20-year-old nabbed for abducting 5 children in Lagos (Punch)
There was palpable tension in Ojurowo, Folumo in the Isale Eko area of Lagos Island, Lagos State, on Friday after members of the public caught an unidentified woman for kidnapping and selling children.
City Round learnt that the woman had kidnapped the children from the Ijora area of the state and brought them to Isale Eko to sell them.
In a video clip trending on X which was seen by our correspondent on Friday, people gathered around a building suspected to be where the woman was caught while conducting her illegal business. Read more
Cholera: Death toll increases to 24 in Lagos (Vanguard)
The death toll from the cholera outbreak in Lagos State has risen to 24, with 35 confirmed cases, even as 417 cases are suspected in 20 Local Government Areas of the state.
The state commissioner for health, Prof Akin Abayomi, who confirmed the development on his X handle, @ProfAkinAbayomi, on Friday morning, said the update was from the Lagos State Cholera Outbreak Situation Report (EPI Week 25) as of 19th of June, 2024.
Abayomi stated, “The situation report indicates 417 suspected cases, 35 confirmed cases, and a total of 24 recorded deaths. The graphs depict the distribution of cases across the 20 LGAs in the state.” Read more
LASTMA impounds 40 vehicles over obstructions, illegal garages in Lagos (Leadership)
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), on Friday, announced the impoundment of 40 vehicles operating in illegal garages and causing serious road obstructions around Oyingbo, Ijora and Idumota areas of Lagos.
In a statement by the director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq, the impounded vehicles were 25 commercial and 15 private vehicles.
Adebayo said the operation was led by LASTMA Head of Enforcement, Kayode Odunuga, under the directives of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Hon. Sola Giwa. Read more
International Women’s Society, Nigeria empowers over 200 widows (Tribune)
The International Women’s Society (IWS), Nigeria, hosted a Widows’ Feast and Empowerment Programme on Tuesday, June 12, at the IWS Skills Acquisition Centre in Lagos. The event demonstrated IWS’s dedication to uplifting needy women by providing them with essential job and income-generating opportunities.
The programme saw a remarkable turnout of dignitaries, stakeholders, civil society members, and government representatives, underscoring the importance and impact of IWS’s initiatives. Attendees witnessed the distribution of items such as coolers, grinding machines, sewing machines, freezers, POS machines, popcorn machines, hairdryers, cake mixers, and cash gifts to the widows. Read more
Adeniyi, Customs CG to educate stakeholders on services at Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (ThisDay)
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi will have an opportunity to educate Nigerian stakeholders, particularly importers and exporters on the fine points of movement of goods and services across the nation’s borders at the maiden edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) scheduled to hold at Radisson Lagos, GRA Ikeja, on June 27, 2024.
The Summit is being organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) in partnership with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC).
Also expected are officials from the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA). They will address the myriad of challenges facing auto importers at the summit in order to boost the confidence of stakeholders in the clearing process. Read more
Binance executive on lawful trial has access to quality medical care – FG (Nation)
The federal government has refuted claims that Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, is being held in unsavoury prison conditions or that his health is deteriorating in Nigeria.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, dismissed the allegations as baseless and misleading.
In a statement issued on Friday, June 21, the minister clarified that Gambaryan is being lawfully detained and has access to quality medical care whenever needed. Read more
Rivers LG Lockdown: CLO, 40 CSOs plan mass anti-police protest (Vanguard)
The Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, and over 40 affiliate organisations have threatened to embark on a statewide protest if the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun refuses to withdraw his men from the 23 local government councils in Rivers State.
Recall that the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, by the order of the IGP had deployed officers to man all the LG councils in the wake of the crisis that erupted on Tuesday following the expiration of the tenure of the out-gone chairmen.
