DAVID WARNER: I'M SO SORRY

ABOVE: Warner has been suspended until the first Test of the Ashes and fined £7,000 for the attack on Joe

I exchanged text messages with Joe, he accepted my apology which I am thoroughly grateful for and it won't come to that circumstance again

David Warner

14th June 2013

By Pete Samson

Your Shout ( 0 )

DAVID WARNER last night issued a grovelling apology to Joe Root for punching the England star on a boozy night out.

Warner has been suspended until the first Test of the Ashes and fined £7,000 for the bar-room attack on Root, which he admitted was inexcusable.
The Aussie opener clashed with rising star Root in Birmingham's Walkabout theme pub in the early hours of Sunday morning following England's 48-run win at Edgbaston.
And yesterday he came forward to admit he was bang out of order.
Warner said: "The incident that occurred, that I had struck Joe Root in the face, I'm here today to put my hand up and apologise publicly to Joe.
"I am responsible for my actions, extremely remorseful. I have let not just my team-mates down, but thee Cricket Australia fans, the support staff, myself, my family, I'm sincerely apologetic."

Warner, who pleaded guilty to breaching Cricket Australia's code of behaviour, revealed he had been in contact with Root by text.
"I exchanged text messages with Joe, he accepted my apology which I am thoroughly grateful for and it won't come to that circumstance again."
Warner admitted he had been drinking, but insisted he did not have a problem with alcohol.
"I wont deny I had a couple of drinks, but there's no excuse for that," he said. "I did what I did and it's totally out of line."
Asked what prompted his reaction in the bar, he said: "We're not here to speculate about what happened. I'm here to apologise."
The incident happened less than three weeks after Warner was fined £3,700 for a Twitter rant at a journalist.
Captain Michael Clarke, alongside Warner at the press conference at Kensington's Royal Garden Hotel, said: "He knows very clearly how I feel.
"He knows how disappointed I am and the team are and he knows he'll have to do everything in his power now to be involved in that first Test match.
"This behaviour is unacceptable as an Australia cricketer."

MEET THE BIG BROTHER HOUSEMATES

ABOVE: Sex London model and house DJ Sallie Axl

I’m attracted to guys at least 10 years younger than me.

Jemima Slade

14th June 2013

By Meg Jorsh and Emily Hall

MEET the first batch of sex-mad party animals who will make this season of Big Brother the wildest yet.

Stunning tattooed glamour babe Sallie Axl has bedded more than 70 girls, but is now looking for love with the man of her dreams.
And the bisexual blonde model has packed nothing but bikinis to cover her 32E figure.
She said: “Honestly, I haven’t even brought a jumper.”
The part-time DJ warned she could shock viewers by going all the way on screen.
But she could have met her match in former male escort Dexter Koh, who claims to have slept with an astonishing 2,000 women.
The celebrity publicist says high-profile stars should fear the dirt he could dish.
Asked if he’d get down to it on telly, Dexter said: “Maybe. But I’d have to keep it classy.”

DEXTER KOH, 28, from Liverpool - CELEBRITY publicist who claims he was once London’s highest-paid male escort. The Liverpudlian has also been a paparazzo, strip club manager and magician, and claims work is the love of his life. He is single but boasts of

The loaded Scouser could be easy prey for Jemima Slade, who runs introduction agency Golddiggers UK.
The mum-of-one said: “I’m attracted to guys at least 10 years younger than me.”
But football coach Callum Knell from Maidstone, Kent, could be the housemate to turn her head.
The ladies’ man confirmed: “I enjoy the chase more than the relationship and the heavy stuff.

JEMIMA SLADE, 41, from London - LONDON single mum who runs a dating site for gold-diggers looking for sugar daddies. A self-confessed cougar, she recently split from her 23-year-old lover and has dated a string of millionaires including a Saudi prince. Sh

Meanwhile wacky Wolfy Millington is more interested in talking to animals than looking for love.
The lesbian shaman said: “Animals are our teachers, so I ask them the lessons I can apply in my life.”
Tough Cockney Sophie Lawrence loves being compared to late BB legend Jade Goody, saying: “I liked her. She was straight-up and I’m quite a straight-up person.”

CALLUM KNELL, 28, from Maidstone, Kent - SELF- PROCLAIMED ladies’ man thinks his “very good looks” will make him the envy of others in the house. Callum loves to be the centre of attention and works as a kids’ football coach. He is not looking for a relat

But pampered twins Jack and Joe Glenny, 18, said they might not cope without their mum looking after them.
Jack admitted: “The longest we’ve been away from our parents is a week and that was in Year 6.”
Gay Jack could be smitten with Harry Styles lookalike Sam Evans, but the deaf football star said he isn’t interested in “boning” in the house because he wants to “play the field” when he comes out.
Six more contestants are set for the Big Brother house tonight.

SOPHIE LAWRENCE, 20, from London - FEISTY Cockney born and bred in the East End of London with a black belt in karate. The loved-up blonde has similarities to Big Brother legend Jade Goody, right down to her career as a dental nurse. She hopes the show wi

SAM EVANS, 23, from Llanelli, Dyfed - DEAF footie ace who has represented Britain as part of our national team. The single Welshman was born with 80% hearing loss and can have trouble keeping up with conversations. He works as a stockroom assistant and de

JACK AND JOE GLENNY, 18, from Cheshunt, Herts - IDENTICAL twins who share everything including the same bedroom. However, Joe is straight and Jack is gay. The single supermarket workers say they just cannot imagine living their lives apart. And they also

WOLFY MILLINGTON, 20, from Bolton - HIPPY and practising shaman who claims she can talk to animals. The Falmouth University student plans to bring the house together through meditation sessions and drumming circles. She is an “outright lesbian” from a str

RONALDO GIVES UNITED HOPE

ABOVE: Manchester United have been working on a deal to sign Cristiano Ronaldo in a £60m switch this summe

All the news about my renewal with Real Madrid is false

Cristiano Ronaldo on Twitter

14th June 2013

By Duncan Wright

Your Shout ( 0 )

CRISTIANO RONALDO has given Manchester United fresh hope they can tempt him back to Old Trafford by dismissing talk he is signing a new contract at Real Madrid.

United have been working on a deal to sign the brilliant winger in a £60m switch this summer, as exclusively revealed in Starsport in February.
They are hopeful of piecing together a £250,000-a-week offer along with club sponsors Chevrolet and Nike to make the 28-year-old their biggest ever signing.
Yet Real president Florentino Perez last week insisted Ronaldo would be signing a new deal to replace the existing contract which runs until 2015, claiming the player would even retire at Real Madrid.

But Ronaldo yesterday took the unusual step of going public to make it clear there was no truth in the talk he was signing an extension at the Bernabeu.
The Portuguese star tweeted: "All the news about my renewal with Real Madrid is false."
Such a step is highly unusual for Ronaldo, who in the past has maintained his silence when speculation over his future has been rife.
And it will provide encouragement to United officials that they can still pull off the transfer deal of the summer to start the David Moyes era with a bang.
Ronaldo has spent four seasons at the Bernabeu, scoring 201 goals in 199 games in all competitions and helping them win La Liga in 2012.
Earlier this week, Perez said: "I would bet Cristiano will retire at Real Madrid because it's the natural thing. We will negotiate the new contract before the start of La Liga and I am convinced that everything will come out well.
"To renew Cristiano before the start of the season is my desire and my ambition. We will do everything possible to make it happen."

