Death toll from Pakistan toxic liquor incident rises to 39

Thirty-nine people have now died after drinking home-made liquor mixed with aftershave on Christmas Eve in central Pakistan, officials said Friday, including two out of the four suspects accused of creating the toxic brew. Police and hospital officials added 23 of the 121 people sickened in the incident, which happened in the town of Toba Tek Singh, some 340 kilometres (211 miles) south of Islamabad, are still in hospital. “So far 39 people have died after consuming toxic liquor,” senior police official Atif Imran, who is investigating the case, told AFP. Most of the dead were Christians. Imran added that two of the four suspects accused of preparing the mix had died while the other two were had been charged with murder and terrorism related offences. Though legal breweries exist in Pakistan, alcohol sales and consumption are banned for Muslims and tightly regulated for minorities and foreigners. While wealthy Pakistanis buy foreign alcohol on the black market at heavily inflated prices, the poor often resort to home brews that can contain methanol, commonly used in anti-freeze and fuel. Eleven Christians died in October after consuming toxic liquor at a party in Punjab province. In October 2014 29 drinkers were killed after consuming methanol-tainted liquor over the Eid public holidays.

1,237 Nigerians stopped from entering Germany this year Read

Berlin — No fewer than 1, 237 Nigerians were stopped from entering Germany this year, as German police are on track to turn away some 20,000 migrants at the country’s borders, airports and sea ports in 2016. From January until the end of November, 19,720 people were stopped from entering the country, the Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung, NOZ, reported, citing numbers from the German Federal Police. Statistics for December are yet to be compiled, the newspaper said. The 2016 number marked a more than 100 per cent increase in comparison to 2015, when 8,913 migrants were stopped from entering the country over the course of the whole year. Despite the overall increase, the newspaper reported that the number of people turned away by police has been going down in recent months. This is partly due to the fact that Germany’s border controls now only take place at the border to Austria, NOZ said. Afghan asylum seekers were turned back most often, with 3,695 people affected in 2016 so far. In addition, 2,142 Syrians, 1,794 Iraqis and 1,237 Nigerians have been stopped from entering Germany so far this year. Despite being part of the control-free Schengen area, Germany decided in November to extend border controls at the Germany-Austria border until February. German Interior Minister, Thomas de Maiziere, said Germany had to take the step until the European Union was able to sufficiently control its external borders.

Over N5tr projects abandoned across Nigeria

Dr Abbas Tajuddeen, member representing Zaria Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, on Wednesday said more than N5 trillion government projects were abandoned across Nigeria. Tajuddeen made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Zaria, Kaduna State. Tajuddeen, who expressed “deep worry” over the situation said the country was incurring huge losses due to the abandonment. He said that the Bill for the amendment of the Public Procurement Act which he sponsored was to address issues of abandoned projects among others Members of the House of Representatives at plenary Dr Abbas Tajuddeen, member representing Zaria Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, on Wednesday said more than N5 trillion government projects were abandoned across Nigeria. Tajuddeen made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Zaria, Kaduna State. Tajuddeen, who expressed “deep worry” over the situation said the country was incurring huge losses due to the abandonment. He said that the Bill for the amendment of the Public Procurement Act which he sponsored was to address issues of abandoned projects among others. “This is because, today Nigeria has more than N5 trillion worth of abandoned projects and if you trace the history of these projects, you will find out that they are predominantly caused by contractors’ neglect. “We believe that by coming-up with an additional legislation to provide for additional fines and damages against contractors, issues of contracts abandonment will become history in Nigeria,” he said. According to him, he has so far sponsored ten Bills, six motions and presented two petitions with a view to effect positive change and improve the lives of citizens. The bills included the one seeking to amend the National Universities Commission Act, to give the commission the power to regulate the conditions of service and procedure for engagement of academic staff.

Oscar set for record-breaking Shanghai move

Chelsea’s Oscar said he was looking forward to joining his “new family” on Friday after Shanghai SIPG sealed terms on what will be China’s fifth Asian-record signing in less than a year. The 25-year-old Brazil midfielder, snared for a reported £60 million (70.5 million euros), becomes just the latest top player in his prime lured to the mega-rich Chinese Super League. He is due to finalise the deal in Shanghai in the “coming days”, said the Chinese club, which is coached by ex-Tottenham Hotspur manager Andre Villas-Boas. “I’m very happy to sign to SIPG. This is an important day for me to join to my new family in China,” Oscar said in a video statement released by SIPG. As well as Asia’s record signing, Oscar will also become Chelsea’s biggest sale, beating compatriot David Luiz’s £50 million move to Paris Saint Germain in 2014. Chinese Super League clubs have already splashed out more than $400 million on players this year, after President Xi Jinping laid out a vision of turning the country into a football power. Chinese teams broke the Asian record three times in just 10 days in the January-February transfer window, and moved it still higher when Brazil’s Hulk joined SIPG for 55.8 million euros in July. Significantly, Chinese clubs are now competing with European rivals for world-class players, who are opting for China’s astronomical pay packets over the chance of a career in football’s top leagues. Oscar’s ex-Chelsea team-mate Ramires 29, and Alex Teixeira, 26, are other highly rated Brazilians in their twenties to join the Super League for record sums this year. Other world-renowned players in China include Hulk and Jackson Martinez, both 30, and Ezequiel Lavezzi and Graziano Pelle, both 31. According to reports, some of the players are now among the highest paid footballers in the world. A Chelsea statement said Oscar will join SIPG at the start of the January transfer window, noting he has won the Premier League, League Cup and Europa League titles during his four-and-a-half years at the London club. “Shanghai SIPG has formally completed the transfer agreement of Brazil football player Oscar with Chelsea,” the Chinese club said on its official social media account. “Oscar will arrive in Shanghai in the coming days to officially join SIPG.” He has been a target of Shanghai’s new manager Villas-Boas since the Portuguese managed Tottenham Hotspur in the 2012/13 season, but opted to join Chelsea instead. Last week Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, when asked to comment on Oscar’s impending transfer, called China’s financial muscle “a danger for all teams in the world”. Chinese state media has also warned of a “bubble” developing in China’s football industry, saying total spending this year had topped $1 billion. Communist Party mouthpiece the People’s Daily said 8 billion yuan ($1.15 bn) had been spent in 2016, a sum which “far exceeded the economic value brought to the league”. The breakneck spending shows no sign of slowing, however, with Argentine forward Carlos Tevez also expected to move to China when the transfer window opens in January.

Robbers snatch police van, kill one in Ekiti

Home Metro Plus Metro PlusNews Robbers snatch police van, kill one in Ekiti December 23, 2016 Patrol vehicles Kamarudeen Ogundele, Ado Ekiti A tragedy hit the Ekiti State Police Command on Thursday as robbers killed a policeman, identified simply as Inspector Gada, and injured another cop called Sergeant Sunday. It was learnt that the robbers escaped with a police van in the robbery, which took place in Ilupeju, in the Oye Local Government Area of the state. A resident, who pleaded not to be named, said, “I think the policemen were returning from a patrol in the Itapa area and got to a checkpoint between Ilupeju and Oye, in front of the house of a prominent politician in this state, Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, when the robbers, who had apparently laid an ambush for them, swooped on them and rained bullets on the policemen. By the time the robbers were through with the onslaught, the team leader, who we know as Inspector Gada, had been killed, while Sergeant Sunday was seriously injured and rushed to a hospital. The incident happened at about 5am.” The resident added that the robbers escaped in the policemen’s patrol van. The state Police Public Relations Officer, Alberto Adeyemi, while confirming the attack, said a policeman was killed while another one was seriously injured and “has been rushed to the Federal Medical Hospital in Ido, in the Ido-Osi Local Government Area of the state. “Meanwhile, we have commenced investigation into the incident and will ensure that we get to the root of the matter and also bring perpetrators to book.” It will be recalled that the police command lost its paymaster, Idowu Taiwo, on Monday. Taiwo, was found dead in a car on Monday with his hands tied to the back in the Ajilosun area after being kidnapped on Sunday by unidentified gunmen.

GUARDIOLA WANTS ME TO PLAY LIKE MESSI, SAYS MANCHESTER CITY'S IHEANACHO

Kelechi Iheanacho is on the verge of becoming one of the world's best forwards with Manchester City's manager Pep Guardiola preparing him with video clips of Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski. Guardiola has kept faith in the 20-year-old Nigerian since joining the Citizens in August and has tipped him to become a prolific player if he can learn from the five-time Ballon D'Or winner and the 2015-2016 Bundesliga topscorer. Iheanacho who is currently filling Aguero's absence has netted five times in 15 appearances this season and has admitted that he needs to watch keep watching their video clips and improve on the skills he is not working on. "Of course he [Guardiola] tells me about them, that I should really watch them and see what they are doing and make sure I am improving on what I am not doing," Iheanacho told SundayExpress. "They are great strikers, big stars so you need to see how you can improve your game, to work in training. “They both have great qualities and they have a lot of different abilities. “It’s important of course that you be yourself, you are your own player, you have your own style but of course you need to see what they are doing too. "I watch all of their games. They are great players and I need to watch them to improve. They have great qualities and you need to see what they are doing. Everyone's quality is different but you have to take some things they are doing and put it in your game and work on it."

