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As the Super Eagles prepare for the November 12 Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against the Desert Warriors of Algeria in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the teams’ technical adviser, Gernot Rohr has announced that he will no longer invite players he describes as “vacation players” because they have failed to fight for first-team places after two invitations. “Some players have been invited for two matches namely; the Nations Cup qualifier against Tanzania and the World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Ndola which the Super Eagles won 2-1 but were unable to pick first team shirt on both occasions and we cannot keep on inviting them. Now, we wish to invite fresh players to do what they could not do,” Rohr said. According to the Franco- German coach, time has gone when players who are not playing regularly in their team are invited to the national team and not minding they can not measure up, collect bonuses and allowancesb without working for it. “The time is gone when a player comes for two matc...

Arsenal should give Arsene Wenger a new contract to stay as manager, says former Gunners goalkeeper David Seaman. Wenger, 66, has won nine major trophies with Arsenal and celebrated 20 years in charge on 30 September. David Seaman His contract expires at the end of the season and discussions are yet to take place about him staying on. “I hope he stays, they should go all out to keep him,” said Seaman,who won three league titles, four FA Cups and a League Cup in 14 years at Arsenal. The Gunners won for the seventh successive time when they thrashed Ludogorets 6-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday. They are second in the Premier League and have reached the fourth round of the EFL Cup. Wenger has been criticised for his failure to win the Premier League title since guiding the invincible side of 2004 through the entire campaign unbeaten.

The Champions League final could be played outside of Europe, says new Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin. The Slovenian will revive an open bidding process to host the final, and is open to it being staged in New York. “It might be an idea but we have to speak about it,” said Ceferin, who was named head of European football’s governing body last month. The 61 finals have all been held in Europe but Ceferin said travel to the US would be “no problem” for fans. Uefa president, Ceferin He added: “To go from Portugal to Azerbaijan for example is almost the same or the same as if you go to New York. As it stands, Uefa awards the finals without any tendering process, with stadium hosts decided in secret by the leadership. “The bidding process should be very clear because if you get the Champions League finals or Europa League finals as a political favour then it’s not okay,” Ceferin said.

Federal Government has reintroduced disarticulation of History content in primary and secondary schools curricula. Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, flagging off the programme in Abuja Thursday, said the move would enable children gather in-depth knowledge of their past. While calling on experts to develop curricula objectives and contents that would lead to positive learning outcomes,he urged stakeholders to key into the development and ensure proper implementation of the history curriculum when it was finally developed. The minister stressed the need for continuous inclusion and reinforcement of history in the curriculum, to enable learners become well enlightened citizens with respect for diversity and strive for attainment of unity of Nigeria. Adamu said: “It will inculcate positive values of service, morality, discipline, courage, nationalism, and patriotism as shown by the history of our heroes. It will enable children in the earliest stage to appreciate our past, have k...

Ebonyi State Government Thursday said it has suspended a senior lecturer with the state university over alleged involvement in sexual harassment of students. Commissioner for Education, Prof. John Eke, who made this known while addressing journalists in Abakaliki, also announced that four principals of secondary schools were demoted for their various offences ranging from absenteeism and other acts inconsistent with their mandate. He said the ministry was investigating alleged sex scandals rocking schools across the state. He said the lecturer was placed on indefinite suspension, pending the outcome of the reports of investigation on sex allegations leveled against him. “We have zero tolerance on sexual harassment on our children. There is a case in the university where a lecturer was suspended and we are investigating the case and the ministry is now working on that,” he said. The state government also said it would ban teachers who were indicted in examination malpractices for five ...

All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos State chapter, has faulted the handling of the fallout of Ondo State governorship primary by the party’s National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun. The party’s spokesman, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, in a statement Thursday said the party chief erred by sidetracking the views of other members of the National Working Committee, NWC, who reviewed the report of the appeal panel raised to review the controversial primary. The spokesman alleged that Odigie-Oyegun was economical with the truth in his ‘belated’ explanations on why the leadership stuck to the choice of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu as its flag bearer in the November 26 governorship poll in the ‘Sun Shine State’. According to him, contrary to what is expected of a party leader, the chairman manipulated the nomination process to favour the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) chairman, who he described as Odigie-Oyegun’s preferred man for the job. His words: “Odigie- Oyegun approved the use of the tampered delega...

