My future at Arsenal is not dependent on Wenger’s, says Ozil

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Arsenal's German midfielder Mesut Ozil (L) vies with Basel's Swiss midfielder Renato Steffen during the UEFA Champions league Group A football match between FC Basel 1893 and Arsenal FC on December 6, 2016 at the St Jakob Park stadium in Basel. / AFP PHOTO / Patrick HERTZOG

Arsenal and German midfielder Mesut Ozil has said it was wrong to conclude that his future at the London club is dependent on Arsene Wenger’s.

Wenger has been under intense pressure to quit the club after strings of woefully displays that saw exit the UEFA Champions League and drop out of the top four in the English Premier League. There were speculations that 67-year old 20-year reign at Arsenal will come to a halt at the end of the season.

But Ozil who is yet to agree to a new long-term contract with a year left on his current on insisted that the decision to stay or leave Arsenal will solely be his.

“I have always said I’m very happy at Arsenal. Everything fits here, the club, the fans and the city. Arsene Wenger was also one of the main reasons why I joined Arsenal,” he told Bild am Sonntag.

“However, I also know that in football everything moves very quickly and a lot differently to what you had planned.

“Therefore, it would be wrong to say that my future is dependent on the coach.”

Ozil, however, confirmed that talks were on his contract extension but nothing concrete has been agreed on.

He said, “Everything is still open. There have been talks with Arsenal but at the moment, I’m concentrating on the current season, just like the officials at Arsenal.”

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Bus in Haiti flees accident, kills 38

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A car damaged by a bus lies on the side of a road on March 12, 2017 in Gonaives, 150 km (90 miles) northwest of the capital Port-au-Prince.<br />A bus speeding away from a hit-and-run accident plowed into dozens of street musicians in northern Haiti, killing 34 people, officials said. / AFP PHOTO / HECTOR RETAMAL

A bus speeding away from a hit-and-run accident plowed into dozens of street musicians in northern Haiti on Sunday, killing 38 people, officials said.

Another 13 people were injured in the crash in Gonaives, a city of some 300,000 people located about 150 kilometers (90 miles) northwest of the capital Port-au-Prince.

“First, the bus plowed into two pedestrians, killing one of them, and injuring the other,” Marie-Alta Jean Baptiste, head of Haiti’s civil protection office, told AFP.

The driver of the Blue Sky bus then rammed into three groups of street musicians as he tried to speed away, leaving a scene of ghastly carnage.

The number of injured was initially 17, but four victims later died at the hospital, the national police in Gonaives said.

Police were forced to control an angry crowd after the grisly incident. Drivers in Haiti who are involved in accidents rarely stop at the scene because they fear attack by local mobs seeking to extract vigilante justice.

“The people who were not victims of the accident tried to burn the bus with the passengers inside,” said Faustin Joseph, civic protection coordinator for the department of Artibonite, where Gonaives, the regional capital, is located.

The Blue Sky bus line, a private company offering long-distance routes, is an upscale option for travel in Haiti with modern, air-conditioned coaches.

Most Haitians generally travel on former American school buses which ply the roads, making frequent stops.

Authorities initially said they had detained the bus driver, but he had actually fled the scene, Gonaives traffic chief Jeudy Lisate told AFP. Police were still trying to identify him.

It’s not known what caused the crash, which occurred on a straight stretch of a national road without any potholes.

On Sunday afternoon a heavily damaged car was seen in a ditch on the side of the road, but the accident scene had otherwise been cleaned up.

In a statement Haitian President Jovenel Moise “expressed his deep sadness following the terrible accident.”

“The head of state conveys, on behalf of the whole government, his sincere condolences to the families and those close to the victims,” the statement read.

Moise called for “an investigation as soon as possible to shed light on this tragedy.”

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Djokovic downs Edmund to advance at Indian Wells

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Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after his straight sets victory against Kyle Edmund of Great Britain at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 12, 2017 in Indian Wells, California. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images/AFP

Novak Djokovic opened his defense of his Indian Wells Masters title on Sunday with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory over Briton Kyle Edmund.

