Niger Delta Avengers twetted another attack on agip pipeline.

the dreaded militant niger delta avengers said they have bombed another agip crude oil line in Bayelsa ths morning, they also tweeted about foreign oil buyers deserting nigeria oil.

Chad sends 2,000 forces to Niger to fight Boko Haram

Nigerien soldiers patrol in Bosso, near the Nigerian border, on May 25, 2015

Chad has sent some 2,000 troops to neighboring Niger to help the fight against Boko Haram following last week’s terrorist attacks by the Takfiri militants in the Nigerien town of Bosso.

The "heavily armed" soldiers will "search everywhere for Boko Haram," a military source said Wednesday.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Tuesday that some 50,000 people have fled the town of Bosso in Niger’s troubled Diffa region near the Nigerian border following deadly attacks by Boko Haram terrorists.

Boko Haram militants first took the town of Bosso on Friday in an attack, during which 26 soldiers, including two from Nigeria, were killed. A total of 55 militants from the Nigeria-based militant group were also killed during the fierce fighting.

The terrorists reportedly torched military barracks, police facilities and looted shops during the terror campaign in the town. The ambush and looting came as Niger's army was preparing to attack Boko Haram in the Lake Chad region, which straddles Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Nigerien troops later retook Bosso on Saturday, but the militants once again took over the town on Sunday night.

The mayor of Bosso, Mamadou Bako, and a military source confirmed the takeover on Monday, but the Nigerien government denied it.

Regional countries have created a joint military force that plays a key role in helping Nigeria fight the terrorist group. Back in February, the four littoral nations of Lake Chad launched a military campaign, together with a contingent from Benin, to confront the threat from Boko Haram militants in the region.

The Boko Haram terrorist group, which has pledged allegiance to the Daesh Takfiri militant group, has killed thousands of people, mostly civilians, since it launched its terrorist activities in Nigeria in 2009.

The Takfiri militant group has intensified its campaign of terror since President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in the African country in May 2015.

Naval forces loyal to Libyan unity govt. recapture Sirte coast

Naval forces loyal to the Libyan unity government have recaptured coastal areas of the port city of Sirte from militants.

“Our forces control the entire coast of Sirte. They (Daesh militants) will not be able to flee by sea,” Rida Issa, the naval commander for central Libya, said Thursday.

Fierce clashes continued between pro-government forces and the Takfiri Daesh terrorists in the central parts of Sirte, a major city in northern Libya, which is regarded as the most important stronghold for the Takfiri group outside Iraq and Syria.

“We think that Sirte will be liberated within days not weeks,” said Mohamed al-Gasri, a military spokesman based in the western city of Misrata, adding that fighting was underway near a major conference hall, where Daesh holds religious instruction sessions.

“We think that Sirte will be liberated within days not weeks … The Daesh snipers are a concern to us because they shoot from long distances and that has hindered us in the battle inside the city,” Gasri added.

Libyan forces have already seized control over some key areas on the outskirts of Sirte including an air base, several military camps and a roundabout where Daesh had previously hung the bodies of executed enemies.

Dozens have been killed in less than a month of fighting. The full recapture of Sirte would be a major boost to the Government of National Accord (GNA), which has come to office through support from the United Nations.

On Tuesday, the pro-government forces liberated Nawfiliyah, about 130 kilometers (80 miles) from Sirte, from Daesh. That came a day after Libyans captured the nearby town of Ben Jawad from the militants.

The GNA had set up an operations room to command the battle against Daesh on the coastal stretch between the eastern town of Ajdabiya and Sirte.

Daesh has been taking advantage of the chaos embroiling Libya since the NATO-backed overthrow of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi back in 2011. Gaddafi was killed later.

The oil-rich North African country has had two rival governments since 2014, when politician Khalifa Ghweil and his self-proclaimed government seized control of the capital, Tripoli, with the support of militia groups, forcing the internationally-recognized government to move to the country’s remote eastern city of Tobruk.

The two governments achieved a consensus on forming a unity government, the GNA, last December after months of UN-brokered talks in Tunisia and Morocco to restore order to the country.

source presstv

Shell starts to buy Iran’s oil

Traders say Royal Dutch Shell has resumed purchases of Iranian crude. The company has now become the second major oil firm after Total to restart trade with Tehran after the lifting of sanctions against the country in January.

