NNPCL GCEO, Kyari pays Sallah homage to Tinubu in Lagos (Vanguard)
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Mallam Mele Kyari, on Thursday visited President Bola Tinubu at his residence in Lagos, in the spirit of the Eid-El-Kabir celebration.
Kyari, who stated this in a post on his Twitter page, said he visited the President with the acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Folashodun Shonubi.
The NNPC boss expressed joy for the privilege to pay homage to the President, adding that Sallah is a day of reaffirmation by the faithfuls to sacrifice or give off the most coveted of possessions to please Allah. Read more
7 escape death in Lagos crash, driver hospitalised (Punch)
No fewer than seven persons, on Wednesday, escaped death by a whisker when a Lexus RX 350 vehicle rammed into a stationary truck on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Following the crash that occurred around 1pm, emergency responders who stormed the scene, rushed a yet-to-be-identified driver to the hospital for prompt treatment.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the driver of the Lexus vehicle rammed into the stationary truck around 1pm at the Otedola end of the expressway. Read more
Tinubu arrives Ogun to visit monarchs (ThisDay)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived Ogun State on a private visit to some monarchs in the state.
The president, who came in a chopper marked 5N FG2 Nigeria Airforce, landed at the Dipo Dina International Stadium in Ijebu-Ode at exactly 10.17am.
He was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu and the Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategies, Dele Alake. Read more
NAFDAC alerts Nigerians about contaminated soft drink (Guardian)
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert to warn Nigerians about contaminated Sprite drink.
NAFDAC in a statement notified the public of a batch of unwholesome Sprite 50cl glass bottles circulating in Nigeria.
“This product was discovered following a consumer complaint received and investigated by the post-marketing surveillance unit of the Agency,” NAFDAC said. Read more
Igbo to promote culture, language, music, food at US festival (Sun)
Approximately 5,000 Igbo indigenes in Nigeria and diaspora, as well as their friends and well-wishers, are expected to participate in a two-day Igbo Cultural Festival scheduled to hold in Minnesota, United States, on August 10th and 11th, 2023.
The event is expected to provide opportunities to market the culture, food, language, music and other uniqueness of the Igbo people who are predominantly in South East Nigeria but with significant and impressive spread and presence across Nigeria and beyond.
Cultural Ambassador and promoter of the event, Peter Egbudom, told journalists at a press conference, in Abuja, that the target of the festival is the celebrate the rich culture of the Igbo people, and also let the world know about it and ways it can redefine life and living in the world. Readd more
New Naval Chief redeploys 57 senior officers (Leadership)
The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogallala, has approved the appointments and redeployment of 57 senior officers comprising 56 Rear Admirals and a Commodore.
A statement by the director of Information, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, named those affected in the redeployment as Rear Admiral Olusanya Bankole formerly the director of Logistics, Defence Space Administration, now appointed as the Chief of Communications and Information Technology, Naval Headquarters, while Rear Admiral Alexander Bingel, formerly director, Combat Policy and Tactics, is now the Director of Logistics, Defence Headquarters.
Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, formerly director, Project Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, Naval Headquarters, is now the Chief of Defence Civil Military Cooperation, Defence Headquarters, while Rear Admiral Kennedy Ezete, formerly Director, Project Monitoring, Defence Headquarters, resumes as the Chief of Administration, Naval Headquarters. Read more
UK-based Nigerian wins prestigious Cheshire Woman Award of the year for charity (Guardian)
Nigerian based in the United Kingdom (UK), Ijeoma Ibijoke Jummai McDougaall (nee Iheme), has been announced the winner of the prestigious Cheshire Woman Award for 2023 for her enormous contributions to the lives of the less privileged both in Nigeria and the UK.
Ije, who spoke with The Guardian in a telephone interview yesterday said she was nominated alongside other white women whom she were doing great.
