Lagos govt, fed govt condemn attack on Shoprite (Nation)
The Lagos State government and Information, Culture & Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed last night condemned the attacks on Shoprite outlets in the state. The Lagos government, in a statement by Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso, said the attacks “are against the Nigerian spirit of accommodation and benevolence that the country”. The statement reads: “The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to the attacks on Shoprite Complexes at Jakande and Sangotedo Area of Ajah by some unidentified people claiming to be acting in retaliation against the attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. Read more
Partial closure: Gridlock returns to Lagos-Ibadan Expressway (Punch)
As the partial closure of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway entered the second day on Tuesday, traffic flow worsened on the road. Motorists, who spoke to our correspondents, lamented the hardship they were facing, saying the decision to partially close the road was ill-advised. A section of the expressway was on Monday shut for repairs and traffic was diverted from the Kara Bridge and vehicles, both inbound and outbound Lagos, used the outbound lane up to the Isheri junction, where it was redistributed into the normal lanes. Read more
‘Lagos to domesticate strategy on food security’ (Nation)
Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture Prince Gbolahan Lawal has said the government would soon domesticate the Nigeria Agricultural Sector Food Security and Nutrition Strategy 2016- 2025, in order to support the Federal Government’s initiative in addressing malnutrition. Lawal, who spoke yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja when he received a delegation of the Inter-Ministerial Agriculture Nutrition Working Group from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said under nutrition, micro-nutrient deficiencies and over nutrition remain a challenge; hence efforts at fighting them are welcome. Read more
Minimum wage: NLC‘ll agree with negotiating council’s decision, says Wabba (Punch)
The Nigeria Labour Congress on Tuesday stated that it would support any position taken by the Public Service Negotiating Council at its meeting on the new national minimum wage scheduled for September 4. The President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said this on the sidelines of the inauguration of the International Lawyers Assisting Workers in Abuja. Read more
We’re ready to pass 2020 budget by December –National Assembly (Punch)
The National Assembly has said it is ready to receive the 2020 Appropriation Bill for consideration and passage. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, made the declaration at a stakeholders’ roundtable on the 2020 budget in Abuja on Tuesday. Read more
Govt presents N10m cheque to dead LASTMA official’s family (Nation)
Lagos State Government on Tuesday presented a N10 million cheque to the relations of a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) official, Folashade Arogundade, killed by a truck on May 25. Presenting the cheque to the husband, Mr. Tunde Babajide and her younger brother, Mr. Adekunle Arogundade, Special Adviser (SA) to the Governor on Transportation Mr. Oluwatoyin Fayinka said the donation was in fulfilment of the promises of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu when he paid a condolence visit to the bereaved family. Read more
Senior immigration officer assaults junior at passport office (Punch)
An officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service at the Ikoyi Passport Office, Mr Yemi Badru, has come under fire for reporting an alleged assault on him by a senior officer, Nasir Umar, to the police. Badru, a Deputy Superintendent of Immigration, was said to have been querried by the NIS for reporting the alleged assault on him to the police. Read more
Gunmen abduct governor’s aide’s mum (Nation)
Gunmen on Tuesday stormed Danladin Gumel town in Sule Tankarkar Local Government Area of Jigawa State and kidnapped the 70-year-old mother of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affairs, Alhaji Yahaya Muhammed Bigman. The Nation gathered that the hoodlums arrived the village in large number on motorcycles, went to the home of the old woman and took her away to an unknown place. Read more
Teacher arraigned for sending nude pictures to pupil (Punch)
For allegedly sending nude pictures and videos to a 14-year-old pupil, a Mathematics teacher, Emmanuel David, was on Tuesday brought before the Lagos State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ikeja. The 40-year-old teacher was arraigned before Magistrate B. O. Osunsanmi on one count of sexual harassment. Read more
