Breaking: Court removes Thailand’s Prime Minister from office
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin
A Constitutional Court ruling earlier today has removed Thailand’s Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin from office over violation of the country’s constitution.
The verdict comes a week after the same court dissolved the country’s popular progressive Move Forward Party, which won the most seats in last year’s election, and banned its leaders from politics for 10 years.
CNN reported that the Constitutional Court in Bangkok ruled Wednesday that Srettha, a real estate tycoon and relative political newcomer, had breached ethics rules by appointing a lawyer who had served prison time to the Cabinet.
The case against Srettha was filed in May by a group of 40 military-appointed former senators, who wanted him removed from office due to the Cabinet appointment of Pichit Chuenban, a close aide to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Pichit was jailed for six months in 2008 for contempt of court after trying to bribe Supreme Court officials in a land case involving Thaksin.
Five of the court’s nine judges voted to dismiss Srettha and his Cabinet, ruling that the prime minister was “well aware that he appointed a person who seriously lacked moral integrity.”
A new government will be formed immediately, with the ruling Pheu Thai-led coalition nominating a new candidate for prime minister, which will be voted on by the 500-seat parliament.
Speaking to newsmen after the ruling, Srettha said he “accepts the verdict” insisting that his decision was in the best interest of the country. He added that he was unsure whether the next government would continue with his policies.
Mahama promises to abolish the 10% tax on sports betting
John Mahama, Ghana’s Former President
Ghanaian presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, has promised to remove the 10% tax on sports betting if elected into office.
He made the statement in Accra while responding to a question raised by a Ghanaian youth during the NDC’s Town Hall Conversation.
The questioner said, “Mr. President, if we wake up and don’t bet, it means we will not get food to eat. But withdrawing 1000 cedis and getting taxed 100 cedis is not easy. So I want you to assure us that if we vote, you’re going to abolish the 10% tax on betting.”
In response, the former president said, “We’ve talked a lot about this, if we come, we will abolish the betting tax. We know that this government has signed a deal with the IMF to initiate the betting tax, but when we come, we will find an alternative revenue source to replace the betting tax.”
Nana Addo’s administration introduced the 10% withholding tax on betting and lottery winnings in August 2023. Despite the public rejection of the tax by Ghanaian youths, the government went ahead to enact and enforce it.
It is applied at the payout point for all betting, games and lottery wins. The regulation aimed to mobilize domestic tax revenue and address the country’s economic challenges.
Ghanaweb reported that the Domestic Tax Revenue Division of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) revealed in October 2023 that it generated GHc 15 million within a month from the 10% tax on sports betting alone.
Elon Musk’s interview with Trump surpasses 1 billion views.
The interview session which held between Elon Musk and President Donald J. Trump yesterday at 8PM ET on X Platform has broken a record of the most viewed spaces in X (formally Twitter) history.
Elon Musk revealed this on his X handle while expressing his satisfaction with the space between him and Trump.
The post reads, “Combined views of the conversation with @realDonaldTrump and subsequent discussion by other accounts now ~1 billion”
The space and its aggregate are estimated to have surpassed 1 billion views together with likes and reposts during and after the space interview.
Despite some glitches, the space recorded more than 1.2 million live streams with many people eager to hear Trump speak about his policies and efforts to regain the presidential seat in the forthcoming November 5 elections.
A security source estimates Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is running out of hideouts.
Hamas’s new leader Yahya Sinwar
According to security sources, Sinwar’s movement area, like other senior Hamas leaders, is shrinking day by day.
A security source who spoke to the Jerusalem Post estimates Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar is running out of hideouts.
Friday’s operation in Khan Yunis, as well as around the Gaza Strip and Rafah, may advance the IDF and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) to their primary goal: the elimination of senior Hamas leadership.
Sinwar is almost alone at the top of Hamas leadership as the likes of Mohammad Deif, Rafa’a Salama, Ahmed Ghandour, Raad Saad, and Ayman Nofal have either been eliminated or disappeared.
According to Arab media, the man closest to Sinwar, the minister in the Hamas government and his right-hand man, Rawhi Mushtaha, was also killed along with Sameh al-Siraj and three military commanders from the al-Qassam Brigades who accompanied them: Abdul Hadi Siam, Sami Odeh, and Muhammad Hadid.
