Saudi Arabia's New King Salman promises continuity

Saudi Arabian King Salman has pledged continuity, hours after his accession to the throne following the death of his half-brother, King Abdullah.

The new king moved quickly to appoint heirs and ministers, including one prince from the ruling dynasty's third generation.

King Abdullah died overnight, weeks after being admitted to hospital with a lung infection. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Riyadh, following Friday prayers. His burial was conducted in line with the traditions of Wahhabism - the ultra-conservative form of Sunni Islam followed by the kingdom, where funerals are austere and simple.
 

King Abdullah's body was wrapped in a shroud, and buried in a public cemetery after prayers attended by Gulf heads of state and some foreign leaders.

4-year old calls 911; saves pregnant mother

Calise Manning is being called a hero for helping her pregnant mother and calling 911 operators in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

"She's shaking and she's having a baby," Calise tells a dispatcher in 911 audio obtained by CNN affiliate WWMT. "My mom is really pregnant and she's having a boy and she really needs help." Her mother Centerria Manning, who was 9-months pregnant and epileptic, had apparently fallen to the floor in the midst of a seizure on Wednesday. She said they had practiced what to do in an emergency.

Jonathan’s Ph.D certificate authentic

Subsequent to speculations in some quarters that President Goodluck Jonathan did not complete his doctorate degree programme at the University of Port Harcourt, the institution has come out in his defence.

Uniport Deputy Registrar (Information), Dr. William Wodi, explained that apart from acquiring his first degree in the institution, Jonathan also got his Masters and Ph.D in the same institution.

Saudi Arabia's Reformer dies at 90

Multitudes of mourners gathered in Mecca early Friday just hours after Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud died. He was 90.

Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz was appointed as the new king, as was reported.​

Siasia picks 21 players to tackle Tunisia’s U-23 team

Coach of the Nigeria National U-23 Men’s football team, Samson Siasia has selected 21 players that will tackle the Tunisia’s U-23 Men’s team in a two legged encounter in Tunis and another batch of 35 players to take part in the forth coming Super-6, a pre-season tournament scheduled for this weekend in Abuja.

Speaking to the players before releasing the list, Coach Siasia said the players were chosen based on their performance, emphasising that none of the two teams is first or second.

APC Refuses Call for Postponement of Elections

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected the call by the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd), for the postponement of the February general elections warning that under no circumstance must the elections be scuttled.

Buhari gives response to Certificate Issue...points to Late President Yar'adua as classmate

Gen. Muhammadu Buhari

The candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in next month's presidential election, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has cleared the air on the controversy surrounding his primary and secondary school qualification.

Speaking to journalists at the Africa House, beside the Kano State Government House in the State capital, the Katsina-born politician named late Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’adua and a former President of the Court of Appeal, Mr. Umar Abdullahi, as his classmates.

Russia will develop new weapons...says V. Putin

President Vladimir Putin says Russia will develop new weapons that will ensure its security without entering a costly arms race with the West.

He said this yesterday after touring a shooting range outside Moscow that some of the weapons he saw there looked like they came straight from a science fiction movie.

He says Russia's military modernisation plans should be realistic and take into account the current economic situation. The Russian economy is facing a recession under a combined blow of Western sanctions over Ukraine and slumping prices for oil, its main cash earner.

Without naming any country, Putin says Russia could respond to military threats without spending as much as others on defence, adding that "we can and should respond to that challenge".

Oil prices are going to stay low - for now

Demand for oil over the near-term is likely to remain lackluster, given slow economic growth in most of the developed world and emerging markets. Meanwhile, conservation measures and environmental pressures are reducing long-term oil demand. Oversupply is also likely to persist, at least for the foreseeable future.

Some dispute that the oil prices have entered a new range of $20 to $60 per barrel. Others see the fall as temporary, seizing the opportunity to purchase assets cheaply.

Obiano gives out 396 Million Naira To Mission Hospitals

Willie Obiano (Governor, Anambra State)

The Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has disbursed 396 million naira to over 30 mission hospitals in the state. This was said to be in line with the policy of partnering with the faith-based hospitals to improve healthcare delivery in the state.

FG Reduces Petrol Pump Price to N87

Dieziani Allison-Madueke (Petroleum Minister, Nigeria) 

The petroleum asserts;

“As you may be aware, there has been a lot of volatility in the oil market in the past few months and due to this the importation prices of our petroleum products have been impacted."

“Therefore, with the approval and directive of Mr. President and by virtue of Section 6 clause 1 of the Nigerian Petroleum Act, it is my responsibility as Minister of Petroleum Resources to hereby announce a reduction in the pump price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (Petrol) from the current Ninety Seven Naira (N97) per litre pump price down to Eighty Seven Naira (N87) per litre pump price, effective from twelve (12) midnight Sunday, 18 of January 2015."

