11 Plastic Surgeries Gone Wrong. Very Wrong.

Nigerian Table Tennis Player Strips To Celebrate Bronze At Commonwealth Games 2014

Team Nigeria on Monday went totally insane after they won
third place at table tennis at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth
Games.
It all went down when Nigerias’ Ojo Onalopop (ranked 488th in
the world) beat India’s Kamal Achanta (ranked 50th in the
world) to seal a bronze medal for the Nigerian team.
The team was so happy that their emotions began to overflow…
and then the pants came off.
Check out the video of how Team Nigeria celebrate their victory
(story continues below) :
Team Nigeria on Monday returned to the zenith of tennis at the
Commonwealth Games after beating India 3-1 to claim the
bronze medal in the men’s team event.
Though, in the rating of International Table Tennis Federation
(ITTF), Nigeria had been seeded below India and most of the
Indian players were rated higher than the entire Nigerian
team, bookmakers were proved wrong. The youthful Nigerian
side turned the table against the Asian giant to clinch Nigeria’s
first medal in table tennis at the Commonwealth Games in the
last eight years.
An elated NTTF boss, Oshodi described the win as result of
years of hard work, adding that Nigerian players are talented. "I
think the gap between our players and some of these top
players is not much and what our players need more is
exposure and they will be up there," he said.

FIFA Vice President Julio Grondona Dies At 82

Julio Grondona, the vice president of FIFA, has died at the age
of 82, on Wednesday, July 30 in a Buenos Aires clinic,
Argentina.
The veteran president of the Argentine Football Association
(AFA) and FIFA vice-president
The veteran president of the Argentine Football Association
(AFA) and FIFA vice-president had been hospitalized with a
heart condition and died while undergoing emergency
surgery. FIFA president, Joseph Blatter, has gone to Twitter to
express his sadness over his colleague’s death and sent his
regards to his family.
Muy triste por la pérdida de un gran amigo. Julio
Grondona nos dejó a los 82 años. Hoy abrazo a
su familia. Descansa en paz.
6:13 PM - 30 Jul 2014
Joseph S Blatter
@SeppBlatter
Follow
1,111 RETWEETS 350 FAVORITES
“It is so sad to know about the death of my great friend. Julio
Grondona passed away at the age of 82. Today I hug all his
family. Rest in Peace.” (rough translation)
Gordona served as president of the Argentine Football
Association since 1979, until his death in 2014. Grondona had
been a FIFA Executive member since 1988 and was appointed to
the head of AFA nine years earlier by the country’s military
government. He had been successfully re-elected by clubs to
continue governing football in the South American nation every
four years since 1979.
His time in charge Argentina reached three World Cup finals (all
of them against Germany, winning in 1986 and losing in 1990
and 2014), three Olympic finals (obtaining the silver medal in
Atlanta 1996 and gold in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008) and
won six FIFA U-20 World Cups (1979, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2005
and 2007).

Horrible! Woman Shot To Death For Not Wearing Hijab In Somalia

The woman’s relatives claim she was shot to death by
militant Islamists for refusing to wear the hijab….
According to BBC , Ruqiya Farah Yarow was killed
outside her hut near the southern Somali town of
Hosingow by gunmen belonging to the al-Shabab group,
her relatives say.
They also alleged that the militants had ordered her to
put on a veil, and then killed her after returning and
finding she was still not wearing one.
However, the al-Shabab group through their spokesman
have denied the killing the woman.
Her relatives who pleaded anonymity out of fear to the
BBC that Mrs Yarow was killed at about 07:30 (04:30
GMT).
Yarow was shot twice and died instantly, they added.
She is survived by her husband and children, the
relatives said.
There are strict rules of behaviour, including dress
codes for men and women by the Al-Shabab group
which controls much of southern and central Somalia.

BIZARRE!! Woman Strips Un.clad To Hug Mandela Statue

A woman has stripped Unc.lad in Nelson Mandela
Square in Johannesburg and caressed a huge statue of
the liberation hero as astonished bystanders looked on.
The young African woman first saluted the statue of the
former president, who is revered for his role in
defeating the racist apartheid system, before disrobing,
witnesses said.
A picture posted on Twitter showed her Un.clad and
leaning her head against the knee of the statue in an
upmarket area of South Africa’s commercial capital.
A waitress at a nearby restaurant told The Star
newspaper that the woman’s actions, at around 4.00pm
on a busy Monday, had caused a frenzy.
Male waiters got their orders wrong and a male
customer was hit on the head by his wife for getting up
to take a closer look, she said.
Nelson Mandela Square marketing manager Megan
Meas said a security guard had asked the woman to put
on her clothes, which she did before leaving the square
without answering any questions.
‘This was an unauthorised incident conducted by a
private citizen in her personal capacity on our
property,’ Meas said.

Jim Iyke flees Liberia amid Ebola outbreak [PHOTO]

Nollywood Actor, Jim Iyke has fled Liberia’s capital
city, Monrovia.
Mr. Iyke who was in Monrovia, Liberia for business, left
a few hours ago, following reports of the outbreak of
the deadly Ebola virus in the country.
Jim Iyke, via Instagram, revealed that he is scared of
the deadly virus and that although his business plans
were not concluded, he had to leave.
“Monrovia, unfinished biz (business); Leavin(g) tonite
(tonight). Nt (Not) ashamed to admit. Tis ish(issue)
scares the Jesus outta me. #Ebola!!!!” he said.

