I’m glad my feat has inspired more young Nigerians – Hilda Baci (DailyTrust)
Hilda Baci, Guinness WorId Record holder, says she is glad that her feat has inspired more young Nigerians to start businesses and break records.
Baci spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, while displaying her culinary skills to raise one million Naira to assist and empower a widow to be self-reliant.
She told NAN that her love for widows made her support the initiative organised by The Duke of Somolu Productions, a theatrical play-producing outfit. Read more
NDLEA arrests female lawyer, others with tons of illicit drugs (Guardian)
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a female lawyer, Ebikpolade Helen, who specialised in production and distribution of skuchies, a mixture of cannabis, opioids and black currant.
A statement issued by the Director, Media and Advocacy (NDLEA), Mr Femi Babafemi on Sunday in Abuja, said the woman lives in the Lekki area of Lagos.
Babafemi said that the suspect was arrested in a follow up operation in Awka, Anambra, following an earlier seizure of 5kg cannabis and 12 bottles of prepared skuchies in her apartment at Lekki. Read more
Hawkers, scavengers take over $1.6b rail tracks in Lagos (Tribune)
The $1.6 billion Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail project was conceived by the Federal Government as part of the plan to connect all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to convey passengers and goods while easing traffic congestion on the highways, among others. When it was opened for passenger operations on June 10, 2021, General Muhammadu Buhari, who was the country’s president then, appraised the significance of the project to the economy, particularly along that critical economic corridor of Lagos and Ibadan.
According to Buhari, the Lagos-Ibadan rail line would provide “…an end-to-end logistic supply chain in railway transport within its short corridor, Lagos-Ibadan.”
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), while justifying the huge investment, claimed that it had added value to the nation’s transportation system. Between 2021 and December 2022, it claimed the Lagos line had conveyed 693,226 passengers on the Lagos/Ibadan route, pointing out that Nigerians Read more
10th NASS: SERAP gives Akpabio, Abbas 7 days to ‘drop plan to spend N110bn on bulletproof cars, others’ (Sun)
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas “to drop the scandalous plan to spend N40bn on 465 exotic and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials, and N70bn as ‘palliatives’ for new members.”
SERAP urged them to “repeal the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act to reduce the budget for the National Assembly by N110bn, reflect the current economic realities in the country and address the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy on the over 137 million poor Nigerians.”
SERAP also urged them to “request President Bola Tinubu to present a fresh supplementary appropriation bill, to redirect the N110 billion to address the situation of the over 20 million out-of-school children in Nigeria, for the approval of the National Assembly.” Read more
Hajj 2023: Lagos State bags award for good conduct of pilgrims (Vanguard)
Pilgrims from Lagos State have bagged an award for good conduct during the 2023 Holy pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The award plaque was received on behalf of the State by Amir-ul-Hajj, Prince Anofiu Olanrewaju Elegushi, during a brief reception organised by the service providers in its office.
While presenting the award, head of the Company of Mutawifs for Pilgrims from African Non-Arab Countries (Service No. 13), AbdulRahman AbdulHadj expressed his appreciation to the pilgrims for their exemplary conduct. Read more
Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, others hail Osoba at 84 (Nation)
President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, among other prominent Nigerians on Saturday, celebrated former Ogun State governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, on his 84th birthday, noting that his life is worthy of emulation by many, especially the upcoming generations.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, President Tinubu also noted that Chief Osoba’s life is replete with remarkable achievements.
Chief Osoba, a prominent progressive politician who served twice as governor of Ogun State first from 1992 to 1993 during the aborted Third Republic and then from 1999 to 2003, clocked 84 on Saturday, July 15, 2023. Read more
Simi, Fave, others to perform at Nigerian Idol final (Punch)
As the Season eight edition of the Nigerian Idol comes to a wrap on Sunday, four Nigerian artistes; Simi, Fave, Johnny Drille and season seven winner, Progress, have been scheduled to perform.
Info Digital Africa, a media consultant to MultiChoice Nigeria, disclosed this in a statement issued in Lagos.