Based on shipping data released by Reuters, Shell has fixed Suezmax tanker Delta Hellas to bring 130,000 tons of Iranian crude from Kharg Island on 8 July to continental Europe.

Trading sources have announced that the cargo would unload in Rotterdam.

Iran had earlier announced that Shell will have to clear its debts for previous purchases of oil for the new orders to be proceeded.  In April, the country said debts that amounted to above $1.7 billion had been cleared. 

The outstanding debt to Iran was a result of Iranian oil deliveries which Shell had been unable to pay for due to sanctions, Reuters reported on 7 March.

The Anglo-Dutch company resumed talks with Tehran on the debt after most Western sanctions were lifted in January. The payments were made over the next few weeks after the removal of the sanctions in euros as dollar transactions are still under US sanctions, the news agency added.

The company was involved in the development of Iran’s Soroush and Norouz oil fields in Persian Gulf waters.  It was also planning to develop a gas liquefaction project called Persian LNG in Iran’s South Pars energy zone. However, it later cancelled its plans to that effect as a result of the sanctions.

Besides Total, European purchases of Iranian crude have gone to refineries in Spain, Greece and Italy since the sanctions were lifted.

Iran's crude exports are now close to pre-sanctions levels of around 2.5 million barrels per day, Reuters emphasized.  

Boko Haram Displays Arms Captured After Attacking Yobe Town

According to Terror Monitor, an organization which closely monitors and reports terrorists actions globally, Islamic State affiliate group Boko Haram has showed off arms, ammunition and other items captured after a recent attack on Kanamma town of Yobe State, north east Nigeria.

According to reports, residents said the insurgents stormed the town on Monday night, shooting sporadically, before attacking the Divisional Police Station of the area and some shops in the town. According to them, the insurgents were on rampage in “search of food” and consumed beverages among other eatables in the shops.

The Yobe State Commissioner of Police, Mr Chika Maidam, who confirmed the attack said the insurgents, who came in their numbers, attacked the Divisional Police Station of the area. He revealed that three of his men were injured during the raid but have been treated at the Geidam General Hospital and discharged.

source

New Ambassadorial Nominees And Their State Of Origin.

List Of Ambassadorial Nominees
1. Obinna Chukwuemeka Agbugba (Abia)
2. Salisu Umaru (Adamawa)
3. Inyan Udo-Inyang (Akwa Ibom)
4. Okeke Vivian Nwunaku (Anambra)
5. Liman Munir (Bauchi)
6. Ndem Jane Ada (Benue)
7. Mohammed Hassan Hassan (Borno)
8. Martin Nyong Cobham (Cross River)
9. Janet Omoleegho Olisa (Delta)
10. Itegboje S. Sunday (Edo)
11. Olatunde Adesesan (Ekiti)
12. Lilian Ijeukwu Onoh (Enugu)
13. Manaja Tula Isah (Gombe)
14. Ngozi Ukaeje (Imo)
15. Bello Kazaure Huessini (Jigawa)
16. Enoch Pear Duchi (Kaduna)
17. Garba Baba (Kano)
18. Usman Bakori Aliyu (Katsina)
19. Umar Zainab Salisu (Kebbi)
20. Momoh Sheidu Omeiza (Kogi)
21. Kadiri Ayinla Audu (Kwara)
22. Balogun Hakeem (Lagos)
23. Inusa Ahmed (Nasarawa)
24. Ibrahim Isah (Niger)
25. Bankole Adegboyega Adeoye (Ogun)
26. Ibidapo-Obe Oluwasegun (Osun)
27. Ogundero Sakirat (Oyo)
28. Eric A. Bell-Gam (Rivers)
29. Attahiru Halliru (Sokoto)
30. Rahmatu A. Dunama (Taraba)
31. Musa Saban Mamman (Yobe)
32. Kabiru Bala (Zamfara)
33. Adamu Onoze Shuaibu (FCT)
34. Demenongu A. Agev (Benue)
35. Toko Ali Gongulong (Borno)
36. Ibrahim Hamza (Katsina)
37. Kenneth C. Nwachukwu (Imo)
38. Queen I. Worlu (Edo)
39. Emmanuel Kayode Oguntause (Ekiti)
40. Paragalda Ilyasu Audu (Adamawa)
41. Lawan Abba Gashagar (Borno)
42. Olufemi Abikoye (Kwara)
43. Habu Abubakar Gwani Ibrahim (Gombe)
44. Rabiu Akawu (Kano)
45. Nonye Udo (Anambra)
46. Odeka Janet Bisong (Cross River)
47. Sonaike Adekunbi Abibat (Ogun)

In pictures: Muhammad Ali's love affair with Africa

Muhammad Ali was idolised across Africa for his prowess in the boxing ring and for championing the rights of black people. Ahead of his funeral on Friday, the BBC looks at his relationship with the continent:

Ali embarked on his first African tour in 1964, saying: "I want to see Africa and meet my brothers and sisters." His visit began in Ghana, the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to win independence from a European power.

