ARGENTINA - MYSTERY DRUG KILLS FIVE AT RAVE FESTIVAL

At least five people have died and five are critically ill after apparently taking an unknown drug at an electronic music festival in Argentina.

US - Pope says its crazy to see his meeting with Bernie Sanders as political

Pope Francis said on Saturday that his meeting with Bernie Sanders, contesting the Democratic candidacy for the U.S. Presidency, was not meddling in politics and that anyone who thought otherwise should "look for a psychiatrist".

NIGERIA - WOMAN PRETENDING TO BE PREGNANT ARRESTED BY NDLEA; CAUGHT WITH WRAPS OF COCAINE

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Saturday arrested a woman at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, who faked pregnancy with wraps of substances suspected to be cocaine.

NIGERIA: BOKO HARAM CRIPPLED, CAN NO LONGER TAKE TERRITORY - BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari says the Boko Haram terrorists have been degraded to the extent that the group can no longer seize and hold on to any territory in the country. 

Pope returns with 12 refugees after visit to Greek camp

Pope Francis took three families of Syrian refugees back to Rome on Saturday after visiting the frontline of Europe's migrant crisis at a camp in Greece where migrants wept at his feet, kissed his hand and begged for help.

READ LIST OF COMPANIES AFFECTED BY JAPAN EARTHQUAKES

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck southern Japan early on Saturday, killing at least 15 people, injuring hundreds more and trapping people in collapsed buildings, just over a day after a quake killed nine people in the same region.

FOOTBALL - GUUS HIDDINK SAYS HAZARD'S DECLINE THIS SEASON NEVER SEEN BEFORE

Chelsea interim boss Guus Hiddink has admitted a decline of Hazard's nature has never been seen in football.

Hazard was named the PFA Player of the Year last season as the Blues won the Premier League title but has endured a stark decline in 2015-16, scoring just two goals in the FA Cup.

Nigeria - 9ja Lol see fake Chinese business conference photos of Governor Fayose that has gone viral as Nigerians blast him Lwkmd!!!

On close view of these pictures, it has been found out to be a train Hall of passengers and he just stood at the podium pretending to be addressing businessmen in China. Lol

FOOTBALL - DE BRUYNE SAYS JOSE MOURINHO WAS NOT FAIR TO HIM AT CHELSEA

Manchester City attacker Kevin De Bruyne says it was unfair treatment from Jose Mourinho that ultimately led to his departure from Chelsea in January 2014.

The Belgium international – now starring for Manchester City having signed from Wolfsburg at the start of the season in a £55 million deal – is preparing to face his former club on Saturday.

NIGERIA - SAD!!! ACTING DG OF NATIONAL CENTRE FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT DAUDA DIES IN AUTOCRASH

The Acting Director General of the National Centre for Women Development,  Abdulmalik Dauda, died in an auto crash along the Abuja-Kaduna express way this morning while on his way back from an official assignment. 

ENTERTAINMENT - Report says singer Prince recovering after emergency plane landing due to flu

Singer Prince was released from an Illinois hospital on Friday after he was hospitalized with the flu following an emergency plane landing, celebrity news outlet TMZ said.

UK TO ASSIST NIGERIA WITH £32M IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS TO SUPPORT REBUILDING OF NORTH-EASTERN NIGERIA HIT BY INSURGENTS - NICK HURD

The UK has announced a further £32 million donation over the next three years to help deliver basic, life-saving assistance and protection to some of the estimated seven million people in need of humanitarian assistance due to the conflict in north east Nigeria. 

NIGERIA (PHOTOS) - 193 WRAPS OF COCAINE DISCOVERED IN MAN'S SOCKS BY NDLEA

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos have discovered one hundred and ninety-three (193) wraps of cocaine inside passenger sucks.

PRESIDENT BUHARI'S VISIT TO CHINA YIELDS BILLIONS OF INVESTMENTS TO NIGERIA

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his working visit to China, which has yielded additional investments in Nigeria exceeding $6 billion USD.

