BREAKING NEWS

  Oba Okunade Sijuwade, has died at the age of 85.  He was reportedly flown to UK in an air ambulance after he became unconscious following his illness. Family sources say he died at about 5pm today after a brief illness. The late Oba is survived by wives and children.

Kissing has overtaken smoking and drinking as the leading risk factor for developing head and neck cancers. The humble French kiss can pass on human papilloma virus (HPV), and Head of Maxillofacial and Head and neck Surgery at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Dr Mahiban Thomas, said the virus was responsible for 70% of head and neck cancer cases. Dr Thomas told Daily Mail Australia if you became infected by HPV in the oropharynx, your risk of developing head and neck cancer was 250 times higher than that of someone without the virus. While most commonly associated with cervical cancers, HPV can affect both men and women. There are more than 100 types of the virus, but only about eight ‘high risk’ strains of HPV that can cause cancers in the oropharynx.

A court in Libya has sentenced Col Muammar Gaddafi’s son, Saif al-Islam, and eight others to death over war crimes linked to the 2011 revolution. More than 30 close associates of the deposed leader were on trial, accused of suppressing protests during the uprising. Saif al-Islam was not present in court and gave evidence via video link. He is being held by a former rebel group from the town of Zintan that refuses to hand him over. Former head of intelligence for the Gaddafi regime, Abdullah al-Senussi, is among those also facing the death penalty. SOURCE:PUNCH

What are the risk factors and causes of childhood cancer? Cancer begins in the cells, which are the building blocks of your body. Normally, new cells form as you need them, replacing old cells that die. Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when you don't need them, and old cells don't die when they should. The extra cells can form a tumor. Benign tumors aren't cancer while malignant ones are. Malignant tumor cells can invade nearby tissues or break away and spread to other parts of the body. Children can get cancer in the same parts of the body as adults, but there are differences. Childhood cancers can occur suddenly, without early symptoms, and have a high rate of cure. The most common children's cancer is leukemia. Other cancers that affect children include brain tumors, lymphoma, and soft tissue sarcoma. Symptoms and treatment depend on the cancer type and how advanced it is. Treatment may include surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy. A ...

        Change  is the law of life.   And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future Digital is changing the world as well as the way banking is perceived by today’s digital consumer - the Generation Y.  By far, the most frequent touch point between financial institutions and their digital consumers today is online. We believe the banking industry is on the verge of a huge leap forward and that a tremendous opportunity exists in designing a better online banking experience.  To stay profitable and grow in the new digital economy, banks need to adopt a customer-centric business model, diversify online delivery of products and services channels, and begin making meaning from valuable trails of digital information. There is no question that banking is quickly becoming a digital business, supported by enhanced online and mobile experiences from traditional financial institutions as well as new market entrants....

Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna state yesterday announced the sacking of 20 permanent secretaries from Kaduna State civil service and the appointment of new officials to fill some positions in his government. A statement signed on his behalf by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, yesterday made available to newsmen  in Kaduna said the reason for sending home the Permanent Secretaries was to cut the cost of governance and free more funds for developments. Reads parts of the statement: “In line with its resolve to cut the cost of running government, the Kaduna State Government has announced the retirement of 20 permanent secretaries. “This decision follows the streamlining of ministries in the state from 19 to a leaner 13, as part of efforts to free up resources to be used for providing schools, hospitals, roads and other public goods.

Several of the harshest critics of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have given their blessings to the proposed hiring of ex-Nigeria skipper Sunday Oliseh as new coach of the Super Eagles. Oliseh is expected to soon sign a five-year contract with the NFF after Stephen Keshi was fired as the country’s coach. Ex-internationals Adokiye Amiesiemaka and Segun Odegbami have often been critical of the way football is run in Nigeria, but they have now applauded the engagement of Oliseh as the Eagles new coach. “I give my 100% for the appointment (of Oliseh),” praised Amiesiemaka, who won Nigeria’s first AFCON winners’ medal in 1980.

