LASTMA official stabs lover, kills self in Lagos (Vanguard)
An official of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Emmanuel Mekuri, allegedly stabbed his lover and himself during a fight in their apartment at Zoo area of Araromi, Morogbo area of Lagos.
While his lover, Patricia Ogunsola, 37, survived the stab, Mekuri, 47, died on the spot.
Narrating the circumstance that led to the tragedy, Ogushola’s 13-year-old daughter, whom she had from a previous marriage, said her stepfather stabbed her mother in the thigh.
According to her; “I woke up when I heard them quarreling. Read more
Teenager gang-raped by four men tests positive for COVID-19 (Punch)
It is triple jeopardy for Aishat as her journey to Lagos State for greener pastures has become a nightmare.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the 16-year-old was gang-raped by four men at a motor park in Ijesha, Surulere, where she was abandoned by her guardian.
The rape was said to have resulted in pregnancy, as the Oyo State indigene roamed the park for shelter.
She was reported to have slept in different shops until the pregnancy reached an advanced stage and she was referred to welfare workers. Read more
Residents seek action as flood sacks Lagos communities (Guardian)
It was open heavens all through the weekend as Lagos, the state of aquatic splendour, reeled under the deluge of floods, as communities were submerged, drains blocked and homes sacked.
From the east, west, south and north of the state, it was hours after hours of downpour. When appeared some respite, the grumbling cracks of thunder forces a repeat and the rains poured in torrents.
The ensuing flooding did not only create panic but forced most people indoors and displaced others. It also destroyed property in Ajah, Alimosho, Ikorodu and those on the plains of the Ogun River in Isheri. Read more
Police raise the alarm over planned Ogun cult attack (Punch)
The Ogun state Police command on Sunday raised the alarm that it had uncovered plans by members of a notorious cult to launch a statewide campaign of terror and violence on Tuesday.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said this in a statement on Sunday.
Oyeyemi said members of the cult intended to use Tuesday to mark their strange Calendar Day- christened 7/7, where new members would be initiated into the fold. Read more
Benue University’s Deputy Vice Chancellor dies of COVID-19 (Vanguard)
The Vice Chairman of the Benue State Action Committee on COVID-19, and Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration of the Benue State University, BSU, Makurdi Prof. Godwin Achinge has reportedly died of COVID-19 complications.
Though family sources have not confirmed the death of Professor Achinge, Vanguard gathered that he died Sunday afternoon in Jos the Plateau state capital where he had gone to seek medical attention.
A member of the Action committee who spoke on the condition of anonymity confirmed the death of Prof. Achinge to newsmen. Read more
Five persons missing in Ebonyi, Cross River communal clash, says CP (Guardian)
Newly deployed Commissioner of Police (CP) to Ebonyi State, Philip Maku has said no fewer than five persons have been reported missing in the communal clash between Ekoli Edda, Afikpo South Council Area and their neighbours in Biasie Council of Cross River State.
The communities were said to have clashed over disputed land around the Erel Palm Plantation area. Speaking with journalists in Abakaliki, Maku noted that the command was investigating the matter and expressed hope that the missing persons would be found, noting that their remains have not been found anywhere. Read more
COVID-19 kills NCDC supervisor, task force vice-chair, LASIMRA boss (Punch)
A supervisor posted to Zamfara State by the Nigeria Centre for the Disease Control, Dr. J.J. Shalanga, has died of COVID-19.
Shalanga had been in the state since the beginning of the spread of the disease three months ago.
According to the Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Yahaya Kanoma, Shalanga fell ill and was rushed to the Yariman Bakura Specialist Hospital, Gusau, but died before reaching the hospital. Read more
Arik, Aero, Dana, others begin Lagos-Abuja flights Wednesday (Nation)
Nigeria’s airspace will roar back to life on Wednesday as six domestic carriers are set to resume flights after more than three months the Federal Government shut down all airports to prevent Coronavirus spread. The airlines are Arik Air, AeroContractors, Air Peace, DANA Air, AZMAN Air and Max Air .
Their resumption follows their compliance with the safety, health and other guidelines rolled out by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as preemptive measures against the spread of COVID-19. Read more
Libya gov’t vows response after base hit by ‘foreign air force’ (AlJazeera)
Libya’s UN-recognised government on Sunday condemned overnight air raids against a recently recaptured airbase in the west of the country saying the attack was carried out by a “foreign air force”.
Fighters loyal to the Government of National Accord (GNA) seized back the al-Watiya airbase, 140km (90 miles) southwest of the capital Tripoli, from troops aligned with renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar in May.
Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) alleges Turkey – a key GNA backer – subsequently made use of the base to help GNA soldiers repel an offensive it launched against Tripoli in April last year. Read more
Who’s afraid of Ghislaine Maxwell? Everyone on this list (NYPost)
Moments after the feds busted Ghislaine Maxwell Thursday for allegedly roping in underage girls for pal Jeffrey Epstein’s perverted pleasure, fireworks started going off in the lives of certain billionaires and playboys who palled around with the two.
And not the happy Fourth of July kind.
Since no one was closer to the billionaire pedophile than Maxwell, whose network spanned from New York to France, Israel, Buckingham Palace and the Caribbean, those in the know are undoubtedly fretting over the dirt she could dish to keep herself out of jail. Read more
Desperate search for survivors as dozens feared dead in southwest Japan floods (France24)
Rescue workers in Japan on Monday combed through the wreckage of houses shattered by deadly floods and landslides in a desperate search for survivors as the death toll rose and more torrential rain loomed.
At least 36 people are feared dead after record rains lashed areas of western Japan in the early hours of Saturday, causing rivers to break banks and flooding low-lying regions.
