Rochas Owelle Okorocha still being rallied for by women today praising him for what he has done.

Gradual easing of lockdown in FCT, Lagos, Ogun - Buhari

Gradual easing of lockdown in FCT, Lagos, Ogun - Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a phased and gradual easing of the lockdown in Lagos, Ogun states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The President announced this on Monday during his third nationwide broadcast on COVID-19.
He said “Based on the above and in line with the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the various Federal Government
committees that have reviewed socio-economic matters and the Nigeria Governors Forum, I have approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown measures in FCT, Lagos and Ogun States effective from Monday, 4th May

Newcastle 3-0 West Ham

Relief for Rafa Benitez and delight for Newcastle Utd as their three-goal haul kick-starts the season and leaves West Ham rooted to the bottom of the table. Joselu scored their first Premier League goal in 2017/18 before Ciaran Clark and Aleksandar Mitrovic rounded out victory in style against Slaven Bilic’s struggling side.

Premire league fixtures reschdule

European competition has forced some kick-offs in November and December to be moved.

Adrian Clarke on what the Leicester defender has to do to keep the in-form Man Utd striker quiet.

Lukaku v Maguire

Manchester United versus Leicester City will throw up intriguing individual battles all over the pitch, but a powerful duel between Romelu Lukaku andHarry Maguire stands out above the rest.

The two summer signings, both 24, go into Saturday's encounter in outstanding form for their new clubs.

Maguire will be assessed after suffering a knock in the Carabao Cup in midweek, but trained on Thursday and will be buoyed by a maiden England call-up.

He has great prowess in the air and, if he recovers, this will calm Leicester's nerves whenever United have a set-piece.

Leicester conceded three goals from corners on their last visit to Old Trafford, in a 4-1 loss. To make matters worse, Jose Mourinho's tall side have scored from such situations in both their Premier League matches this season.

In open play it would be counterproductive for United to knock too many high balls into Lukaku.

Despite his sizeable frame, the striker struggles to win enough aerial duels to make it a worthwhile ploy, and it would play into Maguire and Leicester’s hands.

Duels 2017/18

	Lukaku	Maguire
Duels won	29.2%	61.7%
Aerial duels won	32.75%	63.4%

While he holds the clear aerial advantage, Leicester’s new centre-back knows he must tread a fine line with his approach to marking the formerEverton striker. 

Naturally aggressive, Maguire enjoys getting touch-tight to front men.

Maguire has strength and a good reading of the game. He is at his best when stepping in to make a challenge or interception just as a centre-forward is looking to hold the ball up with his feet.

However, this type of approach is potentially risky when up against the powerful Lukaku.

Although getting close enough to prevent Lukaku from turning is a plus, should he get spun and have to enter a race, the 6ft 2in defender does not have the pace required to keep up with the forward.

This will be the biggest concern for Maguire ahead of kick-off: knowing his direct opponent is considerably faster, he must get his judgements of distance absolutely spot on.

How their speeds compare in 2017/18

	Lukaku	Maguire
Top MW1 speed	34.56km/h	28.56km/h
Top MW2 speed	33.51km/h	28.12km/h

While he poses an obvious all-round threat, Lukaku is at his most menacing when running on to through-balls. 

Therefore Maguire and rest of the Foxes defence will be reliant on team-mates applying the necessary pressure in front of them.

While I’d expect Craig Shakespeare’s men to defend pretty deep to shut off the space in behind, they may still struggle to contain the hosts if opposition midfielders are allowed to stride forward at will.

When this happens, who is the best provider for Lukaku?

Based on what we have seen this term, Leicester will need to pay the greatest attention to Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

The Armenian has provided four key passes for Lukaku this season, three more than any other team-mate. 

Given room to look up and pick a pass, Mkhitaryan could be destructive.

To keep a rampant United and their big summer signing quiet at Old Trafford this weekend, you sense it will be require colossal performances from Maguire and the rest of the Leicester side.

