Strange fish sighted at Eleko Beach, Lagos

It is not clear what specie of fish it is but the animal is large and white with brownish ridges on it.

A strange discovery has been made at theEleko Beach in Lagos after residents spotted a large fish along the shore.

It is not clear what specie of fish it is but the animal is large and white with brownish ridges on it.

The fish appears to have died after being beached and residents of the area have already begun chopping it up for food

Father discharges 4-yr-old son attacked by dogs

Mr. Odia Abraham, father of Master Omonigho Abraham, the four-year-old boy, who sustained extensive injuries following attack by dogs in Igando area of Lagos State, discharged his son from the hospital against medical advice.

The boy suffered a life-threatening injuries in the attack by two Alsatian dogs in the compound of their rented apartment at 35, Adegboyega Street, Akesan, Igando area of Lagos State on September 29.

His father removed his son from the Burns and Plastics unit of the Lagos State University Teaching

Mexico protesters call on president to resign

Demonstrations have been held across Mexico as President Enrique Pena Nieto marked two years in office with his lowest approval rating yet.

Thousands marched on Monday through Mexico City, denouncing the president’s handling of the case of 43 missing students, now presumed dead.

Protesters chanted for Nieto to resign while they waved blackened flags of the country.They echoed “you are not alone” to parents of the missing students who joined the protest.

The protests were largely peaceful, but turned violent at some places at night.

Al Jazeera’s Monica Villamizar, reporting from the capital, said fires were lit, windows smashed and banks vandalised. She said there was a small confrontation between protesters and police and a large presence of anti-riot police.

Thousands also protested in the southern state of Guerrero, where a drug gang confessed to killing 43 college students after local police handed them over in September.

A group of protesters ransacked the Guerrero state prosecutor’s office in the regional capital, Chilpancingo, and set five vehicles on fire, including two police cruisers.

Other protesters led by a teachers’ union have also blockaded a state-owned oil refinery in

Khloe Kardashian Family pressures star to dump French Montana

The Kardashian claim the hip-hop star is cheating on Khloe

Once again the Kardashian family is against Khloe dating rapperFrench Montana.

Fresh reports now claim the famous TV family have asked Khloe to disease from the hip hop star after a heart to heart talk on Wednesday.

According to gossip site TMZ, the Kardashians believe French is cheating on Khloe, with some of them siting his actions during his recent trip to Dubai.

Sources familiar with the situation tell the site that the family believes French was hooking up with a very pretty woman during the trip, and tried to use Kim Kardashian as a cover.

An insider claims Khloe thought her sister was with French during the trip but says French's plan unraveled when Kim came home and told Khloe she was literally with French 10 seconds here and there. “The family is convinced he used Kim to deceive Khloe”, the source added.

Maheeda Goddess of Sex 'breaks Internet' with nude photos

When American Reality TV star, Kim Kardarshian posed nude for a magazine few days ago, she made created a record by 'breaking the Internet' due to the number of views and comments she got.

Now, it is time for Kim K to move ahead as Nigeria's own answer to breaking the Internet, is here in all her glory.

Naija Bad Girl, Maheeda, after being on the low for sometime now, has decided to come out of her closet and bare it all.

Like her or not, the 32-year-old mother of one still has a banging body that most men would die for.

Make way for the Goddess of Sex!

SHOCKING NEWS: Two Politicians In Lagos Caught With Many Litres Of Fresh Human Blood

POLICEMEN attached to the Imota Police Station in Ikorodu Local Government Area of Lagos State, were amazed to the bone marrow when the contents of 2 25-litre jerry-cans they found in the possession of two men they arrested, turned out to be human blood.

The arrested men identified as Alfa Balogun Tajudeen Ogunsanya, who hails from Gberigbe community in Ikorodu, and an unidentified stranger who residents were not able to identify, were arrested in the early hours of yesterday trying to sneak away with the containers which police initially suspected to be stolen petroleum product since the area has an high occurrence of pipeline vandalization, but they were dumbfounded when they turned out to be fresh human blood.
One of the residents of Gberigbe, who gave his name as Amos Oludero, narrated how the men were arrested:
We identified one of the men as a native of this town but the other man is strange to us. They wanted

DEALDEY'S MEN FASHION

WOMEN SHOES

Wayne Rooney: Danny Welbeck's Man United exit was right move

Danny Welbeck did the right thing by leaving Manchester United for Arsenal this summer, according to Wayne Rooney.

