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Showing posts from October, 2018

After The Khashoggi Murder, Pakistan Shakes Down Weakened Saudi Prince For $6 Billion

Pakistan has emerged as an apparent winner from the international outcry that followed a Saudi hit team’s murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul at the beginning of October. By rushing to stand by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, widely accused of ordering the execution, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan got a $6 billion aid package, which he desperately needs to salvage the Pakistani economy. There undoubtedly is more to the deal, including benefits for Saudi-backed terrorist groups in Pakistan. Khan was elected in August as a populist who promised to shake up Pakistani politics and fight corruption. He was aided by the all-powerful army intelligence service, the ISI, which was determined to keep former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s party from regaining power. Khan has long been a harsh critic of the United States and friendly to the Taliban. Better known for leading his country as a cricketer than as a politician, Khan is a man in a hurry. He inherited an eco

Mourinho Not Right For Manchester United, Says Club Great Eric Cantona

Eric Cantona feels Jose Mourinho's relationship with Manchester United is a case of "not the right man for the right woman". Eric Cantona does not think Jose Mourinho is the right man for Manchester United and finds watching his former club an ordeal at present. United sit 10th in the Premier League and entertain Everton on Sunday, when they will again look to kickstart an underwhelming start to the season. Persistent speculation over Mourinho's future and his relationship with star players, such as Paul Pogba, has provided the backdrop to a campaign that has brought four wins from nine attempts in England's top flight and an EFL Cup exit at the hands of Derby County. Juventus won 1-0 in the Champions League at Old Trafford in midweek – a scoreline that did not give a true reflection of the Serie A giants' superiority – and United fans' favourite Cantona is unimpressed. "It's not the right man for the right woman," he s

Saudi FM Says Global Outcry Over Khashoggi 'Hysterical'

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir speaks to journalists during a joint press conference with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi after their meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia. Al-Jubeir says the global outcry over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi has become "hysterical," while vowing that the kingdom is determined to bring the perpetrators to justice. He added that he thinks people have assigned blame to Saudi Arabia with certainty before the investigation is complete. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Saudi Arabia's top diplomat said Saturday that the global outcry and media focus on the killing of a Saudi journalist earlier this month has become "hysterical" as he urged the public to wait for the results of an investigation before ascribing blame to the kingdom's top leadership. Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist critical of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was killed by Saudi agen

Ronaldo Departure Was A Shock But No Player Is Bigger Than Real Madrid - Marcelo

The Portuguese left Santiago Bernabeu for Juventus over the summer, with those left behind now picking up the pieces after a troubled start to 2018-19 Marcelo has admitted that Cristiano Ronaldo’s summer move away from Real Madrid came as “a surprise” to everyone, but he is eager to point out that “the club is bigger than any player”. The Portuguese had hinted on the back of capturing a fifth Champions League crown of his career, and his fourth with the Blancos, that a new challenge could be on the cards. It did, however, come as a shock when he called time on a record-breaking stint at Santiago Bernabeu and made his way to Serie A champions Juventus. Real have struggled in his absence, but Marcelo remains adamant that a club of such stature will recover from the departure of an iconic figure, as they have done on several occasions in the past. The Brazil international told his official YouTube channel: "Ending our holidays and coming back to the routine of Real Madri

Lucas Torreira On Becoming Arsenal's New Cult Hero: 'When they Sing For Me It Fills Me With So Much Pride'

Lucas Torreira is settling in well at Arsenal - Arsenal FC For Arsenal, Lucas Torreira is the little “fighter” who wins the little battles. His influence should not be measured in goals or assists, but in the tackles he makes on the edge of his penalty area, the interceptions he sees on the halfway line and the passes that control the flow of the game. “They are small things out there,” he says. “But in the end they make a big difference.” The Arsenal fans know this already, of course. For years they have longed for a player like Torreira, a midfielder who can fight at the back as well as flourish in attack. It should come as little surprise, then, that the Uruguayan has already been excitedly heralded as the answer to so many of Arsenal’s problems. “It’s a great challenge and a new challenge for me,” says Torreira. “I’m the kind of person who likes to fight for these things, to always be fighting my way up, like my dad always tells me. I am so happy.” He is happy with Arsen

