Market explosion kills 20 people in Pakistan

According to the media wing of Pakistan's military, an explosion ripped through a vegetable market in Parachinar, the capital of the Kurram region in Pakistan's northwestern tribal area, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 40.

The explosive device blast occurred this morning, January 21, 2017 where a large number of people had gathered according to Ikramullah Khan, a senior government official in Parachinar.

So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Kurram has endured many militant attacks because it is on the border with war-torn Afghanistan.

Donald Trump sworn in as the 45th president of the USA (photos)

Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 45th president of the United States of America. It was done before noon, US time, outside the Capitol Building. His Vice Mike Pence has also been sworn in. See more photos 

Photos: IPOB members in Rivers hold inauguration rally for Donald Trump

Members of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, are currently holding an inauguration rally in support of US president-elect, Donald Trump, who will be sworn in today as the 45th US President. Continue to see more photos.

Thousands of foreign nationals flee Gambia as crisis deepens (Photos)

Thousands of tourists and foreign nationals have been flooding the Banjul airport in an effort to return home as the political crisis in Gambia deepens. According to several reports, the foreigners are said to have been traveling out of the country since Monday, January 17, 2017, as they fear the political crisis could result into a civil war.

President Yahya Jammeh, who is supposed to cede power Thursday, the same day President-elect Adama Barrow is expected to be sworn in as his successor, declared a 90-day state of emergency on Tuesday, January 17, 2017. Prior to his declaration, the Gambia’s National Assembly on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, passed a resolution to allow President Yahya Jammeh to stay in office for the 90 days.

Bus crash kills 15 students in India

Authorities in norther India say at least 15 children died and 30 were injured when a school bus collided with a truck Thursday.

"Some children are in critical condition, so casualties could rise," said Parashuram Singh, the deputy superintendent of police in the state of Uttar Pradesh's Etah district.

The school bus was carrying around 60 junior high school students. An initial investigation indicates the truck was speeding in dense fog, which likely caused the accident, the deputy said. Etah district administration had ordered all schools in the district to remain closed until January 20 due to cold weather, Satish Pal, Additional District Magistrate (ADM) of the district.

India has a history of deadly road accidents. In 2015, the total number of traffic accidents increased 2.5 percent to 501,423, from 489,400 in 2014, according to the country's transport and highways ministry. Traffic-related deaths increased 4.6 percent to 146,133 in 2015, from 139,671 in 2014

One dies as gravel truck falls on a car at Ojuelegba

A life was lost in an accident involving a truck carrying gravel and a car.  Lagos State Emergency Management Agency shared photos from the scene on their twitter page. More photos

President Obama warns Trump that he 'will be watching' and will step in if Trump goes out of line

Outgoing President, Barrack Obama, who had earlier said he was going to take some quiet time off and even do some writing after he steps down, has now issued a warning to Trump, letting him know that he will not be silent if he notices Trump's policies and actions as president goes against certain core values and infringes on human rights.

Obama made this known during his final press conference on Friday. Some of the issues he brought up which could cause him to step out of the sidelines include; systemic discrimination, effort to silence dissent or the press and efforts to roll back voting rights. He also spoke on Trump's promise to deport illegal immigrants and warned him about 'rounding up' children for deportation.

"And for me, at least, I would put in that category efforts to round up kids who have grown up here and for all practical purposes are American kids, and send them someplace else, when they love this country, they are our kids' friends and their classmates and are now entering into community colleges or in some cases serving in our military ..."

"The notion that we would just arbitrarily, or because of politics, punish those kids, when they didn't do anything wrong themselves, I think would be something that would merit me speaking out." Obama said.

As president, Obama had actions in place to protect these immigrants but Trump has threatened to undo those actions when he becomes president.

Obama also touched on the issue of Trump's continuous bashing of the press, CNN especially, and the threat from his press team to kick reporters out of the white house, saying that the press is what keeps them honest and accountable.

"Having you in this building has made this place work better, it keeps us honest ... it makes us work harder,' he said."

Obama concluded by stating the possibilities that could result from being accepting of people and keeping opportunities open to everybody.

"If in fact we continue to keep opportunity open to everybody, then, yeah, we're going to have a woman president, we're going to have a Latino president, we're going to have a Jewish president, a Hindu president,' Obama said. 'You know, who knows who we're going to have?"

"I suspect we'll have a whole bunch of mixed-up presidents at some point, that nobody really knows what to call them. And that's fine."

Gambian president-elect, Adama Barrow, sworn into office

Gambian President-elect, Adama Barrow, has been sworn into office at the Gambian embassy in Dakar, Senegal. He took his oath of office this evening.

 "This is a day no Gambian will ever forget in a lifetime," Barrow said in a speech immediately after being sworn in.

 Meanwhile his predecessor, Yahya Jammeh, maintains he is still the legal president of the country.

Pop Legend, Paul McCartney sues Sony Music

Pop legend, Paul McCartney filed a lawsuit against Sony/ATV Music Publishing on Wednesday January 18, 2017 in an attempt to regain the rights to a long list of Beatles hits that he either wrote or co-wrote with John Lennon.