Yoruba actress Omotunde Ogundimu critically ill, in need of financial help

Popular Yoruba Actress, Omotunde Ogundimu, who has
been off the movie scene for a while now, is presently
battling with fibroid.
According to reports, the mother of three needs about
N500,000 to undergo surgery to have the fibroid
removed.
Recounting how the problem started, Omotunde told
Nigeria Films thus:
“I noticed it last year before my husband passed away.
Anytime we had intercourse, I would always bleed. I
took it for something else, so I didn’t really pay
attention to it. But when he became sick and we
couldn’t have intercourse any more, it (the bleeding)
stopped. Then, I didn’t have time to study it at that
period too.
“But what I noticed is that my menstrual circle
changed, so I would menstruate twice in a month with
very heavy flow. So, at that time, I just felt it was one of
the signs of menopause because I am way above 40.
But last year, I had to go to the hospital to complain
and the doctor said I had fibroid, even before the tests
and scan were conducted. When the scan was done, it
was discovered that the fibroid was fully grown in my
womb,” she explained.
Soliciting for help, the Actress admitted that she
doesn’t have that kind of money because she has been
single-handedly taking care of her three children who
have been in school since the demise of her husband.

First Lady says man who drowned at Abuja hotel wasn’t her nephew

First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan has disowned one
Christopher Awai, who drowned at a swimming pool in
a hotel in Abuja.
Christopher Awai drowned at Agura Hotel while
swimming during a party held by Ijaw students at the
University of Abuja to mark the end of Ijaw students
week celebration.
He was said to be a nephew of Mrs. Jonathan.
The management of the hotel had said the deceased did
not drown in the hotel pool, as autopsy result indicated
his system contained alcohol and not water.
But in a statement on Wednesday, Special Assistant to
the First Lady on Media, Ayo Adewuyi said she has no
link with the said Awai.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to
media reports linking one Christopher Awai who
allegedly drowned in the swimming pool of Agura
Hotel, Abuja to the First Lady, Dame (Dr) Patience Faka
Jonathan.
“This is to clearly state that the said Christopher Awai
has no link whatsoever with the First Lady and as such,
he is not a nephew of the First Lady.
“We also wish to state without any iota of equivocation
that Madam Esther Ebiere Gbonkumor, who was
mentioned in the news reports as the immediate
‘younger sister’ of the First Lady is not in any way
related to Dame (Dr) Patience Faka Jonathan.
“Madam Gbonkumor was said to have petitioned the
Inspector General of Police on behalf of the family
‘demanding a full corona inquest into Awai’s death’.
“It is an unfounded rumour which the First Lady knows
nothing about and we will like the public and well
meaning Nigerians to note, for the purpose of accurate
record and common good”, the statement added.

It’s official! Everton sign Lukaku from Chelsea for £28m

Romelu Lukaku has returned to Everton, this time on a
permanent deal from Chelsea.
The Belgium striker posted a picture of himself on his
way to Merseyside today, where he has now signed a
five-year deal with the Toffees, after both clubs agreed
a fee around £28m - a new club record for Everton,
who previously paid £15m for Marouane Fellaini.
Lukaku scored 15 times in the Premier League last
season on loan at Goodison Park and Roberto Martinez
has never hidden his desire to bring back the 21-year-
old.
Jose Mourinho has decided to let the striker leave, after
he brought in Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid and
Didier Drogba on a one-year deal.

Liberia shuts schools in battle against Ebola

MONROVIA – Liberia announced Wednesday it was shutting all
schools and placing “non-essential” government workers on 30
days’ leave in a bid to halt the spread of the deadly Ebola epidemic
raging in west Africa.
“All schools are ordered closed following further directives from
the ministry of education,” President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said in
a televised address to the nation.
“All markets at border areas are hereby ordered closed until
further notice.”
Liberia, along with neighbouring Guinea and Sierra Leone, is
struggling to contain an epidemic that has infected some 1,200
people and left at least 670 dead across the region since the start
of the year.
“All non-essential staff — to be determined by the heads of
ministries and agencies — are to be placed on 30 days’
compulsory leave,” Sirleaf added.
“Friday August 1 is declared a non-working day and is to be used
for the disinfection of all public facilities.”
She said Liberia, where the death toll stands at 129 from 249
cases, would be contributing $5.0 million (3.7 million euros) as an
“initial contribution” to the regional fight against Ebola.

Arik Air Suspends Flight Operations To Liberia, Sierra Leone Over Ebola Virus

Arik Air has announced suspension of its flight operations to
Liberia and Sierra Leone following the death of a Liberian,
Patrick Sawyer, who reportedly died of Ebola disease last week
at First Consultants Medical Centre Ltd, Obalende, Lagos State.
The airline operator also advised Federal Government to
immediately suspend all inbound flights into Nigeria from any of
the Ebola affected countries.
Ola Adebanji, Arik Air General Manager, Public Relations, who
confirmed the suspension of flights to Vanguard reporter said:
“As a result of the first Ebola virus death officially confirmed in
Lagos, and involving a Liberian national who flew on a foreign
(non-Nigerian) based airline from Monrovia via Lome (Togo)
into the city last week, Arik Air will be suspending operations
into Monrovia (Liberia) and Freetown (Sierra Leone) effective
July 28, 2014.”
“The suspension will be in force until further notice. This
decision is a pre-cautionary measure aimed at safeguarding the
precious lives of Nigerians. Arik Air is taking this important
measure as a concerned corporate citizen bearing interest of
Nigerians at heart.”
The airline while acknowledging the preventive measures taken
by the Federal Government to curtail the spread of the virus
said: “However, we feel compelled to take the decision to
immediately suspend services into the two Ebola affected
countries due to our interest in the wellbeing of Nigerians.”
Adebanji recalled that Gambian government also stopped
airlines, including Arik Air, from bringing inbound passengers
from Monrovia, Conakry, Guinea, and Freetown into Banjul
during the early stages of the development across West Africa.
“Hence, in line with the actions taken by the Gambian
Government, we trust, and are confident, that the Federal
Government of Nigeria shall take all steps necessary to control
and curtail the spread of the virus. We humbly suggest that as a
first step, all inbound flights into Nigeria, originating from any of
the Ebola-affected countries, be immediately suspended.”
Patrick Sawyer reportedly flew into Nigeria onboard Asky Airline
to attend an ECOWAS conference in Calabar, Cross River State,
when he fell ill and was later diagnosed of the dreaded Ebola
virus at First Consultants Medical Centre Ltd, Obalende, Lagos.
Ebola virus disease (EVD) or Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) is
the human disease caused by ebola viruses. Symptoms start
two days to three weeks after contracting the virus with a fever,
throat and muscle pains, and headaches. There is then nausea,
vomiting and diarrhea along with decreased functioning of the
liver and kidneys. At this point some people begin to have
problems with bleeding. The disease is first acquired by a
population when a person comes into contact with the blood or
bodily fluids of an infected animal such as a monkey or fruit bat.
Reuters reports that Ebola has killed over 632 people across
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since an outbreak began in
February 2014, straining a string of weak health systems
despite international help.

