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Showing posts from February 12, 2019

Gordon Banks: World Cup-winning goalkeeper dies aged 81

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England's 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks has died aged 81. Regarded as one of the game's greatest in his position, Banks was named Fifa goalkeeper of the year six times and earned 73 caps for England. He is perhaps best known for his wonder save from Pele during the  1970 World Cup  against Brazil. Born in Sheffield, he won the League Cup with Stoke and Leicester, before retiring in 1973. "It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight," his family said. "We are devastated to lose him but we have so many happy memories and could not have been more proud of him." Sir Bobby Charlton, who was part of the team alongside Banks that won the World Cup in 1966, said: "Gordon was a fantastic goalkeeper, without doubt one of the best England has ever had. "I was proud to call him a team-mate. Obviously we shared that great day in 1966 but it was more than that. "Even though I was on

Fire at Nigerian election office

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A fire has broken out at an office of Nigeria's electoral commission (Inec) in Anambra state, in the south-east of the country, police have confirmed to BBC Pidgin. It is the third blaze to have hit an Inec office this month and happened just four days before Nigerians go to the polls to elect a new president. In a statement following a fire at the weekend in Plateau state, in the centre of the country, Inec indicated that it thought that was the result of arson describing it as an "emerging trend". Nearly 6,000 voters' cards were destroyed along with other election materials. Inec also called on the police to provide extra security. The police are investigating the incidents. Tuesday's fire was in the Inec compound in the Anambra state capital, Awka. The police said that it happened inside a shipping container, but it is not clear what has been damaged. Local media are reporting that card readers were inside the container. Social embed from twitte

Drug kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzmán found guilty of funneling tons of narcotics into the U.S.

Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán was found guilty on Tuesday of crimes spanning more than a quarter of a century, during which prosecutors said he smuggled more than 200 tons of cocaine into the U.S. After a nearly three-monthlong trial and six days of deliberations, a New York jury found the alleged Sinaloa cartel leader guilty of all counts he was tried on. Guzmán, 61, now faces life in prison. More than 56 prosecution witnesses were called to the stand at the heavily-secured federal courthouse in Brooklyn over the course of 35 days. The seven women and five men of the jury listened to movie-esque tales of brutal murders of cartel enemies, political payoffs, elaborate schemes to traffic drugs, two brazen escapes that almost became three and even a love triangle.  In closing arguments, prosecutors told the jury that an "avalanche of evidence" proved that Guzmán lorded over a murderous drug empire. Presenting that evidence took 11 weeks. Meanwh

Eden Hazard: Real Madrid homing in on Chelsea star

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AFP   At 28, Hazard knows it's now or never. Meanwhile, Chelsea colleague Marcos Alonso appears a less straightforward option           Chelsea are a powder keg right now. Manager Maurizio Sarri has lost the confidence of a dressing room in which, AS has learned, key members of the squad have turned against the Italian . Restricted to Europa League football this season, the Blues' priority is to get back into the Champions League, but they are currently sixth in the Premier League, outside of the European places altogether. Missing out on the continent's top club competition would leave the Londoners needing to offload stars to avoid Financial Fair Play breaches. Now or never for Hazard and Real Madrid Chief among whom is Eden Hazard. All the ingredients are there for the Belgium international to be Real Madrid's marquee signing this summer . With Hazard out of contract in June 2020, Chelsea will have little option but to listen to offers for him