SOUTHERN KADUNA: MASSACRE IN SEASON OF FESTIVITY

After the 2011 post- election violence that rocked some states in the northern part of the country, with Kaduna State, as the major casualty, as it lost over 800 persons, out of the about 1,000 that died in the entire country, villages and towns in the Southern Kaduna part of the state have continued to witness incessant attacks by faceless groups, from then, till date.

Curiously, the dimension of the attacks is making it difficult for both the people of the area and the security operatives, in and around the state, to define the attacks or identify its causes.

When, therefore, a 24 -hour curfew was imposed in four of the councils in the southern part of the state, shortly before Christmas, residents had heaved a sigh relief. But little did they know that respite for them, was far from being in sight, as one of the communities in the area, Goska village, to be precise, suffered another attack on the eve of Christmas.

The attack, Saturday Sun gathered, left five persons dead and several others wounded, with a 14 -year- old daughter of former chairman of Jema’a Local Government area, Gideon Morik, being among those killed. Goska, is about 5km from Kafachan, headquarters of Jema’a LGA.

Saturday Sun further learnt that the incident has forced many residents to flee the community, and other neighbouring communities, for fear of being attacked. They reasoned that if the Christmas eve attack could take place when security operatives had been deployed to the area, and under curfew, there was no guarantee that their lives would be protected.

Meanwhile, Saturday Sun can authoritatively reveal that the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, will be relocating to Kaduna today, to personally supervise security operations in the area, with a view to boosting the confidence of the residents of the area, who are already apprehensive, waiting for the next attack.

Victims Recount Ordeal

Describing the Goska village attack, an eyewitness, who simply identified himself as Jato, told Saturday Sun that the attackers “came in large number at about 5pm, and surrounded our village, started shooting and burning houses indiscriminately, I managed to escape through an uncompleted building, running towards Kafanchan, and shouting for help, but no response from anybody because there was curfew, and the soldiers on patrol refused to come to our help. So they killed our people like chicken for Christmas. It was on Christmas eve”.

Some of the residents, who spoke to Saturday Sun, expressed the fear over the certainty of security operatives being able to stop the killings. They reasoned that the killings may erupt any time, despite the fact that curfew was in place.

Ibrahim Sambo  Zonkwa said:   “I am telling you there are  some gunmen  who  swore  to kill  many villagers  in  Zagon  Kataf  and  Lere Local Government area, but unfortunately , the security  are  only stationed in towns not  in villages,  so  anything can happened’’.

Mrs.  Mariam Sunday, a business woman in  Kafachan  said: “I am  not worried  about curfew, but the  level of  commitment to end the  crises has not been addressed, the  governor said  he  knows  the killers and their supporters, let  him expose them and get them arrested,  we are still in problem, I cannot move out for my business  because  the killers are in their hideout.’’

Community leader, others speak

Also, some of the community leaders who spoke to Saturday Sun expressed their fear over continued attack by the gunmen, once the security relaxed.

Malam Dantata Adamu, is the Village Head of  Bakin Kogi in Kagoma chiefdom, in Southern Kaduna. He said: “With the continued killing of innocent people, it is still dangerous to allow the situation to continue, there is need for more security presence not in Kafanchan, but in the entire Southern Kaduna’’.

He said killings by the Fulani herdsmen or other tribe would jeopardize the peaceful co-existence of the people. As such, he said there was need for government to bring the two parties together for dialogue’’.

Lending his voice to the need to deploy more security operatives to the southern part of the state, former Kaduna Deputy Governor, James Bawa Magaji, who incidentally is from the area, argued that the current security operatives deployed to the state as a whole, and to the south, in particular, may have been overwhelmed. He, therefore, called on the Federal Government, to consider deploying more security operatives to the state, particularly the south, adding that “once that is done, we might be able to come out of it.”

Magaji, went a step further by advocating the establishment of a state police, insisting that with state police, it will be easy to police every hamlet. “I will implore communities to take example from Borno, where the civilian JTF, played a prominent role, in helping to crush Boko Haram. So, communities should train their youth, even if it means getting experts to train them, and let them complement the efforts of our conventional security operatives to combat the menace. I would not want to say Southern Kaduna has been abandoned in the wake of the killings, because at the turn of every attack, Mallam El-Rufai personally goes to the area. But you know, when you are making efforts, and people are still suffering, it will look as if you are not doing enough. This is how I see it,” the former deputy governor, said.

But Mark Jacob, who is one of the leading voices in the southern part of Kaduna State, and a former National Legal Adviser of the PDP, believes that the world has abandoned the area in the wake of the killings. He described the killings as “a serious issue that ought to receive national and international attention.”

He said, instead, it was being downplayed, with government insisting “on diverting attention, for political discussion. The Kaduna State Government has deliberately refused to attend to the killings and have been busy talking about other things, as if our people do not matter.”

Religious Bodies React

While the Christian clerics put the blame of the killings squarely on the state government, the National Council of Imams and Ulamas rose from an emergency meeting held in Kaduna, and asked Governor El-Rufai to fish out and prosecute persons involved in the killings, declaring that “the crisis will never stop until those behind it are brought to book.”

