Three-storey building collapses in Abuja

A three-storey building has collapsed  at Naval Quarters, Gwarinpa area  in Abuja with an unspecified number of construction workers feared to be trapped under the rubbles.
Vanguard cannot ascertain the number of casulties as at press time.

Th building at Gwarinpa, Abuja

Army kills 11Boko Haram members in Maiduguri

Nigerian troops on Saturday killed 11 fighters from the Islamist sect Boko Haram during a shootout in the northeastern city of Maiduguri, a spokesman said.

Jonathan may run for AU chairperson

ADDIS ABABA(AFP) – President Goodluck Jonathan may enter the race for chairman of the African Union, after Gambia pulled out of the running this week, a source close to Jonathan said Saturday.
Leaders will choose a new chairman for the 54-member pan-African body in a secret ballot at the African Union summit opening Sunday.

I can't believe we're out! United boss Fergie in shock after Liverpool defeat

Sir Alex Ferguson was unable to mask the shattering disappointment of crashing out of the FA Cup to Liverpool.

Slumped: Manchester United were knocked out of the FA Cup

His Manchester United side batted back from falling behind to Daniel Agger's header but were undone by Dirk Kuyt's late strike.

Woods shoots error-free round to move into share of the lead in Abu Dhabi

Tiger Woods is ideally placed to put down a huge marker for the season after charging into a share of the lead with a day to go at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Having ended 2011 with his first victory for over two years, Woods has a great chance to start 2012 with another.

Main man: Tiger Woods shares the lead going into the final day

Thanks to a superb bogey-free display, the 14-major winner is on 11 under par and tied with England's Robert Rock, who ensured it was not all about the American when he birdied the final two holes for a matching 66.

The mouse that tweets like a bird: Japanese scientists create genetically-modified animal

Japanese scientists have produced a genetically-engineered mouse that tweets like a bird, it was revealed today.
A team of researchers at the University of Osaka are breeding genetically modified mice that are prone to miscopying DNA and are more likely to develop mutations.
The 'tweeting' mouse was created as part of  the team's ‘Evolved Mouse Project. They hope it will shed new light on how languages evolve.

Click here to listen to the singing mouse

A mouse genetically engineered to tweet like a bird has been created in Japan

‘Mutations are the driving force of evolution. We have cross-bred the genetically modified mice for generations to see what would happen,’ lead researcher Arikuni Uchimura said.

How to find out who Google thinks you are from your web history (and how it may even have your sex wrong)

Google's Ad Preferences page shows you the profile Google has built up of your interests - based on information gleaned from your visits to site's within Google's advertising network

IT has been said that Google knows more about what you like than your own partner
Now the search giant has given a glimpse on just how much information it has collected - and who thinks you are.

Now that's something to smile about! Toddler gives first ever grin after doctors remove infected birthmark from her lip

Little Orla Docherty finally gave a cheeky little grin today after doctors healed an infected birthmark that left her unable to smile.

 

 

The 16-month-old was born with a birthmark on her lower lip, which became infected because of its location, causing the toddler agonising pain.

Beatlemania! One Direction fans swarm airport to greet idols... and there's plenty of girls for newly-single Harry to choose

 They've only been famous for a year, but One Direction were welcomed with an A-list reception last night as they touched down on US soil.

 

 The British boyband have flown across the Atlantic in a bid to crack the American market, including asupport slot on the Big Time Rush tour and a cameo stint on Nickelodeon sitcom iCandy.

One for business, one for pleasure: Kim Kardashian juggles her two phones like an experienced pro

he's a young single lady with plenty of business interests to keep her occupied and no doubt her fair share of male suitors too. So it's understandable that Kim Kardashian would be in possession of two mobile phones.

Dual responsibilities: Kim Kardashian handles two phones as she makes her to an evening yoga class in Studio City, Los Angeles

 And the 30-year-old was pictured in Studio City, LA, handling both devices with panache as she navigated an escalator en route to her yoga class.

Is this the world's fattest squirrel? Video captures obese rodent too big to move

The obesity crisis has claimed another victim - a wild squirrel in the US that is so fat that it doesn't move even when repeatedly prodded.
The rodent was caught on camera after crawling or falling into what appears to be a bird feeder.
The man who discovers the animal tries to get him to leave but despite repeated poking, it barely twitches.

 

Stuck: The squirrel was discovered trapped in a bird feeder

The rodent was caught on camera after crawling or falling into what appears to be a bird feeder.
The man who discovers the animal tries to get him to leave but despite repeated poking, it barely twitches.

