David Torrence: Olympic runner dies aged 31 in Arizona

American middle-distance runner David Torrence has been found dead at the bottom of a swimming pool in Arizona at the age of 31.

Torrence won silver for the USA at the World Relay Championships in 2014 and claimed another second-placed finish at the Pan American Games in 2015.

He switched allegiances to represent Peru at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

"Detectives learned that there were no obvious signs of foul play," a police statement said.

American runner Leo Manzano, who won silver in the 1500m at the 2012 London Olympics, said: "It saddens me to hear about my former team-mate David Torrence. My heart goes out to him and his family."

Canadian track and field Olympian Nate Brannen said: "In complete shock to hear of the passing of David Torrence. Great guy and friend. He will be deeply missed."

Woman arrested after toddler found dead at house in Manchester

Thirty-year-old questioned on suspicion of murder after boy, two, was discovered after reports of domestic disturbance

Detectives investigating the murder of a toddler have arrested a woman, police said. The 30-year-old woman is being questioned on suspicion of murder after the body of the boy was found at a house in Manchester.

A 31-year-old man has also been arrested and is being questioned on suspicion of murder.

Police were called to a house in Wythenshawe in the early hours of Sunday after reports of a domestic disturbance. It later emerged officers had been called to the address on Friday, responding to a similar incident.

When officers arrived on Sunday, they discovered that a man and woman had left and gone to hospital. It was then that they found the body of a young boy, Greater Manchester police said.

The 31-year-old man remains in police custody for questioning. The woman is in hospital for treatment.

The force said formal identification of the body and a postmortem had not yet taken place.

DI Carl Jones, of the major incident team, said: “Our investigation is progressing but is still in the early stages. We have made two arrests and officers will remain at the property whilst we investigate.

“If you have any information to pass on, or you have concerns, please get in touch with one of our officers.”

GMP has referred itself to the Independent Police Complaints Commission due to officers’ earlier involvement at the property.

A cordon has been placed around the house, where there is a Volkswagen Polo car parked in the driveway.

David Creato Jr: Father kills three-year-old son because girlfriend 'didn't like children'

A New Jersey man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of his three-year-old son, who he says was in the way of a relationship with his girlfriend.

David Creato Jr, 23, pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and admitted he had “recklessly caused his son’s death under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life by depriving Brendan of oxygen”.

Prosecutors said Creato killed his son, Brendan, because his 17-year-old girlfriend did not want to be around his child and wanted him to give up custody. The girlfriend was never charged.
In October 2015, Mr Creato called 911 stating his son had wandered away from his home in Haddon Township in Camden County.


The child’s body was discovered later that day in an area of woodland around a mile from his home.

A medical examiner stated the boy died from “homicidal violence” but was not able to determine the exact cause or time of death.

A murder trial ended in a mistrial in May, but prosecutors said the victim’s socks were clean - which undermined Mr Creato’s claims the boy walked away from home.

Mr Creato’s guilty plea comes just weeks before he was due to stand trial on murder charges.

He will be sentenced on 29 September and prosecutors will recommend he serves a 10-year prison sentence.

Five-year-old Christian girl 'made to live with strict Muslim foster family by London council'

White Christian girl 'told to learn Arabic and stopped from eating bacon'

A five-year-old English-speaking girl was reportedly forced to live in Muslim foster homes where her carers wore the niqab and allegedly told her to learn Arabic.

The child was looked after by two different Muslim households in the last six months after being placed into foster care in Tower Hamlets, east London, The Times reported.

A social services supervisor described the girl as crying and begging not to be sent back to the foster carer's home because "they don't speak English," according to confidential local authority reports seen by the newspaper.

It added the girl told the supervisor the foster carer had removed her Christian cross necklace and not allowed her to eat carbonara, her favourite meal given to her by her mother, because it contained bacon. 

She is also said to have told her mother Christmas and Easter "are stupid" and European women are "stupid and alcoholic." The supervisor described the girl as "very distressed" in reports. 

The two placements were made by the Tower Hamlets borough council against the wishes of the girl's family. 

Local authorities are supposed to consider a child's religion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background when making decisions about foster care. 

The girl's mother was said to be horrified by the ordeal, with a friend telling the newspaper: “This is a five-year-old white girl. She was born in this country, speaks English as her first language, loves football, holds a British passport and was christened in a church.

