Could this be the end of blackberry as they explore possible sale of company

BlackBerry stock rose Monday after Canada's flagship technology company said its board has launched a formal review of its "strategic alternatives" � including the possibility of selling the smart phone company.



The company says the review could result in BlackBerry forming joint ventures, strategic partnerships or a sale of BlackBerry. It didn't specifically mention going private, an idea that has gained favour recently according to recent reports.

However, the long-anticipated formal strategic review � which will seek to get the best deal for BlackBerry shareholders � pushed up BlackBerry share prices.

RIMTimeline: Research in Motion's rise and fall
BlackBerry shares were rose more than 10 per cent, or $1.08, to close at $11.13 on the Toronto Stock Exchange, which is about $8 below the high in January when the stock was boosted by optimism for its BlackBerry 10 smartphones.

The rising stock is a sign of shareholder frustration, according to equity analyst Troy Crandall, of the Montreal-based investment firm MacDougall, MacDougall and MacTier.


The BlackBerry 10 has not met expectations since its debut in January and the company has long talked about turning around its sagging fortunes.

But investors "haven't really seen much come forth from management," Crandall told CBC News. "It's about time they did something."

BlackBerry also announced Monday that Prem Watsa, the head of Canadian insurance company Fairfax Financial and one of BlackBerry's key shareholders, has resigned from the BlackBerry board due to potential conflicts.

Fairfax Financial, which owns 9.9 per cent of BlackBerry, is reported to be in talks with private equity investors to find ways to take BlackBerry private and his departure is taken as a sign of potential interest.

Others who may want to buy the company could include the Canada Pension Plan, which has previously expressed interest, and private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, which reportedly has been in talks with the company on possible collaboration.

Buyers would have been easier to find a few years ago during the company's heyday, said Crandall, when Microsoft, Oracle and other big names were thought to be interested.

"But things have changed and [those companies] are not so interested from what we can tell," he said.

Watsa joined the Blackberry board in early 2012 as part of attempts to revitalize the company, previously called Research In Motion, as its previous long-time co-CEOs stepped aside and installed Thorsten Heins as chief executive.

"I continue to be a strong supporter of the company, the board and management as they move forward during this process, and Fairfax Financial has no current intention of selling its shares," Watsa said in a statement issued by BlackBerry.

The announcement comes amid unconfirmed reports that the Waterloo, Ont.-based company may go private � a move that could result in one or more investors buying out other shareholders and delisting the stock.

Last month, the company laid off 250 employees at its new-product testing facility, and in 2012 shed 5,000 jobs as it sought to regain its footing in the highly competitive smartphone market.

Heins said there are "compelling long-term opportunities" for the company's products including a new generation of BlackBerry smartphones, the BlackBerry Enterprise Server and a new secure global data network.

Miss Faderera Mariah Omosowoeni, Is The New Miss LASU 2013

Walking tall beauty Miss Faderera Mariah Omosowoeni is the new Miss LASU as she emerged the most beautiful girl in the campus beauty pageant on 4th July 2013.
The colourful pageant was held at the New Auditorium of the Lagos State University (LASU) that was packed with excited students, performing artistes, comedians, special guests and other members of the LASU community.

The event, which was organized by MLK Events in conjunction with the Lagos State University Student Union, paraded a number of beautiful contestants from different faculties of the university. At the end of the fun packed event, delectable and elegant Faderera Mariah Omosowoeni who represented Faculty of Education was crowned the new beauty queen of the Lagos State University. She got a cash prize and a brand new golf car.
A visibly elated Miss Omosowoeni has promised to reach out to fellow students during her one-year reign.
She also promised to be a good ambassador of the school even after her reign as queen.

Specifically Queen Faderera promised to contribute in the current effort to re-brand the image of the university with a television programme, which she titled ‘LASU on Point’. She also intends to embark on a beautification of LASU by creating a recreational park with a fountain in front of the faculty of Education. There are also plans to donate educational materials to students. The queen also hopes to, before the end of her reign, host an alumni dinner to celebrate LASU products that have contributed and are still contributing to society.

Three-month-old baby boy suffers horrifying burns 'after spontaneously bursting into flames for the fourth time'

-Three-month-old admitted to Indian hospital with ten degree burns

-Doctors claim he suffers from spontaneous human combustion

-Baby boy has allegedly self combusted four times in his short life

Rare case: Rahul, three months, is receiving treatment for his burns at a hospital in Chennai, India, after allegedly self-combusting

According to doctors Rahul may have caught fire due to the excretion of gases through his skin, which has led to him suffering burns on his chest and head.

