Lagos records 4 COVID-19 related deaths in 4 days (Guardian)
Lagos State recorded four COVID-19 related deaths between July 14 and July 17, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, has said.
Abayomi made the disclosure through his Facebook account @ProfAkinolaAbayomi, on Monday while giving the state’s COVID-19 update for the period.
The commissioner said that the deaths increased the state’s COVID-19 related mortality to 363.
He, however, did not give additional information about the deceased’s sex or age. Read more
Court grants 49 Yoruba agitators 300k bail each (Vanguard)
A Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, Monday, granted bail to the 49 Yoruba Nation agitators arrested in the state.
Disclosing this the Communications Manager of Yoruba Self-Determination Groups, Ilana Omo Oodua, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, in a statement opined that the agitators are to provide N300, 000 with two sureties each.
Bellow are their names:
“Olasunkanmi Tanimola; Kabiru Lawanson; Chinemerem Emmanuel; Rasaki Musibau; Lukman Olalade; Olasanmi Oladipupo; Bashiru Shittu; Taofeek Abdusalam; Olamilekan Abata; Abdullahi Sikiru; Tosin Adeleye; Babatunde Lawal. Read more
Adewale Ayuba, Jaywon, others hold procession for Sound Sultan (Punch)
Fans of late Olanrewaju Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan, including celebrities, gathered on Sunday for a procession and night of tributes to the musician who died at the age of 44.
Sound Sultan died following a hard-fought battle with Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma on July 11.
ATCL is a fast-growing, aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with symptoms including larger than normal lymph nodes in different areas of the body, joint pains, anaemia and night sweats.
The procession kicked off from ‘Stone Field’ on 23 Road, where the late musician played basketball and featured in music concerts.
The procession continued through Fourth Avenue to Third Avenue then to Fifth Avenue before they converged at Federal Housing Authority Field on 23 Road for tributes. Read more
Lagos set to float $2b agric commodities notes on LCFE (Vanguard)
In a strategic move to revolutionize Agriculture, especially, food production, the Lagos State Government is set to raise $2 billion by floating Agricultural Commodities Notes in partnership with the Lagos Commodities and Futures Exchange (LCFE) to guarantee food security.
As preparatory to achieving the objectives of the Agricultural Roadmap, some top officials of the State Government have held stakeholder engagements with the Management of LCFE, the second time in the series.
Addressing the stakeholders at the Commodities Exchange, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Abisola Olusanya explained that the State had determined to end food scarcity by transforming Agriculture through capital injection.
According to her, a large expanse of land had been developed to create central logistics as hubs in the key locations of the State. Read more
Court declines order to suspend LG elections in Lagos (Tribune)
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Monday, declined to make an order of status quo ante that would have suspended the local government elections in Lagos scheduled for Saturday, July 24, 2021.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke, rather, adjourned till November 29, proceedings in the suit filed by 11 political parties.
Justice Aneke gave the ruling after upholding the argument of counsel to the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), Mr Kemi Pinheiro, SAN.
The 11 parties are Alliance for Social Democrats; All Grand Alliance Party; Change Advocacy Party; Mega Party of Nigeria; Progressive People’s Alliance; Save Nigeria Congress; We The People’s of Nigeria; Young Democratic Party; Advanced Congress of Democrats and Mass Movement of Nigeria. Read more
SEC settles lingering dispute with Oando Plc (Vanguard)
Two years after it imposed sanctions on Oando Plc, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), on Monday said it has reached a settlement over with the indigenous oil company “in the overriding interest of the shareholders of the company and the capital market”.
The Commission in a Circular released in Abuja and signed by the management said all litigations on the matter would be withdrawn immediately.
According to the statement, “the company has reached a settlement with the Commission on the following terms amongst others: Immediate withdrawal of all legal actions filed by the company and all affected directors; Payment of all monetary penalties stipulated in the Commission’s letter of May 31, 2019; and an undertaking by the company to implement corporate governance improvements.
“Part of the terms also requires the submission by the company of quarterly reports on its compliance with the terms of the Settlement Agreement; the Investments and Securities Act, 2007; the SEC Rules and Regulations; the National Code of Corporate Governance and the SEC Guidelines to the Code of Corporate Governance”. Read more
Ndume prays court to discharge him as Maina’s surety (Punch)
The Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, on Monday, applied to the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to formally discharge him as a surety in the matter against Abdulrasheed Maina.
