Flood wreaks havoc on Lagos, sweeps away moving vehicles with occupants (DailyTrust)
A major flood outbreak in Lagos has wreaked havoc on residents of Orile-Agege, sweeping away moving vehicles with their occupants.
The occupants – three in each of the vehicles – were driving along Fatoki street, Agege, when the flood swept them into a drainage.
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Two residents of Orile-Agege have also been declared missing, while four were rescued in the incident.
Rescuers from both the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and those from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) as well as those from the fire service were still searching for the two missing persons at the time of this report.
Public Relations Officer of NEMA in the South-West Region, Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the unfortunate incidents, saying rescue officials were on ground. Read more
Mishap: Lagos reads riot act on boat operations (Vanguard)
In its bid to ensure boat mishaps are a thing of the past on the Lagos Waterways, the Lagos State Government has vowed to enforce safety measures and go after substandard boat operators.
The General Manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA, Mr. Damilola Emmanuel, stated this while reacting to recent boats mishaps during television interview.
The General Manager who condoled with the families of victims who lost their lives in the recent boat mishaps in the state noted that his agency has done so much to reduce the issue of boat mishaps to the barest minimum.
Part of the safety measures Emmanuel explained, include: LASWA’s Search and Rescue Unit, established to fully deal with incident operations in the different locations of the State Water Ways to improve response time during emergencies. Read more
Eid-el-Kabir: Rain disrupts Eid prayers, celebrations in Lagos (Punch)
Continuous rainfall on Saturday disrupted Eid prayers and Sallah celebrations in Lagos State as the downpour forced the majority of Muslims across the state to stay indoors and miss the Eid–al-Adha prayers.
Eid al-Adha is the second and biggest of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam. It honors the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah’s command.
Eid prayers, also referred to as Salat al-Eid, are holy prayers in the Islamic tradition.
The literal translation of the word “Eid” in Arabic is “festival” or “feast” and is a time when Muslims congregate with family and the larger Muslim community to celebrate. Read more
Kizz Daniel: Why I arrived late at US concert (DailyTrust)
Nigerian singer, Oluwatobiloba Daniel Anidugbe, better known by his stage name Kizz Daniel, has given reasons behind his late arrival at his recent New York concert.
Recall that the ‘Buga’ crooner came under attack on Friday after he kept his fans waiting in New York for five hours without showing up.
In some viral videos on social media, some angry fans were seen throwing things on stage while waiting for the singer for about three hours, and in their chants, they demanded a refund.
Kizz Daniel via his Instagram page explained that his passport was seized at the US Consulate in Nigeria till the day of the show for some reason.
His post read: “DMV, thank you for showing up last night and sincere apologies for all that happened. For some reason, my passport was withheld at US Consulate in Nigeria until the day of the show and previously booked flights had to be cancelled. Same reason I rescheduled the New York show”. Read more
Tinubu returns from France, prays with dignitaries in Lagos (Channels)
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, on Saturday returned to the country after spending several days in France.
Tinubu had left Nigeria for France on June 27, with his media aide saying the trip was for “important meetings.”
Though he left the francophone country on Friday, the ex-Lagos State Governor announced his arrival in the early hours of Saturday.
“Grateful to Almighty Allah for journey mercies. Glad to be home and looking forward to what is ahead. Eid Mubarak,” he said via Twitter. Read more
NDLEA decorates E-Money as ‘anti-drug’ ambassador (Nation)
Five-star music boss and CEO Emmy Cargoes Limited Emeka Okonkwo aka E-Money has been decorated as an ‘ambassador of war against drug abuse (WADA)’ by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
In March, NDLEA also decorated Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo as an ambassador in Lagos motor parks.
During a visit to E-Money’s office in Lagos, he was decorated by the NDLEA Apapa Special Area Narcotic Commander, Inalegwu Ameh.
The visit reinforced NDLEA’s partnership with influencers, to tackle illicit drugs across Lagos state. Read more
Eid-El-Kabir: NEMA launches Operation Eagle Eyes against speeding
(Guardian)
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Ekiti State, has warned motorists against reckless driving before, during, and after the celebration of the Eid-el-kabir festivities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Head of Operation for Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti, Mr Kadiri Olarewaju, handed the warning at a five-day Operation Eagle Eyes exercise tagged “Safe Eid-el-Kabir” in Ado-Ekiti.
