Three die, two missing in Lagos boat mishap (Punch)
The Lagos State Waterways Authority says three people have been confirmed dead while two others are still missing in a boat accident that occurred at Irewe community in Ojo, near Lagos late on Tuesday. The General Manager of LASWA, Mr Emmanuel Oluwadamilola, who made the disclosure in a statement, said that 13 people were rescued in the incident. “At 6:10 p.m. today, Aug. 13, two passenger speed boats had a head-on collision along the creek in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State. Read more
Buhari directs CBN to stop providing funds for food importation (Guardian)
Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday said he has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to stop providing foreign exchange for importation of food into the country. Buhari made the disclosure when he hosted All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to Eid-el-Kabir lunch at his country home in Daura, Katsina State. “Don’t give a cent to anybody to import food into the country,” Buhari said he directed the CBN. Read more
Boko Haram: Army inducts four anti-bomb vehicles (Punch)
The Nigerian Army has inducted and operationalised four newly acquired Mine Resistant Anti-Ambush Protected vehicles in the North-East theatre of operation for troops fighting the Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists. The army said on Tuesday that the vehicles were produced by the military in partnership with Proforce Nigeria Limited, – an indigenous Armour Vehicle Manufacturing Company based in Ode-Remo in Ogun State. Read more
South West PDP seeks audit of Ajimobi’s administration (Guardian)
The Southwest chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has urged Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to conduct a proper audit of what transpired during the tenure of the immediate past governor of the state, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi. The party said that the audit exercise would help the new government to ascertain all the initiatives carried out under the last administration. The group ‘s position was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Ibadan by Mr Ayo Fadaka, the South-West PDP Publicity Secretary. Read more
Don’t select moneybags as my successor, Awujale tells kingmakers (Punch)
The Awujale and Paramount ruler of Ijebu Land, Oba Sikiru Adetona, on Tuesday warned against what he describes as “politicisation” of the stool after his demise. The 85-year-old monarch who was installed in 1960, said he did not know whether he would still be alive till next year Ojude-Oba or not, warning that the process of selecting his successor after his demise must not be politicised. Oba Adetona said this during this year’s Ojude-Oba held at Oba Adetona Pavilion, Ijebu-Ode. Read more
43 ministers too many, Imo NLC boss tells Buhari (Guardian)
Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Imo State chapter, Austin Chilakpu, has described as “too many” the appointment of 43 ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari. He therefore urged the president to merge the ministries to save cost of governance at the federal level. Speaking on ‘People’s Voice’ on Owerri-based private radio station, Darling FM, Chilakpu described as ridiculous the monthly payment of N36 million to each senator in the country, calling for a humongous slash on the monthly pay packet of senators and House of Representatives members to realise the payment of the N30,000 minimum wage. Read more
Tanzania governor wants to create a national database for married men in a bid to curb infidelity (CNN)
The governor of Tanzania’s largest city has announced a plan to create and publish a national database of married men to protect women from “heart breaks.” Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda said he has received a lot of complaints from women who were abandoned by their lovers after a marriage proposal, and that the planned database will help combat infidelity. Read more
Jeffrey Epstein: Two guards suspended and warden removed over death (BBC)
Two prison guards have been suspended and a warden temporarily reassigned at the New York City jail where Jeffrey Epstein died of suspected suicide. It comes after the FBI opened an investigation into the death of Epstein, who was facing prosecution for sex trafficking when he was found dead. The suspension, ordered by Attorney General William Barr, came a day after he criticised the jail’s “failure”. The circumstance surrounding the financier’s death has raised questions. Read more
Brexit: Hammond says PM’s demands ‘wreck’ chance of new deal (BBC)
