Family of six, relative die in their sleep in Lagos (Guardian)
A family of six and a relative who came visiting Olowora Street in Oshodi, Lagos State have been reported dead. A man identified as Kasim Sakariyau, an electrician until his death, his four children, pregnant wife and the relative are suspected to be killed by insecticide or what an eyewitness referred to as “fleet poison”. Neighbours had observed that none of the family members had stepped out and the door to their one-room apartment locked, prompting them to forcefully open the door. Read more
Xenophobia: African politicians responsible for youths’ miserable situation —Ezekwesili (Punch)
A former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, has berated African politicians, saying they are responsible for the “miserable situation that is not worthy of the young people that hold them responsible for their fate.” The ex-presidential candidate of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria in the February 2019 general election also discussed the problem of xenophobic violence between African communities and the damage that it will have on economies if not remedied. Read more
Sue South Africa for xenophobic victims’s compensation, Falana tells FG (Punch)
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), on Wednesday, asked the Federal Government to sue the South Africa Government to demand compensation for Nigerian victims of the xenophobic attack in the foreign country. The senior lawyer, who is the National Chairman of Peoples Alternative Front, wants the South African government sued in the courts of the country which owed its liberation from apartheid rule to the supports of Nigeria and many other African nations. Read more
Nigeria pulls out of WEF holding South Africa (Guardian)
Nigeria has pulled out of the World Economic Forum holding in Cape Town, South Africa, days after it said it was going to take “definitive measures” on the xenophobic attacks on her citizens in the country. “Nigerian government has boycotted the World Economic Forum holding in Cape Town, South Africa,” President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide on New Media Bashir Ahmad said on Wednesday. “Some individuals from Nigeria including a former Minister are attending on their own.” Read more
Lagos to reintroduce monthly sanitation, restriction (Punch)
The Lagos State Government on Wednesday informed residents that the enabling law to permit the reintroduction of monthly sanitation is on the way. The government’s resolve was made known by the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tunji Bello, during a stakeholders’ meeting with Association of Commodity Market Women and Men, led by the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs. Folasade Tinubu-Ojo. Read more
Police cordon off Owerri Shoprite (Punch)
The police in Imo State have cordoned off the Shoprite Complex in Owerri following rumours that angry youths were planning to attack it. This is even as the management of Shoprite Owerri has shut down the business outfit over the fear of being attacked. This is coming as Nigerian are protesting the killing of Nigerians in South Africa. Read more
Okorocha, wife, daughter to forfeit assets to EFCC (Punch)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says it has obtained orders for the interim forfeiture of assets traced to a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha; his wife, Nneoma Nkechi, and their daughter. The Head, Enugu Zonal Office of the commission, Mr. Usman Imam, disclosed this on Wednesday in Enugu while briefing newsmen on the activities of the commission in the last eight months. Read more
Shooting at primary election shows PDP do-or-die politics, says Bello (Guardian)
Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello Wednesday said the violent disruption of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary election was an expression of the party’s ideology for a ‘do-or-die’ politics. Bello expressed disappointment with the shootings at Lokoja Confluence Stadium. He stated that such acts were an affront to the security of lives and properties. Read more
How I was kidnapped -Ex-Enugu lawmaker (Punch)
The National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Sunday Udeh-Okoye, on Wednesday, revealed how he was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. Udeh-Okoye, who has regained his freedom said he was abducted on Monday around 5:00 p.m. He stated that he was ambushed and attacked by hooded gunmen, who, he said shot at his car and abducted him and one of his staff. Read more
Xenophobic attack: Police beef up security in Enugu (Punch)
The Police Command in Enugu State has beefed up security in the state over possible reprisal attacks by residents of Enugu State and its environs on South African businesses. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Ebere Amaraizu, told News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Enugu State that the command had increased patrol in the state, especially within Enugu metropolis. Read more
