ArtHouse:Akpororo Versus Akpororo Comic, Music Concert Loud In Lagos

Akpororo

After a successful maiden edition, which held at the MUSON Centre in 2014, the talented rave of the moment Delta-born comedian Akpororo is set to hold another edition of Akpororo vs Akpororo Live.
Envisaged as a night of 100% comic madness, the show will hold today, Sunday, July 19th 2015 at Eko Convention Centre, Lagos. Hosts for this highly anticipated event are comedy stars Bovi and Gordons. According to the organisers, guests will be thrilled with performances by Sammy Okposo, Timi Dakolo, Frank Edward.
Chioma Jesus, Midnight Crew, Henry Soul, Solomon Urete, Wonder J, Pita, Prince Iyke, and Ojo Mass Choir to name a few. The show, billed to begin at 6pm, will be preceded by a red carpet by 5pm. Tickets are available at all Tastee Fried Chicken outlets in Lagos, Silverbird Cinemas at Victoria Island and Ikeja Mall, Ozone Cinema, Eko Hotel, Film House Cinemas Surulere and Apapa and at www.naijaticketing.com www.ariyaticketing.com. Akpororo vs Akpororo Live concert is a package of Lanre Makun Events.

Posted by Adebayo A J

Militants kill three Egypt soldiers in Sinai attack

Three Egyptian soldiers were killed in a rocket attack on a checkpoint by Islamist militants in the Sinai Peninsula on
Saturday, the military said in a statement.
The official MENA news agency had earlier reported five soldiers killed, quoting security officials.
The discrepancy could not immediately be explained as journalists have limited access to the restive peninsula
where jihadists are waging a deadly insurgency.
The military said it killed 20 militants on Saturday in an assault on a jihadist hide-out, posting video of air strikes on a building and two trucks on its spokesman’s Facebook
page.
Militants loyal to the Islamic State group have killed hundreds of soldiers and policemen in attacks since the
military overthrow of president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, which unleased a deadly crackdown on his Islamists
supporters.
On Thursday, the militants claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a navy vessel off North Sinai.
The army said no navy men were killed in the attack.

Source : The Guardian

Posted by Adebayo A J

Mum ends 20-years of miscarriage hell with 25p pill that helped her have baby she'd longed for

Gary Roberts

Baby joy: Lisa Burnage and her miracle son Miles

New mum Laura Burnage can’t believe she finally has the baby she desperately longed for – 20 YEARS after her first miscarriage.
The 46-year-old gave birth to her son Miles after the heartache of losing five babies had almost robbed her of
hope.
And the successful arrival is all thanks to a 25p malaria tablet that enabled her pregnancy to go nearly full-term for
the first time.
Laura, said: “Holding my baby son in my arms after all these years of trying was the most fantastic moment of my life.
“At 46 I thought I would never be a mum. Now thanks to a simple drug I finally have my miracle son.
“I never imagined an anti-malarial tablet could help me get pregnant. It really is amazing.”

Gary Roberts

Happy family: Lisa Burnage and husband Simon with their son Miles

Miles is one of the first babies born thanks to a pioneering treatment carried out by miscarriage expert Hassan Shehata.
And it has ended the recurring trauma for children’s mental health nurse Laura and her husband Simon, 51.
Laura suffered her first miscarriage at the age of 26 when she was married to her first husband.
That was followed by another two years later – and a third when she was 37.
Then seven years ago she began a relationship with self- employed builder Simon and they tried for a baby
immediately.
Simon had already had a vasectomy so the couple sought help from a fertility clinic.
Laura said: “The first clinic I went to told me my age was against me. I came away feeling very despondent.”
The couple then went to Care Fertility in Manchester and had a first course of IVF, but Laura did not become pregnant.
She recalled: “That was devastating. I’d pinned all my hopes on the treatment. When it didn’t work it was heartbreaking.”

Getty

Heartbreaking: Laura was devastated when the IVF didn't work

The couple were about to start their second course of IVF when a scan showed a blockage in one of Laura’s fallopian tubes, which deliver eggs from the ovaries.
She had to undergo surgery to have both tubes removed, delaying IVF by six months.
When it finally went ahead, the treatment was successful – but Laura lost the baby at just seven weeks.
After another six-month wait, she and Simon had a third attempt at IVF in May last year.
Despite falling pregnant, Laura lost the baby almost immediately. She said: “It was devastating. I thought I’d
never be a mum.”
Distraught by the constant cycle of loss, Laura underwent tests in June last year – and found she had a raised level of
natural killer cells in her body.
The cells, known as NK cells, are a key part of the immune system, acting fast to stop tumours taking hold.
But they can be so aggressive they attack the pregnancy, seeing the foetus as a foreign body.
In order to suppress them, Laura’s team decided to try a treatment that used the anti-malarial drug, lowering the
immune system response.
Laura, from Morpeth, Northumberland, then had a fourth course of IVF in September and became pregnant again.

