Militants Pursue Fleeing Nigerians Across the Border to Cameroon!

Attacks by militant groups in northeast Nigeria have led thousands of people to seek refuge in Cameroon over recent days, some sleeping in schools and churches, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said.

Last week militant groups from Nigeria crossed the border and attacked villages on the Cameroon side, slitting the throats of three people in a Catholic church in the village of Assighassia, burning down police stations and a local cotton company, UNCHR reported.

"The UNHCR is very concerned that even once they have crossed into Cameroon, they are still being pursued by insurgents and we have already started to relocate some of the refugees to a refugee camp where they can enjoy safer conditions," said UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards.

The attacks in the past three weeks in the Gwoza area of Nigeria's Borno state pushed the number of Nigerian refugees in Cameroon to some 39,000, according to local authorities, including 19,633 who have been registered by the UNHCR.

UNHCR has begun to move 80 of the new refugees, mainly women and children, from Koza near the border to the refugee camp of Minawao, some 120 km (75 miles) from the frontier. The camp is already hosting some 6,000 Nigerian refugees who were moved from the border in 2013 and 2014.

"They told us that when their homes were attacked some days ago in Gokou, in Nigeria's Borno State, their husbands had sent them with their children to hide in the surrounding mountains," Edwards said after speaking to some of the refugee women.

"They later saw heavy smoke coming from their village, which made them fear insurgents had burnt their homes. They waited until night time and had to walk some 30 km (19 miles) to Koza. They have had no news of their husbands," he added.

The UN agency did not name the insurgents who had carried out the attacks, but the largest insurgent group in northeast Nigeria is Boko Haram, a Sunni jihadist movement whose name means "Western education is forbidden."

Boko Haram has killed thousands since launching an uprising in 2009 to establish an Islamic state in religiously mixed Nigeria, and is by far the biggest threat to Nigeria's economy.
Reuters

EU approaves £140m for countries affected by Ebola virus!

The European Commission has announced the sum of €140m of funding for the countries currently affected by the Ebola virus in West Africa. These countries include Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Nigeria.

According to report €38 million of the new package is specifically designed to help those governments bolster their health services (for example through reinforcing treatment centres or support for health workers), both during the crisis and in the recovery phase. It will also provide support in the areas of food security, water and sanitation, which are essential in terms of safeguarding the health of the population.

Announcing the support today during his official visit to Benin, European Commissioner for Development, Andris Piebalgs, said "The ongoing Ebola crisis remains extremely concerning; not just because of its obvious impact on health services but also due to the wider challenges it brings to the region in terms of economic stability, food security, water and sanitation. Our package shows that the EU continues to be committed to a strong, coordinated international response and will do all it can to help governments in those countries affected in the areas where it is most needed."

Kristalina Georgieva, EU Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, said: "The situation is going from bad to worse, despite the brave efforts of humanitarian organisations and despite early and substantial assistance provided by the international community, including the EU. We are helping make a difference on the ground, but the needs are outpacing the international community's capacity to react. We need to pool our efforts and provide adequate air transportation and medical equipment to our partners in order to fight this menace."

The total package of €140 million will be split as follows:

• €38m to strengthen healthcare systems, including in the areas of healthcare provision, food security, water and sanitation.
• €5 million towards providing mobile laboratories for the detection of the virus and training health workers (as part of the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace, or IcSP).
• €97.5 million will be spent in Budget Support (BS) operations to Liberia and Sierra Leone, to reinforce governments' capacity to deliver public services – in particular health care - and macro-economic stability.

This initiative was ran against the background fact that affected West African countries have seen a spiralling of Ebola cases reveals, among other things, the inadequacies of their current health systems. Contagion can be controlled with adequate measures and gear, but through active engagement of local and international partners. Any measures aimed at isolating these countries would only exacerbate the situation.

Several European specialist teams of the European Mobile Laboratory project for dangerous infectious diseases have been dispatched to Guinea and Nigeria (and one will arrive in Liberia next week), with mobile laboratories to support with viral haemorrhagic fever diagnostics, rapid analyses of samples and confirmation of cases.

The European Commission has been scaling up its response to the epidemic since March 2014 and has pledged a total of €11.9 million in humanitarian aid (including €8 million from the €38million mentioned above to strengthen healthcare systems). Humanitarian experts have been deployed in the region, monitoring the situation and liaising with partner organisations and local authorities.

This is the first Ebola virus outbreak registered in the region. Highly contagious, human to human transmission of Ebola occurs by contact with blood and body fluids.

