BREAKING NEWS

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says the Gunners are one of the favourites to win the FA Cup after a weekend of shock exits by fellow Premier League giants. The defending champions held on for a 3-2 win over Brighton, a day after both Chelsea and Manchester City fell to lower-league opposition. "We'll be one of the favourites with the other top-flight sides," he said. "But I can't predict if we'll win. "We have a good experience from last year. We want to retain our cup." Wenger added that the surprise results - which also removed Tottenham and third-placed Southampton from Monday's fifth-round draw - sparked Arsenal's impressive start at the Amex Stadium. Winger Theo Walcott gave the Gunners the lead in the second minute before German World Cup winner Mesut Ozil doubled the advantage. Play media FA Cup 2015: Bradford shock Chelsea as Middlesbrough beat City FA Cup 2015: One second, two goals, two shocks The Championship strugglers p

The couple who got married in November 2014, stepped for their first red carpet event together last week for the premiere of 'Gone Too Far’ at the Genesis Deluxe Cinema, Lagos. by linda ikeji

king Abdullah bin Abdulaziz who has passed away on Jan. 22nd, had 30 wives .

The recent outbreak of the Avian Influenza Virus, popularly known as bird flu was reported in Edo state yesterday. The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Abdul Oroh, confirmed the outbreak yesterday in Benin. He said necessary steps of quarantine and decontamination have been instituted. While urging members of the public not to panic, he said the state government is already taking necessary steps to curtail the spread to other farms. He, however, advised members of the public not to buy any dead/sick bird. The commissioner also advised farmers to watch out for any high mortality in their farms and promptly report such to Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Benin City. According to the state Director of Veterinary Services, Dr. Collins Aibaogun, a total of 420 birds were confirmed dead in a poultry farm in Benin. When the result of samples sent to the National Veterinary Institute yesterday returned, the results confirmed the existence of the v

¨The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) which is going on in all the electoral wards in Nigeria will end on February 8, about one week before the start of the 2015 general election. The presidential, senatorial and House of Representatives elections would hold simultaneously throughout the country on February 14 while the governorship and state House of Assembly election would hold on February 28. Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC for Cross River State, Dr. Okey Ezeani, made the disclosure on Thursday while interacting with members of the Inter Agency Advisory Committee on Voter Education (SICVEP). Ezeani said with the introduction of the PVC for the conduct of the 2015 general elections, Nigeria would own the elections and determine its outcomes. Ezeani said the 2015 election would be free and fair and devoid of violence as the INEC intends to conduct very peaceful election. Ezean

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has passed away, aged 90. The monarch died late last night January 22nd (Nigerian time) in his home. His death was announced in a statement broadcast on Saudi state TV. "His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1am this morning (Friday - Saudi time)," the statement said. Abdullah became king in 2005 after the death of his half-brother King Fahd. The late king's brother, Salman, 79, has been announced as the new ruler of the kingdom. by linda ikeji

Angry youths in Bauchi on Thursday twice pelted President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign team with stones and water sachets. The broom-wielding youths first blocked the motorcade of the President on Nasarawa Street as it made its   way to the palace of the Emir of Bauchi, where Jonathan and his team were going to pay homage. It took the combined efforts of soldiers and riot policemen to disperse the youths, who were chanting anti-Peoples Democratic Party slogans and extolling the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Maj.Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) Along the popular Ran Road, some of the youths, who were singing “Sai Buhari” disrupted business activities. In the President’s motorcade were Vice President Namadi Sambo; Governor Isa Yuguda;   the PDP National Chairman, Adamu Mu’azu; and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed. Also on the convoy were Governors Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom)   as well as the D

The National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki(retd.), has canvassed the postponement of next month’s elections to give the Independent National Electoral Commission time to distribute over 30 million outstanding Permanent Voter Cards to registered voters. Dasuki, according to  Reuters,  said he had told the INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega,   that a postponement within the three months allowed by the law, would be a good idea. But his advice was rejected by the electoral umpire and the opposition All Progressives Congress. Before he spoke at the Chatham House, a London think-tank, groups like the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide, the Federation of Middle Belt People and the   Ohanaeze Ndigbo   had also advised that the elections should be shifted. Dasuki told participants at a talk in London, that INEC which had distributed over 30 million cards late last   year, had assured him that the outstanding PVCs would be given out   before Febru