UK Helps Machines Talk To Each Other

UK helps machines talk to each other
June 26, 2014 4:22 PM
By Leo Kelion

Technology desk editor

A group of 40 UK-based tech firms has developed a way to help apps and machines communicate in a bid to spur on smart cities and smart homes.

Hypercat is a new specification that effectively acts as an address book for data hubs holding information transmitted by net-connected devices.

It would allow an app to ask a hub what types of data it holds and what permissions it needs to access them.

The idea is to reduce the need for human intervention.

At the moment a person needs to write an application programming interface (API) to specify how the software components of one system should interact with another.

A recent example of this is Google's Nest division releasing APIs to allow the software that controls its smart thermostat to interact with the software used by Jawbone's Up wristbands.

But as the number of net-connected objects climbs higher - including everything from lamp posts to washing machines - the consortium behind Hypercat suggests it would be more efficient to allow the systems to have a standard way of consulting each other, rather than requiring new APIs for each case.

Instead of insisting that each company organises its data in the same way - an approach the consortium accepts would be doomed to failure - it decided instead to build a layer on top of the databases the services already hold.

The result, Hypercat, is described as being an open, lightweight hypermedia catalogue format.

Uniform approach

The consortium likens the concept to Sir Tim Berners-Lee's world wide web specifications, which helped unlock the potential of the net after they were widely adopted.

"Today devices are all being connected to the internet in slightly different ways," explained Pilgrim Beart, chief executive of internet-of-things start-up 1248, which is involved in the project.

"They generally have a web interface, which allows applications to come and get data from them and control them.

"But everyone's interface is different and there is no standard way for an application that has not been specially written for that service to come along and find what the devices are and what data they've got. That's the problem that Hypercat solves.

"An example would be if an application understands temperatures, Hypercat would provide a uniform way the application could ask any service if it has temperature data in it and ask to get hold of it."

BT, ARM, Intel, and IBM are among the other firms that have helped develop the specification over the past year.

The effort has also received £6.4m of government funds through the UK's Technology Strategy Board.

However, for Hypercat to succeed other tech companies will have to agree to add it to their systems. Major players, including Google and Apple, have yet to be consulted.

The firms involved also acknowledge that extra software would be required to take account of privacy concerns, to prevent apps exploiting Hypercat to track the behaviour of individuals through all their various interactions with net-connected kit.

Even so, one expert not involved in the project said it typically took many years for such specifications to become adopted as industry standards, and this one might face resistance from firms already selling smart appliances and control systems.

"If a company is leading in a market why on earth would they do anything that would make it easier for their competitors to enter?" asked Dr Ian Brown, from the University of Oxford's Internet Institute.

"Sometimes there will be circumstances that will persuade them that if they open up in this way they can grow the overall market larger. But the hard economics is that they may be reluctant to do that."

SOURCE:BBC © 2014

Keshi:Eagle's Will Fly Over France

By Tony Ubani
Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has declared that his team has no option than to win against France when they clash in the round of 16 on Monday.
Though the Eagles are the underdogs, Keshi stated before they left Campinas for Brasilia that his team’s mentality is strong and for them, it has always been nothing but a win each time they are out to play a game.
“I said before the tournament that our mentality must be strong. Our approach to every match has always been the same: to win.
“Whether we are playing against Spain at the FIFA Confederations Cup or playing against Liberia in a friendly match, I always tell the boys that victory is non–negotiable.

– JUNE 25: Ahmed Musa of Nigeria celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group F match between Nigeria and Argentina at Estadio Beira-Rio on June 25, 2014 in Porto Alegre, Brazi
“For us, we will go into Monday’s match aiming to win. But as I also said before the competition, we take it one match at a time.
“We don’t even want to think of who might be lurking in the quarter finals if we win; we are not bothered. All we know is that we must win on Monday.”
France top group E with seven points and they have played some excellent football unlike in 2010 where they were dumped in the preliminaries. With their arrays of stars in all departments they have left no one in doubt that they are candidates for the trophy.
But all that will to win the world cup will be put to test when they face the Eagles at the 72, 000 capacity Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha, the second biggest stadium in Brazil.
The clash between Nigeria and France will be like a reunification of Premier League stars as six Nigeria players Joseph Yobo, Peter Osaze Odemwingie, John Obi Mikel, Kenneth Omeruo, Shola Ameobi and Victor Moses will face the likes Patrice Evra, Hugo Lloris, Mathieu Debuchy, Loic Remy, Moussa Sissoko, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Olivier Giroud Arsena) and Mamadou Sakho Liverpool all who play in the EPL.

Record Breaking-Teen luke Shaw joins United

(AFP) – England left-back Luke Shaw became the most expensive teenage footballer in history after joining Manchester United from Premier League rivals Southampton in a four-year deal worth a reported £30 million (51m, 38m euros).
That figure surpassed the £25.6m fee United paid Everton for Wayne Rooney in 2004.

England’s midfielder and captain Steven Gerrard (R) shakes hands as England’s defender Luke Shaw (C) looks on after the Group D football match between Costa Rica and England at The Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte on June 24, 2014,during the 2014 FIFA World Cup . AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI
“Manchester United is delighted to announce the signing of Luke Shaw from Southampton Football Club,” a United statement said.
The 18-year-old Shaw, whose contract contains an option for a further year, signed for United on Friday.
His arrival at Old Trafford meant United had announced an estimated £60m of spending in two days after completing their first signing since Louis van Gaal, currently coaching the Netherlands at the World Cup, became their manager after midfielder Ander Herrera joined from Athletic Bilbao for a reported £28.5m on Thursday.
“I am thrilled and excited to be joining Manchester United,” the teenager said after passing a medical in a statement on United’s website.
“I have been at Southampton since I was eight years old and I would like to thank them and the fans for everything they have done for me,” added Shaw, who made 67 appearances for the south coast club since his debut in 2012.
But he said he’d no hesitation in joining United.
“I want to continue to progress my career and joining United is the ideal place for me to do that. I am looking forward to this new chapter in my life and also looking forward to learning from the world-class players and management at the club.”
Shaw won the third of his three England caps in the goalless draw with Costa Rica that saw Roy Hodgson’s men, already eliminated following defeats by Italy and Uruguay, conclude their disappointing World Cup.
He was the youngest player to feature at Brazil 2014 thus far.
“Luke is a very talented young left-back with great potential” said United assistant manager Ryan Giggs.
“He has developed immensely during his time at Southampton and has all the attributes to become a top player.
“I am delighted he has joined Manchester United as I believe this is the right club for him to continue his development as a young player and eventually fulfil that promise.”

I Am A Virgin I know Nothing about Sex-Seyi Hunter speaks

By Juliet Ebirim
When Afro-pop singer, Adokiye declared she was avirgin in a chat with Vanguard’s Potpourrirecently, many thought she couldpossibly be the last of the virgins in the Nigerian entertainment industry. But it seems there are others, at least one other, as another entertainer, Seyi Hunter has come out to declare she is a virgin as well.
A Performing Arts, Industrial and Labour Relations’graduate from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Seyi, born of an Igbo father and Akwa-Ibom mother, started out her career in the Yoruba sector and has since featured in close to twenty films in both Yoruba and English language movies.
In this interview with Showtime Celebrity, the wave-making actress talks about her career, passion, secrets and fears, among other issues:
When and how did you start acting professionally?
I started acting in 2011. I entered the industry through Funsho Adeolu. I met him at a movie location.
What has been your experience since you started?
It’s been tough. But with God on my side, I’ve been able to achieve a lot within the short period I’ve been in the industry.

