10 killed, three missing in another Lagos boat accident (Nation)
At least 10 persons have been confirmed dead while three others were still missing after a boat capsized in Lagos.
The boat accident occurred around 5:45pm on Wednesday at Kirikiri, Apapa, less than 24 hours after 18 people cheated death in two boat accidents in Victoria Island.
It was gathered that Wednesday’s lone crash was as a result of an engine failure developed shortly after the boat left Kirikiri jetty for Badagry.
According to sources, there were 18 persons on board and five of them were rescued by Marine Police operatives.
Confirming the incident, Police spokesman Bala Elkana said 10 dead bodies were recovered and three people were still missing. Read more
Lagosians beg Sanwo-Olu to suspend LagBus fare hike (Guardian)
Some commuters in Lagos State have appealed to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reverse fares hike approved for Lagos Bus Service Ltd (LBSL) considering economic hardship facing the masses.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the LBSL, operator of the Marcopolo high-capacity buses in Lagos, had announced that the state government had given approval for an average of 46 per cent hike in fares with effect from Aug. 1.
About 24 hours to implementation of the new fares, some residents of the state urged the governor to consider the negative impact of COVID-19 on income, wages and salaries of the masses. Read more
Akeredolu meets Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, over Ondo election (Punch)
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, on Friday visited the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to make consultations over the October 10 governorship election.
The governor said he also presented his running mate in the election, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to the national leader.
Akeredolu, who stated this on his Twitter handle, noted that he was in company with an APC governorship aspirant, Olusegun Abraham, who later stepped down for him. Read more
Kano: 360 Islamic clerics pray against virus, insecurity (Nation)
At least 360 Islamic clerics and Imans on Friday prayed in Kano State for God to save Nigeria from insecurity and Covid-19.
The special prayer session, held in Government House, Kano, was organised by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, to mark the Arafat Day, in compliance with the Prophetic Tradition on how prayers are accepted by Allah (God).
The governor said more of such prayers will make the Coronavirus pandemic vanish in the country. Read more
Police detain cop over alleged rape of widow without face mask in Rivers (Vanguard)
The Police Command in Rivers says it has detained one of its officers accused of raping a 23-year-old widow.
The command’s spokesman, Mr Nnamdi Omoni, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Port Harcourt on Friday.
He said that the command had launched a full investigation into the rape allegation by inviting the victim and the Police officer and his team during the incident.
“The parties have provided useful statements to investigators.
“They were invited on Thursday and the matter is being investigated by detectives at the state Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Read more
Ekiti workers to begin three-day warning strike on Monday (Guardian)
The Organised Labour in Ekiti State has directed workers to proceed on a three-day warning strike beginning from Monday, August 3, over unresolved issues surrounding their unpaid salaries and other benefits.
This is as the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers has appealed to medical doctors currently on strike in the state to return to work, saying that would provide the conducive environment for the resolution of the dispute.
The impending strike, according to the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), was to pressure Governor Kayode Fayemi to pay the outstanding salaries, allowances and pension arrears of their members. Read more
Senate probes fresh multi-billion naira fraud in NDDC (Punch)
The Senate said it had received fresh fraud allegations against the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
The red chamber said the new financial infractions were not captured in the list of the allegation of N40bn reckless spending which a whistle-blower brought against the NDDC to the parliament recently.
The Senate said the fresh probe would be handled by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions. Read more
Edo 2020: My loyalty to Obaseki sacrosanct, says Shaibu (Vanguard)
The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has said his loyalty to Governor Godwin Obaseki is sacrosanct, even as he urged the public to disregard the ongoing propaganda that he is on warpath with his boss.
Shaibu accused former APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his protégé, Ize-Iyamu, of conducting their political affairs as a primitive war.
He described the allegation that he is on warpath with his boss over issue of funds as reckless, unguided and efforts to mislead people by those who are afraid of the unity that exists between him and his boss. Read more
Coronavirus: Boris Johnson postpones lockdown easing in England (BBC)
The further easing of lockdown restrictions in England – due to come in this weekend – has been postponed for at least two weeks, after an increase in coronavirus cases.
Casinos and bowling alleys will remain shut, as Boris Johnson said it was time to “squeeze the brake pedal”.
Face coverings will be mandatory in more indoor settings, such as cinemas.
England’s chief medical officer, Prof Chris Whitty, warned the UK may have hit its limits on easing restrictions. Read more
Three men charged in connection with celebrity Twitter hack (Aljazeera)
Two teenagers and a 22-year-old were charged with hacking the Twitter Inc accounts of famous people including former President Barack Obama, billionaire Bill Gates and Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk, the Department of Justice said on Friday.
Mason Sheppard, a 19-year-old British man who went by the alias Chaewon, was charged with carrying out the hack, as well as related wire fraud and money laundering crimes, according to a Justice Department statement.
Orlando, Florida-based Nima Fazeli, 22, nicknamed Rolex, was charged with aiding and abetting those crimes. Read more
Nicki Minaj’s husband can be there when baby’s born, says judge (TMZ)
Kenneth can be in the room when Nicki gives birth, a judge just granted his request to tweak his pre-trial release conditions so he can travel with Nicki.
With the court’s order in place, KP can travel with Nicki periodically on biz trips as her manager and be there when their baby’s born.
Nicki Minaj’s husband really wants to be there for the birth of the couple’s first child, a once-in-a-lifetime moment he might have to miss due to his pending criminal case.
