Belief can stimulate City on to repeat 2014 win, says Toure

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PHOTO:AFP/Getty image

Yaya Toure says making up the ground on Chelsea to win the Premier League title is not beyond his club Manchester City if they retain belief in themselves as they did in 2014.

The 33-year-old Ivory Coast midfielder — who has battled his way back into favour with City manager Pep Guardiola after a public spat with his agent and the Spanish coach earlier this season — concedes the 11 point difference will be tough to overhaul.

However, a fifth successive win at home to Stoke — they have not lost in nine in all competitions — on Wednesday would at least keep some pressure on Antonio Conte’s Chelsea side.

Yet their previous two league title wins both involved late runs to overtake teams with seemingly unassailable leads — in 2012 overhauling city rivals Manchester United and 2014 when they did the same to Liverpool.

City trailed Liverpool by nine points with five games left – albeit with two matches in hand on the Merseysiders – and recovered to win the league by two points.

“We just hope. The Premier League this year is going to be very demanding and very difficult,” said Toure.

“When you see Chelsea play, they play with confidence and they are strong. We expect them to slip up, maybe a couple of times.

– ‘We have to believe’ –
“But they have good momentum and they also play fewer games than nearly all of the other teams in the top four because they are not in Europe. That is a big advantage for them.

“But we just have to believe, because we did that in 2014. Yeah, we have to hope it’s possible again.”

The loss of striker Gabriel Jesus to a broken metatarsal in February might have stalled City’s progress, but the good news for Guardiola is Sergio Aguero has taken the opportunity to reassert himself.

Aguero was dropped in January following the arrival of Jesus from Brazilian club Palmeiras, and there was much speculation that the Argentina international may soon be leaving the club.

Guardiola, for his part, has always said he wanted Aguero to stay; he has been rewarded by the forward’s recent form. His goal in Sunday’s 2-0 victory at bottom club Sunderland was his fifth in three matches.

Under the guidance of former City manager Mark Hughes, Stoke have become remarkably consistent, finishing ninth for each of the last three seasons, and on course to make that four.

They have, however, failed to beat any side currently in the top half of the table this season, and have developed a worrying recent habit of losing heavily to the top teams.

They were particularly poor in a 4-0 defeat at Tottenham in their last away game on February 26, but responded well to beat struggling Middlesbrough 2-0 last Saturday.

In-form forward Marko Arnautovic is doubtful because of illness. Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri, though, is available after missing five matches with a calf problem.

Goalkeeper Jack Butland has been cleared to return to full training almost a year after breaking his ankle while playing for England, but will not face City, and may not be risked before the start of next season.

“It’s huge for Jack but there’s still a big step to be taken for him,” said Hughes.

“Before the end of the season, if we think it’s right and Jack hasn’t had any complications, then we’d look to get him some game time.

“It’s whether or not we take that opportunity. We might decide to make sure we get him right for pre-season.”

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The Biography Of Harry Kimani [Age, Life Profile & Net Worth]

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Harrison Mungai “Harry” Kimani (born 1982) is a Kenyan singer, songwriter and composer.

Kimani grew up with music, teaching himself to play the guitar by catching an older brother perform. He attended Kirangari High School in Nairobi, where he already showed a great interest in music; he sang, composed songs, participated in music festivals and, at one time, conducted the school choir. His first love in high school inspired him to compose a song called “African Woman,” which was well received among his friends; they urged him to record the song.

In 1999, Kimani left school to look for a recording studio. Eventually, in 2000, he met producer Maurice Oyando of Next Level Productions; with Oyando’s assistance, he recorded “African Woman,” which was released as a single. The song began to receive air play on several radio stations in Nairobi. Encouraged by this early success, Kimani returned to the studio to record a complete album, tentatively titled African Woman. A second single, “Tuohere” (God Forgive Us), was released for radio play. Although the African Woman album was completed in 2001, it was not released due to lack of funds. Undaunted, Kimani returned to the studio to work on another album while his first one waited for release. He has since recorded and released two albums, Unborn and Tiushi Mi Nawe.

When the Festival Mundial officials visited Kenya in September 2002, they were impressed by Kimani’s talents. He performed at the 2003 Sarakasi Festival in Nairobi and was part of a group of Kenyan artists invited to perform at the Festival Mundial in June 2003 in the Netherlands.

Harry Kimani was also featured in the award winning African hop-hop documentary Hip-hop Colony.

In 2009, Harry released his latest album, “the Quest”.

Kimani’s musical style has been described as ” African soul and a little bit of rumba and R&B.” He sings in three languages—English, Kikuyu and Swahili—and his lyrics address the issues of everyday life and society. His recent performances have included the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, North Sea Jazz Salutes Nairobi, and Bløf’s Umoja Project launch in Amsterdam.

