Tinubu approves N50k grant, N155b food package for households (Punch)
President Bola Tinubu has approved the National Construction and Household Support Programme during the National Economic Council meeting on Thursday in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, the programme is aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, strengthening the economy, and providing immediate economic relief for Nigerian households.
Ngelale added that the programme, which was supported by the NEC, includes financial allocations and infrastructure projects across all geo-political zones in the country. Read more
‘I was paid N50k′, Abuja resident caught with bandits’ ammunition confesses (DailyTrust)
The woman arrested with 550 Rounds of AK47 Ammunition earlier in the week has confessed that she was paid N50,000 per trip to deliver the ammunition to bandits in Katsina State.
Aisha Abubakar, 25 years old from Kubwa, Abuja, was arrested by the Kaduna State Police Command along Zaria-Kaduna highway on her way to Katsina State on 23 June 2024.
She spoke to newsmen at the Police Command headquarters where she was paraded alongside other suspected criminals on Thursday. Read more
Troops kill 5 terrorists, rescue kidnapped victims Sokoto (Vanguard)
Troops of the Nigerian Army deployed for counter-terrorism operations in Sokoto State on Thursday foiled a kidnap attempt, neutralising five terrorists and rescued two hostages held by them
This is contained in a post on the official X Handle of the Nigerian Army on Thursday.
The Army said troops responded to a distress call from the Baniguntu and Gohonau forest areas in Gudu Local Government Area of the state and engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun battle. Read more
Privatisation won’t solve Lagos water problems, CAPPA tells Sanwo-Olu (Independent)
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has condemned the Lagos State Government for allegedly pushing a single policy direction, which is to privatise water utilities without considering alternative management models, to the detriment of disadvantaged communities within the state.
The organisation expressed grave concerns about statements made during the just-concluded Lagos International Water Conference (LIWAC), hosted by the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) from June 25 to 26, 2024. Read more
EFCC persecuted me unjustly, says Ikuforiji (Punch)
A former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, says his joy knows no bounds after the Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed the money laundering charges pressed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
He described his trial by the EFCC, which lasted 12 and a half years, as baseless and unjust persecution for someone who served the state.
Ikuforiji spoke to journalists on Wednesday at his office in Ikeja two days after Justice Mohammed Liman freed him and his aide, Oyebode Atoyebi, of the 54 counts of money laundering pressed against them by the EFCC. Read more
Rotary Club of Ewu Tuntun celebrates 20th anniversary (Sun)
Rotary Club of Ewu Tuntun, District 9110, has unveiled plans to celebrate its 20th anniversary and hold a change of baton ceremony on Saturday, June 29.
Bukonla Alamu, chief executive of Jaybuk Tools Ltd., will take over from Reuben Oni during the ceremony to be held at the Rotary Centre, Ladoke Akintola Street, Ikeja-GRA, Lagos.
Chairman, 20th anniversary, Mopelola Otuokhile, said awards and certificates of recognition will be presented to eminent individuals who have contributed significantly to the formation and growth of the service club. Read more
Fire guts Karu Market in Abuja (Vanguard)
The Karu modern market in Abuja was on Thursday evening engulfed by fire.
The raging inferno, which could not be immediately ascertained, was said to have affected a section of the market.
As of 8pm on Thursday, firefighters were reportedly still battling to put out the inferno. Read more
Nigerian Army promotes 1st female officer trained in UK military academy (Channels)
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, has authorised the promotion of Second Lieutenant Princess Oluchukwu Owowo to the substantive rank of Lieutenant (Lt) in the Nigerian Army.
This was disclosed by the Nigerian Defence Academy in a statement on X on Wednesday. Read more
David Duchovny jokes he “discovered” Angelina Jolie during Playing God audition (People)
David Duchovny knew the magnitude of Angelina Jolie’s talent from the moment they first met.
The actor, 63, who starred alongside Jolie, 49, in the 1997 thriller Playing God, recently appeared on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live and explained how he knew the actress would be a big star one day.
“I feel like I discovered Angelina Jolie,” he joked while speaking with host Andy Cohen. Read more
Michael Jackson “owed $500m” when he died (MusicNews)
Michael Jackson “owed $500 million at the time of his death”, according to court documents.
The King of Pop owed money to over 65 creditors when he died in 2009, according to paperwork filed on 21 June.
The legal documents include a petition from estate executors seeking back pay from 2018, which is related to the late singer’s now $2 billion (£1.58 billion) estate. Read more
Palestinians flee as Israeli forces renew Gaza City assault (AlJazeera)
Palestinians have fled Gaza City’s Shujayea neighbourhood after Israeli forces carried out air raids and sent ground vehicles into the ravaged area, according to Gaza’s civil defence.
Muhammad Ghurab, a doctor at Gaza City’s al-Ahli Hospital, said on Thursday the facility had received seven “martyrs including four children” and more than 40 others who were wounded “as the Israeli forces advanced to the east of Shujayea neighbourhood”.
Civil defence teams pulled out several bodies from the rubble following the attacks, the civil defence said in a statement, adding that search and rescue operations were continuing. Read more
Kevin Costner says his divorce from Christine Baumgartner was a ‘‘crushing moment’’ (Independent)
Kevin Costner has spoken out about the challenges of his divorce from his former wife of 18 years, Christine Baumgartner.
During an appearance on CBS Mornings on June 26, Costner reflected on ending his relationship with Baumgartner, who he shares three children – Cayden, 17, Hayes, 15, and Grace, 14 – with.
