VATICAN CITY - AMAZING AND ENDEARING!!! POPE HEARS CONFESSIONS AT ST PETERS SQUARE

Pope Francis has surprised teenagers by turning up unannounced in St Peter's Square to listen to their confessions.

He appeared at the Jubilee for Teens, attended by several thousand 13-16 year olds from all the world.

IRAQ - At least 12 dead in two Baghdad car bomb attacks

At least 12 people were killed on Saturday in two separate car bomb attacks in Baghdad targeting security forces, police sources said, adding that the death toll could rise.

FOOTBALL - CHELSEA FANS WANT OUT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR EMENALO AS TERRY'S FUTURE REMAINS UNCLEAR

Chelsea fans have called for technical director Michael Emenalo to quit the club amid John Terry’s unclear future at Stamford Bridge.

NIGERIA {LAGOS} - FIRE ENGULFS 150 MAKESHIFT STRUCTURES AND CUSTOM'S WAREHOUSE IN EBUTE META AND IKEJA

About 150 makeshift structures were gutted by fire that started late Friday night at Kano Street, Ebute-Meta area of Lagos State. 

NIGERIA - RESPITE IN SIGHT AS NNPC DISTRIBUTES 1,082 TRUCKS OF PMS NATIONWIDE

The Forefront understands that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said a total of 1,082 truck of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) were loaded and distributed nationwide on Friday. 

NORTH KOREA SUBMARINE FIRES MISSILE

North Korea appears to have launched a ballistic missile from a submarine off its east coast, South Korean officials say.

OUCH!!! SO SORRY DEAR! PARACHUTIST CRASH LANDS AS HE DELIVERS CRICKET BALL, PELVIS MAY HAVE BEEN BROKEN

A parachutist crashed into the turf at the Sydney Cricket Ground as he attempted to deliver the match ball for an Aussie Rules game.

The paratrooper from the Australian Navy Red Beret jumpers appeared to be descending very quickly before his feet hit the ground and he hurtled forward.

FOOTBALL - WOW!!! MANCHESTER UNITED KID RASHFORD SCORED 12 GOALS IN A MATCH

David Horrocks, the academy development officer at Fletcher Moss Rangers, Rashford’s former youth team has said the Manchester United kid strikers' impact is not surprising.

Health Research On Zika Virus - Mini Brains Help Scientists Understand Zika

Researchers have discovered how the Zika virus causes microcephaly - a condition that stunts head and brain development.

Tiny brains - no larger than a pinhead - were created using 3D printers and infected with the disease by scientists at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, US.

NIGERIA - ARMY ARRESTS FOUR BOKO HARAM LEADERS AND EIGHT OTHERS DURING RECRUITMENT

It has been gathered that troops attached to  26 Task Force Brigade in Gwoza, Borno State have intercepted eight suspected Boko Haram terrorists while trying to enter the town.

The army said the men were on a recruitment drive.

US - Police says there are no signs of trauma or suicide in Prince's death

Police found no signs of suicide or obvious trauma in the death of U.S. music superstar Prince, but it could take weeks before autopsy results reveal how the groundbreaking performer died, authorities said on Friday.

NIGERIA - OSUN STATE PERMANENT SECRATARY ABDUCTED WITH DRIVER AND DIRECTOR

The Permanent Secretary of Osun State Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Adebimpe Ogunlumade has been abducted by gunme‎n while returning to Osogbo from Abuja.

THIS IS A GLOBAL TREND AS A MATTER OF FACT - PCS AND DESKTOPS USE KEEP DROPPING FOR MOBILE USE.

One in six adults in the UK now only use smartphones or tablets to go online - up 10% from last year.

Rising numbers of people are now replacing their PCs and laptops with mobile devices, rather than just supplementing them.

Research - Interesting! Skull Buzz Could Replace Your Online Passwords

The buzz of your skull could be used to identify you in place of a password login.

A prototype system called SkullConduct picks up on the way sound waves change as they pass through a person's skull.

US - At least 7 dead in shootings at 3 homes in Ohio with no arrests yet

At least seven people, including two children, have been slain in "execution-style" killings at three homes along a rural road, but no arrests have been made and it's unclear whether the killer or killers were among the dead, authorities said Friday.

INDIA - GOODNESS! IT KEEPS COMING!! LANDSLIDE IN NORTH EAST INDIA KILLS 16

A huge landslide hit a camp for construction workers in a remote part of northeast India on Friday, killing at least 16, police said.

Heavy rains triggered the disaster in the Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh, which lies on the Tibetan border and is claimed in part by China.

