NLC demands 100% salary as widowhood leave allowance, others (Leadership)
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has demanded the payment of 100% of monthly-basic salary as widowhood leave allowance while the holiday which must last between 30 and days be applicable to both widows and widowers.
The NLC president, Comrade Joe Ajero, made these demands at the pubic hearing on six bills seeking to address key issues affecting the public service and the National Assembly, organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Service Matters yesterday.
Ajero expressed NLC’s strong support for the enactment of a widowhood leave policy, saying the traumatic loss of a spouse demands time for emotional recovery and logistical adjustments. Read more
Court jails 14 Chinese cyber criminals, orders deportation (Tribune)
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Friday convicted and sentenced 14 Chinese nationals for their involvement in cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.
The court, presided over by Justice Daniel Osiagor, arrived at the decision following a plea bargain agreement between the convicts and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In addressing the court, counsel for the EFCC, Spiff Owede, urged the court to adopt the plea deal, after which the charges were re-read and the defendants changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty. Read more
Alleged Rape: NAPTIP Declares Speed Darlington Wanted (Channels)
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has declared controversial Nigerian rapper, Darlington Okoye, popularly known as Speed Darlington, wanted over alleged offences including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking.
In a statement posted on its official Instagram account on Friday, NAPTIP announced the declaration.
“WANTED BY NAPTIP. Darlington Okoye, aka Speed Darlington, is wanted in connection with alleged offences including rape, cyberbullying, and cyberstalking. Read more
Wike-Fubara feud: Gov’s supporters clash over peace deal (Punch)
Supporters of the suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, have differed over his reconciliation with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
While some welcomed the development, others described the truce, which was mediated by President Bola Tinubu, as fragile and a surrender by the governor.
On Thursday night, the President brokered peace between Fubara and his political godfather, Wike. Read more
ECOWAS court orders release of man held 16 years after SARS arrest (Guardian)
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has ordered the immediate and unconditional release of Moses Abiodun, a Nigerian businessman who spent 16 years in detention without trial following his arrest by operatives of the now-defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
His release follows a legal action filed by Avocats Sans Frontières France (Lawyers Without Borders France), under its European Union-funded “Strengthening National Actors’ Capacity for Ending Severe Human Rights Violations (SAFE)” project.
According to documents released by the ASF, Abiodun was arrested in November 2008 during a SARS operation targeting a friend accused of armed robbery. Read more
Cancer on the rise in Nigeria – Minister (DailyTrust)
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Kunle Salako, says the burden of cancer is increasing in Nigeria.
Salako said it demands deployment of all solutions and management possibilities by the Federal Government to tackle the scourge.
He spoke in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday, while launching Oncoseek, a blood based test that can be used for early detection of nine high mortality cancers. Read more
Shock, anxiety trail Ganduje’s resignation as APC chairman (Sun)
Palpable anxiety and shock on Friday, greeted the resignation of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Available information claimed that the former Kano State governor had tendered his letter of resignation to his National Working Committee (NWC) in the early hours of Friday, citing health reasons.
Confirming the resignation, a member of the party’s NWC told Saturday Sun that the resignation letter was already in the custody of the national leadership of the party. Read more
Kendrick Lamar plots Latin American dates for ‘Grand National’ tour (Variety)
Kendrick Lamar is headed to Latin America to continue his “Grand National Tour” with support from breakout Argentine duo Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso.
Following sold out shows across North America, his upcoming European and UK dates with SZA, and a recently confirmed solo headlining run in Australia, Lamar will begin in Latin America on Sept. 23 in Mexico City.
Lamar will visit Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and Chile in notable soccer stadiums throughout this fall. Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso — a Latin/hip-hop/multi-genre act who caught wind in the U.S. with a viral NPR Tiny Desk Concert last fall, and appearances at Coachella earlier this year — are direct support for all Latin American shows. Read more
Trump administration terminates legal status for more than 500k immigrants (Newsweek)
The Trump administration has announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haiti, impacting over 520,000 Haitian nationals residing in the United States.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that the designation will expire on August 3, 2025, with the termination taking effect on September 2, 2025. This decision reverses an 18-month extension granted under former President Joe Biden’s administration, which would have extended protections until February 2026.
“This decision restores integrity in our immigration system and ensures that Temporary Protective Status is actually temporary,” a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson said in a statement. Read more
Syrian charged over plot to attack Taylor Swift Vienna concert (BBC)
A young Syrian national has been charged by German authorities with supporting a foreign terror group over a foiled plot to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna last August.
Mohamed A, who is described as a juvenile and still at liberty, is accused of following the ideology of jihadist group Islamic State (IS) and helping another suspect to prepare the attack.
