Teen Mom OGTV series stars, Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra weds after 10-yrs together

10-years after staying together as a couple, Teen Mom OG stars, Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra have walked down the altar together after been pronounced husband and wife.

Read: Check out James Madison's 'magical collection' of wedding gowns (PHOTOS)

  TV series stars, Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra, tie the knot
(usweekly)

On Saturday, August 22, 2015, the TV series stars exchanged marital vows at the picturesque Castle Farms in Charlevoix, Michigan, United States of America.

With a large number of their Teen Mom costars present at the event, Catelynn and Tyler shared their first kiss as husband and wife in front of their 154 guests.

  TV series stars, Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra, tie the knot
(usweekly)

For their bridal train, the couple had four bridesmaids and four groomsmen spots reserved for close friends and appearing in colours that include scarlet, white, and black, the ceremony brought joy and laughter to the faces of the newly weds. 

  TV series stars, Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra, tie the knot
(usweekly)

'She would say, ‘I’m going to marry you one day. And I’m like, ‘Yeah, right. Whatever,' Tyler tells Us. 

Some of the interesting moments at the wedding include Catelynn’s mom, April Stotts, and her dad, David, who walked her down the aisle and the couple's 8-month-old baby, Novalee, who was pulled around in a cute wagon and played with flower petals as the flower girl.

  Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra with their bridal train
(Us Weekly)

Read: Couple serve guests weed at their wedding ceremony (PHOTOS)

Notably present on the occasion include TV series stars, Maci Bookout, Amber Portwood, Taylor McKinney, Matt Baier, Kailyn Lowry and her husband, Javi Marroquin.

Unforgettable ExperienceIsraeli photographer captures the fun side of traditional weddings in India (PHOTOS)

An Israeli photographer Sephi Bergerson in an interview with HuffPost India tells of his experiences as a wedding photographer and how he took up the project in 2007.

He said, “A friend of mine in Delhi wanted me to shoot her sister’s wedding in Kerala,” he said in an interview with HuffPost India. “I refused saying that I do not shoot weddings. A few days later when I met with someone from the publishing industry, I was asked about my next assignment, and I said 'weddings' as a joke.”

The sacred fire, or agni, symbolises the divine presence as a witness of the ceremony. Commitments made in the presence of agni are made in the presence of God. New Delhi, 2009
(Sephi Bergerson)

The rest, as Sephi says, is history. He took up the project, and started with a traditional wedding in Tamil Nadu before heading to Kerala. The next seven years saw him travel across various parts of India – from Ladakh to Kanyakumari to cover traditional Indian weddings.

Looking back, Sephi claims that he finds simple family affairs the most interesting to photograph. “The small weddings are as close as possible to what ‘it used to be’ before the digital age and all the money that came to India with it,” he says. “But it was interesting to attend weddings not on my commercial map: Ladhaki Buddhist, a Kodava wedding in Coorg, and a mass wedding of the Dawoodi Bhora in Mumbai.”

  Gaye holud tattva -Is a set of presents for the Bengali bride from the groom’s side. One of the most important gifts is a large 'rohu' (fish) with sindoor (vermilion) & nose ring, accompanied by five little fish to symbolise fertility.
(Sephi Bergerson)

The last, he claims was the most challenging to shoot as he didn’t have permission to photograph, and had to sneak into the masjid. Even though he was caught, he eventually got away and even received the blessings of His Holiness Svedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, heir of the late spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bhora community. Since then Sephi has been invited into many ‘sacred places and intimate moments’ otherwise inaccessible to outsiders.

  A funny moment at a Gujarati wedding. The mother in law says "watch out and be respectful." Gujarati weddings have a ceremony called Ponkvu or Ponkhana where the groom is welcomed by his mother-in-law, who first performs an aarti and then playfully pulls the groom’s nose. This is a way for the bride’s family to remind the groom that he has come to their doors to marry their daughter and he has to learn to be humble and grateful. Anand, Gujarat 2013
(Sephi Bergerson)

“I was lucky enough to witness traditions buried so deep in the subconscious of India that even people from here are not necessarily aware of.”

