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‘No one wants to watch your Netflix stuff!’ – US columnist tells Meghan Markle and Harry

In September 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle signed a huge deal with streaming service Netflix worth £109million.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed the deal to make original contents which includes documentaries, children’s programmes as well as scripted shows, and feature films.

While a full list of their plans is yet to be revealed it was announced back in April that Harry was working on a series about the Invictus games.

However, many of their fans can’t wait to finally see the pair’s hard work on screens, but other people including US columnist Maureen Callahan are definitely not as excited after hearing the Netflix announcement.

The columnist brutally hit out at the pair and their ambitions of becoming Netflix mega-stars, writing in the New York Post: “Meghan showed up on ‘America’s Got Talent’ for no discernible reason, and Harry and Meghan just announced that $100-million-dollar deal with Netflix.

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“‘Making inspirational family programming,’ they said in a statement, ‘is important to us.’

“Uh-huh. They droned on about ‘the power of the human spirit: of courage, resilience, and the need for connection.

“‘Through our work with diverse communities and their environments, to shining a light on people and causes around the world, our focus will be on creating content that informs but also gives hope.’

“In other words, stuff no one wants to watch.

“Let’s get real: The most buzzed-about doc on Netflix right now is about a South African man who falls in love with an octopus (‘My Octopus Teacher,’ truly a must-see).”

‘Heart of Invictus’ will follow the journeys of individuals who are competing at the games which take place next year at The Hague.

Harry founded Invictus in 2014 after being inspired by the Warrior Games in the US, learning how sport can help both mental and physical health. He is expected to appear on camera during the docuseries and be credited as executive producer.s

Tonto Dikeh finds love again (photos)

Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh has found love again.


The mother of one took to her Instagram page to celebrate her new man on his birthday with lovely words. Although, she didn’t reveal his identity but they were pictured locking lips and they appeared so in love. 

Tonto Dikeh celebrates her new man on his birthday, calls him "the love of my life" (photos)

Sharing a photo of a massive cake, the actress wrote:

” Happy birthday to THE LOVE OF MY LIFE,

I hope you get everything your heart desires, because that’s exactly what you’ve given me.

You are twice as sweet as any birthday cake.

You make every day feel like my birthday, except I don’t need to blow out any candles because my wish already came true. Your smile is cause for celebration.

Your  is the most precious gift in the world. Your kisses could light a thousand birthday candles. I wanted to give you all my love for your birthday, but there’s no box big enough to hold it. Besides, it’s already yours.
Happy Birthday to A man who MAKES LIFE ITSELF FEEL LIKE A SPECIAL OCCASION

.
I LOVE YOU BABY
GOD BLESS YOU MY WORLD
I CELEBRATE YOU SIR.

Tonto Dikeh celebrates her new man on his birthday, calls him "the love of my life" (photos)

In another post,she also penned: 

Happy birthday to you My BABY?
You’ve shown me that love is best presented as true as they come,you put a spring In my steps..
Falling in love with you is like the wildest roller coaster ride. Because of you, I have gotten to appreciate the finer things in life. Thank you for making me a better woman.
I pray that the kisses I blow transform into thousands of wishes come true and into fulfilled dreams and aspirations.
Thank you for bringing immense joy and happiness to me as a woman..
My biggest kisses and tightest hugs are
reserved for you today.

THANK YOU FOR CHANGING ME TO THE WOMAN I AM TODAY..
GOD BLESS YOU,
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MY WORLD
HAVE A BLESSED DAY MY OGA AT THE TOP

Tonto Dikeh celebrates her new man on his birthday, calls him "the love of my life" (photos)

Tonto Dikeh was previously married to businessman and philanthropist, Olakunle Churchill, who has since moved on with actress Rosy Meurer. 

Britain’s youngest mother,10, gave birth to a baby

An 11-year-old girl has become Britain’s youngest mother after she gave birth earlier this month having fallen pregnant aged just 10 years old.


The mother and her baby, that was delivered after more than 30 weeks of pregnancy, are both healthy and being cared for according to the Sun UK. 


The name of the girl has not been revealed due to her age.

Girl, 11, becomes UK


The Sun reports that her family had no idea she was pregnant, and that social services and council chiefs are investigating the matter.


‘It has come as a big shock,’ the newspaper quoted a source close to the family as saying. 


‘She’s now being surrounded by expert help. The main thing is that she and the baby are OK.’ 


‘This is the youngest mother I’ve heard of,’ doctor Carol Cooper told The Sun, explaining that the average age a girl begins puberty is 11, although it can be at anytime from 8 to 14.


Before now, Tressa Middleton who gave birth in 2006 aged 12 after her brother raped her, was Britain’s youngest mother.

Matt Hancock, UK Health Secretary, resigns after caught kissing his aide (Photos)

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock resigned from his position after he broke government coronavirus restrictions during an affair with a close aide. 

The Sun had published images of the married Cabinet minister locking lips with senior aide Gina Coladangelo, a married mother-of-three in an office in the government’s Department of Health. The outlet said the images were from a leaked CCTV footage from May 6 before the country’s strict regulations were loosened to allow hugs with family members

UK Health Secretary, Matt Hancock resigns after he was caught locking lips with an aide (Photos)

The Health Secretary quit on Saturday amid mounting pressure from Tory colleagues over the images of him kissing and cuddling married mother of three, Gina Coladangelo.

UK Health Secretary, Matt Hancock resigns after he was caught locking lips with an aide (Photos)

“The last thing I would want is for my private life to distract attention from the single-minded focus that is leading us out of this crisis,” Hancock said in his letter of resignation to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

“I want to reiterate my apology for breaking the guidance, and apologize to my family and loved ones for putting them through this,” he said. “I also need [to] be with my children at this time.”

According to Mail Online, the former Health Secretary told his wife, Martha, he would be leaving their marriage shortly after discovering that his affair with Gina Coladangelo was about to be laid bare. 

UK Health Secretary, Matt Hancock resigns after he was caught locking lips with an aide (Photos)Mr Hancock and his aide Ms Coladangelo outside Downing Street in 2020

According to the Sunday Times, Martha was completely unaware of the affair until the footage was brought to light. And he reportedly even woke up the couple’s youngest child, aged eight, to break the news he was leaving. 

Coladangelo is also stepping down from her £15,000 role at the Department of Health. She was also spotted packing her bags and leaving the £4million townhouse in Wandsworth, South West London, that she shared with her husband of 12 years – Oliver Bonas tycoon Oliver Tress, 54. 

UK Health Secretary, Matt Hancock resigns after he was caught locking lips with an aide (Photos)                                              Coladangelo and her millionaire entrepreneur husband, Oliver Tress, 54,

It was also revealed that Hancock and Coladangelo became friends at Oxford and have been close ever since. 

Businessman tries fleeing to the US after defrauding GTBank of N125m in Lagos

The Lagos Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned one Andrew Warri before Justice Sherifah Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on a seven count charge bordering on stealing, obtaining by false pretence and issuance of dud cheques.

Warri was arraigned on Friday, June 25, 2021, alongside two companies: A.M. Projects Consultancy Limited and Ranez Medical Consultancy Limited.

One of the counts reads: “Andrew Warri, A.M. Projects Consultancy Limited, sometime in May 2012 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, fraudulently obtained the sum of N125,000,000 from Guaranty Trust Bank Plc under the guise that the proceeds of the Rural Health Care and Referral contract with Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will be domiciled in your account with Guaranty Trust Bank, the said pretense you knew, or ought to have known is false.”

Another count reads: “Andrew Warri, Ranez Medical Consultancy Limited, on or about 28th October 2018 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, issued a Zenith Bank cheque for the sum of N10,000,000 payable to A.M. Projects Consultancy Limited, in favour of Guaranty Trust Bank, which upon presentation for payment was dishonoured on the grounds that no sufficient funds were standing to your credit.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges.

Thereafter, prosecuting counsel, Franklin Ofoma, prayed the Court for a date for commencement of trial, as the prosecution was ready to prove its case against the defendants.

Nelson Imoh, counsel for Warri, informed the Court that the bail application for his client was before the Court.

Ofoma, however, vehemently opposed the application for bail in his oral argument.

He argued that the defendant was a flight risk, as he had resisted when operatives of the EFCC went to his office to effect his arrest.

“His arrest was aborted and the EFCC had to watch list the defendant with the DSS, Immigrations, Customs and other local and international law enforcement agencies, just to ensure his attendance,” he said.

According to Ofoma, the defendant was about to take off to the United States, but in the process, he was informed that he could not travel as he was on a watch list.

Thereafter, Justice Solebo ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional facility pending release on bail and adjourned the case till July 1, 2021

A mother killed by pitbull while taking care of a dog home

An Oklahoma woman was killed by an apparent dog attack as she was taking care of a dog residence.


Rebecca McCurdy, 28, was found dead by officials inside a garage near Skiatook, Oklahoma on Saturday, June 19, the Pawhuska Journal-Capital reported.


McCurdy had reportedly been caring for the dogs that lived at the residence while house sitting for a friend. 

Acccording to the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, evidence “indicates Rebecca was the victim of a dog attack.”


Authorities have now removed dogs that were potentially aggressive from the residence.


“The homeowner claimed he raised pit bull dogs for hobby/sale,” reads an announcement from the Sheriff’s Office.


“There were several pit bull dogs caged in the garage. One of the dog cages was toppled over and there were many signs of a dog attack visible.”


McCurdy is survived by a husband and two young children 

CeCe Telfer, A Transgender athlete is ruled ineligible to compete in US Olympics

A transgender athlete, CeCe Telfer, has been ruled ineligible to compete in US Olympics trials due to her high testosterone levels, it’s been revealed.


Telfer, an NCAA Division II track and field champion in 2019, has been disqualified from the women’s 400-meter hurdles US Olympic Trials, the USA Track and Field said in a statement.


To be eligible for the trials in track and field, athletes must meet the requirements to be a member of the US Olympic Team, USATF said. The requirements for US Olympic teams are in the World Athletics “Eligibility Regulations for Transgender Athletes” guidelines, which Telfer has not met, the organization said.


The World Athletics guidelines state that one of the requirements to be eligible to participate in the female category at an international competition in events ranging in distances from 400 meters to a mile is that her testosterone levels must be less than 5 nanomoles per liter for a period of at least 12 months.


“Following notification from World Athletics on June 17 that the conditions had not yet been met, USATF provided CeCe with the eligibility requirements and, along with World Athletics, the opportunity to demonstrate her eligibility so that she could compete at the US Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field,” the USATF statement said.


“According to subsequent notification to CeCe from World Athletics on June 22, she has not been able to demonstrate her eligibility.


“USATF strongly supports inclusivity and providing a clear path to participation in the sport for all, while also maintaining competitive fairness. If CeCe meets the conditions for transgender athlete participation in the future, we wholeheartedly back her participation in international events as a member of Team USATF.”