She explained that: “I got a letter saying I was a nominee for the Cheshire Woman Award of the year, I couldn’t believe it because I don’t know who nominated me. I don’t know why they nominated me. Read more
Nollywood actress Iyabo Oko dies (Punch)
Barely weeks after Yoruba Nollywood actor, Murphy Afolabi died, another veteran Yoruba actress, Sidikat Odunkanwi, popularly known as Iyabo Oko has died.
According to her daughter who broke the news via her Instagram account, the actress who battled an undisclosed ailment died on Wednesday.
Though details of the cause of her death are yet to be revealed, her daughter, Bisi Aisha, confirmed news of her death. Read more
Mindy Kaling opens up about her weight loss journey (Delish)
A bikini-clad Mindy Kaling showed off her impressive 40-pound weight loss earlier this year with an official Andie Swim collab. And now, in honor of her 44th birthday, The Never Have I Ever creator is opening up about what inspired the transformation: her kids.
“Look I know I’m clearly materialistic but the best birthday gift to me, for the rest of my life, are these two guys,” she captioned an Instagram photo of her two kids. She admitted that while she is trying to stay healthy for them, it’s “hard,” adding that she wants “to eat cheesesteaks every meal in front of the TV.” I mean…same, girl.
“My doctor told me that this year I was the healthiest I’ve been in years,” she continued in the post. “That’s a pretty damn good gift, right?” Read more
Kelsea Ballerini hit in face with object during her Boise concert (Billboard)
Kelsea Ballerini has become the latest artist to be struck by an object while performing during a concert. In a video captured by fans from her Wednesday (June 28) show at Outlaw Field in Boise, Idaho, the country star is singing her song “If You Go Down (I’m Going Down Too)” when an object comes flying at her and hits her in the face.
Ballerini, who was strumming her guitar, suddenly jerks her head back and holds her right hand to her left eye, and takes several steps back from the microphone, pausing her performance. As the singer-songwriter continues to hold her hand to her eye, her violinist walks over to check on her. After a bit, Ballerini, with her back to the audience, walks toward the back of the stage, pauses, and eventually hands her guitar to a tech and leaves the stage. Read more
US Supreme Court overturns affirmative action reversing 40 years of precedent (UPI)
The US Supreme Court Thursday ruled against affirmative action 6-3 in two cases that decided admissions systems used by Harvard and the University of North Carolina are unconstitutional.
The court said the admissions practices are not lawful under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
At issue was use of race in admissions.
“The Harvard and UNC admissions programs cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause,” the majority Supreme Court opinion said. “Both programs lack sufficiently focused and measurable objectives warranting the use of race, unavoidably employ race in a negative manner, involve racial stereotyping, and lack meaningful end points. We have never permitted admissions programs to work in that way, and we will not do so today.” Read more
Anthony Mackie felt “so nervous” working with Harrison Ford on “Captain America 4” (FilmNews)
Anthony Mackie was “so nervous” acting opposite Harrison Ford in “Captain America: Brave New World” that he forgot his lines on the first day.
In the upcoming Marvel movie, Mackie plays Sam Wilson, the newly appointed Captain America, alongside Ford as U.S. Secretary of State Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross. It marks a reunion for the actors, who appeared together in the 2003 action-comedy Hollywood Homicide.
Mackie, who had a small role in that film, admitted it was “intimidating” to work alongside the Star Wars icon as the leading man. Read more
Dan Aykroyd reflects on controversial Trading Places scene (People)
Dan Aykroyd is looking back on what would now be considered controversial: his Blackface moment in Trading Places
“I was in Blackface in that film and I probably couldn’t get away with it now,” Aykroyd, 70, recently told The Daily Beast.
The Ghostbusters and Saturday Night Live star indicated that a Hollywood makeup technique rooted in racism would not be considered acceptable today: “I probably wouldn’t choose to do a Blackface part, nor would I be allowed to do it.”
“I probably wouldn’t be allowed to do a Jamaican accent, white face or Black,” he added. Read more
Madonna discharged from hospital after serious bacterial infection (BBC)
Madonna has been discharged from hospital and is home and feeling better after an intensive care stay, the BBC understands.