Welbeck, 23, who had been at Old Trafford since the age of eight, joined the Gunners for £16m in September.

"For Danny, and his own career, it was probably the best move for him," United captain Rooney told MUTV  ahead of Saturday's trip to the Emirates.

"He's done great and scored a few goals. Danny gives you what he always gives you - a good shift."

Welbeck scored 29 times in 142 United appearances, but since his move he has found the net five times for the Londoners in 12 appearances.

Rooney, who played alongside Welbeck for England against Sloveniaand Scotland in the recent international break, admits it will be strange playing against his former

HOSTGATOR.COM

10 Reasons Why You Should Dress Up Every Day

Dressing up has proven to have the ability to boost your mood and overall confidence.
Leaving the house in a wrinkled top,stretched out jeans and shaggy,slept on hair can have you feeling blah all day.Nothing feels better than looking good.

You feel great,you act happier and you are more personable towards the people around you.Sorry to say,but a first impression is truly based off of your appearance.When you look the part people will believe you can perform better.So why not dress yo impress?

On a budget?Dressing up doesn't require you to have a closet full of expensive clothes.
Just start by skipping the sweats and aiming for the good stuff.Strive to purchase pieces that will boost your look and create a vision of success through your ensembles.

So whether you are running to the grocery store or heading into the office,start practicing the act of dressing up.Thank me later.Here is why:

10.Looking good improves your overall mood personality.

9.It makes a good impression.

8.You never know who you will run into.Don't you want to look your best?

7.Life is too short to wear boring clothes.

6.The feeling of confidence.When you look great,you feel great.

5.Fashion is a method of self-expression.Express Yourself

4.Acts as an instant pick-me-up

3.If you've got it,you should flaunt it.

2.Its put you on your "A" game

1.You deserve to look fabulous

So,put on a pretty outfit and walk out that door feeling confident and sexy.Start each day with a positive attitude and a bold appearance.As Rachel Zoe says,"Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak".

Neymar relishing partnership with Messi, Suarez

Barcelona forward Neymar is looking forward to welcoming Luis Suarez into his and Lionel Messi’s star-studded strike partnership when the Uruguayan returns from a four-month ban this weekend.

Suarez looks set to make his debut for the Catalans on the biggest stage of all as Barca face Real Madrid for the first time this season at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

Neymar

P

Neymar and Messi have already combined for 17 goals in 10 games so far this season and the Brazilian is convinced last season’s Premier League Player of the Year will only add to their firepower.

“For me Messi is the best player in the world and I am happy to be able to play alongside him,” said the 22-year-old.

“But Luis Suarez is among the best too and I am sure he will bring many good things to our team.”

Before concentrating on the Clasico, Barca welcome Ajax to the Camp Nou on Tuesday in a crucial Champions League clash following the

Death row inmate, Ebhos to be released after 19 years in prison

A death row inmate, Thankgod Ebhos is to be to be released from Benin prison, Edo State after 19 years of waiting for the hang man.

His release order has been signed by Governor Ramalan Yero of Kaduna State in  exercise of his power of Prerogative of Mercy as outlined under Section 212 of the Nigerian Constitution.

Mr Ebhos is one of nine prisoners whose release order was approved to commemorate Nigeria’s 54th Independence Day celebration.

Ebhos came into the limelight in June 2013 when he narrowly escaped execution alongside the famous four inmates of Benin prison after their death sentence warrants were signed by the Edo State governor, Mr Adams Oshiomhole.

Thankgod, the fifth inmate, was actually taken to the gallows but was not hanged unlike the

Mourinho furious with Spain after Costa breaks down

Jose Mourinho has criticised the treatment of some of his Chelsea players on international duty after the manager revealed Diego Costa will miss Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Maribor.

Mourinho confirmed Costa – who also missed the 2-1 weekend victory at Crystal Palace – aggravated an existing hamstring problem during the last international break with Spain when he faced Slovakia and Luxembourg in the space of four days.

Jose Mourinho

The Chelsea manager insists he had no contact with Spain coach Vicente del Bosque or the national team’s medical staff about Costa’s condition before the player joined up with the Spanish squad.

And speaking ahead of the visit of Maribor to Stamford Bridge, he said: “It’s the same problem that he is having but now an injury, not an almost injury.

“It’s simple and he is not training because he is not in condition to do it.

“Tomorrow (Tuesday), he cannot play, let’s see what happens next weekend. But next weekend does not matter, what is important is tomorrow.”

