Fabregas not Frank: Mourinho Lauds Irreplaceable Lampard's Achievements

The vacuum left by Frank Lampard's exit from Chelsea is too big, even
summer recruit Cesc Fabregas is not yet conditioned to fit into,
according to Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

Lampard was released by the Blues at the end of the 2013/14 season and
has signed a two-year deal with Major League Soccer franchise New
York FClast month. The legendary midfielder will train at rivals
Manchester Cityuntil mid-January, because his new 'Big Apple' team-
partly owned by the Citizens- are not due in action until March 2015.

The Premier League's all-time leading midfield goal scorer with 171
goals, won three league titles, four FA Cup, two League Cups, and
captained the side to their first-ever Champions League and Europa
League triumph in quick succession in 2012 and 2013.

"Frank is Frank, he is irreplaceable," Mourinho told BT Sport. "No chance."

Mourinho Envisages Chelsea Will One day Build A Statue Outside
Stamford Bridge in Honour of their Legendary No. 8.

The Portuguese boss brought in Fabregas from Barcelona this summer for
a reported £30m fee. He claims the Spanish star won't be able to
replace the England international, who is the 'Blues' all-time top
scorer with 211 goals in 649 matches (from 2001- 2013), but reiterates
he " brings in a new dimension" to the team.

Mourinho added: "Fabregas is the player we need to modify a little bit
(in) the profile of our game. We want to give the next dimension to
our game in midfield.

"But I think we can never say- in spite of Cesc, who is a fantastic
player as you know- that, 'This guy is coming to replace Frank',
because Frank is Frank.

"One day he will be alongside Peter Osgood (the Chelsea legend whose
statue stands outside the West Stand of Stamford Bridge) in terms of a
statue being built for him because he's fantastic."

City and Chelsea, who finished third in the league last season with
the former West Ham midfielder scoring 6 times in 26 appearances, will
meet at the Etihad Stadium on September 21.

Mourinho ended without winning a trophy on his return to the club he
initially managed between 2004 to 2007.

Chelsea have bought midfielder Mario Pasalic (undisclosed) from Hadjuk
Split, striker Diego Costa (£32m), left-back Filipe Luis (£15.8m) both
from Atletico Madrid, Didier Drogba (free agent) and Fabregas in the
close season, as 'The Special One' prepares for the season he previews
to shape into a much tougher campaign.

"In England it is even stronger now than in my firs period. Even more
now because when I first came Man City didn't have this financial
situation they have now. Even Tottenham at this moment, all the top
five or six. In this moment can you tell me who is going to win the
Premier League?, asked the Stamford Bridge boss. "You can't tell me.

"Can you tell me which one of the top five is going to be outside the
Champions League? You can't say. This is what I want. For my concept
of what a League should be, this is the best."

US STATE DEPARTMENT EBOLA ALERT

In order to help our Embassy Community better understand some of the
key points about the Ebola virus we have consulted with our medical
specialists at the U S State Department and assembled this list of
bullet points worded in plain language for easy comprehension. Our
medical specialists remind everyone that they should be following the
guideline from the center for Disease Control and the World Health
Organisation.

* The suspected reservoirs for Ebola are fruit bats.

* Transmission to humans is thought to originate from infected bats or
primates that have become infected by bats.

* Undercooked infected bat and primate (bush) meat transmits the virus
to humans.

* Human to human transmission is only achieved by physical contact
with a person who is acutely and gravely ill from the Ebola virus or
their body fluids.

* Transmission among humans is almost exclusively among caregiver
family members or health care workers tending to the very ill.

* The virus is easily killed by contact with soap, bleach, sunlight,
or drying. A washing machine will kill the virus in clothing saturated
with infected body fluids.

* A person can incubate the virus without symptoms for 2-21 days, the
average being 5-8 days before becoming ill. THEY ARE NOT CONTAGIOUS
until they are acutely ill.

* Only when ill does the viral load express itself first in the blood
and then in other bodily fluids (to include vomit, feces, urine,
breast milk, semen and sweat).

* If you are walking around you are not infectious to others.

* There are documented cases from Kikwit, DRC of an Ebola outbreak in
a village that had the custom of children never touching an ill adult.
Children living for days in small one room huts with parents who died
from Ebola did not become infected.

* You cannot contract Ebola by handling money, buying local bread or
swimming in a pool.

* There is no medical reason to stop flights, close borders, restrict
travel or close embassies, businesses or schools.

* As always practice good hand washing techniques, but you will not
contract Ebola if you do not touch a dying person.

US EMBASSY
Please share this information with your friends and families to try
and stop panic.

Osun Decides: Disaster as motorist knocks down 6-yr-old boy during APC's celebration

The celebration of All Progressive Congress in Osogbo was almost
marred when a motorist knocked down a 6-year-old boy along
Alekuwodo/Okefia road .

According to our reporter, the APC faithfuls took to the streets in
wild jubilation as preliminary results from the polling centres across
the state capital puts Rauf Aregbesola in early lead.

"Motorist knocks down 6 year old boy along Alekuwodo/Okefia road while
APC took to the streets in wild jubilation. The boy is hospitalized,"
he tweeted.

Why I want to be next governor of Rivers - Julius Agwu

The success story of comedy in Nigeria cannot be complete without the
mention of great comedians like Julius Agwu.The Choba-born comedian,
actor and musician has joined pantheon of intending gubernatorial
aspirants warming up to take the reins of power from Governor Rotimi
Amaechi of Rivers State. In this chat with Potpourri, the diminutive
entertainer talks about his political intent, his career and other
things. Excerpts:

It is been quite a while; what's been happening?

I am working on a lot of projects at the moment; I am still organising
comedy shows. l am currently working on something for my music. I have
a band called 'Reel Laif Band' and we are performing at the Encomium
black and white ball holding this Sunday.

The news is going round that you are working at becoming the governor
of your state. What is your take on this?

Yes, I am working on that project too at the moment.

Would you call yourself a politician?

I cannot really call myself a politician, but l am someone who prays
and wish for things to get better than it is in this country. I
believe I can help to achieve what my brother started in Rivers State.
It is a known truth that Port Harcourt was the Garden City of this
great country, but we lost that glory because of poverty and neglect,
coupled with incessant militancy and kidnapping. Governor Amaechi has
done well for the State, but we still need good hands after he leaves
to continue the good work.

If you are not a politician then why do you want to be the governor
of Rivers State?

Becoming the governor of Rivers State was not something that came up
overnight. It was not on my radar back then. The people of Rivers
State in the Diaspora and those in the State have been clamouring for
me to come out as an aspirant. They believe I have what it takes to go
for it. It just dawned on me that I indeed have what it takes. I have
given it a serious thought and have given in to their pressure.

These people who have been bothering you, would they sponsor your
election, if yes, who are they?

Yes, they will. But I do not want to disclose their names for security reasons.

Will you use a political party at the end of the day?

Yes, we shall, eventually, but I do not want to unveil that now.

In your future party, do you think an aspirant from your party will
be going for the presidency?

Yes, when the time comes it will be revealed.

How is the comedy business these days?

Comedy business is going well. You know it's one of the biggest
businesses in Nigeria now as it helps to relax our tensed nerves.
People who laugh a lot tend to live longer. Comedy is so important
that even people outside the shores of Nigeria know about it before
us. Obasanjo was someone who practiced it while he was in power.

What else do you have up your sleeve?

I have a studio and I also own a construction company.

Culled from Vanguard

Mother's desperation to find cure for sick sons leaves them blind

Two Chinese boys have lost their sight after their mother pushed
needles into their brains in an attempt to cure them of an eye
infection. Doctors were left astonished when scans revealed needles
had been pushed into their brains.

An hospital spokesman said: "Maybe their mother thought it was some
way of helping like a weird kind of acupuncture, but it only made
things worse. They are recovering well but they will probably not see
again. We think the keratitis caused the blindness and the needles
might have been an extremely foolish and misguided attempt at
treatment."

The boys, Da and Xia Long, from the town of Xiyangdian, in Henan
province, suffer from keratitis - an eye infection which has led to
them both becoming blind. When they were taken to the hospital however
by their grandfather Shi Kho, 51, doctors were astonished when scans
revealed hypodermic needles had been pushed into their brains.

Surgeons at Zhengzhou Children's Hospital removed the needles in a
series of operations which in total lasted for more than eight hours.

Police in the province are now searching for the boys' mother, who is
believed to have vanished when their grandfather borrowed enough money
to take them to hospital.

"She has gone on the run and now we know why. I thought she was a good
girl but now I'd say she was a psychopath," the boy's grandfather
said.

