Lagos LGAs Poll: Police deploy resources, warn against violence (Guardian)
The Police Command in Lagos State has deployed human and material resources to provide adequate security before, during and after the local government elections scheduled to hold tomorrow (Saturday).
The Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, disclosed this on Friday in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Odumosu had on Friday met with Area commanders, Divisional Police Officers, Squadron/ Tactical Units leaders for hitch free elections.
The police boss said that directives were given to the officers and men to ensure that all Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission’s facilities, sensitive materials, polling units and collation centres were adequately protected. Read more
Reactions as Senator kneels before ex-Governor Ibori (Punch)
A picture showing the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, James Manager, kneeling before a former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, has gone viral on social media, eliciting reactions from many Nigerians.
In the picture, Senator Manager is seen wearing an Ankara outfit with a face mask below his chin and his hands folded while Ibori in a blue outfit sits on a red and black couch.
Ibori was governor of the oil-rich Delta State from 1999 to 2007 but was later convicted for embezzling billions of state funds while Manager has been a senator since 2003 and is one of the longest-serving lawmakers in the country.
Ibori has, however, remained influential in the state despite his criminal record. Read more
Police arraign 2 for alleged breach of peace (Punch)
Two accused persons, Seun Alade, 42, and Rafiu Aminu, 40, were on Friday arraigned before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for alleged breach of peace in a community.
The police charged the defendants with breach of peace to which they pleaded not guilty.
The Prosecutor, ASP Benson Emuerhi, had told the court that the duo committed the offence on June 3 at Jagundeyi St., Ayobo, Lagos.
“The defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by blocking the road leading to the community for no just reason,” Emuerhi said. Read more
Lagos LGA polls: Observers task LASIEC on free, fair exercise (Vanguard)
An international election monitoring group, Yiaga Africa, has stressed the need for Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC in ensuring a free, and transparent exercise in accountability to boost citizens confidence in the LGA election process on Saturday, July 24, 2021, elections into 20 Local Government Areas, LGAs, and 37 Local Council Development Area, LCDAs, of Lagos State.
The group also expressed fear over possible apathy that could mar the exercise in view of the low sensitization of the electorate. Read more
Expert attributes Apapa gridlock reduction to less importation (Guardian)
Mr Abdulhai Inua Mohammed, former Vice chairman, National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), on Friday, attributed the reduction of gridlock on Apapa port access roads to declining importation.
Mohammed, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, dismissed claims that the reduction of the gridlock was due to the e-call-up system of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
According to Mohammed, the reduction of gridlock is not on all the port access roads, as the TinCan Island axis remains a nightmare to commuters.
“We can say that the gridlock has reduced but the true situation is that importation has reduced drastically, and yes traffic has reduced in some areas but in other areas, it is still a nightmare. Read more
Bank fraud: Ex-banker, wife, mother-in-law bag jail term (Punch)
An ex-banker, Ebenezer Alonge, together with his wife, Olamide Oyinlola, and his mother-in-law, Isakunle Eunice, have been convicted and sentenced to cumulative 60 years jail term at the Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti.
The trio, before Justice Adekanye Ogunmoye, was convicted of a 12-count charge of conspiracy and bank fraud brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibadan Zone.
This was contained in a statement by the EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, on Friday, where it was revealed that the trio conspired to steal depositors’ fund to the tune of N21 million.
“It was alleged that sometime in February 2018 the bank received a complaint concerning the financial impropriety of the sum of N62, 400.00 in respect of a customer’s account,” the statement revealed. Read more
Kano makes NIN mandatory for students in govt schools (Vanguard)
Kano State Government has made National Identification Number, NIN mandatory for students of government secondary schools in the state.
The state Commissioner for Education, Muhammad Sanusi Sa’id Kiru who announced the new directive in a statement signed by his Public Relations Officer, Aliyu Yusuf said the students (JSS 1 to SS 2) must register and obtain the number.
Kiru said the directive becomes imperative to enable the ministry to establish an updated data base for all students in the state for the purposes of budgetary planning, keeping optimum records to eradicate manipulations of students record during examinations and, chances for malpractices. Read more
Public display of affluence dangerous, DSS warns (Guardian)
The Department of State Services (DSS) has warned Nigerians on the dangers of public display of affluence, saying it is great security risc.