* An Uzomedia Biography

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China’s huge debt poses big headache for central bank

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This photo taken on February 16, 2017 shows a construction site in Lianyungang, China's Jiangsu province.<br />Chinese banks lent more money in January alone than the annual GDP of South Africa, as borrowers rushed to take advantage of government policies intended to stimulate the economy with easy credit. But the free-for-all has had unintended consequences, creating a tottering tower of unsustainable debt, with Beijing now trying to tighten monetary policy and reduce access to credit without bringing the entire edifice crashing down. / AFP PHOTO / STR / China OUT / TO GO WITH China-economy-debt-loans-credit-government,,FOCUS by Julien GIRAULT

Chinese banks lent more money in January alone than the annual GDP of South Africa, as borrowers rushed to take advantage of government policies intended to stimulate the economy with easy credit.

But the free-for-all has had unintended consequences, creating a tottering tower of unsustainable debt, with Beijing now trying to tighten monetary policy and reduce access to credit without bringing the entire edifice crashing down.

Chinese debt exceeded 270 percent of the country’s GDP by the end of 2016, stoked by multiple interest rate cuts as well as the growth of the unregulated “shadow finance” credit sector which involves lending to already indebted companies.

Thanks in part to the easy credit, China’s economy — a key driver of global growth — expanded by 6.7 percent last year, with a construction boom and increased public spending on infrastructure.

But the world’s second largest economy is now saddled with an unwieldy debt load, Andrew Fennell of ratings agency Fitch said in a January 23 note, adding that “China’s stable growth reflects stimulus, not sustainability”.

Standard & Poor’s also warned that “reliance on credit-fuelled growth poses the downside risk of a hard landing for the economy.”

– ‘The risk is immense’ –
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC), the country’s central bank, helped stimulate the out of control lending with multiple interest rate cuts between the end of 2014 and 2016, lowering the cost of credit.

The abundance of cheap cash has had unexpected consequences: the cost of garlic jumped 80 percent last year on speculation, investors poured money into bitcoin and real estate prices in some parts of the country have gone through the roof.

Last year the average price per square metre jumped 14 percent in Beijing, 38 percent in Nanjing and a staggering 49 percent in the southern city of Shenzhen.

At the same time, empty apartment buildings have mushroomed across other cities where builders are struggling to find clients willing to invest in their speculative ventures.

The “monetary policy has only inflated the real estate bubble,” economist Zhong Pengrong, CEO of Shiye, told AFP.

“If the market collapses, the risk is immense,” he said.

Although a dozen municipalities have recently tightened rules on apartment purchases, overheating persists, with home loans accounting for a record one-third of bank lending in January.

Hamstrung by the need to prop up growth while also reining in speculation, the PBOC has sent mixed signals on monetary policy.

It injected additional liquidity into the financial system before the Lunar New Year, when demand for cash is traditionally strong.

Then in early February the bank raised short-term rates in the money market by 10 basis points for the first time in four years.

Societe Generale analyst Wei Yao said the bank was attempting a precarious balancing act.

“The high debt level and the previously hasty expansion of banks’ balance sheets make the financial system vulnerable to too abrupt a change,” she said.

“The tightening cannot be too harsh.”

– Thirst for liquidity –
Authorities are also worried about the intensifying risk of corporate defaults, particularly in the unregulated “shadow finance” sector that covers loans to heavily indebted manufacturers and property developers.

Social financing — a broad measure of credit including that offered by non-bank entities — soared to 3.740 trillion yuan ($545 billion) in January, double that in December, according to the PBOC.

These unregulated schemes include company-to-company lending, which jumped 20 percent in 2016 to $1.92 trillion, according to data firm CEIC.

Commercial banks have traditionally been reluctant to loan money to small and medium-sized businesses, regardless of interest rate cuts, leaving owners with little choice but to turn to “shadow financiers” to quench their thirst for liquidity.

A jump in interest rates is unlikely to affect the demand for this kind of lending, meaning there is no immediate solution in sight.

Under these conditions, analysts say, it will likely take a long time to get China’s debt monster under control as the country attempts to re-balance its economy.

“China economy is a bit like a high-speed train,” Zhang Fayu, economist and manager for assets management firm Million Tons Capital in Shanghai, told AFP.

“It must slow down well in advance before turning.”

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Kim toxicology report could take two weeks

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Members of the Royal Malaysian Police man the main gate of the forensics wing of the Hospital Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur on February 18, 2017, where the body of a North Korean man suspected to be Kim Jong-Nam, half-brother of a North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, is being kept. Malaysian police said February 18 they had arrested a North Korean man over the assassination of Kim Jong-Un's brother, as relations between Pyongyang and Kuala Lumpur nosedived in a battle for his body.<br />MOHD RASFAN / AFP

A toxicology report on the body of the assassinated half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un could take up to two weeks, Malaysia’s top health official said Saturday.

