Israeli deputy prime minister resigns over sex allegations

Silvan Shalom

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom has resigned over accusations from several women that he sexually molested them.

According to media reports, the 57-year-old man said on Monday in Tel Aviv that it had become necessary for him to resign, because the distress was becoming unbearable for him.

In his words, “I have had enough of the distress and I hope to protect my mother, wife and five children from further scandal. “My family stands behind me, but it is no longer worth the cost,” he said. 

In the same vein, the Israeli Attorney-General, Yehuda Weinstein, has launched an investigation into the claims, which forced Shalom out of the presidential race last year.

Shalom was a leading member of the ruling right-wing Likud party and had previously served as foreign and finance minister. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had tasked Shalom in May with leading negotiations with Palestinians. The talks stalled last year and Shalom had spoken out in the past against a Palestinian state.

Meanwhile, politicians from the left-liberal opposition party, Merez, welcomed the resignation as a “victory for public norms” that must be followed by Israel’s political representatives.

Wrong contestant crowned at Miss Universe 2015

In a scene that appears like a drama, the host, Steve Harvey made the mistake by announcing Miss. Colombia as the winner instead of Miss. Philippines.

However, a contrite Harvey was forced to fix his mistake

In his words, “   "OK folks ... I have to apologize," he told a confused crowd in Las Vegas.

"Let me just take control of this. This is exactly what's on the card. I will take responsibility for this. It was my mistake. It was on the card," he said.

 

Beauty pageants are places where grace and poise are meant to rule, but a decidedly awkward moment stole the show Sunday.

Stunned, she {Miss. Philippines} walked to the front of the stage, where the coveted crown was taken off the head of Miss Colombia and put on hers.

"I don't want to take away from this amazing night and pageant. As well as the wonderful contestants. They were all amazing," Harvey wrote.

Miss. Colombia. {Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach} stands as  the first runner-up.

                                                                             

BREAKING: Appeal Court sack Nyesom Wike

Nyesom Wike

The Appeal Court in Abuja has affirmed the election petitions tribunal judgment nullifying the election of Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State.

The Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal had in October nullified the April 11 election that led to the emergence of Wike as governor of the state.

The tribunal had also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a fresh election within 90 ‎days.

This followed a petition by the All Progressives Congress and its governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, alleging that the election was characterised by widespread electoral malpractices.

In nullifying the election, the Justice Suleiman Ambrosa led-tribunal said the evidence provided by Wike and INEC’s witnesses was not credible.

Wike had, however, challenged the decision of the tribunal with the counsel to the PDP, Chris Uche (SAN), questioning the tribunal’s reliance on accreditation by card readers to nullify the election.

The Appeal Court in upholding the decision of the tribunal resolved seven issues raised by Wike in favour of Peterside and the APC.

[VIDEO] Nigerian Military begging Shiite group to give way

https://youtu.be/-1jdCfSa8tg

Boko Haram attacks three Borno villages, kills 30

Brutal weekend attacks on three villages by Boko Haram Islamists in the restive northeast of Nigeria have left 30 dead and 20 others wounded, a vigilante told AFP.

“Most of the victims were slaughtered and most of the wounded (had suffered) machete cuts,” Mustapha Karimbe, a civilian helping the Nigerian military fight Boko Haram, said of Saturday’s attacks in the villages of Warwara, Mangari and Bura-Shika in Borno state.

News of the attacks has been slow to emerge because telecom masts in the area have been destroyed in previous Boko Haram raids, hindering communication.

The Islamists invaded the villages, hacking and slaughtering their victims before setting the villages on fire.

The villages are near Buratai, the hometown of Nigeria’s highest military chief Tukur Yusuf Buratai.

‎Warwara, where 20 people were killed, was the worst affected, said Musa Suleiman, another vigilante.

The attackers killed six people in Bura-Shika and another four in Mangari, he said.

The latest deaths take the number of people killed in Nigeria since President Muhammadu Buhari took office in May to more than 1,530, according to an AFP tally.

Residents of the villages fled to Biu, 30 kilometres (19 miles) away.

Buratai and nearby settlements have recently been the targets of deadly raids by Boko Haram, which have left scores dead and entire villages looted and burnt down.

Residents believe the attacks are in response to the pressure that the army chief is exerting on Boko Haram in counter-insurgency military operations.

On Thursday Boko Haram insurgents killed 14 people — decapitating some of them — when they raided Kamuya village, the hometown of the army chief’s mother, and burnt it down.

Nigeria’s government has vowed to end the Boko Haram insurgency by this month but the deadline looks likely to be missed as attacks persist.

The Islamists’ grip on the region has suffered as a result of offensives launched by local armies, leading to raids like Saturday’s becoming rarer.

