PL news : Talent means nothing to me – Mertesacker outlines academy ethos

Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has sent a message to the club's young players as he prepares to become the new academy manager, saying: "Talent means nothing to me".

The 32-year-old remains captain and has a year left on his playing contract at the Emirates Stadium, but the club confirmed in July he will take over as the head of youth development at the end of the 2017-18 season.
Arsene Wenger described Mertesacker as "an inspirational figure for everyone connected with the academy" when announcing his new role, and the former Germany international has already outlined his approach to bringing through the next generation.

"Talent means nothing to me, it's all about hard work," Mertesacker told the Arsenal Magazine.
When asked about his attitude towards young players, he said: "I put the emphasis in that they're not told how talented they are too much. Talent is what you make of it.
"I respect them highly but the only ones who will make it are the ones who make the most of their potential."

His task as academy manager will be to ensure the club's youth system continues to prepare players for first-team football, following the example set by the likes of Alex Iwobi in recent seasons.
"It's good for me to see these youngsters on a daily basis," said Mertesacker. "Some went with us on tour and now they'll keep training with us, which is really important.
"It's not only one or two weeks where you show up and show your skills, or in one or two games. To do that on a consistent level, because they're not in the first-team dressing room at the moment, it creates a little bit of a gap.

"That can mean they don't know where they are. Are they under-23s, under-19s or first team?
"It's important that we keep in touch, communicate well. They've got huge potential and have high levels of skill, but it's what you make of it. That's something I'm going to address in the next couple of years." 

Mertesacker has made 150 Premier League appearances for Arsenal since joining the club from Werder Bremen in August 2011, and he has become a highly respected figure at the north London side.
- Goal

Transfer news : Tottenham sign Gazzaniga

Tottenham have signed Argentine goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga from Southampton.

The 25-year-old has signed a five-year deal and is reunited with former Saints manager Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham.
Gazzaniga also becomes Pochettino's second signing of the summer transfer window following the club-record arrival of Davinson Sanchez.

He will provide further back up to Tottenham No 1 Hugo Lloris with Michel Vorm already at the club.
Gazzaniga had not featured for Southampton this season and his last appearance for the club came in a 2-0 defeat to Tottenham in December 19. - SKY

Transfer updates : Sanchez completes Spurs move

 Tottenham have secured the services of Ajax defender Davinson Sanchez for a club record fee.

The 21-year-old Colombia international completed a medical and all relevant paperwork this afternoon and now just needs a work permit to become a Tottenham player. He will wear the number six shirt.
Sanchez was Ajax's player of the year last season and was also a target for Barcelona and Inter Milan, the record-breaking fee could reach £38m, far exceeding the £31.5m they paid Newcastle for Moussa Sissoko last season.

"In the past week, many meetings have taken place with Davinson's business managers and with the Spurs." Said Ajax Director of player policy Marc Overmars.
"For a long time, it didn't look like we would reach an agreement. The truth is that we didn't want to let him go, which was a factor too."
"When we got to this enormous amount, and it became clear that Davinson would leave, I discussed the upcoming weeks with my colleagues at the club. We all agreed that this transfer period is over for us in terms of outbound players. We're not letting anyone else go." - Sky Sports

Style : 'Loose Women' Star Saira Khan Reports Death Threats To The Police, Following Bikini Photo

‘Loose Women’ presenter Saira Khan has alerted the police after receiving death threats on social media.

Saira received a threatening message over a post she shared on her Instagram account, in response to a Muslim preacher who claimed it was sinful for women to wax their eyebrows. 
Uploading a picture of herself sunbathing in a bikini on Monday (21 August), Saira wrote: “ I woke up to news that A Muslim Preacher is saying that ‘plucking eyebrows’ for Muslim women is a sin - here’s my response - kiss my [peach emoji] you backward prehistoric dinosaur!”

• 

However, since then Saira - who is a practising Muslim - has revealed that she received a threatening message in the comments section.
In a post addressed to the Metropolitan Police, Saira shared a screengrab of the comment, which read: “Keep your f**king mouth shut! Your not a Muslim nor do you represent anything to do with Islam!!! Your white masters have given you what you desire as a sell out reporter!!! If you value your life keep the f**k out of Islam.”

