Blessing Okagbare wins Commonwealth Games gold for Nigeria in women's 100m

Blessing Okagbare was utterly dominant as she helped to ease the
memory of London 2012 by winning Commonwealth gold in the women's
100m.
The 25-year-old finished last in the Olympic final, but won the first of
three possible individual titles in Glasgow as she powered to glory in the
100m in a new Games record of 10.85secs. Her freshly dyed golden hair
shone just as much as her performance.
The Nigerian, who will also contest the 200m and long jump, stayed
relaxed to power past experienced Jamaicans Veronica Campbell-Brown
and Kerron Stewart, who finished second and third in 11.03secs and
11.07secs, in the last 50m.

Jonathan condemns terror attacks in Kano, Adamawa, Cameroon

Abuja - President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said he
``wholeheartedly condemned’’ the recent terrorist attacks in Kano and
Adamawa states.
The president also denounced the kidnap of Seini Lamine, the Lamido
of Kolofata in Northern Cameroon, and the wife of the vice- prime
minister of Cameroon, by Boko Haram insurgents.
Dr Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the
President, said in a statement that Jonathan described the multiple
bomb blasts that occurred in Kano within 24 hours of each other as
shocking and reprehensible.
The media reports that Kano has witnessed multiple bomb attacks by
Boko Haram elements, using female suicide bombers, since Sunday.
The president said that the attacks were callous considering the fact
that they came at a time Muslims were observing the holy festival of
Eid-el-Fitr.
“Jonathan notes that the deployment of young women as suicide
bombers represents a new low in the inhuman campaign by these
terrorists.”
“It is an expression of utter disregard for the dignity of the female
gender as well as a wicked exploitation of the girl-child,” the
statement said.
The president also noted that the abduction of the Lamido of Kolofata
and the wife of the vice-premier of Cameroon, clearly underscored
the regional security threat that Boko Haram had become.
Jonathan welcomed the recent resolve by the Defence Ministers of
Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Benin and Niger to further strengthen
existing partnerships.
It said that the partnerships were aimed at forestalling “the
desperate attempt by misguided elements to turn the sub-region into
a battleground for terrorism and radical extremism.”
“Jonathan urges the security forces to remain resolute, and not be
discouraged by the desperation of the agents of evil.”
“He believes that with the continued cooperation between Nigeria’s
security forces and their counterparts in neighbouring countries, the
war against terror will surely be won.”
“He commiserates with the families of all those who lost their loved
ones in the Kano and Adamawa attacks and wishes the injured speedy
recovery,’’ the statement said.
- NAN

Check Out 8 Celebs With Truly Horrible Feet-- Including Paris Hilton, Katie Holmes & More!

                     Iman, "The Bunion Beauty"

                     
 Steven Tyler, "The Freaky-Footed Rocker"

                    
 Susan Boyle, "The Talon Toes"

                         
 Julianne Moore, "The Pinkie Gone Rogue"

                      
 Paris Hilton, "The Hammer-Toe Hilton"
           
                    
 Kim Kardashian, "The Sausage-Casing Effect"

                   
            Jennifer Garner, "The Toe Up Top"

Shakira And Gerard Piqué Expecting Baby Number Two!

Columbian super star Shakira and her soccer player partner, Gerard
Piqué, are happy to be parents again later this year. Both already share
a 19-month-old son, Milan together.
News of her pregnancy was confirmed by her close friend, Columbian
singer Carlos Vives , who told told Fox News Latino: "Yes, she is pregnant
and she's very happy."
The 'Hips Don't Lie' hitmaker first sparked rumors she is expecting
again after she "toned down" her belly dancing performance at the
Fifa World Cup 2014 final between Germany and Argentina two weeks
ago.
Even though the 37 year old blonde beauty and her FC Barcelona beau,
whom she met in 2010, are yet to confirm the news, it is believed they
will be "buying pink baby clothes this autumn."
In addition, Shakira previously admitted that she would like to have a
large family with Gerard, but had been forced to put her baby plans on
hold for a while as her budding career was getting in the way.
She said earlier this year: "If it weren't because of my music projects, I
would be pregnant already. I would love to have eight or nine kids with
Gerard--my own soccer team."

