Janet Jackson Is Pregnant at 49

Wissam al Mana and Janet 

Just weeks after announcing that she was delaying her Unbreakable World Tour to plan a family, the “Unbreakable” singer is pregnant at age 49, a source confirms to US Weekly. It will be the first child for the superstar.

On April 6, the Grammy winner revealed on Facebook that she was under “doctor’s orders” to rest. “Hey, you guys. On August 31, I launched the Unbreakable World Tour,” Jackson began in her video message. “First, I just want to thank all the fans for coming out to see the show.”

She continued: “We’re in the second leg of the tour and there actually has been a sudden change. I thought it was important that you be the first to know. My husband and I are planning our family, so I’m going to have to delay the tour.” 

North Korea Threatens United States With Peace Treaty Demand

North Korea threatened to "settle the score physically" with the United States, unless Washington agrees to a peace treaty. Pyongyang's state-controlled KCNA issued a memorandum from the Korean People's Army Panmunjom mission on Wednesday, stating the United States and South Korea are using joint military drills as a "pretext" to allow the "phantom of war" to roam on the Korean peninsula.

Different drills are held annually and draw a strong reaction from North Korea's media outlets, although data analysed by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies have suggested North Korea's responses to joint drills are more driven by the status of U.S.-North Korea relations

Hillary Clinton Calls Donald Trump A 'Loose Cannon,' Risky US President

US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton took quick aim at presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump on Wednesday, saying United States should not take a risk on an unreliable candidate.

"He is a loose cannon, and loose cannons tend to misfire," Clinton said in an interview with CNN, citing Trump stances including a claim that climate change was a Chinese hoax.

Clinton said Trump would have to offer policy specifics in the general election on November 8 and criticized him for his positions on issues including nuclear weapons and abortion.

"He makes these grand statements and grand accusations," Clinton said of the real estate magnate and former reality TV star. "At some point when you're running for president, you actually have to put a little meat on the bones. You've got to tell people what it is you're going to do and how you're going to do it."

Amaechi Leaked Letter On Missing $49.8bn-Sanusi

Almost two and a half years after his letter, which was referenced by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in another letter to former President Goodluck Jonathan on the non-remittance of $49.8 billion by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to the treasury was leaked, the Emir of Kano and former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi II, has finally admitted to what was long been an open secret in government and political circles and has been admitted by the former Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi.

Sanusi, in an interview with Forbes Africa magazine, admitted that Amaechi who is now the Minister of Transportation, was responsible for leaking Obasanjo’s letter to Jonathan on the “missing” $49.8 billion. Amaechi has also long been suspected for leaking Sanusi’s letter to Jonathan on the same issue.

Nigerian Senate Plans 5-Year Jail Term For Lecturers/Students Sexual Relations

A bill for a law which prescribes five-year jail term for lecturers who engage in sexual relationship with students passed its first reading in the Senate on Wednesday.

The bill, sponsored by Ovie Omo-Agege (Labour-Delta Central) and co-sponsored by 46 other senators, seeks to completely prohibit any form of sexual relationship between lecturers and their students.

Briefing journalists after plenary, Mr. Omo-Agege said that the nation’s institutions of higher learning must be sanitised to rid them of lecturers who saw female students as “prize’’. According to him, when the bill is passed and signed into law, any lecturer found guilty will be liable to a jail term of up to five years but not less than two years with no option of fine.

“When passed into law, it makes it a criminal offence for any educator in a university, polytechnic or any other tertiary educational institution to violate or exploit the student-lecturer fiduciary relationship for sexual pleasures,’’ he said.

Diezani Was Untouchable Under Jonathan–Sanusi

Sanusi

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi 11, said that nobody that had a confrontation with the former Minister Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, survived such an effrontery. This, Sanusi said, was because the former minister was one of the most powerful ministers under Jonathan.