We have seen them raise their game in big matches before, so watching this battle unfold will be fascinating.

Pogba speaks on gay players in Premier League

Manchester United midfielder, Paul Pogba, has said he would have utmost, “respect” for any gay footballer that comes out in the Premier League.

The France international was speaking on Wednesday, as he helped to launch UEFA’s new Respect campaign, which seeks to promote greater inclusion, diversity and accessibility in football.

Pogba attended the #EqualGame event with a hashtag – Equal on his hair and spoke of the importance of the campaign, which evolved from UEFA’s ‘No to Racism’ initiative.

When asked if the Premier League would provide a safe environment for gay player, Pogba said: “That’s something that I’ve never seen but why not? It’s a human being.

“What he does in his private life has nothing to do with the player. You just have to respect him. Because he respects you, you respect him. That’s it.

“It’s all about respect. It’s all about equality everywhere in the world. We are all equal when we play football.”

Combating racism remains a fundamental part of the campaign, which now includes all forms of discrimination and has the support of Real Madrid and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Pogba added: “It’s all about respect, all about equality everywhere in the world. We’re all equal when we play football.

“This campaign, I’m really honoured to do it. We do what we love on the pitch and that’s the message we want to give to everyone.

“Outside the pitch you’re just you, I’m just Paul, normal Paul.

“We’re human beings. We’re not gods. We’re just normal people who should respect each other because we’re all equal.

“The message we can give on the pitch and outside the pitch can help the world.”

Daily post team

Glo has launched a 24 hrs free browsing on 11th of August

The last team to score eight goals in their first game
of the season in the top four tiers of English football
were Wolves in 1962. Aim.

Hotel Troubles Police called as Maradona and girlfriend fight in Madrid hotel

Maradona is in Madrid to watch his old side Napoli take on European champions Real Madrid.

Former Argentine football player Diego Maradona was recently in Zurich for a FIFA award ceremony
(AFP)

Spanish police were called to a Madrid hotel by concerned staff on Wednesday over an argument between former Argentine footballer Diego Maradona and his girlfriend.

"When the agents and emergency services arrived, those people (Maradona and his girlfriend) showed no sign of injuries and did not press charges, there was just a discussion," police sources told AFP.

According to the same source, the events took place around 8:30 am (0730GMT) after hotel staff overheard an argument.

Maradona is in Madrid to watch his old side Napoli take on European champions Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday night.

Touching Story Meet one of the most inspiring and fittest soldiers in the world

This amputee and Paralympic medalist is a case study in what it takes to achieve your goals

In 2007, my friend Rob Jones joined the Marine Corps Reserves as a combat engineer.

He specialized in explosives and detecting buried improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Rob first deployed to Habbaniya, Iraq in 2008, then in 2010 was sent to Sangin, Afghanistan, one of the bloodiest battlegrounds in the war.

During that latter deployment, he was part of an operation that pushed deep into Taliban territory.

One day Rob was sent to clear an area the Marines believed might be filled with improvised explosives. It was. As he worked, one tripped. The blast took both of Rob’s legs just above his knee.

After emergency surgery in Afghanistan, Rob was flown back to the U.S. to be fitted for prosthetics and to begin rehabilitation.

The nurses told him that he had to learn to walk again, an especially hard task when your amputation is above the knee joint.

It wasn’t easy, but Rob zoned in on his goal and was soon putting one foot in front of the other.

Once he did that, he set another pivotal goal: to bring home a medal in the mixed double scull rowing event in the 2012 Paralympics in London.

The U.S. had never medaled in that event before.

Rob was well aware that extreme goals take extreme measures.

But designing a training regimen is one thing I know how to do—I create dozens of programs as the training director of Gym Jones in Salt Lake City and for my Men’s Health book Maximus Body. So I designed him a program and he began training with vigor.

He and his rowing partner, Oksana Masters, moved to Charlottesville, Virginia, and trained together twice daily every single day of the week.

