Wike Visits Ganduje Amid Defection Rumour (DailyTrust)
Former governor of Rivers State and a Minister designate, Nyesom Wike, visited the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Umar Gnaduje, in Abuja, on Tuesday.
Wike, who worked against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the 2023 election, has repeatedly denied plotting to join the ruling party.
“I am not a member of APC and will not be. But, they have made me recognise that they are the heroes of this country. APC governors came out to say for the unity of this country, the presidency should go to the south,” he once said while dismissing the rumor. Read more
KICC pastor Faseru debunks Ashimolowo’s rumoured retirement to face business (Guardian)
Founder and President, Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo.
The National Superintendent and the Resident Pastor Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) Maryland, Lagos, Pastor Femi Faseru has debunked rumours that the founder and president of the church Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo quit preaching to face his real estate business.
Faseru in a statement on Tuesday, said the 71-year-old televangelist had no any plan to quit his service as a preacher in the “Lord’s vineyard”.
He added that Pastor Ashimolowo still preaches, between three and four times in different parts of the world. Read more
Niger: ECOWAS intervention will stop more coups – Prof Akinyemi (Vanguard)
A former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Professor of Political Science, Bolaji Akinyemi, has stated that the intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in restoring democracy in Niger is in a bid to stop spread of coups in the sub region.
The body placed sanctions on the Niger military junta following the ouster of president Mohammed Bazoum in a coup on July 26.
Speaking on Channels TV Politics Today on Monday, Akinyemi said there has to be a line following military coups in other West African countries like Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea. Read more
FG files fresh charges against Emefiele (Punch)
The Federal Government on Tuesday applied to withdraw the charge of illegal possession of firearms filed against the suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele.
Director of Public Prosecutions at the Federal Ministry of Justice Mohammed Bakodo Abubakar who approached the federal high court in Ikoyi with an oral application said the withdrawal followed the result of further investigations.
Abubakar however disclosed that fresh charges with 20 counts had been filed against Emefiele at the Federal High Court, Abuja. Read more
Red Alert: Apapa, Eti-Osa, Ojo, Ikeja, Surulere, others to experience flooding (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government, has issued a fresh flood alert to residents of some parts of the state to be wary of heavy rainfall during the week from August 14 to 18, 2023.
Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Engineer Lekan Shodeinde, issued the alert in a statement on Tuesday.
Shodeinde advised residents of Apapa, Badagry, Eti Osa, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Ikoyi, Lagos Island, Ojo to prepare for very heavy rainfalls which may induce flash flooding during the week and beyond. Read more
Army expresses concern over clash involving personnel, LASTMA officers (Guardian)
The Nigerian Army has described the clash between its personnel and officials from the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA) as ‘‘disturbing’’.
In a viral video, some masked soldiers attacked a LASTMA official after the traffic officer allegedly dragged a military personnel out of the front seat of a commercial bus.
LASTMA spokesman Taofeek Adebayo confirmed the development and said that the agency would respond appropriately to the incident. Read more
Reps parley ICPC, NFIU, others on recovery of seized forfeited funds (Tribune)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, on Monday, underscored the need for the country to plough back dormant resources in the form of recovered public funds to boost the economy and create employment.
The Speaker gave the charge during the flag-off of the investigative hearing on ‘identification and recovery of public funds seized, forfeited and abandoned in Financial Institutions and Government Agencies to improve the current economic challenges in Nigeria’ chaired by Hon. Munachim Alozie.
To this end, the House solicited the support of various anti-graft agencies and stakeholders including Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences (ICPC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) towards achieving the feat. Read more
Ondo PDP: Those who voted APC already regretting (DailyTrust)
The Ondo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says Nigerians who voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 elections are already regretting their actions.
This statement was made by Ondo PDP Chairman, Fatai Adams, in a statement issued and signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Kennedy Peretei, in Akure, the state capital.
Adams said voting for President Bola Tinubu has brought untold hardship to Nigerians, “especially the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and its biting effect on everybody.” Read more
Adele breaks down in tears as she helps couple reveal gender of baby
(MusicNews)
Adele broke down in tears as she helped a couple reveal the gender of their baby on stage on Sunday.
The music megastar sobbed on stage during her Las Vegas show on Sunday after granting a special wish for an expecting couple in the audience.
Adele, 35, is currently in the middle of her Weekends With Adele performances, which are being held in Las Vegas. During the show on Sunday night, the singer helped the New York couple out by announcing the gender of their baby. Read more
Jessica Chastain wants The Help sequel with Octavia Spencer (Variety)
Jessica Chastain announced on Entertainment Weekly’s “The Awardist” podcast (recorded prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike) that she is interested in reprising the role of Celia Foote in a sequel to the 2011 Oscar-winning drama The Help. Celia was an ostracized housewife grief stricken over several miscarriages, who forms a friendship with her maid, Minerva “Minny” Jackson (played by Octavia Spencer in an Oscar-winning role).
“You know who I think about all the time, and I just wish I could play her [again]? Celia Foote,” Chastain said. “I just want to do something, Celia and Minny, and see what happened. You know they ended up living together and raising the baby together, they were best friends. How amazing would that film be? I loved her, and I got to be a bit silly.”
“A lot of my characters I feel like I got to experience a lot,” Chastain added. Read more
Kenya reinstates fuel subsidy after nationwide anger (DailyTrust)
Kenya has reinstated a small subsidy to stabilize retail fuel prices for the next 30 days in the country.
The development comes following public anger over the high cost of living.
Al Jazeera reports that the the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA), Kenya’s energy regulator, said oil marketing companies will be compensated from the Petroleum Development Fund.
