Basketmouth deletes ‘divorce post’ after old video condemning split resurfaces (Vanguard)
Nigerian comedian and actor, Bright Okpocha, popularly known as Basketmouth has left fans in suspense after he deleted the Instagram post where he announced his divorce to Elsie.
This comes hours after an old video where the couple condemned divorce surfaced.
Recall that a few days ago, the comedian announced the marriage break-up with his wife of 12 years, Elsie. He released a viral statement that their privacy should be respected, suggesting that people should not dabble in their affairs.
However, a check on Basketmouth’s Instagram page hours after the old video resurfaced shows he has taken down the post as many fans are in suspense, wondering, and waiting to know why the father of four decided to delete the ‘divorce post’.
Here are a few reactions from fans after the old video resurfaced:
@officiallobba tweeted, Las las, e don cast , na everybody go chop breakfast. Read more
Motorist collapses, dies in fuel queue (Punch)
A yet-to-be-identified man has reportedly died in Oluyole Estate, in the Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State, while queuing to buy fuel at a petrol station in the community.
The incident happened on Thursday.
PUNCH Metro learnt that nobody was aware that the man, who rested his head on his steering, had given up the ghost on the queue until when other customers were pressing their car horns to alert him to move forward that they realised that he was dead.
Our correspondent gathered that the victim’s car, with number plate AKD 878 GP, had been moved to the nearest police station, while his corpse was deposited in an undisclosed morgue. Read more
Banks face angry customers as network glitches mar holidays (Guardian)
As early as 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, banking premises around Lagos, the financial hub of the country, were jam-packed with customers waiting impatiently to register complaints of sundry failed transactions during the Christmas holidays.
The Guardian inquiries suggested the situation was the same across different states, where frustration over inefficient electronic payment system and failed Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions reached boiling point.
Banks and other formal business shut their doors to customers at the weekend extending to Christmas and Boxing Day holidays, when financial transactions peaked across the country.
But depositors had a horrible experience withdrawing at ATMs and Point of Sale (PoS) terminals or while making transfers, as the channels were overwhelmed with rising demand. Read more
Raheem: Police commission approves suspension of cop Vandi (Punch)
The Police Service Commission has approved the immediate suspension of ASP Drambi Vandi, AP/no 134901, the officer who allegedly shot and killed a female lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day in the Ajah area of Lagos State.
The PSC’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, revealed this on Thursday in a statement obtained by our correspondent.
The PUNCH reports that this follows the Wednesday recommendation by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, for the suspension of the suspected killer cop.
The commission also directed that the final investigation into the matter be concluded to enable the PSC take further necessary action. Read more
Ikeja Golden Lions Club organises party for elderly people in Lagos (Independent)
Members of the Ikeja Golden Lions Club on Thursday organized a Christmas party tagged “Wining and dining with the elderly” for elderly people at the Regina Mundi Home for the Elderly in Mushin Local Government of Lagos State.
The event was organized to make the elders at the home feel that they have not been abandoned by society and to create an environment for them to come together, dance, make merry, drink and eat.
Members of the club danced with the elderly and “sprayed” them with cash and there was more than enough to drink and take away by the elderly persons.
Elderly persons, who do not live in the home, were not let out of the merriment, as they participated in the activities of the day.
Gift items like rice, noodles, biscuits, cookies, and others were also given to elderly people. The elderly people thanked the members of the club for remembering them and prayed that God will bless them with old age and good health. Read more
Buhari salutes elder statesman Christopher Kolade at 90 (Nation)
President Muhammadu Buhari has rejoiced with elder statesman, Dr. Christopher Kolade, on his 90th birthday.
In a congratulatory message yesterday in Abuja by his media aide, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President expressed joy with the academic, broadcaster, and diplomat for his influence in every area of service to the nation through his tenacity with the truth.
The President felicitated the renowned leader in both the private and public sectors for the courage he inspires.
He lauded Kolade for choosing a career path that brings dignity and honour as a teacher, and by providence rising on corporate ladders before taking up the position of High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK). Read more
Court restrains DSS, others from arresting Emefiele over alleged terrorism financing (ThisDay)
Justice M. A. Hassan of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has restrained the Department of State Services (DSS) and four others from arresting or detaining the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele over alleged trumped up charges bordering on terrorism financing.
Justice Hassan made the order on Thursday, while delivering judgment in a suit marked FCT/HC/CV/GAR/41/2022, filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Forum for Accountability and Good Leadership.
The judge held that the DSS ” acted wrongfully and illegally in instigating President Muhammadu Buhari against Mr. Godwin Emefiele in respect of the exercise of his statutory duty relating to the issuance of monetary policies and directives in the interest of the National Security and economy. Read more
Sanction Threats: G-5 Governors dare PDP, say we’re not afraid (Leadership)
It became glaring yesterday that the five governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), popularly known as G-5, have crossed the Rubicon in their bid to support a southern presidential candidate other than their party’s flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar.
