Flood: Lagos to demolish buildings on waterways (Sun)
In response to repeated incidents of flooding and building collapses, the Lagos state government has issued a stern warning to residents constructing buildings on waterways. The government has announced that structures built illegally along waterways will be demolished. The announcement follows the extensive damage caused by flooding, which has undermined the foundations of many buildings in the state.
Critics have labelled the government’s demolition approach as reckless, dubbing the governor as the “demolition governor.” Mrs. Monica Efe Osaghae, Managing Director of Efe Enterprises, expressed that the government should enforce regulations proactively rather than reacting after violations occur. She argued that with its vast human resources, the Lagos State Government could effectively monitor and prevent illegal constructions, thereby protecting residents from the harsh consequences of sudden demolitions. Read more
LG Autonomy: S’Court judgement a win for Nigerians – Atiku (NewTelegraph)
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has said the Supreme Court judgement affirming fiscal autonomy to Local Government Councils in the country, is a win for the people of Nigeria.
Atiku in a statement on his X handle said the court’s ruling is a step in the right direction and a major corrective action in greasing the wheels of national development across the country.
“The decision by the Federal Government to consolidate disbursements of local councils’ revenues into the state government accounts was a decision that was borne out of politics of hasty compromise,” he said. Read more
Aso Villa Meeting: No deal yet on new national minimum wage (Tribune)
The meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of organised labour at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday produced no breakthrough as parties have resolved to maintain the status quo.
The organised labour is asking for a minimum of N250,000 as the minimum wage whereas the federal government has proposed N62,000.
Speaking to reporters at the end of the meeting, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Festus Usifoh, affirmed that the meeting did not discuss anything in terms of naira and kobo. Read more
Funding: Tinubu steps down memos on road projects (Leadership)
President Bola Tinubu has directed the stepdown of memos from the Federal Ministry of Works to allow the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to re-examine projects that require augmentation and review.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the council meeting at the Presidential Villa.
According to him, the president directed the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to work with the Ministers of Budget and National Planning and the Minister of Finance to steam-line all projects contained in the memo for appropriate funding intervention.
Idris further said the president equally directed that all projects that require additional funding precisely from the memos presented at the 7th Council meeting be reconsidered for further deliberation at the next council meeting. Read more
Perform or get sacked, Diri warns commissioners (DailyTrust)
Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has warned that he will not hesitate to wield the big stick on any commissioner who falls below the expectation of his administration.
He also implored members of the newly constituted cabinet members to key into his administration’s vision of providing service to people of the state.
Governor Diri, who gave the warning on Wednesday during the 130th session of the state executive council in Government House, Yenagoa, said his administration’s policies and programmes were having positive impact on people of the state. Read more
Abiodun: bureaucracy stalling rehabilitation of Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta Expressway (Nation)
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has said the rehabilitation of Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta Expressway is stalled because of a bureaucratic bottleneck.
Recalling the efforts by Ogun and Lagos state governments to take over and reconstruct Lagos-Sango Abeokuta Expressway, Abiodun said he and his Lagos State counterpart were frustrated by delays from the Federal Government, right from the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He, however, said with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in power, the Federal Government was approached once again for the transfer of the road to the state, and the request, he added, was eventually granted. Read more
Baptist church advocates world peace (Punch)
The General Secretary of the Baptist World Alliance, Rev. Elijah Brown, has reiterated the Baptist denomination’s commitment to promoting peace and justice globally.
Speaking at a media briefing on the forthcoming Baptist World Alliance conference in Nigeria, Brown highlighted the conference theme, “To Become Ambassadors of Peace,” emphasising the denomination’s efforts to encourage peaceful living worldwide.
Brown noted that the Baptist denomination was heavily investing in humanitarian training to ensure adherence to scriptural injunctions. Read more
Gov Lawal signs executive order restricting movement of motorcycles in Zamfara (Channels)
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, on Thursday signed an Executive Order restricting the move of motorcycles in Zamfara State.
The governor signed the Executive Order at the Government House in Gusau, the state capital.
The governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the Security Council decided to restrict motorcycle movement in Zamfara during an emergency meeting on Wednesday. Read more
‘Woman’s World’ Lyrics: Katy Perry drops new video, explains meaning of ’143′ album (Justjared)
Katy Perry has dropped her brand new song “Woman’s World” from her upcoming album 143!
This is the debut single from Katy’s new era of music and we’re ready to be living in it.
Katy announced this week that her 143 album will be released on September 20 and she has explained the meaning behind her new music.
“I set out to create a bold, exuberant, celebratory dance-pop album with the symbolic 143 numerical expression of love as a throughline message,” she said in a statement. Read more
Shelley Duvall, ‘The Shining’ actor and Robert Altman muse, dies at 75 (NBC)
“The Shining” actor Shelley Duvall died Thursday at her home in Blanco, Texas, her partner Dan Gilroy said. She was 75.
Gilroy said Duvall had been in hospice and bedridden for the last few months due to complications from diabetes. She died in her sleep, he said in a phone call.
“She’s gone after much suffering,” said Gilroy, her life partner since 1989. “I can’t tell you how much I miss her.” Read more
Biden faces media, says he’s seeking 2nd term ‘to complete the job’ (CBC)
US President Joe Biden said Thursday night that he’s seeking a second term in the Oval Office “to complete the job I started,” pushing back against calls for him to drop out of the upcoming election in favour of another candidate.
“I’m not in this for my legacy,” Biden said, answering a question about the possibility that he could lose to Donald Trump in November.