Back in May, Saira took on similar criticism, when detractors accused her of being anti-Muslim by being involved in the ‘Loose Women’ ‘Body Stories’ campaign, which saw her and the rest of the panel posing in swimwear for an unairbrushed photo-shoot.
Defending herself at the time, she said: “Here we go - I bet none of my other @loosewomen are getting posts like this,” she wrote.
“As soon as I say ‘I’m a Muslim’ then all hell breaks loose - seriously - I was brought up to not judge others - it’s a basic requirement for Muslims.
“I feel so sorry for people like this who are so threatened by a woman’s body - this is not a “sexual” campaign - it’s one to empower women, for us to feel good about ourselves and our imperfections.

“If a woman in a bikini offends your version of Islam - then seriously you should not be looking in the first place.”
“It’s my choice to do this and if Allah doesn’t like it- let him deal with me - WT F does it have to do with anyone else? - Huffington Post UK

Video :Nanny caught on CCTV abusing three-month-old baby

A closed circuit TV (cctv ) footage of a yet to be identified nanny abusing a fragile infant has gone viral.
In the video, the baby is seen crying pitifully while the nanny pushes her around and slaps her across the face severally.

 The baby being abused appears to be less than three months old. The incident reportedly took place in New Jersey.- Daily Post

Shocking !!! 3 suspects arrested for duping people of over 70 million

The Imo state police have apprehended a female internet fraudster and her gang members for using fake Facebook account to impersonate the Chief of Staff to Imo State Governor, Chief Uche Nwosu, in order to dupe innocent victims of over N70 million.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Andrew Enwerem while parading the suspects informed that Nwokoma Ezekach, Reuben Ogwuonye Ubongwung and Nwaeguzor Hope Miracle, created the alleged fake Facebook social network account using the name of Chief Uche Nwosu and uploaded pictures of his states’ functions for the aim of defrauding unsuspecting individuals of huge sums of money.

Information has it that through this medium, the syndicate has duped over 70 million naira from people.
According to DSP Enwerem, the suspects posted on the site transactions relating to allocation of lands, award of contracts, fertilizer distribution and employment opportunities and used that medium to defraud unsuspecting members of the public who had a conviction that they were dealing with the real Chief of Staff of cash running into millions of Naira.

He disclosed that a thorough investigation carried out by operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of the command led to the arrest of the suspects, pointing out that investigations had been concluded and the suspects would be charged to court accordingly. - Daily Post

OMG !!! Fulani herdsmen rape 72-year-old woman to coma in Ondo

Suspected Fulani herdsmen have raped a 72-year-old woman identified as Akinseye (other names withheld) to coma on her farmland in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

Speaking on her ordeal in the hands of the alleged rapists, the septuagenarian told newsmen that she was working on her farm on the fateful day when the two Fulani herdsmen attacked her and took turns to rape her.

She said, “I was working on the farm when the two men invaded my farm and before I could question them on their mission in my farm, they gagged me and tear my clothes and they raped me one after the other. They threatened to kill me thereafter if I make any noise and left me in the farm after injuring me.”
The incident forced youths from the area under the auspices of Ondo State Youth Coalition and farmers across the 18 local governments to stage a protest against the development.
The protesters threatened to take laws into their hands if the state government and the security agencies in the state failed to address the issue immediately.

The Coordinator of the OSYC, Mr. Oluwatuyi Adekanmbi, said herdsmen had turned themselves to terrors in Ondo State by perpetrating in series of crimes which included: rape, farm destruction, killing as well as kidnapping in their land.


“We are not against cattle rearing or saying cattle rearing should be banned but we want free grazing of cattle on our farms, at our expense with wanton destructions of our crops and means of livelihood to be stopped forthwith.
He said “One of our the farmers, Orimisan Omowole was murdered on his farm in Odigbo local government area of the state. After killing him they took out his heart and placed it on his chest.'' - Daily Post

Shocking !!! Policeman commits suicide after killing colleague

A police inspector, Abraham Aro, who allegedly shot dead his senior colleague simply identified as Timothy, has reportedly killed himself by jumping into a well.

