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Dolly Parton dies at 80

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Country music legend and Hollywood star, Dolly Parton, has died at the age of 80, her family has announced.

Parton’s nephew, Brian Seaver, announced her death on Tuesday in a video shared on her social media account, describing the moment as one of “absolute pride and great sadness”. The family did not immediately disclose the cause of death.

The Tennessee-born singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist enjoyed a career spanning more than six decades and became one of the most recognisable figures in American popular culture.

Known as the “Queen of Country”, Parton sold more than 100 million records worldwide and earned numerous honours, including multiple Grammy Awards. Her enduring hits included “Jolene”, “I Will Always Love You”, “9 to 5” and “Coat of Many Colors”.

Dolly Parton was around six when she wrote her first song: “Little Tiny Tasseltop,” an ode to her corncob doll with corn-silk hair. Her mother stored it preciously in a shoebox.

“I loved that little doll,” Parton wrote decades later. “I expressed myself and my feelings through writing – I’m sure what I was thinking was, ‘Well, Tasseltop has to have a song about her.’”

Her death came after a period of health challenges. In May, Parton announced the cancellation of a Las Vegas performance, revealing that she had been undergoing treatment for kidney stones and was also dealing with problems affecting her immune and digestive systems.

Just days before her death, Parton had indicated that she was still determined to work despite acknowledging that she had slowed down following the death of her husband, Carl Dean, in March 2025.

“Even though I’m still healin’, I’m still workin’!” she said, insisting that she still had many things she wanted to accomplish.

Parton was born on January 19, 1946, in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, the fourth of 12 children in a poor family. She grew up in the Appalachian region, where her mother’s love for traditional music helped nurture her passion for singing and songwriting.

She began performing as a child and moved to Nashville shortly after graduating from high school in 1964. Her songwriting talent soon earned her recognition, before she established herself as a major recording artiste.

 

 

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World’s youngest reigning king dies at 35

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Oyo Nyimba Babamba Oguru Kulidi IV, a traditional Ugandan ruler named as the world’s youngest monarch has died aged 34, his prime minster announced.

He became king of Tooro in western Uganda at just three years old in 1995 after the death of his father.

The Tooro kingdom did not disclose the cause of King Oyo’s death, but a Ugandan government minister was quoted in local media saying that he had been critically ill and was seeking treatment in the US.

Though Uganda is governed by an elected president and parliament, it has several traditional kingdoms which continue to have significant cultural influence despite not having political power.

Oyo, who Guinness World Records listed as the world’s youngest reigning monarch, ruled over more than two million people. He was the 13th monarch of a kingdom that was founded in the early 19th Century.

Announcing his death, Tooro’s Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki called his passing on Thursday an “immeasurable loss” to the royal family and the people of Tooro.

“I call upon all the people of Tooro to remain united, calm and prayerful during this profoundly difficult time,” Akiiki said on Friday. “May His Majesty the King rest in eternal peace.”

 

 

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Danger alert: 14 days of massive flooding in 19 states, FCT

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The rainy season enters its peak period within end of August and September, the Nigrrian Government has warned that 915 communities across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory are at critical risk of flooding between August 27 and September 9, 2026, urging residents in the affected areas to take immediate precautionary measures and prepare for possible evacuation.

The National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre classified 915 communities across the affected areas as being at critical flood risk, requiring immediate watch, preparedness and protective action.

Another 429 communities in seven states were classified as high risk, while 656 communities across 13 states were placed on moderate-risk watch.

The critical-risk states are Kogi, Benue, Rivers, Edo, Delta, Cross River, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo.

Major cities and communities listed include Lokoja, Makurdi, Port Harcourt, Benin City, Asaba, Calabar, Yenagoa, Uyo, Aba, Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri, Lagos, Abeokuta, Akure, Osogbo and Ibadan.

The federal government attributed the projected flood risk to a combination of high soil moisture, rainfall, rapid surface runoff, drainage surcharge and rising river levels.

In the advisory signed by the Director, Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department, Usman Abdullahi Bokani, the government urged residents in critical-risk areas to maintain immediate flood watch and verify evacuation routes.

It also advised residents to protect vulnerable households and essential property, and to avoid settlement, parking, trading, or storage activities within floodplains, wetlands, riverbanks, and low-lying drainage corridors.

The government directed state emergency management agencies, environmental officers and community flood focal persons to intensify surveillance around rivers, streams, culverts, bridges, drains, estuaries, reservoirs and erosion-prone corridors.

Communities classified as high risk in Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Adamawa, Taraba and Kebbi states were advised to intensify drainage clearance and monitor culverts and watercourses.

 

 

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FAAN restores bolt operations at airports following Keyamo’s intervention

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The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has lifted its restriction on Bolt operations at airports.

The reversal followed a directive from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, who intervened after passengers and social media users raised concerns about the disruption.

In a post on his X handle, Keyamo said, “Following my directive to FAAN to urgently address the issue of exorbitant taxi fare increases at our airports, the issue has been resolved as follows.”

FAAN announced the decision in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and made available to our correspondent on Thursday.

According to the statement, the resolution followed constructive engagements between FAAN and Bolt, resulting in an agreeable operational framework for the e-hailing company to operate at FAAN-managed airports.

“The Authority is therefore pleased to announce that, following constructive engagements, FAAN and Bolt have reached an agreeable operational framework and Bolt is cleared to commence its services at FAAN-managed airports immediately.”

The development came after concerns over the management of commercial and e-hailing vehicles at airports, with FAAN noting that it had been working for nearly a decade to address challenges associated with the operations of such vehicles.

The Authority said the challenges included passenger solicitation and touting, unregulated operations, random pick-ups, as well as safety, security and accountability concerns.

 

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