Mr Paul Oduh, the Deputy Director, Security Enforcement of the secrete Service in Kwara Command, gave the warning on Friday in Ilorin.
He said this in a paper presentation, entitled: “Security tips for health practitioners in Kwara”, at a symposium organised by the state branch of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).
Oduh hinted that such show of affluence in public was one of the factors that usually attract attention of criminal elements. Read more
Emmanuel Macron changes phone and number after reports of hack attempts (NYPost)
French President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly changed his phone after reports that he was among a group of politicians, journalists and human rights activists targeted with Israeli-made spyware called Pegasus.
Le Monde reported this week that Macron and 14 French ministers were flagged for potential surveillance by Morocco, though authorities in the North African country have denied using Pegasus and insisted the allegations were false, according to the BBC.
The spyware allows users to extract messages, photos and emails from iPhones and Android devices, whose calls can be recorded, while the microphones and cameras can be secretly activated.
It was unclear if the software was ever installed on Macron’s phone, but his number was among a list of 50,000 contacts believed to be targeted by clients of Pegasus’ creator, Israeli-based NSO Group, since 2016, according to the BBC. Read more
Italy Extends Its COVID-19 State of Emergency to December 31 (VOA)
Italy on Thursday announced new anti-COVID 19 measures as infections have started rising again, mainly due to the highly contagious delta variant. The number of new coronavirus infections has doubled in the past week, with the country now recording more than 5,000 new cases daily. With fears that the number will continue to grow, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Thursday evening outlined new rules that will go into effect Aug. 6 and continue through Dec. 31.
Draghi said the so-called Green Pass will be required in Italy for many services, including entertainment and leisure. The Green Pass certifies that an individual has received at least one vaccine dose, has tested negative in the last 48 hours or has recently recovered from the virus.
The rules make the Green Pass a requirement to eat in restaurants and bars and for outdoor sports events and museums, movie theaters, gyms, fairs and meetings. Read more
“The Jeffersons” star Marla Gibbs describes herself as 90 going on 30 (PageSix)
Marla Gibbs just turned 90, but she doesn’t see it that way.
The “Jeffersons” star exclusively told Page Six in a new interview that she viewed her June 14 birthday as her third time turning 30.
“You have to understand that we’re spiritual beings as well as physical,” she explained. “And as spiritual beings, we have time, we have no age, so I choose to vibrate on 30.”
Gibbs added that 30 is how old she feels and “that tells me that I can work as long as I want to.” Read more
Why Liverpool lost its UNESCO World Heritage listing (DW)
The UK ranks eighth in the worldwide list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. But instead of the previous 32 distinguished sites, there are now only 31.
It’s a day of shame for the city, Liverpool City Council member Richard Kemp wrote on Twitter.
“When we received the status in 2004 it helped our work, alongside winning the European Capital of Culture, in changing round the national and global and view of our City,” Kemp commented on WordPress. “Until these two things happened, we were just Beatles and Football globally …. People shunned our City for visiting, living and investment.” Read more
Pentagon admits it trained 7 of Haiti president’s murderers, but denies ‘encouraging’ assassination (RT)
The Pentagon’s top spokesman has confirmed that at least seven Colombians implicated in the assassination of Haiti’s president had received US training in the past, but denied it might have somehow “encouraged” the hit.
“Thus far, we’ve identified seven individuals who were former members of the Colombian military that had received some sort of … US funded and provided education and training,” Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday, stressing that such training is “very common,” and did not “[lead] to or [encourage] what happened in Haiti.”
While Kirby declined to provide details on an individual basis for the seven assassins, he said the instruction included “cadet leadership development, counter-drug operations, noncommissioned officer professional development, small-unit leadership training, human rights training, emergency medical training, some helicopter maintenance training, and those kinds of things.” Read more
India: Dozens killed in flooding, landslides (DW)
Dams and rivers are “overflowing” in western India, authorities said, with the nation’s military deployed to help evacuate the survivors.
At least 36 people have died in landslides and flooding caused by heavy monsoon downpours in western India.