The Islamic clerics opined that, ensuring prosecution of those involved in the wanton killings would serve as deterrence to other criminally- minded people.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the meeting, the National Chairman of the Council, Sheikh Abubakar Tureta, also urged both the federal and state governments to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the area.

The Christian clerics on their part said so far 808 people have been killed and 1,422 houses, 16 churches, 19 shops, and one primary school destroyed, since the crises erupted.

Vicar General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan, Ibrahim Yakubu, who addressed reporters along with four other priests, blamed the state government for the killings, saying government failed to protect the locals.

“Unfortunately, our governments both at the centre and state levels have failed woefully. We call on Southern Kaduna indigenes to remain steadfast in prayer, united, strong and never to cave in to the antics of our adversaries.

“The herdsmen and their ilk turned the towns into killing fields and killed mostly women, children and the elderly who couldn’t run for cover.

“The level of barbarity was such that pregnant women got their wombs blown out and massacred before their children. And these innocent children were not spared either.

“This level of viciousness was never witnessed even in the brutal tyranny and regime of Adolf Hitler. What is most intriguing is the level of sophistication of weapons; Ak 47, machine guns and many other deadly instruments of death were freely used.

“The viciousness of these self -styled Jihadists sends shivers into the spines of our traumatized people. In the Godogodo and Pasakori attacks for example, the military merely watched and supervised the burning of our homes. When the youth mobilised to repel the attackers, the soldiers deliberately blocked them from entering the town.”

In My 25 Years On Earth, I Have Never Gotten Free Gift From Politician Or ‘Big Man’ – Burna Boy

In a bid to clear the air and detangle himself from negative media reports, Nigerian singer, Burna Boy has issued a stern warning adding that he had never received gifts from anybody or politician and that he shouldn’t be compared with anyone.

Putin, Obama and Trump (Russia and United state)

President Barack Obama and his first secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, entered the White House in 2009 with visions of a "Russian reset." But Obama will leave office next month in the midst of a shadowy Cold War-era fever dream, as Washington and Moscow are, once again, beset by accusations of diplomatic chicanery and outright espionage.


In dropping a new round of targeted sanctions on Russian diplomats and assets in the US, Obama on Thursday struck back at what the intelligence community has portrayed as an unprecedented -- and successful -- attempt by the Kremlin to meddle in the American democratic process. But even as President Vladimir Putin trolls the White House, saying he will turn the other cheek and sit tight awaiting what figures to be a more friendly administration on the horizon, questions outpace answers.

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton handed a "reset" button to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting on March 6, 2009 in Geneva.


So what comes next and who holds the advantage? Here's what we know, what the players are saying -- and how the chess match is unfolding.

What did the US do on Thursday and why?


After weeks of ramped-up accusations about Russian hacking and promises of retaliation, the White House announced plans to expel 35 Russian diplomats -- giving them and their families 72 hours to leave the country -- and shuttering a pair of Russian compounds in New York and Maryland used by officials, in theory, for recreational purposes.






This 1940 aerial photo shows the Raskob Estate at Pioneer Point seen on the Eastern Shore in Maryland. Reports indicate the property was bought by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and historically served as a recreational getaway for its diplomats seeking a respite from the diplomatic whirl in nearby Washington, D.C. The Obama administration is shutting access to a New York retreat and this riverfront compound, saying they were used as spy nests. (The Baltimore Sun via AP)


The new sanctions follow months of insinuations, leaks and, more recently, open accusations that Moscow set out on a coordinated campaign to hack the private communications of American political actors, making public information that would both undermine voters' confidence in the November elections and, according to some, boost Trump's campaign.


In a "joint analysis report" by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, released with the sanctions notice on Thursday a summary titled "Russian Malicious Cyber Activity" and provided a detailed flowchart seeking to illustrate the complex nature of the Russian hacking effort.

How did Putin respond to the new sanctions?


The Russian President's decision to postpone any retaliation for Washington's sanctions, despite Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recommending the tit-for-tat expulsion of US diplomats, surprised some Kremlin-watchers.


In retrospect, Moscow's tactics appeared orchestrated: first threatening to match the explosions announced by the Obama administration the previous day, then, in seeking to appear magnanimous -- even extending an invitation to the children of American diplomats in Washington to a Christmas party at the Kremlin -- backing off.



Vladimir #Putin: I offer New Year greetings to President Obama & his family, also to President-elect @realDonaldTrump & the American people! pic.twitter.com/Jmj8u5LvrQ

— РоссиЯ 🇷🇺 (@Russia) December 30, 2016


At the same time, Putin laid the onus of action on incoming President Donald Trump.


"It's a smart play," said James Nixie, head of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the London-based think-tank Chatham House. He said that while "Russia feels humiliated -- it has been exposed and it has been punished," Putin can afford to wait a few weeks to hit back. "He's thought about it, considered acting now, but in fact is just being patient," Nixie said.


Putin's decision will force Trump to show his hand -- and fast.


