Rio Olympics 2016: Coach Siasia says his team can do well without foreign-based players

Head coach of Nigeria’s U-23 team, Samson Siasia, has insisted that his team can excel at the 2016 Olympics, despite the non-availability of some invited foreign-based players.

The Dream Team VI are currently preparing for the competition in Atlanta, USA, without players like John Mikel Obi, Moses Simon, Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona.

IAAF U-20 Championships: Nigeria to feature despite unavailability of funds

With less than eight days to the commencement of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World U-20 Championships, the national junior athletes may not go into camping for the competition.

But Solomon Ogba, the President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has said that even without camping, the junior athletes will feature in the competition in Poland.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the championships are to hold from July 19 to July 24 in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Ogba, who gave an indication that funds were not forthcoming for the athletes to feature in international tournaments, told NAN that he would ensure their participation.

Rivers Assembly grant Gov Wike N9bn loan request

The Rivers State House of Assembly has granted the request of Governor Nyesom Wike to access a nine billion naira loan from the Zenith Bank.

The approval followed a correspondence to the Legislature from Governor Wike.

The governor in his request stated that the loan was to fund the renovation of General Hospitals and Government Secondary Schools across the state.

According to the request read by the Speaker of the House, Adams Dobotorudima, the loan facility will be serviced with the about three billion naira yearly earnings from the investment of the Rivers state Government in Indorama.

Nigerian Ports Authority MD: Amaechi submits name of BBOG co-founder to Buhari

The next Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), may be Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman.

Her name has reportedly been submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari to replace Alhaji Habib Abdullahi, who was reinstated by Buhari in August 2015 after he was sacked by former President Goodluck Jonathan in April 2015.

Amaechi was not impressed by how NPA was being run and had made his case to Buhari.

Buhari, on the other hand, was favourably disposed to Hadiza Usman and may confirm her any time soon, Thisday reports.

Do You Know You Can Charge Your Phone With Your Breathe (READ)

In the era of light situation in our dear country what more can be more fascinating than keeping your phone fully charge every time? Well that solution might just be here.

João Paulo Lammoglia, a Rio de Janeiro-based industrial designer, has already started envisaging that.

Lammoglia designed a mask, appropriately called AIRE, that uses small wind turbines to convert an individual’s breath into electrical energy, making it so that any act of breathing — even while sleeping or running would theoretically charge your gadget.

Court Sentence dismissed NSCDC staff for duping own friends of N136,000

A Senior Magistrates’ Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Monday sentenced a 31-year-old dismissed staff of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Adeshola Adewumi, to four months in prison for cheating his friends.

The Magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Jones, convicted Adewumi, who resides at Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

Jones said the sentences would run concurrently and gave the convict an option to pay N20, 000 fine.

She also ordered him to pay the complainants Uguru Emmanuel and Okuaka Joel a compensation of N80, 000 and N56, 000, respectively.

Profile of Le Guen - Nigeria Super Eagles New Coach

Paul Le Guen was born 1 March 1964 and he is a French football manager and a former player. His last role was as manager of the Oman national football team, from which he was relieved in November 2015.

During his playing career he enjoyed successful stays with FC Nantes and PSG and won 17 caps for the French national team.

Le Guen had a successful managerial career in France, most notably leading Olympique Lyonnais to three consecutive Ligue 1 titles. He has also managed Stade Rennais, Paris Saint-Germain, Glasgow Rangers and the Cameroon national team.

IMF reveals Why Nigeria’s Economy will decline in 2016

Nigeria’s economy will not appreciate to an impressive level in 2016. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Nigeria’s economy is likely to shrink as it was performing below the IMF forecast for the country.

Gene Leon, IMF resident representative in Nigeria on Monday, said energy shortages and delayed budget weigh on output in the country.

With deflation of the economy by 0.4 percent in the first quarter of 2016, Leon predicted it will experience some growth in the second half of the year, but he added that it would not be enough to upturn initial shrinkage.

Official: France Le Guen becomes Super Eagles Head Coach, Salisu Yusuf rejects Assistant Position

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has chosen Paul Le Guen, as the new Super Eagles manager.

According to the PUNCH, the football house picked the Frenchman, from a three-man shortlist that included Salisu Yusuf and Tom Saintfiet.

It is also understood that the NFF will consider Yusuf as an assistant coach. The former Kano Pillars boss had earlier said he was not interested in being second in command to anybody.

The official said:

North Korea closes diplomatic link with United States

North Korea said Monday it has decided to close its only direct diplomatic link with Washington, a move made days after the United States slapped sanctions on the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, and other officials over human rights abuses.

