#RevolutionNow: Security agents arrest 60 in Abuja, teargas others in Lagos (DailyTrust)
About 60 #RevolutionNow protesters have been arrested in Abuja by a joint security team of Police and soldiers. The demonstration, tagged national day of action is being held in major cities of the country in commemoration of the first anniversary of the #RevolutionNow Movement held on August 5, 2019. #RevolutionNow: Sowore’s trial adjourned #RevolutionNow: FG arraigns Sowore, one other The convener of the protest, Omoyele Sowore disclosed via his twitter handle, @YeleSowore that the protesters were being harassed by the security agents. “@PoliceNG stops #RevolutionNow protesters on Third mainland bridge, they’re forcing them to the station in violation of their rights!” he tweeted. Read more
N1bn Palliatives: Tourism, entertainment stakeholders laud Sanwo-Olu for approval (Independent)
Stakeholders in the tourism and entertainment sector in Lagos State have commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for approving the N1 billion fund for palliatives, which was pronounced during a recent business meeting organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Briefing journalists on the development on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf, said the tourism and entertainment industry was one of the major hit sectors by Covid-19, which unarguably had kept the Ministry and indeed the state government on their toes.
Akinbile-Yusuf maintained that she was happy to inform Lagosians that the governor approved the release of N1 billion as seed capital for investment in tourism to drive the growth of hospitality, tourism and entertainment businesses. Read more
NLPGA stresses safety as Nigeria records another gas explosion (Vanguard)
The Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA) has again stressed on safety as Nigeria records another gas explosion in Lagos.
The latest incident took place at Inua Mohammed Street, Ajao Estate, Isolo, while an unnamed technician was trying to set up his oxyacetylene flame (popularly known as cabad’s cylinder).
However, in a document obtained from the NLPGA, yesterday, the Association, which has Mr Nuhu Yakubu as President, stated: “We acknowledge the recent tragedy and loss of life on which we commiserate with the families of the bereaved. Read more
LASG set for 2020 Gov’s quiz competition final (Independent)
The Lagos State Government has revealed plans for the 2020 Governor’s Quiz Competition as part of efforts geared towards engaging the students and creates opportunities for participation virtually.
Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, Commissioner for Education, disclosed on Wednesday during an interview session at her Alausa office.
Adefisayo noted that the Governor’s Quiz Competition, which is an annual event is being held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and adaptation to the ‘new normal. Read more
Six die in Lagos, Ogun auto crashes (Punch)
Six persons, including a six-year-old girl, died on Tuesday in separate auto crashes in Lagos and Ogun states.
In Lagos, three persons lost their lives in a crash in the Iyana Dopemu area of the state.
It was gathered that an SUV rammed into a moving truck around 6.30 am and three persons lost their lives.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority confirmed the crash in a tweet, adding that the corpses of the victims and the vehicles had been evacuated.
LASTMA tweeted, “An accident has just been reported involving an SUV that rammed into a moving trailer (truck) on the fast lane shortly before Cement bus stop inward Iyana Dopemu with three casualties. Read more
Masari meets Buhari over insecurity in North West, North Central (DailyTrust)
Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State says the security situation in North West and North Central geo-political zones won’t be allowed to escalate to the status of the Boko Haram crisis in the North-East region.
Masari said this on Wednesday while fielding questions from State House reporters after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said serious efforts were currently being made to bring cases of banditry and other criminalities in the North-West region of the country to an end. Read more
NASS to review health insurance bill to incorporate exclusive breastfeeding (Guardian)
Nigerian Senate Committee Chairman on Health Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe has disclosed plans by the National Assembly to review the National Health Insurance Authority Bill.
Oloriegbe said the plan is to in-cooperate exclusive breastfeeding and create an enabling environment for exclusive breastfeeding and child nutrition in the country.
The National Health Insurance Authority Bill for an act has passed the third reading on the floor of the Senate and currently at the House of representative for its concurrence and if assented to by the President would go a long way in improving child nutrition in the country, Oloriegbe stated. Read more
Ortom swears in Ikwulono as new health commissioner (Punch)
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday, swore in Dr Emmanuel Ikwulono as the new Commissioner for Health and Human Services in the state.