“She’s already suffered the huge trauma of being forcibly separated from her family. She needs surroundings in which she’ll feel secure and loved. Instead, she’s trapped in a world where everything feels foreign and unfamiliar. That’s really scary for a young child.”

Tower Hamlets borough council did not respond to requests for comment. 

A spokesman for the Department for Education told The Times it could not comment on individual cases, but stressed “a child’s background is an important consideration" in deciding where the child is fostered. 

Meet the young woman that Harvard believes is the next Einstein

Being compared to geniuses like Stephen Hawking and Albert Einstein is not something that happens to the average person.

So when we tell you that Sabrina Gonzalez Pasterski is far from your average human, we mean it.

At the age of just 23, Paterski has already accomplished more than most of us ever will in our lifetime.

When she was only 14-years-old, the Chicago native, constructed her own single engine airplane - by herself.

If that wasn't impressive enough she then flew it across Lake Michigan, becoming the youngest person to ever fly their own plane.

The whole venture took two years to complete, and she documented the entire experience on YouTube.

 

She then graduated from Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in 2010 and enrolled with the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Initially she had to wait to be accepted into the school, but once Professors Allen Haggerty and Earll Murman saw her video they had no doubt.

Femalista quote Haggerty as saying: 

Our mouths were hanging open after we looked at it. Her potential is off the charts.

After just three years at MIT she has already achieved the highest possible grade point average of 5.0.

She is now working towards her doctorate at the world renowned Harvard University, with full academic freedom and no interference from staff.

Once again she is only 23-years-old.

What's even more remarkable is that she is no longer interested in building planes but has turned her attention to physics; namely black holes and how gravity affects space and time - hence the Einstein and Hawking comparisons.

She particularly wants to study 'quantum gravity,' where see will attempt to understand the link between gravity within the context of quantum physics.

If her research proves successful, discoveries in this area could vastly change the way we understand the universe.

Paterski records all of her work on her website Physics Girl, but if you are a little overwhelmed by her achievements she has some sage words for you.

BREAKING: FG Asks Court To Revoke Nnamdi Kanu’s Bail

The Federal Government has asked the court to revoke the bail granted leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The government cited disobedience of the bail conditions granted to Kanu as part of the reasons for its request.

Details later…

Donald Trump press adviser responsible for finding positive news leaves job

The man tasked with finding and distributing good news about Donald Trump has left his job at the White House.

Andy Hemming, the White House director of rapid response, reportedly worked 17-hour days finding positive news about the administration and sending it to reporters, television personalities, and other influencers. The White House said his departure this week was a “mutual decision”.

The 31-year-old was profiled by Politico shortly before he left. Mr Hemming, the article revealed, was a career political operative who had worked for prominent Republicans like Mitt Romney and former Texas Governor Rick Perry. He joined the Trump team after going to work for the Republican National Convention during last year’s election.


But Mr Hemming, it seemed, had an impossible job: promoting the news in an administration that reviles it. Mr Trump has repeatedly referred to the mainstream media as “fake news,” and encouraged his supporters not to believe it.

"These are truly dishonest people," Mr Trump said at a rally on Tuesday. "They're bad people. I really think they don't like our country."


The White House press team's relationship with reporters has been strained as well. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders frequently spars with reporters, and press briefings – like a recent, memorable one with senior White House advisor Steve Miller – have occasionally devolved into shouting matches.

Former Press Secretary Sean Spicer and Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci have both stepped down from their roles in recent weeks.

Mr Hemming left his $89,000-a-year position on Monday, according to Politico. The White House has not confirmed whether he will be replaced.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Politico that Mr Hemming’s departure was a “[m]utual decision that he could best help promote the president’s agenda on the outside.”

“Andy is smart and very talented and we wish him all the best,” she added.

'The best eclipse ever,' says meme re-tweeted by President Trump

Donald Trump posts bizarre tweet of him as the moon 'eclipsing' Barack Obama

  Donald Trump had re-tweeted a photo of himself "eclipsing" Barack Obama.
"The best eclipse ever," the meme reads, showing a picture of the grinning US President, in full colour, moving in front of an image of the former President, who is shown in black and white It came after Mr Trump tweeted to say a legislative "mess" could have been avoided if Republican congressional leaders had followed his advice to tie debt ceiling legislation to a veterans affairs bill.

