New York lawmakers vote to cut $1billion from police budget and channel the money to education and social services

New York City - which has been gripped by weeks of protests that has seen stores looted, fireworks set off, statues daubed with paint and rising crime including shootings - has voted to slash $1billion from the NYPD budget.

The cut, which comes amid a $9billion shortfall in city revenues due to coronavirus lockdown, will cancel the recruitment of 1,163 new officers, strip $484million from the overtime budget and transfer $354million to other services - including handing control of school safety officers from the NYPD to the Department of Education.

The contentious budget passed with 32 votes in favor and an unusually large 17 votes against just ahead of the midnight deadline following hours of delays - leading to criticism from all sides.


Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a representative for parts of the Bronx and Queens, said the policing cut amounts to 'funny math' and does not go far enough in reducing the force's $6billion annual budget - which activists want to reinvest in community services instead.

But council member I. Daneek Miller, co-chairman of the Council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus, bitterly opposed the move, saying it makes no sense to cut funding at a time when crime is on the rise.

'Black folks want to be safe like everyone else, we just want to be respected,' he said, according to the New York Times. 'We can’t allow folks from outside our community to lecture us about Black lives and what we need in our communities.'

The budget also includes deep cuts to other services including a hiring freeze for all departments except emergency services, $1billion in 'labor savings', scrapping a scheme that reduced transport fares for the underprivileged, and scrapping a composting program.

De Blasio has warned that 22,000 city employees may lose their jobs come October, when a new class of police officers is due to start training despite Tuesday's cut, if other savings cannot be found.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/new-york-lawmakers-vote-to-cut-1billion.html

Billy Porter becomes first gay man to cover Essence magazine

Pose star Billy Porter has become the first openly gay man to cover Essence.

The 50-year-old fronted the July/August issue in a plunging frock done in black, green and red, the colors of the Pan-African flag.

During his interview he said: 'Being first-generation post-civil rights and feeding directly into, as a gay man, the AIDS crisis, activism is in my DNA.'

Billy noted that 'while I don’t fancy myself an organizer, you tell me where to show up, I’m going to show up. I’m that kind of activist.'

He also urged Americans to speak openly about the country's history of oppressing black people, as well as its foundation on land conquered from Native Americans.

'We’re like a dysfunctional family who keeps secrets and doesn’t want to talk about it. They don’t want to talk about the actual thing,' said Billy.

'They want to act like the actual thing never happened, so that there’s never a healing that can take place.'

He argued : 'White people are so afraid that we want vengeance that they can’t acknowledge the truth, but we don’t want vengeance. We want our rights. We want equality. We want to be treated like human beings.'

Billy added: 'We want to know that we can walk out of our houses and not be under threat of death every single day simply because of the color of our skin.'

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/billy-porter-becomes-first-gay-man-to.html

260,000 sign petition protesting the release of film where Paris Jackson plays a lesbian Jesus

The forthcoming indie film Habit stars Paris Jackson as Jesus, and Bella Thorne as a 'street-smart party girl with a Jesus fetish'.

And the movie is making waves before it's even released, with a Change.org petition protesting the film racking up more than 260,000 signatures.

The petition's founder, Vivian N., called Habit, 'a new blasphemous Hollywood film' and slammed it for portraying Jesus as 'a lesbian woman'.

Vivian's statement read, 'A new blasphemous Hollywood film is predicted to come out soon depicting Jesus as a lesbian woman.'


'The film “Habit” stars Paris Jackson who plays the role of “lesbian Jesus”.'

'Distributors haven’t picked it up as of yet, so let’s please spread awareness and wake people up to the Christianophobic garbage that is spread nowadays, but is somehow accepted and praised by society.'

Vivian targeted the petition toward Warner Bros. and Lionsgate.

Filming has already wrapped with the project in post-production as of April, though there are no release plans in place at this time.

