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PORT HARCOURT—The Consular General of the United States of America, John Bray, has stated that the interest of the United States in the 2019 presidential election is not to support any candidate, but to ensure that the poll is transparent and credible.

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This is just as Tuface Idibia, said it is devilish for an individual to take money and vote against his or her conscience during the 2019 elections.

Bray and Tuface spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday during a ‘Vote not Fight’ mega Peace Concert organised by Media Awareness and Justice Initiative, MAJI, USAID, UKaid, National Democratic Institute, NDI, and Youngstars Foundation.

Mr President’s re-election is a Sure Bet

Bray said: “If you use your PVC well you have the government of your choice. We are not here to support any candidate. We are here to support free, credible and violence-free elections.”

However, Tuface, who is the Ambassador of Vote not Fight Campaign stated that it was high time Nigerian youths started using their senses during elections, adding that violence during the polls may affect the unity of the nation.

He said: “It is time for us to start using our senses. When there is trouble during elections the politicians are not victims, because they will be indoors, while their children are out of the country.

Buhari’s second term will consolidate Nigeria’s rebuilding process-Onu

“We need to respect each others’ choice. Know your choice and vote them. It is time for us to hold our destiny in our hands and nobody will do it for us.”

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Senate President and national leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday in Offa, Ilorin Kwara State, said the Federal Government would have silenced him if he had skeleton in his cupboard.

Saraki

Saraki
He spoke at a reception by residents of Offa, where he led members of his party to a campaign rally in the local government.

Saraki said, “I had earlier told my people that they can’t do the Offa campaign in my absence. They may do those of others but not this one. Offa and Ilorin have a long history of relationship. Once the two would agree on anything it is taken. I see myself as a son of Offa.

“Our campaign has a definite plan for Kwara State and Nigeria. Since we joined the PDP the party has honored Kwara State, they gave us DG of Campaign, National Leader of the party and have agreed that if the party wins, Senate President is our slot in Kwara. But what has the other party to offer? If I have skeleton in my cupboard this government would have silenced me and forced me to drop the campaign.

“But for God and the support of the people I would not be standing today. They did not want to honor our agreement. We all laboured and what they could not get in three times they got it and we demanded that they give to Kwara what we deserve. We need to teach our seasonal politicians a lesson on the poll date.”

We want community development, let everybody come and contribute their quota to our communities; when Saraki do his own and let them too do their own. I heard that some politicians have been buying JAMB forms in 2019. The question to ask is where were they in 2016, where were they in 2017?

“APC leaders in Kwara can’t access President Buhari for anything. They will first have to go and submit their request to Lagos and it is only when Lagos is satisfied with the request that it will be forwarded to Buhari who may or not do it. Anybody who loves Kwara will not follow Buhari. The Federal Civil Service Commission that was supposed to rotate to Kwara he has refused and given it to another state.”

Speaking, the traditional ruler of Offa community, Oba Muftau Gbadamosi, said: “The turn out today was our own way of showing gratitude. That is our style here. Since I came on this throne Offa has benefited immensely from the state, even up till the last two weeks when i told them about a road and they have come to work on it.

“But the opposition will be issuing out any form of statement telling lies that this government has not done anything for us. There is no request we brought to the government that was denied. This is not politics; my claims are verifiable. There is no local government that has benefitted like us. I appeal to my people not to deceive us in this relationship. We should not pretend and deceive them. These ones that we know are better than the ones we do not know.”

Inter Milan have expressed an interest in a swap deal, which will see them send Ivan Perisic to Arsenal and getting Mesut Ozil in return.

However, the Serie A side wants the Gunners to pay half of Ozil’s wages, while he is on loan at the San Siro.

Ozil is paid a mega £350,000-a-week by Arsenal, but hasn’t had much of a look-in since Unai Emery replaced Arsene Wenger as manager.

The German has been linked with a move away this month, but his sky-high wages are understood to have put many clubs off.

Perisic on his part, is keen to leave Inter this month.

The Croatian winger has already submitted a transfer request.

The Coalition of Lawyers against Corruption, COLAC has hailed the Senate for reconvening to look into the controversial suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Nkanu Onnoghen.

In a statement signed by the National Coordinator of CACOL, Barr. Olusegun Bamgbose, made available to PoliticsNGR on Sunday morning, the group warned the Senate not to allow President Buhari to decimate the Judiciary. The statement read;

"We want to sincerely commend the National Assembly for planning to reconvene on Tuesday to look into the illegal, unconstitutional and obnoxious suspension of Justice Onnorghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. This is quite appreciated and commendable. We equally want to thank the US, EU and UK for rising up to the occasion to express their deep concern for this odious act of the Presidency to subvert and subjugate our Constitution.

"It's very clear that this government has gone ga ga in its attempt to cause confusion ahead of the Presidential elections coming up on 16th February 2019.

Buhari must respect our Constitution which he swore to uphold on the 29th of May, 2019 or honorably vacate the State House. He has no business occupying the State House if he will not respect our Constitution. We want to assure concerned Nigerians and the International community that there is no cause for alarm as there would be no election in Nigeria except the offensive decision is reversed. We shall leave no stone unturned until sanity returns.

We shall explore all lawful means to cut the President to size. We shall within the ambits of the law resist any form of executive rascality and recklessness. The law must have his way. We want to assure Nigerians that there will be no going back until the decision is reversed.

No one messes up with Judiciary and go scot free. We want to tell the parties to continue with their campaigns as there are strong moves to restore the dignity and the integrity of Judiciary before the 16th day of February this year. We will equally want to alert the National Assembly to speak with one voice come Tuesday.

We are quite aware that the Presidency is seriously engaged in lobbying members of the National Assembly in order to cause confusion as the Senate reconvene on Tuesday. However, we urge them to resist all attempts to use them to destabilize the polity."

Four Iraqi policemen were killed Sunday in two back-to-back bomb blasts at one of their positions north of the capital, near a former jihadist bastion, local officials and officers said.

“At around 8:00 am, the police officers were taking up their post at the southern entrance of Al-Sharqat,” the town’s mayor, Ali Dodah, told AFP.

“One bomb went off, killing two police officers and wounding eight. An hour and a half later, as reinforcements arrived, a second bomb went off,” Dodah said.

A police officer speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed the first blast’s toll to AFP and said the second explosion killed two officers and wounded three.

And a medical source at Al-Sharqat’s hospital confirmed a total of four officers were killed.

Al-Sharqat, around 250 kilometres (150 miles) north of Baghdad, was held by the Islamic State group until autumn 2017.

It was one of the last areas recaptured by the government, which announced several months later that it had ousted IS from Iraq.

But hit-and-run attacks — particularly assassinations and kidnappings of local officials — still take place and hint at an underground network of IS sleeper cells in some of the country’s most remote areas.

On Thursday, a car bomb killed a police officer near Hawija, another former IS stronghold.

Thousands of people in Germany have signed a change.org online petition calling for two concerts by controversial US singer R Kelly not to go ahead.
On Friday, almost 22,000 people had signed the online petition, the motto of which is “Don’t give s*xual offenders a stage.’’

The petition calls for concerts planned in Ludwigsburg in southern Germany on April 12 and in the northern port city of Hamburg on April 14 to be cancelled due to allegations of s*xual misconduct against the artist.

In a six-part documentary series aired on Lifetime in the US., Kelly is accused of manipulating women and controlling their lives, in addition to numerous accusations of s*xual misconduct.

However, the singer has rejected the allegations.

Report says whether the protest will be effective remains to be seen.

The concert organisers were not available for comment.

A municipal official in Hamburg told dpa that a binding contract had been signed for the 7,000-seat venue Hamburger Sporthalle for April 14.

It was up to the German agency organising the concerts to decide whether the concert should go ahead.

Two teenage boys identified as Terdue Tivkaa, 20 and Tarvershima Fazanga, 19, have been arrested as armed robbery suspects for robbing and raping a 50-year-old woman at her home in Zaki Biam, Benue state.
The state commissioner of police, Omololu Bishi, said a report was received at the command on January 20, 2019, that some armed robbers entered the compound, robbed their victims of some money and handsets and thereafter raped an old woman.

He said the swift response by Police Operatives led to the arrest of two suspects who mentioned one Solomon as their gang leader. Solomon, however, died while exchanging fire with the Police in a bid to evade arrest.

Two locally made pistols, two cutlasses, one axe and two handsets were recovered from them. The police said both suspects, who confessed to the crime, would soon be arraigned in court.

Photo: Man attempting to steal Uber car apprehended in Lagos
The Lagos state police command have arrested Ogundoju Olalekan pictured above for attempting to steal the car of an Uber driver in the Maroko axis of the state.

A statement from the state police command's spokesperson, Chike Oti, says the Anti crime patrol team of Maroko Police Station in Lagos state led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Isah Abdulmajid, were on crime prevention patrol when they came across one Ogadinma Ikeagu, crying for help. He narrated that his Toyota Corolla saloon car, with registration number KJA 69 FE, had just been snatched by two passengers he picked at the African Shrine.

The DPO took the driver in his patrol vehicle and they drove in the same direction taken by the thieves while escaping with the car. Fortunately for the distressed Uber Driver, the Police team was able to intercept the car within Victoria Island.

Although one of the thieves escaped, the team arrested Olalekan who resides at no.14 Shomorin street, Ifako Gbagada. He was immediately searched and two wooden prototypes of berratta pistols were recovered from him.

On interrogation, he confessed to have committed the crime.

Nigeria presently has two Chief Justices of the Federation. One is recognized by the constitution and the other is recognized by the President.

Civil Societies, Election observers, pressure groups, opposition parties and the international community, have all come out to support the constitution of Nigeria at this trying time. A big stakeholder in this issue is the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), led by Paul Usoro SAN.

In the statement, Usoro stated, “It is unfortunate that the Executive Branch of Government purports to suspend the CJN on the basis of an alleged ex-parte order of the Code of Conduct Tribunal – the same Tribunal that, to the knowledge of the Executive, had, only the first previous day, Tuesday, 22 January 2019 adjourned its proceedings to Monday, 28 and January 2019 and has before it a Motion on Notice that is yet to be argued, seeking a the same reliefs as were contained in the purported ex-parte application, to wit, the state capital suspension of the CJN, amongst others.4. ”

The implication is that the president has gone on and above to suspend the constitution in order to achieve his aims and objectives. Clearly, the NBA is of the understanding that the constitution allows for the removal of the CJN through a recommendation of the NJC and a 2/3 of the senate assenting to it, with the President ratifying it.

