PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 Obi Speaks On Tinubu’s Eagle Square Fall The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in last year’s elections, Mr Peter Obi, has broken his silence on Wednesday’s misstep of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while walking into a vehicle that would convey him for a parade at Eagle Square in commemoration of Democracy Day. Obi reacting hours after the incident on his X handle, expressed sadness over the incident. “I was saddened to learn of President Tinubu’s unfortunate fall today. I wish him well. We achieve nothing by gloating about an accident that could well happen to any of us.” “We are all human beings and, while we profoundly disagree on how to move Nigeria forward, we must remember our common human frailty. Let us stay focused on the issues that will lead to a new Nigeria. “May this moment serve as a poignant reminder of our shared humanity and the need for compassion, empathy, and unity in our pursuit of a brighter future for our great nation,” Obi said. Daily Trust repo...

 Michigan middle school coach caught on video allegedly choking 14-year-old student in hallway A Ypsilanti, Michigan, middle school coach was captured on surveillance video allegedly choking a student in the hallway of the school after a disagreement over a disciplinary issue, and now the family is seeking answers. FOX 2 in Detroit reported that Yolanda Ellis, the mother of the unnamed student, is outraged over what the school staff member did to her son. "I’m outraged at the fact that someone would come behind a 14-year-old child and proceed to choke him," she told the station. Video of last week’s incident shows Ellis’ son getting attacked by his now former coach, inside Ypsilanti Middle School. Ellis said her son and the coach argued over a discipline issue, which should never have escalated to physical violence. Despite the physical altercation occurring, Ellis said another teacher was nearby and did not rush with urgency to deescalate the situation. Video of the incident...

 I Pity Tinubu If He Approves Unsustainable Minimum Wage — Soludo Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, says he pities President Bola Tinubu if he approves an “unsustainable” minimum wage for workers in the country. The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) warned that not all state governments and the Organised Private Sector can pay the ₦62,000 being proposed by the Federal Government and the ₦250,000 demand of the Organised Labour. Soludo, who was Speaker from 2015 to 2019, made at The Platform Nigeria, a programme by Lagos-based church, Covenant Nation, to mark the 2024 Democracy Day. He warned that an unsustainable wage might lead to job losses and spiral economic challenges in the country. Soludo and his 35 colleagues under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum had also described minimum wage demands of Labour as sustainable. In his Democracy Day address on Wednesday, Tinubu assured Labour that an executive bill on the new national minimum wage for wo...

 Minimum Wage: Our Demand Remains N250,000 – NLC The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said the organised labour did not agree on any specific figure as the new minimum wage. NLC was reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s claims that an agreement had been reached on new national minimum wages. Speaking Wednesday during his nationwide broadcast to mark Democracy Day, Tinubu said a consensus had been reached on the long-debated new minimum wage between the Federal Government and organised labour. The president revealed that an executive bill will soon be sent to the National Assembly to formalise the new minimum wage agreement. He emphasised that his administration chose a democratic approach over dictatorship in addressing the demands of labour unions. But in a statement, the acting President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, said there was no agreement reached by the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage at the time negotiations ended on Friday, June 7, ...

 Dwayne Johnson suffers injury on set of new film: ‘Got banged up pretty good today’ Dwayne Johnson sustained an injury on the set of his new film and is dealing with it through his trademark humor. In a video shared on Instagram, Johnson showcased a swollen elbow he earned while filming a scene for his next project, "The Smashing Machine." "Anytime your film is called ‘The Smashing Machine,’ well, you’re kind of going to get smashed up," he joked. Johnson continued, "Look at that sucker right there. Looks like I have a cantaloupe at the bottom of my elbow. I got banged up pretty good today in our scenes." The "Jumanji" star noted he thought there "might be some soft tissue damage," but he needed to wait for the fluid and swelling to go down before he got an MRI. "But all good. It is what is is until it isn’t," he said. Johnson also recalled advice from his late father, Rocky Johnson, a former wrestler and bodybuilder, who pas...

 German police prepare for largest deployment ever ahead of Euro 2024 as soccer violence surges Clashes between weapon-wielding fans. Organized fights between hundreds of supporters. Late-night attacks. Life-threatening injuries. A recent surge in violence around soccer games is contributing to concerns over security when Germany hosts the European Championship. "We’re readying for all imaginable dangers with high levels of deployment from all security authorities," said German interior minister Nancy Faeser, who said the country is preparing for all manner of threats, from hooligans, to terrorists, to cyber criminals. "The police will have a very visible presence," she said. Faeser's ministry confirmed some 22,000 police officers will be on duty each day for the tournament, with no vacations. "For the federal police it’s the largest deployment since it was founded in 1951," ministry spokesman Lars Harmsen told The Associated Press. German police will ...