Mourinho admitted there was little he could do to influence the way his players are handled while away with their national teams.

And he revealed England manager Roy Hodgson is the only national coach to have

Preview: Leeds United vs. Sheffield Wednesday

Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday will both be hoping to avoid a run of three matches without a win when they go head to head in a Yorkshire derby at Elland Road in the Championship this weekend.

The home side's form had improved under the caretaker management at Neil Redfearn, but the side are still waiting for their first victory with new manager Darko Milanic following a defeat to Brentford at the weekend and a goalless draw with Reading on Wednesday.

Gaetano Berardi will be available to return to action for Leeds, having served a two-

On this day: Standard Liege's emerging stars impress against Everton

After they had achieved their highest points total in the Premier League and reached the last 16 of the UEFA Cup during the previous campaign, Everton had high hopes of continuing their progress in both competitions at the start of 2008-09.

The Toffees had started sluggishly on the domestic front, winning just two of their opening six fixtures, but they were confident of an improvement in Europe against a Standard Liegeside that had only registered three European successes in four years.

However, after they had won the league title during the previous season, 2008-09 was the year where a new generation of top talent really began to blossom at Stade Maurice Dufrasne and it would later be seen that the club was providing the foundation for a number of players to make an impact at the highest level.

For the second leg of their UEFA Cup tie with Everton, their starting lineup possessed the likes of Dante, who has since gone on to become a regular at Bayern Munich, Belgian duoAlex Witsel and Steven Defour, who have 95 caps between them for the

Chelsea striker Diego Costa declares fitness for Arsenal clash

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has claimed that he is "certain" that he will play against Arsenal on Sunday, despite suggestions that he may not be fit for the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.

Blues manager Jose Mourinho recently revealed that Costa struggles to play in more than one game a week due to hamstring issues.

After the Brazil-born Spain international started in Tuesday night's 1-0 victory over Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, there were doubts whether the forward would be in the lineup for this weekend's battle.

However, Costa has told reporters: "Of course I will play against Arsenal. I am certain. I

Regulatory reforms improving Nigeria’s business climate — World Bank

The World Bank Group has stated that most states across Nigeria have continued to implement regulatory business reforms , with Cross River, Ekiti, Niger, Ogun, and Rivers making the biggest stride.

According to the World Bank report on business climate, challenges and hurdles to local entrepreneurs have persisted in the country’s business climate.

The report tagged ‘Doing Business in Nigeria 2014’ found that there was room to learn from each other, with good practices being implemented in some parts of the country that can benefit other states if applied.

According to the report, the 36 Nigerian states in addition to Abuja, FCT were benchmarked in the entire study.

The report covers four indicators including: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, registering property, and enforcing contracts. The report finds that 22 states have improved in at least one of the areas measured since the last benchmarking exercise in January 2010.

The findings show big strides achieved in the past few years by some states. Ogun, one of

Rio Ferdinand: 'David Moyes is a great man'

Rio Ferdinand has insisted that he would welcome the opportunity to speak to his formerManchester United boss David Moyes once more.

The 35-year-old criticised Moyes in the recent serialisation of his autobiography #2sides, claiming that the manager's tactics during his time at Old Trafford were "embarrassing".

However, Ferdinand has stressed that he has no problem with Moyes as a person, saying that he is a "great man."

Asked if he would like the chance to talk to his form boss, the Queens Park Rangers defender told CNN World Sport: "Yes, of course. I've got nothing against him as a person.

"As I said, I'm saying that he's a gentleman, a great man. As I said, I've never had any bad words to say about him at all in that respect as a person."

Ferdinand spent 12 years at United before moving to QPR in the summer.

Echoes of Biafra

IN my last article captioned Zik, Ojukwu and Ndi-Igbo’ published Monday, 25th August 2014 by The Guardian, I averred that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s speech at the Consultative Assembly in Enugu opposing Lt Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s intentions to pull the Eastern Region out of Nigeria in 1967 earned him the  ire of the latter.

In order to gag and prevent Azikiwe from doing anything further to openly or covertly frustrate his desires or organize effective opposition to his resolve to pull the Eastern Region out of Nigeria, Ojukwu took the pre-emptive action of tactically placing Azikiwe under house arrest without letting the general public and even most government insiders know he had done so.

Security operatives were simply put in place at Azikiwe’s residence ostensibly to provide

Liverpool close in on Karim Benzema deal?

Liverpool are reportedly closing in on the signing of Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema for a fee of £38.8m.

