Senate confirms service chiefs (DailyTrust)
The Senate on Thursday confirmed the new service chiefs after grilling them for more than two hours.
Those confirmed are Christopher Musa, a major general, as the new chief of defence staff (CDS) and Taoreed Lagbaja, a major general, as chief of army staff.
Also confirmed are: Emmanuel Ogalla, a rear admiral, as chief of naval staff and Hassan Abubakar, an Air vice marshal, as the chief of air staff. Read more
FG to share N8k to 12m household (Sun)
President Tinubu has said that the federal government will transfer the sum of N8,000 per month to 12 million low-income household.
It was gathered that these families, across the 36 states of the federation, will get the money for a period of six months.
The funds will be provided to help lessen the hardships faced by Nigerians as a result of subsidy removal and enable poor and vulnerable Nigerians to cope with the cost of meeting basic needs. Read more
NCAA suspends Boeing 737 planes in Max Air fleet over safety issues (Tribune)
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has suspended all Boeing 737 aircraft in the fleet of Max Air, with immediate effect.
The regulatory body issued the suspension directive through a circular with reference number; NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363, dated July 12, 2023 titled, ‘Suspension of Parts A3 and D43 of the Operations Specifications Issued to Max Air with Immediate Effect’.
The statement which was signed by the NCAA’s director of Operations, Training and Licensing, Captain Ibrahim Bello Dambazau, on behalf of the Director General, Captain Musa Nuhu, declared that the Authority has constituted a team of inspectors to conduct an audit on all Boeing 737 in the airline’s fleet. Read more
Lagos girl running from dog dies of electrocution (Punch)
A 13-year-old girl, Taiye Ojo, was on Saturday electrocuted to death in her residence in the Makoko area of Yaba, Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered on Wednesday that the tragedy occurred while the teenager was running away from a barking dog in the compound.
It was further learnt that Taiye was on her way to the toilet located within the premises when the dog started barking. Read more
Munachi Mbonu set to unveil revolutionary online book clubhouse (ThisDay)
Nigeria’s youngest best-selling author, Munachi Mbonu, is set to launch an innovative online book clubhouse as well as present her latest literary masterpiece at the highly anticipated media parley tagged: ‘‘Upfronts With Munachi’’, in Lagos.
The event, billed for July 14 at Radisson Blu Hotel, is aimed at breathing new life into Nigeria’s book-reading culture by fostering engaging conversations among thought leaders, influencers, and the public.
The ‘‘Upfronts With Munachi’’ media parley will serve as a platform for Munachi Mbonu to introduce her groundbreaking online book clubhouse, which promises to revolutionise how Nigerians engage with literature. Read more
Kidnapped Ekiti APC chairman regains freedom (Guardian)
The All Progressive Congress (APC) Chairman in Ekiti State, Paul Omotosho, who was recently kidnapped by gunmen has regained his freedom.
Ekiti State Police Command announced his freedom in a statement.
According to the Command, two other persons also kidnapped alongside Omotosho have been freed.
The Command expressed gratitude to everyone who made it possible for the victims to regain their freedom. Read more
COAS Lagbaja promises to apply new skills in combating insecurity (Channels)
The Acting Chief of Army Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja, has said that the fight against insecurity in Nigeria needs new skills that are proactive, adaptive and inclusive.
He said that this is what he will be bringing on board as Chief of Army Staff if confirmed by the Senate.
General Lagbaja said this during his appearance before the Senate on Thursday during screening for his confirmation as the substantial Chief of Army Staff. Read more
NYSC certificate forgery: CRRAN states position of law on aggrieved person to petition (Vanguard)
The President of Civil Right Realisation and Advancement Network, CRRAN, Olu Omotayo, has stated the position of law on the mandatory need to petition the President of Nigeria before suing National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.
The Civil Right lawyer, Omotayo, submitted that it would be an exercise in futility for an aggrieved party to institute an action against NYSC without first writing to the President of Nigeria, to seek redress in compliance with the provisions of Section 20, NYSC Act 1993.
He made this known to journalists in Enugu following the Federal High Court, Abuja adjournment to September to deliver her ruling in the suit instituted against NYSC by the Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Peter Mbah. Read more
Brie Bella says raising a toddler is tougher than wrestling (People)
Brie Bella is getting candid about motherhood.
The TV personality and former wrestler, 39, exclusively reveals PEOPLE at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday that “raising a toddler” is a much tougher task than any wrestling championship she’s been a part of.
“You don’t get a break,” she tells PEOPLE of her son Buddy Dessert, whom she shares with husband Daniel Bryan. “You know, when you’re a champion, you at least get to a point where it’s 1, 2, 3, and it’s done. There’s no 1, 2, 3, tap, tap. That’s it. No tapping with the toddler.” Read more
Katie Price’s son Harvey Price sets Guinness World Record for longest drawing of train (Sky)
Katie Price’s son Harvey Price has set a world record for the longest drawing of a train.
The 21-year-old who has autism, Prader-Willi syndrome, septo-optic dysplasia and a learning disability, broke the record with a 21.3 metre-long drawing of his favourite train.
The Thameslink engine, complete with carriages, took four weeks to complete and beat the former record of 20 meters. Read more
Egypt launches fresh Sudan mediation attempt at summit (VOA)
Egypt launched an attempt to mediate between Sudan’s warring factions on Thursday at a regional summit, the latest in a series of international efforts to prevent a prolonged civil war and the deepening of a humanitarian crisis.
Fighting between Sudan’s army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces broke out in the capital Khartoum in April, and has spread westward to the fragile Darfur and Kordofan regions.