Biden, 81, the presumptive Democratic nominee, maintained he’s the “best-qualified person” to be in the White House but also said it was important to “allay fears” voters may have about his abilities. Read more
Absolutely incredible’: Man rowing solo across Atlantic is surrounded by whales (NPR)
Tom Waddington is on a quest to row across the Atlantic Ocean all by himself — but on Sunday, he found plenty of company at sea, when a pod of pilot whales thronged around him. They followed him for hours, growing from a few playful animals to hundreds of large creatures. At least one smacked into his small boat.
The whales popped their heads above the surface and seemed to play together — a gam of whales, gadding about — as Waddington, who is rowing some 2,000 miles from the Newfoundland coast to Penzance, in the United Kingdom, watched in amazement.
“This is so cool,” Waddington said as he took a video of the whales’ antics. With a laugh, he added, “I love it, but I’m scared they’re gonna hit my rudder.” Read more
Harvey Weinstein facing investigation over “additional violent sexual assaults” (NME)
Harvey Weinstein is facing a new investigation over alleged “additional violent sexual assaults”, prosecutors in New York have said.
At a hearing in New York State criminal court earlier this week (July 8), prosecutor Nicole Blumberg said they’re looking for a new indictment, explaining that the alleged additional assaults were still within the statute of limitations to be charged as crimes.
The former movie producer was found guilty on February 24 2020 after being convicted of first-degree and third-degree rape, and was sentenced to 23 years in a New York state prison. Read more
Massive storms continue to hit Cape Town displacing 4,500 people (AfricaNews)
The South African city of Cape Town and surrounding areas were hit by more storms Thursday that ripped roofs off houses and caused widespread flooding, forcing at least 4,500 people out of their homes and damaging at least 15,000 structures, authorities said.
The devastating weather began a week ago.
Multiple cold fronts have battered the region on the southwest tip of Africa since late last week, bringing record rainfall in some parts and gale-force winds. Read more
Motion Picture Academy and UMG renew Jonas Gwangwa Music Composition Initiative (Variety)
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, in partnership with Universal Music Group, has announced the renewal of the Jonas Gwangwa Music Composition Initiative, a development program for Black musicians interested in composing music for film.
The initiative is in honor of South African musician, composer and Oscar nominee Jonas Gwangwa, who died in 2021. He received Oscar nominations for original score and original song for his work, with George Fenton, on Cry Freedom. The program, which was launched back in 2022, aims to provide mentorship and networking opportunities for aspiring Black composers to foster broader representation in film music composition. Read more
CAF: Rangers to play Comoros club, Remo face familiar foes (Punch)
Nigeria’s representatives in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup have known their routes to the group stages, with NPFL champions Enugu Rangers drawn against US Zilimadjou of Comoros in the first preliminary round of the Champions League, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Remo Stars, who ended last season in second place in the NPFL, were drawn against ASFAR of Morocco, following the completion of the preliminary rounds draw in Cairo, Egypt on Thursday.
Rangers are on course to face the winners of the clash between St. Louis of Seychelles and GDSE of Angola in the second round. Read more
NFF should have rejected Finidi’s resignation –Former Edo State deputy Governor, Shaibu (CompleteSports)
Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Phillip Shaibu, has faulted the manner NFF parted ways with Finidi George as Supér Eagles Head Coach, insisting the decision was too hasty, Completesports.com reports.
Speaking after he, as guest player, captained the FCT Council of the Nigeria Union of journalists team at the ongoing NUJ Correspondents Chapel Tournament, Comrade Shaibu said a little patience and better understanding of problem of the Super Eagles could have sorted things out.
“The Super Eagles have not been impressive in recent times, we have the players but we don’t have team like England. We have to get a coach that will build a team. For me I would have left Finidi George to continue with the team, give him more time to build the team,” the former governor who also played as a registered member of Insurance FC stated. Read more
England beats Netherlands 2-1 on late goal, reaches Euro Cup final (CTV)
England reached a second straight European Championship final by beating the Netherlands 2-1 thanks to substitute Ollie Watkins’ stoppage-time winner on Wednesday.
Watkins, who came on for captain Harry Kane in a bold call by coach Gareth Southgate, turned and smashed a fierce shot into the bottom corner in the first minute of added-on time.
England will play Lamine Yamal and Spain in Sunday’s final in Berlin. It will be the nation’s first title match on foreign soil, having won the World Cup in 1966 and lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final — both times at Wembley Stadium. Read more
Musetti reaches his 1st Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon and will face Djokovic (JapanToday)
Lorenzo Musetti threw his head back and spread his arms wide to celebrate reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon, then covered his face with both hands.
His 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Taylor Fritz on Wednesday was a big deal, to be sure. After all, the 25th-seeded Musetti, a 22-year-old from Italy, never had made it past the third round at the All England Club — or past the fourth round at any major tournament — until this fortnight.
Now, though, comes a far tougher test: taking on Novak Djokovic. Read more
NBA agrees to record 11-year, $76b media rights deal (WashingtonTimes)
The NBA has agreed to terms on its new media deal, a record 11-year agreement worth $76 billion that assures player salaries will continue rising for the foreseeable future and one that will surely change how some viewers access the game for years to come.
A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that the networks have the terms sheets, with the next step being for the league’s board of governors to approve the contracts.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday because they weren’t at liberty to discuss such impending matters. Read more
Amanda Staveley to leave Newcastle after 3 years (Independent)
Newcastle United co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi are set to leave the club just three years after the Saudi Arabia-backed takeover.
The husband-and-wife pairing took a 10 per cent share in the club after helping to broker the £305m takeover in 2021, though this has since decreased to just six per cent after more investment from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Reuben family. The PIF currently owns 80 per cent of the club, with the Reuben family now owning 14 per cent.
Reports suggest that Staveley and Ghodoussi will sell their remaining stake to either the PIF or the Reubens, and the duo will leave the club, ceasing their day-to-day involvement. Read more