SO SAD!!!Tiger Whisperer' Mauled To Death At Florida Zoo

A tiger has fatally mauled a woman keeper inside an enclosure at Palm Beach Zoo in Florida.

Stacey Konwiser, 38, suffered a "severe bite" wound while inside the big cat's habitat on Friday afternoon, say zoo officials.

PHOTOS (NIGERIA) - AKANU IBIAM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT CLEARED FOR FLIGHTS TO THE US, UAE AND OTHER DESTINATIONS

The Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Emene, Enugu State, has been approved for international flight operations to and from Atlanta, United States of America; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Johannesburg, South Africa; Mubia, India and Gwuanzuo, China.

HEALTH RESEARCH - Scientists Send Wireless Data Through Pork Loin. WANNA know how this helps humans? Read on...

The Forefront remains a platform for delivering the latest in health research and discoveries knowing how passionate the host blogger is in research with him coming up soon with what he has been up to in his research lab and the social platform. Here is today's latest research coming from Illinois, USA:

Researchers have fired a wireless data signal through a pork loin and beef liver at speeds fast enough to transmit HD video.

The new transmission technique has been dubbed "meat-comms" and could make it easier for doctors to interact with wireless medical devices implanted in our bodies.

ENTERTAINMENT - Drone Falls Into Crowd During Muse's O2 Gig

A gig by the rock group Muse was disrupted by a technical mishap when a drone began falling to the ground while the band was on stage.

The group was performing at London's O2 Arena on Tuesday night in support of their latest album, named Drones, when the stunt went awry.

PHOTOS OF WRECKAGE BY 7.1 MAGNITUDE SOUTH JAPAN EARTHQUAKE TODAY

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake has hit the southern Japanese city of Kumamoto, scientists have said.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning, saying there was "a marine threat" and people should leave coastal areas.

The warning, which the Japanese broadcaster NHK said was for a wave one metre high, was for the Ariake Sea and Yatsushiro Seas.

US ELECTION 2016 - Trump's former TV 'Apprentices' oppose his White House bid

A group of contestants on Donald Trump's former reality television show "The Apprentice" put their old boss in the hot seat on Friday, saying the U.S. Republican front-runner had widened racial divisions and should not be president.

NIGERIA - BIG MARKETERS THREATEN TO EXPOSE SABOTEURS CAUSING LINGERING FUEL SCARCITY. OH COME ON WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO AHEAD???9JA

Reports have emerged that the Association of Mega Filling Station Owners of Nigeria, AMFSON, has told the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu that if they are pushed to the wall they will mention the names of his subordinates sabotaging his efforts to end fuel crisis.

This was as it said that heads will roll in the oil industry if they go ahead to mention names.

NIGERIA - OKONJO IWEALA DEBUNKS REPORT OF JONATHAN JIBE ON SAVINGS AND THE PRESENT ECONOMIC WOES

Former Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, today, debunked media reports which quoted her as blaming the country’s present economic situation on the zero political will of the immediate past government, to save for the rainy day.Okonjo-Iweala, who served under the immediate-past administration of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, said some media organisations distorted her comments, regarding how lack of political will negatively impacted national savings over the past few years. 

CZECH REPUBLIC LEADERS AGREE ON NEW NAME...

The Czech Republic has finally picked a short form English name for the country - Czechia.

The name will make it easier for companies, sportsmen and others to label products and clothing.

MAGNITUDE 7.4 EARTHQUAKE HITS SOUTH JAPAN AGAIN, IN KUMAMOTO CITY

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake has hit the southern Japanese city of Kumamoto, scientists have said.

The Japanese Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning, saying that there was "a marine threat" present and people should leave coastal areas.

WEIRD!!! BLACK CAT SHOT 30 TIMES SURVIVES

9ja this no be kpianks so? Lol

They say black cats are unlucky - but not Puss-Puss, who made a "miraculous" recovery after she was peppered with pellets.

The three-year-old was found earlier this month dragging her paws and covered in blood after disappearing from her home in Ardleigh, Essex.

