Lagos: We’ll enforce Court order confining protesters – Police (Tribune)
As nationwide protests are set to commence on Thursday, August 1, the Lagos State Police Command has pledged to ensure peace and order throughout the state. SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the command’s spokesperson, issued a statement on Wednesday detailing the measures being taken to safeguard residents and maintain public order.
According to the statement, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade, has assured that the command is prepared to manage the potential impact of the protests on commercial activities and traffic flow.
The statement emphasized the command’s commitment to upholding residents’ fundamental rights, including freedom of movement and dignity. Read more
Residents killed as bomb explodes at ‘‘local joint’’ in Borno (DailyTrust)
At least 19 people were killed after an Improvised Explosive Device(IED) suspected to be planted by Boko Haram insurgents went off at a local joint in Kawuri village, Konduga Local government area of Borno State, on Wednesday.
The incident happened three days after insurgents attacked a police station at Jakana town in the same Konduga LGA.
A policeman and one woman were killed in that attack while two patrol vans set ablaze. Read more
Kidnapped ex-Ekiti varsity Deputy VC found dead (Nation)
The former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Prof. Olorunfemi Olaofe, who was kidnapped by gunmen has been found dead.
The retired don was kidnapped from residence in Ado-Ekiti with his security guard on July 9 and driven away in his car, which the police recovered days after the incident.
The kidnappers initially demanded a N50m ransom, which was later reduced to N15m before they went incommunicado. Read more
Court restricts Abuja protesters to MKO Abiola stadium (Vanguard)
Justice Sylvanus Oriji of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has issued an ex-parte order, restricting Abuja protesters to the National Stadium otherwise known as the MKO Abiola stadium.
The order followed an application that was brought before the court by the Minister of the FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike.
The scheduled nationwide protest against economic hardship in the country is slated to commence tomorrow. Read more
Tinubu mourns Elegant Stallion, Onyeka Onwenu (ThisDay)
President Bola Tinubu has extended his profound condolences to the family of elegant stallion, Ms. Onyeka Onwenu, who passed on on Tuesday.
Onwenu was a singer, songwriter, actor, journalist, activist, and politician.The President, according to a release issued on Wednesday by his Media Adviser, Ajuri Ngelale, mourned the passing of the Queen of Songs, whose edifying and mellifluous rendition, ‘One Love’, in the 1990s evoked a fervour of fellowship and harmony.
President Tinubu recalled the many artistic interventions of the late musical icon in promoting public good, noting her classic collaboration with King Sunny Ade on ‘Wait for Me’, a melodic campaign on family planning in the 1980s.The President celebrated the life of the versatile and extremely gifted artiste who applied herself to the whole gamut of artistic enterprise and expression, bringing joy and laughter to many.He condoled with the entertainment industry, the Imo State Government, and the numerous fans of the departed star over this immeasurable loss. Read more
Police arrest 3 over Ajumogobia’s daughter’s murder in Lagos (Sun)
Aribechukwu, daughter of Justice Rita Ofili Ajumogobia, has been murdered in Lagos State by yet-to-be-identified persons.
Aribechukwu, one of the daughters of Justice Ofili Ajumogobia, met her end in Ikoyi, Lagos State.
A family source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said,” It would appear that new household staff might have been responsible and tried to stage as if she was outside when it happened. However, signs of an attempt to clean up blood inside the house and in the compound tell a different story. If this was indeed the handiwork of the staff, it is salient to observe that they were newly employed less than a month and she was alone in the house with them. “We all need to be super careful, especially with newly hired domestic staff. Read more
Protest: Zamfara govt orders closure of schools, suspends JLC exams (Channels)
The Zamfara State Government has ordered the immediate closure of all schools across the state ahead of the protest against economic hardship billed to start on Thursday.
In a circular to principals, head teachers, private schools, and the general public, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education in Zamfara, Barira Bagobiri, noted that the measure was taken to avert any security threat that may befall students.
She added that the suspension of the ongoing JLC examination and a new date for its continuation will be announced in due course. Read more
Police foil explosive device attack in Lagos (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command anti-bomb squad has foiled an Improvised Explosive Device attack in the Ikeja area of the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to PUNCH Metro on Wednesday.
