Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman,
known as El Chapo or "Shorty", used an elaborate tunnel to break out of a
maximum security prison, officials say.
His escape route from
Altiplano jail was more than 1.5km (1 mile) long and had ventilation and
stairs, the national security commissioner said. Eighteen guards are being questioned. Guzman was last seen in the showers of the jail on Saturday. It was the second time he had escaped from a top security prison. In 2001 he broke out by hiding in a laundry basket after bribing prison officials. He had been serving a sentence of more than 20 years after being arrested in Guatemala in 1993. His recapture in 2014 was hailed as a victory for Mexico's government.
A motorcycle was also discovered, which police believe was used to transport tools and remove earth from the space. A manhunt has been launched and flights suspended at a nearby Toluca airport. Mr Pena Nieto has ordered a full investigation to establish whether any officials helped Guzman escape. "I was profoundly shocked by the news. This is an affront to the Mexican state," he said. Guzman's wealth is estimated at $1bn (£630m). His
rise to head of the Sinaloa cartel made him the world's most wanted
drug trafficker. It smuggles huge amounts of cocaine, marijuana and
methamphetamine into the United States. Before his recapture in
2014, the US state department had offered a reward of up to $5m (£3.2m)
for information leading to his arrest. Attorney General Loretta E.
Lynch issued a statement saying the US government shared Mexico's
concern regarding the escape of Guzman. "In addition to his crimes
in Mexico, he faces multiple drug trafficking and organized crime
charges in the United States," she said. She said the US government is ready to co-operate with Mexico to help recapture Guzman.
Dutch international striker Robin Van Persie was on Sunday given a
hero's welcome by fans as he arrived in Istanbul to join Turkish
football giants Fenerbahce on an eagerly-awaited transfer from
Manchester United.
Van Persie landed at Sabiha Gokcen airport the Asian side of Istanbul
after flying in on a private jet and was given a typically raucous
reception by hundreds of supporters clad in the yellow and navy blue
colours of the club.
Accompanied by his wife Bouchra Elbali and their two children, he walked
out of the airport into a cacophony of chanting from supporters, with
the air thick with the smoke from flares lit by the fans.
Apparently unfazed by the scenes, he squeezed his way though the crowds
of fans and photographers to begin his new life in Turkey.
In a sign of his importance for the club, his entire arrival was covered
live on the club's in house TV channel Fenerbahce TV, including even
the landing of the plane and passport control. 'AN HONOUR'
"I have seen a lot over the years but I have never seen anything like this," Van Persie told the supporters.
"I hope that I'm going to make you happy... it's an honour."
Before leaving Manchester airport, Van Persie had posted pictures on
social media of himself, already wearing a Fenerbahce scarf, and his
family waving goodbye on the tarmac and also one of him at the controls
of the plane.
Fenerbahce's chairman Aziz Yildirim had on Saturday announced the
transfer of Van Persie was a done deal and, according to Turkish press
reports, his formal signing ceremony is expected on Monday.
Fenerbahce – runners up to hated Istanbul rivals Galatasaray last season
in the championship – have gone on a spending spree in a bid to
dominate the Super Lig and be a real contender in Europe.
Earlier this week, Fenerbahce signed Portuguese star Nani also from
United for six million euros (£4.26m, $6.7m) and in June bought Danish
centre-back Simon Kjaer from French side Lille.
According to press reports, Van Persie's transfer fee will be 4.7 million euros (£3.4m, $5.2m).
Van Persie, 31, made 105 appearances and scored 58 goals during his three years at Manchester United from August 2012.
But his last season was marred by an ankle ligament injury and
speculation of tension between himself and Manchester United boss Louis
van Gaal, who had guided Van Persie and his countrymen to third place in
the World Cup.
In Turkey, Van Persie will be lining up against another fellow member of
the Netherlands' so-called "golden generation", Wesley Sneijder, who
plays for arch rivals Galatasaray.
Fenerbahce's flurry of transfer market activity is being masterminded by
its well-respected new Italian sporting director Giuliano Terraneo who
arrived in May on a mission to make the club a European football force.
Mary Data Uranta marks her Birthday Today, The Nigeria film and television actress, producer, model, singer, and businesswoman. Born and raised in Port Harcourt, she competed in beauty pageant Miss Niger Delta, where she achieved the rank of first runner-up.
