Argentina begs Messi not to quit

Argentine football legend Diego Maradona and the country’s President Mauricio Macri urged Lionel Messi on Monday not to leave the national team despite his vow to quit after a humiliating defeat.

The Barcelona superstar left the field in tears after missing a spot-kick in the Copa America Centenario final shootout against Chile on Sunday.

He promptly told reporters he was quitting, throwing Argentine football into turmoil ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

“He has to stay because he still has playing days ahead of him,” Maradona was quoted as saying by La Nacion newspaper online.

Court Sacks Abia state Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu over fake Tax Clearance

A judge of the federal High Court, justice Okon Abang, sitting in Abuja has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria to cede the certificate of return to the opponent of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state as he was never qualified to run for the party primaries in the People's Democratic party as a guber candidate.

Photos: University Prof helps Mom writing Exam take care of her Baby

A Professor in a University is pictured backing a crying baby belonging to a mother, who is writing her examination. The Professor helped pacify the baby, while supervising at the exam hall in Bouake, Cote D’Ivorie. See more photos below...

EgyptAir black boxes arrive in France for repairs

The damaged black box flight recorders of an EgyptAir plane that plunged into the Mediterranean last month arrived in France on Monday for repairs, said the country’s air safety agency, amid hopes they will provide clues on why the aircraft went down.

Nigerian pastor sentenced to nine years for fraud in the UK

A Woolwich Crown Court has sentenced a Nigerian Accountant and part-time pastor in the United Kingdom, Samuel Kayode, to 9 years in prison for stealing £4.1million. Kayode was sentenced on Friday for defrauding Haberdashers’ Aske’s state schools in the UK.

The part-time pastor, who earned £57, 000 per annum, was convicted after being found guilty of £150,000 theft and £3.95million fraud. Out of the £4.1million, only £800, 000 was recovered from him.

Described as “dishonest” and “greedy”, the court heard how Kayode lavished the stolen money on four women, his wife, Grace; a second ‘wife’ in Nigeria, Olubunmi Halima; and two other women in the UK.

British prosecutor, James Thacker, said he also bought luxury cars including a Mercedes, an Audi TT

Messi retires from international football

Lionel Messi sensationally announced his retirement from international football here Sunday after Argentina crashed to an upset defeat against Chile in the final of the Copa America.

The heartbroken Barcelona superstar was distraught after missing a spot-kick as Chile snatched victory in a penalty shoot-out — Messi’s fourth straight defeat in a major final while representing Argentina.

“For me the national team is over,” the crestfallen 29-year-old told reporters.

“I’ve done all I can, I’ve been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion.

“It’s a hard moment for me and the team, and it’s difficult to say, but it’s over with the Argentina team.”

Messi’s dramatic announcement followed Argentina’s third loss in a major final since 2014.

Nigerian Professor Maduike Ezeibe Produces Drug That Cures HIV, 3 Patients Cured Of HIV In Abuja

June 26, 2016 – Nigerian Scientist Maduike Ezeibe Produces Drug That Cures HIV, 3 Patients Cured Of HIV In Abuja

With the development of Antiretroviral Drug- Aluminium Magnesium Silicate (AMS), by Maduike Ezeibe, Professor of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) Abia State, People living with HIV/AIDs will now have the cause to smile again. Science Editor, STANLEY CHIBUIHEM AMALAHA, in an interview with the don in the university, reports

Professor Maduike Ezeibe, a renowned Nigerian scientist and Head, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria has found what could be a novel treatment for Human immunedeficiency virus (HIV) infections infection that may slash the current cost of treatment.
Ezeibe, after 19years of intensive research has been able to show that synthetic Aluminum- Magnesium Silicate (AMS) has antiretroviral effects that could lay a perfect track for affordable and

Clinton takes lead over Trump, new polls show

Two head-to-head polls released Sunday showed a resurgent Hillary Clinton taking a lead in the US presidential race, after a tumultuous month for Donald Trump, who has failed to rally confidence among voters or party leaders.

If the presidential election were held today, 51 percent of poll respondents said they would vote for Clinton, versus 39 percent for Trump, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

It was conducted Monday through Thursday of last week among 836 registered voters and had a margin of error of four percentage points.