He said a vigilant police officer reported that a young man had alighted from the car, carefully dropped a bag by the side of the Nigeria Customs Service Federal Operations Unit fence, returned to the vehicle, and sped off. Read more
Afenifere commends FG for pegging bag of rice at N40k (NewTelegraph)
The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organization, Afenifere, has lauded the Federal Government over the pegging of rice per bag at N40,000, but advocated for the distribution of the commodity through market associations rather than state governments.
In a press statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, Afenifere observed that the distribution of the commodity in all the 36 states of the federation including Abuja at this time “is noteworthy in view of the hunger in the land”.
It would be recalled that the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, on Monday, July 29, 2024, disclosed that the federal government has not only begun the distribution of 20 trucks of rice per state, it has also directed that a bag be sold at N40,000 instead of above N70,000 at which it is being sold currently. Read more
Brandy wants in on the I Know What You Did Last Summer reboot (EW)
Brandy is ready to re-enter the world of I Know What You Did Last Summer — she’s just waiting on the phone call.
In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actress and singer expressed interest in joining Sony’s upcoming reboot of the 1997 slasher movie that famously starred Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Brandy played Hewitt’s roommate, Karla, in the 1998 sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, and she has a message for her old castmates.
“I need them to give me a call because I survived in that movie!” she said. “I came out in the end, bloodied up, ready to go. I did not die in that film.” She added, “Jennifer, Freddie, hit me up.” Read more
Gina Carano calls on Pedro Pascal and Bear Grylls to testify in her Mandalorian lawsuit (Independent)
Gina Carano has called on her Mandalorian co-star Pedro Pascal to testify on her behalf in her discrimination and wrongful termination lawsuit against Disney and Lucasfilm.
Pascal, 49, was listed as a key witness in a court document filed by Carano on July 26. Jon Favreau, British adventurer Bear Grylls, ex-Disney CEO Bob Chapek, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy and Lynne Hale, the creator of the publicity campaign behind the Star Wars saga’s return, were also named as potential witnesses.
Carano, 42, who starred as Cara Dune on the Disney+ Star Wars TV spin-off, was fired from the series in 2021 after sharing social media posts that compared the Republican experience in the US to that of Jewish people during the Holocaust. Read more
Qatar, Egypt question future of Gaza talks after Haniyeh’s killing (Aljazeera)
Qatar and Egypt, key players in the ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, have questioned the future of negotiations following the Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination.
Haniyeh was killed in Tehran in what the Palestinian group described as “a treacherous Zionist raid on his residence”.
“Political assassinations and continued targeting of civilians in Gaza while talks continue leads us to ask, how can mediation succeed when one party assassinates the negotiator on the other side?” Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani wrote on X. Read more
‘Squid Game’ renewed for third and final season ahead of season two premiere (NME)
Netflix has revealed the premiere date for season two of its hit K-drama series, Squid Game, and announced that the show has been renewed for a third and final season.
Today (August 1), Netflix released the announcement date trailer for the long-awaited season two of Squid Game. The clip opens with runners racing in a stadium, before people dressed in the show’s iconic green tracksuit overtake them.
Watching over them are the Front Man and his masked guards, as he says: “It’s been three years, are you ready to play again?” Season two of Squid Game will premiere on December 26, with a newly announced third and final season coming next year. Read more
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s son recovering after bike accident (EasternEye)
Former Hollywood power couple Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s son, Pax Jolie-Pitt, was hospitalised on Monday (29) after suffering a head injury in an accident.
The 20-year-old is reportedly in stable condition and is expected to be discharged on Tuesday (31), according to law enforcement sources cited by TMZ.
Pax was driving down Los Feliz Boulevard in Los Angeles, California around 5pm on Monday on his electric bike when he crashed into the back of a car. He reportedly was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, the insider added. Read more
Guinea court finds former military leader guilty of crimes against humanity (AfricaNews)
A court in Guinea on Wednesday sentenced former military ruler, Moussa Dadis Camara, to 20 years in prison after finding him guilty of crimes against humanity.