Mourinho targets Mikel

Jose Mourinho is set to make a shock move to land former player Mikel Obi from Chelsea, according to The Sun. Mikel, 29, has not played under new Stamford Bridge manager Antonio Conte and there are no plans to renew his contract which runs out this season. Now the Manchester United boss is ready to take advantage with a cut-price New Year offer for the player the Red Devils thought they had signed ten years ago. Mikel had just turned 19 when the Old Trafford outfit announced on their website that they had signed the teenager on a four-year contract from Norwegian club Lyn Oslo. Jose Mourinho is set to make a shock move to land former player Mikel Obi from Chelsea, according to The Sun. Mikel, 29, has not played under new Stamford Bridge manager Antonio Conte and there are no plans to renew his contract which runs out this season. Now the Manchester United boss is ready to take advantage with a cut-price New Year offer for the player the Red Devils thought they had signed ten years ago. Mikel had just turned 19 when the Old Trafford outfit announced on their website that they had signed the teenager on a four-year contract from Norwegian club Lyn Oslo. The £4m transfer was done directly with the player and his club — bypassing his agents and he was even pictured in a United shirt. But Chelsea angrily claimed they had an agreement with the agents to buy him. The midfielder is yet to make an appearance for the Blues this season Things turned nasty when it was reported Mikel started to get threatening phone calls and ended up having to take refuge in a safe hotel with a security guard. He then went missing from Lyn amid stories he had been kidnapped. The Nigeria captain had actually travelled to London where he went on Sky Sports TV to claim that he had been pressured into signing for United, something they denied, and he wanted to join the Blues. The matter was resolved when Chelsea paid United £12m and Lyn £4m. So it will be the second time Mourinho has signed Mikel, who he believes can play in a defensive midfield role in front of the back four. He needs that type of player to give £89m Paul Pogba freedom to roam.

Marseille to make Mikel highest-paid player

Struggling French Ligue 1 side Marseille may have succeeded in convincing out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi to shun big-money move to the Chinese Super League to help revive the club. Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who bought Marseille in October, had promised to invest heavily in the January transfer window to help manager Rudi Garcia build a team that could be European champions. Struggling French Ligue 1 side Marseille may have succeeded in convincing out-of-favour Chelsea midfielder Mikel Obi to shun big-money move to the Chinese Super League to help revive the club. Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, who bought Marseille in October, had promised to invest heavily in the January transfer window to help manager Rudi Garcia build a team that could be European champions. Les Phoceens were ready to rescue Mikel from his Chelsea nightmare in the summer but the player’s reported £3.4m-a-year salary reportedly aborted the move. With McCourt ready to spend in January – and Mikel yet to play a single game for Chelsea since the beginning of the season – reports in France on Sunday claimed Marseille were ready to sign the 29-year-old. Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr also confirmed Mikel, whose contract at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of the season, was in talks with Marseille. “I saw him in London. He is in advanced discussions with OM. Marseille is a serious option for him,” the German told Europe 1. Chinese moneybags Shanghai SIPG reportedly offered Mikel £170,000 per week to move to Asia but Europe 1 believes the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner will move to Stade Velodrome next month as he will be a key player at the project at Marseille. Garcia has said he will only sign top players in January and believes Mikel will bring a wealth of experience playing at the top level to help the side.

Mikel seeks Drogba advice

Home Latest News Mikel Obi has quizzed Chelsea legend Didier Drogba over a switch to Marseille. The Nigerian midfielder is heading out of Stamford Bridge. Mikel’s contract is up at the end of the season and he doesn’t look like getting a new one. He’s not played at all under Antonio Conte this season, and will want to get some games under his belt before the campaign is out. Marseille are one club credited with a new year swoop for the player. And the Evening Standard says Mikel has been quizzing pal Drogba about the French side. Drogba shone for Marseille before Jose Mourinho brought him to Chelsea for £24m in 2004. Mikel is said to respect the Ivorian’s opinion and has picked his brains about life at the Stade Velodrome. Marseille haven’t won the French league since 2010 and won’t be claiming top spot this term. They are lying sixth in the table, 16 points off leaders Nice. The club are regulars in European competition, though, which would allow Mikel showcase his talents in either the Europa League or Champions League if they qualify. Mikel is said to have a big-money offer from China, but is more keen on staying in Europe with his young family.

As Buhari Fights Corruption without a Strategy

President Muhammadu Buhari’s much-advertised fight against corruption has degenerated into a demolition derby. As happened with many previous efforts to fight corruption in Nigeria, different outposts of power and influence in the President’s coterie appear determined to use anti-corruption as a cover to settle intra-palace scores. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, headed by an acting Chairman, is pursuing the prosecution of the President of the Senate before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. While those proceedings pend, the Senate, whose President is accused of corruption by the EFCC, has declined confirmation of the acting Chairman of the EFCC citing a report by the Department of State Services, which accuses the nominee of abuse of power and of human rights. These allegations of human rights abuse against the EFCC’s acting Chairman are made without any hint of irony by a DSS that has earned a dismal reputation for respecting only court orders that it likes or in favour of only those it approves of. Meanwhile, the judiciary, many of whose senior-most officers have become objects of ridicule at the instance of the EFCC and the DSS, must somehow bring itself to arbitrate with a straight face the winners and losers in this squalid mess. To some, this report card is evidence that there are no sacred cows in this “fight” against corruption. It is indeed easy to mistake injury for progress when the goals are unclear and a strategy is non-existent. There surely is a fight but it is increasingly difficult to sustain the idea that it is President Buhari’s fight or indeed a fight for the interest of Nigerians. President Muhammadu Buhari’s much-advertised fight against corruption has degenerated into a demolition derby. As happened with many previous efforts to fight corruption in Nigeria, different outposts of power and influence in the President’s coterie appear determined to use anti-corruption as a cover to settle intra-palace scores. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, headed by an acting Chairman, is pursuing the prosecution of the President of the Senate before the Code of Conduct Tribunal. While those proceedings pend, the Senate, whose President is accused of corruption by the EFCC, has declined confirmation of the acting Chairman of the EFCC citing a report by the Department of State Services, which accuses the nominee of abuse of power and of human rights. These allegations of human rights abuse against the EFCC’s acting Chairman are made without any hint of irony by a DSS that has earned a dismal reputation for respecting only court orders that it likes or in favour of only those it approves of. Meanwhile, the judiciary, many of whose senior-most officers have become objects of ridicule at the instance of the EFCC and the DSS, must somehow bring itself to arbitrate with a straight face the winners and losers in this squalid mess. To some, this report card is evidence that there are no sacred cows in this “fight” against corruption. It is indeed easy to mistake injury for progress when the goals are unclear and a strategy is non-existent. There surely is a fight but it is increasingly difficult to sustain the idea that it is President Buhari’s fight or indeed a fight for the interest of Nigerians. To be sure, this is not the first time an administration will be up-ended by those supposed to implement its proclaimed commitment to fighting corruption. In 1970, Gen Yakubu Gowon declared that he would “eradicate corruption” from Nigeria within six years. It was an impossible mission proclaimed with the starry-eyed certitude of a 35-year-old intoxicated with power unmitigated by experience. Four years later, Godwin Daboh, instigated, it was suspected, by then Governor of Benue-Plateau State, Joseph Gomwalk, published an affidavit listing sundry allegations of corruption against Gowon’s Communications Minister, Joseph Tarka. Gowon’s indecisiveness turbo-charged the allegations. By the time Tarka was eventually forced to resign, Gowon’s commitment to fighting corruption looked terminally hypocritical. Less than one year later, Murtala Mohammed intervened to put the Gowon regime out of its misery. President Buhari is no stranger to proclaiming anti-corruption. His earlier incarnation as Nigeria’s Head of State in 1984-85 is remembered for his War against Indiscipline. Then, as now, the effort was defined essentially by its preoccupation with the arrest, detention or imprisonment of mostly high level public officers accused or suspected of involvement in corrupt enrichment. In the pursuit of that objective, due process was regarded as an inconvenient obstacle, largely to be disregarded. Then, however, he had the cover of military rule. As civilian President, he is naked before politicians and process and the sight is not pretty. With a mindset that appears to confuse drama with output, much of the anti-corruption campaign of the administration has lacked a clear diagnosis, coherent principles or an over-arching strategy. Every step is judged on a whim. When the DSS went after some senior judges at the beginning of October 2016, many were ecstatic. Now that the Senate has relied on a report purportedly issued by the same DSS to decline confirmation of the administration’s nominee to head the EFCC, the same voices that saw virtue in the DSS now see vice in the decision of the Senate. The effort to develop an anti-corruption strategy within the administration has itself been stymied by inter-agency rivalry and not much helped by what – to sound charitable – could be described as the reluctance of the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to co-operate entirely with the process. Much of the resulting injury on the credibility of the Buhari administration’s anti-corruption fight has been almost entirely self-inflicted. The stock response from the administration is “corruption fights back”. Sadly, this is a confession of mental laziness and strategic vacuousness. Corruption is a crime. Conviction for it results not merely in jail time but also, for those involved in politics or public life, the end of all ambition. As a matter of law, they are entitled to defend themselves. As a matter of self-interest, they will fight to stay politically relevant. Those who seek accountability for allegations of corruption must surely anticipate that they will be fought. It is not too much to ask them to show up with a plan and to work hard to cultivate allies too. The administration appears to sound as if it expects those accused of corruption to walk to jail meekly and forever show gratitude for being called corrupt. This is why President Buhari’s much-advertised fight against corruption is officially in disarray. The real problem is that, clearly incapable of fighting the ailment, the administration has chosen to fight its symptoms with the wrong prescriptions. Corruption of the Nigerian hue is a crime against a common patrimony in search of a people or of the shared values to underpin nationhood. Ayo Sogunro comes closest to a credible diagnostic when he recently argued: “[w]ithout social equality, there can be no social justice. And without social justice, corruption and patronage will continue to flourish.” In the absence of a shared sense of ownership of the Nigerian nation-space, most of those with the opportunity set upon what should be our common patrimony. What we call corruption is in fact competitive asset stripping of the country. The answer to this may well involve some prosecutions and convictions. But first, it must begin with a different kind of leadership that gives every part of Nigeria and every Nigerian a shared sense of co-ownership of the country and reassurance that they belong. Second, it must prioritise prevention, institution-building and processes whose effectiveness don’t depend on notions of proximity to the President, his pillow-mates or their confidants. Third, it must be undergirded by competent economic management, with a clear plan to invest in social goods, including education, human well-being and basic health care. President Buhari has proved dis-interested in undertaking the first; indifferent to creating the second; and entirely befuddled by challenge of the third. The fate of his preferred preoccupation with arrest and detention was, therefore, always predictable. The only surprise is that it has taken this long to become this evident.

