FG sets new deadline for reopening of Eko, Apongbon bridges in Lagos (Channels)
The Federal Government has set a new deadline of July 15 to complete repairs and reopen both Eko and Apongbon bridges to traffic in Lagos State.
This was disclosed in a telephone chat with the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mrs Olukorede Kesha, on Wednesday.
Appealing for patience and understanding among road users, she explained that some underlying repairs must be completed before reopening, to ensure the durability of the infrastructure. Read more
Lagos-Ibadan gridlock: FRSC blames conduct of motorists (Guardian)
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has blamed the attitude of road users more for the traffic gridlock experienced on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on a daily basis.
The Corps Commander, Corridor 1 of the FRSC, Oseni Hamzat, said that the traffic congestion on that road is not entirely about poor traffic management.
Hamzat, speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday further said that it was majorly as a result of the attitude exhibited by road users. Read more
My daughter excited I’ll see Burna Boy, Rema in Nigeria — Bill Gates (Punch)
American business mogul, Bill Gates said her 20-year-old youngest daughter, Phoebe, was excited he would see Nigerian music stars – Burna Boy and Rema when he visit Nigeria.
He said this on Wednesday while delivering his opening address at an event in Lagos State.
The PUNCH reports Gates and Aliko Dangote visited President Bola Tinubu on Monday. Read more
Cross River announces ban on motorcycles (Independent)
The Cross River State Governor Prince Bassey Otu has announced the ban on commercial motorcycles from all major cities in the state.
According to a press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Emmanuel Ogbeche, the decision was taken in a bid to create a safe and secure environment in the state.
He, however, stated that those who use their motorcycle for commercial purposes are allowed to operate in remote areas. Read more
Anambra Indigenes, Soludo hold Lagos Town Hall meeting (ThisDay)
Anambra indigenes living in Lagos have concluded plans for a Town Hall with the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo on Thursday in Lagos.
The interactive session scheduled to begin is organised by the Anambra State Liaison Office in Lagos, led by Chief Leo Chiegboka, and the business community.
With the theme: “Fostering Development and Collaboration,” Ndi Anambra, especially investors living in Lagos, would have ample opportunity to engage Soludo on key developmental issues with a view to determining how best to collaborate in moving the State forward in line with the governor’s infrastructural and economic development strategies. Read more
Tinubu appoints Hakeem Odumosu as substantive EFCC Chairman (NewTelegraph)
Following the suspension of Abdulrasheed Bawa as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed the retired Assistant General of Police (AIG), Hakeem Odumosu as the substantive Chairman of the Commission.
New Telegraph reports that President Bola Tinubu approved the appointment of Odumosu as substantive EFCC boss on Tuesday, June 20 before travelling to Paris.
However, Odumosu’s appointment is subject to his confirmation by the Senate. Read more
Tinubu returns NEMA, Hajj Commission to VP office (Channels)
President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, returned the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to the Office of Vice President (VP) Kashim Shettima for supervision.
In a statement signed by Olusola Abiola, a Director of Information in the Office of the Vice President, the action of the President is in compliance with their various establishment Acts.
“The President has also approved a formal structure for the Office of the Vice President as well as an appropriate number of technical and administrative aides that will work with the Vice President in the discharge of his responsibilities,” the statement added. Read more
How Dokpesi encouraged me after I lost election to Buhari – Jonathan (Vanguard)
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has eulogised the founder of DAAR Communications, late Chief Raymond Dokpesi over the role he played in encouraging him after he lost the presidential election in 2015.
Jonathan said it was Dokpesi that stood by him to motivate him when his close allies deserted him in the wake of his defeat to his successor former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said the founder of AIT and Ray Power FM hosted him at a feast, invited many people to cheer him on and showed him there was life after defeat. Read more
Beyoncé donates £8k to Tottenham restaurant Chuku’s as part of Renaissance World Tour campaign (Standard)
Pop queen Beyoncé has donated £8,000 to the Nigerian tapas restaurant Chuku’s in Tottenham as part of her $1m pledge to support businesses around the world.
Chuku’s, founded by the brother-and-sister duo Ifeyinwa and Emeka Frederick, last year launched a six-week campaign to increase bookings, with the restaurant facing closure due to challenges blighting the industry.
The restaurant was one of 10 winners to receive a grant from Beyoncé, who, through her BeyGOOD foundation, promised to donate $1 million (£806,000) to businesses in cities around the world as part of her Renaissance world tour. Read more
Zendaya holds court over a love triangle in first trailer for tennis movie ‘‘Challengers’’ (CNN)
The trailer for Zendaya’s latest movie “Challengers” was released on Tuesday, with the “Euphoria” star seen fielding a love triangle – as well as a tennis world championship.
From Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino, “Challengers” stars Zendaya as tennis prodigy turned coach Tashi Duncan. West Side Story star Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor from The Crown round out the love triangle-dwelling trio.
A young Tashi is seen toward the beginning of the trailer roaring onto the court in the early days of her tennis career as Patrick (O’Connor) tells Art (Faist), “She’s going to turn her whole family millionaires.” Read more
Bebe Rexha says tour ‘‘must go on’’ despite ‘‘unfortunate’’ end to New York show (Standard)
Bebe Rexha says her tour “must go on” despite her previous show in New York having ended in “an unfortunate way”.
The singer sustained facial injuries after an audience member threw a phone, which hit the pop star in the face and caused her to fall to the ground.
Ahead of her show in Philadelphia on Tuesday, she posted on social media, hailing the “amazing show” in her hometown of New York. Read more
Friends actor Paxton Whitehead dies aged 85 (FarOut)
The star of the beloved American sitcom Friends, Paxton Whitehead, has died at the age of 85. The English actor had been a mainstay of Broadway and featured in several US sitcoms in the 1990s.
