James Earl Jones, the actor whose rich baritone provided the voice for “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader, has died, his representatives said Monday. He was 93.
Jones, who also voiced King Mustapha in Disney’s animated feature “The Lion King” had a prolific and varied career over six decades.
Agency Report
Fuel shortages and an huge increase in petrol prices leaves more Nigerians frustrated as they face a duel crisis
Despite being one of the world’s top oil producers, Nigeria relies on petroleum products imported by the state-run oil company, as it has little working refining capacity.
Petrol stations owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) have the cheapest fuel on sale in comparison to private operators.
When it puts up prices, so do independent garages.
Currently, as people queue for hours for petrol, they can expect to pay anywhere between $0.56 a litre at NNPC garages and $0.74 or more elsewhere.
The oil company blames its difficulty in getting fuel on what it described as “financial strain” together with rising global prices.
Its statement comes after the NNPC declared a record profit of about $2 billion last month and an initial public denial of its huge debt burden.
As well as for vehicles, most Nigeria households also rely on petrol and diesel to power their generators as the public power supply is unreliable.
As a result, the weeks of fuel scarcities are compounding the cost-of-living crisis with people already struggling after government reforms to end a fuel subsidy and free its currency resulted in a spike in inflation.
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On Sunday an explosion that killed more than 50 people, was caused by a fuel tanker colliding head-on with another truck in causing , the country’s emergency response agency say.
The fuel tanker was also carrying cattle in the Agaie area in north-central Niger state and at least 50 of them were burned alive, Abdullahi Baba-Arab, director-general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, said.
Search and rescue operations were underway at the scene of the accident, Baba-Arab said.
Baba-Arab said initially that 30 bodies were found but in a later statement an additional 18 bodies of victims who were burned to death in the collision were found. He said the dead had been given a mass burial.
Mohammed Bago, governor of Niger state, said residents of the affected area should remain calm and asked road users to “always be cautious and abide by road traffic regulations to safeguard lives and property.”
With the absence of an efficient railway system to transport cargo, fatal truck accidents are common along most major roads in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.
According to Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps, 1,531 gasoline tanker crashes resulted in 535 fatalities and 1,142 injuries in 2020 alone
AP
Not everyone is a fan of Burna boy, but for those who his amazing singing voice and mixed lyrics (yoruba & english) caught the attention of, we can say it left a good sensation to our ears.
Burna Boy was born Damini Ogulu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, in 1991. He began making music at just ten years old when a fellow classmate at school gave him a copy of the production software FruityLoops. Armed with these means, he began to create his own beats on an old computer.
The name Burna boy came from his hobby, comic book collecting. Burna Boy used his hobby to introduce his moniker. Last year, he told Late Night with Jimmy Fallon that his music name comes from drawing his own comic books, and he wanted something that sounded like a superhero name.
Burna Boy’s music is primarily a mixture of Afrobeats, hip hop, reggae, and R&B. His music, which he refers to as “Afro-fusion”, is a combination of Afrobeat, dancehall, hip-hop, pop, R&B, and reggae. Each outfit he puts on leaves an aw in our minds and creativity in our eyes, his outfit are either large, creatively pattern or weirdly mix.
what other of Burna boy’s fashion or musical characteristics piques your interest?
Cheptegei’s death has sparked outrage and calls for justice, with many viewing it as another alarming case of gender-based violence. Leaders from the Sabaot community, which spans both Kenya and Uganda, have expressed their sorrow and called for justice. The elders urged the Kenyan authorities to ensure justice is served and criticized local police for failing to act on earlier warnings.
Cheptegei was a prominent marathon runner who represented Uganda at the 2024 Paris Olympics and held Uganda’s national marathon record with a time of 2:22:47. Her death is seen as a devastating blow to both Kenya and Uganda, especially within the Sabaot community.
In a statement, Gonzalez Urrutia said, “I have come to Spain to continue the fight for freedom and democracy in Venezuela. I will not rest until we achieve a transition to democracy and free elections.”
