United fail to strike Perisic agreement

Manchester United appeared to be edging nearer to striking a deal with Inter Milan over the transfer of Ivan Perisic.

However, the Croatian international has been named in Inter’s squad for their pre-season tour of China, with the Telegraph claiming that the two clubs couldn’t quite reach an agreement on a fee.

United’s interest in the experienced wide man has been well reported in the last few weeks, and discussions looked to have been more advanced than they had been since the club expressed a desire to land Perisic. However, Inter are standing firm and are insisting that United deal only on their terms, with Luciano Spalletti keen to keep hold of the former Wolfsburg man.

Inter are claimed to be demanding a huge fee of £49m up front for the 28-year-old, but United are unwilling to pay the full extent of their valuation.
Instead, the Red Devils are willing to cough up an initial fee of £39.5m, with add-ons that could take a deal up to £44m. - Read Sport

Sanchez tops PSG target list

 Alexis Sanchez is Paris Saint-Germain's No 1 summer target despite Arsene Wenger's insistence he is not for sale, according to Sky sources.

It is understood PSG want a marquee signing before the transfer window shuts, and Arsenal's Chile forward Sanchez tops their list.
Sanchez is inside the final year of his contract and told Chilean media at the weekend he wants Champions League football - something Arsenal cannot provide next season.

But the forward also acknowledged his future depends on the Gunners, and Wenger, speaking from the club's tour of China on Tuesday, said: "The decision is not to sell."
Asked about Sanchez's desire to play in the Champions League he said: "I don't give too much importance to things that are translated, you know. The whole interview that I got didn't really mean that.
"The main focus for us is to concentrate on the Premier League and the Premier League for me today is more important than the Champions League.

"We played 20 years in the Champions League, that's 17 years before Sanchez arrived and three years with him, so he can get us back in there."
PSG have a transfer budget of more than £200m this summer and also retain an interest in Neymar, who is believed to have a £195m release clause at Barcelona.

Photo : Two women rape father of four

A 48-year-old teacher simply identified as Chivamba has narrated how two women forcefully abducted and raped him till his manhood got bruised.

The father of four, who hails from Mashonland East of Zimbabwe but resides in Chitungwiza area of the country where the incident happened, said it has left him “confused, traumatised and dejected.”

According to The Standard, the 48-year-old school teacher said, “No man would ever want such an experience and as for me, I would give anything to avoid a repeat, even in a dream.

The report said Chivamba sustained injuries on his manhood, suffered chest pains and was put on 30-day medication to prevent him from contracting the HIV virus.
Chivamba said, “My family stays here in Chitungwiza and I was on my way back to Macheke after a weekend visit when this tragedy happened. I usually prefer to use buses when travelling but as fate would have it, that day I flagged down a private car, a BMW and it stopped. The driver told me that he was going to Mutare via Marondera and that was perfect for me.

“There were three women already in the car, one sitting on the front passenger seat and the other two on the back seat. I got in and sat with the two women at the back and we took off.
“They were all drinking beer which was in a cooler box and when we got to Ziko shopping centre they stopped to refill. One of the ladies offered me a beer and I politely turned her down since I was not feeling well. I settled for a cascade which she handed over to me.”
He disclosed that as they approached the Dema toll gate, the driver took the dust road which many other drivers used to avoid.

Chivamba said, “I thought maybe it was the effects of the tablets that I had taken that day since I was having a running stomach. I fell asleep and the next moment I found myself in a small room with a small bed. I screamed but no one came to my rescue. My manhood felt itchy and when I looked down I realised I was bruised.

“I felt weak and I was confused. Then the two women who I was sharing the back seat within the car entered the room. They appeared to be much younger than the one who was seated at the front. They began removing their clothes and told me that they wanted me to have sex with them. I refused but one of them who appeared very drunk produced a pistol and told me that she would not hesitate to kill me.

“They tied both my hands, and began caressing me like what happens in a porn movie. They would take turns to suck my manhood and forcibly having sex with me. I was made to take another drink and soon after I had an erection. They would not stop raping me despite my pleas for mercy. One of the women used a condom but the other one wanted unprotected sex.
“The next day the women, while masked with a woollen hat, brought food for him into the room where he was locked. Later that day, they bundled him into their car and they drove for some time before he was dumped along Wedza-Murambinda road.

“That was my first time to be in Wedza. I was assisted by some young men who directed me to Wedza centre where I reported the matter to the police. The police then took me to hospital where I was given treatment for the bruises on my manhood and also medication to prevent infection. I am grateful to the police and the staff at the hospital.” - Daily Post

Knocking out stupidity !!! Spending N5b on generators annually is unacceptable -Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has decried the power situation in the country despite the humongous investments made into the sector by the government over the years.

According to him, it was the pathetic power situation that has forced Nigerians into committing N5b annually on procurement of generator set.

