Posts

Showing posts from April, 2017


Sunderland 10 years stay in the premier league is over!

Image
Sunderland's 10-year stay in the Premier League ended as Bournemouth scored a late winner at the Stadium of Light. The result coupled with Hull City's draw at Southampton means David Moyes' side are 13 points behind the Tigers with four games left. The defeat, Sunderland's 23rd of the season, means the Black Cats are relegated from the Premier League for a joint-record fourth time in Moyes' first season in charge. Bournemouth's Joshua King scored the only goal with just two minutes left, tapping home from Ryan Fraser's pass. The Norwegian had also gone close in the 20th minute, but his shot rebounded off the post and crossbar and into the arms of Jordan Pickford. Bournemouth goalkeeper Artur Boruc saved from Jermain Defoe in the first half, and Fabio Borini and George Honeyman in the second, but the Black Cats failed to sustain any real pressure. Too soon to commit to Sunderland - Moyes What next for 'worn-down' Moyes? Relive ...

Trump marks tough first 100 days, facing sober realities

Image
US President Donald Trump walks after arriving on Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, April 28, 2017, following a trip to Atlanta, Georgia. PHOTO: SAUL LOEB / AFP Donald Trump marked his 100th day in the White House on Saturday facing the sober realities of a presidency stamped by disruption, confusion and a struggle to convert campaign promises into tangible achievements. That hasn’t stopped the president — who has both hyped and dismissed the significance of the 100-day mark — from claiming to run the most successful administration in US history, a message he’s expected to take to supporters in a campaign-style rally Saturday evening. Under a relentless spotlight since stunning the world in November with a victory over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, the 45th president of the United States has seen his bid to tear up his predecessor’s landmark health care reforms founder in Congress, where many of his other legislative priorities have also run ...
Image
Bayero University The National Universities Commission (NUC) has accredited no fewer than 25 programmes for Bayero University, Kano (BUK)in 2016. This is contained in a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs of the University Mr Ahmad Shehu and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Saturday. According to the statement, the programmes that were granted full accreditation by the Commission cut across 10 faculties in the University. “This was contained in a summary of results of the November-December, 2016 national accreditation exercise conducted by the Commission. “The report was signed by the NUC’s Director, Quality Assurance, Dr. N.B.Saliu,” the statement said. The statement recalled that between November and December, 2016, the National Universities Commission had despatched a powerful accreditation team to Bayero University, Kano along with other universities with the sole aim of examining some of its programmes. The team visited 10 facul...

Will this be another Mayweather vs Pacqauo overrated? Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko: Heavyweights clash for IBF, WBA and IBO titles

Image
I remember May 2 2015 vividly, i had to stay up all night for the fight dubed THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY. between Mayweather jr vs Manny Pacquiao but in the end, it was a great dissapiontment not just to me but the entire world. Because it never lived up to the FIGHT OF THE CENTURY or better still THE RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE so to speak. fast forward to 29 April 2017. When Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko face off in front of a record-breaking 90,000 fans at Wembley Saturday, there will be a difference of 50 fights and 314 rounds between them. Now 41, with many claiming his best years are behind him, Klitschko has a wealth of experience on his side to combat Joshua's young legs and explosive power. Ukrainian Klitschko has, at one time or another throughout a glittering 21 year career, held the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles. Up until his shock defeat to Tyson Fury 18 months ago, the Ukrainian was undefeated for over a decade -- a run dubbed the "Klitschko ...

the bad boy Neymar returns for Catalan derby, innocent Iniesta out

Image
Iniesta is sidelined by a groin injury/ AJAS PHOTO Barcelona will have to cope without captain Andres Iniesta when they travel to cross city rivals Espanyol on Saturday looking to keep their La Liga title chances alive. Iniesta is sidelined by a groin injury, but Barca will be boosted by the return of Neymar after a three-game suspension. Barca are locked on 78 points with Real Madrid at the top of the table, but Real maintain the advantage as they have a game in hand. Madrid are also in action on Saturday when they host Valencia.
Image
Chelsea face their biggest challenge in their remaining five matches at Everton. PHOTO: Ian KINGTON / AFP Antonio Conte will hope Diego Costa justifies his faith in having him rather than Everton’s Romelu Lukaku as his main striker and deliver another three points in Chelsea’s chase for the title on Sunday. Chelsea face their biggest challenge in their remaining five matches at Everton, who are on a run of eight successive home victories. However, Conte will hope they extend their lead over rivals Spurs to seven points before Tottenham kick-off in the north London derby with Arsenal later on Sunday. Arsenal, who are still in the race to try and secure a Champions League spot, five points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City and with a game in hand, at least have restored some battered morale with two wins this week including a gutsy victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final. Both City and fifth-placed Manchester United are also in action on Sunday and would ho...

