OBJ Praises Ooni For Preserving Yoruba Culture | Tribune

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FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, for preserving the custom and culture of Yorubaland, noting that within his one year on the throne, he had done a lot in enhancing peace and cooperation among the traditional rulers in the South-West.

Speaking during the one year coronation anniversary of Oba Ogunwusi, on Wednesday, held inside the Ile Oodua, where the monarch’s palace is located, he said: “I have been watching the Ooni with his transformation moves since his ascendancy on the throne. I have been studying his zeal for unification of all interests in Yoruba land with keen interest, and I commend him for that. I wish him long life on the throne and continuity of his good works.”

HANNAH PRAISES GOD

Seek Daily (NBC)

Friday, December 9

1 Samuel 2:1-10

HANNAH PRAISES GOD

“My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high... “1 Samuel 2:1, NIV

Hannah’s childlessness was probably the reason why her husband married the second wife, Peninnah who had no respect whatsoever for Hannah rather, she “provoked her severely and make her miserable (1 Samuel 1: 6-7). Are you in a similar

No Condition Is Permanent By Ochereome Nnanna

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A FRESHLY-HATCHED baby bedbug was cozy beside its mother between the laces of a mat as they sucked the blood of the owners of the house who were fast asleep. When the sun was up, in order to kill the stubborn bedbugs, the humans took the mat and spread it outside. As the heat of the sun intensified, the baby bedbug became uncomfortable and cried out to its mother: “Mother, the heat is getting too much. We may soon die”. The mother replied: “My baby, bear it.

Whatever is hot will surely cool down. No condition is permanent”.

You must have seen this legend plastered on the boards of lorries (Gwongworo in Igbo, Bolekaja in Yoruba, fill in the gap in your language), commercial buses, tricycles, commercial motorcycles and even wheel barrows.

Echoes of Modern Primitivity By Josef Omorotionmwan

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WHEN certain things happen, we just wonder whether we have not yet arrived at the 21st century. Nigeria, like every other country, is supposed to be mutually inclusive – excessive gains on one side would be deprivation on another. Did former President Olusegun Obasanjo say he had deliberately set out to create 50 billionaires during his presidency? What a hopeless height of indiscretion!

It is still worse if he did not realise that in a country of 170 million citizens, he had, by that singular declaration, also set out to create more than 169.99 million paupers.

Judge Earns N24m Annually, Spent N500m In 10 Months – AGF By Ade Adesomoju

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The Federal Government on Wednesday said investigations had shown that a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, spent over N500m between January and October 2016 despite his total annual legitimate earnings, including his allowances being N24m.

This was disclosed in a document prepared by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Charles Adeogun-Philips, summarising the case of the prosecution against the Justice of the Supreme Court, who was on November 21, 2016, arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

US Power Will Decline Under Trump, Says Futurist Who Predicted Soviet Collapse

Johan Galtung, a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated sociologist who predicted the collapse of the Soviet Union, warned that US global power will collapse under the Donald Trump administration.

The Norwegian professor at the University of Hawaii and Transcend Peace University is recognized as the ‘founding father’ of peace and conflict studies as a scientific discipline. He has made numerous accurate predictions of major world events, most notably the collapse of the Soviet Empire.

Yemen Conflict: UN Official Accuses World of Ignoring Crisis | BBC

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In the hands of the doctor, baby Ibrahim’s head seems impossibly small. He cradles the child gently, conscious of his fragility. Everything around him seems improbably large.

The nappies Ibrahim wears are the smallest available but are still too big. With his large eyes and hollowed out face, with ribs which press against his skin, the baby looks as if he is shrinking back into himself.

It seems perverse to describe a child in this state of as “lucky”. But Ibrahim has survived 21 days and doctors are hopeful he will endure. His twin brother died soon after he was born.

Calling Gordon Gekko: How Old Mobile Phones Became £1,000 Collector Items | TheGuardian

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hen it debuted in 1989, the MicroTAC was hailed as a “game-changer”, one that Motorola argued would bring mobile phones out of the hands of top execs and into the hands of senior mid-level execs. Competively price at $2,995, the size of a Dutch brick rather than the preceding concrete breezeblock, it had an amazing half-hour’s talk time with only 10 hours of charging.

