ONE WORD

National Guard troops and rescue crews in high-water vehicles took up positions around the state as Louisiana braced for the arrival of the storm Friday night or early Saturday. Barry could have winds of about 75 mph (120 kph), just barely over the 74 mph threshold for a hurricane, when it comes ashore, making it a Category 1 storm, forecasters said. Thousands of Louisianans broke out sandbags or fled to higher ground Thursday as Tropical Storm Barry threatened to turn into the first hurricane of the season and blow ashore with torrential rains that could pose a severe test of New Orleans' improved post-Katrina flood defenses . But it is expected to bring more than a foot and a half (0.5 meters) of rain in potentially ruinous downpours that could go on for hours as the storm passes through the metropolitan area of nearly 1.3 million people and pushes slowly inland. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, who declared an emergency earlier in the week as the storm brewed in the G...

Ghana is the latest country to be granted a visa-free status by the South African government. South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has added Ghana to a list of seven countries whose nationals will be permitted to enter South Africa visa-free. Nigeria was not included despite the large volume of trade between the two countries. South Africa announced in September 2018, that it was finalising a number of visa waiver agreements with other countries including Ghana to allow travellers to enter the country without a visa. According to the Minister of Home Affairs, Aaron Motsoaledi, citizens of the seven countries are able to enter South Africa without a visa. “Tourism will soar if we relax visa requirements for entry into South Africa. We know that Tourism is very important for job creation,” he said today at a briefing in South Africa. “Out of the 193 countries who are member states of the United Nations, the Department has granted visa-free status to 75 countries. Of t...

A woman couldn't hide her happiness after her boyfriend of 11 years proposed to her in public.   The man bent his knee to propose   A man has finally proposed to the love of his life and girlfriend who had graduated with her MPH after 11-years of dating.   The man who is a practising nurse attorney in Louisiana, surprised his girlfriend by going down on his knee, holding out a ring in its box and asking her to marry him.   The lady broke down crying while her man was still on his knee waiting to hear her answer. He handed her his handkerchief as she also wiped his tears and she finally said YES!.   The young lady who shared a video footage of the proposal on her Twitter account, wrote;  “This began when I was 14 & he was 17. At 16, I gave birth to our now 9 year old son. Fast forward, I just graduated with my MPH & he is a practicing Attorney in Louisiana. This journey wasn’t easy, but this was always the plan #Mathews #God...

A seven-year-old Indian girl has been trampled to death by an elephant after it used its trunk to pluck the infant from her bed. Sini Munda, from Mundasahi in the Champua forest range, was asleep beside her brother Ganesh and sister Rani last night when the tusked animal battered the side of their house. After tearing down part of the wall, the animal snaked its trunk into the building to grab the youngster before crushing her to death. This death is the latest to rock Odisha state after five people were trampled in the nearby Angul district in April. A lone elephant reportedly charged at a family-of-three while they were sleeping on a terrace of a house in Sandha village. It then went on to fatally attack two more people that night, according to the Hindu. Ganess and Rani are in a critical condition after the wall caved in and collapsed on top of them. They are receiving urgent treatment at the Champua Community Health Centre, according to Ommcom News. The Champua f...

Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), again on Thursday morning engaged the police in another face-off at the federal secretariat while embarking on a protest to demand the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. The protest by the members of the sect forced the police to fire teargas carnisters which led to commotion as people ran in different directions to escape from the troubled spot. However, following the invasion of the National Assembly complex by Shiites on Tuesday which reportedly led to the death of a police man and destruction of vehicles, the Coalition for Nigeria Movement has called for an end to the violent activities of the group. The convener of the group, Mr. Gabriel Tyonongo, while addressing a press conference Thursday described the attack on police by members of IMN as height of barbarism, and unpatriotic. To this end, he called on the federal government to take a decisive action against the sect before it snowballs into another dreaded ...