PDP members in U.S. to hold convention

Abuja - The members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the United
States (U.S.) will hold the party’s convention between Aug.1 and Aug. 5
According to a statement by the Chairman of the party in U.S., Dr
Harold Molokwu, the convention is aimed at sensitising Nigerians in the
Diaspora to the need for their active participation in 2015 general
elections.
The statement said that the convention would hold at the University of
Maryland College Park, Maryland.
"The aim of this convention is also to bridge the gap between Nigeria
and Nigerians in the Diaspora and to take the advantage of economic
opportunities and potential in the country,’’ it quoted Molokwu as
saying.
 The statement also said that Nigerians in U.S. viewed the success of
the conference as a great achievement of the present administration.
"We, the members of PDP, U.S. Chapter, congratulate Nigerians on
this land mark achievement.
"We believe this is a historic step in the right direction and we hope it
will foster a better and united Nigeria,’’ the statement quoted her as
saying.
The statement also expressed the members’ concern on the Boko
Haram insurgency. We sympathise with the families of the abducted
school girls in Chibok, Borno; and we earnestly pray for their release.
"We urge all Nigerians to unite against the insurgents whose intention
is to destabilise democracy and the Transformation Agenda of the
present administration,’’ the statement said.
According to the statement, the conduct of free and fair election in
Ekiti recently is a clear testimony that the general elections in 2015
will be peaceful and credible.
It said the members of the party in U.S. commended the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) for ensuring transparency and
justice in electoral matters.
It said further that the members, nonetheless, urged INEC to
replicate its performance during the Ekiti governorship election in the
governorship election in Osun on Aug. 9. "We encourage Nigerians to
believe in Nigeria, its peace and progress; we should be ambassadors
of unity, showing tolerance, love and respect for one another,’’ the
statement said.
- NAN

Vincent Enyeama the only Nigerian in Goal 50

The Lille star enters the prestigious 2014 list after incredible
performances with club and country, and is the only Super Eagle in the
list
Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has been named in 27th position in the
2014 Goal 50 , which was released in full on Monday afternoon. (See full
details here - Goal 50 2014 )
The 31-year-old is the only Nigerian to be named on the list of the top
50 performers from last season, and the second-ever after Sunday Mba
made the list in 2013.
Enyeama kept two clean sheets as he helped Nigeria reach the second
round at the World Cup in Brazil weighing in with some quality saves.
He also had a great season with his club where he went 1062
minutes without conceding a goal as Lille set up an early
challenge for the Ligue 1 title. They eventually finished
third and earned a Uefa Champions League spot.
For his feat in the French top division, Enyeama was
awarded the Marc Vivien Foe prize for best African player in
France last season.
A colourful character, Enyeama helped Nigeria win the 2013
Africa Cup of Nations title in South Africa and has grown in
confidence since.
He was listed among the best goalkeepers at the 2014 World
Cup, 12 years after he made his debut in a game against
England at Korea/Japan 2002.
The Goal 50 is our prestigious annual award that recognizes and ranks
the world's 50 best footballers of the season.
Previous winners include Wesley Sneijder, Lionel Messi and the current
title holder Cristiano Ronaldo who claimed his third win on Monday.
Voted for by editors from Goal’s 35 editions representing more than
600 journalists, the Goal 50 provides an unparalleled insight into the
highest achievers in all positions and across all continents, unearthing
many of the future stars of the game.

Messi still under investigation for tax fraud

The Argentine and his father have paid around €5 million to authorities
in Spain, but a judge revealed on Monday that the charges haven't been
dropped and that the case continues
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is still under investigation for tax
fraud, a judge in Catalunya revealed on Monday.
The Argentine has already appeared in court to answer claims of alleged
tax evasion to the tune of €4.1 million between 2006 and 2009 and has
long declared his innocence.
Nevertheless, the player and his father Jorge Messi paid just over €5m
to authorities last year and it had looked as if the case would be closed .
But the judge in Gava, a seaside town just outside Barcelona where
Messi owns a property, has decided to proceed with the case against the
four-time Ballon d'Or winner and his father.
Messi has claimed he left all his business interests to his father and his
management team. "Lionel A. Messi was not involved in the decision-
making on the management and channelling of his income and did not
really know the scope, size, purpose or effects of the corporate
network," said a statement for the prosecution earlier this year.
But a new written statement by the judge said on Monday that "there
is sufficient evidence" that Messi "could have known about and
consented to the creation and maintaining of a fictitious financial
structure".
The judge also added that because the player's signature is on all of
the documents being investigated, the 26-year-old "could have warned
about the intervention of others in these cases or read some of these
contracts, even if it was only the headers".
It is alleged that Messi's image rights were sold by Jorge - who
assumed full responsibility when the case began - using companies in
countries like Belize and Uruguay to avoid Spanish tax obligations.