Two Russian long-range strategic bombers landed in Venezuela Monday for what the government said were air force exercises aimed at strengthening the defence of the leftist-ruled South American country.

The aim was also clear: to scare the United States from embarking on a plot to dethrone President Nicolas Maduros government.

General Vladimir Padrino, the Venezuelan defence minister, welcomed about 100 Russian pilots and other personnel after the two TU-160s and two other aircraft landed at the international airport that serves Caracas.

Padrino said the deployment showed we also are preparing to defend Venezuela to the last inch when necessary.

This we are going to do with our friends, because we have friends in the world who defend respectful balanced, relations, he said.

The commander of the Russian Airforces long-range aircraft, General Sergei Ivanovich Kobulash, said the exercises would provide a profound exchange of experience between pilots and technical staff from both countries.

The development follows hot on the heels of a visit to Moscow last week by President Nicolas Maduro during which he had talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who expressed support for his beleaguered socialist government.

Maduro often accuses the United States of plotting against his government, which has overseen the plunge of a once-rich petro state into a severe economic crisis.

Besides the two bombers, the deployment included an An-124 transport plane and an Il-62 passenger plane, according to a Russian military announcement in Moscow.

Padrino noted that Russian aircraft had visited before in 2013, but said their current deployment was part of a new experience.

He said exercises would be held to raise the level of interoperability of the aerospace defence systems of both countries.

It was unclear how long the Russian deployment would last, and Padrino did not provide details about the exercises planned.

In recent years, Venezuela has purchased millions of dollars in military equipment from Russia, he said.

Venezuela acquired 24 Sukhoi-30 Russian fighters and signed a deal to purchase 53 MI-24 helicopter gunships and 100,000 Kalashnikov rifles in 2016.

Former defense minister Raul Salazar said the exercises with Russia are part of what is called psychological warfare.

The purpose is to increase the perception that Venezuela is supported by Russia, China and Belarus, that it has the support of a power, in case another power tries to invade, Salazar told AFP.

Maduro on Sunday said Washington had set in motion a plan to overthrow him, with the support of neighbouring Colombia.

Underway today is an attempt to disrupt the democratic life of Venezuela, coordinated directly from the White House, said Maduro, who claims he was the target of an August 4 drone attack hatched by Venezuelas opposition with the support of the US and Colombian governments.

Caracas defence minister said nobody in the world should fear the presence of these strategic fighter bombers. We are builders of peace and not of war.

Padrino added however that other countries in the region had created political and military imbalances against which the Venezuelan government could not stand idly by an apparent reference to Bogota, which Caracas has accused of harboring US military bases.

Source: NAN

A Kenyan footballer has been struck dead by lightning as he celebrated his teams equaliser against their opponents.

According to a report by , the victim, Allan Mbote, was a 20-year-old Kenyatta University student. He played as a defender for a team known as Red Sharks.

The incident happened on Sunday, with five other players also injured by the lightning during Nangina Ward Football Tournament at Luchululo village.

Three of the players are still on admission at Nangina Mission Hospital.

Kenyatta University has confirmed the death of the second year student.

The MP for the area, Dr. Oundo Mudenyo also sent his condolence as he wrote: Some tragedies are hard to take: lightening striking a player during a soccer match! RIP Allan Mbote.

The Standard reported that Mbotes death was the latest lightning tragedy to hit Kenya in recent days.

On 9th December, lightning also killed three children in Teso North constituency.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari has completed the mausoleum in honour of Nigerias first president, Nnamdi Azikiwe, what the Peoples Democratic Party failed to do during all its 16 years in power.

Azikiwe, a foremost Nigerian nationalist died on 11 May 1996, during the Abacha administration. He was 92 years old.

A Mausoleum was to be erected in his honour. A contract was awarded and work started 21 years ago.

In 16 years of the PDP in control of Nigerian affairs, Zik was totally forgotten, his memory consigned to the dustbin of history, by the rapacious regime, even as members helped themselves to the commonwealth and looted the treasury. The mausoleum was abandoned and it became the playground of all kinds of reptiles.

It took the Buhari administration just in three years, to face the project squarely, despite dwindling finances of the country and deliver the mausoleum.

On Monday, 10 December, Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola was at the mausoleum site in Ziks famous town of Onitsha, Anambra State to declare the project completed, 21 years after.

Fashola, who came in company of Dr. Chris Ngige, the Minister of Labour and Productivity described the completion of the project as `promise kept.

During the build up to 2015 general elections, President Muhammadu Buhari made commitment that he would complete Azikiwes mausoleum. Today Mr President has kept his words and we are happy, he said.