The world number two from Serbia, whose five Indian Wells titles include three in the past three years, had to battle back in the second set against the 46th-ranked Edmund to force the tiebreaker and put it away in straight sets.

“First match played, really a big test,” said Djokovic. “Throughout most of the second set, he was the better player. Just a few points decided that second set.”

Things likely won’t get any easier for the world number two, who faces former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in the third round after del Potro defeated fellow Argentine Federico del Bonis 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.

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AU Chairperson Conde, calls Buhari, wishes him speedy recovery

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African Union (AU), President Alpha Conde of Guinea

The Chairperson of the African Union (AU), President Alpha Conde of Guinea on Friday initiated a phone call to President Muhammadu Buhari in London, to wish him good health and speedy recovery.

This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President. Adesina said that President Conde called on behalf of leaders of member countries of the AU.

The AU chairperson assured the Nigerian president that all African leaders stand with him in prayers at a time like this.

Buhari thanked Conde for the telephone call, and congratulated him on his election as AU chairperson during the 28th Ordinary Summit of the continental body held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in January 2017.

The Nigerian president, who could not attend the AU Summit, wished his Guinean counterpart a successful tenure. Buhari also expressed confidence that Africa would witness improved political stability, security and economic growth during Conde’s tenure.

It would be recalled that King Mohammed VI of Morocco on Wednesday had a telephone conversation with Buhari in London, where the Nigerian president is on vacation, to wish him good health.

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Djokovic knocked out of Acapulco ATP event by Kyrgios

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Serbia's Novak Djokovic smiles against to Australia's Nick Kyrgios during the fourth day of the Mexican Tennis Open, in Acapulco, Guerrero State, Mexico, on March 2, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / ALFREDO ESTRELLA

World No. 2 Novak Djokovic was sent crashing out of the ATP Mexico Open on Thursday after being upset in straight sets by sixth seeded Nick Kyrgios in the first ever meeting between the two.

The top-seeded Djokovic, who was back in action this week for the first time since his shock second-round exit at the Australian Open in January, looked rusty in losing 7-6 (11/9), 7-5 in the quarter-finals of the hardcourt tournament.

The 21-year-old Kyrgios kept Djokovic off his game with an overpowering serve and precision groundstrokes as he blasted 25 aces and won 81 percent of his first-serve points in the one hour, 47 minute match.

Kyrgios will meet big-serving American Sam Querrey for a place in the final.

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SpaceX to send two tourists around Moon in 2018 (Read full details)

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Russia on Wednesday successfully launched an unmanned spacecraft taking food and equipment to the International Space Station after the previous such ship crashed to Earth shortly after launch in December.

SpaceX said Monday two private citizens have paid money to be sent around the Moon in what would mark the farthest humans have ever traveled to deep space.

The United States has not sent astronauts to the Moon since NASA’s Apollo missions of the 1960s and ’70s.

“We are excited to announce that SpaceX has been approached to fly two private citizens on a trip around the moon late next year,” said a statement by CEO Elon Musk.

“This presents an opportunity for humans to return to deep space for the first time in 45 years and they will travel faster and further into the solar system than any before them.”

The tourists, who were not named, “have already paid a significant deposit,” Musk’s statement added.

Health tests and training are to begin this year.

“Other flight teams have also expressed strong interest and we expect more to follow. Additional information will be released about the flight teams, contingent upon their approval and confirmation of the health and fitness test results,” Musk said.

The tourists will ride aboard the California-based company’s Crew Dragon capsule, which is scheduled for its first unmanned test flight later this year.

It is based on the design currently used to send cargo to the International Space Station, with upgrades to allow for human transport.

The capsule will launch atop SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, which is scheduled for its first test flight this summer.

The rocket “will be the most powerful vehicle to reach orbit after the Saturn V moon rocket,” Musk said.

“At five million pounds of liftoff thrust, Falcon Heavy is two-thirds the thrust of Saturn V and more than double the thrust of the next largest launch vehicle currently flying.”

– Commercial space race –
Musk — who co-founded PayPal and also heads Tesla Motors — is seen as the emerging leader of the modern commercial space industry, after becoming the first to send a private cargo carrier to the International Space Station in 2010.

