Sanwo-Olu asks to meet boy in ‘calm down’ viral video (Nation)
Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has expressed willingness to meet the unidentified boy in a viral video, asking his mother to ‘calm down’ as she attempts to beat him over an offence.
In the video, the boy is seen appealing to his mother to “calm down and rest a little,” evoking laughter from social media users.
He also tells his mother to pardon him, saying “this is my last chance,” a phrase that provokes further laughter.
In his Sallah message to Lagosians, the Governor on his official twitter handle @jidesanwoolu said he was inspired by the video “because of the deeper meaning it conveys,” urging residents to “calm down.” Read more
Customs in Seme intercepts 136,350 litres of petrol, 79 used cars (Guardian)
The Seme Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) intercepted 79 used vehicles known as ‘Tokunbo’ and 136,350 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) called petrol in the last six months.
The Acting Customs Area Comptroller, Mr Chedi Wada, told newsmen in Seme on Wednesday that the command made a total 824 interceptions with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N413.4 million.
Wada said that the command remitted the sum of N22, 477, 920 into the federation account as revenue from January to June.
“The revenue figure were proceeds realised from auction sales of seized perishables items, which is in line with Customs and Excise Management Act provision,” he said. Read more
Lagos discharges 62 COVID-19 patients, including 11 foreigners (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday discharged 62 more COVID-1 patients from various isolation facilities across the state having recovered fully and tested negative for COVID-19.
The state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who is also the Incident Commander said the COVID-19 patients include:19 females and 43 males including 11 foreign nationals were discharged from isolation facilities.
The patients; 6 from Gbagada, 1 from Agidingbi, seven from Eti-Osa (LandMark) nine from Onikan and six from Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital Isolation Centres were discharged after full recovery. Read more
Man beats pregnant wife to death (Nation)
A 47-year old man, Olabode Oluwaseun, has allegedly beaten his pregnant wife, Blessing, to death.
Olabode was said to have hit his late wife on the abdomen, which led to her death and her unborn child.
The accused, who was arraigned on a one-count charge before an Akure Magistrate Court, was alleged to have committed the crime on April 3 at No 56 Oke-Agba area in Akure. Read more
NECO begins Oct 5, NABTEB Sept 21 – FG (Nation)
The Federal Government has said the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) organised by the National Examination Council (NECO) for SS3 pupils will commence on October 5 and end on November 18, 2020.
The government also said the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) examinations will start on September 21 and end by October 15, 2020.
Minister of State for Education, Emeka Nwajuiba, announced the dates at the end of a two-day meeting with Chief Executives of examination bodies in the country. Read more
Appeal Court affirms INEC’s power to deregister political parties (DailyTrust)
The Court of Appeal sitting at Abuja on Wednesday affirmed the power of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister political parties in the country.
Justice Mohammed Baba Idris in his ruling upheld an earlier decision by the Federal High Court in Abuja which held that INEC was right to deregister National Unity Party (NUP) which was one of the 74 parties deregistered by the electoral body.
A Federal High Court in Abuja in May affirmed the Power of INEC to deregister the NUP along with other political parties which failed to comply with the provisions of the law particularly Section 225 A of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Read more
We’re not ready to continue Jang’s trial, EFCC tells court (ThisDay)
The trial of a former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, which was expected to continue on Wednesday, was stalled as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said that it was unprepared to continue with the case due to skeletal airline operation in the country.
Jang is being tried by the anti-graft agency alongside a former cashier in the office of the Secretary to the State Govaernment, Mr. Yusuf Pam, over alleged misappropriation of funds during his tenure between 2007 and 2015.
The two had pleaded not guilty to the allegations bordering on criminal breach of trust which had led to their arraignment before Justice Daniel Longji in March 2018. Read more
Gunmen kill 13 family members, 1 other in Kogi (DailyTrust)
Gunmen, in the early hours of Wednesday, attacked Agudu community in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing 13 persons from a family in their wake.
The attackers, it was learnt, also killed a local who rushed to the scene on hearing gunshots in his neighbours’ compound, making the casualty figure 14. Gunmen abduct popular Makurdi businessman Gunmen ransack Bakassi village It was learnt that some persons also sustained injuries during the onslaught which lasted for over one hour. Read more
Omo-Agege: Senate to commence Constitutional Amendment after Sallah break (ThisDay)
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has revealed that the Senate will commence the amendment of the 1999 constitution as soon as the Sallah break is over.
Omo-Agege also said that the sexual harassment bill recently passed by the upper legislative chamber is not targeted at university lecturers.
The Deputy Senate President, who spoke on Wednesday while playing host to two groups — Women Education Advocacy and Development Initiative (WEADI) and League of Women Voters of Nigeria (NILOWV) — in his office. Read more
Coronavirus: Seven Zimbabwe babies stillborn in one night at hospital (BBC)
Seven babies were stillborn at Harare Central Hospital in Zimbabwe on Monday night after urgent treatment was delayed because of staffing issues, two doctors have confirmed to the BBC.
Nurses are on strike nationwide because of a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other concerns, and the maternity wards were overwhelmed.
One doctor said Monday’s deaths were “the tip of the iceberg”.
The health sector has recently been hit by a Covid-19 procurement scandal. Read more
Oregon governor says federal agents will withdraw from Portland (NYPost)
Federal agents deployed to protests in Portland to protect federal court buildings will begin a phased withdrawal from the city on Thursday, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said Wednesday.
“After my discussions with VP Pence and others, the federal government has agreed to withdraw federal officers from Portland,” Brown said in a tweet. “They have acted as an occupying force & brought violence. Starting tomorrow, all Customs and Border Protection & ICE officers will leave downtown Portland.”
