After 10-year relationship, Maria’s ex-boyfriend battered, killed her for seeking better life with new lover – Sister (Punch)
A 31-year-old Abuja-based lady, Maria Ali, was allegedly murdered by her ex-lover. According to the victim’s sister, Cecilia Ali-Ene, the family is fighting for justice.
Cecilia told a Punch newspaper reporter in an interview that Maria, a graduate of theatre arts, was killed by her ex-boyfriend, Benedict.
“They had been dating for about 10 years,” she daid. “Those 10 years were years of turmoil and agony for Maria as the man would hit her at the slightest provocation and even push her out. Many of Maria’s friends would call to tell me and my family about the way Ben was treating my sister and how he had no regard for her. We would call Maria and tell her to come back home as they were not even married, but she would say Ben would change, that he only needed some time. “Even when she gave birth to her daughter through Caesarean section in their first three years or so of dating, this man still beat her, not minding that the wounds had not healed. You can imagine the wickedness. When I learnt of it, I threatened to get Ben arrested, but she knelt down to beg me to forgive him because he would change”. Read more
Joseph Ameh breaks silence on divorce with dancer wife Kaffy (Vanguard)
Joseph Ameh, ex-husband to choreographer, Kafayat Shafau popularly known as Kaffy has responded to indications thrown at him that he slept with his wife’s best friend while they were married.
In a recent interview Chude Jideonwo had with Kaffy, she revealed that her ex-husband cheated on her with her close friend.
Kaffy accounted that she stopped sleeping with her husband for three years and became celibate before the divorce.
Joseph Ameh who reacted to her claims took to his Instagram page, stating that he never slept with any of Kaffy’s close friends or best friend and was not violent with her but accepted that he made some silly mistakes in his marriage. Read more
Lions Clubs donates backpacks, fete students in Agege (Independent)
Members of the Lions Clubs International, District 404B2 Nigeria, have donated backpacks to students of Sango Junior Secondary School, Agege, Lagos State, to mark the 2022 Children’s Day.
Speaking at the event, which took place on the premises of the school, Lion Kayode Oshunuga, governor of the district, said the objective was to raise awareness about the needs of the deaf students, empathize with them and feel what they feel every day of their lives.
He added that the event was also organized to remind members of the public that the students were important to society. Read more
Obaseki fulfills promise of N40,000 minimum wage to Edo workers (Sun)
In keeping to his promise of the new minimum wage regime announced on Workers’ Day, Governor Godwin Obaseki, has paid workers’ May salaries and pension, reflecting the new wage increase.
In a statement, Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie said: “The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the payment of retirees’ pension and workers’ salaries for the month of May, reflecting the new N40,000 minimum wage.
“This is in fulfillment of the statutory obligations to workers and also a reflection of the governor’s expert and judicious management of the state’s resources.”
The governor had on Workers Day announced the increment of the minimum wage in the state from N30,000 to N40,000, noting that the increase was necessary to help workers overcome the country’s overbearing economic challenges, which had caused galloping inflation among other socio-economic dislocations. Read more
2 suspected traffic robbers nabbed in Lagos (Punch)
Officers of the Rapid Response Squad have arrested two suspected traffic robbers in separate areas in Lagos.
The suspects were nabbed around the Magodo Estate and Otedola Bridge areas in Lagos State.
One suspect, Korede Saheed, 29, was arrested on Thursday, while the other suspect, Yahaya Faisal, 22, was arrested on Friday.
Luck ran out on the suspects when their victims quickly reached out to the RRS officers on patrol in the area who arrested them and recovered one Samsung Galaxy S8 and one iPhone 12 from the suspects. Read more
Peter Obi congratulates Atiku, cautions supporters to refrain from attacking candidates (Vanguard)
Presidential aspirant, Peter Obi, has cautioned his supporters to refrain from attacking the personality of other aspirants and candidates.
Obi issued this warning on Sunday via his Twitter handle.
Expressing concern over the development, Obi said it has come to his notice that some of his supporters were casting aspersions and attacks on other aspirants and candidates.
Obi, who thanked his supporters for their unflinching support, urged them to “imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship” and avoid name-calling his competitors.
He noted that elections should be democratic, saying supporting political aspirants and candidates does not need to breed enemies. Read more
Saraki congratulates Atiku, thanks supporters (Punch)
The former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate for the 2023 presidency, Atiku Abubakar.
The PUNCH reported that Atiku, who is a former vice-president, had emerged as the presidential candidate of the opposition party at the end of the presidential primary after polling 371 votes.
Congratulating him, Saraki said in a statement, “I thank all our friends and supporters across the nation for keying into our vision to provide #RealSolutions and #FixNigeria!
“I congratulate the winner of tonight’s #PDPPresidentialPrimary, His Excellency, our former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on his emergence as the Presidential flag-bearer of our party. Read more
Pope Francis announces Okpaleke as Cardinal (Sun)
The Supreme Pontiff, Pope Francis, has said he will on August 27, 2022, create new cardinals.
