Sowore ought to have been arraigned by now —Falana (Punch)
Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) has expressed disappointment that the convener of #RevolutionNow protests, Omoyele Sowore, has not been arraigned. The publisher of Sahara Reporters and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the February 2019 elections was arrested in the early hours of Saturday by operatives of the Department of State Services in a hotel in Lagos. The state agency said Sowore was arrested on account of the #RevolutionNow protest which he had spearheaded. Read more
Igbo youths condemn clampdown on RevolutionNow protesters (Nation)
Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) has condemned the clampdown on demonstrators across the country, saying that the action was portraying the government in bad light. The group also accused President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration of turning Mr Omoyele Sowore and other members of the RevolutionNow group as heroes through their illegal detention and intimidation by security agencies. Read more
Petition challenging Sanwo-Olu’s victory not abandoned, Appeal Court tells tribunal (Punch)
The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, has ordered the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in Lagos State to resume hearing in the petitions challenging the election of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress. A five-man appellate court panel held on Tuesday that the tribunal was wrong to have discontinued hearing on the basis that the petitioners, Alliance for Democracy, and its governorship candidate for Lagos State for the March 9, 2019 governorship election, Chief Owolabi Salis, abandoned their petition. Read more
Kano tribunal dismisses PDP’s application to amend list of witnesses (Punch)
The Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal on Tuesday dismissed the application filed by Abba Kabir-Yusuf and his Peoples Democratic Party seeking to amend the names of witnesses and their initials. News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Peoples Democratic Party and its governorship candidate, Kabir-Yusuf, are challenging the declaration of Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, of the All Progressives Congress, as the winner of the March 23, governorship election. Read more
Reps, stakeholders meet to resolve Resident Doctors’ N26.5bn arrears, others (Nation)
The House of Representatives joint Committees on Healthcare Services and Health Institutions convened a meeting on Tuesday with the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) with the intent of stopping the proposed strike by the organisation. Present at the meeting were the Ministry of Health, The Budget Office, Ministry of Finance, the Nigerian Medical Association and Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors (CCMDs/MDs) amongst others. Read more
Zamfara Govt to pay N30, 000 minimum wage to LG workers (Punch)
The Chairman, Zamfara State Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Mallami Yandoto, has said that the state government would pay the N30,000 minimum wage to council workers in the state. The chairman made this disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Gusau on Tuesday. Yandoto said he was not satisfied with the poor working conditions, which the local government employees were subjected to; being on a salary below the former N18, 000 minimum wage. Read more
NLC joins aviation unions’ strike against catering compay (Punch)
The Nigerian Labour Congress, Lagos State branch, on Tuesday, joined the National Union of Air Transport Employees in picketing aviation catering company, Newrest ASL Nigeria Plc at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. NUATE, last week began the disruption of the activities of Newrest ASL over alleged unlawful working conditions of its employees. Read more
CP assures maximum security in corpers’ lodges in Anambra (Nation)
Commissioner of Police in Anambra state, John Abang has assured adequate security in and around lodges of corps members across the state. Abang gave the assurance on Tuesday while receiving the State Coordinator of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mr. Kehinde Aremu in his office. The CP said the corps members need not to panic over their safety, insisting that their security was part of his mandate in the state. Read more
NYSC to establish North Central area zonal office in Niger —DG (Punch)
The National Youth Service Corps says it will soon establish an area zonal office for North Central states in Niger. Brig.-Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, Director General of NYSC, disclosed this on Tuesday in Minna during a visit to the Acting Governor of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso. Ibrahim, who said the approval was given by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, urged the state government to provide a site for the office and immediate deployment of staff. Read more
Obama Foundation names Adewale Adeyemo as first president (Punch)
A Nigerian, Adewale Adeyemo has been announced as the first president of the Obama Foundation. Obama Foundation, which is the nonprofit of the former US president, Barack Obama stated the news on its website. The statement revealed that Adeyemo, who is fondly called “Wally” will work closely with current Foundation leadership, including Board Chairman Martin Nesbitt and CEO David Simas. Adeyemo will manage the Foundation’s day-to-day operations, helping to implement the organization’s overall strategic goals and vision. Read more
