FG urges Nigerians to consider bicycles for transportation (Vanguard)
AS part of efforts to promote a cleaner environment and healthy lifestyle, the Federal Ministry of Transportation has encouraged Nigerians to consider bicycles as alternative means of commuting.
The Director, Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration, Musa Ibrahim, who stated this at the one-day stakeholders sensitisation meeting held in Abuja, said the idea is to enhance and heighten the importance of cycling in Nigeria as it will obviously lead to a drop in road crash incidences.
Ibrahim noted that the stakeholders sensitisation meeting is in consonance with the World Bicycle Day that is marked annually on June 3 through a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution. Read more
Tinubu sends 28 ministerial nominees to Senate (Independent)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent 28 ministerial nominees to the Senate through his Chief of State, Femi Gbajabiamila.
The ministerial nominees are Wike Nyesom, Nasir el-Rufai, David Umahi, Sen. John Eno and others.
Reading the President’s letter, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio urged for an expeditious consideration of the nominees. Read more
Okumagba lauds Tinubu over ‘inclusive’ ministerial list (Vanguard)
A former Commissioner of Finance in Delta State, Olorogun Bernard Okumagba, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he called an inclusive and broad-based representation of the nation’s diversity reflected in his initial list of 28-member Ministerial list, which was read on the floor of the Senate on Thursday.
In a press statement, Olorogun Okumagba, a prominent leader of APC in Delta State, reckoned that President Tinubu, who has an established reputation as a bridge builder and true progressive, has brought these remarkable skills and attributes to bear by crossing the aisle in constituting his cabinet thereby renewing the hopes of Nigerians for a more prosperous nation where no one will be left behind. Read more
Terrorism charge: Court rejects DSS suit to prolong Emefiele’s detention (Tribune)
An FCT High Court sitting in Maitama has struck out an application secretly filed by the Department of State Services to secure an order to detain the suspended former Governor of the Central Bank, Mr. Godwin Emefiele for a further 14 days based on what they referred to as fresh evidence they have uncovered.
The application which was marked FCT/HC/M/12105/2023 and heard by Justice Hamza Muazu was quietly filed on Thursday by the lawyers from the agency and came up before the vacation judge today.
The judge struck out the application for being an abuse of court process and for lack of jurisdiction. Read more
Gov Lawal honours pilgrim who returned lost $80k in Saudi Arabia (Channels)
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, on Thursday, honoured the pilgrim who returned 80, 000 dollars to the owner during the last Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
The pilgrim, Hajiya Aishatu ‘yan Guru Nahuce from Bungudu Local Government of Zamfara State found $80,000 (N64,240,000) and handed it over to the Zamfara Pilgrims Welfare Agency official for onward return to the owner.
A statement by the Spokesperson to the Governor, Sulaiman Bala Idris, said that the Governor honored the pilgrim in the company of all Emirs of the State, which was held at the Council Chambers, Government House. Read more
Anger as NDLEA operatives shoot 2 dead during Lagos raid (Punch)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have allegedly shot dead two persons including one Gafar Yusuf, in the Idioro area of Mushin, Lagos State.
The PUNCH gathered that the NDLEA operatives stormed the community around 10pm on Wednesday to raid a drug den when they started shooting sporadically in a bid to achieve their aim.
While engaging in the act, it was learnt that stray bullets from the operatives, shooting sporadically to scare hoodlums attempting to scuttle their plan in the community, killed the victims. Read more
#EndSARS frontliners reject proposed mass burial for victims (Guardian)
A group identified as #EndSARS Frontliners has rejected the mass burial proposed by the Lagos State Government for the 103 people who lost their lives in the October 2020 killings that took place at the Lekki Toll Gate.
The rejection was made in a statement by the Coalition of #EndSARS Frontliners with the group calling for the immediate suspension of the planned mass burial.
The group in the statement also said that the security and welfare of the people should always be the primary purpose of the government as seen in Section 14 (2)(b) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended). Read more
Tori Kelly posts health update after reported collapse, hospitalisation for blood clots (People)
Tori Kelly has broken her silence following reports she had been hospitalized for blood clots after collapsing on Sunday night.
Sharing an update on her health with fans on social media Thursday, the 30-year-old singer revealed she’d had a “scary few days” in a handwritten letter she uploaded to Twitter and Instagram.
“Hi friends … as you may have heard, I’m dealing with some unexpected health challenges,” the note began. Read more
Niger army endorses presidential coup plotters despite international condemnation (CNN)
The Nigerien military has backed the coup leaders who have reportedly seized the president of the West African country, prompting warnings from international leaders of the threat to democracy.
Niger’s army command said Thursday it was supporting the takeover against President Mohamed Bazoum to prevent bloodshed and maintain “the well-being of our populations.”
In a statement released on Twitter it said it had to “preserve the physical integrity of the president of the republic and his family,” and “avoid a deadly confrontation… that could create a bloodbath and affect the security of the population.” Read more
Leny Andrade, star of Brazilian jazz, dies aged 80 (Guardian)
Leny Andrade, the jazz singer described as “the Ella Fitzgerald of Brazil” by Tony Bennett, has died aged 80. She died on 24 July of Lewy body dementia, her carers told NPR.