The story follows a 'street-smart party girl with a Jesus fetish,' reportedly played by Thorne, who finds herself in some trouble.

After she finds herself in the midst of a violent drug deal, she finds a way out by pretending to be a nun, hence the title.

The cast also includes Bush singer Gavin Rossdale, Bria Vinaite and Josie Ho, with Janell Shirtcliff making her directorial debut, working from a script by Suki Kaiser (Van Helsing).

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/260000-sign-petition-protesting-release.html

Sia becomes a grandmother after one of the teenage boys she adopted welcomes two babies

Sia has become a grandmother at the age of 44 - just weeks after announcing she adopted two sons last year.

The Australian singer revealed this week that the youngest of the two boys she took on has welcomed 'two babies' of his own, meaning she has become a mother and a grandmother in the space of just one year. 

The Chandelier hitmaker told DJ Zane Lowe on his Apple Music podcast: 'My youngest son just had two babies. I'm a f**king grandma! I'm just immediately horrified. No, I'm cool.'

Sia announced she had adopted two sons in May because they were 'ageing out of the foster care system' and had lived 'extremely traumatic lives'; the boys were 18 at the time and are now both 19.


The musician, whose real name is Sia Kate Isobelle Furler, said that her adopted children now call her 'Nana'.

The Grammy-nominated artist joked that she was trying to get them to call her 'Lovey' instead, which is the nickname given to Kardashian 'momager' Kris Jenner by her grandchildren.

She also revealed on the podcast that her other adopted son 'recently came out' as gay, adding: 'He's just blossoming and is the light of my life... I love him so much.'

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/sia-becomes-grandmother-after-one-of.html

Missing Girl Found Buried In Standing Position Inside Shallow Grave In Delta

A seven year old girl, Ebrovwiyor Lina, earlier reported missing in Isiokolo, Ethiope East area of Delta state, has been found dead.

Recall that men of the Delta State Police Command had arrested two suspects over the sudden disappearance of a seven year old girl in the area.



The two suspects were identified as Ogaga Better and Ufine Iboyi, according to Hafiz Inuwa.

Inuwa said the suspects were arrested by Isiokolo Vigilance group, who handed them over to the police following an alarm after the seven year old suddenly disappeared, after one of the suspects visited the victim’s compound on June, 22.

The Nation gathered that the victim was found buried in a shallow grave in a standing position with her intestines and private part cut off.

DSP Onome Onowakpoyeya confirmed the incident but said she was yet to get details from the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area.

OPM Shuts Down Free Hospital After Aluu Community In Rivers Asked Church For Money

The General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries (OPM) Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere has shut down the church's free specialist hospital located in Aluu community, Rivers State, indefinitely.

Apostle Chinyere made this known while addressing the newsmen at his residence on Saturday 4th July 2020.

In his address Apostle Chinyere, who looked unhappy, says;

"With a heavy heart, I the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere have decided to close down the free hospital in Aluu community with effect from Sunday 5th July 2020.

"This very hard decision was taken as a result of levies charged by Aluu community to OPM free hospital.

"OPM free specialist have saved so many lives free of charge. It will interest the public to know that from registration, ante natal, scan, delivery, drugs and post natal services - everything is free. This is a free hospital which does not discriminate."

Apostle Chinyere says he expects Aluu community where he cited 12 OPM free estate, One free specialist hospital and one of the biggest free skills acquisition center in Nigeria to appreciate him. But, sadly, they turned against him with a levy knowing fully well that the community are the number one beneficiaries of those facilities.

It will interest the public to know that Apostle Chinyere does not make any money in all those facilities cited in Aluu community, rather he spends huge sums of money from Offerings and Tithe to buy drugs, pay workers and buy delivery items in the hospital which has high sophisticated equipment. The generators in the free hospital are run everyday with high cost on diesel.

