First gay weddings in Scotland held at midnight

The first gay wedding ceremonies in Scotland took place on Wednesday just after the stroke of midnight, as two couples tied the knot in Glasgow.

Dressed in kilts, Joe Schofield and Malcolm Brown, both 42, entered the Trades Hall to the sound of bagpipes at 11:30 pm on Tuesday, and after the clock chimed midnight, the formalities got under way. Continue..

Luise Rainer, Hollywood golden era Oscar winner, dies aged 104

Actress Luise Rainer, who became the first winner of consecutive Oscars in the 1930s, has died at the age of 104. The German-born star was named best actress in 1936 and 1937 - a feat achieved by only five actors in Academy Awards history to date. Her achievement made her a force in the golden age of Hollywood cinema, but was also a curse, making her last major film in 1943. Continue...

Ebola patient moved from Scotland to London as 2 more possible cases are tested

A health care worker who was diagnosed with the Ebola virus after returning to Scotland from Sierra Leone was transferred early Tuesday to the Royal Free Hospital in London.

The woman was working with Save the Children at an Ebola treatment center in Sierra Leone, according to Michael von Bertele, humanitarian director at that organization.

She traveled via Casablanca, Morocco, and London Heathrow Airport before arriving at Glasgow Airport on a British Airways flight late Sunday night, the Scottish health agency NHS Scotland said.

After feeling unwell on Monday, she sought medical care and became the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola within the United Kingdom. Continue..

Aiyegbeni on QPR’s radar

The presence of Yakubu Aiyegbeni in the stands of the stands to watch QPR lose 1-2 to Arsenal on Boxing Day has sparked off transfer talks of a possible reunion with Harry Redknapp.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Nigerian striker is one of the names on the wishlist of transfer targets in the January window of the QPR manager. Continue..

Jay Jay Okocha steps out with son

The iconic footballer and his son attended the Christmas edition of 'Love Is' the musical, at Eko Hotel on Dec. 27th.

Tension as two policemen kill herdsmen over N50 in Adamawa

Two Police officers was arrested over alleged murder of two Fulani youths in Toungo Local Government Area of the state. The two policemen allegedly shot their victims over an argument on N50 bribe in front of the local government headquarters at 5p.m. Continue..

Bush to remain in hospital overnight

Former President George H.W. Bush's breathing "has returned to normal" but he will stay in the hospital Monday night, an aide said. It will be his seventh straight night since being admitted last week.

 "President Bush's breathing has returned to normal, but he will remain at the Houston Methodist Hospital tonight pending final approval from his doctors to return home. Both President and Mrs. Bush wish to thank everyone for their good wishes and prayers," Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath said in a statement. Continue..

AirAsia QZ8501: Forty bodies found in missing plane search

Relatives cried and hugged each other as bodies were shown on live TV

 At least 40 bodies have been recovered from the sea in the search for missing AirAsia Flight QZ8501, the Indonesian navy says.

The bodies were spotted along with debris floating in the Java Sea off the Indonesian part of Borneo, in one of the search zones for the plane.

There has been no official confirmation that the remains come from the plane. See more picx..

Bakassi: Refugee father uses daughter as collateral for N600,000 loan

Apart from hunger and ill health ravaging the camps of displaced Bakassi indigenes, the story of a 12-year-old girl whose refugee father has pushed into servitude

In the dusty village of Akwa Ikot Eyo Edem, Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State, Edet Okon sat down in front of St. Mark Primary School.

Sitting cross-legged on the concrete floor on one of the blocks of classrooms he now calls his home, the 40-year-old father of three leaned forward to exchange pleasantries with this correspondent.

Okon’s immediate family members and 963 other households had fled their ancestral homes in Efut Obot Ikot in the ceded Bakassi Peninsula in March 2013. Continue..

LAWMA to convert popular Ojota dump site to golf course

Have you ever passed by Ojota going towards Maryland in Lagos? Then you would have noticed the Olusosun dumpsite that stinks to the high heavens. The news is that Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) said yesterday that it would soon turn the Olusosun dumpsite in Ojota into a golf course. Tagged as Nigeria’s most popular refuse dump, Olusosun has been a subject of foreign documentaries in the past because of the many activities of scavengers at the site. Continue..

