Resident doctors issue 2-week ultimatum ahead proposed strike (Nation)
The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to meet its demands.
It stated the ultimatum, which ends on July 19, is supposed to give the government time to begin implementation of the resolutions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreed on.
Failure to meet their demands by July 19, the NARD warned it cannot guarantee that its members would not embark on a nationwide strike. Read more
Lagos killer-cop dismissed for shooting generator repairer dead (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command, on Wednesday, confirmed the dismissal of a policeman, Kabiru Odeyemi, linked to the shooting of a 24-year-old generator repairer, Idris Bakare, in the state.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development in a post on Twitter on Wednesday.
He wrote, “The recommendation for the dismissal of Inspector Kabiru Odeyemi was approved today. This paves the way for his arraignment
which will take place on Friday, July 7, 2023.
“The Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, assures Lagosians of his unwavering determination to police the state within the dictates of the rule of law, civility and respect for human life.” Read more
NGE, Obaseki, Sanwo-Olu mourn NewsDirect Publisher, say death shocking (Guardian)
Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) said it was deeply saddened and shocked by the death of one of its members and Publisher of NewsDirect Newspapers Group, Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi, on Tuesday.
Aged 56, Ibiyemi succumbed to death at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan, Ogun State, where he was undergoing treatment.
In a statement, yesterday, by NGE President, Eze Anaba, and its General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the professional body of editors in Nigeria described the late publisher as a committed member of NGE, who made his mark in journalism profession, as a reporter, business editor, editor and publisher. Read more
Alleged Terrorism: Court fixes trial of ‘‘Eze Ndigbo Of Ajao Estate’’ for July 25 (Channels)
A Lagos State High Court at the Tafawa Balewa Square has adjourned the terrorism trial of the “Eze Ndigbo of Ajao Estate’’, Frederick Nwajagu, till July 25.
Justice Yetunde Adesanya fixed the date after listening to the submissions of parties at the proceedings today.
The Lagos State’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Babajide Martins, told the court that he had additional witnesses he would like to call. Read more
House urges FG to harness opportunities in maritime sector (ThisDay)
The House of Representatives yesterday urged the federal government to take pragmatic steps towards diversifying its revenue base by harnessing the potential in the maritime sector and ensuring that the challenges hampering the growth of the sector were effectively dealt with.
The House also urged the federal government to revive the abandoned Oseakwa Seaport in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State and others across the country in order to reduce the pressure on existing seaports and checkmate over-dependency on petroleum as well as boost the nation’s economy.
Its further urged the federal government to include the construction of Oseakwa Seaport and dredging of Orashi River in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State in the 2024 Appropriation Bill. Read more
Tinubu backs $5b floating LNG project (Vanguard)
President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, gave his support to the $5 billion floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project to be established in the country.
The President gave the backing when he received in his office, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, a group of joint venture partners made up of UTM FLNG, TECHNIP Energies and JGC Corporation.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting with the President, leader of the delegation and Group Managing Director (GMD) of UTM FLNG, Julius Rone, disclosed that the multi-floating LNGs are being implemented with a $5 billion loan from AFREXIMBank. Read more
Ganduje’s dollar videos damaged Kano’s reputation across the globe – Anti-Graft Agency (DailyTrust)
The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) has said the dollar videos of ex-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje damaged the state’s reputation globally.
In 2017, Daily Nigerian, an online publication, had released some videos of Ganduje allegedly collecting kickbacks from contractors.
In the videos, he could be seen collecting the dollars before rolling them into his white dress, “babanriga” Read more
NSCDC arrests 6 railway vandals, 1 ATM fraudster in Kwara (Leadership)
Operatives of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), in Kwara State yesterday arrested six suspects over the theft of railway line slippers at Oloru in Moro local government area of the state.
The suspects were arrested with two trucks fully loaded with railway slippers at about 12 am on Wednesday.
The suspects are Yunusa Bello (41), Sanni Taminu (35), Sanusi Lawal (25), Alhaji Makeri (33), Lukman Sanni (32), and Olabode Johnson (41). Read more
Mulan and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon star CoCo Lee has died aged 48 (OK!)
Coco Lee, a USA-based singer and songwriter who starred in Mulan and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, has died by suicide aged 48, her two older sisters have announced. Coco was rushed to hospital at the weekend and was in a coma before she died on Wednesday, 5 July.
Coco was born in Hong Kong and was a hugely successful pop singer in Asia in the nineties and noughties, where she was known for her powerful voice and live performances. She was the voice of Mulan in the Mandarin version of the Disney film, and sang the movie’s theme song.
She also sang A Love Before Time on the 2000 Oscar-winning film martial arts fllm Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Her older sisters, Carol and Nancy, said Coco had been battling depression for a number of years and that her condition had recently deteriorated. Read more
Fiona Phillips ‘‘hugely touched’’ by support after revealing Alzheimer’s diagnosis (BelfastTelegraph)
TV presenter Fiona Phillips is “hugely touched” by the support she has received after revealing she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, her representative has said.
Lorraine Kelly and shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper were among the famous faces who sent their best wishes to the former GMTV presenter, who announced in Wednesday’s Daily Mirror that she had been diagnosed more than a year ago with Alzheimer’s disease.
The 62-year-old told the newspaper she initially had “brain fog and anxiety”, but originally thought she was experiencing menopause symptoms. Read more
2m sign-ups in 2 hours: What to know about newly launched Threads (ABC)
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has officially launched Threads, a new “conversation” app that appears to be the firm’s long-awaited counterpart to Twitter.
The app surpassed “2 million sign-ups in the first two hours,” Mark Zuckerberg wrote on his Threads page.