Telfer first competed for NCAA Division II Franklin Pierce University men’s track and field team for three years before medically transitioning to a woman. 

Her management says they will accept the decision.

“The model of grace in the face of adversity, CeCe will respect USA Track & Field’s decision on her eligibility to compete at the US Olympic Trials this Friday in Eugene.”  Telfer’s manager, David McFarland, told CNN in a statement.


“CeCe has turned her focus towards the future and is continuing to train. She will compete on the national and world stage again soon,” McFarland said.

India: Over 2,000 Indians injected with fake COVID-19 Vaccines

Police in India have launched an investigation into a fake COVID-19 vaccination racket after 2,000 people were inoculated with fake COVID vaccine doses in Mumbai and another 1,000, some disabled, in Kolkata.

Authorities in Mumbai said that around 2,000 people who thought they were being vaccinated were injected with a saline solution.

Ten people have been arrested including two doctors at a private hospital in the financial hub, police told a news conference, with the scammers targeting residents of an upscale housing complex in one case

“We (then) discovered that eight more camps were organised by this syndicate,” said Vishwas Patil, joint commissioner for the law and order division.

Police have recovered Rs 12.4 crore ($16,700) in cash which was “fraudulently obtained” by the accused.

Police in Kolkata meanwhile have arrested a man posing as a civil servant with a master’s degree in genetics who reportedly ran as many as eight spurious vaccination camps.

Police said at least 250 disabled and transgender people were injected at one site, and that in total nearly 1000 people may have been given counterfeit jabs across the city.

Kolkata official Atin Ghosh said that the seized vials were falsely labelled as containing the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine, branded in India as Covishield.

“It was found that the Covishield label was stuck over another label, that of Amikacin Sulphate 500 mg, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections of the urinary tract, bones, brain, lungs and blood among others,” Ghosh told AFP.

The scam came to light after an actress and politician, Mimi Chakraborty, who received a shot at one of the camps to raise awareness, became suspicious and alerted police.

Police seized fake ID cards from the suspect, one of an information ministry official and another as a municipal commissioner. His car sported Kolkata government stickers.

Debashis Barui, a Kolkata health official, said that many of those who had been injected were now “panicking” about the possible side effects.

“If any emergency arises, civic authorities will organise medical camps in the area to take care of those who have had fake shots,” Barui told AFP.

One of them, Ruma Sikdar, 35, said that she had been feeling drowsy and had discomfort in her arm.

“What I am worried about is how to get the real dose before the third wave hits,” the home-maker said.

“We didn’t think that this could happen when the world is battling the pandemic,” said student Debjit Majumdar, who also received the fake jab.

Prophet TB Joshua’s Burial Date Announced

The late founder of the Synagogue of All Nations, Pastor Temitope Joshua, may be buried in his church in Lagos state on July 9, 2021. Joshua died in Lagos state last week at the age of 57.

On Sunday, a family member who asked not to be named stated that TB Joshua’s immediate family and extended members had set the date after meeting at the deceased’s residence in Lagos state on Friday. The family’s decision goes against the expectations of the Arigidi Akoko monarch,Oba Yisa Olanipekun, and other traditional rulers of the Akoko region, who want the late preacher to be buried in his hometown, Arigidi Akoko.

Traditional rulers believed that if the deceased clergy were brought home for burial, the global visibility of the city would be further improved, because worshipers of the dead from all over the world wanted to visit the grave, and it would also make the city a focal point in the world when the church continues the project that the late founder had already started. But the relative said that at the meeting, his wife Evelyn and the deceased clergyman’s children outnumbered other family members opinion in terms of the location and date of the funeral.

The source said the burial arrangement would take place between July 5 and July 9, 2021

He said, “The extended family members, his (Joshua) wife and children held a meeting on Friday and it was decided that he should be buried in Lagos and the burial programme will be between July 5 and 9.

“It was on the insistence of the wife and the children that the other family members agree on the place of burial because they said they saw revelations that he should be buried in Lagos. Since they said it was spiritual, the family agreed with them.”

However, one of the community leaders in Akokoland, Chief Ladi Bello, said since the decision had been taken on the burial arrangement of the deceased, the ongoing project left behind in Arigidi Akoko by the late pastor should not be abandoned.

Amazon and Google under fire for allowing companies that post fake reviews to remain on their sites and ‘mislead’ customers

Big Tech Companies, Amazon and Google are under investigation over concerns fake five star reviews on their websites could be misleading shoppers to buy from companies.


The Competition and Markets Authority who are investigating both companies is also worried that “law-abiding businesses” who sell on Amazon and Google may be losing out to firms using false recommendations.


The CMA launched the formal probe after an initial investigation last year examined whether online companies were doing enough to protect consumers as online shopping has soared during the Covid-19 pandemic.


The CMA say millions of customers could be misled by companies that generate fake reviews and that the tech giants are not doing enough to quell the menace.


“Our worry is that millions of online shoppers could be misled by reading fake reviews and then spending their money based on those recommendations,” said CMA chief executive Andrea Coscelli.


“Equally, it’s simply not fair if some businesses can fake five-star reviews to give their products or services the most prominence, while law-abiding businesses lose out.


“It’s important that these tech platforms take responsibility and we stand ready to take action if we find that they are not doing enough.”


‘Suspicious patterns of behaviour’ In particular, the CMA is concerned about whether Amazon and Google have been “doing enough” to “detect fake and misleading reviews or suspicious patterns of behaviour”.


This includes where the same users “have reviewed the same range of products or businesses at similar times to each other…or where the review suggests that the reviewer has received a payment or other incentive to write a positive review”.


In response, both companies say they have resources and policies in place to stop fake reviews.


The CMA is also looking into what sanctions the companies place on users.


The CMA said that if it discovered the companies had broken consumer protection law, it could take action against them including  “court action if needed”.


“The CMA has not reached a view on whether Amazon and Google have broken the law at this stage.”


“The CMA must now move swiftly towards establishing whether these companies have broken the law, said Which? director of policy and advocacy Rocio Concha.


“This should prompt Amazon and Google to finally take the necessary steps to protect users from the growing tide of fake reviews on their platforms and, if they fail to do so, the regulator must be prepared to take strong enforcement action.”


The CMA said it was also concerned that Amazon’s systems “have been failing adequately to prevent and deter some sellers from manipulating product listings, for example, by co-opting positive reviews from other products”.


A spokesman for Amazon said the company devoted “significant resources to preventing fake or incentivised reviews from appearing in our store”.


“We will continue to assist the CMA with its enquiries and we note its confirmation that no findings have been made against our business.”


Google said that its policies state “reviews must be based on real experiences” and where it finds violations “we take action” including disabling user accounts.


It said: “We look forward to continuing our work with the CMA to share more on how our industry-leading technology and review teams work to help users find relevant and useful information on Google.”

Ex. Police officer, Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22.5 years for murdering George Floyd

Derek Chauvin: Prosecutors to seek harsher sentence

Former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin has been sentenced to 22-and-a-half years in prison for the murder of George Floyd.

Chauvin, 45, was found guilty by a jury in April of second and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter for pressing his knee into Mr Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes as he begged for his life and repeatedly said “I can’t breathe.”

Mr Floyd, a Black man, was killed in May 2020 after police officers responded to a call that he had used a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store in the city.

The sentence is ten years more than the average sentence for the crime, which 12.5 years.

Sentencing Chauvin, Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill said, “My comments will be brief.

“What the sentence is not based on is emotion or sympathy, but at the same time I want acknowledge the deep and tremendous pain that all the families are feeling, especially the Floyd family. I acknowledge and hear the pain you are feeling.

“I am not going to attempt to be profound or clever it is not the appropriate time. I am not basing my sentencing on public opinion, or any attempt to send any messages.”

Mr Floyd’s murder was captured by bystanders on their phones and the viral video led to months of racial injustice protests across the United States.

Chauvin, who wore a grey suit and tie, gave his “condolences to the Floyd family” as he was jailed.

The judge ruled last month that Chauvin had been “particularly cruel” in killing Mr. Floyd in front of children and had abused his authority, and the prosecution had asked for a 30-year sentence.

Earlier in the hearing Chauvin had broken his silence, but said he was not be able to give a formal statement because of other legal issues.

“I want to give my condolences to the Floyd family, there is going to be some other information in the future that would be of interest and I hope that things will give you some peace of mind, thank you.”

Under Minnesota law, Chauvin will serve two-thirds of the sentence in prison, and the remaining time on supervised release.

Chauvin will also get credit for time already served in prison as he awaited his sentencing.

Three other police officers involved in the incident, J Alexander Kueng, 27, Thomas Lane, 38, and Tou Thao, 35, face charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

Former police officer, Derek Chauvin sentenced to 22-and-a-half years for murder of George Floyd

They had been due to go trial in August but that has now been moved back to March 2022.

The four officers have also been charged in federal court with violating Mr Floyd’s civil rights during the fatal arrest.

Chauvin also faces a second federal indictment for allegedly violating the civil rights of a 14-year-old boy in 2017.

During that incident he is accused of placing his knee on the teenager’s neck for 17 minutes, causing him to pass out.

The Justice Department is now investigating the Minneapolis Police Department for the alleged systematic violations of the civil rights of people in the city.

French Woman who killed her abusive Husband freed, faints in disbelief

A Frenchwoman who admitted to killing her abusive husband, fainted in apparent shock in court on Friday, June 25, after hearing  that she could walk free.

According to a lawyer for the accused, the prosecution has asked for a sentence of five years in prison for Valerie Bacot, with four years of the term suspended.

Frenchwoman who killed abusive husband reportedly faints in disbelief in court after hearing she could walk free


If confirmed, Bacot would walk free, as she has already spent a year in detention, her lawyer, Nathalie Tomasini, told French press.

Frenchwoman who killed abusive husband reportedly faints in disbelief in court after hearing she could walk free


Bacot admitted to shooting Daniel Polette in 2016. She previously referred to him as her stepfather before they married.


According to court documents, Polette had started raping her when she was only 12 or 13.

Frenchwoman who killed abusive husband reportedly faints in disbelief in court after hearing she could walk free


At that time he was her mother’s boyfriend, he later became Bacot’s husband and father of their four children.


Tomasini told French media, BFM on Friday that she was “about to plead leniency” and was not expecting this “at all.”


“Because she was in detention for a year, she would not be going back if the jury and the court follow the opinion of the prosecution,” the lawyer added.


After she heard the news, Bacot fainted and emergency services had to come into the courtroom.


Before today’s unexpected news, she was potentially facing a life sentence for shooting Polette dead.


In her bestselling book “Tout Le Monde Savait” (“Everyone Knew”), published in May, Bacot, 40, said Polette, 65, first raped her when she was 12 years old, impregnated her at 17 and went on to abuse her over the course of 18 years.