How will the US respond? North Korea fires missile, defying US push for new sanctions

Image
US President Donald Trump, who has warned of a “major conflict” with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s regime, said the latest test was a pointed snub to China — the North’s main ally and economic lifeline. North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile Saturday in apparent defiance of a concerted US push for tougher international sanctions to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons ambitions. The latest launch, which South Korea said was a failure, came just hours after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned the UN Security Council of “catastrophic consequences” if the international community — most notably China — failed to pressure the North into abandoning its weapons programme. Military options for dealing with the North were still “on the table”, Tillerson warned in his first address to the UN body. The launch ratchets up tensions on the Korean peninsula, with Washington and Pyongyang locked in an ever-tighter spiral of threat, counter-threat, and escalating military preparedne...

Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko: Title fight is a whole new level, says Briton

Image
Date: Saturday, 29 April Venue: Wembley Stadium Coverage: Live radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 live and text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app from 21:00 BST. Anthony Joshua says he will be competing at a "whole new level" when he takes on Wladimir Klitschko in Saturday's world title bout. The two heavyweights fight for the IBF title and vacant WBA belt in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley. Joshua, 27, says his 13 weeks of preparation have been "tougher times than I have had in any walk of life". Klitschko, 41, lost his heavyweight title to Tyson Fury in November 2015 - his first defeat in 11 years. In an interview at his Sheffield training camp before the biggest fight of his career, Joshua spoke about his motivation, being a "man of the people", the state of British boxing, and his family. Joshua on the fight Joshua, unbeaten in 18 fights since turning professional in 2013, said he is not worried about his safety in the ring be...

Wenger plans ahead but won’t reveal future

Image
Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger / AFP PHOTO / AJASIMAGES / Glyn KIRK Arsene Wenger insists he is working on Arsenal’s future even though he still won’t reveal whether he plans to remain in charge after this season. Wenger is out of contract at the end of the current campaign and has yet to sign a new deal amid calls for his resignation from Arsenal fans frustrated at their team’s disappointing form in recent years. Asked on Tuesday if there was any news on his future, the Frenchman told reporters: “No, no”, and repeated the response when pressed on whether he had any idea when an announcement will be made. And as for whether any decision would be based around how Arsenal perform over the final few weeks of the season, the answer once again was “no”. The 67-year-old gave himself a little breathing space by leading Arsenal to the FA Cup final against Chelsea thanks to Sunday’s 2-1 semi-final win over Manchester City at Wembley. But, with Arsenal struggling to qualify ...

Can Tottenham respond?

Image
Chelsea restored their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points with a convincing win over Southampton at Stamford Bridge. Antonio Conte's side had seen their advantage cut by Tottenham after the Blues' loss at Manchester United - but this was an emphatic response to follow on from Saturday's FA Cup semi-final win against their London rivals. Eden Hazard and Diego Costa were both back in the starting line-up after Wembley and were key figures, the Belgian putting Chelsea ahead with a low shot after five minutes. Former Chelsea midfielder Oriol Romeu bundled in an equaliser for Saints before Gary Cahill headed the title pace-setters back in front right on half-time, a moment that effectively decided the destination of the points. Costa confirmed Chelsea's supremacy with a header early in the second half before scoring his second with a low shot late on. Ryan Bertrand, another former Chelsea man, was on target in the dying seconds - but the victory...

(AJASNEWS)-EFCC withdraws motion against Patience Jonathan

Image
Former First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Patience Jonathan The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday withdrew a motion before a Federal High Court Lagos for stay of execution of a judgment which unfroze the account of a former first lady, Patience Jonathan. Justice Mojisola Olatoregun had on April 6 unfreeze the account after Jonathan’s lawyer, Mr Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), challenged the propriety of EFCC’s action. He had challenged the commission for joining her in a suit, which he said, she was not a party to, and urged the court to unfreeze Jonathan’s account. Dissatisfied with the unfreezing order, EFCC had filed an application for a stay of execution of the order as well as a notice of appeal challenging the judgment. The two applications, according to EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, were dated April 6 and filed on April 7. At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Oyedepo informed the court of his agency’s intention to withdraw the two applications. ...

Barack Obama returns to remind us how radically different he is from Donald Trump

Image
Former President Barack Obama re-emerged into public life on Monday in Chicago and, in the process, offered a potent reminder of what a radical change in direction the country took in the 2016 election. Obama sat in the middle of a group of young people -- all of whom shared their own pers onal stories about their involvement in public life and why more people their age didn't follow their lead. He spoke, briefly, at the start of the event about what drew him into community service and politics -- "this community taught me that ordinary people, when working together, can do extraordinary things" -- but spent most of the rest of the event serving as the moderator of the panel. Obama asked questions here and there to prompt answers from the (nervous) panelists and occasionally would interject his own views, particularly about how the silo-ing of media consumption had created a culture where no one really listens to each other anymore. But, generally speaking, Oba...