The 45-year-old native of South Africa is a long-time space enthusiast, who is also outspoken about his vision to colonize Mars.

Last September he unveiled ambitious plans to establish a colony on the Red Planet by sending 100 humans at a time — starting in 2024.

SpaceX also plans to send an unmanned Dragon cargo capsule as early as 2018.

In the same month Blue Origin, founded by Amazon chief Jeff Bezos, unveiled plans to build a massive rocket called New Glenn to launch people to space, but the company’s president said going to Mars could take decades.

And on the space tourism front, Virgin Galactic, led by British billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson, has set a goal of taking people to the edge of space, more than 62 miles (100 kilometers) above Earth.

Despite the hefty $250,000 price tag, more than 600 would-be astronauts have already signed up, including actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Ashton Kutcher.

Meanwhile, if all goes as planned, lift-off for Musk’s two moon tourists will occur next year from the same launch pad near Cape Canaveral that the Apollo program used for its lunar missions.

Musk posted the company’s announcement on Twitter by stating: “Fly me to the moon … Ok.”

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Amina Mohammed assumes duty at UN Tuesday (Read full details)

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Amina J. Mohammed, Nigeria's immediate past Minister of Environment, will be sworn-in on Tuesday as the UN Deputy Secretary-General at the UN Headquarters in New York

Ms Amina Mohammed, the immediate past Minister of Environment, will be sworn-in on Tuesday as the UN Deputy Secretary-General at the UN Headquarters in New York, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Mohammed, who was appointed by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Dec. 15, 2016 as his deputy, was supposed to have assumed office on Jan. 1, 2017. She, however, delayed the assumption of her new role at the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to complete some ongoing responsibilities she was handling at that time.

Guterres had, while announcing Mohammed alongside two other women appointees, described them as “highly competent”.

“I am happy to count on the efforts of these three highly competent women, whom I have chosen for their strong backgrounds in global affairs, development, diplomacy, human rights and humanitarian action.

“These appointments are the foundations of my team, which I will continue to build, respecting my pledges on gender parity and geographical diversity,” Guterres had said.

The office of the UN Deputy Secretary-General was formally established by the General Assembly in 1997 to handle many of the administrative responsibilities of the Secretary-General.

As the fifth Deputy Secretary-General, Mohammed will help to manage the UN Secretariat operations, and “ensuring inter-sectoral and inter-institutional coherence of activities and programmes”.

She will also support the Secretary-General in elevating “the profile and leadership of the UN in the economic and social spheres, including further efforts to strengthen the UN as a leading centre for development policy and development assistance”.

In accepting the appointment, the then environment minister said she would continue to lay strong foundations for the various ongoing initiatives critical to the Federal Government’s success in the environment sector.

“The opportunity and responsibility to serve people and planet as the next UN Deputy Secretary-General is truly humbling.

“I am most grateful for the confidence and trust demonstrated by the United Nations Secretary-General-designate António Guterres and President Muhammadu Buhari.

“As directed by Mr President, I will continue in the meantime to lay strong foundations with various important ongoing initiatives critical to the government success in the environment sector.

“These include our Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Climate Agreement, the successful launch of the first Sovereign Green Bonds in 2017, the ongoing Ogoni clean-up and development of the Great Green Walls.”

Mohammed also thanked her colleagues and the various stakeholders in the environment sector.

“The next phase of my continued service to the people of Nigeria at the global level, will certainly build on the rich insights and lessons drawn from engaging with leaders, colleagues and stakeholders across our beloved nation.”

She recalled her positions of responsibilities over the last three decades and her contributions to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and recently working for environment protection as part of Buhari administration’s vision to transform Nigeria.

Mohammed served as UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser to former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Post-2015 Development Planning.

She was instrumental in bringing about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the SDGs. Before joining the UN, Mohammed worked for three successive administrations in Nigeria, serving as Special Adviser on MDGs.

She provided advice on issues including poverty, public sector reform and sustainable development, and coordinating poverty reduction interventions.

