Tension in Abia as family of 7 die after eating suya (Sun)
There was palpable tension, yesterday, in Umueze, Umuakanu community in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, after seven people from the same family died after eating the popular barbecue known as suya, with an undisclosed brand of juice drink.
Father of the house whose name was given as Mr. Sunday Jessey, who had gone out earlier in the day, was said to have bought the suya which all the entire family, including four extended family members who came on holidays, ate.
It was gathered that trouble began for members of the family when a few minutes after eating the suya, suspected to have been poisoned, started vomiting.
A source told Daily Sun that before any help could come the way of the family members, they were all dead, except the wife of Mr. Jessey, Mrs. Ogba Jessey.
While one of their son’s survived because he was at school and could not partake in eating of the suya, Mrs Jessey is said to be unconscious and is receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, and she was unaware that other members of the family were dead. Read more
Police arraign 25-year-old man over social media post (Punch)
A 25-year-old man, Emmanuel Kayode, has appeared before an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over a post he made on social media.
Kayode is facing two counts of breach of the peace and false publication.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Benedict Aigbokhan, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between July 11 and August 14, on Shonubi Street, Ago, Okota, Lagos.
According to Aigbokhan, the defendant made an offensive and false publication on social media about the complainant, Miss Florence Olofinjana. Read more
Lagos tasks traditional rulers on conflict resolution, communal peace (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government on Thursday, charged traditional rulers on conflict resolution, fostering communal peace and economic development in their domains.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Dr Wale Ahmed, gave the charge at a Retreat, organised for traditional rulers in Lagos state.
The theme of the retreat is: ”The Role of Traditional Rulers in Conflict Resolution and in Fostering Communal Peace and Economic Development in Lagos State”.
Ahmed said that traditional rulers in the state, had continued to be development catalysts and respected agents of mobilisation for policy implementation, monitoring and review of policy options. Read more
MAN, LCCI accuse Lagos of double taxation (Guardian)
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), yesterday, accused Lagos State government of double taxation and unfriendly business actions.
Vice President, MAN, Lagos Zone, Chief John Aluya, in a presentation at the seventh Lagos Corporate Assembly, said the extant law of the land use charge confirmed a consolidation of all land-based laws and charges but most member-companies and even associations are being made to pay both land use charge and ground rent. He spoke on behalf of MAN at the meeting tagged “BOS meets business.”
“This is double taxation. We urge your administration to try as much as possible to eliminate double taxation,” he said.
SIMILARLY, President of MAN, Mansur Ahmed, has decried low level of industrialisation, multiple taxation, epileptic power supply, infrastructural deficits and other challenges besetting the manufacturing sector. Read more
Organisers suspend Saudi Arabia recruitment as DSS disperses doctors, arrests journalist (Punch)
Operatives of the Department of State Services, on Thursday, dispersed medical doctors, who stormed the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja, to take part in the recruitment interview organised by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health.
The PUNCH had on Tuesday reported that medical consultants in their hundreds flooded the Ladi Kwali Hall of the hotel to participate in the recruitment, while another exercise was scheduled for Thursday.
Our correspondents gathered that the DSS operatives stormed the hotel on Thursday morning and dispersed the doctors and journalists, who gathered at the venue.
A journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, Marcus Fatunde, was arrested at the venue. Read more
Save us from robbers, Ikorodu residents tell Odumosu (Guardian)
Security guards of Abiodun Olajire Street, in Ewu-Owa, Gberigbe, Ijede Division of Ikorodu, have reportedly resigned to fate over continued robbery attacks.
Following this development, residents appealed to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, to beef up security in the area.
Olajire residents revealed that within the last 60 days, there had been seven major armed robbery cases and burglary attacks while valuables worth millions of naira were lost to armed robbers.
In a letter to Odumosu signed by residents of the community, they stated that the July 31 attack on the street at the gate of a former Community Development Area (CDA) chairman’s residence, Mr. Abiodun Olajire, led to the resignation of security guards for personal safety. Read more
Tegina school children regain freedom after 89 days in captivity (Sun)
The 156 Salihu Tanko Islamic school children abducted by gunmen from their school in Tegina, Rafi local government area of Nigeria state over two months ago have regained their freedom.
The children who were on their way to the government house as at the time of filing this reports 9:55pm, were freed at a forest in Brinin Gwari, Kaduna state at about 7:30pm.
Although there is no official statement from either the state government or the Niger state police command on the release of the school children, it was gathered that the gunmen asked the parents of the victims to come to a location along Birnin Gwari-Pandogari road to collect the children.
About 10 buses were said to have been sent by the government to go and evacuate the children. Read more
NARD demands intervention of national council on health (Sun)
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has demanded that the emergency meeting of members of National Council on Health (NCH) be called to deliberate on the contentious areas.