French election: Le Pen says, 'I am not the candidate of the National Front'

Image
French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen on Tuesday sought to broaden her appeal outside her party's traditional base, declaring that she is "not the candidate" of the far-right National Front. "I am the candidate who has been supported by the National Front," she said in an interview with the French TF1 network. Le Pen, 48, fresh off the highest-ever voting tally for the National Front, said she stepped aside from the party leadership this week to run on behalf of all French citizens. "I am a presidential candidate as of today," she said. Observers see the move as a tactical one designed to earn her votes from people who might be disposed to vote for her but who find the fascist reputation of the National Front a step too far. Le Pen said the final voting round on May 7 could bring a "very big surprise" -- the result of "a revolt of the people against the elite," as seen in Britain's Brexit vote and in Trump's el...

Sold Out Fast and Furious 8 at the Middle East Cinema

Image
Sold out already passive turn out Fast and Furious 8 @tyrese

Bruce Springsteen's protest song to Donald Trump

Image
Bruce Springsteen has new music out and it's taking aim at Donald Trump. The rocker and his longtime friend Joe Grushecky have released a protest anthem titled "That's What Makes Us Great." Grushecky, known for his work with the Houserockers, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he wrote the song when Trump took office in January and ran it by Springsteen. "I had this song, and Bruce and I had been talking," Grushecky said. "I sent it to him and he liked it. I said, 'What do you think about singing on it?' He gave it the Bruce treatment." The pair didn't even have to meet up to make it happen, Grushecky explained. The Houserockers laid the track digitally, with Springsteen emailing his contributions to the song. The result has Springsteen singing, "Don't tell me a lie/And sell it as a fact/I've been down that road before/And I ain't goin' back," as well as "Don't you brag to me/That you never ...

News | Africa Zuma, Mandela rape painting stirs outrage in South Africa

Image
A painting by a South African artist showing President Jacob Zuma raping the late Nelson Mandela has caused outrage in the country, with the ruling party Friday describing it as “grotesque”. The piece by controversial artist Ayanda Mabulu shows Zuma seated on a red chair, penetrating a crying Mandela. Both men have their legs wide apart, exposing their genitals. The African National Congress and the Nelson Mandela Foundation have condemned the colourful artwork titled: “The economy of rape”. “Whilst we respect Mabulu’s freedom of expression, we find his work grotesque, inflammatory and of bad taste,” the ANC said in a statement. “We view his work as crossing the bounds of rationality to degradation, exploiting the craft of creative art for nefarious ends.” The party urged the people to ignore the painting. Mabulu has previously done a number of controversial paintings showing Zuma’s genitals, much to the public outrage. The foundation of the late anti-apartheid icon al...

Ambode tasks civil servants on transparency, simplified processes

Image
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has charged the state civil servants to be transparent on government activities, finances and a simplified bureaucratic process for its citizens. He also urged the civil servants to comply with global best practices to meet the needs of the people.Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Benson Oke made the remarks while speaking on global best practice with journalists in Lagos. He pointed out that the state had embarked on massive training sessions for workers on how to deliver value per excellence through global best practices.He called on the workers to provide citizens with the information they need on how to process their requests and stressed that this would enable the citizens to complete their transactions and processes on time. The governor also tasked workers to exhibit good interpersonal relationship in the discharge of their responsib...

Buhari mourns death of football fans in Calabar

Image
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and sadness over the tragic event that took the lives of several Nigerians at a football viewing centre in Calabar, Cross River State, Thursday night. The President in a statement Friday commiserated with the government and people of Cross River State, and football fans nationwide over the unfortunate incident. President Buhari, according to the statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu commended the State Government for the prompt action in setting up a commission of inquiry into the incident, and its offer of assistance to the victims and their families. The President also offered condolences to the family and friends of the mostly young victims, whose sudden demise he said, is a big blow not only to their families but also to the football-loving nation. He prayed that God Almighty will grant the souls of the departed eternal rest and comfort all who mourn their irreparable loss.

Dana Air plane aborts trip after mid-air collision with bird-Ajasnewsflash

Image
Dana Air A Dana Air aircraft en-route Port Harcourt on Friday morning, made an ‘air return’, some minutes after take-off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport II, Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the aircraft, with registration number 5N-SRI returned after colliding with a bird mid-air. Mr Kingsley Ezenwa, Communications Manager of the airline, confirmed the incident in a statement. News | Nigeria Dana Air plane aborts trip after mid-air collision with bird By NAN | 21 April 2017 | 8:49 pm Dana Air A Dana Air aircraft en-route Port Harcourt on Friday morning, made an ‘air return’, some minutes after take-off from the Murtala Muhammed Airport II, Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the aircraft, with registration number 5N-SRI returned after colliding with a bird mid-air. Mr Kingsley Ezenwa, Communications Manager of the airline, confirmed the incident in a statement. Ezenwa said the captain took a professional decision b...

