NIGERIAN FOOTBALL: LMC To Sanction Referees For Poor Performance

The League Management Company (LMC) said it has reported the referees in last Wednesday’s fixture between Shooting Stars of Ibadan and Warri Wolves to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that LMC had, in a statement, said it had reported the three officials to the NFF Referees’ Committee.

“They were reported to NFF for their role in the conduct of the rescheduled Match Day 7 fixture, a role which has been considered inimical to the good of the league,’’ it said.

The statement said referee Francis Agbaegbu from Niger State Referees’ Council and the two others were asked to explain their performance in the match.

Don’t Stop Running: Real-Life Forrest Gump Tries To Jog Across US In 100 Days

Reuters / Eliseo Fernandez

Michigan, US man is currently in the process of running across the United States from coast to coast, inspired by the Academy Award-winning film “Forrest Gump.”

Barclay Oudersluys, who holds a master’s degree in nuclear engineering, is a veteran runner, having completed ultramarathons and triathlons over his 23 years of living. But his favourite movie inspired him to take on a challenge that is orders of magnitude larger.

The 1994 film “Forrest Gump” featured Tom Hanks playing the eponymous hero, a man with a low IQ but simple wisdom and good intentions. Oudersluys seems to be following in the footsteps of the beloved character, having taken on this monumental test of endurance for his own charity called Project Gump, which was set up for his epic endurance test.

Tourists Bother Barcelonans More Than Poverty – Poll

People cool off in the Mediterranean Sea at Calella's beaches, north of Barcelona (Reuters / Albert Gea)

Barcelona residents think mass tourism poses a bigger problem to their city than poverty, a new survey shows, indicating growing discontent among the locals with the crowds of tourists flooding the city.

The public opinion survey conducted by the Barcelona City Hall demonstrated that mass tourism is perceived by the locals as the third largest problem following the unemployment and working conditions as well as traffic, The Local reports.

The survey results show that, although most Barcelonans (31.9 percent) called unemployment and working conditions the worst problem in the city with politics and traffic coming second with 5.5 percent each, tourism ranked third, with 5.3 percent of the locals naming it the most serious problem.

Tourism also outranked poverty in the poll, as it was identified as Barcelona’s largest problem only by 5.1 percent of those asked.

Lifting The Lid On One Of FIFA's Big Secrets: Executive Pay

In this Tuesday, May 19, 2015 file photo, FIFA President Sepp Blatter attends a press conference in Jerusalem. (AP Photo/Tsafrir Abayov)

As FIFA slid toward what has now become a full-blown collapse of its reputation and credibility, one of Sepp Blatter's advisers suggested to the president of football's governing body that he should lift the lid on one of his most tightly guarded secrets.

Reveal how much FIFA pays you, Mark Pieth advised. The Swiss anti-corruption expert, recruited by FIFA for his expertise in corporate governance, says he argued that disclosing Blatter's salary would demonstrate that the discredited organization is committed to change and transparency.

Blatter wouldn't have it.

Pieth says the FIFA president explained that doing so risked embarrassing and upsetting his allies on the FIFA board whose pay is also secret.

TENNIS: Williams Wins Wimbledon To Secure Another Serena Slam

Serena Williams of the United States reacts as she holds up the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Garbine Muguruza of Spain, at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Saturday July 11, 2015. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)

When her opponent's final shot sailed out, Serena Williams wasn't sure whether the match was over or not. It took a few seconds before the realization sunk in — not only had she won her sixth Wimbledon title, but her bid for another "Serena Slam" was complete.

Williams overcame a slow start, eight double-faults and a nervy finish to dispatch Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday for her fourth Grand Slam championship in a row and 21st major overall.

The win means Williams holds all four Grand Slam titles at once — completing the second "Serena Slam" of her career. What's more, she secured the third leg of a calendar-year Grand Slam and, if she wins the U.S. Open, will become the first player to sweep all four majors in the same season since Steffi Graf in 1988.

FOR THE RECORDS: INEC Releases Date For Governorship Elections In Kogi, Bayelsa States

Image source: NTA

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the dates for governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States.

A statement issued on Friday by the Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Chris Eyimoga said the election in Kogi is scheduled for Saturday, November 21, while that of Bayelsa will hold on Saturday, December 5.

The dates were set after at the electoral body’s meeting of July 9.

