FAKE INTERPRETER AT MANDELA'S MEMORIAL BEGS FOR FORGIVENESS

Thamsanqa Jantjie said that he began hallucinating whilst interpreting at the Nelson Mandela memorial, saying that he saw "angels". He added that he was once hospitalised in a mental health facility for more than one year and claimed he suffered a schizophrenic episode on stage that left him unable to do his job properly

Mr Jantjie, who stood gesticulating feet away from US President Obama and others who spoke at Tuesday's ceremony that was broadcast around the world, insisted that he was doing proper sign-language interpretation of the speeches of world leaders.

TAYE DIGGS AND IDINA MENZEL SPLIT AFTER 11YRS MARRIAGE

Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel have split after almost 11 years of marriage. The spokesperson for the couple confirmed the separation, saying that, “Idina Menzel and Taye Diggs have jointly decided to separate at this time. Their primary focus and concern is for their son. We ask that you respect their privacy during this time.”

The couple who have a son, Walker Diggs, had earlier complained of difficulties in maintaining a long distance marriage with Menzel emphasising the difficulties of being in Los Angeles while also having to be in New York for work.

INSTAGRAM RELEASES NEW FEATURE

Photo-sharing service Instagram unveiled a new feature that allows users to send images and messages privately, as the Facebook-owned company sought to bolster its appeal among younger consumers who are increasingly using mobile messaging applications.

The new Instagram Direct feature allows users to send a photo or video to a single person or up to 15 people, and to have real-time text conversations.

‘Sometimes you want to be able to share, not with everyone, but just with a specific group,’ said Kevin Systrom, Instagram co-founder and chief executive during a presentation in New York. ‘Instagram Direct is a simple way to send photos and videos to your friends.’

Instagram claims to have more than 150 million monthly users who have shared 16 billion photos on the service. Until now, the photos could only be shared publicly, allowing them to be seen by anyone using the service.

Facebook Inc, the world's No. 1 Internet social network, bought Instagram for $1 billion in 2012. The new features come as Facebook and Instagram face increasing competition from a new crop of mobile messaging services, including WhatsApp and Snapchat.

In October, Facebook said it was seeing a decline in daily use by younger teenagers in the United States, although it said overall use by teenagers was stable. Bottom line, this is a catch-up move for Instagram,’ wrote Forrester Research analyst Julie Ask in a blog post. ‘Apps like WeChat already allow users to share videos, photos, messages, cartoons, voice clips to individuals, groups, groups created around an event.’

Instagram made the announcement Thursday in a swanky two-story event studio in midtown Manhattan, which some industry observers speculated was picked to lure the attention of ad firms on Madison Avenue. Systrom didn't address advertising or any revenue-linked potential of the new features.

NORTH KOREA'S ECCENTRIC DICTATOR "KIM JONG UN" EXECUTED HIS UNCLE BECAUSE HE WAS A THREAT

JANG SONG THAEK BEING LED AWAY

The uncle of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un was executed yesterday months after his ex-girlfriend was executed on his orders.

Jang Song Thaek, who had been considered the second most powerful official in the country, was killed immediately after a military trial. He was deemed a traitor and a ‘worse than a dog’ counter-revolutionary who was seeking to overthrow the state, the regime’s news agency KCNA said.

JANG SONG WAS KIM JONG UN'S MENTOR BEFORE THINGS FELL APART

Earlier this week he was expelled from the Workers’ Party of Korea and stripped of all his posts, having been accused of corruption, drug use, gambling, womanising and leading a ‘dissolute and depraved life’.

CONTROVERSIAL LETTER - JONATHAN MEETS OBASANJO IN KENYA

The dust generated by the letter written by Ex-president, Olusegun Obasanjo to President Jonathan will not settle in a very long time. Aides of both men have been attempting to outdo one another by analyzing the letter to their favour. Both political giants met on Thursday, behind closed doors in the  Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting held less than 24 hours after an 18-page   letter Obasanjo    sent to Jonathan went public.

Both leaders were in Nairobi for  Kenya’s  50th independence anniversary which was held inside the Safaricom Stadium. The former President had in the letter accused Jonathan of  condoning corruption and engaging in acts  that were capable of destroying the country.