A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll showed a slimmer lead for Clinton, 46 percent to Trump’s 41 percent. They were essentially tied, 39 percent for the Democrat Clinton and 38 percent for Republican Trump, when third-party candidates were included, results showed.aa

The poll of 1,000 registered voters was conducted Sunday through Thursday of last week and had a

Yemi Osinbajo, Akinwunmi Ambode, Babatunde Fashola, Kayode Fayemi, Kemi Adeosun, Others inspect Dangote Refinery in Lekki

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday said that the refinery, petrochemical, gas and fertilizer projects being undertaken by Africa’s richest man and business mogul, Aliko Dangote at the Lekki Free Zone (LFZ) in Lagos would significantly boost the economy of Lagos and Nigeria in general.

Governor Ambode who spoke to newsmen shortly after an extensive inspection tour of the projects by the Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and some members of the Federal Executive Council, said the projects would have great multiplier effects on the nation’s economy.

He said, “Firstly, there is a refinery project that is ongoing, second there is a petrochemical project that is also ongoing. There is pipeline transfer project that brings gas from Bonny down to Olokonla and down to Lekki and then the fourth one is the fertilizer project all in one location.”

Tunde & Wunmi Obe celebrate 18 years Wedding Anniversary

Top and popular entertainment couple, Tunde and Wunmi Obe (TWO) are celebrating their 18 years wedding anniversary today. Congrats and Happy Wedding Anniversary to them! See more photos from their wedding 18 years ago...

Nicolas Cage officially separates from wife, Alice Kim after 12 years

Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage is separated from his wife Alice Kim. The couple, who would have celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary this summer, separated in January.

The couple met in 2004 when she was a waitress at an L.A. restaurant, and got engaged 2 months later. They have a 10-year-old son, Kal-el, TMZ reports.

The Brexit nightmare & the looming winter of discontent – By Reuben Abati

What has the United Kingdom just done to itself, its people and the future of its youth? It is difficult to fully understand why a country in taking a decision about its future will decide on a false option that seems to negate long-term interests.

And this, just because a total of 17.4 million people out of over 61 million chose to vote against the United Kingdom’s continued membership of the EU. More than 50% of these pro-Brexit voters are actually between the age bracket: 50-70, thus an ageing class of voters has taken a decision to undermine the future of the younger generation. Pro-EU Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “courageous and optimistic” when in January 2014, he tried to justify the need for a referendum.

His words then: “I think the overwhelming majority of the British people say they want to be in Europe but they want some changes to that relationship and they would like to be given a say. It is not something that we should be frightened of. It’s something we should embrace.”  Cameron is now a study in political miscalculation and how over-confidence can make a political leader misread the people’s moods and expectations. He has been praised for his “courage” in quickly accepting the people’s verdict and for tendering his resignation, but I guess he won’t possibly be talking about courage. He must be full of regrets for presiding over the United Kingdom’s exit into a nightmare. Britain is better off remaining in the EU.

But on June 23, 2016, the people of Great Britain spoke and their verdict has been accepted as the status quo, except a miracle happens and the current petition by the pro-EU protesters results in a second referendum.  As things stand, the people have rejected continued membership of the European Union.

The implication is that the majority of the people believe that the United Kingdom is better off on its own. What is quite clear is that this British exit (Brexit) is more about the rise of xenophobia, bigotry and isolationism. It is not new. Britain has always looked backward and in-out in the course of its membership of the EU, oscillating between its commitment to a greater Europe and the need to

Maj Gen Leo Irabor holds Conference on Operation Lafiya Dole

1. The attention of Theatre Command, Operation LAFIYA DOLE has been drawn to some issues in the online Sahara Reporters of 24 June 2016 with a story line on the allegation that the COAS and his wives own some properties in Dubai. The report among other vicious and smear campaign issues, impugned that some ‘concerned officers and soldiers in the North East’ allegedly wrote a petition on the state of affairs in the Operation LAFIYA DOLE. What a baseless, unfounded and wicked insinuation! It is for this reason that I call you today to clear issues as they affect Operation LAFIYA DOLE. The other issue regarding property in Dubai is outside my purview, but has been responded to appropriately by the Acting Director Army Public Relations.

2. For the avoidance of doubt, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, since assumption of office, has taken the affairs of Op LAFIYA DOLE to a level that showed unparalleled commitment to the operational effectiveness and good welfare of troops. For example, between

Michael Jackson’s Family remember him after 7 years

Late Pop legend, Michael Jackson’s life, music, and legacy were remembered by his family on the seven year anniversary of his death this weekend. He died at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009 of acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication.

On Friday, the pop star's brothers, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Jackie, joined forces to celebrate his life with a joint performance at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego.

His daughter, Paris Jackson shared a touching, black-and-white photo collage to her Instagram