NewsReports

Petroleum Resources Minister, Dieziani Alison-Madueke was today elected the first female OPEC President at the 166th Ordinary Meeting of the organization in Vienna, Austria. Before bagging this highly influential position, she made spirited efforts to become the first female Secretary-General of the organization at the recent 165th Ordinary Meeting of OPEC. She replaces former President of OPEC, Libyan Vice Prime …

THE dreaded Boko Haram sect has continued to unleash mayhem on defenceless civilians including school children in the north east region. In the last couple of months, the satanic society has annexed part of the territory of the Republic of Nigeria. In the circumstance, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has requested both chambers of …

Rep. Babatunde Adewale (Lagos-APC) on Wednesday advised President Goodluck Jonathan to deploy more troops to states affected by insurgency. Adewale said in Abuja that it was not conducive for the house members to discuss the extension of the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States. According to him, there is a provision in the Armed Forces Act that …

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday launched the implementation of the Nigerian component of the Great Green Wall (GGW) Initiative at Bachaka in Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GGW is a regional aforestation programme designed to create a greenbelt of trees across Africa at the southern edge of the Sahara desert to …

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday in Abuja announced devaluation of naira by N13 as part of measures the bank said were aimed at strengthening the nation’s economy. The CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, disclosed the devaluation to newsmen after a meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee. Emefiele explained that under the new arrangement, the naira would now …

Colombia’s Farc rebels have released two soldiers taken hostage earlier this month, the first step in a deal to revive peace talks. The two, Cesar Rivera and Jonathan Diaz, were captured by the rebels in the eastern border region of Arauca. Three others, including a Colombian general, were taken in a separate incident and remain captive. The Colombian President, Juan …

Reports from Ferguson on the protests as the grand jury decision was announced A grand jury has decided not to charge a Missouri policeman over the death of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. Announcing the decision, state prosecutor Robert McCulloch said the jury exhaustively examined evidence. Mr Brown’s family said they were “profoundly disappointed”. Shots were fired, and cars and …

A grand jury has made a decision on whether to charge a Missouri police officer over the death of an unarmed black teenager. His family confirmed that the jury’s decision is expected to be announced later on Monday. Michael Brown, 18, was killed by Darren Wilson on 9 August in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson, Missouri. His death sparked …

Lagos, Nigeria – By Oladipo Airenakho. Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Nigeria (SOGON) has expressed worry about the absence of legal instrument and accurate data for a proper feasibility study for Maternal Death Review (MDR). The association said during a recent three-day training workshop organized by the Women’s Health and Action Research Centre (WHARC) in Lagos that the absence of …

Chuck Hagel has resigned as US defence secretary after less than two years in the top military post. President Barack Obama confirmed his resignation and paid tribute to his “class and integrity”. Mr Hagel, 68, a Vietnam war veteran and former Republican senator, said it had been his life’s “greatest privilege”. Last month, it was reported that he was sharply …