Some sessions they might row for two hours straight to build their aerobic capacity, other sessions they’d do 90-minute weight circuits.

When he wasn’t in the boat or at the gym, he was eating healthy to fuel his training, or he was sleeping or doing other recovery practices to stay refreshed and injury free.

This went on for months and months until Rob and Oksana landed in London for the Games.

They performed strong in the initial heats.

Once they hit the finals, their hard work paid off: Rob and Oksana landed on the podium by beating out a British boat by less than a second.

You might think this is the end of the story. It’s not.

Once Rob had his medal, he decided to set another goal: to ride his bike across the country to raise more than $125,000 for military veteran charities.

His journey took him 181 days, and 5,180 miles from Bar Harbor, Maine, to Camp Pendleton, California.

It surely wasn’t easy—because he had prosthetics from the thigh down he had less muscle to put into each pedal stroke—but he focused on the goal, and made it.

Each of Rob’s journeys changed his life for the better, and, more importantly, allowed him to inspire other people, especially wounded veterans.

Rob didn’t have an advantage over anyone else. He wasn’t lucky. In fact, you could argue he was at a disadvantage and was unlucky. But he was able to do great things because he set a firm goal, and then let that goal guide every single thing he did thereafter.

At Gym Jones, I’ve trained everyone from pro athletes and actors, to special forces soldiers and average guys looking to get in the greatest shape of their lives.

I use Rob to illustrate a key point: To reach real fitness and have your training create a deep physical and psychological change, you need to start with a goal.

Your goals don’t have to be as grand as Rob’s, of course, but clear goals are necessary for progress.

The benefit of goal setting is twofold. First, you’ll see more benefits from your training.

You’ll no longer be able to just pick exercises and workouts at random. You’ll need to follow a structured plan, which helps you make more significant improvements. It also puts you on a deadline. That makes each workout critical, so you’ll consistently exercise, which is the key to progress.

Second, having a goal gives meaning to your training. Along the way you’ll have setbacks, you’ll rise above them, and become mentally and physically stronger compared to how you were on day one.

That greater meaning is what will keep you going when you’d otherwise give up. It’s the foundation of fitness—and any real achievement.

That’s why Section 1 in my new Men’s Health book Maximus Body—a fitness book—is all about psychology.

The book also contains 100 workouts and a 6-month training plan, but none of that will be useful to you if you don’t have mental fortitude.

My friend Rob is proof that your mind is your most important muscle—and that your excuses are bullsh*t.

Body Building The 2-Move Workout That Gives You Killer Abs and Biceps

The key to making the most of this workout is to keep your chinups controlled throughout the ascent and the descent.

12 minute back and abs
(Photograph by Men's Health)

Most people don’t think of the chinup—one of the two moves in the workout above from Arizona-based trainer Jeremy Scott—as an abs exercise.

But aside from being one of the best back and biceps builders, a strict chinup requires a strong and stable core.

The key to making the most of this workout is to keep your chinups controlled throughout the ascent and the descent.

It’s common to see people flail their bodies or let themselves collapse to the bottom of a pullup once they’ve reached the top.

Keep your form tight, and you will build a beast-like back, bulging biceps, and a concrete core.

The second move in this workout is the dragon flag, an exercise that requires total-body control.

As you lower your legs, you’ll have to focus on controlling the move through the abs, lower back, and glutes.

For more workouts that will help you get ripped, check out the new METASHRED EXTREME transformation program from Men’s Health.

Directions: Perform the exercises below in the order shown, every minute on the minute for 12 total minutes.

1. Chinups, 10 reps

2. Dragon flag, 5 reps

Big Brother Naija Don Jazzy wades in on CoCoIce nipple-baring act

This comes after CoCoIce was evicted from the house on Sunday, February 12, 2017.

 

CoCoIce became the third housemate to leave the Big Brother Naija show on Sunday, February 12, 2017.

But this comes after she was watched breastfeeding Bassey during a game of truth or dare.

