Anxiety as Cholera hits 33 states, death toll rises to 63 (Sun)
The Cholera outbreak has continued to worsen with the confirmation by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that the epidemic has spread to 33 states with 63 deaths recorded.
Its Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, highlighted the obvious increment in the cases compared to the previous report released on June 24 which indicated that the epidemic was restricted to 31 states and 107 LGAs with 54 deaths.
He said 10 states, namely, Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Zamfara, Bauchi, Katsina, Cross River, Ebonyi, Rivers and Delta, accounted for about 90 per cent of the cases recorded so far. Read more
Bandits kill lecturer in Katsina, abduct his children (Channels)
The Federal University Dutsinma (FUDMA) community in Dutsinma Local Government Area of Katsina State was thrown into mourning yesterday, as terrorists killed a lecturer, Dr. Tiri Gyang, at his residence, in an early morning attack.
Reports said the late Gyang was the Deputy Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, at FUDMA. The hoodlums also abducted two members of his family, along with two other residents of the area. Read more
Couple jailed 11 years for sexual assault of girl, 15, in Lagos (Punch)
The Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, on Monday, arraigned and sentenced on an amended charge, a couple, Ezimora Okechukwu, a 49-year-old, to seven years and three years consecutively for indecent handling and sexual assault, and his wife, Ezimora Obioma, to one year of community service for concealing the act of sexual assault done to their housemaid.
According to the prosecution counsel, the offences committed by the couple contravene Section 135 (1), 163 and 415 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
The court heard that the incident occurred on July 17, 2022, in the house of the convicts, in the Abule-Osun area of Lagos State. Read more
Driver gives testimony in church with stolen vehicle (Vanguard)
A fleeing robbery suspect, Amos Daniel, 36, who snatched his employer’s vehicle on the same day he was employed as a driver, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command.
The suspect confessed to having taken the car to his church to give testimony of God’s miraculous provision.
This is just as two dismissed soldiers, Akeem Suleiman and Abdulau Mohammed, and two civilian members of their gang who were paraded among other suspects, were alleged to have carried out operations wearing Military headgear. Recovered from the dismissed soldiers were the Military headgear, uniform and identity cards. Read more
Imo hands over airport electronic toll-gate to FAAN (ThisDay)
The Imo State government yesterday handed over an electronically-powered tollgate at the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri to the authorities of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma who performed the ceremony explained that the facility will enable the FAAN operatives to provide quality service to Imo people who patronise the airport in particular, and their Nigerians counterparts, in general.
Performing the brief ceremony, Uzodimma noted that the facility was provided by the state government to, not only beautify the airport and its ambience, but to enable traffic management into and out of the airport. Read more
Senate to decriminalise non-use of National Identity Number (Leadership)
The Senate is set to decriminalise the non-use of National Identity Number (NIN) through a bill to repeal the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2014.
Leading the debate on the NIMC repeal and enactment bill, 2024, which was sponsored by Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North Senatorial District) and read by Senator Cyril Fasuyi (Ekiti North), Barau said the bill would remove the criminalisation of Non-Use of NIN.
“Replacing criminal penalties with administrative enforcement measures to encourage compliance with NIN usage requirements without imposing undue legal consequences on individuals,” Barau said of the bills. Read more
CBN to Banks, Others: Don’t reject old, lower dollar denominations (NewTelegraph)
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again threatened to sanction Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and other authorised foreign exchange dealers that reject old series and lower denominations of the United States dollar.
In a circular posted on its website yesterday, the apex bank reminded DMBs and authorised foreign exchange dealers that the circular it issued in April 2021, in which it directed them and the general public to stop rejecting old series and lower denominations of the dollar, is still in force and must be adhered to and complied with by all parties.
The CBN said it was issuing a fresh warning on the subject following the outcome of a market intelligence that it conducted which revealed, “the continued rejection of old/lower denominations of US dollar bills by Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and other authorised foreign exchange dealers.” Read more
Sokoto: Constitutionally, Sultan has no power to appoint anyone (DailyTrust)
The Sokoto State government has said constitutionally, the Sultan of Sokoto has no power to appoint anyone.
