Demba Ba completes Chelsea move

Culled from the Punch Newspaper of 03/01/013

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Senagalese international Demba Ba has completed his move to Chelsea from Newcastle.

The Blues agreed a fee with Newcastle for Ba after making an official bid on Wednesday.

Ba has a release clause, understood to be £7.5m, which was triggered by the European champions.

A statement on Newcastle’s website on Wednesday read: “Newcastle United can confirm that Chelsea Football Club has made an official offer for Demba Ba which has triggered the release clause in the player’s contract. The club has given the player permission to speak to Chelsea and therefore he will not be included in the squad for tonight’s (Wednesday’s) game against Everton.”

As at 9pm on Wednesday, the London club had finalised the discussion on personal terms with the player.

Preliminary discussions between representatives of the player and Chelsea had earlier broken up with the deal on the table nowhere near the Senegal international’s expectations. Ba’s representatives indicated that the striker did not expect to end up in west London come the end of the January transfer window following the failed talks.

Manager Rafael Benitez said on Wednesday, “You can always improve things, especially when you have injuries, and we lose two players to the Africa Cup of Nations. Obviously we need bodies but I am really pleased with the squad.”

While the initial fee of £7.5m for a player with Ba’s track record, including 13 league goals this season, appears a bargain, the true cost of the deal could be much more. The Independent revealed that the total could be closer to £30m once agent fees of £5m and a four-year deal worth £80,000 a week are factored in.

Fire could have killed me –Obasanjo

Culled from the Punch Newspaper of 03/01/012

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday said providence saved him from the fire which recently burnt a part of his Hilltop Mansion in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

If the fire which consumed his secretary’s office had occurred during the night, the former President said he would have been suffocated by fumes from the inferno.

He spoke when the executive members of the Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party visited him in Abeokuta.

According to him, the smoke from the fire, which enveloped his bedroom, was enough to kill any living being.

He said, “The fire, which occurred in the office of my private secretary, resulted in thick smoke which pervaded my bedroom. If it had happened at night, I would have been a dead person.”

Obasanjo, who thanked God for sparing his life to witness the New Year, said since the incident, he had continued to receive calls from within and outside the country.

He said, “I want to thank you all who called me on the telephone, both within and outside the country. Let us appreciate the mercy and kindness of God. There were many of us who started last year, but are no more today. We are not mocking them but extolling God.

“In fact, that I am able to stand erect is God’s blessings. Many in my age group cannot stand well anymore. I am not mocking them, but I am thanking God. My hope and prayer are that this year  will be a glorious year.”

Earlier, the Chairman of the Lagos State PDP, Tunji Shelle, told Obasanjo that the visit was to sympathise with him over the incident, and to celebrate the New Year with him.

He said  it was also to receive his blessings ahead of  the 2015 general elections.

Shelle added, “Our Baba, our leader and our former President, we are here for three reasons: to symphatise with you over the incident; to celebrate new year with you and to get your blessings for the 2015 elections.

“Thank God, the fire was curtailed. Whether small or big, we don’t pray for such incident to happen again. In everything, we have to give thanks to God.”

Osaze linked to Newcastle move

Culled from the Punch Newspaper of 03/01/013

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Newcastle United are reportedly interested in bringing West Bromwich striker Osaze Odemwingie to St James’ Park.

The Sun reported on Wednesday that Newcastle manager Alan Pardew is keen on the frontman as a replacement for Demba Ba who is likely to join Chelsea.

The tabloid reported: “Talks were on-going last night and Toon boss Pardew is hoping to land Odemwingie for £3m.

“The Nigerian, 31, has 18 months left on his deal and wants to quit Albion.

“He almost moved to the cash-rich Qatari League last summer but the Baggies were unable to strike a deal.

“Albion chiefs are keen to do business now rather than see his value plummet as he nears the end of his contract.”

But a Birmingham Mail source close to Newcastle poured cold water on the news.

He tweeted : “No truth in this morning’s reports that #wba and Newcastle are in talks over potential Odemwingie move”

2015 poster sponsors playing games –Jonathan

Culled from the Punch

President Goodluck Jonathan
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President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday described those behind his re-election posters which flooded the Federal Capital City on January 1, 2013 as “playing games.”

Jonathan said he had not launched any re-election campaign and asked the sponsors of his campaign posters to allow him concentrate on the job at hand.

The President who spoke through his spokesman, Reuben Abati, said he needed not to engage “in any form of scaremongering.”

