Abductors of Port Harcourt journalist demand N150m ransom from family (Sun)
Kidnappers of the Director, News, Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation ( RSBC), Mrs. Priestba Anthony Nwokocha, has contacted her family demanding a sum of N150 million ransom to effect her release.
The disclosure was made by her husband, Mr. Anthony Wokocha, when members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) resident in Rivers State, paid a visit to the family to empathize with them on the unfortunate. incident.
Mr. Wokocha told the NGE that his wife was on her way from work on Thursday evening, when she was kidnapped by gunmen. Read more
“Kill corruption, not Nigerians,” protesters hit the streets over hardship (DailyTrust)
Civil Society Groups flooded major streets in Benin City, Edo State on Monday, to protest the recent increase in price of petrol and nationwide hardship.
The groups under the aegis of the Edo Civil Society Organisations lamented the high cost of governance exhibited by politicians, at the expense of the poor Nigerians.
According to the groups, the federal government ought to have provided palliatives that would cushion the pangs of fuel subsidy removal before implementing it. Read more
Bella Shmurda welcomes baby boy year after newborn’s death (Punch)
Popular Nigerian artiste, Ahmed Akinbiyi, popularly known as Bella Shmurda, on Monday, announced the birth of his new child.
The singer also revealed that he lost his child at birth last year when he was preparing to release his album, Hypertension.
Announcing the arrival of his son on Twitter, the elated father said losing his child at birth in 2022 left him “emotionally wrecked.” Read more
Lagos task force dislodges traders on rail tracks (Punch)
The Lagos State Task Force on Sunday said it cleared trail tracks in the Agege area of the metropolis, as part of its ongoing exercise to restore sanity along the railway corridors of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the task force’s Director, Press and Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists.
Abdulraheem said the agency’s Chairman, CSP Shola Jejeloye, led the exercise. Read more
Nigeria star Davido rewards hotel staff who returned customer’s $70k (VON)
Nigerian afrobeat artiste, David Adeleke, has disclosed his intention to reward a staff of Eko Hotel and Suites, Kekwaaru Ngozi Mary, with $10,000 for returning $70,000 misplaced by a customer in Lagos.
The young lady made headlines a few days ago due to her honesty, with many praising her for not eloping with the huge amount of money despite the current economic situation of the country.
The superstar, in his usual act of kindness, has requested the contact information of the lady in order to reward her for her honesty. Read more
Makinde appoints Adeyemo as SSG designate (Tribune)
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has announced Mrs Olanike Kudirat Adeyemo, a Professor at the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ibadan, as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) designate.
The announcement was contained in a letter signed by the state governor, made available to journalists on Monday.
Adeyemo, who served as the Head of the Oyo State COVID-19 Decontamination and Containment team of the Oyo State COVID-19 Taskforce, was born on July 17, 1970. Read more
Senator Ohuabunwa loses wife, Kalu pays respect (Channels)
Former Leader of the ECOWAS Parliament and Senator representing Abia North in the Eighth Senate, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, is grieving the loss of his beloved wife, Lady Nimi Faith Ohuabunwa.
Lady Ohuabunwa, a distinguished lawyer, passed away over the weekend in an Abuja hospital following a long-term illness.
The news of her demise was confirmed on Monday in a statement released on Senator Mao Ohuabunwa’s official Facebook Page. Read more
Gov Mutfwang lauds NMA for medical intervention in Mangu LGA (Guardian)
Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau has lauded the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) for their intervention to victims of the Mangu local government area of attacks.
The governor commended the association when the Plateau executive members and elders of the NMA paid a courtesy visit to him on Monday at Government House Jos.
‘‘I want to appreciate the association and some of the members, particularly those who volunteered during the crisis in Mangu.
‘‘I know some of them worked as volunteers to be able to attend to those who were affected and to also counsel those who were traumatised,’’ he said. Read more
Afghan women mourn the end of beauty salons (BBC)
Hair and beauty salons across Afghanistan will close in the coming weeks on the Taliban’s orders. Their closure will lead to the loss of an estimated 60,000 jobs.
Salons had been allowed to keep operating since the Taliban retook power two years ago, but it reversed its position last month.
The decision further restricts spaces open to Afghan women, who are already barred from classrooms, gyms and parks. Read more
Tiffany Haddish opens up about 2021 breakup with Common (USAToday)
Tiffany Haddish is opening up about her 2021 split fromCommon.
The comedian said her breakup with Lonnie Rashid Lynn, who is better known as Common, “wasn’t mutual,” she told The Washington Post.
Common shared the news of their breakup in December 2021 on an episode of “Hollywood Unlocked with Jason Lee Uncensored,” calling it mutual. He said Haddish is “one of the best people I’ve met in life.” Read more
Cillian Murphy reveals how Christopher Nolan helped him “unlock” Oppenheimer (NME)
Cillian Murphy has explained how director Christopher Nolan helped him “unlock” J. Robert Oppenheimer in preparation for the role.
The actor, who plays the theoretical physicist in Nolan’s biopic Oppenheimer, referred to an “amazing phrase” the director used to describe the complex historical figure.
Speaking in an interview with NME, Murphy said: “Chris used this amazing phrase. We were talking about Oppenheimer’s arc and he said, ‘You know, he’s dancing between the raindrops morally.’ That unlocked something in my mind when I was preparing.” Read more
Death toll rises to 33 in Cameroon building collapse (Guardian)
A day after at least 33 people died when a building collapsed in Cameroon’s business hub Douala, neighbours recalled Monday the structure’s “failings” and “cracks”, fearing more bodies lie under the ruins.