Recall that Maina, a former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on N2bn money laundering charges before court.
Ndume, Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, had reportedly said he could no longer stand as surety for Maina after the latter jumped bail and fled the country.
Ndume had also said he would direct his legal team to begin the process of terminating the surety bond he signed for Maina because he no longer trust Maina. Read more
NSCDC arrests 6 suspected cultists, recovers arms (Guardian)
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Cross River has arrested six suspected cultists with two locally made pistols, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Commandant of NSCDC in C/River, Mr Samuel Fadeyi, who disclosed this in an interview with NAN in Calabar, said the suspects were arrested in a hotel in Calabar after the Corps noticed their suspicious moves.
Fadeyi, who resumed as the new Commandant of the Corps in the state on June 15, said that no suspected criminal would be spared if arrested.
He told NAN that the suspects were still undergoing profiling, adding that under his watch, every arrested suspect would be prosecuted accordingly. Read more
Why Matt Damon’s 15-year-old daughter won’t watch his movies (PageSix)
Matt Damon’s teenage daughter refuses to watch her famous father’s films — including his Oscar winner “Good Will Hunting.”
“You know, my 15-year-old refuses to see it,” he said in a new interview on “CBS Sunday Morning.” “She doesn’t want to see any movies that I’m in that she thinks might be good.”
But he said Isabella’s disses are all in good fun.
“She just likes to give me s–t,” he said. “My daughter said, ‘Yeah, remember that movie you did, “The Wall”?’ I said, ‘It was called “The Great Wall.”‘ She goes, ‘Dad, there’s nothing great about that movie.’”
The actor added with a laugh, “She keeps my feet firmly on the ground.” Read more
China accused of cyber-attack on Microsoft Exchange servers (BBC)
The UK and EU have accused China of carrying out a major cyber attack earlier this year.
The attack targeted Microsoft Exchange servers, affecting over a quarter of a million servers around the world.
The EU was the first to put out a statement saying the attack came from “the territory of China”, while the UK said Chinese state-backed actors were responsible. The US is expected to follow suit.
The countries have also said the Chinese Ministry of State Security was responsible for other espionage activity. Read more
Anti-lockdown protesters demand end to lockdown on day lockdown ended (Metro)
People have taken to the streets of London yet again to protest against coronavirus rules – despite today being the long-awaited Freedom Day.
Thousands of demonstrators gathered outside Parliament this morning and over lunchtime, but their message seemed to be unclear.
People have regularly taken part in protests against lockdowns and restrictions due to Covid-19 over the past 16 months, but now such arguments appear almost redundant as life can largely return to normal as of today.
Bottles were thrown at police officers who clashed with activists in the near 30-degree heat in London. Read more
Kris Wu: Brands drop China star over teen sex allegations (BBC)
Several brands in China have cut ties with top Chinese-Canadian celebrity Kris Wu after he was accused of luring young girls, including underage teenagers, into having sex with him.
The allegations, by a woman claiming to be one of his victims, have provoked a huge outcry in China.
Many online have called for Wu to quit entertainment and leave the country.
Wu, a popular singer and actor, has denied the accusations and said he has filed a defamation suit. Read more
Zoom stock tanks on news of $14.7 billion Five9 deal (NYPost)
Zoom’s stock tanked Monday morning after the video conferencing company revealed plans to buy call centre software company Five9 for $14.7 billion.
An hour after markets opened, Zoom shares were trading down 3.9 per cent at $348.00, according to MarketWatch data, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index was down just 1.5 percent.
Meanwhile, shares of Five9 — which sells software used by call center workers for companies like Under Armour and Lululemon — were up about 4.3 percent at $185.17.
Under the terms of the all-stock deal, which was approved by the boards of both companies, Five9’s shares are valued at about $200 each — a serious premium over their current price. Read more
Kanye West debuts new album at private Las Vegas listening party (Metro)
Kanye West looks set to release his first set of new music following his divorce from Kim Kardashian, after reportedly playing his upcoming album at a listening party.