‘The baby is stable and treatment is on for burn injuries and scars. Life-saving support systems are there for Rahul in the intensive care unit,’ said R. Narayana Babu, head of paediatrics at the hospital.

He told IBN Live that the baby will be under observation and may be discharged after two weeks depending on his condition.

Rahul, from Villupuram, an area 100miles from Chennai, suffered the first incident when he was just nine days old.

Fire boy: Rahul is being examined by a doctor with his mother by his side, who claims this is the fourth time her son has burst into flames
‘People thought I set him on fire deliberately,’ his mother, Rajeswari told IBN Live.

According to the parents, their community ostracized them, and Rahul’s father, a farm worker, says they have lost everything as a result of his son's condition.

SHC- PHENOMENON OR FRAUD?
Spontaneous human combustion (SHC) has been implied as a cause of death in a number of documented cases where burned corpses have been found without an apparent external source of ignition.

An estimated 200 cases have been found throughout history and victims are often elderly, sick, or under the influence of alcohol, which woudl explain why they have not been able to escape the flames.

Puzzled scientists have come up with the ‘wick theory’ to explain such events. The theory is that the human body can become an ‘inside out’ candle

The person’s clothes are the wick, while their body fat is the wax or flammable substance,  that keeps the blaze going.

Limbs may be left intact because of the temperature gradient, with the bottom half of the body being cooler than the top.

Some have postulated that static electricity could cause the needed spark.

Rajeswari alleges that Rahul has suffered four episodes of  spontaneous fire and suffered burn injuries, the last incident taking place last month.

However, doctors at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital in Chennai treating Rahul say they only have the mother's version of events to go on as the baby boy does not have any medical records.

'The baby has to be carefully observed. We have to investigate whether the ailment is genetic,' Prof. R. Jayachandran of the department of pediatrics at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital said.

'We will carry out tests to find out the kind of gases generated by the baby’.'

Not all believe the mother's story of self-combustion.

'Spontaneous Human Combustion-syndrome is a hoax theory,' the hospital's burns specialist Dr J Jagan Mohan told The Times of India.

'A baby catching fire spontaneously is not possible.

'Alcoholics have a very small percentage of alcohol secreted in their sweat but even that wouldn't generate a fire.'

Until a proper diagnosis is made, Rahul is given treatment that is only symptomatic, with the administration of antibiotics.

Invest in Africa! Invest in Nigeria

Africa could prove to be one of the next great ground-floor international investment opportunities if recent progress can be sustained. The continent's market-based ideals are solidifying, and it is simply a matter of time before its capital markets and economies become more developed, liquid and integrated with the global financial system. The adage "the early bird gets the worm" has always been an applicable saying in the field of investing, and in recent years, companies have begun to infiltrate the continent. If investors want to capitalize on this emerging market, they should follow suit.

Today, the continent features rapid growth, rich natural resources and a large, young and increasingly educated workforce. In May 2000, The Economist Magazine famously dubbed Africa "the hopeless continent," but the cover of the same magazine on December 3, 2011 was entitled "Africa Rising,” an affirmative indication of where the continent is heading.

Investment thesis

Africa is the most complex continent on earth and defies simple descriptions. It has one billion of the world's seven billion people and 20% of the world's land mass. Behind Asia, it is both the second largest and second most populous continent. It has 54 countries with hundreds of ethnic groups speaking more than one thousand languages. One (mostly) common theme throughout the continent, however, is that the quality of life is improving.

Here are four reasons why companies are investing in Africa, and you should too.

1. Africa is growing

As African economic growth kicked into high gear a decade ago, the continent's equity markets responded. Africa's largest stock market, South Africa's, rose nearly 200% from 2001 to 2010. The expectation that Africa will continue to generate attractive returns for investors is thus not predicated on big changes occurring, I merely expect Africa to remain on its present course. Here's a quick fact to consider: Nine of the top fifteen fastest growing economies in the world are in sub-Saharan Africa.

2. Immense natural wealth

Africa has what the world needs. According to the United Nations, only about 10% of Africa's arable land is currently being cultivated and the continent holds more than 60% of the world's uncultivated arable land. Over the next few decades, Africa will likely transition from a net food importer to a net food exporter.

