Brazilian Neymar ranked most valuable player ahead of Messi and Ronaldo

According to a new report released by CIES Football Observatory, Neymar is the most valuable player in Europe – worth about £216m.

The player’s value have been calculated using a transfer value algorithm that uses criteria such as player performance, characteristics, age and length of contract.

Tonto Dikeh shares a throwback picture of herself

Tonto Dikeh, popular actress and mother of one shared a throwback photo of herself on her Instagram page.

Time really does fly by.

See this hilarious Twitter response to President Buhari’s U.K. vacation trip

Lol

Adama Barrow Sworn-In as President of Gambia

Adama Barrow has officially been sworn in as the President of Gambia..

BBC reports that the ceremony was administered by Sheriff Tambadou, president of the Gambian Bar Association. He was sworn in at the Gambian Embassy in Dakar.

Gambia now has two men claiming to be president.

ECOWAS Issues Order - Capture Yahya Jammeh Alive or Dead

ECOWAS troops have been ordered to capture Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh alive or dead.

An ECOMOG military Commander, Maiga Mboro said “all the troops are already in place” and some not far from the Gambian border.

Already 11 pilots, 11 crew members and 80 “supporting troops” have been deployed close to the Gambian border.

'Many dead' after avalanche hits spa hotel in Italy

Up to 30 people are feared to have died after an avalanche believed to have been triggered by an earthquake hit a spa hotel in Italy.

It buried the remote, four-storey Hotel Rigopiano in the town of Farindola in the central Abruzzo region on Wednesday night.

The top floor and roof of the complex were barely visible above a thick blanket of snow on the Gran Sasso mountain.

TV channel SKYTG24 reported bodies had been found inside, while Italian news agency ANSA quoted a rescuer as saying "there are many dead".

"What is left of the hotel is in danger of collapse. We've called out but we've heard no replies, no voices," said a rescuer.

Survivor Giampaolo Parete reportedly told doctors he escaped the avalanche because he left the hotel to fetch something from his car, but his wife and two children were still inside.

The 38-year-old chef called his boss, restaurant owner Quintino Marcella, for help, saying: "The hotel isn't there anymore. It's disappeared. It's buried."

Mr Marcella criticised the response, claiming no one took him seriously when he alerted authorities.

Newspaper Corriere della Sera quoted a text message from Fabio Salzetta, who had managed to get out.

It read: "You can't see anything of the hotel, there's only a wall of snow in front of me."

Footage from inside the submerged, luxury complex showed entire walls gone where the avalanche had smashed through, and snow and rubble cascading down corridors and a stairway in the hotel foyer.

Rescuers were filmed with shovels digging through a 16ft wall of snow in the middle of the night while battling a severe snowstorm.

The first to arrive got to the hotel on skis and spoke of witnessing "apocalyptic scenes". "We call loudly, but no one answers," said one.

Details also emerged of relatives exchanging phone messages with someone trapped inside the building, urging them to "be calm".

The avalanche came down a wooded area and also swallowed cars and livestock in its path.

The civil protection agency said "around 30 people are unaccounted for" and it was working to get emergency vehicles to the scene to assist alpine rescue squads after an ambulance got stuck in the snow about five miles from the site.

"We're dropping our rescue units down by helicopter," said Luca Cari, spokesman for the national fire service, as bulldozers cleared a snow-clogged winding road to the hotel.

Four strong earthquakes struck central Italyyesterday, measuring up to a magnitude of 5.7, the shockwaves of which could be felt in Rome

Barack Obama told Donald Trump: 'You can't do it by yourself'

Barack Obama has revealed in his last news conference as President that he advised Donald Trump not to make decisions on his own.

In a wide-ranging question-and-answer session, the outgoing commander-in-chief discussed his thoughts and feelings on his successes and failures and what expects in the future.

Without stating the detail of what he told the incoming President, he said in some "fairly lengthy" conversations he recommended he should seek the help of his advisers.

He said: "A lot of his views are going to be shaped by his advisers are the people around him, which is why it is important to listen to the confirmation hearings.

