A drone strike by Israeli forces has killed a commander in the Lebanese Islamist group al-Jamaa al-Islamiya (Assembly of Islam), in the eastern part of the country.
Security sources told journalists Muhammad Hamid Jabara from the town of Qaraoun, was killed at 6:30 local time (0330 GMT) Thursday in the attack that targeted his truck.
In June, the Israeli army said it had killed Ayman Ratma, who was responsible for weapons supplies for the Palestinian militant group Hamas and al-Jamaa al-Islamiya in eastern Lebanon.
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The militant group did not comment initially.
The organisation is close to Hezbollah and Hamas and claims to support the Shiite Hezbollah militia’s fight against Israel.
Since the beginning of the Gaza war, there have been daily military confrontations between the Israeli army and the pro-Iranian Hezbollah and other groups in Lebanon.
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Lebanese Islamist commander killed in Israel drone strike
Edo APC guber candidate, Okpebholo admitted in hospital after gunmen attack – Aide
Senator Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State has been reportedly admitted in an undisclosed hospital following an attack on his convoy by suspected political thugs in Benin City.
A policeman in Okpebholo’s convoy was reportedly killed in the attack, while two others sustained injuries.
Godswill Inegbe, Legislative Aide to Okpebholo, in charge of Media & Communication, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday evening.
The statement was posted on several WhatsApp platforms.
Inegbe said the policeman was killed by suspected political thugs who invaded the Benin Airport when the impeached deputy governor, Philip Shaibu, and the APC governorship candidate arrived from Abuja.
He said, “This afternoon, the motorcade of Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC governorship candidate, was brutally attacked by members of Edo State Security Network and State government-sponsored thugs.
“During the unprovoked brutal attack, three mobile policemen attached to the security detail of Senator Okpebholo were injured with bullets wound, while one of the policemen has been declared dead
“Senator Monday Okpebholo is at this moment admitted in an undisclosed hospital in Benin receiving medical attention, and other members of his entourage who were victims of the brutal attack are in various hospitals in Benin City.”
Edo APC guber candidate, Okpebholo admitted in hospital after gunmen attack – Aide
Court reserves judgment in Rivers APC leadership dispute
A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has reserved judgment on a suit filed by elected state, local government and ward executives of the All Progressives Congress, APC, under the leadership of Emeka Beke.
The suit is against the party’s National Executive and members of the Seven-Man Caretaker Committee in Rivers State, led by Tony Okocha.
Other defendants in the suit, filed by Sam Sam Etetegwung on behalf of himself and all elected executives of the APC, include the Inspector General of Police, the Nigerian Police, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Etetegwung, Banarth Ezemoye, and Ezekiel Ubom, on behalf of the elected executives of the APC, are challenging the dismissal of the elected executives under Beke’s leadership and the appointment of the caretaker committee led by Okocha by the National Working Committee of the APC.
TVN reports that during the resumed session on Thursday, counsels representing the parties argued and adopted their final written addresses.
The presiding judge, Justice Sika Aprioku, after hearing their arguments, reserved judgment, which will be communicated to the parties within 48 hours.
Justice Aprioku also ruled on an application for joinder by some members of the APC loyal to the Vice Chairman of the APC, South-South, Victor Gideon.
The application was dismissed for lacking merit, and the judge awarded N300,000 (three hundred thousand naira) in favor of the claimants.
Court reserves judgment in Rivers APC leadership dispute
Salary cut: Atiku, Sani tackle Reps, ask lawmakers to slash allowances
Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has said the office running cost of the House of Representatives is the “real devil” and not salary.
Sani made the remark while commending the House of Representatives for slashing their salaries.
Posting on X, Sani wrote: “The Reps slashed their salaries.That is a good symbolic gesture.I commend them.But the real Devil is the Office running cost and not the Salary.”
Similarly, the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar likened the “sacrifice” of the lawmakers as a drop in the ocean.
Atiku said the demons are in the allowances and not salaries of the lawmakers.
He posted on X: “The sacrifice of members of the House of Representatives is commendable. But it is a drop in the ocean. The demons are in the allowances and not the salaries of lawmakers and government officials in general.
“Whatever happened to the much-trumpeted implementation of the Oronsaye Report? Recently, the ballooning of MDAs with the attendant cost implications has been observed.
