earth, Wind & Fire wants to boogie with Dua Lipa at We Love NYC concert (NYPost)
Ralph Johnson, Philip Bailey and Verdine White will bring their Earth, Wind & Fire classics to We Love NYC: the Homecoming Concert in Central Park on Saturday.
For generations of R&B fans, Earth, Wind & Fire have been an elemental force in the soundtrack of their lives.
And 50 years after the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame band — founded by the late Maurice White — dropped its self-titled debut, EWF is still making us groove to ’70s classics such as “Shining Star,” “Boogie Wonderland” and, of course, “September.”
On Friday, the Grammy-winning group released their new single “You Want My Love” — a Babyface-produced update of 1975’s “Can’t Hide Love.” The good times continue on Saturday, when the band will be part of the star-studded lineup at We Love NYC: the Homecoming Concert in Central Park.
Here, lead singer Philip Bailey, 70, and bassist Verdine White, 70, share what playing Central Park means to them, how their Verzuz with the Isley Brothers went viral, and which element best symbolizes them. Read more
Kendrick Lamar reveals he’s working on “final TDE album” (Billboard)
On Friday afternoon (Aug. 20), Kendrick Lamar surprised fans with a lengthy message about his whereabouts and upcoming music. Titled “Nu Thoughts” on a website called Oklama.com, Lamar detailed his journey over the last few years and said he’s currently producing his “final TDE album.”
“I spend most of my days with fleeting thoughts. Writing. Listening. And collecting old Beach cruisers. The morning rides keep me on a hill of silence,” he began. “I go months without a phone. Love, loss, and grief have disturbed my comfort zone, but the glimmers of God speak through my music and family. While the world around me evolves, I reflect on what matters the most. The life in which my words will land next.”
Then, Lamar reassured fans that he’s working on new music and is proud of the “brotherhood” he established with his TDE family over the last 17 years. Read more
Thousands rally in London decrying Taliban takeover (Guardian)
Thousands rallied in central London on Saturday to protest the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban and show solidarity with Afghans opposed to the new regime in Kabul.
Several thousand people descended on the centre of the British capital from lunchtime, massing in Hyde Park and marching down Whitehall past Downing Street, the residence and office of Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The UK leader has faced stinging criticism this week over his government’s handling of the crisis in Afghanistan, as Britain, the United States and other Western allies struggle to evacuate their citizens and others from Kabul.
Protesters at the London event marched behind a banner reading “Talib has not changed”, while others held signs bearing slogans like “stop killing Afghans” and “stop the oppression of Afghan women”. Read more
Africa’s jihadists: What Taliban takeover of Afghanistan means (BBC)
As Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, Islamist groups waging insurgencies in Africa were quick to celebrate.
“God is great,” a media outlet linked to Somalia’s al-Shabab wrote in response to the takeover.
Elsewhere, the leader of al-Qaeda affiliate Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) used his first public message since 2019 to congratulate the Taliban.
“We are winning,” Iyad Ag Ghaly said, drawing comparisons between the withdrawal of foreign troops in Afghanistan and France’s decision to reduce its military presence in West Africa’s Sahel region. Read more
Inside the luxurious lives of disgraced, deposed leaders in Dubai (NYPost)
Just days after Ashraf Ghani fled his homeland — allegedly with a helicopter stuffed with more than $169 million in cash — the former Afghan president emerged in his new safe haven: Dubai, a veritable Disneyland for deposed despots.
Dubai accepted Ghani, who has denied escaping with such riches, on “humanitarian grounds.”
If history is anything to go by, unlike other refugees in Dubai who live in tent communities in the desert, the former Afghan president is living a life of luxury in his new home.
The United Arab Emirates, which is comprised of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and five other principalities, welcomes disgraced leaders with aplomb — especially ones who have hordes of dubiously gained cash or who could be useful in diplomatic chess games. Read more
Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo buys stake in Brewers (NYPost)
Giannis Antetokounmpo led one Milwaukee sports franchise to a rare championship this year and now he owns part of another trying to repeat the feat.