Nigeria's Electricity Ambitions "Not Remotely Realistic": Report

Chronic power shortages are one of the biggest constraints on investment and growth in Africa's largest economy.

The Nigerian government's ambitions for improving electricity supplies are "not remotely realistic", a report by experts advising the presidency says, an early blow to one of President Muhammadu Buhari's most important reform promises. Chronic power shortages are one of the biggest constraints on investment and growth in Africa's largest economy. Fixing the problem was one of the key battlegrounds during campaigning ahead of a presidential election Buhari won in March.

Buhari, 72, and his opponent Goodluck Jonathan both promised to massively increase power supplies, building on a relatively successful US$2.5 billion partial privatization in 2013. Buhari's All Progressives Congress pledged in its manifesto to increase supplies from 3,600 megawatts (MW) currently to 20,000 MW within four years and 50,000 MW within ten years, which would meet the demands of Nigeria's 170 million people.

However, reaching 20,000 MW by 2020 is "not even remotely realistic" and "setting unrealistic targets dilutes discipline", according to a 54-page report entitled "The Energy Blueprint" obtained by Reuters.

TENNIS: Federer Dismantles Murray To Reach 10th Wimbledon Final

"When someone is a runaway train, all you do is make simple adjustments. Roger was phenomenal today." – Andy Roddick (Photo: Reuters)

Roger Federer does not lose Wimbledon semi-finals and he produced a display of clinical majesty to down Andy Murray and maintain his bid for a record eighth title with a sparkling 7-5 7-5 6-4 win on Friday. The second-seeded Swiss reached his 10th final at the All England Club with a near-perfect demolition of home favourite Murray to set up a repeat of last year's showpiece decider against world number one Novak Djokovic.

Murray could not lay a glove on the Federer serve and the Swiss upped the pressure at crucial stages of each set before wrapping up victory in two hours seven minutes when the British third seed sent a forehand wide.

US Personnel Chief Resigns In Wake Of Massive Data Breach

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) director Katherine Archuleta testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

The head of the government's personnel office has resigned in the wake of a massive data breach on her watch.

A White House official says President Barack Obama accepted the resignation of Office of Personnel Management Director Katherine Archuleta on Friday morning. She'll stay on the job through the end of the day.

EBOLA OUTBREAK: Two New Cases Confirmed; Tests Show Ebola Probably Remained Latent In Liberia

Stop Ebola campaign

CCTV Africa reports two new cases of Ebola have been confirmed in Liberia, bringing the numbers of cases to five.
Reuters reports that Ebola probably remained latent in Liberia even after it was officially eliminated in May, health officials said on Friday, after test results showed the strain of the virus in newly detected cases closely resembled earlier infections. The preliminary findings, based on a new technique analyzing the genetic sequence of the virus, suggest that transmission was either reactivated by an Ebola survivor, perhaps through sexual intercourse, or continued for weeks undetected, the sources added.

"It indicates that the virus is closely related to one that was circulating in Liberia in that particular area," World Health Organization spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said, confirming results given to Reuters by a health official.

Tunisia Terror Evacuation Sparks Diplomatic Spat As Britons Brought Home

British holidaymakers are leaving Tunisia following advice from the Foreign Office

Thousands of British holidaymakers are to be airlifted out of Tunisia as tour operators implement emergency plans following warnings of an imminent terror attack. The move has sparked a diplomatic row between the two nations. Tour operators including Thomas Cook, Cosmos and Jet2 are sending planes to Tunisia to bring back 3,000 British tourists currently there on package holidays.

The evacuation follows a warning from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on Thursday that all British citizens in Tunisia should seek to leave immediately. In response to the travel caution, Tunisia’s ambassador to the UK accused the British government of playing into the hands of extremists by damaging the country’s vital tourism industry.

Actor Omar Sharif, Star Of Doctor Zhivago, Dies - Egyptian State TV

Legendary actor Omar Sharif had been suffering from Alzheimer's, his family had revealed (Image source: telegraph.co.uk)

Actor Omar Sharif, best known for his title role as Doctor Zhivago in the Oscar-winning film, has died, Egyptian state television said. He was 83.

The BBC also reported his death, citing his agent.

Sharif was born in Egypt and was one of the few Arab actors to make it big in Hollywood.
He won international fame and an Oscar-nomination for best supporting actor for his role in the 1962 film "Lawrence of Arabia" with Peter O'Toole.