While he described the situation as unacceptable, the Speaker pledged the resolve of the House to work with the Executive towards finding a permanent solution to the power generation and distribution challenges in the country.
Towards this end, he disclosed that the House is reviewing some of Nigeria’s energy laws in order to provide an appropriate legal framework that will facilitate the exploitation of renewable energy to the benefit the Nigerian economy.
The Speaker, who spoke Tuesday during a public hearing on three power sector reform Bills said, “Power is arguably the single most important driver of the national economy. Our industries and factories need electricity to run; and so do our offices, homes and businesses.

“It is estimated that Nigerians spend about $5 billion US Dollars yearly to fuel their generators. This is an unacceptable situation and the House of Representatives stands ready to support the Executive arm of government to put a stop to this state of affairs.
“We can only be self-sufficient in the energy field when we combine all of our energy resources such as wind, solar, hydro, biomass, bio-fuel, landfill, sewage gas, solid waste, geothermal energy, ocean energy etc.
“Renewable energy sources are natural and often replenishes itself. Nigeria needs to invest more in renewable energy as fossil fuel is a diminishing asset.

“An appropriate legal framework to exploit renewable energy which is nature’s gift to mankind is not adequate in Nigeria. This makes it difficult to organise the sector in a commercially viable matter. Herein lies the merit and strength of this Bill under consideration”.
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola aligned with the proposed establishment of Renewable Energy Fund in Nigeria, saying there is a need for holistic review of the legislative frameworks governing the power industry.

Represented by Louis Edozien, Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry Power, the Minister however submitted that the fund be used as equity participation in renewable energy projects, and should exclude the Commission as a player, which regulates the sector.
He also proposed that the fund should be managed by the NERC not Board, in addition to allowing the Commission to determine the remuneration of its staff as a technical and institutional monitor of the power value chain.

“There is no doubt that establishment of a dedicated fund to renewable energy us a sound and pragmatic policy. It is however important, in our view, to critically review the provisions relating to the operation of the Fund as provided in the bill,” Fashola said.
On the amendment of the 12 year old Power Sector Act, Fashola said the Act was able to trigger transformation of the Nigerian power sector from a State monopoly to competitive electricity market.

“What is needed to ensure that the Act continues to provide an enabling legal framework for the power sector is holistic review.
“This is a review that will take into consideration the effectiveness, or otherwise of extant provisions in the light of our experience in the last one decade.
“Any amendment of the Act at this stage ought to take into consideration lessons learnt and challengers encountered in the course of implementing the provisions of the Act.

“The amendment is also expected to address some fundamental issues that are militating against the power value-chain.
“It is also important that the provisions that will be introduced will assist to strenghtem the framework for power sector reform.
“For all the foregoing reasons and in order to ensure that maximum traction is gained from an amendment of the EPSRA, it is our humble position that we use the opportunity of this present bill to consider an exhaustive review of the bill”.

According to him, the privatization of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was triggered by the enactment of Electricity Power Sector Reform Act which was completed in 2013.
He said: “Power generation and distribution are no longer ‘public utilities’ in the strictest sense. On the contrary, power generation and power distribution are now largely in the hands of private sector investors.

The object of the bill may not therefore be defeated if its focus is ‘public utility’.
“In order words, the Commission is already empowered by the National Assembly to regulate and develop necessary framework for renewable energy in Nigeria.
“It is my understanding that it is in furtherance of this power that the commission issued its regulations on feed-in tariff for renewable energy sourced electricity in Nigeria.

“It is important to point out that the objective of this regulation is to develop, promote and harness the renewable energy resources of the country and incorporate all viable ones into the national energy mix.
“As the House may be aware, the current national renewable energy and energy efficiency policy targets for 30 percent of all generation to come from renewable energy by 2030.”

In its presentation, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) noted that the Commission is duty bound to publish its audited account, in two national dailies without the mandate of the Minister.
While the Commission opposed the establishment of another agency, it proposed upward review of penalty from N20,000 to N500,000 for failing to publish the audited accounts.

The Commission also stated that cooperation of State governments was required in its investigation of the recurring accident in the power sector as a preventive measure. - The Nation

Delta: Many injured as Police, Air Force personnel engage in shootout

The peaceful atmosphere in Jeddo, Okpe council area of Delta, on the outskirts of Warri metropolis, was shattered Monday evening as operatives of two sisters security agencies; police and the Nigerian Air Force, engaged each other in a fierce shootout.

Although there was no death record from the engagement, the Nation gathered that several persons, including personnel of both agencies and some residents of the area, sustained various degrees of injuries even as properties including vehicles and makeshift homes were destroyed.
The Nation gathered that trouble started when personnel of the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) of the police got engaged in a hot argument with a lady, which resulted in a physical assault as the police personnel reportedly slapped the lady, who happens to be an air force personnel’s daughter.
The lady went back home to relate her experience to her father, who reportedly mobilised his men to storm the spot where his daughter had been assaulted. The police official also called his colleagues in when he sensed that the situation was about to go out of hands.