NNPC GMD, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari … Clarifies Statement of its GMD The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has advised motorists and other petroleum products consumers to disregard trending rumour of a planned hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol, saying the statement of the corporation’s Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, at the National Assembly yesterday did not suggest any plan to increase the price of the white product. NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, clarified that what the NNPC GMD stated during his engagement with the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Ahmed Lawan, at the National Assembly yesterday was that the price of petrol was abysmally low in Nigeria compared to what obtained in neighbouring West African countries. Ughamadu noted that Mallam Kyari had observed at the event that the huge disparity in the pump price of petrol between Nigeria on the one han...

                                        There seems to be serious confusion in the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kogi State Chapter ahead of the Nov. 16 governorship election as another group of 37 aspirants endorsed decision of the National Working Committee(NWC) of the party to select its candidate for the election through indirect primary. The group under the auspices of Coalition of Kogi APC Aspirants said they were confident of beating Governor Yahaya Bello at the primary because they believe that they have control of the delegates. Spokesman of the group, Comrade Edime Godwin Amade, said the group of 20 aspirants kicking against the indirect mode of primary were working for the downfall of the party in the state, pointing out that the NWC should not allow the group to pull the wool over their eyes. Amade pointed out that the state governor has built the party in the stat...

The Senate has sent red alert to the South African government over its ineptitude concerning mysterious and unresolved death of Deputy Director-General of Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria, Elizabeth Ndubuisi-Chukwu, in that country as well as other victims. Ndubuisi-Chukwu, a mother and an indigene of Anambra State, was found dead in one of the rooms at the Emperors Palace Hotel and Convention Centre on June 13, 2019 where she lodged. The Senate is not taking the matter lying low as it came down heavily on the country by warning Nigerians wishing to visit South Africa to be cautious. In its response to a motion of urgent national importance moved by the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, the upper legislative chamber resolved to send a high-powered delegation to the Parliament of South Africa to ask their government to do something immediately It also resolved to urge President Muhammadu Buhari to take the issue of Xenophobia against Nigerians in South Africa serious...

                                  Veteran actress, Joke Silva, is celebrating her husband,  Olu Jacobs, a movie star of many years as he turned 77 on Thursday. Silva, took to her instagram page @JokeSilva, where she shared some photos of the birthday celebrant and captioned them with sweet messages. “PRAISE THE LORD Happy 77th birthday Sir J. May your days be long in good health and abundance… The Quintessential Ovorawen. Loads of love king of my heart,” she wrote. The movie star and his wife in April become grandparents as their son, Olusoji Jacob and wife welcomed a new baby. The Jacobs have both been featured together in movies like; If I am President, Light in the dark amongst others. Oludotun Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, is regarded as one of Nigeria’s most respected actors in the industry. He has starred in several British television series and international films and...

A Don, Prof. Oka Obono, has identified global unity against all forms of vulnerability and violations of women and girls’ reproductive health rights as key to guaranteeing security and equality for women. Prof Obono, Guest Speaker at this year’s World Population Day lecture, entitled “25 Years of ICPD: Accelerating the Promise” said this in Abuja on Thursday. Obono identified poverty and illiteracy as the major weapons used in the oppression of women, calling for a collaboration for liberation of women. “According to UN reports, around the world crisis, poverty and discrimination continue to put basic sexual and reproductive health care out of reach for women and girls,” Obono said. He said that the country had a lot to do in order to accelerate the Cairo Plan of 25 years ago. NAN reports that about 179 countries in 1994 gathered in Cairo, Egypt to chart a course of reproductive healthcare rights for women. Earlier, Alhaji Yusuf Anka, Acting Chairman, National Population...

African countries should harness the energy and creativity of the youths to revitalise action on violent extremism that has gained foothold amid poverty, conflicts and social exclusion. Aya Chebbi, an African Union (AU) youth envoy made the call  on the sidelines of a Pan African counter-terrorism forum on Thursday in Nairobi. Chebbi said the success of counter-terrorism initiatives in Africa depended on robust engagement of the continent’s youthful population in policy formulation and awareness on the menace. “Our governments should change policies that discriminate against youths in leadership and policy formulation to ensure they play a meaningful role in peace, security and prevention of violent extremism,” The 31-year old Tunisian peace activist said the African regional high-level conference on counter-terrorism presented an opportunity to discuss greater involvement of youths to fight a vice, which is a drawback to the continent’s quest for stability, development an...