The doctors said they observed the insincerity of the government in proffering a permanent solution to the prolonged industrial action which has resulted in prolonged disruption of medical services in the public health sector.
NARD President, Uyilawa Okhuaihesuya, in a statement, said the National Executive Council (NEC) of NARD at its meeting at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), resolved to continue the nationwide strike until their demands are met.
He said NEC observed that despite the strike that has been on for 24 days, his members in GIFMIS payment platform in 22 centres were yet to be migrated and captured in IPPIS platform with payment of outstanding backlog of three to four months. Read more
Apple chief executive Tim Cook gets $750m payout (BBC)
Apple chief executive Tim Cook has received more than five million shares in the technology giant, as he marks ten years in the job.
A company filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) watchdog shows that he sold most of the shares for more than $750m (£550m).
It is part of a deal he struck when he took over from co-founder Steve Jobs.
The award depended on how well Apple’s shares performed compared to other firms on the S&P 500 stock index. Read more
Paramount shares first look at Top Gun: Maverick sequel at CinemaCon with 13 minute preview (Metro)
Movie fans were treated to a 13-minute preview of Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick at CinemaCon on Thursday.
The Hollywood heavyweight, 59, appeared on the big screen at Caesars’ Colosseum Theatre in Las Vegas to tease the upcoming November release of the film.
In the clip, Tom’s character Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell was informed the Top Gun programme was coming to an end, prompting him to go against the orders of the Admiral (Ed Harris) and fly the Mach 10 jet out of the desert, according to Deadline.
The publication states that the pilot asked Maverick: ‘You know what happens if you go through with this?’ to which he responded: ‘I know what happens to everyone else if I don’t.’ Read more
Melissa Joan Hart says she contracted breakthrough COVID-19 (CNN)
Melissa Joan Hart tearfully shared she contracted breakthrough COVID-19 despite being vaccinated.
The “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” alum took to Instagram from her bed to detail her symptoms and warn those against getting “lazy” in the fight against the pandemic.
“I got COVID. I am vaccinated, and I got COVID and it’s bad. It’s weighing on my chest. It’s hard to breathe,” Hart, 45, said in the video.
“One of my kids I think has it so far. I’m praying that the other ones are OK.”
Hart said she’s “really mad” because she and her family were vigilant in taking precautions and cutting “exposure” but admitted to becoming more lax. Read more,
Afghanistan: US to complete evacuations despite attack, says Biden (BBC)
President Joe Biden says the US airlift from Kabul will continue despite a jihadist attack that killed over 90 people including 13 US service members.
“We must complete this mission and we will,” he said. He also vowed to hunt down the perpetrators.
More than 100,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan, which fell to the Taliban on 15 August.
But many more Afghans have been rushing to the airport ahead of the 31 August deadline for US forces to leave. Read more
Penguin Classics launches ‘new canon’ of environmental literature (Guardian)
From Greta Thunberg to James Lovelock, publisher Penguin Classics has come up with a “new canon” of the environmental literature, which it believes has “changed the way we think and talk about the living Earth”.
The move is part of a growing trend in publishing for books focused on the climate, whether from big hitters such as David Attenborough or Bill Gates, whose How to Avoid a Climate Disaster was out in February, or so-called “cli-fi”, climate fiction, from writers including Richard Powers and Jenny Offill. Penguin’s Green Ideas series capitalises on this appetite, collecting 20 short books it believes constitute “the classics that made a movement”, by “visionary thinkers around the world [who] have raised their voices to defend the planet”.
Nobel peace prize winner Wangari Maathai is included with his exploration of the power of trees and why humans destroy the forests that keep us alive; Rachel Carson for her revelations about how man-made pesticides have destroyed wildlife; George Monbiot for his call for humanity to wake up to the destruction of the planet; and Naomi Klein for her look at how deregulated capitalism is waging war on the climate. Ranging across art, literature and gardening to technology and politics, Penguin believes that each title, extracted from longer works, “deepens our sense of our place in nature”, and that together they can “point the way to a fairer, saner, greener world”. Read more
At least 72 killed in Kabul explosions including twelve US troops (Metro)
There are multiple injuries and deaths at Hamid Karzai International Airport (Picture: Reuters / Twitter)
Dozens of people have died after two bombs went off at Kabul airport today while people attempted to leave Afghanistan, with reports of a third explosion.
Officials have said at least 72 people were killed, including 11 US Marines and one US Navy medic, and that more than 150 people were injured, including 15 US service personnel.
The two explosions targeted Hamid Karzai International Airport, where crowds had gathered to try and secure a place on an evacuation flight out of the country after the Taliban took power last week.