Sephi’s book ‘Behind The Indian Veil’ releases later this month.

OlamideRapper says he might not marry baby mama

Nigerian rapper, Olamide, has opened up on his relationship with his baby mama and long time girlfriend, Adebukunmi Suleiman.

Read: Olamide, Patoranking, Kiss Daniel set to win a plot of land

 

Menstrual IrregularitiesIll-health, excess weight, stress, leading causes - Gynaecologist

 

In NigeriaNon-communicable diseases may gulp more of country's budgets, Nutritionist warns

Nigerians might be spending more than three per cent of their healthcare budgets on the management of non-communicable diseases in the next 10 years if they do not embark on adequate nutrition and decent lifestyles.

Dr Chika Ndiokwelu, a consultant nutritionist and dietician on said this on Wednesday that at a one-day workshop on: ``Adequate Nutrition and Lifestyle : Essential for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases(NCDs).

Ndiokwelu speaking at the event organised by Coca-Cola Ccompany said that adequate nutrition and positive lifestyles were essential to reduce the risk factors of NDCs.

She described NCDs as a medical condition which were chronic in nature, non contagious and could lead to deformity or death.

She said that these diseases represented a major threat to health and development in the 21st century.

"NDCs account for 60 per cent of all deaths globally and 43 per cent of disease burden.

"There are four major NDCs - cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes mellitus. They are the world's biggest killers as they account for 36 million deaths annually."

"In Nigeria situation, estimation shows that more than three per cent of healthcare cost will form the management of non-communicable diseases in the next 10 years," she said.

 

In BornoOver 500 cases of diarrhoea and vomiting recorded in IDP camps

The Borno Ministry of Health on Friday said that over 500 cases of Diarrhea and vomiting had been recorded in 22 Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps in the state capital.

The Director Medical Response and Humanitarian Services, Dr Muhammad Guluze, who stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri, however said that no death had been recorded so far.

According to him, about 320 of those affected are receiving treatment in about 18 health facilities within the state capital.

He said that the Ministry had already dispatched a rapid response team of medical personnel to the affected centres to address the problem.

Guluze attributed the outbreak of the diseases to poor personal hygiene on the part of the IDPs as well as lack of environmental sanitation in the camps.

He lamented that challenges were being faced on a daily basis as a result of the increase in IDPs trooping into the camps from some of the towns liberated by the military.

"The camps are over-stretched but we are working with other partners, which include NEMA, WHO, UNICEF, BOSEPA and SEMA, to provide conducive, healthy and hygienic environment for the IDPs,” he said.

Miley Cyrus''Donald Trump loved me twerking on Robin Thicke''

Miley Cyrus is opening up about her Donald Trump encounter and it looks like it was a strange but good one.

In an interview with New York Times, the controversial pop star revealed that she received a phone call from the Presidential hopeful the day after her infamous 2013 VMAs performance.

Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke perform at 2013 VMA (Ihatemypublicist)

 Two years ago, as everyone knows, Cyrus provided one of the most controversial pop culture moments in recent history when she provocatively performed “We Can’t Stop” and joined Robin Thicke for “Blurred Lines.” In reflecting on that experience, Cyrus shares the anecdote about Trump.

(google)

 "I was in the studio with Kanye [later] that night, and we watched it back and we didn’t say anything. He was like, ‘That was sick,’ whatever. We woke up the next day, and he was like, ‘Whoa.’ He called and said, ‘Turn on your TV,'" recalls Cyrus. "I was staying at the Trump Hotel and Donald Trump literally called and said, basically, ‘I know everyone’s talking about it, but I loved it.’ I had no idea anyone was talking about it yet."

  Miley Cyrus
(papermagazine)

The comment is unexpected, given Trump’s many misogynistic remarks throughout his presidential campaign, though he’s also been accused of being perverted with some things he’s said about certain women. Regardless, it seems Cyrus is still making sense of the performance herself.

