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The Central Americans will play Netherlands in the quarter-finals after beating Greece 5-3 despite their red card. Costa Rica secured a place in the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time on after beating Greece 5-3 on penalties after the teams finished level at 1-1 after extra time, the Central Americans playing for almost an hour with 10 men. Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas dived to superbly save Theofanis Gekas's fourth penalty for the Greeks, leaving Michael Umana to stroke home the decisive kick. After a dire first half the game came to life in the 52nd minute when an unmarked Bryan Ruiz placed a low sidefooted shot beyond Greek keeper Orestis Karnezis and into the corner, but Costa Rica then had defender Oscar Duarte sent off for a second booking in the 66th minute. Greece, who made it into the last 16 after an injury-time winner against Ivory Coast, again struck in added time when Gekas unleashed a shot that Na...

Rebels in Iraq under ISIL banner announce creation of Islamic state, extending from Diyala in Iraq to Syria's Aleppo. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, the armed group fighting governments in Iraq and Syria, has announced the establishment of a "caliphate" straddling the two countries. In an audio recording distributed on Sunday, the group declared its chief, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as "the caliph" and "leader for Muslims everywhere". An official document was also released, in English and several other languages. Baghdadi is believed to be the leader of ISIL, which announced that it is now called the "Islamic State". According to the statement, the new caliphate stretches from Iraq's Diyala province to Syria's Aleppo. "The Shura [council] of the Islamic State met and discussed this issue [of the caliphate] ... The Islamic State decided to establish an Islamic caliphate and to designate a caliph for the state of...

Overview Match number 53 is the fifth match of the knock- out stages. France won 2 matches and drew 1 to collect 7 points to finish on top of Group E. Nigeria, on the other hand, won 1 match and drew 1 to collect 4 points to finish second in Group F. France: France's performance in group stages was quite impressive. This is especially significant because there were several big European teams which failed to perform well in the tournament. Spain, Italy, England and Croatia failed to qualify for the "Round of 16" while France, which had a poor run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, has been brilliant. France scored 8 goals in its first 2 matches. Karim Benzema has been playing well, scoring 3 goals in the first two matches. The third match, however, was a striking contrast of its first two matches. The match against Ecuador ended in a goalless draw even though France had numerous opportunities to score. There could have been 8-9 goals in the second half itself but there seem...

The Senate Committee on Aviation, which first announced the debts accruing from the remodelling of airport projects, has inflated such by N26 billion from the actual debts of N148 billion to N174 billion. Since 2011, the federal government embarked on the rehabilitation, expansion and restructuring of airport terminals, the building of 14 fresh cargo terminals, provision of equipment for the Accident Investigation Bureau and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET). Documents made available to THISDAY from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) disclosed that the projects are in three phases and the contract value of phase one is N12.81 billion. Total amount already paid is N11.22 billion, with an outstanding balance of N1.58 billion. The contract value of phase two of the projects is put at N93.43 billion, while the total amount disbursed to the contractors is N53.97 billion, leaving a balance of N39.50 billion. The third phase of the projects, which is still at i...

My probable starting XI against France is thus.... ...Vincent Enyeama... ...Juwon Oshanuwa...Godfrey Oboabona...Kenneth Omeruo...Efe Ambrose... ...Ogenyi Onazi...John Obi Mikel...Osaze Odemwingbe... ...Ahmed Musa...Emmanuel Emenike...Victor Moses... The Big Boss should settle for a 4-3-3 or a 5-3-2 formation...Something Tells Me That The Super Eagles Will Advance To The Quarter Finals...Good Luck Nigerians,,,cum 7pm on monday,we shall be Celebrating...Go Super Eagles,,,Go Nigeria...

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan’s Washington Post ‘Op-Ed’ editorial received a rebuke from an unlikely source. The Rupert Murdock-owned New York Post shot-back at Jonathan with a sharply critical editorial of their own. Their rebuke, titled ‘Goodluck Nigeria,’ took aim at what they called ‘newspaper diplomacy.’ In a story that came to light in the Washington-based, and Congress focused weekly magazine called THE HILL, Jonathan’s $1.2 million deal with the high powered public relations firm Levick noted how the president was about to begin an international charm offensive. Within days of that disclosure the Nigerian president wrote the Washington Post Op-Ed that painted a sympathetic portrait of his ongoing ‘quiet fight’ with the Boko Haram. The Islamist group took credit for the kidnapping of nearly 300 school girls in Chibok last April, with an additional 90 kidnapped in a series of attacks earlier this week. Below is the scathing New York Post editorial read by millions of New...

