Troops raid Katsina terrorist camp, kill 5, arrest bandit (Vanguard)
Police operatives in collaboration with vigilantes and hunters killed five terrorists and arrested one of their notorious leaders when they raided their camps in Batsari and Jibia Local Government Areas of Katsina State on Saturday
Spokesman, Katsina State Police Command, Abubakar Sadiq, in a statement, yesterday, said the operation was led by the officers in charge of the C anti-kidnapping unit and Special Investigation Branch, SIB.
The combined team, according to Sadiq, raided and dislodged several camps of the suspected terrorists at Marake, Garin Yara, and Garin Labo villages, all in the Batsari Local Government Area of the state. Read more
Subsidy: Labour threatens strike, resumes talks with FG (Punch)
Ahead of the meeting between the Federal Government and the organised labour scheduled to hold today (Monday), the Nigeria Labour Congress has said the government must meet its demands to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.
The union threatened that it would not hesitate to call out workers for industrial action, adding that it only suspended its planned strike.
It stated that the high cost of fuel was inflicting unbearable hardship on Nigerians, adding that the government must act fast with respect to providing palliatives, as the NLC said it was expecting an increase in the minimum wage from N30,000 to N150,000. Read more
Sultan Declares June 19 Dhul-Hijjah 1st, June 28, Eidul Adha (DailyTrust)
The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has declared June 19, 2023 as the first day of Dhul-Hijjah 1444 AH.
This is contained in a statement Sunday night from the council.
“The Sultanate Council Sokoto has declared Monday 19 June, 2023 as the first day of Zul-Hijjah 1444 AH.” Read more
Sanwo-Olu tasks new NGE president, Anaba on tackling fake news (Guardian)
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has congratulated the editor of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr Eze Anaba, on his election as the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE).
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement on Sunday, charged Anaba to wage war against fake news, which was threatening the social fabric of the society.
He said the election of Anaba as President of the NGE, during the Guild’s National Biennial Convention in Imo, was a testament to the trust and belief his colleagues have in him. Read more
LASG takes open defecation campaign to market (Punch)
The Lagos State Government has continued its campaign to promote use of toilets by all residents of the state.
The ‘‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet Campaign’’, which is aimed at eradicating open defecation by 2025, was taken to Aiyetoro market in the Epe Local Government Area of the state recently, a statement signed on Sunday by the Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Kunle Adeshina, said on Sunday.
According to the statement, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Tajudeen Omobolaji, who spoke during the campaign, said awareness campaigns remained a major driving tool for achieving an open defecation-free Lagos. Read more
Eradicate child sexual abuse in schools — Cece Yara tells Lagos, teachers (Vanguard)
With child sexual abuse in Nigeria reaching epidemic proportions, the Chief Executive Officer of CeCe Yara Foundation, Detutu Ajibodu, has urged school teachers to create a supportive atmosphere in their various schools that would enable children to feel comfortable speaking up and seeking help when needed.
Statistics available have shown that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 10 boys are sexually abused before the age of 18 years. The already bad situation is complicated by the fact that only 4 per cent of the girls and 2 per cent of the boys in Nigeria receive help after experiencing sexual violence.
Speaking during a Two-Day Training Session on Child Abuse for over 200 School Teachers in Lagos, Detutu described child abuse as a deeply distressing issue that affects countless children worldwide. Read more
Crisis as Imo PDP Working Committee members dump party (ThisDay)
The influence of the former Governor of Imo State, Chief Emeka Ihedioha in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has played out in the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party as seven SWC members and their numerous followers have resigned from office and the party with immediate effect.
The SWC members who addressed newsmen in the party Secretariat in Owerri, the State capital yesterday announced their resignations from their positions as well as membership of the party.
They, however, did not disclose their next line of action, but indicated that soon they would make known their movement. Read more
Zamfara: Police comply with court order, return ex-gov vehicles (Nation)
The Zamfara Police Command has returned all the vehicles it seized from former governor of the state, Bello Matawalle.
Security operatives reportedly removed the vehicles from Matawalle’s two houses on the order of the state government.
The command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Yazid Abubakar disclosed this on Saturday. Read more
Faith Evans and Stevie J get past ‘‘stolen’’ Benz incident as they near divorce settlement (HipHopDX)
Faith Evans and Stevie J are now one step closer to settling their acrimonious divorce, according to new court documents.
Per The Blast, the former Bad Boy producer filed what’s called a statement of disclosure, which is when all the finances are listed for the benefit of the other party.
While details of the statement of disclosure, which was filed in Los Angeles County courts, were not released, legal experts at the outlet suggest that this is a sign that the pair is about to settle their divorce. However, the terms of the divorce may remain private if the couple wishes to do so. Read more
Houston rapper Big Pokey dies at age 48 (Guardian)
Legendary Houston rapper Big Pokey died overnight Sunday after collapsing at a bar in Beaumont, Texas, his publicist has confirmed. The rap star, best known as part of the Screwed Up Click collective, was 48 years old.
“It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of our beloved Milton ‘Big Pokey’ Powell,” reads a statement from the rapper’s publicist on behalf of his family. “Big Pokey will forever be ‘The Hardest Pit in the Litter’.”
Fellow Screwed Up associate Bun B posted on Instagram that Big Pokey was “one of the pillars” and “one of the most naturally talented artists in the city” of Houston. Read more
‘‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’’ reveals Aang, Katara, Sokka and Zuko in live-action (EW)
The Avatar has returned! Netflix’s new live-action ‘‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’’ series has unveiled the first look at the main characters.
During the streamer’s big TUDUM event on Saturday, which brought fresh previews and announcements on upcoming Netflix titles, fans got to see actors Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio, Ian Ousley, and Dallas Liu in character as Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Prince Zuko, respectively.
