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Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Tokyo Olympics, abandoning his mixed doubles bronze medal match. He cited a left shoulder injury, moments after losing the singles bronze medal to Spaniard Pablo Carrena Busta. He has therefore gifted Australia’s Ashleigh Barty and John Peers the bronze in the doubles without letting them sweat for it. He has also let down his partner, Nina Stojanović. Djokovic, the world No. 1 from Serbia, will now leave Tokyo empty-handed in what has proved a majorly disappointing Olympic Games. Having won all three Grand Slams this year, Djokovic arrived in Japan as the major favourite to win the singles gold. However, he was defeated in the semi-finals against Alexander Zverev on Friday. On the same day, he and Stojanovic lost to Russian duo Aslan Karatsev and Elena Vesnina in the mixed doubles semi-final.   In an interview on his loss to Zverev, Djokovic said he came to Tokyo emotionally exhausted. “Look, I didn’t come here fresh, I came here exhau...

An inspirational entrepreneur renowned for her passionate commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion has been named University of the West of Scotland’s Chancellor-elect. The university made this known via a statement on its website. Yekemi Otaru, a tireless passionate supporter of women in business and an active mentor of business owners in the world’s poorest countries, will formally take up the role of Chancellor at the University of the West of Scotland on 1 September 2021, succeeding Dame Elish Angiolini. Yekemi, 42, holds four degrees and has considerable industrial experience in engineering and marketing. She is Co-Founder and Executive Director at Doqaru Limited, a prominent Aberdeen-based sales and marketing consultancy.   She is also a board member of Interface, which connects a wide range of organisations from national and international industries to Scotland’s universities, research institutes and colleges, matching them with world-leading academic ...

The police in Imo state have repelled bandit attacks in Njaba town in the state. A statement released by CSP Michael Abattam says on July 30, a convoy of bandits moving towards Njaba Town to launch an attack was intercepted by men of the Operation Restore Peace team of the Nigeria Police, Imo State command. Abattam said in the ensuing firefight, one of their operational vehicles was demobilized and two of them neutralized and the remaining ones scampered into the bush.   ''On searching the vehicle one Ak 47 rifle was recovered with ten rounds of live Ammunition and a locally made double barrel pistol with two expended cartridges.  They detonated an Improvised Explosive Devices into the parking lots of a nearby Njaba Police Station causing minimal damage.''he said   The spokesperson added that cordon and pursuant exercise is ongoing in the area and members of the public residing in the area should not panic as the ongoing Police clearance operation i...

Nigerian athlete, Blessing Okagbare, has been provisionally suspended after failing a drug test at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics on Friday July 30. The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), the independent body created by the World Athletics that manages all integrity issues for the sport, announced the decision. According to the body, Okagbare tested positive for Human Growth Hormone.   “Growth Hormone is a non-specified substance on the 2021 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List and a provisional suspension is mandatory following an adverse analytical finding for such substance under the World Athletics Anti-Doping Rules. The AIU collected the sample from Ms. Okagbare during an out-of-competition test on 19 July. The WADA-accredited laboratory that analysed the sample notified the AIU of the adverse analytical finding at mid-day Central European Time yesterday, Friday 30 July. The athlete was notified of the adverse analytical finding and of her pro...

    The sentencing of self-confessed internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi, has been slated for October this year. This is according to the United States Attorney’s Office at the Central District of California. Hushpuppi was arrested in Dubai in July 2020 for a multi-millionaire dollar fraud perpetrated by him and members of his syndicate. This week he pleaded guilty to various offences bordering on internet scam, money laundering, among others.  His plea bargain document which was released online this week was signed by Hushpuppi, his lawyer, Loius Shapiro; and Acting United States Attorney, Tracy Wilkison, among others.

Veteran actress, Rachel Oniga has died at the age of 64.  According to reports, the actress who has been divorced from her husband for 19 years, died on Friday night July 30th from Covid-19 complications .  Oniga is said to have shot some scenes in a movie at Mowe, Ogun state earlier this week before her death. Other details are still sketchy at the time of filing this report.Penning down a tribute to the deceased, Facebook user Olusegun Oshiyoye who described Rachel Oniga as his aunt wrote;    Rest in peace Aunty Rachel. Words cannot describe what I am feeling right now. Our last conversation was not like this...Your memories will never be forgotten Mummy Olamiji...Continue to rest in peace.    

