Elon Musk’s Tesla is now worth $630billion after its quarterly profit surpassed $1billion for the first time.
The financial milestone was announced on Monday, July 26. The Palo Alto, California, company earned $1.1billion, or $1.02 per share, in the April-June period.
Tesla earned $1.45 a share in the latest quarter, easily topping the 94 cents expected by Wall Street analysts, according to FactSet.
Tesla now boasts a market value of roughly $630billion, far more than any other automaker and 14 times more than what the company was worth just two years ago.
The company’s CEO, Elon Musk, is now sitting on the world’s third-largest fortune at an estimated $163billion, according to Forbes magazine’s calculations.
In a Monday conference call, Musk said Tesla keeps its manufacturing lines running largely by finding chips from alternate suppliers and then scrambling to rewrite some of the software in its cars to ensure all the technology remained compatible. Although he said things appear to be slightly approving, describing the chip shortage as still being “quite serious,” making it difficult to plan for the second half of the year.
“The chip supply is a governing factor on our output,” Musk said. “It is out of our hands.”
Three Nigerian nationals have been arrested in 3 separate raids in India and drugs worth over N118m were recovered from them.
Police team raided a house in Yelahanka, Bengaluru on Tuesday, July 27, and seized drugs worth of Rs 55 lakhs from a Nigerian national and four Indians. All five people were arrested.
The Nigerian had come to India on a tourist visa and indulged in illegal activities, police said.
In the second incident, another Nigerian national from Horamavu was arrested and drugs worth of Rs 50 lakhs recovered from him.
Cases were registered against all the arrested in Yelahanka and Horamavu police stations.
In a different development, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized 2.235 kg of amphetamine from another Nigerian national in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu last week. The seized contraband is worth around ?1.10 crore.
The accused Egwin Kingsley,42, is the alleged kingpin of a syndicate which has been involved in the drug trade for three years. NCB has been tailing him for a long time, said a statement issued by the agency.
Sleuths attached to NCB’s Madurai Sub Zonal Unit apprehended Kingsley as he arrived at the Coimbatore Railway Station on a Kerala-bound special train from New Delhi around 12.45 p.m. on Sunday.
The team, which was waiting for the Nigerian based on specific intelligence received by the Chennai Zonal Unit of NCB, nabbed Kingsley who was found carrying packets of a crystal substance in his shoulder bag.
He was shifted to the station of the Railway Protection Force on the first platform and questioned.
The contraband was found in eight small packets wrapped with carbon paper. NCB suspects that the Nigerian could have procured the amphetamine from Delhi.
A woman was killed when her parachute malfunctioned and didn’t open when she jumped out of a plane to skydive, police have said.
Karen Bernard, 59, of Wildwood, Florida, US, died around 9am on Saturday, July 24, when she jumped out of a plane in the central New York town of Westford.
Her brother Terry also announced the tragic death with a post on Facebook.
He wrote: “It is with a sad heart that I need to notify you, her family, and friends that Karen passed away Saturday, July 24 in a skydiving-related accident.
“She was doing the things she loved to do. At this time there are no services planned.”
He added: “Please refrain from asking any questions at this time because we don’t have any answers and we’re not monitoring her page. We’re all pretty numb and in disbelief. Thank you for your understanding.”
In a statement, police said: “A preliminary investigation revealed that a Karen Bernard, age 59 of Wildwood, FL jumped out of a plane to skydive when it appears she had a malfunction with her parachute.”
The jump occurred in Otsego, in central New York State, and the investigation is ongoing, police said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has countered claim of the national assembly of some areas in the country not having the technology for electronic transmission of election results.
Recall that the electoral amendment act was passed last week after All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers pushed through a version of the bill that constrains INEC to seek permission from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Assembly before employing electronic voting in any part of the country.
Countering some of the claims made as the bill was passed, INEC’s commissioner for information and voter education, Festus Okoye maintained that the commission’s position was clear.
Okoye disclosed that INEC has in the past uploaded results from very remote areas, even from areas where you have to use human carriers to access.
He said;
“We have uploaded results from very remote areas, even from areas where you have to use human carriers to access.
“So we have made our own position very clear – that we have the capacity and will to deepen the use of technology in the electoral process.
“But our powers are given by the constitution and the law, and we will continue to remain within the ambit and confines of the power granted to the commission by the constitution and the law.”
Also speaking in an interview on Sunday Punch, Okoye said INEC was committed to deepening the use of technology in the electoral process and had many times demonstrated it through the creative, innovative and strategic deployment and application of technology in various aspects of the electoral process with the goal of limiting human interference in the electoral process as much as possible.
The INEC Commissioner also disclosed that a Joint Technical Committee constituted by the commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission and made up of telecommunication operators met on March 9, 2018, and the consensus was that the requirements for the electronic transfer of results proposed by INEC is practicable.
He said;
“INEC has the capacity to transmit election results from the polling units to the Registration Area Collation Centres to the Local Government Collation Centres, the various state, federal and senatorial district collation centres, and the state and national collation centres.
“The Joint Technical Committee constituted by the commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission and made of telecommunication operators met on March 9, 2018, and the consensus was that the requirements for the electronic transfer of results proposed by INEC is practicable. The meeting, therefore, agreed that the solution that INEC wants to deploy is possible.
“We have the assurance of the service providers that they have provided similar technological solutions to other agencies and have the capacity to deploy technology to cover a few blind spots.
“The commission will continue to pilot different solutions bearing in mind that technology is dynamic and can limit human interference in the electoral process. The commission wants broad powers to deploy technology and is not in favour of a particular solution being written into the law.
“The commission is a creation of the constitution and the law and its powers are derived from the constitution. The constitution has also given the National Assembly the power to make laws but such powers must not be in conflict with and or at variance with the provisions of the constitution.
“We will continue to implement the provisions of the Electoral Act to the extent of its consistency with the constitution, as the constitution is the fundamental law of the land. The commission will continue to build integrity and trust in the electoral process.
“The commission has piloted and continues to pilot various electronic solutions that will improve the integrity of the electoral process. Presently, all the registered political parties upload the list and personal particulars of their nominated candidates electronically.”
Okoye also revealed that domestic election observers and the media applied for accreditation to observe and cover elections electronically and that henceforth, political parties would submit the names and photographs of their polling agents electronically.
He added;
“The commission uploads Form EC8A, being polling unit results to a central viewing portal. Since 2020, the commission has been uploading these results from different parts of the country.
“The commission has used and will continue to use the existing technology to upload the results from polling units. The commission has uploaded results from polling units in Southern Ijaw with its difficult riverine and difficult terrain. The commission uploaded results from areas that are only accessible through human carriers.
“The commission uploaded results from conflict areas. The commission uploaded results from all geopolitical zones. Presently, the commission has obtained the GPS coordinates of all the 176,846 polling units in the country and expanded voter access to the polling units.
“Currently, the commission is carrying out part of the continuous voter registration exercise online, while the physical registration of voters will be done using INEC Voter Enrolment Device that will capture the fingerprints and facials of registrants.”
Barcelona have reached an “amicable” out-of-court settlement with their former player Neymar to end their legal dispute.
Recall Neymar, who now plays for Paris Saint-Germain sued the Spanish giants over unpaid bonuses due as part of a contract he signed in October 2016, before his €222m record transfer to his current club.
Neymar sued the Catalan club for €46.3 million euros, and they counter-sued for breach of contract.
A judge in Barcelona sided with the club, ordering the Brazilian in June last year to pay the Camp Nou side €6.7 million euros.
Spanish media said Neymar had appealed and also launched a new case against Barca. That case is now void.
Barcelona said in a statement that three labour claims and a civil suit had been “ended out of court in amicable fashion”.
“FC Barcelona announce that it has ended out of court in amicable fashion the various labour and civil litigation cases that were open with the Brazilian player Neymar,” read the statement.
“As such, a transactional agreement between the club and the player has been signed to end the legal cases that were pending between the two parties.”
Japanese siblings Abe Hifumi and Abe Uta have made Olympic History.
The brother-sister duo are the first to win Olympic gold medals in individual sports on the same day. Interestingly, they did it in the same sport and won their medals within minutes of one another at the Nippon Budokan.
Judoka Uta Abe triumphed in the women’s 52-kg category in Tokyo this week, hours before her brother Hifumi took gold in the men’s 66-kg final, making history as the first siblings to win gold medals on the same day.
“This was a dream for us,” Uta told reporters, when asked about achieving simultaneous golds with her brother. “It makes me believe dream comes true as long as I try to achieve it.”
Uta and Hifumi hugged and congratulated each other after the post-match ceremony.
“I was touched by how they encouraged each other,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said on Twitter in congratulating the Abes.
The feat came a day after triple world champion judoka Naohisa Takato secured Japan’s first gold medal with victory over Taiwan’s Yang Yung-wei.
After a 13-hour hearing, Cour De’Appel De Cotonou ordered that Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, be kept in prison custody pending further investigation.
The hearing ended around 11:20 pm on Monday, July 26, and Igboho was returned to his cell.
The court, however, declined the extradition of Igboho to Nigeria.
The court, which was expected to start hearing the case at 10:00am, barred reporters and supporters of Igboho who besieged the premises. The hearing eventually commenced at about 5:00pm and it was heard behind closed doors as the court limited attendance to lawyers, Igboho’s wife Ropo, and a few others.