Don Jazzy

On Saturday, February 11, 2017, CoCoIce had pulled an epic stunt, by breastfeeding Bassey during a game of truth or dare.

After that, she still got evicted!

Big Brother Naija - Cocoice and Bassey

Don Jazzy then waded into the controversy after her eviction.

The Mavin boss took to twitter yesterday, February 12, 2017, tweeting, "Eyaaa nipple wey dem suck no save cocoice?? There u have it young ones. Protect ur nips."

Seyi Shay Singer signs new deal with phone company

The RnB star was unveiled as their ambassador in an event which took place at the Renaissance hotel Ikeja on February 14, 2017

play Seyi Shay.
(Instagram)

Nigerian singer Seyi Shay is the new ambassador of phone company Gionee!

Real name, Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua, the RnB star was unveiled as their ambassador in an event which took place at the Renaissance hotel Ikeja on February 14, 2017.

play Artiste and Gionee brand ambassador, Seyi Shay speaking at the Gionee brand ambassador unveiling

During the artiste's interview session with members of the press, she expressed how joyous she feels been a part of the brand and promises to make the brand the biggest in Nigeria and Africa in general sighting how vast the age range of her listeners is which is between 15 to 55 years.

The event also featured a valentine special for guests in attendance where 15 lucky people won brand new Gionee phones through a raffle draw conducted by dignitaries present.

play Artiste and Gionee brand ambassador, Seyi Shay with raffle draw winners

Seyi Shay will appear in regional and local media like magazines, periodicals, public shows, television shows, etc. and advertise the products of the Gionee.

Known for her stage energy and power, she has performed in some of the finest A-list events in Nigeria and across Africa, including The Big Brother Africa show and the MTV Mama 2015 Awards in Durban, where she performed with Grammy-award winning international artist, Neyo.

"Fela! The Concert" Afrobeat Legend to come alive in Lagos with 'foreign cast'

Gideon Okeke, Seun Kuti and Brenda Uphopho react to "Fela!The Concert," which features a foreign cast.

‘Fela! The Concert’ to hold in celebration of Lagos State at 50

‘Fela! The Concert’, which stars cast members of the Tony-Award-winning Broadway musical has been scheduled to hold in celebration of Lagos State at 50 in April 2017.

The event which will hold on Easter weekend at the Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, is a collaboration between Smooth FM and Lagos State Government.

Fela is an iconic figure in Nigeria's weed culture
(thesmonkey)

Nollywood actor Gideon Okeke, who recently delivered an exceptional theatrical re-enactment of Fela Anikulapo Kuti ‘s life and evolution, isn't pleased about the cast.

The actor took to Instagram to share the news with a caption that places emphasis on the "foreign cast."

"THEY HAVE COME AGAIN OOOOO!!!! LAGOS @ 50 celebrates FELA April 13-15 with "Foreign Cast". And the tickets will sure go for more than N500. Dem go hear....Pansa Pansa!," the actor wrote.

Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his Saxophone
(Tumblr)

Fela's youngest son Seun Kuti responded to Okeke's Instagram post, stating that the black cast represents what Fela stood for.

He also insisted that auditions were open for everyone.

"The cast is African. The cast is black that's what Fela stood for. I am not the biggest fan of the show but I will say this, auditions were open for everyone u can't blame them if naija artistes didn't submit themselves. You wan audition? I got u!!!," Seun wrote.

Producer of the British Council Lagos Theatre Festival Brenda Uphopho, also expressed her dissatisfaction.

"I swear!!!! This just messed up my day!!! WTF???? What auditions? Where and when???? With all the material we have....i am so ticked off!!!!," she wrote.

Gideon Okeke as Fela Kuti

Conceived by Bill T. Jones, the musical explores Fela’s controversial life as an artist, a political activist and revolutionary musician, and will feature most of Fela Kuti’s songs.

Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti (15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997) popularly known as Fela Kuti was a musician, composer, human rights activist, and political maverick.