Uranta landed her first acting role in the 2000 film, Girls Hostel. In 2006, she received more significant attention with a leading role in the Nollywood movie, Secret Mission. She also featured in films, such as Love Doctor, Critical Passion, Pradah, Secret Shadow, and Blood Game, among others.She hails from Port Harcourt, Rivers
State for the marking of her birthday today....
The
eurozone has given Greece until Thursday to present new proposals to
secure a deal with creditors, and has called a full EU summit for
Sunday.
European Council President Donald Tusk said this was now the "most critical moment in the history of the eurozone".
"The final deadline ends this week," he said after emergency talks in Brussels.
The
eurozone had expected Greece to submit fresh plans on Tuesday after its
voters rejected a deal in a referendum, but no new proposals were
tabled.
On Sunday, a meeting of all 28 members of the EU will be
held - a day after the new Greek proposals are expected to be discussed
by the eurozone finance ministers.
In Brussels, Greece has been
given an ultimatum: either there will be a deal or Greece and its banks
face the prospect of going bust on Monday, the BBC's Chris Morris in the
Belgian capital reports.
French
President Francois Hollande said: "It's not just the problem of Greece -
it's the future of the European Union" that is at stake.
Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said he wanted a "socially just and economically viable agreement".
"The
process will be fast. It starts in the coming hours with the aim of
concluding it by the end of the week, at the latest," he said.
Mr Tsipras is due to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg later on Wednesday.
Analysis: Chris Morris, BBC Europe correspondent
Over
dinner this evening, Greek PM Alexis Tsipras told his fellow leaders
what he wants to achieve in the wake of his victory in the Greek
referendum.
The suggestion is that he will agree to many but not
all of the demands for reform which have been made by Greece's
creditors. Some of them he had previously rejected. But he wants much
more in return - a third bailout from the eurozone, some sort of
agreement on restructuring his country's huge public debt, and more
measures to encourage economic growth.
There is huge pressure on
the Greek government because both the state and the banking system in
Greece are on the verge of running out of money. But there is also
pressure on other eurozone leaders. Mr Tusk said this was perhaps the
most critical moment in the history of the single currency and of the EU
itself.
German
Chancellor Angela Merkel said the eurozone leaders had had a "serious,
candid discussion" in Brussels that "reflected the seriousness of the
situation at hand".
She said the leaders "obviously respect the
results of the referendum" but added: "As regards the euro, we don't
have the sovereignty of just one country to contend with, but of 18.
Shared sovereignty, shared responsibility."
Mrs Merkel said Greece needed a new debt programme that would last several years, not a short-term fix.
Greek banks remain shut, with controls on cash machine withdrawals
European Commission President
Jean-Claude Juncker said he wanted Greece to remain in the eurozone but
that Greece had to "tell us where they are heading" by the end of the
week.
And he also issued a warning: "We have a Grexit scenario,
prepared in detail." This was a reference to the situation in which
Greece would have to exit the currency union.
Earlier there was anger among some eurozone members at the lack of new written proposals from Greece.
Lithuanian
President Dalia Grybauskaite said: "There was a promise for today.
Then, they're promising for tomorrow. For the Greek government it's
every time 'manana' ['tomorrow' in Spanish]."
Greece's banks have been shut since its last international bailout programme expired last Tuesday.
Capital controls have been imposed, with people unable to withdraw more than €60 (£43; $66) a day from cash machines.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has refused to increase emergency lending.
However, Mr Hollande said on Tuesday the ECB would now ensure minimum liquidity for Greece until Sunday.
Choosing the right career path as
become so complex especially in a country like Nigeria with issues ranging from
rising unemployment, peer pressure, parent pressure and admission frustrations,
these and many more has led to majorityof teenagers being frustrated halfway in
their studies or dabbling into different fields after graduatingwhile
disappointing many parents at the same time wasting their hard earned money.
Most families cannot see BEYOND
THE BIG FIVE (Law, Engineering, Medicine, Mass Communication and Accountancy)
which is not only erroneous but archaic has there are over 1000 courses for the
21st century teenagers to excel and reach their full potentials and this is why
you should attend the Pre-university career and open day event titled BEYOND
THE BIG FIVE which takes place in 8 locations across Nigeria.
