UGOEZEH

At least 17 people were shot dead in the latest attack on villages in northern Nigeria's Zamfara state over the weekend, according to witnesses and police. Kasimu Bello, resident of Magami village in the Maradun district, told AFP news agency on Monday that unidentified gunmen entered his village on several motorcycles on Saturday, shooting people indiscriminately as they tried to flee. "After the attack, we collected 17... bodies, which we buried," he said. Another resident, Umaru Bawa, confirmed the attack, saying: "The bandits pursued people like chickens and shot them dead as they ran into the bush". Mohammed Shehu, state police spokesman, said his operatives would arrest and "bring to justice the perpetrators of this dastardly act". The assault came just days after 25 people were killed on Wednesday in similar raids on two villages in Birnin Magaji district. 'This violence must stop' Nigerian President Muhammadu Bu

Ed Woodward faces make-or-break six months to finally fix Man United

For Ed Woodward, Manchester United's executive vice-chairman, the next six months will make or break his reputation -- and possibly his career. He left the Cardiff City Stadium as a happy and relieved man after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first game as caretaker manager ended in an emphatic 5-1 victory just four days after Jose Mourinho's sacking. But Woodward, a former investment banker, will surely know that the hard work has only just begun. First things first, Woodward's job as the man who runs United on a day-to-day basis will remain the safest at Old Trafford while the Glazer family continue to own the club. Having played a key role in facilitating the Glazers' leveraged takeover back in 2005, when he worked in JP Morgan's mergers and acquisitions team, Woodward has forged such a strong relationship with the American owners, particularly Joel and Avram Glazer, that one source told ESPN FC that he would be "the last man standing at United if

Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp: I'll keep door open for January signings

Liverpool will be open to signing players in the January transfer window should they need reinforcements to aid their Premier League title challenge, manager Jurgen Klopp said on Monday. Klopp's side has suffered a number of casualties in recent weeks, with defenders Joel Matip and Joe Gomez ruled out until mid-January with injuries. While full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and midfielder Naby Keita could return against Newcastle United on Wednesday, Klopp suggested further fitness problems could force him to rethink his transfer strategy. "I'm very happy with what I've got, but you don't know. That's why I always keep the door open, in case something happens and we need to have a look," Klopp told a news conference. "If a few more things happen then we need to have a look because there are a monstrous number of games still and it's really important that we can always react. "If something will dramatically change then we need

Mourinho deserves respect for achievements at Man United - Luke Shaw

Luke Shaw has asked Manchester United fans to respect what Jose Mourinho achieved at the club. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer started his reign with an impressive 5-1 win at Cardiff City on Saturday but Shaw said supporters should not forget that Mourinho won the EFL Cup, the Europa League and the Community Shield in his two-and-a-half years at Old Trafford. "It's not very nice when something as big as that happens at the club but I think we as players and as a team show respect in what happened," Shaw said. "People might be quick to forget what Jose did for United -- the three trophies he won -- he did a lot. "One of the trophies was one we had not won before. He took us to three trophies in one season so those people need to respect him and remember what he did for not only us as a team to win those trophies but the fans as well." Solskjaer has been given until the end of the season to stake his claim for the top job, although sources have told E

Christmas tragedy.... Governor dies just few days after being sworn into office in an air crash

The governor of Mexico's central Puebla state, Martha Erika Alonso, has died in an air crash, just days after being sworn into office. Her husband, Senator Rafael Moreno Valle, was also killed. Reports from Mexico say the accident happened shortly after the aircraft took off from the city of Puebla. Ms Alonso, 45, became the first female governor of Puebla after hotly contested elections. She was member of the centre-right PAN party. The deaths were confirmed by Mexico's new President, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. In a tweet (in Spanish), President López Obrador expressed "deepest condolences" the relatives of the two politicians. He said an investigation would be launched to establish "the truth" about what caused the crash. En lo personal, mi más profundo pésame a los familiares del senador Rafael Moreno Valle y de su esposa, la gobernadora de Puebla Martha Érika Alonso. Como autoridad, asumo el compromiso de investigar las causas; decir la