NIGERIA - FATE OF 219 ABDUCTED CHIBOK GIRLS UNKNOWN, UN SAYS

The United Nactions have said today that the plight of 219 Chibok schoolgirls who were abducted two years ago is a major conflict that is affecting the North-Eastern communities of Nigeria. 

Fatma Samoura UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Nigeria said that up to 7,000 women and girls might be living in abduction and sex slavery. 

NIGERIA - SARAKI'S REPEATED ATTEMPT TO STOP CCT TRIAL FAILS AGAIN

It is understood a Federal High Court in Abuja has said that the case of embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is an abuse of court process.
Saraki had challenged his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) as a breach of his fundamental human right. In his judgment on Friday, Justice Abdulkadiri Kafarati, said that the fear expressed by Saraki that he would not get justice at the CCT was speculative, misplaced and had no place in law. 

UK - FIVE SUSPECTS ARRESTED BY ANTI- TERROR POLICE IN GATWICK AIRPORT

Four people have been arrested in Birmingham and one person held at Gatwick Airport on suspicion of terror offences.

Three men aged 26, 40 and 59 and a 29-year-old woman - were held in Birmingham on Thursday night.

FOOTBALL: UCL SEMIFINAL DRAW - REAL ENCOUNTER CITY AND BAYERN FACE ATLETICO

The Forefront Sports following up the uefa champions league draw has learnt that Real madrid have been paired with Manchester City in the Champions League semi-finals, while Bayern munich will have to deal with Atletico madrid if they are to make it to the final.

US {TECHNOLOGY} - APPLE AND FBI CLASH AGAIN OVER ENCRYPTION

Apple Inc and the FBI will return to Congress next week to testify before lawmakers about their heated disagreement over law enforcement access to encrypted devices, a congressional committee announced on Thursday.

US ELECTION 2016 - BERNIE SANDERS AND HILLARY CLINTON IN COMBATIVE DEMOCRATIC DEBATE AS NEWYORK PRIMARY DRAWS CLOSER

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton and rival Bernie Sanders challenged each other's judgment and experience in a fiercely combative U.S. presidential debate ahead of Tuesday's crucial nominating contest in New York.

IS THIS COMING FROM OKONJO IWEALA? SAYS NIGERIA HAD NO POLITICAL WILL TO SAVE UNDER JONATHAN

Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has blamed the country’s present economic situation on the zero political will of the immediate past government  to save for the rainy day.

ENTERTAINMENT - DIANA ROSS HURT AS CAR CRASHES INTO LIMO

Diana Ross was injured when a vehicle went through a stop sign and crashed into the singer's limousine in Pennsylvania.

The 72-year-old vocalist complained of head and neck pain after Wednesday afternoon's collision in the city of Bethlehem, police say.

US ELECTION 2016 - TRUMP'S CAMPIGN CHIEF CLEARED OF JOURNALIST ASSAULT CHARGES

Donald Trump's campaign manager has been cleared over the alleged assault of a female journalist.

A Florida prosecutor's office announced on Thursday it would not move forward with a misdemeanour battery charge against Corey Lewandowski.

US ELECTION 2016 - TRUMP'S PATERNO COMMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA DRAWS DERISION AND JEERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump drew guffaws and derision on social media after he asked a campaign rally in Pittsburgh, "How's Joe Paterno?" The legendary Penn State University football coach died four years ago.

NIGERIA {LAGOS} - MILE 12 TRADERS REJECT AMBODE'S RELOCATION PLANS

The Forefront has learnt that the Mile 12 Traders Association, Lagos, has urged the Lagos State Government to upgrade the market instead of relocating to Imota area of the state.

The traders made the plea at a news conference on Thursday in Lagos.

NIGERIA - FAYOSE WRITES CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO TURN DOWN PRESIDENT BUHARI'S $2BN LOAN REQUEST

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has written the Chinese government, seeking the stoppage of the $2 billion loan being sought by the Federal Government, saying that “the government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the Federal Government annual budget.”

SPAIN - THERE ARE FEARS THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL TRAPPED IN TENERIFE COLLAPSE

Three people have been injured and several others may have become trapped after a building collapsed in Los Cristianos, Tenerife.