Following the purported suspension of the CJN, the implications is that the President has suspended the constitution, in order to effect a change. As such, the president is on this note, no longer constitutionally recognized. One cannot suspend the constitution of the land at a time that it suits him or her.

Shehu is a political analyst interested in the activities of the government. He believes there is no smoke without fire, but he is also a firm believer in the Consitution.

A Gynaecologist, Dr Adebayo Bamisebi, on Sunday advised women to get themselves vaccinated against s*xually transmitted infection like genital warts, a disease caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

Bamisebi of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecologist, Ibeju-Lekki General Hospital, Akodo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the virus was most prevalent in women.

He spoke in commemoration of `Cervical Health Awareness Month’ usually celebrated every January.

NAN reports that the `Cervical Health Awareness Month’ was designated by the United States Congress to raise awareness about how women can protect themselves from HPV and Cervical cancer.

According to Bamisebi, Genital warts look like pieces of cauliflower.

“The virus affects an average of about 1.5 million Nigerians annually.

“HPV is s*xually-transmitted and has various stereotypes; and because some of the stereotypes are associated with development of cervical cancer, these viruses are incriminating.

“So I will recommend that young girls and women from age 13 and above should get themselves vaccinated against this virus.

“The girls should be vaccinated before they become s*xually-exposed because this virus, during intercourse, could get incorporated into the cells of the cervix.

“Once it is incorporated into the cells of the cervix, it can develop into cervical cancer. That is why it is important for women to get the vaccination,’’ Bamisebi said.

He also said that the disease was preventable, stressing the need for young women to avail themselves the opportunity of receiving the vaccination.

According to the gynaecologist, the vaccination will protect women from future development of cervical cancer.

He said that genital warts usually are skin coloured or whitish bumps that show up particularly in areas like the vulva, V*g*na, and cervix and around the cap of the P*n*s of men and on the body.

Bamisebi said that a woman could have one wart or a cluster of them and they could be big or small.

He said the disease could also be diagnosable and treatable medically by burning the regions up with chemical.

Bamisebi, however, said that not all bumps on the genitals were warts, saying that some were like moles, skin tags or small bumps found around the edge of the head of the male organ and the entrance of the female organ.

Aisha, wife to President Muhammadu Buhari, has reacted to the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.

Aisha, in a statement signed by her Director of information, Suleiman Haruna, denied the report that she faulted Buhari’s decision to suspend Onnoghen.

The statement read: ” The attention of wife of the President has been drawn to a post on social media to the effect that she condemned the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“It is important to inform Nigerians that the wife of the president has not made any public statements on the matter and therefore the commentary is untrue and fake.

“This is highly condemnable and we, therefore, advise the purveyors of such news to recant and desist henceforth,”

Buhari has since Friday been under criticisms after he suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen based on an order of Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT.

pain’s Rafael Nadal reacts during a press conference after his defeat to Serbia’s Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles final on day 14 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne / AFP
Rafael Nadal said he took a lot of positives out of the Australian Open on his return from injury, despite being thrashed in the final Sunday by Novak Djokovic.

The Spanish second seed had played an outstanding level of tennis at the tournament without dropping a set until he met his arch-rival on Rod Laver Arena.

And he had no answer to the world number one’s booming groundstrokes and precision serve to limp out of Melbourne Park 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

Despite the rout, Nadal said he was content with being able to even reach the final given the injury problems that prevented him from playing any matches after the US Open until he got to Melbourne.

“Tonight was not my best day, and of course I had someone that played a lot better than me tonight,” he said.

“I have been going through tough moments in the last year. (I have played) only nine events and since the US Open I was not able to play until the first round here.

“Even if tonight was not my night it’s so important for me to be where I am coming back from injury.

“I really believe I played a great two weeks of tennis, there’s a good energy and good inspiration for what is coming.”

Nadal had not played a main tour event since a knee problem forced him to retire during his US Open semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro in September.

The 32-year-old had surgery on his ankle in November to remove a loose intra-articular body and only resumed training in December.

He played the opening round at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi to start his season, where he lost to South African Kevin Anderson, and withdraw from the warm-up Brisbane International.

But en route to the final he emphatically shattered the dreams of three of the NextGen stars — 19-year-old Alex de Minaur, 21-year-old Frances Tiafoe, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, 20.

And Nadal, with 17 Grand Slam titles to his name, vowed there was more to come despite being 32 and guaranteed to be considered among the best to have ever lifted a racquet.

“I’m going to keep fighting hard to be a better player,” he said.

Abdullahi Ganduje, Governor of Kano State, seeking reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Mohammed Abacha, governorship candidate of the Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), were absent at the governorship debate held on Saturday in the state.
The debate was organised by the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Research and Training Mambayya, in collaboration with 10 other civil society organisations.
Ganduje didn’t attend or send a representative. He also didn’t send apologies for his absence. Ganduje, who was in attendance at the signing of the 2019 Peace Accord, held at Bayero University Kano, was expected to attend the debate.
However, Abba Yusuf, governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and son-in-law to Rabiu Kwankwaso, Salihu Takai of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Nasir Mukhtar of the Legacy Party of Nigeria (LPN) attended the debate.
Yusuf said his party would promote politics without bitterness, just as he highlighted his major priorities as education and empowerment of women, youth and civil servants. Noting that his government would continue from where the Kwankwaso administration stopped on education and empowerment, he also promised to improve road infrastructure, as well as ensure development across all sectors of the economy.
Nasir Mukhtar of LPN also said his main target is to improve the economy of the state, and also block all influx of drugs commonly abused by youth and reform them.
For Takai, his administration would focus on empowerment of youth. He also promised to encourage youth to embrace skill acquisition.
Of the three candidates present, only the PDP presented a hard copy of his action plan, whereas Takai, who earlier said his was not ready, later said it was ready in his conclusion remarks.

A Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga, has used Nigeria as a subject of a laughter-provoking anecdote to draw a nexus between corrupt enrichment and development crisis at a conference in his country.
Mr Odinga, Kenya’s former prime minister, was speaking on Friday at a multi-sectoral National Anti-Corruption Conference which also had in attendance the country’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta.

He said when he was the minister for roads, public works and housing (2003 to 2005), he was told a story about a Nigerian minister.

The Nigerian minister, he narrated, was taken on a tour of Malaysia to showcase various infrastructural projects by his Malaysian counterpart.

The tour ended with a dinner at the Malaysian minister’s palatial home.

“At the end of the evening, he (Nigerian minister) asked his host how he had managed to do so well for himself to which the Malaysian minister took the Nigerian to his balcony and showed him a highway far off. ‘You see that highway, 10% here’ the Malaysian said,” Mr Odinga narrated, saying that a fraction of the fund for the road had gone back to the minister in kickback used to build his impressive home.

The audience burst in laughter.

Then, it was time for the Nigerian minister to showcase his acquisition as a proceed of corruption.

The Malaysian minister was visiting the Nigerian minister. The two toured parts of Nigeria and, unlike Malaysia, the roads in African country were in terrible conditions with potholes everywhere.

After the tour, the Nigerian took the Malaysian to his Lagos home.

“He found an Olympic sized swimming pool, the sofa sets were imported from Britain, most of the kitchen-ware were golden,” Mr Odinga said describing the Lagos home.

The Malaysian asked how his friend had accumulated wealth and was taken to the balcony.

“Do you see that highway there?,” asked the west African minister but the Malaysian could see nothing.

“‘But I don’t see anything’ the foreigner said. The Nigerian explained, ‘That highway, 100% here’,” Mr Odinga concluded, provoking laughter in the hall.

He meant that the entire allocation for a road project had been diverted for private use – to built a magnificent home – by a Nigerian minister.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and largest oil exporter, having what the country needs for development generously in place. But widespread corruption as well as mismanagement has meant the human capital enhancement and infrastructural services entitled to or paid for by citizens are either not rendered at all or perfunctorily done, submitted a professor of political science, Femi Mimiko.

Infrastructural and industrial projects such as power, railway and steel targets, spanning decades, remain incomplete without accountability.

But Kenya, Mr Odinga’s country, is barely better. Corruption is an insidious problem too. Last year, a commentator, Peter Wamonye, said corruption has rendered human lives useless in Kenya, detailing how diversion of funds has regularly caused fatal accidents on roads.

In his address on Friday, Mr Odinga asked his countrypeople to stop glorifying corrupt people and lamented that the country’s judiciary is giving corruption suspects “too much” leeway.

The Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Maj. Gen Suleiman Kazaure has warned Corps members who will take part in this year’s election against collecting gifts from politicians.

He warned that any corps member caught engaging in electoral malpractice of any sort would be prosecuted.

Maj. Gen Kazaure, who stated this while addressing Enugu State corps members at the Enugu East LGA Secretariat, Saturday, said they must not give room to any form of inducement.

“Study your environment and be security conscious. When faced with obvious danger, secure yourself first.

“Do not enter vehicles belonging to politicians and strangers as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will provide all your needs.

“The participation of corps members in the election as ad hoc staff is not by compulsion, but a voluntary service to their fatherland,” he said.

He advised all corps members on election duty to appear in their uniforms with their identity cards, stating that such will help for easy identification.

Speaking at the event, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Emeka Ononamadu, said that corps members participating in the election would have insurance cover.

Ononamadu said that adequate logistics that covered incentives and vehicles for easy movement to areas of deployment had been put in place.

He said that 2,958 Presiding Officers would be sourced from the NYSC in the state, with additional 1,188 Electoral Officers from other Federal Government agencies in the state.

“It is a rare privilege to have all the presiding officers from the NYSC,’ Ononamadu said.

Highlights of the visit of Maj. Gen. Kazaure to Enugu state was the inauguration of a new office block at the NYSC secretariat, completed by the coordinator in the state, Alhaji Ahmed Ikaka.

”

outh-South Governors Forum, on Saturday condemned the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The Chairman of the forum and Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake d**kson, described the removal of Onnoghen as a sad day and a sad commentary on democracy in Nigeria.

The governor, in a statement signed his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, said that the action was inimical to the desired stability of the nation and critical institutions of state.