Security sources disclosed that the Airforce, on arriving the scene, opened fire which was replied by the Police special squad with people scampering for safety.
Alhough no life was lost in the incident, several people, including the personnel of the two agencies, sustained injuries while several vehicles were vandalised and make shift properties of traders destroyed. The incident has scared most residents out of their homes, fearing there might be further faceoff between personnel of both bodies.

Although efforts to get an official reaction from the police was not immediately successful as the police spokesman at the Delta state police command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said he was driving when reached, a senior police source confirmed the incident, but was unable to talk much.

It was also gathered that the Area Commander of the Police in charge of Warri, Mohammed Shaba, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) met with the new Commanding Officer of NAF for several hours to find a lasting solution to the clash.
“I am in a meeting over the clash. I can’t talk on it. It is the Commander of the Nigerian Airforce that call talk on it”, he said on phone.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Zanna Ibrahim, said he was not aware of the incident but promised to investigate. - The Nation

‘37 killed’ as farmers, herdsmen clash in Kaduna

At least 37 people have reportedly been killed in a fresh outbreak of violence involving suspected herdsmen and farmers in Kaduna state.

A witness told TheCable that the incident happened in Kajuru local government area of the state.
Trouble was said to have started after some youth allegedly stormed a village in Ungwan Uka to avenge the death of a suspected herdsman.

The man, accused of harassing people in the area, was said to have been attacked and killed at a farm in Banono village on Sunday.
A resident said before the suspect was killed, members of the community he attacked told his people that they had caught and were ready to discipline him.

However, some young persons from the community of the suspect reportedly got angry and vowed to avenge his death.
They were said to have gone after five youth suspected to be involved in the death of the herdsman.
This irked youth of Kadara community who launched a reprisal on Monday, leading to the deaths of 12 persons.

Salisu Mohammed, a witness, said after the attack, security agents were drafted to the affected communities and there was calm.ed, adding that things got out when the security personnel left as Kadara youths
Mohammed said things got out of control when the security personnel left. Youth from Kadara allegedly killed 10 people during another attack on their neighbours.

He said the victims were buried in a mass grave, and that during the burial, the news spread that nine more bodies had been recovered from the bush.
Yakubu Sabo, acting spokesman of the Kaduna state police command‎, confirmed that there were attacks in the area, but could not give details of the casualties.
Insecurity is one of the greatest challenges in Kaduna.- Cable Nigeria 

Conte signs new Chelsea deal

Antonio Conte has signed a new two-year contract with Chelsea.

The deal mirrors Conte's original contract in length, keeping him at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2019, but it does contain improved terms for the Italian, Sky sources understand.
Conte said: "I am very happy to have signed a new contract with Chelsea. We worked extremely hard in our first year to achieve something amazing, which I am very proud of. Now we must work even harder to stay at the top.

"The Chelsea fans have given me so much support since I arrived here one year ago and it is important we continue to succeed together."

Lucas completes Lazio move

Lucas has thanked Liverpool's "special" supporters after completing his permanent transfer to Lazio.

The Brazilian has finalised a £5m move to Serie A, ending an Anfield association stretching back more than 10 years.
Signed by Rafa Benitez in 2007, Lucas made 346 appearances for Liverpool, won the League Cup in 2012 and was the club's longest-serving player.
He told the Reds' website: "Liverpool as a club and Liverpool as a city is a unique place. I think it's different from everywhere.

"The fans are a big part of the club, probably the most important part of the club, and without them Liverpool wouldn't be the same club I would say.
"Thank you for all the support, especially in difficult times, that's when it means a lot. We all know that Liverpool fans are really special and they were always here for me.

"I'll always be watching and supporting Liverpool and for sure I'll be back, in the city to visit friends and watch games in the future."

Police helicopter crew filmed people naked, court told

A police helicopter crew used a powerful video camera to film a couple having sex in their garden, naturists on a campsite and people sunbathing naked, a court has heard.

The South Yorkshire police crew are accused of a “gross waste of valuable resources” by using the aircraft to make illicit recordings.
A woman who was filmed sunbathing nude with her daughters in her garden said she felt “sick” at the thought of being recorded and it was “a complete and utter violation” of her privacy.

Prosecutors outlined details of the helicopter crew’s alleged activities as the trial of two police officers and two pilots opened at Sheffield crown court on Tuesday.

Richard Wright QC, prosecuting, told the jury: “They used the unique viewing position afforded to them, together with the powerful video camera with which the helicopter is equipped, to video members of the public engaged in private activities in a gross violation of their privacy.
“On three separate occasions, they filmed a total of five people sunbathing naked in private and, on another occasion, they filmed a couple having sexual intercourse in their own garden.”

