BIG EYES...BIG EARS: May 2015

Saturday, May 30, 2015

India arrests pigeon accused of spying for Pakistan

Police in India this week arrested a pigeon on charges of spying for Pakistan. As BBC News reports, the pigeon was taken into custody on Thursday after a 14-year-old boy found it in a historically tumultuous region along the India-Pakistan border. The bird, whose name has not been disclosed, reportedly had a "stamped message" on its body that was partially written in Urdu. The message also included a Pakistani phone number. An X-ray of the bird didn't show anything out of the ordinary, but police have nevertheless registered it as a "suspected spy" and are keeping it in custody.

PHOTO: John Kerry & other US officials in group photo with President Buhari

The US Secretary of State in a group photograph with President Buhari after his inauguration today.

Fifa re-elects Sepp Blatter as president

Sepp Blatter has been re-elected president of Fifa, football's world governing body, in a vote overshadowed by arrests and corruption allegations.

Mr Blatter's rival, Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan, had forced a second round of voting but withdrew.
In his victory speech, Mr Blatter said: "I'm not perfect. Nobody is perfect. But we will do a good job together."

Actress and business woman, Jessica Alba graced the cover of Forbes magazine in its issue titled America's Richest Self-Made Women as her business 'The Honest Company' was valued at $1 billion and her personal fortune reaches $200 million.

Jessica started The Honest Company in 2008 when she was engaged to her now Husband Cash Warren and expecting their first child. Her mom advised her to wash the baby clothes she received as gifts for her baby shower with a detergent which she didn't know she was allergic to. She broke out when she used the detergent and decided to create a brand of detergent that was eco-friendly and non Toxic.

Rob Kardashian ‘Cuts Himself off from the World’, Checks into Rehab for Substance & Alcohol Abuse

In an exclusive report by Florida-based website – Gossip Extra, Rob is in rehab.

The 28-year-old Kardashian clan was checked into a beachside Palm Beach County drug and alcohol rehab center over the weekend for a 60-day-in-patient program; and has been keeping a very low profile.

The Emir of Zazzau Shehu Idris and the Chief Judge of Kaduna state Teyimma Zaiki were whisked out of the venue of the Kaduna state inauguration after aggrieved youths in the state began to stone them immediately after Governor Nasir El-Rufai finished taking his oath.

Photographer: George Okoro. MUA: @mamzabeauty. Assisted by Joseph Isaac.

Photos from Akinwunmi Ambode's swearing in as Lagos governor

More photos after the below...

Congrats to him. More photos below...

The new governor of Akwa-Ibom state being sworn in. Congrats to him. More photos below...

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has been sworn in as Governor of Kaduna state. In his speech, he said he and his deputy have agreed to cut their salary and allowances by 50%.

Full Text of President Buhari's Inaugural speech

Below is what the new president said;

I am immensely grateful to God Who Has preserved us to witness this day and this occasion. Today marks a triumph for Nigeria and an occasion to celebrate her freedom and cherish her democracy. Nigerians have shown their commitment to democracy and are determined to entrench its culture. Our journey has not been easy but thanks to the determination of our people and strong support from friends abroad we have today a truly democratically elected government in place.

During his inaugural speech, President Muhammadu Buhari said Nigerians will not regret giving his administration their mandate. He appreciated the immediate Past President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat during the election. On Boko Haram, he said this will be tackled head on. He said the group is a group of small fire causing a big fire. He said the Command and Control center of the Nigerian Army will be in Maiduguri Borno state until Boko Haram is defeated.

Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima was sworn in for a second term as governor of the state today May 29th. Another photo below...

New First lady Mrs Buhari with her daughters and step daughters. Beautiful!

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Kenya president, Uhuru cancels trip to Buhari's inauguration following uproar over large entourage

Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta has cancelled his trip to Nigeria for President-elect Muhammadu Buhari's inauguration after Kenyans reacted negatively to the 84-man delegation he had planned to bring along with him to Nigeria for the inauguration. He has delegated Vice President Williams Ruto to represent him at the inauguration.