Abati told State House correspondents,  “The President has not launched any campaign; he believes that those doing that are playing games.

“There is no reason for the President to engage in any form of scaremongering. He has said that by 2014 his position on the 2015 presidential race wold be made public. Nigerians should wait till then.”

The campaign posters of the President surfaced in several parts of the FCT on New Year Day thus generating public curiosity about Jonathan’s ambition for the 2015 race.

The appearance of the posters in highbrow Asokoro and Wuse areas of Abuja on Tuesday came barely six weeks after the President had said during his occasional media chat that it was too early to talk about the next general election.

 The big posters had the President’s portrait in his Ijaw traditional attire with the inscriptions “2015: No Vacancy in Aso Rock. Let’s Do More. One Good Turn Deserves Another. Support Dr. Goodluck Azikwe Jonathan for 2015 Presidency.”

 But Abati denied on Wednesday that the Preisdent had a hand in the printing and pasting of the campaign posters.

He said the President’s preoccupation at the moment was how to deliver on his mandate for Nigerians and would not be distracted by the politics of 2015.

He said, “Those pasting the posters are trying to express their own views. The president had stated that he would talk about the presidency from 2014. Those doing these do not have the consent of the president.

“What is most important now is for the president to deliver on his electioneering promise to Nigerians and not to embark on the pasting of posters.

“The posters have not come from the President. Nigerians should take the President for his word and ignore any other information to the contrary.”

Abati however said it would be difficult for the President to take any action against the sponsors or dissuade them since they were unknown.

“We do not know those behind the posters, so the president cannot do anything. Our appeal is that those behind this should allow the President concentrate on the job at hand. The President’s main pre-occupation now is to continue to provide service and quality leadership,” he said.

The Campaign for Democracy on Wednesday described the pasting of Jonathan’s 2015 posters as diversionary.

President of the CD, Joe Okei-Odumakin, however dismissed the “I-have-no-hand-in-it” denial by the Jonathan.

 “That is the way of politicians. They keep denying. The pasting of posters smack of high level insensitivity. After two years, he is still saying he does not want to make mistakes,” she said.

Okei-Odumakin however, advised the President to face the business of leadership and shun diversionary tactics.

Spokesman for the Congress for Progressive Change, Rotimi Fashakin, said it was no longer news that the posters of Jonathan’s intention to have a second term “irrespective of his waning popularity” are already surfacing in and around the FCT. Fashakin said, “Though there is no official reaction from the motley of media aides in the Presidency, it is not unlikely that, in the usual shenanigans in the nation’s power corridors, the opposition may likely get some bashing for attempting to distract the President from his much trumpeted ‘transformation agenda.

“If Dr. Jonathan is interested in contesting the Presidency in 2015, we say, why not? However, what is of grave concern is the portent of the posters: ‘No vacancy in Aso-rock in 2015.”

Will Kim Kardashian Divorce Kris Humphries Before KimYe Baby Arrives?

Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian celebrate her 31st birthday in NYC on October 21, 2011 (Splash News)As news of the KimYe baby exploded on social media over the New Year’s weekend, one potential complication still hung in the air – what could it mean if Kim Kardashian was still married to Kris Humphries when she gives birth to her and Kanye West’s first child?

