Archive June 21, 2025

Kano Gov Promises To Rebuild Fire-Ravaged Farm Centre GSM Market

Following recent devastation from devastating fire outbreaks, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has announced a $ 2 billion redevelopment plan for the Farm Centre GSM Market in a bold attempt to revive one of Kano’s most important commercial hubs.

Governor Yusuf stated during a visit to the market on Friday that the investment would not only repair the area’s damaged but also modernize and expand it to better serve its tens of thousands of customers.

In a speech addressed to traders and market leaders gathered at the site, the governor said, “This intervention is not just a response to the tragic fire incident, but it is also a strategic move to strengthen our economy, create jobs, and make Kano a key player in regional trade.”

The market community greeted the governor while senior government officials were present. His spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, later confirmed the information in a statement.

Also read: In the Kano explosion, five people were killed and ten were hurt.

Modern infrastructure, expansion of the market, and fire recovery

The ambitious redevelopment project, according to Governor Yusuf, includes the reconstruction of the burned-out areas, the acquisition of land for market expansion, and the construction of a fully-equipped fire station.

The governor also disclosed plans to improve drainage, the rehabilitation of internal roads, the installation of solar-powered streetlights, and the construction of a pedestrian bridge to ease congestion.

According to Yusuf, “We are building a future-proof trading center as well as a market.” We want this market to be a hub for international trade, a gateway to opportunities beyond our borders, and connected to our neighbors.

Increased Dedicated Management and Security

In order to ensure accountability and smooth operations, the state government, he added, will establish a distinct management structure for the GSM Market. He urged consumers to collaborate with law enforcement to stop more phone theft and minor theft.

“We are also making investments in people’s safety as well as infrastructure.” He remarked that doing business here must make traders and customers feel secure.

Government support is applauded by market leaders

Jamilu Gama, the head of the Farm Center GSM Market, praised the government’s response as being timely and profoundly comforting.

Our traders are “overjoyed with gratitude.” He said, “This sends a clear message that our struggles are not unabated.” “We lost a lot to the fire, but we still feel optimistic today.”

He noted that over 39, 000 youth are directly employed by the market, which spans 20 plazas and is a major hub for mobile phones and tech services, making it one of the area’s largest informal technology-based job centers.

Future Plans and Youth Empowerment

Governor Yusuf also reaffirmed the importance of youth empowerment in his administration, pointing out that the state’s 26 vocational training centers would continue to train young people in crucial skills.

Eight killed after hot air balloon catches fire, crashes in Brazil

In Santa Catarina, Brazil’s southern state, a hot air balloon carrying eight people caught fire and crashed, killing at least eight people and injuring 13 others.

In the city of Praia Grande, the tourism balloon carrying 21 people caught fire in the early hours of Saturday. on the Atlantic coast, according to Santa Catarina’s military fire brigade.

Local news outlet G1 shared footage of the balloon’s descent, which emitted billows of smoke as it soared hundreds of meters toward the ground.

According to firefighters, the survivors were taken to nearby hospitals.

We are mingling,” he declared. There has been a tragic incident. We’ll find out how it develops, what transpired, and why. However, it’s crucial for the state structure to take action right away, according to Jorginho Mello, the governor of Santa Catarina, in a video posted on X.

Mello stated that he had requested that the authorities travel to the municipality “to do as much as possible to rescue, to assist, to take to hospital, to comfort the families.”

During the June celebrations that honor Catholic saints like St. John, whose feast day is June 24, a common destination for hot-air ballooning is Praia Grande.

Love Island star Shaughna Phillips stuns fans with before and after weight loss photos

Fans have been enthralled by former Love Island contestant Shaughna Phillips’ impressive transformation, which she has been doing herself for the summer thanks to a strict fitness and diet.

Shaughna Phillips stunned fans with her body transformation(Image: FILE)

Shaughna Phillips, the star of Love Island, received glowing reviews from her admirers for her incredible body transformation. The reality star, 31, first gained notoriety in the year 2020 when she appeared on the sixth season of the ITV show.

