MTV VMAs 2020: Lady Gaga, The Weeknd top awards [Full list of winners]

The 2020 MTV Video Music Awards aired on Sunday with the likes of Lady Gaga shining with multiple awards through the night.

Despite COVID-19 pandemic, the (outdoor) show still went on with some of the biggest names in music.

Lady Gaga took the stage multiple times, winning the first award of the broadcast for best collaboration for her hit single with Grande, “Rain On Me.”

Gaga also won artist of the year and song of the year, and Tricia award as well.

See the full list of winners:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” — WINNER

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Lady Gaga — WINNER

SONG OF THE YEAR

Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” — WINNER

BEST COLLABORATION

Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” — WINNER.

PUSH BEST NEW ARTIST, Presented by Chime Banking

Doja Cat — WINNER

BEST POP

BTS – “On” — WINNER

BEST HIP-HOP

Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage” — WINNER

BEST ROCK

Coldplay – “Orphans” — WINNER

BEST ALTERNATIVE

Machine Gun Kelly – “Bloody Valentine” — WINNER

BEST LATIN

Maluma ft. J Balvin – “Qué Pena” — WINNER

BEST R&B

The Weeknd – “Blinding Lights” — WINNER

BEST K-POP

BTS – “On” — WINNER

VIDEO FOR GOOD

H.E.R. – ”I Can’t Breathe” — WINNER

BEST MUSIC VIDEO FROM HOME

Ariana Grande & Justin Bieber – “Stuck with U” — WINNER

BEST QUARANTINE PERFORMANCE

CNCO – Unplugged At Home — WINNER

BEST DIRECTION

Taylor Swift – “The Man” – Directed by Taylor Swift — WINNER

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande – “Rain On Me” – Cinematography by Thomas Kloss — WINNER

BEST ART DIRECTION

Miley Cyrus – “Mother’s Daughter” – Art Direction by Christian Stone — WINNER

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Dua Lipa – “Physical” – Visual Effects by EIGHTY4 — WINNER

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

BTS – “On” – Choreography by Son Sung Deuk, Lee Ga Hun, Lee Byung Eun — WINNER

BEST EDITING

Miley Cyrus – “Mother’s Daughter” – Edited by Alexandre Moors, Nuno Xico — WINNER

BEST GROUP

BTS — WINNER

SONG OF THE SUMMER

BLACKPINK – “How You Like That” — WINNER

Tricon Award

Lady Gaga — WINNER

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Lagos Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi recovers from COVID-19, tests negative

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, has reportedly recovered after testing positive to COVID-19.

The Commissioner was said to have been tested positive for COVID-19 and had since gone into isolation.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, in a statement on Monday, said the Health Commissioner would resume his duties gradually.

The statement reads: “It is with gratitude to God that I announce the recovery and subsequent negative test for COVID-19 of the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi.

“Following the mandatory isolation, the Commissioner retook a COVID-19 PCR test which returned negative yesterday evening. Professor Abayomi is very grateful and humbled by the deep concern shown and expressed by Executive Council members, civil servants, Lagos residents, Nigerians, both locally and in the diaspora, through prayers, messages, phone calls and gifts.

“He will be returning to his full duties gradually and remains resolute in delivering the mandate of Mr. Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whom he says stood by him steadfastly in these trying times and is very appreciative of.

“Governor Sanwo-Olu, the Incident Commander, is excited by the news and urges Lagosians to realise that COVID-19 is still with us; they should keep obeying the guidelines-watching their hands, wearing face masks and avoiding large gatherings, among others.”

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Kim Jong-un’s secretive older brother Kim Jong-chul who had 'warm heart of a girl'

Fresh speculation that Kim Jong-un could be in a coma has renewed the debate over who would take his place if he met an early demise.

The latest claim that the North Korean leader is in a coma has been dismissed, and state media has pictured him chairing a ruling party summit and surveying typhoon damage in recent days.

North Korea has never publicly stated who would follow Kim in the event that he is unable to rule, but Pyongyang watchers have once again tipped his sister, Kim Yo-jong, as his likely successor, although perhaps only temporarily.

There is one long shot, however - the siblings' elusive and only surviving brother, Kim Jong-chul, who plays a support role for his brother, and is probably best known for his love of Eric Clapton and his 2015 visit to London to see the Brit in concert.

Observers say Kim Jong-chul, who is 38 or 39, is not a viable option to take over the country which has been ruled by the Kim dynasty since it was founded after World War II.

Experts recently told the BBC that he has never appeared interested in politics or power, and at most he could be a symbolic link to the Kim family, and possibly be appointed to lead a foundation or read the odd speech.

His father, Kim Jong-il, overlooked him as a potential successor in 2009, and his older half-brother Kim Jong-nam fell out of favour when he was caught travelling on a fake passport (and was later assassinated with a VX nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur airport in Malaysia in February 2017.

Kim Jong-il's former personal sushi chef, who used the pseudonym Kenji Fujimoto, wrote a book in 2003, claiming the ruler saw his son Kim Jong-chul as "no good because he is like a little girl", while he considered Kim Jong-un to be a boy of "inner strength", the BBC reported.

