UNIBEN graduate beaten, raped to death (Vanguard)
A female student of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, identified as Adekolore Idowu Glory, has been reportedly raped to death.
Glory, 22, a recent graduate of the university, was said to have been beaten and raped to death at Iyowa Community in Benin City, on June 13.
In an X post, a user who identified as Glory’s brother said unknown men attacked her while she was on her way back home from school. Read more
Police take over Rivers council secretariats (Nation)
The Rivers Police Command has taken over the 23 local government areas over the succession crisis rocking the state.
The police, in a statement by SP Grace Iringe-Koko, said the decision was taken following the breakdown of law and order in the various councils’ secretariat.
Iringe-Koko further cited clashes of supporters of the two political factions over the tenure of local government council chairmen and a case of death recorded at Eberi-Omuma, Omuma LGA, where a police officer and a vigilante were killed as the reason for the takeover. Read more
Minimum Wage: Why workers deserve reasonable adjustments – Fashola (Channels)
With talks about a new minimum wage for workers being on the front burner of public discourse, former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola says income earners in Nigeria deserve reasonable adjustments to cope with the rising cost of living in the country.
“When cost of living rises as they have now, the lowest and the highest income earners are impacted to varying degrees and therefore deserving of reasonable adjustments whether they earn wages or salaries,” the former Lagos State governor said in a piece titled, ‘Minimum Wage Review – My Take Away’.
Fashola also faulted Section 4(1)(b) of the National Minimum Wage Act 2019 which exempted “an establishment employing less than 25 persons” from being bound by the provisions of the Act to pay the minimum wage. Read more
FERMA begins repair works on Lagos roads (Punch)
Transporters and traders in Lagos State are hopeful of relief following the promise by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency to fix some bad portions of the roads in the state.
The FERMA Managing Director, Chukwuemeka Agbasi, disclosed that the agency was planning to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lagos State Government to fix some bad portions of the Federal roads, during his recent visit to Lagos.
He noted that FERMA and the Lagos Waste Management Agency would work on the drainage problem in the Moshalashi area of Agege Motor Road, Mushin. Read more
No matter the challenge, I won’t turn my back on Nigeria – Tinubu (Leadership)
President Bola Tinubu has said a change of value system is imperative for Nigerians to progress.
He, however, declared that no matter the challenge the country faces, he will never turn his back on her.
Tinubu spoke in Lagos when he received a delegation from the National Assembly (NASS) on Monday evening, who came to felicitate with him on Eid-el-Kabir. Read more
NUPRC offers additional 17 deep offshore oil assets for sale, extends pre-qualification deadline (ThisDay)
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) yesterday announced that with the acquisition of additional data on the oil assets up for sale, it was making available an extra 17 deep offshore for bids.
In May, the commission had invited investors to bid for 12 oil blocks and seven deep offshore assets in the 2024 marginal licencing round.
In an update on the latest licencing round, the Gbenga Komolafe-led organisation stated that it had extended the date for pre-qualification from June 25 to July 5 this year. Read more
Saraki’s mother dies at 88 (DailyTrust)
Madam Florence Morenike Saraki, mother of former Senate President Bukola Saraki, is dead.
She was 88 years old, according to reports.
Daily Trust learnt that the late Octogenarian went into a coma before she was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Lagos State over age related ailment.
Several members of the Saraki dynasty who preferred not to be named confirmed the development to Daily Trust in Ilọrin last night. Read more
Rail tracks, electricity cables vandalism are acts of sabotage — Presidency (Tribune)
President Bola Tinubu has condemned the recent acts of rail track and electricity cable vandalism, labelling them as economic sabotage with severe impacts on the national value system.
During a meeting in Lagos on Monday evening with a delegation from the National Assembly, President Tinubu emphasised the necessity for a change in the national value system to ensure progress.
The delegation, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, included Deputy Senate President Senator Jibrin Barau and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Honourable Benjamin Kalu, among others. Read more
Ariana Grande defends mid-interview voice change following viral video (Standard)
Ariana Grande has addressed criticism about her speaking voice, explaining she shifts her tone intentionally to protect her singing vocals.
A clip of the US popstar on the Podcrushed podcast with You actor Penn Badgley went viral on TikTok as Grande began speaking about recording new music in a deeper voice, before shifting to a higher-pitched register.
Grande commented on the video – captioned “the voice change??” – explaining it was due to “habit (speaking like this for two years) and also vocal health”. Read more
Bette Midler, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Susan Sarandon and Megan Mullally bring hilarity in “The Fabulous Four” trailer (People)
“The Fabulous Four” now has its very own fabulous trailer.
Bette Midler, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Susan Sarandon and Megan Mullally all star in the first trailer for the Jocelyn Moorhouse–directed comedy that debuted during the 2024 Tony Awards broadcast on Sunday, June 16.
The film follows “three lifelong friends who travel to Key West, Florida, to be bridesmaids in a surprise wedding of their college girlfriend Marilyn,” per a synopsis. Read more
Ian McKellan, 85, breaks silence after West End fall (OK!)
Sir Ian McKellen is “looking forward to returning to work” after he fell from a West End stage earlier this week.
The veteran stage and screen actor, 85, was portraying John Falstaff in a production of Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre on Monday (June 17) when he lost his footing in a fight scene and fell from the stage.
