United still in title race –Moyes

Rooney

Manchester United manager David Moyes is confident his side can challenge for the Premier League after a superb fightback at Hull City.

The reigning champions found themselves 2-0 down within 15 minutes at the KC Stadium on Thursday, James Chester volleying home against his former club before David Meyler’s strike found the net via a deflection from Jonny Evans.

United refused to wilt, however, and soon restored parity thanks to Chris Smalling’s header and a superb volley from Wayne Rooney – his 150th goal in the Premier League for United.

In the second half, Bruce hit the crossbar when he met Tom Huddlestone’s corner as Hull searched for a winner.

Okagbare breaks the jinx, Bolt unstoppable

 

Okagbare (second right) during heat at the 2013 World Athletics Championships in Moscow

Blessing Okagbare emerged as the only outstanding Nigerian in 2013 in the world athletics after retaining the national women’s 100m crown for the fifth time at the Cross River State All Nigeria Athletics Championships. No other athlete, male or female, has achieved a similar feat.

The Edo State-born athlete also ended Nigeria’s 14-year medal drought at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow by winning a silver and a bronze, which she won in the women’s long jump and the 200m event respectively. The 24-year-old’s feat placed Nigeria in the 24th position in the medals table at the championships.

Foreign private jet operators scramble for Nigerian market

Private jet operators are set to rake in billions of dollars from Nigerian politicians as the nation prepares for 2015 elections,  

Private jet and chartered aircraft companies from Europe and North America, especially the United States and Canada, are bracing for a boom in the Nigeria’s private jet market as the nation gets ready for general elections in 2015, findings have shown.

Top aviation officials disclosed that a significant number of the companies from Europe, the US and Canada were already submitting applications through local representatives to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Aviation to bring in aircraft into the country for charter operations.

It was also learnt that some foreign private jets had started coming into country in preparation for the boom, expected to begin as early as the first quarter of 2014. The source said, “I think 2014 is going to be a very booming year for private jet operators in the country. The local operators are warming up for this seriously. But the interesting and surprising thing about this is that a number of foreign companies, especially from Europe, the US and Canada, have submitted documents, seeking permission to bring in private jets into the country for charter operations.

Mba quits CHAN Eagles for France

The 2013 Africa Nations Cup star Sunday Mba is now a major doubt for next month’s Championship for African Nations as he is set to join French club Bastia, coach Stephen Keshi has said.

Keshi said in Abuja on Thursday that Mba, was on his way to France to join Bastia, the French side which first indicated interest in him after Nigeria’s Nations Cup triumph last February in South Africa. Detail on the player’s move indicates that he may leave the Eagles camp as early as Friday (today) for the European country.

The Eagles manager said the early departure plan has forced the coaching crew not to include the player in the team for the friendly match in Port Harcourt on Saturday against a Rivers selected side.

“We have resigned ourselves to fate and working hard to discover those who can fill Mba’s shoes, as he seems to have nicked a deal with Bastia and may not be part of CHAN tourney. We just have to brace and wish him the best because it’s a career thing,” Eagles assistant coach Dan Amokachi said.

Mba becomes the second player to quit the team in the last 10 days. Golden Eaglets call-up Kelechi Iheanacho also left the camp in search of a foreign club.

They ruled music scene in 2013 (1)

 

Some artistes clearly outshone their colleagues and drew the attention of most music fans in 2013, writes Jayne Augoye

 In 2013, quite a number of artistes made their mark on the music scene. But, a few stood out on account of their ingenuity and enjoyed higher rating than the others.

They include  Wizkid, Ice Prince, Kcee, Flavour, Inyanya, Olamide, Burna Boy and Phyno, among others.

 Burna Boy

 He made newspaper headlines after reports emerged that he sold the marketing rights to his debut album, ‘Leaving an impact for eternity’ for N10m to popular Alaba music and movie marketer, Uba Pacific.

The album is also said to have made a record sale of 40,000 units on the day of its release.

The singer, who has the backing of his grandfather, Benson Idonije, who was the manager of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti was made a Globacom ambassador this year.

Armed with his unique style of music, which is a deviation from the norm, he has proved that sometimes, it pays to resist the band-wagon effect.

With “Like to party” track and video fashioned after Shaba Ranks’ style of music, the singer hit the music scene with a bang.

During 2013 Felabration, the young act performed to a large crowd in his underpants.