The chef wrote that Kim Jong-chul "had the warm heart of a girl", the Washington Post once reported.

Younger brother Kim Jong-un, said to be 36 now, was chosen and groomed to become the reclusive regime's next supreme leader, taking over in December 2011 after his father's death.

Kim Jong-chul - the third of Kim Jong-il's five children - is said to be more interested in music than politics, which has been suggested based on his travels abroad, but it is also claimed he has his brother's respect.

It is said he was educated at an international school in Switzerland, like the current ruler, before returning to Pyongyang, where he studied at a military university and worked in the propaganda department.

His Japanese-Korean mother, Ko Yong-hui, who was born in Osaka, was reported to have been Kim Jong-il's favourite consort.

He is said to be a talented musician and he has flown around the world to watch Eric Clapton in concert - in Germany in 2006, Singapore in February 2011 and at London's Royal Albert Hall in May 2015.

In 2016, South Korea's spies claimed he had been shut out of power and was living under surveillance, the Nikkei Asian Review reported.

Thae Yong-ho, the former deputy ambassador of North Korea to London, was Kim Jong-chul's minder during the May 2015 trip to London.

After defecting to South Korea in 2016, he told Reuters he escorted the Kim brother around London and took him to two gigs for Clapton's 70th birthday celebration tour.

Thae said Kim was a polite young man who didn't reveal much about his life in Pyongyang or his older brother.

The defector, who disappeared from the embassy quarters in Gunnersbury, west London, with his family before resurfacing in Seoul weeks later, added: “He’s very free. But he’s only interested in guitars and music."

Video of Kim Jong-chul at the gig showed him wearing a leather jacket and wearing aviator sunglasses with an unknown woman by his side, believed at the time to have been his girlfriend.

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ATBU: Court orders university to pay and reinstate 300L student who was expelled 7-years ago

The Court of Appeal sitting in Jos, Plateau State capital has ordered the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (ATBU) to reinstate and pay N1.1million damages to Victor Oboh Alom, a 300 Level student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering illegally expelled in 2013 over alleged examination malpractice.

Victor was said to have been accused by an invigilator of entering the examination hall with foreign materials and asked to fill a form to which he refused.

Consequently, the Plaintiff had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the university at the Federal High Court in Bauchi challenging the university’s decision to expel him.

The presiding Judge, Justice Shittu Abubakar after scrutiny, had on May 17, 2018, voided and nullified the expulsion. And the defendant was ordered to pay N1, 000,000 as general damages.”

Justice Abubakar ordered that Victor be reinstated to continue his study with immediate effect.

But the management of ATBU had on June 1, 2018, challenged the ruling of the Federal High Court and approached the Appeal Court, Jos Division.

A three-man panel led by Justice Tani Yusuf Hassan of the Appeal Court, however, upheld the judgment passed by Justice Shittu Abubakar.

Also, the Appeal Court ordered ATBU to pay N100,000 in addition to N1,000,000 earlier ordered by the Federal High Court as damages, and reinstate him to further his education.

Reacting to his victory at the Appeal Court, the plaintiff said he would return to the school to further his education in engineering with immediate effect.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Jos, Plateau State capital has ordered the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi (ATBU) to reinstate and pay N1.1million damages to Victor Oboh Alom, a 300 Level student of Electrical and Electronics Engineering illegally expelled in 2013 over alleged examination malpractice.

Victor was said to have been accused by an invigilator of entering the examination hall with foreign materials and asked to fill a form to which he refused.

Consequently, the Plaintiff had filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit against the university at the Federal High Court in Bauchi challenging the university’s decision to expel him.

The presiding Judge, Justice Shittu Abubakar after scrutiny, had on May 17, 2018, voided and nullified the expulsion. And the defendant was ordered to pay N1, 000,000 as general damages.”

Narrating the circumstance that led to his expulsion, Victor said “Just within 3 minutes after the commencement of an examination, an invigilator accused me of malpractice and asked me to fill a form in that regard which I declined”

He added that after an investigation by the Examination Misconduct Committee of the School of Engineering, he was not found guilty of examination malpractice.

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Separated twins get N1m for upkeep

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo has donated N1 million for the upkeep of Grace and Mercy Ayebaiyeni, the conjoined twins separated and brought home at the weekend.

Ewhrudjakpo, receiving them at the state’s airport yesterday, said it was his contribution to their upkeep pending a reception by Governor Douye Diri.

He said Grace and Mercy were the first to be successfully separated in Southsouth.

Ewhrudjakpo promised to cater for the upkeep and total education of Mercy, who shares a name with his mother and wife.

Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre (FMC)at Yenagoa Dr Dennis Alagoa said the surgery was performed at FMC at Yola in Adamawa State.

He said paediatric surgeons and health experts from both centres collaborated to achieve the feat, while Nigerian Air Force provided logistics for travel.

“Grace and Mercy were delivered through Caesarean Section on December 12, 2019, at the General Hospital, Nembe, Bayelsa, and subsequently referred to us at the FMC in Yenagoa. The twins were successfully separated on August 10, 2020.