Asbestos Found In Children’s Crayons, Toys – Report

Reuters / Michaela Rehle

Asbestos fibres have been found in crayons and children’s toys sold in the US, according to a new report from a health advocacy group. The EWG Action Fund is calling for a ban on asbestos in consumer products after it found the substance in four out of 28 brands of crayons, according to a report released by the group on Wednesday.

Two brands of toy crime-lab kits of the 21 which were tested were also reported to have contained the carcinogenic substances. They had been purchased from ToysRUs.com and Amazon.com. Asbestos was found in the kits’ fingerprint dusting powders, and these products had higher concentrations than the tested brand of crayon did.

Tribunal Okays Peterside’s Request To Inspect Rivers Guber Poll Materials

Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside and Barr Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike

The Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja on Thursday reaffirmed its ex parte order made on June 11, 2015, granting permission to the All Progressives Congress and its candidate in the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, to inspect the electoral materials used for the poll.

Peterside and the APC had on May 3, 2015, filed their petition before the tribunal to challenge the victory of the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Nyemson Wike, in the poll.

The Justice Mu’azu Pindiga-led tribunal, in a ruling on Thursday, dismissed Wike’s application asking for the setting aside of the June 11, 2015 order.

Most States In Nigeria Not Viable – Taraba Gov

Governor Darius Ishaku

The governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku, has stated that the calls for creation of more states in the country is unnecessary and should therefore, be discontinued to give way for the economic development of already existing states.

Governor Ishaku who stated this in an exclusive interview with Leadership also said that many states in the federation are not viable and therefore, grapple with the challenge of paying workers, just as internally generated revenue of most states is not anything to rely on.

Burundi General Seeks To Oust President He Accuses Of Dividing Nation

General Leonard Ngendakumana, a deputy to the leader of the aborted uprising, accused the president of dragging the central African country back into civil war, comments that will alarm a region with a long history of ethnic conflict.

A Burundi general who was part of a failed coup attempt in May said his group was still working to oust President Pierre Nkurunziza, accusing him of stoking ethnic divisions in a country still trying to recover from civil war.

"At that time (in May), we just failed to remove Nkurunziza from power," General Leonard Ngendakumana told Reuters in an interview on Thursday outside Burundi. "The aim is still there."

The president, whom Ngendakumana served as a senior intelligence officer in government and during the civil war as a rebel fighter, has plunged Burundi into its deepest political crisis for a decade by seeking a third five-year term.

WikiLeaks Posts Library Of Leaked Italian Hackers' Emails

REVEALED: Bayelsa State Govt under Gov Seriake Dickson during Jonathan administration patronized Hacking Team

WikiLeaks has published a searchable library of the massive email trove stolen from Italian surveillance company Hacking Team, ensuring more exposure for the spyware vendor's secretive clients.

WikiLeaks says it has published more than 1 million searchable messages, adding to the transparency website's already considerable haul of leaked and hacked documents.

Saud Al-Faisal, Saudi Foreign Minister For 40 Years, Dies

King Salman, Saudi king: Relieving former FM Prince Saud Al Faisal was 'difficult'

Former Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal died on Thursday, Saudi Arabian sources and media close to the kingdom's ruling family reported, two months after he was replaced following four decades in the job.

Prince Saud, who was 75, was the world's longest-serving foreign minister when replaced on April 29 by Adel al-Jubeir, the then-ambassador to Washington. The Al-Arabiya channel, which is close to King Salman's branch of the ruling family, confirmed the news.

NNPC, Others Defy DPR’s Directive, Sell Petrol Above N100/Ltr

The NNPC Mega filling station at Rainbow Bus Stop, Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, Lagos closed for business. (Photo: Bunmi Azeez; Image source: Vanguard.com)

Despite warnings by the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, to marketers to desist from arbitrary pump price increase of fuel, a Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, outlet at Amuwo, Festac area of Lagos State is selling petrol at N100 per litre.

The NNPC outlet joined others, including Conoil, Oregun Road; Total, Amukoko Alaba; Mobil, Festac; Capital Oil, Ago, Olufemi Arowolo, Iyana-Iba and a host of others, which have stock of the scarce commodity, also sold above regulated price of N87 per litre.

These outlets are selling petrol at between N100 and N120 per litre, depending on the outlet and location.