"If Trump doesn't play ball, then we'll be back to the old-style adversarial relations," Nixie said. Putin is waiting to see "is Trump on our side, or is he not? At this point, we don't know, either."


On Friday afternoon, the President-elect offered some blunt instruction.


"Great move on delay (by V. Putin)," he tweeted. "I always knew he was very smart!"



Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2016

Is this the start of a new Cold War?


While there are echoes of the Cold War in the matching expulsion threats, Nixie argued that Russia's actions are predominantly about its future, not its past: Moscow "wants a new set of rules" to govern the way the world is run -- who wields the power, who controls what, and who listens to whom.


Putin's move can also be read as an "enormous insult" to the Obama administration, said Jill Dougherty, a Russia analyst and former Moscow bureau chief for CNN.


"It's an amazing move and it's classic Putin," she said. "He's a master of doing things that are unexpected, and this is truly unexpected."

How strong is the US case against Russia?


That depends on whom you ask.


Trump has for months routinely questioned government assertions that state-sponsored Russian hackers were behind the breaches at the Democratic National Committee and inside Clinton's campaign. He has suggested the Chinese could be to blame, or even "somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds."


But the US government has been laser-focused on Moscow for months. In October, officials publicly announced they were "confident" Russia had targeted the Democratic Party and aligned organizations. Obama this summer allowed, but stopped short of asserting in an interview that Putin had intended to aid Trump.


How the unflattering communications put on display by the hacks affected the election is nearly impossible to quantify, but the slow drip seemed calculated to sow discord and doubt, especially among Democrats during and after a tense primary contest.


Trump now says he'll meet with the intelligence community to hear their case.

Why did the White House act now?


The ultimate decision followed a CIA announcement this month, made in private to a group of top US senators, that the hacks were carried out with the express purpose of delivering the White House to Trump.


Their evidence -- which, again, has not been made public except through leaks to the press -- includes findings that Russian hackers breached, but did not make public information stolen from the accounts of Republicans, including House members and GOP non-profits, according to a former senior law enforcement official with direct knowledge of the hack investigation told CNN.


The Republican National Committee has denied reports that it was compromised or targeted, and earlier this month, Trump's incoming press secretary, Sean Spicer, questioned the intelligence community's motives.


"If they are so certain it happened, why won't they go on the record and say it?" Spicer told CNN. "I don't understand it. It doesn't make any sense."

What is Obama's angle here?


The Russians tend to get the credit -- and criticism -- for being crafty or acting covertly to advance a range of interests. On its face, the new round of sanctions are a simple act of retaliation -- less a deft or devious hand than a symbolic swat -- for the Kremlin's alleged role in the election season hacks.


But whether it was intended or not, the Obama administration's decision to act now, less than a month before clearing out ahead of Trump's inaugural, will have a series of knock-on effects that should create difficulties and set a series of political traps for the new administration.


Trump has made no secret of his hopes to establish better relations with Putin and his autocratic regime. He played down news of the sanctions on Thursday, saying it was "time for the country to move on to bigger and better things." A day earlier, the President-elect seemed to throw up his hands entirely, pleading ignorance -- and skepticism -- of all things tech.


"The whole age of computer has made it where nobody knows exactly what is going on," he said. "And we have speed -- we have a lot of other things, but I'm not sure we have the kind the security we need."


Trump will need a more comprehensive argument, and understanding, if he is going to successfully navigate a Congress almost uniformly in favor of maintaining or, in the case of hawks like Sens. Lindsey Graham and John McCain, pursuing further avenues of redress.































Senators promise Russian sanctions 11:58


If Obama, his legislative legacy under threat from all corners, can effectively tie up the new administration and members of its own party -- to say nothing of Democrats who will gladly align themselves with more mainstream Republicans -- then he stands a better chance of at least complicating Trump's efforts to undo the work of the past eight years.

What is Trump's play now?


Trump, who has repeatedly said he just wants everyone to move on, can undo the Thursday sanctions with relative ease after he takes office on January 20. But a unilateral decision to reverse course could expose divisions in a GOP caucus that, for all its post-election talk of unity, remains fundamentally divided on key issues like spending and what to do after it repeals Obamacare.































Trump on Russia hacking: We should move on 01:37


The confluence of Obama's action and Putin's demurral will test Trump right from the jump, as moving for steadier relations with Moscow will now come at a heightened domestic cost. House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Russia critic, will likely seek to influence Trump, further stressing their already fragile relationship and challenging incoming chief of staff Reince Priebus, who has emerged as a trusted middleman between his idiosyncratic boss and the established GOP order.


While the GOP establishment has stayed critical of Russia, Trump sees it differently. He is also threatened by his unique handicap -- an apparent inability to, at least publicly, conceive of the hacking story as anything more or less than a backdoor assault on the legitimacy of his victory on Election Day.


"If Russia, or some other entity, was hacking, why did the White House wait so long to act?" he asked in a tweet last week, before the sanctions had been finalized. "Why did they only complain after Hillary lost?"


The claim was demonstrably false -- the grousing had begun well before November 8 -- but made clear how Trump perceives the question. In his Thursday statement, the President-elect was more reserved and revealed he would, "in the interest of our country and its great people," take a meeting with "leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation."


cnn news.