“They were cared for at the Special Baby Care Unit and they were joined at the stomach in the liver. We evaluated the situation and in the best interest of the babies opted to collaborate with FMC Yola where a successful surgery was conducted. Our surgeons and the lead surgeon at FMC in Yola carried out the task.

“…surgery lasted for less than three hours and recovery was fast and smooth. By the next day, they were already eating.

“We hail the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, for his intervention by providing the aircraft and logistics for medical evacuation of the babies, their parents and medical team.

“…surgery running into several millions was done free, in addition to the welfare of everyone involved in the process.”

The twins shared one liver before they were separated, lead surgeon Prof. Auwal Mohammed Abubakar said.

Abubakar, chief medical director of FMC at Yola, said Grace and Mercy did not share any other organ besides liver. He said the nature of their joining made surgery easier, with the lesser time of three hours.

Prof. Abubakar has separated five conjoined twins – two at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and three at Federal Medical Centre in Yola.

The children’s mother, Ayebaekipreye Ebinyefa, thanked the hospitals for the surgery.

According to her, the successful operation saved her from being ridiculed and tagged a witch.

“While the operation lasted, I was scared and praying for its success. Before we went for the operation in Yola, I received insults and was tagged a witch. Some said the children came out conjoined because of my stubbornness and witchcraft.

“While the operation was on, I prayed fervently because I could not receive such wicked names and lose the children. I had faith in God and told Him to take control. I appreciate our benefactor, Gabriel Jonah. He was the God-sent used to save me from death because without his intervention during delivery, we would have been killed.

“He took us from Nembe to Yenagoa and eventually connected everyone involved with this surgery. In the last eight months, he has fed us and taken care of us…”

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LaLiga backs Barca, says Messi's Barcelona contract still valid

The 700m euros (£624m) release clause in Lionel Messi’s Barcelona contract is still valid, La Liga has said.

Messi, 33, informed the club on Tuesday that he wished to leave and did not attend a pre-season medical on Sunday.

The Argentina forward plans to invoke a clause that would allow him to depart the club for free but Barcelona argue the deadline for that has expired.

“In compliance with the applicable rule, La Liga will not approve a request to be de-registered as a player with the Spanish football federation, unless the amount in the release clause has been paid,” the body said in a statement.

Messi was due at Barcelona’s training ground at 10.15am local time on Sunday but did not attend. The player’s lawyers plan to exercise a clause in his four-year contract, signed in 2017, which would have allowed him to leave the club for free if he had requested to do so by 10 June.

They will argue that date, nominally the end of the season, is now irrelevant after the coronavirus delays that led to the season’s extension and the team playing deep into August.

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Bobrisky shares stunning pictures to celebrate birthday [Photos]

The birthday pictures of popular Nigerian crossdresser and brand influencer, Idris Okuneye Olanrewaju, popularly called Bobrisky has generated mixed reactions.

Counting down to her birthday on August 31, Bobrisky shared stunning photos looking elegant and classy on its verified Instagram page.

Photos below:

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Two arrested while on robbery mission in Ijebu-Ode [Photos]

A 32-year-old Odukoya Ayomide and his colleague, Abiodun Oyenuga, have been arrested by the police in Ogun State.

Police said they were arrested on their way for a robbery operation along Awa Ijebu/Ijebu-Ode highway.

DailyPost learnt that the suspects were accosted on the road on August 25, when the DPO of Awa Ijebu police station, CSP Adewalehinmi Joseph, were on routine patrol of the area.

A statement by the Ogun Police Spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, informed that the suspects, who were on a motorbike quickly jumped off as they sighted the police.

As they took to their heels, Oyeyemi told DailyPost that the policemen gave them a hot chase, leading to the arrest of Odukoya Ayomide, with a locally-made cut-to-size double-barreled gun; saying the second suspect escaped through a nearby bush.

“The arrested suspect informed the police upon interrogation that his fleeing partner was the person who invited him from Ijebu-Ode for a robbery operation and that they were just going to carry out the operation when they were accosted by the police.

“The useful information obtained from the arrested suspect led the police to Sagamu where Abiodun Oyenuga, his fleeing partner was arrested on the 28th August, 2020,” Oyeyemi disclosed.

The state Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, has directed that the two suspects be transferred to the SARS unit of the police command for discreet investigation.

Ajogun has also warned criminals to steer clear of Ogun State, threatened that “the command will make it too hot for them under his watch.”

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Zamfara Governor seeks death sentence for reckless driving

The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has promised to reintroduce serious punitive measures of death on reckless drivers in the state.

The decision followed the death of 15 supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a road accident in Tsafe Local Government Area of the state.

The accident occurred on Saturday when a truck lost control and rammed into four vehicles conveying the victims along Gusau-Funtua Road in Tsafe.

Governor Matawalle who expressed sadness over their death says the new law will ensure that such reckless drivers are compelled by law to pay compensation on every life lost.

“We have to make sure that we do everything possible to safeguard the lives of our people. The best way to do it is to make sure that we protect our roads and put some measures to control all the drivers coming in and out of the state.

“The state government has initiated some measures so that we can check all the problems. The state government is planning to make sure we have a weighing gauge in the state and speed limits.