Fashola said though furnishing of the monument was yet to be accomplished, the federal government would before long do it. It is a promise and the administration will surely fulfil it.

The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Ngige who also spoke, described the completion of the Mausoleum as sign of `Mr Presidents open and fair leadership style.

As a South East son, I am happy that this project for the memory of our late father and son was finally completed, it is a big honour done to our people by Mr President, he said.

Source: NAN

Golden State Warriors ace Stephen Curry suggestion that the moon landings may have been an elaborate hoax has left NASA puzzled.

Curry raised eyebrows on Monday when he became the latest basketball player to advance a conspiracy theory, echoing Kyrie Irvings assertion in 2017 that the Earth was flat.

Speaking on The Winging It podcast, Curry said he had doubts about whether NASA had actually put a man on the Moon in 1969.

We ever been to the moon? Curry asked on the podcast, before several fellow guests replied: Nope.

Theyre going to come get us, Curry added after advancing the theory.

Sorry, I dont want to start conspiracies, he added.

Currys remarks drew a bemused response from a NASA spokesman, who invited the two-time NBA MVP to a tour of the agencys facilities.

Wed love for Mr Curry to tour the lunar lab at our Johnson Space Center in Houston, perhaps the next time the Warriors are in town to play the Rockets, NASA spokesman Allard Beutel told The New York Times.

We have hundreds of pounds of moon rocks stored there, and the Apollo mission control. During his visit, he can see firsthand what we did 50 years ago, as well as what were doing now to go back to the moon in the coming years, but this time to stay.

Retired US astronaut Scott Kelly, a veteran of four space flights and former commander of the International Space Station, meanwhile weighed in on Twitter.

Steph, so much respect for you, but re the moon landing thing, lets talk, Kelly wrote. DM me.

Source: NAN

By Mohammed Ahmed Kaigama

The Bauchi House of Assembly has approved N103 million loan request submitted by Gov. Mohammed Abubakar, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports.

The loan, which is to be deployed into tackling acute malnutrition and facilitating immunisations, was approved by the lawmakers on Tuesday at plenary.

In the letter seeking their approval for the facility, Gov. Abubakar had said that the loan would be obtained from Keystone Bank for the payment of counterpart contribution in respect of community managementof acute malnutrition, and routine immunisation.

We need the loan to enable the state government access the World Bank Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, it said.

Moving a motion for the approval, Chairman, Committee on Health, Alhaji Ibrahim Katagum, urged his colleagues to endorse the request so as to help government to tackle malnutrition in the rural communities.

Katagum, however, appealed to the state government to use the money judiciously, and cautioned against misappropriating it.

In his contribution, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, member representing Kirfi constituency, urged his colleagues to approve the facility for the benefit of the children who, he noted, were the nations future leaders.

We cannot afford to delay this approval because the facility is very crucial to our future, he said.

The Speaker, Mr Kawuwa Damina, while endorsing the request, said that the loan would facilitate adequate care for malnourished children and ease access to routine immunisation against killer diseases. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Two California Catholic nuns who stole around $500,000 dollars from the school where they worked and splashed out on travel and gambling in Las Vegas are facing criminal charges, their order confirmed Tuesday.

Sisters Mary Margaret Kreuper and Lana Chang, who are said to be best friends, reportedly embezzled the huge sum over the course of a decade from St James Catholic School in Torrance, south of Los Angeles.

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles said the money was discovered missing during a routine audit after Kreuper, who was principal at the school for 29 years, retired earlier this year. Chang was a teacher at the school for 20 years and also retired this year.

The nuns order confirmed it had been informed the Archdiocese had filed a criminal complaint against the pair.

As a religious community we will not defend the actions of our Sisters. What happened is wrong. Our Sisters take full responsibility for the choices they made and are subject to the law, it said in a statement to AFP.

It added the two sisters have been removed from their residence, placed in a religious house under supervision, and banned from all public ministry.

This has definitely been shocking to the entire school and parish community, Adrian Alarcon, head of media relations for the Archdiocese, told AFP.

She added the case was all the more disquieting given the Churchs teachings that clearly spell out thou shall not steal.

The order on Monday said Kreuper and Chang admitted to their misdeeds and were cooperating to determine the full amount of money taken.

The sisters expressed remorse over their actions in a letter shared with parents at a school meeting last week, and their order has vowed to make full restitution.

Justice demands this of us, it said in its statement.

