Nigerians attack Shoprite in Lekki (Guardian)
Some Nigerians on Tuesday attacked a South African-owned Shoprite in Lekki, an obvious retaliation for the attacks on Nigerian businesses in south Africa. An eyewitness who shared her account with The Guardian said some youth invaded the shopping mall outlet in Lekki to vandalise it. She added that security operatives have since moved to contain the situation, dispersing the irate youths with tear gas and gunshots. Read more
Xenophobia: Report your situation to us, High Commission tells Nigerians in South Africa (Punch)
The Nigeria High Commission in South Africa, on Tuesday, urged Nigerians affected by the xenophobic attacks to report their situation to the Commission. This was revealed in a statement issued by High Commissioner, Ambassador Kabiru Bala. He said the reports of the victims were necessary for compilation, which will form the basis of discussion with the South African government. Part of the statement read, “The High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria views with concern the ongoing loss of lives, arson, and looting of properties in some parts of Gauteng Province of South Africa. Read more
Nigeria donated $10m to anti-apartheid fight, Rep tells South Africa (Punch)
The lawmaker representing Irele/Okitipupa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Gboluga Ikegbonju, has condemned the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa. Ikengboju, in a press statement issued by his media consultant, Israel Fagbemigun, in Abuja on Tuesday emphasised the need for the “disgruntled South Africans” to respect the right of other Africans across the continent to live peacefully as law abiding residents in any country of their choice. Read more
Why Buhari ‘isn’t bothered’ about killing of Nigerians in South Africa —Omokri (Punch)
Self-described “Buhari Tormentor,” Mr. Reno Omokri, has stated why he felt President Muhammadu Buhari is “not bothered” about the perceived xenophobia attacks being visited on Nigerians resident in South Africa. Taking to his verified Twitter handle on Tuesday, Omokri, who wrote a biography of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, addressed Buhari as “General,” and argued that the President isn’t bothered about killing of Nigerians in South Africa because those mostly affected are Igbo. Read more
EFCC arrests two suspects on FBI list, recovers $35,000 (Punch)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested two of the 77 Nigerians declared wanted by the Federal Bureau of Intelligence for cybercrimes. The Head, EFCC Abuja Zonal Office, Aminu Aliyu, said Chika Augustine and Godspower Nwachukwu were arrested in Abuja, adding that $35,000 was recovered from the former. Read more
Wike didn’t demolish any mosque in Port Harcourt —Northern Youths (Punch)
Some northern youths under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Youth Groups on Tuesday said the Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike never demolished any mosque at the Trans-Amadi area of Port Harcourt as being alleged in some quarters. According to the Coalition, they investigated the alleged demolition and found that that the only properties demolished in the area, were illegal structures. Read more
Kogi PDP primaries: Victor Adoji debunks reports of stepping down (Punch)
One of the aspirants in Kogi State governorship election on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party, Victor Adoji had refuted reports that he has dropped out of the race. In a statement released by his campaign office, on the sideline of the ongoing party primary at the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja, Adoji denied being part of the seven aspirants, who stepped down for former governor, Idris Wada. Read more
Israel, FG to address Boko Haram, insecurity (Punch)
Israel is to partner with the Federal Government to address Boko Haram and other forms of insecurity, the President of Galilee International Management Institute, Prof. Joseph Shevel, has said. He stated that the partnership will involve the institute devising and proposing to the FG intellectual peace road map that could bring an end to Boko Haram attacks and other forms of insecurity such as kidnapping, banditry and clashes between herders and farmers. Read more
Gang uses 14-year-old boy for robbery operations in Gombe (Punch)
A 14-year-old primary five pupil was among 21 crime suspects arrested by the police in Gombe, the SP Mary Malum, the Public Relations Officer of the police command in the state, said on Tuesday. Addressing newsmen in Gombe, Malum said the police arrested the suspects in August, adding that the boy was a member of a robbery syndicate. She said the suspects were arrested for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, receiving stolen properties, trespass, attempt to commit culpable homicide, housebreaking, fraud, cheating and cybercrime.” Read more
Man sentenced to death for killing girlfriend in Ondo (Punch)
An Ondo State High Court, sitting in Akure, the state capital has sentenced a 26-year-old man, Saliu Oladayo to death by hanging, for killing his girlfriend, late Confidence Ebere. Oladayo stabbed the 19-year-old Ebere to death at Oshinle Quarters, Akure, following a disagreement that ensued between them. The incident happened in May 2018. Read more