“Rescue workers are tirelessly continuing the search this morning,” a spokesman for the western Kumamoto prefecture told AFP, with at least 11 people still unaccounted for. Read more
Croatia’s ruling conservatives win parliamentary vote (AlJazeera)
The ruling conservatives overwhelmingly won Croatia’s parliamentary elections amid a spike in new coronavirus cases, with smaller right-wing parties also picking up seats.
With more than 90 percent of the vote counted on Sunday night, the governing Croatian Democratic Union, or HDZ, had won 66 seats in Croatia’s 151-seat parliament and is likely to form a new coalition government with smaller right-wing groups.
Andrej Plenkovic, the acting prime minister and HDZ leader, praised what he described as a “great result and a great victory.” Read more
Nick Cordero, Broadway star of ‘Waitress’ and ‘A Bronx Tale,’ dead at 41 (NYPost)
Nick Cordero, the Broadway actor who appeared in popular musicals such as “Waitress” and “A Bronx Tale” and inspired the world with his months-long struggle against the coronavirus, has died, his wife Amanda Kloots said on Sunday. He was 41.
“God has another angel in heaven now,” she wrote on Instagram. “My darling husband passed away this morning. He was surrounded in love by his family, singing and praying as he gently left this earth.” Read more
Australia closes state border for first time in 100 years to stop spread of Covid-19 (France24)
The border between Australia’s two most populous states will close from Tuesday for an indefinite period, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said on Monday, following an outbreak of the coronavirus in his state.
The decision marks the first time the border with neighbouring New South Wales has been shut in 100 years – officials last blocked movement between the two states in 1919 during the Spanish flu pandemic.
The number of Covid-19 cases in Melbourne, Victoria’s capital, has surged in recent days, prompting authorities to enforce strict social-distancing orders in 30 suburbs and put nine public housing towers into complete lockdown. Read more
Chris Hemsworth ready to ‘put on more size’ for Hulk Hogan biopic (Metro)
Chris Hemsworth is set to put in a lot more hours in the gym in order to bulk up for his role as Hulk Hogan in an upcoming biopic – and it seems even Thor won’t be a match for his new role. The Avengers: Endgame actor has signed up to star as the WWE legend in a biographical film directed by Todd Phillips, who recently took the helm on the Oscar-winning Joker. While Chris, 36, is used to packing on the muscle to play Thor in the Marvel movies, he’s really being put through his paces to portray wrestler Hulk. Sharing details of his prep with Total Film, Chris explained: ‘This movie is going to be a really fun project. As you can imagine, the preparation for the role will be insanely physical. ‘I will have to put on more size than I ever have before, even more than I put on for Thor. There is the accent as well as the physicality and the attitude.’ Read more
Jose Mourinho hits back at Arsenal over Facebook jibe (Metro)
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has hit back at Arsenal after the Gunners took a swipe at their north London rivals following a 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United.
Spurs’ Champions League hopes were effectively ended with a defeat at Bramall Lane on Wednesday.
It was the Blades’ first win since Project Restart, ending a poor run of form for Chris Wilder’s men where they tasted defeat against Arsenal in the FA Cup as the Gunners ran out 2-1 winners. Despite having problems of their own this term, Arsenal’s social media team found time to aim a jibe at Spurs for their failure to win at Bramall Lane. Read more
Pep Guardiola at a loss to explain Man City defeats this season (BBC)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he is struggling to understand why his side have lost nine Premier League games this season.
City lost 1-0 at Southampton on Sunday – a third straight away league defeat.
It is the first time in his career that Guardiola has overseen such a run, while nine losses is the most the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has ever had in a single campaign.
“We played more than good but it is not enough to win the games,” he said. Read more
Mike Tyson blasts Deontay Wilder’s attitude ahead of Tyson Fury trilogy fight (Metro)
Mike Tyson has told Deontay Wilder to grow up and ‘dedicate his life to winning’ ahead of his third fight with Tyson Fury later this year.
The pair have already fought on two occasions, with the first ending in a draw and the second only reaching the seventh round before it was called off, with Fury winning via TKO. It was a humbling defeat for the previously unbeaten Wilder, who was completely outclassed by the Gypsy King, hitting the floor twice before the stoppage eventually came. Read more
Ramos scores again as Real move closer to La Liga title (BBC)
Sergio Ramos scored the only goal for a second consecutive game as Real Madrid beat Athletic Bilbao to move closer to the La Liga title.
Ramos slammed home a penalty – just as he did on Thursday against Getafe – after Dani Garcia fouled Marcelo in a decision given by VAR.
He has scored five goals in seven matches – all wins – since the restart.
Defending champions Barcelona took the gap back to four points when they beat Villarreal 4-1 on Sunday night. Read more
Conte expects Inter players to be angry after Bologna defeat (Vanguard)
Antonio Conte hopes Inter players feel at least “one per cent” of his disappointment following their 2-1 Serie A defeat to Bologna at San Siro on Sunday.
Inter had forged ahead in the first half courtesy of Romelu Lukaku before Bologna’s Roberto Soriano received a red card for dissent after 57 minutes.
Lautaro Martinez could have all but wrapped up the win from the penalty spot five minutes later but Lukasz Skorupski kept out his tame effort. Read more
Nigeria get WTF waiver for annual dues (Nation)
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (WTF) under the leadership of Margaret Binga has secured a deal with the World Taekwondo that will make it free of charge for the Nigeria Taekwondo community to sign up or renew their membership to the World Taekwondo Global Membership System for Nigeria.
The WTF Global Membership System (GMS) initiative began in 2009 following a recommendation from Hoss Rafaty, who was the advisor to the WT President to Dr. Chungwon Choue, and presented the concept of creating a Global Taekwondo Database with the idea of centralizing the global taekwondo community into one online common platform. Read more