Lagos reopens worship centres Aug 7 (Punch)
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says worship centres in the state will reopen effective August 7, 2020.
Worship centres had been shut in the state since March as part of measures to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus disease.
The Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 had okayed the reopening of churches and mosques in the country in June but the Lagos State government insisted that worship centres remained shut.
However, announcing at an ongoing briefing on Saturday, the governor said, “Places of worship in Lagos will now be opened from Friday, the 7th of August for our Muslim worshippers, and on Sunday, the 9th of August for our Christian worshippers.
“We will only allow 50 per cent of their maximum capacity, either the church or at the mosque. Churches who have a Saturday worship day will also be allowed to hold worship. Read more
Lagos directs SS3, TEC3 students to resume Monday (Nation)
Lagos State Government has directed all the SS3 and Technical Studies (TEC3) Students in both day and boarding schools in the state to resume on Monday, 3rd of August, 2020 in line with the directive of the Federal Government.
Honourable Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, who disclosed this in Alausa, Ikeja, stated that it is to allow for revision classes and adequate preparation ahead of their forthcoming West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
Adefisayo explained that this directive became imperative due to the newly announced date by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for the 2020 WASSCE scheduled to commence on the 17th of August, 2020.
According to her, “Only SS3 and Technical Study Three (TEC3) students are permitted to resume for the Day and Boarding Schools on the 3rd of August for revision classes and examinations”. Read more
How floods consumed 30 in Gwagwalada, Suleja (DailyTrust)
Last weekend’s floods in Zuba, Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT, and Suleja in Niger State left many residents wriggling in pain and lamentation.
While the Zuba flood claimed a woman and her four children in Giri community, Daily Trust Saturday gathered that the death toll in Suleja has risen to 24.
Relations and neighbors of the victims who spoke to reporters in Zuba expressed shock and sadness. Read more
Abia Commissioner’s father regains freedom eight days after kidnap (Nation)
The father of a commissioner in Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commissioner (ASOPADEC); Henry Chilka, Pa Chilaka has regained freedom from the custody of his abductors.
While information about his release was still sketchy at the time of filing the report, information has it that Pa Chilaka has reunited with his family eight days after he was abducted from his Ugwati village in Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state last week Tuesday.
While information has it that undisclosed amount of ransom was paid before the abductors were able to release the septuagenarian, sources said that the gunmen had demanded N60m and later came down to N10m days before his eventual release. Read more
We are not safe, Shehu of Borno cries out (DailyTrust)
His Eminence, the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi, on Friday, decried that Borno State is no longer safe following an attack on the convoy of Governor Babagana Zulum in the northern part of the state.
The Shehu made this lamentation in Maiduguri when he paid a traditional Sallah homage on the governor at the Government House on Friday evening.
Alleged sabotage: Army should probe Zulum’s claim — Kontagora, others Zulum, Shettima attend eid prayer in Maiduguri The governor’s convoy was, last Wednesday, attacked at Baga town in Kukawa local government area of the state during a visit to the area. Read more
We will recover Kwara’s stolen assets, says AbdulRazaq (Nation)
The efforts to recover public patrimonies that were unlawfully taken away remain on course, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said last Tuesday, reiterating that his administration would at all time prioritise people’s welfare.
He said: “Our administration is pursuing a developmental agenda that is centred around the people. We are determined to give our people a new lease of life. This would be made easier in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility,” AbdulRazaq said in an address to the newly inaugurated members of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) in Ilorin, the state capital.
“But peace is not sustainable without justice and fairness. For too long, our people have had their patrimony taken away in the most brazen and fraudulent circumstances. Read more
Islamic leaders decry mosque closure in Ogun (DailyTrust)
The League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State on Friday lamented that COVID-19 had denied them access to their mosques during the Sallah.
They, however, prayed for speedy solution to the COVID-19 problem in the state and Nigeria in general, to allow Muslims return to congregational worship.
The league in a message issued by its Secretary General, Sheikh (Imam) Tajudeen Adewunmi, urged the faithful to obey protocols of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. Read more
Gunmen storm Nasarawa community, kill monarch (Punch)
Unknown gunmen stormed Odu community in the Udege development area in the Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and killed a traditional ruler, Mr. Amos Ewa Obere.
An investigation by The PUNCH, revealed that the unfortunate incident occurred on Friday around 10 pm.
It was gathered that the yet yo be identified gunmen, who came in their large numbers with sophisticated weapons, stormed Odu community and shooting indiscriminately into the air and made the entire inhabitants of the area to scamper to safety. Read more
Coronavirus: Russia plans mass vaccination campaign in October (BBC)
Russian health authorities are preparing to start a mass vaccination campaign against coronavirus in October, the health minister has said.
Russian media quoted Mikhail Murashko as saying that doctors and teachers would be the first to receive the vaccine.
Reuters, citing anonymous sources, said Russia’s first potential vaccine would be approved by regulators this month.
However, some experts are concerned at Russia’s fast-track approach. Read more
Expert warns parents to never give babies under six months any water at all (Metro)
With the weather being extremely warm this weekend – and with it looking to stay that way for some time – you might be wondering how best to soothe little ones and keep them comfortable.
As adults, the main thing we do to stay cool is keep hydrated with plenty of water.
But experts have warned that, for very young babies, this isn’t just counterproductive – in some cases it could be fatal. Read more
Coronavirus: South Korean Shincheonji sect leader arrested (BBC)
South Korea has arrested the leader of a religious sect linked to the country’s largest coronavirus outbreak.