I have stronger passion for Nigeria’s unity – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says the unity, progress and the development of Nigeria remain his foremost responsibility. The former President, who said this in Owerri, the Imo State Capital, during the “Imo day of thanksgiving” on Monday, added that he was passionate about the unity and growth of the country. Obasanjo said, “As a former President, I have what I call residual responsibility for this country. I will continue to work for the unity and progress of Nigeria.” Home News News I have stronger passion for Nigeria’s unity – Obasanjo December 21, 2016 obasanjo Ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo Olalekan Adetayo and Chidiebube Okeoma Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says the unity, progress and the development of Nigeria remain his foremost responsibility. The former President, who said this in Owerri, the Imo State Capital, during the “Imo day of thanksgiving” on Monday, added that he was passionate about the unity and growth of the country. Obasanjo said, “As a former President, I have what I call residual responsibility for this country. I will continue to work for the unity and progress of Nigeria.” The ex-President, who charged Nigerians to work for the unity of the country, irrespective of ethnicity or religion, averred that it was biblical to give thanks to God. He said, “As a former president of Nigeria, where am I in the progress of Nigeria? As a citizen of Imo State, where are you in the progress of Imo State and Nigeria? As a Christian, where are you in the development of the society?” Also, the President-elect of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, promised that his reign would witness stronger bilateral relationship between his country and Nigeria. Akufo-Addo, who said he would work to deliver on the mandate given to him by the people of Ghana, asserted that he would be working with Nigeria to develop the West African sub-region and the African continent. The state Governor, Rochas Okorocha, noted that the essence of the thanksgiving was to lend a helping hand to the less privileged in the society. “Christmas is the time to remember the less privileged, though the poverty rate in Imo is low, but we shall dramatise love, show love and give love. For me, this life is meaningless and worthless, unless we are able to lend a helping hand to the less privileged,” the governor said. The governor, who advocated stronger bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Ghana, expressed optimism that Akufo-Addo and President Muhammadu Buhari would work closely for the development of the continent. While declaring a three-week public holiday for civil servants in the state, starting from December 19 to January 10, to commemorate the Christmas and New Year celebrations, Okorocha suggested that political party affiliation should not hinder the progress of the country. Meanwhile, Akufo-Addo, on Tuesday, said the relationship between his country and Nigeria was important for the two countries, West Africa and Africa. He said that was why leaders in the two countries must collaborate to address the main concerns of their citizens. Akufo-Addo spoke with State House correspondents shortly after meeting President Buhari behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The President-elect said he was on a private visit to Lagos and he decided to visit Abuja in order to pay his respect to Buhari.

Gambia’s president clings on to power

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has declared he will not step down despite losing to opposition leader Adama Barrow in a presidential election earlier this month. In comments on state television late on Tuesday, Jammeh also condemned mediation by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, which has been trying to persuade him to peacefully hand over power at the end of his mandate on January 18. “I am not a coward. My right cannot be intimidated and violated. This is my position. Nobody can deprive me of that victory except the Almighty Allah,” said the president, who has been claiming that the election suffered from numerous irregularities. Jammeh initially accepted the results of the December 1 election, in which Barrow was declared the winner, but reversed his position more than a week later and called for a revote. His refusal to accept the results prompted political upheaval in the African country, bringing pressure from the international community on him to accept the result and step down. ECOWAS said last week that Jammeh must step down next month and vowed “to take all necessary action to enforce the results” of the election. In his Tuesday remarks, Jammeh said, however, that meetings with ECOWAS mediators had been “a formality” and that he would not step down. His latest refusal is likely to stoke further tensions in the country, where the military has already been deployed to civilian sites, such as the election commission headquarters, in a show of force by the incumbent. Halifa Sallah, a spokesman for the opposition, later on Tuesday said that Jammeh would not be prosecuted for his refusal to accept the election results if he ultimately decided to allow a peaceful transition. “President-elect Barrow says he is going to treat outgoing President Yahya Jammeh like a former head of state and would consult him for advice,” Sallah said. He had formerly said that Jammeh had no constitutional mandate to remain in office beyond January, warning that, “Any president who loses constitutional legitimacy becomes a rebel.” The United States, the United Nations Security Council and international organizations have also called for a peaceful transition of power. President Francois Hollande of France, a former colonizer of African states, also said on Tuesday that the results of the polls were “indisputable” and that Barrow “must be installed as soon as possible.” Jammeh seized power in a military coup in 1994 and has been in power ever since. He has long been under fire for by human rights groups, who accuse him of torturing, imprisoning, or even sometimes killing his opponents.

Blast at Mexico fireworks factory kills 31

At least 31 people have been killed and some 72 others injured in a blast at a fireworks market in Mexico. The explosion happened at the San Pablito fireworks market in Tultepec, about 32 kilometers north of Mexico City, on Tuesday. The casualty toll may rise as rescue workers continue to search for victims at the site of the explosion. The army was deployed to help emergency crews transport the injured to hospitals via ambulances and helicopters. The governor of Mexico state, Eruviel Avila, said that the current priority was to "tend to the injured." The sound of blasts started to go off and we thought it was a nearby fireworks workshop," a local was quoted by AFP as saying. "My neighbors said they felt everything shake, but I didn't realize because I was running away," she said.

Customs intercept 102 bags of plastic rice

The Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja, of the Nigeria Customs Service has intercepted 102 bags of plastic rice branded “Beat Tomato Rice” with no date of manufacture. The Customs Area Controller of F.O.U. Comptroller Mohammed Haruna, on Tuesday in Lagos said that the commodity was stored for distribution as Yuletide gifts for the public. Haruna said that officers of the unit intercepted the plastic rice along Ikeja area on Monday, adding that a suspect was arrested in connection with the seizure. He said, “Before now, I thought it was a rumour that the plastic rice is all over the country but with this seizure, I have been totally convinced that such rice exists. We have done the preliminary analysis on the plastic rice. After boiling, it was sticky and only God knows what would have happened if people consumed it. “I advise those economic saboteurs who see yuletide season as a peak period for nefarious acts to desist from such illegal business. “The unit has decided other operational modalities that will make them run for their monies and count their losses.” He described smuggling as a global phenomenon, adding that such act could not be curbed entirely but could be brought to its barest minimum. Haruna appreciated well-meaning Nigerians who provided the service with prompt information that led to the discovery of the bags of plastic rice. The controller, however, advised the media to educate the public on the existence of plastic rice, adding that it was no longer a rumour. Haruna assured the public that the distribution point of the particular plastic rice seized by the unit had been blocked with immediate effect. He said that investigation was still ongoing. The controller said the unit would handover the plastic rice to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for proper investigation.

