Neymar’s father speaks on the player’s Real Madrid move

Neymar Sr. has stated that his son, Neymar Jr. cannot join Real Madrid for now.

Neymar joined Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record fee of €222 million from Barcelona in August.

The 25-year-old has, however, scored 14 goals in 15 matches across all competitions for the Ligue 1 leaders.

There has been speculation he could leave the French capital following uneasy relations with both head coach Unai Emery and star team-mate Edinson Cavani.

Earlier, Spanish football magazine, Don Balon, has reported that Real Madrid are planning a blockbusting €250m move for Neymar at the end of this season that would be financed by the sales of Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Karim Benzema and Rafael Varane.

Neymar Sr. told Fox Sport Brazil, “Today, we don’t have this thought,” when asked about a move to Madrid.

“Answering that is feeding an impossible idea, I can’t talk about negotiations in five or six years.

“Neymar has a long contract with PSG and he just arrived. We have been here for three months and it is already being said that he is going to leave.

“It is complicated for people to respond to this type of thing because it feeds what is spoken.”

NBC fires Matt Lauer after complaint about 'inappropriate sexual behavior'

Matt Lauer was fired from NBC News on Wednesday after an employee filed a complaint about "inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace," the network announced.
Savannah Guthrie made the announcement at the top of the "Today" show. "We are devastated," she said.
The "Today" show is one of the most popular and most profitable franchises on American television. Lauer was the cornerstone of the program for two decades.
So his sudden ouster came as a shock to viewers -- but not as a complete surprise to his "Today" show colleagues. They knew that multiple news outlets were investigating Lauer's off-camera conduct.
NBC News chairman Andrew Lack said in an early morning memo to staff that the complaint was filed on Monday night. Lack said it was the first complaint lodged against Lauer in his career at the network. But he also said "we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident."
Indeed, Lack and other NBC News executives have known for weeks that damaging stories could be coming out soon.
Reporters for The New York Times have been investigating Lauer for weeks, according to sources who had been contacted by the Times.
And Variety's New York bureau chief Ramin Setoodeh said on Twitter that he and his colleague Elizabeth Wagmeister have been doing reporting "about serious sexual harassment allegations against Lauer" for two months.
"NBC was aware" of the reporting, Wagmeister tweeted. "There are multiple women we've spoken to with far-ranging accusations against Lauer. The power of journalism has never been more evident with this cultural change."
An NBC News spokeswoman declined to comment beyond the information in Lack's memo.
A spokeswoman for Lauer said he has no comment at this time. Lauer may release a statement later on Wednesday.
Lauer was informed of the network's decision late Tuesday night, before he went to bed, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
And Guthrie, his co-host for the past five years, was told overnight.
"We were both woken up with the news kind of predawn," Guthrie's co-host Hoda Kotb said. "And we're trying to process it and make sense of it. And it will take some time for that."

Lauer is the latest high-profile man in media to be brought down by allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior. Just last week, CBS News fired one of its own morning anchors, Charlie Rose, after a report in The Washington Post chronicled years of alleged sexual misconduct on his part.
The torrent began when The New York Times and The New Yorker reported on allegations against the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
Since then, actors Kevin Spacey and Louis C.K. have been suspended or removed from projects after allegations against them became public. And other prominent journalists, including Mark Halperin of NBC and Michael Oreskes of NPR, have been fired or suspended from their jobs.

The firing of Lauer removes one of the most recognizable personalities on television at a time when morning news programs are increasingly important to network news divisions.
"This is a sad morning at 'Today' and NBC News," Guthrie said at the top of the 7 a.m. hour. "As I'm sure you can understand, we are devastated. I'm heartbroken for Matt."
Guthrie also said she was heartbroken for the woman who accused Lauer of misconduct, noting "it's long overdue" that women feel comfortable coming forward against abusive men.
Hoda Kotb, on the set with Guthrie, said she has known Lauer for years and "loved him as a friend and a colleague."
"It's hard to reconcile the man who walks in every day" with the person who was identified in the complaint, she said.
Lauer, 59, was named a co-anchor of "Today" in January 1997 after three years as the newsreader.
He co-anchored NBC's coverage of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and other historic news events.
His contract calls for him to be paid tens of millions a year. It reportedly ran through 2018.

What BankyW was doing before mistakenly sharing wife’s naked image

It’s no longer news that Nigerian singer, Bankole Wellington, popularly known as Banky W, yesterday mistakenly shared a nude photo of his newly wedded wife, Nollywood actress, Adesua Etomi on social media.

What is news, however, is that the photo has since then, generated a lot of controversies.

Some notable figures including actress, Kate Henshaw, have taken to Twitter to warn that some things should be kept private. She also called on the couple not to be carried away by social media.

However, it has been observed that the image that went viral online was edited from a video the singer intended to share online.

The actual video from the scene has now made its way into the internet.

What LGBTI expats needs from their employers

As the number of workers taking international assignments increases, companies have more responsibility to look after their LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) employees who may face persecution while on assignment.
Russia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia are becoming some of the most challenging expatriate assignment destinations for multinational firms, according to relocation business BGRS. This is in part because some of these countries advocate the death penalty for homosexuality. Other popular assignment destinations include Brazil, India, China, Mexico and Turkey, and these countries exhibit less sensitivity to homosexuality.


