16:14 16/06/2015
Damascus - At least 20 people were killed and 100 wounded on
Monday in Syrian rebel rocket fire on government-held parts of the city
of Aleppo, Syrian state media said.
"The number of martyrs in the
massacre carried out by terrorists in Aleppo has risen to 20 dead and
more than 100 hurt," state television said in a breaking news alert.
The
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported the rocket fire,
putting the toll at 13, including two children, and adding that it was
expected to rise.
The group also said around 100 people were wounded, among them 20 children.
The
Britain-based monitor said rebels had fired some 250 rockets at several
districts in western Aleppo city in just four hours, causing massive
damage including the collapse of an entire building.
State television broadcast gruesome footage of the wounded being brought into hospital.
One stretcher carried the body of an adult whose face was covered with blood, and a dead child, ghostly with white dust.
Once
Syria's economic powerhouse, Aleppo has been ravaged by the conflict
that began with anti-government protests in March 2011, before
spiralling into a civil war.
The city has been divided between
government control in the west and rebel control in the east since
shortly after fighting spread to it in mid-2012.
Regime forces
regularly bombard the eastern side from the air, dropping crude barrel
bombs that rights groups say are indiscriminate and can kill dozens of
civilians at a time.
Rights groups have similarly criticised rebels for firing indiscriminately into civilian areas in western Aleppo.
More than 230 000 people have been killed in Syria since March 2011, according to the Observatory.
The
United Nations envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is currently
visiting Damascus to brief government officials on talks he has held on
ways to end the conflict.
Ahead of his visit, his spokesman said he would raise the "unacceptable" use of barrel bombs by the regime.
News, Events, Entertainment, Lifestyle, Fashion, Beauty, Inspiration and yes... Gossip! *Wink*
Tuesday, 16 June 2015
Blatter not going to New Zealand for U20 W/Cup final
16:14 16/06/2015
Zurich — FIFA President Sepp Blatter will not go to New Zealand for the Under-20 World Cup final on Saturday.
FIFA says Blatter "will not be able to travel ... due to his current commitments in Zurich."
Blatter's plans have been uncertain since seven football officials were arrested in FIFA's home city last month in an American investigation of corruption. They face extradition to the United States.
The FIFA president, who plans to resign within months, is a target of the widening case.
Blatter would typically attend the under-20 event but is skipping the final in Auckland.
He saw the opening two matches at the 2013 tournament in Turkey, and the 2011 final in Colombia.
FIFA says Blatter could attend the Women's World Cup final on July 5 in Vancouver, Canada.
-AP
Zurich — FIFA President Sepp Blatter will not go to New Zealand for the Under-20 World Cup final on Saturday.
FIFA says Blatter "will not be able to travel ... due to his current commitments in Zurich."
Blatter's plans have been uncertain since seven football officials were arrested in FIFA's home city last month in an American investigation of corruption. They face extradition to the United States.
The FIFA president, who plans to resign within months, is a target of the widening case.
Blatter would typically attend the under-20 event but is skipping the final in Auckland.
He saw the opening two matches at the 2013 tournament in Turkey, and the 2011 final in Colombia.
FIFA says Blatter could attend the Women's World Cup final on July 5 in Vancouver, Canada.
-AP
Buhari may appoint PDP members as ministers
16:13 16/06/2015
Abuja - There are indications that President Muhammadu Buhari is considering appointing Peoples Democratic Party (APC) members and other non-card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as ministers in his cabinet, reports Vanguard..
National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, who disclosed this on Monday, said Buhari’s government and APC as a political party were more concerned with assembling technocrats and other competent hands who would key into the vision and objectives of the present government.
He stated that the background of such persons does not matter as long as they are capable to deliver and serve the Nigerian people,
He denied that there was a disagreement between Buhari and the party leadership over the appointment of cabinet members, saying they have all agreed that the cabinet should be made-up of all manner of people, who are passionate about serving the people.
Read more at Vanguard..
Abuja - There are indications that President Muhammadu Buhari is considering appointing Peoples Democratic Party (APC) members and other non-card-carrying members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as ministers in his cabinet, reports Vanguard..
National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, who disclosed this on Monday, said Buhari’s government and APC as a political party were more concerned with assembling technocrats and other competent hands who would key into the vision and objectives of the present government.
He stated that the background of such persons does not matter as long as they are capable to deliver and serve the Nigerian people,
He denied that there was a disagreement between Buhari and the party leadership over the appointment of cabinet members, saying they have all agreed that the cabinet should be made-up of all manner of people, who are passionate about serving the people.
