Sanwo-Olu, Obasa meet Lagos GAC over rejection of 17 (Nation)
Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Speaker Mudashiru Obasa have met with the State Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC).
GAC is the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.
The meeting which held at Lagos Assembly, attracted former Deputy Gov Mrs Adejoke Adefulire, Cardinal James Odunmbaku, Dr Yomi Finnih, Ganiyu Olarenwaju Solomon, APC Lagos Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi and other party stalwarts. Read more
Tinubu reacts to Gabon military coup, opens talks with AU leaders (Guardian)
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday reacted to the latest coup in Gabon, where President Ali Bongo has been ousted and placed under house arrest.
Some military personnel had hinged their plot to seize power from Bongo on what they termed as observed flaws in the recent general election in the central African country.
The officers had also admitted that the organisation of the general elections of 26 August 2023 did not meet the conditions for a transparent, credible and inclusive ballot so much hoped for by the people of Gabon. Read more
Lagos Blue Line Rail to commence commercial operation in September (Guardian)
The Lagos State Government has announced that the Blue Line Rail will commence commercial operations on Monday, September 4, 2023.
Jubril Gawat, a media aide to Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday said that the Blue Line Rail will move from Marina to Mile 2.
“Governor of Lagos State, Mr @jidesanwoolu is expected to be the first passenger at exactly 9:00 am at the Marina Station,” Gawat wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Read more
Navy arrests 5 stowaways aboard vessel in Lagos (Leadership)
Less than 24 hours after announcing the arrest of Petrol thieves, the Nigerian Navy NNS BEECROFT patrol team said it has arrested five stowaways aboard a vessel, MSC MARTHA.
The operation was carried out on August 26, 2023, at approximately 2350 hours, following a reliable tip-off.
The five stowaways were identified as Effiong Okon (44), Ayewuni Daniel (27), Ajagboma Asiko (29), Adebanjo Ayewumi (23), and Christian Joseph (25). Read more
First Lady lays wreath at UN house to commemorate its bombing in 2011 (Sun)
First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu on Wednesday paid tributes to the individuals who lost their lives in the bombing of the United Nations Building in Abuja which occurred on August 26, 2011.
According to a statement issued by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, the First Lady, while speaking at the wreath laying ceremony in honour of the victims, called for a world where terrorism, along with its severe impact on the society, is effectively combatted.
To achieve this, Mrs. Tinubu said the global community must channel more energy towards fostering peace, promoting dialogue and combating the forces of hatred and division. Read more
Pa Michael Akinkunmi, designer of Nigeria’s flag, is dead (ThisDay)
The man who designed the green-white-green flag of Nigeria, Pa. Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi, is dead.
The demise of Pa. Akinkunmi, 93, who died in the early hours of Tuesday after a brief illness, was announced via the Facebook account of one of his children, Akinwunmi Akinkunmi.
Akinkunmi wrote: “Life is indeed transient; I can boldly say that you lived a life with a landmark. Continue to rest, my father! Pa Michael Taiwo Akinkunmi (O.F.R.): Great Man has gone.” Read more
FG calls for top Nigerian researchers to execute AI strategy (DailyTrust)
The Federal Government, under the ministry of communications, innovation and digital economy, has called for applications from researchers of Nigerian descent from across the globe to help the country to create its National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy.
Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, announced this via X (Twitter), urging Nigerians to share details of any top researcher they know.
In the document he shared titled: “Co-creating a National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Nigeria,” Tijani said the government is building on existing work done by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to develop a National Al Strategy, hence, it is expanding its co-creation approach to engage and include top Al researchers of Nigerian descent globally. Read more
RSUTH records 15 successful brain surgeries (Vanguard)
The Rivers State University Teaching Hospital said it has recorded 15 successful brain surgeries.
The management of RSUTH said the achievements were recorded between May, after the institution was transformed from a secondary health provider to tertiary, and August this year.
