Virtual courts: Lagos takes FG, NASS to Supreme Court (Nation)
The Lagos State Government has asked the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of virtual court hearings.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the National Assembly are the respondents in the suit.
It said, among others, that divergent views on whether or not virtual court proceedings are lawful, is causing apprehension over proceedings already conducted virtually in compliance with Practice Directions issued by the Chief Judge of Lagos State. Read more
UNILAG scholars attract N115.5m research grants from UK, Germany (Tribune)
The Office of Research and Innovation, University of Lagos (UNILAG), says some scholars of the institution have been awarded grants worth N115.5 million for various research projects.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Director of the office, Prof. Bola Oboh, on Sunday in Lagos.
The statement said that the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) awarded a total of N71,656,620 to the grant holder, Dr Victor Odumuyiwa, a co-investigator on a research project entitled: “Digital Innovations for Transitioning to a Circular Plastic Economy (DITCH Plastic).” Read more
Lagos records lowest COVID-19 cases in three weeks (Punch)
Lagos State, on Saturday, recorded its lowest cases of coronavirus in three weeks, The PUNCH reports.
According to data obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, the state recorded 66 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday.
A further breakdown of the data showed that this is the lowest number of cases recorded by the state in 24 days.
The state recorded 58 cases on May 14, data from the NCDC showed. Read more
I’ll be fair to all, says new Oniru (Nation)
The newly installed Oniru of Iruland, Oba AbdulWasiu Gbolahan Lawal has promised to be fair to all those who contested the stool with him.
Oba Lawal assured all daughters and sons of Oniru Royal Family that the palace is open to all them.
He spoke at the palace in Victoria Island after he was presented with the instrument of office by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
He extended hands of fellowship to Prince Hakeem Ajasa and Prince Adesegun Oniru, urging them to join him to further develop the Iruland. Read more
Nigerian Guild of Editors appeal to FG to release funds for media houses (Vanguard)
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), has appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria to release funds for media houses to support their efforts and to cushion the harsh effects of COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant lockdown.
This appeal was made at the Standing Committee Meeting of the Guild held on Thursday, June 4, 2020, at Editors’ House, Ikeja, Lagos State via Zoom.
The editors during the meeting emphasized the urgent and very compelling need for Government intervention to save the media from total collapse. Read more
We planted 7.5 million trees in 5 years- El-Rufai (DailyTrust)
Governor Nasir El-Rufai Kaduna State Government has said it planted 7.5 million trees in the last five years as part of efforts to reforest the state but said only half of the number have survived. Governor Nasir El-Rufai while speaking with the Minister of Environment, Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar after he presented the state with one million seedlings to mark the World Environment Day, lamented that Kaduna State has lost a lot of its forests in the last few years before the coming of his administration, adding that the state is being reforested again. Read more
Abuja residents troop to church as worship centres reopen (Nation)
Following the lifting of ban on churches across the country by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, residents of the country’s capital, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja trooped out en masse to worship.
Our correspondent who monitored the development observed that many were singing praises of government for the reopening of worship centers.
A Christian, Mr. John Olawale told THE NATION that: “it is a thing of joy that churches are now permitted to hold worship. Read more
Sokoto records 11 COVID-19 cases two days after discharging all patients (DailyTrust)
Barely two days after discharging the remaining five patients in its isolation centre, Sokoto State has recorded 11 new cases of COVID-19. The cases were among the 33 almajirai deported from Kaduna State recently. No part of Sokoto is controlled by bandits—Tambuwal Nigerien, not Nigerian soldiers fighting bandits in Sokoto — Senator Gobir A statement issued by the state task force on COVID-19 said it had received 33 repatriated almajiris on 4th June, 2020 from Zaria, Kaduna State. Read more
Beautiful Black couple get married during peaceful protests in Philadelphia (Metro)
There have been some really heartwarming images from the Black Lives Matter protests from around the world recently. One couple really took it away when they decided to get married and join a large peaceful demonstration in their home town. Dr. Kerry Anne Perkins and Michael Gordon had their nuptials at Logan Hotel in Philadelphia and stepped outside near the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Center City. When they came across a large group of protestors who cheered for the couple, the newlyweds decided to join in on the protests.
Videos of the couple standing hand in hand in the middle of the demonstration have been shared on social media where users lauded the sweet moment. Read more
India and China to ‘peacefully’ resolve border row, India says (VOA)
India and China will resolve a dispute on their contested borders “peacefully” the Indian External Affairs Ministry said Sunday, a day after military commanders from the two countries met to find a solution to their monthlong standoff in the Himalayas.
The face-off, in eastern Ladakh, a region bordering China, which controls access to several strategic points on their Himalayan border, began with a confrontation between patrolling soldiers from the two countries in early May. Read more
Global Covid-19 death toll exceeds 400,000 as new cases climb in Brazil, India (France24)
The confirmed global death toll from the Covid-19 virus reached at least 400,000 fatalities on Sunday, a day after the government of Brazil broke with standard public health protocols by ceasing to publish updates of the number of deaths and infections in the hard-hit South American country.