He also thanked the Spanish government for granting him asylum and pledged to work with international partners to pressure Maduro’s government to release political prisoners and respect human rights.
The Venezuelan government has yet to comment on Gonzalez Urrutia’s escape, but analysts say it is a significant blow to Maduro’s efforts to consolidate power.
Gonzalez Urrutia’s move is seen as a strategic one, as Spain has been a vocal critic of Maduro’s government and has recognized the opposition-led National Assembly as the legitimate representative of the Venezuelan people.
The Spanish government has expressed support for Gonzalez Urrutia’s efforts to promote democracy in Venezuela, with Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stating, “Spain will continue to support the Venezuelan people in their struggle for freedom and democracy.”
Gonzalez Urrutia’s arrival in Spain is also seen as a boost to the Venezuelan opposition, which has been fragmented and weakened by internal divisions and government repression. His leadership and international recognition could help to galvanize the opposition and attract more support from the international community.
Meanwhile, human rights groups have praised Gonzalez Urrutia’s bravery and commitment to democracy, saying his escape is a testament to the growing resistance against Maduro’s authoritarian rule.
As tensions continue to rise in Venezuela, Gonzalez Urrutia’s move is likely to escalate pressure on Maduro’s government, both domestically and internationally. The situation remains fluid, with many uncertainty about what comes next for Venezuela
Lamar will be the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl halftime show after The Black Eyed Peas did it as a group at Super Bowl XLV in 2011. He has previously performed at the 2022 Super Bowl Halftime Show featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent. The 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show will air live on Fox on Feb. 9, 2025.
The renovation and equipping of the hospitals is part of the state government’s comprehensive healthcare reform agenda, aimed at addressing the challenges faced by the healthcare sector in the state. The governor has emphasized the importance of quality healthcare in improving the well-being of citizens and has pledged to continue investing in healthcare infrastructure and personnel development.
The renovated hospitals will provide a range of services, including emergency care, maternal and child health, surgery, and diagnostic services. The facilities will be equipped with modern medical equipment, including X-ray machines, ultrasound machines, and laboratory equipment.
The state government has also recruited additional healthcare personnel, including doctors, nurses, and midwives, to strengthen the healthcare workforce in the state. This move is expected to improve the doctor-patient ratio and enhance the quality of care provided in the hospitals.
The renovation of the hospitals has been widely commended by healthcare professionals and communities in the state, who have expressed gratitude to the governor for his commitment to improving healthcare delivery in Zamfara State.
By mid-day, 13.11% of the country’s 24 million registered voters went to the polls.
The electoral campaign ended on September 3rd . Speaking in the capital Algiers, Tebboune praised a civil one.
“The electoral campaign was worthwhile and the three candidates were up to the task. They gave a beautiful image of democracy and democracy in Algeria. And this will become an example for the future.”
Without mentioning the attendance, Tebboune expressed the hope that ‘the winner of the presidential election will pursue his project’ for Algeria, to make it ‘the second largest economy in Africa’,
“We will have to reach a point of no return in the economic development and in order to build a true democracy, not one of slogans but rather one of rights for all citizens. Everyone is witness, so that day after day, the Algerian citizen’s situation improves until we satisfy all his demands.”
“Uncle Tebboune,” as his campaign has framed the 78-year-old, was elected in 2019 after nearly a year of weekly demonstrations demanding the resignation of his predecessor.
At the time, 39.9% of registered voters cast a ballot.
AP
Chief Cyril, a former APC governorship aspirant in Rivers State, expressed his concern about the high cost of living, poverty, and insecurity affecting many Nigerians. He urged President Tinubu to prioritize policies and programs that would provide relief to the masses.
He specifically called on the President to address the issue of fuel scarcity, high electricity tariffs, and the deplorable state of roads across the country. Chief Cyril also emphasized the need for the government to create jobs and stimulate economic growth to reduce the burden on citizens.
The APC chieftain’s appeal comes as many Nigerians continue to struggle with the harsh economic realities, and the government is expected to respond with measures to mitigate their suffering.
