Shi’ite Protest: IGP places AIGS, CPs in FCT, neighbouring states on red alert (Nation)
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu has placed Assistant Inspector General of Police and Commissioners of Police in the FCT and neighbouring states on red alert. The Police said its action became imperative following the violent protest by members of the El-Zakzakky Group at the National Assembly in Abuja on Tuesday. The protest which left nine Police personnel injured also led to the destruction of vehicles and other valuable items. Read more
Drama as Senate committee interrogates Senator Abbo over woman assault (Guardian)
Elisha Abbo Tuesday appeared before a Senate committee set up to investigate his actions in viral footage where he assaulted a woman in a sex toy shop in Abuja. Oluremi Tinubu, a member of the committee, asked Abbo to swear an oath before saying anything. But he bluntly refused; saying the case was in court. “This matter is in court. I cannot be talking in front of cameras when the matter is already in court. That’s subjudice,” Abbo said. Read more
FG hasn’t suspended livestock transformation plan —Presidency (Punch)
The Presidency on Tuesday clarified that the National Livestock Transformation Plan of the Federal Government has not been suspended. While advising Nigerians not to worry about the 30-day ultimatum given by the Coalition of Northern Groups over the suspension of the nationwide implementation of the Ruga settlement for Fulani herders, the Presidency advised the CNG to respect the Office of the President which, it said, took the decision in national interest. Read more
Nigerian Military has been actively engaged in conflicts — NHRC (Nation)
The Executive Secretary (ES) of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr Tony Ojukwu, said on Tuesday that in the face of conflicts the Nigerian Military had been actively engaged. Ojukwu said this in Abuja in his welcome address at the opening ceremony of a four-day advanced training on human rights for Nigerian Army officers by the human rights institute. The address was delivered by Mr Benedict Agu, Head, Monitoring department of the commission, on behalf of the ES. Read more
Court orders Diezani’s land forfeited to FG (Punch)
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered that a plot of land in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, belonging to a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, be forfeited to the Federal Government. Justice Chuka Obiozor made the forfeiture order following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. The anti-graft agency told the judge that the land, “measuring 7,903.71 – 8,029.585 square metres” and designated as Plot 9, Azikiwe Road, Old GRA (UAC Property on Forces Avenue), Port Harcourt, was reasonably suspected to part of proceeds of unlawful activities. Read more
Makinde appoints Vanguard Editor as Special Adviser (Guardian)
Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has approved the appointment of Mr Jide Ajani, the immediate past Sunday Editor of Vanguard newspaper, as his Special Adviser on Media. A statement by Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said that the appointment was with immediate effect. Ajani, a graduate of Mass Communication from Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta, also holds a Masters’ degree in Communication Studies from the University of Leicester, England. Read more
NMA blames state govts for poor state of primary healthcare (Punch)
The Nigeria Medical Association has blamed the state governments for the poor implementation of Primary Healthcare programmes in the country. Dr Francis Faduyile, the President of NMA, told the News agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja, that the poor handling of primary healthcare was due to negligence and poor commitment on the part of state governors. He stated that the state government had largely abandoned the state health system, stressing that they had allowed it to suffer serious setbacks. Read more
Oyo govt. bans illegal collection of fees in public schools (Nation)
Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has banned illegal fees collection in all state-owned primary and secondary schools. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a circular issued in Ibadan on Tuesday by the Head of Service of Oyo State, Mrs Amidat Agboola, confirmed the order. The circular was directed to the Permanent Secretaries and heads of education-related agencies. Read more
Tunisia rescues 71 Italy-bound migrants in Mediterranean (Punch)
Tunisian authorities rescued 71 migrants as their boat began to sink after setting out from neighbouring Libya for Italy, the National Guard said Tuesday. Monday night’s rescue operation came just days after a boat taking the same route across the Mediterranean capsized with more than 80 people on board. Tunisian National Guard spokesman Houcem Eddine Jebali said the boat had set off from the Libyan town of Zuwara, west of Tripoli, and started to leak as it approached Tunisia’s Kerkennah Islands. Read more
Trump ‘disrespectful’ to PM and UK, says Jeremy Hunt (BBC)
Donald Trump has been “disrespectful” towards the prime minister and the UK, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said. His comments come after President Trump called Sir Kim Darroch, the UK ambassador to the US, “a very stupid guy” amid a row over leaked emails. He went on to criticise Theresa May over Brexit, saying she had ignored his advice and gone her “own foolish way”. Read more
Internet on mobile services restored in Sudan (Guardian)
Mobile internet services were restored across Sudan Tuesday following a court order, weeks after the ruling generals imposed a blockade in the wake of a brutal crackdown on protesters. Demonstrators were violently dispersed on June 3 by men in military fatigues, who stormed a weeks-long protest camp outside army headquarters in Khartoum where Sudanese had camped to demand that the generals step down. Armed men, shooting and beating protesters in a pre-dawn raid, killed dozens of demonstrators and wounded hundreds. Read more
Denmark plans regulation of influencers following suicide note (BBC)
Denmark says it plans to regulate popular influencers after an Instagram star posted a suicide note online. The influencer, Fie Laursen, posted the note on Instagram, where she has more than 336,000 followers. It remained online for two days before her family managed to take it down. The family confirmed in an Instagram post that she was recovering in hospital. The minister of children and education said influencers must, as other media, have an “editorial responsibility”. Read more
US court to decide future of Obamacare (Guardian)
