WhatsApp may exit Nigeria over FG’s demands, $220m fine (Tribune)
Barely a week after being fined $220 million by Nigeria’s Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) for a data privacy violation, WhatsApp is considering suspending its operations in the country.
The FCCPC has made additional demands, including stopping user data sharing with Facebook companies and third parties without consent, providing information on data collection, and restoring user control over data usage.
WhatsApp claims these demands are “impossible” to meet and would impact users globally.
If WhatsApp ceases operations in Nigeria, it would have significant consequences for individuals and small businesses that rely on the platform. Read more
IGP says cops murdered, injured in protests, puts officers on red alert (Channels)
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, says a policeman was murdered while on duty during the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests on Thursday.
At a briefing in Abuja, the police boss said some of his men were also injured by hoodlums who disguised as protesters.
Egbetokun said some police stations in the country were razed by rampaging rioters. Read more
Police warn protesters against blocking roads, extorting passengers in Rivers (Nation)
Rivers Commissioner of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu has condemned the unruly behaviour of protesters in some parts of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Disu observed with dismay that some protesters were seen blocking major roads, harassing and extorting passengers.
The police boss in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP. Grace Iringe-Koko, warned protesters to desist from infringing on the rights of protesters. Read more
Prosecute promoters of anti-Igbo genocidal threats, Atiku charges FG (Vanguard)
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has charged the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government to arrest and prosecute promoters of genocidal threats against the Igbos living and earning their livelihoods in Lagos in particular and the South West in general.
In a statement he issued late on Thursday, Atiku noted that the recent call on @X (formerly @twitter) for a protest under the hashtag #IgboMustGo, demanding the forced relocation of Igbo people from Lagos and other Southwest states, is deeply troubling.
He also noted that it was fundamentally opposed to the principles of unity and coexistence that define our nation. Read more
You stand on positive side of history, Ododo hails Kogi youths for shunning hunger protest (DailyTrust)
Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State has commended the youths of the state for shunning what he termed politically motivated protest in the country, saying the young Nigerians stand on positive side of history for not giving up themselves to be used as agents of chaos.
Governor Ododo, who described the youths as “a force for nation building and the bulwark of national development”, said the decision of Kogi youths to organise a summit that examined the roles of Nigerian youths in nation building, showed they were patriotic and believed in the transformative agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The governor made this known while addressing multitudes of youths in Lokoja on Wednesday during the Kogi Youth Engagement Summit themed: “The Role of Nigerian Youth in Nation Building.” Read more
Kano police arrest 260 suspects, urge residents to obey 24-hour curfew (Punch)
The Kano State Police Command successfully apprehended not fewer than 260 suspects who exploited the nationwide strike as a cover to embark on massive looting on Thursday, August 1, 2024.
The Command’s spokesman, SP Abdullahi Kiyawa, confirmed the arrests via a press statement, saying, “These individuals engaged in acts of violence, destruction, looting, and causing harm to innocent civilians, destroying public and private properties.”
“In a swift and efficient response to these criminal activities, a total of 269 suspects responsible for destruction, looting, and instigating chaos under the guise of the nationwide hunger protest were arrested.” Read more
LPPC elevates 87 lawyers to SAN status (Independent)
The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) under the Chairmanship of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has approved the elevation of 87 legal practitioners to the revered status of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).
The rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) is awarded as a mark of excellence to members of the legal profession who have distinguished themselves as advocates and academics.
Arising from its 164th plenary session held August 1, 2024, the meeting further considered five (5) different petitions written against some of the applicants and determined that each of the petition lacked merit and thus dismissed. Read more
IGP places Police on red alert over violent protests (Leadership)
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun has announced that a police officer was killed on Thursday during the #EndBadGovernance protests that were held in many states across the nation.
Egbetokun, in a press briefing in Abuja, claimed that several other police officers sustained injuries, and some police stations were set ablaze by individuals posing as protesters.
“In light of the current situation, the Nigeria Police Force has placed all units on red alert. Our officers are fully mobilised and prepared to respond swiftly and decisively to public safety and order,” stated the IGP. Read more
Cardi B announces she’s pregnant as she ‘files for divorce for a second time’ (Mirror)
Cardi B has announced that she’s pregnant and told fans that ‘with every ending comes a new beginning,’ following the news that she’s filed for divorce from husband Offset
Cardi B has announced that she’s pregnant, with her having shared the news following reports that she’s filed for divorce from her estranged husband Offset for a second time.
The rapper shared the news on Instagram on Thursday, posting photos of herself sporting an apparent baby bump whilst modelling a red dress. She teased at the start of the caption: “With every ending comes a new beginning!” Read more
Britney Spears biopic will be made by Universal with Jon M. Chu as director (ABC)
Universal Pictures has landed the rights to Britney Spears’ memoir “The Woman in Me” and will develop a biopic of the pop star to be directed by Jon M. Chu, the studio announced Thursday.
After a competitive auction, Universal won the movie rights to the memoir, which has sold more than 2.5 million copies since it was released last October. Marc Platt, the veteran producer of “Wicked” and “La La Land,” is set to produce, with Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “In the Heights”) to direct.
Spears, herself, celebrated the news on X, where she tweeted that she was “excited to share with my fans that I’ve been working on a secret project with #MarcPlatt. He’s always made my favourite movies … stay tuned.” Read more
Global hunger monitor declares famine in camp in Sudan’s North Darfur (AlJazeera)
The war in Sudan and restrictions on aid deliveries have caused famine in at least one camp for displaced people in Sudans’s North Darfur region, according to a report by the global authority on food security.