Seun Kuti '$7bn investment in education is better than in Dangote's refinery' - singer

According to him, it's time for the Federal Government to invest in tertiary education rather than private refineries

play Seun Kuti on meeting Lauryn Hill
(Revolt TV)

Afrobeat singer and activist Seun Kuti has started another campaign against the government.

According to him, it's time for the Federal Government to invest in tertiary education rather than private refineries.

play Seun Kuti (Instagram)

ALSO READ: Nigerians on social media speak freely because of Fela" - Femi Kuti

In a series of tweets, Seun Kuti is calling for a resistance from the populace.

WOW! Ex. Tonto Dikeh BF, Malivehood Gifts Girlfriend, Deola Smart $1.5M House As Val Gift

The luxury designer after praying to succeed in a diamond deal weeks back so he can fulfil his wish of gifting his girlfriend, Adeola Smart a house for val, as now bought her one. The mansion was unveiled today as a gift to her. According to our source, the mansion has a cinema room, pool room, a sitting room, kitchen, outdoor swimming pool while the guest building has two rooms and a sitting room. The mansion itself has 5 bedrooms. See more exclusive photos after the cut. Big congrats to the miss!

WEDNESDAY’S MATCH OF THE DAY

Arsenal at Bayern Munich

Bayern has had Arsenal’s number in the Champions League. (Getty Images)

If Barcelona and PSG don’t live up to the hype on Tuesday, Arsenal heads to Germany for an encounter that promises drama on the pitch and on the sidelines.

Both Arsenal and Bayern won by 2-0 score lines on Saturday, but neither team could claim those score lines with clear consciences. The Gunners scored their first goal against Hull City off an Alexis Sanchez hand ball that went uncalled and scored their second off a penalty in stoppage time moments prior to the final whistle. Similarly, Ingolstadt put up a strong resistance and gave up a goal to Bayern in the 90th minute. Like their English counterparts, the Germans scored their second goal in stoppage time just moments shy of the final whistle.

Bayern Munich is nearing the end of a cycle with Philipp Lahm announcing his retirement and Xabi Alonso also hanging up his boots at the end of the season. Speaking of retirements, reports out of London suggest that Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is getting close to finally stepping away from the sidelines, which would mark the end of a 21-year run on the North London sidelines. Wenger talked down the rumors.

Bayern is unbeaten in its previous 11 matches entering Wednesday’s encounter. Meanwhile, Arsenal has won eight of its last 13 matches, but that record also included four defeats.

Players to watch

• Alexis Sanchez: If Arsenal hopes to have a good day, Sanchez will likely play a part. When the Chilean scores, the Gunners have a record of 10 wins, two draws and one loss this season.
• Robert Lewandowski: He scored five goals in the group stages and trails only Cavani and Messi on the Champions League scoring charts.

UEFA stat: Arsenal has been eliminated in the Champions League round of 16 for six consecutive seasons.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 3-1 Arsenal. Lewandowski and Arjen Robben score one goal each, while Thomas Muller gets hit in the face by a ball that goes in off the post. Olivier Giroud scores a late consolation goal.

Napoli at Real Madrid

Napoli is 18 matches unbeaten, with 12 wins. Real Madrid, obviously, is hoping to become the first back-to-back champion during the Champions League era and is an 11-time European cup champion. Madrid has scored at least once in every match this season across all competitions and currently leads the Spanish league despite having two matches in hand on its six closest competitors. In his last 10 matches across all competitions, Belgian Dries Mertens has scored 14 goals and passed off five assists. Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, has scored a goal in each of his last three appearances across all competitions.

Denrele Edun Pens Down Emotional Poem To Goldie As He Visits Her Grave After 4 Years -PICS

Exactly 4 years ago at the age of  32, singer Goldie passed away on Thursday, February 14, 2013.

Goldie had just returned Los Angeles where she attended the 55th Grammy Awards when she suddenly slumped and died.