Pyongyang and Washington do not have formal diplomatic relations, but North Korea's mission to the United Nations in New York has acted as the main communication conduit between the two countries.

Now it will deal with "DPRK-US relations under the wartime law of the DPRK," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea's state-run news agency.

Renato Sanchez wins E#EURO2016 Young Player of the tournament

Again Portugal might not have light up the tournament for the most part but Renato Sanchez produced a couple of superb performances in the knockout stages and he was named as the best young player of Euro 2016.

Antoine Griezmann Name Euro 2016 Player of the Tournament

Griezmann night might have ended in tears as far as the team success is concerned but he did pocket the major individual award having been named as player of the tournament and bagged the much coveted “Golden Ball award”. He scored 6 goals and 2 assists in what as a very successful tournament on a personal level. Griezmann also won the top scorer award with 6 goals to his name

Bale misses out of Euro 2016 team of the tournament (See List)

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of four Portugal players to have been named in the official Euro 2016 team of the tournament, but Real Madrid team-mate Gareth Bale has missed out.

Portugal captain Ronaldo scored three goals and supplied three assists to help Fernando Santos' side claim their country's first major international trophy.

The Madrid star was replaced by Ricardo Quaresma in the 25th minute of Sunday's 1-0 extra-time victory over hosts France, but his prior contribution had been enough to warrant a spot in the 11 players picked by a panel of experts.

UEFA name the 2016 Euro Golden Boot Award Winners (See Winners)

Atletico Madrid striker Griezmann won the golden shoe award in Euro 2016 having scored 6 goals in the tournament and that's double than any nearest competitor.

Four other players scored 3 goals including Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Olivier Giroud (France), Dimitri Payet (France) and Gareth Bale (Wales). Ronaldo also assisted three while Eden Hazard tops the assist chart with 4 assists to his name.

Hojbjerg completes move to Southampton from Bayern Munich

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has completed a move to Southampton from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on a five-year-deal for an undisclosed fee.

Hojbjerg is the second signing Southampton have made in the close-season having already brought in winger Nathan Redmond from Norwich City.

The Denmark international made his debut for Bayern in 2013, becoming the youngest player to appear for the club in the Bundesliga, but has since had loan spells at Augsburg and Schalke.

He made 30 appearances for Schalke last season and will now look to establish himself in the Southampton midfield under new manager Claude Puel.

Brazil Douglas Costa withdraws from Olympic squad

Brazil will be without the services of Douglas Costa for the football tournament at the 2016 Olympic Games after he withdrew because of a thigh injury. 

The Bayern Munich winger had been picked as one of the three players over 23 in the Brazil squad for the Games in Rio de Janeiro.

However, the injury has not yet healed, with Bayern making the decision that Costa cannot feature in the Olympics on home soil.

Dimitri Payet: West Ham won´t listen to offers under £50m - Officials

West Ham will not listen to offers under £50million for Dimitri Payet, says co-chairman David Gold.

Payet enjoyed a superb first season with West Ham, scoring 12 goals and providing 15 assists and has since been linked with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.

The attacking midfielder's marvellous performance at Euro 2016, where he found the net three times and recorded two assists, will only have served to increase the speculation surrounding his future.

His performances during France's run to the final, where the hosts lost 1-0 to Portugal, saw Payet named in the team of the tournament by UEFA.

Victor Valdes excited for Premier League challenge with New Club Middlesbrough

Victor Valdes has unfinished business in the Premier League after his horrible one-and-a-half-year stint with Manchester United.

The new Middlesbrough goalkeeper became the promoted side's fifth signing of the season and the three-time Champions League winner is looking forward to helping his new team retain Premier League status in their long-awaited return to the top flight.

After departing Barcelona on a free transfer having spent his career at the club, he was offered the chance to rehabilitate an injured knee at United before being given a contract in January 2015, only to depart on loan to Standard Liege.

Drinkwater happy with Leicester new signings

Danny Drinkwater's confidence in Leicester City's Premier League title defence has been boosted by the performances of the club's new players as their pre-season got underway in Austria.

Leicester had added five players to their squad as they look to defend their unlikely Premier League triumph from last season.

Ron-Robert Zieler, Luis Hernandez, Nampalys Mendy, Raul Uche and Ahmed Musa have all joined the squad and Drinkwater has been impressed by the new boys.

"They're looking good; nice and sharp. As a bunch of lads we make sure that every player who comes in here feels welcome and I'm sure they'll agree that it’s a pretty easy squad to fit into," Drinkwater told Foxes Player HD.

Jose Mourinho says He always won at Old Trafford, why not with United?

