WNBA star, Maya Moore marries man she helped free from wrongful conviction (photo)

 

WNBA star, Maya Moore has married Jonathan Irons, the Missouri man she helped work to free from prison after a 22-year-old wrongful conviction.

 

Irons was 16 when he was convicted for a 1997 home invasion and shooting and sentenced to 50 years in prison. He served more than two decades of prison sentence until he was released in July.

 

Appearing together on "Good Morning America," Moore, 31, revealed on Wednesday September 16, that she and Irons, 40, got married a couple of months ago. 

 

"We wanted to announce today that we are super excited to continue the work that we've been doing together, but doing it as a married couple," Moore said. 

 

The basketballer later took to Instagram to share a lovely photo from their wedding with the caption: "Grateful to announce this new chapter of life! What a miracle."

 

Irons, who is now a justice reform activist, said in the interview that he first proposed while he was still in prison, but didn't want to "trap her " from fulfilling her dreams. 

 

“I wanted to marry her but at the same time protect her because being in a relationship with a man in prison, it’s extremely difficult and painful,” he said. “And I didn’t want her to feel trapped and I wanted her to feel open and have the ability anytime if this is too much for you, go and find somebody. Live your life. Because this is hard.”

 

On the night, he asked Moore to be his wife, he said: “I got down on my knees and I looked up at her and she kind of knew what was going on,” Irons said. “I said, ‘Will you marry me.’ She said, ‘Yes.’ ”

 

 

According to CBS News, Moore met Irons when she was 18 before attending UConn and had to put her career on hold in 2019 to help Irons get out of prison. 

 

In March, a judge threw out his conviction, citing multiple issues with the case. An appeal against the decision by the Missouri attorney general's office was unsuccessful and the lead prosecutor in St. Charles County decided against a retrial.

 

Moore who is sitting out from playing basketball for the second straight season, has won two NCAA titles with Connecticut, four WNBA titles with the Minnesota Lynx, and two Olympic gold medals.

 

Neymar and four other players banned over PSG brawl as LFP investigates racism allegations

 

The LFP Disciplinary Committee in France has revealed punishment for the players involved in the mass brawl that overshadowed Paris Saint-Germain's clash with Marseille last weekend.

 

Neymar was one of five players sent off after a fight broke out between Argentine pair Dario Benedetto and Leandro Paredes and then extended to other players at the end of PSG's shock 1-0 defeat to Marseille last Sunday. 

 

On Wednesday, September, 16, the French football governing announced PSG full-back, Layvin Kurzawa, has been slapped with a six-game ban for his role after he kicked Jordan Amavi.

 

 

Amavi was slapped with a three-match ban with Marseille team-mate Dario Benedetto receiving a one-match ban.

 

Brazilian striker, Neymar, who was caught by VAR hitting Marseille defender Alvaro Gonzalez during the clash, received a two-match ban with a suspended sentence with Leandro Paredes handed the same punishment.

 

 

Neymar accused Gonzalez of racially abusing him during the clash. He claimed Alvaro called him a 'monkey son of a b****', but Gonzalez has since denied the claims. 

 

The LFP will investigate those allegations against the Spanish defender, and also look into claims filed by Marseille that PSG star Angel Di Maria spat at Gonzalez. 

 

Update: Judge rules in favor of Nicki Minaj in Tracy Chapman copyright dispute

 

A Judge has ruled in favor of Nicki Minaj in the copyright dispute between the rapper and four-time Grammy winner, Tracy Chapman. 

 

Back in 2018, Tracy Chapman sued Nicki Minaj for 'stealing her song' 'Baby Can I Hold You.' She alleged that the rapper used 'half of the lyrics and vocal melody' of the 1988 hit to make her track “Sorry.”

 

In her lawsuit, the American singer-songwriter sought damages and an order to prevent Nicki and her team from releasing “Sorry.” She also claimed that Nicki’s team made “multiple requests” to license “Baby Can I Hold You” and was denied. 

 

As at that time, Minaj denied committing copyright infringement, stating that her interpolation was protected by the doctrine of fair use.

 

 A judge has now handed Nicki victory in court on Wednesday Septenber 16, when she ruled that the rapper did not commit copyright infringement when she wrote and recorded her song, Variety reports.

 

Judge Virginia A. Phillips cited the doctrine of fair use in her ruling. “Artists usually experiment with works before seeking licenses from rights holders and rights holders typically ask to see a proposed work before approving a license,” Phillips wrote. “A ruling uprooting these common practices would limit creativity and stifle innovation within the music industry.”

International travelers who are positive are arriving Nigeria with fake COVID-19 negative results- PTF raises alarm

 

The Presidential Taskforce PTF on COVID-19 has raised an alarm that some International travelers who are COVID-19 positive, are coming into the country with fake COVID-19 PCR negative results.

 

Recall that the Federal government announced that one of the protocols to be obeyed as the international airspace reopens is for all inbound passengers to undergo a COVID0-19 test 72 hours before arriving Nigeria and that the result must be negative. 

 

However, the National Co-Ordinator of the PTF, Dr Sani Aliyu, today said fraudulent activities have been noticed in some of the test results presented on arrival. According to Sani, some travellers arrived in the country with negative COVID-19 test results but were later discovered to be COVID-19 positive. He stated this when he and other members of the taskforce appeared before the Joint Senate Committee on Health and Aviation on the testing procedures following the reopening of the International airspace.

