My wife frequently beats me – Divorce-seeking husband tells court (Guardian)
An electronic trader, Gbade Olaniyi, on Wednesday petitioned an Ile-Tuntun Customary Court in Ibadan to dissolved his seven year-old marriage to wife, Olubunmi, because she frequently beats him.
Testifying, Olaniyi said:”my wife has emasculated me. She has sent my friends and family away.
“Anytime we have minor misunderstanding, she gives me dirty slaps. In fact, she slapped me on Sunday Aug. 2, 10 days ago and tore my skin with her fingernails. Read more
Uber, Bolt customers to pay more as Lagos introduces new taxes (Punch)
Customers are set to pay more for ride-hailing services such as Uber and Bolt due to a new regulation being introduced by the Lagos State Government.
This comes barely weeks after the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration increased LAGBUS fares by 46 per cent
The new regulation for e-hailing taxing services is set to come into effect on August 20, 2020.
This is according to a document titled, ‘Guidelines for Online Hailing Business Operation of Taxi in Lagos State 2020’ issued by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation. Read more
UNILAG governing council removes Ogundipe as vice-chancellor (Guardian)
The governing council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has removed Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the vice-chancellor of the school.
Mikhail Mumuni, the media adviser to the chairman of the governing council, Wale Babalakin, confirmed Ogundipe’s removal.
He disclosed that Ogundipe was removed at the council’s meeting held Wednesday at the headquarters of the National Universities Commission, Abuja.
In attendance were 11 of the 12 council members, the VC included, majority of whom voted for the removal of Mr Ogundipe. Read more
Drivers, Uber speak on ‘unclear’ new regulations on ride-hailing services in Lagos (Guardian)
The new regulations for ride-hailing operators in Lagos State are getting no love from the people whose activities they aim to regulate.
The regulations will come into effect on August 20; regulations the government said were necessary to reduce security risks, improve safety and curb flagrant flouting of existing traffic laws.
“The flagrant disobedience to road traffic rules and regulations by the drivers is unacceptable and all necessary steps must be taken to bring safety, sanity, standard and security back to the operation of the Business,” the government said in the guidelines. Read more
Hoodlums rape underage sisters in father’s presence, steal beer, N280,000 (Vanguard)
One person was on Wednesday arrested in connection with the alleged rape of two underage girls in Ughelli, headquarters of Ughelli North local government area of Delta State.
The suspect identified as Isaac Friday in the company of three others currently at large were alleged to have also raped the girls in the presence of their father after disposing him of a total of N280, 000.
The incident is coming on the heels of the Tuesday death of a nine-year-old boy who drowned in a borrow pit at Okugbo street area of Otovwodo, Ughelli. Read more
Buhari To Service Chiefs: How Are bandits getting weapons? (DailyTrust)
President Muhammadu Buhari is worried that despite the shutdown of major borders, bandits terrorizing the North West states still have access to sophisticated weapons.
For over two years, the northwest states have been facing devastating attacks from the bandits.
Banditry: Matawalle asks Emirs to provide intelligence to security agencies
According to a report by the West Africa Network of Peacebuilding (WANEP), from January to December 2019, armed bandits were responsible for more than 1,000 civilian deaths in the Northwest. Read more
FCTA demolishes 25 houses (Punch)
The Federal Capital Territory Administration Department of Development Control on Wednesday demolished 25 houses in the Kyami District of Abuja.
This is happening barely one week after the department pulled down 102 houses built on waterways and flood plains in Gwagwalada.
The Director of the department, Malam Muktar Galadima, who led the exercise told newsmen that the FCTA would not condone land racketeering and grabbing. Read more
Osun Osogbo social activities cancelled over COVID-19 (Nation)
The Osun State Government has banned all social activities and gatherings for 2020 Osun Osogbo Festival because of the spike in the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state.
A statement by the Culture and Tourism commissioner in the State, Hon Obawale Adebisi, on Wednesday noted that only authorised persons and worshippers will be allowed into the grove.
He said the government only approved the observance of traditional rites and routines associated with the festival. Read more
‘Hundreds dead’ because of Covid-19 misinformation (BBC)
At least 800 people died around the world because of coronavirus-related misinformation in the first three months of this year, researchers say.
