N. Korea: Heart attack, not nerve agent, killed Kim Jong Nam

A North Korean envoy rejected a Malaysian autopsy finding that VX nerve agent killed Kim Jong Nam, saying Thursday the man probably died of a heart attack because he suffered from heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

The death of Kim, the estranged half brother of North Korea's ruler, has unleashed a diplomatic battle between Malaysia and North Korea. The autopsy is especially sensitive because North Korea had asked Malaysia not to perform one, but authorities carried it out anyway, saying they were following the law.

Also Thursday, amid growing fallout from the killing, Malaysia announced it is scrapping visa-free entry for North Koreans.

Africa telecom giant MTN reports 1st annual losses in years

Africa's giant telecommunications group MTN is announcing full-year losses for 2016 driven by a $1.1 billion Nigerian fine and damaging foreign exchange rates. The losses are the company's first in two decades.

But the group still will pay dividends of 700 South African cents a share — a move that saw its share price rise nearly 10 percent Thursday on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. That compares to dividends of 1,109 cents a share on 2015 profits.

Kidnap kingpin, ‘Vampire’, killed by police

Henry Chibueze, a dreaded kidnap kingpin known as ‘Vampire’, was on Thursday killed in Omu Awa forest, Ikwerre local government area in Rivers state, the police has said.

Jimoh Moshood, police spokesperson, said Chibueze was killed by the police special forces, led by the IG’s intelligence response team at 1am.

He said that five suspected members of the gang were also arrested and a cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from them.

Reno Omokiri mocks transport minister Rotimi Amaechi on twitter

Those who say I lied about @ChibuikeAmaechi's potbelly swapping destiny with Rivers treasury should see photo proof!

Mexican lawyer asks Trump to deport drug lord "El Chapo"

A lawyer who has worked on behalf of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is trying a novel legal tactic: He is calling on U.S. President Donald Trump to deport the Mexican drug lord back home from his jail cell in the United States.

Lawyer Jose Luis Gonzalez Meza held up a banner outside the Mexican Attorney General's Office in the capital Wednesday that read: "Mr. Trump, Deport the illegal and criminal Chapo Guzman."

Trump has pledged to deport migrants who have committed illegal acts.

Naira stable at N450/$1 — first time in eight days

For the first time since eight days ago when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)adjusted the foreign exchange policy, the naira maintained its rate of N450 to a dollar at the parallel market.

According to NAN, the pound sterling and euro crashed further at the parallel market, exchanging at N535 and N460 respectively, while the naira closed at N305.25 at the interbank window.

At the Bureau De Change (BDC) window, the naira was sold at N399 to a dollar, CBN controlled rate, while the pound sterling and the euro closed at N610 and N500, respectively.

Just in: Osinbajo meets service chiefs for security briefing at Aso Rock

Premium Times is reporting that acting president Yemi Osinbajo is presently being briefed on the security situation of Nigeria by service chiefs and heads of other security agencies.
 
Minister of defence Mansur Dan-Ali was said the briefing is aimed at “allowing the service chiefs and other heads of security agencies to brief the acting president on the security situation in the country”.

We’ve rescued over 7,000 civilians from Sambisa forest, says army

The Nigeria Army says so far, it has rescued about 7,898 civilians from Sambisa forest, a stronghold of the Boko Haram sect in Borno state.

Lucky Irabor, theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, disclosed this during a press conference in Maiduguri, the state capital, on Wednesday.

Victor Moses signs new long-term Chelsea contract

Victor Moses has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Chelsea until June 2021, the Premier League leaders have announced.

The Nigeria international has reinvented himself as a wing-back and become a key starter at Chelsea since head coach Antonio Conte's decision to switch to a 3-4-3 formation in late September, contributing three goals and two assists in 25 Premier League appearances.

Liverpool need to sign a striker like Kane or Ibrahimovic - John Aldridge

Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has urged manager Jurgen Klopp to change his transfer policy and buy a top-quality striker.

Liverpool's season is in danger of collapsing after Monday night's 3-1 defeat to Leicester City, with the team currently outside the top four and having been eliminated from both domestic cup competitions in January.

Aldridge believes Liverpool need to target a "physical" striker similar to the likes of Manchester United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane.

Paul Pogba first 2016-17 Prem player to make 1,000 passes in opposition half

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is the first player in the Premier League to complete 1,000 passes in the opposition half this season.

Statistics from EA Sports show that Pogba, who is currently on 1,029 passes with a completion rate of 83.05 percent, is ahead of Liverpool's Jordan Henderson (987), Arsenal's Mesut Ozil (954), Manchester City's David Silva (930) and Eden Hazard (875) of Chelsea, while Ander Herrera (871), in sixth place, is Pogba's nearest competitor at Old Trafford.

DSS Arrests Peace Corps Commandant Dickson Akoh, 45 Corps Members

The Department of State Security (DSS), abetted by the Police and military, on Tuesday night, arrested the National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Mr. Dickson Akoh. The DSS also assaulted some officers of the corps.

The Department of State Security (DSS), abetted by the Police and military, on Tuesday night, arrested the National Commandant of Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Mr. Dickson Akoh. The DSS also assaulted some officers of the corps.

Biafra: Court strikes out six charges against Nnamdi Kanu, others

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, struck out six of the eleven count criminal charges brought against leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Six out of the eleven count criminal charges the Federal Government filed against Kanu and three others, were quashed by Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court.

Biafra: Court strikes out six charges against Nnamdi Kanu, others

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, struck out six of the eleven count criminal charges brought against leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Six out of the eleven count criminal charges the Federal Government filed against Kanu and three others, were quashed by Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court.

Biafra: Court strikes out six charges against Nnamdi Kanu, others

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Wednesday, struck out six of the eleven count criminal charges brought against leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

Six out of the eleven count criminal charges the Federal Government filed against Kanu and three others, were quashed by Justice Binta Nyako of the Abuja Federal High Court.