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  Sylvester Stallone has packed many jobs onto his resume over the years: movie star, screenwriter, director, producer and painter of Kafkaesque portraits, but in a new interview with Variety, he revealed that he briefly considered following his pal Arnold Schwarzenegger into politics.“And five minutes later, I came to my senses,” Stallone told Variety for this week’s cover story on “Creed.” He remembered, on 2006’s “Rocky Balboa,” meeting the mayor of Philadelphia, who told him: “I believe you could be elected.”“I said to my wife, ‘What do you think?’” Stallone recalled. “She said, ‘Are you crazy? He’s just being nice. You’re not going to be elected. You don’t have that insatiable need to be embraced by people.’”Although he’s been called a Republican, for supporting John McCain’s 2008 presidential run, Stallone says he’s not a member of the GOP. “May the best fighter win,” he said. “I don’t think you can be totally one-sided forever. Then you close your mind to all sorts of possibilities. It’s just, ‘Who comes along better at that time for what the planet is going through?’ Right now, it’s pretty confusing on every side.”What does he think of the Republican frontrunner? “I love Donald Trump,” he said. “He’s a great Dickensian character. You know what I mean? There are certain people like Arnold, Babe Ruth, that are bigger than life. But I don’t know how that translates”—he let out a laugh—“to running the world.”To read more from this week’s cover story, click here.

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Uchechi Okwu-Kanu, the wife of the controversial director of Radio Biafra, has revealed why her husband, Nnamdi Kanu, supports the idea of the independence of Biafra states.
Kanu’s wife, who believes her spouse, detained by the Nigerian state security service (DSS) since the middle of October 2015, is a prisoner of conscience, has granted an interview to the IB Times UK.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other pro-Biafran groups call for the independence of territories that formed the Biafran Republic in 1967 which was re-annexed to Nigeria in 1970.

Kanu, who is the leader of the movement, was arrested on charges of criminal conspiracy, intimidation and belonging to an unlawful society. The Biafra leader has pleaded not guilty.
Uchechi Okwu-Kanu says: “It is the British who laid the foundation of Nigeria… And these people [ethnicities and tribes of Nigeria]  are of different culture, different religion, different belief, different understanding of life.
“So we all are different in several ways, in every way. So, we are not actually meant to be together. You must have heard about the Biafran war. My mom was born then, a few years before the war. We sort of defended ourselves. We defended ourselves for over a long period of time,” she added.
Kanu’s wife continued that Biafrans are now suffering, despite supplying resources to other parts of Nigeria.
“We don’t have better schools, we don’t have better roads, we don’t have anything, not even jobs.
“So that is why what they are doing is to leave. So, I would say referendum is not a bad idea, it is not a bad option, but the people need to understand why we want Biafra.
“And that’s what Nnamdi Kanu is doing, sanitising his people, creating awareness. And you can see that a lot of people have woken up from their slumber. Most people who are sleeping have come to realise that this is really what it should be. I mean, if he is released and then he stops, it means he’s been defeated or he doesn’t know what he wanted in the first place.
“But if you know the reason why you are asking for something: you are asking for bread because you are hungry, and then you are thrown into jail. Then you released from the jail, but still didn’t receive your bread, you are still hungry. So he would continue, he will, yes,” Kanu’s wife concluded.
Watch full interview below

Dream team coach Samson Siasia has revealed the processes to be involved when choosing his squad for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
 The coach says he has received numerous calls and messages from players who wish to be included in the squad for the tournament proper despite not featuring in the CAF U-23 Nations Cup which served as qualifiers for the tournament.
The U-23 national team coach revealed he will select players who are willing to bear the cost of travelling to camp, accomodation and add the best legs from the team that won the U-23 Nations Cup in Senegal.
Siasia told thenff.com: “Since we qualified for the football event of the Rio Olympics, a lot of players both at home and abroad have been calling me that they want to play for the country, so myself and my assistants intend to use the first week of camping to see these players who will bear the cost of their trip to the camp and accommodate themselves.

“Any of them selected will now be added to the players who made us proud in Senegal for a full camping. Mind you, no player is yet guaranteed a shirt in the team, as I have always said only the best legs will make it to Rio de Janeiro.
“For now, time is not on our hands and as such, we need to start work in a bid to present a team that will make Nigerians proud in Brazil. For me, after winning silver at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, my next target is to go all out for gold in Rio, and I strongly believe we have the players that can achieve this.”
His also outlined his plans till camp opened later in the year: “For now my plans are to utilize fully all the FIFA windows beginning with the one in March, with the hope of taking players selected to an accessible country in Europe where all the overseas -based players can come with ease, play one or two friendly games and then have them return to their respective clubsides. “

Nigeria’s former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan seem to be getting more recognition for his performance in office since he left the corridors of power.  
 