“We have to initiate that and very soon we are going to do that. I observed by myself that the highest speed some of these truck drivers are gojng in the state is very uncommon.

“We make sure we do something so that we can put them on check.

He also explained that some road safety measures will be out in place to guard against rough and reckless driving.

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BBNaija: How Nigerians voted out Wathoni, Brighto, Tolanibaj

Details of how Nigerians voted out Tolanbaj, Wathoni and Brighto has emerged.

This week, 12 Big Brother Naija Lockdown housemates excluding the current Head of House Ozo and deputy Head of house Nengi were up for possible eviction from the big brother naija show.

The trio of Wathoni, Brighto, Tolanibaj have been evicted from the show.

They got evicted during the Sunday night eviction show.

Ozo was saved from possible eviction after emerging this week; head of house. She chose Nengi as deputy head of house.

In Sunday’s eviction, Brighto had the least vote while Neo had the highest with 6.90%

Neo – 6.90%

Kiddwaya – 6.62%

Lucy – 5.41%

Wathoni – 3.57%

Tolanbaj – 2.75%

Brighto – 2.68%

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Photo news: Apostle Suleman prays for APC’s Ize-Iyamu

Is it that they don't want Obaseki in power again? Ko da o, lol. 

More photos below...

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Uber, Bolt drivers begin one week-strike in Lagos

Drivers on e-hailing platforms in Nigeria’s Lagos State are embarking on a week-strike starting on Monday to protest against some aspects of the new regulations by the state.

The president of the National Union of Professional App-Based Workers Ayoade Ibrahim told The Guardian on Monday morning that the representative of the union was not a party to the agreement reached between operators such as Uber and Bolt, Lagos State and the Professional E-hailing Drivers and Private Owners Association.

“App companies like Uber and Bolt push their responsibility to us,” Ayoade said. “We want to negotiate with Lagos State Government about the regulations and our responsibility.”

Uber and Bolt did not immediately reply to enquiries about the matter.

The government announced on August 14 that the new regulations which were to become operational on August 20 have been modified after an initial outcry by the drivers on the burden the regulations will put on them.

For the drivers, one contentious regulation was the service tax to be charged on each trip while the e-hailing operators like Uber and Bolt were to pay up to N25 million license fee and N10 million annually for renewal of the license.

The commissioner for transport Frederic Oladeinde said the government would instead charge N20 per trip instead of 20 percent of the charges for each trip. There was also a 20 percent reduction in the license and renewal fees.

The drivers were also given up to 90 days to complete the necessary paperwork.

But Ayoade insisted on Monday that his union, which had already had five meetings with the official of the state’s Ministry of Transportation, was deliberately sidelined from the August meeting with the governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, because of its stance on the new regulations.

He said parts of the amended regulations still put heavy burdens on the drivers.

“They did not call us for the final conclusion with Mr Governor,” Ayoade said. “They know our stand. That is why they sidelined us during the governor’s meeting. They denied us the opportunity to tell Mr Governor of our problems.”

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Omotola Ekeinde and kids cured of covid-19

Nollywood actress, Omotola Ekeinde and her kids are now covid-19 free. 

Recall the actress had revealed on Instagram that she and her kids had tested positive to the virus. In a new post, she revealed they have been cured of the virus and thanked God for it,

A grateful Omotola wrote;

''Grateful ! 🙏🏽

I am grateful to God Almighty the Lord of lords for all He has done for my family and I. He is truly a dependable Friend if you trust in Him.

I’ll also like to thank you all for your love, prayers, calls, messages, posts and thoughts. All truly appreciated.

My kids and I are fine and COVID free now, and I do not take the experience for granted at all.

If you still don’t believe this virus is real, I pray you don’t experience it to believe.

If you ever feel ill during this pandemic, pls know there’s nothing to fear or be ashamed of…you’re not alone.

Pls get TESTED immediately, it could save your life. Many have had covid and treated it as fever, malaria etc and luckily they’ve been fine….( note that symptoms are different and viral loads vary). However, a problem with that is they have probably gone on to infect others, since they were not monitored or guided. The average span for a covid infection if not severe is 2 weeks (14 days ) when you should totally isolate so as not to infect others.

Make sure to use vitamins – VitC (1000ml) , vitD and Zinc daily and please WEAR A MASK. Please maintain physical distancing, wear a mask properly and wash your hands regularly.

I’ll also like to thank the amazing lead Dr who treated me Dr Folarin Opawoye; and finally , my husband whose Love and Faith nursed us back to health.''

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Chadwick Boseman's heartbreaking hint at hidden cancer battle in Black Panther interview

Chadwick Boseman has died after a secret four-year battle with colon cancer.

The 43-year-old Black Panther star was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer back in 2016 but did not publicly discuss his health.

Fans have been mourning the loss of the actor on Twitter, where one person noticed something particulaly heartbreaking from an interview the actor did back in 2017.

Huffington Post journalist Matt Jacobs interviewed Boseman ahead of the release of Black Panther and the pair discussed the reality of 'bulking up' for Marvel movies.

