Ballon D'Or Finalists Revealed

Barcelona’s striker, Lionel Messi, Real Madrid’s winger, Cristiano Ronaldo and Spanish midfielder, Andres Iniesta, were Thursday shortlisted for this year’s Ballon d’Or.

 Lionel Messi
  Cristiano Ronaldo
  Andres Iniesta

           

Messi, 25, has already won the title three times and the Argentine is again, favourite to win the prize, which will be presented in Zurich on 7 January, 2013. If he wins, he would become the first player to win the award four times, having already joined French legend and current UEFA president Michel Platini as the only players to win three straight titles.Dutch stars Johan Cruyff and Marco Van Basten have also won three accolades.

While unveiling the shortlist at a news conference in Sao Paulo Thursday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter said that Spain’s Vicente Del Bosque, Real Madrid’s Jose Mourinho and

Bishops Attack Neymar for Posing as Jesus Christ

The Brazilian National Bishops Confederation (CNBB) has criticised a Brazilian sports magazine for publishing a photograph of Neymar being crucified in the same way as Jesus Christ.

Placar, which has become one of the most successful sports publications in Brazil, were using the picture as a metaphor to highlight

Woman Gets Two Life Jail Terms. Find out why

Castle Rock, Colorado mom Kelli Murphy was sentenced to two life terms after being charged with the murders of her nine-year-old Liam and six-year-old Madigan, the Examiner reports.

Kelli was reportedly involved in a nasty custody battle with her husband Eric and smothered the two children with pillows to

Twit-Craze: Mother Names Baby 'Hashtag' (#)

Wonders shall never Cease.
In what could be possibly the silliest name ever given to a child, it appears that one mother has christened her baby girl Hashtag Jameson. However, instead of taking to Twitter, which spawned the now ubiquitous preface, the mother posted the announcement on Facebook, compounding her apparent #fail.

While it is not clear whether the screenshot that is clearly an official birth announcement is a joke or a literary mistake, the possibility

Happy Birthday to Roberto Mancini and Others

Today, we are pleased to celebrate with the Manager of Manchester City FC, Mr. Roberto Mancini, on the occasion of his 48th Birthday Anniversary. 

Happy Birthday, Boss.

We also celebrate with the following notable people:

Hottest Female Athletes to Follow on Twitter

Okay...Now I'm sure that the guys will spring up at this offer. I know how some of us may have been dying to have some connection with some of the beauties in sports. It's not rocket-science and has been made easier for you here. You may be saying: 'oh, these celebrities never care about anybody on social network' but the keyword is: Never say Never. Besides that,

Victor Moses 'ready to die for Nigeria'

Chelsea forward, Victor Moses, has admitted he is already looking forward to representing Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The former Wigan man will be missing from the Blues' squad for up to six weeks during the tournament in South Africa, but is excited to represent his country in the competition for the first time.
"This will certainly be my first Africa Cup of Nations. And I want to make it a memorable one by doing my best and giving Nigeria all I've got," Moses told Goal.com.
"It will be an honour for me to represent Nigeria at this stage in African football after accepting to play for the country in short a time. I want to take my club form

Reps summon Tony Anenih and Others over N2.3bn failed road contract

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts on Monday summoned former Minister of Works and former chairman, Board of Trustees, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, to defend his actions on a sum of N2.3 billion allegedly spent on failed road contract in Nasarawa State in 2006.
To appear along with Chief Anenih before the committee are

Police Ministry Defends N2.8bn Anti-terrorism Budget

The Nigeria Police Force is spending up to N2.8bn next year to fight terrorism in the country.