Most Expensive Champagne

---

---

A luxury goods maker, with strong ties to Nigeria, has produced what they are calling the most expensive champagne in the world. Selling for 250m Naira (1.2 million GBP) the champagne was created by British Nigerian entrepreneur and designer Alexander Amosu.
Amosu has started several successful businesses including the eponymous Alexander Amosu which sells personalised luxury items, such as diamond encrusted cellphones and iPads. The brand was introduced when Alexander created what was at the time the world's most expensive suit (it retailed for GBP 70 000). The suit was made of exclusive fabrics and featured diamond and gold buttons.
His newest venture, the luxury champagne brand Goût de Diamants, will see the entrepreneur launch his high-end limited edition Taste of Diamonds champagne. The champagne comes with a signature badge on the bottle (it resembles the superman logo), the badge is made up of 18ct solid white gold with a 19tc white diamond in the centre. The bottle was made for a one-off client. The rest of the range features Swarovski crystals on each bottle rather than a diamond.
The range of champagnes available from Goût de Diamants includes a Brut, a Vintage label, Rose and Blanc de Blancs. According to the company's website the range is currently only available for select clients.
It is fitting that the brain behind the champagne is of Nigerian descent, as last month it was widely reported that Nigeria is the second largest champagne consumer in the world, reportedly spending eight billion Naira (GBP 31 million) on champagne last year. Nigeria's wealthy elite, many of whom have made their money in oil or entertainment, are not ashamed to spend their riches conspicuously in a nation where a large majority are still grappling with poverty.

Pidgin English Bible For Launch

National President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, will tomorrow, present a pidgin English audio version of the New Testament Bible.
The public presentation of the audio Bible, billed for Word of Life Bible Church Headquarters, Ajamimogha, Warri, Delta State, will be witnessed by the South-South Chairman of CAN, Archbishop God-Do-Well Awvwomakpa; Delta State Chairman of CAN, Rev. Gideon Oyibo; Bishop, Diocese of Sapele (Anglican Communion) Rt. Rev. Blessing Erifeta and Rt. Rev. John Usiwoma Aruakpor, Bishop of Oleh Diocese.
The event is put together by the Nigerian Pidgin English Bible Promoters Committee that has Rev. Solo Adams as Chairman and Dr. Mark Erumi as translation consultant.

"Once My Daughter Is A Year Old, Labour Room Here I Come Again' - Mercy Johnson Says

In this recent interview on Africa Magic, Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson who gave birth to a beautiful girl in December said once her daughter, Purity Ozioma Okojie turns one, she’ll visit the labour room again.

When queried on her plan to have more babies, the actress said;
“Yes of course, once Purity is a year old, labour room here I come again.”
From the above statement, the mother of one might be pregnant again.
Mercy Johnson gave birth to her daughter on the 30th of December 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Nollywood Actress, Hilda Dokubo Reconciles With Ex-Husband

A top scandal-free actress in Nollywood, Hilda Dokubo has reconciled with her ex-husband, Akarose Mrakpor years after their separation.

In 2008, the lovers dumped each other for new relationships.
Karo Mrakpor married a new woman who gave birth to a child before the relationship collapsed.
The lovers met at the University of Port Harcourt in 1986 and got married few years after graduation.
The couple gave birth to a son named Tuvi then before their separation.
The recently re-united couple have been spotted in several locations in Port Harcourt walking hand-in-hand.
“They are so much in love now” – said a witness.
True love stands the test of time. This shows that Hilda & Karo are meant for each other.

Newcastle Target Brown Ideye

The agent of reported Newcastle United target Brown Ideye says interest in the striker is growing.

Dynamo Kiev have already lined up a replacement for the Nigeria international in Anderlecht's Dieumerci Mbokani.
Ideye reportedly wants a move to England but as yet no Premier League clubs have offered him a move.
His representative, Hootan Ahmadi, told Sky Tyne and Wear: "Quite a few clubs are interested now in France, Turkey, Germany, Russia and the Middle East.
"We are just seeing what the best option is.
"We are waiting for English clubs. He is still keen on the Premier League, although money will be a lot better abroad."
The 24-year-old joined Dynamo from French club Sochaux in 2011

From 20 To 40: Do Intimate Relationships Get Deeper With Age?

Are you someone who turns the lights down or off to have sex? Tragically, this is all too common. A couple starts off with a good conversation. They feel comfortable. There's a physical attraction, and the next thing you know the lights are off, they're fumbling to remove their clothes, and then excitedly exploring each others' bodies—in the dark.