El Espanol newspaper reported that the four-storey building came down at around 9:30am local time. 

EARTHQUAKES HIT SOUTHERN JAPAN AND VANUATU

Earthquakes have been reported east of Kumamoto in Southern Japan, and off the Pacific island of Vanuatu.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said a strong quake with a  6.4 magnitude had struck a few miles off the southwestern island of Kyushu at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kms (6.2 miles).

Nigeria - See photo of 13ft Python killed in UNIZIK hostel

A nearby hunter killed the python by the students' hostel after battling it with the support of students to finish it off. Are these students safe? As a matter of fact two alligators before now have also been killed by the hostel and the students have called on management of the school to protect them from wild animals. Scary!!!

NIGERIA - SO SAD!!! REPS PROVE IN A ROWDY SESSION HOW BADLY THE NASS ALTERED 2016 BUDGET AND DELAY ASSENT TO THE SUFFERING OF NIGERIANS

The impasse over the 2016 Budget assumed a rowdy dimension in the House of Representatives with members demanding the resignation of the

Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

NIGERIA - COUNSEL TO EL ZAKZAKY SAYS THE SHIITE LEADER HAS LOST ONE EYE

The rumour making the round that leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has lost his eye to the December clash between members of the movement and a detachment of the Nigerian Army was yesterday confirmed by his lawyers.

Russia jets make 'simulated attack' passes near U.S. destroyer

Two Russian warplanes flew simulated attack passes near a U.S. guided missile destroyer in the Baltic Sea on Tuesday, the U.S. military said, with one official describing them as one of the most aggressive interactions in recent memory.

NORTH KOREA PREPARE ONE OR TWO INTERMEDIATE RANGE MISSILES

North Korea has deployed one or two intermediate-range ballistic missiles on the east coast, possibly preparing for launch on or around Friday, the anniversary of the birth of the country's founder, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

UK - NIGERIA: PRESIDENCY BLASTS LONDON TELEGRAPH AND AUTHOR COUGHLIN FOR FALSE AND UNPROFESSIONAL REPORTAGE

Coughlin

The Forefront has learnt that the presidency Wednesday night lambasted a staff writer of The Telegraph, United Kingdom, Mr. Con Coughlin over reports he authored that president Mohammadu Buhari was fighting his political opponents with foreign financial aids meant to fight insurgency in Nigeria. Shehu Garba Senior Specia Assistant to Buhari on Media and Publicity stated that Coughlin's write up was full of factual inaccuracies and a disgrace to journalism.
The full statement after the cut>>>

NIGERIA - IDRIS WADA TELLS TRIBUNAL HE WON KOGI ELECTION

Former Kogi Governor and PDP aspirant  Idris Wada on Wednesday told the State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja that he won the 2015 governorship election in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the former governor contested the election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Wada spoke through one of his witnesses, Mr Joe Agada, the PDP Chief Agent at INEC collation centre in Lokoja, while opening his defence. 

FOOTBALL - UCL IN PHOTOS AND KEY MOMENTS AS ATLETICO SEND BARCA OUT. BAYERN ALSO CRUISE ON

ATLETICO MADRID 2-0 BARCELONA Griezmann 36' 88' pen {3-2 agg}

Bayern and Atletico Madrid go through as Barcelona and Benfica crash out. 2-2 at Lisbon and 2-3 aggregate score. Bayern go through.  Milestone for Simeone and his boys!!! 

CHINA - NIGERIA: BUHARI SENDS STERN MESSAGE TO VANDALS AND SABOTEURS; WE WILL DEAL WITH YOU LIKE BOKO HARAM

President Buhari has sent a stern message in Beinjing China to pipeline vandals and saboteurs engaged in the nefarious activities that even crippled the nation's grid in the last two weeks resulting in blackout. 

US ELECTION 2016 - UNIONS ENDORSE SANDERS AND CLINTON FOR PRESIDENCY

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders won his first endorsement from a fellow U.S. senator on Wednesday, and he and rival Hillary Clinton both announced backing from New York City labor unions as they battled to win next week's state primary.