Olarewaju, represented by the Head of Search and Rescue Unit, Mr Abolarin Ayodele, explained that the operation in collaboration with other sister agencies was aimed at reducing accidents and other emergencies on the roads.
According to him, the launch of “Operation Eagle Eye’’ is to sensitise road users on the need to embrace safety measures during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. Read more
Eid-el-Kabir: Buhari, Tinubu, Atiku task Nigerians on sacrifice (Punch)
As Muslims celebrate Eid-el Kabir, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) arrived in Daura, Katsina State to celebrate the Sallah holiday. Meanwhile, the President; Senate President Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other Federal Government dignitaries have congratulated Nigerians on the Sallah celebrations.
In a similar vein, presidential candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, and the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, felicitated Nigerians, urging Muslims and Nigerians to live exemplary and peaceful lives with one another according to the dictates of Islam.
Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Nyesom Wike of Rivers State also called on Nigerians to use the opportunity to imbibe and demonstrate the values of peace, love and sacrifice that the celebration embodies.
The leaders also prayed for peace, unity and prosperity of the country during the festivities, while lamenting the spate of violence perpetrated in recent times. Read more
Odumeje must pay cost of demolishing his church – Soludo (DailyTrust)
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has stated that Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere (Odumeje) must pay the cost of demolishing a building in his church in Onitsha.
Soludo, who spoke at the weekend, said there were several notices sent to Odumeje and other house owners, whose property were marked for demolition.
According to the governor, those who did not remove such marked property by themselves must pay for the cost of demolishing them by government.
“It is costing us money. They had several notices to remove such structures, but they refused. The demolition started on Thursday, and so far so good. The demolition went well, except for Pastor Odumeje, who according to the report drove in, in a brazen manner and attempted to take over the equipment. Read more
Paul Rudd writes letter to bullied schoolboy (Guardian)
The actor Paul Rudd has sent a handwritten letter to a 12-year-old boy after he received just two signatures from fellow students in his school yearbook.
The pair also spoke on FaceTime after Brody Ridder, from Colorado, came home from school with the yearbook.
Brody, who signed his own blank yearbook with the message: “Hope you make some more friends,” had reportedly been repeatedly alienated and bullied by his classmates.
But after his mother, Cassandra, posted about the incident in a Facebook post that went viral, the school pupil struck up a friendship with his favourite superhero. Read more
The Cult share soaring new single ‘Give Me Mercy’, announce 11th album (NME)
Six years on from their last studio release, The Cult have revealed the details for their 11th album.
Titled ‘Under The Midnight Sun’, the eight-track effort is set to land on October 7 via Black Hill Records – find pre-orders here. News of the album came alongside the release of its lead single, ‘Give Me Mercy’, which guitarist Billy Duffy said in a press release “has all the hallmarks of the new classic Cult to my ears”.
Adding to the statement, frontman Ian Astbury said: “I was absolutely enamoured with this piece of music Billy had written, and it perfectly fit these thoughts I’d been having about our culture’s need to move past assumptions of duality. We need a new language because words can’t express where we’re going.”
According to Astbury, much of The Cult’s new album was inspired by the Finnish festival Provinssirock, where they performed in 1986. Provinssirock is typically held over two or three days in the Southern Ostrobothnian city of Seinäjoki, where in the summer, it’s normal for the sun not to set until late in the morning. Read more
Shawn Mendes taking care of his mental health, postpones world tour (TMZ)
Shawn Mendes isn’t ready for the road just yet — he’s temporarily pulling the plug on his tour, so he can tend to his mental health.
The singer announced he’s postponing the next 3 weeks of shows on his Wonder World Tour which had just begun last week. Shawn said on Friday it breaks his heart to have to delay the shows — which had already been pushed back due to the pandemic.
