Peacemaker stabbed to death as rivals fight over girlfriend in Lagos (Punch)
A peacemaker, Muhammed Obadimeji, has been killed while separating a fight between two men, Eniola Ayodele and Kayode Babashola, in the Dopemu area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that Ayodele and Babashola were fighting over their girlfriend, Barakat Wasiu, when Obadimeji intervened to make peace.
While separating the rivals, it was learnt that Ayodele, who was armed with a sharp object, allegedly stabbed Obadimeji in the chest in an attempt to stab Babashola.
The impact of the stabbing made Obadimeji to fall to the ground, but as the 25-year-old was clutching on to life, some good Samaritans came to his rescue and rushed him to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, for urgent attention. Read more
Tanker drivers suspend strike, reach agreement with Lagos (Vanguard)
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, on Monday, directed its Petroleum Tankers Drivers, PTD, to suspend its ongoing strike in Lagos State after the union reached an agreement with Lagos State government and other stakeholders.
Recall that the tanker drivers had began an indefinite strike, Monday, following Friday’s directive by NUPENG for members of the PTD, Lagos zone, to shut fuel distribution in Lagos and its environs over take-over of access roads to tank farms and fuel depots by containerised trucks, among other grievances. Read more
Post-UTME tests begin Sept. 7, says JAMB (Punch)
The Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination screening for the 2020 admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education will start from September 7, 2020, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has said.
JAMB also announced the withholding of the results of candidates who sat for this year’s UTME at Nigerian Correctional Service Centres over suspected infractions.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ish-aq Oloyede, stated these after a consultative virtual meeting with Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts of tertiary education institutions.
The virtual meeting reportedly attracted 488 participants from across all states in the country. Read more
Two killed, monarch’s car set ablaze in Ekiti over stoppage of Ogun festival (Guardian)
Two persons have been reported killed in Ire-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, in the violence that erupted yesterday as youths protested against stoppage of the annual celebration of Ogun Onire traditional festival in the town due to COVID-19.
A vehicle belonging to the town’s monarch, Oba Victor Bobade, was also set ablaze by some angry youths who were determined to celebrate the festival on Sunday.
Governor Kayode Fayemi had, in an attempt to halt the spread of coronavirus, stopped the celebration of traditional festivals across the state. Read more
Man in court for allegedly injuring woman with broken bottle during political party meeting (Vanguard)
The police on Monday arraigned a 46-year-old man, Atinaro Opeyemi, who allegedly injured a woman with a broken bottle during a political party meeting.
The defendant, who has no fixed address, is standing trial on a two-count charge of assault and breach of the peace before an Ile-Ife Magistrates’ Court in Osun.
He, however, pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Insp. Monica Ikebuilo, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on March 13 at 3:05p.m. on Olora Street in Ado-Ekiti. Read more
Sultan, Ayokunle laud FG for ratifying arms prohibition treaty (Guardian)
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. (Dr.) Samson Ayokunle and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, have commended the Federal Government for taking steps to eliminate weapons of mass destruction in the country through its ratification of the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
The co-chairs of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) also sought compensation for refugees and victims of violence as well as facilitating their return to their native land. Read more
COVID-19 guidelines violation: PTF blames govs for crowds at Edo rallies, Kashamu’s burial (Punch)
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has blamed governors, traditional and religious leaders for allowing crowds to gather and break safety protocols during electioneering in Edo State and burial of Senator Buruji Kashamu in Ogun State.
The PTF, at its national press briefing on Monday, said it was dismayed by the development.
Kashamu, who died on Saturday at the First Cardiology Consultants Hospital, Lagos, from COVID-19 complications, was buried in his Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, home on Sunday, with a large crowd in attendance in deviance to safety protocols. Read more
Majek Fashek to be buried in US, says family (Vanguard)
Nigerian reggae legend, Majek Fashek, who died on June 1 in the United States of America will finally be laid to rest in New York.
This was announced by his son, Randy Fashek, in a viral video, which he released on Monday.
Randy, who is based in Brooklyn, also thanked fans and well-wishers for their love and support, adding that the family was forced to take the decision to bury the late reggae icon in New York due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
No date has been announced yet for the burial. Read more
Trump abruptly escorted from White House briefing after shots fired nearby (VOA)
US President Donald Trump was abruptly escorted from a White House media briefing Monday afternoon by a U.S. Secret Service agent because of a shooting outside the building.
Returning to the briefing room lectern minutes later, Trump said, “There was an actual shooting, and somebody’s been taken to the hospital.”
The shots were fired by law enforcement, the president said.
A male subject and a Secret Service officer “were both transported to a local hospital,” a Secret Service statement said. “At no time during this incident was the White House complex breached or were any protectees in danger.” Read more
BP worker sacked after Hitler meme wins payout (BBC)
A BP refinery worker in Australia who was sacked for parodying the company via a well-known Hitler meme has been awarded a $200,000 (£109,000) payout.
Scott Tracey used the popular meme, from 2004 film Downfall, to portray scenes from company wage negotiations, posting it on a closed Facebook group.
He was sacked by the company. However, after a two-year legal battle, he won an unfair dismissal case and returned to work.
The payout covers lost earnings. Read more
Judge blocks Uber, Lyft from classifying drivers as contractors in California (VOA)
A California judge on Monday granted the state’s request for a preliminary injunction blocking Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. from classifying their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees.