Mushtaha, one of Hamas’s senior members, is considered to be among the closest to the leader and is the figure that Sinwar relies on the most, both in the military and the political management of the organization.
Yahya Sinwar’s appointment as the new political head of Hamas came immediately after the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh by Israeli forces in Tehran last week.
His appointment on Tuesday follows a consensus within Hamas’s leadership and Shura Council, underscoring the movement’s support for Sinwar, one of the most wanted men by Israel, which accuses him of being the mastermind behind the 7 October attacks.
Troops nab kidnapper, gun-runners in Kaduna, Borno, Plateau, Oyo
Army foils kidnap attempt along Nasarawa Road, rescues victim, nabs suspect
The Army said, yesterday, that its troops on counter-insurgency operations recorded a significant breakthrough by the dismantling of a gun-running syndicate that specialises in supplying arms and ammunition to terrorist groups operating in the North West.
Troops also apprehended a notorious kidnap syndicate and recovered a substantial cache of arms and ammunition from the suspects.
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A statement by the army said: “On August 7, 2024, troops working in coordination with other security agencies arrested a notorious gun-runner, Mallam Yau Ibrahim, in Babinga Kudaru village of Saminaka, Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
“This arrest followed an earlier apprehension of another syndicate member on July 31, 2024, by troops of Operation Safe Haven in Jos.
“Among the items recovered are AK-47 rifle, AK-47 rifle magazine, 1,641 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, and 49 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition.
“In a separate operation, while acting on credible intelligence, troops tracked down and arrested Abubakar Shehu, 25 years, in the Ijebu-Ode area of Ogun State.
“Shehu is a member of a kidnap syndicate responsible for the assassination of Alhaji Mairuga Abubakar, Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, MACBAN, in Orelope Local Government Area of Oyo State.
“Following preliminary investigation, the suspect led troops to Okoka forest in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of the state, where they recovered four AK-47 rifles, a locally fabricated pistol, eight magazines, one cartridge, and 110 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.
“In Katsina State, troops laid ambush and neutralised a terrorist at Anguwa Boka in Faskari Local Government Area of the state.
“Items recovered from the terrorists include one AK-47 rifle, one AK-47 magazine, three rounds of 7.62 mm (Special) ammunition, a mobile phone and assorted items.
“The arrest of the notorious gun-runner, Mallam Yau Ibrahim, and the apprehension of the kidnap syndicate, as well as the elimination of a terrorist alongside the recovery of arms and ammunition, are a veritable testament of the NA’s unflinching commitment in safeguarding our nation from the scourge of terrorism and criminality.”
The Kano State Government has filed a fresh fraud charge against the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, his Commissioner for Local Government, Murtala Garo, and two others.
According to the charge sheet, Garo, Lamin Sani, and Muhammad Takai were charged with criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, making false statements or returns, and criminal misappropriation.
The state accused them of mismanaging the 44 Local Government’s statutory allocations remitted to the State Joint Local Governments account from the Federation account.
They were also accused of criminally diverting N57.4 billion through several personal accounts of Local Government’s cashiers and other personal and corporate accounts, the charge sheet said.The state government also accused them of transferring the funds into dollars for their personal benefits.
The state further alleged that they acquired a service apartment on Murtala Muhammad Way, a commercial apartment at Akoya Oxygen (x20868 Dubai) in Tigerwood, and plot 2201 Floor 22 Damac Height, Marsa Dubai Marina, a multibillion-dollar hotel in Jabi, Abuja.
Others are filling stations on Gwarzo Road, Kano, and the Eastern Bypass, Kano.
In the charge sheet, the state said it would call 143 witnesses.
No date has been fixed for the matter.
NAN reports that on April 4, the Kano government filed a suit against Ganduje, his wife, Hafsat Umar, and six others before the Kano High Court. The six others include Ganduje’s son, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash Properties Ltd., Safari Textiles Ltd., and Lesage General Enterprises.
NAN also reports that on July 16, in the charge sheet with case No. K/143c/24, the state government accused Ganduje and erstwhile commissioner for justice, Musa Lawan, of criminal conspiracy and misappropriation.
