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Signs and Symptoms of Omega-3 Deficiency

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It’s important to consume omega-3 fatty acids.

They’re an important component of your cell membranes. Your body also needs them to produce signaling molecules called eicosanoids, which help your immune, pulmonary, cardiovascular, and endocrine systems work properly.

Omega-3s are a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). Important omega-3s in foods include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), as well as their essential precursor alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

Having an omega-3 deficiency means that your body is not getting enough omega-3 fats. This may put you at risk of negative health effects.

This article reviews possible signs and symptoms of omega-3 deficiency, how to determine whether your omega-3 status is low, and how to increase your omega-3 intake.


1. Skin irritation and dryness

If your body lacks omega-3 fats, one of the first places you may notice it is in your skin. For instance, sensitive, dry skin, or even an unusual increase in acne may be a sign of omega-3 deficiency in some people.

Omega-3 fats improve the integrity of skin barriers, preventing the loss of moisture and protecting it from irritants that can lead to dryness and irritation.

One small study gave women a daily dose of 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 mL) of ALA-rich flaxseed oil for 3 months. The women who took it experienced decreased skin roughness and increased skin hydration by nearly 40%, compared with those who received a placebo

A 20-week study gave omega-3-rich hempseed oil daily to people with atopic dermatitis, also called eczema a condition that causes dry and irritated skin. Participants experienced reduced dryness and itchiness and needed less topical medication.

Additionally, experiencing more acne than normal may be an indirect indication of omega-3 deficiency in some people. Studies have shown that omega-3s reduce inflammation, which scientists believe may trigger acne.

Furthermore, some research has shown that taking omega-3 supplements can help reduce acne breakouts and skin inflammation.

Interestingly, some studies have also found that taking EPA and DHA supplements may reduce how sensitive your skin is to ultraviolet light.

In one study, participants who took 4 grams of EPA daily for 3 months experienced a 136% increase in their resistance to sunburn.

Overall, omega-3 fats are important for maintaining optimal skin health, so if they’re lacking in your diet, you may notice changes in your skin.

2. Depression

Omega-3 fats are an essential component of the brain and known to have neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects

They may even help treat neurodegenerative diseases and brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and bipolar disorder. Many studies show a correlation between a low omega-3 status and a higher incidence of depression.

One analysis of 26 studies that included 2,160 participants found that taking omega-3 supplements had a beneficial effect on depressive symptoms .

Specifically, an omega-3 supplement that contained at least 60% EPA, taken at a dosage of 1 gram or less per day, appeared to be helpful.

Another systematic review and analysis of 6 studies and 4,605 participants concluded that an average intake of 1.3 grams of omega-3s per day reduced mild to moderate depression symptoms among older adults, compared with a placebo.

Additionally, one animal study found that a lifelong inadequate intake of omega-3 fats caused changes in neuronal pathways of the brain, resulting in depression.

While many factors contribute to the development of mental health disorders, a diet high in omega-3s may help reduce the risk of some mental health conditions. Consult your healthcare provider to be screened for depression and determine appropriate treatment strategies.

3. Dry eyes

Omega-3 fats play a role in eye health, including maintaining eye moisture and possibly even tear production

For this reason, many healthcare providers prescribe omega-3 supplements to help relieve dry eye syndrome. Symptoms of this often include eye discomfort and even disturbances in vision.

One high quality study in 64 adults with dry eye looked at the effects of taking omega-3s. One group of participants consumed two daily capsules, each containing 180 mg of EPA and 120 mg of DHA. The other group of participants took a placebo.

After 30 days, those who had taken omega-3 supplements experienced less tear evaporation, improved dry eye symptoms, and more tear production.

Furthermore, in one analysis of 17 studies involving 3,363 people, researchers found that taking omega-3 supplements significantly reduced symptoms of dry eye compared with taking a placebo.

In contrast, other studies have found that taking omega-3 supplements made no difference in dry eye symptoms compared with taking an olive oil placebo.

If you’ve noticed an increase in eye dryness, this may be an indication that your diet lacks omega-3 fats.

That said, many health conditions can contribute to dry eye symptoms. As such, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing dry eyes or other eye-related symptoms.

4. Joint pain and stiffness

It’s common to experience joint pain and stiffness as you get older.

This may be related to a condition called osteoarthritis, in which cartilage covering the bones breaks down. Alternatively, it may be related to an inflammatory autoimmune condition called rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Some studies have found that taking omega-3 supplements helps reduce joint pain and increase grip strength. Research also shows that PUFAs may help with osteoarthritis, though more human studies are needed.