Nigerian's Most Embrace The Business Sides Of Fashion

By Yetunde Arebi
Dr. (Mrs) Merit Gordon Obua is not your regular run of the mill fashion personality, nor does she frequently appear on the pages of fashion magazines. A successful and astute business woman, with a Masters Degree in Business Administration, she sits atop Branzuk Gold, the umbrella name for a couple of blue chip companies which includes oil and gas.
However, recognition for her sense of style and love for selfless service through her Branzuk Ikuli Center for Social Rehabilitation (BICSR), an NGO she uses to give back to the society and a platform that earned her an appointment as a Patron on the Board of the World Fashion Organisation.
Her achievement in the spate of one year has earned Nigeria not only the privilege of hosting the African Fashion Reception which comes up in Abuja on3rd to 5th of July,2014 but also the honour of being chosen as the site for the first fashion University on the African continent. She spoke in Abuja on the project and her views on Nigeria’s fashion industry, emphasising that Nigeria must invest in the business aspect of fashion. Excerpts:
From your background as a business woman and consumer of fashion, how would you rate the Nigerian fashion industry?
Nigerian designers are doing perfectly well. They are creative but what is holding us back is that we are not yet introduced into the global market where our designers will be accepted globally. Those in the global market produce with special machines. Their finishing is way better than ours.
Those Nigerian designers that have perfect finishing are usually those who traveled out to study fashion. Though, we have fashion schools, they are not many and lack international standards. Now, for us to be embraced, government has a major role to play. We should start having garment manufacturing industries.
This would make us have accuracy in designs and in perfect finishing. Because these are industries that use 3D machines while we still work on paper. In Nigeria, you will see our designers using biro to sketch while in the advanced countries, you will just design your style and send to the factory.
It is the factory that cuts out the style and pattern, every area of a cloth is being specially done by someone. Here in Nigeria, you see the designer doing the cutting, sewing and ironing. One person produces the cloth. In the advanced countries, top designers don’t operate that way.
They have special people that do every aspect of sewing, such as joining of fabric to even those who specialize in fixing buttons. Somebody that irons is different from the person in charge of packaging. And it is not something an individual designer will do. .
You mentioned government, where does government come in?
Government is supposed to build the garment manufacturing industries that I have spoken about. Those garment manufacturing industries would be where designers would take their fabric to, book for time, insert their designs into the system and send it for production.
When that is done, designers produce more. Right now, we are limited to what we consume. For instance, a designer can only work with limited pieces of designs when working alone and might not be able to give that piece too much attention because he has other pieces to design.
But with the garment manufacturing industry, you can accomplish more because you’ll be producing en-mass for the populace. Nigerian designers do not do mass production. The fashion industry is a money spinning industry that we need to tap into. Indonesia has oil but they do not rely on oil alone.
They have taken fashion as a secondary trade and it is really working well with them. In India, 4% of their GDP comes from fashion. So if Nigeria will embrace it, we’ll do better because we are fashionable and our styles are more elegant. For instance, Gucci is not from China but the fabrics used are produced in China because of their garment manufacturing plant.
They left China and started producing in Indonesia and Thailand because those places have lots of garment manufacturing organizations. Two years ago, Indonesia was like Nigeria. They had oil and their fashion line were just producing for themselves. But then, they went into fashion using a different plan and all the top designers in the world left China and started producing in these places.
Very soon, they will get tired because Africa is virgin land. They want to capture Africa, and they want to use Nigeria as their base. So there is need for Nigerian government to seize this opportunity and I am glad that they have already responded possitively.
So, what does Nigeria stand to gain from the African Fashion Reception?
African Fashion Reception will unveil different aspects of fashion. It will tutor our youths with different aspects of fashion and sensitize us on how to embrace our fabric. After the event, Nigerian fabrics will be officially unveiled into the big market in Paris and Montreal in October. That is why we said three in one event.
Another thing that came up is the training of designers. I have discovered that there is no fashion university all over the world, they only have institutions. Our system cannot absorb those we train because we are not expanding, so, we only train and dump. With the establishment of a fashion university with the help of the World Fashion Organisation, it will serve as a major entrepreneur institution where you don’t produce graduates that will sit down and wait for white collar jobs.
Every graduate of this institution is already a businessman because a package is waiting for you. It is a university that as you are graduating, the big market is already waiting to absorb you. In fact, the plan is that in the final year before graduation, you will be sent outside Nigeria for a one year course where you will be introduced into the big market.
The university would not just be on creative fashion but about fashion as a business. Models will be trained, make-up artistes also and every other aspect of fashion. When you graduate and are being introduced into the big market, you will definitely work with someone.
If you are working alone you will sign contracts and so even lawyers will benefit. It will be a university that has normal curriculum found in other universities with textile and fashion courses. Now, one other thing in fashion is that the fashion market uses one currency. If you are displaying your designs and a buyer comes from outside the country, he will not buy with Naira but in Dollars. This way, our designers have better chances of making more money.
This is a very laudable idea, how did you conceptualize this?
Originally, the World Fashion Organization had the desire to build six universities within the six continents. The one meant for Africa is what is being brought to Nigeria. I have about six African countries dragging this project with me. They were actually on before I joined last year but I got it.
I pray that Nigerian government will support our youths and women because there is no business you do without the government. The program is meant to take women and youths off the street. When someone is busy, he will never be seen in the wrong places because all you’ll be thinking about is how to take care of your family.
But when one is idle, you will think of so many things which is where the devil comes into play. With this university every youth will have something to benefit. This university is expected to be unveiled during the Africa Fashion Receptions and the design is nearing completion soon.

President Goodluck Jonathan Plans To Travel To Brasil For FIFA World Cup

President Goodluck Jonathan has plans to travel Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and support the Super Eagles if the team makes it to the quarter-finals of the tournament, kickoffnigeria reports.

Joseph Yobo leads the team out to the field. Photo credit - Getty Images
The captain of the team, Joseph Yobo, confirmed president's plan, added that the team would have been even more motivated, if the president could make it to Nigeria vs France match.

"He assured us when he called that he's behind us and if we beat France and qualify for the quarter-final, he will come and visit us and watch the next game," Yobo said.

Related: GEJ Reassures Super Eagles Over Bonuses

The Super Eagle's captain added that the whole team hopes to get such a moral booster, in case of victory against France.

"It's better than money, and we are determined to go there and fight and give our best," Yobo concluded.

CAF wishes Nigeria and Algeria good luck

The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) welcomed qualification of the two teams from the African continent, Nigeria and Algeria, to LAST 16 at the 2014 World Cup.

CAF Secretary General, Hicham El Amrani, applauded talent and skills of both of the teams, emphasised on the "overall progress and development" of football in Africa.

He further confirmed that CAF President, Issa Hayatou, has passed his congratulations to the football federations of the two countries, wishing them to advance to the next rounds of the Mundial.

"We wish the best of luck to Algeria and Nigeria as the entire African continent is behind them," CAF SG said.

Nigeria vs France LAST16 match kicks off in Brasilia on June 30, 2014, Monday, at 13:00 local time (17:00 Nigeria time).

Related: My Boys Will Deal With France - Keshi

Algeria's game against another European country, Germany, starts on the same day, at 21:00, Nigeria time.

