Global efforts over the past decade have halved the number of people dying from malaria – a tremendous achievement, says the World Health Organization. Here’s the story in 15 seconds. …read more      

Nigerian politicians have been asked to shun quarrels and bitterness in politics but rather engage in robust debates on ideas as well as support structures and institutions that will help to strengthen the democratic process to meet the aspirations of the Nigerians.

President Goodluck Jonathan gave the admonition at the official opening of the Kukah Centre for faith, leadership and public policy in Abuja.

He thanked Nigerians for showing resilience in the democratic process, but stressed that politicians should see the coming elections as an opportunity to renew their commitment to deepening the democratic process.

“The developed world did not stumble into greatness by chance, rather they got there through carefully developed policies tested over time,” he said.

The official opening of the Kukah Centre attracted President Jonathan and these other Nigerian leaders because of the vision of the founder and Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah .

The centre is instituted to build a better Nigeria by promoting dialogue, participatory democracy and good governance, issues the President said politicians must imbibe to make Nigeria’s democratic process to work.

The chairman of the occasion and former military Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, was happy to note that the Kukah Centre would not operate legally. He renewed his call on Nigerians to be their brothers keeper, especially as the war against insurgency raged.

The founder of the Centre spoke passionately about Nigeria and what motivated him for the vision, which include; to make the centre a platform for ideas and not ethnic and religious sentiments.

Goodwill messages poured in from far and near all extolling Bishop Kukah’s effort to make Nigeria a better place.

Interfaith dialogue is the core of the Centre. Guests departed from the Centre after the opening, but they are confident that the Kukah Centre will in the long run be a major contributor to how …read more      

Andy Carroll claims that West Ham United are genuine contenders to win the Premier League title after their sparkling start to the season.

The 25-year-old scored his first goals of the campaign on Sunday as his brace helped the Hammers record a 3-1 win over 10-man Swansea and move up to third in the table.

West Ham will face Chelsea and Arsenal in the space of 48 hours over the festive period, and it is fair to say the bookmakers are still somewhat sceptical of the possibility of Caroll’s dreams becoming reality.

“We have a great squad,” Carroll said, “and I can’t say we are going to give up now we are in the top three. We have got a great team and we can go all the way.

“With the team we have got, and the manager, the way he is coaching everyone, it is fantastic, and I don’t think we will be giving up at all. I think there is no limit. We can go all the way to the top.”

Several reactions have trailed Andy Caroll’s thirst for glory considering the fact he had scored only twice in the league ahead of the fixture.

Carroll has missed plenty of football through injury but has not felt the pressure to come back scoring plenty of goals with the likes of Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho performing well in attack in his absence.

“I have been out for a long time,” he said.

“The last couple of games I’ve been playing, I haven’t been fully fit. There have been a lot of injuries and I was put in unexpectedly. Now I’m feeling good and strong and I can put myself about a bit more.”

Coach Sam Allardyce decided to sign Carroll rather than Wilfried Bony in the summer of 2013 and the West Ham boss had said that …read more      

A Federal High Court in Abuja will on December 16, begin hearing on an application for stay of proceedings in the suit brought before it by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal.

Some members of Tambuwal’s constituents, Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency of Sokoto State had, in two separate applications, asked the court to stay proceedings in the suit.

Their applications for stay of proceedings were hinged on the grounds that they had filed notices of appeal against the ruling of the court which on Monday disallowed them to be joined as defendants in the suit.

The constituents are opposed to Tambuwal’s removal as speaker and declaration of his seat vacant, arguing that removing him would deprive them of representation in the House of Representatives.

This development stalled the proceedings at the court, which was scheduled for the hearing of the speaker’s suit seeking an order of court to jail the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, for allegedly violating an order of the court which directed that status quo be maintained pending the determination of a suit filed by the Speaker.

Mr Abba had withdrawn Mr Tambuwal’s security aides two days after he defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressive Congress.

The police subsequently stopped members of the House of Representatives from entering the Assembly’s complex for plenary, claiming that there was an information that thugs were coming to National Assembly.

Mr Tambuwal requested for the Police boss’ jailing at the November 28 hearing of a case filed By Mr Tambuwal and his new party, the APC, against the Federal Government and six others over attempt to declare his seat vacant and withdrawal of his security aides following his defection.

In his ruling, Justice Ahmed Mohammed directed Mr Tambuwal to put the Inspector General …read more      

Provides overview, key facts and events, timelines and leader profiles along with current news about Zimbabwe. …read more      

Police Officials in Nigeria have been asked to ensure that the rights of Nigerians and all residents are upheld and sustained.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Suleiman Abba, gave the command in Commemoration of the International Human Rights Day 2014 and as further proof of his commitment to respecting the rights of Nigerians.

The police chief further stated that a poignant example of his administration’s commitment to upholding Human Rights was the recent launch of the Nigeria Police Force Human Rights Practice Manual.

The document was produced with support from Altus Global Alliance, Department of Foreign International Development (DFID), Cleen Foundation, Justice for All Nigeria (J4A) and theEmbassy of Switzerland, Abuja.

A statement by the spokesman for the police, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the Human Rights Practice Manual was a legacy of IGP Abba-led Police Management Team and the Force’s unflinching resolve to expose all personnel of the Nigeria Police Force to practical and theoretical aspects of Human Rights based approaches to policing in conformity with global best practices.