Moreover, research suggests that omega supplements may help reduce disease activity in those with RA, as well as improve symptoms in people with the disease.

If you’ve noticed an increase in joint pain or related arthritic symptoms, your omega-3 fat status could be low and taking supplements may help.

However, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing joint pain or arthritis symptoms. They can help determine the proper treatment.

Taking omega-3 supplements has shown promise in helping decrease joint pain and stiffness, though scientists need to do more research in humans to investigate this.

5. Hair changes

Just as omega-3 fats help retain moisture in the skin, they also help keep your hair healthy. Changes in hair texture, integrity, and density may indicate a low omega-3 status.

One 6-month study gave 120 female participants omega-3s, along with omega-6 fats and antioxidants, in a daily supplement .

At the end of the study, those who had taken the supplement experienced reduced hair loss and increased hair density compared with the control group.

One study in dogs found that taking EPA and DHA improved fatty acid composition in the animals’ blood and hair. The fatty acid composition they found is associated with better hair quality.

If you’re experiencing increased hair loss or have noticed that your hair is thinning or feeling dry and brittle, taking omega-3 supplements may help.

How to improve omega-3 status

Some foods, such as chia seeds and other plant foods, contain the omega-3 fat ALA. Fish and other foods that are mostly animal-based contain DHA and EPA. ALA is a precursor to DHA and EPA, which means your body can convert some of it into these two omega-3 fatty acids. However, the conversion rate is very low

Thus, it’s best to focus on getting enough EPA and DHA directly from your diet or supplements, rather than by consuming ALA. Fatty fish are the best food sources of EPA and DHA. These include salmon, herring, trout, mackerel, sea bass, and sardines.

Still, you should also incorporate good sources of ALA into your diet. Some of the best sources of ALA include plant oils, flax seeds, chia seeds, and walnuts.

You can take DHA and EPA supplements made with fish oil or krill oil. However, vegan omega-3 supplements, which derive the nutrient from algae instead of seafood, are also available. Studies indicate that algae-derived omega-3 is effective at increasing omega-3 status.

If you suspect that your omega-3 status is low, you can increase your dietary intake and consider a supplement. If you’re concerned about a more severe deficiency, speak with your healthcare provider, who can recommend appropriate supplements.

It is important to note the following:

Omega-3 deficiency is a condition in which your body does not have enough omega-3 fats available. It typically results from not consuming enough dietary sources of omega-3s over the long term. While healthcare providers do not regularly assess people for omega-3 deficiency, there may some indicators that your status is low. For example, lacking omega-3 may lead to or exacerbate dry and irritated skin, inflammation, hair thinning and loss, depression, dry eyes, and joint pain or stiffness. The research linking these symptoms to omega-3 deficiency is preliminary, so more research is needed.

The best way to boost your omega-3 status is to increase the amount you get from your diet. Fatty fish and seafood are rich in the omega-3 fats DHA and EPA, while some plant oils contain ALA. You can also get omega-3 fats from supplements made with fish, krill, or algae.

Finally, If you’re concerned about a more severe omega-3 deficiency, it’s best to speak with your healthcare provider to determine appropriate evaluation and treatment.

Release El-Zakzaky’s wife for COVID treatment – Court orders Kaduna prison

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A Kaduna state high court has asked the Kaduna correctional service to release Zeenat, wife of Ibrahim El–Zakzaky, leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), for COVID-19 treatment.

In the ruling delivered on Monday, the court asked that Zeenat be moved to a government isolation facility to begin treatment immediately.

Last Thursday, Mohammed, son of the IMN leader, said his mother, Zeenat, tested positive for COVID-19 at the Kaduna correctional centre, but that the authorities refused to release her for treatment.

El-Zakzaky and his wife have been in detention since 2015 after his followers clashed with soldiers in Zaria, Kaduna.

The IMN leader is standing trial for alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of public peace.

Femi Falana, counsel to El-Zakzaky, had presented a medical report to back up his case for the release of Zeenat.

The senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) asked the court to allow Zeenat seek medical treatment outside the correctional centre according to measures put in place by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Gideon Kurada, the presiding judge, granted the request after Chris Umar, the prosecuting counsel, concurred with Falana’s submission.

Herdsmen crisis: FG urges Nigerians to exercise restraint

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The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to exercise restraint following the brewing conflict in the northern regions of Oyo State, as well as the tension in Ondo State.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, and shared on his official Twitter handle.