Looking back on the interview now, it seems Boseman was hinting at his private health battle in his replies. 

 Jacobs started the conversation by asking: "You came off of one Black Panther project, did Marshall and then made another Black Panther movie. Did you bulk up, slim down and then bulk up again?

Boseman was described as "looking exhausted" as he responded: "Right. Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Jacobs then comments: "You’ve been through the wringer."

He claims Boseman laughed, while saying: "Oh, you don’t even know. You have no idea. One day I’ll live to tell the story."

The snippet from the interview went viral on Twitter, garnering over 143,000 likes and over 46,000 retweets.

One person replied: "He laughed. HE LAUGHED. Knowing he was dying, he still laughed at. This man loved bringing joy to others and it is absolutely brutal he can’t anymore."

Another wrote: "That is not just strength that is heart and determination."

"God, this made me start crying. His fortitude was truly the stuff of superheroes," someone else commented.

A different user added: "OMG this is extremely heartbreaking."

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DJ Cuppy reacts as non-fans want her replaced by DJ Switch after Switch's BBN performance

DJ Cuppy as reacted after a non-fan, one Chigozie on twitter begged Pepsi to replace DJ Cuppy with DJ Switch after Switch kept Nigerians on their feets for two hours during her BBN party performance.

Chigozie made a tweet and some others.. well non-fans agreed with him, while others disagreed. Cuppy herself however jumped on the tweet and explained why Pepsi can NEVER REPLACE her.

Talk about sealing a life deal? The confidence much o. Full tweet below...

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Scott Disick risks awkward run-in with Sofia Richie as he dines with Kourtney Kardashian

Scott Disick risked an awkward run-in with ex-girlfriend Sofia Richie as he arrived at a swanky restaurant with ex Kourtney Kardashian just moments before. 

Newly-single Scott, 37, parted ways with his 21-year-old on/off girlfriend - who is the daughter of musician Lionel Richie - earlier this month.

And since their split, which reports say is for good, Scott has been spending considerably more one-on-one time with Kourtney - with whom he shares three kids with.

The busy parents headed out for a swanky dinner at Malibu's Nobu, but had no idea that Scott's ex would be there with pals.

Scott and Kourtney were dressed for the occasion, with the eldest Kardashian dressed in an all-beige suit ensemble.

Meanwhile Scott added a pop of colour to his look, opting for a colourful shirt with matching trainers.

It seems as though the pair delegated their parenting duties for the night as they were spotted without their three kids Mason, 10, Penelope, eight, and five-year-old Reign.

Luckily, the pair did not see Sofia at the restaurant and their evening was without drama.

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BBNaija 2020: ‘I’m disappointed’ – Vee speaks on Tolanibaj’s feelings for Neo

BBNaija housemate, Vee has expressed disappointment at Tolanibaj’s intention for her lover, Neo.

Erica on Sunday, during live eviction, revealed that Tolanibaj told her she is interested in Neo.

Vee speaking with Nengi and Ozo in the Head of House (HOH) room said she was disappointed to hear that Tolanibaj had intentions for Neo.

According to her, Tolanibaj referred to her as a sister, but behind her, wanted her man (Neo).

“I expected Tolanibaj’s eviction as well as mine and any other housemate.

“Most housemates that went home today have not been up as much as Trikytee and they went home

“Things are crazy, Tolanibaj keeps calling me my sister but was looking at my man.

“I wish I knew earlier about this Tolanibaj situation, she could have not told Erica."

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Successful surgery saved me from witchcraft tag, says mother of separated conjoined twins

Mrs Ayebaekipreye Ebinyefa, the mother of the conjoined twins separated after a four-hour surgery carried out January 2 at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Adamawa State, said the successful separation of the conjoined twins has saved her from being ridiculed and tagged a witch by her people in Nembe area of Bayelsa State.

She spoke after she arrived at the Bayelsa International Airport in the company of Nigerian Air Force, NAF, Chief of Medical Services, CMS, Air Commodore Gideon Bako; the husband, the separated twins and their medical team onboard a NAF Beechcraft KingAir 350i aircraft.

Ebinyefa said the successful surgery and survival of her twins have saved her from ridicule and wickedness of being tagged a witch, saying: “I am happy about the success of the operation. As you can see the twins are kicking and happy.”

She said while the surgery lasted, she was scared and praying for its success, adding: “Before we went for the surgery in Yola, I received insults and was tagged a witch. Some said the children came out conjoined because of my stubbornness and witchcraft.

“While the surgery was going on, I prayed fervently because I cannot receive such wicked names and lose the children. I handed over the operation to God and it saved me the evil blushes among my people.

“I have faith in God and told him to take control. I want to appreciate our benefactor, Gabriel Jonah. He was the God-sent used to save me from death. Because without his intervention during the birth of the babies, we would have been killed.

“He took us from Nembe to Yenagoa and eventually connected everyone involved with this success. In the last eight months, he has fed us and taken care of us up till this moment.”

On the drama at the Bayelsa Airport, where the state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, appeared with a crowd of government officials to receive them, the father of the separated twins, Ayebaikemi Ralph, expressed shock at the action of the state government officials, insisting that officials of the state government had no hand in the operations that led to the survival of the twins.

