There is palpable fear after two elderly people slumped and died in strange circumstances at the Refinery Junction, Eleme, Rivers State on Wednesday morning, January 6.
It was gathered that one of the deceased, a woman in her 60s was said to have dropped dead after disembarking from a commercial motorcycle near the Refinery Junction.
The second person, a man, who was about 70 years old reportedly slumped and died after alighting from a commercial vehicle.
The son of the man, who was contacted through his telephone was said to have arrived at the scene and with the help of other people took the corpse.
The son was quoted as saying that the deceased was at Eleme to withdraw money at a bank.
No one had come to identify the deceased woman or take her corpse away many hours after she collapsed and died.
Cameroonian and Royal Antwerp striker, Didier Lamkel Ze, who is desperate to leave his current club angered the Belgian side on Wednesday morning, January 6.
The 24-year-old foorballer showed up at his club training wearing his team fiercest rival Anderlecht home jersey in an attempt to force a move to Greek side Panathinaikos.
The shirt had the name of former Crystal Palace winger, Yannick Bolasie on the back.
However, security prevented Didier from entering the club’s building while attempting to force his way through.
According to AD, he said: “It’s simple: I want to go to Greece. I have given my personal agreement. Don’t play with my career.”
Didier has now apologised in a video posted on the club’s Twitter account.
“I sincerely apologise to the club and the Antwerp supporters because they are magnificent and wonderful fans who have always supported me,” he said.
“If I reacted like that, it is because my head was elsewhere with the transfer, it wasn’t easy for me. I’m so sorry for my actions.
“I won’t forget how my teammates and the technical staff have supported me in the dressing room since my arrival here.
“I’m ready for the club if the new coach needs me. I hope to be in front of the supporters very soon on the pitch.”
Nigerian doctors say there has been a surge in the request for DNA tests in their hospitals in recent times.
The doctors in an interview with Sahara Reporters say the increase in the requests for DNA tests began even before the ongoing paternity scandal involving the Managing Director of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Adam Nuru, and a former employee of the bank, Moyo Thomas.
A medical doctor at the National Hospital, Abuja, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there has been an increase in the rate at which people come for DNA testing at the facility.
“There is an increase in the number of people taking paternity tests because of the awareness, even privately some people call and say they want to do a paternity test, how do they go about it? Some say their friends need to take the test, so there has been an increase.”
The doctor attributed the development to several factors, including the seemingly rising cases of infidelity in marriages and the need to establish paternity as a requirement during processing for migration.
“A factor could be the increase in migration; a lot of people travel out, and relocate. Some of the countries they go to like the US, Canada, and so on request for DNA tests.
Not all of these countries but some ask for it so generally it’s (paternity testing has) been on the increase. Once in a while you get calls that people want to do a test and it was not like that two to three years ago.
People are taking paternity testing now due to the increase in infidelity among partners. Some girls, even outside wedlock, might want to pin a pregnancy on a man and even when the child is born. So, a DNA test is conducted so the man will know if the child is actually his.
Another form of DNA test can be done when the baby is in the womb, it’s not necessarily only when the child is born that it can be done.
Anytime an issue like this comes up, people tend to take action more because of the high rate of infidelity amongst Nigerians. There’s a high rate of infidelity in Nigeria, we don’t just like talking about it.”the doctor said
Also speaking, another medical doctor, Segun Bankole, said
“Paternity testing has been on the increase for more than three years. People have been requesting for paternity testing for a very long time, especially those who have divorce issues.
Diddy’s son, Justin Comb on Monday got ticketed and towed away from a party he attended in Miami for not obeying the City’s rule on water.
TMZ reported that he was nabbed after operating a jet ski for more than 30 minutes after sunset Monday night on Biscayne Bay and not wearing life jackets alongside his 2 passengers.
Justin was issued multiple citations and the Miami Beach PD Marine Patrol towed him back to land to ensure his safety after the incident which occurred around 8pm.
An eyewitness alleged that Justin was on the jet ski with 2 women heading to a yacht off Star Island to hang out.
The 2021 Grammys, originally scheduled for January 31, has reportedly been postponed due to concerns over the spread of Covid-19.
The Recording Academy has yet to announce the new date, but sources speaking to Rolling Stone said that the organizers are aiming to hold the ceremony in March.
According to Rolling Stone, the Academy was planning to hold the Grammys without an audience or nominated artists, with only presenters and performing artists on-site during the show before it was postponed.
The 2021 Grammy nominations were led by Beyoncé who picked up nine nominations, while Dua Lipa, Taylor Swift, and Roddy Ricch followed behind with six nods each.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control on Tuesday January 5, announced that 1,354 new cases of Coronavirus were recorded in Nigeria.
The health agency gave a breakdown of the new cases as follows; Lagos-712, FCT-145, Plateau-117, Kwara-81, Kaduna-54, Sokoto-39, Oyo-38, Rivers-37, Gombe-21, Enugu-20, Akwa Ibom-16, Bauchi-14, Delta-14, Ebonyi-13, Anambra-9, Taraba-8, Edo-8, Kano-3, Osun-2, Ekiti-2, Ogun-1.
There are now 92,705 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the country and 1,319 deaths have been recorded. 76,396 patients who recovered from the disease have also been discharged.
Prolific music producer and music industry giant, Dr Dre suffered brain aneurysm on Monday January 4 and is currently receiving treatment at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
The rapper and producer whose real name is Andre Young, was reportedly rushed by ambulance to the medical center’s intensive care unit on Monday. Though TMZ reports that Dre is “stable and lucid,” further details of his condition were not given.
55-year-old Dre on Tuesday night, issued a statement addressed to his friends, family and fans on social media. He wrote;
“Thanks to my family, friends and fans for their interest and well wishes. I’m doing great and getting excellent care from my medical team. I will be out of the hospital and back home soon. Shout out to all the great medical professionals at Cedars. One Love!!”
The rapper and producer is currently going through a divorce from his estranged wife, Nicole Young, and is due for a hearing on Wednesday January 6. Young filed for divorce in June 2020, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple married in 1996 and have two adult children together.
Dre is widely regarded as one of the top earners in hip-hop, surpassing Sean “Diddy” Combs when Beats Electronics, the company he launched in 2008 alongside longtime friend and collaborator Jimmy Iovine, was sold to Apple for $3 billion in 2014. The former co-owner of Death Row Records and N.W.A co-founder also produced the 2015 N.W.A biopic “Straight Outta Compton.”
As a musician, the 55-year old hip-hop legend’s hits include the Grammy-winning “Let Me Ride,” “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” “and “Forgot About Dre,” released between 1992 and 2001. His work with Eminem has been consistent through the decades, with Dre’s most recent song credit appearing on the 2020 album “Music To Be Murdered By – Side B,” where Dre raps on “Guns Blazing” and also served as a co-producer for another track. Throughout his career, Dr. Dre has produced tracks for a multitude of artists including Gwen Stefani, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent, among others.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are reportedly over after six years of marriage and four children together.
Multiple entertainment platforms including TMZ and Page Six are reporting that the couple is headed for divorce.
The report claims that Kim and Kanye have been having serious issues in their marriage for the most part of 2020 and have been living apart for several months now with Kim and the kids in LA and Kanye at his ranch in Wyoming.
They went on a family vacation late last year in a last ditch effort to save their family and even went on couples counselling but sources are claiming Kim is fed up and has decided to leave Kanye for good.
Page Six claims that Kim has hired prominent celebrity lawyer Laura Wasser and ‘they are in settlement talks’ at the moment.
Kanye has been struggling with his bipolar disorder for a few years now and Kim always stood solidly behind him.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West married in a lavish Italian ceremony back in 2014.
Former US President Barack Obama is currently enjoying a vacation in his home state of Hawaii.
The 58-year-old politician was pictured shirtless on January 2, standing atop a paddleboard and paddling himself around the water, while wearing an $84 ‘shark deterrent band’ around his ankle.
US Vice President Mike Pence on Tuesday January 5, reportedly told President Donald Trump that he does not have the authority to decertify President-elect Joe Biden’s win when Congress meets to count electoral votes.
Pence finds himself in the most precarious position of his tenure as he prepares to preside over Wednesday’s congressional tally of Electoral College votes, bearing witness to the formalization of Trump’s election defeat.
At the end of the count, seated on the House of Representatives’ rostrum, Pence has the task of announcing who has won the majority of votes for both president and vice president.
Despite the pro forma nature of Pence’s role, he is under intense pressure from the president and legions of supporters to overturn Biden’s win.
New York Times reported that Mr. Pence has spent the past several days in a delicate dance, seeking at once to convey to the president that he does not have the authority to overturn the results of the election, while also placating the president to avoid a rift that could torpedo any hope of him running in 2024 as Trump’s loyal heir.
Even as he sought to make clear that he does not have the power, Trump seems to think he has. Pence also reportedly told the president that he would keep studying the issue up until the final hours before the joint session of Congress begins at 1 p.m. Wednesday January 6.
Despite this, Trump tweeted;
“If Vice President @Mike_Pence comes through for us, we will win the Presidency. Many States want to decertify the mistake they made in certifying incorrect & even fraudulent numbers in a process NOT approved by their State Legislatures (which it must be).
“Mike can send it back!”
CNN reported that while Trump said it would be politically “damaging” for Pence to refuse to block certification, Pence gently informed Trump during the meeting that the power doesn’t exist for him to derail the process.
The vice president went on to tell Trump there are outliers saying that the authority exists, but Pence has been told by the White House Counsel’s Office he doesn’t have that authority, according to a source who was briefed on the conversation.
The meeting at the White House came after Pence met with the Senate parliamentarian earlier this week to go over his role in the proceedings. In a statement released through his campaign, the President disputed the story.
Trump said;
“The New York Times report regarding comments Vice President Pence supposedly made to me today is fake news. He never said that. The Vice President and I are in total agreement that the Vice President has the power to act.”
It was also reported that the President is now angry with Pence following their meeting, a source close to the White House said.
AP reported that neither the Constitution nor congressional statute grants the vice president any such powers. It is up to the House and Senate to voice objections, and states’ electors were chosen in accordance with state law, not fraudulently.
Trump’s renewed pressure on Pence comes as he has repeatedly charged for two months that the presidential election was “rigged” and has claimed that there was “massive voter fraud” in a handful of battleground states where Biden narrowly edged the president, to score a 306-232 Electoral College victory over the GOP incumbent.
The Trump campaign has launched a number of legal challenges, while Trump himself has urged states with Republican governors and legislatures to overturn Joe Biden’s victories.
More Republican senators came out on Tuesday against attempts to undermine the results, including Tim Scott of South Carolina and James M. Inhofe of Oklahoma, who said he viewed challenging any state’s certification as “a violation of my oath of office.”
Suspected South African drug lord, Yaganathan Pillay, popularly known as Teddy Mafia, has been shot dead. He was 59.
Reports said Pilay was shot twice in the head at his home in Shallcross, south of Durban on Monday afternoon. He died shortly after arriving at Chatsmed hospital in Chatsworth.
After the shooting, two alleged hitmen were beheaded and their bodies burnt on Taurus Street in Shallcross, south of Durban.
Confirming the shooting, Brigadier Jay Naicker of KwaZulu Natal (KZN) South Africa Police Service (SAPS) said Pillay sustained two gunshot wounds to the head and later died in hospital.
“The daughter of this well-known drug dealer, was informed by her father that he would be expecting visitors earlier on Monday afternoon.
“She left him and went to the back of the house. Shortly after that, she heard gunshots and when they investigated they found he had been shot.
He was rushed to hospital, where we were told, he later passed on.”
Naicker said that Pillay’s two alleged hitmen were thereafter beheaded and their bodies set alight by angry community members.
“Police officers who arrived on the scene were attacked by the community members after responding to reports of gunshots in the area. Investigations have already been launched by the police.”
Pillay was previously arrested on April 30 last year during a raid at his home, where police allegedly found unlicensed firearms, R700,000 cash, and gold and silver coins with an estimated value of R250,000.
Charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, Pillay was released on R5,000 bail at the Chatsworth magistrate’s court and ordered to appear at the local police station twice a week.
In March 2019, Pillay’s son, Devendren Lionel Pillay, was also shot dead in a drive-by shooting. The 38-year-old was alleged to have been standing with a group of people on the pavement outside his home when a vehicle allegedly drove past them while firing a hail of bullets at the group according to Rising Sun Chatsworth.
