Egypt vs Ghana: Salah sinks Ghana as Pharaohs go through (Read full details)

Egypt's forward Mohamed Salah (L) takes a free kick to score a goal during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group D football match between Egypt and Ghana in Port-Gentil on January 25, 2017. Justin TALLIS / AFP

Mohamed Salah’s thumping early free-kick gave Egypt a 1-0 win against Ghana on Wednesday as they sealed their place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.

The record seven-time winners of the competition only needed a draw to be certain of going through but the victory at a barely half-full stadium allowed them to leapfrog already-qualified Ghana and finish on top of Group D.

Hector Cuper’s solid side, who have not conceded a goal yet in Gabon, will now stay in the port city of Port-Gentil for a last-eight tie against Morocco on Sunday evening.

Ghana, meanwhile, must now up sticks to Oyem in the north of the country for a quarter-final against an impressive DR Congo.

That may not bother the Black Stars and their coach Avram Grant too much given the state of the pitch in Port-Gentil, but an injury to skipper Asamoah Gyan might.

Gyan was making his 99th international appearance and was looking to score his 50th goal for his country, but he went down with what looked like a groin injury towards the end of the first half and eventually came off.

Jordan Ayew replaced him, but Grant looked ashen-faced at the prospect of being without his captain for the quarter-final as Ghana look to win a fifth Cup of Nations and a first since 1982.

The 2015 runners-up only needed a draw to secure first place and Grant made several changes to his team, including handing a start to London-born Andy Yiadom at right-back.

But Egypt went in front in the 11th minute thanks to a moment of inspiration from their star man Salah, the Roma player smashing home a free-kick on his left foot from 23 yards that left Razak Brimah in the Ghana goal rooted.

Once again the shocking surface made flowing football almost impossible, and chances were few and far between.

A poor clearance by Razak almost gifted Egypt a second goal, but Marwan Mohsen’s floated effort from the edge of the area landed on the roof of the net.

The Egyptian defence stood firm in the second half and their 44-year-old goalkeeper Essam El Hadary was only truly tested twice.

First he spooned away a powerful long-range strike by Emmanuel Agyemang Badu midway through the second period, and then he flew high to his right to save from Jordan Ayew in the 90th minute.

Egypt vs Ghana: Salah sinks Ghana as Pharaohs go through

UN holds off action over new Israeli settler homes (Read full details)

The UN Security Council met behind closed doors on Wednesday to discuss Israel’s plan to build new settler homes in the Palestinian West Bank, but took no action.

Council members heard a report from UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov after the Israeli government approved a major expansion of 2,500 homes, in defiance of a UN resolution that demanded an end to settlement construction.

The United States refrained from using its veto, abstaining from the vote in late December and allowing the resolution criticizing Israel to pass during the final weeks of former president Barack Obama’s administration.

During the closed council meeting on Wednesday, the US representative did not take the floor to speak, diplomats said.

The settlement building “needs to be condemned,” Swedish Ambassador Olof Skoog told reporters.

“We believe that any action that is taken in violation of international law or Security Council resolution 2234, regardless of who violates that resolution, needs to be condemned,” he said.

The ambassador, who holds the council presidency this month, said council members received an update of the situation but that no one pushed for immediate action during the talks, requested by Bolivia.

Incoming US Ambassador Nikki Haley, confirmed in her post this week, has yet to present her credentials to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour told reporters the council must ensure that its own resolutions are upheld and that Israel must not be allowed to “get away with it” by building more settlements.

The Swedish ambassador said that despite taking no immediate action, “everyone in the council that spoke today is eager to make sure we find ways to minimize the effects of unilateral action.”

Haley told her Senate confirmation hearing that she supports President Donald Trump’s plan to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, an action Arab governments would consider provocative.

Guterres is due to follow up on the resolution in March by reporting to the council on Israeli settlement activity.

The United Nations on Tuesday denounced Israeli initiatives to accelerate settlement construction on land earmarked to be part of a future Palestinian state.