A part of the statement which has now been deleted says “the Federal Government is moving in quickly to bring state, community, security, traditional institutions, religious organizations and youth groups into a purposeful dialogue that will bring effective resolutions to the problem within constitutional and legal frameworks.”

Another part says, “Let us all try to be our brother’s keeper and work towards building a peaceful community that works for all irrespective of ethnicity, religion and other forms of differences.”

Recall that the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, issued a seven-day ultimatum for herdsmen to vacate the forest reserves in the state.

He gave the order as part of major steps taken at addressing the root cause of kidnapping and other nefarious activities in the state.

In a statement he issued, the Governor said the forests have been turned into a place for felons to carry out their criminal activities.

It was also reported that violence erupted in Igangan in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State on Friday when residents stormed the home of the Seriki Fulani, Salihu Abdukadir, to eject him and some other herdsmen accused of fuelling security problems in the area.

Larry King, veteran talk show host, has died at 87

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Veteran talk show host Larry King died early Saturday in Los Angeles, according to Ora Media, a production company King formed. He was 87. 

In a statement posted on Twitter, the company said King died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He was first reported to be hospitalized there in early January. No cause of death was given.

“Whether he was interviewing a U.S. president, foreign leader, celebrity, scandal-ridden personage, or an everyman, Larry liked to ask short, direct, and uncomplicated questions,” the statement says. “He believed concise questions usually provided the best answers, and he was not wrong in that belief.”

A longtime nationally syndicated radio host, from 1985 through 2010 he was a nightly fixture on CNN, where he won many honors, including two Peabody awards.

With his celebrity interviews, political debates and topical discussions, King wasn’t just an enduring on-air personality. He also set himself apart with the curiosity be brought to every interview, whether questioning the assault victim known as the “Central Park Jogger” or billionaire industrialist Ross Perot, who in 1992 rocked the presidential contest by announcing his candidacy on King’s show.

In its early years, “Larry King Live” was based in Washington, D.C., which gave the show an air of gravitas. Likewise King. He was the plainspoken go-between through whom Beltway bigwigs could reach their public, and they did, earning the show prestige as a place where things happened, where news was made.

King conducted an estimated 50,000 on-air interviews. In 1995 he presided over a Middle East peace summit with PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, King Hussein of Jordan and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. He welcomed everyone from the Dalai Lama to Elizabeth Taylor, from Mikhail Gorbachev to Barack Obama, Bill Gates to Lady Gaga.

Especially after he relocated to Los Angeles, his shows were frequently in the thick of breaking celebrity news, including Paris Hilton talking about her stint in jail in 2007 and Michael Jackson’s friends and family members talking about his death in 2009.

King boasted of never over-preparing for an interview. His nonconfrontational style relaxed his guests and made him readily relatable to his audience.

“I don’t pretend to know it all,” he said in a 1995 Associated Press interview. “Not, `What about Geneva or Cuba?′ I ask, `Mr. President, what don’t you like about this job?′ Or `What’s the biggest mistake you made?′ That’s fascinating.”

At a time when CNN, as the lone player in cable news, was deemed politically neutral, and King was the essence of its middle-of-the-road stance, political figures and people at the center of controversies would seek out his show.

And he was known for getting guests who were notoriously elusive. Frank Sinatra, who rarely gave interviews and often lashed out at reporters, spoke to King in 1988 in what would be the singer’s last major TV appearance. Sinatra was an old friend of King’s and acted accordingly.

“Why are you here?” King asks. Sinatra responds, “Because you asked me to come and I hadn’t seen you in a long time to begin with, I thought we ought to get together and chat, just talk about a lot of things.”

King had never met Marlon Brando, who was even tougher to get and tougher to interview, when the acting giant asked to appear on King’s show in 1994. The two hit it off so famously they ended their 90-minute talk with a song and an on-the-mouth kiss, an image that was all over media in subsequent weeks.

After a gala week marking his 25th anniversary in June 2010, King abruptly announced he was retiring from his show, telling viewers, “It’s time to hang up my nightly suspenders.” Named as his successor in the time slot: British journalist and TV personality Piers Morgan.

By King’s departure that December, suspicion had grown that he had waited a little too long to hang up those suspenders. Once the leader in cable TV news, he ranked third in his time slot with less than half the nightly audience his peak year, 1998, when “Larry King Live” drew 1.64 million viewers.

His wide-eyed, regular-guy approach to interviewing by then felt dated in an era of edgy, pushy or loaded questioning by other hosts.

