Churchill Choken

Update:: The last four years have been the world's hottest since record-keeping began, with 2018 the fourth warmest on record, according to data published Thursday by US research group Berkeley Earth. Temperatures in 2018 were around 1.16 degrees Celsius (2.09 degrees Fahrenheit) above the average temperature of the second half of the 19th century, from 1850-1900, often used as a pre-industrial baseline for global temperature targets. The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service published its own data on January 7 that also found 2015-2018 to be the hottest years on record.

Update:: One of the main candidates in next month's Nigerian presidential election has stepped down because she says she wants to form a broader coalition to defeat the two main parties. Oby Ezekwesili is well known for leading the #BringBackOurGirls campaign to help free the 276 girls kidnapped from Chibok, northern Nigeria, in 2014. She co-founded Transparency International and has served as the education minister and vice-president of the World Bank

Update:: Parliament in Angola has abolished a law widely interpreted to be a ban on homosexuality. The government has also prohibited discrimination against people on the basis of sexual orientation; anyone refusing to employ or provide services to individuals based on their sexual orientation may face up to two years in prison. Angola is the latest former Portuguese colony to repeal laws outlawing same-sex conduct, following Sao Tome and Cape Verde There have been no known prosecutions under the now expunged law. Many other African countries enforce strict legislation against homosexuality.

Update:: A Nigerian appeals court issued an interim order stopping a tribunal from charging the chief justice with breaching asset-declaration rules. Nigeria's most senior judge is under investigation after hundreds of thousands of dollars were found in accounts the authorities say belong to him. Chief Justice Onnoghen has maintained his innocence and his lawyer argued that the tribunal investigating him had ignored rulings from other courts. He has been asked to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal for trial but says the tribunal does not have the authority to try him.

Update:: Kenya's highest court has overturned a ruling that obliged schools to allow Muslim girls to wear hijabs in class. The Supreme Court now says schools should use their own discretion and determine their own rules. The legal process began when parents of three Muslim students sued a school, sponsored by the Methodist Church, over the suspension of Muslim students who went against the school's hijab ban. In an initial ruling, the High Court sided with the school, but after an appeal students were allowed to wear hijabs. The school appealed that decision, and now the Supreme Court has had the final say. Now every school has a right to determine its uniform policy.

Update:: The Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, for the February 16 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, says the country’s economic misfortunes will be reversed to rapid economic growth if the party is voted in. Obi gave the assurance at an interactive session with the Edo stakeholders and members of the PDP in Benin on Thursday. According to him more than 40 per cent of young Nigerians are unemployed, leading to Nigeria being referred to as one of the poorest countries in the world. He also alleged that “Nigeria has been shut down economically, politically and socially for more than three years.” “This has resulted in hunger, insecurity, and economic instability especially in the North Eastern part of the country.” According to him, the Atiku/Obi-led government if elected will bring back foreign investors to develop the economy of the country. Obi said: “those who have closed their businesses for fear of kidnapping, banditry, insurgency as ...

Update:: Unknown gunmen on Thursday abducted the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Edo House of Assembly, Mr Michael Ohio-Ezomon, in his house at Eme-Ora, Owan West Local Government Area of the state. The Chairman of the local government, Mr Frank Illaboya who confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Eme-Ora on Thursday, said Ohio-Ezomon was abducted by three gunmen around 1 a.m. on Thursday. According to Illaboya, the candidate’s orderly was killed by the abductors who whisked him away through the window. “Our candidate in the forthcoming election has been abducted by three gunmen at his house at about 1 a.m. this morning. “The orderly attached to him was killed and our candidate was taken away by gunmen through the window. “As I speak to you now, there has been no contact from the abductors,” Illaboya said. Also speaking, the Edo Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, told NAN at the scene of the incident that investigation would com...

Update:: It would seem like popular Nollywood actress, Bukky Wright is now a Christian. Again. The actress who converted to Islam back in 2015 has now gone back to her roots.  A source is quoted as saying: "I have been seeing her in Winners Chapel, Houston, where she attends services and would come elegantly dressed" The actress has also taken to sharing Christian-like captions on her social media.  The Nollywood veteran is now based in Houston, Texas. 

- Togo has elected Yawa Djigbodi Tsegan as its first female head of the National Assembly - Tsegan is a member of President Faure Gnassingbe's Union for the Republic party and was chosen as the head of the National Assembly in a vote by her fellow lawmakers - Tsegan won 88 nominations from the 89 members of parliament who participated in the voting Togo has elected Yawa Djigbodi Tsegan as its first female head of the National Assembly, after the just conducted parliamentary elections that saw the ruling party retain the majority seats. Daily Mail reports that Tsegan who is a member of President Faure Gnassingbe's Union for the Republic party was chosen as the head of the National Assembly on Wednesday, January 23, in a vote by her fellow lawmakers. Tsegan won 88 nominations from the 89 members of parliament who participated in the voting. The 47-year-old lawmaker previously held the position of parliamentary administrator. She is taking over from her party collea...