International assignments among multinational corporations have increased by 25% since 2000 and the number is expected to reach more than 50% growth through 2020.
It’s not uncommon for a destination country to refuse spousal visas if same-sex marriage is not legal in that country
The opportunity for LGBTI expatriates and their respective families to be part of an intra-company transfer is statistically likely. Worldwide, the LGBTI population is estimated to be between 1-in-10 and 1-in-20 of the adult population, and over 200 million people worldwide live and work in a country other than their country of origin.
LGBTI employees relocating for a foreign assignment are likely to experience additional hardships compared to the typical expatriate. It’s not uncommon for a destination country to refuse spousal visas if same-sex marriage is not legal in that country.


Likewise, access to healthcare and other benefits can be restricted for those relocating as a same-sex couple. In their study about LGBTI expatriates in dangerous locations, Ruth McPhail and Yvonne McNulty highlighted an interview with one LGBTI expatriate who experienced difficulty in gaining a spousal visa in Indonesia:
I knew my wife would never get a spousal visa in Indonesia; my experience had prepared me for that. So instead I wanted to be guaranteed two things: firstly, that my wife could come and stay at least 90 days at a time with multiple entry, and second that if there was a medical evacuation or civil strife situation that we would be evacuated as a family. These two matters were more important to me than what type of visa we were allocated.
On a daily basis, a lack of access to, or interaction with other LGBTI families may be common among LGBTI expatriates, and “fitting in” is not always guaranteed. From a career perspective, LGBTI people may face a difficult workplace climate, a perceived lack of career opportunities or status at work.
LGBTI employees may not accept international assignments in the first instance, out of fear of being stigmatised, unsupported or discriminated against by colleagues and the legal system in the host country
For example, research shows that lesbians are faced with unique challenges for their career development. These include identifying the right job, and finding a way to get the job and develop on the job. This can easily stifle their potential.
Taking all of this into account, the experience of LGBTI employees on international assignment can be a frustrating and lonely experience. As a result, LGBTI employees may not accept international assignments in the first instance, out of fear of being stigmatised, unsupported or discriminated against by colleagues and the legal system in the host country.


What support should be offered?
In the end, multinational companies have two choices. One is to turn a blind eye to the challenges faced by LGBTI employees and subsequently suffer the consequences of premature assignment returns and failed assignment costs. The other is taking an equally challenging path by acknowledging the challenges and concentrating on efforts to support LGBTI people through their international assignment experience.
One option is to map out an LGBTI employee’s career and where that fits with their life goals, because these influence their experience overseas
The Williams Institute found that some multinational companies are leading the way by adopting policies specific to LGBTI people. They are reporting improved employee morale and productivity as a result.


If companies are aware that these issues deter LGBTI employees from considering international assignments in the first place, there are effective support mechanisms to use. One option is to map out an LGBTI employee’s career and where that fits with their life goals, because these influence their experience overseas.
Whether or not the employee chooses to disclose their sexual orientation could also affect their assignment overseas. These needs should be weighed up relative to the degree of assignment difficulty.
During an assignment companies can provide additional support to mitigate liabilities, like offering a voluntary reassignment or the option to return home prematurely. As with any good support system, the lines of communication must go both ways.
Multinational corporations have a duty of care to the LGBTI community to ensure that their international assignment experiences maintain a suitable level of support.

Why no-one heard the Grenfell blogger's warnings

When fire engulfed Grenfell Tower nearly six months ago, with the loss of 71 lives, many were astonished that a London tower block could burn so quickly and with such devastating results. But one of the building's residents foresaw it all too clearly - he just couldn't find anyone to listen to his warnings.
Last November, on a grey Sunday with the rain drizzling constantly outside his window, a man sat at his computer on the 16th floor of his West London tower block and began to write a blog.
"It is our conviction that a serious fire in a tower block... is the most likely reason that those who wield power at the KCTMO [Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation] will be found out and brought to justice!"
Six months later, on 14 June, London woke up to the news that a fire had blazed through Grenfell Tower on the Lancaster West estate in North Kensington, killing dozens of residents. By the following night the blog had received more than two million hits.
"You know when you just get the pen and just write?" says the blog's author. "That's what happened that day, and looking back it's like a premonition that's so awful. I would never have written that had I known what was going to happen."
The man behind the blog is Edward Daffarn, a 55-year-old social worker who had lived on the estate for 16 years. He was in his flat two-thirds of the way up Grenfell Tower when the fire took hold. Luckily, a neighbour called him in time and urged him to get out. He wrapped a wet towel around his head and ran into the smoke that had already filled the building. That night he lost his home, all his possessions, and the community he loved.


