Businesses and councils in a Warwickshire town have come together to launch a new website and marketing campaign to promote the area. Love Shipston is aimed at encouraging day-trippers and families to spend more time in Shipston-on-Stour, and explore its small businesses and restaurants. Stuart Walsh, who runs Shipston Spokes cycle store, said: “We’ve got a Tesco, a Co-op and a Lloyds Bank, but all the other shops and businesses here are locally-owned.” The project is supported by the town and county councils. Retail expert Kim Hulse, who has led the project, told BBC CWR: “The website brings together a directory…
Author: GuruTrends
Anyone who has seen the glorious, sun-drenched film The Talented Mr Ripley (1999) with Matt Damon as the con man who usurps the life and identity of his rich friend, will be astonished at how this new series transforms the same story into something completely different but just as masterful. The great Andrew Scott brings a hum of sinister energy to the role of Tom Ripley, in a psychological thriller full of suspense from the start. It begins with a mysterious glimpse of a corpse being dragged down a staircase. The show is brilliantly shot in black and white by…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a notable surge in foreign exchange inflow into the economy throughout February 2024. This increase is credited to substantial remittance payments from Nigerians residing overseas and the acquisition of naira assets by foreign portfolio investors. Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, the apex bank’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, disclosed this information in a statement provided to the media. According to Sidi, the Bank’s data reveals that overseas remittances escalated to US$1.3 billion in February 2024, marking a fourfold increase from the US$300 million received in January. Additionally, Sidi stated that foreign investors procured…
A Sussex Police officer has appeared in court charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving in connection with a collision between his police car and an electric bike. PC Tim Bradshaw appeared at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court to face the charge over the crash in Hawthorn Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex on 3 November 2022. The court heard the electric bike rider suffered a fractured knee and broken thighbone in the crash, which happened as PC Bradshaw was allegedly attempting to stop the bike. The case was adjourned to be heard at Portsmouth Crown Court on 7 May and PC…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has fulfilled its promise by announcing the settlement of all valid foreign exchange backlogs totalling $7 billion. This accomplishment was confirmed by Mrs Hakama Sidi Ali, the apex bank’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, in a statement released on Wednesday from Abuja. Independent auditors from Deloitte Consulting meticulously reviewed these transactions to ensure that only legitimate claims were honoured, maintaining transparency and integrity in the process. The CBN recently disbursed $1.5 billion to meet obligations to bank customers, effectively eliminating the residual balance of the FX backlog. During a recent meeting, Governor Olayemi Cardosoo…
The Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Bethrand Onuoha, has presented cheques worth N39m to the 25 families of deceased officers on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. SP William Aya, the command’s spokesperson, made this announcement in a statement on Thursday. He said that while the CP was presenting the cheques on Wednesday, he disclosed that “the gesture was part of the Group Life Assurance and Group Personal Accident Insurance Schemes aimed at improving the welfare of the families of deceased police officers and to also support police officers who became accident victims while carrying out their…
A taxi driver has been recollecting the private rendition Abba gave him of Waterloo after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 50 years ago. The Swedish supergroup stormed to victory at Brighton Dome on 6 April 1974. Cab driver Billy Stainthorpe drove them back from Brighton to London and they all sang along when the song came on the radio. Mr Stainthorpe said: “They all seemed happy, all singing, and the lady with the blonde hair (Agnetha) sat next to me.” Mr Stainthorpe said: “When we stopped for refreshments there were a few people who recognised them. And then there were a few…
President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigerians not to be troubled about the rising inflation rate in the country, vowing that his administration would bring it down. The president assured the public not to worry, even though he lacks a magic wand to revive the economy. At the State House in Abuja, Tinubu made this statement while hosting the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council leadership for a Ramadan Iftar in 2024. Following the removal of the gasoline subsidy and the unification of the exchange rate in 2023 by the Tinubu administration, Nigeria is experiencing economic hardship due to a…
The suit alleging money laundering against Binance and its officials has been postponed until April 8 by an Abuja Federal High Court. Judge Emeka Nwite, the trial judge, heard the parties’ arguments regarding the charge’s service on Binance Holdings Limited before adjourning the case for a decision. The arraignment of the defendants, Binance Holdings Limited and Tigran Gambaryan, was scheduled for this Thursday; however, it was postponed due to a protest from Mark Mordi, the second defendant’s attorney (SAN). Mordi argued that since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was unable to properly serve Binance Holdings Limited, his client could…
A Sussex gamer is in the middle of a continuous 90-day livestream where he even sleeps on camera. Toby Smith, who is known as Tubbo, has been streaming for his 2.87m YouTube subscribers and 5.3m Twitch followers. The streamer, who lived in Bognor Regis before moving to Brighton, started the challenge on 1 March. He said: “It’s more of a personal challenge for me to create the best content I physically can.” Every time someone subscribes to the broadcast it adds a minute to a clock. The stream is live until the clock, which is capped at 90 days, hits…
