FG grounds Arik Air over $2.5m debt (DailyTrust)
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, has ordered the grounding of Arik Air.
The development has put many passengers of the airline in disarray.
Our correspondent gathered that the grounding of the airline which is currently in receivership followed litigation issues with its creditors. Read more
Group gives N2m grants to ex-s3x workers for business (Vanguard)
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Blossom Girls Outreach Foundation, BGOF, has given one million naira grant each to two rescued commercial sex workers for business take-off.
The rescued girls went through a six-month rehabilitation programme during which they were trained in different businesses before their eventual graduation.
In her keynote address at the cheque presentation at the Local Government Service Commission, Abere, Osogbo, wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs Titilola Adeleke described the decision of the girls to quit prostitution as not just commendable but remarkable, Read more
Egbetokun meets paramilitary, says security agencies won’t allow repeat of #EndSARS (Channels)
Ahead of the planned nationwide protest, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun has said security agencies will under no circumstances, allow a repeat of 2020 Endsars where lives and properties were lost.
The IGP stated disclosed this at a meeting with heads of paramilitary agencies on Tuesday.
He reiterated the commitment and preparedness of the Nigeria Police Force to protect all peaceful protesters. Read more
Ex-ADC guber candidate, Funso Doherty, joins PDP in Lagos (Tribune)
Governorship candidate in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State in the 2023 general elections, Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran (JANDOR), has welcomed Mr Funso Doherty, the former gubernatorial candidate of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC), to the PDP, saying that the development signalled the readiness of all well-meaning Lagosians to come together to rescue the state from the grip of the clueless ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
It would be recalled that Doherty announced his defection from the ADC to the PDP on Monday. Read more
Lagos Bus Service moves 53m passengers in 5 years, plans 500 vehicle purchase (Independent)
The Lagos Bus Service Limited (LBSL) said it has transported no fewer than 53 million passengers in the last five years of its establishment.
The company also said that it plans to up its buses from the current 300 units to 500 cleaner energy vehicles by 2030.
Mr. Idowu Oguntona, Managing Director, LBSL, stated this recently in Lagos during a media parley, which included all the agencies in the Ministry of Transportation. Read more
Protest: Steer clear of Lagos, southwest states, Agbekoya Parapo warns protesters (Nation)
Agbekoya Parapo, a Yoruba socio-cultural and farmers organisation, has warned those who are allegedly inciting violent protests in Lagos and other southwest states against the consequences, saying that those with ulterior motives should steer clear of the zone.
Agbekoya Parapo spoke in a statement titled, ‘Agbekoya Parapo’s position on the upcoming nationwide protest by youths and opposition against President Bola Tinubu’s government,’ made available to reporters in Ibadan on Tuesday.
The statement was issued after a meeting attended by its President General, Aare Kunle Oshodi; the Secretary General, Chief Kunle Adelakun Eruobodo; Chairman, Elders Council, Agbekoya Parapo, Prof. Ademola Onibonokuta, Prof. Amusa, Pastor Benson Olayanju, Comrade Adebayo Balogun and Chief Remilekun Oyelami. Read more
Hunger protest: Keep off prisons, CG tells demonstrators (Punch)
Barely 24 hours before the commencement of the hunger protests, the Nigerian Correctional Service warned those who have no business at the centres to stay away.
According to the Service, this warning has become imperative because the centres have been designated red zones. Any person or group of persons who have no business whatsoever should steer clear.
This information was conveyed in a statement on Tuesday by the Public Relations Officer of NCoS, Abubakar Umar. He stressed that custodial and non-custodial centres are critical national assets, essential for public safety and national security. Read more
Protest: Yobe shuts down schools (DailyTrust)
The Yobe State Government has announced the closure of all primary and secondary schools in the state ahead of the nationwide hardship protests slated for August 1, 2024.
The State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education disclosed this in a memo signed by the Director of Schools Management, Bukar M Modu.
