IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Harry Maguire says he can accept criticism of his performances but a line was crossed when he received a bomb threat earlier this year. In April, police conducted a sweep of the Manchester United and England defender's home, where he lives with his fiancée and two young children.

"I'm big enough to accept people getting on my back and saying I can improve," said the 29-year-old. "There is a line where we are human beings, I do have a family." Maguire added: "People ask if it affects me. My mentality is that it doesn't affect me too much but when it comes to bomb threats, it is more about family. My fiancée Fern. "I'm just happy my kids are at an age where they don't read things and see things on the news.

"If my kids were an older age, they could see things and go to school and people are speaking about it. That is when it affects you a little bit more." Maguire admits he endured a "tough" 2021-22 season, in which United finished sixth with their lowest points tally in the Premier League era.

The former Leicester defender received some intense criticism for his performances, but accepted that came with the territory of being a high-profile player. "Yes, it's been a tough season - no hiding away from that," he said.

Paul Pogba will leave Manchester United on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of this month, the club have confirmed.

The France World Cup winner, 29, cost United a then-world record £89m when he re-joined the club from Juventus in 2016.

He scored 39 goals in 226 appearances during his second spell at Old Trafford.

This year's Community Shield match between Manchester City and Liverpool will be held at Leicester's King Power Stadium on 30 July. The game has been moved from Wembley, which is set to host the Women's Euro 2022 final the following day.

Last year's Shield game, in which Leicester beat Manchester City 1-0, was staged in August. This year's game is earlier as the new season must accommodate the World Cup in Qatar during November and December.

The Premier League season will begin a week after the Community Shield on 6 August. It will then pause after matchday 16 on the weekend of 12-13 November before resuming on 26 December, eight days after the World Cup final.

The full fixture list for the 2022-23 Premier League season will be released on 16 June.

A former Chief Judge of Anambra State, Retired Justice Peter Umeadi, has emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Justice Umeadi who is the sole presidential aspirant of APGA was declared the winner of the primary election of the party on Wednesday. His candidacy was affirmed by 150 delegates who voted at a special convention of the party held in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The former chief judge, in his acceptance speech, asked Nigerians to respect the ballot and promised to secure votes at the polls that would transform the county. 

Following the recent confirmation of Monkey Pox resurgence in Nigeria and the death of one person with co-morbidity, the federal government has urged hunters and dealers to stop buying, selling and consumption of bushmeat forthwith. 

In a press statement signed by the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Abubakar, said the order was necessary to prevent any possibility of spillover of the pathogen in Nigeria through the practice of selling and buying of the bushmeat. The Federal Government through the minister revealed that there are heightened collaborations between ministries, departments and agencies of government as well as the private sector to ensure that the resurgence of the monkeypox virus in Nigeria is contained and brought under control. 

Abubakar also noted that the ministry, through its Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, is actively collaborating with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other stakeholders in the One Health Team to ensure the situation is contained and brought under control.

However, the minister advised Nigerians to avoid contact with persons suspected to be infected with Monkey Pox at home and at work places and discourage the act of consumption, trade and keeping of non-human primate as well as rodents as pets in homes. 

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar has received Rivers State Governor at his residence in Abuja.

Mr Atiku had earlier met Wike in Abuja at the latter’s Abuja residence, hours after Atiku beat him to the party’s presidential ticket. Mr Wike, after the initial meeting, proceeded to Rivers State, where he was greeted by his supporters.

It appears Mr Wike then travelled to Abuja for the second meeting on Wednesday. 

“It was a pleasure to receive His Excellency Nyesom Wike in the company of notable leaders and officials of our great party, the PDP, at my residence today,” Atiku said in a statement on Facebook. “I am proud of the promises that this spirit of camaraderie holds for our party as a united front that guarantees victory in the next election to rescue the country.”

The PDP is currently shopping for a Vice Presidential candidate for Atiku and Mr Wike has been rumoured to be one of the favourites to fill the post.