Nurmagomedov, McGregor Suspensions Extended

Security escorts Khabib Nurmagomedov out of T-Mobile arena amid the chaos that followed his UFC 229 victory over Conor McGregor  Los Angeles (AFP) - Mixed martial arts stars Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor will remain suspended pending full investigation of the melee following UFC 229, Nevada combat sports regulators said Wednesday. The Nevada State Athletic Commission voted unanimously on the suspensions, with chairman Anthony Marnell ordering both fighters to be present at a December 10 hearing. Russia's Nurmagomedov and Ireland's McGregor had already been suspended for 10 days -- the maximum term fighters can be banned pending a hearing. The sanctions stem from the extraordinary post-fight brawl that erupted after unbeaten Nurmagomedov choked out McGregor on October 6 in Las Vegas. Nurmagomedov had barely released his hold after McGregor tapped out when the Russian launched himself over the Octagon fence, targeting a taunting member of McGregor's camp

Saudi Crown Prince Vows To Bring Khashoggi Killers To Justice

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks during the Future Investment Initiative Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 24, 2018.  RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vowed on Wednesday that the killers of Jamal Khashoggi would be brought to justice, in his first public comments since the journalist's murder sparked global condemnation. Striking a defiant tone, Prince Mohammed told international investors at a major conference in Riyadh that the furor over Khashoggi's killing at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul would not derail the kingdom's reform drive. His comments came hours after U.S. President Donald Trump was quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying that as Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, the crown prince bore ultimate responsibility for the operation that led to Khashoggi's death. "We will prove to the world that the two governments (Saudi and Turkish) are cooperating to punish any criminal, an

World's longest sea bridge opens in China as critics warn it will increase Beijing's grip on Hong Kong

Hong Kong cars and drivers travelling over the bridge "must comply with the laws and regulations of the mainland" Credit: ANTHONY WALLACE/ AFP China's President Xi Jinping officially opened the world's longest sea bridge connecting Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China Tuesday, at a time when Beijing is tightening its grip on its semi-autonomous territories. The 34-mile (55-kilometre)  crossing, which includes a snaking road bridge and underwater tunnel, links Hong Kong with the southern mainland city of Zhuhai and the gambling enclave of Macau, across the waters of the Pearl River Estuary. Xi presided over an inauguration ceremony attended by Hong Kong's and Macau's city leaders at a new port terminal in Zhuhai. "I declare the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge officially open," Xi said in a one-line address, as digital fireworks exploded on a screen behind him at the indoor ceremony, before leaving the stage immediately. Supporters of the m

See What Pep Guardiola Is Saying About Man City WINNING The Champions League!

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says his side “are not ready” to win the Champions League, claiming “the feeling” from their fans that the team must win the competition is missing. City have gone out in the last 16 and quarter-finals of the competition in the Spaniard’s two seasons in charge. “It’s one important thing to win this kind of title, you have to be pushed,” said Guardiola, 47. “Not just by the manager, by everyone surrounding Manchester City.” He added: “And still we don’t have that feeling, the feeling that the fans are pushing that we have to win the Champions League.” City were knocked out of the Champions League by Monaco in Guardiola’s first campaign in charge then by Liverpool in the last eight last season. In their latest campaign, they go into Tuesday’s game at Shakhtar Donetsk second in Group F with three points from two games. “We are going to put in all effort to win this competition, but from what I saw last season we are not ready, that’s w

WWE star Roman Reigns reveals battle with leukemia

Roman Reigns will challenge Brock Lesnar for the WWE universal championship at SummerSlam. (Photo courtesy WWE) On Monday night, WWE star Roman Reigns – real name Joe Anoa’i – revealed that he was taking a leave of absence as he battles leukemia. The stunning announcement opened “Raw” as Anoa’i revealed that he has battled the disease in the past and that he had been in remission since 2008. Anoa’i, one of the biggest stars in the WWE, revealed that due to his health, he would be relinquishing the Universal Championship, which he was set to defend in a triple-threat match against Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman at the “Crown Jewel” event set to take place next month in Saudi Arabia. “My real name is Joe and I’ve been living with Leukemia for 11 years and unfortunately, it’s back. And because the leukemia is back, I cannot fulfill my role, I can’t be that fighting champion [I said I would be],” Anoa’i announced. The crowd, which normally heavily boos the former Georgia Tech