Liverpool To Sell Liuz Suarez For €80million To Barcelona

Latest reports coming out of England suggest that Liverpool are ready to sell Luis Suarez to Barcelona for £80million as they began moves to revamp their attack.

Dailymail reports that with Barcelona having made clear that Suarez's four month worldwide ban from football does not impact on their intentions to sign him, Liverpool have wasted no time in moving to offload Suarez and find the right replacements.

* Suarez

Though Liverpool are stunned by the length of the ban Suarez received from FIFA on Thursday for biting Giorgio Chiellini, there is an acceptance now is the right time to let the striker leave after he embroiled them in controversy once again, although it is not known how much Barca would be prepared to pay.

It was gathered that the Anfield club have concluded plans to make Adam Lallana a replacement for the Uruguayan as Southampton is believed to have finally accepted a £25million offer for the England international, four weeks after receiving it from Anfield officials.

* Suarez has been banned for four months after biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup

Liverpool have also launched a bid to sign Lazar Markovic from Benfica. The Serbia international is one of the hottest young properties in European football and has a £20million release clause in his contract.

* Suarez at his grand mother's house in Montevideo

Reports have it that Suarez's lawyer Alejandro Balbi was in Barcelona on Friday to discuss his client's future when new Barca head coach Luis Enrique maintained there would be no issue about going for the 27-year-old.

He compared Suarez to the legendary former Barca and Bulgaria forward Hristo Stoichkov and said: 'Stoichkov deliberately trod on a referee but he was still considered a great player.'

* Suarez, his wife and daughter

Analysts believe for Liverpool to get £80million for Suarez would represent excellent business and hope Brendan Rodgers would be given the funds to reinvest in a squad that came within two points of winning the Barclays Premier League last season.

Ways To End Boko Haram Insurgency

Following the unabated acts of terrorism being perpetrated across Nigeria by the Islamists terror group, Boko Haram, security experts are continuing to advise the federal government on ways to win the war against terrorism in the country.
Commenting on the menace during Channels Television's weekend breakfast show Sunrise, on Saturday, 28 June, 2014, Mr Ladi Thompson, a security expert, urged Nigerians to always remain alert, security conscious and report any strange movements or items to the nearest security agency.
Mr Thompson noted that the bomb blast that happened in Abuja on Wednesday, 25 June, 2014, shouldn't have come to any Nigerian as a surprise.

He said "if anybody was surprised by the bombing in Abuja, it would mean that that person has refused to face the reality of what we have on ground in Nigeria."
* Analysts speaking on wave of terrorism in Nigeria on Channels TV

He argued that security operatives were using an inferior tactic in solving the insurgency and bringing the culprits to book.
"I would have preferred the Federal Government to diagnose the problem properly and also brace up the nation for the reality on ground, instead of empty promises that cannot be backed up", he said.

Also speaking on the programme, a public affairs analyst, Mr Dare Ogunlana, noted that there were different approaches to fighting terrorism but noted that using brute and military forces has never solved an insurgency.
* Boko Haram sect
He went memory lane to mention the case of Hamas-Hezbollah in Lebanon, stating that "there is no way you can deter them; the only thing you can do is to deter their supporters."

He berated the inability of the security apparatchik to arrest those behind the insurgency, maintaining that the Boko Haram members have succeeded in confusing Nigerians to engage in the blame game instead of dealing with the insurgency head on.

Mr Bala Zakka also joined the discussion. He noted that the Boko Haram group were out to carry out a vision to "render the country lawless and the government powerless and irrelevant" and have decided "to apply all kind of forces to dislodge any form of human and material on their way to achieve that."

He warned that though "the foot soldiers (insurgents) have been indoctrinated using the weapon of propaganda and radicalism, the masterminds are sound, educated and probably very strong people in terms of finances and intelligence."

* Scene of bomb blast in Abuja

He also warned that negotiation should not be used as a form of bringing the insurgency to an end.

It could be recalled that an explosion occurred on Wednesday, June 25 at a shopping mall, Emab Plaza, Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.

It was the third deadly explosion in the Federal Capital Territory, in two months. The explosion killed no fewer than 21 persons and injured 17 others.

Security operatives, however, said they arrested two suspects for the blast but one of them reportedly died later.

Also in Kaduna, not fewer than 123 people were killed by Fulani gunmen in the continued onslaught on some villages in Sanga Local Government Area, on Wednesday, June the 25.

What Has Kept Me Going For 25 Years As A DJ-Jimmy Jatt

BY ANOZIE EGOLE
Jimmy Adewale Amu a.k.a Dj Jimmy Jatt could best be described as a Disc jockey (DJ) with swag. He started his career in the entertainment industry as a budding rapper before delving into DJ business in the late 80s. In 1989, he  debuted as a professional DJ, and today, after 25 years  on the job, Jatt has every reason to recount his success story in the industry. In this interview, he speaks about his career, family and love life.
Why are you celebrating your 25th years as a DJ?
I HAVE been a DJ for 25 years.  But I’m just celebrating my 25th years of being in the entertainment industry. I actually made up my mind in 1989 that I won’t do anything else apart from becoming a DJ. And since then, I have not looked back. So, it’s 25 years of my being a professional DJ. Really. I have been reluctant to celebrate this milestone. Most  people around me know that I am not a loud person , but the only reason I was convinced to do this was because, its 25 years of relevance and consistency. There has not been an off day for me in the past 25 years. I have never been found wanting in the industry for the past 25 years. I hear a lot of people celebrate 10 to 15 years but within that period, there are times when they take a break for a couple of years.  But in my own case, I have ever been  present. I felt for once in my life that I should really celebrate my achievements.
How did you take the decision to become a professional DJ?
Being  a DJ was something I developed passion for, when people felt it wasn’t a lucrative job. People warn their kids to stay away from me simply because I was a DJ. But I took up the challenge to change the mindset of people as much as possible. Right now, DJs are being celebrated, and the emerging  generation today can see that there is life as a DJ. If I have done it for 25 years, then what’s more! It doesn’t mean I am retiring. No, it means I am taking the profession to a higher level.
Before 1989, what were you doing?
Like I said, I’ve been doing DJ work before 1989. Some people would know me from the mid 80s when I was just a school boy at Obalende. I’ve never applied for any job in my life. Before 1989, it was between my education and and the DJ work. So, I’ve been a DJ for a long time  such that I’ve never had time to think of  any other thing.
What’s your plans for the celebration?
The main event will hold on the  3rd of August. It’s going to be strictly by invitation. Then there will be the annual Jimmy’s jump off later. This year’s event would be tied to my 25th anniversary celebrations so we might switch the event a bit. It might not take the same direction people are used to. Then from October till the end of the year, we’ll be getting into some CRS activities to give back to the society, organise a lot of mentorship programmes for young DJs to encourage them. There would also be a TV reality show coming up soon. We are working tirelessly to make the best of this celebration.
What has kept you going all these years as a DJ?
For me, my motivation changes. In the beginning, the driving force was the negativity of people towards what I do. Some people in my neighborhood warned their kids to stay away from me because I was a DJ. So, for me at that time, the motivation was to prove such people wrong. Then it got to a level where I got married and I felt I owe it to my family to be responsible. It also got to a point where I attracted young people into the business of DJ and they all were looking  up to you. I owed them a duty to lead the way. These have been my motivation. Finally, it got to a point where people started celebrating me. At this time, my fan base cut across all generations. Today, I am one of the very few entertainers that dominate discussions among three generations in Nigeria. I am a brand that cuts across everybody. So I always have all these at the back of my mind, and it keeps me going.
Have you ever thought of quitting the job?
Of course, like every other business in this country, after six months, there are definitely times when frustration would set in even if you are into oil and gas business. But for me, right from the onset, there has always been that discouraging factor. But I’ve had to deal with it from the very start. Even when I feel like I’m going to give up, I always remember those early times and I keep moving ahead. Because, if I give up, those people who didn’t give me a chance in the beginning would smile, so that kept me going even in my lowest moments.

