Nigeria Boko Haram: 'Hundreds' attack Maiduguri

Nigeria under attack

Hundreds of militants have staged a multi-pronged attack on the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, witnesses say.

On entering the city, the attackers split into smaller groups - heading for the barracks, the university and an area where civil servants live.
"They set many houses on fire and killed innocent people," one resident told a local newspaper.
Militants suspected to be from Boko Haram have killed 500 people this year.
Local residents say there was a heavy exchange of fire near Giwa barracks, as the military tried to fight off the insurgents.

Ukraine crisis: US and Russia set for key London talk

US Secretary of State John Kerry's talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov are being seen as a last-ditch effort to reduce tension in Crimea and Ukraine

US Secretary of State John Kerry is in London for key talks on Ukraine with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, as a disputed referendum in Crimea looms on Sunday.

Mr Kerry is expected to warn Mr Lavrov that the referendum and Russia's military intervention in Crimea could trigger concerted US and EU sanctions.
He has warned of "very serious steps" if Russia annexes the region.
Russia insisted at the UN on Thursday it did "not want war" with Ukraine.
During an emergency meeting of the Security Council, Moscow's ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin defended the right of Crimea, which is predominantly ethnic Russian, to decide whether or not to join the Russian Federation.
Russia's military intervention followed the fall of Ukraine's pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych on 22 February.Ukrainian and Russian press reaction

The Kerry-Lavrov talks and Crimean referendum dominate the media, with Ukrainian commentators gloomy while Russian papers scent victory.
Leonid Kravchuk, Ukraine's first president, calls on the country to "immediately launch a bid to join Nato" and seek international peacekeepers, according to Den daily.
Pundit Stepan Havrysh writes in Hazeta that the referendum "will be rigged", as the "illegal Crimean authorities have simply decided to join Russia".
In Russia, Nezavisimaya Gazeta sees nothing to discuss. "Even the hottest heads in Washington now admit that the Crimea question is completely settled, a fait accompli".
Moskovsky Komsomolets tabloid draws historical parallels. "Serious people are trying to scare us by asking 'Do you realize how much it will cost to annex Crimea?' Well, how much did it cost Britain to send its navy to war with Argentina for the completely useless Falklands?"
Pro-government Izvestia sees the start of a "new ideology of reclaiming Russian lands", for which President Putin will be "forgiven everything and anything".
Russian historian Dmitry Shusharin is not so sure. "Crimea is a modern-day Pearl Harbour," he writes in the Ukrainian daily Den.

'Serious steps'

Mesut Ozil: Arsenal's record buy out for month with hamstring injury

Mesut Ozil's hamstring strain will keep him sidelined for at least four weeks, scans have revealed.

The Arsenal midfielder, 25, was injured in the second minute of Tuesday's Champions League exit at Bayern Munich but played on until half-time.
The club's £42.4m record signing will miss Sunday's trip to Tottenham, as well as games against Chelsea, Swansea, Manchester City and Everton.

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Woman gives birth to stone in Yola

Amina Bello, 25-year old woman in Yolde  Pate in Yola South LGA of Adamawa State, on Tuesday, delivered a sizable stone. Bello narrated her story at the opening ceremony of  Vesico vaginal fistula (VVF) free medical treatment in Yola Specialists Hospital. Bello, who is also a VVF patient, told the gathering that after four years pregnancy, she finally delivered a sizable stone last year.

 

Telegraphng.com reports

"I was holding a pregnancy for the duration of four years, which I bitterly suffered because of the heavy weight of what is contained in the stomach,” she said. “It was last year around June, I started feeling labour and I was in that condition for three days and finally I delivered a stone.”

She said that it was after the delivery she now discovered that she was affected with VVF. Responding, Dr Sunday Lengmang, Director VVF Centre, Jos, confirmed that giving birth to a stone or any object was possible.

Closeup sends 5 Couples to Australia through Cupid Games

Five lucky couples emerged as the final winners at the Closeup Cupid Games Masked Valentine Ball. The valentine ball was a night of glitz, romance, fun and games as the Closeup cupid games was rounded up with pageantry. The Masked Ball was hosted by the rib cracking Bovi, and aside from the couples games, there were musical performances by sultry singer, Niyola, and R&B crooner Banky W, who brought the event to a close with an electrifying performance. Continue...

