GISTTALKS

Compaoré swept from power after 27 years following popular uprising against plans to extend his rule David Smith , Africa correspondent ,  Friday 31 October 2014 15.04 GMT Blaise Compaoré, who has resigned as president of Burkina Faso after protests against a planned vote to alter the constitution. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters Burkina Faso’s president, Blaise Compaoré, one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders, has been swept from power after 27 years by a violent popular uprising. Compaoré announced his resignation on Friday as hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in protest at plans to extend his rule. General Honoré Traoré, head of the armed forces, said he had taken charge of the west African country. Like so many strongmen before him, Compaoré was forced to abandon the luxurious trappings of the presidential palace and flee for safety as his regime collapsed. A heavily armed convoy believed to be carrying the 63-year-old was seen travelling on Friday towards ...

It does not get any easier for Burnley as they chase their first victory of the season, even if Arsenal are, by Arsène Wenger’s admission, struggling to find their rhythm this season. Burnley have scored only five goals in nine league games and they are likely to adopt a familiar defensive approach, in order to retain a puncher’s chance. The onus is all on Arsenal to find the way through Burnley. They are desperate to find consistency.  David Hytner Kick-off  Saturday 3pm Venue  Emirates Stadium Last season  n/a     Referee  C Pawson This season   G 6,  Y 23,  R 2, 4.16 cards per game Odds   H  1-3  A  12-1  D  5-1 Arsenal v Burnley: probable starters in bold, contenders in light Arsenal Subs from  Martínez, Coquelin, Flamini, Rosicky, Walcott, Podolski, Campbell, Akpom, Gnabry, Gibbs, Sanogo Doubtful  Gnabry (match fitness), Gibbs (hip), Sanogo (hamstring) Injured  Wilshere (knee, 8 Nov), Dia...

When Danny Welbeck arrived at Emirates at the end of August, ready to embark on what has already been a hugely encouraging Gunners career, he arrived with the phrase ‘Welbz is dat guy’ fizzing around social media.  The derivation of the phrase? Nobody seemed to know, well almost nobody - the man himself was well aware where it came from and was only too happy to reveal all.  "It started when Ravel Morrison tweeted it [in February 2013] and everyone just cottoned on to it. It’s a bit of slang in Manchester," said Danny, who was with his home town club United from the age of eight. "Growing up, if you do something people often say, ‘he’s dat guy’. I think I scored a goal and Rav tweeted ‘Welbz is dat guy’ but it could be anything - dat guy could be anyone. It’s hard to explain!  "In high school, " continues the 23 year-old, "people used to say it all the time, a teacher can be ‘dat guy’ if you don’t like him! But it is usually used in a complimentary way. No...

Taylor Swift Is An Adorable “Pegacorn” For Halloween: See Her Costume Here! Posted Friday October 31, 2014 10:45 AM GMT Casting doubt on the notion that she actually sleeps, Taylor Swift was up bright and early today (October 31) for even more media duties. The “I Knew You Were Trouble” songstress put on her Halloween costume and headed over to The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show in New York City. Worried that her fans wouldn’t be able to identify her getup, Taylor posted a photo to Instagram along with the caption, “Cause, darling I'm a nightmare dressed like a PEGACORN. #HappyHalloween!” Swifty has been plugging her new album 1989 all week and according to Billboard, it’s working. She’s projected to sell more than 1.2 million copies in the first seven days Enjoy the pictures of Taylor Swift dressed as a unicorn during her appearance on "The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show" in NYC (October 31).

There was panic yesterday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, MMIA, Lagos as a Nigerian, who had already been cured of Ebola Virus Disease in Sierra Leone arrived aboard Royal Air Maroc. Read below as reported by  Vanguard .. The ebola victim, Mr. Theophilus Onnakhinon, was flown from Sierra Leone by the airline while his younger brother, Mr. Chinedu Eroka was said to have absconded from the Sierra Leonean authorities. It was not however clear why Eroka absconded. A source close to the Port Health at the Lagos Airport confided in aviation reporters yesterday that the victim had already been treated of Ebola virus in Sierra Leone and cured of the disease by the health authorities of that country after some weeks in their custody. The source who doesn’t want to be named as he was not allowed to talk to the media on the issue said that the victim was assisted into the country by the Nigeria’s consular officer, Mrs. T. Mohammed. According to the source, the consular officer ...