 Minimum Wage: FG Urges Labour to Settle For What Will Not Undermine Economy, Lead to Mass Retrenchment  Abuja—Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has urged Organised Labour to settle for a national minimum wage that will not undermine the national economy and lead to mass retrenchment of workers.  Idris who appealed while declaring open the 2024 Synod of the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday, emphasized the need for a realistic and sustainable wage system that balances workers' needs with the country's economic realities. He acknowledged the government's commitment to reviewing the minimum wage but cautioned against demands that could harm the economy.  Idris highlighted the government's efforts to reduce the cost of living and increase Nigerians' purchasing power through programs like the Presidential CNG initiative, which aims to cut transportation costs by 50%. He said: “As I have repeatedly said, the F...

 Suspected Vandals destroy TCN Towers The Transmission Company of Nigeria has disclosed that two of its towers, T193 and T194, along the Damaturu -Maiduguri  330kV Single Circuit Transmission Line have again been destroyed by vandals. The incident, TCN believes happened at about 10:15pm, yesterday night, when the 150MVA power transformer at Molai Substation tripped at the same time as the 330kV transmission line supplying bulk power to Maiduguri from Damaturu Transmission Substation. According to a statement by General Manager, Public Affairs of the Company, Ndidi Mbah, made available to Journalists in Abuja, after the line tripped off, efforts were made by TCN engineers to close the Mulai - Damaturu line to enable bulk transmission of electricity, which failed repeatedly. It added that early today,  TCN lines engineers along with security operatives patrolled the line and discovered that towers 193 and 194 along the 330kV transmission line were brought down using an expl...

 Ondo: Suspected ritualist nab with eight human skulls priced at N30,000 Yusuf Adenoyin, a suspected ritualist, has been nabbed with eight human skulls by the security agencies at Isua Akoko, in the Akoko South-East LGA. Yusuf Adenoyin, a suspected ritualist, has been nabbed with eight human skulls by the security agencies at Isua Akoko, in the Akoko South-East  LGA. Mr Adenoyin, 37, was arrested at one of the checkpoints between the Isua and Epinmi in a Nissan car en route from Akure to Osogbo. The suspect was said to have been in the vehicle with four other passengers when the personnel attached to the Police Safer Highway Patrol intercepted them on the road.  A security source who confirmed Mr Adenoyin’s arrest to Peoples Gazette in Akure said the suspects had claimed he was travelling from Okene in Kogi to Osogbo, in Osun state, to deliver the human skulls to a herbalist.   The source revealed that the arrested suspect had already concealed the skulls inside...

 Jerry West, One of Basketball’s Greatest Players, Dies at 86 He was a high-scoring Hall of Fame guard for the Lakers and later an executive with the team. His image became the N.B.A.’s logo.  ACCORDING TO ANOTHER SOURCE: Jerome Alan West, known to most as Jerry West, has passed.  Jerry was born 28 May 1938, to parents, Howard West and Cecile Sue Creasy West, and passed 11 Jun 2024.  Our family has always been very proud of the boy, the man, and his accomplishments.  Please keep Karen, his wife, and children in your Prayers.  At this time, I have no other information about his death.  I know others on Facebook are also related to his family; some via Trail, however, we are cousins via our Slack family.  The photos should be:  his Lakers Basketball days, his family in eastern Kanawha County (he is the little blonde on the front row, right), his West Virginia University days, and Jerry at his restaurant, "44 West" at The Greenbrier, Jerry - Eas...

 Woman accused of killing her boyfriend in suitcase says her 8th lawyer has 'snotty attitude' Sarah Boone is like Goldilocks trying to find the right defense lawyer.  Her eighth attorney, Patricia Cashman, was "too snotty," said the suspected murderer, who allegedly zipped up her boyfriend in a suitcase during what Boone claimed was a game of hide-and-seek. Boone called another lawyer of hers a "dud" and a "buffoon," Court TV reported. Her seventh lawyer, she claimed in letters to the court, could not talk to counsel.  One lawyer said Boone should "represent herself as no attorney can satisfy her," and another said their relations became "adversarial," according to a report by Fox 35 Orlando based on court filings.  Her most recent lawyer, Cashman, cited irreconcilable differences, "including, but not limited to, ethical considerations," according to Court TV. Boone submitted a 50-plus-page complaint about Cashman ahea...