“For the secretary general, there is no plan B for the two states solution,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

UN holds off action over new Israeli settler homes

David G – Yahweh [Mp3, Lyrics, Wiki, Bio]

Ok, I stumbled upon this track titled Yahweh on gospelmenu.com. Yahweh track by David G. We recently uploaded Anita Barn track titled Yahweh! The name Yahweh reigns forever.

David G – Yahweh

EFCC’s witness reveals alleged diversion of funds by ex service chiefs (Read full details)

EFCC

A Federal High Court Lagos, on Wednesday heard that a former Chief of Air Staff, Adesola Amosu, and two others, diverted N3 billion paid by the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency, (NIMASA).

Amosun is charged alongside two other officers of the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Adigun and Air Commodore Gbadebo Olugbenga.

Also charged are some companies, namely: Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil and Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, Trapezites BDC, and Fonds and Pricey Ltd.

The accused persons are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris on June 26, 2016, and had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Idirs had granted them bail in the sum of N500 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, Tosin Owobo, an Assistant Detective Superintendent with the EFCC, continued his testimony before Justice Mohammed Idris.

The witness who began his evidence in December, told the court that NIMASA paid the money into the Nigerian Air Force account in response to a request for assistance on maritime security.

He said that the request was made by Amosu to NIMASA’s then D-G, Patrick Akpobolokemi, who is also facing fraud charges.

Owobo told the court that after Akpobolokemi approved payment of the sum, the money was released in three tranches of one billion naira each between August and September 2014.

The witness said, “It was released to a Nigerian Airforce (NAF) Special Emergency Operations Account because NAF had sent an account into which they wanted the money to be paid as part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Airforce and NIMASA.’’

He said that the letter was signed by the Director of Accounts, Air Vice Marshal Jacob Bola Adigun who is also an accused.

He said that the sum of one billion naira and N480 million was earlier paid by NIMASA to the Nigerian Airforce under the leadership of Air Chief Alex Badeh in 2013, following the same MoU.

The witness testified further that as the money was credited into the NAF special account, it was further transferred to various oil and gas companies which had accounts also domiciled with the same bank.

He said that a letter of investigation was written to the bank, requesting for the statements of accounts of these oil and gas companies as well as documents on the accounts.

He said that the oil companies involved are Delfina Oil and Gas Ltd, Mcallan Oil And Gas Ltd, Hebron Housing and Properties Company Ltd, all of which are named in the charge.

The defence counsels did not object to the tendering of the bank statements and other communications received from the bank, they, however, objected to attempts by the witness to refer to the documents.

The lawyers led by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde insisted that since Owobo was not the maker of the documents he could not refer or give evidence on it.

The prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, while urging the court to allow the witness to continue his testimony argued that as an investigative officer, the witness had a duty to give an account of his findings, using all the documents available to him.

Justice Idris adjourned to Jan. 26, for ruling on the objection.

The charges against the accused persons border on conspiracy, stealing and money laundering.

In one of the counts, the accused were said to have indirectly converted the sum of N3.6 billion belonging to the Nigerian Airforce to their own use.

In another instance, the EFCC alleged that Amosun and the others stole more than N323 million from the accounts of the Nigerian Airforce between March 21, 2014 and March 12, 2015.

He said the alleged theft was for the purpose of purchasing for themselves a property situated at No.1, River Street, Wuse II Abuja.

The alleged offences were said to have contravened the Provisions of Sections 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012.

EFCC’s witness reveals alleged diversion of funds by ex service chiefs

WATCH VIDEO: Ice Prince – “No Mind Dem” ft. Vanessa Mdee

Off his “Jos To The World” album, Super Cool Cat boss, Ice Prince premieres the video of the the record “No Mind Dem” which features Tanzanian Cash Madam, Vanessa Mdee.

Enjoy below

J Martins – “Ring The Bell” [Mp3 + Lyrics]

International superstar singer & Veteran hit-maker J.Martins starts the new year 2017 with a monstrous hit dance single “Ring The Bell”.