Ebola virus

Lagos State Government today revealed that they have
been quarantined by the helath department after being exposed
to the late Patrick Sawyer, the Liberian citizen that passed
away in Lagos due to the Ebola virus.
The Lagos State health commissioner, Dr. Jide Idris, revealed
this today during a press briefing with journalists. At the
meeting, officials of the Federal Ministry of Health were also
present.
Idris went on and stated that the quarantine was to make sure
that the virus is controlled and doesn’t spread to other residents
of the large state.
He said: “So far a total of 59 contacts have been registered
consisting 44 hospital contacts, 38 healthcare workers and six
laboratory staff.
Others are 15 airport contacts comprising three Economic
Communities of West African States (ECOWAS) staff-driver,
Liaison, and Protocol officer, Nigerian Ambassador to Liberia,
two nursing staff and five airport passenger handlers.
“As of the time of this report, 20 contacts had been physically
screened of which 50 percent type one contact and 50 percent
had type two contacts.”
He also said that the manifest of the Asky Airline Flight No KP50
that brought the victim into the country is still unknown by the
airline therefore the precise number of passengers is still at
large.
The Ebola virus has been since last year killing people in
Western Africa and ECOWAS have been looking for a way to limit
the spread, this is the first time it has been reported in Nigeria
since the outbreak.

2 policemen, 4 others injured as another female bomber hits Kano Trade Fair complex

A 19 years old female suicide bomber blew up herself and
injured 6 others that includes two policemen at the entrance gate
of Kano Trade Fair complex, police says.
The police Image Maker in Kano, ASP Magaji Musa Majia told
Reporters that the incident occurred at the entrance gate around
2.00pm when security operatives stopped her for screening.
The entrance gate of the multipurpose trade fair complex is behind
the heavily fortified conglomerate of shopping malls that includes
Shoprite.
ASP Majia disclosed the injured officers have been treated and
discharged, while the remaining 4 are still in the hospital.
He disclosed that the mangled body of the female suicide bomber
have been recovered and deposited at an undisclosed Government
Hospital.
ASP Magaji Musa Majia revealed that investigations has
commenced to unravel the mystery sorrounding the spate of attack
in the commercial city.
The police Image Maker therefore called on the citizens to remain
calm, adding the police are doing their best to arrest the situation.

FIFA calls for Italian FA probe into Pogba racism case

FIFA on Monday called for an investigation into alleged
racist comments made by the front runner in the race for the top
job in Italian football.
The racism row involves Italian FA vice-president Carlo Tavecchio,
who last Friday provoked controversy when discussing Italy’s
overseas players
“Media reports concerning alleged racist comments by one of the
presidential candidates for the Italian FA have alerted FIFA’s Task
Force against racism and discrimination,” world football’s
governing body announced.
“FIFA has written a letter to the Italian FA asking it to take the
appropriate steps to investigate and decide on this matter and
report to FIFA.”
Tevecchio caused controversy in comments he made at his
election launch last Friday.
“…Opti Poba, who previously ate bananas and then suddenly
becomes a first-team player at Lazio,” the 71-year-old said, in
reference to Paul Pogba, the France international who plays for
Juventus.
Tavecchio apologised afterwards but stressed he was not a racist.
“I accept every criticism but not the accusation of racism because
my whole life bears witness to the contrary.”
The Italian FA were reminded that “the fight against racism is a top
priority for FIFA” and that they were obliged to do everything
possible to stamp out racism.
“In its correspondence, FIFA also stressed that officials of the
football community are expected to act as role models in the fight
against racism,” the statement on FIFA’s official website
concluded.
The overseas contingent in Serie A has become topical since Italy
crashed out of the World Cup in the first round.
This is by no means the first time Italian football has become
embroiled in racism.
In May, Serie A side Atalanta were fined by FIFA after bananas
were thrown at AC Milan defender Kevin Constant.
After the World Cup Mario Balotelli hit out at what he termed his
“racist” detractors after being blamed for the Azzurri’s premature
exit.