31 October 2014 Last updated at 10:25 GMT Lionel Messi more skilful than Cristiano Ronaldo - Fabio Capello Barcelona's Lionel Messi is "more skilful" than Real Madrid's 2013 Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, says former England boss Fabio Capello. Messi, 27, will become La Liga's all-time top scorer if he scores twice at home to Celta Vigo on Saturday. Portugal's Ronaldo, 29, is 10th on the league's leading scorers list. "Cristiano is a powerful player, with very good technique, but he does not possess the pure technical skill of Messi," Capello told AS.   Head-to-head Lionel Messi at Barcelona Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid Appearance...

Wellngton Silva work permit: Youngster dubbed 'new Neymar' wants to become 'icon' at Arsenal  The winger agreed to join the club in 2009 but has been unable to play a competitive game under Arsene Wenger Wellington Silva is understood to have met the requirements needed to play for Arsenal from next season. The youngster agreed a £3.5m switch from Fluminense to the Gunners back in 2009 after a successful trial, however the deal could not be signed until 2011 due to his age. Over the past four seasons, the Brazilian has been sent out on various loans tp Spanish clubs, including Alcoyano, Ponferradina, Murcia and currently Almeria. Silva will complete the season at Almeria but the 21-year-old has been quoted as saying he has secured Spanish citizenship, which will entitle him to a work permit in the UK. "It's true," he told reporters when asked about his Spanish citizenship. "I can now go back to Arsenal from next season. I would be very hap...

Arsenal vs Burnley: Jack Wilshere ruled out with knee injury as Arsene Wenger reveals further injury concerns with just three fit defenders Kieran Gibbs is also a doubt for the visit of the Clarets meaning Arsenal could be left with just three fit defenders, Arsene Wenger has revealed that Jack Wilshere will miss this weekend’s Premier League clash with Burnley after picking up a “short-term” knee injury, adding to Arsenal’s ever-increasing injury woes. Wilshere has been in impressive form of late having enjoyed a strong run in the Arsenal starting line-up, and with Aaron Ramsey only just returning from his own injury the Gunners rarely fielded their strongest midfield. That will be the case again on Saturday as the England international will miss the visit of Burnley to the Emirates, although Wenger remains hopeful that left-back Kieran Gibbs will play a part in the encounter. "There is a slight problem with Jack Wilshere,” said Wenger at his pre-match press conferenc...

Advertisement 31 October 2014 Last updated at 00:10 GMT Everton report record profit of £28.2m for 2013-14 Everton made a club-record profit of £28.2m for the year ending 31 May 2014. The £120.5m turnover was the highest in their history, helped by the lucrative new Premier League TV deal and rises in sponsorship income and gate receipts, plus profits on player sales. Everton have also reduced net debt to £28.1m from £45.3m, according to their latest accounts, published on Friday. "We are moving forward on so many fronts off the field as well as on it," Everton chairman Bill Kenwright said. The club returned a profit for the second successive year, having made £1.6m in 2012-13 .   Everton's accounts in brief                                  ...

31 October 2014 Last updated at 08:27 GMT Steven Gerrard open to move from Liverpool if not offered new deal Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed he could join another club if he is not offered a new contract. The 34-year-old, who joined Liverpool's youth academy at the age of nine, ruled out the possibility of retirement when his current deal expires in May. "I won't be retiring this summer. I will play beyond this season," the midfielder said. "We will have to wait and see if that's at Liverpool or somewhere else. That's Liverpool's decision." The former England captain, who announced his retirement from international football in July, has made almost 700 appearances for the Anfield club, playing with prolific strikers Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen. But in a wide-ranging interview with the Daily Mail   and Telegraph   , the midfielder says current Liverpool and England striker Da...