Democracy Day: Tinubu hails MKO Abiola, promises to ease subsidy removal pains (Punch)
President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, hailed the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola.
He described the late businessman who died in suspicious circumstances after his election was annulled by the late Gen Sani Abacha, as the symbol of democracy.
Tinubu, who acknowledged the hardship being faced by Nigerians in the aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal, said his administration will “reward” their sacrifices with “massive investment” in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare, and other public utilities that will improve their quality of life. Read more
June 12: We must do more to defeat enemies of democracy – Atiku (Tribune)
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has noted that democracy without fairness and fidelity to rule of law in election conduct subject the people to dictatorship tendencies, saying that more needed to be done to defeat enemies of true democratic governance.
In his message to Nigerians on the occasion of June 12 (Democracy Day) issued on Sunday, the candidate of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, observed that what Nigeria celebrates today is a return to civil rule.
He said the desire to make the nation’s democracy self-sustaining and independent of anti-democratic elements is the new frontier of participation by all democrats. Read more
Air Force mum as officer commits suicide inside Lagos barracks (DailyTrust)
A female Master Warrant Officer (MWO) attached to the Logistics Command, Nigerian Air Force (NAF), Lagos, has taken her life.
The deceased, simply identified as George, was reportedly found dead inside her apartment at block T5, Flat 8 Sam Ethnan Base, Ikeja.
“Master Warrant Officer George a female personnel of the Nigerian Air Force serving at 651 Base Services Group Resident at Block T5 Flat 8 in Sam Ethnan Air Force Base Ikeja reported to have committed suicide inside her room at about 1400hrs on 10 Jun 23. Efforts are ongoing by 3 Air Provosts to evacuate her to 661 NAFH, while further investigation will continue,” read a military signal sighted on the incident. Read more
Failed transactions: Banks, others trade blame as customers’ agony persists (Vanguard)
Banks, Nigeria Interbank Settlement System, NIBSS and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and the banks are engaged in a blame game over the failure to reverse failed electronic payment transactions within the stipulated time even as tales of agonizing experience by customers mount.
The banks blame NIBSS and unrealistic timelines set by the CBN as well as inadequate electronic payment infrastructure for the delay in reversing failed transactions. But the CBN cite malpractice by banks in treatment of customers’ complaints while the management of NIBSS absolved the organization of any fault with respect to delay for reversal of failed transactions.
Guidelines on Failed Transactions
According to the CBN guidelines for the resolution of failed transactions, “Failed “On-Us” ATM transactions (when customers use their cards on their bank’s ATMs) shall be instantly reversed from the current timeline of three (3) days. Read more
Immigration CG warns Lagos passport officers against racketeering (Punch)
The acting Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration services, Caroline Adepoju, has said more passport offices will be created in Lagos State to meet the needs of the high population of applicants in the state.
This was as Adepoju warned immigration officers against passport racketeering and other unprofessional conducts, vowing that erring officers would be sanctioned.
According to a statement made available to our correspondent on Sunday, Adepoju made this known during a parade at the Ikoyi passport office in Lagos. Read more
June 12: We’ll Strengthen Faith In Democracy — Mbah (Independent)
Peter Mbah, the Enugu State Governor, has stated that his administration will strengthen the people’s faith in democracy by rewarding their votes with impactful and life-changing projects as outlined in his manifesto and social contract with them.
The Governor, while wishing the people of the state happy Democracy Day, noted that the state government would not rest until it achieves the promises of growing the economy exponentially, creating jobs, addressing insecurity as well as infrastructural deficits, and lifting people out of poverty, among others.
In a statement made available by his media office, Mbah said the state had made appreciative progress since the return of democracy in 1999, adding that his administration would double up efforts to fix the state and attend to the welfare of the people. Read more
10th NASS: Akpabio faces Yari Tuesday, coast clear for Abbas (Leadership)
Former governor of Akwa Ibom State and the choice of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for President of the 10th Senate, Godswill Akpabio, will tomorrow slug it out with Abdulaziz Yari, former Zamfara State governor, who has refused to respect the party’s choice.