Ella- Genevieve Lesbianism Saga: Everyone now calls me Genny’s wife back home — Ella Martins

The story that Beninoise actress/musician, Ella Martins and
Nollywood superstar, Genevieve Nnaji, are lesbians was actually
broken by an online magazine last year and it created a big buzz.
Though both Ella Martins and Geneiveve reportedly, swiftly reacted
to squash it all but it would seem the echoes are still being heard
as Ella revealed in this chat that she is still being haunted by the
scandalous story. When she was chatting with Potpourri recently
through the Whatsapp social platform, the actress who would talk
of no  issue other than the allegation of lesbianism involving her
and Genevieve, said she has known no peace since the story
broke. Listen to her story:
What are you working on now?
My new album and my new single is Baby Chocolate. It is my
fourth album as an artiste.
Is there anything bothering you?
I wanted to have an interview especialy after the allegation of
lesbianism between me and Genevieve Nnaji
You became popular in
Nigeria after  that allegation
of lesbianism between you
and Genevieve. How did that
little scandal affect you and
your career?
Yes, it has affected my
emotional life, because
everybody now believes I am
in a relationship with Genny
and  my family is not happy
about it. It has really affected
my career and image at
home.
Have you had any similar
issue back home before
then?
I have never been tagged that
before. It is something that is
completely new to me. There has never been a time I was accused
of being a lesbian. One little thing happened about me and
Genevieve Nnaji and everyone now believes I am a lesbian. It is
very touching and depressing.
What actually happened between you and Genny that sparked the
allegation?
Hmm, you know I speak more of French than English, so, it is a
little hard for me to express myself fully. What happened is that
Genny and I were in a club in Lagos and her phone got missing.
Later, I think a paparazzi or someone got hold of it and started
sharing some contents about me and Genny online. I don’t see
anything abnormal in the pictures but people started talking that
we must be lesbians and all.
What kind of pictures are you talking about?
As normal persons and friends, we do take normal pictures at
home and in other places but I don’t know why the online
magazine showed Genevieve and I kissing, I am  surprised and
don’t  know where they got those pictures from.
So, you and
Genevieve were
never kissing each
other in any pictures
you took together?
We kissed,  but it
was nothing
extraordinary, it was
normal kiss between
girls. I mean girls do
kiss each other
normally, even guys
do too. When I was
dating Fally Ipupa
we used to kiss and
now that we are
separated and are
good friends we still
continue kissing like
we used to. My fear
is I receive strange calls saying that in a few days’ time they will
be releasing more pictures about us.
You still received calls over the incident?
I am a very popular figure in my country and a lot of people are
jealous of me. So many of them would like to see me go down and
this may be a good excuse for them to start something.
When they call you on phone, do they ask for anything or sound
like blackmailers?
No, just to say they will expose our dirty secret and I don’t have
any dirty secret.
If you have no dirty secret why are you now scared?
You don’t understand, even the pictures they released online was
worked on, adulterated to make it look different from the actual
pictures. We kissed as normal girls, not as romantically or
sexually as they projected in the pictures posted online.
What is the relationship between you and Genevieve Nnaji?
We have been good friends since 2004. We met when Kenis Music
organised an award and since then we have been good friends. We
talk often and whenever I am in Lagos we meet up and have fun as
friends. I have had no peace since the pictures leaked online.
Everybody now calls me Genny’s wife back home.
Sincerely, are you and Genevieve Nnaji sexually involved?
No, never. I am neither a lesbian nor is Genevieve. We are just two
close friends, showing profound emotions for each other by
kissing.
You said you once dated Fally Ipupa, or is it that you are
heterosexual?
Please, please, I don’t know what you are talking about. How
could I have dated Fally Ipupa and still be a lesbian. It just doesn’t
add up. Ask Fally, I am very straight. If I am a lesbian, why hasn’t
the story come out before? Why is it coming out now when it
involves Genevieve? Don’t you see the handiwork of the devil in
the whole business?
Do you also have a man you are currently dating?
Hmm. I am actually dating a President, but I prefer to keep it
secret. In my country everybody once accused me of dating former
President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria.
Did you?
No, but they believe it 100 percent
You are very sexy. How do men generally react to your sexy
figure?
People are crazy about me ! Many men are in love with me and
dying to have me as a lover. Everybody loves me and they show it
everyday. People just can’t get enough of Ella. They think they
have seen all of me but there is more to show. I just came back
from the United States of America where I attended a UNAIDS
programme with the First Lady of Niger.
Have you ever done a show in Nigeria?
Yes, I  did with Kennis Music. I have also acted alongside Tonto
Dikeh, Shan George and  Rita Dominic
So you act too?
Yes
Which films have you done?
Lost Paradise with Rita Dominic and Tricia Esiegbe. Gods Are Still
not to Blame with Seun Akindele and others.
So, what do you want to tell your fans?
I want to use this medium to tell them that Ella Martins is not a
lesbian. Please believe me. I’m a straight woman.

Another Explosion Reported In Kano

A huge explosion rocked the New Road Motor Park in Sabon
Gari, Kano, at around 3pm killing at least 5 people on Thursday,
24 July, 2014.
A source stated that the attack was targeting passengers on
their way to Port Harcourt, Rivers state.
The police spokesperson for Kano State, Magaji Majiya, told
reporters: “The blast was actually a bomb blast. The bomber hid
it inside a Fridge and placed the fridge on a cart, and detonated
it close to a luxurious bus.”
"The affected bus with registration number KTT 164 XA is owned
by Ifeanyi Chukwu Industrial Services," he added.
The Nigerian Police Force have confirmed the attack saying that
the explosives where hidden in table top fridge, disguised as
luggage.
According to sources close to DailyTrust, the bomb exploded
around 3pm inside a Marcopolo car, destroying the front part of
the vehicle. The vehicle was getting ready for Port Harcourt
when the bomb exploded. Kano State Commissioner of Police,
Adenerele Shinaba, has also confirmed the report.
Joint Task Force Captain, Ikedichi Iweha, has urged the
residents to remain calm. Heavily-armed security operatives
have cordoned off the area as at the time of filling this report.
The first news of casualty figure coming in state that one woman
died and 8 others are injured.
Ike Chuku, a trader in Kano state, told Reuters by phone that
emergency service was already on hand to evacuate the
wounded from the bus park in Sabon Gari, the area is said to
have a large population of Christian southerners.
This comes on the next day after a twin bomb attack in Kaduna,
where more than 80 people were reportedly dead.
One of the attacks on July 23 was aimed at APC presidential
hopeful, General Buhari , while another one targeted Sheikh
Dahiru Usman Bauchi.