Speaking at the public hearing on the Sokoto Local Government and Chieftaincy Law 2008, on Tuesday, Commissioner of Justice, Barrister Nasiru Binji, said the existing Chieftaincy law in the state contravenes the constitution of Nigeria.
He said section 76(2) of the law is inconsistent with section 5(2) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Read more
Cardi B asks if fans want her to go R&B when sharing new song snippet (HipHopDX)
Cardi B hasn’t revealed too many details about her next album, but it seems like she’s actively working on it.
On Monday (July 2), the New York City native took to her Instagram Stories and shared a brief snippet from a song she hasn’t released yet. The recording quite noticeably features the superstar singing in a way unlike the material for which she is best known.
Cardi B & BIA Go Back & Forth On Diss Tracks… Cardi Reacts
“I hope that you on your way/ Crazy ’bout you/ Waiting on you, can’t wait to sit on that face/ Focused on you,” she croons over a sample from Janet Jackson‘s “Funny How Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun)” and some Hip Hop drums. Read more
Ann Wilson diagnosed with cancer (MusicNews)
Heart singer Ann Wilson has been diagnosed with cancer.
In a heartfelt statement shared via Instagram, the Heart lead singer revealed she “recently underwent an operation to remove something” that was cancerous.
“The operation was successful and I’m feeling great but my doctors are now advising me to undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I’ve decided to do it,” she continued. Read more
Robert Towne, Oscar winner who wrote Chinatown and Shampoo, dies at 89 (EW)
Robert Towne, the screenwriting legend best known for penning the Oscar-winning neo-noir Chinatown, died Monday at 89.
His publicist, Carri McClure, confirmed the news to Entertainment Weekly and said Towne died peacefully at his home in Los Angeles.
After gaining notice as a script doctor and consultant on major films, including The Godfather and Bonnie and Clyde, Towne firmly established himself as a member of the New Hollywood elite with his screenplay for Chinatown. The 1974 film, which stars Jack Nicholson as private detective Jake Gittes, won Towne an Oscar and is still widely considered one of the best screenplays and best films about Los Angeles ever made. Read more
Christopher Reeve’s son Will Reeve to appear in James Gunn’s “‘Superman’’ (Variety)
James Gunn‘s “Superman” is celebrating both the legacy of the Man of Steel and the actor who originated him on the big screen with a special cameo.
The late Christopher Reeve experienced his greatest commercial success playing Superman and his alter ego Clark Kent in the first four Superman movies. Now, his youngest son, journalist and ABC News correspondent Will Reeve, will make a cameo playing a TV reporter in the upcoming DC Studios movie.
The project is currently filming in Cleveland, Ohio, where local reporters (via Cleveland.com) captured all the behind-the-scenes action, including Reeve’s appearance on set during a major scene. David Corenswet stars as Superman in the character’s latest revival, written and directed by Gunn, the co-head of Warner Bros.-owned DC Studios. The film arrives in theaters on July 11, 2025. Read more
Skydance and National Amusements near Paramount deal as special committee reviews terms (CNBC)
David Ellison’s Skydance has reached a preliminary deal with Shari Redstone’s National Amusements to merge with Paramount, according to two people familiar with the matter, resurrecting a deal which failed just weeks earlier.
Controlling shareholder National Amusements has referred the deal to the Paramount special committee, according to people familiar with the matter. Paramount’s special committee is currently reviewing and voting on the deal, according to a person familiar with the matter. A spokesperson for Paramount declined to comment.
Paramount shares surged as much as 9% on the news. Read more
Death toll climbs to 116 in religious gathering stampede in India (Fox)
Thousands of people at a religious gathering in India rushed to leave a makeshift tent, setting off a stampede Tuesday that killed more than 100 and left scores injured, officials said.
It was not immediately clear what triggered the panic following an event with a Hindu guru known locally as Bhole Baba. Local news reports cited authorities who said heat and suffocation in the tent could have been a factor. Video of the aftermath showed the structure appeared to have collapsed.
At least 116 people died, most of them women and children, said Prashant Kumar, the director-general of police in northern India’s state of Uttar Pradesh, where the stampede occurred. Read more
6 dead across Caribbean as downgraded Hurricane Beryl heads toward Jamaica (UPI)
Hurricane Beryl, the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record in the Atlantic, has killed at least six people and caused severe damage after slamming the Caribbean. The downgraded Category 4 storm was heading toward Jamaica on Tuesday with sustained winds of 155 mph.