Igboho and his wife, Ropo, were arrested on Monday, July 19, 2021, by the International Criminal Police Organisation at the Cardinal Bernardin International Airport in Cotonou, Benin Republic, on their way to Germany.
They were arraigned last Thursday, July 22, and the Beninese court adjourned the case till Monday, July 26.
Ropo, who is a German citizen was set free by the court on July 22 while the Yoruba Nation agitator was remanded in the custody of Brigade Criminelle in Cotonou.
The government of Nigeria sought Igboho’s extradition to Nigeria after accusing him of trafficking in arms, inciting violence to disrupt public peace, and agitating for secession.
However, the Beninese court declined the extradition of Igboho to Nigeria.
Chinese weightlifter, Li Fabin used his signature one-legged ‘flamingo’ style to correct his balance and secure victory by winning gold on his one leg at the Tokyo Olympics.
Li, 28, made the audience laugh when he avoided a loss of balance by lifting his right leg in the air as he secured his second gold medal.
Li told a news conference: ‘It was a momentary mistake. I almost lost my balance, but I had been working on this scenario in training.’
Li had pulled off the same move during the 2017 Asian Championships.
He said: ‘I am aware that it’s entertaining, but I advise against trying it because it bears serious risk of injury.
‘I have a very strong core, and I have really worked hard on that move.’
He also said that he is someone who has an unorthodox technique to correct a lift, rather than a show- off.
Li broke the Olympic record on Sunday in the clean and jerk and total categories, lifting 172kg and 313kg respectively.
The clean and jerk is a composite of two weightlifting movements, most often performed with a barbell: the clean and the jerk. During the clean, the lifter moves the barbell from the floor to a racked position across the deltoids, without resting fully on the clavicles.
China have received six gold medals in the first two days of the competition in Tokyo. In three weightlifting events, China have won three gold medals.
Another pastor, who was among the 40 recently sacked pastors by the Bishop David Oyedepo’s Living Faith Church, has explained how pastors who were graduates got N38,000 as salaries.
The pastor noted that the gross salary was N53,000 but they were paid N38,000 as the rest was supposed to cover for pension and housing allowance.
The victim, who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity, noted that the money deducted for pensions was not even remitted to their bank accounts until their sack and outrage went viral.
He said, “Oyedepo and his senior Pastors knew they would sack us before employing us. That was why they gave us employment on probation. Someone went online to post lies in support of the church that the recently sacked pastors were being paid N80,000 and house rent of N150,000.
“I will just say a little here; no employed pastor was paid N80,000 in the church. The highest salary is for degree holders which is N53,000 and, this N53,000 is not the net salary at the end of the month. The pastor will only receive N38,000 at the end of the month; N6,000 goes to the pension account and N9,000 goes to house rent account.
“It is very funny that the pastors, we honoured, could keep the money they removed from our salaries in their personal bank accounts for long without paying into our pension accounts. It was when they sacked us that they started paying into the pension accounts. Imagine that.
The Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB has reacted to the failure of the Department of State Services DSS to produce its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, at the Federal High Court, Abuja today July 26.
Justice Binta Nyako who presided over the re-arraingment of Kanu adjourned the case till October 22 due to the failure of the Department of State Security DSS to present Kanu in court.
Reacting to this development, the secessionist group in a statement released by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, said it hoped Kanu has not been killed. IPOB dared the Nigerian government not to joke with its strength while calling for the release of all its members who were arrested for coming to the court to show support to their leader.
The statement in part reads
“We the global family of Indigenous People of Biafra under the command and leadership of our great leader, Nnamdi Kanu, condemn the seek and hide attitude of the Department of State Services, DSS, and its systematic delay and failure to produce our leader in court today in Abuja.
This was a deliberate and wicked plot to inflict further torture on our leader who they have kept incommunicado for some days now. In the past seven days, DSS has refused our lawyers and our leader’s family members access to him. This is wickedness!
We are no longer comfortable with this development. We have enough grounds to suspect foul play. With the failure of DSS to produce our leader in court today without any cogent reason and coupled with the torture meted out to him since his abduction in Kenya, we are worried about the safety of our leader.
The failure of DSS to produce our leader in court today is confirming our fear over the uncertainty concerning his health. Considering his deteriorating health condition since he was kidnapped and the refusal of DSS to grant him access to his personal physicians, it is possible that our leader may have been killed.
DSS should prove us wrong by producing our leader in court or granting his lawyers and family members access to him. We are running out of patience. Nigeria should not take IPOB for granted. Our leader must not die in detention.
We also demand unconditional release of all those arrested today in Abuja and other parts of the country for their solidarity with our leader. Nigeria must release them.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s daughter, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, has finally been added to the Royal Family’s line of succession website.
Despite the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepping down from royal duties, their daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor is still eighth in line to the throne.
However, the Royal Family’s website took time to update the line of succession to reflect her birth on June 4.
After almost 2 months, the website was updated to include Lilibet.
Prince Harry and Meghan’s biographer, Omid Scobie, made the announcement on Twitter, writing: “The the line of succession on the @RoyalFamily website has just been updated to include the Sussexes’ second child: Miss Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor, who is eighth in line to the throne. She was born on June 4.”
As of last week, when Lilibet had not been included in the line of succession, ITV Royal Editor Chris Ship said that the Royal Family was perhaps “making a point”.
Speaking on the Royal Rota podcast, he said: “You have got to ask what has taken them so long. All they have got to do is hit the paragraph button and put in a different number.
“They must have done it before. They did it for Archie. Clearly, they did it for Louis when he was born. And they have done it for some of the other children like August that have been born as well.
“So where’s Lilibet? I can forgive them a week or two but a month?”
Sudan’s Mohamed Abdalrasool has pulled out of Tokyo Olympics instead of facing Israeli fighter Tohar Butbul, becoming the second judo star to leave the games rather than face an Israeli opponent.
The 28-year-old was a no-show for his fight against 27-year-old Tohar Butbul in the 73kg class on Monday morning, July 26.
It comes after Fethi Nourine of Algeria quit the contest last week because he might have had to fight Butbul, saying he was protesting Israel’s treatment of Palestinians amid the long running conflict between both countries.
Fethi Nourine.
Abdalrasool, ranked 469th in the world, has not given a reason for withdrawing from the fight, despite showing up for the weigh-in earlier in the day.
Fethi Nourine of Algeria was originally due to face Abdalrasool in the opening round of the men’s 73kg content with the winner of that fight progressing to face Butbul. But the 30-year-old Algerian and his coach Amar Benikhlef announced their decision to withdraw from the contest on Thursday rather than risk facing an Israeli opponent.
Nourine later told Algerian TV that he didn’t want to ‘get his hands dirty’ and that withdrawing was the ‘right thing to do.’
‘We have worked hard to qualify for the Games, but the Palestinian cause is bigger than all that,’ he said.
‘My position is consistent on the Palestinian issue, and I reject normalisation, and if it cost me that absence from the Olympic Games, God will compensate.’
A South African businesswoman, Prisca Soko took to Facebook on Sunday, July 25, to celebrate her son, Gavriel Soko, on his 8th birthday.
According to her post, she gave birth to Gavriel in 2013 after 21 years of waiting, four miscarriages and two stillbirths.
Prisca is married to Archbishop Ellias Zwelipane Soko, who is the presiding Archbishop of SouthAfrica for ZAOGA Forward In Faith Ministries.
“After waiting for 21 years to have a baby…after 2 still births, 4 miscarriages, the 7th time God rewarded us with this special gift from above! How can we thank this Faithful God? Gavriel Nkosiphile Newellias Soko you came to complete us, you shall impact your generation with greatness in the Kingdom of God! You are highly favoured! With a long , healthy and fruitful life you shall be satisfied! Happy 8th birthday our son” she wrote.
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja has adjourned the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu to October 21, following the failure of the Department of State Security DSS to produce him in court today July 26.
When the matter was called up, Justice Binta Nyako said nothing could be done since the defendant, Nnamdi Kanu, wasn’t produced in court by the DSS. According to the prosecution counsel, Mohammed Abubakar, Kanu was not in court due to logistic reasons.
Justice Nyako then ordered the DSS to allow Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor access to his client and she also promised to work with lawyers to the prosecution and defence and head of the security team to work out a plan to allow Ejiofor access to his client who he, claims he hasn’t seen in eight days.
Justice Nyako then adjourned the case till October 21 but said the date could be brought back if the prosecution was able to obtain a fiat from the court’s Chief Judge to allow proceedings during the ongoing vacation of the court.
Kanu is standing charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, unlawful possession of firearms, and management of an unlawful society.
A prominent New York spinal surgeon’s storybook marriage to a beauty queen has turned ugly after he found out about her secret life as a high-end hooker/call girl.
Dr. Han Jo Kim wants to divorce former Miss USA contestant Regina Turner, alleging the beautiful model earned nearly $700,000 in cash from her paying clients while leading a lucrative double life before and after their Nov. 27, 2015, wedding, court documents obtained by the Daily News reveal.
Divorce papers filed in Manhattan Supreme Court detail how Kim found out shocking details about his darling wife in December 2020, nine years after she served as Miss Connecticut in the annual MISS USA pageant
While using a computer in one of their million-dollar homes, Kim discovered a raunchy Message meant for Turner that revealed her sexual encounter with another man, the documents alleged.