New MusicSlay - 'Goddess'

BuhariPresident promises to end Nigeria’s dependence on oil revenue

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his administration will end Nigeria’s dependence on crude oil exports for economic survival.

President Muhammadu Buhari
(The Nation)

 

Buhari also said that his government would speedily develop the country's non-oil sectors and diversify its economy.

President Muhammadu Buhari
(Vanguard)

 

The president made the comments on Thursday, August 27, 2015, during a meeting with the new Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Mr Fahad Abdullah Sefyan.

President Muhammadu Buhari
(Punch)

According to a statement released by Buhari’s media aide, Femi Adesina, the president said:

‘‘For more than 30 years, Nigeria has depended on oil as its major source of revenue at the expense of agriculture and the non-oil sector which could be the mainstay of our economy.”

President Buhari
(Daily Post)

"As oil exporting countries facing similar challenges due to the down turn in the international price of crude oil, we should be working closer together. Saudi Arabia has done excellently in manufacturing, building of infrastructure and exploration of solid minerals and I believe that greater bilateral cooperation between us in this regard will be mutually beneficial.”

President Muhammadu Buhari
(Vanguard)

Buhari also said that his government would ensure that all pending agreements on trade and economic relations with other countries are speedily concluded and signed.

In LagosBus conductor docked for assaulting traffic warden, food vendor

A bus conductor, Chidebere Ugogi, was on Thursday hauled up before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates' Court for allegedly assaulting a traffic warden and a food vendor.

Ugoji, 27, whose address is unknown, is facing a two-count charge of assault and breach of peace.

The prosecutor, Insp. Frank Inah told the court that the accused committed the offences on July 20 at about 7.15 a.m at No. 1, Limson Road, River Valley, Ojodu, a Lagos suburb.

Inah said the accused assaulted a food vendor, Omolara Adebisi, when he was not served in time.

"The accused went to Adebisi's shop to eat but was told to wait for a few minutes for the food to be ready.

"Ugoji, out of anger, threw caution to the wind, slapped the complainant and destroyed some things in her shop.’’

Inah also said the accused also assaulted a police traffic warden, Kolawole Sunday, who was called in to settle the dispute.

"Again the accused pounced on him and beat him to a pulp and also tore his uniform.’’

The prosecutor noted that the offences contravened Sections 171 and 172 (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 171 prescribes a three-year jail term for offenders.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs M.O. Osinbajo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

"The sureties must show evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.’’

Osinbajo said the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and also show evidence of means of livelihood.
The case was adjourned to Sept. 9 for trial.

In RugbyQueensland, New South Wales prepare to walk State of Origin talk

The war of words will move aside for the on-field State of Origin battle, when New South Wales 'host' Queensland in Melbourne on Wednesday
   

Hostilities will resume in the State of Origin, with Wednesday's game two in Melbourne - with shots fired from the New South Wales camp directed straight back from the Queenslanders.
The Blues welcome back captain Paul Gallen as they look to eradicate their 1-0 series deficit, and the Cronulla Sharks man has already made a nuisance of himself - labelling Mal Meninga's men "grubby".
NSW coach Laurie Daley also accused Queensland of accepting payment to arrive in Melbourne early, with the Maroons' team bus parked outside their East Melbourne hotel more than a week out from the showpiece fixture.
But Maroons captain Cameron Smith refuted Daley's claim, and instead pointed out it was New South Wales who sold one of their home games to Victoria.
"They've chosen not to come down here to promote it. That's their prerogative," Smith said in Melbourne on Tuesday.
"We've really enjoyed our time down in Melbourne. The guys have had a fantastic week.
"We've had some public appearances, we've done some coaching clinics with some school children.
"They were great, and really happy to see the Maroons out here and hopefully we've built a strong fan base.
"And we've done everything we can to promote the game, and promote the sport of rugby league."
Smith added: "We haven't received any funding at all. We've come down to embrace the city, I think Mal and [Queensland Rugby League chairman] Peter Betros spoke about that on the opening day.
"We've come to embrace the town, and grow some support for the Maroons."
On Gallen's comments, Smith insinuated their time spent promoting has kept them away from the off-field war of words.
"We've been too busy to read those headlines," Smith said.
Daly Cherry-Evans will assume the number seven shirt in the absence of Cooper Cronk (knee), while Blues hooker Robbie Farah looks set to play through the pain as he carries a shoulder injury.
Farah trained on Saturday, after suffering the initial injury in game one in Sydney, and claimed he pulled up "fine" from contact drills.
The last time the two sides met in Melbourne was 2012, when the Maroons were 18-10 winners at Etihad Stadium - while it is the first Origin clash at the MCG since 1997, when New South Wales prevailed 15-14.

