Senate presidency: Battle day for Kalu, Akpabio, Yari, Abbass (Sun)
The curtain would be drawn on the long drawn campaign for the office of the Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives today with the formal inauguration of the 10th National Assembly and election of presiding officers.
Major contenders include incumbent chief whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, former Akwa Ibom governor, Goodwill Akpabio, former Zamfara state governor, Abdullaziz Yari, Osita Izunaso and Tajudeen Abbas.
Regardless of the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to back Akpabio, the Kalu/Yari camp is hopeful of victory just as all 55 members-elect of the House of Representatives from the South-South zone have endorsed Abbas for speakership. Read more
52% of Nigerian professionals considering migration, survey uncovers (Guardian)
As the brain drain syndrome in the health and information technology (IT) sectors persists, Phillips Consulting (PCL) has revealed in its recent survey that about 52 per cent of Nigerian professionals are considering quitting their jobs and relocating abroad within a year.
The report by the talent management firm, titled: “A New World Order: Shifting Paradigms In Addressing Brain Drain,” was presented during the quarterly meeting of the Nigerian Human Resources Directors Network in Lagos.
The finance, insurance, professional services, education, healthcare and IT sectors are to be worst hit, as it was found that nearly 50 per cent of employees working in these fields are contemplating relocation. Read more
Tinubu signs Students’ Loan Bill into law (Vanguard)
Succour may have come the way of indigent students in the country as President Bola Tinubu has signed the Students Loan Bill into law.
The President’s assent to the bill is in fulfilment of one of his promises to liberalise funding of education in the country.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr David Adejo Andrew, flanked by the President’s media team, led by Mr Dele Alake, a member of the Presidential Strategic Team, disclosed this to State House correspondents, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Read more
June 12: Remain steadfast, guard fledgling democracy jealously, Sanwo-Olu charges Nigerians (Tribune)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, urged Nigerians to remain steadfast, guard the fledgling democracy jealously and remain united as one great people.
Sanwo-Olu made the call at an event to commemorate the National Democracy Day Celebration, held at St. Leo’s Catholic Church and the Ikeja residence of the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993, presidential election, Late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, saying that Nigerians should continue to have faith in the ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, at the event organized by a coalition under the aegis of Alliance of Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM) to mark the 30th Anniversary of the annulled poll, stated that the story of June 12 and the events that followed had been adequately documented and would continue to be told to generations of Nigerians. Read more
Scheming for Gbajabiamila’s Rep. seat begins in Lagos (DailyTrust)
Scheming has begun in Lagos as the current chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Surulere Local Government Area, Fuad Laguda, is likely to have the party’s clearance to contest the by-election for Surulere Federal Constituency 1, and possibly replace the outgoing speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, as member representing the constituency.
The appointment of Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has created a vacuum as his seat would be vacant in the lower chamber.
Daily Trust gathered that three candidates had shown interest to fly the APC’s flag in the by-election to be conducted later in the year by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Read more
Lagos estate exco denies corruption allegation (Punch)
The leadership of Maplewood Estate Residents Association has denied the allegation that it embezzled N50m belonging to the association.
The Chairman of the association, Mr Kehinde Akerele, refuted the allegation reported in an online news platform on Saturday during a media briefing in Lagos.
He claimed the report was false and that it did not show the true state of things in the estate. Read more
LP fighting for democracy today, will be celebrated tomorrow – Spokesman
The Chief Spokesman for the Labour (Channels)
The Labour Party (LP) says it is fighting for Nigeria’s democracy in a manner similar to pro-democracy activists during the military era.
The Chief Spokesperson, LP Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Yunusa Tanko, spoke on Monday during Channels Television’s special coverage for Democracy Day.
The annual celebration commemorates the country’s democracy against the backdrop of the annulled June 12, 1993 election which saw Chief Moshood “MKO” Abiola emerge as the presumed winner under the military regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.). Read more
June 12: 10th Assembly will strive for transparency, inclusiveness — Kalu (Independent)
The Deputy Speakership candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the incoming 10th Assembly, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has assured Nigerians that the 10th House, under the leadership of Tajudeen Abbas and himself as Deputy Speaker, would strive for transparency and inclusiveness if voted in on Tuesday, June 13th.
Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, and who is the outgoing spokesman of the 9th House, stated this in a statement he issued on Monday in Abuja to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day celebration.
He congratulated Nigeria and Nigerians for attaining 24 years of uninterrupted democracy during which successive presidents have been inaugurated under a very peaceful atmosphere. Read more
Celine Dion moves back to her homeland of Canada as singer suffers ‘personal crisis’ from ‘incurable’ diagnosis (OK)
Celine Dion is heading home in order to surround herself with friends and family as she navigates debilitating symptoms from her devastating stiff person syndrome diagnosis.
The “My Heart Will Go On” singer sold her $30 million Las Vegas mansion, located near Caesar’s Palace, after cancelling the remainder of her Sin City residency and the entirety of her world tour, Radar revealed.
“Celine has 11 brothers and sisters living in Canada,” a source recently explained to the news publication. “It’s an amazing, loving support system for her during a time of personal crisis.” Read more
Treat Williams, star of Everwood and Prince of the City, dies at 71 (THR)
Treat Williams, the versatile actor who starred as a New York City neurosurgeon who moves his family to Colorado on the WB series Everwood and in such films as Sidney Lumet’s Prince of the City and Milos Forman’s Hair, died Monday in a motorcycle accident. He was 71.
His agent, Barry McPherson of APA, confirmed Williams’ death in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. Earlier, he told People magazine that the actor “was killed this afternoon. He was making a left or a right [and] a car cut him off. I’m just devastated. He was the nicest guy. He was so talented.”
“He was an actor’s actor. Filmmakers loved him. He’s been the heart of Hollywood since the late 1970s. “He was really proud of his performance this year. He’s been so happy with the work that I got him. He’s had a balanced career.” Read more
Wakanda Forever star Tenoch Huerta denies sexual assault allegation made against him (People)
Tenoch Huerta is calling a claim of sexual assault and abuse made against him “simply untrue.
On Monday, Huerta, 42, shared a statement to his Instagram Story refuting what he called “irresponsible and false accusations” levied against him after musician and activist María Elena Ríos called the actor, who played the villain Namor in last fall’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, a “sexual predator” in a series of Spanish-language Twitter posts.
“About a year ago, I dated Elena for several months. It was entirely consensual at all times, as countless others can attest,” Huerta wrote in the statement, describing the relationship as “loving, warm and mutually supportive.” Read more
Wheel of Fortune’s Pat Sajak will retire from US show next year (BBC)
Long-time Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak has confirmed the 41st season of the US game show will be his last.
Sajak, 76, who began hosting the show in 1981, will remain as a consultant for the programme, producers said.
In 2018, he became the longest-running host of a game show, surpassing The Price Is Right’s Bob Barker. Read more
Stray Kids land 3rd No. 1 album with hefty CD sales, Luke Combs’ ‘‘Fast Car’’ cover enters top 5 (Variety)
One week after Taylor Swift’s re-issued edition of “Midnights” A second K-pop group hits the top 10 this week: Korean pop group Enhyphen, who score their highest charting album with “Dark Blood” entering at No. 4. The six-song set debuts with 88,000 equivalent album units earned and nearly four million on-demand official streams. “Dark Blood’s” figures on the Billboard 200 come only after the release of their CD, which arrived as a series of collectible CD packages (17 in total)shot back up the charts, knocking Morgan Wallen off the top for the first time in three months, K-pop group Stray Kids takes the crown. The eight-member group earns its third No. 1 album with “Five-Star,” following “Maxident” and “Oddinary,” both of which were released last year.
The 12-song set clocks in with the equivalent of 249,500 albums sold in the United States, with 231,000 of those units coming from CD sales — of which there were 18 different variants — according to the tracking service Luminate. In total, the album earned 20 million on-demand official streams. With lyrics mostly sung in Korean, “Five-Star” is just the third non-English album to hit No. 1, behind Karol G’s “Mañana Será Bonito” and Tomorrow X Together’s “The Name Chapter: Temptation.” Read more
Trump arrives in Florida ahead of court appearance (RNZ)
Donald Trump is spending the night in Miami, Florida, before he appears in court there on Tuesday charged with mishandling national security files.