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday solicited the support of trade unions and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to facilitate mass education against corruption. The South-East Zonal Head of the commission, Mr Usman Imam, solicited the support at the 3rd African Anti-corruption Day celebration in Enugu. Imam said that the effect of corruption had become hydra headed that CSOs, professional bodies, trade unions and others were needed to be fully involved in the fight against it. He said that the EFCC was committed to winning the corruption war no matter how long it took, adding that to do that “Nigerians needed to join in the fight. “Until Nigerians are determined to expose and hold public officials accountable for their stewardship and not see the fight from ethnic, political or religious perspectives, the war might never be won,” he said. The EFCC zonal head said that the Federal Government had particularly made the fight against corruption and...

While many Nigerians are crying out about the price of fuel being on the high side, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) still has plans to push the price up the more. If you can remember, fuel used to be way cheaper than the price it’s being sold today. There was a period it was N85 per liter, even N65. NNPC has hinted that pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) may be increased soon, as it described the N145 pump price as the cheapest in West Africa. This was stated by the new Group Managing Director (GMD), Mele Hyari, during a visit yesterday, to Senate President Ahmed Lawan at the National Assembly complex, Abuja. Kyari spoke while making submissions on revenue generation before the leadership of the senate. He identified cheap fuel price and smuggling as the two key factors hampering revenue generation by the agency. “The N145 per litre fuel price regime in Nigeria runs against the N350 per litre most of the other West African countries operate, encouraging...

The Senate on Thursday urged the Federal Government to establish a Medical School at the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola. This followed a motion by Sen. Aishatu Ahmed (APC-Adamawa) on the urgent need to establish a medical school at the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola. Ahmed, in the motion co-sponsored by 44 others, said Adamawa with a population of about 4 million people and neighbouring Taraba with population of about 3 million people, are the only states in the North East without a medical school or teaching hospital. She said provision of effective healthcare service is a basic ingredient necessary for sustainable development of every society. Ahmed said the call is also hinged on dearth of specialists in areas of Consultant Cardiology,Pathology,Oncology, Hematology, Opthalmology among others in the two states. . She said establishment of the school would reduce challenges of access to healthcare services being faced by residents of the state...

Gunshots have been heard at the Federal Secretariat as police officers tackled Shiite members.   File photo: Shiite members   According to a report by The Nation, attempts by members of the Muslim sect Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) popularly known as Shi’ite on Thursday to cause crisis around the Federal secretariat failed as the police shot in the air to unsettle them. Passersby and workers were thrown into panic around the area as they ran away from the scene due to the gunshots. Supporters of detained Shiite leader Ibrahim El- Zakzaky were out again to protest the detention of their leader. Findings revealed that no one has been lost so far. Details shortly…  tori.ng

A caravan overturned by strong winds lies on a beach where a storm killed a Czech couple in Nea Plagia, in Chalkidiki, Northern Greece, on July 11, 2019. Sakis MITROLIDIS / AFP Fierce storms have killed six tourists and injured dozens of people in northern Greece, authorities said on Thursday. Strong winds and hail on Wednesday evening tore into the beachfront of Halkidiki region, one of Greece’s most popular tourist areas, terrifying thousands of holidaymakers caught in the open. “For five minutes it was hellish,” said Haris Lazaridis, owner of a tavern where a 54-year-old woman from Romania and her son were killed when the roof caved in. “There was panic, people were howling and running to hide inside,” Lazaridis told AFP. He added that over 100 people were sheltering under the roof when it collapsed. Nearly 30 people have been hospitalised in nearby Thessaloniki, including a 13-year-old girl from Serbia. “It was a miracle that there weren’t more deaths,” said 39-y...