Consequently, the 23 newly sworn-in caretaker chairmen of the councils are said to be operating from homes, hotels and other convenient places to carry out their administrative functions in the state. Read more
LCDAs: We’re still studying judgement — Ondo govt (Tribune)
Following the declaration of the creation of the 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in Ondo state as null and void by the High Court in the state, the state government said it would study the judgment accordingly.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Olukayode Ajulo, who stated this in a statement signed by his media assistant, Dele Sadiq Jobi, said the government is law-abiding and will, as always, maintain the rule of law.
Ajulo however, said the state government has requested the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment which will be studied before taking the next action. Read more
Sabrina Carpenter breaks UK chart record as youngest woman at No 1 & 2 (ITV)
Sabrina Carpenter has broken a UK chart record, becoming the youngest female artist to reach number one and number two in the same week.
The American pop singer is dominating the top two spots, with her new release ‘Please Please Please’ currently at number one.
Her single ‘Espresso’ is currently in second place, after spending five weeks at the top of the charts before being overtaken by her latest single.
Convicted ‘Rust’ armourer won’t be forced to testify at Alec Baldwin’s upcoming trial, judge rules (People)
Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the “Rust” armorer serving an 18-month sentence for involuntary manslaughter due to her role in the accidental on-set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in New Mexico in 2021, will not be forced to testify at Alec Baldwin’s July trial, the judge in the case ruled on Friday, June 21.
“It’s pretty clear that she does not intend to cooperate,” said Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer after hearing arguments for and against compelling her to testify.
In a May pre-trial interview, Gutierrez-Reed asserted her Fifth Amendment privilege and refused to answer prosecutors’ questions about the Baldwin case. Because of that, prosecutors filed a motion asking the court to force her to testify and grant her use immunity, meaning that whatever she said in her testimony could not be used against her in her pending appeal. Read more
A fire that spread through settlements in Turkey left 11 dead. Greece evacuates villages for safety (ABC)
A fire that apparently started in crop stubble spread through settlements in southeast Turkey overnight, killing 11 people and leaving dozens of others requiring medical treatment, officials and news reports said Friday.
In neighbouring Greece, authorities evacuated several villages south of Athens and in the southern Peloponnese region because of wildfires.
The blaze in Turkey broke out in an area between the provinces of Diyarbakir and Mardin. Fanned by winds, it moved quickly through the villages of Koksalan, Yazcicegi and Bagacik, Diyarbakir Gov. Ali Ihsan Su said. The fire was brought under control early Friday. Read more
Rebel Wilson reveals she contracted Malaria after waking up with “100 mosquito bites” on her face (DailyMail)
Rebel Wilson, 44, has opened up about a terrifying brush with death that occurred when she was a teen.
The Hollywood actress revealed the trauma happened when she contracted malaria at age 18 while travelling through Mozambique.
She said that she caught the life threatening disease after being bitten by ‘hundreds’ of mosquitos. Read more
Taylor Wily, Hawaii Five-0 and Forgetting Sarah Marshall actor, dies at 56 (USAToday)
Taylor Wily, a former sumo wrestler and UFC fighter who went on to portray entrepreneur and informant Kamekona for 10 seasons on the CBS revival of Hawaii Five-0, has died.
He was 56.
His manager, Michael Henderson, confirmed to USA TODAY on Friday that Wily died Thursday, citing “natural causes.” Read more
Israeli tank shells hit tent camp in Rafah killing at least 25, say Gaza health officials (Sky)
At least 25 Palestinians have been killed, and 50 injured, after Israeli tanks are said to have fired on tents sheltering displaced families in Rafah, according to health officials and emergency workers in Gaza.
Witnesses said the latest attack in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, took place in Mawasi, western Rafah, a rural area on the Mediterranean coast that has become filled with makeshift tents.
One resident told Reuters: “Two tanks climbed a hilltop overseeing Mawasi and they sent balls of fire that hit the tents of the poor people displaced in the area.” Read more
US forces destroy 6 Houthi drones in Red Sea (VOA)
The U.S. military’s Central Command, or CENTCOM, says its forces destroyed six drones operated by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, the same day it was confirmed the rebels sank their second merchant vessel in the region.