As for why he needs the break, he said … “I felt like I was ready to dive back in, but that decision was premature and unfortunately the toll of the road and the pressure has caught up to me and I’ve hit a breaking point.”
Shawn also said touring has always been difficult for him since he started doing it when he was just 15 — but this time he’s heeding the advice of doctors. Read more
Residents fear famine as Russia vetoes Syria humanitarian corridor (RFI)
Residents of embattled northwest Syria warned Saturday of a “catastrophe” following a Russian veto at the UN Security Council that threatens to end cross-border aid deliveries critical to their survival. The mechanism at Bab al-Hawa, which has been in effect since 2014, is set to expire Sunday.
Friday’s veto of a resolution that would have extended authorisation for UN aid deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa crossing on the Syrian-Turkish border by one year came on the eve of the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday.
It cast a pall over celebrations and has left residents of Syria’s last major opposition bastion increasingly worried, at a time when humanitarian needs have reached record levels and hunger rates are at their highest since the start of the conflict in 2011, according to the UN.
“Russia has destroyed our houses, ravaged our children and forced us into displacement… now, it wants to close the (aid) crossing,” said Ftaym, a 45-year-old displaced Syrian living in a camp in Idlib province. Read more
Paul Kagame to seek fourth term as president of Rwanda (BBC)
Rwanda’s leader, who has been in power for two decades, has said he would consider remaining in office for another 20 years.
Paul Kagame, 64, told French TV he would stand for president again at the next election in 2024.
In 2015 he changed the constitution, allowing him to stay until 2034.
In the last presidential election five years ago, official figures showed he won 99% of the vote, which many outside the country dismissed as a sham.
Asked if he would seek re-election, Mr Kagame said: “I would consider running for another 20 years. I have no problem with that. Elections are about people choosing.” Read more
7 people injured on third day of Pamplona’s bull running festival (Metro)
Seven people have been injured with thousands narrowly avoided being gored during the third bull run of Pamplona’s San Fermin Festival.
Gorings, when a bull’s horn skewers a runner, are the most dangerous injuries at the Spanish festival.
A total of seven men – six Spaniards and one Frenchman – required hospital treatment following this morning’s bull run but none of them were seriously hurt.
Initial reports suggested two people had been gored during the event but Spanish authorities later corrected this to state that a man was scratched by a horn, not pierced. Read more
Firefighters contain ‘mega-fire’ in southern France (Guardian)
A massive fire that ravaged 650 hectares (1,600 acres) and forced people to evacuate in southern France has been brought under control, the fire service said Saturday.
Up to 950 firefighters backed by aircraft had deployed in the southern Gard region but the “critical phase” has now passed, said fire service spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Eric Agrinier.
“For the moment, the fire is contained. This means that we don’t think it can spread anymore,” he added.
Around 520 firefighters remain on the ground in the area, he said, 90 kilometres (55 miles) north of Montpellier and the Mediterranean coast.
The spokesman said units would continue treating the edges of the fire, metre by metre, and were monitoring to avoid any risk of the blaze worsening with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), winds, and low humidity as risk factors. Read more
Elena Rybakina seals historic Wimbledon triumph by defeating Ons Jabeur (Metro)
An emotional Elena Rybakina created history by becoming the first ever Kazakhstani Grand Slam champion after she overcame Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon women’s final.
The 17th seed handled the occasion with a maturity belying her relative inexperience, especially given the way she battled back from a set down, recording a 3-6 6-2 6-2 victory.
Big-serving Rybakina struggled to muster a response during the early stages with her primary weapon virtually nullified by Jabeur, who broke in just the third game of the contest.
The 27-year-old consolidated that advantage in the following game with a rasping backhand pass, but it was her employment of a backhand slice that continually asked questions that Rybakina struggled to answer. Read more
Kante and Loftus-Cheek miss Chelsea’s US tour due to vaccination status (Guardian)
France’s World Cup-winning midfielder N’Golo Kante and England international Ruben Loftus-Cheek are to miss Chelsea’s tour of the United States as they do not meet the country’s Covid vaccination standards.
The United States permits foreign visitors who are fully vaccinated into the country.
