Police probe death of US-based businessman in Lagos hotel (Punch)
The Lagos State Police Command has begun an investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of a businessman, Onyejekwe Izuchukwu, whose remains were found in a hotel room in the Ikoyi area of the state.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Izuchukwu, who was based in Texas, USA, returned to Nigeria for some business dealings when the tragedy that claimed his life struck on June 9, 2024.
The 62-year-old businessman was said to have lodged in the hotel in Ikoyi while engaging in the business activities that brought him back to the country. Read more
Eid-el-Kabir: Tinubu, Hamzat enjoin Nigerians to follow path of sacrifice (Tribune)
President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, urged Nigerians on Sunday to follow the path of sacrifice, be good citizens, and show kindness to one another, especially during this period of economic downturn.
President Tinubu and Hamzat gave the charge after observing the Eid Prayer to commemorate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration held at the Dodan Barracks Praying Ground, Obalende, Lagos.
The president, while making the call, said Nigerians should, as part of the sacrifice, be committed citizens, love their country, their neighbors, and share whatever they have with others, being the essence of Eid-el-Kabir. He said that the Eid-el-Kabir symbolizes sacrifice, faith, and adherence to the will of the Almighty Allah. Read more
Youths storm LGA secretariats in Rivers, protest tenure extension for chairmen (Channels)
Youths in the three local government areas of the Kalabari ethnic group have occupied their council secretariats to demand the vacation of the council chairmen from office.
The local government areas are Degema, Asari-Toru and Akuku-Toru.
Amateur videos obtained by Channels Television on Monday showed that some of the youths mobilised to block the entrance to the council complexes and requested traders within the premises to leave. Read more
Lagos to engage consultants for building plan reviews (Punch)
The Lagos State Building Control Agency is set to engage consultants who assist in the review of building plans, inspections, and monitoring compliance.
This was disclosed at the interactive session with chairmen of local government areas and local council development areas, professional bodies, and developers across the state to discuss building codes and the approval process, which was held recently in Ikeja, Lagos.
The agency urged qualified consultants in the built environment to participate in its new Certified Accreditors’ Programme. Read more
N4.7b Cocaine, Meth seized as NDLEA busts Lagos warehouse, arrests siblings in Aba (ThisDay)
A cartel run by the Nwaobasi siblings have been smashed by the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi in a statement on Sunday said: “A cartel controlled by a drug baron, 49-year-old Kelechi Monday Nwaobasi and his 50-year-old elder sister, Ms. Chinwe Rose Nwaobasi, has been taken down by officers of the Special Operation Unit of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, following the arrest of the siblings and seizure of cocaine and methamphetamine consignments worth over N4.1 billion in street value from their hideout in Aba, Abia State.” Read more
Olagoke to extend British honour gains to Nigeria (Vanguard)
The Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, has described the latest Order of the British Empire (MBE), Nigerian-British artist Lanre Olagoke as a visionary professional.
The Minister who joined other Nigerians in the UK at a post-award gathering organised in honour of Olagoke also assured the artist of Federal Government’s support. Read more
Akpabio, Otu, others attend APC zonal meeting in Calabar (Nation)
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Cross River State government Bassey Otu, National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Victor Giadom, among others, were some of those who attended the South south zonal meeting in Calabar.to strengthen consultations and strategise ways to win more states for the APC.
The party particularly strategised on ways to win the coming Edo State governorship election, and mobilise support for the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
According to Giadom, the meeting is important to mobilise support for the party in the zone and strengthen it to win more states. Read more
Ladoja faults Makinde over statement on health status of Olubadan-designate (ThisDay)
Former Governor of Oyo State and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, yesterday faulted Governor Seyi Makinde, over his comments on the health status of the Olubadan-designate, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.
He said Makinde was wrong for saying that Olakulehin will be enthroned when he is fit to be Olubadan, noting that it is only the people of Ibadanland that can enthrone the Olubadan not the governor.