In a release, CENTCOM said its forces destroyed four uncrewed vessels operating Thursday on the ocean’s surface and two aerial drones over 24 hours.
The report said there were no injuries or damage reported by the U.S., the coalition or merchant vessels, but it was determined the drones presented an imminent threat. Read more
NFF congratulates Ajibade on club award (Punch)
The Nigeria Football Federation has congratulated Super Falcons’ captain Rasheedat Ajibade on her recent accolade as Player of the Season for Atlético Madrid Femenino, her Spanish top-division club.
Ajibade’s remarkable performance throughout the season was capped off by her decisive goal against Villarreal ladies in the final game, securing Atlético Madrid’s qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League.
She finished the season with 10 goals and eight assists, underscoring her crucial role in the team’s success. Read more
Euro 2024: Netherlands and France edge closer to last 16 after stalemate (RNZ)
France and the Netherlands played it safe in a 0-0 draw that failed to explode into life in Group D at Euro 2024, leaving both sides within sight of a place in the last 16 and eliminating Poland.
With France captain Kylian Mbappe remaining on the bench after suffering a broken nose in their opener, the game on Saturday (NZT) sparked only in fits and starts, without ever threatening to turn into a classic.
Both sides squandered chances and had periods of control, but neither could find a breakthrough and eased off the throttle in the second half, seemingly content to claim a point. Read more
Energised Austria wins and makes Lewandowski’s Poland the 1st team to go out at Euro 2024 (ABC)
Austria boosted its last-16 hopes at the European Championship by defeating Poland 3-1 on Friday and eliminating the Poles in the group stage.
Gernot Trauner, Christoph Baumgartner and Marko Arnautovic scored for Austria while Krzysztof Piatek had Poland’s first-half equalizer.
Robert Lewandowski, who missed Poland’s first match against the Netherlands due to an injury, came on in the second half but failed to make an impact, and was booked after just five minutes on the pitch. Read more
Lewis Hamilton on top in Barcelona F1 practice after dramatic day at Mercedes (StraitsTimes)
Lewis Hamilton led a finely balanced second practice for Mercedes on June 21, ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen’s Red Bull only fifth.
The June 23 race is the first of a triple header as Formula One returns to Europe where three-time world champion Verstappen was generally expected to reassert his superiority after missing out on two of the past four races.
But on the evidence of the June 21 opening two practice sessions, Verstappen – who leads the championship by 56 points – has a real fight on his hands in a refreshing turn of events for impartial F1 fans. Read more
Australian Jordan Thompson upsets Taylor Fritz to reach Queen’s Club semifinals (JapanToday)
Jordan Thompson recorded his second victory over a top-15 opponent this week by beating Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-3 to reach the semifinals at the grass-court Queen’s Club tournament on Friday.
The 30-year-old Australian capitalized on Fritz’s unforced errors at key moments to notch a career first: three tour-level semifinals in one season.
Thompson, ranked No. 43, came into the tournament having not won a tour-level match since April. He beat No. 15 Holger Rune in three sets and advanced when Andy Murray retired injured from their second-round match before eliminating No. 12 Fritz. Read more
Wayne Mardle fears LIV Golf style civil war in darts over key decision (Express)
Wayne Mardle reckons taking the World Darts Championship to Saudi Arabia could trigger a golf-style civil war in the sport. PDC president Barry Hearn has openly admitted he would consider uprooting darts’ flagship event from Alexandra Palace and taking it to the Middle East country, which is spending vast sums to secure major sporting events.
The World Snooker Championship, another event controlled by Hearn’s Matchroom operation, could move from Sheffield to Saudi by the end of the decade. Sky Sports darts expert Mardle would hate to see the darts’ showpiece event leave its iconic north London home and does not believe holding the event in a country like Saudi would work, even if it would enhance the players’ bank balances. Read more