The songster with impeccable candor and matchless creativity returns to the studio to wow his legion of fans like never before.

It’s only an empirical fact that, one of Nigeria’s most successful career musicians, J.Martins effortlessly enjoys admiration of a crowd of fans around Africa, thanks to his multifarious talents.

This year is J.Martins Ten Years anniversary as a performing artist officially counting from when ‘Good Or Bad’ was released back in 2007 featuring Timaya & Psquare.

In his words – “I’m grateful to God starting the year on a good note, that’s pretty much cool he said. I’m grateful to my fans for showing me love and support. To all my friends and fans, I’m delighted to present to you by popular demand this dance track “Ring The Bell”.

I will like to recognize some friends of mine who made contributions on this song, i appreciate them all.

Dimz: Masterkraft: Vocal Samples: Waje: Sakora: Timaya: Busy Signal: George Nathanael”

To every great music fan and fanatic, “Ring The Bell” takes us swiftly on a memory lane to how the genre affected our emotions and psyche. Enjoy the new anthem from J Martins the Urban Afro-Pop tastemaker whose respect for art is legendary.

To get J Martins’ new single directly on your mobile, You can text the supercode ‘197’ to ‘5900’

Enjoy the brand new J Martins music…

DOWNLOAD

Finalists named to lead under-fire WHO (Read full details)

WHO

The World Health Organization on Wednesday picked three finalists for the role of its next director-general, a high-stakes choice for the powerful agency described as facing an “existential crisis”.

After a day of interviews, WHO’s executive board chose UN veteran David Nabarro of Britain, ex-Pakistani health minister Sania Nishtar and senior Ethiopian politician Tedros Adhanom.

France’s former foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and Italy’s Flavia Bustreo, a current WHO deputy chief, were eliminated.

The three finalists will campaign for votes among WHO’s 194 member-countries before a final poll in May.

“This is an enormously important election,” the director of Harvard University’s Global Health Institute, Ashish Jha, told AFP.

“It really is an existential crisis for WHO,” added Jha, co-author of a 2015 report calling for sweeping agency reform.

WHO may be the United Nations’ most influential body, coordinating responses to pandemics like Ebola and Zika, but also setting standards for national healthcare systems including in advanced Western countries.

Since 2006, it has been led by Hong Kong-born Margaret Chan, whose tenure has suffered from accusations of inadequate transparency and accountability.

Those complaints boiled over with the 2014 Ebola epidemic in west Africa, when WHO was found to have missed glaring warning signs about the severity of the crisis that ultimately killed more than 11,000 people.

“When you look at the debacle of the Ebola response, no one in Geneva lost their job over that,” further fuelling concerns over accountability, said Jha.

WHO officials often lament their funding constraints, but the Harvard professor said financing problems are caused by the fact that “donors don’t fundamentally trust WHO to do a great job”.

Among the criticisms of the Ebola response was that WHO deferred to governments in the region, notably Guinea, as they initially sought to downplay the dangers of the outbreak.

The editor of The Lancet medical journal, Richard Horton, told AFP the election was “make-or-break time” for the Geneva-based WHO, especially after the failures linked to Ebola.

“We need a director-general who has got courage, who is independent and who puts people before governments”, he said.

– The finalists –

Nabarro, 67, is an Oxford-educated doctor who has held a series of high-level WHO posts. With the Ebola crisis raging in August 2014, Nabarro was tapped to take over the botched UN response and won praise for helping contain the outbreak.

Among the top priorities listed on his campaign website is aligning WHO to respond outbreaks and emergencies.

Nishtar, the only woman in the group, has high-level experience within the UN but also founded and has led Heartfile, a respected non-profit focused on healthcare in Pakistan, possibly giving her the outsider credential that some say the agency needs.

The senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, Yanzhong Huang, told AFP the 53-year-old Nishtar has impressed by voicing a clear commitment to shaking up WHO’s internal governance.

Tedros, a former foreign and health minister, is also a renowned malaria researcher, applauded for expanding access to healthcare in Ethiopia.

