Again, Boko Haram slaughters farmers in Borno (DailyTrust)
Suspected Boko Haram members have slaughtered about 10 farmers in their fields at Kawuri town, Konduga local government area of Borno State.
Locals and security sources told our correspondent that the incident happened on Monday around 8:15 a.m.
This attack is coming a few weeks after the insurgents killed about 15 farmers in Damboa and Jere Local Government Areas of the state. Read more
Polls: Court fixes tomorrow for adoption in Atiku, Obi’s petitions against Tinubu, INEC (Sun)
The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has fixed tomorrow for all parties to adopt their written addresses in the petitions filed by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) against the declaration of President Bola Tinubu as winner of the February 25 presidential election.
After the scheduled adoption processes, the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel will then fix a date for judgment in the two petitions.
Atiku and Obi before closing their individual petitions called in a total of 40 witnesses to substantiate their allegations against the February 25 presidential poll that returned Tinubu of the APC as president. Read more
Tinubu won’t regret nominating me as minister – Wike (Vanguard)
The immediate past governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has promised that President Bola Tinubu will not regret nominating him to be one of his ministers.
He said this during the screening of ministerial nominees before the Senate on Monday.
During the screening on Monday, the ex-governor bragged about his achievements in Rivers and promised to replicate the same for the country at large, if given the opportunity to serve in any capacity. Read more
No crisis in Lagos LP, disregard impostors, says Chairperson (Nation)
Pastor Dayo Ekong-led State Working Committee of the Labour Party (LP) in Lagos State says there is no crisis or faction in the chapter, describing any other group or exco as illegal and unconstitutional.
Ekong in a statement on Monday by the LP State Publicity Secretary, Mrs Olubunmi Odesanya, described the splitter group led by one Mr Olumide Adesoyin as impostors who were hell-bent in troubling the peace in the chapter.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adesoyin on Friday announced a new LP exco in the state, disowning Ekong-led Executive Committee (Exco) which led the party into the 2023 General Elections in the state. Read more
Operation Flush: 88 robbery suspects arrested in Lagos, clampdown continues (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command said it had arrested no fewer than 88 suspected criminals 24 hours after the launch of Operation Flush.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported on Sunday that the state Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Ikeja.
Owohunwa, on Thursday, launched Operation Flush to identify trouble spots, especially along construction areas, and flush out criminals, particularly traffic robbers and other miscreants. Read more
Developer woos investors to 22-storey new Lagos hotel facility (Guardian)
Brighter days may lie around the corner for prospective investors as the most comprehensive hospitality development to come on stream in recent years is finally underway.
Known as Autograph Plus, the project is promoted by Cruxstone Investment and Development and gives willing investors the opportunity to own hotel apartment units managed by a reputable hospitality brand. It would deliver high yields on the asset with projected double-digit percentage earnings and guarantees investors a minimum of 10 percent return on investment yearly.
The 22-storey commercial development, located at Adeola Hopewell Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, consists of 86 units of apartments ranging from stylish hotel suites, studios, one-bedroom apartments and lofts, luxury two-bedroom apartments, three-bedroom apartments and four-bedroom maisonette. Read more
Tinubu decorates new service chiefs with higher ranks at presidential villa (Channels)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has performed the official decoration of the newly appointed service chiefs.
This pivotal event formally marks the beginning of their tenure as the nation’s topmost defence officers.
The ceremony, which was held inside the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, was witnessed by the vice president, Senator Kassim shetimma, top government officials and family members of the officers. Read more
Kalu pleads with NLC to shelve proposed strike (Tribune)
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has been called upon to see the reasons and shelve its proposed national strike.
The Senator representing Abia North at the National Assembly, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, made this plea in his Igbere in Bende LGA country home, urging labour leaders to give the new government some time to position itself properly.
Kalu pleaded, “I sincerely appeal to the Nigerian Labour Congress
(NLC) not to ridicule the economy with their proposed strike. Read more
Halsey approaches new album with “no strict genre parameters” (MusicNews)
Halsey is “approaching” her new album with “no strict genre parameters”.
The ‘Nightmare’ singer has provided fans with an update on her follow-up to 2021’s ‘If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power’ and revealed she’s done “some of my best songwriting” penning tunes in the same way she did for her 2020 LP ‘Manic’.
Asked by a fan on Twitter how she is doing with the record, she replied: “As of right now I’m approaching it kinda how I approached ‘Manic’. No strict genre parameters or anything. Just making what feels good and what hits home.” Read more
Lady Gaga pays tribute to Tony Bennett (Variety)
Lady Gaga has paid tribute to her friend and collaborator Tony Bennett, following his death on July 21 at age 96.
“I will miss my friend forever,” Gaga wrote in a lengthy Instagram post late Sunday night. “I will miss singing with him, recording with him, talking with him, being on stage together. With Tony, I got to live my life in a time warp. Tony & I had this magical power. We transported ourselves to another era, modernized the music together, & gave it all new life as a singing duo. But it wasn’t an act. Our relationship was very real.”
Bennett, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, made his last public appearance with Gaga at Radio City Music Hall in August 2021 for their “One Last Time: An Evening With Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga” concert. Read more
Thailand: Death toll in warehouse explosion climbs (DW)
The death toll from an explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Thailand has risen to 12, the Bangkok Post reported Sunday.
Another 121 people were injured in Saturday’s blast in the Muno village in Narathiwat province, close to the Malaysia border, the Bangkok Post reported citing Narathiwat provincial authorities.
About 111 people taken to the hospital had been released Sunday. Read more
ECOWAS gives Niger junta 1 week to cede power, threatens use of force (France24)
West African leaders on Sunday gave the military junta in Niger one week to cede power, warning they did not rule out the “use of force”, and imposed immediate financial sanctions.