Eighty two students of the Covenant University, Ota, Ogun on Friday bagged first class degrees at its 2013/12014 convocation.

This month, the ever-cool Channel O is collaborating with hot Nigerian music label Mavin Records to offer one lucky SuperFan the incredible opportunity of being included in the upcoming DoroBucci music video, alongside celebrated Mavins Don Jazzy, Tiwa Savage, Dr. Sid, D’Prince, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello and Di’Ja. In keeping with its SWAG theme (Something We Africans Got), Channel O is rolling out a year of great surprises, and this exciting new competition which will be run over social media platforms, is just the latest! In addition to starring alongside some of Nigeria’s biggest stars, the one lucky SUPERFAN will get to hang out with the artistes who’ll answer their questions about life in music’s fast lane. You’ll be backstage and in front of the cameras, so if you have ever wanted to know what it takes to make the phenomenal music videos you see on television, then wonder no more! The competition is simple to enter. First make you sure are following @channeloafr...

James Rodriguez scores twice for Colombia as Uruguay, minus Luis Suarez, are thrashed 2-0 in the second knockout match. James Rodriguez scored a contender for goal of the tournament and put the finishing touch to a sweet, flowing attacking raid as Colombia beat Uruguay 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time. Colombia will now play hosts Brazil in the last-eight in Fortaleza on July 4 and on the comparative display of the two sides on Saturday when Brazil squeezed past Chile on penalties in their last-16 match, Colombia should fancy their chances. While banned Uruguay striker Luis Suarez might have been the talk of the match beforehand, 22-year-old Rodriguez was the name on everyone's lips at the Maracana. He scored a truly stunning opening goal after 28 minutes and became the tournament's top scorer after 50 minutes with his fifth goal in four games. While his first was down to individual brilliance, his second rounded off...

Ahmed Abu Khattalah makes first appearance in US court charged over 2012 consulate raid which left four dead. A Libyan man has denied he was involved in a 2012 attack on the US consulate in Benghazi, during his first appearance before a US court since his capture. Ahmed Abu Khattalah faced a federal court in Washington on Saturday on criminal charges over the deaths of the US ambassador to Libya and three other Americans from the attack on September 11, 2012. He had been moved to the US after his capture by US special forces near Benghazi two weeks ago. His first appearance lasted about 10 minutes, according to the AP news agency. Khattalah is accused of killing a person during an attack on a federal facility, a crime punishable by death; providing support to attackers resulting in death; and using a firearm in a crime of violence. US authorities have said they are looking to identify and capture additional co-conspirators. Khattalah acknowledged in January that he was ...

The Imo State Police Command yesterday announced the release on bail of the six suspected Boko Haram sects arrested in connection with the failed Winners Chapel bomb implant. State Commissioner of Police, AbdulMajid Ali, who briefed journalists yesterday, disclosed that a Nigerian, two Tanzanians, two Ugandans, an American and a Zambian.. He explained that one of the suspects was arrested after police acting on intelligence report stormed a hotel room in Owerri where the others were lodged. Ali further explained that the suspects were arrested same day but they claimed that they were in the state for a business investment in the state. The police commissioner noted that the suspects were released on bail after five days of satisfactory investigation on them, adding that the police are still investigating the matter. “We arrested a Ugandan man who went to a hotel to enjoy himself with a commercial sex worker. The price did not go down with both of them; he left the girl and th...

The National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, has resolved to continue its nine months old strike pending the outcome its meeting with the Senate Committee on Education on July 1. Chibuzor Asumogha, the President of the union, made the statement in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria at the end of ASUPs 77th National Executive Council, NEC, meeting in Lagos. He said that a meeting of the committee and some education stakeholders scheduled for June 24 did not hold because no government official came. “That meeting was supposed to be held, resolution reached, and agreement signed. “It was against the backdrop that we fixed the NEC meeting so that, if we have the resolutions, we will come here and suspend the strike. “Incidentally, none of the government official came for the meeting and because of that the meeting did not hold,’’ he said. The official said that the committee deferred the meeting to July 1. Mr. Asumogha sa...