UK - School Evacuated Over Suspected WWII Bomb

A school has been evacuated after a suspected World War Two bomb was found on a building site.

Police were called just before 9.15am to Boone Street in Lewisham, southeast London, following reports of the discovery.

NIGERIA - ASSASINS KILL PDP CHIEFTAIN IN DELTA STATE

A five man gang of suspected assassins on Wednesday night shot dead a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in cold blood at Ughelli, Delta State. 

FOOTBALL {UCL} - OH NO, NOT NOW!!! RONALDO COULD MISS MANCHESTER CITY CLASH

Real Madrid have confirmed that Ronaldo has suffered a thigh strain injury, meaning he is now a doubt for their trip to Manchester City in the Champions League next week.

Lol pray for 9ja

Lol. Funny but I believe things will get better though.

NIGERIA (PHOTO) - EXECUTIVE JUBILATION WHEN THE MASSES ARE SUFFERING

Photo credit: The Nation

How I really wish these executives know that anxious Nigerians wouldn't take this photo likely with the current economic mess, delayed salaries, restiveness, electoral violence (Rivers, Bayelsa, etc), fuel scarcity, joblessness just to mention a few. Sokoto Governor Tambuwal and Rivers Governor Wike in jubilant mood. Also Fayemi Minister of solid minerals  and Zamfara Governor Yari showing excitement. What are they jubilating for?

9ja help me ask them. The citizens are not smiling, men are not smiling. The masses are not smiling. I'm sure Baba Presido isn't either. But why these men????

NIGERIA - HMM!!! NNAMDI KANU SENDS MESSAGE TO IPOB AND BIAFRA SUPPORTERS FROM PRISON

In his words: 
"I wish to commend and congratulate millions of IPOBians the world over, whose tenacity and exemplary steadfastness to the course is and will always remain a great source of joy and inspiration for me”.

Oh dear me!!! Not again!!! Strong quake hits disaster-stricken Ecuador

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.0 magnitude struck off Ecuador's disaster-stricken coast on Thursday, as survivors of an earlier deadly quake that killed 587 people clamored for food, water and medicine in parts of the disaster zone.

CHINA - EXPLOSION HITS CHEMICAL WAREHOUSE IN EAST CHINA

A warehouse storing chemicals and fuel has exploded and caught fire in the eastern Chinese city of Jingjiang, according to the offical news agency, Xinhua.

FOOTBALL {EPL} - PFA PLAYERS OF THE SEASON RELEASED. VARDY, KANE AND MAHREZ ATOP

The Forefront has learnt that eight players from Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur have been included in the Professional Footballers’ Association Premier League Team of the Year.

NIGERIA: TWO-WEEK ULTIMATUM GIVEN TO FAAN AND NAMA OVER ARIK AIR INDEBTEDNESS

The Federal Government has issued a two-week ultimatum to Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA, and the Arik Air Group to resolve all indebtedness of the airline. 

CYCLING TRAGEDY - Two dead after new bike lane collapses in Rio

At least two people were killed on Thursday when part of a new cycle lane collapsed into the ocean in the Olympic city of Rio de Janeiro, the city's fire department said.

NIGERIA - FG SUSPENDS REPAYMENT OF STATES' LOANS

The National Economic Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday suspended further deduction of state governments’ loans from their accounts maintained in the Federation Account.

US - FBI paid more than $1.3 million to break into San Bernardino iPhone

Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey said on Thursday the agency paid more to get into the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters than he will make in the remaining seven years and four months he has in his job.

INDIA - Plane Searched After ‘Bomb’ Note Is Found Hidden Under Seat

Passengers on a Jet Airways flight in India faced two-hour delays after a cleaner found a note with the word ‘bomb’ written on it.

The alarming note was discovered under a seat as a cleaner prepared the Boeing 737-700 for a flight from Ahmedabad to Mumbai.

US POP ARTIST PRINCE FOUND DEAD AT HOME IN MINNESOTA

You will recall the Forefront reported last week his ill health and forced emergency plane landing. U.S. pop star Prince, 57, was found unresponsive on Thursday at his Minnesota home and was later declared dead, U.S. media reports said.

FOOTBALL RUMOUR - MANCHESTER UNITED DON'T WANT RONALDO'S RETURN REPORT SAYS

Manchester United will reject the chance to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo should the player opt against signing a contract extension at Real Madrid, according to Don Balon.

Eastern Libyan military's warplanes hit Islamists in Derna

Military forces loyal to Libya's eastern government said on Thursday they had carried out air strikes overnight against Islamist fighters in Derna after Islamic State militants retreated from positions close to the city.