Business leaders urge SA’s Ramaphosa to reform faster (Guardian)
South African business leaders on Wednesday urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to push through reforms faster to lift the economy and curb investment outflows, as executives and policymakers gathered for a continental economic summit. Frustration is building in Africa’s most industrialised economy. Ramaphosa has promised sweeping reforms, but growth remains below 1 per cent a year and investors dumped 63 billion rands of South African assets this year. Read more
Pope heads to Mozambique to help consolidate peace (Guardian)
Pope Francis heads to Mozambique on Wednesday to encourage the country’s fragile peace, starting a three-nation African tour where climate change, poverty and corruption will also be high on the agenda. The former Portuguese colony emerged from 15 years of civil war in 1992 but it was only in August that President Filipe Nyusi of the ruling Frelimo party and the leader of the Renamo opposition, Ossufo Momade, signed a permanent ceasefire. With elections scheduled for October, some fear violence may break out. Read more
Hurricane Dorian: Scale of Bahamas devastation emerges (BBC)
Rescuers have begun to reach areas of the northern Bahamas devastated by Hurricane Dorian, with aerial images showing a trail of destruction. PM Hubert Minnis said some areas had been “decimated” and expected the current death toll of seven would rise. The hurricane winds that hit the Abaco Islands equalled the highest ever recorded at landfall, and Grand Bahama also suffered severe damage and floods. Read more
Hong Kong withdraws extradition bill after months of violent protests (Metro)
Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam said she will formally withdraw the extradition bill after months of demands from protesters. The bill would have allowed people in Hong Kong to be sent to mainland China if they were suspected of a crime. Ms Lam said the decision would allow the city to move forward from a ‘highly vulnerable and dangerous place’. Read more
Brexit: MPs voting on bill to block no-deal (BBC)
MPs are voting a bill that could block a no-deal Brexit – and trigger the PM to seek a general election. Opposition MPs and Tory rebels won a vote on Tuesday to let them take over Parliament and propose their bill. If approved, it would mean Boris Johnson would have to seek an extension to 31 October Brexit deadline if a deal had not been agreed with the EU. Read more
Mum, 23, helps police catch paedophile who stole her identity to lure underage girl (Metro)
A young mum helped snare a paedophile who stole her social media profile and used it to exchange sexual messages with a underage girl. Kirk Gibson took Alice Rutherford-Hyde’s name and pictures from her Snapchat account and posed as a lesbian on social media. His teenage victim had no idea she was actually talking to a 31-year-old man who subjected her to weeks of grooming and persuaded her to share intimate pictures. Read more
Italy’s Conte set to unveil new cabinet (Guardian)
Italy’s incoming Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte was expected Wednesday to present a new government of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and former centre-left foes after nearly a month of crisis. Conte is set to see President Sergio Mattarella and unveil his new cabinet before the ministers are sworn in, bringing to an end a period of political turmoil sparked last month by the collapse of the country’s populist coalition. Read more
Five Chinese tourists die as bus crashes in New Zealand (Punch)
Five Chinese tourists died after a tour bus crashed near popular New Zealand tourist destination, Rotorua on Wednesday, the Police said. Bay of Plenty Police Inspector, Brent Crowe, said in a news conference there were 27 people on board the bus and of those five were killed as a result of the crash. Read more
Stanford sexual assault: Chanel Miller reveals her identity (BBC)
She was known as Emily Doe when her victim impact statement, read out in the sexual assault trial of Brock Turner, went viral. Now, she has revealed her identity as 27-year-old Chanel Miller as she prepares to have her memoir published. The case sparked controversy when Turner, then a Stanford University student, was sentenced to six months in jail. He served three. Read more
Mum saw paramedic weeping after trying to save stabbed boy, 15, for over an hour (Metro)
A paramedic was left sobbing after trying to save a stabbed teenager for over an hour in east London, said a witness. Emergency workers were called to the scene shortly before 6.45pm where the boy, aged 15, was suffering from stab wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene after emergency workers worked tirelessly to save him with CPR at an estate in West Ham, Stratford. Read more
Bride, 70, diagnosed with terminal cancer gets married in a surprise wedding (Metro)
