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