Cameroon bombs Boko Haram, kills 41

Nigeria’s neighbour, Cameroon, has launched air strikes against Boko Haram terrorists for the first time, killing no fewer than 41 Islamist militants after the large force of jihadists crossed the border and seized a military camp at Ashigashiya, the government said. Continue..

Obasanjo, Buhari planning interim govt —FG

The Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, on Monday, said a plot by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) to form an interim government has been uncovered.

The minister said this in Lagos at the launch of a book titled, ‘Watch the Watcher,’ written by an activist, Yinka Odumakin, in reaction to Obasanjo’s controversial book, ‘My Watch’.

Adesiyan said he had already directed the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba; and the Department of State Service to arrest anybody that made inflammatory statements ahead of the 2015 elections. Continue...

See what Dino Melaye grades GEJ's performance with funny T.shirt

Nawa o!

Algeria: Leader of group that beheaded French hiker is killed

The Algerian military has killed the leader of an Algerianterror group that beheaded French hiker Herve Gourdel earlier this year, the state-run Algeria Press Service reported Tuesday.

Gouri Abdelmalek, leader of Jund al Khilafa, and two other militants were killed in the Algerian city of Isser after the military set an unspecified "trap," for them, APS reported Tuesday, citing Algeria's defense ministry. Continue..

Baby falls off mum’s back on Okada, crushed by truck

A heavy duty truck, conveying crates of soft drinks, yesterday, at the Okorodafe Roundabout in Ughelli, Delta State, crushed a four-month-old baby girl, who had fallen off the back of her mother travelling on a commercial motorcycle, popularly known as Okada. Continue...

Guns smuggled on planes in Atlanta an 'egregious' security breach

The breakup of a gun smuggling ring allegedly involving a current and former Delta Air Lines employee has exposed what a New York prosecutor described as an "egregious breach of security" at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson said Tuesday that the investigation was "deeply troubling" -- not only for the havoc the gun running unleashed on the streets but because of the vulnerability to acts of terrorism on air travel that it revealed.

"If they can put guns on the plane this time," he told reporters, "they could have easily put a bomb on one of those planes." Continue...

First photos of Monaco twins released by palace

Monaco's newborn royals, Princess Gabriella and Crown Prince Jacques Honore Rainier, posed for their first official photos with their parents, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene.

The photos were released Tuesday on the royal family's official Facebook account. They were taken at the Princess Grace Hospital, where the twins were born on December 10. Continue..

Synagogue: Witness says NEMA, LASEMA lack equipment

The National Executive Co-ordinator of Life Savers Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, Mrs. Fola Shoetan, has described as unsatisfactory the performance of the National Emergency Management Agency and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency during the Synagogue Church Of All Nation’s building collapse. Continue..

George HW Bush taken to hospital

Former US President George Bush Senior has been taken to hospital after suffering from a shortness of breath, his spokesman says. Mr Bush, 90, was taken to the Houston Methodist Hospital as a precaution, and "will be held for observation, again as a precaution", said Jim McGrath. Continue..

Keshi divides NFF

Officials of the Nigeria Football Federation are at loggerheads on whether out of contract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi deserves a new contract, with a majority still seriously opposed to this.

It has exclusively been gathered that a section of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leadership want Keshi to be given a new contract despite failing to qualify Nigeria to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations so as to, at least, keep their plum jobs. Continue..

Buhari raises N54.4m from ‘crowd funding platform’

The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has said his desire not to become a hostage to anyone is the reason behind his decision to rely on the sacrifices of ordinary Nigerians to fund his campaign.

Buhari said this at a press briefing on the Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari CrowdFunding Platform, in Abuja, on Tuesday. Continue..

Why I refuse to have a management team —Femi Kuti

Leading entertainment outfit, Chocolate City, has officially sealed a management deal with Femi Kuti, the first son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, during the week in Lagos.

Femi, who was phyiscally present at the event, expressed satisfaction with the terms of the contract. He said, “I am looking forward to a great future with the company. We are both happy about the deal. So, we are hoping and projecting that we shall have a great future together.” Continue..