Supermodel in the making! Feline Paris Jackson shows off striking aqua eyes (but is still a child at heart with Goofy sweater)

It's not an easy feat to avert attention from global superstar Rihanna.
But Paris Jackson stole the singer's thunder last night with her incredibly striking aquamarine eyes.

Film star in the making: Paris Jackson looked radiant as she attended The Immortal World Tour - Cirque Du Soleil's critically acclaimed tribute to her father Michael 

The 13-year-old, who never got to see father Michael perform in concert, witnessed the next best thing last night at the Staples Centre in LA as she watched the premiere of The Immortal World Tour.

Football star Anton Ferdinand was spared from having to shake John Terry's hand after the pre-game routine is CANCELLED ahead of FA Cup clash

Anton Ferdinand was today spared having to shake John Terry's hand before QPR's FA Cup clash with Chelsea.
The Football Association gave the clubs permission not to take part in the traditional pre-match handshake, amid uncertainty as to whether Rangers defender Ferdinand would snub Terry.
Today is the first time the two sides have met since Terry was charged with racially abusing Ferdinand during October`s Premier League game between the two.

Handshake: Chelsea captain John Terry and Queens Park Rangers' captain Joey Barton are the only players to shake hands ahead of the FA Cup Fourth Round match at Loftus Road

Terry has denied the offence and Ferdinand was reportedly agonising over whether or not to accept his hand.

Dazzling in defeat, Murray hits new heights as he loses classic duel with Djokovic

Even in the hour of a shattering defeat, his body broken by nearly five hours of relentless combat, Andy Murray could console himself with one thought: he is finally looking and acting like a Grand Slam champion in waiting.

He has been closer to glory than a semi-final three times, but never before at this rarefied level has he really had the appearance of someone ready to take out one of his key rivals when it matters most.

So close, yet so far: Andy Murray missed out on a place in the final after losing to Novak Djokovic

He did not seriously challenge in his three Grand Slam finals and in his trio of semis against Rafael Nadal last year - the Spaniard was not fit when Murray beat him at the 2008 US Open - there only looked to be one winner.

Pakistan knew where Bin Laden was all along, Leon Panetta admits as he reveals intelligence source for Osama raid

Convinced: US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta is adamant that the Pakistani government knew about Bin Laden's remote hiding place

Pakistan officials must have known that terror chief Bin Laden was holed up in a remote compound in Abbottabad, claims Pentagon chief Leon Panettta.
The Defence Secretary has publicly hit out at the Pakistani government who he says 'must have had some sense' of Osama Bin Laden's whereabouts.

Facebook set to float on stock exchange as early as Wednesday with a value tipped at $100 BILLION

Facebook's highly anticipated launch as a publicly traded company could happen within days.
In what would be the most hotly anticipated consumer technology offering for more than a decade, Facebook could start the process for an initial public offering of stock as early as Wednesday.
The social networking site - which is expected to hit one billion users this year - would join McDonald's, Amazon.com, Visa and Bank of America Corp in the top ranks of the largest public companies in the world.

Already a billionaire on paper, Mark Zuckerberg could cash in a fortune on the open market as soon as Wednesday as Facebook is set to IPO with a value of $75-$100 billion 

The sale could raise as much as $10 billion (£6.4 billion) in an offering that would value the company at $75 billion to $100 billion (£48 billion to £64 billion), according to the Wall Street Journal.

QPR 0 Chelsea 1: Mata on the spot as Terry-led Blues win controversial Cup clash

uan Mata's hotly-disputed penalty helped Chelsea secure victory in a tempestuous FA Cup fourth-round tie at west London rivals QPR on Saturday. A match that for an hour was completely devoid of the kind of flashpoints that marred October's Barclays Premier League meeting suddenly had one when Clint Hill was harshly adjudged to have bundled over Daniel Sturridge.

Juan nil: Mata scored from the spot after Sturridge was adjudged to have been fouled in the penalty area 

Mata stepped up to score the only goal of a game dominated by the reunion between Chelsea captain John Terry and Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand, neither of whom put a foot wrong following what had been the most combustible of build-ups.

Wenger's not up for the cup as Gunners boss admits top four finish is his priority

Arsene Wenger will always love the FA Cup, but the Arsenal manager insists his priority must be Barclays Premier League success.
Wenger, 62, has won the famous old trophy no fewer than four times since taking charge in 1996. The last came seven years ago, and there has been no silverware since.

Testing times: Arsene Wenger is under increased pressure at Arsenal

 

The Gunners host Aston Villa in the fourth round on Sunday looking to lift morale following a third straight league defeat when they lost 2-1 at home to Manchester United last weekend, which saw them fall five points behind Chelsea.

Azarenka on top of the world after storming to Australian Open glory over Sharapova

Victoria Azarenka has claimed her maiden grand slam title at the Australian Open to leap to the top of the world rankings.