Russia said yesterday that it will extend by 24 hours its humanitarian pause in air strikes on rebel-held eastern Aleppo, taking the break up until in the afternoon today. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said President Vladimir Putin had ordered the extension to 16:00 (13:00 GMT). UN humanitarian Chief, Jan Egeland, said he hoped hundreds of sick and wounded could be evacuated by the deadline. But rebels have rejected the truce, with reports of continued clashes and few residents heeding calls to leave. Egeland said he hoped the first of “several hundred” people most in need of medical help could be brought out on Friday with the help of the World Health Organization and the Red Cross.

National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Monguno and Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, have called for synergy and collaboration between security agencies and local governments across the nation in order to completely eradicate terrorism. The duo spoke during the opening ceremony of the national sensitisation workshop on the implementation of the National Counter Terrorism Strategy, NACTEST, at the National Employers Consultative Assembly in Ikeja, Lagos. According to the Ambode, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello, all security apparatuses must be united and determined in the knowledge that government is committed to providing all the support needed to guarantee victory. He explained that this is imperative and compelling in order to sustain the current successes achieved in the fight against terrorism. The governor reiterated that Lagos State will continue to extend necessary logistic support to security agencies in the state. Th...

Ekiti State government has reiterated its commitment to confiscating cattle found grazing after 6pm in any part of the state in accordance with the state’s anti-grazing law. Ayo Fayose The governor said the law passed early in the year to check the menace of rampaging herdsmen was in the interest of cattle rearers too, as their operations would be streamlined. He spoke in Ado- Ekiti Thursday while inaugurating the Ekiti Grazing Enforcement Marshals, a body charged with the responsibility of collaborating with the police and other security agencies to tackle recalcitrant armed herdsmen. The governor, who lamented that some herdsmen still flouted the provision of the law by grazing in the night when farmers were no longer in their farms, said: “Any cattle found grazing after the time stipulated by the law will be confiscated by the government. Such cattle will be sold or killed on the spot and shared to people as part of our Stomach Infrastructure programme.” According to him, the ...

The National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents, NANTA, has extolled the Minister of State for Aviation, Sen. Hadi Sirika and the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, for granting concession to airlines operating in and into the country to access foreign exchange. The statement jointly signed by NANTA’s President and Publicity Secretary, Mr Bankole Bernard and Mr. Olumuyiwa Adebayo respectively, said that Sirika paid attention to the persist advocacy of the association to the effect that capital controls placed by government were stifling development in the aviation sector, thereby making business difficult for airlines and reducing the capacity of Nigerians to embark on their legitimate travel business due to escalating air fares. The association declared that the decision of the government to give concession to airlines in the sector would bolster the confidence level of the operators in Nigeria’s economy and reverse all the drawbacks that the industry had suffered in recent months. It ...

The World Bank yesterday revised upwards its 2017 forecast for crude oil prices, raising it from $53 per barrel to $55 per barrel as members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) prepare to cut output after a long period of unrestrained output. The Bank, in its latest Commodity Markets Outlook, projected that energy prices, which include oil, natural gas and coal, will jump almost 25 percent overall next year, a larger increase than anticipated in July, while oil prices are expected to average $43 per barrel this year, unchanged from the July report. The Senior Economist and lead author of the Commodity Markets Outlook, John Baffes said: “We expect a solid rise in energy prices, led by oil, next year. However, there is considerable uncertainty around the outlook as we await the details and the implementation of the OPEC agreement, which, if carried through, will undoubtedly impact oil markets.” The Breton Woods institution also projected modest recovery for ...

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has canvassed the urgent need for amendment of the Land Use Act as a strategic option for improving agricultural productivity and by implication, assure food security in the country. Audu Ogbeh He stated this in the Ministry’s Policy and Strategy Document even as hinted that one of the primary objectives of the government’s Agricultural Promotion Policy was the need to amend Land Use Act. Ogbeh said: “Land is a vital input for agricultural production, and regulated access to it is critical. A key issue is land title and tenure, which define the conditions and rules guiding the right to hold a piece of land for one purpose or another. “About 95 per cent of agricultural lands are not titled, effectively nullifying their capacity to be treated as collateral for financial transactions,’’ the minister added. According to him, experiences have shown that one of the key constraints to land ownership is the time-consumi...