Man charged with impersonating soldier (Nation)
A 25-year-old man, Ayobami Joseph, was on Tuesday arraigned at an Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court in Ekiti State for alleged impersonation. He was brought before Magistrate Kehinde Awosika by the police on a one-count charge of impersonation. Police prosecutor told the court that the accused unlawfully put on the Army uniform and paraded himself as a soldier. Read more
Man arrested for setting son ablaze in A’Ibom (Punch)
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said on Tuesday that it had arrested one Idorenyin Essien, 35, for setting his son ablaze in the Eket Local Government Area of the state. It was gathered that the incident happened on Friday, August 30, 2019, in Afia Nsit. Read more
14 bus passengers killed by road mine in Mali (Guardian)
Fourteen bus passengers were killed Tuesday by a road mine in central Mali, the bus company said, in an attack bearing the hallmarks of jihadists who plague the region. The vehicle was en route from the central town of Douentza to the northern town of Gao, Oumar Ould Mamoud of the Sonef bus company told AFP. “The new toll is 14 dead and eight injured,” he said, adding that there had been about 50 people on the bus. Read more
Brexit: Boris Johnson defeated as MPs take control (BBC)
Tory rebels and opposition MPs have defeated the government in the first stage of their attempt to pass a law designed to prevent a no-deal Brexit. The Commons voted 328 to 301 to take control of the agenda, meaning they can bring forward a bill seeking to delay the UK’s exit date. In response, Boris Johnson said he would bring forward a motion for an early general election. Read more
Yemen: Western powers may be held responsible for war crimes – UN (BBC)
The UK, US, France and Iran may be complicit in possible war crimes in Yemen over their support for parties to the conflict there, UN experts say. A new report warns the countries they could be held responsible for aiding or assisting the commission of violations. The Western powers provide weapons and logistical support to the Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s government, while Iran backs the Houthi rebels. Read more
California boat fire: Police begin identifying victims (BBC)
California officials have begun the process of identifying the victims of a boat fire that is suspected to have claimed 34 lives. Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said that DNA samples would be required from the family of presumed victims to identify them. Authorities have moved from search-and-rescue operations to a recovery effort. Only five people survived, all crew. Read more
Italian vote backs Five Star-PD government under Conte (BBC)
Grassroots members of the populist Five Star Movement have voted to support the formation of a government with the centre-left, bringing to an end Italy’s political crisis. The two former adversaries have already reached a draft deal, after nationalist League leader Matteo Salvini pulled the plug on the previous administration. The online vote of Five Star members means Italy now avoids fresh elections. Read more
France announces anti-femicide measures as 100th killing recorded (BBC)
The disfigured body of the young woman was found on Saturday, hidden under rubbish, branches and an old quilt. A local resident passing near the train station of Cagnes-sur-Mer, southern France, thought he had seen a foot and raised the alarm. The death of 21-year-old Salomé has been recorded as the 100th case of femicide this year. It comes as the government announces measures to combat the killing of women related to domestic violence. Read more
Walmart changes gun policies after shootings (BBC)
Walmart is to stop sales of some types of ammunition following recent shootings, including one at one of its stores in Texas that left 22 dead. The head of the company said it would discontinue sales of some bullets that can be used in assault-style weapons, and those used in handguns. The move comes amid increasing pressure on the company, often cited as the largest firearms seller in the US. Read more
Robert Pattinson is sick of having to masturbate in films and ‘strange’ mermaid sex scenes (Metro)
Robert Pattinson’s latest gripe is that he’s always having to masturbate in his films – and he’s also pretty peeved about his recent sex scene with a mermaid. Yes, you did just read that. There’s a lot to unpack here, so we’ll give you a quick moment to mentally regroup. Read more
Ariana Grande says Forever 21 ‘stole’ name in lawsuit (BBC)