Born in Rio de Janeiro in January 1943, Andrade became one of the most successful jazz singers in her country, and earned substantial fanbases in Europe and the US, where she later settled.
She studied classical piano as a child but as a teenager segued into performing bossa nova and samba-inflected jazz at Rio nightclubs, with her recording career beginning in 1961 with A Sensação. Read more
Oppenheimer’s grandson criticises apple scene in Christopher Nolan film (NME)
The grandson of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Charles, has said “the part he likes the least” in Christopher Nolan‘s biopic is the scene with the poison apple.
At one moment in the film, J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) is seen injecting an apple intended for his professor with poison, before having a change of heart and throwing it away.
Nolan drew heavily from the 2005 biography American Prometheus, which suggests Oppenheimer could have been a murderer, but admits it is uncertain and there is no historical record of it happening. Read more
Hayao Miyazaki’s animated fantasy epic ‘‘The Boy and the Heron’’ to open Toronto Film Festival (Variety)
Director Hayao Miyazaki’s animated fantasy epic “The Boy and the Heron” will open the 48th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. It’s set to screen on Sept. 7 at Roy Thomson Hall.
Miyazaki wrote and directed the movie, marking the acclaimed filmmaker’s first feature in 10 years. While several releases from Studio Ghibli, which Miyazaki co-founded, have screened at TIFF — including 2016’s The Red Turtle and 2002’s Spirited Away, this is the first time a Japanese film or an animated film has been selected as the festival’s opening night film. Read more
Ukraine war: Western armour struggles against Russian defences (BBC)
The general in charge of Ukraine’s stuttering counter-offensive in the south has said Russian defences are making it difficult for military equipment, including Western tanks and armoured vehicles, to move forward.
Gen Oleksandr Tarnavskyi says his forces are struggling to overcome multi-layered minefields and fortified defensive lines.
“That is why most of the tasks have to be performed by troops.” Read more
Women’s World Cup: Super Falcons have a lot to offer, says Oshoala (Guardian)
Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala has said the team has a lot to offer following their huge 3-2 win against Co-hosts of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia.
Oshoala, who came on in the second half, scored in the 72nd minute to put the Falcons 3-1 ahead.
She has now scored in three consecutive World Cups becoming the first African woman to achieve the feat. Read more
David Silva announces retirement from football after Man City legend’s devastating injury (DailyStar)
Former Manchester City star David Silva has announced that he’s retiring from football aged 37.
The Spaniard, who won four Premier League titles in 10 years at the Etihad Stadium, uploaded an emotional clip containing highlights of his career to social media on Thursday afternoon, confirming his decision, along with the caption “Muchas gracias … futbol.”
“Today is a sad day for me,” he began. “Today it is time to say goodbye to what I have dedicated my whole life to. Today it is time to say goodbye to my colleagues, who are like a family to me. I will miss you very much.
“Ches [Valencia], Armeros [Eibar], Celtinas [Celta Vigo], Citizens [Man City] and Txuri Urdines [Real Sociedad]. Thank you because you have made me feel at home.” Read more
Jurgen Klopp reveals Jordan Henderson gesture to Liverpool staff before “strange” exit (Mirror)
Jurgen Klopp has shared how Jordan Henderson waited for Liverpool players and staff to arrive back from Germany to personally say goodbye ahead of his move to Al-Ettifaq.
The Reds captain, 33, missed most of the club’s pre-season tour due to transfer talks with the Saudi Pro League outfit. The £12 million deal, which was officially confirmed on Thursday, was driven by Anfield legend Steven Gerrard, who became Al-Ettifaq’s new head coach earlier this month.
Henderson released an emotional video saying farewell to Reds fans on Wednesday evening. However, the England star took a different approach with his team-mates and the rest of the Liverpool staff. Read more
Norris offers apology over Verstappen trophy smash (RN365)
Lando Norris has apologised to Max Verstappen for smashing his Hungarian Grand Prix winners’ trophy.
The McLaren driver knocked the porcelain trophy off the top step of the Hungaroring podium when triggering his customary tap of his sparkling wine bottle, leaving it shattered on the ground.
Norris and Red Bull driver Verstappen, who extended his margin over teammate Sergio Perez in the Drivers’ standings to 110 points with victory last weekend, joked about the incident in the aftermath – the Dutchman quipping he had shown a ‘red card’ over the matter. Read more
PGA Tour sets up compensation scheme for players who did not defect to LIV Golf (Sky)
The PGA Tour has set up a compensation scheme for players who did not defect to LIV Golf and is also looking at establishing a pathway to reintegrate those who did.
Details of the deal – which shocked the sport last month when the PGA Tour struck an agreement for investment by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund – are still being thrashed out and it is currently being investigated by the United States Congress and Justice Department over anti-trust violations.
But in a leaked memo to players, chief executive Jay Monahan, who returned to work last week after almost a month’s absence with a medical issue, has outlined some of the changes at tour level. Read more