That was not all.
Kim found out other wealthy men were paying Turner for sexual services, including a prominent businessman, , a New Jersey-based real estate executive and an award-winning lighting designer, Kim says in court papers.
“Not to belabor the obvious but … defendant clearly committed material fraud upon Dr. Kim by concealing her sale of sexual services in exchange for money prior to the marriage,” Kim charges in court papers.
“As is further obvious, plaintiff would have never married defendant absent her lies and concealment.”
The court documents include financial records allegedly indicating payments from some men to Turner, and a hearing in the contentious case is scheduled for Monday, July 26.
The New Jersey real estate executive wrote checks, many for $2,000 each, made out to cash that were deposited in Turner’s account, according to records. Documents filed by Kim show a total of $185,500 in deposits from an account in the executive’s name. The lighting designer’s company wired Turner a total of $116,000 over six years, according to bank records included in the court filing. Many of the individual payments were $10,000.
Yet Turner claimed in January that her income was $0 and that she was “totally dependent on (Kim) for support,” papers read.
“On many of the occasions that defendant represented that she was out with girlfriends, she was, in fact, providing sexual services in exchange for money to men,” the complaint states.
. The explosive allegations are included in a proposed amended complaint that seeks to void the marriage on the grounds that Kim was a victim of fraud.
The documents say Turner’s alleged deception began on the couple’s earliest dates back in 2013, when she told Kim that she had attended the University of Connecticut for three years to study science before taking a leave of absence to compete in Miss USA. In reality, according to Kim’s papers, Turner never graduated high school.
Turner also allegedly claimed that she needed to frequently visit China for weeks at a time in connection with an app she was developing to let users snap a photo of clothes and find out where the garments are sold.
“In fact such travel was in connection with defendant’s provision of sexual services in exchange for money,” Kim’s papers read.
A subpoena for Turner’s bank records allegedly showed $675,030 in cash deposits from 2015 to 2021.
Kim meanwhile is a very rich doctor at the New York Hospital for Special Surgery.
He earned $3.2 million in 2018. The couple lived in an apartment on E. 57th St. in the Upper East Side estimated to be worth $6.5 million. The couple also have a waterfront home on the North Fork of Long Island worth at least $2.5 million.
Wayne Rooney feared he had been the victim of a “set-up” after photos of him passed out in a hotel with three scantily clad women emerged so he called the police.
The former Man United ace, 35, partied into the early hours of Sunday, July 25, with Snapchat model Tayler Ryan and her friends Elise Melvin and Brooke Morgan, all 21.
Later, photos of him with the women went viral online. He was seen passed out in a chair as the girls moved about in their underwear at their hotel room in Manchester.
One woman in a G-string flashed her bum next to the retired England striker’s head as he slept then posted it online, captioning it “Mooney Rooney”.
Footage also circulated on social media showing her strut over to him before bending over his face.
Another photo saw him leaning in on one blonde woman at a nightclub.
There was also a photo of one of the women throwing a peace sign next to the sleeping celebrity while the other woman is laying on the bed in her lingerie in a photo they titled “Sleepy Wayne”.
Rooney was angry they had taken snaps of him asleep without his permission and feared he had been the victim of a “set-up”.
Parents of the girls have said they were “mortified” at any trouble they had caused, The Sun reports.
Friends said Rooney and his friends invited the women to his VIP booth at the exclusive Chinawhite club in Manchester on Saturday night, July 24.
The women
One said: “The girls were out celebrating a pal’s birthday. They love Chinawhite and are always there but couldn’t believe their luck when they were invited over — they were stunned. They spent a couple of hours with him and his pals there before they moved on.”
Rooney is then understood to have been accompanied by two friends as he went to the girls’ hotel room.
The friend went on: “They were flattered. They had a really good night and said Wayne and his friends were lovely. The girls all love to party but I think this was probably the wildest night of their lives.
“There was no sexual contact — it was just a great night.
“Wayne was very complimentary of them, of how they looked, but nothing happened.”
The married dad-of-four later passed out so the girls decided to start playing pranks by taking photos with his unconscious figure.
The friend said: “They were all having fun dancing around with Wayne and his mates and posting about it on Snapchat but they couldn’t stop laughing when he passed out. They decided to have some fun.”
When Rooney woke up the following morning he hastily left the Staycity complex.
The friend continued, according to The Sun: “Wayne left straight away. He was very rough. There was no hanging around — he just got up and went.
“He texted a mate to ask him to pick him up, went downstairs and waited for the friend to pick him up and then he left.
“Then the girls started putting it on social media and it’s just gone viral.
“He may have expected that so went first thing into a waiting car and probably back to Coleen (his wife).
“I suspect he’ll have a few questions to answer back at home.”
Rooney’s reps revealed they had phoned the police amid claims the embarrassing photos had been taken without his knowledge when he was asleep.
Last night, July 25, Brooke’s mum Louise, 46, told the Sun that her daughter was “mortified”.
Tayler’s mother Angela, 43, added: “The poor girls were just going out for a 21st birthday.
“They’re 21 and he’s nearly 40. He’s invited them over. He sent over a security guard to invite them over to his VIP booth.
“It’s upset them all. They’re in tears. She’s a good girl and comes from a decent family.
“They thought they were being funny but I’ve told them it was absolutely stupid.
“I feel awful for them but I’m also angry because they’ve been stupid.”
Saliu Adetunji, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, says he has sent a delegation to Cotonou, Benin Republic, to observe court proceedings in the trial of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho.
Igboho is standing extradition trial in Cotonou today, July 26, after he was arrested with his wife at Cotonou airport on their way to Germany and placed in custody. The court freed Igboho’s wife last Thursday.
A statement signed by Adeola Oloko, personal assistant/director of media and publicity to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, said those selected to be part of the delegation will be at the court in Cotonou, where Igboho’s case will resume today.
The statement said, “Oba Adetunji stated this at his Popoyemoja, Ibadan palace on Sunday while exchanging views with some leaders of thought comprising Yemisi Adeaga, the president general of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes and his executive members. Also at the meeting was senior chief Lekan Alabi, the Ekefa Olubadan.
“Olubadan said it has become necessary in order to allay the fears of several people, including protesters who besiege Olubadan palace every now and then that Kabiesi is not folding his arms over the travails of Igboho.
“Igboho lives in Ibadan, got married in Ibadan, rear children in Ibadan, built houses in Ibadan and as such he has the rights to be protected by Ibadan traditional institution within the ambit of the law just like any human being in Ibadan.”
Olubadan stated that he is in constant touch with Yoruba prominent royal fathers, including Igboho royal crowns to allay public fears of a repeat performance of Yoruba-Fulani coalition of 1814.
The statement added, “Students of Nigeria history may wish to be reminded that when some people, during the period under reference, chose to engage in territorial expansion to the sea, it took the Ibadan army under Balogun Oderinlo to repel the attack and stop the incursion near Osogbo.”
Recall that Olubadan had been accused of collecting N50m to aid Sunday Igboho’s arrest but he denied this
World Cup-winning defender, Raphael Varane is very close to joining Manchester United from Real Madrid according to new reports.
Several media outlets in Spain and England on Sunday night, July 25, report that both sides are lose to agreeing on a deal with with a deal now expected to take place for between €45m (£39/$53m) and €55m (£47m/$65m).
Both sides were far apart in valuations as of early last week but there has been significant progress towards Man Utd and Real Madrid agreeing on terms over recent hours according to reports from Marca, Mirror, Sun, and Goal.
Varane has been one of Man Utd’s top summer transfer priorities since they completed a deal to sign Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund. Varane only has a year left on his contract and wants to leave and if negotiations pull through, he will sign a five-year deal at Manchester United.
A list has been released containing names of the media houses and journalists accredited for the coverage of the open court trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu slated for today, Monday, July 26, 2021 in Abuja.
The documents shared by Sahara Reporters, lists the 10 media organisations and 10 journalists accredited for the coverage of the trial, and was signed by Catherine Oby Christopher, Chief Information Officer, Federal High Court of Nigeria, and dated July 23, 2021.
Those accredited for the court trial and their respective journalists include Daily Independent (Paschal Njoku), Premium Times (Ameh Ejekwonyilo), Thisday (Alex Enumah), The Nation (Eric Ikhilae), The Herald (Kayode Lawal), and the News Agency of Nigeria (Taiye Agbaje).
For broadcast media, listed are the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA-Vera Chiwuba), Channels Television (Ella Daniels), Africa Independent Television (Wunmi Obabori), and TVC (Tina Iria).
The four broadcasting stations are allowed one cameraman each.
Kanu, will be facing charges bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, illegal possession of arms, among others, before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
U.S. President, Joe Biden has authorised $100 million in emergency aid for refugees from Afghanistan, the war torn country that the US recently withdrew it’s forces from after an almost 20 year old invasion.
The money will be used to meet the “unexpected urgent refugee and migration needs’’ of people in the country, a White House statement said on Sunday , July 25
The funds will also be available to those who worked with the U.S. military on the ground in Afghanistan and who have applied for special immigrant visas to the U.S since the Taliban started taking territorial gains in Afghanistan.
Biden in May this year announced that the withdrawal of US troops will end on Aug. 31 with the only U.S. soldiers to remain on the ground after that date to be those who protect the U.S. embassy.
