Breaking News - Pope Benedict XVI formally resigns to become 'pilgrim'

News in Top Pope Benedict XVI has officially resigned, saying that he now "will simply be a pilgrim" starting his last journey on earth. The pontiff, aged 85, was earlier flown by helicopter from the Vatican to his retreat at Castel Gandolfo, near Rome. The college of cardinals, headed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, is now in charge of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics until a new pope is elected. Benedict vowed...

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Breaking News - Benedict XVI: 10 things about the Pope's retirement

Pope Benedict XVI's resignation on Thursday - the first by a Pope for more than 600 years - is forcing the Vatican to consider some unusual questions. Here are 10 answers. 1. Name and title He will be known as Pope emeritus, or Roman pontiff emeritus, the Vatican announced on Tuesday. He will also continue to be known by his papal title of Benedict XVI, rather than reverting to Joseph Ratzinger, and he will continue to be addressed...

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Breaking News - Benedict XVI resignation: The two-pope problem

  News on Top The Pope's resignation could raise issues of divided loyalties among Church leaders closely allied with his teaching The Pope has resigned because he felt he was no longer up to the demands the office made on him. That hasn't happened in 600 years. In 1294 the hermit Pietro da Morrone, elevated to the papacy with the title of Celestine V because the cardinals couldn't...

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Breaking News Lulu Xingwana: Minister sorry for Afrikaner slur

News on Top Lulu Xingwana said she withdrew the comments South African Women's Minister Lulu Xingwana has apologised for saying that Afrikaner men were raised to believe that women and children were their property. She was speaking to an Australian broadcaster about the Oscar Pistorius murder case. The comments have been condemned by Afrikaner groups, who want her fired. The presidency said no individual group...

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Breaking News - Rafael Benitez: Chelsea interim manager angrily confirms exit.

News on Top The 52-year-old has been unpopular with some Blues fans since he took over fromChampions League-winning manager Roberto Di Matteo in November. The editor of Chelsea Fanzine CFCUK, David Johnstone, reckons Benitez can now expect the protests to ramp up to another level when they host West Brom in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. He said: "If he is there for Saturday's...

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Breaking News - Syria conflict: John Kerry set to up US aid to rebels

  The escalating carnage in Syria has increased pressure for western intervention New US Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting Syrian opposition leaders in Rome, as the US prepares to increase its support for rebels fighting to topple President Bashar al-Assad. He is attending a gathering of the Friends of Syria group of nations that support the Syrian opposition. Mr Kerry is expected to announce increased "non-lethal"...

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Breaking News -EU agrees to cap bankers' bonuses

News on Top The new Basel III rules will come into effect next year European Union officials have struck a provisional deal on new financial rules, including capping bank bonuses. Under the agreement, bonuses will be capped at a year's salary, but can rise to two year's pay if there is explicit approval from shareholders. The deal was reached late on Wednesday. EU ministers must approve it, although this is considered...

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Breaking News Thriving cancer's 'chaos' explained

News on Top The way cancers make a chaotic mess of their genetic code in order to thrive has been explained by UK researchers. Cancer cells can differ hugely within a tumour - it helps them develop ways to resist drugs and spread round the body. A study in the journal Nature showed cells that used up their raw materials became "stressed" and made mistakes copying their genetic code. ...

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Breaking News Babies can hear syllables in the womb, says research

News on Top Linguistic processes appear to develop long before birth Scientists say babies decipher speech as early as three months before birth. The evidence comes from detailed brain scans of 12 infants born prematurely. At just 28 weeks' gestation, the babies appeared to discriminate between different syllables like "ga" and "ba" as well as male and female voices. Writing in Proceedings of the National Academy...

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Breaking News Bad sleep 'dramatically' alters body.

News on Top A run of poor sleep can have a dramatic effect on the internal workings of the human body, say UK researchers. The activity of hundreds of genes was altered when people's sleep was cut to less than six hours a day for a week. Writing in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers said the results helped explain how poor sleep damaged health. Heart disease,...

