Allow live broadcast of Presidential Election Tribunal’s proceedings, Onaiyekan urges judiciary (Leadership)
The Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has called on the Judicial arm of government to allow a live broadcast of the proceedings of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), to give Nigerians the opportunity to follow the case and know what is happening.
Onaiyekan, who made the call on Sunday while speaking with journalists at the World Communications Day celebration, with the theme: ‘Speaking the Truth with Love from Your Heart’, at St. Gabriel Chapel in Abuja, said that Nigerians wanted to see what is happening with the cases before Tribunal, for them to know what to expect.
He advised journalists to listen to every sides and relay to the public what is happening, because Nigerians wanted to see what is happening, adding that, that is why it was important that the petitions before the Tribunal should be available to Nigerians, so that all Nigerians will be able to follow what is happening. Read more
Tinubu: Kano clears air on Ganduje’s leaked audio (Tribune)
Kano State Government has described as “mischievous” attempt by social media and online publications in Nigeria to lift a story from a purported phone conversation’ between Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and Ibrahim Kabiru Masari which involves his political relationship with President-elect, Bola Tinubu.
The State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Malam Muhammad Garba in a statement issued on Saturday, stated that the exaggerated publicity on the purported audio clip was the handiwork of paid agents trying to upturn the so-called ‘conversation’ with a view to causing disaffection between the two political gladiators.
He explained that from all indications some people who are not comfortable with the long cordiality Tinubu, Ganduje and Masari enjoy being bent on exploiting the situation to their advantage. Read more
2 Eko Electricity Distribution Company staff electrocuted (DailyTrust)
The Police Command in Lagos State on Sunday confirmed the electrocution of two members of staff of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) in Lagos State.
The incident took place in the Obalende area of Lagos Island.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Read more
We’re poised to increase milk production – CODARAN (Sun)
The Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN) has reiterated the commitment of the group to scale up milk production.
Its Executive Director Dianabasi Akpainyang, in a statement to mark this year’s World Milk Day, noted that the figures reeled by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that Nigeria imports milk worth over $1.5 billion annually, were disturbing.
Akpainyang noted Nigeria’s daily milk production of 0.5 to 1.5 litres and eight litres by managed pastures is a far cry from the global average of 6.6 litres for pastoralists and 30 litres for managed pastures. Read more
NDLEA intercepts N567m UK-bound meth (Nation)
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have intercepted a large consignment of methamphetamine concealed in powdered custard containers as part of a consolidated cargo going to London, United Kingdom at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.
A statement by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi said the illicit drug consignment weighing 30.10 kilograms with a street value of N567 million was detected and seized by NDLEA operatives at the airport on Tuesday 16th May.
He said this was swiftly followed by series of follow-up operations that led to the arrest of a freight agent, Nwobodo Chidiebere; a female suspect, Chioma Lucy Akuta and ultimately the drug lord behind the shipment, Charles Chinedu Ezeh, who was arrested at Sotel Suites, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos on Thursday 18th May. Read more
LASTMA trains Sierra Leone traffic officials (Punch)
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has trained some Sierra Leonean transport officials on the process explored to achieve efficient traffic management in the state.
The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, Taofiq Adebayo, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday.
He said the General Manager of LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba while welcoming the Sierra Leonean traffic officials at his office in Oshodi, said the main purpose for the establishment of the agency during the administration of the former governor, Bola Tinubu, was to transform the state transportation system and to ensure the free flow of traffic and reduction in road crashes in the state. Read more
Kogi APC suspends all wards, LG executives in Igalamela/Odolu (Guardian)
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Kogi chapter has suspended the entire executive officers of all wards in Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of the state for alleged anti-party activities.
The party also accused the suspended officials of alleged financial inducement aimed at weakening the party in the state.
A statement in Lokoja by the APC State Secretary, Joshua Onoja on Sunday, said the suspended officials were being investigated by the party. Read more
VON DG hails Aisha Buhari for upgrade of Aso Villa State House Clinic (Independent)
The Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr Osita Okechukwu, has hailed the First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari, for upgrading the Aso Villa State House Clinic and bringing it to an enviable international standard.
Okechukwu stated this on Sunday in Enugu that it was gratifying that the upgrade of Aso Villa State House Clinic had made the clinic to have functional capacity to take and serve 35,000 Nigerians.
