Anambra market on fire (Sun)
A fire outbreak occurred at Afor Market, Nnobi, in the Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The market is the major market in the area, selling foodstuffs, articles, electronics, aluminium works, and other commodities.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, but it continues to rage, leaving shop owners helpless. Read more
Nigerian govt to send 1st civilian to space (Tribune)
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a landmark initiative to send its first citizen into space.
This pioneering effort was disclosed by Dr Mathew Adepoju, Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), during a press conference held in Abuja.
Dr Adepoju revealed that Nigeria has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA) to facilitate this ambitious project. Read more
Nnamdi Kanu seeks negotiation with FG over trial (Leadership)
Detained leader of proscribed of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, has expressed his intention to pursue negotiations with the Federal Government regarding his ongoing trial under Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act.
Kanu, who has been in custody since his arrest in Kenya in June 2021, is facing charges related to terrorism brought against him by the Federal Government.
According to Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act, which allows the court to promote reconciliation among parties and encourage amicable settlements, Kanu’s lead counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, presented this stance during proceedings on Wednesday. Read more
Ban on sachet alcoholic beverages still in force – NAFDAC (Punch)
The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Moji Adeyeye said the ban on the sale and consumption of sachet alcoholic beverages in the country is still in force.
Adeyeye said this on Wednesday at a press briefing held in Lagos and monitored by our correspondent via Zoom.
She said, “The ban on sachet alcohol is a ministerial directive and the ban still remains until the ministers respond. The meeting last week Thursday is a continuation of the discussion. Read more
Aiteo shuts OML 29 in Bayelsa over oil leak (DailyTrust)
Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company (AEEPCO), operator of the NNPC/Aiteo Joint Venture, has shut down the Oil Mining License (OML 29) over an oil leak it detected at its Nembe swamp facility in Bayelsa State.
Aiteo’s Group Managing Director, Victor Okoronkwo, who confirmed the leak in a statement on Wednesday, said it was reported on Monday, June 17, 2024, during routine operations.
He said the company’s Oil Spill and Emergency Response Team was immediately activated and all production from OML 29 shut down. Read more
Insecurity: We’ve prosecuted 600 suspected criminals in 6 months – Ondo Amotekun (Vanguard)
The Ondo state security outfit, codenamed, Amotekun, has prosecuted 600 suspected kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals in the last six months.
Commander of the security outfit, Chief Adetunji Adeleye said this while parading 48 suspected criminals in Akure, the state capital.
Their criminal activities, according to Adeleye, spread across “kidnapping, stealing of cows, attempted murder, fraud and illegal counterfeiting of money, cultism, illegal migration and stealing of planks, burglary, arson, anti-grazing activities and vandalisation of critical government assets. Read more
Court strikes out Anjarwalla’s suit against NSA, EFCC (Channels)
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, has dismissed a fundamental rights suit instituted by a Binance Executive, Nadeem Anjarwalla, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The case was dismissed due to the absence of Anjarwalla’s legal team during the proceedings.
Anjarwalla had approached the court, seeking a declaration that his detention by Nigerian authorities was unlawful. He also filed a request for costs in his favour. Read more
Iluyomade: Member hits RCCG over ‘‘use and dump system’’ (Nation)
Following the unconfirmed resignation of one of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Trinity Towers’ Senior pastors, Idowu Iluyomade, a church member, Funsho Olufemi, who resides in Lagos, has expressed his displeasure towards the development.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Olufemi noted that the Iluyomades have done so much to build the church of God and to strengthen Christianity in Nigeria, hence they should be reconsidered.
He cautioned the church to desist from politicking which he assumed forced Iluyomade out of RCCG. Read more
Cyril Ramaphosa is sworn in for a 2nd term as South African president (WashingtonTimes)
Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in for a second term as South Africa’s president on Wednesday in a ceremony in the administrative capital, Pretoria.
Ramaphosa is now set to appoint a Cabinet in a new coalition government after his African National Congress party lost its parliamentary majority in an election last month.
He was reelected president by lawmakers on Friday with help from the main opposition party and a smaller third party that have joined the ANC in a coalition agreement to co-govern Africa’s most industrialized economy. Read more
Taylor Swift sings diss track “I Forgot That You Existed” at Cardiff tour stop on Scooter Braun’s birthday (People)
Taylor Swift is leaning into her reputation.
On Tuesday, June 18, the pop superstar, 34, delighted Swifties in Cardiff when she mashed up two diss tracks, “I Forgot That You Existed” and “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” during her surprise set.
When the singer reached the lyric, “‘Cause forgiveness is a nice thing to do,'” Swift threw both her hands into her hair and burst out into prolonged laughter as the crowd cheered her on. Read more
Stonehenge damaged after being covered in orange spray paint by Just Stop Oil (Metro)
Just Stop Oil activists have sprayed Stonehenge orange on the eve of the summer solstice.
Sightseers screamed ‘no’ and ran to block the campaigners, named by the group as Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 21, as they approached the stone circle on Wednesday.
Video footage posted on social media showed two people wearing white shirts with the slogan Just Stop Oil, approaching the monoliths with canisters spraying orange paint. Read more
Wayne Lineker faces Ibiza backlash as locals accuse ‘buffoon’ of destroying the island (DailyStar)
Wayne Lineker is facing a rising wave of resentment as Ibiza locals branded him a “buffoon’ who is “destroying” the Spanish island.
Island residents are growing tired of the ageing party enthusiast, who is a poster boy for the type of bawdy, laddish tourism the Balearic Islands have become fed up with.