“I simply wanted to protect myself. Protect my life, the life of my children. In my eyes, nothing else ever mattered,” she wrote in her autobiography.


In her book, Bacot ?said she should be punished. But she argued that killing Polette was the only way to protect herself and her children from a man who had made her life “hell” from the time he first raped her until she shot him dead in 2016.


“I am not only a victim. I killed him; it is only normal that I should be punished. But if my sentence is heavy, that will mean to me that he had the right to behave the way he behaved with me,” Bacot wrote. ?


Before today’s news, a petition seeking Bacot’s freedom, launched by a support group in January, had gathered more than 705,000 signatures.

Breaking: Super TV CEO’s Last Outing With Alleged Killer (Graphic Video)

TM reports that Ataga, the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, and a director in Super Network was gruesomely murdered by his side chic, a 21-year-old student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) on June 12th.

According to viral reports, he was found dead with multiple stabs in his neck, chest and thigh with a whooping sum of 5 million withdrawn from his account. In the video that was shared on social media, the bloodied body of Ataga was captured lifeless on the ground.

The video surfaced online after Chidinma disclosed that she stabbed Ataga twice after he allegedly became violent towards her.

Several People killed in Germany ‘knife attack’

Several people were killed and others injured on Friday in an attack in the southern German city of Wuerzburg, police said, with media reporting a knife assault.

“The attacker was overpowered after the police used firearms. There are several injured as well as fatalities,” police said on Twitter, without giving details on the suspect’s motives.

There was no further danger to the public, added police.

German news outlets reported that the suspect had attacked people in the city-centre with a knife at around 5.00 pm (1500 GMT).

Police were able to arrest the man after shooting him in the leg, the Bild newspaper reported, adding that at least three people were killed and six others injured.

The mass-circulation daily published a photo of the suspect, showing a dark-skinned man wearing a beige long-sleeved t-shirt with grey trousers and holding a long knife.

Video footage circulating online also showed passers-by trying to stop the suspect using folded chairs.

A crowd of people gave chase, before a police car arrived on the scene, one video showed.

A huge police deployment was ongoing in the city of some 130,000 inhabitants located about 120 kilometres (75 miles) west of Frankfurt.

While the motive and full identity of the perpetrator have not yet been established, Germany has been on high alert after several deadly Islamist extremist attacks.

‘Threat remains great’

Suspected Islamists have committed several attacks in Germany in recent years, the deadliest being a truck rampage at a Berlin Christmas market in December 2016 that killed 12 people.

The Tunisian attacker, a failed asylum seeker, was a supporter of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group.

More recently, one man was killed and another seriously injured in an Islamist knife attack in the city of Dresden in October.

A 20-year-old Syrian jihadist in May received a life sentence for the homophobic attack.

Last August, six people were injured in a series of motorway accidents in Berlin in what prosecutors described as a suspected Islamist attack.

Since 2009, German authorities have foiled 17 suspected jihadist attacks — the majority in 2016, according to the interior ministry.

The number of Islamists considered dangerous in Germany rose sharply between 2015 and 2018, according to security services.

But the numbers have declined since then, with 615 considered dangerous by the latest count compared with 730 in January 2018.

On top of that, there are also 521 people “who have attracted the attention of the security services but have not yet reached the stage of being considered dangerous”.

In 2020, 320 new investigations with a link to the Islamist threat were launched in Germany.

This is also a lower number than in previous years, but “the threat from Islamist-motivated terrorism is and remains great,” chief federal prosecutor Peter Frank said.

Germany remains a target for jihadist groups, in particular because of its involvement in the coalition fighting IS in Iraq and Syria, and its deployment in Afghanistan since 2001.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has meanwhile charged that Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to allow in more than one million asylum seekers — many fleeing Iraq and Syria — since 2015 has contributed to the heightened security risk.

But beyond Islamist attacks, there have been other assaults by knife-wielding people.

In October 2017, a knife-wielding man randomly attacked passersby in central Munich, lightly injuring eight people. Police excluded terrorism as a motive after detaining the suspected perpetrator.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the Euro 2020 top scorer in race for golden boot

Euro 2020 will showcase some of the best forwards in the world with an in-form marksman likely to position a side well to win it all.

In 2016, it was Antoine Griezmann who picked up the coveted award, scoring six times for the runners-up, with Portugal denying them in the final, while the Barcelona star is among the favourites to land the prize once again.

There will be no shortage of contenders among Didier Deschamps’ squad alone, Kylian Mbappe is now joined by Karim Benzema in attack, with the Real Madrid striker out of his international exile.PUBLICITÉ

Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo had three apiece five years ago too for the Selecao, and the latter is back for more and currently listed as the fourth favourite off the back of 36 goals in all competitions for Juventus.

England’s Harry Kane enters the tournament as co-favourite with Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku, who is fresh from firing Inter Milan to the scudetto, with 24 goals in Serie A.

See the 10 Qualities of a Good Husband Material – Reno Omokri

Human rights activist, Reno Omokri serves his nuggets of wisdom once again as he notes the qualities of a good husband material.

Reno who had listed the characteristics of a good wife material balanced the equation by adding the qualities expected of a perfect husband too.

Taking to Instagram, the self-acclaimed Buhari Tormentor wrote;

“10 Qualities of a Husband Material

  1. He does not request or pressure you for intercourse
  2. He has financial chemistry
  3. The source of his financial chemistry is known
  4. You have seen him when he is angry and upset and he is not violent in such circumstances
  5. He is in control of the relationship without being controlling
  6. He respects his own parents, whether dead or alive (if he does not respect his parents, irrespective of whether or not they deserve respect, he cannot respect you)
  7. He has a mind of his own. He is not controlled by the opinions of his family or friends. He is also not controlled by YOUR opinions. (If he is, he is weak. You are marrying a boy, not a man)
  8. You have shared interests with him (whether traveling, reading, working out, music, etc)
  9. No matter how successful he presently is, he still has ambitions to be better and more successful in future
  10. You share the same religious and moral values (if you marry outside your faith, it means you love your partner more than your God)”
reno Quotes 1

Marcelo is the new Real Madrid Captain after Sergio Ramos’ departure

Real Madrid left-back Marcelo has been named the new captain of the club following the departure of defender Sergio Ramos.

The club’s president Florentino Perez confirmed new development in a statement. 

“Marcelo will be our captain next season. It’s difficult to find another LB like Marcelo. Him and Roberto Carlos have been the best in the history”, Florentino said.

The 33-year-old Brazilian, who has been with Los Blancos since January 2007, will see his current contract expire in June 2022, but it is understood that there have been no talks to either sell the defender or renew his deal at present.

Marcelo who lost his place to  Ferland Mendy under Zinedine Zidane, only made 19 appearances during the 2020-21 campaign, adding to the 528 times he has played for Real Madrid during a 14-year career in the Spanish capital.

Child soldiers kill over 139 people in Burkina Faso

A group of young boys reportedly helped carry out an attack in Burkina Faso that killed at least 138 people.

The attack in early June in the northeastern village of Solhan claimed at least 138 lives.

It was one of the deadliest massacres in years in the West African country, which has struggled to hold off multiple insurgencies, including from groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, per the Washington Post.

The attack in the northeastern village of Solhan was mostly perpetrated by children between the ages of 12 and 14, government spokesman Ousseni Tamboura told reporters this week

“We are alarmed by the presence of children within armed groups,” Sandra Lattouf, UNICEF’s Burkina Faso representative, said in a statement to the Post. “While living among armed actors, children experience unconscionable forms of violence including physical and sexual violence or high level of traumatic experiences.”

The crisis in Burkina Faso has killed hundreds of people and displaced more than 1.2 million, 61% of whom are children, according to UNICEF said. One in 10 schools have closed, which has impacted over 300,000 children

Senator Peter Nwaoboshi has defected from PDP to APC, receives warm welcome from President Buhari (photos)

Senator Nwaoboshi defects from PDP to APC, receives warm welcome from President Buhari (photos)

Nwaoboshi was welcomed into the party by President Buhari in the statehouse Abuja today June 25. This was made known by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in a statement titled ‘President Buhari congratulates Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi for decamping to APC’.

According to Garba, the President while receiving Nwaoboshi, said “you are welcome to the progressives family.’’

Sen. Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North District, Delta State, was presented to President Buhari and National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) at the State House by Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.

The Deputy Senate President said Senator Nwaoboshi’s decision to join the APC clearly shows that the effort of the CECPC was yielding fruit.

The Senator representing Delta North, Peter Nwaoboshi, has defected to the All Progressives Congress days after his suspension from the State Peoples Democratic Party.

Senator Nwaoboshi defects from PDP to APC, receives warm welcome from President Buhari (photos)

Nwaoboshi was welcomed into the party by President Buhari in the statehouse Abuja today June 25. This was made known by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in a statement titled ‘President Buhari congratulates Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi for decamping to APC’.

According to Garba, the President while receiving Nwaoboshi, said “you are welcome to the progressives family.’’

Sen. Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North District, Delta State, was presented to President Buhari and National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) at the State House by Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.

The Deputy Senate President said Senator Nwaoboshi’s decision to join the APC clearly shows that the effort of the CECPC was yielding fruit.

An X-ray technician, 44, allegedly sexually abused Alzheimer patient, 81, using lubricant in a nursing home

An X-ray technician has been accused of attacking an 81 year old nursing home patient.


Guy Negoue, 44, was arrested shortly after the incident in August 2020 at ArchCare Terence Cardinal Cooke Nursing Home on Fifth Ave. near E. 106th St., across from Central Park in East Harlem, court records released this week reveal.


He is accused of attacking the fragile woman at a Catholic Church-run nursing home in Manhattan, New York.


The woman (unnamed for legal reasons) was in her room with her nurse when Negoue entered to perform an X-ray, court records show.


Negoue asked the nurse to leave the room while he worked.


From outside the room, the nurse heard the woman crying. When she went inside to see what was happening, she saw Negoue leaning over the woman

Negoue wiped his hands on the bedsheets and tossed a glove he was wearing into a trash can,  court papers released this week show.


“I didn’t do anything on purpose. I realized a lubricant was on my hand which is why I wiped it on the bed,” Negoue allegedly told the nurse.


Her son, Rodney Vargas is pained by the incident .


“How despicable do you have to be that you would do that to someone who is mentally incapacitated?” asked her son, Rodney Vargas, 52.


“I think that’s the lowest thing that I ever heard,” Vargas said.


“She [the nurse] was my mother’s voice when my mother didn’t have one,” Vargas said. “If I saw her, I’d give her a hug and thank her.”


Before her dementia, the assault victim trained Vargas and his sister.


“She was a great mom,” Vargas said.


“She made costumes for us that she would sew, and she would bake cakes and she took care of my nieces. Her favorite time of the year was Christmas.”


She and her husband have been married for 62 years, and they have two grandchildren.


