WORLD NEWS: US Black Lives Matter protests disrupt airports and shopping

Protests by the Black Lives Matter group have taken place in the US states of Minnesota and California on one of the busiest retail days of the year.

The demonstrators in Minnesota temporarily closed the international airport and interrupted Christmas shopping at the Mall of America.

WORLD NEWS: UK-THAILAND - Thailand murders: Two men found guilty and face death for UK killings

Two Burmese men have been found guilty and sentenced to death for murdering two UK tourists in Thailand last year.

Zaw Lin and Wai Phyo killed Hannah Witheridge, 23, from Norfolk, and David Miller, 24, from Jersey, judges said.

FOOTBALL: Chelsea - Drogba negotiating Chelsea return

The MLS side has confirmed that the Chelsea legend is in contact with his former club

Didier Drogba may be set to leave MLS, as Montreal Impact, the striker's current club, took to social media to indicate that they are in talks with Chelsea about the possibility of the Ivorian returning to Stamford Bridge.

PHOTONEWS: Protest in US, Canada, India over the arrest of Shiite leader in Nigeria

Hmm!!! Nawa.

Some Muslims in the US, Canada, India and Beirut staged peaceful protest in their countries yesterday December 22nd over the arrest of the Shiite Muslim group leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. He was arrested after his members had a clash with the Nigerian Army.

WOOPS!!!

FACTUAL GIST: My husband went back to Nigeria last Christmas to wed a secret new wife' - British woman reveals. Source (The Sun Uk)

 When her hubby of ten years had to spend Christmas with his relatives in Nigeria, Tracy Akingbogun hoped he’d return with a special gift to make up for their time apart. David, 43, had sorted out a present — for himself. He had secretly married another woman in Nigeria on Boxing Day.

WORLD NEWS: HEALTH - Blood pressure therapy re-think urged

More lives could be saved if doctors considered giving blood pressure drugs to all patients at high-risk of heart disease - even if their blood pressures are normal, a study suggests.

The report calls for a move away from current guidelines which recommend pills only be prescribed if blood pressure is above a certain threshold.

WORLD NEWS: RUSSIA - Russia rejects accusations of killing Syrian civilians

Russia denied as "fake information" accusations made on Wednesday that its air strikes in Syria have killed hundreds of civilians and could be treated as war crimes.

In a new report, Amnesty International said Russian air raids had killed at least 200 civilians and about a dozen fighters in Homs, Idlib and Aleppo provinces between September and November.

WORLD NEWS: SOMALIA-BRUNEI - Somalia and Brunei ban Christmas celebrations

Somalia has issued a ban on Christmas celebrations in the Muslim-majority country after the Southeast Asian sultanate of Brunei announced a similar prohibition earlier this month with the threat of five years in jail.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Biafra: Government accuses Nnamdi Kanu of plotting to seize Igala, Idoma regions

The Nigerian government has accused the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, of plotting to create a breakaway Biafra Republic with Nigeria’s present south-south, south-east and north central states, as component units.

The government on Friday slammed fresh charges against Mr. Kanu, shortly after a court ordered his release from custody where he has been held since October.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Nigeria triples investment in 2016 budget

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari unveiled Tuesday a budget that triples investment spending in a bid to stimulate growth and lower the dependence of Africa’s largest economy on oil.

Despite the plunging price of oil, Nigeria’s main revenue source, Buhari vowed to increase spending by about 20 percent from this year to 6.08 trillion naira (around $30 billion, 27 billion euros).

PHOTONEWS: Radio Biafra Director, Nnamdi Kanu appears in Court

Following a fresh six-count charges filed by the Federal Government of Nigeria against the embattled Director of Radio Biafra and Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, he (Kanu) appeared before Justice Ahmed Mohammed-led Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Justice Mohammed exempted himself from hearing the case after Mr. Kanu objected to the case, arguing that it was needless, as the federal government had repeatedly disobeyed previous court rulings. Continue to see more photos>>>>

NEWS: NIGERIA - Nigerians abroad sent $21 billion home in 2015

With about $21 billion sent home by Nigerians in diaspora in 2015, the country is the sixth largest receiver of remittances in the world, the Migration of Remittance Factbook 2016 has shown.

The country is also by far the largest receiver of remittances in sub-Saharan Africa, receiving a total of $34.8 billion this year.

NEWS: NIGERIA - Judge recuses self from hearing treason charges against Kanu

Following the fresh six-count charges filled by the Federal Government of Nigeria against the embattled leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, a federal High Court judge has exempted himself from hearing the case. Justice Ahmed Mohammed who announced the decision on Wednesday in Abuja after Mr. Kanu objected to the case, said that it was needless, as the federal government had repeatedly disobeyed previous court rulings.

SCIENCE: RESEARCH - Dogs 'can read canine emotions'

Dogs can copy each other's expressions in a split-second just like people, showing signs of basic empathy, according to Italian researchers.

Mimicking each other's facial expressions is a human habit, which helps people to get along.

Dogs do the same to bond with other dogs, scientists report in the journal, Royal Society Open Science.

HEALTH: Weight loss surgery 'cuts risk' of diabetes and heart attacks

Weight-loss surgery can cut the risk of diabetes and heart attacks as well as keep fat off, a UK study suggests.

It is the largest comprehensive investigation of bariatric surgery - spanning around four years in nearly 8,000 patients.

The health benefits of the surgery are clear and substantial for people who are severely overweight, the authors told PLoS Medicine.

NEWS: US - Las Vegas crash: Details emerge about suspect

A woman charged in a deadly hit-and-run crash in Las Vegas was once praised for overcoming a rough childhood and homelessness, it has emerged.

In a video, Lakeisha Holloway describes finishing school and working at a good job after being raised by an alcoholic mother and living on the streets.

WORLD NEWS: Syria conflict: Russia air strikes 'killed 200 civilians'

At least 200 civilians have been killed in Russian air strikes in Syria, an Amnesty International report says, quoting witnesses and activists.

It says it "researched remotely" more than 25 Russian attacks in five areas between 30 September and 29 November.

WORLD NEWS: UK - Terror plotter Mark Colborne detained indefinitely

A man who fantasised about "putting a bullet in Prince Charles' head" has been detained indefinitely. 

Mark Colborne, 37, of Southampton, was found guilty in September of preparing terrorist acts from his bedroom after a retrial.

Jurors heard he had felt "belittled" for being a white, ginger-haired male and had wanted to seek

NEWS: NIGERIA - Breakdown of the 2016 Budget

Breakdown of the 2016 Budget

AMAZING!!! Bomb-sniffing dog saves lives after it found buried 100 kg of explosives

A bomb-sniffing dog named Elma saved lives today when it discovered 100 kilograms of explosives buried deep in the ground in southeastern Mardin province, Turkey. Elma discovered the bomb in the province's Nusaybin district. The explosives were packed inside two shell-like containers attached to a 400-meter long cable cords and detonators. See photos after the jump...