1 feared dead as vehicles clash on Third Mainland Bridge (Guardian)
One person is feared dead in an accident that occurred on the Third Mainland Bridge in Iyana Oworo area of Lagos State on Wednesday.
An eyewitness said the victim died in an accident involving multiple cars on the bridge inwards Iyana Oworo Berger Bus stop.
Consequently, there was gridlock on the road with the victim’s body lying lifeless on the road with onlookers and other motorists at the scene.
“The accident must have occurred around 2:30 pm because I got to the scene of the accident around 2:45 pm,” the eyewitness told The Guardian. Read more
Tribunal orders Multichoice to pay FG N900b tax backlog (Punch)
A Tax Appeal Tribunal sitting in Lagos has ordered Multichoice Nigeria Limited, owners of cable television services, DSTV, to pay 50 per cent of N1.8trn tax backlog to the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
Director, Communications and Liaison Department of the FIRS, Mr Abdullahi Ahmad, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
Ahmad explained that FIRS discovered the backlog through a forensic audit, as it allegedly showed that Multichoice Nigeria Limited had failed to pay to the Government of Nigeria in past assessment years.
He said the five-member TAT, led by its chairman, Prof. A.B. Ahmed, issued the order following an application to it by the counsel to FIRS. Read more
Nollywood actor, Alex Ekubo, ‘breaks up with fiancée’ 2 months to wedding (DailyTrust)
Actor Alex Ekubo and his fiancée, Fancy Acholonu, have unfollowed each other on Instagram amid breakup rumours.
They have also deleted the joint Instagram page which they shared.
They were looking forward to their wedding in November before the latest development.
The duo got engaged in May 2021 and shared a photo of themselves together.
Back then, Ekubo had written, “I asked the love of my life @fancyacholonu to marry me” and Fancy also reposted the same picture and captioned it, “I said yes to the love of my life”. Read more
Lagos PDP chairman, Adegbola, dies of COVID-19 (Vanguard)
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Lagos State, Dr Dominic Adegbola, on Wednesday, died of COVID-19 related ailments.
Confirming the death of Adegbola, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Taofik Gani stated that the late senior medical practitioner “was an exceptional politician who had deployed much of his hard earned money into philantropism. He was the Medical Director of Santa Maria Hospital.”
Dr Dominic was a grassroots politician from the days of Action Group.
He had held many political positions, notable amongst being State SDP officer; State Chairman of PAC; National Chairman of APN (Founded by late Jakande); State Chairman of Lagos PDP. Read more
36 feared killed, houses razed as gunmen attack Plateau community again (Punch)
Gunmen have killed no fewer than 36 persons while several others were injured in a fresh attack which occurred in Ahwol Ward, Naraguta community, in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau state.
It was gathered that the gunmen stormed the community with sophisticated weapons around 10 pm on Tuesday night and killed the victims while several others who sustained injuries during the attack have been rushed to the Bingham University Teaching Hospital in Jos, the state capital.
The Paramount ruler of the Anaguta ethnic nationality in the state, Ujah Johnson Jauro confirmed the attack to The PUNCH in Jos on Wednesday
The Paramount ruler said, “Yes, it’s true. I have been informed that some gunmen attacked my people last night in Naraguta community with many casualties. But we are still investigating to know what really happened.” Read more
8 killed in fresh Benue attack (DailyTrust)
At least eight people have been killed in Yelewta community of Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
Witnesses said the killings occurred when traders were closing for the day.
Chairman of Guma LGA, Caleb Aba, told newsmen in Makurdi by telephone that the victims were hacked to death.
Aba said it was Yelewta market day and that the people had hardly closed for the day when the gun-welding invaders pounced on them, killing eight on the spot.
“It was a market day and the people were still busy doing their business when they (attackers) launched the attack, shooting guns everywhere. In the end, eight people were killed, one abducted and has not been seen up till now,” he said. Read more
Terrorists named current Govs, Senators, Aso Rock officials as sponsors during interrogation – Ex-Naval Officer (Punch)
A former Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi, has said that Boko Haram terrorists mentioned names of current governors, senators and Aso Rock officials as sponsors during interrogation but the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has demonstrated an unwillingness to go after the high-profile politicians for reasons best known to him.
Olawunmi spoke on Wednesday when he featured on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ breakfast programme monitored by The PUNCH.
He described as an “aberration”, Tuesday attack by bloodthirsty bandits on the Kaduna campus of Nigeria’s foremost military university, the Nigerian Defence Academy, where two military officers were killed and another kidnapped.
