In Historic Move, Pope to Meet With Leader of Russian Orthodox Church

Pope Francis at the Vatican on Tuesday. For Francis, the meeting with the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church is the result of delicate and sustained diplomacy. Credit Andrew Medichini/Associated Press

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis will make a surprise trip to Cuba on Feb. 12 for a historic meeting with the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, the first meeting between a pope and the Russian patriarch since the eastern and western branches of Christianity split nearly 1,000 years ago, the Vatican announced on Friday.

For Francis, the meeting is the result of delicate and sustained diplomacy, some of which began decades ago under Pope John Paul II, and it is another important milestone in his efforts to reconcile the Roman Catholic Church with Eastern Orthodox churches.

The breakthrough also highlights Francis’s ties to Cuba, as President Raúl Castro “was involved in organizing the meeting,” said the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, at a news conference.

“The encounter has been under preparation for a long time — it wasn’t improvised,” Father Lombardi said.

He said discussions had been underway “for at least two years,” and the fact that both leaders planned to be in Latin America created the possibility of a “neutral place” for a meeting.

Sweden, U.K. slam ‘frankly ridiculous’ UN claim that Julian Assange has been ‘arbitrarily detained’

Geoff Caddick / Getty ImagesA UN panel ruled Friday February 5, 2016, that the 'detention' of Julian Assange should be ended after nearly four years in Ecuador's embassy in London, stoking the Wikileaks founder's hopes of walking free.

 

LONDON — A United Nations human rights panel has sided with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in his long-running battle with Swedish and British authorities, saying he should be freed immediately and compensated for the years he has lost.

The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which falls under the offices of the U.N. human rights chief, said Assange has been “arbitrarily detained” by Britain and Sweden since December 2010, when he was first sought for questioning on allegations of sexual misconduct.

Rubio Proves Obama’s Point About Islam and Intolerance in the US

Sen. Marco Rubio accused the president of 'pitting people against each other' in Obama's visit to a mosque this week.

For years, President Obama avoided visiting a mosque in the United States. While the White House never explained why, American Muslims tended to believe he was afraid of the backlash such a visit might inspire from conservatives.

David Graham is a senior associate editor at The Atlantic, where he oversees the Politics Channel. He previously reported for Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and The National. Full Bio

On Wednesday, he finally visited the Islamic Society of Baltimore, and much of the right’s reaction is validating those suspicions. There was some outright dishonesty, like Donald Trump’s implication that Obama is a Muslim: “Maybe he feels comfortable there.” (Memo to The Donald: He didn’t do this until the eighth year of his presidency.) That’s standard Trump fare. More surprising was Marco Rubio’s response:

He gave a speech at a mosque, basically implying that America is discriminating against Muslims. Of course there’s discrimination in America, of every kind. But the bigger issue is radical Islam. This constant pitting people against each other, I can’t stand that. It’s hurting our country badly.

Reading Rubio’s remarks, anyone who heard Obama must have thought, “Did he watch the same speech I did?” The answer is most likely not: Rubio is in the middle of a hectic New Hampshire campaign swing, and it’s hard to imagine he spent an hour watching Obama speak. Suffice it to say that the president’s address bore little resemblance to Rubio’s description.

Omotola and Genevieve who is hotter and richer?

These ladies are both fair and rich, but which one is the richest and hottest? Learn now!

How much do you know about Nigerian actresses? Who are the most prominent ones? Nollywood is full of super stars. So, let’s look at the hottest of them – Omotola and Genevieve.

Nollywood actresses' biography

Omotola Jalade Ekeinde was born in 1978. She was brought up in Lagos with two younger brothers. She desired working in business management. But before entering university, she began working as model to support herself. She changed several secondary schools and universities. Finally, she obtained her diploma in Yaba College of Technology.

