NEWS: Seems Obama is in love with Nigerians lol. US - Obama appoints Nigerian journalist on US Human Trafficking Council (Nice one again Barak)

United States President, Barrack Obama has named a Nigerian-American journalist and Anti-human Trafficking advocate, Bukola Love Oriola as a member of the US Advisory Council on Human Trafficking.

NEWS: MARTINS NOW AMERICAN CITIZEN

Nigeria international Obafemi Martins will no longer count as a foreigner for Seattle Sounders as he has been listed as an American following the issuance of a Green Card to the ex-Inter Milan forward.

FOOTBALL: Chelsea appoint Hiddink till June 2016

The former Netherlands boss will return to Stamford Bridge for a second stint in charge of the Blues following the sacking of Jose Mourinho

Guus Hiddink has been appointed manager at Chelsea until the end of the season, the club have confirmed.

HEALTH: Ovarian cancer: Screening may cut deaths by a fifth

Doctors say there is now "encouraging" evidence that an annual blood test may cut ovarian cancer deaths by a fifth.
Ovarian tumours are often deadly as they are caught too late.
A 14-year study on 200,000 women, published in the Lancet, has been welcomed as a

WORLD NEWS: US military - Air strike may have killed Iraqi soldiers

 

An air strike by the US-led coalition countering the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group may have led to the death of Iraqi soldiers, the US military said in a statement.
After acting on information from Iraqi security forces on the ground near Fallujah, coalition forces conducted several air strikes against ISIL and "initial reports indicate the possibility one of the

NEWS: BURUNDI - Burundi rejects African peacekeeping force

 

Burundi's government has reacted angrily to the African Union's decision to deploy a 5,000-strong peacekeeping force to curb ongoing violence in the troubled country, saying it will prevent foreign troops from entering its borders.
The African Union's Peace and Security Council agreed on Friday night to deploy an African Prevention and Protection Mission (MAPROBU) for an initial period of six months - primarily to

NEWS: NIGERIA - 66 soldiers’ death sentences changed to imprisonment

The death sentences by firing squad passed on 66 soldiers in January and March 2015 by separate General Court Martials have been commuted to 10 years imprisonment each.
It will be recalled that 71 soldiers were arraigned on several charges in joint trials. The soldiers

NEWS: NIGERIA - Withdraw criminal charges against MTN, musician pleads with NCC

Mr Omenuwoma Dovie, a musician popularly known as “Baba 2010’’, has pleaded with the Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) to withdraw criminal charges it filed against MTN Nigeria Communication Ltd. over copyright infringement on his works.

Dovie, an Abuja based musician and entertainer, made the request in a letter written to the

Events: Nigeria; Photos - Family, friends felicitate with President Buhari on his 73rd Birthday

Family and friends felicitated with President Buhari on the his 73rd Birthday on 17th Dec 2015.

 
Continue to see more photos after the jump

NEWS: NIGERIA - Alleged N13b Land deal: EFCC, Tompolo standoff may take new twist

WHEN the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in August froze the bank accounts of Mieka Divers Limited and Global West Vessel Specialists Nigeria Limited (GWVSNL), two companies linked to Niger Delta ex-militant leader, Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, over alleged involvement in fraudulent activity, it was palpable that Tompolo would have some explanations to make in due course.

FOOTBALL: Job-hunting Mourinho to stay in London

 





















Jose Mourinho will remain in London despite being sacked by Chelsea on Thursday, according to the agency which represents him.
The 51-year-old Portuguese says he intends to get back into a job as soon as possible, but in the meantime

NEWS: NIGERIA - 28 Nigerians deported from Italy,Belgium

Twenty eight Nigerians were on Thursday deported for residing in three European countries without valid visas.

ENTERTAINMENT: Star Wars film breaks opening night box office record

The new Star Wars film has set a new opening night box office record in the US and Canada, industry experts said.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens made $57m (£38m) on Thursday night, beating the previous record of $43.5m held by Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in 2011.