Apostle Chinyere who has spoken with the leader of Aluu Community says, "I called some of their leaders, they said it is a compulsory levy so I don't have any choice than to shut it down. I fill sad for those pregnant women who have been using the hospital. I urge them to look for another hospital."

He added that, "Once we get a new location that is more friendly, we will come and relocate our equipment."

Helicopter attack: Bring perpetrators to book, UN tells FG

The United Nations has condemned Boko Haram attack on one of its helicopters in the Damasak area of Borno State.

The incident, which occurred on July 2, led to the death of two persons including a five-year-old child.

The UN, therefore, called on the Federal Government to investigate the attack and “swiftly bring perpetrators to justice”.

In a statement on Saturday entitled ‘Statement on Attack in Damasak, Damage to Aid Helicopter’ and signed by the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, the international body said bullets fired by insurgents damaged the chopper and has affected humanitarian works in the North-East.

Kallon said, “I deplore that a UN Humanitarian Air Service helicopter was hit by bullets during the attack. No aid workers were on board at the time and crew members are all safe. My thoughts are also with the crew and I commend them for piloting the chopper back to safety during this critical situation.

“The attack and damage to the helicopter severely affect the ability of aid actors to provide urgently needed assistance to vulnerable people in remote areas across Borno State.

“I strongly condemn any attack against civilians, humanitarian assets or aid workers and call on all armed parties to respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and ensure the protection of civilians, humanitarian property and personnel.

“I call on the Nigerian authorities to reinforce the safety and security of all humanitarian workers.

“I welcome the Government commitment to investigate the attack and swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators.

“I extend my sincere condolences to the families of the civilians who lost their lives in the attack and wish a prompt recovery to those injured.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/helicopter-attack-bring-perpetrators-to.html

Kanye West joins 2020 US Presidential race

American billionaire rapper Kanye West has announced that he would run for president in 2020 in an apparent challenge to President Donald Trump, with whom he has a friendly relationship with and his presumptive Democratic rival, former Vice-President Joe Biden.

The 43-year-old richest rapper launched his campaign in an Independence Day tweet, on Saturday, using the hashtag “2020 vision,” indicating he plans to toss his hat in the ring for this fall’s election.

“We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States,” West wrote in a Twitter post, adding an American flag emoji and the hashtag “#2020VISION,” he tweeted.

Elon Musk, the chief executive of electric-car maker, Tesla and SpaceX backed Mr. West’s announcement, tweeting, “You have my full support!”

Mr. West has made similar announcements before, as per an NBC report. He had announced at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards that he would run in 2020. Last year again he said he would run in 2024, possibly under the name, “Christian Genius Billionaire Kanye West.”

We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States 🇺🇸! #2020VISION

— ye (@kanyewest) July 5, 2020

Mr. West is a supporter of Mr. Trump and has, before, referred to him as “his brother.” He said in April that he was going to vote for him this fall.

“I am not going to be told by the people around me and the people that have their agenda that my career is going to be over. Because guess what: I am still here!” he said.

He has also been known to wear the signature Trump campaign cap, with ‘Make America Great Again’ written across its front.

“You don’t have to agree with Trump but the mob can’t make me not love him,” he tweeted in 2018.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/kanye-west-joins-2020-us-presidential.html

Face Of Woman Who Drills Nail Into Her Maid's Head

The Police in Enugu have arrested a 24-year-old mother of 3, Mrs Ifeoma Ozougwu, alongside her husband, Mr Jude Ozougwu (40) for inflicting severe body harm on her 10-year-old female relative, Nneoma Nnadi.

Preliminary investigation by the Police indicates that Mrs. Ozougwu, a resident of Akomaeze Street, Thinker’s Corner, Enugu, was in the habit of brutalizing the girl with pressing iron, iron rods, nails and had also inserted pepper into her private part on several occasions.

In a statement on Saturday, the Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu, Mr. Daniel Ndukwe, said the arrest was due to an alarm raised by other residents of the area who could not stomach the incessant abuse of the girl.