The 62-year-old, made his millions by cashing in on his famous family name to set up a string of well-known party venues on the island, and is regularly seen drunk and partying with women in their 20s and 30s. Read more
Putin and Kim Jong-un sign mutual defence pact in case of attack on Russia or North Korea (Independent)
Vladimir Putin has signed a deal with Kim Jong-un that includes a mutual defence pact if either Russia or North Korea is attacked – in a move that will alarm Western nations.
Desperate for ammunition and other weapons to fuel his invaion of Ukraine, Putin has sought to deepen ties with another international pariah also under heavy sanctions during his first visit to Pyongyang in 24 years.Kim and Putin signed what they described as the “strongest ever treaty” during the Russian leader’s rare trip. The deal, which the leaders said covered areas including security, trade, investment, and cultural and humanitarian ties, could mark the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.
The courting of Kim, which includes gifts of limousines and the “strategic partnership” pact has alarmed the United States and its Asian allies. Their spy agencies are trying to work out just how far the 71-year-old Kremlin chief will go – and what missile or even nuclear technology Russia might pass to North Korea in exchange for munitions to fight in Ukraine. Read more
Cheating husband convicted of plotting murder of shopkeeper wife 43 years ago (Mirror)
Allen Morgan was found guilty of conspiring to murder his shopkeeper wife, Carol Morgan, who was battered to death by an unknown killer on the evening of 13 August 1981
A cheating husband has today been convicted of plotting the murder of his shopkeeper wife 43 years ago.
Allen Morgan was found guilty of conspiring to murder Carol Morgan, who was battered to death by an unknown killer on the evening of 13 August 1981. The case at Luton Crown Court in Bedfordshire, which has been described as the stuff of “Hollywood screenplays”, reached its conclusion today. Read more
UN warns of the risk of increased ethnic violence in Sudan (AfricaNews)
As fighting in Sudan between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces rages on, the United Nations says the world is in a race against time to avert a massive loss life.
“Without swift action, Sudan risks becoming engulfed in more ethnic violence and fragment even further. The risk of a conflict spillover remains high,” said UN Assistant Secretary-General for Africa, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee.
She added that between 16 April and 9 June, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights documented at least 192 civilian deaths in El Fasher. Read more
Tiger Woods: PGA Tour Board creates ‘lifetime achievement exemption category’ for golf legend (SkySports)
Tiger Woods has been given a lifetime exemption into PGA Tour Signature Events starting next year.
An additional Signature Events sponsor exemption will be created to recognise Woods in his own category having reached an exceptional lifetime achievement threshold of more than 80 career wins.
The exemption, voted through by the PGA Tour policy board, enables Woods to participate in all eight signature tournaments of the tour for the rest of his career, each of which has substantial prize money and limited fields. Read more
Regan Smith sets 100m backstroke world record, qualifies for U.S. Olympic team (UPI)
Regan Smith reclaimed her world record in the women’s 100-meter backstroke, out-pacing the field during the 57.13-second swim and qualifying for Paris 2024 at the U.S. Olympic trials in Indianapolis.
Smith was one of four swimmers to qualify for Team USA at the trials Tuesday at Lucas Oil Stadium, Katharine Berkoff, who finished second in the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 57.91, also qualified.
“That was a long-time coming and it took a lot of practicing, improving my confidence,” Smith told reporters. “I knew that I had it in me, but for a long time I didn’t.” Read more
Petit: Arsenal must sign Osimhen this summer (CompleteSports)
Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit says Victor Osimhen would be a perfect fit for the Gunners.
The North London club are in the market for a new striker after falling short in the title race for the second consecutive season.
Petit insisted that signing Osimhen would make his former club’s attack more potent. Read more
13 banned as Uganda breaks football fixing ring (BBC)
Uganda’s football federation (Fufa) has banned 13 individuals, including 10 referees, after successfully uncovering a South African-based match-fixing syndicate with the help of Fifa.
A player and two administrators are among those who were handed provisional 90-day bans by Fufa on 13 June.
Seven games across the second divisions of both men’s and women’s football in the East African country were adjudged to have been targeted by the fixing ring between October and December last year. Read more
Former NBA player Nate Robinson says he needs to find a kidney donor soon as he battles life-threatening disease (NBC)
Former NBA star Nate Robinson, who was diagnosed with kidney disease 18 years ago, said he knows he will die if he doesn’t find a kidney donor soon.
“I gotta stick around. I want to stay alive for the next 40 years: be a grandpa, see my kids’ kids, take them to the gym, tell them the stories of when I was in the NBA around ‘Bron and Kob’ and all these guys,” he told Men’s Health magazine in an interview that published Tuesday. “I gotta fight for it.”
Robinson’s kidneys have been functioning at less than 15 percent of their optimal capacity, according to the magazine. He said some days after getting dialysis, a procedure to remove waste and excess fluid from the blood after the kidneys stop working properly, he gets body cramps, shortness of breath, and experiences violent vomiting. Read more
Kane Williamson turns down New Zealand central contract (Cricket365)
Kane Williamson has turned down a new central contract and stepped down as captain of New Zealand’s white-ball teams.
New Zealand’s all-time leading Test run-scorer said he still planned to play international cricket but that “pursuing an overseas opportunity” meant he could not commit to a central contract.
Williamson’s decision comes after New Zealand were knocked out in the group stage of the T20 World Cup following defeats to West Indies and Afghanistan. Read more