The incident occurred on Wednesday at the Police Divisional Headquarters, Kajola in Odigbo local government area of Ondo State.
The development has thrown the community into confusion.
No reason was given for the murder of the police officer by his junior colleague.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Femi Joseph, confirmed the report, saying investigation has commenced on the incident.
The police officer’s remains had been deposited at the mortuary at the General Hospital, Ore, after the Ondo Area Commander led a team of police officers to the scene of the incident. - The Nation

Biafra struggle :IPOB to Buhari: Supporting Western Sahara secessionists but rejecting Biafra is hypocrisy

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has berated President Muhammadu Buhari for “strongly backing Western Sahara’s agitation to break away from Morocco” but rejecting its quest for an independent Biafra.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by Emma Powerful, IPOB spokesman, the group accused the president of hypocrisy.
Buhari had said in his Monday broadcast that Nigeria’s unity is “settled and non-negotiable“.
He said he had agreed with Odumegwu Ojukwu, late Igbo leader, that Nigeria will remain as one.
But IPOB described Buhari’s claim as “comical and unfounded” and urged the president to “face the present reality”.

The statement read: “Interestingly enough, there is a well-circulated video of President Buhari addressing the 70th summit of the United Nations General Assembly in New York where he stated unequivocally that no nation, no matter how small, should be denied the right to self-determination.
“Buhari in his characteristic hypocrisy failed to mention the fact that he is a staunch campaigner for self-determination for Palestine and Western Sahara. This same Buhari is the major backer of Western Sahara campaign to break away from Morocco.

“The question that must be answered is why it is possible for Buhari to champion the cause of self-determination for Muslims in Israel and Morocco but not so for Biafrans who are Judeo-Christians in the British-created Nigeria?
“During his uninspiring nationwide broadcast littered with dictatorial proclamations, the only take away point in the entire turgid show of shame is that Nigeria must remain one; primarily because the dominant cabal which he represents does not want to lose their stranglehold on the finances of Nigeria.


“President Muhammadu Buhari and other government functionaries, especially politicians, should stop deceiving themselves about the true nature of the raging Biafran agitation because they cannot provide any incontrovertible proof or verifiable evidence where the agreement was made between Buhari and Chief Ojukwu to keep Nigeria one. And they should stop calling Ojukwu’s name.
“We find it laughable that Major General Muhammadu Buhari will embark on the futile journey of deceiving the general public about his brief encounter with Ojukwu in 2003.” - Cable Nigeria

''Kings of corruption'' !!! ICC ‘considering’ SERAP’s petition to probe Obasanjo, Jonathan over N11trn electricity fund

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is reportedly considering a petition on the alleged squandering of N11 trillion electricity funds by the administrations of ex-presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had sent the petition after it raised an alarm on the “widespread, systematic and large-scale corruption” perpetrated in the power sector by the previous administrations.
It had asked Fatou Bensouda, ICC prosecutor, to investigate whether the allegations amount to crimes against humanity within the jurisdiction of the court and to also prevail on the Nigerian government to surrender all suspected perpetrators for trial by the ICC.
Timothy Adewale, SERAP deputy director, confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday, that the court has begun looking into the petition.
It said it received a letter from the court with reference number OTP-CR-245/17 with regards to the petition.

“SERAP can confirm that the ICC is now considering our petition. We have received communication from Mark P. Dillon, head of information and evidence unit of the ICC indicating that the court will give due consideration to our petition,” the statement read.
It quoted the letter as reading in part: “This communication has been duly entered in the communications register of the office. We will give consideration to this communication, as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

“As soon as a decision is reached, we will inform you, in writing, and provide you with reasons for this decision.”
Adewale said SERAP appreciates the prompt attention given the petition by ICC.
“We urge the court to pursue this matter to a satisfactory conclusion by taking the case forward as required by the provisions of the Rome Statute, and ensuring a thorough investigation and prosecution of suspected perpetrators of grand corruption in the electricity sector in Nigeria. -Cable Nigeria