“It is an aberration; you don’t attack the Nigerian Defence Academy and get away with it,” he lamented, adding that the NDA, like other military environments in the country, carelessly opens its doors to everyone on Friday for Jumat prayer. Read more
Plateau restores 24-hour curfew in Jos North (Nation)
Plateau State Government has reinstated the relaxed 24-hour curfew in Jos North Local Government Area following growing tensions over killing of no fewer than 35 persons in an attack on Yelwa Zangam village.
According to Governor Simon Lalong, the curfew will come into force from 4 pm on Wednesday until further notice.
In a statement by his spokesman Dr. Makut Simon Macham said: “The proactive decision became necessary following eminent threat to lives and properties within the Local Government Area and the need to forestall the breakdown of law and order.
“It will also enable security agencies deploy appropriately to maintain security as the search for the attackers of the villagers continues. Read more
Kanye West files to officially change name to Ye (BBC)
Rapper Kanye West has filed papers to officially change his name to be known simply as Ye.
He cited “personal reasons” in the court documents filed in Los Angeles.
It comes almost three years after the mercurial music star, fashion designer and presidential hopeful tweeted about changing his name, after releasing an album titled Ye.
At the time, he referred to “the being” formally and formerly known as Kanye West before announcing: “I am YE.” Read more
China accuses US of politicising COVID-19 origins research (ABC)
China went on the offensive Wednesday ahead of the release of a U.S. intelligence report on the origins of the coronavirus, bringing out a senior official to accuse the United States of politicizing the issue by seeking to blame China.
Fu Cong, a Foreign Ministry director general, said at a briefing for foreign journalists that “scapegoating China cannot whitewash the U.S.”
“If they want to baselessly accuse China, they better be prepared to accept the counterattack from China,” he said.
China, the U.S. and the World Health Organization are entangled in a feud that centers on whether the virus that causes COVID-19 could have leaked from a lab in the city of Wuhan, where the disease was first detected in late 2019. Read more
Derek Tsang to direct Netflix’s “The Three-Body Problem” starring Eiza Gonzalez (Deadline)
Earlier this month it was announced that Baby Driver and Gozilla vs. Kong actress Eiza Gonzalez has been cast in The Three-Body Problem, Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of Chinese author Liu Cixin’s sci-fi book trilogy from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, and now comes word that the project has found its director.
As revealed by THR, Derek Tsang has been set to direct the pilot episode of the TV series adaptation, which will tell the tell story of humanity’s first contact with an alien civilization in a sprawling tale that spans from the 1960s to the far end of the universe and time itself.
Hong Kong filmmaker Tsang is best known for his 2019 film Better Days, which was nominated for the Oscar for Best International Feature Film. The Three-Body Problem will mark his English language debut.
Benioff and Weiss are set to serve as showrunners on The Three-Body Problem alongside co-creator Alexander Woo (The Terror: Infamy), while the series’ executive producers include Rian Johnson (Knives Out), Rosamund Pike (I Care a Lot) and Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). Read more
Sir David Adjaye to transform Ghana’s healthcare with 101 new hospitals (NewAtlas)
Ghanian/British architect Sir David Adjaye has produced many large projects, such as the NMAAHC, but his firm’s latest work is on another scale entirely. It will involve transforming Ghana’s healthcare facilities by creating 101 new hospitals in the country.
The project, officially named District Hospitals, is part of a larger scheme named Agenda 111 that, as its name suggests, will actually consist of 111 hospitals, of which Adjaye Associates will be responsible for 101. Obviously, designing over 100 unique hospitals would be a huge task and probably not even a good use of resources, so instead the firm has designed a flexible and energy efficient prefabricated hospital that will be replicated throughout the country and adapted to any specific requirements.
District Hospitals will be arranged around a central courtyard
The hospitals will each measure 8,500 sq m (roughly 91,000 sq ft), spread over one floor, and will contain such facilities as patient reception and administration areas, pharmacies and labs, a surgical ward, pediatrics ward, maternity ward, isolation ward, accident and emergency room, and physiotherapy. Other areas like residences for staff and visitors, a morgue, and waiting rooms will be hosted in adjacent buildings. Read more
Woman sexually abused by crowd tearing off her clothes in Pakistan (DailyMail)
A young woman has been mugged and sexually assaulted by a crowd of hundreds of men in a park in Lahore, Pakistan.
The horrific incident took place on August 14, Pakistan’s independence day, but was not reported until several days later.
Harrowing footage taken by onlookers sees a horde of men pulling and pushing the woman, who was filming videos for social media platform TikTok at the Minar-e-Pakistan monument in the Greater Iqbal Park with six companions.
