Who did this to me? Mother of girl killed at Lagos Yoruba Nation rally cries (Punch)
The mother of the 14-year-old girl killed allegedly by a stray bullet during the Yoruba Nation rally in Lagos on Saturday has expressed sorrow on receiving the news of her daughter’s death.
Agitators for Yoruba self-determination had gathered at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota amid the presence of armed policemen and soldiers.
This was after the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeen Odumosu, had addressed newsmen at the venue, where he announced that no rally is allowed in the state.
However, his announcement was defied by the agitators who flaunted their banners and chanted all sorts of slogans to express their determination towards the breakaway of the Yoruba group from Nigeria. Read more
1 dies, scores injured as hoodlums invade Lagos community (Vanguard)
One person was reported killed and scores injured on Saturday when suspected hoodlums believed to be land grabbers attacked residents of Isiu community in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The traditional ruler of Isiu, Oba Olukayode Raji, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incessant attacks on the community started since he became the king on Aug. 24, 2020.
“The hoodlums shot sporadically to disperse and scare residents who were going about their lawful duties.
“I am calling on the police IG and CP Lagos State to help restore peace and safe my community from the hands of hoodlums and landgrabbers,” the Oba said. Read more
FRSC to begin Operation Show Driver’s Licence July 5 (Guardian)
The Plateau Sector Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) will on Monday begin a special patrol tagged “Operation Show Your Driver’s Licence”, in an effort to improve road safety.
The Sector Commander, Mr Alphonsus Godwin, made the disclosure on Sunday in Jos in a statement signed by the command’s Public Education Officer, Mr Andrew Bala.
‘This to inform the general motoring public and motorists plying roads in Jos and its environs that the command will be carrying out a special patrol tagged: ‘Operation Show Your Driver’s Licence’.
“The special patrol will commence on Monday, July 5, and end on Sunday, July 11, 2021,” he said. Read more
One dead, scores injured in Lagos community attack (Punch)
One person was reported killed and scores injured on Saturday when suspected hoodlums believed to be landgrabbers attacked residents of Isiu community in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
The traditional ruler of Isiu, Oba Olukayode Raji, told News Agency of Nigeria that the incessant attacks on the community started since he became the king on Aug. 24, 2020.
“The hoodlums shot sporadically to disperse and scare residents who were going about their lawful duties.
“I am calling on the police IG and CP Lagos State to help restore peace and safe my community from the hands of hoodlums and landgrabbers,” the Oba said. Read more
Lagos to curb importation of COVID-19 variants during TB Joshua burial (Guardian)
As part of efforts to halt the importation of COVID-19 into Nigeria, especially during the burial of Prophet Temitope Joshua, a delegation from the Lagos State government led by the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi and the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola has visited the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) to inspect facilities at the church for COVID safety and prevention protocols compliance.
Speaking after the inspection of the church facilities and meeting with the church officials, Abayomi said the inspection is in line with the third wave mitigation strategy of the Lagos State government to prevent the importation and spread of new deadly strains of COVID into Lagos and Nigeria.
Noting that the late pastor is a prominent person with a large congregation and followers from around the world, the Commissioner said the funeral rites would expectedly attract people from within and outside Nigeria who will deem it fit to come pay their last respect to the clergy. Read more
Tanker crushes 10 to death in Ibadan (Vanguard)
Residents around Idi Arere Area of Ibadan were thrown into confusion as a tanker drive lost control of the vehicle and crushed about 10 people to death at Bode Market, while several others who escaped, sustained various degrees of injuries.
Vanguard gathered that the driver lost control as a result of brake failure while it rammed into some of the nearby shops and killed about ten traders.
As of the time of filing this report, firefighters have arrived at the scene to prevent the tanker that overturned from exploding. Read more
Enugu killer cop called every worker’s name to ensure no one was alive –Survivors (Punch)
On Sunday, June 20, 2021, a police inspector whose identity has yet to be revealed woke up, grabbed his AK-47 rifle and went on a shooting spree, killing people at a lotto firm and the manager’s residence. The firm is at Plot H/38 while the manager’s residence is located at H/44 both in Golf Estate, Enugu State.
The neighbourhood had thought that robbers or gunmen were in the vicinity. The trigger-happy cop also killed a guard attached to the dwelling.
Some survivors, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH, narrated their ordeals in the mindless attack that lasted at least 20 minutes.
A lady, identified simply as Elizabeth, stated that she was saved by her elder sister, Susana and a co-worker who shielded her with their bodies as the policeman fired bullets. Read more
Residents escape death as diesel tanker fall in Abeokuta (Guardian)
Scores of residents escaped death at Totoro area in Abeokuta metropolis on Sunday after a tanker laden with diesel fell at the roundabout spilling its content on the road.
Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, Spokesman, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta said that the incident happened at 9.50 a. m.
Akinbiyi said that rescue operations are ongoing by the operatives of TRACE, Federal Road Safety Corps, State Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The TRACE spokesman attributed the accident, which happened when residents were heading to places of worship, to brake failure. Read more
Babies Abducted As Bandits Raid Kaduna Hospital (DailyTrust)
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted babies from the residential quarters of the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Centre in Zaria, Kaduna State.
Daily Trust gathered that five staff of the hospital, including female nurses, were also abducted.
The bandits, who were said to have stormed the place in large numbers, engaged officers from a nearby police station in a gun battle.
A staffer of the hospital, who did not his name mentioned, told Daily Trust
there was a heavy shootout during the operation. Read more
Even at 75, the bikini never gets old (DW)
In 1946, a French engineer came up with a scandalous new piece of clothing for women: the bikini, made up of strips of cloth that revealed more than they hid on the beach and in the pool.
French mechanical engineer Louis Réard couldn’t find a willing model, so he hired striptease dancer Micheline Bernardini for the presentation of his bikini on July 5, 1946.
The timing was no coincidence. The US military had just grabbed the world’s attention by testing a nuclear bomb on the Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific. The new swimwear trend turned out to be equally explosive.
Réard did not miscalculate: Showing that much skin was not acceptable at that time. Moral guardians were convinced that women should don skirts and long aprons instead of shamelessly taking their clothes off. Read more
Philippines military plane crash kills at least 17 but many survive (BBC)
At least 17 people have been killed in a military plane crash in the southern Philippines, but 40 were pulled alive from the burning wreckage.
The military transport aircraft was carrying 92 people, mostly troops, when it overshot the runway on Jolo island.
Survivors were taken to a nearby military hospital. Seventeen bodies were found at the crash site.
A large ball of black smoke was seen above the wreckage of the plane, a Lockheed C130 Hercules.
The state news agency carried pictures of the site showing burning debris in a wooded area close to a number of buildings. Read more
Liz Hurley’s son Damian loses out on up to $250m after being cut out of family trust (NYPost)
Liz Hurley’s lookalike 19-year-old son, Damian, has been cut out of his late father’s multi-million dollar trust by his grandfather.
Dr. Peter Bing, Damian’s grandfather and the father of Steve Bing, cut both Damian and his older half-sister Kira Bonder out of the family fortune because they were both born out of wedlock, according to a news report. Steven Bing died by suicide last summer.
Damian’s share of the family trust could have been $250 million, Hurley told the Daily Mail Friday.
Instead, the fortune will be divided between the two children of Steve’s sister Mary, whose kids were not born out of wedlock. Read more
COVID-19: Africa plans a vaccine revolution (DW)
Very few vaccines have found their way into the arms of Africans as they struggle with a surge in COVID-19 infections. Several countries now want to start producing vaccines on the continent. Can they succeed?
The third wave of coronavirus is rolling through much of Africa — and it could be the most severe of the pandemic yet, experts fear. The conditions on the continent could not be worse: The more contagious and arguably more dangerous delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has already wreaked havoc in India, is now spreading in Africa, where it is encountering a largely unvaccinated population.
According to the African Union’s (AU) disease control agency, Africa CDC, just over one percent of the African population has been fully vaccinated, around two and a half percent have received at least the first dose. By comparison, in the EU, at least 50% of the population has now received the first dose, according to “Our World in Data,” and one in three already has full vaccination protection. Read more
Prince Charles reveals favourite songs in radio show to thank volunteers (BBC)
The Prince of Wales has revealed some of his favourite songs, with artists Diana Ross, Edith Piaf and Barbra Streisand making the list.
He highlighted soul group The Three Degrees’ pop hit Givin’ Up, Givin’ In as a track that used to give him “an irresistible urge to get up and dance”.
Prince Charles shared his songs as part of a special show on hospital radio to thank NHS staff and volunteers.
It will air at midday and his 13-song playlist will be released on Spotify. Read more
France hopes deporting more alleged radicals will bring security (DW)
When French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin summoned the country’s regional prefects in June, his message was clear. The authorities in France’s regions had to take swift, decisive action against foreigners who committed crimes. Residence permits should be reviewed, and more offenders should be deported if they had committed particularly serious crimes, such as second-degree murder, drug trafficking and rape.
