Curence: The Fastest News Update: 2016

Live updates: Search intensifies after EgyptAir 804 wreckage, body parts found

The search for missing EgyptAir flight 804 intensifies after crews spot airplane parts and human remains in the Mediterranean Sea. (Egyptian Defense Ministry) Crews searching for the wreckage of EgyptAir flight

The South China Sea has become a growing source of tension between China and the US

Nigeria’s Former President and Co-Chair of the Commonwealth Africa Initiative (CAFI) Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former UN Scribe Dr. Kofi Anan, and Africa Regional Director for GLEEHD Foundation/Commonwealth Africa Initiative Africa Engagement Director Ambassador Dayo Israel, were among the Key Guest at the recently concluded Commonwealth Day Service & Commonwealth Africa Summit activities in London in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Commonwealth Africa Summit is an annual event hosted as part of the activities to celebrate the Commonwealth Week in London and organised by the Commonwealth Africa Initiative and GLEEHD Foundation. This year’s Summit was supported by New Commonwealth Initiative, Heritage Bank Nigeria, Pan African Minerals Sierra Leone, Memorial Gate Trust, Royal Commonwealth Society, BEN television, Phoenix Newspaper, TVC News Africa, Joseftree Consult, Amandla Consulting, Stones and Stellars, The Times of Africa, CNBC Africa, Association of African Owned Enterprise in the UK, Business Council on Africa, PK Media UK, The Dream Center Nigeria and others.

Arsenal fan in Malaysia does Arsenal-themed wedding (photos)

You know your partner really loves you when she lets you do this on her wedding day! A Malaysian Die-hard Arsenal fan last weekend hosted an extravagant Arsenal themed wedding where the dance floor was hilariously replaced by a mini football pitch whilst the couple used the Arsenal emblem on their menu. All the guests at the wedding wore Arsenal jerseys. Lol! See more photos after the cut...

2016 economy: Markets start on mixed fundamentals

Market indicators of the financial health and perception of the economy appeared hazy as indicators point to all directions, with stock market looking up, currency market looking down and money market in mixed-grill. Though the Nigerian Stock Exchange All Shares Index, NSE ASI, closed the year down by 17.36 per cent the market will be opening for the first trading day of 2016 from a positive point following the steady positive streak it recorded in the last trading week of 2015.

The index appreciated by 3.11 per cent and 3.79 per cent last week Thursday and Wednesday respectively after a similar positive closing earlier in the week. NSE ASI closed the year at 28,642.25 points, compared with 34,657.15 as at end-December 2014. But week-on-week, the Index appreciated by 6.59 per cent and month-on-month it appreciated by 4.59 per cent in the last month of 2015.

EPA: $8.94bn development package tears ECOWAS apart

•Nigeria’s share 12m Euro
•12 countries sign agreement, 4 reluctant
•Nigeria doesn’t need EPA now — MAN

By Jimoh Babatunde & Franklin Alli

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been divided over the $8.94 billion European Union’s Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). EPA is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) designed to create free trade area between the EU and African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries in which duties on goods imported and exported between the parties are reduced and eventually removed.

Investigation conducted by Financial Vanguard, revealed that the EU has offered 6.5billion Euro (about $8.94 billion) Development Package to ECOWAS countries to develop necessary infrastructures in order to meet exports requirements to the EU, over the next five years (2015-2020). FV learned that out of this figure, the amount that came to Nigeria through United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO, the project implementer, is 12 million Euro (about N3 billion).

It was further learned that though, some of the beneficiary agencies in Nigeria’s public and private sector, namely Consumer Protection Council, Standards Organisation of Nigeria; the Organised Private Sector-MAN, NACCIMA, NASME; NASSI and NECA; have started accessing the fund for capacity building, ministers of trade in 12 countries out of the sixteen ECOWAS countries are yet to sign the agreement with the exception of Nigeria, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia.

20 year old Super Eagles winger Moses Daddy Ajala Simon had his traditional wedding to Ibukun Sarah Adenuga in Ibadan on Tuesday December 29th. Continue to see more photos...

Notorious instagram blog @Fameolous shared photos of this lady, claiming that Kanye West is creeping around on Kim with her. She's an upcoming model named Savannah Winters. Guess Fameolous is looking for a way to make her famous.

Read the official statement from Headies Awards organization below...

We are proud of what we have achieved over the years. The Headies stage has birthed the careers of many artistes who are of A-list status today. We are also glad that we have reinstated pride and prestige into the winning of a locally organised music awards and, we have celebrated artistic ingenuity for 10 straight years; a feat no other group before us was able to achieve.