Amongst the 21 cardinals to be created is Most Revd (Dr) Peter Ebere Okpaleke of Ekwulobia Diocese.
Okpaleke, it would be recalled, was appointed as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI, but was rejected by the diocese. Read more
Shaunie O’Neal remarries after ex Shaq takes blame for their failed union (PageSix)
Shaunie O’Neal is once again a married woman.
The “Basketball Wives” star and ex-wife of Shaquille O’Neal tied the knot with her fiancé, Keion Henderson, in Anguilla on Saturday.
Shaunie’s three sons, Myles, 25, Shareef, 22, and Shaqir, 19, walked her down the aisle on a golf course at the Aurora resort as gospel singer Yolanda Adams performed for nearly 200 guests.
“I just lost my dad in February. So, I really struggled with how I was going to get down the aisle,” the bride told People. “Losing my dad in the midst of planning this wedding was a lot, so my sons handed me off.” Read more
Porridge actress Patricia Brake dies aged 79 after long cancer battle (BBC)
Porridge and Going Straight actress Patricia Brake has died at the age of 79.
Her son, Jon McBain, announced the news on Twitter, saying that she had died ‘after a long battle with cancer’ on Saturday May 28.
Her agent Scott Marshall Partners later shared the news, writing in a statement on social media: ‘It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our client and well-loved stage and TV actress, Patricia Brake, at the age of 79, after a very long battle with cancer.’
Brake had performed in many popular programmes over her 60-year career, including in recurring roles on soaps Coronation Street, Emmerdale and EastEnders. Read more
US expresses concern after UN human rights chief visits China’s Xinjiang (France24)
The United States expressed concern on Saturday over China’s “efforts to restrict and manipulate” the UN human rights chief’s visit to the Xinjiang region where Beijing is accused of detaining over a million people in indoctrination camps.
Michelle Bachelet’s long-planned trip this week took her to the far-western Xinjiang region, where the United States has labeled China’s detention of a million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities a “genocide.” “We are concerned the conditions Beijing authorities imposed on the visit did not enable a complete and independent assessment of the human rights environment in (China), including in Xinjiang, where genocide and crimes against humanity are ongoing,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
The top US diplomat reiterated his country’s stance that Chinese authorities would not allow Bachelet full access during her long-planned trip, saying the United States was “concerned” about China’s “efforts to restrict and manipulate her visit.” Read more
1 man killed, another wounded in Manhattan stabbing (NYPost)
Two people were stabbed — one fatally — in Manhattan on Saturday night, according to police.
A 40-year-old man was stabbed in the abdomen and a 29-year-old man was stabbed in the chest on West 146th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in Hamilton Heights around 11 p.m., police said.
Both victims were transported to Harlem Hospital. Read more
Palme d’Or: Triangle of Sadness wins top prize in Cannes for Ruben Ostlund (BBC)
A biting social satire – complete with a lengthy vomiting scene – has taken the top prize at the Cannes Festival.
Ruben Ostlund’s Triangle of Sadness – which sees models and the ultra-rich have their status undermined by unexpected events – was awarded the Palme d’Or on Saturday.
It is the second time the Swedish director has won the award, having also picked it up in 2017 for The Square.
The best director prize was won by South Korea’s Park Chan-wook.
Park – known for 2003 thriller Oldboy – won with erotic crime film Decision to Leave. Read more
Lysychansk holdouts await end to Russia’s Donbas attacks (DW)
Lysychansk is in the small remaining area of the Luhansk region that Ukrainian forces still control. The Russian army has almost destroyed the town, but DW met some of the residents still holding out there.
Heading into the Ukrainian city of Lysychansk, it is best to drive at high speed. Don’t worry — no one is issuing speeding tickets on the road that leads into this city. Driving too slowly risks another kind of punishment: one meted out by a Russian soldier’s gun. The Russian military is battling to control this stretch, running from the eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut into Lysychansk, at any cost.
The route is called the “road of life” because it leads away from the fighting and allows humanitarian goods into this small area of eastern Ukraine still controlled by national forces. Russia’s goal is to cut off Lysychansk and the neighboring city of Sievierodonetsk from the rest of the country. Read more
Uvalde shooting: Kamala Harris calls for assault weapons ban (BBC)
US Vice-President Kamala Harris has made an impassioned plea for a ban on assault weapons in the wake of two deadly mass shootings in the US.
Ms Harris was attending the funeral of Ruth Whitfield, 86, killed in a supermarket in Buffalo on 14 May.
That shooting came just 10 days before an attack on a Texas primary school left 19 children and two teachers dead.
Ms Harris, listing these and other attacks, said it was time to say “enough is enough” to gun violence.