The performance will linger in the memories of music fans for many years to come.

Obama signs two-year cross-party budget bill

President Obama

US President Barack Obama has signed a two-year bipartisan federal budget bill, averting the risk of a government shutdown in January.
The hard-fought legislation was passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives earlier this month.
The bill had been drafted by a cross-party budget committee set up after October’s 16-day government shutdown.
Mr Obama also signed a bill cracking down on a sexual assault in the military and six other bills.
He did so while holidaying in Hawaii at the end of the year that has seen a political gridlock over his signature healthcare law, the federal debt limit and issues ranging from immigration to gun control.
Congress will now have until 15 January to pass a $1.012tn (£617bn) fiscal spending bill for 2014.

Carnivorous fish attack bathers in Argentina

 

A school of carnivorous fish related to the piranha has attacked bathers in an Argentine river, injuring about 70.
Thousands of bathers were cooling off in the Parana River in Rosario, 300km (186 miles) north of Buenos Aires, on Christmas Day when the attack happened.
Officials blamed the attack on the palometa fish, describing the event as “exceptional”.
Paramedics said dozens of people had their extremities attacked and some had lost digits.
Director of lifeguards in Rosario, Federico Cornier, said bathers suddenly began to complain of bite marks on hands and feet as they cooled off in a heat wave.

S’Sudan crisis: East Africa leaders hold emergency talks

 

The leaders of Ethiopia, South Sudan and Kenya met in Juba on Thursday

East Africa’s leaders are to meet in Kenya to discuss growing violence in South Sudan, where more than 1,000 people are believed to have died.
The talks come a day after South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir met the prime ministers of Kenya and Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, the UN said the first peacekeeping reinforcements were expected to arrive in 48 hours.
Violence erupted 12 days ago between forces loyal to Mr Kiir and those backing his ex-deputy Riek Machar.
More than 50,000 civilians have sought refuge at UN compounds in South Sudan.
East African regional leaders from the eight-member bloc, known as Igad, will meet in Kenya’s capital Nairobi to follow up on issues raised during Thursday’s talks with President Kiir in South Sudan’s capital Juba.

Police avert clash between Shi’ites, Gyellesu community in Zaria

 

The Police in Zaria, Kaduna State on Thursday averted a clash between some members of the Shi’ite sect and the Gyellesu community in the ancient city.
The incident which however left three people with injuries was as a result of a misunderstanding on road projects in the area.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Kaduna State Government had embarked on the reconstruction of Waziri and Madaki roads in Gyellesu, in the Zaria Local Government Area.
An eyewitness and resident of Gyellesu, who pleaded anonymity, described the event as a mere misunderstanding.

34 children died in Muzaffarnagar relief camps in India

 

A relief camp in Muzaffarnagar Over 4,000 people are still living in the relief camps

At least 34 children have died in relief camps set up for thousands of people who fled their homes during Hindu-Muslim clashes in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in September, an official report says.
The report also said 4,783 people were still living in five relief camps in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts.
More than 60 people died in the clashes in September.
The riots were described as the worst in India in a decade.
Thousands of people fled their homes in the violence which was sparked by the killing of three men who had objected to the harassment of a young woman.
A report by a government appointed panel said at least 34 children, aged below 12, had died in the relief camps.

Japan Okinawa leader approves US airbase relocation

Japan has approved the relocation of a US military airbase on its southern island of Okinawa, officials said.
The governor, Hirokazu Nakaima, agreed to landfill work to develop a new base in a less densely populated part of the island, officials said.
The agreement is a breakthrough following years of deadlock over where a new US base should be placed.
The US has around 26,000 troops on Okinawa under a long-standing security alliance with Japan.
However, the bases are unpopular locally and there is growing pressure from residents for the US military footprint to be reduced.
The US Futenma airbase will now be relocated to a new site near Nago, a less densely populated area in the North of the island.
The move comes after years of negotiations. In 1996, Japan and the US agreed to close the Futenma airbase.

Sunderland halt Everton run

Football | Barclays Premier League

Everton's 10-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League came to an unexpected end on Thursday when they fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to bottom club Sunderland.
The game's decisive moment arrived half-way through the first period, when Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard was sent off for felling Ki Sung-yueng.
The South Korea midfielder converted the subsequent penalty and with Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone resisting Everton's frantic push for an equaliser, Gus Poyet's men held on for their first away win of the season.