The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the terrorist attacks on New York City by Al Qaeda.
Robert Lewandowski has received Germany’s Footballer of the Year award for the second season running after a record-breaking year.
The Bayern Munich striker scored 41 goals in 29 appearances as his club were crowned Bundesliga champions again. He also broke the long-standing record by Gerd Muller for most goals in a single Bundesliga season.
Lewandowski beat his previous best of 34 goals in 31 appearances which was set during the 2019-20 season.
The club confirmed Lewandowski has won the award in a poll carried out by sports magazine Kicker in a vote by sports journalists.
The 32-year-old received a massive 356 of the 563 votes cast in the poll, putting him way in front of teammate Thomas Muller (41). Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland came third in the poll with 38 votes after he scored an impressive 27 goals in 28 games.
Lewandowski told Bayern Munich’s official website: ‘I know what a great honour this is.
‘It’s a source of great pride and joy for me, because it’s rare for someone to win the title of Footballer of the Year in Germany twice in a row.’
Football manager, Joey Barton has been charged with attacking his wife.
The ex-Premier League star, who currently manages League Two side Bristol Rovers, is due in court over the alleged attack on wife Georgia McNeil.
McNeil is alleged to have sustained a head injury during the alleged attack at the family home in London.
Barton, 38, married childhood sweetheart McNeil, 35, two years ago. They share two children together, son Cassius and daughter Pieta.
The alleged attack is reported to have happened days before their anniversary in June.
Police confirmed that Barton is due to appear at Wimbledon magistrates’ court.
A spokesman for the Met Police said: ‘Joseph Barton, of Widnes, Cheshire, is due to appear on bail on Monday, July 26, at Wimbledon magistrates’ court charged with assault by beating.
‘The charge relates to an incident which took place at a residential property in Kew on Wednesday, June 2 in which a woman received a head injury. London Ambulance Service did not attend.
‘A 38-year-old man was arrested on June 2, bailed pending further enquiries, and subsequently charged.’
Jackie Mason, a Rabbi-turned-comedian has died at the age of 93.
The American stand-up comedian and film and television actor died on Saturday, July 24, at Mt Sinai Hospital in Manhattan after being hospitalised for over two weeks, the celebrity lawyer Raul Felder told Associated Press.
During a 1998 interview with The New York Times, Mason described his comedic style by saying: ‘My humor, it’s a man in a conversation, pointing things out to you,’
‘He’s not better than you, he’s just another guy,’ he added. ‘I see life with love — I’m your brother up there — but if I see you make a fool out of yourself, I owe it to you to point that out to you.’
Mason was born in 1928 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, as Yacov Moshe Maza to immigrant parents from Belarus.
He started in show business as a social director at a resort in the Catskills. He was the guy who got everybody up to play Simon Says, quiz games, or shuffleboard. He told jokes, too. After one season, he was playing clubs throughout the Catskills for better money.
He was banned for two years from the Sullivan Show when he allegedly gave the host the finger when Sullivan signaled to him to wrap up his act during an appearance on 18 October 1964.
Mason’s act even carried him to Broadway, where he put on several one-man shows, including Freshly Squeezed in 2005, Love Thy Neighbor in 1996, and The World According to Me in 1988, for which he received a special Tony Award.
The trial of Uduak Frank Akpan, the alleged murderer of Akwa Ibom job seeker, Iniubong Ephraim Umoren, will begin at the Akwa Ibom state Hogh Court 6 in Uyo, the state capital on Monday, July 26.
According to a statement released by the media unit of the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice signed by the information officer in the ministry, Effiong Edet, says the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Essien Udom (SAN), will be the lead counsel for the prosecution team.
Iniubong Umoren, a final year student of the Department of Philosophy, University of Uyo, from Orukanam local government area of the state, had set out to look for a job to keep body and soul together only for her family to be informed by the police, who responded swiftly to complain by her friend, that she has been gruesomely murdered by the accused, Uduak Akpan.
The statement added that the police investigating team had exhumed the deceased’s remains, which was buried in a shallow grave, showing her mouth gagged and the neck strangulated and squeezed, eyeballs bulging and tongue popping out, all allegedly pointing irresistibly to one direction, murder. The statement disclosed that the police had since concluded investigations and sent the case file to the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which could not swing into action immediately because of the recently suspended industrial action embarked upon by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN).
It is day 2 of the Big Brother Naija Season 6, codenamed, Shine Ya Eye, double launch weekend and time to welcome the female housemates.
Just 24 hours into the show, the unveiling is on its second day and like they say, girls run the world.
Angel was the first female housemate, she claims to be very bossy, adorned with 11 tattoos, Angel watch word is “says what you give is what you get.”
The second housemate was Peace, 26 years old Rivers born ex TV presenter.
Peace says we should look out for her “peaceful side”. She has a simple strategy for BbNaija; have fun, stay in the game and win in the end.
Jackie B was the third female housemate, the 29-year-old single mother, says she is going to the house to “explore and have fun”. she claims to be a flirt, her strategy is to stay 10 steps ahead of her fellow housemates.
Tega was the fourth female housemate. She promises to give the housemates “anyhow they want it.”
Tega also said she has found the perfect balance between being calm and being hot-headed.
Arin was the fifth housemate, a fashion designer. she says she has “Ashewo face,” adorned with 17 piercings!
Arin also said she doesn’t know what she will give until she sees what she is getting.
Maria was the sixth housemate, from Imo State. She’s a realtor in Dubai.
Maria mentioned that she has a phobia for being broke.
Liquorose was the seventh housemate, Roseline Afije, 26, a dancer from Ggb crew.
Liquorose is bringing her “thick thighs” (phew!) into the house, according to her.
Beatrice was the eighth housemate. she’s a fashion model.
Beatrice enthused that she is “extremely entertaining.” The low cut queen says she wants to sell her brand and hopes to get a bigger space for her brand after the show.
Princess was next, the ninth housemate.
Princess, 30, taxi driver, says she’s been driving taxi for a year. Says promises to take everyone on a ride.
Saskay was the tenth housemate. The 21-year-old Adamawa born model says she is “very soft on the inside.”
Saskay noted that she has a boyfriend but the foundation ‘no too solid’.
Nini was the eleventh housemate; she warned that she will “bring trouble if you give her trouble.”
Nini revealed that she has a natural beauty and doesn’t need makeup. The 26-year-old owns a fashion brand and is also a model.
She plans to do an official opening for her brand after the show.
There are N90m worth of prizes to be won on the show.
Here’s some of the things you need to know about the female housemates unveiled today;
Angel
Her full name is Angel Agnes Smith. Angel is a proud feminist, and her friends describe her as a drama queen. This 21-year-old believes being on Big Brother Naija will help her kick-start her journey in writing and cinematography.
Arin
Multi-faceted Arin is a 29-year-old feminist, millennial Pisces who was raised in a polygamous home in Lagos. She is a fashion designer and an independent arts and culture curator dedicated to promoting the contemporary visual arts in Africa. Arin has 17 piercings on her body.
Beatrice
Fashion model and up and coming actress Beatrice, is a 28-year-old single mother of a five-year-old boy. She is a graduate of the University of Port Harcourt where she studied marketing.
She can sing, dance, play basketball and football very well and is also a great hairstylist. She is also a talented software developer.
Jackie B
Jackie B is a proud single mum and hard worker with a passion for life. She is an interior designer and a certified event and wedding planner and went to university in the UK where she had her son. The 29-year-old loves having fun and spending time with the people she loves, but also enjoys time to herself. She describes herself as an “introverted extrovert” and insists she is shy, but confident.
Liquorose
Her full name is Roseline Omokhoa Afije. The 26-year-old used to be a video vixen, but her passion for dancing led her to her current profession; leader of a girl dance group.
Maria
Maria is a 29-year-old former air hostess, turned realtor who enjoys cooking, exercising, hiking, acting, and dancing. Maria prides herself on being a loving and kind-hearted individual who is always looking for new adventures. Her travels have taken her around the world and to all continents, except Antarctica.
Nini
27-year-old Nini is an economist and fashion entrepreneur born and raised in Nigeria. She has four siblings and a supportive mother that she loves very much. She currently lives in Abuja and is a graduate of the University of Abuja.
Peace
Peace is a 26-year-old entrepreneur from Port Harcourt. Her burning passion for fashion and style inspired her to open her very own clothing store.
Princess
Princess Francis is a 30-year-old e-hailing service driver and business owner. She lives in Abuja, but comes from Imo State. Princess listed buying her very first car as the highest point in her life. Her lowest on the other hand, is when she found out her dad passed away.
Saskay
Her full name is Tsakute Jonah Saskay is a 22-year-old extrovert and lover of books. Although she was suspended from school in 2015, Saskay is having the last laugh as a fine artist and has even won titles such as ‘Model of The Year’ and ‘Female Personality of The Year’ at her university.
Tega
29-year-old mother of one Tega is a business owner who loves dancing, travelling, DIY and photography. She described herself as someone who is always willing to learn and tries to look at difficult situations as an avenue to learn and grow.
Recall that the General Overseer of the Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry, Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly known as ‘Odumeje’ was among those who were at the burial of Obi Cubana’s late mother in Oba, Anambra State of Nigeria to support the business mogul as he laid his late mother to rest.
