15 people injured in Lagos multiple accident – LASEMA (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.
Oke-Osanyintolu said the accident was reported via the state’s toll-free emergency numbers, 767 and 112.
He added that the LASEMA’s Response Team from the Command and Control Centre, C3, Alausa swiftly swung to the scene. Read more
Minimum wage: N250,000 demand not sacrosanct, says TUC (Nation)
Organised labour appears to have backed down on its demand for N250,000 as minimum wage.
Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Festus Osifo said yesterday that there was nothing sacrosanct about the N250,000, adding that labour was receptive to adjustments.
There was no immediate response from the federal government last night on the latest stance of organised labour, although the Senate yesterday pledged to grant accelerated consideration and passage of the new minimum wage bill from President Bola Tinubu. Read more
Nigeria’s banking sector lost N56.4b to fraud in 4 years – Report (Sun)
Geopolitical research firm, SB Morgen (SBM) Intelligence, revealed that the amount of money lost to fraud in Nigeria’s banking sector stood at N56.37 billion in four years.
This represents an 83 per cent increase between 2020 and 2023.
According to the research firm, the banking sector lost N11.61 billion in 2020, N12.77 billion in 2021, N14.32 billion in 2022, and N17.67 billion in 2023, making it a total of N56.37 billion in four years. Read more
Obaseki vows to flush out Okaigheles, other criminal gangs from Edo (Leadership)
Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has promised that the state government will collaborate with security agencies to flush out criminal gangs from the State.
The governor stated this on Friday when he received the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division, Nigerian Army, Major General Obinna Onubogu, who was on a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City.
According to Obaseki, the state government will not accept a repeat of similar incident that happened in the Okomu area where Okaigheles and militant groups shot at soldiers. Read more
Govt urges caution as Cholera death toll hits 30 (Punch)
The National Biosafety Management Agency has called on the general public to exercise caution over the recent cholera outbreak in some states across Nigeria.
Head, Information and Communications, NBMA, Mrs Gloria Ogbaki, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, quoted the Director- General, NBMA, Dr Agnes Asagbra, as saying there was need for carefulness.
“Asagbra said Nigerians must exercise caution as Nigeria records 30 deaths and 1,141 suspected cases from the disease. Read more
Ezekwesili, Yesufu, others seek local govt autonomy (ThisDay)
The Office of the Citizen (OOTC) has made a case for local government autonomy in Nigeria in order to achieve the desired development plans for the citizenry.
The OOTC team, which made the appeal at the maiden virtual Democracy Dialogue on June 12 with the theme: ‘Promoting Sustainable Development Models for Effective Local Governance’, said the event was designed to compel key political and electoral reform actions for credible, transparent, free and fair elections by the executive, legislature, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security establishment.
Speaking during the event, the Founder of #FixPolitics, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, said: “Nigeria is faced with serious structural challenges in its democracy and governance, and nothing works until structural solutions are provided.” Read more
FG declares public holiday for Eid-ui-Adha (Channels)
The Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-ui-Adha celebration.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Aishetu Gogo Ndayako, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.
He said the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, and congratulated all Muslim Ummah both at home and in the Diaspora on this occasion. Read more
Eid-el-Kabir: Police assure hitch-free celebrations in Gombe (Tribune)
Gombe State Police Command has assured citizens of the State of hitch-free and peaceful celebrations of the 2024 Eid-El Adha on Sunday.
The assurance was given by the Commissioner, Hayatu Usman in a statement by the Command PPRO, ASP Buhari Abdullahi as made available to Journalists in Gombe on Friday.
The Command also reaffirmed its commitment to the protection of life and property and the maintenance of law and order throughout the Eid celebration. Read more
Scar Lip responds to backlash after twerking in new “She’s Hot” video (Vibe)
Scar Lip wants fans to “grow with” her as she explores new facets of her artistry.
The Bronx-bred rapper took to social media shortly after a clip of her new video, “She’s Hot,” went viral online, with many taking notice of the street spitter switching it up for a sexier look. The clip also features the “This Is New York” artist shakin’ a lil something, which threw many of her fans for a loop.
“I know a few days ago you saw me shaking my booty on the internet. I wanna say, I apologize to all y’all and anybody I offended,” she began. “Now, I know everybody’s like, ‘No, we don’t want you doing that…’ I understand that, right?” Read more
Stunned Taylor Swift forced to pause Eras Tour performance at Anfield due to crowd reaction (Mirror)
Taylor Swift performed at Anfield on Friday for the second of three nights and was left stunned by the crowd’s reaction as she halted her show for the emotional moment
Taylor Swift was visibly overwhelmed by the electric atmosphere at Anfield on Friday, pausing her Eras Tour performance to take in the adoration from the Liverpool audience.
The international pop icon, who performed at the famous football stadium for the second of three nights, expressed her gratitude to the fans. Despite being a global superstar, Taylor, 34, showed her down-to-earth side. Read more
Hunt for mum after her son, 13, found starved to death in motel (Metro)
A 13-year-old boy with Down syndrome was found starved to death in a motel and several months later, cops are hunting for his mother.
Serena Starkey, 53, remains on the run more than three months after police were dispatched to an Extended Stay America in Birmingham, Alabama, where she and her son, Aston Starkey, were living.
