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  • It’s almost time for Saturday Night Turn Up, and Mensan dominates the salon as the celebrity barber – BBNaija

    It’s almost time for Saturday Night Turn Up, and Mensan dominates the salon as the celebrity barber – BBNaija

    Even Soft Life week can’t be void of drama. The afternoon started with some desired chaos from the kitchen. Imisi, after being prompted by her bestie (Kola) and checking to make sure the coast was clear, dug out the spoons from her bag and returned them to the kitchen. Mensan, amongst other housemates who saw her returning them, was irritated to find out that Imisi had hidden the spoons in a sack that had her unused sanitary towels. 

    Housemates were shocked, and even Kola, who had been eating with Imisie earlier, said that she had lied to him. The saga of the spoons was a topic of conversation for most of the day, with Dede telling Thelma Lawson that she couldn’t believe it until she saw it herself.

    The drama in the kitchen didn’t stop the housemates from getting ready for the party. Mensan, who had become the unofficial head barber in the house, was busy trimming everyone who came into his chair into shape, one hairstyle at a time. He touched up on Bright Morgan’s dyed hair, cut Joanna’s and Kola’s hair with such attention to detail, you’d think he was specially made for the role. And Bright Morgan even told Mensan that he loved him (because the haircut was banging). 

    Faith also got in on the action, helping Joanna dye her hair. While the housemates were getting their hair done, they also discussed life in the house. Imisi helped with relaxing Isabella’s hair while they laughed and talked about Kola being angry, with Isabella saying he would be fine.

    The housemates were not only getting their hair done but also getting ready to turn up. Kuture donned a wig, and Tracy helped him brush it and straighten it out. 

    While the housemates were getting ready, Thelma Lawson called everyone to the lounge to read the brief for the Saturday Night party. She told them that they had to behave as if they had never had alcohol before and that the theme for the party is Glitz and glam. Housemates are expected to dress in suits and spackly dresses. The room was filled with excitement as the housemates cheered.

    The housemates are looking forward to a great night of dancing and partying, and with a fresh look and a fresh vibe, it is going to be a night to remember.

    Watch BB Naija season 10 live 24/7, on DStv Channel 198, GOtv Channel 49, and on Showmax. Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for all the gist. BBNaija season 10 is proudly brought to you by our Gold sponsor, Guinness Nigeria.


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  • France’s new PM courts the left a day after ratings downgrade

    France’s new PM courts the left a day after ratings downgrade

    France’s new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu held out an olive branch to the left on Saturday, ruling out his predecessor’s plan to cut two public holidays to help slash the deficit.

    His gesture came a day after the Fitch ratings agency downgraded France’s credit rating — measuring its ability to pay back debts — from “AA-” to “A+”.

    The US agency, one of the top global institutions gauging the financial solidity of sovereign borrowers, also warned that France’s debt mountain would keep rising until 2027 unless urgent action was taken.

    Political leaders on the far right and hard left laid the blame at the feet of President Emmanuel Macron, calling for a break from his politics.

    Lecornu, less than a week in the job, announced in an interview with the regional press that he was dropping one of the most controversial policies of his predecessor Francois Bayrou.

    “I have decided to withdraw the suppression of the two public holidays,” said Lecornu, calling for renewed dialogue with social partners to find other ways of financing the 2026 budget.

    Asked if he would consider implementing the so-called Zucman tax on the ultra-rich — a proposal rejected by the previous administration — he said only that he was willing to work on “issue of tax justice”.

    France’s employers federation MEDEF fired a warning shot Saturday, insisted they would mobilise against any tax increases on businesses in the new budget.

    – ‘Paying the price’ –

    The ratings downgrade comes after Bayrou resigned as prime minister Tuesday, having lost a parliamentary confidence vote the day before over an attempt to get an austerity budget adopted.

    Reacting to the ratings announcement, Bayrou lamented that France was “a country whose ‘elites’ lead it to reject the truth (and) is condemned to pay the price”.