Buhari, APC Governors To Make Igbo Leader New APC Chairman

The search for a new national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has begun in earnest, and the party has four months to fill the position at its national convention.

Leading the search are some governors and leaders of the party, including close political associates of President Muhammadu Buhari.



Party sources hinted on Saturday that the new chairman being sought may emerge from the South-East, and a character considered as a leader among the Igbos.

The objective is to create a sense of balance in the party and assuage the feelings of the people of the zone, some of whom often accuse the party of marginalising them.

The person so chosen will replace Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

It was also gathered that the ongoing rebuilding of the party by the Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Committee may also entail the dissolution of State Executive Committees of APC in states where the party is factionalised.

Some governors are said to be pushing for a nationwide dissolution of State Executive Committees (SECs) in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, although there are fears that APC may become more divided and plunge into a fresh crisis.

Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the South-South may have lost out in the bid to retain the chairmanship of the APC.

Of the three zones in the South, the South-West and the South-South produced the first three national chairmen of the party, namely Chief Bisi Akande (South-West); Chief John Odigie-Oyegun (South-South) and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (South-South).

All the past chairmen were former civilian governors from different parties.

Findings however showed that some governors and some leaders of the party have started leaning towards the ceding of the national chairman slot to the South-East.

Although the choice may be left open to the South-East, investigation revealed that a former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani, is top on the list of those being considered by some governors.

Nnamani is a member of the Caretaker Committee of the party.

As Senate President, he resisted the Third Term agenda of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Some governors however favour the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who was once a governor and ex-National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) which merged with others to form APC.

The Minister is rated as “a man of fidelity” with rich experience in party politics.

A top source who is privy to the undercurrents in the party said: “The affected governors and leaders want a break from the South-West and the South-South in choosing the next national chairman.”

The source painted the picture of the next chairman as one who must be:
A strong character with a sense of fairness, equity and justice
A true democrat in spirit and action
Possess an effective leadership style which will make all the organs to function as enshrined in the APC constitution
Capable of leading and sustaining the party beyond the vision of the founding fathers of APC.

The source said: “So far, the search for a new national chairman of APC has started.

“Governors and leaders of the party are already considering different names, but the most recurring are Nnamani and Onu.

“Since we still have about four months to the convention, the first step being taken is to build a consensus on the need for the South-East to produce the next chairman. This is the only geopolitical zone in the South that is least represented in government and in the party.

“Some leaders in the party are uncomfortable with the South-East because its contributions to APC’s performances in 2015 and 2019 were insignificant..."

Boko Haram Attacks UN Helicopter, Kills Two Civilians

The United Nations on Saturday said two civilians including a five-year-old child were killed and an aid helicopter damaged in a jihadist attack in restive Borno State, northeast Nigeria.

Boko Haram fighters waging a decade-long insurgency in the region launched the attack in the town of Damasak on Thursday.



UN humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria Edward Kallon said both the fatalities and several others who were injured in the attack were on the ground.

“A UN Humanitarian Air Service helicopter was hit by bullets during the attack. No aid workers were on board at the time and crew members are all safe,” Kallon said in a statement.

A UN communication seen by AFP said the aircraft was shot as it approached Damasak and the pilots managed to fly back to regional capital Maiduguri 150 kilometres (90 miles) away.

The memo said the UN was suspending rotational flights for one week “to engage with government partners and conduct new risk assessments”.

Helicopters provide a vital link carrying humanitarian personnel and delivering aid to an estimated 7.8 million people in urgent need of assistance across northeast Nigeria.

The 10-year jihadist conflict has killed 36,000 people and forced some 2 million from their home in the region.

Key roads remain too dangerous to travel despite the Nigerian military repeatedly insisting it has largely defeated the insurgents.

The UN has complained of an uptick in attacks targeting aid workers in the northeast of the country.

