CAN directs churches to pray against plane crash (Punch)
The Christian Association of Nigeria has called on all churches and Christians in the country to pray against a “deadly plane crash.” The Secretary to the Conference of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Rt. Rev. Michael Akinwale, said this in a memo to its archbishops and bishops, dated August 1, 2019 and titled, ‘Request for urgent and immediate prayers to God against deadly plane crash in Nigeria.’ The document, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent, read, “The Christian Association of Nigeria President — His Eminence, Dr. Supo Ayokunle — has directed all churches to pray fervently against deadly plane crash in Nigeria. Read more
Police charge Nigerians N12,000 to use crime-reporting app (Punch)
Nigerians who wish to report cases of rape, kidnapping, murder or incidents such as road accidents through the newly inaugurated Police VGS Mobile App must pay N12, 000 before they can do so, The PUNCH has learnt. Recall that the Nigeria Police Force had, in a promotional video on its Twitter handle on June 2, 2019, said the app would go a long way in reducing the crime rate. Read more
How corruption fuels insecurity, by Magu (Nation)
The Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu, has said there is a strong link between corruption and the growing insecurity across the country. The EFCC chief said the need for concerted efforts in fighting the scourge is non-negotiable, if the country’s peace must be restored. Magu spoke in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, while featuring on the University of Ibadan (UI) Diamond 101.1 FM during the agency’s weekly programme of the agency, “Eagle Alert”. Read more
Food self-sufficiency, focus of my administration —Buhari (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said that the policy of his administration would be focused on how to make Nigeria agriculturally self-sufficient. Via his verified Twitter handle, Buhari pointed out that the country’s population makes it imperative that Nigeria stops depending on food importation. He said, “A country with a population of close to 200 million has to be able to feed itself. We cannot rely on importing food. This is why one of our priorities as a government is growing the food we eat. Our policies will continue to be focused on agricultural self-sufficiency.” Read more
Northwest governors grant amnesty to cattle rustlers, others (Nation)
Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State has said that cattle rustlers and arm bandits have been granted amnesty by the Northwest governors as part of measures to restore peace in the zone. Masari made the disclosure in a communiqué read at the end of a one day security and reconciliation meeting with security agents, vigilante and volunteer groups, herdsmen and farmers on Thursday in Katsina. Read more
Army inaugurates four mine-resistant vehicles (Punch)
The Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, on Thursday inaugurated four locally-manufactured Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles for the Nigerian Army. This is to aid the war against insurgency in the Northeast and Northwest zones of the country. The vehicles which were manufactured by Proforce, a specialist in the manufacturing of Amoured Personnel Carriers, Mine Resistant and Ambush Protected vehicles, was in collaboration with the Nigerian Army. Read more
Revolution message: Amnesty Nigeria is on watch list —Official (Punch)
The Presidency has placed a rights group, Amnesty International Nigeria, under security watch, The PUNCH learnt on Thursday. The organisation is being watched to determine its interest in a nationwide “revolution” protest being planned for August 5 and being promoted through the hashtag #RevolutionNow. A competent government source disclosed this to our Correspondent on the condition of anonymity. Read more
ICPC recovers six tractors from Senator Misau (Nation)
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered six tractors from a former Senator, Isa Hamman Misau. The tractors were meant for the use of farmers in six local government areas of Bauchi Central Senatorial District. But the farming equipment were not delivered to the farmers as indicated in the Constituency Projects credited to Sen. Misau. Read more
NAHCON urges pilgrims to concentrate on worship (Punch)
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has again advised Nigerian pilgrims to concentrate on acts of worship while in Saudi Arabia, which is their primary purpose for embarking on Hajj. The commission counselled the pilgrims to follow instructions of their respective pilgrims’ welfare boards or Tour Operator Companies, as the case may be, in their own interest. A statement by the NAHCON’s Head of Public Affairs, Hajia Fatima Usara, also admonished them to abide by rules and regulations of Saudi Arabia, especially on crowd control. Read more