Minister of Police Affairs, Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubode (rtd.), said the money would be spent on procurement of anti-terrorism equipment and other logistics.
He appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs in Abuja on Monday to defend the N341.6bn budget proposal for the Police in 2013.
Olubode told the committee that the police would intensify “training in areas of emerging security challenges (particularly terrorism) necessitating the need to develop the capability of the force to respond appropriately” in the coming year.
Members of the committee, headed by Mr. Usman Bello-Kumo, applauded the ministry for taking the terrorism challenge seriously.
Bello-Kumo said, “With what is happening now,

Ex-Banker Suspends 14-Day Hunger Strike in Lagos

Olubiyi Odunaro, a 53-year-old former employee of Hallmark Bank Plc., protesting against non-payment of his terminal benefit, on Monday suspended his 14-day hunger strike.
The suspension of the protest followed spirited appeal by a representation from the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, and officials from the Lagos office of the Public Complaints Commission.
Senior Special Assistant to Fashola on Justice Sector Reforms, Lanre Akinsola, who led a team of legal, welfare and medical officials to the tent Odunaro had turned to his home on Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, Lagos, promised to intervene.
Akinsola said, “The attention of the Lagos State Government was drawn to the various media reports about the protest being embarked upon by Odunaro and it’s quite pathetic.

How Abuja SARS was attacked –Witness (Daily Sun)

Barely 24 hours after storming a military church at Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna State, gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram yesterday attacked the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) Abuja, killing two policeman in a shoot-out.

The gunmen succeeded in freeing some of their members in detention. Sources said 15 people may have been killed, but the police confirmed only two, even as another source narrated how the attack was carried out, saying it was brutal. The police said they have re-arrested 25 of the 30 detainees set free by the gunmen.

The attackers, who invaded the SARS office located along the Nyanya-Karu Expressway in Abuja at exactly 2am, according to Daily Sun sources, killed a police Inspector and an anti-riot policeman.

They escaped with a good number of their members in a shoot-out that lasted for about two hours.

Quit watching Two and a Half Men...Angus T. Jones warns viewers

Whoa!!! This is no joke and it comes as a surprise to most of us. 

Angus T. Jones is the name of the 'half' man in the series, Two and a Half Men, whose character is known as Jake Harper, Alan's son.

In a shocking new video testimonial for Forerunner Chronicles posted to YouTube, 19-year old Angus (Jake Harper to fans) rips his CBS series and urges viewers not to tune in.

"If you watch Two and a Half Men,

Chris Brown Unwanted in Guyana

Organizers say American R&B star Chris Brown has canceled a stadium concert in Guyana after local protests over his 2009 beating of then-girlfriend Rihanna.

Brown was billed to headline a Dec. 26 show. But

Nicki Minaj denied entry to her Album Release Party

Nicki Minaj was turned away from her own album release launch party Tuesday night in New York.
A source familiar with the incident told The Huffington Post that the 29-year-old "Starships" singer was scheduled to attend the event but was denied entry from Greenhouse club when she rolled up

Thanksgiving Special: Rihanna and Chris Brown Get Together

Rihanna and Chris Brown continue to bewilder us with the news that the former (and rumored current) couple spent Thanksgiving together in Berlin, Germany.

On Wednesday, Rihanna tweeted, "All alone in my big ole jet!!! See u soon lover,” along with a picture of herself on the plane. On Thursday she arrived in Berlin, which just happened to be the next stop on Brown's tour.

The singer wished her Twitter followers a happy Thanksgiving and proceeded to let everyone in her plans for the day, tweeting, “#Berlin #CarpeDiem.”

Of course, it's important to seize the day in any city, but Carpe Diem is the name of Brown's current world tour, so it's not like Rihanna was trying to hide her Turkey Day plans.

According to Us Weekly, the pair was later spotted together at

Ban on Promos by NCC...Let it stand or Lift it?

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has just banned all manner of promotions and lotteries by some telecommunications network operators in response to multifarious complaints by consumers of their services who allege different shades of rip-offs. Precedent to this, the NCC had, not too long ago, slammed a N1.17 billion fine on these firms for their poor quality of service.

Most times, subscribers to GSM companies are left helpless

Lagos building collapse kills two sisters, injures mother

This story is such a sad one. I wonder why house-owners do not run routine-checks on their houses for renovation or maintenance; or could this be that the house was built in a sub-standard fashion? I also wonder why incidents like this usually happen in Lagos. Lagos State Building Control Agency, what happened to taking precautionary measures to avert disasters? Moreover, Emergency means Extreme urgency, what went wrong with our Emergency Management experts? We Pray for the repose of the souls of the victims.

