Footballer Adam Johnson has lost his appeal for child sex conviction - Sister reveals

Former Sunderland footballer star Johnson was jailed for six years early this year after engaging in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl fan but his sister Faye Johnson has now revealed that he has lost the first stage of his appeal but says he won't be deterred.

The England disgraced winger's sister Faye posted a message on Twitter, saying:

'Absolutely devastated that the single judge has rejected my brother's appeal against sentence and conviction. But I can assure every supporter that it has made me stronger and I will never give up.' 

Minister of Power inspects ongoing construction work at Azura-Edo Power Plants

Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, inspected ongoing construction work at the Azura-Edo 2000MW Electric Power Plant in Edo state yesterday July 11th. 

US Ambassador to Nigeria to tender video evidence of sex misconduct to House of Rep members on Thursday

US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, will on Thursday July 14th, tender a video evidence of the alleged sexual misconduct of three Nigerian lawmakers in Cleveland, USA last month. Entwistle has been summoned by the House of Representatives joint committees on Ethics and Privileges and foreign affairs investigating the alleged sexual misconduct.

In Kano: Government Trains 72 Youths On Automobile Engineering

The Kano State Government has sponsored 72 youths to be trained in various fields of automobile engineering as part of efforts to reduce unemployment and youth restiveness in the state.

The youths are undergoing the training at the Peugeot Automobile Nigeria learning centre in Kaduna.

Speaking during a visit to assess their level of performance, the Kano State Governor, Mr Abdullahi Ganduje, said the state government will begin the training of female indigenes as auto mechanics in order to make the state produce the highest number of female automobile engineers in the country.

"Today I struggled ... but I’ve learnt not to despise the bad days" - Toke Makinwa

This is what she wrote below:

Today I struggled a little bit but I’ve learnt not to despise the bad days. No one is happy all the time, the bad days exist and the key is not to act like they are not there, the key is to embrace them. I’m no superhero and even on my worst days I believe in the power of Godly confession. Godly Godfidence and I know tomorrow will be better #OnBecoming #onestepatatime ❤️

Beyonce And Jay Z are 2016 World Highest Paid Celebrity Couple

Beyonce Knowles and her rapper husband/CEO of TIDAL, Jay-Z, are the year’s highest-paid celebrity couple, raking in a whooping $107.5 million over the past year.

The seriously influential female singer pulled in $54 million, which claimed the No. 34 spot on the Celebrity 100 list—the annual ranking of the world’s top-earning superstars.

Carlo Ancelotti has reveals why he chose Bayern Munich

Carlo Ancelotti has said that he wants to leave his mark at Bayern Munich, after he was unveiled as the club’s new manager on Monday.

Ancelotti, who becomes the second Italian manager to coach the Bavarians, has signed a three-year deal to replace Pep Guardiola at the Allianz Arena.

He said: “I am the second Italian to take charge of the club after Giovanni Trapattoni – a legend. I hope that I also can leave a legacy here as he did.

Breaking: Thierry Henry has left Arsenal Coach role to continue as Sky Sports Pundits

Thierry Henry will remain a top football pundit with Sky Sports after manager Arsene Wenger ruled out a coaching role with Arsenal's U18s.

Henry, the club's all-time leading goalscorer, was offered a variety of options to take up the position - including one day a week - having been working with the youth set-up for four days a week.

Just In: At least twelve persons confirm dead as trains collides in Italy

Two Italian commuter trains collided Tuesday in the southern region of Puglia, killing a dozen people, firefighters said.

Dozens of others were injured when the two trains, each with four cars, collided head-on near the town of Andria on a line with just a single track, according to news agency ANSA and Sky TG24.

A still photo of the crash showed cars crumpled together and forced off the tracks at sharp angles. News reports said rescue workers were pulling victims from the rubble, including a small child who was alive. Video images showed ambulances responding to the scene with other rescue workers.

Employment of Children between 3 to 10 years old unfolds after Staff Verification in Adamawa State

Adamawa Government has said that no worker has been sacked by the government as being speculated.

A statement on Monday signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Malam Ahmad Sajoh, said there was nothing like a plan to sack workers employed by previous administrations.

“The attention of Adamawa State Government has been drawn to a false, malicious and unfounded rumour making rounds that Adamawa State Government under Senator Muhammadu Umar Jibrilla has sacked all workers employed by the previous governments in the state.

VP Osinbajo to lead delegates to AU summit in Kigali

Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 27th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) from Saturday to July 18, in Kigali, Rwanda.

Onyeama stated this on Monday at a pre-AU session news briefing in Abuja.