Adrian Pogmore, 50, formerly of South Yorkshire police, used his position as an air observer to film his swinger friends having sex on the patio of their suburban house, the court heard.
The “brazen” couple “put on a show” for the officers hovering above, the court heard. The woman involved waved at the aircraft at one point during the eight-minute recording as she and a man wearing only a Manchester United shirt engaged in a range of sex acts and sexual positions.

As Wright showed the jury the graphic footage from July 2008, he said: “As you will see in a moment, the couple who were filmed on this occasion were very much aware that they were being observed; indeed, they seem to relish it.”
The prosecutor explained that the couple were friends of Pogmore, who has already pleaded guilty to misconduct in a public office and was not in court.

Wright told the jury: “The reason that this couple are so happy to be recorded engaging in sexual intercourse is that they are friends of Mr Pogmore and shared his sexual interest in the swinging scene.
“It was clearly, therefore, no coincidence that the helicopter orbits around their garden while they brazenly put on a show.

“You may hope that the police helicopter is chasing down criminals and keeping the community safe. You may never imagine that in fact it is being used to film a pair of swingers in the throes of sexual passion for the entertainment of the crew.”
Matthew Lucas, 42, and Lee Walls, 47, who are serving South Yorkshire police officers, Malcolm Reeves, 64, a retired pilot, and Matthew Loosemore, 45, a former pilot with the force, deny misconduct in a public office and, “in short”, blame Pogmore for the filming, the court heard.
Footage of naturists on a campsite was also shown to the jury, as well as two recordings of people sunbathing naked.

Footage shot in August 2007 appeared to involve the aircraft circling a garden where a woman was sunbathing nude on a lawn.
Wright said the woman was with two daughters, aged 18 and 15, who were wearing bikinis, and an eight-year-old daughter who appeared to be fully clothed in the footage.

“There is self-evidently no legitimate policing purpose connected to orbiting her home and using equipment to film her naked body,” he said.
There was no legitimate police purpose for flying over the homes in any of the four recordings, he told the court.

“This was a deliberate invasion of their privacy for, at the very least, the inappropriate amusement of the crew, and at worst, for their sexual gratification,” Wright said.
The prosecutor told the jury that it may hear attempts to trivialise what happened as “isolated incidents of laddish conduct”, but he added that the people who were filmed did not see it that way.
Wright said the prosecution stemmed from recordings found in Pogmore’s desk drawer at a police station in 2015.
The trial is expected to last three weeks.- The Guardian 

Ronaldo 'confirms' girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez's pregnancy

Spanish publication El Mundo reports that the father-of-three said he was "very happy" when asked about the baby on the way. His other half is rumoured to be at least five months pregnant.

The latest pregnancy report comes amid rumours that the couple are preparing to walk down the aisle after the former sales assistant dropped a huge hint on image sharing app Instagram.

The 22-year-old beauty's eagle-eyed followers noticed that she had started following the accounts of several wedding dress boutiques. Popular Spanish designers Pronovias, Herve Moreau and Vicky Martin Berrocal are just a few of the accounts Rodriguez is following.

The footballer, who is currently enjoying a well-earned break after another successful season, has been revelling in fatherhood since welcoming twins Eva and Mateo via surrogate in the United States back in June.

"So happy to be able to hold the two new loves of my life," the Portuguese national captioned the image of him holding his son and daughter in his arms. He is already father to Cristiano Ronaldo Junior, who was born to a surrogate in June 2010.

Arsenal reject £6.2m from Sampdoria for Jack Wilshere

According to the Express, the Gunners have rejected a £6.2m bid from Italian outfit Sampdoria for outcast Jack Wilshere and have reportedly said they want £8.8 million if the 25-year-old was to leave the Emirates permanently.

Injury-hit Wilshere now has just 12 months left on his current Arsenal contract having recently returned from the South coast, on loan at Bournemouth. During his time with the Cherries, he managed 29 games before an injury ended his season.

Although his loan was successful, his future is far from clear and it appears likely to leave Arsenal this summer.
With Sampdoria reportedly very keen on the midfielder, it’s thought they will raise their offer in the near future. However, the Italian side are not the only side after Wilshere and other sides such as West Ham are keen on a loan deal for the 25-year-old.

Advertisement

With all the interest in the England international, Arsene Wenger has spoken out saying: “He has to work hard and fight for a place in the team.” This, therefore, hints Wenger maybe is keen to give Wilshere another chance at the Emirates.

How generator fumes killed newly married couple in Cross River

The landlady of the house situated on plot 1, Ikot Effanga Mkpa New Layout on the outskirt of Calabar, Cross River State, Madam Stella Uruaka, has narrated how newly wedded couple, Mr. and Mrs. Kabiru Mohammed, aged 32 years and 27 years respectively, died as a result of generator emission in their rented apartment.