Source: NAN

An angry Donald Trump told Democratic leaders at the White House on Tuesday that he will shut down the US government because they refuse to approve billions of dollars in funding for his controversial Mexico border wall.

The president and top opposition congressional leaders had been meant to hold a reassuring Oval Office photo-op. Instead, their blazing row in front of the worlds media gave a glimpse of the dire challenges confronting Trump as he reels from legal scandals and the new reality of his Republican party no longer controlling Congress.

Chuck Schumer, the senior Democrat in the still Republican-dominated Senate, and Nancy Pelosi, who is likely to become speaker in the newly Democrat-controlled House in January, bluntly told Trump that he had no chance of getting the $5 billion he wants for the wall.

Exasperated, Trump doubled down on earlier threats to retaliate by refusing to sign a federal spending bill required by December 21 to avoid leaving swaths of the government without funding.

Yes, if we dont get what we want one way or the other, I will shut down the government, he said. I am proud to shut down the government for border security.

Schumer argued that one thing that I think we can agree on is we shouldnt shut down the government over a dispute.

And Pelosi suggested that the debate shouldnt take place in front of journalists.

But Trump, whose US-Mexico wall idea was at the center of his surprise 2016 election, could not control his irritation.

Taking out two memo cards, he read off figures that he said showed a near end to illegal immigration at portions of the border already featuring high fences.

Its been very effective, he said.

Pelosi parried that the statistics were incorrect.

What the president is representing (with) his cards over there, are not facts. We have to have an evidence-based conversation about what does work and what money has been spent and how effective it is, Pelosi said.

Outside the White House afterwards, Schumer was even more scathing about Trump.

This temper tantrum that he seems to throw will not get him his wall and it will hurt a lot of people, he said.

Tweeting ahead of the White House meeting, Trump claimed that the wall was needed to prevent large scale crime and disease brought by illegal immigrants.

The issue is popular with his political base, which wants radically tighter controls at the southern border, a magnet for impoverished Latin Americans seeking work in the United States.

Opponents say the wall is not only a waste of money but has been used by the president to whip up xenophobia.

Trump, who leads chants of build the wall at campaign rallies, has been frustrated in the first two years of his administration. Now, as the government funding deadline approaches, both sides will have to decide whether to blink.

Source: NAN

The Peoples Democratic Party said it regretted that its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar did not attend the signing of the Peace Accord in Abuja on Tuesday, blaming the incident on communication lapse.

Publicity secretary Kola Ologbondiyan said Tuesday night that the party will probe the communication gap between it and the National Peace Committee, chaired by General Abdusalami Abubakar, a former Nigerian leader.

President Muhammadu Buhari and 75 other presidential candidates attended the peace meeting at the International Conference Centre in Abuja today. And all signed the Peace Accord, but the PDP and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar were conspicuously absent.

OLogbondiyan said despite the absence of both the party and its candidate, it is committed to a peaceful election

Already, the party @OfficialPDPNig is conducting investigations into the circumstances that could have resulted to this unfortunate communication lapse.

Nevertheless, it is instructive to state that our Presidential candidate, @Atiku and the party @OfficialPDPNig are fully committed to a peaceful electoral process and elections in 2019.

Our Presidential candidate @atiku is known worldwide as a global ambassador of peace, who will always support processes that will engender peace in our country and the world over, Ologbondiyan said.

Source: NAN

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur picked two of the remaining four tickets into the Last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, knocking out two Italian favourites, Napoli and Inter.

Liverpool heeded the advice of Coach Jurgen Klopp and really put up a magical display against Napoli at Anfield, with Mo Salah almost walking into the net with the only goal of the match in the 34th minute.

The goal, well deserved because Liverpool put on a gutsy display, was all the Reds needed to oust Napoli from the next round. The Italians had arrived at Anfield as group leader with nine points. They left demoted to third place.

The other member of the Group C, Paris Saint Germain whipped
FK Crvena Zvezda, a.ka. Red Belgrade 4-1, with goals by Edinson Cavani, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Marquinhos to lead the group with 11 points.

Liverpool came second with 9 points, while Napoli, with same points will now be relegated to Europa League.

In Camp Nou, Tottenham Hotspur also forced Barcelona to 1-1 draw to scrape passage into the Last 16, along with Barcelona, which had qualified weeks ago, with two matches to spare.

The Londoners were helped by PSV Eindhoven, which also played a 1-1 draw with Inter at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan.

PSV scored first in the 13th minute and took Inters Mauro Icardi, 60 minutes after to slot in the equaliser. BUt they needed a win to move to the next round. Like Napoli, they will also now be relegated to the Europa League.