The petroleum industry regulator, DPR, at an emergency stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos on Wednesday, warned depot operators and marketers against arbitrary increase in the ex-depot and pump prices of petrol, by taking advantage of the current scarcity situation.

Four Brilliant Nigerian Girls Win 2015 Global Technovation Challenge (SEE VIDEO OF WINNING PITCH)

From L-R:   Praise David-Oku, Sonam Kumar, Nmesoma Ogbonna, Grace Akpoiroro, Grace Ihejiamaizu receiving award as 2015 global winner of Technovation Challenge at San  Francisco, USA

TEAM CHARIS (Nigeria) has emerged winner in  Technovation Challenge world pitch which held at San Francisco, USA. The winning team comprised of four brilliant girls: Praise David-Oku, Sonam Kumar, Nmesoma Ogbonna, and Grace Akpoiroro as they developed a mobile app to tackle waste disposal challenge in Nigeria. They pitched their app called, ‘Discardious’.

Mrs. Martha Alade, Founder of WITIN and Coordinator of the program in Nigeria enthused that this years’ team was exceptional and has done Nigeria proud.   Their solution solves a major problem in Nigeria. This is the first time a Nigerian team would come first globally in Technovation World Pitch.

Grace Ihejiamaizu, an International Exchange Alumni and founder of iKapture Networks, who mentored the winning team said  they faced a lot of challenges on their way to success but overcame.

64 countries participated in the competition with 380 apps submitted, 10 teams from all over the world were given the opportunity to explain their project in form of a pitch and tell their app story in a creative way. The girls also attended life-changing workshops including a networking session.

Industrial Devt: Nigeria Is At Point Zero – Buhari

Presidential Muhammadu Buhari

Presidential Muhammadu Buhari says with high interest rates and expensive machinery, Nigeria is at point zero in the area of industrial development. The president stated this at the State House in Abuja Thursday during a meeting with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment Abdulkadir Musa and senior officials of relevant agencies.

"With high interest rates  and entrepreneurs needing trillions of Naira to buy machinery, we are virtually back at Ground Zero as far as industrial development is concerned", the president said.

Second US OPM Hack Puts 21.5 Million People At Risk; Boehner, Other U.S. Republicans Want Obama To Fire OPM Leadership

Reuters / James Lawler Duggan

A second data breach at the US Office of Personnel Management has affected 21.5 million people, with the hackers stealing sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and putting them at risk of identity theft, the agency announced. Notably, the agency said that this incident is “separate but related” to the one that saw 4.2 million former and current government employees personnel data compromised.

Of the 21.5 million people whose information was stolen, 19.7 million were individuals who had submitted to federal background checks, which are needed in order to gain security clearances. The other 1.8 million people were non-applicants, such as family members of those who were being checked, OPM stated.

OPM said it “determined that the types of information in these records include identification details such as Social Security Numbers; residency and educational history; employment history; information about immediate family and other personal and business acquaintances; health, criminal and financial history” and more.

Educational Inequality As Destructive For Health As Smoking – Study

(Reuters / Luke MacGregor)

An educational deficit can be as destructive for human health as smoking and could reduce a person’s lifespan by ten years, new research suggests.

Conducted by researchers based at the University of Colorado, the report said young people who leave school without good GSCE or A Levels results risk a life plagued by poor nutrition, declining mental health and long working hours. It was published in multi-disciplinary open access journal PLOS ONE.

The research team examined data sets from America dating back as far as 1925 to decipher the relationship between education and mortality. However, their findings can be applied more generally to any state. Assistant professor at the University of Colorado Patrick Kruger said the research uncovers a clear link between educational attainment and human health.

EBOLA OUTBREAK: Liberia Confirms 2 New Ebola Cases

Dr. Francis Kateh, Deputy Incident Manager of the Incident Management System

The acting head of Liberia's Ebola Case Management Team says that two new cases of Ebola have emerged from the same community where the virus resurged the other week.

Associated Press reports Dr. Francis Kateh said Thursday that the number of confirmed Ebola cases has risen to five, including the 17-year-old teen who died of the disease on June 28. He said the newest patients, a boy and a girl, were brought to a treatment center Wednesday from the same Nedowein community where the teen died, some 30 miles (48 kilometers) outside the capital, Monrovia.

Dr. Kateh said all four confirmed patients are admitted at a treatment center near Monrovia.

He said 120 people have been quarantined, and that 14 who are considered active "high risk" contacts are being monitored.