Irans central bank has proposed slashing four zeros from the rial, following the plunging of the currencys value in the wake of an economic crisis fuelled by U.S. sanctions.

A bill to remove four zeros from the national currency was presented to the government by the central bank yesterday and I hope this matter can be concluded as soon as possible, Iranian News Agency (IRNA) quoted central bank governor Abdolnaser Hemmati as saying.

Proposals to remove four zeros from the currency have been floated since 2008, but the idea has gained strength as the rial lost more than 60 percent of its value in 2018 despite a recent recovery engineered by the central bank in defiance of U.S. sanctions.

The currency was trading at about 110,000 rials per U.S. dollar on the unofficial market on Sunday, according to foreign exchange websites.

The currency was trading at about 110,000 rials per U.S. dollar on the unofficial market on Sunday, according to foreign exchange websites.

President Donald Trump re-imposed U.S. sanctions on Iran last year after pulling out of world powers 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran.

Washington has vowed maximum pressure on Irans economy to force it to accept tougher limits on its nuclear and missile programs. Iran has ruled this out.

Rial weakness disrupted Irans foreign trade last year and helped boost annual inflation fourfold to nearly 40 percent in November. The weak currency and galloping inflation have been a complaint of sporadic street protests since late 2017.

After approval by the government, the proposed currency plan would have to be passed by parliament and approved by the clerical body that vets legislation before it takes effect.

Source: NAN

In a historic first, Malaysias king, Sultan Muhammad V abdicated Sunday, ending weeks of speculation about his future after he took medical leave and reportedly married a Russian ex-beauty queen.

Sultan Muhammad Vs decision marks the first time a king has stepped aside during his five-year term in the Muslim-majority country.

The national palace confirmed the resignation with immediate effect of the 49-year-old, who had been on the throne for two years and was known for his fondness for four-wheel driving and other extreme sports.

His majesty tells the people of Malaysia to continue to be united to maintain unity, tolerance, and work together, said a statement from the Comptroller of the Royal Household, Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz.

Malaysias Islamic rulers will now meet to decide on the next king.

Malaysia is a constitutional monarchy, with a unique arrangement where the throne changes hands every five years between rulers of the nine Malaysian states headed by centuries-old Islamic royalty.

The system has been in place since independence from Britain in 1957.

Royal officials gave no reason for Sultan Muhammad Vs move but there had been a question mark over the kings reign since he went on leave for medical treatment in November.

Reports in British and Russian media then surfaced saying that he had married the former Miss Moscow in the Russian capital in a lavish ceremony.

Royal officials in Malaysia have so far not commented on the rumoured marriage, or given any details about the state of the kings health.

Speculation intensified about the kings future after his medical leave officially finished at the end of December, and the countrys Islamic royals reportedly held a special meeting last week.

While their role is ceremonial, Malaysias Islamic royalty command great respect, especially from Muslim Malays, and criticising them is strictly forbidden.

Sultan Muhammad V studied at St Cross College at Oxford and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, according to official media.

He is known for a relaxed public persona, taking part in walkathons to promote health, and has been photographed wearing a baseball cap backwards.

According to a report from official news agency Bernama at the time of his enthronement, he fills his free time by reading and has an interest in extreme sports such as four-wheel drive expeditions and endurance challenges and shooting.

He is also the ceremonial ruler of the conservative Islamic northern state of Kelantan.

The palace statement said he was ready to return home to the state of Kelantan to be together with the state government and the Kelantanese people.

The palace did not indicate when the Islamic rulers would meet to pick the next king. During his leave of absence, the ruler of western Perak state had been carrying out his duties.

Portraits of the king and queen adorn government buildings throughout the country. The king is also the symbolic head of Islam in the nation, as well as the nominal chief of the military.

Malaysias sultans trace a lineage back to Malay sultanates of the 15th century. The king is referred to as Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or He Who Is Made Lord.

Source: NAN

The presidency has chided the Peoples Democratic Party over another lie regarding the status of Hajiya Amina Zakari, a national commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission.

