2015 AFCON: Kick-Off Today In Equatorial Guinea; Tournament To Begin After Build-Up Concerns

Photo: jaizmelaleo.blogspot.com

Equatorial Guinea will kick off the Africa Cup of Nations today, only two months after stepping in as hosts, GRAPHITTI NEWS reports.

The 16 Teams For AFCON 2015 (Source: BBC Sport)

Reigning champions Nigeria did not qualify, meaning they will sit out the tournament along with seven-times winners Egypt - the most successful nation in the competition's history. 

West African Leaders To Create Anti-Boko Haram Force

Cameroon's air force has bombed Boko Haram positions in the far north of the country for the first time after the fighters seized a military camp, the government has said. (Photo: Aljazeera)

West African leaders will seek authority next week from the African Union to create a multinational force to fight Nigeria’s Boko Haram Islamist insurgents, Ghanaian President John Mahama told Reuters on Friday.

Majority Of America's Public School Children Are Living In Poverty

Image from www.southerneducation.org

A new study shows that the majority of public school children in the United States are living in poverty. The report, conducted by the Southern Education Foundation, drew its conclusions from data revealing how many public school children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.

PHOTOS: Malawi Floods Kill 176 People

Heavy rain began falling across the region last month and forecasters say they expect it to continue over the next few weeks. Communities affected include the districts of Nsanje, Chikwawa, Phalombe, Zomba, Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Mulanje, Balaka, Machinga, Mangochi, Ntcheu, Salima, Rumphi and Karonga. (Photo: mary’smeals.co.uk)

Flooding in Malawi has killed more than 176 people, displaced at least 200,000 others, left homes and schools submerged in water and roads washed away by the deluge, according to the vice-president of the southern African country, the Guardian UK reports.

“I Don’t Trust Politicians…They Don’t Fulfil Most Of Their Promises.” – Adeboye

Pastor E. A. Adeboye (Photo: The Punch)

The General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, on Friday has said he does not trust politicians.

Adeboye spoke in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, during a two-day interdenominational prayer. According to the cleric, politicians in most cases hardly fulfil their promises.

A New Year Message From NaijaGRAPHITTI (CreativityJigsaw.com) Team

We wish an amazing New Year to all our first-time site visitors, readers, fans, research associates, pre-testing team, staff, guest columnists and advertisers. Was it possible for an edublog promoting knowledge, information and practical experiences about creativity and innovation (and cross-cutting issues like education, socio-economics, political economy, national development and leadership) to take-off and attract readership in Nigeria? It seemed impossible at first but naijaGRAPHITTI has broken untested grounds. Your support made this possible. Out of the idea of a current affairs/news section (GRAPHITTI NEWS) addition, the blog has become even more well-received. Without you all, NaijaGRAPHITTI would not have registered any internet footprints and gain the readership foothold it did in 2014. With your collaboration, naijaGRAPHITTI expects to achieve exponential mileage, grow in leaps and bounds with vigorous creative and innovative ideas and break into more virgin territories in 2015. 

2015 Poll: IPC Sensitizes Journalists On Media Code

As part of bid to ensure violence free election come February, the International Press Centre on Tuesday organised a seminar (Tweet-a-thon) to sensitize journalists.

The seventh tweet-a-thon themed: ‘Making use of Media Code of Election Coverage for Credible Reporting’, generated several tweets which reached 134,853 accounts, thereby making 173,975 impressions through hashtag #Media4Elections.

ACF Rejects Calls For Interim Govt

The National Executive Council (NEC) of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) yesterday rose from its meeting in Kaduna, insisting that the general elections must hold as scheduled in February, The Nation reports.

South African Politician, Malema, Attacks Jonathan, Says President “Irresponsible” Over Silence On Baga

South Africa’s fiery (some say eccentric) youth leader and federal lawmaker, Julius Malema, has launched a blistering attack on President Goodluck Jonathan over his handling of the massacre in Baga, Borno State, describing the Nigerian president as “irresponsible” and suggesting South African intervention against the extremist Boko Haram sect.

2015 ELECTION: Would They Embrace After February 14, 2014 Results? How We Wish!!!

How we wish indeed!!!

Cholera Kills 20 In Rivers Community

…171 cases recorded

At least 20 persons have been reported dead from acute diarrhoeal disease in a community in Adoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Ebola Tests For All Players At Nations Cup

All teams arriving in Equatorial Guinea for the African Nations Cup must travel through the capital Malabo and have tests for the Ebola virus, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Wednesday.

‘Act Of War’: New Charlie Hebdo Edition Triggers Muslims’ Anger, Threats

AFP Photo / Arif Ali

A record 3 million copies of the new edition of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo have appeared on French newsstands, with new caricatures triggering outrage among Muslims all over the world, and threats from radical Islamists.