: Ajax, Atltico Madrid, Barcelona*, Bayern Mnchen, Borussia Dortmund*, Juventus, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain*, Porto*, Real Madrid*, Roma, Schalke, Tottenham Hotspur

*confirmed group winners

Source: NAN

A Canadian was confirmed as being held in China on Tuesday, intensifying a diplomatic stand-off over the arrest of Meng Wanzhou, a top executive of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.

The arrest of the Canadian came as a judge in Vancouver considered Mengs bail application.

Michael Korvig, a former diplomat who served in Beijing, was reported as having been detained as Meng Wanzhou was due in court for a bail hearing on US charges of violating Iran sanctions.

We are aware of the situation of a Canadian detained in China, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, adding to concerns voiced by the International Crisis Group think tank, Korvigs employer, which first raised the alarm.

China has expressed outrage over Mengs arrest in Vancouver and warned of grave consequences if she was not immediately released, although Canada said no link between the two cases had been established.

Washington, which requested Mengs detention to have her extradited to US soil, called on Beijing to abide by its commitments to human rights.

We urge China to end all forms of arbitrary detentions and to respect the protections and freedom of all individuals under Chinas international human rights and consular commitments, deputy State Department spokesman Robert Palladino told reporters.

The Huawei chief financial officer was arrested on December 1 on US fraud charges related to sanctions-breaking dealings with Iran.

A third day of court deliberations focused on her proposed release plan, with a judge expected to come to a decision in the afternoon on whether to free her on bail.

Meng has agreed to surrender her passports and submit to electronic monitoring if she is released, pending the outcome of the extradition case.

Given her unique profile as the face of a Chinese corporate national champion, if she were to flee or breach her order in any way in these very unique circumstances, it does not overstate to say she would embarrass China itself, Mengs lawyer David Martin told the court on Monday.

Source: NAN

What is law firm and why do lawyers establish law office? Usually, the word chambers and law firm are used interchangeably to describe the office of a legal practitioner. However, the word, law firm is a better description because chambers have different connotations. It could mean the office of a judge. As a matter of fact, chambers refer to the office of a judge. Not every person is entitled to open a law firm. Only legal practitioners are entitled to open and operate a law firm. Section 24 LPA defined a legal practitioner to mean a person entitled in accordance with the provisions of the Act to practice as a barrister or as a barrister and solicitor generally or for the purpose of any particular office or proceedings.

The following are the reasons for the establishment of law firms:

• Establishment of law firm in accordance with or to fulfil the provisions of Rule 22 RPC which provide that instructions from client must not be taken at client's house or place of business except in exceptional circumstances. Thus, it must be in a law office.

• Out of necessity on account of lack of paid employment.

• Establishment of law firms because doing so is a realization of an ambition. When it is said that lawyers are proud even though it could be a cliché, in reality, it is not far from the truth. Some would establish law firm because of self-esteem.

• Some establish law firm because of the desire to be independent and be their own boss.

• Also, it could be because of opportunity of earning higher professional fees that is, profitability of the profession.

PERSONAL QUALITIES OF A SUCCESSFUL LEGAL PRACTITIONER
If any legal practitioner who intends to establish law office and also want to be successful, the following qualities is sine qua non:

• Honesty and integrity: This quality cannot be over emphasized. The legal profession is central in the administration of justice and the society look up to the court and lawyers, thus legal practitioner should be honest and have integrity. These qualities are adequately enshrined in the Rules of Professional Conduct. The honesty and integrity of a lawyer will bring more clients to him and keep him in business. ADEWUNMI v. PLASTEX (NIG) Ltd.
• Hard work and organisation
• Determination and commitment.

In addition to the above are the following success recipes:

• Knowledge: A legal practitioner must have knowledge of the law both substantive and procedural aspect of the law.

• Skill: It is not enough to have knowledge of the law, application of the law to factual situation which is skill is important. Thus, knowledge of the law and application goes hand in hand.

CAPITAL – FINANCING A LAW FIRM
A legal practitioner intending to establish a law firm needs capital. There are two types of capital needed in establishing a law firm.

These are:

• START-UP CAPITAL: This is the capital needed for commencing a business. Example is funds needed to provide facilities like premises, furniture, vehicle, equipment and machines.

• WORKING CAPITAL: Capital in this like includes funds needed for recurrent expenditures- running of the day to day activities of a business. E.g funds for salaries and wages, utility bills and cost of stationeries. There are various means in which a lawyer can source for the capital needed for establishing and operating the law firm.

