Saturday, October 08, 2016

IMF Must Be More 'Vocal' On Global Economy, US Says

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde (C) speaks at the meeting of the 24 members of the International Monetary and Financial Committee on October 8, 2016 in Washington, DC ©Stephen Jaffe (AFP)
The United States called Saturday for the International Monetary Fund to speak out on crucial global economic matters, such as exchange rates, even if this made it unpopular.

3-IN-1 STORY: DSS Raid: NBA Declares A State Of Emergency On Judiciary

Abubakar Mahmoud, President, Nigerian Bar Association
Lawyers under the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have declared a state of emergency in the judiciary as tension continues to build over the raiding of the homes of some judges allegedly by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Nigeria’s Flamingoes Out Of World Cup

Goalkeeper Ok Kum Ju of Korea DPR makes a save ball during the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup Group C match between Korea DPR and Nigeria at Amman International Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Amman, Jordan. (Photo by Boris Streubel - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Nigeria’s Flamingoes on Saturday crashed out of the ongoing fifth edition of the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan, thus recording the country’s worst outing at the competition.

Washington Voters To Decide On US's First Carbon Tax

In this photo taken Oct. 29, 2015, Carbon Washington campaign organizer Ben Silesky, left, leads a group of supporters and organization members into the Elections Office for the Washington Secretary of State in Olympia, Wash. to deliver signatures in support of putting Initiative 732 on the ballot. Voters in Washington state will weigh in on Initiative 732 in the 2016 election as they consider whether to approve the nation’s first
Washington lawmakers have tried and failed in recent years to make polluters pay for their carbon emissions to fight climate change. Now, voters will get to decide.
In this April 2, 2010 photo, a Tesoro Corp. refinery, including a gas flare flame that is part of normal plant operations, is shown in Anacortes, Wash. after a fatal overnight fire and explosion. Voters in Washington state will weigh in on Initiative 732 in the 2016 election as they consider whether to approve the nation’s first direct carbon tax on the burning of fossil fuels. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

DSS Stings Judges, Recovers Money

Cross section of judges at a ceremony
Nigeria has taken the war against corruption to the door steps of judges, recovering various sums of monies, including foreign currencies.

Buhari: Why I Won’t Stop Passing The Buck

President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari said he will continue passing the buck for Nigerians to know what went wrong with the country in the past. According to him, it was absolutely necessary to blame his predecessors for the nation’s woes in order to “remind people who take things for granted.”

GOP Defections Begin As Party Grapples With Trump Comments

In this Oct. 6, 2016, photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a town hall in Sandown, N.H. Trump made a series of lewd and sexually charged comments about women as he waited to make a cameo appearance on a soap opera in 2005. The Republican presidential nominee issued a rare apology Friday, “if anyone was offended.” (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
Republican leaders from Utah to Alabama called on Donald Trump to quit the presidential race on Saturday as a party in crisis grappled with the fallout from its White House nominee's vulgar and sexually charged comments caught on tape.

Iwobi Shocked At PHCN Over Power Outage

Alex Iwobi in Super Eagles' colours
Arsenal attacking midfielder Alex Iwobi has aimed a cheeky dig at Abuja Electricity Distribution Company PLC, sometimes colloquially referred to as NEPA, after a power cut at the Super Eagles' Bolton White Hotel and Apartments camp.

Friday, October 07, 2016

Ghana Begins Fuel Exports To Nigeria, Other W'Africa Nations

Ghana has started exporting fuel and gas oil to the Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Benin Republic and Nigeria from the Bolgatanga Petroleum Depot
Ghana has started exporting fuel and gas oil to Nigeria, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali from the Bolgatanga Petroleum Depot.

The 'Big Five' Decisions At CITES Wildlife Trade Meeting

The world's largest wildlife meeting wrapped up late Tuesday with conservationists hailing progress in tightening rules on trafficking of endangered species including sharks, grey parrots and pangolins.
An installation showing a rhino and an elephant in Mandela Square as part of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild, Fauna and Flora) convention in Johannesburg on September 26, 2016 ©Marco Longari (AFP)

Money Problems Delay Super Eagles' Journey To Zambia

Sunday's match is the first game in the group stages for qualification for Russia 2018 AFP
Nigeria's football team will arrive just 22 hours before their 2018 World Cup qualifier against Zambia after being delayed because of financial problems.

JUST IN: Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, Wins 2016 Nobel Peace Prize

Juan Manuel Santos, President of Colombia
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos won the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday in a surprise after Colombians voted "No" to an agreement he signed with Marxist rebels to end 52 years of war.