According to court documents songs such as "Yesterday," "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and others Beatles hit songs are subject to the suit.


So far, Sony has declined to comment on the matter but McCartney is arguing that the 1976 Copyright Act should allow him to start reclaiming ownership of the songs from Sony/ATV next year.

You'll recall that Sony and Michael Jackson formed Sony/ATV in 1995, a decade after the King of Pop paid $41.5 million to acquire the ATV catalog, which included many Beatles songs, at the time, Jackson outbid McCartney to clinch the deal.

Photos: President Buhari departs to the UK for his 10-day medical vacation

President Buhari has departed Abuja for the UK where he will be spending his 10-day medical leave. He has handed over power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. See more photos 

Botswana becomes the first country to officially denounce Yahya Jammeh as President of the Gambia

The Government of Botswana has officially denounced Yahya Jammeh, as President of The Gambia. A statement issued today, January 19, 2017,  said the country will cease to recognize him as President of Gambia with immediate effect.

According to Botswana government, the decision was because Yahya Jammeh has refused to hand power to President-elect  Adama Barrow.

'Following Mr. Yahya Jammeh’s refusal to hand over power to the President-elect Adama Barrow, in accordance with the expressed will of the Gambian people, the Government of Botswana announces that it will no longer recognize Mr. Jammeh as the President of Gambia, together with his Government,” the statement said. 

Read the full statement below..

RE: THE GAMBIA – BOTSWANA NO LONGER RECOGNISES MR. JAMMEH

PRESS RELEASE Gaborone, 19th January 2017: Following Mr. Yahya Jammeh’s refusal to hand over power to the President-elect Adama Barrow, in accordance with the expressed will of the Gambian people, the Government of Botswana announces that it will no longer recognise Mr. Jammeh as the President of Gambia, together with his Government. This decision which takes effect immediately is consistent with Botswana’s position as articulated through the Press Release of 16th December 2016. 

Mr. Jammeh’s decision not to respect the will of the Gambian people undermines the ongoing efforts to consolidate democracy and good governance in The Gambia and Africa as a whole. This is also in direct contravention of the spirit and aspirations of the African Union Constitutive Act. 

The Government of Botswana therefore continues to appeal to the international community to do all within its power to exert pressure on Mr. Jammeh to hand over power in order to ensure a smooth transition.

Pres Buhari to proceed on two weeks medical vacation from Mon Jan 23

Senate President, Bukola Saraki this morning read a letter from President Buhari, notifying the legislators that he will be proceeding on a 10-Day Annual Leave Vacation from January Monday January 23rd to Monday February 6th.

“In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended, I wish to inform the Distinguished Senate that I will be away on a short medical vacation from Monday January, 23 to February 6th, 2017 and while I am away, the Vice President (Osinbajo) will perform the functions of my office. Please, accept, as always assurances of my highest esteemed consideration”the letter read

Turkish School update: Police arrest Turkish school kidnapping mastermind

The police have arrested one of the suspected leaders of the gang that abducted eight people, students included, from the Nigerian Turkish school, NTIC, in Isheri, Ogun State.

The kidnapper, whose name was given as Phillip Joel Kakadu, AKA General Kakadu, was reportedly apprehended in Warri, Delta State, by men of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT.


Kakadu, a Delta State indigene, together with his gang members and members of two other kidnapping cliques, stormed the NTIC on Friday and made off with three students and five staff members before allegedly demanding for N1.2 billion ransom.

He confessed to orchestrating the kidnapping and named some others involved in the crime. He gave the name of a General Agbala who he claims has 30 boys in his gang and a General O.C., the overall leader of the kidnapping ring, who controls over 100 boys. Kakadu allegedly confessed to controlling 32 boys of which five were involved in the kidnap.

“General Kakadu has confessed he was responsible for the Lekki, Ikorodu, Festac and Agbara bank robbery in Lagos. He has also confessed he was responsible for the kidnapping of Oniba of Iba, Isheri landlords and many others in Ogun State," A police officer told Daily Sun.

“He also mentioned the names of five of his boys who participated in the Turkish International School kidnap. He has 25 AK 47 rifles.

Another gang member, Romeo Council, AKA Raw, was also arrested by IRT operatives. Other suspects are reportedly being investigated in relation to the kidnap.

Kanu Nwankwo and wife, Amara celebrate their daughter as she turns a year older

The legendary footballer and his wife Amara Kanu took to their IG page to wish their daughter a happy birthday. Amara wrote:

Happy Birthday Pinky Lady 1 of the Kanu family 😜🎉🎉🎉 #positivevibesonly

Photos: UN, Nigerian Army, Air Force evacuate victims of Rann bomb incident to Maiduguri

The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) the Nigerian Army  and Air Force are currentlyevacuating victims of yesterday's bomb incident in Rann, Kala-Balge to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital for medical treatment.