"This is something I have told him, this is the job of such magnitude that you can't do it by yourself.

"You are enormously reliant on the team, your Cabinet, your senior White House staff.

"How do make sure they are getting you the right information? That is probably the most useful advice and the most constructive advice I have been able to give him."

wale wants everybody to know that his daughter is as nigerian as they come

For those of you who may not know, although he’s based in the States, Wale is a thoroughbred Nigerian. Here’s a video he shot in Naija a few years ago:

It seems as if he’s determined not to leave his roots behind. Wale and his girlfriend just gave birth to their first child and Wale wanted to make sure that his daughter, and the whole world knows, that she has Nigerian blood flowing through her veins.

This shirt has the Nigerian coat of arms and it looks as if he’s named her Oluwakemi which means “God is taking care of me”.

Goodluck Jonathan Invited For Trump's Inauguration, Buhari Snubbed?

I saw this on Twitter this morning, Adeyanju Deji, former Director of New Media at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP is claiming that former President Goodluck Jonathan has been invited to the inauguration of Donald Trump at the White House.

He is also reporting that President Muhammadu Buhari was not invited.

Gambia Army Chief - I Won't Order My Men to Fight For Yahya Jammeh

Gambia’s army chief on Wednesday said that he would not order his men to fight other African troops if they enter Gambian territory.

“We are not going to involve ourselves militarily. This is a political dispute,” Chief of Defence Staff Ousman Badjie said, after eating dinner in a tourist district close to the capital, Banjul, eyewitnesses told AFP.

“I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight. I love my men,” he added, stopping to pose for selfies with admirers while dressed in fatigues, beret and green t-shirt, according to those present.

Foreign Source Instructed Nigeria Air Force to Bomb Borno IDP Camp - The Nation

The Nigeria Air Force blew up the IDP camp at Rann, Borno based on intelligence gathered from a foreign source, people familiar with the matter have disclosed, according to a report from The Nation.

“What happened was that a foreign nation, which had been assisting in the counter-insurgency, provided an intelligence alert on the regrouping of some insurgents in Rann," a source reportedly said.

“The foreign country based its alert on what its surveillance radar picked. The alert indicated that the insurgents must be smoked out as early as possible. It was on this basis that the Air Force deployed its jet.

“The error occurred because the IDPs camp was not among the list of camps made available to the Air Force. There is a strong suspicion that the camp was recently set up by emergency bodies and Borno State without updating the list given to the military.”

The source then called for the need for cohesion between the military, Borno state government and aid agencies in the state.

Real Madrid 1-2 Celta Vigo: Iago Aspas stars for visitors as Zinedine Zidane's side fall in first leg of Copa del Rey quarter final

Former Liverpool striker Iago Aspas scored one and made one as Celta Vigo beat Real Madrid in their first-leg Spanish Cup quarter-final.

Zinedine Zidane’s team had gone 40 games without losing but they have now been beaten in their last two matches and it is turning into some season for Liverpool reject Aspas.

He failed to score in 14 games on Merseyside but back at home club Celta his form has taken him into the Spain team and he scored against England last November.

Here he was running rings around Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane as a sluggish Madrid were stunned at the Santiago Bernabeu and must now turn around their cup tie next week in the second leg at Baliados.

The first 45 minutes were frustrating for the Liga leaders. Ronaldo was playing with his back to goal as the team’s centre-forward but the ball was not sticking to him.

He had the ball in the net from Luka Modric’s cross but he was offside when he received the pass. He also went down in the area but the referee correctly waved away his half-hearted appeals for a penalty and might have even booked him for a dive.

Celta threatened on the break through the lively Aspas and they were upset with the referee who booked Marcelo Diaz and Pablo Hernandez but let Casemiro off with a warning after he barged Aspas off the ball.

Zidane tried to perk his team up ten minutes into the second half when he brought on Alvaro Morata for Marco Asensio. Just before the hour mark the change almost had the desired effect but the striker’s shot was just over Sergio Alvarez’ bar.