Couple married for 62 years dies holding hands

In one of the most interesting love stories in history, Don and Maxine
Simpson from Bakersfield, California, United States, died a few days
ago with their hands firmly clutched to each other's. The pair, who
has been together for 62 years, was inseparable throughout their
lifetime, maintaining that strong bond even to their deathbed. They
died just four hours apart.

"I knew in my heart this is what's supposed to happen - Grandma and
grandpa are supposed to be together and grandma and grandpa are going
to die together," granddaughter Melissa Sloan, toldKERONews.

Two weeks ago, Don broke his hip after falling from the stairs. Even
though he was immediately rushed to the hospital for proper medical
attention, he never really recovered from that accident. At the same
time, the cancer his wife had been fighting also took a painful twist,
with the disease sucking up every available strength in her by the
minute.

"I told my sister on the phone, we got one shot to get them together,"
Sloan said. Despite their condition, the couple demanded to be
together. They were subsequently moved to a spare room in the family's
home where they stayed for a while before exiting the world together.

"We kept them together, and had their beds side-by-side," Sloan said.
"Gram woke up and saw him, and held hands and they knew that they were
next to each other."
Knowing she was in safe hands, Maxine soon took her last breath in the
hands of the very man she had adored and loved for more than six
decades.

"I walked them out with her body, walked back in to check on grandpa
and he quit breathing as soon as her body left the room," Sloan
toldKERONews. "He left with her, and they passed four hours apart from
each other. It's just amazing. It really is amazing. It's a true love
story," she said.

Don, a civil engineer in North Dakota, was stationed in Bakersfield,
where he met Maxine at a bowling alley. The two travelled the world
together and adopted two songs along the way. It's a love story that
may remind you of a Hollywood movie, but it's real.

Osun Decides: Aregbesola in early lead

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress, APC was
shoving aside a stiff challenge from the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP's Senator Iyiola Omisore as early results from Saturday's
gubernatorial election in Osun State trickled in.

Early returns showed Aregbesola to be leading in many areas of Osogbo,
Ede and Illesa with Omisore showing good lead in Ife and in some
little carves across the state.

Man pastes posters all around New York in desperate search for love

Tired of being lonely, a 50-year-old man from New York, United States,
Dan Perino, has embarked on a bizarre search of a partner by flooding
the entire city with dozens of his posters. According to
abcnews.com,Perino decided to try this new method of finding love
after the traditional way of doing things failed. He is plastering
posters of himself all over Manhattan in a bid to find the woman of
his dreams.

The black-and-white posters consist of a large photograph of Dan, with
the words 'Looking for a Girlfriend' below. He's currently pasting
them all over the city - on post boxes, lamp posts, and parking
meters. Dan claims that he received hundreds of calls only a few hours
after the fliers went up. Some women were genuinely interested, while
others thought the posters were a joke. As strange as it sounds, the
posters idea seems to have worked - Dan already has one date set up.

But he has no plans to stop any time soon; he says he's going to put
up 500 fliers every day for the next 30 days. His needs are quite
simple - "I'm looking for an average woman that likes to do the same
things that I do," he said. "I want to find a more meaningful
relationship."

People's reactions to Dan's initiative have been mixed. Some think
he's crazy, while others believe he might be on to something.

Osun Decides: Anxiety as results trickle in from units

There is apprehension in Osun State as results of the election have
started trickling in from some polling units.

Supporters of the ruling APC are jubilating in some areas in Osogbo,
while PDP members are also jubilating in Ile Ife.

The situation is not different at Igbira Oke area Unit 16 in Ode Omu,
where the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan, voted,
the PDP and the APC scored 89 votes each.

Girl swept by tsunami reunites with family 10 years after

An Indonesian girl has been reunited with her family 10 years after
she was swept away by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami,Daily Mailreports.

Raudhatul Jannah, four-year-old at the time and her seven-year-old
brother were separated from their parents while holding onto a
floating piece of wood in the tsunami waters, when it hit her West
Aceh home on December 26, 2004.

Jannah's mother, Jamaliah, 42, and her husband survived and searched
for their children, but stopped after one month, believing the
children were dead in the devastating tsunami that shook the entire
region.

In June, Jamaliah's brother spotted a girl who bore a resemblance to
Jannah walking home from school and made inquiries about her.

He discovered that she had been swept from Aceh in the tsunami a
decade ago to remote islands southwest of the province. The girl was
rescued by a fisherman who took her home to his mother who named her
Weni and raised her all these years.

Jamaliah and her husband visited the inland town of Blangpidie in the
Aceh Barat Daya district in late June and discovered Weni to be
Jannah, their daughter who had gone missing since that tragedy.

The mother said, "My husband and I are very happy. I am so grateful to
God for reuniting us with our child after 10 years of being separated.
My heart beat so fast when I saw her. I hugged her and she hugged me
back and felt so comfortable in my arms."

Moscow says chases US sub away

Russia said Saturday that it had chased away a US submarine that had
approached its territorial waters in the Barents Sea.

A representative of the naval headquarters told Russian news agencies
that what was believed to be a Virginia class fast attack submarine
was discovered close to Russian territorial waters on Friday.

Thanks to "active measures by the Northern Fleet's anti-submarine
forces, the submarine was 'pushed away'" from the area near Russia's
territorial waters in the Arctic, the naval official was quoted as
saying by Interfax news agency.

An anti-submarine aircraft was also involved in the operation, in
which no force was used.

The official said contact with the sub lasted 27 minutes, and was far
from the only incident with foreign subs in that part of the Russian
Arctic recently.

The deputy head of the Russian parliament's foreign affairs committee,
Leonid Kalashnikov, said on Echo of Moscow radio that such incidents
are quite common.

"Occasionally other countries test how the submarine location service
is working," the lawmaker said, suggesting that the rather unusual
announcement was a public relations move by the navy to call attention
to their work.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the West and
Russia over Moscow's role in the Ukraine crisis

AFP

Guinea closes land borders with Liberia, S. Leone over Ebola fears

Guinea on Saturday said it was closing its land borders with Liberia
and Sierra Leone in a bid to halt the spread of the deadly Ebola virus
which has claimed hundreds of lives in the three west African
countries.

"In order to better control contact" with people suspected of carrying
the Ebola virus, "Guinea has decided to temporarily close its land
borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone," government spokesman Albert
Damantang Camara said.

AFP

Deceased Saudi negative for Ebola in first test results

A Saudi man who died while showing symptoms similar to Ebola was not
infected with the virus, according to initial test results cited by
health authorities on Saturday.

The health ministry announced Wednesday that the man had died of a heart attack.

The ministry has received a "preliminary laboratory result" from
Atlanta showing that the man had tested negative for Ebola, it said in
a statement carried by the official SPA news agency.

The "same US laboratories will carry out further precise and developed
tests to ensure the absence of other viruses that could cause
haemorrhagic fever," the symptoms the man had upon his return from
Sierra Leone, the ministry said.

It is awaiting results of testing in Germany in the same case.

Since breaking out earlier this year, the tropical virus has claimed
almost 900 lives and infected more than 1,603 people across West
Africa.

The Saudi case was announced Tuesday by the health ministry, which
said the patient had been quarantined in hospital in the Red Sea city
of Jeddah.

In April, Saudi Arabia announced a ban on visas for Muslims from the
three West African nations of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone wishing
to perform the pilgrimage to its Muslim holy sites.

World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Margaret Chan, declaring the
epidemic a global health emergency, said in Geneva Friday it was the
worst of its kind in four decades.

Ebola causes severe fever and, in the worst cases, unstoppable
bleeding. It is transmitted through close contact with bodily fluids,
and people who live with or care for patients are most at risk.

AFP

Clinical trials of Ebola vaccine start next month, may be ready by 2015

Clinical trials of a preventative vaccine for the Ebola virus made by
British pharma company GlaxoSmithKline may begin next month and made
available by 2015, the World Health Organization said on Saturday.

"We are targeting September for the start of clinical trials, first in
the United States and certainly in African countries, since that's
where we have the cases," Jean-Marie Okwo Bele, the WHO's head of
vaccines and immunisation, told French radio.

He said he was optimistic about making the vaccine commercially
available. "We think that if we start in September, we could already
have results by the end of the year.

"And since this is an emergency, we can put emergency procedures in
place ... so that we can have a vaccine available by 2015."

There is currently no available cure or vaccine for Ebola, a virus
that causes severe fever and, in the worst cases, unstoppable
bleeding.

It has claimed close to 1,000 lives in the latest epidemic to spread
across west Africa this year. Fatality rates can approach 90 percent,
although the latest outbreak has killed around 55 to 60 percent of
those infected.