The price has dropped a bit, but at £100 on eBay, the likes of the MicroTAC still hold value for collectors. New research by Talkmobile highlights how the market for vintage phones has become increasingly lively as collectors aim to snap up a brick of tech history.

Love Ratio: Men named David make the best lovers, study reveals

It is not uncommon to hear expressions that link certain names with certain traits.

All the time people say stuff like "Men namedSegun are usually troublesome, men named Ayo are often promiscuous.

"Women named Cynthia are often slutty as well as those named Sandra and Jessica."

Obama Sends Messages to Trump on Terrorism, Drone Strategies

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President Barack Obama on Tuesday defended his approach to fighting the Islamic State and al-Qaeda in a speech that appeared to feature several tips for his successor, Donald Trump.

Obama used what was likely his final national security address to press for continuing his policy of avoiding resource-draining U.S. ground operations in the Middle East. He argued the use of armed drones, elite warriors and local troops has decimated al-Qaeda and has begun to substantially weaken the Islamic State. Trump has suggested some major changes to Obama’s strategy, including working with Russia, tightening Muslims’ access to the U.S., and teaming with any country that promises to fight “radical Islam.”

Federal Workers To Get 1000 Houses In 6 Months

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The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita has assured that federal civil servants would get 1000 house units within six months under the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) programme.

She gave the assurance yesterday in Abuja while hosting a delegation of Brains and Hammers Estate developers in her office.

She said that housing for Nigerians is a priority of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and that the civil servants that implement government policies deserve lion share of policies at achieving that.

Donald Trump adviser says ‘If China doesn’t like it, screw ’em’ as diplomatic row escalates

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Donald Trump should not worry about insulting China and if Beijing objects to him speaking to Taiwan, “screw ’em”, an economic adviser to the US president-elect has said.

Stephen Moore, chief economist of The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington, said Mr Trump was right to risk China’s displeasure by speaking on the phone with the president of Taiwan, which the Chinese regard as a breakaway province.

Joe Biden Hints At 2020 Presidential Run: ‘Fate Has A Way of Intervening’ | TheGuardian

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For anyone whose heart aches for the twists and turns of the 2016 presidential campaign can rejoice, speculation has already begun about the 2020 race.

On Monday, current vice-president, former senator and one-man meme machine Joe Biden said he would run for president in 2020 – maybe.

The departing vice president, who will be 78 at the time of the next election, said it with a slight smile on his face. Given a chance to walk it back, he did – but only a little bit.

Dutch Prime Minister Says Migrant Boats Should Be Sent Back To Africa

Prime minister Mark Rutte has called for migrant boats intercepted off the coast of Italy to be towed back to safe countries in northern Africa. Speaking at a conference of European Liberal parties in Warsaw on Saturday, Rutte said: ‘European ships currently pick up migrants and bring them to Italy.

The Buhari-Saraki Détente

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When Aisha Buhari, the First Lady, gave a BBC interview in October in which she complained that a few persons around President Muhammadu Buhari had hijacked his government and were misleading him, many people in and outside government were shocked. Although many public officials and top politicians felt that she had spoken their mind, nobody dared corroborate what she said. The only exception was the Senate President, who, through Bamikole Omisore, his Special Assistant on New Media, expressed happiness and held that what Aisha said vindicated him. “It has become clear that there is a government within the government of President Buhari who have (sic) seized apparatus of executive powers to pursue their nefarious agenda”, Omisore said in a tweet.

Italy’s ‘No’ Vote Shakes EU

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Banks have come under more pressure while the European Central Bank also faces a test. In fact, some say the whole Eurozone concept is looking a bit wobbly, following Italy’s referendum result.

The situation could add some nervousness into the negotiating position of the EU ahead of its talks with the UK.
It won’t stop the EU being miffed with the UK starting off the populist craze though — Italy’s minister for European affairs has said Brexit started the disintegration of the EU.

French Town Ordered To Remove Virgin Mary Statue To Respect Secularism | Telgraph

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A town in eastern France has been ordered to remove a statue of the Virgin Mary to comply with secular rules banning religious symbols in public.

An administrative court ordered the commune of Publier, in the Haute-Savoie region to take down the offending statue which overlooks Lake Geneva and has been in place in a public park since 2011.