Let’s talk about your forthcoming album “The Industry”?
The album would be launched at the black tie event. It’s titled The Industry and that speaks volume  on what to expect from the album. We are still in the studio, but as at the last count, I’ve recorded with well over 80 artistes and 20 different producers in the country. So, its easier to count the people that are yet to get on the album than count the people in the album. The album is basically a reflection of the state of the industry and it is quite different from my first album “The definition” . This latest one is more of a reflection of the industry and it will have a minimum of 20 tracks.
Artistes in the industry
We released 7 singles already and we are working on releasing a couple of videos  as well.  The album covers the industry, and when I say the industry, we can’t put every artiste in the industry on the album. But there is adequate representation from all sectors. You would find emerging artistes, talented artistes, A list artistes, rappers, singers and even old school and reggae artistes were also in the album. Like I said earlier, it’s a reflection of what I’ve seen in the past 25 years. I think am excited about the album already because it’s a brilliant one.
Do you have plans to collaborate with international artistes or DJs?
In terms of international collaboration, for me it has always been about projecting our own acts and our own music. I do get offers and deals from artistes in America to feature on the album, but I don’t see the need, it gives me joy to put an unknown Nigerian artistes on the album and see his career develop from there rather than featuring an international act.
In the past 25 years, have you ever felt challenged by any other Dj?
I think in life, if you always see yourself as upcoming, you’ll always grow. But the moment you see yourself as a king, you loose it. For me, I work like a rookie, that’s my orientation. About seeing anybody as a threat, I do not think so. Everything in life is a competition, but how you take the competition affects your career, if you take it negatively, it’ll affect you negatively, if you take it positively it’ll affect you positively. I take it positively, and I’ve helped a lot of DJs to come up. Because if there’s no one chasing you, you won’t run and if you don’t run you won’t get to your destination in time. So, I always assist DJs to come up because if they grow it means you’ll also have to take your game to the next level. But if you don’t help people to grow, and everybody remains down you won’t grow as well. Competition is very healthy because it helps people grow.
At the beginning, did you get support from your parents?
Yes, I had the support of my immediate family, but from my extended family and outsiders, I got hostility and criticisms.  But my parents weren’t worried because they knew me very well. They brought me up very well, and I always tell people that am a product of my family, my family is fun loving and music lovers, I just happened to be an introvert (laughs).
Would you say, you are fulfilled having spent 25 years as a DJ?
I think once you get to that point where you are fulfilled, then the next thing is to buy your coffin, am not, am still hoping to make some impact and take things to the next level

Federal Government Realized #669billion From Privatisation

The Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Mr Benjamin Dikki, on Friday said that the Federal Government realised N669 billion from privatisation of its enterprises from 1999 to date.
Dikki made this known while delivering a lecture on “Federal Government’s Privatisation and Economic Reform Programme” at a forum organised by Just Friends Club of Nigeria in Abuja.
He said that the amount was proceeds from 122 enterprises privatised from 1999 to 2012 and revenue generated from the privatisation of the power sector in 2013.
He disclosed that 2.5 billion dollars (about 417.5 billion) was realised from payments made by “preferred bidders of 15 out of the 18 successor companies of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)”.
He said that N251.5 billion was realised as gross proceeds from the privatisation of the 122 enterprises, adding that N147 billion was remitted to the Privatisation Proceeds Account at the Central Bank of Nigeria as net profit.
Dikki added that N384 billion was spent on settling labour liabilities in the power sector before the companies were handed over to the new investors on Nov. 1, 2013.
He stated that 66 per cent of the privatised enterprises were performing well while 34 per cent was not doing well.
He said that the process of unbundling the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company and Afam Generation Company, which was unsuccessful during the first sale, was currently nearing completion.
The director-general said that although BPE was known mainly for its privatisation activities, it had begun the handling of reforms in different sectors of the economy.
He cited the reform in the telecommunication sector, which he said had created lots of jobs and generated huge revenue for the government, as one of the reforms it handled.
“The establishment of the Debt Management Office (DMO) was one of the outcomes of the reform works of the bureau.
“ Before its creation, there was nobody to monitor government borrowing,’’ he explained.
Dikki said that BPE was currently pushing for the passage of seven bills which would open up the Nigerian economy “for healthy businesses to strive”.
On its initiatives, he expressed the hope that refineries would be privatised pending the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill.
“The government is intent on privatising the refineries because of the impact it will have in growing the Nigerian economy.
“Right now, Element Petroleum, an oil firm, requires the by-product of refineries to produce its own product.
“But it doesn’t have enough supply because the refineries are not operating at levels of expectations.
“So, if we can privatise the sector, many private individuals will be able to open more refineries in the country and this will translate to added jobs,” he said.
He hinted that Pipelines and Product Marketing Company and the Nigerian Gas Company would be privatised.
In his remarks, the President, Just Friends of Nigeria Club, Mr Green Amakwe, said that the club chose Dikki for the lecture due to his success in dealing with investors.
“BPE is now seen as a government agency that plays by the rules of due process, accountability and a high degree of transparency and international best practices in its dealings.
“This enviable achievement has made it incumbent on us to honour the BPE by nominating its director-general to deliver our inaugural lecture on their success story,” he said. (NAN)

Aguero Out Of Round 16 Clash with Switzerland

(AFP) – Argentina striker Sergio Aguero’s miserable World Cup took another turn for the worse with him being ruled out of next Tuesday’s last 16 match with Switzerland because of a leg injury.

Argentina’s forward forward Sergio Aguero reacts after falling and before being substituted for an injury during the Group F football match between Nigeria and Argentina at the Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on June 25, 2014.  AFP PHOTO / JUAN MABROMATA
The 26-year-old Manchester City star — who had several injury problems last season — went off in the first-half of Tuesday’s final group game with Nigeria and scans revealed the damage, said Argentine team doctor Daniel Martinez.
The Argentinian camp, though, denied rumours that the injury is more serious than they are saying and that he could miss the rest of the tournament.
“It is a muscle injury,” the Argentine press officer Andres Ventura told AFP.
“To interpret that as meaning he will play no further part in the World Cup is taking things too far.”
Aguero, who despite his injuries last season still scored 17 goals as City won the title, has failed to add to his 21 goals for his country in his three appearances and has been largely overshadowed by Lionel Messi, who is joint top scorer with four.

Half Naked Princess Accused Of Killing Muslims And Racially Abusing A First Aider At A University

A German princess was arrested after stripping off her clothes, ranting about killing Muslims and racially abusing a first aider at a university party.

Her Serene Highness Princess Theodora Sayn-Wittgenstein

Her Serene Highness Princess Theodora Sayn-Wittgenstein got drunk, climbed a fence at the bash and tried to strip naked at the Oktoberfest party held at St Andrews University. While her first-aider Farah Jasmin Hussain, who was trying to help her, she said: "While I was doing my nails this morning I was wondering how many Muslims I could kill."