Even if they are not immediately deported, people who have committed a criminal offense in France receive a letter telling them what the state expects of them. “Every year, the French Republic takes in people from other countries. One of the conditions for this is strict compliance with the rules and laws that govern its territory,” the newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche quoted from a template of the letter, which concludes with a warning: “Any further crime will lead to a re-examination of your residence status, which could result in your being required to leave France.” Read more
Georgia woman wakes to find feral African serval cat in her bed (NYPost)
This is not the way you want to wake up.
A Georgia woman got quite a shock this week when she woke up to find a feral feline just inches from her face — and realized it wasn’t your average stray.
“I said, ‘That’s not a normal house cat. I don’t know what that is, but I am terrified right now,” Kristine Frank recalled to CNN.
The creature turned out to be a serval, a wild African cat which can weigh up to 40 pounds and is illegal in Georgia.
Frank called the state Department of Natural Resources, which was investigating and trying to trap the serval. Read more
Patrick Vieira takes over as Crystal Palace manager (BBC)
Crystal Palace have appointed Patrick Vieira to succeed Roy Hodgson as the Premier League club’s manager.
The former Arsenal captain emerged as Palace’s preferred candidate after a lengthy process since Hodgson announced he was leaving the club on 18 May.
The 45-year-old Frenchman has signed a three-year contract with the Eagles, who finished 14th last season.
“I am really excited to have this opportunity to return to the Premier League,” said Vieira. Read more
D’Aversa appointed Sampdoria coach (Punch)
Former Parma boss Roberto D’Aversa has been appointed coach of Sampdoria, where he briefly played 20 years ago, the Serie A side announced on Sunday.
The 45-year-old Italian left Parma after they were relegated at the end of last season and takes over from Claudio Ranieri at the Genoa club.
“Roberto D’Aversa has joined the club as the manager of the first team until June 30, 2023,” Sampdoria said in a statement.
D’Aversa was reappointed Parma coach in January barely four months after being sacked, but could not stop the club finishing bottom of the league. Read more
Bucks clip Hawks to reach NBA Finals despite no Giannis Antetokounmpo (NYPost)
The Milwaukee Bucks were an instant success in the NBA, winning a championship in just their third season and reaching the finals again three years later.
Nearly a half-century later, they finally have a shot at another title.
Khris Middleton scored 32 points, including a run of 16 straight in a decisive third quarter that carried the Bucks to a 118-107 victory over the upstart Atlanta Hawks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals Saturday night.
Milwaukee won the series 4-2, advancing to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1974. Game 1 against the West champion Suns is Tuesday night in Phoenix. Read more
Copa America: Lionel Messi inspires Argentina to set up Colombia semi-final (BBC)
Lionel Messi scored a free-kick and set up two goals to inspire Argentina to a 3-0 win over Ecuador and set up a Copa America semi-final against Colombia.
The 34-year-old forward provided assists for Rodrigo de Paul after 41 minutes and Lautaro Martinez late on.
He then curled in a free-kick in injury time after Piero Hincapie was sent off for a foul on Angel di Maria.
Last-four opponents Colombia beat Uruguay 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw. Read more
Euro 2020: EU-based England fans revel in Rome (DW)
As the delta covid variant rages in the UK, the European Championship quarterfinal between England and Ukraine was sealed off to fans from England. That created a rare spectacle in Rome on Saturday night.
Upon Rome, they descended. A few thousand England fans residing within the EU grasped their chance to get a ticket to their European Championship quarterfinal with Ukraine. A rare spectacle — or an advert, perhaps — for the often forgotten EU-based Brits.
“I made the journey from Amsterdam today,” Netherlands-based Englishman Ryan Wilkins told DW. “We don’t get an opportunity like this very often, do we? The England-based England fans will have the semifinal so this is a rare moment for the English that are living in Europe. We usually get forgotten about these days!”
There are 1.3 million Britons living in the EU, and it felt like half of them were at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday night. With the delta variant accounting for more than 90% of UK cases of COVID-19 and threatening to rage, the two-week quarantine period for arrivals in Italy made it almost impossible for UK-based England fans to make the trip. Read more
Barca loan Trincao to Wolves for a year (Guardian)
Barcelona have sent young Portuguese striker Trincao to English Premier League team Wolves on a season loan with an option to buy, the Catalan club said Sunday.
Barca paid 31 million euros ($36.7 million) to Braga a year ago but his campaign was marred by niggling injury and he appeared only intermittently, starting 10 matches and scoring three goals.
He was a late substitute in both legs of the Champions League last 16 loss to Paris Saint Germain.The 21-year-old has six Portuguese caps to his name to date but did not make the Euros squad. Read more