The four-storey block of flats collapsed onto another residential building in the north of the city overnight Saturday to Sunday.
One of the worst such tragedies in the country’s history, it left 33 people dead and 21 injured, five in critical condition, a senior fire officer and the regional governor told AFP on Monday, warning that the toll could rise. Read more
Paramore postpone concerts due to illness (MusicNews)
Paramore have postponed several concerts due to “illness within the touring party”.
The band, fronted by Hayley Williams, postponed their show in San Francisco, California at the last minute on Saturday and they added a further three postponements on Sunday.
“As announced yesterday, our show in San Francisco was postponed due to illness within the touring party. Our San Francisco show has been rescheduled to August 7, 2023,” they wrote in a social media statement. “After much deliberation, in the interest of our health and ability to put on a show you all deserve, we have decided to reschedule our shows this week in Seattle, Portland, and Salt Lake City.” Read more
S Club releasing 1st new music in 20 years (UPI)
The surviving former members of the British pop group S Club 7 have reunited to record a new song under the name of S Club.
“These are the Days” is set for release on Wednesday.
Tina Barrett, Jon Lee, Bradley McIntosh, Jo O’Meara and Rachel Stevens performed the track, which was penned by Cathy Dennis, Simon Ellis, Johanne Ellis and producer John Nathaniel.
It pays tribute to Paul Cattermole, who died in April of heart issues. He was 46. Read more
Woman found dead after suspected grizzly bear attack in Montana (Sky)
A woman has been found dead after a suspected grizzly bear attack in the US.
She was found on Saturday in Montana on a trail west of Yellowstone National Park “following an apparent bear encounter”, officials from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks said.
Investigators found grizzly bear tracks at the scene but did not confirm the cause of death in a statement on Sunday.
The investigation is continuing. Read more
Nigerian defender Calvin Bassey edging closer to Fulham move (Guardian)
Nigerian defender, Calvin Bassey, is edging closer to completing a summer transfer from Ajax Amsterdam of Holland to Fulham.
Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted that Bassey remains Fulham’s priority signing as a new left-footed center-back after the agreement reached with Ajax on Friday.
“Understand Fulham have decided to go for just one left-footed CB between Calvin Bassey and Mohammed Salisu despite talks for both,” Romano tweeted. Read more
FIFA Women’s World Cup: Germany smash Morocco 6-0 to start title bid (DailyTrust)
Talismanic striker Alexandra Popp scored twice as Germany thumped debutants Morocco 6-0 to launch their Women’s World Cup title charge in ominous fashion on Monday.
Popp’s 12th-minute header set the Germans on their way in Melbourne as Morocco’s piece of history – the first Arab team at a Women’s World Cup – started badly and ultimately ended in humiliation.
The German skipper Popp collected another goal before the break, Klara Buehl added a third in their first attack after the restart, before own goals from Hanane Ait El Haj and Zineb Redouani. Read more
Brazil’s Borges says World Cup hat-trick “beyond wildest dreams” (France24)
Ary Borges called it beyond her wildest dreams after hitting the first hat-trick of this Women’s World Cup as Brazil crushed Panama 4-0 in a scintillating start to their campaign on Monday.
Far tougher challenges lie ahead — the team faces France next — but this was an impressive start for a Brazil side who have featured at all eight previous Women’s World Cups but never won it.
The stylish victory in Adelaide sent Brazil top of Group F after Jamaica surprisingly held France 0-0 on Sunday. Read more
Ex-Sampdoria and Atalanta striker Frances dies (FootballItalia)
Former Sampdoria and Atalanta striker Trevor Francis, whose career highlight was twice winning the European Cup at Nottingham Forest, has died at the age of 69.
Francis was in Spain when he suffered a fatal heart attack.
He became the first ever £1m football player from Britain when making the move from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest in January 1979, going on to win back-to-back European Cups with the club in 1979 and 1980. Read more
Ryder Cup 2023: Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm focused on Team Europe win after missing out at The Open (Sky)
Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm have both set their sights on regaining the Ryder Cup for Team Europe this September after missing out on victory at The 151st Open.
Rahm was part of a four-way tie for second at Royal Liverpool, where Brian Harman claimed a maiden major title after a dominant six-shot victory, while McIlroy’s wait for an elusive fifth major win continues after he finished tied-sixth after a final-round 68.
McIlroy was reduced to tears during Europe’s record-breaking loss to Team USA at Whistling Straits in 2021, with the former world No 1 now focused on a strong finish to the PGA Tour season before helping Luke Donald’s side to victory at Marco Simone Golf Club. Read more
Lewis Hamilton slams F1 chiefs for latest rule change in rare Max Verstappen agreement (Mirror)
Lewis Hamilton voiced his criticism of the new qualifying format and tyre rules trialled at the Hungarian Grand Prix.
Drivers usually have 13 sets of tyres to use over the course of a Formula 1 race weekend. But in Budapest they only had 11 at their disposal, forcing teams to use their allocations more wisely.
Furthermore, a change to the qualifying format meant they were forced to use certain types of tyres in different segments of the session. In Q1 all 20 drivers were on the harder compound, the 15 who reached Q2 used mediums and then the top 10 were all on soft tyres as they gunned for pole position. Read more