Protest as abductors kill LAUTECH student, hotelier (Punch)
Students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, and some town youths are currently staging a public protest in Ogbomoso.
Our correspondent gathered that the news of the alleged killing of the LAUTECH final year student, Rachael Opadele, and the hotelier, Olugbenga Owolabi sparked the protest.
Although there is no confirmation about the killing from the police yet, sources close to the student’s family said the two of them were shot dead after the kidnappers had collected a N5m ransom.
The okada rider, who took the ransom to the kidnapper’s den, was reportedly shot, but the sources said he was still alive.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Adewale Osifeso, could not be reached. Read more
Arise anchor Rufai Oseni apologises for driving on BRT lane (Nation)
Arise TV show anchor Rufai Oseni has apologised for committing a traffic infraction in Lagos on Monday.
He apologised to all parties involved in the incident, stating it has been a humbling experience for him.
Oseni was arrested for driving on the BRT lane, a development that generated massive reactions on social media after he alleged police operatives pointed guns at him.
A video however appeared where he was seen charging at a police officer, stating ”I will call the Governor, nonsense.” Read more
Gunmen attack AIG Madaki in Kaduna, kill orderly (Channels)
Gunmen on Wednesday attacked the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone 12, Audu Madaki, in the Barde area of Kaduna, killing his orderly.
Mr Madaki and a yet-to-be-identified officer survived the attack but sustained gunshot wounds along Barde-Jargindi village.
They were on their way to the monthly conference of the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, and senior police officers from the rank of commissioners of police.
Top on the agenda is the security situation in the country which the IGP says is crucial to creating a pathway towards resolving these security issues in the country. Read more
NBC fines Trust TV N5m for exposing bandits (DailyTrust)
The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has imposed a fine of N5 million on Trust Television Network (Trust TV) over the broadcast of the documentary titled “Nigeria’s Banditry: The Inside Story”, which was aired by the station on the 5 March, 2022.
The NBC, in a letter to our company dated August 3, 2022, which was signed by its Director General, Balarabe Shehu Illela, said the fine was imposed on Trust TV because its broadcast of the said documentary contravened sections of the National Broadcasting Code.
In a statement, the management of Media Trust Group said, “While we are currently studying the Commission’s action and weighing our options, we wish to state unequivocally that as a television station, we believe we were acting in the public interest by shedding light on the thorny issue of banditry and how it is affecting millions of citizens of our country.
“The documentary traces the root of the communal tensions and systemic inadequacies which led to the armed conflict that is setting the stage for another grand humanitarian crisis in Nigeria. It presents insights into the intersection of injustice, ethnicity and bad governance as drivers of the conflict. It also aggregates voices of experts and key actors towards finding solutions, including those of the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Senator Saidu Mohammed Dansadau, who hails from one the worst hit communities in Zamfara State. Read more
Boosting Exports: MAN commends NPA’s initiatives (Tribune)
Director-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Segun Ajayi Kadir mni. has commended the initiatives of the Mohammed Bello Koko-led management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA)at promoting exports of locally manufactured goods.
Segun Ajayi made this known on Tuesday, August 2nd when he led a delegation comprising Chief John Aluya Vice President of MAN, Engr. Frank Ike Onyebu, Chair of Apapa Branch of MAN and others on partnership renewal visit to the NPA headquarters in Marina.
Speaking during the meeting, Mohammed Bello Koko MD/ CEO NPA said “our commitment to upping the ante of trade facilitation remains unwavering, this is why we have been and will continue to be advocates of creating enabling atmosphere for local manufacturers. I, therefore, want to assure the leadership of MAN that our doors are open always to address all concerns of your individual and corporate members”.
Koko invited the MAN to take advantage of the Export Processing Terminals that have been licenced by the NPA under the technical guidance of the Nigerian Export Processing Council (NEPC). Read more
Lagos court remands factory worker for defiling teenager (Punch)
A 39-year-old factory worker, ThankGod Umana, has been remanded in the Kirikiri Custodial Centre by an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defiling a 15-year-old girl.
The Chief Magistrate, B. O. Osunsanmi, on Tuesday, ordered that the suspect be remanded pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
The defendant, who resided at 8, Egunjobi Street, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos State, was charged with defilement.