He said that Nigerians have a responsibility to be concerned about the electoral process and the critical institutions entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding democracy in the society.

d**kson stated that Nigeria would be heading in the direction of a sh*thole country if critical institutions of state failed to get it right.

He lamented that the removal of Onnoghen from his exalted position showed in clear terms that the nation’s democracy was under serious stress and test.

He said: “Talking about the unfortunate development, having read the details about it, and if the report that we are reading about it are anything to go by, then it is a very sad commentary on our nation’s democracy

“It is a very sad day, for our nation’s democracy and for the stability of our nation, and the stability of the critical national institution of which the judiciary is primus inter pares.

“We must be concerned about the process, the integrity of the national critical institutions that will safeguard and reinforce our democracy, seeing our democracy has come under very severe stress and test by what has happened today.”

The forum’s chairman stressed that while the courts would make pronouncement on the legality or otherwise on the development around the CJN, the South-South governors found the action condemnable

He emphasized the need for due process and adherence to constitutional provisions, stressing that countries are governed according to laws and mutual respect among the political class.

KATSINA—Ahead of the general election, Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, yesterday warned Nigerians against electing or returning politicians who looted the country to power
Governor Masari gave the warning when his campaign train stormed Kusada Local Government Area of the state for his re-election bid.

He told the electorate that only politicians with proven integrity should be voted for at the state and national level in the upcoming elections.

According to him, “politicians who are known to be looters should not be allowed to return to power. The coming polls would be battle between good and evil, looters and non- looters, as well as men of questionable character and those with track records of sincerity and trustworthiness.

“It would not be wise if those with questionable character, including those that have ruled in the past, are allowed to come back and rule again.”

However, he called on the electorate to vote for All Progressive Congress, APC, candidates at both the federal and state elections for continuity.

Earlier, Chairman Masari re-election campaign, who is Secretary to the State Government, Mustapha Inuwa, called on the electorate not to be deceived into voting for anyone that would not represent their interests.

The Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, yesterday pledged the sum of N5 million as support to his rival in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Sonni Ogbuoji.

The donation, Umahi said, was to enable Ogbuoji and his running mate in the March 2 governorship election to change his posters and billboards across the state with good ones.

Umahi, who subsequently ordered his Chief of Staff, Offor Okorie, to release the money immediately to the APC guber candidate, said he was constrained to make the donation because the campaign posters of the APC governorship hopeful and his running mate were not good looking.

He warned his supporters not to tear or deface the campaign posters of the opposition parties in the state.

Umahi warned that doing so might lead to unnecessary rivalry and possible break down of law and order which his administration has worked very hard to achieve in more than three years it came on board.

He gave the warning in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state while addressing a crowd of his supporters during a campaign rally held in the premises of the council headquarters.

“I want to donate N5 million to assist them to change their pictures. For the sake of the image of Ebonyi State, let them change those posters and billboards. People will think that is how Ebonyi people look like. I want the Chief of Staff to release the money immediately to them.

“We ask our people not to tear the posters of any other political party. PDP is on the ground. If you meet them don’t tear their posters,” Umahi warned.

Umahi, however, said that he was happy that his administration was able to restore peace in the war-torn Ezza/Ezzilo communities, an inter-communal war which claimed several lives and properties.

“When we were campaigning in 2015, this land was so challenged. The land was full of blood and the anger of God came upon the land and the entire Ebonyi State. And when we were campaigning, we made a promise that we were going to restore peace. It wasn’t by pride but by the grace of God

“As soon as God did it for us, we set out a peace committee under the leadership of Fr Nwali. And so, it is an opportunity to be grateful to God.

“We came and planted trees of peace and ever since then, through the prayers of our traditional rulers, spiritual fathers and lords, elders and sons and daughters of the state, we have peace in the land of Ishielu.

“We have peace to the extent that Ibeto is now concluding the fabrication of NIGERCEM cement machines. To the extent that NIGERCEM road is built on concrete, to the extent that seven bridges are springing up along that road.

“To the extent that Agba/Ntezi/Isu road is being awarded now and will soon start this month. To the extent that we have two more autonomous communities in this land; to the extent that we have our general hospital in this local government completely renovated.

“To the extent that the NYSC, not only that they have returned, but they are ‘Atikulated’; to the extent that we are building new schools; we are renovating the Ezillo Water Scheme. There is no alternative to peace,” he added.

Two protesters were killed during anti-government demonstrations that rocked Sudan’s capital in the past day, police spokesman General Hashim Abdelrahim told AFP early Friday.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman on Thursday as demonstrators launched simultaneous rallies in several Sudanese cities and towns calling on President Omar al-Bashir to resign.

“There were several illegal gatherings in different states and also in different areas of Khartoum state,” Abdelrahim said.

“Police dispersed them with tear gas. In the state of Khartoum we have recorded two deaths,” he said, without specifying how the people died.

Late Thursday, a senior Sudanese official reported that one protester had died in a protest in Omdurman.

A doctors’ committee linked to the Sudanese Professionals’ Association that is spearheading the protest campaign also said two protesters had died on Thursday.

The overall death toll since the protests erupted in December has now reached 30, according to officials. Rights groups have put the death toll at more than 40.

Abdelrahim said police had arrested several people on Friday and charged them with “disturbing public law and order”.

Police had also detained an individual who was carrying a pistol in a demonstration, he said.

A car equipped with “long distance communication equipment” was also captured, he added.

Deadly protests have rocked Sudan since December 19 after a government decision to triple the price of bread.

The protests swiftly turned into nationwide rallies, with angry demonstrators calling for an end to Bashir’s three-decade rule.

AFP

FIGHTING THE SUNNAH, FIGHTING ISLAM (by Ustadh Murtala Alade Adedokun)

There was long ago in our land a Muslim generation who withdrew their wards from schools for fear of their conversion to Christianity. Blessed be their memory for choosing the Hereafter over this world.

There came the era of another generation which enrolled the best of their own wards in schools and the least endowed in Arabic madrasahs. These ones came out as "Alfas" who hardly knew the Islam they were supposed to be teaching. Overwhelmed with complex, They looked upon people schooled in the Western way as superior to themselves and would compete to be appointed marabouts and superstitious "protectors" by politicians and well placed individuals who have little or no desire to learn Islam any more than the Alfas themselves have the competence or desire to teach it.

A third generation is fast emerging by the grace of Allah who are conscious and proud of Islam and the Sunnah, yet well endowed and highly educated in every sense that modern times demand. Their mere devotion to the ideals of Islam scares its enemies from within and without. The enemies without see the ghost of Islamization in their mere practice of the most basic tenets of the faith, and the enemies within - ah! those ones are worse - hate the word "Sunnah" with maddening passion and seize every opportunity to ridicule it and its followers.
Decide where you and your family want to belong for there is no stopping the Truth. Fighting the Sunnah is precisely fighting Islam from within.

يُرِيدُونَ لِيُطْفِئُوا نُورَ اللَّهِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ مُتِمُّ نُورِهِ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ.

They intend to put out the Light of Allah (i.e. the religion of Islam, this Quran, and Prophet Muhammad SAW) with their mouths. But Allah will complete His Light even though the disbelievers hate (it).

A man who has been parading himself as an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), has been arrested in Akwa Ibom State.

The State Commissioner of Police, Musa Kimo, confirmed this on Thursday while parading the suspect before journalists at the Police Headquarters in Uyo.

According to him, the suspect, Mr Kingsley Udoeyen, had defrauded and threatened unsuspecting members of the public before he was apprehended by the command.

Meanwhile, the suspect admitted to the crime.

The remains of the first British explorer to circumnavigate the Australian continent and popularise the country’s name have been found near a busy London railway station.

Archaeologists sifting through a vast burial ground near Euston station said Friday they had found a coffin plate identifying the last resting place of Royal Navy captain Matthew Flinders.

Flinders was buried on 23rd July 1814, but not before publishing “A Voyage to Terra Australis,” which described his circumnavigation of Australia in 1802-1803 that proved it was a continent.

Navy captain Matthew Flinders

Photo: Flickr

“Flinders put Australia on the map due to his tenacity and expertise as a navigator and explorer,” said Helen Wass, an archaeologist overseeing the dig for the HS2 high speed rail project.

With an estimated 40,000 remains at the site, archaeologists were not sure they were going to find Flinders, whose resting place had been subject to much speculation.

“We were very lucky” said Wass, he “had a breastplate made of lead meaning it would not have corroded.”

“We’ll now be able to study his skeleton to see whether life at sea left its mark and what more we can learn about him.”

Flinders is a hero for many Australians of European origin, with stations, streets, squares and towns across the country named after him.

The discovery of his remains comes on the eve of “Australia Day” a controversial national holiday which falls on the date of the arrival of the British First Fleet to Australia.

Many Australians view the Fleet and men like Flinders as harbingers of the decimation of ancient Aboriginal societies and cultures.

There is added controversy over the role of an aboriginal Australian aide to Flinders named Bungaree, who has been largely eclipsed by his British captain, but who historians now believe played a crucial role in the success of the voyages.

According to a report by Punch Metro, the Senate on Thursday suspended its rules by evoking order 79 to give the new Minimum Wage (amendments) Bill an accelerated consideration.

No sooner had the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, read President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter announcing the transmission of the bill to the National Assembly, than the process for its consideration started.

Buhari in the letter noted that the new wage bill recommended N27, 000 for the least paid worker in Nigeria while firms with less than 25 members of staff, are exempted while punishment for defaulters should be made very stringent.

Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, raised a point of order shortly after the letter had been read drawing the attention of his colleagues to suspend their rules to enable them give accelerated hearing to the legislation.

His motion was put to vote and members in attendance overwhelmingly supported it after the motion was seconded by the Minority Leader, Senator Abiodun Olujimi.

The bill was subsequently subjected to the first and second reading while the senators who spoke on it supported the need to expedite action on it to enable them to pass it into law within the shortest possible time.

Serena Williams will not win her 24th grand slam title at the Australian Open this year.

Williams crashed out of the Australian Open at the quarter-final stage in dramatic circumstances on Wednesday.

A left ankle injury surely contributed to her squandering of a massive 5-1 advantage and four match points to Karolina Pliskova, although the 37-year-old played down the problem and its effect on the outcome.

“I don’t think it had anything to do with my ankle per se.

