Thursday, 24 December 2015

Merry Christmas everyone and happy holidays!

Merry Christmas everyone and happy holidays!

The most magical time of the year is here! Merry Christmas to everyone. May this Christmas bring you divine love, favour, long life, good health, prosperity, success & peace of mind. Wishing you all the most amazing Christmas celebration ever! Massive hug guys! Kisses!

Americans held hostage in Iran win compensation, 36 years later

Americans held hostage in Iran win compensation, 36 years later

After spending 444 days in captivity, and more than 30 years seeking restitution, the Americans taken hostage at the United States Embassy in Tehran in 1979 have finally won compensation.
Buried in the huge spending bill signed into law last Friday are provisions that would give each of the 53 hostages or their estates up to $4.4 million.
Victims of other state-sponsored terrorist attacks such as the 1998 American Embassy bombings in East Africa would also be eligible for benefits under the law.
“I had to pull over to the side of the road, and I basically cried,” said Rodney V. Sickmann, who was a Marine sergeant working as a security guard at the embassy in Tehran when he was seized along with the other Americans by an angry mob that overran the compound on Nov. 4, 1979. “It has been 36 years, one month, 14 days, obviously, until President Obama signed the actual bill, until Iran was held accountable,” he said.
 Rodney V. Sickmann
The law now stands to bring closure to a saga that riveted the nation and ruptured America’s ties with Iran. The very agreement that won the hostages’ release in 1981 barred them from seeking restitution. Their legal claims were repeatedly blocked in the courts, including an appeal denied by the Supreme Court. Congress tried but failed to pass laws granting them relief.
David M. Roeder
But this year, vindication came in a decision that forced the Paris-based bank BNP Paribas to pay a $9 billion penalty for violating sanctions against Iran, Sudan and Cuba. Some of that money was suddenly available for victims of state-sponsored terrorism.

Some of the hostages were subject to physical and psychological torture during their long ordeal.
 
It is not clear, however, whether all the former hostages or their families will receive full payments. In large measure that is because the $4.4 million total authorized by Congress depends on the outcome of efforts to collect on judgments won in earlier court rulings involving victims of terrorist attacks, as well as on the number of victims who file claims.
 
The law authorizes payments of up to $10,000 per day of captivity for each of the 53 hostages, 37 of whom are still alive. Fifty-two hostages were released on Jan. 20, 1981; a 53rd hostage had been released earlier because of illness.
 
Spouses and children are authorized to receive a lump payment of as much as $600,000.

Chicago 'Black Christmas' protesters march against police violence

Chicago 'Black Christmas' protesters march against police violence

Several hundred protesters against police killings of black men marched on Thursday along Chicago's Michigan Avenue, calling for Mayor Rahm Emanuel to step down and aiming to disrupt Christmas Eve shopping in a glittering, upscale commercial area.

The demonstration was peaceful, but after the main march concluded, police scuffled with a few dozen protesters who were trying to block the entrance to an H&M store and to obstruct traffic both ways on Michigan Avenue, a major thoroughfare.

During the march, demonstrators chanted "Sixteen shots and a cover-up," protesting the year-long delay in bringing murder charges against police officer Jason Van Dyke, who shot and killed Laquan McDonald in October 2014 as the black teenager walked away from police, according to footage of the incident.

Shoppers and tourists mostly took in their stride Thursday's protest, which was not as big as a 2,000-person march on "Black Friday" Nov. 27, which blocked traffic into several Michigan Avenue stores.
"I think it's a good reminder, especially on Christmas Eve, that it's not all about gifts and the commercialization of Christmas," said Barbara Hutchinson, 64, from St. Louis.

Reuters

Meet the man who married Putin's daughter and then made a fortune

Meet the man who married Putin's daughter and then made a fortune

Katerina Putin, younger daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin got married to Kirill Shamalov, son of an old friend of Putin. Their wedding celebrations took place in February 2013, at Igora, a small ski resort that combines beauty and discretion, five people who were there told Reuters.

 Set amid woodland with a picturesque lake, the resort is co-owned by the family of Yuri Kovalchuk, another old friend of Putin, and a Cyprus company with undisclosed shareholders.