 

When we started the evacuation flights, the arrangement then was that people coming into the country will need to have a negative COVID-19 PCR result, with the test validity put at the time in seven days.

There were indications from some specific countries where we had up to 40% of the passengers in the single flight coming in with a negative COVID-19 PCR result and subsequently being tested and found positive''he said

 

Sani said the test results presented by inbound travellers can no longer be trusted. He said 13 countries have been identified to have travelers with fake COVID-19 test results and the Federal government has written to the embassies to correct this anomaly. 

Oyo state government approves Sept 21 for resumption of Primary and Secondary schools, Sept 28 for Tertiary institutions

 

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has approved the resumption dates for Public and Private Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Institutions in the State.

 

A statement released by the state Commissioner For Education, Science & Technology, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, the resumption date for 2020/2021 academic Session for Public / Private Primary and Secondary Schools as announced by the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will commence on Monday, September 21, 2020.

 

The revised Guidelines for Primary and Secondary Schools now include the followings:

a. Schools will now operates morning and afternoon shifting for pupils and students of primary and secondary schools as stated below:

Primary 1 - 3 (8.00 am - 11.00 am)

Primary 4 - 6 (12 noon - 3.00 pm)

JSSS 1 - 3 (8.00 am - 11.00 am)

SSS 1 - 3 (12 noon - 3.00 pm)

b. It becomes mandatory for all Schools, Public and Private to constitute Covid-19 Task force to be headed by Heads of Schools with Two members of Staff

c. School Heads are advised to make temporary use of spaces like Laboratories, Libraries and examination hall as classroom where it is necessary in order to observe social distancing.

d. Pupils / Students should be attached to Chairs and Tables as well as discouraging sharing of items.

 

The statement adds that the state governor has also approved the re-opening of State-owned Tertiary institutions and Private Institutions for regular academic activities to commence from Monday 28th September 2020

 

According to the statement, Academic Boards and Senate of institutions are expected to fix their date and comply strictly with the guidelines on re-opening.

 

Schools were shut down nationwide in March as part of measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

BBNaija: Prince rejects Gofundme account set up for him by his fans after his eviction

 

Recently evicted BBNaija housemate, Prince Enwerem, has rejected a GoFundMe account set up for him by his fans after his eviction.

 

Just as Erica's fans did, Prince's fans came together to set up a GoFundMe account to contribute towards the actualization of his dream of owning a salon. Fans of Erica who was disqualified from the reality TV show, have so far donated over $35, 160 into the GoFundMe they set up for her.

 

However, Prince says this is not the time for Nigerians to part away with their hard-earned money as the Coronavirus pandemic has had an adverse effect on the finances of many. His post reads

My dear Royal Army, I’m still overwhelmed and trying to soak in all the love you have been showing me. I’m sincerely speechless because I never expected the love I’m receiving.

This GoFundMe account was brought to my attention last night and I almost teared up by the mere thought and intentions behind it.

We are experiencing difficult times now and people still want to do this for me?
Nah, I think it’s time you all rest while I think of what to do to pay you all back for the surreal love.

I sincerely appreciate this gesture, but I want my Royal Army to save their funds on this one.

My dream of starting a salon will surely come to pass ASAP, as I already have some Investors and hopefully some brands interested in this dream.

I want to make you all proud and all I need right now is the continuous love, spiritual and moral support you all have been excessively showing me.

Thank you to my beautiful and wonderful Royal Army @flyest_mz and @_Super_jewel for trying to put the GoFund together. Love you guys so much.

My media rounds is still ongoing but I can’t wait to interact with everyone of you on a personal level soon on my IG live.

Love you all my darlings

I will miss him everyday, he was everything I try to be" - Bill Gates reveals his father, William Gates Sr, has died aged 94

  

Billionaire Microsoft CEO and founder, Bill Gates has revealed that his father, William Gates Sr, has died at the age of 94.

 

The elder Gates died peacefully at home, surrounded by his family, his son said as he expressed how lucky he and his sisters Kristianna and Libby are to have been raised by their father.

 

According to Bill Gates, his dad made him give a $100 million contribution to research for Alzheimer's disease, after he revealed his father suffered from it in 2018.

 

 

He also revealed his dad's support inspired him to leave Harvard University to co-found a company with Paul Allen in 1975.

 

Late Tuesday night, Bill penned an emotional tribute to his late father on his personal blog, saying: "I will miss my dad every day."

 

 

"We will miss him more than we can express right now. We are feeling grief but also gratitude."

"My dad’s passing was not unexpected he was 94 years old and his health had been declining, so we have all had a long time to reflect on just how lucky we are to have had this amazing man in our lives for so many years.

"My dad’s wisdom, generosity, empathy, and humility had a huge influence on people around the world."

"I knew their love and support were unconditional, even when we clashed in my teenage years. I am sure that’s one of the reasons why I felt comfortable taking some big risks when I was young, like leaving college to start Microsoft with Paul Allen," he said.

"We worked together at the foundation not so much as father and son but as friends and colleagues," he said.

"When we started doing so in a big way at the foundation, we had no idea how much fun we would have. We only grew closer during more than two decades of working together."

"When I am at my best, I know it is because of what I learned from my dad about respecting women, honoring individuality, and guiding children’s choices with love and respect," Gates said.

"The experience of being the son of Bill Gates was incredible. People used to ask my dad if he was the real Bill Gates. The truth is, he was everything I try to be." the Microsoft CEO wrote on Gates Notes.