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Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has cast doubt over the future of striker Diego Costa, having insisted he’s unsure whether the Spain international will be a Blues player by the end of the transfer window. The Italian coach was speaking after he saw his side lose 3-2 to Real Madrid in a friendly match in Michigan on Saturday. As reported by Stephen Mills of Sky Sports, Conte was noncommittal when talk turned to the status of Costa, who has been linked with a move back to former club Atletico Madrid: I can say that today Costa is a Chelsea player. He didn't play in these games because of injury and if he solves the injury and I see in training that he is in good shape it can be possible to see him in the next game against Milan. But I can say only this. I speak only for today and today Costa is Chelsea's player. Tomorrow if you ask me if Costa will remain with us, I don't know. TONY DING/Associated Press Costa has been Chelsea’s main goalscoring threat sinc...

Moviegoers had no trouble remembering “Jason Bourne” this weekend, powering the bone-rattling action franchise’s fifth entry to an estimated $60-million opening to lead the North American box office. The Universal film’s three-day total was the second-best debut for a “Bourne” feature, trailing the $69.2-million opening of 2007’s “The Bourne Ultimatum.” “Jason Bourne,” which returned Matt Damon to the title role after he sat out "The Bourne Legacy" in 2012, found more favor with audiences than critics. Moviegoers gave the film an A- grade, according to the market research firm Cinemascore, but it scored a so-so 58 on the review aggregator website Metacritic. Exit polls showed the audience split 55% to 45% male-female, with 60% 35 and older. Skewing older might help "Bourne” weather a second weekend in which it will be up against the DC Comics superhero movie “Suicide Squad.” The spy thriller   also opened in 46 international markets, grossing an estimated...

A new clip posted by “The Simpsons” showrunner, Al Jean, has Marge and Homer Simpson deciding who to vote for in the upcoming presidential election. Spoofing a previous campaign ad by Hillary Clinton, the video plays out both possible scenarios if the White House receives a call at 3 a.m. that proves to be detrimental to the United States’ homeland security. First, President Bill Clinton answers and hands the phone over to the Madam President, his wife Hillary. The next scene plays out a Trump administration scenario, and the pivotal 3 a.m. call becomes a complete fiasco. First, Trump hangs up on the incoming urgent call from Situation Room because “I’m on Twitter.” Once he finally decides to head down to the ever important room, he takes way too long getting ready: getting a spray tan, topping his bald head off with a toupée that’s depicted as a living dog, and attaching a pair of fake, tanned, bigger hands. Looking closely, other shots animators to...

Lewis Hamilton took full advantage of Nico Rosberg’s miserable afternoon to win the German Grand Prix and extend his championship lead to 19 points. Hamilton capitalised on his team-mate’s poor start from pole position to claim his sixth victory in seven races. If the Briton enjoyed a straightforward afternoon, Rosberg’s home race went from bad to worse. He was handed a five-second penalty for forcing Max Verstappen off the road midway through the race. F1 GERMAN GRAND PRIX RESULTS AND CURRENT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS 1 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes 1hr 30mins 44.200secs 2 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:30:51.196 3 Max Verstappen (Hol) Red Bull 1:30:57.613 4 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes 1:31:00.045 5 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:31:16.770 6 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:31:21.223 7 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Force India 1:31:54.249 8 Jenson Button (Gbr) McLaren at 1 Lap 9 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Williams at 1 Lap 10 Sergio Perez (Mex) Force I...

Two men have been placed under formal investigation over the murder of a priest in a Normandy church, including a cousin of one of the killers. Farid K, 30, a cousin of attacker Abdel Malik Petitjean, was arrested on suspicion of terrorist association. The other man, named as Jean-Philippe Steven J, 20, was put under formal investigation for attempting to travel to Syria in June with Petitjean. Petitjean and fellow attacker Adel Kermiche were shot dead by police. They had killed Father Jacques Hamel, 86, inside the church in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray and taken hostages.

The President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Ikechukwu Anyene, has confirmed that two Nigerians were killed in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province. Anyene told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Port Harcourt in a telephone interview from Pretoria that the two men were killed on Friday, July 29, at different areas of Johannesburg. President Muhammadu Buhari and President Jacob Zuma of South-Africa He said that the first victim, Gideon Ogalaonye, an indigene of Onitsha, Anambra, was allegedly shot dead at 7 p.m. while on a visit to the residence of his daughters. He said that the second victim, Nnamdi Michael, an indigene of Enugu state, was allegedly stabbed to death by a Zimbabwean national at Yeoville at 8 p.m on the same day. Anyene said witnesses said the assailant first demanded money from Michael, which was not given and later attempted to forcefully remove his phone. He said the assailant stabbed the victim, adding that Nigerians at the scene pursued and arreste...