Kardashian was famous for her 2011 highly publicized wedding to Humphries, which his lawyer claims was “a fraud.” During their last court date in late November, Kardashian’s attorney, Laura Wasser claimed that, “Miss Kardashian is now handcuffed to Mr. Humphries." The couple is due back in court on February 15.
omg! spoke with California family law legal expert Marlo Van Oorschot, who points out there are very few reasons in this case to expedite a trial, but plenty of reasons to delay it. “A trial requires both parties to be present and if one or both of them are unable to attend due to unavoidable work commitments (such as Kris’) or health (such as being in the ninth month of pregnancy), trial will likely be delayed,” she explains. “There is no basis in the law to move this matter to an early trial schedule. There are no urgencies in this case, which are any different or more important than those of the public at large seeking their own divorces in the public courthouse. There are very few exceptions to allow for an early trial date and this case does not present those exceptions.”
Radar Online notes that the main point of disagreement is over Kardashian’s refusal to agree to an annulment, which she believes would confirm that her marriage indeed took place just for the cameras. Whether that’s true or not, "Kim is refusing to cave to any of Kris' demands,” a source tells Radar. “She has moved on with her life, and she won't agree to an annulment on grounds that the marriage was fraudulent because it would cause catastrophic damage to her brand."
Radar also claims that it in fact does indeed appear that Kardashian and Humphries will likely still be married when she’s scheduled to give birth in June, due to both the court’s calendar and his basketball schedule. "Kris isn't trying to drag this out, but he wants to be vindicated in court,” a source tells Radar. “Kris will see this through to the end."
Van Oorschot spoke with a credible and respected colleague of hers who said, “that it is highly likely the reason (Humphries) is seeking the annulment is because of pure personal/ego – not for any legal reason.”
However, a fact first pointed out by TMZ is that the husband of a pregnant woman is “presumed” to be the father of the unborn child, which could complicate matters. In other words, going through the hassle of having to prove that West is her baby’s daddy, could influence Kardashian’s decision to agree to an annulment.
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian on December 31, 2012 (Denise Truscello/WireImage)But Van Oorschot says that the “legal presumption” can easily be rebutted with genetic testing. “There is no significant legal issue with regards to who the legal father is in this case. While Kim can certainly and presumably will name Kanye as the father on the child’s birth certificate, she is unable to be married to the father of her child at the time of birth.”
There is another legal recourse the couple could take to expedite a resolution – hiring a retired judicial officer. Since the cost itself shouldn’t be an issue for the two high-earning stars, Van Oorschot suggests that they may be dragging  things out because “one or both of them enjoy the publicity this case is bringing or are desirous of the delays inherently provided by the public court system, or both.”
An admission of annulment by Kardashian would indeed mean a confession of fraud, and Van Oorschot believes there could be financial ramifications for the reality star as a result. “I would think there could be potential ramifications with regards to the money she earned from televising her wedding and anything and everything related to the publicity of the wedding wherein she was paid,” Van Oorschot pontificates. “Because if she received money based upon that fraudulent marriage this might create the legal basis for other fraud claims against Kim and her businesses empire. As for the divorce itself, I see no legal ramifications except as to her engagement/wedding ring that Kris seeks to be returned. If there was never a marriage [legally], then Kris may be entitled to the return of the ring which is obviously extremely valuable.”
Now, we ain’t saying she a gold digger…

The Biggest Celeb Real Estate Listings of 2012

A waterfall pours into Mark Wahlberg's lagoon-like pool. (Zillow.com)