Pope urges people to live simpler lives this christmas period and always

Pope Francis has called on people in developed countries to live a simpler and less materialistic life. He also condemned the huge divide between the world's rich and poor, saying Jesus's birth in poverty in a stable should make everyone reflect on the meaning of life. He spoke out while leading a service in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican for the traditional Christmas Eve Mass. It is the 82-year-old's sixth Christmas as head of the Roman Catholic Church. In his homily, Pope Francis said the birth of Christ pointed to a new way to live "not by devouring and hoarding, but by sharing and giving". He continued: "Let us ask ourselves: Do I really need all these material objects and complicated recipes for living? Can I manage without all these unnecessary extras and live a life of greater simplicity? "For many people, life's meaning is found in possessing, in having an excess of material objects. An insatiable greed marks all hu

This holiday season, we are looking back with appreciation for your loyalty and looking forward to moving into the New Year together.

As the holiday season is upon us, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and those who have helped to shape our blog. It’s been quite a year for us all! We hope that 2018 has been just as memorable for you, your colleagues and your loved ones. We look forward to working with you in the years to come. Merry Christmas and a more fruitful year ahead THANK YOU

Manchester United's Paul Pogba thanks Jose Mourinho for making him better

Paul Pogba says Jose Mourinho improved him as a player and a person and thanked the former Manchester United manager for the success they shared at Old Trafford. The Frenchman stopped to make a statement in the mixed zone following the 5-1 win over Cardiff City on Saturday after taking criticism for what some supporters have perceived to be a role in Mourinho's sacking. "I know you're waiting for something about Jose, about the result today," Pogba told reporters at the Cardiff City Stadium. "Obviously, we are very happy with the result. We played well, the performance of the team was great and I know you want to ask me but, 'Oh yeah with Jose.' "With Jose, we won trophies and I want to thank him for that. Not everything worked well but things went well, we won trophies. "Winning trophies makes you improve as a person as well and that's it. That's the past. I want to thank him for that. "I'm sure all the players a

Inter Milan suspend Radja Nainggolan for 'disciplinary reasons;' will miss Napoli clash

Inter Milan have announced they have suspended midfielder Radja Nainggolan for "disciplinary reasons." The Belgian joined the Nerazzurri from Roma in the summer and scored three goals in 15 appearances. Inter sit third in the table, eight points behind second-place Napoli, who they face on Dec. 26 -- and will do so without Nainggolan. "FC Internazionale Milano can confirm that Radja Nainggolan has been temporarily suspended from football activity for disciplinary reasons," a statement read on the club's website. Defeat against Napoli could see the gap to fourth place close to just one point and, having failed to qualify from their Champions League group, would ramp the pressure on Luciano Spalletti. Inter have won just one of their last six matches in all competitions following Chievo's stoppage time equaliser in the 1-1 draw at the Bentegodi on Saturday. This isn't the first time Nainggolan has come under criticism for off-field behavio

Catalan protests as Spanish cabinet goes to Barcelona

December 21, 2018

Pro-independence protesters are blocking roads in some parts of Catalonia as Spanish ministers hold a cabinet meeting in Barcelona. The decision to move the meeting was aimed at reducing tensions, months after Catalan leaders were jailed for trying to break away from Spain. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Catalan leader Quim Torra agreed on Thursday to an "effective dialogue". But anti-Madrid protests were expected to grow during the day. More than 20 roads, including the AP7 and A2 motorways, were blocked by protesters across Catalonia as police were deployed in large numbers ahead of the cabinet meeting. The protests were co-ordinated by a radical group, the Committees for the Defence of the Republic (CDRs). The cabinet was convened exactly a year after the previous Spanish government held snap elections in Catalonia, a decision seen as provocative by pro-independence groups. Mr Sánchez started the day with a working breakfast with the Mayor of Barcelona

India man held for rape of British woman in Goa

December 21, 2018

An Indian man has been arrested for allegedly raping and robbing a British tourist in the western state of Goa. The woman, 48, was attacked around 4:00 local time (22:30 GMT) on Thursday as she was walking to her hotel from a railway station, police told PTI news. The accused is a man from the southern state of Tamil Nadu. He fled after also taking three of her bags. Goa is one of India's top tourist destinations and its beaches attract thousands of foreigners every year. The woman is a regular visitor to the state. Police said she had been going there every year for the last 10 years. Police were able to track down the suspect with the help of CCTV footage from the railway station as well as the area where the crime occurred, according to the NDTV news website. This is one of several crimes against foreigners in the state. An Irish woman, Danielle McLaughlin, was raped and murdered while on holiday in Goa in 2017. Vikhat Bhagat, 24, was arrested soon after her m