But Celta continued to threaten on the counter-attack and on minute 64 they got their goal. Theo Bongonda raced away down the left taking advantage of Danilo poor positioning. When he crossed Marcelo’s flicked clearance fell straight at the feet of Aspas and he beat Kiko Casilla with a shot straight down the middle that eluded the keeper’s dive.

Marcelo made amends almost immediately. Celta cleared their lines straight to the left-back and he sent a ferocious volley goalwards turning to celebrate as it sailed past Alvarez via a deflection from defender Facundo Roncaglia.

Real Madrid were back on terms but 60 seconds later they were behind again.

Aspas was the architect this time sliding the ball through for Jonny Castro who drew Casilla who sent the ball past the advancing keeper

Manchester United agree deal for Memphis Depay to join Lyon for £21.6m as the Holland international arrives in France for a medical

Memphis Depay flew to Lyon on Wednesday night to complete his transfer after Manchester United agreed a £21.6million deal with the French club.

The fee is an initial £16m with add-ons. United have also inserted a buy-back option and sell-on clause. 

Lyon’s Twitter account on Wednesday night sent out a picture of Depay, 22, arriving in the city after the player took a two-hour private flight from Manchester. 

The deal should be finalised on Thursday following Depay’s medical.

Depay joined United from PSV Eindhoven for an initial £25million which represents a small loss but United were content to sell with the 22-year-old having failed to make the desired impact and on substantial wages of around £100,000 a week.

Depay will have a medical on Thursday and has already agreed a four-and-a-half year contract.

United had rejected bids of £9m and £11.5m before Lyon made a revised attempt on Tuesday and agreed to further add-ons on Wednesday.

Everton had shown interest in the Holland international but failed to follow up with an offer.

Militants didn’t blowup pipeline in Ughelli, says military

The Nigerian Military has denied reports that militants blew an oil pipeline in Delta State after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s visit, saying it was a bush-burning incidence that was put under control immediately.

A statement issued by the Director, Defence Information (DDI), Brig.-Gen. Rabe Abubakar, yesterday in Abuja said: “The report to say the least is not only a ruse but a complete imagination of its author as the said incident was a bush burning, which was immediately put under control. This prompt action prevented environmental catastrophe that the incident might have caused’.

According to some observers of the peace efforts of the present government, the incidence was an indication that the visit of Osinbajo to the Niger Delta region was a wasted effort, as action, which supposedly happened in Ughelli, Delta State, would have been in apparent defiance of the “efforts of the Federal Government at addressing issues in that region”.

While appealing to media practitioners to be circumspect as stakeholders in the nation building process by verifying information before going to press, the DDI said such matters, especially those that border on security, if not properly handled, can cause unnecessary apprehension in the country.

“There is the need for all people of goodwill to work in synergy with security agencies towards the betterment of the region in particular and the country in general,” he added.

Shiites task government on release of El-Zakzaky, wife

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has urged the Federal Government to obey the court ruling, which ordered the release of its leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife.The group made the plea in a statement in Abuja by the Chairman, Shuhadah (martyrs) Foundation of IMN, Abdulhameed Bello.

Bello said the request became necessary following the expiration of the 45-day ultimatum by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja.He said: “We demand and insist that the Federal Government and its agencies release our leader, El-Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenatu Ibraheem, unconditionally and in accordance with the procedures laid down in the judgment delivered on December 2, 2016.”

The group, also known as Shiites, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to respect the rule of law in a democratic setting.According to him: “the Federal Government and the Department of State Security (DSS) must obey the court order. This is because they have a responsibility to show good example to the people as a regime that believes in the rule of law and due process.

“The serial disobedience to court orders and contempt for the citizens’ fundamental rights to freedom of religion do not portray our country as one that is capable of managing its religious diversity to strengthen the federation.”

Bello also condemned the Kaduna State government for the prosecution of the Shiites.He urged Governor Nasir-El-Rufai to “discontinue his unjustified persecution of over 350 Shiites’ members who are facing charges of culpable homicide in the state.”He alleged that the state “participated in the illegal burial of over 1000 of our members and had refused to prosecute those who carried out the heinous murder.”

