Britain's Andy Murray beat five-time champion Novak Djokovic to win his first ATP World Tour Finals title and end 2016 as the world number one.
With the year-end top ranking on the line, Murray won the much-anticipated final 6-3 6-4 at London's O2 Arena.
"I'm very happy to win and to be world number one is very special," said the Scot. "It's very special playing against Novak in a match like this."
Murray, 29, extended his career-best winning run to 24 matches.
The victory also ends Djokovic's four-year run of success at the tournament and the Serb's bid to equal Roger Federer's record of six titles.
Murray, who had won 10 of the pair's previous 34 encounters, added: "We've played Grand Slam finals and in the Olympics before, but I am very happy to win.
"It is something I never expected."
A capacity crowd of 17,000 packed into the O2 Arena to witness a match that felt more like a heavyweight championship bout than a tennis match, and it was Murray who rose to the occasion.
"Andy is definitely number one in the world," said Djokovic. "He deserved to win. He is the best player.
"In the decisive moments, I wasn't able to come back. I played better late in the match but it wasn't enough."
Andy Murray beats Novak Djokovic: Best shots from ATP World Tour Finals
Murray simply grew stronger and Djokovic more error-prone as the second set unfolded, two breaks giving him a seemingly impregnable 4-1 lead, before the champion fought back.
Djokovic recovered one break and raced through a service game to cut the deficit to 4-3, but Murray steadied the ship with a solid service hold to move within a game of victory.
When he beat Djokovic to win Wimbledon in 2013, Murray had to come through a tortuous 14-minute final game, and there was more tension this time.
The crowd were gripped as two match points passed before Djokovic finally succumbed on the third to give up his title - and the mantle of best player in the world.
BUHARI PRESIDENCY KICKS OFF JOB SCHEME FOR HALF A MILLION UNEMPLOYED GRADUATES
*200,000 Nigerians selected to start work as teachers, agric & health workers in their communities December 1
*Names of successful first batch participants to be posted on N-Power Portal
ALL IS NOW SET FOR THE deployment of 200,000 unemployed graduates selected in the first batch of the Buhari administration's plan to hire half a million Nigerians.
While the 200,000 have been selected about two weeks ago, their names have now been sent to state governments and the FCT who would deploy them to their specific programme assignments. The names would also be published this week on the N-Power internet portal, while the participants would start receiving SMS messages informing them of their selection as from Monday November 21, 2016.
State governments and the FCT are also encouraged to post the names of the successful first batch applicants in their local government areas while there would be further public announcements.
Between now and the end of the month, the states and the FCT would be engaged in deploying the graduates who would formally start working and earning their stipends on December 1, 2016.
Of the 200,000 first batch, 150,000 of them would teach, 30,000 would work in the Agric sector and 20,000 in Healthcare delivery covering the three specific programme assignments.
The N-Power Volunteer Corps is an expression of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to invest in the human capital development of Nigerian citizens, particularly our young people. The N-Power programmme is also an innovative means to enhance ailing public services in the area of basic education and primary healthcare. Also in the agric sector, it is aimed at achieving self-sufficiency by giving our farmers relevant advisory services.
The Federal Government of Nigeria hereby congratulates all 200,000 successful applicants in the first batch, and they are encouraged to take this opportunity seriously by learning the skills that will brighten their future. They are also implored to serve their communities with commitment and dedication.
For those who have not been selected at this time, there is a waiting list based on the total number of applicants, and subsequent batches will absorb more of the qualified applicants.
All together, the N-Power will engage and train 500,000 young unemployed graduates. It is a paid volunteering programme of a 2-year duration that engages graduates in their immediate communities, where they will assist in improving the inadequacies in the education, health, and agriculture sectors.
The 500,000 graduates under the N-Power Corps programme will be trained in skills that will enable them exit after two years to economically viable job and business opportunities.
As part of the programme, the participnts would own tablets that will contain information necessary for their specific engagements, as well as information for their continuous training and developments.
Participants will be provided teaching, instructional, and advisory solutions in 4 main focus areas, and will be paid a monthly stipend of N30,000 during the programme. The 4 main focus areas are in basic education, agriculture extension services, public health and community education (civic and adult education).
Besides the N-Power programme for undergraduates, there are other schemes for non-graduates. These are: N-Power Knowledge, which would select 25,000 young Nigerians and N-Power Build 75,000, all of whom shall be trained and paid during the duration of the scheme.
