Gunmen abduct 2 Catholic priests in Edo (Punch)
Two Catholic priests, Rev. Father Udo of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Uromi, and Rev. Father Philemon Oboh of St. Joseph Retreat Centre, Ugboha in Edo State, were reportedly kidnapped on Saturday night.
They were abducted along the Benin-Auchi Road on their way back to Uromi in Esan South-East Local Government Area of the state. The incident has thrown the churches’ members into fear over the safety of their clergymen.
It was not clear if the gunmen had made any contact with the church or the families as of this time, Sunday evening.
When contacted, the Catholic Bishop of Uromi Diocese, Bishop Donatus Ogun, could not be reached but his aid said he was in a meeting.
“I cannot give any information on the issue. The bishop is in a meeting,” the aide stated. Read more
Kwara resident sets own house, children, wife ablaze (DailyTrust)
A man said to be a resident of Lekki Phase 1, Eyenkorin Area of Ilorin, Kwara State, has set his house on fire over disagreement with his wife.
The incident which happened around 10.28 am on Sunday, was confirmed by the HOD, Media and Publicity of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle.
He said a resident simply identified as Mr. Kola summoned the service over the incident.
Adekunle in a telephone chat with our correspondent said the service was able to eliminate the fire and prevented it from escalating to other buildings in the neighbourhood.
“What we learnt was that the man, can’t remember his name now, and his wife had misunderstanding about two years ago before he relocated to another of his buildings, leaving the wife and children behind. Read more
2 hospitalised as cars collide in Lagos (Punch)
Two yet-to-be-identified victims have been hospitalised following an accident that occurred in Lagos.
The road crash occurred at about 3pm on Saturday afternoon along Ilubirin, Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi.
Sources, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, said the two drivers were driving at a high speed and didn’t notice that they were both approaching each other, which led to a crash.
“Two of them were injured and have been taken to the General Hospital in the area for medical attention,” the source said. Read more
Kidnappers live like kings inside forest — Escaped female victim (Vanguard)
A mother of three and a timber merchant in Ondo town, Ondo State, Mrs Folakemi Fadoju, has raised the alarm that kidnappers live like kings inside the forest along Ore/Ijebu Ode expressway.
The 41-year-old mother said this while narrating her ordeal to Vanguard after she escaped from the kidnappers den.
Folakemi, who spent four days in their captivity, was abducted alongside her seven-year-old son in Ondo town, Ondo State by four gunmen in her sawmill at about 6.45 am.
She explained that the four gunmen invaded the sawmill located in Oka along Ondo-Ore road around 6:45 am while she was at the sawmill to settle a business transaction. Read more
NGX: Investors gain N5.64t in H1 2022 amid global uncertainty (Sun)
Despite negative sentiments that dominated global markets in recent times, investors in quoted securities on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) gained a total of N5.64 trillion at the end of the first half (H1) of 2022.
Specifically, the market which opened the year with a capitalisation of N22.296 trillion and an ALLShare Index at 42,716.14 points, closed the half-year of June 30, 2022 at N27.935 trillion capitalisation and Index at 51.817.59 points.
This meant that the market’s year-to-date (YTD) rose by 21.31 per cent or N5.64 trillion, the highest performance in 14 years. According to data obtained from the NGX, local and foreign investors traded N485.4 billion worth of equities in the second quarter (Q2) of 2022.
That represents an increase of 40.11 per cent when compared to N346.43 billion traded in the first quarter (Q1) of 2022. Read more
NAFDAC shuts 10 water factories in Ondo (Guardian)
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sealed 10 packaged water companies in Ondo State over non-compliance with the regulation and standards.
The Ondo State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Mr Benu Philip, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Akure.
Philip said the affected companies which spread across the state, had their premises sealed between January and June.
He explained that all the affected companies were operating with expired licence and producing in an unhygienic environment.
