Man found guilty over car attack outside UK parliament

A London jury on Wednesday, July 17, convicted a man of attempted murder after he tried to mow down cyclists, pedestrians and police with his car outside the British parliament last year, in an attack prosecutors said had a terrorist motive.

Jurors at the Old Bailey, England's central criminal court, agreed with the prosecution that Salih Khater, 30, had made "a deliberate attempt to kill and maim as many people as possible" when he steered the vehicle at his targets outside the Houses of Parliament last August.

Although the Sudanese-born British national did not kill anyone, and ended up crashing the car into security barriers, the August 14 attack sent several people to hospital for treatment. 

The counter-terrorism division at England's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it was reasonable to assume he had a terrorist motive.

It noted that he chose "an iconic site of national importance which had been subjected to terrorist attacks in the recent past".

Jenny Hopkins, from the CPS, said: "Whatever his motives, this was not an accident. It was a deliberate attempt to kill and maim as many people as possible."

Blue Ivy makes cameo in Beyonce's new Lion King music video 'Spirit'

Queen B dropped her newest track on Tuesday, July 15 called “Spirit”, one of the songs included in the live-action Lion King’s official soundtrack.

The music video also dropped on the same day, which features stunning safari visuals, breathtaking nature shots, clips from the movie, dancers, Beyonce, and of course, her first daughter, Blue Ivy.

Blue Ivy, 7, appears within the first minute, softly smiling and holding her mom’s hand throughout, both dressed in beautiful gowns. Aside from the powerful vocals and the exquisite setting, the tender moments between mother and daughter are what resonated the most with viewers.

See video below;

Wizkid's 3rd baby mama and manager dump him over domestic violence

Wizkid’s 3rd baby mama who also doubles as his manager, Jada Pollock, has accused Wizkid of violently abusing her for years since they have been together.

The American citizen who is the mother of Zion, Wizkid’s 3rd child, took to her Instagram story to make the revelation. She revealed Wizkid constantly beats her and makes her feel like they are at war when they are together in the house.

“From today I and Ayo no longer work together. I’ve been in an abusive relationship with him for years covering for him time and time again. And I’m tired. Wiz continuously puts his hand on me, leaves me with bruises that I cover up from the world including my family and friends.

“It often feels like we are war in the same house. I have done all I can do to keep this all together but from today I let go. You can support someone as much as you can but at some point, you have to value yourself. I can’t raise my son in this kind of environment.”

Victoria Kimani reacts to exclusion of Kenyan artistes from Lion King: The Gift

World famous singer cum actress, Beyonce had earlier today, unveiled the tracklist of her new album, The Lion King: The Gift, which is the musical accompaniment to the new Disney movie.

The album proudly features six Nigerian popstars which are include Yemi Alade, Burna Boy, Mr. Eazi, Tekno, Wizkid, Tiwa Savage. Then as well as Ghana’s Shatta Wale.

However, this didn’t go down well with Kenyan singer, Victoria Kimani who took to twitter to vet her thoughts.

"as much as we celebrate with our fellow Africans. The obvious exclusion of Kenyans/East Africans on this Soundtrack is depressing. The movie was based on Kenya”.

#BBNaija2019: Ella said Tacha has body odour or mouth odour - KimOprah

The Pepperdem tussle between the female housemates of the 2019 Edition of the Big Brother Naija gets more interesting as popular Instagram slay queen, Tacha was allegedly accused of having body and mouth odour by Evicted housemate, Ella.

This was revealed by Kim Oprah – also evicted, in an Interview, saying Ella was said something about Tacha having a body and Mouth odour.

KimOprah: Ella was saying something about Tacha having body odor or mouth odor.

Oh well...#BBNaijaUpdates #BBNaija #BBNaija2019 #Pepperdem pic.twitter.com/4NbYYHwe2T

— #BBNaijaUpdates (@bbnaijaupdates) July 17, 2019

South Africa deemed most dangerous country for 'solo' women travelers while America the worst in the West

South Africa has been deemed the most dangerous country in the world for solo women travellers to visit but America is the worst in the West.

The 'Women's Danger Index', based on the 50 most visited destinations across the globe, evaluated eight crucial risk factors. These include whether or not women feel safe to walk alone at night, homicide rates and gender inequality.

The study, by travel bloggers Asher and Lyric Fergusson, found South Africa was the worst for violence against women by non-partners, homicides, and how safe women feel walking alone at night.

Thailand is the worst in the Far East a region popular with backpackers overall, and the worst for attitudes towards violence against women.

America came out worst in the West for its homicide rates, non-partner sexual violence, and intimate partner violence, while Australia was rated second worst for 'non-partner sexual violence', reflected in a recent survey which found that 'one in seven young Australians say rape is justified if women change their mind'. 