He is being strongly backed by the African Union and, if elected, would be the first African to lead the global health body.

While experts urged WHO members to pick the most qualified candidate, they conceded that the lobbying ahead of the May poll will inevitably be highly politicised.

“Voting… will likely be driven more by foreign policy concerns than by health goals,” said Huang, warning over the prospect of “vote buying and deal striking” among member states.

Finalists named to lead under-fire WHO

Anita Barn – Yahweh [Mp3, Lyrics, Wiki, Bio]

Anita Barn is a gospel music minister who believes worship is a key channel in enthroning Jesus Christ as Lord over our lives, she uses this single to express her deep emotions in thanksgiving to God.

This single is one that would transcend your Spirit mind to that atmosphere of worship; a place where solutions for life challenges are gotten.

The audio was produced by @a4jeazy and the video was directed by Lawrence Omo-Iyare

Anita Barn – Yahweh

SAD: Ghanaian Actress Yvonne Nelson Father Is Dead

Popular Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson has penned down a touching tribute to her dad who just passed away…

Read what she wrote below..

“Rest In Peace Father.
This picture was taken on the 6th of this month…, i have only two pictures with my Father, and this is one of them…..so much I wanted to talk about…..so much I wanted to say…..but God knows best….I know you are in HEAVEN……I know we’ll meet again and talk about it all…..there were days I cried to my mum to bring me to yours……there were days I couldn’t wait to see you and talk to you just for a minute….I longed to hold your hand…..I longed to sit on your lap…..I longed for all of that……can we still do that when I see you in HEAVEN?? Can we start all over again?? Can we correct the mistakes??? I longed for you so much. I have nothing but love for you…….in His last days….he always mentioned God in everything he said…why?? Because there’s no one GREATER sleep well father #MRNELSON.”

These Educative, Entertaining And Inspirational Pictures Will Blow Your Mind – 71

These are just pictures but they tell stories that will either Educate, Entertain or Motivate you…

Dow passes 20,000 points for the first time (Read full details)

Novelty license plates for sale are seen in front of the New York Stock Exchange on Wall Street in New York January 25, 2017. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the most famous equity index benchmark on Wall Street shot above 20,000 for the first time at the open Wednesday. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, the most famous equity index benchmark on Wall Street, shot above 20,000 for the first time Wednesday.

The blue-chip stocks index quickly blew through the much-anticipated milestone in the opening seconds of trading and continued to gain as the morning progressed.

The new record culminates a US rally begun in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s election, in anticipation he will produce pro-growth policies, but which had stalled in the weeks leading up to the inauguration.

The surge was the latest sign that investors are brushing aside worries about Trump’s bent towards trade protectionism and divisive social policies as it fixates on expectations the White House and Republican Congress will produce tax cuts, infrastructure spending, and reduced regulations.

Nearly 90 minutes into trading, the Dow had reached 20,065.16, up 0.8 percent or more than 150 points above Tuesday’s close.

The broad-based S&P 500 rose 0.6 percent to 2,294.67, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index gained 0.8 percent to 5,643.90. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq each closed at all-time records on Tuesday.

Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at research firm CFRA, said it was a “monumental day.” He said the market could retreat somewhat, but would not fall sharply.

JJ Kinahan, chief market strategist TD Ameritrade, hailed the news, posting a picture to his Twitter account showing him toasting “Dow 20K” with a glass of champagne, although the milestone may be largely symbolic.

“It’s exciting, but in the grand scheme, I don’t think it means much,” Kinahan said.

While the Dow still resonates as a sign of the strength of the economy to broad US society, investment professionals follow the S&P 500 more closely, which also is at record levels, he said.

Key gainers in the 30-member Dow included Boeing, which rose 3.9 percent after reporting better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings; and Caterpillar, which gained 2.1 percent ahead of its earnings report Thursday. United Technologies fell 2.0 percent, which slightly beat expectations.

