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Photo: Caroline McCredie at the "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" Australian premiere on November 24, 2013 in Sydney, Australia. Kirsten Dunst has signed on to direct “The Bell Jar,” based on the 1963 novel by Sylvia Plath, TheWrap has learned. Dakota Fanning has been cast in the lead role as Esther Greenwood.

Johnny Depp is willing to hand over his financial records to his estranged wife Amber Heard — if she finally gets around to agreeing to keep the information confidential. At least, that’s the message in court papers filed by Depp’s attorney Laura Wasser. Wasser claims that Heard, who is undergoing divorce proceedings with Depp, has “inexplicably refused” to sign a confidentiality agreement pertaining to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star’s financial records.

For Pep Guardiola, it was Welcome Back. For Manchester City's players, it was Welcome to the New World. On a sultry night in Bavaria, the place he called home for three years and where he won seven trophies, the message Bayern Munich promoted with Guardiola back in town was one of a friendship and gratitude to the manager who gave them a new identity.

Courtesy of HBO. As Pokémon Go continues its journey toward world domination, it’s hard not to imagine what its developer, Niantic, will dream up next. Harry Potter fans, eager as ever, are already clamoring for their own version of the game—but it looks like another, more violent castle-filled property might be first in line. Niantic global product marketing lead Archit Bhargava told Gamespot that in the company’s quest to “create the genre of real-world gaming,” he has one dream step: a Game of Thrones adaptation. “My personal fantasy is like a Game of Thrones game where Westeros is mapped out on Earth and you join House Stark or whatever,” Bhargava said.

Sam Allardyce is set to be confirmed as the next England manager in the next 24 hours. According to Sky Sports News HQ the Sunderland manager will be ratified as Roy Hodgson’s replacement at tomorrow’s FA Board Meeting. Sunderland were also informed of the development this afternoon and that the search for a replacement is already underway.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday held a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and the Nigerien counterpart, Ousseini Tinni. The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, took place in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, inside the President’s office at the Aso Villa and lasted for about an hour. Speaker Dogara and his partner refused to brief State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting. The lawmakers insisted that it was a private visit.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh The Federal Government on Wednesday admitted that it is aware of “serious shortage of foods” in many families in the country. The Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Audu Ogbeh, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of a meeting of the Federal Executive Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Ogbeh was joined at the briefing by the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.

South Sudan will resist plans by neighboring countries to deploy a regional force in the wake of renewed violence in the oil-producing nation, according to the country’s defense minister. The warning comes after East African leaders agreed last weekend to send troops to South Sudan to boost the United Nations mission and protect civilians. The deployment of regional troops will be a violation of the war-torn nation’s sovereignty and the decision was made without proper knowledge of the security situation, Defense Minister Kuol Manyang Juuk said by phone on Wednesday. “If that occupation actually happens, it will need resistance,” Juuk said. “We will see relationships destroyed and above all, when this is done in South Sudan, it is bound to be done in other countries.”

DAVID CAMERON was today accused of “gross negligence” for refusing to prepare for a Brexit vote before the EU referendum. PA David Cameron waves as he quits Downing Street last week In a scathing report, the House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Committee has blasted the ex-Prime Minister’s failure to put in place contingency plans ahead of last month’s vote. The group of MPs claimed Theresa May’s new Government has been “left to play catch-up” due to Mr Cameron’s failure to order any pre-referendum planning. The lack of forward-thinking has also meant current Brexit plans are “tentative and just emerging”, the MPs said. In devastating criticism of the last Government’s approach to the June 23 vote, the cross-party Committee - made up of both those who backed Remain and Leave - said the absence of a blueprint for Brexit had “made the task now facing the new Government substantially more difficult”.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday failed to appear before the joint House of Representatives Committee investigating allegations of sexual misconduct brought against three members of the House. This is the second time the Minister, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama and the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr James Entwistle, have failed to appear before the Committee. The Minster, in a letter to the Committee, said the time for the investigative hearing coincides with the Federal Executive Council meeting in the Presidential Villa.

Nollywood filmmakers have resumed a campaign to save actor, Leonard Mezie, who is battling kidney failure. Mezie is currently battling to survive collapsed kidneys after he allegedly took medications following wrong medical diagnosis. He was diagnosed wrongly with malaria, typhoid and pneumonia for over a year and the medications collapsed his kidneys. His colleagues have, however, been making frantic effort to raise N10 million, estimated for an immediate kidney transplant abroad, while N80, 000 is being expended weekly for his daily dialysis. The campaign, headed by renowned movie director, Lancelot Imasuen, is tagged ‘We can raise Ten Milion to Save our friend and colleague’s life God helping Us.”