Concert organisers called off Taylor Swift’s three sold-out gigs on the eve of the first show at Vienna’s Ernst Happel Stadium last year, disappointing tens of thousands of fans during her Eras Tour. Read more
Canada demands answers after a citizen dies in ICE custody (Axios)
The Canadian government is demanding answers from the U.S. following the death of a Canadian citizen in immigration custody.
The big picture: The relationship between Canada and the U.S. has crumbled during President Trump’s second term as he’s sought to annex America’s neighbor and started a trade war with a vital economic partner.
Johnny Noviello, 49, died on Monday while in custody in Miami pending removal proceedings, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said on Wednesday. He had been in the U.S. for nearly 40 years. Read more
Priest warns: Christian town in Holy Land no longer safe amid settler attacks (CNA)
In a disturbing and increasingly frequent pattern, the Palestinian town of Taybeh, located east of Ramallah and known as the last remaining town in the West Bank inhabited entirely by Christians, faces ongoing attacks by Israeli settlers targeting residents, their property, and farmlands.
According to ACI MENA, CNA’s Arabic-language news partner, in recent weeks settlers have established a new outpost on the eastern edge of Taybeh atop the ruins of a farmhouse whose owners were displaced roughly a year ago.
The outpost was erected in a vital agricultural zone, spanning around 17,000 dunums (roughly 4,200 acres), which serves as a key economic lifeline for the town. The area hosts thousands of olive trees, poultry and sheep farms, and wide fields used for seasonal crops. It forms the bulk of Taybeh’s total land area of about 24,000 dunums (about 5,900 acres). Read more
China, US confirm details of their trade deal, Beijing says (CNBC)
The US and China have confirmed details of a trade framework that seeks to allow rare earth exports and easing of tech restrictions, according to a statement released by China’s Ministry of Commerce on Friday afternoon.
China will review and approve export applications for items subject to export control rules, while the U.S. will cancel a range of existing restrictive measures imposed against Beijing, a spokesperson for the ministry said in the statement, without elaborating.
China’s industrial profits plunge 9.1%, steepest fall in seven months
UK car production slumps to lowest level since 1949 as Trump tariffs hit
The statement comes after President Donald Trump said Thursday at an event in the White House that “we just signed with China yesterday.” A White House official later clarified that the administration and China had agreed to “an additional understanding of a framework to implement the Geneva agreement.” Read more
Super Falcons Nnadozie signs for Brighton & Hove Albion (Channels)
Brighton and Hove Albion have signed Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie on a free transfer from Paris FC.
Nnadozie is expected to join the club when her contract with the French side ends on July 1st.
“We are delighted to announce the signing of Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, subject to the usual regulatory processes,” the club side revealed on their official X handle on Friday. Read more
United move will mean everything – Arokodare (Punch)
Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare says it would be a dream come true to sign for Manchester United, with the 24-year-old Genk forward revealing his childhood connection to the English giants amid growing interest from several top European clubs.
In an exclusive interview with PUNCH Sports Extra, the Belgian Pro League Golden Boot winner opened up about his goals for club and country, his admiration for Nigeria teammate Victor Osimhen, and how much it would mean to wear the famous shirt of the Red Devils.
Arokodare, who scored 21 league goals and added five more assists for Genk during the 2024/25 season, is reportedly being tracked by United’s scouting network, alongside Sporting’s Viktor Gyökeres and Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike. Read more
Switch of allegiance: World Athletics awaits NRP report on Ofili, others (Guardian)
The World Athletics (WA) has declared that it has neither reviewed nor confirmed the four transfer of allegiance applications it received from the Turkish Athletics Federation, which reportedly includes Nigeria’s Favour Ofili.
The statement from the world athletics governing body comes amidst viral reports that the 22-year-old Ofili has officially begun the process of switching allegiance to Turkey, less than three months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Though World Athletics did not disclose any individual names, the governing body said the applications are currently under review by the Nationality Review Panel (NRP), the independent body responsible for handling all nationality change requests by the sport’s rules and ethics. Read more
‘I deserve it’ – GB qualifier wants prize money change (BBC)
British qualifier Oliver Tarvet has called for a change in United States college rules after being unable to claim all the prize money he will earn from reaching the Wimbledon main draw.
Tarvet, 21, moved into the first round – where players receive £66,000 – after winning his third and final qualifying match on Thursday.
The Englishman studies at the University of San Diego and has developed his game in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) system. Read more
Lewis Hamilton at centre of FIA investigation after Austrian Grand Prix incident (PlanetF1)
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton is under investigation after an impeding incident with Andrea Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes during FP2 at the Austrian Grand Prix.
The incident took place on the approach to Turn 4, where Antonelli was forced to take avoiding action after encountering a slow-moving Hamilton.
Hamilton and a Ferrari team representative were required to report to the stewards at 18:20 local time in Austria. Read more