Kenneth Petty just submitted legal docs, obtained by TMZ, begging the judge to modify the terms of his pretrial release conditions so he can travel with Nicki periodically on business as her manager and attend the upcoming birth of their baby.
Department of Justice. Read more
Trump says he will BAN TikTok in US within 24 hours (RT)
US President Donald Trump has vowed to prohibit the Chinese-owned video sharing platform TikTok in the United States, saying that he might do this via an executive order the next day, amid allegations of IP theft by Beijing.
“As far as TikTok is concerned, we’re banning them from the United States,” Trump told reporters on board Air Force One on Friday, according to NBC News, adding that he may do so as early as Saturday. Trump indicated that he might use an executive order or invoke emergency powers to effect the ban.
I have that authority. I can do it with an executive order or that. Read more
Taylor Swift’s Folklore debuts at number one in the UK (Metro)
Taylor Swift debuted at number one with her new album Folklore and we didn’t expect anything else.
The singer secured her fifth consecutive UK number one album and got 37,000 chart sales. The 30-year-old announced the album hours before dropping it and Taylor’s one of the few elite artists that can reach number one with a surprise project. From its first week, 67% came from streams while 33% from downloads, according to the Official Charts Company. Folklore is only available in digital formats until it gets a physical release later in the year. Read more
Boston Marathon bombing: Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s death sentence overturned (BBC)
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was found hiding in a boat four days after the bombing
A US appeals court has overturned the death sentence given to Dzhokhar Tsarnaev for the deadly bombing attack at the 2013 Boston Marathon.
Three people were killed and more than 260 injured when two bombs planted by Tsarnaev and his brother exploded at the finish line.
The court said Tsarnaev would spend the rest of his days in prison.
However, it ordered a retrial over the sentence for the crimes, which can carry the death penalty. Read more
All the winners from the TV Baftas 2020 – from Idris Elba and Sian Clifford to Strictly and Gavin and Stacey (Metro)
The 2020 TV Baftas are certainly one to remember, with the awards being given out virtually for the first time ever.
Richard Ayoade hosted the first ever socially distant awards, with the likes of Normal People’s Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones reuniting to present, and Jeff Goldblum leaving fans in stitches by rustling his notes on camera.
However, no pandemic was going to stop TV’s finest celebrating their hearts out, with the likes of Jodie Comer and Stephen Graham having a ball in their back gardens. Read more
Nigerian fans divided over Arsenal vs Chelsea FA Cup clash (Guardian)
Three years ago, Arsenal and Chelsea were involved in the FA Cup final, with the Gunners triumphing 2-1 for a record seventh crown.
Today, the attention of millions of football fans across the globe will be focused at the Wembley Stadium for another great contest between London rivals, Arsenal and Chelsea.
As usual, many Nigerian football fans, who are supporters of the two clubs are locked up in a ‘battle of jocularity’ baring their mind and laying claim to victory even before the game kicks off in London. Read more
Arsenal want to ‘save season’ by winning FA Cup – Lacazette (BBC)
Arsenal are excited about Saturday’s Heads Up FA Cup final against Chelsea because the players want to “save our season”, says Alexandre Lacazette.
The Gunners, who have won a record 13 FA Cups, finished eighth in the Premier League and will not qualify for the Europa League if they lose at Wembley.
“We missed a few of our targets,” said France striker Lacazette, 29.
Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and Chelsea’s Frank Lampard are both aiming to win first trophies as managers.
Lacazette added: “It’s been a weird year. We had the long stop, we changed manager [Arteta replaced Unai Emery in December], had different players. Read more
Napoli chief officially sets price for Man Utd and Liverpool transfer target Kalidou Koulibaly (Metro)
Napoli’s president Aurelio De Laurentiis has officially set Kalidou Koulibaly’s price, insisting the centre-back will not leave for less than £81million. Koulibaly has been attracting plenty of interest from these shores. Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City have all been tracking the centre-back, who is considered to be one of the best defenders in Europe. Napoli are open to letting him leave, however, De Laurentiis will not sell him cheaper than the club’s asking price – despite reports claiming he was willing to reduce his valuation. Read more
Federer eyes third Olympics medal at Tokyo (Nation)
Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer has admitted that a gold medal is at the top of his priority list for next year’s re-scheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner, who will be nearing his 40th birthday when the Olympic Games are held next summer, wasn’t too sure about his participation at the Games.
But the Swiss ace told SRFSport that he was still planning to compete at the Games and was targeting a third Olympic medal. Read more
Paris St-Germain beat Lyon in French League Cup final for another treble (BBC)
Paris St-Germain beat Lyon on penalties in the French League Cup final to seal a fourth domestic treble in six years.
It was the final French League Cup final, with the decision made last September to cancel the tournament after this season, and ended 0-0.
After the first 10 penalties were scored, PSG keeper Keylor Navas saved from Bertrand Traore before Pablo Sarabia scored the winning kick.
The game was watched by about 5,000 fans at the Stade de France. Read more
Flamengo hire former Guardiola assistant Torrent as coach (Guardian)
Domenec Torrent, a long-time assistant to Pep Guardiola, announced on Friday that he had signed with reigning Brazilian and South American champions Flamengo.
Torrent, 58, will take over the Rio de Janeiro club from Jorge Jesus, who recently announced he had signed with Portuguese club Benfica.
“I’m very happy to be part of this great nation. We’ll be looking to win titles,” Torrent said in a video posted on Instagram, wearing a Flamengo jersey. Read more