Singer Ariana Grande is asking for $10m (£8.3m) in damages from Forever 21, saying the retailer “stole her name” to promote its clothing and beauty products. She said the firm published at least 30 “unauthorised” images and videos that suggested she had endorsed the brand. It also hired a model with an “uncanny” resemblance to Ms Grande for some of its social media posts, she said. Read more
Tom Holland says Spider-Man’s ‘future’ rests with Sony as he addresses Marvel feud (Metro)
The news that Tom Holland might not be in the upcoming Spider-Man movies has hit us hard, to say the least. But the man himself has been unfalteringly graceful about the franchise being out of the Marvel Cinematic Universe due to that feud with Sony. Discussing the quarrel, the Avengers star said the ‘legacy and future’ of Spider-Man ‘rests in Sony’s safe hands’. Read more
Jonah Hill gets engaged to girlfriend Gianna Santos after one year of dating (Metro)
Jonah Hill is engaged to his girlfriend Gianna Santos after more than a year of dating. The Wolf Of Wall Street actor has popped the question to stylist Gianna, a rep told Page Six on Tuesday. The 35-year-old Hollywood star reportedly began dating the New York-born content manager, 30, last summer. Read more
Unai Emery reveals how Sir Alex Ferguson teased him over Europa League title win (Metro)
Unai Emery has revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson once teased him despite his Europa League success with Sevilla and asked if he wouldn’t rather win the Champions League instead. The current Arsenal boss won the Europa League three times in a row while in Seville between 2014 and 2016 – while he was back in the final last season with the Gunners, losing to Chelsea. During that run, Emery attended UEFA’s Elite Coaches Forum in Nyon, Switzerland and Manchester United legend Ferguson couldn’t help but have some fun with the Spaniard. Read more
Juve’s Chiellini out six months after knee operation (Guardian)
Veteran Juventus captain Giorgio Chiellini underwent successful surgery on a torn knee ligament the club said on Tuesday, saying they expected him back in action in six months. The eight-time reigning champions have signed 20-year-old Dutch defender Matthijs De Ligt. The young Dutchman had a poor Serie A debut at the weekend as Juventus conceded three goals in the second half at home to Napoli before escaping with a 4-3 victory. Read more
Tony Adams backs Dani Ceballos to be the key for Arsenal’s attacking trio (Metro)
Tony Adams believes Dani Ceballos can be become the vital link to help Arsenal’s attacking trio following the 2-2 draw with Tottenham on Sunday. The 23-year-old is currently on loan from Real Madrid and was named as a substitute for the north London derby. But after coming on in the second half, Ceballos made an immediate impact as Arsenal pushed for the victory. Read more
Serena Williams speaks out after thrashing opponent in 44 minutes (Metro)
Serena Williams was at her ruthless best on Tuesday night as she hammered China’s Wang Qiang to book her spot in the semi-finals of the US Open. The 23-time Grand Slam champion downed the 18th seed in just 44 minutes, hitting 25 winners to 10 unforced errors in a 6-1 6-0 win. Wang’s stats didn’t read quite so well. The Chinese didn’t hit a single winner in the match and won only four points in the second set. Read more
US Open 2019: Johanna Konta loses to Elina Svitolina in quarter-finals (BBC)
British number one Johanna Konta missed out on the US Open semi-finals after she was worn down by Ukrainian fifth seed Elina Svitolina. Konta, 28, was unable to impose herself in a 6-4 6-4 defeat on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 16th seed, aiming to complete the set of major semi-final appearances, was forced into errors by 24-year-old Svitolina’s impressive retrieving. Read more
US Open 2019: Daniil Medvedev beats Stan Wawrinka to reach semi-finals (BBC)
Fifth seed Daniil Medvedev feared he would not be able to continue against Stan Wawrinka before reaching his first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open. Medvedev, 23, received painkillers and taping on his thigh in the first set of a 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 3-6 6-1 victory over the Swiss on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Russian will face five-time champion Roger Federer or Grigor Dimitrov for a place in Sunday’s final. Read more
Justin Gatlin: World 100m champion pulls up injured after prep race for Doha defence (BBC)
Justin Gatlin ended a 100m race limping and holding his left thigh just three weeks before the scheduled defence of his world title in Doha. The 37-year-old American left the track supported by a fellow athlete after finishing fourth in 10.29 seconds in the Croatian capital Zagreb. Compatriot Michael Rodgers won the race at the IAAF World Challenge meeting in a wind-assisted 10.04. Read more