At present only US citizens are allowed to enter the country if they are not fully vaccinated.
American-owned Chelsea left for their three-match pre-season tour on Saturday — beginning with a training camp in Los Angeles.
“N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek will not travel due to their Covid vaccination status,” Chelsea said in a statement. Read more
Verstappen wins Austria sprint to extend title lead (BBC)
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took a controlled victory in the sprint race at the Austrian Grand Prix to edge further ahead in the championship.
The Dutchman beat Ferrari duo Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, extending his lead over Leclerc to 44 points.
Leclerc fought off an early challenge from Sainz but was safe in second once far enough ahead of his team-mate to lose the DRS overtaking aid.
Mercedes’ George Russell took fourth and Lewis Hamilton eighth.
Hamilton’s race was hampered by a tangle at the start that saw Alpha Tauri’s Pierre Gasly pitched into a spin, and then getting stuck behind the two Haas cars, before eventually overhauling Mick Schumacher for the final point. Read more
Okutoyi emerges first ever Kenyan Grandslam winner with Wimbledon victory (Vanguard)
Angela Okutoyi, Kenyan tennis player recorded a historic feat on Saturday afternoon, becoming the first ever Kenyan to win a Grandslam.
She made the history alongside Dutch partner, Rose Marie Nijkamp following her girls’ double victory at Wimbledon.
Okutoyi and Nijkamp beat the Canadian duo of Kayla Cross and Victoria Mboko by two sets to one to clinch the history setting victory in the British Capital London.
The duo began the match on a low with the Canadian girls taking the first set 6-3 in 27 minutes.
Okutoyi and Nijkamp, however, fought back and in 32 minutes forced a tie breaker with a 6-4 victory in the second set. Read more
AWCON: MultiChoice to beam Nigeria versus Burundi live on DStv, GOtv platforms (Independent)
MultiChoice has promised to make sure Nigerians watch the final group rounds of the ongoing TotalEnergies Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCON) in Morocco live on its DStv and GOtv platforms.
The final round of Group B matches on Saturday 9 July will see Cameroon battle Tunisia on SuperSport GOtv Select 1 at 9:00 pm, while Zambia challenges Togo on SuperSport GOtv Select 2 at 9:00 pm. Shepolopolo are still learning to live with the absence of Barbara Banda, but coach Bruce Mwape insists they can cope without their star player and captain.
Group C’s final matches on Sunday 10 July will see neighbours South Africa and Botswana battle on SuperSport GOtv Select 1 at 9:00 pm while reigning champions Nigeria will be desperate for a win against Burundi in a clash showing on SuperSport GOtv Select 2 at 9:00 pm.
Banyana Banyana are through to the quarter-finals, having recorded victories over Nigeria and Burundi, while Nigeria and Botswana are tied on 3 points each. Read more
David Moyes provides Declan Rice transfer update amid Manchester United interest (MEN)
David Moyes has confirmed no bids have been submitted for West Ham captain Declan Rice this summer, despite Manchester United previously registering an interest in the player.
Having missed out on a central midfield signing last summer, key figures in the Old Trafford boardroom earmarked Rice as their priority target heading into this window. However, when Erik ten Hag was appointed, the club turned their attention to Barcelona star Frenkie de Jong.
An agreement in principle worth €65million was reached over the Netherlands international, but Barca and De Jong continue to drag their heels. Either way, his signature would cost United significantly less than the fee being bandied around for England midfielder Rice.
Speaking about Rice to the Daily Mail, ex-United coach Moyes said: “No bids. We wouldn’t be taking any, anyway. We’ve said all along he’s not for sale.” Read more
Raphinha: Leeds playmaker missing from squad for pre-season tour (BBC)
Raphinha has been left out of Leeds United’s squad for their pre-season tour of Australia.
The Brazil winger has been the subject of a bid from Arsenal and interest from Barcelona and Chelsea.
Leeds fly out to the Gold Coast on Sunday for games against Aston Villa and Brisbane Roar, before heading to Perth to face Crystal Palace.
The club would be looking for more than £50m for Raphinha, who they signed from Rennes for £17m two years ago. Read more