There has, however, been a spike in suicide attacks in Nigeria and neighbouring Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

At least 17,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in 2009.

A new 8,700-strong Multi-national Joint Task Force (MNJTF) comprising troops from Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin was supposed to have been deployed in late July.

But the African Union-backed force has yet to start operations, with no reason given for the 

But the African Union-backed force has yet to start operations, with no reason given for the lengthening delay and questions over whether the countries have the resources to commit

AAU appoints Bursar

Authorities of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma in Edo State has appointed  Mr. Lawrence Okekhigbemen Esene as the substantive bursar of the university.

The appointment, according to a press statement signed by the university spokesman, Chris Adamaigbo, took effect from December 1, 2015.

Esene before his appointment as the university bursar was the Chief Accountant in charge of the Treasury Services Division of the bursary Department.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, Edo State University, Ekpoma in 1995 and a Master degree in Business Administration (MBA), Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma in 2000.

He is an associate member, Chattered Institute of Taxation (CITN), Associate member, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) among other professional bodies.

Another Nollywood Actor has passed on

Dede One Day

Nollywood Actor cum comedian,  Dede One Day has  reportedly died.

The  talented comedian die of high blood pressure in the early hours of today after performing at an event yesterday.

According  to a report, "One Day anchored a program for One Mr Charles Esonu yesterday in Aba, from there he went to Ugwunagbo for another event he was paid to anchor as Master of ceremony , but he couldn't conclude that event as he fell sick and was rushed to hospital over BP related issue and he died late in the Night." The reports read.

Dede One Day came to limelight through Comedian like Laugh With Me.

9 die in auto crash on Abakaliki-Enugu highway, FRSC confirms

 

 No fewer than nine persons lost their lives in a road accident that occurred along the Abakaliki-Enugu highway in the early hours of Friday.

The accident occurred along Ezzangbo portion of the Abakaliki-Enugu highway and involved a Toyota Sienna bus and an articulated vehicle with registration number HKW 436 XA.

This was made known to news men by Mr Charles Abuochi, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi

According to the FRSC Chief,  ‘’there is an accident that happened along the Ezzangbo portion of the Abakaliki-Enugu Federal highway.

‘’Our men are still at the scene of the crash to ensure free flow of traffic.

``Preliminary report confirmed that nine persons died on the spot while one person sustained injuries and had been rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.

accident. ‘’Corpses of deceased victims have been deposited at the mortuary.' he said.

He said the FRSC was ready to make Christmas and New Year celebrations accident-free and warned motorists and other road users to obey road traffic laws.

‘’We sympathise with the families of the deceased but I want to assure the general public that the FRSC is ready and prepared to ensure accident-free Yuletide.

``We wish to advise that motorists and other road users should comply with safety standards to prevent the loss of lives and property of the passengers.

‘’Our men have been fully mobilised and deployed to several accident flashpoints for proper surveillance,’’ he said.

36 ships laden with petroleum products, foods to arrive Lagos

Thirty-six ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive  Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos from Dec. 11 to Dec. 26.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) confirmed  this in its daily publication - `Shipping Position’, - a copy of which was made available to the Newsmen on Friday in Lagos.

It indicated that the expected ships contained general cargoes, containers, steel products, buck wheat, rice, bulk sugar, bulk salt, base oil, crude palm olein, bulk charcoal, bulk fertiliser, empty containers and petrol.

According to the document, nine other ships have arrived the ports, waiting to berth with bulk rice, containers, diesel, petrol and base oil.

Man bagged Life Imprisonment for dealing in 200 grammes of hemp

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia of the  Federal High Court, Lagos, has  on Wednesday, sentenced, Lawrence Aluagu  {aged,32}to life imprisonment, for drug trafficking.

Aluagu who is unemployed, was arraigned on March 8 and had pleaded guilty to the charge of dealing in drugs.

In her judgment, Justice Ofili-Ajumogobia held that the convict should serve out his term in prison.

According to the Justice, "the accused person is found guilty of the offence as charged, and is accordingly convicted.

"He is hereby sentenced to life imprisonment,’’ she said.

She ordered that the drugs should be destroyed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

Reviewing the facts earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, told the court that Aluagu committed the offence on Feb. 12.

He said that Aluagu was arrested under the bridge at Ojota, where he was reported to be in the business of selling hemp, and about 200 grammes of the substance was

Recovered  from  him.

``The offence contravened the provisions of sections 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30 Laws of the Federation, 2004,’’ he said.

