Sanwo-Olu rewards LASU’s Best Graduating Student with N10m (Vanguard)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has rewarded the overall best student of the Lagos State University (LASU), Olaniyi Olawale, with N10 million.
The governor made this announcement at the university’s 27th Convocation and 40th Anniversary in Lagos on Thursday.
Yusuf, from the Department of Accounting Education, graduated with cumulative grade point average of 4.98 in the 2022–2023 academic session. Read more
Atiku accuses Tinubu administration of public fund diversions through ‘secret fuel subsidy’ (Leadership)
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the President Bola Tinubu administration of diverting public funds through secret petrol subsidy payments, hence the refusal of the government to reveal how much is being spent on fuel subsidy.
Atiku said this in a statement on Thursday in reaction to a statement from the Presidency, in which the latter denied the return of petrol subsidy regime.
LEADERSHIP recalls that President Tinubu had on May 29, 2023 during his inaugural address after his swearing-in, declared fuel subsidy was gone for good as it was unsustainable. Read more
Why I moved my business from South-East to Lagos — Cubana Chief Priest (Tribune)
Celebrity barman and socialite Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has disclosed that the insecurity in the Southeast forced him to relocate his business to Lagos State.
In a recent interview with BBC Igbo, he lamented that the fear of kidnapping and killing had driven away customers who used to visit the East regularly.
Cubana Chief Priest said, “There is widespread hunger in the South-East. Read more
Tinubu receives minimum wage template from Edun (NewTelegraph)
President Bola Tinubu has received the Federal Government’s minimum wage template to be used for negotiation with the tripartite panel comprising of government officials, labour and the organized private sector (OPS).
The report was submitted to the President by the Minister of Finance and Coordinator of the Economy, Wale Edun at the State House on Thursday.
Recall that the President had on Tuesday mandated him to work out a template to be adopted as the basis for negotiation with the Presidential panel. Read more
Reps pass N98.5b Supplementary Budget for FCT (Sun)
The House of Representatives has passed a ₦98,500,000,000 supplementary budget for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the 2024 fiscal year.
The Supplementary Appropriation Bill, designated for capital expenditure, was passed for third reading after the House Committee on FCT, led by Muktar Betera, presented its report. The Committee on Supply then considered and approved the report.
The Engineering Services Department of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) is allocated ₦48,500,000,000. The Education Secretariat, Public Building, and Department of Transportation are to receive ₦18,000,000,000, ₦16,000,000,000, and ₦16,000,000,000, respectively. Read more
TSTV executives arraigned in court over tax evasion, money laundering (Punch)
The managing director and chief executive officer of Telecom Satellite Television, Bright Echefu, and its Executive director, Felix Igboanuga, were on Thursday, arraigned on a nine-count criminal charge before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja.
The duo were accused of tax evasion, money laundering and advanced fee fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/254/2023, Echefu, Igboanuga, TSTV and another company, Briechberg Investment Limited, were listed as the first to fourth defendants, respectively. Read more
Allow your children to have access to education, IGP’s wife begs parents (DailyTrust)
Mrs Elizabeth Egbetokun, wife of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun,has urged parents to allow their children have quality education at the tender age.
The IGP’s wife specifically called on every woman who has children to create an enabling environment where the children can thrive, learn and dream without fear or limitation.
Egbetokun, who is the President of Police Officers’ Wives’ Association (POWA), made the call in Abuja when she donated books and other learning materials to students of POWA schools. Read more
Strengthen regulation to curb illegal mining, Senate tells FG (Channels)
The Senate has asked the Federal Government to strengthen regulation on mining activities in Nigeria, in line with International best practices, and deploy adequate security to the mining communities to prevent further intrusion by informal miners.
This resolution followed a motion sponsored by Sen. Sani Musa, on the urgent need to address the incident of a rockslide which buried over 30 people alive in a mining Site in Farin Doki Community, Shiroro Local Government, Niger State on Monday, the 3rd of June, 2024.
The Senate also mandated its committee on solid minerals, to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the site to investigate the remote, and immediate cause of the rockslide and accelerate the passage of the Mine Ranger Bill currently before the Senate. Read more
Dakota Fanning admits Tom Cruise gives her same strange gift every birthday (DailyStar)
Dakota Fanning has said that Tom Cruise has taken to buying her the same birthday gift ever year.
Dakota, 30, has been in the spotlight since a very young age, having found her acting chops early in her life. Throughout her career, she has starred in the likes of Charlotte’s Web, Coraline, The Equalizer and Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.
However, her big break came in 2005 when she starred alongside Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise in the blockbuster War of the Worlds. Playing her father, Tom and Dakota struck up an unlikely friendship that has continued to last until this day. Read more
Starliner launches 1st crew to space station (GulfTimes)
Boeing on Wednesday launched its very first astronauts bound for the International Space Station aboard a Starliner capsule, which joins a select club of spacecraft to carry humans beyond Earth.
The third time turned out to be the charm for the aerospace giant, after two previous bids to fly were aborted with the crew strapped in and ready to go.
Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, both of whom have two previous spaceflights under their belts, blasted off at 10:52am atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Read more
Putin warns Russia can provide weapons for strikes on Western allies (UPI)
Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that he could provide weapons to opponents of the United States and Western allies to strike their countries on Wednesday.
Putin made the comments in response to Western allies allowing Ukraine to use their weapons to strike inside Russia, something many of those nations, including the United States, had banned at the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago.
“If someone considers it possible to supply such weapons to a combat zone to strike our territory and create problems for us, then why do we not have the same right to supply our weapons of the same class to those regions of the world from which the strikes will be carried out on sensitive objects of those countries that do this in relation to Russia,” Putin said at the St. Peterburg International Economic Forum. Read more
BBC issue sincere apology as they pull D-Day programme from iPlayer (Mirror)
The BBC has issued an apology after an off-camera worker made an offensive comment during a special programme commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day
The BBC has apologised after a D-Day broadcast was interrupted by an offensive comment.