Makinde at the state burial ceremony for the late Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, penultimate Saturday, had said Olakulehin will be enthroned when he is fit for the throne. Read more
Ariana DeBose pokes fun at viral BAFTAs rap at 2024 Tony Awards (ET)
Ariana DeBose kept her opening monologue tame at the 2024 Tony Awards on Sunday, but she packed a punch later on in the night as she joked about her viral BAFTAS rap.
After taking the stage and declaring “this party’s for you” to the audience in the crowd and at home, she kept the energy up while introducing the cast and crew from the Best Musical nominee, Hell’s Kitchen, which is when she poked fun at her “Angela Bassett did the thing” rap performance at the 2023 BAFTA Awards. The moment became mega-viral on social media and sparked endless memes.
After telling the audience that she had the opportunity to see all of the nominated musicals as the Tony Awards host, she shared that she has been motivated to try her hand at writing a musical as well, receiving a healthy amount of applause at the line. Read more
Paris Hilton celebrates husband Carter Reum on 1st Father’s Day as family of 4 (People)
Paris Hilton is honoring her husband Carter Reum on his first Father’s Day as a dad of two!
On Sunday, June 16, the multi-hyphenate shared a carousel full of photos and video on her Instagram as she celebrated Reum, 43, on the holiday.
Along with professional photos of her family, Hilton’s post included candid snapshots and video clips of Reum posing with their son Phoenix Barron, 17 months, and daughter London Marilyn, 7 months, on vacations and playing with them. Read more
Armie Hammer reflects on being “shut out” of Hollywood (EW)
It’s been three years since Armie Hammer was accused of sexual abuse, assault, and cannibalism, and he’s reflecting once more on the allegations, saying that he is “grateful” for everything he’s gone through since.
Hammer agreed to appear on friend Tyler Ramsey’s Painful Lessons podcast when Ramsey asked him to “be of service” by telling how he got through essentially losing everything in the wake of his scandal.
“Whatever it was that people said, whatever it was that happened, I’m now at a place in my life where I’m grateful for every single bit of it,” the Social Network actor said. Read more
Coldplay announce details for 10th studio album, ‘Moon Music’ (Billboard)
Coldplay have announced the release of their tenth studio album, “Moon Music,” slated for release on October 4. The album’s first single, “feelslikeimfallinginlove,” is due this Friday.
The album is produced by Max Martin, who has worked with everyone from Britney Spears and the Weeknd to Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande. The album is the group’s first since 2021’s “Music of the Spheres.”
Coldplay are one of the most environmentally conscious artistes in music, and in the announcement, the band devotes even more attention to sustainability than music. Read more
Korea Box Office: Inside Out 2 leaps to powerful lead with $12m debut weekend (Variety)
Pixar’s Inside Out 2 leaped to a crushing first place debut at the South Korean box office on its opening weekend.
The American animation film earned $12.3 million from 1.75 million ticket sales between Friday and Sunday, according to data from Kobis, the tracking service operated by the Korean Film Council (Kofic). Over the five days since its Wednesday debut, it accumulated $14.7 million and 2.08 million ticket sales.
Those numbers gave Inside Out 2 the third-highest opening weekend score this year at the Korean box office and the highest by an imported film. Kobis reports that it commanded an 84% share of the weekend theatrical market. Read more
Philippine ship, Chinese vessel collide in disputed South China Sea (France24)
A Philippine ship and a Chinese vessel collided near the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea on Monday, Beijing’s Coast Guard said.
Beijing claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea, brushing aside competing claims from several Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines and an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.
China deploys coast guard and other boats to patrol the waters and has turned several reefs into militarised artificial islands. Chinese and Philippine vessels have had a series of confrontations in disputed areas. Read more
Russia sets date for closed-door trial of US journalist Evan Gershkovich (AlJazeera)
Russia will hold a closed-door trial for detained US reporter Evan Gershkovich later this month, a court in the city of Yekaterinburg has announced.
The Sverdlovsk Regional Court said on Monday that the first hearing, scheduled for June 26, will occur “behind closed doors”. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has suggested that it would be open to a prisoner swap.