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Breaking News New York policeman 'in cannibal plot'

  News on Top Authorities say Gilberto Valle kept files of more than 100 women on his computer A New York City policeman has been arrested for an alleged plot to kidnap women, rape and torture them and then cook and eat their body parts. Gilberto Valle is being held in custody without bail on charges that include kidnapping conspiracy and unauthorised use of law enforcement databases. The authorities were alerted by the...

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Breaking News BP spill trial told it "put profits over safety"

  News on Top The Deepwater Horizon disaster caused one of the worst oil spills in history BP has been accused of putting profits before safety on the first day of a trial in New Orleans over liability for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The accusation came from the lawyer acting for the plaintiffs' steering committee, which represents thousands of businesses and individuals. He told US District Judge, Carl Barbier, that BP executives...

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Breaking News Sequester: Obama urges governors to prod Congress to deal.

  News on Top Obama called for "just a little bit of compromise" to head off the deep budget cuts President Barack Obama has urged US governors to prod Congress to strike a budget deal averting a raft of deep budget cuts set to hit on Friday. He warned the $85bn (£56bn) cuts would put thousands of teachers out of work and bring economic uncertainty. The president has called on Congress to pass revenue rises and some budget...

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Breaking News Italy election: Deadlock after protest vote.

News on Top Italy's parliamentary elections have ended in stalemate and the possibility of a hung parliament. With all domestic votes counted, Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left bloc has narrowly beaten ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi in the lower house but has failed to secure a majority in the Senate. Control of both houses is needed to govern and a Berlusconi official said the election was "too close to call". A protest movement...

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Breaking News Students warned not to get involved in money laundering.

News on Top Students are among those who have been tricked into a money-laundering fraud Fraud experts are warning that hundreds of thousands of people are in danger of being duped into laundering money for fraudsters. They are being recruited as unwitting "money mules" who allow their own bank accounts to be used to disguise the proceeds of crime. The study was carried out by Financial...

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Breaking News Dementia 'affects 80% of care home residents'

News on Top The number of people with dementia is on the rise More than 320,000 of the 400,000 people living in care homes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland now have dementia or severe memory problems, the Alzheimer's Society charity estimates. It said the figure was almost 30% higher than previous estimates because of the rise in the ageing population and improvements in data collection. ...

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Breaking News Lord Rennard claims: Police to meet Lib Dem officials.

News on Top Lord Rennard has described the allegations as a "total distortion" of his character Liberal Democrat officials are to meet Metropolitan Police officers to discuss allegations made against the party's former chief executive Lord Rennard. The Met said it was working with the party to establish whether any criminal activity had taken place. A number of women have accused the peer of sexually inappropriate behaviour....

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Breaking News Litvinenko inquest: Government makes secrecy request

News on Top Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned in 2006 after meeting Russian contacts A coroner is to hear an application by the government to keep some information secret at the forthcoming inquest into the death of Alexander Litvinenko. The former Russian security service officer was poisoned by radioactive polonium in London in 2006. Tuesday's hearing will consider an application for a broad Public Interest Immunity...

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Breaking News Oscar Pistorius reports to South Africa authorities..

  News on Top Members of the media waited in vain outside a police station in Pretoria Oscar Pistorius has reported to the authorities in the South Africa, despite not being required to under the bail terms set by a judge last week. Mr Pistorius visited correctional officers in the capital, Pretoria, spokeswoman Lunice Johnston said. Earlier, prosecutors said a probation officer would go to his home twice a week before his...

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DR Congo:Eight Have been killed first factions 'clash' between M23 rebel group.

News on Top At least eight people have been killed in the first clashes between rival factions of the M23 rebel group in DR Congo, sources have told the BBC. The violence was linked to a power-struggle between M23 political leader Jean-Marie Runiga and military chief Sultani Makenga, the sources said. On Sunday, regional leaders signed a UN-brokered accord to end conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. About 80,000...

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Breaking News French children kidnapped in Cameroon..

  News on Top French authorities are trying to verify the authenticity of the vide A video published on YouTube appears to show seven members of a French family, including four children, abducted by Islamists in Cameroon. The video shows an armed man reading a statement in front of two men, a woman and four children. Claiming to be from the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram, the alleged kidnappers demand the release of prisoners...