Edward Daffarn is understandably emotional when reflecting on the last few months, but more than that he is angry. Angry with the way he feels Grenfell residents were treated by the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organisation - the people who were entrusted to maintain the estate and keep its residents safe. Angry with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council, which was meant to scrutinise the KCTMO. Angry with a society which didn't seem to care about people like him - people who live on housing estates - until it was too late.
"The reality is if you're on a housing estate it's indifference and neglect, two words that sum up everything about the way we were treated," he says. "They weren't interested in providing housing services, keeping us safe, maintaining the estate. They were just interested in themselves."
Daffarn and fellow Grenfell resident Francis O'Connor had been blogging on behalf of the Grenfell Action Group since 2012. They wrote about issues that concerned their tight-knit community - air pollution, the closure of the local public library, and their fears that corners were being cut during the refurbishment of the tower.
"We wanted to record for history how a community on a housing estate in the fifth richest country in world could be ignored, neglected, treated with indifference. We never thought we could make change we just wanted to record what was happening," he says.
Daffarn and O'Connor shared a theory that Kensington and Chelsea - a London borough more widely known for its museums, designer shops and flower shows - actually wanted its council estates to go into decline, so that the residents would leave and expensive flats could be built in this sought-after location. For this they were described as fantasists.
"We weren't fantasists," he says, visibly hurt. "We were trying to raise genuine concerns about how our community was being run down."
The natural consequence, he concluded, would be loss of life. Which is why on 20 November 2016, frustrated and desperate, Edward wrote the blog post KCTMO - Playing with fire!
"It is a truly terrifying thought but the Grenfell Action Group firmly believe that only a catastrophic event will expose the ineptitude and incompetence of our landlord."


A few months earlier a fire had ripped through five floors of a tower block in Shepherd's Bush, just down the road. Edward was worried that if a fire broke out in his tower block residents wouldn't know what to do. They had been given no proper fire safety instructions from the KCTMO. There were no instructions on individual floors on how residents should act in the event of a fire, there was only a recent newsletter saying residents should remain in their flats - advice which in the case of the Shepherd's Bush fire would have led to fatalities.
In March 2017 the KCTMO installed fire safety instruction notices in the entrance hallway to Grenfell Tower and outside the lifts on every floor of the building, again urging residents to "stay put" unless the fires was "in or affecting your flat".
It wasn't the first time the Grenfell blog's authors had raised concerns about fire safety.
Before the blog began, when a school was built on the only green space the residents had, they wrote to the borough pointing out that access for fire and emergency vehicles had been compromised.
Later they blogged about the blocking of a fire exit with mattresses during the refurbishment and the power surges in 2013 that manifested in flickering lights, computers and stereos blowing up, and entire rooms filling with smoke. These continued for three weeks, Daffarn says.
"We were tenants we weren't fire safety specialists but we were switched on enough to feel this was important and it was not being dealt with on our estate and that's why we were blogging. It wasn't for us to tell the council what they should be doing we were just trying to raise an alarm."
An alarm that went unanswered. The November 2016 blog post represented the last moment at which something might have been done to avert the disaster which followed six months later. But why didn't anyone heed or investigate Daffarn's claims?


Hidden within the story of the Grenfell blog is another story of the decline of local media. There simply was no local press on the ground in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea scrutinising the authorities and helping to amplify the voice of people like Edward Daffarn.
The last time he had the attention of a local journalist was in 2014 when Camilla Horrox, the reporter for the The Kensington and Chelsea Chronicle ran front page stories about Grenfell residents' concerns regarding the possible presence of asbestos on the site of the new school and about the power surges.
She had met Daffarn several times, and had been concerned about KCTMO's dealings with the residents of the properties it managed.
But when the newspaper was closed down later that year Horrox was made redundant and all her Grenfell articles disappeared from the web. The Kensington and Chelsea Chronicle was incorporated into a website that reports on 29 west London districts. Horrox's replacement was expected to report on three boroughs - Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, and Hammersmith and Fulham - while based in Surrey, an hour's drive away.
Some residents of the borough might have been under the mistaken impression that they did have a local newspaper. In 2015 a free paper, The Kensington and Chelsea News, was established to fill the gap left by the closing of the Chronicle. But when I tracked down its reporter he explained that he was the sole reporter working on the paper, and on two other local newspapers - his salary was only £500 a week and he did almost all his reporting from home in Dorset, 150 miles away. He made it to the borough only twice in two-and-a-half years, and the one story he ever published about Grenfell was from a council press release about the installation of the new cladding.

Super Eagles drop 9 places in new FIFA rankings

Nigeria have dropped nine places to 50th in the latest FIFA ranking.

The Super Eagles finished 41st in October, after beating Zambia 1-0 to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

However, despite beating Argentina 4-2 in a high-grade international friendly earlier this month, they are now eighth on the continent.

Germany remain number one in the world, with the top five remaining unchanged.

Brazil follow the world champions in second place, with Euro 2016 winners Portugal in third. Argentina are fourth, with Belgium completing the top five.

The final FIFA world ranking for 2017 will be announced on December 21.

Clock ticks in search for missing Argentine submarine

An increasingly desperate search for a missing Argentine submarine continued Thursday as the clock runs down on hopes of finding the vessel's 44 crew members before their air supply runs out.

The ARA San Juan, which was last contacted off the coast of Argentina on November 15, has enough air to last only seven to 10 days if it has remained fully immersed since that time, experts say.
If the submarine has surfaced or "snorkeled" -- that is, raised a tube to the surface to refresh the vessel's air -- since then, the crew may have bought more time.