Denrele Edun who was a very close friend to her, visited her grave today and wrote an emotional poem. Read after the cut...
Goldie had just returned Los Angeles where she attended the 55th Grammy Awards when she suddenly slumped and died.

Denrele Edun who was a very close friend to her, visited her grave today and wrote an emotional poem. Read after the cut...

Quote

"You can shed tears that she's gone,
Or you can smile because she has lived.
You can close your eyes and pray that she comes back,
Or you can open your eyes and see all she has left.
Your heart can be empty because you can't see her,
Or you can be full of the love that you shared.
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,
Or you can be happy for tomorrow cos of yesterday.
You can remember her and only that she's gone,
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.
You can cry and close your mind,
Be empty and turn your back.
Or you can do what SUSAN ADEBIMPE "GOLDIE" HARVEY would have wanted;
Smile, Open your eyes, Love and Go on!
4 Years and it still feels like yesterday.
Keep resting in the bosom of the Lord.
LOVE YOU GOLDIE."

Awww So Sweet!!! Comedian Ay Makun Writes Lovely Valentine Message To Wife

He shared the photo and wrote;

Quote

"Since 2004 come reach now ... we still dey cramp all the love and Valentine things dey go steady.... Na who talk say the journey go always dey easy for man and woman matter self? i pity people wey dey put mouth for people matter. shebi Moses eye clear for Bible when they ask am "who made you judge over us?" See as my chikala dey soft everyday like TODAY bread.
With my own two naked eyes, i fit clear everybody say other people beauty never baff for where my @midas_interiors dey.
Oya take this lines today, as you claim say liver fail me to toast you for ABK 2013

USMNT and Seattle Sounders star Clint Dempsey says he is cleared to play again

Dempsey and the MLS champion Sounders are training in Tukwila, Wash. (AP Photo)

It’s been almost six months since Clint Dempsey last played in a competitive game of soccer. He was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat after scoring twice against the Portland Timbers on Aug. 21, sidelining him for the remainder of the Major League Soccer season.

In that span, his Seattle Sounders won MLS Cup without him, and the United States men’s national team he once captained lived through a coaching change and a disastrous start to the final round of World Cup qualifying.

Yet in spite of their rather opposite fortunes, both teams sure could use him back. Dempsey turns 34 on March 9, but the national team’s second all-time leading scorer – his 52 goals trail Landon Donovan by just five – remains one of the most imaginative American attackers out there. And certainly the one who is most seasoned at the international level.

On Tuesday, Seattle soccer reporter Matt Pentz reported that Dempsey is ready to return to action when the new MLS season kicks off in early March – and possibly when the USA plays its next round of World Cup qualifiers on March 24 and 28

Bayern's Alonso limps out of training ahead of Arsenal clash

AFPFeb 13, 2017, 8:43 AM

Xabi Alonso was hurt in a training tackle by Javi Martinez (AFP Photo/Christof STACHE)

Berlin (AFP) - Midfield star Xabi Alonso is an injury concern for Bayern Munich ahead of their Champions League last 16 home leg against Arsenal after being hurt in Monday's training session.

German daily Bild and broadcaster Sport1.de both reported the 35-year-old was hurt in a tackle by fellow Spain international Javi Martinez, with Bayern hosting the Gunners at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

In freezing weather, Alonso was left clutching his knee in clear discomfort.

Bayern said he was immediately taken to the dressing room as a precautionary measure but should be able to train again on Tuesday.

The Bavarian giants are already set to be without defender Jerome Boateng and winger Franck Ribery, who are still recovering from shoulder and thigh injuries respectively.

Arsenal are looking to break their last 16 jink having lost at this stage of the competition each of the last six seasons.

Bayern knocked Arsenal out of the Champions League in the last 16 in both 2012-13 and 2013-14.