US Defence Secretary James Mattis announces resignation

December 21, 2018

US Defence Secretary James Mattis is resigning, the latest in a string of senior US officials to do so. His announcement came a day after President Trump said he was withdrawing troops from Syria - a decision General Mattis is understood to oppose. In his resignation letter, Gen Mattis strongly hinted at policy differences with Mr Trump. He said the president had the right to appoint someone "whose views are better aligned with yours". Gen Mattis, 68, will leave the job in February. President Trump has not immediately named a successor, but said one would be appointed shortly. Members of Congress from both sides of the political divide have reacted with shock to the resignation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, from Mr Trump's own Republican Party, said he was "distressed" to hear the resignation was reportedly due to "sharp differences" that Gen Mattis had with the president. What did the resignation letter say? Gen Mattis al

Manchester united to sign Douglas Costa?

Douglas Costa is a Manchester United transfer target as they plan their post-Jose Mourinho rebuild. The Juventus winger has had to play second fiddle since the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo and is said to be available for €40m (£36.12m). ( Sport Bild )

Fans' delight at the adult Kevin Macaulay Home Alone again (but only in an advert)

Many, many movie fans will be settling down for their annual festive viewing of Home Alone this Christmas. Now they have an extra early present in the form of Macaulay Culkin reprising the role of Kevin McCallister. The catch? It's not a feature-length sequel but an advert plugging a gargantuan internet search company. (Yes, Google.) But fans have relished seeing an adult Kevin recreate some of the 1990 film's most famous scenes. Perhaps inevitably, he now fights off the intruders with the help of the aforementioned search giant. #heygoogle Have you ever wondered what Kevin McCallister is like as an adult? Me neither. But just in case you’re curious you should totally watch this #ad pic.twitter.com/uO9qMPrUT3 — Macaulay Culkin (@IncredibleCulk) December 19, 2018 I hope you were paid a million billion dollars for this because this ad is incredible — Therese Andrews (@ThereseTheBeast) December 20, 2018 HE FINALLY GOT TO EAT THAT MAC & CHEESE 🧀 — c

Irish president signs bill legalising abortion

Irish President Michael D Higgins has signed the bill that legalises abortion in the Republic of Ireland. The new law allows for abortion services to be provided "on demand" up to the 12th week of a pregnancy. It also applies in the case of a fatal foetal abnormality or where the physical or mental health of the mother is in danger. The Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Bill completed its passage through the Irish parliament last Thursday with a nine-hour debate in the senate. Since the bill's introduction to the Irish parliament in October, there have been some minor changes, including a decision to review the legislation after three years, rather than five years as was originally planned. Two different doctors will be allowed to assess a woman in early pregnancy and the offences section has been moved from the front of the bill.

Uganda's president says Miss World Africa should flaunt natural hair

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has criticised the newly crowned Miss World Africa for "wearing Indian hair". Tweeting a photo with fellow Ugandan Quinn Abenakyo shortly after her pageant win, he said "we must show African beauty in its natural form". Asked what Mr Museveni meant by "Indian hair", his spokesman Don Wanyama told the BBC: "Just look at the photo and you will see the type of hair. "It's an unnatural wig, he was saying she should wear her natural hair." Many on social media have defended Miss Abenakyo's choice to style her hair as she pleases, and have hit back at President Museveni's comments about "Indian hair". Presidential spokesman Mr Wanyama would not be drawn on whether it was a reference to the hair's texture or its presumed country of origin - India is one of the world's largest suppliers of human hair for wigs. 'No-one needs to define you' Quinn Abenakyo

Morocco murders: Three arrested over 'bestial' tourist killings

The "bestial" murder of two young women in Morocco is being investigated as a terrorism attack, Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said. Three men were arrested on Thursday over the murder of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway. The pair were found dead from knife wounds near a popular tourist spot on Monday. At least one of the suspects has been linked to an Islamist extremist group. One person had already been arrested on Monday, hours after the bodies of the two women were discovered with injuries to their necks. Police also supplied photos of the three other suspects, prompting a 72-hour manhunt. Moroccan news outlet 2M said they were shepherds, and had been arrested in the city of Marrakesh on Thursday morning. After the prime minister's statement, Denmark's PET intelligence agency said it was investigating a video circulating online, which appeared to show one of the two women being murder