Refineries to work optimally in 2017 – NNPC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on Tuesday said it would embark on a comprehensive rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries to achieve optimal capacity utilisation in 2017. NNPC Chief Operating Officer, Refineries, Mr. Anibor Kragha, said this in Abuja in a statement by Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division. The three refineries in Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt have had skeletal operations this year. The statement reported Kragha as saying that the Corporation was determined to move away from the approach of quick fixes and undertake a comprehensive revamp of the plants. Home Business Energy BusinessEnergyLatest News Refineries to work optimally in 2017 – NNPC December 20, 2016 The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation on Tuesday said it would embark on a comprehensive rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries to achieve optimal capacity utilisation in 2017. NNPC Chief Operating Officer, Refineries, Mr. Anibor Kragha, said this in Abuja in a statement by Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division. The three refineries in Warri, Kaduna and Port Harcourt have had skeletal operations this year. The statement reported Kragha as saying that the Corporation was determined to move away from the approach of quick fixes and undertake a comprehensive revamp of the plants. He said, “The plan for next year is to get the comprehensive rehabilitation programme done. “The situation is like having three cars in your garage that have not been maintained for 15 to 20 years while you expect optimal performance from them. “Changing one fuel pump here, one compressor there is not helpful. What we are doing now is to step back and take a holistic approach and do a full rehabilitation of all the refineries.” He noted that once the exercise was achieved, a chart for routine Turn Around Maintenance Programme would be drawn. On the earlier plan to have other refineries co-located with the existing refineries, Kragha explained that though the plan was still on course, none of the projected co-location refineries would come on stream in 2017 based on existing timeline for assemblage of the plants. He added that the Port Harcourt Refinery was a ”few steps away” from commencing the production of Aviation Turbine Fuel known as aviation fuel. He said, “We are very close; we have done tests with some of the key marketers. We have achieved all the parameters, we just want to be 110 per cent certain.” The statement stated that earlier, the Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company, Mallam Idi Maiha, assured that KPRC was ”assiduously working towards a target of 75 per cent capacity utilisation in 2017”. Mariah projected that the KPRC would supply one cargo of crude oil per month. Also, the Managing Director of Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Company, Mr. Solomon Ladenegan, noted that ”despite the hostile operating environment, fraught with incessant cases of pipeline pulverization and outright product theft, the refinery was looking forward to better days ahead”.

Syria army to enter last Aleppo militant enclave

Syrian government forces have announced they are going to enter the last enclave of the foreign-sponsored militants in the northern city of Aleppo, calling on anyone there to expedite their evacuation. The military media unit of the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement reported on Tuesday that Syrian forces would go into the area later in the day. The media unit said the Syrian military had been using loudspeakers to notify individuals in the district of the plan to enter the area. Aleppo , whose eastern parts had for long been held by anti-Damascus militants, has almost entirely been liberated in recent military operations by Damascus and ally Russia. Over the past several days, and under an evacuation deal, all those remaining in the shrinking militant-held territory have been being evacuated by the Syrian government to territory in the Idlib Governorate or elsewhere. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu announced on his official Twitter account on Monday that a total of 20,000 people had been evacuated from eastern Aleppo. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has said some 25,000 people have left eastern Aleppo so far. Syria’s state-run television reported that gunmen from armed opposition groups are ready to leave eastern Aleppo and move to the city’s southernmost suburbs. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 17 buses had departed the militant-held district of al-Rashideen, just beyond Aleppo’s southwestern limit and arrived in another southern Aleppo area. The buses were carrying dozens of militants and their families, it said. Under the deal, civilians are also being taken out of the two militant-besieged villages of al-Foua and Kefraya in Idlib. Seven buses carrying hundreds of injured civilians and patients left the besieged villages and entered government-held areas in Aleppo on Monday. Ten other buses were said to be about to arrive in the Ramousah area of southern Aleppo on Tuesday. The buses have reportedly been carrying elderly people, wounded civilians, and patients, who had been under militants’ siege for four years. There are reports that 1,200 people have evacuated Foua and Kefraya. Ten buses had earlier entered the Ramousah area of southern Aleppo, bringing in civilians from Foua and Kefraya. The Observatory said that a dozen more buses are expected to enter Aleppo on Tuesday under the same arrangement. Meanwhile, Syrian government forces, supported by allied fighters from popular defense groups, have wrested control over al-Radad area on the outskirts of Sharifa Village, which lies south of the T4 military airport and near the ancient city of Palmyra. An unnamed military source told Syria’s official news agency SANA that scores of Daesh terrorists were killed as Syrian soldiers engaged in fierce skirmishes with them to liberate the area. An armored vehicle in addition to two pickup trucks equipped with heavy machineguns were also destroyed in the process. Separately, Syrian army artillery units pounded the positions of Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as the al-Nusra Front, in the Tir Mualla, al-Ghantu, Alu Al-Azz Farms, and Housh Hajv districts in the central province of Homs, leaving a number of the extremists dead and injured. Considerable amounts of munitions belonging to the terrorists were destroyed as well.

Lagos police accuse Ogun pastor of selling 64 babies

A pastor at the Divine Yard Deliverance Ministry in Iyana Iyesi, Ota, Ogun State, Peace Udoh, has been arrested by the police for allegedly running a baby factory in the church. The 47-year-old was said to have sold 64 babies before she was arrested on Sunday by operatives from the Lagos State Police Command who acted on a tip-off. Udoh was apprehended with one Angela Akpan and a nurse, Mrs. Bukola Ajala, who reportedly assisted in childbirth at Udoh’s church. PUNCH Metro learnt that the pastor usually referred complicated cases to the nurse, whose clinic – El Shaddai Hospital – is located a few metres away from the church. Our correspondent gathered that Angela’s younger sister, 17-year-old Goodnews Akpan, recently gave birth to a child at the clinic. Angela, who was arrested on Saturday in the Sango area, was said to have led police operatives on Sunday to Udoh’s church and Ajala’s clinic, where they were picked up respectively. While parading the suspects on Monday at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said detectives swooped on the syndicate after receiving intelligence report that Udoh needed a buyer for Goodnews’ baby. “The suspects run a baby factory in the Sango Ota area. We are still working to get 64 other children she has sold out,” the CP added. However, the pastor, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, refuted the allegation, saying she used the church as a maternity home to assist her pregnant church members for a token. She said, “I have been a pastor for 13 years. I only assisted my church members during childbirth. I take delivery of 13 to 15 babies every year and I have handled over 60 cases so far. I don’t sell the babies. “Whenever I have a complicated case, I refer the patient to the nurse and we share the money she collects for the service. Angela brought her sister to me in July. She gave birth on November 16 at the nurse’s clinic and she was discharged. I was surprised when the police came to arrest me yesterday (Sunday).” Ajala, the nurse, said she collected between N15,000 and N17,000 for each child delivery, adding that she didn’t know anything about selling of babies. The third suspect, Angela, said, “I am from Abak in Akwa Ibom. I took my sister from our village to the pastor when her pregnancy was four months. She was there until she gave birth in November and I paid N17,000. I didn’t intend to sell her child and I have never sold any child before.” Goodnews, a secondary school dropout, told our correspondent that she was not aware of the plan to sell her baby. She said she followed Angela to Lagos to avoid being ridiculed in the village. “I got pregnant in the school but none of my boyfriends was willing to take the responsibility for the pregnancy. “My mother would not allow me stay with her so I decided to follow my sister to Lagos,” she added.