The sneak peek will have to hold fans over for a bit. The unveiling also came with a teaser that confirms the show won’t premiere until some time in 2024. The video showed the symbols for the Water, Earth, Fire, and Air Nations before unveiling the show’s title treatment. Read more
The Flash disappoints with $55m debut, Pixar’s Elemental flops with $29.5m in battle of box office lightweights (Variety)
“The Flash,” a superhero adventure starring Ezra Miller, emerged victorious over Pixar’s Elemental in a battle of box office lightweights.
This weekend’s two new releases were once expected to ignite the summer blockbuster season; instead, both entirely missed the mark. The Flash tumbled with $55 million and Elemental collected just $29.5 million in their respective debuts. Both films fell short of already-low expectations. Worse, they were pricy endeavors, costing $200 million to make and roughly $100 million to market, so they are shaping up to be huge disappointments in their theatrical runs.
In the lead-up to The Flash, executives at Warner Bros. worked hard to convince the public that the film is “one of the greatest superhero movies ever made,” per newly minted DC Studios co-chief James Gunn. Directed by Andy Muschietti, the story picks up as Miller’s Barry Allen a.k.a The Flash travels back in time to prevent his mother’s murder and inadvertently cracks open the DC multiverse. Read more
Beyond Wonderland music festival cancelled after mass shooting leaves 2 dead, 3 injured (UPI)
The Beyond Wonderland electronic dance music festival in Washington state has canceled the second day of performances Sunday after a mass shooting Saturday night left two dead and three injured.
The music festival made the announcement on Facebook while thanking law enforcement and staff members who “acted quickly” to respond to the situation at the venue’s overflow camping area.
“Our heartfelt thoughts and condolences go out to the family, friends and all those affected by this tragic event,” festival organizers said in the statement. Read more
Mass shooting after Juneteenth celebration leaves at least 1 dead, 20 injured (UPI)
At least one person has died and 20 others were injured during a mass shooting after Juneteenth celebrations in Illinois, witnesses and officials said Sunday.
Witness Markeshia Avery told WLS-TV that she heard shots ring out around 12:30 a.m. early Sunday morning after the Juneteenth celebration in the suburban Chicago town of Willowbrook, leading her and others dropped to the floor.
“They just kept going. After that, we literally scattered away,” she said. Read more
North Korea slams failed satellite launch in key party meeting (France24)
North Korea’s ruling party slammed a recent failed satellite launch in a high-level meeting, state media reported on Monday, “bitterly” criticising the officials responsible.
North Korea attempted to put its first military spy satellite into orbit on May 31, but the projectile and its payload crashed into the sea shortly after launch due to what Pyongyang said was a rocket failure.
In the report from the meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the ruling party “bitterly criticised the officials who irresponsibly conducted the preparations for satellite launch” and demanded a probe into the “serious” failure, state-run KCNA said. Read more
Ihenacho grabs late winner as Super Eagles qualify for AFCON (Vanguard)
Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone 3-2 on Sunday.
A brace from Victor Osimhen and a late winner from Kelechi Iheanacho were enough to secure the victory for the visitors.
Nigeria needed a draw in Liberia — the temporary home of Sierra Leone as they do not have an international-standard stadium — to clinch qualification on matchday five. Read more
Joshua, Fury December tourney will hold — Organiser (Punch)
Skill Challenge Promotions’ Head of Boxing Amer Abdallah is confident that a tournament featuring Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder will hold in Saudi Arabia as planned.
Abdallah’s company is looking to stage a major heavyweight doubleheader in the Middle East on a date in December that would see former world champions, Joshua and Wilder, collide in a long-awaited showdown.
The second bout would have Fury and Usyk meet in the ring for all of the major world titles in their division. Read more
Spain snatch Nations League glory on penalties against Croatia (France24)
Dani Carvajal chipped home a Panenka penalty to win Spain the Nations League on Sunday, with a 5-4 shoot-out victory over Croatia, after a tense match finished 0-0 following extra-time.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon denied Lovro Mayer and Bruno Petkovic from the spot, before Carvajal cheekily chipped home to earn La Roja their first trophy since Euro 2012 and break Croatian hearts.
Zlatko Dalic’s side, runners-up at the World Cup in 2018 and third in 2022, have never won a major trophy and were hoping Nations League success would cap a glittering international career for captain Luka Modric. Read more
Vinicius Junior, Brazil teammates wear black shirts in stand against racism at friendly in Barcelona (CBC)
Brazil sent a message against racism by swapping its bright yellow shirts for an all-black look during a friendly against Guinea in Barcelona on Saturday.
Brazil said this was the first time its outfield players have worn black shirts. They changed back to yellow for the second half.
Forward Vinicius Junior, appearing for Brazil, has been racially abused in Spain this season while playing for his Real Madrid club at away games. Read more
Canadian Grand Prix: Max Verstappen wins to equal Ayrton Senna victories total (BBC)
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen equalled Ayrton Senna’s career total of 41 victories with a dominant win at the Canadian Grand Prix.
The Dutchman’s sixth triumph in eight races this season gave him a 69-point lead in the championship and was the 100th victory for his Red Bull team.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso passed Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes on track to win a battle for second place. Read more
American golfer Wyndham Clark claims US Open victory ahead of Rory McIlroy (CNN)
Wyndham Clark won the 2023 US Open to claim his first major title on Sunday, edging Rory McIlroy in a nail-biting finale at Los Angeles Country Club.
The American, boasting just one prior win on the PGA Tour and having never previously made the cut at the tournament, held off the challenge of Northern Ireland’s four-time major champion to win by a single stroke.
Clark, 29, carded a closing round even-par 70 to finish 10-under overall and earn a $3.6 million winner’s cut of a record $20 million prize purse, the largest ever awarded in major history. Read more