Wema Bank and three other companies Petrolex Oil and Gas, Hyundai and Ajayi Legal Partner have signed a deal with the Ogun State Government to build the second largest refinery in sub-Saharan Africa and the largest petroleum product depot in Nigeria. The Chairman, Petrolex Group, Mr. Segun Adebutu, while speaking at the signing ceremony, said the two projects which will be located in Odogbolu Local Government Area of the state, when completed would generate at least 2000 jobs and greatly increase the socioeconomic condition of the host state. Commenting on the project, Head of Corporate Banking, Wema Bank, Henry Alakhume, expressed delight at the deal. According to him, the Bank is proud to support Petrolex Group in the refinery and petroleum depot project, adding that the project will significantly boost Nigeria’s economy and create much needed jobs. Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, assured Wema Bank and members of the consortium of his administration’s commitment to fully suppo...

The International Air Transport Association, IATA, laid out a transformative vision for air travel that will enable aviation to successfully accommodate a near doubling in demand for air travel over the next two decades. According to IATA’s latest passenger forecast, some 7.2 billion air trips would take place in 2035, up from 3.8 billion in 2016. IATA’s Director-General, Alexandre de Junaic said, “My dream journey through the airport would offer security processes that are both effective and convenient, constant communication that makes me aware of changes to my journey or opportunities nearby, and a more efficient way of identifying myself to the airline, security staff and border management.” Speaking at the World Passenger Symposium in Dubai, de Juniac said that the roadmap to turn this dream into reality is being developed through IATA’s Simplifying the Business (StB) programme. The programme looks over the passenger experience from an end-to-end perspective across all processes,...

The newly crowned monarch of the ancient Benin Kingdom will be known as Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku’ Akpolokpolo Ewuare 11. Oba Ewuare 11 was yesterday installed as the 40th Oba in a carnival like ceremony at the famous Urhokpota Hall in Benin City, Edo State. The Oba was presented with a staff of office by the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. Oba Ewuare succeeded his father, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa whose transition was officially announced on April 29, 2016, by Benin Palace Chiefs. The new Oba unveiled his official title at the presentation of staff of office ceremony, which was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. There was also the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who shares the same ancestral Oranmiyan link with Ewuare. The coronation had earlier been performed secretly according to the demand of tradition, before the presentation ceremony. Our correspondent, who witnessed the event, reports that the crowning ceremony was performed at about 3.00 a.m...

The lingering crisis over the ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, may soon be over as Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and his Osun State counterpart, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, met on Wednesday towards finding a lasting solution to it. The meeting, which was also attended by their deputies, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo (Oyo) and Chief Titi Laoye-Tomori (Osun), and other top officials of both states, took place at the State ExecuChambers of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan. The two governors in a communiqué they signed and read by Ajimobi after a four-hour meeting, restated the irrevocable commitment of both states to the continued joint ownership of the institution. Ajimobi then announced the setting up of a visitation panel headed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Wole Olanipekun, as a follow-up to the meeting. Other members of the panel are Hon. Rasheed Afolabi, Prof. Grace Akinola and Prof. Sola Fajana, representing Osun State; while Dr. T...

With three names, Lagos State tops the number of political ambassadorial nominees, which was presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate for confirmation yesterday. Following Lagos closely are Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Kwara, Bauchi, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto and Zamfara with two nominees each on the list. Imo State and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, had no nominees. The non-inclusion of any nominee for FCT prompted a point of order by Senator Philip Aduda (PDP, FCT), who protested vehemently against the omission. Rising under the point of order, Aduda referred the Senate to Section 299 of the 1999 Constitution, which states that the “FCT shall be treated as if it is one of the states in Nigeria and that the President is the Governor of the Territory with the executive ministers of the federation serving as commissioners of the FCT while the National Assembly shall serve as the state House of Assembly for FCT.” Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who noted the concerns raised b...