The prosecutor, ASP Raji Akeem, told the court that the defendant committed the offence in April 2022 at his residence. Read more
Air Force launches operation ‘show no mercy’ against terrorists (DailyTrust)
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has launched an offensive operation tagged ‘Operation Show no Mercy’ against marauding terrorists disturbing the peace of the country through various attacks.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, while launching the operation at a meeting with NAF operational commanders in the various theatres of operation charged the senior air troops to ensure that they employ maximum firepower against the terrorists.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the spokesman of the armed forces, Edward Gabkwet, those the Air Chief met at NAF Base in Kaduna on Tuesday include frontline Air Officers Commanding and Air Component Commanders.
Amao said launching an offensive operation against the adversaries would deny the terrorists freedom of movement, adding that it would also boost the confidence of the populace and ensure a peaceful country. Read more
Angry mob destroys mortuary over alleged harvest of dead body parts in Abia (Vanguard)
An angry mob has destroyed a mortuary at Ndiolumbe, Isiala Ngwa council area of Abia State,over alleged harvest of dead body parts.
The mortuary attendants were said to have fled the facility on sighting the irate youths.
The mob burnt ambulances and destroyed the facility, popularly known as Prince O Mortuary, leaving dead bodies scattered at the premises.
Sources told Vanguard that the Ndiolumbe community has been accusing the Prince O mortuary attendants of harvesting dead body parts and selling them to ritualists. Read more
Dons task Fed Government on challenges in education sector (Guardian)
A leading consultant chest physician, Prof. Gregory Efosa Erhabor and Vice Chancellor of Bowen University, Iwo, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, yesterday, appealed to the Federal Government and other stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the lingering crises confronting the education sector in the country.
They lamented the ongoing face-off between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The duo, who spoke at the seventh induction ceremony of the medical graduating students of Bowen University, said the state of insecurity, combined with the challenges in the education sector, were not good for the future of the younger generations.
In his keynote address, entitled: “Making global impact in your medical profession and life,” Erhabor said the global world today gives the graduating medical students access to immense opportunities like never before. Read more
Will Smith must still ‘rebuild trust’ with public after Chris Rock apology: Crisis PR expert (People)
Will Smith may have a long road ahead in terms of rehabilitating his image.
In a nearly-six minute video posted online July 29, the King Richard star, 53, publicly apologized to Chris Rock, 57, and expressed remorse for slapping him on stage at the Oscars in March. But crisis management PR expert Gary Rosen says the actor can’t expect Hollywood to roll out the red carpet for his return just yet.
The entertainment industry “is very forgiving. Everybody gets a comeback or at least a try at a comeback,” says Rosen. “But this is not going to happen overnight. He needs to rebuild trust. I don’t think that’s happened yet.”
Though Rosen says the video apology was a step in the right direction, he thinks the mea culpa was too “orchestrated,” he continues. “When you don’t have someone interviewing you and there’s no give and take, it comes across as less authentic.” Read more
Oscars group elects Janet Yang as new president
(DailyMail)
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences elected film producer Janet Yang as its new president, the group behind the Oscars announced Tuesday.
Yang, best known for hits including “The Joy Luck Club” and “The People vs. Larry Flynt,” becomes the fourth woman elected to run Hollywood’s most elite group of filmmakers, and the first of Asian origin.
Academy members vote for the winners of the Oscars each year, while the group has recently launched a major new Los Angeles film museum which had been decades in the planning.
In a statement, Academy CEO Bill Kramer praised in particular Yang’s work on “membership recruitment, governance, equity, diversity, and inclusion” among other areas. Read more
Warner Bros reportedly scraps Batgirl film following poor screen tests (BelfastTelegraph)
Warner Bros has reportedly scrapped its upcoming Batgirl film following poor screen-testing results.
The DC film, which was set to feature Hollywood stars Michael Keaton, Brendan Fraser, JK Simmons and Leslie Grace, was being filmed entirely in Glasgow.
Production reportedly cost an estimated 70 million dollars (£57.6 million) and the film was scheduled for release in late 2022.