“Everybody’s got to stand up and agree that this should not be happening in our country and that we should have the courage to do something about it,” she told the congregants at the funeral. Read more
Camila Giorgi in hot water over issue with French Open dress (NYPost)
Camila Giorgi was spoken to about her choice of dress for the French Open third round but the fashion faux pas didn’t distract the Italian as she marched ahead in Paris.
Giorgi, the world No. 30, upset seventh seed Aryna Sabalenka 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 to progress to the fourth round at Roland Garros for the first time in her career as the carnage continued in the women’s draw.
Giorgi was spoken to by the umpire before her match against Sabalenka got underway, the official appearing to have an issue with an advertising logo on her dress being too big.
“I don’t have any change, this is my only dress. I played with it before,” Giorgi reportedly said.
According to tennis commentator Jose Morgado, the umpire told Giorgi she could play in her outfit but would talk to the “office” about it after the match. Read more
Napoli raise Osimhen’s valuation to €110m (Punch)
Napoli are prepared to sell Victor Osimhen this summer only if his valuation is met, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Nigerian has been linked with several top clubs following his outstanding performance for the Partenopei this season where he scored 18 goals with six assists in 32 competitive games.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United are some of the Premier League clubs linked with the 23-year-old Nigerian.
According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, the Partenopei will be open to offers for the Nigeria international but not for less than €110m. Read more
Manchester United confirm Ralf Rangnick consultancy role is scrapped (Metro)
Manchester United have confirmed that Ralf Rangnick will not stay on at the club in his consultancy role.
Rangnick replaced Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as interim manager in December but was unable to guide the club to a top-four finish in the Premier League, meaning that they miss out on Champions League football next season.
The 63-year-old had initially agreed to take up a consultancy role from the summer in order to help with the club’s strategy with the team and transfers.
But after taking a job with Austria’s national team, Rangnick and United have now parted ways. Read more
British fans, politicians condemn Champions League final chaos (Guardian)
British politicians and fans on Sunday condemned the treatment of fans around the stadium before Saturday’s Champions League final when French police sprayed tear gas on Liverpool supporters.
Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told Sky News on Sunday: “It is concerning to see that people either didn’t get into the stadium or were … treated with a very aggressive approach.”
Earlier the politician who oversees the sector, the Secretary for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Nadine Dorries, tweeted of “troubling reports” from the stadium.
A Liverpool MP from the opposition Labour Party, Ian Byrne, tweeted that “I’ve just endured one of the worst experiences in my life. Horrendous security and organisation putting lives at risk”. Read more
Marcelo to leave Real Madrid after historic Champions League win (Vanguard)
Marcelo has said he will not continue at Real Madrid after the club won a record 14th Champions League title on Saturday against Liverpool.
The Brazilian who is the captain of the side was an unused sub but cheered from the sideline as they completed a season double.
Marcelo has been at Madrid since 2007 when he joined from Fluminense and has gathered close to 400 caps alongside almost 30 goals.
Marcelo, 34, leaves the club as the player with the most titles in its history (25).
“It’s a very nice moment. When you are first captain you dream of lifting the cup and I have become the only Brazilian to lift a Champions League as captain of Real Madrid,” he said. Read more
Nadal, Djokovic set sights on French Open showdown (Guardian)
Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will look to book a heavyweight French Open quarter-final clash Sunday, while Carlos Alcaraz hopes to extend his run after becoming the youngest man to make the last 16 since 2006.
Record 13-time Roland Garros champion Nadal takes on Felix Auger-Aliassime, the Canadian ninth seed trained by Toni Nadal, the Spanish star’s uncle and coach for the best part of three decades.
“For me, it’s very simple,” said Nadal.
“He is my uncle. He will not want me to lose. He wants the best for me and I want the best for him. But he’s a professional and with another player now. It’s zero problems.”
Auger-Aliassime started working with Toni Nadal in April 2021, four years after Nadal and his uncle called time on their 27-year, trophy-laden association.
“We knew it was a possibility that eventually I would play Rafa when I’m working with Toni,” said Auger-Aliassime, who made his first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open in September.
“I think Toni will watch from a neutral place and enjoy the match. From my part, it’s another match. Read more
Champions League: Dozens arrested during final game chaos (DW)
Liverpool FC and eyewitnesses have challenged claims from French authorities that British fans were to blame. Kick-off had to be delayed by half an hour, as police fired tear gas outside the stadium.
Following the chaotic scenes outside the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid at the Stade de France in Paris, French police on Sunday said that some 68 people had been arrested.
French authorities, including Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, squarely placed the blame on supporters of English club Liverpool after organizers said that some people had tried to get into the stadium without tickets.
However, organizers have been criticized for creating a bottleneck for ticket checking and employing a heavy-handed response which saw police firing tear gas at Liverpool fans, including children.
The chaos meant that the start of the game, which Real Madrid went on to win 1-0, had to be delayed by 35 minutes. Read more