Newcastle Chronicle

Hospital care: Laura was admitted to Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary with a suspected blood clot

  She said: “I was thrilled to be pregnant but I was so worried about losing this baby too.
“At six weeks I started to bleed, and the bleeding carried on for another six weeks. I thought I’d lost my baby. But scans
showed there was still a heartbeat there.”
At 12 weeks, she stopped taking her medication and the bleeding stopped. She was admitted to the Royal Victoria
Infirmary in Newcastle when growth scans revealed a suspected blood clot.
Baby Miles was delivered at eight months by caesarian in May, weighing a healthy 7lb 7oz.
Laura said: “I was scared all the way through that I was going to lose the baby, but he managed to hang on. Thanks
to a malaria pill, I finally fulfilled my dream.”
The treatment has cost the couple more than £30,000, but Laura said: “You can’t put a price on being a mum. It’s the
most fantastic feeling.”
Simon added: “It’s so amazing that Laura is a mum at last.
“It’s something she’s wanted for so long, and I’m so glad we never gave up. Miles is our little miracle.”

Source : Mirror

Posted by Adebayo A J

Girl ‘forced to leave bus’ after driver refuses to accept her wet £10 note as fare

Mia Worms, 10, was apparently left stranded after a bus driver refused to accept her £10 note (Picture: Brighton Argus/Solent News)

A ten-year-old girl was forced to leave a bus after the driver refused to accept her £10 note because it was too wet.
Mia Worms, from Newhaven, East Sussex, was apparently left stranded by the roadside after her offer to pay 80p was also ‘rejected’ because it was less than the £1.20 bus fare. If that wasn’t bad enough when her sister Elyse, 17, produced a ticket for her it was dismissed as well because it was ‘too crumpled’.

As you can imagine her mother Alison Worms, 37, wasn’t happy and is now out for blood.
‘It’s absolutely disgusting behaviour,’ she said.
‘I think it’s disgraceful that my daughter had no other way of getting home (from school) and because she’s so young she started panicking – it’s just terrible.’
But Brighton and Hove Buses has denied Mia was ever thrown off their public transport vehicle.
‘Our driver advised that he could not accept the £10 note due to its condition but at no time implied the child had to leave the bus,’ it said in a statement.
‘The child walked off the bus to join an adult who was accompanying her.’

Source : Metro

Posted by Adebayo A J

Police dispels rumours of bomb attack in Sokoto.

Nigerian Police

The Sokoto State Police Command on Saturday dispelled rumours of a botched bomb attack in Sokoto.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the police anti bomb squad were alerted at about 1.30 pm on
Saturday of a suspiscious box near a major hotel in the city.
NAN gathered that the box was reportedly brought to the area by four boys, who attempted to open it.
However, the security guards attached to the hotel were said to have instantly alerted a police patrol vehicle stationed at the Dandima round about, very close to the sokoto meat and vegetable market.
The Spokesman of the command, Mr El-Mustapha Sani confirmed the removal of the box by the men of the anti bomb unit.
” The box was just containing some empty packs and it was thought to have been stolen from the nearby sokoto
central market by the boys.
” Actually, our men had opened the box which was locked with a padlock and it is now in our custody, and it is not a
bomb. ” No arrest was made as the boys fled the scene, with one of them shouting bomb, apparently to divert the attention of
the people, hence, evaded arrest,” he explained.
Sani commended the security guards for alerting the police and urged residents to continue to be vigilant.
He said that people should report any suspicious items or persons at places of worship, markets, residences and other
public places to security agencies.
This, the police spokesman averred, would enable the police to nip any unforeseen circumtances in the bud.
NAN reports that the bomb scare in Sokoto on Saturday came barely three hours after the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji
Sa’ad Abubakar appealed to Nigerians to serve as security agent of their localities.
The sultan made the call at the 13th Annual General Meeting of Sokoto Education Development Trust Fund.
” People should be more security conscious and always be on the red alert about the movement of any suspected
persons or presence of suspicious items in their houses, Mosques, Churches, markets and other public places.
” Nigerians also have the power to effect citizens’ arrest of any suspected persons and hand him or her over to the
security agencies.
” Parents should monitor the movements of their children and wards and always know who their friends are and what
they do, what they eat and when they come back home,” he added.
According to the monarch, the parents should always ask when their children came back to their houses late at night
or were exhibiting some strange behaviours.

Source : The Guardian

Posted by Adebayo A J

Nigeria’s Constitution unfair to traditional institution — Gov. Bindow

Gov. Mohammadu Bindow of Adamawa, has said that the country’s constitution is unfair to traditional institution for not assigning constitutional responsibilities to it.
Bindow made the remark on Saturday in Yola when the Lamido Emirate Council paid him Sallah homage.
According to the governor, constitutional recognition of the role of traditional institution will have prevented some of the security challenges and other social vices currently confronting the country.
He pledged that his administration would give due recognition to traditional institution in the state.
He said: “the neglect of traditional institution has caused us what we are passing through today.
“The institution is the closest contact with the people and they required to be given constitutional role.
“We in Adamawa will continue to recognise traditional institution.’’
The governor announced that his administration had already purchased 30,000 metric tons of fertilisers to be distributed to farmers in all the 21 local government areas of the state.
“The fertilisers cost N3.5 billion even without transportation cost,’’ he said, adding that the gesture was aimed at
boosting agricultural production.
Earlier, Dr Barkindo Musdafa, the Lamido of Adamawa, who led the council, promised that the people of the emirate
would support the administration to improve their standard of living.
Musdafa, who is also the Chairman, Adamawa State Traditional Rulers Council, said that the policies of the new
administration would alleviate poverty and reduce youth restiveness in the state.