Before being dumped from the island, Shaughna spent more than four weeks in the villa, and in the years since has gained a following for her no-nonsense approach to beauty and social media. The mother-of-one has avoided touching up her images despite the fact that many reality stars resort to surgery or apply bulky filters to their photos to create the illusion of their appearance.

The actress has since gained more praise for displaying her figure in impressive before and after photos, which show how severely she exercised and altered her body shape. In both of the photos, the ITV star shared on Instagram, posing solely in her underwear.

Shaughna was posing in front of the camera in the previous photo while holding her arms by her side and exchanging a warm smile. Her pose appeared more confident, and her body toned up, as revealed in the follow-up photos.

Let the record be known, despite my recent dress down, I will always adore a high-waistful full brief, she wrote in detail about her transformation.

Shaughna Phillips stunned fans with her body transformation
The star posed for before and after photos on social media(Image: Instagram/shaughnaphillips/shaughnasshreditplan)
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However, my Shreditplan nutrition and exercise program has a NEW OFFER for you if you want to switch out your full briefs for a cheeky Brazilian (the knicker, not a man). The cost of the 4-month plan is now 50% off, or 50%. That costs less than a latte a week, according to the calculations.

The fans could then be given exact training and support if they agreed to the agreement, according to Shaughna. She stated that fans could anticipate “12 minute combat workouts that can be completed throughout the day.” A diet that doesn’t feel like a diet (yes, we have alcohol and beige food on it)

She added that participants could receive group support sessions and that there would also be vegetarian and vegan options. Your summer shred begins now, she concluded her post.

Shaughna Phillips stunned fans with her body transformation
Shaughna found fame on Love Island in 2020(Image: ITV)

Fans praised the transformation of the reality star in the comments section. You look amazing, one person said, “You did so well.” You really look amazing, another wrote. I’m so drawn to sign up.

Along with red heart emojis, a fan said, “U look amazing. Another fan wrote, “You look happy with your new body, that’s all that matters lovely.”

Fans expressed concern for Shaughna’s altercation earlier this year, with many speculating that she may have taken weight-loss medications.

However, she hit back at the suggestion, telling The Mirror: “I love food way too much,” to ever even consider suppress her appetite with a ‘fad’ like weight loss jabs.

Shaughna has completely transformed herself in recent years
Shaughna has completely transformed herself in recent years(Image: Instagram)

Every other year, there is a new trend. After I have lost weight, it just so happens that this is the current fad. The good news is that it just happened while I was expecting my daughter Lucia, and everyone was complaining about it. Everyone would have been saying I had a BBL or some other amazing liposuction that had completely transformed my appearance had it been a few years prior, “she shared.

She continued, “I can’t help how people perceive me because we’re in the Ozempics right now.” I think Ozempic has an anti-eating effect, and those are not recent. It’s essentially a new name for a process that produces the same outcomes.

Everyone is freaking out over this because it has been around for 20 or 30 years. It’s just another pharmaceutical company that has been able to market it in this innovative way. Mark my words: it will be something else in a few years.

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However, it should be noted that Ozempic is not merely a weight-loss injection because it is intended to treat type 2 diabetes by causing an unintended side effect.

Wicked’s Jonathan Bailey ‘risked being seconds from death’ filming Jurassic World Rebirth

Jonathan Bailey, a star in Bridgerton and Scarlett Johansson, will appear in the new movie alongside Mahershala Ali and Scarlett Johansson.

Jonathan Bailey has spoken about working on Jurassic World Rebirth(Image: Kate Green / Getty Images)

Actor Jonathan Bailey has teased that he risked his life whilst working on Jurassic World Rebirth. He’s revealed that he filmed alongside potentially lethal snakes for his role but shared his excitement over the experience.

Jonathan, 37 – known for his roles in Bridgerton and more recently Wicked – said he was told that the serpents could kill him within seconds on the set of the Jurassic World film, which is set to be released next month. He’s shared that he was instructed on safety measures to avoid a fatal encounter.

As reported by the Daily Star, Jonathan recalled: “When you’re making a movie, you want to feel the world of the movie as much as possible.” He went on to say that he worked on scenes in snake-infested waters for the project.

He continued, “And my gosh, do you feel it in snake-infested waters? Snake wranglers are positioned to protect you, but they also say things like “be careful around this one.” In ten seconds, if you get bit, you die.