However, it appears someone had planned evil for Prophet Odumeje as a video suggesting that an unidentified man allegedly touched him with ‘juju’ has gone viral on the internet.
Reacting to the video, Prophet Odumeje mocked the man and his cohorts as he described them as people with nonsense charm and he reminded them of why he is called Indabosky.
One of the pastors of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, who was recently dismissed, has explained how some of his colleagues were sending fake church attendance figures and church offerings to the state headquarters so as to keep their jobs – a practice which some of them could not do.
The pastor, in his account obtained by SaharaReporters, stated that the pastors who indulged in the act had a parley with some of the senior church ministers, who deducted part of their (the pastors’) salaries and remitted back to the church as offerings of the non-existent congregation.
The pastor, who did not want to mention his name to avoid victimization, added that the practice was called “wisdom” since the founder, Bishop David Oyedepo, was not able to go round and ascertain the authenticity of the figures and offerings being entered into the records.
He said, “Well, they (Living Faith) planted over 10,000 churches before the end of 2020 and they celebrated it. After this were the different issues of no church hall and other necessary materials for the pastors to work. But some senior Pastors keep telling lies that we (the employed pastors) should be patient with them.
“While this was going on, we must send reports of the churches to the headquarters through the area church. This was so that they would believe the church existed. Now, guess what number a pastor without church hall would send.
“But wisdom was what the senior pastors were asking us to use because, Oyedepo could not be everywhere to check. What wisdom was that? Send good figure as the number of the attendance of your assembly; then put money to it from your salary.
At the end of the month, half of the money you put would still be paid back to you to support the church you claimed existed. Nobody would ask you how you spend it and all your needs will be attended to quickly from the state headquarters.
Marcus Rashford has defended his off-field partnerships following claims that he profited from his campaigning.
The Manchester United and England star earned an MBE for his charitable efforts helping feed children in need throughout the last year-and-a-half.
Rashford called out the government on a number of occasions during the pandemic to ensure schoolchildren were given access to meals, which resulted in U-turns and a shift in policy, and he did a huge amount to raise funds for charity.
The forward, who was racially abused after missing a penalty in the final of Euro 2020, tweeted on Tuesday night that he had heard political magazine The Spectator was planning to run a story suggesting he has ‘benefitted commercially’ from his charity work and decided to speak against it.
“Just heard @spectator are planning to run a story on me tomorrow about how I have benefitted commercially in the last 18 months,” Rashford tweeted.
“To clarify, I don’t need to partner with brands. I partner because I want to progress the work I do off the pitch and most of any fee I would receive contributes to that.
“Last summer, 1.3M children had access to food support, through my relationship with Burberry children have a safe place to be after school where they will be fed, following the November investment vulnerable children have safe places to go this summer holiday, and due to my relationship with Macmillan 80,000 children now have a book to call their own.
“Do I have a larger commercial appeal following the u-turns? I’m sure. But I’m also a Manchester United and England international footballer. Why has there always got to be a motive? Why can’t we just do the right thing?”
A Nigerian Facebook user has narrated how a woman she took as a mother got visited by karma after marrying her abusive ex-husband she advised her to leave.
Elizabeth Omonigho Asekome disclosed that the older woman who was a single mother of 3 grown sons and a daughter, was a nurse who sold painkillers and stitched her up every time she got assaulted by her ex-husband.
Asekome said she told the woman everything and sought for advice from her before eventually fleeing from her abusive ex-husband with her three children in 1998.
The Facebook user revealed that after she visited the older woman with gifts to thank her for everything, she (older woman) confessed to dating her ex-husband while they were married and eventually marrying him after she left him.
Asekome disclosed that the woman said she advised her to leave the abusive marriage because she wanted to marry her husband as she is matured and knows how to handle man like him, while she (Asekome) is inexperienced.
She disclosed that while in Law School, she got a call from a friend who told that her ex-husband got assaulted by the older woman’s sons for beating their mother and smashing her head on a car windscreen. Asekome added that the woman who had a bandage on her head and stitches at that time, eventually divorced her abusive ex-husband.
The Facebook user wrote;
Karma is a woman.
So back in the days when I was still with my ex-husband in salolo bus stop area of alagbado, there was a nurse who had a chemist along the road that always gave me painkillers and stitch my wounds whenever I got beat down by my ex. She was a single mom with grown 3 sons and a daughter who was my age. Because of her kindness I got so close to her and started calling her mommy.
I’d tell her everything he did and she’ll advice me on what to do until I ran away with my 3 kids in 1998.
After my graduation, I bought a lace material and some jewelry to go give her and thank her for all she did. As soon as I entered Taiwo street, my neighbors recognized me and jubilated that I escaped and was doing well but I was in a hurry to see mommy.
Her chemist was closed. Her daughter opened the door for me but seemed unhappy to see me and said mommy was in the showers.I sat in the living room to wait for her.Then my eyes caught a calendar on the wall. I froze! It was my ex company calendar. How?? Mommy despised my ex so much.
She came out and I knelt and hug her. She sat down not making eye contact.I apologized for the long silence and updated her.She said she’s the one sorry. I say no ma, for having this calendar? She said for marrying my ex and not telling me all those time I was coming to report him that they were dating. She asked me to leave cos he will soon be there.That she advised him to apply pressure so that I will leave the marriage and also advised me to run cos she wanted to marry him as she is matured and knows how to handle man like him and I was inexperienced.
I wanted to leave the marriage anyway so I wasn’t mad at her for marrying him.
I congratulated her and walked on wooden legs to the bus stop numb. I felt bad because all the times I was opening up to her I didn’t know they were together.The betrayal hurt so bad.
Later while in law school and old friend in alagbado called. She say gist dey o. I rolled my eyes. I didn’t want to hear nothing from my past anymore having moved on. She said “that Ijebu nurse Auntie that married your ex,I met her at Allen, she had a bandage around her head and said she got like 8 stitches across her forehead like Cain in the bible.” I said accident? She said “Auntie said your ex husband beat her and used her head to smash windscreen of the car he bought for her.They are divorced sef and the matter dey police station because her 3 sons your ex helped to get jobs with lever brothers and AJ Seward beat your ex for beating their mom and your ex take police arrest the boys by calling them robbers.”
I replied “she can handle him.I am the inexperienced one.”
There are 3 more betrayals that hurt me to my bone marrow like this. After few years, I’d get news that karma did her job very well.
I have come to realized that whenever anyone betrays me, they always get the repercussions.
My God is God of vengeance.
Exodus 14:14
“The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
After you started blogging for a while, you begin to wonder how you can start monetizing the content on your site. Initially, you may not have applied for Google’s AdSense because you didn’t meet their requirements. However, your blog has begun growing with quality and quantity content.
One of the most confusing things regarding Google AdSense is adding a verification code to your WordPress website to verify ownership which is essential to getting the site reviewed and eligible for AdSense.
You are instructed to add the code provided by Google to the HTML of your site, right after the <head> tag. Other than that, there aren’t any specific instructions on how to accomplish this on a WordPress site. There is often a confusion pertaining what the verification code means. A Google AdSense verification code is simply not the AdSense code you use to enable ads. Rather, the verification code is for verifying your site.
There is often confusion pertaining what the verification code really means. A Google AdSense verification code is simply not the AdSense code you use to enable ads. Rather, the verification code is solely for verifying your site which is the first step to getting Google to review your website to see whether you qualify for placing AdSense ads on your web pages. Without the code, your site will not have a chance in being approved.
In this article, I will illustrate how you can add the Google AdSense verification code manually and safely at the same time to your WordPress site without causing any errors.
1. Copy the code provided to you. Sign up for Google AdSense if you haven’t already.
To obtain your unique code, you must first sign up for Google AdSense. It is a quick and easy process. Once you have provided the relevant information, the code will be provided to you immediately to place on your site.
Google AdSense verification code added to my site. Google starts the review process.
2. Login to your FTP client securely with SFTP.
The next step is to login via SFTP which is typically port 22.
Go to your /public_html/wp-content/themes/folder
‘folder‘ is replaced with the current WordPress theme name you are using on your main site.
Once you are in the theme folder, look for the header.php file.
In this tutorial, I use the popular FileZilla FTP client to demonstrate this.
The WordPress theme header.php is the only file you need to modify to insert the Google AdSense verification code.
3. Right click the header.php file shown in the image above and click on ‘View/Edit’.
Open the header.php file in a word processor like TextEdit on OS X.
Note: Please make sure to download/copy the original header.php file prior to any modification just to be safe. Any improper alteration to header.php can render the whole site unusable.
Scroll down header.php in the word processor until you see the following code:
<?php wp_head(); ?>
</head>
The highlighted blue is the key area where we’ll be inserting the Google AdSense verification code into the WordPress header.php file.
Insert your own verification code before closing the header tag to ensure that everything goes smooth. Be extremely careful not to overextend and edit other areas of the header.php file.
The highlighted blue is the area where I placed my own verification code.
As you can see, insert the Google AdSense verification code after <?php wp_head(); ?> and before the end of </head>.
Essentially, the code is placed “between” exactly like in the image above.
4.Save your changes. Upload your edited header.php file back to your web server.
The header.php is the only file you’ll ever need to modify for verification purposes.
5.Submit your site for review on Google AdSense.
