Tinubu my father, leader, mentor – MC Oluomo (Punch)
The new caretaker Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Lagos State, Musiliu Akinsanya, otherwise known as MC Oluomo, has described the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, as his father, leader and mentor. He further thanked the APC leader for supporting him to emerge as the leader of the NURTW in the state. Oluomo said this in an appreciation message he posted on his official Instagram handle on Thursday. Read more
Nigeria won’t severe diplomatic ties with South Africa – FG (Punch)
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has said that the country would not severe diplomatic ties with South Africa following the current xenophobic attacks on Nigerians. Onyeama, who stated this on Friday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Diaspora, said taking such action would not be in the interest of Nigerians in South Africa. He said available statistics from the Nigeria High Commission in Pretoria indicated that over 800, 000 Nigerians are legally living in the South African country. Read more
S’Africa rules out redress as govt mulls legal option (Nation)
South Africa has snubbed Nigeria’s quest for compensation for its citizens who incurred losses from xenophobic attacks. Nigeria is pressing for full compensation for victims of the unprovoked attacks and wanton killings. The Federal Government’s envoy is in Pretoria in a diplomatic move to end the impasse created by the situation. Read more
Xenophobia: Evacuation of Nigerians suffers setback, as returnees’ hold expired passports (Punch)
The plan by Air Peace to evacuate Nigerians in South Africa from September 6 suffered a setback as the majority of those interested in the process have expired passports. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the airline with the support of the Federal Government had scheduled to begin evacuating Nigerians from South Africa from September 6. Read more
Cybercrime: Use culprits brain to fight crime, Ooni urges Magu (Nation)
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to create a unit that would help to positively redirect the wrong orientations of youth caught committing financial crimes. He said the unit should also seek to explore the wisdom, ingenuity and brilliance of such youths positively to fight financial and economic crimes in the country. Read more
Buhari gave me N30.8b to pay salary arrears, says Bello (Nation)
Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari gave him a bailout of about N30.8 billion to clear salary arrears of workers in the state, insisting that his government is presently up to date in the payment of salaries. The governor, who spoke with reporters after a meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC and all those who contested the party’s governorship primary, also asked the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to look inward in the search for those who attacked the venue of their primary election rather than blaming him. Read more
Oshiomhole to Kogi aspirants: no refund of money (Nation)
All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole has dashed the hope of a possible refund of money to aspirants, who sought the party’s ticket for the governorship election in Kogi State but lost Oshiomhole said the party was not about to change its tradition by refunding their money even though the party has not received any request for any refund. Read more
E-migrants registration: NIS registers 4, 377 migrants (Punch)
The Nigeria Immigration Service has registered no fewer than 4, 377 migrants under the ongoing e-migrant registration. NIS Comptroller-General, Mr Muhammad Babandede, made this known at a news conference on the successes recorded of the project by the organisation. Read more
Gunmen kidnap Ondo lecturer (Punch)
A lecturer in the Department of Mathematical Science at the Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State, Prof. Gideon Okedayo, has been reportedly kidnapped by some unknown gunmen. It was gathered that the incident happened around 6.30pm when the victim was travelling to Igara in Kogi State on Thursday. The kidnappers have not contacted the family as of the time of this report. Read more
Boy, 16, drowns in Kano (Punch)
A 16-year-old boy, Shahid Lawal, has drowned while bathing in a pond at Bacharawa Ramin Kasa, Fagge Local Government Area in Kano State. This information was contained in a statement signed on Friday in Kano by the Public Relations Officer of the State Fire Service, Mr Saidu Mohammed. Mohammed said that the incident happened on Thursday evening when the deceased went to take his bath. Read more
This gun belongs to my debtor, drug baron caught with arms tells NDLEA (Punch)