Thursday’s United Nations-backed report, linked to an internationally recognised standard known as the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), found that it is plausible that parts of North Darfur – especially the Zamzam camp – are experiencing “the worst form of hunger”, known as IPC Phase 5.
IPC Phase 5 is determined in areas where at least one in five people or households severely lack food and face starvation and destitution, which would ultimately lead to critical levels of acute malnutrition and death. Read more
Hezbollah head vows vengeance over killing of Hamas leader in Iran (NBC)
The head of Hezbollah vowed vengeance Thursday for the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, saying in a speech that Israel is unaware of the red lines it has crossed.
Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah described the assassination Wednesday in Tehran, Iran’s capital, as an attack on Iran’s sovereignty as well as its honor.
“We have entered a new phase of the battle, and its escalation depends on the enemy’s reactions,” Nasrallah said, without specifying how the Iran-backed Lebanese militia and political group might respond. Read more
Guinea: Moussa Dadis Camara to challenge crimes against humanity conviction (AfricaNews)
Lawyers for Guinea’s former military leader, Moussa Dadis Camara, said on Thursday he will appeal his conviction on Wednesday for crimes against humanity.
He was sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges stemming from the 2009 massacre of more than 150 people during a pro-democracy rally in the capital Conakry.
Demonstrators at the stadium were protesting against Camara’s plans to run for president when soldiers opened fire on them. He had taken power in a coup the previous year. Read more
Heartbreak for Hugh Jackman as influential figure from Hollywood star’s childhood passes away (DailyMail)
Hugh Jackman has been left heartbroken after an influential figure from his childhood died this week.
The Hollywood star, 55, took to Instagram to share that his former high school music teacher Brian Buggy passed away at the age of 83 on Tuesday.
Alongside a precious photo of Mr Buggy hard at work leading an orchestra, Hugh shared his devastation as he paid tribute to the influential teacher. Read more
US recognizes opposition as winner of Venezuela’s presidential election (VOA)
The U.S. government on Thursday recognized Venezuelan opposition candidate Edmundo González as the winner of the South American country’s presidential election, discrediting the results announced by electoral authorities who declared President Nicolás Maduro the victor.
“Given the overwhelming evidence, it is clear to the United States and, most importantly, to the Venezuelan people that Edmundo González Urrutia won the most votes in Venezuela’s July 28 presidential election,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
The National Electoral Council declared Maduro the winner of Sunday’s highly anticipated election, but the president’s main challenger, González, and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado have said they obtained more than two-thirds of the tally sheets that each electronic voting machine printed after polls closed. Read more
Paris 2024 Women’s football: Ajibade rues Super Falcons early ouster (CompleteSports)
Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has expressed disappointment with the Super Falcons early ouster from the 2024 Olympic Games.
The Super Falcons were eliminated from the women’s football event following a 3-1 defeat to Japan at the Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes on Wednesday.
Randy Waldrum’s side lost all three group games, scoring one goal and conceding five. Read more
Presidential Task Force will rescue Super Eagles, Falcons – Kofar-Soro (DailyTrust)
A former Director of Sports in Katsina State, Alhaji Aliyu Kofar-Soro, has called on the Federal Government to consider setting up a Presidential Task Force to oversee the national football teams preparation and participation at international tournaments.
The sports administrator who spoke to Daily Trust yesterday was reacting to the recent disappointing performance of the Super Falcons at the ongoing Paris Olympics Games.
Having lost three group matches to Brazil, Spain and Japan, the nine-time African champions crashed out of the world’s biggest games without securing a point. Read more
Saudi Arabia plans futuristic World Cup stadium 350m above ground level (Telegraph)
Saudi Arabia is planning a World Cup football stadium 350 metres (1,150ft) above ground level in its still-unbuilt futuristic city The Line.
The proposed venue, Neom, will be one of 15 stadiums built for the country’s 2034 World Cup bid, in what is expected to be the most expensive sports construction project ever attempted.
Eleven of the stadiums will be new, eight in the capital Riyadh and four in the second city Jeddah, according to plans unveiled by the Gulf kingdom’s sporting body. Read more
Former Leicester City coach Craig Shakespeare dies at 60 (ESPN)
Former Leicester City manager Craig Shakespeare has died at the age of 60, his family announced on Thursday.
Shakespeare, who also briefly held a coaching position with the English national team in 2016, died peacefully surrounded by family according to a statement released on behalf of his family by the League Managers’ Association.
He was diagnosed with cancer last October. Read more
Simone Biles becomes first American to win 2 all-around gymnastics titles (UPI)
Simone Biles was a red, white and blue beacon, shimmering above the mat at rapid speed in her crystalized leotard to become the first American in history to win two Olympic all-around gymnastics titles, capturing her second Thursday in Paris.
Brazilian Rebeca Andrade captured a silver medal in the event, which includes the vault, balance beam, uneven bars and floor exercise. American Suni Lee, who won the all-around title at Tokyo 2020, earned bronze.
Biles’ victory was the sixth-consecutive for an American in the event in a streak dating to 2004. Read more
Tristan Wirfs is now highest paid offensive lineman in NFL history following Buccaneers deal (People)
Tristan Wirfs has made NFL history!
On Thursday, Aug. 1, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers player became the league’s highest-paid offensive lineman ever. Wirfs, 25, reached an agreement with the team to the tune of a five-year, $140.63 million contract extension, ESPN reported.
The deal includes $88.24 million in guaranteed money, a source told the network. Read more