Laolu Akande Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity In the Office of the Vice President November 20, 2016
Diego Costa's 10th goal of the season moved Chelsea top of the Premier League as their sixth straight win saw off Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
After an even start, Chelsea upped the tempo and deservedly led at the break when Costa reacted quickest to drill in a loose ball inside the Boro box.
The Blues continued to create chances, Pedro going closest when he smacked a rising drive against the crossbar.
Boro's best chance came when Alvaro Negredo's 78th-minute volley was saved.
It was the only time the home side forced Blues keeper Thibaut Courtois into a serious stop as they lost for the first time in four matches.
Chelsea leapfrogged Liverpool and Manchester City to go a point clear, while Boro remain one point above the relegation zone in 15th place.
Conte masterstroke moves Chelsea top
Following the arrival of former Juventus and Italy coach Conte, many expected to see a defensively-focused approach adopted by the Blues.
Since then, the Blues have been impregnable in the Premier League.
Conte made a tactical tweak to a 3-4-3 formation for their next game at Hull - and they have won all six league matches since without conceding a goal.
Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso have been revelatory in their adopted wing-back roles, while Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta have looked assured in a back three.
It has proved to be a masterstroke by Conte. And it has helped the Blues move top of the table for the first time since they were crowned champions in May 2015.
Now back-to-back matches against Tottenham and Manchester City will be another measure of their recent improvement.
Chelsea boss Antonio Conte was effusive in his praise of Costa before the game, labelling the Spain international as "one of the best strikers in the world".
On this evidence it is hard to disagree.
While the former Atletico Madrid frontman did not find himself presented with plenty of goalscoring chances, he was constantly bothering the Boro centre-backs with his movement, strength and willingness to chase seemingly lost causes.
And, most importantly, he was clinical when a sniff of an opportunity arrived.
Boro failed to deal with Eden Hazard's inswinging corner just before half-time, Costa reacting quickest to instinctively stab in an angled effort from inside the six-yard box.
With Hazard quiet in comparison to recent weeks, Costa was the fulcrum of the visitors' attacking play.
The 28-year-old matchwinner also teed up chances for Pedro, Marcos Alonso and Hazard, showing once again he is back to the form which helped the Blues win the Premier League title 18 months ago in his first season at the club.
Shy Boro lack attacking edge
History was not on Middlesbrough's side going into the match, having lost their previous six matches against Chelsea without managing to score.
A lack of cutting edge proved to be their undoing again.
Marshalled by skipper Ben Gibson, the home side were organised and restricted one of the title contenders to a handful of clear-cut chances.
However, just one shot on target tells you where their problems lie.
"We stayed in the game until the end but didn't get the point we think we deserved. There are positives to take," said Gibson.
Middlesbrough manager Aitor Karanka told BBC Sport: "It is frustrating. We knew before the game we were playing against a top-of-the-table team.
"But after our last performances against Arsenal and Manchester City we were confident and we showed again we can compete against those teams.
"One mistake punished us. But if we keep playing like we have done in the past few games. we will win more games. The team is improving."
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte told BBC Sport: "I knew this game would be difficult because this team is well organised and they are in good form.
"But we deserved to win because we scored the goal and created many chances for a second goal.
"The first five minutes wasn't good for us. Middlesbrough started very well and we started badly but during the game our possession got better and we started to move the ball quicker. We didn't concede and stopped any opportunity for them to score."
No home comforts for Boro...
Chelsea have won six Premier League games in a row without conceding - the 10th time it has happened in Premier League history and the fifth time for Chelsea
Diego Costa is the first player to reach double figures in Premier League goals this season
Costa has scored in six of his past seven league away games, netting seven goals in total in that run
Only Swansea (two) have won fewer points at home in the Premier League than Middlesbrough this season (four)
No side has scored fewer top-flight goals at home than Boro (five, level with Hull and Swansea)
Boro winger Adama Traore completed 12 dribbles in this match, more than any other player in a single Premier League game this season
What's next?
A big test of Chelsea's title credentials. The Blues host Tottenham at Stamford Bridge next Saturday (17:30 GMT). Meanwhile, Boro go to champions Leicester City earlier on the same day (15:00 GMT).
– International passport validity is set to be extended to 10 years –
The Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) revealed this on Saturday, November 19 –
This extension comes as a result of several complaints from Nigerians
It is good news for many Nigerians to hear that the federal government has plans to extend the validity period for international passports from the current five years to 10 years. Speaking on this development, the Comptroller-General of NIS, Muhammad Babandede told the press in his office on Saturday, November 19, that Nigerians should expect an announcement on this matter in the coming months. Babandede said: “We have submitted a memo to the president and we believe we’ll get a positive response to that soon.”