One person who attended the event said staff were told the bride and groom were named Kirill and Katerina, and that guests wore white scarves embroidered with the letters "K&K" in red thread. When shown a photograph of a woman known as Katerina Tikhonova, the source identified her as the bride. Tikhonova is Putin's younger daughter, as Reuters confirmed in November. 
"Guards were behind every corner, (they) didn't let anyone close to the celebration," said a staff member at the resort, which has a luxurious spa complex. "But we knew it was Kirill and Katerina - Putin's daughter - celebrating marriage."
At the time of the wedding, Kirill - a tall, dark-haired man with rimless glasses - was a rising star of Russian business, but still only 31. His fortunes began to skyrocket soon after his wedding to the president's daughter, a competitive acrobatic dancer who is now helping to oversee a $1.7 billion expansion of Moscow State University.
Within 18 months, Kirill acquired a large chunk of shares in a major Russian oil and petrochemical processor called Sibur - a stake now worth an estimated $2.85 billion, based on the value of recent share deals. He also quit his job as a business manager and set up a company to run his personal investments.
How did such a young businessman go so far, so fast? A Reuters examination of Shamalov's career shows that in the summer of 2013, months after he married Putin's daughter, Kirill opened discussions about buying shares in Sibur from one of the president's wealthiest friends.
A year later, he was able to borrow more than $1 billion, judging by the published accounts of his investment company. The loan came from a bank headed by another longtime associate of Putin, and where Shamalov's brother holds a senior position. The money was used to make an investment in Sibur that within months proved highly profitable for Kirill.
Asked about his business deals and the wedding, Kirill Shamalov and Sibur declined to comment.
The trajectory of Kirill's fortunes sheds new light on how people close to Putin have taken commanding positions in key companies - and how such opportunities are now being extended to a new generation. Like the wedding, much of this transfer of riches has occurred away from public scrutiny.
Vladimir Milov, a former Russian deputy energy minister and now an opposition campaigner, said Putin's friends had acquired major assets with the help of lenders with links to the state, such as Gazprombank.
"It's extremely non-transparent, so it is hard to get to and judge the specifics of the loan agreements," Milov said. "They consider Gazprombank their pocket bank."
He added: "They are looking to pass on their power and privileges to a new generation."
Asked about the wedding celebrations and business deals, Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Russian president, said: "Putin's daughters are not involved in politics or business. The businessman, Shamalov, is well known. As far as we are aware, all his activities are in line with the laws of the Russian Federation. For many years he has been in the management of the company Sibur, and along with other senior managers is a shareholder. His career and business are not within the sphere of interest of the Kremlin. We do not give comments on the private lives of Putin's close relatives."

Khloe Kardashian shows off her curves in more St. Barth's photos

Khloe Kardashian shows off her curves in more St. Barth's photos

Khloe K who had a photoshoot in St. Barth's showed off her curves in the most recent photos that were released. More photos after the cut....

Photo: Christmas Day in Badagry, Nigeria, in 1923

Photo: Christmas Day in Badagry, Nigeria, in 1923

Wow!

Kendall Jenner sizzles in Love Magazine's December issue

Kendall Jenner sizzles in Love Magazine's December issue

Kendall Jenner made her second appearance in Love magazine's 2015 advent calendar with hot photos and a video shoot that was done by James Lima. The December issue featuring Kendall was released today. More photos after the cut. ...


Rescued Senegalese migrant wins €400,000 in Spain’s Christmas lottery

Rescued Senegalese migrant wins €400,000 in Spain’s Christmas lottery

An unemployed Senegalese man who was rescued by the Spanish coastguard after making a risky journey from Morocco eight years ago on a packed wooden boat won 400,000 euros ($437,000) in Spain’s annual Christmas lottery, local media reported Wednesday.

The man, identified only by his first name Ngame, was one of the holders of one of the 1,600 tickets with the winning number in the draw draw.

He made an illegal entry into Europe with his wife.
“I just can’t believe this, I can tell you that on some days we do not have five euros between the two of us,” he told the newspaper which published a photo of Ngame holding his winning ticket.
Ngame and his wife arrived eight years ago in the resort island of Tenerife, a part of Spain’s Canary Islands in the Atlantic off the coast of Morocco. They were taken there after being rescued by Spain’s coast guard when the boat they were travelling in ran into trouble.
“There were 65 people on that boat. I want to give thanks to Spaniards and the Spanish government for rescuing me when I was in the sea,” he told the newspaper.

