BBNaija / Entertainment / News

Big Brother Naija: Biggie reveals two house wildcards

Biggie has revealed who the wildcards are in the sixth edition of the Big Brother Reality show: Pere and Maria.

Biggie made the revelation in the course of the day on Thursday during a diary room session.

The two wildcards are fake housemates who will be allowed to compete for the reality show’s prize if not identified by other housemates this weekend.

Both Pere and Maria are aware of their personal status in the house, but are unaware of each others’ status.

Maria was particularly surprised to find out there was another Wildcard in the House during her conversation with Biggie in the Diary Room.

Upon being asked by Biggie if she knew who it was, she correctly guessed Pere.

She was bothered that she had to lie and maintain a front with the other Housemates but she was confident she pulled it off.

Pere was happy when told there is another wildcard and he guessed it was either Maria or Nini.…

News

Fake news deadlier than COVID-19 — Lagos Commissioner

The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, has called on all stakeholders in information management to join in the fight against fake news, saying the aftermath of the menace is deadlier than the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world.

Omotoso spoke on Thursday at a three-day retreat by his Ministry for its management level Public Affairs Officers.

Themed: “Managing Information Through the New Media in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous and Disruptive (VUCAD) World,” Omotoso at the training attended by other stakeholders, including leaders of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, Editors of different media organizations, charged the PAOs to catch up with the new trend in information management in order to check fake news.

The Commissioner maintained that the moment officers, as custodians of news, take charge and move with trends, the issue of prevalent fake news would be a thing of the past.

He said no disease was afflicting the world more than the issue of fake news and, therefore, the time all practitioners should rise up and phase it out.

Omotoso said: “I can tell you that no disease is afflicting the world more than the issue of fake news and this is the time all practitioners should rise up and phase it out.

“I know that if our information officers should start moving with trends, it would be of great advantage.

“All information managers in this administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu should try to be up and doing.

“They have done well and can still do better.

“Communication is fast changing.

“What you knew yesterday is not relevant today.

“It’s time to build capacity for us to be able to deliver to the admiration of Lagos.

“The resources that government recently invested into getting our PAOs inducted into NIPR reflect the thinking and importance attached to professionalism.

“It is the desire of this administration that all PAOs are proficient and competent.”

The Head of Service, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, in his keynote address at the event appreciated the ministry for convening a retreat …

Basket Ball / Sports

Blockbuster Lakers Russell Westbrook Trade

So what happened? Should we be surprised by the quick about-face?

And what happens next, specifically for the Lakers, who add a third star to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis but lose valuable depth in doing so?

Per NBA sources, the Lakers went into the offseason with a clear Plan A: unrealistic hopes of landing a Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal. Plan B was Chris Paul (but then the Phoenix Suns advanced to the NBA Finals) and Westbrook. Hield was always Plan C.

Over the past few weeks, the Lakers pursued Westbrook and Hield in parallel conversations with the Wizards and Sacramento Kings. As the draft neared, the Wizards seemed content to wait on big decisions with Beal and Westbrook.

That pushed Hield to the forefront. But even as the possibility of a deal built around Kyle Kuzma and Harrell began to form, the Lakers kept the door open to a Westbrook deal.

Westbrook asserted his voice into the conversation, and per an NBA source, the Wizards pivoted. Just like that, the pieces the Kings liked for Hield were no longer available.

With Westbrook, the Lakers will have $120.8 million going to just three players next season in James, Davis and Westbrook. The salary cap projects to be $112.4 million, so the franchise is sure to climb above the $136.6 million tax line.

Because of several factors (the Lakers’ current hard cap, Kuzma’s extension starting Aug. 2), L.A. cannot execute the deal until after the moratorium on Aug. 6. Based on the reported details, the Lakers will have just five players with Gasol and McKinnie.

Look for the Lakers to keep as many free agents as possible, including Caruso, Horton-Tucker, Wes Matthews, Markieff Morris, Jared Dudley and possibly Ben McLemore. Schroder may leave in free agency, but a sign-and-trade would help the Lakers bring back additional talent to flesh out the roster.