Former Chancellor Philip Hammond has accused the PM of trying to wreck the chance of a new Brexit deal, by making demands the EU could never accept. In a Times article, Mr Hammond said a no-deal Brexit would be “a betrayal” of the 2016 referendum result. He said Parliament would “make its voice heard”, adding that a no deal “must not happen”. Read more
Trump official revises Statue of Liberty poem to defend migrant rule change (BBC)
A top US immigration official has revised a quote inscribed on the Statue of Liberty in defence of a new policy that denies food aid to legal migrants. The head of Citizenship and Immigration Services tweaked the passage: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”. The official added the words “who can stand on their own two feet and who will not become a public charge”. It comes as Trump officials debuted a regulation that denies aid to migrants. Read more
Hong Kong protests: Flights resume as airport authority restricts protests (BBC)
Hong Kong airport has resumed operations after a night of chaos which saw protesters clash with riot police. Hundreds of flights were cancelled on Tuesday after protesters flooded the terminal buildings. Early on Wednesday flights appeared to be running as scheduled, though some still remained delayed or cancelled. After days of disruptions, the Airport Authority said it had obtained a temporary injunction banning protesters from entering certain areas. Read more
Murder victim, 16, banged on doors yelling ‘Help me’ before he collapsed (Metro)
A teenager screamed ‘Help me’ and banged on doors begging for help before he was knifed to death, witnesses said. The boy, named locally as Alex Smith, was chased by a group of people before he died on Monday night. Three young men were heard ‘screaming and laughing’ as they pursued him with a machete, according to an eyewitness, who did not want to be named. Read more
Saudi activist ‘offered freedom if she denies torture claims’ (BBC)
A jailed Saudi women’s rights activist has been offered release if she agrees to say she was not tortured, her sister has alleged. Loujain al-Hathloul, who campaigned to win Saudi women the right to drive, was detained this year for conspiring with “hostile entities”. Her family says she has been tortured and sexually assaulted in custody, which the Saudi government denies. Officials have so far not responded to BBC questions about the new claims. Read more
Boy, 3, run over and crushed to death after truck was left in gear (Metro)
A three-year-old boy was run over and killed when a pick-up truck used by his dad was accidentally left in gear, an inquest has heard. Anthony Pritchard-Allen, known as AJ, died of blunt traumatic injuries to the head, chest and abdomen after he was struck by the truck’s number plate, forced under the vehicle and run over by its offside rear tyre. The young boy was taken by his mother, Tanya Allen, to visit his father, Joseph Pritchard, at the end of his shift at the farm where he worked near Soham, Cambridgeshire. Read more
Australia drug bust: Four UK men arrested over huge MDMA haul (BBC)
Six people including four British men have been arrested in Australia and New Zealand in one of the region’s largest-ever drug seizures. Australian police said the bust was connected to a UK-based organised crime syndicate which supplied highly pure methamphetamine and MDMA powder. Drugs with an estimated value of A$90m (£50m; $61m) were seized in the state of Queensland. Read more
Empire final season shoots in exact spot of Jussie Smollett’s ‘homophobic attack’ (Metro)
Empire’s final season producers appear to have thrown some serious shade at Jussie Smollett and his alleged ‘homophobic attack’ on the streets of Chicago. While the debate over whether or not he is telling the truth rages on, the show has decided to film in the exact location the incident supposedly took place. On top of that, it’s just a stone’s throw away from the actor’s home. Read more
Golden Eaglets begin camping ahead of Brazil 2019 (Guardian)
Five–time champions, Nigeria have started their camping ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals taking place in Brazil from October 26 to November 17, 2019.The Golden Eaglets qualified for the championship by finishing among the top four teams at the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations held in Tanzania in April this year. Head Coach, Manu Garba has invited 52 players to the team’s camp at the Serob Legacy Hotel, Abuja. They were instructed to report to the camp yesterday. Read more
Paul Merson tips Unai Emery to play a three-man defence with David Luiz at Arsenal (Metro)
