Gerrard Quits International Football

Latest reports emanating from the United Kingdom, UK, suggest that England captain Steven Gerrard has retired from the international football.

According to BBC, the Liverpool captain made the disclosure on Monday, 21 July, 2014.

The 34-year-old, who captained the Three Lions at the just concluded 2014 FIFA World Cup held in Brazil, where England bowed out in the group stage, had his last appearance for England during a 0-0 draw with Costa Rica in Brazil. 

Stevy G has a total of 114 appearances for the English national team. Gerrard won his first cap in a 2-0 win over Ukraine in 2000.

Facebook Names Shakira As The Most Popular Person Ever

Colombian singer Shakira has been declared as the person with the most "liked" page on Facebook.

According to a statement released by Facebook on Monday, 21 July, 2014, with over 100 million likes, Shakira’s Facebook account is the second most-liked page behind Facebook’s own page.

It was gathered that Shakira joined Facebook in 2007 and has a comfortable lead on her fellow pop stars, trailed by Eminem (91.9 million), Rihanna (89.1 million), Michael Jackson (76.9 million) and Katy Perry (72.5 million).

A photo of the singer standing in the Maracanã football stadium in Brazil, where she performed at the closing ceremony of the World Cup 2014, has become her most popular post with 3.6 million likes.

Liberian Man Tested For Ebola Virus In Lagos

A Liberian man has been tested for the deadly Ebola virus in Lagos.

According to the Lagos State Ministry of Health, the Liberian man, who is said to be in his 40s, was tested to be carrying the virus on Thursday, 24 July, 2014.

The Lagos State Government, in a statement, stated that the Liberian, who is now a suspect, and a possible 30 others may have had contact.

Officials of the government also informed that the man is in a private hospital in the Obalende area of the State.

It was gathered that the hospital housing the Liberian has been cordoned off and the victim isolated.

End comes for notorious Venezuelan vertical slum

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CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The beginning of the end came for the world's tallest slum Tuesday as officials began evicting thousands of squatters from a haphazard community inside the half-built Caracas skyscraper known as the Tower of David.

Police in riot gear and soldiers with Kalashnikov assault rifles stood on side streets as dozens of residents boarded buses for their new government-provided apartments in the town of Cua, 23 miles (37 kilometers) south of Caracas.

Ernesto Villegas, the government minister overseeing Caracas' redevelopment, told reporters the residents could not be allowed to stay indefinitely because the 45-story building in the heart of the capital is unsafe.

He said children have fallen to their deaths from the tower, which in some places is missing walls or windows. The damp, foul-smelling concrete lobby attested to the lack of working plumbing.

Peek at desert home that Obama's rumored to be buying

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President Obama grins on the tarmac at Palm Springs International Airport in February 2014.

Fanned by the Los Angeles Times' very plugged-in Hot Property columnist and real estate reporter Lauren Beale, rumors have flared that President Obama and his family have bought a home in the California desert.

Beale's sources say Obama is in escrow on a 3-acre property in Rancho Mirage's Thunderbird Heights, an exclusive gated community once home to Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.

It has a 20-foot waterfall with a lagoon, a putting green with a sandtrap, and more recreational opportunities. Click here or on a photo for a slideshow of the home.

The home had been listed for as much as $12.5 million over the past few years, but most recently landed at $4.25 million, and real estate agent Marc Lange suggested back in May that the seller would be willing to take $4 million. Lange and his colleague Carl Blea hold the listing at HOM Sotheby's International Realty.

Getting Eight Hours of Sleep a Night? You Might Just Want to Cut Back

CEOs, politicians and other high achievers (we’re looking at you,Hillary Clinton) may only need an insane three to five hours of sleep a night. But normal folk require the optimal eight. Right? Not exactly, according to a glut of new research that shows Americans are on average sleeping less than they used to — and that seven hours might actually be the better span to aim for.

HIV pills show more promise to prevent infection

The research was discussed Tuesday at the International AIDS Conference in Melbourne, Australia, and was published by the British journal Lancet Infectious Diseases.There is more good news about HIV treatment pills used to prevent infection in people at high risk of getting the AIDS virus: Follow-up from a landmark study that proved the drug works now shows that it does not encourage risky sex and is effective even if people skip some doses.

