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. But how ready is the banking community

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 suffered th