Cops on the morning of March 2 rushed Aston from the motel on Cahaba Park Circle near US 280 to Grandview Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Read more
UK will be invaded by massive horny French bed bugs – and it’s because of the Olympics (DailyStar)
The Paris Olympics could spark another mass bed bug invasion in the UK, according to experts.
Thousands of Brits are expected to travel to the games which are being held in the French capital next month. But pest controllers have warned that people could bring back more than memories from the games this summer.
They fear a bed bug epidemic that is even worse than last year’s outbreak could take place if travellers are not vigilant. Paul Blackhurst, technical academy head at Rentokil, said: “Bed bugs can spread very rapidly. Read more
FBI warns of uptick in scams targeting older people (UPI)
Ahead of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15, the Federal Bureau of Investigation warned it has seen a double-digit increase in reported elder fraud cases.
According to a statement issued Friday, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center already has seen $1.6 billion in elder fraud losses from January to May of this year, an increase of nearly $300 million over the same time period last year.
The agency counted a total of $3.4 billion reported losses in 2023, and elder fraud complaints rose 14% over the year prior. Read more
Fears for father trapped in jail for 12 years over stealing a mobile phone after he set himself alight (Independent)
A desperate father who has languished in jail for 12 years under an indefinite jail term imposed after he stole a mobile phone has set himself on fire in prison.
Thomas White, 40, was rushed to hospital after he started the blaze in his cell at HMP Manchester on Thursday. His family said he was assessed by medics for smoke inhalation and injuries to his arm.
His devastated sister – who has been calling for him to be moved to a mental health facility – said the desperate act was an attempt on his own life. Read more
Tony Mordente, West Side Story actor and ex-husband of the late Chita Rivera, dies at 88 (EW)
Tony Mordente, who was part of the cast in the original stage show of West Side Story, as well as the 1961 film version, and went on to direct TV, died on Tuesday, June 11, in Henderson, Nev., according to his online obituary. He was 88.
On the stage, the Broadway actor, dancer, and choreographer played a Jet named A-Rab in the original 1957 production about feuding teenage gangs that was inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Later that year, he married his co-star Chita Rivera, who originated the role of Anita and would go on to become a Broadway legend and Tony winner. Read more
Flamingos seal U-17 World Cup spot (Punch)
Nigeria’s women’s U-17 team, the Flamingos have qualified for the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the seventh time after crossing their last hurdle by beating Liberia 2-0 in Abuja on Friday, to take a 6-1 aggregate win in their last game of the qualifiers.
Striker Harmony Chidi powered the rampant Flamingos above the Liberians with a brace to book their place at the tournament which holds from October 16 to November 3 in the Dominican Republic.
Chidi opened the scoring for the Bankole Olowookere ladies four minutes into the game and added the second in the 63rd minute to take her tally to 13 goals in six matches of the qualifying series. Read more
Hosts Germany thrash Scotland in Euro 2024 opener (ABC)
Hosts Germany recorded their biggest-ever European Championship win, thumping Scotland 5-1 in their Euro 2024 opener in Munich on Friday.
Clinical Germany scored three first-half goals and enjoyed a man advantage after Ryan Porteous received a straight red card before the break.
Germany dominated possession in the match, and Florian Wirtz opened the scoring in the 10th minute when he connected with a cross that goalkeeper Angus Gunn could only palm against the post and watch helplessly as it rolled into the net. Read more
USA through to T20 World Cup Super 8s; Ireland, Pakistan and Canada eliminated (SkySports)
USA have qualified for the Super 8s at the T20 World Cup after their game against Ireland in Florida was abandoned, with Ireland, Pakistan and Canada now eliminated.
Heavy rainfall caused by tropical storms had battered the Florida area and left the outfield unplayable with the game officially called off after a number of inspections.
The point tournament debutants USA earned for the washout takes them onto five points from four fixtures in Group B, a tally winless Ireland, as well as Pakistan and Canada, are unable to match. Read more
Done deal: Nigerian forward joins Scottish club Aberdeen (CompleteSPorts)
Scottish Premiership club, Aberdeen have announced the signing of Nigerian forward, Peter Ambrose.
Ambrose linked up with the Dons from Hungarian side Ujpest for an undisclosed fee.
The 22-year-old penned a three-year contract, with the option of another year.
The striker is Aberdeen’s second summer signing. Read more
Serena Williams narrates meteoric rise through the ranks of tennis in new docuseries (AfricaNews)
Icon Serena Williams attended the premiere of the upcoming docuseries on her 27 years in professional tennis.
The 42-year-old said on the Tribeca Festival red carpet in New York that the new series sheds light on the truth of what happens behind the scenes.
“In my position and growing up as a teenager and 14, I kind of had to be guarded to just kind of stay sane, and just being in so much press and doing everything that I was doing and traveling the globe every year. And it wasn’t like you were on tour and you took a break and you had a couple of years off,” Read more
Cavendish knighted in King’s Birthday Honours (BBC)
Cyclist Mark Cavendish has been given a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Cavendish won the men’s road race at the 2011 World Championships and has sprinted to a record-equalling 34 Tour de France stage wins, matching Eddy Merckx’s haul.
The 39-year-old from the Isle of Man will try to take the stage record outright at next month’s Tour. Read more