Pastor jailed 2 years for stealing chemicals (Punch)
An Ondo State Magistrate Court, sitting in Akure the state capital, has sentenced a man, Mr Friday Okeneji, to two years imprisonment for stealing some chemical substances worth a sum of N130,000.
The convict who is a presiding pastor of a popular church in Iwaro Oka Akoko in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of the state was said to have committed the offences on July 2, 2023, in the town.
He was said to have broken into a chemical shop and stolen the items after which he was caught and charged to court. He was arraigned before the court on a two-count charge of stealing. Read more
Give us free hand to wipe out terrorists, army tells governors (DailyTrust)
The Nigerian Army has ruled out amnesty again for bandits terrorising the North West zone of the country, asking governors for free hand to eliminate terrorists.
The army warned the criminals to flee the country with immediate effect, saying they would be given close marking and blocked from entering other parts of the country if they are attempt to flee North West.
Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, who stated this at Army Headquarters, Abuja while playing host to the Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal, called on the governors to give troops free hand to eliminate all the criminal elements. Read more
With one witness apiece Tinubu, INEC defend victory, integrity of polls (Vanguard)
In the next few weeks the firepower at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) will ebb as the five-member panel of the court, headed by Justice Haruna Tsammani, has sent lawyers and petitioners back to their chambers to produce their final written addresses.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a final written address is a legal argument in writing filed by parties at the close of hearing.
It articulates the point of the parties and why judgement should be in their favour. Read more
Lagos partners private sector to tackle building collapse (Punch)
In a bid to rid Lagos State of building collapse, the state government has partnered with private sector professionals to ensure effective monitoring and control.
A statement signed by the Deputy-Director of Public Affairs at the state Ministry of Physical Planning said the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluwole Sotire disclosed this during a stakeholder meeting with professionals in the built environment on Tuesday.
The Certified Accreditor Programme would be a consulting firm or a consortium made up of registered consultants made up of professional builders, architects, town planners, geoscientists, and engineers. Read more
Cadbury initiates academy to groom music creatives (Independent)
TomTom Candy, Nigeria’s favourite menthol brand, under Cadbury Nigeria Plc (a subsidiary of Mondelēz International), has launched Breathe Academy, a learning platform for music creatives and enthusiasts.
The launch event, which took place recently in Lagos, featured music performances from up-and-coming artistes, a live demo of the web platform, and a Q&A section.
The platform was officially launched by the Managing Director, Cadbury West Africa, Oyeyimika Adeboye. Read more
Tinubu write NASS, seeks N500b for palliatives (Nation)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to the National Assembly seeking amendment to the 2022 supplementary appropriation Act to allow the Federal Government source N500 billion for palliative measures to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.
In a letter read on the floor of the House during Wednesday’s plenary by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, the President said the money will be sourced from the 2022 supplementary Appropriation Act of N819. 5 billion.
The letter titled: “Request for the amendment of the 2022 appropriation act” reads in part: “I write to request the approval of the House of Representatives an amendment of the 2022 appropriation act in accordance with the law. Read more
Vandals remove road fittings from 2nd Niger Bridge (Vanguard)
The road fittings installed on the newly inaugurated Second Niger bridge have been vandalized by robbers.
It was learned that the vandalisation on the facility occurred on Wednesday, with the expansion joint walkway on axis 330 of the bridge stolen.
A source is quoted to have said: “Unfortunately, it’s true. The stolen fitting is an element from the expansion joints of the bridge. Drivers on that road have to be careful as the damaged part can cause discomfort to motorists.” Read more
Not all land borders are opened — Acting Customs CG (Tribune)
The Acting Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Mr Wale Adeniyi, on Tuesday, affirmed that not all the nation’s land borders have been re-opened.
Fielding questions from correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he said the federal government had not ordered that all land borders across the country should be opened.