The Stronger rapper is said to have hosted a private preview of his new tracks at a star-studded bash in Las Vegas over the weekend, with photos of the large queues outside the venue posted online.
Social media personality Justin Laboy, who had the pleasure of attending the event, shared an update with fans and claimed the album was finished.
Giving his glowing review, Justin tweeted: ‘Kanye played his new album for me & @KDTrey5 last night in Vegas. The production is light years ahead of it’s time, and the bars sound like he’s broke & hungry trying to get signed again.’ Read more
Naomi Osaka covers 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (PageSix)
Game, swim, match.
Tennis champ Naomi Osaka is one of three cover stars of the 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, on sale July 22.
The four-time Grand Slam singles champion models a glossy black mesh-paneled Norma Kamali swimsuit ($155), along with a pair of giant seashell statement earrings from Beads by Cowrie.
Osaka, 23, is the first black athlete to cover the iconic magazine issue, but she’s not the only famous face gracing the glossy this year; Megan Thee Stallion also scored a coveted cover, making her only the second musical artiste and the first female rapper to do so. Read more
Arsenal sign Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht in £17m transfer deal (Metro)
Arsenal have completed a £17million deal to land Anderlecht midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The 21-year-old has put pen to paper on a long-term contract and becomes the Gunners’ second signing of the summer transfer window following the recent £8m arrival of Benfica left-back Nuno Tavares, 21.
Sambi Lokonga is regarded as one of the most promising young midfielders in European football and wore the captain’s armband at Anderlecht last season despite his tender age, having risen through the club’s academy.
The Belgian underwent a medical with Arsenal last Friday and will wear the No.23 shirt in north London. Read more
Tokyo Olympics: Female USA gymnast tests positive for Covid-19 (BBC)
A female USA gymnast has tested positive for Covid-19 and another team member has been identified as a close contact.
The gymnast, who is not displaying any symptoms, tested positive at the team’s training camp in the city of Inzai.
Both athletes have now been transferred to a hotel to quarantine with the rest of the squad having moved to Athletes’ Village in Tokyo.
The US Olympic Committee (USOC) told BBC Sport the athlete was an alternate. Read more
Lewis Hamilton racially abused online after British Grand Prix win (BBC)
Lewis Hamilton’s victory at Silverstone cut Max Verstappen’s championship lead to eight points
Lewis Hamilton has been the target of racist abuse on social media after his victory at Sunday’s British Grand Prix.
Hamilton received a 10-second penalty after a collision with title rival Max Verstappen during the first lap of the race, which led to the Dutchman crashing out.
Mercedes, F1 and governing body the FIA condemned the abuse “in the strongest possible terms”.
“These people have no place in our sport,” read a joint statement.
“We urge that those responsible should be held accountable for their actions. Read more
Irish gymnast Rhys McClenaghan debunks the ‘anti-sex’ bed myth at Olympics (NYPost)
These beds are ready for an Olympic marathon.
Irish gymnast Rhys Mcclenaghan took to Twitter to debunk the touted theory that the 100 per cent recyclable cardboard beds — designed by Japanese company Airweave — can’t withstand sexual activities between athletes.
“In today’s episode of fake news at the Olympic Games, the beds are meant to be anti-sex. They’re made out of cardboard, yes, but apparently they’re meant to break at any sudden movements,” McClenaghan says in the video, while jumping up and down on the bed.
“It’s fake, fake news!”
On Monday, news of the “anti-sex” beds in the Olympic Village in Tokyo sparked reactions from a number of athletes, as well as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which defended the “strong” beds. Read more
Paralympian Olivia Breen left ‘speechless’ after being told her sprint briefs were ‘too short and inappropriate’ (Metro)
British Paralympian Olivia Breen was left ‘speechless’ after being told her sprint briefs were ‘too short and inappropriate’.
Double Paralympic world champion Breen was competing in a long jump event at the English Championships at the weekend when a volunteer raised concerns about her attire.
The Welsh star, who has cerebral palsy, questioned whether a male athlete would face similar questions in a social media post.‘I am always very grateful for the incredible volunteers who officiate at athletics events,’ said Breen, who will represent Team GB at the Tokyo Paralympics next month. Read more