Daily Trust reports that schools in the state would be closed on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 as against Friday, August 2, 2024 which marks the end of the academic session in the public and private schools. Read more
Taylor Swift pays tribute to victims of Southport stabbings (Independent)
Taylor Swift has spoken of her horror over a deadly knife attack at a children’s dance class in Southport.
Three children have died after the incident in Merseyside, where they had been taking part in a workshop to the US singer’s music on Monday.
In a statement posted to her Instagram account, Swift said: “The horror of yesterday’s attack is washing over me continuously and I’m just completely in shock.
“The loss of life and innocence and the horrendous trauma inflicted on everyone who was there, the families and first responders.” Read more
Tiffany Haddish defends Zimbabwe video after backlash (AfricaNews)
Tiffany Haddish has responded to backlash after posting a video of her visit to a supermarket in Zimbabwe, addressing comments that she was patronising Africans.
The “Girl’s Trip” star and comedian, 44, shared a TikTok video from Harare, showing shelves filled with produce and expressing her surprise, saying, “They got a grocery store! It’s beautiful.” She highlighted items such as organic strawberries, sugarcane, and dates.
Some social media users found the video condescending. One comment read, “They think we’re chasing lions and zebras.” Another user posted the video on Twitter with the caption: “Tiffany Haddish is surprised that there’s a grocery store in Africa..? What’s wrong with these people?” Read more
More protests loom in Venezuela as opposition disputes election results (AlJazeera)
More protests are expected in Venezuela as opposition leaders are disputing the results of a weekend election that saw President Nicolas Maduro secure another term in power.
Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado called for families to turn out on Tuesday for “popular assemblies” across the South American nation.
Machado told reporters a day earlier that a review of available voting records from Sunday’s presidential contest showed that opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez had achieved a “categorical and mathematically irreversible” victory over Maduro. Read more
‘White Dudes for Harris’ X account suspended after raising $4m for Kamala Harris (TheWrap)
Update: As of Tuesday morning, the account has been reinstated and the user behind @whitedudesforharris — a separate account — clarified online that he created the other account to prevent bad actors from taking it. The dual accounts are the likely culprit for why @whitedudes4harris was suspended in the first place, but X has still not responded to TheWrap’s request for comment.
The X account for the White Dudes for Harris campaign group was suspended on Monday, apparently just minutes after its debut fundraising event raised $4 million for Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential bid.
Asked on his personal X account why the organization, which boasted over 13,000 X followers, was blocked, organizer Ross Morales Rocketto responded, simply, “Got Elon Musk scared.” Read more
At least 93 people killed in landslides in southern Indian state of Kerala (UPI)
Massive landslides in the southern Indian state of Kerala killed at least 93 people early Tuesday with dozens more missing after heavy monsoon rain saw homes swept away as residents slept.
A major rescue operation led by the military was underway in the mountainous Wayanad district in the northeastern part of the state was being hampered by torrential rain, poor visibility and the collapse of a bridge on a key route into the affected area.
Most of those killed were in Wayanad’s Mundakkai, Attamala, Chooralmala and Kunhome districts but at least 16 deceased were pulled from the Chaliyar River. Around 250 have been rescued, another 129 are in hospital and more than 100 are missing. Read more
Baby Reindeer’s Nava Mau lands next Netflix role in popular returning show (DigitalSpy)
Baby Reindeer star Nava Mau has landed her next role in Netflix’s “You.”
The actor, who broke out earlier this year in the Richard Gadd drama as Teri, has been cast in the role of Detective Marquez in the upcoming final season of You, according to Deadline.
Mau joins the fifth season alongside the previously announced Madeline Brewer as playwright Bronte, Anna Camp in the dual roles of Raegan and Maddie Lockwood, as well as Pete Ploszek, Natasha Behnam, Griffin Matthews and Tom Francis. Read more
ITV Coronation Street star “sad to leave” amid tragic exit storyline (DailyStar)
Coronation Street’s Peter Ash has spilled the beans on his character Paul Foreman’s heart-wrenching exit as he faces a tragic end.
The 39-year-old star, who won over viewers’ hearts since his first appearance on the cobbles in 2018, is set to leave fans reaching for the tissues. Paul’s journey has been peppered with intense plots, and now he’s grappling with the devastating effects of Motor Neurone Disease.