The team will have about $5.9 million to spend via the taxpayer mid-level exception. They could try to re-sign Andre Drummond, but that may not be …

Basket Ball / Sports

NBA 2021 Draft list ( First Round Picks )

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Olympics / Sports / Swimming

Caeleb Dressel on 100m freestyle gold: I wasn’t worried about anything

American swimmer Caeleb Dressel finally has an individual Olympic gold medal to call his own after winning the 100m freestyle.

The 24-year-old already has three Olympic team golds to his name – two from Rio in 2016, and one from these Tokyo Games in the 4×100 free relay.

But he romped to his individual freestyle victory in a new Olympic record time of 47.02, and with the Florida native in contention for a further four medals – two individual (100m butterfly and 50m) and two in relays (medley and mixed medley) – Dressel could end these Games as one of the most successful ever swimmers at an individual Games.

Dressel admitted he felt pressure beforehand, particularly because of the relative lack of US success so far in the pool.

“I knew that weight was on my shoulders,” he said.

“I wasn’t worried about anything.

“During the race there’s only so much you can do.

“Whatever’s going to happen is going to happen. I stuck to my race plan so if it got me first, OK, if it got me second, OK.”

And on getting first individual Olympic gold after a slew of success at the two most recent world championships?

“It is a lot different,” he said.

“I guess I thought it would be, I just didn’t want to admit to it.

“It’s a lot tougher. You have to rely on yourself, there’s no one to bail you out.”

He only saw off defending champion Kyle Chalmers by 0.06 seconds but he did enough to get to the line and will now be eyeing a place in history alongside Michael Phelps and Mark Spitz, who are the only other swimmers to have ever won more than six medals at an Olympics.…

Basket Ball / Sports

NBA 2021 Draft

The Detroit Pistons are in pole position to pick up hot prospect Cade Cunningham as the NBA 2021 Draft gets underway on Thursday night in New York.

One of the most anticipated nights of the basketball calendar will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn – the home of the Brooklyn Nets.

As always, the best young players are up for grabs as they bid to play their first seasons in the

Spanish interest comes in the form of Usman Garuba – who is hoping to be in the first 15 picked – and Santi Aldama.

A total of 60 players will feature in the draft, with 30 in the first round and 30 in the second.

The first four picks of the first round were determined by a lottery, with the rest decided by the team’s performances last season – with the worse teams getting the earlier picks.

The event is back to taking place in person, having been conducted virtually last year due to the coronavirus.

The picks are expected to begin at around 02:00 CET on Friday morning (20:00 ET).

2021 NBA Draft order

  1. Detroit Pistons
  2. Houston Rockets
  3. Cleveland Cavaliers
  4. Toronto Raptors
  5. Orlando Magic
  6. Oklahoma City Thunder
  7. Golden State Warriors
  8. Orlando Magic
  9. Sacramento Kings
  10. New Orleans Pelicans
  11. Charlotte Hornets
  12. San Antonio Spurs
  13. Indiana Pacers
  14. Golden State Warriors
  15. Washington Wizards
  16. Boston Celtics
  17. Memphis Grizzlies
  18. Oklahoma City Thunder
  19. New York Knicks
  20. Atlanta Hawks
  21. New York Knicks
  22. Los Angeles Lakers
  23. Houston Rockets
  24. Houston Rockets
  25. LA Clippers
  26. Denver Nuggets
  27. Brooklyn Nets
  28. Philadelphia 76ers
  29. Phoenix Suns
  30. Utah Jazz

Going into the 2021 draft at The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, here is the list of college basketball teams with the most NBA first-round draft picks.

  1. Kentucky – 54
  2. North Carolina – 52
  3. Duke – 48
  4. UCLA – 39
  5. Kansas – 33
  6. Michigan – 27
  7. Indiana – 26
  8. Arizona – 24
  9. Louisville – 24
  10. Syracuse – 24
  11. Ohio State – 23
  12. Michigan State – 21
  13. Notre Dame – 20
  14. Connecticut – 20
  15. Maryland – 20
  16. Georgia Tech – 19
  17. Texas
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Entertainment / News

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis say they only bathed their kids when they were visibly dirty

American actors and couple Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have revealed how they only bathed their kids when it was necessary.