Ikwulono replaces Dr Sunday Ongbabo, who resigned his appointment last week.
According to a statement on Wednesday by the state government, Ortom acknowledged the importance of the health ministry to healthcare delivery, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing that it cannot be left without a commissioner for too long.
The governor described Ikwulono as a good replacement for the outgone commissioner, noting that his appointment was based on merit and competence. Read more
Beirut explosion reportedly caused by fertilizer seized from Russian businessman (NYPost)
The 2,700 tons of fertilizer believed to have caused the explosion that devastated Beirut had been confiscated from a Russian businessman — who “abandoned” his cargo ship after an unscheduled stop, according to reports.
Officials revealed Tuesday that the blast that killed at least 100 — and left up to 300,000 homeless — appeared to have been sparked by ammonium nitrate stored in a warehouse since it was confiscated in 2014.
There were repeated warnings to the dangers of storing it — including one that it could “blow up all of Beirut” — but “nothing was done,” official sources told Reuters, calling it “negligence.” Read more
SpaceX Starship prototype completes its first ‘hop’ (Gizmodo)
SpaceX’s plans to build a reusable rocket capable of landing on the Moon and Mars took a major leap forward on Tuesday, following the first successful test of the Starship system.
Starship made its inaugural test flight shortly before 8:00 pm ET on Tuesday, August 4 at the SpaceX Boca Chica facility in Texas, reports SpaceNews.
After a brief vertical ascent, the Starship SN5 vehicle drifted diagonally towards its intended landing pad, reaching a maximum altitude of 492 feet (150 meters), according to SpaceX.
The prototype then unfurled its six landing legs and performed a smooth landing. With its metallic wrapper and cylindrical shape, it appeared as if a steel grain silo had suddenly taken to the skies. Read more
Texas teacher charged with having sex with 15-year-old student (NYPost)
A Texas teacher is charged with having sex with a 15-year-old male student — just months after she started working at a high school, court records show.
Hailey Pardy, a 25-year-old former math teacher at Bastrop High School, was arrested Thursday by Round Rock police following her indictment by a grand jury for allegedly having an improper relationship with a student, a second-degree felony, the Austin American-Statesman reports.
Pardy, then 23, had sex with the teen student on Dec. 1, 2018, police said.
Administrators at the public school then got an anonymous tip some nine months later — in August 2019 — about the alleged sexual relationship between the pair and Hardy was put on paid administrative leave the same day, the newspaper reports. Read more
Kanye West 2020 officially names vp on ballot filing, beats deadline in Wisconsin (TMZ)
Kanye filed signatures and paperwork Tuesday to get his name on the ballot for president in Wisconsin.
Yeezy listed Tidball as his running mate. He’s an independent candidate running with BDY — The Birthday Party.
Kanye needed 2,000 signatures from registered voters in Wisconsin to get on the ballot. WI has 10 electoral votes.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ. Kanye’s third-party petitioning group, Let the Voters Decide, helped him obtain signatures in Wisconsin and is now hitting the ground in three more states to help him get on the ballot in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming. They are currently in Ohio, which has a Wednesday deadline. Read more
New York college students must pass a COVID-19 test to enter campus (NYPost)
Students enrolled at New York’s public colleges must first pass a COVID-19 test in order to get access to campus in a bid to prevent the spread of the contagious virus.
The State University at Albany and Stony Brook University sent notices to students saying they have to provide proof of having tested negative for the coronavirus before arrival on campus later this month for the fall semester.
“Given reported delays for COVID-19 test results and lack of testing availability in some areas, all University at Albany students should be tested as soon as possible in order to have results prior to the beginning of fall classes,” Michael Christakis, vice president of student affairs, said in a “Dear Great Dane” letter to students. Read more
Samsung unveils new Note20 phones touted as ‘most powerful’ (USAToday)
Samsung has two new premium-sized and priced Note smartphones for you, calling them “power devices” that have more oomph than last year’s models.