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) yesterday said it has withdrawn the list of recommended candidates for admission earlier sent to the tertiary institutions. In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Head of Media, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, he said the withdrawal is to ensure the university senate perform its statutory responsibility. ‎The statement reads ; “This is to ensure that the University Senate perform its statutory responsibility of conducting the selection of candidates and refer it to JAMB for confirmation in line with the admission criteria of merit, catchment and educationally disadvantaged states as directed by the Hon Minister of Education at the policy committee meeting. “The earlier list was sent to help fast track the process of admission so as to allow other tiers of institutions also conduct their admission. “Candidates should not panic because this is part of the process of the 2016 admission exercise. JAMB regrets any inconvenience this decision...

Rangers are back on top of the Nigeria league table after they forced a 1-1 draw in the ‘Oriental Derby’ against champions Enyimba. Rangers are now top of the table with 48 points from 28 matches, a point ahead of Wikki Tourists, who lost their leadership after they lost 3-0 at Akwa United, also on Sunday. Striker Stephen Chukwude gave Enyimba the lead in the 45th minute when he fired home a low, left-footed shot beyond goalkeeper Itodo Akor off an assist by Joseph Osadiaye. However, moments later Rangers restored parity through Godwin Aguda with a cut-back from Bobby Clement. In other matches, Shooting Stars defeated Sunshine Stars 2-1, Lobi hammered Warri Wolves 3-0, Plateau upstaged hosts MFM 1-0 and Niger Tornadoes stopped Abia Warriors 2-1. IfeanyiUbah extended their unbeaten run to 10 matches after they defeated Kano Pillars 2-1, while the match between Rivers United and Ikorodu United was shifted after the Port Harcourt outfit were involved in a road accident.

Head Coach of the Nigeria Olympic team, Samson Siasia has appointed Chelsea midfield ace John Mikel Obi as captain of the team going into the men’s football tournament of the 31st Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Making the announcement on Saturday while meeting with players and other officials, Coach Siasia said the choice of Mikel Obi was automatic as he is the captain of the Super Eagles and also the captain of Team Nigeria to the Games. “It’s just natural for me to pick Mikel as our captain.  Aside the fact that he is the captain of the Super Eagles, he is also Team Nigeria captain, so after meeting with both of them and explaining my position, I am pleased to say Azubuike who has been our captain understood and was happy to hand over the captain’s band to Mikel. “It is a thing of joy for my team to produce the first footballer to captain Team Nigeria to the Olympics. This, to me, is more than gratifying.” The players unanimously accepted Mikel Obi as their captain and ex...

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), yesterday, lamented the rising spate of attack by herdsme‎n on farming communities across the country, while it called on the Federal Government to take decisive actions to disarm Fulani herdsmen, so as to stem the growing wave of attack and killings of harmless farmers. In a communiqué issued by the Diocese of Kubwa, on the second session of the third synod in St. Bartholomew’s Cathedral , Kubwa , Abuja, said the attacks on farming communities is inimical to Nigeria’s desire to diversify its economy through agriculture. In the communiqué signed by the Bishop, Rt. Rev. Duke Akamisoko, the church noted that it was trying to recover from the effect of the massive destruction of lives and property in the North Eastern states of Nigeria by Boko Haram insurgents, the incessant killings of Christians like the women killed at Kano and Kubwa which were worrisome. He said “The Synod notes with dismay the prevalent attack on farming communities by Fu...

Femi Falana Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), added his voice to the call for investigation and prosecution of federal lawmakers involved in the padding of the 2016 budget, but said the Department of State Service lacked both the moral and legal rights to carry out the probe. Falana said in a statement on Sunday that the DSS had by its recent acts lost moral right to probe the scam and thus could not be trusted with such responsibility. He cited as an example, DSS’ recent arrest and detention of the principal officers and administrative staff of the Zamfara State House of Assembly for attempting to commence an impeachment proceedings against Governor Mohammed Yari on grounds of alleged corrupt practices He also said there was no legal backing for the DSS to embark on such investigation as the agency, according to the senior lawyer, by virtue of National Security Agencies Act, was strictly limited to the “preservation and detection within Nigeria of any crime agains...