Source : The Guardian

Posted by Adebayo A J

Rail workers lucky to be alive after they come within seconds of being hit by 100mph train

Rail Accident Investigation Branch / PA

Near miss: The track workers near Lancaster, narrowlyavoiding being struck by a southbound passenger train

Nine rail workers had a brush with death after a passenger train sped past them at almost 100mph as they worked on
a section of track.
The workers were repairing part of the West Coast Main Line in Lancashire when the near-miss occurred.
An investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) found the incident was caused largely by human
error.
The group was working on a bend with a restricted view and relied on warnings of any approaching trains over a radio from lookout colleagues who had a clear view of the track.
But the workers did not receive any warnings and after seeing the approaching Edinburgh to Manchester Airport train, jumped clear, just four seconds before it hurtled past them at 98mph (158kmh).
Some staff were unable to reach a safe position and had to press themselves against a bridge parapet.

Danger: Rail workers were on a section of track that was obscured when the train sped past

None were injured but they were left shaken and work was stopped for the remainder of the shift.
The RAIB said: "The incident was caused because a lookout did not give a warning, either because he operated the wrong switch on his radio transmitter by mistake, or because he forgot about the need to send a warning during an intended delay period between seeing the train and operating the warning switches.
"This delay was because he was positioned on a long section of straight track and could see approaching trains
for significantly longer than the time required for the work group to move into a position of safety.
"A previous RAIB recommendation intended to mitigate this risk had not been implemented due to administrative errors.
"It is probable that the lookout's vigilance had degraded as he had been working continuously for almost two hours."
The incident happened on September 22 last year on a stretch of line south of Hest Bank between Carnforth and Lancaster.
The RAIB said the track workers comprised contract staff and a controller of site safety employed by Network Rail (NR).
They were packing ballast under sleepers on the up (towards London) main line on a small bridge.
A lookout-operated warning system (LOWS) was being used to give warning of approaching trains because of the gang's restricted view.
This system is designed to allow lookouts to signal the approach of a train by operating two toggle switches on an
LOWS lookout unit. This then transmits a radio signal to a LOWS static unit which then gives both visual and audible
warnings.
The RAIB said that on the afternoon of the near-miss, the LOWS equipment was being operated by two NR lookouts,
one on each side of the site of work and each equipped with an LOWS lookout unit.

Fast: The train whizzed past at nearly 100mph

The lookout watching for trains on the "up" line was located about half a mile from the site of work, in a position which
gave him a good view of trains approaching from the north.
The static unit was located near the track workers.
The LOWS is reported to have been both tested and operating normally prior to the incident.
As a result of its investigation the RAIB has made two recommendations to Network Rail, covering the management of working time for tasks which depend on vigilance and the circumstances in which LOWS should be used.

Source : Mirror

Posted by Adebayo A J

Boston bomber Tsarnaev moved to ‘supermax’ prison

Convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been transferred to a high-security “supermax” prison
in Colorado, US media and officials said, where he will be held until he is moved to federal death row.
Tsarnaev, a US citizen of Chechen decent, was sentenced to death for the 2013 attack at the Boston Marathon finish line
that killed three people and wounded 264 others, including 17 who lost limbs.
The US Federal Bureau of Prisons listed Tsarnaev as an inmate at the administrative security prison in Florence,
Colorado known as a supermax.
The Boston Globe said Tsarnaev, 21, was transferred to the penitentiary in Florence on Friday.
The high-security prison houses 418 inmates in total, including some of America’s most notorious criminals.
Zacarias Moussaoui, convicted over the September 11, 2001 attacks, is also held at the facility, along with “Unabomber”
serial murderer Ted Kaczynski and convicted “Shoe bomber” Richard Colvin Reid.
It is expected that Tsarnaev will eventually sit on federal death row in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Earlier this month, Tsarnaev filed a motion demanding a new trial, less than two weeks after he was formally
sentenced to death over the attacks, the bloodiest on US soil since 9/11.

Source : The punch

Posted by Adebayo A J

Murder probe as pregnant mum-of-two Becky Parker found dead in her flat

Shocked neighbours in Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, have paid tribute to 'lovely young girl' Becky, who was 23, since the news of her death broke

Murder probe: The mum of two was found dead on Friday

A young woman who died suddenly yesterday has been named as pregnant mother of two Becky Parker.
Investigators launched a murder probe after 23-year-old Becky was found dead in her Burnham-on-Crouch flat in
Essex at around 4pm.
A 23-year-old man from Maldon, Essex, has been arrested in connection with the incident and was today being questioned by police on suspicion of murder.
Forensics searches are still being carried out at the property today. It is understood Miss Parker was five months pregnant.
Shocked neighbours and loved ones have paid tribute to Miss Parker since the news of her death broke.
Former co-worker Maria Fowkes, 40, who worked with her last year at The Oyster Smack Inn, told the Essex Chronicle:
"She was such a lovely young girl.
"We knew her as Izzy at work. She did explain to me why but I can't remember the exact reason.
"She had two beautiful children she thought the world of. She wanted to get out of the flat she was in and give her
kids a better life. "I don't know anyone who could say anything bad about
her. We were both housekeepers and we used to chat away all the time. She was so bubbly and lovely."