Transfer updates : Improved bid imminent from Manchester City for Jonny Evans

Manchester City are set to make an improved bid for West Brom’s Jonny Evans after their first bid was rejected by the Baggies according to ESPN

The first bid for Evans was worth £18 million and City are set to improve their bid as Pep Guardiola wants to bolster his defence for the current season as they look to compete on all four fronts.
City are confident on bringing in the Northern Irishman as the player would be tempted by the switch to a club like Manchester City, while West Brom manager, Tony Pulis, has confirmed that he could accept a huge offer if it does come in.

City have already spent big this summer, especially on their defence, bringing in Benjamin Mendy from Monaco for £50 million, Danilo from Real Madrid for £27 million and Kyle Walker from Tottenham for £50 million.
However, they haven’t signed any central defenders and with Vincent Kompany’s injury worries, they have turned their attention directly to Evans. - Read Sport

Updates : Wayne Rooney retires from International football

With a number of reports circulating that Wayne Rooney could be called back into the England squad this week, the striker has taken matters into his own hands.

The 31-year-old attacker has retired from international football, it has been confirmed today.
Rooney completed a summer move to Everton this summer to play regular football with the hope of continuing his England career but seems to have decided this is the right time to call it a day.
Rooney has had his fair share of controversy during his England career but eclipsed Sir Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record for the country in September 2015, cementing himself as one of the true greats.

Having originally planned to retire after next summer’s World Cup, Rooney has brought forward his retirement due to the dwindling hopes of him being on the plane to Russia.

The former Three Lions captain is the nation’s record goalscorer with 53 goals in 119 caps spanning a 14-year international career. - Read Sport

Transfer : Liverpool eye move for Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez

According to the Express, who cite Don Balon, Liverpool and Arsenal are looking to bring in Real Madrid talent, Lucas Vazquez, after the Spaniard struggled to hold down a starting place at Los Blancos.

As a result of the rise of Marco Asensio and the ongoing consistent performances from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Isco, the 26-year-old may want to leave the Bernabeu to kick start his career.
Liverpool look like the club most interested in the midfielder with Barcelona not slowing down in their pursuit of Phillipe Coutinho, despite the Reds reiterating that the Brazilian is not for sale.


The Chilean is being heavily linked with a move away from the club as he enters the final year of his contract at the club.
Arsenal could turn to the winger as they look as a potential replacement for Alexis Sanchez if he is to leave the Emirates this summer. - Read Sport

Transfer news :Manchester United keen to sign Ryan Sessegnon

Luke Shaw hasn’t lived up to his potential just yet since his big-money move from Southampton several years ago, and left-back remains a problem position for Manchester United.

Ashley Young, Daley Blind and Matteo Darmian have all had spells at left-back but none have managed to nail down the position for themselves.
United could look to add a left-back before the transfer window closes next month and ESPN report that Jose Mourinho is interested in signing Ryan Sessegnon from Fulham, but faces competition from Liverpool and Tottenham for his signature. 

Sessegnon burst onto the scene for Fulham last season and impressed in a left-back/left-wing hybrid role, earning a place in the PFA Championship Team of the Season in the process.

The teenager signed his first professional contract earlier in the summer but that hasn’t deterred clubs from trying to sign the England U19 international.

 United fear that he could opt to stay in London should the opportunity arise  
Tottenham have already seen a bid rejected for the £25m-rated fullback. -Read Sport

OMG !!! How landlord, tenant allegedly turned 13-year-old girl to sex slave in Lagos

A Lagos landlord, Ishola Idris, and his tenant, Linus Okonkwo, were on Tuesday remanded in prison custody by an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly defiling a 13-year-old girl.

The duo whose age are 51, Idris, and 32, Okonkwo, were arraigned before Mrs. Bolanle Osusanmi on a 2-count charge of defilement and sexual assault.