Nollywood Actor Ernest Asuzu Reportedly Spotted Begging at Shoprite

Nollywood actor Ernest Asuzu has reportedly been spotted begging at Shoprite in Surulere Lagos.

According to Daily Independent, he was spotted ‘in a Manchester United jersey, blue jean pants and bathroom slippers. Azuzu who suffered stroke some time ago and still limping was practically begging shoppers [for] money to eat!’

Ernest Asuzu reportedly confided in Daily Independent ‘that the president of Actors Guild, Ibinabo Fiberesima and some others are aware of his condition but have refused to come to his aid.’

Source: Daily Independent

Lightning Kills 4 Children in Ilorin on Children’s Day

Wednesday, May 27th, Children’s Day, was a tragic day in Gure town in Ilorin, Kwara State, as three children are said to have been killed by lightning.

According to Vanguard:

The lightening at Gure, a popular ancient town and the commercial nerve centre of Baruten council, struck during a downpour between 12 midnight of Tuesday and 1a.m of yesterday.

The lightening was said to have killed all the children instantly, three of who were of the same parents. The fourth one came to pass the night with the other victims. The injured ones have been hospitalised.

Through the bustling Ikeja City Mall, celebrities and fashion insiders made a glamorous entrance for the opening of the new Pandora store in Ikeja City Mall. Yes, Ikeja just got charming!

The new store celebrations were kicked off by a jam-session with multi-talent DiJa performing for excited fans at the mall. Dija’s talent and ear-catching tunes set the stage for the pink champagne reception that followed, attended by top celebrities and personalities from Lagos’ fashion, lifestyle & entertainment industry including fashion stylist, Zed-Eye, Maria Okanrende, Fade Ogunro, Mercy Ajisafe, Isio Wanogho, Zainab Balogun ,Yvonne Nwosu and Latasha Ngwube. More pics below...

While receiving the handover notes from President Jonathan this morning, President-elect, Buhari said for stabilizing Nigeria's democracy, President Jonathan had earned a place in Nigeria's history

"You have earned yourself a place in Nigeria's history for stabilizing our democracy. If you wanted to make things difficult, you could have but you didn't and for that, you have won the respect of world leaders" he said

Stay At Home If You Don't Have An IV To The Inauguration - APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC has urged supporters to stay at home if they haven't received an invitation for the inauguration ceremony on Friday.
The APC gave the order via a press statement.

Ex Youth Corper is Making Sculpture of Pres. Jonathan to Honour Him – PHOTOS

A former youth corper is currently creating a sculpture of President Goodluck Jonathan to honour him.

According to various online news sources, the individual’s name is Ezemagu Sunday Nnamdi, and he was one of the people who helped raise funds for the president’s nomination form which cost N2 million. Nnamdi is said to have donated N10,000 for the cause.

Reports further state that he started creating the sculpture two weeks ago in Jonathan’s hometown, Otuoke in Bayelsa State. Nnamdi hails the president as “a hero of democracy.”

Check out more photos of the unfinished piece below:

Looking to purchase a phone or tablet, books, video games or movies? This is your day because discounts as high as 75% have been taken of select products across these categories in the Konga Big App Sales!

Remember that having the Konga Mobile App gives you first access to unbelievable deals. Konga Mobile App users would be given first access to all the incredible daily deals as they are unveiled from 6am to 9am daily, while the desktop shoppers will be granted access to the Konga website from 9am to 6am. To join the VIP shoppers, all you have to do is download the Konga Mobile App!

A man is facing up to 2 years in prison after calling the Bordeaux airport in France to allege a bomb threat just because he didn't want his girlfriend to miss her flight. The 33-year-old man was arrested by French police after calling Bordeaux-Mérignac airport saying, 'there is a bomb, there is a bomb' at 7.30am local time on Thursday.