In GreecePresident names Supreme Court judge as caretaker PM

Thanou, who becomes the country's first female prime minister, will be sworn in later on Thursday.
   

Greece's top Supreme Court judge Vassiliki Thanou was named the head of a caretaker government to lead the country to elections expected next month, the president's office said on Thursday.

After a final effort to get political party leaders to form a coalition failed, President Prokopis Pavlopoulos's office said he was obliged to appoint a new caretaker administration that will be sworn in on Friday.

Thanou, who becomes the country's first female prime minister, will be sworn in later on Thursday.

Fatal LoveYoung graduate commits suicide after fiancé dumped her to marry another girl

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The parents and family of a young graduate of Economics from the University of Benin identified simply as Egoli from Asaba, Delta State, have been in mourning when the lady allegedly committed suicide because her fiancé dumped her and got married to another lady in Lagos without her knowledge.

Close friends of the lady who just finished her National Youth Service Corps scheme, disclosed that she was shattered when she discovered that the man she had dated for over three years and had hoped to get married to actually went behind her back to marry another woman, so she decided to end her life by drinking poisonous substance suspected to be sniper.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Celestina Kalu, Egoli's lifeless body was discovered in her room in the morning by her younger brother who raised an alarm.

Beside her on the bed was the can of the poison and a suicide note stating why she took her life.

ShameSouth African girl commits suicide after sex tape leaked

 
 A South African girl whose sex video became viral could not take the shame any longer and decided to take her life.
  

A 19-year-old South African girl, Christina Fokona, has had enough of the shame, hounding, bullying and name calling and decided to end it all by committing suicide after she overdosed on her mother's medication for high blood pressure, Times Live reports.

The deceased has been haunted by a leaked tape where she and two boys were having sex on their school grounds in 2010 when she was 15 and the boys were 14 and 16 respectively.

The two boys were both charged initially with rape but she had admitted that the sex was consensual.

All three were then charged with 'consensual sexual penetration' under the 2007 Criminal Law, which made consensual sexual acts between children aged 12 and 15 a crime. The charges were later dropped after the teenagers joined a diversion programme.

After the video scandal, Christina moved to two different schools because children made fun of her.

For Christina, the trauma of the incident and the criminal case was too much to bear, coupled with the way she was being treated afterwards and she ended it all last week.

Christina's sister, Bridgette Nzama, said that her family thought she was fine until she committed suicide.

Her mother, Mandisa, was the last person to see her alive.

The last SMS Christina sent to her sister was:

"Thank you my sister for everything you have done for me."

Nzama had supported her sister during the court case, which was 'very stressful.'

"I ended up leaving my job so that I could go to court with her and support her. There were journalists everywhere and she didn't want to talk.

She didn't want to go outside or go anywhere."

18-yr-old girl burnt to death over boyfriend

 

An 18 year-old South African student, Boitumelo Dlamini, has been burnt to death for allegedly snatching a boyfriend from her rival, reports the Sowetan Live.

The body of the teenager was found in a field in Klipgat, North West, and her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend and three of her friends have been arrested for the crime.