43 still missing from Hajj stampede

43 still missing from Hajj stampede

43 Nigerians are yet to be accounted for in the stampede and crane accident that took place in Mina and Makkah, Saudi Arabia on September 11th and September 24th respectively.

A report submitted by the Federal government committee on the 2015 Hajj yesterday, states that 280 Nigerians died in both events while 43 others are yet to be located. A total of 75,081 Nigerian pilgrims participated in the 2015 hajj exercise.

Nigerian man banned for 5 yrs from approaching women he doesn't know following sexual assault case

Nigerian man banned for 5 yrs from approaching women he doesn't know following sexual assault case

Aniefiok Udo was spared jail term after admitting to a string of sexual assaults on the  London Tube. He pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual assault on December 14. He was handed a 16-week suspended sentence and banned for five years from approaching any woman he does not know while using public transport.
49-year-old Udo, from Ilford, assaulted the same 23-year-old woman on two separate occasions while travelling on the Central Line last year. 
He approached her and began touching her after boarding trains at Hainault station at about 9pm on both occasions, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.
After she reported the incidents to police in January, another woman also came forward to say she had been assaulted by the man.
Detective Constable Martin Chapman said:
"No woman should fear using public transport, and we are committed to working with our partners to keep the rail network a safe place.
"I am pleased Udo has been brought before the courts to answer for his disgusting behaviour, and I would like to thank the women involved for reporting his actions to us."
Source: British Transport Police

smart move? 50 Cent now suing Rick Ross

Lol...smart move? 50 Cent now suing Rick Ross

A few months ago, Rick Ross' baby mama won a $7 million judgement against 50 Cent after she sued him for releasing her sex tape. Looks like 50 has come up with a sneaky way to pay off the debt: By suing Rick Ross... lol. TMZ reports below...
50 cent is suing Rick Ross for jacking "In Da Club" and rapping over it to promote his new album. 50 just filed a lawsuit in Connecticut ... in the docs he says his classic banger appears on Ross' 'Renzel Remixes' without his permission, and he used it to drum up publicity for his next LP. 50 and Ross have a storied beef ... 50 was slapped with a $7 mil judgment for uploading a sex tape with Ross' baby mama in it. 50 seems to be retaliating with the lawsuit ... he wants Ross to pony up more than $2 mill for using his track.
If 50 sets a precedent and people start suing over mixtape beats, a lot of rappers will get broke!

Read President Buhari's Christmas message to Nigerians

Read President Buhari's Christmas message to Nigerians

Read the president's Christmas message below.. 
I felicitate with all Nigerians, especially our Christian brothers and sisters, on the joyous occasion of this year’s Christmas. On this occasion of the commemoration of the birth of Jesus Christ, let us all rededicate ourselves to the virtues of peace, love, honesty, justice, equity, piety, humility and service to others which he taught.
There can be no doubt that a greater manifestation of these virtues and ideals in our lives will immensely help us to become a more united, peaceful, secure and progressive nation.

Let us also reach out in love and compassion to fellow Nigerians who are in distress at this period of our nation’s history.

I particularly urge you all to remember victims of terrorism and insurgency in the country, especially Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The Federal Government will continue to collaborate with state governments and other stakeholders to ease the harsh conditions in IDP camps, while the ultimate objective remains to quickly put an end to insurgency and return the IDPs to their homes.

We must never again allow any group to hold the nation to ransom under whatever guise.

Let us also not allow current socio-economic and security challenges to dampen our expectations for a better Nigeria.

This administration has taken a number of measures to restore hope to our people. The 2016 Budget defines our commitment to giving Nigeria a new lease of life.

Our change slogan is not a campaign gimmick but a promise that must be kept. We are determined to bring about tangible changes in the lives of our people.

In this regard, efforts will be intensified to recover stolen funds, block revenue leakages and enthrone due process, transparency and accountability.

Public office is a public trust that must be held to the highest ethical standards.

I wish all Nigerians a Merry Christmas.

Please drive carefully.