“In addition to locking the facilities, the companies will pay an administrative charge for late renewal of their registration licence and submit necessary documents for the renewal process,” he said. Read more
10 Port Harcourt, Kirikiri inmates graduate from NOUN (Punch)
Seven inmates of the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre have received certificates after they graduated from the National Open University of Nigeria.
The inmates were part of those who graduated in the 2021/2022 academic session in March this year, but were unable to gather with their counterparts outside due to incarceration.
Of the seven inmates, two bagged second class upper degrees, while the five others bagged second class lower degrees.
The Registrar, NOUN, Felix Odoka, disclosed this while handing the certificates to the inmates during a ceremony held at the correctional centre on Friday. Read more
Ekiti Election: INEC deliberately delaying release of results to server, Oni alleges (Sun)
The Segun Oni Campaign Organisation (SOCO) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of deliberately delaying upload of results of the June 18 governorship election on Ekiti State on its server in order to perfect the falsified figures of results awarded to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr Biodun Oyebamiji, as the winner.
The Director of Media and Publicity of the Campaign Organisation, Mr Jackson Adebayo stated this in a press statement made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti, on Saturday.
Adebayo said as of Saturday, July 2, the INEC summary of local government results on Form EC8C and summary of Ekiti State election results on form EC8D are yet to be uploaded on the server thereby making a compilation of materials by the legal team and filing of a petition by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Asiwaju Segun Oni to challenge the victory of the APC candidate, Mr Biodun Oyebamiji at the election petition tribunal pretty difficult.
The SOCO’s Spokesman who said so far INEC has uploaded a summary of units results on Form EC8A and Ward results on Form EC8B wondered why the INEC should be afraid to upload the results if not for the reasons of wanting to perfect the falsified figures it has used to rig for the APC perfectly before uploading the results to its server. Read more
Southern Kaduna group demands 65% inclusion into Ashiru’s Campaign Organisation (Independent)
A group under the Umbrella of “Southern Kaduna New Faces” have demanded for 65 percent inclusion into the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Isa Ashiru campaign organization for equity and fairness.
The group made the demand in a seven point communiqué issued at the weekend shortly after a crucial meeting of the group over the emergence of Isa Ashiru and Dr. John Markus Ayuba as PDP governorship candidate and running mate respectively in the forthcoming governorship election in Kaduna State and other related matters.
The communiqué which was jointly signed by the groups’ chairman and secretary, Tanko Rossi Sabo and Barnabas Musa Chawai respectively also issued a two-week ultimatum to the PDP governorship candidate and his deputy, the state working committee of the PDP and other party leaders in the state to implement their demands, failure of which would force them to reconvene and redefine their political future.
The communiqué explained that the Southern Kaduna ‘New Faces;’ is a coalition of concerned southern Kaduna youths with a shared vision of promoting and actualizing the political, social, and economic interests of youths across the state. Read more
Several people killed in shooting at shopping centre in Copenhagen (Metro)
Several people have been shot dead at a shopping centre in Denmark.
Police raced to the scene ‘in large numbers’ at the Field’s mall in Copenhagen this evening.
A Danish man, 22, has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Police are not ruling out the possibility that the incident was terror-related. Read more
Sydney floods force thousands to leave homes (BBC)
A man has died and thousands of people have been told to evacuate their homes amid torrential rain and major flooding in Australia’s largest city, Sydney.
Roads have been cut off, with 18 evacuation orders in western Sydney alone and warnings of more to come.
“This is a life-threatening emergency situation,” Stephanie Cooke, emergency services minister for the state of New South Wales, said.
Australia was hit by major flooding in March, killing 20 people, many in NSW.
“We are now facing dangers on multiple fronts – flash flooding, riverine flooding and coastal erosion,” Ms Cooke told a media briefing. Read more
Amanda Ofori is out with a new single titled ‘Abba’
(MyJoy)
UK-Based Ghanaian gospel singer Amanda Ofori is out with her new single titled ‘Abba’.
The song comes as her second single after her maiden release which features gospel singer Cwesi Oteng.