The couple reportedly got married two months ago in Jos where they were domiciled before relocating to Cross River.

Madam Uruaka said that she had severally warned the couple to stop using the generator in their apartment since she observed the inclination.
She told Vanguard: “I know Kabiru as a truck mechanic from Oyo State and was based in Jos, while the wife, Omowunmi too, was in Jos before she joined him in Calabar after their wedding, two months ago.

“When they packed in newly, about eight weeks ago, they were keeping the generator outside but I do not really know what happened that made them change their mind to be keeping it inside the house.

“Each time they switch on the generator, the noise and smoke usually disturbed me because their bathroom is close to my room. I complained bitterly about the generator, but instead of taking it outside, the couple decided to keep it in their kitchen,” she disclosed.
She added on that day, they switched on the generator as usual and surprisingly, the generator was on till about 2.00a.m in the early hours of Saturday and then went off.

Her daughter, who also spoke on the tragedy, said she got a call from Kabiru’s younger brother, Jide, who complained that Kabiru was not picking calls to his phone and asked her to check if he was in.

“I told him I will call him back, but he insisted that I should go and knock on their door, which I did, but no one answered. So I told him that whenever I see them, I will inform him.
“Suddenly, we saw the young boy who normally helped them to sweep the house and do some chores come around with his father and they started calling Kabiru’s phone and then opened the window and saw both of them lying down lifeless in the sitting room, I told the man that they cannot possibly be sleeping.

”So we informed the police and the door was broken and we saw their lifeless bodies in the sitting room, water was already coming out of Kabiru’s mouth, the whole place was still filled with the fume and smoke from the generator and the people, who entered the flat were coughing consistently,” she stated.

Speaking further, she said the police came and asked them to take photographs, but since the cause of death was already established, nothing else was done, their remains were taken back to Jos for burial because they were both Muslims”.
According to her, they were just too young to die in such a tragic manner, the man was 32, while the lady was 27 years old and they had no child yet.

“My mother warned them about the generator they kept inside their apartment, but they did not listen. We are still in shock, my mother is yet to recover from the incident, including the entire neighbourhood, Ikot Effanga Mkpa I community, it is a big tragedy,” she bemoaned. - Daily Post

Newlywed couple 'kidnap and rape woman' while on honeymoon in Florida

A couple on their honeymoon have been accused of kidnapping and raping a woman in Florida before stealing sodas while naked from a convenience store the next day.

Police took newlyweds Rashada Hurley, 32, and her new husband Timothy Lowe, 37, into custody on charges of petit theft after their nude jaunt to the store, but later put two and two together that their suspects could be responsible for the alleged rape from the day before.
The 27-year-old woman who was allegedly beaten, kidnapped, and sexually assaulted by the couple quickly picked her assailants out of a police lineup.

The victim was picked up by her attackers while pulling out of a Publix grocery store parking spot in Hialeah, a city outside of Miami. She was allegedly approached by Ms Hurley as she pulled out of her spot. When the victim, who has not been named, rolled down the window, Ms Hurley allegedly struck her on the head, knocking her out, according to the Miami Herald. 

The victim told police that she woke up with Ms Hurley choking her while Mr Lowe drove her car to a Motel 6. The couple then used her credit card to rent a room for them.
Once inside the motel room, the woman was allegedly forced to have sex with them, including performing oral sex on Ms Hurley.
At one point when the attackers were distracted the victim was able to escape.

The following day Mr Lowe and Ms Hurley were arrested on unrelated charges of public nudity after walking into a shop and pouring themselves a couple of sodas that they then didn’t pay for. Another nearby store also said that the couple had been there naked.
The two were found a couple blocks away from the 7-11 convenience store they took the sodas from.

The couple were jailed on charges of kidnapping, car jacking, robbery, and sexual battery charges. They were both denied bond on the kidnapping charges, - The Independent

I had sex with my dog – Man admits in court

A 31-year-old man, Mark Hook, has admitted in court that he had sex with his dog and allowed the Labrador to penetrate him.

Hook, who hails from Hartcliffe, Bristol City, UK, also pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children and possessing extreme pornographic images.

Hook appeared at Bristol Crown Court and pleaded guilty to ten charges which included allowing a dog to penetrate him.
According to Bristol Post, Hook was told he had a significant risk of going to prison.

The Presiding judge, Mark Horton granted the accused bail to enable the court prepare for a projected two-hour sentence on August 11.

Hook declined to comment as he left court.
He pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children as well as possessing extreme pornographic images.

He also admitted having intercourse with an animal, two charges of distributing indecent images of children and three charges of publishing an obscene article.

Nigerians still believe in Papa deceive pikin (PDP) – Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan said on Monday that Nigerians still have confidence in the capacity of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lead the country.

