Stephanie Kuye Blog .

The US State Department called on travelers to “exercise increased caution in Israel due to terrorism.” In an email to citizens registered to its Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP, the State Department noted that the security level of Israel, the West Bank and Gaza is at Level 2: Exercise Extreme Caution. The security warning states that travelers should not travel to Gaza due to “terrorism, civil unrest, and armed conflict.” It also recommends that travelers reconsider travel to the West Bank due to “terrorism, potentially violent civil unrest, and the potential for armed conflict.” The warning continues: “Terrorist groups and lone-wolf terrorists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. Violence can occur in Jerusalem and the West Bank without warning.” US government personn...

On Friday, the 49-year-old rap mogul posted an alluring bathtub photo of his on-and-off girlfriend Cassie Ventura. But the next day, the 32-year-old singer and model made her own post featuring a photo of her kissing another man. In Diddy's black and white Instagram story, Cassie is seen luxuriating in a bubble bath with a beaming smile and her hair coyly draped over one eye. The record producer captioned the photo, 'I (heart) @cassie.' The next day, Cassie posted what at first seemed like a heartwarming expression of love and gratitude. The top of the photo frame showed the singer hugging her mother with an unidentified man present. 'I love you mommy,' Cassie wrote in the caption. But the bottom part of the frame featured another photo — this one with Cassie passionately kissing the same man. She followed up the reversal by unfollowing all but two Instagram accounts. Ladies & Gentlemen,  Cassie has Moved On with Hunky Fitness...

📽️ Sadly, actress, singer, songwriter, & activist "Olivia Newton John" doesn't have much time left with us. She has been battling cancer for many years now, and several times she has beaten it. But it keeps coming back, and this time she has "Stage 4" cancer, and unfortunately may only have days left to live. Her condition is getting worse, so it's not looking good for her. While most of you may know her from the movie "Grease", she is also a wonderful singer, and has starred in many other movies as well. She is a five time Grammy award winner, has 5 #1 billboard singles, 10 top 10 billboard singles, two #1 billboard solo albums, & 14 of her albums, including two platinum & four double platinum have been certified gold by the RIAA. She has sold over 100 million albums making her one of the best selling artists of all time. Her role in the movie Grease, soundtrack, & hit song "Your The One That I Want", is amon...

The family of Emmanuel Okwuke have marked banana and plantain as a forbidden fruit,  after the disaster it caused them, after they lost their breadwinner, Emmanuel, who consumed a bunch of the fruit. The former Information & Communications Technology Editor of Daily Independent Newspapers was said to have battled with a damaged liver before giving up the ghost on the eve of Christmas in 2016. Two years after the incident,  his widow, Juli, stated that their life had changed since the incident. . According to Punch, chemical substance,  carbide is being used by local sellers to ripen fruits quickly, which is very harmful to the health. What's more, an emeritus professor of Food and Environmental Chemistry, Faculty of Science,  University of Lagos, Bolanle Osuntogun, said accumulated effect of taking chemically-induced fruits mights be responded for inexplicable cancers in the society.

Mr Shagari died Friday evening at the National Hospital Abuja after a brief illness. He was 93 years. The death of the elder statesman was announced by his grandson, Bello Shagari, via his Twitter handle. Mr Shagari was elected president in 1979 and led Nigeria between 1979 and 1983 on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN). He was removed from office via a military coup in December 1983. The coup plotters eventually named then Major General Muhammadu Buhari as the Head of State. Mr Shagari’s death was also confirmed by the governor of his home Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal.

Clashes between Sudanese anti-riot police and protesters in demonstrations against a rise in bread prices have killed 19 people, including two security force personnel, the government said on Thursday. "Nineteen people lost their lives in the incidents including two from security forces," government spokesman Boshara Juma said on state television, adding that 219 people were wounded. Sudanese authorities had previously said that eight people have been killed in clashes in Khartoum and several other cities since the protests began on December 19. This is a developing story....

A female student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria  has committed suicide with a note left behind with important details including her bank account pin. She also blamed her parents in the note, saying her death will bring them comfort. Ashiat Abdulganiyu stresses in her death note a rough relationship with her mom who accuses her of witchcraft. Being without maternal love and issues relating to discovering one’s essence, the student opts for suicide! In the first part of the letter,  she made it known that her bipolar mother made her life a living hell. The only thing she got from her was feeding money,  while her brother took charge of her education and upkeep . The letter revealed that her brother couldn't keep up at a time because he felt she wasn't her responsibility. In the second part of the letter,  she apologised to a 'Collins' for having to leave, she equally apologised to her bestie 'Maryam Olayemi' who was more than a bestie to...