Uruguay's banned striker claims he did not bite Italian opponent on purpose and hit his face while falling. Luis Suarez told FIFA's disciplinary panel that he did not deliberately bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. "In no way it happened how you have described, as a bite or intent to bite,'' the Uruguay striker wrote in Spanish in a letter dated June 25. "After the impact ... I lost my balance, making my body unstable and falling on top of my opponent,'' Suarez wrote in his submission to the panel which met Wednesday, one day after Uruguay beat Italy 1-0 in a decisive group-stage match. "At that moment I hit my face against the player leaving a small bruise on my cheek and a strong pain in my teeth,'' Suarez said. However, the seven-man panel which met on Wednesday evening dismissed the argument. The bite was "deliberate, intentional and without provocation',' the ruling stated in paragraph No...

Hosts Brazil are through to the quarter-finals of the World Cup after beating Chile on penalty shootout. Brazil beat Chile 3-2 in a penalty shootout to reach the World Cup quarter-finals after their dramatic last-16 match in Belo Horizonte ended 1-1 after extra time. Chile's Gonzalo Jara missed the vital spot-kick after Neymar had converted for Brazil. Brazil went ahead after 18 minutes when Thiago Silva nodded on Neymar's corner and David Luiz was on hand at the back post to bundle the ball over the line, though replays suggested Chile defender Gonzalo Jara got the last touch. Chile got back on level terms in the 32nd minute when sloppy defending let in Alexis Sanchez, who fired past Julio Cesar from close range. Hulk had a goal disallowed for using an arm to control the ball and although Brazil dominated the second half and extra time, Chile almost stole it in the final moments when Mauricio Pinilla hit the bar. Brazil, who beat Chile 3-0 at the...

Hosts Brazil go into the first knockout match as the favourites, but coach Scolari fears their Chilean opponents. The knockout stage of the World Cup begins with host Brazil playing Chile, the South American rival they have dominated over the years. Brazil have not lost to Chile in more than a decade and have never lost a head-to-head game on home soil. But for the first time Chile arrive to face their neighbour with plenty of confidence thanks in part to a convincing campaign in Group B that included a victory over 2010 World Cup champion Spain. Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari warned about Chile's potential more than six months ago, following the World Cup draw. Despite the possibility of the hosts facing Spain or their 2010 nemesis Netherlands, Scolari said at the time that his biggest concern was the Chilean squad, who he hoped 'wouldn't qualify' for the second round. Brazil has not lost to Chile since a World Cup qualifier i...

Womack started out as a gospel singer before becoming a leading light of R&B in a career that spanned six decades. US soul singer and songwriter Bobby Womack has died, his publicist said. He was 70. Womack, who rose within the gospel music community in the 1950s, became a key figure of the R&B genre, and is best known for hits including " Lookin' For A Love," " That's The Way I Feel About 'Cha," and " Woman's Gotta Have It." From the Rolling Stones to Damon Albarn, many singers and songwriters cited Womack as an influence. His songs have been recorded by multiple artists, and he played as a session musician in Memphis in the 1960s. Albarn and XL Recordings president Richard Russell helped Womack regain his career with 2012 comeback album " The Bravest Man in the Universe." The album was a departure for Womack, full of electronic music and beats . But it was lauded by critics for a simple reason: ...

Nigeria resumed training on Friday just as the country's President Goodluck Jonathan approved $3.805 million as appearance fee for the Super Eagles at the 2014 World Cup. And the country’s senate president has headed back to Brazil as head of a high-powered government delegation. Jonathan's approval is sequel to the protest of the players on Thursday after they boycotted training to press home their demand for a bonus payment  and drew huge media attention. Top source in the Presidency informed AfricanFootball.com:"The President spoke with the team on Thursday assuring them that the money would be paid them." Senate President David Mark is expected to head out to Brazil today leading a Presidential delegation. Mark watched the team’s goalless draw with Iran before heading back to Nigeria. Meanwhile, the Super Eagles have since resumed training ahead of Monday’s round of 16 game against France hours after they arrived the Brazilian capital city of...

