Burkina Faso president resigns after protests

Blaise Compaore, the president of Burkina Faso, has been forced to leave power after days of protests by tens of thousands of people calling for his ousting.

It appeared that the chief of the country's armed forces took power after the president's resignation.

Compaore announced his resignation in a statement on Friday and called for a 90-day transition to "free and transparent" elections in the West African country.

"I declare a vacancy of power with a view to allowing a transition that should finish with free and transparent elections in a maximum period of 90 days," said the statement, read on local radio and television by presenters.

Bus Station Bombed In Gombe

 An explosion has ripped through a bus station in Gombe, residents and witnesses have told PREMIUM TIMES.

The explosion, our sources said, happened Friday morning at the popular Gombe Line Transport Services Limited.
 Smoke rising from the scene of bombingDetails of the incident are still sketchy, but Abdulrahman Suae, a resident of the area, said he saw about five people being evacuated to the Gombe General Hospital.
He was unable to confirm whether they were dead or injured.
Another witness said the police have cordoned off the area and that emergency officials were rushing injured victims to hospital.
Both the state’s police spokesperson, Fwaje Atajiri, and the Commissioner, Kudu Nma, did not answer or return calls made to them.

Kaduna armourer arrested for selling police weapons to criminals commits suicide in cell

Deputy Superintendent of Police Nanbol Audu, who was the officer in charge of the Kaduna Armory, has killed himself days after he was paraded with two others for stealing and selling police weapons to criminals and rich people in the state. He was paraded this past Monday October 27th

DSP Audu, an officer who had served in the police force for 30 years and was due to retire in five years, shot himself in the stomach around 5.40am today October 31st inside his detention cell at the police headquarters in Kaduna, it was announced on radio today. The state police commissioner Umar Shehu confirmed the incident.

Ellen Degeneres launches new website

Popular talkshow artist/comedian Ellen Degeneres launches a new video website and calls her's (see link) http://www.ellentube.com/.

Kim Kardashian’s corset selfie raises questions: How dangerous is the practice of corseting?

This week, selfie-queen Kim Kardashian posted yet another photo of herself in the mirror, this time squishing her mid-section into an itty-bitty corset and announcing to her 20 million Instagram followers that she is “really obsessed with waist training.”

She isn’t alone – Jessica Alba, Khloe Kardashian and Brooke Burke are all reportedly fans of the practice. But are these Hollywood types actually promoting a pretty dangerous practice to their legions of admirers? In the past year, perhaps in connection with increased celebrity chatter, Google searches related to waist cinching have doubled and a concept called the “Corset Diet” has been floating around cyber space.

Pics: Shark FC, other football players sleep in front of Rivers Govt House

 See another photo after the cut...

Leaner Sony gains smartphone lift despite its own mobile malaise

Sony Corp (6758.T) posted a smaller than expected second-quarter operating loss on Friday, hailed by its finance chief as proof that the Japanese group's restructuring program is paying off.

The company said the reduced operating loss was due in part to rising sales of image sensors to smartphone manufacturers, though the poor showing from its own Xperia phones weighed heavily on results.

Sales of the image sensors, used in Apple's (AAPL.O) iPhones and increasingly in Chinese-made handsets, made the devices unit the biggest earner within Sony's flagship electronics division and offset some of a 176 billion yen ($1.58 billion) impairment charge on its mobile division.

That left an overall operating loss for the three months to Sept. 30 of 85.6 billion yen, beating analyst expectations of nearly double that.

Samsung Electronics seeks China comeback with first metallic smartphones

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd unveiled two mid-tier handsets with a premium design as it prepared to deliver a riposte to its low-priced Chinese rivals and reclaim its title as the top brand in the world's biggest smartphone market.Samsung's smartphone woes began late last year and persisted through July-September, with its global market share down on year for the third straight quarter and its profit scraping at a three-year low.

Air strikes hit Kobani as Kurdish peshmerga prepare to enter

U.S.-led air strikes hit Islamic State positions around the Syrian border town of Kobani on Friday in an apparent bid to pave the way for heavily-armed Kurdish peshmerga forces to enter from neighboring Turkey.
The predominantly Kurdish town, besieged for more than 40 days, has become the focus of a global war against the Sunni Muslim insurgents, who have captured expanses of Iraq and Syria and declared an Islamic "caliphate" straddling the two.Its fighters have slaughtered or driven away Shi'ite Muslims, Christians and other communities who do not share their ultra-radical brand of Sunni Islam.