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Breaking News Oscar Pistorius brother Carl also facing homicide trial.

News on Top The brother of South African athlete Oscar Pistorius - accused of murdering his girlfriend - is also facing trial over the death of a woman. Carl Pistorius is charged with culpable homicide over the death of a woman motorcyclist in a traffic accident in 2008, his lawyer said. The case has no relation to the charges against Oscar Pistorius over the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp. The Paralympic star - who was released on...

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Breaking News Egypt elections: ElBaradei warns of chaos

News on Top Key Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei has urged President Mohammed Morsi not to go ahead with elections. Mr ElBaradei said the elections risked bringing chaos and instability, and possibly military intervention. On Saturday, Mr Morsi brought forward the start of the parliamentary elections to 22 April, reportedly Coptic Christians complained that it clashed with Easter festivities. Mr ElBaradei...

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Breaking News :France's military operation in Mali in 'final phase'

News on Top French President Francois Hollande has said his country's forces are engaged in the "final phase" of the fight against militants in northern Mali. He said there had been heavy fighting in the Ifoghas mountains, where members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) were thought to be hiding. Mr Hollande also praised Chadian troops for their efforts in the same area. Thirteen Chadian soldiers and some...

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Breaking News DR Congo: African leaders sign peace deal.

News on Top The M23 rebels briefly seized control of the city of Goma in November last year Regional African leaders have signed a UN-brokered accord which aims to bring peace to the troubled eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The deal was signed in the presence of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. He said he hoped it would bring "an era of peace and stability" to the region. ...

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Breaking News Nigerian Student in Benin Turns Girlfriend To Snake For Money Ritual

News on Top At about 3pm yesterday, a Nigerian guy who schools in Houdegbe North American University Benin Republic(HNAUB) was arrested, due to his action of turning a fellow female student to a snake using supernatural powers. The guys are said to be 100 Level Business Administration Students of the above named University, to cut the explanation short, they’re freshers who wanted to make quick money,they wanted to drive exotic cars...

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Breaking News Mancini Swears When Asked About the Speculation Over His Future at the Etihad Stadium:

News on Top Roberto Mancini flew off the handle this morning in his Manchester City press conference after being asked about his future as manager at the club. Here’s what Mancini said: “F*cking hell, I can not continue to answer these questions every week. We still have two months to go. Then you get clarity. But I can not keep going. This is normal for you, it is your job. No worries. But I can not continue to respond to the...

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Breaking News A British man dies in Egyptian resort

News on Top A British man has died in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the Foreign Office has confirmed. Local police said a 50-year-old man had drowned while he was swimming off the Red Sea coast on Friday. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm the death of a British national in Egypt on 22 February. We are providing consular assistance to the family at this difficult time." Sharm el-Sheikh is one...

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Breaking News :Tunisian interior minister to form new government

  News on Top Tunisian interior minister Ali Larayedh has been tasked with forming a new government after prime minister Hamadi Jebali resigned amid a major political crisis. President Moncef Marzouki made the announcement after meeting with Mr Larayedh, who had earlier been put forward as the ruling party's candidate for prime minister. "He is the official candidate of Ennahda for prime minister," said Mouadh Ghannouchi,...

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Breaking News: US deploys 100 troops to Neighbour Niger over -Mali conflict.

News on Top France intervened in Mali amid fears militants would take over Bamako The US has deployed 100 troops to Niger to assist French forces in neighbouring Mali, the US president has said. The armed troops will provide intelligence support, President Barack Obama informed Congress on Friday. France deployed troops to Mali in January to counter al-Qaeda-linked Islamist militants. The US and Niger signed a status...

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Breaking News "Kenya election" Hatred leaflets in Kisumu and Mombasa.

  There were tensions last month in Kisumu during party primary elections News on Top Kenyan police have found leaflets inciting violence being distributed in some areas with less than two weeks to go to general elections. The police chief said they were intended to spread "fear and panic". They have been circulating in Kimusu, home to Prime Minister and presidential contender Raila Odinga, and the coastal city of...