Worldwide, at least 6.9 million people have been infected by the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University, whose aggregated tally has become the main worldwide reference for monitoring the disease. Its running counter says the United States leads the world with nearly 110,000 confirmed virus-related deaths. Europe as a whole has recorded more than 175,000 since the virus emerged in China late last year. Read more
Ban on landlords evicting renters extended for two months (Metro)
The ban on renters being evicted during the coronavirus pandemic has been extended for two months, the Housing Secretary has said. Robert Jenrick promised that ‘no-one will be evicted from their home this summer’ as he announced that people who may have fallen behind on rent arrears will be protected until August 23.
Evictions were suspended in March as part of the government’s emergency coronavirus legislation and ministers have been under pressure to not only extend it but offer legal protection to tenants for when the ban ends. Read more
Five militants killed in Kashmir clash with Indian troops (Guardian)
Five militants have been killed in a firefight in Indian-administered Kashmir, police said Sunday, triggering clashes between locals and government forces in the restive disputed territory.
At least 50 rebels and 23 soldiers have died since April during outbreaks of fighting in the part of Kashmir controlled by New Delhi, and along the de facto border dividing the disputed Himalayan territory between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan.
The clash came just a week after two Pakistan embassy officials were expelled by New Delhi over spying allegations. Read more
Prince Charles and Camilla’s ‘haunted’ former love shack up for sale (NYPost)
A haunted piece of royal history is up for sale.
The house where Prince Charles wooed a young Diana — and where he later had a tryst with Camilla — can be yours for just over $4 million.
Bolehyde Manor, the former home of Camilla, now Duchess of Cornwall and her ex-husband Andrew Parker-Bowles in Allington, Wiltshire, comes complete with eight bedrooms, a swimming pool, a tennis court, a treehouse, guest lodging, staff cottages, a stable and 80 acres of farmland. Read more
Conor McGregor makes shock retirement announcement (Metro)
Conor McGregor has announced his retirement from fighting and has thanked his fans in an emotional message on Twitter. The Irishman posted a picture of himself standing beside his mother and wrote: ‘Hey guys I’ve decided to retire from fighting. Thank you all for the amazing memories! ‘What a ride it’s been! Here is a picture of myself and my mother in Las Vegas post one of my World title wins! Pick the home of your dreams Mags I love you! Whatever you desire it’s yours.’ It is far from the first time McGregor has claimed to have retired having made similar declarations in 2016 and 2019. Read more
Late Wolfsburg winner dents Werder Bremen survival hopes (BBC)
Wolfsburg striker Wout Weghorst scored his first goal in five games to seal a late victory over Werder Bremen, dealing a huge blow to the hosts’ battle for Bundesliga survival.
Weghorst, left unmarked in the box, headed in Felix Klaus’s curling cross in the 82nd minute in Bremen.
The result leaves second-bottom Werder Bremen six points adrift of Mainz in 15th place with four games to go.
Wolfsburg move up to sixth in the table, two points above Hoffenheim. Read more
I’m happy I didn’t join Barcelona – Di Maria (DailyTrust)
Di Maria Angel Di Maria says he is happy he did not join Barcelona when they tried to buy him from Paris Saint-Germain three years ago. The Argentine winger joined PSG from Manchester United in 2015 but was linked to the Spanish outfit after Neymar moved in the opposite direction in a world-record deal in 2017. The Catalan side ended up signing Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund after their efforts to sign Di Maria collapsed and the former Real Madrid attacker is glad the club decided not to sell him. “I was very happy in Paris, but people at the club at the time told me some things, which turned out to be lies in the end,” he told L’Equipe. Read more
Ex-American gymnast, Kurt Thomas, dies at 64 (Punch)
Former Olympian Kurt Thomas, the first American to win the world championship gold in gymnastics, died on Friday from the complications of a stroke. He was 64.
Thomas suffered a stroke on May 24 which was caused by tear in the basilar artery of the brain stem, the family said. He died on Friday.
“I lost my universe, my best friend and my soulmate of 24 years,” Beckie Thomas said. “Kurt lived his life to the extreme, and I will be forever honored to be his wife.” Read more
Spanish football to hold minute silence in memory of virus victims (Guardian)
A minute of silence will be held before all La Liga games in memory of the victims of coronavirus, the league and Spanish football Federation (RFEF) announced on Sunday.
The tribute will also be paid before matches in Segunda, Spain’s second tier, as well as play-offs for promotion in the Segunda B and Tercera divisions, the two governing bodies confirmed.
“Both organisations have reached an agreement to pay a sincere tribute this season to all those who have left us because of the pandemic, as well as their families,” said a joint-statement. Read more
RB Leipzig boss denies contact with Chelsea for Werner (Vanguard)
RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff says there has been no contact with Chelsea over Timo Werner despite reports of the Premier League club agreeing to a deal for the forward.
It is claimed the Blues have triggered Werner’s release clause, thought to be in the region of £54million (€60m), to win the race for his signature.
However, Mintzlaff would not be drawn on those suggestions while speaking to Sky Sport.
Mintzlaff said: “We are concentrating on the final sprint of the league. We want to go to the Champions League. That is the only thing we are currently discussing with Timo. Read more