Tinubu meets oil marketers over subsidy removal (Channels)
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday met with major oil marketers at Aso Rock in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The oil marketers were led by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, who was a Chairman of oil marketers association.
The President’s meeting with the oil marketers comes amid the controversy and protests trailing the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit known as petrol. Read more
Sacking of civil servants insensitive, PDP knocks Benue gov (DailyTrust)
The State Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State has condemned the sacking of some categories of civil servants by the new administration.
Our correspondent reports that Governor Hyacinth Alia, on Wednesday morning directed the sacking of recently employed state workers.
Reacting to the development during a press conference at the PDP’s State Secretariat in Makurdi on Wednesday, the acting chairman, Isaac Mffo, described the directive as unlawful, insensitive and callous. Read more
MC Oluomo’s son graduating from MIT brings to live few scenes in “Gangs Of Lagos”, Nigerians react (Tribune)
Nigerians have reacted to Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo’s son, Ololade Abdulai Akinsanya who graduated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, commenting that it brings to life few scenes in Gang of Lagos.
A Netizen stated this in the early hours of Tuesday, 7th June 2023 via his Twitter handle.
He said the famous chairman of Lagos State Parks and Garages, Musiliu Akinsanya, aka MC Oluomo, whose son just graduated from MIT, reminds him of some live scenes in Jadesola Osiberu’s Gang of Lagos. Read more
Man remanded for stabbing friend to death (Punch)
A 38-year-old man, Raphael Agu, has been remanded in the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, Lagos State, for alleged murder.
Agu was brought before a Magistrates’ Court sitting in Yaba Lagos on Tuesday on two counts of murder.
The defendant was accused of allegedly stabbing his friend, Stanley Ugo, in the stomach with a knife on May 25, 2023, during a fight in the Ogudu area of the state. Read more
10th Assembly: Muslim community hails Obasa’s emergence as Lagos speaker (Nation)
The Lagos State House of Assembly Muslim Community has congratulated Mr Mudashiru Obasa on his emergence as the Speaker of the 10th Assembly for the third consecutive time.
The Chief Imam of Alausa Central Mosque, Alhaji Saliu Rufai, made this known in a congratulatory message issued on Wednesday in Lagos.
Rufai said the emergence of Obasa as the speaker had demonstrated the importance of legislative experience and competence especially in the legislative business of governance. Read more
I’m leaving office with hope unbroken, enthusiasm to serve – Gbajabiamila (Vanguard)
The outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila said he is leaving office with his hope unbroken and the enthusiasm to serve Nigerians.
Gbajabiamila stated this in his farewell speech during the valedictory session of the Ninth House of Representatives on Wednesday.
The Speaker also restated his commitment to public service ahead of assuming duties as the Chief of Staff on June 14. Read more
Court remands 33-year-old teacher for alleged armed robbery (Guardian)
A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday ordered that a 33-year-old teacher, Emmanuel Okoriko, be remanded in a correctional centre for alleged armed robbery.
The police charged Okoriko, who lives in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue with armed robbery and attempted culpable homicide.
However, Magistrate Roseline Iyorshe did not take his plea for want in jurisdiction. Read more
Tinubu hails Nigerian-born AI expert, Abel Aboh, over appointment into Scotland’s Board of Data Lab Centre (ThisDay)
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Nigerian-born British Artificial Intelligence expert, Mr. Abel Aboh, for making Nigeria proud on a global stage in the field of Artificial Intelligence
Aboh was recently appointed into the Board of the Data Lab Innovation Centre, Scotland, United Kingdom.
The President, according to a release issued on Tuesday by State House Director of Information, Mr Abiodun Oladunjoye, noted with pride and satisfaction the impressive professional achievement of Aboh in the United Kingdom and how his expertise and new board appointment represent an important step in the agency’s efforts in enhancing Scotland’s data and AI potential. Read more
Kelly Clarkson reveals she will not be touring to promote her new album (AS)
Kelly Clarkson has announced that she will not be embarking on any tours in order to promote her forthcoming album, “Chemistry”. Clarkson made her announcement shortly after releasing the new single, “I hate love,” which featured Steve Martin on Banjo.
In the video announcement, Clarkson revealed that she will refrain from touring because of her commitments to her children and her daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show. Now, fans of the beloved country singer and one-time American Idol winner can only see her perform live at her Las Vegas residency.
In the video, Clarkson said, “I don’t know if y’all have noticed, but I have like a nine-to-fiver. I have a job that’s a lot of work and takes time. And I also have kids. They’re in school, and I get really tied down to those things. We are trying to figure out what the possibilities are in certain parts of our calendar … But it’s really these ten shows in Vegas.” Read more
Cillian Murphy says it’s essential to watch “Oppenheimer” at the cinema (RTE)
Cillian Murphy has advised audiences that it is “essential” to watch his latest film “Oppenheimer” at the cinema.
The Peaky Blinders star portrays J Robert Oppenheimer, the man behind the atomic bomb, alongside Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, and Robert Downey Jr in the new film from Batman director Christopher Nolan.
Speaking to Empire magazine, the Corkonian said: “I think it’s a truly essential cinematic experience. And I know that’s what I’m supposed to say, that’s the studio line.
“But you have to see this in the cinema on the biggest f****** screen possible.” Read more
Embattled CNN CEO Chris Licht stepping down at network after controversial year (USAToday)
CNN is seeking a new captain. Again.
Chris Licht, the embattled CEO of the cable news network, is out at the company, according to a press release Wednesday.
