Thanks for suspending Ruga, Ortom tells Buhari (Punch)
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday commended President Muhammad Buhari for heeding the call of the people to suspend the Ruga settlement plan. Ortom, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary Terver Akase, described the suspension of Ruga settlements plan by the Federal Government as “victory for all peace loving Nigerians.” The governor stated that the rejection of the Ruga settlement model was not personal but rather a struggle by Nigerians against “impunity and injustice.” Read more
Atiku, PDP lose bid to reopen case against APC’s objection to petition (Guardian)
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Feb. 23 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday failed in his bid to get the presidential election petition tribunal to reopen the application of the All Progressives Congress against his petition, following the refusal of the tribunal to do so. Chairman of the five-member panel, Justice Mohammed Garba, refused Atiku’s motion in a ruling delivered by the panel on grounds that the application lacked merit. According to the ruling, the petitioners failed to provide cogent reasons why the application should be granted. Read more
National Assembly most porous parliament in the world –Gbajabiamila (Punch)
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, has described the National Assembly as “the most porous parliament in the world.” The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Gbajabiamila made the remark at Wednesday’s plenary while responding to a motion under matters of urgent public importance by Rep. Dederi Isa (APC-Nano) in Abuja. He stressed that the dignity of the National Assembly and its surroundings cannot be compromised. Read more
Dino trial: Judge gives FG last adjournment to present witnesses (Guardian)
Justice Olasumbo Goodluck of an FCT High Court on Wednesday gave the Federal Government’s counsel a last adjournment in the trial of the Sen. Dino Malaye, over alleged giving false information to the police. Goodluck, gave the advice following an application by Mr Shuaibu Labaran, prosecution counsel, praying the court for an adjournment to enable him bring his next witness. The judge warned:”this will be the last time I will be adjourning the matter”. Read more
Assault: Embattled Senator Abbo shuns plenary (Punch)
The embattled Peoples Democratic Party member representing Adamawa North in the National Assembly, Elisha Abbo, stayed away from the Senate plenary on Wednesday. The Senator, who moved the motion for the nomination of Senator Ali Ndume for the position of the Senate President during the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly on June 11, was conspicuously absent at the red chamber. Abbo, who allegedly slapped a nursing mother at a sex toy shop in the Wuse area of Abuja recently, was very active at the nation’s parliament on Tuesday as he freely interacted with his colleagues. Read more
Treat us equally, lawmaker urges Gbajabiamila (Punch)
The lawmaker representing Karaye/Rogo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Dederi Isa (APC-Nano), has urged the Speaker to strike a balance among members. Speaking at the plenary during a motion examining the difficulties lawmakers face when entering or departing the Assembly complex, Isa said though Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila tried his best during House sittings, his attention was often on some members when motions were being taken. Read more
A lawmaker should not be seen beating up a woman —Beni Lar (Punch)
A member of the National Assembly representing Langtang South/Langtang North Federal Constituency of Plateau State, Hon Beni Lar, has condemned the alleged assault on a sales girl by Senator Elisha Abbo (PDP-Adamawa). This followed a matter of Privilege by Lar at the plenary on Wednesday. In a CCTV video trending on the social media, the embattled senator was seen slapping a lady in a sex toy shop in Abuja. Read more
NDLEA arrests 95-year-old man for dealing in cannabis (Punch)
The Ondo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a 95-year-old man, James Salihu for dealing in cannabis sativa popularly known as Indian hemp. Salihu was arrested on Wednesday by NDLEA detectives at Supare Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government Area of the state. A source in the NDLEA command stated that the suspect was apprehended following a tip-off from the community. Read more
Dollar shortage: Zimbabwe runs out of passports, number plates (Punch)
Zimbabwe has run out of passports and vehicle registration number plates, forcing citizens to wait for long periods to get them, fuelling another sign of a desperate shortage of U.S dollars in the southern African nation. At the passport office in Harare on Wednesday, hundreds of people huddled in the morning winter cold after arriving as early as 5.00 a.m. to queue for passports. They were told to check their documents in 2022. Read more
Tunisia says suspected mastermind of June 27 bombings dead (Guardian)
The suspected mastermind of twin suicide bombings in Tunis last week was killed when he blew himself up during a police manhunt outside the capital, the interior ministry said Wednesday. Police had tracked the suspect down to the working class suburb of Intilaka where he detonated a suicide vest on Tuesday night, ministry spokesman Sofiene Zaag told AFP. “The terrorist Aymen Smiri was implicated in the twin suicide bombings on Thursday and investigations proved that he was the mastermind of the operation,” Zaag said, adding he was a “very active and very dangerous leader.” Read more
Condemnation as 40 killed in air strike on Libya migrant centre (Guardian)
More than 40 migrants were killed in a late night air strike on their detention centre in a Tripoli suburb blamed on Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, triggering international outcry at the bloodshed on Wednesday. The strike “clearly could constitute a war crime”, said UN envoy to Libya Ghassan Salame. “It killed, by surprise, innocent people whose dire conditions forced them to be in that shelter”, he added in a statement. Read more
UK PM May raises ‘concerns’ over Hong Kong with China (Guardian)