“Normally it will take about two weeks to find out what was the cause of death…. Until we find something conclusive we will not be able to release the report,” Health Minister S. Subramaniam told AFP.

Kim Jong-Nam died Monday after an unidentified liquid was sprayed in his face at Kuala Lumpur international airport, in an attack which Seoul says was carried out by female agents on Pyongyang’s orders.

Four people have so far been arrested over the killing, including a North Korean man on Saturday.

Police identified the man as 46-year-old Ri Jong Chol, who was carrying Malaysian documentation issued to foreign workers.

Diplomatic ties between the two countries have rapidly cooled after North Korean ambassador Kang Chol accused Malaysia of colluding with “hostile forces” to withhold the body of Kim’s estranged older brother.

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APC wins Etsako Federal Constituency by-election in Edo

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APC

Mr Johnson Oghuma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged the winner of the Etsako Federal Constituency by-election in Edo.

Oghuma emerged winner with 39,876 votes to defeat the People’s Democratic Party candidate Mr Jude Imagwe who polled 18,193 votes.

The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Shola Omotola, who announced the result at about 00:45 am on Sunday said the APC candidate won having scored the highest number of votes cast.

Omotola said that out of the 59,301 votes cast, 58,427 were regarded as valid votes and 874 votes were rejected.

Speaking to newsmen, Oghuma assured the people of the constituency of effective representation.

“I want to assure Etsako people that I will not fail them.

“I will represent them well and their voices will be heard and I will not disappoint them,” he said.

The bye-election came following the election of the former holder of the seat, Mr Philip Shuaib, as Deputy Governor of the state.

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APC wins Etsako Federal Constituency by-election in Edo (Read full details)

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APC

Mr Johnson Oghuma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has emerged the winner of the Etsako Federal Constituency by-election in Edo.

Oghuma emerged winner with 39,876 votes to defeat the People’s Democratic Party candidate Mr Jude Imagwe who polled 18,193 votes.

The Returning Officer for the election, Prof. Shola Omotola, who announced the result at about 00:45 am on Sunday said the APC candidate won having scored the highest number of votes cast.

Omotola said that out of the 59,301 votes cast, 58,427 were regarded as valid votes and 874 votes were rejected.

Speaking to newsmen, Oghuma assured the people of the constituency of effective representation.

“I want to assure Etsako people that I will not fail them.

“I will represent them well and their voices will be heard and I will not disappoint them,” he said.

The bye-election came following the election of the former holder of the seat, Mr Philip Shuaib, as Deputy Governor of the state.

APC wins Etsako Federal Constituency by-election in Edo

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Serena beats Venus to win record 23rd Slam title

Serena’s record-breaking 23 Slam wins

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Serena Williams won her 23rd Grand Slam title at the Australian Open on Saturday, surpassing Steffi Graf to set a new Open-era record. Here is her full list of Grand Slam final victories:

Year, tournament, opponent, score

1999 – US Open – Martina Hingis – 6–3, 7–6 (7/4)

2002 – French Open – Venus Williams – 7–5, 6–3

2002 – Wimbledon – Venus Williams – 7–6 (7/4), 6-3

2002 – US Open – Venus Williams – 6–4, 6–3

2003 – Australian Open – Venus Williams – 7–6 (7/4), 3-6, 6–4

2003 – Wimbledon – Venus Williams – 4–6, 6–4, 6–2

2005 – Australian Open – Lindsay Davenport – 2–6, 6–3, 6–0

2007 – Australian Open – Maria Sharapova – 6–1, 6-2

2008 – US Open – Jelena Jankovic – 6–4, 7–5

2009 – Australian Open – Dinara Safina – 6–0, 6–3

2009 – Wimbledon – Venus Williams – 7–6 (7/3), 6-2

2010 – Australian Open – Justine Henin – 6–4, 3–6, 6-2

2010 – Wimbledon – Vera Zvonareva – 6–3, 6–2

2012 – Wimbledon – Agnieszja Radwanska – 6–1, 5–7, 6-2

2012 – US Open – Victoria Azarenka – 6–2, 2–6, 7-5

2013 – French Open – Maria Sharapova – 6–4, 6–4

2013 – US Open – Victoria Azarenka – 7–5, 6–7 (6/8), 6-1

2014 – US Open – Caroline Wozniacki – 6–3, 6–3

2015 – Australian Open – Maria Sharapova – 6–3, 7–6 (7/5)

2015 – French Open – Lucie Safarova – 6–3, 6–7 (2/7), 6-2

2015 – Wimbledon – Garbine Muguruza – 6–4, 6–4

2016 – Wimbledon – Angelique Kerber 7–5, 6–3

2017 – Australian Open – Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4

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Biafran Market Onitsha on fire

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By Emeka Mamah
The Biafran Market in Onitsha is said to be on fire. The fire started about 40 minutes ago (about 10.15 pm).