Indian Police Arrest 70 For Targeting Americans In Tax Scam

A police official, centre, escorts two men outside the court in Thane, outskirts of Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Indian police have arrested 70 people and are questioning hundreds more after uncovering a massive scam to cheat thousands of Americans out of millions of dollars by posing as U.S. tax authorities and demanding unpaid taxes, a police officer said Thursday.
A police official, right, escorts two men outside the court in Thane, outskirts of Mumbai, India, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016. (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)

EBOLA OUTBREAK: Ebola Scare Nurse Pauline Cafferkey To Spend Second Day In Hospital

Pauline Cafferkey was taken to hospital in Glasgow
Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who was rushed to hospital for a fourth time since her return from Africa, is to remain in hospital for a second day.

Vice Principal, Teacher, Four Pupils Kidnapped In Lagos

It all seemed like an action movie. A group of gunmen stormed a Lagos school, shot in the air to cause commotion and abducted the vice principal, a teacher and four pupils.

Thursday, October 06, 2016

FOR THE RECORD: Blocking Nigeria From Coal-Fired Power Is Hypocrisy, Adeosun Tells Western Powers

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance spoke on Wednesday in Washington, U.S.A. during a discussion on importance of addressing infrastructure gaps in developing countries at the World Bank, International Monetary Fund Annual General Meeting
Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, says it is hypocritical of the west and multilateral institutions to tell Nigeria not to use coal-fired power, which drove western industrialization.

Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Africa Could Be Significant LNG Importer By 2025 — Total

Shell tanker 'LNG Lagos'
Africa could become a significant global market for imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) by 2025, with Egypt the main driver, as more countries eye gas-to-power projects, a senior official at Total said on Tuesday.

Operators Want Telco-Led Mobile Money Initiative In Nigeria

Telecommunications service providers have renewed clamour to lead mobile money initiative in Nigeria on the basis that the current model has not been impactful on the economy.

Onyegbule Re-writes Records As Kogi Selects First-Ever Female Press Secretary

Petra Akinti Onyegbule
Petra Akinti Onyegbule has been appointed as the first ever female chief press secretary in Kogi state.

Rigobert Song Flown To Paris

Image source: cameroon-concord.com
Cameroon's legendary footballer Rigobert Song waved to the crowd as he was taken away from a hospital in the capital, Yaounde, to the airport to fly to Paris for treatment.

FOR THE RECORD: How Shell Duped Nigeria Of US$406.75 Million — FG

Royal Dutch Shell sign
The Federal Government is demanding US$406.75 million from Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and its subsidiary, Shell Western Supply & Trading Limited, over alleged crude oil theft.

Tax Fossil Fuels Or Risk Kids' Future: US Climate Scientist

Climate change: the basics ©Iris de Vericourt (AFP)
The planet's three most dangerous greenhouse gases are rising, and fossil fuels must be taxed to protect children from the costly turmoil of rising seas and extreme storms, world-renowned climate scientist James Hansen warned Tuesday.

Tanzanians Do Cervical Screening With Phone App

Health workers use smart phones and a head torch to take a picture of the cervix. Photo:
BBC
Researchers in northern Tanzania have built an app that nurses and doctors can use to screen women for cervical cancer, which they say is the first of its kind in the world.
The app is called Servical Photo: BBC

FOR THE RECORD: Poor Welfare: Nigeria May Lose More Athletes To Other Countries

Francis Obikwelu: AFN frustrated me to join Portugal 
Nigeria may continue to lose some of its talented athletes to countries like U.S., Norway, Britain, Qatar and recently, Bahrain because of what the athletes say is poor welfare and training facilities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the likes of Francis Obikwelu, a Nigerian-born Portuguese sprinter, specializing in 100m and 200m left for a greener pasture.

Buhari Okays Sale Of Two Aircraft In Presidential Fleet

• Fleet costs ₦2.52b yearly • Govt to hand over aircraft to Air Force
President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sale of two of the 10 aircraft in the presidential air fleet.

Tuesday, October 04, 2016

Police Confirm Kidnap Of Former Minister, Husband In Kaduna

Minister of Environment in the Jonathan Administration, Mrs Laurentia Laraba Mallam
The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the kidnap of the immediate past Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Laraba Mallam, and her husband, Mr. Pius, in Bwari/Jere axis along the Kaduna-Abuja express way on Monday evening.

Ethiopian Protesters Attack Nigerian-Owned Factory

Dangote Cement Factory properties set ablaze. ZeHabesha.com
A cement factory owned by Nigerian business tycoon Aliko Dangote has been attacked by protesters in Ethiopia's Oromia region, the regional government has said in a statement. 