Anxious families have been waiting at Argentina's Mar del Plata navy base, to which the submarine was heading when it vanished, for news of their loved ones. Meanwhile, ships and aircraft from a dozen nations are scouring a swath of the South Atlantic for the missing vessel.
A spokesman for the UK Ministry of Defense confirmed on Thursday that a Royal Air Force C-130 aircraft had landed in Argentina and is now a part of the search, as is a Voyager, a refueling aircraft that helps searches go on longer.
It appears to be the first time since the Falklands conflict in 1982 that an RAF plane has landed in Argentina, although the UK Ministry of Defense would only characterize it as the first time in a "very long time." The Royal Navy's ice-patrol ship, HMS Protector, had already joined the search.

Navy analyzing new noise
Enrique Balbi, a spokesman for the Argentine navy, said Wednesday that there had been "no type of contact, not passive nor active," with the submarine since November 15. The search is "in the critical phase," he said.
The Navy has just begun analyzing a new noise that was detected on the day the sub vanished, Balbi said. But rumors of a recent distress call are false, he said.
On Tuesday night, a British polar ship saw flares -- one orange and two white -- east of where it was conducting operations, prompting the dispatch of a search-and-rescue team consisting of three ships and two aircraft.
For many hours, they patrolled the area "and were not able to detect any magnetic anomaly," Balbi told CNN. The spokesman said previously that the flares aboard the San Juan are green and red.
The Argentine navy lost contact with the ARA San Juan shortly after the vessel's captain reported a failure in the battery system while the sub was submerged off Argentina's South Atlantic coast, the military said.
The submarine was traveling from a base in Argentina's far southern Tierra del Fuego archipelago to its home base in Mar del Plata on the northern side of the country.
Families' tense wait for news
Outside the Mar del Plata navy base, Federico Ibáñez is among the many family members and well-wishers hoping for good news. His brother, Cristian, is a radar technician on the San Juan.

Federico Ibáñez questions why the Argentine navy continues to say the boat could be on the ocean surface, and why rescuers took so long to begin searching the ocean floor.
"The other relatives really have more hope and think everything will be OK, while I think the navy is wrong in saying the submarine could be on the surface," said the 34-year-old.
"It's a lack of respect. If it was on the surface, they would have found it. They didn't, and they didn't look for them at the bottom," he said. "If they did it earlier, it could have been different."
He fears the situation will end badly. "They keep saying that a submarine in good condition can have this much time, but they don't say how long they have if the submarine is not in good condition. So, what if it's in bad shape?"
Cristian Ibáñez has a daughter, Elisa, 9. His wife, Fernanda Valacco, has told the girl little, hoping that her husband will return and she won't have to explain what happened.
"She knows her father is missing, but she knows he's fine and will be home soon," Valacco told CNN. "I am sure all of the 44 will be fine and could come here any moment."

'Everybody is silent'
Federico Ibáñez described a tense atmosphere on the navy base as family members huddle together praying for word of the sub's discovery.
"They all stay there in a big room with bunk beds and some desks. Everybody is silent. Everybody is waiting. Waiting for what? I cannot stay there," he said.
Aboard the sub with Cristian Ibáñez is Eliana Maria Krawczyk, Argentina's first female submarine officer.
In 2004, she joined the navy after seeing an ad about military ships. She has voiced hopes of one day commanding a sub herself.
"At the time, there weren't any female officers in the force. I took it as a challenge," she once told the Argentine Defense Ministry in a video interview. "You can do the same things than any men do, even if you are in a traditionally male-dominated environment. ... Any women can do it."

I take responsibility for PDP’s failure in 2015 – Goodluck Jonathan

The immediate past President, Goodluck Jonathan has said he should be blamed for the Peoples Democratic Party’s loss in 2015.

Jonathan said it was better to take responsibility for the party’s defeat to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the last presidential election.

The former President said it has become his priority “to ensure that the Peoples Democratic Party regains the Presidency in 2019.”

He said this when one of the aspirants for the national chairmanship position of the PDP, Chief Olabode George, paid him a courtesy visit in his countryhome in Otuoke, Bayelsa State.

The former President said it was his responsibility to ensure that the PDP rose again as a strong political platform to win the next elections.

Jonathan said, “Whether I like it or not, I must take responsibility for the defeat because I led the party to the election.

“The only thing that will make me sleep well is to ensure that the PDP comes back to power.”

He further explained that he was working with other stakeholders to ensure that the party was well organised to achieve this purpose though he preferred to work from the back seat.

Don Jazzy: Emmanuel Chuks Hint on A Manufacturing Plan To The Mavin Boss

One Of Nigerian Comedian Advices The Mavin Record Of Imposing A New Business Deal attached to the entire Team.

He Says:

Oh!
Another Business Plan To The Entire #mavinsrecord.

Thought:
When I First Saw The Wine, What Came To My Mind Was The Name. #Jazzy
I Never Had In Mind Or Thought Of Don Jazzy( MavinBoss) The Music Guru, What I Was Suggesting Was; No Nigerian Has Ever Produced Red Wine or Champagne (Alcohol/ Non Alcohol) In This Part Of The Country  Aside From- Sir Alexander Amosu @Alexanderamosu Taste of Diamonds Wine. The Expensive!