Lomas sacked as Millwall manager

Football | English Championship

  

Steve Lomas was sacked as Millwall manager on Thursday just hours after his struggling Championship side were thrashed 4-0 by Watford.
Former Manchester City and West Ham midfielder Lomas was dismissed just six months into his reign at The Den following a miserable run of results in the second tier.
The Lions are languishing just three points above the relegation zone after their third successive defeat and Lomas, who was never accepted by many Millwall fans due to his time as captain of their bitter rivals West Ham, was told he was sacked in a meeting with chief executive Andy Ambler soon after fulltime at Watford.
"We are very disappointed that it hasn't worked out for Steve," Ambler told Millwall's website.
"He has been thoroughly professional in his approach to the job during his short period with the club and remains a very promising young manager.

United comeback never in doubt - Moyes

Football | Barclays Premier League

Troubled though his early months at Manchester United have been, manager David Moyes can rest easy that his side have lost none of the fighting spirit they used to display regularly under Alex Ferguson.
When the champions fell 2-0 down after 13 minutes at Hull City on Thursday, United's seemed set to choke on their Christmas turkey but they hit back to win 3-2 and edge closer to the pack at the top of the Premier League.
Former United prospect James Chester had scored after four minutes and United's defence was at sixes and sevens when David Meyler made it 2-0.
United were level before halftime, however, with talisman Wayne Rooney leading by example, curling in a free kick which Chris Smalling headed home and equalising with a stunning shot from distance - his 150th Premier League goal.
United rode their luck at times after the break, but Chester's own goal meant they moved up to seventh and are beginning to look like a force again.

Walcott brace gets Arsenal back on track

Football | Barclays Premier League

Theo Walcott scored twice as Arsenal got their Premier League challenge back on track by coming from behind to win 3-1 at West Ham United on Thursday.
Carlton Cole gave West Ham a surprise lead early in the second half before Walcott scored a fortuitous equaliser and then headed Arsenal in front.
Substitute Lukas Podolski, who created Walcott's second goal, then scored the third on his comeback from injury, as Arsenal ended a run of five games without victory in all competitions.
Walcott's first benefited from an uncertain dive by West Ham goalkeeper Adrian, but the England winger has now scored in his last four league appearances against West Ham.
It was Arsenal's seventh consecutive victory over their London rivals and sent Sam Allardyce's side into the bottom three.
Arsenal made one change to the team that had drawn 0-0 with Chelsea on Monday, with Santi Cazorla replacing Tomas Rosicky in midfield.
West Ham made four changes to the team beaten 3-1 by Manchester United, including the return from a three-match suspension of captain Kevin Nolan.
Carlton Cole, a scoring substitute at Old Trafford, started this time, as did Joe Cole and Joey O'Brien.
James Tomkins, meanwhile, was available for the Hammers despite being charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and being drunk and disorderly at an Essex nightclub on Sunday.
West Ham tried to feed Matt Jarvis on the left when possible in the early stages, but one cross that Wojciech Szczesny punched away was their only threatening moment in the first 10 minutes.

Liverpool toppled at City's citadel

Football | Barclays Premier League

Alvaro Negredo's ninth goal in nine home games saw Manchester City continue their peerless home form as they beat Liverpool 2-1 in a gripping Premier League encounter on Thursday.
Vincent Kompany and Negredo were City's goalscorers as they responded to Philippe Coutinho's opener to maintain the division's only perfect home record and move their team, ominously, into second place in the table.
Liverpool, meanwhile, fell from first place to fourth, but they trail new leaders Arsenal by only three points.
Having weathered a characteristically strong start to the game from the hosts, Liverpool stunned Manuel Pellegrini's men by taking the lead after 24 minutes.
Moments earlier, Luis Suarez had played Raheem Sterling clean through on goal, only for the winger to be judged offside – incorrectly, as replays would show.
But eventually the opening goal arrived, thanks to a clever touch from Suarez, who steered Jordan Henderson's pass forward for Sterling.
The young winger rounded goalkeeper Joe Hart before Coutinho took over and calmly planted the ball into the open goal.