Fears as man falls ill with Ebola-like symptoms in Lagos

A Liberian man has been hospitalised in Lagos
with Ebola-like symptoms, but it is not yet clear if he is infected
with the killer virus, Nigerian officials said Thursday.
The 40-year-old Monrovia resident arrived in Nigeria’s mega-city
on Sunday and was admitted to hospital on Tuesday suffering from
severe vomiting and diarrhoea, said Yewande Adesina, the special
advisor on health for the Lagos state government.
The patient was “detained for possible Ebola infection while blood
samples were sent to the Virology Reference Laboratory in Lagos
as well as to the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Dakar,” she
said.
Extra precaution was taken at the hospital because the patient
was suffering from “symptoms associated with Ebola,” she added.
“Results are still pending. Presently the patient’s condition is
stable and he is in recovery,” Adesina told journalists. “The
diarrhoea and vomiting have stopped. He is still under isolation.”
A third laboratory outside Nigeria must also test the samples
before a final determination on Ebola can be reached, Adesina
said.
The patient travelled from Monrovia to Lagos via Togo’s capital
Lome.
The WHO has recorded more than 900 cases of Ebola in the
epidemic that has raged across West Africa in recent months, but
this is the first suspected case to emerge in Nigeria.
Liberia has recorded 172 cases of the disease, including 105
deaths.
The epidemic is the worst-ever since the virus first emerged in
1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Lagos government has begun rolling out an emergency
response in a bid to contain any potential spread of the virus
across the congested city of more than 20 million people, with
poor sanitation and health infrastructure.
Ebola is a form of haemorrhagic fever which is deadly in up to 90
percent of cases.
It can fell victims within days, causing severe fever and muscle
pain, vomiting and diarrhoea — and in some cases, organ failure
and unstoppable bleeding.
Ebola is believed to be carried by animals hunted for meat, notably
bats.
It spreads among humans via bodily fluids including sweat,
meaning you can get sick from simply touching an infected
person. With no vaccine, patients believed to have caught the virus
must be isolated to prevent further contagion.

47 Killed, 11 Injured As Passenger Plane Crashes in Taiwan

Forty-seven were killed after a plane crash landed in Taiwan.
Eleven people were reportedly injured in the crash.
According to reports, the TransAsia flight with 58 people aboard
took off from Kaohsiung Siaogang Airport in Taiwan at about 5
p.m. local time and was flying to Penghu’s Magong Airport.
The twin-engine turboprop plane caught fire after it landed "at
the end of a runway" on one of Taiwan’s Penghu islands. It was
a second attempt to land on Penghu amid heavy rain. Local
media is also reporting that the plane crashed into at least two
houses.
Earlier, fire officials had said that 51 people had died and seven
had been wounded when the plane hit the ground.
Witnesses described seeing homes on fire, the affiliate said.
The cause of the crash wasn’t immediately known.

Boko Haram's Attacks Scare Nigerian Soldiers

Following the incessant attacks by the dreaded Boko Haram
sect, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.- Gen. Kenneth Minimah, has
revealed that some soldiers have abandoned the force due to
the fear of the terrorists group Boko Haram.
Minimah, who made this revelation during a working tour of
Lagos and its environs yesterday said: “ Sometimes, journalists
ask me questions, saying soldiers are deserting their jobs
because they don’t want to be killed in the North East. I tell
them yes, it is true. Desertion is part of war".
"A real soldier is known when he is put in the warfront. The one
who is not a soldier would run away and abandon his job. Our
soldiers are recruited from the Nigerian society and, today, most
people are not called to be soldiers, they joined because they
are desperately in need of jobs."
“As long as there is war, there would continue to be desertion
and there would continue to be recruitment. Since Alexander
The Great, soldiers have been deserting. In the Second World
War, there was desertion and even in the Nigeria Civil War,
people deserted. It is only in peacetime that you don’t see
people deserting. But those who volunteer to fight and defend
their nation do not desert; they fight until there is victory.”
Lt.-Gen. Minimah, who condemned the actions of some soldiers
deserting the Force for fear of engaging in a fight with the
terrorist group Boko Haram, said such actions by the soldiers
vividly showed that they joined the force for the wrong reasons.
Meanwhile, Minimah in a new communiqué issued through the
Defence Headquarters on July 19 said: “ The rising acts of
indiscipline and unprofessional conduct by troops was
unbecoming and charged Commanders at all levels to put a stop
to it as the Nigerian Army was a professional organization.”
Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah has, however, revealed that his men
will not stop fighting till they overcome and conquer the war
against insurgency and terrorism .
According to Minimah: "The upsurge in incidents of terrorism
has shifted the focus of the general public to the Armed Forces,
particularly the Nigerian Army" .
The Nigerian Army have over the past months been under
serious attacks by the Boko Haram sect with some of the
soldiers killed, while others injured.
On July 19, it was reported that the soldiers had reportedly
deserted Damboa following several attacks on the military base
by the dreaded Boko Haram sect as attempts by soldiers to
return to Damboa military base are said to have failed.
The insurgents took over the highway and continued to engage
soldiers in ambush attacks which have forced them to return to
Maiduguri on two occasions.