Judge Ethan Schulman of the San Francisco Superior Court delayed enforcing his order by 10 days to give the companies a chance to appeal.
The decision is a setback for the ride-hailing companies as they defend against a May 5 lawsuit by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Read more
Belarus election: Second night of clashes over disputed poll (BBC)
Police in Belarus’s capital Minsk have fired rubber bullets for a second night to quash protests following Sunday’s disputed presidential elections.
Officials say one demonstrator died when an explosive device went off in his hands – the first confirmed casualty since the clashes began.
Autocratic President Alexander Lukashenko won 80% of the vote.
His main rival Svetlana Tikhanovskaya refused to accept the results, saying she was the real winner. Read more
Mauritius must prepare for ‘worst-case scenario’ after oil spill, Prime Minister says (VOA)
Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth told the Indian Ocean island nation to prepare for the “worst-case scenario” after a crippled Japanese ship leaked oil off the coast.
Jugnauth said Monday that the MV Wakashio has stopped leaking oil, but “the salvage team has observed several cracks in the ship hull, which means that we are facing a very serious situation,” according to televised remarks.
“It is clear that at some point the ship will fall apart,” the prime minister said, according to Reuters. Read more
‘Bacha bazi’ outrage after pandemic takes play to the small screen (BBC)
When it comes to theatre and filmmaking in the West, portrayals of Afghanistan often don’t go beyond women in blue burqas and men carrying AK-47s.
But in 2017, two Americans attempted something unconventional. Lyricist Charlie Sohne and composer Tim Rosser created a musical about a subject even Afghans would consider too sensitive and unsettling – “bacha bazi” or “boy play”.
Bacha bazi is a practice whereby wealthy, powerful older men buy and keep adolescent boys – known as dancing boys – for entertainment and sex. The boys are trained to dance seductively at male-only parties and often sexually abused. Read more
Prince Harry ‘woke up’ to racism after public attacks on Meghan (Metro)
Public attacks on the Duchess of Sussex helped Prince Harry understand racism, according to the authors of a new biography about the royal couple. The claim comes after Harry said in an interview with US civil rights campaigner Rashad Robinson that racism was not just ‘down to the black community’ to deal with. Speaking to National Public Radio, Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie said Harry’s ‘journey to wokeness’ was complete after seeing first-hand the racist attacks launched on Meghan. Read more
Serena Williams returns for US Open warm-up amid tennis chaos (Vanguard)
Serena Williams returns to competition this week in Lexington as she ramps up her bid for a record-equalling 24th grand slam singles title in New York next month, but otherwise, tennis has little else to shout about.
The decision to go ahead with tournaments in the United States despite the coronavirus pandemic still being in full flow there has caused consternation among many players, with pull-outs happening almost daily.
The hard-court tournaments will be played without fans but that has done little to sway the doubters. Read more
Edo ready to host 2020 festival, insist officials (Punch)
The Local Organising Committee of the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival are confident the state can host a befitting competition if they get the nod to stage it this year.
In March, Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, announced the indefinite postponement of the festival, which was initially billed to hold from March 22 to April 1, in Benin City.
But with the recent ease on social and sporting activities across the country, athletes are optimistic that the event can hold this year.
Senior Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Sports, Sixtus Omokhagbor, says everything is in place to host a befitting sporting fiesta. Read more
Fernandes’ extra-time penalty sends Man Utd into Europa semi-finals (BBC)
Manchester United needed an extra-time penalty from Bruno Fernandes to finally see off a spirited FC Copenhagen and set up a potential Europa League semi-final against Wolves.
United were poor for much of the first half in the heat of Cologne but still had a penalty overturned and a goal ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side improved and dominated the second half but could find no way past inspired goalkeeper Karl-Johan Johnsson, with Fernandes and Mason Greenwood also each hitting the post and Marcus Rashford having another effort disallowed. Read more
Romelu Lukaku sets new Europa League record in Inter’s clash vs Bayer Leverkusen (Metro)
Romelu Lukaku has set a new record by scoring in his ninth consecutive Europa League match during Inter’s win over Bayer Leverkusen on Monday evening.
The former Manchester United striker equalled Alan Shearer’s record which has stood since 2005 by scoring in Inter’s 2-0 win over Getafe last Wednesday.
But the Belgium international overtook the former Newcastle United striker by putting Antonio Conte’s side two ahead against Leverkusen in their quarter-final clash. Read more
Kostas Tsimikas: Liverpool sign left-back from Olympiakos (BBC)
Kostas Tsimikas believes he has joined “the biggest club in the world” after completing a move to Liverpool from Olympiakos.
The 24-year-old has joined the Premier League champions for about £11.7m on a five-year contract and is expected to provide competition for Andy Robertson.
“I’m very happy, I’m very proud to be here,” Tsimikas said. Read more
Mikel Arteta plans on playing Willian in new position after move from Chelsea (Metro)
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta plans on using Willian in a central position next season after the Brazilian completes his move to the club from Chelsea.
The 32-year-old departed Stamford Bridge this week after seven years in west London.
The Brazilian was predominantly used as a right winger at Chelsea, despite playing under five different managers during his time at the club. However, Willian’s always felt that he was used incorrectly at Chelsea and that his best position is in a more central role behind a centre forward. Read more