“There’s too much wastage and prioritisation of non-essential expenditures. What is desirable is an across the board cut in expenses. We can no longer afford to borrow money to fund continued irresponsibility in government.”
Salary cut: Atiku, Sani tackle Reps, ask lawmakers to slash allowances
Actress Ini Dima-Okojie announces return of fibroid 3 years after surgery
Sultry Nigerian actress, Ini Dima-Okojie has announced the return of fibroids she treated three years ago.
In a post on her Instagram page on Thursday, the thespian said she is surprised that the fibroid has returned after undergoing invasive surgery to remove it years ago.
She said: “I want to share something important with you today. If you’ve been following me, you would probably know that before the end of 2020, I had a myomectomy, which is an invasive surgery to take out fibroids.
‘‘The surgery was successful; my doctor removed every single fibroid and I healed well. It’s been 3 years since the surgery and unfortunately, the fibroids are back.”
Ini, who described the development as heartbroken, said she has no plans to undergo another surgery to get them removed.
She added: “It’s very disheartening and it hasn’t been the easiest couple of months but I’m okay. I’ve come to terms with it, and I don’t want to do another surgery anytime soon. This time I want to take a holistic approach towards shrinking the fibroids.
“I just thought it was important to share and it wasn’t easy. I remember the first time I shared my story and how many women felt seen and many people shared their stories with me.”
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NLC gives reasons for accepting Tinubu’s N70K minimum wage offer
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, on Thursday, explained why the organised labour accepted President Bola Tinubu’s N70,000 minimum wage offer.
Ajaero, who spoke to State House correspondents after a meeting with Tinubu, said the unions agreed to the offer because of other incentives attached.
He said another reason the labour accepted the offer was because the president promised a review every three years as against what obtained in the past.
The new minimum wage when approved by the National Assembly will replace the N30,000 minimum wage which expired on April 18.
TVN had earlier reported that Tinubu, after a meeting with the leadership of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, approved N70,000 as the new minimum wage.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, issued a statement via his X handle after the approval.
The ststement read: “President Tinubu also promised to find ways to assist the private sector and the sub-nationals to pay the minimum wage.
“President Tinubu announced the decisions at the meeting held with leaders of TUC and NLC on Thursday in Abuja, the second time the parties met in 7 days.
“The Labour leaders applauded President Tinubu for the fatherly gesture as the President also promised to use his discretionary powers meet the demands of university unions demanding unpaid 4 months salaries.”
The national minimum wage issue has been a contentious one between labour leaders and the federal government in the past few months.
The organised labour embarked on strike after it failed to reach an agreed wage with the federal government.
The Labour had asked for N494,000 as wage but went down to N250,000 after a series of back and forth with the federal government.
However, the federal government had insisted on N62,000 as the new minimum wage prior to Tinubu’s approval of N70,000.
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Gov Abiodun names Ogun road after Wole Soyinka
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has named the 12.5 kilometres Kemta-Idi Aba-Somorin Road in Abeokuta after the Noble Laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka.
Abiodun, who spoke at a reception organised by the state government to celebrate the 90th birthday of the Noble Laureate, at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, said the naming of the road after the world-renowned playwright was due to his achievements in the academia and literary world, which brought honour, not only to the state and Nigeria, but the black race.
He noted that apart from using his intellectual works towards promoting humanity, Soyinka also showcased the rich cultural heritage of the African continent to the outside world.
The governor said, “Prof Wole Soyinka is a towering figure in Literature and a Noble Laureate, whose works have echoed across the world; a shining star of our great nation. His life and works are great testaments of a genius. His intellectual prowess and his unwavering dedication to the advancement of humanity are without question.
“As a colossus of our era, he continues to exemplify the spirit of resilience through his unwavering commitment to truth and justice. Throughout his life, he has continued to challenge oppression, using himself as a mighty sword against injustice.”
The state’s helmsman while thinking President Bola Tinubu for renaming the National Arts Theatre, Lagos, after the erudite scholar, pointed out that attaining the age of 90 was evidence of the grace of God on him.
“His writings are powerful weapons for social change and enlightenment, rich in symbolism and depth that have captivated audiences globally and transcended cultural boundaries.
“His career spans academia, Literature and activism, exemplifying a profound commitment to creating a just and equitable world,” he said.