He said that the occasion would afford Nigeria the opportunity to showcase the successes recorded by the current administration.

The minister said that at the summit would also provide an opportunity for critical appraisal of the 20 billion dollar Nigeria-Algeria trans-Saharan gas pipeline project under the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).

FG, oil workers meeting ends in deadlock, meeting continues on Tuesday

The meeting between the Federal Government and oil workers unions in Abuja on Monday ended in deadlock and would continue on Tuesday.

The unions are the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN) and the National Union of Petroleum Natural Gas Workers( NUPENG).

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said the meeting was moved to Tuesday due to the absence of officials of some international and local oil companies(IOC).

Kachikwu said the meetings were collaborative and frank, adding that all the issues they planned to handle were handled and conclusions were reached.

Wenger instruct Thierry Henry to 'quit Skysports or quit Arsenal coaching role’

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has told Thierry Henry to make a choice between his punditry work with Skysports and his coaching job with the Gunners.

Henry, one of the greatest players to ever play for the club, is currenly working with Arsenal’s academy.

Just In: China lost Sea Case to the Philippines

China has lost a key international legal case over strategic reefs and atolls that it claims would give it control over disputed waters of the South China Sea. The judgment by an international tribunal in The Hague chiefly in favour of claims by the Philippines will increase global diplomatic pressure on Beijing to scale back military expansion in the sensitive area.

By depriving certain outcrops – some of which are exposed only at low tide – of territorial-generating status, the ruling effectively punches a series of holes in China’s all-encompassing “nine-dash” demarcation line that stretches deep into the South China Sea. It declares large areas of the sea to be neutral international waters. 

Rio Olympics 2016: Coach Siasia says his team can do well without foreign-based players

Head coach of Nigeria’s U-23 team, Samson Siasia, has insisted that his team can excel at the 2016 Olympics, despite the non-availability of some invited foreign-based players.

The Dream Team VI are currently preparing for the competition in Atlanta, USA, without players like John Mikel Obi, Moses Simon, Kenneth Omeruo and Godfrey Oboabona.

IAAF U-20 Championships: Nigeria to feature despite unavailability of funds

With less than eight days to the commencement of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World U-20 Championships, the national junior athletes may not go into camping for the competition.

But Solomon Ogba, the President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), has said that even without camping, the junior athletes will feature in the competition in Poland.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the championships are to hold from July 19 to July 24 in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Ogba, who gave an indication that funds were not forthcoming for the athletes to feature in international tournaments, told NAN that he would ensure their participation.

Rivers Assembly grant Gov Wike N9bn loan request

The Rivers State House of Assembly has granted the request of Governor Nyesom Wike to access a nine billion naira loan from the Zenith Bank.

The approval followed a correspondence to the Legislature from Governor Wike.

The governor in his request stated that the loan was to fund the renovation of General Hospitals and Government Secondary Schools across the state.

According to the request read by the Speaker of the House, Adams Dobotorudima, the loan facility will be serviced with the about three billion naira yearly earnings from the investment of the Rivers state Government in Indorama.

Nigerian Ports Authority MD: Amaechi submits name of BBOG co-founder to Buhari

The next Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), may be Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman.

Her name has reportedly been submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari to replace Alhaji Habib Abdullahi, who was reinstated by Buhari in August 2015 after he was sacked by former President Goodluck Jonathan in April 2015.

Amaechi was not impressed by how NPA was being run and had made his case to Buhari.

Buhari, on the other hand, was favourably disposed to Hadiza Usman and may confirm her any time soon, Thisday reports.

Do You Know You Can Charge Your Phone With Your Breathe (READ)

In the era of light situation in our dear country what more can be more fascinating than keeping your phone fully charge every time? Well that solution might just be here.

João Paulo Lammoglia, a Rio de Janeiro-based industrial designer, has already started envisaging that.

Lammoglia designed a mask, appropriately called AIRE, that uses small wind turbines to convert an individual’s breath into electrical energy, making it so that any act of breathing — even while sleeping or running would theoretically charge your gadget.

Court Sentence dismissed NSCDC staff for duping own friends of N136,000

A Senior Magistrates’ Court, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on Monday sentenced a 31-year-old dismissed staff of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Adeshola Adewumi, to four months in prison for cheating his friends.

The Magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Jones, convicted Adewumi, who resides at Dutse Alhaji, Abuja, after he pleaded guilty to a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

Jones said the sentences would run concurrently and gave the convict an option to pay N20, 000 fine.

She also ordered him to pay the complainants Uguru Emmanuel and Okuaka Joel a compensation of N80, 000 and N56, 000, respectively.