It involves 1,600 gay men and transgender women who took part in the original study showing that daily use of the drug Truvada (true-VAH'-duh) lowered the risk of getting HIV.

After the study ended, they were offered the chance to keep getting the pills for free, and three-quarters of them agreed. All were studied for another 17 months.

None who took the pills at least four days a week became infected. Even use two or three days a week lowered the risk of infection compared to taking the pills less often or not at all. Researchers could tell how often the drug was taken because they measured it in blood samples.

Ogo Obi, The Nigerian Messi, Joins Man United On Trial

Talented striker of Nigerian origin, Ogo Obi, has joined one of the top clubs of the English Premier League (EPL), Manchester United, on trial, goal.com report.

The 16-year-old player is considered to be among the most promising players for his age in England. He gained recognition and attention during the 2013 Milk Cup. 

Watford striker Ogo Obi wins Golden Boot award at Milk Cup 2013. Photo credit – WatfordObserver

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo Reveals Why He Has No Tattoos

Real Madrid star striker Cristiano Ronaldo has confessed that he does not have tattoos in order to be able to donate blood, which he does twice a year.

Photo: Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese, know over his active participation in charity projects, revealed that to continue blood donation he needs to avoid ink on his body, 360nobs.com reports.

He was quoted saying in an interview by Diretta News:

Nigeria Moves 10 Spots On Latest FIFA Ranking

Less than five days after Germany won the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the European country has returned to the top of FIFA world rankings for the first time in around 20 years.

According to the latest list published on Thursday, 17 July, 2014, Germany moved up one place to depose former table topper Spain on the strength of their 1-0 defeat of Argentina at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium in Brazil.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina are placed second, an improvement of three places, with the Netherlands leaping 12 rungs into third after their impressive World Cup third place finish.

The James Rodriguez-inspired Colombia move up to fourth (+4), ahead of Belgium (+6) and Uruguay, while disappointing Brazil dropped four spots to seventh.

Nigerian Student Builds Solar-Powered Car

A young Nigerian student doing his last year in electronic and electrical engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has built a car operating on solar power.

Photo: Segun Oyeyiola

Segun Oyeyiola explains that his car uses both wind and solar energy for the functioning, The Net reports. Moreover, the man developed an application for its installation in the car, which app will inform the driver about the battery level, weather conditions and other essential parameters. 

Genevieve Nnaji Is A Very Lovely Person - Mikel Obi

Genevieve Nnaji and Mikel Obi

Footballer Mikel Obi shared his attitude toward Nollywood actress Genevieve Nnaji describing her as a lovely person.

Schoolboy Remarries 62-Year-Old Woman In Mpumalanga, South Africa

A 9-year-old school boy has tied the knot with his 62-year-old bride in Ximhungwe, Mpumalanga, South Africa, to the amazement of all.

The 9-year-old Saneie Masilela due to ‘family culture’, has decided to remarry his bride, Helen Shabangu, who has already had five children.

Messi Should Not Have Won Golden Ball — Maradona

Famous Argentine Number Ten and World Cup Winner Diego Maradona has come out and said that despite his biased love for Lionel Messi he believes Colombia’s James Rodriguez deserved to be named best player of the World Cup.

Maradona who had helped Argentina win the World Cup in Mexico 1986 said after seeing his nation lose 1-0 to Germany: “I’d give Lio the sky, but when it’s not deserved and it’s just marketers who want to make him win something he didn’t win, it’s unfair,”,“Rodriguez was the best player of the World Cup,”.

Rodriguez had scored six goals in the World Cup lighting up the tournament with brilliant play in the midfield, while Messi played well in only the group stage where he scored four goals and failed to show up in the latter stages.

FIFA Gives Nigeria More Days To Respond To Ban

World football governing body, FIFA, has extended the deadline date for Nigeria to respond to the ban imposed on the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

According to a statement on FIFA’s website, Nigeria now has to make amendments by July 17, 2014, or risk an outright ban.

It was gathered that the extension was granted due to the industrial action embarked on by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria.