Update:: A man identified as Abdullahi Yadau, has divorced his wife after they clashed over the politics of the 2019 presidential election.in central Nigeria’s Plateau state. Abdullahi, who resides in Jos Plateau state, told BBC Hausa that he had divorced his wife, Hafsat Suleiman, after she kept asserting that “President Muhammadu Buhari will be reelected in 2019.” According to him, her staunch support for President Buhari had been a source of quarrel between them. Yadua said with the consent of his parents, he decided to divorce her according to the Sharia legal system. The BBC Hausa reported that it has been trying to reach Hafsat to get her own side of the divorce story but to no avail. However, her cousin, Ibrahim Suleiman, who spoke to BBC Hausa about what had happened between the couple vowed that “she would not return to his (Yadau’s) home.” President Muhammadu Buhari’s major challenger is former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who bears the presidential flag of...

WHILE ELECTION APPROACHES.  SECURITY TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE. 1. Do Not Argue About Politics in Public If you belong to a particular political party and there is an argument about another political party, then it is important that you do not join in. This is so that you don't dabble into the augment that may warrant a fight to ensue. 2. Always Get Back home On Time The election period in various countries of the world, may be a time for violence to develop; therefore it is appropriate that you do not stay out late. As a matter of fact you have got to get home early. 3. Do Not Criticize Any Politician Do not attempt to criticize any politician of the opposition party in your community in public. This is because if you do, you might be stepping one the toes of people who may want to be harmful. 4. Do not Support or Wear Political Campaign Uniforms to polling unit If you belong to any political party, it may be better that you do not wear political...

Update:: The founder of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and Biafra Independence Movement, BIM, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has hinted on Nigeria breaking up in 2019. Uwazuruike disclosed that something will happen in 2019 that would lead to the actualisation of Biafra. Addressing his followers in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Uwazuruike warned that a “major event shall happen in 2019 that would likely lead to the rising of a full-fledged Biafra nation and the gradual split of the most populous black country in Africa”. The secessionist also expressed happiness that Biafra has become a household name within and outside Nigeria. He also expressed his joy that those persons who could only mention Biafra in their kitchens and parlours, are now boldly taking about Biafra in government offices, schools, churches and even in police stations and motor parks. According to Uwazuruike: “We are on the verge of achieving our dream of an independ...

Update:: Vice-Presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Peter Obi, and the party’s governorship candidate in Lagos, Mr Jimi Agbaje, on Wednesday visited the popular Computer Village in Ikeja. Reports have it that the two candidates, along with the party’s deputy governorship candidate in the state, Mrs Haleema Busari and others, walked round the market interacting with traders. Obi and Agbaje acknowledged cheers from excited traders who chanted in their support as they moved from one location to another in a long procession of party faithful and supporters. It was a carnival-like atmosphere as traders and party faithful danced to sounds dished out by flutists and drummers on the candidates’ train. Business activities were partially suspended at the market as many traders shut their shops to join the moving Obi/Agbaje train while those who opened for business viewed the procession from their respective shops. Many people trooped into the market lat...

Update:: Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, yesterday, declared an outbreak of Lassa fever in the country, following an upsurge in the number of confirmed cases recorded across states since January 1. Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director-General of NCDC, announced this in Abuja. He said: “There has been an increase in the number of Lassa fever cases reported from several states across the country since the beginning of the year. “As at January 13, 60 confirmed cases have been reported in eight states. “Given this increase in reported cases, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, has declared this an outbreak.” He also said an Emergency Operations Centre, EOC, has been activated to coordinate the nationwide response to the outbreak, noting that the EOC includes World Health Organisation, WHO; mini-stries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment, US Centres for Disease Control, among others.

Update:: A woman's head doubled in size after a horrific allergic reaction to a common hair dye that left her struggling to breathe.  19-year-old English student Estelle, from Paris, shared photos showing her shocking disfigurement caused by the chemical PPD, which is found in 90 percent of hair dyes.  Estele had bought a standard DIY hair dye from a supermarket in Val-de-Marne, on the outskirts of Paris. But, she stunned social media in France after she posted her allergic reaction to PPD, in which her face looks increasingly swollen and raw.  The horrific reaction had first caused her scalp to itch before the top of head started to swell up. Estelle had attempted to treat herself using antihistamines and cream from a pharmacist but she awoke the next day to catch a glimpse of her inflated reflection.  Speaking to French daily Le Parisien, Estelle said: “I could still see; here I was struggling to breathe." “My forehead had doubled in vo...

Update:: ACP Frank Mba, the Nigerian Police Force PRO was a guest on Channels TV this morning where he spoke on the reforms regarding SARS. According to him, 'reforms on SARS is not going to be cosmetic, what we are doing now is to correct the abnormality, restore order and bring the Police closer to the people'. Mba also said, 'decentralisation of SARS is to ensure unity of command and control and in line with democratic and community policing. This is just a tip of the iceberg among very many reforms IGP MA ADAMU mni is bringing in the Force We are committed to give Nigerians the best security arrangement in the general election with equal playing ground & adequate security for all. As lead agency in internal security, we will work with other security and safety agencies to ensure a safe and secured environment Special Election Investigation Teams (SEIT) is a proactive ad-hoc unit set up by the IGP, it will be disbanded when we are done with elections an...

