Shi’ites clash with Police again, five arrested (Punch)
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria have again clashed with the Police at the Federal Secretariat, Abuja, on Thursday (today). The Police fired gunshots and tear gas canisters to disperse the protesters, while five Shi’ite members were apprehended by the security operatives. Our correspondent reports that the confrontation sparked panic as workers, commuters and motorists fled to avoid being caught in the melee. Read more
Buhari orders Printing and Minting Plc to print E-passports (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the production and personalisation of all E-passports and related documentation shall be the sole responsibility of the Nigerian Security Printing & Minting Company (NSPMC). Popularly known as The Mint, the company was established in 1963 with the objective of producing the nation’s currency notes and coins for the Central Bank of Nigeria as well as security documents for Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government, banks and other blue chip companies. Read more
Everybody in Ebonyi wants to be SA, SSA —Gov Umahi (Punch)
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, on Wednesday, disclosed that many of the citizens of the state were jostling for various political positions in his government. Umahi, who made the disclosure during the swearing-in of the the newly appointed Head of Service and Senior Special Assistants, said that following government advertisement, over 10,000 Ebonyians had applied as Commissioners, Senior Special Assistants, Special Advisers, Senior Technical Assistants, Technical Assistants and Coordinators of Development Centres across the state. Read more
Nigerian Army gets first aircraft hangar in Jaji (Nation)
The Nigerian Army has established the first aircraft hangar for its Aviation unit at the Jaji Military Cantonment in Kaduna State as part of the continuous effort to run a viable aviation unit. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, while inaugurating the hangar on Thursday, said the hangar was the first of its kind to be established by the army in Nigeria. Buratai said that the second hangar was underway at the Army Barracks in Bama, Borno State, adding that the army was committed to developing its air capacity. Read more
EFCC secures 55 convictions, recovers N90m in Gombe (Guardian)
The North East Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Gombe says it has secured 55 convictions and recovered over N90 million in six months. Head of Operations in the zone, Mr Michael Wetkas, disclosed this on Thursday in Gombe during a community road walk against corruption to commemorate the 2019 African Anti-Corruption Day, with the theme: “Assets Recovery”. Wetkas said the commission also secured the forfeiture of two houses to the Federal Government. Read more
Buhari has never asked NNPC for favour – GMD Kyari (Nation)
The new Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Mele Kyari, on Thursday said President Muhammadu Buhari has never asked the corporation for any favour since he was elected in 2015. He also said NNPC is committed to Open Government Partnership. Kyari made the disclosure a Roundtable Discussion to mark the 3rd African Anti-Corruption Day in Abuja organised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Read more
PENGASSAN members demand N50m over illegal suspension (Guardian)
Two members of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Petroleum Equalisation Fund Management Board (PEFMB), have demanded the sum of N50 million against the association over alleged illegal suspension. The claimants – Gambo Muhammed and Declan Agrinya, had approached the National Industrial Court to seek redress over what they described as illegal suspension by the association. According to them, the suspension resulted in the withholding of their benefits and entitlements since September 2017. Read more
Flood sweeps away pregnant woman, kills two others (Punch)
Three persons, including a pregnant woman, have been killed by flood that swept through some parts of Zinariya community in Jos, Plateau State. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the flood, which resulted from days of downpour, also brought down nine houses. “The incident resulted from narrow waterways; the victims were asleep when the rain started, but with the water soaking up the foundations of their buildings, the structures collapsed on them,” Sani Bello, a relation of the victims, told NAN on Thursday. Read more
Man divorces wife for demanding ‘bribe’ before sex (Guardian)
A mother of four, Mrs Risikat Adegboyega, has lost her 16-year-old marriage as an Igando Customary Court in Lagos granted the request of her husband to dissolve the union because she demanded bribe before sex. The court President, Mr Adeniyi Koledoye, held on Thursday that since the petitioner insisted on divorce in spite of interventions, the court is left with no option other than to grant his wish. “The court hereby dissolves the marriage between Pastor Abayomi Adegboyega and Mrs Risikat Adegboyega; you henceforth cease to be husband and wife. Read more
South Africa grants Ghana visa-free entry, excludes Nigeria (Punch)
The Department of Home Affairs says the country’s new eVisa system will launch in November 2019, and it has added new nations to the list of countries that can enter South Africa visa-free. According to a report by Business Tech and tweeted via the unverified Twitter handle of Home Affairs @HomeAffairsSA on Wednesday, seven new countries can now visit South Africa visa-free. The report quoted the South African Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, as having announced that seven new countries will be added to the list of nations that are able to come to South Africa without a visa. Read more
Trump escalates war on social media at White House ‘summit’ (Guardian)
Escalating his attacks on Silicon Valley, President Donald Trump hinted Thursday at new regulations on social media as he gathered critics of major online platforms at a White House “summit.” Trump invited conservative activists who have been curbed or banned on social media to press his argument that big social networks are discriminating against conservatives, notwithstanding his large online following. Read more
Iranian boats ‘tried to intercept British tanker’ (BBC)
Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker near the Gulf – before being driven off by a Royal Navy ship, the Ministry of Defence has said. HMS Montrose, a British frigate shadowing the BP-owned tanker, was forced to move between the three boats and the tanker, a spokesman said. He described the Iranians’ actions as “contrary to international law”. Read more
Islamic State video threatens Turkish leader Erdogan (Guardian)
The Islamic State has threatened Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a video released late Wednesday which referenced the group’s alleged branch in Turkey. “Hey, Erdogan, the arrogant tyrant of Turkey, do not consider the swords of the caliphate’s soldiers are far away from you,” says one Turkish-speaking Islamic State militant, surrounded by two men holding machine guns. Covering their faces, the militants swear allegiance to the group’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi throughout the video which features an Islamic State flag and a rocket launcher in the background. Read more
Russian nuclear submarine: Norway finds big radiation leak (BBC)
Norway has found a radiation level 800,000 times higher than normal at the wreck of a Russian navy submarine that sank in the Norwegian Sea in 1989. A sample showed radioactive caesium leaking from a ventilation pipe in the Komsomolets. But researcher Hilde Elise Heldal said it was “not alarming”, as the Arctic water quickly diluted it. The Soviet-era sub is also deep down, at 1,680m (5,512ft), and there are few fish in the area, she said. Read more
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sued over blocking people on Twitter (BBC)
US Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is being sued for blocking people on Twitter. Former New York state assemblyman Dov Hikind and Joseph Saladino, a YouTube personality running for Congress, have filed the claims. Both cite a recent ruling against President Donald Trump, which said he was breaking the law by blocking critics on the social media platform. Read more
Girl filmed licking sterile medical equipment in doctors office before putting it back in jar (Metro)
A young girl was filmed licking a sterilized tongue depressor in a doctor’s office before putting it back in its jar. The youngster filmed herself contaminating the medical equipment, then shared the clip on Snapchat, with the caption ‘Don’t tell me how to live my life.’ Her foul behavior appears to have been provoked by a sign on the clinic wall saying ‘Please do not touch medical supplies. Thank you.’ Read more
Uluru tourists draw controversy ahead of climb ban (BBC)
Tourists to Australia’s Uluru have drawn controversy for seeking to climb the sacred indigenous site in the months ahead of a ban on the practice. Photos circulating online show lines of people snaking up Uluru, with some social media users comparing it to recent scenes on Mount Everest. It has been criticised as disrespectful to Aboriginal people, who have long asked tourists not to climb. Read more
Jason Momoa is being body shamed and apparently now has a ‘dad bod’ (Metro)
So because some men just want to watch the world burn Jason Momoa is being fat-shamed for having a ‘dad bod’. Once again for the cheap seats at the back, this is why we can’t have nice things. Taking in the sights of Venice alongside wife Lisa Bonet, having earned some down time, the Game Of Thrones star, 39, was seen chilling like a villain. Read more
FIFA reveals punishment for racist behavior (Punch)
FIFA wants teams to automatically forfeit matches if their supporters are found to be guilty of racist and another discriminatory behaviour, world football’s governing body has announced. “Unless there are exceptional circumstances, if a match is abandoned by the referee because of racist and/or discriminatory conduct, the match shall be declared forfeited,” FIFA said in their new Disciplinary Code launched on Thursday. Read more
Xavier Amaechi deletes all trace of Arsenal from Instagram after Unai Emery snub (Metro)
Xavier Amaechi has deleted all traces of Arsenal from his Instagram account after he was left out of Unai Emery’s 29-man squad for the upcoming pre-season tour of America. The 18-year-old impressed for Freddie Ljungberg’s Under-23 side last season and with the Swede having recently been promoted to Emery’s first team coaching set-up, Arsenal promising crop of youngsters are expected to be given chances to stake claims for first team opportunities. Read more
Barcelona beat PSG to sign 16-year-old striker Barry (Punch)
FC Barcelona have beaten Paris St-Germain (PSG) to the signing of one of England’s brightest talents in 16-year-old striker Louie Barry from Championship side West Bromwich Albion. British media had reported that Barry had undergone a medical with French Ligue 1 champions PSG before FC Barcelona stepped in at the last minute. The Spanish champions convinced him to join the ranks at La Masia, the club’s famed academy. Read more
Romelu Lukaku caught yawning on exercise bike after missing Manchester United training session (Metro)
Manchester United striker was embarrassingly caught going through the motions on an exercise bike after missing Wednesday’s training session. The Belgium international has travellled to Australia with the rest of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first team squad, despite the mounting speculation surrounding his future. Lukaku slipped down the United pecking order following United’s decision to replace Jose Mourinho with Solskjaer in last December. Read more
Serena Williams on brink of history as she sets up Simona Halep Wimbledon final (Metro)
Serena Williams is just one win away from equalling Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam record after booking her spot in the final of Wimbledon. The 23-time major winner thumped Barbora Strycova 6-1 6-2 in under an hour on the Czech’s semi-finals debut and will now take on Romania’s Simona Halep in the final. Should Williams maintain this level of relentless, crushing ball striking, it will take something special for her to be stopped. Read more
Simona Halep books spot in first Wimbledon final (Metro)
Simona Halep will contest the ladies’ singles final at Wimbledon for the first time on Saturday after downing eighth seed Elina Svitolina in straight sets. The former world No. 1 struck a fine balance between aggressive ball striking and defensive prowess as she overcame the first-time Grand Slam semi-finalist 6-1 6-3 after an hour and 13 minutes. Read more