I didn’t know why I came to rule now –Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday said that with the quantum of problems his administration inherited, he sometimes wondered why he had to seek power at this time.

Buhari spoke in London while addressing members of the Nigerian community in the United Kingdom.

Buhari said he wondered why oil, which used to sell for over $140 per barrel, would reduce to $30 per barrel during his time as the President.

Notwithstanding the problem, however, Buhari said he kept praying to God to be merciful to the over 170 million Nigerians who are exposed to poverty, illiteracy and other social ills.

He said, “With the problems we have in this government, I sometimes wonder. At least, this time around, I asked for it, I prayed for it, I went round the country and I asked for it. But the first time under the military, I allowed the military to take decision.

“But I say why me? Why is it that it is when they have spent all the money, when they made the country insecure that I returned?

“Why didn’t I come when the treasury was full? Oil price was over $140 per barrel and when I came, it slipped down to $30. Why me?

“I keep on praying to God to pity Nigeria and its over 170 million people who are exposed to climate change, illiteracy and poverty.”

Bankers who aided Dariye to divert N1.16bn convicted –Witness

Some bankers, who allegedly aided a former Governor of Plateau State, Joshua Dariye, to divert about N1.16bn ecological funds meant for the state in 2001, have been convicted by a Federal High Court in Kaduna, an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Bamanga Bello, has told a high court in Abuja.

Bello, a member of the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering at the EFCC and a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Dariye before the FCT High Court, said this as part of his testimony on Thursday.

The witness said the All States Trust Bank (now defunct) and some of its officials aided Dariye in manipulating bank transactions and concealing information about the identity of the owner of an account, which was allegedly used in siphoning Plateau State’s fund.

He said the bank and its officials involved in the alleged fraud, were found to have violated the provision of Section 5 of the Money Laundering Decree 2005.

Jonathan, others received land in Abuja green area— Melaye

                                                                   Dino_melaye

Chairman, Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Dino Melaye, said yesterday that former President Goodluck Jonathan, received a plot of land in an area of the FCT reserved as green area.

He said that Jonathan was allocated the plot of land within an area in Maitama District of Abuja that was reserved as green area.

Melaye made the allegation during a budget defence session between his committee and the FCT Minister, Muhammed Bello.

The Kogi West lawmaker said that the area was desinated to provide tourist attraction for foreign visitors to the country.

He noted that his committee had already directed that work should stop immediately on construction and buildings on the area.

Nigerians seeking asylum abroad are insincere, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari believes  that Nigerians seeking asylum in Europe are doing so mainly for economic reasons and not because they are in danger as they often claim.

He therefore asked those keen on joining the migrant exodus to desist as some Nigerians have already damaged the country’s reputation through their criminal acts in their host countries.

Buhari spoke to The Telegraph of London during his visit to England as one of the world’s leaders to take part in the international conference on the Syrian crisis and the ongoing war on terror..

“Some Nigerians claim is that life is too difficult back home, but they have also made it difficult for Europeans and Americans to accept them because of the number of Nigerians in prisons all over the world accused of drug trafficking or human trafficking,” he was quoted as saying.

He added:”I don’t think Nigerians have anybody to blame. They can remain at home, where their services are required to rebuild the country.”

N150bn libel suit: Dokpesi apologises to Tinubu

DAAR Communications, owned by Chief Raymond Dokpesi,yesterday   tendered an unreserved apology to the national leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu over  the controversial  documentary ‘Lion of Bourdillon’  aired on African Independent Television (AIT)  ahead of last year’s general elections.

ýThe company  also  opted for an out of court settlement in a N150 billion  libel suit filed by Tinubu against him at  a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

Asiwaju Tinubu accepted the apology  as settlement for the libellous documentary.

Tinubu in filing the  N150 billion suit said the money represented aggravated and exemplary damages for the libellous documentary.

He  said that  the documentary, which  first  airing on March 1, 2015, was aimed at tarnishing his image.

Boko Haram: Nigerian military disputes account of meeting with Senators

The Nigerian military has rejected an account of a meeting between the Senate leadership and military chiefs, as provided by the senate president’s office.

The service chiefs led by Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonishakin, had on Wednesday met with Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and other leaders of the legislative body behind closed doors.

After the meeting, Mr. Saraki’s spokesperson, Yusuph Olaniyonu, issued a press statement, saying that the service chiefs briefed the Senators on “various challenges faced by the military, particularly the state of their equipment which they said required serious upgrading and restocking”.

