Lagos marks 70 buildings for demolition (Punch)
The Lagos State Building Control Agency said it has demolished a partially collapsed building at No. 19, Church Street, Lagos Island, and its set to demolish 70 others.
A statement on Friday by LASBCA spokesman, Mr Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, said the General Manager of the agency Gbolahan Oki, supervised the demolition exercise.
Speaking at the demolition site, Oki said it has became an urgency to immediately remove the dilapidated and distressed building, which was no longer fit for human habitation to prevent collapse.
He said several other defective buildings had been marked for removal to rid the state of defective buildings, in a bid to end the era of building collapses. Read more
Court remands driver over alleged vandalisation of railway track slippers (Leadership)
Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday remanded a cab driver, Richard Adeniji in the custody of Nigerians Correctional Services for allegedly vandalising railway track slippers, worth N10 million.
Justice Awogboro ordered that Adeniji be kept behind bars after he pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge brought against him by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
The defendant was accused of felony, willful damage and attempt to steal by the federal government.
The offence, according to the prosecutor, Mrs. Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, are punishable under sections 3 (6), 383, 507, of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under section 1(10), and 390 (a) of the same Act. of the same Act. Read more
How I met and married TB Joshua, by wife, Evelyn (Sun)
On Monday, July 5, 2021, she led the candlelight procession to begin the one-week programme leading to the burial of her late husband, Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua, Founder and General Overseer of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Lagos. He died suddenly in the early hours of Sunday, June 5, 2021 from a yet-to-be-publicly-disclosed ailment.
Other events include tribute service held on Tuesday, July 6, and Wednesday, July 7, in which dignitaries, acquaintances, associates, ministers of God from across the globe, members of his congregation, beneficiaries of his philanthropy and the public gave moving testimonies concerning the noble life that he lived.
In 2011, the man was estimated by Forbes magazine to be worth US$10-15 million. The tribute service was followed by service of songs/all-night praise, and lying-in-state, on Thursday, July, 8. The ceremony will be rounded off tomorrow with a thanksgiving service.
But throughout the pre-burial programmes, Evelyn, TB Joshua’s wife of 31-years marriage, exhibited extraordinary stoicism as she took everything in her stride. But as dignitaries gathered, on the day of service of tributes to pay compliments to her husband on the life of worthy legacy that the Nigerian charismatic pastor, prophet, philanthropist, and televangelist who mesmerised his world with prophecies and miracles of healing and deliverance, lived, she could not help but betray emotion as she talked about their marriage. Suddenly, her seemingly stoic mien gave way to a tear-choked voice halfway through her short testimony. Read more
Lagos-Ibadan trains carried 42,000 passengers in June -Amaechi (Tribune)
The Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt. Honourable Rotimi Amaechi has disclosed that the incessant breakdown of the Kaduna-Abuja trains is down to spare parts from China. This is even as he revealed that the Lagos-Ibadan trains conveyed 42,000 passengers in the month of June 2021.
Speaking on Friday after a routine inspection of the Lagos-Ibadan rail project in Lagos, Amaechi assured that some spare parts that are being expected for the Lagos-Ibadan trains will be used for the Kaduna-Abuja train locomotives when they arrive.
According to the Minister of Transportation, “After the last breakdown of the Kaduna-Abuja train, I instructed the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to rest that particular locomotive. I am surprised that there was a delay related to another breakdown in the early hours of today.
“The issue with the break down of the Kaduna-Abuja train is down to lack of maintenance which is attributable to a lack of spare parts from China. We have written to Mr President on this issue and he has graciously approved the purchase of spare parts for the Lagos-Ibadan trains. Very soon, the Chinese people will supply us with enough spare parts for the Lagos-Ibadan rail. By the time they do that, we will be forced to use some of these spare parts for the Kaduna-Abuja trains and hopefully, the issue of incessant breakdown of the trains will be resolved. Read more
3 suspected cultists arrested after initiation in Ogun (Punch)
Men of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested three suspected cultists after allegedly forcing a young man to drink blood during initiation rites.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Oyeyemi said a young man, Celestin Oyebuchi, complained that some people suspected to be cultists forced him to drink blood and tortured him to join their group.