Respite still seems far from Akpabio, as contenders for the top seat in the Red Chamber, Senators Abdulaziz Yari, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Osita Izunaso, are pushing on with their campaigns.
This is in spite of their meeting with President Bola Tinubu last Thursday over the leadership impasse. Read more
5 traders die in Ondo boat mishap (Vanguard)
No fewer than five traders have died in a boat mishap in Ugbo-Nla in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Vanguard learned that the victims, who went to buy seafood at a local market in Ugbo-Nla were involved in an accident on the waterway.
Their boat, a local said, “capsized and five of the travellers died, while one person was rescued because he used a life jacket.” Read more
Ariana DeBose flings herself down a staircase in wild dance opening to the 2023 Tony Awards (People)
Ariana DeBose did the thing!
On Sunday, DeBose, 32, took the stage at New York City’s United Palace Theatre to host the 2023 Tony Awards, marking her second consecutive hosting stint for Broadway’s annual awards show.
After performing a bevy of impressive dance moves to a medley of Broadway hits — including one particularly gravity-defying stunt in which she flung herself down a flight of stairs, only to be caught spectacularly — the singer and Oscar-winning actress launched into her opening monologue, in which she acknowledged National Puerto Rican Day and addressed the ongoing writers’ strike. Read more
How Pink went from dealing meth at 14 and feuding with major pop star to become music’s unlikeliest superstar (Sun)
Do you know the most listened-to female artist in the UK? No, it’s not Taylor Swift or Beyonce.
Pop punk Pink, 43, has the most TV and radio plays for a female artist since 2000, beating other divas including Madonna, Lady Gaga and even Whitney Houston.
And she is set to steal the show this summer with two headlining sets in Hyde Park alongside Guns N’ Roses and Take That. Read more
Janet Jackson celebrates 50 years of hits at the Hollywood Bowl (OCRegister)
Singer-songwriter, actress and dancer Janet Jackson is celebrating her 50th anniversary in the music business while out on her Together Again Tour. The jaunt also commemorates the 30th anniversary of her 1993 self-titled album and the 25th anniversary of her highly successful 1997 album, “The Velvet Rope.”
Jackson, the 10th and youngest child of the star-studded Jackson family, gave the sold-out crowd at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles on Saturday night merely a sampling of her illustrious, hit-filled career during a two-hour set that included 40 songs. The 57-year-old began officially began performing at the age of 7 when she joined her older brother Randy on stage at the MGM Casino in Las Vegas.
She went deep into her catalog on this tour, dusting off “When I Think of You,” a track written by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for Jackson when she was still a teenager. Read more
Gordon Ramsay bags Guinness World Record with TikTok star – after making huge meal (Mirror)
Gordon Ramsay has scored a Guinness World Record by making the largest beef wellington in history.
The TV chef created the dish alongside TikTok star Nick DiGiovanni, who was going for his eighth record since 2021.
The pair said the pastry-wrapped creation weighed 25.76kg – the same as an eight-year old boy. Read more
Flavor Flav, a Swiftie in his Red era, attends Taylor Swift concert in Detroit (EW)
Flavor Flav joined fellow Swifties at Taylor Swift’s concert stop in Detroit this weekend.
The Public Enemy rapper attended night one of the pop star’s Eras tour stop at Ford Field, where he rocked an all-red outfit in a nod to Swift’s fourth studio album Red and declared that he was in his “Red (Taylor’s Version) era.”
Flav wore a t-shirt that referenced lyrics to “I Knew You Were Trouble.” He accessorized with his signature clock necklace (you’d think he would be in his Midnights era, given the album’s heavy use of clock imagery) and friendship bracelets from fellow Swifties. Read more
Ukraine hails 1st territory recaptured in counteroffensive (AlJazeera)
Ukraine has said its troops recaptured three villages from Russian forces in its southeast, the first liberated settlements it reported since launching a counteroffensive.
Soldiers hoisted the Ukrainian flag at a bombed-out building in an unverified video published on Sunday by Ukraine’s 68th Jaeger Brigade, which identified the settlement as Blahodatne in the Donetsk region.