December 25th which is Christmas Day will now be recognised as a national holiday in Iraq to celebrate “the occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ”. Taking to Twitter to make the announcement, the government of the middle eastern nation wrote, “ The @IraqiGovt announces Christmas Day to be an official holiday across Iraq. Happy Christmas to our Christian citizens, all Iraqis and to all who are celebrating around the world.” According to CNN, Iraq had about 1.4million Christians but the number has reduced to roughly 300,000 after hundreds of thousands fled the country following violence and attacks by various armed groups over the years.

Rusev celebrated Christmas in style by winning the United States championship from Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura used his versatile offense to wear down Rusev with pounding blows and push him to his max with his versatile ground game. The champion got Rusev in perfect position for the Kinshasa, but The Bulgarian Brute popped up and connected flush with the Machka Kick, only for The Artist to kick out. However, Rusev refused to be deterred by Nakamura's resiliency, and after finding a way out of a triangle submission attempt from Shinsuke and surviving a knee to his temple, The Super Athlete rallied once more, connecting with a second Machka Kick to win the United States Championship and mark his birthday, Christmas Day and Rusev Day in style.

The rate of drug abuse in States across Nigeria is on a daily increase, as the face of drug abuse is rapidly changing to other things. Especially in Adamawa, addicts are beginning to resort into more harmful drug abuse substances such as the use of embalming oil, paint, petrol and the likes The Head of Drug Reduction Unit of the Adamawa State Command of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Shehu Dankolo, speaking with the Nation said the resort is as a result of the banning of cocaine and tightening of rules regarding the purchase and consumption of tramadol and other conventional drugs Speaking on the way out,  he said the factors for drug abuse must be tackled and that laws need to be made to address the different substances being abused. .

 U.S. immigration authorities say an 8-year-old boy from Guatemala has died in government custody, the second immigrant child to die in detention this month. US Customs and Border Protection say the boy died shortly after midnight Tuesday. CBP says the boy showed “signs of potential illness” Monday and was taken with his father to a hospital in Alamogordo, New Mexico. There, CBP says, he was diagnosed with a cold and a fever. He was given medications and released Monday afternoon. The agency says the boy was returned to the hospital Monday evening with nausea and vomiting. He died just hours later. A CBP spokesman declined to elaborate Tuesday, but said details will be released shortly. A 7-year-old Guatemalan girl died earlier this month after being apprehended by border agents.

After weeks of plotting, pleading, and begging, The Miz finally gets his Christmas wish: A tag team with Shane McMahon. In the newly Christened era of opportunity, Shane felt that this could be the right way to get this path on track. On the latest edition of MizTV, Shane officially accepted Miz’s request to become a tag team with him and form The Co-Besties.

A final year Urban and Regional planning student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ogun State, was, on Christmas Day, killed by a hit-and-run driver in Lagos state. According to media reports, the student identified as, Boluwatife Oyeleye had gone out for a Christmas outing and was returning home around 6:30pm, when she was hit by a vehicle, while trying to cross the Lekki-Epe expressway at the Ajah-Ilaje axis. The driver, however, fled immediately he hit her. Heartless motherf*cker! A  commercial bike rider later assisted Boluwatife to the roadside and called on passersby to help rush her to the hospital, but no help came until she gave up the ghost.

Davido has finally reached out to his alleged first baby mama, Ayotomide Labinjo, thanks to journalist Kemi Olunloyo who took up the case passionately and is advocating for Davido to claim Michelle as his first child. She (Kemi Olunloyo) shared the news on Twitter . She also asked him to send the daughter a Christmas present . Davido has vehemently denied he fathered a child with her four years ago.  However, she insists he is the father of her child and wants an independent DNA test carried out.

The Chairman of Forte Oil Plc, Mr Femi Otedola, has announced his decision to sell all his shares in the firm’s downstream business. This is coming more than three years after the firm sold 17 per cent of its equity to a Swiss oil trading firm. Forte Oil disclosed on Monday the divestment by its majority shareholder in a notice signed by its General Counsel, Mr Akinleye Olagbende. The notice read in part, “F orte Oil Plc hereby notifies the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Securities and Exchange Commission, shareholders and the investing community that its majority shareholder, Mr Femi Otedola, has reached an agreement with the Prudent Energy team, investing through Ignite Investments and Commodities Limited, to divest of his full 75 per cent direct and indirect shareholding in the company’s downstream business. “Mr Otedola’s divestment from the downstream business is pursuant to his decision to explore and maximise business opportunities in refining and petrochemicals. The tran...