In what appeared to be a U-turn on its earlier stand, Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, yesterday, called on judges accused of alleged corruption to excuse themselves from further judicial functions. Seven judges were rounded up recently by the Department of State Services, DSS, in a sting operation aimed at cleansing the judiciary of corrupt elements. The move was, however, criticised by NBA, calling it an attempt by the Executive to ridicule and subjugate the judicial arm of government. But speaking during the valedictory session in honour of Justice Sotonye Denton West of the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal, the NBA President, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, noted that in order to safeguard the public image and sanctity of the judiciary, it has become necessary for the judges involved in the ongoing investigations to excuse themselves from further judicial functions or proceed on compulsory leave until their innocence is fully and completely established. NBA president, Mahmoud He sai...

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, yesterday, reserved ruling on three separate applications seeking to join, stay execution and appeal against the judgment that made Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State. Justice Abang reserved the ruling after he listened to the submissions of all counsel in a fresh application filed by Eyitayo Jegede, who is seeking to be joined and the appeal against the ruling on the suit filed by Biyi Poroye, chairman of PDP in the state. The judge also reserved decision on the application seeking to stay execution of judgment filed by the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the party. It would be recalled Jothat Justice Abang had on June 29, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim as the candidate of the PDP for the Ondo State governorship election, following a suit over dispute on the leadership of the party in the state...

Ebonyi State Government Thursday said it has suspended a senior lecturer with the state university over alleged involvement in sexual harassment of students. Commissioner for Education, Prof. John Eke, who made this known while addressing journalists in Abakaliki, also announced that four principals of secondary schools were demoted for their various offences ranging from absenteeism and other acts inconsistent with their mandate. He said the ministry was investigating alleged sex scandals rocking schools across the state. He said the lecturer was placed on indefinite suspension, pending the outcome of the reports of investigation on sex allegations leveled against him. “We have zero tolerance on sexual harassment on our children. There is a case in the university where a lecturer was suspended and we are investigating the case and the ministry is now working on that,” he said. The state government also said it would ban teachers who were indicted in examination malpractices for five ...

Philippine President, Rodrigo Duterte, yesterday left no room for doubt about where his allegiance lies as he commenced his State Visit to China, announcing what he calls his country’s military and economic separation from the United States. Rodrigo Duterte “America has lost now. I have realigned myself in your ideological flow,” he told the Chinese government officials at a business forum in Beijing. “Maybe I will also go to Russia to talk to Putin and tell him that there are three of us against the world: China, Philippines and Russia. It’s the only way,” he added. Relations between China and the Philippines had soured over a territorial dispute in the South China Sea. But Duterte is taking a different tack, pushing that issue to the background as he tries to forge closer ties with China. A political science professor at De La Salle University, Manila, Richard Javad Heydarian, said it looked like a great gamble. “The usually brash and outspoken Duterte appeared much more states...

Northern youths under the aegis of Arewa Youth Leaders Forum (AYLF) has challenged African leaders to emulate President Muhammadu Buhari in winning the war against corruption. The group’s National President, Alhaji Abubakar Abubakar, said in a statement yesterday that many African leaders lacked what was required to move any democratic society forward, even as he urged Nigerians to rally the Buhari administration to move Nigeria forward. Abubakar commended Buhari for the latter’s towering credentials in the war against terrorism and extremism that has manifested in the release of 21 Chibok girls and other persons held hostage by the Boko Haram terror group. “Most of the now infrequent attacks are on soft targets, which justifies the confidence Nigerians have in the ability of the military leadership to curtail and turn the tide quickly in line with Mr. President’s directives as Commander-in-Chief,” the statement said. “No doubt, several things are wrong. A lot of things can be better....

Republican Party’s presidential candidate in the November 8 election, Donald Trump, yesterday said he would not accept the election result if he loses, as he debated with challenger Hillary Clinton in their final TV debate. “I will tell you at the time,”Trump told moderator Chris Wallace after claiming for days that the election “has been rigged”. The Las Vegas debate continued the campaign’s bitter tone, with Trump calling Clinton a “nasty woman”. Polls showed Trump losing in key battleground states after facing a slew of sexual assault allegations. The candidates declined to shake hands before and after the political sparring, setting the tone for another debate marked by shouting and interrupting. But Trump appealed to the Republican establishment by vowing to appoint Supreme Court justices with a “conservative bent” who would overturn a key ruling that made abortion legal in the US and protect gun rights. He also stuck to his pledge to deport undocumented immigrants and secure US...

A Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSS, attached to the convoy of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Idowu Oyewole, has been shot dead by suspected armed robbers. The 45-year-old police officer and father of three was killed on Wednesday night in his house along Akure/Owo road in the state capital. Son of the deceased, Dare, said his father was eating around 7pm when a neighbour came and informed him that armed robbers had invaded the neighbourhood. The police officer was said to have taken his service pistol and headed for the neighbour’s house to assist in dislodging the gang of three armed robbers. It was learnt that the hoodlums exchanged gunshots with the deceased when they noticed he was approaching them. It was further gathered that the officer ran for his life after sustaining injuries that eventually led to his death. Police Public Relation Officer, PPRO, Femi Joseph, confirmed the killing of the officer attached to the Mobile Unit of the Force. Joseph, who described Oy...

Federal Government has reintroduced disarticulation of History content in primary and secondary schools curricula. Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, flagging off the programme in Abuja Thursday, said the move would enable children gather in-depth knowledge of their past. While calling on experts to develop curricula objectives and contents that would lead to positive learning outcomes,he urged stakeholders to key into the development and ensure proper implementation of the history curriculum when it was finally developed. The minister stressed the need for continuous inclusion and reinforcement of history in the curriculum, to enable learners become well enlightened citizens with respect for diversity and strive for attainment of unity of Nigeria. Adamu said: “It will inculcate positive values of service, morality, discipline, courage, nationalism, and patriotism as shown by the history of our heroes. It will enable children in the earliest stage to appreciate our past, have k...

Chairman Bi- Courtney Group Nigeria Limited, Wale Babalakin, has accused the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, of disrespecting the rule of law by failing to execute judgment made by the Federal High Court which causes underdevelopment in the country’s airport. Wale Babalakin Babalakin made the allegation Thursday during the on-going 4-day public hearing by the House committee on Aviation in Abuja. It would be recalled that Justice Olotu of the Federal High Court on March 3, 2009 passed a judgment in favour of Bi- Courtney Limited which demanded FAAN to hand over GAT and pay damages of N132bn to Bi-Courtney in 2012 which he said continues to accrue till date. The company chief executive also said FAAN has retarded the development of the airport considering that the airport had approved hotel, conference facilities, mono rail, fuel hydrant and power plant projects, but the laudable projects are hitherto inactive due to the non-compliance of FAAN with the court ruling. It...

Former Nigeria coach Samson Siasia is now in oil-rich Qatar in connection with a lucrative top coaching post. “Siasia flew out to Qatar yesterday afternoon. He is there to discuss a coaching post,” a top source informed. Over time, Siasia has been variously linked with overseas coaching posts. The former Super Eagles coach led Nigeria to win bronze at the Rio Olympics in August. His contract as Nigeria Olympic team coach ended with that tournament. It was further gathered that he has already made plans to take some members of his backroom staff from the Olympics should be finally secure the job. He was caretaker Eagles coach for an AFCON qualifier double header against Egypt in March. Besides also coaching the Nigeria U-20s, Siasia has also handled Heartland FC and now defunct JUTH FC of Jos.

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki has said on Thursday that the $13.9 billion allegedly repatriated by MTN Nigeria was enough to pull the country out of recession. Saraki disclosed this while opening the legislative hearing on the alleged repatriation of the funds by MTN, the nation’s giant telecoms provider, in connivance with some Nigerian banks and individuals. The investigative hearing is being conducted by the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions. Sen. Bukola Saraki The President of the Senate, who was represented by the Majority Whip of the Senate, Olusola Adeyeye said the amount involved was mind boggling. “The amount of money involved in the alleged repatriation by MTN could pull Nigeria out of recession. “We are duty bound to make sure that such breach of constitutional processes are investigated; be assured that this is not witch-hunt but a fact finding exercise. “This 8th senate has devoted a lot of attention on legislatio...

Ahead of the Nov. 26 governorship election in Ondo State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Olusegun Agbaje, has warned perpetrators of electoral violence to keep off the state. Agbaje issued the riot act in a statement made available by the Media Manager, YIAGA, Mr David Oluwaseun, on Thursday in Abuja. The REC handed down the warning at the roundtable meeting and induction of election observers by the Youth Initiative for Advancement Growth and Advocacy (YIAGA), and Watching the Vote (WVT) project. The statement quoted Agbaje saying that the ballot snatching incidences recorded in the just concluded governorship election in Edo would not be tolerated in Ondo state. “In Edo state, we still have cases of ballot snatching in 2016; this must not be allowed to happen in Ondo. “In places where I supervise there were ballot snatching even where old women came to vote as early as possible, some young people still came to disrupt the process by snatching ballot boxes,” the com...