“I just think she was just nailing and hitting shots. Obviously I made some mistakes but she played really well after that,” Williams said afterwards.

The Czech, who also beat Williams at the 2016 US Open, prevailed 6-4 4-6 7-5 in a shade past two hours in Melbourne.

Paris Saint-Germain have been fined 100,000 euros ($114,000), after a collective negligence led to racial profiling at youth-team level inside Ligue 1 champions, French league authorities said Tuesday.

The matter began when French investigative website, Mediapart, revealed racial profiling by talent scouts since 2013, where potential youth signings were identified by their ethnicity.

The Qatari-owned club also face an upcoming hearing from the Paris prosecutors on the same matter.

The football league said the use of these forms had no part in a general racial profiling culture.

“From what we can see PSG did not use the information on ethnicity for discriminatory ends. There is no case of discrimination that can be proved.

“It is more a case of individual clumsiness and collective negligence,” LFP disciplinary commissioner Sebastien Deneux said at a press conference.

The youth candidates were categorised as French, North African, West Indian or African.

Such profiling is illegal in France.

One of PSG’s youth team directors Bertrand Reuzeau, who was in charge from 2013-2015, was given a suspended fine of 10,000 euros for his role in the matter.

The club itself launched an internal investigation in October “to understand how such practices could exist and decide what measures to take”.

A former senior South Korean prosecutor was convicted of abuse of power and jailed for two years on Wednesday in connection with a high-profile case that triggered the country’s #MeToo movement.

Ahn Tae-Geun was accused of repeatedly groping a female junior colleague at the funeral of another co-worker’s father. After Seo Ji-Hyun filed a formal complaint, he had her transferred to a provincial position and her career went nowhere.

She suffered in silence for years until she went public with a tearful live television appearance last January, detailing her experiences.

The interview was a rarity in a still conservative society where female victims of s*xual assault are often reluctant to come forward due to fears of shaming.

But it triggered a flood of similar accusations against powerful men in fields ranging from art and literature to politics and religion that grew into a South Korean #MeToo movement.

Ahn — who was separately fired for corruption in 2017 — could not be charged with s*xual abuse because the one-year statute of limitations had expired, but prosecutors indicted him for abuse of power for having Seo transferred.

Announcing the verdict at the Seoul Central District Court, judge Lee Sang-Ju said there was sufficient evidence that Ahn transferred Seo away from Seoul “because he was afraid of the consequences of her internal complaint”.

The move “caused significant psychological distress to Seo”, the judge added.

Ahn has always maintained that he had no recollection of the initial incident as he was drunk at the memorial ceremony, but the judge said he was necessarily aware of an internal investigation at the time his accuser was moved.

Wearing a dark suit, Ahn — who had denied the charges — mostly looked down with his eyes shut and fists clenched as the judge delivered his verdict, sighing and looking up to the ceiling as his defence arguments were dismissed one by one.

“This was such an unexpected result,” he said, adding that he would appeal.

In the public gallery, a handful of young women quietly pumped clenched fists into the air as he was sentenced.

The verdict was welcomed by many activists, who described it as “therapeutic” and “pleasantly surprising” after doubts had been raised over the prosecution’s efforts.

It also came months after Ahn Hee-Jung, a former South Korean presidential contender, was acquitted of raping a female aide, a verdict that infuriated women’s rights activists in the country.

“I think the verdict is a sign of change,” said Lee Mi-Kyoung, director of Korea s*xual Violence Relief Center, who was present in court Wednesday.

“There are still many victims who suffer in silence. I hope today’s ruling can give them a reason to be hopeful.”

Bae Bok-Ju, another campaigner, regretted that Ahn could not be charged with s*xual abuse.

“But today’s ruling at least acknowledged that it’s the power abuse at workplaces that often leads the victims of s*xual abuse to stay silent for many years.”

Emiliano Sala’s ex-girlfriend, Berenice Schkair, has claimed she doesn’t believe the disappearance of the Cardiff striker’s plane is an accident as she blamed a “soccer mafia” for the incident.

Sala was travelling from Nantes to the Welsh capital to join his team-mates following his £15million move.

His plane was lost from the radar as it crossed the English Channel and the player is now feared dead.

His former partner, Berenice Schkair, a French model, posted a cryptic tweet which she later deleted before expanding on her message on Instagram.

She initially said: “Investigate the soccer mafia because I do not believe this accident.”

Later, she wrote: “I want to wake up and this is all a lie. Please investigate because I do not believe this was an accident or suspend a search for bad weather when they hardly find objects floating in [the sea].

“I need to read that you showed up I can not believe they stop the search until tomorrow , that they lose time and do not investigate, I feel powerless, it’s a nightmare.”

On Wednesday, rescue workers resumed their search for the plane.

Two planes took off on Wednesday morning to search a “targeted area” where there is the “highest likelihood” of finding something based on a review of tides and the weather.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he is impressed with the preparations made so far by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The President stated this on Tuesday when he received the members of the European Union Observer Mission (EOM) at the State House in Abuja.

He said that he was optimistic that the electoral body would deliver on its mandate of a credible poll.

The President in a statement through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said he had listened earlier in the day, to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, when he briefed the National Council of State.

He told the Chief Observer and member of the European Parliament, Maria Arena when then they visited him that, “I am happy and impressed with the briefing he gave. I hope that the confidence he exuded and the intellect he brought to bear on the report will be justified at the end of the day.”

The President told the EU delegation that Nigeria had grown its electoral system incrementally, getting better year after year.

“Having participated in elections four times in the past, I would say that since 2015, technology has helped the credibility of our elections,” he said.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS: EU Election Observers Visit Buhari

President Buhari said that Nigeria with over 250 cultural groups across religions and ethnic groups, with each group canvassing for identity and primacy in the affairs of the nation, “patriotism demands that we identify the nation’s best interest and go with it.”

He stressed that the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, administration had the good sense of identifying the national interest to include security, peace and stability, improved economy, jobs creation and the campaign against corruption, noting that the party was not wrong in 2015, and is not wrong going into the election this year with the same issues in its campaigns.

The President thanked the delegation for taking interest in Nigeria’s elections, and in the affairs of the nation generally.

The EOM team, accompanied by Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, Head, European Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, said that the EU had observed every election in Nigeria since 1999, and had come here again for the next one, following an invitation by INEC.

The delegation promised impartiality and neutrality in monitoring the elections.

Greenland’s melting ice, which causes sea levels to rise, disappeared four times faster in 2013 than in 2003 and is noticeable across the Arctic island, not just on glaciers, researchers warned on Tuesday.

“While 111 cubic kilometres of ice disappeared per year in 2003, 10 years later this figure had almost quadrupled to 428 cubic kilometres,” the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Space Lab said in a statement.

Its researchers contributed to a study on changes to Greenland’s ice sheet, published in the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

“These are notable and surprising changes we are seeing in the ice melt pattern,” DTU professor Shfaqat Abbas Khan said.

Until now, most of Greenland’s ice melt was observed on the ice cap, predominantly on the glaciers in the island’s northwest and southeast.

But most of the ice loss from 2003 to 2013 was from Greenland’s southwest region, which is largely devoid of large glaciers.

Michael Bevis, a professor at Ohio State University and lead author of the PNAS paper, said the ice now appeared to be melting from the surface mass, “melting inland from the coastline.”

That means that in the southwestern part of Greenland, growing rivers of water are streaming into the ocean.

“We knew we had one big problem with increasing rates of ice discharge by some large outlet glaciers,” Bevis said.

“But now we recognise a second serious problem: Increasingly, large amounts of ice mass are going to leave as meltwater, as rivers that flow into the sea.”

He warned this would have major implications, causing additional sea level rise.

“We are watching the ice sheet hit a tipping point,” he said, which would condemn the entire giant ice block to melting over a time scale of hundreds, or several thousand, years.

The Greenland ice sheet — up to three kilometres thick — contains enough frozen water to raise global sea levels some six metres (yards).

The melting ice observed in the study is caused by rising land temperatures, and in part, the fact that the ice comes into contact with waters that are increasingly warmer.

“As the atmosphere’s temperature gradually rises, we will immediately notice an acceleration of the ice melt,” Khan said.

While the amount varies from region to region, sea levels rose worldwide by an average of 20 centimetres (about eight inches) in the 20th century. They are currently rising by about 3.3 millimetres per year.

Super Eagles captain and former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has agreed personal terms with Middlesbrough and is undergoing a medical on Tuesday.

Mikel Obi

Mikel Obi
Sky Sports reports that the Nigeria international held talks with Boro manager Tony Pulis at the Middlesbrough training ground last week and is now close to signing a short-term deal with the Championship club.

READ ALSO: Cardiff striker Sala feared missing in plane crash: French police
Mikel, who has been playing for Chinese side Tianjin TEDA, is keen to end his two-year spell in China to return to the UK, where his wife and children have stayed after his move abroad.

The 31-year-old spent 11 years at Chelsea, most notably winning one Champions League title, two Premier League titles, the Europa League, three FA Cups and the League Cup.

Championship Club Derby County have announced the signing of Chelsea Legend Ashley Cole.

38-year-old Cole spent the last three seasons with the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer, but was released following the end of the 2018 campaign.

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to secure Ashley’s services for the rest of the season," Frank Lampard said in a statement.

“He’s a fantastic player, a quality left-back, and he also brings great experience to the dressing room."

"I know him very well from our time together at Chelsea, and with England, and I also know what he can bring to the group and the influence he will have.

"Ashley is in good shape, which doesn't surprise me because he's an excellent professional, and he will compete for a place in the side like every other player here.

"I've made my feelings known over the last couple of days just how highly I think of Ashley and I have no doubt whatsoever he will be a positive addition to our squad."

Cole made 384 Premier League appearances for Arsenal and Chelsea, and also played for Roma in Serie A.

MySportDab report he won the Champions League and Europa League with Chelsea, and also lifted three Premier League titles, seven FA Cups and a League Cup.

Kelvin-Prince Boateng is a German-Ghanaian footballer; he was born on the 6th of March 1987. He is currently signed on loan to Barcelona from Sassuolo.

Boating is an attacking midfielder who can also play as a striker. He is known for his ball-juggling tricks, strength and foot speed.

He was born in Germany and represented the German youth team till he later switched his allegiance to Ghana senior football national team between 2010 and 2014. He was a member of the Ghanaian national team at the 2014 FIFA world cup.