Bechir Sylvain, Jonathan Bailey and Scarlett Johansson in a river filming a scene for Jurassic World Rebirth.
Jonathan Bailey (centre), pictured with co-stars Bechir Sylvain (left) and Scarlett Johansson (right), stars in the Jurassic World Rebirth(Image: Jasin Boland/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment via AP)

He remarked, “That kind of moment speaks to the visceral thrills that Jurassic movies are all about,” and that he was excited about joining the franchise. That kind of experience on a set was unlike anything I’ve ever had. I hope the movie matches its excitement and that it was all very exciting.

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Jonathan suggested that he didn’t shy away from stunts whilst on location in Thailand. Describing one intense scene from the production, as reported by the outlet, he said that his “inner child” was “screaming with delight”.

He said, “We had to film a scene where my character must pull someone back into a boat because she’s falling off the side.” My inner child, who wasn’t all that inner, was just screaming with delight as I had water cannons blasting at me and the boat flipping around.

Jonathan stars as palaeontologist Dr Henry Loomis in Jurassic World Rebirth, which is the seventh instalment in the long-running film franchise that previously starred Chris Pratt. He leads the cast with Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali.

Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey stood at a desk together for a scene from Jurassic World Rebirth.
He’s spoken about working on the film ahead of its release and shared his excitement over joining the long-running franchise(Image: Jasin Boland/Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment via AP)

Jonathan has stated that he enjoyed getting to play the character. He remarked about his role in Jurassic World Rebirth, saying, “It was very enjoyable to play Henry, who embodies our deepest admiration for nature.”

This is Jonathan’s most recent prominent role in his career. He has appeared in Wicked (2024) as Fiyero Tigelaar in recent years. In Wicked: For Good (2025), which is scheduled to be released in November, he will reprise his role.

Jonathan is also known for playing Lord Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix series Bridgerton. The show launched on the streaming platform in 2020 and his character was the focus of the second season, which aired in 2022.

He teases that he has long been a fan of Jurassic Park after being first introduced to the series as a child. He claimed that my parents had made a questionable decision because I was five when my family took me to Jurassic Park. It was a sumptuous escapist delight because the characters were so vivid.

This story, do you like? Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Threads for more latest news and gossip.

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READ MORE: Katie Loxton’s best-selling Ryanair-approved Milan cabin bag is finally back in stock

Unwell Draper loses but ‘wouldn’t have pulled out for anything’

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Jiri Lehecka’s defeat of Jack Draper’s chances of winning Queen’s ended his reign as British number one after he was defeated in a thrilling semi-final while battling tonsillitis.

The 23-year-old lost 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 to a friend who had suffered from a few days of illness, but he said he “wouldn’t have pulled out for anything” as he pursued a childhood dream to reach the final on home soil.

After falling behind in the first set, Draper had recovered and faced his Czech opponent in the third.

However, Lehecka’s crucial break, 5-5, caused Draper to smash his racquet into the advertising swag because he was aware of how detrimental that would be to his chances.

Lehecka won the matchup in west London, and it proved as he did as he advanced to the final on Sunday against top seed Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4.

Lehecka, the world’s number 30, will reach his fifth ATP Tour final, but the wait is on his record-equaling British singles champion since Andy Murray, the most recent winner, in 2016.

Before resuming his preparations for Wimbledon, which begins on June 30th, Draper will now take a few days off.

Draper, who was given tonsillitis on Friday, described today as “probably the worst I have felt.”

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Draper can take comfort from a powerful run.

As Wimbledon draws near, Draper can be encouraged by his overall performance, despite the disappointment he felt when he didn’t make it to the final, something he had a dream of as a child.

His passage to the last four ensures that he enters the tournament in good health and that he will avoid defending champion Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner until at least the semi-finals as one of the top four seeds.

Lehecka’s serve was a potent weapon in the first set, but Draper’s turn came as he began to find ways to defeat his rival with some incredible shots.

A tense moment came when Draper and the audience questioned whether a winner at set point had been landed in before the automated line call had confirmed it, which sparked a roar from the British player and the Andy Murray Arena crowd.

