FOOTBALL: Hmm!!! Van Gaal shifts focus to Europa League

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has admitted winning the Europa League is now the priority for his side following their 2-1 defeat to Sunderland on Saturday.

The Red Devils are six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City having played a game more and the former Barcelona boss feels it will now be too difficult to bridge the gap.

FOOTBALL: RUMOURS - Mourinho 'reserves' Rafa Silva for Manchester United

United are in talks with Braga over a €20 million deal for the Portuguese winger - whose economic rights are part owned by Jorge Mendes

Manchester United have ‘reserved’ Braga winger Rafa Silva for when Jose Mourinho is appointed this summer, according to A Bola.

PHOTO NEWS: NIGERIA - President Buhari at the 40th Murtala Mohammed memorial

President Buhari was fully present at the 40th memorial of the late head of state Murtala Mohammed. See more photos after the cut>>>

NEWS GIST: NIGERIA - Fayose says he is ready for probe

Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has declared that he was ready for investigations from any government agencies, be it the Economic and Finan- cial Crimes Commissions (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commis- sion (ICPC) on contentious issues raised from any quarter against him, add- ing that he has been trans- parent and following due process in his dealings in office.

NEWS: NIGERIA - CAN urges Nigerians to support Buhari's fight against corruptiion

Prof. Joseph Otubu, General Evangelist, Motailatu Church, Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide, on Saturday urged Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in the fight against corruption.

Otubu made the call at the 2016 Inter-Denominational Divine Service (IDDS 2016) with the theme: ‘Great Faith; The Antidote to Helplessness’ organised by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Lagos Chapter.

WORLD ENTERTAINMENT: Hollywood sactor Bill Murray in 'mobile phone rage' incident

Hollywood actor Bill Murray has offered to pay for mobile phones he allegedly threw from a rooftop California bar after their owners tried to take photos of him.

Mr Murray was annoyed by camera flashes after fans spotted him at the lounge in the seaside town of Carmel, reports say. He is alleged to have grabbed at least two phones before throwing them. 

WORLD NEWS: HEALTH - Alzheimer's diease preventive drug possibility under research

Scientists have detected a number of drugs which could help protect against Alzheimer's disease, acting like statins for the brain.

In experiments on worms, University of Cambridge researchers identified drugs which prevented the very first step towards brain cell death.

WORLD NEWS: SOMALIA - Al-Shabab 'carried out' Somalia plane attack

Somalia's Islamist militant group al-Shabab says it carried out a bomb attack on a plane that blew a huge hole in its fuselage earlier this month.

In an emailed statement, al-Shabab said the attack was revenge for Western intelligence operations in Somalia.

WORLD NEWS: Crew Saves Pilot In Crisis Over IS Territory

A quick-thinking refuelling plane crew saved a fighter pilot who faced having to eject over Islamic State territory.

The F-16 had been trying to refuel in mid-air when the pilot discovered a malfunction with his fuel system, which meant he could only fly for 15 minutes - nowhere near enough to reach safety.

WORLD NEWS: RUSSIA - Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev says World Is In New Cold War.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has said tensions between Moscow and the West have sent the world spiralling into a "new Cold War".

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Mr Medvedev blamed US and European leaders for the souring of relations with Russia.

WORLD NEWS: US - Don't dismiss North Korean troops, says Pentagon report

The Forefront has learnt there is a new Pentagon report that concludes that North Korea "is committed to developing a long-range, nuclear-armed missile that is capable of posing a direct threat to the United States."

The report, required by law, updates Congress regularly on the status of and changes in North Korea's military capabilities.

NEWS: NIGERIA - HALLIBURTON SCANDAL PROBE RETURNS AS PROMISED AS FG MOVES AGAINST SUSPECTS

The Federal Government has made good its threat to unveil and punish all those involved in the Halliburton fraud, which made international headlines.

Nigeria is said to have lost at least $26 million to corrupt officials in the high-wire financial scandal, in which other key players from several countries have been sentenced to various jail terms and made to pay various sums of fines to their governments.

While those from foreign lands who gave the bribes have since been punished by their respective governments, the beneficiaries from Nigeria are yet to be fished out and sanctioned.

WORLD NEWS: BUSINESS - GlaxoSmithKline fined $37.6m for stifling drug competition

Drug giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has been fined £37.6m for "illegal behaviour designed to stifle competition at the expense of the NHS and taxpayers".