  

If you are not married at 35 you are irresponsible – Pastor David Ibiyeomie

The founder and General Overseer of Salvation Ministry, Pastor David Ibiyeomie has declared that anyone that has reached the age of 35 and is still unmarried is irresponsible.

Pastor Ibiyeomie spoke when he addressed his congregants yesterday at the church headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.


The cleric admonished single men and women to look out for responsible men and women to be their partners, adding that it was not right to get old before getting married.

He said, “If you are still single at 35, you are an irresponsible person,” adding that is it not the will God.

He also charged young men and women to pray fervently before going into marriage relationship.

Chechnya: Ramzan Kadyrov orders hundreds of divorced couples to get back together 'to root out extremism'

Almost 1,000 families reunited after the programme launched in June, state television reports.

Hundreds of divorced couples have been forced to get back together in Chechnya after the region's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, effectively black-listed marriage separations as a perceived cause of social problems.

A report by state television announced 948 couple had got back together following Mr Kadyrov's orders for a strict programme of "family reconciliation".

Mr Kadyrov launched the scheme in June. At the time, he said children raised by married parents were less susceptible to extremism, Latvia-based Meduza news website reported.
"We've got to wake people up, talk to them and explain. We've got to return the women who left their husbands and reconcile them. This is a priority," he said.

JAMB introduces central admission processing system (CAPS) for 2017/18 a

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) For 2017/2018 Admission - What It Means?

Report from the ongoing JAMB policy meeting indicates that JAMB has introduced the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) which is geared towards ensuring quality control, transparency and credibility of the admission process.

According to a participant, the new policy is expected to make provision for a ‘market place’ in the JAMB portal where institutions can go and ‘request for students in Nigeria who score their cut off points.’

These institutions will write to JAMB to request for the students and also give them (students) three days to respond. Also, only three universities can request for a candidate if the policy is adopted.

The new policy is also expected to allow institutions in Nigeria peg their cut off point after meeting with their respective senates.

What JAMB Central Admission Processing System CAPS Does?

The new policy will also give the academic board or senate of an institution the power to ‘allocate percentages to JAMB, the school and O’level results as these will be calculated to get the students’ cut off marks for post-UTME.’

It was also learnt that JAMB wants to ensure there is a unified time for closing admission in all universities.

If the policy sails through, there will be a portal for admission which will be based on cut off points, quota system and catchment areas.

“The new system is such that institutions can only admit those who meet their cut off points,” an admission officer for a tertiary institution who was at the meeting said. “If a candidate does not meet the cut off, no matter whom he or she knows, such person cannot be admitted.”

The official said the system was demonstrated to all the attendees at Monday’s meeting, most of whom expressed satisfaction with it.

Also, the policy intends to make provisions for candidates to accept and reject any admission being offered to them.

The intended policy also looks out for candidates who are unable to go for National Youth Service, NYSC, because they do not have JAMB admission letters. This set of students could be asked to pay a fee, about N10,000 for regularisation and would be able to go for the youth service.

JAMB is expected to formally brief journalists on these new policies on Tuesday afternoon.

Teenager's final hours captured in photos taken by ex-boyfriend before he shot her and pushed body off a cliff

Loren Daniel Bunner will serve a 52-year sentence for the murder of Jolee Callan.


A series of photos posted to a murderer's Instagram account appear to reveal the events of her final hours before she was killed by her ex-boyfriend and pushed off a cliff.

Jolee Callan, 18, was shot twice in the head by former partner Loren Bunner after he convinced her to go hiking in east Alabama in August 2015.

A series of photos posted on Bunner’s Instagram account show Ms Callan’s final hours with her ex-boyfriend. The first picture shows her sitting in a car with a dog on her lap, with the caption: “On our way to go hiking <3”.


Three more photos show Ms Callan walking the dog and later holding the dog while looking out at a view after hiking up a mountain in Cheaha State Park. The final photograph shows her taking a picture of another view.

The pair had reportedly split up months earlier but had agreed to go on the hike together as friends. Ms Callen reportedly sent a message to a friend the night before, joking: “If something happens to me, you’ll know who I was with,” The Mirror reports.