The statement read that FIFA, in its magnanimity, has extended the window in order to give the NFF enough time to withdraw the court case that was instituted by Ruth Baribote, owner of Nembe FC, and also reinstate the Aminu Maigari-led Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board.

Arsenal Agree Deal With Real Madrid On Khedira

Less than a week after snapping up Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona, reports in Spain are saying Arsenal have agreed a deal for Sami Khedira.

It was reported last week that Chelsea were planning to hijack the Gunners for the Real Madrid man, but with this latest report, Arsenal’s coach, Arsene Wenger, has taken the biggest step yet to securing the defensive midfield player after allegedly agreeing a £23m fee with the Spanish giants.

The German international, who missed last night’s World Cup final after suffering an injury in the warm-up, has been a target for Wenger this summer.

According to a report published by Catalan daily newspaper Sport on Monday, 14 July, 2014, the deal between Real Madrid and Arsenal, could see Arsenal drop their interest in Bayer Leverkusen’s Lars Bender.

Pictures Of 25 Murdered Prostitutes Emerges

Horrific pictures displaying dead bodies of some of the 25 women murdered in Baghdad brothel raid have emerged, showing gunmen in camouflage with weapons fitted with silencers.

The policemen, who rushed to the crime scene following a tip off, entered the building to find blood streaming down the stairs and over two dozens of dead bodies in a number of rooms lying in pools of blood. An inscription on the wall of one the rooms at the crime scene read: "This is the fate of prostitution".

Africa Queen: Beyonce Rocks Ankara Print

Popular singer Beyonce decided to treat her fans to some amazing photos as she posed in Ankara prints.

Beyonce rocking ankara print

Church of England Says Yes To Female Bishops

For the first time in history, the Church of England on Monday voted in favour of women being allowed to become bishops, breaking nearly 2,000 years of tradition and ending 20 years of bitter compromises since women were allowed to become priests in 1994.

152 members of the synod voted in favour while 45 were against it.

This means that next year, the first woman might become a suffragan (assistant) bishop and her appointment could be announced before the end of 2014.

A previous attempt in 2012 failed when 74 lay members voted against, preventing the required two-thirds majority among the laity.

According to The Guardian report, the vote may have been tipped by a closing speech of astonishing force and passion by a blind evangelical Christian who rose to become managing director of Lloyds bank after he had lost his sight.

Catholic Priest Lands In Trouble Over Child Pornography

A 69-year-old Catholic priest, Father Stanislaus Hogan, has been dragged to court after the police found 1555 child pornography images in his bedroom at St Ignatius College in Adelaide where he worked.

His main interest was in images of boys in the low-to-mid teens, the very age range of children at the school where he was employed, Daily Mail reports.

More than 70 percent of the images were classed in the least serious category involving no sexual activity, but five images and videos were in category five, the most serious.

Nigerian Women Come To Italy For Honest Work But End Up As Prostitutes

Police control find a Nigerian woman working as a prostitute in the outskirt of Turin

Nigerian women who came to Italy to work as nannies or in factories often end up working the streets as prostitutes.

Paris-based photographer Elena Perlino, originally from Italy, decided to highlight their plight to the world. She began to notice the presence of young African women working on the streets during her commutes from Turin.

Giant 110Kg Tumour Removed From Man Who Could Not Move For 20 Years

The world’s largest tumour have been removed from a body of a Chinese man in Beijing.

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PHOTOS: Manchester United Launches New Home Kit

Manchester United have unveiled their new home kits as they mark the beginning of the most lucrative shirt sponsorship deal in football history. 

According to ESPN, the 2013 Premier League champions are beginning a seven-year contract with car manufacturers Chevrolet worth 53 million pounds a season.

A typical red shirt has a white collar and a label inside the back reads "Youth, Courage, Greatness," which United believe sums up their values.

It was gathered that Louis van Gaal’s side will wear the new strip for the first time in a preseason friendly against Los Angeles Galaxy on 23 July, 2014.

United are in the final year of a deal with kit manufacturers Nike and the subsequent contract is expected to bring in a record-breaking sum.

The Old Trafford club finished 7th in the league last season which led to former coach, David Moyes’ sack.