BRT bus crushes businessman to death in Lagos (Punch)
A businessman, Ahmed Sulaiman, has been crushed to death by a Bus Rapid Transit vehicle in the Owode Onirin area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the businessman had attempted to cross the BRT lane when the driver, Lekan Anifowose, who was conveying passengers inward Mile 12, hit him.
It was learnt that a mob, consisting of traders at the Owode Onirin Market, took to the road to protest against the death.
BRT drivers plying the area reportedly stopped operation and parked their vehicles at a safe distance to protect the vehicles from being vandalised by the mob. Read more
Lagos virus cases to rise next month, says govt (Nation)
A rise is expected in the number of COVID-19 cases next month in Lagos State, Health Commissioner Prof Akin Abayomi said on Thursday.
The commissioner told reporters at Bagaulto Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa Secretariat, that the postulations are a result of modelling carried out on the pandemic in the state.
He said: “Modelling is not always accurate. So, this is just a postulation and I hope Lagos State will soon flatten the curve.
“We are refining the model so that we can get a better grasp when the cases will peak and when we are likely to experience the downward trend of the outbreak.” Read more
MC Oluomo, others inaugurated as Lagos committee on FG’s 774,000 jobs (Vanguard)
The Lagos State government, on Thursday, inaugurated the committee to select state beneficiaries of 774,000 jobs scheme initiated by the federal government, which had Alhaji Akinsanya Musiliu, A.K.A. MC Oluomo, as member.
Speaking at the ceremony on Thursday, Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Mutiu Are, said the scheme would provide jobs for thousands of youths in the state, reduce unemployment and crimes by taking many youths off the streets.
According to him, members of the committee would ensure that there was equity in the distribution of the slots to each local government and interest groups in the state. Read more
Lottery operator commits suicide over winnings (Punch)
A lottery shop operator, identified simply as Baba Pool, on Thursday committed suicide over his alleged failure to pay some of his customers their winnings.
It was gathered that the deceased hanged himself inside his shop in Kayode Market, Abule Ijesha, in the Sabo area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the deceased, in a suicide note, blamed two people for his death.
He wrote, “For your information, Bourney and Osuma. Two of them kill me. A killer must surely die.” Read more
3rd Mainland Bridge closure: LASG assures Lagosians of minimal inconveniences (Vanguard)
The Lagos State Government has assured Lagosians of minimal burden as it partially closes the Third Mainland Bridge for repairs for six months.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, gave the assurance on Thursday while receiving the new Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Lagos, Olusegun Ogungbemide, on a courtesy visit at the State House, Marina.
The FRSC chief was accompanied on the visit by the Lagos Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr Adeyinka Ayinla. Read more
Senate, FG resolve to revive Ajaokuta Steel Mill (ThisDay)
The Senate Thursday in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, expressed its resolve to cooperate with the executive arm to make the Ajaokuta Steel Company work.
In his remarks, Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, who led the Senate team on an oversight visit to Ajaokuta Steel Mill and the Itakpe National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) in the state, commended the efforts of the federal government towards reviving Ajaokuta steel company, noting that they were sent to assess the situation on ground.
According to him, “All of us are aware of the efforts being put in place by the federal government to revive the company. Read more
Buhari, others in Mali to make peace (Nation)
The terms of resolution on the political impasse in Mali are expected today following Thursday’s move by President Muhammadu Buhari and four other West African countries’ leaders to negotiate end of the impasse.
The other leaders on the trip are: Macky Sall (Senegal), Alassane Ouattara (Coto d’ Ivoire), Nana Akufo-Addo (Ghana) and Mahamadou Issoufou (Niger).
President Buhari arrived in Bamako, the Malian capital, wearing a face mask publicly for the first time.
The political crisis has raised fears it could undermine a regional fight against Islamist militants, according to a report by Reuters. Read more
EU, US, Zulum condemn killing of aid workers in Borno (ThisDay)
The European Union (EU), the United States government and Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum have condemned the recent killing of aid workers abducted in June along the Monguno-Maiduguri road in North-east Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its Nigerian office spokesperson, Mr. Chukwulaka Modestus, yesterday, the EU expressed shock.
“The EU would like to express its condolences with the families, friends and colleagues of the five victims and our thoughts are with them,” the statement said. Read more
South Africa to close schools again over coronavirus surge (Aljazeera)
South Africa’s public schools will close again for a month from Monday to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus as the country grapples with surging infections, President Cyril Ramaphosa has said.
The country has now recorded 408,052 coronavirus cases, the fifth-highest in the world, and more than 6,000 people have died from the virus.
Rising infections have caused concern among teaching staff, with unions calling on the government to revoke its decision to reopen schools for certain grades in June. Read more
US Space Force accuses Russia of testing ‘weapon-like’ anti-satellite device in orbit (RT)
The Pentagon has accused Moscow of testing a new space weapon, insisting that such “aggression” validates the importance of the US’s Space Force. In reality, however, Russia merely used a scanning device on its own satellite.
The latest Cold War-style ‘Russians are coming’ scare was issued by the US Space Command chief Gen. John W. Raymond on Thursday. The force said it has “evidence” that Moscow conducted a “non-destructive test of a space-based anti-satellite weapon” on July 15, allegedly releasing an object from one of its satellites towards another.
