Naira down to N1,585/$ in parallel market (Vanguard)
The Naira yesterday depreciated to N1,585 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,575 last week Friday. Similarly, the Naira appreciated to N1,500.32 per dollar in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM).
Data from FMDQ showed that the indicative exchange rate for NAFEM fell to N1,500.32 per dollar from N1,596.92 per dollar last weekend, indicating N96.6 appreciation for the naira. The volume of dollars traded (turnover) in the market grew by 7.6 per cent to $269.88 million from $250.67 million traded last week Friday.
Speed Painting, like medicine, leaves no room for error — Dr. Ojeabuo, A Speed Painter0:04 / 1:07
Consequently, the margin between the parallel market and NAFEM rates widened to N84.64 per dollar from N21.92 last weekend. Read more
Artisan bags life jail for defiling 13-year-old house help (Punch)
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, on Monday, convicted and sentenced an artisan, Peter Odu, to life imprisonment for the defilement of a 13-year-old housemaid.
The judge held that the prosecution proved the case of defilement beyond reasonable doubt.
He also added that he held the prosecution’s comments and the impact of the convict’s actions on the young victim. Read more
FG palliatives… 1 week after, 21 states await truckloads of grains (Leadership)
One week after the federal government announced the distribution of 740 truckloads of grains, including rice, to the 36 states, only five states have confirmed receipt of the grains.
At least 21 others said they are still waiting to take delivery of their share of the food palliatives.
The states that have taken delivery of their rice consignments are Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Kwara and Rivers.
However, Taraba, Yobe, Adamawa, Sokoto, Bauchi, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Katsina, Enugu, Abia, Ekiti, Lagos, Cross River, Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Kano, Jigawa, Plateau, Ebonyi, Benue, Kaduna and Zamfara, among others are still waiting for theirs. Read more
Planned Protest: Address cries of Nigerians, eating from dustbin now luxury, NLC tells Tinubu (NewTelegraph)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has adviced President Bola Tinubu not to wave the planned nationwide protest scheduled to commence on August 1st aside, but address the grievances of the masses through leaders of the planned protest.
President of the NLC, Comrade Joe Ajaero in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, told President Tinubu that Nigerians were very angry with him, even as he added that the sufferings in the country was worsening by the day as eating from the dustbin has become a luxury in the country.
He said: “As the date for the widely reported national protest looms, the Nigeria Labour Congress urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invite the leadership of the protest movement for discussions on their grievances. Read more
Rivers Crises: Pro-Wike lawmakers demand arrest of CTC chairmen (Independent)
25 Rivers State House of Assembly Members loyal to Chief Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Abuja, led by Martin Amaewhule, are calling for the arrest of the Caretaker Committee Chairmen of the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
The Lawmakers also urged residents of the state not to have any dealings with the CTCs, alleging that the Caretaker Committees inaugurated by Governor Siminalayi Fubara were only masquerading.
They made the disclosure on Monday during their plenary, stressing that they were seeking to curb Illegality and to maintain peace in the state. Read more
Ministers, head of govt agencies ignoring parliamentary invitations embarrassing – Abbas (Nation)
The House of Representatives on Monday, July 22, said that the habit of consistently ignoring invitations from the parliament by ministers, heads of government agencies, and other government appointees was very embarrassing.
This is as the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) disagree over the provision of a 10% freight levy.
Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, who spoke at an investigative hearing organised by the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Commerce, Maritime Safety Education and Administration and Legislative Compliance said the attitude of some members of the Executive to the legislative invitation was of utmost concern. Read more
Enugu Security Council warns sit-at-home promoters (Channels)
The Enugu State Security Council comprising the heads of security agencies in the state rose from their meeting at the Government House, Enugu, on Monday with a stern warning to those planning to enforce any form of sit-at-home in the state to desist or meet their Waterloo.
The Security Council meeting, which was presided over by the Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, said sit-at-home remained an aberration in all the nooks and crannies of Enugu State, saying no one had the right to stop anyone else from going about his or her lawful business.
