Wednesday, August 3, 2016
It’s Biafra Or Death – Nnamdi Kanu Insists
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| Nnamdi Kanu |
The detained pro-Biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu has restated his commitment to the fight for the actualisation of the Biafra Republic.
This is contained in a statement released in reaction to the statement made by the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND, which claims an agreement can be reached with the Federal Government to release the embattled iIPOB leader on condition that he will abandon the fight for Biafra republic.
The statement entitled: “Biafra or death” signed by the group’s spokespersons, Emma Nmezu and Dr. Clifford Iroanya, reads: “We want to make it categorically clear that MEND and their Ahithophel Team are strictly on their own and do not in any way, shape or form represent IPOB or the leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. When we say “Biafra or Death”, we meant every syllable of that phrase”.
It further continued: “Again, we reiterate that Nnamdi Kanu is not Ralph Uwazuruike and IPOB is not MASSOB. Therefore, anybody thinking that our leader will renounce Biafra is certifiably mad. For both IPOB and their leader, Nnamdi Kanu, it is either we get Biafra or we die on the process of getting it. There is no middle ground”.
Syria Aleppo siege: Fighting rages as Russian jets strike
Intense fighting has continued around the Syrian city of Aleppo, where a rebel offensive is trying to break a government siege of rebel-held areas.
Over the weekend, the rebels tried to reconnect an encircled area in the east with insurgent territory in the west.
They set off a huge tunnel bomb underneath army positions in the strategic Ramouseh district.
The army has been fighting back with the help of Russian air strikes to stop the rebels breaking through.
Around a quarter of a million civilians are living under siege in rebel-held areas since government forces cut them off last month.
"We are now overlooking the Ramousah area but Russian jets are intensifying their bombing, which is holding us back from moving quickly," a rebel commander told Reuters news agency.
Another rebel source told Reuters that about 10,000 troops, at least 95 tanks and several hundred rocket launchers had been deployed for what he described as the "great epic battle of Aleppo".
The source said scores of suicide bombers had also been prepared to drive explosive-laden military vehicles into army posts.
UK-based monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights described the rebel offensive as the largest so far, involving fighting across the divided city's main battle fronts.
Nadal Confirms Participation In Rio Olympics Despite Injury And Zika Concerns
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| Rafael Nadal |
World number five Nadal spent a lengthy period after his practice session on centre court discussing his plans with the team doctor and team captain Conchita Martinez.
The 14-time Grand Slam winner has committed himself to playing singles, doubles and mixed doubles at the Games, despite worries over whether or not his left wrist injury will survive the gruelling challenges ahead.
He is scheduled to play doubles with Marc Lopez and mixed doubles with French Open champion Garbine Muguruza.”Yesterday (Monday) and today (Tuesday) have been my strongest training in two months and the wrist has not gotten worse,” he added.
Nadal admitted that his best medal chance may be in the doubles where the burden is shared.”It’s true that in doubles, I might go better, but you never know,” he said.”I will do everything possible to make my role the best and bring something positive for Spain.”
Nadal’s decision to play in all three events was a major boost for the organisers who on Tuesday saw world number four Stan Wawrinka pull out with a back injury.Wawrinka was replaced in the draw by big-serving Australian Sam Groth.
Nadal is due to carry his country’s flag at Friday’s opening ceremony in Rio.
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney ‘can play in any era’ – Ferguson
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| Wayne Rooney |
Sir Alex Ferguson has compared Wayne Rooney to Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton ahead of the England international’s testimonial for the club.
Rooney, 30, will play his United testimonial against his former club Everton on Wednesday at Old Trafford, having made 520 appearances for the Red Devils, with the match streamed live on Facebook.
The forward has scored 245 goals in those appearances, four short of Charlton’s all-time club record from 758 outings.
Ferguson, who signed Rooney from Everton in nine years ago and had agree, won five Premier League titles working with the forward, and also lifted the Champions League in 2008.
The Scot, who had disagreements with Rooney in the past, told the official United programme: “He [Rooney] was an exciting signing [in 2004]. It was fairly shortly after I’d got rid of the idea of retiring and changed my mind, and I had to rethink about how we were going to take the club forward.