Amanda believes that this song will go a long way to bless people around the world.
‘Abba’ means ‘Loving Father’ and talks about the loving nature of God and how he goes all out to love his children regardless of their multiple sins and transgressions — referring to the ‘parable of the lost sheep’ in the Bible. Read more
Adele says ‘profound’ experience at Iraq War protest inspired her first song (Independent)
Adele has opened up about being inspired to write her first song after attending a protest against the Iraq War.
Appearing on Desert Island Discs on Sunday (3 July), Adele discussed her musical history and how she came to write her debut single “Hometown Glory” as a teenager.
“I was with my friend Olivia, at the time, and my mum and we were at the flat in West Norwood and we were going to the march the following day against the Iraq War, down by Parliament,” she told Lauren Laverne.
“We were making our signs and I felt such a sense of power in that. Me and Olivia were like 15, 16, and we went and I was just mesmerised by everyone. I was really soaking it all in.” Read more
Tributes for theatre and film director Peter Brook after death aged 97 (ITV)
Influential British theatre and film director Peter Brook has died at the age of 97, according to reports in French media.
Brook, who had lived in France since the early 1970s, won multiple awards including Tonys, Emmys and an Olivier across his seven-decade career in the arts.
He directed famous names including Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir John Gielgud and Adrian Lester.
The Le Monde newspaper said he died in Paris on Saturday. Read more
Reacher and Agents of SHIELD stars team up for new movie (DigitalSpy)
Reacher and Agents of SHIELD stars have teamed up for a new movie, a noir feature titled Joe Baby.
Deadline reports that Reacher and Little Women star Willa Fitzgerald, Agents of SHIELD, Jurassic World: Dominion and Severance actress Dichen Lachman, Sons of Anarchy and Hellboy legend Ron Perlman, plus Reservoir Dogs and The Grand Budapest Hotel’s Harvey Keitel have all been cast.
The novel adaptation focuses on the titular character (played by Lachman) who works as a ‘collector’ for a private investigator, a dangerous line of work that she’s desperate to get out of.
An unusual FBI agent turns up out of the blue looking into the unsolved murder of her hitman father, which strangely seems to tie into a case she has accepted working for a real estate mogul’s daughter to recover some money she’s been conned out of. Read more
Glenda Jackson recalls being warned about the movie industry (FilmNews)
Glenda Jackson was warned she’d be unlikely to find success as an actress until she was 40.
The 86-year-old Oscar-winning star studied her craft at the prestigious drama school RADA and though her teachers knew she had talent, they advised her that she wouldn’t get much work until later in her life because she’d be cast in “character” parts.
Glenda told The Big Issue: “When I left RADA the chief told me not to expect much work before I was 40 because I was essentially a character actress, and that seemed quite reasonable to me at the time.
“But when I left I got work immediately.
“However, after working quite assiduously for about two years, I then didn’t work in the theatre at all for another two years. That’s the theatre for you. Read more
UFC 276: Adesanya beats Cannonier to tee up grudge match with Pereira (Guardian)
Israel Adesanya brushed aside the challenge of Jared Cannonier in a masterclass of technical precision at UFC 276 and looks set to have a grudge match against Alex Pereira – the only man to have ever knocked him out.
The UFC middleweight champion’s clash with his American challenger never quite ignited and Cannonier struggled to lay a finger on the elusive Nigerian for large sections of the contest.
Adesanya, who thrilled fans with homage to WWE star The Undertaker in his walkout – and with an urn with his opponent’s name engraved on it – was too fast and intelligent for Cannonier but whet the appetite for his next defence.
“The first time I had you on skates, next time I’ll have you Frozen, like Elsa,” ‘The Last Stylebender’ said to Pereira, who obliterated Sean Strickland earlier in the night to earn what will inevitably be a title shot. Read more
Carlos Sainz Jr. wins dramatic British Grand Prix after huge first lap crash (Metro)
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz Jr. took his maiden Formula 1 victory at a dramatic British Grand Prix.
