Shi’ite Protest: Senate President, IGP visit policemen in hospital (Nation)
The Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan and the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu visited Policemen who sustained injury when members of the El-Zakzakky Islamic Movement of Nigeria forcefully invaded the National Assembly on Tuesday. Senator Lawan and his team were said to have visited the injured policemen around 10pm on Tuesday. The IGP on his part was accompanied by the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Ibrahim Lamorde, Commissioner of Police in charge of FCT, CP Bala Ciroma and others on Wednesday to know the status of the affected officers. Read more
Buhari will submit ministerial list this week, says Lawan (Punch)
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will submit the list of ministerial nominees for the consideration and approval of the red chamber this week. Lawan who stated this at plenary on Wednesday explained that the executive arm of government was working hard to ensure that the list was ready early enough before the senators proceed on their annual two-month recess. Read more
Osinbajo to military: don’t just wear uniform, defend Nigeria with your lives (Nation)
As 187 new officers were commissioned into the Nigerian Air Force on Wednesday, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has warned military officers and men that, beyond taking pride in their uniform and weapons, they must defend Nigeria with their lives. He said, the military career which is to defend the territorial integrity of the country, is the most civic service and beyond just earning salary and getting a chance to wear a coveted uniform, but putting their lives on the line for the safety and welfare of millions Nigerians. Read more
Imo State embraces TSA, closes over 250 revenue accounts (Guardian)
Imo State governor Emeka Ihedioha Tuesday said the state will close over 250 revenue accounts operated by the past as administrations in the state to pave way for implementing Treasury Single Account. About 150 of the accounts were opened in Zenith Bank. “So I will sign the Executive Order…for the TSA to begin immediately,” Ihedioha told newsmen at his residence in Owerri. An executive order backing that move was signed on Wednesday. Read more
National issues: CAN defends Pastor Adeboye’s ‘silence’ (Nation)
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has come in defence of Pastor Enoch Adeboye’s presumed silence on prevailing national issues. The Christian body said Adeboye is a member of CAN as well as Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) and the two Christian bodies have taken their stand of current national issues. CAN said no one should expect Adeboye to speak on the same issues that have been addressed by the two prominent Christian bodies. Read more
Why I can’t comment on FG’s decision to drop Goje’s case —Sagay (Punch)
The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), has said that he cannot speak on the decision of the Muhammadu Buhari-led government to drop the prosecution of Gombe Central senator, Danjuma Goje, because he did not have details of the matter. Sagay said this during an interview with The PUNCH on Monday. The senior advocate, however, said he would not be in support of the move if it was done for political reasons. Read more
Ohanaeze hails South East governors’ stand on Ruga (Nation)
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has commended South East Governors for their resolve not to release lands for the suspended Ruga Settlement Programme. The apex Igbo organisation, however, noted that they should be more of proactive than making statements and precepts. Ohanaeze spoke through its deputy publicity secretary, Chuks Ibegbu. Read more
Court orders IGP, Kyari to appear on September 25 (Punch)
Justice Dorcas Agishi of the Jos Division of the Federal High Court on Wednesday ordered the Inspector General of Police and Abba Kyari, Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Intelligence Response Team to appear on September 25 to show cause why they should not be charged with contempt. The order is coming seven days after they failed to produce a suspect in court for trial. Read more
DPR seals three filling stations in Makurdi (Punch)
The Department of Petroleum Resources on Wednesday sealed three petrol stations in Makurdi over alleged sharp practices. The State Controller of DPR, Mr. Francis Olo, disclosed this in an interview with journalists after a routine inspection of stations in Makurdi. Olo said that the department must ensure the safety, strict compliance with its regulations and healthy working environment in the state. Read more
Two dead as Benue, Cross River communities clash (Punch)
Fighting broke out in the early hours of Wednesday between Tsar community in Vandekya Local Government Area of Benue State and some residents of Obudu Local Government Area in Cross River State. The cause of the fighting which allegedly resulted in the death of two persons in Tsar community could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report. Governor Ben Ayade hails from Obudu LG. Read more
Court sentences barber to 15 months in prison for stealing prepaid metres (Punch)
A Grade I Area Court Karu, Abuja, on Wednesday, sentenced a 21-year old man, Nura Suleiman, to 15 months in prison for stealing five Abuja Electricity Distribution Company prepaid metres from residents. The convict, who resides at Karu Site, Abuja, pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal trespass, mischief in relating to electricity and theft, but begged for leniency. The judge, Sani Mohammed gave the convict an option to pay a fine of N45,000. Read more
No further Ebola cases in Uganda after June deaths: DR Congo (Guardian)
Uganda says there have been no further cases of Ebola on its territory resulting from the deaths of two Ugandans who had travelled to DR Congo, the Congolese authorities said Wednesday. In an update on the epidemic in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the health ministry said its Ugandan counterparts had confirmed there had been no further infections. “The health ministry of the Republic of Uganda has announced that all contacts with the index case completed their obligatory 21-day monitoring period without developing signs of the disease,” it said. Read more
Sir Kim Darroch: UK ambassador to US resigns in Trump leaks row (BBC)
Sir Kim Darroch has resigned as UK ambassador to the US, as a row over leaked emails critical of President Trump’s administration escalates.
