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Showing posts from November 10, 2017

World markets dive as Trump sparks trade, North Korea worries

Global stocks sank Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said he was not satisfied with talks that are aimed at averting a trade war with China. Equities were also dented by poor eurozone economic data, and as Trump cast doubt on a planned summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “Trump (is) continuing to drive uncertainty over global trade,” said analyst Joshua Mahony at trading firm IG. “European markets are following their Asian counterparts lower, as a pessimistic tone from Trump is compounded by downbeat economic data,” he added. Markets had surged Monday after US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said they had agreed to pull back from imposing threatened tariffs on billions of dollars of goods, and continue talks on a variety of trade issues. However, Trump has declared that he was “not satisfied” with the status of the talks, fuelling worries that the world’s top two economies could still slug out an economically pain

Wenger On Why Iwobi Chose Nigeria : England Didn't Really Push.

Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has revealed that Alex Iwobi opted to represent the Super Eagles at senior international level because England were dragging their feet in their pursuit of his services. The Hale End Academy product turned out for England at U16, U17 and U18 level before committing his international future to his country of birth in 2015. ''He had the potential to play for England and for Nigeria. Today he looks very happy with Nigeria. When I speak to him, he’s had very positive experiences,'' Wenger told  Arsenal Player , according to arsenal.com. ''He brings his quality to Nigeria - he’s absolutely a creative player going forward. He’s very strong in small spaces and he’s starting to score goals as well.  ''For a while it was open between England and Nigeria, and England didn’t really push for Alex during that period. Nigeria were more willing to have him.  ''I’ve seen many times that sons of parents from Nigeria want to go back to

Buhari meets members, leadership of CAN in Aso Rock.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met with members and leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was being attended by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, National Security Adviser (NSA) Retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno and Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita. The meeting, being held behind closed doors at the Council Chamber of Aso Rock, was also being attended by cabinet ministers, while the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, was represented by Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund Office (EFO) Hajiya Habiba Lawal. The President would also meet with representatives of the Muslim community in Nigeria at same venue by 2 p.m.

Nigerian court seizes Ikoyi cash flat.

A Nigerian judge on Thursday ordered the seizure of a flat linked to the former head of the country’s National Intelligence Agency, after more than $43 million in cash was found during an anti-corruption raid. Judge Saliu Seidu, sitting at the Federal High Court in Lagos, said the apartment in the upmarket Ikoyi area of the city should be temporarily forfeited to the government, pending any challenge within 14 days. Acting on a tip-off, agents from Economic and Financial Crimes Commission raided the property on April 12 this year and discovered just under $43.5 million (37.4 million euros, £33.1 million). They also found £27,800, as well as 23.2 million naira ($65,000, 51,000 euros, £49,600), the court was told. Documents established the flat was bought in 2015 by Folashade Oke, the wife of Ayodele Oke, who at the time was director-general of the NIA. It was alleged she bought the property using $1.66 million from government funds to which her husband had access.

Why John Ogu need to convince in rare chance against Algeria.

John Ogu is a fairly curious case. Good enough to always get a call-up but deemed not great enough to make it onto the field. It is like that shiny utensil that adorns the kitchen corner, gives it a sparkle but rarely ever gets used. Here’s a bit of a shocker, Ogu’s last competitive game with the Super Eagles was a seven-minute cameo against Chad in 2015 yet ‘John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)’ always is seen on the latest list of call-ups since he got his first call-up under Coach Gernot Rohr for the game against Algeria at Uyo. There wasn’t a return for Anderson Esiti or Nosa Igiebor who had been invited to Rohr’s first two games at the helm. Rohr liked what he saw and Ogu became an ever-present on the Super Eagles’ list of invitees, even getting to play 65 minutes in the following friendly against Senegal after Ogenyi Onazi hobbled off injured. Pundits and football fans alike thought Ogu was certain to get a look-in, if not start the Africa Cup of Nations q

Boateng lifts lid on Ancelotti’s Bayern exit.

Bayern Munich star Jerome Boateng has lifted the lid on Carlo Ancelotti’s team selection for what turned out to be the manager’s last match in charge, a Champions League thrashing in Paris. Bayern were hammered 3-0 at the end of September as Dani Alves, Edinson Cavani and Neymar netted for Paris Saint-Germain after Ancelotti dropped five stars from his starting line-up, including Boateng. Boateng revealed how he, Arjen Robben, Mat Hummels, Franck Ribery and Kingsley Coman discovered they would not start against PSG. “That was very strange,” Boateng told Munich newspaper, the Sueddeutsche Zeitung. “We sat in the meeting room and five of us were told an hour and a half before the game that we would not play – suddenly and without explanation. “The players in question were shocked, you can say that much.” Ancelotti was fired the day after the defeat. Boateng also indirectly confirmed reports that training under Ancelotti was not demanding enough. Robben has repo

IPOB Members Rally In Onitsha Ahead Of Governorship Election In Anambra .