Broadcaster Kirsty Young anchored the special programme, BBC D-Day 80: Tribute to the Fallen, honouring the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. But as the programme got underway, Young introduced a military band for viewers at home while also explaining there was assistance for those with visual impairments. Read more
Suzanne Collins is releasing a new ‘Hunger Games’ novel next year (ABC)
Inspired by an 18th century Scottish philosopher and the modern scourge of misinformation, Suzanne Collins is returning to the ravaged, post-apocalyptic land of Panem for a new “The Hunger Games” novel.
Scholastic announced Thursday that “Sunrise on the Reaping,” the fifth volume of Collins’ blockbuster dystopian series, will be published March 18, 2025. The new book begins with the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, set 24 years before the original “Hunger Games” novel, which came out in 2008, and 40 years after Collins’ most recent book, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.”
Collins has drawn upon Greek mythology and the Roman gladiator games for her earlier “Hunger Games” books. But for the upcoming novel, she cites the Scottish Enlightenment philosopher David Hume. Read more
Spain-Israel tensions soar as Madrid throws support behind Palestine (AlJazeera)
After Spain recognised Palestinian statehood, Pedro Sanchez met with his Palestinian counterpart, Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, and leading officials from several Middle Eastern countries in Madrid.
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and the foreign ministers of Turkey and Jordan were among the group that later posed for a photo on the steps of the Moncloa Palace in the Spanish capital.
“On behalf of President [Mahmoud] Abbas and the government of Palestine, the people of Palestine, we warmly welcome Spain’s recognition of the state of Palestine,” Mustafa said of Spain’s historic move. “This recognition strengthens our resolve to continue our struggle for a just and lasting peace.” Read more
Rex Heuermann, accused Gilgo Beach serial killer, charged with murdering 2 more women (NBC)
The former New York architect, accused of killing several sex workers and dumping their bodies on a Long Island beach, was charged with two more alleged slayings on Thursday, bringing the total of possible victims to at least six.
Rex Heuermann, 60, was formally told of new charges — second-degree murder stemming from the slayings of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla — in front of Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Timothy Mazzei in Riverhead.
Heuermann was arrested on July 14 last year, as he was casually walking on a busy New York City street after work, apparently unaware he was being followed by police. Read more
2026 WCQ: Sodiq Eager to make Nigerians proud with Super Eagles debut opportunity (CompleteSPorts)
Remo Stars defender, Sodiq Ismail, says he would make Nigerians proud if selected to play for Super Eagles in Friday night’s FIFA World Cup USA/Canada/Mexico 2026 qualifier in Uyo, Completesports.com reports.
It’s Sodiq’s first call up to the senior National Team and he says he’s prepared, ready to give his 100% to ensure Super Eagles victory on Friday if Coach Finidi George gives him the chance to play.
“Like I always say, if given the chance, I’ll make Nigerians proud,” Sodiq said ahead of the long-anticipated clash. Read more
Lakers preparing massive offer to UConn’s Dan Hurley (ABC)
The Los Angeles Lakers are targeting UConn men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley as the franchise’s next coach and are preparing a massive, long-term contract offer to bring the back-to-back NCAA national champion to the NBA, sources told ESPN.
The Lakers have had preliminary contact with Hurley and the sides are planning to escalate discussions in the coming days, sources told ESPN. Hurley has been at the forefront of the Lakers’ search from the beginning of the process, even while the organization has done its due diligence interviewing several other candidates, sources said.
Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka and governor Jeanie Buss are eager to formally discuss with Hurley their vision of marrying his dominant program — built upon his tactical acumen and his elite player development — with the storied Lakers brand, sources said. Read more
Arsenal fan guilty of headbutting Roy Keane after Premier League match (Independent)
An Arsenal has been found guilty of headbutting football pundit Roy Keane following a Premier League match.
Scott Law, 43, was convicted at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ of his charge of common assault despite pleading not guilty to attacking the former midfield icon at The Gunners’ Emirates Stadium on September 3 last year.
The altercation broke out when Mr Keane and fellow Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards were walking to do the final match analysis after Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United, court heard. Read more
Burkina Faso ready to face the Pharaohs in World Cup qualifier match (AfricaNews)
Burkina Faso national men’s football team believe they have a chance of securing a positive result ahead of Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Egypt.
The team was preparing on Wednesday ahead of their match against the Pharaohs.
Speaking to journalists, Burkina defender Saïdou Simporé was upbeat about upsetting the African giants and further stated that they were in high spitits to represent their country. Read more
Novak Djokovic has knee surgery and targets return ‘as soon as possible’ after French Open withdrawal (SkySports)
Novak Djokovic has undergone surgery on his right knee, he confirmed on Thursday, adding that he is aiming to return to court “as soon as possible”.
The injury, sustained in his fourth-round win over Francisco Cerundolo, ended the Serb’s quest to win a record-extending 25th Grand Slam win and means he will lose his world No 1 ranking to Italian Jannik Sinner on Monday.
The French Open said MRI results revealed that Djokovic, who played on with pain-killers, had suffered a torn medial meniscus that prompted him to make the decision to withdraw. Read more
Premier League clubs vote in favour of keeping VAR (BBC)
Premier League clubs have voted by 19-1 in favour of keeping video assistant referees (VAR) next season.
Wolves triggered a vote on the use of VAR in the 2024-25 season after formally submitting a resolution to the Premier League in May.
In order for VAR to be scrapped, 14 of the 20 Premier League clubs needed to vote in favour of doing so. Read more