His remark followed speculation that the president had approved the reopening of all land borders upon his inauguration in office. Read more
Barbie won’t be banned in Philippines, but controversial map scene might get blurred (THR)
After a weeklong review and much public debate, The Philippines has opted not to ban Greta Gerwig’s much anticipated “Barbie” movie. Starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, the soon-to-be blockbuster will release in cinemas across the Southeast Asian nation on July 19.
The country’s Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTPCB) said in a letter made public Wednesday that it had “exhausted all possible resources to arrive at this decision,” having consulted foreign affairs officials and legal experts. But after “meticulous” scrutiny of the film, the censors decided there was “no basis to ban the film.”
The board said in a separate letter to a local Senator, however, that it has requested Warner Bros. to blur part of the scene that ignited the controversy to make sure no viewers “misinterpret” the sequence. The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Warner Bros. to ask whether the studio will abide by the request. Read more
Milan Kundera, author of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, dies aged 94 (Standard)
Celebrated Czech-French writer Milan Kundera, the author of “The Unbearable Lightness of Being”, has died aged 94.
A spokesperson for the Milan Kundera Library said that the award-winning author, whose many novels, short stories, poetry collections, essays and non-fiction books reflect on the strangeness of life, died after a prolonged illness.
His novels became distinct for exploring philosophical concepts through using vivid imagery, relationships, and characters so well-constructed that they sometimes felt like they could climb out of the novels they lived in. Read more
In fight against Canada fires, South African crews familiar, uplifting sight (VOA)
Some three dozen South African firefighters, clad in their bright yellow jackets and dark blue pants, danced, sang and cheered in a sprawling parking lot near the majestic woods of central Alberta. The mood was light as the men and women smiled and clapped, some taking out smartphones to record video of their dancing colleagues before heading off to another day battling the fires raging through Canada.
The group gathered on an early July day in the small town of Fox Creek had traveled nearly 16,000 kilometers (10,000 miles) to help fight the hundreds of devastating wildfires that have burned homes and wild lands in the region, destroying an area about the size of the U.S. state of Virginia. They chanted and worked through drills before signing a Canadian flag presented to them as a token of thanks.
In a record-breaking year for Canada’s wildfires, with crews coming from around the world to help, the South Africans are a familiar and uplifting sight. This year’s deployment is the fifth — and largest — for the men and women in Working on Fire, a public works program for young people that serves as South Africa’s wildland fire agency. Read more
Rob McElhenney reveals diagnosis for ‘‘neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities” (People)
Rob McElhenney is opening up about his new diagnosis of “neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities.”
The It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia star, 46, shared the news on Twitter on Tuesday and admitted he was revealing his diagnosis to remind others that they’re “not alone.”
“I was recently diagnosed with a host of neurodevelopmental disorders and learning disabilities! At 46!” he wrote. The Wrexham AFC co-owner then went on to explain that he will go through “the full diagnosis/prognosis” on The Always Sunny Podcast in two weeks’ time. Read more
Surovikin: Russian general missing since Wagner mutiny ‘resting’ (Al-Jazeera)
A Russian lawmaker has said Sergei Surovikin, a deputy commander of Moscow’s military operation in Ukraine, who has not been seen in public since the Wagner Group mutiny, is “resting”.
Dubbed “General Armageddon” for his aggressive tactics in the Syrian and Chechen conflicts, he was last seen when he posted a video appeal urging top mercenary Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner chief, to cease his rebellion in Russia last month.
Andrey Kartapolov, head of the Russian State Duma Defence Committee, said in a video posted to social media on Wednesday, “Surovikin is currently resting. [He is] not available for now.” Read more
Blur to play ‘‘The Ballad Of Darren’’ in full at special London gig (NME)
Blur have announced details of a new special London gig, which will see them perform their new album ‘The Ballad Of Darren’ in full.
The band will release the record – their first in eight years – on July 21 via Parlophone. They teamed up with producer James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Gorillaz) on the record, while the artwork was shot by celebrated British photographer Martin Parr.