News about the inferno is scanty but sources said that the market is located inside or beside the G. Agofere Park along Sokoto Road, Onitsha.

The cause of the fire is not yet known but the market is popular for Chinese jeans and other casual wears.

However there were conflicting reports about the fire incident as some residents mistook the closeness of the market to Onitsha Main Market as some say the it was the main market that was on fire.

At the time of this report, men of the Onitsha Fire Service were battling to control the spread of the fire.

More details soon

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Trump to call Japan’s Abe, other world leaders Saturday

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US President Donald Trump will call almost half a dozen counterparts from around the globe Saturday, among them Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the first foreign leader with whom he met after his election.

The conversation comes just days after Trump formally withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a vast trade deal encompassing a dozen nations that Abe has backed enthusiastically.

US participation is seen as key to the agreement and Abe said he would keep trying to convince Trump of its merits.

But on Thursday, Abe said he would consider the possibility of Tokyo and Washington hammering out a trade deal alone — Trump has said he preferred bilateral trade agreements to multilateral accords.

Abe was the first world leader to rush to meet the US president-elect in New York, visiting Trump just nine days after Americans voted him into office in a surprise victory.

The meeting stirred controversy when Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, a former model and current business executive with no formal role in Trump’s presidency, was seen in attendance.

Trump will also speak Saturday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Francois Hollande and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The conversations come one day after Trump’s meeting with Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May, the first foreign leader to visit his White House.

Trump hailed the “most special relationship” between the twin Atlantic powers and praised Britain’s decision to leave the European Union as a “wonderful thing.”

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Australian Open Final: Serena beats Venus to win record 23rd Slam title (Read full details)

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Serena Williams of the US looks at the championship trophy during the awards ceremony after her victory against Venus Williams of the US in the women's singles final on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 28, 2017.
WILLIAM WEST / AFP

Serena Williams of the US (R) hugs Venus Williams of the US after winning the women's singles final on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 28, 2017.
WILLIAM WEST / AFP

Serena Williams of the US reacts after beating Venus Williams of the US to win their women's singles final match on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 28, 2017.
SAEED KHAN / AFP

Loser Venus Williams of the US (L-facing) is embraced by her sister Serena Williams of the US following the women's singles final on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 28, 2017.
Greg Wood / AFP

Serena Williams rewrote history Saturday to surpass Steffi Graf and capture a record 23rd Grand Slam title as well as the world number one ranking by beating her sister Venus in the Australian Open final.

The dominant American swept past her greatest rival 6-4, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena for her seventh Melbourne Park crown to finally clinch the record for Open-era major titles, nearly 18 years after winning her first.

The 35-year-old, who equalled Graf’s mark of 22 at Wimbledon last year, now stands just one behind the all-time 24 won by Margaret Court, who was in the president’s box to witness Williams’ feat.

Her astonishing achievement also means she again becomes the world’s top-ranked player, ending the brief stay of Angelique Kerber who knocked Williams off the top after three-and-half years in September last year.

Fittingly, her sister and closest confidante Venus was on the other side of the net to share the moment, another chapter written in their long rivalry.

It was Venus — still a teenager with beads in her hair — who knocked Serena out in round two on her Grand Slam debut in Melbourne 19 years ago, and they have since played nine major finals together, living each other’s highs and lows.

At 36 and seeded 13, Venus had turned back the clock to make her first Grand Slam title match since Wimbledon in 2009, but adding to her seven major successes was not to be.

Showing the single-mindedness that has propelled her to greatness, a focused Serena, seeded two, overcame a scratchy and nervous start in which all four opening games were breaks and when she smashed a racquet in frustration.

But she soon settled to get a decisive break to go 4-3 in front with an unstoppable backhand, and served out the set with an ace.

Serena was fired up and after the first two games of the second set went to serve, she worked three break points in the third only for her sister to negotiate her way out of trouble with some big forehand winners.

The tense battle went with serve to 3-3 before Serena cranked up the pressure to break with a scintillating crosscourt backhand and take a 4-3 lead.

With history beckoning, she wasn’t about to throw it away and she served out the match, falling to the floor in celebration before a long embrace with Venus to share the biggest moment of her career.

Australian Open Final: Serena beats Venus to win record 23rd Slam title

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