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, in conjunction with Heritage Bank Plc, yesterday, commenced the process for the disbursement of N930 million to 310 young entrepreneurs under the Youth Entrepreneurship Development Programme, YEDP, so as to help address the rising unemployment situation in the country, empower the youths and reactivate the economy. Speaking at the commencement of the loan disbursements to the beneficiaries, comprising members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, graduates and artisans, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, disclosed that the YEDP is part of the plan by the CBN and the Federal Government to create over one million direct jobs by 2020. Emefiele, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Corporate Services Directorate of the CBN, Mr. Suleiman Barau, stated that the aim of the programme was to ensure that the creative energies of the over 64 million Nigerian youths are harnessed to stimulate growth, address restiveness and promote economi...

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has said that the revelations by former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, has vindicated its claim that Governor Ayodele Fayose’s election on June 21, 2014 was compromised through heavy funding by the Federal Government, which also deployed the military, including compromise of INEC, to give victory to the governor. In a statement in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday by Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, the party said that Obanikoro’s confession that he gave millions of dollars in cash to Fayose to fix his election had left Nigerians in clearer picture that Fayose won his election through fraud as the party had always insisted. Fayose and Obanikoro “We said it that Fayose was mobilised by the Federal Government with funds, military and INEC to win his election. “Captain Sagir Koli’s tape said it all in an audio recording where Fayose himself said he collected INEC soft copies he printed to win his election before PDP St...

The Russian aircraft carrier fleet has abandoned its flight training mission and moved into the North Sea, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The eight-strong flotilla, led by the Admiral Kuzentsov, is been tracked by the HMS Richmond and several NATO vessels. The Russian media has dubbed the mission 'Operation Sea Fist'. Russian fleet A MOD spokesman said: 'It is pretty unambiguous that they have set a course to pass through the Dover Strait.' Vladimir Putin has already tried to divide the Royal Navy's efforts to track his fleet by recalling two corvettes from the Mediterranean forcing the HMS Dragon to head south from Portsmouth to intercept. It is understood there is also a Dutch submarine operating south of the English Channel.  Prime Minister Theresa May condemned the Russian decision to deploy the aircraft carrier. Speaking upon her arrival in Brussels at her first EU summit since becoming Prime Minister, she said: 'After we’ve left it’s in ...

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique has been ruled out for three weeks with the ankle injury that he suffered in his side's 4-0 Champions League win against Manchester City. It was initially anticipated that the centre-back would miss around 10 days of action but he now faces three weeks on the sidelines, making him unavailable for league matches against Valencia, Granada and Sevilla, as well as the return Champions League fixture against City. Jordi Alba, meanwhile will miss two weeks having re-aggravated a hamstring problem, which was the initial expectation after he limped off on Wednesday. That means that he may be fit in time to play at the Etihad Stadium on November 1 and barring any setbacks will almost certainly be ready to face Sevilla on November 6. Gerard Pique "Pique was injured later in the first half after a tackle from David Silva and, after attempting to play through the pain, was replaced. "He has been diagnosed with sprained ligaments in his right ankl...

Jose Mourinho commented that "where Paul Pogba was, I was expecting more penetration" after Manchester United drew 0-0 with title rivals Liverpool on Monday. Football Funnys @FootballFunnys Plot twist: Juventus sold Man Utd the wrong Pogba. The comments indicated he was a little disappointed with the attacking side of the midfielder's performance at Anfield - and he was far from alone among the Twitter masses. While some angry fans labelled world-record transfer Pogba a "fraud", others simply mocked the former Juventus man's performance. Even Phil Neville even got involved! Goal takes a look at the best reaction on Twitter...   Paul McDonald. @PaulMcDonald7 No more excuses, Paul Pogba is the biggest fraud to ever play football   Philip Neville ✔ @fizzer18 We need more from pogba   Abdul @Flaminiesta Mou...