Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Algeria on Sunday from Mauritania, resuming a tour of Arab countries after attending the G20 summit in Argentina.

Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia received the prince in the capital Algiers, the state news agency APS said.

Before the summit, the heir to the throne of the worlds top oil exporter had visited the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Tunisia.

On his way to Algeria he had stopped over in Mauritania, where Saudi Arabia pledged to build a large hospital in the capital Nouakchott, state media said.

The crown prince is on his first trip abroad since the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, which has strained Saudi Arabias ties with the West and battered the princes image abroad.

Saudi Arabia has said the prince had no prior knowledge of the murder. After offering numerous contradictory explanations, Riyadh said last month that Khashoggi had been killed and his body dismembered when negotiations to persuade him to return to Saudi Arabia failed.

Algerian-Saudi investments and trade relations, especially in the oil and petrochemical sectors, will be discussed during the two-day visit, APS said on Saturday.

Algeria is one of the few Arab countries that has good relations with Saudi Arabia and its arch-rival Iran, both fellow OPEC members.

Algiers also has strong ties with Qatar, with which Saudi Arabia and three other Arab states severed trade and transport ties in June 2017, accusing it of supporting terrorism and Iran. Qatar denies the allegations.

Algeria is also on good terms with Turkey, whose relations with Saudi Arabia have been strained by the Khashoggi killing.

Iran launches stealth warship as U.S. tensions rise
The Saudi prince is unlikely to face protests over the murder as he did in Tunisia, as demonstrations are banned in Algiers.

But a group of prominent journalists and intellectuals has written an open letter opposing his visit, saying it is unethical and politically inappropriate.

Source: NAN

Local government workers in Zamfara state are the worst paid in Nigeria as they are still earning N6,000 (less than $20) a month as minimum wage, a far cry from the N18,000 set nationally.

Ibrahim Khaleel, National President Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) made the sensational revelation in Abuja, ahead of the 40th anniversary of the union.

Khaleel said Governor Abdulaziz Yaris non-compliance with the N18,000 minimum wage, was the real reason he is obstructing the actualisation of the proposed N30,000 minimum wage.

Khaleel, who is also the National Treasurer of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), insisted that the low-earning power of Zamfara residents was responsible for the rising insecurity in the state.

The labour leader noted that as long as the workers were not well paid, there would be no peace in the state.

Khaleel also accused Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau state of not fully compliant with the N18,000 wage. He said council workers in the state only get a fraction of the N18,000.

He regretted that the nations local government workers were the most vulnerable in the world.

Khaleel also said the local government system in the country was discriminated against.

According to him, the welfare of workers in the system can only be enhanced if the local government areas are allowed to function well.

On local government autonomy, the union leader said only 12 states had taken their stand on the issue, with nine of them supporting autonomy for the local government and three others voting against it.

Source: NAN

By George Odok

The Police Command in Cross River, has killed five suspected armed robbery gang who engaged the police in a gun duel shortly after robbing a filling station at Atu Street in Calabar on Sunday.

Mr Hafiz Inuwa, the Commissioner of Police in the state, who briefed newsmen on the incident at the Atakpa Police Station, said the robbers invaded the filling station on Sunday morning.

Some of these armed robbers are giving us problems in Calabar municipality.

These set of robbers were caught up in a gun battle with the police shortly after they robbed a filling station in Atu area of Calabar South.

They had a shoot-out with the police and our men were able to gun down five of them. These were the same gang that we already have their profile.

We have been on the watch out for them because they were the same people that snatched two AK47 rifles from our men.

This is a pointer to the fact that the police and other security agencies will not rest until the state is free from all forms if criminalities, he said.

Inuwa said that people who decides to take up arms against law abiding citizens in the state would have themselves to blame because the police was out for fire-for-fire.

Election is coming, the Calabar carnival is around the corner; we are not going to spare any criminal in the state.

I am calling on parents to be on the watch out on their wards because taking arms against anybody will not be tolerated, he warned.