Goodluck Jonathan and others honour fallen heroes

Security Chiefs in Procession

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday (today) led leaders of the legislature and judiciary, military and para-military organisations to honour Nigeria’s fallen heroes.

They performed the 2015 Armed Forces Remembrance Day wreath laying ceremony at the National Arcade, Abuja.

Jonathan Unveils Cenotaph To Honour Fallen Soldiers

The President gave the directive at National Cemetery where he unveiled the cenotaph built in memory of the nation’s fallen heroes from 2011 to date.

He said that the military officers are doing their best under the circumstances they are working and that the government would continue to encourage them by providing what is required to perform their duty.

Samsung offers to buy blackberry with about $7.5 billion

John S. Chen (CEO of BlackBerry Ltd)

Samsung Electronics recently offered to buy BlackBerry Ltd (BBRY.O) (BB.TO) for as much as $7.5 billion, seeking its valuable patents as it battles Apple (AAPL.O) in the corporate market, according to a person familiar with the matter and documents seen by Reuters.

Saudi Prince: Oil will never return to $100

Saudi Prince Alwaleed believes oil will never return to $100, which plunged below $46 a barrel on Monday for the first time since the spring of 2009.

President Goodluck meets ex-leader in Abeokuta

Greatly seeking former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s support for his re-election bid, President Goodluck Jonathan last night met with the ex-leader at his Hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Cristiano Ronaldo wins Ballon d’Or over Lionel Messi & Manuel Neuer

Cristiano Ronaldo

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or world footballer of the year award for the second year in a row.

Gambia's President retracts statements pointing to Britain involvement in a failed coup

Al Hadji Yahya Jammeh

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh apologized to former colonial master Britain on Sunday for saying its nationals were involved in a failed coup attempt last month.

Divers recover AirAsia 'black box'

Indonesian navy divers retrieved the black box flight data recorder from the wreck of an AirAsia passenger jet on Monday, a major step towards unraveling the cause of the crash that killed all 162 people on board.

France set to mobilize 10,000 troops at home after Paris shootings

France is set to deploy 10,000 soldiers on home soil by Tuesday and post almost 5,000 extra police officers to protect Jewish sites after the killing of 17 people by Islamist militants in Paris last week, officials said.

Tanzanian schoolgirls return after escaping genital mutilation

Hundreds of Tanzanian schoolchildren returned home on Monday after spending three(3) months hiding in safe houses to escape genital mutilation. Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) can range from hacking off the clitoris to the removal of the entire female genitalia.

Arunma Oteh bows out from Nigeria’s SEC

Arunma Oteh (former DG, SEC)

The Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, on Sunday announced the exit of Arunma Oteh as its Director-General.

The commission made the disclosure in a statement issued by its management.

It said that Ms. Oteh would be remembered for her passion, purpose, articulation and implementation of reform measures driven by the vision to transform the Nigerian capital market into world class.

"She was in a hurry to see Nigeria achieve a world class capital market that will drive development and make Nigeria one of the most attractive investment destination,” the commission said."

Element under Review: Calcium (Ca)

Soft, silvery-white metal. Density: 1.55 g/cm³.

The name derives from the Latin calx, meaning limestone. It was discovered by Humphry Davy in 1808. It reacts violently with water.

Since ancient times gypsum (calcium sulfate) and calcium carbonate were known. The Colosseum and a major part of ancient Rome were built using calcium carbonate.

Better Solvents for Peptide Synthesis

The synthesis of peptides, that is, the formation of amide bonds between amino acids and/or peptide fragments, is usually carried out in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF).

Explosion rocks Rivers APC office

Bombed APC Secretariat in Okrika LGA, Rivers State

Political violence fumed in parts of the country on Sunday with an explosion rocking the All Progressives Congress Secretariat in Abam Ama, Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Two kid female bombers hit Yobe killing five

In the wake of a bomb blast in Borno State, five people, including two female bombers died on Sunday while 46 others were injured after terrorists launched a twin bomb attack on a GSM market in Potiskum, Yobe State.

Sylvester Stallone announces final 'Rambo'

Sylvester Stallone

The troubled Vietnam vet, first seen in 1982's "Rambo: First Blood," will appear in one final movie, according to the actor who portrays him.

Explosive strapped to girl kills 20 in Nigeria

Explosives strapped to a girl, who was described as young as 10 years old, detonated at a crowded marketplace in Nigeria, killing at least 20 people and injuring 18 others, according to police.

Roger Federer takes Brisbane title at his 1,000th win

Roger Federer

Roger Federer climbed the 1,000 ATP Tour wins milestone as he claimed the Brisbane title Sunday but was made to fight all the way by Canada's Milos Raonic in a tense three-set final.

Violently angry youths set Jonathan campaign buses on fire

GEJ Campaign cars on flames

Some enraged youths went out of control in Jos on Saturday setting ablaze two campaign buses emblazoned with the picture of President Goodluck Jonathan and his Vice, Namadi Sambo.