Lee Man-hee, 88, heads the Shincheonji Church of Jesus. More than 5,000 of its members became infected, making up 36% of all Covid-19 cases in the country.
The authorities accuse him of hiding information about the group’s members and gatherings from contact tracers. Read more
Tekashi 6ix9ine’s ‘home confinement ending’ ahead of ‘five years supervised release’ (Metro)
Tekashi 6ix9ine will soon be off home confinement, it has been claimed.
The star’s attorney Lance Lazzaro reportedly told TMZ that the rapper – known for hits like GUMMO and Billy – will be visited by a federal probation officer to discuss the change today. If the report – which also claims the rapper’s GPS-monitoring is ending – is true, this weekend will mark Tekashi’s first taste of freedom in 21 months. Read more
Barakah: UAE starts up Arab world’s first nuclear plant (BBC)
The United Arab Emirates has launched operations at the Arab world’s first nuclear power plant, on the Gulf coast just east of Qatar.
Nuclear fission has begun in one of four reactors at the Barakah plant, which uses South Korean technology.
The plant was expected to open in 2017 but the start-up was repeatedly delayed because of various safety issues. Read more
Thousands march in Berlin against mandatory masks & Covid-19 measures (RT)
Thousands of people assembled in the German capital to rally against anti-coronavirus restrictions, describing the measures as undemocratic and a threat to freedom.
Around 15,000 protesters took part in the event, dubbed ‘The end of the pandemic – freedom day’, according to German media, citing a police estimate.
The crowd marched through downtown Berlin as they held up signs featuring slogans such as “We are being forced to wear a muzzle,” “Natural defense instead of vaccination,” and “We are making noise because you are stealing our freedom!” Read more
Lena Dunham reveals she battled coronavirus: ‘My body simply revolted’ (PageSix)
Lena Dunham on Friday revealed that she battled the coronavirus in mid-March — and that she’s still experiencing crushing after-effects of the disease.
The 34-year-old creator and star of HBO’s “Girls” gave a detailed account of her illness in an Instagram post titled, “My Covid Story.”
“It started with achy joints,” Dunham wrote, “then the pain was joined by a crushing fatigue. Then a fever of 102.”
“Suddenly my body simply revolted.”
The New York native, who suffers from a host of chronic illnesses, said she experienced serious symptoms for about three weeks, which she spent in isolation. She didn’t say where she contracted COVID-19 or where she self-quarantined. Read more
Amuneke excited as Napoli lands Osimhen (Nation)
Former African Footballer of the Year Emmanuel Amuneke has described Victor Osimhen’s signing by Italian Serie A side, AS Napoli as an exciting news for Nigerian football.
Amuneke gave Osimhen his first break in international football when the leggy striker led the Golden Eaglets to win a fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup at Chil2 2015 scoring a record-setting 10 goals in seven matches at the cadet championship.
“I’m excited and very happy that Victor has finally signed for Napoli; and this is remarkable particularly at this challenging times,” the former Barcelona winger told NationSport. Read more
Lewis Hamilton on pole position for British Grand Prix (BBC)
Lewis Hamilton set the fastest ever lap around Silverstone to beat Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas to pole position at the British Grand Prix.
Hamilton, faster on both runs in the final session, was 0.313 seconds clear of Bottas while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen pipped Charles Leclerc’s improved Ferrari to third.
McLaren’s Lando Norris starred with fifth place, ahead of the so-called ‘pink Mercedes’ Racing Point of Lance Stroll. Read more
Ronnie O’Sullivan: My success is driven by fear and crippling self-doubt (Metro)
Ronnie O’Sullivan may be the consensus greatest player to ever pick up a snooker cue but he has achieved such monumental success in that game, partly, because he struggles to see himself in that light.
No player has won more ranking titles, made more centuries or has more fans around the globe than the Rocket. He is a unique figure in snooker in terms of talent, success and celebrity.
He is probably the sport’s most complicated character, as well, as he feels much of this success has been down to crippling self-doubt and a fear of failure he has suffered since childhood. Read more
Cameroon’s Italia ’90 captain Stephen Tataw dies (BBC)
Former Cameroon captain Stephen Tataw died on Friday at his home in Yaounde at the age of 57.
The right-back was most famous for playing every minute as he led the Indomitable Lions to the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
That run included wins over Argentina, Romania and Colombia as Cameroon became the first African side to reach the last eight. Read more
Injured Shkodran Mustafi sends good luck message to Arsenal team-mates ahead of FA Cup final clash with Chelsea (Metro)
Shkodran Mustafi has passed on a special good luck message to Arsenal’s squad ahead of their FA Cup final clash with Chelsea and urged his team-mates to fight ‘like a pack of wolves’ to claim the trophy at Wembley.
The 28-year-old has often been painted as a figure of fun since his move from Valencia back in 2016 but has fought for his Arsenal future this season and established himself as a key member of Mikel Arteta’s defence in recent months.
However, a devastating hamstring injury in the dying moments of Arsenal’s semi-final victory over Manchester City earlier this month means the German centre-will play no part in this evening’s encounter. Read more
Juve rest Ronaldo for Serie A finale as Champions League looms (Guardian)
Cristiano Ronaldo will be rested for Juventus’ final match of the Serie A season on Saturday against Roma, ahead of the Italians’ Champions League last-16 second leg against Lyon next week.
Ronaldo, 35, was left out of the squad for the game in Turin, with fellow forward Paulo Dybala also absent with a thigh injury.
Juventus have already wrapped up their ninth straight league title and are now looking towards their home game against Lyon on Friday when Maurizio Sarri’s side need to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit. Read more