Way out of Osun economic crisis, by finance expert

•Akinsola

Deji Akinsola, a finance expert, reviews the economic situation in Osun State and suggests how it can get out of the economic crisis. He spoke with Basirat Buraimah. 
How did Osun State find itself in this financial mess?
I don’t think it is fair and it is not right to single Osun State out in the financial predicament enveloping the whole world.

It is a worldwide crisis. The financial meltdown is global. It cannot be felt equally though. In Nigeria, it will be unfair to single out Osun state to be in crisis and I know it is nationwide.

I know many states to be 23 months behind in salary payment. Almost every state is owing but then, when it comes to Osun, I think it is a peculiar case because of the giant strides that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came with in the first two years of his administration and it is that standard that people are using to measure him and that is why it appears that the impact is felt more in Osun.

Burna Boy stinks with poor personality, horrible attitude – Krystn Enem

Nigerian broadcaster, Krystn Enem has lashed out at dancehall star, Burna Boy, saying he has a poor personality and horrible attitude.
Enem, the show host of TheKrystnEnemShow on Africa Magic Urban, on her Twitter handle @KrystnEmem, told Burna Boy that ‘his end is very near’.

“So many reasons why many Nigerian artists don’t last more that 2 years or after a few hits? Their poor personalities and horrible attitude.
“My manager contacted this artist 10 days ago. We spoke to his manager who happens to be his mum, asked for an interview and she referred us to some other person supposedly in charge of PR. We booked the appointment for the interview. This was 10 days ago or thereabout. The lady asked us to send an official email which we did right away with all details.

Chioma Akpotha, Uche Jombo, Ufuoma McDermott star in Omoni Oboli’s ‘Wives on Strike’

Omoni Oboli is set to release a new movie, ‘Wives on Strike’. Photo: Omoni Oboli

Following the success of her 2015 romantic comedy, ‘The First Lady’, top Nollywood actress, Omoni Oboli is back with a new movie.

The new movie, ‘Wives on Strike’ is a hilarious comedy which tells the story of ‘a group of market women who decided to take matters into their own hands against their husbands in a bid to stir them into standing up for a young girl whom they wanted to protect from the wishes of her own father.’

Coming the heels of a recent controversy which involved Chioma Akpotha, Uche Jombo, Ufuoma McDermott and Omoni Oboli, one is forced to ask if the recent twitter ‘beef’ isn’t a ploy to promote the movie.

An OPEN LETTER to 9ice, Toni Payne, Journalists, Friends and Fans – Ruggedman writes

Ruggedman

In 2010 9ice released a song that made a lot of people wrongfully drag me into a terrible situation. People who miscontrued the song and it created a rumour .

A terrible false rumour that was fueled by journalists and bloggers who were only after hits on their sites. Bloggers and journalists who did not care to investigate and confirm a rumour, but chose to print and post it anyways not caring who got hurt in the process.

Now, actor Olumide Bakare needs help!

•Bakare

The story has changed from January 2014, when veteran actor, Olumide Bakare, did not require help from the public to foot his medical bills. In fact, then the actor denied that he had anything serious other than the normal age-related ailments that required constant medical check-ups.

Today, the lively and frank-speaking thespian has confirmed his illness, begging not to be allowed to die just yet.
His worsening medical situation has prompted him to call on public-spirited Nigerians to come to his aid, as he lies on his sick bed, at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan since last week.

BREAKING: Darey Art Alade Announces ‘Love Like A Movie 3’ with Ciara!

Darey and Ciara to headline 3rd LLAM.

Nigerian R&B star, Dare Art Alade has revealed that the third edition of his highly anticipated concert, ‘Love Like a Movie’ will hold on February 28, 2016 and will feature Grammy award winning star, Ciara.
Love Like A Movie, which has recorded two hugely successful editions in 2013 and 2014 that featured global superstars, Kim Kardashian and Kelly Rowland is set to break further grounds this year by completely reinventing the concept of the R&B dance party with choreographed dance, a dynamic laser show, music, symphonic lights and high energy performances from top Nigerian and international performers.
The show, which will hold at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, will also feature star performances from some of Nigeria’s finest artistes including Yemi Alade, Adekunle Gold, Iyanya, Sound Sultan, Zaina, Omawumi, Sammy, Olamide, Vector, Kaffy, Simi, Tolu, Blackky, Styl Plus, Jazzman Olofin, Weird MC, Kenny Black and many more.