Also speaking, the State Security Adviser to Gov. Ben Ayade of the state, Mr Ani Esin, who was also at the police station, told NAN that his office was working in collaboration with security agencies in order to reduce crime rate.

Esin said that the Ayade-led administration places premium on the security of residents and visitors in the state, adding that the state government in collaboration with security agencies would not relent in arresting anyone caught in illegality.

He added that all necessary infrastructure had been put in place to ensure that the Christmas period is celebrated peacefully in the state.

We are trying to revamp all the security units across the state and to also empower the security agencies because we want to feel their presence at every corner especially now that we are having thousands of visitors in the state.

I have visited majority of the security outfits and I can assure you that Christmas will be peaceful and beyond that, we hope that the entire state will be calm during the carnival and election period.

NAN reports that the police also recovered some cash and three locally made pistols from the suspected armed robbers.

Source: NAN

Arsenal are in Cloud Nine right now after defeating North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 4-2, on a day Chelsea also beat Fulham 2-0.

A Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang double inspired Arsenal to the thrilling 4-2 north London derby triumph.

Jan Vertonghen conceded a penalty with a handball to enable Aubameyang to slot in the opener on 10 minutes.

But Spurs struck twice in four minutes to lead at half-time. Eric Dier glanced in Christian Eriksens free-kick before Harry Kane scored a penalty after Rob Holdings foul on Son Heung-min.

After the break, Aubameyang brilliantly swept in a long-range equaliser, taking his tally to 10 PL goals this season.

Substitute Alexandre Lacazette put Arsenal ahead with a deflected effort on 74 minutes, and that was swiftly followed by Lucas Torreiras drive from an acute angle to make it 4-2, his first goal for the club.

Vertonghen was sent off late on as Unai Emerys side move above Spurs on goal difference to fourth on 30 points.

Arsenal will next play Jose Mourinhos struggling Manchester United on 5 December at Old Trafford, while Spurs will host Southampton same day.

• With reports by premier league.com

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in Poland told Nigerians that he was not cloned that the ignorant rumours was not surprising.

One of the questions that came up today in my meeting with Nigerians in Poland was on the issue of whether Ive been cloned or not.

The ignorant rumours are not surprising when I was away on medical vacation last year a lot of people hoped I was dead, he tweeted.

One of the questions that came up today in my meeting with Nigerians in Poland was on the issue of whether Ive been cloned or not. The ignorant rumours are not surprising when I was away on medical vacation last year a lot of people hoped I was dead.

Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari)

Poor @ProfOsinbajo, even he had to deal with the rumours Some people reached out to him to consider them to be his Vice President because they assumed I was dead. That embarrassed him a lot; we discussed it when he visited me while I was convalescing.

Buhari who would be 76-year-old on December 15, 2018 said: I can assure you all that this is the real me. Later this month I will celebrate my 76th birthday. And Im still going strong!

I can assure you all that this is the real me. Later this month I will celebrate my 76th birthday. And Im still going strong!

Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari)

President Muhammadu promised he would celebrate his birthday.

I will soon celebrate my 76th birthday, President Buhari stated on Sunday in a tweet.

Earlier, Buhari commended the Super Falcon for the defeat of their South Africas counterpart Banyana Banyana.

I commend the coaching crew, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Supporters Club and all football-loving Nigerians for the hard work and the support given to our heroic Super Falcons. I have never doubted the capacity of Nigerians to excel when given the right support.

Mischief makers in the opposition have been peddling rumour that President Buhari had died and that he had been cloned.

They said President Buhari was actually Jubril from Sudan who is now acting as Nigerian president.

He reacted to the rumour for the first time on Sunday in Poland where he is attending Climate Change conference.

President Buhari is currently in, to attend the 24th session of the Climate Change Conference known as the Parties (COP24).

The COP24 Summit, taking place at the International Conference Centre (MCK) and the adjacent Spodek Arena in Katowice, is convened under the Presidency of Poland.