President Muhammadu Buhari has turned down an offer by the Federal Government to buy 5 new armoured Mercedes Benz S-600 (V222) cars for his use. The cars which cost is about N400m were planned to be purchased by the State House. A source close to the presidency told journalists on Thursday that Buhari found out about the plan when the Permanent Secretary, State House, Mr. Nebolisa Emodi, briefed him of his ministry’s activities on Wednesday. Angry at the revelation, the President was said to have told Emodi that the purchase was unnecessary. Describing it as a waste of scarce resources, the source said Buhari told the permanent secretary that the cars he inherited from former President Goodluck Jonathan were good enough for him. 

China’s stock slump is causing pain to millions of Chinese – billionaires and mom-and-pop investors alike. When FORBES published our World’s Billionaire List in March, China’s wealthiest men had  impressive aggregate fortune of $565 billion – that’s $200 billion up from the year before. But the stock market rout in the past two weeks has taken a toll on the country’s rising super rich. The 205 Chinese billionaires currently tracked by the Forbes Real-time Billionaires List have lost a total of $195 billion since the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index hit its peak on June 12. China’s richest man Wang Jianlin, who briefly edged out Amazon’s Jeff Bezos to the world’s 10th richest man in June, lost $6.5 billion as share prices of his two public companies fell (to be sure, he’s still worth $32.3 billion as Asia’s richest man). After Tencent’s stock dropped 13% on Wednesday, its chairman Pony Ma lost $1.2 billion on a single day. Copper and cable entrepreneur Wang Wenyin suffere...

South-West states’ chairmen of the APC, have decried the pattern of appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari saying all of them had ethnic slant. They said aside his spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, every other appointments so far made by Buhari have been from the core North and all of them northern Muslims.  The party chairmen also vowed not to recognize the emergence of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara until the crisis in the National Assembly is resolved by the party. In a joint statement they issued yesterday, the chairmen vowed to resist any attempt by some elements in the party to humiliate the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

According to the state governor, Mallam El Rufai, at least 20 people were killed in the terrorist attack.  There was a verification exercise for civil servants going on at the lodge when the bomb exploded. Most of the people killed were civil servants.Read more tweets after the cut

Most entrepreneurs with any experience will tell you that finding a business partner isn’t easy. So, when you’re a “nobody”, that can present some additional challenges. You’re probably not going to be able to partner up with someone more known than you are. At the very least, it’s not going to prove easy. But working alone is hard, and having a partner can add a lot of perspective to your business. You can share in your tasks, keep each other motivated, leverage your connections, and pool your ideas together. That’s a good thing, because sometimes your money-making ideas aren’t all that good. So here are some steps you can follow to find the right partner. Step #1: Begin Your Search Everyone has to start somewhere, so even if you’re not sure where to begin, you just have to get started. Even though you may have to do quite a bit of looking around, odds are you won’t have to go very far. The reality of the situation is that the best candidates are right in your localit...

Lagos – Football stakeholders on Sunday described the termination of Stephen Keshi’s appointment as the coach of the Super Eagles as a hasty decision. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on July 4 terminated his appointment. Friday Ekpo, an ex-international said he was not surprised at the development, saying the decision was taken at the wrong time. “It’s not a surprise to me because this issue has been lingering for a long time but the timing is not right. “The qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is on and I hope this decision won’t affect our chances of qualifying,” he said. Felix Owolabi, another ex-international expressed his displeasure over the NFF decision to sack Keshi.

More on Dapo Adaralegbe, the first Nigerian transgender who was born a boy, but now lives in the Netherlands as a woman named Stephanie Rose. I shared his photos  here  some days ago. Below is something the former Law student of Obafemi Awolowo University who was expelled in 2001 said in an interview talking about his life, growing up and sexuality before he eventually left Nigeria “I was studying Law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ife. I am of the 1995 set, but I had to leave school in 2001 because of pressures. People were too harsh on me; they did not understand me at all. When I was in school, the school authorities got to know that I slept with my fellow male students. There was also an incident when I had to be admitted in the hospital. I was bleeding from the anus and I had bad pile arising from sexual intercourse.