Like the first image shown, you will see a green checkmark with the message from Google: “We’re reviewing your site.”
Google says that the review process may take up to three days. But realistically, it’ll probably take a week or even a month depending on the circumstances.
I genuinely hope this tutorial has helped you.
If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.
The national identification number (NIN) and subscriber identity module (SIM) integration exercise has been extended by the federal government till October 31.
Ikechukwu Adinde, Director of Public Affairs at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) who disclosed that there are now a total of 59.8 million unique NIN enrolments with an average of three to four SIMs per NIN, said the exercise was extended to “accommodate registration in hard-to-reach remote areas, foreigners and diplomatic missions, and Nigerians in the diaspora”.
He said;
“The Federal Government has approved the extension of the deadline for National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to October 31, 2021.
“The decision to extend the deadline was made following a request by stakeholders to accommodate registration in hard-to-reach remote areas, foreigners and diplomatic missions, diaspora and address low enrolments in schools and hospitals, as evidenced by enrolment statistics.
“The decision also followed a review of the progress of the exercise which indicated significant progress, hence the need to consolidate the gains of the enrolment and NIN-SIM verification process across the country.
“As at July 24, 2021, there are over 5,500 enrolment systems within and outside the country and this would significantly ease the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM.
“The administration of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the extension as part of efforts to make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country, and legal residents to obtain the NIN and it is important to take advantage of the extension.
“The NIN-SIM linkage also makes it easier for the security agencies to carry out their statutory duties and the relevant parastatals under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy are supporting them as required.
“There are now a total of 59.8 million unique NIN enrolments, with average of 3 to 4 SIMs per NIN. With the great number of enrolment centres within and outside the country, and many more coming up, every citizen, legal resident, and Nigerian citizens living in diaspora should be able to obtain their NINs.”
Jlo went Instagram official with boyfriend, actor Ben Affleck, today July 24.
The two were engaged 18 years ago but broke up before they could get married and married other people and had children. They’ve since divorced their respective spouses.
They reconciled a few months ago and have been inseparable since then.
R.Kelly has found himself in more problems as federal prosecutors have revealed more sex trafficking allegations against the disgraced singer including that he had sexual contact with an underage boy.
Recall Kelly faces multiple charges in New York, Minnesota and Illinois, many of them related to his alleged abuse of underage girls.
In a court filing on Friday, July 23, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York revealed it believes he also violated at least one male victim.
According to the filing, which includes new information but no new charges, Mr. Kelly met a 17-year-old boy at a McDonald’s around December 2006, and invited him to a party. When the teen showed up with his mother and stepfather, Mr Kelly allegedly asked him to come alone next time.
After that, prosecutors say he invited the boy to his studio, “under the guise of helping and mentoring John Doe #1 with his musical aspirations”.
“Kelly also asked John Doe #1 what he was willing to do to succeed in the music business and clarified that he wanted John Doe #1 to engage in sexual contact with Kelly,” the document says. “With that backdrop, Kelly then engaged in sexual contact with John Doe #1, in violation of Illinois law.”
Mr. Kelly has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denies ever abusing anyone.
Prosecutors, however, are accusing the musician of coordinating a vast criminal enterprise involving his bodyguards, managers, and other members of his entourage, all geared toward gratifying Mr Kelly’s sexual desires.
“The purposes of the Enterprise were to promote R Kelly’s music and the R Kelly brand, to recruit women and girls to engage in illegal sexual activity with Kelly and to produce pornography, including child pornography,” the US attorney’s office says.
Friday’s court filing spans 55 pages, and includes 20 “Jane Does” and two “John Does”.
Prosecutors say Mr Kelly also asked John Doe #1 to contact a juror in his 2008 child pornography trial, and to tell the juror that Mr Kelly was a “good guy”. They also allege that he tried to start a sexual relationship with a friend of John Doe #1’s, who was 16 or 17 at the time.
Mr Kelly’s New York trial is set to begin on 9 August.
A man and woman have been arrested in Maine, USA after police found cocaine disguised as a cake in their vehicle.
According to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency, they received information from anonymous sources and stopped a vehicle on Tuesday July 20.
A K9 dog alerted the drug agency officers of illegal drugs in the vehicle after sniffing the car.
After checking the trunk of the car, they found four pounds of cocaine and about $1,900 in cash, believed to be proceeds from illegal drug sales, the DEA added.
It’s believed the total street value of the cocaine is $200,000.
Some of the cocaine found in the vehicle was pressed into a block and wrapped to look like a cake.
Coffee was spread on top of the cocaine in an attempt to hide the cocaine smell.
Drug enforcement Agents believe the drugs were being transported to Main for distribution in the counties of Kennebec and Somerset.
The suspects have been charged with aggravated trafficking in a schedule W Drug, a Class “A” offense.
If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison.
The 2021 Big Brother Naija competition launched today July 24 with the unveiling of all the 11 male housemates. The show is tagged BBNAIJA “Shine Ya Eye”.
Meet all the male housemates
1. Boma is a model, footballer and event planner.
2. Adeolu Okusaga, 28, is an engineer by training
3. YouSef, a teacher and a modelnwho attended the University of Jos
4. Pere
5. Hazel says he is a businessman who imports and sells shoes
6. Niyi who is based in South Africa is married with a child
7. Yerins Abraham is a medical doctor and an artiste
Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari had been advised to seek an ‘out of court’ settlement in the case of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Apex-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA on Sunday, called on South-Eastern Governors and Igbo leaders of repute to prevail on the President to seek an ‘Out-of-court’ settlement with Kanu in order to maintain peace.
Kanu is set to appear in court on Monday for a continuation of his trial. It can be recalled that the embattled secessionist leader jumped bail and fled Nigeria in 2017 but was brought back to Nigeria earlier this month after being captured in Kenya.
The statement signed by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, secretary-general of the group, read; “We are calling for the quick political intervention of Southeastern Governors and Igbo politicians to persuade President Muhammadu Buhari to “Out-Of-Court” settlement in the court case of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu”.
The Organization also admonished sympathizers of Kanu and IPOB members to avoid protesting or agitating in court on Monday in order not to sabotage efforts that are currently underway to secure a ‘soft-landing’ for Kanu.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has signed a new contract with the club until 2024, with the option of a further year.
The Norwegian initially stepped in as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in December 2018, replacing Jose Mourinho.
He led the club to a third-place Premier League finish in his first full season in charge. United finished second in the table last season and also reached the final of the Europa League, where they were beaten on penalties by La Liga side Villarreal.
Solskjaer, who spent 11 seasons as a Manchester United player, said the club will go from strength to strength under his stewardship.
“Everyone knows the feeling I have for this club, and I am delighted to have signed this new contract,” he said.
“It is an exciting time for Manchester United, we have built a squad with a good balance of youth and experienced players that are hungry for success.
“I have a fantastic coaching team around me, and we are all ready to take that next step on our journey. Manchester United wants to be winning the biggest and best trophies and that’s what we are all striving for. We have improved, both on and off the pitch, and that will continue over the coming seasons.
“I can’t wait to get out in front of a packed Old Trafford and get this campaign started.”
United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward added: “Ole and his staff have worked tirelessly putting the foundations in place for long-term success on the pitch.
“The results of that have become increasingly visible over the past two seasons and we are all looking forward to seeing this exciting team develop further in the years ahead.
“What is especially pleasing is the way this progress has been achieved with a blend of young, homegrown talent and top-class recruits, playing attacking football in the best traditions of Manchester United. We are more confident than ever that, under Ole’s leadership, we are heading in the right direction.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has again countered the national assembly’s stance on electronic transmission of election result.
Recall that the national assemby blocked the electronic transmission of election results in the electoral act amendment bill, adding a clause which gives the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) power to certify national coverage, followed by an approval by the national assembly before INEC can transmit results electronically.
However reacting to this in an interview on African Independent Television (AIT) on Friday July 23, Nick Dazang, INEC’s director of publicity and voter education said NCC’s claim of the country having only 50% network coverage is false as all network providers in Nigeria assured the commission of 100 percent coverage for electronic transmission of results.
Dazang also disclosed that the NCC was aware that two network providers, MTN and Airtel assisted JAMB in conducting their examinations across Nigeria.
He said;
“In January 2018, INEC approached NCC that it wants a technological-driven commission and both have been working closely to deliver free, fair and credible elections in our country for the benefit of our citizens.
“They are also aware that two network providers, MTN and Airtel have assisted JAMB conduct their examinations across Nigeria. So, INEC is still wondering why NCC has suddenly made a U-turn that there is not enough network coverage in every part of Nigeria.
“I am convinced that if INEC was given the chance to appear before the national assembly alongside NCC, the commission would have told the distinguished senators and honourable members that all the network providers in Nigeria have assured INEC that network coverage is 100 percent across the country.”
On election results being hacked, Dazang said;
“There is no website that is not prone to attack by hackers even in the most advanced nations but Nigerians should be rest assured that INEC has what it takes to fight off hackers and the commission is well prepared to safeguard its websites against hackers.
“I also want NASS members to think like statesmen. They should think about the future, not about the next election. Let us always look at the bigger picture. It pains INEC that beneficiaries of transparent elections are in the forefront of working to weaken the commission by asking INEC to share its powers with other agencies or take permission from another agency before performing its statutory functions guaranteed by the constitution of Nigeria.”