The decision by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) relates to £50m of payments made to rivals for them to effectively delay the release of the anti-depressant paroxetine drug.

WORLD ENTERTAINMENT: Kanye West Working On Game About His Dead Mum

Kanye West has revealed that he's working on a video game about his late mother Donda flying through heaven.

The 38-year-old rapper debuted his third fashion season and new album on Thursday night in New York. Continue for more details and photo of Kanye West with mum Dona>>>

WORLD ENTERTAINMENT: Actor James Wood Sues Twitter User For $10m Over Coke Tweet

Actor James Woods has been given permission to attempt to unmask and sue a Twitter user who called him a cocaine addict.

He is seeking $10m worth of damages in a case which revolves around a single offending tweet.

Mr Woods, who has appeared in movies including Casino and Nixon, filed the original complaint against the Twitter user who goes by the name Abe List.

WORLD NEWS GOSPEL GIST: Pope And Patriarch Meet After 1,000-Year Rift

The Pope and head of the Russian Orthodox Church have met for the first time in a historic encounter of reconciliation following a 1,000-year split in Christianity.

Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill embraced and kissed each other three times on the cheek during their landmark meeting at Havana airport in Cuba.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Indications President Buhari wants probe of budget 2016 padding,

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered a probe of the alleged massive padding of the 2016 Budget proposals by yet to be identified officials, The Forefront learnt from Premium Times yesterday.

National Assembly members first blew the whistle on the strange figures and consequently suspended deliberation on the budget until further notice.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Mother of three arrested by NDLEA in FCT for being in possession of 904grammes of cocaine

There was a mild drama as Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday arrested a mother of three, Mrs. Saidat Bola Hassan who vomited about
fifteen wraps of white powdery substances that tested positive for cocaine at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

FOOTBALL: Xavi relishes Jose to Manchester United move; says its good for football

Barcelona great Xavi is excited by the idea of Jose Mourinho renewing his rivalry with Pep Guardiola in the Premier League next season should the Portuguese be appointed as Manchester United boss.

It was confirmed this month that former Barca coach Guardiola is to leave his position at Bayern Munich to join Manchester City from next season, with ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Mourinho strongly rumoured to be a target for their cross-city rivals.

Funny photo: Guys are not done with the run away tactics. lol

Runaway guys well done all these runaway tactics. *smiles*

Funny photo. Check out this valentine runaway men association logo. Lol

Stop running from responsibility nor. *smiles*

WORLD NEWS: SYRIA - Assad vow to seize back control of Syria

Syrian President Bashar al Assad has vowed to retake the entire country but warned it could take a "long time", as international pressure grows for a ceasefire.

Speaking in the capital Damascus on Thursday, Mr Assad said he supported peace talks, but that negotiations do "not mean that we stop fighting terrorism".

FOOTBALL: Prosecutor says Adam Johnson's victim had enormous crush on him

England footballer Adam Johnson "abused his revered position in society" when he had sexual contact with a 15-year-old fan who had an "enormous crush on him", a court has heard.

The 28-year-old is accused of two counts of sexual activity with a child - a girl who "idolised" her favourite Sunderland player - between December 2014 and February last year.

WORLD NEWS: US - Two teens killed in Arizona School shooting

Two 15-year-old girls have died in a shooting at an Arizona high school, police have said.

The girls, both students at Independence High School in Glendale, were shot once, a police spokeswoman said.

FOOTBALL: Amazing!!! Messi wins La Liga player of the year award for the first time

Barcelona star Lionel Messi has been named La Liga's Player of the Month for the first time in the two-and-a-half-season history of the award.

Messi - crowned the best player in the world for the fifth time at the Ballon d'Or ceremony in January - has ended his wait for the individual La Liga award following an impressive month.

WORLD NEWS: CAMEROON - 27 Boko Haram fighters killed by Cameroon soldiers

Cameroon soldiers killed at least 27 Boko Haram fighters after launching a cross-border operation in Goshi, Nigeria that also resulted in the death of one soldier, a senior military official said.