Every year, the screening team collate all creative materials released in the year in review and screen for nomination. This tedious process goes on for at least three months before the screening team comes out with a final list. The voting categories, such as 'Song Of The Year', 'Artist Of The Year', & 'Next-Rated' are left strictly for fans to vote and choose the winners. We wish to say categorically that we do not tamper with the outcome of the voting process. The limit of our involvement in this voting process is to advice the nominees to engage their fans and solicit for their votes. We do not accept any responsibility for failure on the part of the nominees or their record label, when they fail to do this.

Facebook user Darlene Loretto commented on one of Zuckerberg's post saying that she had told her granddaughters to date the Nerd in school because he might turn out to be an inventor and below is Facebook CEO's response. Good one Mark!

Photos: Gov Wike swears in 1st female Chief Judge of Rivers State

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has sworn in the First Female Chief Judge of Rivers State Justice Daisy Wotube Okocha at a ceremony that took place at the state government house today January 4th. Justice Okocha has been the state Acting Chief Judge since June 1, 2015.

The Iranian government says it has employed all her diplomatic channels including warning the Nigerian government to release the leader of the Shia Muslim group in Nigeria Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky. He was arrested alongside other members of his group following a clash with the Nigerian army in Zaria, Kaduna state on Saturday December 12th. Over 60 people died in the fracas.

Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase has issued a circular banning police officers from illegally accessing the mobile phones of civilians. Officer in Charge of Complaint Response Unit (CRU) of the Nigeria Police, Abayomi Shogunle tweeted this.

FFK blasts Buhari's worshippers

As he posted on Twitter some hours ago...

See how this Fulani boy was treated after graduating from University

Lol. Congrats to him!

Wait, Drake is now dating Amber Rose..?

Read the blockbuster report from MediaTakeOut below...

MediaTakeout.com has on very good authority - that Amber Rose is now dating...Drake! According the NY Post's Page Six Drake has been seen all over Miami with Amber. Page Six spoke to a person who told them, “They were on a very private dinner [Friday] night in the wine room at Prime 112, behind curtains." And US Weekly has reported that the pair was also spotted at the Soho Beach House.

A suspected petroleum pipeline vandal and truck driver, Okechukwu Okeke was on December 30, 2015, arrested by the operatives of the Aninri Division of the Enugu state command of the Nigeria Police Force while a tanker truck with 13,800 litres of stolen Premium Motor Spirit was seized.

According to the Command, the suspect alongside with others now at large had allegedly stormed Umurah Ndeaboh bush on December 24, 2015 at about 12 midnight where petroleum pipeline is said to have passed with their pipeline drilling equipment, two pumping machines,pipeline sealants, generator, some spanners and with a leyland 13,800 litres truck with registration number XF 312 PHC and had already tampered with the pipeline and were siphoning it into their waiting truck kept at a very long distance out of the vandalized area before the eagle eyed operatives already acting on a tip closed them up.

Cristiano Ronaldo says he has no desire to go into coaching when he retires from active football like former teammates Gary Neville, Roy Keane and Ryan Giggs. The 30 year old Real Madrid and Portugal star player says he has much more interests outside of football and does not foresee a coaching, management or presidential role when he hangs up his boots.

44-year-old Mohammed Raees Makani who has been a car mechanic for fifteen years from India has no formal education and cannot read or write but this has not stopped him from accomplishing a scientific feat of epic proportions. He claims to have designed a car that runs on water.

Goods worth millions of Naira was lost in a fire incident that occurred in the early hours of this morning at the Yola South main market in Adamawa state. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Men of the state fire service have arrived the scene and are working to put out the fire. See more photos after the cut...

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have arrived Pretoria, South Africa as the final phase of preparation for the 2016 African Nations Championships in Rwanda begins. They commenced full training yesterday January 3rd. South African football legend Jomo Sono paid the team a surprise visit at their training ground. The team will play two friendly matches against Angola and Cote d’Ivoire on January 6th and 11th. See more photos after the cut...

Super Eagles player, Ogenyi Onazi had his court wedding to Sandra Ogunsuyi at the Ikoyi Marriage registry last week Tuesday December 26th. Congrats to them. Continue to see more photos...

The world’s most elusive fugitive is still on the run after breaking out of jail 60 years ago. John Patrick Hannan used knotted bedsheets to scale the walls of Verne Prison , Portland, Dorset, in December 1955.

Hannan, who holds the world record for longest escape from custody, disappeared without a trace and would now be aged 81. The Irishman broke free just 30 days into his 21-month sentence for car theft and assaulting two police officers.