The movie stars made the shocking revelation on Dax Shepard and Monica Padman’s “Armchair Expert” podcast.

“When I had children, I also didn’t wash them every day. I wasn’t that parent that bathed my newborns — ever,” Kunis said

“If you can see the dirt on them, clean them. Otherwise, there’s no point,” Kutcher added. The couple did not, however, reveal if they still take part in the ritual with their kids.

The couple was responding to Shepard’s theory that people “Should not be getting rid of the natural oil on your skin with a bar of soap every day.”

“I didn’t have hot water growing up as a child, so I didn’t shower much anyway,” Kunis said.

Kutcher and Kunis started dating in 2012 after his divorce from actress Demi Moore.

They got engaged in 2014 and welcomed their first child that same year.

The Kutchers tied the knot in 2015. They have two children Wyatt Isabelle, 6, and Dimitri Portwood, 4, together.

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Athletics / Basket Ball / Boxing / Football / Olympics / Sports / Tennis

The Olympic Games’ medal table after day four

  1. Japan: 13 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze, 22 total
  2. China: 12 gold, 6 silver, 9 bronze, 27 total
  3. USA: 11 gold, 11 silver, 9 bronze, 31 total
  4. Russian Olympic Committee: 7 gold, 10 silver, 6 bronze, 23 total
  5. Australia: 6 gold, 1 silver, 9 bronze, 16 total
  6. Great Britain: 5 gold, 6 silver, 5 bronze, 16 total
  7. South Korea: 4 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze, 11 total
  8. Germany: 3 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze, 10 total
  9. France: 3 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze, 8 total
  10. Netherlands: 2 gold, 6 silver, 3 bronze, 11 total
  11. Canada: 2 gold, 3 silver, 4 bronze, 9 total
  12. Hungary: 2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze, 5 total
  13. Slovenia: 2 gold 1 silver, 1 bronze, 4 total
  14. Kosovo: 2 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze, 2 total
  15. Italy: 1 gold, 6 silver, 8 bronze, 15 total
  16. Switzerland: 1 gold, 3 silver, 2 bronze, 6 total
  17. Chinese Taipei: 1 gold, 2 silver, 3 bronze, 6 total
  18. Brazil: 1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze, 5 total
  19. Georgia: 1 gold, 2 silver, 0 bronze, 3 total
  20. Romania: 1 gold, 2 silver, 0 bronze, 3 total
  21. Serbia: 1 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze, 4 total
  22. Austria: 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze, 3 total
  23. Hong Kong: 1 gold, 1 silver, 0 bronze, 2 total
  24. Tunisia: 1 gold, 1 silver, 0 bronze, 2 total
  25. Croatia: 1 gold, 0 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total
  26. Estonia: 1 gold, 0 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total
  27. Uzbekistan: 1 gold, 0 silver, 1 bronze, 2 total
  28. Bermuda: 1 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze, 1 total
  29. Ecuador: 1 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze, 1 total
  30. Fiji: 1 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze, 1 total
  31. Iran: 1 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze, 1 total
  32. Latvia: 1 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze, 1 total
  33. Norway: 1 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze, 1 total
  34. Philippines: 1 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze, 1 total
  35. Thailand: 1 gold, 0 silver, 0 bronze, 1 total
  36. Spain: 0 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze, 3 total
  37. New Zealand: 0 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze, 3 total
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Athletics / Olympics / Sports

Who will take over Bolt’s 100-metre crown?

The sporting world is beginning to hold its breath as the men’s 100-metre Olympic sprint final comes into view.

Usain Bolt took gold in the blue-riband event at the last three editions of the Games in Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro.

But with the Jamaican now retired, all eyes are on a new crop of sprinters to take on the mantle of the fastest man in the world.

Bolt will be hard to eclipse totally, given his still extraordinary world record high-water mark of 9.58 seconds, but the likes of Trayvon Bromell, Ronnie Baker and Akani Simbine have shown their credentials of late.

Akani Simbine posted 9.84 recently – the second-fastest time of the year – behind only

Trayvon Bromell clocked 9.77 in Florida in June.