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Zidane hails impact of the substitutes in Madrid comeback…See full details

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Real Madrid players celebrate their goal during the Spanish League football match Villarreal CF vs Real Madrid at El Madrigal stadium in Vila-real on February 26, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / BIEL ALINO

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane hailed the impact of Isco and Alvaro Morata off the bench as the European champions came from 2-0 down at Villarreal on Sunday to win 3-2.

Morata completed the comeback after Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo had hauled Madrid level to ensure Zidane’s men move back ahead of Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Real hold a one-point lead over their title rivals, who won 2-1 at Atletico Madrid on Sunday, but also have a game in hand.

“They deserve (to play) more for sure,” Zidane said of the Spanish international duo.

“The did very well, they changed the game. In any case we will need every player between now and the end of the season.

“They are all up for it. It is a long season, but this shows that everyone is ready when they are called upon.

“With everything that happened today it was vitally important to get the three points.”

Real had suffered just their second league defeat of the season at Valencia in midweek.

And Zidane’s men looked well on course to suffer another reversal when Villarreal struck twice in six minutes early in the second-half through Manu Trigueros and Cedric Bakambu.

However, Zidane reacted immediately by introducing Isco for the more defensively minded Casemiro.

Having been outplayed for the opening hour, Madrid forced Villarreal onto the back foot and were rewarded when Bale’s header halved the arrears 25 minutes from time.

Ronaldo then smashed home a controversial penalty after Villarreal captain Bruno Soriano was harshly adjudged to have handled inside his own box.

And the comeback was complete when Morata, who only replaced Karim Benzema 13 minutes from time, powered home Marcelo’s cross six minutes later.

“At 2-0 down you have to change something,” added Zidane.

“It worked out well for us. It allowed us to camp much more in their half.”

Bale was making his first start for three months and was forced to play almost the full 90 minutes given the circumstances before hobbling off to be replaced by Lucas Vazquez a minute from time.

However, Zidane said the Welshman suffered just “a knock” and should be fine to feature against Las Palmas on Wednesday.

Villarreal ‘keeper Sergio Asenjo was not so fortunate as he appears to have suffered a fourth cruciate knee ligament injury of his career.

Asenjo, who has presided over La Liga’s best defence, went down after turning Benzema’s header to safety midway through the first-half.

“Asenjo seems to have torn his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) in his left knee. It’s a real shame,” said Villarreal coach Fran Escriba.

His absence proved vital as back-up ‘keeper Andres Fernandez let Morata’s header slip under his body for the winner.

Escriba had to watch that goal from the stands after being dismissed from the touchline for taking his protests over the penalty too far.

“The match was over for us after the penalty,” added Escriba.

“We lost our focus”.

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Pentagon seeks to rent space in Trump Tower

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(FILES) This file photo taken on March 11, 2016 shows Trump Tower along 5th Avenue in Manhattan in New York. PHOTO: AFP  / GETTY IMAGES / SPENCER PLATT

The Pentagon wants to rent space in Trump Tower in New York for equipment and military personnel accompanying President Donald Trump during his stays there, it confirmed Wednesday.

First Lady Melania Trump and their son Barron are still living in Trump Tower and the real estate tycoon-turned-president plans to make regular visits.

US presidents are accompanied around-the-clock by military personnel, notably those who carry the briefcase containing the nuclear codes that would enable him to launch an attack at a moment’s notice.

The Pentagon’s request for a Trump Tower foothold carries the potential for embarrassment because it plays into a running debate over potential conflicts involving Trump’s vast real estate interests.

Trump has refused to sell off his holdings upon taking office, instead of putting them in a trust managed by his two elder sons.

He also rejected putting his assets in a “blind trust” controlled by an independent manager.

“In order to meet official mission requirements, the Department of Defense is working through appropriate channels and in accordance with all applicable legal requirements in order to acquire a limited amount of leased space in Trump Tower,” Lieutenant Colonel James Brindle, a Pentagon spokesman said.

“The space is necessary for the personnel and equipment who will support the POTUS at his residence in the building,” he said.

According to Pentagon officials, the Defense Department has previously rented space near the private residences of previous presidents. But they were unable to provide details.

CNN reported that renting a full floor on Trump Tower costs about $1.5 million a year.

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