The charges stem from the 2009 massacre of more than 150 people during a pro-democracy rally in the capital Conakry.
More than 100 survivors and relatives of victims testified in the trial that started in November 2022, more than a decade after the massacre and under pressure from families and activists demanding justice. Read more
Vietnam War Medal of Honour winner Paul W. Bucha dies at 80 (UPI)
Medal of Honor winner Paul W. “Bud” Bucha died Wednesday at 80 in West Haven, Conn.
Bucha earned the medal for his actions in combat near Phuoc Vinh, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam during March 16-18, 1968. As an Army captain, Bucha destroyed an enemy bunker by himself while under heavy fire.
He distributed ammunition and directed artillery fire while moving throughout the position and also led the evacuation of wounded soldiers using a flashlight. Read more
Super Falcons eliminated after 3-1 loss to Japan (Nation)
The Super Falcons of Nigeria have been eliminated from the Paris 2024 Olympics following a 3-1 defeat to Japan on Wednesday, July 31.
Japan took an early lead with goals from Maika Hamano and Mina Tanaka.
Although Jennifer Echegini managed to pull one back for Nigeria, it wasn’t enough to prompt a comeback as Hikaru Kitagawa sealed the victory for Japan. Read more
Paris 2024 women’s basketball: Team Nigeria’s D’Tigress target second win in Group B against France (CompleteSports)
Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, have expressed confidence in securing another victory in their second group-stage clash against the host nation, France, at the Paris 2024 Olympics women’s basketball game, scheduled for Thursday, August 1, Completesports.com reports.
D’Tigress stunned the world by outclassing Australia with a 13-point margin, 75-62, in their Group B opener on Monday, July 29, securing their first win of the campaign.
That victory marked D’Tigress’s first win since they defeated South Korea 68-64 in the classification game at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Read more
Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal: Fabio Carvalho scores winner in Philadelphia pre-season friendly (Standard)
Arsenal ended their US tour in defeat as they were beaten by Liverpool in Philadelphia.
Fabio Carvalho scored what turned out to be the winning goal after latching onto a great pass by Harvey Elliott.
Before that, Mohamed Salah had put Liverpool ahead and Arsenal were only able to pull one back through Kai Havertz. Read more
Anthony Gordon and Steven Gerrard donate £10k to Southport victims (DailyMail)
England and Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon has selflessly donated £10,000 to the victims of the harrowing knife rampage in Southport that has left three children dead and others critically injured, with Steven Gerrard pledging the same five-figure sum.
Merseyside-born Gordon has pledged his financial support to the victims by donating the huge sum to a GoFundMe account that was set up and has now climbed above £60,000.
A 17-year-old boy has since been charged with murder after three girls were stabbed to death at the Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on Monday. Read more
Simone Biles and MyKayla Skinner drama as Olympic legend blocked on social media (Mirror)
The Olympic gymnastics community is buzzing with news of a social media spat involving former US international competitor MyKayla Skinner and her ex-teammate, the legendary Simone Biles. The kerfuffle came to light when Jordan Chiles, another member of Biles’ squad, shared a screenshot on Instagram on Wednesday, revealing that Skinner had blocked Biles in the aftermath of their spat.
Chiles posted an image with the caption “When she blocks Simone.” The was not well-received by fans who swiftly defended Biles, hinting that retired competitors like Skinner shouldn’t stir drama within the Olympic team’s ranks. Read more
Rory McIlroy targets Olympic gold medal to make up for his Major setbacks (IrishIndependent)
Rory McIlroy spearheads Ireland’s quest for a first Olympic gold medal in golf today believing it could one day rank alongside his Major wins.
The Holywood, Co Down ace tees it up alongside World No 1 Scottie Scheffler and Swedish sensation Ludvig Åberg at Le Golf National in Paris at 9.11am (Irish time) looking to make a fast start in his bid for gold.
The World No 3 has not won a Major for ten years and after missing the cut in The Open, he’s looking to make amends by winning a medal that may eventually be regarded as being as prestigious as his Major wins. Read more