Chinese billionaire and founder of Alibaba Group, Jack Ma is suspected to be missing after he mysteriously disappeared from the public eye after Beijing cracked down on his business.
Jack Ma was slated to appear as a star judge on the season finale of Africa’s Business Heroes. However, that didn’t happen and the show’s broadcast was postponed.
Jack’s trouble with the Chinese government began when he gave a speech criticizing China’s regulators and state-owned banks for their “backwardness”.
His remarks are said to have infuriated Beijing’s party brass, leading to Chinese President Xi Jinping personally ordering a halt to the offering by Alibaba’s financial affiliate company, Ant Financial, which was set to raise USD 34 billion in the biggest stock-market debut in history, reported Hollywood Reporter.
In early November, Beijing cancelled the IPO of Ant Financial, while in late December, Chinese regulators announced that they would launch an antitrust investigation into Alibaba’s e-commerce business, as well as enforce new rules to curb Ant’s business activities. These new enforcements led to a decline in Alibaba’s shares and Jack Ma’s personal wealth.
The embattled billionaire has not been seen in two months and speculation has swirled around his whereabouts.
Jack Ma has also been missing from social media. His last tweet was earlier in October.
One of his last tweets had been about the Africa’s Business Heroes reality show, with Ma gushing of the finalists, “I can’t wait to meet them!”
A Wisconsin pharmacist has been fired after he was suspected of intentionally spoiling more than 500 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Steven R. Brandenburg, 46, was released from custody Monday, Jan 4, while prosecutors determine if the charges being considered against him are legitimate.
He confessed to police that he deliberately tried to ruin the vaccines because he was concerned they could alter people’s DNA, WISN reported.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Moderna vaccine against COVID-19 uses messenger RNA to “deliver instructions for human cells to make a piece of protein like that found on COVID-19, and the body then begins building immunities against that and the coronavirus.”
The technology does not alter human DNA.
Jeff Bahr, president of Aurora Health Care Medical Group, told the Journal Sentinel that Brandenburg left 57 vials – each containing about 10 doses of the vaccine – at room temperature the nights of Dec. 24 and 25.
Brandenburg was arrested Dec. 31, the day after Aurora Health Care Medical Group officials determined that his failure one week earlier to refrigerate the vials of Moderna vaccine had been intentional. The hospital stated that it fired Brandenburg.
Brandenburg had been held at the Ozaukee County Jail on a probable cause statement from Grafton police stating that he likely committed two felonies: first-degree recklessly endangering safety and criminal damage to property.
During Monday’s virtual court appearance, however, Ozaukee County District Attorney Adam Gerol told Circuit Judge Paul Malloy that the hospital had “walked back” some of the information on which police had relied and said that the vials in question remain in the hospital’s possession and may even possibly still be viable.
According to WISN, the judge set a $10,000 signature bond, and Brandenburg must surrender all his firearms to sheriff’s deputies. He is also prohibited from working in the health care field and is barred from having any contact with Aurora employees.
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services opened an investigation into Brandenburg’s professional actions as a licensed pharmacist following his arrest, but he does not have a record of professional misconduct, WISN reported.
A video making rounds online has shown moment a Nigerian taxi driver masturbated and ejaculated while carrying some women in his car.
In the video, one of the girls was heard quering the driver on why he brought out his manhood while also asking if it is wrong for women to walk in the streets.
The driver however responded by saying that he was tempted to masturbate and ejaculate after seeing what the girls wore. He also asked them if only men are the ones spoilt as he cleaned up.
A Portuguese health worker has died two days after getting the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine.
41-year-old Sonia Acevedo, who worked in paediatrics at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Porto, suffered a ‘sudden death’ at home on New Year’s Day 48 hours after receiving the jab.
The mother-of-two is not said to have suffered any adverse side-effects after being vaccinated, Mail Online reported.
Ms. Acevedo’s father Abilio Acevedo told Portuguese daily Correio da Manha that he got the call to say her daughter had been found dead around 11am last Friday morning hours after they ate together on New Years Eve, adding: ‘My daughter left home and I never saw her alive again.’
‘She was okay. She hadn’t had any health problems. She had the Covid-19 vaccine but she didn’t have any symptoms. I don’t know what happened. I just want answers.;
‘I want to know what led to my daughter’s death.’
Ms. Acevedo’s daughter Vania Figueredo said her mum had only complained about the ‘normal’ discomfort in the area where she was jabbed but was otherwise fine.
An autopsy is expected to take place this week.
Ms. Acevedo’s employers confirmed she had been vaccinated against coronavirus on December 30 but can’t confirm any ‘undesirable effect’ when she was jabbed or in the hours afterwards.
The Portuguese Institute of Oncology said in a statement: ‘With regards to the sudden death of an operational assistant from the Porto IPO on January 1, 2021, the Board of Directors confirms the event and expresses sincere regret to family and friends in the certainty that this loss is also felt here.’
It added: ‘The explanation of the cause of death will follow the usual procedures in these circumstances.’
UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has announced a new national lockdown until at least mid-February to combat a fast-spreading new variant of the coronavirus.
According to Johnson the move was necessary to aid the containing of the disease variant, even as Britain ramped up its vaccination program by becoming the first nation to start using the vaccine developed by Oxford University and drugmaker AstraZeneca.
Johnson on Monday, January 4, said people must stay at home again, as they were ordered to do so in the first wave of the pandemic in March.
“As I speak to you tonight, our hospitals are under more pressure from COVID than at any time since the start of the pandemic,” he said.
Johnson said there were “tough, tough” weeks to come in the fight against COVID-19.
Under the new rules, which are set to come into effect now, primary and secondary schools and colleges will be closed for face to face learning except for the children of key workers. University students will not be returning until at least mid-February.
All nonessential shops and personal care services like hairdressers will be closed, and restaurants can only operate takeout services.
As of Monday, there were 26,626 COVID patients in hospitals in England, an increase of more than 30% from a week ago. That is 40% above the highest level of the first wave in the spring.
On Monday, they reported 407 virus-related deaths in the UK to push the confirmed death toll total to 75,431, one of the worst in Europe.
The U.K.’s chief medical officers warned that without further action, “there is a material risk of the National Health Service in several areas being overwhelmed over the next 21 days.”
Today also,, Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon also imposed a lockdown until the end of January.
Beginning Tuesday, people in Scotland will be required to stay at home except for essential reasons, to help ease the pressure on hospitals and intensive care units, Sturgeon said.
Text exchanges between Alexander Wang and a male model who accused him of sexual assault have been released as the fashion designer slammed allegations from multiple men again in an email to staff.
Multiple allegations from several male models surfaced on social media last month against Wang.
On December 11, model Owen Mooney alleged in a TikTok video that a “really famous fashion designer” sexually assaulted him at a “packed” club in New York in 2017. read previous report here.
Last week, the fashion designer released a statement denying the ‘grotesquely false’ claims.
In a memo obtained by DailyMail, which was sent to his staff on Monday, Wang wrote: ‘I wanted to take the time to write to you all and thank each and every one of you who have been standing by me and the brand after the difficult past few days.
‘You are my community, my priority and I am fully aware that the recent news has also affected you. I hope this note that I am sending before we post on company socials later today, helps to answer some of your questions and alleviate some concerns.’
Wang.
Wang said that he remains ‘committed’ to his employees and his brand ‘and will do everything in my power to guide us through this process with the utmost transparency’.
‘Firstly, I’d like to take the opportunity to connect directly with the people who have helped me grow this brand into what it is today and address the recent false, fabricated and mostly anonymous accusations against me.
‘While I have always been active in my social life, frequently attending various industry gatherings, parties and concerts where drugs and alcohol were present- but contrary to what has been said, I have never taken advantage of others in a sexual manner or forced anything on anyone without consent.
‘I also have never abused my status or fame for my own benefit. These baseless allegations were started on social media by sites which repeatedly disregarded the value and importance of evidence or fact checking,’ Wang said.
He then wrote that he is making it his ‘priority to prove these accusations are untrue and are fueled by solely opportunistic motives’.
‘It is important for people to speak up about and be heard but there is a need to ensure accusations are credible, so that we don’t harm these important causes. Our team is doing everything in its power to investigate these claims and we promise to remain honest and transparent throughout that process.
‘We are fortunate to have received an overwhelming amount of support over the last few days and are thankful to our staff, clients, and industry peers for standing by our side at this time,’ he concluded.
In addition to the memo, his representatives also released text messages to Daily Mail on Monday January 4, that showed exchanges between Wang and one of his accusers, Nick, who said the fashion designer performed sex acts on him while he was in a blacked-out state in a club.
Nick.
Their first exchange is dated in late 2019 after the alleged incidents are said to have taken place. It shows Nick telling Wang that he’s in Brooklyn with friends.
‘I’m out in Brooklyn at a friends – you??’ Nick asks. Wang responds: ‘Just left a shoot in BK. Heading back into city.’
On November 24, 2019, Nick tells Wang: ‘Damn sorry I’m missing you again.’
According to the exchange, Wang didn’t respond to that message, with Nick writing to him again a week later: ‘Hey how’s it going? Are you having a party next week with Adidas?’
It doesn’t appear that Wang responded to that message either. On January 18, 2020, Nick wrote: ‘Alexxx are you out??’ Wang responded: ‘Nope at home. You?’
‘Want to come to China town?’ Nick asks.
On January 31, 2020, Nick texted Wang about smoking and chilling together.
‘Down to smoke and chill sometime,’ Nick writes, to which Wang responds: ‘Sat?’
‘Yea want to keep it chill?’ Nick asks.
Wang responds: ‘As opposed to….?’
‘Going to a club which we usually do,’ Nick says. Wang replies: ‘Oh Hahahaha yea. Gonna prob stay in tonight.’
Other exchanges include one from May and June 2020.
In May, the men discuss Nick moving out of New York City after losing his job amid the coronavirus pandemic. ‘Would be nice to club again before I head out lol,’ Nick tells Wang.
In the June exchange, Wang told Nick that he was in Connecticut after getting a place there for the summer.
Meanwhile, it was revealed on Monday by Page Six that Lisa Bloom will be representing the male models who have brought accusations against Wang.
‘The fashion industry is long overdue for a reckoning on its frequent, disturbing mistreatment of models. I’ve represented many alleging sexual misconduct in recent years, including against Paul Marciano, Bruce Weber, and others,’ she told Page Six.
‘Models are not props, and they have the same rights to workplace respect as everyone else,’ she added.
Bloom, who is representing Nick, told DailyMail.com in a statement on Monday: ‘The idea that a friendly text exchange between a sexual assault accuser and the accused after the alleged assault negates the accuser’s credibility is false, and based on an outdated understanding of sexual assault.
‘In virtually every case, a victim of someone they know, and especially a celebrity they admire and trust, will continue the relationship for a period of time, due to the psychological mechanisms of denial and shame.
‘Put simply, it’s hard to get your mind around the idea that someone you admire took advantage of you,’ Bloom said, noting: ‘It takes the passage of time and some maturity for a victim to look back and say, wait a minute, that wasn’t right.’
Tyson Fury has slammed Anthony Joshua over his claims that he would knock the Gypsy King out in their ‘Battle of Britain’ heavyweight showdown.
The British duo are expected to meet in 2021 with talks over the fight still on going.
Joshua appeared to confirm the proposed fight with Tyson last month after he defeated Kubrat Pulev in the ninth round to retain his WBA, IBF, and WBO titles.
In the aftermath of that fight, Joshua vowed to take Fury’s ‘head off his shoulders’ when they eventually fight. read previous report here.
The Gypsy King has now hit back at Joshua, dismissing his claims as ‘another lie’ and claimed his heavyweight rival has a ‘confidence issue’
He told Fox Miami: ‘I don’t think he’s as good as people crack him up to be, or he doesn’t believe he is, his own self. He’s got a confidence issue.
‘It’s a nice quote. The fight has been brewing for a long time. They’ve been avoiding me for a long time. Now it’s finally got to happen.
‘I’ve never seen him take anybody’s head off anybody’s shoulders in all of his 22 fights.
‘It’s probably a lie, another lie. We’ll see if he’s got the guts to try and do it.’
The 32-year-old describes himself as an ‘average Joe’ before insisting that his unique style and body shape has made him a ‘freak of the nature’ within the ring.