Lehecka then appeared to be under a lot of pressure, but he did well, making Draper vulnerable in the decisive before a big backhand winner in the eleventh game gave him the match-deciding break and made the Briton scream out in frustration on his racquet.

Draper described his racquet-smashing as “I don’t condone that behavior, but at the same time, that’s kind of where I was today.”

“I was attempting to make the best use of it.” I made an effort to compete for every ball. However, ultimately, anger simply poured over a little too much.

Getty Images

He will be “one of the Wimbledon favorites” says he.

Before Draper devotes all of his time to advancing beyond his previous best efforts at Wimbledon, where he will be regarded as the greatest British hope in the men’s draw, Draper now has a short break before he begins to focus on doing so.

Although he has never advanced past the second round of the tournament, his current form suggests that this year there is a good chance of him winning the Grand Slam.

Jamie Murray, a multi-Grand Slam winner and Queen’s tournament director, told BBC Sport, “He is an amazing competitor.”

He moves incredibly well despite being big. He has a left hand that, unlike right-handers, will not be able to use in defensive situations.

We are anticipating a fantastic Wimbledon for him because he is having an amazing year.

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‘Grass-court mode activated’

Alcaraz comfortably defeated fellow rival Bautista Agut in the second semi-final at Queen’s Club to advance to the final.

Alcaraz is likely to win the matchup when he launches his bid for a third successive Wimbledon title later this month, having already won four titles this year.

The 22-year-old has won 17 games in a row in Barcelona, breaking their longest winning streak since April 20.

After winning the Rome Open and French Open in 2023, he will now look for a second Queen’s title.

Making the Queen’s final is very special because I’m trying to feel more at ease. Alcaraz said, “I guess grass-court mode is on.”

I always try to do the things that make me smile when I play tennis the best, so I just try to do that.

In the opening game, Bautista Agut was on the back foot and had to save two break points.

Alcaraz, the second-ranked player in the blazing heat, found the crucial break in Bautista Agut’s next service match.

After dropping his racquet low to the grass to volley a drop shot winner, he sealed the opening set with possibly the match’s shot, earning his opponent a wry smile.

Alcaraz threatened a second break early in the second set, but Bautista Agut, 37, held her ground as the oldest player in Queen’s men’s singles draw this year, held on.

Alcaraz kept his foot on the gas in the fifth game and earned a break, as was the case in the first set.

However, the top seed was required to defend break point when leading 4-3 before proceeding to the championship with a forehand winner in an hour and 30 minutes.

Carlos Alcaraz holds up his fistGetty Images

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ECOWAS Crisis Not A Hindrance To Regional Integration — President Talon

Despite the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)’s current crisis, President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin has demanded that West Africa’s region be further integrated.

President Talon reaffirmed that the current political and institutional difficulties facing ECOWAS should not prevent it from advancing its regional integration agenda during his speech at the West Africa Economic Summit on Saturday in Abuja.

He claimed that the summit is appropriate because our region is bringing us together for integration. ECOWAS is a prime example of regional cooperation, but sadly, it is in crisis. However, this shouldn’t prevent us from pursuing further integration.

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which was established earlier in the year, was formed by Mali, Burkinabe, and Nigeria, which abruptly departed from the regional bloc.

However, Talon emphasized that the stakeholder’s collective will and leadership accountability are key factors in achieving meaningful integration.

Our biggest obstacle is not our inability to realize our ideas, but rather our inability to do so. Leaders are tasked with turning ideas into reality, he said, from ministers to ministers and government bodies.

Read more about ECOWAS’s obligation to keep its door open to Niger, Mali, Burkinabe, and Boakai, the country’s regional leaders.

Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria and the head of ECOWAS, was commended by the Beninese leader for his efforts to bring regional unity to the attention of the region.

He argued, however, that more extensive regional and international support is required to support these efforts.

Talon also cited language barriers, border delays, and underperforming infrastructure as major obstacles to regional trade and integration.

It takes more than a day to get to Abidjan, despite significant investments, checkpoints, and border harassment on the Lagos-Abidjan road. He lamented that a businessperson could accomplish that in a short amount of time.

He warned that poverty will continue to prevent the region’s development unless these issues are addressed.