T.I. TO TINY Really, Divorce? WHY YOU WANNA GO AND DO THAT?

T.I. has made the first move to end divorce proceedings from Tiny ... TMZ has learned. 

Sources close to T.I. tell TMZ he thinks Tiny has overreacted because they've always gotten through rough patches in their 15-year relationship. He waited a few weeks so she could cool down after filing divorce docs, but now he's trying talk "sense" into her ... that they're good together.

T.I. believes Tiny was pushed by "jealous friends" into filing to end their marriage.  

The 800 pound elephant in the room that's not being addressed ... Floyd Mayweather.

As we reported ... T.I. and Tiny are currently on speaking terms, and have even been romantic together this holiday season. 

Feels like T.I.'s making headway. 

Read Omokri’s Advice To Those That Shower Their Pastors With Money

Former Assistant to Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri has offered an advice to people that shower their pastors with money, gifts among others before remembering they have relatives.

[VIDEO] Rwanda Football Team Player Performs Ritual To Score During A Game

The video below is about a player of Football team in Rwanda performing ritual otherwise called juju before he could score a goal after missing a chance earlier.

This video has been trending on the social media.

Carlos Tevez leaves Boca for Shanghai Shenhua in Chinese Super League

Shanghai Shenhua have completed a deal to bring former Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez to the Chinese Super League (CSL).
Shenhua, who are coached by former Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder Gus Poyet, made the announcement on Thursday, after the Argentina star arrived in Shanghai for a medical ahead of his unveiling.
"Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC reached a transfer agreement with Argentina Club Atletico Boca Juniors. Carlos Alberto Tevez is officially joined Shanghai Shenhua,'' a club statement said.

Argentina striker Carlos Tevez has completed a move to #ShanghaiShenhua! Can he lead them to #ACL2017 glory? pic.twitter.com/6ZXC6OTs3H

- AFC Champions League (@TheAFCCL) December 29, 2016

Shanghai Shenhua paid a £9 million ($11m) transfer fee to get the striker, and while it was initially said he would be paid a world-high of £615,000 ($760,632) a week to make the move reports in China say it will be significantly less.
The total deal over two years is reported to be £32.5m ($40m) including the transfer fee, which works out at £226,000 per week and that would place him significantly behind the reported salaries for Cristiano Ronaldo (£288,000 after tax) and Lionel Messi (£256,000 after tax).
Boca would also have to refund 60 percent of the transfer fee should Tevez leave Shanghai Shenhua after one year.
The CSL side have always brought in big-name players from Europe, with ex-Chelsea forward Demba Ba, Obafemi Martins and former Inter Milan midfielder Fredy Guarin among the long list of recruits.
Having finished fourth in the CSL this year, Poyet made Tevez his priority signing, and is keen to add Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel Di Maria to his squad.
Tevez's old club Boca Juniors all but confirmed the big-money move when they issued a statement that read: "Good luck Carlitos, you will always be in our hearts."



This deal has further strengthened the CSL as a major powerhouse in world football, with Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder Oscar also taking his skills to China last week for a fee of £60 million.

Nick Cannon gives health update after spending Christmas in the hospital

Nick Cannon gave fans an update Wednesday after being hospitalized over Christmas due to a recent Lupus flare up.
From his hospital bed, Cannon, 36, told fans that he'll be out soon and thanked them for their support.

"I've been sitting here reflecting," he said in the upbeat Instagram video. "I can't sit here dormant no more ... I'm sitting here getting stronger like 'Iron Man' strong, 'Incredible Hulk' type strong. Buddha said it best, 'every morning that you wake up you were born again.'"
Cannon added: "I appreciate all the love. I didn't know ya'll loved me like that." The actor/rapper also said this recent stint in the hospital has inspired him to make more music and take on more acting roles in 2017.
Cannon, who was diagnosed with Lupus in 2012, told fans on December 22 that he would be spending the holidays at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "For all who have been trying to contact me the last few days this is where I've been. And I will be in the Hospital through Christmas. All good though, Doctors say I will be back to normal before the New Year. #LupusSucks #ncredible #warrior."

DEBBIE REYNOLDS LAST WORDS ... 'I WANT TO BE WITH CARRIE'

Debbie Reynolds seemingly willed her own death Wednesday, telling her son hours before the stroke that claimed her life, "I miss her so much, I want to be with Carrie."

Todd Fisher tells us Debbie cracked early Wednesday morning from grief. She was at Todd's home during the morning hours, talking about Carrie's funeral, when she made the comment. Fifteen minutes later she had the stroke.

Family sources tell us Debbie actually had several strokes this year and was in failing health, and they believe Carrie's death was too much to bear.

TREY SONGZ ARRESTED FOR TEARING UP STAGE You Drop My Mic, I'll Go Insane

Trey Songz made good on a threat during a Detroit concert Wednesday night ... and it landed him in jail.
Someone at the Joe Louis Arena apparently told Trey his set was going too long, but he wasn't near ready to leave. In fact, he dared them to cut his mic, promising retaliation if they did.
Well, they did and he did. Trey started destroying everything in sight, hurling objects in the air. A cop who tried subduing him was hurt after being struck by debris.
Trey was arrested for resisting arrest and malicious destruction of property.