Read the full story below:

Two sisters – Toyin and Bukky Coker – were killed on Wednesday when a part of the two-storey building they lived in at M20, Jakande Low Cost Housing Estate, Isolo, Lagos, collapsed. Their mother identified simply as Iya Coker was injured.
Three out of the six flats on one of the two wings of the building completely collapsed at about 12:05am.
It was learnt that the deceased and their mother lived on the first floor.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Toyin, was a 30-year-old medical doctor, while Bukky

President Jonathan could contest in 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan’s political future seems to be getting clear.

Despite opposition from certain quarters, Jonathan would not shy away from contesting in the 2015 election, as allowed in the Constitution.

According to him,

Rafael Benitez...Chelsea's saviour-coach?

Chelsea Football Club has confirmed that Rafael Benitez has been appointed interim first-team manager until the end of the season.
The owner and the Board believe that in Benitez, they have a manager with significant experience at the highest level of football, who can come in and immediately help deliver their objectives.

Culled from Chelseafc.com 

It would be recalled that Benitez

Messi's Goals versus Other Clubs and Players in 2012

Where Lionel Messi is concerned, numbers speak louder than words. Every week the Argentina international seems to smash a new record and his two goals against Spartak Moscow on Wednesday bring him even closer to Gerd Muller's mark of 85 strikes in a calendar year. He currently has 80 goals to his name, leaving him with 5 or more to beat and/or surpass Muller's record.

Messi's staggering statistics not only put most forward players to shame, but some club sides too. Take a look at how Leo's 80 goals in 2012 stand up to other teams, strikers and rivals in the same calendar year:

Benghazi Security Chief, Assassinated By Gunmen

Libya's deputy interior minister says gunmen assassinated the security chief of the eastern city of Benghazi overnight.

Omar al-Khadrawi says National Security Chief Col. Farag al-Dersi was shot dead while returning from work on Wednesday.

"Three men opened fire,

Roberto Di Matteo (RDM) sacked by Chelsea

Chelsea Football Club has parted company this morning with Manager, Roberto Di Matteo.

The team's recent performances and results have not been good enough and the owner and the Board felt that a change was necessary now to keep the club moving in the right direction as we head into a vitally important part of the season.

The club faces a difficult task ahead

Police arrest five hotel workers over colleague’s death

Five workers, including the Manager of Treasureland Hotel in Calabar, Cross River State have been arrested by policemen in connection with the death of another employee of the hotel, Mr. Wisdom Edu, sources have said.

Nineteen-year-old Edu, a native of Adadama in Abi Local Government Area of the state, was found dead in the hotel swimming pool on November 9, 2012.

Sources at the hotel said he drowned

Quiet Birthday as President Jonathan Loses Brother

It was mixed feelings for the President yesterday. While he marked his 55th Birthday, he also lost his brother, Chief Meni Innocent Jonathan.

The birthday celebration began with a small gathering of his aides, who came around to wish him happy birthday after a morning devotional hour with his family and a few others at his official residence. Dr Jonathan also watched a short parade by the Brigade of Guards before the day’s work which started with the presentation of letters of credence by ambassadors.

But then,

Presidential Villa tells Senate: N1.305b not enough for refreshments, meals, etc

THE Senate was, yesterday, told that the N1, 305, 292, 050 set aside in the 2013 budget for refreshment and meals and other miscellaneous expenses in the State House will not be enough.This is just as a breakdown of the Miscellaneous sub-head in Aso Rock’s budget shows that N203,752,432 was

Happy Birthday to Mr. President.....plus other celebrities

Hip! Hip!! Hip!!! Hurrayyyyyyyy!!!

It's a very Happy Birthday to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who turned 55 today.

We wish you the very best, Sir, as you steer the wheels of this nation. We wish you long life, good health of mind and body and Divine Wisdom in all your dealings. Many Congratulations!!!

We also felicitate with the following Celebrities, who were also born on this day in history:

President Jonathan versus Media Aides

Analysts are of the view that president Goodluck Jonathan, on Sunday, during the presidential media chat, contradicted some of his media aides on certain policy issues emanating from the presidency.

