Man arrested for stealing neighbour’s car in Lagos (Punch)
Operatives of the Ebute Ero Police Division in Lagos State have arrested one Jackson Abraham, a male suspect, in possession of a stolen vehicle during a routine surveillance patrol.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Ben Hundeyin, exclusively told PUNCH Metro on Wednesday that the suspect was intercepted while driving a Mitsubishi Space vehicle, ash in colour, which was reported stolen from a parking area in Ogun State.
He said preliminary investigations revealed that Abraham took the vehicle without the owner’s consent, noting that both the suspect and the rightful owner reside at the same address. Read more
Boko Haram informants among politicians, soldiers —Zulum (Vanguard)
Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, alleged yesterday that some politicians and members of the armed forces act as informants and collaborators for Boko Haram insurgents.
The governor, who made the allegation in an interview on News Central’s Breakfast programme, also said the Nigerian Army lacks requisite equipment to fight terrorists, noting that devoid of politics, Boko Haram can be wiped out in six months.
Zulum spoke on a day Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said some of the terrorists and bandits terrorising the country are not Nigerians, even as the Senate warned that insurgency could spread to other parts of the North, if it was not checked now. Read more
Lagos taskforce arrests 41 suspects in Island raid on criminal hideouts (Nation)
The Lagos State Taskforce has arrested 41 suspects during a coordinated clean-up and enforcement operation across multiple locations on Lagos Island in the early hours of Tuesday.
In a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, the operation began around 1:00 a.m, saying that the targeted areas known for criminal activity, including Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Falomo, Osborne Road, the Eko Hotel axis, Lekki Road, and Obalende.
The raid was part of the state government’s ongoing clean-up enforcement campaign aimed at flushing out miscreants, street urchins, hooligans, pickpockets, and other suspected criminals from the metropolis. Read more
ECOWAS partners Germany, EU to strengthen cyber diplomacy in West Africa (Tribune)
The ECOWAS Commission, in partnership with the German Federal Foreign Office and the European Union, hosted a high-level briefing and workshop on cyber diplomacy for the ECOWAS Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) in Abuja.
The event aimed to enhance awareness of cybersecurity as a strategic foreign policy issue and to foster regional dialogue on cyber diplomacy.
According to Annett Günther, German Ambassador to Nigeria, “In an era where cyber threats know no borders, diplomacy is key to defending our shared values of security, trust, and cooperation in cyberspace. Read more
Tinubu rejoices with 2 British-Nigerian Mayors, Bright, Jackson, upon inauguration in London (ThisDay)
President Bola Tinubu has rejoiced with two British Nigerians, Opeyemi Bright and Jason Jackson, on their historic election and inauguration as Mayors in London.
The president, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, commended Bright and Jackson for sustaining the legacy of good works by Nigerians in the diaspora and consistently promoting the values of honesty, integrity, hard work, and commitment to the well-being of others.
According to President Tinubu, their stories will inspire countless young people—both at home and in the diaspora—to pursue excellence and serve their communities with distinction. Read more
Don’t fear defections, hungry Nigerians will decide 2027 polls, Makinde tells PDP (Guardian)
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Wednesday, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will continue to identify with the Nigerian masses and their aspirations despite the gale of defections that has hit the party.
Makinde stated this at the official inauguration of the newly elected PDP South West zonal executive members held at the party’s zonal secretariat, Soji Adagunodo House, Old Ife Road, Ibadan.
The governor, who added that the 2027 election would be determined by hungry Nigerians and not politicians, stressed that the party would not be overly bothered about members defecting to other parties. Read more
Complete Kashimbila Dam to solve Nigeria’s power woes, Sultan tells FG (Channels)
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged the Federal Government to prioritise the completion of the Kashimbila Dam in Taraba State, stating that the project holds the key to resolving Nigeria’s persistent electricity problems.
Speaking on Wednesday at the inaugural Taravest Summit in Jalingo, the state capital, the Sultan praised Governor Agbu Kefas for his commitment to improving security and creating an enabling environment for investment.
But the Sultan expressed concern over the slow pace of work on the Kashimbila Dam and stressed the need for immediate and total completion. Read more
Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’ Tour Is proof she’s ready to be a movie star (Uproxx)
“Iconic.”
That’s how Charli XCX once (accurately) described herself, and it also applies to the Brat tour.
After releasing Brat — which, among other accomplishments, won three Grammys and topped the Uproxx Music Critics Poll — the “360” singer first hit the road with Troye Sivan, and is now winding down the green-album era solo.
I caught the first concert of Charli’s mini-residency at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center this week. All four shows at the spacious 19,000-capacity arena are sold out, an impressive achievement for someone who, the last time I saw her, was in a venue that holds maybe 1,500 people. Charli has always been ambitious enough to be a headliner; now she is one. (“Miss Should Be Headliner” is a funny joke, but there’s truth in comedy, as they say.) Read more
Denzel Washington appears to fight back against pushy Cannes photographer (Variety)
Things seemingly got tense between Denzel Washington and a pushy photographer on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet for Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest.” The actor headlines the movie, his fifth collaboration with Lee, and appeared at Cannes for the first time since 1993’s Much Ado About Nothing brought him to the festival.
