Journalists are among the rare ones who know that they would qualify to watch the final of the World Cup. They cover matches and stay till the final match. Players do not belong to that group.

A few years ago, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had described Lagos as a jungle city. Expectedly, the comment drew instant bitter criticisms from leaders of thought in the state, especially as it painted a picture that the state government, led by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, which was arguably the best governor then, on non-performing platform.

The Police Command in Lagos State has dismissed a police constable, Mohammed Abubakar, for allegedly killing a security man attached to the Ifako-Gbagada, Lagos branch of Intercontinental Bank Plc.

It was a narrow escape for Senator Gbemisola Saraki yesterday when four armed men believed to be hired assassins stormed her Maitama District residence at about 1. a.m yesterday, barely hours after she left for the United States.

EVERYTHING works out for those who pray and believe. This sounds more biblical but from very unlikely quarters to quote the holy book. South Africa is the place to be and would be the cynosure of all eyes for one full month.

Governments have been warned to steer clear of recommendations of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund ( IMF) in their bid to find solutions to the current global financial meltdown.

Germany today, in what is the World Cup’s highest scoring match so far, convincingly won Australia 4-0 in a 2nd Group D match. Earlier, Ghana in the first Group D match, had defeated Serbia by a lone goal via a spot kick .

MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed said yesterday that the National Hospital, Abuja has failed the country for not meeting up with the goals of its founding fathers.

Citizens of Bauchi State resident in the South-West geo-political zone have asked Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State to step up action on delivery of democracy dividends or they would campaign against him in 2011.

ECOBANK Transnational, the parent company of Ecobank, at its 22nd annual general meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, weekend, said it planned to raise additional $500 million to expand its African network of branches to facilitate inter African trade.

Chief Ann Nosike, the National President of Gender Support Women Emancipation Development Society, an NGO, has urged INEC to partner with Civil Societies (CSO’s) and Civil Based Organisations (CBO’s) for the 2011 elections.

Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), Emmanuel Ibeshi, has described the choice of Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo as the best thing that can happen to PDP just as he stated that the party is on the road to charting a clear roadmap towards a lasting legacy in terms of leadership.

MOVEMENT for the Emancipation of the Niger-Delta, MEND, weekend, denied media reports that it took two Russian sailors hostage and was demanding $1.5 million ransoms for their release.

THE Paramount Ruler of Uvwie Kingdom, Delta State, HRM Abe 1, weekend, expressed regrets over non-response to an appeal made to the American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Limited, CNL, concerning the building of a new Palace for the Kingdom, which hosts the company’s operations office in Delta State.

DELTA State Deputy Governor, Prof Amos Agbe Utuama, SAN, has said Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration will be a backbone to the Urhobo at God’s own appointed time and charged the Urhobos to be united.