“Devastating hurricane-force winds, life-threatening storm surge and damaging waves are expected in portions of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands on Wednesday and Wednesday night,” the National Hurricane Center warned, as it forecast up to 12 inches of rain.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s satellites captured the first four days of Beryl, as the storm grew from a “tropical cyclone in the western Atlantic Ocean to a Category 5 hurricane in the Caribbean Sea.” Read more
Leverkusen tells Man Utd to play £47m for Boniface (Sun)
German Bundesliga champion, Bayer Leverkusen has placed a £47m price tag on Super Eagles striker, Victor Boniface, who’s on the shopping wish list of Manchester United.
According to Man United Addicts on X app (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, the Red Devils asked for information on the 23-year-old Nigerian who is a creative technical centre forward.
But Bayer Leverkusen is not keen to lose its most prized asset too soon, as it has quoted £47million for the Akure-born talisman. Read more
NPFL stars tackle Dosu Joseph FC in friendly (Punch)
Some notable Nigeria Premier Football League players will take on Dosu Joseph FC on Wednesday (today) in a friendly match starting at 8 a.m. at the Rehabilitation Mini Stadium, Ojodu Berger, Lagos.
Among the NPFL players expected to be in action are Super Eagles and Remo Stars goalkeeper, Kayode Bankole, Gbade Adelowo, and Joshua Akpan, both of Shooting Stars Sports Club FC.
Others are Abdullahi Lawal of Shooting Stars, Agbara, and David Ojukwu, formerly of Enyimba and currently playing for a club in Bangladesh. Read more
Turkey set up Euros quarter-final with Dutch (RTHK)
Turkey will face the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 after winning a thriller with Austria 2-1 as both countries reached the last eight of a European Championship for the first time since 2008.
Merih Demiral was the unlikely hero for Turkey, in soaking Leipzig, after bundling his team ahead with less than a minute on the clock and then thumping in the decisive header just before the hour mark.
Vincenzo Montella’s side, who were missing suspended captain Hakan Calhanoglu but once again backed by massive support at the Zentralstadion, will take on the Dutch in Berlin on Saturday after their comfortable 3-0 win over Romania earlier on Tuesday. Read more
Jonas Eidevall details what Mariona Caldentey will bring to Arsenal (Independent)
Mariona Caldentey is a proven “winner” and will help Arsenal to “excel on the biggest stage” after joining from Barcelona, according to Head Coach Jonas Eidevall.
Arsenal have signed the World Cup winner, 28, who has won six Liga F titles, three Champions Leagues and six Spanish Cups.
Caldentey, who will wear the No.8 jersey at Arsenal, made 302 appearances for the Catalan giants since joining in 2014, scoring 114 goals. And Eidevall is thrilled to strengthen his side with Barcelona’s fifth-highest scorer of all time. Read more
Murray out of Wimbledon singles as Djokovic makes bow (JapanToday)
Andy Murray lost his race to be fit for the Wimbledon singles on Tuesday as Novak Djokovic prepared to launch his bid for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon men’s crown.
The withdrawal of two-time champion Murray means Djokovic is the only member of the fabled “Big Four” in the men’s draw at the All England Club.
Roger Federer has retired and Rafael Nadal opted to skip Wimbledon to prepare for a shot at another Olympic title. Read more
Ex-world high jump champion shot dead with body found dumped in field (Mirror)
Former world high jump champion Jacques Freitag has been found brutally shot dead with his body dumped in a field beside a cemetery in South Africa.
Troubled retired athlete Freitag, 42, went missing two weeks ago after visiting his mother’s home at Bronkhorstpruit, near Pretoria, six days after his birthday. Reports circulating at the time said the one-time golden boy of South African sport was down on his luck and out of work and struggling with recreational drugs.
He was picked up from his mother’s home shortly after midnight and dropped at a nearby area of Booysens by a mystery man who said that he had worked for him. But he was never seen again until his blood soaked body was found this afternoon with several bullet wounds in it by Zandfontein Cemetery in Pretoria West. Read more