UAE lifts visa ban on Nigerians after Tinubu’s intervention (DailyTrust)
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has lifted the visa ban imposed on Nigerian travellers.
The ban, which was imposed 10 months ago had affected activities of Nigerians who were regular visitors to the Middle East country for businesses, tourism and leisure.
But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu rekindled the hope of many when he vowed to do everything within his power to resolve the diplomatic row between the two countries. Read more
Accounting Icon, Pa Akintola Williams, passes away at 104 (Channels)
The doyen of the accounting profession, Pa Akintola Williams, has passed away at the age of 104 years old.
Channels Television reports that the foremost accountant celebrated his 104th birthday on August 9.
Pa Williams is reputedly the first Sub-Saharan African to become a chartered accountant after he passed the qualifying examination of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) in 1949.
The icon played a leading role in the development of the accountancy profession in the country by facilitating the establishment of the Association of Accountants in Nigeria, which metamorphosed into the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). Read more
Palliatives: Shettima inaugurates 140 vehicles, over N5b foodstuffs in Sokoto (Tribune)
On Monday, Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, inaugurated the distribution of over 140 vehicles for security agencies and public transportation in Sokoto State.
The Vice President also inaugurated the procurement of palliatives worth over 5 billion naira in foodstuffs to be distributed to the people of the state to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on the citizens of the state.
In his remarks, while inaugurating the items, the Vice President described the initiative of the Sokoto State government as a welcome development aimed at improving the livelihood of the citizens of the state. Read more
Dapo Abiodun, Ezekwesili, Sanni mourn Akintola Williams (Vanguard)
Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun has described the passing of Pa Akintola Williams, the country’s first indigenous chartered accountant, as “a void that can truly never be filled.”
The 104-year-old doyen of accounting died in his sleep in the early hours of today, Monday, September 11, 2023.
Dapo Abiodun, in a post on X described Pa Williams as ‘a guiding light, a beacon of hope, and a source of inspiration for all and the Accountancy profession in Nigeria.’ Read more
Businesswoman docked for alleged N1.5m visa fraud (Guardian)
A 37-year-old woman, Gloria Osuji, was docked on Monday in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly swindling Rwandan visa seekers out of N1.5 billion.
The defendant, a businesswoman who resides in Ipaja, Lagos, is charged with obtaining by false pretence and theft.
The Prosecution Counsel, ASP Evelyn Ehieniua, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in April at 50, Osoba St., Ipaja, Lagos. Read more
2 sisters killed in Ogun building collapse (Punch)
The family of Ayanshina was thrown into mourning when a building owned by the family in Ojodu Abiodun in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, collapsed and killed their two daughters on Saturday.
The incident, it was gathered, occurred due to a mudslide following a downpour.
The 16-year-old Suliyat and her 25-year-old elder sister, Nofisat, were trapped in the collapsed building. Read more
Tinubu rejoices with Igbinedion at 89 (ThisDay)
President Bola Tinubu has felicitated with the Esama of Benin, Sir Gabriel Igbinedion, on his 89th birthday, while saluting the renowned industrialist and philanthropist for his willingness to create opportunities for the growth of others in business and philanthropy, impacting countless lives in the process.
The President, according to a release issued on Monday by his Media Adviser, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, said: “On behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, please accept our felicitation on the auspicious occasion of your 89th birthday on September 11, 2023. Considering the grace of wisdom, strength, and leadership influence bestowed upon you by the Almighty God, this milestone certainly calls for more celebration and thanksgiving. Read more
UK establishes visa centre in Enugu (Nation)
The United Kingdom has set up a visa centre in Enugu to facilitate visa applications by residents in the state, the southeast zone, and the country at large.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Chidiebere Onyia, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Monday, September 11, in Enugu.
Onyia commended the United Kingdom government for the development, recalling that the visa centre was part of Governor Peter Mbah’s earlier requests during the visit to the Government House by the UK High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, in June this year. Read more
Morocco Earthquake: Foreign aid teams join efforts to find survivors (Guardian)
Select foreign aid and rescue teams have joined desperate efforts to find any remaining survivors high in Morocco’s Atlas mountains, as the death toll rose to 2,497 people three days after a powerful earthquake that has left many villages still inaccessible.
Moroccan authorities said they had “responded favourably” to offers of help from visiting search and rescue teams from Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Arab Emirates, but were yet to accept further offers of aid from other countries despite the urgent nature of the disaster.
Turkey, which experienced a deadly earthquake in February, has offered emergency response teams and aid. Its president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said it would help “with all means” if its offer was accepted. Read more
Drew Barrymore announces return of her talk show amid WGA and SAG strikes (People)
Drew Barrymore is announcing the return of her talk show amid the ongoing WGA and SAG strikes.
The actress — who has hosted The Drew Barrymore Show since 2020 — released a statement on Sunday about her decision to bring back her daytime show.
“I made a choice to walk away from the MTV, film and television awards because I was the host and it had a direct conflict with what the strike was dealing with, which was studios, streamers, film, and television,” she wrote on Instagram. Read more
Offset’s “Playa” advice backfires as SZA blocks Kai Cenat after Instagram DM (HipHopDX)
Offset might not be the “playa” he makes out to be after possibly — and unintentionally — sabotaging Kai Cenat’s chances with SZA.
The former Migos rapper got his Hitch on while guesting on Cenat’s Twitch stream last week, during which he coached the internet personality into shooting his shot at the TDE songstress, who he admitted he has a crush on.
