Senate fumes as number of Nigerians murdered in S’Africa rises to 127 (Punch)
The Senate on Wednesday warned the South African government to halt the frequent killings of Nigerians by its citizens to avoid grave consequences. The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who stated this at plenary, warned that the South African government must extend due respect to Nigeria and should not take the good gesture towards it for granted. The red chamber summoned the Nigerian ambassador to South Africa to explain the circumstances that led to the alleged murder of the Deputy Director-General of Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, Elizabeth Ndubusi-Chukwu, in the country recently. Read more
Tinubu denies knowledge of “Tinubu 2023” campaign (Guardian)
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has denied knowledge of a campaign group fronting an “unsolicited and unwarranted” campaign materials. Tinubu in a series of tweets signed by his media office and posted on his official Twitter handle on Tuesday gave the name of the campaign group as ‘Asiwaju Reloaded Ambassadors’ Nigeria.’ “We have seen pictures of face caps, T shirts, shirts and even leaflets with Bola Tinubu 2023 embossed on them,” he tweeted. Read more
Fatoyinbo: Aisha Buhari kicks, as Abiara calls for caution (Punch)
The wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, has asked every stakeholder to speak up against rape in the country. Mrs Buhari also called the attention of the Inspector-General of Police to the message which she wrote on her verified Twitter account on Wednesday. She wrote the tweet in reaction to the rape allegation against the founder of the Commonwealth of Zion, Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo. Read more
2023: Igbo Presidency not a right, says APC Organising Secretary (Nation)
National Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Hon. Emma Ibediro has said getting an Igbo President in 2023 is not a right but an aspiration which must involve every part of the country. Ibediro told The Nation in an interview in his office at the APC national secretariat the Igbo nation must be ready to work within the APC or any other platform they intend to use to actualise an Igbo Presidency. He said the cry of marginalisation of his people especially in Buhari’s government is not justified as they have not brought anything tangible to the table since 2015. Read more
Stop abusing your race, Ohanaeze warns Igbo politicians (Punch)
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has warned ‘some misguided’ Igbo politicians to stop abusing their people because of temporary political positions they occupy. The National Organising Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Mr Emma Bediro, had in a statement recently said that the Presidency in 2023 might elude the Igbos because they did not vote for President Muhammadu Buhari. But Ohanaeze, in a statement by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr Chuks Ibegbu, wondered why ‘a full-blooded Igbo man’ could make such a statement. Read more
APC to hold Kogi, Bayelsa primaries August 29 (Nation)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed Thursday, August 29 for primaries in Kogi and Bayelsa states to select governorship candidates for the November 16 election in the two states. The party has also announced it will commence the sale of nomination and expression of interest form on Wednesday, July 10 at the party national secretariat in Abuja. National Organising Secretary of the party, Emma Ibediro, in a statement, explained aspirants are expected to pay N20 million for nomination form and N2.5 million for expression of interest form. Read more
Bauchi sets up panel to probe Yuguda, Abubakar (Punch)
Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has set up a 17-man committee to recover public funds and assets allegedly diverted by officials of the the Isa Yuguda and Mohammed Abubakar administrations. Senator Isa Misau is the chairman of the panel. Brig Gen Markus Yake, Hamisu Makama, Alhaji Musa Gora, Alhaji Umar Ningi, Alhaji Kamel Isah, Maryam Bagel and Prof. Sylvester Shigyl (SAN) are among the top members of the committee. Read more
NEPC sensitises Nigerians on sunflower exportation (Guardian)
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) on Wednesday urged Nigerians to take advantage of opportunities existing in sunflower business across the globe. Mr Olusegun Awolowo, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Council, gave the advice during a one-day sensitisation workshop held in Kano. The theme of the workshop was: “Development and Promotion of the Sunflower Value Chain in Nigeria’’. Read more
Customs to pay N5.5bn for illegally seized rice (Punch)
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the Nigeria Customs Service and its board chairman to pay about N5.5bn to Maggpiy Trading TFZE for unlawfully seizing 90 containers of rice imported by the company. Delivering judgment, Justice Nyang Ekwo held that the defendants acted unlawfully and without any justification in law. He granted all the prayers contained in the company’s suit, including awarding specific and general damages in favour of the plaintiff, and against the 1st and 2nd defendants, in the amount estimated at N3,805,638,950 and $4,796,550. Read more
Earliest modern human found outside Africa (BBC)
Researchers have found the earliest example of our species (modern humans) outside Africa. A skull unearthed in Greece has been dated to 210,000 years ago, at a time when Europe was occupied by the Neanderthals. The sensational discovery adds to evidence of an earlier migration of people from Africa that left no trace in the DNA of people alive today. Read more
Trump invites right-wing extremists to White House ‘social media summit’ (CNN)
Some of the right-wing media universe’s biggest stars are set to descend on the White House Thursday for what has been billed as a “social media summit” and will likely become a forum for airing claims of anti-conservative social media bias. In addition to inviting leaders from traditional conservative think tanks, such as the Heritage Foundation and Claremont Institute, the White House has requested the presence of far-right internet personalities and trolls, some of whom have pushed conspiracy theories, lies and misinformation. Read more
US launches inquiry into French plan to tax tech giants (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into France’s planned tax on tech giants – a move that could result in retaliatory tariffs. “The United States is very concerned that the digital services tax… unfairly targets American companies,” the US trade representative said. The French parliament is expected to approve the new tax on Thursday. Read more
