The Kano State Government has announced an immediate ban on the importation of scrap materials from Nigeria’s Northeastern region following a deadly explosion that killed 15 workers at a scrap site in Gidan Karfe, located along the Eastern Bypass in Kano.
The decision was disclosed by the Kano State Commissioner for Internal Security, Ibrahim Umaru, during a meeting with the Scrap Dealers Association of Nigeria held in Kano on Tuesday.
According to Umaru, the tragic incident was linked to explosive devices that were unknowingly transported from the Northeast—a region long plagued by Boko Haram insurgency.
“It has become necessary for the state government to take this decision in order to avoid further loss of lives,” the Commissioner said. “The Northeastern states have been faced with Boko Haram insurgency for quite some time, and this has unfortunately led to some scrap dealers unsuspectingly moving explosive devices into Kano State. ”
READ ALSO: Kano Gov Renames Institute, Commission After Athletes Killed In Road Accident
FILE: Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, briefs journalists in Abuja on January 12, 2024.
He stressed that the state would work closely with the relevant agencies to monitor the movement of scrap materials and ensure the safety of residents.
In response, the Chairman of the Association of Scrap Dealers in Northern Nigeria, Aminu Hassan, expressed the association’s support for the government’s action, while calling for capacity building for members to prevent similar incidents.
“We urge the state government to provide proper training to scrap dealers so that we can identify and avoid moving dangerous items,” Alhaji Hassan said. “Our association has already issued a directive to all members to stop bringing scrap materials from war-affected areas. ”
The explosion at Gidan Karfe sent shockwaves through the city, with eyewitnesses describing scenes of chaos and destruction.
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Matthew Henry
BBC Sport journalist at Edgbaston
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It was, statistically at least, the most secure Test century on record in England.
Rookie India captain Shubman Gill, with all of the noise in the background and on the back of a punch-to-the-stomach defeat last week in Leeds, defied England on day one of the second Test at Edgbaston.
The hosts will have sensed their moment to push further into the ascendency in this series when winning the toss and choosing to ‘have a chase’.
But Gill responded with a controlled 114 not out to better some modern-day greats and help his side close on a respectable 310-5 in Birmingham.
“The way he is batting has been incredible to see,” said team-mate Yashasvi Jaiswal, who shared a stand of 66 with his captain.
So, what exactly did Gill do?
Gill would have been forgiven for leaving Edgbaston on Tuesday with his head in a spin.
In his pre-match news conference he fended question after question about his team selection this week – mostly about whether his star bowler Jasprit Bumrah would play.
The travelling India press pack is large and unrelenting and Gill struggled to sate them. The message was muddled. His batting in Birmingham 24 hours later was not.
Having spoken about wanting to compartmentalise batting and captaincy before the series, Gill strolled to the middle and played an innings with a false shot percentage of just 3. 5%. The average in England is 12%.
It makes it the most controlled ton on these shores since analysts CricViz began recording such statistics in 2006.
England run-getting legends like Sir Alastair Cook, Joe Root and Kevin Pietersen were never this controlled using the same metric. Nor were modern-day greats Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting and Kumar Sangakkara, who have all peeled off glorious hundreds on these shores in the last 20 years.
Gill’s innings contained just two outside edges off Chris Woakes – both before he had reached 20 – and an inside edge to Brydon Carse that thwarted an England lbw review.
There were three more false shots – any edge, play and miss or stroke mishit – to Woakes and two to Ben Stokes. Otherwise that was it – as close to perfection as anyone has been in recent years in England.
The pitch was the second easiest on record on a first day at Edgbaston – number one was in 2017 against West Indies in case you wondered – but Gill responded with the most controlled of knocks.
How Gill has conquered English conditions
CricViz/BBC Sport
Gill was named Test captain in May despite doubts around the 25-year-old’s record overseas.
In six innings in England he averaged 14. 66 but, batting at number four further from the new-ball movement, he made 147 in his first innings as skipper in the Headingley first Test.
“He has worked on his defence,” Ravi Shastri, India’s coach when Gill made his Test debut, told Sky Sports.
“When he last came to England he played with hard hands and pushed at the ball. Now he allows the ball to come and hit the bat. He is trusting his defence. “
That trust was shown in the middle. He took 125 balls to reach 50 and 199 to reach 100 – both his slowest efforts.
England’s plan to Gill was clear after his success at Headingley: their lines were the straightest they have bowled at a batter in 16 years as the pace bowlers targeted the pads.