MUHAMMADU BUHARI

Hustling Santa Claus...lol (photo)

Hustling Santa Claus...lol (photo)

Father Christmas poses with his generator...in the spirit of the season...lol

Obafemi Martins hangs out with Ronaldinho in Dubai club (photo)

Obafemi Martins hangs out with Ronaldinho in Dubai club (photo)

Seattle Sounders player of the year and Nigerian striker Martins hooked up with Barcelona Legend and Multi Ballon D’or winner, Ronaldinho in a night club in Dubai on Tuesday night. Obafemi is spending his Christmas holiday in Dubai..

Pic of the two women who 'stole $750k of jewellery from basketball star after meeting him in a club and going back to his home'

Pic of the two women who 'stole $750k of jewellery from basketball star after meeting him in a club and going back to his home'

Oju ole re...lol. These are the photos of the two women (left) suspected of stealing $750,000 worth of jewelry (including the watch inset) from New York Knicks star Derrick Williams (right) have been released by police. The alleged thieving temptresses were caught on a surveillance camera as they left New York City club Up & Down on December 19 at around 5am to head over to Williams' bachelor pad in the city's Tribeca neighborhood. Both suspects, who are wearing short, tight dresses with one in a cropped jacket, have been described as 'persons of interest.' Anyone know them?

 

Police are also looking into the possibility that the women could be part of a larger ring of females targeting wealthy men at clubs.  
Williams had been out celebrating his team's win over the Philadelphia 76ers the previous night when he decided to keep the party going in the early morning hours back at his apartment. Those invited back with Williams were friends with the basketball player, with the exception of the two women suspected in the robbery.
As everyone else partied at the playboy's pad, the two women allegedly did some snooping and found a Louis Vuitton case with close to a million dollars worth of jewelry that they then stole.
They allegedly made off with Rolexes, chains and other blinged-out baubles, though it is unclear how they managed to sneak out unnoticed given how small the purses are that both women can be seen carrying in the surveillance footage just hours before.

Williams, 24, realized the jewelry was missing later that afternoon when he went to check the box, and called police. 
He has refused to publicly comment on the incident. 

Source: Daily Mail UK

People take photos of a woman in a revealing see-through dress

People take photos of a woman in a revealing see-through dress

The woman left nothing to imagination as she appeared on the streets of Limpopo, South Africa, wearing a see-through net dress which left her bare butts on full display. People happily took photos and shared online...

Femi Falana calls for prosecution of Buratai, others over Army/Shiite attack

Femi Falana calls for prosecution of Buratai, others over Army/Shiite attack

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana has called on President Buhari to prosecute the Chief of Army staff Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai and the soldiers that partook in the shooting of Shiite members during a clash with the Islamic group in Zaria, Kaduna state on Saturday December 12th. 

In a statement released yesterday December 23rd, Falana said the Nigerian military has refused the injured Shiite members access to their personal physicians and family members...

"Assuming that the Shi’ite members actually blocked the road, why was the nuisance not reported to the police? Are the authorities of the Nigerian Army above the law of the land? The army authorities have refused to release the bodies of those who were massacred to their families for burial while the personal physicians of the injured ones and their family members have been denied access to them. The suspects were refused bail by the Magistrate who ordered that they be remanded in prison custody. Although Sheik El-Zakzaky is reported to have been transferred from a military custody to a police station, he has been denied access to his personal physicians and lawyers". 

Falana stressed that  "In Chief Gani Fawehinmi v. General Sani Abacha (1996) 5 NWLR (PT 447) 198 at 202, the Court of Appeal ordered the Attorney-General of Federation, Inspector-General of Police and the operatives of the State Security Services to allow the wife and personal physicians of the appellant, a political detainee, to have access to him in prison custody ‘at all reasonable times.’ In requesting the Inspector-General of Police to allow access to the detainees his attention ought to be drawn to Section 14(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which provides as follows: A person who has the custody of an arrested suspect shall give the suspect reasonable facilities for obtaining legal advice, access to communication for taking steps to furnish bail, and otherwise making arrangements for his defence or release.'”