Meanwhile, occasional flubs had made him seem out of touch, or worse. A prime example from 2007 found King asking Jerry Seinfeld if he had voluntarily left his sitcom or been canceled by his network, NBC.

“I was the No. 1 show in television, Larry,” replied Seinfeld with a flabbergasted look. “Do you know who I am?”

Always a workaholic, King would be back doing specials for CNN within a few months of performing his nightly duties.

He found a new sort of celebrity as a plain-spoken natural on Twitter when the platform emerged, winning over more than 2 million followers who simultaneously mocked and loved him for his esoteric style.

“I’ve never been in a canoe. #Itsmy2cents,” he said in a typical tweet in 2015.

His Twitter account was essentially a revival of a USA Today column he wrote for two decades full of one-off, disjointed thoughts. Norm Macdonald delivered a parody version of the column when he played King on “Saturday Night Live,” with deadpan lines like, “The more I think about it, the more I appreciate the equator.”

King was constantly parodied, often through old-age jokes on late-night talk shows from hosts including David Letterman and Conan O’Brien, often appearing with the latter to get in on the roasting himself.

King came by his voracious but no-frills manner honestly.

He was born Lawrence Harvey Zeiger in 1933, a son of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe who ran a bar and grill in Brooklyn. But after his father’s death when Larry was a boy, he faced a troubled, sometimes destitute youth.

A fan of such radio stars as Arthur Godfrey and comedians Bob & Ray, King on reaching adulthood set his sights on a broadcasting career. With word that Miami was a good place to break in, he headed south in 1957 and landed a job sweeping floors at a tiny AM station. When a deejay abruptly quit, King was put on the air – and was handed his new surname by the station manager, who thought Zeiger “too Jewish.”

A year later he moved to a larger station, where his duties were expanded from the usual patter to serving as host of a daily interview show that aired from a local restaurant. He quickly proved equally adept at talking to the waitresses, and the celebrities who began dropping by.

By the early 1960s King had gone to yet a larger Miami station, scored a newspaper column and become a local celebrity himself.

At the same time, he fell victim to living large.

“It was important to me to come across as a ‘big man,”‘ he wrote in his autobiography, which meant “I made a lot of money and spread it around lavishly.”

He accumulated debts and his first broken marriages (he was married eight times to seven women). He gambled, borrowed wildly and failed to pay his taxes. He also became involved with a shady financier in a scheme to bankroll an investigation of President Kennedy’s assassination. But when King skimmed some of the cash to pay his overdue taxes, his partner sued him for grand larceny in 1971. The charges were dropped, but King’s reputation appeared ruined.

King lost his radio show and, for several years, struggled to find work. But by 1975 the scandal had largely blown over and a Miami station gave him another chance. Regaining his local popularity, King was signed in 1978 to host radio’s first nationwide call-in show.

Originating from Washington on the Mutual network, “The Larry King Show” was eventually heard on more than 300 stations and made King a national phenomenon.

A few years later, CNN founder Ted Turner offered King a slot on his young network. “Larry King Live” debuted on June 1, 1985, and became CNN’s highest-rated program. King’s beginning salary of $100,000 a year eventually grew to more than $7 million.

A three-packs-a-day cigarette habit led to a heart attack in 1987, but King’s quintuple-bypass surgery didn’t slow him down.

Meanwhile, he continued to prove that, in his words, “I’m not good at marriage, but I’m a great boyfriend.”

He was just 18 when he married high school girlfriend Freda Miller, in 1952. The marriage lasted less than a year. In subsequent decades he would marry Annette Kay, Alene Akins (twice), Mickey Sutfin, Sharon Lepore and Julie Alexander.

In 1997, he wed Shawn Southwick, a country singer and actress 26 years his junior. They would file for divorce in 2010, rescind the filing, then file for divorce again in 2019.

The couple had two sons, King’s fourth and fifth kids, Chance Armstrong, born in 1999, and Cannon Edward, born in 2000. In 2020, King lost his two eldest children, Andy King and Chaia King, who died of unrelated health problems within weeks of each other.

He had many other medical issues in recent decades, including more heart attacks and diagnoses of type 2 diabetes and lung cancer.

Early in 2021, CNN reported that King was hospitalized for more than a week with COVID-19.

Through his setbacks he continued to work into his late 80s, taking on online talk shows and infomercials as his appearances on CNN grew fewer.

“Work,” King once said. “It’s the easiest thing I do.” 

