Despite the fact that Manchester United, had been crowned champions of the League, and the three relegated teams were known, the last round of matches was quite important to some teams, in terms of what they could bank.

Several teams earned and lost millions of pounds, depending on their final day results and where they finished on the table.

Apart from the television rights, each team picked up around £750,000 extra on the merit of their place.

THE PREMIER LEAGUE PRIZE MONEY TABLE (Based on 2011-12 figures)

tess_marie / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND

The rumors were apparently pretty accurate: Yahoo will indeed acquire Tumblr, and its board has approved a $ 1.1 billion cash deal for the blogging site. The board met today and unanimously OKed the deal, in what AllThingsD‘s Kara Swisher reports was “a foregone conclusion.” It’s the biggest acquisition of Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer’s 10 months at the helm, adds the AP.

When few years ago controversial actress, Tonto Dikeh featured in a sóft-smut movie called ‘Dirty Secret’, many tongues wagged. The actress was lambasted by many movie critics, who condemned the film and also Tonto for her role in the film.

In the said movie, Tonto Dikeh interpreted her role like someone, who is well grounded in the act she was acting in the film. She acted the role of a spóilt child, who sléeps with her father and her boyfriend.

Her father, played by Jibola Dabo, was a gynandrous, who also sléeps with his daughter’s boyfriend played by Muna Obikwe. At a point in time, they all had a trio. Apart from the storyline, the three major acts played their roles like a smut movie.

But in a recent interview, Tonto revealed why she agreed to act in the film and interpreted it well. The Ikwere, Rivers State-born celebrated actress disclosed that she agreed to play the role because it was a true life story of a girl.

Tonto said she met with the person the storyline talked about. “Actually, that’s a true life story,” she revealed. “I met the girl it happened to and that’s why I agreed to do the movie,” she added.

He beat P-Square, Iyanya, and Davido to win African Artist of the Year at the just concluded Ghana Music awards. Congrats to him.

Some new revelation recently sprung up following the controversial reports that Super Eagles star and Orduspor midfielder, Yusuf Ayila, abandoned his wife and kids in Ukraine and eloped with a girlfriend.

Latest information has it that there was more to this story than the ears have heard.

It was gathered that the mother of two who was not legally married to the ace footballer allegedly attempted to manipulate him with charms.

While narrating how it all happened, Ayila said, “Firstly, I’ll like to state categorically that Gbemisola is not my legal wife as widely reported. She is the mother of my two kids. We met years back and started a casual date.

“The trouble started when I asked her to bring my children for holiday in Ukraine. One day, while I lived with her, I opened Gbemi’s wardrobe in Ukraine and found different charms, including a snake inside a bottle filled with gin.

“It was a confirmation of the feelers I got from family and friends that she is fetish and had been using charms on me. I felt uncomfortable living under the same roof with her. In view of this development, I told her to return to Nigeria, to which she refused. At that point, I told her, I couldn’t cope with her bad habit anymore; that she had to go back to Nigeria or I will leave the house for her.

“Meanwhile, before seeing the charms in her wardrobe, she had been at loggerheads with my mother for no concrete reason. I had to abandon the house in Ukraine to get another apartment when she refused to leave.

“Yet, it never stopped me from paying the house rent, even after my departure to Orduspor, Turkey, my club. I kept paying the children’s school fees and other bills and later discovered that her Visa will expire in a few months’ time. “I sent her a mail asking her to leave Ukraine and go back to Nigeria since she hadn’t anything concrete doing and yet again she refused. I sent her another
mail threatening to stop paying the rent in Ukraine by the end of April.

“When she refused to leave, I sent someone to collect her passport lest she tarnishes my image and career. I started hearing some unimaginable stories of her escapades with men each time I visit Nigeria, but I kept my cool. She was also reported to be having an affair with a popular Fuji musician.

“She had on several occasions connived with some people to kill me, which I survived by the grace of God. For the records, I have a recorded phone conversation of that.”

The football star claimed that he gives Gbemisola N1million as her monthly allowance.

Nevertheless, concerning the new woman in his life, Ayila disclosed that he’s now legally married to her. He described the new woman as a very responsible, God fearing lady who is his wife and not a mistress, as claimed by Gbemisola.

It is no longer news that some ladies these days use mystical means (juju) to control the lives of their men and this happens often if the man is well to do.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has kept aside over one hundred and fifty-eight billion naira for development of infrastructure in the south east zone.

The money is to take care of the proposed second Niger bridge at Onitsha for which N30b has already been set aside; N60b zero credit facility from the World Bank for erosion control in the region and N68b for improvement and development of other infrastructure like roads in the zone.

The disclosure was made yesterday at a Town Hall meeting by President Jonathan with the leaders of the zone shortly after commissioning of the terminal buildings of Akanu Ibiam International Airport at Enugu.

President Jonathan also approved the setting up of free trade zone in Enugu squel to the international airport expected to commence operations very soon.

The President congratulated the people of the zone for their support to him since his national political life. The President had earlier laid the foundation of the new International Terminal and the Remodeled Terminal of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, saying that about 500,000 passengers would be handled annually at the airport.

President Jonathan said Enugu is the gateway to the South East Region, the home of the entrepreneurship in Nigeria which justified the Akanu Ibiam Airport to the status of International Airport.

He explained that with the current status of international airport, the millions of enterprising people in the region would no longer travel to Lagos, Port Harcourt, Abuja or Kano International airports for their foreign travels.

He stated that the remodeling project in Enugu was part of the national programme aimed at transforming the country’s air transport sector.

