Shut up, I’ve not left PDP, Agbaje tells Bode George (Punch)
The Lagos State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the last election, Jimi Agbaje, has asked a former Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Bode George, to shut up and act as an elder. The Director of Media and Publicity, Jimi Agbaje Campaign Organisation, Felix Oboagwina, in a statement on Wednesday, said Agbaje described his purported defection as misinformation that should be discountenanced, adding that he had never been a member of the APC and talks of his “returning” to the ruling party had never crossed his mind. Read more
2019 UTME: We have not announced cut-off marks –JAMB (Punch)
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board says it has not published the national and general minimum cut-off marks for placement of candidates into the nation’s tertiary institutions as being speculated in some quarters. The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, on Wednesday in Lagos. According to him, there is no truth behind such speculations, adding that some persons, whom he described as fraudulent elements were behind the development with a ploy to defraud innocent Nigerians especially the candidates. Read more
Don’t be distracted by terrorists propaganda, CAS charges NAF officers (Punch)
Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, the Chief of Air Staff, has tasked Air force officers and men not to be distracted by the propaganda of terrorists and bandits. Abubakar stated this on Wednesday in Katsina State during a special Sallah reception organized for officers and men participating in operation Sharan-Daji, charged with the task of flushing out bandits in Rugu forest in the state. “The Air force staff handling the operations of flushing out terrorists and bandits should conduct the activities according to the constitutional provision. Read more
BREAKING: Doctors call off two-month strike in Imo (Punch)
The Imo state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association on Wednesday called off its two months strike after meeting with the state governor, Emeka Ihedioha. NMA chairman, Kyrian Duruewuru, who spoke to The PUNCH after a closed-door meeting with the governor, said that the association “has called off the indefinite strike with an immediate effect.” According to the chairman, the governor agreed to address the issues which made the NMA in the state to embark on the strike two months ago. Read more
Police arrest 60 bandits, two suspected car thieves in Bauchi (Punch)
No fewer than 60 bandits popularly called ‘Sara Suka’ were arrested within the Bauchi metropolis, the Bauchi Police Command has said. The Police Public Relations Officer, Kamal Abubakar, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in the state on Wednesday. According to him, the bandits were arrested following intelligence report which led to the raid of criminal hotspots in the metropolis. Read more
FG begins 2020 budget preparation, warns against inflating personnel cost (Punch)
The Federal Government has commenced the process for the preparation of the 2020 budget with a directive to Ministries, Departments and Agencies to avoid inflating their personnel budget. The government also issued a warning to chief executives of all agencies of the government against the introduction of ghost workers in the personnel payroll, adding that such action would not be condoned. The warning is contained in the 2020 Personnel Budget Call Circular issued and personally signed by the immediate past Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma. Read more
Five dead, dozens missing in Uganda landslides (Punch)
Five people have died and dozens are missing after heavy rains triggered a series of landslides in eastern Uganda’s mountainous Bududa district, the Red Cross said on Wednesday. The organisation said that around 50 people were believed missing and 150 houses destroyed after the landslides on Tuesday night in the foothills of Mount Elgon — an extinct volcano with five major peaks. “Five confirmed dead,” said Uganda Red Cross spokeswoman Irene Nakasiita, adding these included a 73-year-old woman and several children. Read more
Islamic State claims first presence in Mozambique, denied by police (Guardian)
The Islamic State group has claimed it was involved in an insurgent clash in Mozambique for the first time, but an expert expressed doubt and police dismissed the claim outright. A jihadist insurgency has been growing in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado since 2017, with more than 200 people killed and many villages torched. According to SITE Intelligence, a company that monitors extremist activity, Islamic State issued a statement late Tuesday claiming involvement in an apparent gunfight with the Mozambique military in Cabo Delgado. Read more
Mexico dismantles three synthetic drug labs in Sinaloa (BBC)
A combined army and police force on patrol in the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa has dismantled three labs producing the synthetic drug methamphetamine. Officials estimated the labs could produce 17 million doses of meth. They said their discovery was the biggest blow to meth trafficking so far this year. Crystal meth is a powerful form of amphetamine and can be smoked, snorted or injected by users. Read more
97-year-old WWII veteran parachutes to mark D-Day anniversary (Punch)
A US veteran who was parachuted into France during D-Day in 1944 defied his age on Wednesday as he recreated his courageous feat of 75 years ago as part of ceremonies to mark the famous landings. “It feels great,” 97-year-old Tom Rice said after landing to applause in a field near the French village of Carentan where he flashed the V sign. “I want to go back up and do it again!” Read more
Trump says ‘climate change goes both ways’ (BBC)
President Donald Trump has said he believes climate change “goes both ways” following a 90-minute discussion with environmentalist Prince Charles. “I believe that there’s a change in weather and I think it changes both ways,” Mr Trump told Piers Morgan in an interview that aired on Wednesday. Mr Trump said he shared the prince’s desire for a “good climate” but blamed other nations for increasing pollution. Read more
Sri Lanka proposes new law on fake news after Easter attacks (Guardian)