Before  the event, Obasanjo had made an  appearance at Jonathan’s hotel on a day the  media were awash with the letter  titled “Before it is too late.” The former President’s arrival was said  to have been heralded by the surprise visit to Jonathan by Obasanjo’s daughter identified simply as Funke.

The ex-President, in his usual humorous manner, said, “Mr. President, I have come to pay homage.” A source said they   talked briefly over breakfast  after which  Obasanjo jokingly said, “Mr. President, permission to go ahead of you.” Jonathan replied with “Permission granted,” amidst laughter by the two of them and their aides.

PHOTONEWS - PRINCE GEORGE'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

See more pictures after the cut................

GIRL(14) BULLIED TO DEATH FOR BEING TOO PRETTY

SARAH CLERKSON

A schoolgirl is believed to have hanged herself at a teenage house party after suffering weeks of abuse from jealous bullies. Sarah Clerkson, 14, was found unconscious in a bedroom early on Sunday and died shortly afterwards in hospital.

Horrified teenagers at the party kicked the door down when they realised something was wrong and tried to revive her with CPR. Friends and family said Sarah had become ‘emotionally disturbed’ after being picked on by girls. They were said to be envious of her good looks.

Sarah moved schools about six weeks ago after being bullied. She wrote on Facebook about how she was moving after being hit by another girl, but her family said she faced further bullying at her new school.

Grandfather David Chapman, 64, said she appeared to be coping better in recent weeks. ‘We saw her a few weeks ago,’ he said. ‘We went to the Metrocentre [a shopping complex in Gateshead] and she was bubbling, or in her words “buzzing”. ‘She was emotionally disturbed but we thought things were starting to change for her. ‘There’d been a problem with her introduction into a new school. She was bullied for about a week. You know what they’re like when new kids come but it had all blown over.’

ANOTHER NIGERIAN FOUND DEAD IN HIS APARTMENT IN BOSTON

LATE BENJAMIN

A 57-year-old Nigerian, Mr. Benjamin Chibuogwu was found dead in his apartment on Saturday in Lowell, Massachusetts. A native of Awka in Anambra state, Mr. Chibuogwu recently attended the Awka Convention in New Jersey over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Mr. Chibuogwu body was found three days after he died. The gruesome discovery was made when his brother who lives in Seattle, Washington, could not reach him over the phone for three days, he then alerted a friend who went to Mr. Chibuogwu’s house with the landlord and found his body. Mr. Chibuogwu, who is divorced and lived alone, is survived by five kids - three girls and two boys.

Chibuogwu popularly known as "Benny Chuks" briefly played professional soccer with Vasco Da Gama Football Club of Enugu before coming to the United States. The Boston community is having a wake for him on Saturday, December 13, 2013 at St. John’s Evangelist Parish in North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, after which his body would be taken back to Nigeria for burial.

Earlier this year, Elias Onyechi, a ther 60-year-old Nigerian man based in  Lowell,  was also found dead in his apartment. Elias Onyechi, from Ogidi in Anambra state, was also divorced with five children. He was buried in Lowell.

This summer too another Nigerian, 54-year-old Sonny Asoa, formerly resident of Lowell, died in Revere, Massachusetts. He, too, was living alone after divorcing his wife.

FULL TEXT OF OBASANJO'S LETTER TO PRESIDENT JONATHAN TITLED "BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE"

•A letter of appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

I am constrained to make this an open letter to you for a number of reasons. 

One,  the  current  situation  and  consequent  possible  outcome dictate that I should,  before the door closes on reason  and promotion of national  interest,  alert  you  to  the  danger  that  may  be  lurking  in the corner.    

Two, none of  the  four  or more  letters  that I  have  written to  you in  the  past  two  years  or  so  has elicited  an  acknowledgment  or  any response.    

Three,  people  close  to  you,  if  not  yourself,  have been asking,  what  does  Obasanjo  want?    

Four,  I  could  sense  a  semblance between  the situation that  we are  gradually getting into and the situation we fell into as a nation during the Abacha era.    

Five, everything must be done  to  guard,  protect  and  defend  our  fledgling  democracy,  nourish  it and prevent  bloodshed.    

Six,  we  must  move  away  from  advertently  or inadvertently  dividing  the country along  weak seams  of North-South and Christian-Moslem.  