Dlamini, a Grade 12 pupil at Elepsa Secondary School, strated dating the 24-year-old man Tokelo Makalepho, 24, from her village, six months ago but her dalliance with him was not taken lightly by his ex-girlfriend who felt she had snatched the man from her.

So she organised with her friends, kidnapped Dlamini and set her on fire.

Dlamini's sister, Nono, alleged Makalepho's former girlfriend was jealous and could not stand that Makalepho was dating Boitumelo.

"She constantly intimidated my sister and threatened her. My sister died because she was beautiful and doing matric.

We understand that they took her into the car, drove with her to a bush in Klipgat and then poured petrol on her and burned her."

The man in the middle of the storm, Makalepho, told the police that his ex told him she will only accept their break-up if he promised to date ugly women who already have children.

"She was angry that I dumped her with a baby. I never thought she can do this, I'm traumatised.

I don't feel that my daughter is safe with her anymore. I dumped her because she cheated on me, she cannot blame me for her failures."

JealousyWoman bathes rival with pepper in lover's house

 

Mary Ifunanya, a jealous 26-year-old food vendor based in Asaba, the capital of Delta State, has been arrested by the state Police Command for allegedly bathing her rival with grounded pepper when the two ran into each other in their boyfriend's home around Infant Jesus Road, in the city.

According to reports, Ifunanya who sells food items at the popular Ogbeogonogo market, had been dating the man who is an Igbo trader in the market for sometime, not knowing the guy was also seeing another woman until she paid him a visit unannounced only to find that her man was inside the locked room with another woman.

All efforts to get the man to open the door proved abortive and in anger, she dashed to her home to pick a bottle of ground pepper and went back to wait for the intruder.

Her unsuspecting rival, on leaving the lover boy's abode, was not aware that Ifunanya was lying in wait for her and as she emerged, the embittered lady emerged from her hiding place and emptied the hot pepper on the lady, targeting her eyes and face.

It was her screams that attracted the neighbours to the scene and she was rescued from the angry Ifunanya who had gone ahead to beat her silly. She was rushed to a nearby clinic for treatment while her attacker was nabbed and handed over to the police.

Teeth Of SteelLandlord’s daughter bites off tenant's ear over light bill

For failing to pay her electricity bills of N1, 500 on time, a 23-year-old hairdresser, Faith Idehen, has had one of her ears bitten off by her landlord's daughter identified as Vivian during a fight in Benin City, Edo State.

The incident which led to the lady having her ear bitten off, happened at her residence at 2, Jesus Power Lane, Ugbiyoko, when Vivian, a single mother who lives in her parent's house, engaged Idehen in a fight when she could not come up with the entire money, paying only N1,000 with a promise to pay up the balance when she came back in the evening.

Thinking the matter had been settled, Idehen was said to have gone to her shop at the Oba Market but the aggressive Vivian trailed her to the market and engaged her in a fight, demanding the N500 be paid immediately.

As other traders tried to separate the warring parties, Vivian allegedly bit off Idehen’s left ear which made her to faint in the process. It took the intervention of sympathisers to revive her and rush her to an hospital while policemen stationed at the market station swooped in quickly to arrest the culprit before other traders could descend on her.

Narrating her ordeal while on her hospital bed, Idehen said:

“I didn’t know that I was being trailed even after I pleaded with Vivian that I will pay the balance of N500 when I return from work. The moment I alighted from the bus, I heard someone calling Faith, Faith and immediately I turned, behold it was Vivian.

She grabbed my hair and started beating me and before I knew what happened I saw my ear dangling with blood gushing out. I was later rescued and rushed to the Central hospital where it was later stitched.”

Power SectorElectricity generation continues to improve – TCN

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has said that electricity generation in the country has reached a new peak of 4,810.7 megawatts.

The record level was reached at 8:45pm on Tuesday, August 25, 2015, the agency said.

This was contained in a statement signed by TCN Managing Director, System/Market Operation, Dipak Sarma

The statement reads in part:

“The Federal Government has been supportive in coordinating the activities of the sector across the value chain.”