The Kogi State Command of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a suspected drug baron with one pump action gun loaded with live cartridges. The agency gave the name of the suspect as James Ameh. Ameh, who is also a herbalist, was said to have been arrested at about 5:30am on Thursday in Igolijo community, Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area, where he allegedly maintained 10 hectares of land were Indian hemp is being cultivated. Read more
Former Tory cabinet minister quits sparking fears of mass exodus (Metro)
Former Tory minister Claire Perry announced her intention to quit as MP if there’s a snap general election but said she backed Boris Johnson’s ‘brave’ Brexit strategy. The Wiltshire MP, who campaigned to remain in the EU, tweeted her support for the PM – but her resignation has sparked fears of a mass exodus. Sources say 10 more could announce plans to quit rather than fight for their seat if Britain heads to the polls, the Sun reports. Read more
Italy gets new coalition as lawyers target ex-minister Salvini (BBC)
Italy’s new populist-centre left government has been appointed amid legal moves against the ousted right-wing Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini. Prosecutors launched a libel suit against Mr Salvini on behalf of migrant rescuer Carola Rackete. She ignored Mr Salvini’s order to keep her charity ship out of Italian waters. And a mayor who defied Mr Salvini by sheltering migrants in the southern town of Riace saw his ban lifted. Read more
8-year-old boy fights off mountain lion with stick while it ‘chewed on his head’ (Metro)
An eight-year-old boy miraculously fought off a mountain lion with a stick after it dragged him off by the head. Pike Carlson was attacked by the 65-pound mountain lion as he played in his backyard with his older brother Gage last month in Bailey, Colorado. The massive cat reportedly grabbed Pike by the head and dragged him under a tree as the boy screamed for help. Read more
Russia probes ‘stun gun attack’ on election chief Pamfilova (BBC)
Russian police say a masked man broke into the home of the country’s top election official, Ella Pamfilova, and hit her with a stun gun, but she attended a conference unhurt on Friday. The man broke into her home through a window, just outside Moscow early on Friday, and “repeatedly hit” Ms Pamfilova with the weapon, police said. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny tweeted that the assault was fake news. Read more
China to curb facial recognition and apps in schools (BBC)
The Chinese government says it plans to “curb and regulate” the use of facial recognition technology and other apps in schools. The pledge came from Lei Chaozi, director of science and technology at China’s Ministry of Education. It follows reports a university in China was trialling the technology to monitor the attendance and behaviour of students in class. Read more
Man killed his dad, 90, in a row over £10 (Metro)
A man ‘flipped’ and killed his 90-year-old dad after being asked for money. Michael Burns, 21, attacked his father William Burns at their family home in Netherton, Merseyside, on March 24. Mr Burns, who suffered fractures to his cheekbone, jaw, eye socket and ribs, was admitted to hospital three days later but developed pneumonia and died on April 6. Read more
American Airlines mechanic charged with sabotaging plane (BBC)
An American Airlines mechanic has been charged with damaging an aircraft in July as he was allegedly “upset” over stalled union contract negotiations. The plane, with 150 people on board, was scheduled to fly from Miami to Nassau in the Bahamas on 17 July. But it aborted take-off after the pilots received an error message about the flight computer. Read more
Facebook to face fresh anti-trust investigation (BBC)
Facebook is under investigation in the US to determine whether it has “stifled competition and put users at risk”. The new action was announced by New York state Attorney General Letitia James on behalf of a coalition of representatives from several states. “Even the largest social media platform in the world must follow the law and respect consumers,” said Ms James. Read more
Huawei announces P30 Pro smartphone that will run Android 10 operating system (Metro)
Huawei has announced a new version of its flagship P30 Pro smartphone even though it’s not entirely clear whether it will be able to use Google’s Android operating system in the future. In what appeared to be an attempt to squeeze in a new Android-powered phone before a possible full US trade ban took effect, Huawei announced a new version of its current P30 Pro flagship phone – which will run Android 10, the newest version of Google’s operating system. Read more