Boating has plied his football trade in Germany and Italy for various clubs. He also had a short spell in England and Spain.

Club information

Years Clubs

2004–2007 Hertha BSC II

2005–2007 Hertha BSC

2007–2009 Tottenham Hotspur

2009 Borussia Dortmund (loan)

2009–2010 Portsmouth

2010–2013 Milan

2013–2015 Schalke 04

2016 Milan

2016–2017 Las Palmas

2017–2018 Eintracht Frankfurt

2018– Sassuolo

2019– Barcelona (loan)

Country information

Year team

2004–2005 Germany U19

2006 Germany U20

2006–2009 Germany U21

2010–2014 Ghana

FIFA, UEFA and several of the world’s top football leagues on Tuesday condemned alleged piracy of television rights by the “beoutQ” network, which Qatar claims is backed by Saudi Arabia.
Qatar, host of the 2022 World Cup, and the Doha-based beIN Media Group have described beoutQ as a vast and sophisticated Saudi bootlegging network that has been transmitting stolen programmes via Riyadh-based satellite provider Arabsat.

FIFA, UEFA, the English Premier League, La Liga, the German Bundesliga and the Asian Football Confederation weighed in on Tuesday by blasting beoutQ’s actions as “a clear and flagrant breach of our intellectual property rights”.

“Collectively, we, as rights-holders in various football competitions, condemn the pirate entity beoutQ, which continues to abuse the operations of rights holders and legitimate broadcasters through its persistent and illegal screening of events for which it has made no effort to secure the rights,” the powerful football bodies said in a joint statement.

FIFA and the Premier League have previously said they were preparing to take legal action in Saudi Arabia against the pirates, but Tuesday’s statement makes no mention of the kingdom.

In October, beIN launched a compensation claim worth $1 billion (880 million euros) against the Saudi piracy channel while Qatar filed an action at the World Trade Organization.

Saudi Arabia has denied the claims and even said the piracy was operating out of Cuba.

The spat over beoutQ’s actions comes amid a 19-month economic and diplomatic boycott of Qatar by Saudi Arabia and its allies, who accuse Doha of backing terrorism and seeking closer ties with rival Iran.

Qatar has refuted the claims

AC Milan’s on-loan striker Gonzalo Higuain remains in Italy as the club attempts to secure a replacement for the Argentine before sanctioning his move to Chelsea.

The 31-year-old, on loan from Juventus, has not travelled with his team-mates to Monday’s Serie A game at Genoa.

Talks are continuing over a deal that would take him to Stamford Bridge.

Milan are hopeful of signing Genoa striker Krzysztof Piatek, enabling Higuain’s move to Chelsea.

Genoa’s general director Giorgio Perinetti has told Italian radio a meeting over Poland international Piatek, 23, will take place after today’s game and a conclusion is expected one way or another within 48 hours.

If agreement is reached on the proposed moves, financial negotiations and medicals are likely to be completed swiftly, allowing both signings to go through.

Higuain’s spell at Milan began well, with the Argentina international scoring six goals in five games for the 18-time Italian league champions.

However, he has only found the net once in his past 12 appearances.

Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembele has been ruled out for two weeks after spraining his ankle at the weekend, the Spanish champions announced on Monday.

“Tests carried out on first team player Ousmane Dembele have confirmed a sprained ankle that will keep him out of action for approximately 15 days,” the club said in a statement.

The 21-year-old will miss both legs of Barca’s Copa del Rey quarter-final with Champions League-chasing Sevilla after picking up the injury during his side’s 3-1 home win over Leganes on Sunday, which maintained the Catalans’ five-point lead at the top of La Liga.

France international Dembele opened the scoring in the 32nd minute of his 50th Barca appearance with his 13th goal of the season.

He will also be unavailable for La Liga clashes with Girona and Valencia.

Recently retrenched workers in Southern Kaduna on Monday urged Governor Nasir El-Rufai to fear God and pay their entitlements.

The retrenched workers, under the auspices of “Compulsory Retired Civil Servants in Southern Kaduna”, made the appeal on Monday in a statement signed by their Zone 3, Chairman, Comrade Markus Mathew Adankat.

They decried what they called impromptu retirement of civil servants, stressing that, “this is the second year that over 5,000 civil servants in Southern Kaduna Senatorial zone were laid off.

“Apart from primary school teachers and local government staff, many of our members were compulsorily retired from other state owned ministries and parastatals for just no cause.”

“While we remain loyal to the government, we equally want the governor to have the fear of God and pay us our legitimate benefits,” Adankat added.

A woman known for hiking mountains wearing only a bikini has been found frozen to death in a national park. The Taiwanese named Gigi Wu, 36, who called herself ‘The Bikini Hiker’ when posting about her climbs on social media, had embarked on a solo hike through Yushan National Park.



More than a week after setting off, she called a friend on a satellite phone and said she had fallen down a ravine.

Black Hawk helicopters were scrambled to save her high, however poor weather conditions prevented them from taking off and Wu was found 28 hours later frozen to death.

In a message to be passed on to the Nantou fire service, Wu revealed she had stumbled more than 65 ft into a narrow gorge while trying to ascend Taiwan’s highest peak. Gigi Wu, 36, is known for hiking in bikinis and has a large social media following on Facebook and Instagram

Wu said she was trapped at the bottom and unable to move due to the injuries sustained during the fall.

The island’s National Airborne Service Corps said it attempted to dispatch Black Hawk rescue helicopters to her location on three separate occasions, but the flights were ultimately grounded due to poor weather conditions.

It finally decided to send in two search and rescue parties comprising three members each.



They found Wu’s body at the location of her distress beacon.

Rescuers say they are still waiting for stable weather in which to airlift Wu’s body out the narrow gully, with the search party having since set up camp near the site of the accident.

Relatives of three of the 73 people killed in a massive blaze triggered by a leaky pipeline in Tlahuelilpan, attend their funeral in Teltipan de Juarez community, in Hidalgo state, Mexico on January 20, 2019. – An explosion and fire in central Mexico killed at least 73 people after hundreds swarmed to the site of an illegal fuel-line tap to gather gasoline amid a government crackdown on fuel theft, officials said. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP)

The death toll from a fiery explosion in central Mexico rose to 85 on Sunday as authorities vowed to hold accountable those responsible for a deliberate fuel-line puncture that drew hundreds of people looking to gather gasoline before it ignited.
The search for human remains at the site of the explosion in the state of Hidalgo ended late Saturday. While families began to bury the dead, officials indicated the death toll could still rise.

Health Minister Jorge Alcocer said 85 deaths were confirmed and that another 58 people were hospitalized in Hidalgo, while others in worse conditions had been moved to Mexico City for specialized treatment.

Family members of the victims have called on the government to continue looking for remains and to bring back forensic experts for that purpose.

Funerals already have begun, but the handover of remains has been slow because many of the victims were burned beyond recognition.

The Hidalgo state prosecutor said 54 of the dead could not be readily identified, and require DNA analysis.

Mourners began arriving little by little at the home of one of the victims, while in the adjacent street a hearse carried another corpse.

“He’s gone forever,” sobbed a woman as the remains of Cesar Jimenez were transferred to a church for a funeral mass attended by dozens of relatives and friends.

At a cultural center, loved ones publicly displayed pictures of the missing.

“We are sick and tired of searching around in every hospital,” said Moises Mejia, trying to find his missing wife Karina Ugalde and her sister Angelica.

“We gave some DNA from their dad to see if they are in (nearby) Tula. We want them to search more (near the blast and fire). Why did they go and move all that dirt over there?” he asked.

Another man, Antonio Garcia, wandered about searching for his nephew Lupillo, 17.

“I don’t know what he was thinking going over there,” he said. “I would always see him buying his gas (at stations). I don’t understand why he’d go over there to steal it.”

A torrent of fuel
Hundreds of people had been drawn to the place where suspected fuel thieves tapped into a pipeline in the town of Tlahuelilpan.

Images captured by local media showed a torrent of fuel escaping from a pipeline as people converged on the site with buckets and jerrycans to collect gasoline.

A massive explosion engulfed the area in flames, and local media showed images of people screaming as they fled, their clothes in flames, some with severe burns.

Asked whether those hospitalized would be considered suspects, Attorney General Alejandro Gertz said investigators do not seek to “victimize the communities.”

“We are going to find those responsible for actions that generated this tragedy,” he said. “Victimizing the whole population is not (the investigation’s) function nor is it established in the law.”

The disaster came during a crackdown by the new government of President Manuel Lopez Obrador on the lucrative illegal business of fuel thefts, which triggered shortages of gasoline.

On Friday, when authorities heard that fuel traffickers had punctured the pipeline, about 25 soldiers arrived and attempted to block off the area, Defense Secretary Luis Crescencio Sandoval told reporters.

But the soldiers were unable to contain the estimated 700 civilians — including entire families — who swarmed in to collect the spilled gasoline, witnesses said.

The armed soldiers had been moved away from the pipeline to avoid any risk of confrontation with the crowd when the blast occurred, about two hours after the pipeline was first breached, Sandoval said.

Lopez Obrador, a leftist who took office only weeks ago, traveled to the scene on Saturday.

He did not fault the soldiers, saying: “The attitude of the army was correct. It is not easy to impose order on a crowd.” He vowed to continue fighting the growing problem of fuel theft.

“I am deeply saddened by the suffering in Tlahuelilpan,” Lopez Obrador wrote on Twitter. He called on his “whole government” to extend assistance.

The United States of America has warned its citizens in Nigeria of a plan by Islamic State and Boko Haram insurgent groups to disrupt the forthcoming 2019 general elections by carrying out attacks.

The US gave the warning in a statement published on its website on the 18th of January, 2019.

The alert read that the insurgent groups plan to attack public places and government infrastructures during the 2019 election.

The embassy, however, did not state whether such attacks were targeted at its embassy or not, but U.S. citizens in Nigeria should remember to follow personal security precautions on a regular basis.