WORLDNEWS: US - Drug overdose deaths in the US reach record levels

More than 47,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2014 - the most ever recorded in one year, US officials say.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report on Friday that showed overdose deaths jumped 7% from just one year earlier.

WORLD NEWS: SYRIA - Syria war: UN Security Council unanimously backs peace plan

The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a resolution outlining a peace process in Syria.

The 15-member council reached rare agreement on the issue in a session in New York on Friday.

The resolution endorses talks between the Syrian government and opposition in early January, as well as a ceasefire.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Wike presents N307 billion appropriation bill for 2016

PORT HARCOURT: GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike yesterday evening presented N307 billion 2016 appropriation bill to the Rivers state House of Assembly.

The appropriation bill tagged budget of consolidation came barely two weeks the governor presented a supplementary budget of N104.2 for 2015 to the assembly.

NEWS: NIGERIA - PDP to woo IBB, Ekwueme, Atiku, Ciroma for 2019 elections

FOLLOWING its defeat at the March 28 Presidential election and ahead of the 2019 Presidential election, the National leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP disclosed yesterday that it has concluded arrangements to meet its founding fathers next year and beg them for forgiveness as part of moves to reposition the party.

WORLD NEWS: US - AFGHANISTAN; US 'tracking closely' ISIL threat in Afghanistan

The US defence secretary has warned of a threat from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group in Afghanistan during an unannounced visit.

Ashton Carter's visit comes just days after the Pentagon said, in a report to the US Congress, that

NEWS: NIGERIA - Alleged N32bn arms deal fraud: Court grants Dasuki, others bail

ABUJA—Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf‎ of the Abuja High Court sitting at Maitama has granted bail to the former National Security Adviser, ‎NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, rtd.

Others equally granted bail by the high court were the erstwhile Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Mr. Shuaibu Salisu and the former Executive Director of the Nigerian National

NEWS: NIGERIA - NCC files criminal charges against MTN over alleged copyright infringement

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has filed criminal charges against MTN Nigeria Communication and its Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Ferdi Moolman, over alleged copyright infringement.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Naira strengthens against dollar at parallel market

The naira on Friday strengthened against the dollar after weeks of free fall at the parallel market.

The currency gained N10 to exchange at N270 to the dollar after it nosedived to N280 on Thursday.

At the official interbank window, it gained N0.03 to close at N196.97 to the dollar.

NEWS: NIGERIA - 70.67% fail English, Maths in Nov/Dec WASSCE

The West African Examinations Council, WAEC has on Friday in Lagos released the statistics of candidates who passed English Language and Mathematics in theNovember/December 2015 WASSCE results.

In a released made available to Vanguard through email, its Public Relations Officer, Mr Demian Ojijeogu said:” A total of 67,713 candidates, representing‎ 29.33 per cent obtained credits in ‎five

WORLD NEWS: Russia-Turkey; Sukhoi jet black box 'damaged'

The memory card in the flight recorder of a Russian fighter plane downed by Turkey on the Syrian border last month is damaged, Russian investigators say.

The "black box" of the Su-24 jet was officially opened in Moscow on Friday in front of journalists and diplomats.

WORLD NEWS: RELIGION - Pope Francis approves sainthood for Mother Teresa

Pope Francis has signed off on the miracle needed to make Mother Teresa a saint, giving the Albanian nun who cared for the poor in India one of the Catholic Church's highest honours just two decades after her death.

The Vatican said on Friday that Francis approved a decree attributing a miracle to Mother

NEWS: CHINA - China issues second smog red alert

China has again warned residents in large parts of the north of the country to prepare for choking smog over the weekend, the worst of which is expected over Beijing, prompting the capital to issue its second ever "red alert".

China's Meteorological Administration said on Friday that the smog would stretch from Xian,

NEWS: US-SYRIA; World powers meet in New York for Syria talks

Foreign ministers from around the Middle East and Europe are meeting in New York City for talks to bring the Syrian government and armed opposition to the negotiating table.