“This is further evidence of Russia’s continuing efforts to develop and test space-based systems,” Raymond said, adding that the incident was “consistent” with the Kremlin’s goal to employ weapons that “hold US and allied space assets at risk.” Read more
Sudan finds mass grave of officers involved in failed 1990 coup against Bashir (France24)
Sudan has found a mass grave that most likely contains remains of 28 army officers executed in 1990 for plotting an attempted coup against the former President Omar al-Bashir, the public prosecutor office said late on Thursday.
The officers were executed in mysterious circumstances after a quick military trial one year after Bashir himself took the power in a military coup in 1989. Their burial site was not disclosed for decades.
“The public prosecution managed to find a mass grave that data indicates that it is most likely the graveyard where the bodies of the officers who were killed and buried in a brutal manner,” the public prosecutor said in a statement. Read more
China-US row: Fugitive researcher ‘hiding in San Francisco consulate’ (BBC)
A Chinese scientist suspected of visa fraud and concealing ties to the military has fled to China’s consulate in San Francisco, the US says.
Prosecutors allege that the case is part of a Chinese programme to send undercover army scientists to the US.
On Wednesday the Trump administration ordered the closure of China’s mission in Houston, saying it was involved in stealing intellectual property.
China condemned moves against its scientists and consulates in the US. Read more
“Avatar 2”: James Cameron amazed at his own movie (Metro)
Fans of the Avatar franchise should be in for a treat, as director James Cameron says he’s in awe of how good the sequel looks. Despite the fact that it’s his own film he’s talking about, Cameron says he’s not tooting his own horn when it comes to how ‘amazing’ the long awaited sequel looks. Speaking with the Toronto Sun Newspaper the 65-year-old filmmaker said: ‘I deal with images in that world every single day and there are some days when I look at those images and say, “This is really amazing”.’ Cameron by no means takes full credit for the visuals of his new sci-fi follow-up film though, giving a nod to the team behind the scenes instead. Read more
Rapper Ice Cube wants Hollywood studios to pay reparations for ‘stealing our history and giving it to white people’ (RT)
As reparations become a more and more popular topic while anti-police and anti-racism protests rage across the US, rapper Ice Cube wants to see Hollywood studios take part and give yearly payments to black-owned companies.
“I think these studios that we know and love should kick in to a studio that’s ran by black people with no outside influences, and whose movies and projects are owned by those black people,” the musician and actor told radio show ‘The Breakfast Club’.
These studios, he claims, have “contributed in our narrative, in our pain, in our misrepresentation.” Read more
Coronavirus: Disney delays blockbuster films due to pandemic (BBC)
Walt Disney has delayed and postponed the release of three major films, dealing a fresh blow to cinema operators struggling amid the pandemic.
The new Avatar and Star Wars films have been delayed a year, while Mulan has been removed from schedules completely.
Mulan, already delayed because of cinema closures, had been scheduled for release at the end of August. Read more
Nigeria heightens plans to snatch Saka (Nation)
Nigeria are accelerating their attempts to snatch Arsenal wonderkid Bukayo Saka from England.
The 18-year-old is emerging as a real contender to break into Gareth Southgate’s squad following a string of excellent displays for his club.
He has represented England at junior level and currently plays for the Under 19 side but he is in line — at the very least — for a promotion to the Under 21s. Read more
Juventus miss chance to seal title (BBC)
Juventus missed out on the chance to wrap up the Serie A title as they fell to what boss Maurizio Sarri called a “messy” defeat at struggling Udinese.
Juve, who have been Italian champions for exactly 3,000 days, need to win one of their final three games to win their ninth title in a row.
They led through Matthijs de Ligt’s powerful drive.
But Ilija Nestorovski headed in an equaliser before Seko Fofana’s brilliant winner in injury time. Read more
Burkina Faso star Bance quits international football (Vanguard)
Burkina Faso star Aristide Bance, one of the most colourful and popular footballers in Africa, has called time on his international career.
He played 79 times for the ‘Stallions’ and scored 24 goals over 16 years while helping the national team of the west African state rise from obscurity to a regular top-10 ranking in the continent.
The forward stood out on the pitch because of his huge physique and fondness for blond dyed hairstyles.
Bance was part of the Burkinabe team that stunned Africa by reaching the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations final in South Africa, which they lost 1-0 to Nigeria. Read more
Saka handed Arsenal No.7 jersey (Punch)
Bukayo Saka has been handed Arsenal’s No. 7 jersey for the 2020/21 season, the club announced on their Twitter page on Wednesday, while unveiling the home kits for next season.
“Our homegrown talent. The Arsenal’s No 7 from 2020/21. Keep making us proud, Bukayo,” Arsenal wrote on Twitter.
The versatile player also shared a video on his Twitter handle with a caption “new chapter..7” to confirm his new jersey number. Read more
Coronavirus: Question mark over 2021 Tokyo Olympics (BBC)
For some athletes, today was the last chance to take part in the Tokyo Olympics. They are too old, too exhausted or too financially stretched to wait for another year.
One of them is 35-year-old Tetsuya Sotomura. When I met him on a sweltering afternoon earlier this week he was still hard at it in a converted factory building in a north Tokyo suburb, flying high into the air, spinning and tumbling on a massive trampoline. Read more
Mike Tyson to fight Roy Jones Jr in comeback exhibition fight (Metro)
Mike Tyson is set to return to the boxing ring against fellow legend Roy Jones Jr in an eight-round exhibition match, according to reports. 54-year-old Tyson looks set to fight 51-year-old Jones in California, with TMZ reporting that it will take pace on 12 September, less than two months from now.
The California State Athletic Commission is set to sanction the bout between the youngest heavyweight champion in history and the former four-weight world champ. Read more