Dorset Police, who have officially given up looking for him, believe he returned to his native country soon after he vanished.

Organiser filling station at located Amunko, Nnewi Okpuno Nnewichi in Anambra state, was razed to the ground this morning after an explosion...suspected to have been caused by a fuel tanker. Fire service and police are currently at the location to deal with the situation. Not sure of casualties... hopefully, there isn't any. More photos after the cut...

By Adeniyi Ogunfowoke

Christmas is over and reality sets in as the toughest month of the year arrives. If you are saddled with worry over how to scale through this period, here are tips to help you overcome January challenges.

Organize yourself

January is always financially tight because of the additional expenses during Christmas. Notwithstanding, do not sulk about your financial status. You can take time to review your finances before you start spending for the month. The success of organizing yourself, especially your finances will go a long way in determining whether the cookie will crumble during the month.

Iran’s foreign ministry accused Saudi Arabia of stoking regional tension Monday after the kingdom broke off diplomatic relations and said Iranian embassy staff must leave.

“Saudi Arabia sees not only its interests but also its existence in pursuing crises and confrontations and attempts to resolve its internal problems by exporting them to the outside,” said ministry spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari.

Saudi Arabia announced its measures after its embassy in Tehran was firebombed and its interior destroyed by a mob who attacked the building in protest at the kingdom’s execution of a Shiite cleric.

The violence was condemned on Sunday by Iran’s president.

Ansari said that by severing diplomatic relations, SaudiArabia was “continuing the policy of increasing tension and clashes in the region”.

AfricanSunTimes Names Jonathan International Person Of The Year

Posted by conyeani
The African Sun Times, Africa’s number one and largest newspaper in America, has announced its Persons-of-the-Year, as well as the Corporate Social Responsibility Company of the Year. The categories the newspaper has chosen this year include International Person of the Year, African Statesman of the Year, Corporate Social Responsibility Company of the Year, Pan-African Person of the Year, Diaspora Person of the Year, Most Influential Person of the Year Under 40, and the African Tourism Ambassador of the Year. The individuals named include:

APC in Edo State has accused members of the PDP of diverting rice meant for the state by the campaign organisation of former President Goodluck Jonathan. The party threatened to take evidence of the diverted rice which indicated how the sticker of the aspirant was super-imposed on the sack of the 2KG rice while under it was the map of Nigeria with the inscription “Feed Nigeria Campaign 2015”, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Presidency for probe.

Some leaders of the PDP, led by Okharedia Ihimekpen, had last week, alleged that the governorship aspirant seized the rice meant for PDP members during Jonathan’s presidential campaign and shared it to his supporters last Christmas.

They urged the EFCC and the Presidency to investigate the matter, adding that they also diverted funds meant for the Jonathan’s election campaign.

Supermodel Tyson Beckford wasn't done with the nude pic he shared of himself hours ago. He shared another butt naked pic for all his followers on Instagram to see. God bless him...lol. See the pic after the cut

Jimi Adesanya of Jadesa group, JM Films producer had his Introduction to The Osomo Family yesterday. Jimi proposed to Simi Esiri’s younger sister, Titi Osomo sometime last year. BankyW, Dayo Okeniyi, Usman Dantata Jr & others were present at the event. See more photos after the cut...

Someone stole Abraham Lincoln’s hand. The crime had no witnesses. There are no suspects. The police are not even certain when the hand disappeared.

About all anyone knows is that a plaster sculpture of the 16th president’s hand, proudly displayed for years at the Kankakee County Museum, has been missing from its shelf since at least Dec. 11.

Any art theft would be jarring in Kankakee, a working-class city about an hour’s drive south of Chicago, but because of its connection to Lincoln, the loss of this sculpture has touched a nerve there.

Museum officials had thought that the theft might have been a prank, and that the plaster study would resurface in a few days. The police hoped someone might provide information about the theft after seeing a Facebook post by the department, which included photographs and described the hand as roughly “the size of a 8-10 pound ham.”

The local newspaper, The Daily Journal, published an editorial pleading for the thief to come forward.

“We are blessed to have such a fine museum with an impressive inventory,” the editorial said, “but the collection is not complete without Lincoln’s hands.”

Effective from last week Friday, January 1, 2016, Nigerian banks are expected to charge nothing as Commission on Turnover (CoT) according to the gradual phase out plan of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The CBN in April 2013 had revised the guidelines on bank charges, introducing the gradual phasing out of commission on turnover.