According to the organisers, the conference is expected to finalise the rules for implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change under the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP) the rule book for implementation.

President Buhari will deliver a national statement highlighting Nigerias commitment to addressing climate change by implementing the goals set out in its National Determined Contributions, Adesina said.

The president would also use the occasion to accentuate Nigerias willingness to work with international partners to reverse the negative effects of climate change in Africa and the world over.

He said President Buhari would be expecting that developed nations scale up their emission reduction activities in order to limit the increase in average global temperatures to well below 2 degrees centigrade between now and 2020.

Source: NAN

President Muhammadu Buhari reacted for the first time on Sunday to rumours that he is not the real Person elected by Nigerians but a look-alike double from Sudan, known as Jubril.

He declared: Its real me, I assure you. I will soon celebrate my 76th birthday and I will still go strong.

President Muhammadu Buhari was speaking in Krakow, Poland, when he met Nigerians living in the country.

For sometime, the fake news industry claimed that the Nigerian President is an impostor.

The issue was raised by one of the Nigerians. But an unruffled Buhari reaffirmed his authentic identity.

He described the authors of the confusion about him as ignorant and irreligious.

A lot of people hoped that I died during my ill health. Some even reached out to the Vice President to consider them to be his deputy because they assumed I was dead. That embarrassed him a lot and of course, he visited me when I was in London convalescing Its real me; I assure you, he declared.

VIDEO: “ President @MBuhari’s response to the rumors [by ignorant and irreligious people] of him being cloned.

“...Somebody just thought I am cloned, ...it is real me I sure you.” pic.twitter.com/TCU6Bzziw4

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) December 2, 2018

The Nigerian leader said he was looking forward to celebrating his 76th birthday on December 17 and jocularly added: If I am getting harassed by anyone, it is my grandchildren, who are getting too many.

The President used the occasion to reiterate that his government will continue to maintain focus and deliver on the three focal points of his campaign in 2015: security, economy and the fight against corruption.

Those in the North East will tell you that in spite of the recent setbacks, there is a difference between the time we came and before.

We are not doing badly on security, economy and agriculture. We have virtually stopped the importation of food especially rice and we are saving a lot of money.

We now have food security and that has come with fiscal security because a lot of young educated people have not regretted going back to the farms and earning a respectable living.

I am afraid, this is not receiving good publicity but a lot of people in the rural areas are enjoying the benefits of our interventions in agriculture, he said.

President Buhari, who is in Poland to attend the UN Climate Change Conference, COP24 reaffirmed that no territory of Nigeria is under the control of Boko Haram terrorists, calling on Nigerians to remain vigilant and supportive of Federal Governments efforts to ensure the security of lives and property in the country.

While acknowledging that it has not been easy financing the security sector in the country, the President said the Nigerian Armed Forces were equal to the task.

The President noted that it was regrettable that herdsmen and farmers clashes in the country have been politicised, assuring that the Nigerian government will continue to prioritise security because that is what many investors consider first before investing in the country.

On the fight against corruption, he said all recovered stolen assets will be sold and the proceeds returned to the treasury for the benefit of Nigerians.

On women representation in his government, the President told the meeting: I have plans for all Nigerians. I am not a male chauvinist. If Im a chauvinist will I give the Finance Ministry to women?

In his remarks, the Ambassador of Nigeria to Poland, Mr Eric Adagogo Bell-Gam praised Nigerians living in the country for being worthy ambassadors of the country.

Among those who met President Buhari were Mr Larry Ugwu, an Artist and Curator, who has lived in Poland for 40 years and has contributed immensely to promoting Nigerian cultural heritage in the Polish society; Anthony Egwuatu, a Gynaecologist, who has lived in the country for 30 years and Mr Olomofe Larry, a human rights activist, who has fought for justice for fellow Nigerians in the host country, among several others.

The event was put together and anchored by Hon. Abike Dabiri, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Diaspora.