They vehemently dared the national leadership of the party to proceed with the threat to sanction them for supporting any other presidential candidate instead of Atiku.
The G-5 governors who are currently in London to decide on the candidate to back in the 2023 presidential election insisted that they have done nothing wrong to deserve sanction by the party.
They called PDP’s bluff, saying threats of sanctions do not scare them, even as they stated that those proposing such sanctions know the consequences. Read more
Fashion world pays tribute to Vivienne Westwood (BBC)
Tributes to Dame Vivienne Westwood have poured in following the death of the “undisputed Queen of British fashion”.
She died “peacefully and surrounded by her family” in London, her fashion house said in a statement.
Westwood, 81, made her name with her controversial punk and new wave styles in the 1970s and went on to dress some of the biggest stars in fashion.
Fellow designer Marc Jacobs said he was “heartbroken” and that she “never failed to surprise and to shock”.
Paying tribute to her life and work, he wrote on Instagram: “You did it first. Always. Incredible style with brilliant and meaningful substance. Read more
Man given 12 months to live is cancer-free after pioneering new drug trial (Metro)
A man told he had less than 12 months to live is now cancer-free thanks to a a new drug regime trial.
Robert Glynn, from Worsley, in Greater Manchester, was diagnosed with bile duct cancer a day before his 49th birthday, during the height of the Covid pandemic.
He had visited his GP, undergoing a series of scans and blood tests but his cancer was only picked up by chance when he got an infection in his gall bladder.
Also known as biliary tract cancer, it is a rare form with just few treatment options. Read more
Marvel celebrates Stan Lee’s 100th birthday by announcing new documentary (ET)
Excelsior! On the anniversary of what would have been comic book icon Stan Lee’s 100th birthday, fans found out that a documentary about the titan of Marvel Comics is coming soon.
Marvel announced on Wednesday that a documentary exploring the life, career and indelible legacy of the legendary creative powerhouse will be coming to Disney+ in 2023.
Marvel also dropped a teaser trailer for the documentary, comprised mostly of Lee’s famed movie cameos — which he made in every film in the MCU franchise before his death in 2018.
Lee is famously the only person to appear in every single installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise, as well as in a slew of other Marvel big-screen adaptations. Read more
Courtney Love says Brad Pitt got her fired from Fight Club after she rejected his bid to play Kurt Cobain (Deadline)
Courtney Love is airing out old grievances involving Fight Club star Brad Pitt.
The actress and Grammy-nominated musician has asserted that she was set for the David Fincher film’s key role of Marla Singer — eventually to be played by Helena Bonham Carter — before Pitt intervened and got her “fired.” Love says that this happened because she “wouldn’t let Brad play” her late husband, Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain, after he pitched her on the idea.
Love explained that when Pitt first brought up the idea of playing Cobain — who committed suicide, aged 27, in 1994 — she “went nuclear.” And that all these years later, she wishes she’d instead embraced “the shark instinct” — letting Pitt think she’d go along with the idea of him portraying Cobain, until she was able to get through production on Fight Club. Love added that while she was dating Pitt’s Fight Club co-star Edward Norton at the time of her alleged firing, Norton told her he didn’t “have the power” to get her re-hired. Read more
SZA returns with a vengeance in her new teaser for the Kill Bill music video (Uproxx)
After the popularity of SZA’s “Kill Bill,” from her recent sophomore album, SOS, it seems she is returning the favor to fans for the song’s immense success.
Today, she posted the first teaser of the music video. As expected, it pays tribute to the Tarantino movie of the same title. From donning the iconic Uma Thurman jumpsuit (in red instead of yellow) to recreating some of the character’s fight moves, SZA clearly plans to go all out for this one.
“It’s what y’all deserve,” she captioned the trailer.
“Kill Bill” made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 and has been there since. Lyrically, SZA details that she “might kill her ex,” in a chaotic tale of revenge — on par with her Scorpio energy. Read more
Ian Tyson, Revered Canadian folk singer, dies at 89 (NYTimes)
Before Canadian musicians like Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell or Leonard Cohen, there was Ian Tyson.
Mr. Tyson, who began his music career as half of the folk-era duo Ian and Sylvia and went on to become a revered figure in his home country, celebrated both for his music and his commitment to the culture of Canada’s ranch country, died on Thursday at age 89 at his ranch in southern Alberta.
His family said in a statement that he died from “ongoing health complications,” but did not specify further.
Mr. Tyson, whose song “Four Strong Winds” in 2005 was voted the most essential Canadian piece of music by the listeners of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation public radio network, lived most of his life as both a rancher and a musician. Read more
Death toll rises in Cambodia casino hotel fire (Guardian)
A fire that lasted more than 12 hours in a Cambodian hotel casino killed at least 19 people and injured scores more, with an official warning that other people could be missing.
“There are 19 dead so far as we see bodies and bones,” said Sek Sokhom, the director of the Banteay Meanchey provincial information department, warning “the dead figure could be higher” as rescue teams have not reached many parts of the complex.