The last part doesn't sound so bad if you like exploring while blindfolded. But as a metaphor for intimacy, searching for a deep connection in the dark is a recipe for short-term, and certainly long-term, disaster.
Why? Because instead of turning the lights down, we need illumination. Intimacy is about seeing truth, and being vulnerable and willing to express our needs and desires openly together. There are different levels of emotional and sexual intimacy, and a host of reasons for why we need both types. Intimacy does not come naturally, which is one of the main reasons why many men and women in their 20s and 30s struggle and fail in their relationships.
20-30's: The Impressionable Years
A National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) study found that peoples' brains are not fully mature until they reach age 25. Between the ages of 15 to 20 our prefrontal cortex continues to mature. This is the part of our brain that allows us to create long-term strategies, anticipate the future consequences of our decisions, control impulses, and compare risk and reward. We ask important questions about where we're heading in life.
Between 20 and 25 our brains are still forming. We're highly impressionable. Fantasies and other peoples' beliefs have a major impact on our decision-making, focus, and direction. Our idea of intimacy and knowledge of sexual fulfillment is borrowed from religious doctrines, movies, books, games, the Internet, family, and friends.
Between 26 and 30, we may have discovered that our years of education didn't land us the job of our dreams, and we are now reexamining what we want to do when we "grow up." The deeper question of "Who am I?" is tabled in favor of financial independence from family and financial obligations. By now most of us have had one or two serious attempts at relationships.
Psychologists have established five levels of intimacy that a couple needs to progress through together. Most 26-to-30-year-olds get to level two—or maybe three. At these levels, we are moving away from other peoples' opinions and beliefs to come to know our own. Instead of saying things like, "I read that good foreplay must have…" we begin to express our own beliefs about love, sex, and more.
The most dramatic shift that happens is we move away from a high sensitivity to criticism and rejection to a place where we are more willing to be vulnerable. But we still reserve the ability to change our opinion in an instant to avoid pain or conflict. Many of us end relationships abruptly, moving on to the next without a lot of self-examination. Wisdom around emotional intimacy comes slowly.
Sexual intimacy is another matter. The average age for marriages is moving upward to 28 for women and 30 for men. Premarital sex is the norm, so a lot of sexual exploration is happening before people reach true intimacy. This gives us a false sense of sexual and emotional intimacy, which most of our early relationships ride on. That false intimacy and chemistry propels many couples into marriage or long-term commitments literally with the lights turned off.
30-40's: The Early Age of Illumination
As we get older, everything begins to change. We start looking inward to discover who we are rather than making decisions based on others' beliefs, rules, and demands. We have a different level of authority and certainty, and we have more clarity about what we need emotionally from our relationships, both personal and professional.
We are more prepared to move up to the next stages of intimacy so we can find the true experience of trust and a willingness to share our deepest self. Both emotional and sexual intimacy are deeply personal, co-creative, and ultimately blissful experiences here.
Keep in mind that this entire progression is halted if we are co-dependent. Co-dependency is rooted in our programming from early childhood. It is a defense mechanism our ego adapted to help us survive. It is based upon the feeling that we are broken, unworthy, and unlovable. Co-dependency attempts to protect us from being rejected, betrayed, and abandoned because we are unworthy and shameful. Many of us have a fear of intimacy because we were emotionally wounded and traumatized in early childhood.
All of us have gone through a time when we felt rejected and abandoned. This is the beginning of our so-called "Heroes Journey." While we are on that journey we discover that we are living in an emotionally dishonest society without the proper tools for healing and without healthy role models. We live in fear of deep intimacy until we firmly conclude that keeping up appearances to hide our shamefulness from others only causes more resentment, shame, and blame.
"Turning on the lights" forces us to look at ourselves and truly see others. Complete illumination keeps us present because we see that the shame, blame, resentment, and guilt we have carried with us is not real. It is left over from co-dependent relationships in the past. We can finally look in the mirror and accept what we see with unconditional love, flaws and all. That means if we don't like the way we look, instead of shaming ourselves we do something about it. Instead of depreciating our own self-worth, we appreciate what we have chosen in life and the fact that we are fully capable of love, starting with ourselves.
Now we're taking a path to true intimacy—including rock-our-world sexual intimacy.
Will we have accomplished all this by the age of 40? The truth is, too many people of all ages are still turning off the lights to experience intimacy. If we are still looking for love in all the wrong places and wrong faces, and if we are still involving ourselves with unavailable people, we will set ourselves up to continually be abandoned, betrayed, and rejected. The lights will be off and intimacy will be impossible.
One thing is for certain. Between the ages of 30 and 40, we experience the first truly mature drive to break through constraints from our childhood and early adult life. We have abandoned other peoples' dreams for our own desires and needs.
If we have broken free of our childhood wounds, which were also the wounds of our parents and their parents, if we have ended the cycle of toxic shame, then we can engage in sexual communion with reverence instead of manipulation—and with a deeper respect for health and emotional abundance. We are more willing to put it all on the line because we have had the experience of growth through radical honesty, and there is a deep sense of discovering "the real me."

PHOTOS: Actress, Chika Ike's Ovation Magazine PhotoShoot

Nollywood actress, Chika Ike in the upcoming edition of ovation magazine is the diva on the front page.

Looks like she's loving her new look.
More photos below

Liverpool Agree Deal For Celta Vigo Striker Iago Aspas

Liverpool have agreed a deal in principle to sign Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas for a fee believed to be around £7.7 million.

The move has been in the pipeline for some time and will be confirmed when the necessary paperwork is completed.
Aspas scored 12 goals in 34 games this season for the La Liga strugglers, whose place in the Spanish top flight was only confirmed on the final day of the campaign.
The 25-year-old was directly involved in 51 per cent of his team's goals this season having broken into the senior side in 2009 after coming through their youth set-up.
Aspas can play through the middle or on the wing and would become Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers' second signing of the summer transfer window if the deal goes through.
Centre-back Kolo Toure agreed a move to Anfield from Manchester City in late May and it will be completed at the beginning of July.
Rodgers' summer strengthening is beginning to gather pace as Liverpool are also hopeful a deal can be done for Sevilla youngster Luis Alberto.
The 20-year-old has been on loan at Barcelona B but yesterday was the deadline for the Catalan club to offer the midfielder a permanent contract.
Having tracked the youngster's progress and made it clear to his parent club they are interested in a deal Liverpool are optimistic they can add the promising talent to their ranks.
Rodgers is keen to get as much of his business done as quickly as possible and they have reportedly made a move to bring in Sporting Lisbon's 20-year-old defender Tiago Ilori while attempts are being made to secure the services of Schalke centre-back Kyriakos Papadopoulos.
Liverpool have also been linked with Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
The club hope to offset some of their outlay by selling striker Andy Carroll to West Ham but although a £15million-plus deal has been in place for some time, the player is stalling on agreeing to the move.

Public Kissing Banned in Swaziland

Kissing in one town in the kingdom of Swaziland could now land you in a bit of trouble. Love birds locked in spasms of romance in the town of Siteki have been forewarned: their amorous embrace may cost them a $12 fine.

"Public kissing that is to the extreme and causes other people to be uneasy will be covered by our by-laws. It will be regarded to be public indecency," town clerk Mzwandile Ndzinisa told AFP.
A peck on a baby's cheek doesn't fall in the punitive category, he added.
Swaziland, sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarchy, already has tough public order laws.
Cities forbid indecencies like urinating in public, street vending and littering.
But Siteki goes a step further.
"What is done in private should be done in private, not in public. The law addresses public issues in public places," said town treasurer Sthembile Simelane.
Siteki resident Thembi Mdlovu agreed that smooching in the open is unacceptable.
"Kissing in public is not practised in our culture. I think we should respect our culture," she said.
"I have my teenage boy, but I can't kiss him in public. I can only hug him, because I'm not used to kissing in public," she added.

Barcelona's Victor Valdes To Honour Contract At Camp Nou

Barcelona claim to have been given assurances Victor Valdes will not leave the club until next summer.

The goalkeeper has made it clear he will not sign a new contract at Camp Nou and wants to experience life away from Spain.
Valdes has only one year left on his current deal and was consequently linked with Liverpool and Arsenal this summer.
But Barcelona have no plans to sell and the shot-stopper's agent, Gines Carvajal, has told the club his client will honour his terms until the end of next season when he can leave for free.
"Valdes' agent has officially informed our director of football, Andoni Zubizarreta, that Victor intends to see out his current contract, which we are pleased to hear," Barcelona president Sandro Rosell said in Marca.
Barcelona have repeatedly been linked with a move to bring their former goalkeeper, Liverpool's Jose Reina, back to the club as a replacement for Valdes

Boko Haram Shekau's Wife, Others Released

Maiduguri — According to sources privy to the Federal Government's Dialogue and Amnesty Committee, Hassana Yakubu, the wife of the wanted leader of the Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau, was last week released by the Joint Task Force (JTF).