He called on the Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase to allow the Shiite leader, his wife and members of his group, access to their families, personal physicians, and legal practitioners as empowered by the Law.
“Having undertaken to end impunity in the country, President Buhari should ensure that the Chief of Army Staff and all the soldiers who took part in the violent attack and arson in Zaria are brought to book without any further delay.”

Miracle baby whose life support was turned off makes amazing recovery

Miracle baby whose life support was turned off makes amazing recovery

A couple who said a final farewell to their baby daughter as her life support machine was turned off told of her miracle recovery. Francesca and Lee Moore-Williams, 41 and 44, cried as they held Bella’s hand and took one final photograph before her ventilator was switched off.
The couple even signed a Do Not Resuscitate form meaning no special measures would be taken to keep her alive.
But just 30 minutes after their heartbreaking goodbye the 18-month-old tot, who doctors had given up for dead, began kicking and screaming.

Bella’s has continued to recover and five months on she is well enough to celebrate Christmas with her family at home.
Dad-of-two Lee said:
“I was holding her hand knowing there was going to be a little last breath. “I could feel her hand dropping and it went down but then she started gripping my finger. “She started moving on her own and then her machine started going off. “The doctors then changed everything to try and keep her alive.”
Francesca added:
“It’s just amazing. It’s like we have won the lottery. “She made our family complete and it now i’s great to see how well she is doing. “When she says ‘mama’ it melts my heart.”
Bella’s parents first became concerned about their daughter’s heath when she started losing clumps of hair in April. Just three months later her condition took a turn for the worse during a family holiday in Gran Canaria.
She was rushed to hospital one day after returning to the UK and tests showed she was critically ill. Bella was admitted to intensive care where an MRI scan showed abnormalities across both sides of her brain.

On July 21 Francesca and Lee said an emotional final goodbye to their daughter after taking prints of her hands and feet as a memento. They also took a final picture together with their son Bobby, five, before the ventilator was switched off. Francesca explained:
“The whole family came in one by one to say their goodbyes. “I just kept sitting there thinking ‘why us’. It was heart wrenching. “I will never, ever forget that moment where I had to say goodbye to my daughter.”
Just 30 minutes later Bella’s oxygen levels recovered to 100 per cent and her parents were told she would survive. She was later diagnosed with the genetic disorder Biotinidase deficiency, which is so rare it affects just one in every 60,000 births.
Sufferers of the condition do not produce enough biotin - a vitamin which is essential for healthy cell growth.
The deficiency can be fatal if left untreated but will now be managed safely with tablets.
Sales worker Francesca added:
“From the day that we were told that she was going to survive - I haven’t cried since. “I’m frozen with emotion because I cried so much through such a traumatic period that I have nothing more to give. “It’s going to take me time to get over the ordeal - we were just sat there waiting for her to take her final breath.”
Bella, who will be two in January, is now learning to walk and talk and her hair is growing back. Experts say she is around eight months behind other children her age but she is expected to catch up. Francesca said:
“She’s at nursery and to look at her you wouldn’t think she’s been through what she has. “Her body was slowly shutting down but she’s obviously a strong little fighter.

'Beware of campaign of calumny by Members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria'- Nigerian Army

'Beware of campaign of calumny by Members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria'- Nigerian Army

Press release by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director Army Public Relations on Dec. 23.
"The Nigerian Army is aware of clandestine campaign of calumny and misinformation on the incident of 12 December 2015 in Zaria by a group of high ranking members of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) led by one Doctor Abdullahi Danladi, a Lecturer at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.
Earlier today he was at the University soliciting for support and telling lies about the circumstances surrounding the incident and the incident itself. He also went further to make false and unfounded allegations of casualty figures and desecration of burial grounds. It is preposterous and shows lack of concern and respect for peace and tranquility.