Arsenal profit as City dethrone Reds

Football | Barclays Premier League

Liverpool slipped from first to fourth in the Premier League after losing 2-1 at Manchester City on Thursday, leaving Arsenal in first place following a frantic Boxing Day programme.
Brendan Rodgers's Liverpool started the day in first place and they made an impressive start at the Etihad Stadium, with Philippe Coutinho giving the visitors a 24th-minute lead after a neat team move.
However, City captain Vincent Kompany headed home an equaliser seven minutes later and Alvaro Negredo put the hosts in front on the stroke of halftime with a tame shot that Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet could only palm into the net.
"The most important thing today was that we were losing 1-0 but we had the character and the trust to go for the win and we continued trying to attack," said City manager Manuel Pellegrini.
"I think it was very important to try to finish the year near the top of the table."
City, who have now won all nine of their home games this season, climb to second place, a point behind Arsenal, while Liverpool, for whom Raheem Sterling spurned a fine second-half chance, are three points off the pace.

No More Beef: Kelly Handsome And M.I. Perform Together In Port Harcourt

 

After years of un-reconciled differences; Kelechukwu aka Kelly Handsome and M.I Abaga need to clap for themselves, they have done well, LOL.
The two entertainers have put aside their long running feud in the interest of peace and collaboration.
They were spotted on stage in Port Harcourt recently thrilling the fans with a joint performance.

D’banj And Onyeka Onwenu Billed To Record Official Soundtrack For Chimamanda Adichie’s ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’

 

The Eja Nla of Nigerian music — Kokomaster D’banj and infamous music veteran — Onyeka Onwenu, have been picked as the singers to record the official soundtrack of Chimamanda Adichie’s novel turned movie — ‘Half a Yellow Sun’.
The movie which is set to premiere in various countries all over the world has a large range of movie casts, from both Hollywood and Nollywood.

Fans Attack Halima Abubakar After Posting Sexy *Fat* Photo

 

Remember the photo i shared with you all of Northern actress Halima Abubakar yesterday?
Well, some very attentive fans noticed all the folds of skin exposed in the photo.

Ex-Villa Chaplain asks politicians to emulate Christ, Mandela

General Overseer, All Christians Fellowship Mission, Rev. Williams Okoye

A former Chaplain of the Presidential Villa at Aso Rock and General Overseer of All Christians Fellowship Mission, Maitama, Abuja, Rev. Williams Okoye, has admonished the political class in Nigeria to model their lives after values left behind by Jesus Christ; and South African ex-President, Nelson Mandela, in order to achieve the change being canvassed by Nigerians.

Okoye also berated the political class, describing them as “lacking in values and under-developing the nation in different facets of life.”

The Cleric, in his Christmas Day sermon on Wednesday, in Abuja, entitled: “Values modelled by Christ” said moral values, when inculcated in the citizenry, would bring about a corrupt-free and a just society for all.

He said, “Most of these politicians do not get it when you talk of values, they think you are talking of infrastructural development, which greed will hardly allow them to do; moral values or transformation is the one only thing true Christians can give.

Mikel deserved a red card, Arteta insists

Mikel Obi

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta admits that John Obi Mikel could have been shown a red card for a challenge on him in the 0-0 draw with Chelsea.

The pair went head-to-head for the ball with studs showing during the first half of the Monday Night Football clash at the Emirates, but referee Mike Dean allowed play to continue and neither player was cautioned. Replays suggested that Arteta came off worse in the tackle due to the timing of Mikel’s lunge, and he believes that the Chelsea midfielder got away lightly with the challenge.

“On that moment I think that he caught me high – I’ve got a big swollen ankle,” Arteta told Sky Sports.

“I think that he got late on the ball. You ask me if it is intentional or not – I believe that is why the referee didn’t give him a red card.”

US, UK silent on Obasanjo’s letter to Jonathan

United States and the United Kingdom have maintained sealed lips on the letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan.

In the letter which has been a major subject in the political scene, Obasanjo accused Jonathan of training a killer squad.

He also accused him of promoting ethnic agenda, embarking on political vendetta by putting 1,000 politicians on his watch list and not showing enough commitment to the fight against corruption.

Although Jonathan had refuted the allegations, the two world powers said they had nothing to say about the issue.

Inquiry made to the UK High Commission in Nigeria showed that the country was not willing to comment on the letter which had generated a heated debate.

“Thanks for your text and e-mail.  This is a matter for Nigerians and not something we would wish to comment on,” says the spokesperson of the UK High Commission, Mr. Rob Fitzpatrick.

The US view was not any different.

