Liverpool have rejected an initial £23million offer from Crystal Palace for striker Christian Benteke as they hold out for a fee similar to the one they paid last summer.
Press Association Sport understands that Palace, whose own transfer kitty has been swelled by Yannick Bolasie’s move to Everton on Monday, lodged a bid that, with add-ons, was thought could rise to £30million.
Benteke is seen as surplus to requirements among the six strikers at Anfield just one year on from his £32.5million switch from Aston Villa, yet the Reds want to recoup as much of that money as possible and have turned down Palace’s offer.
There is still hope a deal could be struck for the 28-year-old between the two Premier League clubs and it is believed Palace will be undeterred by seeing their first attempt turned down.
The add-ons, believed to be team-incentivised, which were part of the package are thought to be one of the stumbling blocks for the Reds, who will know that West Brom are also keeping tabs on the Belgium international’s status.
Both Benteke and Mario Balotelli could leave Liverpool prior to the window closing next month, though boss Jurgen Klopp last week warned their suitors their desire to offload them would not see them sold on the cheap.
“Having six strikers is a little bit too uncomfortable but it’s still possible,” Klopp said.
“If anybody thinks that because we have more than one striker, we make presents to other clubs, that’s the biggest misunderstanding in world football. We will not do that 100 per cent.”
Benteke left Aston Villa for Liverpool last year having averaged nearly a goal every other game in the midlands and while he was used sparingly by Klopp when he replaced Brendan Rodgers in October, he still scored 10 times. (PRESS ASSOCIATION)

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/liverpool-reject-crystal-palaces-initial-23million-bid-for-christian-benteke/

Former FIFA President, Joao Havelange has died at the age of 100 years. The Brazilian was predecessor to Sepp Blatter at the world football’s governing body, serving from 1974 to 1998. He was an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from 1963 until 2011, resigning because of ill health.

Born to a wealthy Belgian immigrant family in Rio de Janeiro in 1916, Jean-Marie Faustin Goedefroid de Havelange graduated with a law degree, but sport was his true love.

With six competitions held under his tenure, he led the World Cup’s expansion from 16 to 32 teams as FIFA president. Increasing the size of the World Cup to 32 teams gave countries from Asia, Oceania and Africa the chance to shine on the world stage, Cameroon becoming the first African country to reach the quarter-finals in 1990.

His career was mired in controversy over bribery allegations. He resigned as FIFA’s honorary president in April 2013 following an investigation into bribery allegations and was admitted to hospital the following year with a lung infection.

The year he qualified as a lawyer which was before his election to the IOC, Joao Havelange represented Brazil in swimming at the 1936 Olympics.

As well as swimming at the 1936 Olympics, Havelange was part of the Brazilian water polo team at the 1952 Helsinki Games and was chef de mission for the Brazilian delegation at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne.

And it was as a sports administrator, particularly in football, that Havelange made his mark.

He embarked on a career which began as president of the Metropolitan Swimming Federation in Brazil. He also became a member of the Brazilian Olympic Committee and joined the International Cycling Union in 1958.

After becoming vice-president of the Brazilian Sports Confederation, he served as president from 1958 to 1973.

In 1974, he became the most powerful man in world football by succeeding Britain’s Sir Stanley Rous to be elected FIFA president, marshalling support among those unhappy at the perceived European domination of the world governing body.

When Havelange was elected president, FIFA’s Zurich headquarters housed just 12 staff members. But that figure increased almost tenfold over the next two decades as FIFA’s organisational responsibilities and commercial interests grew.

It was Joao Havelange who launched a wave of new tournaments, notably the world championships at Under-17 and Under-20 level in the late 1980s and the Fifa Confederations Cup and FIFA Women’s World Cup at the start of the 1990s.

READ MORE @ http://independentnig.com/former-fifa-president-joao-havelange-dies-at-100/

China launched the world’s first quantum satellite on Tuesday, state media reported, in an effort to harness the power of particle physics to build an “un-hackable” system of encrypted communications.

The launch took place at 1:40 am in the southwestern Gobi Desert, the official Xinhua news service said, and comes as the US, Japan and others also seek to develop applications for the burgeoning technology.