Erica Church just married the man of her dreams Bobby. But it was a bittersweet occasion for the couple, both 70, from Wavertree, Liverpool as the bride had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Their original wedding was meant to take place in July, eight years after they met on a dating app. But a month prior to it, Erica had been diagnosed with lung cancer and was admitted to the Marie Curie Hospice. Read more
YouTube to pay $170 million for collecting children’s personal information (Metro)
Google and its YouTube subsidiary have agreed to pay $170 million for collecting children’s personal information without their parents’ consent. The decision was announced by the Federal Trade Commission, which fined YouTube $136 million to settle the allegations. Read more
Peter Lindbergh: Fashion photographer dies at 74 (BBC)
Fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh, whose trademark was the dramatic black and white portrait, has died at 74. The German photographer passed away on Tuesday, his official Instagram account said, leaving a “big void”. Born in 1944 in what is now Poland, Lindbergh worked with many fashion designers along with international magazines throughout his career. Read more
Injured Hazard brothers out of Belgium’s Euro 2020 qualifiers for now (Guardian)
Eden Hazard and his brother Thorgan will miss Belgium’s Euro 2020 qualifiers against San Marino and Scotland through injuries, the Belgian football association said on Wednesday. The pair reported to the team camp in Tubize on Tuesday for medical checks which confirmed Eden is suffering from a muscle strain while his younger brother has a rib injury. Read more
Romelu Lukaku: Monkey chants a form of ‘respect’ and ‘not racist’ say Inter Milan fans group (BBC)
A group of Inter Milan fans claim Cagliari supporters were showing Romelu Lukaku a form of “respect” when they aimed monkey chants at him on Sunday. Lukaku, who moved from Manchester United to Inter in the summer, was subjected to the racist abuse after scoring the winner in a 2-1 victory. A statement from Inter fan group Curva Nord said “Italian fans are not racist” and the abuse was gamesmanship. Read more
Kompany wants more diversity after racist abuse of Lukaku (Guardian)
Vincent Kompany says the “disgraceful” racist abuse suffered by his Belgium teammate Romelu Lukaku shows more diversity is needed in football’s governing bodies. Inter Milan striker Lukaku was subjected to monkey chants from Cagliari fans as he prepared to take a penalty in a Serie A match on Sunday. After scoring the penalty, Lukaku made a post-match plea for football authorities to unite against the blight of racism. Read more
Sam Allardyce backs Everton to finish above struggling Man Utd and Chelsea in Premier League (Metro)
Sam Allardyce has backed Everton to break into the top six and finish above struggling Premier League rivals Manchester United and Chelsea. Everton are sixth going into the first international break of the season, with United eighth and Chelsea 11th with just one victory from their opening four matches. The Toffees finished eighth last season and during the 2017-18 campaign but former manager Allardyce expects the team to improve this term and break into the top six. Read more
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour defends Granit Xhaka after Tottenham draw (Metro)
Ray Parlour has jumped to Granit Xhaka’s defence after the midfielder was widely criticised for his performance in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham. Christian Eriksen opened the scoring in only the tenth minute at the Emirates and Xhaka’s clumsy challenge on Son Heung-min inside the penalty area gave Harry Kane the chance to double Tottenham’s lead. Read more
Christoph Metzelder investigated over alleged child pornography distribution (BBC)
Former Germany international Christoph Metzelder is being investigated by German police over allegations of distributing child pornography. A statement from the Hamburg attorney general’s office said the 38-year-old is accused of having sent images with child pornographic content to a recipient in Hamburg via WhatsApp. Hamburg police carried out two searches in Dusseldorf on Tuesday. Read more
Eddie Hearn dismisses Deontay Wilder’s claim he wants to fight Andy Ruiz Jr-Anthony Joshua winner (Metro)
Eddie Hearn has dismissed Deontay Wilder’s comments about a potential unification fight after the Bronze Bomber said he would prefer to fight the winner of Ruiz-Joshua II than Tyson Fury. Wilder is scheduled to take on Fury in their rematch in early 2020, provided he comes through his clash with Luiz Ortiz later this year. Read more
Vuelta a Espana: Helicopter TV footage leads to cannabis farm raid (BBC)
A cannabis farm was raided after a TV helicopter following the Vuelta a Espana captured its location. Police in Catalonia seized 40 plants in Igualada, near Barcelona, after they were alerted to stage eight footage that showed two rooftop plantations. A spokesperson added that no arrests had been made and there was an ongoing investigation. Read more