A study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene says about 5,800 people were admitted to hospital as a result of false information on social media.
Many died from drinking methanol or alcohol-based cleaning products.
They wrongly believed the products to be a cure for the virus. Read more
Biden, Harris to make first public appearance together as running mates (VOA)
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and his newly named running mate Senator Kamala Harris are set to make their first joint appearance Wednesday as a team seeking to defeat President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in the November general election.
The Biden-Harris campaign said the pair would speak in Wilmington, Delaware, about “working together to restore the soul of the nation and fight for working families to move the country forward.”
History-making choice
Biden officially named Harris on Tuesday, making her the first Black woman and South Asian American woman to be named on a major party ticket for a presidential election.
After winning enough primaries to secure the nomination earlier this year, Biden, 77, committed himself to picking a female vice presidential candidate. There was much speculation he would choose a Black woman to run with him. A number of familiar and respected names surfaced in the press as potential running mates. Read more
Sumner Redstone, billionaire media mogul, dies at 97 (NYPost)
Sumner Redstone, the billionaire media magnate whose family company controls CBS and Viacom, and whose career spilled over from boardrooms to gossip sheets, has died. He was 97.
Redstone’s health had steadily deteriorated over the past decade before his passing on Tuesday. National Amusements, the media holding company he controlled, confirmed his death in a Wednesday statement.
“Sumner played a critical role in shaping the landscape of the modern media and entertainment industry,” the company said. “With his passing, the media industry he loved so dearly loses one of its great champions. Sumner, a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, will be greatly missed by his family who take comfort knowing that his legacy will live on for generations to come.” Read more
Kamala Harris’ family in India rejoices over VP pick (VOA)
Waking up at 5 am to see a message of “congratulations” flash on his phone and then reading the news that his niece, Kamala Harris, had been picked by presumptive US Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden as his running mate was a moment of pride and elation for Gopalan Balachandran.
The 79-year-old academician, who lives in New Delhi, believes that Harris’s Indian heritage and family culture has played a key role in shaping the Asian American politician.
Harris’s choice comes with many firsts: She is the first Black woman and the first Asian American woman to join a major party ticket for a presidential election in the U.S.
Gopalan Balachandran, maternal uncle of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris’ (D-CA) talks to media outside his house in New Delhi, India…
Gopalan Balachandran, maternal uncle of U.S. Senator Kamala Harris’ (D-CA) talks to media outside his house in New Delhi, India, Aug. 12, 2020.
“I knew she was quite ambitious in the sense that she always wanted to run for public office and achieve something, and that spirit she took from her mother. So this was inevitable,” Balachandran, the younger brother of Harris’s mother, Shyamala Gopalan, told VOA. “The women in our family are extremely strong, the men not so much,” he laughs. “She can handle the campaign.” Read more
‘Serious injuries’ reported after train derails amid storms in Scotland (NYPost)
Several people were reported to be seriously injured Wednesday morning when a passenger train derailed on the east coast of Scotland as the country was hit by storms, according to reports.
Police were called about 9:45 a.m. local time to the scene near Stonehaven, about 100 miles northeast of Edinburgh, where several ambulances, a medical chopper and several firetrucks were at the scene.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told lawmakers that initial reports suggested there were “serious injuries” in what she tweeted was an “extremely serious incident.” Read more
Kamala Harris’ selection as VP resonates with black women (VOA)
China Cochran met Kamala Harris at a campaign event in Detroit last year and was swept away by her ambition, charisma and leadership. She hoped the California senator would advance in politics.
So when Joe Biden named Harris on Tuesday as his running mate — making her the first Black woman on a major party’s presidential ticket — Cochran wasn’t just struck by the history. It represented a full-circle moment for Black women, who for generations have fought for their voices to be heard and political aspirations recognised.
“It tells Black girls that they can be president,” said Cochran, who recently ran for state representative in Michigan. “If you look back at Shirley Chisholm, she ran so that Kamala could lead at this moment. I think it’s important for us to look at that and see other young women of color realize that they can go after their dreams and really make change in our world.”