The immigration chief also revealed the reason for the policy change, he explained that the review was the government’s response to several months of complaints from Nigerians and other foreign elements who said the five-year validity period is too short. “We have received complaints that passports only take five years,” Mr Babandede said: “The international community is not happy, wondering why passports will only be five years. “They’re saying it should be 10 years and we’re already considering that. We need to make sure that we have age validity expansion.” Explaining why the current validity period was unnecessarily short, he said that for people above 18 years, they’re already fully grown and rarely wear a totally different look. READ ALSO: EFCC grills APC legal adviser for bribing judge, seizes his passport Using other countries as examples, Mr Babandede said: “For example, in some places in the world, they say if you’re below the age of 18, you can have five-year validity passport. But if you’re above the age of 18, you can have 10-year validity because your physical features may not change again within 10 years.” Meanwhile about one week a report by Daily Sun claimed that the NIS have run out of booklets causing several applicants to be stranded in several passports offices across the country. An applicant, Iyare Odili said he had paid about N30,000 for a 64-page passport but had not been able to receive the document in the last two months.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/1055598-good-news-fg-set-extend-international-passport-validity.html
They showed a lot of promise when they played for Nigeria but soon faded away when they should have been calling the shots at the Super Eagles. Idris Adesina takes a look at Nigerian players, who have slipped into oblivion
SUNDAY MBA
Mba will always be remembered for his lone goal against Burkina Faso in the final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, which won Nigeria its third continental title on February 10, 2013. His goal in the final was a scorcher, after getting the better of a Burkinabe defender.
The former Warri Wolves forward was one of the six home-based players discovered by the late former Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi. Before the final, Mba caught the eyes with his powerful display in the quarterfinals against Ivory Coast, where he scored the winning goal for the Eagles in their 2-1 victory over the Ivoirians.
After the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, he was a subject of disagreement between Enugu Rangers and Wolves before he left the country for CA Bastia in the third tier of French football in 2014. He scored four goals in 16 appearances for the club before moving to Yeni Malatyaspor in Turkey in 2015. He has played 36 matches and scored eight goals for the club – two of which have come this season. His contract with the Turkish second tier side will end in June 2018. Malatyaspor currently sit atop the league with 25 points after 10 matches.
The 27-year-old, who has yet to return to the national team since Keshi left the team in 2015, was left out of Nigeria’s squad to the Brazil 2014 World Cup. He was however a part of the Eagles team to the 2013 Confederations Cup in Brazil.
MNAMDI UDUAMADI
Another of Keshi’s revelation in the Eagles, Oduamadi gained attention at the 2013 Confederation Cup after scoring a hat-trick in Nigeria’s 6-1 defeat of Tahiti as Nigeria finished third in Group B.
Before then, the former U-17 star scored Nigeria’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Kenya in a 2014 World Cup qualifier on March 23, 2013 at the U J Esuene Stadium, Calabar.
Oduamadi, who was a product of the Pepsi Football Academy, left the country in 2010 for AC Milan in Italy but only featured in one match for the senior team. The 26-year-old had been on spells at several clubs in Italy.
He has gone on loan to Torino, Varese, Brescia, Crotone and Calcio. He however spent the latter part of 2015 at Turkish club, Sanliurfa, before joining HJK Helsinki in the Finland Premier League in 2016.
His loan spell in Finland ended in September as he finished second with Helsinki in the league, scoring seven goals in 28 appearances.
Like Mba, Oduamadi also missed out on the final list of players for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and has yet to make a return to the team since 2013.
Ejike Uzoenyi
Another Keshi-discovered star, Uzoenyi, was a part of the six home-based players at the 2013 AFCON but he came into limelight after his brilliant performance at the 2014 African Nations Championship in South Africa. The former Rangers midfielder, who was named player of the tournament, scored three goals as the Eagles finished third.
He signed a four-year deal with South African club, Mamelodi Sundowns, immediately after the tournament.
Uzoenyi went on to feature in 10 matches for the club before falling down the pecking order. He has however found playing time hard to come by and was recently reported to be training with Supersports United in the Premier Soccer League.
The 28-year-old was also named in the provisional squad for the 2014 World Cup, making the final squad after defender Elderson Echiejile was excluded because of injury.
Uche Nwofor
Former U-20 striker, Nwofor, became noticed in the national team in a friendly match against South Africa in July 2013, where he scored two goals. Nwofor was tipped to battle Fernabache star, Emmanuel Emenike, for the Eagles striking role but later fizzled out of the team.