Niger President Issoufou Lauds Buhari For Curtailing Menace Of Boko Haram

Presidents Patrice Talon of Benin, Idriss Deby Itno of Chad, Mahammadou Issoufou of Niger Republic and their host, Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria  
President Mahammadou Issoufou of Niger Republic, has commended the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration for fighting the Boko Haram insurgents to a standstill.
Presidents Mahammadou Issoufou of Niger Republic (left), Idriss Deby Itno of Chad (2nd left), Nigeria’s first lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, and their host, Muhammadu Buhari (centre), former presidents Gowon, and Olusegun Obasanjo (2nd right) and others at the Launch of the book, in three parts and 24 chapters titled: “Muhammadu Buhari – The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria.’’   

Court Of Arbitration For Sports Gives Sharapova Verdict On Doping Today

Tennis player Maria Sharapova
The world’s top sports court will rule today on Maria Sharapova’s appeal against her two-year tennis ban over doping.

Jordan, Turkey Lead Top 10 Countries Hosting Half Of World’s Refugees

A Jordanian soldier stands guard as Syrian refugees arrive to a camp on the Jordanian side of the Al-Hadalat border crossing point near the eastern town of Ruwaished, in May 2016 ©Khalil Mazraawi (AFP)
Ten countries accounting for 2.5 percent of world GDP are hosting more than half the world's refugees, Amnesty International said Tuesday as it slammed what it called the selfishness of wealthy nations.
Refugees try to catch a glimpse of the German Chancellor Angela Merkel who was visiting a camp on the Turkish-Syrian border in Gaziantep, in April 2016 ©- (AFP)

Stop Scaring Investors From Niger Delta — Dickson Tells Militants

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has told militants and other criminal elements to stop scaring investors and visitors in the Niger Delta region.

Oluwo Denies Labelling Adeboye, Oyedepo Fake Pastors

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, presenting the staff of office to the new Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, at the Reality Television Station Premises in Iwo on Saturday 16-01-2016
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has denied saying that the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, and the Presiding Bishop of the Living Faith World Outreach, Bishop David Oyedepo, are not true men of God.

Monday, October 03, 2016

Obama Says Olympic Host Decisions A Little 'Cooked'

A commuter walks by a large television screen in downtown Chicago on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. Credit: AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato
President Barack Obama has suggested that decisions on who hosts the Olympics are corrupt, in a wide-ranging interview that touched on Chicago's failed 2016 bid.
US President Barack Obama speaks to his wife Michelle after presenting Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympics in Copenhagen on October 2, 2009 ©Charles Dharapak (AFP)

Ghana's Ex-President Rawlings Named Chairperson Of Sankara Tribute Fund

Thomas Sankara AFP
In Burkina Faso, and across Africa, Thomas Sankara has become an iconic figure and is often referred to as Africa's Che Guevara.
Jerry Rawlings said that Thomas Sankara's uprising sent a clear message that there is always hope in humanity. AFP

Namibia, Zimbabwe Lose Vote To Allow Ivory Trade: CITES

Targeted for their tusks, Africa's elephants have been decimated by poaching, with a new study showing the number has fallen by around 111,000 in the past decade ©Martin Bureau (AFP)
The global conference that governs wildlife trade voted Monday against proposals by Namibia and Zimbabwe to be allowed to sell their ivory internationally, in a move welcomed by many conservationists.
How China's ivory addiction explains the new world economy - The Washington Post
Products from elephant ivory are displayed on the centre column of a shelf inside a carving and jewellery factory in Hong Kong, China October 23, 2015. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

2-IN-1 STORY: National Mourning Begins In Ethiopia; Ethiopians Killed In Stampede After Police Fire Warning Shots During Protest

Injured protesters wait for help after several people died during the Irrechaa, the thanks giving festival of the Oromo people in Bishoftu town of Oromia region, Ethiopia, October 2, 2016. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri
Ethiopians are observing three days of national mourning after at least 52 people died during a protest at a religious festival in the Oromia region on Sunday.

'Plans Being Made' To Fly Song To France

Song played more than 100 times for Cameroon between 1993 and 2010
Plans are being made to evacuate former international footballer Rigobert Song to France according to a BBC report.

Oil Price Hits US$50, Nigeria’s Exports To Rise

Oil refinery
Global oil benchmark, Brent crude, extended its rally on Sunday to hit the US$50 per barrel mark, the third time this year.

Ex-Footballer Rigobert Song In Hospital 'After Stroke'

Rigobert Song (left) suffered the stroke while at home in Cameroon; the 40-year-old was rushed to hospital in Cameroon after suffering from a brain aneurysm and is now in critical condition; Song played more than 100 times for Cameroon between 1993 and 2010 Getty Images
Former Cameroonian international Rigobert Song is in hospital after reportedly suffering a stroke, the Press Association is reporting.

Mikel, Musa, Iheanacho To Arrive In Camp Today

Kelechi Iheanacho, John Mikel Obi & Ahmed Musa
Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi, Ahmed Musa, Kelechi Iheanacho, and other invited players for the group opening match against Zambia are expected to arrive camp today.