Concerns were again raised on Tuesday over the non-inclusion of candidates from Bayelsa, Plateau, Ondo, and Ebonyi States on the list of career Ambassadors forwarded to the Senate for screening by President Muhammadu Buhari. This follows the presentation of report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs by Deputy Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Shehu Sani(APC), Kaduna Central Senatorial District where it was revealed that the process of nominating career Ambassadors by President Buhari was duly taken into consideration, pointing out that the affected States actually did not meet the criteria. Sani emphasized that contrary to public outcry that the four states were marginalized, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation honoured the invitation of Senate Committee and made clarifications to the effect that the states in question fell short of necessary qualification which the Committee actually confirmed.

Nigeria striker Kelechi Iheanacho has been given the green light to take part in Manchester City’s pre-season tour of China, putting his club ahead of Nigeria’s Olympic dream. Iheanacho wanted to play for Nigeria at the Olympic Games but accepted Pep Guardiola’s decision that Manchester City want the striker available for the start of the season. According to the UK Guardian , “It is understood Iheanacho is now aware Guardiola does not want him to represent Nigeria and has accepted this.” Despite reports Iheanacho would not be able to travel to Asia due to visa issues, the highly-rated 19-year-old was named in City’s squad on Wednesday.

According to an ABC News survey, 77% of female voters have an unfavourable view of Donald Trump. Women at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, explained to the Guardian why they support the party’s presidential candidate: Meet the Republican women backing Donald Trump View image on Twitter According to an ABC News survey, 77% of female voters have an unfavourable view of Donald Trump. Women at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, explained to the Guardian why they support the party’s presidential candidate: Meet the Republican women backing Donald Trump Donald Trump fired Sinbad for mismanaging a Kodak store, won't fire a speechwriter who plagiarized the most public thing she's ever written.

SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has announced the removal of the House Committee Chairman on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin from Kano State as chairman of the committee. He was replaced with the House Chsirman on Housing, Mustapha Bala Dawaki also from Kano State and member of the All Progressives Congress, APC. But the Speaker said that Jibrin had requested for his removal from the Committee, hence, the change. Recall that the Kano born lawmaker had issues with his colleagues while holding sway as Chairman of Appropriations as he was accused of putting many constituency projects worth over N4 billion in the 2016 budget. This development led to the clamour for his removal but the Speaker was said to have protected him following the role he played in his emergence as Speaker. While announcing Jibrin’s replacement, Dogara said, ” he (Jibrin) came to me and said he cannot do it any more and that the pressure was on him.”

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Wednesday besieged the National Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress, to protest against Senator Dino Melaye. The group of peaceful protesters, who were led by the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mr. Wasiu Sani, said they were at the party headquarters to register their displeasure over Dino’s alleged verbal assault on Senator Oluremi Tinubu. According to the protesters, Senator Tinubu is a woman who respects all the political sons and daughters of her husband but does not suffer fools gladly. They also alleged that there appeared to be a conspiracy of silence by the leadership of the Senate over the incident noting that as loyal party members, they could not fold their hands and watch the party’s cherished values of loyalty and respect for leaders being denigrated.

Getty Images New Palace recruit Andros Townsend, Jason Puncheon and Damien Delaney all had opportunities to break the deadlock. Crystal Palace rounded out their pre-season tour of the United States and Canada with an entertaining 2-2 draw against MLS outfit Vancouver Whitecaps. English striker and substitute Fraizer Campbell netted a second-half brace for the Premier League side in Vancouver on Tuesday. After drawing with Philadelphia Union and defeating FC Cincinnati in USA last week, Palace manager Alan Pardew experimented with a 3-5-2 formation at BC Place, while the Whitecaps made nine changes to the team that drew 2-2 against Orlando City on Saturday.

Getty Images Liverpool Land Augsburg Defender Ragnar Klavan Reds manager Jurgen Klopp was keen to bolster his centre-back options having released Kolo Toure and sold Martin Skrtel. Liverpool have completed the signing of Augsburg defender Ragnar Klavan on a long-term contract. Reds manager Jurgen Klopp was keen to bolster his centre-back options having released Kolo Toure and sold Martin Skrtel to Fenerbahce, while Mamadou Sakho and Joe Gomez are both injured. Klavan has now arrived on a reported £4.2million fee and provides competition for Joel Matip - signed on a free transfer from Schalke - and Dejan Lovren."I'm really honoured to be part of this amazing club, this amazing team," he told Liverpool's official website.

