News

Sunday, 30 April 2017 04:15

Pope's timely Egypt visit comforts grief-stricken Christians

Pope Francis wrapped up a brief but deeply symbolic visit to Egypt on Saturday with an open-air Mass for the country's tiny Catholic community, defying security concerns to show his support for the Christians of this Muslim majority Arab nation who have increasingly become targeted by Islamic militants. Military helicopters flew overhead and police fanned out in force as Francis zoomed around the soccer stadium in suburban Cairo where Mass was held, using an open-topped golf cart and waving to members of the congregation, evidence of his hallmark desire to be close to his flock at all costs. The crowd…

Sunday, 30 April 2017 04:14

North Korea test-fires ballistic missile in defiance of world pressure

North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile on Saturday shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned that failure to curb Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes could lead to "catastrophic consequences". U.S. and South Korean officials said the test, from an area north of the North Korean capital, appeared to have failed, in what would be the North's fourth straight unsuccessful missile test since March. The test came as the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier group arrived in waters near the Korean peninsula, where it began exercises with the South Korean navy on Saturday, about 12 hours after the…

Saturday, 29 April 2017 03:10

Buhari’s health: Presidency rules out resignation

The Presidency has ruled out the possibility of President Muhammadu Buhari resigning his position over his ill health as being suggested by some Nigerians. In an interview with journalists in Lagos on Friday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said those calling for the President’s resignation were merely expressing their opinion. According to him, the views of over 15 million Nigerians that voted for the President were more important than such opinions, while expressing confidence that God would fully restore Buhari’s health. The President returned from medical vacation to the United Kingdom on March…

Saturday, 29 April 2017 03:08

Presidency speaks on recruitment scandal in SSS

The Presidency on Friday responded to report on the lopsidedness in the latest recruitment exercise to by the State Security Service (SSS). PREMIUM TIMES had on Friday morning reported how SSS loaded its agency with more people from the North than from the South of Nigeria in its 2016 recruitment. So lopsided was the hiring that more people were employed from President Muhammadu Buhari’s Katsina State (51) than from all the South-east states combined (44). Katsina is also also the home state of Director General of SSS, Lawal Daura. A breakdown of the newly commissioned cadet officers on geopolitical basis…

Saturday, 29 April 2017 03:06

After home invaded by cattlemen, Soyinka says herdsmen worse than Boko Haram

One of the domestic staff members of Professor Wole Soyinka has confirmed that herdsmen brought their cattle to graze at the surroundings of the Nobel laureate’s residence in Ilugun Village, Abeokuta. The domestic worker, who refused to give his name, disclosed this to journalists on Friday at the residence of the playwright, located in a serene forest far away from Ilugun village and Kemta Estate. He said the herdsmen had on Saturday, April 15, 2017, come with their cattle to graze at the frontage of Soyinka’s house. He said that was the second time they would come with their cattle…

Saturday, 29 April 2017 03:03

Nnamdi Kanu released from prison

Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu was released from Kuje Prison on Friday after perfecting what was thought to be tough bail conditions. Kanu was brought from Kuje Prison to the Federal High Court Abuja to sign the necessary bail papers. The process, which took about 10 minutes saw Kanu emerging with smiles from the court in company of his sureties and relatives. Earlier, his lawyer, Mr Ifeanyi Ejiofor, his three sureties, Chairman, South East Senate caucus, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, a Jewish High Chief Priest, Immanuu-El Shalom and a Chartered Accountant residing in Abuja, Tochukwu Uchendu signed…

Saturday, 29 April 2017 02:57

9 dead of mystery illness in Liberia as Ebola is ruled out

United Nations officials say at least nine people have died from a mysterious illness in Liberia, and all tests have been negative for the Ebola virus. World Health Organization said Friday that authorities are looking into whether the people were sickened by something they ate or were exposed to a chemical or bacteria. Eight others remained hospitalized in Sinoe County, about 250 miles (400 kilometers) outside the capital, after complaining of abdominal pains. The cases over the past week have evoked painful memories in Liberia, where more than 4,800 people died during the Ebola epidemic. Those who fell sick this…