Jonathan stated this at the expanded National Caucus meeting of the party held at Wadata House, Abuja.
He said Nigerians were worried that the party would go down.
The ex-President said this confidence in the PDP was demonstrated with reactions by Nigerians to last Wednesday’s Supreme Court’s judgment on the party’s leadership crisis.

He urged that efforts by PDP members and supporters within this period should be channelled towards building the party.
Jonathan said: “Nigerians still believe in the PDP because when the Supreme Court judgment was given, I was so surprised because some of the people called and sent text messages to me.
“They are not even politicians but they are so happy that PDP has come on stream because they were worried that PDP will go down.

“So, if people who are not even members of PDP are so happy that PDP has now gotten a platform to operate despite the negative propaganda against us, it means people still believe in PDP.
“PDP is a party that Nigerians still believe in.”
He appealed to party members to rebuild it, assuring that many people who stepped aside from the party as a result of its leadership crisis would return.

The ex-President added: “The first thing we need to do is to rebuild the party because when the party is strong, everything will be added to that.
“Whether you have individual or group interest, as a politician, you must serve. These are very basic things, but first and foremost, we must strengthen the party.

“Let us cooperate with the Caretaker Committee and make sure that PDP is very cohesive. And when that happens, people who stepped aside may step back.
“We may not even need to go on a voyage of discovery to discover people. But they, themselves will come back because a strong party acts like a magnet.

“It will attract all the people that are interested.”
The Chairman of the PDP National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, said only a miracle would stop PDP from regaining power in 2019.
Makarfi said the meeting was convened to chart the way forward for the party.- NAN

Police arrest mother, son over murder of sibling

The police has launched investigation into the death of one Fidelis Asogwa, suspected to have been killed by his own brother.

Fidelis, according to a police statement issued in Enugu on Tuesday, was hit with a plank by his brother Roma and later died in a hospital.
According to the police, the incident happened on Monday at Ohio town in Igboetiti Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The command spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu, who issued the statement, said preliminary investigation revealed that the victim had a dispute with his brother over a piece of land.

“It was gathered that a misunderstanding had ensued over a piece of land and economic trees between the deceased identified as one Fidelis Asogwa and the suspect, Roma Asogwa.
“It was further gathered that in the course of the quarrel Roma Asogwa did not hesitate to hit the brother, Fidelis Asogwa, with a plank on his head which left him unconscious.

“The latter was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty,’’ the statement added.
The police said it had arrested Roma and his mother, Theresa, who were helping with the investigation.

The mother was alleged to have invited the deceased, who resides in Port Harcourt, for a family meeting prior to the incident.
It said that the corpse of Fidelis had been deposited at Zim Uzo Hospital Mortuary in Ohodo.

NEITI: All of Nigeria’s oil savings can’t fund 20% of 2017 budget

Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) says all of the country’s oil savings since the inception of its savings history cannot fund 20 percent of 2017 budget.

In its second occassional paper series unveiled by Waziri Adio, its executive secretary, NEITI said “Nigeria has about three decades of experience in implementing different oil revenue funds. However, attempts at oil revenue savings have been plagued by contested legal frameworks, governance issues and inadequate political will”.
“Nigeria has one of lowest natural resource revenue savings in the world. The balance in the three funds (0.5% stabilization fund, ECA and NSIA) is less than $3.9 billion, not enough to fund 20% of 2017’s federal budget.

“Nigeria’s $1.5 billion sovereign wealth fund is one of the lowest in the world, has one of the worst ratio to annual budget (10%), and one of the lowest SWF per capital ($8), better only than war-torn Iraq and crisis-hit Venezuela, but not by much.
“In contrast, Norway, a country of 5.2 million people (2.8% of Nigeria’s 186million people) has a sovereign wealth fund worth $922 billion (which is 23,641% of the $3.9 billion balance in Nigeria’s three oil revenue funds)”.

In simpler terms, if Nigeria’s oil savings were shared across the country, each citizen will have access to only $8, after over 60 years of oil exploration.
For countries like Norway, Kuwait and Botswana is at $185,000, $148,000 and $14,400 respectively.



Between 2005 and 2015, NEITI said $201.2 billion accrued to ECA but $204.7 billion was withdrawn from the ECA during same period, indicating that withdrawal was 102 percent of deposit.
To buck this prevailing dutch disease, NEITI recommends that the federal government and states government “should seek speedy resolution at the Supreme Court of the case on the constitutionality of remittances to the ECA and the NSIA.”

“Initiate amendment of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), drawing on the political consensus that led to the creation of the ECA and the NSIA.
“Consolidate all oil revenue funds into the NSIA, which should be strengthened with appropriate guarantees on transparent and accountable governance to re-assure all stakeholders

“Ensure constant savings whether oil prices are high or low; also provide for regular payouts from the investments proceeds to compensate benefi ciaries (the three tiers of government) for their sacrifice; and delink government expenditure from oil revenues and pursue prudent macro-economic policies.” - Cable Nigeria

Perisic named in Inter tour squad despite Manchester United links

Ivan Perisic has been included in Inter's squad for their pre-season tour of China and Singapore.