Sri Lanka’s government will introduce five-year jail terms for those caught spreading fake news and hate speech on social media, the government said Wednesday, following a surge in online vitriol and disinformation after the Easter suicide attacks. The cabinet of ministers approved a proposal by the acting justice minister, which will also see offenders fined one million rupees ($5,715), the government said in a statement. It did not immediately release a definition of the two offences but said the penal code will be amended to introduce the new penalties. Read more
Mother ‘killed three babies and let one dead infant rot away to a diaper-wearing skeleton’ (Metro)
A mother killed three of her babies and let one of the infants decompose until it was just a diaper-wearing skeleton, police say. The first day of Erika Murray’s trial for the death of her three infants on Tuesday revealed appalling details about the conditions of her ‘House of Horrors’ in Blackstone, Massachusetts. Murray, 35, was arrested after the feces-covered, insect-filled, trash-strewn home was discovered by a neighbor, Betsy Brown, in August 2014. Read more
Teacher fired for asking Trump to ‘remove illegal students’ from school (BBC)
A Texas school district has fired a high school teacher who tweeted to US President Donald Trump to ask for help reporting illegal immigrant students. Georgia Clark, an English teacher in Fort Worth, complained on 17 May about “illegal students from Mexico”, adding: “I need protection from recrimination”. She told school officials that she “did not realise the tweets were public,” school officials wrote in a report. Read more
Infantino says would welcome China bid for 2030 World Cup (Punch)
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Wednesday he would welcome a Chinese bid to stage the 2030 World Cup after the country was named to host the Asian Cup in 2023. Qatar will host the 2022 finals, before a joint North American tournament in 2026 in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Bids from South America and Europe, including potentially from Britain and Ireland, have been mooted for what should be a 48-team competition in 2030. Read more
Eriksen ready to leave Spurs for new challenge (Punch)
Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen says he is ready to leave Tottenham Hotspur to take on a new challenge at another club ahead of next season. Eriksen, who arrived at Spurs from Ajax Amsterdam in August 2013, has been a pivotal figure in Mauricio Pochettino’s squad which finished runners-up to Liverpool in the Champions League. The midfielder also helped the side to a fourth-place finish in the English Premier League. Read more
World Cup winner Gianluigi Buffon to leave Paris Saint-Germain (Punch)
Gianluigi Buffon will leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer after it was agreed to not renew the former Italy captain’s contract, the French champions announced on Wednesday. “Following joint discussions, Paris Saint-Germain and Gianluigi Buffon have agreed to not renew the legendary goalkeeper’s contract which expires on 30 June 2019,” PSG said in a statement. The 41-year-old goalkeeper, who won the World Cup in 2006 and is Italy’s most-capped player, joined PSG last summer after ending a trophy-packed 17-year career at Italian giants Juventus. Read more
Adam Lallana delivers update on his Liverpool future amid rumours of a Southampton return (Metro)
Adam Lallana has insisted that he will remain at Liverpool next season despite recent reports suggesting he would be open to a return to Southampton. The 31-year-old has endured two injury-ravaged seasons at Anfield and was restricted to a bit-part role as Liverpool won the Champions League and finished second in the Premier League. Lallana featured only 16 times in all competitions for Jurgen Klopp’s side last season and started just five times in the Premier League, the last of which was against Fulham in March. Read more
UEFA suspend proceedings against AC Milan over financial breaches (Punch)
UEFA on Wednesday suspended proceedings against AC Milan over Financial Fair Play breaches pending the resolution of an ongoing appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport from last year. The former European giants, who have qualified for the Europa League next season, will not be excluded from continental competition, although that could change depending on the verdict. “The suspension of the proceedings will remain in place until after the issuance of the award in the ongoing CAS case,” UEFA said in a statement. Read more
Sarri would ‘betray’ Napoli by coaching Juventus – Insigne (Guardian)
Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne said Wednesday that Maurizio Sarri would be ‘betraying’ his former club should he agree to coach rivals Juventus. Chelsea manager Sarri has been strongly linked with the Juventus job left vacant after Massimiliano Allegri’s departure. Insigne played under Sarri at Napoli between 2015 and 2018, finishing twice runners-up in Serie A behind eight-time reigning champions Juventus. Read more
Granit Xhaka drops hint over Arsenal future amid Inter Milan speculation (Metro)
Granit Xhaka has admitted that he would be ‘incredibly proud’ to be appointed Arsenal captain should Unai Emery decide to entrust him with the armband next season. The 26-year-old was named captain on a few occasions by Emery last season and could be handed the role on a permanent basis should Laurent Koscielny leave this summer. Read more
Tennis: Roland Garros washout keeps Djokovic, Halep waiting (Punch)
Torrential rain caused a complete washout of quarter-final action at Roland Garros on Wednesday with Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep amongst the biggest victims. It is the second time since 2016 that all French Open play was cancelled and third since 2000. The decision left world number one Djokovic and defending women’s champion Halep facing having to play their quarter-finals on Thursday and semi-finals on Friday if they get through. Read more
French Open rain causes disruption to semi-finals and perhaps beyond (Metro)
Inclement Parisian weather left French Open organisers in a spot of bother on Wednesday, with half of the men’s and women’s quarter-finals left incomplete. While Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Johanna Konta and Marketa Vondrousova have all safely secured their passage to the final four, their potential final opponents are still stuck in the quarter-finals. Read more