“The IMN demands that government desists from infiltrating the IMN by using fifth columnists and agent provocateurs, adding that “the Shiites do not believe in the use of violence to achieve its objectives.”

Bello urged the international community to prevail on the Federal Government to release their leader to enable him seek medical solution to his deteriorating eye problem.He expressed gratitude to the human rights community and other professional groups for their support and urged them to persuade government to release their leader.

Victoria's Secret model Kelly Gale shares second revealing shower photo as she holidays in Bali

She's the striking beauty who always stuns on the runway.

And Kelly Gale is proving to be just as eye-catching on holiday, sharing another revealing photo as she holidays in Bali.

On Wednesday, the Victoria's Secret model shared a sizzling photo of her pert derriere, the second in as many days.

The Indian-Australian beauty, who was born in Sweden, has been holidaying in Bali since Tuesday, taking up residence in a luxury private villa in Sanur.

Kelly cooled down with a shower after spending the day exploring in Ubud, she revealed to her 542,000 Instagram followers.

'Being your First Lady has been the honor of a lifetime': Michelle Obama shares sweet message as she cuddles up to Barack to take in the view from the White House balcony one last time

With less than 48 hours left as First Lady, Michelle Obama spent much of her day on Wednesday soaking up the White House before she is forced to move out. 

First, she walked through its halls with family dogs Bo and Sunny, sharing a video of their jaunt on Twitter.  

The stroll appears to have ended in the Executive Residence where Mrs Obama cuddled up to her husband to take in the view from the Truman balcony for one of the last times.

She shared a photograph of the special moment on social media to thank fans for their support, writing alongside it: 'Being your First Lady has been the honor of a lifetime. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.' 

The Obamas will leave 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on Friday to make way for President-elect Donald Trump and his family. 

Jennifer Lopez wins first People's Choice Award for Shades Of Blue at 43rd annual ceremony in Los Angeles

Jennifer Lopez won her first People's Choice Award on Wednesday during a live telecast on CBS from Los Angeles.

'I want to say thank you to the people. Mi gente, gracias,' Jennifer, 47, said upon accepting her award at the downtown Microsoft Theater.

The actress won the award for Favorite TV Crime Drama Actress for her work in NBC's Shades Of Blue in a category that also included Sophia Bush, Lucy Liu, Pauley Perrette and Mariska Hargitay.

It was Lopez's first win after eight nominations.

The 43rd annual People's Choice Awards was hosted by Joel McHale, 45, who stars in the CBS sitcom The Great Outdoors.

Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart diss each other during People's Choice acceptance speeches... as cameras catch The Rock in rather rude gesture

You can't kill two birds with a stone... but you can flip one with a Rock lol. 

Dwayne Johnson was caught on camera making a rather rude gesture at Kevin Hart during Wednesday's People's Choice Awards.

The Jumanji and Central Intelligence co-stars both one awards on the night, and both used their time on stage to playfully diss each other.

Hart took to the stage first, to collect his Favorite Comedic Movie Actor award.

'All of the co-stars that I've had in my life that have helped me grow in this business, I appreciate you all man. I'm definitely able to do what I do because of the help that I've had on camera,' he sincerely began. 

'So this one goes to all of the co-stars that I've had... except the Rock, cause he hasn't helped me. He hasn't helped me at all.

'He's actually lessened my talent. It went down since you've been in my life.'

The Moana star laughed along with the rest of the audience; but just before the camera cut away, he was caught giving a middle finger salute to his friend.

The former wrestler had another chance to get his own back when he got a turn on stage just minutes later, to scoop his Favorite Premium Series Actor for Ballers.

CBS were a little quicker with their censorship this time round, as The Rock's presumably expletive-ridden tirade back at Hart was completely bleeped out.

Like Hart though, he did share a sincere sentiment: 'It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice'.

Earlier in the night, The Rock was a surprise loser in the Favourite Dwayne Johnson category,  losing out to Dwayne 'A Rock' Johnson — an enormous stone boasting similar tattoos which was sat in the audience.