First woman to undergo face transplant in America after her husband shot her in failed murder-suicide dies

Ohio woman Connie Culp, who became the first person in the U.S. to receive a partial face transplant after surviving a gunshot blast to the face, has died at the age of 57.    

The Cleveland Clinic, where Culp underwent the historic surgical procedure in 2008, confirmed her death in a statement.

'Connie was an incredibly brave, vibrant woman and an inspiration to many. Her strength was evident in the fact that she had been the longest-living face transplant patient to date,' Dr Frank Papay, chair of the Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Institute said. 

'She was a great pioneer and her decision to undergo a sometimes-daunting procedure is an enduring gift for all of humanity.'

COVID-19 PALLIATIVES: FG gave us 1,800 bags of expired rice ― Benue

The Benue State Government, on Tuesday, disclosed that it took delivery of three truckloads of 1,800 bags of rice from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affair for distribution in the state as COVID-19 palliatives but discover that the rice had expired.

Chairman of the State COVID-19 Action Committee and Deputy Governor of the state Mr Benson Abounu made the disclosure while flagging off the distribution of palliatives to the 23 Local Government Areas, LGAs, of the state at the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA office in Makurdi.

Mr. Abounu stated that the state government had earlier sent each truck of 600 bags of rice to Otukpo, Gboko and Katsina/Ala LGAs for distribution in the three senatorial zones but suspended the exercise when it discovered it was inedible.

“We recently received from Calabar three trucks loaded with 600 bags of rice each, from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs as COVID-19 palliative for distribution to the poorest of the poor in our state only to discover that the rice had expired when we wanted to distribute the stock after paying N600,000 for the delivery.

Georgia school kids pack hallway without masks on first day back at school

A Georgia school's reopening may very well be exhibit A on the lack of COVID-19 safety precautions in place for students ... just look at this hallway, which looks like a superspreader's dream.

The photo shows the first day back for kids in Paulding County, where -- with the support of the Georgia Department of Education in partnership with the Georgia Department of Public Health -- schools are opening up their doors with "guidelines, not mandates" on how to deal with the pandemic ... and judging from the pic it's an absolute failure.

Students are crammed in a narrow hallway, and at least half of them are walking side by side without face coverings.

Three die as SUV runs into trailer in Lagos

Three people have been killed as a Sports Utility Vehicle, SUV, ran into a moving trailer on Lagos-Abeokuta Road, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

The accident occurred around 6:40am on Tuesday before Cement Bus Stop inward Iyana-Dopemu.

According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, three people were killed in the accident.

“An accident has just been reported involving a SUV that ran into a moving trailer on the fast lane shortly before Cement b/stop inward Iyana-Dopemu with 3 casualties,” it said on its twitter handle.

Photos: Osun hands over Pa Fasanmi remains to Ekiti govt

The government of Osun State on Tuesday handed over the remains of the late Senator Ayo Fasanmi to the Ekiti State Government, for his interment at St. John Cathedral, Iye Ekiti.

The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Ismail Omipidan disclosed this on Tuesday in a statement.

He said Governor Adegboyega Oyetola (represented by his deputy, Mr. Benedict Alabi) was part of the eminent personalities who thronged Ekiti State on Tuesday, to pay their last respect to the late Afenifere leader.

“The short farewell ceremony took place at Itawure, the border of the two states. This was done to avoid breaching the Covid-19 social distancing protocol at the venue of the internment.

FG raises hate speech fine from N500,000 to N5m

The Federal Government on Tuesday raised the fine for hate speech from N500,000 to 5 million naira.

The government also mandated broadcast stations to devote airtime for public education and enlightenment on emergencies such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, made this known in Lagos on Tuesday while unveiling the Reviewed Broadcasting Code.

This was contained in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, titled, ‘Remarks By The Hon. Minister Of Information And Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, At The Unveiling Of The Reviewed Broadcasting Code In Lagos On Tuesday, Aug. 4th 2020’.

Photos: Ubi Franklin's youngest daughter is one today

The award for best dad in Nigeria should be given to Ubi Franklin. Biko, call him serial baby daddy, sharp shooter, whatever name, Ubi embraces his children even if they are just a year apart sometimes and from different women.

Recall how Ariella's mom had fought the music executive openly, swearing she was 100percent sure Ariella is his? Well, they settled behind the gram and that's beautiful, and as we can see, Ariella

 is her father's carbon copy. She came prepared!

As she clocks her first year on earth today, dotting dad (yea all over his children, don't ask us how many, we won't mention) took to Instagram to celebrate his youngest seed.

In one of the posts, he regrets borders are shut, which means he won't be able to be with her on her special day.

Breaking: Kwara Deputy Gov, wife test positive for covid-19

Kwara Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi and his wife Abieyuwa have tested positive for Covid-19.