 Tony Lo Bianco, 'The French Connection' actor, dead at 87 Tony Lo Bianco, best known for his role in the Academy Award-winning film "The French Connection," has died. He was 87. Lo Bianco died Tuesday night at his horse farm in Maryland after a battle with prostate cancer, representatives for the actor confirmed to Fox News Digital.  "His beloved wife, Alyse, was by his side," the representative said in an email. Lo Bianco was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1936. A former Golden Gloves boxer, he would go on to act in theater, film and television, famously portraying mobster Sal Boca in William Friedkin’s "The French Connection." The film, which also starred Gene Hackman and Roy Schieder, was released in 1971 and won five Academy Awards. Lo Bianco was also known for playing the role of "lonely hearts killer" Raymond Fernandez in the 1970 crime film "The Honeymoon Killers." He would appear on screen alongside Richard Gere in ...

 Biden pushed to revoke Al Jazeera credentials after Israeli hostage reportedly found in journalist's home President Biden is being pressured to revoke media credentials from Al Jazeera and cut off its access to the White House following revelations that one of its affiliated journalists reportedly held an Israeli hostage in their family's Gaza home.  "It is no secret that Qatar-funded Al Jazeera has long been a mouthpiece for terrorists and has peddled anti-American sentiments," Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., wrote in a letter to Biden sent on Tuesday evening. "As such, I urge you to immediately revoke Al Jazeera’s access to the White House until it cuts all ties with U.S.-designated [Foreign Terrorist Organizations]." Al Jazeera Media Network is a global media enterprise with numerous channels and publications in various languages. It originated in Qatar in 1996. It is still based in Qatar and notes on its website that it is "funded in part by the Qatari g...

 Céline Dion took potentially 'fatal' amounts of Valium to combat stiff person syndrome pain When Céline Dion first received her stiff person syndrome diagnosis in August 2022, she kept the life-altering condition private. It would be several months until she shared the news publicly, but in the interim, she was actively learning more about the disease and trying to combat her symptoms. Dion's body would spasm or "lock," as she has since described. It was recommended she try prescription drugs, including Valium, a medication that can be used as a muscle relaxant. She'd already exhausted other options, such as steam showers, over-the-counter medication and visits to ear, nose and throat doctors. The less extreme treatments did not work. "We started with two milligrams to see if it would help, and then 2.5, and then 3, and 15 and 50," Dion told People magazine in a new interview. The Canadian singer admitted that the medication wore off so expeditiousl...

 Rob Schneider calls Will Smith a 'liar' and a 'fraud' while discussing 2022 Oscars slap Rob Schneider is weighing in on the ongoing feud between Will Smith and Chris Rock after the infamous 2022 slap, branding the "Bad Boys" actor an "a--hole." During an appearance on the "The Kyle & Jackie O Show" on Tuesday, the comedian said Smith – who slapped Rock for making fun of wife Jada Pinkett Smith during a live broadcast of the Oscars – has "been hiding" his true identity all these years.  "Will Smith is a t---," Schneider said. "Will Smith has been hiding the fact of who he really is and it was exposed that night that he's really an a--hole." "But it's a deep, dark thing to do that in front of all those people and to a really great legendary comedian who's literally the best comedian of our generation," he added. "You wouldn't have this whole wave of comedy that came after if it...

 Hezbollah terrorists launch massive rocket attack on Israel amid mounting tensions The Lebanon-based Hezbollah terrorist movement on Wednesday pummeled Israel’s northern border, including Tiberias, where Jesus performed miracles, with rockets after the Jewish state eliminated a senior Hezbollah commander responsible for military operations. According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the "IDF struck a Hezbollah command and control center used to direct attacks from southeastern Lebanon and eliminated its commander, Sami Taleb Abdullah." Hezbollah’s aerial warfare apparatus sent a swarm of more than 200 rockets into northern Israeli communities. The IDF did not report any injuries. The IDF said on Tuesday "A Hezbollah command and control center in the area of Jouaiyya in Southern Lebanon, which was used to direct terror attacks against Israeli territory from southeastern Lebanon in recent months, was struck by the IAF. As part of the strike, Sami Taleb...