According to Vargas she was still fairly mentally sharp when she went to the nursing home in 2015, but Alzheimer’s disease has caused a sharp decline in her cognitive function, and nowadays she needs constant care because she wanders and sometimes doesn’t recognize loved ones.


Still, she survived a broken right wrist that caused her to almost lose use of the hand and a bout with COVID-19, Vargas said.


“When she tested positive I was devastated,” he said. “I said I’m going to lose my mother and never see her again. I’m not going to be able to have a funeral.


“She got through it and then this happens, and I was so angry.”


A Manhattan grand jury has charged Negoue with endangering the welfare of an incompetent or physically disabled person, which carries a four-year prison term. He also faces a misdemeanor sex abuse charge.


He appeared briefly in court Wednesday, June 23 for a procedural hearing. 

George Floyd statue vandalised a one day before Derek Chauvin’s sentencing (photos)

A George Floyd statue in New York has been vandalized with the name of a white supremacist group, one day before the sentencing of Derek Chauvin.

The 6-foot statue was unveiled at 1545 Flatbush Ave. as part of the Juneteenth celebration over the weekend.

According to police, Floyd’s face and the inscription were spraypainted black. The phrase “patriotfront.us” was sprayed in white on the side of the statue, an NYPD spokesperson told Newsweek. The graffiti is the web address for the white nationalist, white supremacist group Patriot Front.

George Floyd statue vandalised with name of white supremacist group, one day before Derek Chauvin

Mr Floyd, 46, was murdered in May 2020 by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who will be sentenced to prison for the killing on Friday June 25.

George Floyd statue vandalised with name of white supremacist group, one day before Derek Chauvin

His killing came after police officers responded to a call that he had used a counterfeit $20 bill at a convenience store in the city.

New York Police Department officers discovered the damage in the early hours of Thursday.

“There are no arrests and the investigation is ongoing,” said an NYPD the spokesperson in a statement.

Mayor Bill de Blasio took to Twitter to condemn the act.

“Last night a far-right extremist group vandalized a statue of George Floyd in Brooklyn,” he tweeted.

“A racist, loathsome, despicable act of hate. The City Cleanup Corps is repairing the statue right now and a hate crime investigation is underway. We will bring these cowards to justice.”

Lindsay Eshelman, the co-founder of ConfrontART, which partnered on the statue with the We Are Floyd Foundation, said she was “devastated” by the vandalism.

“You’re cowards. You did this at night when no one could see you. I’m restoring it in the day when everybody can see your hate,” she told the vandals.

Kenyan : Body of a man exhumed after he was buried by his lover without wife’s knowledge

The body of a 71-year-old Kenyan man has been exhumed after it emerged that he had been buried by a woman who was not his lawful spouse.

The exhumation of Hudson Wanjohi Ndumia’s remains conducted on Friday, June 25, was supervised by police. 

It was gathered that Ndumia died on May 10 and was buried on May 22 by his lover, who lives in Kagongo, Tetu Constituency in Nyeri County.

It is alleged the woman, who is in her 50s, presented a burial permit while collecting Ndumia’s remains from the Mathari Consolata Mission Hospital morgue in Nyeri County. Ndumia’s family would later learn that he had been buried without their knowledge.

According to informants, Ndumia, a native of Makuyu in Murang’a County, was living with his lover, a widow, at her home in Tetu, Nyeri County after he allegedly fell out with his wife.

The deceased’s family last week learnt he had been buried by his lover, forcing them to obtain an exhumation order from the court.

The Nyeri Law Courts granted the applicants’ their wish on Friday, June 18.

The deceased’s brother, Samuel Ndumia, told The Standard they were now happy their kinsperson would be buried “at his rightful resting place”.

The exhumation was supervised by police. Ndumia’s family said they were suspecting he succumbed to injuries sustained during a domestic fight with his lover.

“He had been hospitalised with burn injuries in his private parts. We suspect he suffered the injuries during a fight with the woman he was living with,” said Samuel Ndumia.

The family said they were waiting for autopsy to be conducted on Ndumia, when they learnt his remains had been collected for burial.

“We wanted to know what killed my brother,” said Samuel.

Ndumia was a retired clinical officer, who worked at the Muranga and Nyeri county hospitals.

After the exhumation on Friday, Ndumia’s remains were taken to Mathari Consolata Mission Hospital morgue, where a postmortem will be conducted.

Ndumia is survived by a wife and four children; three sons and a daughter.

The Standard understands Ndumia’s widow, Hellen Wangui Wanjohi, is in hospital undergoing treatment for an undisclosed ailment.

Police stops suicidal man from killing himself in New York (photos)

The New York Police Department Emergency Service Officers stopped a man from jumping off the roof of a building in Morningside Heights on Wednesday evening, June 23, it has been reported.


The 30-year-old man stood on the edge of a building on W. 113th St. at Amsterdam Ave. about 7:45 p.m., threatening to kill himself.

New York Police stop suicidal man from jumping off building roof (photos)

Members of the NYPD’s Emergency Service Unit physically engaged and grabbed the man and brought him to safety. 


He was then taken to nearby Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital for evaluation.

3 dead and 99 people unaccounted when Miami building collapses (Photos)

At least three people have died and up to 99 are still unaccounted for after a multi-story building partially collapsed in southern Florida’s Miami-Dade County early Thursday morning. 

The collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in the small, beachside town of Surfside, about 6 miles north of Miami Beach, was reported around 1:30 a.m.

Miami building collapses, leaves 3 dead and 99 people unaccounted for (Photos)

Champlain Tower South, a 12-story residential condo has 136 units, and 55 have collapsed, officials said

A massive search and rescue operation was launched before dawn and crews are still hoping to find survivors.

Miami building collapses, leaves 3 dead and 99 people unaccounted for (Photos)

During an evening briefing on Thursday, officials said 102 people have been identified and declared safe.

“The building has literally pancaked,” Mayor Charles W. Burkett said during a morning press conference.

Miami building collapses, leaves 3 dead and 99 people unaccounted for (Photos)

Burkett said at least 10 people, including the person who died, were treated for injuries on-site. One person was taken to the hospital in critical condition. He added that 15 families walked out of the building on their own.

Miami building collapses, leaves 3 dead and 99 people unaccounted for (Photos)

The mayor said the collapse happened around 1:03 a.m. — meaning the building was likely filled with sleeping residents — and fears the death toll could rise.

“It’s heartbreaking because it doesn’t seem to me … that we will find people alive,” Burkett said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called the incident a “tragic, tragic situation.”

“We’ll hope for the best in terms of additional recoveries, but we are bracing for some bad news just given the destruction we are seeing,” he said during a press conference. 

Miami building collapses, leaves 3 dead and 99 people unaccounted for (Photos)

The Foreign Ministry of Paraguay said six Paraguayan nationals were in the building and still missing: Sophia López-Moreira, the sister of the country’s first lady; her husband, Luis Pettengill; their three children; and their nanny, Lady Luna Villalba. President Mario Abdo Benítez canceled his events due to the incident.

Miami building collapses, leaves 3 dead and 99 people unaccounted for (Photos)

Argentina’s Miami consulate said nine Argentine nationals are missing; Venezuela’s ambassador to the U.S. confirmed four Venezuelan nationals are missing; and Uruguay’s Foreign Ministry said three Uruguayan nationals have been affected, though their status is unclear. 

See more photos below .

Miami building collapses, leaves 3 dead and 99 people unaccounted for (Photos)
Miami building collapses, leaves 3 dead and 99 people unaccounted for (Photos)
Miami building collapses, leaves 3 dead and 99 people unaccounted for (Photos)
Miami building collapses, leaves 3 dead and 99 people unaccounted for (Photos)
Miami building collapses, leaves 3 dead and 99 people unaccounted for (Photos)
Miami building collapses, leaves 3 dead and 99 people unaccounted for (Photos)
Miami building collapses, leaves 3 dead and 99 people unaccounted for (Photos)

Colombia’s Foreign Ministry also reported that six Colombian nationals resided in the building and officials are still trying to determine whether they were there at the time of the collapse.

JAMB releases 2021 UTME Results

Results of the 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has been released by Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). 

JAMB’s spokesman, Fabian Benjamin who made the announcement via a statement released in Abuja on Friday June 25, said the board was happy over the smooth conduct of the examination. 

Benjamin further revealed that the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) was helpful in curbing malpractices during the exercise. He added that the results which were not released, are those being investigated.

The statement read; 

“The Board notes with satisfaction that the utilisation of NIN (National Identification Number) has helped in curbing examination malpractices as the 2021 UTME has recorded the least incidence of irregularities since the inception of the CBT examinations in Nigeria.

“Nevertheless, the Board would still review all the CCTV footages and other technical gadgets for detection of possible examination misconducts.

“In addition, the Board would not hesitate to withdraw the results of any candidate subsequently found to have committed any form of examination misconduct.”

The Father of the Suspected murderer of Super TV CEO was arrested for violently resisting her arrest

Men of the Lagos state police command have also arrested the father of Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu, the 300 level student of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, who confessed to killing the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Usifo Ataga.

A police source who spoke on condition of anonymity to Punch, said Chidinma’s father was arrested for violently resisting the arrest of his daughter when the police visited their home on Wednesday, June 23, to pick her up. The source added that the man did not believe that his daughter committed any crime until she confessed on Thursday, adding that he was being detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, Yaba.

“She (Chidinma) stays with her dad. Her dad and mom don’t live together. Her father was arrested on Wednesday because he resisted his daughter’s arrest. He never believed that his daughter committed any crime until Thursday. He is at Panti as we speak, but he was not paraded today (Thursday),” the source said

Meanwhile, lecturers and students of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, are reacting to the news of the murder. A lecturer in the department, who spoke to one of our correspondents on condition of anonymity said

“I know her (Chidinma) because of her beauty and innocent look. She is an introvert to the core. Left for her striking beauty, she is not likely to be noticed by anyone, because she doesn’t talk in class.”

Another lecturer also confirmed that Chidinma is a 300-level student in the department.

“Yes, in our group chats, where there are several professors, it was confirmed that she is a 300-level part time student of Mass Communication, UNILAG,” the lecturer said

One of the classmates, who spoke on condition of anonymity said

“Yes, she (Chidinma) is a 300-level part time student of Mass Communication. I know her, but we are not on talking terms; she doesn’t interact with many people. She is a recluse.

She is a cool girl, who comes for lectures and leaves afterwards; she has few friends, who she talks to. I don’t really know much about her.”

Another student said he had not seen her in the current semester, adding that their lectures could not hold on Thursday as the lecturers did not turn up.

“I have not seen her this semester since we resumed on May 10. We were supposed to have lectures today, but the lecturers did not come. Likewise, her issue has been a major topic on our WhatsApp platform; it was a chaotic debate as members took sides,” he said.