News of her ill health was shared by her manager, who said she had suffered a “serious bacterial infection”.
The 64-year-old was due to begin a seven-month world tour in the coming weeks, but has had to postpone it. Read more
Ukrainee says suspect directed Russia missile attack in Kramatorsk (AlJazeera)
Ukraine has arrested a man accused of directing the Russian missiles that hit a restaurant in the country’s city of Kramatorsk, killing at least 12 people and wounding more than 60, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and security officials said.
Two sisters, both aged 14, were among three teenagers killed in the attack on Tuesday evening that hit the Ria Pizza restaurant in the city centre, which was popular with locals, soldiers, aid workers and journalists. The other teenager killed was 17, according to Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin.
Ukrainian security officials said the man it arrested, an employee of a fuel transportation company, was suspected of filming the restaurant for Russian forces and informing them about its popularity. Read more
Nigeria rise in latest FIFA rankings (Punch)
Nigeria has moved up a place in the latest FIFA men’s rankings for June, The PUNCH reports.
The Super Eagles, who were ranked 40th in the world in the ranking released in May, gained six points and moved to 39th.
The Eagles’ rise in the rankings was largely due to their impressive performance in the recent Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone in the month under review. Read more
Lionel Messi makes acting debut in Argentina’s Los Protectores TV series (Vanguard)
Lionel Messi makes acting debut in Argentina’s Los Protectores TV series
Lionel Messi has continued to enjoy his last days of vacation as he ventures into the world of acting.
Messi made his debut as an actor in a series called ‘Los Protectores’, which is broadcast in Argentina via the Star+ streaming service and in which the 36-year-old striker plays himself.
The second season of ‘Los Protectores’ premiered on Sunday, June 25th, a day after Messi’s 36th birthday and features movie stars Adrian Suar, Andres Parra, and Gustavo Bermudez. Read more
We won’t go to World Cup to defend, insists Ireland boss Vera Pauw (IrishIndependent)
Ireland boss Vera Pauw has insisted her radically reshaped squad will not head into their maiden World Cup simply seeking to defend.
“Hard work pays off, but the harsh decisions are the worst that you have to make,” said the Dutch woman, who raised eyebrows amongst some of the team’s supporters by omitting Megan Campbell, Aoife Mannion, Jamie Finn and Leanne Kiernan from her 23-woman squad.
“We have a balanced team going forward, touch wood so that we don’t get injuries, and I’m proud of where we are now. Read more
Tottenham star Son Heung-min becomes one year younger overnight after law change (DailyStar)
Tottenham hero Son Heung-min might have just seen his transfer value boosted – after becoming a year younger overnight thanks to South Korean law.
Son, who is 30 according to the international ageing system, had been considered a year older in his native country due to an unorthodox method of age recognition.
President Yoon Suk Yeol passed a law last year that would abolish the previous ruling of children being assigned the age of one at birth – and the age of two as soon as there was a change in year. Read more
Steph Curry and Klay Thompson break silence on Chris Paul trade to Golden State Warriors (Mirror)
Chris Paul will be chasing his first NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors next season, and Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are feeling optimistic about their chances.
Just two months ago Paul was part of an All-Star Phoenix Suns roster, with Kevin Durant hoping to lead them to a championship after trading from the Brooklyn Nets. Ultimately their season ended with disappointment as they were eliminated during the playoffs after losing in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers.
38-year-old Paul was then waived by the franchise, and was involved as part of a trade for Bradley Beal, who finally left the Washington Wizards. Paul has actually ended up at the Warriors, with young talent Jordan Poole making his way to the Wizards instead. Read more
Ashes: Just Stop Oil protesters briefly disrupt opening morning of England v Australia Test at Lord’s (BBC)
Just Stop Oil protesters briefly disrupted the first morning of the second Ashes Test, with one carried off the Lord’s ground by England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.
Two people entered the field attempting to spread orange powder.
As the players guarded the pitch, one was picked up by Bairstow and another stopped by England captain Ben Stokes. Read more