Lagos records another five COVID-19 related deaths (Vanguard)
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Tuesday announced five COVID-19 related deaths for Lagos State, increasing the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 72.
The NCDC made the disclosure in its COVID-19 Situation Report for June 8.
According to NCDC, seven COVID-19 related deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours in three states with Lagos having five, while Kano and Katsina recorded one death each.
The centre disclosed that Lagos also recorded 128 new COVID-19 infections, increasing its total number of confirmed cases to 5,895. Read more
Sanwo-Olu appoints Olusanya as acting Agric Commissioner (Vanguard)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has appointed Ms. Abisola Olusanya as Agriculture Commissioner in an acting capacity.
The appointment, contained in a circular with reference number 064 released by the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, on Monday, came as a replacement for the former Commissioner, Prince Gbolahan Lawal.
Lawal was last Sunday, installed the 15th Oniru of Iruland, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Victoria Island, after he resigned his appointment, which was subsequently approved by the governor. Read more
Orji Kalu resumes in Senate, attends plenary (Punch)
The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, resumed normal legislative duties at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday.
The former governor of Abia State arrived at the Senate wing of the nation’s parliament at exactly 9:00 am, The PUNCH reports.
He exchanged pleasantries with his colleagues and acknowledged greetings from legislative staff and security operatives.
Speaking with journalists on arrival at the entrance to the Senate chamber, Kalu described his experience as a good one. Read more
No to estimated billing system in power sector – Gbajabiamila (DailyTrust)
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, says estimated billing system in the power sector “remains a no, no,” and whatever needs to be done to address the issue must be carried out. He said this on Tuesday in Abuja, while inaugurating the House Ad hoc Committee on Power Sector Reforms, chaired by House Leader, Rep. Alhassan Doguwa. We’ve complied with NERC order on estimated billing – AEDC NERC to sanction 11 DisCos for overbilling power consumers Gbajabiamila said setting up the ad-hoc committee became necessary because of the resolve of the house to ensure a comprehensive review of all legislation relating to the power sector. He added that he was personally concerned about the myriad of challenges in the power sector. Read more
Wife bathes husband with hot water over quarrel in Bayelsa (Guardian)
A middle-aged housewife is currently on the run in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, after bathing her husband with hot water over domestic quarrel between them.
Her husband, Mr Oyinkro Miebode, was sleeping in his sitting room in Kpansia area of the state capital in the morning of June 3, when his wife poured hot water on him, inflicting him with severe skin burns.
Oyinkro, who spoke to our correspondent, said trouble started on the evening of June 2, when he slapped her for raining insults on him because he came too early to meet her somewhere in town to pick up her mobile phone, which he normally kept for her at night due to the incessant robbery by cultists in the area. Read more
Police arrest 60 suspects over Akwa Ibom killings (Punch)
Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it has arrested 60 suspected cultists in connection to the killings in Inen community in the Orukanam Local Government Area of the state.
Two persons – one Ofonime Uduak and Iniobong Silas – were killed on Saturday while residents fled their homes following the clash between members of Debam and Iceland confraternities.
A statement by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Nnudam Fredrick, on Monday said the deceased were suspected members of the two cult groups. Read more
FG to auction long-term bonds on June 17 (DailyTrust)
The Debt Management Office (DMO) will offer a five, 15, and 30-year bond at 12.75 percent, 12.50 percent, and 12.98 percent interest rates respectively. This was contained in a document published on the Debt Management Office (DMO) website on Tuesday. FG records over-subscription of February savings bond N50bn loan: CBN waives guarantor requirement for SMEs, households The document showed the breakdown of the N150bn bond to include a N40bn five-year re-opening bond that will mature in April 2023, a N50bn 15-year reopening bond that will mature in April 2035 and N60bn 30-year bond expected to mature in April 2050. The document also showed that the auction date is June 17, 2020 and the settlement date is June 19, 2020. Read more
Man in court for allegedly raping physically challenged girl in Ogun (Guardian)
A 35-year-old man, Oluwafemi Kehinde, was on Tuesday arraigned in an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun, for allegedly raping a physically challenged girl (name withheld).
Kehinde, who lives at No.36 Success Street, Abule Isale, Ilogbo Road, Ota, is facing a count charge of raping.
The Prosecutor, Insp.E.O. Adaraloye, told the court that the defendant committed the offence at his residence at about 10.30 p.m. on Feb. 12. Read more
Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza dies (Guardian)
Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has died of heart failure, the government said Tuesday.
“The Government of the Republic of Burundi announces with great sadness the unexpected death of His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza, President of the Republic of Burundi… following heart failure on June 8, 2020,” it said in a post on its official Twitter account.
An evangelical who believed he was chosen by God to rule the East African nation, Nkurunziza came to power in 2005, when he was selected by parliament.
His controversial and ultimately successful bid for a third term in 2015 plunged the country into crisis. Read more
Tanzania’s main opposition leader attacked months ahead of election (France24)
Tanzania’s main opposition leader Freeman Mbowe was attacked by unidentified people as he entered his home early on Tuesday, his party said, the latest misfortune to befall the opposition ahead of a general election in October.
President John Magufuli, nicknamed “the Bulldozer”, swept to power in 2015 promising an end to corruption. But he has been accused of curbing human rights including limiting freedom of expression and cracking down on leading opposition figures.