It is believed he made the threat so as to delay flights because his girlfriend was stuck in traffic en-route in southwestern France.

Police sealed off the airport, and after extensive searches, no threat to security was discovered, reports French newspaper. The call was traced to a location around 12 miles from the French airport, and the man was taken into custody.

It is thought he admitted he had made the call, and that his reasons were because his partner was stuck in traffic en route the airport.

He could now face up to two years in prison as well as a €30,000 (£22,000) fine.

It is not known when the man is scheduled to appear in court in Bordeaux.

Source: Sud Quest.

Court dismisses suit against DSTV over subscription fees increase

Justice Chukwujeku Aneke of the Federal High Court Lagos today struck out the suit filed against Multichoice Nigeria, owners of DSTV by two subscribers over the 20% increase in subscription.

Justice Aneke in his ruling, said the plaintiffs who are both lawyers and subscribers of DSTV had no obligation to continue using the service of Multichoice after they increase their charges. He described their suit as abuse of court proceedings.

Photos: President Jonathan presents handover notes to Buhari

Pres. Jonathan this morning officially handed over the comprehensive report of his administration to President-elect Buhari at the State House in Abuja today, May 28th during his facility tour of Aso Villa. Outgoing ministers were present at the ceremony. More photos below...

34 year old, mother of 2, Jessica Alba ,stuns on the covers of Shape magazine.

The Honest Company founder and actress appears on the June 2015 cover of Shape, and in an array of bright swimsuits for the editorial. She admitted that "working out sucks," but manages to stay motivated by taking classes surrounded by other people. More photos below..

Kim K has never hidden her desire to have another child and has been undergoing IVF treatment to increase her chances to conceive a second child, according to a new report.

According to Us Weekly, Kim will reveal an implanted embryo did not take during Sunday’s Keeping Up With The Kardashians mid-season finale. A preview clip for this week’s episode shows Kim lying down on a doctor’s table in tears with her mother Kris Jenner, as they look at an ultrasound together.

Read the press statement below...

Senator-elect, Otunba Dino Melaye, said he has never been a government contractors and will not be one. He also called on Nigerians to pressurize the incoming Assembly to reduce exuberant salaries and allowances of Nigerian legislators.

Melaye who will be representing Kogi West Senatorial District under the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), spoke in Abuja on Tuesday night during a reception organized in his honour his friends and relatives.

Parents, teachers and students of Spring of Life International School, Enugu have resorted to holding vigils in their school premises after the state government allegedly indicated plans to demolish their school which they termed an illegal structure.

According to reports, the state government had recently embarked on pulling down illegal structures in the state built without a town plan approval and had marked their school premises for demolition. Their school management immediately approached an Enugu state court and the court issued an injunction barring the state government from carry out the planned demolishing. See photos of students holding vigil below...

Zahra and her brother pictured with their dad as he arrived back in Nigeria this morning. More photos below...

Proud dad Chris Brown shared some birthday photos of his daughter Royalty who turned 1 yesterday

Norman MacArthur, left, and Bill Novak were married on Sunday after spending more than a decade as father and son

A couple who were legally father and son for the last fifteen years had their adoption vacated and were married this week after 52 years together.

Norman MacArthur, 74, and Bill Novak, 76, were married in Pennsylvania on Sunday. The couple, who has been together since their 20s, registered as domestic partners in New York City in 1994, but in 2000 they moved to Erwinna, Penn., where domestic partnerships are not legally recognized. “When we moved to Pennsylvania, we had both retired and we were of the age where one begins to do estate planning,” MacArthur tells Yahoo Parenting. “We went to a lawyer who told us Pennsylvania was never going to allow same-sex marriage, so the only legal avenue we had in order to be afforded any rights was adoption.”

Sokoto governor-elect, Aminu Tambuwal releases official portrait

Above is the official portrait of the Governor-elect of Sokoto state, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.