Chidinma while being paraded by the police, recounted how she stabbed the deceased thrice. She said late Ataga became violent after she turned down his request for more sex, adding that she stabbed him under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

“I checked for the place we lodged in online on Sunday and sent the details to him and he paid. On Monday, we were together drinking and smoking, we had fun and so I went to get food. On Tuesday, he was trying to make advances at me, but I was tired and he became violent and forced his way and I gave in.

In the afternoon, we smoked and ate. We became high and I wasn’t happy with the first round of sex; so, I was on my own smoking, drinking and eating my food when he came to me, while I was watching a movie.

“I told him I was not happy with what he did the first time. I told him he was not assisting me with anything, but was playing around with me. He told me to take his ATM card and withdraw any amount I wanted and gave me the PIN, but I told him that was not what I meant.

So, he became violent; I was defending myself and at some point, he hit my head on the wall and I retaliated. He was choking me and I was on the kitchen cabinet, so I stretched out and grabbed a knife and stabbed him twice in the neck and once in the stomach.”

She said when Ataga became weak, she fled the apartment and withdrew money from his account for her school fees.

“We smoked SK and Loud. While he was lying there, I changed my cloth, looked for the key from where he kept it, and left the room. When I left, I didn’t reach out to anybody. I didn’t feel good about what I did.

I withdrew N380,000 and not N5m from his account. I feel a lot of remorse. I wanted to use the money I withdrew to pay my school fees. I felt disappointed when the police arrested me at my parents’ house and it was when I was arrested around 10pm that my parents got to know about the incident.

I live with my parents; I left home on Sunday and told them that I was going for ushering job. I used the foreign number I generated in texting the owner of the apartment.”she said

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky denied entry into NYC Club (video)

A$AP Rocky and Rihanna were left embarrassed after a bouncer at an NYC bar who wasn’t familiar with their celebrity status denied the couple entry into an NYC club. 
 

In a viral video online, the “We Found Love” singer and her rapper boyfriend were seen attempting to get into a New York City bar supposedly Barcade in Williamsburg), but security apparently stopped the pair from entering due to them not having identification on hand.

A$AP Rocky and Rihanna denied entry into NYC Club (video)

According to Harpersbazaar, the two eventually were let in later. The night out for Rihanna and Rocky comes after the rapper recently opened up about their relationship to GQ.

A$AP Rocky and Rihanna denied entry into NYC Club (video)

Rocky described being coupled up with Rihanna as “so much better” than life as a bachelor. “[It’s] so much better. So much better when you got the One,” Rocky told the magazine of the pair’s burgeoning relationship. “She amounts to probably, like, a million of the other ones. I think when you know, you know. She’s the One.”

Watch the video below. 

Help! ‘My family recieves death threats from supporters’ Alvaro Morata cries

Alvaro Morata has revealed threats to him and his family from Spain supporters due to his performance for his country at the Euro 2020.


The Juventus striker forward has been criticised by his supporters throughout the tournament.  During the first two matches which resulted in draws against Sweden and Poland, Morata struggled and also missed a penalty against Slovakia. 

Morata has now revealed the messages sent from fans towards his wife Alice Campello and his three young sons. 

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Morata told Juanma Castano’s El Partidazo de Cope programme: ‘Maybe I have not done my job as I should. 

‘I understand that I am criticised because I have not scored a goal, but I wish people would put themselves in the place of what it is like to receive threats, to be told that your children should die. 

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‘Every time I get to the dressing room, my phone goes somewhere else. What bothers me is that they tell my wife, that they tell my children. They tell them everything. 


‘I didn’t sleep at all these past few days, because of the adrenaline. I’m very happy, but it bothers me not to do my job well. The fans whistled at me before warming up, but I’m happy to take the penalty (against Slovakia) and have missed it.’

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor, dances with joy as he turns 56 (photos)

Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is full of praises to God as he turns 56 today June 25.

dancing Babajide Sanwo Olu

The Governor in a post shared on his IG page, appreciated God for making him celebrate another year. He wrote;

”“Rejoice in the Lord always…. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7.

For the gift of life, I say thank you Lord
For sound health and mind, I am indeed thankful
For Family, Friends, Associates, Colleagues, and Lagos state as a whole, I say thank you Lord. I am indeed the one who came back to say thank you Lord.

Another 25th of June has come to remind me of my life’s purpose and God’s ultimate plans.

I have embraced a life of service, and a heart of compassion and empathy.

Have I been misunderstood? Yes
Have I been vilified? Absolutely.
Have I been misquoted? Severally.

But through it all, my heart, my intentions, my conscience, my efforts, my actions, the works of my hands, and the grace of God will always speak for me.
Therefore, I will rejoice and be glad, for this is indeed the day that the Lord has made.”

Happy Birthday to him! 

Lagos state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, praises God as he turns 56

UEFA scraps ‘away goals rule’ in European Competition

UEFA has announced the scrapping of away goals from all European club competitions with immediate effect after they voted to take the decision. 

The rule, which was introduced in 1965, has since been used to determine the winner of a two-legged knockout tie where teams had scored the same number of goals on aggregate over the two matches. Now in matches where two teams score the same number of goals over two legs, games will go straight to extra time and then penalties, if they are required.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said: ‘The away goals rule has been an intrinsic part of UEFA competitions since it was introduced in 1965. However, the question of its abolition has been debated at various UEFA meetings over the last few years. 

‘Although there was no unanimity of views, many coaches, fans and other football stakeholders have questioned its fairness and have expressed a preference for the rule to be abolished.

‘The impact of the rule now runs counter to its original purpose as, in fact, it now dissuades home teams – especially in first legs – from attacking, because they fear conceding a goal that would give their opponents a crucial advantage.

‘There is also criticism of the unfairness, especially in extra time, of obliging the home team to score twice when the away team has scored.

‘It is fair to say that home advantage is nowadays no longer as significant as it once was.

‘Taking into consideration the consistency across Europe in terms of styles of play, and many different factors which have led to a decline in home advantage, the UEFA Executive Committee has taken the correct decision in adopting the view that it is no longer appropriate for an away goal to carry more weight than one scored at home.’ 

‘We will directly bomb your warship HMS Defender if it enters black Sea again’ – Russia warns Britain

The Russian government has warned the UK that it will bomb its British warship, HMS Defender, the next time it sails too close to Crimea after warning shots were fired at HMS Defender on Wednesday, June 23.

The British Type 45 destroyer sailed within the 12-mile limit of Crimea near Cape Fiolent in the Black Sea which Russia claims as its own territory after it annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Russia warns Britain that it will directly bomb its warship HMS Defender if it enters black Sea again


The West sees the area as international waters and has not recognized Crimea’s annexation.


The UK is leading maritime exercises around the world alongside the US and NATO forces.

Russia warns Britain that it will directly bomb its warship HMS Defender if it enters black Sea again


On Wednesday, 20 Russian Su-24s jets buzzed over the Royal Navy ship.

Russia warns Britain that it will directly bomb its warship HMS Defender if it enters black Sea again


The UK has denied claims by Russia that it fired warning shots towards its ship.


On Thursday, June 24, Russia’s Deputy foreign minister, Sergey Ryabkov warned that the UK would suffer casualties if it enters it’s territory again:


‘What can we do? We can appeal to common sense, demand respect for international law.”


‘If this does not help, we can bomb not only in the direction but also on target, if our colleagues do not understand.


‘I warn everyone violating the state borders of the Russian Federation under the slogan of free navigation, from such provocative steps, because the security of our country comes first.’

Ryabkov added: ‘We are outraged by their [the UK’s] behaviour, and we would like to note that balancing on the brink of confrontation is fraught with very serious consequences for those who plan such events and then try to carry them out.’


In support of his comments, the Kremlin said Moscow would respond harshly to any similar actions in the future and warned against any further ‘provocations’. 


The UK meanwhile is insistent that it will continue to ply the sane Sea route.

British minister George Eustice said ‘of course’ Royal Navy ships will continue to sail through the disputed waters around Crimea: 


‘We never accepted the annexation of Crimea, these were Ukrainian territorial waters.’


Meanwhile Britain’s Chair of the Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood, has admitted there is a prospect of an engagment flaring up with Britain’s ‘dangerous game’ of sailing in disputed waters.

He told BBC 4: ‘There’s huge scope for an accident to occur, misinterpretation, leading to an actual kinetic engagement and it could be a bit of time before somebody grabs that red phone and calms things down.’  

It was the first time since the Cold War that Moscow acknowledged using live ammunition to deter a NATO warship, reflecting the growing risk of military incidents amid soaring tensions between Russia and the West.

Lagos State Govt. fulfils its promise to Olympic Gold Medalist, Chioma Ajunwa, 25 years after she was promised (video)

Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu today, June 24 announced that Nigeria and Africa’s first Olympic Gold Medalist, Chief Mrs (Dr) Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah (MON), would be rewarded with a three bedroom apartment in Lagos for her heroics at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Lagos State govt gifts Olympic Gold Medalist Chioma Ajunwa a three bedroom apartment as reward for her feat, 25 years after she was promised (video)


After many setbacks in her career Chioma Ajunwa achieved fame when she became the first Nigerian athlete to win an Olympic gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and to date remains Nigeria’s only individual Olympic gold medalist.

Lagos State govt gifts Olympic Gold Medalist Chioma Ajunwa a three bedroom apartment as reward for her feat, 25 years after she was promised (video)


She is also the first black African woman to win an Olympic gold medal in a field event.


She is the first and only woman to compete in the FIFA Women’s World Cup as a footballer as well as the Olympic games doing track and field.


On Thursday, Sanwo-Olu announced the reward of 3-bedroom Flat at the Babatunde Raji Fashola Housing Estate, Iponri to  Ajunwa saying it was “to fulfill a 25-yr pledge of the Government back then”.

Lagos State govt gifts Olympic Gold Medalist Chioma Ajunwa a three bedroom apartment as reward for her feat, 25 years after she was promised (video)


Mrs Chioma now aged 50, is now an Assitant Commissioner (ACP) in the Nigeria Police Force. She was very elated as the governor relayed the news to her.


See the video below.

Ebonyi State Commissioner for infrastructure dies in fatal motor accident

The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Infrastructure for Concession, Engineer Fidelis Nweze has died in a fatal motor accident. 

The Special Assistant to Governor David Umahi on Media and Publicity, Francis Nwaze, who confirmed the incident in a statement said the commissioner died at the Turkish Hospital Abuja on Tuesday morning, June 22, after he sustained injuries in an auto crash.

“To this end, the Governor has declared Wednesday, June 23, 2021, as a Public Holiday in honour of the departed former members of the State Executive Council. The affected former Exco members are Engineer Fidelis Nweze, former Commissioner for Infrastructure for Concession and Engineer Uche Okah, former Commissioner for Housing,” the statement read. 