Cahill to miss semi-final after kidney stone treatment

Image
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has revealed Gary Cahill is set to miss Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham after being treated for a small stone in his kidney. Cahill was admitted to hospital on Tuesday after training and the England centre-back had tests and treatment before being released on Thursday. With the Premier League leaders due to play their London rivals at Wembley this weekend, Conte fears it is too soon for the England international to return to action. “He arrived at the training ground with a bit of fever,” Conte told reporters on Friday. “Our doctor preferred to bring him to the hospital and to check his condition. “Not a serious problem, but now Gary is getting better and is improving a lot. “If you ask me for tomorrow, my answer is it is very difficult. This period is not a lucky period for us.” Tottenham are four points behind the Blues at the Premier League summit with six games remaining after Chelsea’s loss at Manchester United last Sund...

Africans wary of US travel after series of border denials

Image
Nigeria is not on the list of countries affected by the US government's temporary travel bans. But several Nigerian citizens claim to have been denied entry since they were introduced. Real estate businessman Femi Olaniyi travelled to Los Angeles on February 21 with a two-year multiple entry visa. He says the experience proved to be an ordeal. "When I got to the point of entry at Los Angeles Airport, an immigration officer interrogated me," he told CNN. "He said I should come for biometric (tests) to check whether I have any criminal offence. I told him that I'm not a criminal and that he should go ahead." "Later, he brought some documents for me to sign and I told him that I would need to read before I sign. He quickly withdrew the document and put me in a cold cell. From there he held me for four days. He collected all my phones so that I would not get access to my family. He later revoked my visa and sent me back to Nigeria." Olaniyi was...

China's $290 Billion Dream to Make a New Shenzhen

China plans to build an economic zone near Beijing. President Xi Jinping's scheme, called the Xiongan New Zone, promises to transform a little known patch of northern China into a city of the future. Bloomberg's Tom Mackenzie visited the region to find out if Xi's ambitious plan will work. (Source: Bloomberg)

Paris shooting casts shadow over final day of French election campaign

Image
A deadly attack on a police bus in the heart of Paris cast the shadow of terror over the final days of the French presidential election campaign. One police officer died after a gunman wielding a machine gun leapt out of a car and opened fire on the Champs-Elysees, Paris's most famous boulevard, as candidates were engaging in their final TV debate. The attack dramatically changed the course of the campaign's final hours: the three main candidates canceled campaign events and instead made televised statements in which they competed to talk tough on security and vowed a crackdown on ISIS. The far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen, demanded the closure of all Islamist mosques. The Prime Minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, accused her of trying to capitalize on the attack. ISIS swiftly claimed the attack was carried out by one of its "fighters." The assailant -- Karim Cheurfi, a French national with a long and violent riminal record -- was shot dead as he tried to make his e...

Former NFL star Aaron Hernandez hangs himself in prison, officials say

Image
Convicted murderer and former NFL star Aaron Hernandez was found hanged in his Massachusetts prison cell Wednesday morning, just days after his acquittal in a double murder case. The 27-year-old former tight end for the New England Patriots hanged himself with a bedsheet attached to a window in his cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, the Massachusetts Department of Correction said. His body was discovered at 3:05 a.m. "Lifesaving techniques were attempted on Mr. Hernandez, and he was transported to UMass Leominster, where he was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m.," the correction department's statement reads. Hernandez was visibly emotional when the verdicts were read, embracing his attorneys. "You could tell that he was relieved as well," Ronald Sullivan Jr., his defense attorney, said after the verdict. "He was charged for something somebody else did, and that is a weighty burden for anyone to shoulder." Despite the acquitt...

Drama in Aso Rock as Buhari suspends, probes SGF, NIA DG

Image
There was a mild drama at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday following the announcement by President Muhammadu Buhari suspending the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir Lawal and the Director General (DG) of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ayo Oke. A statement by the presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said both officials remained suspended until they were fully investigated. Lawal is being probed over allegations of an award of contracts under the Presidential Initiative on the North East (PINE). Oke, on the other hand, is facing scrutiny for his agency’s role in the $43 million and other local currencies found in an Ikoyi, Lagos apartment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). By the suspension of these officials, the government seems to have affirmed its commitment to its anti-corruption agenda. But how the matter is finally resolved will determine the strength of the resolve of the government to beam t...