Her Serene Highness Princess Theodora Sayn-Wittgenstein accompanied by her father

Hussain fled the tent in tears following the disgusting remark. But this did not stop the woman, later she kicked one member of staff and tried to headbutt another. After the series of attempts to calm the royal down failed, the matter was reported to the police whereupon the police officers put her in leg restraints due to her aggressive behaviour.

After spending a week in custody, the princess explained her behaviour as a desire to protect herself from kidnappers. Ironically, Sayn-Wittgenstein, who had to sit on public benches alongside sex offenders, thieves and drug addicts in the waiting area before her case was called, has a degree in international relations and has previously lived in Jordan. She was fined a total of £1000.

How He Sold His Child For #500000

The Police in Abia have arrested a tricycle operator, 27-year-old Ogbonna Chukwudi for allegedly selling his newborn son for N500,000.

L-R: Baby's mother, Chukwudi, Chiamaka

Ogbonna Chukwudi, a resident of Cool Park Street, Ogbo Hill, Aba was said to have arranged with a nurse to sell the baby few hours after his wife put to birth in a private birth centre also in Ogbo Hill.

Meanwhile the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adamu Ibrahim who confirmed the incident said: "The incident took place on June 18, 2014. Luck, however, ran out on them when the wife woke up and sought to see her baby. She was told by the husband that the baby was dead and had been buried."

The commissioner said trouble ensued when the wife insisted that the grave of her baby must be shown to her which made the man threaten to kill her.

A neighbour who overheard them was said to have alerted the policemen who intervened and later arrested the man and the accomplice-nurse, one Amarachi Chiamaka.

RELATED: How My Sister Sold Me With Pregnancy For N100,000 - Victim

According to the police, further investigations led to the tracking down of the buyer .

The commissioner said: "A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect is a tricycle operator and was conveying the woman to a nearby bush where he intended to kill her."

He added that investigations were still on to recover the baby. But the suspect, who confessed to the crime, blamed it on poverty. He added that his friend who sold the son for him shortchanged him as he (the friend) only gave him N140,000 out of the N500,000 proceed and bolted away with the balance.

There was, however, a mild drama as the nurse insisted that the deal was with the consent of the mother of the baby, adding that she had also previously sold her first baby. But the young woman denied the allegation, raining curses on the nurse.

She also tried to absolve her husband of any blame, heaping everything on the nurse. Unknown to her, the husband had already admitted his wrongs earlier while chatting with journalists. When she was told that her husband had confessed to the crime she became silent.

Eagle's Depart For Brasilia Ahead Monday round Of 16 Tie Against France

Abuja – The national team, Super Eagles, will travel out of their camp in Campinas on Friday evening to Brasilia for their Monday round of 16 tie against France.
A statement issued from Brazil on Thursday by Ben Alaiya, the Super Eagles Media Officer, said all logistics had been perfected for the trip by FIFA in conjunction with the team.
It said that the injured midfielder, Babatunde Michael, had undergone a successful surgery on his fractured wrist and returned to camp, ahead of the trip to Brasilia.
“Unfortunately, he (Babatunde) is ruled out of the tournament because it will take at least three weeks for that surgery to heal.
“We are sad about that but we have people who can fill in for him very well and I think we have to win France for him,” Keshi added.
Keshi said Nigerians should not fret over the development as there were capable replacements for the player.
The statement also quoted Keshi as saying that Moses would return to action in the match against France after the injury he sustained in the game against Iran.
“Moses has a muscle strain that was discovered by the team’s medics after the first game against Iran.
“He was advised to rest it so that he can come out better in subsequent games.
“We can understand that all players want to play at the big stage.
“It is, however, up to us and the medical team to manage their career and balance it with due diligence regarding their health.
“That is why we have not played him,’’ the statement quoted Keshi as saying.
Moses, it would be recalled, watched the last game from the stands with technical officials and was not dressed for the encounter.
Keshi also took exception to news that his players said they would not play the next game because they had not been paid.
“We don’t have money issues here; I talk to the players and the NFA leadership everytime.
“So, I wonder what some people want to achieve by always drawing us back from our set goals,’’ he said. (NAN)

Keshi Wished Messi A Happy Birthday

PORTO ALEGRE  (AFP) – Lionel Messi turned 27 on Tuesday in the full spotlight of the World Cup, the Argentina superstar receiving birthday wishes from hordes of fans camped outside the team hotel.
Former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Argentine coach Alejandro Sabella and Stephen Keshi, whose Nigeria side nervously await Messi on Wednesday, all joined the festivities.

Messi.
From the stroke of midnight the internet buzzed with good wishes to the Barcelona legend whose goals against Bosnia-Hercegovina and Iran lifted Argentina into the last 16 ahead of their closing Group F run out at the Beiro-Rio stadium.
“I wished Leo Happy Birthday at midnight,” said Sabella, who will be putting the champagne on ice for after Wednesday’s game when a draw would see Messi and his colleagues top the group and avoid a likely second round date with France.
Argentina are staying at the Hotel Deville in this southern port city where on Tuesday morning fans decked out in the blue and white colours of Argentina gathered to serenade their hero with chants of ‘Happy Birthday’.
Others turned up at the stadium to try and catch a glimpse of their idol as he took part in a pre-match closed training session.
One man happily plotting to ruin Messi’s celebrations is Keshi, who took time out from preparing the African champions, to say: “Happy Birthday Messi, it’s a great day, I wish him a very Happy Birthday, a healthy long life and all his heart’s desire, and we’ll see him to celebrate after the match!”
The Super Eagles boss may not be quite so effusive if Messi produces his third match-winning goal after his show stoppers against Bosnia and a stoppage time wonder strike against Iran so far in Group F.
Little did his parents know it when their baby boy arrived into this world on June 24, 1987 but 27 years later he would be acclaimed as the best player on the planet.
“Leo is venerated in Argentina, he deserves to be,” noted Sabella.
“Every time a player like him comes along of course there’s a dependency on him, you are always dependent on a player like him.
“There is huge pressure on him, it’s normal, but we try to take some off his shoulders.”
The four time World Player of the Year is set to be feted like never before in Wednesday’s game both in and outside the stadium with tens of thousands of Argentinian fans driving across the border to Porto Alegro, the closest World Cup venue to Argentina.
Seconds after midnight, cyberspace exploded with messages of goodwill for the man whose birthday falls on the same day as two other Argentine sporting greats, the late Formula One champion, Juan Manuel Fangio, and the Boca Juniors star Riquelme.
“The good thing about today is the birthday of the world’s best player Lionel Andres Messi,” tweeted Ardiansinho from Guayaquil in Ecuador.
“Happy Birthday King Lio Messi. The best player on the team. Legend.” wrote on his page Tenzin Dorjee Vajara from India.
Castro sent a letter to his mate Maradona, the former Cuban strongman paying tribute to Messi as “the formidable athlete who glorifies the noble people of Argentina”.
Messi’s parents, his wife Antonella Roccuzzo Thiago and his son visited him on Sunday at the squad’s World Cup base camp in Belo Horizonte following the 1-0 win over Iran. Messi’s goal in the first minute of injury time took his tally to 40 goals for Argentina from 88 appearances.
This is his third World Cup and he hasn’t hidden his ambition to lift the only silverware missing from his overladen trophy cabinet which features six Spanish titles, three champions League titles and two Club World Cups. Along the way he has scored 354 goals in 425 outings, including 91 goals in the 2012/2013 season – a milestone in the history of his Catalan club.