Countries in the Middle East such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran came top for countries which discriminated against women as far as their role in society goes.

Croatia despite being one of the poorer European countries is rated one of the safest countries in the world just to walk the streets.

The eight factors were: Safe to walk alone at night?, intentional homicide of women, non-partner sexual violence, intimate partner violence, legal discrimination, global gender gap, gender inequality and violence against women attitudes.

The UK came 40 out of the 50 in the danger list with a marginally higher rating for 'Safe to Walk Alone at Night' than the other seven factors. world, just ahead of Singapore and Ireland.

Bloggers Asher & Lyric said of the danger index: 'To measure safety abroad, one cannot look at only data on street safety, rape or violence. It also depends on the general attitude of the culture, minutiae of the legal system, and systematic oppression of local women. These issues can affect everything, from easily getting a taxi alone to having your voice be heard in a conversation to even needing a male escort for your personal safety.

' A lot on our list, such as attitudes toward partner violence, may not affect solo female travellers directly, but these factors are a good indication of overall attitudes within the culture.'

Couple married for 71 years die hours apart on the same day

A love story for the ages has gained national attention after a Georgia couple who was married 71 years passed away only hours apart on the same day.

Herbert DeLaigle, 94, died early Friday morning in Augusta, Georgia and his wife, 88-year-old Frances Delaigle, died just 12 hours later.

Their lifelong romance began at a cafe in Waynesboro, where they first laid eyes on each other when Herbert was 22 and Frances was 16-years-old.

In a 2018 interview, Herbert told WRDW: ‘Frances worked at a little cafe we had in Waynesboro named White Way Cafe.’ ‘I kept seeing her going in and out, in and out and I had my eyes set on her. And then I finally got up the nerve to ask her if she would go out with me sometime.’

They went on a first date at a local movie theater. One year later, Herbert asked Frances to be his wife.

He said: ‘I asked her will she have me as her husband and she said of course.’

The couple’s family released a statement Friday that said: ‘It’s amazing how they were together for 71 years and now they are together in Heaven. what an amazing love story that is.’

Drake sued by woman ‘violently struck by beer bottle’ at New York concert in 2016

Drake has found himself in the middle of a legal battle after being sued by a woman who was hit over the head at a concert three years ago.

Amanda Giovacco has accused the One Dance singer, MSG, Live Nation and a food vendor of allowing the crowd to get so disorderly that she was injured during his gig at Madison Square Garden in New York City on 8 August 2016.

In court documents, obtained by the New York Post’s Page Six Column, the woman claimed she was ‘violently struck by a beer bottle that was thrown while attending the Drake concert’.

The documents go on to allege she was ‘maliciously and without just cause provocation, subjected to a battery’. 

The 24-year-old woman has claimed that Drake and his organisers didn’t have the right amount of security at the overcrowded venue even though, as she alleges, they ‘knew’ about the ‘history of violence’ at his shows.

She has also accused them of serving ‘excessive amounts of alcohol’ to the concert-goers in glass bottles rather than plastic cups.

'The lawsuit was filed this morning and we are looking into the matter. The safety and security of our guests is our highest priority,’ said Madison Square Garden.

While Giovacco’s lawyer said: ‘Madison Square Garden, the promoter and Drake should have prevented bottles from coming in or circulating within the building and being thrown at a concert.’

Miss Giovacco sustained a ‘traumatic brain injury’ as a result of the glass bottle smashing on her head and she now suffers from ‘seizures’ that are ‘preventing her from attending medical school’.

In June it was alleged that Drake agreed to pay a $350,000 (£280,000) settlement to a woman he tried to sue for making false sexual assault claims, which he was entirely cleared of in 2017.

10 Turkish sailors kidnapped by armed pirates off the coast of Nigeria

Ten Turkish sailors on a cargo ship have been kidnapped for ransom by armed men off the coast of Nigeria.

The shipping company, Kadioglu Denizcilik, on Tuesday said in a statement that the vessel was attacked when the pirates boarded the ship on its way from Cameroon to the Ivory Coast in the Gulf of Guinea, PressTv reported.

”Vessel Paksoy-1 was sailing without freight from Cameroon’s port city of Douala to Abidjan in Ivory Coast when the pirates boarded the ship in the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean,” the statement said.

“No injuries or loss of lives occurred according to initial information. Our efforts continue for the safe and sound release of all of our personnel.”

The company’s operation manager, Numan Paksoy, said out of the 18 people that boarded the 8,900 deadweight-ton ships, only 10 among them were kidnapped.

He said the assailants picked the 10 after threatening to kill all the sailors after the crew members hid in a safe room.

“We contacted those who were not kidnapped and found out that all crew members hid when the assailants boarded the ship, Mr Paksoy said.