Saturday, 29 April 2017 02:55

Seoul: N. Korea fails in missile test-fire near its capital

A North Korean mid-range ballistic missile apparently failed shortly after launch Saturday, South Korea and the United States said, the second such test-fire flop in recent weeks but a clear message of defiance as a U.S. supercarrier conducts drills in nearby waters. North Korean ballistic missile tests are banned by the United Nations because they're seen as part of the North's push for a nuclear-tipped missile that can strike the U.S. mainland. The latest test came as U.S. officials pivoted from a hard line to diplomacy at the U.N. in an effort to address what may be Washington's most pressing…

Saturday, 29 April 2017 02:53

Russia says use of force on North Korea would be 'completely unacceptable'

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov called on North Korea on Friday to end its banned nuclear and missile development programs but warned that the use of force against Pyongyang would be "completely unacceptable." "The combative rhetoric coupled with reckless muscle-flexing has led to a situation where the whole world seriously is now wondering whether there's going to be a war or not," he told the U.N. Security Council. "One ill thought out or misinterpreted step could lead to the most frightening and lamentable consequences." Reuters

Friday, 28 April 2017 14:53

Buhari absent as three governors observe jumat in Aso Rock mosque

President Muhammadu Buhari was on Friday absent at the Juma’at service held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The President has been joining Muslim faithful for the prayers inside a mosque near his office since he stopped attending the service at the National Mosque, Abuja. Three state governors who apparently planned to join Buhari for the prayers were however present. The governors who attended the prayer session included Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara); and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano). The governors had on Thursday joined their colleagues for a meeting of the National Economic Council at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. No official…

More...

Friday, 28 April 2017 14:52

Buhari should make his state of health public – Soyinka

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to make his state of health public to Nigerians. Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Friday, Mr. Soyinka said the current speculations about the president’s health is “unnecessary.” “Why is the president hiding his state of health? He’s supposed to understand he’s public property, me I’m still private property, that’s why I’m not in Aso Rock,” said Mr. Soyinka, a professor of Comparative Literature. “Once you are in Aso Rock, or you occupy a similar position, you have a responsibility to come out frankly to your citizens. “Guarding your state of…

Friday, 28 April 2017 14:49

SSS in recruitment scandal – Katsina 51, Akwa Ibom 5; Kano 25, Lagos 7 — SEE FULL LIST

Nigeria’s internal secret service, the State Security Service (SSS), is enmeshed in a recruitment scandal following the exposure of a shocking lopsidedness in the composition of the new officers recently absorbed into the agency. The agency commissioned 479 cadet officers after their passing-out parade in Lagos on March 5, at a ceremony attended by Director-General of the Agency, Lawal Daura, and Chief of Air Staff, Abubakar Sadique, air marshall. The parade followed a nine-month training programme under the agency’s Basic Course 29/2016/17, which encompassed academic activities, insurgency/counter insurgency, intelligence operations and gathering, firearms drills and physical training exercises. But the…

Friday, 28 April 2017 14:48

Nnamdi Kanu fulfils bail conditions

Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday, fulfilled the bail conditions granted by the Federal High Court, Abuja. The bail condition was perfected through the presence of Chairman, South East Senate caucus and former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, a Jewish High Priest, Immanuu-El Shalom, and a Chartered Accountant residing in Abuja, Tochukwu Uchendu. Vanguard

Friday, 28 April 2017 03:43

No need to worry about Buhari's health - Presidency

President Muhammadu Buhari's doctors have advised him to take things slowly as he recovers from an undisclosed illness, and there is no need to worry about his health, his spokesman said on Thursday. Buhari did not attend a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, choosing to rest and work from home. That triggered speculation about his health and his ability to run Africa's biggest economy and most populous nation. Wednesday's was Buhari's third consecutive absence from the weekly meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Garba Shehu said Buhari's decision not to attend the meeting was last minute, otherwise he would have…

Page 749 of 830

News

More...

Search

Most Read

Editorial

News

Business

Politics

Opinion

Features

Strangely

Crime

Wars

SCIENCE & TECH

SPECIAL REPORTS

Sports

VIDEOS