Ladies Raise Huge Money For Startup

At age 17, Brienne Ghafourifar achieved a world record. She became the youngest college graduate to raise $1 million in venture funding for her business.

"I usually don't talk about that," Ghafourifar, now 19, says with a nervous laugh, hesitating to brag about her achievement. "I usually let my brother talk about that for me."

Immediately after graduating from Santa Clara University with a bachelor's degree in economics, Ghafourifar founded her first startup, Entefy, with her older brother Alston. The cross-device platform aims to aggregate and house all of your disparate forms of electronic communications -- texts, emails, IMs, etc. -- onto one interface. 

Nigeria Army Got Special Military Equipment From US To Help Fight Boko Haram

The United States of America on Wednesday said it delivered a special military equipment to the Nigerian army to help fight Boko Haram.

US Embassy Building in Abuja

According to ThisDay, this was made known in a statement issued by the Public Affairs section of the United States embassy.

The United States Diplomatic Mission to Nigeria, who confirmed the delivery of the equipment said, it was in fulfillment of its promise that it would give technical support to the Nigerian government in finding and bringing back the over 234 school girls that were abducted by Boko Haram over two months ago.

Related: Nigeria, US, Chad Partner On Counter-terrorism

Cameroonian Arthur Zang & Rwandan Olivier Nsengimana honored as Young Laureates of 2014 Rolex Awards for Enterprise

Arthur Zang, Rolex Young Laureate 2014

Cameroonian Arthur Zang and Rwandan Olivier Nsengimana are on the list of five young visionaries from Africa, India, Europe and the Middle East who were announced today at London’s leading scientific institution, the Royal Society, as winners of the 2014 Rolex Awards for Enterprise.

The Rolex Awards for Enterprise were initiated in 1976 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Oyster chronometer, the world’s first waterproof watch and a symbol of the innovation that the Awards programme supports. The programme recognizes enterprising men and women who are using their talents and initiative to change the world in five broad areas: science and health, applied technology, the environment, exploration and discovery, and cultural heritage.

This year’s Young Laureates – aged 30 and under – impress by both their leadership qualities and in their ability to harness technology in an original way to improve the well-being of the community and the environment, as well as to advance scientific knowledge.

Bomb Blast Occurred In National Shopping Mall In Abuja

A bomb blast has occurred at popular shopping mall, Emab Plaza on Aminu Kano Crescent in Wuse 2 in Abuja.

Eyewitnesses said that the explosion occurred at about 4pm and that the fire service officials reportedly put out the fire at about 4:40 pm.

The police have confirmed 21 dead, 17 others injured and 17 cars burnt in the explosion.

The explosion apparently occurred at the gate of the busy plaza.

According to Premium Times Emergency officials are still evacuating the injured and bodies to Maitama District Hospital and are requesting for more ambulances at Maitama District hospital "to transfer victims to other hospitals."

An Elevated Network Of Sky Cars To Be Built In Tel Aviv

The skyTran system could help ease gridlocked roads
An elevated network of sky cars is to be built in Tel Aviv.

A 500m loop will be built on the campus of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) followed by a commercial network, according to skyTran, the company that will build it.

Two-person vehicles will be suspended from elevated magnetic tracks, as an alternative transport method to congested roads, the firm promised.

The system should be up and running by the end of 2015.

The firm hopes the test track will prove that the technology works and lead to a commercial version of the network.

Etisalat Cliqlite To Revolutionize Educational System In Nigeria

BY EMEKA AGINAM
Mobile phone operator, Etisalat, has received commendations on its new education package tagged Cliqlite, designed to aid children aged 8 to 15 in their education.
Cliqlite is a new educational product from Etisalat available via short code to all prepaid packages.
The service is available to all prepaid packages on the network.
Renowned opinion leaders in the country including the Chief Executive Officer of Rise Networks, Toyosi Akerele, President, Consumer Advocacy Foundation of Nigeria, Shola Salako, and Nnenna and Friends TV show anchor, Olayinka Olukunga all commended the initiative by Etisalat at the product launch, held in Lagos recently.

Microsoft unveiled the nokia X2 The Newest addition to the Expanding Nokia X Family

Committed to delivering compelling introduction to second-generation devices and software platform, Microsoft devices group yesterday unveiled the Nokia X2, the newest addition to the expanding Nokia X family of affordable smart phones.

To be available initially as a dual-SIM device globally next month, the smart device was designed to introduce the “next billion” people to the mobile Internet and cloud services.
The new product which debuts the next-generation Nokia X Software Platform 2.0 and major enhancements to the user interface, represents the rapid evolution of the Nokia X family, delivering an enhanced experience across apps, hardware and the user interface.

WOMAN SENTENCED FOR TEARING SON'S SCROTUM AND ATTE...

Welcome To Joel Anthony's Blog: WOMAN SENTENCED FOR TEARING SON'S SCROTUM AND ATTE...: A Texas woman who seriously injured her son and then tried to repair the injury with glue pleaded guilty and was sentenced Thursday...

POSSIBLE 2YEARS BAN AWAITS LOUIS SUAREZ FOR BITING CHIELLINI

FIFA announced about its decision to began proceedings after the Uruguay striker, Luis Suarez, was accused of biting Italy's player during his team's World Cup victory over Italy on June 24.
Italy's defender Chiellini pulled open his shirt to show the teeth-marks to the referee
The incident occurred in the Italian penalty area 10 minutes from the end of the match - Suarez and Giorgio Chiellini clashed and in less than no time the 27-year-old sank his teeth into Italy's defender.
Although Chiellini showed the mark to the referee, the incident was missed. However, FIFA's rules allow the use of video or "any other evidence" to retrospectively punish players and Suarez could face a maximum ban of 24 matches or two years.
This is not the first time Suarez is facing a lengthy ban. He was banned for 10 games last year after biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic in a Premier League match and in 2010 he was suspended for seven games for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal while playing for Ajax Amsterdam.

Unveiling Of Centenary City Nigeria Dubai

President Goodluck Jonathan led an official delegation to perform unveiling and ground-breaking ceremony of Abuja Centenary City Project.

The Centenary City Project - Abuja. Photo credit - Nigeria Centenary Facebook
In his speech the president tagged the project that was designed to cover 1,200 hectares of land as a "city of hope and elegance", as well as a symbol of the Nigerian unity.

The TGIC Quiz master Dr George Martins is sure that a replicate of beautiful attractions ala Dubai would appear in Nigeria in less than 10 years. Photo credit - Nigeria Centenary Facebook
According to Jonathan, the project would turn out to be a modern city, where modern beauty merges with architectural creativity. The project would be realised as per all the global standards, and would turn into a unique project.

Nigerian Fans To Pay Super Eagles #10million For Each Goal Scored Against Argentina

A Nigerian fan of Super Eagles has promised to give the team a N10 million handsome reward for any goal scored against Argentina in their last Group F qualifying match on Wednesday, June 25.

The Stephen Keshi-led team with four points look good to move into the second round if they hold the Argentines to a draw. But, if Nigerian beat Argentina, they would top their group with Argentina finishing second.

And to encourage the team to dig into their arsenal and score more goals, there is a Nigerian who has promised to open his 'pocket' to reward the Eagles.

Board member and chairman of Media Committee of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Emeka Inyamah, confirmed on Monday, June 23, that a Nigerian has promised to pay N10 million for each goal.