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Breaking News Oscar Pistorius granted bail in Reeva Steenkamp case.

News on Top South African athlete Oscar Pistorius, who faces murder charges over the fatal shooting of his girlfriend, has been granted bail after a four-day hearing. Magistrate Desmond Nair said the state had not made a case that he would flee, or that he had a violent character. The Paralympic champion denies murder, saying he shot Reeva Steenkamp thinking she was an intruder at his home. The next hearing in the...

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Breaking News France urges citizens to leave north Cameroon after kidnap.

Francois Hollande spoke about the kidnapping while on a trip to Greece. (AFP)   inShare The kidnapping of seven members of a French family in northern Cameroon on Tuesday has resulted...

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Breaking News France asks nationals to leave north Cameroon.

News on Top France has urged its citizens to leave north Cameroon "as quickly as possible" after seven of its nationals were kidnapped by gunmen on Tuesday. French President Francois Hollande said he suspected militant Islamists from neighbouring Nigeria of being behind the abductions. He added that the seven tourists, including four children, had probably been taken to northern...

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Breaking News Winners Announced in Apps4Africa.

News on Top Washington — Three winners were selected for the Apps4Africa 2012 Business Challenge contest, which awards cash prizes and mentoring to innovative African startup companies who develop sustainable technology-based solutions to youth unemployment. The Apps4Africa competition awarded $10,000 each to three winners, selected from among nearly 300 applications from 27 countries by an international panel of judges, the U.S. Department...

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Breaking News Zambia seizes Chinese owned mine.

News on Top The Zambian government has taken over the running of a Chinese-owned coal mine after revoking its licence because of safety lapses. The Zambian mining minister, Yamfwa Mukanga, said that the government had cancelled all three licences held by Collum Coal mine. He said the government would "continue operating them until a suitable investor is found". China has invested more than $2bn in the Zambian mining industry. According to Beijing, China has created 50,000 jobs in Zambia, with trade between...

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Breaking News Barcelona need "magical" Nou Camp

News on Top Gerard Pique admits Barcelona will need a "magical" Champions League night at the Nou Camp to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit against AC Milan. Goals from Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari at the San Siro put Milan in control of the last 16 tie. "It's a really bad result. We played badly and can't make any excuses. We must learn," said defender Pique. "We will look to respond on one of those magical nights at the Nou...

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The Nigerian Nollwood Actor Justic Esiri had Died

News on Top The legendary actor, who had acted in many blockbusters, passed away Tuesday night; though report about the immediate cause of his death is still sketchy. He was aged 70. Esiti, Member of the Order of the Niger, MON, is famous for his role as the village headmaster in the then popular television series of the same name. Born on 20 November 1942 in Oria-Abraka, Deltta State! Esiri attended Urhobo College Effurun in the...

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Manchester United's Phil Jones wait to faces Real madrid

News on Top Manchester United's Phil Jones faces a nervous wait to determine the severity of an ankle injury suffered during Monday's 2-1 FA Cup win over Reading. The England international, 20, left Old Trafford on crutches after a first-half tackle on Jobi McAnuff. United manager Sir Alex Ferguson suggested that Jones would miss Saturday's Premier League trip to Queens Park Rangers. "We'll have to assess it [on Tuesday]," Ferguson said. Jones...

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News on Top Spurs stars furious with Villas-Boas as manager faces squad backlash.

Andre Villas-Boas is already under pressure at Tottenham after the squad reportedly held showdown talks with their Portuguese boss. The Spurs players are unhappy with Villas-Boas' training and tactics, according to The Sun. The manager has scrapped his gruelling double sessions after complaints his players were left too tired for their Premier League matches.     Sidelined? Spurs players are reportedly unhappy with Ande Villas-Boas...

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Conjoined twins speak on their sex lives

News On Top One thing we know for sure about the sexuality of conjoined twins: People who aren’t conjoined are fascinated by it. At least it seems that way, judging by the number of reporters calling to ask about the sex lives of conjoined twins. Although there are no real studies of the sex lives of conjoined twins, we can safely assume that conjoined twins want — and occasionally feel conflicted about wanting — sex, as we all do. But not as conflicted as we singletons seem to feel about them having sex. Typically, people who are close...