It was noted that the president did this on issues concerning power, the first lady’s health, and security.

34 Million Nigerians defecate in the open - UN

The United Nations on Monday in Abuja ranked Nigeria among top five countries in the world with the largest number of people defecating in the open.

The UN, which in its recent report, revealed that 34 million Nigerians defecate in the public, however, expressed optimism that ending the unhealthy practice was possible.

The UNICEF Communication Specialist (Media and External Relations) in Nigeria, Mr. Geoffrey Njoku, in a statement on the World Toilet Day, said trends in the past five years allow for cautious optimism that significant progress would be made in decreasing the number of people globally who practise open defecation.

Quoting a joint UNICEF and World Health Organisation report of 2012, Njoku said, “It is estimated that 34 million Nigerians practise open defecation and Nigeria is amongst top five countries in the world with largest number of people defecating in the open.”

According to him, in Nigeria, it is estimated that diarrhoea

Uni-Abuja students continue protest

The protest by students of University of Abuja over the non-accreditation of some courses entered a second day with the student blocking the Airport Road and other access roads, leaving many motorists and travellers stranded.

Some students, who spoke said they blocked the roads in order for the government to feel their plight.

A 300-level male student, who pleaded anonymity, said the protest would continue until the university management met their demand.

The students began the protest on Monday following the inability of the university management to meet up with the six months period given to it to accredit some of its courses.

The affected courses are

Private jets: CAN slams Kukah, Bakare

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has condemned comments credited to the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah and Pastor Tunde Bakare, who claimed that acquisition of private jets by religious leaders diminishes moral voices of the church in the war against corruption and are therefore calling for a revolution in the Church of God.

Speaking in a telephone interview, National Director of Research, Planning and Strategy, Elder Sunday Oibe, urged the Catholic bishop and the former vice presidential candidate of CPC, that if they have anything against the person of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor,

Police detain 7-month-old baby, parents over N20,000 debt

A Seven-month old baby boy, Uchenna Nwoye, his parents and two others were allegedly arrested and detained by the police in Onitsha over N20,000 debt owed by the parents.

They were arrested at Ifitedunu in Dunukofia local government area of Anambra State by policemen from Fegge Police Station, Onitsha, for failure to pay the N20,000 to a woman Uchenna’s father allegedly did business with.

Narrating the incident to newsmen, yesterday, in Onitsha, mother of the boy, 23-year-old Mrs. Ukamaka Nwoye, said they were

Three Magical Expressions...plus a Fourth

When something is said to be magical, it means that it has the capability of turning situations around very swiftly. In almost every aspect of human inter-relations, there are three expressions (plus a fourth one) that make or mar situations. Here they are:

• Please: We often use this when we are begging for a favour. For example: please, can I borrow your pen? etc etc... However, is that the only circumstance that should warrant the use of the word 'please'? Most of us would say 'Yes' but I say 'No'.

‘Omnishambles’ declared Britain’s word of the year

“Omnishambles” was named Britain’s word of the year to describe a badly mismanaged situation.The word was coined by BBC TV’s satirical political series “The Thick of It”.

The word has become a synonym for British government blunders, and it was tweaked to “Romneyshambles” by Twitter users to describe US presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s gaffe-strewn visit to Britain before the London Olympics.

No More N100 Inter-Bank ATM Charge

The Banker’s Committee on Tuesday in Abuja unanimously agreed to stop interbank ATM charge of N100.

Tonto Dikeh Fails to Honour her Musical Performance Debut

Controversial actress cum singer, Tonto Dikeh has once again found her way into the headlines. The actress/singer who was billed to perform at the Best of Nollywood Awards was said to have failed to show up for reasons best known to her.

Obi Emelonye to shoot a Movie in Igbo Language

The man in view is a talented film producer, Obi Emelonye, who is preparing to shoot an Igbo movie, that is, a movie in Igbo language.... *been long we saw those kinda movies.*

No Progress on $28.5 Billion Subsidy Relief Refineries

When President Goodluck Jonathan, in the heat of the anti-fuel price hike protest in January, announced the federal government’s plans to set up three greenfield refineries in Lagos, Kogi and Bayelsa states, there were high expectations that the perennial fuel crisis would end.