Oyeyemi said Oyebuchi added that he was abducted by three cultists and taken to an uncompleted building for the initiation into their confraternity. Read more
UNICEF signs agreement with AU to supply 220m vaccines to 55 African countries (ThisDay)
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has signed an agreement with the African Union (AU) to supply 55 African countries COVID-19 vaccines.
The agreement comes as the African continent faces the steepest surge in
COVID-19 cases yet, and vaccine supply challenges have left many countries with large unvaccinated population.
Also, the agreement will result in the supply of up to 220 million single-dose vaccines by 2022 as part of UNICEF’s broader support for the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) to help provide vaccines for the 55. Read more
60 Nigerian, Ghanian youths to benefit from TRACE troops initiatives yearly (Guardian)
As part of its commitment towards empowering young people across the African continent, TRACE, an entertainment channel dedicated to Nigerian and Ghanaian music, has disclosed that 60 young West Africans from Nigeria and Ghana will benefit from its TRACE Troops, a multi-directional initiative with focus on education, entertainment and empowerment.
Disclosing this in Lagos, the Co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, TRACE, Oliver Laouchez, described the initiative as a corporate social responsibility aimed at educating and empowering 60 youth from Nigeria and Ghana yearly in their journey to become industry leaders.
He explained that the initiative would have a group of 15 youths between the ages of 16 and 28, who are passionate about Afro-urban culture and change across Nigeria and Ghana, hired for a three months period in paid internships. Read more
Police Service Commission reinstates 21 officers (Vanguard)
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the reinstatement of 21 police officers and directed the promotion and payment of arrears of some of the officers.
Mr Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations of the commission disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.
Ani said that the decision was reached at the 12th Plenary Meeting of the Commission held on Tuesday and Wednesday and presided over by the Chairman, Mr Musiliu Smith. Read more
Kaduna abduction: Baptist Conference urges FG to track down bandits (Punch)
The Southern Kaduna Baptist Conference has urged the Federal Government to track down the abductors of 121 students of Bethel Baptist High School, Damishi, Kaduna, kidnapped on July 5.
President of the Conference, Rev. Donald Arak, made the call in a statement issued in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, on Saturday.
Gunmen invaded the school and took away scores of students and have demanded for bags of rice, beans, vegetable oil and salt among other foodstuffs from the school to keep feeding their victims.
Arak described the abduction of the students as ungodly, just as he wondered how minors could be forcefully taken without considering the impact on their mental health. Read more
How Danny Trejo’s criminal past helped him become a Hollywood star (NYPost)
In 1993, actor Danny Trejo was walking through San Quentin State Prison, where he was filming scenes for the movie, “Blood In, Blood Out.”
The cast and crew stopped at cells C545 to C550, which were blocked off for the filming, and suddenly Trejo felt an eerie sense of déjà vu.
“We were climbing the stairs to the set and with every step, my heart pounded harder,” Trejo writes in his new memoir, “Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood” (Atria Books), out now.
“When we reached the flight between the fourth and fifth tier, I stopped. I was standing on the same steps where [fellow prisoner] Tyrone stabbed the man who tried to kill me.”
C550 was his former cell, his home from 1966-1968 for selling heroin to an undercover cop.
After rehearsing the scene, Trejo entered C550 with a fellow ex-prisoner on set and said a prayer. Read more
Charlottesville set to remove Robert E Lee statue that sparked rally (BBC)
A statue of a US Confederate general at the centre of a violent rally in Charlottesville nearly four years ago is to be removed on Saturday.
The statue of General Robert E Lee and another of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson will be put into storage.