In a statement on Friday, Malam Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant on media accused the PDP of publishing a mendacious press release, in which it made equally baseless accusations regarding Hajiya Zakari, about her neutrality and integrity in next month’s election.

Shehu said Zakari in the first place was originally appointed by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan and was only reappointed by Buhari.

Second, Zakari is not a blood relation of President Buhari as the PDP had claimed.

Said Shehu in the press release on Friday:
“In their desperation, they forget that it was the PDP government that appointed her in the first place and they keep lying, as they have been caught doing on so many issues, by imputing a blood relationship between her and President Muhammadu Buhari.

“President Buhari and Commissioner Amina Zakari don’t share a family relationship. An inter-marriage occurred in their extended families, so the imputation of blood relationship between the President and the electoral commissioner is a simple lie.

“What is even more curious about all the fuss coming from the PDP is that they, as a ruling party picked Mrs Zakari, judging her by her own merit and made her an electoral commissioner.

“She served so well with distinction as can be verified from the records that President Buhari approved the recommendation that she be reappointed, as he did other PDP nominees for second-term of four years.

“PDP, therefore, has no moral right to keep harassing this hardworking mother unless they have a hidden agenda.

“By this statement, the PDP is guilty of scoring an own goal and two, of harassing an innocent citizen on the basis of a lie, pure and simple”, Shehu said.

Tragedy struck in Florida on New Year’s Day as a man was accused of shooting his wife and her parents after he discovered a video of her cheating on him with his best friend.

Police say William Brian Stillwell, 39, of Satellite Beach, was arrested on attempted murder and child abuse charges, WFTV reported.

He is being held at Brevard County Jail without bail.
Stillwell allegedly went to a house in Melbourne uninvited before he shot his wife and in-laws.
His children, five-year-old twins, went to a neighbor’s home asking for help, WFTV reported.
The children were heard in a 911 call asking their father to stop shooting.

“No, daddy. No. I don’t want anyone to die,” one of the children said.

Following a brief standoff, Stillwell peacefully surrendered to police. The children were not harmed in the shooting.

Stillwell told detectives he recently watched a video on his wife’s phone of her having sex with his best friend.

Stillwell’s wife went to live with her parents after they separated, investigators said.

His father-in-law was released from the hospital while his wife and mother-in-law underwent surgery, relatives told WFTV.

The names of his wife and in-laws have not been released.

Two sisters self-described as the worlds most identical twins aim to get pregnant by their shared boyfriend and, if the law would allow it, marry him.

Anna and Lucy DeCinque, who made their announcement on an Australian morning show last month, confirmed to Fox News this week that their communal boyfriend is very happy with the plan.

If we can change the law in the government, wed love to marry Ben, one of the women said in a clip from the show, which the DeCinque sisters shared toon Jan. 2.

This is what works for us. People need to get that. Were not hurting anyone, said the other sister.

The twins then revealed that it was their own mothers idea for Byrne to try to get them both pregnant naturally, though they said they dont know if they can pull that off.

Our mom is actually convincing us to go naturally, give birth naturally, so I dont know how thats going to work because we need to be pregnant at the same time, one of the women said.

Ben will be a busy boy, responded Today presenter Deborah Knight.

The twins had previously revealed that they both wanted to become pregnant by Byrne in a YouTube video they posted in 2017, though they said they were considering using a surrogate or IVF treatments,reported at the time.

It is a bit of a dilemma, said Lucy. We know thats where nature comes in, we cant control these things. You cant force these things.

Source: NAN

By Awayi Kuje

The Senator representing Nasarawa West Senatorial District, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, has begun his third term senatorial campaign with a call on Nigerians to vote President Muhammadu Buhari, to complete his good work beyond 2019.

Adamu (APC), made the call on Saturday in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Adamu, a former governor of the state, noted that with the feat so far made by the s APC under President Buhari led-government, the party would remain in power in Nigeria beyond 2019.