 Getty Images Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce and Hull City's Steve Bruce have both been interviewed for the job. Ashley Cole believes Arsene Wenger is the ideal candidate to take over as England manager due to his track record of nurturing young talent.The Football Association is in the hunt for a new boss following Roy Hodgson's resignation in the wake of England's dismal last-16 defeat to Iceland at Euro 2016. Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce and Hull City's Steve Bruce have both been interviewed for the job, while Eddie Howe and Jurgen Klinsmann are also thought to be in the running. However, former England international Cole - who won the Premier League twice and FA Cup three times during his time at Arsenal - has thrown his weight behind Wenger.

President of Russia's Olympic Committee Alexander Zhukov opens the meeting of Russia's Olympic Committee in Moscow, Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Zhukov says he expects a final decision by Sunday on whether the entire Russian team will be banned from next month's games in Rio over doping. The International Olympic Committee is examining the legal grounds for possibly banning Russia following allegations that Russian government officials covered up hundreds of drug test failures by their country's athletes. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's top Olympic official says he expects a final decision by Sunday on whether the entire Russian team will be banned from next month's games in Rio. The International Olympic Committee is examining the legal options following a report by World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren that accused Russia's sports ministry of overseeing doping of the country's Olympic athletes. Russian Ol...

   Lady Gaga is breaking her silence amid reports claiming that she and fiancé Taylor Kinney have officially split, but did she just confirm that the two are actually still on? Gaga took to Instagram to address the swirling breakup rumors on July 20, telling fans in a heartfelt message that she and the Chicago Fire actor were simply “taking a break” and still “really love each other.” Appearing to deny reports claiming that the she and Taylor have officially broken up for good, Gaga told fans that she and Kinney have “always believed we are soulmates.” “Just like all couples we have ups and downs, and we have been taking a break,” Gaga continued, captioning a black and white photo of herself and Kinney with their arms around each other.

   London - Juventus's French midfield star Paul Pogba looks set to be the subject of a 100million ($130m, 119m euros) bid by his former club, English Premier League giants Manchester United, British media reported on Wednesday. The 23-year-old will cost United dear as he left them for Juventus for nothing in July 2012 after making just a handful of appearances prompting then manager Alex Ferguson to slam him for showing no respect to the club. Pogba was an integral part of the France side that reached the Euro 2016 final although his performance in the 1-0 loss to Portugal received a panning.

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader; Mmusi Maimane speaks to the community of Zandspruit informal settlements during his visit on April 27, 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Image by: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Antonio Muchave Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane has called on President Jacob Zuma to establish a Commission of Inquiry into the "ongoing collapse" at the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation.    "What is unfolding at the SABC is nothing short of full state capture of the public broadcaster under the ANC‚" he said On Wednesday."It was the Apartheid government that used these tactics in order to paint a 'good story' of South Africa – hiding the true state of affairs in the country from both the domestic and international audience."

  KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Human Rights Watch says security forces in Kenya have forcibly disappeared at least 34 people over the past two years during "abusive" counterterrorism operations in the capital and the northeastern part of the country. In a report released Wednesday, the rights group urges Kenyan authorities to investigate the disappearances and the deaths of detainees in the northeast. The report cites cases where suspects arrested over alleged ties with the Somalia-based Islamic extremist group al-Shabab have disappeared. Charles Owino, a Kenyan police spokesman, said a police oversight committee would carry out an independent investigation and that any police officer found culpable would face trial.

The police is set to re-arraign suspects who were earlier arrested and detained in connection with the murder of a former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bola Ige. According to Punch, all the suspects that were arrested in 2002 who were later freed would be apprehended again for fresh arraignment and prosecution in respect of the case. It was learnt that the initiative to re-open Bola Ige’s murder case was from the acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. President Muhammadu Buhari, had directed the Acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to reopen investigation into the unresolved murder of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bola Ige, and ex-Deputy National Chairman, South-South, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Aminosari Dokubo.