“I knew that taking on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporaton was taking on the most powerful minister in Jonathan’s government, and nobody who had touched Diezani had survived. It was not a question of what would happen; I just didn’t care at that time. I did not want to go down in history as having seen this and kept quiet,’’ he said

FG To End Fuel Importation In 3 Years

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, approved a three-year target to achieve self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products and reduce demand on foreign exchange.

It also approved 34 “priority projects” that would be executed and completed in 2016. Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, in company with the Information Minister, Lai Mohammed, Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, and Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Kadijah Bukar Abba Ibrahim, also disclosed that the presidency was expecting a final copy of the 2016 budget from the National Assembly for presidential assent “today or tomorrow”.

“We are setting a three-year deadline to achieve self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products and to become a net exporter of petroleum products. The objective of this is to increase domes- tic supply of refined products and to reduce demand on foreign exchange for importing refined products in our country. The ministry of petroleum is pushing this. There is also a plan to push for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) in conjunction with the national assembly,” she said.

Nigeria Will Not Explore Oil In Bakassi Again – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has put on hold exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits in Bakassi peninsula till the joint technical committee on the Green Tree Agreement submits its report.

This is even as the Cameroonian President, Paul Biya, denied that his country was ever a safe haven to the terrorist sect, Boko Haram. Both leaders spoke at a joint press conference to end Biya’s two-day working visit to Nigeria.

Buhari told Biya that there was no cause for Cameroonians to lose sleep over the Peninsula as the committee’s outcome would put paid to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) resolutions.

A technical committee, comprising experts from both countries are currently working to fine-tune some grey areas, bodering on identity, resettlement, compensation for loss of territory, oil exploration, development of Day Spring Island, socio-cultural differences, fishing right, among other issues before full implementation of resolutions spelt out by the ICJ.

Nigeria: Senate Seeks Death Sentence For Kidnappers

The Senate yesterday resolved to enact a legislation prescribing the death penalty for kidnappers. The resolution followed the submission and consideration of the report of the Joint Committee on Police Affairs, National Security and Intelligence on the “unfortunate recurrence of kidnapping and hostage-taking in Nigeria.”

Senators were outraged that kidnapping and hostage-taking, which used to be contained in the Southsouth and Southeast, was becoming widespread.

Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), who spoke, proposed that the National Assembly should enact a law prescribing the death penalty for kidnappers. The proposal was seconded by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).

N2.5billion ‘Fraud’: Udenwa, Fani-Kayode To Face the Music

Fani-Kayode

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives yesterday arrested former Imo State Governor Achike Udenwa over the disbursement of a huge sum of money during the 2015 presidential election.

Out of the N4billion withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), N2.5 billion was paid into the accounts of six chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including Udenwa, and the Goodluck Support Group (GSG).

As of last night, Udenwa was still being detained at the Lagos State office of the anti-graft agency, which has launched a manhunt for a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode. Of the six people implicated in the scandal, only a former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Nenadi Usman, has been grilled by detectives.

The details of how the cash was disbursed are: Fani-Kayode (N840million); Goodluck Support Group (N320million); Achike Udenwa and Viola Onwuliri (N350million); Nenadi Usman (N140million); Olu Falae(N100m) and Okey Ezenwa (N100million).

Forbes Five Hip-Hop's Wealthiest Artists

#1 Sean "Diddy" Combs: $750 M

Call him Puff Daddy or Diddy—either way, he lived up to the name of his 2015 mixtape MMM (for alter ego Money Making Mitch), thanks mostly to his agreement with Diageo’s Ciroc vodka. Also valuable: stakes in his TV network Revolt, clothing line Sean John and alkaline water Aquahydrate.

#2 Andre “Dr. Dre” Young: $710 M

Two years ago the super producer’s Beats By Dr. Dre sale got him the largest one-off payday of any living musician in history; last year’s biopic Straight Outta Compton padded his coffers, too. Now he’s sitting on a nine-figure cash stash—and a jaw-dropping portfolio of southern California real estate—that even a billionaire would envy.