"I am glad to tell our people that there are more things to be seen in Africa than lions and elephants. They never told us about your beautiful flowers, magnificent hotels, beautiful houses, beaches, great hospitals, schools, and universities," he said.

His itinerary included Nigeria, Africa's most populous state, where crowds welcomed him with chants of "king of the world".

The African trip came in a historic year for Ali - he defeated Sonny Liston to become world champion, dropped his "slave name" of Cassius Clay and converted to Islam.



The 22-year-old also visited Egypt, bridging the racial divide in Africa.



He fused politics and religion, giving the black power salute while shouting in Arabic "God is great" at the pyramids in Cairo.


He visited Egypt again in 1986. He once said that if a boxer was to be big, he had to be a Muslim "or else he won't get to nations like Indonesia, Lebanon, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, and Turkey - those are all countries that don't usually follow boxing".

His most famous visit to the continent was in 1974 to Kinshasa, capital of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), for the Rumble in the Jungle fight in which he reclaimed the world title after defeating George Foreman.

Zaire's then ruler Mobutu Sese Seko (L) arranged the fight, which increased Ali's fame and brought the country to the world's attention. Mobutu agreed to pay $5m (equivalent to approximately $24m today) to each fighter.

The fight was held at 04:00 local time. Millions watched around the globe on television as Ali entered the ring whipping up the 60,000 crowd, who chanted "Ali, boma ye", a phrase in the local Lingala language meaning "Ali, knock him out".

He visited Sudan in 1988, four years after he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, to spread the message of Islam as a religion of peace. Here he prays in a Sufi mosque in Khartoum.

South Africa's first black President Nelson Mandela, who had also been a boxer, once said: "Muhammad Ali was not just my hero, but the hero of millions of young, black South Africans because he brought dignity to boxing." The pair met in 2005.

culled from bbc

Bill Gates launches chicken plan to help Africa poor

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has launched a campaign to help extremely poor families in sub-Saharan Africa to raise chickens.

The billionaire says raising and selling the birds can be efficient in tackling extreme poverty.

He has promised to donate 100,000 chickens, and the project's page has already been shared thousands of times.

The UN estimates that 41% of people in sub-Saharan Africa live in extreme poverty.

Mr Gates said a farmer breeding five hens could earn more than $1,000 (£690) a year. The poverty line is about $700 (£484).

He added that the goal was to help 30% of the rural families in sub-Saharan Africa raise improved breeds of vaccinated chickens, up from the current 5%.

"These chickens are multiplying on an ongoing basis so there's no investment that has a return percentage anything like being able to breed chickens," he said at the launch of the campaign in New York.

He is partnering with charity organisation Heifer International.

Some 800 million people live in extreme poverty worldwide, the UN says.

source: bbc

Naira continued on bearish note, trading 371 per $1, as scarcity continue to persist.

The continuing pressure on the naira rose sharply on Wednesday with the local currency tumbling to a new low of 371 against the United States dollar at the parallel market. It had closed at 361 per dollar on Tuesday.

The delay by the Central Bank of Nigeria in explaining how the proposed flexible exchange policy will work has increased speculation on the currency.

Foreign exchange dealers and investors said the delay had caused uncertainty in the foreign exchange market and fuelled hoarding of hard currencies.

According to foreign exchange dealers at black markets in Lagos, Abuja and major airports across the country, the dollar was sold for between 367 and 373 on Wednesday.

Findings from various operators revealed that the local currency went for 371 against the greenback in most of the parallel market locations.

Abokifx.com, an online portal that monitors the movement of exchange rates at the parallel market, reported that the naira closed at 367 against the dollar.

However, the currency traded at 199.40 to the dollar on the official interbank market, within the CBN’s pegged rate band.