Licht will be replaced in the interim by Amy Entelis, a longtime CNN executive, Virginia Moseley, EVP of editorial, and Eric Sherling, EVP of US programming, and David Leavy, chief operating officer, on the commercial side.
The news, first reported by trade publication Puck, comes less than a week after becoming the subject of a devastating profile in the Atlantic, which portrayed Licht as an ineffectual leader presiding over a “meltdown” at the news organization, including a widely-criticized town hall featuring former president Donald Trump. Read more
Pope Francis to have abdominal surgery under general anesthesia (CNA)
Pope Francis will undergo abdominal surgery under general anesthesia on Wednesday afternoon, the Vatican has confirmed.
The operation was planned by the pope’s medical team in recent days after it became necessary due to a hernia that was causing recurrent, painful, and worsening symptoms, according to Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni.
Bruni said that Pope Francis will have a laparotomy and abdominal wall reconstruction with prosthetic material in the early afternoon on June 7. Read more
Britain’s Got Talent Winner Viggo Venn pulls out of Lorraine interview at last minute (HuffPost)
Britain’s Got Talent champion Viggo Venn pulled out of a scheduled interview with Lorraine Kelly at the eleventh hour on Tuesday morning.
On Sunday night, the comedian was crowned the winner of BGT’s 16th series, beating stiff competition from 13-year-old dancer Lillianna Clifton and 14-year-old magician Cillian O’Connor, who finished in second and third place, respectively.
While voting figures show that Viggo was clearly viewers’ favourite, his win didn’t exactly go down well with everyone, with some claiming they heard boos from the studio audience after his name was called by Ant and Dec. Read more
Chris Hemsworth says Jeremy Renner’s accident made him realise “any of us can go at any moment” (People)
Chris Hemsworth is opening up about the “realization” he had following Avengers costar Jeremy Renner’s harrowing New Year’s Day accident in Nevada.
In a new interview with British GQ published Tuesday, the actor, 39, discussed the incident and the impact it had on him. The conversation also included Hemsworth revealing intimate details of his marriage to his wife Elsa Pataky, 46, with whom he shares three children — daughter India Rose, 11, and twin boys Sasha and Tristan, 9.
Hemsworth recalled the first time he learned about Renner’s health. “We were all on our Avengers text chain, we were all chatting. And it was wild. None of us really knew how serious it was,” the star told the publication of the aftermath. “I think anything like that, it’s an immediate realization of, ‘Wow, any of us can go at any minute…’ ” Read more
Florida admits role in flying migrants to California (BBC)
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has admitted a role in transporting 36 migrants to Sacramento, California on two flights in recent days.
The first flight of 16 migrants arrived last week, and then a second plane arrived on Monday with 20 migrants.
California leaders are investigating if any laws were broken and if people were misled. Read more
Man United to offload eight stars, as Aston Villa eye Laporte (Tribune)
The Athletic reports that Aston Villa wants 26-year-old Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans after his departure from Leicester.
According to 90min, Aston Villa have held talks to sign Spain defenders Aymeric Laporte, 29, and Pau Torres, 26, from Manchester City and Villarreal respectively.
Chelsea have joined Barcelona and Liverpool in wanting Celta Vigo’s 21-year-old Spanish midfielder Gabri Veiga, who has a £34m release clause the Guardian reports. Read more
Ondo didn’t abandon Sunshine Queens – Commissioner (Punch)
Ondo State commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Bamidele Ologun, says the state’s female football team, Sunshine Queens, has not been abandoned by the state government, The PUNCH reports.
He said why much has not been heard about the team in recent times was because they were relegated last season.
Sunshine Queens were relegated to the NWFL Championship last season after finishing bottom of the table in Group B with seven points from 12 matches. Read more
English teenager Jude Bellingham to join Real Madrid from Dortmund (France24)
English teenager Jude Bellingham will move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid for a fee in excess of 100 million euros ($107 million), the German side announced on Wednesday.
Dortmund confirmed the two teams had reached a “mutual agreement” over the transfer of the 19-year-old in the summer.
The publicly listed club said it would receive a fee of 103 million euros in addition to a variable amount “up to a maximum total amount of around 30 percent” of the fixed transfer fee, depending on team and player bonuses. Read more
Billy Bingham: Martin O’Neill and Gerry Armstrong remember late NI manager at memorial service (BBC)
Martin O’Neill and Gerry Armstrong have paid tribute to Billy Bingham at a memorial service for the late former Northern Ireland manager on Wednesday.
Bingham, who died last year aged 90, was remembered at a service at St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast.
He led Northern Ireland to the 1982 and 1986 World Cup finals. Read more
Players rebuke PGA boss after shock deal with LIV Golf (RNZ)
PGA Tour players have confronted commissioner Jay Monahan and called for his resignation at a meeting ahead of the Canadian Golf Open in Toronto.
Three time PGA winner Johnson Wagner told the Golf Channel it was an acrimonious meeting after Monahan came to a merger agreement with the Saudi backed LIV Golf without consulting with the players.
“It was contentious,” Wagner said. Read more
Iga Świątek continues defense of French Open title with straight sets victory over American Coco Gauff (CNN)
Iga Świątek remains on course to retain her French Open title after easing past Coco Gauff 6-4 6-2 to reach the semifinals at Roland-Garros.
In a rematch of last year’s final, Świątek ultimately had too much quality for Gauff to handle as her relentless power and consistency eventually broke the American down.
Świątek has now beaten Gauff in all seven of their meetings on the WTA Tour, with the teenager yet to even take a set off the Polish world No. 1. Read more