The town has three months to comply with the ruling on pain of receiving a fine of €100 (£85) per day, the November 24 judgement stipulates.

Gaston Lacroix, the town’s mayor has pledged to find a new home for the religious icon “on private land”.

Does Eating Chocolate Improve Your Brain Function?

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Everyone loves a study that turns one of our favourite vices into a health benefit. This week, the news headlines tell us “eating chocolate improves brain function” and that it “could help protect against normal age-related decline”.

The study, published this month in the peer-reviewed journal Appetite, found that memory and abstract thinking improved in those reporting more chocolate consumption. These effects were reported not to be influenced by factors such as age, weight and general health measures.

Five African Countries Ban ‘Dirty Fuels’ From Europe | BBC

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Five countries in West Africa have decided to stop importing “dirty fuels” from Europe, the UN Environment Programme says.

A recent report revealed that European companies were exploiting weak regulations in West Africa to export fuels with high levels of sulphur.

Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire agreed on the import ban.

The UN says the move will help more than 250 million people breathe safer and cleaner air.

GOD’S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM

Seek Daily (NBC)

Wednesday, December 7

Genesis 17: 1-8

GOD’S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM

I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants... v. 7

When God called Abraham at 75years of age to go out from his country, his people and his father’s household, “...I will make you into a great nation” was one of His promises given to him. Delay

Renzi’s Defeat Is Bad News For Europe | WashingtonPost

Europe is now being pulled by two irreconcilable political ideologies after Austrian voters in Sunday’s presidential election threw their support behind a liberal, pro-European Union candidate, whereas in Italy, the reform-minded prime minister, Matteo Renzi, was roundly defeated by anti-establishment and anti-E.U. movements.

One ideology, shown by the Austrian result, is wedded to the idea of an open Europe and a strong E.U. based on tolerance and solidarity. The other, as many Italians showed, is inward-looking, anti-immigrant, anti-E.U., anti-globalization. It is convinced that the nation-state can go its own way.

Is this Season a Bad one for Chelsea Fc?

*CHELSEA FC EPL RESULTS for 2016/2017 as at 04/12/2016:*

*AUGUST:*

*Week 1: 15/08/2016*

*Chelsea (2) vs West Ham (1)*

*Goals scored by:*

*E.Hazard 47' Pen. (Chelsea)*

*J.Collins 77' (West Ham)*

*D.Costa 89' (Chelsea)*

Two giant Chinese companies are getting thousands of students into US schools—allegedly by committing fraud

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For $1,450 to $7,300, New Oriental Education & Technology Group will help a Chinese student get into college in America. According to the company, that fee covers coaching, school-searching, and “polishing” application essays—and according to its actual workers, it covers straight-up fraud.

Eight former and current New Oriental employees told Reuters last week that New Oriental has written students’ application essays and teacher recommendations, in addition to falsifying entire high-school transcripts; 17 former employees of Dipont, a second Chinese education company, said they did the same. “I know there is an ethical dilemma, but it’s the nature of the industry,” one New Oriental employee admitted. New Oriental alone serves more than two million Chinese students each year and has annual revenues of around $1.5 billion.

Reuters’ report is only the latest in a string of investigations into shady practices at Chinese education companies. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the SAT—the standardized test that most US colleges require applicants to take—was compromised by a massive cheating operation run by several Asian test prep companies.
The whispers of fraud come a time when Chinese students are swarming to the US for college, with the number increasing fivefold over the last decade. International applications overall in that timeframe by comparison only doubled

Security: Nigeria Buys Warplanes & Helicopters From Russia, Pakistan- BBC

Nigeria has bought warplanes and helicopters from Russia and Pakistan following the refusal of the US to sell arms to the West African state, the Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar, has said., BBC claims.

The purchase was aimed at boosting the military in its efforts to end the insurgency by militant Islamists in the north and oil militants in the south.

Soyinka To Hold Private Funeral For Death of “Common Sense” In Nigeria

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Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, on Monday in Lagos vowed to hold a private funeral on January 20, the day the United States President-elect, Donald Trump, will be sworn in.

A visibly angry Mr. Soyinka, who was speaking about the controversy that arose over his threat to destroy his American Green Card following the election of Mr. Trump, said the private wake will have nothing to do with U.S. politics but would instead be to the death of common sense among Nigerians.