Several vaccines are being tested, and a treatment made by San
Diego-based Mapp Biopharmaceutical, ZMapp, has shown promising results
on monkeys and may have been effective in treating two Americans
recently infected in Africa.

AFP

Zambia bars entry for citizens from Nigeria, other Ebola countries

Zambia has banned the entry of citizens from countries hit by the
deadly Ebola virus, which is ravaging nations to the north of the
continent, the health ministry said Saturday.

The ruling targets citizens of Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

Even delegates to conferences already organised in Zambia would be
barred, Health Minister Joseph Kasonde said in a statement on the
ministry's website.

"Ensure that all international events that may involve delegates
(from) affected countries are postponed, cancelled or such delegates
excluded," he said.

Zambians returning from travel to Ebola affected nations would be
thoroughly screened and quarantined if they were seen to be at risk of
carrying the virus, the statement said.

World Health Organisation chief Margaret Chan said in Geneva Friday
that the epidemic in west Africa which has killed nearly 1,000 people
in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria was the worst of its kind
in four decades.

AFP

My Quotes

You owe it to yourself to be the best you can possibly be. - Pete Rose

My Sayings

A winner is someone who works to become a champion all the time, even
when no one is watching.

My Quotes

Excellence is not a singular act but a habit. You are what you do
repeatedly. - Shaquille O'Neal

Nun with Spanish missionaries dies of Ebola

A Congolese nun who worked with Spanish Catholic missionaries in
Liberia has died of Ebola, the charity she worked for said Saturday in
Madrid.

Chantal Pascaline died early Saturday "due to Ebola at the Hospital of
Saint Joseph of Monrovia" in the Liberian capital, the Hospitaller
Brothers of St. John of God said in a statement.

Pascaline worked with Spanish priest Miguel Pajares, 75, who left
Liberia on Thursday and returned to Spain to receive treatment after
contracting Ebola.

The Hospitaller Brothers are in charge of the NGO that runs the
Liberian hospital where the priest and the nuns worked.

Spanish health authorities said Thursday that the priest -- the first
Ebola victim in the fast-spreading outbreak to be evacuated to Europe
-- was in stable condition with no sign of bleeding. The hospital is
not providing medical updates for the missionary, at his request.

A weakened Pajares arrived in Madrid aboard a special hospital plane
along with 65-year-old Spanish nun Juliana Bonoha Bohe.

The nun had been cleared of Ebola before leaving Liberia, but doctors
at Madrid's La Paz-Carlos III hospital repeated the blood test on
Thursday and said they would do so again in four days.

The Hospitaller Brothers asked Madrid on Tuesday to "urgently"
repatriate Pajares, Bonoha Bohe, Pascaline, and a Guinean-born nun,
Paciencia Melgar, who was also infected with the virus.

But officials said they would evacuate only the Spanish nationals.

AFP

Parents mark triplets with ink so as to distinguish one from another

Even though they are a bundle of joy to their parents, Ffion, Madison
and Paige can sometimes be a headache to them, too. The girls are so
identical that mummy and daddy had to mark their toes with ink so as
to separate them from one another. They matched the first letter of
each girl's name with the shade of nail polish on a toe.

"It's not for fashion, we really do struggle to tell them apart,"
Karen and Ian Gilbert, parents of the children said. "We came up with
the nail varnish idea and it works a treat. It makes life a lot easier
when it comes to our daily routine of feeding, bathing and nappy
changing. The colour coding helps us to know who has had what."

The trio was conceived naturally from one egg - against the odds of
160,000-1 according to the Multiple Births Foundation. They hope as
the little girls get older they will develop individual looks and
personalities to help them tell one from another. The couple have a
four-year-old little girl Faye who tries to help out by painting the
babies toe nails.

The family from Pontypool, South Wales, gets through more than 120
nappies and 84 bottles of formula milk a week. But the trio are
already earning their keep with appearances on TV's Casualty and the
family drama Stella. Because they are so identical and can play the
same baby on screen, so they get rotated while scenes are being filmed
to avoid a single baby getting too tired.

"They were all TV stars before they reached the age of one. They are
lovely little girls who have already brought us so much joy - in
triplicate," the 33-year-old mother said. "Going out is a military
operation which we call 'Operation Triplets'. We can't just think,
'Oh, shall we go out?' We need at least 24 hours notice. It's like
packing to go on holiday every time we leave the house. We have a
triple pushchair and we've had to get a bigger car, a seven-seater
Ford Galaxy. We have treble trouble - but we would not have it any
other way," Karen said.

Health Commissioner denies Ebola outbreak in Abia

The Commissioner for Health in Abia, Dr Okechukwu Ogah, has said that
there is no outbreak of Ebola disease in the state.
Ogah said in a telephone interview on Friday that the suspected
outbreak of the disease in Isialangwa South Local Government Area was
mere speculation.

He said the case had not been confirmed, adding that the matter had
been reported to the Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja, for necessary
action.

"We have contacted Abuja over the matter because we do not have the
scientific laboratory to carry out the test for the Ebola virus,'' he
said.

The commissioner said also that the suspected patient was not quarantined.

"People are freely having contacts with the woman but nobody has
contracted the disease since she was brought back,'' he said.

He explained that information available to him showed that she was
brought back from Lagos by her husband and dumped in the village.

"The husband did not even drop her in their own place, hence the
widespread speculation that she was suffering from Ebola disease,'' he
said.

Ogah further dismissed the speculations that the use of salt-water to
bath could prevent Ebola virus attack.

He attributed the rumour to the handiwork of mischief makers, who were
using the Ebola virus to deceive the people and create panic.

He urged residents to disregard the rumour and adhere strictly to
preventive measures identified by the Ministry of Health, including
desisting from eating bush meats and bats.

Meanwhile, the rumour about the efficacy of the salt-water bath has
led to an increase in the demand for salt in local markets in the
area.

At thee Orie-Ugba Market, in the capital city, learnt that traders
have continued to record high patronage.

Mrs Sera Ukpabi, and one Chidinma, who trade in salt, admitted that
there was a sharp increase in the demand for the item by residents.

"People buy more salt now than before,'' Ukpabi said, adding that she
had made more sales on Friday than before.''

In a related development, Mrs Nnenna Uke, who sells bitter kola in the
market, also said that there had been an increase in the demand for
bitter kola.

Uke said that the development was not unconnected with the report that
Ebola could be tackled with bitter kola.
(NAN)

Falconets seek first win against Korea

The Falconets will today seek to put the hopes of winning their first
World title back on track as they file out against their counterparts
from Korea Republic.

The Nigerians had played a 1-1 draw against the El-Tri of Mexico on
Wednesday and will hope to beat the Koreans who had also played a draw
against England on Wednesday too.

Falconets coach, Peter Dedevbo, had said that his focus would be on
the attack which had proved wayward against the Mexicans on Wednesday.

"Looking ahead to the next match I want to work on every position on
the field - goalkeeper, defence, midfield, but the most important
thing we need to improve on is our finishing," he told Fifa.com after
Wednesday's draw.

The Falconets will be banking on midfielder, Asisat Oshoala, who
caused a lot of problems for the Mexicans to reenact the form which
saw her emerge as the Live Your Goal player of the match today.

Although the Koreans have the strength of playing as a team, the
Nigerian defence will have to live up to its billing to curtail their
attackers as was done against Mexico.

'Lion' Messi transforms into tiger

Lionel Messi has been depicted to transform into a tiger in a new
multi-million pounds ad campaign by Adidas for new Adizero F50 boots
as he arrives back in Barcelona following Argentina's World Cup final
heartache.

He appears as a mural before bursting off the wall with a ball at his
feet. Messi morphs into the tiger after racing to the Nou Camp through
Barcelona.

The forward returns to Barcelona training on Tuesday following a
break. He has been in Capri with girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo on
holiday.

Messi will train with Dani Alves, Andres Iniesta, Xavi and co at La Masia.

The Barcelona forward won the Golden Ball as the best player in Brazil
after Argentina lost the World Cup final against Germany.

He will wear the latest signature adizero F50 boots for Barca this
season. The golden boots have been designed to celebrate his amazing
career.

British woman completes degree by blinking eye

Dawn Faizey Webster, a 42-year-old mother of one who has suffered
locked-in syndrome since 2003 after being attacked by stroke, has
bagged a degree in Ancient History by merely blinking her eyes. Each
exam took Dawn three weeks and ran for six years. She was left with
the rare condition two weeks after giving birth to son, Alexander, 11
years ago.