It is an opportunity for parents
and teenagers to meet and talk with the PROFESSIONALS andput to rest among
others, issues ranging from choice of course matching their learning style or
strength, frequent changes in degree options, knowledge of degrees outside the
BIG FIVE, ideal study destination to maximize choice, degree choice leading to
an attractive 21st century career and so much more. VENUES
LAGOS ISLAND – EKO HOTEL – FRIDAY
10TH JULY 2015
LAGOS IKEJA – SHERATON HOTEL –
SATURDAY 11TH JULY 2015
ASABA – GRAND HOTEL – SATURDAY
18TH JULY 2015
WARRI – WELLINGTON HOTEL – SUNDAY
19TH JULY 2015
ABUJA – SHERATON HOTEL – TUESDAY 21ST
JULY 2015
CALABAR – CHANNEL VIEW HOTEL – WEDSDAY22ND
JULY 2015
UYO – IBOM LE MERIDIEN HOTEL – THURSDAY23RD
JULY 2015
PORTHARCOURT – LE MERIDIEN OGEYI
PLACE – SATURDAY25TH JULY 2015
TIME
SESSION ONE – 11AM TO 2PM
SESSION TWO – 2.30PM TO 5.30PM
To reserve a place please CALL:
08037180023, 08081909282, 08081909281, 07084225570 or REGISTER online here http://bit.ly/1LMI4SS
The
man in charge of monitoring ethics of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup
hosting candidates has been banned from soccer for the next 7 years for
unspecified ethics violations.
Harold
Mayne-Nicholls, the former president of Chile’s football federation, is
not allowed to comment on the story, but he was “chosen by FIFA to
inspect 2018 and 2022 World Cup hosting candidates.”Surely
it’s more complicated than Mayne-Nicholls saying, “These guys could be a
problem” and FIFA saying, “No, they won’t be. You’re out,” but is the
organization going to ever do anything without us waiting for the
details.
There is something surreal in the fact that, following the news of Stephen Keshi's
sacking, the immediate response was: “For real this time?” It is apt,
of course, considering that the Big Boss has been fused at the hip with
the NFF, a burdensome conjoined twin, eternally at cross-purposes. The severance could hardly be messier, but it had to be done. This is
an outcome for which neither party is without blame, but also neither
party’s action could be faulted entirely. In submitting the application for the Cote d’Ivoire job – whether he
did so by himself or by proxy is not relevant; there was an indication
of interest, and it bore his name – Keshi essentially burned the candle
at both ends. However, there is enough here for reasonable doubt, even
though there is no grand jury to convince or convict.
There are two possibilities here: either, in handing in his
application, Keshi banked on the insularity of the process to maintain
cover; or he did so fully aware that it would get out, and could not be
bothered with the terrible repercussion(s).
Keshi is a lot of things (not all of them pleasant), but he is by no
means a naïve man. Applying on the down-low and assuming his identity
would remain a secret seems way too jejune to be credible. On the other hand, if he was aware it could get out, and was willing
to do so just the same, it raises the tantalizing question: what did he
expect would be the ultimate outcome? Never mind the public back-clapping and conciliatory tone of Amaju
Pinnick at his contract signing; Keshi is in bad odour with the NFF and
knows it. He is well aware that they only seek the slightest opportunity
to give him the boot, and he pretty much cobbled together the leather
needed. This makes little sense, especially considering there were no
guarantees regarding the Ivorian job to begin with. A bird in the hand,
and all that. The action in itself contravenes no known labour law, and is not a
direct breach of contract as far as I know. Keshi is well within his
right to apply for any job at any time. That said, all things are
lawful, but not all things are expedient. It was hardly a mole-hill, but
all the NFF really needed was a yam heap. So, if he knew this could jeopardise his position if it came out, why go ahead and do it? What could he stand to gain? Reports from his camp have been to the effect that he has not been
served notice of his sack, and that he plans to challenge the decision
on the grounds stated. He could rightly take the NFF to the Court of
Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for unlawful termination, but what would be a
favourable outcome? Forced reinstatement? It is unlikely that he really
wants that, unless there is a twisted masochistic bent in his psyche we
are as yet unaware of. Financial redress? By virtue of his sack, he already is due a healthy
severance, with two years left to run on his contract, especially
considering it is not on the grounds of grievous misconduct.