Scene: Booth Place in Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex

DCI Martin Pasmore, from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, is leading the investigation.
He said: “This is a very sad and distressing incident where a young woman has lost her life in tragic circumstances.
This enquiry has now become a murder investigation.
“We have arrested a man on suspicion of her murder and will continue to question him today.
"If anyone does have any information that they think may help us then I would urge them to get in touch with my team.”

Source : Mirror

Posted by Adebayo A J

This is how to order the McDonald’s secret menu (WTF is a McGangBang?)

A McDonald’s manager has ‘revealed’ the chain’s secret men (Picture: Getty Images)

You might expect to be chucked out of your local McDonalds if you order a McGangbang, or at least get a slap in the face.
But it is actually an item on the ‘secret’ McDonald’s Menu.
There has been years of speculation about the existence of such a covert menu.
However a Scottish store manager has confirmed its existence… basically changing everything.
Other than the risque Mc Gangbang, other popular favourites include the Land Sea and Air Burger, which contains beef,
chicken and fish, or the Mc10:35 brunch sandwich, which combines breakfast and lunch options.

The McGangbang is one of the most popular secret menu items. It includes a McChicken Sandwich between two Cheeseburgers. (Picture: HACKTHEMENU.COM)

A McBrunch includes items from the breakfast and lunch menus. (Picture: HACKTHEMENU.COM)

Or how about a Land, Sea and Air burger that includes a Big Mac beef burger (land), a Filet-O-Fish (sea) and a McChicken sandwich (air) (Picture: HACKTHEMENU.COM)

Or a Mc Grilled Cheese which is basically a burger bun with a bit of cheese in it. (Picture: HACKTHEMENU.COM)

Why not wash it down with a Neapolitan shake? (Picture: HACKTHEMENU.COM)

He said the items names are not standardised but employees can make up ‘grill orders’ from customer descriptions.
The manager, whose Reddit name is Orchidhibiscus , wrote:
‘You can order from the ‘Secret Menu’. Just like with any of our sandwiches, you can add, remove or change ingredients by
special request. These are called ‘grill orders’ (i.e. Big Mac no pickle)
‘The items on the ‘secret menu’ weren’t invented by anyone officially at McDonald’s, it’s just a random persons guide to burgers you could potentially ‘hack’ at McDonald’s.
‘Order one and the workers might not know it by name (i.e. Land, Air and Sea burger or the McGangBang) but if you explain what it is, and are willing to pay for all the ingredients, it’s just another ‘grill order’ that we can make up.’

Source : Metro

Posted by Adebayo A J

Disney wants you to know it wasn’t involved with GQ’s racy Amy Schumer Star Wars shoot

Amy Schumer "joins the Dark Side" on GQ's Comedy Issue. Photo: Facebook/GQ

LOS ANGELES — Amy Schumer has had a pretty big week
between the theatrical release of Trainwreck, two Emmy
nominations for Inside Amy Schumer, and her raunchy GQ cover
story featuring the comedian cavorting with Star Wars icons R2-D2 and C3P0 — but that last part may have landed her in hot water with the House of Mouse.
After impressionable Star Wars fans took to social media to decry the sexualisation of their beloved characters, the official
Star Wars Twitter account made sure to let them know that Disney and Lucasfilm had no part in the racy photoshoot.
A studio spokesperson told Variety, “It’s not surprising that GQ would want to capitalise on the cultural cachet of Star Wars, but Lucasfilm and Disney did not authorise, participate in or condone the inappropriate use of our characters in this
manner.”
GQ did not consult with Disney or Lucasfilm on the content of the shoot, a studio rep says, but because the photos are obviously parodying the iconic franchise, they’re covered under
fair use. A source close to Disney admitted that there was no legal recourse for the parody — beyond social-media
disapproval.
Despite the disdain from some Star Wars faithful, others were making like Salacious B. Crumb and seeing the funny side.
And with Trainwreck already on track to outperform box office expectations this weekend, Schumer will be laughing all the way to the bank — just don’t expect her to make a real cameo in a galaxy far, far away any time soon.

Source : Today

Posted by Adebayo A J

Arsenal take home Barclays Asia Trophy in 3-1 win over Everton

Arsenal's Mikel Arteta celebrates with team mates and the trophy

Arsenal capped off a successful pre-season tour in Singapore, by winning their first title at the Barclays Asia Trophy

SINGAPORE — Arsenal capped off a successful pre-season tour in Singapore, by winning their first title at the Barclays Asia Trophy.
The reigning FA Cup champions picked up a convincing 3-1 win over Everton in the final, in front of a 52,107-strong crowd at the National Stadium today (July 18).
Theo Walcott gave the Gunners a 1-0 lead going into half-time, before goals from Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil in the second half put the game beyond the Toffees’ reach.
Ross Barkley managed to get a consolation goal for Everton, but the Gunners eventually went home with the trophy.
This puts them in good stead for the Emirates Cup on Jul 25 and 16, as well as their Premier League opener against West Ham on Aug 9. CHANNEL NEWSASIA

Source : Today

Posted by Adebayo A J

M6 lorry fire MELTS the road causing traffic chaos for half-term holidaymakers

Dramatic pictures of a severe lorry fire that has closed the M6 southbound this morning (Picture: NTI)

Holiday getaway drivers face being caught up in long delays after a fierce lorry fire closed a busy motorway.
Police warned those planning on heading south along the M6 that it may remain shut for repairs for much of the day from
junction 13 for Stafford south, after fire melted the road.
Millions are expected to hit the roads this weekend after many schools broke up for the summer.