Capt. Yari Emmanuel, the head of Cameroon’s Rapid Intervention Battalion, was also killed and at least six other soldiers were injured in the operation early Thursday.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Supreme Court explain reasons for Rivers Gubernatorial judgement in favour of Wike and the PDP

The Supreme Court on Friday gave reasons for its January 27 judgment upholding the election of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

The apex court said the decision was informed by its findings that the petitioners at the tribunal – the candidate of the All progressives Congress (APC) in the election, Dakuku Peterside and his party – failed to prove their case of malpractices and non-compliance as required.

World News: US financially involved in the fight against Book Haram

The U.S. says it supports the establishment of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and is actively partnering with the MNJTF signatory countries in their counter Boko Haram efforts by providing advisers, intelligence, training, logistical support and equipment. 

WORLD NEWS: HEALTH - Longest living patient 'of heart transplant remarkable'

The surgeon who operated on the world's longest-surviving heart transplant patient has said surviving "in excess of 30 years" was "remarkable"

John McCafferty, 73, died on Tuesday, 33 years after his operation.

Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub performed Mr McCafferty's transplant at Harefield Hospital, west London, on 20 October 1982.

WORLD NEWS: US ELECTION 2016 - Presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders clash over Obama in Democrat debate

Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders clashed over support for the president in their first debate since the New Hampshire primary.

Mrs Clinton sought to cast herself as the protector of Barack Obama's legacy, sharply attacking Mr Sanders for criticising the president.

WORLD NEWS: SYRIA - Syria set for halt to violence in seven days

A plan has been agreed for a "nationwide cessation" of violence in Syria in a week's time, US Secretary of State John Kerry has said.

However, Islamic State, al Nusra and other terror groups will not be involved in the truce - and Russia has said it will be continuing its bombing campaign.

WORLD NEWS: BUSINESS - Bank Of England Shuts Personal Banking Unit

It may be responsible for authorising a generation of new banking start-ups created from the wreckage of the 2008 financial crisis, but Britain's central bank risks being accused of failing to practise what it preaches.

Sky News has learnt that the Bank of England (BoE) is in the process of closing its personal banking services - used by thousands of its staff and pensioners - following a four-month consultation process.

WORLD WEIRD NEWS: Judge Arrested After Baby Son Died In Hot Car

An Arkansas judge has been arrested on a complaint of negligent homicide after his 18-month-old son died in the back seat of a hot car last summer.

Circuit Judge Wade Naramore faces a misdemeanour complaint in the case, according to an arrest warrant filed in Garland County.

WORLD NEWS: NIGERIA - Teenage suicide bomber refuses to attack in tuesday's Dikwa IDP bombings

A teenage girl packed with explosives by Boko Haram ripped off her vest to avoid taking part in the attack on Borno Internally Displaced Persons camp (IDPs) in Dikwa, Borno State on Tuesday.

Two others with her, however, walked into the middle of hundreds of people lining up for food before they blew themselves up in the attack that killed 58 and injured 78.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Tompolo declared wanted by the EFCC

Ex-militant leader Government Ekpemupolo (akaTompolo) has been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

NEWS GIST: NIGERIA - ADC to former President Goodluck Jonathan in a mess over #10bn oil money diversion for PDP chieftains

The Forefront understands detectives are questioning former President Goodluck Jonathan’s ex-Aide-De-Camp (ADC) on the disbursement of more than N10 billion oil proceeds to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nomination convention delegates.

Col. Ojogbane Adegbe is being detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is on the trail of another key aide to the former President – Waripamowei Dudafa, former Special Assistant on Domestic Affairs.

FOOTBALL: Adam Johnson's contract terminated by Sunderland

Sunderland have terminated Adam Johnson's contract after the winger pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming.

The 28-year-old is on trial for allegations of child sex charges relating to incidents between December 2014 and February last year. And Johnson, although he has admitted to one charge, has denied two charges of sexual activity with a girl under the age of 16.

FOOTBALL: Van Gaal says he would know if Manchester United spoke to Mourinho

Louis van Gaal believes the Manchester United board would inform him if they are holding talks with Jose Mourinho.

Several reports this week have claimed that Mourinho’s move to United this summer has all but been confirmed.

WORLD NEWS: US Scientists Discover Ripples In Space And Time as predicted by Einstein over 100 years ago

US scientists have announced the discovery of ripples in space and time known as gravitational waves, in a breakthrough that could revolutionise astronomy.

Their existence was first predicted by Albert Einstein in his Theory of Relativity a century ago but has never been proven - until now.