The revised guideline had introduced a gradual reduction of CoT from N5 per mile (per N1000) in early 2013 to N3 per mille or N1000, N2 per N1000 in 2014 and is to be N1 per N1000 in 2015 and finally phased out effective January 1, 2016.

Barely three days into the New Year, the government of Taraba has reported an outbreak of Lassa fever in the state.

According to the Commissioner of Health, Innocent Vakkai, one person has been confirmed dead while two other people kept in for observation.

He said: “One person died and two others quarantined and their blood samples have already been taken to Irrua Specialists’ Hospital in Edo State for further confirmation.”

Vakkai however said that the state government had responded to the outbreak quickly and therefore urged the public not to panic.

Dismiss MTN’s suit against NCC, lawyer tells court

By Innocent Anaba

A Lagos lawyer, Mr Tope Alabi, has urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss MTN Nigeria’s suit against the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.

He said that the N1.04trillion fine imposed on MTN was in order, adding that the telecoms firm has no reasonable case against NCC.

According to Alabi, granting MTN’s reliefs will result in “people breaking one law and hiding under another law to escape liability.”

MTN is urging court to quash the $3.9billion sanction imposed on it by NCC in October for failing to disconnect unregistered subscribers. The initial fine of $5.2billion was reduced by 25 per cent to $3.9billion earlier this month. The payment deadline has expired.

But MTN through its lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, is challenging NCC’s powers to impose the fine. It argued that NCC being a regulator cannot assume all the functions of the state.

However, Alabi, in an application seeking to be joined as an interested party, said MTN’s suit was an abuse of court process that must not be tolerated.

Jonathan’s campaign rice: Edo APC vows to petition EFCC, Presidency

By Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State has described as laughable, the defence by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state that none of its governorship aspirants diverted rice meant for the state by the campaign organisation of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The party threatened to take evidence of the rice which indicated how the sticker of the aspirant was super-imposed on the sack of the 2KG rice while under it was the map of Nigeria with the inscription “Feed Nigeria Campaign 2015”, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Presidency for probe.

Some leaders of the PDP, led by Okharedia Ihimekpen, had raised alarm last week, alleging that the governorship aspirant seized the rice meant for PDP members during Jonathan’s presidential campaign and shared it to his supporters this Christmas.

They urged the EFCC and the Presidency to probe the matter, adding that it was the same way that funds meant for the Jonathan’s election were siphoned in the state.

Abuja— The social welfare intervention programme of President Muhammadu Buhari administration, for which N500 billion has been allocated in the 2016 budget, is not a one-off scheme, says Mr Laolu Akande, the vice presidential spokesman.

Akande, who is the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity in the Office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, yesterday.

He said the scheme “is a combination of several well-thought out programmes emphasising direct connections with the extremely poor, and the needy among other categories of the masses of this country.”

A breakdown of the welfare programme is contained in the 2016-2017 and 2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (PSP) submitted to the Senate for consideration and approval.

By Evelyn Usman

LAGOS—Two suspected pipeline vandals, who were arrested weekend in Isolo area of Lagos by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Anti Pipeline Vandalisation Unit, have alleged that soldiers aided them to load their truck in a creek in Ijedodo area of Lagos.

The suspects, Moshood Jubril 40 and Friday Joseph 37 were arrested at the verge of conveying a 33,000 truck laden with the siphoned petroleum product to Ibadan, Oyo state ,where a petrol station owner was waiting to receive the product.

While Joseph, driver of the truck with plate number XA 898 ABC drove ahead, Jubril, an escort, reportedly drove behind in a Toyota Camry car with plate number AAA 208 DU.

By Ndahi Marama

MAIDUGURI—The North East Development Commission, NEDCOM, Bill before the Senate will address the “comprehensive rebuilding” of communities destroyed by Boko Haram in the North East geopolitical zone, before the over 2.2 million Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in camps return to their respective communities, the Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ndume, has disclosed.

Ndume spoke, Sunday evening, to newsmen in Maiduguri at his Government Reservation Are, GRA, residence, on the rebuilding of destroyed communities; and return of IDPs to their communities in the affected Northeast sub-region of the country.

Militants of the Islamic State (ISIS) executed a teenage boy by throwing him off a roof in Syria’s eastern city of Deir ez-Zor for being gay, local sources reported on Friday.
The 15-year-old boy was arrested by ISIS militants on charges of homosexuality and he was thrown from the top of a building in central Deir ez-Zor.

“The horrific execution took place in front of a large crowd,” a local media activist and an eyewitness told ARA News in Deir ez-Zor.