The 25-year-old scored a last minute equaliser in the Eagles 2-2 draw with Scotland in the build-up to the 2014 World Cup, which earned him a place in the team as Nigeria finished in the round of 16 in Brazil.
The former VVV Venlo forward, who scored 13 goals in 57 appearances for the Belgian club, is currently playing for AS Trencin in Slovakia.
Michael Uchebo
Popularly called Flavour after the Nigerian highlife musician because of his hairstyle, Nigeria midfielder, Uchebo, who currently plays for Boavista in the Portuguese Primera Liga, was a surprise inclusion in the Eagles Brazil 2014 World Cup team.
Uchebo played his first match for the Eagles in March 2014 against Mexico, which ended goalless. He scored his first goal for Nigeria in the 2-2 draw against Scotland in a friendly ahead of the 2014 World Cup. He featured in only one match – in the 3-2 loss against Argentina.
Rabiu Ibrahim
Dubbed the next Jay-Jay Okocha after his exploits for the country at the 2007 U-17 World Cup, which Nigeria won, Ibrahim made his Eagles debut in June 2015 in a 2-0 win over Chad in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
However, he only played for 30 minutes of the match before he was substituted following an injury. Since then, the former AS Trencin player has yet to be called to the national team.
Known for his creative ability and precise passes, Ibrahim failed to shine in the national team when he got his chance under former Nigeria coach, Sunday Oliseh.
The 25-year-old is currently playing for Belgian side Gent, who he joined at the start of the season along with other Nigerians like Anderson Esiti and Moses Simon.
Michael Babatunde
Babatunde’s failure to hold on to a regular club has often been said to be responsible for his continuous omission from the national squad.
A member of Keshi’s team to the 2014 World Cup, where he played in two of Nigeria’s four matches, he got injured in the Eagles 3-2 loss to Argentina. The 23-year-old played his first international match in the 2-2 friendly draw against Mexico in June 2013. He also played in the 2013 Confederation Cup in Brazil. He has yet to score a goal for the country.
After a four-year stay in Ukraine, which ended in December 2015 at Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, the 23-year-old joined Raja Casablanca in Morocco, where he played 13 matches and scored six goals. However, in May, he joined Qatari second division side Qatar SC.
Joel Obi
His career has been blighted by injuries – and his international career has suffered a lot. The 25-year-old, who was at Inter Milan in the Italian Serie A since 2010, joined Torino in 2015.
After making a few appearances for the country in 2011, Obi got injured and was out of the national team for a long while. He returned when he was named in the preliminary squad for the 2014 World Cup, playing in the 2-2 draw against Scotland in a friendly. He however missed the final list for the competition. He has not been invited to the national team since he was snubbed for the World Cup in Brazil.
Sone Aluko
Fulham forward Aluko recently regained his form at the Championship side Fulham, after being released at the end of last season by Hull City.
The 27-year-old, who shunned England for Nigeria, missed out on the 2010 World Cup and the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after making the initial list on both occasions. He has made seven appearances and scored two goals for Nigeria.
Aaron Samuel
Currently on loan at CSKA, striker Samuel shot to national limelight during the qualifiers for the 2015 AFCON, scoring two goals as Nigeria failed to qualify for the continent’s football showpiece.
The 22-year-old, who is currently injured and billed to return to action in January, has scored two goals in seven matches for CSKA.
Samuel was last invited by interim Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, for the double-header 2017 AFCON qualifiers against Egypt in March.
He has seven caps and has scored two goals for Nigeria.
Chrisantus Macaulay
Along with Rabiu Ibrahim, Chrisantus won the South Korea 2007 FIFA Under-17 World Cup. He emerged as the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals. He won the Silver Ball while Germany and Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kross won the Golden Ball.A good right-footer, Chrisantus was tipped to challenge for a role in the Super Eagles in the future after South Korea 2007 but soon faded away after playing at the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt. He currently plays for Deportiu Reus in the Spanish lower league. The 26-year-old joined the club at the start of the season after leaving AEK Athens, where he scored seven goals in 24 appearances. He has made only three appearances for Reus and yet to score a goal.
Background
I hail from Ogun State. I was born into a Christian home and I had a strict upbringing. Even though my parents separated, my childhood was fun and I have so many good memories. While my mum has yet to remarry, my dad remarried and I lived with him for some time.
Education
I attended St. Benedict Nursery & Primary School, Lagos, and Federal Government Girls’ College, Akure. Afterwards, I studied Mass Communication at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye.