At a live-streamed event from Korea, Samsung on Wednesday confirmed the pending release of the two Galaxy Note20 phones, an updated smartwatch, two new tablets and Galaxy Buds.
It’s that time of the year when manufacturers begin introducing and shipping new phones. This week, Google announced its new budget Pixel 4A, selling for $349, and in September, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 12 for an October release. The new device will be delayed from its usual September release. Read more
Neil Young sues Donald Trump’s campaign for using his songs (BBC)
Neil Young is suing Donald Trump’s re-election campaign for repeatedly using his music without his permission.
The rock star says the US president breached copyright laws by playing his songs at political rallies and events.
The Canadian has objected to the use of Rockin’ in the Free World and Devil’s Sidewalk for what he called an “un-American campaign of ignorance and hate”.
The Trump campaign has not yet commented.
Young said he had complained about Mr Trump’s use of his music since 2015, but had been “wilfully” ignored. Read more
Black coaches in football: Ex-DR Congo captain starts own coaching scheme (BBC)
A non-league player and former international hopes to force “drastic change” towards equality in football with an initiative to develop more black managers and coaches.
Gabriel Zakuani, a former DR Congo captain, has support and financial backing for the scheme from the Professional Footballers’ Association, the players’ union.
The Dagenham and Redbridge defender says his initiative will also pay for coaching badges for under-privileged people and try to get them on the coaching ladder and into employment.
“The PFA has looked at their statistics of black players in the country and not enough players are making the step up into coaching or management,” said the 34-year-old. Read more
Lionel Messi sends class message to Iker Casillas after retirement announcement (Metro)
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has penned a classy tribute to old Real Madrid rival Iker Casillas after the Spanish goalkeeper announced his retirement from football.
The 39-year-old, who made 725 appearances for Real during his 16-year career at the Bernabeu, helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup and successive European Championships in 2008 and 2012. He moved to Porto five years ago, winning the Primeira Liga title twice, but has not played since suffering a heart attack during training last year. Casillas and Messi faced off in countless Clasicos over the years and the Barcelona forward was keen to share his admiration for the keeper as he hangs up his gloves. Read more
Arsenal plan to make 55 staff redundant because of coronavirus pandemic (BBC)
Arsenal plan to make 55 staff redundant because of the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Gunners’ first-team players and head coach Mikel Arteta agreed a 12.5% pay cut in April.
Arsenal’s executive team also agreed to waive more than a third of their salaries over the next 12 months.
However, the club said they now face “more significant and longer-lasting reductions in our revenue than we all hoped”.Read more
Pedro bids early farewell to Chelsea after surgery (Guardian)
Chelsea forward Pedro has undergone surgery on his shoulder ahead of an expected transfer to Roma, meaning he will not play for the Premier League club again.
The 33-year-old Spain international confirmed on social media his operation had been successful.
He landed awkwardly on his right shoulder when appearing as a substitute in Chelsea’s 2-1 FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal at the weekend. Read more
Jamal Lewis: Liverpool target Norwich left-back as Andy Robertson back-up (BBC)
Liverpool are interested in signing Norwich City left-back Jamal Lewis for £10 million as cover for Andy Robertson.
Northern Ireland defender Lewis, 22, made 28 Premier League appearances in 2019-20, scoring once, as the Canaries were relegated.
Norwich are thought to be keen on Reds left-back Yasser Larouci, which could help a deal be reached. Read more
Andy Ruiz set for talks to fight WBA ‘Regular’ champion Manuel Charr (Metro)
Manuel Charr says he wants to fight Andy Ruiz next and questioned why the American heavyweight would turn down a world title fight.
The WBA ‘Regular’ champion is yet to defend his belt despite winning it in November of 2017. Ruiz hasn’t fought since his defeat to Anthony Joshua in their rematch last December and has been in talks with Chris Arreola to be his comeback opponent.
But Charr has now entered the mix and called on Ruiz to accept his offer. ‘[My promoter] Erol Ceylan is right now in Turkey,’ Charr told Sky Sports. Read more