Lagos orders Project Information Board display by contractors

By Evelyn Usman

Lagos State government at the weekend, directed that henceforth , all ongoing construction works or telecommunication infrastructure works must have a Project Information Board displayed on site, with a view to indicating the contractor involved.

The directive as contained in a press statement issued by the General Manager , Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency , LASIMRA Mr Babajide Odekunle , took effect from January 1, 2016.

Odekunle explained that the directive was aimed among other things, to curb illegal erection and encroachment on government facilities by contractors and also to ensure that public roads were not opened up without proper permit from LASIMRA.

The concerned telecommunication infrastructure to be displayed on site according to him, included towers , masts, base stations, parabolic antennae as well as tar cut for fibre optic cables.

Consequently, he said; “All construction activities must ensure compliance with this directive by reverting to the LASIMRA office.”

Kwara teachers begin strike over unpaid salaries

ILORIN— The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Kwara State has said primary school teachers in the state will embark on strike, today, to protest the non-payment of their four months’ salary arrears.

Chairman of the union, Comrade Musa Abubakar, made this known, yesterday, in Kaiama, Kaiama Local Government Area of the state.

The strike will begin just when schools are expected to resume from their first term holiday.

Abubakar said the union could no longer guarantee industrial harmony in the state following the non-payment of their four months’ salary arrears.

He said the primary school teachers had been loyal and dedicated to duty in spite of the failure of the government to pay them salaries for months.

After an eight month absence, Nigerian ‘Prophet’ T.B. Joshua returned to his Lagos-based church, The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations (SCOAN), on Sunday 3rd January 2016 with more prophetic revelations concerning Africa.
Speaking on the Nigerian political scene, Joshua declared that a minority party would soon rise to significance. “One of the minority parties will be lifted up and reckoned with,” he told congregants.

“Let us pray for God’s love and unity in Nigeria.”

It would be recalled that Joshua allegedly predicted the rise of the current ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), in 2010.

Sustainable development is in the spotlight as governments around the world meet in Paris this month to discuss action against climate change. GE’s mission is to help its partners to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges, to minimise environmental impact and to advance social development.

Here are just a few ways in which GE is partnering with customers to make a difference.

Expanding renewable energy capacity
GE now has a global footprint of 30 000 wind turbines, and is expanding into the production of offshore wind farms. By 2020, half of all new electric power capacity will be renewable.
A sustainability strategy focused on social value
GE is a partner in building Africa’s sustainable future, with strategic direction provided by GE Kujenga, helping to ensure that GE’s business and operations create value for societies and make a difference, while also creating a return on financial investment.

Mikel sparkles in Chelsea win

Life is certainly looking better for Super Eagles and Chelsea midfielder, Mikel Obi who put in another stellar perfor-mance for the Cham-pions who ran an away with a 3-0 win against city rivals Crystal Palace yesterday. The 28-year-old Nigeria international played the duration of the game at Selhurst Park and was effective sitting in front of the Chelsea back four.

It was Mikel’s 2nd consecutive 90 minutes in the League since Guus Hiddink took charge of the Blues and the once out-of-favour midfielder is finding his confidence back with the Manager who gave him an FA Cup final full appearance and a title back in 2009. ‘ It was a great result for the team, we’ve been training hard and I think the result is becoming evident on the pitch.

‘ We’re not where we should be now in the table but if we keep getting this sort of wins, we will move up and be where we are supposed to be in the table,’ he told Skysports after the game.

Akunyili: Court frees suspects over attempted murder

By Abdulwahab Abdulah & Jane Echewodo

Justice I.U Bello of an Abuja High Court, has acquitted and discharged six persons accused of conspiracy and attempted murder of the late Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Dr Dora Akunyili.

The suspects are, Francis Okoye, Emmanuel Nnakwe, Marcel Nnakwe, Emeka Orjiakora, Christopher Mbah, and Olisaemeka Igbokwe.

The accused persons, who were initially eight in number were charged with a four- count charge of conspiracy, attempted murder and murder brought against them by the state.

The charge reads: “That you Francis Okoye; Ebubedike; Emmanuel Nnakwe; Marcel Nnakwe; Emeka Orjiakor; Christopher Mbah; Olisaemeka Igbokwe; Chukwuka Ezeukwu; Jude Ugwu on or between October, 2001 to December 2003 at different places in the Federal Capital Territory and Anambra State agreed to do or cause to be done an illegal act to wit: cause the death of Dr Akunyili, Director-General, NAFDAC and that the said act was attempted to be done in pursuant of an agreement and that you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code.”

Plea