Ebonyi State Commissioner dies in fatal motor accident

“Consequently, the Governor has directed that all offices and markets should be closed while all flags are to fly at half mast on Wednesday, June 23rd 2021 across the State.

“The Governor also directed all Government officials to proceed on fasting to seek the face of God in the Affairs of the State While CAN is charged to organize Prayers to break the fast by 4pm at Christian Ecumenical Centre every day, starting from Wednesday, June 23 to Saturday, June 26, 2021.

“All Government officials are enjoined to participate in all the activities. The Governor prays for peaceful repose of the souls of the fallen former Exco members.”

Update: The suspect conspired with others to kill the Super TV CEO

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos state, Hakeem Odumosu, says 21-year-old UNILAG student, Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu, who was earlier today paraded for allegedly killing the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, Michael Usifo Ataga, conspired with some other persons who are currently now at large to carry out the crime.

A statement released by the spokesperson of the state police command, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Odumosu disclosed this while parading the suspect.

A case of murder was transferred from Maroko Division of the Command to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti Yaba, for discreet investigation.

The fact of the case is that, on 15/06/21 at about 1700hrs, one Chidimma Adaora Ojukwu, a 300 level, undergraduate of the University of Lagos, conspired with others, now at Large, and allegedly murdered one Michael Usifo Ataga, m, 50, by stabbing him severally with a sharp object at a Short Service Apartment, situated at No 19, Adewale Oshin Street, Lekki, phase 1, Lagos.

The prime suspect, Chidinma, who had earlier booked for the apartment on 13/6/21 secretly, left the apartment after the deed had been done on 15/6/21 at about 1730hrs.

The suspect was tracked and arrested in her resident at No. 57, Akinwunmi Street, Alagomeji, Yaba-Lagos. During search, the prime suspect and Mass Communication Student of the University of Lagos, was caught with a blood-soaked cloth, ostensibly worn on the day of the incident.

The suspect confessed to have stabbed the deceased with a kitchen knife after a struggle. She further confessed to have taken the knife away while leaving the scene and disposed same in a dust bin at her residence.

It has also been revealed that the suspect equally stole the deceased iPhone.

Investigation is ongoing to arrest other accomplices.

However, the Case will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded.”Odumosu quoted the CP as saying

New York State suspends Donald Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s law license

Rudy Guiliani

A New York appellate court has ruled that Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Guiliani can no longer practice law in New York.

The court suspended Giuliani’s law license after a panel concluded he made ‘demonstrably false’ statements regarding the 2020 election that Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden.


‘[W]e conclude that there is uncontroverted evidence that respondent communicated demonstrably false and misleading statements to courts, lawmakers and the public at large in his capacity as lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump and the Trump campaign in connection with Trump’s failed effort at reelection in 2020,’ the 33-page decision read.


It claimed that Giulani, a former New York mayor threatened ‘public interest’ in his capacity as Trump’s personal attorney and insisted his actions ‘warrant interim suspension from the practice of law.’ 

Giuliani helped lead the former president’s legal challenge to the 2020 presidential election results, arguing the vote was riddled with fraud while claiming voting machines had been rigged in favor of Joe Biden.


Giuliani was admitted to the state bar in New York in 1969 and had a successful legal career before joining Trump’s team including working in the Justice Department under Ronald Reagan.


He was named U.S. Attorney in Manhattan in 1983 where he remained through 1989 before running and becoming Mayor of New York City.

On January 11 2021, thr New York Bar Association announced that it was launching an investigation into whether Giuliani’s membership should be revoked, noting his comments on January 6 to a crowd of Trump supporters before they stormed the Capitol.


The association also said it had ‘received hundreds of complaints in recent months about Mr. Giuliani and his baseless efforts on behalf of President Trump to cast doubt on the authenticity of the 2020 presidential election and, after the votes were cast, to overturn its legitimate results.’

Giuliani is also being investigated for his foreign dealings with Ukraine.


Although removal from the Bar Association membership does not disbar Giuliani, the ruling Thursday does stop him from practicing law in New York. 

The Lagos state Police parade alleged killer of Super TV CEO, a student (photos/video)

The Lagos state police command has arrested and paraded a 21-year-old lady alleged to have killed Michael Usifo Ataga, the Chief Executive Officer of Super TV, and a director in Super Network Limited.

Ataga, who resides in Banana Island, was reported missing on Sunday, June 13, by his family and friends after he didn’t return to his home in Banana Island and he also didn’t turn up at his Victoria Island office. All efforts to reach Ataga, who would have turned 50 years old on June 18, proved abortive and this caused distress to his wife and children, who live in Abuja. Unfortunately, his lifeless body was found on Friday morning, June 18, in a flat in Lekki phase 1 with multiple stab wounds. Read HERE

Police parade alleged killer of Super TV CEO, a 21-year-old UNILAG student (photos/video)

After a detailed investigation, Chidinma Adaora Ojukwu was picked up by the police at her parent’s home in Alagomeji, Lagos and paraded today, June 24

Chidinma said she was introduced to the deceased by her friend four months ago. She mentioned that on the day of the incident, she told her parents that she was going for an ushering job but went on to meet with the deceased so they could have some fun. She told newsmen that while in the apartment, they were taking drugs called ”loud and SK” and that an argument ensued between them when she refused to have sex with him. She said she stabbed him twice before she fled the apartment.

She said she withdrew N380, 000 from his account with the intention of using it to pay her school fees.

Watch a video of her being interrogated by newsmen below..

Update: Baba Ijesha granted bail

The Lagos State Special Offences Court has granted embattled Nollywood actor, Baba Ijesha, bail in the sum of two million naira.

Delivering a ruling on his bail application this afternoon, the presiding judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, ordered that the actor be released on bail while the trail continues. The judge ruled that the actor must provide the amount alongside two sureties, one of which must be a legal practitioner and the second a family relation.

The judge, however, said that the actor must perfect the bail terms and conditions within the next seven days.

She said the trial would begin on July 26 through 27 and 28 respectively.

The actor is being tried for allegedly defiling the foster daughter of comedienne, Princess.

Woman gets 30-year jail sentence for torturing and killing her maid

A Singaporean woman found guilty of starving, torturing, and killing her domestic worker from Myanmar, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.


The abuse of her domestic worker, 24-year-old Myanmar national Piang Ngaih Don, was captured on security cameras installed in the family’s home. 

The abuse ranged from stamping on the domestic worker, strangling, choking, battering with brooms, and burning her with an iron, according to court documents.

Myanmar reportedly weighed only 24kg (53lb) when she died from her injuries in July 2016, after her employer, Gaiyathiri Murugayan, repeatedly assaulted her over several hours.


Murugayan, 41, pleaded guilty in February to 28 charges including culpable homicide. Another 87 charges were taken into account in sentencing.

Woman sentenced to 30 years in prison for torturing and killing her maid

She appeared in court on Tuesday with her eyes closed and head bowed as the judge read his decision.


After hearing an additional plea of mitigation submitted by Gaiyathiri in a bid to avoid the life sentence sought by the prosecution, Justice See Kee Oon sentenced her to 30 years in prison starting from the date of her arrest in 2016.


She cited the “abject cruelty of the accused’s appalling conduct” in his sentencing, which he added must signal “societal outrage and abhorrence” at the crime.

But taking into account the defendant’s obsessive-compulsive disorder and the depression she developed around the time she gave birth, See said he did not think that life imprisonment was “fair and appropriate”.

Woman sentenced to 30 years in prison for torturing and killing her maid


The prosecution had sought a reduced charge of culpable homicide rather than murder punishable with the death penalty in Singapore — after taking into account her mental health.


The maid was employed by Gaiyathiri and her husband, a police officer, in 2015 to help take care of their four-year-old daughter and one-year-old son.


But Gaiyathiri physically assaulted the victim almost daily, often several times a day, with her 61-year-old mother sometimes joining in, according to court documents.


The domestic worker, who had been employed by the family for over a year at the time of her death, was only allowed to sleep for five hours a night and was forced to shower and relieve herself with the door open.


Provided very little food, she lost about 38% of her body weight during her employment, and only weighed 24 kilogrammes at the time of her death.


Gaiyathiri’s lawyer Joseph Chen had asked for a sentence of eight to nine years, arguing that a “combination of stresses” had turned the struggling mother into an abuser.


He argued that a harsh sentence would deter mothers in a similar situation from asking for help, an argument that the prosecution called “disingenuous”.

Saudi Arabia donates medical items worth $1b to Nigeria to comabt the pandemic

The Saudi Arabian Government has donated medical items worth $1 billion to Nigeria to strengthen its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.   

The medical items donated include 23 ventilators, surgical sterile gowns, non-sterile surgical gowns, surgical mask and nitrite gloves.   

Olusegun Adetola, the Director, Media and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, said in a statement that Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Faisal Ibrahim Alghamdi, handed over the donated medical items to the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, in Abuja, on Tuesday, June 22. 

According to Adetola, Saudi Arabia revealed its plan to organize 12 voluntary medical campaign to combat blindness, heart surgery and cataract and also promised medical campaigns for the six Geo-political zones of the country.   

Health minister, Dr. Ehanire, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Alhaji Abdulazizi Mashi Abdullahi, also appreciated the Government of Saudi Arabia for its continuous contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s health sector particularly through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre.   

Abdullahi also praised the Kingdom for being in forefront of combating the menace in order to save human lives and preserve global health.

With the introduction of NIN, 500,000 fake UTME candidates uncovered – JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Wednesday said the introduction of the National Identification Number in the 2021/2022 exam registration helped it to uncover over 500,000 fake candidates.

Prof. Isha’q Oloyede, the Registrar and Chief Executive of JAMB disclosed this during a press conference in Enugu, during his visit to the South-East to access the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination as well as to visit the new university in Ebonyi. 

The registrar said the use of the NIN as directed by the Federal Government helped to reduce examination malpractice.

He said, “Before the introduction of NIN in the registration, there were about 2.2 million candidates for the examination, but after the introduction of NIN, over 500,000 candidates were discovered to be fake.”

He disclosed that the actual number of candidates that JAMB registered for UTME 2021 was 1,415,501, and out of it, 1,122,095 candidates had taken the examinations, while 66,111 candidates had yet to take.

According to him, the board has 650 examination centres across the country, out of which 30 centres have been delisted for performing below standard.

“Fifty three centres are currently under watch, while 600 of them performed excellently.”

The examination body added that the students who visited a particular centre but could not take the examination would be rescheduled and a new date fixed.

Max Verstappen wins French GP as he overtakes Lewis Hamilton

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen beat Mercedes driver and tournament favorite, Lewis Hamilton to win the French GP championship on Sunday, June 20,


Verstappen used his fresh tyres after his second stop to charge up behind Hamilton in the closing stages and pounced on his prey on Lap 52 of 53, sweeping past Hamilton who was struggling.