Ronnie Baker set a personal best time of 9.85 seconds at the Olympic Trials, finishing second to Trayvon Bromell with his winning time of 9.80 seconds

With the mentioned trio still young in their careers, whoever takes the crown on Sunday in Tokyo could become the leader of a new generation of sprinting superstars.…

Basket Ball / Olympics / Sports

Luka Doncic and Slovenia too much for Japan, win 116-81 to move to 2-0

Hachimura did whatever he could. Blocking shots, hitting tough jumpers, logging big minutes, the best player on Japan’s roster simply held nothing back with hopes of giving his country its first Olympic men’s basketball win in 45 years. Problem was, the other side had Luka Doncic.

The Dallas Mavericks star had another impressive performance with 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in 26 minutes, Zoran Dragic scored 24 points and Slovenia remained unbeaten in its Olympic debut by beating Japan 116-81 in the Tokyo Games on Thursday.

“It’s not only Luka,” Hachmura said. “They have a lot of guys who can hoop. … They’re a great team. They beat us.” Vlatko Cancar added 16 for Slovenia, which has won its two games in Saitama by a combined 53 points. Slovenia outrebounded Japan 54-33 and had 27 assists to Japan’s 15.

“It was a great game for us,” Slovenia coach Aleksander Sekulic said. “I think we showed our power. We played really together as a team. To have 27 assists and 54 rebounds, it says something about this team and I’m really proud of them.”

Hachimura finished with 34 points and seven rebounds. Yuta Watanabe added 17 for Japan. “Congratulations to Slovenia,” Japan coach Julio Lamas said. “They played better than us, all the game. … They are a very good team, very complete team with one amazing player.”

The Hachimura vs. Doncic matchup got off to a flying start, both players finishing the first quarter with 13 points and Slovenia taking a 29-23 lead after the opening 10 minutes. The margin was up to 53-41 at the half, and Japan still seemed to have a shot early in the fourth down by only 14. And then Doncic returned, ending whatever hope the hosts had.

Doncic who declined to stop for questions after the game, didn’t play in the final 5:30 of the third quarter. He grabbed a seat at the end of the Slovenia bench, draped towels over his shoulder and lap and kept …

Olympics / Sports / Swimming

17-year old Ogunbanwon sets national swimming record

A new national record has been set in swimming by 17-year old, Abiola Ogunbanwon, representing Team Nigeria at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics.

Ogunbanwo won heat 1 of the women’s 100m Freestyle, finishing strongly and swimming to a new Personal Best time of 59.74s.

She won her heat in the women’s 100 metres freestyle ahead of Andela Antunovic of Montenegro who came second while Gaurika Singh of Nepal came third.

Unfortunately, her winning time fell short of the best 16 times that progressed into the semi-final,

Nonetheless, Ogunbanwon emerged as the first Nigerian woman ever to finish this event in less than one minute.

Before Ogunbanwo, the only Nigerians to have graced the pool at the Olympics were Musa Bakare (Barcelona ‘92), Ikhaghomi Joshua (Barcelona ‘92), Monu (Sydney 2000 & Beijing 2008), Gentle Offoin (Sydney 2000), Lenient Obia (Athens 2004), Eric Williams (Athens 2004), Yellow Yeiyah (Beijing 2008), Samson Opuakpo (Rio 2016), and Rachael Tonjor (Rio 2016).…

Olympics / Sports

10 Nigerian athletes banned from Olympics

A huge scandal rocked Team Nigeria’s camp on Wednesday at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games when 10 Nigerian athletes were disqualified from competing in the event after they failed to undergo mandatory tests ahead of the global sports event. Our correspondents learnt the Nigerian camp was thrown into a mourning mood after word went round that the affected athletes, who compete in track and field events, had been sent packing from the Games with just two days to the start of their events.

The Athletics Integrity Unit in a statement on Wednesday made available to correspondent, did not mention the names of the affected Nigerian athletes, but said a total of 20 athletes across the world were disqualified from the Olympics for not meeting minimum requirements by Category A countries. However, findings by our correspondent showed that the only Nigerian track and field athletes eligible to compete in Tokyo were Enoch Adegoke, Tobi Amusan, Ese Brume, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Patience Okon- George, Usheoritse Itsekiri, Samson Nathaniel, Grace Nwokocha, Divine Oduduru, Emmanuel Ojeli, Blessing Okagbare and Nse Uko, as their names were listed on the Tokyo 2020 Olympics portal.

