2 days to go… more groups back out of planned hunger protest (Leadership)
Barely 48 hours before the start of the planned nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance, several groups in the states have announced their withdrawal from the demonstration.
The Arewa Citizens Action for Good Leadership (ACAGL), along with 23 other groups that participated in the protest mobilisation, have declared its intention to withdraw from it.
Addressing a press conference in Kano yesterday, the group led by the spokesman of the Kano chapter of the ACAGL, Saeed Sulaiman, stated that they were withdrawing due to the potential risks, vulnerabilities and consequences of participating in the protest. Read more
Nigeria can’t afford violent protest now — IGP (Tribune)
Ahead of the planned nationwide protest, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Dr Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has again cautioned against it saying it would not be in the interest of country as a nation
In a statement made available to news men on Monday night by the Force Public Relations Officer, FPRO, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi’, the IGP declared that Nigeria can not afford violent protest being banned by some groups
According to him, ” It is not only in Nigeria that there is hardship. It is a global meltdown. Is the government doing anything about it? Yes! This is what a responsive government will do,” stated the IGP.
He stressed that while the current economic challenges are not unique to Nigeria, the government is actively working to mitigate their impact and provide relief to the citizens. Read more
Ohanaeze youths dissociate selves from planned protest (Sun)
Igbo youths have said they would not be part of the proposed nationwide protest over the growing hardship in the country.
They argued that it was better for the people of the region to continue to engage with the government to address their grievances than participating in a protest they did not know the organisers.
They made their position known at an emergency convention by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing Worldwide, comprising various youth groups from the five South East states and Igbo speaking parts of Delta and Rivers states. Read more
NMA wants doctor killed in faulty elevator immortalised (Punch)
The Nigerian Medical Association, Lagos State branch, has called on the state government to immortalise their colleague, Dr Vwaere Diaso, who died in a faulty elevator at work in August last year.
The Lagos NMA Chairman, Dr Babajide Saheed, made the call on Monday during a press conference on the association’s Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference holding between July 28 and August 3.
Saheed said the conference with the theme “Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria Amidst Multifaceted Challenges,” served to commemorate the one-year anniversary of Diaso’s tragic death in a faulty elevator at the Lagos Island General Hospital on August 1, 2023.
FCET, Akoka: NANS frowns at misrepresentation by Lagos State Police PRO (Independent)
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), on Monday, condemned a recent report issued by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) concerning the events at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka.
NANS in a statement signed by Dist. Sen. Akinteye Afeez,
The President of the Senate described the Police report as inaccurate as it portrayed the staff and students as violent aggressors, saying the report failed to acknowledge the legitimate grievances that led to the protest.
The statement read, “For over three months, the staff of FCET Akoka have been compelled to lock out the Provost from his office due to his tyrannical leadership and gross mismanagement. Read more
NAMA suspends planned 800% levy hike (Channels)
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has suspended its planned 800% increase in navigational charges.
A spokesman for the agency Abdullahi Musa said the suspension was directed by the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo over “current economic challenges faced by Nigerians”.
In a statement on Monday, the minister emphasised the need for further consultation before implementing any changes. Read more
Protest’s fundamental right, but must be peaceful — Akpata (Vanguard)
Labour Party (LP), governorship candidate in the September 21, poll in Edo State, Mr. Olumide Akpata, has expressed support for the August 1, 2024, protest, but asked the protesters to be peaceful in articulating their grievances.
He also called on the security agencies to be restraint and professional in managing the protests. Akpata in a statement, yesterday, said: “The recent surge of discussions across news outlets and social media platforms regarding planned protests by citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria set to commence on August 1, 2024, has drawn significant attention. Read more
NNPP lawmaker faults Kano govt on Rano Emirate status; party reacts (DailyTrust)
The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has responded to criticisms by Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, a former speaker of the Kano State House of Assembly and chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Air Force.
Rurum had tackled the Kano State government for downgrading Rano Emirate to second-class status.
Rurum, representing Rano, Kibiya, and Bunkure Federal Constituency, expressed his opposition during the commissioning of the Nigerian Airforce Girls’ Boarding Secondary School in Rano on Sunday. Read more
‘General Hospital’ star Emma Samms set to Return to soap opera as Holly Sutton (People)
Emma Samms is returning to her roots.
The soap star, 63, who made her debut on General Hospital in 1982, is set to reprise her role of Holly Sutton in September, a spokesperson for ABC confirms to PEOPLE.
Her appearance will coincide with the return of five-time Daytime Emmy winner Jonathan Jackson, who will step back into the role of Lucky Spencer. Details are scarce on what the duo will bring back into the fold this time. Read more
Jeff Bridges, J.J. Abrams, Mark Hamill and more help raise money on ‘‘White Dudes for Harris’’ Zoom call (Variety)
Jeff Bridges, J.J. Abrams and Mark Hamill are among the Hollywood figures who joined Monday night’s “White Dudes for Harris” Zoom fundraising and organizing rally.
The event, which is being broadcast on YouTube, has currently raised more than $3 million for Vice President Kamala Harris‘ presidential campaign.
“I’m white, I’m a dude, and I’m here for Harris,” said Bridges, who played the uber-laid-back character “The Dude” in the Coen brothers’ 1998 film The Big Lebowski. Read more
Steve Coogan cast in upcoming Roy Keane biopic (NME)
Steve Coogan has been cast in a new biopic focused on the infamous 2002 Roy Keane Saipan incident.
The film, titled Saipan, will see Coogan play Ireland manager Mick McCarthy, with The Sixth Commandment’s Éanna Hardwicke cast as footballer Keane.