After I Emptied This Jazzy Wine At Which I Posted, Something Came On Me To Like Create Awareness Because I was Already  Going To Trash The Bottle. 'What If @Donjazzy Of Mavin Record Decide To Manufacture His Own Wine Or Champagne And To Name It After Is Musical Name #Donjazzy To Be The Second Expensive Wine In  World. With His Familiarity And Fame In The Music Industry, I Guess He'll Surely Make It And Nigeria Will Compensate Him The More, Making Taste Of Diamonds His Business Partner. @donjazzy think About It!

The Voice Of A Saint Comedian Of Nigerian- @Mc_Actually

Biafra: IPOB dead and gone – Lai Mohammed

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has stated that the successful conduct of the governorship election in Anambra state last Saturday shows that the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is dead and gone.

According to the Information Minister, the turnout of voters during the polls has diminished the IPOB.

Lai Mohammed said this while addressing reporters in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Wednesday, against reported call by the pro-Biafra group for indigenes to stay away on the election day.

His words, “I think what that proved really is that IPOB does not represent the good people of Anambra or any state in the South East.

He said the IPOB propaganda about the election really showed that they are not on ground.

“The people of Anambra have shown that there is no alternative to democracy and that they believe in one Nigeria and federal system of government. If there are issues to be resolved, let us resolve it. But terrorism and separatism is not the answer.

“I think the Anambra election has sounded the death knell on IPOB because they said election will never hold. The election has come and gone, the turnout was quite reasonable.

“Every party competed very competitively and at the end of the day, the people of Anambra have decided who is going to be their governor.”

Mugabe's likely successor Mnangagwa due back in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's former vice-president, whose sacking led to the shock resignation of long-time leader Robert Mugabe, could be sworn in as the new president within hours, the ruling party says.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, who fled to South Africa two weeks ago, is due to arrive back on Wednesday, the Zanu-PF says.
His dismissal led both the party and the military to intervene and force an end to Mr Mugabe's 37-year long rule.
The news sparked wild celebrations across the country late into the night.
The announcement that the 93-year-old was stepping down came in the form of a letter read out in parliament on Wednesday, abruptly halting impeachment proceedings against him.
In it, Mr Mugabe said he was resigning to allow a smooth and peaceful transfer of power, and that his decision was voluntary.


A Zanu-PF spokesman said Mr Mnangagwa, 71, would serve the remainder of Mr Mugabe's term until elections which are due to take place by September 2018.
He is expected to land back in Zimbabwe at 11:30 GMT and later be sworn-in, an ally to the former vice-president, Larry Mavhima, told Reuters news agency.
"Together, we will ensure a peaceful transition to the consolidation of our democracy, and bring in a fresh start for all Zimbabweans and foster peace and unity," Mr Mnangagwa said in comments to Zimbabwe's NewsDay on Tuesday.


Mr Mnangagwa's firing by Robert Mugabe two weeks ago triggered an unprecedented political crisis in the country.
It had been seen by many as an attempt to clear the way for Grace Mugabe to succeed her husband as leader and riled the military leadership, who stepped in and put Mr Mugabe under house arrest.


The move to appoint Mr Mnangagwa as Robert Mugabe's successor appears to go against the constitution, which would normally give the post to the serving vice-president, Phelekezela Mphoko.
Mr Mphoko - a key ally of Grace Mugabe - is not believed to be in the country.
Some have questioned whether the handover to Mr Mnangagwa will bring about real change in the country.
Opposition leadTVer Morgan Tsvangirai told the BBC he hoped that Zimbabwe was on a "new trajectory" that would include free and fair elections.
He said Mr Mugabe should be allowed to "go and rest for his last days".


Prominent opposition politician David Coltart tweeted: "We have removed a tyrant but not yet a tyranny."
African Union president Alpha Conde said he was "truly delighted" by the news, but expressed regret at the way Mr Mugabe's rule has ended.
"It is a shame that he is leaving through the back door and that he is forsaken by the parliament," he said.
Celebrations in the streets
At 93, Mr Mugabe was - until his resignation - the world's oldest leader. He once proclaimed that "only God" could remove him.
Lawmakers from the ruling party and opposition roared with glee, when the resignation letter was read aloud in parliament on Wednesday.


Activist and political candidate Vimbaishe Musvaburi broke down in tears of joy speaking to the Media.
"We are tired of this man, we are so glad he's gone. We don't want him anymore and yes, today, it's victory," she said.

Babachir Lawal, others diverted PINE funds – UNDP, UHRC

The United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, has accused the Presidential Initiative on the North East, PINE, of complicity in the illegal diversion of funds donated to help Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the country.

The draft report, which UNDP issued in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, on Tuesday, revealed that out of N8.352billion released to PINE in 2016, a total sum of N6.326bn was spent, leaving a balance of N2.026bn.

It however decried that PINE which depleted the funds, “paid less attention to the critical needs of IDPs in the areas of housing, food, education and healthcare, but rather used the bulk of the resources on contracts that were found to have immensely benefitted some public officials including the now-suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal”.

According to the report which UNDP and NHRC made available to newsmen in Abuja, “Public procurement rules and extant federal financial guidelines were breached in the award of the contracts.