The landlord allegedly deflowered the girl, ‘sodomised’ her and turned her to a sex toy. He also allegedly threatened to kill the girl if she ever told anybody. It was learnt that the minor confessed under pressure when blood was spotted in her anus.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Simeon Imhonwa, said the offence was committed sometime in January at the accused persons’ residence at 30, Celestial Road, Igando, Lagos.
According to Imhonwa, the offence was punishable under Section 261 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

However, according to the charge, “Ishola Idris, sometime in January 2017 at 30, Celestial Road, Igando, Lagos in Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully defile one 13-year-old girl child (name withheld) by having sexual intercourse with her.

“That you, Linux Okonkwo, sometime in March 2017 at 30, Celestial Road, Igando, Lagos in Lagos Magisterial District did unlawfully sexually assaulted one 13-year-old by penetrating into her vagina with your penis.”
The duo, however, pleaded not guilty to the allegation.

Osusanmi, however, granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum. 

The case was adjourned till October 12 for trial.- Daily Post

APC ! PDP !! Looters !!! Osinbajo must tell Nigerians how he squandered N1.3tr on capital projects – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo of squandering over N1.3tr of capital projects.

The opposition party said it was alarmed and highly bewildered to hear from the Vice president that N1.3tr had been spent on capital projects in 2016.

While describing the ruling party as looters, the PDP noted that there was nothing to show that such amount had been spent on projects.
In a post the party shared on its twitter handle, it said, “We are alarmed and highly bewildered to hear from VP @ProfOsinbajo that N1.3tr was spent on Capital Projects in 2016! #APCLooters
“N1.3tr on capital projects & nothing to show for it is unacceptable. Should we assume the VP @ProfOsinbajo was misquoted?

“Apart from the infrastructures handed over to the @APCNigeria led gov’t by PDP, nothing has been done in the last 2 1/2 years
The PDP called on the Vice President to provide clarifications on how the money was spent.” - Daily Post

Really ??? Allow Biafra, Oduduwa, others go – Arewa youths beg Buhari

The Arewa Youth Coalition has flayed the comment made by President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigeria must remain one.

The group urged the government to conduct a referendum to provide an exit door for those who did not want to be part of Nigeria.

Buhari had in a nationwide broadcast on Monday upon his return from London affirmed that the country was better off staying together.
But rising from a town hall meeting for the North East geopolitical zone, yesterday, the coalition disagreed with him on the non-negotiability of the unity of the country.
National Chairman of the coalition, Alhaji Yerima Shettima told newsmen in Gombe, yesterday, that Nigeria should create an exit door for the Biafra agitators by convening a referendum.
“The president just came back from his medical vocation. In normal circumstances, one should have expected him to take some time to have a clear review of situations in the country after spending 103 days abroad.

“His statement is a welcome development to some extent because there are issues; the unity of the country is being threatened. I think the focus of the president was basically on the threat to our national unity and those were the key issues he spoke about. In addition, that we would no longer tolerate anybody undermining the security of the country. Certainly, agreed, it should be that way as he felt. But I feel also that on the side of international law to which Nigeria is signatory, it is expected that government must create an exit door for those who feel they want to leave through a referendum and as stipulated in the 1999 constitution.
“It would not augur well if we insist on living with people who do not want to be part of the country and they keep threatening the unity of the country. It may even appear to the international community like a mockery.

“If the government is up and doing, let us abide by the demands of the international law by creating an exit door for those agitating for self determination,” Shettima said.
“Certainly, the IPOB cannot be said to be speaking for the South-East because they are less than ten percent of the Igbo communities who are willing to remain in Nigeria,” he said.

Shedding light on the October 1 quit notice issued to Igbo, Shettima lamented that the group’s message in the Kaduna Declaration was misunderstood.
“An individual cannot hold the country to ransom. We felt patriotic individuals from the South East should have lent their voices to safeguard the unity of the country by condemning the IPOB agitators. If, however, some individuals so much believe in their Biafra, let such people go to your Biafra. Don’t bring war to the North, to Nigeria,” he explained.

“Our call is being misunderstood. We have been misquoted by mischief-makers who made it seem we are calling for violence. That is why we are not faceless and we respond to calls anywhere for dialogue with elder statesmen,”‎ he said.