The statement reads: “There is an increase in ISIS propaganda videos specifically directed to Nigeria and the ongoing civil unrest in Borno state and the Northeast

“ISIS West Africa (ISWA) and Boko Haram have both stated they plan to disrupt the upcoming 2019 presidential elections by conducting attacks on Nigerian Security and infrastructure, as well as places of gathering such as markets, hotels, and malls

“While we have no specific threat information to the U.S. Embassy or within Nigeria during the election season, U.S. citizens in Nigeria should remember to follow personal security precautions on a regular basis

“ US citizens should avoid crowds and demonstrations, keep a low profile and to stay alert in public places, including schools, hospitals, government facilities, places of worship, tourist locations, and transportation hubs.”

The embassy further urged its citizens to carry proper identification, including a US passport with a current Nigerian visa, if needed and to exercise caution when walking or driving at night.

The Incorporated Trustees of the Civil Society Observatory for Constitutional and Legal Compliance, CSOCLC, has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari to court challenging his eligibility to contest in next month’s election.

The group wants the court to decide whether Buhari has attained the minimum educational qualification to enable him seek re-election into the office of the president.

In a suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Muhammadu Buhari were listed as 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively.

All the defendants have been served and the suit has been assigned to Justice Binta Nyako.

The judge has also fixed hearing on an application for accelerated hearing filed alongside the originating summons for the 4th of February, 2019.

The plaintiff is also asking for an injunction restraining Buhari from contesting the presidential election.

The plaintiff, among other things, asked the court for an order disqualifying and barring the 3rd Defendant President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR from standing for and contesting election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the 2019 General Elections for making a false statement to INEC in breach of the provisions of Section 31 (6) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and failure to attach proof to his Affidavit in support of Personal Particulars (INEC Form C.F. 001) that he has attained educational qualifications to qualify to contest election to the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as set out in Section 131 (d) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

CSOCLC also asked for an order invalidating the candidature of Buhari in respect of the election to the office of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the 2019 General Elections.

The plaintiff’s counsel, Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaaiwe, said that as at press time none of the defendants has filed a defence to the suit.

A 14-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Mr ThankGod, who claimed he was a programme officer at the plaintiff’s office, was attached to the originating summons.

He averred that “The 3rd Defendant in the Affidavit of Personal Particulars (Form INEC Form C.F. 001) which he submitted to the 1st Defendant failed to include any evidence or proof of any qualification at all which he claims to possess.

“Since no document which can be considered proof of academic qualification was attached to the said Affidavit in Proof of Personal Particulars, the 3rd Defendant is ex facie, not qualified to stand for the election.”

Rafa Nadal routed Tomas Berdych 6-0 6-1 7-6(4) in a centre court masterclass to charge into the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Sunday.



Spain’s Rafael Nadal
The 2009 champion was relentless at Rod Laver Arena, claiming the first two sets in an astonishing 51 minutes.

The Spaniard also fired 32 winners past the hapless Czech to reach the last eight at Melbourne Park for the 11th time.

Nadal, who avenged his defeat to the former world number four in the quarter final of the 2015 tournament, sealed the win on his first match point when the Czech hammered into the net.

Nadal confident about fitness for Australian Open

Bidding for an 18th Grand Slam title, second seed Nadal will play unseeded American Frances Tiafoe for a place in the semi-finals.

Governor Samuel Ortom has apologised to the people of Benue State and Nigerians at large for supporting the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

Governor Ortom gave the apology while interacting with leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, at the NKST Church in Wannune, Tarka Local Government Area.

He stated that just like former President Olusegun Obasanjo had apologised to Nigerians, he was doing same because the President Buhari-led administration had not only lived up to expection but was also condoning the atrocities of Fulani herdsmen across the country.

According to him, all complaints for the arrest and prosecution of leaders of Fulani groups that sponsored the killing of people in the state and destruction property fell on deaf ears.

Governor Ortom stated that while his kinsmen the late Presidents Shehu Shagari and Umaru Yar’adua appointed several Tiv people ministers in their cabinets, President Buhari has appointed none in spite of the fact that the ethnic group which voted massively for him in 2015 is estimated to be the fourth largest in the country.

The Governor stated that the Buhari administration has brought more hardship on Nigerians and people of the state in different ways, pointing out that Nigerians cannot afford another four years of that kind of leadership that would further plunge them into more crises.

He solicited support for his re-election and that of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as President as well as all other candidates of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the forthcoming general elections, stressing that under Atiku, Nigeria would be better.

Governor Ortom, while speaking with traditional rulers in the area, had appealed that they should support the PDP Benue North West Senatorial Candidate, Mr Orker Jev, who is a member of the House of Representatives, to replace their son, Senator George Akume, insisting that the former was more effective at the National Assembly.

Burkina Faso’s government and Prime Minister Paul Kaba Thieba stood down on Friday, according to a statement released by the country’s president.

No explanation was given for the resignations, though sources told AFP President Roch Marc Christian Kabore wants to breathe new life into the leadership of the landlocked west African country, which is battling a rising wave of jihadist attacks and hostage-taking.

Canadian Edith Blais, 34, and her Italian partner Luca Tacchetto, 30, have been missing since mid-December, and late Wednesday a Canadian geologist kidnapped by suspected jihadists was found dead at a remote gold mine in the northeast.

“Prime Minister Paul Kaba Thieba submitted this afternoon his resignation as well as that of his government,” the statement said.

“The president of Faso accepted the resignation” and expressed “all his gratitude to Prime Minister Paul Kaba Thieba and all its ministers for their commitment to the service of the nation,” the statement added.

President Kabore chose experienced economist Thieba as prime minister in January 2016. However, in recent months several political opponents have been calling for his resignation and that of ministers in charge of security and defence.

Burkina Faso lies in the heart of the vast Sahel region, which is struggling with a bloody Islamist insurgency.

The region turned into a hotbed of violent extremism and lawlessness after chaos engulfed Libya in 2011.

An Islamist insurgency began in northern Mali, while Boko Haram rose in northern Nigeria.

Jihadist raids began in northern Burkina Faso in 2015 before spreading to the east, near the border with Togo and Benin.

The interaction between an Ebola virus protein and a protein in human cells that may be an important key to unlocking the pathway of replication of the killer disease in human hosts has been identified.
A team of researchers at Texas Biomedical Research Institute were part of the nationwide collaborative with scientists at Gladstone Institutes, UC San Francisco and Georgia State University for the study recently published in the journal Cell.

Scientists around the globe are trying to pinpoint potential drug targets to stop Ebola virus disease.

Fear, death as crisis-ridden DR Congo gets set to pick new leader

Texas Biomed Staff Scientist Olena Shtanko, Ph.D., describes this new work as a “turning point for understanding how replication of Ebola virus is modulated.” Her role in the project was to validate and test whether the interaction between an Ebola virus protein called VP 30 and a host (human) protein called RBBP6 had involvement in the life cycle of the virus. Shtanko worked on this project while in the lab of Dr. Robert Davey, a former Texas Biomed Scientist, now at Boston University.

Earlier research by scientists in California used a protein interaction map to narrow down host and virus protein interactions and then using a yeast system and an artificial proxy virus system proved the theory of this particular protein-protein interaction.

However, scientists needed to use replicating virus and human immune cells to test the clinical significance of the finding.

“The interaction is important if you can show functional significance of what it does to the virus in cells that have clinical relevance,” Shtanko stressed. “If you can figure out the mechanism within these cells, then you can potentially manipulate it and stop the disease progression.”

Texas Biomed Staff Scientist Eusondia Arnett, Ph.D., and Texas Biomed President and CEO Dr. Larry Schlesinger – both tuberculosis researchers – have expertise in working with human macrophage (immune) cells drawn from donated blood samples. “We were able to capitalize on our experience with macrophages to over- and under-express the RBBP6 (host) protein to create an effective model for this important Ebola virus research,” Arnett said.

By over- and under-expressing the RBBP6, Shtanko was able to test what impact the protein had on the growth of Ebola virus in the macrophages. Shtanko said the results were striking.

I’m always glad to showcase Nigerian Culture on anything — Laolu

When the host protein was under-expressed, the viral replication went up exponentially. She found similar results when working with vascular cells, which are also key to Ebola virus replication in an infected patient.

The organisers of the Grammy Awards have announced the first group of artistes expected to perform at this year’s edition of the award.
The event, which is the 61st, will hold on Sunday, February 10, at the Staples Center, downtown Los Angeles, United States.

This year’s award will feature performances from a number of superstars with the likes of Cardi B, Post Malone, Camila Cabello, and Shawn Mendes leading the line up.

The organisers announcement made on Thursday, January 17 via their social media pages. This is coming days after singer, Alicia Keys, was revealed as the host of this year’s event.

Cardi B, real names Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, has five nominations this year, including Record Of The Year for I Like It, Album Of The Year and Best Rap Album for her debut full-length, Invasion Of Privacy, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Maroon 5 for Girls Like You and Best Rap Performance for Be Careful.

Born and raised in The Bronx, New York City, the rapper, songwriter, and television personality, first attracted attention for discussing her career as a stripper on social media. She became an Internet celebrity after several of her posts and videos went viral on Vine and Instagram.

She has earned three number-one singles on the US Billboard Hot 100; Bodak Yellow, made her the second female rapper to top the chart with a solo output —following Lauryn Hill in 1998.

I Like It made her the first female rapper to attain multiple number-one songs on the chart, and her Maroon 5 collaboration Girls Like You extended that record.

Along with Chance the Rapper and T.I., she will be a judge for Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow, a 10-part hip-hop talent search set to debut this year.

Meanwhile, first-time Grammy nominees Dan and Shay are up for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for Tequila, while fellow first-time nominee, Post Malone received four nominations: Record Of The Year and Best Rap/Sung Performance for Rockstar with 21 Savage, Album Of The Year for Beerbongs & Bentleys and Best Pop Solo Performance for Better Now.

Taking to the Grammy stage for the first time is Canadian singer, songwriter and model, Shawn Peter Raul Mendes, who has been nominated for Song Of The Year for In My Blood and Best Pop Vocal Album for Shawn Mendes.

He gained a following in 2013, posting song covers on the video-sharing application Vine. In 2014, he caught the attention of artiste manager, Andrew Gertler and Island Records A&R, Ziggy Chareton, which led to him signing a deal with the record label.

Mendes released his self-titled debut Extended Play (2014) and his debut studio album Handwritten (2015), which single Stitches reached number one in the United Kingdom and the top 10 in the United States and Canada.