Inyamah said that the promise has nothing to do with the $10,000 dollars winning bonus for each player. "All financial agreements with the team have been met by the NFF. Their other monies are ready. We are fully prepared to back them to go all the way," he said.

Inyamah informed that the spirit in camp was high as there were no distractions. "We're confident that the Eagles will beat Argentina," Inyamah wished.

JTF kills 3 Suspected Pirates In Cross Fire

Three suspected pirates have been reported killed in a fierce battle with the Joint Task Force, JTF, on Tuesday at Robot creeks in Nembe local government area of Bayelsa State.

According to Lt. Col. Mustapha Anka, the JTF Media Coordinator, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, some 30 pirates, armed with AK-47 riffles in two speedboats, attacked the JTF patrol troop.

Anka added that in an attempt to repel the attack, a soldier in the patrol and two boat operators were injured.

He said the troops also raided and destroyed illegal oil bunkering site at Okpoko Creek in Warri South local government area of Delta, seizing nine Cotonou boats loaded with stolen crude oil.

It was also gathered that seven speed boats loaded with 75 jerrycans containing illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) and five pumping machines were seized from the pirates.

* Nigerian soldiers

The spokesmen informed that five suspects were arrested and in custody of the command for preliminary investigation before handing over to the prosecuting agency.

"JTF troops deployed at Patrick Water Side and Opobo Creek in Rivers while on patrol intercepted and destroyed a wooden boat, filled with substance suspected to be stolen crude oil, at Bodo waterways.

"Also at Baragbene community in southern Ijaw local government area of Bayelsa, troops destroyed four wooden boats filled with crude oil and illegally refined AGO.

"Two dumps were also destroyed alongside one Cotonou boat.

* Niger Delta pirates

"The JTF troops deployed along Elele axis of Rivers intercepted a truck loaded with unascertained volume of crude oil suspected to be stolen.

"The driver escaped on sighting the troops; the truck was towed to a safe place and set ablaze.

"Another vehicle was also intercepted along Sapele/Warri express road close to Okover community in Okpe local government area of Delta conveying 85 jerrycans loaded with products suspected to be illegally refined AGO.

"The driver and other occupants fled on sighting troops, while the vehicle and the product were destroyed," Anka said.

Pirates have been reported lately to be carrying out attacks in the Niger Delta area in an attempt to steal crude oil in the area.

Legacy Pension Pays #12.66bn to Over 5,480 contributors

The Managing Director, Legacy Pensions Ltd, Mr Misbahu Yola, on Tuesday said the company had so far paid a total amount of N12.66bn in various benefits to over 5,480 contributors.

Yola disclosed this in the financial report presented to shareholders at the company’s sixth annual general meeting which was held in Abuja.

He said of the 5,480 contributors, 2,408 of them are currently drawing regular pension under the programmed withdrawal,

Giving a breakdown of the payment, the Legacy boss said N966.25m was paid as death benefits to relatives of 366 contributors, N76.22m as small balances to 288 contributors and N94.23m as temporary access to 539 contributors.

He said the management of the company remain resolute in its determination to ensure retirees get paid as and when due, adding that its monthly pension payment had risen to N66.36m by December 2013, up from N50.46m as at 2013.

He said, “We remain unrelenting in our determination to ensure retirees get paid as and when due.

“The number of retirees on our payment system has continued to increase. We closed the year with 2,408 retirees drawing regular pension up from 1,885 the previous year.

“During the year, we paid a total sum of N3.60bn as lump sums and programmed withdrawals to 523 contributors, N966.25m as death benefits to relatives of 366 contributors, N76.22m as small balances to 288 contributors and N94.23m a temporary access to 539 contributors respectively.

“To date, we have paid out the sum of N12.66bn in various benefits to over 5,480 contributors, with 2,408 of them drawing regular monthly pension under the programmed withdrawal.”

He said despite the challenges in the investment climate, pension assets being managed by the company have continued to return impressive gains.

For instance, he said the surplus in Retirement Savings Account fund had risen to N5.85bn in 2013 as against N5.43bn in 2012.

He also said the company recorded a 40 per cent increase in the profit before tax from N522.34m in 2012 to N730.29m in 2013 while the company’s balance sheet remained solid with total assets rising by 34 per cent to N2.32bn.

On the future prospects of the company, he said the target is to grow the number of RSA as well as to double the balance sheet side within the next five years.

Also speaking at the AGM, the Chairman of the Board, Mr Mahey Rasheed described the financial performance of the company as impressive despite the challenges.

He said going forward, the management would continue to focus on delivering excellent service to its customers and shareholders.

Student Jumped From the Seventh Floor Of a building On its Campus After Loosing half a Million On Gambling

A college student in China jumped from the seventh floor of a building on his campus on Monday after losing more than $3,000 gambling on the World Cup.

According to the witness, the second-year student, identified only by his surname Lin, was talking on the phone for more than 10 minutes before his death. "I heard him say 'do not force me' and 'give me two more days and I'll return you the money'," the witness said.

"I saw him hang up and stand up and then all in a sudden he just disappeared," the witness added.

Though Lin was immediately rushed to hospital in Panyu in the southern province of Guangdong, doctors were not able to revive him.

Another student described as a classmate of Lin's said the gambler had lost nearly 20,000 yuan ($3,200 or N522,000) in bets on several World Cup games.

"We heard that he borrowed quite a lot of money and the interest rate was rather high," said the student.

It did not specify which teams Lin had backed.

China has millions of football fans, some of who are both devoted viewers and passionate gamblers.

Sales of a government-run World Cup-related lottery reached four billion yuan (104 billion naira) by Saturday.

SUYA CONSUMPTION TRACEABLE TO CANCER

Interesting news for all the suya lovers out there.

According to Ignatius Onimawo, Professor of Nutrition and Director of Academic Planning at the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, there is a strong link between consumption of suya and increased risk of cancer, Vanguard reports. He reportedly advised that consumption of suya garnished with lots of onions and other vegetables, has “a strong cancer-lowering effect.”

Explaining how suya preparation causes cancer, Onimawo said:

“During preparation of suya, the  meat is cooked over an open fire, and oils from the meat undergo complex chemical reactions that produce toxins that are carcinogenic (cancer-causing) in nature.

Meat cooked over open flame often causes the formation of toxic compounds known as Heterocyclic Amines, HCAs, which are carcinogenic compounds. The more well-done a meat is cooked, the higher concentration of carcinogenic HCAs can form. “

Noting that cancer is due to oxidative processes in the body, he said onions are powerful antioxidants  that  effectively stop the oxidative process caused by consumption of suya from happening. For this reason, he said it is important to eat plenty of onions and other vegetables with the suya.

Photo Credit: Nigerian Food Channel/Vanguard

Boko Haram Ready To Release The Girl on One condition

Boko Haram has reportedly demanded for the release of 70 of its detained members in exchange for the freedom of the abducted Chibok girls.

Boko Haram insurgents

According to report which emerged yesterday, they are also asking the government to grant amnesty to its members.

The Nation reports that a lawyer who has a close relationship with the insurgent, Hajiya Aisha Wakil also known as Mama Boko Haram, told AlJazeera English that the sect said they would free the girls only when these conditions are met.

ATTEMPTS TO SHORTEN PRESIDENT JONATHAN'S REGIME WILL UNLEASH DOOM FOR NIGERIA - ijaw youth

 

The umbrella body for youths, Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, has warned that any attempt to truncate the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan will spell doom for Nigeria.