Jonathan, 58, was named the ‘Person of the Year’ by The African Sun Times, Africa’s number one and largest newspaper in the United States of America (USA).

The former president conceded defeat to incumbent president, Muhammadu Buhari, via a phone call even before the results of the presidential elections were announced
That singular seem act seem to have elevated the status of the Otuoke-born  to a global citizen and as a reference for African leaders, who are known for holding on to power for too long.
In October 2015, Jonathan was named the chairman of the Commonwealth Observer Group for the presidential election in Tanzania.
In November 2015, Jonathan rounded off a two-week visit to the USA with a meeting with students of the Howard University School of Political Science where he was the special guest at the university event with the theme: “Elections And Constitutions In Africa: A Timely Issue”.
In December 2015, one of Nigeria’s online newspapers, The Trent named Jonathan the Person of the Year 2015.

Credit: Felipe Ramales/Splash News Online Walking in a winter wonderland! Pregnant Anne Hathaway positively beamed while on a stroll with her husband, Adam Shulman, in the brisk NYC weather on Friday, December 18.PHOTOS: Kim Kardashian's 2nd pregnancy style
Hathaway, 33, looked radiant in a black wool coat, a black turtleneck, skinny jeans and patent leather dress shoes. Shulman, 34, was more casual in a blue sweater and light-wash denim. As Us Weekly confirmed on November 27, the Oscar-winning actress is expecting her first child with her husband of three years.
PHOTOS: New celebrity babies in 2015
While Hathaway covered her baby bump on Friday, she gave Us a better glimpse of her growing tummy two weeks earlier in a menswear-inspired outfit.
Hathaway donned a jacket and blouse on Saturday, December 5, while out to dinner in Los Angeles. On that occasion, she paired the look with skinny jeans, a black scarf, and matching ankle booties.
Hathaway has been vocal about wanting to become a mom. In a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter shortly after saying “I do” to Shulman in 2012, the Les Miserables

Totally 'gram-worthy! Anne Hathaway, who's currently expecting her first child with her husband, Adam Shulman, shared a photo of her pregnant bikini body and her growing baby bump on Monday, January 4.
In the beach snapshot, Hathaway beams on the beach in a red bikini, and adorably cradles her burgeoning bump. "So, posting a bikini pic is a little out of character for me," the Oscar-winning actress, 33, admitted to her 1.8 million followers on Instagram. "But just now while I was at the beach I noticed I was being photographed. I figure if this kind of photo is going to be out in the world it should at least be an image that makes me happy (and be one that was taken with my consent. And with a filter :)"
The Princess Diaries actress concluded her message with a sweet note to fans. "Wishing you love, light and blessings for the year ahead!" the star wrote, signing off in her caption as "Annie."
Us Weekly confirmed in November that Hathaway is expecting her first child with her jeweler husband, a little over three years after they tied the knot.
In November 2012, the then-newlywed Hathaway shared with The Hollywood Reporter that she and Shulman were thinking about growing their family. "I hope to join the ranks soon," the Devil Wears Prada star said of motherhood. “I really want to have a baby.”

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Veteran actress Barbara Windsor — familiar for decades since her work on the Carry On films — Wednesday was given a damehood for her services, and celebrated "Swan Lake" choreographer Matthew Bourne was made a knight in recognition of his string of innovative successes.
Other honors were given to revered actress Imelda Staunton, made a Commander of the British Empire for her stellar stage work, and Luther star Idris Elba — touted as a possible future James Bond — who was awarded the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or OBE.
Britain's honors are bestowed twice a year by the monarch at New Year's and on her official birthday in June. Recipients are selected by committees of civil servants from nominations made by the government and the public.
The honors last a lifetime and convey serious prestige: knights are addressed as "sir" and dames are called "dame." Recipients of the lesser honors have no title but can put the letters after their names.
Veteran Welsh stage actress Sian Philips was also made a dame, and actors David Oyelowo — who recently played Martin Luther King Jr. in the film "Selma" — and James Nesbitt got OBEs. The honor's list goes far beyond entertainment. This year the queen's list has recognized the work of injured Falklands war veteran Simon Weston, who has founded a charity to help others suffering grave disfigurement cope with the massive changes to their lives.
Weston has refused to let his severe injuries and resulting disfigurement keep him in the shadows, and his charity has done the same for others. He was made a Commander of the British Empire in recognition.
"When I was injured, I feared that I would never be relevant again — not just in a military sense but also as a human being. Maybe it was my bullishness or my military background, but I was not going to let that happen," he said. "The charity Changing Faces recently published figures saying that 70% of people with a disfigurement don't go outside. I hope that with me being in the public eye it can inspire others — that you can live your life and can enjoy it despite what has happened."
Honors also go to Dr. Michael Jacobs, who received a knighthood for helping three British health care workers who contracted the Ebola virus while trying to prevent its spread in west Africa. Dr. Timothy Brooks received a CBE for leading the British laboratory response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, and many other awards were made to Britons involved with the crisis response.
On the political front, there was some controversy over the knighthood awarded to Lynton Crosby, a prominent architect of Prime Minister David Cameron's general election strategy. On a lighter note, the queen recognized the man who designs many of her own one-of-a-kind outfits. Designer Stewart Parvin was made a member of the Royal Victorian Order.

