OBITUARY NEWS (1963-2012)

Pop vocal legend Whitney Houston found dead
By Billy Johnson, Jr.
 

On Saturday, Houston's publicist confirmed to the Associated Press that the award-winning "I Will Always Love You" singer died. She was 48. The timing of her death, the eve of the Grammys, the biggest music event of the year, makes the horrible news even more tragic. According to CNN, Houston was pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. PT at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS

Can Zambia fairytale spoil Ivorian party?

It says something about the state of the continent that Ivory Coast have been the only big team to hold their nerve so far at this African Cup of Nations. Egypt, Nigeria and Cameroon couldn’t even qualify for the finals; Senegal did (with some fanfare) but were so abject they may as well have not bothered going to Equatorial Guinea; Ghana, who before the tournament I predicted to be Ivory Coast’s final opponents, fluffed their lines against Zambia.

GENERAL

Slovakia: Billboards humiliating Gypsies want removed

Hindus are dismayed at upcoming parliamentary election billboards in Slovakia reportedly labeling Gypsies (Roma) as “parasites” and belittling them, and want their immediate removal.

GENERAL NEWS

Aisha Gaddafi requests full investigation on her father's death

The Hague — In a letter sent on February 8 to the chairman of the United Nations' commission of inquiry on Libya, Aisha Gaddafi's lawyer requested a "comprehensive, independent and international" investigation on the death of her father and her brother Mo'tassim.

RELATIONSHIP & MARRIAGE

Are Nigerian marriages in America on the brink of extinction?

By Emmy Ejekam

It has been a puzzle to me as I watch the rate families are disintegrating among Nigerians living here in Houston lately. And I can wager that what is happening in Houston, Texas (where I live) is typical of the rest of America. As I attribute this unfortunate trend to the environment and stress associated with living in America, my thoughts and research have shown that there are many other variables that have been affecting our lives here, which most of us have not accepted as reality, therefore, triggering the ripple effect of high divorce rate.

NOLLYWOOD

Help, men can't keep their eyes off me  

By Ogbonna Amadi 

 

SHE made her debut in the movie industry in 2001, when she acted alongside the late Sam Loco Efe. Since then, she's starred in more than twenty other movies. A Theatre Arts graduate of the University of Port-Harcourt, Ejinne has risen above the waka-pass role she played in 2001 to become one of the most sought-after actress in Nollywood today.

GENERAL NEWS

Hungary's Danube closed as snow, deep freeze claim lives

Hungary closed the Danube to river traffic on Friday because of thick ice, bringing shipping to a near standstill on Europe's busiest waterway, as the continent's cold snap death toll reached past 540, reports AFP.

ANALYSIS

An undecided AU hands Jean Ping 6 more months
By Fred Oluoch

The failure to elect the chairman of the African Union Commission in a meeting last week is an indication of the changing power dynamics in Africa, analysts say.

FOOTBALL NEWS

Zambia: Celebrations turn tragic

By Michael Chawe

Lusaka — Six people on Wednesday night died during the celebrations of Zambia's qualification after defeating highly rated Ghana's Black Stars to reach the Africa Cup of Nations final. People in Lusaka burst into wild celebrations after the final whistle with some soccer fans seen riding on top of vehicles. Both young and old came out of their houses in their numbers to sing songs in support of Chipolopolo boys.

OPINION

Our votes not in vain

 By Nwaorgu Faustinus

road construction

The joy of democracy for me is when politicians who are voted into elective offices ensure that those that elected them reap the benefit for electing them into office. Such benefit is not individually centered but people-oriented which is aimed at reducing the suffering of people, be it in skill acquisition, job creation, protection of life and property, road construction, which falls under infrastructural development among others. The crux of this piece is on the last but one – road construction. 

GENERAL

Hungary: Religious bodies seek EU intervention to restore religious equality

In a remarkable joint interfaith gesture, Hindus-Buddhists-Jews-Atheists want immediate intervention of European Union (EU) in Hungary to establish religious equality and freedom.

COMMENTARY

The death of a child in church

By Odimegwu Onwumere

Some tears dripped down my jaws. This was after reading a story in the Saturday edition of The Sun newspapers of January 28, 2012. The story was entitled, “Death in Church”.

GENERAL NEWS

Liberia: French envoy denies sex scandal

By Nathaniel Daygbor

The French Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Gerard Larome, has categorically denied recent news story linking him to a sex scandal with two Liberian commercial workers, who identified themselves as Rose and Patience.

GENERAL NEWS

American kids denied food stamps under immigration law

By Liz Goodwint

Protesters ouitside Alabama State H

Protesters outside the Alabama statehouse in November. (AP/Dave Martin)Some U.S.-born children with parents who are illegal immigrants have been denied food stamps under Alabama's new immigration law, Southern Poverty Law Center President Richard Cohen told Yahoo News on Monday.

OBITUARY NEWS

Foremost economist, Prof Aluko dies at 83

Professor Sam Aluko, Nigeria’s foremost Economist is dead. He died in the UK on Tuesday at the age of 83.

GENERAL NEWS

Religious sect wants soyinka assasinated

By Amos Fabiyi

Prof Wole Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has disclosed that he is one of the prominent Nigerians on the list of Boko Haram sect marked for assassination.

Remembrance

Remembering a true prophet, Bob Marley

By Hakeem Babalola 

For a man or woman to be born great, his or her story must reflect that of an archetype. It must have a powerful and ever growing resonance that embodies among other themes: political wisdom, metaphysical and artistic insights. The story of a legend won’t complete without gangland warfare and periods in a mystical wilderness.

VIDEO/AFRICA UNITE

COMMENTARY

Nigeria breaks away from African Union at its own risk

By Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor

Nigeria has threatened to pull out of the African Union just because its leader (Jonathan Goodluck) lost his bid to take over from the Equatorial Guinean leader (Theodoro Mbasago Obiang) as the Chairman of the AU. He lost to Benin’s Boni Yayi and is so peeved as to contemplate this action as a way to teach the AU a bitter lesson. I hope this news report is not true. But we are far away from April 1 (April Fools’ Day).

GENERAL NEWS

Liberia: Ministers to sign performance contracts

By Kemo Cham

Monrovia — Government officials in Liberia are now expected to sign performance contracts.
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf instituted the new policy that is aimed at making appointed government officials accountable.

VIDEO/ENTERTAINMENT

 "I am arrogantly Nigerian"

VIDEO/FASHION

LETTER/COMMENTARY

Nigerians are walking prisoners in Austria

By Uzoma Ahamefule

Mr President Sir, members of the honourable national Assembly and House of Reps, the foreign Affairs Minister and fellow Nigerians, when one extends hands of friendship it is natural that one has exposed oneself to danger. Today not only that I have extended those hands of friendship but I have equally once more exposed my emotions and love to public ridicule and attack because of my affection for Nigeria.