The 26-year-old, who was extensively linked with a move to Anfield during the summer, is said to be Brendan Rodgers's top transfer target for when the window reopens in January.

Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has publicly backed Benzema on numerous occasions of

US sends medical experts to study how Nigeria tamed Ebola

Stunned by the entrance of the Ebola Virus Disease, EVD, into America, the United States’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention has despatched its personnel to study how Nigeria contained the killer disease.

HEALTH PERSONNEL IN PROTECTIVE KITS AT THE NATIONAL HOSPITAL IN ABUJA ON TUESDAY

The US reported on Tuesday that it has discovered a case of EVD in Dallas, Texas, but its health officials said “the crisis is under control and the public has nothing to fear.”

A statement released by US CDC Director Tom Frieden said “it’s clear the nation needs a quick and thorough response to its first Ebola patient”

He said although Nigeria was not completely out of the woods, “their extensive response to a single case of Ebola shows that control is possible with rapid, focused interventions.” Apart from Nigeria, the US will also visit Senegal to study its model.

Frieden said “the best practices in Nigeria and Senegal suggest the U.S. should monitor all individuals who may have been exposed to Ebola and establish a dedicated management and response system.”

Senegal has had no new reported cases of Ebola since Sept. 18 while Nigeria has not reported new ones since August 31,

US health officials are expected in Nigeria which it claimed had the best practices in combating Ebola Virus disease which entered into Nigeria through Liberian born American citizen Mr. Patrick Sawyer whose index case was reported on July 20, 2014. Nigeria is

10 children, others killed in Homs double blasts

At least 10 children are among 22 people killed in a twin bombings outside a primary school in the government-controlled city of Homs in central Syria.

A Syrian pro-government channel broadcast on Wednesday brief footage of the aftermath, showing parents looking for their children and schoolbags and bloodstains on the ground. Flames rose from a car nearby.

Homs governor Talal Barazzi described the attack as a “terrorist act and a desperate attempt that targeted school children”.

The blasts happened as children were leaving the Ekremah al-Makhzoumi primary school, said an official with the Homs governorate who refused to be named. 

The first explosion was from a car bomb parked and detonated in front of the school, followed minutes later by a suicide bomber who drove by and detonated his explosives-laden car, said the anonymous official.

It was one of the deadliest attacks in Homs in months. At least 56 more people were wounded in the incident, the official said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Wednesday’s attack, but Syrian rebels fighting to oust Assad have carried out such bombings during the country’s civil war.

There have been horrific attacks against civilians by all sides throughout the brutal conflict, now in its fourth year, but rarely have children appeared to be the direct target.

In May, Syrian government forces dropped a bomb in the northern city of Aleppo, hitting a complex that held a school alongside a rebel compound.

At least 19 people, including 10 children were killed in that attack

How I made my money, fathered 30 children -Atiku

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed how he made his money and also built a house for his mother at the age of 15.

Atiku, who is one of the presidential aspirants in the All Progressives Congress, in his new book titled ‘My Life’, which he authored, said he bought a mud house for her mother in Ganye, Adamawa State.

He gave the explanation under chapter six of the book, entitled ‘Making Money’.

He said he recognised very early in life that he had a good nose for business and this made him to apply for and obtained a Federal Housing loan.

The loan, he said, which amounted to N31,000, was the equivalent of his salary for five years as a customs officer.

He said, “I was granted a plot of land by the Gongola State Government at Yola Government Reserved Area. I hired a foreman and began building my first house.

“With close personal supervision, the bungalow was completed on time and to my taste. I rented it out immediately.

“The rent I collected in advance on the house was substantial enough for me to purchase a second plot.  I built my second house and rented it out.

“I continued to plow back the rent into the building of new houses and within a few years, I had built eight houses in choice areas of Yola. I also built a new house for my mother and rebuilt the old mud house I bought for her in Ganye when I was a 15-year-old student.”

The former Vice President said property investment could be rewarding, because, according to him, returns on it could also be high depending on the location.

Kaduna, for instance, he added, was a good place to invest in property before the emergence of Abuja.

He explained that he built his first house in Kaduna with the rent he made from other property and that later, he bought six more plots and built residential houses and rented them out to individuals and institutions.

Atiku also added that of all the businesses into which he would venture, he listed what he described as a small oil services company as the most successful and most lucrative.

Ahmed blames Kwara flooding on abandoned Asa Dam

The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, has said that the recent flood disasters in the state in which properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed  were caused by the abandonment of Asa dam channelisation by the federal government.

