Gist Arena

A Malaysian Airlines passenger plane has reportedly been shot down on the Russian-Ukraine border, apparently killing all 295 people on board. Flight MH17, which was carrying 280 passengers and 15 crew, was flying between Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpar after taking off leaving at lunchtime today.  The Interfax news agency reported that the aircraft went missing near Donetsk, where pro-Russian rebels have been fighting Ukrainian government forces for several weeks.   TV pictures from the scene showed a pall of smoke billowing into the sky apparently from the stricken aircraft. It is believed the plane was struck by BUK surface-to-air missile at 33,000ft around 20 miles before entering Russian airspace. The shoulder-launched Russian-made BUK surface-to-air missile can be packed into a golf bag and assembled and fired very rapidly by one person with minimal training. Defence experts have expressed fears in the past they could be used to target at civil aircraft. ...

Beautiful couple! Husband and Wife

Lagos state government has introduced a new leave regime for all male and female civil servants in the state. Henceforth, all male civil servants whose wives give birth are entitled to a 10-day paternity leave while female civil servants had their maternity leave extended from 3 months to 6 months. The new leave regime was announced today by the Lagos State Head of Service, Mrs Josephine Williams at a press conference held at the Baguada Kaltho Press Centre, in Alausa, Ikeja. "A female officer shall be entitled to 24-weeks maternity leave with full pay in case of her first two deliveries. The said leave shall commence, at least two weeks before the expected delivery date; a male officer, to who a new baby (or babies in case of multiple births) is born shall be entitled to 10 working days" she said. She added that subsequent deliveries after the second baby by any employee will only get 12 weeks maternity leave for a female officer while the men will not be enti...

The MBGN Tourism 2012 is marrying her man Jude Okoye today in Anambra state. Beatiful bride..

The Department of State Services, DSS and Nigerian Army have rescued a motorcycle spare parts dealer, Pius Maduka, from suspected kidnappers. The kidnapper have also been apprehended in Orlu Local Government area of Imo State. According to the Imo State Director of DSS, Mr. Alex Okeiyi, the victim was abducted by gunmen on 4th of July at Umudim Nnewi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State until he was rescued on July 14. The kidnap suspects had demanded ransom  from the victim, who is also a relation of a prominent automobile businessman, Cosmas Maduka of the Coscharis Group, and received N12 million before they were apprehended. The ring leaders were Chigozie Ebere from Obowo local government of Imo state and Bartholomew Ugwu from Umunze in Orumba South Local Government Area of Bartholomew Ugwuwere paraded at the Anambra State headquarters of the Department State Services in Awka. While the third suspect, Ikechukwu from Nwangele Local Governmen...

During Peter Okoye's traditional wedding to Lola Omotayo last year, not only did his older brother Jude Okoye not attend, he also posted a picture on his instagram page showing that he was in a studio in Lagos. Well, fast forward to today, Jude Okoye's wedding, not only is Peter Okoye not attending the wedding (yes I confirmed), he also posted a photo on his instagram page showing that he's not in Anambra. He hadn't updated his instagram page since July 13th but made sure to do so today in case some of you were mistaken that he will be at the wedding in Anambra...

During Peter Okoye's traditional wedding to Lola Omotayo last year, not only did his older brother Jude Okoye not attend, he also posted a picture on his instagram page showing that he was in a studio in Lagos. Well, fast forward to today, Jude Okoye's wedding, not only is Peter Okoye not attending the wedding (yes I confirmed), he also posted a photo on his instagram page showing that he's not in Anambra. He hadn't updated his instagram page since July 13th but made sure to do so today in case some of you were mistaken that he will be at the wedding in Anambra...

Paul Okoye, Flavour, Julius Agwu, Phyno, and many others at Jude Okoye and Ifeoma Umeokeke's traditional wedding going on right now in Nnewi Anambra state. See more photos below

Less than five days after Germany won the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the European country has returned to the top of FIFA world rankings for the first time in around 20 years. According to the latest list published on Thursday, 17 July, 2014, Germany moved up one place to deposed former table topper Spain on the strength of their 1-0 defeat of Argentina at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium in Brazil. Lionel Messi’s Argentina are placed second, an improvement of three places, with the Netherlands leaping 12 rungs into third after their impressive World Cup third place finish. The James Rodriguez-inspired Colombia move up to fourth (+4), ahead of Belgium (+6) and Uruguay while disappointing Brazil dropped four spots to seventh. Deposed world champions Spain slumped seven spots to their new modest placing of eighth, with Switzerland and France (+7) completing the top ten. Costa Rica’s remarkable charge to the quarterfinals was rewarded with a jump of 12 places to 1...

An Islamic group, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has ordered members of the dreaded terrorist group, Boko Haram to cease fire.  The Nation reported that the apex Islamic body made the call in a statement issued in Kaduna on Wednesday, by its Secretary-General, Khalid Abubakar Aliyu in conjunction with Muslims worldwide as they enter the last 10 days of Ramadan period. The Islamic body also called on Muslim Ummah to go on Al-Qunut special prayer for residents of Borno State, the entire North East as well as Nigeria in general. Man claiming to be leader of Nigerian Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, in video screengrab, unknown location, Sept. 25, 2013.   “Considering the fact that by Allah’s will, the last ten days of Ramadan commence on Thursday, 17th July, 2014, with its night marking the 21st night of the odd days which the night of power is sought, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto and Presi...