"All of them had to come out of hiding when the assailants found some and threatened to kill them if the others did not come out. The assailants then picked 10 sailors at random among all the crew members and let others go," he added.

Actor Gideon Okeke and wife welcome their son

Nollywood actor, Gideon Okeke and his wife, Chidera, have welcome their son, Ezra.

He wrote;My Shakara just start. EZRA is Here. Ekun l'ekun bi meeeehn.... Now may the "Wise Men" proceed. A STAR IS BORN!

Tonto Dikeh laughs off being given 'financial aid' by Blessing Osom

Tonto Dikeh has laughed off Blessing Osom's claim of being given 'financial aid', after her marriage to her ex-husband, Olakunle Churchill crashed.


Recall that Blessing Osom, an ex-friend of the Tonto Dikeh opened up a can of worms on how their friendship ended. She claimed that the actress has always been broke, depressed, borrowed money from her and is also yet to pay back.

She also had the laughter emoji for the 'financial aid' claim.

Court jails ex-Vanguard accountant, ex-circulation manager for theft

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a former Chief Accountant of Vanguard Newspapers, Bhadmus Abiodun, to seven years imprisonment for fraud.

He was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an eight-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and stealing of about N3.1million belonging to his employer.

The court also sentenced former circulation representative of Vanguard newspaper, Benin Office, Joseph Ejike Ezeobi, to three years imprisonment over his involvement in stealing and forgery.

In his judgment, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye held that the prosecution has proved its case against Abiodun and Ezeobi beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced them to various prison terms without an option of fines.

Prosecution counsel, Abba Mohammed, informed the court that Abiodun committed the offence in collaboration with the Vanguard Media Representative for Onitsha, Samuel Ogbole between January 9, 2006 and January 4, 2008.

But Ogbole was said to have absconded when bail was granted to the duo by the court after their arraignment. He is still at large

 Mohammed further informed the court that the convict and his accomplice had on various dates, illegally converted N400, 000, N2.5million and N120, 000 belonging to the complainant, Vanguard.

Mohammed said, “On January 16, 2007, the duo conspired to and forged a Wema Bank deposit slip with No. 7125699 purporting to be the value of N225, 165.

“On May 30, 2007, the men conspired and forge a Wema Bank deposit slip with No. 3270712 purporting to be the value of N256, 850”.

According to Mohammed, the offences are contrary to Sections 390 (7), 467 (2)(i) and 516 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State 2003. Justice Ipaye held that the money Biodun and Ogbole kept for themselves belongs to Vanguard newspaper.

The judge said, “The defendant is hereby sentenced to seven years in prison on count one. He is sentenced to seven years in prison each for counts two to eight.”

The judge however said that the prison terms for counts two to eight are to run concurrently.

Kano: Fire razes BUK accountancy department

A fire outbreak has occurred at the accountancy department of Bayero University Kano (BUK). The department is located at the university’s new site in Kano.

It was gathered that the fire started as a result of electrical fault and had since been put off by the college fire fighters.

The university’s principal assistant registrar, Lamara Garba, in a statement, said the fire was eventually quenched and no casualty was recorded. Students of the institution are currently on holiday.

The official said the fire affected only one office. He said it was quenched by officials of the university’s fire service and normal activities have resumed in the department. 

“The acting Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (administration) Professor Haruna Wakili who visited the site commended the timely arrival of the firefighters which arrested the situation,” Mr Garba said.

He charged the staff of college to be extra vigilant and be careful in handling electrical appliances and highly inflammable materials that could course fire outbreaks.

Engineer and school bursar arrested for allegedly raping seven teenagers in Abuja

Two men, 41-year-old Festus Femi, a father of two and a 51-year-old bursar of Government Secondary School, Dangara, Abaji-Abuja, Luke Ekundayo, have been arrested by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for allegedly raping seven teenage girls, aged between 12 and 15.

The first suspect, Femi, from Ondo State, was arrested by officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and handed over to NAPTIP for allegedly raping six girls aged between 12 and 15 years, including a 13-year-old, who attempted to commit suicide after the incident.

Ekundayo, from Ilorin in Kwara State, is accused of drugging, raping and impregnating a 15-year-old pupil handed over to him for protection.

Head, Press and Public Relations Unit of NAPTIP, Stella Nezan, made this known in a statement.

She said: “Operatives of NAPTIP have arrested a 41-year-old, Festus Femi, an installation engineer, for alleged rape of three pupils of the same secondary school and on different occasions.

“The suspect, who hails from Ondo State, is married and has two children. He lives in Bwari Area Council of Abuja. His wife and children live in Ondo State. He was apprehended by men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and thereafter referred to NAPTIP for further investigations and prosecution. 