The return leg will take place in London on March 7

U.S. Secret Service director stepping down

Reuters 16 hours ago

•  

•  

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secret Service Director Joseph Clancy plans to step down next month, the agency said on Tuesday, two years after he took charge of the agency following high-profile security lapses by the service responsible for protecting the president.
"Congratulations Dir Clancy on your retirement! The men & women of the @SecretService are grateful for your 29 years of service & leadership," the Secret Service said on Twitter.
Clancy will leave on March 4, an agency spokesman said.
Clancy's departure means that President Donald Trump will be able to select his own security chief. The Secret Service has almost 7,000 employees and is charged with protecting the president and his family as well as combating counterfeiting.
Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, named Clancy head of the Secret Service in February 2015 after he had served as acting director for four months.
He took over from Director Julia Pierson, who stepped down after an embarrassing breach in which a man carrying a knife jumped the White House fence and ran into the executive mansion.
Obama picked Clancy despite the recommendation of an independent review panel that the next director be from outside the agency, which it said had become too insular.
Clancy headed the Secret Service as it tackled a heavy workload despite having the lowest number of employees in a decade. He was also in charge during last year's bitter presidential election without any major security incidents.
The service's credibility was also damaged in 2012 when it was revealed that members had hired prostitutes while in Colombia in advance of an Obama trip. A man hit the White House with automatic rifle fire in 2011, although the damage was not discovered until four days later.

NY Times says Trump campaign had repeated contact with Russian intelligence

R

(Reuters) - Phone records and intercepted calls show that members of Donald Trump's presidential campaign and other Trump associates had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials in the year before the election, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, citing four current and former U.S. officials.
U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies intercepted the communications around the same time they were discovering evidence that Russia was trying to disrupt the presidential election by hacking into the Democratic National Committee, three of the officials said, according to the Times.
The intelligence agencies then sought to learn whether the Trump campaign was colluding with the Russians on the hacking or other efforts to influence the election, the newspaper said.
The officials interviewed in recent weeks said they had seen no evidence of such cooperation so far, it said.
However, the intercepts alarmed U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies, in part because of the amount of contact that was occurring while Trump was speaking glowingly about Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The intercepted calls are different from the wiretapped conversations last year between Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser, and Sergei I. Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States, the Times said.
During those calls, the two men discussed sanctions that the Obama administration imposed on Russia in December. Flynn misled the White House about those calls and was asked to resign on Monday night.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters for comment on the Times story.
The Times reported that the officials said the intercepted communications were not limited to Trump campaign officials, and included other Trump associates.
On the Russian side, the contacts also included members of the Russian government outside the intelligence services, the officials told the Times. All of the current and former officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the continuing investigation is classified, the newspaper reported.
The officials said one of the advisers picked up on the calls was Paul Manafort, who was Trump’s campaign chairman for several months last year and had worked as a political consultant in Russia and Ukraine, the Times said. The officials declined to identify the other Trump associates on the calls.
Manafort, who has not been charged with any crimes, dismissed the accounts of the U.S. officials in a telephone interview with the Times on Tuesday.
Several of Trump's associates, like Manafort, have done business in Russia. It is not unusual for U.S. businessmen to come in contact with foreign intelligence officials, sometimes unwittingly, in countries like Russia and Ukraine, where the spy services are deeply embedded in society, according to the Times.
Law enforcement officials did not say to what extent the contacts may have been about business, the Times said.
Officials would not disclose many details, including what was discussed on the calls, which Russian intelligence officials were on the calls, and how many of Trump's advisers were talking to the Russians. It is also unclear whether the conversations had anything to do with Trump himself, the Times said.

Carlos Santana Pokes Beyhive, Says Beyoncé ‘Not a Singer’

The overwhelming consensus since Sunday night is that Beyonce was robbed at the Grammys. But according to legendary guitarist Carlos Santana, Queen Bey deserved the surprising upset that saw Adele’s “25” beat Beyonce’s “Lemonade” to win Album of the Year. Santana, weighing in on the matter this week, for some reason, declared about Adele that “she can sing,” while Beyonce, he says, is “not a singer.”
“I think that Adele won because she can sing, sing,” Santana told the Australian Associated Press, via the New Zealand Herald.
He added, “With all respect to our sister Beyonce, Beyonce is very beautiful to look at and it’s more like modelling kind of music – music to model a dress – she’s not a singer, singer, with all respect to her.”