He added: ‘I just see myself as the regular average Joe. Don’t have the great body, don’t have anything brilliant about me,’ said Fury.
‘There’s never been a 6ft 9in, 275lb guy who can move like a middleweight. I’m a freak of nature.’
Nancy Pelosi has been narrowly re-elected as speaker of the United States House of Representatives as the 117th Congress took office on Sunday Sunday January 3.
After serving for 17 years in charge of the House Democrats, Pelosi ran unopposed in her election, winning the election with 216 votes to secure a fourth – and likely final term leading the House.
The California Democrat is the first woman to be speaker, leading the House from 2006 to 2011, and since the Democrats took back the House in 2018.
Pelosi, 80, is the third speaker in the last 25 years to win with less than 218 votes, after former Republican Speakers Newt Gingrich and Paul Ryan.
“I am enormously grateful for the trust that Members have placed in me, I am confident that the Speaker’s election today will show a united Democratic Caucus ready to meet the challenges ahead, “she wrote in a letter to her Democratic caucus after her re-election win.
“As we are sworn in today, we accept responsibility as daunting and demanding as any that previous generations of leadership have faced. We begin the new Congress during a time of extraordinary difficulty,” Pelosi said in a floor speech that noted the deaths of more than 350,000 Americans from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Now is a time for our nation to heal. Our most urgent priority will continue to be defeating the coronavirus. And defeat it, we will,” the 80-year-old California Democrat added, pledging that further aid would follow the latest $892bn package that Congress passed in December.
In the Senate, Vice President Mike Pence swore in 32 senators on Sunday, administering the oath of office in pairs due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“To say the new Congress convenes at a challenging time would be an understatement,” Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said as the chamber opened.
“From political division to a deadly pandemic to adversaries around the world, the hurdles before us are many and they are serious … But there is also plenty of reason for hope,” the Kentucky Republican added, citing the ongoing roll out of coronavirus vaccine.
The Lagos State Government has announced January 18, 2021, as the approved date for resumption of academic activities in private and public schools in the state for the second term of 2020/21 academic session.
The state’s Commissioner for Education, Folasade Adefisayo, announced this in a statement released today January 4.
In the statement which was signed by the Head, Public Affairs, Ministry of Education, Kayode Abayomi, Adefisayo asked schools to make virtual learning available for sick or willing students. She said this was in line with the Federal Government’s directive coupled with the second wave of the COVID19 Pandemic.
“All public and private schools below the tertiary level in Lagos State should be reopened for the second term 2020/21 academic session from Monday, 18th of January, 2021.
Schools should have flexible plans where students and teachers who feel sick can teach or learn from home via available online platforms. Schools should also strive to avoid any COVID-19 infection among all students and staff” the statement in part reads
She appealed to the management of all schools to adhere to all outlined COVID-19 requirements for the resumption of schools.
“Not just for the improvement of overall school operations but for the safe reopening of academic activities to support the Lagos State Government’s quest for a full return.”she added
All 10 living former US defense secretaries have come out to declare that the US presidential election is over in a forceful public letter published as President Donald Trump continues to deny his election loss to Joe Biden.
Since Election Day on November 3, 2020, Trump has falsely claimed that his second term is being stolen, even as there have been no credible allegations of widespread voting issues as affirmed by dozens of judges, governors, and election officials, the Electoral College, the Justice Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the US Supreme Court.
The letter published by the Washington Post on Sunday, January 3, was signed by Dick Cheney, James Mattis, Mark Esper, Leon Panetta, Donald Rumsfeld, William Cohen, Chuck Hagel, Robert Gates, William Perry and Ashton Carter.
The letter is a show of repulsion towards Trump’s subversion efforts just days before Congress is set to count Electoral College votes.
“Our elections have occurred. Recounts and audits have been conducted. Appropriate challenges have been addressed by the courts. Governors have certified the results. And the electoral college has voted. The time for questioning the results has passed; the time for the formal counting of the electoral college votes, as prescribed in the Constitution and statute, has arrived,” the group wrote.
The report comes as congressional Republicans plan to work with Trump to object to Biden’s win during Electoral College counting on Wednesday — even though their efforts will only delay the inevitable affirmation of Biden’s win.
The former Defense secretaries wrote that presidential transitions “are a crucial part of the successful transfer of power.” “They often occur at times of international uncertainty about U.S. national security policy and posture. They can be a moment when the nation is vulnerable to actions by adversaries seeking to take advantage of the situation.”
The letter follows Trump’s removal of former defence secretary Mark Esper in November to change the Defense Department’s civilian leadership structure and instil loyalists to Trump.
Recall in August 2020, America’s top military officer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, told Congress that the military won’t help settle any election disputes.
The group of former Defense secretaries reiterated in their letter that such an effort “would take us into dangerous, unlawful and unconstitutional territory.”
“Civilian and military officials who direct or carry out such measures would be accountable, including potentially facing criminal penalties, for the grave consequences of their actions on our republic,” the letter states.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange cannot be extradited to the United States, a court in London has ruled.
The judge on Monday`December 4, blocked the request because of concerns over Mr Assange’s mental health and risk of suicide in the US.
The 49-year-old is accused by US authorities of conspiring to hack government computers and of violating an espionage law in connection with the release of confidential cables by WikiLeaks in 2010-2011.
In her ruling, Judge Vanessa Baraitser rejected nearly all of the arguments put forward by Assange’s lawyers, including that the charges were politically motivated and that he would not receive a fair trial in the US.
However, Judge Baraitser refused the request on the basis of Assange’s mental condition and risk of suicide.
Assange, she said, lived with at times severe depression and had been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome and autism.
“I find that Mr. Assange’s risk of committing suicide if an extradition order were to be made, to be substantial,” Judge Baraitser said in her ruling at London’s Old Bailey.
“Faced with conditions of near-total isolation … I am satisfied that the procedures [outlined by US authorities] will not prevent Mr Assange from finding a way to commit suicide,” she said.
US government prosecutors have indicated they will appeal against the ruling in London’s High Court, which could see the case go further to the UK’s Supreme Court and delay an outcome for some time.
Mr Assange will now be taken back to Belmarsh Prison, where he is being held with his lawyer, Edward Fitzgerald QC, expected to apply for bail for his client on Wednesday, pending that appeal.
Assange has been in custody since April 2019, when he was arrested inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London and jailed for breaching bail conditions, before the US Justice Department formally asked for his extradition in June 2019.
If convicted in the US, Mr. Assange faces a possible penalty of up to 175 years in jail, his lawyers have said.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has restarted uranium enrichment toward a 20% target at its Fordow nuclear facility, a government spokesman said on Monday, January 4, according to the semi-official news agency Mehr and state news agency IRNA.
Taking Nuclear enrichment towards 20% makes it easier for Iran to develop a nuclear bomb.
The nuclear enrichment would breach the nuclear deal negotiated between Iran and the international community in 2016, that stopped Iran’s nuclear program in return for lifting of international sanctions.
Iran currently enriches its uranium stockpile up to around 4.5%, which is above the 3.67% cap imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal, but far short of the 90% that is considered weapons-grade.
Gerry Marsden, the iconic voice behind Liverpool’s famous anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, has died at the age of 78.
The singer who formed a band called Gerry and the Pacemakers, and completed sell-out tours around the world, passed away following a short illness.
Liverpool have paid tribute to him on Twitter.
Originally a showtune in musical Carousel, Marsden and his band covered the hit in 1963, and it was number one in the UK Singles Chart for four weeks.
The club’s fans soon adopted the song as an anthem sung before and after games,
Liverpool’s legendary manager Billy Shankly was reportedly ‘in awe’ of the track when he heard it on a pre-season coach trip the summer it had been recorded.
Shankly loved the hit so much he reportedly told Marsden in 1964: “Gerry my son, I have given you a football team and you have given us a song.”
A year later Shankly picked it as his final track on Desert Island Discs ahead of the 1965 FA Cup final.
Since then till today it has been the club’s number one anthem.
Gerry’s voice accompanied our biggest nights. His anthem bonded players, staff and fans around the world, helping create something truly special ❤️
This is an incredible story about a French socialite Blanche Monnier.
Blanche Monnier was a very beautiful young woman.
Born into a family of aristocrats in Paris, France.
Being their only daughter, her family was very protective of her.
In 1876 she fell in love with a lawyer that was not only older than her but broke as well.
Blanche’s mother who did not approve of the relationship developed an intense hatred for the man and demanded that Blanche should end the relationship.
But she had fallen so deeply in love with the man and had set her heart on marrying him.
Amid the imbroglio, Blanche vanished.
Nobody in France could tell of her whereabouts.
Her family told anyone who inquired about her that Blanche had passed away — quite suddenly.
Her family mourned her and went on with their daily lives.
Little did anyone know that the Monnier family was hiding a terrible secret.
On May 23, 1901, the Office of the Attorney General of Paris received an anonymous letter with the following content.
“I have the honour to inform you of an exceptionally serious occurrence. I speak of a spinster who is locked up at the home of Madame Monnier’s house, half-starved and living in putrid filth, for the last 25 years.”
Shocked by the letter, the police began to investigate despite the family’s sterling reputation in the community.
Police officers broke into the house and searched the premises for Blanche, but they found nothing.
As they were preparing to leave, an officer noticed a staircase that led to an attic, so the officers rushed upstairs only to find the door padlocked.
They broke down the door but heard nothing and the room was pitch black. However, there was an ominous foul odor coming from the room.
A lantern gave them some light as they rushed toward the only window in the attic. The boards were promptly removed, allowing better light into the attic.
There, in the corner was a bed, and when the police officers carefully removed the blanket they were horrified by what they saw.
They saw an extremely malnourished woman, cowering in the bed, covered in food and excreta, squinting in the light she had not seen for 25 years.
Now weighing only about 25kg.
It was later discovered that, she had been kept in that secret enclosure for nearly a quarter of a century and have never been exposed to light or another human being in all that time.
A witness described this gruesome discovery in the following words.
“This woman was lying naked on a straw mattress.
All around her a crust had formed from excrement, food scraps, oyster shells, vegetables, fish, and rotten bread.
Her only companions were the rats, bugs, and insects that ran across the bed.”
Madame Monnier, Blanche’s mother who had won an award from the Committee of Good Works for her generous contributions to the city, was immediately arrested.
She died in prison 15 days after confessing to the abysmal abduction of her own daughter.
Blanche’s fiancee’ had also died just a few years after the secret incarceration by her mother.
Although Blanche received excellent medical care that was made available to her, however because the many years of cruelty, imprisonment, and lack of proper nutrition had taken a toll on her, she died thirteen years later from a combination of health-related issues.
But seriously, I’m a survivor. I look back at Tunde’s story with nostalgia, because, I was this 👌🏾 close to death.
I’d have ended up like him on the 13th of January, 2015.
Ibe Nnoke, the then Registrar of Hugh Goldie Lay/Theological Training Institution Arochukwu, where I was lecturing, had just ordered me to give him the keys to my house or suffer terrible consequences if he takes up my marriage issues to the higher courts.
My Ex then had been away since the 11th of December, 2014, and besides an SMS saying she’d gone, and that I should take care, I had no other information as to why she left.
I didn’t want the drama. So, after waiting till the 22nd of December, I changed my locks and traveled home for Christmas. I’d made up my mind that enough was enough as I needed to know where we stood, if she ever returned.
Well, when the school resumed for the New Year, she had to return to work, as she was also a staff of the institution.
Her story was that I locked her out of her house, even though that was my first time of seeing her in one month.
When Nnoke called me to his office and told me what she said, I quickly challenged his position, stating that she left on her own, and I only was waiting for her to return officially, not as a thief who sneaks back home after running off every weekend to her mom’s house.
Dude didn’t buy it. He didn’t even give me a chance to explain further, and as my senior, I only feared the worst since he already told me a committee has been set up on the matter.
What committee? Wait, when? Had they ever called me? Have they called us? How could a fellow man be so wicked and heartless?
Well, I knew I had to obey. After all, as a clergyman, who was trained under some of the strictest conditions, disobedience came with a price.
So, I helplessly handed over the keys, and left for Aba.
Jenny Smith and some of our friends from Scotland were paying us a visit, and I was to deliver some wares I’d picked up from the village, which we needed for dinner.
