#Rio2016: Coach Siasia backs his players to boycott clash with Denmark

Nigeria Olympic team coach Samson Siasia has lashed out at how “disrespectful” the authorities have been to his team, saying he will now support the boys should they insist on boycotting Saturday’s quarterfinal against Denmark.

Siasia’s scathing comments on national radio Friday confirmed reports on the latest crisis that has engulfed his team in Brazil.

The United States criticized Indonesian anti-LGBT statements

The United States criticized Indonesia on Thursday for saying there is “no room” for the gay community in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country.

“We encourage Indonesia, which rightly prides itself on diversity and tolerance, to respect and uphold international rights and standards by ensuring equal rights and protections for all of its citizens,” State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters.

#Rio2016: Fiji declares National Holiday after winning First ever Olympic Medal

Fijians erupted in celebration Friday, setting off flares and dancing in the streets while a national holiday was declared after the tiny nation won its first ever Olympic medal — and gold at that.

The South Pacific island country came to a standstill at the start of the rugby sevens final against Great Britain, and by half-time the fireworks had started and there was a monumental chorus of car horns as it became evident Fiji would win and create history.

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny to miss Liverpool clash

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny will not be fit for the Gunners’ Premier League opener against Liverpool on Sunday, manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed.

Koscielny has been deemed unavailable following his Euro 2016 campaign with France, which ended with the hosts losing to Portugal after extra time in the final on July 10.

#Rio2016: Michael Phelps wins 200m individual medley for 22nd gold

Michael Phelps seized another slice of Olympic history Thursday with a dominant victory in the 200m individual medley at the Rio Games, his fourth straight in the event.

Phelps joined discus thrower Al Oerter and Carl Lewis in the long jump as the only Olympians to win the same individual event at four straight Games.

He took his total of Olympic golds to 22  with a crack at two more in Rio in Friday’s 100m butterfly and the 4×100 medley relay on Saturday.

#Rio2016: Team China sweeps all table tennis medals in male singles

Raising high a heart-shaped gesture with both hands, Ma Long celebrated his first Olympic gold medal in a quiet but unique style.

The world No. 1 completed his Grand Slam request and came out the fifth male paddler to do so in table tennis after winning an All-Chinese final over defending champion Zhang Jike here on Thursday at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

#Rio2016: Striker Etebo still a major injury doubt for Nigeria

Nigeria are sweating on the fitness of four-goal hero against Japan Oghenekaro Etebo after he suffered hamstring injury in the team’s final group game against Colombia.

“Etebo suffered a hamstring injury and he is now a major doubt for the quarterfinal against Denmark on Saturday,” a team official said.

Bill Gates, Bezos, Jack Ma lead Forbes 100 Richest In Tech

Forbes’ newly released 2016 list of 100 Richest In Tech shows that 75 percent of the titans on the list are from the United States and China, with 51 and 24 tech founders and investors respectively.

The combined worth of the list is estimated at 892 billion U.S. dollars, representing a six-percent growth on a year-on-year basis.

#Rio2016 | Nigeria Dream Team might Miss Quarter-Final Clash with Denmark over ...

According to reports coming out from the U-23 camp in Rio, Nigeria’s Dream Team VI may boycott their quarter-final clash against Denmark over unpaid allowances.

According to a source who spoke to African Football, the players have threatened not to show up for the match if they don’t receive their monies.

Group pledges 50,000 personnel to check the activities of Militants in Niger Delta

With the heightening militancy in the Niger Delta, a group, the Nigerian Merchant Navy Coastal Defence Force has sent a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari seeking recognition and deployment of its 50, 000 personnel for complementary role of achieving enhanced maritime security in the country.

The group said it was ready to assist in checking the importation of illegal and sophisticated weapons through the sea by kidnappers and militants and offering protection to the local maritime asset.

Jigawa | Communities decries state of Federal roads, says its causing accidents

Following the incessant occurrence of motor accidents which consume hundreds of lives on Kunya – Kanya Babba – Babura – Babban Mutum – Niger Republic Federal Highway, the communities along the road have called on the federal government to reconstruct the road to put an end to he unnecessary loss of lives.