Motorists should expect delays (Picture: NTI)

Staffordshire Police said repairs to the carriageway are expected to take until 4pm, with motorists being urged to divert to the M1 instead.
The ferocity of the fire was evident in a picture tweeted by the Central Motorway Police Group (CMPG) showing all three lanes of the motorway covered in flames.

(Picture: NTI)

In a statement on its website, Highways England said: ‘The M6 southbound is closed between junction 13 (Stafford south) and junction 12 (Cannock) due to a severe HGV fire which engulfed all lanes of the carriageway shortly after 1.30am this morning.
‘The intensity of the fire has caused extensive damage to the carriageway and resurfacing is required.’ Yesterday, the RAC said it was expecting 7.5 million motorists to hit the road by the end of the weekend.

Roads are predicted to be at their busiest today between 9am  and 4pm.
RAC head of external affairs Pete Williams said: ‘Our data shows
that summer holiday traffic is going to be concentrated on our roads this coming weekend, causing gridlock and delays for
many on the busiest ‘getaway’ routes.’

The M6 in Staffordshirein happier times (Picture: NTI)

Source : Metro

Posted by Adebayo A J

Husband films his pregnant wife giving birth in their car

When baby has to come – sometimes there is no stopping him.
This couple were driving to their birthing centre near Houston, Texas, when suddenly the woman realises that they aren’t going to make it to the hospital on time.
So her partner began filming her on his GoPro while still driving to the Bay Area Birth Centre, as you do.
The footage begins with the caption: ‘We’ve been driving for about 45 mins, already.

The woman soon realises that the baby’s head is coming out, so she pulls her trousers down enough to deliver the baby herself.
She is pretty damn calm through-out, and literally screams in shock just a couple of times.

And out he comes!

‘He came right in the car! Oh my god. You’re beautiful! Oh my goodness! What do I do?’ She says holding the 10lb baby boy.
*screams*

‘High five!’ Says her partner. ‘We did it!’

She rubs his back a bit to help him breath, but the baby boy was otherwise perfectly healthy.

This is the couple’s third child together, the first two were both girls aged two and one now.
The miracle of birth. Ahhhh.

Source : Metro

Posted by Adebayo A J

Schneiderlin scores as United launch tour with win

Manchester United new signing Morgan Schneiderlin scored a debut goal as the English Premier League giants launched their four-match US tour with a 1-0 victory over Club America of Mexico Friday.

French international Schneiderlin, who sealed a reported $39 million move to Old Trafford from Southampton earlier this month, steered home a fifth-minute header to secure the win at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal was satisfied after a testing first run-out for his new-look squad.

“All the players did the functions that they have to do in our philosophy, so I’m happy and satisfied that we won,” van Gaal said afterward.

The fact that United had kept a clean sheet was also cause for satisfaction, van Gaal added.

“I wanted to see our defensive organization. That was the main aspect, that we don’t give any goals away, and they had only one or two chances so I am satisfied about that,” the former Netherlands manager added.

“We played a team that was very handy with the ball, their players were quick and very aggressive so it was not so easy.”

Van Gaal fielded three of United’s recent summer signings in a 4-2-3-1 starting line-up, with Schneiderlin anchoring the midfield alongside Michael Carrick.

Van Gaal believes Schneiderlin’s physical presence and eye for goal could prove useful for United in the campaign ahead.

“He scored five goals for Southampton,” van Gaal said.

“We have practiced this with him. I was very pleased with the performance.”

Italian international Matteo Darmian slotted in at right back while Dutch attacker Memphis Depay was deployed in the center of an attacking trio flanked by Ashley Young and Juan Mata.

Captain Wayne Rooney spearheaded the attack at the tip of a balanced-looking United side that was rarely troubled by their Mexican opponents.

– United on top –

United’s opener came after only five minutes when Schneiderlin leaped at the far post to meet Mata’s cross with a looping header which sailed over the head of America goalkeeper Hugo Gonzalez for 1-0.

United dominated for the remainder of the half, with Mata going close to doubling the lead shortly after the United opener only to see his shot from Young’s cutback saved.

United were lucky to survive strong claims for a penalty midway through the half however when Daley Blind, playing in central defense alongside Phil Jones, brought down Miguel Samudio for what looked like a cast iron spot-kick.

United continued to create the better openings, and Depay spurned a golden opportunity on 37 minutes, electing to shoot on the edge of the area instead of passing to an unmarked Young.

Depay’s shot was blocked. Rooney also went close six minutes before the break, shooting just wide after another United break out.

Van Gaal rang the changes at half-time, fielding an entirely new XI for the second half and handing a debut to Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Brazilian youngster Andreas Pereira delivered an eye-catching cameo, almost doubling the lead with an angled shot that went just wide and providing a teasing cross for Adnan Januzaj that the Belgian international narrowly failed to convert.

United now move onto California where they will play San Jose Earthquakes on Tuesday before facing Barcelona on July 25.