Cristiano Ronaldo immortalized in bronze statue outside his personal museum

Cristiano Ronaldo's own personal museum is a 10-foot bronze statue of the man himself. The "CR7 Museum" -- opened in December 2013 in the Real Madrid attacker's hometown of Funchal, on the Portuguese island of Madeira -- houses more than 125 awards, including the two Ballon d'Or titles he won in 2008 and 2013 after being voted the world's best player. Continue..

My political lessons — Kenny Saint Best

Gospel artiste, Kenny Saint Best, who recently lost out in the All Progressive Congress (APC) House of Assembly primary elections to Folajimi Lai Mohammed has declared that she has learnt a lot in her new found romance with politics. Continue..

Blackberry Classic goes 'back to company's roots'

Blackberry has launched what it calls a "no-nonsense" smartphone, the Blackberry Classic. The device has a full "Qwerty" keyboard, resembling the design which made Blackberry a market leader before it was overtaken by competitors. Continue..

Okorocha provides free buses for Imo indigenes in Lagos, Oyo at Xmas

Governor Rochas Okorocha

To encourage Imo State indigenes in Lagos and Oyo states to return home for the Christmas celebration, Governor Rochas Okorocha, has provided buses that will convey them free of charge to Owerri, the state capital on Wednesday, December 24, 2014.  Continue..

China charges Jackie Chan’s son over drugs

Chinese prosecutors have indicted the son of Hong Kong film star Jackie Chan on drug offences, more than four months after he was first detained.

The announcement on Monday did not mention when a trial would be held but if convicted, singer-actor Jaycee Chan could face up to three years in jail. Continue..

Singer Joe Cocker is dead at 70

Joe Cocker, the British blues-rock singer whose raspy voice brought plaintive soul to such hits as "You Are So Beautiful" and the duet "Up Where We Belong," died Monday after a battle with lung cancer. He was 70.

Cocker's performing career spanned some 50 years, from Woodstock, where he sang the Beatles' "With a Little Help From My Friends," to the digital-music era. He had tour dates scheduled well into 2015. Continue..

France attack: Van driven into shoppers in Nantes

A van has been driven at shoppers at a French Christmas market in the city of Nantes and the driver is reported to have stabbed himself, officials say. Continue...

I’m not funding APC, says Amaechi

The Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed claims by the Peoples Democratic Party that he is funding the All Progressives Congress with the state resources.

The PDP in Rivers State had maintained that the finances of the state had become inadequate for executing development projects because the governor was using a large chunk of the resources to fund the APC campaigns. Continue...

Ghana’s Kasapreko suspends N8.2bn investment in Nigeria

Ghana’s Kasapreko Company has suspended its planned $50 million (about N8.2 billion) investment in Nigeria due to adulteration of its product, Alomo bitters.

The company’s Group Managing Director, Kwabena Adjei, disclosed this during the familiarization tour in its factory in Accra, Ghana, where he said that the company was on the verge of etsbalishing its manufacturing plant in Nigeria but put the investment on hold because of threats from adulteration which has reduced the brand equity of Alomo Bitters. Continue..

Manchester City Starlet Iheanacho injured

Manchester City starlet Kelechi Iheanacho has been sidelined by an ankle injury raising concerns over his availability for both the Nigeria U20 and U23 teams.

The FIFA U17 World Cup MVP is currently back in Manchester nursing the injury after a stint training with MLS side Colombus Crew. Continue,,

Stop praising Fashola, PDP chairman tells Lagosians

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South-West, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, says Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, has not done too well to merit the praise he receives from residents of the state. Continue..

Before you travel for the holidays

The Christmas buzz is in the air. You only need to visit a motor park in your neighbourhood to know that people are now flocking out of town to various destinations for the festivities.

Be it Calabar, Osun or Kaduna, doctors say you must take some steps before you head out of town. According to them, long-distance travel, which most families embark on during holidays, take a toll on health if you fail to plan ahead for such trips. Continue..

Boko Haram killed our youths, took away our wives, daughters – Residents

Eight months after Boko Haram terrorists kidnapped 276 school girls from Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, with more than 200 of them still in captivity, the terrorists have again abducted another 191 people including women, girls and boys from Gumsuri community near Chibok. Continue..