The management said the facility has achieved milestones in neurosurgery following the series of successful brain surgeries it has completed within the period. Read more
Doja Cat reveals “Scarlet” release date, new single due Friday (AmericanSongwriter)
In the midst of a polarising, angsty, months-long rollout for her upcoming fourth studio album Scarlet, Doja Cat has finally confirmed the LP’s release date. Taking to Instagram on Tuesday (August 29), the rambunctious pop-rap icon posted the album cover for Scarlet, which shows a menacing, pinkish-red spider over a simplistic white backdrop. In the caption of the post, Doja wrote “SCARLET 9.22,” locking in a September 22 arrival date for her long-awaited full-length return.
Just before this post, though, Doja also uploaded a creepy photo of her upside down inside a dimly lit living room. While she hangs from the ceiling covered head-to-toe in black, the carpet of the room has the word “Demons” marked on it, as the photo will serve as the cover art for Doja’s next single slated for this Friday (September 1). Read more
Gabon military officers say deposed president is under house arrest (VOA)
Army officers in the central African nation of Gabon said they seized power Wednesday and have placed President Ali Bongo under house arrest.
The officers announced the coup on national television just moments after the nation’s election commission declared that Bongo had won a third term in Saturday’s general elections.
The officers said that the election results were invalidated, all state institutions dissolved and all borders closed until further notice. Read more
One Piece: Eiichiro Oda reveals “biggest challenge” of Netflix live-action series (Dexerto)
As the “One Piece” live-action series is all set for its premiere on Netflix, Eiichiro Oda addresses the biggest challenge he faced during its production.
“One Piece” live-action will officially premiere on Netflix tomorrow, marking the end of the seven-year-long journey of the production team, including the series’ creator, Eiichiro Oda. The mangaka has been a central part of the production as the executive director since the very beginning.
Netflix is promoting the series all across the United States. Knowing that it may be the last chance for “One Piece” to go global, Eiichiro Oda is sparing no effort in supporting Netflix with all this. Read more
Adam Sandler breaks his Rotten Tomatoes record with latest Netflix movie (THR)
Adam Sandler has a new all-time best-reviewed movie.
The actor-comedian’s latest Netflix title, You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah, has managed to draw a higher Rotten Tomatoes score than any of his previous films across 34 years of making movies.
The teen comedy — which began streaming Friday — has a 96 percent “Fresh” score on the site.
That just edges out 2022’s Hustle (93 percent), 2017’s The Meyerowitz Stories (92 percent) and 2019’s Uncut Gems (91 percent). Having said that, there’s always the possibility that additional negative reviews for Bat Mitzvah could alter the standings later in the week. Read more
‘‘Ferrari’’ Trailer: Adam Driver speeds through Italy in Michael Mann’s biopic (Variety)
Adam Driver is nearly unrecognizable in the first trailer for Michael Mann’s upcoming biopic “Ferrari,” where he suits up to play Italian sports car entrepreneur Enzo Ferrari. Driver stars alongside Penelope Cruz as Ferrari’s wife Laura Ferrari and Shailene Woodley as his mistress Lina Lardi. “Ferrari” will premiere at Venice Film Festival this year and is looking for a U.S. distributor.
Also starring in the film is Patrick Dempsey as fellow racecar driver Piero Taruffi, Jack O’Connell as racer Peter Collins, Sarah Gadon as Linda Christian and Gabriel Leone as driver Alfonso de Portago.
“Ferrari” is set in 1957, prior to the infamous Mille Miglia race during which de Portago’s Ferrari race car blew a tire and he and nine spectators died in a crash. Ferrari himself and the tire manufacturer were charged with manslaughter, but the case was later dismissed. Read more
Simon Cowell says son wants to play drums in a rock band (People)
Simon Cowell’s son Eric wants to follow in his dad’s music industry footsteps — but instead of making moves behind the scenes, the 9-year-old plans to be front and center of the stage.
The 63-year-old has revealed Eric wants to play drums and sing in a rock band, and he even has his sights set on auditioning for Britain’s Got Talent one day.