“Demand for the greenback has increased amidst growing scarcity as uncertainties created by the new policy have caused individuals to start to stock dollars,” the National President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, told Reuters on Wednesday.

Economic analysts said heightened political risks, evolving economic crisis and the CBN’s delay in unveiling its blueprint on the proposed forex policy were responsible for the fast depreciating rate of the naira at the parallel market.

An economic analyst and Chief Executive Officer of Cowry Asset Management Limited, Mr. Johnson Chukwu, said, “Foreign investors are fast losing confidence in the economy, seeing that they cannot bank on what the central bank says. It is almost two weeks now since the announcement of a new policy and yet, the blueprint has not been unveiled.

“Secondly, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, just said that oil production had fallen significantly as a result of the disruption in the Niger Delta; this means a major drop in our forex earnings. So, this is an evolving economic crisis.”

Other analysts said the value of the local currency was dipping because customers were trying to hedge against a possible depreciation when the CBN clarifies its new forex policy.

The naira had closed at 357 against the greenback on Monday, before crashing to 361 on Tuesday.

The CBN had recently said it would abandon its naira peg to the dollar and introduce a flexible currency exchange regime.

It has not said how this will work, a situation that has unsettled investors who are worried about getting caught in the middle of a devaluation.

The CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee had two weeks ago announced the plan to adopt a flexible exchange rate. The Governor, CBN, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, said the blueprint for the proposed policy would be released soon.

The delay has, however, caused the stock market to record huge losses after recording landmark gains following the announcement of the plan to adopt the policy.

The central bank banned dollar sales to retail Bureaux De Change in January and reduced supply at its official interbank forex market in an effort to conserve reserves, now at their lowest level.

culled from punch

Four Killed In Mass Shooting In Tel Aviv

Two Palestinian cousins are suspected of the "harsh terror attack" on a bustling food market near Israel's military headquarters.

Police in Israel have described the shootings as a 'harsh terror attack'

Four people have died following a mass shooting in the centre of Tel Aviv, according to Israeli police.

Up to six others have been injured in the attack, which took place at a popular open-air food market near the country's defence ministry and army headquarters.

A police commander said two Palestinian gunmen from the West Bank were behind the "harsh terror attack", and both were "neutralised" at the scene.

Israeli officials had initially feared further attackers were on the loose

One of the alleged attackers was arrested, and a doctor has told Sky News the other suspect is in a stable condition after being taken to hospital for treatment.

In response, Israel has suspended most special permits for Palestinians to visit the country during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and beefed up police patrols in Tel Aviv.

Local reports suggest one of the gunmen had been disguised as an ultra-Orthodox Jew.

It is believed the two suspects are cousins in their 20s and had been eating at one of the restaurants near the Sarona shopping complex when they opened fire.

Several victims, and one of the attackers, are being treated in hospita

A director at the crowded market said security guards managed to avert a bigger disaster by stopping the attackers from going inside.

One woman said she was celebrating her son's birthday when she heard gunfire and "immediately understood it was a terror attack".

She told Channel 10: "We ran like lighting with the baby and the stroller ... I yelled at people who didn't understand what was happening to run."

Since October, 31 Israelis and two Americans have been killed in attacks allegedly carried out by Palestinians.

The attack is likely to cause fresh insecurity on the streets of Israel

About 200 Palestinians have been killed over this eight-month period, with Israel identifying most of them as attackers.

Israel's Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has met with security officials at the defence ministry since Wednesday evening's attack.

The US has condemned the attack as "cowardly".

culled from sky news

flavour and his adorable cute daughter

talented singer flavour took his daughter on a ride, so cute

Breaking news: Another new militant group "Ultimate Warriors of Niger Delta surfaces" demands allocation of 60% oil blocs to Niger Deltans

A new militant group, the Ultimate Warriors of Niger Delta have surfaced, with a demand that the Federal government allocate 60% of the nation's oil blocs to indigenes of the Niger Delta region.

In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Brig. Sibiri Taiowoh and made available to newsmen yesterday June 8th, the group said failure to meet their demands within 2 weeks will see continuous attack of oil installations in the Niger Delta region.