I got into my car, took a deep breath, and began my journey to Aba. The road from Arochukwu to Ohafia has always been a death trap, so much so that we’re told there’s no road to Arochukwu that’s easy.
Well, after driving through the bad road for a little over 45 minutes, I’d gotten to an Army Checkpoint at Isiugwu Ohafia. But that was the last thing I remembered as I fell into a shock, only recounting the following as I was told.
My car had run into the bush that was just before the checkpoint and the soldiers quickly rushed to the scene. They discovered I was unconscious, and began a rescue mission.
Luckily, I didn’t have my central lock on, and my phone had no passwords. They got me out, scrolled through my phone and made a few calls.
I was first rushed to a hospital at Ohafia and following my Dad’s instructions, I was transfered to Aba.
On getting to Aba, I was having seizures, and to calm me down, a nurse had to inject me, and mistakenly hurt a nerve, which practically paralyzed my left leg.
Well, I woke up few hours later, grateful to be alive. While I was successful in regaining my leg few weeks later, I was unsuccessful with my marriage, and we’re now divorced.
My 45 minutes drive from Arochukwu is an example of Tunde’s 3 year shock. Our hearts can only take so much, and if we care less about our experiences, sweeping everything under the carpet and barely discussing them, we’ll most likely hurt ourselves, in minutes, hours, days, weeks or even years to come.
I feel that above all qualities of a good life is the courage to share our experiences. It’s a priceless gift, one that’s Irreplaceable.
Men have to learn to express themselves, and we should provide the much needed social support for doing so.
It wasn’t until I had a 12 week therapy while in the UK that I understood the depths of my pains, and after those sessions, I found the courage to live a new life, for which I’ve had no regrets.
I share my stories with you all, not to rekindle a certain fire, but to clearly show you how bad it can get.
Stop joking with those silent thoughts that boggle your mind. Take out the time and process them, and if need be, get some professional help.
I knew I was hurt so badly, not just from my marriage, but from an institution who cared less about me.
Yet, I also realized that the choice to live was ENTIRELY mine, and no matter what I’d been through, where I was at the moment, was entirely my decision.
Right now, the choice to live is yours, and your heart can only take so much. If you love it, don’t stress it. Breathe in and enjoy the moment, knowing that if you consciously LIVE and PREPARE for it, the best is certainly yet to come. Peace🙏🏾💯.
The English Premier league was in full swing over the weekend with some very interesting results most remarkably Chelsea’s 1-3 loss to Manchester City which condemned the London club to 8th in the table.
Liverpool, Manchester United, Leicester City, and Tottenham are the top four teams in the table respectively with all teams except Liverpool experiencing wins which pushed them further up the table.
Arsenal, experiencing a resurgence in fortunes have also climbed from 15th to 11th following successive wins that have safeguarded Mikel Arteta’s job in the meantime.
At the bottom of the table, Sheffield United reign supreme with just two points glueing them to the bottom of table.
Fulham and West Brom are in 18th and 19th position respectively, and with Crystal Palace, Brighton and Burnley all having fluctuating results, the EPL relegation battle is surely going to be an interesting one.
Former Manchester United and Real Madrid hitman, Christiano Ronaldo has become the first ever person in the world to have over 250 million followers on Instagram.
The Portuguese captain and former FIFA best player of the year has continued to mark an indelible mark even beyond the world of football.
On the 20 of December 2020, he won the Goldenfoot of the year award, surpassing Messi and other football bigwigs.
Superstar footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo reached an impressive milestone by becoming the most followed person on Instagram with over 250 million followers.
The Juventus and Portuguese striker is also the most followed person on Facebook and the most followed sportsperson on Twitter.
In 2020, Ronaldo had also reached the milestone of having the most-liked photo on Instagram. His tribute post to Argentine legend Diego Maradona, following his death, received 19.7 million likes
With his new Instagram achievement , Ronaldo is followed behind by popular celebrities, including singer Ariana Grande (214 million followers) and actor and wrestling icon Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson (209 million), who are second and third respectively in terms of followers on Instagram.
Ronaldo’s arch-rival and Argentina footballer, Lionel Messi is said to be ranked second among sportspersons on Instagram with 174 million followers.
The Portuguese footballer is also the highest earner on Instagram through sponsored posts. As per reports, Ronaldo earns between USD 466,000 and USD 777,000 for each post on the platform. The 35-year-old reportedly earned USD 47.8 million from paid posts on Instagram in 2020.
Cristiano Ronaldo has passed Brazil’s Pele to become the second-highest goalscorer ever with his double against Udinese.
The Juventus and Portuguese forward, 35, scored twice, his 757th and 758th goal of his illustrious career in the 4-1 win for his club to keep the pressure on the top four in Serie A.
Pele registered 757 goals during his career for Santos, New York Cosmos, and Brazil between 1956 and 1977, but now sits third in the all-time list with Ronaldo now one goal behind Josef Bican’s total of 759.
Ronaldo will now be looking for the opportunity to equal and then eclipse Bican when Juventus visit AC Milan on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, Barcelona and Argentina captain Lionel Messi is behind Ronaldo in the all-time record for club and country with 742 goals.
Gunmen suspected to be militants on Sunday, invaded Peremabiri community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and set ablaze about 20 houses.
It was gathered that the armed men stormed Peremabiri in 50 speedboats in a bid to take control of the community from an ex-militant leader, Paul Eris, popularly known as Ogunboss.
Recall that gunmen had on Christmas day attacked the home of the ex-militant leader and burnt down his private residence.
According to a source who spoke to the Nation, the gunmen chased out community members suspected to be loyal to Paul Eris and have taken over control of the town.
“As I speak with you many people are still hiding in the bush and many houses have been burnt down. The gunmen came in over 50 speedboats shooting sporadically and gained entrance into the community. People had no other option than to run into the bush for safety,” the source said.
“Our intelligence report has it that the gunmen have vowed to remain in the community and ensure that Ogunbos and his followers never return to the community. I was told that the Christmas day attack on Ogunbos’s house was to drive him out of the town. And that today’s attack is aimed at taking total control of the community.” the source added.
The First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has reacted to the paternity scandal involving its Managing Director, Adam Nuru and a former employee with the bank, Moyo Thomas.
It was gathered that Moyo’s estranged husband, Tunde Thomas, 45, died two weeks ago from heart attack after battling with depression upon discovering that the two children from their marriage were allegedly fathered by the FCMB boss.
According to report by the deceased’s friends, Moyo had resigned from FCMB and travelled to the US with the two children, ostensibly on holiday, from where she informed Tunde that he was not the biological father of the children.
Tunde Gentle, as he was fondly called, was said to have suffered stroke after the shocking revelation. He later recovered and slowly began to picked up the pieces of his life. He was set to remarry and had invited friends to his introduction ceremony slated for December 26, 2020.
Sadly, Tunde collapsed and died on December 15 when he got home from work. Autopsy report puts the cause of death as heart failure. He was buried 30th December 2020.
A petition posted on an online platform, change.org and signed by at least 1,927 persons have called for the sacking of the FCMB MD.
“This is a case of gross misconduct based on ethical grounds and an unjustifiable economic oppression by the elite (Adam Nuru) against the underprivileged in the society,” the petition reads.
“The MD has been doing everything possible to sweep this case under the carpet. We implore the Central Bank of Nigeria, as the apex regulator, and the board of FCMB to investigate this for the integrity of the bank and Nigerian banking industry.”
Reacting to the allegations in a statement on Saturday, January 2, 2021, the bank said its Board of Directors has commenced investigation into the matter.
A statement signed by FCMB’s Head, Corporate Affairs, Diran Olojo, and titled: Media Stories Regarding Our Managing Director’ said the bank will conduct a review of the incident to ascertain if there are violations of its code of ethics, was released.
“We are aware of several stories circulating across several media platforms about our bank’s Managing Director Adam Nuru, a former employee Ms Moyo Thomas and her deceased husband, Mr Tunde Thomas,” the statement reads.
“While this is a personal matter the tragedy of the death of Mr Tunde Thomas and the allegations of unethical conduct, require the banks board to conduct a review of what transpired, any violations of our code of ethics and the adequacy of these code of conduct ethics. This will be done immediately. We enjoin all our stakeholders to bear with us as we conduct this review and to please respect the various.”
Meanwhile, below is the full story of the paternity scandal as shared by friends of the deceased, Tunde Thomas:
Tunde Thomas (alias Tunde Gentle), 45, died about two weeks ago from heartbreak. The two kids from his marriage were indeed fathered by a man without scruples or conscience, the current MD of FCMB, Adam Nuru who was his wife’s boss (MD) in FCMB. Tunde’s wife, Moyo Thomas (Nee Ojo), a useless an unconscionable adulterer was engaged in an office romance with her MD, a relationship that was well known throughout the organization as the lack of shame and decorum in both lovebirds made them to get carried away and to throw caution to the wind.
FCMB, an organization without proper rules or governance looked the other way while the open and unprofessional romance was going on between the MD and a subordinate staff of the same organization, a married woman.
The MD, Adam Nuru, who was supposed to be the chief Governance Officer and Chief Image Maker of FCMB spared no thought for the husband of this lady who was bringing up his (Nuru’s) two children while thinking they were his. He also did not think of the organization he was leading while engaging in this foul conduct, the scandal with which no ethical organization would want to be associated.
Tunde was so in love with and attached to his wife and children that he spent most of his resources on them. He took them to London and Dubai on holidays. He also spared no penny in putting them in the best schools.
At the height of the shameful relationship and when the older child was about eight (8) years old, the lady suddenly resigned from FCMB and travelled to the US with the two children, ostensibly on holiday. It was when the school session started in Nigeria and the children were not returned that Tunde started asking questions and the lady finally summoned the shameless courage to tell him the children were not his own.
She then went to the extent of filing for asylum in the US on the ground of marital violence in Nigeria, against a man known to all men by his gentle and easygoing disposition. Her aim was to get the Green Card and to also get Tunde to be barred from entering the US, so she would not have to confront him to look him in the eye and tell him to his face the evil that she had done to him. Within a few months of hearing this news, Tunde suffered a stroke at about the age of 42. He recovered from the stroke but became a shadow of his former self. He would often shed tears from the blues.
Recently, he tried to pick up the pieces of his life and started another relationship with a lawyer lady. Tunde had invited some friends to accompany him to visit the lady’s parents on 26th December. They were planning the materials to take along for the visit but alas, it was not to be. Tunde got home from work in the night of 15th December only to collapse by his staircase and die immediately. Autopsy report puts the cause of death as heart failure.
The wicked souls, Adam Nuru and Moyo Ojo (later Moyo Thomas) have done their worst, the death of an innocent man, and their hands are dripping with his blood. God will demand it of them.
He died as an Executive Director in an asset management company, GDL Asset Management Company Ltd. He was survived by an aged mother and siblings.
Nicki Minaj gave birth to her son on September 30. She has not revealed his name but calls him by the nickname “Papa Bear.”
On Saturday, Jan 2, for the first time, she shared the first full photos of her son.
She also shared a video of her son with the caption: “#PapaBear thank you so very much for choosing me to be your mama,” she wrote. “Wishing you guys a happy & prosperous New Year. Thank you for your love & support throughout this journey. It’s meant so much to me. Becoming a mom is by far the most fulfilling job I’ve ever taken on. Sending love to all the superhero mothers out there. Big hugs to all the women who have been pregnant during this challenging time.”
The Joe Biden vs Donald Trump electoral drama is showing no signs of stopping soon as nearly a dozen Republican senators and senators-elect announced Saturday, January 2, 2021, they will vote against counting electoral votes next week when Congress is expected to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory — despite no credible evidence suggesting widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election.
The 11 Republican lawmakers said they intend to support an objection to the Electoral College votes, if one is brought, and propose an election commission to conduct an “emergency 10-day audit” of the election returns in the “disputed states.”
The group of Republican senators includes Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Steve Daines of Montana, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Braun of Indiana, Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.
The statement reads:
“A fair and credible audit—conducted expeditiously and completed well before January 20—would dramatically improve Americans’ faith in our electoral process and would significantly enhance the legitimacy of whoever becomes our next President. We owe that to the People,”
They added that Congress’ vote on January 6 is the “lone constitutional power remaining to consider and force resolution of the multiple allegations of serious voter fraud.”
US Vice president, Mike Pence who has the traditional role of endorsing the electoral college votes certification endorsed the move on Saturday.