3. Africa has favorable demographics (for investors)

Africa's one billion people are mostly young. In sub-Saharan Africa, up to 40% of the population is thought to be under the age of eighteen. The median age in Africa is about 20 versus 30 in Asia and 40 in Europe. Africa's large, inexpensive, and increasingly educated labor force is poised to make a strong contribution to the global economy.

4. Technology is accelerating change

Communications and computing technology is acting as an accelerant in Africa; the growth of mobile phones provides an instructive example. Africa is the fastest-growing mobile phone market in the world, having increased its subscribership 20% or more in each of the last five years. In 2001, Nigeria, a country of 160 million, had fewer than 500,000 phone lines in the whole country. Now, eleven years later, it has more than 80 million mobile phone subscribers.

Companies capitalizing on the growth

Microsoft - (NASDAQ: MSFT)

As mentioned above, Africa is the second largest growing mobile market according to research done by Microsoft itself. This is the reason that they are teaming up with Huawei to make a new smartphone that is specifically geared toward African consumers. The 4Afrika initiative launched in February has the company spending an additional $75 million over next three years to develop its share in what it calls the "game changer in the global economy." The phone will feature Windows 8 as opposed to the Android or iOS systems. The new smartphone is being called the Huawei Windows 4Afrika. The phone will also come loaded with applications that will be useful in the African marketplace.

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG)

Africa, with about 1 billion people, has 15% of the world’s population, but only 2% of its internet users. Google has also recently increased operations in Africa in an attempt to change this continent with the lowest internet penetration in the world. The plan will attempt to bring internet access to sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the parts of southeast Asia that aren't already well-covered in hotspots. Furthermore, Last year Denis Gikunda, Program Manager for African Languages at Google, announced that the search engine was offering its homepage in more than 30 African languages. Undeniably, this dramatic increase of users will increase Google's bottom line, but just exactly how and future plans are things fools should keep an eye on.

Samsung (NASDAQOTH: SSNLF)

Samsung is now represented in every African country, with massive growth plans afoot. This is in line with its plans to grow its Africa business to a $10 billion entity by 2015. The plan entails increasing its massive supply chain, and developing assembly facilities in Ethiopia. Further, Samsung has opportunity to grow their company’s home appliance division. They have started to create new products built specifically towards the African Demographic that will boost uptake of the company’s home appliances.

Foolish conclusion

Opportunities in Africa span all economic sectors. Because most African economies are in early stages of development, many attractive investments can be found in technology and services. I expect Africans' disposable income to increase rapidly and therefore seek to invest in industries where that money will be spent. Personal communications, food and beverage, banks, health care and retail are all industries where I expect growing demand.

Just as with early investors of Asia and Latin America, I believe that investment pioneers in Africa are likely to find the journey challenging and often unpredictable, but ultimately very rewarding in the long run.

As one of the most dominant Internet companies ever, Google has made a habit of driving strong returns for its shareholders. However, like many other web companies, it's also struggling to adapt to an increasingly mobile world. Despite gaining an enviable lead with its Android operating system, the market isn't sold. That's why it's more important than ever to understand each piece of Google's sprawling empire. In The Motley Fool's new premium research report on Google, we break down the risks and potential rewards for Google investors. Simply click here now to unlock your copy of this invaluable resource.

'It's going to be big and very over-the-top': Notoriously private Kanye West 'plans to marry Kim Kardashian in an extravagant Parisian affair'

She's was married in 2011 during a glitzy $10 million televised affair when she exchanged vows with NBA player Kris Humphries - a union which lasted all but 72 days.  
And while Kim Kardashian has maintained that she wants to marry her baby daddy Kanye West in a more low-key ceremony, it seems the rapper has other ideas.
New reports suggest that the couple, who just welcomed their daughter North West into the world in June, currently have a 'wedding in the works' and the 36-year-old singer is planning something 'big'.

Wedding bells: Kanye West and Kim Kardashian are reportedly planning their wedding

Last year Kim told U.K.'s Tatler magazine her ideal nuptials for a second walk down the aisle was 'on an island with just my friends and family and that's it.'
However, notoriously private Kanye is said to have his heart set on a lavish destination wedding in Paris, France, and it won't be by any means a small scale affair.

Extravagant: Kim was married in 2011 during a glitzy $10 million televised affair when she exchanged vows with NBA player Kris Humphries - a union which lasted all but 72 days

'He wants something really cool and big and over-the-top,' a source told Us Weekly. 'They'll most likely have a destination wedding.'