Some members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) are currently marching across major roads in Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State ahead of the November 18, gubernatorial election in the state. Details later …

Neymar, Brazil roll aside Japan with video help.

Neymar scored a penalty and missed another as Brazil signalled their intent ahead of next year’s World Cup by outclassing Japan 3-1 in Friday’s international friendly in Lille. The Paris Saint-Germain star rolled in a 10th-minute spot-kick following consultation with the video assistant referee, although Neymar saw a second penalty saved shortly after by Eiji Kawashima. Marcelo rifled in a magnificent second as Brazil doubled their lead on 17 minutes, with Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus rounding off a clinical counter-attack before half-time to make it 3-0. Tomoaki Makino nodded in a consolation from a corner on 62 minutes but Japan remain winless against Brazil after losing for the 10th time in 12 meetings. Neymar was joined by PSG team-mate Thiago Silva in the Brazil line-up as coach Tite picked a strong side despite playing in front of a sparsely-filled Stade Pierre-Mauroy in northern France. Japan boss Vahid Halilhodzic, who served a four-year spell as L

Iran still complying with nuclear deal: UN watchdog chief.

The UN’s nuclear watchdog director Yukiya Amano Thursday reaffirmed Tehran is complying with the 2015 nuclear deal in a meeting with US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, the agency said. It was the second meeting between Haley and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief — with the first taking place in August during Haley’s visit to the agency’s headquarters in Vienna, where she called for more controls on Iran. Since that trip, President Trump in October de-certified the Iran deal, and warned Washington may yet walk away from “one of the worst” agreements in history, leaving its fate in the hands of Congress. In exchange for controls to prevent Tehran from developing an atom bomb, the deal’s signatories agreed to gradually lift sanctions. In a statement, the IAEA said Haley and Amano “discussed the IAEA’s verification and monitoring of Iran’s implementation of its nuclear-related commitments” under the agreement with six global powers — the US, Rus

Burundi rejects war crimes probe but opposition welcomes it.

Burundi on Friday rejected plans by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to allow prosecutors to investigate war crimes in the central African nation, while rights groups and opposition politicians welcomed the move. Justice Minister, Aimee Kanyana said Burundi would not cooperate with the Netherlands-based court, from which it formally withdrew on Oct. 26. The ICC still claims jurisdiction over crimes committed while Burundi was a member. “The government of Burundi heard a rumour through international media reports that ICC has given authorisation to its prosecutor to start an investigation on Burundi. “The government rejects that decision and reiterates its firm determination that it will not cooperate with ICC or any other fraudulent manipulation intending to extend mandate of the ICC on the Burundi territory,” Kanyana said at a news conference. On Thursday, the court said it had approved a prosecution request to investigate war crimes allegedly committed

National Assembly investigates 26 girls’ death in Spanish warship.

The National Assembly has resolved to investigate the death of 26 young Nigerian girls found in a Spanish warship on the Mediterranean en route Italy.The decision was taken yesterday in the Senate following a motion titled “Death of 26 young Nigerian girls en route Italy” sponsored by Rose Oko.In her lead debate on the motion, Oko said the concern was not only about the ages of the dead girls, which range from 14 to 18 years, but that they were said to have been sexually abused and eventually murdered. The lawmaker noted that the rate of illegal migration of young boys and girls to Europe, especially to Italy and Spain, in search of fake greener pastures is high. “These journeys are through the long and hazardous Sahara desert and the Mediterranean sea. They run into the hands of bandits, and are abused and raped as they move through the perilous sea waves often in rickety rubber boats,” she said. The lawmaker said that about 10,000 Nigerians perished along the Sahara desert-L

Lady Leading Praise & Worship Dies In Delta Church After Collapsing.

Lady Collapses & Dies While Leading Praise & Worship In Pentecostal Church - Delta State A member of a Pentecostal church along Cemetery Road in Sapele, Delta State, Ese Kalu, collapsed and died while leading praise and worship during church service, Vangaurd reports. The incident reportedly happened during a mid-week service at the Church premises on Tuesday night. It was gathered that the deceased, a female petty trader, was said to have attended church services that evening, full of life but suddenly fell down, clutching her chest. A lady who claimed to be the late woman’s relative told the newspaper that she had no medical history. She said; “Ese went to church around 7pm. she was singing when she suddenly stopped and clutched her chest, before going down. “Church members who took her to the hospital came back crying, they said she died before they could get to the clinic.” What could have been the problem? Is her time up? We all tend to dismiss this as God's time. Is i