    Pushing for major cuts to reduce the French deficit and debt, he had calculated that cutting two public holidays would have brought in 4.2 billion euros ($4.9 billion) to the 2026 budget.

    Far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen on Saturday called for a “break with Macronism”, denouncing the president’s policies as “toxic incompetence”.

    Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who has demanded Macron’s impeachment, also called for “an end to Macronism and its policies harmful to France and its people”.

    Members of the outgoing government also voiced concern. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said the downgrade was a punishment “for decades of fiscal mismanagement” and “chronic instability”.

    The downgrade will further complicate Lecornu’s task of drawing up a budget for next year at the head of what will probably be a minority government.

    “The government’s defeat in a confidence vote illustrates the increased fragmentation and polarisation of domestic politics,” Fitch noted in its statement.

    It was unlikely the fiscal deficit would be cut to three percent of GDP by 2029, as the outgoing government had wanted, it added.

    Outgoing Economy Minister Eric Lombard, while taking note of Fitch’s decision, insisted on the “solidity” of the French economy.

    – Unclear horizon –

    A rating downgrade typically raises the risk premium investors demand of a government to buy sovereign bonds — although some financial experts think the debt market has already priced in an expected downgrade for France.

    On Tuesday, the return on French 10-year government bonds, known as the yield, rose to 3.47 percent, close to that of Italy, one of the eurozone’s worst performers.

    Rising yields would translate into higher costs for servicing France’s debt, which Bayrou warned was already at an “unbearable” level.

    Since Macron’s allies in parliament have no overall majority, they will likely have to make compromises that could undermine any drive to slash spending and raise taxes — with Lecornu’s job also potentially on the line.

    France’s budget deficit represented 5.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) last year, and its debt 113 percent of GDP.

    This compares with eurozone ceilings of three percent for the deficit, and 60 percent for debt.

    “Fitch projects debt to increase to 121 percent of GDP in 2027 from 113.2 percent in 2024, without a clear horizon for debt stabilisation in subsequent years,” the agency said.

    “France’s rising public indebtedness constrains the capacity to respond to new shocks without further deterioration of public finances.”

    France is still cautiously targeting economic growth this year. The INSEE national statistics bureau said Thursday that GDP was projected to grow by 0.8 percent for 2025, 0.1 points more than the previous government’s estimate.

    Rival agency S&P Global is due to update its own sovereign rating for France in November.

    burs-jj/sbk

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  • Stephen King explains his approach to Hollywood adaptations of his novels: ‘I will approve…’

    Stephen King explains his approach to Hollywood adaptations of his novels: ‘I will approve…’

    If you want to turn a Stephen King novel into a movie, you will need his sign-off first. The New York Times reports that the author, who went from teaching English to dominating bestseller lists, is not exactly tough on filmmakers. Still, he wants to see what is happening with his work. “A lot of times I will approve a screenwriter, and it’s almost like sending a kid off to college,” King said in a phone interview with the news outlet.

    Stephen King calls movie scripts his ‘kids’. Here’s how the author approves adaptations of his works(Instagram/@stephenking)

    “You hope that everything is going to work, and that they are going to be good students and not get hurt or wind up in rehab,” he added.

    This year alone, three of those “kids” will enthrall film lovers. The Life of Chuck from Mike Flanagan landed in June, Francis Lawrence’s The Long Walk arrives Friday, and Edgar Wright’s The Running Man follows on November 14.

    Also read: Charlie Sheen’s daughter Sami gets emotional as she learns reason behind actor’s sobriety journey: ‘I didn’t know…’

    Stephen King stays involved, but lets directors breathe

    Filmmakers who have worked with him say the author weighs in but does not hover. “Steve is certainly involved in approving the script and the cast and he is not shy about his opinions, but beyond that he truly does give you space and freedom,” Flanagan explained. He has adapted several King projects and knows the rhythm.

    Over the years, King has not hidden his distaste for Stanley Kubrick’s version of The Shining. But he praises others, like The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and the new series, The Institute. King even thinks Misery worked better as a film than as his book, crediting Kathy Bates and James Caan for what he called “magic.”