The call was made by a group, Community Civil Societies Organisation in a letter sent to the senator representing Jigawa northwest and the federal minister for Works, requesting for the inclusion of the road reconstruction project in 2017 budget.

Oyo State Government announce plans to prosecute tax defaulters

Hard times await tax evaders in Oyo State as the Internal Revenue Service (OYIRS) has announced plans to prosecute them and other offenders from next Wednesday.

Addressing reporters in Ibadan on the development, the Special Adviser on OYIRS, Mr. Biyi Oloko, alongside the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun, said the state internal revenue service has put in place a data bank on tax defaulters and would soon embark on an enforcement and prosecution drive that would take full advantage of the provisions of the tax laws to apprehend and prosecute defaulters.

Arsenal FC defender Gabriel out for two months with ankle injury

Arsenal defender Gabriel will miss up to two months of action with an ankle ligament injury but will not need to undergo surgery, manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed.

The Brazilian centre-back picked up the problem during his side’s 3-2 win over Manchester City in pre-season, worsening the club’s defensive injury crisis ahead of their Premier League opener against Liverpool.

Say What | Kenyan coach kick out after posing as athlete at #Rio2016

A Kenyan athletics coach has been sent home from the 2016 Olympic Games at Rio in Brazil, after posing as an athlete and giving a urine sample.

Kenyan team officials said sprint coach John Anzrah “presented himself” as 800 metres medal hope Ferguson Rotich and “even signed the documents” for the doping test.

“We cannot tolerate such behaviour,” said Kip Keino, chairman of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya.

US immigration detains Bollywood Star Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has shared his frustration at being stopped by immigration officers “every damn time” he visits the US.

The actor, also known simply as SRK, was stopped at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – the third time he has been detained on arrival in the US.

He tweeted to his 20.7 million followers: “I fully understand & respect security with the way the world is, but to be detained at US immigration every damn time really really sucks.”

Budget Padding | Don’t drag Buhari into allegations – Hon Ajibola Famurewa

The member, representing Atakumosa West/Atakumosa East/Ilesa East and Ilesa West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Ajibola Famurewa, has cautioned his colleagues in the House of Representatives not to drag President Buhari into the ongoing padding crises rocking the National Assembly but allow him to concentrate on tackling various challenges facing the country at the moment.

He made this statement while reacting to insinuations in some quarters that the presidency signed a padded budget as well.

Ekiti State | Governor Fayose awards N59m contracts to artisans

The Ekiti State Government has awarded N59m worth of contracts for the making of 1,250 desks and chairs for primary schools in state under the Millennium Development Goals to carpenters and welders.

The Chairman, MDGs Implementation in the state, Chief Dipo Anisulowo, said awarding the contract to local artisans was in fulfilment of Governor Ayodele Fayose’s promise to patronise local contractors.

Jubilation as Federal Government free all IPOB Members in Detention

The Federal government, through the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, has released all members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, who have been in detention.

The IPOB  members were arrested by various security agencies in Aba, Abia state, during their prayer rally in February.

#Rio2016: Captain Mikel Obi comes to the rescue as hotel holds Dream Team VI to ransom Over bills by Officials

Chelsea star Mikel Obi reportedly paid $4,000 to ensure the Nigeria Olympic team caught their flight to Salvador after the hotel in Sao Paulo held the entire team to ransom over the bills incurred by additional officials.

Organisers have insisted on a team of 25 players, made up of 18 players and seven officials, and even sports minister Solomon Dalung has ordered this rule be strictly adhered to.

Federal Government plans to pump in N100Bn As Recession sets in

The Federal Government plans to spend N100 billion ($312.50 mil­lion) on capital projects in the coming days as part of the 2016 budget, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said on Thursday.

This is part of measures by the coun­try to inject life into an economy facing recession.

The economy is in the middle of its worst crisis in decades, as a slump in oil reve­nues hammers public finances and the nai­ra. Gross domestic product shrank 0.36 percent in the first quarter and the central bank governor has said recession is likely.