He expressed optimism that President Buhari would win 2019 election considering the support that he is receiving from Nigerians day and night.

I want to call on you to use your PVCs to vote for me, President Buhari, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, the Nasarawa state APC governorship candidate and all other APC candidates during the 2019 elections.

APC government has done a lot in impacting positively on the lives of Nigerians, hence the need for us to vote President Buhari for second term, he said.

Adamu, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, assured his constituents and Nigerians that he would continue to defend the nations interest, if re-elected to the red chamber.

Also, Gov. Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, urged the electorate to vote President Buhari and all other APC candidates during the forthcoming general elections.

Al-Makura who was represented by his deputy, Mr Silas Agara, said a vote for APC was a vote for progress and development.

The governor urged the people of the state and Nigerians to shun violence and live in peace during and after the election in the interest of development.

Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi , the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, urged Nigerians to vote APC at all levels to enjoy more dividend of democracy.

Balarabe-Abdullahi (APC-Umaisha/Ugya) also said Nigerians would massively vote President Buhari in 2019 considering his achievements which had impacted positively on the lives of the people.

The speaker, who is also the National Vice Chairman of North Central Zone of Nigeria Conference of Speakers of State Legislators, also tasked the partys supporters to work tirelessly for the victory of the party at all levels come 2019.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ceremony was attended by politicians, including Halilu Envulunza, Hassan Liman, the state governorship aspirant.

Source: NAN

The Russian Embassy in Benin Republic has reported that six Russian sailors have been abducted by pirates off the coast of Benin.

Among those taken hostage was the captain of the vessel, the embassy said, adding that all of the sailors have vanished.

The abductees were Russian nationals.

There were 24 people on board the ship when the attack took place on Wednesday in the Gulf of Guinea, the embassy said.

In 2018, an oil tanker with a crew of 22 Indian nationals was hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Guinea.

The crew members were released after five days as hostages, following a reported ransom payment.

Source: NAN

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has distance itself from the purported allegations by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) claiming it received N150 million from the presidency.

The students Union body disclosed this in a statement signed by Mr Adeyemi Amoo, its National Public Relations Officer (PRO), and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

Amoo called on Nigerian students to discountenance the allegations by ASUU, saying that the association was ready to protect the interest of all the students.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari, whois a known person in character and style to virtually all Nigerians, would never dole out such amount of money for any reason, which would not be of any national benefits or developments.

NAN reports that President Buhari on Jan. 3, met with the leadership of the Nigerian Students to resolve issues with ASUU.

The meeting centred on ways to smoothen unresolved issues that led to the industrial action.

Our attention has been drawn to the purported and sponsored allegation, that NANS had been bribed by President Muhammadu Buhari with a whooping sum of N150million to protest against ASUU.

We commend the well meaning, intellectual and genuine civil society groups for not falling cheap for this blackmail, as weve gotten informed and reliably that theyve also been lobbied by ASUU to join them in pushing such blackmail.

We are not surprised that this blackmail isnt flying beyond the pseudo groups theyve been able to arrange and mobilise with cash.

President Muhammadu Buhari, is a known person in character and style to virtually all Nigerians, even the oppositions knows that Buhari will never give out such amount of money for any reason(s) that is not of national benefits or developments.

No doubt this propaganda might have seen the acceptance of the masses if it wasnt targeted towards Buhari himself.

Amoo explained that NANS had earlier declared Nov. 17, 2018 as a nationwide day of mass action tagged: SAVE EDUCATION RALLY held simultaneously across the states of the federation, to protest the incessant strikes across universities, polytechnics and colleges of Education.

He added that in October 2018, NANS national leadership, met with the Minister for Education, to fine-tune ways of putting a long term end to the regular carnival of strikes in the educational sector.

We thereby demanded as the major stakeholders in the sectors, to always have representatives at the meeting of ASUU with Federal Government, as this was targeted towards adding to the strength and voice of ASUU, so as to make government yield to there demands in time.