Nigerian students study in one-block, portakabin Ghanaian varsities (2)

One-block Mahatma Ghandi University, Ghana

In this second part of a tripartite series, TEMITAYO FAMUTIMI reveals how Nigerian students are lured into one-block and affiliate Ghanaian universities where they pay in American dollars

Founded some six years ago, Evangelical Presbyterian University College prides itself as the premier university of the Volta Region of the Republic of Ghana. Sited in Ho, the capital city of the region, the privately-funded cum faith-based university occupies a land area less than three plots.

With three buildings – a two-storey and two one-storey structures – the institution which boasts  a professor, an associate professor and two doctorate degree holders on its academic staff list,  awards first degrees in affiliation to the University of Cape Coast, Ghana and Eden Theology Seminary, United States.

Checks at the admissions office of EPCU, which is duly accredited by the National Accreditation Board of the Ghana Ministry of Education, shows that over 1, 500 students, including Nigerians, are pursuing first degree programmes in Accounting and Finance; Marketing; Credit Management and Finance; Human Resource Management and Organisational Development; Agribusiness, Theology and two other disciplines.

No plans for staggered elections in 2015 – INEC

INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Lagos State, Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola, on Wednesday, said the commission would not stagger the 2015 general elections to avoid the problems encountered in Anambra State.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, Ogunmola said that the problems associated with the last Anambra State governorship election were a blessing in disguise.

The INEC boss was reacting to calls by some sections of the society to stagger the 2015 elections.

“We are not staggering elections in 2015; having problems in Anambra does not mean that we will not be able to handle elections in  36 states of the federation plus the FCT.

National carrier suffers setback as Aero repaints aircraft

Indications emerged on Wednesday that the plan to unveil a new national carrier before the end of this year might have suffered another setback as Aero Contractors, touted to transform into the nation’s flag bearer, had repainted one of its aircraft.

There were reports last month that Aero, the country’s oldest airline, might have transmuted into the national carrier and changed its name to Nigerian Eagle.

One of Aero’s aircraft, a Boeing 737-500 classic, which was painted with new livery and bore the new name, landed at the Lagos airport in the last week of November and was secretly parked in a private hangar, with reports suggesting that President Goodluck Jonathan would unveil the national carrier before the end of the year.

Murray plays down new Lendl, Becker rivalry

Andy Murray believes the intense rivalry between his coach Ivan Lendl and Boris Becker, the newly-appointed coach of Novak Djokovic, which was a feature of the 1980s, won’t be rekindled in 2014.

Lendl took Murray to a breakthrough major at the 2012 US Open as well as this year’s historic Wimbledon triumph while Djokovic has turned to Becker to help add to his six Grand Slam titles.

In their playing careers, Becker defeated Lendl in the 1986 Wimbledon final, the 1989 US Open championship match as well as the 1991 Australian Open final.

The German claimed six career majors. Lendl won eight and it was the Czech who enjoyed a 12-10 advantage in their head-to-head record.

“I personally don’t think there will be renewal of a rivalry,” Murray told the Gulf News.

“I mean, no matter if you are coaching the players, you can’t influence much. Once you step on court, the coaches can do very little to the outcome of a match.

“It is the preparation where the coaches can make a really good difference. We will have to see how it goes from here.

You’re members of my family, Jonathan tells Nigerians

 

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday said he regarded all Nigerians as members of his family, irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliations.

In a Christmas message to his numerous fans on Facebook, the President claimed he had put everything in place for every citizen to celebrate Yuletide with “minimum comfort.”

Jonathan said he had been doing everything possible to ensure that “every Nigerian has enough to eat at all times.”

The President’s message read in part, “Christmas is a time of joyous family gatherings and as President, I see every Nigerian as a member of my family and I urge us all to retain the unique sense of brotherly love that this season evokes beyond the Yuletide.

“While we will surely mark this holiday in our different ways and according to our established traditions, it is my desire that we all celebrate Christmas with some minimum comforts and my team and I have long prepared for this by working to improve our infrastructure, especially those that most serve us during this season.

“These steps have been undertaken because of my belief that every good and great thing is possible in our country if we desire to achieve it.”

But some people have waved aside the President’s claim that his team had ensured that basic services needed by the citizenry to enjoy the Yuletide was already in place.

Several complaints on the President’s Facebook wall claimed that many Nigerians were celebrating Christmas in darkness.