Plans to remove the Lee statue prompted a white nationalist rally in August 2017.
An anti-racism protester, Heather Heyer, was murdered by a neo-Nazi who drove into her at a counter-protest. Read more
“Basic Instinct” director denies ‘tricking’ Sharon Stone into infamous scene (Metro)
Basic Instinct director Paul Vehoeven has denied tricking Sharon Stone into going without underwear for the film’s infamous leg crossing scene, calling the actress’ version of events ‘impossible’.
The Dutch director, who is known for blockbusters like Robocop and True Lies, as well as his proclivity for combining social satire, sexual content and graphic violence, is currently promoting his new release, Benedetta, about two Italian 17th-century lesbian nuns, at Cannes Film Festival.
Speaking to Variety, he refuted the claims that Stone had made in her autobiography, The Beauty of Living Twice, where she said she was asked to remove her underwear by him because the white colour was reflecting the light and that he promised her she would not have her vagina seen in the film.
Calling his memory ‘radically different’ to hers, Verhoeven was still complimentary towards the actress, explaining: ‘That does not stand in the way and has nothing to do with the wonderful way that she portrayed Catherine Tramell. Read more
Grizzly bear shot dead after killing woman in Montana (BBC)
A grizzly bear that dragged a woman from her tent and killed her in Montana has been shot dead.
Leah Lokan, a 65-year-old nurse from California, was on a mountain biking trip with two friends when the 400lb (181kg) bear attacked their camp in the early hours of Tuesday.
Officials hunted the animal for three days, setting traps in the hope of luring it in.
Staff wearing night-vision goggles shot the bear as it raided a chicken coop. Read more
Senator becomes 3rd to claim power in Haiti after president’s assassination (NYPost)
With Haiti already reeling in the aftermath of the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, a third politician has claimed he is the leader of the country.
Joseph Lambert, who leads what remains of the Haitian Senate, announced Friday evening that he was voted provisional president by his fellow senators, the Miami Herald reported.
But the vote took place among just 10 senators, because of rest of the 30-member chamber’s members left office in January. Since Haiti hasn’t held elections, those representatives were never replaced.
Lambert joined two others claiming to rule the island nation since Moïse was killed in his home early Wednesday. Read more
Mum, 45, died from Delta variant after turning down vaccine (Metro)
A 45-year-old mum in the US died of coronavirus after she chose not to get the vaccine because she was worried about potential side effects.
Tricia Jones got ‘freaked out’ after seeing the small number of people who suffered blood clots or heart problems from the vaccine. Her fear worsened when her own mum had a ‘rough’ time after her jab and Ms Jones decided to ‘hold off’.
But the mum-of-two, from Kansas City, Missouri, contracted the Delta variant first detected in India at the beginning of May, and she was put onto a ventilator on May 13, FOX4 reported.
Although Ms Jones’s coronavirus symptoms cleared, she was left with rapidly worsening respiratory problems and she eventually died on June 9. Read more
Bangladesh factory fire: Owner arrested after blaze kills 52 (BBC)
Police in Bangladesh have arrested the owner of a factory where at least 52 people died in a fire late on Thursday.
Abul Hashem, the owner of Hashem Foods, and four of his sons were among eight people detained on Saturday. Police say they all face murder charges.
Authorities said many of those who died were trapped inside the building because a main exit was locked.
Children were among the victims and a separate inquiry into the use of child labour has been launched. Read more
Why do footballers wear ‘bras’?- Undershirt clothing, explained (Metro)
Scoring for your team always brings out a huge wave of emotion in players – so much so that many lose their shirts as they celebrate with their teammates.
While removing your shirt during a game is a bookable offence in many leagues across the world, that doesn’t stop players from tearing off their jersey in the heat of the moment.
Just recently, Artem Dovbyk removed his shirt after scoring the winner in Ukraine’s 2-1 victory over Sweden in their Euro 2020 round of 16 match.