The methods through which capital can be raised to finance the law office include:

• personal savings,

• contributions from family and friends,

• loans or overdraft from banks. (borrowing)

Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (Delta Central) said the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance forbids President Muhammadu Buhari from signing the Electoral Bill.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker gave this insight in a phone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday night.

Article 2 of the protocol forbids member countries from making substantial modification to their electoral laws less than six months to elections except with the consent of a majority of political actors.

Omo-Agege, who is a staunch supporter of the President, noted that with the elections less than three months away, signing the bill would violate the ECOWAS instrument.

NAN reports that the presidential and National Assembly elections are slated for Feb. 16, 2019, while those of governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on March 2.

Omo-Agege said, I have yet to see the presidents letter to the Senate, but this bill means so much to Mr President. On a good day he would want to sign it.

However, without even seeing the reasons he has advanced so far, I am aware of the challenges posed by the ECOWAS protocol.

I dont know if that is part of the reasons he has advanced, but with the bill coming two months or thereabout before the election, assenting to it will breach the protocol.

NAN reports that Buhari did not mention the ECOWAS instrument as part of his reasons for declining assent to the bill for the fourth time.

The presidents latest decision came in a letter dated Dec. 6, 2018 and addressed to both chambers of the National Assembly.

He said signing the amendment bill with elections close by could create some uncertainty about the legislation to govern the process.

Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to the elections may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which law governs the electoral process, he stated.

Buhari, therefore, asked the National Assembly to specifically state in the bill that the amended Electoral Act would come into effect after the 2019 general elections.

Reacting to the development, Sen. Peter Nwaoboshi, who represents Delta North on the platform of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said the reasons given by the president were untenable.

It is not a good reason for him not to sign the bill because the Senate worked with INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) in preparing that bill.

If INEC felt otherwise, they would have advised us when we were working on it.

You are aware of the controversy that this issue of amendment of the act has generated, with people accusing the Senate of not wanting to amend the act.

We amended it, but he declined assent the first, second and third time; he made certain observations, which we agreed with.

We sent it again, and the reason he is giving now is that it will disrupt the election. It is really unfortunate, he said.

An Abuja-based lawyer and civil rights campaigner, Mr Frank Tietie, said the credibility of the 2019 elections was at stake without the compulsory use of card readers as proposed in the bill.

Although, INEC has been using the card reader for elections since 2015, there is no provision for the technology in the extant electoral law, making its use optional.

Tietie said, Without the card reader and electronic transmission of results, our elections have been subjected to might, brute force and the power of money.

Card readers and electronic transmission of results have totally eliminated that, and there is need for a legal force to that.

This is what the amendment seeks. Buharis refusal to allow the card reader and electronic transmission of results will only lead to electoral compromise, he said.

In September, Sen. Ita Enang, Buharis Senior Special Assistant (SSA), said the president had no problem with the use of the card reader contrary to allegations by the opposition.

Source: NAN

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that he had no preferred candidate in the forthcoming general elections.

Obasanjo said he would not tell Nigerians to vote or not to vote for any particular candidate, but should vote wisely.

Obasanjo, who some people believed had decided to support Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he needed Nigerians to vote for a credible candidate.

He had at the book launch of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan urged Nigerians not to vote for thieves.

He made the remarks at the 27th annual Owu National Convention, held in Iwo, Osun.

The former President urged Nigerians to vote for credible candidates, who can liberate the country.

In his remark, Chairman, Supreme Council of Owu Obas, Oba Hammed Oyelude, said Owu, being the largest Yoruba speaking ethnic group in the South West, has been contributing to the development of Nigeria.

Hammed, who is the Olowu of Owu Kuta, said Royal Union of Owu People (ROUP) is not a political party, but must contribute to the policy direction of the country.

He called on Owu people to participate in politics, in order to have a say in the running of the affairs of the country and be able to contribute their quota.

Oyelude also called on sons and daughters of Owu to support and vote for any Owu indigene contesting for any political office.

Source: NAN

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the difference between President Muhammadu Buhari and other presidential candidates for the 2019 elections is that the president will not steal or allow stealing.

Osinbajo made the declaration in Lagos on Saturday at the flag off of his door-to-door campaign in Lagos State.

He visited some parts of Sogunro community, Ogba in Ikeja Local Government.

Addressing the crowd, the vice president said there were leaders who would steal and those who would use the countrys money for the common good, noting that Buhari belonged to those who would use the countrys money for common good.

Thank you to our mothers for the warm welcome today as I continued the in Ikeja, Lagos.