12 die in terror attack on Berlin Xmas market

German police said Tuesday they were treating as “a probable terrorist attack” the killing of 12 people when a speeding lorry cut a bloody swathe through a Berlin Christmas market. At least 48 more were wounded when the truck tore through the crowd Monday, smashing wooden stalls and crushing victims, in scenes reminiscent of July’s deadly attack in the French Riviera city of Nice. Images showed the mangled truck with its windscreen smashed and a trail of destruction in its wake, with Christmas trees toppled on their side and festive stalls obliterated into splinters. One of the survivors, Australian Trisha O’Neill, recalled the horror of “this huge black truck speeding through the markets crushing so many people”, with “blood and bodies everywhere”. It wasn’t an accident,” said another visitor, Briton Emma Rushton, who was enjoying a glass of mulled wine when the festive scene was shattered by a loud crash and screams. “We heard a really loud bang and saw some of the Christmas lights to our left starting to be pulled down,” she told Sky news. “Then we saw the articulated vehicle going through people and through the stalls and just pulling everything down and then everything went dark.” Police detained the man believed to have deliberately mowed the Scania truck loaded with steel beams for 80 metres (yards) into the popular tourist spot near the capital’s iconic Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church. The suspect was an asylum seeker believed to be from Pakistan or Afghanistan who arrived in Germany via the so-called Balkans route in February, according to unnamed security sources cited by DPA news agency. Local newspapers said that, after the truck driver left the cabin, a man followed him on foot and used his mobile phone to stay in touch with police, who arrested him about two kilometres away near Berlin’s Victory Column. – Refugee shelter raid – The suspect was believed to have stayed in a Berlin refugee shelter, DPA reported. Overnight, police commandos raided Berlin’s largest such shelter, a hangar of the disused Nazi-era Tempelhof airport, famous because of the Cold War-era Berlin airlift, public broadcaster ZDF reported. The daily Tagesspiegel said the man behind the wheel was known to police but for minor crimes, not links to terrorism. A Polish man, thought to have been the truck’s registered driver, was found dead on the passenger seat, and police said he had not steered the vehicle. The Polish owner of the lorry, Ariel Zurawski, had Monday confirmed his driver was missing, telling AFP: “We don’t know what happened to him”. “He’s my cousin, I’ve known him since I was a kid. I can vouch for him,” he said. Lukasz Wasik of the same company said contact was lost with the 37-year-old at around 3:00pm (1400 GMT). Wasik said GPS data indicated that the truck was later started three times — “as if someone was practicing how to drive it” — before it drove off at 7:34 pm local time. – ‘We mourn the dead’ – World leaders expressed shock at the apparent latest attack to hit Europe, as social media users shared their grief on Twitter using the hashtag #prayforberlin. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman Steffen Seibert tweeted that “we mourn the dead and hope that the many people injured can be helped,” while President Joachim Gauck called it “a terrible evening for Berlin and our country”. German flags flew at half-mast Tuesday and the church near the attack was planning a memorial service later Tuesday. The suspected attack meant “our worst fears have come true,” said conservative lawmaker Stephan Mayer, who added that security will have to be reviewed for a all of Germany’s Christmas markets and asked “whether they can take place at all.” More eyewitnesses meanwhile came forward to recall the horrific scenes. One British visitor, Mike Fox from Birmingham, told how he helped rescue people trapped under collapsed market stalls. “I saw one guy being dragged away with blood on his face. I helped several other people lift the side of one of the stalls up so that they could pull two other people from underneath.” – High alert – Europe has been on high alert for most of 2016, with jihadist attacks striking Paris and Brussels, while Germany has been hit by several assaults claimed by the Islamic State group and carried out by asylum-seekers. An axe rampage on a train in Bavaria state in July wounded five people, and a suicide bombing left 15 people injured in the same state six days later. The arrival of 890,000 refugees last year has polarised Germany, with critics calling the influx a serious security threat. Marcus Pretzell of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party labelled the Christmas market victims “Merkel’s dead”. The attack in Berlin comes five months after Tunisian extremist Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel ploughed a truck into a crowd on the Nice seafront, killing 86 people. President Francois Hollande said “the French share in the mourning of the Germans in the face of this tragedy”. The United States condemned an apparent “terrorist attack”, while President-elect Donald Trump blamed “Islamist terrorists” for a “slaughter” of Christians.

11 wedding guests, children die in Ondo crash

No fewer than 11 people lost their lives, while five others are in a critical condition after a fully-loaded commercial bus collided with a Dangote trailer at the Akintelu end of the Benin-Sagamu Expressway. The commercial bus, owned by Efex Motors, with number plate, Badagry DG 36 ASJ, was said to be conveying mostly guests of a wedding that held in Benin, the Edo State capital. They were said to be heading for Lagos on Sunday, when their vehicle collided with the overloaded Dangote Cement trailer, heading towards Ore. The driver of the Dangote vehicle, identified as Idrisu Oseni, was reported to have immediately fled the scene, along with his motor boy. PUNCH Metro learnt that among the deceased were three families, each with three members. Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Ondo State command, and policemen from the Igbotakun division, were said to have removed the corpses from the road and deposited them in a morgue. They also removed the wreckage to clear the traffic that the accident generated. The Ondo State FRSC Sector Commander, Osas Osadebamwen, said the accident was caused by the Dangote trailer driver, who “dangerously overtook the Efex bus.” He said, “The accident happened around 3.30pm on Sunday and involved a Dangote trailer conveying bags of cement and a fully-loaded Efex Motors Toyota Hiace bus. We gathered that most of the occupants of the bus were returning from a wedding ceremony which held at the weekend. “We discovered that the Dangote trailer driver travelled at top speed. He left his lane and went to another lane. Instead of waiting for the vehicle that was diverting, he was impatient. “Because he was speeding, he couldn’t control the trailer. While struggling for control, the front part of the trailer detached and slid on the median. The trailer tyres burst into flames at that point. The backside of the trailer went to the other side of the road, where the Efex bus was coming from. “In the end, 11 people died in the accident, including eight adults and three children. Their remains have been deposited in a morgue, while the injured were taken to the Ore General Hospital for treatment.” A source, who did not want to be identified, said a celebrity was among the deceased. “I learnt that a very popular man was among those that died. Three families, with two to three members each, also lost their lives,” he said. An official of the FRSC, who asked not to be named, said immediately the accident happened, the Dangote trailer driver fled the scene. He said, “This is the second time in two days that the Dangote truck drivers would cause an accident on this road. And usually, when the accidents happen, the drivers disappear into the bush.” The Ondo State Police Public Relations Officer, Femi Joseph, confirmed the incident, adding that 11 people died on the spot, while five others were in a critical condition. He said the truck driver drove against the traffic, which led to the accident. He said, “The accident involved a Dangote Cement Company trailer laden with about 900 bags of cement, and a commercial bus belonging to Efex Motors. “Preliminary investigations showed that the Dangote driver drove against the traffic. He rammed into the bus and pushed it off the road, thereby killing 11 people, including the bus driver, Ramoni Ajadi. We have commenced investigation into the incident.” The Head of the Public Relations Unit of the Dangote company, Tony Chiejina, and his assistant, Sunday Esan, did not pick their calls and had yet to respond to text messages sent to them as of press time. Efex Motors did not also pick calls placed on its official line by our correspondent. Copyright PUNCH. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior

FG to fund 2017 budget with N258bn recovered loots

The National Budget Office says over N250bn of recovered looted funds from corrupt officers is projected to be part of the sources expected to finance the 2017 proposed budget. The Director General of the office, Mr. Ben Akabueze, disclosed this while answering questions at the public presentation of the 2017 Budget proposals at the State House on Monday in Abuja. Akabueze said that N72bn of the money had already been recovered. He said, “We are projecting N258.6bn looted funds to be part of the revenue to finance 2017 budget Also to be included in budget financing is $320m, which is N97.6bn recovered Abacha loots expected from the Swiss government. “The balance of N90bn will be from other expected recovery loots which are now at advance stages.” The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma said that based on the key assumption and budgetary reform initiatives, the 2017 budget envisaged a total Federal Government revenue of N4.94tn. Udoma said that the figure exceeded the 2016 financial year projection by 28 per cent. He said, “The projected revenue receipt from oil is N1.985 trillion and noon oil is N1.373 trillion. “The contribution of oil revenue is 40.2 per cent compared to 19 per cent financial year of 2016 in addition to cost reduction, higher price, exchange rate and additional oil related revenues.”

Explosion kills six near army checkpoint in Somali capital

A bomb has exploded near an army checkpoint in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, killing at least six people, mostly soldiers, local officials say. “Six people, most of them soldiers, were killed (by the bomb) which was planted under a tree close to a security checkpoint," the Mogadishu administration spokesman, Abdifatah Omar Halane, said on Thursday, adding, "Several others are also wounded." A local resident told AFP that the area was bustling with soldiers and civilians when the deadly blast occurred. "The situation was okay and everybody was busy minding their business when the blast went off near the checkpoint. I saw several dead people, including soldiers but most of the wounded were civilians,” Mohamed Nure said. The attack followed a car bomb that detonated in Mogadishu earlier in the day. The explosion happened after a vehicle loaded with explosives was driven into a government building housing a popular restaurant. Mohamed Dahir, a Somali police commander, said the driver was killed and several others were injured in the blast. Sources said at least two employees of a local radio station inside the building were among the injured. Abdirahman Ali, who witnessed the blast, said the explosion could cause more severe damage and destruction, adding, "The car rolled over after striking the building but luckily (the explosives) did not go off for a few minutes. People managed to run away and casualties were very minimal." No group has claimed responsibility for either of the attacks yet, but they bear the hallmark of those carried out by the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab Takfiri terrorist group, which has conducted a series of deadly attacks in the African country over the past decade in an attempt to weaken the government. The attacks come as Somalia prepares to hold a much-delayed presidential election on December 28. Also On Sunday, at least 20 people were killed in a truck bombing claimed by al-Shabab militants. The group has been pushed out of the capital and other major cities by the joint forces of the government and the African Union, but it continues to hit Mogadishu despite setbacks. Al-Shabab currently controls swaths of rural areas, from where it carries out guerrilla attacks. Somalia has not seen a powerful central government since former dictator Mohamed Siad Barre was toppled by warlords in 1991. Since 2007, some 22,000 peacekeepers have been deployed in Somalia in the form of the multinational African Union force to aid the government in curbing the militancy.