“It felt like we were close to getting him lbw where he got a little inside edge,” said Woakes.
“Other than those it felt like he was in control of pretty much everything. Credit to him.
Whose record did Gill beat?
England’s greatest tormentor in the CricViz era has been Steve Smith but even the great Australia does not come close to a century as controlled as Gill’s here.
His lowest false shot percentage in any of his eight Test centuries in England was 9% – a difference of far more than a strip of sandpaper or two.
The previous best came from an unlikely name – former England opener Sam Robson who hit 127 in his second Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley in 2014.
Nigeria is set to deploy skilled professionals, including teachers, doctors, and agriculturists, to Saint Lucia and other Caribbean nations under a newly signed Technical Manpower Assistance (TMA) Agreement.
In a statement released on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the initiative is part of broader efforts to deepen South-South cooperation and reconnect with the African diaspora in the Caribbean.
The agreement was formalised in Castries, Saint Lucia, with Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, Director-General of the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (TAC), signing on behalf of Nigeria.
Janelle Modeste-Stephen, Acting Permanent Secretary at Saint Lucia’s Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs, signed on behalf of the Caribbean nation.
Describing the agreement as “a great achievement,” Yakub noted that it reflects President Bola Tinubu’s directive to deploy technical aid to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
“This is an outstanding achievement, just days after Mr President’s directive to deploy technical aid to Saint Lucia and the wider OECS,” Yakub was quoted as saying.
The statement noted that, under the agreement, Nigerian professionals will serve as volunteers for two years, with Nigeria covering their allowances and logistics, while Saint Lucia and other host nations provide accommodation and local support.
READ ALSO: Saint Lucia Confers Knighthood On Tinubu For Promoting Africa-Caribbean Unity
Yakub emphasised the diplomatic and cultural significance of the move, stating, “These students who will benefit from the scholarship will have a chance to reconnect with their roots and heritage. ”
The deployment aligns with President Tinubu’s recently unveiled 4D foreign policy—Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography—which seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s global influence through strategic partnerships.
Since the inception of the current administration in May 2023, Yakub revealed that over 300 professionals have been deployed to countries across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
“Since my appointment in August, we’ve deployed volunteers to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Jamaica, and other African nations. This programme was nearly dormant, but Mr President revived it with his strong foreign policy vision,” he noted.
Yakub disclosed that additional deployments are ongoing, with four nurses scheduled to depart for Jamaica and six medical doctors set to leave for Grenada on 9 July.
Discussions are also underway with Belize, the Dominican Republic, and the Director-General of the OECS to create a regional framework for further technical cooperation.
The TAC initiative has also shown potential beyond development assistance.
Yakub said, “Jamaica has formally requested 400 experts, who are willing to pay. Instead of importing labour from Asia, they want Nigerian professionals. We are exporting Nigeria’s human capital with dignity, creating opportunities for our people, and reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership across the Global South.
“One of our volunteers in Jamaica popularised Adire (Yoruba fabric design), which has become so popular that Jamaicans now produce it locally, calling it ‘Jadire’. They even export it to the United States. ”
President Tinubu addressed the Saint Lucia parliament on Monday, June 30, 2025.
President Tinubu has been on a state visit to Saint Lucia since Saturday as part of a two-nation tour of the Caribbean and South America.
On Monday, he addressed a special joint sitting of the Saint Lucian Senate and House of Assembly, where he announced a new scholarship scheme for OECS students to study in Nigerian universities from the next academic year.
He also proposed visa waivers for holders of diplomatic and official passports.
Bob Vylan are being investigated by London’s Metropolitan Police after lead singer Pascal Robinson-Foster called for ‘death to the IDF’ while performing at a London venue
Daniel Bird Assistant Celebrity and Entertainment Editor
Bob Vylan chanted ‘death to the IDF’ while performing in London(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
Bob Vylan are facing yet another police investigation after an anti-Israel outburst at a show in London. The punk rock duo who recently were criticised for their comments at Glastonbury Festival are currently being investigated by two police forces in different parts of the country.
Officers from London’s Metropolitan Police have confirmed to the Mirror that they are currently looking into footage, which is circulating on social media of the band following their performance at Alexandra Palace on May 28, 2025.
The band have been extremely vocal about their views in recent weeks, which has attracted widespread criticism after the BBC broadcast their set at Glastonbury and didn’t censor their comments. But while on stage at Alexandra Palace, frontman Pascal Robinson-Foster said: “Death to every single IDF soldier out there.
