News Fidelity

  The world has recorded yet another powerful milestone in medicine. The world’s first human head transplant has been carried out on a corpse in China, according to an Italian Professor Sergio Canavero.   Dr Xiaoping Ren, who grafted a head onto the body of a monkey in 2016, carried out the operation, which took 18 hours. Italian Professor Canavero, who is the director of the Turin Advanced Neuromodulation Group, announced the success in a press conference in Vienna. Prof. Canavero said:  “The first human transplant on human cadavers has been done. “A full head swap between brain dead organ donors is the next stage and that is the final step for the formal head transplant for a medical condition which is imminent.” It had previously been hoped that 30-year-old Valery Spiridonov would be the first human to undergo the operation but the Russian decided he did not want to experience the surgery. Spiridonov had volunteered because he suffers from Werdnig-Hoffmann di...

  Super Eagles placed in pot 4 for 2018 FIFA World Cup draws  Nigeria cannot face other African teams in the group stage October 2017 edition of the FIFA ranking was used to allocate pots   The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been placed in pot 4 for the final draws of the 2018 FIFA World Cup to be held in Russia.  The only teams Nigeria cannot face are those from Africa and Serbia, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, Korea Republic and Saudi Arabia who are all placed in pot 4 also. The Super Eagles are placed in the pot reserved for the weakest teams. Photo: BBC  Morocco was also placed in pot four. Senegal, Egypt, Tunisia are the other African nations and they are all placed in pot 3.  This means Nigeria expect to be group with one of Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden and Iran. Pot 2 features Spain, Peru (last team to qualify), Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Croatia.  Pot 1 includes host Russia, Brazil (fir...

  There will be no hiding place for the Super Eagles of Nigeria when the World’s most glamorous sporting event, the world cup, opens in Russia in 2018. The Nigerian side will actually be the team to beat as other countries who have qualified have started redoubling efforts to overawe the Nigerian side should they be drawn together on December 1 when the draw is made in Russia.  The gang up against Nigeria is not because it qualified from its group even with a match to spare. It’s also not because in its round robin encounters with Cameroun, Algeria and Zambia, super powers of the round leather game on the continent, it did not taste defeat. Nigeria is in trouble because after qualifying for the showpiece event, the Super Eagles went on to do the unthinkable.  Yes the Nigeria Super Eagles are actually the architect of their own trouble. They played themselves into trouble when they went to Russia on November 13 and decimated one of the Super powers in the sport Argenti...

  Super Eagles star, Alex Iwobi has disclosed the reasons he snubed England for Nigeria after scoring a brace in the win over Argentina on Tuesday. The 21-year-old made the choice to play international football for Nigeria in 2015 despite featuring in  England’s youth teams. Iwobi admitted his family, including his uncle and former Bolton star, Jay-Jay Okocha, played a pivotal role in the decision. “I was growing up in England and England was the only national team I knew, so I was actually very pleased to play at national level,” Iwobi told Soccer Laduma. “However, my family are all from Nigeria, I was born in Nigeria, my uncle (Jay-Jay Okocha) is a legend in Nigeria. “That’s why I thought I would give it a chance. That’s why I went to the U23s and somehow felt more welcome, and I thought it’s where I belong, so I made the decision to switch.”

  The United Nations, UN, United States of America and the United Kingdom have all reacted to the military coup in Zimbabwe. The military on Wednesday overthrew 93-year-old President Robert Mugabe  after seizing the National Radio Station on Tuesday. Mugabe has been in charge of the country for 37 years. The UN has consequently issued a security advisory, instructing its personnel to work from home. Some schools were closed and some students failed to sit for their final examinations, including at the University of Zimbabwe. Also, the UK foreign and commonwealth office has updated its travel advice to British nationals in Zimbabwe. It reads in part, “Due to the uncertain political situation in Harare, including reports of unusual military activity, we recommend British nationals currently in Harare to remain safely at home or in their accommodation until the situation becomes clearer. Please continue to monitor our travel advice and embassy social media acco...

  Coach of the  Super Eagles Gernot Rohr is likely try out a 3-5-2 formation when the Super Eagles face South American giants, Argentina in Tuesday’s friendly at the Krasnodar Stadium. A source at the Eagles’ base in Russia said that Rohr is expected to deploy Nantes defender Chidozie Awaziem in a three-man central defence alongside Leon Balogun and William Troost Ekong. Also Chippa United’s goalie, Daniel Akpeyi has been drafted into the team after missing the last four games, with the pair of Ola Aina and Shehu Abdulahi playing as wing-backs. Captain John Mikel Obi has also return to the starting line-up after he was rested for the inconsequential World Cup qualifier against Algeria in Constantine last Friday. John Ogu will partner Mikel and Wilfred Ndidi in midfield. Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi and Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho are expected to pair in attack barring any last minute change. In seven senior meetings with Argentina, Nigeria has been able to win j...

  Belgian midfielder Andreas Pereira wants to join Valencia on a permanent deal  The player is currently on loan at the Spanish club and does not want to return  This season, he has played nine games for Valencia in the La Liga.   Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira has stated clearly that he wants to leave the Premier League club for a permanent move to La Liga side Valencia. Since the start of the ongoing football League season in Europe, the Belgian has been on loan at Valencia and does not want a return to Old Trafford. This term in the Spanish La Liga, the 21-year-old has played in nine of Valencia's opening 11 games as the club are currently four points ahead of Real Madrid. Speaking to Super Deporte, Pereira said: ''Everything is going very well, the whole squad is happy here. "We want to keep this, I think everyone wants to stay here because this is a great club and I am happy to be here. "It's a very good option for me, it would ...