'Kanye has never been married before and wants a big wedding,' the insider added. 'So Kim is getting used to the idea again.'
However, a large wedding is difficult to keep underwraps, and for one of the most photographed couples in the world, impossible to keep out of the press.
But friends say Kanye, who has been adamant that the press-hungry Kardashian clan keep their new baby daughter North West out of the spotlight, wants the same for his wedding.
'It will not be televised,' a friend of the rapper told the magazine


As well as privacy, Kanye is keen on making the event as chic and fashion forward as possible.
The rapper, who has strong ties to the fashion industry, is said to be turning to many of his designer pals to ensure it is a stylish affair.
'It won't be cheesy,' a source says. 'There will be a real sense of design.'

The Heartless star is also reportedly designing Kim's engagement ring all by himself.
'Kanye is very interested in design and decor,' the insider added. 'He will want to be involved in all of that.'
Friends of the notoriously grumpy rapper say that baby North West's arrival has made him a changed man.

Church sacks Pastor for attending Rick Ross concert

He is the youngest pastor to be installed at 26 years old and is now the shortest term pastor in Mt. Salem’s 109 year history.

On Saturday, Mt. Salem voted him out for attending a local Rick Ross concert.

With a vote of 11 to 3, the 14 deacons met at 11pm Saturday night to discuss and come to a conclusion that they did not need his services anymore. Rev. Wills arrived to the church the next day for Sunday morning worship service and notice his parking sign taken down and his name removed from the office door.

 The deacons even asked another minister from the community to officiate the service that morning. “We cannot have our leader supporting people of this world who are tearing down the kingdom of God.” said Deacon Miles Langley.

According to Deacon Langley, this is not the first time Rev. Wills has attended a concert while pastoring Mt. Salem. 9 months ago the diaconate board met with Rev. Wills when word was given to them that many youth and young adults spotted the pastor at a Lil Wayne concert.

“We know that many saints will have mixed opinions from our actions, but this is not how we do things here at Mt. Salem. We cannot have a pastor praising the world one minute then praising the Lord the next. Period” said Deacon Langley.

Rick Ross recently made nationwide news when he was dropped from Reebok and other endorsements for lyrics advocating rape towards women. ”Put Molly all in her Champagne/ She ain’t even know it/ I took her home and I enjoyed that/ She ain’t even know it,” he raps on the track.

Woman, 18, kept as sex slave in underground cellar for 11 days before escaping after 'cutting ties with nail file'

A migrant worker in China kidnapped and repeatedly raped teenage woman over 11 days in a cellar he dug under his rented home.
Chen Xiaolong, 36, faces kidnap and multiple rape charges after holding the 18-year-old captive in the cramped basement beneath his single-room house in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province. 
Chen confessed to imprisoning the woman and threatening to kill her.
She managed to escape after cutting her ties with a nail file, according to local reports.

Chen Xiaolong, 36, dug the makeshift dungeon (entrance pictured) under his home in China before kidnapping and repeatedly raping an 18-year-old woman

During 11 days of captivity, the woman was raped repeatedly, kept nude all the time and only allowed to leave the cellar twice, in order to take a bath in the room above.
She managed to work at gradually cutting her chains using a secreted nail file and was finally able to break free and escape.

He persuaded her to get onto his electric tricycle but then drove her to a secluded area where he threatened her with a knife and electric baton.
Chen then stripped and chained the woman up in the tiny 9ft by 3ft cellar.
The underground prison was just 5ft high and accessed through a tiny entrance the size of a floor tile. 

Chen's ID card. He was arrested after the woman managed to escape and call to neighbours for help

Chen began secretly digging the cellar after renting the house in 2012.
He had plastered the walls and lined the entrance with plastic sheets and newspaper.
When police arrived after the woman had raised the alarm they found stashes of porn and images of women on his front door and walls

Chen spent six months digging the tiny cellar to house a kidnapped woman 

How Romantic are u? Peter Okoye Proposes To His Baby Mama, Lola Omotayo, With Brand New Ride

Peter Okoye of P-Square finally proposed to the mother of his two children and longtime girlfriend, Lola Omotayo today. 



Peter proposed to his girlfriend in a style with a brand new Range Rover Evoque, bouquet of flowers, a hand written sign and an absolutely stunning diamond ring.