He added that the officers also complained that their vote in the 2015 supplementary budget had not been released, thereby hampering their ability to fund their operations.

“Other issues that came up for discussion was the need to continuously increase the personnel in the three branches of the military and the hindrance posed by the procurement process which they said is very slow,” Mr. Olaniyonu said.

However, in a statement signed by the acting Director, Defence Information, Rabe Abubakar, on Friday, the military denied providing such details to the lawmakers.

“As far as the military is concerned Boko Haram insurgency is within the ambit of what the Nigerian Armed Forces can handle,” Mr. Abubakar, a Brigadier General, said.

S’Court Judgments have ridiculed Nigeria before global community—TMG

The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), the foremost independent citizen election observers group in Nigeria with over 400 members has observed with utter consternation, a slew of verdicts on state governorship elections recently handed down by the Supreme Court.

The Chairman of TMG, Com. Ibrahim Zikirullahi in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said that they were worried by the verdict as it had given blank cheque to election riggers in the country.

According to him, “The disturbing trend in these judicial pronouncements is in the fact that the apex court has elected to give judgments, and not justice. In the face of unrepentant attempts to subvert the will of the people in a good number of the cases, the court has curiously turned a blind eye.’’

How vandals ambush, kill five JTF operatives in Arepo

Pipeline vandals Thursday night , laid ambush on the  Anti Pipeline Vandalism Joint Task Force, JTF in Arepo area of Ogun state, killing five operatives. The operatives were suspected to be naval personnel. As at yesterday , only three bodies of the slain personnel had been recovered . The incident described as a reprisal attack, occurred  barely 24 hours after  the Joint Task Force, comprising the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Army and the National Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, had launched series of attacks at the pipeline vandalism syndicate in the area, which led to series of arrest and startling discoveries.

While vandals were siphoning petroleum product from a burst Nigerian National  Petroleum Corporation  pipeline . They were said to have opened fire on the personnel but later bowed to their superior fire power, abandoning their trucks and containers  filled  with the siphoned petroleum product. During its routine patrol of the  area  Thursday  night , the JTF reportedly heard an explosion in the creeks. In their bid to ascertain where the explosion was from, they were reportedly attacked by vandals said to have used the explosion as a bait. Flag Officer Commanding  Western Naval Command , Rear Admiral Ralph Osondu said investigations were ongoing.

Reps to slash Buhari’s N3.8bn Villa clinic budget – Amadi

A member of the House of Representatives, Dennis Amadi has said that the House will streamline the controversial N3.8b  allocated to Aso Rock clinic by President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2016 budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly.

Amadi who represents Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency of Enugu State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja yesterday said there was nothing to worry about as the two chambers of the National Assembly will critically go through all the sectoral allocations and ensure that resources were allocated to Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs that need it most for the interest of the Nigerian people.

Job Not done: My company got N72m from NIMASA – witness

A WITNESS, Mr Emeka Emelano, in the on-going trial of former Managing Director of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Patrick Akpobolokemi, yesterday told a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos that his company was used to obtain the sum of N72million from the agency. He also told the court that his company did not execute any contract for NIMASA to have necessitated payment of the money.

Led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo,the witness said that his company specialises in Agro allied services and gets remuneration for its services through its bank accounts. He told the court that some time in 2015, his younger brother, one Uche Emelano sought to use his company to get a contract from NIMASA and told him that the contract would be got through the  the third accused (Nwakuche).

Perm Sec, nurse arrested over child trafficking

A Serving Permanent Secre­tary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service (names withheld) and a nurse in a private hospital located in Igbogene, Yenagoa have are now in police net over an alleged attempt to buy a new born baby.

The incident is coming barely two weeks after police detec­tives from Akenfa police station arrested two women for selling a newborn baby for N300, 000.

Investigations revealed that the senior civil servant and the nurse were arrested by a special team of anti-Vice Squad of the State Police Command over al­leged attempts to buy a newborn baby for N200, 000.

Checks indicated that the se­nior civil servant who is also a practicing Medical Doctor is the owner of the hospital in which the baby was delivered.

Supreme Court did not sack us, Andy Uba, 8 others tell NASS, INEC

THE Federal lawmakers representing Anambra from the Peoples Demo­cratic Party (PDP) have officially informed the National Assembly and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that they were never sacked by the Supreme Court judgment of January 29, 2016.