NDA Investigates Alleged Unruly Behavior Of Cadets In Viral Video

TheNigerian Defence Academy (NDA) says it is investigating a video that has gone viral on the internet showing some military cadets beating a young man for allegedly complimenting a female cadet.

 


A statement issued on Thursday by the academy’s spokesman, Musa Yahaya, said that preliminary investigation into the matter has confirmed that the incident occurred somewhere in Lagos in 2014 while the cadets were on break.

The statement noted that the NDA, being a responsible institution that is saddled with the task of producing the nation’s future military leaders would not in anyway, tolerate such unruly and flagrant mistreatment of Nigerians.

It further explained that the current leadership of the academy would ensure that the matter is thoroughly investigated and disciplinary loopholes addressed.

Reps to engage OICs over N1trn cash call on oil joint venture

   

The House of Representatives on Wednesday unveiled plans to engage the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil majors involved in the joint venture (JV) with a view to reviewing the annual N1 trillion production cost.

The move was part of efforts geared toward restructuring the N6.08 trillion Appropriation Bill presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the joint session of the National Assembly.

President Buhari had during the formal presentation of the N6.08 trillion budget proposal to the joint session of the National Assembly, emphasised the need to fund the N2.2 trillion budget deficit through external and domestic borrowings.

Abdulmumin Jibrin, chairman House Committee on Appropriations, who spoke with Legislative Correspondents in Abuja, also confirmed that the $3.5 billion World Bank/African Development Bank facility being sourced by the Federal Government was part of the 2016-2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) approved by the National Assembly.

Okowa congratulates Udom, Ikpeazu on electoral victories

Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa has congratulated Governors Udom Emmanuel and Okezie Ikpeazu of Akwa-Ibom and Abia States on the affirmation of their electoral victories by the Supreme Court.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Charles Ehiedu Aniagwu, described the Supreme Court victories as “well deserved” for Udom and Ikpeazu who are both members of the People’s Democratic Party.

Okowa while commending the Supreme Court Justices for the landmark judgments said the Apex Court has indeed upheld the rule of law and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The judgment of the apex court on the cases of Governors Udom and Ikpeazu is a victory for our democracy and a reaffirmation of the divine mandate freely given to the Governors by the people of both states and commended the Supreme Court for ensuring the sanctity of the people’s mandate,” he said.

Senate begins investigation into fresh allegations to extradite Kashamu

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition has begun investigation into fresh allegations of moves by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to extradite Sen. Buruji Kashamu to the U.S.

The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu while meeting with the senator and his solicitor on the allegation on Wednesday in Abuja, said the committee would carry out its mandate.
He directed that all parties involved in the allegation, including former Chairman of (NDLEA), Ahmed Giade and the Director-General of NDLEA, should maintain status quo pending the committee’s investigation.

“ Having heard from you the Solicitor to Senator Kashamu, you may now leave and be rest assured that we will hear from the other correspondents and we will come up with a position on this issue.
“Meanwhile I think it is obvious that when we make our investigation we will put down our report to the entire Senate.

N13.9 arms deal: FG accuses Dasuki of plotting to scuttle trial

• Court to rule Feb 8

The Federal Government Thursday accused former National Security Adviser (NSA), Mohammed Sambo Dasuki of plotting to scuttle his trial before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Maitama, Abuja.

Dasuki is being tried with a former Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser, Shuaibu Salisu, a former General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Babakusa and two  companies – Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited  – on a 19-count charge  bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust.
The accusation is contained in a counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution against an application filed by Dasuki.