But following test screenings the studio decided to shelve the production completely, and it will no longer appear in theatres or on streaming service HBO Max, according to US publication The New York Post. Read more
Edie McClurg allegedly victimized by man who tried to marry her and sexually abused her caregiver (People)
The conservator for Edith McClurg filed a protective order against a California man, claiming he “finagle[d]” his way into the actress’s life and tried to marry her as she battles dementia. The same man is accused of sexually assaulting one of McClurg’s caregivers.
Angelique Cabral made the claims in the Superior Court of California in L.A. County on behalf of the Higglytown Heroes star on Monday, according to papers obtained by PEOPLE.
A notice of an elder or dependent adult in need of protection filed by McClurg’s lawyer was granted against Michael L. Ramos until a later hearing, which is scheduled for Aug. 25.
Lawyers for McClurg and Ramos did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. Read more
Music Midtown Festival canceled in Atlanta reportedly due to Georgia state gun laws (Fox)
The 2022 Music Midtown Festival in Atlanta was reportedly canceled at the 11th hour following changes to Georgia state firearm laws that prevent the ban of weapons on public property.
Headliners for this year’s event, which was set to take place on Sept. 17-18 at Piedmont Park, included My Chemical Romance, Future, Jack White and Fall Out Boy.
“Hey Midtown fans — due to circumstances beyond our control, Music Midtown will no longer be taking place this year,” a statement read on the festival’s website.
“We were looking forward to reuniting in September and hope we can all get back to enjoying the festival together again soon.” Read more
Kanye West says Adidas invented Yeezy Day without his approval (NME)
Kanye West has said that Yeezy Day – August 2, the annual day in which Adidas releases some of its most anticipated Yeezy sneaker drops – was created by the sportswear brand without his personal approval.
West, in an Instagram message sent to Complex, made multiple other accusations regarding Adidas and their collaborative brand, in addition to launching Yeezy Day in 2019 without getting the go-ahead from the rapper.
Among the other accusations made against Adidas were that the company revived older styles of shoes, chose colourways and names, hired employees for the line, “stole” West’s styles and material approach, all without his approval.
West also touched on an issue he raised earlier this year when he accused Adidas of making “a fake Yeezy” with the release of their Adilette 22 slide sandals. “When I originally ordered Adidas to make more Yeezy slides the [general manager] lied to my face and said they didn’t have the capacity,” West writes in the message to Complex. Read more
Nancy Pelosi addresses Taiwanese leadership, calls for increased inter-parliamentary cooperation (NYPost)
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed Taiwan’s parliament on Wednesday and was due to meet with its president as well as human rights activists during a visit to the island that has infuriated Beijing.
China condemned the highest-level U.S. visit to Taiwan in 25 years as a threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, responding with a flurry of military exercises, summoning the U.S. ambaTaiwan.
Pelosissador in Beijing, and announcing the suspension of several agricultural imports from arrived in Taipei late on Tuesday on an unannounced but closely watched trip, saying that it shows unwavering U.S. commitment to the self-ruled island that Beijing says is part of China.
On Wednesday, Pelosi thanked President Tsai Ing-wen for her leadership, and called for increased inter-parliamentary cooperation. Read more
Commonwealth Games: Makinde congratulates weightlifters, Lawal, Liadi, Osijo (Independent)
The Oyo State Government has congratulated the trio of Rofiat Afolashade Lawal, Taiwo Liadi, and Mary Osijo for the feats they achieved at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in the United Kingdom.
While congratulating them today, the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Seun Fakorede described their win as motivation to the entire youths in Oyo State.
The three weightlifters from Oyo won medals at the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Rofiat Lawal won gold, Taiwo Liadi won silver while Mary Osijo won bronze.
Fakorede said their wins will spur other aspiring youths to excel in sports, adding that they have become models worth emulating. Read more
Champions League to use Semi-Automated Offside Technology from the group stage (ESPN)
UEFA has announced that it will start using the new Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) from the Champions League group stage this season.
It will also be in place for the UEFA Super Cup when Real Madrid play Eintracht Frankfurt on April 10, with Premier League referee Michael Oliver appointed to the game.
The Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based system will replace the VARs manually linking lines across the pitch to players and selecting when the ball has been kicked. It is intended to make decisions quicker and more accurate while also providing improved visualisation for fans.