British Prime Minister Theresa May said Wednesday she had raised “concerns” over protecting Hong Kong’s autonomy with China’s rulers after another round of pro-democracy protests in the former UK colony. “I have raised my concerns directly with Chinese leaders,” May told British MPs at the weekly questions in parliament session. “It’s vital that Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and the rights and freedoms set down in the Sino-British joint declaration are respected,” she added, referring to the agreement governing its 1997 handover. Read more
China accuses UK of ‘hypocrisy’ in Hong Kong row (BBC)
China has warned the UK not to “interfere in its domestic affairs” amid a growing diplomatic row over the recent protests in Hong Kong. Its UK ambassador said relations had been “damaged” by comments by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and others backing the demonstrators’ actions. Liu Xiaoming said those who illegally occupied Hong Kong’s Parliament should be “condemned as law breakers”. Read more
Putin formally suspends INF treaty (Guardian)
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed into law a bill on the suspension of a crucial arms control treaty signed by US president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty that limited medium-range missiles was concluded by Russia and the United States in 1987. Moscow suspended participation in the INF treaty in March after US President Donald Trump’s White House announced it would ditch the agreement for alleged Russian violations of the terms. Read more
Trump’s 4 July tanks prompt ‘don’t panic’ warning (BBC)
The US military has told Washington DC residents not to panic if they see tanks on the streets for President Donald Trump’s Independence Day parade. At least two Bradley armoured carriers and two M1A1 Abrams Tanks will be moved to the heart of the US capital for the president’s “Salute to America”. The National Park Service will reportedly divert nearly $2.5m (£2m) to cover the cost of the event. Read more
Italian chosen as European Parliament president (BBC)
Italian former journalist David-Maria Sassoli has been selected as the new president of the European Parliament. Mr Sassoli, 63, received the support of 345 out of a total of 667 MEPs in the second round of voting in Strasbourg. The centre-left politician beat three other candidates and will assume the role of assembly speaker immediately. Read more
Man and woman arrested for terrorism offences after police stop vehicle (Metro)
A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences, police have said. Both suspects, aged 28 and 25, were taken into custody at a London police station after a dramatic vehicle stop in Luton, Bedfordshire. Officers from the Met Police later carried out raids on a residential property and commercial premises in Luton in connection with the investigation. Read more
Rapper Nicki Minaj to perform in Saudi Arabia (Punch)
US rapper Nicki Minaj will perform in Saudi Arabia this month, organisers said, triggering a storm on social media as the ultra-conservative kingdom loosens decades-old restrictions on entertainment. Minaj, known for her profanity-laced lyrics and raunchy music videos, will perform in the western city of Jeddah on July 18, organisers of the ongoing Jeddah Season cultural festival announced on Twitter on Tuesday. The headline act, to be televised on MTV, will also feature British musician Liam Payne and American DJ Steve Aoki, local media reported. Read more
Africa Cup of Nations: Tanzania must learn from exit, says Amuneke (BBC)
Tanzania’s head coach Emmanuel Amuneke says the Africa Cup of Nations has been a real “eye-opener” for the Taifa Stars following an early exit in Egypt. Tanzania, who competed in their first tournament since 1980, failed to progress to the knock-out stages and finished bottom of the group with three defeats. For the former Nigeria and Barcelona winger, it was a telling reminder of how much football has evolved on the continental showpiece event. Read more
Toure signs for Chinese second tier club Qingdao (Guardian)
Former Barcelona and Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has joined Chinese second tier club Qingdao Huanghai, the League One leaders announced on social media on Wednesday. The former Cote d’Ivoire international, who has not played since December following a three-month stint with Olympiakos in Greece, is expected to make his debut on Saturday when Qingdao host Zhejiang Green town. The 36-year-old was reported to have been on trial with the Chinese club soon after shooting down claims made by his agent in May that he was planning to retire. Read more
Emmanuel Petit predicts Frank Lampard isn’t ready for Chelsea job (Metro)
Emmanuel Petit believes Frank Lampard isn’t ready to take over at Chelsea as their new manager. Chelsea are expected to name Lampard as their new head coach this week after the departure of Maurizio Sarri to Juventus. Petit, who played alongside Lampard at Chelsea after an impressive career with Arsenal, backed his former team-mate’s managerial talents, but thinks the post at Stamford Bridge has come too soon. Read more
Manchester City activate Rodrigo release clause, confirm Atletico (Punch)
Manchester City is set to sign Atletico Madrid’s Rodrigo Hernandez after activating the midfielder’s release clause with a club-record fee of 70 million euros on Wednesday. Atletico confirmed that City has paid the $79 million fee which automatically terminates Rodrigo’s contract with the Spanish club. “La Liga informed Atletico Madrid on Wednesday that representatives of Rodrigo Hernandez and Manchester City have deposited the amount of the release clause in the name of the player,” Atletico said in a statement. Read more
Andy Murray reveals how Serena Williams Wimbledon partnership was forged (Metro)
Andy Murray and Serena Williams will team up in mixed doubles later in the week at the All England Club, much to the excitement of the British public. The pair have won a combined 27 singles Grand Slam titles – nine of which have come at Wimbledon – during their illustrious careers and they will join forces at a major for the first time. Read more
Roger Federer stops for quick chat with Cori Gauff before 15-year-old’s second-round match at Wimbledon (Metro)
Roger Federer bumped into 15-year-old tennis sensation Cori Gauff on Wednesday ahead of her second-round clash at Wimbledon and gave the youngster a few words of encouragement. The teenager, who is represented by Federer’s management group, made headlines when she defeated Venus Williams – 24 years her senior – on the opening day, setting up a clash with Magdalena Rybarikova. Read more