Actress Luise Rainer dies at 104

Hollywood golden era actress, Luise Rainer, has died at the age of 104. She is famed for being the first consecutive winner of Oscars in the 1930s. The Germany-born star was named best actress in 1936 and 1937 – a feat achieved by only five actors in Academy Awards history to date.

Seydou Keita is still Mali’s star man

Mali have released their player list for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea, with Modibo Maiga of French side Metz returning to the team after a long absence.

Abdou Traore and Cheick Diabate of Bordeaux make the list while Ajaccio goalkeeper Oumar Sissoko was not called up this time.

NFF lines up six friendlies for Eagles in 2015

The Nigeria Football Federation has proposed six “Grade A” friendly matches for the Super Eagles in the New Year, AfricanFootball.com reports.

The matches include the much-advertised Brazil friendly in Uyo billed for March.

There will be five other matches one of which will also be played in Nigeria.

The NFF leadership has promised to make use of all the FIFA friendly windows in 2015 as the African champions rebuild after the failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

The other FIFA windows are – June 8-16, August 31 to September 8, October 5-13 and November 9-17.

These matches are outside the two AFCON warm-ups against Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan in Abu Dhabi early next month, which will be played by players from the domestic league.

Gambia president returns home amidst reports of attempted coup

Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh arrived back in Banjul on Wednesday, official sources said, one day after gunfire erupted around the presidential palace and the government denied media reports of a coup attempt.

Jammeh was in France or Dubai when violence broke out and he returned home via N’Djamena, where he told Chad officials during a refueling stop on Tuesday evening that he planned to return home.

Alao-Akala Reveals Why He dumped PDP

A former chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, has finally opened up on why he left the PDP to join Labour Party (LP).
The Oyo State, former governor made the revelations in an interview with Daily Independent correspondent,  where he bares his mind on the crises rocking the party as well as his determination to break the second term jinx in the state.

General-buharis-new-year-message-to-nigerian-youth.

The presidential candidate on the platform of the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) greeted Nigerians with coming 2015 New Year.

It should be noted that General Buhari is key opponent of incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 general elections.
Read his message in full below:
“As we welcome the year 2015, I have shared a message to Nigerians in general, but I find it crucial to send another message directly to Nigeria’s youth, who are the major stakeholders of this enterprise.

Nasarawa Governor Is Not Dead – Media Aide

The media aide of the Nasarawa State Governor Yakubu Lamai debunked rumours that Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura died while receiving treatment abroad.

Mr. Lamai called people who spread such news “malicious and callous”.
Rumours circulating the state that Al-Makura had died of kidney failure in an unnamed hospital in London were he had gone for medical treatment. Social media users got suspicious from the very beginning:

Is it true that governor of nasarawa state Al- makura is dead? …. Just asking
— Gentle Genius (@Gentlekez10) December 30, 2014