Iranian boats attempted to seize British tanker (CNN)
Five armed Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps boats unsuccessfully tried to seize a British oil tanker in the Persian Gulf Wednesday, according to two US officials with direct knowledge of the incident. The British Heritage tanker was sailing out of the Persian Gulf and was crossing into the Strait of Hormuz area when it was approached by the Iranian boats. The Iranians ordered the tanker to change course and stop in nearby Iranian territorial waters, according to the officials. A US aircraft was overhead and recorded video of the incident. Read more
Brazil pension reform passes first hurdle in Congress (BBC)
Brazil’s lower house of Congress has voted by a large majority to overhaul the country’s generous pension system. The vote, with 379 in favour and 131 against, is seen as an important victory for President Jair Bolsonaro. His government says the reforms are critical to boosting the growth of South America’s biggest economy. Read more
Chernobyl nuclear site to become ‘official tourist attraction’ (BBC)
The area surrounding Chernobyl – the site of the world’s worst nuclear accident – is to be turned into a tourist site, Ukraine’s president says. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on Wednesday that set out plans for new walking trails and enhanced mobile phone reception. “Chernobyl has been a negative part of Ukraine’s brand,” Mr Zelensky said. “The time has come to change this.” Read more
Suzanne Eaton, US scientist, found killed in Crete WWII bunker (BBC)
The body of an American scientist has been found inside a World War Two bunker on the Greek island of Crete. Suzanne Eaton, who went missing more than a week ago after going on a run, died of suffocation, police confirmed to the BBC. They said they are investigating the case as a criminal act. Read more
Kim Kardashian shares first smiling photo of baby Psalm (Metro)
Just when we didn’t think baby Psalm West could get any cuter, Kim Kardashian’s only gone and shared his most adorable photo yet. The reality star posted the first shot of her two-month-old son actually smiling as he lay in his cot on Instagram on Wednesday. Proving he’d inherited some of Kimye’s flair for fashion, the tot – who was born in May – rocked some grey joggers that wouldn’t look out of place on a Yeezy catwalk. Read more
Chance The Rapper reveals he’s in The Lion King remake thanks to his ‘big bro’ Donald Glover (Metro)
Chance The Rapper is pretty much obsessed with The Lion King, so you can only imagine his reaction when Donald Glover got him involved with the re-make of the movie. Chance was with the cast at The Lion King’s Hollywood premiere on Tuesday night. Sharing photos from the red carpet event to Instagram, including one of him with Beyonce and her daughter Blue Ivy, he revealed that he is in fact in the movie. Read more
A$AP Rocky forced to cancel July concerts as he remains locked up in Swedish jail (Metro)
A$AP Rocky has been forced to cancel all his upcoming shows in July, as he remains locked up in a Swedish jail. The rapper was taken into custody in Stockholm on 3 July on suspicion of assault following an altercation between his entourage and another man, which was filmed on camera. He is currently still in jail and with his release being unknown, A$AP has had to pull out of his upcoming concerts. Read more
AFCON: Eagles shoot down Bafana to reach semis (Punch)
Samuel Chukwueze’s first half strike and an 89th minute goal from William Troost-Ekong was enough to beat Bafana Bafana 2-1 and help the Super Eagles book a place in the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations at the Cairo International Stadium on Wednesday. It was the third time both sides would meet at the tournament and like the two previous occasions, the Eagles had the last laugh over their rivals in a hotly-contested encounter. The Eagles were the better of the two sides from the blast but failed to convert their chances in the first five minutes. Read more
Gueye takes Senegal to first Cup of Nations semi-final in 13 years (Guardian)
Senegal reached the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals for the first time since 2006 when Idrissa Gueye scored to deliver a 1-0 last-eight win over Benin in Cairo on Wednesday. Everton midfielder Gueye struck on 70 minutes, side-footing the ball into the net from close range after being set up by Liverpool star Sadio Mane. This was the first Cup of Nations match to use the VAR (video assistant referee) system and there were no controversial incidents. Read more
Frank Lampard denied winning start as Chelsea boss as Bohemians snatch draw (BBC)
Frank Lampard was denied victory in his first game as Chelsea boss by a late equaliser from Irish side Bohemians. Striker Michy Batshuayi gave the Blues an eighth-minute lead, firing in after Kenedy’s shot had been saved. But in the final minute of the game, trialist Eric Molloy lashed in a leveller for Bohemians. Chelsea all-time record goalscorer Lampard, who succeeded Maurizio Sarri as manager last week, selected separate XIs for each half in Dublin. Read more
Divock Origi: Liverpool striker signs long-term contract (BBC)
Striker Divock Origi has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool. The Belgium international, 24, signed from Lille in 2014 on a five-year deal, only to spend two seasons out on loan. But he returned to have a big impact with the Reds last term, scoring twice against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals before sealing the 2-0 win over Tottenham in the final. Read more
Roger Federer reacts to setting new Grand Slam record (Metro)
Roger Federer booked his spot in the semi-finals of Wimbledon on Wednesday afternoon, while making even more history. The Swiss – who will face old foe Rafael Nadal for the 40th time in on Friday – has already set all sorts of records throughout his illustrious career, but he added one for good measure after a four-set win over Kei Nishikori. Federer, 37, registered his 100th match win at the All England Club by downing the Japanese No. 1 and in doing so became the first man to notch a century at a single Grand Slam event. Read more
New Zealand beat India to reach World Cup final (BBC)
New Zealand reached the World Cup final as they produced the bowling performance of the tournament to edge out a crestfallen India by 18 runs in a sensational match at Old Trafford. India, chasing 240 to win, were reduced to 24-4 and 92-6 before Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni produced a 116-run partnership to drag the 2011 winners back in contention. Jadeja in particular was superb but, with 37 runs needed from the final 18 balls, Jadeja hit Trent Boult high into the air and to Black Caps captain Kane Williamson to fall for 77. Read more