Merkel says in her speech which will be aired on public Television at 1700GMT Thursday: "Thank you for the overwhelming and really moving wave of spontaneous helpfulness that we experienced this year, when so many people came via often life-threatening ways to us looking for refuge."
The chancellor said that if tackled the right way, the integration of the many new arrivals would be opportunity for the country in the future. She warned that society should not become divided over the issue and made clear there's no room for those expressing hatred toward the newcomers.

That's how far a mighty club has fallen, with the stalemate with Chelsea on Monday appearing to give some breathing space for under-pressure manager Louis van Gaal. Lose to manager-less and relegation-threatened Swansea at Old Trafford on Saturday, though, and United will put Van Gaal even closer to the brink.
The record 20-time English champions are winless in their last eight games in all competitions, marking their worst run of form since 1990, and have collected only three points from their last six league games. Almost as worrying for United is that the team has scored only one goal in its last four home games.
Van Gaal may say he enjoys the backing of the United board, and has backtracked on previous comments that he could quit as manager, but there might be no way back if Swansea leaves Old Trafford with three points.
Put simply, 2016 has to start better than 2015 ended for the Dutchman. "If anything, we are all playing for our own futures as well," United defender Chris Smalling said, with the team having fallen five places adrift of the Champions League places.
On paper, Swansea looks the ideal opponent for United to get back to winning ways: No manager following Garry Monk's firing on Dec. 9, one place above the bottom three, only one away win — against last-place Aston Villa — this campaign. Yet the Welsh club has won its last three games against United, all 2-1, including a home-and-away league double last season.
What Van Gaal must ensure is that United plays the same way as against Chelsea, when his players were more positive, took more risks with their passing and looked to play more forward. United's fans could see the team was trying and seemed to warm to Van Gaal and his players. But how long will the goodwill last?
"Inside of the club, the players are willing to fight for every meter, the manager is willing to fight, the members of staff are willing to fight and the board is very confident in the staff and the manager," Van Gaal said.
Above sixth-place United, the top four is separated by just four points heading into the second half of the season. It is the most unpredictable of title races, with surely few predicting that Leicester and Tottenham would be in the Champions League positions at the turn of the year.
Here's what else to look out for this weekend, as the grueling run of matches in the festive period comes to an end:

ASSIST KING

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has 16 assists so far this season, and is only four off the Premier League record held by Thierry Henry. Ozil must like his chances of getting even closer on Saturday when his table-topping side hosts Newcastle at Emirates Stadium.
Henry, one of Arsenal's greatest players, set the record in the 2002-03 season and believes it will get broken by Ozil.
"The guy is just amazing," Henry said. "Finally we're starting to see what type of player he can be . It's his vision, he always puts the ball where you need it. He sees everything, and when you play with a player like that, anything can happen at any time."
Arsenal is ahead of Leicester on goal difference, with Man City three points back in third place.

DOUBLE ACT

It seems Leicester hot-shots Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez have some competition as the most lethal double act in the Premier League — Watford pair Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney.
Ighalo has scored in each of his last six games heading into Saturday's match against Man City at Vicarage Road, and finished 2015 with 30 league goals for the year — the best in English football.
Deeney, meanwhile, has six goals and four assists in his last 10 games.
They are the reason why promoted Watford is only two points off the European positions, and must be relishing the prospect of facing a City defense missing captain Vincent Kompany (calf).

LEICESTER REPRIEVE

Leicester's surprising title challenge was supposed to falter in a six-game run that included matches against Chelsea, Man City, Man United, Liverpool and Everton. Yet the team lost only once in that period and looks to be the real deal.
Things get slightly easier for Leicester in January, starting against Bournemouth on Saturday.
Also Saturday, it's: West Ham vs. Liverpool; Norwich vs. Southampton; Sunderland vs. Aston Villa; and West Bromwich Albion vs. Stoke. On Sunday, it's: Crystal Palace vs. Chelsea; and Everton vs. Tottenham.