Saying the state government was saddened by the disaster, he assured the  residents of the state that his government will continue to prioritize their welfare.

He spoke in Ilorin on Wednesday during the empowerment programme of a member representing Asa/Ilorin West Federal Constituency, Mr. Mashood Mustapha.

It was gathered that no fewer than 600 people received various empowerment items in  the State from Mustapha and a member representing Kaiama/Baruteen Federal Constituency, Mr. Zakari Muhammed, as part of Nigeria’s 54th Independence anniversary.

The items include  cars, tricycles, motorcycles, grinding machines, block molding machines, dryers, clippers, generators, freezers, sewing machines and start-up capital.

Mustapha,  who in Ilorin  on Wednesday,  said  the distributed empowerment items to his constituents were worth about N250m during his empowerment programme tagged “Drive away Poverty” said empowerment of people will reduce youth restiveness and insecurity as well as boost community development.

He reiterated his commitment to improving the welfare of his constituents.

Muhammed during  his empowerment programme in Kosubosu, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara  which is  also estimated about N250 milliom also called  on youths to shun criminal activities and other anti-social behaviours.

He also canvassed welfare  or social security package for the vulnerable groups which include physically handicapped people and the elderly people.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Dr. Bukola Saraki charged political leaders to empower their constituents.

Noting that political leaders were holding office in trust for the people, he stated that they must work towards ameliorating the poverty level in the country by empowering those they represent.

He urged people to shun criminal activities and engage in productive ventures to boost their welfare and contribute meaningfully to societal development.

Independence Day: I won’t disappoint Nigerians -Jonathan •Obama, Mark, Tambuwal, govs, others speak

RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan, in Abuja, on Tuesday, restated the commitment of his administration to doing what is right to improve the living standard of the people.

Jonathan made the pledge while receiving the Primatial Award of Excellence in Christian Stewardship from the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), at the Presidential Villa.

He stated that the desired transformation of the country could be realised within a short period of time, if government continued to take critical steps in the right direction.

The president reiterated his position that the current challenges facing the country were temporary, adding that with the support and prayers of Nigerians, they would be over in no time.

“For me and the Vice President, as well as the Federal Government, by the grace of God and the willingness of Nigerians, we will do our best to improve the quality of life of our people.

“We have our Transformation Agenda. It is not something we can do overnight, even if you have all the money in the world.

“We have drawn our map and we have progressed. I believe we are progressing in the right direction,” he said.

Jonathan commended Christians and other religious bodies for their constant prayers for the unity, peace and progress of the country.

He particularly thanked the Anglican Church for bringing him up in the fear of God, noting that he was where he was today because of the church. 

Reflecting on his political career, the president said nobody knew how he rose to the top, adding that he would tell the true story after leaving office.

“My political journey is what nobody can tell. Without God, I wouldn’t have been here, because most people know about it, but maybe when I leave office, that is when I will tell the true story of my journey,” he said.

Earlier, the Primate, Church of Nigeria, the Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, said that the award was in recognition of the president’s commitment to even development of the country.

Obama sends goodwill message
By Christian Okeke – Abuja

PRESIDENt Barack Obama, on Tuesday, sent goodwill message to Nigeria as it marks its 54th independence anniversary.

Obama said American people wished the people of Nigeria a memorable celebration, filled with joy and increased national unity.

In the message, the American leader noted that Nigeria continued to play a key leadership role in Africa at the United Nations (UN), in promoting regional peace and stability. 

He observed that at the heart of the enduring friendship between both countries was the shared commitment to democratic values, the rule of law and economic development.

“We look forward to strengthening our relationship and working closely in the coming year, especially in

Davido, Wizkid take rivalry to Headies

Davido and Wizkid have been going at each other for months now over the social media. Now it seems the duo have a real change to slug it out physically and musically as they have both been nominated for the Artiste of the Year prize at this year’s Headies award holding this October.

In the nominees list made available on Tuesday, Davido tops the list of nominees for the coveted Artiste of the Year prize followed by Wizkid. Others in the category are Kcee, Tiwa Savage, Olamide, Phyno and Flavour.

For the Song of the Year, Davido also top the list with his Aye. Others include Pull Over by Kcee, Double Wahala by Oritsefemi, Surulere by Dr. Sid, Dorobucci by MAVINS and Johnny by Yemi Alade

For the Album of the Year; The Journey by Sean Tizzle, LIFE by Burna Boy, Baddest Guy Ever Liveth by Olamide and No Guts No Glory by Phyno made the list.

1. BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR
A non-voting category for the best single recording by an artiste or group in year under review.
1. IYAWO MI- TIMI DAKOLO
2. LET SOMEBODY LOVE YOU- 2FACE IDIBIA
3. ALWAYS ON MY MIND – NOSA
4. ORDINARY PEOPLE – COHBAMS ASUQUO

2. PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
An individual responsible for producing the most acclaimed song or album in the year under review.
1. DON JAZZY – DOROBUCCI
2. PHEELZ – ELEDA MI O
3. T SPIZE – AYE
4. LEGENDURY BEATZ – CARO
5. SHIZZY – SKELEWU
6. DEL B – PULL OVER

3. BEST MUSIC VIDEO
A voting category for the best conceptualist, best directed and most exciting video in the

Two-day delay in admitting Texas Ebola patient

Chicago/New York - The first patient to be diagnosed with Ebola in a US hospital was evaluated initially and turned away, a critical missed opportunity that could result in others being exposed to the deadly virus, infectious disease experts said.

Reuters reported that the man had travelled to Dallas via Brussels.The man is said to be in a serious condition.

On the patient's first visit to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas last Friday, he walked into the hospital presenting "non-specific symptoms" and was sent home with a prescription for antibiotics, Edward Goodman, an infectious disease specialist at the hospital, told a news conference on Tuesday.

On the second visit two days later, the patient, who has not been identified, arrived by ambulance, potentially putting at risk the emergency responders who transported the patient that Sunday. They have been quarantined, but so far have tested negative for the virus.

For months, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been warning

`What are we celebrating when Chibok girls are still in captive?’

A cross section of Nigerians on Wednesday said Nigeria’s 54th Independence anniversary was worth celebrating because “we are still a united nation’’ in spite of the numerous challenges.

Other citizens, however, said that the atmosphere was not ripe for celebration due to insurgency in parts of the country and the Chibok girls, among other challenges.

A PDP member in Kogi, Mr Adelodun Obaseki, said in Lokoja that “Nigerians have every reason to celebrate as in spite of all odds, God has always been by our side’’.

Obaseki pointed out the level of developments that the country had experienced in the last few decades as some of the reasons for celebration.

He noted that the PDP had proved itself to be a party that all Nigerians should embrace through its infrastructural developments in all aspects of national life through the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Another resident, Mr Salaudeen Mohammed, however, said that there was need for sobriety

ISIS closes in on Kurdish town in Syria

   Turkish soldiers and tanks took up position along the border with Syria on Tuesday as its government debated whether to deploy troops to battle the Islamic State terror group, a move that comes as tens of thousands pour into the country to escape ISIS fighters.

The flood of refugees from Syria has escalated — with 150,000 people fleeing to Turkey in recent days — as ISIS fighters armed with tanks and heavy weapons advance on the predominantly Kurdish town of Kobani, known in Arabic as Ayn al Arab, destroying villages in their path.

   ISIS fighters were just three kilometers (nearly two miles) east of the northern Syria town late Monday, a civilian in Kobani told CNN on condition of anonymity. CNN cannot independently confirm the claim, though it matches reports released by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group.

Three Boko Haram members jailed 25 years each for terrorism

After a prolonged trial conducted privately, Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos, on Tuesday, sentenced three alleged Boko Haram members to 25 years imprisonment each, for acts of terrorism.

The three convicts were among 17 accused persons earlier charged before the court on November 27, 2013.

The accused persons are Ali Mohammed, Adamu Karumi, Ibrahim Usman, Bala Haruna, Idris Ali, Mohammed Murtala, Kadiri Mohammed, Mustapha Daura, Abba Duguri, Sanni Adamu, Danjuma Yahaya, and Musa Audu.

Others are Mati Daura, Farouk Haruna, Abdullahi Azeez, Ibrahim Bukar and Zula Diani.

Boks v All Blacks sold out

Saturday's Rugby Championship Test between the Springboks and All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg has been sold out.

The Golden Lions Rugby Union on Wednesday announced via their official website that the stadium will be at maximum capacity, with all 62 000 tickets sold out.

Golden Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli was thrilled with the uptake of tickets.

“It is wonderful for us to once again fill Ellis Park for this encounter,” said Straeuli.

“We are looking forward to successfully hosting rugby supporters from far and wide on Saturday and