Thailand's ex-PM decries 'death of democracy'

Yingluck Shinawatra calls five-year-ban from politics an assault on democracy, and vows to fight corruption charges.

Yingluck could face 10 years in jail if convicted [Reuters]

Thailand's former prime minister has decried the "death of democracy" after a military-appointed legislature banned her from politics for five years and launched criminal charges for negligence over a controversial rice subsidy programme.
Yingluck Shinawatra denounced the decisions on Friday as an assault on democracy, and vowed to fight the new corruption charges.
"Democracy has died in Thailand today, along with the rule of law," she said in a statement posted on her Facebook page.
"That move to destroy me is still ongoing and I face it now," she said after plans to hold a press conference were called off on the advice of junta officials.
Both the impeachment and corruption charges revolve around her administration's controversial rice subsidy programme that intended to benefit her rural base but cost billions of dollars. The susbsidy scheme inspired protests that felled her government and led to a military takeover in May.
The impeachment carries an automatic five-year ban from politics, while the criminal charges could see her sentenced for up to 10 years.
Experts say the impeachment and criminal charges are the latest attempt by the country's royalist elite, and its army backers, to nullify the political influence of the Shinawatras, whose parties have won every election since 2001.
Yingluck, Thailand's first female prime minister and the sister of self-exiled former leader Thaksin Shinawatra, was dumped from office by a court ruling shortly before the army seized power in a coup on May 22 last year.

Japanese hostage 'not enemy of Muslims'

Mother of Kenji Goto, being held by ISIL, pleads for his life, as deadline for payment of $200 million ransom looms.

Junko Ishido said she would let Muslim students coming to study in Japan to stay at her home [Michael Penn]

Tokyo - As the clock ticks down to the end of the deadline ISIL has given the Japanese government to pay a massive ransom, the mother of hostage Kenji Goto, appealed for her son's life, explaining: "My son is not an enemy of Muslims."

APC Wants Violence - Gov. Aliyu

 Niger state governor, Babangida Aliyu has fingered the All Progressives Congress (APC) of plotting to cause election violence in the nation.

This was in a statement released by spokesman, Israel Ebije, in Minna on Thursday.
The statement is the governor’s response to APC’s allegation that the PDP and INEC are planning to rig the national elections.

Plateau Will Vote For PDP- Sango

Mr. Damishi Sango Former Minister of Sports has declared that the people of Plateau State will vote for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the general elections because the ruling party was conceived and delivered in the state.

Damishi Sango

He made the declaration when he led a group of senior citizens on a courtesy visit to the governorship candidate Senator Gyang Nyam Shom Pwajok in Jos.
He said: “We are here as members of Plateau Elders Forum to express our support for the ruling party PDP and all its candidates for the general election next month.

Jonathan Pays Tribute To Late King Abdullah

President Goodluck Jonathan today, January 23, 2014, joined other world leaders in sympathizing with King Salman Ibn Abdulaziz and the people of Saudi Arabia on the death of his predecessor, King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz. 
In a letter to the new Saudi monarch, President Jonathan expressed his grief over the death of the late king, sending his condolence to the people of Saudi Arabia.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President said King Abdullah would be long remembered for entrenching the process of progressive reform in his country.
He was further quoted as saying that he was confident that the existing cordial and mutually-beneficial relations between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia would be maintained and further strengthened under King Salman.

The condolence letter read, “I have received with great sadness, news of the death of His Highness, King Abdullah Ibn Abdulaziz at the grand age of 90.

Ashton Kutcher ‘to face murdered girlfriend’s alleged killer in court trial’

The Two and a Half Men actor is reportedly set to give evidence against Michael Thomas Gargiulo, who is accused of killing Ashton’s then-girlfriend Ashley Ellerin

It what sounds like a horrific twist in a Hollywood film, actor Ashton Kutcher could be called as a witness against an alleged serial killer, according to a new report.

Jewish Museum killings: Police seek man linked to gunman

Police now think a second man may have been involved in the attack on the Jewish museum

Belgian authorities are looking for a possible accomplice of Mehdi Nemmouche, the gunman charged with killing four people at a Jewish museum in May.