Dawn realised she could still communicate through her eyes and tiny
head movements and so developed a special skill, writing around 50
words per hour by blinking her eyes into a customised laptop that
translates her eye movements into text.

Her condition is where a patient is fully-aware and awake - but cannot
move or communicate verbally due to complete paralysis of nearly all
muscles in the body, except for the eyes. She has now achieved a 2:2
degree in Ancient History and written an autobiography - all thanks to
her relentless spirit and specialised gadget which she describes as
the most important thing in her life apart from her son. She is now
hoping to tackle a Masters in History of Art.

"When I passed my degree, I was so pleased and proud of myself. I had
achieved my goal that I had for six years been striving for. No matter
what obstacles were in my way, such as getting pneumonia twice and
other lesser illnesses, I was determined to reach my goal. When I
first had my stroke, I realised I would not be able to do anything
physical. I then decided to use the thing that had not been affected
and that was my brain," she said.

"I felt I needed to prove to myself and to others that I was still me,
Dawn. My computer is my lifeline. Never did I imagine when I got
pregnant with Alexander that my life would turn out like this."

Dawn's ordeal began when she was 26 weeks pregnant with a diagnosis
showing potentially fatal pre-eclampsia - a pregnancy condition
associated with high blood pressure. Over the next six days her health
deteriorated, until her tiny baby had to be delivered by emergency
caesarean.

A week later she returned home - still suffering high blood pressure -
but was told she would be fine. But another week on, her high blood
pressure triggered a stroke that has left her incapacitated ever
since.

Israel presses deadly Gaza strikes as rockets hit Israel

Israeli warplanes kept up a punishing campaign of air strikes over
Gaza, killing five Palestinians on Saturday as militants fired rockets
into Israel and ceasefire talks in Cairo stalled.

The Palestinian interior ministry said Israeli jets launched 21
strikes after midnight, destroying three mosques, one in the Zeitoun
area, one in Jabaliya in the north and Nuseirat in the middle of the
enclave.

At least two of the mosques were considered close to Hamas.

Gaza emergency services spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said two men were
killed in a strike that "targeted a motorbike in the Al-Maghazi camp"
and that the bodies of three other men were pulled from the rubble "of
the Al-Qassam mosque" in the Nuseirat camp.

The strike on the site in Nuseirat levelled the huge Al-Qassam mosque,
an AFP photographer said, leaving only the minaret standing.

"We heard a loud explosion and it was the beginning of the explosions
and a warning to residents to evacuate the area to stay away," said
Jood Irhaem, who lives close to one of the mosques.

"Minutes later there were two strong explosions," he said.

Palestinian militants fired six more rockets into Israel on Saturday,
the Israeli army said. The projectiles slammed into the desert,
causing no injuries or damage.

The month-long conflict flared again after mediators tried but failed
to extend a ceasefire that expired on Friday morning as Palestinian
militants shattered the quiet with pre-dawn rocket attacks.

The fighting between Israel and Hamas has killed at least 1,898
Palestinians and 67 people on the Israeli side, almost all soldiers,
since July 8.

The United Nations says at least 1,354 of the Palestinians killed
since July 8 were civilians, including 447 children.

- Egyptian mediators met Palestinians -

Egyptian mediators met a Palestinian delegation again Friday evening
and are understood to be waiting to hear back from the Israelis after
Shabbat, the Jewish sabbath which ends at sundown Saturday.

Five Palestinians, including a 10-year-old boy, were killed in Israeli
air strikes on Friday.

But fighting has not resumed with the same fierce intensity seen
before a 72-hour ceasefire was implemented on Tuesday, feeding hopes
for the possibility of a new ceasefire.

"Our hope is that the parties will agree to an extension of the
ceasefire in the coming hours," State Department spokeswoman Marie
Harf told reporters.

Israel warned it would not negotiate under fire, and Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to retaliate "forcefully" and
blamed the Islamist movement Hamas for breaching the ceasefire.

Egypt said negotiations had made progress before the truce collapsed.

"There had been an agreement on the vast majority of matters that are
important to the Palestinian people, but some limited points remained
undecided, a matter that should have led to an acceptance to renew the
ceasefire,
" its foreign ministry said.

Since the collapse of the truce, Palestinian militants have fired 44
rockets into Israel, injuring one civilian and a soldier, the army
said.

In response, the Israeli military has carried out around 100 strikes
in Gaza since Friday, about 30 of them since midnight, a spokeswoman
said. The army said at least three militants had been killed in Gaza.

Two Palestinian men died after being shot by Israeli troops during
violent clashes at protests in Hebron and near the Jewish settlement
of Psagot in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian medics said.

My Quotes

If what you have done yesterday still looks big to you, you haven't
done much today. -Mike Krzyzewski

19yr-old boy for rapes nursing mother in Edo

THE Police in Edo State has arrested 19-year old Peter Braimoh who
allegedly raped a 24 year-old nursing mother at Agenebode, Etsako East
Local Government Council of Edo State.

The suspect was said to have gained entrance into the victim's
residence through the window at about 4am, knowing that the husband
was not around. On gaining entrance into the house, he ordered the
woman to undress and allow him make love to her or her little baby
will be shot dead.

But while the victim was pleading to the suspect to take whatever
valuable in the room and leave her alone, the suspect was said to have
gone for the little baby and turned him upside down, forcing the
mother to her kneels as she begged the suspect to spare the life of
the baby.

Following the persistent threat, the nursing mother agreed to the
suspect's advances and she was raped by the suspect. However, after
the incident the suspect escaped but the matter was reported to the
police Division in Agenebode.

The police swung into action and the suspect was trailed to an
undisclosed location where he was arrested. The Police in Agenebode
transferred the case to the State Police headquarters in Benin City
last Sunday.

The suspect who spoke to newsmen at the state Police Command
attributed his action to the handiwork of the devil and appealed for
mercy from the government.

He said, " the devil pushed me to go and make love to her because I
have been seeing her. I don't know when and how it happened, I am only
appealing that they should forgive me I will not try such thing again
in my life".

However, the victim who is currently receiving treatment at an
undisclosed hospital, appealed to the police to investigate the matter
and prosecute the suspect. Edo state Police Commissioner, Foluso
Adebanjo assured that the matter would be charged to court after
investigation.

Vanguard

Man Fined For Pretending To Be A Ghost At Cemetery, Making 'Wooo' Noises Around Mourners

An unemployed British man from Portsmouth was arrested April 29 and
later fined after pretending to be a ghost near mourners at a grave,
according to The Portsmouth News.

While a nearby family was paying their respects to a lost loved one at
Kingston Cemetery, a drunk 24-year-old Anthony Stallard was "throwing
himself backwards, waving his arms about and going "woooooooh,"
prosecuting attorney Tim Concannon said in court.

Prior to his boo-rish behavior, Stallard was seen kicking a ball
around with a friend near the graves.

"While the football was going on, this defendant was effectively
singing loudly and being disrespecting in among the graves," Concannon
said.

Stallard was fined £35(roughly $58), according to The Telegraph, after
he pled guilty to using threatening or abusive words, or behavior
likely to cause distress.

Despite his attempt to be a free spirit, Stallard said through his
attorney that he regrets his actions.

"He has accepted that his behavior, if it had been outside of a
cemetery, would not have been inappropriate, but inside a cemetery
while people are grieving for their loved ones, it might be," defense
attorney Denise Saunder told Portsmouth News. "He is apologetic as
demonstrated by his early guilty plea."

What it costs for Maheeda to go nude

In a recent interview with Vanguard, Meheeda had the following to say(excerpt):

"I love sex, everybody is addicted to sex. Why does everybody just
think I'm the only one who loves sex? If there's no sex, I won't be
normal. Everything will just be sexy to me"

Do you think there'll be a time when you'll stop having sex?

I don't pray for that time. Even in my old age, I would like to have sex

When you're doing your shows, do you go nude on stage?

It depends on how much I am paid for the show. The list is there, do
you want Maheeda to go nude on stage? This is your price. The same
thing goes to anyone that wants me to go nude in his musical video.

Supposing I want to do a show in Nigeria, and I expect you to expose everything?

You have to pay heavily for it. If you want Maheeda to go nude in your
show, it would cost you a lot of money. Do you know how many people
that would attend the show? No doubt, you will recoup your money.

If someone insists on private show?

That person would have to pay me. We are talking about business here.
I will give the person enough private show.

Have you ever done that before?

Yes, that was in Europe. It was at a birthday party organised by some
big shots. I love my job, it was a big thing.

They had to touch you?

No, my job was to strike sexy poses with all those sexy bikinis. It
was big money.