A group in Nigeria known as Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women (LACVAW) has accused the Nigerian Senate of complicity for its silence on the row between Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Oluremi Tinubu. Senator ‎ Melaye had reportedly assaulted Senator Tinubu verbally and threatened to beat up. Tinubu, is a senator representing Lagos Central while Melaye represents Kogi West. Tinubu is also the wife of APC leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The incident, which occurred last week during an executive session of the Upper Chamber, has drawn the fury of many Nigerians including the group. Charmaine Pereira, Chairperson, Board of Trustees, LACVAW has accused the Senate of aiding and abetting Senator Melaye’s sexist remarks by refusing to comment. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, she said “Violent behaviour and sexually demeaning language should be condemned whether they occur against in closed door meetings, other private spaces or in...

Agency gets plea bargain requests Three of those on trial for alleged corruption are eager to return their “loot” for freedom. They want to refund cash and surrender property to avoid going to jail, The Nation learnt yesterday. An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) source said that the agency got requests from former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Olisa Metuh, ex-Chiefs of Air Staff Air Marshals Adeshola Amosu and Mohammed Dikko Umar. Metuh is standing trial for allegedly receiving N400 million from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki. The cash is believed to be part of the $2.1 billion security fund that was allegedly diverted.

Le Guen Although Frenchman Paul Le Guen has rejected the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) initial offer to take charge of the Super Eagles, the former Lyon manager may reconsider the proposal and lead the three-time African champions during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, French media reported on Wednesday. French daily L’equipe reported in its online publication that there could still be a window for the sides to renegotiate and perhaps come to an agreeable term on the matter. The NFF technical and development committee on Monday picked Le Guen as new Super Eagles gaffer after interviewing three coaches shortlisted for the job. “However, the deal was subject to Le Guen agreeing contract terms with the NFF’s Executive Committee,” the committee said in a statement announcing the selection of the Frenchman as Eagles’ coach.

  The Nigerian Navy (NN) said it had arrested a suspected member of the Niger Delta Avengers. This is contained in a statement signed by its Director of Information, Commodore Christian Ezekobe, and made available to newsmen in Abuja. According to Ezekobe, the suspect who was picked up on July 11 at about 11 a.m., is believed to be a major logistics supplier to the group which had claimed responsibility for attacks on NNPC and Chevron pipelines in the region. “The arrest was made following a confessional statement obtained from an earlier arrested suspect who gave details of the involvement of other collaborators in the attacks. “Preliminary investigations also revealed that the suspect recently supplied 10 batteries, five large coils of wire and other materials purportedly used for the attacks,’’ the director said. The NN said it would continue to partner with sister security agencies and members of the public to eliminate all forms of economic sabotage such as vandalisation of ...

   Low global oil prices have hurt Nigeria’s economy, taking it to the brink of recession. But the resulting cash crunch has also had a more unexpected effect — on mass weddings. More than 10,000 women have registered for the state-sponsored programme in Kano, said Abba Sufi, director-general of the northern city’s “morality police”, the Hisbah. “At the moment we have over 10,000 women who have registered for the mass wedding programme and are waiting to be introduced to prospective suitors when the project resumes,” he told AFP. “The women include divorcees and girls of marriage age registered in person and via social media platforms we operate.” The matchmaking programme began in 2012 to help divorcees remarry in Kano state, which has the highest divorce rate in Nigeria. Under the scheme, the state government pays the bride price and provides furniture and household utensils for the newlyweds. A total of 1,111 couples tied the knot in an elaborate event at Kano’s main mosq...

  Oyo State branch of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) has apologised to the state government on behalf of principals, teachers and students of public secondary schools across the state over the June 6 violent disturbances in Ibadan. A statement by the ANCOPSS State President and Secretary, Pastor Ranti Obafumiso and Deacon Mathew Ogunkunle respectively, conveyed the apology in Ibadan, on Tuesday. The confederation also dissociated its members from any group or association that might have instigated the students to embark on what it called the ugly incident. It reads, “The ANCOPPS wishes to tender its unreserved apology to the Oyo State Government on behalf of all principals, teachers and students of all public secondary schools in the state on the violent incident that happened on June 6, 2016.

The brother of Pakistani social media star, Qandeel Baloch, who expressed pride for having killed his sister, has been charged with a crime against the state for the so-called "honor" killing, according to a police report. The rare charge against Waseem Baloch, who confessed to killing one of Pakistan's most famous and controversial online celebrities because "girls are born to stay home," was included in a charging document obtained by CNN

Garry Marshall died Tuesday in at a hospital in Burbank, Calif., of complications from pneumonia after having a stroke. (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times) By Shannon O'Connor and Greg Braxton Garry Marshall was a writer-director who specialized in delivering upbeat fare with a smile. It was a trait that defined his East Coast wit as he put a distinctive stamp on the TV landscape with landmark comedies such as “Happy Days,” “Laverne and Shirley” and “Mork & Mindy.”

