FG to increase cocoa production to 500,000 metric tonnes by 2025 (Tribune)
The Federal Government announced plans to increase cocoa production to 500,000 metric tonnes by 2025, up from 340,000 tonnes in 2022.
This was revealed by Amb. Nura Rimi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investments, at the Pre-National Trade Dialogue Series meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, 17th July, 2024.
The event, themed “The State of Nigeria’s Global Trade Ecosystem: Bridging the Gaps for a Renewed Programme,” was covered by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Read more
Money laundering: Binance official Gambaryan arrives court in wheelchair, denied bail (Sun)
The detained top official of Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan, was wheeled into the courtroom at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Tuesday over an alleged money laundering charge.
After alighting from a vehicle that brought him to court from the Kuje Correctional Centre, Gambaryan was wheeled into the courtroom for the continuation of the hearing on the five-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) preferred against him and the cryptocurrency firm.
When his case was called, the defendant stood up from the wheelchair and walked slowly into the dock. Read more
Lost Revenue: Tinubu directs heads of security forces to crack down on oil thieves (DailyTrust)
President Bola Tinubu has directed all the heads of security forces and intelligence agencies to go after those stealing crude oil in the Niger Delta region.
Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, disclosed this to journalists after a 4-hour closed-door meeting with Defence Chief and other heads of security forces.
This is coming on the heels of a revelation made by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Ogbonnaya Orji, on Monday, that the country lost $1.84bn worth of petroleum products from refineries in nine years. Read more
LASTMA compensates deceased, injured officers’ families with N21m (Punch)
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has compensated the families of some officers who sustained varying degrees of injuries or lost their lives in the line of duty with N21m.
The beneficiaries were compensated during the 24th anniversary of the agency held at the headquarters in Oshodi, Lagos State, on Monday.
Speaking at the event, the agency’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said the donation was in recognition of the beneficiaries’ services in the state. Read more
Sanwo-Olu gifts N100k each to Lagos Batch B, Stream 1 corps members (Channels)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has gifted N100,000 each to the 2024 Batch B, Stream 1 corps members posted to the state.
Sanwo-Olu made the promise when he visited the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in the lyana Ipaja area of Lagos for the closing ceremony of the Batch ‘B’, Stream One orientation course.
“A sum of N100,000 for each Youth Corper passing out today (to be delivered next week directly into their accounts),” his Senior Special Assistant on New Media Jubril Gawat wrote on his X handle on Tuesday. Read more
Tinubu mourns passing of Kaduna federal lawmaker, Adams (Nation)
President Bola Tinubu has extended his condolences to the National Assembly and the Kaduna state government over the passing of Honourable Ekene Abubakar Adams, a member of the House of Representatives representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 16, by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu commiserated with the family and friends of the late lawmaker, urging them to find solace in the Almighty and the legacy of the deceased.
He prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed lawmaker and strength for his family. Read more
Tinubu: Diaspora forum backs Ndume, accuses north east elders of sabotage (Vanguard)
Barely 24 hours after various concerned groups in Nigeria backed Ndume over his stand that there is hunger and insecurity under President Bola Tinubu, another Group, Southern Borno In Diaspora (SBID) has come forward with a robust declaration of support for Senator Ndume, emphasizing his commitment, dedication, and long-standing service to the people of Borno South.
SBID said it is factual that the removal of fuel subsidies and other policies of the federal government under the present administration has not only caused severe hunger and insecurity but forcefully made average Nigerians hopeless in the past year.
Elder Solomon Mshelia, the President of the group, in a press statement on Tuesday, expressed the forum’s confidence in Senator Ndume’s representation, and his statement granted to Arise TV last Thursday where he (Ndume) said, ‘there is hunger and insecurity under the present administration of President Bola Tinubu’. Read more
Kogi to conduct LG elections, Oct 19, 2024 (Independent)
The Kogi state Independent Electoral Commission, KOSIEC has fixed October 19th October 2024 as the date for the local government Election across the state.
This followed the supreme Court judgement of last week which declared the caretaker committee running the affairs of local government areas in the country illegal.