He gave the commendation while answering questions on diverse political issues, which included: the crisis in local chapters of All Progressives Congress (APC), the NYSC imbroglio of Dr Peter Mbah, the National Assembly leadership tussle, Blinken’s call to President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, among others. Read more
Jennifer Lawrence Bread and Roses documentary gives Afghan women a voice (BBC)
“You only oppress women,” the young woman says to the Taliban fighter.
“I told you not to talk,” he shouts back, “I will kill you right here!”
“Okay, kill me!” she replies, raising her voice to match his. “You closed schools and universities! It’s better to kill me!”
A camera phone has secretly, and shakily, captured this direct confrontation inside a car between the woman and the militant.
She had just been arrested following a protest and was about to be taken to a holding cell in Kabul.
It is a scene from the documentary Bread and Roses, which explores the day-to-day lives of three women in the weeks following the takeover. Read more
Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon brings the house down in Cannes (TheWrap)
Now that’s a Cannes Film Festival standing ovation.
Martin Scorsese brought his epic “Killers of the Flower Moon” to Cannes on Saturday evening, and the crowd that filled the 3,200-seat Grand Theatre Lumiere responded pretty much the way you’d expect them to respond to an iconic director who first came to this festival with a little film called “Taxi Driver” that won the Palme d’Or a full 47 years ago.
If Cannes is the palace of cinema, Scorsese is royalty who can stand alongside Fellini, Godard, Kurosawa, Bergman and a few others. And “Killers of the Flower Moon” has the feel of a late-career opus of the first magnitude, so the Cannes audience was unreserved in its enthusiasm for him and for the extraordinary lineup of stars he brought with him, Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio for starters.
If you want to put a clock on it, the ovation lasted around eight minutes, longer than the five-to-six-minute one that has become about average for Cannes. Scorsese got the most enthusiastic reaction, of course, but the audience was also taken by Lily Gladstone, who covered her face and turned away from the camera to compose herself. The clapping stopped only when Scorsese took the microphone and began to talk, then it started up again for another three minutes, finally ending when he walked into the lobby. Read more
CAA takes North American sales on Goodbye Julia, 1st Sudanese Film in Cannes (Variety)
CAA Media Finance has come on board to handle sales in North America on Mohamed Kordofani’s Goodbye Julia, the first film from Sudan to launch from the Cannes Film Festival.
CAA will be working in tandem with Egypt-based producer Ali El Arabi’s Ambient Light Films, which holds North American rights for the timely drama that premiered on May 21 in Un Certain Regard.
“Goodbye Julia” takes place just before the 2011 secession of South Sudan. It revolves around two women, one from the north, the other from the south, that are brought together by fate in a complex relationship that attempts to reconcile differences between northern and southern Sudanese communities. Read more
Harrison Ford defends de-aging technology in new Indiana Jones movie (NME)
Harrison Ford has defended a 25-minute scene in the forthcoming fifth installment of Indiana Jones in which he is de-aged.
It comes after a recent trailer for “Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny” featured a jaw-dropping moment when a bag is pulled from Ford’s head to reveal a significantly younger version of him created through the use of VFX technology.
The film’s team shared that new VFX technology was created for the film in order to de-age the 80 year-old, using artificial intelligence to comb through all of the decades-old footage the Lucasfilm studio had of him. Read more
Jodeci feels R&B is missing “baby making music” (Vibe)
Jodeci kicked off Mary J. Blige’s Hip-Hop 50 celebration at her second annual Strength Of A Woman Festival on Friday (May 12). Despite DeVante Swing being missing in action, K-Ci dispelled rumors of a breakup. The quartet is still together and going strong.
After performing a medley of hits including “Come And Talk To Me,” “Cry For You,” “Forever My Lady,” “Stay,” and “Freek’n You,” K-Ci and Mr. Dalvin got real about their group, upcoming tour, what R&B is missing in an exclusive backstage chat.
“Well, the misconception is we broke. We never broke up. We went off and did separate things, but, you know, had to get our business together. Right? Focus and refocus. It’s cool. We’re having fun. It’s doing what we love doing, being around each other,” Dalvin explained. Read more
Acclaimed British writer Martin Amis dies aged 73 (AlJazeera)
Renowned and influential British writer Martin Amis has died, aged 73, at his home in Lake Worth, Florida.
His wife Isabel Fonseca told media on Saturday that the author of searing and insightful works such as Money: A Suicide Note, London Fields, and Time’s Arrow, passed away on Friday after a bout with oesophageal cancer.