    Directors share their own pressure

    Edgar Wright told NYT he still remembers sweating through the moment King emailed him page-by-page notes on The Running Man. “My heart couldn’t take it after a while,” Wright joked. He compared it to handing homework to “the world’s most famous English teacher.”

    Francis Lawrence said The Long Walk had to land with the right tone. With King’s blessing, he changed the speed at which the boys marched and fought to keep the violence R-rated so it would not be watered down.

    Also read: Sydney Sweeney takes on Christy Martin role in biopic; Full cast lineup revealed

    Mike Flanagan said King succeeds because the horror is rooted in people, not monsters. “The darkness in his stories works so well because he is more focused on the light,” Flanagan noted.

    King himself still wants to see more titles adapted, mentioning Rose Madder and From a Buick 8 as next on his wish list. For now, he seems content watching his “kids” leave home again.

    FAQs

    Does Stephen King approve of all movie adaptations of his books?

    Yes, filmmakers must get his approval before moving forward.

    Which new Stephen King movies are releasing in 2025?

    The Long Walk, The Running Man, and The Life of Chuck are all out this year.

    What adaptations does Stephen King like the most?

    He often praises The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and Misery.

    Why didn’t Stephen King like Kubrick’s The Shining?

    He felt the film strayed too far from the original novel.

    Which Stephen King books might be adapted next?

    He has mentioned Rose Madder and From a Buick 8 as stories he would like to see adapted for the screen.

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  • Inside Abby Champion and Patrick Schwarzenegger’s Late Summer Wedding in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

    Inside Abby Champion and Patrick Schwarzenegger’s Late Summer Wedding in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

    In 2015, Abby Champion and Patrick Schwarzenegger met while she was on a casual drinks date with their mutual friend in Los Angeles. He invited some of his guy friends to join them at the Los Angeles bar afterwards—including Patrick. Sparks flew between the two immediately. “He got my number, asked me out, and the rest is history,” Abby says.

    Eight years later, Patrick proposed to Abby while on an early morning beach walk in Santa Monica. At first, she didn’t think anything of it: she and Patrick regularly took such sandy strolls with their coffee. Yet in the distance, she spied a heart made of roses in the sand. “It was intimate, relaxed, and everything I had ever imagined,” she says of their proposal.

    The White Lotus actor and model held a three-day, early September wedding in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Ashley Graham Events acted as their wedding planner—with significant direction from Patrick himself. (“Funny enough, it’s more Patrick’s personality to dive into the flowers and little details, so he helped with so much, which I absolutely loved,” says Abby.)

    On Thursday, September 4, they held an intimate farm-to-table rehearsal dinner with their families and the wedding party, for which Abby wore a Zimmerman gown that she described as “something out of a dream.” Patrick, meanwhile, chose a powder blue suit by Haider Ackermann for Tom Ford. Then on Friday, guests gathered at a Western-themed welcome barbecue at nearby Gozzer Ranch. The bride wore a long-sleeved lace Bec + Bridge dress, black cowboy boots, and a black hat. “Western night was a whole different vibe, and honestly, one of the most fun looks of the weekend,” says Abby.

    On Saturday, September 6, Abby walked down the aisle wearing a custom silk wool column gown with a high neck and dramatic deep V back by Danielle Frankel. In lieu of a traditional train, the bride opted for a silk overskirt with a hand-painted lining. She paired it all with soft tulle opera-length gloves and a fingertip-length veil. “For me, the dress and who designed it were incredibly important,” the bride says. “Since fitting and fashion are part of my profession, I knew I wanted to work with someone I felt completely comfortable with, someone I could openly share my thoughts and opinions with. From the moment I met Danielle, I knew she was the one.” She accessorized with diamond stud earrings and a pearl ring from Mackenna Thaler jewelry, while Abby Moorer did her hair and makeup.