Some passengers don’t enter my bus because a lady is driving – Female student who makes living as bus driver

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  • Nigeria ladies are seemingly braving new trends and disrupting the current societal pattern that had been in play in the country
  • – Before now it is a Nigeria ‘thing’ for the male folks to ply their trade as bus drivers but that too may soon change
  • – Onyesom Faustina Onyinyechi is a Nigeria lady who makes her living as a bus driver 

Change, it is said, is the only thing that remains constant and this saying applies to all spheres and field of endeavour.

For an occupation as bus driving, before now, which used to be the job of the men, ladies are fast taking to it. Onyesom Faustina Onyinyechi, an undergraduate of Imo State University (IMSU), works as a bus driver in the city of Owerri. 

Some passengers don’t enter my bus because a lady is driving – Female student who makes living as bus driver 

The Abia state indigene told newsmen that she took to bus driving during the lockdown as her quest to get a means of making an income led her to its doorsteps. 

Currently in her 400-level reading optometry, she described her experience so far as tough and challenging particularly gender discrimination she faces on the job.

According to her male drivers usually throw tantrums at her. “Some drivers look down on me or even throw tantrums at me because I am a lady. “I face discrimination from passengers as well as some won’t enter because a lady is driving.”

Other challenges akin to the job, Faustina explained, include poor condition of roads, hike in fuel price and some times scarcity of passengers.

On her parents’ reaction to what she engages in, she said her parents, especially her mum are still in shock that she took to this kind of occupation.

The fashion designing enthusiast and self-dubbed “hustler” hopes to set up her own transportation company some day. Onyinyechi further advised ladies to hustle right as “there is no limit to what you can do” just as she reminded the men that there are still ladies out there who make a living legitimately.

Ronaldo, Lewandoski, Mbappe Make FIFA 21 Team Of The Year, Messi Missing

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Barcelona legend, Lionel Messi has been excluded from the FIFA 21 team of the year for the first time ever.

Legitnews reports that the 33-year-old Argentine star was replaced by Paris Saint Germain forward Kylian Mbappe in the right flank.

While Cristiano Ronaldo and Robert Lewandowski join the 2018 World Cup winner to complete the three-man attack.

According to Goal, the team was arrived at after more than 10 million people cast their votes to decide who made the team eventually.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer starts in between the sticks and Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes along with Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich) and Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City) will operate in the midfield.

The final XI was announced on Friday, January 22. In the past, cards have been available in packs within hours of the XI being confirmed. The first set of player ratings were announced shortly after the XI. Ronaldo and Lewandowski received 98-rated cards, with Mbappe at 97.

FIFA 21 Team of the Year in full:
GK: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)

LB: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich)

CB: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid)

CB: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)

CM: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

CM: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)

CM: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

LW: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus/Piemonte Calcio) – 98 OVR

ST: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) – 98 OVR

RW: Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain) – 97 OVR

Messi had previously been involved in every Team of the Year since the promotion began in FIFA 11. He has 14 goals to his name this season after scoring 31 in 2019-20, but Barcelona’s struggles have clearly not gone unnoticed in the FIFA community.

Ronaldo grabbed a 64th-minute goal from close range before Paulo Dybala sealed the victory with a second goal in stoppage time to hand Andrea Pirlo his first managerial career title.

It is the Portuguese legend’s fourth title since his arrival at the Italian club in 2018 and his girlfriend Georgina says she is proud to have him as her lover.

Captain Sergio Ramos And Real Madrid Fight To Finish

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To understand Sergio Ramos, his longevity and his many successes, you do not have to look far. His CV is displayed proudly across his body, in tattoos which are so numerous that little space remains for any more.

On the knuckles of his left hand are the numbers 35, 19 and +90, which respectively make reference to the shirts he wore when starting out with Sevilla, the number used on his debut with Spain and the extra-time victory when Real Madrid won their iconic 10th Champions League, rescued by his 93rd-minute equaliser.

On the same hand there are the birth dates of his four sons. On his arms are the names of his parents. On the left one, the day he signed for Real Madrid (31 August 2005) and on the left biceps a trophy representing the World Cup won with Spain.

Perhaps a red card – he has been shown 26 of them in his career – is the major omission.

Sergio Ramos
Sergio Ramos is one of modern football’s most distinctive – and divisive – figures

Whether the next inscription will be Real Madrid-related is a matter of increasing conjecture. Centre-back Ramos, 35, is out of contract in the summer and there is little sign of agreement over a new deal being reached.