North Korea: Is Kim Jong Un 'the world's most dangerous man'?

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un heads into 2017 with two things that loom ominous for the rest of the world -- he's tested a nuclear weapon, and no one really knows how willing he'd be to use one in anger.
North Korea conducted two nuclear tests in 2016, one in January and another, its most powerful ever, in September. Add that to a string of missile tests, both land- and sea-launched, and the world has plenty of reason for worry.
"Combining nuclear warheads with ballistic missile technology in the hands of a volatile leader like Kim Jong Un is a recipe for disaster," Adm. Harry Harris, the head of the US military's Pacific Command, said in a December speech.
Bruce Bennett, senior defense analyst at the Rand Corporation think tank, went further still, saying Kim "might be considered the world's most dangerous man."
But just how much of a threat does North Korea pose?
Pyongyang's September test put North Korea's nuclear program in its strongest position ever, at least according to the Kim regime, which claimed to have successfully detonated a nuclear warhead that could be mounted on ballistic rockets.
North Korean state media said the test would enable North Korea to produce "a variety of smaller, lighter and diversified nuclear warheads of higher strike power." Western experts fear that could expand the range of North Korea's nuclear weapons, possibly putting Alaska, Hawaii or even the US mainland in danger.
The warhead tested in September was estimated to have a 10-kiloton explosive power, almost twice as large as the one tested in January, said Kim Nam-wook of South Korea's Meteorological Administration. The atomic bomb dropped by the US on Hiroshima in 1945 is estimated at 15 kilotons.
Despite Pyongyang's apparent progress on a warhead, Bennett, the Rand analyst, points out that North Korea's test of its delivery systems, those missiles and rockets, weren't promising enough to make it a global threat -- at least not yet.
"To be such, the North would need to have developed some form of reliable delivery mechanism for its nuclear weapons that could reach anywhere in the world. And the North has not yet done that," Bennett said, pointing out that of the eight tests of longer range missiles (2,000 miles or more), seven were considered failures, and the other was tested only over a short range.
And despite testing a submarine-launched missile in August, the North has only one submarine capable of launching such a missile -- and its range is short, making it unlikely to get past Western defenses to pose a threat beyond Asia, added Bennett.
Doubts about its delivery capabilities notwithstanding, North Korea remains the only country on Earth to test a nuclear weapon in the 21st century -- and that offers Kim considerable leverage, analysts say, especially with his continued ability to tolerate the West's only real weapon short of military action, economic sanctions.

J LO AND DRAKE FAKE LOVE, PAPI?

Drake and Jennifer Lopez are officially cuddling on camera ... but this pose looks too good for us to believe it's anything but genius marketing.

Drake and J Lo both posted this same pic early Wednesday morning, showing them getting cozy ... with Drizzy looking right into the camera with those dreamy eyes.

The 2 artists recently announced they're working on new music together, which is why they say they've been hanging out so much lately ... despite rumors they're hooking up. 

With that now out there, we gotta say ... this kinda makes us feel no ways.

MARC ANTHONY Third Time's Not a Charm FILES FOR DIVORCE

Marc Anthony has filed for divorce from his third wife, Shannon De Lima.

Marc filed legal docs, first obtained by TheDirty.com, which should be pretty simple to process. They have no kids and married just 2 years ago.  According to the docs, Anthony says the marriage is "irretrievably broken."

They've already divided up the property in a confidential settlement. They say the split is amicable.

The couple announced their separation last month, one day after after J Lo and Marc kissed on the lips at the Latin Grammys.

David Villa: I only signed for Barcelona as Valencia needed the money

David Villa says he would not have signed for Barcelona if Valencia had not needed the money from his sale.

Villa, 35, joined Barca for €40 million in 2010 after five successful years and 129 goals at the Mestalla.

However, the former Spain international, who now plays for New York City FC, has said he would have been happy to stay at Valencia if the decision was solely his.

"If Valencia hadn't needed the money, I would have stayed at the club," he told reporters. "I had a long-term contract."

Villa's...

Ryan Giggs has support to replace Bob Bradley at Swansea - sources

Ryan Giggs has influential support within the Swansea hierarchy as they seek to replace Bob Bradley, with Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins enjoying a good rapport with the Manchester United legend, sources have told ESPN FC.

Giggs, 43, has been installed as the early bookmakers' favourite to succeed Bradley -- who lasted just 85 days and 11 games -- at the Liberty Stadium.

And although Giggs was overlooked in favour of Bradley when he was interviewed by Swansea after Francesco Guidolin was dismissed at the start of October, the former Wales captain is prepared to discuss taking over the job for what would be his first full-time Premier League management position.

The club's American owners, led by Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan, decided to sack Bradley after the 4-1 Boxing Day home defeat to West Ham had supporters calling for his dismissal.