A promising father of two who was a PhD student at one of the universities in Malaysia has died after a wrongful arrest.   Thomas Orhionsefe (left) died after a wrongful arrest. Daddy Showkey (right)   A Nigerian PhD student and father of two, Thomas Orhionsefe Ewansiha, has been reportedly killed in Malaysian immigration custody, after being wrongly arrested by the country's immigration officers.   It was gathered that the deceased had valid documents to justify his stay in Malaysia, but was arrested during a raid in Amapuri and was taken to a deportation camp in Jalan Duta where he reportedly died. The incident has led to a protest at the Nigerian embassy in Malaysia.    Some Nigerians like veteran musician, Daddy Showkey while reacting said a message he received revealed that this is not the first time authorities at the Nigerian Embassy have failed to act on the alleged continous violation of rights of Nigerians in Malaysia.   H...

Israel is preventing international academics from working at Palestinian universities in the West Bank and Gaza, two NGOs said on Thursday as they embarked on a campaign to help the universities – particularly Birzeit, located in near Ramallah. Adalah and the Palestinian NGO Al-Haq have turned to the media after writing letters to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the attorney-general, the military advocate-general and the Interior Ministry asking that this practice be halted. The two NGOs did not have all of the data regarding the issue, but they pointed to a number of studies that had done partial investigations of the phenomenon. “Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip – like all other peoples around the world – are entitled to exercise their right to academic freedom as part of their right to self-determination. The Israeli military occupation cannot prevent Palestinians from exercising this right,” said attorney Sawsan Zaher, who is...

Officials of the EFCC have apprehended 17 suspected internet fraudsters in Delta state.   The suspected fraudsters   17 suspected internet fraudsters aka 'yahoo boys', have been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC in Delta State.    The suspects identified as Jolomi Jemide; Suo Ajorbuku; Wilson Chukwuma; Faith Umukoro; Felix Fimber; Isaac Boro; Emmanuel Etanoma; Aghogho Ovuakporaye; Tokoma Mbabov; Tom Wisdom; Elvis Imannivwie; Chinedu Chukwu; Okojikoko Presley; Nyore Arkoro; Godwin Etanoma; Morris Victor and Elvis Okorare, were arrested during a raid at their hotel hideout in Warri, Delta State on July 10, 2019.    Prior to the sting operation, the arrested suspects were linked to fraudulent activities ranging from love scam on numerous dating sites, obtaining money by false pretences and other fraud still being investigated.   The EFCC in its statement confirmed that they will soon be c...

American Airlines says the grounding of its Boeing 737 Max jets led to $185 million in lost income during the second quarter. American said in a regulatory filing Wednesday that the grounding of its 24 Max jets resulted in about 7,800 canceled flights in the quarter. The plane has been grounded since March after two deadly crashes. The world’s biggest airline continues to ride a tide of strong travel demand. American is raising its estimate for a key figure, revenue for each seat flown one mile, because planes are so full. The airline now estimates that number will rise  three to four per cent over the same period last year, up from an earlier forecast of up one to three per cent Shares are up about two per cent in early trading.

The sale of sniper has been banned in the open market by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.   Prof. Moji Adeyeye   The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has announced the ban on sale of Sniper and other brands of agricultural formulations of Dichlorvos following rampant suicide cases and misuse of the products. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, said this in a statement on Wednesday. Adeyeye said from September 1, 2019, Sniper and other related products would not be sold in supermarkets and in the open markets. The NAFDAC boss said such products should only be used for outdoor purposes and not private homes. The statement read in part,  “NAFDAC is giving a two-month (up to August 31, 2019) notice to brand owners/distributors to recall and withdraw their products from open markets and supermarkets that do not have garden corner/shelves to the agro dealer outlets. “The sale of Sniper ins...

Arsenal are prepared to step up their pursuit for Wilfried Zaha by offering Crystal Palace cash plus three players in a bid to lure him to the Emirates. According to the Sun, the Gunners are looking to offload defenders Calum Chambers, Mohamed Elneny and Carl Jenkinson in a bid to sweeten the deal. Arsenal have already had a £40million offer rejected by Palace who value their talisman at £80m. Zaha, who is currently away on international duty with Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, has made Palace aware of his desire to leave. And he has been given personal assurances by chairman Steve Parish, who he has a close relationship with, that he will not be priced out of a move and the south Londoners are not trying to stand in the way of him progressing his career. Palace were angered by Arsenal's opening valuation of Zaha but should they return with an improved offer that better reflects his market value and importance to Palace the south Londoners will be open to disc...