“Vice President (Mike) Pence shares the concerns of millions of Americans about voter fraud and irregularities in the last election. The Vice President welcomes the efforts of members of the House and Senate to use the authority they have under the law to raise objections and bring forward evidence before the Congress and the American people on January 6th,” said Marc Short, the chief of staff for the vice president, in a statement.
It is a huge doubt that the move from Trump’s Republican allies could change the election outcome, with experts saying it could delay the affirmation of Biden’s victory as the Electoral College winner and the next president.
Remember on Wednesday, Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley became the first senator to announce plans to object to the results — a significant move since both a House member and senator are required to mount an objection when Congress counts the electoral votes.
At least 140 House Republicans are expected to vote against counting the electoral votes in Congress, according to two GOP House members.
Hawley on Saturday tweeted that he’s “glad to see more Senators joining the fight.”
In their statement, the 11 GOP senators and senators-elect did not specify the states they intend to reject, but Hawley has signaled that he plans to object to at least certification in battleground state Pennsylvania.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, seemingly dismissed the announcement Saturday from the handful of Republicans, tweeting: “Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be President and Vice President of the United States in 18 days.”
Mike Gwin, a spokesperson for Biden, completely dismissed the plan from the Republican senators, calling it a “stunt” on Saturday.
“This stunt won’t change the fact that President-elect Biden will be sworn in on January 20th,” Gwin said.
“And these baseless claims have already been examined and dismissed by Trump’s own Attorney General, dozens of courts, and election officials from both parties.”
Trump has been pushing for Congress to try to overturn the election result, while his campaign’s attempts to overturn the election through the courts have repeatedly failed.
American actress, Zoe Kravitz has filed for divorce to end her 18 months marriage to actor Karl Glusman.
The Big Little Lies star officially filed for divorce on December 23, with her rep confirming the split to People on Saturday, January 2.
Kravitz and Glusman, who were first linked in October 2016, got married in June 2019 at the Paris home of the actress’ father, Lenny Kravitz.
The star-studded nuptials were attended by the bride’s mom, Lisa Bonet, and her stepfather, Game Of Thrones star Jason Momoa.
Other guests included Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Reese Witherspoon, Oscar-winning actors Denzel Washington, Eddie Redmayne, and British supermodel Cara Delevingne.
The actress is yet to publicly comment on the split, but over the weekend, she posted a series of pictures on Instagram with the caption: ‘New year. little things.’
The pair celebrated their first anniversary over the summer, with Kravitz sharing a black and white photo from their wedding day, captioned: ‘One year.’
As Nigeria prepares to receive its first consignment of COVID-19 vaccines, two scientists have cautioned the Federal Government against a mass COVID-19 vaccination plan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, in December 2020 revealed that the Federal Government had planned to acquire vaccines worth N400 billion.RECOMMENDED ARTICLES
Ehanire had said that the N400 billion would be able to vaccinate 70 per cent of Nigeria’s 200 million population.
Nigeria had 88,587 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,294 deaths as of Saturday. about:blank
It was against this backdrop that the scientists called for caution in separate interviews with NAN in Ibadan on Saturday.
A professor of immunology, Ganiyu Arinola, said that rolling out a mass nationwide vaccine campaign might not be the best use of resources for a resource-poor country like Nigeria.
Arinola, of the Department of Immunology, University of Ibadan, noted that while no amount of investment on health was a waste,” it is reasonable to spend wisely in this time of economic recession”.
The immunologist said that mass vaccination alone would not halt the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria, adding that the available vaccines do not confer lifelong immunity against the virus.
“The mere availability of COVID-19 vaccine is insufficient to give broad immunological protection.
“Efficient vaccines must be safe with little side effects, inexpensive for the target population and widely effective across gender and wide geographical ranges,” he said.
In terms of its efficacy, Arinola still urged a cautious approach by the authorities.
“This is not a hundred per cent true of current COVID-19 vaccines, showing that there is room for improvement on them.
‘For instance, re-infection is likely because existing vaccines stimulate antibody production which may wane with time.
“As of now, it will be advisable to be cautious of the use of current COVID-19 vaccines because too many facts are still emerging on the vaccines.
“In a low-resource country like Nigeria, certain individuals will be unqualified for COVID-19 vaccination due to age, immunocompromised status, socio-economic status and other preexisting medical conditions,” he added.
Asked if the generality of Nigerians would be favourably disposed to the vaccine, the immunologist told NAN that there would likely be divergent views.
“Some people may disqualify themselves based on religious and cultural beliefs.
“A vaccine refusal rate greater than 10 per cent could significantly impede the attainment of its goal.
“Among other concerns about COVID-19 vaccination in low resource countries is a question “Do their benefits outweigh the risks or how safe are the existing COVID-19 vaccines?
“There are reports of adverse reactions and possibilities of COVID-19 not tested in- or safe for use by- some groups of people.
“People with serious health conditions or weakened immune systems may not benefit from vaccine whose effectiveness is based on the host’s active immunity since these people are already immune-compromised or immune-suppressed.
“Active immunity uses various immune cells involved in the uptake and processing of vaccine antigen before the production of antibodies. Other immune cells produce cytokines and other soluble immune factors.
“This brings to fore “Boosting immunity” How many Nigerians have ideas about his/her immune status or how to boost immunity?
“It is imperative that the immune status of an individual is optimal before engaging in vaccination.
“The Federal Government must think twice before investing in a health venture with such uncertainties,” he said.
Arinola told NAN that Nigeria should come up with its own strategies to end the pandemic by adopting can its own unique method of fighting the virus.
“Low-cost, evidence-based and integrated control strategies are primarily needed in the country.
“In low resource setting like ours, there is a need to ensure access to reliable diagnosis in order to determine the true burden of disease in the community.
“A combination of effective vaccination, treatment, and good hygienic practices will guarantee enhanced protection against COVID-19.
“There is also a need to invest in infrastructure for distribution and handling of COVID-19 vaccine widely on an equitable basis.
“Also, collaboration at the international, national, regional, and local level is important,” he said.
In the same vein, Dr Olubusuyi Adewumi, a virologist at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, said that decisions on COVID-19 vaccination must be guided by scientific evidence.
Adewumi, who noted that the country had not been as hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic as other countries, said that mass vaccination may not be the best strategy for Nigeria.
“However, the question is how did we arrive at such a decision. Was it guided by scientific findings? Can we afford it?” he queried.
He added that such monumental decisions must be well thought out and not based on misplaced sentiment.
Leadership and influence mattered even more in 2020–a year when we were all left confused and unsure of our next steps, no thanks to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), disruptions to the global economy and protests against police brutality back home in Nigeria.
In no particular order, the following individuals or torchbearers stood up to be counted when it most mattered; in a year when any kind of compass or fortitude would have made quite the difference…
1..Wizkid
2020 started as a tricky one for Nigerian superstar, Wizkid. He had touted his album, Made In Lagos for three years and it still hadn’t dropped. His December 2019 EP, Soundman Vol. 1 also left a lot to be desired.
Nonetheless, his stock kept rising higher and his stan base, Wizkid FC, gained more power as one of the most powerful stan bases in the world.
A little while later, he released the album and social media shut down. He had several release parties on Capital Xtra in the UK, he also took Afrobeats to another level with his experiential three-hour YouTube special.
More importantly, during the #EndSARS protests, he calmed a restless crowd in front of the Nigerian embassy in London. He was also vocal throughout and even confronted the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, on numerous occasions, via his Twitter account. ‘Made In Lagos’ continues to wax stronger after debuting at No. 80 on the Billboard 200.
It has also spent two straight months in the top 10 of the UK album charts on Apple Music.
2..Paystack
A few years ago, Shola Akinlade graduated from University and got a job in a bank. Ezra Olubi, the more reserved and ubiquitous co-founder of Paystack, was his friend.
Together, they dreamed up a dense payment system for Nigeria. It was meant to build on the strides made by payment systems like Remita and Interswitch.
The company grew from Y Combinator funding into one of Africa’s most properly marketed companies.
Just after the Y Combinator phase, Akinlabi met one of the Co-founders of Stripe and they had lunch in San Francisco. There, a deal to get Stripe funding into Paystack was sealed.
A few years later, Stripe finally decided to acquire Paystack in a deal worth around $200 million – although the details remain unknown. Akinlabi and Olubi will stay on to manage the company.
3..Babajide Sanwo Olu
As the governor of Nigeria’s most populous state and commercial capital, Sanwo-Olu had a responsibility to lead by example and from the front, when the novel coronavirus hit home–and he did.
The governor was hands-on from the moment Nigeria’s index COVID-19 case was hospitalized at the infectious disease hospital in Yaba, Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu was front and center every other day as Lagos’ and Nigeria’s COVID-19 infections spiked and threatened to overwhelm healthcare workers and facilities.
The governor addressed the press periodically, preached COVID-19 safety protocols every opportunity he had, wore a mask in public and encouraged his team to do so as well, implemented public restriction measures on time and kept a busy city abreast of what the government was doing to keep a handle on the pandemic.
He has been the epitome of calm and preparedness as Nigeria battles the virus.
The governor has also been influential in implementing infrastructure projects and keeping the city safe in the wake of the #EndSARS violence and arson.
4..#EndSARS Protesters
It used to be said of Nigerians that they couldn’t sustain a peaceful protest to save their lives, until the #EndSARS protesters came along in early October of 2020 and changed the game.
For two weeks, these young Nigerians protested against decades of police brutality and demanded accountability from the government, from Lagos’ chaotic streets to the pristine boulevards of Nigeria’s capital city of Abuja, with a level of organisation and financial prudence that is perhaps unprecedented in these parts.
They were dogged, they were unbowed and they were unbroken. They showed us all what it means to keep a protest movement going when your backs are against the wall.
There is a reason why Pulse Nigeria has just announced the #EndSARS protester as Person of the Year 2020.
5..Israel Adesanya
Even though officially a New Zealander, Israel Adesanya has so much ‘Nigerian’ in him not to be considered one.
He wants to be considered one; he was born in Nigeria and raised in the West African country until he was 10, before moving to New Zealand with his family.
Nicknamed TheStylebender, he has since become one of the best mixed martial artists in the world and fights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the sport’s biggest competition.
In 2020, he defended his UFC Middleweight belt with a memorable knockout win over feared Brazilian Paulo Costa.
With his ascendency in the UFC, Adesanya is inspiring a slew of upcoming Nigerian fighters and has made the sport more popular on this side of the world.
6..FK Abudu
Feyikemi ‘FK’ Abudu was just another famous Twitter Nigeria user and podcaster before her involvement in the #EndSARS protest blew her into another realm of fame.
It was the sight of young Nigerians lying outside the Lagos State House of Assembly complex on the evening of the first day of the protest that kicked off her involvement in the movement.
The University College London trained engineer visited the scene of the protest and later used her popular Twitter account to solicit donations to help prepare food for the protesters who had stayed overnight. There was no going back after that.
After millions of Naira were raised, the 27-year-old continued to marshall social media for the most impactful Nigerian youth movement in recent history.
7..Feminist Coalition
Just after FK Abudu began crowdfunding in support of the #EndSARS protest, more women joined in, including the Feminist Coalition–a group of Nigerian feminists–to advocate social, financial and political independence for women.
At the time, the group had no notable public project, but sensing the need for organised support for the protest, they swung into action.
The Feminist Coalition rose to the top of the #EndSARS conversation. They crowdsourced donations and provided protesters with food, water, masks, first aid kits, security, medical and legal aid through social media accounts and a dedicated website.
It was ridiculously well-organised, nothing like Nigerians have seen before, at least not on that scale.
8..Aisha Yesufu
The picture of Aisha Yesufu clad in her hijab, her fist raised, taking the knee on a balmy tarmac, while leading an army of protesters before a police cordon, became one of the most iconic images out of Nigeria in 2020.
The protest has become Yesufu’s life. And she was out there again in the rain and sunshine as young Nigerians protested decades of police brutality and extra-judicial killings.
In 2020, Yesufu admirably led the line once more like she’s done her entire life. We stan a fearless advocate of the masses.
9..Healthcare workers
We began 2020 scared for our lives, confused and unsure of how the year was going to pan out for us all.
In the morass of confusion and trepidation that engulfed the nation, our compatriots put on their scrubs and personal protective equipment and got to work–at the risk of their own lives.