– Bullish momentum returns –
In crossing the 20,000 threshold after many failed tries, the market regained its mojo after the rally spurred by Trump’s election stalled in mid-December and up to the January 20 inauguration.

Analysts said the shift was triggered by Trump’s announcements Tuesday to advance two major pipeline projects that had been blocked by former president Barack Obama.

The pipeline move “wasn’t a surprise as it was consistent with campaign rhetoric, yet it was a timely reminder for a listless market of the Trump administration’s push to increase economic activity in the US,” said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O’Hare.

The rally spurred more stock buying by investors who were caught off guard in what O’Hare dubbed “FOMO” or the “fear of missing out.”

Of the major policies being contemplated, analysts are most excited about tax cuts, which could have a direct impact on lifting corporate profits, and enhanced public works spending, which could boost US growth.

– Market shrugs at controversy –
The renewed market confidence suggests investors are shrugging off worries about Trump, which include fears he will ignite a trade war with protectionist policies and push hard on controversial social policies.

Trump announced Wednesday that he would seek a probe into what he calls widespread voter fraud in the election that brought him to power, hammering away at allegations widely dismissed as baseless.

Trump was expected later Wednesday to announce the first steps towards building a massive wall on the Mexican border, a campaign promise that pleased his political base but has been criticized by others as unnecessary and mean-spirited, as well as a misuse of funds.

Analysts have likened hostility to Trump by many in the broader society to opposition that confronted Ronald Reagan when he was elected in the 1980s. Markets generally do not react to social strife unless it is on a monumental scale.

Kinahan said some of Trump’s controversial policies, such as trade protectionism, may be “bargaining chips” as his agenda moves through Washington.

“He’s been in real estate his whole life so he’s all about compromise,” he said. “The more things you throw out, the more bargaining chips you have.

Kinahan said investors also are hedging in case the market pulls back, a shift that is most visible in the popularity of “put” options that stocks will fall.

Dow passes 20,000 points for the first time

FG slams fresh N7.5 bn fraud charge against ex-governor (Read full details)

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, adjourned indefinitely, a fresh six-count charge bothering on N7.5 billion, filed against former Governor of Benue Gabriel Suswam by the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

The former governor was alleged to have conspired with Omadaki Oklobia, a former Commissioner of Finance during his tenure and one Janet Aluga to launder the money.

The Prosecuting counsel, Mr David Igbodo, informed the court that the office of the Inspector-General of Police was collaborating with the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on the case.

According to him, the collaboration is due to the quantum of the charge against the accused.

He prayed the court to adjourn the case indefinitely to enable both offices to carry out a thorough investigation.

“There is a recent development that made the IGP request that the file is sent to the AGF because of the quantum of evidence involved,” he said.

He also said that the defendants were not in court as a result of the new development, adding that they were on police bail and not in custody.

The Defence counsel, Mr Abbas Ochogwu, did not oppose the request for the indefinite adjournment in the case.
The Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawale, granted Igbodo’s prayer.

Suswam and Oklobia are already standing trial before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the same division of the court for allegedly diverting about N3.1 billion, belonging to the Benue government.

FG slams fresh N7.5 bn fraud charge against ex-governor

British PM will open Brexit plan to MPs (Read full details)

British Prime Minister Theresa May said Wednesday she would publish her Brexit plan in parliament so that MPs can scrutinise it, but insisted the government’s timetable was on track.

The announcement is a concession to lawmakers angered at what they say is the lack of detail so far in May’s proposals for leaving the European Union.

It also came a day after Supreme Court judges ruled against May’s government and said the prime minister must win parliamentary approval before starting formal talks to exit the bloc.

The Conservative leader said MPs would be presented with a “white paper” policy document outlining her negotiating strategy, though she did not say when it would be published.

“I recognise that there is an appetite in this house to see that plan set out,” she told parliament’s lower House of Commons in her weekly questions session.

White papers outline proposals for future legislation and form a basis for consultation and discussion.

“I can confirm to the house that our plan will be set out in a white paper published in this house,” May said.