Bob Vylan are being investigated by London’s Met Police(Image: Getty Images)
“As an agent of terror for Israel, death to the IDF,” as fans in the crowd began cheering before they started performing another song. When approached by the Mirror, a spokesperson for the force said: “Officers are investigating comments allegedly made during a concert at Alexandra Palace earlier this year.
“The decision to investigate follows the emergence of footage which appears to have been filmed at the venue on 28 May 2025.” The news comes just days after Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that they had also launched a criminal investigation into the band after they chanted: “death, death to the IDF,” and commented on working for “f***ing Zionists,” during their performance on the West Holts stage at Glastonbury.
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The comments were made during Bob Vylan’s performance at Alexandra Palace in London(Image: Getty Images)
In a statement, the force said earlier this week: “Video footage and audio from Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s performances at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday has been reviewed.
“Following the completion of that assessment process we have decided further enquiries are required and a criminal investigation is now being undertaken.
“A senior detective has been appointed to lead this investigation. “This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our enquiries are at an early stage. The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes. “
They added: “We have received a large amount of contact in relation to these events from people across the world and recognise the strength of public feeling. There is absolutely no place in society for hate.
“Neighbourhood policing teams are speaking with people in their local communities and key stakeholders to make sure anyone who needs us knows that we are here for them. We hope the work we have carried out, and are continuing to carry out, reassures the public how seriously we are treating Saturday’s events. We politely ask the public refrain from continuing to report this matter to us because an investigation is already taking place. “
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Bob Vylan have since been dropped by both their agent and management, while their US visas have been revoked ahead of their upcoming tour across the States, and performances in the UK, including at Radar Festival, have also been pulled. Moments after their performance, Glastonbury bosses issued a statement, saying that they had been “appalled” by the comments and that the lead singer of Bob Vylan had “crossed a line. “
Since the controversy, the band have taken to social media, saying: “We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. We like those in the spotlight before us are not the story. We are a distraction from the story. We are being targeted for speaking up. Free Palestine. “
Atletico Madrid are willing to go all out to sign Tottenham and Argentina defender Cristian Romero, 27, and are willing to put a deal in place worth about £61m. (AS – in Spanish)
West Ham have rejected a £50m bid from Tottenham for Ghana forward Mohammed Kudus, 24. (Talksport)
Manchester United want £25m for Jadon Sancho, 25, with Juventus still interested in the England winger. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian)
Sancho is prepared to lower his wage demands to join the 36-time Serie A winners. (Eurosport Italia – in Italian)
Manchester United are stepping up their interest in Aston Villa and England striker Ollie Watkins, 29, and have held tentative talks with the Midlands club who want a fee of about £60m. (Mirror)
Napoli boss Antonio Conte is keen to sign Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman, 27, from Atalanta this summer. (La Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian)
Newcastle are aiming to tie up a deal for Burnley’s English goalkeeper James Trafford, 22, as early as next week and remain in talks with Nottingham Forest for Swedish winger Anthony Elanga, 23. (i paper)
Nice goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, 25, is set to join Saudi Arabian side Neom, despite Sunderland having a £12. 8m bid accepted for the Poland international. (Meczyki – in Polish)
Sunderland have turned their attention to signing Chelsea’s Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic, 25, but face competition from Aston Villa and Bournemouth. (Times)
The Black Cats are also nearing the capture of Union Saint-Gilloise’s DR Congo player Noah Sadiki, 20, who can play in defence or midfield. (Sunderland Echo)
Italy striker Ciro Immobile, 35, is to terminate his contract with Turkish club Besiktas and join Bologna on a free transfer. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian)
Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka and the end of London’s tropical heatwave have ensured that a sense of normality has returned to the lawns of Wimbledon on day three of the tournament after two sweat-soaked days of shocks.
A stream of big names – including Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev – have crashed and burned in the oven-like temperatures of the first round.
So when Alcaraz walked onto Centre Court on Wednesday in his quest for a third successive title against British qualifier Oliver Tarvet, the thought surely lurked somewhere in his mind that he could be the fall guy in the tournament’s greatest upset.
The 21-year-old second seed was not at his best, but after saving three break points in a nervy opening service game against a college student ranked 733rd in the world, he asserted his authority to win 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Tarvet in action against Alcaraz in the second round [Tim Clayton/Getty Images]
Sabalenka tops Bouzkova
Earlier on Centre Court, the women’s top seed, Sabalenka, battled to a 7-6(4), 6-4 win against Czech Marie Bouzkova.