Bunner shot Ms Callan on the trail before pushing her off the cliff and leaving her body.

Police said Bunner called 911 to report he had “murdered his ex-girlfriend” while driving home from the crime scene and pulled over to wait for the authorities, according to the Shelby County Reporter.

He had shot Ms Callan in the back of her head and between the eyes, according to Alabama.com. Authorities seized a Bear Claw .22 firearm from Bunner when they reached him and found blood on his steering wheel. Police also reported “a large amount of blood” at the scene where Ms Callan was shot. 

Man Drinks Mud Water To Fulfill Promise He Made If Buhari returned From Medical Leave

One of President Buhari’s supporter has drank mud water to fulfil a vow he made should President Buhari return back to Nigeria from his medical vacation in London.Muh’d Kabir Wusasa had promised that every day that President Buhari returns to Nigeria from his trip to London, that he will drink water because of the pain of depression.



He wrote on his Facebook page:

"Kyawun Alkawari Cikawa Idan Kanaso Ka Zama Cikakken Mutum Idan Kayi Alkawari Kayi Kokari Ka Cika.
Nayi alkawari duk randa Shugaba Buhari ya dawo gida Nigeria daga jinyar da ya tafi Birnin London, zan sha ruwan kwata saboda zunzurutun Farin ciki.
Alhamdulillah! Allah ya cika mini gurina ni kuma na sha ruwan kwata".

Translated, his text reads:

"The Full Covenant of the Covenant If You Want to Become Full Member When You Make a Covenant Try To Fill.

I promise every day that President Buhari returns to Nigeria from his trip to London, and I will drink water because of the pain of depression.

Alhamdulillah! God filled me with my head and drank water".

CONFIRMED: Minister Nkoana-Mashabane granted Mugabe diplomatic immunity

Johannesburg – The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has confirmed that Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane had granted Zimbabwe First Lady Grace Mugabe diplomatic immunity.

Mugabe is at the centre of an assault claim in South Africa.

"I hereby recognise the immunities and privileges of the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Grace Mugabe," reads a Government Gazette notice, signed by Nkoane-Mashabane on Saturday and published on Sunday.

In the "Minister’s Minute", it indicates that she makes the recognition "in accordance with the powers vested in me by section 7(2) of the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act 2001 (Act No 37 of 2001) and acting in the Interest of [the] Republic of South Africa".

It goes on to indicate that the immunities and privileges of Mugabe are recognised "in terms of international law and as set out in the attached Notice".

Dirco spokesperson Nelson Kgwete confirmed the authenticity of the notice and said the department would release a statement later in the day.

Earlier on Sunday, various reports emerged that Mugabe had flown back to Zimbabwe that morning with her husband, President Robert Mugabe.

'Contravention of laws, rights of victim'

This month, a case of assault was reported to police by model Gabriella Engels who claims Grace Mugabe attacked her with an extension cord at a Sandton Hotel on August 13.

On Friday, the police’s Vish Naidoo told Netwerk24 that police had provisionally halted investigations into the matter after a note verbale was received, which indicated that the suspect in the case had applied for diplomatic immunity.

Meanwhile, earlier on Sunday, Afriforum said it would approach the courts to contest the diplomatic immunity.

"What we will carry on with is a review application [of the decision] to grant her immunity," said Afriforum’s legal representative Willie Spies.

"We believe that it is not a correct decision," he said, adding that his organisation believes that this was in contravention of South Africa’s laws, as well as the rights of the victim to see justice.

Depending on the outcome of a review, Afriforum was also keen to "eventually carry on with a private prosecution".

Furthermore, he suggested that it might become "very difficult" for Mugabe to return to South Africa in the future, suggesting that she could be considered "for all intents and purposes: a fugitive".

Art of the Deal co-author predicts Donald Trump is about to resign

'Trump's presidency is effectively over. Would be amazed if he survives till the end of the year. More likely resigns by fall if not sooner,' says Tony Schwartz

Mr Schwartz has been a fierce critic of the billionaire property magnate since he threw his hat into the ring for the presidential race .
The co-author of Donald Trump’s memoir The Art of the Deal has predicted the US President is going to resign by autumn if not sooner.