A 13-year-old boy, Friday, discovered a massive bomb placed in a car near a Jumuat Mosque in Kano and promptly alerted the police. The police spokesperson in Kano, Magaji Majiya, informed PREMIUM TIMES on Friday that the boy became suspicious after noticing the abandoned car looking “heavy with loads.” “The bomb targeting worshippers was placed inside a Toyota Tercel car near a Mosque in Sauna Pfanuga area of Nasarawa Local Government, Kano metropolis,” Mr. Majiya said. He also said after the boy discovered the bomb he alerted the police nearby and the anti-bomb squad were invited. “They successfully defused the bomb and site and the car had been taken to Police Headquarters for further investigations and analysis,” he said. The police spokesperson said no one has been arrested in connection with the incident. A bomb explosion, which claimed eight lives, took place on Monday at the School of Hygiene in Kano. The Police said they have arrested a suspect in connection with t...

The federal government explained yesterday that its recent withdrawal of the criminal proceedings against Mohammed Abacha in Nigeria became necessary to facilitate the recovery of about $380million from the Luxembourg proceedings and $550million from forfeiture proceedings instituted by the US Department of Justice. It also described as unfortunate and unfair what it termed “blanket criticism” by Transparency International (TI) condemning the decision of the Jonathan administration to withdraw the money laundering charges against the Abacha family. In a statement it issued accusing the federal government of encouraging impunity by allowing the Abacha family to be set free, TI had contended that “allowing the theft of public funds to go unpunished sends the wrong message that those with powerful connections can act with impunity”, especially as the government has not given adequate reasons for dropping the charges. But the attorney general of the federation (AGF) and minister of j...

LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OGBOMOSO NOTICE TO ALL STUDENTS ON RESUMPTION FOR HARMATTAN SEMESTER OF 2013/2014 ACADEMIC SESSION Sequel to the information given to the Executive Committee of the Student Union, students are now free to be on campus as from Monday, June 30, 2014. Registration for courses will commence on Wednesday, July 2, 2014. I wish all students happy resumption. Best wishes.

Ekiti State Governor-Elect, Ayodele Peter Fayose, has received a Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The National Commissioner-in-Charge of Southwest, Prof. Layi Olurode, presented the Certificate to the Governor-Elect on behalf of the Commission in Ado Ekiti on Thursday. Fayose was accompanied by his Deputy-Elect, Olusola Eleka, to the premises of the INEC to receive, and sign the Certificate, as the returned elected governor of the state. Addressing journalists shortly after he was presented with the certificate, Fayose said the “voice of the people spoke for him” through their votes, in Saturday’s election last week. He said that an inclusive government where people will come-up with ideas and policies that will better the lots of the state, will be put in place. The Peoples Democratic Party-Governor Elect added that, his intention is to “rapidly develop” Ekiti State, as well as make a difference in the act of governance. He a...

Issa Timamy, who belongs to opposition UDF party, detained despite claim of responsibility by Somalia-based al-Shabab. The governor of Lamu county in Kenya has been arrested in connection with three recent attacks in which at least 65 people were killed, according to police. Issa Timamy was arrested late on Wednesday in connection with last week's killings over two consecutive nights in the town of Mpeketoni and a nearby village that claimed at least 65 lives. Another attack this week left at least five dead, officials said. "The governor is in custody," Ndegwa Muhoro, Kenya's Criminal Investigations Department chief, said, adding that Timamy would appear in court later on Thursday. "There are various charges lined up for him that are related to the attack." he said. Despite an immediate claim of responsibility from the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab group for the Mpeketoni attack, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has blamed "local political ne...