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  • Mini microscope unlocks brain’s secrets in real time with 3D imaging

    Mini microscope unlocks brain’s secrets in real time with 3D imaging

    Scientists have developed a new, compact imaging device that is set to transform how we study the brain.

    The device marks a major step forward in transforming how neuroscientists study the brain. By enabling high-resolution, real-time imaging of brain activity in freely moving mice, the miniaturized microscope allows researchers to observe the relationship between neural activity and behavior with unprecedented detail. 

    This technological advance is expected to significantly deepen our understanding of brain function, providing critical insights into how perception, cognition, and behavior are intricately linked to underlying neural processes.

    Ultimately, these insights could inform the development of new therapeutic strategies for brain disorders, potentially improving treatments and outcomes for human health.

    Lensless camera reconstructs 3D objects using tiny lenslets

    Building on his previous research, Weijian Yang, professor of electrical and computer engineering, and his team developed DeepInMiniscope, a lensless camera capable of producing three-dimensional images from a single exposure. Instead of using a single bulky lens, the camera employs a thin mask embedded with dozens of tiny lenslets, each capturing a unique perspective of the same object. 

    Advanced computational algorithms then combine these multiple perspectives to reconstruct a detailed 3D image, offering a compact and efficient approach to high-resolution imaging that could transform how researchers study complex structures.

    Previous imaging systems performed well with large objects in low-scattering environments, such as robotic vision for assembling parts, but they struggled to capture the fine details of biological or biomedical samples. In living tissue, light scattering is common, signal contrast is often low, and reconstructing intricate features across a large volume presents a significant computational challenge. 

    DeepInMiniscope overcomes these limitations with a redesigned mask containing more than 100 miniaturized, high-resolution lenslets, paired with a novel neural network for image reconstruction. This approach allows the system to “see” through tissue, enabling detailed biomedical imaging without surgery or other invasive procedures.

    Instantly capturing mouse neuronal activity

    DeepInMiniscope uses a neural network that merges model-based iterative optimization with conventional deep learning. The resulting unrolled network consists of multiple stages, each acting like a mini-network that mimics one iteration of optimization. 

    For Yang’s microscope, the network instantly reconstructs high-resolution details across a large 3D volume, integrating data from all 100 lenslets into a single coherent image. Using this approach, Yang and his team have successfully recorded real-time neuronal activity in mice, capturing intricate brain processes with unprecedented clarity.

    “Our algorithm combines interpretability, efficiency, scalability and precision. It requires only a minimal amount of training data, yet it can robustly and accurately process large-scale datasets at high speed,” explained Feng Tian, a postdoctoral researcher in Yang’s lab and first author of the study.

    Next, Yang aims to shrink the device to just 2 square centimeters, which is about the size of a mouse’s hat, and make it cordless, enabling real-time imaging of brain activity in freely moving mice and advancing understanding of how the brain drives behavior.

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  • Ukraine drone starts fire at one of Russia’s largest oil plants | Russia

    Ukraine drone starts fire at one of Russia’s largest oil plants | Russia

    A Ukrainian drone has crashed into one of Russia’s largest oil-refining complexes, sparking a fire and causing minor damage, a Russian official has said.

    The complex, which belongs to Russian oil company Bashneft, lies on the outskirts of the central Russian city of Ufa about 870 miles (1,400km) from the frontline in Ukraine.

    Videos posted on social media appeared to show a drone drifting towards the facility on Saturday before exploding in a ball of flames, sending a cloud of smoke into the sky.

    “Today, Bashneft’s facility was subjected to a terrorist attack by aircraft-type drones,” the head of Russia’s Bashkortostan region, Radiy Khabirov, said on Telegram.

    One drone crashed into the plant, while another was shot down, he said.

    “There were no casualties or injuries. The production site sustained minor damage, and a fire broke out, which is currently being extinguished,” he added.

    The fire at Bashneft’s Novoil refinery. Photograph: X.com

    A source in Ukraine’s GUR military intelligence agency claimed responsibility for the attack.

