Rave News Digest: Daar Communications Shut Down, Tyler Perry Sends Warning, Women’s World Cup + More
Some Nigerians have decried media intimidation by the government while some say it’s good riddance as the NBC shut down Daar Communications on Thursday. We may be divided on that front but we’ll all be cheering for our Super Falcons as the FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off tonight.
Be in the know with our Rave News Digest which summarizes some of the hottest global news you need to catch up on, saving you time and energy. Consider it your daily news fix.
Here is a rundown of five of the hottest news topics…
1. 8th Assembly bows out
Following the end of their tenure, the valedictory session of the 8th Senate took place on Thursday at the Senate chambers.
The chamber was packed full with lawmakers taking turns to speak on their experiences since 2015 when the Senate was inaugurated.
Some of the outgoing senators were quick to praise themselves and their colleagues. Some others acknowledged that the house had some challenges but praised their ability to overcome them, while some argued that they could have done better.
Senator Magnus Abe (APC Rivers), commended his colleagues for working tirelessly in preserving the Senate as an institution.
“We may not have served perfectly but we represented the highest standard of integrity. May God bless us all,” he said.
Senator Ben Murray Bruce (PDP Bayelsa), in his comments, urged senators of the 9th Senate to make laws for the future and not in the past.
He went on to reveal his displeasure over some of the bills he presented that were not considered by the house.
To cap it off, the outgoing Senate president, Bukola Saraki took the stage to deliver the last speech. He thanked his colleagues for their support even in the face of trials while noting that the Senate invasion which led to the theft of the mace would remain ‘saddest’ moment for him.
2. DAAR communications suspended by NBC
The Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) has suspended the licence of Daar Communications PLC. The media company owns AIT television and Nigeria’s first private radio station, Ray Power radio station.
The announcement was made by the Director-General of the NBC, Modibbo Kawu, while briefing journalists in Abuja.
The NBC, Nigeria’s broadcast regulator had accused AIT of violating broadcast rules in some of its programmes including Kakaaki and Political Platform.
The DG revealed that the NBC has over the last two years summoned the company on several occasions to address issues regarding the operations of the company which were in breach of the NBC Act and Broadcast Code.
“After several meetings with the management of Daar Communications Plc and many letters of warning, the NBC today, 6 June 2019, took a decision to suspend the licence of Daar Communications Plc for failure to abide by the Commission’s directives, the provisions of the NBC Act Cap N11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.”
The announcement was preceded by a protest at the U.S Embassy in Abuja by Mr Raymond Dokpesi who is the owner of Daar Communications, and other AIT staff members and supporters, alleging victimisation by the Nigerian government.
The shutdown would be indefinite but Mr Dokpesi has vowed to challenge the punitive measures against the company.
3. Sudan’s AU membership revoked
The African Union has suspended Sudan’s membership amid the recent surge of violence in the state. The suspension is said to be implemented “with immediate effect.”
Following the suspension, the Union has also pledged further action if power was not transferred to civilian authority.
The AU’s Peace and Security Department said in a post on Twitter on Thursday that Sudan’s participation in all AU activities would be suspended with immediate effect – “until the effective establishment of a civilian-led transitional authority,” which it described as the only way to “exit from the current crisis”.
In what is regarded the most violent week since the ousting of the long-term president Omar al-Bashir, over 100 people have reportedly died in a military clamp down on opposition activists.
The bone of contention is that the opposition wants the military to hand over the reins of government back to civilians. But talks between the ruling interim military council and the opposition have since broken down.
Following the violence that erupted on Monday when security forces stormed a weeks-long sit-in, the council leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan called for national elections within nine months.
The Deputy head of the military council Mohamed Hamdan Dagolo has defended the violent suppression, claiming that the protesters had been infiltrated by rogue elements and drug dealers.
4. Don’t waste your money! — Tyler Perry pleads with actors
Award-winning Hollywood actor and producer, Tyler Perry, is asking all actors to stop buying billboards asking for acting jobs.
The 49-year-old screenwriter and director shared a photo of a billboard featuring actress Racquel Bailey that read, “ATTENTION MR. PERRY Racquel Bailey Is Your Next Leading Lady.”
Perry shared the photo on his official Facebook page to warn actors to detest from doing such. According to the actor, a similar thing had happened twice before.
He said that it was not the way to get his attention and called it a waste of money.
“Auhhh…. soooooo…… here’s the deal. This is not the way to get my attention if you’re looking for a role in one of my shows,” Perry wrote on Facebook. “Please DON’T DO THIS, SAVE YOUR MONEY!! This is the third time that someone has done this. PLEASE STOP! To audition is FREE!! I’m sure you can use that money for a better purpose.”
He continued, “I love that you want to work with me, and I love that you invest in yourself. But when you do things like this it puts my team on high alert and makes me look at you sideways. I know the message that you want to send is a positive one, but this comes across as the opposite.”
He next directed his message to Bailey, telling her, “And by the way, you were great in THE NIGHT OF! It was my favorite show a couple years ago. I ALREADY SAW YOU!! So just audition and keep your money!! Again, I appreciate your effort, but that’s not the way to work for me. God bless you dreamer. I have no doubt you will make it one day!!”
5. Rave Sports Roundup
It was extra time heartbreak for England as they were defeated by a resilient Netherlands side 3-1 on Thursday night’s Nations League semi-final. The Three Lions had earlier taken the lead in the first half when Marcus Rashford calmly converted a penalty Dutch wonder kid Matthijs de Ligt rashly conceded.
However, the Dutch came roaring back in the second half as De Ligt made up for his mistake by rising highest to head a Memphis Depay cross into the net.
Close to the end of regular time, England thought they had won the game but were dismayed when Jesse Lingard’s goal was ruled out for offside following some VAR controversy.
A couple of grave mistakes by England saw them concede two goals in extra time to hand the Netherlands the win. They will now face Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in the Final in Porto.
Meanwhile, in female football, the much anticipated FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019 kicks off Friday night in France. 24 countries split across six groups of four are set to battle it out for the ultimate prize in women’s football.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons are one of 3 teams representing Africa. They are placed in Group A alongside host nation France, Norway and South Korea.
While the hosts get us off on Friday against South Korea, we’ll have to wait a bit longer till Saturday for the Falcon’s first match against Norway. We wish them all the best in the competition.
Moving to the world of tennis, current world number two Rafael Nadal defeated long-time rival Roger Federer in an epic semi-final tie in the French Open.
He is not called the “god of clay” for nothing. Despite severe windy conditions, Nadal defeated Federer in straight sets to advance to the final.
The Spaniard will now face whoever wins the other semi-final tie between world number one Novak Djokovic and world number four Dominic Thiem.
In female tennis, Amanda Anisimova who raised eyebrows when she became the first player born in the 2000s, female or male, to make a Grand Slam quarterfinal by knocking out world number 3 Simona Halep, saw her fairytale come to an end.
The 17-year-old was defeated by Ashleigh Barty who progresses to the final where she’d face Marketa Vondrousova on Saturday.
Muslihat Shaka reporting
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