Subsequently,the Federal government said the Allocation to these local government areas without elected officials will be withheld as the joint allocation account committee is no longer recognised under the law. Read more
Ben Stiller’s ‘‘Nutcrackers’’ to open Toronto Film Festival (THR)
“Nutcrackers,” David Gordon Green’s new comedy starring Ben Stiller, is set to open the 2024 Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 5.
The TIFF opener — marking Stiller’s first starring role in a movie since Mike White’s Brad’s Status and Noah Baumbach’s Netflix family drama The Meyerowitz Stories in 2017 — will have a world premiere at Roy Thomson Hall, which is filled with ordinary moviegoers (and not only industry people as in Cannes and Venice).
Written by Leland Douglas, “Nutcrackers” follows Mike (Stiller), a straight-laced workaholic who has to travel to rural Ohio to care for his four nephews after their parents die in a car accident. After weeks of farm-life mayhem, Mike realizes he won’t have to find a new home for the orphaned children. They found a new home for him. Read more
Kagame wins Rwanda’s presidential elections in landslide (VOA)
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has won the country’s presidential election with 99% of the vote, according to preliminary election results released late Monday evening.
Kagame had won 99% of the 79% of ballots counted so far, the country’s electoral body said.
The president, who has been in power in various roles since 1994, won by a similar amount in 2017. Read more
Gordon Ramsay back on his bike just weeks on from horror crash that caused huge bruising (Mirror)
Gordon Ramsay has revealed that he got back on his bike recently just weeks after it was shared that he had been left bruised following a “really bad accident” abroad last month.
The chef, 57, announced in June that he was “a bit bruised up” following a “really bad accident” whilst out cycling in the US. Gordon showed bruising on one side of his body and encouraged cyclists to ensure they wear a helmet.
He has since announced that he’s now got back on his bike following the incident. Gordon shared the news with fans on Instagram over the weekend, telling his followers that it was “so nice to be back on the bike” in the post just days ago. Read more
‘‘A Different Man’’ Trailer: Sebastian Stan unravels after a life-changing facial procedure in A24’s dark comedy (Variety)
A24 has released the trailer for Aaron Schimberg’s “A Different Man,” starring Sebastian Stan as a person with a facial difference who undergoes reconstructive surgery to change his appearance. Stan won the best actor prize at the Berlin Film Festival for his work in the film.
The film follows Edward, an aspiring actor with neurofibromatosis, a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow on the skin and bone. Stan plays Edward in prosthetic makeup that is modeled after his co-star Adam Pearson, a real-life actor who has neurofibromatosis and has starred in films like Under the Skin and Schimberg’s Chained for Life.
After Edward has facial reconstructive surgery, he’s praised for his new look by co-workers and others. But then he meets Oswald (Pearson), an actor who plays him in a theater show based on his life. Edward becomes obsessed with Oswald, who looks exactly like him before he had his surgery. Read more
Low’s Alan Sparhawk details solo album, shares video for new song (Pitchfork)
Low singer and guitarist Alan Sparhawk has announced the details of a solo album that he discussed in a recent New Yorker profile. The musician’s follow-up to 2006’s Solo Guitar is titled White Roses, My God and will arrive on September 27 via Sub Pop. He’s also shared the electronic lead single “Can U Hear” and a Rick Alverson–directed music video, which you can watch below.
White Roses, My God was born just as much from the grieving process following the death of Mimi Parker—Low’s inimitable drummer and vocalist, and Sparhawk’s wife—in late 2022, as it was the insatiable desire to continue experimenting musically in new ways. Recorded at 20 Below in Duluth, Minnesota, the album was co-produced and engineered by Sparhawk and Nat Harvie, and mastered by Heba Kadry. Read more
TV chef Naomi Pomeroy killed aged 49 in horror boating accident
author image (Metro)
Top Chef Masters star Naomi Pomeroy has died at the age of 49.
The cookbook author, who took part in the hit Bravo competition, died following a tragic boating accident with her family.
She was said to be inner tubing with her husband, Kyle Linden Webster, and an unnamed friend in Oregon over the weekend when tragedy struck.