The pair remain open minded about the prospect of Giggs taking charge, while Wales manager Chris Coleman and out-of-work trio Gary Rowett, Alan Pardew and Frank de Boer are also in the running.

First-team coaches Paul Williams and Alan Curtis will take charge in the short term, with Swansea's next two games at home to Bournemouth on Saturday and away to Crystal Palace next Tuesday.

Swansea are four points from safety and the board -- who were also the target of angry fans on Boxing Day -- want to make a quick appointment, with the January transfer window due to open shortly.

The club are looking for their fifth permanent manager in under three years following Michael Laudrup, Garry Monk, Guidolin and Bradley.

Information from the Press Association was used in this report.

ESPN

CARRIE FISHER DAUGHTER WILL CARE FOR BELOVED DOG GARY

Carry Fisher cherished dog -- a 4-year-old pooch named Gary -- will now be cared for by Carrie's daughter ... TMZ has learned.

Family friends are telling us Billie Lourd will take custody of the French bulldog, which was by Carrie's side on the plane from London to LAX when Carrie's heart stopped. The pooch also visited Carrie at UCLA Medical Center.

Billie already has a French bulldog named Tina, that's best friends with Gary. We're told she wants to make sure the 2 get along in the long term and she's able to handle the added responsibility.

A family source told TMZ, Carrie always wanted Billie to take Gary if something happened to her. If, for some reason, Billie can't care for Gary for the long haul, the dog will remain in the family.

The dog was like a child to Carrie, who carted her best friend almost everywhere she went ... even interviews.

Gary was adopted as a service pet to help Carrie with her bipolar disorder.

Jerusalem cancels vote on settlement construction

The city of Jerusalem has canceled a vote Wednesday to approve the construction of 492 units -- such as homes, synagogues and other public buildings -- in East Jerusalem, a city council member said.
The decision follows a request from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said council member Hanan Rubin, who's also a member of the city's zoning committee.
It comes days after the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution condemning Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. It also comes as US Secretary of State John Kerry prepares to give a speech on the Obama administration's vision for Middle East peace.
"The municipality regards housing in Jerusalem as a municipal need rather than a political action, and therefore there is no need to vote on this on a sensitive day when John Kerry is to give a speech," Rubin said. "We don't want to be a part of a political controversy."
However, the mayor of an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, Oded Revivi, didn't hold back from blasting Kerry ahead of his address Wednesday at the State Department.
"John Kerry is a stain on American foreign policy who is ignorant of the issues. He has chosen to eternalize his legacy as the worst secretary of state in history that chose to stab his closest ally in the back while rivers of blood flowed like water across the Middle East," said Revivi, mayor of Efrat and chief foreign envoy of the YESHA Council, an umbrella organization that represents an estimated 430,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
"I can personally attest to the fact that he knows very little about the realities in Judea and Samaria and instead chooses to defame us from afar by repeating fictitious mantras against us," Revivi added.
In Hebrew, YESHA stands for Judea, Samaria, and Gaza. Judea and Samaria is the biblical term for the West Bank, often used by Israeli politicians. Gaza is still included as a holdover from before Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in 2005.

Freed Chibok girls return home for joyful Christmas

It was a journey they had waited nearly three long years to take.

Ten weeks after being released by Boko Haram, 21 freed Chibok schoolgirls and a baby returned home this month to celebrate Christmas with their families for the first time since they were snatched by the terror group.

The April 2014 kidnapping of nearly 300 girls from a boarding school in Chibok sparked global outrage a #BringBackOurGirls campaign on social media.

CNN accompanied the 21 girls as they made the journey from the capital Abuja, where they have been undergoing medical and psychological assessments since they were released by Boko Haram nearly two months ago in a deal brokered by an unnamed Swiss contingent and the Nigerian authorities.

On Friday morning CNN's Isha Sesay boarded a flight with the girls from Abuja to Yola in eastern Nigeria, where the girls would make a six-hour road trip north to Chibok.

The change in the Chibok girls from 10 weeks earlier was remarkable. Their tattered clothes were gone and they were clearly better fed after surviving for two and a half years on meager or non-existent meals.

After their release in October, one of them, Glory Dama, told the assembled media that they once went without food for 40 days in the bush.

"I did not know that a day like this will come, that we will be dancing and giving thanks to God among people," she said. "For one month and 10 days we stayed without food. I narrowly escaped a bomb blast in the forest."

'Beautiful and grateful'

Kidnapped as teenagers, the girls were now returning home as young women.

They have been taking English classes and playing outdoors, their caretakers told CNN. One girl, Agnes, added that they have been learning how to knit. Several have had surgery to remove shrapnel.

One of the girls, Rebecca Mallam, said they felt "beautiful and grateful."

The girls, Christians who were forcibly converted to Islam by their captors, prayed together before leaving Abuja Friday morning on the first leg of their journey home.

As they waited to board the flight to Yola they appeared tense. Their colorful clothes and bright smiles did little to mask the pain and anxiety behind their eyes. Some of the girls had confided in their Abuja caretakers that they were worried about how they would be received by the wider community due to the stigma of being held by Boko Haram.