U.S. Congress to revisit Islamic State war debate after election

When lawmakers return to Washington after Tuesday’s congressional elections they will resume a debate they began with some reluctance last month on the U.S.-led fight against Islamic State militants in Syria and Iraq.

With the U.S.-led coalition increasing air strikes but no signs the militants have been weakened, Congress appears ready for a broader discussion on the operations than it was prepared to hold during the run-up to the election.

Chinedu Ubachukwu Wins Gulder Ultimate Search Season 11

Chinedu Ubachukwu has emerged winner of the 11th edition of Gulder Ultimate Search.

Chinedu beat the two other finalists Cosy Joe & Afolabi Emmanuel to the ultimate prize by being the only person to complete the final task of retrieving the General’s War Helmet. This victory came after the 24-year-old graduate of Petroleum & Gas at University of Port Harcourt successfully navigated his way through the forest and managed to row his canoe across the heavy currents of Aguleri River.see more after cut....

Pics: Bomb blast reported at Gombe Line motor park this morning

A bomb went off at the Gombe Line motor park in Gombe state around 9am this morning which has resulted in the death of at least 30 people. Eye witnesses say the bomb was planted by a man who came and dropped his bag in a Kano line bus and left. NEMA officials are said to be at the scene right now removing the dead bodies and taking the injured to the Gombe State Specialist Hospital. Hoping to get more info from the blast later. See more photos after the cut...

Photos: Nnamdi Azikiwe Uni students design formular student race car

Five final year students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, have designed and fabricated a formula student race car as a passing out project. Yep, they did.The students are Okoyenta Augustus,Okeke Chukwuebuka, Ezeani Chikeluba‎, Ofoegbu Kenechukwu, and Igbokwe Ebenezer. (all pictured above). see more photos...

Santa Claus dies at 86

You all know that Santa Claus used in a lot of Coca-Cola adverts? Well, he has died. His name was John Moore and he was the famous "Father Christmas" who inspired Coca Cola’s character and appeared in many ads for the brand. He died recently at the age of 86 and is being buried today in Burgess Hill, Sussex,UK.

When he was not shooting for Coca-Cola, he spent the rest of the year working as a taxi driver and barman. RIP, Mr Moore. 

Photo allegedly shows Mubi villagers fleeing after yesterday's attack on their village

The authenticity of this photo could not be verified but according to the person who shared it on Facebook, Jibrilla Madu Gadzama, the National Coordinator of the APC National Youth Vanguard, he said it's residents of Mubi village in Adamawa state fleeing after yesterday's attack by Boko Haram men.

GEJ to collect PDP Nomination form for 2015 presidential elections tomorrow

Read the State House press releases below...

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will tomorrow, Thursday, October 30 pick up the PDP nomination form for the 2015 Presidential elections.

President Jonathan thanks all Nigerians, members of the PDP, friends, associates, and all groups who in sincere appreciation of the achievements of the administration in the last four years, have been urging him to seek a second term in office.

Lawyer Festus Keyamo petitions SSS, IGP over threat to kill him by Tompolo

Just received this petition which was sent to the IG of Police and SSS from lawyer and rights activist Festus Keyamo about an alleged threat to his life. Read below...

Threat to kill Mr. Festus Keyamo by Mr. Government Ekpemupolo (Alias Tompolo)

My name is Festus Keyamo. I am a Nigerian citizen and a senior member of the legal profession in Nigeria.

At exactly 10:13pm on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, I received a telephone call from one Mr. Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo) with phone number (I removed the number). We have been acquaintances in the past, so I know his numbers. After reaffirming that he is Tompolo when I picked his call, he went straight to the point by informing me that he wishes to inform me that he and his “boys” will kill me by beating me to death or shooting me anywhere they can find me. And that the hunt for me is on. His exact words in pidgin English was “we dey look for you. Anywhere we see you, whether for Lagos or Abuja or Warri, we go beat you die or we go shoot you.”

US nurse sues after being forced into quarantine in New Jersey

A US nurse who works for Doctors Without Borders, has hired a civil rights lawyer to sue after she was forced into quarantine on returning to the US from caring for Ebola victims in Sierra Leone. The US Govt recently started a mandatory 21-day quarantine order for all health workers who arrived back in the US via airports in New York, New Jersey and Chicago, to help stop the spread of Ebola.

Kaci Hickox, (pictured above) who was the first person to be placed into the 21 day period of isolation, said she was treated like a 'criminal' after risking her life to volunteer in an Ebola-stricken country. Her lawyer said Kaci's human rights were abused when she was sent to hospital in a protective suit after arriving at New Jersey's Newark Airport.