Mbowe, the leader of the opposition in parliament and chairman of the CHADEMA party, was set upon by the assailants as he was returning home just after midnight on Monday, party officials said. Read more
18-month-old boy dies after drunk mum crashes into golf course pond: cops (NYPost)
An 18-month-old boy died after his mom drove their minivan through a golf course and crashed into a pond in Utah, according to reports.
Police said the toddler’s mom, Brittanie Mae Miloshevsky, admitted to drinking late Sunday, when she was found passed out at Golf The Round golf course in South Salt Lake, Deseret News reported.
Her minivan was nearby, partially submerged in a pond.
Miloshevsky told officers who arrived that her little boy was still in the van, according to Fox 13. Divers went in the water multiple times to get the boy out. He was transported to the hospital and later died. Read more
Iran to execute spy convicted of helping US kill Qassem Soleimani (France24)
An Iranian national convicted of spying for the US and Israel by helping target top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani will be executed, Iran’s judiciary said on Tuesday.
Mahmoud Mousavi Majd was convicted of spying on Iran’s armed forces, which led to the killing of Soleimani, the head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, in a US drone strike in Iraq.
Mahmoud Mousavi Majd was convicted of spying on Iran’s armed forces “especially the Quds Force and on the whereabouts and movements of martyr General Qassem Soleimani” for large sums of money from both Israel’s Mossad and the CIA, judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili told a televised news conference. Read more
Ex-Nasa astronaut becomes first woman to reach Pacific Ocean’s deepest point (Metro)
After conquering space and becoming the first American woman to walk in space, Kathy Sullivan has just achieved another milestone.
At age 68, she has become the first woman to dive down to the Earth’s lowest point – the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. Sullivan, a geologist as well as an ex-astronaut, descended to more than 35,000 feet in a submersible and become the eighth person in history to visit the ocean floor.
At these depths, the pressure is immense and light can’t penetrate. Only specialised microorganisms are capable of surviving there. Read more
Cardi B shows off her natural hair and favorite DIY mask (PageSix)
On Monday, the “I Like It” hitmaker, 27, took to Instagram to show off her natural texture, along with a simple DIY hair mask she uses on both herself and her daughter Kulture.
The ingredients? Avocado, argan oil, mayonnaise, black castor oil, olive oil, eggs, honey and bananas, all whipped up in a blender until smooth and creamy.
“Okay guys, so this is really how my hair is,” a makeup-free, bikini-clad Cardi explained in one clip.
“My hair gets like this when you blow dry it; then two days later, it just gets puffed up like this. Even when you braid it.” Read more
‘Ndidi not quitting Leicester for Real Madrid’ (Nation)
A close associate of the Super Eagles midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has said for the umpteenth time that the former Nath Boys FC star will not quit Leicester City despite huge interest from top European clubs.
Yesterday, Leicester City placed a 70m Euros price tag on Ndidi amid interest from Real Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus, PSG and Chelsea.
Ndidi has become one of the most sought-after players in the world but the close associate who pleaded for anonymity told NationSport that the player would see through his contract with The Foxes. Read more
Chelsea’s Kante back in contact training (Vanguard)
Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has returned to contact training ahead of the Premier League’s comeback next week, the Blues confirmed on Tuesday.
The French World Cup winner had been allowed to continue training at home when his teammates returned to training last month due to fears over coronavirus.
“N’Golo Kante was back with the main group today at Cobham as training continues to ramp up ahead of the Premier League restart next week,” Chelsea said in a statement. Read more
Venus Williams ‘brought to tears’ by Black Lives Matter protests (Metro)
Venus Williams revealed she was ‘brought to tears’ by the ‘solidarity that has erupted across the USA’ during the Black Lives Matter protests. Williams, the American seven-time Grand Slam champion, believes the protests have merely ‘scratched the surface of the hideous face of racism’ but expressed her relief that black voices challenging structural racism are no longer ‘falling on deaf ears’. Protests have taken place across the world following George Floyd being choked to death by the knee of a white police officer – with an act of police brutality proving the spark to stand against years of oppression. Read more
Pirates’ Motshwari recovers from Covid-19 (DailyTrust)
Orlando Pirates have confirmed that midfielder Ben Motshwari has recovered from Covid-19 ad is ready to resume light training.
Motshwari tested positive last month, the only Premier Soccer League player known to have contracted the virus, but has now had two separate negative tests, showing his recovery. “I would like to thank everybody for the words of support during my time off.
It wasn’t easy but the words of encouragement that I received is what kept me going. So, thank you all, I really appreciate it,” Motshwari told his club’s website. Read more
Manchester United legend Dunne dies at 78 (Punch)
Former Manchester United defender Tony Dunne, who played in their first European Cup-winning side in 1968, has died at the age of 78.
The Ireland left-back was part of the team that defeated Benfica 4-1 at Wembley in the 1968 final alongside George Best and Bobby Charlton, and under the great United manager Matt Busby.
Dunne was signed by Busby for £5,000 ($6,400, 5,600 euros) in 1960 and spent 13 years at Old Trafford, also winning two First Division championships, in 1964-65 and 1966-67, and the 1962-63 FA Cup. He scored only two goals. Read more
Serena: I’m black and proud (Nation)
Serena Williams sat down with husband Alexis Ohanian for an interview session on Instagram Live where they discussed the current climate surrounding race relations in the United States.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion decided to speak out following the death of African American George Floyd, who died on May 25 after former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for several minutes.
His death has inspired international protests and drawn new attention to the treatment of African Americans by police and the criminal justice system. Read more