Author: damazah@gmail.com

Indian auteur Anurag Kashyap, whose latest directorial feature “Bandar” marks his return behind the camera, is at this year’s Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) as jury president while also leading a masterclass titled “Unfiltered Realism.” But rather than having all the answers, the veteran filmmaker is hoping to discover something new. “As jury president, what I’m really looking for is a new cinematic language,” Kashyap tells Variety. “I’m interested in seeing how younger filmmakers tell stories in ways my generation couldn’t.” Kashyap believes today’s filmmakers are entering an entirely different creative landscape. AI tools, social media and an overwhelming abundance…

For more than 100 minutes on 19 July, Ferran Torres watched the World Cup final from the margins. Spain pushed Argentina across the field and created nearly all the opportunities, but the goal that would transform their superiority into history refused to come. Neither Torres nor Nico Williams had started the match. Introduced from the bench, they combined for the breakthrough in the 106th minute: Williams created the opening, and Torres provided the finish. One pass. One goal. One World Cup. When the final whistle sounded at the New York New Jersey Stadium, Spain were champions for the second time,…

Opening summary: Iran claims attacks on strait of Hormuz ships amid fresh US strikesWelcome to our live coverage of the latest developments in the Middle East crisis.Iran attacked a tanker in the strait of Hormuz early on Tuesday, forcing its crew to abandon the ship, as Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis announced they were imposing an immediate maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea after the two sides traded fire last week for the first time in years.A Houthi official said the Bab al-Mandeb strait – at the southern end of the Red Sea, through which about 12% of the…

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and 247 Travels have launched ‘Book Now, Fly Later’, a financing programme that allows eligible customers to borrow up to ¦ 10 million for international flight tickets and repay over three to nine months. The programme is designed to help Nigerians spread travel costs for business, education, healthcare, tourism, and family commitments. The facility, powered by FCMB Premium Banking, is available exclusively for airline tickets purchased through 247 Travels. Salaried and self-employed FCMB customers who meet the bank’s requirements can apply, with successful applicants expected to receive approval and disbursement within 24 working hours. The partnership…

The AI Minister, Kanishka Narayan, will be given a seat at the top table of government but the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has been scrapped.DSIT was created by the Conservative Sunak government in 2023 – its responsibilities will now be split between other government departments.It means there is no longer a dedicated technology secretary, a position filled by Liz Kendall until she was sacked by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.However, Narayan, who was appointed by Sir Keir Starmer, said the new prime minister inviting him to attend cabinet as minister for AI was a “sign of his…

The vice-presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has confirmed that he and the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have a written agreement that Obi will serve only one four-year term if elected president in 2027. Kwankwaso disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday while responding to questions about Obi’s repeated promise to spend only one term in office. According to him, he has no reason to doubt Obi’s commitment to the pledge. “I personally believe him, and I don’t think, based on what I now know about him, he will renege.…

Two scientists at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana, have been charged in connection with biological material they brought into the United States from abroad.Credit: PBH Images/AlamyTwo virologists at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) are facing charges related to the alleged smuggling of non-infectious monkeypox virus (MPXV) and other biological samples into the United States, in a case that has become a flashpoint for legal and political concerns around biosecurity.The charges centre on samples that NIH scientists Vincent Munster and Claude Kwe were carrying when they arrived in Detroit, Michigan, in January after doing research in the…

By Mary Agbabiaka American rapper Cardi B and Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye have once again fueled dating rumours after being seen together in Venice, Italy. Their repeated public appearances continue to draw attention from fans and media, with their latest outing sharing a relaxed dinner setting with close proximity and visible ease, reinforcing speculation about a possible romantic connection. The renewed buzz comes when the pair were spotted dining at Gio’s Restaurant inside the St. Regis Hotel in Venice, where they reportedly spent the evening with friends overlooking one of the city’s iconic canals. Cardi B turned heads in…

ZDF and ProSiebenSat.1 are the latest traditional European rivals to team on a streaming deal. The pact will see ZDF’s on-demand content integrated into ProSieben’s streaming service, Joyn, from the fourth quarter of this year. This will allow Joyn users to access ZDF news, docs, culture, factual and entertainment programs for free without adverts. ZDF’s on streaming portal will remain “the central digital home of its public broadcasting content.” European players are increasingly looking to pool resources to combat the threat of global tech players, with recent examples seeing Channel 4 in talks with the BBC in the UK. ZDF…

An early morning fire has destroyed 17 shops at Sabo Market in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. The fire broke out at about 1:10 a.m. on Tuesday, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA). Olawale Afolabi, the agency’s spokesperson, explained in a statement that preliminary investigations indicated that the fire started in one of the shops before spreading to adjoining stalls. He stated that the immediate cause was suspected to be an electrical surge, as the fire reportedly broke out while power supply was active. Emergency responders from LASEMA and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service…