  Digital satellite and PayTv operator, Telecoms Satellite Television (TSTv), yesterday, said it has commenced the distribution and installation of the 5,000 promo decoders across the country, pursuant to its full launch.  The company, in a statement in Abuja, however, stated that accreditation of its dealers was still ongoing and that commercial sale and rollout of the decoders would not commence until the accreditation process is concluded.  According to the company, it is striving to ensure uniformity and evenness in the sale of its decoders nationwide and is undertaking full branding of its dealers outlets across the country.  The company assured Nigerians that it remained committed to its promises to offer premium quality and affordable Direct-To-Home, DTH, services across the country seamlessly.  It said, “TStv Africa wishes to appreciate all Nigerians for the love, patience and understanding thus far in respect of the brand ‘TStv Africa.’ Foremost,...

The conversation that ensued between Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho and forward Anthony Martial, before the Frenchman came on to score the winner against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, has been revealed.   Martial scored the only goal of the game as United recorded a 1-0 win at Old Trafford. The France international started the match on the bench, coming on in the 70th minute for Marcus Rashford, who was forced to make way. 10 minutes later, he latched onto Romelu Lukaku’s header, to slot past Hugo Lloris. Before he was subbed on, Martial was seen in deep conversation with Mourinho, who appeared to be giving him instructions. “The manager told me to find the space. “I know Lukaku is good with his head. I found the space and I scored so I’m happy,” he told Sky Sports after the game.

Anthony Joshua stopped a resilient Carlos Takam in the 10th round to successfully defend his IBF and WBA heavyweight world titles in Cardiff. The Briton made it 20 victories from as many bouts in front of an estimated 78,000 at the Principality Stadium. Joshua’s nose was cut in the second by the head of Takam, 36, who replaced Kubrat Pulev 12 days before the bout. Joshua, 28, then cut Takam’s eye in the fourth, but it took until round 10 for the Cameroon-born boxer to be stopped. The referee’s decision was booed by the crowd in Wales, who clearly felt it was premature, but Joshua said he has “no interest” in what the officials do. “I come to fight, I don’t sit on the edge and make decisions,” he said. “It was a good fight until the ref stopped it, so I have the utmost respect for Takam. “I have no interest in what is going on with the officials, that’s not my job. I think people want to see Takam unconscious on the floor, and that’s what I was trying to get to.” Watford ...

While you may be spending a fortune on beauty products to look young, the foods you eat may help provide the glow you desire at a small price. Eating well does a lot of magic to the body by boosting the immune system and making you look young and fresh through the smoothing of your wrinkles, giving your hair a glossy shine and strengthening flimsy nails. Diet plays a significant role in how we age and the smart thing to do is to follow a smart approach that incorporates the building blocks of healthy skin and hair which includes, nutrients, minerals and fatty acids as well as antioxidants to protect your body from damaging environmental stresses into your foods. Here are foods that can give you the glow you desire. Walnuts Walnuts are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E which are found in the natural oils that keep your hair hydrated and which helps to repair damaged follicles respectively. Both minerals are the secrets behind having strong, lustrous strands and they ca...

 Nigeria will take on Argentina in their first pre-2018 World Cup friendly match next month. According to reports, the game will be played in Spain on November 14, four days after their dead rubber 2018 World Cup qualifier in Algeria.   The Super Eagles have already qualified for next year’s tournament in Russia and are already searching for friendly matches, to help the team prepare well.  The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has now agreed a friendly game with the South American giants, who are captained by Lionel Messi. Argentina qualified for the 2018 World Cup on the final day of the South America qualifying series, with a 3-1 win away to Ecuador, thanks to a Messi hat-trick.

 Despite FIFA rankings suggesting that Tunisia is number one in Africa, the Confederation of African Football president Ahmad says Nigeria remain the best in the continent. The CAF boss has aimed a tiny veiled dig at the recently released FIFA rankings which placed the Super Eagles as the fifth best football nation in Africa. In the October rankings, FIFA has ranked Nigeria behind the Carthage Eagles, Egypt, Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, although they moved three places in the global ratings from 44 to 41 in the world. Speaking in Lagos after a meeting with football stakeholders, Ahmad said Gernot Rohr’s men are the strongest from Africa going to the 2018 FIFA World Cup. “No doubt, Nigeria is the strongest African team going to Russia and we expect so much from the Super Eagles,” said Ahmad. “Amaju (Pinnick) has been spot-on in at least two major decisions this year: to support the change at CAF and to get the Nigerian fraternity to work assiduously towards ...

 Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State, has said he owes no apology for erecting the statue of the South African President, Jacob Zuma in his state. Okorocha said the reason for erecting the statue was to encourage business relationship between the state and South Africa. The governor explained that Zuma was in the state principally to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between the Jacob Zuma Educational Foundation and Rochas Foundation College of Africa. He made the remark while berating those criticizing him for erecting the image of the South African president. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, the governor also accused the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of not building the image of the state, while looting public treasury. According to the statement, the PDP never attracted any meaningful personality to the state. The statement reads, “If it was in the days of PDP, Schools and Markets would have been shot down. And ...

 The judge handling the trial of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has threatened to withdraw from the case, following what she described as attempts by the defense to frustrate her. Justice Binta Nyako gave the warning Tuesday after a series of arguments between herself and defense lawyers. Reacting to an application by Mr. Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Mrs. Nyako said she had been pushed to the brink by the defendant’s counsel and would recuse herself. “If you don’t want me to continue in this matter, I will recuse myself,” said Mrs. Nyako. The lawyer was speaking on a motion he planned to bring before the court, but whose content had not been listed by Mrs. Nyako when the argument ensued. “I told you that the matter is not yet before me,” she added, saying the defendant counsel were making the matter difficult. Several applications were made by the lawyers on Tuesday. The prosecution lawyer, Shuaibu Labaran, asked that Mr. Kanu’s bail ...