 CP ITAM COMMENDS ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT AND STATE LAWMAKERS FOR SIGNING THE ANTICULTISM AND ANTI-TOUTING BILL INTO LAW The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Police Command *CP Nnaghe Obono Itam* commends the State Government and State House of Assembly members, as His Excellency Governor Chukwuma Soludo CFR signed into law on 11/6/2024 a jail term of a minimum of 21 years with no option of fine on any person found culpable of cult-related activities. He also approved the legal confinement of six months or the option to pay half a million naira on anyone harassing innocent individuals to obtain illegal tolls, illegal scalpers, or any related activities in the State. The *CP* noted that these developments shall further reecho the campaign and stand against touting and cultism, especially the Police on the advocacy program; Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices *POCAVCO*, a program targeted to sensitize the youths of the dangers of bad groups, drugs, and other vices....

 Françoise Hardy, Moody French Pop Star, Dies at 80 With hit songs, a longilineal look and an understated personality, she incarnated a 1960s cool still treasured by the French. ACCORDING TO ANOTHER SOURCE:  Françoise Hardy, Moody French Pop Star, Dies at 80 With hit songs, a longilineal look and an understated personality, she incarnated a 1960s cool still treasured by the French. By Adam Nossiter June 12, 2024 Françoise Hardy, an introspective pop singer who became a hero to French youth in the 1960s with her moody ballads, died on Tuesday. She was 80. Her death, from cancer, was announced by her son, Thomas Dutronc, in a post on Instagram, saying simply, “Mom is gone.” No other details were provided. With songs like her breakthrough 1962 hit, “Tous les garçons et les filles” (“All the Boys and Girls”), and later “Dans le monde entier” (“All Over the World”); her longilineal look, prized by star fashion designers; and her understated personality, Ms. Hardy incarnated a 1960s...

 TROOPS CLEAR BANDITS FORESTS, RECOVER VALUABLE ITEMS IN TARABA STATE In a strategic move to combat the menace of kidnapping and criminal activities in Taraba State, troops of 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 Operation WHIRL STROKE (OPWS) executed a decisive clearance operation on Tuesday,  11 June 2024. The operation resulted in the successful destruction of multiple kidnappers' camps and recovery of valuable items  in Chinkai Forest of Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State. Acting on actionable intelligence reports detailing the continuous criminal activities by terrorist groups sheltering in the Chinkai Forest, troops of 93 Battalion Sub-Sector 3B OPWS launched the clearance operation. The troops meticulously combed through the dense forest areas notorious for harboring kidnappers' camps, prompting the terrorists to flee upon sighting the advancing troops. The operation led to the destruction of several makeshift structures linked to wanted kidnapping kingpins s...

 Perm sec: My subordinate accused me of sexual harassment because I refused to pay her bills Ibrahim Lamuwa, the permanent secretary of the federal ministry of foreign affairs, says he is being accused of sexual harassment by Simisola Fajemirokun-Ajayi, an official of the ministry, because he refused her demands. Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, had notified Folasade Yemi-Esan, the head of service of the federation (HoS), of the allegation. In a letter to Yemi-Esan, the minister said it was necessary to communicate the development to her following the “gravity of the matter” after Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, wrote a petition to him. However, in response to the allegation, Lamuwa said his failure to pay Ajayi’s bills on an official trip to Davos and refusal to grant her access to policy files and financial records of the ministry were the reasons why she accused him of sexual harassment. The permanent secretary said he has never sexually harassed her but has mainta...

 More than 80 people killed after boat capsizes in western Congo More than 80 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have died after the boat they were travelling on sank, President Felix Tshisekedi has announced. The accident on Wednesday occurred on the Kwa River, about 70km (43 miles) from the city of Mushie in Mai-Ndombe province. Deadly boat accidents are common in the waters of Congo, where vessels are frequently loaded well beyond their capacity. The central African country has few tarred roads across its vast, forested territory, and river travel is common. "The President of the Republic is calling for an investigation into the true causes of this unfortunate incident, to prevent such a disaster from happening again in the future," the presidency said on X. Tshisekedi “sends his condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims,” the statement said, adding that he directed authorities to take measures and help those affected.

 Aunty Ramota debunk health issues amid failed BBL rumours Media sensation and actress, Aunty Ramota, has debunked rumours circulating online that she underwent a failed Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgery, which allegedly left her in critical condition. In a recent video, she put the speculation to rest by showcasing her unchanged physique. This clarification came after reports emerged that she had been admitted to a recovery facility following the purported surgery. Aunty Ramota denied the claims, affirming her good health and reassuring her fans that she is doing well. Watch video below.