“I was shocked and surprised when I saw them at the airport to receive us,” he said.

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Lovely photo of actress Opeyemi Ayeola & her family

Cute...cute!

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Barack Obama's touching tribute to Chadwick Boseman as he mourns actor's tragic death

Barack Obama has shared a touching tribute on Instagram after Chadwick Boseman's tragic passing. 

The former US president, 59, shared a poignant post about the late actor who passed away aged 43 after a four-year battle with cancer.

The Black Panther star had been diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and secretly battled the disease.

But sadly he lost his battle, and now Barack has shared some thoughtful words as the world continues to mourn Chadwick's passing.

Sharing two snaps of the pair at the White House a few years ago, Barack penned: "Chadwick came to the White House to work with kids when he was playing Jackie Robinson."

He added: "You could tell right away that he was blessed. To be young, gifted, and Black; to use that power to give them heroes to look up to; to do it all while in pain – what a use of his years."

News of the actor's tragic death was confirmed in a statement posted on  Instagram  late on Friday in the US, which read: "It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman." 

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Ikoyi marriage registry reopens for weddings

After being closed for about five months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ikoyi Marriage Registry in Lagos has reopened for conduct of weddings.

A source who visited the marriage registry on Tuesday, sighted people in wedding suits and gowns.

The Marriage Registrar, Mr Adeyemi Adebayo, said the backlog of weddings through the lockdown period was being cleared, as the registry had made provisions that would enable it to conduct 10 weddings simultaneously.

“In line with the COVID-19 protocols, only the couples with one witness each are allowed. We have provisions for hand washing and we tell the couples to bring their hand sanitisers along. We have tables to conduct 10 weddings simultaneously,” Adebayo said.

He added that external photographers were barred.

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Man r.*.p.e.s Osun teenager washing clothes in stream

The police in Osun State have apprehended one Akeem Adebayo for allegedly r*ping a 16-year-old girl at a stream in Ido Osun, Egbedore Local Government Area of the state.

According to sources in the Aerodrome Quarter, Ido Osun, the incident happened around 10.30am on Saturday, when the victim was washing her clothes at a stream near her father’s house.

The victim, said to be a pupil of a public secondary school in the town, was also reportedly hit with a sharp object on the head by the suspected rapist and was left with an open wound on her head.

The teenager’s scream, it was further learnt, attracted people in the neighbourhood, who quickly rushed to the scene and apprehended the suspect, who was attempting to escape.

The spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident and the suspect’s arrest to Punch Metro on Sunday.

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Delta vigilantes torture 26-year-old man to death

 

A 26-year-old man has been allegedly tortured to death by members of the Irri Community Vigilante Group in the Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Punch Metro gathered that the victim was tortured to death on Friday over the disappearance of N70,000 belonging to his uncle, who is a member of the vigilante outfit.

A source in the community told Punch correspondent on condition of anonymity that the victim, who hailed from the Emede community, visited his uncle in Irri.

The source stated, “In the course of his stay, he was accused of stealing N70,000 kept in the custody of his uncle, which he later confessed to after severe torture.

“Though the boy was not the only person in the house when the money got missing, but the uncle’s suspicion towards his nephew was because he was the only one who heard the phone conversation the uncle had with a friend over the N70, 000 kept in the house.

“When the uncle discovered that the money had been stolen, he summoned the nephew for interrogation and had him severely beaten up, but didn’t get any positive response from the victim; he consequently invited other members of his group.

“The vigilantes came and brutally tortured the victim; before the intervention of neighbours, he was already unconscious and finally died before they could rushed him to hospital.”

It was learnt that the deceased’s family paid back the N70,000 and demanded that their son must be brought to them alive.

But a source at the Oleh Divisional Police Station said some persons had been arrested in connection with the young man’s death, while other had fled the community.

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10,000 anti-lockdown protesters gather in London to claim coronavirus is ‘a hoax’

Up to 10,000 coronavirus-deniers have gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square to protest against lockdowns and vaccination programmes.

The ‘Unite for Freedom’ rally started at noon and called for an ‘end to Government lies’ and the ‘restoration of all freedoms.’

Pictures from the demonstration showed a sizeable crowd gathered in the square, holding signs warning that coronavirus is a ‘scam’ and a ‘hoax.’

One man held a homemade placard on which he had scrawled ‘no to mandatory vaccines.’

Another called the World Health Organisation the ‘World Hoax Organisation’ and someone else proudly held a sign calling for an ‘end to medical tyranny.’

More than 40,000 people have now died with the virus in UK, but one man’s sign said it was ‘fake science’ and comparable to a ‘bad flu.’

One protestor unfurled a flag showing the symbol of the British Union of Fascists while another woman was seen promoting the QAnon conspiracy theory that believes a cabal of Satan-worshipping Democrats, Hollywood celebrities and billionaires run the world while engaging in paedophilia.

Protestors, none of whom appeared to be wearing face masks, filled the area beneath the National Gallery.