“Prima facie cases of conflict of interest were established and companies were fully paid as at a time they had not finished the assigned jobs, whilst kickbacks were made by some companies to others where public officials had clear interest.

“Again, out of 249 trucks carrying 10,000 metric tonnes of Maize released by the Federal Government for the benefit of the IDPs in the six states of the North East, 65 trucks were diverted and did not reach their intended destination.

“They were later recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after the Senate Committee report was made public.

“But this is a development against the background of the mounting hunger and food crisis in the IDP camps”.

“The findings was that governments did not use the maximum of available resources to protect the rights and welfare of the IDPs. The resources provided at the federal and state levels were paltry.

“In Gombe State, even the little provided in the state budget was not released and cash backed. Most of the IDPs lived in host communities with little access to official humanitarian support, putting additional strain on the already stretched communual health, education and social services.

“The camps were struggling to accommodate the increasing number of displaced people, who found themselves subject to unhealthy living conditions. Many children were malnourished, as adequate provisions were not made to feed them”.

Champions League Results: Real Madrid hammer APOEL, Liverpool drop points

Defending champions Real Madrid crushed APOEL Nicosia 6-0 in Cyprus on Tuesday night.

Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo both scored twice for Madrid, while Luka Modric and Nacho also got on the scoresheet.

Liverpool threw away a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 at Sevilla.

Raheem Sterling struck late, as Manchester City beat Feyernoord 1-0 at the Etihad, while Napoli thrashed Shakhtar Donetsk 3-0 in Italy. Tottenham Hotspur fought back from a goal down, to win 2-1 against Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park.

Spartak Moscow drew 1-1 with Maribor, while RB Leipzig defeated Monaco 4-1 in France.

Besiktas had earlier qualified for the roudnof 16, following a 1-1 draw at home with FC Porto.

Senate suspends debate on 2018 budget

The Senate on Tuesday announced the deferment of debate on the 2018 budget submitted to the joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari about 2 weeks ago.

This is contrary to its earlier plan to commence debate on the general principles of the budget.

Senate President and leader of the National Assembly, Bukola Saraki, made the announcement at the commencement of Tuesday’s legislative business.

He told the lawmakers that the deferment was done so as to enable the Upper Legislative Chamber pass the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), this week.

He also said that the deferment will allow the National Assembly’s bureaucracy distribute copies of the budget proposal to members of the House.

Champions League: Cavani explains why he left penalty duties to Neymar

Paris Saint-Germain striker, Edinson Cavani, has claimed that he has left penalty duties to Neymar at the club, because the Brazilian “knows how to face pressure”.

Cavani and Neymar were involved in a furious row in September, when PSG were awarded a spot-kick against Lyon in a Ligue 1 clash.

Cavani eventually stepped up and missed, leading to tensions between the two players and in the dressing room.

The Uruguay international on Monday said said: “Neymar take the next penalty.”
He, however, made it clear that the forwards’ relationship is strictly business.
“Neymar is successful and knows how to face pressure.

“We don’t need to be friends.We will help each other on the pitch,” he added.
PSG host Celtic on Wednesday as they return to Champions League action.

Forbes reveals 2017 highest paid woman in music

Beyonce’s hit album ‘Lemonade’ and world tour made her the highest-paid woman in music in 2017, according to an annual Forbes list on Monday.

The R&B singer earned some 105 million dollars from record sales and from her ‘Formation’ concert tour.

She also has her own Ivy Park fashion line and other business interests.

Adele, whose ’25’ album broke first-week U.S. sales records in 2015 and who completed her first major tour since 2011, made second place with an estimated 69 million dollars, despite having no major endorsements for other products.

Swift, who topped the last year’s list with 170 million dollars in estimated earnings, raked in 44 million dollars this time despite having finished her “1989” world tour.

The singer is expected to see her earnings rise significantly in the next 12 months courtesy of her new album ‘Reputation’ – the best-selling album of 2017 – and an upcoming tour.

Canadian superstar Celine Dion took the No.4 spot, earning some 42 million dollars after taking a break from her Las Vegas residency following the death of her husband Rene Angelil in January 2016.

Reuters reports that Forbes compiled the list after estimating pretax income for the 12 months from June 2016 to 2017, based on interviews with managers, agents, lawyers and some of the stars.

David Adeleke, Known as Davido He's +1 Today

The Nigerian, Multi Talented Musician Known As Davido baddest, David Adeleke. Who Won Several Awards This Year As, The Best Worldwide Act And The Best African Act. Whom By Nature Will Be +1 Today

A Die hard Fans Sent This To Him-

Celebrating With The King Today, Davido

He's 25yrs Today, Our Prayer For You Is That You'll  Live To Celebrate More Additional Years Added To Your Years In Jesus Name......

What Ever Money Cannot Buy God Almighty Will Grant Unto You In Abundance! More Nominations More Awards We Pray In Your Careers.........

Happy Birthday Big  Bro Daniel Baddest! Llnp More Elbow Grease. @davidoofficial One Love!!!

Miss Nigeria, Chioma Obadi reveals her type of man

Miss Nigeria, Chioma Obadi has revealed the type of man she would love to marry.

The beauty queen in an interview with Punch said her husband must be God fearing and smart.