‘Blur present: The Ballad Of Darren’ will take place at London’s Eventim Apollo on July 25. It will be the first and only time the album will be performed in its entirety, from start to finish, and fans across the globe can tune in via a livestream of the show. That will take place at 9pm BST, with rebroadcasts across the next 24 hours for different time zones. Read more
Ex-Manson follower Leslie Van Houten released from prison after 53 years (BBC)
Leslie Van Houten, a former follower of notorious cult leader Charles Manson, has been released on parole after serving more than five decades of a life sentence for two brutal murders.
Van Houten, 73, was a 19-year old member of the “Manson family” when she took part in the murder of a Los Angeles grocer and his wife in 1969.
Five previous bids for her parole were blocked by California’s governors. Read more
Rangers re-sign Balogun on one-year deal (Guardian)
Scottish Premiership club Rangers have announced the signing of Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun on a one-year deal.
Rangers announced in a statement that Balogun who played for the club from 2020 to 2022 has returned.
“Rangers are delighted to welcome Leon Balogun back to Rangers, with the central defender signing a one-year deal with the club, subject to international clearance.” Read more
Air Peace to honour 1976 Olympics Team, 1980 Green Eagles (Independent)
Air Peace has said it would honour the Team Nigeria athletes that led the other 27 African countries to boycott the 1976 Olympic Montreal Games hosted by Canada.
The airline in a statement by Stanley Olisa, its Spokesman said that the honour is coming up 47 years after the incident.
According to him, the athletes would be honoured on July 28, 2023.
He also said that the 1980 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) winning squad would also be honoured with a listing in the newly created Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame in addition to cash rewards from Barr. Allen Onyema, the Chairman, Air Peace. Read more
Ons Jabeur takes revenge on holder Elena Rybakina to reach Wimbledon ladies’ singles semi-final (IrishNews)
Ons Jabeur gained revenge with victory over defending champion Elena Rybakina in a rematch of last year’s Wimbledon final.
The sixth seed, who also lost to Iga Swiatek in the US Open final last year, will take on second seed Aryna Sabalenka in the last four after fighting from a set down to defeat Rybakina 6-7 (5) 6-4 6-1.
Jabeur missed a set point in the opening set but fought back impressively, hitting more winners and making fewer errors than her opponent, who has established a fledgling big three in the women’s game this season with Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. Read more
For first time, every player at Women’s World Cup will be paid at least $30K US (CBC)
A group of players across the globe asked FIFA late last year to increase the prize money for this summer’s Women’s World Cup. There had been pleas from the women to boost those funds before, but this time it was different.
The players not only wanted a prize pool equal with the men’s World Cup, they also sought a guarantee that a percentage of the prize money would go directly to the players themselves.
While it wasn’t true equity with the Men’s World Cup, FIFA indeed raised the prize pool for the women’s tournament by more than three times that of the 2019 event in France. Read more
Vitor Roque: Barcelona sign 18-year-old striker from Athletico Paranaense (BBC)
Barcelona have agreed to sign 18-year-old striker Vitor Roque from Brazilian side Athletico Paranaense.
The deal, which will begin in 2024 and run for seven years, includes a 500m euros (£427m) buyout clause.
Roque scored 22 goals in 66 appearances for Paranaense, and became Brazil’s youngest international debutant in March. Read more
Caster Semenya: Discrimination verdict was ‘long time coming’ (ESPN)
Caster Semenya says there are “serious questions” about the validity of World Athletics’ requirement that female athletes with high natural testosterone levels take drugs to lower them following a verdict by the European Court of Human Rights.
The ECHR ruled Tuesday, by a 4-3 majority, that the two-time Olympic 800-meter champion’s original appeal against World Athletics regulations had not been properly heard by the Swiss Federal Tribunal, criticizing the process followed rather than the verdict reached.
Semenya, 32, has a condition known as hyperandrogenism, which is characterized by higher than usual levels of testosterone, a hormone that increases muscle mass and strength and the body’s ability to use oxygen. Read more