The European Commission is also working closely with the EU Member States within the Health Security Committee to keep them informed about the latest developments and secure the synchronisation of measures. A travel advice leaflet has been endorsed by the Health Security Committee and is available in all EU languages.

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Congo Edge Nigeria in Five-Goal Thriller!

Congo pulled off a major upset by edging reigning champions, Nigeria 3-2 in their Group A clash on Saturday away in Calabar.

A brace from dangerman Bifouma Thievy and the other from Prince Oniangue powered the Diables Rouges to victory whilst Efe Ambrose and substitute Gbolahan Salami scored for the Super Eagles.

The Congolese led 2-1 at half time after coming from behind to cancel Ambrose’s opener on 13 minutes. Oniangue leveled three minutes later before Thievy finished off a one-two with Dore Ferebory and put the visitors in the lead on 40 minutes.

There was more misery for the Nigerians early in the second half when Thievy, who was a constant threat for the hosts backline was felled by Ogenyi Onazi in the vital area for a penalty. 

Thievy elected himself for the spot kick which he fired past Nigeria goalie Austin Ejide for his side’s third goal on 55 minutes.

With defeat staring at them, Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi brought on striking duo Emmanuel Emenike and Nosa Igiebor as he varied his tactics. The changes almost paid result on 82 minutes when Emenike back-heeled nicely to Igiebor, only for the Israeli-based forward to fire wide from close range.

A minute from time, Gbolahan pulled one back for the Super Eagles but it was little enough to change their fortunes.

The Nigerians next travel to Cape Town to face South Africa on Wednesday, 10 September 2014. South Africa thumped Niger 3-0 in the other Group A match on Friday in Omdurman.

Elsewhere in Ndola, Zambia were held to a barren draw by Mozambique in a Group F clash whilst Cape Verde silenced Niger 3-1 at their backyard in Niamey in the same group.

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Joan Rivers Revealed She Had A Heart Condition – Did It Cause Her Death?

News has it that Joan was fully open to the Good Morning America co-host in 1985 about her heart arrhythmias. The comedianne explained that every so often she would hear a “tha-thump” on stage that made her worry. 

When Joan Lunden asked if the condition scared her, she first remarked with a joke before getting serious. “Well, that I hear anything from my chest scares me because there’s nothing down there,” she joked. 

After a pause, she continued, “It scares the hell out of me.” Joan also revealed that going under for plastic surgery or something similar could cause the heart to “go out of kilter,” but she stressed that she’s always “very careful.” 

This interview definitely sheds some light on what may or may not have caused Joan’s untimely death. The New York City medical examiner’s office announced on September  5th that the Fashion Police co-host’s autopsy results were “inconclusive,” and that more tests needed to be run.

Before her death, Joan reportedly outlined exactly what she wanted for her funeral in her 2012 book,  I Hate Everyone…Starting with Me. In the book, she detailed that she wanted lights, cameras, action and Meryl Stree.   she wrote, according to E! “I want Craft services, I want paparazzi and I want publicists making a scene! I want it to be Hollywood all the way.” Joan continued, ”I don’t want some rabbi rambling on; I want Meryl Streep crying, in five different accents.”I want to look gorgeous, better dead than I do alive. I want to be buried in a Valentino gown and I want Harry Winston to make me a toe tag.” 

Well, Joan may be getting her wish. Melissa wants to make it all happen and she will have a red carpet at her funeral in New York City on September 7th, at Temple Emanu-El. 

Joan’s friends and family will walk the carpet before it is buried alongside Joan.

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Truly, she is simply Irreplaceable....R.I.P Joan.

Hulk Hogan in Lagos!

American professional wrestler, actor, television personality, entrepreneur, and musician, Terry Gene Bollea, populary known as Hulk Hogan, was spotted in Lagos Island this afternoon, as he and some other popular American Wrestlers embarked on a "Wrestling for Global Peace and Unity".

The publicity attracted many traders and shoppers, as they all thronged around the truck to get a closer look at the wrestlers.

Some Photos Below:

Gennie Rocks in Fitted Blue Denim!

Our very own Genevieve Nnaji is obviously having fun, as she shared this photo where she rocked a fitted blue denim....



Go Girl.....

Woman beheaded in North London!

A woman was reportedly found beheaded by a man witnesses says wielded a machete in a back garden on Nighttingale road in Edmonton- North London.



Confirming this incident, Scotland Yard said the suspect, a 25 year-old man has been taken into custody, they however say there is no suggestion the killing had any terrorist motives. 

The Metropolitan Police said a Fire Arm officer sustained a broken wrist from the suspect during the course of the arrest.