Paxton passed away last Friday (June 16th) in a hospital in Arlington, Virginia. His son, Charles Whitehead, confirmed the sad news.
Whitehead, born in Kent, starred in a number of Broadway productions, including Camelot in 1980 opposite Richard Burton, My Fair Lady with Richard Chamberlain and The Importance of Being Earnest. Read more
Thousands of festival-goers descend on Glastonbury as gates open for 2023 (BelfastTelegraph)
Thousands of campers will descend upon Glastonbury today in the hope of claiming a prime spot as the world-famous festival opens its doors for its 51st year.
Festival-goers could experience travel disruption as they make their way to Pilton in Somerset due to wet weather but the skies are due to clear across Worthy Farm as the music kicks off on Friday.
This year will see world-class music stars play across the 900-acre festival, which will run until Sunday, as well as speeches by politicians, film screenings, theatre and circus performances and more. Read more
Tom Cruise jokes he ‘‘still’’ dances in his underwear 40 years after iconic Risky Business scene (People)
Tom Cruise is looking back fondly on his breakout role.
Of his iconic scene in 1983’s Risky Business — in which he danced in only a shirt, briefs, and socks — Cruise, 60, joked with Access Hollywood: “Look, I grew up dancing in my underwear in my house. Who didn’t?”
When asked if such dancing continues 40 years later, he responded with a smile: “Yeah, I still [do].” Read more
Biden refers to Chinese President Xi as a dictator during speech at fundraiser (VOA)
U.S. President Joe Biden on Tuesday called Chinese President Xi Jinping a dictator, adding that Xi was very embarrassed when a Chinese balloon was blown off course over the U.S. recently earlier this year.
Biden made the remarks at a fundraiser in California a day after Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Xi on a trip to China that was aimed at easing tensions between the two countries.
“The reason why Xi Jinping got very upset in terms of when I shot that balloon down with two box cars full of spy equipment in it was he didn’t know it was there,” Biden said in the fundraiser. Read more
Amusan delighted with changing fortunes of Nigeria’s Track and Field history (Leadership)
World 100m hurdles champion, Tobi Amusan says she is delighted by the giant strides Nigerian track and field athletes are taking in repositioning the country globally.
Amsuan, while congratulating Nigerian collegiate stars that shone like million stars at the just concluded 2023 NCAA Outdoor championships in Austin Texas, said she was once an NCAA champion in 2017 and understands the athlete’s emotions and nuances in the field of action.
“A few years ago, only two or three Nigerian athletes were performing at world class level, but I’m delighted to see that change now that there are other athletes from Nigeria who are doing their country proud. Read more
Osimhen’s brace, 4 other AFCON Qualifiers’ talking points (DailyTrust)
Napoli star Victor Osimhen hit a double when Sierra Leone hosted the Super Eagles of Nigeria on Sunday to qualify the African giants to yet another Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals next year in Ivory Coast.
The two goals made it seven in the qualifying series for him with 22 qualifiers delivering 52 goals.
The number of qualified teams rose from seven to 15. Read more
Inter Miami eyes July 21 Lionel Messi debut as ticket prices surge (UPI)
Lionel Messi is expected to make his Inter Miami debut during a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul on July 21 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., team managing owner Jorge Mas told reporters.
Mas made the comments when meeting with reporters Monday. Messi announced his decision to join the 5-year-old MLS franchise June 7. Mas said the parties agreed to contract terms, but are finalizing paperwork and visas.
“Having the world’s greatest player here is something that is significant for our league, and for the football ecosystem in the United States,” Mas said, according to the Miami Herald. Read more
New Zealand abandon Qatar friendly at half-time over alleged racial abuse (Guardian)
New Zealand’s national men’s football team have abandoned their friendly with Qatar, alleging racial abuse and inaction by officials. The All Whites took the extraordinary step of refusing to come back out at half-time of a game they led 1-0.
It was one of two such incidents in Austria on Monday with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s’ friendly against Kuwait Under-22s also abandoned, after one of the Ireland substitutes was allegedly the target of racist abuse.
New Zealand Football put a short statement on its social media channels after the walk-off. “Michael Boxall was racially abused during the first half of the game by a Qatari player,” the statement read. “No official action was taken so the team have agreed not to come out for the second half of the match.” Read more
PGA Tour to send message to players over Saudi involvement after LIV Golf merger (Mirror)
The PGA Tour has reassured its playing members that the involvement of Saudi Arabia in their new joint entity with LIV Golf is not as large as first thought.
The world of professional golf was left in shock earlier this month, after the Tour announced it had come to an agreement with the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), that would see it merge with rival LIV Golf. The PGA Tour and LIV had been involved in a bitter feud for 12 months prior to the announcement.
However, the two rivals are now set to work under the same entity along with the DP World Tour, with the investment coming from Saudi Arabia. Read more
Nick Kyrgios forced to withdraw from Halle Open due to knee injury (Fox)
Last year’s Wimbledon runner-up Nick Kyrgios withdrew from the Halle Open on Monday in his latest setback as he tries to recover from a long-running knee injury.
“I tried everything here in Halle the last couple of days, but then I had to make the decision to pull out”, Kyrgios said in a statement on the tournament website. “I want, when I play, to deliver a performance like last year when I was in the semifinals. But that will really not be possible.”
Tournament organizers said Kyrgios was “still suffering from the aftereffects of a complicated knee injury which had put him out of action for around seven months,” adding that he felt a recurrence of the knee issue while training in Halle. Read more