According to  Fox News , as county clerk, Barnette had issued marriage licenses in Mississippi, USA for 24 years. However, she abruptly resigned on Tuesday. An excerpt of her resignation letter reads: I choose to obey God rather than man…I am a follower of Christ and I believe strongly that the Bible is my final authority. The Bible teaches that a marriage is to be between a man and a woman. Therefore, because of the recent ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court, I can no longer fulfill my duties as Circuit Clerk and issue marriage licenses to same sex couples. Further commenting on the matter, she said:

The leadership cri­sis rocking the National Assem­bly has been re­solved , All Progressives Congress(APC) gover­nors announced yester­day. Speaking after a mara­thon meeting between the governors and all parties in the National Assembly crisis, Imo State Gover­nor and Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum Chief Rochas Okorocha, said the parties have agreed to work together. Present at the meeting include, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speak­er, Hon Yakubu Dogara, Sen Ahmed Lawan, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, Hon Pally Iriase , scores of sen­ators and Reps members and all APC governors.

Many people out there desperately want  to be millionaires, and why wouldn’t they? While money may not buy happiness it can buy a better, less stressful and more fulfilled life. However, before you can be a millionaire you need to have the right strategy and know the reasons why you haven’t met this goal already. Everybody who wants to be millionaire but isn't has excuses. “I didn’t pick the right career,” “I can’t afford the schooling,” or “I don’t have time.” These are not reasons, but just excuses and excuses only get in the way of your success. Here are 10 reasons why people do not become millionaires. 1. You have no one guiding you in the right direction. You need to surround yourself with positive people. Most importantly, you need to find someone you can trust that will help guide you in the right direction. The people you trust most should be the ones pushing you towards success. This is one advantage I did not have early on. I am entirely self-taught, which is why I ...

The National Economic Council, chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday accused a former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, of spending $2.1bn from the Excess Crude Account without authorisation. “We looked at the numbers for the Excess Crude Account. The last time the former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, reported to the council, and it is in the minutes, she reported by November 2014 that we had $4.1 bn. “Today, the Accountant-General Office reported we have $2.0bn. Which means the honourable minister spent $2.1bn without authority of the NEC and that money was not distributed to states, it was not paid to the three tiers of government,” Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole told State House correspondents after the NEC’s 58th meeting in Abuja.

NIGERIANS that have expressed surprise that each senator receives N506,600 per annum as wardrobe allowance may be in for a shocker as the lawmakers receive far more allowances under different other categories. In all, the allowance each senator receives is nine times more than his annual salary. A senator’s salary is pegged at N2,026,400 per annum. Each senator or a member of the House of Representatives is entitled to 19 different allowances. These allowances are for vehicle maintenance and fuelling; domestic staff, entertainment, utilities, personal assistant, constituency, wardrobe, house maintenance, newspapers, recess, accommodation, furniture, severance, tour duty, estacode, special assistant, security, legislative aide and medical. These allowances are specified in the Remuneration Package for Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders prepared by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission. On an annual basis, the 107 senators receive...

Many state governors will at their meeting on Tuesday(today) with President Muhammadu Buhari demand the refund of billions of naira they spent on Federal Government projects in their respective states during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. A greater chunk of the money went into the rehabilitation of federal roads in the states. For instance, 11 out of the   36 states of the federation will be demanding the refund of N300.5bn from Buhari. Following their inability to pay their workers’ salaries, many states said a bailout from the Federal Government was the only option available to them. The Nigeria Labour Congress had in May said that 18 states had not paid salaries of their workers. The Nigerian Governors’ Forum, at its meeting on June 18, demanded from Buhari, the refund of money spent by the states on Federal Government projects. The forum argued that doing so was the only option before them since the Federal Government was also not l...