A sensor will be placed in the centre of match ball, recording data 500 times a second to detect when the ball has been kicked. All players will be mapped to create an AI model of their position — a similar method to goal-line technology. Read more
Suárez plays for Nacional in Copa Sudamericana home loss (USAToday)
Luis Suarez went on as a substitute in his first match since returning to Nacional, but couldn’t help his Uruguayan club avoid a 1-0 home loss to Brazil’s Atletico Goianiense on Tuesday in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana quarterfinals.
The 35-year-old Suárez joined Nacional after his contract with Atletico Madrid expired in the hope of remaining fit enough to play for Uruguay at the World Cup, which kicks off November in Qatar.
Luiz Fernando scored the only goal of the match in Montevideo in the 23rd minute. Nacional almost equalized near fulltime after a play by Suárez on the left flank put Juan Ignacio Ramirez in a good position to finish, but the ball hit the post.
The return leg will be played next Tuesday in Goiânia, in Brazil’s heartland. Read more
Goalkeeper Bernd Leno finally joins Fulham from Arsenal in £8m deal (DailyMail)
Fulham have signed Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno on a three-year contract in a deal worth up to £8m.
The structure of the deal is understood to be £3m up front, £1m based on Premier League. appearances, £2m if Fulham stay up and further £2m if they remain in the top flight the year after.
Fulham also have an option to extend the 30-year-old German’s contract by a further 12 months.
‘I’m relieved that everything is done. I’m just happy to be here. It took a little bit of time but in the end we made it, and that’s the most important thing.’ Read more
Heartbreak for Chad le Clos as all-time Commonwealth Games medal winner hopes dashed (TheSouthAfrican)
South Africa’s swimming star Chad le Clos has seen his stated quest to become the most decorated Commonwealth Games athlete of all time dashed.
As reported by The South African website, Le Clos entered the Birmingham Games needing only one more medal to join shooters Phillip Adams of Australia and England’s Mick Gault as the joint-most prolific Commonwealth Games medallists with 18 medals won.
Le Clos achieved that distinction when he took the silver medal in the men’s 200m butterfly earlier in the week having missed out on making the final in the men’s 50m butterfly.
On Tuesday evening Le Clos narrowly missed out on the podium when he finished fourth in the men’s 100m butterfly final to fall short of becoming the sole owner of the most Commonwealth Games medals won. Read more
Thomas posts 2nd triple-double of season as Sun dominate Mercury (CBC)
Alyssa Thomas posted her second triple-double in less than two weeks and the Connecticut Sun beat the Phoenix Mercury 87-63 on Tuesday night.
Thomas, who recorded the franchise’s first triple-double in a win over the Minnesota Lynx on July 22, finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. The No. 4 pick overall in the 2014 draft, the 6-foot-2 Thomas is just the fifth WNBA player with multiple triple-doubles and joined Candace Parker (Chicago Sky) and Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty) as the only players with more than one this season.
Natisha Hiedeman had 16 points to lead seven Connecticut players scoring in double figures. It’s the 12th time in league history that many players have reached double-digits in the same game. Connecticut has done it three times.
Phoenix took a 13-8 lead when Shey Peddy scored with 3:44 left in the first quarter but the Mercury went scoreless for the next 7-plus minutes. Brionna Jones made a layup to open the scoring in the second quarter and give Connecticut (21-10) the lead for good at 15-13.
Hiedeman made a 3-pointer to make it 42-30 with 7:50 left in the third and the Sun led by double figures the rest of the way. Read more
Nick Kyrgios wins at Citi Open in first singles match since Wimbledon final (ESPN)
Nick Kyrgios beat American Marcos Giron at the Citi Open on Tuesday, the Australian’s first singles match since reaching the Wimbledon final.
Less than a month since reaching his first Grand Slam final before losing to Novak Djokovic, Kyrgios defeated Giron 6-2, 6-3. It won’t help him get over falling short at Wimbledon, which has not been easy. But, winning more might boost his confidence.
“That was like the golden opportunity I felt for me,” Kyrgios said of Wimbledon. “There are so many things I would have done differently. I think now that I have digested that match, but I’m doing all the right things to put myself in that position again. I think I’m doing that, and my whole team is helping me achieve that goal.”
Following a tradition he started when he won this hard-court tuneup for the US Open in 2019, he asked a fan where he should serve for match point and moved on to face Tommy Paul in the round of 32. Read more