Gunmen have reportedly abducted two Catholic priests in Anambra State. The incident, it was gathered, took place on Tuesday at Umuleri, in the Anambra East Local Government Area of the state. Though the names of the priests could not be ascertained as of press time, a source who would not want to be mentioned said, “They are priests of St Teresa’s Catholic Church Umueze Anam in Anambra West Local Government.” The source said the priests were abducted at Umuleri while returning from an official function. “They were actually kidnapped in Umuleri area on their way to Umueze Anam. The Kidnap took place at Nneyi Umuleri in Anambra East LGA,” the source stated. Efforts to get the reaction of the police about the incident failed. A Whatsapp message sent to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed indicated that he read the message, but he did not reply. Calls also put across to his telephone line rang out. Reacting, Mr Abuchi Onwumelu, who is Governor...

Martha Erika Alonso, the governor of the Mexican state of Puebla, and her husband, Rafael Moreno Valle, who was a senator and former governor, were on Monday killed in a helicopter crash, the country’s president said. “My deepest condolences to the relatives of Senator Rafael Moreno Valle and his wife, governor of Puebla Martha Erika Alonso,” President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wrote on Twitter.  "I assume the commitment to investigate the causes” and  “tell the truth about what happened,” Lopez Obrador wrote. It was learned that the helicopter’s two pilots and an assistant to the senator also died in the crash. According to AFP, the aircraft went down 10 minutes after taking off in the Santa Maria Coronango area of Puebla, and the cause of the crash is still unknown. Late Alonso was sworn in as governor on December 14 after an electoral tribunal certified her victory in July polls. The deceased was the first woman to occupy the position in Puebla, where he...

Naomi Campbell revealed a rarely seen part of herself on Sunday — her natural hair. The British supermodel, 48, posted a wigless selfie to Instagram captioned 'Bare it all' Naomi had her dark hair done up in corn rows. The model and philanthropist revealed to the Evening Standard last year that she had suffered bald patches and a receding hairline from years of using extensions, braids and weaves.

American singer,Bobby Brown, his lovely wife Alicia and other members of the New Edition music group visited the Africa shrine Yesterday. See more photos:

Boko Haram insurgents are currently attacking Makalama, a village in Gatamwarwa ward, Chibok local government area of Borno state. This is coming barely two months after the insurgents attacked Mifa, another Chibok village, killing the village head. “They came in this night through the nearby deserted Gogumdi village,” a Chibok resident told TheCable. They started shooting and people have been running to the bushes. Our troops here at 117 task force battalion are getting set to move in now,” he added. Makalama is about 21 kilometres away from Chibok town.

Zamfara state on map The police have restricted movement in Tsafe local government area of Zamfara state following unrest in the area. Some internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Tsafe had taken to the streets to protest the recent killings in the state. The protest lit bonfires, destroyed some vehicles and set the secretariat of Tsafe local government on fire. The police deployed officers to bring the situation under control but the protesters refused to back down. Muhammad Shehu, police public relations officer in the state, later announced that movement had been restricted between 6pm and 7am. He said the restriction will be in force till the security situation improves. Suspected bandits have killed, kidnapped and unleashed hell on residents of the state despite efforts by government to check the high wave of violence. Source: The Cable

An Accounting student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Abiodun Babalola, was killed during an attack on his hostel by armed persons in the early hours of Saturday. The university’s spokesperson, Abiodun Babalola, who confirmed this in a statement late Sunday, said the year three student died as a result of injuries he sustained during an attack on the Adam and Eve hostel, an out of campus students’ residential hostel, along Parakin – Ede road axis of Ile-Ife. The release stated that the students were attacked in the early hours of Saturday with dangerous weapons by some unknown persons who inflicted varying degrees of injuries on them before carting away their money, phones and other valuables. “The authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, have condoled with the parents and family members of a part three student of the Department of Accounting of the University, Abiodun Babalola, who died as a result of injuries he sustained during an a...

Sophie Oluwole, Nigeria's first female Doctor of Philosophy, is dead. News of her death was announced on Monday. Popularly referred to as 'Mamalawo', (meaning, a female herbalist) Professor Oluwole, who was 82 at the time of her death, was a senior lecturer at the University of Lagos and the Chief Executive Officer of Centre for African Culture and Development. She retired from the Department of Philosophy, University of Lagos. She is also an author on several books on philosophy and traditional religion.

Popular Nigerian comedian, Bolaji Amusan, popularly known as ‘Mr Latin' has emerged as the new president of the Theater Arts and Motion Picture Producers Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN). He was elected by the association in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital, on Sunday and is to lead the association’s affairs for the next four years. The emergence of Amusan followed the end of the tenure of Dele Odule, a veteran practitioner whose wealth of experience brought the association to limelight across the globe. Other elected officers of the association include Abiodun Olanrewaju (Deputy President), Fesogboye Oyewole (National General Secretary), Femi Adebayo(Legal Adviser), Odunlade Adekola (Director of Motion Pictures), Adulrasaq Adewale (Director Theater Arts) and Debo Alexander (Business/Organising Secretary) They also include Fathia Balogun (National Treasurer), Bamidele Adeoti (National Financial Secretary), Sola Kosoko (National Auditor), Ayo Oladapo (Assistant General Secre...