The Croatia international has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United but has nonetheless been named in head coach Luciano Spalletti's 28-man party.
Stevan Jovetic has also been included, despite talk of a transfer to Sevilla.

Inter sporting director Piero Ausilio suggested on Tuesday that talk of an imminent agreement with United for Perisic was premature, insisting: "He is close to Inter."
United boss Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, admitted he had "no idea" if a deal was close following his side's 2-1 friendly win over Real Salt Lake.
Full-back Davide Santon has been left out of Inter's squad after MRI scans showed a calf muscle injury but new signings Borja Valero and Milan Skriniar travel.

The Nerazzurri face Schalke in a friendly match in Changzhou before International Champions Cup fixtures against Lyon, Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Antonio Conte wants Cesc Fabregas to stay with Chelsea

Antonio Conte has promised Cesc Fabregas more game time for Chelsea next season in a bid to keep the player at Stamford Bridge, the Evening Standard reports.

The Chelsea head coach has reportedly spoken personally with Fabregas regarding his role within the squad next season.
Fabregas’ future at Chelsea appears to be uncertain, with the Spaniard reportedly being left frustrated at the lack of game time he received last season and with the Blues signing midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko for £40 million from Monaco more doubts were raised.

Fabregas started just 18 games for Chelsea last season and made 19 substitute appearances. However, the Spaniard still managed to score seven goals and acquire 13 assists in all competitions.

AC Milan have recently shown an interest in taking Fabregas to the San Siro but it is believed that Fabregas is settled in London and is not interested in a move away from the English capital. A move to Italy now looks increasingly unlikely following the huge summer of spending from the Rossoneri.

Advertisement

Having already sold Nathaniel Chalobah to Watford and Nemanja Matic looking increasingly likely to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, Conte will be desperate to keep hold of Fabregas.- Read Sport

Wenger: Sanchez not for sale

Alexis Sanchez can lead Arsenal back into the Champions League and will not be sold by the club, says Arsene Wenger.

Sanchez told Chilean media he wants to play in Europe's top competition, which the Gunners failed to qualify for after their fifth-placed Premier League finish, and that a decision over his future rests with Arsenal.

Wenger remains adamant Sanchez will not be leaving the Emirates this summer, though, revealing the club's stance is already clear.
"The decision has been made and we will stick to that," Wenger said of Sanchez, who is still a target for Manchester City according to Sky  sources.
"The decision is not to sell."
Wenger, whose side are preparing for a pre-season game against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, played down Sanchez's comments regarding Champions League football.

"I don't give too much importance to things that are translated, you know," he added. "The whole interview that I got didn't really mean that.
"The main focus for us is to concentrate on the Premier League and the Premier League for me today is more important than the Champions League.

"We rested sometimes players in the group stages of the Champions League for the Premier League so that's become the biggest importance for us.
"We played 20 years in the Champions League, that's 17 years before Sanchez arrived and three years with him so he can get us back in there."
Robin van Persie was sold to Manchester United for £24m as he was due to enter the final year of his Arsenal contract, going on to steer United to the Premier League title the following season, but Wenger denied any sense of deja vu.

"Every case is different, Van Persie was going from 30 to 31, when he left he had one year on his contract," Wenger added. "Sanchez is younger."
Arsenal have brought in Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon for a club-record fee which could rise to £52m, but Wenger said the club could yet add more signings in the current transfer window.

"There are two ways to strengthen the squad - the first is to analyse where we have not done so well and where we can improve together, and the other way is to bring in players from outside," he told Arsenal Player. "We are still open to strengthening our team with players coming from outside.
"We are very active on the transfer market and have already realised two incomings. We have to keep a balance as well, that you don't destabilise the team too much by bringing in too many players.

"But we are still active on the transfer market so let's see what kind of opportunities we can find."

Ranieri: Let's talk about happiness

Writing on The Players' Tribune, Claudio Ranieri talks about his Leicester experiences, finding happiness and his hopes for the future with Nantes.

I want to talk about happiness. There is too much unhappiness in football, no? Let's talk about happiness for a moment.
Last year, when Leicester City was at the top of the table, everyone had started to take notice of our little city. But I kept reminding the players every week to just stay focused on one thing: working hard.

Hard work is the only thing we could be sure of.
And the whole season, I tried not to get too excited.
At the beginning, I just kept saying, "Forty points! Come on boys, 40 points!"
In January, when we got to 40 points, I started saying, "OK, boys, Champions League!"
But when we were at the top of the table with two months left in the season, I got a phone call. And that made me realise just how special our story could be.