Lagging behind in the race for Champions League qualification, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool could be the most active of the country's major powers as they look for a strong finish to arguably the most unpredictable season in the Premier League's 24-year history.
Then there's the scramble to avoid the costliest-ever relegation from England's top division. Next season ushers in the start of the Premier League's new three-year TV deal worth a record $8 billion, and no club will want to miss out on a share of that bounty.
So, count on England being the place where most deals are done over the next month, as usual. Last January, English clubs were easily the biggest spenders, splashing out about 130 million pounds (then $213 million) to shatter the record for the season as a whole at 760 million pounds (then $1.25 billion).
Top teams operating strategic transfer plans rarely do major deals in this period. Likely targets can be ruled out of the Champions League and managers can be scared off by inflated prices. This season could be different.
Chelsea is in 14th place, three points above the relegation zone, in the most woeful title defense that the Premier League has seen. A top new signing by caretaker coach Guus Hiddink could inspire a revival, and the striker department needs refreshing.
"The window is wide open," Hiddink said Wednesday. Just as it will be at Man United, where Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney are the only two strikers at a club struggling to score goals. A world-class striker could make all the difference for under-pressure United manager Louis van Gaal, who is likely to add to the $375 million he's already spent in his 18 months in charge.
It is Juergen Klopp's first transfer window since becoming Liverpool manager. Will he return to his old hunting ground of Germany to bolster Liverpool's squad? It will also be interesting to see whether Leicester, remarkably in second place after half of the Premier League campaign, splashes out to stay in the title contention. And if the team manages to keep hold of striker Jamie Vardy.
On Wednesday, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said it would be a "busy" month for his club, with a midfielder needed to solve an injury crisis. Here is a look around the continent:

SPAIN

Barcelona has been unable to register new players until January because of a FIFA-imposed transfer ban, so 2015 signings Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal have spent the last six months training away from the squad.
Turan joined Barcelona from Atletico Madrid in July and is expected to reinforce the club's left flank. Vidal arrived from Sevilla and likely will be the back-up for Dani Alves at right back.
Real Madrid made a mess of trying to sign goalkeeper David de Gea from Manchester United at the end of the last transfer window and embattled club president Florentino Perez may try to make amends.
However, Spanish clubs don't usually spend big on January acquisitions and there has been no major speculation about any major signings.

GERMANY

In the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund are likely to give up some rarely used players rather than bring in major new signings.
Bayern's situation is made more complicated by the upcoming departure of coach Pep Guardiola, so any new players would probably have to be cleared by incoming coach Carlo Ancelotti, who will try hard to stay out of the limelight and not to seem to be interfering in Guardiola's job.
Dortmund has already given up attacking midfielder Jonas Hofmann to Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Many top German coaches don't like signing new players in mid-season, considering them expensive and risky.

FRANCE

Defending French champion Paris Saint-Germain has fielded questions about the possible departures of Argentina forward Ezequiel Lavezzi and Italy goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, who has played only two matches this season following the arrival of Kevin Trapp from Frankfurt.
PSG coach Laurent Blanc dismissed talk of transfers during PSG's winter training camp this week in Qatar, noting that none of his players are out of contract in January.

The Federal Prosecutor's Office said Thursday the police searches were executed in the morning in various Brussels-area locations. It said a magistrate will decide whether arrest warrants should be issued against six people brought in for questioning.
Two men have already been arrested in connection with the suspected plot, both members of a motorcycle club. On Thursday, a judge ordered them held for another month.

The striker pounced on a flicked pass from Adam Lallana to place a low finish into the bottom corner, just 22 seconds into the second half. Benteke earned Liverpool a 1-0 victory over Leicester on Saturday, too.
Liverpool climbed to seventh in the standings, tied for points with Manchester United but behind its great rival on goal difference, and five points off the top four with exactly half the season gone.
Sunderland stayed next to last with its fifth straight loss in December, and fell seven points from safety as recently hired manager Sam Allardyce struggles to turn around the fortunes of the perennial relegation contender. Sunderland's home game against last-place Aston Villa on Saturday assumes even greater significance.
It was Benteke's sixth goal in seven career games against Sunderland — more than he has scored against any other club — and another step in the right direction for a player who hasn't been a regular since joining from Aston Villa for 32.5 million pounds (then $50.7 million) in July.
"I came to Liverpool to try to score a lot of goals, I'm in good shape," said Benteke, who has six league goals this season. "I hope I can keep it up." Some have questioned whether the tall, imposing Benteke fits into the high-tempo, high-energy style of play favored by Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp, and he said this week that he has been told by the German coach to "run more."
Benteke prodded in a scrappy winner against Leicester on Saturday, but this one was more clinical, pouncing on Lallana's flick of Nathaniel Clyne's forward pass to find space behind Sunderland's defense and locate the far corner with a low finish. Lallana later acknowledged he didn't intend for the ball to reach Benteke.