The identities of terrorist masterminds slain during various operations in the nation’s north were made public by the Defence Headquarters on Thursday. The terrorist leaders were eliminated in different operations between January and March 2024, according to the DHQ. Abu Bilal Minuki (also known as Abubakar Mainok), the head of Is-Al Furqan Province (ISGS and ISWAP), and Haruna Isiya Boderi are the names of the terrorist leaders. He was a well-known terrorist who operated on the Abuja Kaduna Highway and the Birnin Gwari Forest in Kaduna State. On February 24, he was killed by the military. Others are Kachallah Damina…
The Federal Government, via the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), announced that it has allocated N23 billion towards research funding nationwide. Dr. Hadiza Ismail, the Assistant Director of Research and Development (R&D) at TETFUND, revealed this information during a validation workshop titled “Enhancing Research and Innovation Funding Agencies in West Africa” held at TETFUND headquarters in Abuja. She expressed the agency’s unwavering dedication to establishing a Science Granting Council in Nigeria. While highlighting the agency’s continuous financial support for research through the National Research Fund, Hadiza said the agency was also working hard to ensure that research outputs are linked…
“What is so iconic about Lara Croft is the fact that she is the first female lead in a video game,” she says. “She’s all about girl power and female empowerment. She’s at the forefront, she is what the adventure is.” The video game launched the wider Lara Croft franchise – multiple video games, as well as blockbuster films starring Angelina Jolie and even a Netflix series expected later this year. When Shelley first landed the job of voicing Lara, she was told to take inspiration from a certain fedora-sporting explorer. “The direction I got in the studio was she’s…
The naira kicked off the new month with a strong performance, strengthening to N1,278.58 against the US dollar compared to N1,309.39 per dollar recorded last Thursday. This reflects a gain of N30.81 by the end of the trading session. Data from FMDQ Securities shows that the indicative exchange rate for the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market closing below the N1,300 ceiling marks the first occurrence since January 26 of this year. On March 13, 2024, the naira depreciated to as low as N1,615/$1. Since the implementation of various forex policies by the central bank, the naira has appreciated by over…
Rebel Rising was published in the US on Tuesday, and was due out in Australia on Wednesday and the UK on Thursday. It will now reach the UK on 25 April. Publisher HarperCollins said its release “has been moved to coincide with Rebel Wilson’s press tours”. The book includes allegations against Sacha Baron Cohen, who is understood to have threatened legal action. The British comedian has vehemently denied any impropriety, saying her description of shooting his 2016 film Grimsby is “demonstrably false”. The Australian star told the Sunday Times making the spy comedy was “the worst professional experience of my career”. In…
Tems, the Grammy award-winning Nigerian musicians made a grand entrance at the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards. Scheduled to perform at the event, she captivated many with her grace and glamour in a stunning long black dress. Known for her impeccable red carpet style, Tems posed confidently in a classy transparent black net dress adorned with feathered ruffles. Completing her dazzling look was her African-inspired Bantu Knot hairstyle. Additionally, she will be recognized with a prestigious ‘Breakthrough Award’ at this year’s ceremony. Billboard disclosed that the honourees for the 2024 Billboard Women in Music Awards “demonstrate the degree to…
Following the deaths of veteran actors John Okafor, better known as Mr. Ibu, and Quadri Oyebamiji, better known as Sisi Quadri, last week, President Bola Tinubu has sent out a condolence message. Oyebamiji, a Yoruba actor in Nollywood, passed away on Friday. He would have turned 44 on December 25, 2023. A few of his colleagues in the Yoruba film industry announced his passing. Another Nollywood actor, Okafor, also referred to as Mr. Ibu, passed away on Saturday. This happened after the seasoned actor’s illness and need for financial support were reported in October 2023. In a statement released on…
Organizers of Big Brother Naija (BBNaija), a popular Nigerian reality show, officially announced on Friday that the show is set to return for its ninth season in 2024. The previous season, themed Big Brother Naija: All Stars, aired from July to October 2023, and carefully featured selected housemates and fan favourites from previous editions of the show. Ilebaye Odiniya, a 22-year-old model from Kogi State, emerged as the winner, walking away with a cash prize of N120 million. This prize included a car, home appliances, and other rewards from the show’s sponsors. The show organizers hinted at providing more details…
Hardik Pandya, captain of the Mumbai Indians team in Indian Premier League (IPL), the world’s richest cricket tournament, has faced booing crowds during the team’s games in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and even in home ground, Mumbai. Traded from his earlier side Gujarat Titans, Pandya has replaced India’s all format skipper Rohit Sharma at the Mumbai Indians for the 2024 IPL, which began on 23 March. The 30-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder had previously been part of four title-winning campaigns under Sharma’s leadership at Mumbai Indians, spending his first seven IPL seasons there until 2021. For many, the move from Mumbai came as a…
‘It’s witch-hunt’ – P.Diddy’s lawyer reacts to raid on US rapper’s houses Legal representatives of Unites States rapper, P. Diddy, led by Aaron Dyer, have characterised the raid on the music executive’s residence by the United States authorities as a “witch-hunt,” emphasising that the action was based on unfounded accusations. US Federal agents had raided the residence of the rap mogul following allegations of his alleged sexual involvement with underage girls and other atrocities. However, a statement by Dyer said: “Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr Combs’ residences.…