Also Read: How'd the Grammys Pull Off That Beyonce Number, Anyway?

Santana and Beyonce performed together at the pre-game festivities before the Super Bowl in 2003.
For what it’s worth, even Adele thought Beyonce was robbed.
“I can’t possibly accept this award,” Adele said in her acceptance speech at the end of the Grammy Awards. “I’m very humbled and I’m very grateful and gracious, [but] the artist of my life is Beyonce, and the album to me, the “Lemonade” album, was so monumental, and so well thought out. And so beautiful and soul-bearing and we all got to see another side of you that you don’t always let us see, and we appreciate that.”

Donald Trump to trade in Air Force One for a stealth bomber?

Donald Trump may be looking to trade in his 747-8 Air Force One jet in favour of a stealth bomber as the President of the United States seeks alternative wings to fly his, so far turbulent, reign.
The famous presidential Boeing 747-8 jet is overdue an upgrade and is being eyed up for retro-fitted military-grade defence features, which Trump has lambasted over the cost. For an aircraft that is coming to the end of its life anyway, a panel of aerospace and defence analysts have proposed ditching the 747 for a B-21 stealth bomber.
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As reported by Aviation Week, the proliferation of high-tech surface-to-air missiles by guerrilla groups is a significant threat to Air Force One, which is a "fat radar target" and will need to be modified to provide greater defence and communication systems. The Pentagon also wants the aircraft to be able to fly in the event of nuclear war, to withstand electromagnetic pulses.
Donald Trump, when President-elect, took to Twitter to blast the building of new 747s, claiming the $4 billion cost was "out of control" and wanted to "cancel the order".
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But the penny-pinching President needn't fret. Cost management consultants Wright Williams & Kelly (WWK) produced their hypothetical report detailing how Trump could save money by avoiding modifying the 747-8 and instead opting for the Northrop Grumman B-21 stealth bomber, which would tick all these boxes when ready to fly. While the report cites a B-21, the analysis is based on the unclassified B-2, which is already in operation.
"The B-21 has stealth built in, it's nuclear-rated and heavily shielded right off the bat. It's going to be terribly cramped but man, it would be a survivable platform, especially if operated in twos and threes," says Danny Lam, spokesperson for WWK.
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Currently, Air Force One is capable of carrying around 70 passengers so questions over the issue of space inside the B-21 arise. However, WWK believe that the weapons bay could be stripped out and modified and if Trump's bomber is shadowed (at a safe distance) by two 737s – Boeing's smallest commercial jet, which have already been militarised by air forces – they would be able to carry White House personnel.
"All the things the 747 will need, it's already been done on the 737," says Lam. "The one-time expense of militarising the 747 would be wasted on an aircraft that is likely to go out of production because of low sales. A 737-based aircraft would probably meet most of their needs and it'll be cheaper. We're still going to be flying 737s for at least 30 years."

The radically designed B-21 Raider is based on the iconic, angular B-2, which was created in the late 1980s and introduced in 1997. The new B-21, which was shown off in 2016, takes its radar-dodging technology to the next level as enemy radars become more sophisticated. Touching down in such an aircraft would make for a typically Trumpian move which, ironically, wouldn't be stealthy at all.
"Suppose you're a little power who wants to take out the president of the US with a surprise attack. The deterrent effect of showing up in a very, very well-protected, heavily-armed aircraft with multiple planes might make you think twice," claimed WWK.
However, despite claims of saving money and making an impression to other world leaders, the estimated deployment date for the B-21 bomber is expected by around 2024, so even if this fairly wild plan did come to fruition, Trump may not even be in office see take-off it anyway. So he might just have to learn to put up with those rough hand towels on-board Air Force One instead.