This evening, there were reports of further blasts, but a Taliban spokesperson said this was from US troops destroying their weapons and equipment before leaving their base. Read more
Nine Inch Nails cancels remainder of tour over COVID-19 worries (NYPost)
Nine Inch Nails announced they “are cancelling all NIN appearances for the remainder of this year,” on Twitter.
Christopher Polk
Nine Inch Nails don’t want fans any “Closer.”
Trent Reznor‘s industrial rock band canceled the rest of its 2021 tour Thursday, alluding to the escalating COVID-19 crisis on a statement posted to Twitter.
“It is with great regret that we are cancelling all NIN appearances for the remainder of this year,” the band wrote.
“When originally planned, these shows were intended to be a cathartic and celebratory return to live music. However, with each passing day it’s becoming more apparent we’re not at that place yet. We are sorry for any inconvenience or disappointment and look forward to seeing you again when the time is right.” Read more
Dogo confirms Wikki move (Punch)
Former Lobi Stars coach Kabiru Dogo has confirmed he is joining fellow Nigeria Professional Football League side Wikki Tourists.
Dogo confirmed this in a chat with our correspondent on Thursday.
He said he decided not to renew his contract with the Makurdi-based side when it expired at the end of last season.
“I have left Lobi for Wikki. By the time I resume, I intend to get stability for the team because they struggled last season, so I will try and make them comfortable. After that, we can now move them up. Read more
Anyanacho has made us proud — FUTO VC (Vanguard)
Olympic Medalist, Chika Chukwumerije and Tokyo 2020 debut Olympic Elizabeth Anyanacho paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Prof. Mrs. Nnenna Oti.
The duo, who were accompanied by the Commissioner of Sports in Imo state, Hon. Ogu Daniel Chike were received by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Emeka Emmanuel Oguzie, who represented the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nnenna Oti; who is the first-ever female Vice-Chancellor in FUTO’s 41-year history.
Elizabeth, who is a 400 level student of Statistics of the University, represented Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the Taekwondo female -67kg category.
In doing so, Elizabeth became the first woman in 16 years to represent Nigeria at the Olympics in the Taekwondo event: and the second woman ever in the nation’s history.
Chukwumerije, who graduated with a B.Eng Mechanical from FUTO in 2005, thanked the University for extending the support to Elizabeth 15 years after. “I was in FUTO when I participated in my first Olympics – Athens 2004. Read more
Harry Kane scores twice to send Spurs into Europa Conference League group stage (BBC)
Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo says Harry Kane is committed to the club and that it is time for everyone to “move forward” after the England captain scored twice on his return to the Spurs side.
Having announced on the eve of the match he was staying “this summer” following speculation about his future, Kane inspired Spurs as they overturned a first-leg deficit against Pacos de Ferreira to reach the Europa Conference League group stage.
“All the situations that have happened, are part of the past, let’s look and move forward,” added Nuno.
“He doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. Harry’s with us so we have to take advantage of it.” Read more
Juve agrees to sell Ronaldo if their demands are met (Guardian)
Juventus have told Cristiano Ronaldo they are willing to sell him this summer – but only on their terms. Portugal forward Ronaldo, 36, still has a year left on his contract.
His future has been the subject of increasing scrutiny and he was left out of the starting line-up for the club’s opening Serie A match with Udinese.
Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes has spoken to several major European clubs about potentially signing him, including Manchester City and Paris St-Germain.
It is understood Mendes was summoned to Juventus’ training ground earlier yesterday for a meeting with senior club figures, including vice-president Pavel Nedved, chief executive Maurizio Arrivabene and sporting director Federico Cherubini.
Mendes was told all situations remained possible for Ronaldo, but that Juventus would not sanction the departure of a player they signed for £99.2m three years ago if no transfer fee was involved. Read more
Diamond League: Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce runs third fastest time in women’s 100m history (BBC)
Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce ran the third fastest time in women’s 100m history to edge out Elaine Thompson-Herah in their latest encounter at the Diamond League meet in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Fraser-Pryce clocked a stunning 10.60 seconds to beat the Olympic champion.
Jamaican compatriot Thompson-Herah registered 10.64 secs – the fastest losing time in the event’s history.
As Olympic silver medallist Fraser-Pryce won, Shericka Jackson – who took bronze in Tokyo – was third again. Read more
Kylian Mbappe set to join Real Madrid after PSG accept €180m offer (Metro)
Kylian Mbappe is on the verge of joining Real Madrid after Paris Saint-Germain accepted an improved €180 million (£154m) bid, according to reports in Spain.
The 22-year-old has made it clear that he wants to join Real Madrid this summer and has turned down multiple advances from PSG to discuss a new contract.
Mbappe’s current deal expires at the end of the season, meaning that the French club would face the prospect of losing him on a free transfer next year.
Earlier this week, Madrid tabled their first offer for Mbappe but their €160m (£137m) bid was rejected by PSG. Read more