TCN also said that it aims at achieving 5,000 megawatts in a short time, adding that this would be an important milestone for the nation’s economy.

The improved electricity situation in the country was first highlighted by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Godknows Igali during a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, August 12.

In BayelsaPirates attack boat, abduct 2 monarchs, one security escort

 

Unidentified gunmen suspected to be sea pirates on Wednesday, attacked two passenger boats and kidnapped three persons along the Ogbia to Brass waterways in Bayelsa.

Asinim Butswat, Police Spokesman for Bayelsa Command, confirmed the development on Thursday but said that details were still sketchy. "I am waiting for details.", Butwat said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the abducted victims were two Okpoama community Chiefs, identified as Chief Blessing Wagio and Chief Isaac Akono-Igolo, as well as a security man whose identity could not be ascertained.

The victims’ boats reportedly left the Ogbia water front at about 2pm on Wednesday for Brass, when they came under attack around Kiberibio area of the Ogbia-Brass waterway.

A staff of the state Ministry of Education heading to Brass, a naval officer and a former Chief Librarian in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Chief Jigekuma Ombu-Kieri, escaped the attack unhurt.

An eyewitness in one of the boats, Mrs Kilete Arum, also told NAN that she saw an unidentified man lying face down in the pirates' speed boat when they were being dispossessed of their valuables.

BuhariPresident remembers Adadevoh, urges Nigerians to unite to conquer malaria

Dr Adadevoh died on August 19, 2015, after contracting the disease in a bid to keep index patient, Patrick Sawyer confined to the First Consultant Hospital in Lagos.




 

 

Buhari remembered the late doctor and her colleagues via Twitter on August 20, while urging Nigerian health workers to join hands with the government to eradicate malaria.

The President said:

“President @MBuhari remembers Dr Adadevoh, and everyone else who died; as well as Dr @AdaIgonoh, and all who survived the deadly virus.”

In Sierra LeoneLast known Ebola patient released from hospita

 
The world's worst known Ebola epidemic has raged in West Africa for more than 18 months, infecting more than 28,000 people and killing more than a third of them.

Sierra Leone on Monday, August 24, released its last confirmed Ebola patient from hospital and began a 42-day countdown to being declared free of the virus, a medical source said.

"Today is without doubt a day for celebration and reflection on the thousands of lives lost during this devastating crisis," said Sean Casey, Regional Director for the International Medical Corps, West Africa Ebola Response.

The world's worst known Ebola epidemic has raged in West Africa for more than 18 months, infecting more than 28,000 people and killing more than a third of them.

Sierra Leone confirmed its first case in May, 2014 and has since recorded the highest number of cases in the region, although neighbouring Liberia has suffered more fatalities.

Adama Sankoh, 35, responded well to treatment and received her second negative test result on Sunday, August 23, before her release the following day, which was marked by a ceremony attended by President Ernest Koroma.

Medical staff celebrated and Ebola survivors held up signs of praise to Koroma at the International Medical Corps treatment centre in the city of Makeni.

During the epidemic, it ebbed only to flare back as scientists said sexual transmission was the most likely explanation for the resurgence.

BuhariPresident registers for national identity card

 

President Muhammadu Buhari was on Tuesday, August 25, in Abuja registered by officials of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to enable him to obtain his national identity card.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents after his registration inside the Presidential Villa, Buhari said the exercise would confirm the country’s population, especially of those aged 18 years and above.

"I think this exercise is very important as it will confirm our population and those, who are entitled to vote - that is those, who are 18 years and above.

"It will complement the exercise of the Permanent Voters Card.

"So, for those who want their votes to count from whichever party or constituency, they should ensure that they and their families are properly captured like I have been captured."

In his remarks, the Director General of NIMC, Chris Onyemenam, said that the exercise was a continuous one.

He said that additional enrolment centres would be established in all Local Government Areas of the federation.

According to him, the commission is also planning to open such centres in hospitals, primary schools, and universities.