The mandatory quarantine began after a doctor, Craig Spencer who had returned from treating Ebola patients in Guinea tested positive for the virus after spending five days mixing with the public without realizing he had the disease.

Read heartbreaking last letter Iranian woman wrote before she was hanged

27 year old Reyhaney Jabbari was executed on Saturday October 25th by hanging in Iran seven years after she killed a man that she claimed had attempted to rape her. Before she was killed, Reyhaney wrote a very emotional letter to her mother, asking that her organs be donated to those who need them. See the full text of the letter after the cut...

Gov. Amaechi reacts to presidential statement, comes for Reuben Abati

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state has reacted to yesterday's statement from the presidency where he was advised to stop political rascality and blackmail. Speaking through the state's Commissioner for Information, Ibim Semenitari, Governor Amaechi said there was never a time he discussed First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan. He also described Presidential Spokesman, Reuben Abati as the rascality within the Presidency

"I would want to say that the Presidential Spokesman should be careful for the kind of threats he issues to an elected Governor. He should remember that the President is not a prefect of the governor. He was elected as President just as the Governor was elected as a governor, and Nigeria is a federation. And please, Abati should know his limits and need not attempt to cross his boundaries.

"It is a bit strange to hear the kind of comments coming out of the Presidency and this shows that the statement was already prepared before governor Amaechi spoke. At no point in his speech did Governor Amaechi make any references. His wife was not even discussed because she is not an official of government. I do not understand where or how Mr. Abati got his story, so we just take it that this is one of those clear indications of rascality within the Presidency trying to call a dog a bad name and hang it”.

Revitalising small businesses

The micro, small and medium enterprises fund is a good idea. But the challenges of cost, power and access to markets should be addressed The N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Fund was recently launched by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to provide long-term affordable finance to the sub-sector. It is also expected to provide capacity building and cheap wholesale funds, deepen access to finance, improve the economic empowerment of women and grass-root development and promote job creation. To the extent that this fund is targeted at some of the most vulnerable constituencies of our society, it is an idea we wholeheartedly support and we urge the relevant authorities to make it work.

Nigeria at risk over falling oil price—FG

The Federal Government, yesterday, raised an alarm over the decline in the global crude oil prices, saying that it is already putting in place stricter measures to cushion the effect of the drop on the Nigerian economy.

'Nigeria has two to three months of rainy day savings to cushion it while contingencies are put in place should world oil prices continue to fall,' Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Coordinating Minister for Economy told the Financial Times. Okonjo-Iweala disclosed that should oil price dip below $78, the country would have to draw down on the Excess Crude Account (ECA). She said, 'Our intention is not to run in there and raid it, but even if prices continue to go down we can survive sufficiently for two to three months. 

I didn't ask Amaechi for Rivers' money -Patience Jonathan

Wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan, has denied a statement by the Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, alleging that she asked him to share the state's funds with her.

Mrs. Jonathan, in a statement issued on Sunday by her media assistant, Mr. Ayo Adewuyi, said Amaechi's statement was a deliberate attempt to malign her and score cheap political point.

'Having waited patiently for Governor Amaechi to refute the statement credited to him about the First Lady, (with the assumption that he was misquoted), it has become clear that it was a deliberate attempt to malign Dame Patience Jonathan and score cheap political point. more after cut

FIFA gives Nigeria Monday deadline

For the umpteenth time this year the world football governing body, FIFA, has given Nigeria a deadline to avoid suspension from international football.

Confederation of African Football President, Issa Hayatou, has warned that Nigeria is in danger of being banned by FIFA by Monday (today) after a court sacked the recently elected Nigeria Football Federation Executive Committee. Indeed, it was explained that the Super Falcons were allowed to play the AWC final match against Cameroon on Saturday after a plea was made to FIFA executives led by Sepp Blatter. more after cut

Obasanjo replies Buhari: Muslim-Muslim ticket dangerous for Nigeria

A former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,   has warned political parties and their leaders against the idea of fielding either Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian as presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the February 14, 2014 election.

He said in a terse statement made available to journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State on Sunday that such idea was dangerous given the current happenings in the polity.

Although he made no mention of any political party or politician in the statement, he appeared to have alluded to an All Progressive Congress presidential aspirant, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari's comment   on Saturday that he was not opposed to a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

Obasanjo's statement read, 'Sensitivity is a necessary ingredient for enhancement of peace, security and stability at this point in the political discourse and arrangement for Nigeria and for encouraging confidence and trust. More after cut

Photos: Pres. Jonathan, Bishop Oyedepo return from Pilgrimage

President Jonathan and Bishop Oyedepo pictured arriving Abuja this morning after 3 days in Israel for the Pilgrimage. See more photos after the cut...