After the launch of the Human Rights Manual a Human Rights Desk was created to be manned by Officers in all the formations of the Nigeria Police Force.

The Desk Officers are tasked with ensuring that rights of suspects are protected and cared for.

The IGP further emphasised his commitment to walking the talk in observance of the Human Rights of all Nigerians irrespective of class, creed and tongue.

A rights group, Amnesty International had accused the Nigerian police of extra judicial killings and series of Human rights abuses.

Although the police dismissed the claims, it claims that the reforms it is putting in place will help address the issues of Human Rights abuses.

The reforms are in line with this year’s Human Rights Day slogan, “Human Rights 365?, which states that every day is a Human Rights Day …read more      

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has asked religious bodies and other stakeholders to caution politicians over their excesses in order to have a peaceful election in 2015.

In a meeting with religious leaders in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chairman of the INEC, Professor Atahiru Jega, stressed the need for the cooperation of religious leaders for hitch free elections next year.

The meeting was a continuation of the electoral body’s engagement with influential members of the society to ensure that the 2015 general elections would be successful.

Professor Atahiru Jega said: “Unless religious bodies and other stakeholders caution politicians over their excesses, the polls may not be peaceful”.

The meeting tagged, “INEC’S religious summit on peaceful elections in 2015? had in attendance leaders from the two dominant religious groups in Nigeria – Christianity and Islam.

It is coming about eight weeks to the elections and INEC is leaving no chance in spreading its campaign for peaceful elections next year.

In the past, desperate politicians have manipulated electorates, employing religious sentiments to cause violence during elections, a situation that the INEC is trying to guard against in 2015.

However, representatives of the two religious groups, the General Secretary Christian Association of Nigeria and Secretary-General, Musa Asake and the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Isa Oloyede, promised to work for a change in next years elections.

No matter how prepared INEC is, if the elections are marred with violence next year, it will impact negatively on the nations democracy.

It is expected that the meeting and others lined up by the electoral body would ensure credible, free and fair elections in February next year.

The post INEC Asks Religious Bodies To Caution Politicians Against Excesses appeared first on Channels Television.

…read more      

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe sacks Vice-President Joice Mujuru after accusing her of plotting to kill him, reports say. …read more      

Hong Kong’s High Court has ordered the main protest sites that have choked the financial city for more than two months to be cleared, building up to a final showdown on Thursday between pro-democracy activists and authorities backed by Beijing.

A local bus company, which was granted an injunction against street blockades at the site in Admiralty, home to government offices and next to the main Central business district, has received an official clearance order from the High Court, according to notices posted in local papers on Tuesday.

Student groups have been calling for a free vote in the Chinese controlled city through largely peaceful demonstrations dubbed the “Umbrella Movement”.

Paul Tse, the lawyer who represents the bus company, told local television the protesters should leave the area before 9 a.m. on Thursday.

Chief Executive C.Y. Leung, who has branded the protests illegal, has rejected calls for more talks on political reform and warned protesters not to turn to violence when the clearance starts.

Splinter protest groups calling for democracy for Hong Kong are springing up and fast-tracking action plans as student-led demonstrators consider a retreat from the main protest site which has blocked key downtown arteries since the end of September.

At their peak, the rallies drew more than 100,000, but their number has dwindled and now there only dozens left.

On Tuesday, the site remained quiet filled mainly with visitors taking photographs.

By 6 p.m. on Monday many supply tents in the area covered by the court order had either been dismantled or relocated to nearby locations.

Mani Chan was among the last group to move to a new site 10 meters away, still on the roadway but outside the injunction zone. “This station and the volunteers (here) are forming a defense line,” Chan said. “We’re going to stay anyway”.

Clashes between protesters and police increased at the …read more      

Six Nigerian human rights, non-governmental and civil society organizations have sent an open letter to the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of The Coca-Cola Company, Mr Muhtar Kent, over alleged consumer rights abuses by Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited.

The groups are: Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP); Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC); Women Empowerment and Legal Aid Initiative (WELA); Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre); Partnership for Justice (PJ), and Human Rights Advancement, Development and Advocacy Centre (HURIDAC)

In the letter dated December 9, 2014, and signed on behalf of the groups by SERAP Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, the groups expressed “serious concerns about the continuing refusal by Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited to comply with the recommendations by the Consumer Protection Council of Nigeria (CPC),” and urged Kent to use his good offices and leadership “to prevail on the Company to respect due process and international standards in its operations and manufacturing process.”

According to the groups, “The failure by Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited to effectively comply with Nigerian laws and regulations is illustrated by the Company’s refusal to subject their manufacturing process to inspection by appropriate authorities, in particular the CPC; failure to establish a Shelf Life Policy for their products in the country which clearly would help to facilitate the removal of expired products from the market; and failure to address health and safety implications of its operations and practices.”

Other instances listed by the groups are: “failure to put in place appropriate grievance resolution policy that can address compensation for injuries, or compensation in instances where replacement will be inadequate; failure to review the Company’s supply chain management to include retailers in order to minimise the distribution of defective, non-conforming or expired products; and failure to bring the Company’s traceability policy in line with international standards by …read more