Because on the line was a fellow Italian. A very special man.
"Claudio?"
"Yes, this is Claudio."
"It's Andrea Bocelli."
Now, I did not know Andrea personally, and I did not know that he had been following what Leicester City had been doing. But I guess that's what's so special about a beautiful thing, whether it's a football team or a piece of music ... it finds its way to all kinds of people. It had found its way to Andrea, and he wanted to be a part of it.
He said to me, "Claudio, I feel something."
I said, "Oh, you do?"

"Yes, I feel something, Claudio. I want to come there to sing something. When is it possible?"
So I told him to come on May 7, for our final match at home. We had already done more than anyone expected of us, so even if we did not end up winning the title, we'd still be able to say hello to all of our supporters and thank them for an amazing season.

I told Andrea, "This could be a good day!"
For two months, I looked forward to Andrea's concerto. Never did I expect that on that day, he would be singing a duet with the Premier League trophy. But our players were fantastic, and our fans were fantastic, and we stayed on top.
On May 7, Andrea came to perform for little Leicester City, champions of England. I stood next to him as he began to sing. And at one point, he grabbed my hand and leaned into me.
"Oh!" he said. "It's fantastic! This emotion ... it's fantastic!"

And he was right.
It was happiness. For me. For the players. For the people of Leicester.
But even the most beautiful piece of music eventually has to come to an end.
Over the years I've learned that, to be a good manager, you need to have passion, and you need to have a strong character. Without those things, the job is very, very difficult.

It is with passion that I love my job. But it is with character that I am able to keep looking forward. Not just beyond criticism or bad results, but also beyond the good moments, too. Everything has to be a balance.
Not too high, not too low.
Thirty years ago, when I first became a manager, I learned that it was not an easy job, but it could be a beautiful one.

I'm from Italy, the home of Vivaldi, Rossini, Puccini. When I stopped playing and became a manager, football became like a beautiful piece of music to me - and the players, an orchestra. I wasn't just a lone instrument on the pitch anymore. I couldn't just look at one section, or one note. No, no, no. I had to all of a sudden see everything. See how certain players could link together, see strengths, see techniques.

I learned that I had to listen … until it all came together. Harmony.
And every team, I learned, has its own … sound. In Spain, it's about domination and keeping possession of the ball. In England, it's a more physical, stronger style, with tackling right up until the end of the game. In Italy, it is compact and very tactical.

And then, of course, wherever you are, it is important to have a goal scorer. Because then you get points. And when you get points, the fans are happy. When the fans are happy, the players are happy. And when the players are happy, everything comes easy.
It's harmony. It's happiness.

And that's the most beautiful sound you can hear surrounding the pitch.
I learned that from my mother.
Some of you may have read about last year as well. She is a very, very special woman. She's getting older - she's in her late 90s now. So for many, many years, she has followed me and my football career. She's been there for it all.
I try to see her when I'm back in Rome as much as I can. We always have so much to catch up on. And no matter where I am in my career, or which club I go to, she always asks me the same question.

"Are you happy?"
I think about this question a lot. Because yes, there are results. There are points to gain. And there are games to win. But what it really comes down to is you and everybody around you - the players and the people who come to watch and support you - and that they are happy.
And if you work very hard and you are very lucky, then you get to be part of something special that makes a lot of people very, very happy. Last year in Leicester, we found that.

In February, not long after I was let go, there was a ring at our door. My wife and I lived close to town. Last year, after we won the title, I remember a giant crowd gathered outside to celebrate. Supporters were all over our lawn, cheering and chanting.

But when I opened the door this time, I saw something different. Something I never expected. A crowd even bigger than when we had won the title! They had brought chocolate, champagne, cards - everything! They cried, they gave me their support … it was a very emotional moment.
I'll never forget the number of people who came to say goodbye.

See, it is not just the players and the managers who are part of making something beautiful … it is the supporters too. And to the people of Leicester, I want to thank you. You've made me a very happy man.
So, my life right now is in Nantes, where I was hired last month, but I still carry something very special in my heart: the people of Leicester.
Now it's time to look forward.

I know that in Nantes there are a lot of expectations, especially after all that happened at Leicester. But the stories of the two teams are very different. Leicester had never won a title before. Nantes has won eight.
But what drew me to Nantes was very similar to what had drawn me to Leicester: the chance to make something beautiful. When I got a phone call from my agent, George, that there was interest from the club, I knew the opportunity would be intriguing. When I met with the owners we just … talked. About what happened last season, about what I thought I could do at Nantes. It was very honest.

Will we have more concertos? I do not know. I do want the Nantes supporters to know that I will try very hard to make them happy.
And what I can promise the club is the same thing I promised to Leicester. I will not promise a miracle. I will not promise a dream.
I simply promise to work hard.
After 44 years in football, that is the only secret I know. It is the only thing we can be sure of.

Advertisement