Mike Abdul is certainly one of the artistes that have revamped gospel music in Nigeria and he has endeared so many people to his heart. However, since it was rumoured about three years ago that his marriage had hit the rocks, the young artiste had chosen not to talk about his status and based on that, so many took his silence for the truth. But in a telephone chat with Saturday Beats, the Morire singer said that he was not divorced. He told Saturday Beats that it was a misconception for people to think he is legally free from his marriage. “I have learnt not to comment on issues that border on my marriage. Initially when I started having bad press, I was not happy. I discovered that I was making those who wanted to make me sad, happy. It doesn’t make sense to give happiness, gladness and fulfilment to my enemies. I would like to correct a general notion; I am not divorced in anyway. I think it is people’s misconception; let us just leave it at that. People have their issues and it tak...

Pope Francis arrives in popemobile for a mass in the Campus Misericordiae in Brzegi near Krakow on July 31, 2016 at the end of the World Youth Days (WYD). Prayer was not the only thing on the minds of hundreds of thousands of young Catholics at the World Youth Day extravaganza in Poland this week, some were also looking for love. Headlining the event in a village near Krakow, Pope Francis, 79, was an enthusiastic matchmaker, offering his top tips for happy relationships. “World Youth Day can be a bit of a marriage agency,” Sophie Jubin, a 20-year-old Swiss, told AFP as she spent a hot summer night under the stars. Some 400,000 young Catholics travelled from 187 countries around the world for the event and at least a million more people, many of them Poles, attended a lively papal mass on Sunday. “You want to find someone with the same values as you,” said Jubin, lamenting that “in our group – it’s funny – there are 250 girls and 50 boys, so lots of girls are disappointed!...

Chief Edwin Clark Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State; elder statesmen, Chief Edwin Clark; and some prominent leaders including traditional rulers of the Ijaw nation drawn from the seven Niger Delta states, on Saturday, met in Warri, Delta State, over the resurgence of militancy in the region. At the meeting, which was convened at the instance of Clark and held behind closed doors, the Ijaw leader said in his opening remark that unless Nigeria was restructured, marginalised voices would continue to rise against being treated as “second-class citizens in their own country.” The emergency meeting convened over the resurgence of militancy in the region was attended by delegates from eight states of the Niger Delta region, including Dickson and the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Mr. Kingsley Otuaro. While expressing displeasure over the crisis in the Niger Delta, Clark stressed that dialogue was the only possible solution. He stated that while it was commendable that t...

The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta/Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd.), on Sunday assured ex-agitators of the Niger Delta region that payment of their stipends would continue this Monday. The assurance for the payment of the stipends was given in a statement signed by Piriye Kiyaramo of the Media and Communication Department of the Amnesty and made available to journalists in Akure. Kiyaramo rounded was in Akure, Ondo State capital where he met with journalists on the vision of the government for the Amnesty Programme. Sequel to the assurance of the payment, Boroh appealed to the ex-agitators in the region to shelve the planned protests scheduled for today (Monday) over the delayed in payment of their allowances. The coordinator, who expressed concern over the plight of the ex-agitators in respect of their delayed stipends, maintained that President Muhammandu Buhari, appreciates their patience, adding that the hiccups in t...

Suspected militants on Saturday night blasted the 24-inch oil pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) in Odimodi community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC)’s 24-inch Brass Creek to Forcados Terminal Pipeline, popularly called the Trans Ramos trunk line, brings crude oil from oil well locations in Bayelsa State to the Forcados terminal Security sources told THISDAY on Sunday that the incident occurred at 11 p.m. with a huge fire enveloping the site of the attack. “Suspected militants attacked the NPDC 24-inch trans Ramos operated by NPDC in Odimodi at about 11 p.m. with dynamites. As I am speaking, concerted efforts were being made to put out the fire in the area.” a security source said. Another community source confirmed the incident, stating that they heard a huge explosion late Saturday night only to discover it was a pipeline belonging to NPDC that had been blasted....

Nollywood actor Ani Iyoho has claimed that he is well and unharmed after a video of him burning on a movie set went viral. According to him, the scene wasn’t a publicity stunt but a movie scene that went very well. He posted a statement on Instagram saying: “To my friends For most of you who have ever commented or sent a chat to me you know I do all I can to respond to them all. So it hurt me deeply to keep you in silence and in the dark during this period. I couldn’t avoid it. The calls were maddening. My phone had to be turned off till the matter was resolved in public where it started. It worried the production that anything I might say as an individual may be misinterpreted further worsening the situation. I’m truly sorry beyond words for the emotional stress and inconvenience this might have caused you. It wasn’t a publicity stunt for me as some might still want to have you believe. It was a huge misunderstanding, misrepresentation and misinterpretation of events of that day a...