Memories of that fateful April night were surely not far from their minds and one could only imagine the trauma they endured at the hands of their Boko Haram captors -- one of the world's deadliest terrorist groups.

At the crack of dawn on Christmas Eve, the girls hit the road, accompanied by a military convoy that escorted them to Chibok. As we entered the town six hours later, we were greeted by a crowd of locals, many waving excitedly.

Parents and other family members were waiting anxiously to see their daughters again.

The moment of reunion finally arrived amid scenes of unbridled joy. Parents and daughters embraced, the pain and relief of the past two and a half years etched on their faces.

But then, suddenly we could hear wailing and heart-rending screams. Some mothers had come expecting to see their daughters, only to learn they were still being held by Boko Haram.

These women had thought their girls would be among the group coming home for Christmas. Their moment of hope gone, they remained inconsolable.

There are 197 Chibok girls still in captivity, and talks are ongoing to free them. Sources tell CNN that negotiations only involve 83 of the girls.

More joyful reunions like the ones we witnessed here may soon follow. But they may also be tempered by the grief of parents whose daughters are never coming home.

Wishing Christians “Merry Christmas” Is Worse Than Fornication Or Murder – Islamic Cleric Tells Muslims

An Indian orator on Islam and comparative religion, Dr Zakir Naik, warned Muslims against sending wishes to Christians on Christmas Day.

The Islamic scholar categorically stated that it was a sin for Muslim folks to wish Christians ‘Merry Christmas.’

He made this known in a series of tweets on Christmas days.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan proud of 'best goal I've ever scored' in Man United win

Henrikh Mkhitaryan hailed his stunning goal in Manchester United's 3-1 Boxing Day win over Sunderland as the best of his career.
The Armenian, on as a substitute, met a Zlatan Ibrahimovic cross with a brilliant improvised finish, flicking a ball that was behind him into the net with his heel.

Although it appeared the goal should have been ruled out for offside, it put the seal on a convincing win for Manchester United's men.
Mkhitaryan said on MUTV: "That was the best goal I've ever scored.
"I was very excited. The first thing I did was look at the assistant and I saw it was not ruled as offside so I just started to celebrate.
"I was expecting the ball to be in front of me and then I realised I was in front of it. As the ball was behind me, the only thing I could do was a backheel so I did that and I succeeded."

Earlier, United boss Jose Mourinho had hailed Mkhitaryan for playing well overall, in addition to his "phenomenal" strike.
"I think he scored in the right goal, the Stretford End, with the people very enthusiastic just behind," Mourinho said. "It was a great moment and for him important because he was going up and up and then the injury comes.
"He was out of two matches and he's back. And to be back not just [with] the goal, I think he also brought quality with his performance. I am obviously happy."
Mkhitaryan was making his comeback from an ankle problem and insisted he had felt no ill effects ahead of the New Year's Eve clash with Middlesbrough.
"I don't have anything of concern from a past injury so I'm happy to be back to help the team," he added.

"I will try to do my best for the next game. It's very important that we're in good shape and to keep going like this."

N’Assembly to re-work N7.29tn budget –Reps spokesman

John Ameh, Abuja

The House of Representatives said on Monday that each item in the N7.29tn budgeted for 2017 would be subjected to a thorough review by the National Assembly.

It noted that until such a review was done by various standing committees and approved by the legislature, the budget remained mere proposals by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, who spoke with The PUNCH in Abuja, explained that lawmakers would ensure that the controversies, which nearly marred the 2016 budget, would not be replicated with that of 2017.

Namdas, a member of the All Progressives Congress from Adamawa State, stated, “We have received the budget proposals from Mr. President. We now have a duty as lawmakers to look at the items one after another.

“The first step is that every member will get copies of the budget to study and this will assist them in pointing out key areas for the attention of the House.

“As soon as we reconvene in January, work on the details of the budget will begin.”

Asked whether lawmakers would increase the budget size, Namdas replied that the size was already “huge.”

He added, “N7.29tn is a huge amount; increasing it is not likely the way to go.

“However, the budget is the document eventually passed by the National Assembly.

“Nigerians should be patient till we reconvene in January.”

The President had, on Wednesday, December 14, laid the estimates of the budget before a joint session of the Senate and the House in Abuja.

The budget of “economic recovery and growth” is 20 per cent higher than the N6.06tn budgeted for 2016.

Its total capital component of N2.24tn is also higher than that of 2016 by 30.7 per cent, a projection Buhari said was made to spend more on infrastructure, solid minerals development, agriculture and provide support for local manufacturing firms to speed up growth.

Spending on recurrent expenditure is put at N2.98tn.

Although the budget’s anticipated revenue of N4.9tn is higher than that of 2016 by 28 per cent, it has a deficit of N2.36tn, representing 2.18 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product.

The President told lawmakers that the deficit would be financed through a projected borrowing of N2.32tn, broken into N1.06tn (external) and N1.25tn (domestic).

punch news.

DONALD TRUMP JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

Donald Trump won Florida by only a hair, but he slayed at a Palm Beach church during Xmas mass.