In 2020, our frontline healthcare workers emerged as indisputable heroes of humanity, as an incurable virus ferreted us out of streets and offices.
They emerged as heroes without capes. We have them to thank for many more years to come.
10..Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Nigeria’s former minister of finance ended 2020 on the verge of a coronation as Director General of the World Trade Organisation.
Only U.S President Donald Trump and his bunch of protectionist, insular, myopic assemblage of White House characters, now stand in her way.
NOI has also peddled her influence globally as a member of the board of Twitter and Gavi–the vaccine alliance company–as she works tirelessly in cahoots with other global leaders to bring new COVID-19 vaccines to Africa and other low income continents.
In 2020, NOI reminded us of how powerful and influential she still is outside the power corridors of Nigeria.
IN 2010 when soulful singer, Joy Eseoghene Odiete simply known as Jodie, released her monster hit debut single, ‘Kuchi Kuchi’ (Oh! Baby). She never knew how far her song would go. It went as far as becoming an anthem in many households in Africa and beyond.
Many did not even remember that she participated in the West African Idols competition and came top 10 alongside Nigerian musicians such as Timi Dakolo and Omawunmi in 2007.
After Kuchi Kuchi (Oh! Baby), Jodie, released an album, ‘African Woman in 2012 and few singles. Thereafter things took a different turn in her life. However, she is back and in this chat with SAM ANOKAM, Jodie displayed her strength of character as she bares her mind about her career, her private life, challenges and future.
WHAT took you this long after ‘Kuchi Kuchi’ (Oh! Baby) love’ to release another album?
It took a while, I know, but it wasn’t after ‘Kuchi Kuchi.’ I released an album, titled “African Woman” in 2012 then, a couple of singles in between. Well, you would be right to ask “What took you so long?” – Many people asked the same.
Truth is, life happens. It’s been a roller-coaster for me. I had my distractions. I got pregnant. I got married. I gave birth to a sweet boy with special needs – and you know what that means in Nigeria. I got divorced. I got depressed. I got back up again!
How have you been coping ever since you got divorced?
After crying my eyes out, I tried to numb the pain, so I got a job far away from home, so that I would commute to work very early in the morning and commute back late at night – plus the Lagos traffic – exhausted. It gave me some false comfort, so that I’d be too tired to think and continue the cycle the next day.
I didn’t know I was depressed after a while. I even shaved my hair at some point – I thought it was a fashion statement (I really like hair) – that’s after I had gone blonde. Sometimes, I would put on very heavy make-up, just to add some ‘colour’ in my life. I was restless. I was that way until, one day, still on the job – I had gone to Abuja for an assignment. I was walking back to the hotel I was lodged in, then I found myself praying this so-called prayer. It was full of bitterness and anger – asking God to punish those I believed had hurt me. Then, it was like someone spoke to me in my heart, saying, “but, is that what you really want?” I paused. I then started walking slowly, I was now speaking out, softly, I said, ‘Actually, that’s not what I want, I just want them to see things through my perspective.’ After which, I continued the rest of the prayer, still walking, asking for peace of mind and help to forgive and move on.” I believe that is where healing began.
I started afresh, like a child – I went back to my church choir. I continued with my hobbies – crafting and all. I even learnt a new skill (product formulation from Eudokas Beauty Institute) and opened a natural hair care brand called Kuchi Kuchi – of course, I grew my nappy hair back, and by the way, it is long again. I decided to sing some songs I’ve always wanted to sing, hence my new EP, ‘Songs of Truth’ I decided to live again and by the help of God and with gratitude in my heart, I am living again.
With all what you went through, would you give love another chance?
God is love – nothing but love lives here. I know you are talking about marriage though. If God sends me my Boaz, why not? I will gladly, as I’m still young and ‘everything’ is in very good shape. On the flip side, I’m willing to stay single and celibate if God writes my script that way. Whichever way, I’ll do it with joy!
So, your new EP is gospel of gratitude to God?
‘Songs of Truth’ is made up of four songs I had written long before now – the youngest of the songs should be about 10 years old, while the oldest may be almost 30 years old. I had always wanted to sing gospel music straight up after Idols West Africa, but I was not confident in my choice – I felt I wasn’t “good” enough. Now, I know better – we can never be “good” enough. Also, I listened to others instead of what was in my heart. People advised I sang inspirational songs without adding “God” to it, so that it would sell. Since I wasn’t confident in the first place, I went along with the advice.
When I was having my son in 2016 – there was an emergency CS and I had an epiphany. In that epiphany, I remembered the gospel songs I had written, yet put away till “later” and I had a strong desire to sing them.
Finally, I have sung them and I’d like to use this opportunity to thank Spane5 Mixline, Jide Otutu of DC Akademy Filmz, Innocent Essien (Essino), Kemi Owa of B305 Media, Veentage Band Studio and everyone who helped me put together ‘Songs of Truth’ audios and music videos together. Producing songs, videos, etc cost money – I didn’t have the budget for ‘Songs of Truth,’ as I had other pressing responsibilities at hand, but God used these people to make ‘Songs of Truth’ a reality. I will say that “Songs of Truth” EP is a collection I’ve owed God and my generation for a long time – it becoming a reality is a show of mercy from God.
In specific, what are the titles of the songs?
Songs of Truth is made of “Seasons” (Don’t Give Up), “Goodness of the LORD”, “Psalm 27” and “All of My Days.” Of course, I didn’t write the lyrics to Psalm 27 – I simply added melody to the entire chapter in the Holy Bible. That is the one that should be about 30 years old – I remember singing to Psalm 27 using my little blue Gideons Bible.
Are you now a gospel or inspirational singer?
Sincerely, I’m not particular about how I’m referred to. I just hope I leave a godly impression in the hearts of anyone I (or my materials) come across.
Could you describe yourself in a few words?
I would like to borrow the popular Super Story quote “We are nothing but pencils in the hands of the Creator”. Ok… That just came to mind and it made me giggle.
On a serious note, I am a woman learning that everything I need is in the Holy Bible, so I am a helpless child, clinging to the laws of God. My life has become simpler because the blueprint has been spelled out plainly for me right from the beginning. I’m a God-dependent lady.
What other professions would you have practiced if you are not a musician?
A Visual Artist. I might still get back to it in the near future. For now, I’d like to stabilize my new natural hair care company.
President Buhari has once again instructed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) not to provide foreign exchange for the importation of food items.
The President gave the directive at the fifth regular meeting with the presidential economic advisory council that held at the statehouse in Abuja today December 29.
A statement released by Garba Shehu, the president’s senior special assistant on media and publicity, quoted President Buhari as saying Nigerians must eat what is produced here.
“The CBN must not give money to import food. Already, about seven states are producing all the rice we need. We must eat what we produce. Going back to the land is the way out. We depend on petrol at the expense of agriculture. Now the oil industry is in turmoil. We are being squeezed to produce at 1.5 million barrels a day as against a capacity to produce 2.3 million. At the same time, the technical cost of our production per barrel is high, compared to the Middle East production
We will continue to encourage our people to go back to the land. Our elite is indoctrinated in the idea that we are rich in oil, leaving the land for the city for oil riches.
We are back to the land now. We must not lose the opportunity to make life easier for our people. Imagine what would have happened if we didn’t encourage agriculture and closed the borders. We would have been in trouble.”he said
This is the third time that the President would issue CBN the directive not to give food importers foreign exchange. The first time was in August 2019 and again in September 2020.
Two friends fell in love with the same woman while on holiday together but instead of letting her go, they both decided to date her.
Friends Dino De Souza, 40, and Saulo Gomes, 30, both didn’t want their feelings for the woman to get in the way of their friendship so they decided to date the stranger.
They approached Olga, 27, at a local bar during a holiday in Barcelona on 19 August, 2019, and were immediately captivated by her.
The trio began going on dates together but never thought they’d become a throuple.
Dino said: “Saulo and I arrived in Barcelona and went directly to a bar to see the Champions League game which was showing that night.
“We entered the bar and Olga was there with a group of friends. We approached her and we invited her to go and get a drink with us, and that was where our beautiful story began.”
Dino, who lives in France with Saulo and Olga, added: “For us, it is not a question of being in a relationship with three people.
“It’s a question of chemistry, we happened to be connected. The chemistry was so strong that we are impressed to know what the other is thinking or feeling.
“I would like to be able to describe what we feel, but we do not have adjectives to describe this feeling.”
Their relationship has gone from strength to strength and they’re still together a year and a half later.
They enjoy going on restaurant dates like typical couples, as well as travelling together.
Initially, the throuple received shocked reactions from friends and family who struggled to understand their relationship.
But after the initial surprise, they won over their loved ones.
Dino explained: “In the beginning, we received many shocking messages from friends and family trying to understand what was happening.
“We have been calm, explaining to them what we feel for Olga and that we have not changed as people, but instead have grown from this relationship.
“We don’t get a lot of comments but we get a lot of confused looks from people.
“When they have an opportunity to get to know us and talk, they completely change the way they were thinking about our relationship.
“They got surprised and changed negative opinions that they had before.”
Dino admitted strangers aren’t very understanding of their union but says he doesn’t care.
Dino said: “We are very mature and philosophical about life. We always try to stay positive and do not waste our energy with negative things.
“We also don’t give a f*** what people think about us!”
As for how they make decisions in their relationship, Dino explained: “When it’s time to decide something, we vote and the vote that has the highest number wins.”
In the future, the trio want to start a family.
Dino said: “We want Olga to mother children from me and from Saulo.
“We plan to travel the world and share our philosophy on our way of life in the simplest way possible, while developing our business.”
Two friends fell in love with the same woman while on holiday together but instead of letting her go, they both decided to date her.
Friends Dino De Souza, 40, and Saulo Gomes, 30, both didn’t want their feelings for the woman to get in the way of their friendship so they decided to date the stranger.
They approached Olga, 27, at a local bar during a holiday in Barcelona on 19 August, 2019, and were immediately captivated by her.
The trio began going on dates together but never thought they’d become a throuple.
Dino said: “Saulo and I arrived in Barcelona and went directly to a bar to see the Champions League game which was showing that night.
“We entered the bar and Olga was there with a group of friends. We approached her and we invited her to go and get a drink with us, and that was where our beautiful story began.”
Dino, who lives in France with Saulo and Olga, added: “For us, it is not a question of being in a relationship with three people.
“It’s a question of chemistry, we happened to be connected. The chemistry was so strong that we are impressed to know what the other is thinking or feeling.
“I would like to be able to describe what we feel, but we do not have adjectives to describe this feeling.”
Their relationship has gone from strength to strength and they’re still together a year and a half later.
They enjoy going on restaurant dates like typical couples, as well as travelling together.
Initially, the throuple received shocked reactions from friends and family who struggled to understand their relationship.
But after the initial surprise, they won over their loved ones.
Dino explained: “In the beginning, we received many shocking messages from friends and family trying to understand what was happening.
“We have been calm, explaining to them what we feel for Olga and that we have not changed as people, but instead have grown from this relationship.
“We don’t get a lot of comments but we get a lot of confused looks from people.
“When they have an opportunity to get to know us and talk, they completely change the way they were thinking about our relationship.
“They got surprised and changed negative opinions that they had before.”
Dino admitted strangers aren’t very understanding of their union but says he doesn’t care.
Dino said: “We are very mature and philosophical about life. We always try to stay positive and do not waste our energy with negative things.
“We also don’t give a f*** what people think about us!”
As for how they make decisions in their relationship, Dino explained: “When it’s time to decide something, we vote and the vote that has the highest number wins.”
In the future, the trio want to start a family.
Dino said: “We want Olga to mother children from me and from Saulo.
“We plan to travel the world and share our philosophy on our way of life in the simplest way possible, while developing our business.”
The United Nations (UN) has condemned Iran for executing a man for a crime he allegedly committed when he was 16 years old.
The UN human rights office said that Mohammad Hassan Rezaiee, aged 30, was put to death on Thursday, December 31, and was executed for a crme he allegedly committed as a teen amid reports he was convicted on a forced confession.
According to Amnesty International, Rezaiee had been arrested in 2007 over the fatal stabbing of a man. Amnesty International had warned that carrying out the sentence would represent “an abhorrent assault on children’s rights”.