Reportedly, she was released alongside Malama Zara, wife of slain leader of the group, Mohammed Yusuf, and seven other wives of top commanders of the Boko Haram sect who have been in detention for months.
Also released are three children of Shekau, as well as 13 others who were arrested alongside their mothers in various locations in Yobe State, according to the sources.
The detainees were handed over to the Yobe State government which in turn handed them over to the Borno State government. They were later reconnected with their families in a brief ceremony which took place at the executive chambers of the deputy governor of Borno State, Zanna Umar Mustapha.
The women and children, who were brought to Maiduguri by Barrister Aliyu Shehu, the special adviser to the Yobe State governor and the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Asma 'u Kolo, we're received by Borno Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Kaka Shehu, and other top government functionaries on behalf of Governor Kashim Shettima.
It has been gathered that Shekau's wife and children were arrested by the JTF in a rented apartment in Damaturu about 10 months ago. The house was thoroughly searched and sophisticated weapons recovered before the building was demolished after the family was taken into custody, the source said.
Zara was said to have corroborated this during her remarks before she was released to her family who were at the government house to receive her.
A source disclosed she attributed their travails to Allah and quoted verses of the Holy Quran that says 'God has reason for everything'. She also confirmed that she and her children had been in custody for ten months but said they dedicated their time to prayers and supplications.
Barrister Kaka Shehu who spoke on the modalities that led to their release said the Yobe State government had earlier contacted government officials in Borno State indicating its readiness to release the detainees who were said to be indigenes of Borno State.
"On the appointed date, the special adviser to Yobe State governor brought the women and children as well as a covering letter which was signed by Yobe State Attorney-General, Barrister Ahmed Goniri. I and some of my fellow commissioners received them on behalf of our governor who was unavoidably absent," the justice commissioner said.
Shehu said apart from identifying names, the letter did not give details about the ladies.
He said the women were told to reintegrate themselves into the society and also take part in the peace process initiated by the federal government with active support of the Borno and Yobe State governments.
The commissioner said the women were also immediately enrolled into the skill acquisition programme of the state government while the state Ministry of Women Affairs gave them five sets of wrappers and 10 yards of brocade for each of the children.
He said the sum of N100, 000 was also approved for each of them.
The commissioner said similar gesture was extended to the six women and 14 children that were detained in Borno State but released in the first phase of the amnesty programme.
It was not clear whether the remaining commanders whose wives were released are alive but our correspondent gathered that some of the women released had trouble in joining their families.
A top government source confirmed that in one of the neighbourhoods in Maiduguri, the family of one of the released women told her to leave because they were afraid that the operatives of the JTF will come and arrest them.
"One of the commissioners that were involved in the release of the women had to intervene and told the woman's family not to entertain any fear," the source said.
Meanwhile, top security source also revealed that one of the children that were released during the first exercise was captured with a letter at the Sambisa forest.

U.S. Court: "Human Genes Cannot be Patented"

Washington, U.S. — The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that companies cannot patent parts of naturally-occurring human genes, a decision with the potential to profoundly affect the emerging and lucrative medical and biotechnology industries.

The high court's unanimous judgment reverses three decades of patent awards by government officials. It throws out patents held by Salt Lake City-based Myriad Genetics Inc. on an increasingly popular breast cancer test.
Justice Clarence Thomas, who wrote the court's decision, said that Myriad's assertion — that the DNA it isolated from the body for its proprietary breast and ovarian cancer tests were patentable — had to be dismissed because it violates patent rules. The court has said that laws of nature, natural phenomena and abstract ideas are not patentable.
"We hold that a naturally occurring DNA segment is a product of nature and not patent eligible merely because it has been isolated," Thomas said.
However, the court gave Myriad a partial victory, ruling that while naturally-occurring DNA was not patentable, synthetically-created DNA could be patented. The court said that synthetically created DNA, known as cDNA, can be patented "because it is not naturally occurring," Thomas said.
Patents are the legal protection that gives inventors the right to prevent others from making, using or selling a novel device, process or application.
The company has used its patent to come up with its BRACAnalysis test, which looks for mutations on the breast cancer predisposition gene, or BRCA. Those mutations are associated with much greater risks of breast and ovarian cancer. Women with a faulty gene have a three to seven times greater risk of developing breast cancer and also have a higher risk of ovarian cancer.
Thomas noted there are still ways for Myriad to make money off its discovery. "Had Myriad created an innovative method of manipulating genes while searching for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, it could possibly have sought a method patent," he said. And he noted that the case before the court did not include patents on the application of knowledge about the two genes.
Myriad sells the only BRCA gene test. Opponents of its patents say the company can use the patents to keep other researchers from working with the BRCA gene to develop other tests.
Companies have billions of dollars of investment and years of research on the line in this case. Their advocates argue that without the ability to recoup their investment through the profits that patents bring, breakthrough scientific discoveries to combat all kinds of medical maladies wouldn't happen.
But "genes and the information they encode area not patent eligible ... simply because they have been isolated from the surrounding genetic material," Thomas said.
In a concurring opinion, Justice Antonin Scalia said "the portion of the DNA isolated from its natural state sought to be patented is identical to that portion of the DNA in its natural state."
The case is 12-398, Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc.

New Diet Craze: 5 Days of Feasting For 2 Days of Famine

London - Forget abandoning carbohydrates or detoxing. The new dieting craze sweeping Europe and the U.S. lets people eat whatever they like - but only five days a week. "The Fast Diet", also known as the 5:2 diet, is the brainchild of TV medical journalist Michael Mosley and journalist Mimi Spencer and allows people to eat what they want for five days but only eat 600 calories a day on the other two.
Mosley said the diet is based on work by scientists who found intermittent fasting helped people lose more fat, increase insulin sensitivity and cut cholesterol which should mean reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes.
He tried this eating regime for a television science program last August after finding out his cholesterol level was too high and his blood sugar in the diabetic range. He was stunned by the results.
"I started doing intermittent fasting a year ago, lost 8 kgs of fat over 3 months and my blood results went back to normal," Mosley says.
Mosley said he had been amazed at the way the diet had taken off with a list of websites set up by followers of the 5:2 diet or variations of the eating regime to share their experiences.
Eating a 600 calorie daily diet - about a quarter of a normal healthy adult's intake - could consist of two eggs for breakfast, grilled chicken and lettuce for lunch, and fish with rice noodles for dinner with nothing to drink but water, black coffee or tea.
One Day At a Time
Mosley put the diet's success down to the fact it is psychologically attractive and leads to steady drop in weight with an average weekly loss of 0.46kg for women and slightly more for men.
"The problem with standard diets is that you feel like you are constantly having to exercise restraint and that means you are thinking about food all the time, which becomes self-defeating," said Mosley.
"On this regime you are only really on a diet two days a week. It is also extremely flexible and simple."
On its website last month the Britain's National Health Service (NHS) said the British Dietetic Association (BDA) reviewed a 2011 study by researchers at the UK's University Hospital of South Manchester that suggested intermittent fasting could help lower the risk of certain obesity-related cancers such as breast cancer.
"The increasing popularity of the 5:2 diet should lead to further research of this kind," the BDA said in a statement.
Schenker, a sports and media dietitian who works with football clubs and food companies, said it was a shame that the NHS had criticized the eating regime that had proved such a success with so many people.
"We are in the midst of an obesity crisis and you need to balance up which is worse - intermittent fasting of staying obese?" Schenker told Reuters.
Despite concerns raised by the NHS, the 5:2 diet has been widely praised by those who follow it.

Fally Ipupa, Olamide, 2face To Join D'banj for DKM 5-Star Concert

African superstar entertainer; D’banj is set to paint the city of Lagos red with a five-star DKM concert to celebrate his recent achievements in the entertainment industry with his fans here in Nigeria and to herald the launching of his DKM album which is set to be released later in the year.