Mourinho: Ronaldo loves United but he will want to score

Having been Cristiano Ronaldo's coach the last time he played at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho knows the forward's threat to his side. Jose Mourinho expects Cristiano Ronaldo to be determined to score against Manchester United, despite his love for his old club. Ronaldo will face his former side at Old Trafford for the first time in five years on Tuesday, when Juventus visit for the Champions League Group H clash. The Portugal star's last appearance against United at their home was in the knockout phase of the 2012-13 tournament, when he scored what proved to be the winning goal in a 3-2 aggregate victory for Real Madrid. And Mourinho, who was Madrid head coach at the time, fully expects his compatriot to want to strike against his former employers again. "He came back with me in Real Madrid. It was a knockout match and I know how much he loves Manchester United. I know that, but I also know how much he wanted to win here and score against Manchester United

Ini Edo: Men Now Go Into Relationship For Money

Nollywood veteran actress, Ini Edo has raised an alarm over the rate at which men now jump from one relationship to another for money. Ini Edo, who is a Special Assistant to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Culture and Tourism, stated that while young girls engage in one trade or the other for survival, some men move from one woman to the other for money. Talking about her new movie with The Sun correspondent, she said; “Men of these days are not what they used to be. But the issues are not addressed. Nobody is talking about it. That’s why Uche Jombo and I took that up and made it the theme of our new movie. “Ironically, prostitution has reduced drastically. Young girls now go into different kinds of small-scale businesses like makeup, hair dressing and creams making. They now hustle more to make a living but I can’t say the same thing for men. I’m sorry but that’s the truth. For some men, their job is to move around from one woman to another for money. It’s like a full tim

Mohammed Dewji, Africa’s Youngest Billionaire Returns Home Safe After Being Kidnapped.

Africa’s youngest billionaire, snatched a week ago off the street outside a luxury hotel in Tanzania, has returned back home safely, the family company that he runs said on Saturday. Mohammed Dewji, 43-year-old CEO of the METL Group family conglomerate, was seized as he arrived for a morning workout in Tanzania’s commercial capital Dar es Salaam last week. Forbes estimates his net worth as $1.5 billion, making him Africa’s 17th richest man and its youngest billionaire. “I have returned home safely’” METL Group quoted him as saying on its Twitter feed, without providing more details about how he was freed or got away from his captors. The company also quoted him thanking those who had worked for his release, including the police.

Saudi Arabia admits Khashoggi died in consulate, Western reaction cautious

Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi speaks at an event  hosted by Middle  East Monitor in London Britain,  September 29, 2018. Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi died in a fight inside its Istanbul consulate, its first admission of his death after two weeks of denials that have shaken Western relations with the powerful kingdom. Riyadh provided no evidence to support its account of the circumstances that led to Khashoggi's death and it was still unclear whether other governments would be satisfied with it. Turkish officials suspect Khashoggi, a critic of the powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was tortured and killed inside the consulate by Saudi agents. His body has yet to be found. Some Western governments and politicians gave guarded or skeptical responses to the Saudi explanation, but Middle Eastern allies closed ranks around the kingdom. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has forged close ties with the world's top oil

As Khashoggi crisis grows, Saudi king asserts authority, checks son's power: sources

                                        Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud DUBAI (Reuters) - So grave is the fallout from the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi that King Salman has felt compelled to intervene, five sources with links to the Saudi royal family said. Last Thursday, Oct. 11, the king dispatched his most trusted aide, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, governor of Mecca, to Istanbul to try to defuse the crisis. World leaders were demanding an explanation and concern was growing in parts of the royal court that the king's son Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to whom he has delegated vast powers, was struggling to contain the fallout, the sources said. During Prince Khaled's visit, Turkey and Saudi Arabia agreed to form a joint working group to investigate Khashoggi's disappearance. The king subsequently ordered the Saudi public prosecutor to open an inquiry based on its findings. "The selection of Khaled, a senior royal

Eden Hazard can win Ballon d'Or at Chelsea, insists Maurizio Sarri, as fan pays £7k for banner urging him to stay