Fake police woman, 58, docked for impersonation

NAN

A 58-year-old woman, Adetolani Afoke, who allegedly wore the uniform of a Deputy Superintendent of Police,(DSP) with an intent to impersonate, was on Tuesday arraigned in Lagos.

The accused,  is facing a three-count charge bordering on impersonation and possession of stolen property before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates' Court.

The prosecutor, Insp. Simon Imhonwa, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Nov. 25 at the Bolade-Oshodi axis of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Lagos.

He said the accused was arrested by members of a police patrol team that had stopped the Volkswagen commercial bus loaded with building materials that she chaperoned.
The prosecutor told the court that the accused had accompanied the bus- driver under the guise of being a senior police officer.

In his words, “Afoke wore the complete uniform of a DSP and also had in her possession a forged identity card.
``My lord, there is no record of the accused as ever being enlisted as a member of the Nigeria Police, " Imhonwa said.

Insp. Imhonwa reiterated further   that investigations revealed that the accused was once a traffic warden attached to Area C Command, Surulere, Lagos State, but had since deserted her job.
``Afoke was a traffic warden, who is now a deserter, but wears a police uniform with the intent to deceive innocent citizens that she has authority to act in such a capacity", Imhonwa said

.
The offences contravened Sections 77, 78 and 328 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, the prosecutor said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sections 77 and 78 prescribe three years’ imprisonment for an offender while Section 328 stipulates a seven-year imprisonment for an offender.

In her ruling, the Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to Feb. 18 for trial.

2 suspected IS members arrested in Spain - Ministry

Spanish Interior Ministry announced has announced  on Tuesday in Madrid that it  has arrested  two of the people suspected of belonging to a ``highly qualified" terrorist sect that recruited jihadists for the Islamic State.

The Ministry  reiterated that the security forces apprehended a 32-year-old man in Mataro, near Barcelona, and a 19-year-old woman in Pajara on the Canary Island of Fuerteventura.

According to the Ministry, both suspects who are natives of Morocco, had direct contact with Islamic State leaders in Syria and were capable of carrying out attacks.

In the statement released by the Ministry, ``the alleged suspects circulate Islamic State propaganda material online and dispatched death threats in France and Spain.

"The new Islamic State fighters no longer need to travel to Syria or Iraq in order to be trained.

"The training takes place in the country where the new jihadists live,’’ it said.

The ministry said government had detained 100 alleged Islamists since the beginning of this year.

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg to give away 99% of shares

 

Mark and Chan Zuckerberg with their new born baby

 Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan say they will give away 99% of their shares in the company to good causes as they announce the birth of their daughter Max.

Mr Zuckerberg made the announcement in a letter to Max on his Facebook page.

He said they are donating their fortune to the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative because they want to make the world a better place for Max to grow up in.

The donation amounts to $45bn (£30bn) at Facebook's current value.

However the shares will not be donated to charity immediately, but over the course of the couple's lives.

Were Mr Zuckerberg to give away 99% of his shares immediately, he would still possess hundreds of millions of dollars. Ms Chan's worth has not been documented.

Max was born last week, although her birth was only made public on Tuesday.

In his letter Mr Zuckerberg said the aim of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative is "to advance human potential and promote equality for all children in the next generation".

Its initial areas of focus will be personalised learning, curing disease, connecting people and building strong communities.

"Your mother and I don't yet have the words to describe the hope you give us for the future," Mr Zuckerberg said at the start of his letter to Max.

"You've already given us a reason to reflect on the world we hope you live in," it added.

LASU reverses increased acceptance fee to N10, 000

 ‎The Lagos State University (LASU) has reversed the increased acceptance fee for the newly admitted students from N20,000 to N10,000.

This was made known by Mr Adeyemi Onikoro, President, Lagos State University Students Union (LASUSU)‎, to news men  on Wednesday in Lagos.

Onikoro‎ said that the university’s authority had updated the website for the new students to pay N10, 000 as against N20, 000.

In his words,``From our investigation, the new students ‎have started paying the N10, 000 as revised,’’ the President  said.

He said the students union is  still negotiating with the university management on the reversal of the indigeneship fee to prevent uprising from the Lagos State ‎indigenes.

``The implication of a refusal by the management ‎not to reverse the indigeneship fee, is that the Lagos State indigenes will be paying more than the non-indigenes in their state owned university,’’ he said.

According to Onikoro, the indigeneship fee‎ must also be reversed so that it will not escalate into community rancour.

``This is not an issue affecting only the students union alone but the National Association of Lagos Indigenes Students (NALIS) and ‎the Lagos State traditional rulers will also seek redress,’’ he said.

 However, LASUSU had demanded a ‎reversal of the fee with immediate effect to prevent students’ unrest. ‎

Researchers set to develop visual tools for improved surgery on newborn babies

Researchers at King's College London have started developing visual tools that might help to improve surgery for newborn babies with life-threatening heart disease.