Tony Schwartz, who claims to have ghostwritten the 1987 best-selling business book, argued Mr Trump is on the brink of stepping down and said he would be shocked if his presidency lasts until the end of the year.

Mr Schwartz, who has been a vocal critic of President Trump and spent 18 months interviewing and shadowing him in the 1980's, suggested he would negotiate a deal for immunity in the Russia investigation in exchange for giving up his seat in the Oval Office.



He said: “The circle is closing at blinding speed. Trump is going to resign and declare victory before Mueller and Congress leave him no choice”.
“Trump's presidency is effectively over. Would be amazed if he survives till the end of the year. More likely resigns by fall, if not sooner.”


The author argued resistance against the president, who has drawn fierce criticism for drawing moral equivalence between white supremacists and anti-fascists in the wake of Charlottesville, must be maintained despite his resignation being imminent.

He said: “Trump must be isolated. Resistance every day. The end is near but must keep pressure high.”

He added: “The end game is on: Trump goes down or we do. He will blow up the world to prove he matters. We must stand up in opposition every day".


Mr Schwartz has been a fierce critic of the billionaire property magnate since he threw his hat into the ring for the presidential race and has often raised alarm bells about the danger of him having access to America’s nuclear weapons.

Last year he announced he was advising the campaign of Mr Trump’s Democrat rival Hillary Clinton for free as “penance” for boosting Mr Trump’s success and profile by ghostwriting his book.

“This is my penance for having created a man who has become a monster, and I’ve spent 30 years feeling bad about it,” he told CNN ahead of the second Presidential debate. “Now I feel like I’ve got to show there’s nobody behind the curtain.”

When pressed about whether there was anything he found appealing about Mr Trump, he said “nothing”.

“This is a man who I really believe lacks a conscience at the deepest level, so there really was nothing. He was effective in certain ways, he’s a dominant, aggressive personality and he pushes and he pushes and he pushes and he gets a lot of what he wants.”

Mr Schwartz claims to have gotten to know Mr Trump very well while working on The Art of the Deal, saying he spent hundreds of hours talking to him about his life, listening to him speak and generally observing him in action.

He has since said he bitterly regrets the way he portrayed the former reality TV star, saying the glowing depiction is a piece of fiction and amounted to himself having “put lipstick on a pig”.

BREAKING NEWS : President Buhari returns today.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is returning to the country today, after receiving medical attention in London.

The President had left the country on May 7, this year, after handing over power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who has functioned as Acting President since then.

President Buhari is expected to speak to Nigerians in a broadcast by 7 a.m on Monday, August 21, 2017, according to Femi Adesina, the President’s media adviser.

Adesina said Buhari thanked all Nigerians who have prayed ceaselessly for his recovery and well-being since the beginning of the health challenge in January this year.

Photos as Nigerians protest outside President Muhammadu Buhari London residence.

As at yesterday the #ResumeorResign protesters were  set to protest outside President Muhammadu Buhari London residence, popularly called the Abuja House, from Friday to Saturday, August 19. The protesters claimed to have received a permit and safety barriers from the UK police to conduct their protesters

The protest will reportedly hold all night long and protesters are advised to dress warm as they sit all night outside the president's residence demanding that he resume office or resign immediately.
 The UK police were spotted amidst the preparations.

Ghanaian actor, Van Vicker poses with his daughters.

Ghanaian actor, Van Vicker shared this adorable photo with his Daughters as they hang out in New England.

22-year-old mother sells three-month-old baby for N50,000

A 22-year-old mother, Blessing Udoh, who allegedly sold her three-month-old baby for N50,000, must remain in police custody, an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court ruled on Friday in Lagos.

The Magistrate, Mr. Tajudeen Elias, ordered that the accused be kept in police custody pending her bail application.

Udoh is facing two counts of engaging in commercial sex and trading a baby.

The accused, however, pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge.



Police Prosecutor, Kehinde Omisakin, told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 30, 2017 at 6.00p.m. in Abattoir area of Oko-Oba in Abule Egba, a Lagos suburb.

Omisakin alleged that the accused sold her three-month-old baby, Destiny, to Mr. and Mrs. Philip James, who reside at Oron, Akwa Ibom State.