To loud applause, researchers from the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) unveiled their findings in Washington DC.

NEWS: NIGERIA - President Buhari resumes Aso Villa after vacation

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday resumed work at the State House, Abuja, after a six- day vacation.

WORLD NEWS: MEXICO - Jail riot in Mexico results in loss of 52 lives

A riot and a fire at a prison near Monterrey in northern Mexico had killed 52 people, state officials said.

Another 12 were injured in the riot at Topo Chico jail that broke out just after midnight, the BBC reports.

Smoke was seen billowing from the complex but officials in Nuevo Leon state said the situation is now under control and no inmates have escaped.

WORLD NEWS: BUSINESS - Google Chief Now Highest-Paid Boss In America

Google boss Sundar Pichai is now the highest-paid chief executive in America after being awarded $199m (£138m) of shares.

He became chief executive in October after its reorganisation into holding company Alphabet, and was given 273,328 shares, according to a company filing.

It is more than the £130m ($187m) Google has agreed to pay the UK government in back taxes since 2005.

WORLD ENTERTAINMENT: Paul McCartney Creates Emoji Tunes For Skype

Sir Paul McCartney has written a series of sounds to go with emojis on video chat service Skype.

The former Beatle created ultra-brief tunes for 20 emoticons using instruments including a guitar and xylophone.

The animated designs are being released by the Microsoft-owned communication service in time for Valentine's Day.

WORLD WEIRD NEWS: Man Jailed For Killing Unborn Son In Attack

A man has been jailed for life for killing his unborn son during a vicious attack on his pregnant ex-girlfriend.

Teaching assistant Kevin Wilson took matters into his own hands after eight-months-pregnant Malorie Bantala refused to have an abortion.

The 22-year-old hid in bushes near her Peckham flat with accomplice Taffari Grant, 17, before pouncing on his former lover, who had been buying decorations for a baby shower.

WORLD ENTERTAINMENT: Firm Prosecuted Over Harrison Ford Leg Break during Stars shooting

A film production company has been charged with breaching health and safety laws after Harrison Ford broke his leg when shooting Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Representatives from Foodles Production (UK) will appear in court in May to face four charges after the incident at Pinewood Studios.

Ford was airlifted to hospital after he was struck by a heavy hydraulic metal door on the set of the Millennium Falcon on 12 June, 2014.

FOOTBALL: Shame!!! Adidas terminates boot deal with Adam Johnson after sex charge

Adidas has ended its association with Adam Johnson after the Sunderland winger pleaded guilty to two child sex charges.

England international Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday.

FOOTBALLRUMOUR: Jose Mourinho agrees 3 year deal with Manchester United, to go with Atletico Sporting Director

The ex-Chelsea boss has reportedly come to terms on a £15 million package to take charge at Old Trafford and wants to bring in Atletico Madrid sporting director Andrea Berta

Jose Mourinho has agreed in principle a three-year deal worth £15 million to take charge at Manchester United next season, according to the Daily Mirror.

FOOTBALL: Mourinho could lure John Terry to Manchester United - Wilkins

Former Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins says he wouldn’t rule out the prospect of Jose Mourinho asking John Terry to join him at Manchester United.

Several reports claim that the Portuguese will replace Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford at the end of the season, while Terry revealed in January that he is set to leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the season when his contract expires.

NEWS: NIGERIA - APC supporters clash in Ondo, scores injured.

About twenty persons sustained injuries during a bloody clash among members of All Progressives Congress (APC), at Oka-Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government area of Ondo State.
Also, an unconfirmed report said two persons were feared dead during the fracas which ensued between the loyalists of a Governorship aspirant, Dr Segun Abraham who were attacked by supporters of another governorship aspirant of the party during a campaign rally organised by Abraham in the town.

WORLD NEWS: AFRICA - The African Union (AU) says Al-Shabab is planning Somalia attacks

The African Union (AU) says the al-Qaeda-linked armed group, al-Shabab, is planning attacks in Somalia using AU troop uniforms as disguises.

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said the uniforms were stolen by al-Shabab fighters from military camps belonging to the 22,000-strong UN-mandated mission.

"AMISOM has information that due to panic [al-Shabab] have plans to masquerade as AMISOM and dress in AMISOM troop's uniforms," AMISOM said in a statement on its Twitter account.