The names of the other track and field athletes for the event namely Knowledge Omovoh, Ruth Usoro, Favor Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma, Glory Patrick, Yinka Ajayi, Tima Godbless, Chidi Okezie, Chioma Onyekwere and Annette Echikunwoke were omitted by the International Olympic Committee, meaning they were the athletes banned from competing at the Games.

Other countries, who had some of their athletes disqualified, are Belarus and Ukraine, who both had three athletes banned, Kenya (two) and Morocco and Ethiopia, who had one athlete each sent packing from the Games.…

Crime / News

Hushpuppi Calls out DCP Abba Kyari in $1.1m wire fraud

Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, has accused super cop, Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari, in a $1.1 million fraud involving a Qatari businessman.

Hushpuppi, according to the United States Department of Justice, levelled the accusation in court documents.

The scheme, in which six persons were indicted, was to defraud a Qatari school founder and then launder over $1 million in illicit proceeds.

Kyari, the Head of the Inspector General of Police Federal Intelligence Response Team, which had successfully investigated several criminal cases, was yet to respond to enquiries as at press time.

The development on the matter, published on the website of the US Department of Justice, reads:

A federal grand jury indictment unsealed this week alleges an elaborate scheme to steal more than $1.1 million from a businessperson attempting to finance the construction of a school for children in Qatar – and the subsequent laundering of illicit proceeds through bank accounts around the world.

The three-count indictment returned on April 29 and unsealed Monday charges three U.S.-based defendants who were arrested last week – as well as three defendants believed to be in Africa – with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.

The criminal complaint that initiated the prosecution in February was also unsealed Monday, revealing that Ramon Olorunwa Abbas – also known by his social media handle of “Ray Hushpuppi” – was initially charged in this case. Court documents ordered unsealed today show that Abbas, a 37-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty on April 20. A version of Abbas’ plea agreement filed late Tuesday outlines his role in the school-finance scheme, as well as several other cyber and business email compromise schemes that cumulatively caused more than $24 million in losses.

“The defendants allegedly faked the financing of a Qatari school by playing the roles of bank officials and creating a bogus website in a scheme that also bribed a foreign official to keep the elaborate pretense going after the victim was tipped off,” said Acting United …

Business / News

Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire to strengthen maritime trade – NPA MD

The Nigerian Ports Authority on Thursday expressed its readiness to strengthen relations with the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire in the areas of port and shipping operations.

Mohammed Bello-Koko, acting managing director of NPA, stated this in a statement signed by Mr Olaseni Alakija, NPA’s general manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, in Lagos.

Bello-Koko made the statement when he received a delegation from the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, who paid him a courtesy visit at the NPA corporate headquarters in Marina, Lagos.

He said the relations would focus more on strengthening the capacities of both countries to participate competitively in global and regional trade. “The Nigerian government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has introduced far-reaching reforms to facilitate cross-border trade, particularly nurturing a multimodal port system to reduce the cost of shipments in and out of the country.

“The Buhari-administration has also invested heavily in major public infrastructure upgrades, including construction of modern rail lines and deep seaports, to boost the international competitiveness of the country’s trade.

“This will also position Nigeria as a gateway to the African economy,” he said.

Bello-Koko said one of the Greenfield Ports – the Lekki Deep Seaport, capable of handling ultra large cargo vessels, would commence business by the second quarter of 2022.

He also highlighted efforts by the Authority to give priority to non-oil export trade.

According to him, export processing terminals are now being established to take advantage of opportunities under African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA).

He urged the Ivorian government and business sector to increase their share of trade with Nigeria.

The managing director assured the delegation that NPA would address non-tariff barriers and restrictions to trade between the two countries.

He added that there was room for information sharing, just as both countries needed to cooperate more in the areas of joint training of staff and technology transfer.

The NPA boss solicited the support of Republic of Cote d’Ivoire towards Nigeria’s candidate emerging as the next Secretary-General of the Maritime Organization for West and Central Africa (MOWCA).

