Author: damazah@gmail.com

On the latest episode of Weekend Winners, the panel took an in-depth look into Sunday’s Aga Khan Studs Prix Jacques Le Marois from Deauville.Despite defeat at the hands of Blue Bolt last time, Aidan O’Brien’s Precise heads the betting for the Group 1 showdown for three-year-olds and over. The yard won the race with Diego Velazquez last term and will be confident of another success here, with Ryan Moore booked to ride. The British contingent are represented by Zeus Olympios and More Thunder, whilst Sixpence and Strauss fly the flag for Japan. In terms of the home side, Rayif holds…

Not every undergraduate Shakespeare show at the Edinburgh fringe makes headlines but this one brings stardust by association. Suri Noelle, the 20-year-old daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, appears with her fellow drama students from Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University. However, it’s a bit of an event regardless – the UK premiere of a “modern translation” of A Midsummer Night’s Dream adapted by Jeff Whitty, a Tony award-winner for the riotous Avenue Q.That show, newly returned to the West End, is populated by some horny puppets and Whitty’s Dream is similarly frisky. Often more lustful than lovestruck, Noelle’s Helena prowls…

Rukhsar Azamee, who came to the United States from Afghanistan, and Thomas Fallon have helped each other laugh through hard times.

Peter Azi, 57, former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, has died. A family member, John Azi, announced the ex-speaker’s death in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Thursday. He said Azi died on Wednesday, 12 August, but did not disclose the cause of death. “With total submission to the will of God Almighty, the Azi Ajang family announces the passing unto glory of their son, brother, and father, Mr Peter Azi, the former Speaker of Plateau House of Assembly,” Azi said. “He has peacefully joined his creator.” Azi served as Speaker from June 2015 to July 2018…

The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU) has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi as the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), describing him as a man of valour, integrity, competence and proven capacity. The commendation was made by the RATTAWU President, Comrade Prince Emeka Kalu, during the union’s Media/Security critical engagement and strategic partnership for national development. During the engagement, the DSS Director-General was conferred with the Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award. The initiative is designed to recognise individuals and institutions that have…

DETROIT, MI – JULY 12: A detailed view of a Wilson baseball glove and a Philadelphia Phillies hat sitting in the dugout during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 12, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan. The Phillies defeated the Tigers 5-0. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)MLB Photos via Getty ImagesThe Philadelphia Phillies have cycled through some considerable pitching depth this season, consistently calling up and demoting arms as they search for a bullpen mix that works. But one recent move stands out because it represented both an ending and a new beginning for…

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the long-running feud between cryptocurrency entrepreneur Linus “Blord” Williams and social media activist Martins “VeryDarkMan” Otse were among the stories that generated significant Google search interest among Nigerians in the first seven months of 2026. New Google Trends data released on Friday made available to PREMIUM TIMES provides a snapshot of the issues and personalities that captured Nigerians’ attention between January and July, spanning sports, international conflicts, entertainment, politics and internet culture. According to Google, the rankings were determined by each story’s peak monthly search interest in Nigeria…

First Test, Darwin (day two of five)Australia 198: Smith 71; Mahmud 6-55Bangladesh 351-6: Tanzid 101, Shanto 84, Mominul 49 Bangladesh lead by 153 runsScorecardTanzid Hasan Tamim became the first Bangladesh cricketer to score a Test century in Australia as the visitors continued to dominate on day two in Darwin.The opener, playing in just his second Test match, hit 101 off 197 balls as Bangladesh closed on 351-6, a lead of 153.”I can’t describe it in words, but it was very special for me,” he said. “I love to play in these conditions, the pitch is getting better and better.”Hasan began…

Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has described the practice of car spotters stopping luxury vehicles along the Lekki-Epe Expressway as criminal, vowing that the state government will clamp down on those involved. Mr Hamzat disclosed this during an appearance on Nigeria Info FM, where broadcaster Jimi Disu raised concerns about car spotters stopping luxury vehicles along the corridor and urged the deputy governor to intervene. Car spotting, a pastime in which enthusiasts seek out, photograph or record unusual, exotic and luxury vehicles, is practised in several cities around the world. However, Mr Hamzat’s concern centred on individuals stopping vehicles…

Shola Akande If Bloomberg’s reporting proves correct, OPay could ring a bell in New York before the end of the year. The payments company, built on Nigerian consumers, Nigerian agents and Nigerian transactions, has reportedly engaged Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan for a potential United States listing targeting a valuation of around $4 billion. That would be good news. It would be a powerful validation of what many of us have argued for years: Nigeria can produce businesses capable of competing for global capital at the highest level. Nobody should begrudge OPay the deep capital pools, analyst coverage and international…