Police arrest man for allegedly burning son to death (Nation)
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested one Idorenyin Essien, who allegedly doused his son with kerosene and burnt him to death. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that incident happened at Afia Nsit community in the Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom. The spokesman of the command, DSP. Mac-Don Achibe, confirmed the development while speaking with newsmen in Eket on Tuesday. Read more
South Africa’s President Ramaphosa condemns ‘anti-foreigner violence’ (BBC)
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned a wave of looting and violence that has mostly targeted foreign nationals. “There can be no justification for any South African to attack people from other countries,” he said on Tuesday. Dozens of people were arrested in Johannesburg on Monday after rioters looted shops and torched vehicles. Read more
Boris Johnson ‘secretly agreed to suspend parliament two weeks before it happened’ (Metro)
The government was considering suspending parliament as early as mid-August, Scottish court documents have revealed. Legal action aimed at halting the suspension of Parliament got under way at the Court of Session – Scotland’s highest civil court – this morning. During the hearing, it emerged a note dated 15 August from Nickki da Costa, a former director of legislative affairs at Number 10, and seen by both the Prime Minister and his adviser Dominic Cummings, asked whether an approach should be made to prorogue. Read more
Iran’s Rouhani rules out any bilateral talks with US (Guardian)
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday ruled out holding any bilateral talks with the United States, saying the Islamic republic is opposed to such negotiations in principle. In an address to parliament, Rouhani also said Iran was ready to further reduce its commitments to a landmark 2015 nuclear deal “in the coming days” if current negotiations yield no results by Thursday. Read more
14-year-old ‘confesses to killing all five of his family members’ (Metro)
A 14-year-old boy has confessed to killing his father, stepmother, and three siblings, police say. Authorities say the teen, who is not named, killed his family with a handgun, then tossed it and called 911 in Elkmont, Alabama on Monday night. The boy initially told dispatchers that he was downstairs in the home’s basement when he heard shots from upstairs. Read more
UN chief urges funding for Sahel states (Guardian)
United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday suggested the UN help fund the fight against jihadism in the Sahel, warning “we are not winning the war against terrorism” in the frail region. “I am in favour of funding by the United Nations, with obligatory contributions for the G5 Sahel force,” Guterres said in an interview with Radio France Internationale (RFI). Read more
Toddler almost bled to death after falling over with glass in his hand (Metro)
A toddler almost bled to death after he fell over while carrying a glass. Sonny Noble, aged 15 months, tripped on an outside step and then fell down on one of the shards, cutting a three-inch gash in his throat. His mum Tasha, 31, heard the smash on August 23 and ran out to find the youngster back on his feet but covered in blood. Read more
Cancer ‘biggest middle-age killer in rich nations’ (BBC)
Cancer now causes more deaths among the middle-aged in higher-income countries than cardiovascular disease, a study suggests. Globally, heart problems and stroke is the leading cause of death at this age. But the researchers say people in rich nations are 2.5 times more likely to die of cancer than cardiovascular disease in their middle years. Read more
China backs North Korea amid deadlocked nuclear talks (Guardian)
China reasserted its backing for North Korea on Tuesday as its foreign minister visited Pyongyang, vowing to maintain “close communication” with its longstanding ally in the face of deadlocked nuclear talks with Washington. Beijing has long been North Korea’s key diplomatic backer and main provider of trade and aid, and while ties deteriorated over Pyongyang’s nuclear provocations and China’s subsequent backing of UN sanctions, the two have since worked to repair their relationship. Read more
Palestinian Harvard student barred from US is allowed in (BBC)
A Palestinian student who was controversially denied entry to the US last month when he arrived to begin study at Harvard has now been admitted. Ismail Ajjawi said he was barred entry after border agents questioned him for hours at Boston Airport over social media posts written by friends. The 17-year-old was admitted on Monday just in time to start at Harvard. Read more
Black man ‘kicked off flight so a dog could fly first class’ (Metro)
A black man has filed a lawsuit after he says he was kicked off a flight so a dog could fly first class. Dana Holcomb, 53, is suing American Airlines for racial discrimination following the incident on a flight from Las Vegas to Austin, Texas in April. Holcomb said he bought a first class ticket home after celebrating his birthday in Las Vegas, and had a connecting flight in Phoenix, Arizona. Read more
Mont Blanc: Outcry as ex-marine dumps rowing machine near peak (BBC)