The real-life incident saw a spat between Keane – who was the captain of the Irish team – and manager McCarthy during preparations for the 2002 World Cup in Japan, with Keane eventually sent home from the squad. The feud still proves very divisive in Irish society to this day. Read more
Love Island 2024 winners crowned (BelfastTelegraph)
Mimii Ngulube and Josh Oyinsan have been crowned the winners of Love Island 2024.
The pair beat Welsh couple Nicole Samuel and Ciaran Davies, who finished as runners-up during the grand final on Monday night.
Fellow islanders Matilda Draper and Sean Stone came third on the show, while Jessica Spencer and Ayo Odukoya placed fourth. Read more
2 children killed and 9 injured in knife attack at dance class in northern England (CNN)
Two children have been killed and nine injured in a knife rampage targeting a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in a town in northern England on Monday, with a teenage suspect arrested over an attack one witness described as a “horror movie”.
Merseyside Police’s Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said six of the injured children are in critical condition and the attack also left two adults in critical condition.
Kennedy said that the police understands the attacker walked into the premises armed with a knife and started to attack the children. Read more
Tom Cruise receives prestigious honour from France’s Culture Minister (Variety)
Tom Cruise, who is currently filming “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two” in Europe, was inducted Knight of the Legion of Honor by France‘s culture minister Rachida Dati in Paris on July 26.
Hours before the start of the opening ceremony for the Olympics, Cruise received one of France’s most prestigious decorations, following the footsteps of renown artists, actors and filmmakers such as Robert Redford, Martin Scorsese and Clint Eastwood who are also part of the Legion of Honor.
Dati, appointed culture minister in January by France’s President Emmanuel Macron, posted a picture of herself posing with Cruise proudly sporting his medal. Read more
Rita Ora cancels gig amid health scare (MusicNews)
Rita Ora has cancelled a show in Hungary just hours before she was set to take the stage.
The singer apologised for pulling out of the perfomance after spending the night in a Budapest hospital.
The Poison star was set to perform at Campus Fesztival in Debrecen but, under doctors’ orders, had to pull the pin so she could rest. Read more
NPFL, Sevilla sign collaboration deal (ThisDay)
Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and Spanish La Liga club, Sevilla FC have reached a deal to collaborate on the training of Coaches and development of youth football players of NPFL clubs.
The arrangement is part of the globalisation process by the Spanish club to grow its fanbase worldwide and particularly to tap into the huge followership that football enjoys in Nigeria. The NPFL thus became a member of Sevilla’s World Club Alliance Program.
By the agreement, the club will provide advice in sporting and other areas of development, with a special focus on coach training and developing the talent of young Nigerian players. Read more
Kylian Mbappe set to buy French football club after leaving Paris Saint-Germain this summer (FootballEspana)
Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe has barely left France, after joining Los Blancos once his contract at Paris Saint-Germain expired, but already he is looking to get back involved in French domestic football.
The 25-year-old is set to become the majority shareholder at Ligue 2 side SM Caen, as per Ouest France, and carried by MD. Mbappe will invest just under €20m in order to buy an 80% stake off American investment group Oaktree. Pierre Antoine Capton, the current administrative president, owns the other 20%, and some of Mbappe’s purchase outlay goes into absorbing the debt the club is sporting. Read more
Mikel Arteta reacts to Riccardo Calafiori signing as Arsenal shirt number revealed (Football365)
Arsenal have completed the signing of Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna as Emile Smith Rowe departs the Emirates Stadium.
Calafiori, 22, was highlighted as a priority target for the Gunners this season and they have landed their man for a fee of £42 million.
Calafiori has signed a five-year deal at the Emirates having played for Italy during their Euro 2024 campaign.
“We welcome Riccardo and his family to Arsenal. He is a great signing and gives us huge strength to reinforce our defence,” said manager Mikel Arteta. Read more
Djokovic defeats Nadal at Paris Olympics in 60th and possibly last meeting (AlJazeera)
Novak Djokovic defeated Rafael Nadal at the Olympic Games, claiming a 6-1, 6-4 victory in the pair’s 60th and potentially last meeting.
It was 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic’s 31st win in a rivalry that began on the same Roland-Garros clay courts in 2006.
Nadal was largely outclassed in the much-anticipated encounter on Monday, only coming briefly to life when he won four games in a row in the second set. Read more
Adam Peaty’s girlfriend Holly Ramsay ‘‘totally in awe’’ of him after Olympic medal (Standard)
Adam Peaty’s girlfriend Holly Ramsay has said she is “totally in awe” of him as she congratulated the swimmer on his Olympic silver medal.
The 24-year-old, who is the daughter of Gordon Ramsay, was in the crowd at the men’s 100-metre breaststroke final, with his three-year-old son from another relationship, George.
Ramsay said his preparation for the Olympics had been “the most inspiring journey”, after he admitted to going on a “self-destructive spiral” after the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which led to him taking a break from the pool. Read more
Man Utd to assess Hojlund, Yoro injuries after Arsenal friendly loss (Sky)
Manchester United should know the extent of the injuries to Rasmus Hojlund and Leny Yoro within 48 hours after the pair both had to be substituted in the first half of the 2-1 pre-season defeat to Arsenal in Los Angeles.
Hojlund had given United a 10th-minute lead when he latched onto Marcus Rashford’s pass to power a shot through Arsenal goalkeeper Karl Hein.
The Denmark striker also turned an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross wide from close range but then suffered a muscle injury after just 15 minutes, forcing his withdrawal. Read more