Harris’ selection is historic in many senses. It also marks the first time an Asian American would be on the presidential ticket. Born to a Jamaican father and Indian mother, she often speaks of her deep bond with her late mother, whom she has called her single biggest influence. Read more
Miranda Hart tries to stay cool by sleeping on kitchen floor, wakes up face to face with a fox (Metro)
The heat in the UK is driving everybody to extreme lengths to stay cool, from working from home naked to putting bedsheets in the freezer. But Miranda Hart’s efforts to cool down resulted in her waking up face to face with a wild animal. The actress had a night straight out of her sitcom Miranda as a fox broke into her kitchen while she was sleeping on the floor. Read more
Nigeria’s Mikel Obi says he is open to England return (BBC)
Former Nigeria captain John Mikel Obi has left the door open to a return to English football.
The 33-year-old, who won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012, is currently without a club having left Turkish side Trabzonspor by mutual consent in March.
“Yes, there are interested clubs and England is a strong possibility and why not,” Mikel told BBC Sport Africa.
“We are currently in talks with clubs and there is absolutely no hurry. I can only wait to see what happens.” Read more
Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo explains why he headbutted Moritz Wagner (Metro)
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo says he regrets headbutting Mortiz Wagner during Tuesday’s win over the Washington Wizards and the altercation was the result of a lack of foul calls since the NBA season restarted. The two players had clashed on court just moments earlier, with Wagner taking a charge from Antetokounmpo – though the Greek Freak was livid with the call and felt it was a clear block. Both players exchanged words during a break in play, with Giannis shockingly headbutting the German, and he was immediately ejected having posted 12 points and nine rebounds in just 10 minutes before exiting the court. Read more
No one is laughing at the Nets anymore (NYPost)
The Nets heard all the jokes and laughter, predictions they’d be among the worst teams in the restart. And they took it to heart.
It just made the chip on their collective shoulders grow bigger and bigger.
“Most definitely. Everybody was laughing at us saying the Nets were going to look like this and seeing things all over the internet saying we weren’t going to do this,” Jeremiah Martin said. “So we just take that every day, every practice, keeping that chip on our shoulder, proving everybody wrong and showing everybody who we are.”
Their latest proof was a 108-96 win over Orlando to improve to 5-2 in the restart. Read more
Eddie Hearn worried Dillian Whyte will attack Alexander Povetkin at hotel before Fight Camp bout (Metro)
Eddie Hearn has sensationally claimed that he will need to exile Dillian Whyte from the Fight Camp hotel because he is concerned the Brit will attack Alexander Povetkin before their fight.
The two heavyweights are due to clash at Matchroom HQ on Saturday August 22, though they will see plenty of each other in the build-up as they are both staying in the Fight Camp quarantine ‘bubble’.
But Hearn says Whyte can be very ‘unpleasant’ during fight week and fears he may clash with Povetkin before they get in the ring, even proposing putting him up in a trailer on site. Read more
Unnamed Barcelona squad member tests positive for Covid-19 (BBC)
Barcelona say an unnamed squad member has tested positive for Covid-19.
He was one of nine reporting for pre-season training, showed no symptoms and has been quarantined at his home.
Also on Wednesday fellow La Liga side Athletic Bilbao said six players had tested positive as they returned for pre-season training.
Valencia confirmed two cases of Covid-19 this week, while Atletico Madrid reported two positive tests before their Champions League quarter-final. Read more
Champions League ‘Final Eight’ kicks off as PSG and Atalanta clash in Lisbon (Guardian)
Four months behind schedule because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Champions League has reached the quarter-final stage with Paris Saint-Germain taking on outsiders Atalanta in Lisbon on Wednesday in the first game of the ‘Final Eight’.
A straight knockout final tournament held in one place, akin to a World Cup or European Championship, was the only solution available to UEFA in order to complete its most lucrative club competition, suspended for five months from March until last weekend.
Two-legged quarter-finals and semi-finals have been done away with, and all eight teams have come to Lisbon, where they are following strict health guidelines including regular testing. No spectators are allowed inside stadiums.
PSG will therefore meet Atalanta at an empty Estadio da Luz on Wednesday at 1900 GMT, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against either Atletico Madrid or RB Leipzig, who play on Thursday. Read more