Seven,  nothing  should be  done to  allow  the  country to degenerate into  economic  dormancy,  stagnation  or  retrogression.

Eight,  some  of  our  international  friends  and  development  partners  are genuinely  worried  about  signs and  signals  that  are  coming  out  of Nigeria.    

Nine,  Nigeria  should  be in a  position to  take  advantage  of  the present  favourable  international  interest to  invest  in  Africa  -  an opportunity  that  will  not  be  open  for  too  long.    

Ten,  I  am  concerned about your legacy and your climb-down which you alone can best be the manager of, whenever you so decide.

Mr. President, you have on  a  number of  occasions  acknowledged the  role God  enabled  me  to  play  in your  ascension  to  power.  You  put me  third  after  God  and  your  parents  among  those  that  have impacted  most  on  your  life.    I  have  always  retorted  that  God  only put  you  where you are and  those that  could be regarded  as having  played  a  role were only instruments of God to achieve God’s purpose in your life.   

For me, I believe  that  politically,  it  was  in  the  best  interest  of  Nigeria  that  you,  a Nigerian  from minority  group  in  the  South, could  rise  to  the  highest pinnacle  of  political  leadership. If  Obasanjo could  get  there,  Yar’Adua could get there and Jonathan can get there, any Nigerian can. It is now not a matter  of the  turn  of any section or  geographical area  but the best interest of Nigeria and all  Nigerians.   

It has been  proved that no group – ethnic,  linguistic,  religious  or  geographical  location  –  has  monopoly of materials  for  leadership  of  our  country.  And  no  group  solely  by  itself can crown any  of its members the  Nigerian CEO.    It is  good for  Nigeria.

FG & ASUU SIGNS AGREEMENT - SET TO CALL OFF 5-MONTHS OLD STRIKE

After five months and 10 days that the public universities have been on strike, the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities on Wednesday finally signed a fresh  agreement. The fresh pact is the review of the Federal Government/ASUU 2012 Memorandum of Understanding reached on the 2009 agreement.

Both parties, however, refused to reveal the details of the agreement to journalists who witnessed the signing of the agreement. The meeting was almost boycotted by the union until the intervention of stakeholders.

ASUU had on Tuesday vowed not to attend the meeting because there was no commitment and proper invitation from the government.The union had demanded for proof of the payment of the N200bn into a Central Bank of Nigeria account for public universities, non-victimisation clause, review of the agreement in 2014 and that a representative of government, preferably the Attorney-General of the Federation to sign the agreement as conditions to call off the strike which began on July 1.

PRESIDENTIAL MOUTHPIECE,REUBEN ABATI, RESPONDS TO OBJ'S LETTER

YOU HAVE BETRAYED GOD AND THE PEOPLE OF NIGERIA - OBASANJO WRITES JONATHAN

An apparently angry and frustrated ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has written what clearly competes as one of the most acerbic letters in modern history to President Goodluck Jonathan, accusing him of ineptitude and of taking actions calculated at destroying Nigeria.

“Nigeria is bleeding and the hemorrhage must be stopped,” Mr. Obasanjo said in the 18-page letter dated December 2, 2013 and exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES Tuesday.

He said Mr. Jonathan has failed to deliver on his promises to the Nigerian people, stem corruption, promote national unity and strengthen national security.

He said in the letter titled “Before it is too late” that rather than take steps to advance Nigeria’s interest and up the standards of living of Nigerians, Mr. Jonathan had betrayed God and the Nigerian people that brought him to power, and has been pursuing selfish personal and political interests based on advice he receives from “self-centred aides”.

SHAME - JULIUS BERGER AGREES TO PAY $32MILLION IN US FOR BRIBING NIGERIAN OFFICIALS

The US Justice Department  and FBI said Tuesday the German-based international engineering company, Bilfinger SE, has agreed to pay a $32 million penalty for charges relating to violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Bilfinger's Nigerian construction subsidiary, Julius Berger PLC was charged with bribing Nigerian government officials to obtain and retain contracts related to work for the Eastern Gas Gathering System (EGGS).  A project valued at $387 million.  

The agreement follows a three count criminal charge filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas.  

