Madrid scorns Catalan leader's independence statement

The Spanish government has rejected a statement of independence signed by Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont and dismissed calls for mediation.
Spain's deputy prime minister described Mr Puigdemont as someone "who does not know where he is, where he's going".
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is due to hold an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the government's next steps.
Mr Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence on Tuesday, but halted implementation to allow negotiations.
There had been speculation that the Catalan president might declare independence and put the move into effect, plunging Spain into an even deeper political crisis.
Spain has been in turmoil since a disputed referendum on 1 October which was declared invalid by the country's Constitutional Court.
Addressing the Catalan parliament in Barcelona, Mr Puigdemont said the autonomous region had won the right to be independent as a result of the vote.
"We call on international states and organisations to recognise the Catalan republic as an independent and sovereign state," he said.
He said the "people's will" was to break away from Madrid, but he also said he wanted to "de-escalate" the tension around the issue.

Phyno’s Journey From The Boy Next Door To Becoming An Influential Rapper

Azubuike Chibuzor Nelson AKA Phynofino is an highly influential rapper coming from the east side of Nigeria who has taken indigenous rap to the
His music career started as a producer in 2003. While in school, Phyno had a flair for music so he played the drum and the piano.
The rapper who gives his fan witty, well-versed Igbo rapping gained even more fans after the release of his album “No Guts No Glory” in 2014, whivh featured hit tracks like Man of the year and Ghost Mode.
Phyno who came to limelight after his Smashing hit single “Ghost Mode” featuring Olamide has evolved over the years.

Ronaldo, Messi top Ballon d’Or list

cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi lead an illustrious list of 30 players nominated for the 2017 Ballon d’ Or award,
Goal reports.
The full list of top footballers was revealed across Monday by organisers France Football , with Champions League and La Liga winners Real Madrid dominating with seven nominees.
Following unprecedented back -to-back Champions League wins, Real Madrid star Ronaldo is joined on the roster by attackers Karim Benzema and Isco , defenders Sergio Ramos and Marcelo, and midfielders Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
Neymar has been recognised following an eventful year that has seen the Brazil star impress for both his national team and Barcelona, before his world-record summer transfer to Paris Saint -Germain . Former team-mate Luis Suarez, meanwhile , was one of Barca’ s key men last term, scoring 37 goals in all competitions .
Atletico Madrid’ s Antoine Griezmann was one of the final three in the 2016 Ballon d’ Or, finishing third , and he continued his fine form for Diego Simeone ’ s side with 26 goals in all competitions last season .
Juventus attacker Paulo Dybala is nominated alongside team-mate Gianluigi Buffon after enjoying a stand -out 2017, helping the Bianconeri to yet another Serie A title and the Champions League final .
Chelsea midfielder N ’ Golo Kante is also among the nominees after he claimed his second Premier League title in a row following his switch from Leicester City. Philippe Coutinho , David de Gea, Harry Kane and Kevin De Bruyne are also recognised for their performances in the English top flight.
Other nominees include Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski, Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak, PSG teenager Kylian Mbappe , and Roma forward Edin Dzeko, who finished as Serie A’ s top goalscorer last season .

Transportation minister lauds FG on infrastructure development in South-South

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has lauded the resolve of the administration of President Muhammdu Buhari to address infrastructure deficit in the South-South region of the country.
Amaechi told Newsmen on Monday in Port Harcourt that the economic down-turn in the country would not stop the president from delivering on his campaign promises to the region.
He said that the Federal Government had shown determination to commence key projects that would enhance development of the region.
“We will deliver on our promises to the region but we need the people to be patient with us because we need money to embark on them, they are huge projects.
“I have announced that the Federal Government has approved 16 billion dollars for the construction of most railways in the South, these are capital intensive projects, so we are looking for money to execute them.
“This administration is determined to deliver on its campaign promises, as we can see, the abandoned Bodo/Bonny road is now enjoying necessary attention as the president is set to flag-off the project soon.
“I urge the people of the South-South region to remain grateful to this administration,’’ the former Rivers governor said.
Amaechi also said that the Federal Government has taken steps to ensure the take-off of the Ogoni clean-up process.
According to him, the government was trying to bring the oil companies together to solve the issue of funds delaying it.
“The Federal Government is working to actualise the implementation of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) report by ensuring funds release by the oil companies.
“We will progress with the UNEP report implementation, there has been issues of delayed counterpart funding by the oil companies.
“This issue has delayed the take-off of the Ogoni clean-up process but the Federal Government is trying to bring the companies together to ensure funds were released,’’ he said.
The minister also said that the president had approved the construction of an Industrial Park worth 500 million dollars in Port Harcourt, and when completed, had the capacity to boost manufacturing/commerce in the region.
“The president has approved construction of the Port Harcourt Industrial Park worth 500 million dollars, I think this administration is doing well for this region.