The concert which is set to take place at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites on the 23rd of June, 2013 will feature appearances from some of the finest stars from the African continent and beyond.

Fans are set to witness electrifying performances from D’banj and his friends, including Fally Ipupa (DRC), 2face Idibia (Nigeria), Olamide (Nigeria) and 2Chainz (USA) and many other big names.

In the words of the MOBO and BET award winning hit-maker in an exclusive interview with him, he says: “My fans should get ready to see the best of ‘Eja Nla’ because that is what they deserve. This DKM concert in collaboration with Ndani TV will be the best Nigeria has ever seen. Oooooossshhheee!!!”

The big-budget concert will also feature DB Records acts KaySwitch, JSol, JSleek and others.
'It'll be my first time in Nigeria and I can't wait', 2Chainz says in a video drop released by D'Banj. 'My birthday is in September but I’ll act like it's my birthday', he adds jokingly. The rapper is mostly known worldwide for his mega hit 'Birthday Song'
D'banj is an ardent supporter of Arts and Entertainment as it helps build the spirit of camaraderie among the teeming populace of Nigeria.
The concert is a part of his resolute efforts, to contribute to the development of Nigeria through the organization of relevant initiatives to promote the Entertainment Industry.

BLACK DOLLAR SCAM: Nigerian Fraudster Held in India

Visakhapatnam, India -- Frido Ambrose and two other scamsters defrauded people of lakhs of rupees in an online lottery fraud by delivering packets of black paper instead of currency notes
The Nigerian national, Frido Ambrose (35), who duped a city woman of Rs.2.32 lakh (N651,915) in a 'black dollar scam' and arrested by the City Police on Wednesday, was presented before the media on Thursday.
Giving details to the media, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) P. Viswa Prasad said Ambrose and two other scamsters had defrauded people of lakhs of rupees (hundreds thousands of rupees) by making them believe that they had won a lottery organised by Microsoft/RBI and then delivering packets of black paper instead of currency notes.
Rupavathi, a post-graduate student, received an e-mail on May 24 saying that she had won an annual prize of 1 million pounds (252,923,492.35 NGN). She paid Rs.21,000 (N59,010) into an SBI account as directed by the fraudsters. Within hours, she received another mail from the 'RBI' saying that she was the lucky winner of 1 million pounds and directed her to pay Rs.2.31 lakh (N651,915) towards the 'cost of transfer of the prize money'.
Mr. Viswa Prasad said that the girl informed her parents and they sold their coconut grove and deposited Rs.2.31 lakh (N651,915) in instalments in different accounts as sought by the fraudsters. Rupavathi, however, became suspicious after the accused wanted her address to deliver the prize money.
She invited the fraudster to Visakhapatnam and laid a trap with the help of the police. The accused was arrested when he arrived at the residence of the complainant.
Dubious website
He had an electronic safe, which contained small packets of hard black paper concealed in white cotton. The DCP said that during the course of investigation it was found that the accused and his associates had created a fake RBI website and sent text messages to randomly-selected people stating that they had won huge amounts of money.
Those who fell in their trap were asked to deposit money in various accounts. The accused would give their victims a tax code in exchange of that money to enable them transfer the prize money into their accounts. They would then fool their victims with black paper saying they were defaced US dollars, which could be restored by applying a chemical.
Mr. Viswa Prasad said that the accused came to Mumbai on business purpose in 2008. His visa, which seemed to be genuine, had expired in June 2011.
Though he claims to be only an agent of the fraudulent company, he has been overstaying in the country.

"I’ll End Up Dating Someone In The Industry" -Seyi Shay

Fast rising Pop singer Seyi Shay is the latest artiste to be featured on ‘The Juice‘ interview session with Toolz.

Apart from talking about her music and return to Nigeria to make a headway, the singer boldly revealed that she’ll obviously end up dating someone in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
And does she get to pick who she wants? Seyi jokingly talked about dating one of the Psquare brothers (we thought they were taken?), Timaya, Ice Prince or Vector.
Watch the interview below..

Tinapa Records 60% Off-peak Visitors Traffic

As the number of foreign investors with appetite to invest in Nigeria continues to increase, and with Calabar, Cross River State, receiving an ample number of these visitors, Tinapa Business Resort, the city’s top business tourism destination is said to be receiving at least 60 percent off-peak visitors, an independent online poll report said.

Also, the online poll survey said Tinapa’s Lakeside Hotel is recording at least the same percentage of off-peak occupancy rate; and now ranked among Nigeria’s best used hospitalities.

The managing director of Tinapa, Bassey Eyo Ndem, while confirming this at the weekend in Calabar, said, the management was happy that the place was doing well, despite challenging business climate.

Ndem told the Cross River council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its chairman, Ndoma Akpet, which paid a visit, that, “Management is happy that, Lakeside Hotel at the resort (Tinapa) is doing well, recording over 60 percent guests off peak period; and was recently rated the best in the state by users in an online independent poll.”

He said the leisure aspect of the resort which also includes the Water Park and the children arcade are doing well, and the management is hoping to work on the sand beach which would be the best of its kind east of the Niger.

On the trade aspect of the Tinapa Resort, the Managing Director said the company was looking up for more investors and business concerns to take up the shopping space; adding that those already doing business at the resort were now collaborating amongst themselves to pull in more local patronage, by introducing a bus transport fleet from designated routes in the heart of Calabar to Tinapa daily.

The MD said Tinapa still remains the only place where there is 24-hour electricity supply, even though this comes at a huge cost to the resort management.

He said there is joy that Tinapa was now having better business fortune, and more investors were showing interest.

“It gives us joy that, apart from tourists and those coming from outside the state, the locals are also sharing in the dream of Tinapa by more patronage.

“You can see local families coming to have a time out in Tinapa at weekends and even the host community has been very cooperative in many aspects including security,” stated Ndem.

The NUJ Cross River council chairman, Ndoma Akpet and his team commended the Tinapa management for good maintenance culture of the resort’s facilities to its 2007 inaugural level.

The NUJ lauded the Tinapa management team led by Bassey Ndem, an architect, for excellent maintenance and management of the resort, which is now attracting more patronage, and posting better fortunes.

Akpet pledged the commitment of journalists in the state to continuous projecting of Tinapa Resort to tourists, investors and leisure seekers across the globe.

LeBron James And Dwyane Wade Lead The Way As Miami Heat Draw Level

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were both back on top form as the Miami Heat tied up the NBA Finals with a comfortable 109-93 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

James and Wade scored 33 and 32 points respectively, with the former also grabbing 11 rebounds as the Heat drew level at 2-2 in the seven-game series.
Wade had six rebounds, six steals and four assists to bring his side back into a series which will reach Game Five in San Antonio on Sunday.
Chris Bosh also grabbed 20 points and 13 rebounds as the 'Big Three' put together one of their best performances of the play-offs.
"I just came into the game confident. Before I even made a shot, I came into the game confident," James said.
"I knew what my mindset was going to be. I didn't worry about last game. Last game was history. And I just worried in the present. I'm blessed and happy I was able to make a contribution to our win tonight."
Spurs point guard Tony Parker played despite a hamstring strain but failed to score in the second half, ending the contest with 15 points and nine assists.
Tim Duncan top-scored for San Antonio with 20 points, while Danny Green and Gary Neal showcased their three-point shooting skills again, hitting three shots each from beyond the arc.
Parker said: "We have to cut out turnovers. They played great defence tonight. They take a lot of risks. That's Miami's identity. They play very aggressive defence, They gamble and they take a lot of chances, and tonight it worked."
The Heat's win means that the series will definitely head back to Miami where Game Six and, if needed, Game Seven will be held.

