Hamzat orders arrest of four motorists driving against traffic (Punch)
The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, on Tuesday ordered the arrest of four drivers who drove against the traffic on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway. Hamzat also ordered that the motorists’ vehicles should be impounded and they should be made to face wrath of the law for their actions. According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the deputy governor was on his way to inaugurate the resumption of the construction of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway when he saw the drivers violating traffic laws. Read more
NIWA confirms 10 dead, 8 missing on June 29 Lagos boat mishap (Nation)
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on Tuesday confirmed the boat mishap, which happened on June 29, at about 22: 00hours in the Lagos Lagoon that claimed 10 lives with 8 people still missing. The Lagos Zonal Coordinator of NIWA , Mr Muhazu Zambo, who made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said three persons were rescued. According to him, the boss mishap occurred on June 29 between Badore in Ajah (Eti- Osa Local Government Area) and Egbin (Ikorodu LGA). Read more
Lagos resumes construction of Lagos-Badagry Expressway (Punch)
Lagos State Government on Tuesday resumed the construction of the ten-lane Lagos-Badagry Expressway ten years after its commencement. Performing the flag-off, the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, stated that the return to the road not only marks the fulfillment of a promise made during a recent visit on June 2, 2019, to the people of the State by the Sanwo-Olu Administration but is also designed to bring relief to commuters who experience hardship daily on the road. Read more
Ninth Assembly ‘ll consider state police – Doguwa (Punch)
The All Progressives Congress endorsed candidate for the House of Representatives Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, has said the ninth National Assembly would strive to do things differently from the past in order to aid national development. He indicated that the house under the leadership of Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila would aid reforms in the health, education and security sectors among other priorities. Read more
Court grants NDLEA speedy trial on Zainab Aliyu’s drug suit (Guardian)
Justice Lewis Allagoa of Federal high court, sitting in Kano has granted the prayers of National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on speedy dispense of the trial of an alleged conspiracy against six airport handlers. The judge had earlier turned down the oral application of the prosecution which sought the court to compel the six defendants to submit their international passports to the court’s registrar. Counsel to NDLEA, Femi Oloruntoba insisted the request becomes pertinent to preventing the accused persons from travelling abroad without the consent and permission of the court. Read more
Outrage as senator slaps nursing mother at adult toys shop (Punch)
A serving lawmaker, Senator Elisha Abbo, has attracted criticisms from a large section of Nigerians after being caught on video slapping a nursing mother repeatedly at a sex toy shop in Abuja. Abbo, who defeated the respected Senator Binta Garba, to emerge as the winner of the Adamawa North senatorial district, was seen assaulting the woman in a video posted by Premium Times The assault, which reportedly occurred on May 11, 2019, was done in the presence of an armed policeman who rather than assist the victim, arrested her. Read more
At least 45 killed in Nigeria fuel tanker blast (Guardian)
At least 45 people were killed and more than 100 injured in central Nigeria when a petrol tanker crashed and then exploded as people gathered fuel, emergency services said Tuesday. The truck overturned near shops while travelling through the village of Ahumbe in Benue state on Monday.Local residents rushed to the scene and collected leaking gasoline for over an hour before the fuel caught fire, causing a blast that tore through the surrounding area. Read more
FCT police rescue suspected ‘one chance’ robbers from lynching (Punch)
Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have rescued four members of a suspected ‘one-chance’ robbery gang from being lynched by a mob along Kubwa Expressway, Abuja. The intervention of the police patrol team saved the suspects identified as Lydia Agabi, 23, Glory George, 24, Ifeoma Ekweme, 39 and Eleojo David, 37, from the mob who had already set their operational car ablaze. Read more
Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, others sign new OPEC Charter (Punch)
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the non-member countries of the organisation on Tuesday signed a draft `Charter of Cooperation’ in a bid to further strengthen their partnership. The charter now replaces the ‘Declaration of Cooperation’, which was reached in Dec. 2016 between the two groups. Speaking at the end of the 6th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting in Vienna, Mr Salvador Fernandez, President of the bloc’s Council reaffirmed the continued commitment of the member countries to a stable market as stipulated in the cooperation. Read more
Germany’s Ursula von der Leyen nominated to lead EU Commission (BBC)
EU leaders have put forward their nominations for the bloc’s top jobs, with a woman for the first time proposed as European Commission chief. The surprise choice of German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen to replace Jean-Claude Juncker came after the main front-runners were rejected. IMF chief Christine Lagarde has been nominated as the first woman to head the European Central Bank (ECB). Read more
Dalai Lama ‘deeply sorry’ for remarks about women (BBC)
The Dalai Lama has apologised for controversial comments about the possibility of a woman succeeding him. Speaking to the BBC last month, the Tibetan spiritual leader said that any future female Dalai Lama should be “attractive”. But a statement from his office apologised for his words, suggesting he had been joking. “He is deeply sorry that people have been hurt by what he said and offers his sincere apologies,” it said. Read more
Fourteen sailors dead after fire breaks out on Russian submarine (Metro)
