Chief Justice of Nigeria’s son becomes a judge (DailyTrust)
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has appointed the son of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayoode Ariwoola, as a judge of the Federal High Court.
In a statement on Friday by the Director of Information of the NJC, Soji Oye, said the new judge was appointed alongside one Grand Kadi, 23 judges of the Federal High Court, and four Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal in Kano.
He said the new appointments were announced at the end of the 103rd meeting of the council presided by Justice Ariwoola in Abuja on Friday. Read more
Insecurity: South-east lost N4t in 2 years to sit-at-home order‒Kalu (Tribune)
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Friday, said that about N4 trillion has been lost to the stay-at-home problem in the South-east region within the last 2 years.
Hon. Kalu also said that the situation observed every Monday in the region with the 5 States of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebony and Imo has crippled businesses and also stifled opportunities for economic growth.
Delivering a keynote address at the “All Markets Conference 2023” with the theme: ‘Catalysing Partnership with Traders through Innovation, Technology, Analytics & Sustainability’ in Lagos, the deputy speaker said the situation had forced potential investors out of the south east. Read more
Nigerian Leader pledges to protect Benin artefacts (VON)
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu has pledged to protect Benin artefacts returned to the country from different parts of the world as a way of archiving the history of the people.
Speaking when he received the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, and other traditional leaders from Edo State at the Presidential Villa on Friday, the President assured them that his administration would support the Benin Royal Council in its bid to establish a museum that will house the artefacts.
The President congratulated the Benin monarch for the retrieval of the stolen artefacts, commending his effort in ensuring that a befitting museum is built to archive the rich history and traditions of the Benin Kingdom. Read more
We have zero tolerance for cultism – LASU (Nation)
The Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, says it has zero tolerance for cultism, with the result that there has been no report of such incidents in the University for several years.
Mrs Oluwayemisi Thomas-Onashile, Coordinator, Centre for Information and Public Relations, LASU, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday, in Lagos.
She was clarifying on issues that occurred in the university during a musical show tagged “Party with Poco Lee (Homecoming Concert)”, which has continued to generate mixed reactions. Read more
‘‘Laughing gas’’: NDLEA arrests 3, seizes 64,863.5kg consignments (Punch)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted over 64,863.5 kilogramme of nitrous oxide, otherwise known as “laughing gas”, at the Apapa seaport in Lagos and Imo State.
A statement by the spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi, on Friday, said three persons were arrested in connection with the substance.
The statement read, “Barely 24 hours after the directive by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig Gen Buba Marwa’s for a nationwide clampdown on peddlers, NDLEA operatives at the Apapa seaport acted on credible intelligence on July 12 and intercepted two containers marked MSKU 7626856 and MSKU 7689448. The containers were suspected to have in them cartons of nitrous oxide and plastic pressure release nozzles imported from China. Read more
Akeredolu will resume duties soon – Omisore (Vanguard)
National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has assured that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state would soon resume duties.
Omisore gave this assurance when he paid a “solidarity visit” and met with the Acting Governor, Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa in Akure on Friday.
The APC national scribe said there was no need for alarm but prayers for the Governor to return after adequate rest. Read more
Onitsha Kingdom orders Nigeria Correctional Services to vacate community (ThisDay)
The Onitsha Traditional Council also known as Ime Obi has called on the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS) to vacate its facility in the city, accusing them of appropriating community land.
The call was contained in a statement signed on behalf of the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, by his Chief of Staff, Chief Osita Anionwu.
The community stated that the land on which the facility is sitting was given to the colonial government on lease for 99 years during the precolonial era and that the lease has expired, saying the community is not interested in another renewal. Read more
Usher’s ex-wife Tameka Foster asks Georgia officials to drain lake where her son died in jet ski accident (People)
More than a decade after the son of Usher’s ex-wife Tameka Foster — Kile Glover — died tragically in Atlanta’s Lake Lanier, the fashion stylist is asking for the body of water to be drained.
In May, Foster launched a Change.org petition to “drain, clean, restore and improve safety measures at Lake Lanier,” citing her 11-year-old son’s death as one of “multiple tragic incidents that have resulted in the loss of innocent lives” at the location.
Her petition, which has received over 3,300 signatures out of its current goal of 5,000, explains that it’s “imperative” to improve the lake’s conditions “to ensure the well-being of all individuals engaging in personal watercraft and recreational activities.” Read more
Jason Sudeikis and other stars join protest over future of Hollywood (Stuff)
Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis, Rosario Dawson and other top movie and TV actors have joined picket lines alongside screenwriters on the first full day of a walkout that has become Hollywood’s biggest labour fight in decades.
A day after the dispute brought production to a standstill across the entertainment industry, Sudeikis was among the picketers outside NBC in New York pressing for progress following the breakdown of contract talks with studios and streaming services.
Dawson, star of the film Rent and the Star Wars TV series Ahsoka, joined picketers outside Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, California. Read more
2 poultry workers test positive for bird flu in England (Metro)
Two new cases of bird flue have been identified in humans, the UK Health Security Agency has said.
The individuals are both poultry workers who have come into contact with infected birds.
They were exposed at different premises in England at previously reported locations.
Positive tests can either be a true infection or can come after the nose and mouth are contaminated by breathing in materials on the farm. Read more
Just Stop Oil disrupt 1st night of the BBC Proms and The Last Leg taping (BelfastTelegraph)
The opening night of the BBC Proms was interrupted by protesters from campaign group Just Stop Oil, who also disrupted filming for comedy show The Last Leg just hours later.