Paul Merson believes Unai Emery is working towards playing a three-man defence at Arsenal following the arrivals of David Luiz and Kieran Tierney. Luiz was a surprise signing from Chelsea on deadline day, while the Gunners also strengthened their left-back by landing Tierney from Celtic in a £25 million deal. Tierney is currently injured while Luiz was an unused substitute in Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Sunday. Read more
Romelu Lukaku says he is doing ‘real work’ at Inter after leaving Manchester United (Metro)
Romelu Lukaku has aimed a dig at Manchester United by claiming that he is now doing ‘real work’ at Inter. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted to sell the Belgium international this summer as United agreed a £74 million deal with the Serie A club. Lukaku played no part in United’s pre-season campaign this summer while the striker angered Solskjaer during his final stages at Old Trafford by posting running statistics from one of the team’s training sessions on social media. Read more
Xavi’s Al Sadd reach Asian Champions League quarter-finals (Guardian)
Akram Afif and Abdelkarim Hassan struck in the first half as Al Sadd beat fellow Qatar giants Al Duhail 3-1 on Tuesday to reach the AFC Champions League quarter-finals. Following a 1-1 draw last week, Al Sadd outclassed Al Duhail to advance 4-2 aggregate and give Xavi a shot at an Asian continental title during his first season as coach. In a thrilling match at the Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Duhail dominated the early exchanges, with the highest scorer of this year’s Asia Cup, Almoez Ali, missing a golden chance just after three minutes, shooting wide with only the goalkeeper Saad al-Sheeb to beat. Read more
Danilo roaring to link up again with Ronaldo in Juventus (Punch)
Brazilian full-back Danilo said Tuesday the chance to play again alongside former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo had been a motivating factor in his move to Juventus. The 28-year-old has been signed by the Italian champions from Manchester City with Portuguese international right-back Joao Cancelo heading in the opposition direction. “I spoke to Ronaldo before coming here,” Danilo told a press conference in Turin. Read more
Scottish champions Celtic knocked out of Champions League (BBC)
Celtic have crashed out of the Champions League after conceding four times to CFR Cluj of Romania in a frantic game in Glasgow. Neil Lennon’s side were 2-1 behind on aggregate at half-time thanks to Cirpian Deac’s header, but seemed to have turned the tie around with goals from James Forrest and Odsonne Edouard. Billel Omrani’s penalty gave Cluj the lead on away goals with 16 minutes left, and although Ryan Christie forced the hosts in front, Omrani and George Tucudean struck to seal Celtic’s fate. Read more
Japan international Endo joins Stuttgart on loan (Punch)
Japan international Wataru Endo has joined German second division side Stuttgart on a one-year loan deal, the club announced Tuesday. Endo, 26 arrives on loan from Belgian club Sint-Truiden, whom he joined in 2018 after spells at J-League clubs Shonan Bellmare and Urawa Red Diamonds. “It’s a signing we’ve been working on for a long time. We’ve been following Wataru’s development over a long period,” said Stuttgart sporting director Sven Mislintat. Read more
Issa Diop committed to West Ham after Manchester United bid (Metro)
Issa Diop insists he is committed to West Ham after Manchester United attempted to sign him during the summer transfer window. Reports in France claimed that United had offered £40m for the 22-year-old, but West Ham were unwilling to negotiate unless Anthony Martial was included as part of the deal. United ended up signing Harry Maguire for £80m from Leicester City, while Diop has stayed at West Ham. Read more
Andy Murray: Scot’s second thoughts over decision not to play US Open singles (BBC)
Andy Murray says he has had some second thoughts about his decision not to play singles at the US Open. Murray lost in straight sets to Richard Gasquet in Cincinnati on Monday in his first singles match for seven months. Murray had earlier turned down a wildcard for the main draw in New York because he was not convinced his body would be ready for five-set matches. But the qualifying matches – which begin in New York on Monday – are played over the best of three sets. Read more
Tyson Fury v Otto Wallin: Las Vegas bout confirmed for 14 September (BBC)
Tyson Fury has been warned he “has everything to lose” by Sweden’s Otto Wallin as the 14 September bout between the pair was confirmed. News of 30-year-old Fury’s Las Vegas contest with Wallin broke on 2 August. The Briton is expected to face WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in 2020 if he wins. “I know I’m an underdog in this fight, but I’m ready for this opportunity and I’m going to grab it with both hands,” said Wallin, 28. Read more