APC spokesman Lai Mohammed, Osun lawmakers, others arrested

*It's not true-Police

There were accusations and counter-accusations by the All
Progressives Congress, APC, and the Nigeria Police over a major clamp
down on leaders of the APC by security operatives.

The APC alleged that a "clamp down and shooting spree around the homes
of leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) began at nightfall
on Friday when armed and masked security agents surrounded and invaded
their homes with sporadic shootings to terrorise their households and
neighbours."

But in a swift reaction, the Police authorities refuted the claims
made by the party.

The party also said the "home of Senator Bayo Salami was invaded by
armed soldiers and security agents at midnight while the country home
of the first civilian Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke
was not spared of the invasion.

The gate of Salami's house was forced open by the hooded security
agents who fired sporadically to gain entrance into the sprawling
compound to arrest him."

According to the party, "the National Publicity Secretary of APC,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the State Secretary of APC, Prince Gboyega
Famoodun were also arrested by the armed soldiers.

Already, the State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism,
Alhaji Sikiru Adetona Ayedun, the Commissioner for Agriculture and
Food Security, Mr. Wale Adedoyin, the Executive Secretary of Osogbo
Local Government, Mr. Isiaka Faramade, the House of Assembly member
representing Obokun and Ilesa State Constituencies, Hon. Femi Fafiyebi
and Folarin Fafowora have all been arrested by armed soldiers and
hooded security agents from their homes on Friday night."

"APC agents in Ifelodun and Ede South Local Governments have been
arrested at the time of distribution of election materials by
officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) while
those of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were excluded. The Ede South
Local Government chairman of APC, Alhaji Surajudeed Opalola was also
arrested by the security agents who were led by by the Youth Leader of
PDP in the council

Also arrested and whisked to the office of the the DSS was Mr. Sunday
Dare a communication expert", the party stated.

Spokesman of the APC, Kunle Oyatomi, in a swift reaction, said the
wave of arrests and intimidation would further deepen the defeat of
PDP.

"It is a shame this is happening. This is democracy and our people are
resolute on electing the leader they can trust," Oyatomi said.

But efforts to reach the APC's spokesperson, Alhaji Mohammed proved
abortive as his number was not available.

It's not true - Police

When Vanguard put a call to the hotlines provided by the Police for
the Osun governorship election, the operator said "it is not true.
That information is false, nobody was arrested."

Family Of Dead Nigerian Nurse On The Run

The husband and children of the Nigerian nurse who died after getting
infected with the Ebola virus are on the run, the health officials in
the country have said.

Nigeria is the fourth West African country to be hit by the Ebola
outbreak since it first emerged in March in Guinea. The virus entered
the country when Patrick Sawyer, who was suffering from the disease
arrived by plane late last month in Lagos.

Sawyer, who worked for the Liberian government in Monrovia and had a
wife and three young daughters in Minnesota, was on a business flight
to Nigeria when he fell ill.

The nurse, the only Nigerian fatality from the disease which has
killed over 900 people in four West African countries, was exposed to
the virus at a health facility Sawyer was taken before his death.

The nurse's family were not the first to flee from quarantine. In
Sierra Leone, health ministry data and officials, dozens of people
confirmed by laboratory tests to have Ebola are now unaccounted for.

Industry watchers say the government more increase public awareness
and sensitisation to educate the public.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is meeting with
Nigerian Ebola Research Team on control and remedy of the disease.

A six-man research committee was inaugurated by the Federal Government
on August 4, 2014 with a mandate to carry out research on the deadly
contagious virus.

From BusinessDay

FDA approves limited use of Ebola drug

Canadian biotech firm Tekmira Pharmaceuticals (TKMR)announced that the
Federal Drug Administration knocked down a key barrier to its
medicine, TKM Ebola, reaching some patients. The FDA moved the drug
from a "full hold" to a "partial hold," which means Tekmira can use
the drug in limited experiments.

"We are pleased that the FDA has considered the risk-reward of
TKM-Ebola for infected patients," said CEO Mark Murray in a statement.
"We have been closely watching the Ebola virus outbreak and its
consequences, and we are willing to assist with any responsible use of
TKM-Ebola."

Investors have been keen to find a way to put money into an Ebola
cure. Shares jumped as much as 40% in recent days as news of Tekmira's
drug became widely known. But the stock fell back after officials at
the Emory University hospital treating two Ebola patients used another
company's drugs.

Investors think the drug could still become a big moneymaker for
Tekmira, and the FDA upgrade in status is being viewed as added
confirmation of the potential for the treatment.

Jason Kolbert, an analyst with the Maxim Group, told CNNMoney earlier
this week that Ebola's sudden and rapid spread moved federal officials
to try out a number of Ebola treatments in development, so Tekmira
still has a shot at a payday.

Rescue of Cameroon Minister's wife: Nigerian military has proved impotent

Only recently over 200 members of Boko Haram sect were alleged to have
moved to one of the nation's neighbouring countries, Cameroon and
kidnapped the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister, Amadou Ali.

Few days after the abduction, the Cameroonian Army in a successful
operation, rescued the abducted deputy Prime Minister's wife. The
quick rescue came on the heels of over 200 Female students of
Government Secondary Schoool, Chibok, Borno that have been held
captive for 110 days now.

With no arrest of those behind the kidnap of Chibok girls and no
rescue of the girls by our security agencies, Saturday Vanguard sought
to know what the action in Cameroun tells of our security agencies.

Prof Itse Sagay, SAN

I really do not want to draw conclusions on the rescue of wife of
Cameroon's Vice Prime Minister that was kidnapped by the Islamic
militant group Boko Haram because we do not know what was involved.

However, my view has always been that this country has not done the
very best it can do about the Chibok girls, regardless of what has
happened in Cameroon.

Our military has proved impotent, very impotent, regardless of what
happened in Cameroon. Because Boko Haram can move anywhere and attack
Chibok 20 times in one month and not one military confrontation with
them. So, it is as if the military has given up as far as Boko Haram I
am concerned.

Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and President Jonathan

And they are more interested in attacking civilians, who are unarmed
rather than going to Sambisa forest. Regardless of what happened in
Cameroon, I think our military so far has failed. What they have done
is far from the standard of their training and expenses that we have
invested in them.

Former Nigerian Bar Association, NBA President, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN

It means that the Cameroonians have a clear strategy that is working;
and that we should emulate what they are doing. It is quite a while
that we have been expecting something to come out of the Chibok issue
and nothing has happened.

So, if the Cameroonians can do it, I am sure that we can do it. So,
the lesson to we Nigerians is that a small country like Cameroon can
deal with the Boko Haram problem. We have always said that Nigeria is
the giant of Africa, so there is no reason why we cannot do it.

It is just for us to really determine, with a very clear strategy, on
how to deal with this Boko Haram issue without looking at it from
religion, ethnic and political point of view.. We just have to agree
that we have to do it because we are all Nigerians and we are fighting
for our kidnapped kids.

Chief Morah Ekwunoh
No doubt, the cheery news of the Cameroonian military's storming of
Boko Haram's den, and the prompt, precise, highly successful,
commendable and exemplary rescue of their Prime Minister's wife
sends loud, clear and unmistakable message to their Nigeria military
counterparts. Compare that with the kidnap and detention by the same
sect of our school girls from Chibok and you will feel for Nigeria..
No wonder we didn't go to war over Bakassi.

The loud, clear and unmistakable message sent to our military is in
clearly multidimensional and multifaceted terms of teaching, if not
mocking us about their superior military suzette over and above us;

I am shocked as to the overall messages sent to us by that singular
display of their military prowess.

Mr Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa

I am concerned that Nigeria has no will or intention to prosecute the
war against Boko Haram or rescue our Chibok girls from the grip of the
Islamic sect group. When you compare Nigerian Armed Forces with those
of Cameroon in terms of resources and equipment available to Nigerian
soldiers, there is no reason why Cameroon will overpower Boko Haram
better than Nigeria can do.

"I believe that our leaders are just playing politics with the fate
and destiny of our girls. As it is now, we need international help
from the United States, European Union and United Nations to rescue
the Chibok girls."

Chief Uwazuruike,

The situation here is not the same thing with that of the Cameroonian
woman. In the process of rescuing her, 16 people were killed. The
Chibok girls' situation is different from hers. Do we start shooting?
We are talking about over 200 girls here and if anything is going to
be done, the girls have to come out live. They did not rescue her in
Nigeria; she was rescued in Cameroon, if our Federal Government should
use force, a lot of lives would be lost, it's a gradual process.