“The first victim, a 13 year-old Junior Secondary School 2 pupil in one of the secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory, lives with her parents in Bwari. The victim stated that she met Femi through her classmate, who asked her in school to escort her to Femi’s house, and claimed he was her uncle. On getting to the house, her classmate and Femi went out briefly and when they returned, she told the victim that Femi wanted to have sex with her. The victim’s refusal and pleas of being a virgin fell on deaf ears. Femi increased the volume of his sound system and raped her in the presence of her friend. He threatened to kill her if she tells anyone. This left the victim so distraught that she attempted to commit suicide.

“The second victim is a 12-year-old Junior Secondary School 2 pupil, who lives with her aunt in Bwari. The same classmate took her to Femi’s house and told her that Femi wanted to have sex with her. When she refused, Femi gave them money and told them to visit some other time. One fateful day, she was on her way to her classmate’s house and met Femi on the way; he invited her to his house and raped her while she was waiting for her friend.

“The third victim, a 15-year-old girl, is the same person that introduced the other two victims to him. She said Femi was her neighbour and each time he had sex with her, he gave her N500. He also told her to bring girls for him. That he would give her N3,000. She said she had so far brought five girls to him, whose ages range from 12 to 15.“

“In a related development, a 51-year-old bursar of Government Secondary School, Dangara, Abaji-Abuja, was also arrested by NAPTIP officials for allegedly drugging, raping and impregnating a 15-year-old pupil. The suspect, Luke Gabriel Ekundayo, from Ilorin, Kwara State, was the victim’s guardian in school, and she spent short holidays in his house. The victim, a Senior Secondary 3 (SS3) pupil took ill in Ekundayo’s house. Upon taking some drugs administered to her by the suspect, she passed out. When she woke up, she saw bloodstains and said she felt uneasy, but did not suspect that the school bursar, whom her grandmother handed her over to for protection, could do anything sinister to her.

“The victim, an orphan who was on scholarship, was threatened by the suspect into having sex with him continuously, or he would tell her sponsors to stop paying her school fees. The rape continued until the victim got pregnant."

Reacting to the news of the arrest, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, condemned the actions of the two men.”

She said: “Rapists will be prosecuted for their crime against humanity and NAPTIP will not hesitate to bring the full wrath of the law on any rapist.“

She further frowned at the high rate of rape in the society, and cautioned school girls to be careful of the kind of friends they keep, saying a lot of teenagers are led astray by fellow teenagers, who are unfortunately victims of the crime themselves.

“The DG also admonished parents to ‘be careful of who they entrust their children with, as it is unfortunate that the people who are meant to protect the children are the ones who end up exploiting and abusing them’

The NAPTIP boss hailed the efforts of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for apprehending and referring the case to the agency for proper prosecution. She used the opportunity to call on the public to report any rape case within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to NAPTIP.

Death toll rises to 14 in Jos building collapse

A rescue team comprising the Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Nigerian Red Cross and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corpse (NSCDC) were able to recover 14 bodies from the rubble of a collapsed house in Jos, the state capital.

The combined team had on Monday evening recovered four bodies from the building, which fell at about 6pm, trapping many people.

On the resumption of the search and rescue yesterday morning, the team discovered six more bodies, including that of the owner of the two-storey apartment, Alhaji Kabiru Nalele, popularly known as ‘Sariki’ (king) within the environment.

It was gathered that the owner of the apartment was not living in the building with his family. He only came visiting as usual when the building collapsed, killing him, his two wives and others.

It was learnt that the ground floor of the building was being used as shops and the other two floors were used as residential.

The ground floor housed a pharmaceutical store that deals in retail and wholesale drugs. The pharmaceutical store is owned and managed by Nalele’s two daughters.

One of the sympathisers at the site said: “Some neighbours, who came to the pharmacy to buy drugs, were among the people trapped in the building. Some of them died and some others that survived were rescued and rushed to the hospital.

Director of Search and Rescue, SEMA Mrs. Junni Bala, said: “The two-storey building located at Butcher Line, Dilimi in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State fell at about 6pm local time, trapping many. 

“Rescuers recovered four bodies on Monday night from the rubble before discovering six others on Tuesday. Four other people were critically injured in the disaster.”

Many of the sympathisers, who trooped to catch a glimpse of the collapsed building expressed anger at the failure of the state government to enforce strict regulations on residential and business buildings in the city centre.

But, the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), the state government agency in charge of town planning, has ordered residents occupying any building in the city that has no government approval to vacate immediately.

The agency said it will utilise all available laws to embark on demolition of any building that has no government approval, those that have government approval and are badly constructed as well as those buildings that are structurally defective. 

Among those that trooped to the scene of the collapsed building yesterday was the Deputy Governor, Prof. Sunny Tyoden.