Of course Lola's answer was a YES! ( would she have said "NO" before, lol)

The two have been dating for over seven years and have two children together.
More photos below
 

READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/42779.html

READ MORE:  http://news.naij.com/42779.html

Boy, 13, shoots dead his parents, grandmother and great aunt… then spends day in school before killing himself

»Marcelo Pesseghini reportedly told his best friend he wanted to be a hitman

»Believed to have shot all his victims in the head with .40 pistol as they slept

»He then calmly caught a lift into school with a friend in Sao Paulo, Brazi

Mitnids Enterprise: Are you ready for the £750m Clasico? Bale and Ronaldo v Neymar and Messi - the four best players on the planet set to collide in the biggest club game of all Barcelona-Real-Madrid-El-Clasico-Lionel-Messi-Neymar-v-Gareth-Bale-Cristiano-Ronaldo.

Mitnids Enterprise: Are you ready for the £750m Clasico? Bale and Ronaldo v Neymar and Messi - the four best players on the planet set to collide in the biggest club game of all Barcelona-Real-Madrid-El-Clasico-Lionel-Messi-Neymar-v-Gareth-Bale-Cristiano-Ronaldo.

'I'm FOUR and smarter than my parents': Toddler who can recite every capital city and boasts IQ over 145 becomes Mensa's newest member

Anala Beevers from New Orleans learned the alphabet when she was four months old and by 18 months had mastered numbers in Spanish

A four-year-old girl who can recite the capital of every country and claims to be smarter than her parents has become the newest member of the genius club, Mensa.
Anala Beevers from New Orleans, Louisiana, scored more than 145 in a standardized IQ test putting her in the top one per cent of the population.
Her mother and father told Aol that she learned the alphabet when she was four months old and by one-and-a half had mastered numbers in Spanish.

The names of planets and dinosaurs are her current preoccupation.
'She's a handful, I'll tell you she is a handful . . . she keeps us on our toes,' her father  Landon said, adding that she should have her own reality show.
 

When she's not exercising her brain she enjoys playing in the company of her big sister.
Currently, American Mensa has more than 2,800 members under the age of 18 with the youngest being three years old.
Emmelyn Roettger became the youngest ever invitee last year, at the age of two.

ARE YOU AS SMART AS ANALA BEEVERS? TAKE HER CAPITAL CITY TEST

On the world map what is the capital of:

1. China
2. U.S.
3. Greece
4. Czech Republic 
5. Russia
6. UK
7. Japan
8. Spain
9. New Zealand
10. France
11. Kenya
12. South Korea
13. Netherlands

1. Beijing 2. Washington DC 3. Athens 4. Prague 5. Moscow 6. London 7.Tokyo 8. Madrid 9. Wellington 10. Paris 11. Nairobi 12. Seoul 13. Amsterdam
In the U.S. what is the capital of:

1. Oklahoma
2. Florida
3. Delaware
4. Indiana
5. Arkansas
6. Louisiana
7. Missouri
8. Alabama
9. Georgia
10. Kansas
11. Colorado

1. Oklahoma City 2. Tallahassee 3. Dover 4. Indianapolis 5. Little Rock 6. Baton Rouge 7. Jefferson City 8. Montgomery 9. Atlanta 10. Topeka 11. Denver

'Who am I to judge?' Pope Francis refuses to condemn gay priests and says their sins should be forgiven and forgotten

Pope Francis yesterday signalled  a more tolerant era of Vatican thinking after he spoke out in defence of homosexuals.
In remarks at odds with traditional rhetoric, the Pontiff refused to condemn homosexuality, saying: ‘We must  be brothers.’
In the most conciliatory words yet from the Vatican on the subject of gay priests, he added: ‘If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge him?’
The new Pope used a talk with journalists covering his visit to Brazil to emphasise Roman Catholic teaching that says  those who have gay orientation should  be accepted.

Conciliatory: Pope Francis during a press conference on the flight back to Italy after departure from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil where he signalled a dramatic turnaround in the Catholic church's approach to gay priests

Massive: More than three million people were estimated to have gathered for the farewell Mass

He stressed that the official position of the Church is that homosexual acts are sinful, but homosexual urges and thoughts are not.
The message that gay people should be ‘integrated’ into society rather than marginalised marks a clear departure for the Papacy.
In recent years the pronouncements of Francis’s predecessor Pope Benedict have fiercely condemned gay rights and at one point the former Pope described gay relationships as ‘evil’.
Speaking on his flight back to Rome from Rio, the Pontiff saved his criticism for gay pressure groups and lobbies. ‘The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains this very well,’ he said.
‘It says they should not be marginalised because of this orientation but that they must be integrated into society.
‘The problem is not having this orientation. We must be brothers. The problem is lobbying by this orientation, or lobbies of greedy people, political lobbies, Masonic lobbies, so many lobbies. This is the worse problem.’