The warning came against the backdrop of a purported threat issued by Simon Ekpa, the leader of a militia group calling for a one-week sit-at-home. Read more
Local production of assistive devices will improve lives of PWDs – Commission (DailyTrust)
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), James Lalu, says local production of assistive devices for PWDs will make life easy for them.
Lalu spoke recently in Abuja when he hosted a meeting with Peter Mbuguah, Managing Director of Motivation Charitable Trust (MCT), from Kenya.
According to a statement on Saturday by the Head of New Media, NCPWD, Saleh Faruq Gagarawa, the discussion focused on the potential for local production of assistive technology devices in Nigeria, including wheelchairs and crutches. Read more
Blake Lively just wore a full-on catsuit on the red carpet in NYC (Whowhatwear)
Movie fans have certainly been busy this summer. Have you seen Daisy Edgar-Jones in Twisters or Maika Monroe in Longlegs? If not, what are you waiting for? Now, the next big blockbuster is set to debut in T minus four days: Deadpool & Wolverine. Starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, the Marvel film will no doubt attract scores of crowds.
Helping drum up interest in the movie is none other than Blake Lively, who just appeared at the world premiere in New York City wearing a skintight catsuit by Atelier Versace. Oh, and she also brought along pal Gigi Hadid for the evening’s festivities. Hadid wore a head-to-toe Miu Miu look, including a tube top and low-rise skirt. Scroll down to see all the photos from the Deadpool & Wolverine red carpet tonight. Read more
Halle Berry, Catwoman crew reflect on ‘ridiculous’ backlash to sexy superhero suit (EW)
Before Halle Berry’s Catwoman slinked into theaters 20 years ago, a photo of her top-secret catsuit leaked from the set. Two decades later, the film’s cast and crew tell Entertainment Weekly that initial fan reaction to the unofficial image might’ve stolen all nine of the film’s lives before it even hit theaters.
A far cry — okay, meow — from traditional interpretations of the DC Comics character’s famed single-piece catsuit, Berry’s iteration of the superhero costume was an experiment in progression for the genre. Made as a collaboration between Berry, producers, costume designer Angus Strathie, and, as producer Denise Di Novi tells EW, Oscar-winning costumer Colleen Atwood, the star’s leather ensemble was unlike anything Catwoman had ever worn on screen or paper in the past — and fans weren’t having it. Read more
Guns N’ Roses’ Slash cancels tour dates after stepdaughter Lucy-Bleu Knight dies aged 25 (Mirror)
Slash has been left heartbroken by the untimely death of his stepdaughter.
The iconic Guns ‘N Roses axe-man had abruptly cancelled several gigs on his ‘S.E.R.P.E.N.T. ‘ festival tour citing “unforeseen circumstances” only to later come forth with the tragic news that he and his beloved, Meegan Hodges, were mourning their 25 year old girl, Lucy-Bleu Knight.
On Instagram, he shared: “Lucy-Bleu Knight (December 6, 1998), beloved daughter of Meegan Hodges and Mark Knight, stepdaughter of Samantha Somers Knight and Slash, sister of Scarlet Knight, stepsister of London and Cash Hudson, passed away peacefully in Los Angeles, CA on July 19, 2024.” Read more
Nicole Kidman shares rare details of Tom Cruise marriage (FilmNews)
Nicole Kidman has shared some rare memories of her married days with Tom Cruise.
The 57-year-old Australian actress was married to the 61-year-old action star from 1990 until 2001, during which time they starred in the critically acclaimed film Eyes Wide Shut.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Nicole explained that she thinks director Stanley Kubrick was “mining” her marriage for inspiration for the erotic thriller. Read more
UAE hands 57 Bangladeshis long-term jail terms for protests (AlJazeera)
A court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has jailed 57 Bangladeshi nationals for staging protests in the Gulf country against their own government, according to the state media.
Three Bangladeshis were sentenced to life, 53 others to 10 years in prison and one to 11 years for “gathering and inciting riots” during protests on Friday, the official Emirati news agency WAM said on Monday, adding they would be deported after the completion of their prison terms.