According to multiple outlets, their flotilla flipped over in ‘murky, fast-moving’ currents on the Willamette River. Read more
Jack Black cancels Tenacious D Tour as bandmate Kyle Gass apologizes for “inappropriate” Trump joke (People)
The near future of Tenacious D appears uncertain after a comment about Donald Trump made by Kyle Gass at the band’s most recent show.
As seen in a fan-recorded video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Gass — who makes up one half of the musical duo that also comprises his longtime friend and collaborator Jack Black — joked about the recent assassination attempt against the former president on Sunday, July 14.
Black, 54, responded in an Instagram post on Tuesday morning, saying he “was blindsided by” Gass’ comments and “would never condone hate speech or encourage political violence in any form.” Read more
Trabzonspor decide on Onuachu transfer (NewTelegraph)
Turkish club, Trabzonspor has said they hope Premier League club, Southampton will soon back down on their 10 Million Euros asking price for Paul Onuachu.
The 30-year-old striker shone on loan with Trabzonspor last season and wishes to extend his stay in Turkey.
Trabzonspor have tabled a club record six million euros for the Super Eagles striker plus a 25% sell-on. However, this is far off the 10 million euros Southampton want. Read more
Sports Minister declares Davis Cup qualifiers open (Tribune)
Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has called on the six countries participating in the Group III of the Davis Cup African region to compete under an atmosphere of friendship saying sports should promote unity among countries in Africa and the world.
The minister, while wishing the Nigerian contingent the best of luck, said he’s looking forward to the near future when Nigerian players will compete in ATP and Grand Slams.
“Nigeria team has my best wishes. They are hosting to win. They are hosting to win. Nigeria has waited for too long to get a set up of tennis players that are competitive and that can be part of the ATP and Grand Slam and all that. Read more
NFF debunks Renard’s Eagles rumours (Punch)
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, has dismissed reports (not The PUNCH and PUNCH Sports Extra) that France women’s national team coach, Hervé Renard, is being considered for the Super Eagles job by the federation.
The Eagles have been without a head coach since Finidi George resigned in June.
Finidi quit his role as head coach of the three times African champions following the NFF announcement that they would appoint a foreign technical adviser for the team. Read more
Kylian Mbappe officially unveiled as Real Madrid star in sold-out Bernabeu event (Mirror)
80,000 excited Real Madrid supporters flocked to the Bernabeu to watch Kylian Mbappe finally don the white of Los Blancos.
Mbappe, 25, completed his long-awaited move from Paris Saint-Germain last month before leading France at Euro 2024 in his first tournament as captain. Didier Deschamps’ side went deep in the knockout phase yet again but were stopped by Spain in the semi-final, freeing Mbappe up to fully prepare for life in Madrid.
A sold-out crowd on Tuesday watched his unveiling as a Real player after meeting club president Florentino Perez. The French superstar was shown signing his £242,000-a-week five-year contract, although he’s still taken a pay cut from his lucrative deal at PSG which expired on June 30. Read more
Man City brace for Rodri blow after furious statement over Spain Euro 2024 final celebrations
(MEN)
The Gibraltar Football Association (FA) have revealed they will make an official complaint to UEFA following Manchester City star Rodri and Spain’s Euro 2024 celebrations.
La Roja claimed a record-breaking fourth European Championships crown on Sunday after beating England 2-1 in Berlin’s Olympiastadion. Rodri was brought off at half-time, with the score at 0-0, after picking up an injury as Mikel Oyarzabal scored a late winner.
The final looked to be going to extra-time after Cole Palmer cancelled out Nico Williams’ opener, early in the second half, however Luis de la Fuerte’s men regrouped to hand England a second successive final defeat in the tournament. Spain’s celebrations made it back to Madrid on Monday night as they earned a hero’s welcome. Read more
PGA to visit Japan, Mexico, Bermuda among late-year events (France24)
Events in Japan, Mexico and Bermuda were among eight tournaments named on Monday by the US PGA Tour for its fall schedule — a last chance qualifying run for the 2025 campaign.
Players finishing in the top 70 of the FedEx Cup standings through the 2024 Tour Championship are exempt for the 2025 season with the top 50 set for all signature level events.
The FedEx Cup Fall events will set the top 125 in eligibility with winners gaining a two-year tour exemption and spots in The Players Championship and season-opening tournament of champions. Read more