Secret anti-Trump donor revealed

US presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks following his victory in the South Carolina primary on February 20, 2016 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. (AFP photo)

The main donor of a super-PAC designed to destroy Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s campaign has been exposed after spending $4 million on attack ads against the candidate.

Called “Our Principles PAC,” the organization is mostly funded by Marlene Ricketts, the matriarch of the Ricketts family that owns the Chicago Cubs baseball team.

Ricketts has so far contributed $3 million to the super-PAC which is being run by former Mitt Romney adviser Katie Packer.

Our Principles PAC has spent more than $4 million running attack ads against the GOP front-runner in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, which hosted the first presidential primaries and caucuses.

Packer said in late January that the organization will get its messages before nearly every Republican voter in the states.

Despite the significant spending, however, the real estate mogul has had strong performances, winning by a large lead in South Carolina and New Hampshire and finishing Iowa at the second place.

According to the Federal Election Commission, almost all the money used by the only serious anti-Trump group to date came from Ricketts, whose identity was first reported by The New York Times.

The family had previously given $5 million to a super-PAC supporting the failed presidential bid of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.

Ricketts are yet to fully endorse another presidential candidate, but clearly they like both Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, as in June last year, Marlene Ricketts donated $10,000 to super-PACs supporting Rubio and Cruz.

Besides a token $250 donation, the only other wealthy donor to the anti-Trump organization in January was Illinois businessman Richard Uihlein, who paid only $7,500.

Interestingly, Uihlein had also given $2.5 million to Walker's super-PAC, but after the Wisconsin governor quit the race he endorsed Cruz, contributing $1 million to a pro-Cruz super-PAC.

See Man caught using FLAMETHROWER to incinerate large hornets' nest in his FRONT GARDEN

This shocking footage shows a man using a flamethrower to incinerate a hornet's nest in a tree in his front garden.

The video , apparently shot by the man's sister, begins with the camera pointed at a large insect's nest in a tree.

The man can be heard saying defiantly: "nobody messes with my family" as he walks in the direction of the tree.

Next: The large hornets' nest in the tree

Blast: Flames Engulf not only the nest but the tree too

Incinerated: The nest is left smouldering

"I'm going to take care of the situation," he said.

"We don't need exterminators."

Posted on Liveleak by a user called, torchfireperformer, the footage shows him firing the flame thrower at the nest, burning off leaves and branches from the tree in the process.

A group of onlookers can be seen watching him attacking the nest - which is burned to a crisp.

The footage appears to have been shot in a quiet suburban neighbourhood.

Trabzonspor player shows referee the red card - and gets sent off himself

Trabzonspor player Salih Dursin was sent off for showing the referee the red card - just seconds after his team-mate was binned.

Furious Dursin let out his anger towards the official with a bizarre show of dissent after Luis Cavanda was given his marching orders, leaving Trabzonspor with just eight men on the field.

And eight soon became seven as the referee Deniz Bitnel took exception to his actions.

Following Cavanda's red card, Trabzonspor's players surrounded the referee, causing him to drop his card on the floor.

Dursin was quickest to the card and flashed it in the face of Bitnel before the official snatched it back and returned the favour.

Earlier in the match, midfielder Ozer Hurmaci and defender Aykut Demir were both dismissed for second bookable offences.

Despite receiving an unprecedented four red cards, Galatasaray required a last minute penalty to secure the victory against their mid-table opposition.

Selcuk Inan'sspot kick secured the dramatic 2-1 victory.

It is not the first time this season that Trabzonspor has been embroiled in referee-related drama.

In October, club president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu locked four officials in their stadium following a draw with Gaziantepspor.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip was forced to intervene at the referees were released after four hours.Earlier in the match, midfielder Ozer Hurmaci and defender Aykut Demir were both dismissed for second bookable offences.

Despite receiving an unprecedented four red cards, Galatasaray required a last minute penalty to secure the victory against their mid-table opposition.

Selcuk Inan'sspot kick secured the dramatic 2-1 victory.

