Many feared killed as gunmen invade Kogi community (DailyTrust)
Some gunmen have reportedly invaded Ejule town in Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing residents in the process.
Our correspondent learnt that the attack started around 3.am on Thursday. A commercial motorcyclist popularly known as okada rider, and the wife of a youth leader in the community were reportedly killed in the attack.
The okada rider was said to have been hit by a stray bullet while the woman was said to be looking for her husband when she was hit and died on the spot. Read more
PEPC: INEC wiped BVAS results, forensic experts tell court in Atiku, PDP petition (Sun)
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate on Thursday presented a digital forensic expert, Mr Hitler Nwala, who told the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, that the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), wiped off results of the February 25 presidential election.
Atiku and PDP had stated in their joint petition that data from the BVAS machines which were used for the accreditation of voters and uploading of polling unit results would establish their allegation that the presidential election was manipulated in favour of President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The subpoenaed witness who testified as the petitioners’ 26th witness (PW26) told the court that the delated results were contained in the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), machines, that were deployed for the conduct of the elections. Read more
Tinubu hasn’t approved any salary increase for political office holders – Presidency (Vanguard)
The Presidency on Thursday debunked the allegation that it has granted approval for the upward review of salaries for political office holders and judicial officers.
This clarification was made by Dele Alake, Special Adviser, Special Duties, Communications and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.
Recall that there has been a report that went viral to the effect that the government has approved a new payment template that has increased salaries for political office holders and judicial officers. Read more
Anthrax: Lagos residents defy govt’s warning on ponmo consumption (Punch)
Despite the warning by the Federal Government on the purchase of cow skin (ponmo) due to the outbreak of Anthrax disease in some neighbouring countries, the trade in the commodity still thrives.
A survey of some markets at Mushin, Egbeda, Oshodi, and Ikotun, all in Lagos State, by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that the demand for ponmo hasn’t dropped.
This is in spite of the announcement made by the government. Read more
1 dies in truck accident on Lagos-Ibadan expressway (Guardian)
Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Thursday revealed that an accident in which a truck collided with a tanker along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has claimed one life.
LASEMA said on arrival at the incident scene, it was discovered that a truck with registration no. LSR-69YE and a tanker fully laden with PMS[30000 litres] with registration no. GWN-597XA were involved in a road accident.
Investigation conducted by the LRT revealed that the truck driver lost control and ran into the tanker from behind whilst on motion. Read more
FG may reopen Seme border for vehicle importation (Tribune)
The Federal Government of Nigeria has considered the re-opening of the Seme land border for the importation of vehicles.
Recall that Seme border was closed in August 2019 by the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
According to Director of Road Transport in the Ministry of Transportation, Ibrahim Musa, who made the announcement on Wednesday, during his speech at the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) meeting organised between officials of Nigeria and Benin, the federal government has decided to reopen the border following complaints by freight forwarders operating in the area. Read more
Shettima, govs meet Gates, Dangote at Aso Rock (Vanguard)
Vice President Kashim Shettima and members of the Nigerian Governors Forum, today, met with the co-Chairman of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, the chairman of Dangote Foundation, Aliko Dangote behind closed doors at the State House, Abuja.
Vanguard learnt that the meeting, which began at 11:43 a.m., was part of Gates’ engagements in Nigeria and the Niger Republic.
Recall Gates and Dangote, similarly, met President Bola Tinubu on Monday at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja. Read more
Senator Albert petitions Appeal Court, seeks relocation of Akwa Ibom Tribunal (Channels)
The Young Progressives Party, YPP, governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Senator Bassey Albert has petitioned the President of the Court over his safety and that of witnesses at the state Election Petitions Tribunal and requested an immediate relocation of the tribunal.
In a petition dated June 21 and signed by his lawyer, Ahmed Raji, SAN, Senator Albert claimed that the tribunal venue was no longer safe for him and some witnesses following threats to their lives by suspected armed personnel.
“I write to report an unusual and life-threatening spate of events, in the Governorship Election Tribunal, sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State,” the petition partly read. Read more
Woman reveals harsh truth about why wives are never ‘in the mood’ to sleep with their husbands (YourTango)
Caylee Cresta has a TikTok following of 2.7 million people. In her bio, she proclaims, “We empower women here.” In a recent post, Cresta declared, “Fellas, I wanna make a little PSA here,” before offering her opinion on how physical intimacy manifests between husbands and wives.
Cresta revealed a harsh truth about why wives are never ‘in the mood’ to sleep with their husbands.
She spoke directly to husbands of the world, stating, “You complain that your wife never wants to be intimate, but you slap her butt when she’s emptying the dishwasher and grope her body when she’s stressing over bills.”
Cresta raised a valid question, asking, “Why would aggressively touching someone out of nowhere make them wanna sleep with you? Especially when they’re in the middle of trying to take care of everyone but themselves?” Read more
Kennedy Center Honors: Billy Crystal, Queen Latifah among 2023 recipients (UPI)
Billy Crystal, Queen Latifah and other performers will receive Kennedy Center Honors in 2023.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced five new honorees in a press release Thursday.
Crystal, an actor and comedian; Latifah, a rapper, singer and actress; Renée Fleming, an acclaimed soprano; Barry Gibb, a singer-songwriter and member of the Bee Gees; and singer Dionne Warwick will be recognized this year. Read more
Elton John set to have four surprise guests at his Glastonbury headline show (DailyMail)
Elton John’s husband David Furnish has revealed he is set to have four surprise guests performing in his Glastonbury headline show.
The music legend, 75, will close out the festival on Sunday on the iconic Pyramid Stage with his last UK performance, bringing an end to his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.