They finish their International Champions Cup campaign against Paris Saint-Germain in Chicago on July 29.

Source : The Guardian

Posted by Adebayo A J

Traditional Rulers Want Death Penalty, Special Courts For Terrorism Acts

AS part of measures to curb the rising spate of insurgency and other violent crimes in the country, the National Association of Royal Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NARTN) has called on the Federal Government to approve the introduction of military training for members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to enable them complement the efforts of the army, police and other security agencies in the country.

The association, after its 99th National Conference in Abuja yesterday, also renewed its call for the Federal Government to give a constitutional role to traditional rulers, arguing that that would empower them to fully play active role in identifying and helping the government to fight insurgency in the country.

In a communiqué, which was read at the Congress by its chairman, Eze Thomas Obiefule, NARTN, which advocated for the return of death penalty for offences like terrorism, called on the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to that effect.

“The nation’s Constitution is not helping the country in the fight against insurgency.For instance,if someone uses explosives to wreck havoc, killing so many people, the killer will only bag a life imprisonment, if convicted. This is the most unfair and unfortunate. Therefore, we want to urge the National Assembly to amend the Constitution to carry death penalty. Cases involving terrorists should not exceed three months for judgment to be delivered, as it is the case in other countries. Special courts should be put in place to handle cases of terrorism for quick dispensation of justice,” the statement said.

Source : The Guardian

Posted by Adebayo A J

Two Female Suicide Bombers Kill Nine in Damaturu

AS MUSLIMS marked the end of Ramadan and commenced the celebration of Eld-el- Fitri, two female Boko Haram suicide bombers attacked the Phase One Secretariat Complex and Gwange Sabon Pegi road in Damaturu, Yobe State, detonating Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) strapped to their bodies, killing nine people and injuring 41 others between 7.35am and 8.15am yesterday.
The twin blasts, according to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Markus Danladi, claimed the lives of nine people, adding that the blasts were masterminded by two female bombers shortly before the Muslims prayers.
Nigerian Army authorites also confirmed the blasts, saying that the bombs were detonated at a screening area. A statement by the acting Director Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, added: “The two female suicide bombers, one elderly woman and a
10-year-old girl, detonated the devices at a screening area for intending Muslim worshippers at Layin Gwange, Damaturu and at Phase One (in front of former state secretariat), Damaturu.
“Four persons died in the first explosion and seven people injured, while five people lost their lives in the second explosion and 11 were wounded.

“Troops and security agencies responded
immediately. The situation is under control. Both the governor and the COAS
sympathise with and urge the people to
stay calm and be security conscious. No amount of terrorist act would deter our
resolve to stamp out terrorism and insurgency.”

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Damaturu Specialist Hospital, Dr. Adamu Musa Fika, also confirmed that nine people died in the blasts and 41 others sustained various degrees of injuries.
The streets of Damaturu, the state capital, were deserted, as the Police and other security agencies promptly adjusted the restrictions of movement from 2pm to 6pm.
But the early blasts did not affect the celebration, as hundreds of Muslim worshippers attended prayers at various praying grounds to thank God for the successful completion of the Ramadan fast that ended on Thursday.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj-General Tukar Yusuf Buratai, joined Governor Ibrahim Gaidam and some government officials and military personnel in the prayer session held at the Yobe Mosque and Islamic Centre.
Shortly after the prayer, Gaidam thanked the Army Chief for coming to the state, saying he has a lot ahead of him in maintaining peace in the troubled area.
Buratai said he was in the state to celebrate Sallah with Nigerian troops on ground, adding: “My presence here during this Sallah celebration was of strategic reasons to fight Boko Haram insurgency
in the Northeast.”

Source : The Guardian

Posted by Adebayo A J

HK youths’ separatist calls spur Beijing to build bridges

Localist protesters shout to pro-China demonstrators during an anti- China protest at Mongkok shopping district in Hong Kong, China July 11, 2015. Photo: Reuters

HONG KONG — On a recent Sunday night in the district of Mong Kok, a group of young, radical activists swore through loud- hailers and gestured rudely as they denounced mainland Chinese as “prostitutes” and “barbarians”.
The youngsters are members of a new front in Hong Kong’s pro- democracy movement that is using increasingly aggressive tactics to demand an independent Hong Kong free from mainland China’s grip, shaking the assumption of a cosy accommodation between the mainland’s communists and the capitalist enclave.
Their separatist yearnings have alarmed Beijing and the pro- Beijing Hong Kong government, which are fighting back to win hearts and minds and forge a spirit of “love China, love Hong Kong” with multi-million-dollar information drives and
exchanges.
The animosity on display in Mong Kok was virtually unheard of until recently, despite resentment towards mainlanders flooding into Hong Kong. It follows unsuccessful protests to demand full
democracy in the city late last year.
“I never call myself Chinese at school because it is a shame to be Chinese,” said 16-year-old “Gorilla” Chan, who,
unbeknownst to his parents, founded a radical group with a 14 year-old friend.
In response to fears of a student-led separatist movement, the Hong Kong government has announced a record HK$124.5 million (S$21.9 million) to bolster civic education and youth
trips to the mainland.
In February, it earmarked another HK$205 million over three years for exchanges and internships, and said more than
19,000 youngsters would participate this year.
“Hong Kong students don’t have enough knowledge about the mainland. They will find that the mainland authorities are not as closed and conservative as they thought,” said the director- general of a mainland exchange organisation, in an interview with Reuters.
One young man who went to summer camp run by Hong Kong and the mainland authorities to build “national consciousness” said he felt caught between the two sides.
“It can be hard sometimes. A friend broke off relations with me because I didn’t want to join Occupy,” said Mr Thomas Chan, 20, referring to the pro-democracy movement.