Friday's meeting comes amid strong disagreement between supporters of Syrian President Bashar

NEWS:NIGERIA - I didn’t say petrol will sell for N97/litre -Kachikwu

 

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachikwu has refuted media reports quoting him as saying that the gradual phasing out of the Subsidy scheme in 2016 will give rise to the increase

NEWS:NIGERIA - Buhari extols Father Mbaka's courage

Press statement from the presidency:

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that one of the best exhortations to the nation he has heard from the pulpit was the one made early this year by Father Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministries, Enugu. Receiving Father Mbaka who was on a courtesy call at State House, Abuja on

NEWS:NIGERIA - FG issues security alert, says Boko Haram plans abduction for ransom

 

Press statement from the office of the Minister of Information and Culture


The Federal Government warned on Friday that Boko Haram terrorists, who have been beaten and put on the run by the military, are planning another sensational abduction of pupils/students or

NEWS:NIGERIA - Father of 2 slumps and dies while queuing for fuel in Abuja

A commercial motorcyclist simply identified as Ishaya slumped and died while on a queue at the NNPC petrol station in Kubwa, Abuja yesterday December 17th. Eyewitnesses say the father of

NEWS:US - US House passes $1.1trn 2016 spending bill averting govt shutdown

The US House on Friday approved a $1.1 trillion spending package for 2016 which if approved by the Senate as expected would avert a government shutdown before year-end holidays.
The sprawling bipartisan compromise, which also tightens visa requirements, proposes reforms to

NEWS: NIGER REPUBLIC-Niger’s president says coup plot foiled, suspects arrested

Niger’s government has “foiled” a coup plot, resulting in a number of arrests, President Mahamadou Issoufou said in an address broadcast on national radio and television Thursday, adding that the situation was “under control”.

Breaking News: Nigeria - Appeal Court nullifies Akwa Ibom gov election

ABUJA – The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja hasnullified the outcome of the April 11 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State. The court in the lead judgment del‎ivered by Justice Adefunke Okojie, held that the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal erred

HEALTH: Folic acid to fortify flour 'would cut birth defects'

UK experts are backing the call for flour to be fortified with folic acid - a move which they say would have prevented around 2,000 cases of serious birth defects since 1998.

The failure to fortify flour has caused serious disabilities, including spina bifida, and resulted in terminations and stillbirths, their study said.

NEWS: US - San Bernardino shooting: Friend of gunman is charged

A friend of one of the San Bernardino attackers has been charged in connection with the mass shooting that killed 14.

Enrique Marquez, 24, is the first person arrested in the deadliest terrorist attack in the US since 9/11.

Mr Marquez is charged with plotting with gunman Syed Farook to attack a university in 2011 and 2012.

NEWS: NIGERIA - No plan to increase petrol price –FG

The Federal Government has denied that it plans to increase the pump price of petrol from N87 per litre to N97 by January 2016.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, advised Nigerians to dispel such insinuations.

FOOTBALL: FIFA - Switzerland freezes FIFA accounts

MILLIONS of Swiss francs in bank accounts belonging to world soccer’s governing body FIFA have been frozen, the Swiss justice ministry has said.

US officials believe “corruption money” may have been transited through the frozen accounts, the ministry said.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Dwindling oil price: Explore alternative sources of revenue, FG tells states

ABUJA —AS the price of oil in the international market continues to dwindle, the Federal Government insisted that state governments must begin to explore alternative sources of generating revenues in their respective states to augment what they were getting from the centre as monthly allocations.

Addressing newsmen, yesterday, after the National Economic Council, NEC, meeting in Abuja,

NEWS: NIGERIA - 5killed, 7 injured as IPOB, MASSOB clash with JTF in Onitsha

FIVE persons were, yesterday, shot dead at the Niger Bridge Head, while seven others sustained varying degrees of injuries when members of the Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB, and Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, clashed with Joint Task Force, JTF, comprising the Army and the Police, which mounted road block at the Niger Head Bridge.