Spokesperson of the state Technical Committee on Covid-19, Rafiu Ajakaye, confirmed this in a statement today.

The statement reads: “Yesterday August 3rd, 2020, the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Kwara state Technical Committee Kayode Alabi and his wife, Abieyuwa underwent COVID-19 test after they showed slight symptoms of the virus.

“The results of their test are positive. The second couple are very stable and in high spirit, and are now undergoing standard management protocols supervised by the government’s medical team.

Video: Daddy Showkey holds virtual party as he turns 50

Ajegunle's finest, Daddy Showkey is 50 today and to celebrate himself he held a virtual party )well it's only just mandatory). Showkey who was home danced along as he was being hailed by the singer, his other family members also joined in the party.

Ofcus GOTV also celebrated the singer in their own special way. Daddy Showkey has been an ambassador to them for years.

We also wish the SUPERSTAR a happy birthday. E no easy! ❤️

Petrol may sell N150 per litre as marketers seek hike

Following increase in the prices of crude oil, marketers are pushing for the upward review of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) petrol N150 per litre for the month of August.

The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA ) last month announced increase of the product to a band of N140.80 to N143.80 per litre.

It was the first time the agency approved a new price after removal of petrol subsidy.

Prior to the July 1 hike, the agency had on May 1, approved price band of N121.50 to N123.50 per litre for the product.

Teachers bring coffins, guillotine while protesting schools reopening plan

Teachers brought along visual aids, including handmade coffins and a guillotine, while protesting Mayor Bill de Blasio’s schools reopening plan in Lower Manhattan on Monday afternoon.

About 200 protesters many of them educators, parents and students marched from the United Federation of Teachers Headquarters to the NYC Department of Education offices near Foley Square.

“We demand safe schools,” they chanted.

The crafty group lugged a DIY yellow guillotine, with “DOE” painted on the blade and “US” written where the head would go.

Buhari orders payment of NDDC scholarship students

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the payment of fees and stipends of stranded scholarship students of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) studying abroad.

A statement signed by the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Charles Odili, said Buhari conveyed the directive to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, following the protest of the students.

Odili said the students would be paid by the end of the week explaining that the delay was caused by the sudden death of Chief Ibanga Etang, the then Acting Executive Director, Finance and Administration, EDFA, of the Commission in May.

Mum's heartache as her baby dies in the womb at eight months from rare disease

A mum has been left heartbroken after her baby died in the womb from a rare condition that could have killed her too.

Laura McLeish, 31, from Bishopton in Renfrewshire, Scotland, was eight months pregnant when she delivered her baby stillborn.

A few days beforehand she had noticed a change in Gabriel's movements.

Laura suffered heartburn and what she believed were contractions.

Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez lounges in a bikini on private yacht

The former model, 26, sizzled in a skimpy bikini as she soaked up the sun rays from her footballer beau's luxurious private yacht.

Georgina looked effortlessly sensational as she took in the amazing views from their trip on the Mediterranean.

But despite the stunning vistas, Georgina - who recently signed a six-figure contract with PrettyLittleThing - made it difficult for fans to concentrate on anything but her incredible physique.

Sharing two flirty snaps on Instagram with her 19.7million followers, Georgina took a day off from mummy duties as she relaxed in the heat. 

Trump fires agency’s chairman for hiring foreign workers

United States President, Donald Trump, said Monday that he had fired the chair of the Tennessee Valley Authority, criticizing the federal-owned corporation for hiring foreign workers.

Trump told reporters at the White House that he was formally removing chair Skip Thompson and another member of the board, and he threatened to remove other board members if they continued to hire foreign labour.

The TVA is a federally owned corporation created in 1933 to provide flood control, electricity generation, fertilizer manufacturing and economic development to the Tennessee Valley, a region that was hard hit by the Great Depression. The region covers most of Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky as well as small sections of Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia.

He also said the TVA board must immediately hire a new chief executive officer who “puts the interests of Americans first.” According to Trump, the CEO, Jeff Lyash, earns $8 million a year.

Ondo 2020: Deputy Governor’s ZLP posters flood Akure

Campaign posters and banners of Ondo Deputy Governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi, seeking to contest for the October 10 governorship election on the platform of the Zenith Labour Party(ZLP) have flooded the social media and streets of Akure.

Secretariat of the ZLP in Akure was also adorned with Ajayi campaign posters, which confirmed talks the Deputy Governor would dump the PDP this week.

Ajayi resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress and joined the Peoples Democratic Party in June.

In July, he contested the primary of the PDP and failed to secure the party’s ticket, which was won by Barr. Eyitayo Jegede.