Antetokounmpo, the star of the NBA’s Bucks, purchased an ownership stake in MLB’s Brewers, the baseball team announced Friday.
“Man, this is unbelievable,” Antetokounmpo said Friday at a news conference, sitting behind the microphones wearing a No. 34 Brewers jersey. “This is a dream come true for a kid from Sepolia, Athens, Greece, born from immigrant parents. I could have never imagined I would be in this position.”
The agreement actually was finalized in May but kept quiet to avoid distractions while the Bucks were making a championship run that included overcoming 2-0 series deficits against the Nets and the Suns to win the franchise’s first title in 50 years. Read more
Ings inspires Villa against Newcastle, Brentford draw at Palace, Leeds hold Everton (Eurosport)
Aston Villa secured a 2-0 win over Newcastle United as Danny Ings grabbed the winner, the second Premier League goal for his new club.
Ings scored three minutes into first half added time to give his side the lead, with the former Southampton striker launching an acrobatic volley to angle a shot into the corner of the net after Tyrone Mings provided a flick-on. Mings was the provider, of sorts, when his header was ruled by VAR to have been handballed by Newcastle central defender Jamaal Lascelles.
Anwar El Ghazi converted to make victory secure when he scored from the spot just after the hour mark.
Elsewhere, Brentford continued to shut out the opposition as they kept another clean sheet on Saturday, this time in their visit to Crystal Palace. Read more
Grealish scores on home debut as Man City rout Norwich (BBC)
Manchester City’s £100m man Jack Grealish scored on his home debut as the reigning Premier League champions returned to winning ways by thrashing newly-promoted Norwich.
Shaking off three successive defeats bridging this season and last, Pep Guardiola’s side assumed complete control from minute one against the outclassed Canaries.
There was some fortune about their first two goals – both set up by low Gabriel Jesus crosses – as Grant Hanley’s attempted clearance flew in off Norwich keeper Tim Krul before City’s second bounced in off Grealish’s knee.
However, the lead was just reward for the imperious hosts, who saw a neat Ferran Torres finish chalked off in-between those goals after the video assistant referee noticed Bernardo Silva’s clip on Milot Rashica in the build-up. Read more
Liverpool banish Burnley ghosts at Anfield (Guardian)
Liverpool celebrated the return of a full house to Anfield by extending their 100 percent start to the Premier League season as goals from Diogo Jota and Sadio Mane saw off Burnley 2-0 on Saturday.
Jota’s header opened the scoring against the run of play after a bright Burnley start and Mane finally made Liverpool’s dominance after the break count 21 minutes from time to take Jurgen Klopp’s men top of the table with six points from two games.
In front of a first capacity crowd since March 2020, an emotional pre-match tribute was paid to former players who passed away over the past 17 months as well as Andrew Devine, the 97th victim of the Hillsborough disaster, who died in July. Read more
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe says DSD rules ‘here to stay’ (BBC)
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe says the rules that bar female athletes with high levels of testosterone from participating in events between 400m and a mile are “here to stay”.
It comes after a correction to 2017 data which was part of the evidence used to introduce the rules.
The correction led to calls for a suspension of the rules for athletes with differences of sexual development.
But Coe said: “We absolutely stand by those regulations.”
A correction to the data appeared in the British Journal of Sports Medicine with the scientists behind it accepting it “could have been misleading”. Read more
Dortmund fall to defeat as Haaland endures frustrating afternoon (Eurosport)
Borussia Dortmund fell to their first league defeat of the season as Erling Haaland suffered a frustrating afternoon in front of goal, with Freiburg deservedly taking maximum points.
Vincenzo Grifo scored an early goal of the season contender, rifling a beautiful free-kick into the top corner from 30 yards to give Freiburg an early lead.
Jude Bellingham looked most likely to equalise for Dortmund, slaloming through the middle but shooting straight at Mark Flekken, before hitting the post with a header.That would have been harsh on Freiburg, however, as they were the better side throughout, and the hosts should have doubled their lead through Jeong Woo-yeong, who missed a gilt-edged chance from just a few yards out. Read more