#3 Shawn "Jay Z" Carter: $610 M

The Brooklyn-born rapper boasts a broad range of holdings, but this year it’s his Tidal streaming service driving the growth of his fortune. The company has had its share of growing pains, but with 3 million paid subscribers, it’s now worth an estimated three times more than its $56 million purchase price. 

#4 Bryan “Birdman” Williams: $110 M

The Cash Money chief moves up a spot despite the dip in his fortune, down from $140 million last year thanks to turmoil in his empire. Lil Wayne, Cash Money’s flagship artist, has slowed his once-frenetic release pace; rumors of his departure, along with fellow top acts Drake and Nicki Minaj, continue to swirl.

#5 Aubrey "Drake" Graham: $60 M

Known to the world by his middle name, the Toronto native once said he planned to make $250 million by the time he was 29. He’s got a ways to go, but he’s on the right track with recurring multimillion-dollar paychecks from Nike, Sprite and Apple—and the final spot on this year’s Forbes Five. Not a bad 30th birthday present.

17 Year Old Murders Mother After Accusing Her of His Impotence

A 17 year old boy named Agayo Lorzenda is currently cooling off in police custody after murdering his mother in cold blood. Lorzenda shot his mother with a locally made gun after accusing her of using witchcraft to make him impotent.

The unfortunate incident occurred at Tse-Agbaigbe Ikyurav-Tiev 11, in Katsina/Ala Local Government Area,Benue state. The suspect was paraded at the Command Headquarters. State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Paul Yakadi, confirmed the incident.

 “I went to consult the oracle over my impotence and I was told that my mother used my manhood for witchcraft and rendered me impotent. She did not want me to be a man. So my friend advised me to kill her so as to use her blood to acquire spiritual powers that will help me become rich and also do many other things. That was why I shot her,” Lorzenda told newsmen.

Nigerian Troops Engage Fulani Herdsmen [Photos]

Nigerian troops have recorded another massive success in its fight against terrorism after overcoming cattle rustlers and bandits in the northern part of the country. A statement issued on Tuesday, May 3 by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, the spokesperson of the Nigerian army, reads:

“Troops of the 1 Division, Nigerian Army, have intensified clearance operations against cattle rustlers and armed bandits in Kaduna and Zamfara States, north western Nigeria. Within the last four days, they have killed 2 notorious cattle rustlers who were suspected to have killed 7 innocent persons in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State. They also arrested 5 declared wanted armed bandits and recovered arms and ammunitions from them and thereafter destroyed their camps. The troops also conducted a clearance operation in Kuduru, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State in which they arrested 5 cattle rustlers, recovered arms and ammunitions and then destroyed the armed bandits camps.”

Watchdog: ISIS May Be Making Chemical Weapons

There are "extremely worrying" signs that the ISIS may be making its own chemical weapons and may have used them already in Iraq and Syria, a global watchdog said Tuesday.

The head of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Ahmet Uzumcu, said his body's fact-finding teams have found evidence of the use of sulphur mustard in attacks in the two countries.

"Although they could not attribute this to Daesh... there are strong suspicions that they may have used it (chemical weapons)," Uzumcu told AFP, using the alternative name for the jihadist group.

"Secondly the suspicions are that they may have produced it themselves, which is extremely worrying. It proves that they have the technology, know-how and also access to the materials which might be used for the production of chemical weapons,’’ Uzumcu said on the sidelines of a three-day conference at the OPCW's Hague-based headquarters.

CIA director John Brennan in February told CBS News that ISIS fighters had the capability to make small quantities of chlorine and mustard gas.

Donald Trump Links Ted Cruz's Father To JFK's Assassin

Trump and Cruz

Donald Trump alleged Tuesday that White House rival Ted Cruz's father was with John F. Kennedy's killer shortly before the US president was assassinated, prompting Cruz to brand the Republican front-runner a "pathological liar."