Videos shared online showed flames erupting from the Grand Diamond City hotel and casino in Poipet, a commuter town on the border with Thailand, as hundreds of rescue workers struggled to contain the blaze.
Footage captured the massive complex ablaze, with some clips appearing to show people trapped inside the burning building while others jumped from windows as rescuers tried to reach them. Read more
Pelé’s death sparks wave of tributes for the Brazilian soccer legend (ABC)
Tributes are pouring in from around the world after the death of Brazilian soccer star Pelé.
The three-time World Cup winner died of cancer at the Albert Einstein hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, aged 82.
The city has planned seven days of mourning and on Monday a 24-hour wake will be held in the centre of the field at his hometown club, Santos.
The next day, a parade carrying his coffin will pass through the streets of Santos, passing the neighbourhood where his 100-year-old mother lives.
The parade will end at the Ecumenical Memorial Necropolis cemetery, where he will be buried in a private ceremony.
In London, Wembley Stadium was lit in the colours of Brazil while icons of sport and heads of state bowed to the man who rose up from childhood poverty to become a legend. Read more
NPFL: 5 clubs fail to meet stadium requirements (Punch)
Seven times champion of the Nigeria Professional Football League, Rangers International of Enugu, Lobi Stars of Makurdi, Nasarawa United, Kwara United and Niger Tornadoes will play their home games in the 2022/2023 NPFL season away from home, after their stadiums failed to meet up with the infrastructure requirements set by the Interim Management Committee of the league as part of club licensing.
The five clubs will now seek alternative venues, based on the approval of the IMC before the kick off of the league by January 8 2023.
Matchday one fixtures in both groups of the abridged league was released during the draw on Wednesday.
Following the Draws for the 2022/23 season of the NPFL, the IMC on Thursday released fixtures for Matchday 1 and venues for the games. Read more
‘Hungry’ Haaland driven by World Cup absence (Guardian)
Erling Haaland is using the frustration of being forced to watch the World Cup on TV as motivation to score more goals in the Premier League this season.
Haaland took his tally to 20 in 14 games with a double against Leeds at Elland Road for Manchester City.
It is the fastest anyone has reached the total, seven games earlier than the next quickest – Sunderland’s Kevin Phillips in 1999-2000 – and would have been enough to secure a share of the Golden Boot in five Premier League campaigns.
Worryingly for City’s top flight rivals, manager Pep Guardiola says Haaland is currently “not at his best”.
“I’ve been at home, being a bit mad that I’m not playing at the World Cup,” Haaland told Amazon Prime.
“To watch other people score to win games at the World Cup kind of triggers me, kind of motivates me and irritates me. I’m more hungry and I’m more ready than ever.”
Haaland was a boyhood Leeds fan thanks to his dad, Alfie, who played for both Leeds and Manchester City, and watched his son’s latest scoring masterclass from the Elland Road stands. Read more
Jurgen Klopp makes Robert Lewandowski comparison to explain Darwin Nunez’s struggles (Mirror)
Jurgen Klopp reckons that “there are a lot of similarities” between struggling Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez and his former No.9, Robert Lewandowski.
Lewandowski, now starring for Barcelona, was signed by Liverpool boss Klopp for Borussia Dortmund in 2010. The Pole initially found life difficult in the Bundesliga before becoming one of world football’s most prolific marksmen over the next four seasons with the German giants and later, Bayern Munich.
It’s the kind of turnaround which Klopp is backing his current striker, Nunez, to replicate.
“There are a lot of similarities to be honest. Yes, I think Lewy would tell the same story,” the Liverpool manager declared. Read more
Former US Open champion Thiem handed Australian Open wildcard (RFI)
Former world number three Dominic Thiem was handed a wildcard to the Australian Open Friday, as he continues his comeback from a serious wrist injury.
The Austrian, who pushed Novak Djokovic to five sets in the 2020 Australian Open final, was sidelined for nine months with the injury sustained during the 2021 grass-court season.
He has shown encouraging signs on his return to the tour, rising from outside the top 350 to 102 in the second half of this year, including semi-final runs at Gstaad, Gijon and Antwerp.
His rapid ranking rise meant the 29-year-old only narrowly missed directly qualifying for the main draw of the Australian Open, which starts in Melbourne on January 16. Read more
Pacers’ Buddy Hield connects just 3 seconds into game vs. Cavaliers (ABC)
Buddy Hield wasted no time finding the scoring column Thursday night.
And he did so in record-breaking fashion.
The Indiana Pacers sharp-shooter grabbed a game-opening jump ball out of midair that Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen had swatted his way, pivoted at the top of the key and coolly connected on a 3-pointer to give Indiana a 3-0 lead — just three seconds into the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
According to ESPN Stats & Information research, the bucket is the fastest made 3-pointer in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97). Hall of Famer Reggie Miller had the old record, connecting on a 3 at 11:56 of the opening quarter during a March 5, 2000, game against the Golden State Warriors. Read more