Eleven months have passed, but the government is yet to kick off the projects...*breach of agreement.*

Pray more, Adeboye urges Nigerians

Vanguard News Online -
The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, weekend, emphasised the efficacy of prayer of the Saints to resolve every situation, admonishing Nigerians to bring the country and its leadership to God in prayers.

NLC threatens strike over flogging of Sokoto PHCN staff

Vanguard News Online -

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday, threatened to shut down all economic and commercial activities in Sokoto State should Governor Aliyu Wamakko refuse to apologise for allegedly flogging an officer of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to a comma in public.

Gunmen kill 5 in Yobe

Five people were killed in Geidam, a small community in Yobe State at the weekend by gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram. Geidam is located in the northern part of the north-eastern Yobe State. Sources said the gunmen attacked the Kasuwan Shanu area of Geidam town on Friday night and shot dead five people mostly traders.

APGA crisis: Umeh threatens to expose Bianca Ojukwu, Gov Obi and others

According to Daily Sun, the last may not have been heard about the death of late Ezeigbo Gburugburu, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as the National Chairman of APGA and close confidant of the departed leader, Chief Victor Umeh has vowed to tell the world all he knows about his death. Umeh who was visibly angry while briefing newsmen yesterday in Enugu over a recent claim that himself and Governor Rochas Okorocha shunned a peace meeting held recently in Awka blamed both Governor Obi and Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu for the problem in APGA.

EFCC arrests two with $238,858

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday, said it had arrested two suspects attempting to smuggle over $238,858 (two hundred and thirty-eight thousand, eight hundred and fifty-eight dollars) out of the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

N38m missing: NPL members to face suspension

The Nigeria Football Federation looks set to hit the hammer on the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) members over the alleged missing N38m. The amount which is part of revenue for the television broadcast rights is said to be unaccounted for going by the detail report made by the external auditors to the NPL.

Senate summons NNPC over NPDC's $500m revenue

The Senate Committee on Finance has summoned the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to explain the details of an undisclosed $500m revenue of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company.

No Gain Without Pain...Fashola tells Lagosians

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos state has urged Lagosians to endure the hardships and inconveniences currently being experienced as a result of the recent ban on Okada (motorcycles) in some parts of the state.

FG orders Airlines to Install Tracking Devices

The Federal Government has mandated all Airline operators in the country to have on board, a tracking device, known as Automated Information Reporting System. This would help pilots and crew members to detect any problem that may arise during flight.

NYSC Food Budget said to be Grossly Inadequate

The state office of the NYSC in Akwa-Ibom state, through the state co-ordinator, Mr. Akinkunmi Martins, has pleaded with the state government to assist in feeding the 2012 Batch 'C' corps members posted to the state. 

Human Sexuality: Choice or Chance?

Hmmmm....this topic is one that has sparked-off widespread arguments and discussions from time immemorial.
Human Sexuality refers to the status of being homosexual (gay), heterosexual (straight) or bi-sexual. Homosexuals are men who love other men as well as women who love other women; Bi-sexuals love both men and women and a lot of people tagged as gay and lesbian are usually bi-sexual. There is also Transsexualism, which implies a condition in which an individual identifies with a gender not culturally-associated with their assigned sex. Simply put, it describes a situation whereby an individual does not like his or her natural gender and wishes to change to the opposite gender. That is, a man choosing to become a woman and vice versa. This is possible through a medical procedure called Sex Reassignment Surgery and is currently well-known in the Western world.
The practice of  homosexuality dates back to the ancient times.

Football Fanaticism in Nigeria

Fanaticism may sound harsh or extreme in describing the subject but when we consider the definition of 'Fanaticism' as given by Wikipedia, it would make better sense.
Fanaticism as described by wikipedia refers to 'a belief or behavior involving uncritical zeal, particularly for an extreme religious or political cause or in some cases sports, or with an obsessive enthusiasm for a pastime or hobby.' People involved in it are called 'Fanatics.'
Most times, in sports, especially football, we call ourselves fans but are we truly fans or fanatics?