The startling allegation, and Cruz's full-throated retort, occurred on the morning of a crucial primary election in Indiana where Trump is seeking to land a knockout blow against his chief challenger for their party's nomination.

Trump took to Fox News to say the Texas senator's father, Rafael Cruz, an immigrant from Cuba, was "with Lee Harvey Oswald" before the assassination.

"I mean, the whole thing is ridiculous. What is this? Right prior to his being shot, and nobody brings it up," Trump told Fox by telephone.

"I mean, what was he doing -- what was he doing with Lee Harvey Oswald shortly before the death -- before the shooting? It's horrible."

Trump's remarks incensed Ted Cruz, who delivered a blistering attack of the celebrity billionaire. "Donald Trump alleges that my dad was involved in assassinating JFK. Let's be clear, this is nuts. Yes, my dad killed JFK, he is secretly Elvis, and Jimmy Hoffa is buried in his backyard," a visibly angry Cruz told reporters at a campaign event in Indiana.

"This man is a pathological liar. He doesn't know the difference between truth and lies," Cruz added, comparing Trump to a schoolyard bully and saying the real estate mogul boasts of being a "serial philanderer."

Buhari To Sign 2016 Budget By Friday – Senator Ndume

Sen. Ali Ndume

Senate leader, Ali Ndume has disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to sign the 2016 budget by Friday.

Ndume, in a chat with the Punch, said the grey areas causing the conflict between the National Assembly and the Presidency has been resolved, thereby, necessitating the President to put his assent to the document.

He said, “There is no cause for concern as all issues relating to the budget have been taken care of by the leadership of the National Assembly.''

BREAKING: APC Governors Storm Enugu Over Herdsmen Attack

Gov. Okorocha of Imo State

Governors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, arrived Enugu State Tuesday afternoon to commiserate with the people over the recent attack on Ukpabi Nimbo by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The Governors were led by their chairman, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and the chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Kashim Shettima of Borno State.

Dasuki Fails to Appear In Court Again

Trial of a former security adviser, retired Col. Sambo Dauski, was again stalled on Tuesday at the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, following the inability of the prosecution to produce him. Dauski, Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance, Office of the National Security Adviser, and Aminu Baba-Kusa, a former NNPC Executive Director.

The others were Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited, were being tried for alleged diversion of N13.6 billion meant for arms purchase.
At the last sitting, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf had ordered that the prosecution should allow Dauski’s lawyers’ access to him following an application made by his counsel Mr Joseph Daudu (SAN).

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Mr Leke Afolabi, who held brief for Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that the prosecution was having challenges producing Dauski.

Afolabi also informed the court that Jacobs had matter at the Court of Appeal, and prayed the court for a stand down to enable them sort out the challenges.
Mr Tunde Falola, who held brief for Daudu did not object to the application for stand down.

Fidelity Bank Shares Tumble As CEO is Arrested By EFCC

Nigeria's Fidelity Bank shares fell to a two-month low on Tuesday after the financial crimes agency detained the bank's chief executive last week, prompting it to appoint an acting chief.

Shares in the mid-tier bank fell 7.7 percent to 1.08 naira, a level last touched on March 3. The shares are down 22 percent so far this year.

Fidelity CEO Nnamdi Okonkwo has been in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since Wednesday, as part of investigations into transactions made in the run-up to elections last year.

Fidelity Bank has said that "the transactions were duly reported as required by the regulators" and that it was cooperating with authorities.

Nigeria: $15 Million Arms Scam

Vice President, Osinbajo

Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said about $15 billion was lost by the previous administration to fraudulent security spending, almost three times more than was earlier estimated by the government.

Osinbajo, who along with President Muhammadu Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan in elections last year on an anti-corruption campaign, said the figure was only discovered a few days ago, dwarfing the previous estimate of $5.5 billion allegedly misappropriated from contracts to buy defense equipment to fight the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

Last year Buhari, a 73-year-old former general and military ruler, ordered the arrest of Sambo Dasuki, Jonathan’s national security adviser, after a government commission alleged that he and other officials siphoned off funds meant for the military’s fight against Boko Haram. 