“The accused has been caught several times engaging in commercial sex,” the prosecutor said.

The offences contravene sections 142 and 276 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the accused, on conviction, may be sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment, according to the provisions of the law.

The case has been adjourned till August 23 for hearing of the bail application. (NAN

Finland 'terror attack': Several people injured after 'knifeman screaming Allahu Akbar' goes on rampage in city

Armed police have confirmed "several people have been knifed" in the centre of Turku this afternoon - including 'a woman and a baby'.

The police are urging people to avoid the centre of town - and a body has reportedly been spotted covered up.

According to information police have opened fire - and witnesses report seeing a pool of blood.

Early reports say one assailant was shot in the leg - and this person was arrested.

Jennifer Lawrence opens up about her relationship with Darren Aronofsky

Jennifer Lawrence opened up about her romance with her "Mother!" director, Darren Aronofsky, in an interview for Vogue magazine's September cover story.

The pair have been spotted in public together in the last year, sparking rumors of a romance, but this is the first time Lawrence has broken her silence about the relationship.

The 26-year-old actress said she was initially into Aronofsky, 48, but was unsure as to whether they were on the same page.
"We had energy," Lawrence said. "I had energy for him. I don't know how he felt about me."

She said they started dating after they finished filming "Mother!," a psychological horror film that everyone involved has been careful to keep plot details under wraps.
It's clear that Lawrence has a great deal of admiration for the "Black Swan" director.
"When I saw the movie, I was reminded all over again how brilliant he is," she said of Aronofsky. "For the past year, I've been dealing with him as just a human."

Things sound to be going well in the relationship.
"I've been in relationships before where I am just confused," Lawrence said. "And I'm never confused with him."
Ordinarily, she said, she's not into Harvard alumni "because they can't go two minutes without mentioning that they went to Harvard" but "He's not like that."
The one thing they don't bond over, however, is Lawrence's love of reality shows.
"He just finds it so vastly disappointing," the actress said.
"Mother!" lands in theaters September 15.

Daniel Craig confirms return as James Bond

The actor, who was a guest on Tuesday night's "Late Show," confirmed to host Stephen Colbert that he will return to the role as the super spy in the upcoming, and yet untitled, 25th Bond film.

"Now, you've been reported to play the role of James Bond again," Colbert said to Craig, who said he has been pretty coy about if he would return. "We could use some good news here. Daniel Craig, will you return as James Bond?"

"Yes," Craig responded with a smile.

This led the audience to cheer and Colbert to get up from his chair and shake Craig's hand.

The actor then explained that he knew for a couple months that he would return, but had been discussing it and trying to figure things out.

"I always wanted to, but I needed a break," Craig said.

FG lifts ban on post-UTME screening by Universities

The Federal Government has lifted the ban on the controversial examinations usually organised by universities in Nigeria for admission seekers after the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

The Federal Government had last year ordered the scrapping of post-UTME for candidates.Speaking in an exclusive interview with The Guardian in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, said universities could now organise post-UTME as a pre-condition to gaining admission into universities in the country.

The minister, who however urged university authorities to make the fees for the screening affordable and not to impose huge financial burden on the parents, said: “We are going to allow universities to organise post-UTME if they want.

“We have asked them not to impose huge financial burden on the parents. The burden should not be more than what they can bear.”Adamu said that the Federal Government had stopped the scrapping of the examination to fully understand what was going on in universities, adding: “We are now wiser.”

The minister, who expressed confidence in the examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), said the management of JAMB had remitted N5 billion to the Federal Government coffers, which happens to be the highest so far in the last 40 years of the board’s existence.

He said: “Since JAMB was established more than 40 years ago, the total amount it has given government was N200 million, but in one year, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede has remitted N5 billion to government.

“The new JAMB registrar has been correcting many anomalies in the board. Within a year, he has been able to stop all the untold things that were happening there.

Photo of boy taking nap with cow at Iowa State Fair becomes internet sensation

A boy and his cow didn't snag the top prize at the Iowa State Fair last weekend, but a photo of them taking a nap together after the contest is winning over the internet.

Mitchell Miner, 15, and his heifer, Audri, spent most of the summer together and formed a special connection during that time.

"She likes to lay down quite a bit," Miner told the Des Moines Register. "She just enjoys my company."