On top of the world: Azarenka stormed to victory over Sharapova with a dominant display on the Rod Laver Arena

Liverpool 2 Manchester United 1: Dutch of class from Kuyt as late winner settles it

Dirk Kuyt smashed home a late, late winner to knock Manchester United out of the FA Cup and send Anfield into raptures after a pulsating fourth-round tie.

Goal time: Manchester United were knocked out of the FA Cup by Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt

English football's two most successful teams didn't disappoint in a game that threatened to be a sideshow to the race row involving Patrice Evra, who captained United, and Luis Suarez, who sat in the stands. 

Hate Me Now! 10 Non-Rapping Celebrities Who Have Taken Shots at Kanye West ......

Although he might not seem like the kind of guy who enjoys getting involved in beef, Kanye West has endured his fair share of shots from his fellow rappers in the past. Everyone from Game and Lil B to 50 Cent and Ice Cube to Cam'Ron and Jim Jones have thrown jabs at Kanye throughout the course of his career. But that comes with the territory. When you're on top of the rap game, it's only natural for other MCs to want to test you. And, for better or worse, 'Ye has handled himself pretty well when it's come to beefing with other rappers.

Madonna to Take Over Super Bowl Stage With Nicki Minaj, LMFAO, and Cee Lo Green?

The NFL Super Bowl is right around the corner and the noise about Madonna's performance is getting louder and louder. The mega pop star is already scheduled to perform her new M.D.N.A. album single, "Gimme All Your Luvin," with Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. Now reports are surfacing that she will also be joined by LMFAO and Cee Lo Green

Would You Spend $50,000 to Party With Diddy?

Nobody throws a party like Diddy! This year the Bady Boy mogul has even more extravangence on the way for a pricey post-Grammy party.
Word is tickets will cost a whopping $50,000. The cheapest ticket, however, costs $1,500 going up in intervals to $15,000, $25,000 and ending at $50,000.

Protecting her assets: Venezuelan beauty queen Aida Yéspica struggles to contain her curves in tiny pink bikini....

She's the perfect contestant for a reality show where contestants wear little more than their bikinis.

Showing off her figure: Former Miss Venezuela contestant Aida Yéspica filming the Italian version of Survivor, Isola dei Famosi, struggled to contain her curves in this tiny bikini

Venezuelan beauty queen Aida Yéspica almost had a wardrobe malfunction as she splashed around with fellow celebrities in central American waters yesterday.
The 29-year-old is filming the Italian equivalent of Survivor, Isola dei Famosi, on Cayo Cochinos, on the northern shores of Honduras.

Hot-diggidy-dog! LeAnn Rimes' raunchy display steals courtside camera time from Khloe and Rob Kardashian at Dallas game

She's a Dallas girl, so there's every reason in the world for Le Ann Rimes to be at a Mavericks game... she's cheered them on many times before, and there's been no problem.

She eats? LeAnn lasciviously tucked into a hot dog as she sat with friends in the crowd 

  
But that was before Lamar Odom, 32 , signed for the team and court-side became a prime opportunity for the Kardashian family to make public appearances.

White hot: Jennifer Lopez pours her curves into a saucy swimsuit for Mario Testino photo shoot

It is a beach look that very few women would be able to pull off.
But 42-year-old Jennifer Lopez showed just how incredible her figure is when she posed for a photo shoot in a white one piece.
The singer and actress was spotted posing for esteemed fashion photographer Mario Testino at a hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.

Full frontal: J-Lo reveals plenty of flesh for the shoot, could she be trying to prove a point to anyone?

The singer and actress was spotted posing for esteemed fashion photographer Mario Testino at a hotel in Miami Beach, Florida.

What a thriller! The Glee gang channel Michael Jackson in a special tribute episode

Following the likes of Madonna, Britney Spears and Lady Gaga, it's Michael Jackson's turn to receive the Glee treatment. 
A new teaser video has been released from next week's special tribute episode to the King of Pop, showing the Glee cast performing Jackson's hit Wanna Be Startin' Something with Darren Criss, taking on lead vocals.
Criss, who plays Blaine Anderson, is seen performing some impressive dance moves, along with Jackson's trademark 'Ow' and crotch grab in the video, which will be part of the episode airing on Fox next Tuesday.

Don't Stop Til You Get Enough: Darren Criss channels Michael Jackson in next week's special tribute episode of Glee

The actor's outfit of black trousers, white socks and glittery black jacket is a fitting tribute to the late pop star.