The president stated that he was pleased to note that as one of the 13 airports designated as perishable cargo centers across the country, the well equipped perishable cargo terminal would be built in this airport. “ When constructed, the facility will accelerate the quick processing and evacuation of perishable agricultural products directly from the farm to consumers in Europe and elsewhere in the world” he stated.

French President Francois Hollande fulfilled a major campaign promise today by signing into law a measure legalizing gay marriage, reports Reuters. The first same-sex weddings can be held in 10 days, notes the BBC. Opponents in the heavily Catholic country aren’t done protesting the move, however, and plan another demonstration on May 26. France becomes the 14th country to allow gay marriages, and Dawn.com rounds up the others:

• Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Canada, South Africa, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Argentina, Denmark, Uruguay, and New Zealand. (In the US, Minnesota recently became the 12th state to legalize it.)

The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, MrAdemorin Kuye, gave the figure at a news conference organised to mark Gov.Babatunde Fashola`s sixth year in office.

He said the figure was derived from a research recently conducted by the Ministry of Budgeting and Planning, which showed that the residents spent a lot of money on entertainment. Kuye lamented that the benefits of entertainment had not been fully tapped to boost revenue generation in terms of taxes. “There is merriment tax in the constitution, it is part of the rates local governments can collect. We have not fully utilised the benefit of the entertainment industry in this state. “Over N1 billion is spent monthly in Lagos state on entertainment, we have the records to confirm this and these people, how many of them pay tax?

“The money goes into drinks, wine, food, aso-ebi (uniform dresses) and all of that and when they spend all of this money, they do not want to pay anything to the government.” On the clamour for autonomy for local governments, Kuye said those behind the agitation were not sincere but only pushing for it to score political points. “The position of the government is that the clamour is not with sincere intention because it will not benefit the local governments.

“I have challenged people to go out there and find out if it is what the people want.“Those clamouring are doing so for political gains; to use the local government to get elected into positions.’’ He said it was the same people that had earlier said there was no need for local governments that were now saying money should be given directly to the councils.

What’s your say on this merriment tax? Do you think it’s a welcome development?

Still a Virgin: The Philosophy of Richard Branson

If a reputation defined a man, then Richard Branson would definitely be defined as unique. From his way of life to the way he conducts business, and even his start, Richard Branson developed a philosophy for running his business that many wouldn’t dare attempt. Without following the working model of current business, Branson has excelled in enormous ways by following the beat of his own drum. By looking at Branson’s business philosophies, how could your business benefit from his words of wisdom?

“The brave may not live forever-but the cautious do not live at all.”

Whether you are starting a new business or venturing into unknown territory with your already established company, business is full of risks. There are methods and choices that reduce risk, proven methods of doing business that help you muddle along, however, to innovate and excel, you can’t be afraid to take risks. Imagine if Richard Branson decided not to make a risky move when he started Virgin Airlines, or decided to build SpaceShipOne.

“Many entrepreneurs who succeeded, have skirted very close to failures.

You can’t face success without facing failure. Regardless of your business knowledge, there will often be times where you feel it will never work. Branson advises to quickly see when something is not going well and either change it or close down. If you can’t see a turnaround change during hard times, it is sometimes easier to shut down and start again with a new idea.

“Do not dwell on regrets, move on to positive things.”

If you fail, don’t dwell. There are plenty of opportunities to build again and learn from the mistakes of the past. Move on to positive ventures and put your energy into a new success, forgetting your failure and seeing it only as a learning experience. As humans, we have a tendency to keep our failures in the backs of our minds and inadvertently bring them to our new decisions, often creating more cautious choices. In business, this can hinder your success.

“I don’t think of work as work and play as play. It’s all living.”

We have all heard the phrase “do what you love and love what you do”. Branson’s interpretation is a bit more involved. You should treat all aspects of your life, both recreationally and professionally, as living one life. If you are starting a business, you are dedicating your time and energy to developing your brand, a lifelong process. Live both professionally and recreationally at all times.

“Back then we would create a company based on frustration at other people’s service…”

The reason Branson started Virgin Airlines? He hated flying on other airlines and thought he could do better. In business your customer reactions and the needs and wants of your demographic should fuel the direction of your business. If you are overlooking what your customer’s want, another company may give it to them and you will lose those customers. Always treat your business as customer service and give the people what they want to create loyalty.

“Above all, you want to create something you are proud of.”

Many start-ups begin the wrong way, to make money. Branson has a simple philosophy, to create a business he is proud of. If you have a desire to be great, to offer a service or product you can be proud of, the money will follow. Passion is the best fuel for business. If you are passionate and proud of what you do, you will succeed.

There are thousands of strategies for creating a successful business. However, to bring happiness with your success, you must push the boundaries of conventional business and do things your own way. Richard Branson has developed a philosophy that has brought great wealth, success, and personal growth and happiness. Shouldn’t your business do the same?

Lena Daniels is a business blogger for a variety of media outlets. If you need the knowledge to start your own business while paving your own way, Pepperdine University may be the start you need.

By: Edralyn Chan

The raid by Nigerian Air Force jets and attack helicopters is part of what the military says is a “massive deployment” of Nigerian forces this week to tackle insurgent groups, including Boko Haram.

“Our military has overrun a number of the militants’ camps in north and central Borno state,” said defense spokesman Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade.

“Within those insurgents’ camps, we discovered that they have been storing sophisticated, high-caliber weapons including anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons.”

Asked if the military had inflicted any casualties on the insurgents, Olukolade said, “definitely so. Conservatively speaking, over 20 dead so far.”

Members of the armed forces have suffered only minor injuries, according to Olukolade.

“The operation continues, we are injecting even more troops and resources into those areas,” he added.

The military operation was announced Wednesday, a day after President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.