“Imposing the death penalty on someone who was a child at the time of the crime is a serious violation of international human rights law, which absolutely prohibits the use of the death penalty for crimes committed by children,” it said in a statement earlier this month.
Following news of Rezaiee’s execution, the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Michelle Bachelet, issued a statement saying she “strongly condemns” Iran’s action.
In the statement, AI spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani expressed dismay that the execution went ahead “despite interventions and engagement” by the OHCHR with Iran.
According to Amnesty, Rezaiee had been held for more than 12 years on death row. It says he was convicted after what it called a “grossly unfair trial” which used confessions extracted under torture.
Rezaiee’s execution comes weeks after two other high-profile cases in Iran, which drew international condemnation – one was the execution of a journalist for “corruption on Earth” and the other of a wrestler convicted of murder, despite allegations that he was also tortured into confessing.
Three other child offenders have been executed by Iran this year, according to the OHCHR.
At least 80 others are being held on death row in Iranian prisons, the UN high commissioner’s office says.
Lindsey Vonn and her fiance P.K. Subban are calling it quits after three years together.
The 36-year-old Olympic skier shared that she has split with her fiance, pro hockey player PK Subban, after three years together.
In her caption, the blonde beauty wrote, ”Over the past 3 years PK and I have had some incredible times together.
‘He is a kind, good man, and someone I respect a great deal.’
‘However, after much consideration, we have decided to move forward separately. We will always remain friends and love each other immensely. We ask that you please respect our privacy during this time.’
The news comes two months after she said their wedding plans were on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘We are in a holding pattern,’ said the star.
‘With COVID, it just feels like there’s no good option, you know? I don’t have a timeline or a plan, we’re just kind of going to wait and see.
‘Obviously, his family is in Canada, so I can’t physically get to Canada and they can’t get here,’ the star skier added. ‘It’ll happen eventually, we just don’t know when.’
The couple said at the time they were ‘not in a rush’.
‘Neither of us are really worried about when we’re going to get married,’ Vonn commented. ‘We know it’s gonna happen, so we’re not in a rush about it.’
‘It’s been great for us. We’ve really enjoyed the time together, as much as one can,’ she reflected.
‘When you’re living together and you see each other every single day, 24 hours a day, you get to know each other pretty quickly. I think it’s been good for us to really find out everything about each other, and I think we’ve gotten a lot closer throughout the whole process.’
Lindsey and PK began dating in December 2017 and went public with their romance in June of the following year.
Prior to that, Lindsey was married to fellow 2002 Olympian Thomas Vonn from 2007 until 2013.
Before her relationship with Subban kicked off, Lindsey dated golfer Tiger Woods from 2013 to 2015 and was linked to NFL assistant coach Kenan Smith for a year.
A mother who raped her son’s friend at a sleepover has been jailed for ten years
Court records show that Su Hyon Dillon, 46, was sentenced to 10 years to life earlier this month after she pleaded guilty to first-degree child rape and second-degree child rape last month, The News Tribune reports.
The report said Dillon initiated sex with her son’s friend, aged 11, after going into his bedroom during the night in Puyallup, Washington State, US.
According to court files, she went into the room before laying next to him and molested him before she then forced him to have sex with her.
The boy told her “he was concerned he would get her pregnant and she said she had her tubes tied.”
Dillon was sentenced to ten years to life after pleading guilty to first and second-degree child rapes. But she will serve only a year behind bars, with the rest of the sentence suspended so she can get treatment, say court records. She must also register as a sex offender.
Dillon’s victim was a friend of her son through the Emerald Ridge Lacrosse Club, where she was the “team mom,” investigators said.
The Romps took place at her home and at hotels when the team played away between May 2014 and May 2015, said court files.
The lad told police Dillon kissed him on the lips at her house when he was just 10.
“He said one time on a ride home she pulled over and told him that what they were doing was a secret because she wanted their relationship to continue and become more serious,” the court papers said.
The boy later became suicidal and started cutting himself.
He started skipping school and was sent to live with his dad in Virginia, his mom told officers.
It was only then, during a counseling session, when he opened up about Dillon’s abuse and a probe was launched in 2019.
Dillon is said to have initially denied having sex with the boy before blaming him for initiating it, according to court documents. But later she reportedly admitted “having problems in her marriage and that the victim made her feel good.”
She did not have romantic feelings for the boy but “liked the attention.”
“This is somebody who has taken advantage of kids who are 10 and 11 years old,” Detective Ed Troyer told the Tacoma News Tribune.
“They’re not able to make those types of decisions at that age.
“This is disturbing as a parent because you are sending your kid off to a friend’s house with what appeared to be a parent or parents who also coached the team, upstanding in the community, only to have your son victimised.”
A Republican Senator, Josh Hawley of Missouri, has added a new twist to the US election certification process by announcing Wednesday, December 30, that he will object when Congress counts the Electoral College votes next week, a process that which will force lawmakers in both the House and Senate to vote on whether to accept the results of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
Hawley is the first senator to announce plans to object to the results.
It’s a bold move seeing that for the electoral college votes to be counted, a House member and senator are required to mount an objection when Congress counts the Electoral College votes on January 6.
The objection will not change the outcome of the election, but will delay the affirmation of Biden’s victory over US President Trump in the November election.
Democrats control the house and will reject any objections in the House, but Republicans who control the Senate could increase the post electoral drama spurred on by Trump’s claims of electoral fraud.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has privately urged Senate Republicans not to join the group of House members who are planning to object.
Trump, who has lost so many post electoral challenges in court, has been pushing for Congress to try to overturn the election result.
If an objection is raised from one lawmaker in both the House and Senate during the joint session of Congress, the two chambers separate and debate the matter for two hours, before voting with whether to sustain the objection.
Hawley claims that some states, such as Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own laws, though the issues surrounding Pennsylvania’s mail-in voting rules were litigated before the election.
Hawley also complained about the way that social media companies like Facebook and Twitter handled content surrounding the election.
“I cannot vote to certify the electoral college results on January 6 without raising the fact that some states, particularly Pennsylvania, failed to follow their own state election laws,” Hawley said. “At the very least, Congress should investigate allegations of voter fraud and adopt measures to secure the integrity of our elections. But Congress has so far failed to act.”
Hawley also cited previous Democratic objections during the counting of Electoral College votes, saying just as Democrats were “entitled to do so,” that “now those of us concerned about the integrity of this election are entitled to do the same.”
The last time the chambers voted on an objection was in 2005, when then-Sen. Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, joined with then-Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, an Ohio Democrat, to object to George Bush’s Ohio win.
A 35-year-old Nigerian man who has been living in the UK for the past 16 years is set to be deported after losing several appeal.
Barido Nwinaene arrived in Liverpool on a student visa and studied for a degree in business and marketing at Liverpool Hope University.
He went on to obtain his Master’s in computers and information systems at Liverpool John Moores University.
He lives in his friend’s flat in Toxteth and has a 10-year-old daughter, now living in the Midlands.
But after exhausting appeals to remain on Merseyside, the Home Office has ruled he must return to Nigeria.
Mr Nwinaene argues he is a fully integrated citizen in Liverpool, a place he considers home, and has many friends and an uncle here.
Since acquiring his qualifications, he has not worked because he’s been unable to secure the relevant visa for an employer.
Letters from the Home Office appear to indicate that because Mr Nwinaene has spent nine years and eight months in the UK with “lawful leave” – during his studies and lengthy appeal process, it is just short of the 10-year continuous residence required to remain in this country.
Riverside MP Kim Johnson who is supporting Mr Nwinaene and told the Home Office to grant him permanent residency.
“As a member of our public who calls this country his home, and has contributed so much already to is community, both local and academic, I feel it would benefit Mr Nwinaene greatly to receive permanent status.”
At one point, about five years ago, Nwinaene spent six months being transferred to different detention centres around UK, in Glasgow, London and Manchester before he was allowed back to Merseyside.
In an interview with ECHO on Wednesday, December 30, Nwinaene said he will face significant hardship if he was forced to return to Nigeria and will be made homeless.
“Liverpool is my home and has been for the last 16 years. It would be devastating to return to Nigeria, I’ve not been able to get hold of any family there for a long time. I ‘m really integrated in Liverpool and Toxteth and I can offer a lot to the city and community. I have fought a long battle with the Home Office, I would like them to grant me permanent residency.”
However, a Home Office spokesperson said: “All applications are carefully considered on their individual merits, on the basis of the evidence provided and in accordance with the immigration rules. This case has been tested before the courts and our position has been upheld.”
The US Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, an ally of Trump during the president’s tenure, has rejected attempts to give new $2000 to Americans despite President Donald Trump, congressional Democrats and some Republicans agreeing that the Coronavirus relief aid should be given.
The House of Representatives, held by the Democrats, voted for higher relief.
But Mr McConnell’s objections mean there will not be a direct vote on a revised Covid aid bill in the Senate.
According to McConnell, raising aid cheques from $600 to $2,000 would be “another fire hose of borrowed money”
The move, a huge power play by McConnell, shows he is ready to defy Trump, the second time he is going against the president, weeks after releasing a statement acknowledging Joe Biden’s win.
Congress agreed the smaller $600 payments in a Covid relief and government funding bill that Trump sent back to Capitol Hill before Christmas, with the president seeking higher stimulus payments.
Surprisingly, House Democrats – political foes of Trump – passed the measure for $2,000 cheques that he requested.
Dozens of House Republicans, reluctant to defy Mr Trump, sided with Democrats to approve the package.
“Unless Republicans have a death wish, and it is also the right thing to do, they must approve the $2,000 payments ASAP,” Trump tweeted on Tuesday.
But now McConnell, determined to show he now owns power in the Republican party as the Senate leader, with Trump set to exit the White House next month, has now rejected the proposed aid.
McConnell rejected Democrats’ calls for the senate to vote on the $2,000 cheques package passed by their counterparts in the legislative House.
He said the bill had “no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate”.
Speaking in the chamber on Wednesday, the Kentucky senator said: “The Senate is not going to be bullied into rushing out more borrowed money into the hands of Democrats’ rich friends who don’t need the help.”
Instead he offered to roll the proposal for $2,000 cheques into another bill to include other measures raised by Trump such as ending legal protection for tech companies, known as Section 230 and setting up a bipartisan commission to investigate Trump’s unsubstantiated claims of systemic electoral fraud.
Democrats said McConnell’s proposal was a legislative poison pill aimed at killing the $2000 stimulus payments as Democrats won’t agree to the other demands wanted by Trump.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent who votes with Democrats, said on the Senate floor: “All we are asking for is a vote. What is the problem?
“If you want to vote against $2,000 checks for your state, vote against it.”
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said: “What we’re seeing right now is leader McConnell trying to kill the cheques – the $2,000 cheques desperately needed by so many American families.”
And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: “These Republicans in the Senate seem to have an endless tolerance for other people’s sadness.”
At least 22 people have been killed and more than 50 wounded in an attack at the airport in the southern Yemeni city of Aden, Government officials say.
According to reports coming out from Yemen, there was at least one explosion shortly after a plane carrying the Yemen’s newly formed government arrived from neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
Aid workers and officials were among the casualties according to reports but the prime minister of the war torn country said he and his cabinet were “fine”.
The Yemeni government accuses the Houthi rebels of the terrorist act.
The information minister posting on Twitter accused Houthi rebels of a “cowardly terrorist act”.
“We assure our ppl that all cabinet members r safe, &cowardly terrorist attack by Iran-backed Houthi militia on Aden airport will not deter us fm our duty & our life isn’t more valuable than other Yemenis.’ Eryanim the Information minister posted on Twitter
“May Allah have mercy on souls of martyrs, &wish fast recovery 4injured” He added.
Yemen has been devastated by a conflict that escalated in 2015, when a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states launched a military operation to defeat the Houthi terrorist group and restore President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi’s rule.
The fighting which has happened for 5 years has reportedly left more than 110,000 people dead; triggering the world’s worst humanitarian disaster in the process.
Millions of women and children are experiencing famine in the country.
Video footage of the incident which happened on Wednesday, December 30, showed that there was a large blast as passengers began leaving the plane that had flown the new cabinet to Aden, Yemen.
A crowd that had gathered on the tarmac to welcome the ministers ran as thick smoke billowed from the airport terminal. Multiple gunfire was heard soon afterwards.
An AFP news agency correspondent reported hearing at least two blasts in total, as did Minister for International Co-operation Najeeb al-Awj.