Jose Mourinho says he wants to continue his glorious history at Old Trafford with Manchester United.

Mourinho has had plenty of success at the Theatre of Dreams.

In his first appearance at the storied stadium, he drew with United on the way to a Champions League triumph with Porto, while he has gone on to win there with Chelsea and Real Madrid.

Now, the Portuguese manager is keen to win there as the home manager.

NCC acknowledge payment of N70bn into Federation Account

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has disclosed that in the last one year it has remitted N70 billion into the Federation Account.

This is contained in a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the chief executive of the commission, Mr Yakubu Musa, released in Abuja on Monday.

The statement added that the total remittance “is in addition to the N30 billion paid by MTN Nigeria as a part payment of the N330billion fine slammed on it by the commission.

Alton Sterling Witness says Cops Took His Phone, His Surveillance Video, Locked Him Up

The owner of the convenience store where Alton Sterling was killed last week by cops alleges in a lawsuit that police stole surveillance video from his shop, confiscated his cell phone, and locked him inside a car for the next four hours.

Abdullah Muhlafi, proprietor of the Triple S Mart, saw police confront and kill Sterling who was selling CDs with his permission in the front parking lot last Tuesday night. Muhlafi recorded part of the incident in footage he gave The Daily Beast last week that shows Sterling did not have a weapon in his hand when Officer Howie Lake shouted “gun!” and Officer Blane Salamoni fired six shots into his chest.

Police Recover 60,250,000 Naira Stolen By Bullion Van Driver in Rivers State

The Rivers State Police Command has recovered the sum of 60, 250,000 naira that was reportedly stolen.

According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in the state, DC Uche Anozia, the monies were meant to be delivered to a new generation bank in Port Harcourt when the driver of the bullion van absconded after the first point of delivery.

Just In: Two deputies shot and killed in Shooting at Courthouse, Michigan

Two sheriff's deputies were shot and killed at a courthouse in St. Joseph in south-west Michigan and the suspect in the shooting was also killed, Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey told reporters at a news conference.

Buildings in the area were put on lockdown after the shooting, according to media reports.

Taylor Swift already considering marriage and babies with Tom Hiddleston

Hopefully Taylor Swift has finally found a man after her heart. She is already talking babies with her boyfriend of one month, Tom Hiddleston!

According to a source, the 26-year-old singer "has said he would make a great dad. They have talked about what they want in the future and kids are something that they would both like down the line. They have very real and serious conversations about life."

FG grant N14.1bn Loan to Plateau State

The Federal Government under the Federal Guarantee Conditional Budget Support Scheme has approved a loan of N14.1 billion to Plateau State government

Revealing the information in his office on Monday, the Plateau State commissioner for Finance, Hon. Tamwakat Weli, said the approval was in recognition of the fiscal prudence of Governor Simon Lalong’s administration.

Hon. Weli said:

Fani Kayode Awaits EFCC Verification after Meeting Bail Conditions

According to Breaking Times, this press release was issued by the Media Adviser to CHIEF FEMI FANI-KAYODE, Jude Ndukwe.

Read Below:

Yakubu Dogara says Politicians do not Have to be in One Party Forever

Yakubu Dogara, the speaker of the house of representatives, says a politician does not have to be in one party forever.

According to Dogara, a former member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), “politics in Nigeria is not a straitjacket approach”.

He also spoke of the anti-graft war of the current administration, saying the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is not targeting members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

According to The Nation, the lawmaker said this during the weekend while addressing reporters in Lagos.

Taylor Swift’s fans arrested for flashing his p*nis before proposing marriage to her

Who wouldn't fall in love with the admirable Taylor Swift? Well one of her super fan did the unpredictable. Joseph Bernatche, who is a huge fan of the “Blank Space” singer, reportedly showed up at her Rhode Island home, professing his love for her. He didn't just profess his love for Taylor Swift, he was said to have flashed his penis as well.

And just one day before he did that, Joseph was arrested for exposing his penis on the road, according to TMZ. On Tuesday morning, July 5, he allegedly ran into the middle of the road and flashed his penis to a passing driver. Joseph allegedly did it as a way to “expose the difference between sex and love.” 

Police nab 25-year-old with head of own son in Bauchi

The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested Maikudi Mohammed, male, 25 years, of Galambi village for allegedly being possession of human head wrapped in a cloth in Misau Town.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect conspired with his accomplice, one Damina Mohammed male, 26 years, of the same address, went to a graveyard in Galambi village and removed the head of a dead male child in order to sell to their customer now at large.

The principal suspect confessed that the child was his son who died and was buried.