  In this image made from video from Geo Tv, shows volunteers working at a train crash site in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan, Thursday, July 11, 2019. A passenger train rammed into a freight train in southern Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least many people and injuring others, an official said. (Geo Tv via AP) A passenger train rammed into a freight train in southern Pakistan on Thursday, killing at least 10 people and injuring 64 others, an official said. The freight train was stationary when the speeding passenger train hit it at Walhar Railway Station in Rahim Yar Khan, in the eastern Punjab province. According to a senior government official, Jamil Ahmed, hospitals declared an emergency and were receiving casualties from the collision. Ahmed said some of the injured passengers were listed in critical condition. Prime Minister Imran Khan quickly ordered authorities to provide best possible medical care to the victims. In a statement, he said he was saddened by the news...

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment towards ensuring the ease of doing business and safety of the country’s waterways. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr Saliu Zakari, said this in Abuja when he received a delegation of Maersk led by Mr Hassan Bello, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC). According to Zakari, President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is putting various measures in place to ensure the safety and ease of doing business in the country. He said: ”Government is doing everything possible to bring all the agencies into one fold to ensure things are done with ease. “It is still in the process but will soon be completed and I assure you that within a very short time it will be materialised. “About two years now, the government approved an integrated system to ensure our waterways are well secured. “The contract have been signed and the various equipments have been brought into the count...

Coach Stuart Baxter of South Africa  in a post match interview says it is difficult to find positives after one has lost a game. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles on Wednesday defeated Bafana Bafana of South Africa 2-1 in the quarterfinals of  AFCON 2019 in Egypt. Baxter told reporters  that his boys played according to instructions and gave their best. “It’s difficult when you’ve lost a game in the dying minutes. It’s difficult to find positives. “I am sure that in one week’s time, I will find some positives. At this moment, I am finding it very difficult. “But we were brave enough to get on the ball in tight spaces in the first half and brave enough to press higher and we tried to do that better in the second half. “We tried to get a better more mobile possession which gave Nigeria more problems but we still couldn’t find that last strike on goal to get there.” He noted that his team lost to “a better and more organised Super Ea...

William Troost-Ekong scored a dramatic late winner to send Nigeria into the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final at the expense of South Africa. Samuel Chukwueze hit the opener as he controlled Alex Iwobi’s cross, before scoring at the second attempt. Bongani Zungu equalised with a header initially ruled out for offside before VAR replays showed a free-kick hit a Nigerian player on the way to him. But Udinese’s Troost-Ekong bundled home from close range late on to win it. His finish was into an empty net after goalkeeper Ronwen Williams totally missed Moses Simon’s corner. Nigeria face Ivory Coast or Algeria in Sunday’s second semi-final (20:00 BST). The Super Eagles were deserved winners and led through Villarreal youngster Chukwueze’s first goal for his country. They should have been ahead by more when Williams pushed Peter Etebo’s free-kick onto the bar. Zungu’s goal was the first in the Africa Cup of Nations given by the VAR, which has just been introduced for the quar...

Nigeria looked too strong all-round for their rivals and nearly extended their lead early in the second half with a 25-metre free kick from Oghenekaro Etebo but Ronwen Williams turned it on the bar. South Africa, who sensationally knocked out hosts Egypt in the previous round, struggled to get a look-in but the Super Eagles repeatedly failed to turn the mazy runs of Ahmed Musa and Chukwueze into goals. Nigeria sneaked into the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals when defender William Troost-Ekong scored with one minute remaining to give them a 2-1 win over a gallant South Africa as the tournament served up more drama on Wednesday. Troost-Ekong, left unmarked, turned the ball in with his knee from a corner to leave the South Africans heart-broken after they had fought their way back into the match which seemed to be out of their reach. Samuel Chukwueze, recalled to the side after missing the previous round, put the Super Eagles in front when he scored at the second attempt in...