Verstappen who started at the pole, lost his lead after a mistake into the first chicane, while Hamilton lost his lead after a Red Bull undercut but the end result, not one that many expected saw Verstappen establish a 12-point title lead over the seven-time world champion.

Max Verstappen wins French GP after late overtake on Lewis Hamilton


This is the first time Red Bull is winning three races in a row since 2013.


“We had to work hard for it, but very rewarding,” said Verstappen.


Below is the full French GP race result


1st. Max Verstappen, Red Bull

2nd .Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

3rd. Sergio Perez, Red Bull

4th.Valtteri Bottas, Mercedes

5th.Lando Norris, McLaren

6th.Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren

7th.Pierre Gasly, AlphaTauri

8th.Fernando Alonso, Alpine

9th.Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin

10th.Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

See the pre-wedding photos of a Nigerian man and his Korean Bride

The pre-wedding photos of a Nigerian man and his Korean bride have got Nigerians on social media talking.

The couple dressed in Igbo attires for their pre-wedding photos.

Many have described the photos as stunning and beautiful. See more of the photos below…

Lovely pre-wedding photos of a Nigerian man and his Korean bride
Lovely pre-wedding photos of a Nigerian man and his Korean bride
Lovely pre-wedding photos of a Nigerian man and his Korean bride

Lionel Messi confirmed that he will sign a new contract till 2023

Barcelona captain, Lionel Messi is in the final week of his contract with the Spanish club, and it has been confirmed that he will sign a new contract till 2023. 

The recent signings of Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay convinced the Argentine playmaker to extend his contract with the Spanish giants. 

Transfer window specialist Italian journalist, Fabrizio Romano, confirmed that an agreement between Barcelona and Messi is all but reached, with only a few details of the contract remaining to be finalised. Messi, as claimed by Romano, will sign a new contract that would keep him at the club till 2023.

“Lionel Messi will extend his contract with Barcelona until June 2023, all parties involved have no doubt – but there are still some clauses to be fixed in the contract ‘structure’. #Messi

…that’s why there’s no official announcement yet. But it’s just a matter of time,” he tweeted.

According to Le10 Sport, the announcement of Messi’s contract extension could be made on his birthday on Thursday.

This comes after Barca president Joan Laporta was said to have been working tirelessly to get Messi to sign a new contract. Though a few details are to be finalised before the deal becomes offcial. 

Oh no! South African woman who had the world record-breaking ten babies, LIED

Gosiame Sithole, the South African woman who this month made headlines after saying she had given birth to a world record-breaking ten babies, fabricated the pregnancy story, it has been revealed.


Sithole, 37, said she had seven boys and three girls in Pretoria this month but doubts about her claim emerged when the supposed father, Teboho Tsotetsi, said he had yet to meet his children and accused his lover of a hoax to make money. 

South African woman who said she had given birth to a world record-breaking ten babies, fabricated the pregnancy, officials confirm

Miss Sithole was then admitted to a psychiatric hospital.


After an investigation into her claim about birthing dectuplets it was revealed that doctors at Tembisa Hospital near the South African capital found Miss Sithole ‘did not give birth to any babies in recent times’.


The report conducted by local government officials added: ‘It has also been established that she was not pregnant in recent times.’ 


In a statement, the Gauteng Provincial Government said: ‘Miss Sithole was admitted to Tembisa hospital on 18 June 2021, and various medical tests were conducted on her to determine her state of health.


‘Initially, she was meant to be kept at the hospital for 72 hours, which lapsed on Tuesday. 


‘Upon completing their preliminary examination, her doctors recommended that she be kept at the hospital for a further seven days for further observation, in accordance with the Mental Healthcare Act.


‘It has now been established by medical practitioners that Miss Sithole did not give birth to any babies in recent times. It has also been established that she was not pregnant in recent times.’


The editor of the news agency who first reported her claims has now apologised for not checking or verifying her claims before publishing.


Piet Rampedi sent his staff an email which said he knew the couple involved and had no reason to doubt them.


 It read: ‘I used no investigative tool or checklist.


‘They had no reason to lie to me about the pregnancy. For me, it was a story of celebration. 

 
‘Hence, I never demanded documentary proof of the pregnancy, such as scanners and clinic cards, for instance, as I would normally do with an investigative story.


‘However, judging by the sudden turn of events and the reaction from the government and our detractors, I was wrong.’

Baba Ijesha pleads not guilty in alleged defilement case against a minor

Embattled Nollywood actor, Omiyinka Olanrewaju James, popularly known as Baba Ijesha, has pleaded not guilty to the rape, sexual assault and abuse of a minor charges filed against him by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions at a Special Offences and Domestic Violence Court in Ikeja.

Baba Ijesha is currently being arraigned before the Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo-led court

During the court proceedings, counsel to the Lagos state government, Olayinka Adeyemi, informed the court that the state had filed six-count charges against the defendant urging the court to take the plea of the defendant.

The prayer was granted and Baba Ijesha pleaded not guilty to all the charges levelled against him. Subsequently, Mrs. Adeyemi asked for a trial date while asking the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending commencement of trial.

In a counter-reaction, the legal team of the actor which had among it two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Ogala and Mr. Dada Awosika, along with 17 others, informed the court that they had filed a bail application and have served same on the prosecuting team. Ogala urged the court to grant them an audience to argue the bail application.

However, the state counsel, Mrs. Adeyemi opposed the prayer stating that her team is yet to verify the medical report which the defence relied on for his bail consideration.

In a short ruling, Justice Taiwo granted the request of the defense team and asked both parties to argue the bail application. During the argument of the bail application, Awosika (SAN), prayed the court to grant the defendant bail in liberal terms.

“I will wish to note that the issue of bail, especially on an offence of this nature, is a constitutional right. This is a right the defendant has been deprived of for the past 48 days when he was unlawfully held by the police. We are also not unconscious of the JUSUN strike which made it difficult to bring him to court.

“Imagine if this man is kept in detention for many years and is found innocent, will there be any restitution? No. Justice and fairness should be done,” he said.

On her part, Adeyemi asked the court to deny the actor bail. According to her, the actor is a flight risk and can influence witnesses if granted bail.

“I want to bring to my lord’s attention the nature of one of the offences – sexual assault by penetration – which carries life imprisonment.

Bail is a discretionary right, it is not a constitutional right.

On the nature of the offence and the strength of the evidence, there is a prima facie case before your lordship.

The court should take judicial notice of the crime which is rampant in society” she said

Adeyemi said that prosecution had six witnesses in the case.

The judge is yet to rule on the bail application.

Queen Elizabeth lost over £10m from Visitors visiting Buckingham Palace due to Covid-19

Queen Elizabeth II has lost £10million in her finances as a result of the pandemic.


Buckingham Palace revealed on Wednesday, June 23, that it had lost just over half its annual income outside of Government funding after closing its gates to visitors.

Queen Elizabeth loses ?10m of income after closing Buckingham palace to visitors due to covid-19


Income plunged from £20.2million in 2019/20 to £9.4million in 2020/21.

Queen Elizabeth loses ?10m of income after closing Buckingham palace to visitors due to covid-19


Meanwhile, its property maintenance bill soared from £38.4million to £49.5 million as part of its planned upgrade of the Queen’s official residence.


The sovereign grant, money given to the monarch by the UK Government which is based on the income surplus from The Crown Estate two years ago, increased by £3.5million to £85.9million during 2020/21.


It was comprised of a core element of £51.5million that funds the Queen’s official duties and her household, plus an additional £34.4million to pay for reservicing costs at the palace.


In all, the monarchy cost the British taxpayer £87.5million in 2020/21, an increase of £18.1million from the previous financial year. 


Meanwhile an unexpected £2.4million payment from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle saved the palace from having to dip into its savings more than it feared. 


Sir Michael Stevens, keeper of the privy purse, said on Wednesday that palace staff had ‘tightened their belts’, cutting costs across all areas without job losses, including a pay and recruitment freeze. 

Britney Spears accuses her father of forcing her to be on birth control against her will

Britney Spears has spoken out against her conservatorship at a court hearing in Los Angeles, where she alleged that her dad drugged her and forced her to be on birth control against her will.

Speaking in open court for the first time in the case, the American singer, 37, said her father Jamie Spears controlled her “100,000%,” but wants her life back.

“I am traumatised,” she said, speaking remotely. “I just want my life back.”

During the hearing, fans outside held placards reading Free Britney and demanding the ruling be axed.

Britney Spears alleges her father drugged her and forced her to be on birth control in a recent conservatorship hearing

Jamie Spears was granted control over his daughter’s personal and business affairs in a court-ordered conservatorship in 2008. The order was originally granted after the star was put in hospital amid concerns over her mental health.

“I want to end this conservatorship without being evaluated,” Spears told the court decisively in an emotional 20-minute address on Wednesday, calling the arrangement “abusive”.

“I deserve to have a life, I’ve worked my whole life. I deserve to have a two to three-year break,” she said.

Spears said she wanted to marry her boyfriend and have a baby, but the conservatorship would not allow her to. She accused her conservator of stopping her from having a contraceptive intrauterine device (IUD) removed so she could get pregnant.

 “I was told right now in the conservatorship, I’m not able to get married or have a baby,” Spears said. “I have an I[U]D inside of myself right now so I don’t get pregnant. I wanted to take the IUD out so I could start trying to have another baby, but this so-called team won’t let me go to the doctor to take it out because they don’t want me to have children, any more children.”

She also said she had been forced to take lithium – a common medicine for bipolar disorders to the point where she felt drunk and unable to converse.

“I felt drunk. I couldn’t even stick up for myself. I couldn’t even have a conversation with my mom or dad about anything. I told them I was scared and they had six different nurses come to my home to monitor me while I was on this medication that I didn’t want to be on to begin with.”

“This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good,” she said.

In 2019, Jamie Spears stepped down temporarily as his daughter’s personal conservator because of health reasons but the pop star is requesting for this to be made permanent.

In another move, she is seeking to permanently install Jodi Montgomery, a care professional, into the role instead of reinstating her father.

Jamie Spears was troubled by the singer’s allegations in court, according to his lawyer.

“He is sorry to see his daughter suffering and in so much pain,” the representative said in a statement read out in court. “Mr Spears loves his daughter, and he misses her very much.”

Warren Buffett quits Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Warren Buffett has announced his resignation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.


The announcement comes weeks after Bill and Melinda Gates announced that they were divorcing after 27 years of marriage but would continue to jointly run the foundation. 


The foundation is one of the largest charitable foundations in the world. Gates was formerly the world’s richest person and his fortune is estimated at well over $100 billion.


“For years I have been a trustee – an inactive trustee at that – of only one recipient of my funds, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMG). I am now resigning from that post, just as I have done at all corporate boards other than Berkshire’s,” Buffett said in a prepared statement Wednesday.


 “The CEO of BMG is Mark Suzman, an outstanding recent selection who has my full support. My goals are 100% in sync with those of the foundation, and my physical participation is in no way needed to achieve these goals.”