The group urged the government to conduct a referendum to provide an exit door for those who did not want to be part of Nigeria. - Daily Post

PL news : Arsenal must keep 'outstanding' Ox

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is Arsenal's "outstanding" player at wing-back and they must keep him, says the club's former full-back Nigel Winterburn.

The 24-year-old England international will meet with both Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis and manager Arsene Wenger, who said last week that he hoped the player would extend his current contract - which only has one year remaining on it.
The versatile midfielder has attracted interest from Premier League rivals Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City, but Winterburn believes it is essential the club keep hold of him after excelling in his new role.

"I absolutely say he's a player that has made massive strides in the last season," Winterburn told Premier League Daily. "At wing-back, I would put him as Arsenal's outstanding player.
"From the end of last season through to the start of this season I rate him that highly. Is that a position that he wants to play regularly though? Does he want to play in centre midfield or a more advanced area in behind a main striker?
"Then it comes down to the amount of money that he's being offered, does he feel he's been offered less than some of the other players in the team but he feels as important as them?"

Winterburn added: "He's had a slight problem in that when he looks like he's going to establish himself into the team, he's picked up an injury, had several weeks out, come back in and picked up another injury.
"But from the end of last season his performances have been at a very high level. He's definitely a player Arsenal need to keep." 

Oxlade-Chamberlain will hold talks over his future at Arsenal later this week, Sky Sports News understands.
- Sky Sports

Shocking !!! Teen arrested for doing Macarena on Saudi street ( Video )

A teenager who was filmed dancing the Macarena in a Saudi Arabian street has been arrested.

The 14-year-old boy is being accused of "improper public behaviour", a statement said.
The event took place in the middle of a busy street in the western city of Jeddah.
It is unclear whether the boy is a Saudi Arabian citizen.

The 45-second clip went viral on Twitter and is believed to have been first posted in July 2016, but the boy was arrested on Tuesday (local time).
Some Twitter users have called the boy a "hero", while others say his behaviour was "immoral."

Because of a lack of codified penal law in the country, penalties for children are often left to the discretion of authorities.
It is unclear whether the boy will be formally charged

Earlier in the month, a singer was arrested for 'dabbing' during a concert in Saudi Arabia's south-west. - Newshub

PL news : Why Arsenal are behind Liverpool

Danny Murphy and Ian Wright believe the fragile atmosphere around Arsenal at present means Liverpool are in a better place than the Gunners going into Super Sunday.

Arsenal, who were beaten 1-0 by Stoke on Saturday, are preparing for a season without Champions League football for the first time since 1997 after their fifth-place finish last term.
They go to Anfield on Super Sunday to face Liverpool, who beat Crystal Palace 1-0 on Saturday, and former Reds midfielder Murphy insists the atmosphere in Jurgen Klopp's side at present trumps that of Arsene Wenger's.

Murphy also admitted the Arsenal fans are "waiting" to pile the pressure on Wenger, and says the FA Cup victory last season isn't enough to make up for years of underachievement.
He said on The Debate on Tuesday night: "It's hard to judge until the window finishes, but as it stands, Liverpool [are in a better place] for me. One of the main reasons is this: playing football at a big club is hard enough, and when the crowd is with you, loving the manager like the do at Liverpool, you get the spring in your step when you go out onto the pitch.

"I'm not sure Arsenal fans have been turned enough by that FA Cup win last season, I don't think they've turned completely and are saying: 'We forgive you, we forgive you!'
"They're waiting, and now they've lost at Stoke, if they go to Liverpool and get turned over, does it all start again [the pressure] at the next home game? You know what it's like playing at a stadium where everything is up for it, compared to thinking: 'If we're not winning after 20 minutes, they're going to be on us!'"

Arsenal legend Ian Wright echoed Murphy's words, saying Gunners games have the feel that they can "erupt" at any minute.
"There's a feast and famine vibe about Arsenal at the minute. I know it's only two games in but you just feel there's something waiting to erupt, that's how I feel now.
"If he can just play the players in their right positions, maybe we can get going. But I just feel quite nervous about every single Arsenal game so far, and it frightens me."