The area around Damasak on the border with Niger is dominated by the Islamic State West Africa Province, which broke away from jihadist group Boko Haram in 2016.

603 New Cases Of Coronavirus In Nigeria, Total Now 28,167

In the last 24 hours, 603 new cases of COVID19 were reported in Nigeria; Lagos-135, Edo-87, FCT-73, Rivers-67, Delta-62, Ogun-47, Kaduna-20, Plateau-19, Osun-17, Ondo-16, Enugu-15, Oyo-15, Borno-13, Niger-6, Nasarawa-4, Kebbi-3, Kano-2, Sokoto-1, Abia-1.

A total of 28,167 confirmed cases in Nigeria. The breakdown;

Drug/Money laundering: US, India, Ghana write FG, demand extradition of 11 Nigerians

Three countries, the United States of America, India and Ghana, have written respectively to the Federal Government requesting the extradition of 11 Nigerians, a report has revealed.

The cases for which the Nigerians are wanted in the foreign countries include money laundering, obtaining under false pretences, fraud as well as drug-related offences.

The report, titled ‘Ministerial Performance Report May 2019 – May 2020’ was prepared by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and presented to the Federal Executive Council.

According to the report, the ministry’s Department of International Cooperation received eight extradition requests from US; three from Ghana and one from India between May 2019 and May 2020.

The report said the department also received 62 requests for assistance in investigation under the Mutual Legal Assistance Nigeria signed with the named countries.

The ministry noted that it had sent letters to INTERPOL to locate the persons named in some of the extradition requests, adding, however, that it rejected the only extradition request from India which involved a case of alleged money laundering concerning four Indians.

“The request was denied by the HAGF (Honourable Attorney General of the Federation) because the offences allegedly committed by the suspects appeared to be political in nature.

“Letter denying the request was sent to India,” the report read.

The report noted that 42 Memoranda of Understanding and agreements between Nigeria and other countries were vetted during the period, while the ministry’s Department of Public Prosecutions received 1,120 terrorism-related cases in oneyear.

It noted further that 500 of the 1,120 cases had been filed at the Federal High Court “while others have been recommended for de-radicalisation.”

The ministry is projecting that by December, about 250 cases would have been concluded while all the cases would have been concluded by 2023.

It added that over 3,392 general/financial matters-related cases were received from the Nigeria Police for prosecution at the magistrate courts due to the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

It added, “We are happy to report that over 1,000 of these cases have been completed in the magistrate courts, with the defendants sentenced to various years in the correctional services.”

While noting that more cases were being received daily, the ministry projected that about 2,500 cases would have been completed by December.

The ministry added that it was currently prosecuting 1,359 cases of conspiracy/armed robbery and 10 cases of Securities and Exchange Commission-related offences.

On hostage taking and kidnapping, the report indicated that the ministry had 10 cases in court while it was also handling seven cases of pipeline vandalism and 10 cases of electricity equipment vandalism.

The ministry said it had 25 pending cases before the Court of Appeal and 10 cases before the Supreme Court.

The report warned the nation’s anti-corruption agencies against what it called media trials.

It said, “The ministry has approvals in place for several of its programmes, but such approvals need to be backed by prompt release of funds to enable proper execution.

“Note that ACAs (anti-corruption agencies) need to recognise that their prosecutorial mandates derive from the constitutional powers of the HAGF, hence the need for their compliance with requests that will facilitate the coordination mandate and the need for inter-agency cooperation to preserve the integrity of the prosecution processes.

“ACAs also need to desist from ‘media trials’ especially where investigations have yet to reveal tangible evidence that will sustain charges when filed in court.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/drugmoney-laundering-us-india-ghana.html

Enugu ex-council chair dies 18 days after successor’s demise

Tragedy struck again in the University Town of Nsukka, Enugu State on Saturday as a former local government caretaker committee chairman, Mrs Chinwe Ugwu,  died 18 days after her successor, Patrick Omeje’s demise.