Waje, Iyanya, PSquare, D'banj bag World Music awards nominations

Several Nigerian artistes including Waje, P-Sqaure, D'banj, Iyanya, Femi Kuti, Davido, Tiwa Savage, Dare Art Alade, Praiz, 2face Idibia and others bagged nominations in various categories in the 2014 World Music Awards. The World Music Awards rewards the best-selling music artistes from every continent. It is decided by votes. Iyanya leads the Nigerian nominees with 6 awards

Waje was nominated in four categories including Album of the Year and Female Artist of the Year. The 'I wish' songbird is enjoying some international attention off of her debut album. She was also nominated as African artist of the year in the Black Canadian awards a few days ago beside South African star Lira and Kardinal Offishall.  See WMA Africa's nomination list after the cut...

Burna Boy shows off new neck tattoo

Burna Boy shared a picture of his new neck tattoo on his instagram page.

President Jonathan gives N50million to Nigerian Supporters Club

President Jonathan this morning announced the release of N50million to members of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club as they prepare to go cheer the National team in the forthcoming Brazil World Cup tournament which starts in June.

 

In a ceremony where he was decorated as the Grand Patron of the Nigerian Football Supporters Club, President Jonathan said his administration will not relent in giving the support required to sports men and women to excel in all international football competitions, this by extension includes the Nigerian football supporters club. He also promised to seek the assistance of private organizations to help sponsor and bring more supporters to Brazil during the football challenge.

See photos from ceremony which took place at the State House today after the cut...

Konga creates platform where everyone can sell anything online

Today marks a turning point for Nigerian businesses-roadside, small, medium and large, as Konga.com Nigeria’s largest online mall announces the opening up of its trading platform for all Nigerians to sell online. 

Konga which only last year announced the launch of Konga Mall, a revolutionary offering which gave select Nigerian businesses the opportunity to put their products online is finally opening up this opportunity for all classes of businesses in Nigeria. Continue...

Behind the scenes pics from Sunkanmi's Cassanova video shoot

Fast rising music act Sunkanmi recently shot the video for her popular single, Cassanova. The video was shot by the artistic Patrick Elis at locations in Lagos. Find behind the scenes pictures which will be released soon after the cut...

Karen Igho announces she's cancer free

On December 18th 2013, BBA winner and actress Karen Igho announced that she had cancer. She left Nigeria shortly afterwards to the UK for treatment. She took to twitter this afternoon to announce that she's cancer free. We thank God. 

Want to know what's going on between Flavour and Dillish Mathews?

You know what they say, if you don't want sh...don't start it. So Flavour and Dillish Mathews blame yourselves for posting cozy photos of you two together on your respective instagram pages. It made an amebo like me to go digging and here's what I found out. From a very reliable source. *wink*

BBA 2013 winner Dillish appeared in Flavour's Ikworikwo video last year but that was strictly professional. Flavour even paid for her appearance. Then they became friends. Then she broke up with her boyfriend. Then she came for a movie in Port Harcourt. Then she came to Lagos to visit. Then she had dinner with Flavour. Then she spent the night in his house. OK, pause! I said his house, not his room..lol. Flavour has a big house in Chevron Estate, Lekki which he bought in November 2013 (Flavour pictured in front of his house above...the pic on the right is Flavour and Dillish in his compound) so she could have slept in any room. OK, let's continue with the story...:-)

So after spending time with Flavour, this was around three weeks ago, his PA went to drop her at the airport. But there's no relationship going on between them for now. Flavour is still dating Beverly Heels and all dem dem..lol. Will anything happen between them in the future? Don't know but if it does, y'all will hear about it. See the photos Flavour and Dillish shared on instagram after the cut...

Tom Ford debuts Jay Z-inspired dresses at London Fashion Week

Last year during his Magna Carter World Tour, Jay Z started rocking a Black Boy Place football jersey inspired by his “Tom Ford” lyrics. Tom Ford, the number 61, and Molly was struck through on the back of the shirt. 

Tom Ford has taken the genius design made famous by Jay Z and printed it on the front of 2 sequined dresses as part of his Fall 2014 collection, which he previewed at London Fashion Week on Monday.

Central African Republic soldiers 'lynch Seleka rebel'

A group of uniformed government soldiers took part in the killing, eyewitnesses say

Central African Republic soldiers have lynched a man accused of being a rebel, eyewitnesses allege, as violence continues to afflict the nation.

The man was stabbed and beaten to death and then his body burned in the capital, Bangui.
It happened just moments after interim President Catherine Samba-Panza finished speaking at an army ceremony.
Separately, reports say rebels from the Seleka group are trying to re-group in the north-east of the country.
The militants were engaging in "a new wave of horrific attacks against civilians", Human Rights Watch said. It added that in some cases Seleka were being helped by Chadian peacekeepers.