A fire on board a deep sea Russian submarine has killed fourteen crew on board. The Defence Ministry said the blaze erupted on Monday while the vessel was performing tests in Russian territorial waters. The ministry said in a statement that the fire was extinguished thanks to the crew’s self-sacrifice. Read more
Princess Haya: Dubai ruler’s wife in UK ‘in fear of her life’ (BBC)
Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein, a wife of the ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, is in hiding in London and said to be in fear for her life after fleeing her husband. Sheikh Mohammed, 69, who is a billionaire racehorse owner and has often been seen conversing with the Queen at Ascot, has posted a furious poem on Instagram accusing an unidentified woman of “treachery and betrayal”. The Jordanian-born and British-educated Princess Haya, 45, married Sheikh Mohammed – owner of Godolphin horse racing stables – in 2004, becoming his sixth and “junior wife”. Read more
Khalid Al Qasimi: UAE sheikh and fashion designer dies (BBC)
A crown prince from the United Arab Emirates has died in London, the country’s authorities have announced. Sheikh Khalid bin Sultan Al Qasimi died on Monday aged 39, but further details are unclear. Son of the ruler of the emirate of Sharjah, he had worked as a designer at fashion label Qasimi. Three days of national mourning have been declared in the UAE, where funeral prayers are expected to be held on Wednesday. Read more
Orange Is The New Black star Danielle Brooks is pregnant with her first child (Metro)
Congratulations are in order for Orange Is The New Black star Danielle Brooks as she has revealed she is pregnant with her first child. Danielle took to Instagram to share a photo of a positive pregnancy test, telling her followers: ‘So elated to finally share this news with you all. I’m happily pregnant!’ Along with her message, she shared a picture of herself beaming while holding up a positive pregnancy test. Read more
AFCON 2019: Nigeria to face Cameroon in second round (Guardian)
The Super Eagles will be playing against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the Round of 16 of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Nigeria finished second in Group B after the surprising 2-0 loss to eventual group winners Madagascar. Gernot Rohr’s men were scheduled to face the runners-up of Group F in the second round. The Super Eagles waited two days to find out who their opponents were with the teams in Group F yet to play their final round of games. Read more
Mikel may miss rest of 2019 AFCON (Guardian)
Captain of the Super Eagles, John Mikel Obi could miss the rest of Nigeria’s campaign at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations due to injury, according to Goal. Mikel was substituted in the 59th minute in Nigeria’s 2-0 shocking 2-0 loss to Madagascar. The 32-year-old strained his knee in the Super Eagles’ 2-0 loss to Madagascar. The midfielder missed training on Monday with the knee injury while sources have confirmed that he will be missing the Round of 16. Read more
Mali beat Angola to win Afcon Group E (BBC)
Mali advanced to the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations as Group E winners after beating Angola 1-0 in Ismailia. Amadou Haidara scored the game’s only goal, finding the net with a fierce drive from outside the area. Mohamed Magassouba’s side will face Group D runners-up Ivory Coast in the last 16 on Monday. Angola, who finish third in Group E, miss out on a place in the knockout stages. Read more
Mauritania hold Tunisia to goalless draw in AFCON 2019 (Punch)
Tunisia and South Africa filled the final two places in the Africa Cup of Nations last-16 draw Tuesday after a tense finish to the group stage. Tunisia, ranked second in Africa behind Senegal, could only draw 0-0 with debutants Mauritania but the point secured second place behind Mali. Mali will face the Ivory Coast in the last-16 stage while Tunisia meet Ghana, who are chasing a seventh consecutive top-four finish in the Cup of Nations. Read more
England beaten by USA in semi-final (BBC)
England’s dreams of reaching their first Women’s World Cup final were dashed as Steph Houghton’s late penalty was saved in a dramatic semi-final loss to holders the United States. The England skipper’s 84th-minute spot-kick was held by Alyssa Naeher, shortly before Houghton’s fellow centre-back Millie Bright was sent off for a second bookable offence, as the Lionesses exited at the last-four stage for a third major tournament in a row. Winger Christen Press and striker Alex Morgan scored with headers either side of Ellen White’s instinctive equaliser as the USA took a deserved 2-1 lead in a frenetic first half. Read more
Serena Williams praises ‘really sweet’ Cori Gauff after 15-year-old beats sister Venus at Wimbledon (Metro)
Serena Williams showed there were no hard feelings after 15-year-old sensation Cori Gauff knocked sister Venus out of Wimbledon and backed the youngster to become an inspiration herself. Gauff, who also goes by the nickname ‘Coco’, secured a straight sets victory over Venus – 24 years her senior – on Monday in the first round, and will now take on Magdalena Rybarikova on Wednesday. The American teenager has often spoken of how much both Williams sisters inspired her when she was growing up, and Serena believes Gauff can now become a symbol to other young girls too. Read more
Andy Murray to partner Serena Williams in Wimbledon mixed doubles (BBC)
Britain’s Andy Murray has confirmed he will play mixed doubles with Serena Williams at Wimbledon. Murray, a two-time singles champion at SW19, will compete in both the men’s and mixed doubles less than a month after returning following hip surgery. American Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles winner, had earlier told journalists: “If you guys really want it… all right, done.” Read more
‘I wouldn’t have a beer with him’ – Nick Kyrgios lifts lid on Rafael Nadal relationship (Metro)
Nick Kyrgios insists he has a great ‘mutual respect’ for Rafael Nadal but wouldn’t head down to the pub with the 18-time Grand Slam champion. The Australian bad boy is set for a second round meeting with the world No. 2 after taking out compatriot Jordan Thompson in five sets on Tuesday, in what is one of the most highly-anticipated matches of the season. A war of words has been flung between Kyrgios and Nadal’s camp. Read more