Ugwu was said to have died on Saturday after a brief illness.

The secretary to the council, Damian Eze, who confirmed Ugwu’s demise to our correspondent, said her corpse had been deposited at the mortuary.

Eze said the council had again been thrown into mourning as the remains of Omeje, who died on June 16, were still at the Bishop Shanahan Hospital morgue in Nsukka.

Also, the council lost a former senator, Fidelis Okoro, about two months ago. His remains have yet to be buried.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/enugu-ex-council-chair-dies-18-days.html

I’m hale and hearty, Ebenezer Obey dispels death rumour

Fans of juju music icon, Ebenezer Obey, were gripped with apprehension on Saturday, July 4, 2020, as news spread on the Internet that he had passed away.

Frantic phone calls started being made and received all over the world and many waited with bated breaths to hear from the musician’s family.

Many heaved sighs of relief as Obey appeared in a video made by his son, Folarin, to assure his teeming fans that he was still very much around.

He said, “I give thanks to God Almighty. I am hale and hearty. There is nothing wrong with me. God has taken the glory.”


In an interview with Sunday Scoop, Obey’s son, Tolu, who is also a singer, noted that his father still travelled from Abeokuta shortly before the rumour started spreading. He said, “Nothing is wrong with my father. He is hale and hearty. He left Abeokuta for Lagos on Friday (July 3, 2020). Rumours about his death are wicked and unfounded. My father is enjoying himself in Christ. Those spreading the said news are probably looking for ways to attract people to their websites. We have nothing against them than to pray for them. But as for my father, he is doing well. He is not even sick.”

Nicknamed ‘Chief Commander’, Obey has had a beautiful career spanning five decades. His songs which laced with life lessons and anecdotes are enjoyed by different generations of people, especially Yoruba.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/im-hale-and-hearty-ebenezer-obey.html

Physical distancing impossible on flights, says aviation minister

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika said it is almost impossible to achieve physical distancing on flights without hurting the revenue of airlines.

He said this during a webinar attended by stakeholders in the aviation sector. The webiner focused on the status of the industry restart.

Sirika was responding to a question from the Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Capt. Ado Sanusi, who wondered if social distancing would affect the prices of airfares.

The minister said total social distancing was impossible to attain in the airplanes.

He said, “The person sitting beside or behind you is not two meters away from you.

“When people say they would block one seat between passengers, what of the guy behind you and the one in front of you? The guy in front of you is in danger, should you sneeze or cough, you are actually coughing over his head.

“ It is very difficult to achieve because it means you have to take a sit on my left, right in front and behind to achieve at least 0.5 meters.”

Sirika said achieving social distancing on flights would mean that airlines stick with 40 per cent of their carrying capacity.

He argued, “To achieve that you are saying 30 or 40 per cent capacity should be allowed. I think we should research more between today and over the weekend to come up with something that we can announce soon.

“I cannot see us achieving physical distancing within the airplane and make money.”

He challenged stakeholders to come up with some ingenious way of achieving safety within the cabin rather than physical distancing.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/physical-distancing-impossible-on.html

Oyo writes Ajimobi’s family, extol ex-governor’s virtues

The Oyo State Government has condoled with the family of former state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, saying they should be consoled by his forthrightness.

The state government expressed the condolence in a letter dated June 29, signed by Governor Seyi Makinde, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, on Saturday.

The letter read in part, “I write on behalf of the government and good people of Oyo State, to commiserate with you on the shocking demise of your beloved husband, father, brother and grandfather, the former Executive Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

“Senator Ajimobi, the immediate past governor, lived a life of service to humanity and had contributed immensely to the socio-economic development of Oyo State in particular and Nigeria in general.


“I have no doubt he will be missed by all and sundry.

“Our consolation, however, is that Senator Abiola Ajimobi, had brought his rich wealth of experience for the transformation of the state.