Beijing has poured enormous resources into the race, one of several cutting edge projects the world’s second largest economy has pursued as part of its massive national investment in advanced scientific research, on everything from asteroid mining to gene manipulation.

The satellite — nicknamed Micius after a 5th century BC Chinese philosopher and scientist — will be used in experiments intended to prove the viability of quantum technology to communicate over long distances.

It will also further investigations into some of the more unusual properties of sub-atomic particles, including “quantum entanglement”, Xinhua said.

The term describes what Albert Einstein described as the “spooky” phenomenon of particles exerting influence on each other at a distance, including the ability for paired particles to mirror each other at faster-than-light speeds.

Read more @ http://independentnig.com/china-launches-world-first-quantum-satellite/

Nigerian military will continue to run into crisis with their employed sleeper agents meant to track or checkmate the activities and operations of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), so claimed the militants.

They have challenged the Nigerian military to come to the creeks if it is serious about arresting NDA members, noting that they don’t dwell in the city.

Brig.Gen Agbinibo Mudoch, spokesperson, NDA, in a statement posted on their website claimed that Stanley Tonghan and Felix Miyenminiye that were arrested and paraded by the Nigerian Navy in Delta State are few of the sleeper agents working for Nigerian military in conjunction with one Ayiri Emani and Michael Johnny.

“The suspects (Tonghan and Felix Miyenminiye) were paid N5 million to give Nigerian military intelligence on the activities of NDA. On failing to deliver the suspects were arrested and tagged NDA members. What a shame? Stanley Tonghan and Felix Miyenminiye are not members of NDA; we don’t know or have any connection with them”, the spokesman said.

He said the Navy Commanding Officer, NNS Delta, Warri (Commodore Joseph Dzunve) is trying to impress his boss in Abuja by arresting sleeper agents recruited by his predecessor.

According to him, the reason behind military harassment of towns and villages in the Niger Delta is because NDA has not confronted the Nigerian military in battle.

“We are not scared in confronting you. The creeks of the Niger Delta belong to us, so defeating the Nigerian military is not hard for us. We have made it clear in many occasions that our business is to cripple the Nigerian economy not to kill military (personnel). The Nigerian military should know that our (NDA) avoiding them is not a sign of weakness.

“Any criminal arrested is now an NDA member. Since we (NDA) started the struggle none of our operatives has been arrested. All those in detention in the name of NDA are not part of NDA the world should know this.

“Nigerian military has not seen embarrassment. NDA will keep embarrassing you because the only thing you are good at doing in the Niger Delta region is arrest and killing of innocent citizens of the Niger Delta in the name of looking for NDA and illegal bunkerers. If the Nigerian military is serious about arresting NDA let them come to the creeks of the Niger Delta, that is where we dwell not in the city. “If I (Brig.Gen Moduch Agbinibo) was the Commanding Officer, NNS Delta (Commodore Joseph Dzunve) and commander of the so-called Operation Delta Safe (Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie), I would have been in the creeks instead of sitting at the comfort of my air-conditioned office.

Read more @ http://independentnig.com/2016/08/15/avengers-challenge-army-to-come-to-the-creeks/

Ahmed Bolori, who was declared wanted by the Nigerian Army alongside Ahmed Salkida and Aisha Wakil for alleged ties to Boko Haram, reported turned himself in on Sunday evening but was asked to go back home without questioning.

Bolori returned to the Army barracks, in Maiduguri, on Monday, according to reprots in the media and status updates on his Facebook page.

At about 10am, Monday, Bolori posted a picture of himself signing visitors’ book at a security post with the caption: “I have signed the visitors’ register since and I am still waiting to be taken in. Although the Army guard doesn’t have airtime to contact his heads.” and “Finally, I am driving into the Army Operation Headquarters now.”

About 20 minutes later, he posted another picture, saying, “The Army is now treating me friendly and peacefully, as a nice colonel by the name Ahmed (a military police), just took me to his office to drink tea. May God help us!”

Like Bolori, the two other wanted persons have said they were available for questioning, with Salkida, who is said to be in the United Arab Emirates, offering to return to Nigeria immediately, if the Army would pay for his air fare...