Former US president Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law, which has insured tens of millions of Americans, went before a federal appeals court Tuesday in a high-stakes case whose outcome could play a major role in the 2020 presidential campaign. A three-judge panel of the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans was considering a lower court decision that found the bitterly contested law unconstitutional. Read more
Ross Perot, billionaire and ex-presidential candidate, dies at 89 (BBC)
Texan billionaire Ross Perot, who in the 1990s twice ran for US president against candidates from the two main parties, has died at the age of 89. Described as idiosyncratic and feisty, he pioneered the computer data industry by founding his own company in 1962. But he was best known for running in the 1992 campaign, advocating balanced budgets and calling for an end to the outsourcing of jobs abroad. Read more
UK MPs back extending gay marriage, abortion rights to Northern Ireland (Guardian)
MPs in Britain’s House of Commons voted on Tuesday to extend same-sex marriage and abortion rights to Northern Ireland — unless devolved government is restored there by October 21. Campaigners hailed the move as a “big step forward” in bringing the law in socially-conservative Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the country. However, the changes will not come into effect if the two parties that share power in Belfast, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein, can reach agreement in the coming months. Read more
Saudi princess on trial over Paris assault (BBC)
A Saudi princess accused of ordering her bodyguard to assault a workman has gone on trial in Paris in absentia. Princess Hassa bint Salman – Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s sister – faces charges of complicity to violence with a weapon and complicity to kidnap. Her bodyguard, who is alleged to have made the man kiss her feet as part of the 2016 attack, is also on trial. Both Princess Hassa, who is the subject of an international arrest warrant, and the bodyguard deny wrongdoing. Read more
Passenger films Ryanair ‘flight from hell’ as festivalgoer vomits in seat behind him (Metro)
Up to 70 festivalgoers ignored the crew, shouted and vomited in the aisles during a Ryanair ‘flight from hell’ for three hours. The tourists were described as wreaking havoc on the flight from Manchester to Zadar in Croatia, with dozens of holidaymakers heading to Hard Island festival. Cabin crew reportedly struggled to control the passengers even before take-off, which resulted in the flight being delayed. Read more
US family blames cruise company for toddler’s death (BBC)
The family of a toddler who died after falling 11 storeys from an open window on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship has blamed the company for the accident. Chloe Wiegand, 1, fell after her grandfather put her on the railing of a children’s play area, believing there was glass there, the family claims. Royal Caribbean said it was “deeply saddened” but would not comment further to respect the family’s privacy. The family’s lawyer said there should have been a warning sign on the window. Read more
Nicki Minaj cancels Saudi Arabia concert ‘to show support for women and LGBTQ community’ (Metro)
Nicki Minaj has pulled out of an upcoming concert in Saudi Arabia, stating that she wants to support women and the LGBTQ community. The Super Bass rapper was due to perform at the Jeddah World Fest on 18 July alongside Liam Payne and DJ Steve Aoki, both of whom are still scheduled to perform. After weeks of pressure to cancel her appearance, Nicki responded to the growing backlash on Tuesday and announced she will no longer perform. Read more
Stranger Things newbie Maya Hawke says parents Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke don’t BS her (Metro)
Stranger Things newbie Maya Hawke has opened up on what it’s like to have famous parents. The 21-year-old, who recently joined the cast of the Netflix hit, is the daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke. And according to the young star, her mum and dad love the show – but let’s be serious… Who doesn’t? When chatting to Jenny McCarthy on SiriusXM, the actress spoke about just how much she loves her family. Read more
Real Madrid loan Luca Zidane to second-division Santander (Guardian)
Real Madrid announced on Tuesday their manager’s son Luca Zidane had joined second-division Racing Santander on-loan for next season. Luca Zidane, a 21-year-old goalkeeper, is a product of the club’s youth system, along with brother Enzo, and they have both been coached by father Zinedine. Shortly after returning as Real coach in March, Zidane senior gave Luca a start in a league game against Huesca at the Santiago Bernabeu which Real won 3-2 in only his second first-team appearance. Read more
Andy Murray and Serena Williams wow Wimbledon again in mixed doubles (BBC)
Andy Murray and Serena Williams wowed Wimbledon again as their box office partnership continued with another straight-set win in the mixed doubles. Britain’s Murray, 32, and American Williams, 37, moved into the last 16 with a 7-5 6-3 win over 14th seeds Fabrice Martin and Raquel Atawo. Williams produced ruthless returning to win crucial break points in each set. Read more
Murray rules out US Open singles return (Guardian)
Andy Murray on Tuesday ruled out playing singles at the US Open, indicating it could take up to 18 months before he felt ready to return. The 32-year-old Scot had hinted that his successful hip surgery, as well as a promising foray into doubles at Wimbledon, could pave the way for a dramatic appearance at the season’s concluding Grand Slam in August and September. However, despite reaching the mixed doubles third round with Serena Williams, the former world number one said he would not return for singles in New York where he won his first Slam in 2012. Read more
John McEnroe sends warning over Andy Murray’s singles return (Metro)
John McEnroe suggested it will be tough for Andy Murray to compete at the US Open next month, despite impressing on his return to competitive tennis in doubles. The former world No. 1 won Queen’s alongside Feliciano Lopez in his first tournament back after a hip resurfacing operation at the end of January, but he has his eyes firmly fixed on a return to singles in the long run. Read more
Serena ‘saw therapist’ after US Open meltdown, apologises to Osaka (Guardian)
Serena Williams revealed Tuesday that she consulted a therapist after her infamous 2018 US Open final meltdown in which her bitter war of words with the umpire overshadowed Naomi Osaka’s maiden Grand Slam victory. The American superstar was widely vilified for her New York outburst in which she branded the chair umpire a “liar” and “thief”. She was handed a code violation for coaching,docked a point for smashing her racquet and penalised a game for verbal abuse. Read more