A flyer for the event said the demo would be addressed by ‘top professional doctors and nurses speaking out’. Jeremy Corbyn’s brother, Piers, was due to make an appearance alongside conspiracy theorist David Icke.

Mr Icke, who was kicked off Facebook for publishing ‘health misinformation that could cause physical harm’ earlier this year, said it was a ‘joy to look out over an island of sanity in a world of madness.’

The flyer called on people to ‘reject the tyranny’ while warning that the Government is due to vote on a two year extension to ‘draconian Covid laws’ in September 2020.

It comes as countries around the world continue to battle with thousands of new infections and deaths a day.

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BREAKING: Newly appointed police AIG dies in Katsina

The newly appointed Assistant Inspector of Police (AIG) for zone 14 Kasina Rabi’u Yusuf is dead.

Details of his death were still sketchy as the time of filing this report.

But police authorities confirmed the development.

Details shortly…

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Another lady r.a.p.e.d and killed in 'notorious' Akinyele, Ibadan

Another lady identified as Mary Daramola has been allegedly r3ped and murdered in Akinyele area of Ibadan, raising suspicion the notorious Sunday Shodipe is not the only criminal operating in the community.

Shodipe was re-arrested earlier in the week after he escaped from police custody on August 11.

Daramola was allegedly r3ped and killed at Alabata community, near Moniya, in Akinyele Local Government.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Oyo State Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi told The Nation that the incident happened on Monday, August 24.

He said a suspect has been arrested over the incident, adding that he has been transferred to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for investigation.

An online medium quoted the Balogun of Alabata, Chief Rasaq Ajimoti, as saying that a passer-by, who noticed the gang when they were trying to dump Mary’s corpse at a nearby bush, raised an alarm which resulted in the arrest of one Toheeb Ako, who was then taken to Moniya Police Station.

According to the newspaper, Daramola’s guardian, Mrs. Folakemi Adedeji, expressed sadness over the horrible incident and called for justice to serve as deterrence to rapists in the society.

No fewer than five persons have been killed in the area in the last four months.

Sunday Shodipe was arrested for most of the killings.

He also confessed to killing a woman after he escaped from police custody.

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Twitter designates Chadwick Boseman’s obituary ‘most liked tweet ever’

American microblogging and social networking service, twitter, says the tweet announcing the demise of Chadwick Boseman is the “Most liked Tweet ever.”

It further described it as “A tribute fit for a King,” accompanied with hashtag #WakandaForever.

The tweet had garnered 6.5m love, three million retweets and 155,300 comments as of the time of this report.

See the tweet:

Most liked Tweet ever.

A tribute fit for a King. #WakandaForever https://t.co/lpyzmnIVoP

— Twitter (@Twitter) August 29, 2020

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One killed in Portland as Trump supporters clash with protesters

One person was shot and killed on Saturday night in downtown Portland, the largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, as tensions between a group of U.S. President Donald Trump’s supporters and anti-racist protesters escalated.

The shooting took place at 8:46 p.m. local time (0346 GMT Sunday) as police officers “heard sounds of gunfire from the area of Southeast 3rd Avenue and Southwest Alder Street,” said Portland Police Bureau in a statement.

It said police officers have secured the entire block at the crime scene and are investigating the shooting as a homicide, adding “no suspect information is being released at this time.”

“There have been some instances of violence between demonstrators and counter-demonstrators. Officers have intervened and in some cases made arrests,” it tweeted.

George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, died from asphyxiation after a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in May.

His death sparked massive demonstrations against police brutality and racism, as well as social unrest in some U.S. cities, including Portland.

In his acceptance speech of the Republican Party’s nomination for reelection on Thursday night, Trump did not address the shooting or the issue of racism.

Instead, he touted job numbers for African Americans, doubled down his support of law enforcement agencies, and blamed the unrest in those cities on Democrats and leftist anarchists.

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Djokovic beats Raonic to win US Open tuneup title

World best tennis star, Novak Djokovic kept his unbeaten streak in 2020 alive as he survived a terrible start to defeat Milos Raonic 1-6 6-3 6-4 in the final of the Western & Southern Open on Saturday.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner fended off Raonic’s mighty serve to extend his 2020 winning run to 23-0, clinching his 80th career title and equalling Rafael Nadal’s record of 35 Masters 1000 wins.

Battling through a neck injury, Djokovic struggled early in the match as he produced four double faults in the first set.

Raonic took advantage of the world number one’s misfiring serve to close out the set in just 30 minutes.

“Was a bit slow at the beginning, but I thought I did well, considering the form that Milos is in,” the 33-year-old Serbian told reporters.

“He’s serving rockets on the court, and it’s really hard to return. You need all the freshness mentally and all the focus that you can possibly have.”

Djokovic, who had beaten the 29-year-old Canadian in all 10 of their previous match-ups, came roaring back, unleashing his powerful forehand and winning four straight games in the final set.

The tournament, a final tune-up ahead of the U.S. Open, which begins on Monday, was staged in front of empty stands at Flushing Meadows instead of its usual venue in Mason near Cincinnati, Ohio.