Read more @ http://independentnig.com/2016/08/15/bolori-activist-wanted-for-boko-haram-ties-visits-army-barracks-for-interrogation/

The sour story of an encounter with one of such young men, Bolarinde also a graduate of the prestigious Ife varsity, will remain indelible forever with Temitope.

The official of the Abia State National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Mrs. Akuma-Akpu Christianah may be in for a battle with a human rights body, Women Inspiration Development Centre, (WIDC), Ile-Ife as she would have to answer to why she has ordered for the withholding of the discharge certificate of a female corp member, Ms. Adedare Adebola Temitope after she reportedly suffered violently in the hands of a fellow male corp member, Bolarinde... http://independentnig.com/2016/07/23/certificate-of-female-corp-member-seized-after-colleague-used-hammer-to-remove-her-teeth/

In different raids across Lagos, the state Police Command yesterday said it has arrested 31 armed robbery suspects, 39 cultists, nine kidnappers and eight rapists, as well as 33 policemen for extortion.

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who made this disclosure in a parade at the command headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, also said they recovered weapons and ammunition.

He said the police operatives also recovered 28 cars, 20 firearms, 30 rounds of ammunition, several phones and laptops, as well as gold jewelries.

He said, “Among the suspects arrested were three kidnappers, who were picked up in connection with the abduction of the Oba of Iba, Goriola Oseni.

“The suspects were arrested because they took the information of the Oba to the main kidnappers and they also collected out of the ransom paid.

“Frantic efforts are still being made by the command along the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team to round up others. Those arrested would soon be arraigned in court.

“Also, in another operation, four armed robbers were gunned down in a gun duel with the police. For other suspects arrested, we are preparing to charge them all to court.

“The command also arrested 39 suspects for their involvement in street fighting, gang terrorism and cultism. They are those causing chaos in the state.

“We also recovered 28 cars from the different suspects, as well as 20 different firearms and 30 rounds of live ammunition.”On the rapists arrested Owoseni said, “We arrested six rapists first. Their modus operandi is to use Instagram, a social media platform, to launch adverts to lure people looking for houses.

“One of their victims, a young lady was lured to a hotel and she was raped. They also captured her on tape to further blackmail her. Few ladies have fallen victim of this syndicate.

Read more and See pictures @ http://independentnig.com/2016/08/11/374121/

Donald Trump says it would be “fine” to try Americans suspected of terrorism at the Guantanamo Bay detention center if possible.
The Miami Herald asks Trump whether he’d approve new detentions at the prison if he’s elected president. The Republican says he wants to ensure the U.S. has a “safe place” to keep a “radical Islamic terrorist.”
Trump says President Barack Obama is releasing “terrible people” from the prison. After extensive security reviews, Obama has transferred dozens of detainees to other countries as he works to close the prison at the U.S. base in Cuba.
Trump criticizes Obama and others who want to try terrorism suspects in traditional courts. Asked specifically about U.S. citizens, Trump says if they could face trial in military commissions at Guantanamo Bay, “that’ll be fine.”

Read more @ http://independentnig.com/2016/08/12/374316/

A video appeared online showing an actor narrowly escaping death when fire was set on him. The video also showed the director Stanley Ohikhuare popularly known as Stanlee, continuing the shoot even as the actor burnt.

It also showed a man trying to use fire extinguisher on the burning man but this also failed as the extinguisher did not work. The message under the video said that Ani was able to get the fire off his body and was quickly rushed to the hospital, with his colleagues running around to raise money for him. A picture also emerged of Ani looking badly burnt on a hospital bed.

The video instantly evoked an outrage as people who were disgusted by the sight of the burning man wanted an explanation. Independent Saturday tried to call the director, Stanley Ohikhuare but his phone was switched off and .... http://independentnig.com/2016/08/10/burning-man-scene-a-stunt-that-went-too-far/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday lamented that he currently presides over a country that has been stripped poor owing to mismanagement.

He told his guest, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director and Under Secretary General of the United Nations, Prof Babatunde Osotimehin, that the year 2016 has been a difficult year both for his government and Nigerians in general.

Buhari, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, at State House, said were it not for the systematic way his administration has been managing the economic crunch, the situation could have spiraled out of control.

Read more here: http://independentnig.com/2016/08/12/nigerias-poor-state-quite-obvious-says-buhari/