‘But with regard to the ordination of women, the Church has spoken and says no. ‘Pope John Paul said so with a formula that was definitive.’
The change of tone from the Vatican on homosexuality comes three weeks after the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, said in a key speech on gay rights that criticism of the Church of England’s attitudes may be  justified and ‘pretending that  nothing has changed is absurd  and impossible’.
Archbishop Welby told Anglicans that the Parliamentary debate on same-sex marriage showed the Church was out of touch with majority thinking.
He told General Synod that ‘the cultural and political ground is changing. Anyone who listened to the Same Sex Marriage Bill second reading debate in the House of Lords could not fail to be struck by the overwhelming change of cultural hinterland. Predictable attitudes were no longer there.’
He added: ‘We may or may not like it but we must accept there is a revolution in the area of sexuality

He's an average-looking man with an average talent': Sharon Osbourne slams Kanye West and claims he 'should sell cars'

Sharon Osbourne has ripped into Kanye West calling him ‘average’ and saying he should switch careers from singing to selling cars.
The outspoken X-Factor judge made it clear she has no time for rap star West.
‘He bores me. He’s an average-looking man with an average talent, but he’s a great salesman,’ said Osbourne, 60.

Not holding back: Sharon Osbourne (R) has lashed out at Kanye West, calling him 'average'

‘He should sell cars because they would f***ing fly out the door. He’s his No. 1 fan.’
In an expletive laced interview Osbourne also reignited her feud with Danni Minogue branding her ‘insignificant.’
She said her decision to quit X-Factor was because of her hatred for Minogue.
She said: ‘I chose to leave because I was uncomfortable there at that time with a woman that was on the panel.’

When asked if the woman was Dannii Minogue, Osbourne replied ‘right’ and added: ‘She’s insignificant, but at that time, I let her get under my skin and I should have been the bigger person.
‘But hey, I chose to leave. That’s all in the past.’
Osbourne said she only has plans to appear on the X-Factor judging panel for one season.
‘I wanted to end it on the right note. I’m only doing it this one season, it’s been 10 years, and I want to end it on the right way,’ she said.
Speaking to the Daily Beast website, Osbourne also weighed in with her opinion on teen brat Justin Bieber.

‘There’s this little kid with a huge dream, he’s cute, girls love him, and he wants to be a mean boy, and he’s about as mean as a f***ing kitten, and he’s trying to act out,’ she said.
‘It’s like pissing in a bucket. It’s like, “Oh, we’re the bad boys!” You don’t know what bad is.
‘And I think that he’s lost, I really do. I think he doesn’t realise he’s white and not black, that’s a huge problem. And, at the point he’s at in his career, it’s so dangerous because we’ve seen it all before a million times.
‘Where do you go when you’re a child entertainer and then you want to transition to be a man? Very few make it.’

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Are you ready for the £750m Clasico? Bale and Ronaldo v Neymar and Messi - the four best players on the planet set to collide in the biggest club game of all Barcelona-Real-Madrid-El-Clasico-Lionel-Messi-Neymar-v-Gareth-Bale-Cristiano-Ronaldo.

It's always the hottest ticket in Spanish football and this season’s El Clasico threatens to blow all previous incarnations out of the water.
October 27, Nou Camp. Be there or be one of the zillions watching all over the world as, arguably, the four best players on the planet prepare to lock horns - if Gareth Bale moves to Madrid.
In the Catalan corner, Barcelona’s irresistible Lionel Messi and the precocious talent of Neymar. In the white of Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo and, probably, Bale.