Bomb blast leaves 4 people dead in Syria’s Homs

A bomb explosion has rocked Syria’s western city of Homs, killing four people and injuring others. State television said in a breaking news alert that a bomb exploded close to a Red Cross center in the Zahraa district on Thursday. “Four civilians were killed and several others wounded, some of them seriously,” it added. The mainly Alawite Zahraa neighborhood has witnessed regular blasts since 2011, when the conflict broke out in Syria. Back in September, an explosion at the entrance to the same district left four people dead. Another double bomb attack, which was claimed by the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group, also killed 57 people in the Zahraa neighborhood in February. The Syrian government controls all but one district in the city of Homs, as well as much of the surrounding province with the same name. The ancient city of Palmyra, also situated in Homs Province, fell to Daesh last week. It was the second time that terrorists seized the city as it was occupied for some 10 months before its liberation in March. The Syrian forces are conducting operations to drive foreign-backed militants out of Palmyra. In a Wednesday interview with the Russian TV channels, Russia 24 and NTV, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the attack on Palmyra was aimed at undermining the importance of the Aleppo liberation. He also vowed Palmyra’s recapture, saying, “In the end, as we liberated Palmyra in the past, we will liberate it again. It was under Daesh control and the Syrian army, with Russian support, liberated it. We will do that again.”

Traces of explosives found on EgyptAir victims, say investigators

Investigators say traces of explosives have been found on the remains of victims of an EgyptAir flight that crashed into the Mediterranean Sea in May. Egypt's Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement on Thursday that traces of explosives had been detected on the remains of victims of Flight MS 804 from Paris to Cairo, which plunged into the Mediterranean, killing all 66 people on board. The statement added that an official investigative committee, which made the discovery, has referred the case to Egypt's state prosecution. A criminal investigation would now begin into the crash of the Airbus A320, it noted. The ministry said that under Egyptian law, state prosecutors would take the investigation over "if it becomes clear to the investigative committee that there is criminal suspicion behind the accident." On May 19, a single-aisle Airbus A320 passenger plane operated by Egypt’s flag carrier EgyptAir plunged into the Mediterranean Sea en route to Cairo from Paris. All 66 people on board were killed. Fifteen French passengers were on board the plane, along with 40 Egyptians, two Iraqis, two Canadians and one passenger each from Algeria, Belgium, Britain, Chad, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and Sudan. The plane went off radar screens between the Greek island of Crete and Egypt. If the discovered debris proves to belong to the ill-fated airliner, sea currents have carried them about 540 kilometers away from the crash site. The cause of the crash has remained unclear. An Egyptian crash investigation committee said audio from the flight deck voice recorder indicated that the pilots had been trying to put out a fire on board before the plane crash. While recovered wreckage from the plane's front section shows signs of high temperature damage and soot, the data recorder also confirmed that smoke alarms had been activated before the crash. Egypt's Minister of Aviation Sherif Fathy had said a terrorist attack was the most likely cause of the crash. The Paris prosecutor's office has already opened a manslaughter investigation into the plane crash but said it was not looking into terrorism as a possible cause of the crash.

1,221 Palestinians homeless due to Israel’s 2016 demolitions: EU

The European Union has condemned the Israeli destruction of Palestinian homes and structures in the occupied territories, saying the regime’s 2016 demolitions have left more than one thousand Palestinians homeless. In a statement sent to reporters on Thursday, the EU said that its diplomats “deplore the demolitions of Palestinian structures undertaken by Israel in the occupied West Bank.” EU officials said the Tel Aviv regime has destroyed 866 structures so far this year in Area C of the West Bank, which constitutes about 61 percent of the territory and is under full Israeli military control. The demolitions have affected 5,704 Palestinians, “of whom 1,221 have been rendered homeless (including 586 children),” they noted, adding that about $563,000 worth of humanitarian structures provided by the EU have been either destroyed or confiscated by the occupation forces. They further called on the Israel “to halt demolitions of Palestinian houses and property, in accordance with its obligations as an occupying power under international humanitarian law, and to cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion.” International bodies and rights groups say Israel’s sustained demolitions of Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds are an attempt to uproot Palestinians from their native territories, and confiscate more land for the expansion of illegal settlements. Over half a million Israelis live in over 230 illegal settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. The presence and continued expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine has created a major obstacle for the efforts to establish peace in the Middle East.

REVEALED: THE VERY SIMPLE REASON FERNANDINHO HASN'T SIGNED A NEW MAN CITY DEAL YET

There is concern among the club's fans that the influential Brazilian midfielder can speak to new clubs in the New Year and leave on a free next summer ADTECH GmbH (Master default) There is a very good reason why neither Manchester City nor Fernandinho are rushing through a contract extension - his current deal doesn’t actually expire until 2018. ADTECH GmbH (Master default) Zabaleta glad 'strange' run is over It is widely believed that Fernandinho is one of seven City players whose contracts expire at the end of the season, and indeed that he is the only one of the seven to be offered a new deal. But there had been some concern among City fans that he could speak to other clubs about a free transfer from January 1. It had even been rumoured in Italy last weekend that Juventus were ready to pounce given the supposed uncertainty surrounding his future. But the Brazilian signed a five-year deal when he joined City from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 and he still has 18 months to go before it expires. It is understood that all parties are keen for the midfielder to extend his stay at the club, and that a new deal could be finalised in the New Year, but there is no rush to conclude talks. 'If Pep was an English coach, fans would be going bananas' - Redknapp City are likely to say goodbye to Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna, Willy Caballero, Jesus Navas and Yaya Toure when their deals expire in the summer, and all men will be free to speak to prospective new clubs at the turn of the year. But Fernandinho, who has proven so important to Pep Guardiola’s plans so far, will not be joining them.

RUMOURS: LIVERPOOL TO MAKE A JANUARY MOVE FOR ANDERLECHT WINGER

The 23-year-old can play on the left wing but also at left-back, which is an area of some concern at Anfield, with James Milner currently operating on a short-term basis Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is ready to make a January move for Anderlecht winer Frank Acheampong, according to a report in the Sun. The Reds boss has had the Ghana international watched in action several times and is considering a potential move in the next window. Although the 23-year-old is predominantly a left wing, he can operate from left-back, which is an area for concern for Jurgen Klopp, with James Milner currently filling in gaps. Acheampong, who joined the Belgian side three years ago, will play in the Africa Cup of Nations next month, which may complicate any possible transfer.

RUMOURS: MAN CITY BATTLE BARCA FOR BENFICA KEEPER

Pep Guardiola will have to fight it out with his former team in January if he is to land 23-year-old Brazilian goalkeeper and bring him to the Etihad Stadium Manchester City are set to fight it out with Barcelona for Benfica goalkeeper Ederson Moraes, says the Manchester Evening News. The 23-year-old is another of the breed of ball-playing goalkeepers admired by City boss pep Guardiola and his former employers at Camp Nou. Guardiola was linked with a move for Moraes in the summer and with Claudio Bravo struggling with his early life in the Premier League, the Catalan coach may opt to follow through on that interest in January. Barca boss Jose Enrique is also a fan though, and it may be that there is a battle to sign the Benfica shot-stopper come the transfer window, with a fee of at least £20 million needed to complete the deal.