Prof Yemi Osinbajo (@ProfOsinbajo)

We should not allow those who have stolen our money in the past to come back. They stole all the money and they want to come back. People are saying, enough is enough.

In four years, PDP spent 383 billion US dollars. And they want to come back. 16 years is enough.

After 16 years of ensuring that the country did not make progress, they want to come back. They will never come back, he said.

Osinbajo said that Nigerias greatest problem was corruption and not planning because without money you could not executive any plan; hence the need to stop those who had stolen in the past from returning.

The vice president said the door-to-door campaign was more effective in reaching out to the people, saying it goes a long way in speaking directly to the people about the plans of the government for the people.

He also campaigned door-to-door in Abuja during the week.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the Prof Yemi Osinbajo Support Group, Pastor Yomi Kasali, said the organisation had raised 900,000 canvassers for Lagos State.

He explained that each canvasser was expected to meet with 50 people.

Source: NAN

By Yunus Yusuf

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NPPC) says it has 2.6 billion litres of petroleum products offshore and onshore in Lagos State to meet the nations demands.

Mr Isiaka Abudulrasaq, the Chief Financial Officer of NNPC gave the assurance in an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on the corporations stewardship to Nigerians in Lagos on Saturday.

Abdulrasaq said that the country has about 52-day-petroleum sufficiency, adding that this represented an average of 50 million litres per day products availability on land.

He said that motorists and other consumers of petroleum products are assured of adequate stock to meet their energy needs.

The CFO further dispelled insinuations of any impending petroleum products scarcity in the country.

He said that providing information on the petroleum products stock level became imperative to dispel suggestions that the threat of strike by the DAPPMA would result in a slip into a round of products shortages across the country.

He advised motorists not to engage in panic buying as the corporation would do all it could to ensure products availability in all parts of the country,

Abudulrasaq said that the corporation had been proactive in importation of petroleum into the country, adding that government has saved over N305 billion from subsidy payment.

He, however, condemned insinuations that government is planning to sell the countrys refineries, adding that the refineries are currently undergoing rehabilitation.

Similarly, the Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers of Nigeria (MOMAN) Mr Clement Isong pledged its associations commitment towards product availability across the country.

Isong told the News Agency Nigerian (NAN) on phone that MOMAN operations and sales will continue to the general public and no interruptions are planned or expected by the association.

According to him, MOMAN in the company of other marketers associations met with representatives of the government on Dec. 6 where they held discussions on the outstanding payments owed marketers by government.

At that meeting, government made some proposals on how to settle the outstanding debt and marketers requested some adjustments to these proposals by government and are expecting to hear from government.

MOMAN had at no time issued an ultimatum or threat to stop operations or sales and will continue operations and sales to the public throughout the Christmas and end of year period while engagements with the government continue.

This is to ensure that payment of what is due to Marketers is made as soon as possible to avoid the collapse of many stakeholders in the downstream petroleum sector, he said.

Source: NAN

Lionel Messi stole the show with two free-kick goals in a blistering display as Barcelona maintained their lead at the top of La Liga with a thumping 4-0 derby win over Catalan rivals Espanyol.

The Argentine superstar curled home two sensational set-pieces and set up another goal as he and his teammates romped to victory at the RCDE Stadium and made sure Barca kept chasing Atletico Madrid and Sevilla at bay.

Atletico and Sevilla had moved level on 28 points with Barca on Saturday after Diego Simeones side defeated Alaves 3-0 and the Andalusians drew 1-1 at Valencia.

However Messi made sure that Ernesto Valverdes team kept their place at the top of the pile with a mesmerising display alongside front-three partners Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele that left Espanyol dead and buried by half-time.

He is extraordinary, said Valverde. The free-kicks, the chances on goal that he creates, what he brings us and what he take from the opponent

It is still very early, La Liga is very tight, but the idea is to be solid away from home, knowing that winning is very difficult against every team.

Messi began the rout in the 17th minute with a perfectly placed free-kick that arched past a desperate Diego Lopez, and followed that up by keeping possession under intense pressure before providing the pass for Dembele from which the French attacker curled in a fine second.

It was then Dembeles turn to become provider a minute before the break, slipping in a super through ball that Suarez somehow took on and squeezed home from near the byline.

Messi capped a dominant team and individual display with his second free-kick of the night, which this time whipped past Lopez which such venom the Spanish goalkeeper could barely move towards it.

Nikola Kalinic opened his league account for Atletico Madrid with the opener against Alaves earlier on Saturday, before Antoine Griezmann and midfielder Rodri sealed all three points at the Wanda Metropolitano with goals in the final 10 minutes.