He released his second studio album Illuminate (2016), which singles Treat You Better and There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back reached the top 10 in several countries. His self-titled third studio album, which he released last year, was supported by the lead single In My Blood.

The three albums debuted atop the US Billboard 200, with the first one making him one of five artistes ever to debut at number one before the age of 18, and the third one making him the third-youngest artiste to achieve three number one albums.

In 2017, the pop and folk pop singer became the first artiste to land three number one singles on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and in 2018, became the first artiste to achieve four number one singles on the Adult Pop Songs chart, before the age of 20.

Seun Kuti, son of late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti is also nominated in the World Music category for his album, Black Times.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar has challenged the Federal Government to show evidence that he benefitted from the N156m slush fund that allegedly led to the collapse of the defunct Platinum Habib Bank.

Atiku made this challenge in a statement issued by Mr. Phrank Shaibu, his Special Assistant on Public Communication, on Friday.

He said, “It is disgusting to continue to spin allegations of corruption against me by people who have failed to come forward with a single shred of evidence of my misconduct while in office.

They just suddenly woke up to the reality that, their lies about Atiku being corrupt can no longer hold? I challenge the federal government to come up with evidence that I benefitted from N156 million slush funds through Claremont Management Services Account on 13th January, 2009 as well as the collapse of Bank PHB as they have alleged.

“It is instructive to note that the same Bank PHB is now Keystone Bank, which was said to have been acquired by Buhari’s cronies through AMCON last year,”Atiku said in the statement.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed on Friday said the PDP candidate has a case to answer over the collapse of Platinum Habib Bank.

He revealed that the case would be started as soon as Atiku returns from the US, his first trip in more than a decade.

In light of a turgid 0-1 defeat to West Ham last weekend, Unai Emery has faced a serious backlash for the first time in his Arsenal career.
Where Arsene Wenger could still draw on an enormous reserve of goodwill during his twilight years at the club – even as the criticism from his hardline detractors became ever more vicious and personal – Emery has no such luxury and faces a considerable section of the fan-base who are demanding a quick fix to a host of long-term problems.

Add to that the apparent turmoil behind the scenes, with recruitment expert, Sven Mislintat reportedly on the verge of leaving the club after an internal power struggle, and it feels like Emery is contending with a low point in his Arsenal tenure thus far. And there’ll be no let-up today, when Emery faces the visit of Chelsea to the Emirates.

Defeat will inevitably heighten discontent among fans while a win would go a long way towards alleviating Arsenal’s mini-crisis.

Mesut Ozil, or no Mesut Ozil? That seems to be the biggest question facing Emery in terms of his team selection.

Having gone without Ozil against West Ham and suffered a loss characterised by a complete dearth of creativity in midfield, many Arsenal fans are keen for their No 10 to return.

Then again, as has been the case for much of the season, Emery may feel differently.

Arsenal have no new injury problems, with Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck both still sidelined for the long-term and Henrikh Mkhitaryan out with a fractured foot but expected to return to full training next week.

Meanwhile, Maurizio Sarri may well leave Alvaro Morata and Gary Cahill out of his matchday squad with both expected to leave Chelsea imminently.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek remains out with back problem but, other than that, Sarri should be able to select a very strong team.

A University of Nevada researcher has revealed a new source of male infertility. School of Medicine Professor, Dr Wei Yan, said new research uncovered efferent duct obstructions as new cause of male infertility, correcting a long-held concept regarding sperm transport.



Hope
for male infertility
Yan said the research discovered not only a new cause of male infertility but also a potential new treatment for male infertility caused by efferent duct obstruction.

“Men produce millions of sperm daily. When sperm are produced inside the testis, they cannot swim. They have to be flushed out by testicular fluid, which carries them further to the tiny efferent ducts that are smaller than the sperm themselves,” he said.

ENDOMETRIOSIS: ESGN targets 10,000 Nigerian women

There was a perception that motile cilia, or eyelash-like extensions of specific epithelial cells, push sperm forward in one direction through efferent ducts.

“Our study demonstrates that this is not the case,” Yan said.

Motile cilia in the male reproductive tract beat with continual changes in direction.

“In this way, cilia function to stir things up instead of transport. If cilia stop beating, sperm will accumulate into clumps that block the efferent ducts. As a result, fluids build up, causing testicular damage and male infertility.”

Edo Poly Usen unveils Prof. Choudhary’s Centre for Natural Product Research

The research poses a question of how millions of immotile sperm can pass through such narrow channels successfully, without clogging.

When the fluid back pressure is relieved through a simple surgical procedure, fertility can improve. The findings could lead to new methods in treating male infertility.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as laughable, threats by the Federal Government to question its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, over alleged involvement in a N156 million financial scam.
Addressing an emergency press conference in Abuja yesterday, the party said the threat was borne out of fear that he (Atiku) is already coasting home to victory in the February 16 Presidential election.

The press conference presided over by PDP spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, noted that: “While we understand that President Buhari and his dysfunctional All Progressives Congress (APC) are jittery over Atiku Abubakar’s soaring popularity ahead of the elections, it is reprehensible that Mr. President would descend abysmally low to fabricate outright lies and falsehood in a bid to discredit a more qualified and acceptable Presidential candidate.”

The PDP stated that Atiku Abubakar has nothing to do with the alleged issues leading to the collapse of Bank PHB, adding that, “he is an honest and hard-working Nigerian who has no skeleton of any sort in his cupboard, unlike President Buhari, who is now entangled in series of corruption allegations.”

The PDP further stated that, “even the Chairman of President Buhari’s Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sag*y, had since told the world that the Buhari Presidency has searched everywhere and could not find anything incriminating on Atiku Abubakar.”

The opposition party said: “The world already knows that this attempt to mudsling our Presidential candidate is coming out of President Buhari’s frustration over Atiku Abubakar’s successful outing in the United States, for which the Buhari Presidency has gone into full hallucination.”

“This is in addition to their frenzied face-saving effort to divert public attention from President Buhari’s humiliating appearances in the respective rallies and Television shows he has had,” the party added.

The PDP challenged the President “to open the books and provide explanation for the N9 trillion stolen under his watch as Minister of Petroleum Resources as detailed in the leaked NNPC memo.”

The party continued: “President Buhari should as well allow an open inquest into the alleged involvement of his relations in the N1.032 trillion alleged corrupt acquisitions in 9Mobile and Keystone Bank PLC.”

The Federal Government had earlier yesterday said that it would subject Atiku to serious questioning when he returns from his current trip to the United States, pointing out that it was investigating his alleged role in the collapse of former Bank PHB.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, who said this while briefing State House correspondents stated that the decision to question Atiku had to do with “fresh evidence that he benefitted from slush funds that led to the collapse of Bank PHB.”

The government spokesperson said the government has in its position “paper trail which shows that he benefitted from N156 million.”

“It started from an internal memo dated 13 January 2009 asking that a draft in favour of Atiku Abubakar of 156 million should be raised,” he said.

He said the government has proof of the account mandate, cheque and account statement showing Atiku as the signatory to the account that received the money.

“We want him to stay in the US for as long as he wants but he has to explain to Nigerians when he returns,” he said.

Chikeluba Ofoedu, Maccabi Tel Aviv attacker, has called on Gernot Rohr to give him a chance to prove himself with the Super Eagles
Since moving to Europe after emerging as the revelation of the 2011/2012 Nigerian league season, Ofoedu has continued to impress in front of goal.

The attacker scored his seventh goal for Maccabi Tel Aviv when they drew 1-1 with Hapoel Tel Aviv in a recent derby.

“Coach Rohr should give me a chance with the Super Eagles,” Ofoedu said.

Chukwueze’s best yet to come — Osimhen

“My focus now is to play for the Super Eagles as I feel I am ripe for it and my teammates have been asking me why I am not in my country’s national team.

“I know how difficult it is to break into the Super Eagles due to the numerous established and emerging talents at the disposal of the manager but I think I can bring something to the team’s attack.”

At 19, he joined Rangers International from UNTH Healers FC and scored 12 goals to emerge the club’s top scorer.

Ofoedu then moved to Turkey to join division one side Trabzonpor in 2012 and went on to play for other first division sides, Karsiyaka, Samsunspor and Eskisehirspor till July 2017, scoring double figures for each of the teams before moving to Maccabi.

“I enjoyed my time in Turkey as I was loved by fans of all the teams I played for,” Ofoedu said.

“I needed a new challenge and so I did not hesitate to jump at the opportunity to join Maccabi.

Pinnick wants Moses to get Super Eagles testimonial

The Super Eagles are set to play Seychelles in a dead rubber final 2019 AFCON qualifier and four days later, will host Egypt in an international friendly in Asaba.

There was drama, yesterday, at the premises of the Adamawa State High Court, Yola State, when eight convicted armed robbers went wild, assaulting warders, journalists and any other person in sight, a Vanguard report has shown.

The drama began in the courtroom moments after Justice Abdul’aziz Waziri sentenced the armed robbers to death by hanging after finding them guilty of a nine-count charge bordering on armed robbery and murder.

The convicts started raining abuses on the presiding judge as soon as he pronounced the verdict, threatening to deal with him if they regained their freedom. It took the intervention of prison warders to calm the convicts, even as they continued with their threats. The convicts, who were paired in handcuffs, equally descended on journalists and cameramen attempting to record them.

Onlookers were also not spared, as the convicts were about to board the Black Maria that took them to the prison. They used their free hands to assault and throw any available object they could lay their hands on at journalists.

Everyone scampered for safety, until prison officials brought the situation under control. Comptroller of Prisons in charge of Adamawa State, Mr. Umar Audu, commenting on the incident, said such thing had never happened in the history of the state.

According to him, “my officers and men were able to handle the situation. I was shocked by the behaviour of the convicts. I thank God that during the fracas, none of my officers sustained any injury.”

He said when the convicts were accosted at the prison yard, they regretted their actions in the court, adding that he had sent some of his officers to apologise to the judge and the journalists affected.

Shopkeeper Aram Kurd, Hawkar Hassan and Arkan Ali were jailed for life in Britain

Three men were jailed for life in Britain on Friday for murdering five people when they blew up a shop in an attempted insurance scam.
Shopkeeper Aram Kurd, Hawkar Hassan and Arkan Ali torched a Polish supermarket in Leicester, central England in February last year, destroying the shop and the flat above.