“Honestly, it is sad to see so many upsets in the tournament in both draws, women’s and men’s,” Sabalenka, who is bidding for her first Wimbledon title, said.
“Honestly, I’m just trying to focus on myself. ”
Australian Open champion Madison Keys, the sixth seed, also made it safely into round three, beating Olga Danilovic 6-4, 6-2 while unseeded four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka eased past Czech doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 6-2.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during day three of the Wimbledon Championships [Marleen Fouchier/BSR Agency via Getty Images]
Lower temperatures did not mean an end to the surprises entirely, though, as American world number 12 Frances Tiafoe became the 14th of the 32 men’s seeds to depart, going down 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 to Cameron Norrie, one of seven British players in second-round singles action on day three.
Sonay Kartal led the home charge by beating Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova 6-2, 6-2 to book her place in the last 32 for the second year in succession.
There was disappointment, though, for Britain’s Katie Boulter, who served 14 double faults as she went down 6-7(9), 6-2, 6-1 to 101st-ranked Solana Sierra, the Argentinian who lost in qualifying but has seized her lucky loser spot with both hands.
Alcaraz congratulates Tarvet
Alcaraz, bidding to do the French Open-Wimbledon double for the second successive year, needed five sets to get past Italian veteran Fabio Fognini in the first round and set up an intriguing clash with Tarvet.
Tarvet, who plays on the United States collegiate circuit for the University of San Diego, said he believed he could beat anyone, even Alcaraz, after winning his Grand Slam debut match against fellow qualifier Leandro Riedi of Switzerland on Monday.
He was clearly not overawed at sharing a court with a five-time Grand Slam champion, and had he taken any of the eight break points he earned in the first set, it could have been closer.
Tarvet, left, at the net with Alcaraz on July 2, 2025 in London, England [Peter van den Berg/ISI Photos via Getty Images]
Alcaraz proved to be the better player on Wednesday, though, as he moved through the gears when required to keep an eager Tarvet under control.
Just as the Spaniard did in his first round when going to the aid of a female spectator suffering in the heat, Alcaraz again endeared himself to the Centre Court crowd.
“First of all, I have to give a big congratulations to Oliver. It’s his second match on the tour. I just loved his game to be honest, the level he played,” Alcaraz said.
Play on the courts without roofs was delayed for two hours by light morning rain, but once the clouds rolled away, the place to be for those without show-court tickets was Court 12 for Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca’s second-round match against American Jenson Brooksby.
The 18-year-old is widely tipped as a future challenger to Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and he showed exactly why during a 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 win that was celebrated by a large contingent of exuberant Brazilians.
Raducanu sets up Sabalenka tie
Facing a rival who has already experienced the joys of winning Wimbledon did not faze Emma Raducanu as the Briton rode out the “crazy pressure” heaped on her slender shoulders to defeat Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 6-3 in the second round.
In a battle between two Grand Slam champions, both unseeded after years of trials and tribulations, Czech Vondrousova would have fancied her chances of knocking out Britain’s big hope.
After all, the 2023 champion had arrived at the All England Club fresh from winning the grass-court title in Berlin with victories over Australian Open champion Madison Keys and world number one Sabalenka en route.
However, it was Raducanu whose game sparkled on Centre Court as she produced the kind of carefree, yet potent shots that had carried her to the US Open title in 2021.
“Today I played really, really well. There were some points that I have no idea how I turned around,” a delighted Raducanu told the crowd.
“I knew playing Marketa was going to be an incredibly difficult match. She has won this tournament, which is a huge achievement. I’m really pleased with how I played my game the whole way through. ”
Emma Raducanu of Britain runs up the court against Marketa Vondrousova of Czechia during their women’s singles second round match [Peter van den Berg/ISI Photos via Getty Images]
An eye-popping running backhand passing shot winner handed her the break for a 4-2 lead in the first set.
Although a sloppy service game gave Vondrousova the break back in the next game, the British number one wasted little time in regaining the advantage for a 5-3 lead after a forehand error from the Czech.
Moments later, thundering roars from the Centre Court crowd could be heard around the All England Club and beyond as Vondrousova surrendered the set with yet another miscued forehand.
Clearly unsettled, the errors started piling up for Vondrousova, who had previously admitted that she did not envy the “crazy pressure” Raducanu had to deal with day in and day out after becoming the first British woman to win a major in 44 years.