More than 1,000 civilians have been killed and 3 million people have been displaced, including 700,000 to neighboring countries, according to the United Nations, which warns of a growing hunger crisis. Read more
Billy Joel responds to Fall Out Boy’s updated cover of ‘‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’’ (NME)
Billy Joel has responded to Fall Out Boy‘s updated cover of his song ‘‘We Didn’t Start The Fire’’.
Last month, the pop-punk band released a new version of Joel’s 1989 Number One hit, which originally included brief references to 118 significant political, cultural and scientific events between the years of Joel’s birth in 1949 and the song’s release in 1989.
In the updated version, the original lyrics were replaced with standout events from where the song left off in 1989 to 2023. Read more
Huw Edwards in hospital after being named as BBC presenter facing allegations (BelfastTelegraph)
The wife of newsreader Huw Edwards has said he is receiving in-patient hospital care as she named him as the BBC presenter facing allegations over payments for sexually explicit images.
Vicky Flind, said her husband was “suffering from serious mental health issues” and was now receiving treatment in a statement issued on Wednesday evening.
It comes as the Metropolitan Police said no criminal offence had been committed by Edwards and that no further police action would be taken “at this time”, allowing an internal BBC investigation to resume. Read more
Kevin Spacey describes himself as “a big flirt” as he testifies in sexual offence trial (FilmNews)
Kevin Spacey described himself as “a big flirt” as he took to the witness stand in his sexual offence trial on Thursday.
The American Beauty star gave testimony in his defence in Southwark Crown Court as part of the ongoing trial, which concerns 12 charges of sexual assault, indecent assault and causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent.
On the stand, Spacey, 63, denied grabbing a man’s crotch “aggressively” while he drove him to a showbiz party in the early 2000s. Read more
Top tribunal certifies Guatemala’s election result minutes after another court suspends party (ABC)
Guatemala’s troubled presidential election was thrown into even greater turmoil Wednesday when the country’s top electoral tribunal confirmed the results of the June 25 vote while the Attorney General’s Office announced that the second place party had been suspended.
The seemingly contradictory moves fed more than two weeks of rising tensions and suspicions after the first round of voting, which had seemingly sent conservative Sandra Torres and progressive Bernardo Arévalo into a Aug. 20 presidential runoff.
There were immediate calls Wednesday for Guatemalans to take to the streets in protest and demonstrators gathered outside the Supreme Electoral Tribunal until heavy rain drove them away. Read more
2023 WWC: ‘Camping going well’, Super Falcons coach Waldrum (Vanguard)
Head Coach of the Super Falcons, Randy Waldrum has said his side’s preparation for the 2023 FIFA Women World Cup is going well.
This is coming on the heels of the American’s squabble with the NFF over the allocation of funds made available by FIFA ahead of the competition.
He also alleged that the NFF owes him 14 months’ salary.
Speaking to NFF TV on Thursday, Waldrum said the players in camp are working hard with the feeling of happiness pervasive within. Read more
Liverpool give ‘‘green light’’ for Saudi transfer as 33-year-old ‘‘accepts’’ moral-busting contract offer (Football365)
Fabrizio Romano says Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has made the interesting decision to ‘accept’ an offer to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq.
Al-Ettifaq appointed Reds legend Steven Gerrard as their new manager last week and the ex-Aston Villa boss immediately made Henderson his number-one transfer target.
Several big names have already made the move to Saudi Arabia this summer, such as Ballon d’Or holder Karim Benzema and Ruben Neves, but the Liverpool skipper will become the first high-profile English player to make the move. Read more
Birmingham City: Shelby Companies Limited completes takeover (BBC)
US-based Shelby Companies Limited (SCL) has completed its takeover of the Championship’s longest-serving club Birmingham City.
A statement released by Knighthead Capital Management confirmed that the previously Chinese-owned club now has new majority shareholders.
It said that its “affiliate company” SCL now has 45.98% ownership of Birmingham City Limited. Read more
Carlos Alcaraz responds to Wimbledon “spygate” claims after his dad’s filming questioned (DailyStar)
World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz has admitted his dad “probably” did spy on Novak Djokovic ahead of a mouth-watering potential showdown between the pair in the Wimbledon final.
Alcaraz sealed his place in the last four with a routine three sets victory over Holger Rune on Centre Court on Wednesday evening to set up a clash with Daniil Medvedev, while Djokovic faces Jannik Sinner in the other semi-final.
During his post-match press conference, the Spanish star addressed reports his father, also named Carlos, had been spotted recording Djokovic’s training sessions, and happily admitted they likely had merit. Read more
LeBron James announces decision on his future on stage at ESPYS (USAToday)
For LeBron James, retirement can wait.
James used the bright lights and big stage of the 2023 ESPY Awards to officially announce he’ll be returning for his 21st season in the NBA.
While being honored during the ESPN awards show for breaking the NBA’s all-time scoring record during the 2022-23 season, James, 38, addressed the elephant in the room.
“I don’t care how many more points I score, or what I can and cannot do on the floor. The real question for me is: Can I play without cheating this game?” James said. “The day I can’t give the game everything on the floor is the day I’ll be done. Read more
Dele Alli says he was sexually abused as a child (BBC)
Everton midfielder Dele Alli says he was sexually abused when he was six years old.
In an emotional interview with former England footballer Gary Neville, Dele revealed the abuse he suffered as a child before he was adopted aged 12.
He said he was “molested” aged six, started smoking aged seven and was dealing drugs at eight years old. Read more