'MESSI & RONALDO BOUND TO BE TEMPTED BY CHINA

Despite the Real Madrid star signing a new, long-term deal for the Spanish giants, Chinese publication Xinhua has suggested he could leave for Asia at the end of his career Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could eventually ply their trade in the Chinese Super League due to the ceaseless amounts of money available, China's official Xinhua news agency believes. 'MESSI & RONALDO BOUND TO BE TEMPTED BY CHINA' 12/14/16TRANSFER ZONESHARE 0 Getty Images Despite the Real Madrid star signing a new, long-term deal for the Spanish giants, Chinese publication Xinhua has suggested he could leave for Asia at the end of his career Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could eventually ply their trade in the Chinese Super League due to the ceaseless amounts of money available, China's official Xinhua news agency believes. Klopp blasts Neville over Liverpool criticism A number of highly reputable players have made the decision to leave the European leagues to play in Asia as China continue to build their reputation. Reports from the Daily Mail suggest that Chelsea midfielder Oscar could be set for a €60 million switch to the CSL with Shanghai SIPG, which would beat the Asian transfer record of €58.5m which Shanghai paid for Hulk in the summer. The 25-year-old has been a regular for Chelsea since joining the club in 2012 but has found himself playing a bit-part role under Antonio Conte and hasn’t started in the league since the 2-1 defeat by Liverpool in September. And, while Shanghai SIPG have refused to comment on a potential transfer for the Brazilian, it is widely expected that another superstar will make the switch in the near future. “The CSL is becoming the richest buyer in world football, with Jackson Martinez, Alex Teixeira and Gervinho all being recent arrivals. Everyone is anticipating the next superstar who'll be on his way to China this winter,” Xinhua published. "Given the huge pay cheques on offer, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are bound to be tempted to play in China when they are heading into the autumn of their careers. “Latterly, both Arsenal talisman Alexis Sanchez and South Korea captain Ki Sung-Yueng were also linked with a lucrative move to China. “If CSL’s financial might takes hold, it is believed that a Ballon d'Or winner will come here within a decade." 'MESSI & RONALDO BOUND TO BE TEMPTED BY CHINA' 12/14/16TRANSFER ZONESHARE 0 Getty Images Despite the Real Madrid star signing a new, long-term deal for the Spanish giants, Chinese publication Xinhua has suggested he could leave for Asia at the end of his career Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could eventually ply their trade in the Chinese Super League due to the ceaseless amounts of money available, China's official Xinhua news agency believes. Klopp blasts Neville over Liverpool criticism A number of highly reputable players have made the decision to leave the European leagues to play in Asia as China continue to build their reputation. Reports from the Daily Mail suggest that Chelsea midfielder Oscar could be set for a €60 million switch to the CSL with Shanghai SIPG, which would beat the Asian transfer record of €58.5m which Shanghai paid for Hulk in the summer. The 25-year-old has been a regular for Chelsea since joining the club in 2012 but has found himself playing a bit-part role under Antonio Conte and hasn’t started in the league since the 2-1 defeat by Liverpool in September. And, while Shanghai SIPG have refused to comment on a potential transfer for the Brazilian, it is widely expected that another superstar will make the switch in the near future. “The CSL is becoming the richest buyer in world football, with Jackson Martinez, Alex Teixeira and Gervinho all being recent arrivals. Everyone is anticipating the next superstar who'll be on his way to China this winter,” Xinhua published. "Given the huge pay cheques on offer, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are bound to be tempted to play in China when they are heading into the autumn of their careers. “Latterly, both Arsenal talisman Alexis Sanchez and South Korea captain Ki Sung-Yueng were also linked with a lucrative move to China. “If CSL’s financial might takes hold, it is believed that a Ballon d'Or winner will come here within a decade." Pep: If I fail I'll say 'Ok Stan Collymore' Ronaldo won his fourth Ballon d'Or award on Monday, a month after signing a new, long-term deal at Real Madrid. The Portuguese's extension keeps him tied to the club until 2021, when he will be 36 years of age, while the forward has suggested he will finish his career in the Spanish capital. On completion of his renewal, Real boss Zinedine Zidane said: "Cristiano is unique. What he has done and what he will do. His only intention is to finish his career here. "I am happy because we can renew and he can finish with this white shirt as I did long ago."

CHELSEA OUTCAST MIKEL MAY FOLLOW OSCAR TO CHINA

The Blues midfielder, who doesn't seem to be in Antonio Conte's plans, has offers from clubs in Asia and could be set to make a move out east in January John Obi Mikel has offers from at least two Chinese clubs, as well as clubs in Europe, as he is yet to enter talks with Chelsea over a new deal, Goal understands. The Nigeria captain's contract is due to expire on June 30, 2017 and he is free to talk with clubs in January, as is normal for players with only six months remaining on their contracts. CHELSEA OUTCAST MIKEL MAY FOLLOW OSCAR TO CHINA Nizaar Kinsella 11:42EXCLUSIVESSHARE 0 Getty The Blues midfielder, who doesn't seem to be in Antonio Conte's plans, has offers from clubs in Asia and could be set to make a move out east in January EXCLUSIVE John Obi Mikel has offers from at least two Chinese clubs, as well as clubs in Europe, as he is yet to enter talks with Chelsea over a new deal, Goal understands. The Nigeria captain's contract is due to expire on June 30, 2017 and he is free to talk with clubs in January, as is normal for players with only six months remaining on their contracts. Mou: Why Man Utd are miles behind The 29-year-old could follow Oscar, who is set to break the transfer fee record for a player leaving Chelsea, after Shanghai SIPG offered around £52 million to secure the play-maker from west London ahead of the January window. Marseille and two clubs in China are among those who have made contact with Mikel, who's yet to make a single appearance in the matchday squad for Chelsea since Antonio Conte took charge at Stamford Bridge. Fenerbahce have also added him to their shortlist, while Manchester United have been linked with Mikel, who hasn't played for Chelsea since he travelled to Anfield to face Liverpool under Guus Hiddink last season. Mikel is thought to want to make the move that best suits his family and had previously spoken about an interest in playing football in the United States. Conte insists that Mikel is available and could yet play for Chelsea, while Mikel remains open to renewing his contract if he gets certain assurances.

Biafra: I will expose secrets that will sink Nigeria

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu has threatened that he would expose secrets that are capable of sinking Nigeria. Kanu gave the threat at his resumed trial on Tuesday. In the Tuesday’s ruling, trial Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja granted the Federal Government the nod to shield identities of witnesses billed to testify against Nnamdi Kanu. Director of Radio Biafra and Leader, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu as he appeared before Justice Ahmed Mohammed Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday, 23/12/2015 Justice Nyako who held that names of all the prosecution witnesses who are mostly security operatives, would not be disclosed in any record of the court proceedings also said that the witnesses would be allowed to testify against the defendants behind a screen that would be provided by the court. Justice Nyako however stressed that both the defendants and their counsel would be allowed to see the witnesses who she said would enter and exit the courtroom through a special door. However, Kanu immediately rejected the court ruling, insisting that it was against the tenets of Justice and fair hearing. “I won’t stand this travesty of Justice. Buhari spoke in public, he accused me in public. I must also be allowed to stand my trial in public”, Kanu bellowed from the dock. “This is nonsense! I will give testimony before this court! By the time I finish, there will be no Nigeria. This is no Sharia court. It is a court that operates under the common law. “There will be no screening of witnesses, no fake identities or fake addresses. I cannot be tried in secret. No! Nnamdi Kanu cannot be jailed in secret! They are mad. Why must I be tried in secrecy by a government that does not obey court orders. “They are killing my people in public, after killing my people they want to try me in private? That person is mad. I won’t allow it. “, Kanu fumed. The IPOB leader is facing an11-count charge alongside three other pro-Biafra agitators, Mr. Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi. Charges against the accused persons border on reasonable felony and their alleged involvement in acts of terrorism. The defendants had earlier alleged plot by the Federal Government to import foreigners to testify against them.

MMM battles to console panic-gripped Nigerians

MMM on Tuesday, frozen by one month, payments of both capital and 30 per cent interest accruing to investors. The announcement jolted Nigerian investors and prompted an investor to contemplate suicide. A man in Makurdi in Benue state of Nigeria was reported to have ingested insecticide after he learnt of the development and was quickly rushed to the hospital. In order to forestall further negative reaction to the crash of the programme, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, has cautioned that suicide rate ‘may’ rise in the state. LASEMA gave the advice after a twitter user cautioned that suicide rates may increase in Lagos, due to the controversial ‘pause’ of the scheme. On its Twitter handle @lasemasocial, the LASEMA RESPONSE UNIT dropped an emergency number to call should any case of suicide arise in any part of the state. It said, “Dial 112 if you see any in your area. #LagosCares.” MMM Nigeria: Dial 112 if you see anyone in your area trying to commit suicide – LASEMA https://t.co/GiQ3C3rwjg @vanguardngr.com — ADEGOROYE (@iteyemi) December 14, 2016 Meanwhile, top MMM guider, Chuddy has addressed MMM investors on the one month freeze of accounts. In a blog post on MMM BLOG on Tuesday, Chuddy called for calm among investors. He said the open letter explains why the one month freeze was implemented, adding that it was to put the Nigerian Government and MMM haters to shame. “This isn’t the first of its kind. It happens when there are excess PANIC in the system It was placed on Zimbabwe and after the duration it was lifted. “As MMM Freezes And Goes Offline Few Weeks Before Christmas This idea is brought forward to Calm the members down on intending Threat the FG and Mass media has planned on the system.’’ Meanwhile, Nigeria’s anti-grant agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has responded to a Twitter user who called the agency out for letting Nigerians fall victim to the MMM scheme. The Twitter user, @Lolami_Boo, called out the EFCC, asking other MMM users to hold the agency responsible for the alleged crash of the MMM. The user wrote: “Where the hell was EFCC? Isn’t it your job to stop crap like this?” In a swift response, the EFCC on its official handle @ officialEFCC said, “You mean amongst the plethora of venality we fight daily, Ponzi schemes

ARSENAL ARE FULLY EQUIPPED TO WIN THE TITLE' - HESKEY

The former Premier League striker sees no reason why the Gunners cannot claim the top-flight crown, especially as they are looking more secure at the back

Arsenal are ‘fully equipped’ to take the Premier League title, according to former Leicester and Liverpool striker Emile Heskey.

