Security concerns ‘inevitable’ ahead of Clasico – Iniesta

Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta admitted on Thursday it is impossible to ignore security concerns ahead of Saturday’s huge clash between Real Madrid and Barca in the Spanish capital just days after a series of deadly attacks in Paris.

The Spanish government have promised security measures on an unprecedented level for the match that will see a capacity 81,000 fans descend upon the Santiago Bernabeu with 2,400 police, stewards and emergency services set to form a triple ring of security around the stadium.

“The situation generates concern for everybody. It is inevitable, I think we all agree on that,” said Iniesta.

Iniesta

“From what I know and what the security forces are saying, all possible measures will be taken and everyone should collaborate so that before, during and after the game a sporting spectacle can take place and it is the game that is the focus for such a special day for the world of football.”

The Stade de France, where France were hosting Germany, was one of a number of targets struck during the attacks on Friday that left 129 dead and over 350 injured.

Iniesta was part of the Spain squad that travelled to Brussels for a friendly against Belgium on Tuesday only for the game to be suspended less than 24 hours before kick-off due to the elevated terror threat.

“Fear isn’t the right word, but there was concern,” Iniesta added.

“We went because it seemed like everything could take place normally despite the situation we were in before they took that decision. A completely correct decision.”

However, he wholeheartedly backed the decision for games across Spain and the rest of Europe to go ahead this weekend.

“It is a shame that people aren’t talking about sport, football or the spectacle, but it is the reality we live in and we can’t ignore it.

“We have to try to return to normality. On Saturday, it is not just Madrid and Barca that are playing, but many games and hopefully everything goes as it always has done.”

Five billion to go online by 2020 – Google

The world’s online population will double to five billion by 2020 presenting “huge” business opportunities for tech start-ups on the cutting edge of the unprecedented expansion, the head of Google Europe said Thursday.

“The connected population is going to double in five years. Five billion online. Everyone with the entire Internet in their pockets,” Google Europe president Matt Brittin said in Warsaw as he opened his company’s fifth “campus” for IT start-ups.

“That’s a huge opportunity,” he said, adding that “this is a transformational period.”

“Five years where we’ll go from a minority to a majority of the people on the planet being connected. That’s why the moment is now for start-ups to look up and out and think about that market of five billion people that you can connect with in the next five years.”

Google chose a renovated vodka distillery in a poorer area of the Polish capital for its first “campus” for IT business start-ups in eastern Europe.

The facility is one of five tech hubs the global IT giant has created worldwide, with a sixth planned to open in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in the first half of 2016.

Google, which got its start in a garage, provides tech start-ups with low cost or free-of-charge spaces to meet and work at the campuses, along with business mentoring.

Brittin said that although Google is a search engine, it has also become “a growth engine for entrepreneurs and for the economy”.

“Today we see millions of companies who are growing and exporting by accessing tools, talent, technology, sales and distribution around the world. We call them the ‘micro-multinationals’. Every start-up can be global from its birth.”

Poland’s new Minister for Development, Mateusz Morawiecki, said he hoped the tech hub would help stem the brain drain of young Poles to western Europe in search of better opportunities.

Over two million Poles have moved west, mostly to wealthier Britain and Germany, since their country joined the European Union in 2004.

“I see Campus Google as an opportunity for Polish and central European ‘micro-multinationals’ …to curb brain drain,” Morawiecki said at the facility’s opening.

The US company opened its first start-up campus in London in 2012, which has created 1,800 jobs so far according to Google, followed by ones in Tel Aviv, Seoul and Madrid.

US-based audiologist provides free medicare to over 500 in Bayelsa

WARRI—A non-governmental organisation, Niger Delta Care Incorporated, Hearing and Vision Charity, facilitated by Delta-born United States- based audiologist, Dr. John Oyiborhoro, has offered free medicare to over 500 patients in Bayelsa State.

The free medicare, which held at Covenant Faith Proof Ministries, City of Truth, Yenagoa,  witnessed a huge turnout of people from Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Abia, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and other neighbouring states.

Leader of Niger Delta Care Incorporated and organizer of the programme, Dr. Oyiborhoro, noted that the programme turned out to be the best since it began many years ago.

Oyiborhoro stated that he was delighted that the programme reached out to the needy in the society, disclosing that in 2016 his organisation will bring more medical experts from the United States with a view to reaching out to more underprivileged persons with health challenges.

He commended Starkey Foundation based in the United States of America and owned by Bill Austin, for always donating the hearing aids used for the programme, just as he acknowledged the challenges encountered in transportation and personnel in the bid to ensure that the 2015 programme met the target audience.

THE people A-Ibom urged to support Udom

Uyo—CHAIRMAN of CALAKWA Group of Companies and a shipping magnate in Lagos, Mr. Johnson Attah, has applauded the policies and programmes being pursued by the Governor Udom Emmanuel administration in Akwa Ibom State.

Speaking with newsmen, Thursday in Uyo, Attah said that Governor Emmanuel needs the support of the people to actualize those lofty policies and programmes, stressing that only an environment of peace, unity and harmony could ensure that the programmes work in the interest of the people.

Describing Emmanuel as a round peg in a round hole who has already demonstrated through intervention programmes that with his wealth of experience in the private sector, Akwa Ibom State was sure to grow from strength to strength, and enjoined the people to give him the needed support to succeed.

Mikel is important to Eagles – Oliseh

Coach, Sunday  Oliseh has moved to quell speculations that Sunshine Stars star, Paul Onobi is heir apparent to Chelsea midfielder, John Mikel Obi.

Mikel was surprisingly dropped from the Nigeria side that beat Swaziland 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Port Harcourt but Oliseh says Onobi did not take the place of the Chelsea superstar.

BRAZIL, Campinas : Nigeria’s midfielder John Obi  AFP PHOTO

He added that “nobody has a fixed spot in this team” as he continues his rebuilding process with the three-time African champions.

“What I feel about Onobi is that he’s a home star.

“I said it from the onset that I don’t care if you play at home or abroad.

“If you are good enough and you can adapt to the tactics that we play, we will do it.

“I am glad that the whole world has witnessed a vindication of that policy that I will always adhere to.

“He’s solid. He’s strong on the man (tackle). He’s solid. He’s clairvoyant and one thing I like about him is that he’s very hungry.

“And that’s what we need now. “However, I must use this medium to state that Onobi did not play at the expense of (Mikel).

“Nobody has a fixed spot in this team,” he said.

“Oliseh’s record as Nigeria coach in competitive matches is near perfect as he is yet to lose a single game since taking over from Stephen Keshi in July.