CONTROVERSIAL PROVISION SEEKING 7YRS JAIL TERM FOR SOCIAL MEDIA CRITICS HAS BEEN DELETED

Following public pressure, Ogun East Senator, Adegbenga Kaka, announced at a press conference Tuesday, he'd removed the controversial provision in the Electronic Fraud and Transactions bill that could have given social media critics a seven year prison sentence for speaking out against the government.

The bill's purpose is to seek stiffer punishment for internet fraudsters and scammers in Nigeria.  But the sweeping scope of the provision would have affected the work of journalists and social media critics.

Kaka said the provision conflicted with the Federal Republic of Nigeria constitution, and undermined the rights of the freedom of expression of citizens. He said there is no monopoly on knowledge anywhere in the world.

LATE PAUL WALKER'S FINAL SMILE

PAUL'S FINAL SMILE AS THEY LEFT THE CHARITY EVENT

Paul Walker was actor photographed in friend's Porsche just moments before they were killed in fiery crash.

They were leaving charity fundraiser in Santa Clarita on November 30 - just moments before his friend's car hit a pole and burst into flames

SENATE DISAPPOINTS NIGERIANS AS IT REFUSED TO QUIZ STELLA ODUAH ABOUT THE N255 ARMOURED CAR SCANDAL

The Senate on Tuesday rejected the explanation of the Minister of Aviation,  Ms. Stella Oduah, on the ill-fated crash involving a 23-year – old Propeller aeroplane belonging to the Associated Airlines on October 3.

The upper legislative house asked the minister to re-submit a detailed presentation on the incident.

Oduah, who appeared before the senate committee on aviation in company with heads of the various agencies under her ministry had limited her presentation to the information retrieved from the black box of the aircraft.

PICTURE NEWS - FOR THE LOVE OF NELSON MANDELA

PICTURES - MICHELLE OBAMA TEACHES LESSONS ON "KEEPING YOUR MAN 101"

UNIMPRESSED MICHELLE OBAMA

South Africa was host to perhaps the largest gathering of world leaders, former and current; as they paid tribute to the late MADIBA, Nelson Mandela......

US President Barack Obama, Prime Minister David Cameron and Danish leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt grinned at the memorial service for the former South African president, prompting an outpouring of criticism. Wrong place wrong time maybe. 

Michelle Obama was obviously not interested and her expressions said it all....

ASUU STRIKE - FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BACKS DOWN ON SACK THREAT

The Presidency said on Monday it was no longer interested in the December 9  deadline  it handed over to the striking university  teachers  to return to work.  Rather, it said it was satisfied with the lecturers’  level of compliance with  the  directive to them  to resume work or be sacked.

The Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said this while briefing journalists on the payment of the N200bn by the Federal Government into the “Revitalisation of Universities Infrastructure” account with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Okupe’s claim of “substantial compliance” was however described as  total falsehood by the Academic Staff Union of Universities leadership, which also said it would not attend a meeting on Wednesday(today)  with the Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, and vice-chancellors on  the University Needs Assessment Report Implementation Committee.

Okupe had  told journalists   that  the Federal Government  was soft pedaling on the threat to sack the defiant ASUU members  because  many senior citizens and institutions had intervened. He said that as of Sunday evening, government had reports that   there was substantial compliance by many lecturers   with the directive.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RESULTS- PHOTOS & VIDEO...MAN CITY WINS AWAY IN GERMANY AS RONALDO SETS GOALSCORING RECORD

Manchester City were surprise winners in  Germany as holders Bayern Munich fell 3-2 courtesy of a remarkable comeback from 2 goals down. 

Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player ever to score Nine goals in the group stages of the Champions league.

The Galatasaray vs Juventus game was abandoned after a snow storm.

                                                             FULL RESULTS

    Man Utd     1 - 0     Shakhtar Donetsk 

Real Sociedad    0 - 1   Bayer 04 Leverkusen 

                                            FC Copenhagen    0 - 2     Real Madrid 

                                                    Benfica         2 - 1      Paris Saint Germain 

                                                 Olympiakos     3 - 1      RSC Anderlecht                                               

                                              Viktoria Plzen     2 - 1      CSKA Moscow

                                               Galatasaray - Juventus (Abandoned)

                                               Bayern Munich    2 - 3     Man City