This shocking image shows the moment two couples were pictured getting intimate in a nightclub car park in Belfast. The disturbing photo, which was tweeted by a stunned by-passer, shows two female clubbers sat astride two men, appearing to have sex - while one seemingly glances at her phone. The scene, which was caught outside the El Divino nightclub, comes just weeks after footage of a Northern Irish girl giving oral sex to 24 men emerged from the notorious holiday resort of Magaluf. Hours after it was posted, the image taken in Belfast went viral, with hundreds taking to Twitter to express their disgust.  Michael McMahon, who users the Twitter handle, @MichaelMcMufin, tweeted the image, which was captioned: 'People have no shame, outside El Divino. This is traumatic.' He added: 'First the slane girl, now these dirty f****** in Belfast #dignityatzero'. Niamh Stewart also tweeted saying: 'First #SlaneGirl then magaluf video girl was from NI, now pics of ...

The Governor of Akwa Ibom state Godswill Akpabio has pronounced death on any politician who tries to gain political power through the backdoor come 2015, adding that the PDP in the state will continue ruling the state. The Governor made this declaration yesterday July 16th at the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the new PDP Secretariat in Uyo, the state capital. He also stated that all those who betrayed him in politics would not enter into the government house  " Just as God threw Lucifer unto the Earth, those who have betrayed the governor of Akwa Ibom State will not enter the Government House. And because of impatience, Absalom (son to King David) wanted to take over by killing King David. And when David heard, he asked the people to leave him. This did not end up well with Absalom. He died before his father. Those who want to take power through the backdoor will die and the PDP will continue,” he said.

A Washington DC-based PR Firm named Levick today sent out a statement to the Nigerian media on the meeting with the Chibok parents and girls. It's now being reported that the PR firm was hired by persons within the Nigerian government and allegedly paid $1.2million to help fix the government’s lagging reputation in the aftermath of the Chibok crisis. #Bringbackourgirls convener Oby Ezekwili took to twitter this morning to angrily slam the PR Firm which she says was hired by the presidency to deceive and alternate the truth for Nigerians. See more tweets, the report on the new PR contract and the statement Levick released after the cut... Statement regarding the cancellation of meeting with parents of abducted Chibok children and five escapees.. (supposedly sent out by Levick) “It now appears that our fight to get the girls of Chibok back is not only a fight against a terrorist insurgency, but also against a political opposition. “It is with great regret that I ...

Photo taken this morning at the bridge linking Third Mainland to Obalende. Imagine this? Do i even blame the white man, this is what he has been seeing people doing in public in our country, so he decided to follow the trend

Two of the suspects arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for snatching cars at gunpoint in Igando, Lagos State, have identified themselves as a graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, and a Postgraduate Diploma holder from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. While the first suspect, Ifeoluwa Coker, said he was a student of Biology Education in FUTA, the second, John Odu, said he bagged a Postgraduate Diploma in Management Sciences from UNIPORT in 2001. Our correspondent also learnt that Coker finished from FUTA with a second-class lower division grade. PUNCH Metro had reported on Monday, July 14, that some suspects were arrested by the operatives of the command’s Special Anti-Robbery Squad for snatching exotic cars and reselling them to unsuspecting Nigerians in the Igando area of Lagos. Our correspondent learnt that after the police had arrested one Ismaila Kareem, who is said to be the gang leader, Kareem confessed to the ...

Two days after ending her three-day visit to Nigeria, Pakistani girls’ education campaigner, Malala Yousafzai, has launched a petition seeking international intervention for the release of the abducted Chibok girls. The 17-year-old activist, who survived assassination attempts by the Taliban extremist group, stated that she wanted the global community to stand with the Nigerian girls and shame those working to deny schoolgirls an education. Malala, in the petition she hosted on change.org, a go-to website for hosting online protests, reminded world leaders that the abducted girls must get the assurances that “they are not alone.” As of Wednesday evening, Malala had collected over 60,000 signatures from concerned individuals and groups from different parts of the world, many of who demanded greater action for the prompt rescue of the girls. In the petition titled, “Stand with me and the Nigerian girls,” the girls’ campaigner said the world must not be silent “while our s...

A former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (retd.), on Wednesday told President Goodluck Jonathan that the Boko Haram Islamic sect appeared to be having the upper hand in the ongoing terror war in the country. He said more should be urgently done for the war to be won quickly. Danjuma spoke at the inauguration of the Victims Support Fund by President Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The committee is saddled with the responsibilities of identifying sources and ways of raising sustainable funding to support victims of terror activities; and to develop appropriate strategies for the fund raising. Jonathan, who highlighted the challenges being faced by the country as a result of the activities of the violent sect, expressed his government’s determination to help bind the wounds and apply soothing balm to the pains of innocent victims. He said his government would give them the milk of human kindness, to let them know that this world is not just about ...