    Since Moscow launched its full-scale military offensive in Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv has responded with attacks on Russian refineries in an attempt to curb the Kremlin’s ability to fund the conflict.

    A wave of Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries over the summer hit processing capacity at several key sites and pushed up prices at the fuel pump.

    The Kremlin described Bashneft’s Ufa refining complex in 2016 as “one of the largest in the country”, saying it produced more than 150 types of oil products.

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  • French Premier Drops Predecessor’s Plan to Cut Public Holidays

    French Premier Drops Predecessor’s Plan to Cut Public Holidays

    France’s new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu dropped an unpopular proposal by his predecessor to cut two public holidays, while warning that the government will need to find other ways to trim its budget deficit.

    Lecornu, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday to replace Francois Bayrou who was ousted earlier this week after losing a confidence vote in parliament, faces the daunting task of convincing a fragmented lower house to restore public finances.

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  • Coach De Bruin on South Africa’s RWC journey: ‘A giant has awoken’

    Coach De Bruin on South Africa’s RWC journey: ‘A giant has awoken’

    South Africa head coach Swys de Bruin said “a giant has awoken” after the Springbok Women departed Rugby World Cup 2025 on the back of making history.

    De Bruin’s side were beaten 46-17 by defending champions New Zealand in Saturday’s quarter-final in Exeter, but just by running onto the pitch they became the first Women’s team from South Africa to do so – and they want to make sure it’s not a one-off.

    “For us it was a great moment,” said captain Nolusindiso Booi. “It’s something that we had never tasted. The taste was good and it’s something that the girls will fight for going forward.”

    South Africa may continue to make those strides, but sadly for Booi she will not be a part of it. The 40-year-old will hang up her boots now that her side’s tournament is over.

    “I’m so emotional right now but I am also proud of the progress of our team,” she said. “I feel that we did good and for sure the young generation will push for the final, hopefully next time.”

    De Bruin paid tribute to his captain during as emotional post-match press conference, calling her ‘the GOAT’, and says the future of women’s rugby in South Africa is bright after his squad’s performance at Rugby World Cup 2025.

    “It’s all about the difference they made for the people back home,” an emotional De Bruin said.

    “I’ve been blessed with 38 years in professional rugby and I’ve never worked with a team like this.

    “It’s just a bunch of fighters. I cry every day with pride. It’s just unreal how they never moan, they just go, go, go. A giant has awoken in South African women’s rugby.”

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  • Frogs settle for average mates when dating gets too noisy

    Frogs settle for average mates when dating gets too noisy

    If you’re a male gray frog trying to find a mate, you’d better have a fast and steady call. That’s what female treefrogs usually go for. But when the crowd gets loud and chaotic, things change. The males that don’t sound all that great? They suddenly have a shot.

    In quiet situations where females only hear two males at once, their preferences are clear. They go for the one with the sharper, more rhythmic call.


    But when four or even eight males are calling at once, things get messy. Female choices become unpredictable. This isn’t just a frog issue – it ties into a broader idea that scientists call “choice overload.”

    Frogs face chaos in the chorus

    In nature, frogs gather in large, noisy groups called choruses. Picture a shallow pond in spring, with dozens of males calling out at the same time. It’s the frog equivalent of a dating scene in a packed nightclub.

    The researchers found that the crowded conditions of these choruses might be too overwhelming for females to reliably pick the best mate. It’s not that they stop caring – it’s that they can’t tell who’s who.

    Professor Jessie Tanner of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, led a team studying how choice overload affects evolution.

    “Because female mate choice can drive evolution, our results suggest that evolution might happen more slowly than we thought before,” she said.

    “Some males that are fairly unattractive could still mate, especially if they take advantage of crowded spaces where females might be less able to discriminate between attractive and unattractive males.”

    What happens when choices are too hard?

    The idea of choice overload is pretty common in human behavior. You walk into a store to buy toothpaste and face 50 brands. You either freeze, grab something random, or walk away. Same goes for dating apps with endless swiping.