The grand finale will be aired on Africa Magic Family, Urban, and Showcase at 7.00 p.m WAT. Read more
Daughter arrested for maltreating aged mother in Anambra (Channels)
The police in Anambra State have arrested a woman, Ukamaka Udeugbo, for maltreating her aged mother as captured in a viral video.
Channels Television reports that the 50-year-old suspect was arrested on Saturday, July 15 in Umudunu village, Abagana in the Njikoka Local Government Area of the state.
Ukamaka was seen flogging her naked aged mother repeatedly and throwing buckets of water on her as she lay on the floor. Read more
Margot Robbie “bribed” Ryan Gosling into Barbie role (FilmNews)
Margot Robbie “bribed” Ryan Gosling into playing Ken.
The 33-year-old actress produced the “Barbie” movie as well as taking on the lead role, and she promised the 42-year-old actor she would bring him a present every day if he agreed to sign up for the film – and Ryan was stunned by the deluge of pink gifts he received.
Margot told the New York Times newspaper: “I just bribed him really. That’s the basis of our relationship. ‘Just come do the “Barbie” movie, I’ll buy you a present every day.’ ” Read more
Taylor Swift scores 10th UK Number One album with ‘‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’’ (NME)
Taylor Swift has scored her 10th UK Number One album with ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’, outselling the rest of the Top 10 combined.
The album was released last week (July 7) as the latest in Swift’s ambitious re-recording project.
Along with the full re-recorded original album, a host of ‘From The Vault’ tracks were also shared, featuring collaborations with Fall Out Boy and Paramore’s Hayley Williams. Read more
Dolly Parton spills on her hopes to “drop dead” onstage before retiring from music (HuffPost)
Dolly Parton isn’t ready to wrap up her memorable, 50-plus-year career as a working musician.
The iconic “Jolene” singer, in an interview with Greatest Hits Radio’s Ken Bruce on Thursday, declared that if you want your dreams to come true then you have to be “responsible” with them. She then ruled out retirement.
“I’m not one to sit around doin’ nothin’. I would never retire. I’ll just hopefully drop dead in the middle of a song onstage someday, hopefully one I’ve written,” the 77-year-old musician said. Read more
Actress, singer and style icon Jane Birkin dies in Paris at age 76 (ABC)
Actress and singer Jane Birkin, who charmed France with her English grace, style and accented French and made the country her home, has died at age 76, according to France’s Culture Ministry and French media.
The London-born star was widely admired for her fashion style and known for her musical and romantic relationship with French singer Serge Gainsbourg. Their songs notably included the steamy “Je t’aime moi non plus,” with Birkin’s ethereal, British-accented singing voice interlacing with his gruff baritone.
She was also celebrated in France for her political activism. In 2022, she joined other screen and music stars in France in chopping off locks of their hair in support of protesters in Iran. Charlotte Gainsbourg, Birkin’s daughter with Gainsbourg, cut off a lock of her mother’s hair for that filmed campaign. Read more
Hundreds of homes destroyed in South Africa fire (BBC)
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed by a fire in a poor neighbourhood of the South African port city of Durban.
One person is known to have died in the blaze that tore through the Kennedy Road informal settlement early on Sunday morning, but there are fears that more bodies could be found.
Video footage shows the twisted remains of corrugated iron sheets used to build the shacks amid the smouldering debris. People can be seen trying to salvage their belongings. Read more
Blaze ‘‘out of control’’ as more people flee Spain’s La Palma (AlJazeera)
At least 4,000 people have been evacuated as a wildfire rages “out of control” on the Spanish Canary Island of La Palma while Europe struggles to cope with a heatwave, according to authorities.
The fire in La Palma started in the early hours of Saturday in El Pinar, a wooded area in the northern part of the island. The blaze forced the evacuation of people from the villages of Puntagorda and neighbouring Tijarafe.
Ten aerial units and 300 firefighters on the ground sought to bring the wildfire under control on the island, which forms part of a Spanish archipelago off the coast of western Africa. Read more
US to send F-16 fighter jets to Strait of Hormuz after Iran fires on oil tanker (France24)
The U.S. is beefing up its use of fighter jets around the strategic Strait of Hormuz to protect ships from Iranian seizures, a senior defense official said Friday, adding that the U.S. is increasingly concerned about the growing ties between Iran, Russia and Syria across the Middle East.
