Catholic Church Clears Air Over Rev. Father Mbaka's Transfer

The Catholic Church on Monday clarified the recent transfer of Father Ejike Mbaka, saying the controversial priest was merely being sent to where he would be more useful to the church.

In its first reaction since the controversy over the transfer broke, the church said the posting was not meant to be punitive.

Pep Guardiola CONFIRMED As The Next Manchester City Manager

Pep Guardiola, Head coach of Bayern Munich FC has been confirmed by Manchester City football club as the next manager to take over from Manuel Pellegrini. In a statement by the club official site which reads "Out of respect for Manuel Pellegrini and the players, the Club wishes to make its decision public to remove the unnecessary burden of speculation.

Manuel, who is fully supportive of the decision to make this communication, is entirely focused on achieving his targets for the season ahead and retains the respect and commitment of all involved with the leadership of the Club". 

josephstrauss.blogspot.com.ngPep Guardiola CONFIRMED As The Next Manchester City Manager

African Union Summit: Donors Pledge $250 Million To Fight Boko Haram

Donors at the African Union summit pledged on Monday $250 million (229 million euros) for the fight against Boko Haram insurgents, AU Peace and Security Council Chief Smail Chergui said. Boko Haram, facing the heat of a military onslaught in Nigeria, has in the past year stepped up cross-border attacks in Niger, Chad and Cameroon, while continuing shooting and suicide assaults on markets, mosques and other mostly civilian targets within Nigeria itself.

Chergui said $110 million came from Nigeria, with the European Union offering 50 million euros, as well as donations from Britain and Switzerland. Chad’s President Idris Deby, the African Union chairman, said it was crucial the money pledged was actually paid to show “our firm commitment in the fight against terrorism.”

Shell, Eni in Fresh Trouble As Nigeria Begins Moves to Withdraw Opl 245 From Malabu

The Nigerian government is set to retrieve one of Africa's richest oil blocs from oil giants, Shell and Eni.

Not only will the two oil giants lose OPL 245, should President Muhammadu Buhari approve the recommendations, they will also be fined billions of dollars for illegal activities, including paying money to fraudulent public officials and private citizens in order to secure the bloc.

The retrieval of the controversial oil bloc, estimated to contain about 9 billion barrels of crude, as well as placing heavy fines on the oil giants, is contained in a far-reaching recommendation by the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mohammed Diri.

Fox Host: President Obama Put A ‘Raw Onion’ In His Podium So He Could Cry Fake Tears

Fox News host Andrea Tantaros suggested on Tuesday President Barack Obama had used a “raw onion” to produce fake tears for shooting victims during his press conference on gun violence.

Following Obama’s announcement that he was taking executive action to expand background checks and gun safety measures, the hosts of Outnumbered argued that the president was violating the separation of powers doctrine in the U.S. Constitution.

But it was the president’s emotional reaction while speaking about gun violence in Chicago that irked host Melissa Francis.

President Obama In Tears As He Announces Gun Measures

An emotional President Barack Obama wiped away tears while delivering a statement on steps his administration is taking to reducing the series of gun violence the country has witnessed in recent years.

Mr. Obama wiped tears from his cheeks as he spoke emotionally about those killed by firearms in the US.

Mr. Obama, who has made intensification of gun laws a central focus heading into his final year in office, accused the gun lobby of holding Congress hostage, but said "they cannot hold America hostage."

2015: 69 Journalists Died Around The World On The Job

A new report by a New York-based organization has revealed that sixty-nine journalists were killed around the world on the job in 2015. Twenty-eight of them were slain by Islamic militant groups, including al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Those killed by Islamic extremist groups this year included eight journalists killed in an attack in Paris in January at the office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, which had published caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. The group al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for the attack in which two gunmen massacred 12 people. They said it was in “revenge for the prophet.”

In October, two Syrian journalists, Fares Hamadi and Ibrahim Abd al-Qader were killed by Islamic State militants.