The future of Alexis Sanchez at the Emirates Stadium is still uncertain, and Murphy added that they will have taken a step backward if the Chilean is to leave, despite signing Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon.
Murphy said: "If they keep Sanchez and with Lacazette, they have more firepower. If Sanchez does go, and I don't care how much money they get, you can't replace that type of player at Arsenal.- Sky Sports

Biafra : Buhari can lump IPOB together with ISIS, its part of his hatred for Igbos – ECA

The Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, has reacted to the order issued yesterday to service chiefs by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The President yesterday told his service chiefs to ensure Nigeria remains one by all means.

The move was to calm the agitation for Biafra by some groups, including the Nnamdi Kanu led Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
In its reaction, ECA, through its Secretary, Evangelist Elliot Ugochuchukwu-Uko, said they were not surprised by Buhari’s directives.
He said, “We are not surprised; it is part of the hatred. He can lump IPOB together with ISIS. We even expect him to change the name of Enugu to Islamabad.
“We are asking that Nigeria be restructured. Those killed before were not armed and did not commit any known offence.

“IPOB is not a terrorist organization and we are not surprised with this horrifying decision.
“What we are saying is that Nigeria must be restructured, nothing more and nothing less. It is part of Buhari’s hatred for Ndigbo but we are resolute that Nigeria must be restructured.'' - Daily Post

Shocking !!! Photo : I make N8,000 daily – Fake ‘blind beggar’ confesses

A fake beggar identified as Abdullahi Abbas, who disguises as a blind man has been arrested in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

37-year-old Abdullahi who is always led by a 12-year-old boy (name withheld), confessed to making between N5,500 and N8,000 daily.

He ran out of luck on Tuesday after an inquisitive resident of the area, Adeoye Baliks, raised an alarm after engaging him in a conversation that made her raise an eyebrow.
He begged for alms every day at the First Gate and Odogunyan area of Ikorodu.
Upon interrogation, Abdullahi who is from Oyo State, said he belongs to a group of beggars who feign various types of deformity just to get people to sympathise with them and give them money.

The timely intervention of the vigilante group members in the area prevented him from being lynched by mob.

 He was taken to the police station. Daily Post 

Leadership failure !!! Nigeria ranks third in global internet crimes - NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) says Nigeria currently ranks third globally in cyber crimes behind the UK and the US.

Umar Danbatta, chief executive officer of NCC, disclosed this on Tuesday at the ongoing 2017 annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Lagos.
Danbatta, at a breakout session with the sub-theme: ‘The Business of Cyber Law, Internet Policy and Privacy Rights,’ moderated by Augustine Alegeh (SAN) a former NBA president, said the number of internet users in Nigeria has hit 91.6 million.

“About N127 billion was the estimated loss to cybercrime in Nigeria in 2015; Nigeria ranks third in global internet crimes behind the UK and US,” he said.
“A critical factor militating against Africa’s economic resurgence is the weakness of its institutions.
“Nigeria ranks 169 out of 199 on the World Bank’s ease of doing business rankings; we are in a middle of a revolution and the rise of what we call the networked society.

“The NCC stipulates the laws of engagement that will make the cyberspace safe and ensure the confidence as well as the safety of the cyberspace.
“There are benefits and risks of the use of cyberspace and both has to be properly managed.” - Cable Nigeria

Health : HIV in the UK: Why we're still facing an epidemic and trials are not enough

One in seven gay and bi men in London lives with HIV. The number of new diagnoses in the UK is nearly double the average of Western Europe. Nearly half of those are diagnosed in London. Make no mistake; we are still in the midst of an HIV epidemic in this country, and the epicentre is London.

Next month NHS England will begin a trial of Pre-exposure phophylaxis (PrEP), a course of drugs taken before sex that can reduce the risk of getting HIV by up to 99 per cent.
Four London clinics trialled it and witnessed a 40 per cent drop in new HIV infections among men who have sex with men (msm), and it’s been credited as a major factor in helping 2015 become the year where, for the first time, there was a decrease in the new rate of infections among this group.