Theresa May said Sir Kim’s departure was “a matter of deep regret” after the ambassador said it was “impossible” for him to continue. Meanwhile, one minister said Boris Johnson had thrown Sir Kim “under a bus” by not fully supporting him. President Trump said on Monday that the US would not deal with Sir Kim. Read more
Angela Merkel pictured shaking for third time in recent weeks (BBC)
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been seen shaking for a third time in a month. Video footage shows Mrs Merkel trembling, shaking back and forth alongside Finland’s prime minister during a ceremony in Berlin on Wednesday. After the incident, Mrs Merkel said she was “very well” and there was “no need to worry”. A government spokesperson said she would continue meetings as planned. Read more
Sri Lanka negotiating military deal with the US: PM (Guardian)
Sri Lanka is negotiating a fresh military cooperation deal with the United States, it’s Prime Minister announced in parliament Wednesday, even as the country’s president vowed to veto any agreement. Ranil Wickremesinghe said the government was discussing a replacement for a 1995 Status of Forces (SOFA) arrangement that would allow the militaries of the two countries to access each other’s ports and airports with fewer formalities. Read more
Christian wedding dressmaker tried to convert lesbian couple to heterosexuality (Metro)
A Christian wedding dress designer refused to make dresses for a lesbian couple’s big day – then tried to convert them to heterosexuality. Tiffany Allen and her fiancee Angel Lane approached New York-based D Auxilly designs to inquire about a $1,500 jumpsuit Angel loved, but were stunned by designer Dominique Galbraith’s email response. She wrote: ‘I wouldn’t be able to make a piece for a same-sex wedding. Read more
American Airlines sorry after ‘telling woman to cover up’ (BBC)
American Airlines has apologised after allegedly telling a female passenger to wrap herself in a blanket to hide her outfit. Dr Tisha Rowe said the incident happened on 30 June on a flight to Miami from a family holiday in Jamaica. The 37-year-old said online she felt body-shamed and humiliated after being told to cover her “assets”. Read more
Women’s World Cup: United States welcomed home by thousands of fans in New York (BBC)
Tens of thousands of fans lined the streets of New York on Wednesday to greet the the United States’ Women’s World Cup-winning team. The USA beat the Netherlands 2-0 in Sunday’s final in France to win the competition for a fourth time and retain the title they won in 2015. Floats and an open-top bus took the players, who wore black T-shirts emblazoned with ‘World Champions’ in gold letters, through the streets of Lower Manhattan to a ceremony at City Hall. Read more
Scott McTominay smashes Man Utd initiation song but Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James flop (Metro)
Manchester United summer signings Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka completed their initiations by singing in front of their new teammates, but were firmly put in the shade by Scott McTominay. Attempting to sing Uncle Kracker’s ‘Follow Me’ James, a £15million purchase from Swansea, failed to impress his new colleagues and England Under-21 international Wan-Bissaka fared little better, performing a rendition of rapper Nav’s ‘Tap,’ and was forced to cut short his effort amid some intense barracking. Read more
AC Milan, Inter Milan launch bid to build new stadium (Punch)
AC Milan and Inter Milan have launched their bid to knock down the iconic San Siro and build a new 60,000-capacity home on the same site, the Serie A giants announced on Wednesday. “Today, A.C. Milan S.p.A. (AC Milan) and F.C. Internazionale Milano S.p.A. (FC Internazionale) filed with the Municipality of Milan the ‘Technical and Economic Feasibility Study’ for the new Milan stadium and its multifunctional district,” the clubs said in a joint statement. Read more
Youri Tielemans reveals why he snubbed Manchester United to join Leicester City (Metro)
Youri Tielemans has revealed that he decided to join Leicester City ahead of Manchester United because he wanted to join his new club for the start of pre-season training. Tielemans initially joined the Foxes on loan in the January transfer window but made an immediate impact during his time in the Premier league. Read more
Referee hits back at Messi, Argentina accusations (Punch)
The referee accused by Argentina at the Copa America of having made “serious and gross” mistakes during their semi-final defeat to Brazil has hit back at his detractors accusing them of being bad losers. Argentina and their captain Lionel Messi were incensed that Ecuadoran handler Roddy Zambrano not only failed to award them two penalties in their 2-0 defeat last week but that he also refused to consult VAR to check their claims. Read more
Serena Williams and Andy Murray crash out of Wimbledon mixed doubles against No.1 seeds (Metro)
Serena Williams and Andy Murray’s box-office partnership at Wimbledon came to an end on Wednesday as they were beaten 6-3 4-6 6-2 by Nicole Melichar and Bruno Soares. The Brazilian-American combo are the No.1 seeds in the mixed doubles and showed exactly why out on Court No.2 in a commanding victory, surviving a scare in the second set to progress to the quarter-finals. Read more
Novak Djokovic to play Roberto Bautista Agut in Wimbledon semi-finals (BBC)
Defending champion Novak Djokovic snuffed out a promising start by David Goffin to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals. The Serbian world number one went a break down in the first set to the speedy Belgian before turning it round in clinical fashion to win 6-4 6-0 6-2. He faces Roberto Bautista Agut in the last four on Friday after the Spaniard beat Guido Pella 7-5 6-4 3-6 6-3. Read more
Thurman has appetite for destruction of ‘legend’ Pacquiao (Guardian)
Keith Thurman warned Tuesday he is targeting the destruction of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao when the two welterweights face off in Las Vegas later this month. The undefeated Thurman puts his World Boxing Association welterweight crown on the line against the 40-year-old Pacquiao on July 20 at the MGM Grand. Thurman, 30, has relentlessly fanned the flames for the contest by stating he plans to send Pacquiao into retirement. Read more
Tour de France: Peter Sagan wins stage five as Julian Alaphilippe retains lead (BBC)
Peter Sagan secured his first win of this year’s Tour de France as he sprinted to victory on stage five. Rui Costa made a late break on the hilly 175.5km route to Colmar but after he was hauled in Sagan was dominant as he took his 12th Tour stage win. The Bora-Hansgrohe rider, 29, was followed home by Wout van Aert and Matteo Trentin. Read more