                                    Eden Hazard is Chelsea's most valuable player - Chelsea FC Maurizio Sarri has cranked up the Chelsea charm offensive aimed at keeping Eden Hazard at the club by insisting the Belgian can win everything by staying at Stamford Bridge. And one Chelsea supporter has played his part by paying £7,000 to try to help the club convince Hazard to sign a new contract. The fan, who wants to remain anonymous, has personally funded a 100x50ft banner, which reads ‘Eden Hazard we want you to stay’ and will be displayed during Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off against Manchester United. Chelsea fanzine cfcuk was approached by the fan, who supplied the image of Hazard’s knee-slide celebration and the wording he wanted to be used, to organise the making of the banner that will be displayed in the Lower Matthew Harding Stand. Hazard is waiting to see whether or not Real Madrid promise to make a big push to sign him next summer, before deciding whether or no

Buhari Is A Profound And Gigantic Failure – Chude Jideonwo, Who Campaigned For Buhari In 2017 Assured

While speaking in an exclusive interview with LITV, media personality, Chude Jideonwo, who along with his business partner, Debola Williams, executed the PR campaign for Presidnet Buhari during the 2015 election, described President Buhari as “a profound and gigantic failure.” Chude who was answering some question with the host, Hero Daniels, said he doesn’t regret campaigning for Buhari because he was a better candidate at the time.

50 Cent Taunts Kanye West Over Meeting With ‘Master’ Trump

It appears that 50 Cent might think Kanye West reached new highs  and new lows in his meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday. “Get Rich or Die Tryin'” rapper 50 Cent took to Instagram on Thursday to share his thoughts on the meeting, posting an image and a few pointed words on the get-together. The image depicted Trump in a Superman-esque outfit, lifting West skyward in his arms. In the artwork, West is wearing a Make America Great Again cap, as he did during Thursday’s meet-up. In the caption accompanying the image, 50 Cent channeled West, writing, “You make me feel like Superman, Obama said l was a [sic] idiot f— these n—as lm wit you Master. Let’s make America great again LOL.” As readers might recall, then-president Obama derided West as a “jackass” in leaked video from a 2009 interview, after West interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards. During Thursday’s meeting with Trump, “The Life of Pablo” rapper

Marion Suge Knight's Son Claims Tupac Is Alive and Living in Malaysia

Marion “Suge” Knight‘s son has a new theory about what happened to Tupac Shakur. The rapper’s unsolved murder in 1996 is one of music’s most enduring unsolved mysteries, and conspiracy theories abound about whether he actually died at all. Now the son of ‘Pac’s label chief is adding a new idea to the pile. In a series of bizarre Instagram posts, Suge J. Knight asserted that the “Dear Mama” emcee is currently living in Malaysia. It started with a simple image that read “Tupac is alive” in black text, and next Knight shared a screenshot of a text fight he had with an anonymous source, who allegedly told him, “You said [too] much. Time for you to go.” Suge J. Knight claims Tupac is in Malaysia Then he added photos that appear to show an older Shakur with 50 Cent and Beyoncé, apparently as evidence. Throughout Knight’s Instagram story, he also mentions the Illuminati and capped it all off by insisting he’s “not on drugs.” 50 Cent and Tupac Pac was mysteriously gunned

I'm a fan - Klitschko tipping Joshua for long stay at the top Of Boxing

Anthony Joshua has two high-profile heavyweight rivals in Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, but he has Wladimir Klitschko's backing. Wladimir Klitschko has warned Anthony Joshua that long-term success is no simple task in the heavyweight division, but he is backing the IBF, WBO and WBA champion to deliver. Joshua defeated Klitschko by knockout in 2017 and has since maintained his perfect winning record, most recently grounding Alexander Povetkin at Wembley last month. The Briton continues to be linked with high-profile fights with rivals Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, who have each talked up their chances against Joshua, but Klitschko believes the 28-year-old is cut out for a long career at the top. "We will see how much and how big [Joshua's] desire is to stay successful," said Klitschko. "It's easy to have success for a short period of time but to maintain it for a long time is really challenging. "I'm a fan of Joshua so, due to his athle