Source : Today

Posted by Adebayo A J

Screen grab of Baby Born Without Nose Is Very Cute

When Brandi McGlathery held her newborn son for the first time, she saw a perfect baby, "..he had five fingers on each hand and five toes on his tiny feet, nothing was missing, except for his nose."

Although he struggled a bit, Eli took to breathing through his month naturally even while breastfeeding.

Eli was born on March 4, 2015 and was immediately taken to USA Children's and Women's Hospital in Mobile, Alabama, so doctors could give him a tracheotomy to help him eat without struggling for breath.

McGlathery says everyday she and her boyfriend, Eli's dad, Troy Thompson are sure to clean his tracheotomy and keep it infection free. They're hoping in the future he can get reconstruction surgery to build a nose.

Tessa Evans is now-18 months-old, and her parents are sharing their experiences with congenital arhinia due to medical misinformation that says children born with it have poor mental and physical ability... More »

Posted by Adebayo A J

The Heavens Open: Driving rain halts the golf

FLOODY HELL: Sweeping water off the course and a spectator seals himself in against rain [REUTERS]

LIGHTNING and torrential rain caused havoc The Open as forecasters warned that the British summer was “on hold”.

Play was delayed for almost four hours yesterday morning after storms flooded the course at St Andrews.
And the weather caused chaos for commuters as lightning struck the
signalling system at Dullingham, near Newmarket, Suffolk, causing cancellations and delays.

Shops, businesses and roads in East Anglia were flooded, with locals describing the “worst storms in living memory”.
Giant hailstones the size of pound coins rained down on the region in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Experts said some parts of Cambridgeshire saw half the
month’s rainfall come down in just
five hours.
The basement of Cambridge’s
Addenbrooke’s Hospital was flooded, putting scheduled surgery on hold until Tuesday.
Forecasters say July is set to become a damp squib, with plunging temperatures and heavy rain after weeks of glorious sunshine.
And weather experts warned Brits not to bother with barbecues and suncream this weekend.
Met Office forecaster Nicola Maxey said: “Today will see some showers again in Scotland, although England and Wales will be drier.
“But there is another low coming in tomorrow, bringing more strong winds and showers into the start of next week.”

TRAFFIC JAM: Cars piled up in fl ooded Perthshire street [PERTHSHIRE PICTURE AGENCY]

There will be chaos on UK roads this weekend as 2.6 million excited holidaymakers start their summer breaks.
The RAC’s Pete Williams warned that the shocking weather will make busy motorways even more hazardous.
He said: “Summer holiday traffic is going to be concentrated on our roads this coming weekend, causing gridlock and delays for many on the busiest getaway roads.
“Our advice is to set the alarm clocks early and get away before the traffic builds.”
Gordon Moir, the course spokesman for St Andrews in Scotland – where this year’s Open championship is being held – said it was a “little bit
disappointing” play was halted yesterday.

Source : Daily Star

Posted by Adebayo A J

Former Manchester United chef SUES – claiming sexist bullying made life HELL

VICTIM: Marcus claims he was bullied by female colleagues [CAVENDISH PRESS]

A FORMER Manchester United chef is suing the club, claiming sexist bullying made life hell. Marcus King is taking the Premier League giant to a tribunal after
alleging female colleagues spied on him as he went to the toilet.
The 55-year-old worked at Old Trafford as stadium liaison manager for five years before joining the kitchen staff in 2014.
He said three female sous chefs started to tease him and play pranks.
One time he was forced to wear a lady’s blouse and apron.
He said it was “incredibly humiliating and patronising”.
And when they spied on him as he used a disabled toilet, it was the
final straw.
Police later dismissed the incident as “banter”.
The club has not commented.

Source : Daily Star

Posted by Adebayo A J

Beauty intel: Laneige, Kiehl’s, innisfree

Laneige Beauty Road with BB Cushion event

SPREADING K-BEAUTY LOVE. The global Laneige Beauty Road With BB Cushion roadshow is coming to Singapore next week.
At this pop-up event, you can learn more about Laneige’s best- selling product, the BB Cushion, and experiment with the
different looks the cushion compact can help you achieve.
Laneige make-up artists from Korea and top Korean model Hwang Se-On will also be in attendance, sharing beauty tips to
realising radiant skin, on July 25. Laneige Beauty Road With BB Cushion roadshow will be held from July 20 to 26 at ION
Orchard, Basement 4, ION Station.
PLUMP IT UP. To tackle age-related dehydration, try Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Serum Concentrate which
corrects the moisture imbalance that occurs in skin as we age.
Formulated with shiso leaf extract and plant-based glycerin, this lightweight serum is easily absorbed by skin, penetrating 10 layers to restore moisture to parched skin. Use religiously, and
you can expect to see a reduction of fine lines and more even skin texture after a week. Retailing for S$80 at Kiehl’s stores
and counters.
SENSORIAL EXPERIENCE. innisfree has unveiled its 2,450sqft store at VivoCity. That is a lot of space, and here you can find the first-ever Soap Making Zone, where you can create and mould your own soaps, as well as new and extensive ranges of scented candles, perfumed body water and diffusers — great for
those who love innisfree’s all-natural brand philosophy.
Located at #B1-02.