Fuel scarcity is an act of Sabotage - President Jonathan

During the Federal Executive Council valedictory session yesterday, President Jonathan said his administration has witnessed various degrees of political manipulations, particularly the ASUU strike which according to him is one of the longest strike ever as well as the recent fuel scarcity which he said is a clear act of Sabotage. He said if it wasn't a case of Sabotage, how come the strike by the marketers happened just few days before the end of his government. He said the actions of the marketers was clearly to bring his government to its knees.

Studio Of Modé presents its 2015 Collection!

Studio Of Modé is the brainchild of Modé Aderinokun, who officially founded the company in 2012 in order to create a space where the voice of a creative person with various skills can be clearly heard and understood; a place where creativity can connect and integrate into modern day society in an expressive, intellectual manner, without necessarily losing one’s creative aesthetic.

Since the creation, the company has grown from the founder creating art in a bedroom, to building a studio and having her work highly celebrated resulting to it being in the hands of hundreds of people.

Today, Studio of Modé presents its 2015 campaign collection. All artwork presented are created by Modé. The art has been put on are Phone cases, Laptop Skins, iPads and many more.

A few days ago music star Faze showed his invitation to perform at the 2015 Presidential Inauguration and now two members of the Triple MG group have also been confirmed for the big day as they shared airport photos today.

Triple MG boss Ubi Franklin alongside Iyanya and Tekno will be at tomorrow’s inauguration as President-Elect Muhammadu Buhari is sworn in.

According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria earned N2.8 trillion in the first quarter of 2015 from the exportation of petroleum products, Vanguard reports.

The amount is said to be 64.18 percent of the Federal Government’s 2015 budget of N4.425 trillion.

In addition, the report states:

The NBS, in its Foreign Trade Statistics for the first quarter of 2015, stated that the export of petroleum products accounted for 87.86 per cent of Nigeria’s total merchandise export of N3.23 trillion in the first quarter.

200 soldiers have reportedly been dismissed by the Nigerian army over allegations of cowardice and insubordination during the army's operation to take over Sambisa forest. The soldiers were reportedly dismissed at the Rukuba Barracks in Jos, Plateau State on May 26th. When asked about the reported dismissal, Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, did not refute the claims but stated that the army as an institution has zero tolerance for cowardice and insubordination.

Gov Oshiomhole comes hard on Okonjo Iweala over false subsidy claims by oil marketers

Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomhole yesterday came hard on the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala over the lingering fuel scarcity and her claims that oil marketers were presenting fraudulent oil subsidy claims for payment.

Speaking at a function, the Governor queried the Minister for speaking up about the falsification of claims by the oil marketers just few days after the government in which she is a minister will be leaving office. He said the Minister should take sole responsibility for any discrepancies recorded in the subsidy claims and in the Economy as a whole.

Janet Jackson thought she was just on a date night with husband Wissam Al Mana when the pair headed out for a sushi dinner on May 16. Instead Janet found herself at a surprise birthday party her businessman husband put together for her 49th birthday at L.A.’s Hyde Lounge.

30 of her closest family and friends were in attendance.

The Lagos state government has cancelled restriction of movement during Saturday May 30th environmental sanitation exercise in the state.

While announcing the cancellation, the Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello said the cancellation is to enable residents of the state participate fully in all activities lined up to celebrate the inauguration of the president-elect Muhammadu Buhari and the Lagos state governor elect, Akinwunmi Ambode.

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari and VP-elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo will be led on a facility tour of Aso Rock by President Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo today May 28th. This is part of the procedures leading to the handing over ceremony which takes place tomorrow May 29th.

Singapore Airlines Airbus plunges 13,000 feet as both engines fail in bad weather

Passengers received a scare when a Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300 dropped 13,000ft after both of its engines failed in mid-air on a recent flight.

As the plane made an unexpected descent the pilots followed ‘operational procedures’ and managed to restore power to both Rolls-Royce Trent 772 engines, Singapore Airlines said in a statement.

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Friday, May 29, 2015

Thursday, May 28, 2015