Gunmen raid UniUyo female hostel (Nation)
Gunmen raided a female hostel in the Town Campus of the University of Uyo late on Wednesday, dispossessing students of money and other valuables. The incident, which occurred at W6 Hostel on the campus, is coming few days after some female students were attacked by bandits in one of the hostels. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the hoodlums went from room to room dispossessing students of their belongings. Read more
Native doctor jailed 21 years for raping, impregnating daughter (Nation)
An Evboriaria Chief Magistrates’ Court in Benin, on Thursday, sentenced a 52-year-old native doctor, Jacob Alonge, to 21 years imprisonment without option of fine for raping and impregnating his teenage daughter. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Dorothy Adamaigbo, convicted the defendant over three-count charge of repeated sexual assault, fetish wrap of the girl’s pubic hair, raping and impregnating her. Read more
Mogadishu mayor dies of injuries after Al-Shabaab attack (Punch)
The mayor of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu has died of wounds sustained in a militant bombing attack on his office last month, the government said on Thursday. Mayor Abdirahman Omar Osman died while doctors were treating his wounds at a hospital in Doha, a spokesman for the Somali president’s office said. Six people were killed and Osman was seriously wounded in the July 24 attack on a government building claimed by Al-Shabaab jihadists to have been targeting a UN envoy. Read more
Six children killed by lightning in Guinea (Punch)
Six children aged between four and 10 died after they were struck by lightning while making tea under a mango tree in north-eastern Guinea on Wednesday, a witness said. The storm began shortly before 7:00 pm (1900 GMT) in the town of Siguiri, close to the border with Mali, witness Mamadi Doumbouya, a local resident, told AFP. He said eight children in total, accompanied by two of their mothers, were under a mango tree at the back of his house. Read more
Trump to impose more tariffs on Chinese goods (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has announced fresh tariffs of 10% on another $300bn of Chinese products from 1 September. The move is the latest salvo in an escalating trade war between the two countries. It came after the latest round of bilateral talks showed little sign of a breakthrough. Investors reacted to the news with dismay. On Wall Street, the Dow Jones share index fell sharply, tumbling about 1%. Read more
US Congress reaches deal to avert budget showdown (BBC)
The US Senate has approved a two-year federal budget deal that includes big spending increases. The bill, which has already been passed by the House of Representatives, will suspend government borrowing limits until the end of July 2021. It has yet to be signed by President Donald Trump, who campaigned for it despite opposition from conservatives. Lawmakers said it would avert a budget crisis in the run-up to next year’s presidential election. Read more
North Korea launches third ‘projectile’ in eight days (BBC)
North Korea has fired unidentified short-range projectiles twice, South Korean officials say, in the country’s third weapons test in just over a week. The projectiles were launched from an area on the country’s eastern coast early on Friday. The launches are seen as a reaction to planned military exercises between South Korea and the US due this month. Read more
Alexandra Macesanu: Romanian girl’s ‘calls for help released by family’ (BBC)
The family of a 15-year-old Romanian girl whose kidnapping has provoked public uproar has released transcripts purporting to be her pleas for help while she was being abducted. Alexandra Macesanu, who disappeared last Wednesday west of the capital, Bucharest, called police three times during her kidnapping. By the time a search was launched, 19 hours later, she was presumed dead. Read more
Indonesia’s Aceh whips 11 for sharia-banned romance (Guardian)
One woman begged for mercy and another sobbed uncontrollably as Indonesia’s Aceh province flogged nearly a dozen people Thursday, including a Buddhist man, charged with breaking local Islamic law. Despite widespread criticism, public whipping is a common punishment for a range of offences in the deeply conservative region at the tip of Sumatra island, including gambling, drinking alcohol, and having gay sex or relations outside of marriage. Aceh is the only region in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country that imposes Islamic law. Read more
Mum, 23, guilty of murdering two daughters for ‘getting in the way’ of sex life (Metro)