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Nigerian man Charles Omisore: banned from Using public toilet in Central London

News on Top A thief who preyed on the gay community in Soho for more than a decade has been banned from every public toilet in central London. Charles Omishore, 32,  pick-pocketed men while engaging in sexual activity in bars, public toilets and the rose garden in Hyde Park. Westminster Magistrates’ Court  granted an ASBO banning him from the West End, a central part of Camden and any purpose-built public toilet in the whole of...

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Chai! Wickedness!!! Man pours pot of boiling stew on his girlfriend

News on Top A 27-year-old woman, Mary Sunday, has been in the hospital bed at Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital seven months after she was allegedly attacked by her fiancé, Corporal Isaac Gbanwuan, with a pot of boiling stew and a lighted stove. It was learnt that Sunday had lost her ears due to the attack. Before the attack, which took place in August 2012, Sunday, was to report for training at the Police Academy, Kano as a cadet officer. Still...

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The North Korea nuclear test prompts stern warnings from Neighbors.

News on Top South Korea sent a stern warning to North Korea on Thursday, two days after the North tested a nuclear bomb saying it could strike the isolated state. “We warn that the North should not take the South for granted,” South Koreans authorities said, as it believes that an attack by the North was imminent just as it deployed a new cruise missile to drive home its point. ...

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News on Top Syrian opposition to discuss offer to negotiate with al-Assad's regime.

News on Top Syria's main opposition grouping was on Thursday to discuss the divisive issue of whether it should negotiate with the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Moaz al-Khatib, the head of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, recently offered to hold talks with government officials without ``blood on their hands.’’ His proposal has...

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Court Remand's laborer for alleged possession of explosive materials.

News on Top  An Ilorin Magistrates' Court on Thursday ordered that a 35-year-old labourer, Abdulahi Mohammed, be remanded in prison for allegedly being in possession of 15 pieces of explosive materials. The Magistrate, Silifat Sambo, ordered that the accused be remanded in Okekura prison, Ilorin following request from the Prosecuting Police Officer, Isaac Yakub. Sambo,...

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The Carnival Triumph passengers docked in Mobile, Alabama

News on Top All 3,200 passengers have now disembarked from a crippled cruise ship that reached the US coast four days after an engine fire knocked out power. The Carnival Triumph docked in Mobile, Alabama, at 21:15 (03:15 GMT Friday). Disembarking the passengers took more than four hours and many still face a long bus journey home or to the port of departure, Galveston. Passengers had reported sewage on the floors,...

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United Kingdom "UK": retail sales fall unexpectedly in January

  News on Top  Heavy snowfall put people off from going out to the shops, the ONS suggests UK retail sales fell unexpectedly in January, confounding economists' expectations for a rise. Volumes fell 0.6% from December 2012, hurt by heavy snowfall, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Volumes also fell 0.6% from a year ago, the first annual fall in 17 months. The ONS highlighted weak sales in the food...

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South African Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius: in court on murder charge

News on Top South African Olympic and Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius has appeared in court to face a murder charge after his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp, was shot at his home near Pretoria. Mr Pistorius held his head in his hands and was in tears as the charge was read out in the magistrates' court. Prosecutors argued for a case of "premeditated murder". An application for bail was postponed till next week and Mr Pistorius...

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"News on Top" Meteor fall 'injures hundreds' in central Russia

News on Top A meteor crashing in the Urals of central Russia has reportedly injured at least 400 people, as the shockwave blew out windows and rocked buildings. Most of those hurt suffered minor cuts and bruises but some received head injuries, Russian media report. A fireball was seen streaking through the sky above the city of Yekaterinburg, followed by loud bangs. The meteor is believed to have landed in a lake...

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Man Utd v Real Madrid : Jose Mourinho says tie is wide open

News on |Top Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho played down the significance of conceding an away goal to Manchester United in their last-16 Champions League encounter. The tie stands at 1-1, after Cristiano Ronaldo's header cancelled out Danny Welbeck's opener in Madrid. Real boss Mourinho said: "Everything...

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