A Royal Marine veteran from north-west England has been criticised for leaving a rowing machine close to the summit of Mont Blanc. Matthew Disney attempted to climb Western Europe’s highest mountain with the machine on 30 August. But as he neared the summit, weather conditions were too bad to continue carrying it. Read more
Chris Hemsworth is a real-life superhero after sending video to fan who battled brain tumour (Metro)
Chris Hemsworth may be a superhero on screen, but that doesn’t mean he’s not inspired by real life superheroes. The 36-year-old has sent a supportive video message to a fan who battled a brain tumour, telling him: ‘You’re an inspiration.’ The Thor star even spoke to the young guy’s mum to discuss the surprise. Read more
Siasia appeals FIFA’s life ban (Guardian)
Former Super Eagles Coach Samson Siasia said on Thursday he had lodged an appeal against his life ban from the game by world football governing body, FIFA. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Siasia was banned for life from the game, following a match-fixing probe by FIFA. Siasia, who spoke to NAN in Abuja through his associate, Opukiri Jones-Ere, said his lawyers had submitted an appeal against the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Read more
Premier League could end early summer transfer window closure (BBC)
Premier League clubs could vote to end the early closure of the summer transfer window at their next meeting on 12 September. Two years ago, the top flight voted to close it before the start of its season to try to minimise squad disruption. However, other European leagues did not follow suit and could still buy or loan players from Premier League sides. Read more
Van Dijk is one of the best, says Germany’s Werner (Punch)
Germany striker Timo Werner admits he will quite literally be playing in the shadow of Dutch defender Virgil Van Dijk when Joachim Loew’s side host the Netherlands in Hamburg on Friday in a clash of the European powerhouses. In-form Werner, 23, is expected to lead the attack for Germany in the Euro 2020 qualifier, as he returns to the starting XI in the absence of Manchester City winger Leroy Sane, who tore knee ligaments last month. Read more
Michael Owen & Alan Shearer: New book sparks Twitter row (BBC)
Michael Owen’s new book has ignited a row on social media between the former England striker and Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer. One of the more cutting lines in the book includes Owen’s claim that his transfer from Real Madrid to the Magpies in 2005 was a “downward step” and the one move he “really regrets”. The pair exchanged barbed tweets as the story broke on Tuesday – but what is the background of their feud? Read more
Bobby Duncan speaks out after completing move from Liverpool to Fiorentina (Metro)
Bobby Duncan has said he’s ‘really happy’ to sign for Fiorentina after completing a summer move from Liverpool. Liverpool turned down Fiorentina’s initial offer to take Duncan on loan, but the 18-year-old forward, who is the cousin of Steven Gerrard, joined the Serie A club on Monday in a €2million (£1.8m) deal. Read more
Spain manager Robert Moreno would ‘step aside’ for Luis Enrique (BBC)
Spain manager Robert Moreno will “step aside” if Luis Enrique ever wants to return to the job. Enrique resigned in June for personal reasons and last week announced that his nine-year-old daughter, Xana, had died from bone cancer. The 49-year-old was in charge of Spain for 11 months before he was replaced by his assistant. Read more
Herrera in the dock as Spain match-fixing trial opens (Guardian)
Spain’s first major match-fixing trial began Tuesday with former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera among 42 defendants charged over a ‘suspect’ 2011 match between his former club Real Zaragoza and Levante. The accused made no comments as they arrived at the court in the eastern city of Valencia for the start of proceedings which are expected to last until September 30. Read more
Bury FC: EFL to ‘consult with clubs’ after efforts to readmit Shakers (BBC)
The English Football League is to discuss Bury’s future with its member clubs following efforts to reinstate the Shakers in League Two next season. Bury were expelled from the EFL on 27 August after a failed takeover bid by C&N Sporting Risk. Bury North MP James Frith has called for the Shakers to re-enter in the fourth tier for the 2020-21 season. Read more
Nantes loan midfielder Abou Ba to Greek club Aris (Punch)
French midfielder Abou Ba has been loaned by French side Nantes to Aris Thessaloniki for the remainder of the season, the Greek Super League club announced Tuesday. Ba, 21, joined Nantes this season from French rivals Nancy where he played from 2017 to 2019 in 42 matches and scored two goals. He was also a member of the French national Under-18 and Under-20 teams making a total of three appearances. Read more
Deontay Wilder wants Tyson Fury to ‘step aside’ so he can fight Anthony Joshua or Andy Ruiz Jr (Metro)
Deontay Wilder believes Tyson Fury would step aside to let him try to unify the heavyweight division because he doesn’t ‘want to fight me again’. Wilder produced a first-round knockout of Dominic Breazeale in May to return to winning ways after drawing with Fury in a thrilling fight at the end of last year. The pair are reportedly due to contest a rematch in February 2020 but only after the American has beaten Luis Ortiz again, supposedly in November. Read more