In a statement on Tuesday (June 18) evening, he said he is “hugely indebted” to the medical staff who have assured him his recovery will be “complete and speedy”. Read more
Will Smith books next movie with Sony’s ‘‘Resistor’’ (THR)
Will Smith is lining up his next feature, following the career-reviving success of Bad Boys: Ride or Die.
Smith is in talks to star in Resistor for Sony Pictures, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. The project that hails from Escape Artists is an adaptation of the 2014 novel Influx from New York Times bestselling author Daniel Suarez, although specific plot details have not been shared. The book focuses on a government agency that locks away inventors in a secretive prison and hijacks their work.
A director is not yet attached for the film, which is currently in development. Screenwriter Zak Olkewicz (Bullet Train) penned the first draft, and the latest version is from Academy Award-nominated writer Eric Warren Singer (Top Gun: Maverick, American Hustle). Read more
Post Malone sets August release date for new album, ‘‘F-1 Trillion’’ (Variety)
Post Malone‘s sixth studio album “F-1 Trillion” will arrive on Aug. 16, the American singer and rapper announced Tuesday.
Malone shared a picture of a sign in Nashville revealing the album’s title and car-themed logo. In the caption he wrote, “Sup motherfuckas…F-1 Trillion August 16th.” The digital billboard’s location is a hint on what could be expected of the LP’s material, also a continuation of Malone’s recent success in country music. Read more
North Korea’s Kim greets Russia’s Putin at Pyongyang airport (DW)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Pyongyang in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Putin and Kim met on the runway at the capital’s airport before sharing a limousine ride towards the city center with a large police escort.
As North Korean state media outlet KCNA described it in English, the two leaders were able to share their “pent-up inmost thoughts” during this conversation and agreed to deepen the two countries’ relations. Read more
Nvidia becomes world’s most valuable company, dethroning Microsoft (AlJazeera)
Nvidia, the startup at the centre of the artificial intelligence boom, has become the world’s most valuable company, knocking Microsoft off the top spot.
Nvidia’s market capitalisation hit $3.335 trillion on Tuesday as shares of the chipmaker rose by 3.5 percent to $135.58.
The feat comes just days after the Santa Clara California-based company eclipsed Apple to become the world’s second most valuable company. Read more
Enyimba must pick continental ticket – Head Coach (Leadership)
Enyimba head coach, Olanrewaju Yemi, has said his team can’t afford not to win their final match of the season against
The People’s Elephant will welcome Plateau United this weekend.
Enyimba need a win to secure a continental slot next season.
Yemi revealed that the players are aware of the importance of the game. Read more
Euro 2024: Cristiano Ronaldo plays in record sixth tournament (ABC)
Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first player to appear in six European Championships as Portugal scored a late goal to start their 2024 tournament with a 2-1 win over Czechia on Tuesday.
The 39-year-old, who was kept off the scoresheet, is looking to reclaim the title that Portugal won in 2016, when they beat host country France 1-0 for their first European trophy.
Substitute Francisco Conceição scored in stoppage time to give Roberto Martinez’s side the win. Read more
Georgia makes wild start to international tournament soccer in feisty loss to Turkey (WashingtonTimes)
A pre-match brawl. A multi-pass team goal of which Barcelona would be proud. A match widely regarded as an instant classic.
Georgia made quite the entrance to international tournament soccer on Tuesday.
The 3-1 loss to Turkey in the European Championship was a thrilling watch from start to finish, with the result failing to dampen the spirits of a national team and its boisterous fans who had been waiting for this day for more than 30 years. Read more
USA omits Bryson DeChambeau after announcing four-player golf team for Paris Olympics (Independent)
Bryson DeChambeau has missed out on selection for Paris 2024 despite his US Open triumph, with Scottie Scheffler leading the United States’ quartet at the Olympics.
DeChambeau secured his second major at Pinehurst last weekend, edging out Rory McIlroy in North Carolina.
It continued an excellent year in golf’s biggest events for the LIV Golf star, with a tie for sixth at The Masters followed by a runner-up finish at the PGA Championship. Read more
Pakistan bowler Haris Rauf explains reason for confrontation with fan at T20 World Cup (National)
Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has responded to a video circulating on social media that shows him involved in an angry exchange with some unidentified men at the T20 World Cup.
The incident is thought to have occurred in the US following Pakistan’s exit from the tournament. In their last group-stage match in Lauderhill, Florida, they beat Ireland by three wickets but it was not enough to earn them qualification for the Super Eight stage.
In the video, Rauf is with his wife talking to a few people before suddenly becoming visibly furious as he charges towards one of the men, despite attempts from those around him to intervene. Read more
NFF meets today to decide new Super Eagles coach (Sun)
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is scheduled to reconvene today, with the appointment of a foreign technical adviser top of the agenda while the outburst of Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen on erstwhile coach, Finidi George is expected to be discussed also.
Prior to Finidi George’s departure, the NFF had announced plans to hire a foreign technical adviser. Following Finidi’s exit, it is understood that this foreign coach will step in as the chief coach.
Soccernet.ng understands that Antonio Conceicao is expected to be named the next coach of the Super Eagles. However, there are calls within the community for the consideration of a local coach. Read more