“When you make the decision to retire, you stop thinking, but once I decided to stay I started thinking again and it was really centred around bringing energy back into the team by looking at young players.
“Of course there was Cristiano Ronaldo, then there was Rooney, and it was a fantastic period. The two of them were unbelievable.
“I always think that great players can play in any era. Bobby Charlton would have been a great player today and Wayne Rooney would have been a great player back then.”“Wayne came in as a first-team player right away, even though he was only 18, and he’s gone on to play for Manchester United for 12 years, which is very difficult in the present day.
Former United manager Louis van Gaal has also praised England captain Rooney, adding: “I was very quickly convinced of his personality and that’s why he was easy to work with. I quickly decided he would be my captain because I saw also the attitude of his fellow players towards him.
“They approached him always with a lot of respect and that’s also important when you have to install a captain. It is very important that he is seen by his fellow players as a very important person in the dressing room, and there is no question that he is very important at United.”
Meanwhile, Rooney’s childhood hero and former Everton great Duncan Ferguson has named the United striker as the “best player we’ve ever had” in the Premier League.
Tottenham’s Son Heung-min targets Olympic gold with South Korea
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| Son Heung-Min |
South Korea international Son Heung-Min has apologised to his Tottenham Hotspur teammates for missing the start of the Premier League season in his bid to win Olympic gold in Rio.
Son, 24, was selected as one of his country’s three players over the age of 23 and he travelled straight to Brazil from Spurs’ training camp in Melbourne following Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Although the group stage of the Olympic football tournament finishes before the start of the Premier League season, South Korea — who won the bronze medal in London four years ago — will hope to challenge for a medal again.
The final takes place at the Maracana on Aug. 20, so the forward would miss at least the opening two games against Everton and Crystal Palace should South Korea go all the way.
“First of all, I’m sorry for the team because I’m going to miss the first game of the season,” Son told Spurs’ official website. “I’ve had a very good time in the first four weeks of preseason with the team, the gaffer and the coaching staff.
“I watched the Olympics in 2012 in London and there were so many great performances there, so many people, so many sports. Everyone is excited. It’s a great feeling.”“Now I’m excited to go to Rio and to play for South Korea. This is very special for me, my first time at the Olympics.
South Korea’s first game is against Fiji on Thursday, with fixtures against Germany and Mexico to follow. But Son wants to make sure he is still in Brazil to play in one of the medal matches at the Maracana.
“If that wasn’t the case there would be no point going,” Son said. “I want to get a medal for South Korea.
“I run for South Korea every time, the same as I run for Tottenham. I’m not going there just to have fun and enjoy it, I want to win an Olympic medal as well.”
Son was given permission by Spurs to attend the Olympics earlier this summer, with the club persuaded by a South Korean policy that Olympic medalists are exempt from the country’s compulsory two-year military service.
India bridge collapse: Search for survivors after two buses plunge into river- CNN
Nearly two dozen people are missing after one of two major bridges connecting the Indian cities of Mumbai and Goa collapsed over the swollen Savitri River.
The bridge gave way at about 2 a.m. local time on Wednesday, said Rakesh Ranjan, Deputy Commandant of the National Disaster Response Force and Civil Defence (NDRF), sending two buses into flood waters below.
The state passenger buses were carrying 22 people -- 18 passengers, two conductors and two drivers.
High pressure from the flooding of Savitri River caused the collapse, Chief Minister of Maharashtra state Devandra Fadnavis said in a video statement on Facebook. The single-lane bridge was built in British-era colonial times.
A rescue effort is underway with four NDRF teams, navy helicopters, boats and divers at the scene.
Fadnavis said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had "assured all help from the central government," and right now a desperate attempt is being made to locate the buses that have gone into the river."
A newer bridge, which runs parallel to the collapsed road, has resumed traffic, Fadnavis said on Twitter, citing a Raigad district official.
India has been hit by severe flooding in the past few days which has taken the lives of 163 and affected as many as 7.78 million, according to the NDRF.
