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New Year's revellers were sent running for their lives after a fire engulfed a five-star hotel just moments from where Dubai's spectacular fireworks display was due to begin. The Address Downtown caught fire at about 9.30pm Dubai time, with the flames appearing to reach from the ground floor up another 40-or-so storeys of the 63 floor building. Those who escaped described how people climbed over each other in their rush to escape the burning building. One Briton was forced to carry his disabled mother on his back. A medic has revealed that at least 60 people were hurt, many with crush injuries, with officials saying one person suffered a heart attack. The hotel would likely have been packed with people waiting in their rooms for the best view of the fireworks display at the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest skyscraper, which sits just across the lake from The Address. Those waiting below found themselves in danger of being struck by burning debris falling from the bu

The beauty queen wrongly named Miss Universe has told of her humiliation at being forced to hand over the crown to Miss Philippines. Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, 22, opened her heart of the moment the announcer said they had picked the wrong winner. She revealed: ‘It will be forever on the video that the Miss Universe was Colombia and I felt the same even though it lasted just three to four minutes. 'It was a very big injustice. It was humiliating for me and for all people in Latin America in the auditorium,' she told Colombian media, W Radio. 'I have been disconnected, I haven't received any phone calls, just a few people have been able to contact me and it is because I needed to grieve for what happened that night. 'It is been so hard for me. I had always been dreamed about being Miss Universe. I dreamed to give that joy not only to my family but also to all Colombia, but I have to continue my life.’ A fortnight ago the world had watched as Sofia Vergar

Fellow Citizens, Welcome to the beginning of a New Year of the continuation of CHANGE in our beloved nation. I am aware that Nigerians have experienced a number of significant hardships over the past months. Living in the State House has not alienated me from your daily sufferings. I am aware of the lengthy queues at fuel stations and of the difficulties businesses have faced in acquiring foreign exchange. These challenges are only temporary; we are working to make things better. When I presented myself to you as a presidential candidate and asked you to vote for me, I wanted to be a leader who keeps his promises. I wanted to be a leader who restores the people's hope in those elected to serve them. I wanted to be a leader who initiates positive and enduring CHANGE. I am still totally committed to being that kind of leader. Unforeseen circumstances and other distractions notwithstanding, I shall still do my utmost best to keep every promise I made to Nigerians during my electio

President Muhammadu Buhari has revealed that the whereabouts of the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram insurgents in April 2014 is still unknown. Speaking during his maiden presidential media chat on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, President Buhari said: “Some supposed leadership wanted to make contact, but we insisted on identifying the leadership of the so called Boko Haram. We want to be sure that they are complete. No Chibok girl has been recovered as far as I am concerned. If a credible leader of Boko Haram comes forward, we are ready to negotiate. There are no firm intelligence information from Chad, Niger and Cameroon about the Chibok girls.” It would be recalled that the rescue of the Chibok girls was one of the main campaign promises of President Buhari. FROM TRENT.

The Court of Appeal, sitting in Owerri, has removed Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party as governor of Abia State. The court also declared Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance the winner of the April 11 and April 25 supplementary elections in the state. Delivering judgment in an appeal filed by Otti, the five-member panel, headed by Justice Oyebisi Omoleye, said the APGA candidate scored 164, 444 valid votes to defeat Mr. Ikpeazu who scored 114, 444 votes. The court declared that Mr. Otti was the winner of the April 11 and April 25 supplementary elections in Abia. Justice Omoleye said the cancellation of the elections held in three LGAs of Obingwa, Osisioma Ngwa and Isiala Ngwa by the returning officers after the results were uploaded to INEC was wrong. “In the Electoral Act, the Returning Officer has the right to only declare results of elections and not to cancel elections. “This panel discovered that the earlier results uploaded to INEC headquarters cor

Captain Mathew Ekeinde husband of star actress, Omotola Jalade has been married to his beautiful wife for twenty years, a feat which many will agree is a rare feat in the entertainment industry. In a chat with City People, he gave reasons why he chose Omotola and married her at a very young age, and stated that her virginity was one of the factors that influenced his choice. He said: “I have always believed and still believed it was God’s arrangement, I met my wife when she was 16 and married her when she was 18 so I knew her for 2 years but she has always been a lot older than her age in terms of her maturity, her physical structure, and the way she thinks. She is way ahead of her peers in her IQ. Of course I am older than her for 10 years and that was never a barrier, it was just something that just happened, I saw her and I fell in love with her and of course because I had always wanted to marry a virgin and she had turned 18 then and she seemed to fit into every item on the l