“As we mourn his passage, let us take solace in the righteous life he lived and his legacies which we shall fondly remember.

“May God Almighty give members of the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
“Once again, please accept our heartfelt condolences.”

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/oyo-writes-ajimobis-family-extol-ex.html

89 years-old Bernie Ecclestone welcomes newborn with wife

89 years old billionaire, former Formula 1 boss, Bernie Ecclestone, and wife Fabiana Flosi, 44, on Friday told of their joy as they proudly showed off their newborn for the first time.

‘It’s only his second day in the world so he’s not doing very much at the moment but he’s in great form,’ Mr. Ecclestone said.

Miss Flosi gave birth to Alexander Charles Ecclestone on Wednesday near Bern, Switzerland, where they are spending lockdown at their home.
She said on Friday: ‘I’m very happy, it could not have gone better. We are thrilled as a family.’

Mr. Ecclestone is already used to having a baby around as he has three daughters from his previous marriages and five grandchildren.

His eldest, Deborah, 65, was born to first wife Ivy Bamford. He has two other daughters, socialites Tamara, 35, and Petra, 31, with his second wife Slavica Radic.

This time around, though, Mr. Ecclestone, who will celebrate his 90th birthday in October, hopes it may be an easier experience.

He said: ‘It’s all very good, I am very happy. It’s different now, I’m more relaxed and my work is not so pressured so I can spend more time with him.’

He added: ‘I just hope I live long enough to see as much of our baby as I can.’

Asked if he would be changing nappies, Mr. Ecclestone said: ‘I doubt it. I will do what is asked.’

He married marketing director Miss Flosi in 2012, three years after he divorced the Croatian model, Miss Radic.

She told earlier this week how the birth had been easy, saying: ‘The birth was over after 25 minutes. Thank God!’

When Mr. Ecclestone confirmed earlier this year that he was to become a father again at 89, he said. ‘I don’t see there is any difference between being 89 and 29. You have got the same problems, I suppose.’

Petra Ecclestone had her first child with fiancé Sam Palmer, 37 in March.

She already has Lavinia, seven, and five-year-old twins James and Andrew with ex-husband James Stunt.

Her sister Tamara has daughter Sophia, six, with art mogul Jay Rutland.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/89-years-old-bernie-ecclestone-welcomes.html

It’s sad my wife ended my life this way — Taraba man whose spouse cut off his manhood

Tuesday, June 30, 2020, is a day 42-year-old old Aliyu Umaru will not forget in a hurry. It was the day Halima, the first wife of Umaru, severed his manhood with a knife.

He groaned in pains as he lay on a bed at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe State, where he was referred to after the incident occurred in Taraba State.

Umaru said, “I’m a veterinary medicine dealer. I trade in animal drugs. I’m 42 years old with two wives and two children.

 The first wife had a male child and a female from the second. The first wife Halima is pregnant. I stay in Tella under Gasso LGA of Taraba State. I was transferred from the Federal Medical Centre, Taraba to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.”


When our correspondent visited the hospital, the victim cut a pitiable sight and urethra catheter fixed to his body to pass urine as his detached manhood was kept in nylon for safekeeping.

Umaru narrated the incident in a sadness-coated voice, “After I returned from work, I got water to take my bath and ate the food prepared by my wife before I slept. I was later awoken by a sharp pain and I screamed.

“My wife chopped off my ‘bura’ (penis). It was then neighbours were alerted. I can’t say if my food or water was laced with anything with the way I slept deeply. My wife has finished my life and it is unfortunate.”

Reports noted that Halima had been having issues with her husband and the younger wife before the incident.

According to the victim’s younger brother, 40-year-old Usman, the act may not be unconnected with their mum’s plea that they should relocate which Halima didn’t support.

He stated that the second wife visited their mother residing in Jalingo, the state capital, who urged them to relocate to Jalingo.

