WORLD NEWS ALERT

Rights groups call Rodrigo Duterte's comments "repulsive" and "unworthy of his position". from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2VjtESU

By JULFIKAR ALI MANIK and MARIA ABI-HABIB from NYT World https://nyti.ms/2CI02qY

By JULFIKAR ALI MANIK and MARIA ABI-HABIB from NYT Asia Pacific https://nyti.ms/2CI02qY

At least three people died in a suspected gas explosion in the city of Magnitogorsk. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2EYqvTq

By REUTERS from NYT Asia Pacific https://nyti.ms/2AmO0S2

Hundreds of armed suspected Boko Haram insurgents who invaded Buni- Yadi town of Gujba Local Government Area in Yobe state were finally Chased out of the town when some vigilante hunters engaged them in a fierce battle on Sunday. A resident of the town, Musa Adamu, a petty trader who disclosed th ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2Ti6ESb

Brethren, every journey has a terminal point and like all the previous years, 2018 has reached it 39;s finish line today. Whether it favoured you or not, that you 39;re reading this shows that you 39;re alive today against all odds and that 39;s the most important thing because once there 39;s ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2EXeBIC

By NEIL MacFARQUHAR from NYT World https://nyti.ms/2VkIfxm

By JOSEPH SCIORRA from NYT Lens https://nyti.ms/2Qd6cCI

An official says people did not take precautions as the storm was not classed as a typhoon. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2VkEYy4

By REUTERS from NYT Africa https://nyti.ms/2VkIKYg

By REUTERS from NYT Europe https://nyti.ms/2GNnbMM

By NEIL MacFARQUHAR from NYT Europe https://nyti.ms/2VkIfxm

By REUTERS from NYT Middle East https://nyti.ms/2EZuXAn

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has revealed how he (Atiku) prevented President Muhammadu Buhari from smuggling looted funds into the country in 1984. Atiku stated this in reaction to an earlier statement credited to Buhari Support Groups, BS ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2Ap9AW8

By MUJIB MASHAL from NYT Asia Pacific https://nyti.ms/2EZjOjT

By REUTERS from NYT https://nyti.ms/2CFRErQ

Max Air a Nigerian airline says it could pull its business out of the UK after one of its pilots was arrested by immigration officials on suspicion of being a stowaway and threatened with deportation. Captain Adam Dilli Ibrahim was detained for questioning, fingerprinted and photographed before b ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2EXnPpa

Troops of 22 Brigade Garrison deployed in Operation Lafiya Dole on Sunday 30th December 2018, encountered and neutralised three female suicide bombers, while on patrol around Kubtara village in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State. Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu, the Deputy Director Public Relati ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2F1dXK2

NAF Special Force VIDEO: How NAF, Allied Forces Bombard Boko Haram Terrorists in Baga See Video 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTTW9RA8YlQ Video2 Link: https://youtu.be/iAD7TBO7ZcQ The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has neutralized several Islami ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2EXGRvz

The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to an old video clip circulating on the social media in which a supposedly soldier clad with an AK-47 rifle alleging lack of arms and ammunition, among other soldiers in a remote location walking. Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, the Direct ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2EVy0d4

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has reacted to claim that he offered $5m bribe to the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship running mate in Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat in 2015. Jonathan said Hamzat was a politician desperately looking for votes, hence should be ignored. In a statemen ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2EXntik

When a so called pastor abandons the high calling of His office as a soul winner, a teacher of the truth and a follower of Christ, such a person is of all men the most miserable. And if a man berates such an exalted office only to take the place of a jester, conman, an enemy of God rsquo;s kingdom, ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2BRu4Hf

About 50 corpses were burnt beyond recognition in a fire incident which occurred at the mortuary section of a general hospital in Anambra State, police say. The event occurred at the mortuary section of the General Hospital Enugwu-Ukwu in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State on Saturday ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2EYqzBG

A member of the House of Representatives representing Ibeju Lekki Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Mr Abayomi Ayeola, is dead. Ayeola reportedly died at St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos on Sunday after a brief illness. The two-term lawmaker had clinched the ticket of the All Progressives Con ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2EXni6E

The family of Second Republic President, Shehu Shagari, has revealed that their late patriarch forgave President Muhammadu Buhari for overthrowing him in 1983. The late President rsquo;s eldest son, Alhaji Bala Shagari, said his father had no grudge against Buhari or anyone involved in the coup. ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2Tmg5Aj

lsquo; rsquo;We all know why the state is putting sanctions on Bobi Wine rsquo;s concerts----to cripple his financial resources hellip; hellip; hellip;.but Besigye rsquo;s petrol stations are operational rsquo;-----Tamale Milundi The stupidity in the above statement is truly overwhelmin ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2BTetGO