The Federal Government on her own side sees the request of been an observer at the negotiation table with ASUU as a welcome development.

NANS was invited twice to the meeting of Federal Government with ASUU, ably represented by the NANS national president, Danielson Akpan, but was walked out twice by the ASUU leadership, insisting that such negotiations must not be done in the presence of younger ones.

NANS leadership begins to wonder what reasons might be behind the blind insistence of ASUU that NANS must not observe the meeting, when the Federal Government has wholeheartedly approved our attendance at such meetings.

Amoo said the NANS leadership, ordinarily would have informed the students and the general public on this actions by ASUU, but decided not to give room for the government, to see the actions as an advantage to blackmail the ASUU.

He added that NANS after exhausting all means, resolved to issue an ultimatum to the Federal Government and ASUU to return to negotiation table to urgently safe students from getting involved or addicted to various forms of social vices.

According to him, NANS, in the course of getting things resolved urgently, sorted an audience with president Muhammadu Buhari, which was granted and held on January 3 at the presidential villa.

At the meeting, NANS appealed to president Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency resolve the ASUU strike, for him not to loose the support of over 20million Nigerian students.

This was the statement of the NANS president at the meeting as against the cheap blackmail that NANS has assured Buhari of mobilising 20million votes for him.

NANS, therefore, uses this medium to inform Nigerian students and Nigerians at large, that its leadership will not, has not and will not for any reason sell the interest and integrity of our dear organisation.

Conclusively, we want to tell ASUU that NANS is not for sell, we have not and will not turn our struggles to source of empowerment, he said.

Source: NAN

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has faulted the accusations that it received N150 million from presidency, saying that President Muhammadu Buhari was not the type that offers bribe.

The leadership of NANS distanced itself from the purported allegations by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The students said Buhari, a known person in character and style to virtually all Nigerians, would never dole out such amount of money for any reason, which would not be of any national benefits or developments.

The students Union body said in a statement signed by Mr Adeyemi Amoo, its National Public Relations Officer (PRO).

Amoo called on Nigerian students to discountenance the allegations by ASUU, saying that the association was ready to protect the interest of all the students.

President Buhari on January 3, met with the leadership of the Nigerian Students to resolve issues with ASUU and the meeting centred on ways to smoothen unresolved issues that led to the industrial action.

Our attention has been drawn to the purported and sponsored allegation, that NANS had been bribed by President Muhammadu Buhari with a sum of N150million to protest against ASUU.

We commend the well-meaning, intellectual and genuine civil society groups for not falling cheap for this blackmail, as weve gotten informed and reliably that theyve also been lobbied by ASUU to join them in pushing such blackmail.

We are not surprised that this blackmail isnt flying beyond the pseudo groups theyve been able to arrange and mobilise with cash.

President Muhammadu Buhari, is a known person in character and style to virtually all Nigerians, even the oppositions knows that Buhari will never give out such amount of money for any reason(s) that is not of national benefits or developments.

No doubt this propaganda might have seen the acceptance of the masses if it wasnt targeted towards Buhari himself.

Amoo explained that NANS had earlier declared November 17, 2018 as a nationwide day of mass action tagged: SAVE EDUCATION RALLY held simultaneously across the states of the federation, to protest the incessant strikes across universities, polytechnics and colleges of Education.

He added that in October 2018, NANS national leadership, met with the Minister for Education, to fine-tune ways of putting a long term end to the regular carnival of strikes in the educational sector.

We thereby demanded as the major stakeholders in the sectors, to always have representatives at the meeting of ASUU with Federal Government, as this was targeted towards adding to the strength and voice of ASUU, so as to make government yield to there demands in time.

The Federal Government on her own side sees the request of been an observer at the negotiation table with ASUU as a welcome development.

NANS was invited twice to the meeting of Federal Government with ASUU, ably represented by the NANS national president, Danielson Akpan, but was walked out twice by the ASUU leadership, insisting that such negotiations must not be done in the presence of younger ones.