She said “I think love is giving, love is sacrifice and it is a decision.

“You cannot decide to fall in love, but you can decide to stay in love.

“My husband must be God-fearing and smart because if he is not smart, I may not be able to respect him.

“Of course, the man must completely adore me too.”

Asked her major challenge, Miss Nigeria said “It’s trying to be what you feel people expect you to be.

“But I have decided to be myself and not to change who I am.”

SPORTPremier League: West Bromwich sack coach Tony Pulis after loss to Chelsea

Premier League side, West Bromwich Albion, on Monday sacked its head coach, Tony Pulis after the club was thrashed 4-0 over the weekend by Chelsea.

Pulis took over at The Hawthorns in January 2015 and West Brom finished 13th, 14th and 10th under him.

The 59-year-old gaffer won just twice in their last 21 league games for the Baggies, with the club just a point above the relegation zone.

A statement by the club Chairman, John Williams reads, “These decisions are never taken lightly but always in the interests of the Club.

“We are in a results business and over the back end of last season and this season to date, ours have been very disappointing.

“We would like to place on record our appreciation of Tony’s contribution and hard work during a period of transition for the Club which included a change of ownership.

“We wish him well in his future endeavours.”

Assistant head coach, Gary Megson has agreed to take charge of the first-team affairs until further notice.

Germany's Merkel suffers blow as FDP pulls out of coalition talks

Talks on forming a coalition government in Germany have collapsed, leaving Angela Merkel facing her biggest challenge in 12 years as chancellor.

The free-market liberal FDP pulled out after four weeks of talks with Mrs Merkel's CDU/CSU bloc and the Greens.
FDP leader Christian Lindner said there was "no basis of trust" between them.
What happens next is unclear, but Mrs Merkel is due to meet President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who has the power to call snap elections.

Her bloc won September's poll, but many voters deserted the mainstream parties.
After winning its first parliamentary seats, the far-right nationalist AfD (Alternative for Germany) vowed to fight "an invasion of foreigners" into the country.

Mrs Merkel said she regretted the collapse of the talks, adding she would meet the German president later on Monday to formally tell him negotiations had failed.
"It is a day of deep reflection on how to go forward in Germany," she said. "As chancellor, I will do everything to ensure that this country is well managed in the difficult weeks to come."
Aside from early elections, Mrs Merkel could also form a minority government with the Greens.

'Goodbye!'
"Today there was no progress but rather there were setbacks because targeted compromises were questioned," Mr Lindner said.
"It is better not to rule than to rule badly. Goodbye!" he added.
The parties involved in the talks are reported to be deeply divided over tax, asylum and environmental policies.
The most bitter arguments have been over whether Syrian refugees should be allowed to bring family members to join them in Germany, the BBC's Jenny Hill reports.
Mrs Merkel's conservatives, mindful of the electoral success of the AfD, are cautious and want to extend a moratorium on so-called family reunions, our correspondent adds.
The second-largest party in parliament, the Social Democrats, have ruled out returning to a coalition government with Mrs Merkel.

Anambra election: Why Obiano defeated his opponents – SSG

Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, Secretary to Anambra government, has thanked the people of the state for re-electing Governor Willie Obiano.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officer, Prof. Zana Akpagu, the VC of UNICAL, said Obiano polled 234,071 votes.

Chukwulobelu stated that his victory simply confirms that hard work paid.

“We are pleased with the outcome of the election. The governor won in the 21 Local Government Areas of the state with more than 50 per cent”, he said.

“It shows that the governor had in his first tenure, spread democracy dividends across the areas.

“His good performance has spoken. We want this election to be used as a model for future elections in the country.

“But for minor skirmishes, it was peaceful, credible and political parties participated actively. Campaigns were also peaceful.

“More importantly, we thank the people for their support and I want to join Governor Obiano in asking other candidates to join his administration to build a greater and prosperous Anambra State”, he added.

Source: Zimbabwe's Mugabe agrees to terms of resignation

Zimbabwe's long-time president Robert Mugabe has agreed to the terms of his resignation and a letter has been drafted, an official source with direct knowledge of negotiations told The Media.

The source said that the generals had given into many of Mugabe's demands including full immunity for himself and his wife Grace, and that he would keep his private properties.
According to the source, the aim of Sunday's televised address -- in which Mugabe appeared to resist calls to step aside -- was to ensure the veteran leader openly declared the military's actions to be constitutional.
For the resignation to formally take place, however, a letter must first be sent to the speaker of Parliament, added the source.
Mugabe had stunned the nation on Sunday when he refused to say in a live televised address if he was stepping down.

His party had given Mugabe, who has been under house arrest since the military seized power, 24 hours to resign or be impeached. On Saturday, thousands of Zimbabweans had taken to the streets calling for him to go.
But in a bizarre and rambling speech, Mugabe instead insisted he was going nowhere, and that he would see his political party Zanu-PF through its congress in a few weeks.
Zimbabweans who'd been glued to state television to watch the speech live came out into the streets afterward, some in shock.
Harare resident Tina Madzimure called the speech "an embarrassment really. He made a fool out of the generals."
"This man will go to his grave with Zimbabwe in his hands," she told the Press.