A witness confirmed that the defendants organised large-scale marches in several streets of the UAE “in protest against decisions made by the Bangladeshi government”, it added. Read more
‘‘Nickel Boys’’ announced as the opening night film of the 2024 New York Film Festival (GoldDerby)
The 62nd edition of the New York Film Festival will kick off with RaMell Ross’s “Nickel Boys,” an adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Nickel Boys.”
Film at Lincoln Center made the announcement early Monday and notably didn’t specify a premiere designation for the film, perhaps an indication that “Nickel Boys” will have its world premiere at another festival such as the Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, or Venice Film Festival. Read more
Pakistan opposition party reports ‘‘abduction’’ of media team members (VOA)
Pakistan’s main opposition party, led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, said Saturday that its foreign media coordinator and several social media activists were “abducted” and have “disappeared.”
Relatives and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, accused personnel of state security agencies of being behind the disappearances, demanding their early and safe recovery.
A spokesperson for the PTI said that among those who went missing was Ahmed Janjua, an international media coordinator working at the party’s headquarters in the capital, Islamabad. Read more
Supersand Eagles to play Mauritania in Kaduna (Punch)
Nigeria’s Beach Soccer team, the Supersand Eagles, will host Mauritania in the second leg of their 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Murtala Muhammed Square, Kaduna, on Saturday, the Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed.
Nigeria holds a first-leg advantage after beating Mauritania 5-4 in Nouakchott on Saturday.
In their first international game in five years, Coach Abdullahi’s team came from behind twice to defeat their hosts in an action-packed encounter. Read more
“Kevin isn’t leaving”: Pep insists De Bruyne is staying at Man City (DailyMail)
Pep Guardiola confirmed that Kevin De Bruyne isn’t leaving Manchester City for Saudi Arabia while insisting the Premier League champions are not planning a raft of summer signings.
De Bruyne has been a target of Saudi Pro League sides this year and Al-Ittihad were said to be pressing ahead with securing the Belgian’s signature.
But Guardiola shut down suggestions of a switch for the 33-year-old with a season left on his deal, with City unlikely to make many additions beyond the £33 million capture of Brazilian winger Savinho. Read more
Mexico name veteran Javier Aguirre as new coach (France24)
Veteran Mexican coach Javier Aguirre was brought back as national football manager on Monday in an attempt to revive the team’s 2026 World Cup hopes.
He replaces Jaime Lozano, who was dropped last week after rejecting a proposal by the football federation that included a demotion for the international tournament, which Mexico will co-host.
“We’re very pleased to announce the arrival of Javier ‘El Vasco’ Aguirre as technical director of the national team,” federation official Duilio Davino said in a video published on social media. Read more
LeBron James scores final 11 points for US in 92-88 win over Germany as pre-Olympic tour ends (Fox)
On Friday, LeBron James will carry the U.S. flag. But first, he carried the U.S. men’s basketball team.
Again.
James scored the final 11 points for the Americans down the stretch, and the four-time reigning Olympic gold medalists held off World Cup champion Germany 92-88 in London on Monday night in their final tune-up before the Paris Games start later this week. Read more
Dodgers pitcher James Paxton designated for assignment (ABC)
James Paxton, a veteran starting pitcher who brought stability to a needy Los Angeles Dodgers rotation this season, was designated for assignment Monday.
It’s a rather surprising move for the Dodgers, who have a long list of starting pitchers on the injured list and have relied on Paxton to lead an inexperienced rotation. But the Dodgers will activate Tyler Glasnow on Wednesday and Clayton Kershaw on Thursday. Walker Buehler (on the injured list because of hip inflammation but mostly working through mechanical issues) and Bobby Miller (also trying to iron out his mechanics in the minor leagues) are not considered far behind. Read more
Arsenal sign England youth goalkeeper Tommy Setford from Ajax (DailyMail)
Arsenal have completed the signing of England youth international goalkeeper Tommy Setford from Ajax.
The 18-year-old will initially be part of Arsenal’s Under-21 squad but will train regularly with the first-team, as reported by the club’s official website.
Setford has been included in Arsenal’s travelling squad for their pre-season tour of the USA. Read more