The newly-appointed Executive Chairman of Heartland Football Club of Owerri, Goodfaith Etuemena, says he will reposition the club and make sure it does not go on relegation this season. Etuemena gave the assurance on Saturday in Owerri during the official unveiling of Heartland FC’s new management team approved by Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo. He acknowledged that the current position of Heartland FC on the league table was bad, but believed the new management could turn the situation around. “It is true that with our 18th position in 26 matches, we are prone to relegation. “Since I assumed office as the Executive Chairman, I have met with the players and reawakened their spirit and gave them full assurances which will enable them to win matches,’’ Etuemena said. “Heartland FC has never faced this kind of embarrassing situation and has never been this relegation-threatened in its history. But my appointment to drive the club came at the most critical time. “I accepted...

Sen. Aisha Alhassan The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Sen. Aisha Alhassan, on Sunday said the Federal Government had released N150 billion for women entrepreneurship development in Nigeria. Alhassan, who is on an official visit to Taraba, told newsmen in Jalingo that the money was part of the N500 billion Social Protection Fund. According to her, the fund has been deposited at the Bank of Industry (BoI) for women entrepreneurs to access. She said out of the fund, N1.6 billion was earmarked for micro finance scheme for women. The minister said that sensitisation campaign on how to access the fund had already begun and that during her visit to the state she had sensitised women groups on how to access the facility. Alhassan also revealed that the National Gender Policy was currently under review to enhance inclusiveness and participation of women in all spheres of government. On violence against children, the minister said 24 out of the 36 states of the federation ha...

Military and police gather at the scene of a suicide attack in Mogadishu, on July , 31, 2016. Six people were killed Sunday in a gun and car-bomb assault on a police building in the centre of the Somali capital that also left seven assailants dead, Security Minister Abdirasak Omar Mohamed said. Some of the attackers rammed two cars into the building in central Mogadishu and others tried to storm it, he told reporters. “All of the seven gunmen have been killed, some of them were shot by the security forces and others detonated themselves,” he said. “Five civilians died in the road and one policeman, so that the overall casualty number of deaths is 13,” he added. Earlier, security official Ibrahim Mohamed told AFP that “terrorist elements” had smashed two cars packed full of explosives into the headquarters of the police’s criminal investigations department. An AFP correspondent heard an exchange of gunfire after the explosions, which took place near a busy junction in the city. “One of...

Migrants sit in their boat during a rescue operation by Italian Navy vessels off the coast The Italian navy on Sunday said it had recovered the bodies of two people in an operation that, along aid agencies, had helped pick up 6,000 people since Thursday. Navy ships patrolling off Libya intervened to help four rubber dinghies and an overcrowded fishing boat, it said. In one operation by the vessel Vega, “five migrants were picked up out of the sea, three people were resuscitated and two were already dead,” it said on its Twitter account. According to the latest figures from the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) — issued on July 28 before the latest migratory wave — 89,217 people, most from sub-Saharan Africa have arrived in Italy by sea since the start of the year. The tally is comparable to the total of 93,000 recorded for the January-July period last year. More than 3,000 migrants have died trying to make the crossing, an increase of more than 50 percent compared to the sam...

PHOTO; nbcnews.com A Palestinian armed with a knife charged at Israeli soldiers on the outskirts of the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank on Sunday and was shot dead, the Israeli army said. “An assailant armed with a knife exited his vehicle and charged (at) soldiers at the entrance to Nablus,” a statement said. “Forces thwarted the attempted stabbing attack and shot the assailant, resulting in his death.” An army spokeswoman specified that the assailant was a Palestinian. No injuries among the soldiers were reported. The Palestinian health ministry identified the person killed as Rami Awartani, 31. A wave of such incidents began in October, part of violence since that time that has killed at least 219 Palestinians, 34 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese. Most of the Palestinians killed were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities. Others were shot dead during protests and clashes, while some were killed in Israeli air st...

President calls for patience as factories, markets and government offices are hit by downturn Nigeria's economy is expected to contract this year for the first time in more than two decades © Bloomberg Sani Garba, a Nigerian artisan, has not had an order to build a metal gate or door, the mainstay of his one-man business, for six months. show more Sample the FT's top stories for a week Close Sample the FT's top stories for a week He still turns up at his small, tin-roofed workshop each morning, hoping for the best. But with Nigeria in the grip of its worst economic crisis in decades, he understands the reality of the market. “No one is building anything these days,” he says, sitting waiting for business with friends outside his shop in the northern town of Daura, birthplace of Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria’s president. His bleak comments are backed up at a steel rolling mill in the nearby city of Katsina, which is operating at about a quarter of its capacity because of low...