    “We wanted to understand how having to make mating decisions in crowded environments, where choice overload could be a problem, might drive the evolution of calls,” Tanner explained.

    “Since males that are chosen by females pass on their genes to the next generation, this mate choice can cause the population to change over time.”

    When animals, like people, face too many options, their decision-making can break down. That opens up a chance for less attractive mates to get picked – not because they became more appealing, but because the chooser got overwhelmed.

    Choice overload in other animals

    This isn’t just about frogs. Scientists are now looking at how this effect shows up in other animals. Bumblebees, for instance, are on the list. So are wood roaches.

    “Our lab is working to understand how choice overload and noise may each contribute to the difficulty female treefrogs face in making mating decisions,” Tanner said.

    “We are also working to understand whether this choice overload is something that occurs generally in many different kinds of animals or is more specific to individual species.”

    Simultaneous cricket songs

    Tanner, who has a background in both psychology and biology, first got into animal behavior while studying mate choice as an undergrad. She later became interested in sound – especially how it plays into animal communication.

    That led to earlier work on crickets. Like treefrogs, male crickets use sound to attract mates. A study on cricket mating showed that noisy environments might either block females from hearing calls or make them too confused to pick. It was hard to tell which was causing the problem.

    “During that study, it became clear that our work was consistent with both the possibility that many simultaneous cricket songs created noise that made it hard for females to hear, and the possibility that the females were experiencing choice overload,” Tanner said. “Our current work looks to disentangle those ideas.”

    When average becomes good enough

    The research adds a new layer to how scientists think about evolution. Normally, stronger signals – like a faster frog call – are expected to win out and spread through the population over time.

    But if crowded conditions keep females from consistently picking the top performers, evolution slows down. Mediocre traits stick around longer.

    That changes the math for survival. In nature, being the best isn’t always enough – and sometimes, being just okay is good enough, especially if the crowd’s loud and the choices are many.

    The full study was published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences.

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  • Ashlyn Spring 2026 Ready-to-Wear Runway, Fashion Show & Collection Review

    Ashlyn Spring 2026 Ready-to-Wear Runway, Fashion Show & Collection Review

    It’s been five years since Ashlynn Park started her own label. What began as a few pieces the first season has flourished into a full collection of conceptual, easy-to-wear separates, dresses and outerwear in soft-to-the-skin fabrics like silk jersey and cotton sateen.

    While the CFDA finalist’s pattern making and tailoring prowess can be attributed to her years working for Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake and Raf Simons at Calvin Klein, what was evident this season is that the South Korean native has fully come into her own, with a clear sense of vision and self.

    But it took time.

    From South Korea, to Japan and then Stateside to New York, the designer lived through moments that shaped and expanded her creative vocabulary. Calling upon these times, she came up with the idea of a vessel as her starting point for spring — specifically, the Korean moon jar. The ability to transport the ceramic, and its asymmetric form created from the joining of two parts, informed Park when developing the construction and silhouettes of the garments.

    Like a moon jar from the Joseon era, the clothes had volume, stature on top while they slimmed down to the base. Exaggerated puff-sleeve capelets; a frothy, cocoon-shaped dress, and a deconstructed gown with voluminous hips — these pieces were reminders of the full, rotund shape of the imperial vessel.

    Park took it further, adding, “My summer was touching fabric and shaping the silhouette and learning a lesson of life, like one curve is pushing the other side — they need to accept [each other] and then build, raise together. From that, I learned about humans, relationships, mentality, philosophy.” She connects the patterns of a garment to human interactions, recognizing the importance of harmony through common threads.

    Her message is relevant, especially in the period we are living in. And her story is an example of acceptance and humanity. “I didn’t expect they would welcome me, but they opened the door and they were like ‘Welcome, Ashley, do your thing,’” when recounting her experience as a designer in New York.

    “I’ve been thinking I can do my own thing, just creating things, spreading, making my own universe. That’s my dream,” said Park.

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