This is contained in a study released on Wednesday by the college. According to report, the disease known as hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and any patients with HLHS, the left side of the heart is much smaller than usual and cannot pump enough blood to the body.

The team of scientists that conducted the research said the findings has given surgeons the tools they need to select the best treatment plan for each individual baby and improving their chance of survival.

Dr. Pablo Lamata, a lecturer from King's College London, said the team has analysed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and using advanced computer modeling techniques to create a virtual 3D model of the baby's heart before and after surgery.

He reiterated further that the researchers are aiming to help doctors visualize the shape of each baby's heart at birth, provide more detailed information on the condition of the heart, and help surgeons monitor how it adapts to surgery.

In his words, ``Analysing and comparing virtual models of babies' hearts before and after surgery will help reveal the benefits and drawbacks of different surgical techniques.

"We hope that this new technique will help us determine the best approach for surgery and how babies might respond," he said

Lion escapes from Jos Wild Life Park

A lion has escaped from the Jos Wild Life Park on Wednesday

This has been made known by  Mr John Doy, the Acting General Manager, Plateau Tourism Corporation, the lion escaped

According to Doy , “the lion which had been caged since 1972 slipped through the gate of the cage when it was opened for its routine feeding

``The animal is still within the vicinity of the Park but our fear is that the Park is not fenced.

``We are struggling to recapture it, but we want members of the public to be vigilant,'' he said.

The acting general manager said that he had already informed all security agencies to come to the Park's assistance.

In the same vein, Mrs Naomi Cishak, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), confirmed news of the escape, but said that the office had not been officially informed.

``We have not been officially informed, but we are aware of the incident; that is why we have not deployed our personnel there,'' she said.

Eradicating HIV/AIDS in Nigeria by 2030

NAN

The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has disclosed  that HIV and AIDS prevalence has reduced in Nigeria.

According to the agency,  the country achieves this as a result of government’s resolve to meet the target of 2030 set by the United Nations AIDS (UNAIDS) to ensure HIV and AIDS-free world.

The United Nations {UN} reiterated  that the next five years will prove to be more crucial as the organisation aims to end AIDS epidemic by 2030. Commenting on the claim of UNAIDS, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon admits that the world has delivered on halting and reversing the AIDS epidemic.

According to Moon, ``Now, we must commit to ending the AIDS epidemic as part of the Sustainable Development Goals’’, he said in a statement.

In an effort at meeting the target in Nigeria, Prof. John Idoko, Director-General, NACA, said government agencies at all levels had embarked on programmes aimed at fighting HIV and AIDS.

According to him, HIV and AIDS have been on the decline in Nigeria and cases of new AIDS infection has reduced by 35 per cent in the past four years.

In his words, ``Nigeria’s AIDS response has gained steady momentum in the past four years. We have managed to turn the tide.

``We now need new commitment and support and we are calling on Nigerians and the country’s partners to renew their commitment to ending AIDS by 2030,’’ he said.

Irrespective of challenges, the UN insists that stakeholders must double easy access to medicines in the next five years to meet the international goal of stopping HIV and AIDS.

UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibe, observed that ending HIV and AIDS by 2030 would require increased funding to 31.1 billion dollars by 2020.

``Every five years, we have more than double the number of people on life-saving treatment; we need to do it just one more time to break the AIDS scourge and keep it from rebounding,’’ he said.

Sidibe said the number of HIV-positive people with access to antiretroviral drugs had jumped from 23 per cent in 2010 to 41 per cent in the past five years.

He said since 2000, infections in children dropped by nearly 60 per cent and total infections fell by more than a third, while AIDS-related deaths had gone down by about 40 per cent since 2004.

Sidibe said there were 36.9 million people living with HIV in 2014 and two million new infections while AIDS-related illnesses caused 1.2 million deaths in the same year in the world.

He, nevertheless, advised that said it was important to increase funding and develop measures that would target specific local risk groups rather than blanket countrywide policies.

``We must take HIV services to the people who are most affected and ensure that these services are delivered in a safe, respectful environment with dignity and free from discrimination,’’ he said.

In his view, Mr Abdulkadir Ibrahim, the National Secretary of Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, noted that HIV testing should the first and most important step towards ending AIDS.

He said that the rate of HIV testing was low, noting that unless the testing bottleneck was addressed, it might take longer than 2030 to end HIV and AIDS.

``Also where more than 800,000 people living with HIV need Anti Retroviral Therapy and less than 50 per cent of the number does not have access to the therapy will impede the target,’’ he observed.