US imposes sweeping sanctions on Venezuelan government (BBC)
President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping sanctions on the Venezuelan government, freezing its assets in the US and barring transactions with it. This measure is expected to be far more damaging for Venezuela’s socialist government than previous sanctions. The move is the latest aimed at increasing pressure on President Nicolás Maduro to step down. The US is one of more than 50 nations that do not recognise Mr Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate president. Read more
Taliban threatens to disrupt Afghan presidential election (Nation)
The Taliban on Tuesday threatened to disrupt the upcoming Afghan presidential election by attacking campaign events, even as peace talks to end the 18-year war is making progress. The Taliban said that the presidential election scheduled for Sept. 28, is a ploy to deceive the common people. It asked its militants to use their full capabilities to prevent the election from taking place. Read more
Russia arms dump fire: Huge blaze in Siberia extinguished (BBC)
Firefighters have put out a blaze at an ammunition dump in Siberia and munitions are no longer exploding there, the Russian military says. Ten massive Il-76 cargo planes and five Mi-8 helicopters are water-bombing the area, near the town of Achinsk in the Krasnoyarsk region. A defence ministry statement said “there are no more fires” at the site, an old dump due for closure housing some 55,000 artillery shells. Read more
Murder, ‘gay-hunters’ strike terror in Russia’s LGBT community (Guardian)
When LGBT activist Yelena Grigoryeva found her name on a hit list of a “gay-hunting” group, she did not appear to take the threat seriously. The group called itself “Pila”, meaning “saw”, after the series of Hollywood horror films of the same name, in which a serial killer plays games with his victims. Pila promised “very dangerous and cruel little gifts” to a number of Russia’s gay activists. Read more
Controlling boyfriend begged fiancee not to dump him after stabbing her six times (Metro)
A manipulative boyfriend was so controlling her got his fiancee to lie for him even while he was locked up in a prison cell. Steven Thomas, 43, has been jailed for 14 years for repeatedly stabbing his partner Evelyn Lawlor outside a country pub in Kent. She was left with a foot-long knife wound across her shoulders as well as injuries to her face, back, neck and arms following the attack outside the Malt Shovel pub in Eynsford as she tried to escape him following a row. Read more
Brazil prisoner who dressed up as daughter to escape is found dead (BBC)
Prison authorities in Brazil have found convicted drug dealer Clauvino da Silva dead in his cell, three days after an elaborate escape was foiled. Prison officials said it appeared that Silva had hanged himself. Guards on Saturday stopped Silva as he was tried walk out of the prison disguised as his teenage daughter. A video showing him removing his disguise – which included a silicone mask and a wig – piece by piece received widespread media coverage. Read more
Man, 47, drowns in swimming pool at brother’s £1,300,000 home (Metro)
An investigation is underway after a 47-year-old man drowned in the swimming pool of his brother’s £1.3 million home. It is believed Gareth Rees may have suffered a heart attack while cooling off in the large pool in the grounds of the house in Surrey, thought to belong to his brother and his family. Mr Rees died on Saturday afternoon in Churt, Surrey, a small village home to numerous millionaires and frequently used as a filming location for Hollywood blockbusters. Read more
Anonymous benefactor donates $112,000 to hospice (Punch)
An anonymous benefactor has donated 100,000 euros ($112,000) to a hospice in northern Germany. “We cannot take that big smile off everyone’s face today,” Petra Gottsand, director of the hospice in the city of Braunschweig, said on Tuesday. The money had been handed over to the hospice on Monday via the local newspaper the Braunschweiger Zeitung. According to the newspaper, the donor assured that the sum came exclusively from taxed income and requested anonymity. Read more
‘Pedophile’ cop ‘killed himself after he was caught trying to arrange sex with child’ (Metro)
A police officer is believed to have shot himself dead after being charged with soliciting a child for sex. Sergeant Joseph Ruvido, 49, was found dead of a gunshot wound at his home in San Diego Monday, hours after failing to show up for a court appearance He was arrested on July 26, and had been due to appear in court for an arraignment hearing. Police are treating his death as a suicide. Read more
Man ordered to collect fridge he threw off Spanish cliff (BBC)
Police have forced a man to retrieve a fridge he threw down a ravine near the southern Spanish city of Almeria. A tweet posted by the Guardia Civil shows the unidentified man hauling the discarded fridge back up the hillside. He was fined €45,000 (£41,000; $50,000) and made to dispose of the appliance appropriately. An associate of the man filmed the fly-tipping incident and is heard in the clip joking about recycling as the fridge tumbles down the cliff. Read more