Two Bomb Explosions Rock Kaduna

Latest reports have confirmed that a twin bomb explosions
rocked Kaduna State, northern Nigeria on Wednesday, 23 July,
2014.
The reports stated that the first explosion had occurred around
12.44pm local time, as a suicide bomber reportedly tried to
kill Sheik Dahiru Usman Bauchi, but failed when Bauchi
escaped.
It was gathered that over 30 of Bauchi’s followers returning
from an annual Ramadan event were allegedly killed in the
attack.
Experts working at the scene of Kaduna explosion. Photo credit –
SaharaReporters
According to Sahara Reporters, former Nigerian Head of State,
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was almost killed in the second bomb
explosion that happened few hours after the first attack.
A source informed that more than 20 persons were killed in the
attack.
PM News had quoted Kaduna police chief, Umar Shehu, who
confirmed that the two explosions occurred in about 3-hour
interval.
On the first blast, Shehu said:
"We have recorded a blast which is apparently a suicide blast
targeting the convoy of Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi. Twenty-five
people have so far been confirmed dead."
Also, Premium Times reported that the first explosion occurred
in the afternoon along Isa Kaita road leading to the popular
Murtala Square.
However, eyewitnesses and humanitarian workers informed
Sahara Reporters that the death toll from both explosions
has risen over 50. As of the time of this report, thousands were
rushing to their homes following a 24-hour curfew imposed on
the town.
The attack was initially believed to have targeted at the convoy
of a prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, who was
heading to the Square.
Late PM News reported Bauchi was driving in an open-roofed
truck, greeting well-wishers who had assembled for the closing
of a prominent Koranic festival.
The aftermath of July 23, 2014 Kaduna explosion. Photo credit –
SaharaReporters
A witness identified as Hassan Mohammed said the bomb was
hidden in a red Volkswagen golf car parked by the road side
adding it detonated as Sheikh’s convoy drove past. While
Sheikh was not hurt in the attack, many other people were
reportedly killed:
"As I speak to you now, I can see many bodies on the ground."
Meanwhile, a Kaduna-based official of the National Emergency
Management Agency, NEMA, informed Vanguard reporter that
the second bomb blast killed at least 17 people.
“We are still working on the figures but so far we have 17 dead,”
said Musa Illela, referring specifically to the second attack
which he described as “a bomb blast".
Premium Times recalls that Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, a known
critic of the Boko Haram sect, was previously targeted, however
it is unclear wether Boko Haram are responsible for the
explosion.
Leadership confirmed the development saying that about 3
hours after the first bomb went off, another bomb explosion
rocked the popularly Kawo Motor Park in the Crocodile City.
With reference to Shehu PM News reports the number of
casualties caused by another explosion, which occurred just
several km from the first blast scene, was not clear at the time
of filing this report. However Reuters puts the number of people
killed in both attacks to 82 (32 and 50, respectively).
BBC reporter says the second attack targeted the motorcade of
senior opposition leader General Muhammadu Buhari.
General Buhari’s convoy targeted by second Kaduna bomb blast.
Photo credit – SaharaReporters
According to the reporter, gunmen rammed a vehicle into his
convoy, firing shots at it, adding that three of Gen. Buhari’s
aides and several security personnel travelling with him were
slightly wounded in the attack. A former military ruler of Nigeria
is unhurt in the incident, though he is reportedly traumatised
morally by the development.

Death toll from borno hits 100

The number of deaths resulting from the Friday early morning attack by Boko Haram insurgents in a Borno village has risen to 100 just as the terrorists hoisted a black and white flag in the remote village.

On Saturday, survivors claimed the insurgents had attacked the town of Damboa before dawn on Friday, firing rocket-propelled grenades, throwing locally produced bombs into homes and gunning down people as they tried to escape the ensuing fires.

As reported by the Associated Press, many houses were burnt down by the marauding terrorists.

According to a human rights advocate, who pleaded not to be named, the insurgents struck again as people were trying to bury their dead, and that the toll was probably much higher than 100.

While there were no soldiers to repel the attack, Gava said the only defence the villagers had came from vigilantes who were armed with clubs and homemade rifles.

According to a spokesman for the Nigerian Vigilante Group, Abbas Gava, hundreds of people in another village, Askira Uba, are fleeing after they got letters from the Islamist terrorists threatening to attack and take over their villages.

He said, "Nine major villages are on the run."

The town had been under siege for two weeks, since Boko Haram dislodged soldiers from a new tank battalion camp on its outskirts.

The defence ministry claimed to have repelled the attack and killed at least 50 insurgents for the loss of six soldiers, including the commanding officer, but residents in the area said many soldiers had been killed and that the military had been driven from the base.

According to residents, the extremists had in the past week twice ambushed military convoys trying to reach the base.

The militants cut off access to the town on Monday, when they blew up a bridge to the south of it. Damboa is on the main road south from Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, and at a strategic crossroads for farmers bringing their produce to market.

Hundreds of thousands of farmers have been driven from their land by the five-year-old insurgency, and the government officials in the worst-hit areas have been warning of imminent food shortages.

Boko Haram has attracted international condemnation for the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls who have been held hostage for more than 90 days.

The insurgents have increased the number and ferocity of their attacks this year, particularly in their north-eastern stronghold.

The Human Rights Watch published a report last week which claimed the extremist Islamist group had killed more than 2,000 civilians in an estimated 95 attacks during the first half of 2014.

This figure, the HRW said, was close to an estimated 3,600 people killed in the first four years of the insurgency.

