NewsReports

A Republican Congressional staff member has resigned after accusing US President Barack Obama’s daughters of lacking class. Elizabeth Lauten, communications director for congressman Stephen Fincher, gave up her post on Monday. Ms Lauten earlier criticised Sasha and Malia Obama on Facebook following their appearance in short skirts at a Thanksgiving ceremony. She later took down the post and apologised for …

Explosions and gunfire rocked the north Nigerian city of Damaturu on Monday, in a suspected Boko Haram attack that targeted police, residents told AFP. The sound of blasts and heavy weapons being fired woke locals in the Gujba Road area of the Yobe state capital at about 4:45 am (0345 GMT), said Umar Sada, who lives in the area. “We …

CATHOLIC Pontiff, Pope Francis has condemned the deadly attacks that occurred at the Emir of Kano’s Central mosque in Kano, which claimed about 200 lives, describing it as an “extremely serious sin against God.” Pope Francis made the comments yesterday, the final day of his trip to Turkey. Apart from those killed, about 135 people were wounded when two suicide …

Benin, Edo, Nigeria – By Oladipo Airenakho. Nigeria’s former Minister of State for Works, Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi has derided the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) his once political platform as incapable of delivering on the expectations, dreams and yearnings of Nigerians. Fifteen years of uninterrupted PDP national administration, Engineer Chris Ogiemwonyi said, has failed to address the problems and the basic …

 Benin, Edo, Nigeria – By Oladipo Airenakho. Nigeria’s former Head of State, Retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari said Saturday that Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s excellent performance in Edo State was a testimony to how APC government will transform the country for good when it wins the election at the federal level in 2015. General Buhari, presidential aspirant of the All Progressive …

The Cairo court erupted in cheers when the judge said Mubarak should not have been a defendant in the case as the charges against him were added late. Charges against seven senior ex-officials were also dropped. The decision could be appealed. Victims’ relatives waiting outside expressed dismay and frustration. In a TV interview after the ruling, Mubarak said he had …

At least 120 people were killed and 270 others wounded on Friday when two suicide bombers blew themselves up and gunmen opened fire during weekly prayers at the mosque of one of Nigeria’s top Islamic leaders. The attack at the Grand Mosque in Kano, the biggest city in the mainly Muslim north of the country, came just as Friday prayers …

David Cameron has passionately urged other EU leaders to support his “reasonable” proposals for far-reaching curbs on welfare benefits for migrants. Britain’s prime minister said lower EU migration would be a priority in future negotiations on the UK’s membership and he said would “rule nothing out” if he did not get the changes he wanted. Under his plans, migrants will …

ABUJA — In its efforts to address the complaints arising from inability of eligible voters to register or obtain voter cards ahead of the 2015 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday, announced the rescheduling of the ongoing exercises in seven states of the country. According to the commission, the production of Permanent Voter Cards and preparation for …

Reports in the Austrian media said 500 police were involved in searches at mosques, flats and prayer rooms in Vienna and the cities of Linz and Graz. Authorities also seized “terrorist propaganda material”, prosecutors said. It comes amid a European crackdown on fighters who have joined jihadist forces in Syria and Iraq. A statement from Austria’s state prosecutor’s office said …