LeBron James teams up with Drake at OVO fest to announce partnership (Metro)
Drake and LeBron James are two of the most famous men in the world. Drake’s passion for basketball is well known, so it’s no surprise that that these two have teamed up for a money-making dream. The pair were spotted at the launch of LeBron’s media company Uninterrupted Canada at restaurant Louix Louis, as the basketball player expands his media company north of the border with the help of the rapper and Toronto native. Read more
Simpsons composer Alf Clausen sues Fox following ‘firing’ (BBC)
A man who wrote music for The Simpsons for 27 years is suing its makers for allegedly firing him due to his age. Composer Alf Clausen, 78, said he was sacked from the show in 2017. In his claim, Clausen states he was informed that the show was “taking the music in a different direction”. “This reason was pretextual and false,” the claim reads. “Instead, plaintiff’s unlawful termination was due to perceived disability and age.” The BBC has approached Fox for a comment. Read more
Lagos ready to host FIFA U-20 WWC 2020 —LSSC (Punch)
The Lagos State Sports Commission led by the Executive Chairman, Kweku Tandoh, on Tuesday said the state was ready to host FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup 2020. Tandoh made the assertion on the sidelines of the four-day inspection of facilities and equipment by a FIFA inspection team based on the expression of Nigeria’s bid to host the 10th FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Nigeria had put in a bid to host the 10th FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup championship scheduled for 2020. Read more
Arsenal set to sign Phillipe Coutinho from Barcelona (Metro)
Arsenal are set to sign Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho on a season-long loan deal, according to reports in France. L’Equipe claim the Gunners have struck an agreement with the La Liga giants to sign the former Liverpool playmaker. Bilel Ghazi, who broke news of Neymar’s move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 and his subsequent desire to return to Barcelona, claims Coutinho has agreed to move to the Emirates for the 19/20 campaign. Read more
Three ways Unai Emery could set Arsenal up with Nicolas Pepe and Philippe Coutinho in the side (Metro)
Arsenal completed one of the shocks of the transfer window when they signed Nicolas Pepe for £72m from Lille last week and they could be on the brink of securing another incredible deal on the eve of the transfer deadline. According to reports in France, Arsenal are set to complete the signing of Philippe Coutinho on a season-long loan from Barcelona in what would represent one of the most remarkable transfers of the summer. Read more
Chelsea apology over ex-chief scout Eddie Heath’s ‘unchallenged’ sex abuse (BBC)
Young Chelsea players were targeted for years by a “prolific and manipulative sexual abuser” who was able to operate “unchallenged”, says a damning report. Evidence from 23 witnesses details how ex-chief scout Eddie Heath, who died in 1983, groomed and abused young boys aged between 10 and 17 in the 1970s. An external review said some adults at Chelsea must have been aware of Heath’s abuse but “turned a blind eye”. Read more
Derby County confirm Wayne Rooney signing (Metro)
Derby County have confirmed former Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney will join the club in January. The 33-year-old will arrive from Major League Soccer outfit DC United on an initial 18-month contract, with the option of a further year. Rooney will take on a duel role as player-coach and join the backroom staff of new Derby manager Philp Cocu, whose tenure starting with a win at Huddersfield last night. Read more
Manchester United reject opportunity to sign Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain (Metro)
Paris Saint-Germain are keen to get rid of Neymar this summer but are struggling to find a club to take him off their hands, with Manchester United turning down the opportunity to sign the Brazilian. The striker has made it clear he wants to leave the French capital during the transfer window, setting his sights on a return to former club Barcelona. However, the La Liga champions have not been able to come up with a deal that the Parisians are willing to accept, having sold him to PSG for around £205m in August 2017. Read more
Anthony Joshua wants to get boxing passion back ahead of Andy Ruiz Jr rematch (BBC)
Anthony Joshua says he is determined to get his “passion” back for boxing ahead of his rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr later this year. The British heavyweight lost his WBA, IBF and WBO world titles with a shock defeat by Ruiz on 1 June. That was the first professional loss of Joshua’s career and the 29-year-old is desperate to prove it was a one off. “I feel strong enough and I feel I can correct my wrongs,” Joshua told Sky Sports. Read more
Transcontinental Race: Germany’s Fiona Kolbinger becomes first female winner of endurance race (BBC)
Germany’s Fiona Kolbinger has beaten more than 200 men to become the first woman to win the Transcontinental Race, cycling more than 2,485 miles across Europe in just over 10 days. The cancer researcher, 24, endured thunderstorms, scorching heat and icy rain in the solo race, which took her from Burgas, Bulgaria to Brest in north west France via five other countries. Read more