Zuckerberg and Elon Musk averted a cage fight last month, but the companies they oversee — Meta and Twitter, respectively — are now squaring off in direct competition. Read more
Robert De Niro’s grandson’s cause of death at 19 revealed by his heartbroken mum (Mirror)
Robert De Niro’s grandson Leandro De Niro Rodriguez’s cause of death has been revealed.
It was announced recently by the Hollywood icon’s eldest daughter Drena De Niro, 51, that her son Leandro had died, aged 19, with her having shared the tragic news on social media.
Drena – who is Robert’s daughter from his marriage to his first wife Diahnne Abbott – did not disclose further details about her son’s death at the time.
But she has now seemingly revealed what happened, saying her son took pills laced with fentanyl. Read more
Tom Cruise says he’ll still be making Mission: Impossible movies when he’s 80 (NME)
Tom Cruise has said that he plans to still be making Mission: Impossible films when he’s 80.
The 61-year-old action star, who reprises his role as Ethan Hunt in “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One”, said he has no plans to wrap up the franchise just yet.
“Harrison Ford is a legend; I hope to be still going. I’ve got 20 years to catch up with him,” Cruise told The Sydney Morning Herald at the film’s Australian premiere, referring to the legendary actor’s role in Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny. “I hope to keep making Mission: Impossible films until I’m his age.” Read more
Ukraine and Russia trade accusations of planning imminent attack on nuclear plant (PBS)
Ukraine and Russia accused each other Wednesday of planning to attack one of the world’s largest nuclear power plants, which is located in southeastern Ukraine and occupied by Russian troops, but neither side provided evidence to support their claims of an imminent threat.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant has been a focus of concern since Moscow’s forces took control of it and its staff in the early stages of the war. Over the last year, the U.N.’s atomic watchdog repeatedly expressed alarm over the possibility of a radiation catastrophe like the one at Chernobyl after a reactor exploded in 1986.
While Russia and Ukraine regularly traded blame over shelling near the plant that caused power outages, Ukraine has alleged more recently that Moscow might try to cause a deliberate leak in an attempt to derail Kyiv’s ongoing counteroffensive in the surrounding Zaporizhzhia region. Read more
Iran taken to International Court of Justice over downing of Ukrainian Flight PS752 (National)
Canada, Sweden, Ukraine and Britain have asked the International Court of Justice to open proceedings against Iran over the shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane.
All 176 passengers on board were killed when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down shortly after take off from Tehran Airport in January 2020.
Three days later, Iran admitted that its military had targeted the Kyiv-bound Boeing 737-800 plane by mistake during a period of heightened tensions with the US. Read more
National trials: Amusan wins 4th National title in Benin (Sun)
World champion and world record holder, Tobin Amusan Wednesday evening won her 4th national title at the ongoing national athletics trials at the Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City, Edo State.
Fresh from her victory at the 2023 Diamond League in Stockholm Sweden, Amusan blazed to her 4th national title in the 100m hurdles with a time of 12.70s to leave the rest of her contenders far behind.
The trials in Benin City will be used to select Team Nigeria athletes for the 19th World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Read more
Mbaoma fires Katsina to NPFL (Punch)
Former champions of the Nigeria Professional Football League, Kano Pillars, and their northwest rivals Katsina United have gained promotion back to the topflight at the ongoing Nigeria National League playoffs in Asaba.
Prolific striker, Victor Mbaoma, converted the penalty that helped Katsina beat Pillars 1-0 and secured their place in the NPFL, while the defeat didn’t affect Kano Pillars fate.
Pillars topped the northern conference with six points and a superior goals difference followed by Katsina, who also had six points. Read more
Luis Enrique: Paris Saint-Germain appoint former Spain, Barcelona boss as new head coach (Sky)
Paris Saint-Germain have announced the appointment of Luis Enrique as the club’s new head coach.
The French champions have handed the Spaniard a two-year deal to take over at Parc des Princes following the sacking of Christophe Galtier, whose exit was confirmed on Wednesday morning.
Speaking to the club’s official website, he said: “I’m delighted to be joining Paris in order to enjoy a new experience.
“It’s so exciting to meet new people, to live in this city, to learn a new language and, above all, to manage PSG.” Read more
Millwall owner John Berylson dies aged 70 after tragic accident (Standard)
Millwall owner John Berylson has died aged 70, the club have confirmed.
The American businessman became involved with The Lions in 2006 and has overseen two promotions to the Championship since replacing Stewart Till as chairman in 2007.
The Championship club posted a message on their Twitter account on Tuesday evening. Read more
Novak Djokovic makes history at Wimbledon, joins Serena Williams, Federer in exclusive club (USAToday)
Novak Djokovic made history on Wednesday when he won his second-round match at Wimbledon.
After beating Australia’s Jordan Thompson in straight sets, the Serbian star and No. 2 seed captured his 350th singles victory in a Grand Slam tournament. Djokovic joins only Serena Williams and Roger Federer as the only players in tennis history to win at least 350 Grand Slam matches. Williams has 367 and Federer has 369.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion struggled in the second set and was two points away from losing it until rallying back to win the tiebreaker with an ace. He pointed at his head and swaggered off the court in celebration. Read more
Grant Williams heading to Mavs in sign-and-trade (ABC)
The Dallas Mavericks and restricted free agent forward Grant Williams are finalizing a four-year, $53 million contract as part of a three-team sign-and-trade agreement with the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski on Wednesday.
San Antonio will receive forward Reggie Bullock and an unprotected first-round pick swap in 2030 from Dallas, while both the Celtics — Williams’ former team — and the Mavericks will receive two second-round picks, sources said.
The Celtics also will get a $6.2 million trade exception, per ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Read more