Commodity Prices Are Cliff-Diving Due To The Fracturing Monetary Supernova—The Case Of Iron Ore (By David Stockman of David Stockman's Contra Corner)

David Stockman

Crude oil is not the only commodity that is crashing. Iron ore is on a similar trajectory and for a common reason. Namely, the two-decade-long economic boom fueled by the money printing rampage of the world’s central banks is beginning to cool rapidly. What the old-time Austrians called “malinvestment” and what Warren Buffet once referred to as the “naked swimmers” exposed by a receding tide is now becoming all too apparent.

Enyeama has said the Ivorian captain deserved to be crowned the 2014 African Player of the Year

Nigeria’s Vincent Enyeama has disclosed that Cote d’Ivoire skipper Yaya Toure was a worthy winner of the 2014 African Player of the Year award.

Leading vaccines for Ebola seems promising

The leading vaccines for Ebola will soon be tested in healthy volunteers in Africa, according to the World Health Organization.

11 soldiers died in Baga Army base attack

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Minimah, Chief of Army Staff

Over 11 soldiers and scores of civilians were reportedly killed when the Boko Haram sect attacked the army base in Baga, Borno State on Saturday, a security source and witnesses said on Monday.

More on AirAsia Flight 8501: Divers go down to AirAsia ruins as weather clears

The Indonesian Navy on board the vessel KRI Bung Tomo displaying recovered wreckage from ill-fated AirAsia flight QZ8501 lost in the Java Sea

Indonesian search officials sent divers down to the bed of the Java Sea during a break in bad weather Tuesday (Jan 6) in hopes of recovering more bodies from the wreckage of AirAsia Flight 8501.

Family bemoans loss of seven loved ones on AirAsia Flight QZ8501

Family lost seven on AirAsia Flight 8501

It is impossible to measure a family's grief after a disaster like the crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501. And for one family, they're grappling with the loss of seven loved ones on the aircraft.  Two of their family members have been found so far. A total of 37 bodies have been recovered out of 162 passengers and crew members on board the AirAsia flight. 

Leading through crisis: The most powerful woman in global finance

Christine Lagarde, (Managing Director, IMF)

"When there is a very difficult situation, women are called in to do the work; to sort out the mess." Christine Lagarde is not left out in this phase. 

She is doing just that.

Boko Haram seizes Military Base

Hundreds of Islamist militants have seized a multinational military base in northeastern Nigeria, according to a government official.

"Boko Haram overwhelmed the Multinational Joint Task Force and dislodged them from their base outside Baga after hours-long fighting," said Maina Ma'aji Lawan, a Nigerian senator ‎from the state of Borno, where Baga is located.

"They came in huge numbers heavily armed and subdued the multinational troops consisting (of) soldiers from Nigeria, Niger and Chad," Lawan said.

North Korea pushes back against U.S. sanctions for Sony hack

Regime: New sanctions "harden our will"

North Korea lashed out at the United States on Sunday, calling a new set of recently levied economic sanctions repugnant and hostile.

Steven Gerrard's full interview

Steven Gerrard

A day on from announcing he will leave Liverpool Football Club at the end of the 2014-15 season, Steven Gerrard has explained fully the reasons behind his decision in an emotional interview. Speaking at Melwood on Saturday morning, the captain outlined his thinking in deciding to leave the Reds after 17 years.

Ebola outbreak will end in 2015 - UN's Anthony Banbury

Anthony Banbury

*The deadly Ebola outbreak will be ended in 2015, the outgoing head of the 

UN team fighting the disease has said.

Anthony Banbury said the number of Ebola cases would be brought down to zero by the close of this year, but admitted that the end was "not close". 

How to combat fraud: Biofem is fighting with all might against counterfeit drugs

Counterfeit drugs don’t just cost revenue for pharmaceutical companies, they also cost lives. The main risk is contamination, but counterfeits also lack sufficient potency to be effective. In a region where resources are already scarce, combating fraud required an efficient and easily distributed solution, powered by mobile and analytics.

2-Year Old Grabs Mom’s Pistol and Fatally Shoots Her

It was actually meant to be a day of visiting relatives, loved ones and immense shopping. But it turned into a fatal event when a 2-year-old boy found his mother’s gun after reaching into her purse at a Walmart store in northern Idaho and the concealed weapon went off, according to authorities in a statement.

Gen. Buhari discredits President Goodluck's deliverables...says the President and PDP have run out of ideas

Gen.Muhammadu Buhari

The All Progressives Congress (APC)'s presidential candidate for the 2015 elections, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has said President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have run out of ideas.

Naira on a bad side at the closure of 2014

Mr. Godwin Emefiele - CBN Governor

The naira closed the year 2014 on Wednesday at 181.50 to the United States dollar at the interbank market and between 191 and 193 on the streets, against the 160.60 recorded on December 31, 2013.