World News:Saudi Arabia executes top Shia cleric

Saudi Arabia has executed the prominent Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, the interior ministry said.

WORLD NEWS: US -Obama to take unilateral action on US gun violence

President Obama has said he will take unilateral action to tackle the problem of gun violence in the US.

In his first weekly address of 2016, Mr Obama said he would meet Attorney General Loretta Lynch to discuss actions he could take.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Obanikoro, Shekarau, other Jonathan’s ministers lose severance package

No fewer than 14 ministers in the Goodluck Jonathan Administration will not receive any severance package from the Muhammadu Buhari government having allegedly failed to meet the requirement for benefitting from such.

It is also gathered that most of the new 36 ministers inherited decrepit offices, making it difficult for them to settle down for work.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Partial compliance as new fuel price regime takes off

There is yet to be substantial compliance by fuel marketers in most parts of the country with the directive to dispense fuel at N86 and N86.50 per litre, investigation showed yesterday.

The exception is the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where most marketers have adjusted their metres to comply with the new pump price of N86.00 per litre for premium motor spirit (PMS) at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) filling stations and N86.50 at other outlets.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Terrorism: Presidency denies Hijab ban

The Presidency has denied that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was considering banning the hijab, the Muslim women’s dressing symbol of modesty if sui­cide bombers continue use it as cover to commit atrocities.

President Buhari had during his maiden media chat last year, hinted that his government may ban the use of hijab by muslim women as a result of the use of female suicide bombers by Boko Haram insurgents.

FOOTBALL; MAN UTD - Van Gaal: Man Utd fans the best I've seen

The Premier League club are now eight games without a win in all competitions and their Dutch manager has praised the supporters for not turning their back on the team

Louis van Gaal believes Manchester United supporters are the best he has seen during his time in management.

WORLD NEWS: GHANA - Ghana minister resigns over electricity crisis

Ghana’s power minister has resigned for unsatisfactory handling of an electricity crisis that caused years of frequent blackouts and hurt the West African country’s economy, two government sources said.

Kwabena Donkor submitted his resignation on Thursday to President John Mahama after talks at the presidency a day earlier, a source close to the presidency told Reuters.

WORLD NEWS: ISRAEL - Tel Aviv shooting: Two dead, Israeli police say

Two people have died and and seven others have been injured after a gunman opened fire with an automatic rifle at a bar in Tel Aviv, Israeli police say.

Security forces have launched a huge manhunt for the gunman, cordoning off areas of the city.

The incident took place in Dizengoff Street in the city centre.

WORLD NEWS: ISRAEL -2 killed, at least 4 wounded in Tel Aviv pub shooting

Two people were killed and at least four others seriously injured Friday in a shooting near a pub in Tel Aviv, Israel, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told CNN.

NEWS: NIGERIA -Military alerts on terrorists’ plan to use beggars for attacks

The Theater Command of Operation Lafiya Dole of the Nigerian Army on Friday alerted Borno residents on a planned attack by Boko Haram terrorists using beggars and other strategies.

NEWS: NIGERIA -Holders of unlicensed firearms, tinted glasses risk arrest -IGP

The Police Force Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday said it would commence revalidation of firearms license and vehicle tinted glass permit beginning from today through its digital platform.

WORLD NEWS: IRAN - US -Iran expands missile programme amid US sanctions threat

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has ordered an expansion of the country's ballistic missile development programme, in a move seen as a response to possible new US sanctions against Iranian officials and businesses.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Buhari's New Year promise to Nigerians; it will get better.

The President yesterday sent Nigerians a message of hope – the challenges facing the nation are temporary and will soon fizzle out.

Gist: Nigeria - Fomer President Jonathan's New Year message to Nigerians

On behalf of my family and I, I would like to wish all Nigerians a Happy New Year. We are all brothers and sisters born from the womb of one Nigeria and as I have said previously, we would not be Nigerians if God did not will it. 

NEWS: NIGERIA - NNPC ‘paid N933.1b, $607.8 in 11 months’

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC paid N933.1bn for domestic crude oil and gas and other receipts to the Federation Account from January to November 2015.

According to the November financial report posted on its website yesterday, it paid $607.8m to the Federation Accounts and Allocation Committee (FAAC) in the period under review.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Buhari signs 2015 budget implementation extension bill

President Muhammadu Buhari has appended his signature to an Act of the National Assembly, authorising the executive to extend the implementation of the capital vote component in the 2015 budget beyond December 31, 2015, the previous deadline.

WORLD NEWS: US - Bill Cosby sexual assault charges 'politically motivated'

Bill Cosby's defence lawyer has called the sexual assault charges brought against the comedian "politically motivated".

Monique Pressley told ABC's Good Morning America that the prosecutor in the case is not seeking justice, but making good on a campaign promise.

WORLD NEWS: GERMANY - Munich stations evacuated over 'IS attack threat'

Police in Munich evacuated two major railway stations after an intelligence agency warned Germany of an imminent attack, officials said.

Authorities received information that suicide bombers from so-called Islamic State (IS) could target the main station or Pasing station, Bavaria's interior minister said.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Arms scam: Dasuki begs Buhari

Former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, yesterday pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to allow him enjoy the bail granted him by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Meanwhile, lawyers yesterday took divergent positions on Buhari’s explanation of the continued detention of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki and pro-Biafra agitator, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu despite different court orders admitting them to bail.
Buhari said during his first presidential media chat on Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on Wednesday that Dasuki and Kanu could not be released because they would jump bail, describing the charges against them as serious.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE FOREFRONT!!! CONGRATULATIONS YOU MADE IT!!!

THIS IS WISHING YOU A SPLENDID 2016 AHEAD AS YOU PRESS TOWARDS YOUR GOALS, VISIONS, AMBITIONS, INVENTIONS AND FULFILLMENT.

WISHING YOU A SAFE YEAR AHEAD.

CONGRATULATIONS YOU MADE IT!!!

2016 IS YOURS AND 2017 IS ALREADY IN YOUR GRASP.

HAVE A GREAT YEAR AHEAD.

GOD BLESS YOU!!!

-JOSHUA OSAYUWAMEN OSAGIE-