Consequently they have asked the two bodies and indeed the public to ignore the claim by Chief Chris Uba and eight others that they have been cleared to take over as elected fed­eral lawmakers representing Anambra from the PDP.

The lawmakers including Sena­tor Andy Uba and Senator Princess Stella Oduah, in a statement signed by their counsel, Mr. Vincent Otaok­pukpu of Chief Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN) Chambers decried what they described as the misleading media re­ports of the judgment of the Supreme Court of January 29, 2016.

Media reports, the statement said, created a picture that the Supreme Court sacked PDP senators and other members of the National Assembly representing Anambra from PDP and urged the Independent National Elec­toral Commission (INEC), the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the public to dis­regard and ignore the reports as they were not the rulings of the apex court.

BREAKING: Saraki Must Face Trial, Supreme Court Rules

The Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by the senate president, Bukola Saraki, against his trial for alleged corruption.

Mr. Saraki is facing a 13-count charge of alleged asset declaration fraud.

The Code of Conduct Bureau said Mr. Saraki committed the offence, and maintained a foreign account, when he was governor of Kwara State.

The senate president said the charges were politically motivated, and challenged the powers and composition of the Code of Conduct Tribunal to hear the case.

He also asked the Court of Appeal to quash the charges.

Mr. Saraki later appealed to the Supreme Court after losing at the Court of Appeal.

In its ruling Friday, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Appeal Court.

The highest court dismissed the appeal of Mr. Saraki against the composition of the Code of Conduct Tribunal and the powers of the tribunal, effectively ordering him to stand trial.

(Source: PREMIUM TIMES)

EFCC arrests ex-APC cheftain, Tom Ikimi

Tom Ikimi, a former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and ex- minister of foreign affairs to late Nigerian dictator General Sanni Abacha has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over his role in the $2.1billion arms scandal.

According to Sahara reporters, Mr. Ikimi, who decamped from the APC to support former President Goodluck Jonathan bid for a second term, had been grilled by the EFCC in Abuja for two days and allowed to go home each day after interrogation because of his health.

Source: Sahara Reporters

EFCC arrests Ricky Tarfa

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Mr. Ricky Tarfa (SAN) for alleged obstruction of clients arrest at the Lagos state High Court, Igbosere.

The arrest of Ricky Tarfa and his Republic of Benin clients, Daily Sun learnt was dramatic after over four hours stalemate.

EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren confirmed the arrest, saying that Ricky Tafa was arrested for obstructing investigation and arrest of criminal suspects.

Microsoft wants you using Windows 10, like it or not

If you’re running an older version of Windows, you might suddenly find Microsoft’s Windows 10 upgrade already downloaded on your machine.

You never requested it, so why are you getting it?

The automatic download is part of Microsoft’s aggressive push to get Windows 10 on as many devices as possible. Since last July, Microsoft has distributed the free upgrade on request. But starting this week, it’s also pushing it out to those who haven’t requested it — and who might not want it.

Microsoft isn’t actually installing Windows 10 automatically, but installation is just a click or two away. If you’re not careful, you might suddenly find the new system on your old machine.

Is this good for you?

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THE BENEFITS OF WINDOWS 10

Windows 10 has many improvements over its predecessors — especially Windows 8. It’s much easier to use than Windows 8, and it offers more modern controls — akin to mobile devices — than Windows 7. (There is no Windows 9.) Windows 10 also paves the way for multiple devices to work together. You might be able to buy an app once to run on your PC, phone and Xbox game machine, for instance. The app’s layout would automatically reconfigure to the given screen size.

New apps are being designed for Windows 10, so if you have an older system, you might find yourself shut out.

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BENEFITS FOR MICROSOFT

Microsoft is reducing reliance on software sales in favor of services such as the Bing search engine, OneDrive storage and Skype for communications. Windows 10 was designed to steer users to those services. Microsoft makes money from ads and premium features that cost money — such as additional OneDrive storage.

Microsoft can also encourage app makers to write more software for Windows 10 if a lot of people are using it. It’s similar to how Apple pushes its users to upgrade to the latest iPhone and Mac systems. App developers know they can enable the latest features without worrying about abandoning too many users of older devices.

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WHY HOLD OUT?

System upgrades aren’t always smooth, especially on older machines with slower processors, less memory and less storage space available. Microsoft’s Get Windows 10 app will verify that you meet minimum system requirements — but minimum doesn’t mean speedy.