Recounting some of the travails the literary icon went through to ensure an egalitarian society, Abiodun recalled that Soyinka was imprisoned for 22 months during the Nigerian Civil War on charges of conspiring with the Biafra secessionists, saying despite that, he remains resolute for a better society.
The former Secretary of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, in his remarks, described Soyinka as a champion of democracy and the promoter of human dignity.
Gov Abiodun names Ogun road after Wole Soyinka
Dubai princess Sheikha Mahra divorces her husband on Instagram
Princess Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the daughter of UAE Prime Minister and Dubai ruler Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has announced her divorce from her husband, Sheikh Mana Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, also a member of the country’s ruling family.
Sheikha Mahra took to her Instagram account on Wednesday to make the announcement in what would be a rare move for a princess in the United Arab Emirates.
The 30-year-old cited her husband being “occupied with other companions” as reason for her decision to exit the royal marriage.
“Dear husband, as you are occupied with other companions, I hereby declare our divorce.
“I divorce you, I divorce you, and I divorce you. Take care. Your ex-wife,” Princess Sheikha Mahra wrote as she appeared to be invoking the controversial practice of triple divorce pronouncements that is obtainable in some Muslim countries, where a man instantly divorces his wife by declaring so thrice.
The method is banned in some countries and isn’t customarily invoked by women against their husbands.
The couple got married last year in a glamorous ceremony. They welcomed a daughter shortly after.
Neither the UAE government nor Mahra’s husband Sheikh Mana have publicly commented on the Instagram post.
Dubai princess Sheikha Mahra divorces her husband on Instagram
Kaspersky sacks dozens, to shut down US operations
Russian anti-virus giant Kaspersky has sacked dozens of its employees and shutting down its operations after the United States banned the sale and use of the software in its domain citing security risks.
Kaspersky declared a “gradual wind down” of its US activities beginning July 20, which coincided with the ban’s activation.
Due to the restriction, the company considers its US business “no longer viable”.
Kaspersky first disputed the prohibition, stating that they “do not engage in activities that threaten US national security.
The company promised to pursue all legal options” to continue operating.
However, facing an uphill battle, they chose to withdraw.
Last month, the US authorities declared that Kaspersky antivirus software would no longer be sold across the country and asked users to move to an alternate provider.
The Bureau of Industry and Security of the Commerce Department announced that it had implemented the “first of its kind” ban, claiming that Kaspersky’s Russian basis puts consumers’ privacy and national security at risk.
“Russia has shown it has the capacity, and even more than that, the intent to exploit Russian companies like Kaspersky to collect and weaponize the personal information of Americans.
‘‘And that’s why we are compelled to take the action that we’re taking today,” U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a call with reporters.
According to Raimondo, Kaspersky will be banned from selling its software to American consumers and businesses starting on July 20, after that the company will no longer be permitted to push software updates to U.S. customers.
“That means your software and services will degrade. That’s why I strongly recommend that you immediately find an alternative to Kaspersky,” Raimondo said.
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Listen to Ndume, sanction Wike – Dele Momodu tells Tinubu
The Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu on Thursday issued some advice to President Bola Tinubu.
Momodu said Tinubu should listen to former Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume, because the lawmaker is his friend.
He urged the President to sanction the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike before he causes chaos in the country.
Momodu noted that Wike disrespected Tinubu in his rift with Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State.
Posting on his Facebook page, Momodu wrote: “Your Excellency, I have decided to write this open letter to you as a concerned friend and Brother.
“As you’re aware, I’m a member of opposition but you and I have had a long history together. I owe you only one thing, TRUTH.
“It is very obvious that the first thing that takes flight in the Presidential villa is TRUTH. The reason is simple. Some Nigerians are experts in hijacking men and women of power.
“The deification process is often swift and irreversible. I’m writing you today, not because I expect you to act on my suggestions, but to put it on record that someone gave you the true picture of things. I’m also hoping that some of your friends will read and interpret to you, in a sober moment.
“In the name of God, beware of those hero-worshippers at the National Assembly who have turned you into God. NDUME is your best friend. Listen to him. There’s danger ahead.
“You must enforce DISCIPLINE as a leader. Your new disciple, NYESOM WIKE, has publicly disrespected you in the FUBARA matter. You need to sanction him before he throws Nigeria into total chaos.”
Listen to Ndume, sanction Wike – Dele Momodu tells Tinubu