Speaking to Pentagon reporters, the official said the US will send F-16 fighter jets to the Gulf region this weekend to augment the A-10 attack aircraft that have been patrolling there for more than a week. The move comes after Iran tried to seize two oil tankers near the strait last week, opening fire on one of them.
The defense official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details of military operations in the region, said the F-16s will give air cover to the ships moving through the waterway and increase the military’s visibility in the area, as a deterrent to Iran. Read more
World Cup warm-up match: Oshoala grabs two goals (Sun)
The Super Falcons yesterday smashed past Australian club Queensland Lions FC 8-1 in a final warm-up match before they begin their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign at the weekend.
Barcelona Femeni star Asisat Oshoala netted a brace with Toni Payne, Rasheedat Ajibade, Uchenna Kanu, Ifeoma Onumonu, Halimatu Ayinde and Monday Gift also hitting target.
Nigeria will open their World Cup campaign on Friday against reigning Olympic champions Canada. Read more
Awoniyi models Nottingham Forest’s new away kit ahead of 2023/24 season (Leadership)
Super Eagles striker Taiwo Awoniyi modeled Nottingham Forest’s new Adidas away kit ahead of the 2023/24 football campaign.
The kit was announced in a statement released on the Forest’s website.
“Nottingham Forest has revealed its brand new Adidas away kit ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season,” the club stated.
“The brand new white away strip pays homage to the River Trent, with wavy light blue stripes adorning the front of the shirt, representing the unwavering support and movement of fans around the country who follow The Reds.” Read more
Lionel Messi makes it official and signs with Inter Miami (NPR)
Lionel Messi has finalized his deal to join Major League Soccer, and after years of planning and pursuing, Inter Miami has landed a global icon.
Messi’s contract became official Saturday, a little more than five weeks after he declared that he would be coming to Inter Miami. The team will introduce him Sunday night at its stadium in Fort Lauderdale, and the first home match of the Messi era could be as early as Friday in a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul.
A formal news conference is scheduled for Monday, and his first training session with his new club is expected on Tuesday. The club previously announced that Messi’s deal will be for 2 1/2 seasons and will pay him between $50 million and $60 million annually — putting the total contract value between $125 million and $150 million in cash alone. Read more
Declan Rice headlines Arsenal squad for USA tour but Nicolas Pepe among notable absentees (Standard)
Declan Rice has been named in Arsenal’s travelling squad for their pre-season tour of the United States, though Cedric Soares, Nicolas Pepe and Albert Sambi Lokonga are among the most notable players left behind by Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners, who drew 1-1 with FC Nurnberg in Germany on Friday, are flying out to the US this afternoon, where they are due to face an MLS All-Star XI coached by Wayne Rooney at Audi Field in Washington DC on Wednesday evening.
Arsenal then move on to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to meet Premier League rivals Manchester United on July 22, before closing their tour against Barcelona at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles four days later. Read more
Rory McIlroy fends off Robert MacIntyre to win the Scottish Open (BelfastTelegraph)
Holywood golfer Rory McIlroy overhauled home favourite Robert MacIntyre to win the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in dramatic circumstances.
McIlroy was the overnight leader by a single shot in North Berwick, only to see Scotland’s MacIntyre race into a two-shot lead during Sunday’s final round. However – with MacIntyre in the clubhouse on -14 – the Northern Irishman sunk birdies on both the 17th and 18th hole to claim the title.
It’s the first time McIlroy has won the Scottish Open, and it bodes well for his hopes at next week’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. Read more
Tour de France 2023: Fan causes crash on stage 15 while taking selfie (BBC)
A fan trying to take a selfie caused a crash on stage 15 of the Tour de France with about 20 riders coming off their bikes.
With about 125km remaining Team Jumbo-Visma rider Sepp Kuss had his handlebars knocked by a supporter who was holding out a phone.
Kuss swerved into team-mate Nathan van Hooydonck who fell off his bike, causing a crash behind him.
Saturday’s stage 14 saw six riders abandon after crashes. Read more