NewsReports

Benin, Edo State – Nigeria  By Oladipo Airenakho. Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State yesterday presented his 2015 budget proposal of N 156.551 billion to the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus of the State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Uyigue Igbe for approval. Unlike last year when he addressed the lawmakers, representing the different political parties at the Edo …

Ukraine is preparing to withdraw heavy weaponry away from separatist rebel lines in the east, the military says. The two sides agreed on Saturday to set up a buffer zone in eastern Ukraine, more than a fortnight after a shaky ceasefire came into force. Although the truce is still in place, clashes have continued around the cities of Donetsk and …

Two Palestinians suspected of the abduction and murder of three Israeli teenagers in June have been killed by Israeli forces, Israel’s military says. A spokesman said troops searching for Marwan Qawasmeh and Amer Abu Aisha surrounded a building in the West Bank city of Hebron where they were hiding. “We opened fire, they returned fire and they were killed in …

The US and five Arab allies have launched the first strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria. The Pentagon said warplanes, drones and Tomahawk missiles were used in the attacks, which targeted several areas including IS stronghold Raqqa. Syria’s foreign ministry said its UN envoy was informed about the strikes against IS, which controls large swathes of Syria and …

LAGOS—As both primary and secondary schools nationwide are expected to resume today in compliance with the directive by the Federal Government, parents and teachers have, however, been thrown into confusion following counter-directives by some state governments which have fixed different dates for schools to resume. The Nigeria Union of Teachers, on its part had earlier directed its members to ignore …

There are indications that some banks are not making adequate provisions for bad and doubtful loans in their books as mandated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. This, it is feared, may trigger another systemic crisis in the banking sector if not checked. It will be recalled that it was as a result of huge non-performing loans in the …

The wife of a British taxi driver being held hostage by Islamic State (IS) has pleaded with the militants to “see it in their hearts” to release him. Alan Henning, from Eccles in Salford, was seized while on an aid mission to Syria last December. In a statement released via the Foreign Office, his wife Barbara said he had been …

Benin, Edo, Nigeria – Oladipo Airenakho. Buhari Friends Organization Network, a new political structure recently put in place in Nigeria to mobilize support for the presidential ambition of retired Nigeria’s Military Dictator, General Mumamadu Buhari has called on the leadership and members of the All Progressive Congress [APC] to adopt him as the party’s flag bearer in the 2015 election. …

President Francois Hollande: “The aim was to weaken the terrorists” French jets have carried out their first strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq, the office of President Francois Hollande says. A statement said planes had attacked an IS depot in north-east Iraq, and there would be more raids in the coming days. The US has carried out more …

First Minister, Alex Salmond: “For me as leader my time is nearly over” Alex Salmond is to step down as Scottish first minister after voters rejected independence. He will also resign as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), which he has led for a total of 20 years. Scottish voters backed the country staying in the UK by 2,001,926 …