He …

Boxing / News / Olympics

Caroline Dubois inspired by her heavyweight brother Daniel Dubois – but can she be even better?

Usually when a Dubois sibling fights, there is stony confidence. An ice cold demeanor.

But recently things were so different on the most unusual night for the fighting family – when Caroline and her older brother Daniel were both battling in crunch fights just hours apart. “It was strange! I definitely did not like it,” Caroline said. It is not uncommon for fighters to feel more nerves when their closest confidantes step into the ring but Caroline and Daniel’s high-stakes fights were particularly testing.

Caroline, just 20, was at an Olympic qualifier in Paris on June 5 with a place at Tokyo 2020 up for grabs, having already beaten a far more experienced rival.

Daniel, a couple of hours later, was making his heavyweight return in London against Bogdan Dinu in his comeback from a broken eye socket. Caroline’s Olympic quest has continued through her older brother’s painstaking recovery from the injury inflicted in his first career loss to Joe Joyce. She has seen how things can go wrong but has persevered.

“Definitely when he gets in the ring,” she smiles through obvious torment when asked if it is more nerve-wracking to watch a loved one strap on the gloves.

Caroline grimaces when thinking about Daniel’s battles: “So many big blows are thrown. One of them will land.

“It’s horrible, horrible.”

Caroline would normally have been present with her brother before his fights but, last month, was forced into unusual solitude from him when her Olympic qualifier fell on the same day.

“You have to focus on yourself so I felt bad that my brother was boxing,” she says.

“Normally I’m always there around him, giving all my attention and focus to him.

“But I had to be more selfish – I had to totally forget about him and I didn’t like that.

“It was stressful.”

A day earlier Caroline defeated Mira Potkonen of Finland, who is twice her age and was the bronze medalist at the 2016 Olympics. Before Daniel’s fight in London, Caroline confirmed her spot on Team …

Football / Sports

Manchester United sign Jadon Sancho for £73m

Jadon Sancho underwent a medical at Manchester United after his participation at Euro 2020; The England international becomes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s second signing of the summer following the addition of goalkeeper Tom Heaton.

Sancho, whose move to Old Trafford was agreed in principle on July 1, completed a medical earlier this month after his participation at Euro 2020.

Manchester City retain a sell-on clause for their former youth-team player, whose contract in Germany was due to run until the summer of 2023.

“I’ll always be grateful to Dortmund for giving me the opportunity to play first-team football, although I always knew that I would return to England one day,” Sancho told United’s official website.

“The chance to join Manchester United is a dream come true and I just cannot wait to perform in the Premier League.

…
Entertainment / News

Comedian Michael Blackson proposes to girlfriend during radio show

The actor who was a guest at the popular American radio show, The Breakfast Club, went down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend after, show host Charlamagne asked if he would propose to her towards the end of the interview.

Sharing why he decided that this was finally the woman he wanted to be with for the rest of her life, the comedian expressed that her loyalty was the thing that really made him want to pop the question.

Rada, a realtor later took to her Instagram page where she expressed shock at the proposal. “I had no idea this was going to happen….I thought he was going to ask me about side beeches…. I ate my vegetables for the day and said yes to karats 🥕,” she wrote.

…
Boxing / News

Joe Joyce has sights set on Anthony Joshua or Tyson Fury ahead of fight with Carlos Takam

“I’ve got a big test in Carlos Takam so I won’t look too far ahead because this is a tough fight,” Joe Joyce said. “I need to beat Takam up to make a statement so I can go on to win a world title.”

Joyce has been confirmed as the next WBO mandatory challenger after Oleksandr Usyk, the current incumbent, challenges world champion Anthony Joshua on September 25, live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Unbeaten Joyce would then receive a shot at the belt next year.

“I’ve got a big test in Takam so I won’t look too far ahead because this is a tough fight,” he said. “Takam gives it his all and he’s a hard fight. It might take a few rounds, it might take all the rounds, but I will get the job done then cruise on to a world title.”

Joyce displayed his height advantage over the compact veteran Takam during a steely face-off on Thursday.