The acting head of the Department of Homeland Security, Chad Wolf, added in a separate statement that he anticipates the agency to “change our force posture” if circumstances on the ground in the city change. Read more
Yemen separatists abandon self-rule in push for stalled peace deal (France24)
Yemen’s leading separatist group will abandon its aspirations for self-rule to implement a stalled peace deal brokered by Saudi Arabia, it announced early Wednesday in a major step toward closing a dangerous rift between nominal allies in the chaotic proxy war.
Nizar Haitham, a spokesman for the separatists’ Southern Transitional Council, an umbrella group of militias backed by the United Arab Emirates, said the separatists would give up their dreams of autonomy over southern Yemen to pursue the Riyadh agreement.
“We have achieved our goals,” said Haitham, noting that the announcement came under intense pressure from Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E. “We affirm the continuing and deepening of our strategic partnership with the Arab coalition.” Read more
Digital health passport could end social distancing (Metro)
A secure digital health passport system costing £15 a head could be the key to ending social distancing in sports and other entertainment venues, according to its developers.
Spectators would be tested for coronavirus in the days immediately prior to attending an event, and if the test is negative their unique digital passport would be scanned, verified and approved by venue officials from a distance of up to 100 metres.
The technology verifies a person’s identity from their official passport document which has been uploaded and then compares the person’s identity using facial recognition. Read more
Coronavirus: Trump sticks by unproven hydroxychloroquine (BBC)
US President Donald Trump has again defended the use of hydroxychloroquine to ward off coronavirus, contradicting his own public health officials.
He said the malaria medication was only rejected as a Covid-19 treatment because he had recommended its use.
His remarks come after Twitter banned his eldest son for posting a clip promoting hydroxychloroquine.
There is no evidence the drug can fight the virus, and regulators warn it may cause heart problems. Read more
US to withdraw 11,900 troops from Germany (France24)
The US military said on Wednesday it would move its headquarters out of Stuttgart, Germany to Belgium, as it outlined broader plans to shift around 12,000 US troops out of Germany on orders from President Donald Trump.
Trump announced plans last month to cut the number of US troops in Germany to 25,000, faulting the close US ally for failing to meet NATO’s defence spending target and accusing it of taking advantage of America on trade.
Of the 34,500 US military personnel in Germany, some 6,400 will be sent home while nearly 5,600 others will be moved to other NATO countries, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper announced Wednesday. Read more
Benedict Cumberbatch walks into New York comic book store dressed as Doctor Strange (Metro)
Having a real life member of the MCU strutting into a comic book store sounds like a dream come true. So kudos to Benedict Cumberbatch for blowing some Avengers-loving minds. Doctor Stranger director Scott Derrickson shared never before seen footage of Cumberbatch surprising the staff of a New York comic book store while in full costume, and it’s a delight. Derrickson tweeted: ‘Never before shown moment. Read more
I’ll advise Saka to choose England over Nigeria – Arteta (DailyTrust)
Arsenal Manager, Mikel Arteta, says he will advise Bukayo Saka to choose England ahead of Nigeria if the young lad sought his advice.
Born in Ealing, London to Nigerian parents, the 18-year-old had represented England from under-16 to under-19 levels but said he was yet to decide whether to commit his international future to his country of birth (England) or Nigeria, where his parents came from.
Arteta, who will be leading Arsenal to the FA Cup final clash against London rival, Chelsea on Saturday, said he trusted Saka to make the right decision.
“He hasn’t come to me with that so for now, I will leave it totally independent with the player and his family as they normally have a big say with their background, their culture and where they are coming room. Read more
Community Shield confirmed for August 29 at Wembley (Vanguard)
Arsenal or Chelsea will face Liverpool in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium on August 29, the Football Association (FA) has confirmed.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side will go head-to-head with their London rivals in the FA Cup final on Saturday, with the winner to take on the Premier League’s champions.
With the 2020-21 top-flight campaign set to start on September 12, the FA has now announced its date for English football’s traditional curtain-raiser. Read more
Scout reveals Man Utd ignored his advice to sign £58m Chelsea star (Metro)
Former Manchester United scout Jorge Alvial has revealed that the club ignored his advice to sign Christian Pulisic before Chelsea landed the United States winger.
Pulisic joined Borussia Dortmund at the age of 16 in 2015 and made his first-team debut just a year later after impressing for the youth sides.
Chelsea fended off competition from Liverpool and Arsenal to complete a £58 million deal for Pulisic last year, and the 21-year-old has made a major impact in his first season under Frank Lampard with 10 goals and 10 assists in 33 appearances. Read more
Dubai and Cape Town Sevens cancelled (BBC)
The Dubai and Cape Town rounds of the 2021 Rugby World Sevens – due to take place in November and December this year – will not take place because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Men’s and women’s events had been scheduled for 26-28 November and 4-6 December 2020 respectively.
World Rugby has set up a working group to evaluate the rest of the season.
New Zealand were awarded men’s and women’s titles for 2020 having led the standings when the suspension came. Read more
Bayern Munich set asking price for Liverpool and Man Utd to sign Thiago (Metro)
Bayern Munich are open to selling Thiago Alcantara this summer but Liverpool and Manchester United will need to pay their €30 million (£27.2m) asking price, according to reports in Germany.
The midfielder has just one year remaining on his contract with the German champions and has not yet agreed a new deal.
Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for the 29-year-old, with reports claiming that the Premier League champions have agreed personal terms with the midfielder. Read more
Alexis Sanchez: Inter Milan want to sign Manchester United forward (BBC)
Inter Milan want to sign Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez on a permanent deal.
The Chile striker, 31, has impressed during his loan spell in Italy and scored his third goal in eight games during Saturday’s 3-0 win at Genoa.
Sanchez was involved again on Tuesday night as Inter maintained their push to finish second in Serie A with a 2-0 win over Napoli. Read more