Israel, Hamas agree to 2-hour truce in Gaza's Shejaiya

Gaza City: Israel and Hamas have agreed to observe an immediate
two-hour humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza's Shejaiya
neighbourhood, halting a blistering bombing campaign in the area,
sources on both sides said Sunday.
Hamas also said its militants would abide by the truce, which both
sides said was brokered by the International Committee of the Red
Cross.
"There is going to be a humanitarian window between 1:30 and
3:30 (1030 and 1230 GMT) in Shejaiya," an army spokeswoman
said.
"The population is urged to evacuate within this timeframe to
areas west of Shejaiya," the army said on its official Twitter page.
"Any attempt to exploit this lull will be answered," it said.
Hamas said it had agreed to the Red Cross proposal although it
spoke of a three-hour lull.
"The ICRC contacted (us) and offered to broker a three-hour
humanitarian truce to enable ambulances to evacuate the dead
and wounded and Hamas accepted it," spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri
said in a statement.
Contacted by AFP, an ICRC spokesman refused to confirm or deny
it had made the proposal, saying only: "We have been making
every effort to ensure ways to evacuate the dead and the
wounded."
The move came
after Israel pounded
Shejaiya, which lies
between Gaza City
and the border
fence, leaving at
least 40 people
dead and nearly
400 wounded.
The intensity of the
bombardment
prevented
emergency services
from accessing the
neighbourhood and
dead bodies lay in the streets as thousands fled in terror

Russia Today Correspondent Quits Over Plane Crash 'Lies'

A second Russia Today correspondent has quit her job, saying
the Kremlin-funded station's anchors "do work for" Russian
President Vladimir Putin and lied on-air to the public.
London reporter Sara Firth announced her resignation nearly
two hours after taking to Twitter in a conversation with
Russia Today's London correspondent Polly Boiko, The
Huffington Post reported.
Firth said the network asks its anchors to "obscure the
truth," and that she'd had enough.

The conversation popped up after another Twitter user
complained to Boiko about the network's coverage of after a
suspected surface-to-air missile brought down Malaysia
Airlines Flight 17 as it flew from Amsterdam to Kuala
Lumpur:
When Boiko asked Tanos what she is spreading, Firth popped
in with a tweet accusing the London anchor — and herself —
of lying on a daily basis, saying:
She told The Press Gazette in London that she made her
decision to quit Thursday after
her newsroom's response to the reports about the deadly
plane crash.
"Yesterday when the story broke you get the kick in your
stomach when you’re going to get the facts and it’s this huge
story," she said. "And I walked into the newsroom and they
were running an eyewitness account of God-knows who the
person was blaming the Ukrainian government, and it is such
a volatile situation."
Firth, who has been with Russia Today since 2009, told
BuzzFeed Friday that the organization's coverage of the crash
was "the total disregard to the facts. We threw up eyewitness
accounts from someone on the ground openly accusing the
Ukrainian government [of involvement in the disaster], and a
correspondent in the studio pulled up a plane crash before
that the Ukrainian government had been involved in and said
it was 'worth mentioning.' "
But the prior plane crash wasn't "worth mentioning," Firth
said.
“I couldn’t do it any more," Firth said. "Every single day
we’re lying and finding sexier ways to do it.”
Earlier this year, former Russia Today correspondent Liz
Wahl quit while she was on the air, saying she couldn't
support a network that "whitewashes the actions of Putin"
while asking her to "promote Russian foreign policy."

Portia de Rossi reportedly recorded fights with wife Ellen DeGeneres

Portia de Rossi and Ellen
DeGeneres ' alleged marriage drama continued to fuel tabloids
this week with new reports claiming de Rossi threatened to
release tapes of her fights with DeGeneres.
A source told In Touch magazine via Cover Media that "Portia
secretly taped some of their arguments. She was drunk."
"Then she threatened to expose Ellen as controlling and
manipulating," added the insider.
The talk show host allegedly "flew into a rage" after finding
out about the tapes and checked de Rossi's email account to
make sure she hadn't sent out the video to anyone.
Despite their troubles sources tell the magazine the two are
"on their way to repairing their marriage."
"It won't be easy," said the insider. "Portia will always be
battling these demons. But they love each other."
The tabloid also claims that de Rossi, 41, entered a
rehabilitation center for a 30-day treatment in May.
DeGeneres reportedly visited her wife everyday during her
stay.
Rumors that the couple has been dealing with marital
problems had been going around for a while now. Two weeks
ago Ok Magazine reported that Rossi and DeGeneres were at
odds because the Ally McBeal actress "resented Ellen's
friendship with Sofia [Vergara]."

It’s official! Morata completes his move from Real Madrid to Juventus

Alvaro Morata has completed his transfer to Juventus
today for a fee around €20 million.
The Real Madrid striker was in Turin on Friday to
undergo a medical and put pen to paper with the Serie
A champions.
Juventus have announced that the 21-year-old signed
a five-year deal, although Madrid will retain a buy-
back option in his contract.
“Juventus announce that it has reached an agreement
with Real Madrid for the definitive purchase of the
rights to the player Alvaro Borja Morata Martin for a fee
of €20m, payable over three years,” a statement on
their official website read.
“The agreement also provides an option for Real
Madrid, exercisable at the end of the 2015-16 season
or 2016-17 season, for the outright repurchase of
Morata, up to a maximum of €30m depending on the
number of games the player has played for Juventus.
“Juventus have signed a five-year contract of
employment with the same player.”
Morata, who scored 8 times in 23 La Liga appearances
for Madrid last season, admitted that he had been
itching to make the move for a long time.
“Juve are one of the best clubs in the world and Italy’s
finest. I’ll try to contribute to new successes,” he said.
“I’ve spoken to Allegri and I’m itching to get down to
work. I’ve wanted to come to Juventus for a long time.
The club’s always shown a strong interest in me.
“I feel prepared for the new season ahead, I know it’s a
challenging league but I’m ready to tackle Serie A.”