He concluded by appealing to the national assembly members to revisit the issue and approve the unconditional electronic transmission of results.
World No. 2 tennis player, Naomi Osaka, who represents Japan, was given the honour to serve as the final Olympic torchbearer for the Tokyo Olympic Games, lighting the Olympic flame during Friday’s Opening Ceremony of the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games.
The first two torchbearers were former Olympic athletes Tadahiro Nomura and Saori Yoshida, who passed it off tobaseball legends Shigeo Nagashima, Sadaharu Oh and Hideki Matsui.
Hiroki Ohashi and Junko Kitagawa, a doctor and a nurse, carried the flame to seven-time Paralympian and wheelchair marathoner Wakako Tsuchida, who was the first Japanese athlete to win gold in both Summer and Winter Paralympic Games.
The Paralympian passed the flame to six young athletes from middle and high schools from regions devastated by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. They had the honor of passing the torch to Osaka.
“Undoubtedly the greatest athletic achievement and honor I will ever have in my life,” she tweeted. “I have no words to describe the feelings I have right now but I do know I am currently filled with gratefulness and thankfulness. love you guys thank you.”
The Games mark Osaka’s comeback after withdrawing from the French Open in May when she detailed her battles with anxiety and depression.
The Uk has sanctioned Teodoro Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea’s president for misappropriating millions of dollars spent on luxury mansions, private jets and a $275,000 glove worn by Michael Jackson.
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Teodoro Obiang Mangue, who is also vice president of Equatorial Guinea, had participated in “corrupt contracting arrangements and soliciting bribes, to fund a lavish lifestyle inconsistent with his official salary as a government minister.”
In an unusual move, the UK said Obiang had bought a $100 million mansion in Paris, a $38 million private jet, a luxury yacht, and dozens of luxury vehicles including Ferraris, Bentleys and Aston Martins. and he also bought “a collection of Michael Jackson memorabilia including a $275,000 crystal-covered glove that the musician wore during his time.
The UK said its sanctions against Obiang include freezing of assets and a travel ban.
Obiang’s father President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled Equatorial Guinea since taking power in a coup in 1979, eleven years after independence from Spain.
It’s not the first time foreign governments are cracking down on Obiang. In 2017, Obiang was convicted for corruption by a French court and handed a three-year suspended jail term after prosecutors accused him of embezzlement of public funds and money laundering.
In 2018, Brazilian police seized millions of dollars in cash, including a set of luxury watches from a delegation traveling with the wealthy Central African ruler following a search on their private aircraft in Sao Paulo.
The country grew rich in the past few decades due to the exploitation of its oil reserves, but more than 76% of the population live in poverty, according to the World Bank.
The City of Atlanta, Georgia has officially proclaimed July 22 as Kanye West Day.
This came after the rapper treated his fans to a one-of-a-kind experience at his “Donda” listening event. TMZ reported that he was also presented a plaque backstage after his performance at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Kevin James, President of ATL’s HBCU, Morris Brown College, gave Kanye West a token of appreciation on behalf of his mother, Donda West, who taught in the college for almost 2 many years and was Chair of the English Department.
The award James gave to Kanye is known as the Dr. Donda West Meritorious Service to Morris Brown College. Donda began her profession at Morris Brown which is the one of the Historically black colleges and universities opened in 1881.
Kanye who was born in Atlanta, unveiled his new album named after his mom on Thursday evening before an enormous crowd that included Kim Kardashian and their children, together with Khloe.
Maurcio Pochettino has signed a one-year contract extension with Paris Saint-Germain to continue as manager..
Pochettino joined PSG in January and penned a deal until June 2022. His contract with the French giants now runs until June 2023.
The 49-year-old was a surprise contender for the vacancy at former club Tottenham Hotspur, following the departure of Jose Mourinho, but talks stalled and Tottenham moved for Nuno Espirito Santo instead.
Pochettino’s staff have also been handed contract extensions of the same length.
Pochettino speaking to press on Friday, July 23, said: “I’m really very happy, for myself and also for my staff.
“It’s very important for us to feel the confidence of the club and we will give our maximum so that the supporters are proud of Paris Saint-Germain.
“That’s why we will try and reach our objectives altogether, as one. Twenty years ago I was captain of this club and today I am the coach… It’s a dream come true.”
PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi added: “We are delighted that Mauricio has reaffirmed his commitment to the Paris Saint-Germain family.
“Having also captained the team 20 years ago, he understands the club values, ambition and vision for the future. With Mauricio’s leadership, we’re excited and confident about what the future holds.”
Appointed following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel, Pochettino took charge in the midst of a very competitive Ligue 1 title race.
Lille won the title by a point thanks to a 2-1 victory over Angers. Pochettino’s side were knocked out by Manchester City in the Champions League semi-finals.
On the positive side, the Argentine claimed the first two trophies of his managerial career, winning the Trophee des Champions in January and the Coupe de France in May.
Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has reportedly filed for asylum in Benin republic.
Igboho was arrested on Monday, July 19, while he and his wife, Ropo, were making plans to fly to Germany. He was charged and arraigned in court for attempting to fly with a fake Beninoise passport.
A source who is close to the agitator says he has filed for an application to be a political refugee in Benin republic.
“He (Igboho) was already at the airport with a passport. The immigration officers suspected his passport to be fake and so they stopped him. A passport was allegedly forged for Igboho in the Benin Republic for the purpose of the Germany trip.
At the airport, they discovered he was the one. Igboho has already applied for asylum in Germany and he hopes to file a similar application in Benin Republic in the coming days,” the source told Punch
India’s two-time Olympic medalist Sushil Kumar will be watching the Tokyo Games from inside the walls of jail in India where he is incarcerated on charges of kidnap and murder.
Kumar, 38, was arrested in May after a week-long manhunt over the murder of promising wrestler Sagar Dhankad at a stadium in the capital.
Kumar, who is the only Indian to win two individual Olympic medals, has pleaded innocent to the charges.
A television has been arranged in the common area of Tihar jail in New Delhi after a request by Kumar’s lawyer to prison authorities.
“We have allowed Sushil to watch television in the common area of his ward along with others,” Sandeep Goel, director general of Delhi prisons, told reporters.
“He had made a request through his lawyer for a TV to stay updated about wrestling matches and other happenings.”
Sushil won the freestyle wrestling silver at the 2012 London Games after bagging a bronze at the Beijing Olympics four years earlier. He has also won three Commonwealth Games golds and was awarded India’s highest honour for athletes in 2009.
Tokyo Olympics organisers have fired the opening ceremony director after historical footage emerged of Kentaro Kobayashi making jokes about the Holocaust.
A clip was widely shared on Japanese social media on Wednesday, July 21, showing the comedian Kobayashi in a 1998 TV skit which included the line “Let’s play Holocaust”, and there were strong calls for his dismissal.
The Jewish human rights organisation Simon Wiesenthal Center released a statement condemning the jokes, saying: “Any person, no matter how creative, does not have the right to mock the victims of the Nazi genocide … any association of this person to the Tokyo Olympics would insult the memory of six million Jews.”
Kobayashi’s sacking comes one day before the start of the opening ceremony, which had earlier this week lost its musical composer Keigo Oyamada, who resigned after it emerged he had bullied classmates and boasted about it in a magazine interview.
The Olympics minister Seiko Hashimoto said: “We’re currently investigating how to conduct tomorrow’s opening ceremony.”
There have been numerous similar scandals among high-ranking officials. In March the Olympics’ creative chief Hiroshi Sasaki was forced to resign after calling female comedian Naomi Watanabe an “Olympig” and suggesting she could wear pig ears at the opening ceremony.
In February the head of the Games’ organising committee Yoshiro Mori resigned after making sexist comments.
The 83-year-old was quoted as saying women talk too much and that meetings with multiple female directors would “take a lot of time”. Around 400 people withdrew from the Olympic volunteer programme after the comments were made.
The Games will officially begin with the opening ceremony at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Friday with no fans after spectators were banned due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
10 pirates have been handed a twelve year jail senetence each for hijacking a Chinese fishing vessel, FV Hai Lu Feng II, in May 2020.
The convicts said to be residents in Nigeria were identified as Frank Abaka, Jude Ebaragha, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwiki, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adekole Philip, Matthew Masi, and Bright Agbedeyi.
They pleaded “not guilty” after being arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on the hijacking of the vessel in international waters off the coast of Cote D’Ivoire.
The convicts who were first arraigned by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on July 13, 2020 were accused of “committing an illegal act of violence against the crew on board FV Hai Lu Feng II belonging to Haina Fishing Company by putting them in fear in order to take control of the vessel while armed with weapons”.
The government which said their action violated Section 3 of the Suppression of Piracy and Other Maritime Offences Act, 2019, punishable under Section 2 of the same Act, urged the court to use the case to send a strong message to pirates that Nigeria would not condone such criminal activities which had huge implications for the country.
Ruling on the case, Justice Ayokunle Faji said their actions affect the well-being of all Nigerians also ordered each pirate to pay a fine of N1million each.
Faji said;
“I agree with the prosecution counsel, Labaran Magaji that the prosecution has proved the essential ingredients of the offence committed by each of the defendants; the defendants conspired to commit the illegal act.
“All the defendants acted in hijacking the ship to achieve their common goal.
“Consequently I find each of the defendants guilty as charged on all the counts.