Older machines also might have software that won’t work on Windows 10, so you’d have to spend money upgrading those programs, if upgrades are available at all. Printers, scanners and other accessories also might need new controlling software, called drivers. If a driver update isn’t available, you might find yourself with a dead accessory.

And once you upgrade to Windows 10, you might be ceding control over future upgrades to Microsoft. The company is offering incremental updates to Windows 10 on a regular basis, and it won’t always give you a choice on whether to accept.

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HOW TO KEEP THE OLDER WINDOWS

Microsoft is treating Windows 10 as a type of security update it regularly pushes to users. Microsoft is now reclassifying Windows 10 as “recommended” rather than “optional.” In doing so, those who have set their machine to automatically get important updates will get Windows 10, too. You can avoid this by turning off automatic updates in the settings under Windows Update. That’s not recommended, though, because you might miss important security fixes.

If you work for a large company, your system administrators are likely monitoring these updates, so Windows 10 won’t automatically download without their OK. Plus, Microsoft isn’t offering Windows 10 for free to larger companies.

Microsoft will support Windows 7 until 2020 and Windows 8 until 2023, after which time it will stop fixing any security problems. By then, it might be time for a new computer anyway.

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IF YOU’RE READY

To install Windows 10, all you need to do is accept it when prompted. Getting Windows 10 shouldn’t affect your photos and other documents, though there’s always a risk of a meltdown with any major upgrade. Back up your files first. You can use an online storage service such as OneDrive or DropBox to keep a backup online.

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WHAT IF YOU DON’T LIKE WINDOWS 10?

Microsoft keeps a backup of your system for a month. In the settings, go to “Update & security” and then “Recovery.” You’ll find the option to return to Windows 7 or 8. Your files should be OK, but you’ll lose any apps installed after upgrading to Windows 10. Remember, you have only 31 days to change your mind.

Buhari begins vacation, hands over to Osinbajo

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday began a five day vacation, the presidency has said.

This is contained in a statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.

According to the statement, President Buhari, who is expected to be away from Friday, February 5th to Wednesday, February 10th, 2016 has handed over to Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

The statement noted that Prof. Osinbajo will begin to carry out the duties of the president while Buhari’s vacation lasts.

It reads in part: “In compliance with section 145 (1) of the Nigerian Constitution, President Buhari has dispatched a formal notice of his vacation to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.”

Japan says will destroy North Korea missile if threat to territory

Japan said Wednesday it would destroy a North Korean missile if it threatened to fall on its territory, after Pyongyang announced it planned to launch a space rocket this month.

"Today the defence minister issued an order" to destroy such a missile if it "is confirmed that it will fall on Japanese territory," the defence ministry said in a statement.

Defence Minister Gen Nakatani issued the order, citing the "possibility that North Korea will launch a missile it calls a `satellite` within coming days," the statement said.

The order will be carried out by Japan`s ballistic missile defence system, which includes PAC-3 surface-to-air anti-ballistic missiles, and similar SM-3 systems aboard warships, the ministry said.

The order will be effective until February 25, it added, the end of the launch window announced by Pyongyang that begins on February 8.

Japan arrests reported N Korean spy for alleged fraud

Japanese police Wednesday said its special unit that deals with alleged espionage arrested an ethnic Korean resident on suspicion of fraud -- as local media reported he was acting as a spy for North Korea.

Japan is particularly sensitive to North Korean espionage activities in the country as operatives from and with links to the country have been blamed for abductions of Japanese citizens who were taken there to serve as language teachers for its spies.

Japan also has a large population of residents with Korean nationality, the descendants of people from the Korean peninsula who either immigrated to Japan or were brought as forced labourers when Tokyo controlled the region as a colony from 1910-1945.

The 49-year-old man was arrested yesterday by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police public safety department -- which deals with crimes linked to spies and violent political and religious groups -- spokesman Kazufumi Suzuki told AFP.

Suzuki offered a phonetic rendering of the man's name but had no romanised spelling, which was reported as Pak Chae-Hun by Kyodo News agency.

Pak's nationality was registered as "Korean", meaning he has ancestral roots on the Korean peninsula, according to Suzuki.

He added that Pak is suspected of using a credit card which he obtained illegally to make purchases from an online shopping company in Tokyo, Suzuki said.

Pak is a former associate professor at the pro-Pyongyang Korea University in Tokyo and was engaged in espionage activities aimed at spreading North Korean ideology in South Korea and China, Kyodo reported.