I'm More Confident - Andy Murray

World No 2 Andy Murray claims he feels more confident heading into the grass court season despite his recent back injury.

Murray was forced to miss the French Open due to the problem - however he used his time away to build up towards the change in surfaces.
The 26-year-old Scot showed no signs of discomfort as completed a routine victory in his interrupted second-round clash with Nicolas Mahut, before beating Marinko Matosevic 6-2 6-2 later in the day.
And although disappointed at missing the second Grand Slam of the season, Murray is focused on looking ahead.
"I would have much rather have been playing the French Open," said Murray.
"You have to look at the positives sometimes and the one positive is I got to spend more time on the grass to prepare for here, but if I had to make that decision 50 times I would have made the same decision.
"But I would way rather have been at the French Open than being at home for two weeks."

NAMA Calls Plane Seen At Fuel Station A “Tricycle”

The General Manager, Air Traffic Control Operations of the Nigerian Air Space Management Agency (NAMA), Mr John Onyegiri today cleared the air on a “junk” plane that was seen at Dapsey Fuel Station in Igando, Lagos, South West Nigeria.
The “junk”, according to him was being towed by a van to an unknown destination for “education purposes”.
Onyegiri said: “You can’t call this one an aircraft anymore; this is like towing a junk”.
He further explained that the wings of the plane had to be taken off to ease movement and traffic on the road.
He called the plane a “tricycle” after the wings had been removed.
“Aircrafts have wings, so to be able to tow it as a junk, they have to take off the wings and it becomes a tricycle.
“So they hook it up and take it somewhere else for tourism, for education purposes”.
He also said the airport is littered with “eyesores” like that that are yet to be removed by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Boy, 16, Kills Himself After He Got In Trouble With His Parents For Sending Sex Text Messages To Girl

A schoolboy blasted himself in the head with a shotgun he was given as a 15th birthday present.
Charlie Booth, 16, was worried he would get into trouble after police visited to discuss sexual text messages he sent to a girl.
He was described as a remarkable young man by his headteacher at the prestigious £10,000-a-year Gad's Hill School in Higham, Kent, set in the former home of Charles Dickens.


Charlie was found dead by his parents on March 8 at their home in Cobham, Kent.
The coroner ruled that Charlie took his own life.
Hours before his death, police were called to the family’s home between 6pm and 7pm to reports of text messages of a sexual nature being sent to a girl, the inquest at Gravesend’s Old Town Hall heard yesterday.
Det Sgt Lee Neiles, of Kent Police, told the inquest: 'She wanted them to stop.
'Nick (Charlie’s father) gave him words of advice and they went to KFC in Valley Drive in Gravesend and Nick said he (Charlie) had to be careful about contacting young girls.
'They had a KFC but Charlie seemed withdrawn.'
They returned home and Charlie went to his bedroom.
Around 10pm his mother Julia came back from an evening with her friends in Bluewater to hear about the complaints made against Charlie.
She told her son off and confiscated his mobile phone.
Around 30 minutes later, while Mr and Mrs Booth were downstairs, they heard a loud bang.
Det Sgt Neiles said: 'They went to his bedroom and Julia saw a light coming from the spare room and found him on the floor in the corridor.
'She said she saw him on his side and he was clearly dead.'
Kent Police and South East Coast Ambulance were called at 10.32pm and Charlie was pronounced dead at the scene.
Det Sgt Neiles told the court Charlie shot himself with the intention to commit suicide.

 

He said: 'This is on the basis Charlie had a shotgun and knew the power it possessed and Charlie was extremely worried about getting into trouble regarding the text messages.
'The note in his jogging bottoms appears to be a suicide note.'
Paying tribute to Charlie, Det Sgt Neiles said: 'Charlie was a popular boy who enjoyed playing rugby and hockey.
Shooting champion Charlie received a gun as a present for his 15th birthday and was a member of Gad’s Combined Cadet Forces (CCF), which trains pupils in a range of military activities including shooting, survival training, rock climbing and taking part in assault courses.

 

 

Det Sgt Neiles said: 'Everybody chipped into to buy him the gun and he was over the moon.
'He was a totally responsible and was trusted by people to handle a gun.
'He used to go out shooting with his dad. He was a typical country boy. He never drank, apart from the occasional cider with his dad.'
Passing verdict, North Kent Coroner Roger Hatch said: 'I have no alternative to record other than Charlie Booth took his own life. I express my sympathies to the family.'

I Am Not A Politician – Ex-Abia Governor, Orji Kalu, Says

The former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, caused a stir on Wednesday when he told an audience at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel and Towers that he was not a politician. The former governor also claimed he was not corrupt. 
Former Governor Uzor Orji Kalu 
Mr. Kalu spoke at an event marking the 20th anniversary of the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, organised by the Save Nigeria Group. Expectedly, the comment elicited loud murmuring from the audience interrupting the former governor in mid speech.
“I’m not a politician… Excuse me, pardon me, all my life I’ve been building institutions in the private sector. I’m not a politician, this is why I speak the way I speak from the heart,” said Mr. Kalu.
“I don’t care who thinks I’m going to offend him, my duty is to speak the truth. You can go home and hate me, you can come home and like me but the truth must be said,” he added.
Mr. Kalu also blamed monumental corruption for the nation’s woes, singling out President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government whom he said embarked on a lot of white elephant projects. “I want to challenge those people in the corridor of power.
I’m not a court of competent jurisdiction, I can never be one. I was governor for eight years and when somebody go to court of competent jurisdiction to charge me on security votes, because I didn’t support things government wanted me to support,” Mr. Kalu said.
“And the same people, I challenge them, see the government that spent 6 billion, Pastor (Tunde) Bakare talked about 12, 16, 13, 14 billion, these are dollars, not naira.
“And till today the government has not brought those people to book. Do we really want a change? We are not looking for a change. Before we talk about change, government must bring so many people to book.
“You cannot be talking about electricity, most of the projects counted here President Obasanjo started, I was governor then, I flagged it off, and billions of dollars we were putting down, where is the money?”
The former Abia State governor noted that economic growth does not signify growth until it impacts on the people.
“Economy cannot grow on 8 per cent, 9 per cent, 10 per cent without postal services, without highway being paved very well, without electricity supply, without people coming out of school and going to work,” said Mr. Kalu.
“I have never seen any president of Nigeria that talks about job creation, you can say it but they are not doing it.
I have fought to set up industries right from my mother’s womb, that is the truth.
“I built the first major industry in Aba in 1982, the Slok Vegetable Oil. I mean, business men and women should make efforts to complement what government and the people are doing,” he added

Nigerian Man To Be Hanged For Drug Trafficking in Malaysia

A Nigerian man was sentenced to death by hanging by the High Court here today after being found guilty of trafficking in 1124.10gms of methamphetamine at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, two years ago.
Anoliefo Peter Ndubuisi, 36, committed the offence at the airport Customs inspection counter at 4pm on July 30, 2011.
Justice Noor Azian Shaari in her judgement on Friday, said Anoliefo's defence saying that he was not aware of the presence of the drugs inside the 13 bottles of hair cream he was asked to carry by a friend whom he knew for only two days, was not logical.
Deputy public prosecutor Aida Mastura Mohamed Aman called 16 witnesses at the prosecution hearing while counsel James George called only one witness during the defence's trial.