The only negative note for Simeone was World Cup winner Lucas Hernandez leaving the field with a knee injury in the first half.

Mouctar Diakhabys header in second half stoppage time for Valencia meant Sevilla missed the opportunity to stay just a point behind Barca.

Pablo Sarabia had put the visitors into the lead nine minutes into the second half and Sevilla had chances to seal the points at the Mestalla with Ever Banega and Andre Silva hitting the post.

Source: NAN

American researchers have transformed toxin in wasps into potential antibiotic drugs that may eliminate hard-to-cure bacterial infections.

In a study published in this weeks Nature Communications Biology, the researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology created peptides that are potent against bacteria but nontoxic to human cells.

They are variants from a peptide toxin normally found in a South American wasp which can kill bacteria, according to the study.

In the study of mice, the strongest peptide variant could completely eliminate a strain of bacteria that causes infections resistant to most antibiotics.

Weve repurposed a toxic molecule into one that is a viable molecule to treat infections, said Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez, an MIT postdoc.

By systematically analyzing the structure and function of these peptides, weve been able to tune their properties and activity, said de la Fuente-Nunez, the co-senior author of the study.

The venom-derived peptide is believed to kill microbes by disrupting bacterial cell membranes, according to the study.

The researchers exposed peptide variants to human embryonic kidney cells grown in a lab dish and they selected the most promising compounds to test in mice infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common source of respiratory and urinary tract infections, and found that several of the peptides could reduce the infection.

One of them, given at a high dose, could eliminate it completely, according to the study.

After four days, that compound can completely clear the infection, and that was quite surprising and exciting because we dont typically see that with other experimental antimicrobials or other antibiotics that weve tested in the past with this particular mouse model, said de la Fuente-Nunez.

Source: NAN

By Ummul Idris

The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has inaugurated a Technical Working Group for the elimination of Trans Fatty Acid (TFAs) foods in Nigeria.

Inaugurating the committee on Saturday in Abuja, the NMA President, Dr Francis Faduyile, said the exercise was in collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the health sector.

Faduyile said it was a follow up to the launch of the ICON project earlier in the year.

This is a follow up to the implementation of a policy of the World Health Organisation (WHO) endorsed by the Federal Government, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the mandate of the committee is to work out modalities for the implementation of improving the cardiovascular health of Nigerians.

The NMA president explained that the focus would be to eliminate cardiovascular diseases in the country.

According to him, it had been scientifically proven that the consumption of TFAs is one of the major causes of many cardiovascular deaths as sudden deaths syndrome which had taken a toll on Nigerians.

Today is the formal inauguration of the multi-stakeholders Technical Group which we expect to stand till Nigerians begin to reverse the losses due to sudden deaths and others traders to NCDS generally and TFAs in particular.

He, however, urged all stakeholders to work assiduously towards the elimination or reduction to no less than two per cent of TFAs in our food supply chain.

NAN reports that some of the agencies in the committee include NAFDAC, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Consumer Protection Council, Federal Ministry of Health, National Council of Women Society, Association of Health Journalists and other stakeholders.

NAN recalls that the NMA had earlier urged NAFDAC to ban the importation, production and distribution of products with Trans Fatty Acids (TFAs) content in the country.

The association made the appeal at the launch of improving cardiovascular health of Nigerians (ICON) project.

NMA also called on relevant stakeholders to respond to the clarion call by WHO for countries to take conscientious steps to eliminate or reduce the consumption of all forms of industrially produced TFAs.

Reports say there are overwhelming bodies of evidence of the harmful effects of TFAs in our diets, justifying the rationale for outright ban or a reduction to two per cent in all consumables on the country.

NAN also reports that the setting up of a committee had birthed a sustainable vehicle through a platform to engage all stakeholders.

Source: NAN

African champions, Nigerias Super Falcons have been drawn alongside hosts France, South Korea and Norway in Group A of the FIFA Womens World Cup next year.

Two-time champions Germany are in Group B with China, Spain and Africas second representatives South Africa, while 2015 hosts Canada are with European champions the Netherlands, Cameroon and New Zealand in Group E.

The ceremony at La Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt, just outside Paris, also set reigning champions the United States up for a clash with Thailand to begin their defence of the title.

Hosts France in Group A would meet with South Korea in the opening game of the 24-team tournament at the Parc des Princes in Paris on June 7 as Les Bleues hope to match their male counterparts, who won this years World Cup in Russia.

The final will be played on July 7 in Lyon, the 58,000-seat stadium in the city that is home to the womens Champions League holders.