The race to lose ONE TON: Morbidly obese at over 600lbs, four of the world's heaviest people attempt to change their lives on shocking new show

A new TLC show is set to introduce audiences to four morbidly obese individuals as they attempt to shed pounds and live a more normal lifestyle.
My 600 Pound Life, premiering on February 1, sees the group, each member of which weighs over 600 pounds, attempting to lose an astonishing one ton between them.

The story has taken an amazing seven years to document. In 2004, cameras started rolling to film the four overweight Americans as they each underwent a life-changing gastric bypass operation.

NETPod: Shundon Debut With ‘Town Boiz’

In a time where pop music in Nigeria can be said to be ‘played out’, you would wonder if you could still manage to endure the dance/club music madness. You might just have to create space for one more!

I joined the Police to get easy access to superior weapons

A 34-year-old man, who was nabbed by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the Lagos State Police Command, has declared that his father retired as the leader of an armed robbery gang.
The man, who gave his name as Akinola Olarewaju, was a member of a dangerous six-man armed robbery gang before he was arrested. He also gave the names of other members of the gang to include Femi Enuyemi, aka JJ, who he calls master and leader of the gang. Femi is said to be from Ondo State.
Others are Felix Enuyemi (Femi’s brother), aka Askari; Keshi also from Ondo State; Emmanuel Ogbonna, aged 25, from Eziwachi  in the Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State; and one Obed Odeme from Eziogbaku  in the Owerri Local Government Area of Imo State.

Our expectations for year 2012

 

Osaze

I will like to start this piece by applauding the performance of the U-17 Women National Team, nicknamed Flamingoes in defeating their Kenyan counterparts in the first leg of their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualification fixture.

High drama as two governors emerge in Kogi

Falana

Two governors emerged in Kogi State yesterday soon after the Supreme Court terminated the tenure of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and that of four other PDP governors.
One is Captain Idris Wada winner of the December governorship election and the anointed candidate of Alhaji Idris.

25 Boko Haram suspects arrested in Enugu

A team of policemen on  patrol  in Nsukka area of Enugu State   yesterday arrested 25  suspected members of the Boko Haram sect.

The suspects  were being conveyed by a young driver and an aging conductor in a Toyota bus, belonging to the Zamfara State Government with registration number XA 581 MRD.

Some of the items recovered from the suspects were  guns, unexpended bullets, daggers and battle  axes.

Facebook Cautions Leveson Over Internet Laws

Lord Justice Leveson heard evidence about the difficulties of enforcing internet control

12:30pm UK, Friday January 27, 2012

Facebook has cautioned the chairman of the inquiry into press ethics not to apply too stringent thresholds if he wants the internet to fall into line.

Ikeja bomb blasts 10th anniversary Tinubu, victims’ families flay FG for failing to fulfil promises

Former Lagos State Governor,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

Former Lagos State Governor,Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Ikeja Cantonment bomb blasts yesterday, deplored the inability of the Federal Government to fulfil its promises to the  victims of the explosions.

Fashola gives N17m to Ikeja bomb blast families

It was a day of emotions and sad recollections yesterday as the Lagos State Government handed out cheques to 70 families of victims of the black Sunday, January 27, 2002, at the foot of the Oke Afa canal, where no less than 1000 souls who were running for safety from the aerial blasts perished.

The state governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, gave N250,000 to each of the families, amounting to N17.5 million. 

Diddy Says Ante Up, "Tickets For [His] Post-Grammys After Party Top Out Around $50K Each"

Rap mogul Diddy is reminding fans just how much of an executive lifestyle he lives with reports claiming tickets for his post-Grammy Awards afterparty next month are going for up to $50,000 each.

50 Cent Calls Off Super Bowl Bet, "I Change My Mind"

G-Unit leader 50 Cent has decided to call off plans to go head-to-head with Cash Money's Birdman in a million dollar bet on next month's Super Bowl.

"[Lil] Wayne's Got An Album He's About To Drop Real Soon"

Cash Money Records CEO Birdman is letting Lil Wayne continue to put together platinum-selling records by revealing Weezy's plans to drop an upcoming I Am Not A Human Being 2 LP and their Like Father, Like Son 2 joint project later this year.

Birdman On Nicki Minaj's 'Roman Reloaded' LP, "Hands Down She Bad As A Motherf*cker"

With Young Money star Nicki Minaj having recently pushed back her highly-anticipated Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded sophomore album, Cash Money boss Birdman has reflected on her growth as an artist."I just came from listening to her album. She's grown so much as an artist. She's so talented that this s*it is scary," he said in an interview. "Like, wow she really is the female [Lil Wayne] Weezy. Hands down she bad as a motherf*cker. Her talents, skills, and what she done with her music and the way she is in front of a camera. She's just so talented to be so young. It's a brand new style. I'm just so glad she's on our team.