The future of one of European football’s most successful modern captain-club relationships might be coming to an end. He has been on the brink before, but never in his 16 years at the Bernabeu has he been so close to leaving.Short presentational grey line

Ramos has been one of the great modern defenders for a decade and a half, a symbol of Real Madrid’s relentless pursuit of success, and throughout that time he has divided opinion – even in his own club’s boardroom.

He became the youngest player in 64 years to make his debut with the national side and his roll of honour includes four Champions Leagues, five La Ligas, one World Cup and two European Championships.

Sergio Ramos lifts the World Cup in 2010
Between 2008 and 2012 Spain became the first country to win consecutive European Championships either side of lifting the 2010 World Cup

His success, both on and off the pitch, is the result of a mentality that does not believe in half measures.

In bullfighting terms, a tradition he admires, in life you can either go out “through the main door, or you end up in hospital”. In his mind, mistakes are just part of the journey, adding recently on social media that “what defines us are not our errors, but how we face the next targets”.

Few defenders have had his influence in both penalty areas in the history of the game, and he is determined to transcend history with goals and records. He is Madrid’s seventh-highest scorer since the turn of the millennium, and has scored more than any other defender playing in Europe’s top five leagues since 2005.

The Madrid sports daily Diario AS described him as a “centre-back with the soul of a number nine”. He has scored a total of 126 goals in 891 senior games for club and country. Last season from the position of central defender he was the club’s second-highest scorer (behind Karim Benzema on 27 goals) with 13 in all competitions, a personal best for him.

His life off the pitch is as storied as the one on it. His presence in the tabloid media paints a picture of an eccentric millionaire: from his choice of clothes, to a Hollywood-style wedding with Pilar Rubio, to the acquisition of a mansion valued at around 12m euros and which is just part of a large portfolio of properties which puts his fortune above 100m euros.

As was evident in his Amazon series (Sergio Ramos’ Heart) he is a strong personality, a game changer and someone who embraced the idea of being a captain right from the start of his career with Real Madrid.

When he arrived from Sevilla in 2005 aged 19 he told media he wanted to be captain and follow on from legends like Fernando Hierro. He has succeeded in doing that and unquestionably has his place among the Bernabeu legends, whatever others in the footballing world might think of him.

So why is his future so uncertain?

Sergio Ramos & Mohamed Salah
Ramos’s challenge on Mohamed Salah left Liverpool’s top scorer unable to continue in the 2018 Champions League final

Contract talks by the drink dispenser – but not enough respect

With 161 days remaining on his contract, Ramos is free to talk to other clubs about a free transfer in the summer.

He has let it be known he wants to stay at the Bernabeu for the rest of his career, while the club has stated they don’t want him to leave.

So surely that should be that? Job done, where do I sign?

Except of course, when talking about a club like Real Madrid, things are never quite that simple. We’ve been here before and this is the latest “will he stay or will he go?” tortuous negotiation – or, depending on who you believe, non-negotiation – and represents yet another game of poker between Ramos and club president Florentino Perez.

But the difference this time is those conversations have previously never come this close to the wire.

If you listen to Ramos’ people, there has been no contract offer from the club. He has let it be known he has no intention of listening to offers from elsewhere and he is not on the market. For now. He wants to stay for the remainder of his career and is seeking a two-year deal on what he is currently earning, which is 12m euros (£10.7m) a year net.

The problem is that, as things stand, other than informal conversations held between him and Perez (a chat in a hotel bar in Elche, in the passageway en route to the dressing rooms or while standing at the side of the drink dispenser machine at the club’s Valdebebas training complex) there is nothing tangible on the table for him to accept or decline.

So keen is he to demonstrate that this is not a case of him being money grabbing that he has even suggested to the club that, given the coronavirus pandemic, he is prepared to have his money deferred for two years and then paid to him, interest free, at the end of any new deal.

This, his people claim, is precisely the deal worked out between Barcelona and Gerard Pique. Except, they add, that the Barcelona centre-back insisted on a 3% interest payment being added to their wages when they are finally paid.

Sources close to the player also claim Ramos has been told any new contract is conditional on the club getting his help in persuading the squad to agree to a further 10% cut in wages because of coronavirus, the second reduction since the start of the pandemic.

He is also being asked to factor that percentage cut into his new deal, while Ramos would like the same money he is earning now, and then a negotiation of the Covid-related cut. He constantly gets told the club is struggling with money.