The threat is contained in resolutions reached after the IYC convention on June 22 and June 23, 2014, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, a statement by IYC spokesman, Eric Omare, said on Monday.
The Ijaw youths noted that there had been clandestine moves by some “disgruntled and power hungry Nigerian politicians” in cahoots with their foreign partners to truncate democracy in Nigeria.
It said, “The Convention’s attention was specifically drawn to a report in a UK based paper ‘The Cable’ to the effect that Senator David Mark would take over as Acting President should President Jonathan under any circumstance is unable to continue as President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

LOOK FLAWLESS LIKE QUEEN BEY

Sir John & Beyoncé

If you have ever seen Beyoncé, in live action or otherwise, you would admit that the A-list diva has got ‘ah-mazing’ skin. What you may not know however, is how she gets it.

Thankfully her makeup artist Sir John has deemed it fit to help ladies out there who might also want to wake up flawless, to a few tips that the Queen Bey herself holds dear. After creating her makeup looks for her Mrs. Carter Tour, being already on the road with her for the On the Run Tour with hubby jay Z and creating 8 of her 17 makeup looks for her legendary Yoncé album, this might be a good time to grab a notepad and start penning down some much needed information.

Sir John is also responsible for making other high class Hollywood names such as Joan Smalls, Karlie Kloss and Iman look as gorgeous as they do.

For a chat with Style.com, Sir John spills his best kept secrets.

KYLIE JENNER'S SAGA ON LIP SURGERY/INJECTION

spot that?? could it be an injection mark or a pimple.

It's the case of the disappearing and reappearing lips!. The plastic surgery accusations against Kylie Jenner show no signs of stopping, especially since she keeps uploading selfies that show a very plump kisser! Just today she posted an image of herself with a friend and there was a rather suspicious-looking blemish on the right corner of her upper lip that some are saying may be an injection site for a lip plumper. We don't know! It could also just be a pimple or love bite or something. There's no denying that when comparing past pictures with more recent ones, the 16-year-old's lips look much fuller, but it's hard to determine if it is indeed some type of plastic surgery or just a good makeup artist. Or consider this: Maybe Kylie's secretly an apiarist and sometimes the bees she's handling freak out and bite her. Thus, giving her these full, luscious lips.
Mystery solved!
Check out two more then and now comparisons …AFTER THE JUMP!!!

4 Special Things To Do For Your Partner

Being the core reason for the happiness of one's significant other could be the magic needed to keep the fire of love burning in a marriage.

Here are four things that could help you put a smile on the face of your partner.

TELL THEM 5 THINGS YOU LOVE ABOUT THEM

We all love to be complimented every once in a while, don't we? But here is the thing; rather than dishing out the usual cliches, 'you look good', 'you look nice', try something special and unique instead. That said, let your partner know five things you like about them, probably how cute they smile or how much they snore- you decide. Using handwritten compliments on separate piece of paper, place them in areas they visit in and around your house regularly, say, fridge, kitchen, toilet, wardrobe, etc,

Impact Of Social media On Relationship

No doubt, social media has come to stay in our lives as a powerful tool of communication and even in our personal relationships, helping minds alike to stay connected, spread information and share stories with one another. But it is surprising how this key factor to a good relationship also can be a severe cause of bitterness and separation in relationships.

Four Signs You Are Being Used

There could be nothing more frustrating and heartbreaking than discovering those who purportedly professed their 'love' to us, and we reciprocating in return, are the same ones that took our love for granted and played with our emotions like it's some worthless toy.

To avoid finding yourself in such an unpleasant situation, here are four signs that could help you detect earlier if you are being used or manipulated by your partner.

Why Men Fall Out Of Love

 

For every action humans exhibit, there is always a cause beneath. Consequently, this article looks at various reasons why men fall out of love in a relationship they initially cherished.

- File Photo: Couple Arguing

NOT MEETING HIS EMOTIONAL NEEDS

It's a given that men are likewise emotionally needy. They also want to be showered with deluge of love the same manner in which they give. Ditto with compliments, care, calls, etc. And depriving them of virtually all these is a sure way of shifting their attention elsewhere. Truth is, not every man will go rent a mega phone and a loud speaker to announce that he wants to be loved too- except he has some mental challenges.

YOU DON'T GET ALONG WITH HIS MUM/FAMILY MEMBERS

Experienced house wives would tell you that bearing any ill will for one's mother-in-law is a quick recipe for marital frustration and possible separation. You'd agree with me that mums always have influence on men and not being on good terms with them means you leave the men in an awkward dilemma of making a choice between you and them. And we all know what the choice would be, don't we?

WHEN ATTRACTION FADES

No matter how blindly in love a couple could be, a time would come when the intensity of the attraction would subside. Now, here is a stage to exercise caution. Since you both have somewhat recovered your 'eyesight', flaws of the other partner becomes visible. And if yours is to constantly pick quarrels with your man like you under the influence some steroids, then you might as well sooner or later forfeit your prince charming.

UNFAITHFULNESS

If there is anything that could make a grown man be urgently admitted to the hospital like he was suffering from lassa fever or become sober like he had been severely starved for a month, then it is a heartbreak gotten from his spouse's sexual unfaithfulness. More often than not, the trust, love and connection consciously or unconsciously diminishes.

YOU ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN

A man that is struggling to cope with the financial and material demands of his partner might eventually fall out of love to save his finances from being sentenced to life imprisonment. No matter how much the love of a man is, it doesn't take more than an expensive partner to wake him up from that daydream. And trust me, he'll wake up- they always do- however sweet it is.

Do you agree with these, are there any more points you would like to add? Feel free to share your thoughts below.

- by Kalejaye Abayomi

Wizkid Says He Loves Rihanna After She called him Amazing

It is not a secret that Wizkid is currently in Los Angeles working on new music projects and meeting top American artistes.

Photo: Wizkid

The Nigerian Star Boy has already posted photos picturing him with Chris Brown, Justin Bieber and Akon.

Today he took to Twitter to boast of having two studio sessions with one of the sexiest US celebrities Rihanna, who even gave him generous praise.

It would be recalled that the "Umbrella" singer shocked the audience as she appeared at the annual Council of Fashion Designers of America Awards in a see-through dress showing practically everything her fans had only dreamed of seeing.

Possible Replacement For Stephen Keshi

Amidst the talks about the Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi leaving the team for South African Bafana Bafana, the speculations regarding his potential replacement have started circulating in the media.

Photo: Carlos Queiroz

According to Naija FC, the rumour goes as follows: if the Big Boss and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) don't reach the agreement on his contract extension, current Iran coach Carlos Queiroz might take over the Eagles.

It has been learnt that Cote d'Ivoire are also "hunting" for the former Manchester United assistant manager, who concludes his assignment with Team Melli after 2014 FIFA World Cup currently being held in Brazil.

Meanwhile the 61-year-old coach, confirming his quit, made an ambiguous remark regarding his future plans, hinting however that they will be linked with an African team.

"It's not so difficult because of the team concerned, which has many players playing in top-flight European teams, but it will be difficult because it will be in a very competitive African environment. It's very difficult to qualify for a World Cup from this continent. But I can't say yet the name of the country and I haven't yet made my decision."

The Portuguese also claimed he had turned down offers from clubs in Brazil and England.

However there have not been any official comments on either on the issue of Stephen Keshi quitting or Queiroz becoming the team's new coach.