Read more at Vanguard..
Abducted Ekiti Catholic priest freed
16:13 16/06/2015
Ekiti - A priest of the Catholic diocese of Ekiti, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akingbade, who was kidnapped by three gunmen in Ido Ekiti last week Tuesday, has been released, Punch reports.
The Catholic Bishop of the diocese, Most. Rev. Felix Ajakaye, confirmed the news to journalists on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti.
Although he said no ransom was paid to secure the release of the priest, Ajakaye confirmed that the abductors had demanded N200m.
Fr. Akingbade was kidnapped by the gunmen on June 9 in his bedroom at the mission house of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Ido Ekiti, around 8pm and taken to an unknown destination.
Read more at Punch
Ekiti - A priest of the Catholic diocese of Ekiti, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Akingbade, who was kidnapped by three gunmen in Ido Ekiti last week Tuesday, has been released, Punch reports.
The Catholic Bishop of the diocese, Most. Rev. Felix Ajakaye, confirmed the news to journalists on Tuesday in Ado Ekiti.
Although he said no ransom was paid to secure the release of the priest, Ajakaye confirmed that the abductors had demanded N200m.
Fr. Akingbade was kidnapped by the gunmen on June 9 in his bedroom at the mission house of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Ido Ekiti, around 8pm and taken to an unknown destination.
Read more at Punch
Buhari pledges to implement APC policies
16:13 16/06/2015
Johannesburg - President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to implement the cardinal policies of his administration in order to move the country forward.
Buhari made the pledge in Johannesburg, South Africa, when he met Nigerians resident in South Africa.
He said government was determined to secure the country, improve the economy and eliminate corruption.
“Government is determined to secure the country, manage the economy, create employment and fight corruption.
“Some articulate writers have said if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.
“This APC administration intends to kill corruption in Nigeria. We will do our best, I assure you,” Buhari said.
The president said the G7 leaders had expressed commitment to helping Nigeria tackle insecurity as well as develop its oil and gas sectors.
“We are getting the facts and logistic requirements together,” he said.
He also said the leaders of the Lake Chad Basin Commission had set up a military command headquarters in Chad with a Nigerian general heading it.
Buhari, however, urged Nigerians resident in South Africa to be good ambassadors of the country.
“Those of you who have the opportunity to come here and represent us, make sure that you are representing Nigeria, you are all ambassadors of Nigeria.
“This means a lot of patience, restraint, self respect and pride. You must have all these,” he said.
According to Buhari, Nigerian and South African leaders will soon meet to discuss several issues bordering on their relationship.
The Consul-General of Nigeria in South Africa, Amb. Uche Ajulu-Okeke, said shops and other property worth millions of Rands belonging to Nigerians were lost during the recent xenophobic attacks.
She also said 143 Nigerians were killed in South Africa between 2011 and 2014, adding that another 81 were in Johannesburg prison.
“Out of this 81 Nigerians, 21 have been convicted,” she said.
The President of Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mr. Ikechukwu Anyene, congratulated the president on his election and inauguration.
“Your victory is victory over poverty, hunger and signals hope for the common man,” he said.
He urged the president to facilitate compensation for Nigerians affected by the xenophobic attacks.
Johannesburg - President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged to implement the cardinal policies of his administration in order to move the country forward.
Buhari made the pledge in Johannesburg, South Africa, when he met Nigerians resident in South Africa.
He said government was determined to secure the country, improve the economy and eliminate corruption.
“Government is determined to secure the country, manage the economy, create employment and fight corruption.
“Some articulate writers have said if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.
“This APC administration intends to kill corruption in Nigeria. We will do our best, I assure you,” Buhari said.
The president said the G7 leaders had expressed commitment to helping Nigeria tackle insecurity as well as develop its oil and gas sectors.
“We are getting the facts and logistic requirements together,” he said.
He also said the leaders of the Lake Chad Basin Commission had set up a military command headquarters in Chad with a Nigerian general heading it.
Buhari, however, urged Nigerians resident in South Africa to be good ambassadors of the country.
“Those of you who have the opportunity to come here and represent us, make sure that you are representing Nigeria, you are all ambassadors of Nigeria.
“This means a lot of patience, restraint, self respect and pride. You must have all these,” he said.
According to Buhari, Nigerian and South African leaders will soon meet to discuss several issues bordering on their relationship.