North Korea says it has test-fired ballistic rockets as part of a simulated pre-emptive attack on South Korea. The tests were an apparent reference to the three ballistic missile launches that Seoul says North Korea conducted Tuesday. Pyongyang's state media said Wednesday that the launches examined "the operational features of the detonating devices of nuclear warheads mounted on the ballistic rockets."

Ivanka Trump made a glamorous appearance at the Republican National Convention as her father was confirmed as the party's presidential nominee. The businessman's eldest daughter watched from the stands as her brother Donald Jr and step-sister Tiffany gave doting tributes to their father from the stage at Cleveland's Quicken Loans Arena. The mother-of-three is set to introduce her father for his showcase speech on Thursday.

D’Tigers forward Alade Aminu D’Tigers forward Abdulwahab Alade Aminu has hailed Nigeria’s 96-92 victory over South American champions Argentina in Monday’s exhibition game in the USA ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympics in Brazil. Aminu in a chat with Daily Trust yesterday, said the result underlined the team’s resolve to take the world by storm in the upcoming Games in South America.

Actor and comedian Bill Cosby is helped as he arrives for a court appearance on Dec. 20, 2015 in Elkins Park, Pa. He is seen here with his attorneys Brian McMonagle, left, and Monique Pressley. Bill Cosby, 79, is now "completely blind" and living "in his own personal hell," according to the New York Post. The TV icon, who has been battling allegations he sexually assaulted 50 women, is confined to a home in Pennsylvania with his wife,

Two Nigerians are among 10 wanted fraudsters in the United Kingdom, according to a list published on Tuesday by City of London Police and the National Crime Agency. The 10 wanted fraudsters were linked to over £20 million worth of fraudulent acts in the UK and abroad. Forty-one-year-old Bayo Lawrence Anoworin is wanted by Lincolnshire Police in connection with fraud offences and money laundering. Anoworin was alleged to have been part of an organised crime group that defrauded a number of NHS Trusts in the UK and Guernsey.

Prime minister is expected to tell the German chancellor that she will not ‘push the button’ on leaving the EU this year   Theresa May just before flying to Berlin on Wednesday Photograph: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP/Getty Images Theresa May will today warn Angela Merkelthat she needs time to prepare for Brexit, as she heads to Berlin for private talks with the German chancellor.

THE Senate yesterday received the 2016 budget proposal for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and 36 other agencies from President Muhammadu Buhari for consideration and subsequent passage. Announcing the budget yesterday at plenary, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who presided over yesterday’s session, told the senators that President Buhari requested that the budget for those agencies be given accelerated approval to allow them expend funds for various projects, in line with its statutory laws and mandate.

Cleveland: Republicans sought to move past a rocky first night of their nominating convention and unify their party against Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, as their nominee Donald Trump predicted victory and said, "We have to go all the way. "Today has been a very, very special day watching my children put me over the top," he said, addressing the convention for the second day in a row, this time live via video from New York City that opened with a scene of Trump Tower.

Senate President Bukola Saraki The Senate on Tuesday said it was optimistic that Nigeria would get out of the recession, which it was currently experiencing. The Deputy Spokesperson of the Senate, Ben Bruce, said this while briefing newsmen shortly after a two-hour close-door session between the senators and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele.

Police officers stand by a regional train in Wuerzburg southern Germany on July 18, 2016 after a man attacked train passengers with an axe. Josef Hildenbrand/AFP/Getty Images  A 17-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker vowing “revenge on these infidels” went on an ax-and-knife rampage on a train in southern Germany, wounding five people before being shot and killed by police – an attack that German authorities conceded Tuesday was almost impossible to prevent.

The 11 electricity Distribution companies (Discos) have said the funding gap in the power sector is now over N300 billion. They are therefore imploring the federal government to create mechanisms to drive further investments in the sector. Briefing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, spokesman of the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Barrister Sunday Oduntan, said a fair Multi Year Tariff Order (MYTO) was meant to cushion the impact but has not been cost reflective until the recent one signed in December 2015.

THE Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, yesterday, painted a gloomy picture of the economy during a closed-door meeting with senators. Vanguard gathered that the CBN governor told the senators that it was frightening that the nation was experiencing economic stagnation and inflation at the same time, explaining that ordinarily, both were not supposed to happen simultaneously.