In the upcoming trial, PrEP will be given to 10,000 high-risk individuals for three years. This is fantastic news, no doubt about it.
Obviously, some have their doubts. There have been the usual flurry of articles that suggest PrEP will overwhelm the gay community with excitement and we’ll all just forget what condoms are and die of syphilis/ scabies/ sin. Or something.

You’ll be shocked to know the claims don’t hold water, and NICE even concluded last year that the drug actually encouraged users to seek other types of sexual health services.
So, increased access to PrEP is fantastic. No doubt about it.

However, I’m not convinced this upcoming trial is necessary. Endless studies tell us PrEP works really, really well. Scotland didn’t need a trial when it rolled out full implementation, and the National Aids Trust has said that while some of the trial’s research could be useful, “We would certainly have wanted to see England move immediately to routine commissioning of PrEP.”
I hope this trial isn’t just an exercise in delaying payment.

NHS England fought (and lost) multiple court cases arguing it didn’t have the ‘legal power’ to fund a national PrEP service, and has stated that it would rather use the money for ‘other priorities’.
That statement was framed by certain sections of the press as choice between deviant immigrant homosexuals and elderly puppies with cancer, where only one can get the pot of dough.

This argument is frustrating as it is completely illogical. PrEP is much more likely to save the NHS cash rather than drain it of all resources. Excuse the mini maths lesson but:
A full rollout of PrEP is estimated to cost around £20m a year.
That is much cheaper than treating someone with HIV for life. In fact, the entire PrEP budget equals the cost of treatment for 55 new diagnoses. If PrEP is as successful elsewhere as it has been in London, full implementation would save just under two and a half thousand people annually from being diagnosed with HIV, which would save the NHS £864m.

And, you know, save just under two and a half thousand people from living with HIV.There may well be useful information that comes from the trial; more information on other high-risk groups including trans men and women, and women of colour would be helpful in filling blanks left by previous studies. - Evening Standard

Celebrity : See the world's highest-paid actor

Mark Wahlberg has been named Hollywood's highest-paid actor as he took home $68million (£53 million) over the last year - more than double that of Hollywood's highest-paid actress Emma Stone.

Wahlberg, 46, elbowed wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson off the top of the pay list with his highest-ever payday, according to the annual Forbes list.

He reached the top spot despite the commercial disappointment of the recent Transformers film, while he will also star in forthcoming film Daddy's Home 2.
Wahlberg acknowledged the achievement on his Twitter page after rapper P Diddy posted the actor "still owes me some money".

He replied: "I gave it to charity."

Johnson fell to second with 65 million US dollars (£50 million) after his star turn in Baywatch, with Vin Diesel placing third with 54.5 million US dollars (£42.5 million).

Jackie Chan is the highest-paid actor outside the US, according to the list, as he landed at fifth, earning 49 million US dollars (£38 million). Three other international faces make the top 10 in Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar.

Forbes estimates earnings, before taxes and management fees, from movies, TV and commercial endorsements.

The Forbes list has once again highlighted Hollywood's gender pay gap - last week, the magazine named La La Land Oscar winner Emma Stone as the world's highest paid actress with an estimated 2017 take of $26 million (£20.2 million).

THE FULL LIST:

1. Mark Wahlberg, $68 million
2. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, $65 million
3. Vin Diesel, $54.5 million
4. Adam Sandler, $50.5 million
5. Jackie Chan, $49 million
6. Robert Downey, Jr., $48 million
7. Tom Cruise, $43 million
8. Shah Rukh Khan, $38 million
9. Salman Khan, $37 million
10. Akshay Kumar, $35.5 million
11. Chris Hemsworth, $31.5 million
12. Tom Hanks, $31 million
13. Samuel L. Jackson, $30.5 million
14. Ryan Gosling, $29 million
15. Emma Stone, $26 million
16. Jennifer Aniston, $25.5 million
17. Jennifer Lawrence, $24 million
18. Ryan Reynolds, $21.5 million
19. Matt Damon, $21 million
20. Jeremy Renner, $19 million

- The Mirror