From Vanguard

This Isn't Funny! Bankers In Lagos Now Wear Gloves to Prevent Ebola

Ebolavirus outbreak is for real!, bankers in lagos now wear gloves to
prevent the deadlyEbola virus. This is in order since their work
involves exchange with the customer although some claims Ebola cant be
contracted by exchanging money but during the course of exchanging
money their could be hand contact yea?.

This is a photo of Union Bank inYabaLagos.

How a woman almost seduced me - Adeboyeo

The story of how a Lagos socialite tried to seduce him gives credence
to the saying that the bigger the head, the bigger the headache. This
readily formed the nucleus of Pastor Enoch Adeboye's sermon on
Thursday night at the ongoing 62nd annual convention of the Redeemed
Christian Church of God, RCCG.

It was a deliverance service and almost one million people had
converged at the auditorium of the Redemption Camp for the event and
they were held spellbound when, their revered General Overseer, Pastor
Adeboye started to narrate a ministry-threatening experience he had to
the consternation of the crowd.

Preaching a sermon titled; 'The yoke-destroyer', the man of God
enumerated three different kinds of yoke that truncate one's dream of
nosy future to include; physical yoke, material yoke and spiritual
yoke, explaining that the Holy Spirit is the only yoke destroyer who
is able to destroy any form of yoke in any man's life. He further
challenged the congregation to be filled with the power of the Holy
Spirit and be agents of God who will be breaking yokes, noting that
there were certain forces or challenges of life that human beings
cannot solve by their own efforts except through the help of the Holy
Spirit.

Drawing inspirations from the Holy Bible, where many persons were said
to have undergone several life-threatening challenges, he narrated
that a high profile woman who was an executive of the West African
Examinations Council, WAEC, did everything to seduce him. According to
him, the woman came to him and announced to him that God had told her
that he would be her husband, and immediately he rebuked her, saying
"you know that I am happily married and have children." That didn't
deter the woman who continued to pester him, and even came to the camp
to threaten him, saying "if you stand on my way to marrying this man,
I will kill you."

Continuing, Pastor Adeboye took the matter to then Inspector General
of Police who immediately invited the woman and her husband to his
office and after a meeting banned the randy woman from entering the
Redemption Camp or ever making passes at the man of God. "But that
measure didn't stop her. I travelled to London without telling
anybody, to work on the church's devotional, Open Heaven. As soon as I
settled down in the room, the telephone rang and the voice at the
other end said: "welcome to London. I am coming in 15 minutes," the
cleric continued, wondering why his audience responded with a
laughter.

Continuing, he said he told the voice: "You don't know anything, you
know that the Police in London are very efficient and if you dare come
here, I will call the Police for you." There is a Police station a few
meters from where I am staying and she must have known that because
she didn't come but kept calling me.

"I cried to God Who told me 'You know of the scripture that says,
whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven.' Believe me honestly,
unless God helps, there are thongs you cannot handle on your own," he
stated, urging the large crowd to stand and pray with holy anger:
"Anyone hindering my progress, before this month is over, Holy Spirit
send down Your fire to consume them". And spontaneously, the huge
crowd of worshippers responded with over 15 minutes of violent
supplications to the Most High God.

NFF Reinstates ExCos, Green and Ahmed

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) appeals committee has lifted the
suspension it handed Executive Committee (ExCo) members, citing there
was a breach of the appellants' right to fair hearing.

Executive Board members Chris Green and Yusuf Ahmed were handed six
months and a year suspensions respectively for "anti-board
activities" among other offenses, only for the appeal committee to
uphold the pair's appeal a day later.

The appeal committee said: "The appellants having made out a good case
to nullify and reverse the decision of the executive committee, the
aforementioned decision is hereby set aside and the appellants are
free to resume their place and duties as executive members of the
Nigeria Football Federation board."

The committee chaired by Eddy Mark said there was "grave" breach of
ExCos' right to fair hearing and that the ban was not in accordance to
due process, as the officials were not issued prior notice of their
offence.

"This (violation) portends grave danger for the administration of
football in Nigeria," it added.

"Let us avoid those things that will portray our country in bad light
and as a people that are incapable of managing our affairs for good.
The world community of football is watching us."

The appeals committee further disclosed that the minimum requirement
of votes for suspension of fellow members was not reached and
therefore contradicts Article 36(1) of the NFF statutes, which clearly
stipulates that it require at least eight members to take such
decision.

Only six executive committee members decided to suspend Barrister
Chris and Ahmed, the committee intimated.

Doctors' Strike: NMA President Resigns Amid Controversy

As a fallout of the logjam over the decision to suspend the one
month strike or maintain the status quo, President of Nigeria Medical
Association, NMA, Dr Kayode Obembe, Friday resigned his post,
following the controversy that trailed the decision.

Obembe, who was not available for confirmation, however wrote to
affiliates organs of the NMA resigning his post as President.

Obembe in the said letter addressed to all affiliate organs of the
body, stated that "there has been request for clarification about the
two postings from the NMA blog. I want to make it categorically clear
that I stand by every letter of the document I signed -"the strike was
suspended," and since upon my integrity and honour, I cannot continue
to drive the doctrine that 'strike continues', I hereby tender my
letter of resignation as NMA President.
"What I have written, I have written."

But few hours after Obembe's letter, the NMA's Secretary General,
Adewunmi Anayaki in dramatic twist allegedly forwarded a letter to
the affiliate organs asking them to ignore Obembe's resignation.

President Goodluck Jonathan Friday approved N1.9bn special intervention fund to fight the deadly Ebola virus. He equally declared the control and containment of the virus in Nigeria as national emergency. The president had summoned an emergency meeting, having cancelled his scheduled trip to Owerri, the Imo State capital. Jonathan directed Federal Ministry of Health to work in collaboration with the State Ministries of Health, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to ensure that all possible steps are taken to effectively contain the threat of the Ebola virus in line with international protocols and best practices. In a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, the president approved a Special Intervention Plan and the immediate release of N1.9bn for its implementation, to further strengthen on-going steps to contain the virus such as the establishment of additional isolation centres, case manag

President Goodluck Jonathan Friday approved N1.9bn special
intervention fund to fight the deadly Ebola virus.

He equally declared the control and containment of the virus in
Nigeria as national emergency.

The president had summoned an emergency meeting, having cancelled his
scheduled trip to Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Jonathan directed Federal Ministry of Health to work in
collaboration with the State Ministries of Health, the National Centre
for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) and other relevant agencies to ensure that all possible steps
are taken to effectively contain the threat of the Ebola virus in line
with international protocols and best practices.

In a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, the president
approved a Special Intervention Plan and the immediate release of
N1.9bn for its implementation, to further strengthen on-going steps to
contain the virus such as the establishment of additional isolation
centres, case management, contact tracing, deployment of additional
personnel, screening at borders, and the procurement of required items
and facilities.

"The President commends the vigilance of aviation and health
authorities in Lagos who identified and isolated the index case in
Nigeria, the late Patrick Sawyer, an American-Liberian who flew into
the country.

"He also applauds the good work of health authorities at both State
and Federal levels who have traced persons who had contact with him,
isolated other identified cases and embarked on massive public
enlightenment.

"President Jonathan calls for even greater vigilance and co-operation
at all levels to stop the Ebola virus from spreading further".

Medical examiner rules former White House Press Secretary James Brady's death a homicide

The death of James Brady, who survived a gunshot to the head during an
assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan 33 years ago, has
been ruled a homicide by the District of Columbia's medical examiner.
Because the examiner ruled the death the result of Brady's 1981
injuries, prosecutors could bring charges against the man who shot
him, John Hinckley Jr.,NBC Washington reported on Friday.

Brady was serving as Reagan's press secretary at the time of the
assassination attempt outside the Washington Hilton hotel. He
waspartially paralyzed as a result of his injuries and never returned
to his position in the White House -- though he continued to hold the
title for the rest of Reagan's time in office.

After the shooting, he endured an arduous recovery process and --
along with his wife, Sarah -- became an advocate for tougher
restrictions on firearms. The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, a
landmark piece of gun legislation signed into law by President Bill
Clinton, bears his name.

Hinkley, who shot at Reagan in an attempt to gain the attention of
actress Jodie Foster,was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He
remains in a mental hospital in the Washington, D.C., area.

Arsenal and Barcelona agree Vermaelen deal

Arsenal and Barcelona have agreed a fee for Thomas Vermaelen.

The Belgium has seen his playing time limited last season due to the
formidable Per Mertesacker and Laurient Koscienly axis, coupled with
unfortunate injuries.

Arsene Wenger while speaking to the press ahead of the community
shield clash against Manchester City revealed that the club would only
sell the 26-year old to a team abroad.