Kofi Anan Warns Politicians Over Inciting Comments

Former UN Chief, Mr. Kofi Anan

Former secretary general of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Anan has cautioned politicians over inciting statements capable of dividing the country and causing violence before and after next month’s general election.

I Found Nothing After Probing Buhari’s PTF – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday said his administration probed the accounts of the Petroleum Trust Fund headed by the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and found nothing unpleasant.

Tanzania Bans Witchdoctors To Stem Grisly Albino Murders

At least 74 albinos have been murdered in Tanzania since 2000, according to United Nations experts ©Tony Karumba (AFP)

Tanzania has banned witchdoctors to try and stem a surge in murders of albinos, whose body parts are sold for witchcraft, officials said Wednesday.

"These so-called witches bear responsibility for the attacks against albinos," interior ministry spokesman Isaac Nantanga told AFP Wednesday.

Reps Begin 2015 Budget Consideration Today

National Assembly

The members of the House of Representatives will start consideration of the 2015 budget on Wednesday.

2015 ELECTIONS: 68.8 Million Nigerians To Vote In Feb. Elections – INEC

INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega

A total of 68,833,476 Nigerians registered for next month’s general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission has said.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, at a meeting with the national leadership of all the 23 registered political parties in Abuja on Tuesday evening, added that over four million   people were involved in multiple registrations.

Ebola Epidemic In Liberia May End By June: Study

The deadly Ebola epidemic in Liberia could likely be eliminated by June if the current high rate of hospitalization and vigilance can be maintained, according to a new model developed by scientists.

US Soldier Self-Monitoring For Ebola Dies After Returning From Liberia

AFP Photo / Zoom Dosso

An unidentified US Army soldier in Texas who was self-monitoring for Ebola was found dead on Tuesday. He had just returned from West Africa, and was found in Killeen near Fort Hood, where he was posted, base officials said.

FG’s Marked Out 13 Export Products As Replacement For Oil – Aganga

Olusegun Aganga

The Federal Government has marked out 13 national strategic export products, meant to replace petroleum products, the prices of which have continued to tumble at the international markets, threatening the stability of the Nigerian economy, Minister of Trade and Investments, Mr Olusegun Aganga, has said.

FOR THE RECORDS: List Of World Footballers Of The Year

Cristiano Ronaldo – 2014 Ballon D'Or Award Winner (Photo: FIFA TV)

Previous winners of the World Player of the Year, FIFA World Player of the Year and European Footballer of the Year/Ballon D'Or awards.

FIFA BALLON D'OR: And The Winner Is...Cristiano Ronaldo!

Cristiano Ronaldo

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo won the FIFA Ballon d'Or award for the second year running and the third overall on Monday after a prolific, trophy-filled year with Real Madrid.

He was voted ahead of Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, his bitter rival, and Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the annual poll run jointly by soccer's governing body and France Football magazine.

Erosion Of Free Speech? Cameron Pledges To Ban Snapchat And WhatsApp

(AFP Photo/Gabriel Bouys)

PM David Cameron may block encrypted messaging platforms Snapchat and WhatsApp if the Conservatives win May’s general election, as part of the party’s agenda to bolster surveillance powers following last week’s terror attacks in Paris.

PARIS UNITY RALLY: Obama Takes Heat For Not Attending 'Anti-Terror' Paris Rally

From Left to right : European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, delegate, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, French President Francois Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Union President Donald Tusk, Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, Jordan's Queen Rania, Jordan's King Abdullah II, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, and other heads of states and officials march during the Unity rally "Marche Republicaine" on January 11, 2015 in Paris

President Barack Obama and other US officials are receiving criticism for not attending Saturday’s ‘Unity March’ in Paris. The rally included more than 40 world leaders who showed solidarity with 17 victims of multiple attacks last week.

"Phombe" Poisoning: Mozambique's Home-Brewed Beer Poisoning Toll Climbs To 69

Golden Jubilee Celebrations in Maputo, Mozambique on July 19, 2007 (Source: Unknown; ismailimail.wordpress.com)

A total 69 people have died of poisoning after drinking traditional beer in north-western Mozambique, public radio reported Monday.

Clooney Wins Cecil B. DeMille Award At Globes

In this image released by NBC, George Clooney accepts the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/NBC, Paul Drinkwater)

George Clooney accepted a lifetime achievement award from the Golden Globes Sunday by honouring others — his Hollywood colleagues, his new wife and millions who marched in the wake of attacks in France last week.

ATP TENNIS: Federer Claims 1000th Career Win

Roger Federer earned his 1,000th career win with a hard-fought victory against Milos Raonic

Roger Federer joined an elite club by claiming his 1,000th tour-level win with a hard-fought victory over Milos Raonic in the final of the Brisbane International.

Only Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl had previously achieved the feat in the Open era, but Federer reached the landmark after seeing off a resilient Raonic 6-4 6-7 (2/7) 6-4.