Source : Today

Posted by Adebayo A J

EU panel urges more pilot screening after Germanwings crash

An aerial photo taken from a helicopter shows the crash site of the Germanwings Airbus A320 near Seyne-les-Alpes. Photo: Reuters

LONDON/BERLIN - A task force set up after the Germanwings disaster has recommended improved psychological screening for new pilots, a European database with details of medical visits and better support networks to reduce the risks of a similar tragedy.
The panel of experts led by Europe's aviation safety regulator also called for the introduction of random drugs and alcohol testing of pilots and better oversight of the doctors responsible
for their regular medical checks. It delivered its findings to the European Commission on Friday.
European Union Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc ordered the review after a young pilot barricaded himself inside the
cockpit and crashed a Germanwings jetliner into the Alps in March, killing all 150 people on board.
Prosecutors have found evidence that the co-pilot, who had suffered severe depression and may have feared losing his job, had researched suicide methods and concealed an illness from his employer, sparking a debate on supervision and medical secrecy.
"We don't know everything that happened in this tragedy but we know a certain number of causes," Patrick Ky, executive director of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), told Reuters.
The idea is to "minimize the risk of a similar tragedy in the future", he said in an interview.
The psychological tests would apply only to new pilots because it would be difficult to implement this for all those currently
flying, an EU official said.
Co-pilot Andreas Lubitz broke off his training due to a period of severe depression, but Germanwings parent Lufthansa has said he passed all medical and suitability tests again upon resuming
training.
The EASA panel is proposing better support schemes to allow pilots or colleagues to come forward with concerns about health or other issues and discuss them confidentially.
Unions backed the proposal.

"It's important for pilots not to want to hide problems because of the fear they will lose their jobs," Markus Wahl, a spokesman for German pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit, said.

COCKPIT DOORS
The EASA task force -- drawn from airlines, flight crews, doctors and aviation authorities -- did not recommend changes to cockpit doors that were specially strengthened after the Sept.
11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
But it endorsed a recent shift towards ensuring that there are always two people in the cockpit.
France's BEA crash investigation agency has found that Lubitz took advantage of toilet breaks by the captain, both to rehearse the maneuver on the previous flight and then to carry out his plan to destroy the jet on flight 9525.
The head of the agency welcomed the EASA findings, even though it is still working on its own recommendations.
It is studying whether cockpit door-locking systems should be changed and how to balance safety with medical secrecy, a sensitive issue in nations such as France and Germany.
BEA Director Remi Jouty told Reuters that both areas raised difficult dilemmas.
"I can't imagine a miracle solution (on cockpit doors) that would increase safety without weakening security," he said.
One question to be examined is whether the rules can be changed without creating disproportionate risks, he added.

The medical database proposed by EASA would initially only record the dates and places of specialist 'aero-medical' check-ups and whether a pilot had been deemed fit to fly.
That would not have helped in the case of Lubitz, who is suspected of concealing notes written by a general practitioner, but would prevent what Ky called "medical tourism" or going
abroad to get a favorable certificate for the pilot licence.
EASA called for a deeper examination of medical secrecy in all 28 EU nations. Some such as Britain already advise doctors to report any concerns where public safety is at stake.
The BEA is looking at whether contacts between pilots and general doctors should also come under scrutiny, but officials agree such changes are likely to trigger a difficult debate about
privacy that goes beyond aviation. REUTERS

Source: Today

Posted by Adebayo A J

Siasia assures Nigerians of victory against Congo U23

The Dream Team VI handler has vowed that the east African nation will
return home with basket full of goals in Sunday’s qualifier
Nigeria U23 coach Samson Siasia has promised that Congo U23 team
will fall in Sunday’s African U23 Championship qualifier billed for the
Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
Claude LeRoy’s wards eliminated Ghana’s Black Meteors to reach this
stage and will seal a place in the 2015 edition of the African U23 championship which serves as Olympic qualifiers for Rio 2016.
"I am very confident that Nigerians who will troop out en masse to see our match on Sunday will see one of the best displays ever by the Dream Team,” Siasia told the media at the Hotel Presidential abode of the team.
"As a team, my boys have always created chances, but our greatest problem has been to convert these chances to goals.
“We have been doing a lot of work in this critical area and if what I have seen in training of recent is anything to go by, then I can assure Nigerians that these boys will make them proud by scoring enough goals against the Congolese come Sunday,” he concluded.
Kenya’s Anthony Ogwayo will be the center referee and he will be assisted by compatriots Gilbert Cheruiyot, Joshua Achila and Andrew Juma Otieno. he match commissioner is Alim Konate Aboubakar from Cameroon.

Source : Goal

Posted by Adebayo A J

Spectre world premiere on 26 October

Spectre, the next James Bond film, will have its world premiere on the same day as its release across the UK and Ireland on 26 October, Sony Pictures announces.

Source : BBC

Posted by Adebayo A J