NIGERIA - CCT CHAIRMAN DANLADI UMAR ORDERS SARAKI'S LAWYER OUT OF COURT FOR CONTEMPT

There was mild drama at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Thursday, as the CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, refused to hear the motion filed by counsel of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on his (Umar) alleged bias. 

PIONEER FEMALE WWE WRESTLER, CHYNA FOUND DEAD

A WWE star who became one of the most popular female wrestlers in history has been found dead at the age of 45.

Chyna, whose real name was Joan Marie Laurer, was found dead in Redondo Beach, southern California, on Wednesday.

HEALTH RESEARCH - ALCOHOL AND BACON LINKED TO STOMACH CANCER

The Forefront Research Update

The Forefront comes up with the latest health revelation today on cancer and this time around, the information is from the World Cancer Research Fund.

Eating processed meats, drinking alcohol and being overweight have been "strongly" linked to stomach cancer for the first time.

NIGERIA - COURT GRANTS DSS DETAINED EKITI LAWMAKER #5M COMPENSATION

The Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has declared the arrest and detention of member representing Efon Constituency1 in the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Afolabi Akanni, by the Department of State Services, DSS, as illegal.

TENNIS - ITF President Says Hearing Scheduled in Sharapova Case

A disciplinary hearing has been scheduled in Maria Sharapova's doping case, with a ruling possible before Wimbledon starts.

International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty said Wednesday that its doping cases typically take "two to three months" to process. That could deliver a verdict in June.

Nigeria - What? Oh my goodness!!! Man reportedly rapes his children aged 5, 7 and 9

A man, who reportedly raped three of his children aged five, seven and nine, has been arrested by the police in Enugu. 

This was disclosed at a briefing by Women’s Aid Collective, WACOL, and Tammer SARC in Enugu, yesterday. 

NIGERIA - SARAKI RENEWS ATTEMPT TO DISQUALIFY CCT CHAIRMAN DANLADI FROM TRIAL

The embattled Senate President is still not giving up on stopping Danladi and following his failed attempt to procure an order of the Federal High Court to disqualify the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, from his trial, Saraki has applied directly to the tribunal to have its chairman disqualified.

ETHIOPIA TROOPS CROSS TO SOUTH SUDAN IN HUNT FOR ABDUCTED CHILDREN

Ethiopian troops have crossed into South Sudan in search of children abducted by armed men from across the border last week, a government spokesman said Wednesday.

"The army has been conducting reconnaissance missions in South Sudan and they have a clear idea of where the children are," Ethiopia's Communications Minister Getachew Reda told AFP.

Sad!!! Three dead, dozens injured in blast at chemical plant in Mexico

A massive explosion rocked a major petrochemical facility of Mexican national oil company Pemex in the Gulf state of Veracruz on Wednesday, killing at least three people, injuring dozens more, and pumping a cloud of noxious chemicals into the sky.

NIGERIA - EFCC CLEARS CCT CHAIRMAN DANLADI OF ALLEGED BRIBERY

The Forefront understands the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday said it has no evidence linking the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, with the N10 million bribery allegation.

Oh my goodness!!! VW to pay each U.S. customer $5,000 to settle dieselgate

Volkswagen has reached a deal with U.S. authorities to settle the case over its cheating of diesel emissions tests that would involve it paying each affected customer $5,000, Germany's Die Welt newspaper reported on Wednesday.

NIGERIA - NIGERIAN ARMY REVEALS NEW STRATEGY OF BOKO HARAM RECRUITMENT

The Nigerian Army on Wednesday said Boko Haram has devised a new strategy for recruiting youths in the northeast.

The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Rabe Abubakar, in a statement said Boko Haram terrorists are at the moment giving loans to young entrepreneurs and artisans to induce them into the sect.

NIGERIA - PETROLEUM MINISTER KACHIKWU SAYS FUEL SCARCITY WOULD END NEXT WEEK

Petroleum Resources Minister Ibe Kachikwu, has said today that the lingering fuel scarcity would end next week. 

He was speaking at the State House at the end of the FEC meeting that the queues were expected to completely disappear by the end of next week. 

Hmm!!! Islamic State fighters from 70 countries, analysis shows

Analysis of a windfall of data from inside Islamic State shows fighters of more than 70 nationalities joined the ruthless jihadist group, researchers said after examining thousands of records.

FOOTBALL - STOICHKOV MOCKS REAL'S LIGA RECORD SINCE 2007

Barcelona legend Hristo Stoichkov believes the club will beat Real Madrid and Atletico to the Liga title this season.

Barcelona are top of La Liga due to their superior head-to-head record with Atletico Madrid, while Real Madrid are only a point behind.