The Consul-General of Nigeria in South Africa, Amb. Uche Ajulu-Okeke, said shops and other property worth millions of Rands belonging to Nigerians were lost during the recent xenophobic attacks.
She also said 143 Nigerians were killed in South Africa between 2011 and 2014, adding that another 81 were in Johannesburg prison.
“Out of this 81 Nigerians, 21 have been convicted,” she said.
The President of Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mr. Ikechukwu Anyene, congratulated the president on his election and inauguration.
“Your victory is victory over poverty, hunger and signals hope for the common man,” he said.
He urged the president to facilitate compensation for Nigerians affected by the xenophobic attacks.
Local gin dealers beg government over ban
16:13 16/06/2015
Delta - Producers of local gin, popularly known as Ogogoro, under the aegis of Okwagbe Distillers Union, Delta State, have appealed to the Federal Government not to ban the production of the alcoholic drink, Vanguard reports.
Following the death of more than 60 persons arising from the consumption of local gin in Rivers and Ondo states, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), had last week, stated its resolve to commence the confiscation of the gin and conduct sensitization across the country.
Reacting to NAFDAC’s resolution, Chairman of the union, Samuel Egedegbe, said that their distilled gin does not kill.
He reiterated that their “distilled gin” is produced from palm wine derived from raffia palm or liquefied sugar mixed with yeast and “well cooked before distilling the gin.
Read more at Vanguard
Delta - Producers of local gin, popularly known as Ogogoro, under the aegis of Okwagbe Distillers Union, Delta State, have appealed to the Federal Government not to ban the production of the alcoholic drink, Vanguard reports.
Following the death of more than 60 persons arising from the consumption of local gin in Rivers and Ondo states, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, (NAFDAC), had last week, stated its resolve to commence the confiscation of the gin and conduct sensitization across the country.
Reacting to NAFDAC’s resolution, Chairman of the union, Samuel Egedegbe, said that their distilled gin does not kill.
He reiterated that their “distilled gin” is produced from palm wine derived from raffia palm or liquefied sugar mixed with yeast and “well cooked before distilling the gin.
Read more at Vanguard
Lagos student arraigned for £54 000 love scam
17:19 16/06/2015
Lagos - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a university student for defrauding a United Kingdom citizen vast amounts of foreign currency in an alleged romance scam.
Ebiechina Chikeluba has appeared before Justice Ipaye of the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja on a 17-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, impersonation, forgery and using false documents.
It is alleged Chikeluba, who met his victim on Facebook using the false identity of, Lisa T. Jackson, a United States citizen, has been making monetary demands of his victims, using varies guises.
In one such alleged instance in March 2013, he obtained more than of £54 000 from one K. Oaks through Western Union on the pretext that he was an American woman dealing in Gold in Nigeria and needed money to increase her capital. The unsuspecting victim paid, having already agreed to marry the alleged conman.
He is pleading not guilty.
In view of the plea of the accused, prosecution counsel, Andrew Akoja asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.
The defence counsel, Chijioke Agu informed the court that he had already filed an application for bail and asked to be allowed to move his application.
However, Justice Ipaye adjourned the matter to July 20 for hearing of bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody.
Operatives of the EFCC arrested Chikeluba, 21, a student of Federal Science and Technical College Yaba, Lagos in February.
Lagos - The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a university student for defrauding a United Kingdom citizen vast amounts of foreign currency in an alleged romance scam.
Ebiechina Chikeluba has appeared before Justice Ipaye of the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja on a 17-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, impersonation, forgery and using false documents.
It is alleged Chikeluba, who met his victim on Facebook using the false identity of, Lisa T. Jackson, a United States citizen, has been making monetary demands of his victims, using varies guises.
In one such alleged instance in March 2013, he obtained more than of £54 000 from one K. Oaks through Western Union on the pretext that he was an American woman dealing in Gold in Nigeria and needed money to increase her capital. The unsuspecting victim paid, having already agreed to marry the alleged conman.
He is pleading not guilty.
In view of the plea of the accused, prosecution counsel, Andrew Akoja asked for a trial date and prayed the court to remand the defendant in prison custody.
The defence counsel, Chijioke Agu informed the court that he had already filed an application for bail and asked to be allowed to move his application.
However, Justice Ipaye adjourned the matter to July 20 for hearing of bail application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in custody.
Operatives of the EFCC arrested Chikeluba, 21, a student of Federal Science and Technical College Yaba, Lagos in February.
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