However, the white paper was a “separate issue” from a draft law that is expected this week and which will give MPs a vote on formally beginning the Brexit process.

It was reported Wednesday that she will introduce the bill on triggering Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty — serving notice of Britain’s intention to leave — on Thursday.

May’s Downing Street office later said that the white paper would “be based on the speech” she gave last week, in which she announced Britain’s intention to leave the EU’s single market.

The British Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday was a landmark judgement and a setback for May, just before she flies to Washington to meet US President Donald Trump.

In angry exchanges in parliament with Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour main opposition party, May said she would protect workers’ rights in leaving the EU and was “not afraid to speak frankly” with Trump.

– ‘Overwhelmingly voted’ –
But the legal case on leaving the EU has revived divisions within Britain — after last June’s referendum saw 52 percent vote to exit, splitting the country and presenting a potential constitutional crisis.

May had wanted to start the two-year Brexit process — invoking Article 50 — without a vote in parliament, but she failed to overturn a High Court ruling that said lawmakers must be consulted.

As the appeal was being heard in December, May managed to win a parliamentary vote that MPs would stick to her March deadline for triggering Brexit in return for explaining her plans.

“The house has overwhelmingly voted that Article 50 should be triggered before the end of March 2017,” May told MPs.

“Following the Supreme Court judgement, a bill will be provided for this house and there will be the proper debates in this chamber,” and in the upper House of Lords revising chamber, she said.

“There is then the separate question of actually publishing the plan that I have set out: a bold vision for Britain for the future.

“I will do that in a white paper and one of our objectives is the best possible free trade arrangement with the European Union.”

A series of high-profile Conservative MPs who backed Britain staying in the EU, including former finance minister Ken Clarke, had called for May to produce a white paper.

There had been concerns that rebel Conservatives could team up with opposition parties to amend the Article 50 bill to force ministers into publishing a white paper if they did not do so voluntarily.

May’s Conservative government currently has a working majority of 16 in the 650-member parliament.

May flies to the United States on Thursday, before holding talks at the White House with Trump on Friday.

British PM will open Brexit plan to MPs

Madonna in Malawi court to apply to adopt 2 more kids (Read full details)

US Pop Star Madonna (2nd L) sitting with her biological and adopted children (L to R) David Banda, Lourdes, Mercy James, and Rocco at Mkoko Primary School, one of the schools Madonna's Raising Malawi organization has built jointly with US organization BuildOn, during the visit of Madonna on April 2, 2013 in the region of Kasungu, central Malawi.<br />Madonna on January 25, 2017 applied in person at a court in the Malawian capital Lilongwe to adopt two more local children, a court spokesman told AFP. Madonna, who visited the southern African nation last year to inspect work by her charity Raising Malawi, adopted Malawian children David Banda in 2006 and Mercy James in 2009. / AFP PHOTO / AMOS GUMULIRA

US pop superstar Madonna appeared in person at a court in the Malawian capital Lilongwe on Wednesday to apply to adopt two more local children, a court spokesman told AFP.

Madonna, who runs a charity called Raising Malawi in the southern African nation, adopted Malawian children David Banda in 2006 and Mercy James in 2009.

Local media reports said the singer appeared before Justice Fiona Mwale amid tight security, accompanied by two unidentified children and several other people, before being driven away in an SUV vehicle.

“The court is looking at the application now to determine whether Madonna can adopt these two children,” said Mlenga Mvula, spokesman of the Lilongwe High Court.

“The… process requires the court to make a ruling on the adoption.”

The 58-year-old singer last visited Malawi in July, taking her two adopted Malawian children with her.

She also inspected her charity’s work, including progress at a surgical unit for children at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in the commercial capital Blantyre.

It was Madonna’s first visit in nearly two years to Malawi, where she has at times been embroiled in controversy after her earlier adoptions.

– Adoption controversy –
She was stripped of VIP status by former president Joyce Banda’s government in 2013 and accused of being “uncouth” and wanting eternal gratitude from the impoverished country for adopting the two children.