“We’re seeing the first results of the counteroffensive actions, localised results,” Valeriy Shershen, spokesperson for Ukraine’s “Tavria” military sector, said on television. Read more
Hunter Valley: 10 people killed in wedding bus crash in Australia (BBC)
At least 10 people have died and 25 others are in hospital after a wedding bus crashed in an Australian wine region.
The passengers were returning from a wedding at a winery on Sunday night when their coach overturned on Wine County Drive near Greta in Hunter Valley, New South Wales.
Police say they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The driver of the bus, a 58-year-old man, has been arrested. Read more
Enyimba win 9th NPFL title in Lagos (Punch)
Two-time African champions Enyimba on Sunday dethroned champions Rivers United in an explosive clash to win the 2022/23 Nigeria Professional Football League title after playing out a 1-1 draw in the last game of the NPFL Super 6 playoffs in Lagos on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Thanks to a better goals difference, the stalemate was enough for the People’s Elephant to claim their ninth league title — and the winners prize of N100m, the highest ever paid in the league — ahead of Remo Stars, as they both finished the playoffs on nine points.
Ekene Awazie lashed on to a failed clearance inside the Rivers box to hand Enyimba the lead going into the break but Nyima Nwagua restored parity for the holders early in the second half. Read more
Delta Queens edge Bayelsa Queens 2-1 to win 2023 NWFL (DailyTrust)
The Delta state-sponsored female football club, Delta Queens have emerged winners of the 2023 Nigerian Women Football League (NWFL).
To emerge champions, the formidable side defeated hard-fighting Bayelsa Queens 2-1 in yesterday’s finals decided at the magnificent Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
With the slim win, the Delta State girls have qualified to represent Nigeria in the forthcoming West African Football Union (WAFU) B Women’s CAF Champions League qualifiers. Read more
U20 World Cup Final: Italy capitulate to Uruguay (FootballItalia)
Italy failed to keep pace with Uruguay’s constant high press and were beaten by a late Luciano Rodriguez header in the Under-20 World Cup Final.
The Azzurrini reached their first ever Final of the Under-20 World Cup, having beaten the likes of Brazil, England, Colombia and South Korea on their way. Tournament top scorer Cesare Casadei had seven goals in six games, supporting Tommaso Baldanzi and 17-year-old Simone Pafundi. Uruguay had Luciano Rodriguez suspended and Mateo Ponte injured in La Plata.
It was an aggressive start from the South Americans, who clipped the outside of the post with Fabricio Diaz from distance, while Pafundi’s strike was charged down from the edge of the area. Read more
Claudio Ranieri guides Cagliari back into Serie A via playoff (ESPN)
Cagliari’s Leonardo Pavoletti scored in stoppage time to secure their return to Serie A with a 1-0 win at Bari on Sunday in their promotion playoff second leg, depriving their opponents of a place in the Italian top flight with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Cagliari were under pressure at a foggy Stadio San Nicola where only a victory would see them promoted.
The first leg ended 1-1 on Thursday as an early goal from Gianluca Lapadula was cancelled out by a late penalty by Bari’s Mirco Antenucci and had the second leg also ended in a draw, Bari would have gone up after finishing higher in the table. Read more
Andy Murray wins Surbiton final to set age record ahead of Wimbledon (USAToday)
Andy Murray hailed his “perfect start to the grass season” as the three-time Grand Slam champion stepped up preparations for Wimbledon in style.
The 36-year-old Murray became the oldest grass-court champion at an ATP Challenger Tour event, beating Austrian Jurij Rodionov 6-3, 6-2 Sunday in the final of the Lexus Surbiton Trophy to earn a seeded position at Wimbledon next month.
It was his first singles title on grass since winning Wimbledon in 2016. Read more
Canadian Nick Taylor wins Canadian Open playoff with longest putt of PGA career (BelfastTelegraph)
Nick Taylor has become the first Canadian to win the RBC Canadian Open since 1954 after beating Englishman Tommy Fleetwood in a thrilling playoff finish, landing a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth playoff hole on Sunday.
The raucous crowd in Toronto willed the ball into the hole as Taylor hit the longest putt of his PGA Tour career, securing his third PGA Tour victory.
Taylor said after the tournament: “I’m speechless. This is for all the guys that are here. This is for my family at home. Read more