The men separated her from her friends and robbed her of her jewelry, money and mobile phone before they tossed her in the air, pulled off her clothes and groped her. Read more
NASCAR driver, Navy veteran attacked on social media (BeyondTheFlag)
Following the announcement of his new role, NASCAR driver and team owner Jesse Iwuji was attacked on social media because of the colour of his skin.
Jesse Iwuji serves as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy. He also competes part-time in NASCAR, doing so in both the Truck Series and the Xfinity Series.
Last week, he announced that he had partnered with NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith to form a full-time Xfinity Series team for the 2022 season: Jesse Iwuji Motorsports.
Unfortunately, some were not fans of this news, and for no other reason than the fact that Iwuji happens to be a black man.
The 34-year-old Carrollton, Texas native shared a racist message he received after this news was announced. Read more
Serena Williams pulls out of US Open as she recovers from torn hamstring (BBC)
Six-time champion Serena Williams has become the latest high-profile player to pull out of next week’s US Open.
In a post on social media, the 39-year-old American great said she needed time to allow her body to “heal completely” from a torn hamstring.
Williams joins defending men’s champion Dominic Thiem, plus Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, in pulling out of this year’s final Grand Slam.
The tournament, at Flushing Meadows in New York, begins on 30 August. Read more
Anthony Joshua vs Usyk undercard announced (Punch)
WBO cruiserweight title on the Joshua vs Usyk undercard, with Callum Smith and Campbell Hatton also returning on a bumper bill.
Anthony Joshua defends his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles against Oleksandr Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 25, Sky Sports reports.
Before the main event, Okolie makes the first defence of his WBO belt against mandatory challenger Dilan Prasovic after becoming champion with a crushing sixth round stoppage of Krzysztof Glowacki in March. Read more
Emma Raducanu reveals Wimbledon lessons as she begins US Open quest (Metro)
Emma Raducanu visits her former school, ‘Bickley Primary’ on July 19, 2021 in Bromley, England. Ms Raducanu, who is a youth ambassador for the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), made a surprise visit to the school as they enjoyed sports day. The 18-year-old professional tennis player made her main-drawn grand-slam debut at this year’s Wimbledon tournament, becoming the youngest British woman to reach the Round of 16
Raducanu will compete in US Open qualifying (Picture: Getty Images)
Emma Raducanu will begin her second Grand Slam adventure on Wednesday as she looks to back up a remarkable run to the fourth round of Wimbledon at the US Open.
Unlike at the All England Club, there was no main draw wildcard for the British teenager, who will instead have to graft her way through qualifying in Flushing Meadows.
Her last match at a major ultimately proved a bridge too far. She was forced to retire from her last-16 tie with Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic with breathing difficulties.
‘I think the biggest learning was how physically behind I am because I haven’t done much work, relative to these other girls who have been on the Tour for 10 years and competing,’ Raducanu said in a Zoom call from New York on Wednesday night. Read more
Harry Kane: Tottenham striker says he will stay at the club (BBC)
England captain Harry Kane says he will be “staying at Tottenham this summer” and is “100% focused on helping the team achieve success”.
Manchester City were keen to sign Kane, who believed he had a gentleman’s agreement with chairman Daniel Levy to leave Spurs this summer.
But Levy has refused to enter into negotiations for the striker, 28.
Kane played his first game of the season on Sunday, coming on as a substitute in the 1-0 win over Wolves. Read more
Jack Wilshere sends Arsenal warning over Emile Smith Rowe (Metro)
Jack Wilshere has warned that Emile Smith Rowe will take longer to develop at Arsenal than he did due to his current surroundings.
Wilshere, who is currently without a club, graduated from the Arsenal academy more than a decade ago and went on to win two FA Cups, while also being capped 34 times by England.
Smith Rowe, who was handed the No. 10 shirt this season, will hope to follow in his footsteps to become an England regular, while also helping the Gunners return to elite-level European football.
But Wilshere believes there should be great patience for Smith Rowe, who is developing in a side in a state of turmoil. Read more
Celtic’s Ange Postecoglou praises Rangers’ action on Kyogo Furuhashi abuse (BBC)
Rangers “did the right thing” by indefinitely banning fans who racially abused Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi, says Parkhead manager Ange Postecoglou.
Social media footage emerged on Sunday of supporters chanting a racist song about the Japan forward.
Following Rangers’ investigation, the supporters’ club the fans belonged to will no longer receive match tickets.”I don’t think Rangers acted because they wanted to impress anyone,” said Postecoglou. Read more