The teen from Williamsburg, Iowa, entered Audri into a youth dairy cattle show at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. In the weeks leading up to the competition, he led, clipped, walked and bathed her.

Even on the day of the showing on Sunday, he woke up at 3 a.m. to finish getting her ready, making it his third straight day doing so.

Despite the long hours and hard work, Audri finished fifth out of seven contestants at the competition.

Both were exhausted after the event and took a nap inside a barn, where his father, Jeremy Miner, snapped pictures of them cuddling up. He posted a photo of the pair on Facebook on Sunday with the caption, "Our son Mitchell and his heifer after showing yesterday."

12 killed by falling tree at festival.

At least 12 people have been crushed to death and 52 others injured by a falling tree at a festival in Madeira.

TV footage showed emergency workers gathered under a group of tall trees near the Portuguese island's capital, Funchal.

The tragedy happened during the Celebration of Our Lady of the Mount festival, which is the island's biggest annual celebration.

Rescue workers recover a victim&#39;s body
Image:
Rescue workers recover a victim's body
RTP television is reporting that "many people were concentrated" in the area at the time - and a further 35 people are believed to be injured, four of them seriously.

Two children are feared to be among those who died when the 200-year-old oak tree came down on worshipping crowds.

The Roman Catholic festival marks the Assumption - or entry into heaven - of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.


The moment the tree fell was captured on a Facebook Live broadcast - and the video showed many people running for their lives.

The tree came down near Madeira&#39;s capital, Funchal
Image:
The tree came down near Madeira's capital, Funchal
"It was terrible, it was so sudden," one witness told SIC television.

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa said his government had offered its support to authorities on the island.

He tweeted: "I express my condolences for the victims of the accident in Madeira. My thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims.

"The government has provided medical support given the high number of victims."

Algeria's PM sacked after less than three months in office.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika sacked Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Tuesday, less than three months after appointing him, the presidency said, according to state media.
"President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Tuesday relieved Prime Minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune of his duties and appointed Ahmed Ouyahia", the president's chief of staff, in his place, the presidency said in a statement carried by the official APS news agency.

Bouteflika's National Liberation Front (FLN) and the Rally for National Democracy (RND) led by Ouyahia together enjoy an absolute majority in parliament after winning re-election on May 4.
In a surprise move three weeks after the vote, the president named Tebboune, who had been housing minister, to the post of prime minister in place of Bouteflika's ally Abdelmalek Sellal.
According to a government source who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, 71-year-old Tebboune was dismissed because his "vision was not in line" with the president.
The source also cited communication problems between the men.
The sacking comes days after reports that Bouteflika had sent a strongly worded letter to the premier, demanding he adjust his policies and criticising a decision to restrict imports of many products.
But political analyst Rachid Tlemcani said Tebboune had been seeking to appease "certain oligarchs who belong to the presidential faction" and was the victim of a struggle in the leadership.
The May 4 poll was marred by low turnout amid voter disillusionment over what many see as broken government promises and a political system tainted by corruption.
The North African country weathered the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings with massive spending on wages and subsidies that depleted government coffers.
But a 2014 slump in crude oil prices forced the government to raise taxes and mothball many public projects.
Today, in a country of 40 million where half the population is under 30, one young person in three is unemployed.

ASUU STRIKE: FG confirms negotiations in progress.

​The Federal Government has confirmed that it is in talks with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), after it embarked on an indefinite strike.

ASUU commenced an indefinite strike action across the nation beginning Sunday, August 13

The Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Chinenye Ihuoma, told newsmen that negotiations were ongoing between it and the union on the issues arising from the 2009 agreement and the MoU of 2013.

“If it is on ASUU, just know that the FG/ASUU renegotiation 2009 is ongoing with the government team under the leadership of Dr. B. O Babalakin (SAN),” she said.

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, in January inaugurated a 16-member team to renegotiate the 2009 agreement.

The committee, headed by Babalakin, was given the mandate to dialogue with the ASUU, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Associated & Allied Institutions (NASU) to ensure sustainable peace and industrial harmony in tertiary institutions.

Northern leaders asked us to give Igbos quit notice-Yerima

Alhaji Shettima Yerima, leader, of the Coalition of Northern Group (CNG), has claimed that the October 1 quit notice issued by Arewa youths to Igbos residing in the north had the backing of prominent leaders of the region.