As Paul’s health deteriorates, his loved ones are struggling to accept the grim reality that he’s running out of time. Opening up about his role on the ITV favourite, Peter joined the This Morning sofa, getting real about his upcoming departure. Read more
Buongiorno: It was difficult playing against Osimhen (CompleteSports)
Napoli new signing Alessandro Buongiorno has confessed that playing against Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen was the most difficult part of his life.
The 25-year-old becomes the Partenopei’s fourth permanent transfer of the season, after Rafa Marin, Leonardo Spinazzola, and Matija Popovic.
The Italian left-back joined the Partenopei on a free transfer after the end of his Roma contract, while Marin completed a permanent move from Real Madrid. Read more
Gusau confident Falcons will qualify for quarterfinals (Punch)
Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Gasau is confident the Super Falcons will make the quarterfinals of the 2024 Olympics Women’s Football Tournament despite losing their first two group matches to Brazil and Spain, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Speaking after the 11-time African champions fell to Alexia Putellas’ 85th strike in their second Group C match at Stade de la Beaujoire – Louis Fonteneau, Nantes, on Sunday, Gusau rued the team’s inability to convert scoring chances, stressing that they can make it of the group by defeating Japan in their last group match on Wednesday.
He said, “It is not easy to play the world champions. You saw how the game went. We conceded a goal in the 85th minute; we created a lot of scoring chances. But I know the game is still on; we can still qualify for the next round if we can work harder than what happened today.
Coco Gauff cries during emotional argument with Chair Umpire amid eliminating loss to Donna Vekic at Paris Olympics (People)
As temperatures soared up into the mid-90s in Paris, tennis star Coco Gauff felt the heat both off the court and on, where she was moved to tears during an emotional argument with the chair umpire before an Olympics-ousting loss to Donna Vekic.
Gauff, 20, was eliminated from the women’s singles competition at Stade Roland Garros on Tuesday, July 30 after losing to the Croatian Vekic 6-7, 2-6.
But the most notable event of the match was a nearly five minute-long argument with officials, during which a visibly frustrated Gauff cried as she insisted that her ball had been called out before she’d even hit it to Vekic two games from the end of the match. Read more
Gritty comeback extends Andy Murray swansong in Paris (Tennis365)
Andy Murray and Daniel Evans fought back to secure an epic victory against Taro Daniel and Kei Nishikori in the Olympic Games doubles and extend the former’s farewell run in Paris.
The British duo had to save five consecutive match points but ended up completing an incredible comeback, winning 2-6, 7-6(5), 11-9.
The former world No 1 decided not to participate in the singles draw after suffering an injury that has restricted his movement, leaving only the doubles competition before he finalizes his retirement. Read more.
Tom Daley and Noah Williams reveal sweet tribute after Paris Olympics medal success (Mirror)
Commemorative keychains or fridge magnets from Paris simply won’t do for Tom Daley and Noah Williams after the duo’s silver medal success on Monday.
Instead, the British divers are going to immortalise their triumph in the men’s 10m synchronised platform final with another tribute – tattoos. Daley and Williams were a bonafide medal hope for Team GB going into Monday’s final. Daley, who has delivered in the pool for his country ever since he appeared at the 2008 Olympics aged 14, claimed gold in this event – then alongside Matty Lee – at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. Read more
Ricciardo stays put, survives mid-season Red Bull shakeup (F1i)
After a tumultuous first half of the season and doubts about his F1 future, Daniel Ricciardo will return to the fray at the end of August and remain with Visa Cash App RB through the remainder of the 2024 F1 season.
Red Bull’s top brass came together in a meeting on Monday at Milton Keynes, and while the main point on the docket was Sergio Perez’s fate with the team, which was resolved in favor of the Mexican, Ricciardo’s tenure with RB was also on the day’s agenda.
While Yuki Tsunoda, eager for a promotion to Red Bull, will remain where he is, Ricciardo’s future was more precarious. Read more