According to the regulator, the maximum retail price of a litre of petrol would remain constant at 194.68 shillings ($1.35) for the next month, shielding consumers from an increase of 7.33 shillings ($0.05). Read more
Bradley Cooper, Carey Mulligan star in trailer for Netflix’s Leonard Bernstein drama ‘‘Maestro’’ (THR)
Bradley Cooper portrays legendary conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein opposite Carey Mulligan as actress and activist Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein in the first trailer for the Netflix film “Maestro”.
Cooper directed and co-wrote the movie that hits select theaters Nov. 22 before debuting on the streamer Dec. 20. Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, Michael Urie, Josh Hamilton, Scott Ellis, Gideon Glick, Sam Nivola, Alexa Swinton and Miriam Shor round out the cast for the feature that counts Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg as producers. Read more
Patricia Bredin, Eurovision legend, dies aged 88 (HuffPost)
Former Eurovision performer Patricia Bredin has died at the age of 88.
Patricia represented the United Kingdom in the first ever Eurovision Song Contest back in 1957.
She competed in Frankfurt with the original song All, finishing in seventh place out of just 10 countries competing that first year.
Patricia was selected to represent the UK when she was just 22, after being spotted performing live at the Savoy in London. Read more
Barbie banned from Algerian cinemas for ‘corrupting morals’ (BBC)
Algeria has banned the popular Barbie film three weeks after its release in the mainly Muslim North African nation.
The culture ministry has asked cinemas to withdraw the Hollywood blockbuster immediately.
The movie promoted homosexuality and did not comply with Algeria’s religious and cultural beliefs, an official source told the Reuters news agency.
Cinemas in the cities of Algiers, Oran and Constantine have been packed, according to 24H Algérie news website. Read more
Tripoli clashes widen in worst fighting this year (VOA)
Two of the Libyan capital’s most powerful armed factions battled across the city on Tuesday, stranding civilians in their homes and raising fears that Tripoli’s worst violence this year could escalate.
The death toll from the clashes remains unclear but a medical unit linked to the Defence Ministry said it had recovered three bodies from Furnaj, Ain Zara and Tarik Shok districts.
The Health Ministry appealed to citizens to donate blood to help casualties. Usama Ali, a spokesperson for the ambulance service, said 19 people had been injured and 26 families evacuated from a strife-hit district. Read more
Paris 2024 Olympics: Senegal draw first blood as FIBA Africa qualifiers tip off to thrilling start (Guardian)
Nigeria and Senegal, yesterday, showed why they are favourites to qualify for the semifinals of the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games’ qualifiers from Group A with a thrilling show of attacking basketball.
Senegal came into the competition holding at the Eko Hotels Convention Centre, Lagos, as the better-rated side and they did not waste time in asserting their authority in the game, but Nigeria rallied to win the first quarter by 28 points to 25.
The Senegalese took over in the second quarter, which they won by 48 points to 44.
The yo-yo turn of events continued in the third quarter with D’Tigers ending the half on top by a single point, 68-67. Read more
Agara thumbs up NNL, says league boards have a lot to achieve in common (Leadership)
Chairman of Nigeria’s Nation-Wide league board, Honourable Silas Agara, has given a pat on the back to the Nigeria National League (NNL) after last week’s relegation play off in Kano.
Agara who was in Kano and watched the last match of the NNL play off noted that there is a lot the various league boards can achieve in common.
The former deputy governor of Nasarawa State said he was impressed with what he saw in Kano, especially the level of officiating and the quality of play by the teams. Read more
Spain seal spot in Women’s World Cup final after dramatic win over Sweden (National)
Spain sealed their place in Sunday’s Women’s World Cup final after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sweden in Auckland that saw all three goals coming in the last 10 minutes.
In a cagey contest with few chances for either side, the game suddenly sprung into life when 19-year-old Barcelona winger Salma Paralluelo gave Spain an 81st-minute lead.
Sweden – who have now lost back-to-back World Cup semi-finals – levelled seven minutes later when Rebecka Blomqvist smashed the ball first time across the goalkeeper and into the top corner. Read more
Chelsea strike ‘‘agreement’’ for Man City target with PL star set to sign on long-term deal (Football365)
Premier League side Chelsea have agreed a fee ‘in principle’ for Crystal Palace midfielder Michael Olise, according to reports in France.
The Blues have continued their spending spree this summer after forking out around £600m on transfer fees over the previous couple of transfer windows.
Moises Caicedo joined yesterday from Brighton in a deal that could be worth up to £115m with £100m of that guaranteed. Read more
Richard Freeman: Former British Cycling doctor banned for 4 years by UK Anti-Doping (Sky)
Former British Cycling and Team Sky doctor Richard Freeman has been given a four-year ban from the sport.
UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) confirmed the sanction had been imposed on Freeman by an independent tribunal of the National Anti-Doping Panel for possession of a prohibited substance and two separate charges of tampering.
The tribunal was satisfied Freeman had intended to make a prohibited substance – testosterone – available to one or more of his athletes. Read more
Francis Ngannou’s coach claims punch power is “going up” ahead of Tyson Fury fight (Mirror)
Francis Ngannou’s trainer Dewey Cooper has claimed that the lineal UFC heavyweight champion has added even more power to his frightening arsenal ahead of his bout with Tyson Fury.
Ngannou is known as one of the hardest punchers in the world, with former promoter Dana White claiming that a clean connection from the Cameroonian is equal to the horsepower of being hit by a Ford Escort at full speed. And his coach Cooper, who has been with him since his move to Las Vegas in 2018, believes he has somehow begun to hit harder ahead of his boxing debut.
The UFC champion will face his boxing equivalent Fury in Riyadh on October 28, and has enlisted the help of Mike Tyson as his coach for the bout. However, he is keeping his team around, including Cooper who guided him to heavyweight gold in the octagon, and looks to do it again in the ring. Read more