Source: NAN

A new study says both snoring and obstructive sleep apnea could lead to earlier impairment of cardiac function in women.

Snoring refers to a sleeping pattern in which a person breathes while emitting a snorting or grunting sound.

Although, the National Sleep Foundation suggests that 90 million people in the United States snore, snoring might become more dangerous as people age, and it can also lead to heart disease, especially for women.

There are different types of sleep apnea, but the most common is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). At least 18 million U.S. adults have sleep apnea.

This condition affects breathing patterns while sleeping, causing a person to stop breathing and start again repeatedly. About half of people who snore loudly have OSA.

When OSA occurs, the muscles in the throat that are responsible for keeping the airway open actually prevent the flow of air.

According to a new study presented recently at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America held in Chicago, IL snoring and OSA may lead to earlier impairment of cardiac function in women than in men.

It is unclear whether or not sleep apnea directly causes heart disease, but some specialists believe that people with sleep apnea are at risk of developing hypertension, or high blood pressure.

Many people who have sleep apnea also have co-existing diseases. This is one of the reasons why it is harder to establish a direct link between sleep apnea and heart disease.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), some people living with sleep apnea and high blood pressure who received treatment for sleep apnea also saw their blood pressure drop. Such findings show a possible link between hypertension and sleep apnea.

OSA is also associated with obesity, which is a risk factor for heart disease.

Obesity contributes to sleep apnea, and the sleep deprivation that sleep apnea causes can give rise to further obesity, in the long-term. As a person gains more weight, the throat muscles that keep the airway open relax, and sleep apnea becomes more serious.

The researchers analyzed data associated with cardiac parameters in relation to diagnosed OSA and self-reported snoring using data from the UK Biobank.

The UK Biobank is an international health resource, open to researchers, that aims to improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases.

The data were of 4,877 participants who had received a cardiac MRI scan. The scientists divided them into three groups: those with OSA, those with self-reported snoring, and those with neither.

When the researchers compared the snoring group with the group without sleep disorders, they found a striking difference in the left ventricular mass in women compared with men.

Increased left ventricular mass means that the heart needs to work harder to fulfil the bodys needs.

These patterns in people who self-reportedly snore may be an indication of undiagnosed OSA.

We found that the cardiac parameters in women appear to be more easily affected by the disease and that women who snore or have OSA might be at greater risk for cardiac involvement.

The researchers also found that the number of diagnosed OSA cases in the study was extremely low, suggesting that OSA may be underdiagnosed across the board.

Dr. Curta, a radiology resident at Munich University Hospital in Germany, urges people who snore to get screened for OSA and those with OSA to seek treatment.

I would encourage people who snore to ask their partner to observe them and look for phases during sleep when they stop breathing for a short while and then gasp for air, says Dr. Curta.

If unsure, they can spend the night at a sleep lab where breathing is constantly monitored during sleep and even slight alterations can be recorded.

The team now hopes to conduct more research to fully understand the sex differences linked to snoring and OSA.

Source: NAN

Beyonce was leading an all-star line-up including Ed Sheeran, Jay-Z and Usher in Johannesburg at a concert to honour the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela.

The concert was the climax of a year of events celebrating the centennial of Mandelas birth in 1918, and part of a campaign to tackle poverty, child malnutrition and boost gender equality.

This years Global Citizen Festival is being held at Johannesburgs 94,736-capacity FNB stadium and began at 1200 GMT.

Thousands of music fans, many of whom had received free tickets to reward their activism and campaigning work, flocked to the stadium hours before the gig began.

Its really important to be here because we all support what Global Citizen is doing, its helping out a lot of people, said Lesedi Mosita, a banker.

I do follow the cause, I have done my share, I have tried to support as much as I can but I am mostly excited to see Beyonce.

As well as a constellation of global stars that also included Pharrell Williams and Coldplays Chris Martin, President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted fellow heads of state from Ghana, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.