In August 2019, 36 people were killed in a Houthi missile attack on a military parade in Aden.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said three members of staff were killed in Wednesday’s attack, and three others were injured, including one seriously.
Dominik Stillhart, ICRC’s director of operations, said: “The Yemeni people have endured a terrible amount of suffering over the last five years. A day like this adds even more grief both for the Red Cross family and for the Yemeni families who had loved ones killed or injured in this explosion.”
Yemeni news website Al-Masdar Online reported that an undersecretary at the labour ministry, Yasmin al-Awadhi, was killed and that Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport Moneer al-Wajeeh and Deputy Transport Minister Nasser Sharif were among the injured.
UN special envoy Martin Griffiths strongly condemned the attack.
“I wish the cabinet strength in facing the difficult tasks ahead,” he said in a statement. “This unacceptable act of violence is a tragic reminder of the importance of bringing Yemen urgently back on the path towards peace.”
Chelsea football club of England have posted a profit of £32.5 million ($44.4m) in their latest financial results.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Blues saw their total turnover go down from the previous number of £446.7m ($610.6m) last year to £407.4m ($556.8m) this fiscal year ending June 30 2020.
Most of the profit was made from player sales and Champions League qualification.
Chelsea also remain compliant “with UEFA’s break-even criteria under the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations,” according to a club statement .
Chelsea also saw a significant fall in both broadcasting and matchday revenues, as a result of the suspension of the season from March 2020 at the height of the covid-19 pandemic.
Commercial revenue also fell as non-matchday activities effectively suspended or closed, while the club further invested close to £100m ($136.7m) in their squad.
That figure does not include the club’s big-money summer signings however, with Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell and Edouard Mendy all arriving after the 2020 fiscal year.
“In common with many, many businesses across the globe, the pandemic has had a significant impact on Chelsea’s income,” chairman Bruce Buck noted in a club statement .
“But it is a sign of the strength and stability of our financial operation that the company was still able to post a profit in the past financial year.
“This was done while continuing to invest in our playing staff and indeed had normal football not halted in March, projections show a record profit and record turnover would have been achieved.
“That would have represented an increase in revenue for a fifth year in succession.
“Despite the impact of Covid, the revenue streams remained strong, our team is developing on the pitch and the Club is in a good position to continue to grow when football is able to operate as it did previously, a time we are all looking forward to.”
Dbanj and his wife Lineo Didi Kilgrow have welcomed another child, a baby girl.
The singer took to Instagram to announce the birth of his baby girl with a series of photos. In one of the images, the proud father was pictured carrying his newborn, while others showed his wife showcasing her baby bump.
He wrote in his caption:
As I Hold My Daughter, My Own babylet In my Arms On This Day all the proof in God I need is in Her Eyes, you are a gift from the heavens and my God indeed honored His words in Psalms 65:11
And to my Beautiful Wife lineo, I watched how you changed by the day and I marvelled at your strength. I couldn’t imagine the stress you had to go through carrying another human in a body. But You taught me what real strength is as you endured every kick and change just to give us our baby girl, while still Taking care of all of us.
You are wonderful love and a Rare Gem. I’m grateful I get to wake up to you. You have proven yet again that you are unmistakably one of the best gifts God has ever blessed me with.
I love you. Happy New year .2021 is full of GRACE. Zane your Little sister is here!
Recall that Dbanj and his wife lost their first child, Daniel The Third in 2018. He was just 14-months old.
The couple welcomed another son, named Zane in September 2019
A statue of a formerly enslaved man on his knees in front of President Abraham Lincoln in a Boston public park was dismantled this week after 141 years when it was erected.
The removal of the Emancipation Group statue in Park Square comes months after the Boston Art Commission voted to remove the statue which has stood in Park Square since 1879 by the end of year, according to the Boston Herald.
The decision came in June following the nationwide protests that took place following the death of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white police officer.
“We’re pleased to have taken it down this morning,” a spokeswoman for Mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement to CNN.
“As expressed by so many during the public process this year, we fully agree that the statue should be relocated to a new publicly accessible location where its history and context can be better explained,” the spokeswoman said.
“The decision for removal acknowledges the statue’s role in perpetuating harmful prejudices and obscuring the role of Black Americans in shaping the nation’s fight for freedom.”
Tory Bullock, who helped push the petition for the statue’s removal, said told Boston Herald: “At the top of my petition, I described being a kid and I would always ask myself, ‘If he’s free, why is he still on his knees?’ After this, no kid will ever have to ask that again.”
“I’m proud, I’m Black and I’m young,” Bullock told the outlet. “This image has been doing a lot of disservice to African Americans in Boston and now it stops.”
According to CNN, the statue is a replica of one erected in Washington D.C. It’s based on a picture of Archer Alexander, who was born into slavery.
The spokeswoman for Boston Mayor Marty Walsh also said the “statue will not be destroyed, but will rather be relocated to a location where “its history and context can be better explained.”
“The decision for removal acknowledges the statue’s role in perpetuating harmful prejudices and obscuring the role of Black Americans in shaping the nation’s fight for freedom”.
An Ethiopian migrant, Agitu Ideo Gudeta was raped and murdered by a Ghanaian employee on her farm where she raised goats for her cheese business, police said on Wednesday, December 30.
The suspect, Adams Suleimani, 32, who works on Gudeta’s farm in the northern Italian region of Trentino, has admitted to killing Gudeta, 42, with a hammer and raping her, Italian news agency Ansa reported.
According to the Italian daily Repubblica, Suleimani was brought in for questioning on Tuesday night based on evidence found at the scene.
Carabinieri are investigating allegations that he had assaulted and raped Ms Gudeta after an argument over an unpaid salary. He is being detained in Trento as the investigation continues.
It was gathered that neighbours began looking for Ms Gudeta after she failed to turn up for a business appointment though they could hear her mobile phone ringing and vibrating inside her flat.
Gudeta had made her home in the mountains of Trentino’s Valle dei Mocheni, making goat’s cheese and beauty products in her farm La Capra Felice (The Happy Goat), which was built on previously abandoned land.
Her story was reported by numerous international media, including Reuters , as an example of a migrant success story in Italy at a time of rising hostility towards immigrants, fueled by the right-wing League party.
Gudeta escaped from Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, in 2010 after her participation in protests against ‘land-grabbing’ angered local authorities. Activists accused the authorities of setting aside large swathes of farmland for foreign investors.
On reaching Italy she was able to use common land in the northern mountains to build her new enterprise, taking advantage of permits that give farmers access to public land to prevent local territory from being reclaimed by wild nature.
Starting off with 15 goats, she had 180 by 2018 when she became a well-known figure.
“I created my space and made myself known, there was no resistance to me,” she told Reuters in a story that year.
As one of the few black people farming in the region, she had overcome persistent racial harassment to become a beloved figure in the valley.
She became a national symbol for environmentalism and integration after Radical Party politician Emma Bonino singled her out as an example of successful integration and courageous female entrepreneurship.
In 2019 she was nominated for the Luisa Minazzi-Environmentalist of the Year prize by the Italian environmentalist association Legambiente.
“Our entire group expresses sorrow over the assassination of a courageous woman who was passionate about her job and engaged in defending environmental and human rights,” said the Legambiente nominating committee in a statement.
“In the coming hours we will vigilantly follow the investigation into this unacceptable femicide, which follows in the wake of racist threats that Agitu Ideo Gudeta had received several times in recent years.”
President Buhari has signed the 2021 Appropriation Bill of N13,588,027,886,175 into law. The president signed the budget at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja on Thursday morning, December 31.
The National Assembly had on December 21, 2020, passed the 2021 Appropriation Bill with an aggregate expenditure of N13, 588, 027,886, 175 trillion.
It comprises total Capital Supplementation of N1,060,751,051,650 and total Capital Expenditure of N4,125,149,354,222, Statutory Transfer stands at N496,528,471,273; recurrent Expenditure of N5,641,970,060,680 and Gross Domestic Product, GDP growth rate of 3.00 Percent.
The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila of the House of Representatives, principal officers of National Assembly and chairmen of the appropriations committees of both chambers are expected to attend the event.
Others are members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) expected to grace the occasion, include the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, and Director General, Budget Office, Ben Akabueze among others.
Senator Babajide Omoworare, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly (Senate) and Umar El Yakub, his counterpart in the House of Representatives will be presenting the 2021 budget to President Buhari.
A Russian sumo wrestler who was dubbed the ‘world’s strongest kid’ weighing 23 stone when he was nine, has died at the age of 21 from acute kidney problems.
Dzhambulat Khatokhov, nicknamed Gladiator by his classmates, rose to fame at the age of three when he was hailed the strongest and heaviest child on the planet.
His passing was announced by Betal Gubzhev, 29, the president of Sumo and Mass Wrestling Federation of Kabardino-Balkaria, the Russian region where he lived.
The cause of death has not been revealed by his family but reports say he had suffered from acute kidney problems amid deep concern for his weight and health.
At the age of six, Dzhambulat weighed 15 stone and wore size ten shoes.He became known around the world as a young boy and featured in several TV documentaries.
His mother Nelya, a nurse, then 42, hit back at the time in the international media at claims she was neglecting the health of her child.
‘He is just growing — upwards and outwards. What can I do about it? This is who he is, this is how God created him,’ she said.
At birth he had weighed a typical 6lb 6oz but by his first birthday he was more than two stone.
He was examined by a British doctor Ian Campbell who warned in 2009: ‘Jambik’s health is dire. His weight means he has a greatly increased risk of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
As a result of being so heavy so young, his life expectancy is likely to be greatly reduced.’
According to his mother, local and Moscow doctors couldn’t find any medical problem causing his excess weight.
‘We have been through various examinations. Every doctor wanted to find something to explain why Jambik is so big,’ she said at the time.
‘None of them discovered anything. When he was five I took him to Moscow clinics where we did all the available tests, organ scans and tests on hormones.
‘But these showed he’s absolutely healthy and his heart, liver and everything else is proportional to his size. They say he is healthy so I don’t worry. I believe he’ll live a long and happy life.’
She denied putting him on steroids, but encouraged him being called the ‘world’s strongest boy’.
She hit back at her critics: ‘Do people think I am a killer? Can they really suggest that a mother can do this to her child?
‘Look at his medical record. Do they think I started feeding him with steroids when he was two months old? It’s preposterous. I love my son and I will not do anything to harm his health.’
His first wrestling coach in Nalshik admitted it was hard to train him.
Khasan Teusvazhukov, 48, said: ‘He usually does running and gymnastics but I do not give him full exercises.
‘He won’t be able to do most of these anyway because of his size.
‘We try to be cautious with him. The doctors may say he is fine, but he doesn’t look like it and I do not want to cause him any damage.’
Speaking when he was younger, his mother said: ‘He likes showing people how strong he is.
‘It makes him a kind of superhero, a giant who can protect and care for everyone around. He likes to lift me or his brother around the place.’
Speaking when he was six, she said: ‘He eats normal portions, the same as his brother.
‘He might ask for more if he’s really hungry but I never noticed he eats abnormally much.
‘Maybe he eats a bit more than other kids his age, but he is bigger than them though he never eats more than an adult man….
‘I can’t say how it happens. He just grew bigger and bigger – upwards and outwards. God created him that way.’
Gubzhev said: ‘The first sumo wrestler of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic Dzhambulat Khatokhov has passed away.
Neymar has reportedly been ordered to appear ‘urgently’ before Rio de Janeiro state prosecutors in Brazil over reports the Paris Saint Germain forward is holding a five-day New Year’s party for 150 guests amid new COVID-19 strain.
According to media reports, the event is said to start on New Year’s Eve and is taking place at Neymar’s luxury set of flats around 65km from the country’s capital.
State prosecutors said Neymar has been asked to provide ‘details about the number of people invited, the party’s organization and the health measures adopted’.
In a statement, Day Crespo’s media officer has denied he is hosting any event and his lawyers told AFP: ‘It has nothing to do with Neymar. We have no information about such an event.
Crespo added to Reuters: ‘We are in the middle of a pandemic and he is with his friends and family.’
He also said the player had flown to the southern resort city of Balneario Camboriu.
Earlier in the day, newspapers said guests had started arriving at Neymar’s luxury apartment complex, with reports saying that Neymar had required all guests to hand over their phones to prevent photos and videos of the event being leaked online.
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