At least 222 dead people were killed and another 800 injured on the islands of Sumatra and Java after a tsunami struck coastal areas around the Sunda Strait on Saturday night. The tsunami was caused by “an undersea landslide resulting from volcanic activity on Anak Krakatau” and was exacerbated by abnormally high tide because of the current full moon, Indonesia’s disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. Hundreds of homes were “heavily damaged” and “many are missing”. The deaths bring back memories of December 26, 2004, when an Indian Ocean tsunami triggered by an earthquake killed 226,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 120,000 in Indonesia. Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo expressed his sympathy and ordered government agencies to respond quickly to the disaster. "My deep condolences to the victims in Banten and Lumpung provinces," he said. "Hopefully, those who are left have patience."

No fewer than 6, 000 newly recruited constables have passed out of the police schools across the country and formally absorbed. Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, on Saturday said in his address at the passing out parades at the police training schools in Maiduguri, Enugu and Minna. Idris said that the constables had completed their seven month basic police training. He was represented at the Maiduguri and Enugu parades by Assistant Inspectors General of Police in-charge of Zones 3 and 9, Mr. Kayode Aderanti and Mr. Hosea Karma, respectively. Idris was also represented at the ceremony in Minna by the Niger Commissioner of Police, Dibal Yakadi. He said that the Federal Government has embarked on recruitment of 10, 000 additional police personnel to enhance its operations in the country. The I-GP said the recruitment and training was aimed at meeting the United Nations (UN) recommendation of one policeman to 400 people. “The recruitment of these 6, 000 re...

Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele, and her  hubby, JJC Skillz, have welcomed a set of twins. Funke’s sister, Ayo Ola-Muhammed, broke the news on Instagram on Saturday. The boys arrived on Friday in Los Angeles, U.S. They are the couple’s first children since they tied the knot in 2016 in the United Kingdom. The 41-year-old actress lost a set of twins in 2017. A popular pastor, Olagorioye Faleyimu who predicted that the actress would remain childless, is currently being trolled by Nigerians on social media. However, in response to the prophecy at the time, Funke’s husband, reaffirmed his love and commitment to her. Indeed, WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.  Congratulations,  Funke Jenifa Akindele.

Forty-two disasters were recorded in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states in 2018, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said yesterday. The disasters include flooding, fire, communal conflicts, erosion, windstorm, among others. NEMA’s Southeast Zonal Coordinator Walson Ibarakumo Brandon, who said this during a stakeholders’ meeting in Enugu, said over 300 persons were affected by the floods that ravaged Anambra between September and October. A check on their disaster profile and their emergency management outlook showed Anambra experienced 15, Ebonyi, 11 and Enugu 16 major incidents. Brandon said: “Three interventions were made by the agency in Anambra, with flood and non-flood items supplied to over 17 Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs’) camps, and recovery efforts are on with Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) set up. “Ebonyi State experienced over 11 disasters, with communal conflicts ranking as outstanding. The disaster profile of Enugu State includes 16 major...

Nigerian artistes, Olamide and Lil Kesh, are currently receiving a major backlash for their new song perceived to promote ritual killings and illegal means to make money. ‘Logo Benz’ is the title of the song currently trending on social media for all the wrong reasons. Nigerians expressed their displeasure on their different social media accounts shortly after the release of the song. @Isimaodeh wrote “This Olamide and Lil Kesh song is painful to listen to. A song that glorifies rituals, internet fraud and blood money. @royzkingin  wrote, “At this moment, Olamide and Lil kesh are toxic to the music industry.” @tamiromeo said “Olamide is cancelled” shouldn’t end here, If you really mean it, simply don’t show up for OLIC. “He and his mafia should enjoy their blood money alone.” @voiceofsanity said, “This Logo Benz song is enough a reason for Nigerians not to grace his OLIC this weekend.” @xotie also said  “You guys should boycott OLIC. “We need to send a ...

The federal government has declared Tuesday 25th, Wednesday 26th December 2018 and Tuesday January 1, 2019, as public holidays to mark Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year celebrations respectively. Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration on behalf of the federal government in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja. According to the statement signed by Mohammed Manga, Director of Press of the ministry, the minister enjoined Christian faithful and all Nigerians to use the period to pray earnestly for progress and development of Nigeria. He called on Nigerians to strengthen their resolve to maintain peace and unity in the country before, during and after the 2019 general elections, in the spirit of the season. Mr Dambazau further urged all Nigerians, “both at home and abroad, to support the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in its determination and sustained efforts towards a peaceful,united and virile nation.” He wished Nigerians happy C...