The trio were plotting to claim a £300,000 ($390,000, 340,000-euro) insurance pay-out.

“None of the defendants has shown the slightest bit of remorse for their wicked crimes. They were exceptionally callous and deceitful,” said judge David Holgate at Leicester Crown Court.

“I agree with the prosecution that it is plain beyond doubt that Kurd and Ali were both centrally involved in the planning of these crimes.

“It is plain from the way they both behaved in court and outside that they are highly manipulative and cunning individuals.”

The three men’s plot involved dousing the basement of the building in petrol in an arson attack, which destroyed the supermarket and the flat above it.

Shop worker Viktorija Ijevleva, 22, was left to die in the explosion because she “knew too much” about the insurance policy taken out less than three weeks earlier.

Ijevleva, Mary Ragoobeer, 46, her teenage sons Shane and Sean, and 18-year-old Leah Beth Reek, who was Shane’s girlfriend, were all killed in the blast.

Ali, 38, Hassan, 33, and Kurd, 34, were unanimously convicted of five counts of murder and a further charge of conspiring with Ijevleva to make a gain, by dishonestly pursuing an insurance claim in respect of the fire.

Ali and Kurd were both jailed for a minimum of 38 years, while Hassan was given a 33-year sentence.

They were arrested three days after the explosion.

Gonzalo Higuain is set to undergo his medical tests with Chelsea today, Sky Sport reports.

The Blues have been agreed the same conditions offered to Juventus by AC Milan: a six-month loan deal with an option to buy set at €36million.

Higuain will earn a €9million-a-year with Maurizio Sarri’s side.

The Premier League giants, however, will have a chance to extend the player’s loan for one more season.

Nicolas, the brother and agent of Gonzalo, will arrrive in London from Argentina today.

Chelsea expect to finalize his signing by tomorrow, but Higuain would be ineligible to play against Arsenal on Saturday afternoon at the Emirates Stadium, as he the deadline for registration of players for this weekend’s games has elapsed.

Source:

Liverpool manager, Jurgen Klopp has said that defender, Trent Alexander-Arnold might play against Crystal Palace on Saturday despite picking up an injury.

It was feared that the 20-year-old would be sidelined for up to a month, having needed to strap up his ankle and take painkillers prior to playing against Brighton last time.

However, Klopp has revealed that both Alexander-Arnold and fellow injury concern Georginio Wijnaldum will face late fitness tests.

“Gini and Trent, we will decide day by day. It’s of course not cool,” Metro UK quoted Klopp as saying at his pre-match press conference.

“The exceptional part of that story is that they both played 90 minutes [at Brighton]. The whole world saw what happened to Trent, what a boy, unbelievable.

“We played the game and afterwards, we got the information that he had [an injury].

“Nothing happened during the game, it was all stable and good.

“It was just what happened before the game; adrenaline is obviously an interesting thing, it gives you the opportunity to do a bit more than you would expect. We will see.

“For both, it will be really, really close for tomorrow. I don’t want to close any doors before anybody tells me I have to.”

The Federal Government of Nigeria has said that the candidate of the opposition PDP in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar, has questions to answer when he returns from his current trip to the United States.

The government said it is investigating Mr Abubakar’s alleged role in the collapse of former Bank PHB.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said this while briefing State House correspondents on Friday.

Mr Mohammed said the decision to question Mr Abubakar is “following fresh evidence that he benefitted from slush funds that led to the collapse of Bank PHB.”

The government spokesperson said the government has in its position “paper trail which shows that he benefitted from N156 million.”

“It started from an internal memo dated 13 January 2009 asking that a draft in favour of Atiku Abubakar of 156 million should be raised,” he said.

Mr Mohammed also said another memo on the same date was raised to confirm that the amount was raised from a “claimant management account.”

He said the government has proof of the account mandate, cheque and account statement showing Mr Abubakar as the signatory to the account that received the money.

“We want him to stay in the US for as long as he wants but he has to explain to Nigerians when he returns,” he said.

Speaking further on the visit of the former vice president to the U.S., the minister said the government had earlier issued a statement advising the U.S. not to issue him a visa.

He, however, said it remains the prerogative of the U.S. government to issue visa to anyone

“We are not perturbed one bit. He can go ahead and get a U.S. green card. That will not save him from imminent defeat in the forthcoming election,” Mr Mohammed said.

He also said the “election will be held here not in the U.S.”

The minister, however, said his claim does not imply that the former vice president will be arrested on his return.

Mourinho: I’m too young to retire
By Mod - 26 minutes ago - [ Update ]

Jose Mourinho says still belongs top football after being sacked by Manchester United and that he is “too young” to retire.

Watford vs Man United

Jose Mourinho
United have gone on to win six straight matches under caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer since Mourinho left in December

“I want to coach,” he said on BeIN SPORTS. “I am too young, I am in football for a long, long time but I will be 56 in a couple of weeks and am really too young. Where I am going to stay is where I belong, I belong to top football. I belong to top-level football and (that) is where I am going to be.”

OMG! Doctors Pump 15 Cans Of Beer Inside Man's Stomach To Stop Him From Dying (Photo)

By Mod - 6 minutes ago - [ Update ]





Doctors have pumped 15 cans of beer into a man’s stomach to stop him dying from alcohol poisoning, according to local reports.

Nguyen Van Nhat’s life was saved after medics at General Hospital in Quang Tri, Vietnam, transfused five litres of beer into his body.

The 48-year-old had passed out and been rushed to hospital in a critical condition on Boxing Day 2018 with a blood alcohol level of 1,119 times higher than the allowable limit.

Dr Le Van Lam, head of the Intensive Care Unit, told local media that they immediately pumped three cans (one litre) of beer to slow down his liver's processing of methanol.

According to Dr Lam, one can of beer was given to Nhat every hour.

After 15 cans were administered he was completely conscious.

The doctor explained that a person's stomach and intestines continue to release alcohol into the bloodstream even if they are unconscious or have stopped drinking, and for a period alcohol levels in the body continue to rise.

Alcohol comes in two variants, methanol and ethanol, and the human liver breaks down ethanol first as a priority.

The man became unconscious when the methanol in his system oxidised to formaldehyde which in turn produced formic acid, according to Dr Lam.

To prevent oxidising formaldehyde to formic acid, giving beer to the methanol-poisoned patient gave medics enough time to perform dialysis.

Nhat was discharged from the hospital after 3 weeks.

Islamic State Woman Found Guilty Of Terror Crimes In Canada

By Mod - 9 minutes ago - [ Update ]

 file copy Credit: @CTVNews

A Canadian jury found a woman guilty Thursday of terror crimes for trying to join the Islamic State group and in its name attacking staff at a Toronto-area department store two years ago.

Rehab Dughmosh, who was arrested in June 2017 when she was 32, was found guilty of four counts of leaving the country for the purpose of joining a terror group, assaults with a golf club and a butcher knife, and carrying an archery bow.

According to court documents cited by Canadian media, she attempted to fly to Syria in April 2016 to join the IS group, and when that failed returned home and plotted the mall attack.

Her plans to go to Syria were thwarted by Turkish officials tipped off by her brother. At the time, Dughmosh claimed that she was just trying to visit family, although she admitted after her arrest that she had intended to travel to join IS.

The court heard that Dughmosh admitted to pledging her allegiance to the Islamic State group, and on the day in question packed bags with weapons, including a hammer, barbecue skewers, straws tipped with screws and a child’s shovel made into claws.

She also hid the knife and bow in her robe.

But on her way out of her apartment, she ran into her estranged husband, who confiscated the bags. He reportedly did not know about the concealed weapons.

At the Canadian Tire store east of Toronto, Dughmosh grabbed a golf club off a rack after trying unsuccessfully to access arrows in a locked display case.

She then draped herself in a homemade IS banner, tied an IS bandana around her head and charged staff with the golf club and butcher knife, shouting: “This is for ISIS.”

Staff wrestled her to the ground. Nobody was seriously injured.

Police later found the weapons cache at her home, along with a cellphone containing IS propaganda videos and a handwritten will in which she asked for martyrdom.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Monday. The prosecution is seeking eight years in prison.

EPL: Solskjaer ready to sell Manchester United midfielder

By Mod - 5 hours ago - [ Update ]





Marouane Fellaini is set to become the first casualty of Ole Gunnar Solskajer’s reign, with Manchester United ready to listen to offers for the midfielder, the UK Mirror reports.

Fellaini has made just two substitute appearances since Solskjaer took over.

Despite the Belgian midfielder signing a fresh two-year deal last summer, it is understood United are willing to let Fellaini leave this month, but only if the price is right.

AC Milan, Porto and Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande have all identified Fellaini as a transfer target.

United will demand around £15million for the versatile 31-year-old.

Members of Kenyan Security forces clear the entrance of the scene after the situation was taken under control after the terrorist attack at a hotel complex in Nairobi’s Westlands suburb on January 16, 2019, in Kenya Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said on January 16, 2019 that all Islamists who had stormed an upmarket hotel complex had been “eliminated” after an almost 20-hour siege that left several dead. “I can now confirm that… the security operation at Dusit is over and all terrorists have been eliminated,” Kenyatta said in a televised address to the nation. He said several people had been killed and 700 civilians rescued from the building, but did not clarify if people were still hiding in the complex. The attack was claimed by the Al-Qaeda-linked Somali group Al-Shabaab, which has repeatedly targeted Kenya since it sent its army into Somalia in October 2011 to fight the jihadist group. Luis TATO / AFP

The Al-Shabaab jihadist group said Wednesday it carried out the deadly attack on a Nairobi hotel and office complex in retaliation for US President Donald Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the SITE monitoring group said.

The group said in a statement picked up by SITE that its fighters stormed the DusitD2 complex on instructions by Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

“It is a response to the witless remarks of the US president, Donald Trump, and his declaration of Al-Quds (Jerusalem) as the capital of Israel.”

The assault with guns and explosives claimed the lives of 14 people as it unfolded Tuesday in the complex, which includes a 101-room hotel, spa, restaurant and offices.

All five of the assailants were killed before an operation by rescue forces to rescue trapped civilians and clear buildings ended 20 hours later.

The Al-Shabaab statement was entitled: “Al-Quds (Jerusalem) will never be judaized,” according to SITE.

“Know that we will hold you to account for every Muslim blood spilt in Palestine; ounce for ounce,” it said in part.