Author: damazah@gmail.com

London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan is one of 26 new peers to be given seats in the House of Lords in one of Sir Keir Starmer’s last acts as prime minister.Sir Sadiq has been nominated to become a Labour Lord alongside 15 others, including broadcaster June Sarpong and former union chief Christina McAnea.The government has also announced five new peers from the Liberal Democrats, three from the Conservatives and two cross-bench members, the former cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald and Sir Brian Leveson, a retired senior judge.Downing Street published a list of the nominations, external and said the King “has…

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with state and federal health agencies to investigate several outbreaks of cyclosporiasis. Efforts to determine and confirm the sources of these outbreaks are still underway. A large outbreak of cyclosporiasis has been reported in at least four Midwestern states. Public health officials are interviewing people who became sick to learn what foods they ate before their symptoms began. So far, investigators have not confirmed a specific food as the source. Health agencies are continuing to gather information in an effort to identify what caused the outbreak. Cases Have Increased…

Three players (New York Jets running back Breece Hall, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens and Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts) were designated as franchise players this year. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones received a transition tag.Pickens is the only one who didn’t get a long-term deal before the July 15 4 p.m. ET deadline for franchise players to sign multi-year contracts. Since the deadline has passed, Pickens is prohibited from signing a long-term contract until the end of the regular season on Jan. 10, 2027.Each year, NFL teams are allowed to retain the rights to one of their…

EXCLUSIVE: WME has signed Sarah Sherman — comedian, actress, writer and current SNL cast member — with an eye toward helping her expand her footprint across film, television, and beyond, as she continues developing her own original projects. Sherman performs cult-favorite live stand-up shows under the moniker Sarah Squirm and has been with Saturday Night Live for five seasons, beginning in 2021. Last December, she released her debut comedy special, Sarah Squirm: Live + In The Flesh. Cody Critcheloe directed and John Waters featured in the gonzo HBO hour, billed as a set full of “bodily fluids, open-wound confessionals, and jokes that will leave…

MultiChoice Nigeria has announced that the 11th season of its reality television show, Big Brother Naija (BBNaija), will premiere on Sunday, 26 July 2026. The announcement was made during a media briefing, where organisers unveiled details about the new season, including the prize package, sponsorship lineup, broadcast platforms, and audition process. Since its return in 2006, BBNaija has become one of Nigeria’s most recognised reality television shows, producing entertainers, entrepreneurs, media personalities, and digital creators who have built careers after appearing on the programme. Beyond entertainment, the show has become a major part of Nigeria’s pop culture, attracting millions of…

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso, has said the country’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from about $3 billion at the start of the current economic reforms to approximately $40 billion, reflecting improved external liquidity and growing investor confidence. Cardoso disclosed this at the BusinessDay CEO Forum held in Lagos on Thursday, noting that the increase in net reserves was evidence of progress in restoring stability to the foreign exchange market. He added that Nigeria’s gross external reserves had climbed to about $52 billion as of Wednesday. “When we started, the net exchange reserves figure…

Following the excitement generated by its “Be Seen. Be Hot.” campaign, Infinix has officially announced the nationwide availability of the HOT 70 Pro, its newest smartphone designed for a generation that values creativity, individuality and intelligent innovation. Developed for young creators, students, trendsetters and digital natives, the HOT 70 Pro combines expressive design, immersive personalization, powerful AI capabilities and dependable performance in a smartphone built to help users stand out and stay connected. The launch follows the successful unveiling of award-winning music star Qing Madi as the face of the HOT 70 Pro, reinforcing Infinix’s continued commitment to building products…

Three albums by The Weeknd — Hurry Up Tomorrow, Starboy and The Highlights — return to the same chart in the U.K., becoming bestsellers again. NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 13: Abel Tesfaye attends Lionsgate’s “Hurry Up Tomorrow” World Premiere on May 13, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe Weeknd has scored hits with songs that can be labeled using many different genre labels. He’s racked up smashes with dance tunes and he’s known as one of the most successful pop stars of the past several decades, but when it comes to the charts,…

As part of its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s digital financial services ecosystem, Wema Bank recently hosted a strategic engagement with fintech founders, technology providers, payment partners and key industry stakeholders. The event reinforced the Bank’s commitment to strengthening partnerships, driving innovation and supporting the continued growth of fintech businesses across the country. The engagement provided a platform for industry leaders to exchange ideas, explore opportunities and strengthen collaboration. Over the last 12 months, Wema Bank has processed more than ₦18 trillion in transactions through its platforms, with solutions such as Virtual Accounts and Payment APIs continuing to power collections, disbursements…

Sadiq Khan has been given a peerage by Keir Starmer just days before the prime minister stands down, potentially opening the door to one of Labour’s most high-profile mayors joining Andy Burnham’s cabinet in future.The London mayor has long been tipped for the House of Lords, with Starmer said to have been keen to put him there immediately after the May local elections in an attempt to shore up Labour’s progressive flank.While Burnham and Khan have worked closely together over the years, and have a shared understanding of the challenges of devolution, the Guardian understands the mayor has told the…