Key developments:
-- On Sunday, the Zanu-PF Party removed Mugabe as its leader and replaced him with Zimbabwe's former Vice President, Emmerson Mnangagwa.
-- The party gave a deadline of midday local on Monday to resign as President of Zimbabwe or otherwise face impeachment.
-- Mugabe's support crumbles: Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets over the weekend to demand an end to Mugabe's rule.
Mugabe: Military acted out of concern
On Sunday, the 93-year-old appeared on television seated at a table underneath his own portrait on a wall behind him.

To his left were men in suits, to his right, military officials. During the course of the 20-minute speech, Mugabe shuffled papers, eschewing some for others, and spoke of entrepreneurial summits and tech initiatives.
Beside him, the military officials squirreled sheafs of paper out of sight behind them, watching and pointing to pages he was sifting through.
He suggested that the Zimbabwean Defense Forces acted last week out of concern, "based on their reading of the state of affairs in the country and in the party."
"I, as the president of Zimbabwe, and their commander in chief, do acknowledge the issues they have drawn my attention to," Mugabe said at one point during the speech, Sunday. "And (I) do believe that these were raised in the spirit of honesty and out of deep and patriotic concern for the stability for our nation and for the welfare of our people."
He added: "Today's meeting with the command element has underscored the need for us to collectively start processes that return our nation to normalcy. So that all our people can go about their business unhindered, in an environment of perfect peace and security."


Mugabe's speech was the latest jaw-dropping moment since the army seized power in Harare on Wednesday. The military was quick to dismiss suggestions that a coup had occurred, saying it was conducting an operation against the enemies of Mugabe who was being kept "safe" in military custody. The military deployed throughout the streets of the Harare and in front of key government buildings.
One observer told Media He believed Sunday's address had been choreographed between Mugabe and Zimbabwe's generals.
"It is difficult to imagine a situation where they didn't know what was in the contents of that speech," said Piers Pigou, a senior consultant for the International Crisis Group.
"What the speech provides for the generals is immediate legal cover because Mugabe made it very clear at the beginning of his speech that this was not a coup, and this was the concern of many in the security establishment," Pigou told Media.
Mugabe's allies turn against him
Mugabe's appearance on national TV followed a Zanu-PF party meeting in which he was officially removed as leader, if not in practice.
Video from within the meeting uploaded onto social media appears to show Zanu-PF members dancing and singing in celebration.
The decision came shortly after official Obert Mpofu opened the meeting at the party headquarters in Harare by declaring the party's intention to vote Mugabe out.
His statement received a standing ovation and roars of approval. Mpofu is one of the many former Mugabe allies who have turned on the President. The former mining minister, who once described himself as Mugabe'sd most obedient son, said the decision was made with "a heavy heart."

Sources told Press that any deal would involve Mugabe stepping down to make way for an interim President, while Emmerson Mnangagwa would likely be installed as the next Zanu-PF leader in December, paving the way for the presidency in next year's election.
The powerful and well-connected Mnangagwa has been central to the political movements. Party members saw his dismissal on November 6 as the final assault after months of infighting over who would eventually replace Mugabe.
Mnangagwa has not been seen since he was fired, but Media has learned that he had been instrumental for some time in plans to seize control from the President.


Mnangagwa served as Mugabe's right-hand man throughout his entire leadership, and there are concerns that his rise could mark a continuation of Mugabe's oppressive policies.
Like Mugabe, Mnangagwa has been accused of playing a central role in a string of massacres by the country's Fifth Brigade in the early 1980s, which are widely believed to have killed up to 20,000 people.
The people march for Mugabe to go
There was strong appetite among Zimbabweans for Mugabe to go. On Saturday tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets to demand an end to his rule.
The country's powerful army veterans organization, once loyal to Mugabe, had also turned on the embattled 93-year-old leader. The group organized a rally in Harare on Saturday, in which tens of thousands of people turned up to call for him to step down.
"The whole nation is celebrating today. We are finally getting rid of the old man," said Tanashe, a Harare resident who declined to provide a second name. Others ran alongside army tanks and hugged soldiers to who their gratitude for their actions.
Foreign powers have also largely supported the military's moves so far, with few international voices condemning the apparent coup.

Parental Advice

Be Focus And Never You Trust Anyone!
Friends Might Deceive You... . Be Yourself And Be The Man You Ought Too

Arsenal vs Tottenham: Gunners record comfortable 2-0 win in North London derby

Arsenal on Saturday recorded a well deserved 2-0 win over Tottenham at the commencement of week 13 Premier League matches.

Goals from Shkodran Mustafi and Alexis Sanchez ensured Arsene Wenger’s men overpowered their City rivals at the Emirate Stadium.

The result means The Gunners move just one point behind Tottenham.

Wenger’s side showed themselves faster, stronger and hungrier than their opponents in every department.

Arsenal outplayed Spurs from the outset and were on top of their opponents with wave after wave of attack on until Mustafi headed them in front in the 36th minute.

And five minutes later, Tottenham were were two down when Lacazette nipped in between Vertonghen and Davies, squared to Sanchez, who bundled in at the near post.

With the two first half goals, Arsenal played out a surprisingly comfortable victory over Tottenham.