The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) demanded the “immediate release and reinstatement” of elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held by the military since Wednesday.
“In the event the authorities’ demands are not met within one week (ECOWAS will) take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. Such measures may include the use of force. For this effect, the chiefs of defence staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately,” the bloc said in a statement after its summit in Abuja, Nigeria, on Sunday. Read more
S Club 7 breaks silence on claims Hannah Spearritt was “pushed out” of the band (OK!)
Members of S Club have broken their silence after Hannah Spearritt ‘s abrupt exit from the pop band.
The 90s icons were set to reunite and embark on a tour as a seven once again in celebration of the band’s 25th anniversary, but this was tragically not to be after the shock death of bandmate Paul Cattermole.
Since his death, the band took to social media to confirm Hannah wouldn’t be joining them on tour. Now, remaining members Rachel Stevens, Jo O’Meara, Bradley McIntosh, Jon Lee and Tina Barrett have broken their silence once more with an appearance on This Morning. Read more
Cillian Murphy nearly played Oppenheimer in a 2014 TV series (NME)
Cillian Murphy was lined-up to play J. Robert Oppenheimer in a TV series nearly a decade ago, it has emerged.
The star is currently starring as the theoretical physicist, dubbed the ‘father of the atomic bomb’, in Christopher Nolan‘s film Oppenheimer.
However, the creators of the show Manhattan – which aired on WGN between 2014 and 2015 – have opened up about the casting process for their series, revealing some of the actors considered to play Oppenheimer before Daniel London was eventually cast in the role. Read more
Australian military helicopter crash: missing crew identified as Albanese pays tribute (Guardian)
The four missing crew of a helicopter which crashed during a military training exercise in waters off Queensland have been identified, as navy divers and allies assisted with the search on Sunday.
Lt Gen Simon Stuart, chief of the Australian army, said the families of the men had given permission to name the four soldiers: Capt Daniel Lyon, Lt Maxwell Nugent, WO Class Two Joseph Laycock and Cpl Alexander Naggs.
Stuart offered his thoughts and prayers to the families as they “wait for more news about their loved ones”. Read more
Chukwueze tipped to succeed at Milan (Punch)
Following his recent move to Italian Serie A giants AC Milan, a Spanish football writer, Jamie Kemble, has backed Samuel Chukwueze to shine at the San Siro.
Milan completed the signing of Chukwueze from Villarreal on a five-year deal worth €28m including add-ons last week as the Nigerian became Stefano Pioli’ seventh summer acquisition ahead of the new season.
The 24-year-old who scored 13 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season for the Yellow Submarine has been touted to form a dangerous two-flanked attack along with Rafael Leao for Milan next season. Read more
Liverpool fire 4 past Leicester in Singapore friendly (France24)
Liverpool geared up for the start of their new Premier League campaign with an impressive display in Singapore on Sunday as they thumped English rivals Leicester City 4-0 in a pre-season friendly.
Goals by Darwin Nunez, Bobby Clark and Diogo Jota in an eight-minute spell late in the first half gave the Reds a 3-0 lead at the interval.
Ben Doak then headed in their fourth midway through the second half to seal a thumping victory at the National Stadium. Read more
Raso stars as Australia surge into last 16 and dump Canada out (France24)
Co-hosts Australia rescued their Women’s World Cup hopes with a 4-0 thumping of Canada to sweep into the last 16 at the expense of the Olympic champions on Monday.
The Matildas came into the clash needing victory to ensure they made the knockout round after a stunning 3-2 defeat to Nigeria left them on a knife-edge.
They thrived on the pressure in front of more than 27,000 in Melbourne to consign Canada to an early flight home, with Hayley Raso scoring twice. Read more
2 Borussia Dortmund players praise Manchester United after friendly (MEN)
Borussia Dortmund captain Emre Can was happy to see his side hold their own against a Manchester United side whose movement was ‘extremely good’.
United ended their pre-season tour of the United States with a 3-2 defeat at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas overnight. Diogo Dalot and Antony scored for the Reds, but an error-strewn performance allowed Donyell Malen to score twice in as many minutes before half-time.
Erik ten Hag made wholesale changes on the hour mark but the second cohort of players were unable to gel quickly, with Aaron Wan-Bissaka losing possession and allowing Youssoufa Moukoko to score the winner on 71 minutes. But despite the errors, there were signs of promise and Can admits it was a difficult test for his side. Read more
Max Verstappen takes home victory at rainy Belgian Grand Prix (Fox)
Defending Formula One champion Max Verstappen enters the mid-season break in unstoppable form, after emphatically winning the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday for an eighth straight win and 10th overall of a crushingly dominant season.
Despite starting from sixth place he finished 22.3 seconds ahead of teammate Sergio Perez to give Red Bull an easy 1-2. It moved Verstappen ominously closer to a third straight world title and his own F1 record of 15 wins from last year.
Verstappen is 125 points ahead of Perez after just 12 races, and his next target is matching Sebastian Vettel’s F1 record of nine straight wins with a victory at the Dutch GP when the lopsided season resumes on Aug. 27. Read more
Celine Boutier wins Evian Championship for first major title (ESPN)
Celine Boutier carded a final round of 3-under 68 to win the Evian Championship by 6 shots for her first major title Sunday.
The 29-year-old Boutier finished at 14-under 270 overall. She is the first Frenchwoman to win the tournament, which became a major in 2013.
“It has been my biggest dream since I started watching golf,” Boutier said. “This tournament has always been very special to me, even just watching as a teenager and just to be able to hold this trophy is pretty unbelievable.” Read more