At least 120 people were wounded and 52 killed on Tuesday in an accidental bombing by the Nigerian Army on the settlement. Among the dead and injured are ten Humanitarian Aid workers with Red Cross and MSF.

The team dispatched about five helicopters with medical equipment and medical teams to the scene to airlift the injured.  ICRC, Nigerian Army and Air Force ambulances are on stand-by at Maiduguri airport and 60 beds prep at hospitals are awaiting the injured. So far, 30 injured including five children have been airlifted to Maiduguri...

Meanwhile, Gov. Kashim Shettima deployed his Deputy Governor Hon. Usman Mamman Durkwa, Hon. Mohammed Nur Sheriff (House of Representative Member), Hon. Mohammed Dige (House of Assembly member) and Engr. Satomi (Chairman, Borno state Emergency Management Agency) to supervise evacuation of victims
The Governor commended MSF, ICRC and the UN for providing medical support for the victims and for assisting in the evacuation exercise.

Photo credit: Peter Lundberg, UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator Nigeria

Borno State Emergency Management Agency

Scott Disick and his 'lil man' spotted on a walk in LA

Sometimes you wonder why Kourtney Kardashian keeps going back...other than her love for him, of course...lol. See upclose photo

World Bank waiting for Nigeria to submit its economic reform plans, in order to consider its loan request

This is according to West Africa correspondent for Financial Times, Maggie Fick. See more of her tweets after the cut.

Egypt adds ex-footballer, Mohamed Aboutrika to terror list

The Egyptian government has added ex-football star, Mohamed Aboutrika to a terror list for his alleged links with the banned Muslim Brotherhood, his lawyer says

According to BBC, the retired footballer is accused of financially supporting the Brotherhood after endorsing the successful 2012 presidential bid by Mohamed Morsi, who was a brotherhood member

.

Mohamed Morsi having become the President of Egypt in June 2012 was dismissed after a mass anti-government protest in July 2013.

Reacting to the accusation Mr. Aboutrika's lawyer, Mohamed Osman, who said former football star has strenuously denied the allegations noted that the move was ‘contrary to the law’, adding that his client had ‘not been convicted or formally notified of any of the charges against him’. 

‘We will appeal this decision,’ Mr. Osman said. 

The Brotherhood is considered a terrorist organization and any person named on the country's terror list is subject to a travel ban and faces having their passport and assets. frozen.

Although, the 2008 BBC African Footballer of the Year who retired in 2015 having played for the al-Ahly club and the national team has already had a string of assets, including shares in a number of companies, seized by the Egyptian authorities.

Bobrisky follows only 6 people on Instagram and conspiracy theory says his 'Bae' is one of them

This morning, LIB got an anonymous tip that popular cross dresser, Bobrisky follows his mystery 'Bae' on Instagram. He has over 135k follower but follows only 6 people. So who is Bobrisky's Bae?

Check out the list of the 6 people he follows

Gambia's parliament extends soon to be ex-President, Yahya Jammeh's term by 90 days

Gambia's parliament has extended President Yahya Jammeh's term, which is due to end on Thursday, by an extra 3 months (90 days). This follows Jammeh's sudden and stubborn decision to accept his opponent, President-elect Adama Barrow's victory in the Presidential elections held in December.

The Parliament approved Jammeh's decision to declare a 90-day state of emergency (Read here), even though other regional leaders threatened to use military force to oust him if he refuses to hand over power on Thursday. Source: BBC Africa

US ambassador to the UN blasts Russia as 'major threat facing the U.S' and rejects Trump's attack on intel agencies

The United States ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, has blasted Russia, saying the country is a major threat to the U.S and that incoming U.S President Donald Trump's attacks on the Intel agencies is uncalled for, as the agencies work for the good of America and not the Democratic or Republican party.


According to her, Trump shouldn't have denigrated U.S Intel Agencies after they concluded that Russia worked to favor Trump in the November Presidential elections.

"What is not healthy is for a party or its leaders to cast doubt on a unanimous, well-documented assessment of our intelligence community that a foreign government is seeking to harm our country," Power said at the Washington-based Atlantic Council on Tuesday''

She described Russia as "a major threat facing our nation" said the US can cooperate with Russia where possible, but not to the disadvantage of American interests and global stability. Citing

Russia's invasion of Crimea, and Russia's numerous interference with democracies of European countries, Power warned that America's "values, our security, our prosperity, and our very way of life are tied"

"United States and its closest partners must come together to prevent Russia from succeeding." "Russia's actions are not standing up a new world order," Power said, "they are tearing down the one that exists. This is what we are fighting against -- having defeated the forces of fascism and communism, we now confront the forces of authoritarianism and nihilism." Power said there should be high-level contacts between the US and Russia, but cautioned that the relationship "can't be one that glosses over the past or papers over the fact that you have a leader who has his own opponents intimidated and in some cases killed."

 ''Not only would weakening measures against Russia spur more dangerous actions by Russia, it would embolden other rule-breakers like Iran and North Korea, which are constantly testing how far they can move the line without triggering a response."  

Source : CNN