After shaking his head at Kai’s initial idea — which involved messaging SZA: “Hello, how you doing? Dat ass was fat in the last music video” — Offset advised him to slide into SZA’s Instagram DMs in more cool and cryptic fashion. Read more
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis: Backlash over support for rapist Danny Masterson (BBC)
Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are facing further backlash after they sent letters of support to a judge following Danny Masterson’s rape conviction.
Kutcher and Kunis, who starred in That 70s Show with Masterson, apologised for sending letters of support to a judge after he was found guilty of rape.
Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life for the rapes of two women. Read more
Tim Burton blasts AI recreations of his style as ‘‘very disturbing’’ (Variety)
Over the summer, Buzzfeed posted an article of photos that were generated by asking an AI platform to recreate beloved Disney characters in the style of Tim Burton. The results depicted Elsa from Frozen and Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty as if they were the stars of Burton’s stop-motion Corpse Bride. The article went viral, but not to the amusement of Burton himself.
In a recent interview with The Independent, Burton reacted in horror to the AI recreations of his trademark style.
“They had AI do my versions of Disney characters,” Burton said. “I can’t describe the feeling it gives you. It reminded me of when other cultures say, ‘Don’t take my picture because it is taking away your soul.’” Read more
Russia kills 2 foreign aid workers in Ukraine as Iran drones attack Kyiv (Express)
Emma Igual, aged 32 and from Spain, and Canadia Anthony Ihnat were killed when the vehicle they were in came under fire near Bakhmut yesterday morning (Sunday, September 10).
Four volunteers from the Road to Relief NGO, which helps evacuate wounded people from front-line areas, were trapped inside the van as it flipped over and caught fire after being struck by shells near the town of Chasiv Yar, the organisation said.
The deaths occurred as Iranian-made Russian drones targeted Kyiv and wounded at least one civilian. Road to Relief said Canadian Anthony Ihnat died in the attack, while German medical volunteer Ruben Mawick and Swedish volunteer Johan Mathias Thyr were seriously injured. Read more
Trapped American caver Mark Dickey could be brought to surface today or tomorrow, Turkish officials say (Fox)
Rescue teams working to save the American researcher who became trapped more than 3,000 feet inside a massive cave in Turkey could bring him to the surface by tonight or tomorrow if everything goes according to plan, officials revealed Monday.
The Speleological Federation of Turkey posted on X, formerly Twitter, that first responders are currently trying to get 40-year-old Mark Dickey to an area just 540 feet from the entrance of the Morca cave in southern Turkey’s Taurus Mountains.
“The 180 meters camp will continue after Mark rests for a while,” it added, noting that “If everything goes well, [Dickey] is aimed to be taken out [this] evening or tomorrow.” Read more
2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Nigeria can’t afford to fail – Ndidi (Independent)
Super Eagles Wilfred Ndidi has assured that Nigeria would be at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, saying the national team can’t afford to fail the country.
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States and after the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying win over São Tomé and Principe, the player said they would surely qualify.
The Leicester City midfielder made the statement after the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe played on Sunday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium. Read more
Great North Run 2023: Mo Farah 4th in final race of career (BBC)
Mo Farah, one of the greatest British athletes of all time, finished fourth in the final race of his career at the Great North Run.
The 40-year-old four-time Olympic champion slipped off the pace early in the famous 13.1-mile race from Newcastle to South Shields.
He finished three minutes 30 seconds behind Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola, who won in 59 mins 58 secs.
“It’s very emotional. There was a lot going through my mind,” Farah said. Read more
£26m Liverpool offer revealed as Klopp ‘‘wanted to buy’’ Napoli star in the summer (Football365)
Liverpool wanted to sign Napoli midfielder Eljif Elmas in the summer transfer window but they couldn’t agree a fee, according to reports in Italy.
The Reds sold Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabian clubs during the summer with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner also leaving on free transfers at the end of June.
That led to a midfield revamp by Jurgen Klopp with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch all signing to give Liverpool a new-look side. Read more
Paul Pogba: Juventus midfielder considered retiring from football over blackmail plot (BBC)
Paul Pogba says he considered retiring from football over alleged extortion and threats from an organised gang, including his brother Mathias.
The Juventus midfielder, 30, filed a complaint with Turin prosecutors in July 2022 claiming he was the target of a 13m euro (£11.1m) blackmail plot.
Mathias Pogba was detained in September 2022 but was released in December under judicial review. Read more
French police investigating alleged rape of Irish rugby fan in Bordeaux (IrishTimes)
A police investigation has been launched in France after an Irish rugby fan was allegedly abducted and raped by a group of men while in Bordeaux for the World Cup.
The incident is alleged to have happened on Sunday night in Bordeaux, where Ireland defeated Romania in a match the previous day.
Local French media reported the woman (37) was close to her accommodation when “three individuals seized her and took her to rue du Puits Descazaux”, where she was allegedly raped. Read more
Shane Lowry shows pre-Ryder Cup form at Irish Open after needing Team Europe captain’s pick (Sky)
Shane Lowry believes his game is heading in the right direction ahead of the Ryder Cup after responding to doubters over his captain’s pick by impressing at the Horizon Irish Open.
Lowry is without a victory since last September’s BMW PGA Championship and experienced a disappointing campaign on the PGA Tour, where he failed to qualify for the season-ending FedExCup playoffs.
The Irishman missed the cut on his return to DP World Tour action at the D+D Real Czech Masters, raising further concerns over his form, although Lowry was still named as one of Luke Donald’s six captain’s picks to complete Team Europe’s line-up. Read more