OPINION: Is Goodluck Still Sitting Comfortably?

On Friday 24 May, governors from 35 of Nigeria’s 36 states met in Abuja to elect the new chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). Incumbent chairman and governor of oil-rich Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, defeated the president’s preferred candidate, Jonah Jang, by 19 votes to 16.
The result has left the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in disarray: Amaechi has subsequently been suspended by the party, some have belatedly declared Jang the rightful winner. Both men presently claim to be chairman of the forum.
Hudu Abdullahi, a senior lecturer in political science at Ahmadu Bello University, told Think Africa Press: "The political situation that is following the NGF elections is rooted in the ambition of Jonathan to stand again in 2015."
With PDP fractures visibly deepening, many have argued that this is the clearest sign yet that Goodluck Jonathan’s ability to unite the party is fading. With the 2015 election looming ever closer, is Jonathan losing his grip on power?
Preventing Democratic Pressures Ever since its establishment in 1999, the National Governors’ Forum has been a PDP stronghold. It has been chaired by five different men, all from the ruling PDP: Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa Sate (1999-2004), Victor Attah, the former governor of Akwa Ibom State(2004-2006), Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State (2006-2007), Bukola Saraki of Kwara state (2007-2011) and most recently Amaechi from 2011-2013.
Although it is not formally enshrined in the Constitution, the forum has played an influential role in Nigerian politics – most recently in the removal and partial reinstatement of the fuel subsidy in January 2012. And the author Michael Nnebe last week warned against underestimating the NGF:
"To think that the NGF is not powerful would be a costly mistake. As powerful as Obasanjo appeared to be while in office, he had to get the approval of governors forum before he could successfully present Yar'Adua's name at the PDP primaries in 2007."
However, under the stewardship of Amaechi things have changed. A move towards a more independent stance has not been well received. The presidency and pro-government political observers have accused the NGF of strong-arming the political centre on various national issues and transforming itself in a pressure group, whose authority rivals the executive.
The chosen one The president and PDP accordingly had vested interests in the outcome of the May 24 elections. Selecting the preferred candidate was initially a two-horse race between Katsina state’s governor Ibrahim Shema and Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state. However, with both men seemingly unwilling to make way for the other, a third candidate - Plateau state’s Jonah Jang – became the consensus choice.
Amaechi was approached to tow the party line and asked to withdraw his candidacy. He refused, and defeated Jang in what from video footage appeared to be a free and fair election.
But in the immediate aftermath, disgruntled governors held a press conference to declare Jang – contrary to secret ballot voting - the rightful winner. A letter of endorsement, which featured the signatures of 19 pro-presidential governors, was held up as evidence that Jang had won.
Reinforcing divisions The incident has caused a de facto split in the NGF, one that has played into the hands of the opposition parties.
On May 25, Jang promised to “unite members of the forum and work for the interest of the forum and country”. On the same day, Amaechi outlined similar commitments at the NGF headquarters:
“That is the mandate that was freely given and I will stick to that mandate. I think that it is up to Nigerians to know that nothing pays more than democracy.”
Rival parties have been quick and unrelenting in their condemnation. Lai Mohammed, publicity secretary for the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) described the presidency’s recognition of Jang as the NGF chairman as a “travesty of democracy”, while the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) branded the president’s actions “shameful”.
Northern sole The NGF’s divisions have manifested themselves in a variety of different fora.
Last Thursday, the NGF’s parallel northern institution, the Northern Governors’ Forum, met in Kaduna. Only 5 of a potential 19 northern governors were present – with widespread absences believed a show of solidarity with the president’s stance.
Hours before the NGF elections, they had decided to bloc vote for Jang as chairman. However, results showed that a number of Northern governors had likely reneged on the agreement. Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum Babangida Aliyu is suspected of voting for Amaechi, and rumours he will be removed from his post are gaining momentum.
The situation is a difficult one for Jonathan though, he must be careful not to appear too autocratic and alienate his northern allies. On June 5, the Sokoto State Governor Aliyu Wamakko was suspended by the PDP for alleged insubordination – a move criticised by pro-democracy groups.
Toppling Jonathan Hudu Abdullahi told Think Africa Press, “if the PDP were to split or splinter because of the governors’ forum fallout, Nigeria could witness an increased level of political violence, which is not good for a country that is already fragile.”
It may be far too early to speak of an official split within the PDP, but there is enough to suggest that, even at the highest levels, Goodluck Jonathan’s has a lot of work to do to unite the party.
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo, past military head of state Ibrahim Babangida and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar each represent factions of a powerful, elite political class that are trying to maintain a degree of dominance within the party.
Last week’s Democracy Day celebrations, hosted by Jonathan, were revealing. While three former heads of state were present - Shehu Shagari , Ernest Shonekon and Yakubu Gowan – Obasanjo, Muhammadu Buhari, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar were all conspicuously absent.
Obasanjo, who played an instrumental role in Jonathan’s rise to presidency instead chose to attend the first Jigawa state Investment forum - hosted by the man some feel is his preferred candidate for the 2015 elections, Sule Lamido. At the forum, Obasanjo stressed, “you can help someone to get a job but you cannot help that person do the job”. This was seen as a thinly-veiled broadside against the incumbent president.
It may be tempting for Jonathan to dismiss these political heavyweights as yesterday’s men, but he should do so at his own peril. The influence of these former rulers still counts for a lot in a country where a large section of elites were single-handedly created by or under Babangida and Obasanjo.
In the run-up to the 2015 elections, two main interest groups are slowly forming: President Jonathan and the majority of the PDP leadership on one side, former presidents, some Northern governors and a minority within his own party – like Ameachi – on the other side.
If these two groups are not united, 2015 may become a year to forget for the ruling PDP.

Manchester United Striker Danny Welbeck Targets More Goals

Danny Welbeck admits that he needs to find his scoring boots in order to keep his place in the Manchester United side.

With Robin van Persie firing 26 league goals on the way to United's 13th Premier League crown, the England striker managed to find the net just once in the league all season.
Welbeck was often played out of position, out wide or with more defensive duties, but even he admits that he needs to improve his goal tally next season.
"I've been playing on the wing, which has inhibited my ability to get into goalscoring positions," Welbeck said in the Daily Mirror.
"Overall, there have been improvements to my game and I have been more consistent.
"I've played up front for England, been away to tournaments and scored goals there, so I know once I get into those positions I will put the chances away.
"I'm also aware that knowing how to play in different positions and developing in different areas of the pitch will only benefit me and the teams I play for.
"I'm happy to help the team out and it doesn't really matter whether I'm playing on the wing or up front, I should have had a much better goal return."