He is suspected of having purchased six computer equipment items online, the report said, adding that police found written instructions and encrypted e-mail messages from North Korea's spy agency on his confiscated computer.

Other local media carried similar reports, saying Pak was active in South Korea from around 2000 when he was recruited by Pyongyang's intelligence agency known as "Bureau 225".

Cameroun : Coup de gueule entre transporteurs et agents municipaux

Les deux parties ne s’accordent pas au sujet du contrôle drastique de la vignette, du permis de conduire entamé il y a quelques jours à Douala. Ce sont des insultes, des altercations chaudes entre les conducteurs de « Ben skin » et les agents chargés du contrôle. CAMERPOST a assisté à une scène triste ce mercredi 3 février 2016. Trois contrôleurs ont froidement molesté un « benskinneur » au lieu-dit « Carrefour j’ai raté ma vie ». Tout simplement parce que le plus faible a pris la fuite au moment où il a été interpellé. Malheureusement, il a été rattrapé. La bastonnade qu’il a reçue n’a pas laissé indifférents les conducteurs des engins à deux roues, qui à leur tour, s’en sont pris aux agents chargés de la surveillance.

La police descendue sur les lieux n’a pas pu calmer les ardeurs des uns et des autres. « Le contrôle n’est pas une agression. Nous sommes contre l’incivisme des agents municipaux qui ne sont ni courtois ni polis quand ils nous interpellent », s’offusquent les « benskinneurs ». La partie adverse se justifie : « nous sommes régulièrement contraints d’être violents parce que les chauffeurs de mototaxis ne sont pas en règle dans la majorité. A l’écoute du coup de sifflet, ils prennent la fuite et  c’est comme cela qu’ils sont à l’origine des accidents de la circulation ». Les spectacles pareils sont monnaie courante dans la capitale économique.

Cameroon - Far North: Four dead in attacks of Boko Haram

A double explosion blamed on the Islamist sect Boko Haram has killed three people, two suicide bombers and a student on Thursday night in the Cameroonian town of Nguetchewe (Far North), are we learned on Friday security sources.

A few hours earlier, not far away, another suicide attack attributed to the same movement killed the author of the bomb but also a tailor in Kerawa.

In the wake to Tolkomari, still in the area, a Boko Haram raid resulted in the removal of a farmer and stealing a herd of oxen dragged the Nigerian side of the border.

The jihadist movement combines recent weeks suicide attacks, night raids and landmines in this region but also suffered, according to the Government, significant loss of life.

And while more than 100 people are already recorded since the beginning of the year, Boko Haram, according to the official count, killed 1098 civilians, 67 soldiers and 3 police Cameroon between 2013 and early 2016.

Burundi rebels say trained by Rwandan military: UN experts

A confidential report to the United Nations Security Council accuses Rwanda of recruiting and training Burundian refugees with the goal of ousting Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza.

The report by experts who monitor sanctions on Democratic Republic of Congo, which was seen by Reuters on Wednesday, contained the strongest testimony yet that Rwanda is meddling in Burundi affairs and comes amid fears that worsening political violence could escalate into mass atrocities.

The report cites accounts from several rebel fighters, who told the sanctions monitors the training was done in a forest camp in Rwanda. 

Nkurunziza`s re-election for a third term last year sparked the country`s crisis and raised concerns that there could be a bloody ethnic conflict in a region where memories of Rwanda`s 1994 genocide are still fresh.

The experts said in the report that they had spoken with 18 Burundian combatants in eastern Congo`s South Kivu province. 

"They all told the group that they had been recruited in the Mahama Refugee Camp in eastern Rwanda in May and June 2015 and were given two months of military training by instructors, who included Rwandan military personnel," according to the report.

The Burundian combatants, which included six children, told the U.N. experts they were trained in military tactics, use of assault rifles and machine guns, grenades, anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. 

They said there were at least four companies of 100 recruits each being trained in a forest camp while they were there.

"They were transported around Rwanda in the back of military trucks, often with Rwandan military escort," the U.N. experts wrote. "They reported that their ultimate goal was to remove Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza from power." 

Burundi and Rwanda have the same ethnic mix, about 85 percent Hutus and 15 percent Tutsis. A 12-year civil war in Burundi, which ended in 2005, pitted a Tutsi-led army against Hutu rebel groups.