The militants amongst other things are demanding for the completion of the Federal Maritime University which was established by former President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the contract to secure oil pipelines in the region

“We want to be the ones to be safe guarding oil pipeline in our area so as to create more jobs for our people. We would resist any attempt to give surveillance contracts of pipeline in our backyard to foreigners. We want the pipeline jobs to be given to our indigenous people. We also want 60 per cent of the oil blocs to be allocated to the Niger Deltans just as the Federal Government has also allocated 80 per cent to those who are not from the oil producing area and just as 50 per cent of the resource was used to develop the non-oil area when we were producing cocoa and groundnut as main economic resources, the same 50 percent should be use to develop the Niger Delta region because we are the ones suffering the brunt of oil pollution and degradation in the region. We are behind the recent pipeline bombing in the Niger Delta region and I can assure you we will not stop until the EPZ project and the Maritime University are totally completed and start operations" the statement read

I'm Alive - Babangida Speaks From Germany

NIGERIA'S former Military President, retired General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, has spoken from Germany where he has been in the last few weeks.

IBB, as he is fondly called, said he is alive contrary to reports that he had passed on.

MEZIE TIMES had quoted a family source recently, saying that the former military ruler was hale and hearty.
Babangida, speaking on a Television Continental programme on Wednesday, said he would soon return home.

The Lagos-based television programme, Journalists Hangout, was where Babangida called into to dispel the rumour of his death.

He told TVC crew: “I am alive.”

As at press time, journalists were still laying siege to his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, Niger State for news on his whereabouts.
Update from his hiltop mansion
In a bid to further dismiss the rumour tha‎t former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has died, his Personal Assistant, Captain Jalingo, on Wednesday said the gap toothed General is expected in Nigeria on Sunday.
Jalingo, while addressing journalists who had laid siege to the Hilltop Mansion area on Wednesday waiting for Babangida’s arrival, said: “General is alive.”
According to him: “He is supposed to be back today (Wednesday), but he did not come.

“General Babangida is alive.
“Insha Allah, he will be back on Sunday.
“If IBB comes back, there would be a press briefing that same day or the following day.
“He will address the media.”

Pics of Ooni Ogunwusi And Wife At Lagos Airport On Their Way To The US

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II and his queen Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi were pictured at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on their way to USA for an event to unite Africans especially the Yorubas in the North American country.

The monarch who has been lately criticized for his too many journeys and visits -pulled a massive crowd at the departure wing of the airport -as people gathered to catch a glimpse of him

'Free the Nipple' Hundreds strip off in a protest on Brighton Beach in a bid to make breasts more accepted in society

200 people paraded topless on Brighton beach to highlight the nipple ban

Marched from Brighton Pier along the seafront then sunbathed on beach

March aimed to stop the sexualisation of women's nipples in the media

Free The Nipple march was organised by comedian Samantha Pressdee  

Hundreds of men and women gathered topless on Brighton beach for the 'Free the Nipple' campaign to make the sight or breasts more normal.

Two hundred women and men paraded topless around Brighton Beach at the weekend to highlight controversial social media policies about banning female nipples.

The Sunday afternoon march started from Brighton Pier, and then headed along the East Sussex city seafront before stopping on the beach - where everybody sunbathed topless.

also read how twin sisters make alot of money with their sexy pictures

One member who attended the event said: 'It was lovely, I felt proud and fantastic.

'There wasn't any negativity or aggression, all we got was a lot of smiles and a lot of support and cheering.'

The event was organised by comedian Samantha Pressdee, who came to Brighton with her one-woman comedy show about nudity and sexuality.

source: dailymail

High-speed Train Speed of 350km/h is Safe: China Railway

A high-speed train runs in southwest China’s Guizhou province on December 26, 2016. [Photo: Xinhua]

High-speed trains can safely adjust back to 350 kilometers per hour, a China RailwayCorporation engineer said on Tuesday, Xinhua News reports.

At a briefing of the Modern Railways 2016 railway equipment fair, engineer He Huawuconfirmed it is technically feasible for trains to regain speed, adding the decision has notyet been made due to financial concerns.

A speed re-adjustment will lead to higher operational and maintenance costs as well as increased energy consumption, He said.

China lowered the maximum speed of high-speed trains to 300 kilometers per hour five five years ago, following a severe rear-end collision.

By the end of 2015, China's high-speed train network will cover more than 19,000kilometers, accounting for more than 60 percent of the world's operational high-speed train train train mileage.

The Modern Railways 2016 railway equipment fair is organized by China Railway Corporation and will be held in Beijing between June 20-22.

source: peoples china