Video from the carpet shared by the New York Post sees the two-time Oscar winner pointing his finger at a photographer and shouting at him to “stop.” As Washington approaches, the photographer is seen trying to laugh off the confrontation and he puts his hands around the actor’s arm. Washington pulls himself away and again tells the photographer to stop. The photographers at Cannes are known to be shouty as they vie for stars’ attention. Read more
Selena Gomez posts cryptic message after ex Justin Bieber is blasted over Hailey comments (DailyMail)
Selena Gomez shared a cryptic message just hours after her ex Justin Bieber revealed his cruel words he once said to wife Hailey Bieber.
The actress and singer, 32, posted an excerpt from the self-help book called The Words I Never Dared To Say by Isabelle Miumiu.
Selena shared the excerpt: ‘You discover you have the ability to erase one person’s greatest pain. Who would you use this gift on, and why?’
The timing of her Instagram stories snap on Tuesday comes at an interesting moment – merely hours after Justin was slammed after he himself revealed he once told Hailey she would never be on the cover of Vogue magazine – on the day Hailey’s Vogue cover dropped. Read more
Top Boy’s Jasmine Jobson confirms split from co-star – and shares blunt new dating admission (DigitalSpy)
Top Boy star Jasmine Jobson has confirmed her split from co-star Kadeem Ramsay, sharing the blunt admission that she is now “celibate”.
Starring alongside each other on the hit Netflix crime drama, Jobson portrayed Jaq Lawrence, while Ramsay starred as Kit.
The former couple first went public with their romance in October 2023 when Jobson shared a photo of the couple sharing a kiss, though she has now confirmed they have parted ways. Read more
Kevin Spacey says “glad to be working again” (France24)
Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey said Tuesday he was “glad to be working again” as he accepted a lifetime’s achievement award from a charity on the sideline of the Cannes film festival.
Spacey’s presence at a gala dinner organised by the Better World Fund marks another step in the rehabilitation of the star who has been dogged by sexual assault allegations.
“I feel surrounded by so much affection and love. I’ve heard from so many of my friends and colleagues and co-stars in the last week since this award was announced,” he told reporters at the event. “It’s very nice to be back.” Read more
Canada in talks with US to join Trump’s Golden Dome defence system (BBC)
The Canadian government said it is in talks with the US over joining its proposed “Golden Dome” missile defence system, aimed at countering “next-generation” aerial threats.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office said there are “active discussions” between Canada and the US on security, including on existing and new programmes like the Golden Dome.
US President Donald Trump unveiled the plan for the new missile defence system on Tuesday, announcing an initial pricetag of $25bn (£18.7bn). He said Canada was interested in joining the project. Read more
Bayelsa leads Gateway Games 2024 medals table (Punch)
Team Bayelsa is currently leading the medals charge at the 2024 National Sports Festival, taking place in Ogun State as the multi-sports event continues to gather momentum in Abeokuta, the capital city, and other centres across the state, PUNCH Online reports.
The riverine state has amassed a total of nine medals so far, consisting of six gold, two silver, and one bronze medal.
They are closely followed by Oyo State with one gold, one silver and one bronze medal, while Lagos State is next on the table with three gold, four silver and three bronze medals. Read more
Flamingos, Eaglets add glamour to National Sports Festival (Nation)
Five-time world champions Golden Eaglets and FIFA World Cup-bound Flamingos have been adding colour and panache to the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The two teams are part of the exciting new concept of IJA (Invited Junior Athletes) which has drawn praise from observers and stakeholders since the commencement of the Games.
The Golden Eaglets are in a three-team pool, and have already shot their way to the quarter-finals of the football event after a 2-1 win over Edo State on Monday, and a scoreless draw with Delta State on Tuesday. Abdulmuiz Adeleke and Mohammed Imrana were the scorers for the Eaglets. Read more
2025 Tour de France adds Montmartre suspense to final stage (JapanToday)
The Tour de France will make three circuits of the historic Paris district of Montmartre on its last stage this year in what organizers said Wednesday would add a competitive finale to the world’s greatest bike race.
The new format of the final stage on July 27 introduces an outside possibility that the leading contender could crash out, adding suspense to what had traditionally become a procession into the French capital.
The riders will for the first time on a Tour de France race a total of 16.8 km in Montmartre before the peloton heads to the Champs-Elysees where it will complete three circuits, instead of the previous eight. Read more
5 guilty of hate crimes for racist abuse of Vinicius Jr (BBC)
Five people have been handed suspended prison sentences for racially abusing Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr in an “unprecedented” ruling in Spain, La Liga said on Wednesday.
Spain’s top division said it is the first time racist insults in a football stadium have been condemned as a hate crime in Spain.
Vinicius, 24, appeared to be subjected to racist abuse during a game against Real Valladolid in September 2022 while he walked past fans after being substituted at Jose Zorrilla stadium. Read more
Rory McIlroy to play inaugural DP World India Championship (RTE)
McIlroy sees it as an opportunity to grow the game in one of the world’s most populated countries
Rory McIlroy committed to play in the inaugural DP World India Championship, marking the first time that he will compete professionally in the country.
The $4 million (€3.5m) event will be contested from 16-19 October at Delhi Golf Club. It will be held three weeks after the Ryder Cup.”I’m excited to not only tee it up in India for the first time but also visit a country that I’ve always wanted to explore,” world number two McIlroy said. Read more