“That’s a crushing moment,” the Yellowstone star told Gayle King about his divorce. “It’s powerful. It hurts, but I go forward.” Read more
IATSE reaches deal on Area Standards Agreement (Variety)
IATSE has reached a tentative deal on the Area Standards Agreement, the contract that covers 20,000 film and TV workers around the country, including those in Louisiana, New Mexico and Georgia.
The deal follows the Basic Agreement, which applies to 13 locals based in Los Angeles, and which was concluded on Tuesday. Both contracts must now be ratified by the membership.
The contracts are broadly similar, though minimum rates are lower in the Area Standards Agreement. The agreement covers 23 IATSE locals, whose jurisdiction applies everywhere in the U.S. except for Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and New York. Read more
Prague-to-Budapest train collides with a bus in Slovakia, killing 6 people and injuring 5 (Fox)
A train traveling from the Czech capital of Prague to the Hungarian capital of Budapest collided with a bus in southern Slovakia on Thursday, leaving at least six people dead and five injured, officials said.
More than 100 people were aboard the Eurocity train when the accident took place shortly after 5 p.m. (1500 GMT) near the town of Nove Zamky, police and the Slovak railway company ZSSK said.
The deaths and injuries were confirmed by Slovakia’s rescue service, and ZSSK said none of the deaths were aboard the train. Read more
A Nursing Assistant’s Newborn Was Found Dead on Sidewalk. Now She’s Accused of Throwing Child Out Window (People)
A nursing assistant has been arrested three months after her newborn was found dead on a sidewalk — and police allege she threw the child out of a second-story window.
Police have arrested Emily Jane Dickinson, 20, and Joshua Coleman Wooters, 19, in connection with the March death of their newborn in McConnellsburg, Pa., online court records show.
On March 11, Pennsylvania state authorities found the newborn boy on the street shortly before a coroner declared the child dead, ABC 27, WGAL 8 and FOX 43 report, citing state police. Read more
Ademola Lookman crowned Atalanta’s ‘‘Player of The Season’’ (ThisDay)
Super Eagles’ winger, Ademola Lookman, has emerged as the Atalanta ‘Player of the Season’ following his spectacular 2023/2024 session for the Italian side that culminated in the team winning the Europa League title for the first time.
The Nigerian forward won the coveted award back-to-back at the Bergamo-based side.
Lookman was instrumental to Atalanta winning the UEFA Europa League title, scoring all the three goals in the 3-0 defeat of Bayer Leverkusen in the final. Read more
Former Cameroon midfielder Landry Nguemo, 38, dies in crash (ESPN)
Former Celtic and Bordeaux midfielder Landry Nguemo died in a car crash in his homeland, Cameroon on Thursday at the age of 38.
The Cameroon Football Federation confirmed the news via statement.
“FECAFOOT have just learned the news of the death of the former Indomitable Lion Landry Nguemo following a traffic accident. “FECAFOOT offer our condolences to those close to him, and to all the family of football,” the statement said. Read more
Euro 2024: Turkey edge into last 16 with tense win over Czechs, Georgia stun Portugal to go ahead (WION)
Turkey reached the knockout phase at a major tournament for the first time in 16 years after a bad-tempered 2-1 win over a battling 10-man Czech Republic at Euro 2024 on Wednesday. Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey finished second in Group F behind Portugal to progress, as the Czechs were eliminated despite a brave performance on a sweltering night in Hamburg.
“Tonight we just want to celebrate, we deserve it,” said Italian Montella. “But starting tomorrow we want to continue to make history.”
Georgia also went through as one of the best third-placed teams after a stunning 2-0 win over Portugal in the group’s other final game, eliminating Hungary. Read more
Foden leaves England camp for birth of 3rd child (BBC)
England midfielder Phil Foden has left the Three Lions’ Euro 2024 camp in Germany and returned to the UK for the birth of his third child.
In a statement the Football Association said the Manchester City player, 24, needed to go home because of a “pressing family matter”.
It is hoped Foden will be back with the squad by Sunday, the day of England’s last-16 match against Slovakia (17:00 BST). Read more
United States’ Copa America hopes dealt blow after upset loss to Panama (CBC)
Tim Weah threw an inexcusable punch, and the United States took a huge blow to its hopes of advancing at the Copa America.
Jose Fajardo beat backup goalkeeper Ethan Horvath in the 83rd minute to give Panama a 2-1 victory on Thursday night over the shorthanded Americans, putting the host country in danger of elimination if it doesn’t beat Uruguay in its first-round finale.
The U.S. played most of the game a man down after Weah was sent off in the 18th minute. Read more
JuJu Watkins says she’s ‘‘excited’’ for fellow USC rookie Bronny James ahead of 2024 NBA Draft (People)
JuJu Watkins is a proud peer!
The standout USC women’s basketball player spoke with PEOPLE exclusively about her bond with Bronny James, a fellow Trojan who also just wrapped his freshman year on the college’s basketball team.
Not only that, but James — the eldest son of LeBron James and Savannah James’ three kids — declared for the 2024 NBA Draft in April, a decision that has his pal, Watkins, thrilled leading up to the big night. Read more
David Warner names his successor for Australia after the team’s exit from T20 World Cup 2024 (CricketTimes)
David Warner, the stalwart of Australian cricket, concluded his illustrious international career , following Australia‘s exit from the ICC T20 World Cup in North Sound.
Playing his final match against India, Warner’s innings ended prematurely with just six runs, falling victim to Arshdeep Singh in the very first over. Australia’s defeat by 24 runs while chasing a formidable 206-run target marked a disappointing end to Warner’s 15-year tenure across formats. Despite the setback, Warner left behind a legacy as one of the modern greats, renowned for his dominance and resilience on the field. Read more