But Banda was ousted in 2014 elections and the new president, Peter Mutharika, moved to repair relations, saying “my government has always been grateful for the passion Madonna has for this country”.

Last July, Madonna said she would not revive plans for a $15 million academy for girls in Malawi, which was cancelled amid allegations of mismanagement — leading to her tiff with Banda.

The singer, who divorced film director Guy Ritchie in 2008, reportedly landed in Malawi by private jet and was staying at a exclusive lodge outside Lilongwe.

Madonna, who has four children, is reportedly among the biggest individual donors to children’s projects such as orphanages in Malawi, which is ranked by the UN Human Development Index as one of the world’s 20 least developed countries.

On Saturday, she made an unannounced appearance in Washington at a rally protesting against US President Donald Trump a day after his inauguration.

Madonna had campaigned for Hillary Clinton to become America’s first woman president, and told Billboard Magazine after the Democrat’s loss that women had a “tribal inability” to accept a female president.

Madonna in Malawi court to apply to adopt 2 more kids

Senator wants corruption ‘legalised and liberalised’ (Read full details)

A Nigerian senator has asked the country’s senate to legalise corruption, in spite of it being one of the major problems confronting one of Africa’s largest economy.

Senator Yele Omogunwa (APC-Ondo South) spoke during plenary on Wednesday while contributing to the upper chamber’s debate on the 2017 budget.

Noting that pass federal budgets have had little or no impacts on the Nigerian people because of pervasive corruption, the senator stated that legalising and liberalising it would be better.

Senator Omogunwa notes that Budgets doesn’t have maximal impact due to corruption. He says corruption shld be legalized/liberalized then.

— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 25, 2017

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Senator Yele Omogunwa speaks on the for factual data & statistics of unemployed, widows et al for natl planning & #2017budget implementation

— Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) January 25, 2017

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Omogunwa was elected a senator on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) but defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in November 2017, a party that kicked out PDP from the centre owing to its campaign promise to stamp out corruption.

Senator wants corruption ‘legalised and liberalised’

28 killed in Shabaab attack on Mogadishu hotel (Read full details)

Twenty-eight people were killed Wednesday when Al-Shabaab fighters attacked a popular Mogadishu hotel, setting off two car bombs and opening fire on security guards, according to the city’s main ambulance service.

The attack, claimed by the Al-Qaeda-aligned Shabaab insurgents, began when a car loaded with explosives rammed the gate of the Dayah Hotel near the Somali parliament and state house.

Security sources said at least four gunmen then entered the compound and exchanged fire with security guards, but they were shot dead before reaching the main building where guests were staying. They were not counted among the 28 dead.

A second massive blast went off after ambulances and journalists had already rushed to the scene, leaving seven reporters with minor injuries, according to the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ).

They included an AFP photographer who suffered shrapnel wounds to his shoulder and leg, an Associated Press photographer and a reporter working with Al-Jazeera television.

“The number of casualties we have recorded today is 28 dead and 43 wounded. This is what we have confirmed with our teams but there were also other ambulances which carried some casualties (but) I don’t know how many,” said Dr Abukadir Abdirahman Adem, head of the ambulance service.

Somalia’s Security Minister Abdirisak Omar Mohamed told reporters there were 10 people killed and 51 wounded in the attack.

“We commend the security guards of the hotel who fiercely fought the Shabaab attackers to defend the hotel,” he said.

AFP images showed security forces and civilians milling about outside the devastated hotel — its windows and doors blown out — after the first explosion, when a second car exploded with a massive blast, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air and sending people fleeing.

Gunfire rang out from the hotel as civilians and rescue workers carried away the injured.

The Shabaab group claimed responsibility in a statement distributed on its Telegram messaging account.

“The mujahideen fighters have attacked a hotel and have managed to enter the hotel after detonating a car loaded with explosives,” it said.

The Shabaab is fighting to overthrow the internationally-backed government of Somalia and regularly stages deadly attacks on state, military and civilian targets in the capital and elsewhere in the war-torn country.