The court said that the reporter, who was working for The Wall Street Journal when he was arrested in the Siberian city last year, is accused of collecting “secret information” in March 2023 “on the instructions of the CIA”. Read more
Mbah congratulates Rangers over 2023/24 NPFL title (Vanguard)
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah has congratulated the Rangers International Football Club of Enugu on their winning of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, title with a game to spare following their 2-0 victory over Bendel Insurance Football Club at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, on Sunday.
A 33rd-minute goal by Kenechukwu Agu and 65th-minute goal by Chidiebere Nwobodo handed the Fidelis Ilechukwu-tutored lads their eighth league title and their second since 2016, as their closest rivals, Remo Stars and Enyimba Football Club lost their match-day 37 fixtures 1-2 each against Sunshine Stars and Sporting Lagos, accordingly. This left the Flying Antelopes with an insurmountable 67-point lead with a game to go. Read more
Jude Bellingham header gives England victory over Serbia, go top of Group C at EURO 2024 (Fox)
Jude Bellingham’s header was just enough to deliver an England victory over Serbia, 1-0.
The 13th-minute goal by the Real Madrid star gave the Three Lions all three points in Group C.
In the other Group C match, Denmark and Slovenia played to a 1-1 draw.
Christian Eriksen scored the opening goal for Denmark. It was his first match at the competition since suffering a cardiac arrest in Denmark’s opener in the previous tournament in 2021. Read more
Erik ten Hag aims dig at Gareth Southgate’s ‘‘vision’’ after England win over Serbia (Telegraph)
Erik ten Hag aimed a minor dig at Gareth Southgate’s “vision” as he said England were left “relying on moments” in their Euro 2024 opener against Serbia.
The Manchester United manager was appearing as a pundit on Dutch television for the game just a week after being told his Old Trafford job was safe. United opted to keep faith with Ten Hag after a post-season review, but Southgate is known to have been admired within Ineos. However, in his post-match analysis of England’s 1-0 win in Germany, Ten Hag suggested to Dutch TV station NOS that he is not such a fan of Southgate’s cautious tactical approach. Read more
Bryson DeChambeau discloses key conversations during tense US Open 18th hole (Mirror)
U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau revealed caddie Greg Bodine told him he’d seen the LIV Golf star pull off ‘way harder shots’ before his clutch bunker shot on 18.
After Rory McIlroy dropped his third shot in four holes to open the door for DeChambeau, the American needed a par on the 72nd and final hole of the U.S. Open to win his second major title. Uncharacteristically struggling with his driver throughout the final round, DeChambeau pulled his tee shot left into the rough.
He punched the ball out into the bunker, setting up a necessary up-and-down to win at Pinehurst. The 30-year-old delivered, playing a sublime strike from 55 yards to within four feet of the hole. Read more
Retiring at Wimbledon or the Paris Olympic Games 2024 would be fitting, says Andy Murray (OutlookIndia)
Andy Murray has said it would be fitting to call time on his glistening tennis career at Wimbledon or Paris Olympics this year.
The 37-year-old has prevailed in both competitions during his professional career, becoming the first British winner of the men’s singles title since Fred Perry in 1936 at Wimbledon in 2013.
Murray also won gold on two occasions for Team GB in London 12 years ago and the Rio games in 2016. But when asked if he would compete in the US Open or the Davis Cup, he said: “I don’t think so. Read more
Aryna Sabalenka will not play Paris Olympics (NBC)
Two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka said she will not play the Paris Olympics due to scheduling and her health.
“I’m not going to play in the Olympics because of all the rules from WTA with mandatory tournaments and have to sacrifice something, and unfortunately, I have to sacrifice the Olympics,” she said Monday. “At this stage of my career, especially with all the struggles I’ve been struggling with the last months, I feel like I need to take care of my health. It’s too much for the scheduling. It’s just too much. I made the decision to take care of my health.”
The WTA Tour announced last June that “new player entry rules will ensure a consistent presence of the top athletes” at premium events, such as 1000-level tournaments, which are one level below the four Grand Slams. Read more
