Economist Piketty spurns France's top honour

homas Piketty declines Legion d'Honneur saying he does not think it is up to a government to say who is honourable.

Once close to France's ruling Socialist party, Piketty has become very critical of President Francois Hollande [EPA]

French economist Thomas Piketty, who shot to fame and topped best-seller lists in 2014 with his controversial book on wealth and inequality, has declined the country's highest award, the Legion d'Honneur.

Sierra Leone leader urges prayer to end Ebola

President Ernest Bai Korom asks country to begin week-long fasting and prayer in bid to end Ebola scourge.

Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma has asked the country to begin a week of fasting and prayers to end the Ebola virus that has killed more than 2,700 people in the country.In a New Year's Day broadcast on Thursday, Koroma said the seven days of prayers and fasting would begin immediately. "Today I ask all to commit our actions to the grace, mercy and protection of God Almighty," he said.

Most cancer types 'just bad luck'

Most types of cancer can be put down to bad luck rather than risk factors such as smoking, a study has suggested.

A US team were trying to explain why some tissues were millions of times more vulnerable to cancer than others.
The results, in the journal Science, showed two thirds of the cancer types analysed were caused just by chance mutations rather than lifestyle.

‘2015 elections will not split Nigeria’

The founder of Champions Royal Assembly, Joshua Iginla, has said that contrary to a prophecy that Nigeria may break up this year, the country will not split, but will overcome its challenges.  

New naval warship arrives Lagos today

Nigerian Navy is set to boost its policing of the nation’s maritime environment with the coming of a new warship, NNS Okpabana, from the United States of America.
NNS Okpabana, a former United States Coast Guard vessel, Daily Sun learnt, would, like its sister vessel, NNS Thunder, join in the policing of Nigeria’s water ways, in response to the mandate by President Goodluck Jonathan to rid the water ways of crude oil thieves.

I’ll surpass my development target –Aregbesola

Governor of Osun Stae, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said his administration will do everything possible to ensure it is not slowed down by unpleasant financial weather.
The governor in a New Year’s broadcast said his government was poised to surpass the target it has for the development of the state.

Sambo rates PDP high in performance

Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, has commended the efforts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government across the federation for its credible performance.        
He gave the commendation on Wednesday during a reconciliation meeting in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.