The Metropolitan Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke has dedicated the 10,000 seating capacity church built by charismatic Priest, Rev, Fr. Emmanuel Obimma at Umudioka, Anambra State. The dedication of the parish church of Blessed Iwene Tansi Parish, Umudioka attracted variou ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2CFYWMp

Arole Oduduwa Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II Has commiserated with Nigerian military command over the death of their gallant officers who lost their lives while defending the country against Boko harram attacks and other terrorist activities, saying the Federal Government of N ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2SpUmao

Lagos, Nigeria: A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has given its final sanctions to the scheme of Merger between the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria and BUA Group rsquo;s Kalambaina Cement Company. This comes on the back of overwhelming Shareholder approval as well as final approvals by the re ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2EWF6hy

President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to immortalise the country rsquo;s first executive president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who passed away Friday December 28, 2018, aged 93. This promise was made in Sokoto on Sunday by the president while paying a condolence visit to the Shagari family. In a ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2Q7OX61

To campaign on a promise of being prepared and able to defeat Boko Haram terror and then after victory, to resort to lies in claim of success, is blatant fraud. In this regard, President Muhammadu Buhari is a fraudster just like the infamous Yahoo Yahoo 419 fraudsters Nigeria is notorious for. Af ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2BVAyVg

Dear Friends and Supporters of AHRC: Another year goes by. 2018 was a very busy year for AHRC and the rest of the human rights community. We faced many crises but with your support we were able to advocate for human rights and defend the most vulnerable among us. On behalf of the ent ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2QZf58d

So it rsquo;s some 24hours into 2019, Nigerians would be going to the polls, to imagine that only 19 years ago, her democracy was only a year old. Between a Buhari and an Atiku presidency I have tried to confront the reality that we live in the Age of the Strongmen ndash; the time of authoritariani ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2BOBcUK

Alistair Soyode, the presidential candidate of the Yes Electorate Solidarity Party, is a former chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Movement. The broadcaster, who set up the first black television station in Europe, Ben TV, London, speaks with MUDIAGA AFFE on resource control, diaspora voting and t ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2AwSVAj

A former journalist with Punch newspaper, Mr Olalere Fagbola has dedicated the two books he authored to a business mogul, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi and a chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Suaib Oyedokun. The event which took place at the Press Center of the Osun State Council of Nigeria U ... from The Nigerian Voice News http://bit.ly/2Rh2hd1

By JASON GUTIERREZ from NYT World https://nyti.ms/2R55gWI

By JASON GUTIERREZ from NYT World https://nyti.ms/2AqsfRv

By MUJIB MASHAL from NYT World https://nyti.ms/2EZjOjT

By ADAM NAGOURNEY and ROBERT GEBELOFF from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2F0FQSR

By Por MARINA FRANCO from NYT Universal https://nyti.ms/2QXpu4p

By Unknown Author from NYT New York https://nyti.ms/2SrN1ar

By J. DAVID GOODMAN from NYT New York https://nyti.ms/2Tllzvc

By SARA ARIDI from NYT Arts https://nyti.ms/2AmjsAe

By SANDRA E. GARCIA from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2CH9f2G

By MAGGIE HABERMAN and SHERYL GAY STOLBERG from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2Qdoeov

By SARAH MERVOSH from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2GQ7rIL

By MAGGIE HABERMAN from NYT U.S. https://nyti.ms/2GIQ7p0

By Unknown Author from NYT Today’s Paper https://nyti.ms/2GMzf0B

By BENJAMIN HOFFMAN from NYT Sports https://nyti.ms/2Als4qM

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Sports https://nyti.ms/2QVaF2l

By MARC TRACY from NYT Sports https://nyti.ms/2QXVEgb

By Unknown Author from NYT Corrections https://nyti.ms/2BOloBb

By TYLER PAGER from NYT New York https://nyti.ms/2CHhv2E

By REMY TUMIN from NYT Briefing https://nyti.ms/2LIPH0A

By GENEVIEVE VALENTINE from NYT Arts https://nyti.ms/2EWOnH6

A top Republican says the president remains determined to defeat the Islamic State group in Syria. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2SrBV5i