The Gunners last claimed the top-flight crown back in 2003-04, as ‘The Invincibles’ swept all before them.

Arsene Wenger has kept his side competitive over the years, but they have been unable to get their hands back on the grandest of domestic prizes.

t could be that the class of 2016-17 return the north London outfit to the summit, with impressive progress made up to this point.

A 3-1 victory over Stoke City on Saturday lifted Arsenal to the top of the table, with their unbeaten run in the league stretching back to the opening day of the season.

Heskey has been impressed by a new-found defensive stability at the Emirates, with everything starting to come together for a side starved of title success over the past decade.

"I think they're fully equipped to actually win it this year and really push to the end,” he told Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday.

They've got some very, very exciting players.

"When you give them space, they have so many different runners from different positions that you can pick out any one of them and they've got the players to pick them out.

"As long as they're solid defensively, which they're showing they're getting better at, I think they've got a good chance."

Arsenal have improved at the back over recent years, with the acquisition of Petr Cech from Chelsea playing a big part in that.

Chris Kirkland believes the veteran Czech remains one of the best in the business and a safe pair of hands for the Gunners as they chase down top honours.

Dalung denies saying FG never expected Falcons to win AWCON 2016

Barrister Solomon Dalung, minister of youths and sports, has denied reports making rounds that the federal government and NFF never knew Super Falcons of Nigeria could win the Africa Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

The minister made this shocking disclosure while addressing newsmen at Aso Rock, when asked why the ladies allowances were being delayed.

In an audio piece obtained by Premium Times, the minister admitted that the sit-in-hotel protest of the Falcons wouldn’t have occurred if the NFF had put into consideration the Falcons chances of winning the African title but emphasized he was quoted out of context.

- Nigerian Senate has called on Nigeria Football Federation to pay Super Falcons and coaches their allowances being owed without waste of time

- Senate probes NFF over stranded Super Falcons players

The Senate on Wednesday, December 7, ordered its Committee on Sports to investigate the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development and Nigeria Football Federation over non-payment of stranded Super Falcons’ allowances and match bonuses.

According to report, the probe is to be extended to non-payment of Super Eagles’ allowances and other national teams.

Any Christian who plays MMM or Lotto needs deliverance – Suleman

The general overseer of the Omega Fire Ministries International, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has condemned the popular money doubling scheme called MMM.

Asking his members not to partake in the scheme which has spread like wildfire in Nigeria, Apstle Suleman The General Overseer of Omega Fire Ministries International (OFM), Apostle Johnson Suleman said MMM and other get-rich-quick schemes are satanic ventures aimed at further impoverishing the poor and stealing from the rich to enrich some other people.

Saudi jets attack Pakistani boat off Yemen, kill six sailors

At least six Pakistani sailors have reportedly been killed after a Saudi strike targeted their boat off the Yemeni coast.

The Saudi air raid targeted the boat, which was carrying 12 Pakistani sailors off Mukha coast in the Yemeni province of Ta’izz on Sunday, Yemen’s Saba news agency said.

According to the report, the other six sailors are still unaccounted for.

The deadly raid comes amid the Riyadh regime continues its brutal military campaign against neighboring Yemen, which was launched in March 2015 to reinstall the former Yemeni government.

Yemen’s former president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi has ordered a major assault on the country’s Red Sea coast against Houthi Ansarullah fighters and allied army forces, who have been defending the nation against a deadly Saudi offensive.

Reports said on Sunday that Saudi warplanes had intensified their air raids on the province of Ta’izz, which has witnessed heavy fighting on the ground between pro-Hadi militants and Yemeni armed forces in recent days.

Meanwhile, a child was killed as Saudi fighter jets bombed residential buildings in the province of Sa’ada.

The girl’s father and two of her brothers were also injured in the attack, which targeted the province’s district of Razih.

In the same province, another airstrike hit the Baqim district and left a Yemeni woman dead and two children wounded.

The Saudi military aggression has left at least 11,400 civilians dead, according to the latest tally by a Yemeni monitoring group.

Fire kills 11 in hotel in Pakistan’s Karachi

A fire at a four-star hotel in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi has left dozens of casualties.

At least 11 people were killed and some 75 others suffered injuries in the blaze at the Regent Plaza Hotel on Monday morning, police officer Tauqeer Naeem said.

He said the exact cause of the fire, which started in the hotel kitchen, was not known yet.

The kitchen was located at the ground floor, and the blaze swept through the building after it started, trapping scores of hotel guests in their rooms on the upper floors.

Video footage of the inferno aired on local TV showed hotel guests using bed sheets to climb down from upper floor windows.

Seemin Jamali, a doctor at Karachi’s Jinnah Hospital, said aside from burns, some of those injured had fractured bones after jumping from hotel windows to escape. Others, she said, had been hurt by shattered glass, and many were treated for smoke inhalation.

Jamali, who is the head of the emergency ward at the hospital, also said some foreigners were among those being treated for burns, according to media.

Karachi’s Mayor Waseem Akhtar told reporters that the hotel had “no fire exits or fire alarms.”

Chief Fire Officer Tehseen Siddiqui said the fire was contained “quite early” but the smoke kept circulating inside the hotel because the air conditioning system stayed on and there was no exhaust inside. A number of guests suffocated to death in their sleep, according to local media.

Most buildings in Pakistan do not meet safety standards to avoid such accidents.

Protesters rally against police violence in San Francisco

US protesters have staged a rally against police brutality in San Francisco, California, on the death anniversary of an African-American man killed by police.

Community members and Mario Woods’ family marched on Friday to the location where the young black man was shot, chanting slogans and demanding justice for him.

The Reverend Ben McBride opened the proceedings with a prayer and chants that energized the group. “Say his name!” McBride shouted. “Mario Woods!” the mourners shouted back.

The rally comes at a time when anti-police sentiment is high across the US due to a surge of unjustified killings of unarmed African Americans and other minorities over the past several years.

Last year, Woods, 26, was fatally shot by five San Francisco police officers, a shooting that sparked outrage, national attention and unprecedented police reform in the city after it was captured on video.

Activists say the video showed police using excessive force, shooting at least 27 times on a man who posed no apparent threat to the officers and those around him.

Wood’s mother attended Thursday’s rally surrounded by women who have lost children to law enforcement violence all throughout the state of California.

“There are so many mothers you have to pray for, so many sleepless nights, so many dragging themselves out of bed,” Gwen Woods said. “This is our truth. Our babies are not platforms. They’re not agendas. They are our babies.”

Earlier in the day, about 20 activists protested at District Attorney George Gascón’s office, demanding that the five officers who shot Woods be charged. The case remains under review.

We believe, and the video evidence proves, that Mario Woods was gunned down like a wild animal in this city,” said Christopher Muhammad, the San Francisco Bay Area Minister of the Nation of Islam. “Mario was judged by a jury of police, and they became his executioner, and now Mario is dead.”

Woods’ death prompted San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee and others to ask the US Justice Department to investigate the city’s police department. The probe led to unprecedented police reforms.

Terrorist blast kills 24 in Iraq’s Mosul

At least 24 people have been killed in an attack by the Takfiri terrorist group of Daesh in the Iraqi city of Mosul.

The explosion occurred on Saturday when explosives on a tanker were detonated in Mosul.

The news comes a day after Daesh terrorists launched an attack using two car bombs on the Kanaos Village in the south of Qayyarah, killing two soldiers and injuring 29 others.

Iraqi forces had retaken Qayyarah, which lies on the western bank of Tigris River, some 60 kilometers south of Mosul, from Daesh late in August.

Iraqi government soldiers and volunteer fighters continue are engaged in joint operations to liberate Mosul, the last urban area in control of Daesh in Iraq.

Iraqi media reported on Saturday that fierce clashes were underway between Iraqi security forces and Daesh terrorists near Mosul’s airport.

Also on Saturday, Iraq’s counter-terrorism forces killed 13 terrorists, including a senior commander, in the east of Mosul.

Iraq’s Almada Press website reported that Iraqi forces thwarted a Daesh assault on the Aden district, east of Mosul, killing 13 terrorists, including the senior commander, Talaat Ahmed Fathi aka Abu Mohammed al-Iraqi.

The country’s military intelligence forces also seized four cannons belonging to Daesh terrorists in region of Kokjeli, east of Mosul.

The northern and western parts of Iraq have been plagued by violence ever since Daesh terrorists mounted an offensive there more than two years ago. The militants have been committing vicious crimes in the areas under their control.