Lagos Assembly reviews survey law to check land disputes (Guardian)
The Lagos House of Assembly has raised a committee to review the state’s survey law and advise it on how best to contain the crises arising from land disputes in the course of surveying. The legislative chamber held that the tinkering would bring the law to terms with emerging realities. The resolution followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Sanai Agunbiade, and co-sponsored by others during plenary presided over yesterday by Speaker Mudashiru Obasa in Ikeja. Read more
Police officers face dismissal for colluding with Wadume (Punch)
Two policemen who allegedly colluded with kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala, popularly known as Wadume, will soon be dismissed from the service following their indictment for colluding with the crime boss in Taraba State. Top police sources told our correspondent on Monday that Ibi police division crime officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Aondonna Iorbee, and the station officer, Inspector Aliyu, who had been in custody for about two weeks, would be dismissed for allegedly “colluded with criminals.” Read more
Fed Govt joins forces with U.S. to track FBI 77 suspects (Nation)
There is no respite for the 63 Nigerians on the United States (U.S.) watch list. Seventy seven Nigerians were among 80 suspects named by the U.S. Attorney for Central District of California Mr Nick Hanna on August 22 for conniving with others to dupe unsuspecting victims. The Federal Government on Monday pledged to support the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to bring the suspects to justice. Read more
Osinbajo condemns high port charges, seeks strategies to check malpractices (Guardian)
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has condemned the imposition of high surcharges by shipping lines in the West African region and tasked the Union of African Shippers Council to adopt common, political and diplomatic strategies to checkmate malpractices. Osinbajo made the call yesterday, in Abuja, while declaring open, the sub-regional summit on unfair shipping surcharges and high local shipping charges at the ports of West and Central sub-region. Read more
President to unveil Transportation varsity, rail factory in September, says Amaechi (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari may perform the ground-breaking ceremony for the take-off of the University of Transportation in September, the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, has said. The President is also expected to unveil the ground-breaking of the factory for manufacturing locomotives, wagons and coaches, the minister said. Amaechi said while the university would be sited at Daura, in Katsina State, the factory will be at Kajola in Ogun State. Read more
My son-in-law gave Obasanjo Library N50m, says Atiku (Nation)
A son-in-law of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar gave $140,000 (N50 million) to the Olusegun Obasanjo Library, the ex-VP’s Media Office said on Monday. According to a statement, the Atiku Media Office said Mr. Babalele Abdullahi facilitated the donation as part of a plan to support institutions promoting peace in the country. It said donations to institutions set up to promote peace in Nigeria and Africa should be commended and not criminalised. Read more
CAN pleads for release of cleric, kids (Guardian)
The Kaduna chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) yesterday vowed that it would not be shaken by the Nasir El-Rufai government’s alleged arrest threats amid the rising cases of kidnapping of faithful and others in the state. Its chairman, Reverend Joseph Hayab after a meeting with officials of the association yesterday, pleaded for the release of “Reverend Elisha Numan of Baptist Church Angwan Makeri and the two children of one of our bishops in Kaduna who are still in the hands of kidnappers.” Read more
I’m still communicating with Ajimobi on policies, says Makinde (Nation)
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said on Monday that he has always been in constant communication with his predecessor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, over the past administration’s policies in the overall interest of the people. Makinde spoke yesterday while playing host to a delegation from Foursquare Gospel Church, which visited him in his office in Ibadan. Read more
G7 summit: Trump ‘would meet Iran’s Rouhani if circumstances right’ (BBC)
US President Donald Trump says he is open to meeting Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani under the right circumstances. It comes after Iran’s foreign minister made a brief and unannounced visit to the G7 summit in France on Sunday. Relations between Iran and the US have deteriorated since Washington withdrew last year from a 2015 deal to limit Iran’s nuclear activities. Read more
Netanyahu: Israel will defend itself ‘by any means necessary’ (BBC)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hit back at critics following a series of recent air strikes across the Middle East. Mr Netanyahu also accused Iran of producing “terror attacks” and said Israel would defend itself “by any means necessary”. It comes after reports of strikes against Iranian targets and Iran-backed militias in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. An Israeli official said on Monday that some of the attacks “aren’t ours”. Read more
Opioid crisis: Johnson & Johnson hit by landmark ruling (BBC)
Drugmaker Johnson & Johnson must pay $572m (£469m) for its part in fuelling Oklahoma’s opioid addiction crisis, a judge in the US state has ruled. The company said immediately after the judgement that it would appeal. The case was the first to go to trial out of thousands of lawsuits filed against opioid makers and distributors. Read more
Yang Hengjun: Australian writer faces spying charges in China (BBC)
Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun has been formally arrested on espionage charges in China, Australian officials have confirmed. The Australian citizen has been held in Beijing since January under “harsh conditions”, said the foreign ministry. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Australia was “very concerned and disappointed” to learn of the arrest. Read more
Dutch doctor faces trial in landmark euthanasia case (BBC)
A Dutch doctor has appeared in court after performing euthanasia on a patient suffering with severe dementia. Prosecutors say the doctor did not do enough to verify consent. It is the first such case since the Netherlands legalised euthanasia in 2002. The 74-year-old patient was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease when she died in 2016. The doctor allegedly sedated the woman and asked her family to hold her down as she administered a lethal drug. Read more
Thai palace shares unusually candid images of king’s consort (BBC)
Rare photographs of the king of Thailand’s newly anointed consort have been released by the palace, reportedly causing its website to crash. The images show Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi, 34, piloting a fighter jet, wearing combat fatigues and aiming a weapon on a firing range. A consort is a title given by a monarch to his or her spouse or companion. Read more
Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift lead winners at MTV VMAs 2019 as Missy Elliott delivers stunning medley (Metro)
Billie Eilish and Ariana Grande were the big winners at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards 2019, scoring three awards each. The 36th annual bash took place at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, this year, hosted by actor and comedian Sebastian Maniscalco. From the outset, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande were lined up for the most awards at ten nods each – but it was the latter who pipped Taylor to earn the most awards despite not attending. Read more
Okagbare disqualified as two other Nigerian women advance to Tuesday’s 100m final (Punch)
Blessing Okagbare on Monday in Rabat at the 12th African Games suffered disqualification after a false start in the women’s 100 metres semi-finals heat 1. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that she was disqualified for beating the gun at the starting block. It was a huge disappointment for Okagbare who had earlier in the day won heat 3 of the event’s first round with a time of 11.53 seconds. Read more
Thulani Serero: UAE’s Al Jazira turn to South African midfielder for success (BBC)
United Arab Emirates (UAE) club Al Jazira are hoping new signing, South Africa international Thulani Serero, will help bring success back to the pride of Abu Dhabi. The 29-year-old midfielder, who signed a two-year deal after passing a medical, has left Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem for an undisclosed fee. Read more
Lionesses: Striker Fran Kirby and defender Alex Greenwood out with injuries (BBC)
Chelsea striker Fran Kirby and Lyon defender Alex Greenwood have withdrawn from the England squad with injury. The Lionesses face Belgium on Thursday, followed by Norway next Tuesday in friendly matches. Coach Phil Neville had initially named a 24-strong squad, which included 19 players who featured in the Women’s World Cup, as well as handing call-ups to four debutants. Read more
Lukaku scores on Inter debut (BBC)
Romelu Lukaku scored on his Serie A debut for Inter Milan as they convincingly beat 10-man Leece. The Belgian striker, signed by Inter for a club record 80m euros (£74m) from Manchester United on 8 August, tapped in the third goal in the 60th minute. Marcelo Brozovic curled Inter’s opener and Stefano Sensi’s drive made it 2-0. Read more
Rafa Nadal Open: Andy Murray beats teen Imran Sibille to seal first singles win since hip surgery (BBC)
Britain’s Andy Murray recorded his first singles victory since hip surgery in January with a 6-0 6-1 win over teenager Imran Sibille in Mallorca. Playing on the Challenger Tour for the first time in 14 years, Murray needed only 43 minutes to win his first-round match at the Rafa Nadal Open. The 32-year-old outclassed Sibille, an alternate entry 15 years his junior and making his professional debut. Read more
US Open 2019: Serena Williams beats Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-1 to reach second round (BBC)
Serena Williams made the perfect return to the US Open after last year’s controversial final by thrashing her long-time rival Maria Sharapova. Williams, 37, won 6-1 6-1 in a first-round meeting which ended up lasting just 59 minutes. Twelve months ago, Williams called the umpire “a cheat” and “a liar” during her loss to Naomi Osaka. Read more
US Open 2019: Novak Djokovic eases through first round in straight sets (BBC)
World number one Novak Djokovic booked his place in the second round of the US Open with victory over Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena. The Serb three-time champion won 6-4 6-1 6-4 to kick-off the defence of his title at Flushing Meadows. Djokovic has reached the final on his past three appearances in New York but was taken to four sets in his opening two rounds last year. Read more
US Open 2019: Johanna Konta & Dan Evans advance but Harriet Dart & Cameron Norrie lose (BBC)
Britain’s Johanna Konta and Dan Evans came through tricky encounters to reach the second round of the US Open. British number one Konta started in devastating form against Daria Kasatkina, winning the first set in 24 minutes, but was then frustrated before going on to triumph 6-1 4-6 6-2. Evans progressed with a 6-4 6-3 2-6 6-3 win over Adrian Mannarino. Read more
Kei Nishikori names six players who can threaten Federer, Nadal and Djokovic at the US Open (Metro)
Kei Nishikori didn’t need to spend too much time on court during his first-round match at the US Open as his opponent was forced to retire midway through the second set. Up 6-1 4-1 and cruising, the Japanese No. 1’s place in round two was confirmed when Argentina’s Marco Trungelliti threw in the towel. Seventh seed Nishikori will take on home hopeful Bradley Klahn next and looks well set for a decent run, having been handed a decent draw. Read more