#5 Mark Wahlberg's Beverly Hills Mansion
Size: 11,500 square feet, including seven bedrooms and 10 bathrooms
Asking Price: $12.995 million
List date: July 18, 2012
Current Status: Still for sale
The Scoop: Wahlberg bought the home in 2001 for "only" $4.95 million and made some multi-million upgrades to the place, which now features a kitchen with commercial grade Viking-appliances and marble countertops, a media room with a fireplace, a two-bedroom, 2,500-square-foot guest house, and a resort-style pool area with cabanas and a waterfall. The estate includes a two-story gym complete with a regulation boxing ring and an outdoor basketball court that can also be used for tennis or racquetball. Though potential buyers should note that the deed to the house does not come with a guarantee you'll end up with Wahlberg's abs.
[Related: Katherine Heigl Selling Family Home for $2.6 Million]
Sheryl Crow has listed her 11-acre estate for nearly $16 million. (Zillow)
#4 Sheryl Crow’s Hollywood Hills Estate
Size: 11-acre estate with a 4-bedroom, 3.5 bath main house, a 3-bedroom, 3-bedroom guest house, and a 2-bedroom, 2-bath bungalow
Asking Price: $15.95 million
List Date: October 1, 2012
Current Status: Still for sale
The Scoop: The Spanish Revival home was built in 1924 and has been remodeled to include lots of modern-day amenities like a kitchen chock full of high-end appliances, a library with built-in bookshelves, a wine cellar, and plenty of outdoor luxuries, too, including some close-to-nature spots where Crow must have penned a few tunes. There's the infinity pool with attached hot tub and deck, a footbridge over the property, a cactus garden, and a tropical-style palapa complete with hammock for gazing out into the L.A. skyline, and an outdoor fireplace. As for the guest houses, which share the 11-acre lot, the 1909 Craftsman contains three bedrooms and three bathrooms, while the 1885 "cottage" has two bedrooms and features white oak floors and the always-cool-sounding claw foot tub. According to Zillow.com, the "Perfect Lie" singer and her kids have already completed their move to Tennessee.
The kitchen of Madonna's Upper West Side luxury apartment (Zillow.com)
#3 Madonna’s Manhattan Apartment
Size: 6,000 square feet, 6-bedroom, 8-bathroom duplex
Asking Price: $23.5 million
List Date: November 20, 2012
Current Status: Still for sale
The Scoop: Though Madge purchased a single unit back in the mid 1980s, over the years she's bought two more neighboring apartments in the building, combining them into what is now a 6-bedroom, 8-bathroom duplex, which takes up the 5th and 6^th floors of West 64^th Street's prestigious Harperley Hall. A peek at the listing shows the apartment offers luxuries most Manhattanites have to forgo, like great rooms on both floors with French doors leading to outdoor "Juliet" balconies, five wood-burning fireplaces, central air conditioning (not always a given in NYC apartments), bedrooms with their own wings, and yes, those priceless park views. The apartment was featured in a 1991 issue of Architectural Digest, and according to the article, it included a sound-proofed private gym so that neighbors couldn't hear the stereo system. Unfortunately, the plan didn’t quite work. According to the New York Post, the 54-year-old was sued in 2009 by an upstairs neighbor, who claimed that Madonna played her tunes so loudly that the walls shook for up to three hours a day. The building's board reportedly threatened to evict the "Vogue" songstress and she settled the lawsuit in 2011. After that she moved out of the building and into an even bigger apartment across town on the Upper East Side, this one a 12,000-square-foot 13-bedroom, 14-bathroom triple-wide townhouse with nine fireplaces (because five just isn't enough), for which she paid a reported $40 million.
Adrienne Maloof and Paul Nasiff's Los Angeles home. (Zillow)
#2 Adrienne Maloof and Paul Nassif’s French Chateau in the Gated Los Angeles Enclave of Beverly Glen
Size: 20,000 square feet including eight bedrooms and 11 baths
Asking Price: $26 million
List Date: September 20, 2012
Current Status: Sold on October 19 for $19.5 million
The Scoop: After entering into a messy divorce, “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Maloof and her plastic surgeon husband Nassif looked to liquefy one of their biggest assets when they put this mega-mansion on the market. And what a mansion it is. The listing agency's website states that the French Chateau-style house, designed by architect Richard Landry, is set on two acres and includes luxurious features like a tennis court, media room, wine cellar, swimming pool, and both a pool house and a guest house. According to Zillow.com, the couple purchased the home (which was built in 2000 and has been featured prominently in the reality show) for just under $13 million in 2004, which means they made a tidy little profit on the sale … more to pay the lawyers with!
[Related: Which Celeb Split of 2012 Surprised You the Most? Vote Now!]
Ryan Seacrest bought this house from Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. (MLS)
#1 Ryan Seacrest’s Beverly Hills Mansion, Purchased From Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi
Size: 2.87 acres, 15,000 square feet, 9 bedroom, 11 baths
List Price: $45 million
List Date: October 3, 2011
Purchase Price: $37 million
Purchase Date: May 16, 2012
The Scoop: Was the home with a celebrity pedigree worth every penny? Well, the property includes a main house, two guest cottages, and an additional 3-bedroom house. DeGeneres and de Rossi purchased the furnished property from “Will & Grace” co-creator Max Mutcnick and later bought two neighboring properties and expanded the home with the help of interior designer Melinda Ritz. The house includes a media room (where the couple was married), a giant pool, meditation room, and pond. Best of all, it was also was once home to Joan Collins.
Reese Witherspoon's ranch in Ojai. (Don Lewis/theagencyre.com)
Honorable Mention: Reese Witherspoon’s Ojai Ranch
Size: 7 acres, 4 bedroom, 3-bath main house, three guest cottages, and carriage house
Asking Price: $10 million
List date: October 15, 2012
Current Status: Price dropped to $8.9 million on November 15. Still for sale
The Scoop: Though there were bigger and more expensive celeb homes that hit the market in 2012, Witherspoon’s Ojai property, makes the list since it’s made plenty of headlines over the last year or so. It was the site of Witherspoon's star-studded wedding and was featured in Elle Decor's August 2012 issue. Over the summer it also became a temporary retreat for her friend and "Like Water for Elephants" co-star Robert Pattinson during the media frenzy that ensued after his girlfriend Kristen Stewart admitted to cheating on him. Acclaimed architect Neff designed the ranch's main house, which has four bedrooms and three and a half baths, in 1923 for glassware magnate Edward Drummond Libbey. In addition to the main house, the estate, which sits on nearly seven acres, also includes a swimming pool, barn, and horse paddock as well as multiple guest cottages, which contain an additional five bedrooms. Witherspoon and her family also share the ranch with donkeys, pigs, goats, chickens, and four dogs. No word on whether they come with the house or not.