It is not the first time this season that Trabzonspor has been embroiled in referee-related drama.

In October, club president Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu locked four officials in their stadium following a draw with Gaziantepspor.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip was forced to intervene at the referees were released after four hours.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) congratulates David Mark, on his victory in Saturday re-run election

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu-Sheriff, has congratulated the former Senate President, David Mark, on his victory in Saturday’s Benue South Senatorial re-run election.

This is contained in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, on Sunday in Abuja.

Modu-Sheriff said that the development left no one in doubt of the popularity of Mark and that of the PDP not only in Benue,
but also in other states of the federation.

He described Mark as a valuable statesman and national leader intensely needed in the Senate.

He also commended Nigerians for their renewed support for the PDP and its candidates as demonstrated in recent elections across the country.

He noted that ``it is instructive to note that the PDP had won 70 per cent of all the polls conducted since May 29, 2015.

"This is a development that underlines the fact of PDP deep roots and popularity as a brand, irrespective of the transitory setback of the 2015 general elections.''

Modu-Sheriff, therefore, urged members of PDP to respond to the gesture by Nigerians by uniting behind the ideals of the party and visions of its founding fathers.

He said this was important to reposition the party for the challenges ahead.

In this regard, Modu-Sheriff said that the leadership of the party were working very hard to ensure that "we have a strong party poised to regain power in 2019.

“Finally, we reiterate our call to all PDP elected and appointed office holders across the country to reciprocate the renewed support by Nigerians.

"They should redoubling their efforts in patriotically exerting themselves in serving the people in line with the models provided by the ideology of our great party."

With NAN

'I DONT NEED LECTURES', MUSEVENI TELLS EU AFTER POLL CRITICISM

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Picture: Isaac Kasamani/AFP.

President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday dismissed European Union and US criticism of Uganda's presidential election, telling foreign observers not to lecture him.

Museveni, in power since 1986, was declared the winner on Saturday but Kizza Besigye, his main challenger, who was under house arrest on Sunday, called the election a sham. Another candidate, Amama Mbabazi, said it was “fundamentally flawed”.

The EU observer mission said Thursday's vote had been conducted in an “intimidating” atmosphere. Chief observer Eduard Kukan said it had been undermined by a “lack of transparency and independence” at the electoral commission.

But Museveni, 71, dismissed the idea that the commission had favoured him and his National Resistance Movement (NRM).

“They are wrong, they are not serious,” Museveni told reporters in his country home in Kiruhura, southwestern Uganda. “I told those Europeans ... I don't need lectures from anybody.”

Museveni has presided over strong economic growth but is accused at home and abroad of repression of dissent and failing to tackle rampant corruption. Critics also say he wants to rule the nation of 37 million people for life, emulating other African leaders who refuse to give up power.

Museveni last clashed with Western donors in 2014, when Uganda passed a law that imposes harsh penalties on homosexuality.

Several EU countries cut aid, as did the United States, which also imposed visa restrictions and cancelled a regional military exercise. In total, more than $100 million in aid was halted or re-directed - a significant blow for a country that depends on foreign aid for about 20 percent of its budget.

However, Museveni has also won favour with the West by sending troops to Somalia to battle Islamist militants with ties to al Qaeda.

Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, who led a group of Commonwealth observers, said the poll “fell short of meeting some key democratic benchmarks”.

The United States also criticised the handling of the vote and raised concerns about the house arrest of Besigye, who was in detention for the fourth time in a week and alleged that his electronic communication had been blocked.

US Secretary of State John Kerry called Museveni on Friday to voice concern over the harassment of opposition figures and the shutdown of social media in Uganda, where Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp have faced outages since election day.

“Mr John Kerry rang me and I told him: 'Don't worry, we're experts in managing all those things (elections)',” said Museveni.

Besigye on Sunday urged his backers to demonstrate for his release.

Besigye's supporters clashed with police on Friday when officers stormed the headquarters of his Forum for Democratic Change (FDC). Last Monday, police fired bullets and tear gas towards protesters, who responded by hurling rocks and erecting street barricades.