Late goal sees Belgium end group stages with three wins out of three games and will take on USA in the knockouts. Belgium strolled into the World Cup last-16 after Jan Vertonghen's late goal gave them a 1-0 win over a South Korean side unable to take advantage of a 45-minute numerical advantage and who exit the tournament. Belgium made seven changes from the team that beat Russia to secure their progress and, though Dries Mertens fired their best chance over, were in cruise control until Steven Defour was sent off for a two-footed lunge at Kim Shin-wook just before half-time. South Korea, needing a win for any chance to progress from Group H, eventually built momentum against their outnumbered rivals but rarely looked like scoring and were caught out in the 78th-minute when Vertonghen banged in the rebound after Divock Origi's shot was parried by goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu. Belgium top the group on nine points and will play Group G runners up the United States, wh...

Slimani scores a vital goal to take his team through to the knockouts of Brazil 2014 courtesy a 1-1 draw with Russia Islam Slimani headed an ecstatic Algeria into the last-16 of the World Cup for the first time with a 1-1 draw against Russia that dumped Fabio Capello's team out of the tournament. On a momentous night for the North Africans, who were the last team through to the knockout rounds with Belgium already qualified as Group H leaders, Algeria recovered from an early Alexander Kokorin goal to advance. The point, in a tense match at the Baixada Arena with everything still at stake and 2018 hosts Russia needing a win to go through at Algeria's expense, was all the 'Desert Foxes' needed to make history. With Belgium finishing on nine points, Algeria, who face Germany for a place in the quarter-finals, ended with four to Russia's two and South Korea's one. The draw was all they deserved but it came after an early setback, with Kokorin meetin...

US president calls on Congress to approve policy that will "ramp up US support to the moderate Syrian opposition". Barack Obama has called on the US Congress to approve $500m to train and equip vetted Syrian rebels, in what would be a significant escalation of US involvement in the conflict. Following several signals in recent weeks by the US administration, the White House said it intends to "ramp up US support to the moderate Syrian opposition". It proposed the funding for "vetted elements of the Syrian armed opposition to help defend the Syrian people, stabilise areas under opposition control, facilitate the provision of essential services, counter terrorist threats, and promote conditions for a negotiated settlement". Chuck Hagel, the US defence secretary, has asked staff to develop more detailed plans to train and equip the rebels, Reuters news agency reported. The funds would allow the US military to "train and equip appropriately v...

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The Uruguay striker has been handed a heavy sanction after being found guilty of biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in Tuesday’s World Cup. Uruguay and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been banned for four months after being found guilty of biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during Tuesday’s World Cup game between the sides. The Uruguay striker was handed a nine-game international ban and a four-month suspension from “any football-related activity” by Fifa following his bite on Giorgio Chiellini Liverpool striker Luis Suarez will miss the first half of his side’s Champions League group-stage campaign as well as key domestic fixtures against Manchester City and Everton after FIFA handed him a four-month suspension from “any football related activity” for biting Italy‘s Giorgio Chiellini. Suarez will miss the rest of the Uruguay’s World Cup campaign – England’s conquerors are due to face fellow South Americans Colombi...

And that’s it. A wonderful performance from Lionel Messi has inspired Argentina to victory in a thrilling conclusion to their group campaign. Nigeria and the brilliant Ahmed Musa ensured it remained a contest throughout and both sides deservedly advance to the knock out stages after Iran failed to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina. Download

The Managing Editor (North) of the New Telegraph newspapers, Alhaji Suleiman Bisalla (pictured above) sadly was among the 21 people that died in yesterday's Emab Plaza bombing in Abuja. Bisalla, 46, a native of Gindiri in Mangul LGA of Plateau State, had left the New Telegraph office in Abuja around 3.30pm to Emab Plaza to go and repair his phone. The bomb went off 30 minutes later. His corpse was deposited at the Maitama General Hospital, where he and others killed in the blast were taken to. His younger brother, Mohammed, has confirmed his death. Bisalla was a former Deputy Editor with the Daily Trust Newspaper in Abuja and joined the New Telegraph newspaper late last year. He was married with children. May his soul rest in peace...Amen.

We saw 22 year old Super Eagles midfielder Michael Babatunde taken off in the second half of yesterday's game against Argentina with his arm in a cast but some of us didn't really know it was that serious. It kinda is. A scan after the match showed that he literally broke his arm after being hit by a fierce shot from Ogenyi Onazi. (see pic on the left). He's been ruled out of the 2014 World Cup. Onazi was aiming to score a goal with the long-range shot but the ball cannoned into Babatunde's arm.