Mouthwatering:  Gareth Bale (above left, mocked up in a Real Madrid kit) and Cristiano Ronaldo could clash with Lionel Messi and Neymar

South American flair and imagination versus European power houses, wrapped up in a fusion of skill, pace, goals and testosterone.
Such has been the hype in the last couple of weeks over Bale, Wayne Rooney and Luis Suarez, it seems like a lifetime since Brazil striker Neymar agreed his £50million move to Barca from Santos earlier in the summer.
How he will link up with Messi remains to be seen, but a combination of the Argentina maestro’s vision and Neymar’s finishing could be deadly.
Possible line-ups at the Nou Camp on October 27

Barcelona (4-3-3)

Valdes £10m (estimated value)
Alves £5m
Pique £30m
Mascherano £5m
Alba £20m
Xavi £5m
Busquets £40m
Sanchez £25m
Messi £150m
Neymar £50m
Iniesta £50m
Total: £390m

Real Madrid 4-2-3-1

Casillas £10m
Carvajal £5m
Varane £30m
Ramos £30m
Marcelo £15m
Khedira £20m
Alonso £10m
Isco £25m
Ozil £35m
Bale £85m
Ronaldo £100m.
Total: £365m

Nigerian celebs and their luxurious cars

Celebs and their toys

Celebrities have a high taste when it comes to the luxuries of life and they do not spare any cost when going for new toys. Some say it is to show that they have the money to throw around; others argue that such luxuries complement their lifestyle. Saturday Beats highlights some entertainers and their recently acquired toys.

Wizkid

He is young and definitely getting the money. So far, anything this young man puts his voice on becomes a hit. As the hits swell in number, so does his bank account.

Recently, Wizkid launched his own record label, Star Boy, and signed on some artistes and music producers. Some days after, the young lad welcomes the newest entrant into his garage, a Porsche Panamera car with customised number ‘W’. The artiste shared the news on his Instagram page when he posted pictures of himself with his new wonder-on-wheels.

With an acceleration rate from a dead stop to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 167miles per hour, Wizkid must have also considered safety before acquiring the automobile as the hybrid speed machine comes with eight airbags, including dual front, side impact and curtain airbags. The car is said to be valued at $75,200

Solidstar

With just an album under his belt and some hit singles currently riding on the airwaves, the fast rising musician in his bid to show that life is good, got himself a 2013 Infiniti JX35. The car is valued at N7m. Rumoured to be in a relationship with controversial actress, Tonto Dike, Saturday Beats learnt that the singer, who is known for his Omotena and One in a Million hit singles, got himself two plots of land worth over N30m in the Festac area of Lagos a few months back.

Seems 2013 is his year to ride high.

Linda Ikeji

Unarguably one of the most popular bloggers in Nigeria, the beautiful model decided to spoil herself with a 2011 Infiniti FX 35. Why wouldn’t she? It is said that the entrepreneur earns millions per month from blogging. Asides that, she gets involved in some modeling gigs too. Saturday Beats gathered that the delectable entrepreneur paid N8m for the automobile.

I Go Save

Popular Warri-born comedian decided to give himself a treat by acquiring a 2012 customized Range Rover Vogue SUV as a birthday present. Although he has been in the comedy business for a while, he does not headline as many shows. Yet, he was able to come up with N11m for the wonder on wheels. He was also said to have been hosted by Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, for his birthday. I Go Save is also a close friend of I Go Die, a superstar comedian in Nigeria.

Basketmouth

He intended it to be his Christmas gift but it came two months later. It was obviously worth the wait as the humour merchant got himself a one of its kind car -a customised 2013 Opel Insignia. Saturday Beats learnt that the car is the first of its kind in Africa. Shortly after the arrival of the car, the comedian took to Twitter and posted, ‘she is the first and only in Africa, I built her from the scratch, as in… I cooked her like soup. #inogetshame’.  It was gathered that the automobile cost the humour merchant N10m.The comedian was recently in South Africa for Comedy Central. He was also featured in a short Hollywood movie.

Ebube Nwagbo

Aside from being an actress, the lovely damsel is into movie production and owns a hair line. She recently added to her garage, a Porsche Panamera car. The elated actress took to Twitter when she got the car to inform her friends and fans. She tweeted, “It’s here finally!!! Loving my new toy!! 4eva thankful Lord!!,” then posted a picture of the car.

Iyanya Mbuk "the kukere master"

 He announced his acquisition of an expensive automobile. The Calabar, Cross River State-born singer posted on his Instagram page a picture of the car and dropped a note 'who God don bless'. 

Iyanya, who has been smiling to the bank since his Kukere hit single became a household song, bought a N30million Aston Martin car in addition to his other fleet of cars

Kcee

Singer Kcee acquired for himself a tear rubber 2013 Range Rover and 2013 BMW X6..... and my father talked me out of doing music...shet!!!