The sudden rainfall prompted the overnight rescue of more than 1,000 people trapped by floodwaters and many stranded on rooftops and buses. Parts of the country received up to 594 mm (23 inches) of rainfall over 24 hours. Three landslides were reported in Raigad district in the western state of Maharashtra, home to India’s financial capital Mumbai.
“Dams and rivers are overflowing,” Uddhav Thackeray, the head of Maharashtra’s state government, told journalists.
“We are forced to release water from dams, and, accordingly, we are moving people residing near the river banks to safer places. Read more
Tokyo Olympics officially begin under spectre of pandemic (AlJazeera)
The opening ceremony of the Summer Olympic Games has begun in Tokyo, with a blaze of white and indigo fireworks officially kicking off the quadrennial international sporting event being held under the unprecedented circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach were followed by a small delegation carrying the Japanese flag as they entered Friday’s ceremony, which was initially scheduled to be held about a year earlier before its postponement due to surging COVID-19 infections across the world.
The procession was followed by a moment of silence for victims of the pandemic, as well as Israeli Olympians killed during the 1972 Munich games, before the first of an expected 5,700 athletes began streaming into the ceremony. Read more
Son Heung-min: Tottenham forward signs new 4-year contract (BBC)
Tottenham forward Son Heung-min has signed a new four-year contract keeping him at the club until 2025.
Son, 29, has scored 107 goals in 280 appearances for the club since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015.
He has been capped 93 times by South Korea, scoring 27 goals and appearing at two World Cups.
“There was no decision. It was easy. I’m so happy to be here and will be so glad to see the fans again soon,” he said. Read more
Manchester United confirm signing of England star Jadon Sancho in $100m deal (RT)
Jadon Sancho has described his $100 million move to Manchester United as a “dream come true”, posing with boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and being serenaded by the club after sealing his move ahead of the new Premier League season.
England sensation Sancho endured a miserable end to a memorable Euro 2020 campaign less than two weeks ago, becoming one of three Three Lions stars to miss a penalty in an agonizing defeat on penalties to Italy following a 1-1 draw in the final at Wembley Stadium.
The flying full-back who scored the opener that day, Luke Shaw, is now one of his team-mates after United finalized one of the most hotly-anticipated signings of the summer, ending Sancho’s successful four-year introduction to senior football at Borussia Dortmund, where he has become one of German top flight the Bundesliga’s most decorated talents. Read more
Tokyo Olympics: Extreme heat & humidity at Games as Russian archer faints (BBC)
A Russian archer fainted during Olympic qualifying as intense heat in Tokyo was in the spotlight just hours before the Games officially open.
Svetlana Gomboeva, 23, collapsed while checking her scores. She regained consciousness and left on a stretcher.
Earlier this week experts said Tokyo’s heat and humidity could pose a significant threat to competitors.
The Japanese Environment Agency has issued heatstroke alerts, warning the public not to exercise outside. Read more
Yankees demote Brooks Kriske after epic meltdown (NYPost)
Yankees reliever Brooks Kriske wishes he could go back in time.
Kriske became the first pitcher in Yankees history to throw four or more wild pitches in a single inning when he blew the Yankees lead in a 5-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox. After the game, he was sent back down to Triple-A with no corresponding move announced.
“Just pure execution,’’ Kriske told reporters. “It’s part of the game. Obviously, I’ve got to do a better job. I want to be someone the team can rely on in big spots. It’s something I’m gonna have to do better… It sucks to be the one to blow it for the team.”
To start the tenth inning, the 27-year-old had Rafael Devers on second. Devers moved to third after the first wild pitch. The next wild pitch sent Devers home to tie up the game at 4. Read more
Cleveland’s baseball team goes from Indians to Guardians (AP)
Known as the Indians since 1915, Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team will be called Guardians.
The ballclub announced the name change Friday with a video on Twitter narrated by actor Tom Hanks, ending months of internal discussions triggered by a national reckoning by institutions and teams to permanently drop logos and names considered racist.
The choice of Guardians will undoubtedly be criticized by many of the club’s die-hard fans.
The organization spent most of the past year whittling down a list of potential names that was at nearly 1,200 just over a month ago. But the process quickly accelerated and the club landed on Guardians. Read more