Union Bank Market Access for SMEs

Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, in partnership with BusinessDay and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) is a proud sponsor of the 2014 edition of the annual SME event Market Access for SMEs. 

The Lagos-leg of the event took place on Tuesday October 21, 2014 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island and featured various interactive sessions including presentations, exhibitions and opportunities to network. 

Wow photos: Wealthy Africans spending almost £4 million-a-week on London property

According to a new report, super wealthy Africans are spending almost £4 million on London property every week as they snap up some of the most exclusive investments in the capital, this is according to Real Estate agents in the UK.

More than £600 million has been spent in London by Africans within the last three years and its on the increase. The wealthy buyers are from Nigeria, Ghana, Congo, Gabon, Cameroon and Senegal, UK Daily Mail reports.  

Nigerians are the biggest spenders, with wealthy nationals forking out £250 million on London homes in the last three years. A mixture of traditional reasons combined with increased terrorism and the outbreak of Ebola is said to be behind the dramatic influx of African money to the capital.

Photos: Man allegedly shot by police in Delta State

25 year old Moses Onianwa (pictured above in hospital) who works with Oshimili North LGA, was allegedly shot by policemen attached to Ibusa Police Station in Delta State this past Saturday.

According to his friends who reached out, Moses was in company of three other friends and were monitoring the last Saturday Local Government Area elections when police allegedly pursued and shot at them somewhere around Asaba.

"Two of the boys ran while 2 others stayed back with the driver of the vehicle, Christopher 29, who was beaten black and blue. Unfortunately, Moses out of fright took off but was immediately shot thrice. The two legs were battered and his shoulder was shot at too. He is currently dying at FMC Asaba."

"The D.P.O had quickly transferred the other one case to State C.I.D. with cooked -up allegation of armed robbery with possession of fire-arms planted in the car. Kindly find attached pictures taken secretly at the hospital where doctors are battling to save his life." a friend who didn't want to be named told said

Hopefully, the Asaba police will address this issue and tell us what really happened. see pics after cut

Nick Cannon donates his $2m diamond-encrusted shoes to charity

You remember the $2.2million diamond-encrusted loafers Nick Cannon wore to the grand finale of America's Got Talent in September? Well, he has donated it to a children's hospital. The actor and TV host donated the foot wear to the St Mary's Hospital for Children in Queens, New York.

The shoes will be auctioned off at a later date and the hospital will keep all the money made from selling it. Nick says he's happy to donate the shoes

"I want to keep this children's hospital going. It's one of the oldest children hospitals in New York. You got there and it puts everything into perspective. You see all that they are going through and that they can still have a smile on their faces. I get so much out of it. I'm glad to do this" Nick said

Photos: Gov. Rotimi Amaechi kneels to worship God during rally

This governor is a character...lol. He went on his knees to worship God at an occasion which held earlier today in Port Harcourt to mark his fourth year in office.

Photos: Gov. Rotimi Amaechi kneels to worship God during rally

This governor is a character...lol. He went on his knees to worship God at an occasion which held earlier today in Port Harcourt to mark his fourth year in office.

Boko Haram kills four Nigerian refugees in Cameroon

Four Nigerians taking refuge in a village in the far north of Cameroon have been killed by members of Boko Haram in an attack that took place on Friday October 24th.

According to a statement made available today to AFP, the Cameroonian Ministry of Defence said the sect members attacked "the village of Glawi,  killing four Nigerian refugees and wounding one Cameroonian, before being pushed back by defence forces which pursued them”.

 

The ministry also said two groups of Boko Haram members had also tried to enter another border village with Nigeria but they were “immediately intercepted and neutralised by our defence forces who destroyed three 4×4 vehicles equipped with machine guns, killing 27 assailants,”.

39 members of the sect were confirmed dead after the various attacks.

Stop political rascality & blackmail - presidency warns Gov Amaechi

Two days ago, Rivers governor Rotimi Amaechi said the reason he and First Lady Patience Jonathan fell out was because refused to share the state's money with her...well the presidency has responded, saying that Amaechi's day of reckoning is coming, that the immunity he enjoys now as governor will not be forever. Find the State House press release below...

Governor Rotimi Amaechi took his obnoxious willingness to denigrate the highest office in the land in a reckless bid to advance his selfish political interests to a new level of irresponsible and rascally behaviour yesterday in Port Harcourt with his totally false and baseless vituperations against President Jonathan, the First Lady and the Federal Government.