Amis was “one of the most acclaimed and discussed writers of the past 50 years and the author of 14 novels,” said the website of Booker Prizes, the leading literary awards for fiction in the United Kingdom. Read more
Zelensky dominates summit as G7 leaders call out China (BBC)
Volodymyr Zelensky made a scene-stealing arrival at the G7 summit in Japan on Saturday, as world leaders issued a veiled warning to China.
The Ukrainian president arrived in Hiroshima on a French government plane, after a stopover in Saudi Arabia.
His hastily-organised visit prompted G7 leaders to issue a statement early, in which they condemned Russia.
They also warned against “economic coercion”, which Beijing is accused of using against several countries. Read more
DR Congo security forces clash with anti-govt protesters in Kinshasa (France24)
Democratic Republic of Congo security forces fired tear gas and fought running battles in the streets of the capital Kinshasa with anti-government protesters demonstrating on Saturday over alleged irregularities in voter registration.
The protesters are also angry over the rising cost of living and the prolonged insecurity in the east of the country, where armed militias and rebel groups have been carrying out attacks that have killed hundreds and displaced over a million.
Around a dozen protesters were detained by security forces just after the start of the demonstration, which was called for by opposition leaders. Read more
Nigeria meet dominican republic in U20 World Cup opener (Guardian)
The Flying Eagles of Nigeria will today begin their campaign of the FIFA U20 World Cup. The Nigerian team will take on their counterpart from Dominican Republic in the Group A opener at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza in Argentina.
Head Coach, Ladan Bosso, has expressed confidence in his team picking up the full points to put it in good stead for the next game against Italy, adding that his boys won’t underrate their opponent in their first game of the tournament.
“We are happy with the results from the two friendly matches we played in Buenos Aires. We won one against an Argentina club and then drew with the Colombia U20 team that’s also taking part in this tournament. Those are not bad results. Read more
Wikki players accept fate – captain (Punch)
Players of Wikki Tourists are keeping the faith as they battle the drop on match-day 18 of the abridged 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League on Sunday (today), PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Wikki Tourists will face Lobi Stars in a season-defining game in Jos needing a win plus a favourable result in another game between Bayelsa United and Niger Tornadoes to avoid relegation.
The northeastern club are currently second from bottom of Group B with 16 points, two points behind Bayelsa United who hosts Tornadoes in Yenagoa. Read more
West Ham come from behind to heap pressure on Leeds United (IrishExaminer)
Leeds’ destiny is no longer in their own hands after two VAR-approved goals in the second-half consigned them to costly defeat at West Ham.
Victory would have taken Sam Allardyce’s side out of the bottom three and above Everton, and hopes were high that this might be achieved when Rodrigo fired them into an early lead.
But Declan Rice – in what might well be his final London Stadium appearance as a West Ham player – levelled soon after, and strikes from Jarrod Bowen and Manuel Lanzini completed the comeback after the break. Read more
Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant advises Erik ten Hag over Man Utd target Frenkie de Jong (Mirror)
Manchester United should “do everything” in their power to sign Frenkie de Jong in the summer transfer window, according to Rene Meulensteen.
United spent last summer chasing De Jong, who was Erik ten Hag’s number-one transfer target. The 26-year-old ended up staying at Barcelona, with United instead signing Casemiro and Christian Eriksen to bolster their ranks in midfield.
However, the speculation has restarted ahead of the upcoming transfer window, which could see Barca offload a whole host of stars. The Catalan club have been told by LaLiga that they must free up £178 million from their budget before they can sign new players, opening up the possibility of De Jong being sold. Read more
Zak Brown makes sizeable Oscar Piastri claim after Australian’s start to F1 career (GMS)
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown believes Oscar Piastri is a future F1 world champion.
The Australian shot through the junior ranks with him winning in F3 and then in F2 before having a year away from racing as he was on the books of Alpine but unable to force his way into a seat.
Since then, he has joined McLaren and has become a full-time F1 driver, with him partnering Lando Norris for 2023. Read more
Andy Murray pulls out of 2023 French Open (RFI)
Former world number one Andy Murray withdrew from the French Open on Sunday citing fatigue and fitness concerns as well as a desire to perform during the impending grass court swing of the international tour.
The 36-year-old reached the final in 2016 and has made only one appearance at the event since reaching the semi-finals in 2017.
Earlier this month, Murray won the second-tier Aix-en-Provence Challenger Tour on clay. Read more