Buffett, the chairman, and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, also said Wednesday that he is halfway to reaching his goal of giving away the entirety of his shares in the conglomerate, and that he’s making another $4.1 billion in donations.  More than $3.2 billion went to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, bringing his total giving to the foundation to nearly $33 billion, Suzman said in a statement.


“I know Warren’s departure raises questions about the foundation’s governance,” Suzman said, adding he has been “actively discussing with him, Bill, and Melinda approaches to strengthen our governance to provide long-term stability and sustainability for the foundation’s governance and decision-making in light of the recent announcement of Bill and Melinda’s divorce. I plan to share additional information in July.”

Riyad Mahrez, Manchester City Icon, proposes to girlfriend with a customised £400,000 ring (photos)

Manchester City superstar, Riyad Mahrez has proposed to his stunning girlfriend Taylor Wardwith £400,000 ring after 

The 30-year-old Algerian international took the bold step during their holiday on the Greek island Mykonos.

Proud wife to be, Taylor took to Instagram to share the good news and photos with the caption: “Here’s to a lifetime of us. “There’s no one I’d rather do this life with, here’s to a lifetime of us. Can’t wait to grow old together, btw I said YES! I Love You.”

Manchester City star, Riyad Mahrez proposes to his 23-year-old girlfriend with customised ?400,000 ring (photos)

“So happy for everything you are the best, you’re the one I need in my life forever,” Mahrez wrote on Instagram.

Manchester City star, Riyad Mahrez proposes to his 23-year-old girlfriend with customised ?400,000 ring (photos)

The former Leicester City star was initially married for six years to former model Rita Johal, who is the mother of his two daughters. 

Taylor is the daughter of Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Dawn and retired footballer Ashley Ward.

Antivirus company McAfee Founder, John McAfee dies by hanging in Spanish Prison

John McAfee, the founder of antivirus company McAfee, has been found dead in a Spanish prison near Barcelona after the Spanish high court authorised his extradition to the United States

The Bristih technology entrepreneur reportedly commited suicide by hanging on Wednesday afternoon June 23, in a prison cell, just hours after a preliminary ruling for his extradition to the United States on charges of tax evasion.

The Catalan justice department confirmed in a statement that the likely cause of death is suicide, Reuters reported.

Employees at the Brians 2 penitentiary tried to revive the 75-year-old Mr McAfee but were unsuccessful, according to a statement cited by Spanish newspaper El Mundo and reporting by the Associated Press.

According to the newspaper El Pais, the software entrepreneur was arrested in October and was awaiting extradition to the US when he was found dead.

The paper added that police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.

Mr. McAfee had been charged with several federal financial crimes in two US districts. In the Western District of Tennessee, Mr McAfee was indicted in October on ten counts of allegedly evading taxes on millions of dollars of income.

In a Manhattan federal court in March, he was charged for a scheme involving cryptocurrency, which he was pushing on social media.

The charges carried a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

A statement from the regional Catalan government didn’t identify the American tycoon by name but said he was a 75-year-old US citizen awaiting extradition to the country.

Prof Chukwuma Soludo emerges APGA governorship candidate in Anambra

Former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has been declared winner of the governorship primary election organized by the Chief Victor Oye-led faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) held today Wednesday, June 23.

Soludo scored a total of 740 votes to defeat his closest rival, Hon Okwudili Ezenwankwo, representing Orumba North and South Federal constituency, who scored only 41 votes. The results were announced by National Vice Chairman of the party in the Southwest, Deacon Samson Olalere.

812 delegates were accredited by the party from the 326 wards in the 21 local government areas.

The state governor, Willie Obiano, attended the primary.

This development comes hours after he was suspended by the Jude Okeke-led faction of the party

Cristiano Ronaldo gives the most international goals after scoring for Portugal against France at Euro 2020

Superstar footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo has equalled the men’s international goal record of 109 goals after scoring a brace for Portugal against France at Euro 2020.

The 36-year-old Juventus striker is now level with Iran’s Ali Daei after registering five goals at this summer’s tournament.

Ronaldo broke the deadlock in Budapest with a penalty and added another from the spot when he equalised against France to make it 2-2.

The former Real Madrid striker also achieved the all-time record scorer at the European Championship after a double against Hungary took him past France’s Michel Platini and his current tally is now up to 14. 

Karim Benzema also scored twice in the thrilling conclusion to Group F.

Why was Princess Diana in Paris on the night her car crashed?

A respected former royal aid has revealed the real reason Princess Diana was in Paris on night of her infamous car crash.


Diana’s ex-driver and minder Colin Tebbutt, disclosed that a government backlash against Princess Diana over her landmines campaign prompted her to make the decision to delay returning to Britain before her death.


She would have been 60 this year if she were still alive.

The


Colin Tebbutt said anger from the Monarchy and UK government over Diana’s call for land mines to be banned convinced the princess to stay in Paris with her boyfriend Dodi Fayed longer than she originally planned.


That set in motion a chain of events that resulted in her dying with Dodi and their chauffeur Henri Paul in a horrific crash in a tunnel on August 31, 1997. 


The revelation by Mr Tebbutt comes as part of the Daily Mail’s series investigating the princess’s death.

The


Diana, 36, had been expected to arrive back in London on August 28, 1997, but she made an 11th hour decision to extend her trip by three days after the controversy over landmines. 


Mr Tebbutt said to the Daily mail UK: ‘She didn’t come back on the Thursday as scheduled because the Tories were having a go at her again over landmines. She was accused of using the campaign to boost her own image, which was nasty and upset her.”


“So she contacted us and said she didn’t want all the hassle that would be waiting for her in the UK. She would return at the weekend instead.”


‘If she had come back that Thursday…maybe we’d all be alive still today.’


The row had started the previous January when Diana visited Angola and called for an immediate international ban on landmines but she was attacked by politicians such as defence minister Earl Howe who described her as a ‘loose cannon’ who is ‘ill-informed on the issue of anti-personnel landmines’. 


Politician Peter Viggers accused her of ignoring ‘sophisticated arguments’ and conducting a debate on the level of French actress Brigitte Bardot in defence of cats.


Also in late August 1997 during her holiday in the Mediterranean with Dodi, 42, she gave an interview to a French newspaper.


Diana was asked about the UK’s policy on landmines, whose abolition was ‘so dear to her heart’.


She reportedly replied: ‘The former one was so hopeless’ – a reference to the Tory Government which lost power in May 1997. She said she believed Tony Blair’s new Labour administration was ‘going to do terrific work’. 

British Ministry of Defence denies claims that Russian jets fired bombs at its Royal Navy Destroyer ship

The British Ministry of Defence has denied Russian claims that warning shots and bombs were fired at Royal Navy destroyer HMS Defender near Crimea on Wednesday, June 23.


Russia said an Su-24 dropped four bombs in the path of the British ship in the Black Sea after Russia accused it of entering its waters near Cape Fiolent.


Russia’s defence ministry said its patrol ship opened fire at 12.06pm and shot again two minutes later at the UK navy destroyer which is on naval exercises with US, Dutch and Ukrainian forces.

UK denies claims that Russian jets fired bombs at its Royal Navy Destroyer ship as it patrolled Black Sea with US, Dutch and Ukrainian forces


Russia also said ten minutes later, the Su-24 dropped four OFAB-250s in the path of the British vessel, forcing it to retreat after it ventured two miles inside Russian waters. 


The Russian defence ministry alleges the destroyer refused to listen to radio warnings before the shots were fired.

UK denies claims that Russian jets fired bombs at its Royal Navy Destroyer ship as it patrolled Black Sea with US, Dutch and Ukrainian forces


The ministry’s TV channel Zvezda reported: ‘The Black Sea Fleet together with the FSB (security service) stopped a violation of the Russian border by a British destroyer Defender.

‘Today, at 11:52, the Defender crossed the state border of Russia in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.


‘It entered the territorial waters for three kilometres, in the area of Cape Fiolent.


‘Previously warned about the use of weapons in the event of a violation of the border, the British ship did not react to this in any way.


‘At 12:06 and 12:08, a Russian border patrol ship fired a warning shot.


‘At 12:19, the Su-24M aircraft of the Black Sea Fleet performed a warning bombing, dropping 4 OFAB-250 bombs on the course of the destroyer.


‘At 12:23 the British destroyer left the borders of the territorial sea of Russia.’

‘The destroyer had been warned that weapons would be used if it trespasses the border of the Russian Federation. It did not react to the warning,’ the Russian ministry said. 


But the British Ministry of Defence has denied the claims, saying:


‘No warning shots have been fired at HMS Defender.


‘The Royal Navy ship is conducting innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters in accordance with international law.


‘We believe the Russians were undertaking a gunnery exercise in the Black Sea and provided the maritime community with prior-warning of their activity. 


‘No shots were directed at HMS Defender and we do not recognise the claim that bombs were dropped in her path.’

UK denies claims that Russian jets fired bombs at its Royal Navy Destroyer ship as it patrolled Black Sea with US, Dutch and Ukrainian forces


The British military attaché to Moscow has now been summoned to the Russian defence ministry after the alleged incident. 


Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 in a move condemned by the West which still considers it Ukrainian territory. 

Fashion: Swanky Jerry, set to star in Netflix first ever African Reality TV Series

Forbes icon and Fashion God  jeremiah ogbodo popularly known as swankyjerry has made a big announcement on his Instagram page @swankyjerry


As you know swanky has dressed up literally every A lister in the continent and we can’t wait to see what’s under his sleeves.

Fashion icon Swanky Jerry set to star in Netflix first ever African Reality TV Series


The multiple award winning fashion stylist and creative director is set to star in a Netflix original first ever African Reality TV series.


The super star stylist is definitely pushing boundaries and heading to the global scene completely and we are excited for him ..


BIG CONGRATULATIONS…

Fashion icon Swanky Jerry set to star in Netflix first ever African Reality TV Series
Fashion icon Swanky Jerry set to star in Netflix first ever African Reality TV Series
Fashion icon Swanky Jerry set to star in Netflix first ever African Reality TV Series

India’s COVID-19 cases hits 30 million people

India has reported more than 30 million Covid-19 cases since the pandemic started last year.


Government data showed there were 50,848 infections recorded over a 24-hour period on Wednesday, bringing the total reported cases to 30.02 million. The reported daily death toll was 1,358.


The United States is the only country in the world that has reported more cases than India.

The nation suffered a devastating second wave when reported coronavirus cases spiked between February and early May. It left hospitals overwhelmed and medical necessities like oxygen and medicines in short supply.

A highly contagious variant of the coronavirus known as the delta variant was first reported in India and is reportedly partially responsible for the rapid rise in cases there.


It has since spread rapidly around the world and is found in more than 80 countries. The World Health Organization said delta is becoming the dominant variant of the disease worldwide.

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