He said: "So, every enrolment centre that we have established remains open forever; they are like branches of banks.

"We are taking deliberate steps to ensure that enrolment centres are opened in each local government.

"In collaboration with MDAs, we are now extending it to universities. It will also be extended to primary schools and hospitals.

"With the cooperation we expect from INEC - we are meeting INEC today - it will be extended even further."

Onyemenam said that the commission had so far captured the data of nearly seven million Nigerians.

"The close to seven million that we have in our data base is the product of the pilot scheme that we embarked upon to demonstrate the value of the scheme," he said.

The DG commended Buhari over his recent directive that biometrics data bases in government agencies be expeditiously harmonised.

President meets with Matthew Kukah [PHOTOS]

Rivers Angels crash out of Federation Cup

The Port Harcourt ladies have been sent packing from the country's oldest football competition by their counterparts from Kogi on Wednesday in Enugu

Nigeria Women Federation Cup holders, Rivers Angels crashed out of the 2015 edition after their 2-1 defeat Confluence Queens in a quarter final game played on Wednesday.

Goals from Mariam Aluko and Ginika Ikeh handed the Kogi ladies a comeback victory despite Cecilia Nku's early first half strike for coach Edwin Okon's team at the Nnmadi Azikwe Stadium.

Rivers Angels who have not lost to their opponents in at least four previous meetings started the encounter better with Nku putting them in front in the eighth minute beating hapless Kogi goalkeeper Ruth Sunday.

Confluence Queens threw away several chances for an equalizer with Chioma Wogu failing to slot home a well-taken pass from Aishat Bello while Lola Philips missed a header before the half time break ended 1-0 in Rivers' favour.

In the second half, Aluko snapped the surprise leveler for the Confluence Queens in the 49th minute leaving Rivers Angels in search for a comeback win.

Unfortunately, the Okon's side had their hopes for victory dashed after several unsuccessful scoring attempts when Ikeh netted the winner in the 87th minutes to end Rivers' dream for its sixth straight title.

With this victory, Confluence Queens will face Bayelsa Queens who edged out Edo Queens 2-0 in the semi-final of the competition.

Club Brugge 0-4 Manchester United (agg 1-7): Rooney nets hat-trick as Red Devils qualify for Champions League

The England captain ended his goal drought in stunning fashion against the Belgian side in the play-off second leg on Wednesday, with Ander Herrera also on the scoresheet

Wayne Rooney ended his goal drought in sublime fashion against Club Brugge on Wednesday, scoring a hat-trick as Manchester United ran out 4-0 winners in the second leg of their Champions League play-off.

The England captain had gone 10 United games without netting, but showed no signs of any lack of confidence in this comfortable play-off second-leg victory over an injury-plagued Brugge.

Having triumphed 3-1 at Old Trafford last week, United had little trouble in securing an emphatic aggregate success and a place in Thursday's group stage draw in Monaco.

Rooney's first arrived after 20 minutes following excellent work from Memphis Depay and he doubled his tally with an easy tap-in shortly after half-time.

Juan Mata teed him up to net his third just before the hour, as Rooney completed his first European hat-trick since his debut against Fenerbahce back in 2004.

Ander Herrera, making his first start of the season, added a fourth as United ran riot in the second period - Javier Hernandez also missed a penalty - and Louis van Gaal's men can now look forward to a return to Europe's premier club competition following their absence in 2014-15.

After a low-key opening saw Rooney's long wait for a goal extended to 878 minutes, the forward got himself on the scoresheet in fine style.

Depay cut in from the left-hand side and slipped in a delicate pass for the England striker, who lifted a deft finish over debutant goalkeeper Sinan Bolat and into the net.

Rooney returned the favour nine minutes later with a chipped ball to Depay, but his first touch let him down and Bolat was able to gather.

Depay continued to threaten and broke clear on goal, only to see his eventual shot blocked by Oscar Duarte.