One normally sees popular televangelist T.D. Jakes in a full suit and tie with his name engraved on his shirt cuffs, but the bishop took a detour from his usual high fashion apparel when he preached a post-Christmas sermon at his son-in-law's California church. The Potter's House pastor received quite a backlash on social media after he posted a picture of himself wearing an outfit that included a kangol hat and ripped jeans after he preached a sermon at the One Church in Los Angeles. Jakes debuted his Sunday church attire with a caption that read: "I want to thank One Church for a great service! Loved the atmosphere there. The presence of the Lord and the kindness of the people explain why Hollywood is buzzing about this young church and its rapid growth! Thanks @toureroberts and @sarahjakesroberts." After seeing the post, some were quick to criticize the minister's clothing selection. "Too old for jeans w/rips and tears! Aren't you supposed to be

John Mikel Obi has admitted the atmosphere in the Chelsea dressing room has improved, just three games after the sacking of Jose Mourinho. Blues interim manager Guus Hiddink claimed after his side's 0-0 draw against Manchester United that he had already lifted spirits at Stamford Bridge since succeeding Mourinho, who was often publicly critical of his players towards the end of his reign. And Chelsea midfielder Mikel believes the departure of the Portuguese has resulted in an end to what technical director Michael Emenalo described as a 'palpable discord' between the former manager and his players. 'We've moved on from that and the atmosphere has improved since the change of manager,' he said. 'It's fine now, we've just not been getting results. 'Jose is a fantastic manager and will always be a fantastic guy. But sometimes football is a cruel game and you have to move on. 'Is it the right decision? Who knows? We'll only see in the f

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says President Muhammadu Buhari’s responses at Wednesday’s Presidential Media Chat were not only “embarrassing”, but further exposed Mr. Buhari as an “unrepentant tyrant” who has no regard for the rule of law and the self-worth of Nigerian citizens. The party, in a statement by its spokesperson, Olisa Metuh, on Thursday also said the president confirmed his partisanship in the much-vaunted war against corruption by openly absolving his ministers and party members of corrupt practices. “Whilst we restate our respect for the person and office of the president, we note that President Buhari bared his true colours to the world as an unrepentant tyrant. Today, the world is no longer in doubt as to who is behind the prevailing recklessness, abuse of rights of citizens and outright flouting of judicial pronouncements by security agencies. “A situation where the president openly pronounced persons facing trial guilty and sanctioned their continued incarce

US comedian Bill Cosby appeared in a Pennsylvania court on Wednesday to face a sexual assault charge over an incident that took place in 2004 -- the first criminal charge filed against the actor after dozens of women claimed abuse. "Mr Cosby is charged with aggravated indecent assault. This is a felony," Kevin Steele, assistant district attorney for the state's Montgomery County, told reporters earlier in Norristown, in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Cosby, 78, did not enter a plea in the courtroom in Elkins Park, also in the Philadelphia area, a court clerk told AFP. Bail was set at $1 million, which Cosby posted, and a hearing was set for January. If found guilty, the veteran television star -- who has surrendered his passport to the court -- could face up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Cosby, wearing a black and white hooded sweater, was stone-faced as he entered and exited the court through a media scrum. The court clerk said he had posted bail and wen

Moderator was Channels TV man, Kayode Akintemi. He introduces the President. Introduces others Ngozi Anyaegbunam, Dan Ali of Daily Trust, Ibanga Isine of Premium Times. The Questions have started. As expected the first was on corruption. Question: How do you think you are doing with the fight against corruption? Buhari; Urges cooperation from citizens in the fight. Says times are different from when he was a head of state in 1984. Urges for patience. Says money was found in private accounts. Has money been collected? Buhari: We cannot prejudge what the court will do. But we are presenting documents to the court. Money is being recovered. says the evidence of stolen money will be presented in the court. Anyaegbunam: Asks about the need to make the war a national movement, in which everyone will be involved. And plans to rejig anti-corruption agencies. Buhari: We have to cross check our documents. Cross check records. For example NNPC, which ships loaded, where etc. We are g

It is impossible that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and director of Radio Biafra, tendered an apology to President Muhammadu Buhari, his lawyer, Vincent Obetta, has said. Speaking with TheCable on Wednesday, Obetta said reports of Kanu’s apology were proof that government was trying to use all instruments at its disposal to “puncture” the Biafra campaigner’s defence. “It is not true,” he said. “The government is using every instrument to puncture what we are doing.” The Department of State Services (DSS) arraigned Kanu in court in October. Shuaibu Usman, presiding over the chief magistrate court, Wuse zone 2, Abuja, had earlier discharged him on all counts of criminal conspiracy and ownership of an unlawful society brought against him by the federal government. The federal government then filed a fresh five-count charge of treasonable felony against Kanu, after Adeniyi Ademola, a justice of the federal high court, Abuja, ordered the DSS to release hi