US charges 'China government hackers'

The US justice department has indicted two Chinese men accused of hacking into the computer networks of companies and government agencies in Western countries. The pair are allegedly part of a "hacking group" known as Advanced Persistent Threat 10, affiliated with China's main intelligence service. They have not been arrested. The US and UK have accused China of violating an agreement relating to commercial espionage. Zhu Hua and Zhang Shilong worked for a company called Huaying Haitai and in association with the Chinese Ministry of State Security, the US court filing says. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said that from at least 2006 until 2018, the two extensively hacked into computer systems with the aim of stealing intellectual property and confidential business and technological information from: at least 45 commercial and defence technology companies in at least 12 US states managed service providers (MSPs) and their government and comm

Third of rare Scotch whiskies tested found to be fake

More than a third of vintage Scotch whiskies tested at a specialist laboratory have been found to be fake, BBC Scotland has learned. Twenty-one out of 55 bottles of rare Scotch were deemed to be outright fakes or whiskies not distilled in the year declared. The tests were conducted at the East Kilbride-based Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC). It used advanced radiocarbon dating techniques to reach its conclusions. SUERC measured residual concentrations of a radioactive isotope of carbon present in the alcohol contained in each bottle in order to establish the ages of the whiskies. The samples had been sent for analysis by whisky broker Rare Whisky 101 (RW101), which said it was responding to "growing concern surrounding the proliferation of fake whisky" in the secondary market. The bottles had been selected at random from auctions, private collections and retailers. Last year, the same company exposed a £7,600 dram of vintage Scotch

SAD!!! Yemeni mum arrives in US to visit dying son in California

The Yemeni mother of a toddler dying in the US has arrived in California to visit him after the Trump administration relaxed its travel ban. Shaima Swileh, who currently lives in Egypt, was initially prevented from entering America. Her son, two-year-old Abdullah Hassan, was born with a brain disease that doctors say he will not survive. Abdullah's father, Ali Hassan, 22, has said the visit will allow the couple to "mourn with dignity". Mrs Swileh landed at San Francisco International Airport late on Wednesday and was greeted by crowds of well-wishers. She is now expected to travel to the children's hospital in the city where her son is currently on life support. The Department of State granted Mrs Swileh permission to enter the US on Tuesday morning, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a non-profit advocacy group representing the family. Shaima Swileh, the #Yemeni mother of a gravely ill 2-year-old boy, waits with her husb

Japan to resume commercial whale hunt

Japan plans to leave the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to resume commercial hunting, media reports say. The government told its MPs of the decision, NHK reports. There has been no official confirmation of the move. Commercial whaling was banned by the IWC in 1986 after some whales were driven almost to extinction. For many years Japan has hunted whales for what it calls "scientific research" and to sell the meat, a programme widely criticised by conservationists. The Japanese government is expected to cite the recovery of certain whale species as justification for the move, although it's thought to be considering whaling only in its own waters. Officials in Japan say eating whales is part of its culture. A number of coastal communities in Japan have hunted whales for centuries, but consumption in the country surged only after World War Two when whales were the main source of meat. It has plummeted in recent decades. What's the reaction? Wild

Warning against 'volcano tourism' risks

Thrill-seeking tourists are putting themselves in danger and hampering emergency services by heading towards volcanoes when they erupt. A report from the Royal Geographical Society warns of the growing risks caused by "volcano tourism". Emergency authorities in countries such as Iceland now have to contend with the arrival of tourists who rush there to get close to an exploding volcano. The study says such tourists fail to understand the seriousness of the risk. The study, published by the Royal Geographical Society and written by University of Cambridge geographer Amy Donovan, warns that such visitors can create dangerous problems for already stretched rescue services. 'Volcanophiles' The phenomenon of "volcano tourism" has seen thousands of people trying to get close to the site of erupting volcanoes for the physical experience of seeing, hearing and feeling the heat of such a natural spectacle. Dr Donovan says that such people are fa