Cameroon-born Takam has previously gone 10 rounds with Joshua and eight rounds with Derek Chisora.

Joyce’s manager Sam Jones teased he had covertly been sent footage of Takam sparring from within his camp.

“I had someone show me the footage,” Jones told Takam.

“I’ve watched all your spars, I know the game plan.”

Takam hit back: “Because you are scared.”

Takam replied Francis Ngannou, the UFC heavyweight champion, had tipped him off that Joyce is “not a technical boxer”.

Jones said: “Carlos will come forwards, he is a decent boxer, he is tough and strong. He goes in with the head.

“[Joyce] will more spiteful on Saturday.”

Takam, now 40 and a veteran of 45 fights, insisted: “I am the best Takam you have seen, the best ever.”

His promoter Joe De Guardia previously told Sky Sports: “While a knockout over a 6’6″ 260 lb giant like Joe Joyce may seem unlikely, Carlos has the strength, tools, experience and foundation to piece together a performance that can very well lead to a sensational KO.”…

Crime / News

If bandits can bring down fighter jet, then they are more than being called ‘bandits’ — Rep

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Army, Abdulrazak Namdas, on Thursday said if bandits could shoot down a fighter jet, there is more to their activities than being tagged banditry.

Namdas spoke against the backdrop of the downing of an Alpha Jet of the Nigerian Air Force on Sunday.

Gunmen brought down Jet in Zamfara State.

Namdas stated this in Abuja at the opening of a two-day Capacity Building Workshop on Conflict Reporting for Journalists organized by the Konrad-Adenaeur Stiftung, a German foundation, in conjunction with the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism. He noted that journalists play critical roles in the fight against insecurity through ethical reportage and pace setting, as agenda setters.

He said: “It is important that the right terms and terminologies are used when reporting or describing any act of terror, attacks or conflict to better inform the people.

“If a bandit can graduate to bringing down a fighter jet and you still call him a bandit, then there is a problem.

“It is the responsibility of the media to report with the correct names because there is no religion, tribalism or party lines in any form of conflict.”

According to the lawmaker: “When you get kidnapped, nobody knows if you are APC (All Progressives Congress) or PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), so we need to be together.

“The politicians should not be setting the pace, the media is supposed to set the pace.

“As chairman, House Committee on Army, the challenges before us are very enormous in terms of security and all stakeholders must be on board because we cannot resolve insurgency, banditry with kids gloves.

“We felt the need for a capacity building with the media because today if you look at some of the terminologies and cliché on who is a bandit, terrorist, cattle rustler, armed robber, you begin to wonder who is giving such names.”

Namdas said the Nigerian media has been very vibrant from time immemorial as it played a key role in ending the days of military dictatorship for the …

News / Oil & Gas / politics

PIB: Buhari approved 5% for host communities, Minister changed it — Senator

A former Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Henry Dickson, has exposed how the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, allegedly proposed 2.5 per cent operating surplus to Host Communities while President Muhammadu Buhari proposed 5 per cent in the Petroleum Industrial Bill.

The Senator made the revelation when he spoke with newsmen on the contentious issue on Thursday in Abuja.

According to Dickson: “Nigerians should ask the Minister of State for Petroleum why (late President Umaru) Yar’Adua proposed 10 per cent, Buhari proposed 5 per cent, but he came to the National Assembly to propose 2.5 per cent.”

The representative of Bayelsa West Senatorial District explained that before the passage of the bill, Sylva and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mele Kyari, told the Senators that it is either they agreed to 2.5 percent or no investment. He said: “Senator (George) Sekibo and I were mandated to reach out to other senators who are not in our region and we did.

“We spoke to lot of them and they all supported us for the 5 per cent.

“Before we took that deliberation and the vote, the Minister of State for Petroleum and the GMD of NNPC were invited to give us the executive perspective.

“I don’t know why it was done, but it was not parliamentary, but it was a decision the leadership took and they came supposedly to enlighten us on the technical  aspect of the bill.

“They told us that it is either we agree to 2.5 percent or no investment.

“So, I can feel how most members who had earlier given us their commitment felt when they heard the tough position by the executive.

“The minister said there won’t be investment inflow if we approve anything higher than the 2.5 per cent.…