Governor Aminu Masari has said that he has no joy governing Katsina state as the increased security in the North West state has been giving him and others sleepless nights.  Speaking during an interview with DW Hausa on Friday July 30, the Governor said the state has been plagued by security matters from sunset to dawn.  According to Masari, no sensible leader who has the feeling of his people at heart will be happy in such situation.  He said;    “In this difficult time and uncertainty, all the issue of governance has been dominated by security matters from sunset to dawn. I receive security reports at any moment through many channels daily. “Governing in this difficult time I see no joy that people are saying we are enjoying.  “In this kind of situation we are having sleepless nights. You only have a few hours to sleep with your phone beneath your ears and whoever calls you at midnight won’t do that to greet you but to tell you a p...

Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus will pursue their European Super League dream, after winning in court on Friday. The three clubs refused to pull out of plans for the breakaway league in April, after nine clubs withdrew following public outrage. In a statement on their respective websites, it read: “FC Barcelona, Juventus, and Real Madrid CF welcome today’s Court’s decision enforcing, with immediate effect, UEFA’s obligation to unwind the actions taken against all European Super League founding clubs, including terminating the disciplinary proceedings against the undersigning three clubs and removing the penalties and restrictions imposed on the remaining nine founding clubs for them to avoid UEFA’s disciplinary action.  “The Court backs the request made by the promoters of the European Super League, dismisses UEFA’s appeal, and confirms its warning to UEFA that failure to comply with its ruling shall result in fines and potential criminal liability,” it continued be...

Lamar Odom has been ordered to pay nearly $400,000 to his ex-girlfriend after he allegedly stopped paying her child support and other costs related to their two kids. Liza Morales sued the ex-Los Angeles Laker in May, claiming he hasn’t been honoring their 2015 settlement agreement over their now-adult children since June 2020. Morales alleged that Odom was behind on child support, college costs and tuition, as well as rent for the Lower Manhattan apartment where she lives with their kids, Destiny, 23, and Lamar Jr., 19, prompting an eviction case against her.     At a court hearing last month, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Matthew Cooper granted Morales’ request for a default judgment against Odom, since he hadn’t appeared in the case to defend himself against the claims. Cooper then signed his judgment, made public Thursday, July 29, ordering Odom to pay $380,549 in child support, rent arrears, college costs and her legal fees in...

A mother has been arrested by Oklahoma police after her 12-year-old daughter gave birth to a 24-year-old man’s baby. According to the Tulsa Police Department, the woman, Desiree Castaneda, and other family members knew about the victim’s relationship with 24-year-old Juan Miranda-Jara.   Police said they even threw the underage victim a baby shower.   Tulsa Police Department said in a statement posted on Facebook: "The family permitted the relationship, and there are photos of the family throwing a baby shower for the victim and the suspect." Desiree Castaneda faces charges of enabling child sex abuse and neglect. Jara, who impregnated the girl, was arrested on July 14 at the hospital where he accompanied the victim when she went into labor.     According to police, Jara admitted he was in a relationship with the victim and that he was the biological father of the baby. He was arrested for first-degree rape of a minor. Meanwhile,...

Popular South African actor and filmmaker, Shona Ferguson has died.  The 47-year-old  Rockville  actor and husband to producer and actress, Connie Ferguson, died at Milpark Hospital today, Friday, July 30, due to Covid-19 related complications.   A statement from his family reads   "It is with great sadness that we confirm the passing of Mr. Shona Ferguson. He passed away at noon today (Friday, 30 July 2021). Mr. Ferguson’s untimely passing was due to Covid-19 related complications, and not a heart operation as reported in the media. We ask that you give the family time to process this painful loss and respect their space during this time."   Ferguson acted in shows such as  Kings of Joburg, The Queen  and  Muvhango  among others. May his soul rest in peace, Amen🙏🙏🙏