In other highlights of the draw, England and Scotland will meet each other in their opening game after being placed in the same group in Saturdays draw alongside former winners Japan as well as Argentina.

For England, the draw co-hosted by their former star Alex Scott handed them the tantalising prospect of an opening game in Group D against old rivals Scotland in Nice on June 9. Scotland are making their debut in the competition.

England and Scotland also met in their opening group game at Euro 2017 in the Netherlands, with England romping to a 6-0 victory on their way to a semi-final defeat against the hosts.

United States, the champions in 2015, are in Group F with Sweden, Thailand and tournament newcomers Chile.

The USA have won three of the previous seven tournaments.

Australia were among the top seeds but Alen Stajcics side must face Brazil and Italy as well as debutants Jamaica in Group C.

The Matildas will meet Italy in their opening game in Valenciennes on June 9.

All the Groups:

Group A:
FRANCE
KOREA REP.
NORWAY
NIGERIA

Group B:
GERMANY
CHINA PR
SPAIN
SOUTH AFRICA

Group C:
AUSTRALIA
ITALY
BRAZIL
JAMAICA

Group D:
ENGLAND
SCOTLAND
ARGENTINA
JAPAN

Group E:
CANADA
CAMEROON
NEW ZEALAND
NETHERLANDS

GROUP F:
USA
THAILAND
CHILE
SWEDEN

Source: NAN

A spokesman of Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has alleged that there was an assassination attempt on the controversial priest in Enugu on Thursday.

The spokesman, Maximus Ugwuoke blamed it all on politics, days after Mbaka publicly declared the Abubakar-Obi ticket doomed.

It is with rude shock and utter surprise that we received the report of the attempted assassination plot of the Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria last Thursday evening by some unknown gun men who fired gun shots at him on his way in Enugu.

This incident has added to several other assassination plots targeted at Fr. Mbaka since after the first plot that was carried out on him on his way from the Bishops house where he had gone to answer an impromptu call by his Bishop during the regime of Governor Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State .

This assassination plot against Fr. Mbaka is coming barely few days after the 2018 Harvest and Bazaar of the Ministry whereat Fr. Mbaka had come under massive media attack for asking Peter Obi, the PDP Vice Presidential candidate for the 2019 general elections who attended the Bazaar programme, to make public his support or donation for the Church Project of the Ministry.

Many supporters of Peter Obi and even clergies have misconstrued this as embarrassing to Peter Obi and to the Catholic Church and this has consequently given rise to the statement issued by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) that same Thursday on the issue.

The issue had lingered inspite of the apology which Fr. Mbaka in his characteristic humility had tendered at the altar to Peter Obi and anyone who may have, in any way, form or shape been offended at the Bazaar event.

We have refrained from making any official statement on the ongoing media attack against Fr Mbaka over the Baazar incident because he had held us back from joining issues with the Church clergies and hierarchies on the subject, but we cannot continue to keep silent especially now that the issue is taking the dimension of a plot to terminate his life.

We recall that the last time Fr. Mbaka raised alarm over threat to exterminate him was in early 2015 when he faced a similar persecution by some church hierarchy and the PDP Government following his 31st December Prophecy of the imminent defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan led PDP Government by President Mohammadu Buhari at the 2015 general elections.

Today with the 2019 general elections around the corner, it appears that history is repeating itself.

The contemporaneousness of the recent attack of Fr. Mbaka by gunmen with the Peter Obi and the CBCN saga leaves us to a safe conclusion that the attack on Fr. Mbaka may have either been politically engineered or ecumenically endorsed, and thus we will not hesitate to call on the security agencies in this country to beam their search lights and leave no stone unturned in getting to the root of this issue.

Fr Mbakas life means so much to us and many poor and voiceless Nigerians for whom he lives and so we cannot be silent on the face of any threat to his life real or perceived.

Meanwhile, Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, who was a beneficiary of Mbakas blessings last Sunday, has called for investigation of the allegation

Umahi, who spoke as Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum, in a statement, expressed shock over the alleged assassination attempt on Mbaka and called on security agencies to unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack on the Catholic Priest.

The Ebonyi governor, in the statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Uzor described the alleged attack on the priest as highest provocation of man against God and called for full scale investigation to unravel those behind the attempted assassination.

He said the attempted assassination of the Catholic priest showed how low men had descended in their inordinate quest for power and to silence the truth, and thanked God for saving the life of Mbaka while calling on the Inspector General of Police to dispatch a crack team to investigate the alleged attack.

Source: NAN