What disturbs Ramos is that since the pandemic, defender Dani Carvajal has seen his money go from 4.5m to 8m euros and midfielder Toni Kroos from 7m to 8.5m euros in new contracts.

Effectively what the captain is asking, is that any new contract should be a measure of the gravitas and respect merited by a player of his history and standing.

Sergio Ramos scores Real Madrid's first goal in the Champions League final against Atletico Madrid in 2014
Ramos’s late equaliser helped Real Madrid lift their 10th European Cup, against Atletico Madrid in 2014

The waters are further muddied by the belief held by many that Perez would be more than happy to see Ramos stay (in sharp contrast to the wish of the president a few years back when he wanted rid of both Cristiano Ronaldo and Ramos), while chief executive Jose Angel Sanchez would like to see him gone. It’s a classic good cop, bad cop situation in the middle of a crucial negotiation.

The club, needless to say, see things completely differently. They claim Ramos has had an offer on the table since March 2020. An offer for one year that would see him staying on the same money he is on now. If he was prepared to take a 10% cut they would offer him a two-year deal, taking him beyond his 37th birthday.

They do not want to be held to ransom, nor do they believe either that the player has other offers, and are optimistic about finding a solution.

Despite all the confusion, the club has been in touch with all of those rumoured to have shown an interest in signing Ramos and have told them there is no need to get involved, partly because they are convinced an agreement will be reached.

But, just in case, Real need to look for alternatives – or at the very least they need to look like they are looking. There is a young pretender to the Ramos crown reportedly waiting in the wings, Villarreal’s Pau Torres, who is just 23 and could be taken from Villarreal for his buyout clause of 50m euros (£44.5m), while David Alaba’s Bayern Munich contract is ending and he is another option.

The stand-off continues

The relationship between Perez and Ramos, two such key figures at Real, has long been a complex one.

For years Perez has become increasingly concerned about the growing influence exerted by Ramos in the Madrid changing room (hence, his desire in the past to move him on), although the reality is that in recent years he has needed him to help keep the dressing room on an even keel.

To describe their relationship it is relevant to remember that, as important as it is to keep your friends close, it’s even more important to keep your enemies closer.

Ramos now finds himself as the on-field leader of an ageing group, a set of players who often find it hard to motivate themselves for anything other than the biggest of games and a squad that cannot be renewed at the moment.

Perez knows Ramos is the only real leader, certainly since the departure of Ronaldo, that he has at the club. Perez needs Ramos.

In the eyes of those who love Ramos he has become almost a template of what a captain should be, while those who are not so keen see him as a caricature of someone who fulfils that particular role, and someone who puts too much emphasis on the “me” rather than on the team.

But it is instructive that every coach he has had in the past decade, both for club and country, has signed up to the former category.

What does this all mean for his future? As far as Real Madrid are concerned, unless they receive confirmation from him by March that he is prepared to agree to their offer, then they will assume his time at the Bernabeu is done. Ramos has threatened to start negotiations with other clubs by February. So, for the time being, the stand-off continues.

Soldiers Escort Herdsmen To Ogun Villages, Torture Residents For Rejecting Herders

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There is tension in the Ketu-speaking villages in the Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State after soldiers escorted herdsmen to graze in the communities, and brutalised some residents in defence of the herders.

It was learned that the soldiers’ action has forced traditional rulers and monarchs in the affected communities to write a save-our-soul petition to the Nigerian Army authorities demanding protection from the harassment of soldiers and herdsmen

According to reports, one of the victims is Seye Mulero, who was severely injured in Ubeku village in Yewa North and is currently receiving medical treatment.

The herdsmen, who had left the village after the villagers rejected their continued presence, suddenly resurfaced at about 2 pm on December 19, 2020, with a handful of soldiers from the 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta.

The soldiers headed straight for the palace of the community’s traditional ruler, Chief Olaleye Adigun, calling out the villagers and warning them against preventing the evicted herdsmen from returning to the village.

In the middle of this strange encounter, Mulero told the soldiers that the herders would not be allowed to remain in the community because of their brutal killing of residents and the destruction of their farmlands in recent times.

Mulero said, “Everyone was frightened by the action and utterances of the soldiers, but I summoned the courage to tell them how a Geography teacher Mr. Yomi Akinola and two students of Community High School, Ibeku, among others, were killed by the herdsmen while our women were raped and killed on their ways to the farm.”