Four of the victims shot dead were members of both IPOB and MASSOB, while one person is said

NEWS: LIBYA - Rival Libyan factions sign UN-backed peace deal

Libya's two rival factions have signed a UN-backed deal to form a unity government at a ceremony in Morocco.

Chants of "Libya, Libya" erupted as representatives from both parliaments signed the accord on Thursday in Skhirat, just south of the Moroccan capital Rabat.

NEWS: US - Assault weapons bill returns to US Congress

In the wake of a string of mass shootings across the United States in the past month, Democratic politicians in the US Congress have introduced a new bill to ban assault weapons.

Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline and 123 other politicians in the House of Representatives introduced the bill on Wednesday to prevent the sale of military-style weapons that can fire multiple bullets in a short period of time.

FOOTBALL: CHELSEA - Mourinho to receive £10m in compensation

With that deal only a few months old, and no clause in Mourinho’s contract, Sportsmail understands that the sacked manager will be paid by Chelsea until he lands another job.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Celebrations in Enugu as Kanu regains freedom

Wild jubilation erupted in major streets of Enugu metropolis,Thursday, as the news of the release of detained Director, Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu filtered in.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Recovered Abacha loot is $26.4m, £19m – FG

The Federal Government has disclosed that, ‎as at the end of November, the total amount recovered from the former military dictator, late Gen. Sanni Abacha, stood at $26.4 million and £19 million, respectively.

NEWS: SOUTH AFRICA-NIGERIA; MTN to challenge huge Nigerian fine in Lagos court

South African telecoms giant MTN said Thursday it would launch a court challenge against the $3.9 billion fine that Nigeria has ordered it to pay by December 31 for failing to disconnect unregistered users.

NEWS: US - U.S. Republican Carson cancels Africa trip, cites security concerns

Republican U.S. presidential candidate Ben Carson canceled a trip planned for later this month to Africa that would have taken him to Nigeria, Kenya and Zambia due to what his campaign on Thursday called significant security concerns.

FOOTBALL: MOURINHO SACKED BY CHELSEA

The 52-year-old, who guided the team to the Premier League title last term, has left Stamford Bridge by mutual consent after the club deemed results "not good enough this season"

Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Chelsea after a meeting with the club's hierarchy on Thursday.

The 52-year-old, who guided Chelsea to the Premier League title last season, ends his second stint at Stamford Bridge with the team languishing in

NEWS: US - US supplies weapons to Syrian opposition group

An armed Syrian opposition group has received a batch of weapons from the US in northern Syria, a media activist for the group told Al Jazeera.

"We did receive weapons from the US, which has been backing the Syrian Democratic Forces [SDF] for a while now with weaponry and air strikes," Taj Kordsh from the SDF's media office told Al Jazeera on Thursday.

SDF was founded in Syria's mainly Kurdish northeastern region in

NEWS: CHINA-US; China summons US envoy over sale of warships to Taiwan

China has summoned a senior United States envoy in protest at Washington's announcement that it would sell two warships to Taiwan as part of a $1.8bn arms deal.

A vice foreign minister made "solemn representations" with the US charge d'affaires regarding the sale, according to a statement on the foreign ministry's website on Thursday.

The US state department said on Wednesday it intended to

NEWS: NIGERIA - Naira depreciates to N270/$ in parallel market

Investigations revealed that from N260 per dollar at the close of business on Tuesday, the parallel market exchange rate rose sharply to N270 per dollar in Lagos, indicating N10 depreciation.

But in Abuja, the parallel market exchange rate rose from

NEWS: NIGERIA - Senate approves MTEF as oil prices drop further

ABUJA — The Senate, yesterday, approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and Fiscal Strategy Paper, FSP, 2016-18 submitted by the Federal Government, basing the financial estimates on oil revenue at benchmark of

NEWS: NIGERIA - CAN protests moves to list Nigeria among Arab nations to fight ISIS

UMBRELLA body of Christians in Nigeria, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, last night protested the attempt by the current All Progressives Congress, APC, government to subtly enlist Nigeria among