Oh Dear! Mother dumps Her Baby at a Church due to Economy Hardship (Photo)

A mother has caused a stir in Cross River State after she abandoned her daughter at a church and ran away because of hardship. 

A mother has done the unthinkable by abandoning his little baby of a year and five months baby at the Assemblies of God church premises along Ranch road, Obudu and ran away.

According to CrossRiverWatch the woman identified as Monica dumped the baby at about 2:30 PM Thursday, last week with some clothes left at the Altar after the district Reverend of the church, Francis Agianpuye had given her N1,000 some days earlier.

Pro-APC Supporter, Feyi Fawehinmi Apologizes to Anyone He Convinced to Vote for Buhari

A well known staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari among others is becoming frustrated and rethinking the roles they played in helping the president to power amid increasingly excruciating economic and political crises rocking the nation.

On Wednesday, Feyi Fawehinmi, who is popularly known for his pro-Buhari/APC stance, surprisingly expressed disappointment in the administration, and apologized to his followers for convincing them to vote for Buhari in last year's presidential election.

Unbelievable! Man Dumps His Father's Dead Body Inside a Septic Tank in Delta State

A man has shocked with his rather bizarre act after he was found out to have dumped his father's corpse in a most unlikely place. 

The man identified as Chukwuma Udenwa a 37-year-old, has been arrested by the police.

The man was arrested by the Delta State Police Command in Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State for ‎dumping his father’s corpse in a septic tank.

Hurrah! Dangote Rice Sets to Flood Nigerian Market (Photos)

Efforts to diversify the economy has started yielding results slowly but steadily all thanks to the ban on the important of rice in Nigeria. The Dangote Group owned by Nigerian billionaire, Aliko Dangote has increased investment in rice production for the teeming populace.

Lagos State 'Operation No Shanties' Kicks Off in Ikeja with Massive Demolition (Photos)

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, has ordered the demolition of all shanties in the state which serve as hideouts for criminals and miscreants as part of the measures to rid the state of criminality.

The Lagos Environmental Task Force and Health officers were spotted in the streets of the metropolitan as they kick-off the demolition of shanties in major roads and streets in various parts of the state.

REVEALED! Twitter secretly filtered abusive tweets during Obama Q&A

Sources have told BuzzFeed that Twitter employees quietly filtered tweets with abusive language for a Q&A session with President Obama, and potentially in another session with celebrity Caitlyn Jenner. A “former senior Twitter employee” says that during a May 2015 #AskPOTUS event, then-CEO Dick Costolo told employees to use an algorithm to filter out abusive tweets, and another source says that a team also manually removed messages that slipped through.

Barcelona Goalkeeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen ruled out of Super Cup with knee injury

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has injured his left knee and will miss the Spanish Super Cup first leg in Sevilla, the club announced on Thursday.

Ter Stegen, 24, has been linked with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and he has faced competition under Luis Enrique this preseason from Claudio Bravo and Jordi Masip.

Federal Govt replies United States report on Insecurity in 20 Nigerian States

The Federal Government on Thursday debunked recent negative reports by the U.S government about the safety of citizens in at least 20 of the 36 states of the federation, Premium Times reports.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said in Abuja when he received a delegation from the Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria that contrary to recent statements by the U.S. government, every state in the country was safe.

Nigeria will breakup if Buhari finds oil in the North - FFK

Former minister of aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode on Wednesday intensifies his advocacy for a restructuring in Nigeria, while emphasizing that he prays for President Muhammadu Buhari to find crude oil in the northern part of the country in commercial quantities

According to Fani-Kayode who strongly holds that the major barrier to ensuring peaceful resolutions on how different ethnic groups in the country co-exist is because the Southern part of Nigeria is the mainstay of its north counterpart. 

Nsukka Jailbreak | Six of the Fifteen inmates that escaped have been re-arrested

Six of the fifteen inmates that escaped during a jailbreak at the Nsukka Prison in Enugu state on Tuesday August 9th have been re-arrested. This was disclosed by the Enugu state comptroller of Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Isaiah Amariri who spoke with newsmen in the state today August 11th.