Manuel Pellegrini Moves Closer To Manchester City Move

Bernd Schuster is to replace Manchester City-bound Manuel Pellegrini as Malaga boss.

A spokesman for the Spanish club confirmed Schuster's imminent appointment on the day Pellegrini moved closer to finalising his Eastlands switch.
Issues over unpaid wages and compensation have stopped City officially announcing the Chilean as Roberto Mancini's successor.
But those problems are close to resolution, according to Sky sources, and in the meantime Malaga have secured former Real Madrid boss Schuster as their new boss.
The German, who has also managed Xerez, Levante and Getafe in Spain, has been out of work since leaving Besiktas in 2011.
Schuster has agreed a five-year deal with Malaga, who finished sixth in the Spanish league but are banned from European competition next season.

Patience Ozokwo Wows Fans In J’burg

Patience Mama G Ozokwo has been touring Johannesburg to sign the new iROKOtv DVDs which will be making their debut across market places and local shops throughout Johannesburg.
Mama G held a meet & greet event at Bara Mall in Soweto where fans were able to have their photos taken with and get an autographed DVD from Mama G.
Patience waving to fans as she arrives the signings Mama G, who has starred in more than 500 movies including Old School, Ukwa and One Dollar, will officially launch iROKOtv’s new DVDs at the screening of her new movie Airline Babes.
Tickets are free for this unmissable chance to see the star in the flesh. The event is brought to you in association with Spaza and will be taking place at THE OPEN in Maboneng – one of the city’s hippest cinema screens at 18.00.
Nigeria’s movie industry, colloquially known as ‘Nollywood’ is the second largest film industry in the world, producing around 2,000 movies a year. iROKOtv has selected ten movies to be distributed on DVD.

“I Am Not A Sex Symbol” -Tiwa Savage

Beautiful Songstress, Tiwa Savage in an interview talks about her humble beginning and why she waited so long to release her debut album.

But one of the most buzzed about headlines is Tiwa’s response to being a sex symbol. “If you ask my family, I am not like that. I am a laid-back person”, she tells the publication.
Tiwa didn’t shy away from speaking on her fiancé. She spoke on why she wrote a song for him “You know the culture here. If you’re not married and just focus on your career, people would start asking questions. He understood my journey; he was able to push me career-wise and he encourages me a lot. So, I had to do a song for him.”
Excerpts
On why it took 2 years to drop her debut album – This album is from my heart and it’s something that I worked so long for. A lot of people wondered why it took so long and that’s because we had to go through a lot of legal processes to clear some of the samples that we used and that took months. Also, we wanted to work with some notable producers like Warren ‘Oak’ Felder who worked with Nicki Minaj and Rihanna. So, we had to work round their schedules and that’s why it took so long.
This is an album that I don’t want to be the usual Nigerian album with patchy tracks from beginning to end. I want it to have a meaning.
On competition with female singers – Why should I be scared of competition? Like I said on stage, you have Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Beyonce, Kelly Rowland and they’re all female artistes and they’re all big stars in the US. Why should it be only one person that will be known for quality music among female singers in Nigeria? I am actually glad that more female artistes are coming up.
On fond memories of Isale Eko days – Growing up, I was like a tomboy. Back then, I didn’t care about make-up or bags or shoes, I was very free. I had a very healthy upbringing.
My parents made sure I was really grounded. I had loving brothers and I remember playing around all the time when I was a kid.
On what stardom has changed about her – I was a little more out-going but I am now a bit more reserved. Some people like saying they haven’t changed a bit when they start making more money, but that’s a lie. I think you change because you’re more wary. You want to be careful and trust less easily.
I think people around me have changed too. They expect more. I’m under a microscope always. I might make a normal mistake but it will get blown up because it’s Tiwa Savage. So, I am more wary of what I do and say in public than I was before.

Confed Cup Preview: Team Nigeria

In the time since Nigeria last competed in the Confederations Cup - 18 years ago - nothing has changed for Africa's representatives in the pre-World Cup event. No team from the continent has won the competition, so the Super Eagles fly into Brazil with another chance to write the script.
To do that, they will have to surpass expectations, but they are no strangers to that, either. At this year's African Cup of Nations, Stephen Keshi took a squad that was criticized for its lack of recognized names in favour of a locally tinged side and won the continental cup. Along the way they beat Ivory Coast, who are ranked above them by FIFA, which underlined how Keshi turned their potential into success.
Keshi's Confederations Cup squad has nine different faces from the one that lifted the trophy in Johannesburg and there are some much tougher teams to beat. Nigeria's group includes world champions Spain and South American heavyweights Uruguay and the Super Eagles will do well if they can advance from it.
Tahiti are their other opposition, and Nigerian fans will be relieved they come up against them first. No doubt Nigeria will be jetlagged following two World Cup qualifiers away from home in seven days, plus a trip to Texas before that to play Mexico in a friendly, but not even fatigue will be an acceptable excuse if they do not beat Tahiti.
While that will be seen as a straightforward exercise, the next two games will demonstrate how good Nigeria have really become, and test their depth. Without Emmanuel Emenike - the joint top scorer at the Nations Cup - Kalu Uche and Victor Moses, they will have to find other ways of scoring goals but Brown Ideye and Ahmed Musa have already shown that is not impossible.
Considering Uruguay's recent relationship with Africa during the 2010 World Cup - a dalliance that included a handball, Luis Suarez and Ghana's exit - that will be the grudge match. Should Nigeria triumph, they will probably go through to the semifinals, so the emphasis placed on that clash will be enormous. Few will give them a similar chance against Spain, but if momentum is on their side and Keshi applies the right type of pressure, they could just pull it off.
One reason that may not happen is because this tournament is not the main focus of Nigeria's year. Qualifying for next year's World Cup takes that spot. The country's sports minister made it clear to the footballing authorities that going to Brazil in a year's time is far more important than anything Nigeria achieve there now and has asked that their priorities reflect that.
So far they have. Nigeria lead their qualifying group, so Keshi is free to swerve away from that mission and impose his aims, which are largely based on reputation. The Big Boss cannot stand inadequacy and has often required of Nigeria that they play like the "champions that we are" and he will demand from them that they meet a minimum standard.
He is also intent on showcasing locally nurtured talent and his squad includes eight Nigerian-based players, ahead of the likes of Peter Odemwingie and Obafemi Martins. For Keshi, that means fewer egos and more team unity. The one superstar he cannot do without is John Obi Mikel and the Chelsea midfielder will be the engine room of the side.
Defensively, Nigeria are solid and imposing with Efe Ambrose and Elderson Echiejile holding fort and the experience of Vincent Enyeama in goal. Nigeria have the individuals to better Africa's record at the tournament, but whether that improvement can result in silverware is still a matter of some debate.
Tactics Nigeria will stick to a 4-3-3 formation, which has been their strength in the last few months. "We have perfected it with time," Keshi said recently.
Measure of success Although everyone from John Obi Mikel to Sunday Mba has voiced their desire for Nigeria to win the Confederations Cup, they will be satisfied with less. If the Super Eagles qualify for the semifinals, it will likely be considered achievement enough. Failing to beat Tahiti will be unforgivable, but the other two matches will demand that Nigeria put up a confident enough showing to prove they can hold their own.