The former US president flew from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, to his Trump Doral resort near Miami.
Trump is facing dozens of charges of illegally retaining classified information, including some about nuclear secrets. Read more
Netherlands and Canada bring torture case against Syria at UN’s top court (ABC)
The Netherlands and Canada jointly filed a complaint against Syria on Monday before the United Nations’ highest judicial body, alleging the regime of Bashar Assad has tortured thousands of civilians, in violation of a U.N. convention.
The pair say Syria has “committed countless violations of international law” and want the International Court of Justice to issue provisional measures ordering Damascus to halt an alleged widespread torture program against anyone opposed to the government during the country’s long-running civil war.
The Dutch first announced three years ago a plan to hold Syria accountable for what it called “horrific crimes,” asking Assad’s government via diplomatic note to enter into negotiations under the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Canada joined the process in 2021. Read more
French superstar Mbappe informs PSG he will not trigger contract extension (CBC)
Kylian Mbappe has told Paris Saint-Germain he will not take up the option of a 12-month extension on his contract, which expires at the end of next season.
The France superstar confirmed his decision in a letter to PSG, a person with knowledge of the correspondence told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
The person also said PSG would not allow Mbappe to leave as a free agent, raising the possibility of an immediate bidding war by other clubs and potential transfer this summer. Read more
NWFL: Oborevwori congratulates Delta Queens (Independent)
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has congratulated Delta Queens for winning the Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) tournament dubbed Super 6.
Delta Queens defeated Bayelsa Queens 2-1 to emerge winners of the Super 6 Competition on Sunday, inside the main bowl of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
By emerging champions of the Super 6 tournament, the Delta State girls have qualified to represent Nigeria in the forthcoming West African Football Union (WAFU) B Women’s CAF Champions League qualifiers. Read more
Carlo Ancelotti ‘‘taking Everton to high court’’ as manager sues former club (Standard)
Everton are being taken to London’s high court by former manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Filings first revealed by The Guardian show lawyers representing the Italian, 64, put in a claim on Friday evening over an unspecified commercial issue.
The records indicate the claim is related to “general commercial contracts and arrangements”. Read more
Cameron Smith thought PGA-PIF golf merger was “a joke’’ (StraitsTimes)
Count Cameron Smith among those who were stunned by the PGA Tour’s announcement last week of plans to merge with the DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
“I guess the first reaction was, I thought it was kind of a joke that had come out,” Smith said on Monday ahead of this week’s US Open at the Los Angeles Country Club.
Smith said he received a call from someone at LIV Golf shortly before the June 6 CNBC interview with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and PIF governor Yasir bin Othman Al-Rumayyan. The call conversation was “pretty short and sweet” and the details were scarce. Read more
Serena Williams reacts to Novak Djokovic tying her record of 23 Grand Slam wins (TennisWorld)
Serena Williams has congratulated Novak Djokovic on winning a historic 23rd Grand Slam title. After beating Casper Ruud in the French Open final, Djokovic set a new record for the most Grand Slam titles in men’s tennis history.
Also, Djokovic tied Williams’ record of 23 Grand Slam titles. Williams, who retired after last year’s US Open, reacted to Djokovic’s historic day through her Instagram account. “Congrats @djokernole,” Williams captioned her Instagram Story.
“Huge honor to be sharing the #23 with you, Serena,” Djokovic wrote on his Instagram Story hours after lifting his 23rd Grand Slam title. Djokovic’s astonishing Grand Slam journey started in 2008 January, when he became a Grand Slam champion at the Australian Open. Read more
PSG plans €12m per year, 5-year deal for Osimhen (Sun)
Paris Saint-Germain sporting advisor, Luis Campos wants a striker this summer transfer window. As a result, the Portuguese club chief has his eyes on Napoli’s Victor Osimhen.
Radio Punto Nuovo (h/t Napoli Calcio News) reported, citing sources, said the next few weeks could be hot for Osimhen, as PSG has decided to focus on the Nigerian footballer as an absolute priority for next season’s attack.
Furthermore, the Italian media outlet revealed that the name of Osimhen was one of the very first requests of Julian Nagelsmann, who is rumoured to be the managerial choice, during the talks with PSG about the market to be carried out in case of signing. Read more