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Tudun Wada North ward 6 of Kaduna State has suspended Senator Shehu Sani from the party, accusing him of being disloyal to the party and the state Governor Nasir El-Rufai. The letter of suspension dated December 27, 2015, was made available to newsmen on Monday and it was signed by the ward Secretary of the APC, Ahmed Abudulhamid. The letter also accused Senator Sani of factionalising the party in the state. The letter also added that the anti-party activities are so pronounced especially criticising the Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. “A week hardly passes by without his group going on the air, criticising and challenging the enduring legacies of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai. “That his statement on national issues is not in conformity with that of the state governor and Government of Kaduna State. “That he has remained consistently in confrontation with the good policies of the Government of Kaduna State and considering it anti people’s policy. “

Scores of people were ​feared ​killed ​Monday when two female suicide bombers attacked a busy motor park in Madagali town of Adamawa State. A witness, Danladi Buba, said the two female suicide bombers detonated bombs at a mini market near a motor park around 9am, killing many people. “About 30 people were killed with 16 others injured,” Mr. Buba said. When contacted, the Brigade Commander of 28 Task Force Brigade, Mubi, Victor Ezugwu, confirmed the incident, saying the casualty figure was yet to be established. “Two female suicide bombers struck at a garage in Madagali and detonated their devices, and we lost some beloved country men,” Mr. Ezugwu, a brigadier-general, said. He said the injured had been taken to hospital while the military had cordoned off the area. The brigade commander said the situation had been brought under control. The attack followed a series of gun and bomb attacks, between Sunday and Monday, by suspected Boko Haram militants on Maiduguri, the capital of

Mr. President, as one of your most loyal and faithful subjects who has nothing but the utmost respect for your person and your office I am constrained to write you this open letter. This is because there are a number of issues that I believe that it is important for you to clarify and to come clean on. I say this because some of your assertions of late are at best contradictory and at worst patently dishonest. Whichever side of the political divide we are on I believe that we can all agree on one thing: that the prosecution of the war against terror is not something that any of us should play politics with. This is especially so given the fact that human lives are at stake and the very existence of our nation is under threat. Like much of the rest of the world our country is going through hell at the hands of the jihadists and Islamist terrorists. There is no gainsaying that we must all come to terms with the fact that the Islamic State in the Levant (ISIL), Al Qaeda, the Taliban,

. Lionel Messi named the Best Player of the Year at Globe Soccer Awards . Barcelona were also winners after scooping Best Club of the Year award . Player Career Award was given to both Andrea Pirlo and Frank Lampard . Jorge Mendes was handed the award for Best Agent of the Year in Dubai Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi triumphed at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai after scooping the Best Player of the Year accolade. The La Liga giants, who won a historic treble last season, were named Best Club of the Year while chief Josep Maria Bartomeu was awarded the Best President of the Year accolade. The Argentina forward, who has endured a spell on the sidelines this season, notched 58 goals as Barca enjoyed a memorable treble-winning campaign last season. 'It's very nice to receive these awards, but I always say that the team makes it possible,' said Messi. 'It's been an extraordinary year.' Barcelona, who were also awarded the Best Media Attraction in Foot

Kyle Domato-Kushnel is a nice-looking blonde lady who worked as a teacher's aide at Wooster Middle School in Bridgeport, Connecticut. One night, her husband heard what he thought was a burglar and called police. What they discovered was far more sinister than any smash and grab. Kyle, his wife, had apparently been having sex with a middle school kid from her school since he was 13 years old in 2013. It began, he says, after she lured him to her husband's "man cave" to assault him. Sickeningly, she had known the kid all his life -- she was his preschool teacher more than a decade ago. The poor kid had really been through the ringer. He confessed at one point she became pregnant but miscarried. She reportedly offered him $900 to keep quiet about the whole thing. This woman is a devious sexual predator and needs to be kept away from kids -- for good. If this was a middle-aged man sleeping with a girl, we would all be calling for his head. But for some inexplicable

You think about him all the time. Fantasize about -- well, all kinds of things. And can't wait to see him again. Only small problem? The "he" in question is kind of sort of NOT the guy you're sharing your life with. Realizing you're crushing on someone who isn't the man you married can make you feel all kinds of guilty. Especially if you're happily married. What the f*** is going on? "To think that you're immune from your biology once you're married or formally coupled is fantasy," explains Paul Hokemeyer, JD, PhD, a licensed marriage and family therapist who works out of New York City, Los Angeles, and Telluride, Colorado. "Human beings are built to reproduce their species and mate. This is why attraction is deeply encoded in our genetic makeup and why you can't intellectualize your crush." Those flustery feelings you have about, say, that man in your vinyasa class "bear no relation to ration, logic, or sound jud

Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has called on Nigerians to pray specially for President Muhammadu Buhari; saying; “The President needs God to give him the necessary wisdom to be able to find solution to the country’s economic and security problems.” The governor also challenged the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed to relocate to Sambisa in Borno State or at best Yobe State and move around there without heavy military security if indeed he was sure that Boko Haram had been defeated. Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; “only God’s intervention can save Nigeria from the present economic and security problems as it is glaring that the man running the affairs of the country at the federal level does not have any answer to the problems.” He said; “Even the Holy Bible said in James 1:5 that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God and as it is, Nigerians must assist the President in

More leaders of Akwa Ibom State have continued to express strong disappointment with the removal of the MD of NDDC, Mr Bassey Dan Abia, the latest being the Akwa Ibom State commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs, Right Honourable Victor Antai. Speaking in a visit to him by the forum of past Local Government vice chairmen, on Tuesday, Honourable Antai communicated the mind of Akwa Ibom people, especially people from Eket senatorial district. “ Eket senatorial district is the biggest senatorial district in Nigeria, with 12 local governments. We produce the wealth of Nigeria, which is why Akwa Ibom is the highest producer of crude oil in this nation. Is there any good road in Eket senatorial district?”, he asked. Going further, he marvelled that few Akwa Ibom people would even consider supporting APC, a party, he stressed, that has added nothing to Akwa Ibom State, but is rather “taking what belongs to us somewhere else” “In the name of ‘change’, they removed an A

All is now set for the prosecution of a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, and ex-minister of defense, Haliru Bello Mohammed, and his son, Abbah Mohammed, for their alleged role in the diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms in the office of the National Security Adviser. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has already filed charges against the duo at a Federal High Court, Abuja. Though the matter is yet to be assigned to a specific judge, the former minister and his son are likely to be docked on a 4-count money laundering charge on Tuesday, December 29 or Wednesday December 30, a source at the anti-graft agency told PREMIUM TIMES. Abbah Mohammed is alleged to have received N600m from ONSA in the name of Bam Properties. The EFCC has charged several individuals in connection with the arms money, disbursed from the NSA office. More details later.

The Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, has called on Nigerians to pray especially for President Muhammadu Buhari, saying, “the president needs God to give him the necessary wisdom to be able to find solution to the country’s economic and security problems”. The governor also challenged the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to relocate to Sambisa in Borno State or Yobe and move around there without heavy military security if indeed he was sure that Boko Haram had been defeated. Speaking through his media aide, Lere Olayinka, on Saturday, Mr. Fayose said, “only God’s intervention can saveNigeria from the present economic and security problems as it is glaring that the man running the affairs of the country at the federal level does not have any answer to the problems.” “Even the Holy Bible said in James 1:5 that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God and as it is, Nigerians must assist the President in asking for wisdom and understanding to tackle the country

At least 14 people were killed and several others injured by Boko Haram gunmen in a Christmas Day attack on a village in northeastern Nigeria, vigilantes said Saturday. Attacking astride bicycles, the jihadists invaded Kimba village in flashpoint Borno state around 10:00 pm on Friday, opening fire on residents and torching their homes. “The gunmen killed 14 people and burnt the whole village before they fled,” Mustapha Karimbe, a civilian assisting the military in fighting Boko Haram, told AFP. “Not a single house was spared in the arson,” another vigilante, Musa Suleiman, said after visiting the razed village. Hundreds of Kimba residents fled to Biu nearby, where they were put up in a refugee camp already brimming with people running from Boko Haram. The attack comes just days before Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s self-imposed deadline to stamp out the group expires on December 31 and in the same week he said that Nigeria has “technically” defeated the jihadists. Buhari

The Federal Government would on January 1, next year, reduce the pump price of the petrol, also known as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N85 per litre. The minister of state for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu broke the news to journalists at the Port Hacourt Refinery Company (PHRC), on an inspection of the plant. Asked when would the Federal Government release the new price temperate of the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulation Agency (PPPRA), he said that he approved the new price for the agency on Thursday. Pressed to reveal when the new price will become effective, Kachikwu, who is also the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said “like I said, we have done a modulation calculation and it is showing us below N87. I imagine that if PPPRA publishes it today, it will become effective immediately. But the 1st of January that is when we are looking at.” According to him, the new price is below the current N87 per litre and it would now convince Ni