Anger grows towards Russia over MH17 crash

Outraged world leaders heaped pressure on Russia
Sunday to press Moscow-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine to
allow investigators proper access to the crash site of the
Malaysian MH17 jet.
Rescue efforts were in disarray as armed gunmen in fatigues and
balaclavas refused to allow international monitors full access and
the grisly remains of some of the 298 passengers killed have yet to
be removed.
Ukraine has warned that the rebels, who Kiev and the US have
accused of blowing the plane out of the sky with a missile, were
“hours away” from removing key evidence across the Russian
border.
As fears grew that evidence was being tampered with world
leaders voiced their frustration with Moscow, pushing East-West
ties to crisis point after months of discord over the Kremlin’s
interference in ex-Soviet Ukraine.
US Secretary of State John Kerry told Russian counterpart Sergei
Lavrov that Washington was “deeply concerned” investigators
were denied “proper access” to the crash site for a second
consecutive day.
His spokeswoman Jen Psaki later said the “unacceptable”
insecurity at the crash site was an “affront to all those who lost
loved ones and to the dignity the victims deserve”.
Site of Malaysian jet crash
“The United States is also very concerned about reports that the
remains of some victims and debris from the site are being
tampered with or inappropriately removed from the site,” the State
Department said.
Kerry was backed by leaders from Britain, the Netherlands,
Malaysia, Australia and France — as well as Ukraine — in calling
on Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene in getting an
international probe under way.
- ‘Absolutely chaotic’ crash site -
There was growing concern about the whereabouts of some of the
bodies which had been removed from the crash site, while others
were left lying in field in the rural part of eastern Ukraine where the
Boeing 777 jet was brought to ground.
British Prime Minister David Cameron called for tougher European
action against Moscow if Putin did not change tack.
“If President Putin does not change his approach on Ukraine, then
Europe and the West must fundamentally change our approach to
Russia,” he said, writing in the Sunday Times newspaper.
“Russia can use this moment to find a path out of this festering,
dangerous crisis. I hope it will do so. But if that does not happen
then we must respond robustly,”
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte — his nation mourning the loss of
192 compatriots — said he had called on Putin during a “very
intense” conversation to “take responsibility” for a credible
investigation.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the crash site was
“absolutely chaotic” as he sought to recover 28 bodies of his
compatriots killed in the disaster.
“My fear is that Russia will say the right thing, but that on the
ground interference with the site, interference with investigators,
interference with the dignified treatment of bodies will continue,”
he said.
International monitors were met on Saturday by Kalashnikov-
wielding militias who allowed them access to only the outskirts of
the field — its swaying sunflowers hiding dismembered remains of
charred and decomposing bodies of victims whose lives were cut
short on Thursday.
The Ukrainian government issued a furious statement declaring
that “terrorists with the support of Russia are trying to destroy
proof of this international crime”.
- Missing black boxes -
Malaysia’s transport minister expressed alarm before boarding a
flight to Kiev over “indications that vital evidence has not been
preserved in place”.
“One of the crucial questions is the fate of the black boxes,” said
Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe spokesman
Michael Bociurkiw.
The head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic, into
whose airspace the doomed jet strayed to avoid bad weather, said
his men had never recovered the data recorders or tampered with
evidence.
The diplomatic wrangling was accompanied by uninterrupted
fighting across Ukraine’s eastern rustbelt — a Russian-speaking
region of seven million people who largely view the more
nationalistic west of the splintered country with mistrust.
Putin rejects all charges of providing either funding or military
support to the insurgents who in April seized towns in the region
demanding independence after a pro-Western government took
power in Kiev.
Their move came just two weeks after Russia — stunned by the
removal of pro-Kremlin president Viktor Yanukovych, annexed
heavily-Russified Crimea.
Ukrainian troops pressed on with an offensive against the rebels,
reporting they had taken full control of the main airport of the
neighbouring separatist stronghold of Lugansk and launching all-
out offensives against two nearby towns.
Government troops said they had also established full control of
Donetsk airport for the first time since it was seized at the end of
May.
Kiev said the latest clashes killed five soldiers and wounded
another 20.
- ‘Wake-up call’ -
US President Barack Obama and major world leaders now agree
that the Malaysia Airlines jet was blown out of the sky at 33,000
feet (10,000 metres) by a sophisticated surface-to-air missile fired
from rebel-controlled territory.
Kiev has gone a step further by accusing militias of using a
Russian-supplied Buk system to down the jet after confusing it
with a Ukrainian military transporter.
Ukraine has released recordings of what it said was an intercepted
call between an insurgent commander and a Russian intelligence
officer as they realised they had shot down a passenger jet.
But Putin has blamed the tragedy on Kiev’s three-month military
operation.
The plane’s downing came less than a day after the United States
unleashed punishing sanctions against some of Russia’s most
important energy and military firms — most of them with links to
Putin — and urged more hesitant European leaders to follow suit.
The European Union — many of its member states dependent on
Russian gas — took the far less punitive step on Friday of curbing
some future investments in Russia and leaving the option open for
broader sanctions.

Not Again! Jihadist's Stone Woman To Death For ‘Adultery’

The stoning was carried out immediately the
sentence was passed on the woman…..
A woman accused of committing adultery in the
northern Syrian province of Raqa has been stoned to
death by J ihadists.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights , this will be the first “execution” of its kind by
the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria, which has
proclaimed the establishment of an Islamic “caliphate”
dominating Syria and Iraq.
The observatory said, “The Islamic State carried out its
first sentence of death by stoning against a woman in
Tabaqa, accusing her of adultery,”
The report was confirmed by an activist Abu Ibrahhim,
who said the stoning took place in a public square in
the Tabaqa market area on Thursday evening.
“This is the first time that this has happened here,”
added Abu Ibrahim.
A second activist Hadi Salameh, said the woman was
reportedly in her thirties, but that few details were
known about her except that she was killed after
sentencing by an IS religious court.
“The situation is unbearable. Stoning is the worst
punishment history has known. A quick death is more
merciful,” Salameh spoke to journalists via the Internet,
using a pseudonym for security reasons.
“The woman’s family did not know the sentence was
going to be carried out at this time,” said Salameh.
He said residents are “terrified” of IS, but fear the
consequences of reacting to its harsh methods.