He made this disclosure in Lafia, during the zonal meeting of the Coalition in Nasarawa.


He explained that in June 2017, a group of prominent northern leaders met with members of Arewa youths to take the position.

“On June 6, 2017, a group of leaders from the north came together to deliberate on the situation in the country.

“After their deliberation, we realised the need to make a statement on the activities of the Biafra agitators in the country”‎, he said.

As the deadline draws closer, he said the group would soon meet to take a stand on the next line of action.


He said the Kaduna declaration was in response to the Biafra agitation.

“We cannot fold our hands to watch an individual hold this country to ransom.

“We can’t allow an individual insult our leaders and play over our sensibilities,” he said.

He said the quit notice was a signal to Kanu and his group that Nigeria cannot be undermined by a single individual, even as he described Kanu as a frustrated human being seeking political relevance.

North Korea's leader holds fire on Guam missile launch

North Korea's leader holds fire on Guam missile launch

th Korea's leader received a report from his army on plans to fire missiles towards Guam and said he will watch the actions of the United States before making a decision to fire, the North's official news agency said on Tuesday.

Kim Jong-un ordered the army to be ready to launch should he make the decision for military action.

North Korea said last week it was finalising plans to launch four missiles into the waters near the US Pacific territory of Guam, and its army would report the strike plan to Kim and wait for his order.

Kim, who inspected the command of the North's army on Monday, examined the plan for a long time and discussed it with army officers, the official KCNA agency said.

"He said that if the Yankees persist in their extremely dangerous reckless actions on the Korean peninsula and in its vicinity, testing the self-restraint of the DPRK, the latter will make an important decision as it already declared," it said.

I don't know if it's Nigeria that is paying for Buhari"s treatment -Femi Adesina

Femi Adesina, special adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, says he is not sure if it is the federal government that is responsible for the medical bill of his principal.

Buhari has been receiving medical attention in London for the past 99 days and the issue of the cost has generated heated controversy between his supporters and opponents.

Before he left Nigeria on May 7, the president had spent 49 days in the United Kingdom, treating an undisclosed ailment.

When he appeared on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, on Monday, Seun Okinbaloye, anchor of the programme, asked Adesina, “Who is paying for the president’s treatment?”

“Does it matter at this point?” The presidential spokesman asked, to which Okinbaloye fired back: “We need to know, he is our president. He is a public official. This shouldn’t be shrouded in secrecy.”

Then Adesina said: “I do not know who is paying, but as a president, he has a right to be treated by the country.”

“Nigeria is taking care of the bill?” Okinbaloye asked, and Adesina responded, “Most likely. I don not know for sure.”

The presidential spokesman also discussed his experience with his principal at the Abuja House in London.

Adesina was in the delegation that met Buhari during the weekend.

“The president I saw was sharp, he was smart, he was lucid. The president I saw was almost completely mending,” Adesina said.

“But like I said in the statement we issued, he will come when his doctors say ‘it’s time to go home’.

Dismissing the position that Buhari has not returned to the country because he is too frail to travel, Adesina said: “We can’t depend on the word out there, but I can depend on what I saw with my eyes. I saw the president and I know that he has recovered considerably.

“Once the doctors certify him, he will surely come back… If you know the president, at the peak of his performance when he just assumed the presidency and went to different parts of the world, you will know that he is a man of tremendous energy and tremendous ability.

“If a man was heal and he has mended, that means he can do what he used to and even more.”

APC is a party of poverty and shame -FFK

Former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani Kayode has described the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) as a party of 'Poverty and Shame'.

Fani-Kayode, via a series of tweets on Monday, also advised the ruling party to 'ask God to forgive them of their ineptitude'.

The former aviation minister was reacting to the barrage of criticisms that trailed former president, Goodluck Jonathan's speech at the PDP's non-elective convention last Saturday. He tweeted that the APC should 'sit down and shut up'.

"The APC should stop criticising it and they should sit down, shut up and ask God for forgiveness for their ineptitude and incompetence.

GEJonathan’s speech at the PDP Convention was outstanding and inspiring. He spoke the bitter truth. APC are a party of poverty and shame.