Update:: An Egyptian court has sentenced a TV journalist to 12 months' jail time for allegedly "promoting homosexuality" after he interviewed a gay man. Mohammed al-Gheiti was also accused of "contempt of religion" after inviting the guest onto his show, according to Egypt's state-run Al-Ahram website. Al-Gheiti also received a fine of 3,000 Egyptian pounds ($167) and will be placed under surveillance for one year after finishing his prison time, according to Al-Ahram. The verdict, handed down by the misdemeanors court in Giza, can be appealed. The sentence can be suspended pending the outcome of the appeal if al-Gheiti pays 1,000 Egyptian pounds ($56) in bail, lawyer Samir Sabri, who filed legal papers against the TV host, told AFP. CNN says it has not been unable to reach a lawyer for al-Gheiti. Al-Gheiti has spoken out against homosexuality on multiple occasions. An Egyptian court has sentenced a television host to one year in prison f...

Update:: A government-appointed human rights group in Zimbabwe has accused soldiers of using "systematic torture" in a crackdown on protests. The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission strongly criticised authorities for using troops to quell demonstrations. Unrest broke out more than a week ago following a sharp rise in fuel prices. Reports have emerged of assaults allegedly carried out by the military in various parts of the capital, Harare.

Update:: South Africa’s MTN has paid $53 million to settle a money transfer dispute with Nigeria’s central bank and the matter has been withdrawn from court, Governor Godwin Emefiele said on Tuesday. The central bank had ordered MTN and its lenders to bring back a total of $8.1 billion it alleged the company had illegally repatriated using improperly issued paperwork between 2007 and 2008. Emefiele said the money paid by MTN was a notional sum and that the company has been absolved from any wrongdoing, he said duing a monetary policy meeting at which the bank left interest rates on hold at 14 percent.

Update:: China says it has written off almost $78m (£60m) from Cameroon’s debt as part of measures to ease economic hardship in the central African nation, but analysts say it is a play for greater access to resources. The debt relief announcement was made on Friday shortly after a meeting between President Paul Biya and Yang Jiechi, a special representative of China's President Xi Jinping. Cameroon’s total debt burden to China stands at almost $5.7bn (£4.4bn), according to figures from the Autonomous Sinking Fund, the public entity that manages Cameroon’s external debt. The sum of $78m that has been wiped is money that should have been paid in 2018, but which Cameroon failed to pay.

Update:: A memorial service has been held in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, for some of those killed during an attack by Islamist militants in a hotel and office complex a week ago. Hundreds of mourners gathered to pay tribute to six men who were all employed by the same technology firm, Cellulant. The company has praised their selflessness and bravery. Somalia-based Islamist group al-Shabab said it carried out the attack.

Update:: A Nigerian agency fighting against people trafficking says its fact-finding team has found at least 20,000 girls stranded in Mali. "We received reports concerning the stranded girls and sent a team to find out", Julie Okah-Donli, the Director General of The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (Naptip) told Ms Okah-Donli said that some of the girls had been tricked into going by traffickers who told them they were being taken to Malaysia for work. Other girls had been kidnapped on their way to or from school. She said that the agency was working with the Nigerian authorities, Mali's government, and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to repatriate the girls.

Update:: In a bid to prevent foreign interference, Facebook has disclosed that it won’t be accepting political advertisements from outside Nigeria. Though Facebook ads are an integral part of the social media campaign for candidates and parties, Facebook said it is rolling out new rules to prevent “foreign interference” around the polls.  Following this new move  which came after Cambridge Analytica obtained the personal data of as many as 87 million users ahead of the 2016 US elections, political ad buyers in countries affected by the new rule must confirm their identity and location and their ads will be archived in an online library for seven years. The new policy also takes effect in Ukraine, where presidential elections will be held in March. In India, where general elections will be held in April, Facebook said it will begin to archive electoral ads in an online library starting February.

Update:: Monday started off with some serious rumors regarding Teyana Taylor and Iman Shumpert.  According to some very fake sources, Teyana and Iman had a threesome (something they've been very open about) and Iman got the other woman pregnant.  The fact that Teyana deleted her Instagram account added more fuel to the fire, but the "Rose In Harlem" singer has responded to the fake news with some words of her own: 1. I’ve never seen/touched that girl in my life. 2. My page is gone because I’m upset at @defjam for not dropping my damn “WTP” video on time, per usual. 3. It’s really sad that lies are entertained so much than the truth. 4. Iman is not dumb he know I’d kill him 😃 End of story. Teyana's statement on the matter has clearly been overlooked since people are seemingly still feeding into the negative headlines. "Everybody will act like they don’t see this part tho," Teyana wrote alongside tweet that states the truth.