But Mulero and Ubeku village were not the only person and area that tasted the bile of the soldiers who escorted the herdsmen in a military patrol van from one village to another. Innocent indigenes of Iselu, Ibeku, Agbon-Ojodu, Asa and other villages were also harassed and assaulted by the soldiers at the instance of the herdsmen.

After leaving Ubeku, the herders and the complicit soldiers moved to neighbouring Asa, where they reenacted the Ubeku scenario, causing the hapless villagers to panic.

At Asa, the herders sighted Mulero’s brother, Gabriel Mulero, accusing him of being among the crowd that jeered them after his brother was beaten up.

There and then, the soldiers seized the young man, giving him some deafening slaps and kicking him mercilessly before whisking him away to a neighbouring village, Agbon-Ojodu, where they dropped him off after elders of the community pleaded for his release.

Worried by the development, monarchs of the affected communities petitioned the Nigeria Army over alleged connivance of its men with herdsmen to assault and harass villagers.

The monarchs are the Oniggua of Iggualand, Oba Micheal Adeleye Dosumu; the Eselu of Iseluland, Oba Akintunde Ebenezer Akinyemi; and the Alademeso of Igan Alade, Oba Gabriel Olukunle Olalowo.

The petition titled ‘matter of urgency’ dated January 7, 2021, signed by their lawyer, Mr. Olaoluwa Folalu, was addressed to the Brigade Commander of 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala, Abeokuta

Republican Congresswoman Files Articles Of Impeachment On Biden

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A Republican congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor Greene has filed articles of impeachment on newly inaugurated President Joe Biden.

Greene who is known for promoting QAnon conspiracy theories is an ardent Donald Trump supporter and has reechoed his claims of rigging in the 2020 election.

She also had her Twitter account temporarily suspended for “multiple violations”.

Greene was hit with the 12-hour suspension after she tweeted claims of alleged election fraud in Georgia, her home state.

The lawmaker’s account was suspended due to “multiple violations of our civic integrity policy”, a Twitter spokesman said.

Taking to her new restored Twitter page on Thursday, Greene said, “I just filed Articles of Impeachment on President Joe Biden, we’ll see how it goes”

Joe Biden was sworn into office on Wednesday to become the 46th president of the United States.

Joe Biden is already making serious errors, says Mitch McConnell

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Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell accused Joe Biden of taking “several big steps in the wrong direction” on his first day in office, suggesting the new administration should focus on “creating good-paying American jobs, not sacrificing our people’s livelihoods to liberal symbolism.”

Speaking from the Senate floor, the minority leader said the new president should “remember that he does not owe his election to the far left.”

Among the first actions of the Biden administration were executive orders aimed at tackling the COVID-19 crisis, rejoining the Paris Climate Accord and protecting gay and transgender people from discrimination in workplaces, schools and other areas.

The proposals were widely supported by Democrats and rights groups and enacted key policy pledges from the 2020 campaign that won Biden the largest ever number of votes in a presidential election.

Revealing details of the measures, Biden said there was “no time to waste when it comes to tackling the crises we face,” adding: “That’s why today, I am heading to the Oval Office to get right to work delivering bold action and immediate relief for American families.”

Biden also took action to block the building of the hugely controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline between the U.S. and Canada, addressing concerns from environmental groups and indigenous leaders.

“On the Biden administration’s very first day, it took several big steps in the wrong direction,” McConnell said, condemning his actions revoking a key pipeline permit, rejoining the environmental agreement and firing a Trump-appointed general counsel to the National Labor Relations Board.

McConnell said: “If and when our Democratic friends depart from common sense, when they retreat from common ground, when their proposals would harm the common good—then we’ll use the power the American people have given us to push for what is right.

“The president can and should refocus his administration on creating good-paying American jobs, not sacrificing our people’s livelihoods to liberal symbolism.”

McConnell also proposed delaying the start of Donald Trump’s impeachment trial to February to give the former president time to prepare his case.

Several other Republican lawmakers have expressed opposition to the first steps of the new administration.

Wisconsin Representative Bryan Steil repeated a familiar trope from the Trump campaign team that Biden was “supporting far-left priorities” with his initial actions.

“On day one, Biden has set the tone for what is to come in his administration: legislating by executive orders, championing massive spending bills, and supporting far-left priorities that reverse years of economic growth and job creation,” he said.

Florida Representative Kat Cammack offered a similar critique: “President Biden’s inaugural address focused heavily on unity, bringing the nation together after the division we’ve experienced.

“The new EOs he just signed, however, cater to the Left, ignoring the steps necessary to move America forward.