Messi scores two as Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2 but both teams are through to the last-16 of the football World Cup. Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2 in another wonderful World Cup match but both teams advanced to the second round after Iran lost to Bosnia in the other Group F game. In an attacking start, Messi lashed in a rebound after three minutes but Nigeria equalised a minute later thanks to a superb finish by Ahmed Musa, only for Messi to curl in a brilliant 20-metre free kick for his fourth of the tournament in first-half stoppage time. Musa levelled again with a clever finish two minutes after the restart but Argentina, who were assured of qualification before kickoff, got a fortunate third eight minutes later when a corner bounced in off the knee of Marcos Rojo. Argentina finished on nine points from their three wins and will play the Group E runners-up - probably Ecuador, Switzerland or Honduras. Nigeria were second on four points and face t...

Rio's 'pacification' programme in the spotlight as police killings continue during the World Cup. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - An elite Brazilian military police unit opened fire on criminal suspects in Mare district, scattering the favela's bystanders after one of their colleagues was allegedly gunned down. When the dust settled, 10 victims lay dead. "The police shot the place up and didn't care who lived there, who was in the drug business, or who was a kid," recounted a young resident named Rachel in I died in the Maré, a recent documentary about the incident. "They were squeezing off shots all around us saying that after midnight nobody leaves or enters the favela." A day after the shooting, June 25, 2013, residents took to the streets demanding that the military police known as BOPE get out of the area, and calling for an end to unauthorised and violent police operations in their communities.   Officials in Rio deployed the military pol...

Higher defence spending and new sanctions among steps being weighed to compel Russia to withdraw forces from Ukraine. NATO allies are boosting their military spending in Europe and are preparing to impose greater sanctions against Russia unless it withdraws its forces from the Ukrainian border and stops the flow of weapons to separatists. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO secretary-general, said after a Brussels summit on Wednesday there would be "no business as usual with Russia" until it came back "in line with its international obligations". He urged Russia to "take genuine and effective measures to stop destabilising Ukraine ... create conditions for the peace plan to be implemented ... end its support for armed separatist groups, and ... stop the flow of weapons and fighters across its borders". The measures include the establishment of new trust funds to support defence-capacity building in critical areas such as logistics, command and control, an...

Buenos Aires rejects talks unless a US judge approves its request for more time to pay $1.5bn in bad debts. Argentina will not start negotiating to avoid a catastrophic default until a US judge rules on a request to suspend his enforcement of an order to pay $1.5bn in debts by June 30, Argentina's economy minister has said. Five days before the deadline, Economy Minister Axel Kicillof remained defiant in a fiery speech before the UN ambassadors to the Group of 77 developing nations on Wednesday, saying complying with the ruling would send his country's economy into a tailspin. The court-appointed mediator, Daniel A. Pollack, said he met with lawyers for the two sides on Tuesday but "no resolution has been reached" after several hours. Kicillof said Argentina would make no decisions until US District Judge Thomas Griesa rules on the request for a stay. "Otherwise, it is not possible in such a brief time, obviously, to take into account all of the risk f...

Armed group Boko Haram suspected after explosion kills at least 21 people in crowded shopping centre in Abuja. An explosion has hit a crowded shopping centre in Nigeria's capital Abuja, killing at least 21 people and wounding dozens of others, officials said. The explosion occurred just two days after police blamed Boko Haram for a blast that struck a medical college in the northern Nigerian city of Kano, killing at least eight people and wounding 12 others. "We received the information at about 15:00 GMT about a blast" on Wednesday at the Emab Plaza, not far from the seat of government, Manzo Ezekiel, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), said. "Rescue operation has already commenced." It was not clear what caused the blast but the armed group Boko Haram has attacked Abuja twice in the last 10 weeks, including a car bombing in April that killed 75 people at the Nyanya bus terminal on the city's outskirts, while a similar b...

