🎬Lingering Promises

Good morning. Summer holidays, more commonly known as the rainy season in this part of the world, are coming to an end. And if the rains have been too heavy in your area, we have a distinct proposition for you: The Emi Koussi volcano.

Also known as the roof of the Sahara, it is the highest peak of the Sahara desert and one of the most noticeable structures from space. Not much to worry about though, its last eruption was 1.4 million years ago and it should be a perfect fit for your need for warmth and fascination…if they’re that urgent.

— Edna Akanni, Tayo Davies.

SPORTS

Algerian boxer, Imane Khelif fights back

For the world of female boxing, all publicity may not be good publicity after all as Algerian amateur boxer, Imane Khelif has filed a complaint following the barrage of criticism and false claims about her gender during the just concluded Paris Olympics.

Gender identity

Despite recently winning gold in the welterweight division of the female boxing event, Khelif’s journey through the Olympics has been marred with controversy over her gender identity, especially following her first-round bout with Italian boxer, Angela Carini. The fight would last only seconds as the Italian boxer surrendered quicker than a Wi-Fi signal during a thunderstorm declaring that she “had never felt a punch like this”.

Soon after, the internet would run amok with false claims of Khelif being transgender (she isn’t). Prominent figures like JK Rowling, Donald Trump, and Elon Musk called out the Olympics for allowing Khelif to compete.

What did the tests say?

Last year, during the World Boxing Championships, the Algerian boxer was banned from competing due to elevated testosterone levels found in her blood during preliminary testing. However, the International Boxing Association later claimed that she was subjected to unspecified tests that showed she had a competitive advantage compared to other athletes.

The unspecified nature of the tests informed the Olympic Committee’s decision to discard the report and uphold Khelif’s participation during this year’s Olympics.

Deja vu? South African long-distance runner, Caster Semenya had her fair share of controversy following her dominant performance in the 800m sprint during the 2009 World Championships. Further testing would later reveal she had a rare intersex condition which allowed her to have blood testosterone levels in the male range. She would go on to become a double Olympic champion. EA.

AFRICA

Headline Quickie

• Nigeria: Dangote Refinery insists on delivery timelines. Refinery executives insist Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) also known as petrol will hit the Nigerian local market by August. This will be the latest in a long line of promises to provide the Nigerian people with locally refined crude oil products. The 650,000 bpd refinery was commissioned in May 2023 but has experienced logistical and external challenges that have delayed its supply of refined petroleum products to the Nigerian market.

• Sudan’s government backs out of US-led peace talks. The army-backed government of Sudan has closed the door on negotiations to end the 15-month rift between the armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The government preferred to focus talks on humanitarian aid stating a need for all components of the Sudanese government to participate in talks. The US however has described the talks as primarily military and aimed at achieving a ceasefire.

• Nigeria: Woman destroys husband’s passport at airport. The Nigeria Immigration Service has called for an investigation on a woman, Favour Igiebor who has been seen on videos reposted on X to be tearing apart her husband’s passport upon return from a trip. According to Nigerian Law, willful destruction of a passport is a serious offense with punishment ranging from fines to imprisonment or both. A spokesperson for the service has confirmed that swift corrective measures will be taken upon conclusion of the investigation.