Acting
I became interested in acting when I was at the university. As an undergraduate, I used to feature in plays that were staged in school. Professionally, I started acting about 16 years ago. I joined Nollywood and took part in some English movies. I joined Oga Bello’s Awada Kerikeri Theatre Group, in the year 2000, and that was where I honed my acting skills.
Movies
In 2001, I featured in my first Yoruba movie, Baba Ologba, alongside Adebayo Salami, aka Oga Bello, and Femi Adebayo. Since then, I have featured in several others and I have played lead roles in many movies as well.
Challenges
Life is full of challenges and I encountered so many obstacles when I started acting. Firstly, my father was not happy that I became an actress. When he discovered, he was very angry because he thought I would get a proper job. Besides, nobody in my father’s family had ever become an actress. Most of them were doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. My father and my stepmother did not support me and they tried to frustrate my ambition. At some point, he asked me to move out of his house if I was bent on becoming an actress. I went to live with my mum and even though she was not happy at what I had decided to do with my life, she did not fail to support me. Another challenge I faced was the poor remuneration. There were times when I was not even paid at all but I did not allow that to discourage me because of the passion I have for the job.
Nicknames
I have several nicknames. At the beginning of my career, I used to be known as Ronke AKO (Awada Kerikeri Organisation). I am also known as Becky, which was the character I played in Funke Akindele-Bello’s two-part movie, Jenifa. I think the nickname that has stuck with me is Flakky Ididowo. I got that pseudonym after I played Folake in a movie produced by someone I respect so much, Fathia Balogun.
Movie production
I am not only an actress, I am also a producer. I have produced several movies in the past and I just finished work on two movies. I like to make good films and that is why I don’t come out with movies every now and then. I am a professional and I know what a good movie should look like. I have set a standard for myself and I don’t want to disappoint my fans.
Physique
People say I have a provocative figure but I did not create myself. When I was younger, people used to taunt me and I would cry. Over time, I have come to love my body irrespective of whether I have unusually large breasts or buttocks. When I walk on the streets of Lagos, men look at me in a seductive manner but I don’t care as long as I am not indecently dressed. In fact, some people scream obscenities at me. Some call me Cowbell and I either laugh it off or just ignore them.
Fame
I do not care about fame. It has not changed who I am and it has not altered the way I relate with people be it my family, friends or fans. I am a very simple person and generally down-to-earth and forthright. To a large extent, I am an introvert and I like to spend a lot of time indoors. I rarely go out except it is very necessary.
Marriage
Being in the limelight has it disadvantages. One of the demerits of being in the limelight is that one finds it difficult to find true love. You can’t tell if that man or woman loves you for who you are or because you are a celebrity. I will get married when God says it is my time. My time has yet to come and that is why I am still single. Anyone who rushes into marriage will definitely rush out, so I am taking my time. Unlike it was speculated sometime ago, I have never been married.
Pasuma and I
Not all relationships lead to marriage and such was my relationship with Pasuma. Even though we are no longer dating, we are still good friends. The fact that we are both celebrities may have been responsible for our inability to get married. A lot of times, celebrity marriages don’t work out because both parties are in the limelight. This breeds a lot of distrust and problems in the marriage.
Style
I like simple, nice and classy wear. I also like traditional wear because I look good in them and they are super comfortable.
A student of the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, Nana Abena Korkor Addo, whose sex video went viral has revealed interesting details after the ordeal that nearly ruined her life. She revealed how she was the one that leaked her own sex video on social media, blaming it on mental ailment. According to Nana Abena, her bipolar disorder caused her to leak the explicit video showing her private parts on social media. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter A screenshot from the video In a candid interview with Adom News on Friday, November 18, Nana Abena said before the sex video was released, she was aspiring to be the SRC president. The release of the sex video crashed her dreams and nearly forced her to lose her life. In the controversial video, she was filmed stripping and dancing seductively in the presence of a female friend while revealing her private parts. The video generated a lot of controversy given the position she was vying for in school. Many thought it was rather her competitors in the race for the SRC President position who might have leaked the video to thwart her chances of winning the election.
However, Nana Abena Korkor Addo shocked everyone when she admitted to posting the explicit video herself. But years after the incident, the repentant lady said her action was due to her mental condition diagnosed by doctors at the Accra psychiatric hospital. She however noted that, through the positive encouragement from family, students and faculty at UCC while on admission, she has been able to recover. Nana Abena who was then in her final year said she had to repeat because the condition adversely affected her academic performance. She also appealed to young women not to ever attempt recording themselves when naked since “you might not know what would happen to it”.
Read more: https://www.naij.com/1055406-female-ucc-student-releases-video.html