Robert Downey Jr’s Instagram hacked as Avengers star’s account offers fans free iPhones (Metro)
Robert Downey Jr is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and the man behind one of the big screen’s most beloved heroes. But that doesn’t mean he is immune to the classic ‘win a free iPhone!’ social media hack. Avengers star RDJ has told fans to steer clear of his Instagram after his account, which has 43.2 million followers, was ‘compromised’ by an unknown hacker. Read more
Robert Mugabe: Henry Olonga takes ‘no pleasure’ from ex-president’s death (BBC)
Zimbabwe’s first black Test cricketer Henry Olonga, who was forced to flee the country after protesting against Robert Mugabe, says he takes “no pleasure” from the ex-president’s death. Mugabe died aged 95 on Friday. He was ousted during a military coup in 2017 following years of violent repression and economic ruin. Read more
Why Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe has pulled out of Ivory Coast squad (Metro)
Ivory Coast’s football federation released a cryptic update on the fitness of Arsenal’s Nicolas Pepe by claiming that he arrived for international duty carrying an injury. The 24-year-old was called up for Les Éléphants’ squad for their friendlies against Benin this evening and Tunisia on Tuesday following his big-money move to Arsenal from Lille. Read more
Russia internationals Aleksandr Kokorin and Pavel Mamaev to be released from prison (BBC)
Russian footballers Aleksandr Kokorin and Pavel Mamaev are set for early release from prison. The pair were jailed in May after being found guilty of hooliganism for attacking a trade ministry official with a chair and beating up a driver in October 2018. Kokorin was sentenced to 18 months and Mamaev to 17 months in custody. Read more
Ederson reveals the moment he ‘p****d off’ Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola (Metro)
Ederson has revealed he ‘p****d off’ Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola by joking about the team’s penalty-taking duties. The Brazil international playfully suggested he should be the man tasked with taking City’s penalties last season after watching striker Gabriel Jesus miss from the spot. City were 3-0 up against Swansea at the Etihad Stadium when Jesus missed his penalty but it did not cost his side, who went on to win by five goals. Read more
Smalling eyeing long-term spell at Roma after loan from Man United (Punch)
Chris Smalling said Friday he could see himself long-term at new club Roma after arriving in Italy on a year-long loan deal from Manchester United. “This is an opportunity that came to me that I was very interested in, and I was very eager to come,” the 29-year-old defender said during his official presentation in Rome. Read more
‘Too many’ matches stopped for homophobia —French FA chief (Punch)
The head of French football has pulled away from a hardline stance against homophobic chanting and banners in stadiums on Friday, saying that “too many matches” have been stopped due to anti-gay abuse. Noel Le Graet, president of the French Football Federation, said that the FFF would not instruct referees to stop matches except in cases when a “whole stadium” was guilty of homophobic chanting. Read more
Thousands of Iranians support call for Iran world sport ban (BBC)
Iranians frustrated with their country’s regime are calling for Iran to be banned from participating in world sport. The hashtag #BanIRSportsFederations has been used more than 60,000 times on Twitter in just 24 hours to call for a ban as a result of “state interference in sports”. Read more
UFC 242 preview: Khabib Nurmagomedov v Dustin Poirier in Abu Dhabi (BBC)
The UFC octagon has landed in the desert as Abu Dhabi plays host to UFC 242 on Saturday night. And the all-conquering lightweight world champion Khabib Nurmagomedov is set for the main event as he faces interim champion Dustin Poirier in a title unification bout. The undefeated Russian has compiled a 27-0 record and most recently finished Conor McGregor via fourth-round submission at UFC 229 in 2018. Read more
Italian GP: Charles Leclerc tops second practice (BBC)
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc edged Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes to set fastest time in a weather-affected second practice at the Italian Grand Prix. Leclerc, fresh from his maiden win in Belgium, was 0.068 seconds quicker than Hamilton. Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was third, 0.201secs off the pace. The second Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas was third, from the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Alexander Albon. Read more