The tournament formed part of a secure bubble that was created due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Djokovic faces Bosnia’s Damir Dzumhur on Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday in the first round of the Grand Slam, which is being staged without any fans in attendance this year due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“There is a certain tension,” said Djokovic, who was heavily criticised earlier this year after he and three other players contracted COVID-19 during an exhibition event he had organised in the Balkan region.

“Everyone is obviously being careful, but at the same time everyone needs to pay attention and follow the protocols and restrictions that are in place.”

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BBNaija 2020: Nengi lying about bathroom moment with Kiddwaya – Ozo tells Neo

BBNaija housemate, Ozo on Sunday morning accused Nengi of not speaking the truth about the bathroom moment with Kiddwaya.

Kiddwaya and Nengi were caught in the bathroom by Ozo.

However, when approached by Ozo who was jealous, Nengi said she just needed help to zip her outfit.

Ozo who was not convinced by her explanation told Neo that Nengi was just making up stories about the situation.

According to him, he values trust and that’s the only thing he wants from Nengi in their friendship.

Ozo said: “The only thing I want to tell Nengi is there’s nothing I value more in a friendship than trust.

“Forget relationship. It’s better she gives me the true stuff than make up a story and give me bullshit about that situation.”

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Chadwick Boseman's final film preview 'cancelled' by Netflix after actor dies

The preview of Chadwick Boseman’s final film has reportedly been cancelled by Netflix after the actor died aged 43.

The Black Panther star tragically died following a battle with colon cancer, with his family announcing the devastating news on Saturday.

Chadwick’s final film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, is set to be released this year – although a virtual preview was due to be held on Monday.

Although following the news of the actor’s death Netflix has reportedly decided to postpone the event until a later date.

‘We are heartbroken over today’s news of the passing of Chadwick Boseman, a “true fighter” as his family called him in their poignant tribute,’ a Netflix spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.

‘This is an incredible loss. We are cancelling Monday’s preview event of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Please join us in sending your thoughts to his.’

The actor is known for his iconic roles in the likes of Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, 21 Bridges and Da 5 Bloods, and had also finished filming on the adaptation of the 1982 play by August Wilson.

Starring alongside Viola Davis, Chadwick plays Levee, one of Ma Rainey’s (Davis) band players, a trumpeter who dreams of having his own band.

The film will also star Colman Domingo, Glynn Turman, Jonny Coyne, Taylour Paige, and Michael Potts.

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Man dead after polar bear attacks camping site in middle of night

A man has died after a polar bear attacked a camping site on Norway’s Svalbard Islands in the middle of the night.

Campsite manager Johan Jacobus Kootte, 38, was rushed to hospital in Longyearbyen after the animal targeted the area, which sits more than 500 miles north of the Norwegian mainland, just before 4am on Friday.

Dutch national Mr Kootte was declared dead by medics soon after arriving in hospital, a government statement said.

A post-mortem will be conducted at the University Hospital of North Norway in Tromsoe, north of the Arctic Circle.

The polar bear was shot by an onlooker and later found dead in a car park by the nearby airport.

No-one else was injured in the attack, but six people were admitted to hospital with shock.

The victim was reportedly the fifth person to be killed by a polar bear in the archipelago in nearly 50 years.

An estimated 25,000 bears live in the Arctic, while the archipelago is home to almost 3,000 people and almost 1,000 bears, according to the Norwegian authorities.

Deputy governor Soelvi Elvedah said the tragic incident was a ‘strong reminder that we are in polar bear country and must take the precautions to secure ourselves’.

He said: ‘Polar bears can be found all over Svalbard and be encountered anywhere throughout the year.’

The most recent fatality was a British teenager, 17, who was on a British Schools Exploring expedition when he was attacked near the Von Postbreen glacier in 2011.

A local authority website advises visitors and locals to carry firearms with them while leaving settlements, warning polars bears could be found anywhere.

It urges people ‘to stay as far away as possible to avoid situations that could be dangerous for you and for the bear’.

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Akanu Ibiam International Airport comes alive after 370 days [photos]

The Akanu Ibiam International Airport came alive on Saturday, after 370 days of closure, with an aircraft conveying the Hon. Minister of Aviation Hadi Sirika and his entourage landing on the new runway.

The minister was at the airport for the final round of inspection of rehabilitation works in the airport prior to the official reopening of the complex.

After the inspection, Sirika stated that the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu is ready for the resumption of flights.

The Federal Government had in August 2019 shut down Akanu Ibiam International Airport over security reasons.

Some of the reasons include its bad runway and landing aids, the presence of a market close to the airport attracting birds, leading to constant bird strikes.

Others are also included the wrong placement of the state radio station mast directly facing the runways.

However, the minister, who landed at the airport on Saturday evening with a private jet, No.5N-PAZ said that he was delighted to have been in the flight that landed at the airport.

He said he had arrived ahead of the Aug. 30, the official reopening of the airport to inspect the readiness of the facility for flight resumption.

“We are ready for the official reopening of this airport tomorrow and I am happy that we have been able to achieve this as scheduled,” Sirika said.

However, it was observed that the runway and other ancillary works, including the lighting system are ready but work is still ongoing in the reception, perimeter fence, drainages, and the main gate.

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