Hold invaders of NLC headquarters accountable, TUC urges FG
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged the Federal Government to hold accountable those responsible for authorising and executing the invasion of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters in Abuja.
Mr Festus Osifo, TUC President, said this in a statement in Abuja.
Osifo described the invasion as a grave violation of fundamental rights, particularly the freedoms of speech and expression.
He called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident.
According to him, the invasion represents an overreach by security forces and poses a direct threat to the rights of Nigerian citizens.
“We must ensure that our rights are protected and that security agencies operate within the legal boundaries set by our Constitution,” he said.
Osifo called for the prompt return of all confiscated materials and an official explanation for what he termed an unjustified action.
NAN reports that the NLC confirmed that its national office in Abuja was invaded by security operatives.
According to a statement by NLC spokesperson Benson Upah, late on Wednesday, the operatives arrested the security guards, forcing them to hand over keys to the offices on the second floor.
The operatives then broke into the floor, ransacked the bookshop, and stole hundreds of books and publications. (NAN).
Crossdresser found dead on Abuja road, police begin probe.
The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, on Thursday ordered an investigation into the death of a yet-to-be-identified man dressed in women’s clothing.
The police, in a statement by the command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said it received a distress call about a woman’s corpse found along the Katampe-Mabushi expressway and promptly dispatched detectives to the scene.
Adah added that preliminary investigations carried out by the detectives revealed that the individual was a man fully dressed in female clothing with no means of identification on him.
She said the individual was immediately rushed to the hospital where he was confirmed dead.
Adah said, “In response to a distress call received by the Command Control Room on 08/08/2024 at about 07:40 AM, that an unidentified lady was seen lying motionless along Katampe – Mabushi expressway, a team of detectives were immediately dispatched to the scene.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the individual was a man fully dressed in female clothing with no means of identification on him. He was immediately taken to Maitama District Hospital where Doctors on duty confirmed him dead. “
Adeh said Igweh ordered a discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death.
She said, “The Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP has promptly ordered a thorough and discreet investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death. Updates on this matter will be communicated in due course.
INEC releases final voter registers for Edo, Ondo governorship polls
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the final register of voters for the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo, an official has said.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee in the state, Mr Sam Olumekun, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday.
The statement showed that Edo has 2,629,025, while Ondo has 2,053,061.
Olumekun stated that the final registers were approved at the meeting of the commission in Abuja.
He added that the register integrated new voters from the recent Continuous Voter Registration as well as the figures of successful applicants for transfer from other states to the two states.
According to him, of the 2,629,025 registered voters in Edo, 1,370,061, representing 52.11 per cent were male, while 1,258,964, representing 47.89 per cent, were female.
He also stated that the youth (18 years to 35 years) accounted for 983,133 (37.4 per cent), followed by 914,806 middle aged (36 to 49) persons.
He explained that the two age groups constitute 1,897,939, representing 72.2 per cent of the registered voters.
Olumekun also said that the occupational distribution of the registered voters showed that 868,764 students constitute the majority of voters (33.05 per cent), while 4,199 (0.16 per cent) were Persons with Disability (PWD).
He further said that the new register represents 4.9 per cent increase over the 2023 General Elections figure of 2,501,081.
“Youths (18–35 years) account for 726,944 (35.41 per cent), followed by 721,982 (35.17 per cent) middle-aged (36–49) persons.
“Together, they constitute 1,448,926 (70.57 per cent) of registered voters in the state.
“In terms of occupation, 694,938 students constitute the majority of voters (33.85 per cent),” he stated.
He explained that there are 1,782 (0.09 per cent) PWDs.
The new register represents a 3.0 per cent increase over the 2023 General Elections figure of 1,191,344,” Olumekun stated.
He added that the detailed breakdown of the register for each state by Local Government Areas, gender, age, occupation, and disability had been uploaded to INEC website and social media platforms for public information.
Olumekun further stated that in the next few days, INEC would release the timetable for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards in the two states. (NAN).