Sheikh Hasina wins a third consecutive term in a vote marred by violence and claims of vote rigging. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2EWFJbC

Germany will assume greater international responsibility, Angela Merkel says in her New Year address. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2SzaEhv

Outgoing chief of staff John Kelly appears to contradict the US president on the border wall plan. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2EXMmcP

Festival-goers are told that a "dangerous" drug is circulating in Australia, following a man's death. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2AmSDfb

The state bans retailers from selling animals sourced from breeders, to cut down on "puppy mills". from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2EXbrFC

A bird named Clark goes rogue in front of 90,000 fans at a college game. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Tg7r6c

Four die in a helicopter crash near the world's longest zipline, in the UAE's northern-most emirate. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2QXx536

Six Iranian migrants are found on the Kent coast as the home secretary cuts short a holiday to deal with the issue. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Ak3q9S

Police escorted Jermaine Massey out of the DoubleTree Portland after he called his mum in the lobby. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Tist3Y

Afro-Argentines often feel like they’ve been written out of history and are mistaken for foreigners in their own country. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2s2fJ6c

Clashes between ruling party and opposition supporters have resulted in 17 deaths. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2Sv4fni

Dylema leads us through key events on the continent this year in a specially commissioned poem. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2BZzjVp

Lederhosen and dirndl dresses are making a comeback in Austria. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2AmkSL1

A look at the year's most influential hashtags used by women on social media. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2RntUB7

This Canadian man is being called the world's most extreme grandpa. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2AntDnS

Eli Melki looks for traces of a relative who was killed at 33 during a wave of attacks against eastern Turkey's Christians. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2BMln0I

From the ridiculous to the more ridiculous, here are the weird stories that caught our eye this year. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2s3oDAp

India's decision to decriminalise gay sex has taken the country back to its roots, some historians say. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2ApBWzF

Remembering some of the figures from music, film, TV, radio and literature who died in 2018. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2F03HlD

Are garment factories in Bangladesh safe five years after the Rana Plaza disaster? from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2s3oVat

A selection of the best photos from across and about Africa this year. from BBC News - World https://bbc.in/2GIKAyK

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) - "Aquaman" easily retained its reign in North America for the second weekend in a row, dominating box office charts with $51.5 million from 4,125 locations. from Reuters: Entertainment News https://reut.rs/2s3g9Ji

By REUTERS from NYT Middle East https://nyti.ms/2F0WGS4

By REUTERS from NYT Europe https://nyti.ms/2EVnwdI

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Politics https://nyti.ms/2EZHJzE

By REUTERS from NYT Asia Pacific https://nyti.ms/2GNiSRF

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Politics https://nyti.ms/2Qdm3kK

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Politics https://nyti.ms/2EUTRBc

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT https://nyti.ms/2Th2z0E

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT https://nyti.ms/2BNIxnh

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Asia Pacific https://nyti.ms/2GNBgJU

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS from NYT Asia Pacific https://nyti.ms/2TjT6po

Omoyele Sowore, AAC presidential candidate, speaking at the ADF event in Akure on Sunday. Omoyele Sowore, presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), says politicians are "hoarding money" to buy votes in the 2019 elections. He urged the electorate to reject such propositions and vote the right candidates who will make the country great. He spoke on Sunday at the Apoi Development Front (ADF) 2018 end of the year party held at Helena hotels in Akure, the Ondo State capital. The AAC presidential candidate tasked the electorate to challenge those "money-bag politicians" interested in political offices with critical questions geared towards the growth and development of their areas. According to him, the 2019 general election will determine if Nigerians are "ready for a revolutionary change that will birth a new Nigeria, or if they still want to continue experiencing the bad governance of both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the P

The Nigerian Government has released the names of 114 ex-Nigeria Airways workers whose accounts were wrongly credited twice in the last verification exercise conducted in three centres across the country.  The government, through the Aviation Union Grand Alliance (AUGA), observed that hundreds of the former workers were erroneously paid twice by the Accountant Genera, and while other banks cooperated with the office and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to revert the sums to the apex bank, United Bank of Africa (UBA) was yet to do likewise.  A statement signed by Lukeman Animashaun, the AUGA President, and obtained by SaharaReporters, requested the affected staff to visit their banks by Monday as requested by UBA to correct the error in order to allow colleagues who were yet to benefit from the 50 per cent of the severance packages to do so immediately.  He warned that if the beneficiaries refused to do as advised, they risked being delisted from future exercise.  The stateme