70% of candidates fail Nov/Dec WASSCE 2014

Minister of Education, Mr. Ibrahim Shekarau

Of the 246,853 candidates who sat for the November/December 2014 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, only 72,522 candidates, representing 29.37 per cent, obtained credits in five subjects, including Mathematics and English Language. This puts the percentage of failed candidates at 70.63 per cent. Continue...

Nigerian soldier cries out on Facebook sentenced to death for mutiny

Fahat Fahat is one of the 64 soldiers sentenced to death for not fighting Boko Haram. He says it's because they were not well equipped.

Pastor of Great Calling church kidnapped

The General overseer of Abuja-based church, Great Calling Ministry, Pastor Francis Irabor was  kidnapped by unknown gunmen while driving along the Lokoja-Abuja Rd in Abuja this past weekend  Continue..

Seyi Shay grabs Wizkid’s crotch

Nigerian born singer, Seyi Shay seems to have gone all out in her new video ‘Crazy’ where she featured Wizkid. The singer was spotted in a scene at a very romantic posture with the star boy Wizkid in the music video directed by Meji Alabi which features strong cirque du soleil elements, and a sexually explicit scene. Continue...

Kenya security law: President Uhuru Kenyatta signs bill

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has signed into law a controversial security bill which saw MPs trade blows in parliament. It was passed on Thursday during a chaotic parliamentary session, with opposition MPs warning that Kenya was becoming a "police state". Continue..

Boko Haram kidnaps 185 women and children, kills 32 people

Boko Haram insurgents kidnapped at least 185 women and children, and killed 32 people in a raid in northeastern Nigeria this week, local officials and residents said.

Gunmen in pickup trucks attacked the village of Gumsuri, just north of Chibok, on Sunday, shooting down men before herding women and children together. Continue...

Pilot jailed over deadly China crash

A Chinese court has jailed a pilot for three years over a 2010 crash in Heilongjiang province that left 44 people dead. The Henan Airlines flight, carrying 96 people, caught fire after overshooting the runway at Yichun airport. Continue..

Why Bankole can’t challenge Ogun PDP gov primaries — Isiaka

Prince Nasir Gboyega Isiaka who won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in Ogun State in this interview dismissed the insinuation that the former Speaker, House of Representatives Mr. Dimeji Bankole is contesting his victory at the primaries and blamed the opposition for trying to create crisis in the party. Excerpts: Continue...

What veterans of Nollywood said at Legends of Nollywood awards

The third edition of Legends of Nollywood Awards, initiated and organised by Nollywood actor, Paul Obazele held on the 6th of December 2014 at the National Theatre in Igammu area. The award was created to honour founding fathers and mothers of the Nigerian movie industry. Continue..

American arrested in Uganda over $2m 'currency fraud'

US authorities have arrested an American in Uganda for allegedly leading a large international counterfeiting ring. Ryan Gustafson, 27, was charged with conspiracy and counterfeiting outside the US after the fake currency was used at multiple American businesses. Continue..

Jonathan to labour: Stop punishing Nigerians with strikes

President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday cautioned labour unions against punishing Nigerians with “unnecessary industrial actions.”

Specifically, the President wondered why the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers would embark on a nationwide strike over issues involving an oil worker and his employer. Continue..

Islamic State siege broken, say Kurds

Kurdish forces in northern Iraq are claiming their biggest victory yet against Islamic State (IS) militants. They say they have broken the IS siege of Mount Sinjar, where thousands of Yazidis and other displaced Iraqis have been trapped since August. Continue..

How gas explosion razed 42 shops and houses in Ondo

The unfortunate gas explosion which hit Babson Gas Nigeria Limited, a gas outlet located beside Saint Thomas’ Anglican Church, Arakale area of Akure metropolis, last Saturday, may have come and gone, but owners of the over 42 shops razed in the raging inferno are still counting their losses, waiting endlessly for help to come their way. Continue..

Eight children found dead at home in Cairns, Australia

Eight children, the youngest of them only 18 months old, have been found dead at a suburban home in the northeastern Australian city of Cairns in a case that the country's Prime Minister has called "an unspeakable crime."

A woman who the police believe is the mother of the seven of the children is in a hospital suffering from serious injuries. Continue...