Kim Jong-Un Bans Funerals and Weddings During North Korean Political Congress

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has temporarily banned all weddings and funerals, as well as travel in and out of Pyongyang for security reasons ahead of a rare party congress. In addition, anyone arrested before the 7th Congress of the ruling Workers Party which starts on 6 May will be considered a political criminal, reports the Daily NK.

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya Arrives Nigeria for A State Visit

Paul Biya

President Paul Biya of Cameroon will at the invitation of President Muhammadu Buhari, begin a two-day state visit to Nigeria tomorrow, Tuesday, May 3, 2016, the Nigerian presidency has said.

A statement, on Monday, by presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said President Biya, who will be accompanied by his wife, Chantal, and senior Cameroonian government officials, will be received Tuesday afternoon at the Presidential Villa, Abuja by President Buhari.

“Both leaders and their officials will confer on issues of common interest to Nigeria and Cameroon, including ongoing bilateral and regional cooperation against terrorism, violent extremism and cross-border crimes.

“It is expected that new agreements to strengthen existing ties, as well as trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Cameroon, will be concluded and signed before the end of President Biya’s visit.

“A joint communiqué on the visit and the talks between the two presidents and their officials will be issued before President Biya’s departure from Abuja on Wednesday, May 4, 2016,” the statement said.

Swiss Intelligence Are Monitoring Online Activity Of 400 Suspected Terrorists

Swiss authorities were monitoring the social media activity of about 400 possible terrorists who might pose a security threat, the NDB federal intelligence service said on Monday.

Switzerland is not a primary target for Islamist attacks because it is not part of the military campaign against groups such as ISIS, but the security threat level has been elevated nonetheless, the NDB's annual report said.

The report showed a photo of a Swiss passport next to an explosive belt posted online by a suspected Swiss terrorist who had travelled to the Middle East, and an ISIS video showing the Swiss flag among the 60 countries seen as targets.

Authorities have been closely tracking suspected terrorists who return to Switzerland from countries, Syria in particular, where they are believed to get training in carrying out attacks.

The Rise of Donald Trump Is Forcing Immigrants To Become Citizens

"Trump is dividing us as a country," said Ospina, owner of a small flooring and kitchen remodeling company. "He's so negative about immigrants. We've got to speak up."

Nationwide, immigrants like Ospina are among tens of thousands applying for naturalization in a year when immigration has taken centre stage in the presidential campaign, especially in the race for the Republican nomination.

Trump, the GOP front-runner, has pledged to deport the estimated 11 million people living in the US illegally. He's also vowed to bar Muslims from entering the country and threatened to cut off remittances that Mexican immigrants in the US send back home. And he's called for building a border wall - among other proposals to deal with unlawful immigration, saying the federal government has failed to protect the border from people and drugs illegally entering the country.

That rhetoric, immigrant advocates and lawmakers say, is driving many foreign-born residents to seek citizenship.

Leicester City Wins First Ever English Premier League Title

Leicester fans celebrating

Leicester City are on course for a windfall of more than $220 million for winning the English Premier League, a new study said. The money would come from the Premier League's huge television revenues, playing in the Champions League, new sponsorship and higher gate receipts, the Repucom sports data firm said.

Leicester became England's most unlikely champions after Tottenham Hotspur failed to get the win at Chelsea on Monday that would have extended the Premier League race for another weekend. According to the study, Leicester are set to make over 150m pounds ($220 million/191 million euros) from claiming the Premier League title.

Potentially more than 90 million pounds from winning the Premier League against 72 million pounds when they came 14th last season.

They would get 33m pounds just for appearing in the group stages of next season's Champions League, with another 3m pounds waiting in performance bonuses.

A third place finish in their group would guarantee a place in the Europa League and another 20m pounds.

Higher match day and commercial revenues could bring another 10m pounds-15m pounds.