– Election date set –
The attack — the deadliest so far in Somalia in 2017 — came shortly before the country’s election commission announced that a long-awaited presidential vote would take place on February 8.

The date has been pushed back numerous times amid delays in a vote for lawmakers, who were finally sworn in in late December.

Somalia has not had an effective central government since the 1991 overthrow of president Siad Barre’s military regime, which ushered in more than two decades of anarchy and conflict in a country deeply divided along clan lines.

The clan rivalries and lawlessness provided fertile ground for the Shabaab to take hold and seize territory, frustrating efforts to set up a central administration.

After a series of transitional governments were formed abroad, a previous parliament was chosen by 135 clan elders and set up in Mogadishu in 2012.

Somalis were promised a one-person, one-vote election in 2016.

But political infighting and ongoing insecurity due to the presence of Shabaab meant Somalis were handed a “limited” election, in which 14,025 specially picked delegates voted for 275 parliamentary seats distributed according to clan.

Another 72 seats in a new upper house were shared out according to region.

The 2016 process is seen as taking the country a step closer to a universal suffrage election now planned for 2020.

28 killed in Shabaab attack on Mogadishu hotel

Chai! My wife demands for N500 before ‘sleeping with me’ – Man tells court

On Wednesday, January 25, man identified as Sunday Olaosebikan, disclosed to an Igando Customary Court, Lagos to put end to his 7-year-old marriage with his wife, Mutiatu for allegedly demanding for N500 before sleeping with him.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Olaosebikan said: “My wife always refuses me in bed until she collects N500.

This I am sure is why she has not conceived after the birth of our only child, who is six-year-old now. I am tired of paying N500 per round before sleeping with my wife, please dissolve the union.

The man further added that, his wife does not only demand for N500 but also threatens to kill him. He said: “My wife is after my life, she stabs me with dangerous weapons whenever we have misunderstanding. She once stabbed me with a broken bottle on my head and I bled heavily which landed me in the hospital.

Mutiatu used our kitchen knife as pillow when I queried her; she said her pastor instructed her to use it against bad dreams.

Many a times when I want to sleep with her or during an argument, she brings the knife out threatening to stab me. She is just aggressive and violent in nature; she may kill me if I continue with the marriage.”

Olaosebikan, further revealed to the court that it was because of her violent nature that he ran away from home, as he urged the court to dissolve his marriage.

Nawa oooo….!

Unbelievable! Meet 66-year-old herbalist with 48 wives, 200 children, says there was darkness the day he was born (photos)

66-year-old herbalist identified as, Simon Odo Okoro popularly known as Onuwa, has divorced his 48 wives, as he vows never to marry again.

However, Onuwa, who calls himself King of ‘Satan’ broke his vow not marry again by quickly remarrying one of the youngest of his divorced wives, an 18 year old Chidinma.

He explained that the girl lured him to marrying her.

Onuwa said: “The girl who lured me to marry her returned from the United States.

She told me to marry her so that she would take care of me as an old man. She is from Enugu State. However, a month after the marriage was consummated, she told me to sack the youngest one, Chidinma and I became furious with her because that was not why I married her. I beat her and she left.”

– 66-year-old herbalist with his youngest wife

Vanguard disclosed that, on the allegation that some of his children (whose names were not disclosed) not only slept with some of his wives but planned to kill him, he said that he would disown any of his sons involved in criminal activities.

However, Odo spoke in an interview with the South East Voice at his palatial home at Aji, Enugu Ezike in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu state. Onuwa who was armed with an Onward note book where names of his wives and over 200 children were listed according to their dates of birth said that his first son, Emeka was born on December 15, 1969.

He added saying: “I was born in 1947 on the day they had an eclipse of the sun and the moon. There was darkness in the afternoon on the day I was born.”

It could be recalled that, one of the most extraordinary octogenarians living anywhere in the world today is Alhaji Pa Bello Abubakar Masaba, the man with 97 wives and over 190 children .