You can’t stop Biafra, MASSOB tells Buhari, Army

The Movement for the Actualization of a Sovereign State of Biafra has condemned a fresh military invasion of the home of Eze Israel Kanu , the father of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu .
In a statement made available to our correspondent in Awka, Anambra State , on Monday by MASSOB ’ s National Director of Information, Samuel Edeson , the group described the attack as primitive and cowardly .
The group said no amount of such intimidation would stop Biafra agitators from continuing with the struggle , adding that President Buhari “ cannot destroy the Biafra consciousness. ”
It wondered why the army would continue to unleash such “ primitive and brutal attack” against nonviolent Biafra agitators
Edeson described the act as, “Signs of jittery , cowardice and Buhari ’ s government frustration on the eloquent consciousness and realities of Biafra freedom which is being appreciated and acknowledged by international communities ”
Kanu’ s family had on Sunday raised the alarm that soldiers invaded their compound again .
Kanu’ younger brother, Emmanuel Kanu, alleged that the soldiers invaded their home and carted away some household items.
He said the soldiers took away some items like television , generating sets, clothes among other belongings of the family.
He said , “ The international community should prevail on the Nigeria Army to stop raiding our home again . We have been telling the Army to produce my bother whose whereabouts has remained unknown since after the September 14 military invasion of our compound. ”
While confirming having an operation in the area, the military denied removing any household items from the compound.

Rupp, Dibaba win first major marathons at Chicago

Galen Rupp became the first American man in 15 years to win the Chicago Marathon on Sunday while Ethiopia’ s Tirunesh Dibaba, a three -time Olympic champion, captured the women’ s crown.
It was only the fourth career start at the 26 . 2 -mile (42 . 16km ) distance for Rupp , who was second in April ’ s Boston Marathon and third in last year’ s Rio Olympics , and just the third marathon for Dibaba , a former world and Olympic 5 , 000 and 10 , 000 m champion.
“It ’ s just incredible, ” Rupp said. “You train so hard to have a race like this and to have it all come together , words just can ’ t describe the feeling when I came across the line. It’ s just a great day . ”
Rupp surged ahead for good with three miles remaining to win in 2 hrs 9 mins 20 secs with Kenyan runner-up Abel Kirui, the defending champion, 28 seconds back and Bernard Kipyego , also of Kenya, third in 2 :10 :23 .
Only one rival remained with Dibaba past the halfway mark as this year’ s London Marathon runner-up cruised to victory in 2 :18:31 , defeating Kenya’ s Brigid Kosgei by 1 :51 with American Jordan Hasay third in 2 :20 :57 .
“This is my third marathon and I’ m very happy to have won here, ” Dibaba said. “ I worked very hard for this . ”
Dibaba and Rupp each took a $ 100, 000 top prize at the 40th anniversary edition of the classic, which saw more than 40 , 000 runners compete on the streets of the US Midwestern metropolis.
Rupp, 31 , was the first American man to win the Chicago Marathon since Morocco-born Khalid Khannouchi in 2002. Kenyans had won the Chicago men ’ s title in 13 of the past 14 years .
Kenya’ s Dennis Kimetto , world record holder from his 2014 Berlin Marathon triumph in 2 :02 :57 and the 2013 Chicago champion, led at the halfway mark in 1 :05 :49 but began limping soon after and by 25km was off the pace for good .
The lead pack slowly dwindled over the next 10km , leaving only Rupp , Kirui and Ethiopia’ s Sisay Lemma after 22 miles .
Rupp, who took 2012 Olympic silver at 10 , 000m , made his charge with three miles remaining and no one had a response.
“I really wanted to wait , ” Rupp said. “I felt a little gap pulling away and then I said I’ ve just got to put down the hammer and pull away.

Germany worries Trump will quit Iran nuclear deal

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Sunday that he feared US President Donald Trump would quit the Iran nuclear deal next week.
Trump is a stern critic of the 2015 accord , which he has called “ the worst deal ever”, and US officials say he intends to tell US Congress next week that Tehran is not honouring its side of the bargain.
“The United States is likely to quit the Iran agreement next week — that is my great concern, ” Gabriel was quoted as saying by national news agency DPA .
However Gabriel said Germany remains committed to the agreement, which Berlin helped negotiate , to stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb.
Gabriel, speaking at a state election campaign event, said his question to Washington was: “ What good will come of us treating Iran as though it is developing nuclear weapons after all ? … Nothing . ”
He accused the US administration of “ replacing the rule of law with the law of the strongest ”.
“And that is a great danger for us because if the United States of America takes that course then the world will change, ” he said.
Trump is expected to announce that he is “ decertifying” Iran’ s compliance with the agreement it signed to limit its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief .
US officials insist this will not sink the deal itself but open the way for Congress to possibly develop new measures to punish other aspects of Iran ’ s behaviour.
Resumed sanctions could derail the accord negotiated with Tehran by former president Barack Obama and other major world powers .
Congress requires the president to certify Iranian compliance with the deal every 90 days. The next date certification date is October 15 .
Under the law , Congress would then have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose sanctions lifted by the deal .