Paparazzo Killed While Photographing Justin Bieber’s Ferrari

Bieber driving his Ferrari in December 2012. (Aik Arshamian/INFDaily.com)

A photographer trying to snap pictures of Justin Bieber’s white Ferrari being pulled over by California Highway Patrol was struck and killed by another motorist in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The 18-year-old singer wasn’t behind the wheel – or even in the car – when the accident took place (one of his friends – reportedly a rapper named Lil Twist – had borrowed the vehicle), but issued a statement saying his “thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim” and he hopes “this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation … to protect the lives and safety of celebrities, police officers, innocent public bystanders, and the photographers themselves."

[Related: Stars Who Love Pricey Cars]
The “Boyfriend” singer is relatively new to the road – he was only issued a driver’s license in 2010 – but he has been a paparazzi magnet since the day he passed his driving test. However, the interest in him behind the wheel only seems to have intensified as of late. Not only is there constant curiosity in his personal life (and whether on-again, off-again girlfriend Selena Gomez is in the passenger seat), but he also drives a number of very flashy and very expensive sports cars – including multiple Ferraris, which reportedly retail for over $200,000, and a $100,000 chrome Fisker Karma – making him not exactly go unnoticed on the roads.
While Bieber wasn’t involved in this particular incident, he has had a string of other car troubles since he passed his road test – some paparazzi-related and some not. The most notable one took place in July when he was pulled over on a Los Angeles freeway after getting into a high-speed chase with photographers. Bieber, who was behind the wheel in his Fisker Karma, was cited for driving in a "reckless manner at speeds in excess of 65 mph," a police spokesperson said. However, he was reportedly going much faster than that! Witnesses told TMZ Bieber exceeded 100 mph as he tried to flee the ’razzi, many of whom snapped his photo when he was stopped by police.
Bieber driving his Fisker Karma in April 2012. (Brooks/Campos/INFDaily.com)
[Related: Justin Bieber's New Tattoo: See His Giant Rose Leg Ink]
In November, Bieber also had a police run-in when he was pulled over in his white Ferrari – the same one his friends were driving Tuesday – and cited for making an unsafe left turn as well as having an expired registration. The singer didn’t seem very concerned though. During the traffic stop, he snapped a photo of the police car’s flashing lights in the driver’s side mirror and posted it to Twitter, though he later had second thoughts and deleted the pic.
Bieber has also been stopped two additional times in his other ride – a custom Cadillac CTS-V modified to look like the Batmobile. During one occurrence – in December 2011 – the police pulled him over for making an "unsafe left turn" at an intersection. He must have turned on the charm though because he skated away with just a warning. He also talked his way out of another ticket just two months earlier. While driving around in a motorcade of sorts with two other cars (his friend rapper Sean Kingston was in one), Bieber cut off a police officer. All three vehicles were pulled over, but Bieber made nice with the officers, who sent them all on their way with a warning.
As details unfold about Tuesday’s incident – the freelance photographer, who was identified by TMZ as Chris Guerra, was hit on the 405 highway and later died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center – other celebs have started to weigh in on the tragedy. Miley Cyrus spoke out, taking a firm position. "Hope this paparazzi/JB accident brings on some changes in '13 Paparazzi are dangerous! Wasn't Princess Di enough of a wake up call?!” she tweeted. “It is unfair for anyone to put this on to Justin’s conscious as well! This was bound to happen! Your mom teaches u when your a child not to play in the street! The chaos that comes with the paparazzi acting like fools makes it impossible for anyone to make safe choices.”
TMZ reports that Guerra thought he was on to a huge story on a very slow news day, and that may have been why he was trailing the car so closely. A source with the same photo agency that Guerra worked for told the news outlet that Guerra called him on Tuesday and said, “Man, you won't believe my luck. It's pretty dead in L.A. Everybody thinks Justin and Selena are in Mexico, but they're not.” The source also adds that the deceased photog thought he had seen Bieber smoking marijuana before he got in his vehicle.