Hamas names alleged October 7 mastermind as new leader
Hamas names alleged October 7 mastermind as new leader
Hamas new leader Yahya Sinwar
Hamas named the alleged mastermind of the deadliest attack in Israeli history as its new leader, further inflaming regional tensions as the Gaza war entered its 11th month on Wednesday.
Yahya Sinwar’s appointment angered Israel at a time when it is bracing for potential Iranian retaliation for the killing of his predecessor Ismail Haniyeh last week in Tehran.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Sinwar’s promotion was “yet another compelling reason to swiftly eliminate him and wipe this vile organisation off the face of the earth”.
Sinwar was the Palestinian militant group’s leader in Gaza since 2017. He has not been seen since the October 7 attack, after which Israel called him a “dead man walking”.
A senior Hamas official told AFP that the selection of Sinwar sent a message that the organisation “continues its path of resistance”.
Hamas’s Lebanese ally Hezbollah congratulated Sinwar. It said the appointment affirms “the enemy… has failed to achieve its objectives” by killing Hamas leaders and officials.
Analysts believe Sinwar has been more reluctant to agree to a Gaza ceasefire than Haniyeh, who lived in Qatar.
“If a ceasefire deal seemed unlikely upon Haniyeh’s death, it is even less likely under Sinwar,” according to Rita Katz, executive director of the SITE Intelligence Group.
“The group will only lean further into its hardline militant strategy of recent years,” she added.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters that it was up to Sinwar to help achieve a ceasefire as he “has been and remains the primary decider”.
Pope Francis called for “an immediate ceasefire on all fronts”.
Hezbollah vows response
Iran-backed Hezbollah has also pledged to avenge the deaths of Haniyeh and its own military commander Fuad Shukr in an Israeli strike in Beirut hours earlier.
In a televised address to mark one week since Shukr’s death, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said his group and Tehran were “obliged to respond.”
Nasrallah said Hezbollah would retaliate “alone or in the context of a unified response from all the axis” of Iran-backed groups in the region, “whatever the consequences”.
Minutes before his speech, Israeli jets flew low over the Lebanese capital in a show of force.
The United States, which has sent extra warships and fighter jets to the region, urged both Iran and Israel to avoid an escalation.
President Joe Biden called Jordan’s King Abdullah II, whose country helped down Iranian drones and missiles in an attack on Israel in April.
It was followed by a call with the Qatari emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and another with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, whose countries have been the key intermediaries seeking a ceasefire in the 10-month Gaza war.
“No one should escalate this conflict. We’ve been engaged in intense diplomacy with allies and partners, communicating that message directly to Iran. We communicated that message directly to Israel,” Blinken told reporters.
The Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is to meet on Wednesday at the request of “Palestine and Iran”. They will discuss developments in the region, an OIC official said.
Israel has not commented on Haniyeh’s killing but confirmed it had carried out the strike on Shukr.
It held the Hezbollah commander responsible for a rocket attack on a Druze Arab town in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights that killed 12 children. They called him the “right-hand man” of Nasrallah.
Flights cancelled
Hezbollah has traded near-daily cross-border fire with Israeli troops throughout the Gaza war.
The group said Tuesday that six of its fighters were killed in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon. And it had launched “dozens of Katyusha rockets” at a military base in the Golan Heights in retaliation.
Regional councils in northern Israel urged residents to stay close to shelters after a barrage of rockets.
Numerous airlines have suspended flights to Lebanon or limited them to daylight hours.
Lebanese national carrier Middle East Airlines has added extra flights for people wanting to leave or return, a company source said.
Germany’s Lufthansa said it would avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace until August 13.
The Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip, triggered by the Palestinian group’s unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel, has already drawn in Iran-backed militants in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen.
The Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,198 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally. This is based on Israeli official figures.
Palestinian militants seized 251 hostages. 111 of them are still held in Gaza, including 39 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has killed at least 39,677 people, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. They did not give details of civilian and militant deaths.
The toll includes two dozen deaths in the past 24 hours, according to ministry figures.
Israel said that its air force had “struck dozens of terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip” over the past day.
The Kano State Government has filed a fresh fraud charge against the immediate past governor of the state, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, his Commissioner for Local Government, Murtala Garo, and two others.