NANS leadership begins to wonder what reasons might be behind the blind insistence of ASUU that NANS must not observe the meeting, when the Federal Government has wholeheartedly approved our attendance at such meetings.

Amoo said the NANS leadership, ordinarily would have informed the students and the general public on this actions by ASUU, but decided not to give room for the government, to see the actions as an advantage to blackmail the ASUU.

He added that NANS after exhausting all means, resolved to issue an ultimatum to the Federal Government and ASUU to return to negotiation table to urgently safe students from getting involved or addicted to various forms of social vices.

According to him, NANS, in the course of getting things resolved urgently, sorted an audience with president Muhammadu Buhari, which was granted and held on January 3 at the presidential villa.

At the meeting, NANS appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency resolve the ASUU strike, for him not to lose the support of over 20 million Nigerian students.

This was the statement of the NANS president at the meeting as against the cheap blackmail that NANS has assured Buhari of mobilising 20 million votes for him.

NANS, therefore, uses this medium to inform Nigerian students and Nigerians at large, that its leadership will not, and has not and will not for any reason sell the interest and integrity of our dear organisation.

Conclusively, we want to tell ASUU that NANS is not for sell, we have not and will not turn our struggles to source of empowerment, he said.

Source: NAN

Roger Federer has become the most successful player in Hopman Cup history after leading Switzerland to a 2-1 win in an enthralling final of the mixed teams tournament in Perth Saturday.

In what is tipped to be the final edition of the unique tournament, the best was saved for last as Federer became the first player to win three Hopman Cups, teaming with Belinda Bencic for the duos second consecutive title.

For the second year in a row, the Swiss beat the German pairing of Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber by claiming a deciding mixed doubles rubber loaded with drama.

It was Switzerlands fourth title overall, behind only the United States with six. Federer first won the Hopman Cup back in 2001 when he teamed with Martina Hingis.

The 37-year-old gave the Swiss the early ascendancy with a straight sets win against Zverev, before Kerber squared the tie by beating a dogged Belinda Bencic to set up the mixed doubles decider.

Federer was a dominant figure in an extraordinary doubles match as the Swiss claimed the abbreviated format 4-0, 1-4, 4-3 (5/4) to clinch the title.

Fittingly, it was Federer who served out the match in the third set tie-break, having been unable to do so earlier in the set, when after an extended rally Zverev dumped a backhand into the net to hand the Swiss victory.

In the mens singles, Federer bounced back from a November loss to Zverev in London to beat the big-serving German 6-4, 6-2 and make it a clean sweep of his singles matches in Perth for the second year running, less than two weeks before he defends his Australian Open title.

It was a high-octane match, with plenty of big serves and clean winners, but Federer was able to answer everything the 21-year-old threw at him.

He broke Zverev in the 10th game of the first set and then tightened the noose on the German, with two more breaks in the second set.

Federer, who also beat Zverev in three sets in last years Hopman final, clinched the match with a typically crisp forehand volley.

He was pleased to maintain his unbeaten singles record during the week, during which he never dropped his serve.

I am happy I was able to maintain the good, high quality tennis I showed all week, he said.

It is good to finish on a singles performance like this, I was able to come up with some good serve and volley and it all worked out today.

World number two Kerber appeared set for an easy win in her singles match against Bencic, taking the first set and then claiming an early break in the second.

The German served at 5-4, but the match took a sudden twist as Bencic broke back, only for Kerber to immediately break again.

For a second time Kerber was unable to serve out the match, as Bencic forced it to a tie-break.

Kerber had two match points at 6-4, but Bencic again hung on grimly and won the next two points.

It wasnt until Kerbers third chance that a backhand winner secured the 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) win.

Critical was Kerbers ability to convert all four of her break points during the match, while Bencic was only successful on two of seven.

Kerber praised Bencics tenacity, saying she was always a determined opponent.

She was fighting until the last one (point), she said.

Source: NAN