Williams received a rapturous reception for his rendition of Get Lucky, with many cheering fans holding phones aloft and dancing exuberantly.

South African stars Trevor Noah and Bonang Matheba also made appearances, as the largely local crowd braved heavy downpours to attend.

Ahead of the concert co-host Oprah Winfrey hailed Mandelas goodness and integrity, describing him as her favourite mentor.

Mandela was jailed under South Africas apartheid regime. After being released in 1990, he led the countrys transformation into a multi-racial democracy. He died on December 5, 2013 aged 95.

Earlier Sunday, Mandelas widow Graca Machel, draped in a bright yellow and blue dress, took to the stage to honour her late husband in front of the near-capacity crowd.

And Mandelas grandson Ndaba Mandela told festival-goers: Today it is a privilege and choice for us to take action on behalf of the hundreds of millions of people trapped in the cycle of poverty.

So I plead with you, dont think of this as just a music festival, this is a call to the hearts and minds of humanity all across the world.

The Global Citizen initiative aims to help eradicate extreme poverty by 2030 and has staged events in other global cities including London, Brussels, and New York.

Event organisers earlier paid tribute to a rigger who died following a fall while helping to prepare the stage on Saturday.

The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated, Global Citizen said in a statement.

Source: NAN

The Nigerian Army said its troops have dislodged Boko Haram fightersfrom their hideout and in Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area of Borno, causing them to flee abandoning their weapons.

The army said on its Twitter handle that on Nov. 29 that the troops launched offensive on two fronts against the insurgents and successfully dislodged them from their hideout in the area.

It disclosed that the insurgents who were preparing for attack, fled on sighting the troops leaving behind their ammunitions, food items and other consumables.

In compliance with the directives of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; that commanders in Operation LAFIYA DOLE, to carry out massive attack and offensive mission to the Boko Haram terrorists suspected locations, hideouts and enclaves, troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade, embarked on an exploration mission on November 29, 2018.

The gallant troops carried out offensive patrols on two fronts: Ngala Bridge and Gamboru town along Wurge village, northern Borno. On sighting the troops, the terrorists who were massing up for a possible attack abandoned their logistic stores, equipment and fled.

The equipment captured includes one AK-47 Rifle with registration number 819044; two AK-47 magazines, 443 rounds of 12.7mm ammunition, 94 rounds of PKT ammunition, 16 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition and 4 RPG Bombs.

The troops also recovered one Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) charge; one Anti-Aircraft telescopic sight, one Anti-Aircraft top cover, clearing rod, one Hilux GT van, two motorcycles, one flag, two blankets, one praying mat, one mosquito net and 10 motorcycle spare tubes.

Other items include one tools box , one towing cable, one camel bag, three water melon, three cans of milk, two bottles of Maltina , two sachets of sugar, three jerry cans, one MP3 player, groundnut and a First Aid kit. (NAN)

Source: NAN

An Egyptian film star Rania Youssef will face trial next January for promoting immorality.

Her offence was that she attended the Cairo Film Festival in a see-through dress, state-owned online newspaper Al-Ahram reported on Saturday.

Rania Youssef will face a trial in January in Cairo after receiving a number of complaints about her attire, accusing her of inciting immorality and promoting vice.

The actress turned heads at the closing ceremony of the festival on Thursday when she appeared in a black dress that exposed what some commentators described as a swimsuit beneath it.

The pictures of the 44-year-old star left social media users divided, with some calling her names and other defending her right to wear what she wants.

This dress and design is called I forgot my trousers while going to be honoured, wrote one Twitter user.

Another user said Ranias appearance will help her get more work.

This entry has at least 15 films, two television series and 13 television and radio show appearances, wrote Karim Ahmed on Twitter. Congratulations.

Another Twitter user writing under the name Zakaria MJ frowned at the criticism.

Rania Youssef is looking gorgeous, he wrote in a message in English. I dont get why everybody is mad at her.

Source: NAN