“He’s now decided he’s going to audition for Britain’s Got Talent,” Cowell told Entertainment Tonight following Tuesday’s live episode of America’s Got Talent season 18 qualifier rounds. Read more
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly holds high-level talks in Beijing (UPI)
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly held a series of meetings with Chinese officials in Beijing on Wednesday including talks with Vice President Han Zheng in the Great Hall of the People.
The talks — the most senior bi-lateral exchange in five years — sought to re-establish important lines of communication and address a lack of face-to-face engagement that could lead to “more opportunities for perhaps misinterpretations, mistrust and errors,” Cleverly said after meeting Han.
The visit comes amid criticism from fellow Conservative MPs pushing for a harder stance on China due to escalating differences over everything from security and trade to human rights, with several MPs having sanctions placed on them for raising concerns about abuses of minorities in China. Read more
Nottingham Forest agree presonal terms with Ndidi, submits offer to Leicester (Guardian)
Leicester City unveil new signing Wilfred Ndidi at the King Power Stadium on January 05 , 2017 in Leicester. Photo by Leicester City FC
Nottingham Forest has made an official offer to Leicester City for Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday disclosed that Forest is now set to begin negotiations with Leicester after agreeing personal terms with Ndidi.
Ndidi has been strongly linked with a summer transfer with multiple reports claiming the Nigerian will move from Leicester City this summer. Read more
NPFL: House of Reps assures club owners of support (Leadership)
The House Representatives committee on sports has assured the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club owners of support to revamp the domestic top flight football league.
The chairman of the committee, Hon. Ekene Abubakar Adams, gave the assurance on Tuesday when the club owners paid him a courtesy visit at the National Assembly.
The lawmaker, who is a well known football administrator before his election as a member of 10th House of Representatives, posited that the trajectory of Nigeria’s league must change to harness it’s full potential. Read more
Man City make £47m breakthrough in Matheus Nunes transfer talks (MEN)
Manchester City have moved a step closer to signing Matheus Nunes after reaching a verbal agreement with Wolves for the midfielder.
City saw an offer for Nunes rejected last week and returned with a £47 million bid that has now been verbally accepted. Pep Guardiola and City wanted another body in midfield after losing Kevin De Bruyne to injury until the new year.
Nunes has not been training at Wolves since the first City bid, with Gary O’Neil explaining that it was club policy to make him unavailable for their last two fixtures. O’Neil had said he expected Nunes to remain at Molineux, but City’s latest bid should see him join the European champions before Friday’s transfer deadline. Read more
New Saudi Arabia boss Roberto Mancini targets AFC Asian Cup, 2 weeks after quitting Italy team (SCMP)
Roberto Mancini said he hoped to lead Saudi Arabia to AFC Asian Cup victory within months after signing a multimillion dollar deal on Monday, just a fortnight after quitting as Italy coach.
The former Inter Milan and Manchester City boss held up a green shirt that read “Mancini 2027” after inking a contract to stay with the Green Falcons beyond the next World Cup.
Mancini, who said the oil-rich monarchy had “nothing to do” with his shock Italy exit, was reportedly offered more than US$25 million to join the big-spending Saudis. Read more
England’s female cricketers to be paid same match fees as men
(AlJazeera)
The England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has increased match fees for the women’s team to bring them in line with the men’s team, the governing body said, on the back of record attendances and viewing figures for the Women’s Ashes played over June and July.
The increase announced on Wednesday takes effect immediately, starting with the three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka starting on Thursday.
The move towards abolishing the pay gap between male and female players in England had already been recommended in a report by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, which was published two months ago and highlighted deep-rooted discrimination in the English game. Read more
Canelo Alvarez expands business empire, brings canned cocktail VMC to United States (BoxingScene)
The world’s fifth highest-paid athlete is looking to expand his business empire in parallel to his upcoming fight against Jermell Charlo.
Undisputed super middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez’s tequila-based canned cocktail brand VMC announced on Wednesday that it will begin distribution in select markets with large Mexican-American populations across the United States starting in September.
VMC – which stands for Viva Mexico Cabrones, an axiom frequently exclaimed by Alvarez – was launched in Alvarez’s hometown of Jalisco, Mexico in 2022. Read more