Profile of Le Guen - Nigeria Super Eagles New Coach

Paul Le Guen was born 1 March 1964 and he is a French football manager and a former player. His last role was as manager of the Oman national football team, from which he was relieved in November 2015.

During his playing career he enjoyed successful stays with FC Nantes and PSG and won 17 caps for the French national team.

Le Guen had a successful managerial career in France, most notably leading Olympique Lyonnais to three consecutive Ligue 1 titles. He has also managed Stade Rennais, Paris Saint-Germain, Glasgow Rangers and the Cameroon national team.

IMF reveals Why Nigeria’s Economy will decline in 2016

Nigeria’s economy will not appreciate to an impressive level in 2016. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Nigeria’s economy is likely to shrink as it was performing below the IMF forecast for the country.

Gene Leon, IMF resident representative in Nigeria on Monday, said energy shortages and delayed budget weigh on output in the country.

With deflation of the economy by 0.4 percent in the first quarter of 2016, Leon predicted it will experience some growth in the second half of the year, but he added that it would not be enough to upturn initial shrinkage.

Official: France Le Guen becomes Super Eagles Head Coach, Salisu Yusuf rejects Assistant Position

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has chosen Paul Le Guen, as the new Super Eagles manager.

According to the PUNCH, the football house picked the Frenchman, from a three-man shortlist that included Salisu Yusuf and Tom Saintfiet.

It is also understood that the NFF will consider Yusuf as an assistant coach. The former Kano Pillars boss had earlier said he was not interested in being second in command to anybody.

The official said:

North Korea closes diplomatic link with United States

North Korea said Monday it has decided to close its only direct diplomatic link with Washington, a move made days after the United States slapped sanctions on the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, and other officials over human rights abuses.

Pyongyang and Washington do not have formal diplomatic relations, but North Korea's mission to the United Nations in New York has acted as the main communication conduit between the two countries.

Now it will deal with "DPRK-US relations under the wartime law of the DPRK," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korea's state-run news agency.

Renato Sanchez wins E#EURO2016 Young Player of the tournament

Again Portugal might not have light up the tournament for the most part but Renato Sanchez produced a couple of superb performances in the knockout stages and he was named as the best young player of Euro 2016.

Antoine Griezmann Name Euro 2016 Player of the Tournament

Griezmann night might have ended in tears as far as the team success is concerned but he did pocket the major individual award having been named as player of the tournament and bagged the much coveted “Golden Ball award”. He scored 6 goals and 2 assists in what as a very successful tournament on a personal level. Griezmann also won the top scorer award with 6 goals to his name

Bale misses out of Euro 2016 team of the tournament (See List)

Cristiano Ronaldo is one of four Portugal players to have been named in the official Euro 2016 team of the tournament, but Real Madrid team-mate Gareth Bale has missed out.

Portugal captain Ronaldo scored three goals and supplied three assists to help Fernando Santos' side claim their country's first major international trophy.

The Madrid star was replaced by Ricardo Quaresma in the 25th minute of Sunday's 1-0 extra-time victory over hosts France, but his prior contribution had been enough to warrant a spot in the 11 players picked by a panel of experts.

UEFA name the 2016 Euro Golden Boot Award Winners (See Winners)

Atletico Madrid striker Griezmann won the golden shoe award in Euro 2016 having scored 6 goals in the tournament and that's double than any nearest competitor.

Four other players scored 3 goals including Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Olivier Giroud (France), Dimitri Payet (France) and Gareth Bale (Wales). Ronaldo also assisted three while Eden Hazard tops the assist chart with 4 assists to his name.

Hojbjerg completes move to Southampton from Bayern Munich

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has completed a move to Southampton from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich on a five-year-deal for an undisclosed fee.

Hojbjerg is the second signing Southampton have made in the close-season having already brought in winger Nathan Redmond from Norwich City.

The Denmark international made his debut for Bayern in 2013, becoming the youngest player to appear for the club in the Bundesliga, but has since had loan spells at Augsburg and Schalke.

He made 30 appearances for Schalke last season and will now look to establish himself in the Southampton midfield under new manager Claude Puel.

Brazil Douglas Costa withdraws from Olympic squad

Brazil will be without the services of Douglas Costa for the football tournament at the 2016 Olympic Games after he withdrew because of a thigh injury. 

The Bayern Munich winger had been picked as one of the three players over 23 in the Brazil squad for the Games in Rio de Janeiro.

However, the injury has not yet healed, with Bayern making the decision that Costa cannot feature in the Olympics on home soil.