Drug-smuggling cat escapes high-security prison

A cat that was detained at Sri Lanka’s main prison while allegedly trying to smuggle drugs and cell phone SIM cards has escaped, according to media reports on Monday.

The feline was detected by jail intelligence officials on Saturday at the high-security Welikada Prison, a police official said.

The official said nearly two grams of heroin, two SIM cards and a memory chip were found in a small plastic bag tied around the cat’s neck.

While there is no stipulation for animal arrest under Sri Lankan law, police were hoping the cat could lead them to the smugglers’ den, the media reports suggest. But it escaped on Sunday from a prison room where it was kept. The cat reportedly scampered out of its holding room and escaped through a fence when prison guards came in to feed it.

Anthony Joshua to fight Kubrat Pulev in December 2020

Anthony Joshua will fight Kubrat Pulev in December, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.

The WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight king had been due to fight Pulev in June with Hearn now keen to delay the fight for a sufficient amount of time to hopefully allow fans to attend.

"We know AJ's only going to fight once this year, so we want to give ourselves the best opportunity to bring in a crowd, and that would obviously be the later the better," Hearn told ESPN.

"But it's still not a gimme at all. There's still a very strong chance that AJ will have to fight behind closed doors."

Kanye West officially names Michelle Tidball as vice president on presidential ballot

Kanye West has officially filed Michelle Tidball, a life coach based in Wyoming, as his vice president on Arkansas’ presidential ballot.

A spokesperson for the Arkansas Secretary of State told TMZ that Kanye’s campaign turned in the needed 1,000 signatures to qualify for the November election ballot.

The forms were reportedly turned in just 15 minutes before the Arkansas’ noon deadline.

It comes after canvassers and volunteers tried to rack up petition signatures for the presidential ballot in Ohio – a key swing state that could decide who sits in the Oval Office after November.

New photo of Dino Melaye and his three children

The former Senator who represented Kogi West before being dethroned by Senator Adeyemi Smart shared the beautiful photo on social media with one caption --  ''THE MELAYES''

Rob Kardashian poses shirtless as he shows of weight loss

Rob Kardashian has shown off his stunning weight loss as he poses shirtless by the pool, in the Californian sunshine.

Tanzanian singer, Diamond Platnumz set to wed again

Lately, on his social media, Tanzanian heartthrob Diamond Platnumz has been dropping hints of his intentions to walk down the aisle and if all goes as planned, the father of five, will be a married man by end of this year.

Last month during a show in Dodoma, Diamond told the crowd that he is seeing someone whom he intends to marry by the time he is celebrating his 31st birthday. This was just five months after he split with his Kenyan bea Tanasha Donna.

Nairobi News has now exclusively learnt that plans for dowry payment and wedding arrangements have been finalised with everything being done in uttermost secrecy.

Former Dar es Salaam regional commander Paul Makonda, who is close to Diamond’s family, has been tasked to lead the dowry negotiations while Wasafi Events and Diamond Lifestyle Manager, Hellen Kazimoto is in charge of the wedding plans.

Music critic who gave Taylor Swift's album a rating of 8/10 is threatened by her fans who says her life is on the line

Taylor Swift fans have harassed Pitchfork’s editor following her review of the star’s new album, which, though positive, wasn't sparkling enough.

On Monday Pitchfork’s senior editor Jillian Mapes published a review of the singer’s eighth album Folklore, and hours later was bombarded with angry messages on social media where crazed fans tweeted out her address, phone number and photos of her home and herself.

However, Mapes's review gave Swift’s album an eight out of 10 rating and praised it as 'a sweater-weather record filled with cinematic love songs and rich fictional details.'

The review wasn’t positive enough for fans who harassed the writer even though the score wasn't her own, it was determined by the ratings of multiple staffers.

Khloe Kardashian's two words that ends ex Tristan Thompson hopes of romance

Khloe Kardashian has issued a short, terse response to reports that she had forgiven ex-boyfriend Tristan Thompson and rekindled their romance.

It had been reported that Khloe was hoping the NBA star had "changed" his ways and they were "beyond happy" together after ending their time apart.

Sources had told PEOPLE on Monday: "She loves having him around. He has the best relationship with True,

"And he has been amazing to Khloe too. They are very much together and Khloe is beyond happy."

Don’t drag me into NDDC contract scam, Ibori warns Akpabio

Former Delta State Governor, James Ibori has told Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio not to drag him into contract scam at the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

Ibori said he was never a part of any contract from the NDDC and that he had never been a government contractor.

Ibori, in a statement issued by his Media Assistant, Tony Eluemunor, said he had to make the clarification for the records because friends and associates had inundated him with phone calls since Monday morning.

According to him, he is stating categorically that he never solicited for, or was awarded, or indeed executed, any contract with NDDC or any government agency, at any time, for that matter.