So much as the Nigerian Army has reported the matter before the appropriate agencies and action is being taken, it would not sit back and allow some mischievous elements in the society to further create unnecessary tension and disaffection in the society.
This attitude will not be tolerated where people abuse their privileged position to mislead the public, create disaffection.
Therefore, Nigerians and indeed all well meaning people are please enjoined to be patient and await the outcome of the various enquiries instituted by various government and Non-governmental agencies.
Additionally, Doctor Abdullahi Danladi and like minded individuals should be warned to desist from telling lies and misrepresentation of facts capable of misleading the general public"

Technically we have won the war against Boko Haram - Pres. Buhari

Technically we have won the war against Boko Haram - Pres. Buhari

President Buhari says that his government has technically won the war against Boko Haram. He said this in an interview with BBC
"I assure you we haven't failed. Adamawa state, Yobe state are free from Boko Haram. Borno state which is there base, I think they have two to three local government. Boko Haram has reverted to using IEDs Improvised Explosive Device, indoctrinating young girls from 15 years and below to go and explode it in churches, mosques, market places, motorparks.
They have now been reduced to that but articulated conventional attacks on centers of communication and population in towns and so on, they are no longer capable of doing that effectively. So I think technically we have won the war because people are going back to their neighborhoods. We have our committees on the ground liaising with Local governments. People are going back. Our major problem now is rehabilitation because over 1.5 million Internally Displaced Persons, repairing the infrastructures, schools, health centers...the number of bridges blown..that is what we are facing now. But Boko Haram as an organized fighting force, I assure you that we have dealt with them"he said
When asked what his opinion is about  Nigerians criticizing him for always blaming the last government instaed of focusing on how to make the country better, he said 
"I think they are being unfair. Boko haram was effective on 16 local government areas before in the three states. Borno Yobe and Adamawa. Yobe and Adamawa are absolutely free and there are about three local governments were Boko Harams are there and I have told you they cannot marshal forces and attack towns or military installation as they did in Maiduguri before. I don't think this is mere talking. We have moved Service Chiefs, we re-organized the military.  We have got some hardware for them and we have gotten retraining from the British, Americans and with the French. A lot of is being done"he said

Khloe Kardashian shows off nipples covered in body paint

Khloe Kardashian shows off nipples covered in body paint

Fresh from releasing her naked photos while on holiday in St Barths with her family in August on Tuesday, Khloe Kardashian's make up artist Joyce Bonelli released another sexy pic showing the reality tv star flaunting her nipples and backside while covered in glossy paint. See the pic after the cut..



Man U coach Van Gaal storms out of press conference when asked about his future.

Man U coach Van Gaal storms out of press conference when asked about his future.

Under pressure Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal yesterday stormed out of a press conference ahead of boxing day's clash with Stoke city after he was asked questions about his future by the press. In a press conference that lasted just four minutes, the United boss whose position has been under threat with Jose Mourinho as his likely replacement said he deserved apologies from the British press for cooking up stories and that he had received calls of solidarity from Sir Alex Ferguson and Executive vice chairman Ed Woodward.



After a run of six games without a win that has seen United crash out of the Champions League and drop to fifth place in the Premier League, he is desperate for a victory to ease the mounting pressure.

United travel to Stoke on Boxing Day before taking on Chelsea at Old Trafford two days later. Read the interview session below...


Q: Arsene Wenger says it’s been disrespectful?
Has anybody in this room not a feeling to apologise to me? That’s what I’m wondering. I think I was already sacked, I read. I have been sacked.

My colleague was here already. What do you think happens with my wife or my kids? Or with my grandchildren? Or with the fans of Manchester United? Or my friends? What do you think? They have called me a lot of times and also Arsene Wenger is saying something about that. So you think that I want to talk with the media now. I am here only because of the Premier League rules. I have to talk with you. But I can only see when I say something that you use my words in your context. And I
want to say only I have tried to lift the confidence of my players. I have done everything this week.

I held meetings with the players with my members of staff, I hold a Christmas lunch, I did a speech and I feel the warmth and support of everybody in Carrington, this AON training complex.

But I didn’t feel that in the media and of course I can imagine that you can write about that subject. We are not in a good position but four weeks ago we were first in the Premier League and in four weeks’ time we can be back in that position again.


Q: Manchester United is a huge club, is the speculation inevitable?

No I don’t think that you can do that because you have to stick by the facts and when I get calls off Alex Ferguson and David Gill and Ed Woodward because you are creating something that is not good, what is not being the facts, now I have to answer questions. I don’t think I want to do it. I only say now I am focussed on Stoke City, I help my players. I wish you a Merry Christmas and also maybe a Happy New Year when I see you. Enjoy the wine and a mince pie. Goodbye.