Speaking to Sky News presenter Beth Rigby, David said he’s ‘sworn to secrecy’ on the identity of the mystery acts, but described Elton’s headline slot as ‘very special.’ Read more
Golf ball-sized hailstones injure up to 90 fans at Louis Tomlinson Red Rocks concert (Standard)
Up to 90 people have been injured after golf ball-sized hailstones rained down on screaming fans at a Louis Tomlinson concert in the United States.
The hail left audience members with broken bones and cuts, according to the fire brigade, who were called to Colorado’s Red Rocks concert venue on Wednesday.
Concert-goers took to Twitter saying it was “the scariest night of their lives” and revealed that they were left with “welts” on their skin. Read more
“Don’t steal our voices”: dubbing artistes confront AI threat (France24)
Voice actors around the globe are mobilizing against the unregulated use of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate and clone human voices that they fear poses a threat to their livelihoods.
“We’re fighting a very big monster,” said Mario Filio, a Mexican artist who has done voice overs for Hollywood star Will Smith, the Obi-Wan Kenobi character in Star Wars and the party-loving lemur King Julien in the animated movie “Madagascar.”
Campaigning under the slogan “Don’t steal our voices,” more than 20 voice acting guilds, associations and unions from Europe, the United States and Latin America have created the United Voice Artists coalition. Read more
Bad Bunny’s Spider-Man spin-off El Muerto removed from Sony release calendar (EW)
Bad Bunny won’t be stepping into the ring as the superpowered wrestler El Muerto any time soon.
Sony Pictures announced Wednesday that it has removed the Spider-Man spin-off movie “El Muerto” from its theatrical release calendar, after previously scheduling it for Jan. 12, 2024.
There is hope for Benito fans: EW has learned that the project, which would be the first live-action Marvel movie led by a Latino character, is still in development. But the current Hollywood writers’ strike and Bad Bunny’s busy touring scheduling have impacted the timeline. Read more
At least 24 people injured in Paris explosion (AlJazeera)
At least 24 people have been injured and two people are missing after an explosion started a fire in Paris, police say.
The fire on Wednesday caused two buildings to collapse, including one housing a fashion school, emergency services said.
According to French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, four of the injured are in a life-threatening condition. Read more
Super Eagles lacked tactical play against Sierra Leone – Ikhana (Leadership)
Former Nigeria international Kadiri Ikhana has said the Super Eagles lacked tactical play despite their 3-2 win against Sierra Leone in Sunday’s 2023 AFCON qualifier.
The Eagles booked their place at next year’s tournament following the hard fought win against the Leone Stars.
A brace from Victor Osimhen and a late goal from Kelechi Iheanacho sealed the win for the Eagles.
Despite the win, the 1980 AFCON winner with the Green Eagles (now Super Eagles), credited the players and not Peseiro for the win. Read more
Man City making £100m bid for Declan Rice – which could see Treble winner join West Ham (Mirror)
Manchester City will make a £100 million bid for Declan Rice in a sensational attempt to hijack his move to Arsenal.
And the Treble winners could use midfield misfit Kalvin Phillips as a makeweight in the hope of striking a deal with West Ham. Arsenal have spent the past six months plotting to land Rice.
Boss Mikel Arteta made the England ace his No.1 target and even invited him to his house for private talks about a move to the Emirates. Manchester United have also been keeping close tabs on Rice, as boss Erik Ten Hag looks to bolster his squad this summer. Read more
Dara O’Shea: Burnley set to sign West Brom defender for £7m (BBC)
Newly promoted Burnley are closing in on the £7m signing of Republic of Ireland defender Dara O’Shea from West Brom.
O’Shea is understood to be having a medical at Turf Moor.
The 24-year-old will be the second central defender to join the Clarets this summer after Jordan Beyer’s loan move was made permanent last month.
Burnley will face Premier League champions Manchester City in their top-flight opener on 11 August. Read more
Cameron Norrie fights back to beat grass-court specialist Jordan Thompson (Guardian)
Cameron Norrie continued his solid start to the grass-court season as he navigated the challenges presented by one of the trickier players on the surface and advanced to the Queen’s Club quarter-finals for the second time. After trailing by a set, Norrie soared, recovering to defeat Jordan Thompson 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
“It was the perfect match,” he said. “Jordan really likes the grass. He played a couple of good points to break me and I played a couple of loose points and that was the difference in the first set. I thought I played great so I didn’t really have to change too much.”
In recent years Thompson has established a reputation for his grass-court prowess. The 29-year-old has reached two ATP finals, both on grass, the second in last week’s-Hertogenbosch when he lost against the home favourite, Tallon Griekspoor, in three tight sets. Read more
Impressive 5-year streak ended after Oscar Piastri’s Canada crash (PlanetF1)
Oscar Piastri reckons his Montreal qualifying crash was the end of a five-year streak avoiding the walls.
Piastri ended up having a significant impact on qualifying as his crash during Q3 ended any chance of a quick lap as rain soon hit the track.
It led to a mixed up grid that included Nico Hulkneberg in second but for Piastri, it was the end of a long-run of staying away from the wall. Read more
Audi F1 reveal the first driver to join their Formula 1 project ahead of 2026 entry (PlanetF1)
Audi have made their first move on the driver front for their Formula 1 project, with Neel Jani coming on board to aid development of the Audi power unit.
The German brand will enter the Formula 1 scene as of the 2026 campaign, having struck a deal to partner with Sauber Motorsport to transform their team, currently operating as Alfa Romeo, into the Audi works squad.
As part of that link-up, the team will also use the Audi power unit, being developed for the new Formula 1 PU regulations which will come into force as of that season. Read more