The Prez-elect and Melania made the short trek from Mar-a-Lago to the Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, where they married in 2005.

Trump got big applause ... then joined the chorus for some hymns.

Kylie Jenner Strips Down with Tyga for Steamy, Nude Shower Video

Of course Kylie Jenner's "little surprise gift for the world" on Christmas Day would be a nude video.

The reality TV star and Sasha Samsonova collaborated on a provocative short video released on Sunday, showing the 19 year old in various states of undress while in the shower. Her real life boyfriend, Tyga, also shows up in the clip, as the two caress each other's bodies and passionately make out.

"The whole deal with this video is that it's a very personal experience," Samsonova told W magazine. "It's like you're watching this person from a point of view that has never been seen before."

"It's super raw footage," the photographer added. "As soon as my shoots with Kylie come out, so many people write on my page and rant about how it's all Photoshop, Photoshop, Photoshop. But the thing about this video is that there's no post-production work whatsoever. It's only cut together. It's very raw, and we tried to keep it that way—no skin retouching, nothing."

PARIS JACKSON:PACKING ON THE PDA

Versace Sued Secret 'Code' for Black Customers ... Fired Employee Claims

Versace secretly alerts staffers when an African-American person enters the store ... according to an ex-employee who claims the company also dissed his fashion sense and then canned him.

The man worked in a Bay Area store, and in a lawsuit says a manager told him about a store code called "D410," which was used to casually let co-workers know a black person was present -- as in, we got a D410 in menswear.

BTW ... that's the code for all black shirts in Versace stores ... according to the suit.

The employee says he shocked the manager by responding, "You know that I'm African-American?"

He says after that revelation they refused to give him rest breaks, and fired him after just 2 weeks. In the suit, he says he was told he was canned because he hadn't "lived the luxury life."

Translation: you got no swag, son.

He's suing for unpaid wages and damages. Versace denied the allegations, and has already filed a request for dismissal of the suit.

George Michael: World pays tribute to global superstar

He was "the kindest, most generous soul and a brilliant artist," Elton John wrote on Instagram, leading tributes to George Michael who died aged 53 on Christmas Day.
The singer is believed to have died from heart failure, his manager Michael Lippman said, according to the UK-Michael's death, which is being treated as "unexpected but not suspicious" by police, was also confirmed by the singer's family.
"It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period," said a statement from Michael's family.
In a career spanning four decades, Michael sold over 100 million albums and had 11 UK number ones with songs such as Careless Whisper, Faith, Outside and Freedom! 90.
After enjoying early success in the duo Wham! alongside friend Andrew Ridgeley, he built a solo career which catapulted him to further stardom, awards and riches.
Ridgeley, the other half of Wham!, was one of the first to react to the news, tweeting that he was "heartbroken".



Heartbroken at the loss of my beloved friend Yog. Me, his loved ones, his friends, the world of music, the world at large. 4ever loved. A xx https://t.co/OlGTm4D9O6— Andrew Ridgeley (@ajridgeley) December 26, 2016
Singer Bryan Adams tweeted: "Such an incredible singer and a lovely human being, far too young to leave us."



RIP George Michael. I can't believe it. Such an incredible singer and a lovely human being, far too young to leave us #georgemichael— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) December 25, 2016
Comedian Ellen DeGeneres said Michael "was such a brilliant talent. I'm so sad."



I just heard about my friend @GeorgeMichael's death. He was such a brilliant talent. I'm so sad.— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) December 25, 2016
The two-time Grammy Award recipient "became one of the most beloved pop craftsmen and respected entertainers," said Neil Portnow, president/CEO of The Recording Academy, which awards the Grammys.
"From the enormous success he achieved with pop duo Wham! to his influential solo career, his extraordinary talent had a profound impact on countless entertainers worldwide, and his creative contributions will live on forever," Portnow said in a statement.

Music world in mourning
Reaction continued to pour in after the announcement of Michael's death.
George Michael 1963-2016
Boy George, who fronted British band Culture Club, said Michael's death was "devastating."
"I am thinking of @GeorgeMichael's family, friends and fans right now," he wrote on Twitter.
"He was so loved and I hope he knew it because the sadness today is beyond words. Devastating.
"What a beautiful voice he had and his music will live on as a testament to his talent. I can't believe he is gone. I hope the Buddha will hold him in his arms."
Holly Johnson, lead singer of Frankie Goes To Hollywood, said: "Sad to hear the news about George Michael, and so many great singers and songwriters we lost this year."
Music contemporaries Spandau Ballet said: "We are incredibly sad at the passing of our dear friend George Michael. A brilliant artist & great songwriter."
Michael's death comes at the end of a year that has seen the passing of several music superstars, including David Bowie, Prince and Leonard Cohen.
Simply Red said: "Its hard to take in. One of our most talented singer songwriters has left us. RIP George Michael. Such sad, tragic news. 2016 please end."
Matt Goss, singer in the band Bros, said: "George Michael was part of the tapestry of my life. His songs his lyrics & his melodies, True pop royalty! Heartbroken, RIP dearest George."

Darran Simon and AnneClaire Stapleton contributed to this report.