Usman stated, “We are originally from Lukari but driven to Tela due to the conflict. The family rented a house for him and they were to move from Tela to Jalingo on Wednesday morning.

“It was in the middle of the night that my phone rang and the caller was my brother who managed to tell me what happened to him. He was immediately taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Taraba, to stop the bleeding and undergo surgery. But they couldn’t perform the surgery because they said they don’t have equipment for his type of operation. It was there that they advised us to look for any available health facility.”

He ruled out jealousy, adding that his brother was faithful to his two wives.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/its-sad-my-wife-ended-my-life-this-way.html

Not all Nigerians are criminals, says PhD student who returned missing cash in Japan

Ikenna Nweke, a Nigerian Ph.D student in Japan, says not everyone from his country is a criminal.

While on his way home in Japan on June 19, Nweke had found a wallet containing a “huge sum of money”.

But rather than keep it to himself, he not only returned it but refused to collect a percentage of the money that he is entitled to by law.

The Japanese police had commended Nweke for his honesty.

In a video obtained by the African Independent Television (AIT), Nweke said he refused to take the money and the percentage he was offered because he is a Christian.

He said Nigeria is a country of about 200 million “wonderful” people and the “criminal elements” are but a “tiny fraction” who do not give a true picture of its citizens.

“On the 19th of June, 2020, as I was coming home at about 7pm, I wanted to buy kebab for my wife, when I approached the shop in the centre I saw a purse and I picked it up. When I opened it, it contained [a] huge sum of money, queen’s cards and other valuables. I was sure that the owner was looking for the money, I was sure the owner was heartbroken then I took the money to the police station,” the student who hails from Imo said.

“On getting to the police station, the police officer asked why I did not take the money, I told him that I was raised by a decent family and that my faith as a Christian forbade me from taking anything. Then I handed over everything to him and he took my information and everything about me and then told me about my rights as somebody who has found something that was missing.

“He told me that I was entitled to 10 percent of the money and that if the owner of the money does not come to pick the money after three months, that the whole money will be mine.

“Both offers were rejected by me. I rejected those officers because I am a Christian, I rejected those officers because I was raised by a very decent family. I rejected those officers because I’m a Nigerian.

“Here is a message for every Nigerian that should maintain, protect the image of our nation wherever we are. Especially those in diaspora, we are the Nigerian people know. When we do something bad abroad it reflects on the image of the nation.

“This is a message for non-Nigerians who think that every Nigerian is a criminal. That is not true. Nigeria is a country of about 200 million people. Two hundred million wonderful people.

“There are some criminal elements in Nigeria, I must admit, and these criminal elements are found in every part of the world. These criminal elements are just a tiny fraction, they do not represent who we are, they do not speak for us. They are not a true reflection of who Nigerians are.”

BUHARI COMMENDS NWEKE

President Muhammadu Buhari has commended him for “projecting the values of honesty, integrity and contentment that should be the hallmark of a people.”

In a statement on Saturday, Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, quoted Buhari as saying that Nweke’s act would give Nigeria a “positive spotlight and close-up on its real values, clearly signposts what should hold the nation together, inspired by solid foundations laid by most families, religious bodies and communities for success in life.”

“President Buhari wishes Nweke all the best in his studies and work as a teaching assistant in same university, urging all Nigerians, home and abroad, to keep celebrating the age-old, irreplaceable attributes of honesty and decorum, and shun the microwaved, get-rich-quick tendencies that bring individual and collective shame,” the statement read.

The development comes at a time when the image of the country is being battered abroad over the involvement of some of its citizens abroad in cybercrime.

In June, Raymond Igbalode Abbas, an Instagram celebrity better known as Hushpuppi, was arrested by the authorities in Dubai for crimes including fraud and cyberhacking.

An estimated N168 billion was reportedly recovered from Hushpuppi and his associates.

source https://www.ladunliadinews.com/2020/07/not-all-nigerians-are-criminals-says.html