A callous mother has been convicted of murdering her two young daughters because they ‘got in the way’ of her sex life. Louise Porton, 23, denied killing 17-month-old Scarlett Vaughan and Lexi Draper, three, but was found guilty by a unanimous jury after a five week trial. Jurors heard how when Lexi was ill in hospital, a week before her death, Porton took topless photos in the toilets and was arranging to perform sex acts for money with a man she met online. Read more
Corine Bastide: Belgian woman tells of 6-day crash ordeal (BBC)
A Belgian woman found alive after being trapped in her car for six days during the recent heatwave has spoken out about her ordeal. Corine Bastide, 45, disappeared near Liège on 23 July, two days before temperatures reached 41.7C. Her car had swerved into a ditch in a remote area, injuring her spine and leaving her unable to exit the car. Though severely dehydrated, she remained conscious and survived by drinking rainwater. Read more
Wilfried Zaha ‘likes’ Instagram post confirming Nicolas Pepe’s move to Arsenal (Metro)
Wilfried Zaha has reacted to Nicolas Pepe’s move from Lille to Arsenal by ‘liking’ a post on Instagram announcing the £72million transfer. Pepe’s big-money switch makes him Arsenal’s record signing and the 24-year-old forward also becomes the most expensive African footballer in the history of the game. The Gunners have been eager to bring in a winger since the start of the summer and after their £40m bid for Zaha was rejected, the club turned to Pepe, a player who took Ligue 1 by storm last season. Read more
Wolves ease into Europa League qualifier win over Crusaders (BBC)
Wolves progressed to the Europa League third qualifying round after a 4-1 victory over Crusaders in Belfast secured a 6-1 aggregate win. Ryan Bennett’s own goal gave the Irish League hosts hope but Raul Jimenez quickly fired in an equaliser. Bennett made amends with a powerful header to make it 2-1 and Jimenez added the third courtesy of a sweet strike. Jordan Forsythe’s own goal in a low-key second half sealed the win with Armenia’s Pyunik next up for Wolves. Read more
What Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer previously said about Paulo Dybala transfer (Metro)
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted earlier this year that he would jump at the chance to sign Paulo Dybala if the Juventus forward became available to Manchester United. Dybala, 25, is currently mulling over a move to United in an audacious swap deal which would see Romelu Lukaku, 26, head in the opposite direction to Turin. Earlier this week, Dybala’s agent caught a flight to London to talk over personal terms with United. The attacker only managed five league goals for Juve last term and has played second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo since the Portuguese’s arrival from Real Madrid. Read more
Tottenham resume talks to sign Manchester United target Bruno Fernandes (Metro)
Tottenham have reportedly sent club officials to enquire about Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes, a long-term target for Manchester United. Spurs finally broke their 18-month transfer drought last month, completing deals for Leeds’ Jack Clarke and Lyon’s Tanguy Ndombele for a combined total of £75million. But now Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy looks set to open his chequebook once again, if the club can agree a fee for highly rated midfielder Fernandes. Read more
Celtic captain Scott Brown reveals how Kieran Tierney has reacted to Arsenal transfer speculation (Metro)
Celtic captain Scott Brown claims that Kieran Tierney has brushed off rumours linking him with Arsenal and is solely focused on returning to training ahead of the new season. Unai Emery identified Tierney as his priority left-back target at the start of the summer, but Arsenal’s two opening bids for the 22-year-old left-back were turned down by Celtic. Read more
Max Verstappen: Red Bull driver not thinking about title (BBC)
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has rejected claims he is favourite for Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix and a potential title contender. The Dutchman has won two of the last three races and is 62 points behind leader Lewis Hamilton with 10 races to go. “I don’t think we are favourites but we will try to do a good job,” Verstappen said. “With Mercedes having had such a dominant start to the season, it is really hard to catch them. We are going to try but I am not thinking about the title.” Read more
Women’s British Open: Charley Hull makes strong start (BBC)
England’s Charley Hull started strongly at the Women’s British Open at Woburn in her bid to win a first major title. Hull, 23, shot a five-under-par 67 on her home course, two shots adrift of the clubhouse leader Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa. Japan’s Hinako Shibuno and Danielle Kang of the USA sit one shot behind Buhai on six under. Hull’s compatriot Georgia Hall began her title defence with a bogey-free first-round 69. Read more