Fortnite teen hackers 'earning thousands of pounds a week'

Children as young as 14 are making thousands of pounds a week as part of a global hacking network built around the popular video game Fortnite. About 20 hackers told the BBC they were stealing the private gaming accounts of players and reselling them online. Fortnite is free to play but is estimated to have made more than £1bn through the sale of "skins", which change the look of a character, and other add-ons. This fuels a growing black market. Hackers can sell player accounts for as little as 25p or hundreds of pounds, depending on what they contain. The items are collected as in-game purchases but are purely cosmetic and do not give gamers any extra abilities. Fortnite-maker Epic declined to comment on the investigation but said it was working to improve account security. The game has more than 200 million players. 'Felt horrible' One British hacker said he got involved at the age of 14 earlier this summer, when he himself became the victim of a h

Game of Thrones star: Producers 'paranoid about leaks'

Game of Thrones star Iain Glen has described how security measures put in place to prevent story details leaking to the public caused problems for some actors. "They're absolutely paranoid now about anyone finding out anything about the series and spoiling it," he said. "We weren't allowed a written word on a page." The final season of Game of Thrones will be shown on Sky Atlantic in April 2019. Glen said: "Everything was accessed through iPads with different security you had to get through to access it. Which caused a problem for the actors, I have to say." Iain Glen as Ser Jorah Mormont with Emelia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen The Scottish actor, who has played Ser Jorah Mormont in HBO's global phenomenon since it began in 2011, also said that the show's final season is "absolutely phenomenal". Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Nihal Arthanayake, Glen described the table read for Game of Throne

Dutch girl shot dead in Rotterdam school bike-shed

Students, teachers and families in the Dutch city of Rotterdam have expressed their shock after a 16-year-old pupil was shot dead in the grounds of her college. Humeyra Öz was attacked in the bike-shed at Rotterdam's Design College shortly after her lessons finished on Tuesday afternoon. A 31-year-old man has been arrested. The girl's friends said she had broken up with him some time ago and had complained of being threatened by him. Police confirmed that she knew the suspect but did not give further details. The college has some 300 students and some of them were in the bike shed at the time of the shooting and saw what happened. Both the victim and suspect were described as members of the Dutch-Turkish community, and Turkish consul Aytac Yilmaz visited the school on Wednesday. Fellow pupils struggled to take in the killing, while parents were concerned about safety. "She was a lovely, pretty, clever girl," a schoolfriend told Dutch media. "We

Korean Air 'nut rage' flight attendant awarded $18,000

Korean Air has been ordered to pay nearly $18,000 (€16,000; £14,000) to a flight attendant who was subjected to abuse in a "nut rage" incident. Park Chang-jin was forced to apologise on his knees after he served nuts to the daughter of the airline's chairman in a bag rather than a bowl in 2014. He was then ejected from the plane, which was about to take off. Mr Park, who was also demoted over the incident, had sued Korean Air for "physical and psychological suffering". He also claimed that his demotion to an ordinary cabin crew position was unfair punishment for speaking out about the incident to the media. On Wednesday, he was awarded compensation by a court in Seoul for his treatment on the day of the delayed flight in December four years ago. However, the figure was less than Mr Park had demanded, and the court also backed Korean Air's decision to demote him. The "nut rage" incident involving Cho Hyun-ah, the eldest daughter o

Pep Guardiola supports Jose Mourinho: 'He will come back soon'

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has given his support to Jose Mourinho after the Portuguese manager was sacked by Manchester United on Tuesday. The two managers had a fierce rivalry when they were opposite numbers at Barcelona and Real Madrid for three years and there were fears that acrimony might be reignited when Mourinho was appointed United coach shortly after Guardiola was announced at City in 2016. But the pair's rivalry has been far more friendly during their Premier League years and Guardiola says he hopes to come up against Mourinho again soon. "I am on his side," Guardiola told a news conference. "As managers, we are alone. They [clubs] contact us to try to win and when you don't win I know what happens. "I always say I am in the position of the manager and I know exactly what they can feel and always I am there because we feel alone. All the pressure is on our shoulders. "But he has a lot of experience, he is a top man a

Sympathy for overworked Taiwan man who ploughed into Ferraris