The race was marred by a huge, multi-car crash right at the very start, where Zhou Guanyu’s Alfa Romeo was flipped and sent flying into the catch fence at Abbey corner.
The red flag was brought out immediately as the Chinese driver was taken to the medical centre on a stretcher, with the FIA confirming that he was OK and the had been discharged.
It was nealry an hour before the race was restarted and when it did polesitter Carlos Sainz Jr. struggled under pressure from Max Verstappen, eventually running wide and allowing the Red Bull to take the lead. Read more
Nottingham Forest announce the signing of French defender Giulian Biancone from Ligue 1 side Troyes (DailyMail)
Nottingham Forest have confirmed the signing of French defender Giulian Biancone from Ligue 1 side Troyes.
The 22-year-old started his career with Monaco and was sent on loan to Belgian side Cercle Bregge for two years before making a permanent switch to Troyes last summer.
Biancone joins on a three-year deal as Forest boss Steve Cooper continues to prepare for the club’s return to the Premier League.
‘I am very happy to arrive at a club like Nottingham Forest after a good experience with my former club Troyes,’ Biancone told Forest’s official website. Read more
USMNT goalkeeper Ethan Horvath loaned to Championship side Luton Town (SI)
United States goalkeeper Ethan Horvath was loaned to Luton Town by Nottingham Forest for the coming season on Saturday.
Horvath joined Nottingham Forest a year ago on a free transfer from Club Brugge, where he won three Belgian league titles.
The backup goalie, he made only 11 appearances for Nottingham Forest, but helped the club gained promotion back to the English Premier League.
He was a late substitute in the playoff win over Huddersfield at Wembley, played six times in the second-tier Championship, and in the FA Cup quarterfinal against Liverpool. Read more
Bayley WWE return: Exciting update on her comeback after one year out (GMS)
An exciting update has emerged on the status of Bayley, who has been off WWE TV with an injury since July 2021.
Just before Money in the Bank last year, WWE announced that Bayley has sustained a serious knee injury and would be out of action for some time.
It later emerged that she’d torn her ACL, and was definitely going to be out of action for the remainder of 2021, potentially even longer.
It’s been just shy of a year since WWE announced Bayley’s injury (July 9), and an update has finally emerged on her status. Read more
Federer says he hopes to play Wimbledon ‘one more time’, Bouzkova enters q-finals (StraitsTimes)
Roger Federer said on Sunday (July 3) that he hopes to play Wimbledon “one more time” despite being sidelined for a year with a knee injury.
“I hope I can come back one more time. I’ve missed it here,” said the eight-time champion as he attended a special ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of Centre Court.
The 40-year-old winner of 20 Grand Slam titles has been sidelined since a quarter-final loss at the tournament in 2021.
He plans to return to action at the Laver Cup in London in September. Read more
Lewis Hamilton ‘dying’ for Mercedes to solve issues after opening up on ‘worrying’ injury (Express)
Lewis Hamilton has admitted he’s ‘dying for the day’ Mercedes solve their troublesome porpoising issues after enduring a ‘worrying experience’ during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Brit wasn’t in good shape after experiencing extreme bouncing at high speeds in Baku and revealed it took him three weeks to recover after damaging his back.
Mercedes have been left behind by leading constructors Red Bull and Ferrari this season, with their eight-year run of dominance set to end. Both Hamilton and George Russell have suffered horrendous cases of their W13 cars bouncing at high speeds, but the former seems to have had the worst end of the stick.
Hamilton finished June’s race in Baku in P4 behind Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez and Russell after Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez crashed out. He looked as if he had aged 50 years as he exited his car, clearly suffering significant back pain. Ahead of Sunday’s British Grand Prix, he opened up on how badly the bouncing affected him physically.
He told Channel 4: “That [Baku] was definitely a really worrying experience. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve experienced the car bouncing, and there have been times when it’s been so heavy that you have to lift it down the straight. It’s taken like three weeks to get myself to feeling great again.” Read more