Manchester United decision not to part ways with Chris Smailling
further affected their chance to lure Vermaelen to Old Trafford.

Arsenal wanted cash plus Smalling for their defender, but it appears
Louis van Gaal is not interested in such a move.

Vermaelen is expected to undergo a medical on Saturday.

Comical Stuffs

One day, Akpos came home early from office. He was shocked to see his
wife with another man (Jona).
He told his wife to get out of d room.

Then, he said "Jona, what are you doing here?"
Jona replied "I love ur wife and she loves me too." To this, Akpos
replied, "I know
she loves me not you".

After a short argument, they decided on what to do:
"we'll hold
our guns and fire at each other and pretend to be dead, she will
mourn who she loves most".

The wife heard the gunshots, she entered the room, shocked and
surprised. Suddenly she started laughing loudly, rejoicing and shouting,
"Kay, get out of that wardrobe, these two idiots are dead!". .

Akpos, pretending to be dead, fainted from there!

Comical Stuffs

If a girl calls you on phone, there are two things involved. It's either she
wants recharge
card or she just received the
one you sent her.

If she is calling for confirmation of the card you sent her, you are
safe, if she is
calling for you to send her.... there are two things involved. Its
either you send her or you
don't.

If you send her, you are safe. If you didn't, there are two things
involved. It's either she dumps you or she will abuse you, hiss
and hang the phone.

If she cuts the call, you are safe. If she dumps you, there are two
things involved. Its either she date a richer guy or she marries
your father.

If she dates a richer guy, you are safe. If she marries your father,
there is only one thing
involved.
YOU WILL START CALLING HER MUMMY!

My Quotes

Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you
there. -John Wooden

US Ebola doctor 'growing stronger each day'

Two weeks after he fell ill with the dangerous Ebola virus in West
Africa, a US doctor said Friday his health is better and he maintains
his strong faith in God.

"I am growing stronger every day, and I thank God for His mercy as I
have wrestled with this terrible disease," Kent Brantly, 33, wrote in
a letter posted online by the Christian aid group for which he worked,
Samaritan's Purse.

Brantly said he was writing from his isolation unit at Emory
University Hospital, where he was admitted on Saturday.

"My wife Amber and I, along with our two children, did not move to
Liberia for the specific purpose of fighting Ebola. We went to Liberia
because we believe God called us to serve Him at ELWA Hospital," he
wrote.

Since March, West Africa has faced the largest outbreak of the
hemorrhagic virus in history, with 932 deaths and some 1,700 people
infected across Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria.

The virus causes fever, vomiting, diarrhea and bleeding. Some 55
percent of cases in this outbreak have been fatal.

"When Ebola spread into Liberia, my usual hospital work turned more
and more toward treating the increasing number of Ebola patients,"
Brantly wrote.

"I held the hands of countless individuals as this terrible disease
took their lives away from them. I witnessed the horror firsthand, and
I can still remember every face and name."

Brantly's wife and children had returned to the United States for a
brief trip when he became sick late last month.

Ebola is spread through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected
person, and healthcare workers and family members are particularly at
risk of contracting the disease.

"When I started feeling ill on that Wednesday morning, I immediately
isolated myself until the test confirmed my diagnosis three days
later," Brantly said.

"When the result was positive, I remember a deep sense of peace that
was beyond all understanding."

Brantly was evacuated to the United States on a specially equipped
small plane and arrived at Emory University Hospital on Saturday.

Another American missionary, Nancy Writebol, followed him on Tuesday.

Both were given experimental drugs to treat their symptoms, and both
are reportedly on the mend though health experts say it is unclear
whether the medications played a role.

"Now it is two weeks later, and I am in a totally different setting,"
Brantly said.

"My focus, however, remains the same -- to follow God," he added.

AFP

Ebola is not an automatic death sentence- Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has said contracting Ebola is
not an automatic death sentence, stressing that the consequences of
death would depend on what is done and what is not done to contain the
deadly disease.

Fashola made this statement during an inspection visit to an isolation
ward for patients with symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease at the Mainland
Hospital, Yaba area of Lagos, today.

The governor furthers "the facility is now ready for use, as the we
tackle the outbreak of Ebola disease that has claimed two lives
already.

"The State has a health challenge on her hands and the administration
is concerned about the people in terms of their well-being and for the
people who have taken leadership to help in containing it.

He stressed that there were already reported cases of patients who are
recovering in other parts of West Africa and that the issue was about
being able to respond to it appropriately and taking precaution.

"We are also taking precaution and that is also why we did not go into
where the patients are because there is a very strict protocol for
going there, so if you are going there, you must wear a fully
protected gown.

In the place where we are expanding to ensure that we are able to cope
with anything that comes, you would see the shower there; people have
to go through a protocol, one way in, one way out. That is why you
cannot go into where patients are now unless you are fully protected
appropriately and unless you walk through the mandated process for
going in and for coming out".

"Those who are detoxifying and decontaminating they don't go in. They
are waiting outside and those who go in do so under a very rigorous
protocol set up with advise from the centre for disease control and
then people who are not critically ill and stuffs, where they go and
how we are going to be disposing off their refuse and their waste have
been worked out.

Provisions have already been made there so that we can separate very
critically ill people from people who are just showing symptoms but
who need to be in isolation," Governor Fashola said.

Fashola said that provisions had also been made to separate critically
ill people from people who are just showing symptoms but who need to
be in isolation.

The governor pointed out that the first defence against the virus was
to prevent it from spreading; stressing that once that is done, then
the health authorities are on the way towards coming out of it.

"From what I hear following a long discussion I heard with the
leadership of the Centre for Disease Control in Washington yesterday,
I was speaking with them comparing what they were doing with what they
expected us to be doing. Their personnel are here for clarity working
and helping in training people," the Governor explained.

He urged persons who feel they had had contact with an Ebola victim to
ensure they do not make further contact with any member of their
family.

The government is making all efforts to ensure that the spread of the
virus is contained and the facility is one of the strategies aimed at
reducing contact with persons with the virus.

Two new case was reported on Friday morning, increasing fears that the
virus was spreading in one of Nigeria's most populous cities, Lagos
with over 20 million people.

Snoop Dogg Makes Fun of President Jonathan

Popular US rapper, Snoop Dogg posted a mixed photo of Nigerian
President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Instagram as he was fuming and
meditating over Nyanya bomb blast victims in Abuja few months ago.
Snoop then captioned the photo:
"When u cheatin on the test and yo teacher start lookin at u..... U
gotta start doin this stuff like".

Chika Ike: Too Young to be Pregnant

The joy of motherhood is childbearing. But for Nollywood actress,
Chika Ike, who walked out of her marriage last year, getting a child
of her own has become a tall dream as she recently blamed her
inability to carry her own baby on her young age.

According to her, " I am still very young, even though the impression
people have about me is that I am old. My manager once cautioned me to
slow down, saying that 'I am still a young girl."

So, I am still young in a way. Definitely, someday I will have a child
of my own. But in the meantime, I see all the street urchins as my
kids.

Ebola: US embassy workers' families to leave Liberia

The US State Department on Thursday ordered the departure of all
family members at its embassy in Liberia, one of the four West African
nations hit hard by the Ebola virus.

"The State Department today ordered the departure from Monrovia of all
eligible family members not employed by post in the coming days,"
department spokesperson Marie Harf said in a statement.

She said the US Embassy in Liberia suggested the step "out of an
abundance of caution," adding that "Washington was focusing its
efforts on helping US citizens in the country as well as the Liberian
government, international health organizations and local
non-governmental organizations to deal with the unprecedented Ebola
outbreak."

Meanwhile, additional disease specialists, including 12 disease
prevention specialists from the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and a 13-member Disaster Assistance Response Team, were
sent to Liberia.

The State Department also warned the US nationals not to travel to Liberia.

The Ebola outbreak in March has sickened 1,711 people and killed 932
so far in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, according to the
World Health Organization (WHO). The virus is spread through direct
contact with the bodily fluids of those infected.

Liberia and Sierra Leone account for more than 60 percent of the
deaths, according to the WHO.

Ebola Scare: Two Feared Dead, 20 Others Hospitalised Over Excessive Salt Consumption

At least two persons have been feared killed and 20 others
hospitalised in various hospitals in Plateau State after consuming
excessive quantity of salt and bitter kola to prevent Ebola Virus
Disease (EVD) attack.

The two, according to a source in Shendam who spoke with our reporter
on phone, were rushed to the hospital by their family members after
they suddenly collapsed in the morning, having consumed too much of
salt over night. They later died of high blood pressure in the
hospitals.