Switzerland beat Honduras to qualify for the last-16 of the World Cup at the expense of Ecuador who draw with France. Switzerland powered into the World Cup knockout stages as Group E runners-up and will play Argentina for a quarter-final berth after a superb Xherdan Shaqiri hat-trick gave them a 3-0 win over Honduras. Honduras finished bottom of the group with three defeats in as many games. Kosovo-born forward Shaqiri enjoyed a memorable afternoon as he linked up brilliantly with striker Josip Drmic, who replaced Haris Seferovic in the starting line-up. Having missed an early sitter, Shaqiri unleashed a sixth-minute thunderbolt into the top left corner and then steered the ball past keeper Noel Valladares on the half-hour mark after he was released by Drmic. Roared on by chants of "Go Suisse" from their fans in the Amazonia arena, where humidity reached 88 percent coupled with a temperature of 26 degrees Celsius, the Swiss proved too hot to handle for their modes...

Organizers of the BET Awards 2014 have announced Nigerian stars Tiwa Savage and Ice Prince Zamani as performers for the glamorous event. Two other African acts SA’s Mafikizolo and Ghana’s Sarkodie will join the songstress and rapper. They will all take part of the ‘Music Around the Globe’ presentation. This is the first time international acts have performed as part of the BET Experience at L.A. LIVE since the introduction of international BET Award categories, ‘Best International Act: Africa’ and ‘Best International Act: UK’ in 2010. Other performers already announced include K. Michelle, Mack Wilds, Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz and Jennifer Hudson. Chris Rock will host the June 29 event, which will air, live on July 1, 2014.

So wait, bomb blast in Adamawa, Abuja and now we are hearing about another one in Lagos on the same day? According to our correspondence who claimed to have witnessed it and according to a breaking news report on Vanguard, a bomb-laden car went off at Folawiyo Fuel Depot close to a Petrol Tank Farm at Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos around 8.30 this evening. The eye-witness said the explosion came from a Benz car parked right beside a LPG tanker The explosion is said to have affected four buildings including two banks. Four people are said to have lost their lives.

At least 60 girls and women and 31 boys seized in suspected Boko Haram attack on three villages near Maiduguri. Suspected Boko Haram fighters have abducted 60 girls and women and 31 boys from villages in northeast Nigeria, according to witnesses and a vigilante commander. Al Jazeera's Andrew Simmons, reporting from Bauchi in northern Nigeria, said on Tuesday the abduction happened over a three-day period - Thursday, Friday and Saturday - and took place in three villages about 60km from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state. "A viligante commander in the town of Damboa has confirmed that three villages have been attacked by insurgents and a total of at least 90 people, most of them young people ... around 60 females and at least 30 males [abducted]." he said. "It's unclear but there's also a report that four who tried to resist were shot." Our correspondent said the region's police commissioner had said he had not received a formal report of...

In what appears to be signs of a rift between Gov. Seriake Dickson, and President Jonathan, the Bayelsa Executive Council has resolved to embark on a publicity blitz to deny the allusion that the ongoing projects across the state were being carried out by President Jonathan. Worried by growing concerns by the disclosure that President Jonathan had released in excess of N40 billion to fund most of the ongoing projects, for which the Dickson administration is claiming credit, the state government publicly denied that Jonathan had no hand in the projects. Political observers said that the course being undertaken by Dickson against his political Godfather was an indication that the relationship between the duo has gone sour. But has it? That is a question that continues to surface as public works projects continue across the state. The Bayelsa State Government disclosed at the weekend that it has disbursed N84bn, out of the contract sum of about N242bn, to “indigenous and forei...

According to a Vanguard reporter who spoke with Stephen Keshi in Brazil, the Super Eagles coach is angry at Nigerian fans for abusing him over the team's performance at the on-going World Cup in Brazil. Keshi said there was absolutely no justification for fans to insult him and his family. "It’s a shame, just a shame that we keep doing the same thing and then they come back and they say they are sorry. Sorry for abusing my mum? Sorry for abusing my siblings? For what? That I am representing Nigeria?” "I am disappointed, totally disappointed (by the personal attacks), but it’s their thing, no wahala (no problem). Keshi also lambasted his fellow former football stars who have criticized his team and his tactics in Brazil, saying he had expected much better from them as they ought to know better about the game than the man on the street.

Great!

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