In the 41st minute, Brugge's Tom De Sutter stung the palms of Sergio Romero, who did brilliantly to steal the ball from the feet of Abdoulay Diaby soon afterwards.

Brugge were left to further rue that miss four minutes after the restart as Herrera teed up Rooney for a simple tap-in.

And Rooney completed his treble in the 57th minute with a calm finish through Bolat's legs following Mata's cute pass.

Bolat saved well to deny Rooney a fourth a minute later, but the respite was brief as substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger played a sublime ball to Herrera, who coolly slotted home.

Hans Vanaken then went close for salvaging a measure of pride for Brugge but his thunderous volley crashed into the crossbar.

It could have been worse for the home side had substitute Hernandez not sent his spot-kick wide when slipping at the point of contact after Duarte had handled Rooney's cross, but it mattered little as United advanced.


 

                                                                Manchester United

Club Brugge

Manchester City nearing De Bruyne deal

Reports in Germany suggest a deal is already in place, but while the saga is close to an end, it is understood that exact terms will be thrashed out at the Champions League draw

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Manchester City are finally close to agreeing a deal with Wolfsburg for Kevin De Bruyne, Goal has learned.

Reports in Germany on Wednesday evening claim the terms of the transfer have already been agreed, but Goal understands that while the saga is close to an end, nothing has yet been finalised.

Wednesday, however, proved to be a decisive day in the long-running negotiations; De Bruyne's agent, Patrick De Koster, met with Wolfsburg at their training ground and requested that the matter be resolved before Friday, when the Bundesliga side take on Schalke at the Volkswagen Arena.

Klaus Allofs, the Wolfsburg sporting director, is also understood to have softened his stance in the past 24 hours and will meet his City counterpart, Txiki Begiristain, at the Champions League draw on Thursday to thrash out terms.

City, for their part, are confident that they are close to a resolution after weeks of talks, and are prepared to shell out around £54 million for last season's Bundesliga player of the year.

Goal had earlier revealed that De Bruyne had been left exhausted by the situation, enduring sleepless nights as he awaits updates from his agents.

The deal would take the Premier League leaders' summer spending past the £150m mark, following the arrivals of Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Otamendi, Fabian Delph and Patrick Roberts.

Van Gaal: Rooney & Man Utd have a long way to go

The Red Devils boss saw his main striker net a hat-trick in the 4-0 victory against Club Brugge, which sealed progression to the Champions League group stages

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal believes Wayne Rooney proved his ability to bounce back from criticism, but insists the striker and his team-mates have a "long way to go" this season.

Rooney netted a hat-trick as United beat Club Brugge 4-0 on the night and 7-1 on aggregate to qualify for the Champions League proper.

Those were the first goals of a difficult campaign to date for the England striker, who has come under fire for some of his early season performances, but Van Gaal says he has the right mindset to recover.

"I have given him always the confidence that a player needs, but I think Wayne has a very strong mentality and with his level he always shall come back," he told reporters. "He proved that this evening, but also there's still a long way for him and also for Manchester United."

On the performance, the United boss added: "I'm very happy. It was very important to qualify for the Champions League and we've done it.

"We need more victories like this, that's four clean sheets. And we created chances, but Brugge had to come and leave us with chances. But I was happy."

Van Gaal handed Ander Herrera a place in the starting line-up for the first time this season in Belgium, and after a slow start he set up the second of Rooney's treble and found the net himself.

"He started not so good, he had a lot of ball losses and got a yellow card so I wanted to change him. But I saw he was coming back, and he came into the game. I saw he played well in the double-6 position, but also later in 10 so I'm very happy for him."

United will be in pot two for the Champions League group stage draw on Thursday evening, but Van Gaal says he will be watching the reserves play an Ajax XI instead.

Asked how the competition has changed since he was last involved in 2011, he replied: "I don't know all the teams, but I cannot have any influence on the draw. There was also a lady who asked me what am I going to do tomorrow, I said I shall watch the second team against Ajax because that's more important for me because I can't influence the draw."

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