Facts have emerged showing why Senate President Bukola Saraki led a delegation of Senators to meet former President Olusegun Obasanjo at his hilltop mansion, Abeokuta, Ogun state on Friday. A source who was part of the meeting informed PREMIUM TIMES that the Senate President was in Abeokuta to beg Mr. Obasanjo to reconcile him with President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. Mr. Saraki emerged as the president of the Senate against the decision of APC leaders. He was also elected when most Senators from the APC were at the International Conference Centre waiting to hold a meeting with Mr. Buhari to discuss the election of the Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives. We also gathered that Mr. Saraki lamented that although the party leaders have stated that they have accepted his emergence, there was “complete communication breakdown between him, the president and the party”.

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has set up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the immediate past administration of Mr. Rotimi Amaechi over the alleged sale of valued assets belonging to the state. The Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which was inaugurated at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday, has Justice George Omereji as its chairman and four other members. Inaugurating the commission, Wike specifically charged it to investigate the sale of the 150 Megawatts gas turbine in Omoku, Adam 360 MW Gas Turbine, Trans-Amadi 136 MW gas turbine and the 75 MW gas turbine in Eleme. With 23 terms of reference available to the commission, the governor explained that it (commission of inquiry) was expected to investigate the monorail project and the sale of the Olympia Hotel by the Amaechi administration. “In exercise of the powers conferred upon me by Section 2 (1) of the Commissions of Inquiry Law of Rivers State (Cap 30 Laws of Rivers State...

President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted that his age would limit his performance as the President of the country. Buhari, who was   a military governor at 33 and Head of State   at the age of 40, said he would have loved being a President when he was at a younger age . He will be 73 on December 17, 2015. The President spoke with Nigerians resident in South Africa on Monday after taking part in the 25th assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union   in Johannesburg. He said, “I wish I became Head of State when I was a governor, just a few years as a young man. Now at 72, there is a limit to what I can do.”

Michelle Obama met with Prince Harry for tea this morning at Kensington Palace before going to meet UK Prime Minister David Cameron at Downing Street as part of her two-day visit to Britain.

The US government has pledged to release $5 billion towards the Multi Joint Task Force, a military team drawn from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, with the sole responsibility of fighting Boko Haram insurgents in the Lake Chad region. Making the pledge known at the AU Summit in South Africa today June 15th, the US Assistant Secretary of Bureau of African Affairs, Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the US govt is currently in talks with President Buhari on how best they can support the fight against insurgency in the region

Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Buhari, on Saturday hosted All Progressives Congress’ women and youths to an elaborate reception at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Hajia Buhari organised the event tagged “Appreciation Dinner” to thank APC stakeholders for working for her husband’s victory in the March 28 presidential election. The large hall inside the Banquet Hall was filled beyond capacity with flamboyantly-dressed women drawn from all states of the federation. The hall was tastefully decorated with the white and blue colours of the APC. The APC Women Leader, Hajia Ramatu Tijani, delivered the welcome address in which she advised that the party leadership must ensure that they deliver on the change they promised Nigerians. She said the dinner was organised to appreciate those who made the change possible by touring all parts of the country to campaign for the party.

Boxer Manny Pacquaio, who reportedly made about $100m from his fight with Floyd Mayweather on May 2nd wore this diamond encrusted watch as he spoke at a press conference in Manila following his return home. I can imagine how much that watch costs. Dayum! The boxer was received to a hero's welcome as he and his family returned to Philippine yesterday.