In doing so, he revealed a garment that has become common attire for many players, a sports bra-esque item worn across their chest.
But what exactly is this undershirt clothing, and why is it that more players are starting to wear them? Read more
Australia’s Ashleigh Barty wins first Wimbledon title (Punch)
Ashleigh Barty won her first Wimbledon title on the 50th anniversary of fellow indigenous Australian Evonne Goolagong Cawley’s maiden crown, beating Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Australian — who wore a specially-designed dress in tribute to Cawley’s iconic scallop one she sported in 1971 — adds the Wimbledon crown to her 2019 French Open title.
“I hope I made Evonne proud,” said Barty. Read more
Ring of Honour title contender Bandido helping Mexico’s COVID-19 efforts (NYPost)
A man honoring his Mexican wrestling heritage with a luchador mask is stepping up to help ensure the people of his country protect themselves with face coverings of their own during a global pandemic.
Professional wrestler Bandido, who will wrestle champion Rush for the Ring of Honor world title in the main event of the Best in the World pay-per-view on Sunday (7 p.m., Honor Club/FITE) has been out in the community since February promoting mask-wearing and hand sanitizing in Mexico. After having his own bout with COVID-19 in December, the 26-year-old from Torreon jumped at the chance to join other luchadores from his country, in conjunction with a youth office in the Mexico City government, to get the message out.
“That was very important for me because if I can help a lot of people I’m gonna do it,” Bandido told The Post in a Zoom interview. Read more
Paul Mariner: Former Ipswich and England striker dies aged 68 (BBC)
Former England striker Paul Mariner, who won the FA Cup and Uefa Cup with Ipswich Town, has died aged 68.
Mariner began his league career at Plymouth Argyle and also played for Arsenal and Portsmouth.
He made 35 appearances for England, scoring 13 goals.
“We regretfully inform you that Paul passed away peacefully on 9 July surrounded by his family, after a brief battle with brain cancer,” said a statement from Mariner’s family.
“We would like to thank all the people who came to see him through his illness for their support and the messages that were sent to him; they meant a great deal to him and us. Read more
England midfielder Phil Foden misses training before Euro 2020 final vs Italy (Metro)
Phil Foden has missed England’s last training session before their Euro 2020 final against Italy on Sunday evening.
Gareth Southgate’s players made their final preparations at St George’s Park on Saturday morning ahead of their showdown at Wembley.
But Foden, who has started two games for England at the tournament, was absent due to a ‘minor knock’ and has been left out as a ‘precaution’.
Every England player, including Foden, has also passed their UEFA mandated PCR tests for coronavirus. Read more
Kevin Durant was never going to miss this Olympics opportunity (NYPost)
From NBA championships to scoring titles to gold medals, Kevin Durant has nothing left to prove on a basketball court. But he still gave up a month of his offseason to commit to Team USA and a trip to Tokyo for the Olympics. Why?
Both Durant and Team USA coach Gregg Popovich said don’t overthink the question. It’s simple. The Nets superstar just loves to hoop.
And to win.
“I committed to USA Basketball when I was coming out of college,” Durant said. “And every chance that I can get that I’m healthy and my mind is in the right place to play basketball, I’m going to go out there and play.
“Finished the year off healthy, the regular season and the playoffs, so I felt it’d be cool to get a kickstart on next season by getting in shape a little earlier in the summer with Team USA. [I’m] fortunate to be around the best players in the world and around the best athletes as well, so I just wanted to take in the experience.” Read more
Nuno Tavares: Arsenal sign left-back from Benfica in £8m deal (BBC)
Arsenal have signed Benfica left-back Nuno Tavares in a deal worth about £8m.
The 21-year-old, who played against Arsenal in the Europa League last season, is the Gunners’ first signing of the summer.
He made 25 first-team appearances for the Lisbon club and also been capped for Portugal Under-21s.”He is a young player with great promise who has developed very well,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. Read more