“Each defendant is hereby sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.
“In addition, the defendants should pay a fine of N1million each.
“The offence committed by the defendants affects the wellbeing of Nigerians and our image in the diaspora.
“The naira sum, dollars, and various currencies recovered from the defendants by the Nigerian Navy are hereby forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
The Italian Football Association has confirmed that Christian Eriksen will not be allowed to play for Inter Milan again unless the defibrillator installed after his cardiac arrest while on Denmark duty is removed.
The 29-year-old collapsed during his country’s Euro 2020 opener against Finland on June 12 and required urgent CPR treatment from pitch-side medics. Eriksen was brought back to life on the pitch but the remainder of his football career remains in doubt.
It was confirmed after his cardiac arrest that Eriksen now has an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) inserted in his chest to regulate any further disturbances in his heartbeat.
Eriksen plays club football for Inter Milan in Italy, a country that bans players from competing if they have any significant heart abnormalities.
Francesco Braconaro, a member of the Italian FA’s technical-scientific committee, revealed the Danish footballer must have the defibrillator removed to play in Italian football again, as it will show he has no further heart problems.
Braconaro told Radio Kiss Kiss: ‘Christian Eriksen cannot be given the all-clear to play in Italy.
‘If the player has the defibrillator removed, therefore confirming the pathology can be resolved, then he can return to play for Inter.’
The Federal Government has denied claims that it has stopped Nigerians from using the microblogging site, Twitter.
Punch reports that the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the Federal Government made the denial in a counter-affidavit they deposed to in response to an originating motion filed by human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong.
The Federal government on June 4 2021, announced the indefinite suspension of the operations of Twitter in Nigeria. The government suspended the site operations days after it deleted a Tweet from President Buhari’s handle in which he made reference to the civil war which many found offensive. The Attorney General had released a statement threatening to prosecute Nigerians still using the platform via VPN while the National Broadcasting Commission ordered all radio and television stations to stop using Twitter or picking content from the platform.
Opposed to the move by the Federal government, HumanRights lawyer, Inihebe Effiong, dragged the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed and the Federal government before the court. In a fundamental human rights suit marked FHC/L/CS/542/2021, Inihebe asked the court to amongst other things grant an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further suspending, deactivating, or banning the operation and accessibility of Twitter or any other social media service in Nigeria because the act was in violation of his rights.
Effiong asked the court to declare as illegal the ‘threat of criminal prosecution by Malami and Lai Mohammed against Nigerians who violate the suspension or ban of Twitter, despite the absence of any written law.’
In an affidavit deposed to by Mr. Ilop Lawrence on behalf of the Federal Government and Malami, it was stated that the suspension of Twitter was not an abuse of human rights because Nigerians were still using Twitter despite the suspension. The government told the court that Nigerians are still free to use platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, Tiktok and others. The Federal Government also denied knowledge of Twitter deleting Buhari’s tweet on the Biafra civil which offended many Nigerians.
It said Twitter had made its platform accessible to elements like Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra; and had supported the #EndSARS protests of October 2020 which was later hijacked by hoodlums. The government further stated that Nigerians should direct their anger at Twitter and not the government because Twitter would not have been suspended if it complied with Nigeria’s laws. It told the court that the Twitter suspension would be lifted once the platform registers with the NBC and the Corporate Affairs Commission.
The affidavits deposed by the Federal government reads in part
“The applicant (Effiong) and the class he seeks to represent can still operate those Twitter accounts from anywhere in the world and even from Nigeria. Nigerians are still tweeting, even at this moment as the ban on Twitter is not aimed at intimidating Nigerians or an infringement on the rights of Nigerians to express their opinion.
The respondents (Federal Government and AGF) have never stopped the applicant (Effiong) and the class of persons he seeks to represent from voicing their opinions to access government information and offer criticism where necessary.”
Senate Minority Leader, Enyinaya Abaribe, has said given the opportunity, he will still stand as surety for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu in court.
Recall that Abaribe, Immanuel El-Shalom, a Jewish high priest, and Tochukwu Uchendu, a chartered accountant, stood surety for Kanu when he was granted bail on April 27th 2017 after spending over a year in detention. Kanu however went underground after the military invasion of his home in Abia state in September 2017. The courts revoked Kanu’s bail and then threatened Abaribe with a jail term if he fails to produce Kanu.
Kanu was however rearrested in Kenya on June 27 and extradited to Nigeria on June 29.
Speaking in an interview with TVC on Wednesday, July 21, the Senator said he would not hesitate to stand as a surety for Kanu again. He explained that he stood surety for Kanu when the IPOB leader was arraigned because it was a condition imposed by the court.
According to him, the court ordered that one of the sureties must be a Senator and as the Chairman of the Southeast Senators Caucus then, he had to offer himself as the surety.
“He’s our son. He’s from our state (Abia). He (Kanu) said it himself that he ran for his dear life.
There is a difference between jumping bail and escaping for your life. I went back to court and deposed that on the basis of the principle of ‘last seen’, that the last people seen with him were soldiers of the Nigerian army who were invading his father’s residence.
The judge ultimately ruled that she was revoking bail and issued a warrant of arrest, thereby removing us from the responsibility of providing him. A lot of people did not understand” he said
Abaribe said he did not feel betrayed that Kanu left the country, saying he ran for his life.
Thomas Markle has promised to take his daughter Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to court so he can meet his grandchildren.
In an explosive interview on Thursday, July 22, the estranged dad, 77, called Harry and Meghan “bad” parents and claimed they’ve made “mistakes” in raising their son Archie, 2, and newborn girl Lilibet.
He said he’s petitioning the court for a right to see his grandchildren.
He went on to request that the Queen allows Lilibet to be christened at her Church in England because Lilibet deserves the same rights as other royals who are christened at the Queen’s church. He added that Lilibet shouldn’t be punished because of the actions of her parents.
He said during an interview with Fox News from his Rosarito, Mexico, home: “I’m hoping Her Majesty the Queen and the people in England will stop and think about the mistakes and bad behavior of their parents.”
He continued: “I will be petitioning the California courts for the right to see my grandchildren in the very near future.”
The former Hollywood lighting director also said: “I’d like to take this opportunity to ask Her Majesty the Queen, the British family, the royal family, to allow Lily to receive her baptism and first christening at the Queen’s church.
“We shouldn’t be punishing her for Megan and Harry’s bad behavior,” he blasted at his daughter and son-in-law.
“Archie and Lily are small children, they are not politics, they’re not pawns, not part of the game.
“And they’re also Royals. They’re also entitled to the same rights as any other royal.”
Meghan’s dad also revealed that he would “welcome” Queen Elizabeth and the Royals’ to his home.
He said: “Of course they would be invited to my home at any time.”
Dwyane Wade is the biggest fan of his wife, Gabrielle Union.
The retired NBA legend took to Instagram to share a topless photo of the actress, 48, posing in cheeky underwear while striking a pose for mirror selfie.
‘This is 48, Wade, 39, captioned the sexy picture along with a pair of eyes and peach emojis.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced that it will be announcing its own digital currency on October 1, 2021.
Nairametrics reported that the CBN alongside stakeholders picked Independence Day as its launch date.
According to the publication, CBN’s IT Director, Rakiya Mohammed at the conclusion of the 306th Banker’s Committee meeting, disclosed that the apex bank has been conducting research in regards to digital currencies since 2017 and may conduct a proof of concept before the end of this year.
The project name is tagged Project GIANT and it will use the Hyperledger Fabric Blockchain. Nigeria’s central bank further revealed that the importance of eNaira includes Macro management and growth, cross border trade facilitation, financial inclusion, monetary policy effectiveness, improved payment efficiency, revenue tax collection, remittance improvement, and targeted social intervention.
Ecuador has declared a state of emergency in its penitentiary system after riots at two prisons left 22 dead and 57 wounded.
Authorities said violence erupted on Wednesday afternoon at the country’s two largest prisons Litoral Penitentiary in the port city of Guayaquil and the Latacunga prison in the central Cotopaxi region.
Police contained the rioting and regained control of the two sites after nine officers and 59 inmates were injured, according to officials.
In Cotopaxi, “high-caliber firearms” and explosives were used during the riots, Governor Oswaldo Coronel said.
Some 78 prisoners were recaptured following an escape attempt at Latacunga, police said.
Alexandra Vela, a government minister, said a police officer was sexually assaulted amid the chaos.
Gustavo Larrea, a former interior minister, said clashes were between crime groups linked to drug trafficking. Larrea said the gangs had “relative control” in the prisons and sought to control illegal operations on the outside.
Last night, Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso issued a decree “to mobilize all necessary human and economic resources to re-establish order” in the country’s prisons.
The military will be in charge of controlling the prison from the outside and police will handle the inside, Lasso said.
“I want to tell the mafias that try to intimidate this country that they are wrong,” Lasso said. “They are wrong if they think our hand is going to shake. We are going to use all our legal powers to impose the rule of law and guarantee peace and human rights in prisons in Ecuado
The Opening ceremony of the Olympic Games started today, Friday 23rd July in Tokyo, Japan.
The Games which is not open to fans – the very first time this will be happening in history – starts after a one-year postponement and a build-up marred by scandals, controversy and the covid-19 pandemic.
The international multi-sport event will take place from 23 July to 8 August 2021