Last Saturday in Beverly Hills, California, Senator-elect and  Silverbird   Group Chairman,   Ben Murray-Bruce   was honored by the Nollywood Producers Guild of America with an Honorary Lifetime Membership of the Guild as a recognition of his support and contribution to the growth of the Nollywood film Industry and African Cinema as a whole. Mr. Murray-Bruce was in the United States to attend his son, Jared’s graduation, who just bagged a B.A. in Communications from Loyola Marymount University. The proud father threw a pool party for his son at his Beverly Hills mansion with close friends and family members. It was there that the Publicity Secretary of Nollywood Producers Guild of America, filmmaker  Pascal Atuma  and another member and popular filmmaker,  Jeta Amata  presented him with the award on behalf of the Guild’s President,  Mr. Oliver Mbamara Esq.  and the entire members of the guild.  The President of t...

In a unique coincidence and perhaps for the first time ever, five grieving families agreed to donate the organs of their beloved brain dead relatives resulting in a remarkable act of humanity in the toughest situation setting a record for the maximum no. of organs harvested in a day Dubai, UAE, May 06, 2015: Apollo Hospitals, Asia’s foremost healthcare service provider, harvested 23 different organs from these five donors and conducted ten transplants in a day at their flagship Hospital on Greams Road, Chennai, India  on Monday the 4 th of May 2015. A case of extreme gesture of kindness displayed by five strong families who came forward to donate the organs of their loved ones, incidentally on the same evening, enabled this feat to give a fresh lease of life to 23 people. A function organised at the Hospital to express gratitude towards the five bereaving families was attended by the Founder & Chairman of Apollo Hospitals Dr Reddy, Vice chairperson, Ms Preetha Reddy ...

A new football tournament is set to take centre stage in Bayelsa State, South-South, Nigeria. Christened “The Governor Henry Seriake Dickson Cup 2015”, the competition is expected to feature over One hundred teams, representing the 105 electoral wards as well as State and Federal owned higher institutions of learning in the State. Announcing the formal launch of the competition, the Director-General of the Governor’s Cup 2015 project and Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Investment, Mr. Cyril Akika, explained that, the event is aimed at integrating and empowering youths as well as fostering peace and unity across the State. Lamenting the dearth of Bayelsa-born footballers at national and international levels, despite the State being blessed with abundant talents, he stated that, the competition, which is the first of its kind is also intended to discover talents at the grassroot level that can be groomed to represent both the State and Country in the future.

S enator-elect and Chairman of Silverbird Group, Ben Murray-Bruce, at the Silverbird Man of the Year Awards at Eko Hotel last night showed off his latest automobile acquisition, an electric Kia car. He said to drive  the car, you don't need fuel, just sunlight. The car can also travel for 8 hours once fully charged and can be charged with solar power. See more exclusive photos after the cut...

Chinese entrepreneur Zhou Qunfei already had a lot to be proud of going into 2015. The touch-screen manufacturer she leads, Lens Technology, had built up a blue-chip customer list in the growing smartphone industry that included Apple and Samsung. And the company was awaiting permission to list at China’s Shenzhen Stock Exchange this year. Zhou quickly notched up an accolade after the stock’s trade debut on March 18 by becoming the richest woman in the global tech industry.  With the passing of a month and a more than 300% rise in the company’s share price, the one-time factory worker has achieved another milestone: Zhou is also the world’s wealthiest self-made woman. Forbes estimates of China’s 400 billionaires and billionaire families unveiled today put Zhou’s fortune at $10.2 billion. That topped Chinese real estate developer Chan Laiwa, who ranked No. 2 among self-made women with $8.1 billion. Greater China is home to fully half of the world’s richest...

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said on Tuesday that a presidential run-off would have led to a crisis in the country. Jega, in his first public comment on the March 28 and April elections, predicated his assertion on what he called many lacunas in the amended Electoral Act. He suggested during a   dialogue session with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room in Abuja, an amendment to the electoral law since it provides for only seven days after the first election to hold a run-off. He   said the   incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari should not wait till 2019 general elections before reviewing the Electoral Act. Jega disclosed that he was happy when the March 28 presidential poll produced a clear winner. He said there was no way that INEC could have successfully conducted a run-off election within seven days as provided for in both the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act. ...