Rwandan U.N. Ambassador Eugene Gasana dismissed the accusations against Kigali contained in the report and told Reuters, "This further undermines the credibility of the Group of Experts, which seems to have extended its own mandate, but apparently investigating Burundi." 

The U.N. report did not say why the Burundian fighters had crossed into Congo. But Russia`s Deputy U.N. Ambassador Petr Iliichev said last month that there had been reports of Burundian rebels trying to recruit more fighters in Congo.

"The Burundian combatants showed the group fake DRC identification cards that had been produced for them in Rwanda, so they could avoid suspicion while in the DRC," the report said.

Burundi accused Rwanda in December of supporting a rebel group that was recruiting Burundian refugees on Rwandan soil, but Rwandan President Paul Kagame dismissed the allegations as "childish."

The accusations by Burundi were prompted by the charity Refugees International, which said in a December report it was "deeply concerned" by claims of Burundian refugees in Rwanda that they were being recruited by "non-state armed groups". 

The U.N. Security Council travelled to Burundi in late January, its second visit to the country in less than 10 months. The United Nations has estimated the death toll at 439 people but has said it could be higher. More than 240,000 people have fled abroad and the country`s economy is in crisis.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said during the visit to Burundi that the 15-member council had expressed concern about the allegations of external interference.

Zuckerberg aims to have five billion Facebook users by 2030

 Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says he aims to have five billion users by 2030, which means nearly 60 percent of the human race would be connected to the social network site if his wish comes true.

Zuckerberg made the comments earlier this week during an event at the company’s new Frank Gehry-designed headquarters designed to celebrate Facebook’s 12th anniversary Thursday, February 4, which it has dubbed Friends Day.

"We want to finish connecting everyone, we're going to do it in partnership with governments and different companies all over the world," Zuckerberg said during an event celebrating Facebook's 12th anniversary.

Headquartered in Menlo Park, California, at the start of October 2012, Facebook had passed the monthly active users mark of one billion. The company's data also revealed 600 million mobile users, 140 billion friend connections since the inception of Facebook, and the median age of a user as 22 years.

Myanmar's Suu Kyi names former general to head key advisory panel

 Myanmar democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi`s party on Friday nominated Shwe Mann, one of the country`s most powerful politicians, to head a prominent legal advisory panel, as the freshly-elected parliament prepares to choose a new president.

Shwe Mann, the No.3 in the junta that ran Myanmar for half a century before giving way to a semi-civilian government in 2011, grew closer to Suu Kyi in the legislature`s last term, becoming a key adviser since her massive election win in November.

The elections, in which Suu Kyi`s National League for Democracy (NLD) won 80 percent of the elected seats, kicked off a lengthy transition that will end on April 1, when the new government officially begins its term.

The NLD-dominated parliament started its term this week. The appointment of Shwe Mann, a former speaker of parliament, will allow Suu Kyi to draw on his deep understanding of the army and the outgoing government to boost her firepower in the assembly.

Russia could overrun two European nations in 60 hours, warns US think tank

A US think tank the RAND corporation has issued a stark warning –Russia could invade eastern European nations Estonia and Latvia in under three days.

The RAND corporation said in a report that keeping in mind the current force structure in eastern Europe, Russia is capable of undermining NATO defenses in the Baltics and invade the two countries and be in their capitals Riga and Tallinn in just 60 hours.

In the event of such a development, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) forces would suffer severe damage including loss of human lives. Even the available US air power would not be able to protect the NATO forces from the Russian aggression in such a scenario, unless nuclear weapons were used.

“As presently postured, NATO cannot successfully defend the territory of its most exposed members. Across multiple games using a wide range of expert participants in and out of uniform playing both sides, the longest it has taken Russian forces to reach the outskirts of the Estonian and/or Latvian capitals of Tallinn and Riga, respectively, is 60 hours. Such a rapid defeat would leave NATO with a limited number of options, all bad,” the report said.

“It is possible to avoid such consequences. A force of about seven brigades, including three heavy armoured brigades — adequately supported by air power, land-based fires, and other enablers on the ground and ready to fight at the onset of hostilities — could suffice to prevent the rapid overrun of the Baltic states. While not sufficient to mount a sustained defense of the region or to achieve NATO’s ultimate end state of restoring its members’ territorial integrity, such a posture would fundamentally change the strategic picture as seen from Moscow,” the RAND report stated.

The report warned the cost of not doing so would be even higher – in the form of loss of allies and a deteriorated security situation in Europe which would also pose a threat to the West.