The group staged separate protests on Friday, during the taping of the Channel 4 show and at the performance at the Royal Albert Hall.
The stunt at the Proms drew boos from the crowd, with the protesters seen wearing t-shirts and unfurling banners before being removed from the stage. Read more
Steven Soderbergh announces new series “Command Z” starring Michael Cera (FarOut)
Director Steven Soderbergh has just announced a new science fiction comedy series entitled “Command Z”.
The new show, which stars Scott Pilgrim vs. The World actor Michael Cera in the lead, is a post-apocalyptic look back at our current year, 2023, as time travellers journey into the past by putting a wormhole in a washing machine.
Cera is set to star alongside Roy Wood Jr., Chloe Radcliffe and Liev Schreiber. The show’s plot also involves brain hacking, memory wiping, and altered history, which inevitably leads to an NRA-police union team-up and an Amazon-Walmart merger where blood is used as payment. Read more
Australia names 1st woman to lead central bank (AlJazeera)
Australia has appointed the first woman to lead the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) in the 63-year history of the central bank.
Michele Bullock, a veteran economist at the central bank, will take over from outgoing governor Philip Lowe in September.
“I am deeply honoured to have been appointed to this important position,” Bullock said in a statement on Friday. “It is a challenging time to be coming into this role, but I will be supported by a strong executive team and boards. I am committed to ensuring that the Reserve Bank delivers on its policy and operational objectives for the benefit of the Australian people.” Read more
India’s Chandrayaan-3 moon mission takes off with a successful launch as rocket hoists lunar lander and rover (CBS)
Scientists with India’s space program erupted with joy on Friday as a massive rocket lifted off with a bang and tore through the clouds, carrying an unmanned spacecraft on a mission to land on the dark side of the moon. A LVM3-M4 heavy-lift rocket carried the Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft, with its lunar lander and small rover, away from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, southern India, at 2:35 p.m. local time on Friday without a hitch.
It was a “text-book launch” as the rocket successfully delivered Chandrayaan-3 into orbit, scientists from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) said. Read more
2023 Women’s World Cup: Australia sends warning signal to Super Falcons (Sun)
The Matildas of Australia in the early hours of Friday once again underlined their readiness to win the next Women’s World Cup on their home soil with a victory over France.
Australia apart from being one of the hosts, is one of the top favourites to win the 2023 FIFA Womens World Cup.
They played in another tournament favourite France in Melbourne and recorded a narrow 1-0 win. Read more
Naija Super 8: Remo, Sporting clash in final (Punch)
CAF Champions League representatives Remo Stars and wildcard entrants Sporting Lagos have set up another tantalizing southwest derby as they clash in the final of the Naija Super 8 tournament at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Both sides won their respective semi-finals 2-1 to set up another meeting in the space of one week.
Sporting produced a spirited performance in the semi-finals to beat Akwa United after going down in the first half courtesy of a Cyril Olisema penalty in the 40th minute, but the new NPFL club responded in the second half through marksman Saturday Okon and Jonathan Alikwu. Read more
New Club World Cup could overlap with Gold Cup says Montagliani (France24)
FIFA’s new Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States in 2025, could “overlap” with CONCACAF Gold Cup being held in the same country, CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani said on Friday.
Montagliani, who is also a FIFA vice-president, told AFP in an interview that talks were already under way between the two bodies to avoid clashes of kick-off times and other potential headaches.
FIFA announced last month that their new-look, expanded 32-team Club World Cup would debut in the United States in 2025. Read more
Luton Town: Club’s 1st Premier League home game postponed over stadium uncertainty (BBC)
Luton Town’s first home game back in the top flight has been postponed after the club could not assure the Premier League and opponents Burnley that improvement works at Kenilworth Road would be completed in time.
Work is being carried out to meet Premier League standards following promotion from the Championship.
It means the Saturday, 19 August fixture will have to be rearranged.
“All parties felt this was a sensible outcome,” Luton said. Read more
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz to face off in Wimbledon final (AlJazeera)
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz have both eased past their opponents to set up a highly anticipated clash for the men’s singles championship at Wimbledon.
In Friday’s first semifinal, Djokovic swept aside Jannik Sinner to reach his ninth Wimbledon final – and his 35th final at all Grand Slam tournaments, more than any man or woman in tennis history.
The Serbian superstar’s 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over the Italian also allowed him to close in on a record-tying eighth title at Wimbledon and fifth in a row. Read more
Sabrina Ionescu scores record 37 points to win WNBA 3-point contest (ABC)
The New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu broke WNBA and NBA records for most points in a 3-point shooting contest by hitting all but two of her treys in the final round of Friday’s competition, which kicked off the 2023 WNBA All-Star weekend.
Ionescu’s 37 out of a possible 40 points surpass the single-round record of 31 in the NBA (done by Stephen Curry in 2021 and Tyrese Haliburton in 2023) and 30 in the WNBA (Allie Quigley in 2022).
Also in the final, the Seattle Storm’s Sami Whitcomb came in second with 22 points, followed by the Dallas Wings’ Arike Ogunbowale with 11. The Connecticut Sun’s DiJonai Carrington (18), Indiana Fever’s Kelsey Mitchell (15) and Las Vegas Aces’ Jackie Young (15) were all eliminated in the first round. Read more