According to medical personnel in the hospitals where the other
patients are currently taking treatment in Jos, some developed ulcer,
while others stool profusely, having consumed the table salt in
excess.

From Thisday

NNPC shuts down clinic in Lagos over suspected patient with Ebola virus

The Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC,on
Fridayannounced the indefinite shutdown of its clinic in the Muri
Okunola area of Victoria Island, Lagos, following a suspected case of
Ebola virus on admission at the clinic.

It was discovered that the patient visited the First Consultant
Medical Centre during the period the first Ebola case was reported at
that clinic.

The Corporation in a statement by Mr. Ohi Alegbe, its Group General
Manager, Group Public affairs Division, explained that the pre-emptive
step was taken after the case was duly reported to the Federal
Ministry of Health as well as officials of the Lagos State Ministry of
Health.

He noted that, "in the meantime, all contacts with this case are being
traced and adequate precautionary measures instituted to contain the
possible spread of the disease."

"The medical team has assured that the patient is in stable
condition," he assured.

Ebola: US embassy workers' families to leave Liberia

The US State Department on Thursday ordered the departure of all
family members at its embassy in Liberia, one of the four West African
nations hit hard by the Ebola virus.

"The State Department today ordered the departure from Monrovia of all
eligible family members not employed by post in the coming days,"
department spokesperson Marie Harf said in a statement.

She said the US Embassy in Liberia suggested the step "out of an
abundance of caution," adding that "Washington was focusing its
efforts on helping US citizens in the country as well as the Liberian
government, international health organizations and local
non-governmental organizations to deal with the unprecedented Ebola
outbreak."

Meanwhile, additional disease specialists, including 12 disease
prevention specialists from the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and a 13-member Disaster Assistance Response Team, were
sent to Liberia.

The State Department also warned the US nationals not to travel to Liberia.

The Ebola outbreak in March has sickened 1,711 people and killed 932
so far in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone, according to the
World Health Organization (WHO). The virus is spread through direct
contact with the bodily fluids of those infected.

Liberia and Sierra Leone account for more than 60 percent of the
deaths, according to the WHO.

China jails British investigator Humphrey linked to GSK

A British company investigator, Peter Humphrey, has been sentenced to
two-and-a-half years in jail for trafficking personal data in China.

The Shanghai court also sentenced his American wife Yu Yingzeng to two years.

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) China, which is being investigated for possible
bribery, hired Mr Humphrey last year.

The pair were found guilty of illegally obtaining Chinese citizens'
data and selling it to China-based multinational firms, including GSK
China.

Both admitted buying background information - but said they did not
realise it was illegal to do so.

They have the right to appeal against their sentences within 10 days.

A court official also announced that Humphrey would be deported, but
gave no further details, Reuters news agency reports.

The verdict did not make a link between Humphrey's investigations and
the allegations against the pharmaceutical giant GSK.

Those allegations first emerged in an email in January 2013 from an
anonymous and self-styled whistleblower to the company.

The email alleges that GSK's sales teams targeted influential doctors
with expensive gifts and cash to win business. It was sent to GSK's
London-based CEO Andrew Witty and made accusations against GSK China's
general manager Mark Reilly.

Later a sex tape featuring Mr Reilly and his girlfriend was also sent.
The arrest of Humphrey and his wife came weeks after he delivered an
investigation report to GSK.

The multinational had asked his corporate investigations company,
ChinaWhys, to find out who had sent the email and how the video had
been filmed.

BBC

US launches air strike against militants in Iraq

US aircraft have attacked artillery used by militants from the Islamic
State (IS) against Kurdish forces defending Irbil

President Barack Obama authorised air strikes on Thursday, but says he
will not send US troops back to Iraq

IS seized Iraq's biggest Christian town of Qaraqosh earlier this week

The UN says 50,000 refugees from the Yazidi religious minority
community are trapped on Mount Sinjar

IS already controls swathes of northern Iraq and has advanced south
towards Baghdad

Pistorius Trial Adjourned to September 11 When Judgement will be Delivered

At the end of the session on Friday, Judge Thokozile Matilda Masipa
adjourned the trial until 11 September when she will deliver her
verdict. She and her assessors have 4,000 pages of evidence to
consider.

The prosecution tried to characterise Mr Pistorius as a "hothead" who
intentionally killed Ms Steenkamp after an argument.

His defence team portrayed him as having a heightened response to
perceived danger due to his disability and background.

In court on Friday, Mr Roux said growing up with a disability
conditioned Mr Pistorius always to confront danger because he could
not flee.

He described it as a "slow burn" of insecurities and compared it to an
abused woman shooting her abuser.

Barry Roux tore into testimony given by some of Oscar Pistorius'
neighbours during his rebuttal of the prosecution's case. The Stipps
couple said they heard a woman's screams shortly before hearing
gunshots, which goes against Mr Pistorius' version that Reeva
Steenkamp did not scream at any point before she died. The defence
lawyer spent a lot time discrediting their evidence, describing it as
"unreliable".

He also made a compelling argument to show police tampering with the
crime scene. The minute-by-minute timeline presented by the defence
also seemed detrimental to the prosecution's assertion that there was
an argument before the shooting.

But the fact that Ms Steenkamp was killed is not disputed, so now the
judge must decide if it was murder or culpable homicide. Mr Roux urged
her to evaluate Mr Pistorius as a reasonable man and then consider his
actions in the light of his disability and anxiety disorder.

Mr Roux also dealt with phone data evidence on the night of the
shooting to show that the timeline of events fits the defence's
argument that Mr Pistorius fired the shots at the toilet door first on
his stumps.

Realising he had shot Ms Steenkamp by mistake, the defence says Mr
Pistorius put on his prosthetics and used a cricket bat to knock down
the door at 03.17 local time - five minutes after he says shots were
fired.

The prosecution alleges that the noises heard at 03.17 were the shots
being fired.

Mr Roux said analysis of the evidence showed there was anxious
high-pitched screaming followed by shouts of "help, help, help"
between the two sounds, which near neighbours say were made by a man,
not a woman as other witnesses testified.

Earlier, the defence said that there had been "no respect for the
crime scene", saying the state's case was discredited as Mr Pistorius'
house was tampered with inadvertently, with a fan and duvet being
moved.

Mr Pistorius and his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp had been dating for
three months before the fatal shooting

State prosecutor Gerrie Nel, in his closing statement on Thursday,
argued the athlete "cannot escape" a murder conviction, accusing him
of being a "deceitful witness" who told the court a "snowball of
lies".

Known as the "bull terrier", prosecutor Mr Nel said the athlete's
lawyers had presented two lines of defence that "can never be
reconciled".

Mr Pistorius said he had fired both involuntarily and also out of
fear, Mr Nel argued, insisting the court had to choose only one of his
defences.

Last month, a psychiatric report said Mr Pistorius had post-traumatic
stress disorder but no mental illness that could prevent him being
held criminally responsible for his actions.

If found guilty of murder, the 27-year-old, who went on trial on 3
March, could face life imprisonment.

If he is acquitted of that charge, the court will consider an
alternative charge of culpable homicide, for which he could - if
convicted - receive about 15 years in prison.

For the first time since the trial began in March, the fathers of
Oscar Pistorius and Reeva Steenkamp appeared in court for the closing
arguments.

BBC

Didier Drogba retires from international football

The Ivory Coast captain has announced his international retirement.

Ivory Coast legend Didier Drogbahas announced his retirement from
international football. The 36-year-old striker, who made his debut
for Les Éléphantsback in 2002 and has captained his national side for
the last eight years, posted the following message on Twitter:

Drogba retires as Ivory Coast'sall-time third-most capped player, with
only Didier Zokoraand Kolo Touré having made more than Drogba's 104
international appearances. He's scored over twice as many goals
astheir next highest international scorer, Ibrahima Bakayoko.

The striker may well be ending his international involvement in the
hope of prolonging his domestic career, with the veteran having just
returned to Chelseaafter spells in Chinaand Turkey.

Ivory Coast will no doubt miss the leadership qualities of their
long-serving captain, though fortunately the likes of the
comparatively youthful Wilfried Bonyand Lacina Traoré are ready to
step up and fill his boots in attack.

Ebola: Two fresh cases confirmed in Lagos

The federal goverment,Friday,said that two new cases of Ebola
infection have been confirmed in Lagos.

This brings to seven new cases of Ebola in Lagos and a second death
from the virus.

Also, the federal government has warned against bathing with salt
water being circulated via SMS and the social media as a cure for
Ebola, saying it will prosecute individuals who spread such false
information.

Vanguard gathered that 139 people are under surveillance.

Details later.