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Tajikistan has tightened restrictions on festive season celebrations, banning Christmas trees and gift-giving in schools. This year’s measures are the toughest yet implemented by the country, which has been toning down Christmas and new year celebrations for some time – banning Father Frost, Russia’s version of Santa Claus, from television screens in 2013. A decree by the education ministry prohibits “the use of fireworks, festive meals, gift-giving and raising money” over new year as well as “the installation of a Christmas tree either living (felled wood) or artificial” in schools and universities. While other former Soviet states have set up large Christmas trees on the main squares of major cities, a tree will only appear briefly before new year in the capital, Dushanbe. It is expected to be removed early in 2016. The December-January holiday season is contested in Tajikistan, a majority-Muslim but secular republic, where the population is divided over the benefits of Soviet an...

T he Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) has begun daily production of 3.2 million litres of petrol. This was contained in a statement signed by Ohi Alegbe, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), on Wednesday in Abuja. It said that the plant began production with an initial PMS yield of about 1.5 million litres, adding that it had ramped up its daily yield to 3.2 million litres. “The injection of this volume into the system will significantly impact ongoing special intervention efforts designed to bring relief to motorists across the country,” it stated. The statement stated that the deployment of NNPC staff in the monitoring of fuel distribution and retail system at filling stations nationwide had started yielding positive results in Abuja and environs in less than 48 hours. It said that the situation at most filling stations visited in Abuja remained calm and orderly as the staff of the corporation...

Now I don't want believe this cause no person in his trues sense will say these. Nigerians have reacted to the statement "payment of salaries is not a right, but rather, it is a privilege” made by Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha. He made the statement through his spokesman, Dr Kelechi Okpaleke, following the immediate payment of salaries to civil servant by the presidency. The Governor who has been accused of owing Imo workers of over 4 months salaries has come under attack after the the statement was made available. Tweets: i dont want to believe that Gov Rochas Okorocha said that but if its true, Nigeria still has a very long way to go with this kind of leaders — Quotes…Facts…Life! (@TruthForWinners) December 23, 2015 Rochas Okorocha pls pay my grand dad his pension. He values that one more than what my parents give him monthly. — The Juggernaut Esq (@kaezydon) December 23, 2015 Rochas Okorocha makes a statement like “salary is a privilege and not a right”...

Tiny conservative nation on Borneo warns citizens that putting up festive decorations or singing carols could threaten the country's Muslim faith Brunei has banned public celebrations of Christmas, warning that putting up festive decorations or singing carols could threaten the country's Muslim faith. The conservative Islamic country on the island of Borneo allows non-Muslims to celebrate Christmas, but only within their communities, and they must first alert the authorities. At least 65 per cent of the 420,000-strong population of the oil-rich state are Muslims. The Ministry of Religious Affairs said in a statement: "These enforcement measures are ... intended to control the act of celebrating Christmas excessively and openly, which could damage the aqidah (beliefs) of the Muslim community." In a warning to Muslims earlier this month, a group of Imams warned that any celebration "not in any way related to Islam” could lead to "‘tasyabbuh’ (imitation) ...

“All events related to Christmas and New Year celebrations are contrary to Islamic culture, which could damage the faith of the Muslim community,” the director general of the religious affairs ministry told reporters on Tuesday. Sheikh Mohamed Khayrow said security forces had been ordered to break up any such celebrations. “There should be no activity at all,” he said. Sheikh Nur Barud Gurhan, of the Supreme Religious Council of Somalia, said that non-Muslim festivities might provoke the ire of the Shebab, East Africa’s Al-Qaeda branch, which is headquartered in Somalia. “We are warning against the celebration of such events which are not relevant to the principles of our religion,” Gurhan added, saying it could provoke the Shebab “to carry out attacks”. Last year Shebab militants launched a Christmas attack on Mogadishu airport that killed at least 12 people. Somalia is at least the second Muslim majority country to ban Christmas this year, after Brunei announced a similar ...

First I must state that I am not a legal practitioner but as Nigerians we believe in the "court as the last hope of the common man", but when it's rulings are flagrantly abused by a democratically elected government that seeks to bring about the much needed change, one begins to wonder how this will be achieved. If court orders are not obeyed how then can the common man find or get justice. A federal High Court judge has recused himself from hearing treason charges brought by the government against Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra. Justice Ahmed Mohammed announced the decision on Wednesday in Abuja after Mr. Kanu objected to the case, saying it was needless, as the federal government had repeatedly disobeyed previous court rulings. The government is accusing Mr. Kanu of plotting to split Nigeria, by creating a Biafra Republic with south east, south south states, and parts of Kogi and Benue states, as component units. Mr. Kanu,...

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday committed a gaffe in protocol during his presentation of the 2016 proposed budget to a joint session of the National Assembly. Immediately after acknowledging Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Mr. Buhari bypassed both Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara to mention Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State. SaharaReporters learned that the gaffe has led to recriminations at the Presidency, with some of Mr. Buhari’s staffers blaming the blunder on Lawal Kazaure, a diplomat recently appointed as the president’s chief protocol officer. A director at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr. Kazaure was appointed as the president’s chief of protocol based on what one Presidency source described as Mr. Buhari’s habit of trusting only people with whom he has one form of relationship or another. “Ambassador Kazaure’s only qualification is that he is married to Mr. President’s niece. He is married t...

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday committed a gaffe in protocol during his presentation of the 2016 proposed budget to a joint session of the National Assembly. Immediately after acknowledging Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Mr. Buhari bypassed both Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara to mention Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State. SaharaReporters learned that the gaffe has led to recriminations at the Presidency, with some of Mr. Buhari’s staffers blaming the blunder on Lawal Kazaure, a diplomat recently appointed as the president’s chief protocol officer. A director at the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr. Kazaure was appointed as the president’s chief of protocol based on what one Presidency source described as Mr. Buhari’s habit of trusting only people with whom he has one form of relationship or another. “Ambassador Kazaure’s only qualification is that he is married to Mr. President’s niece. He is married t...

25 year old Pixee Fox who became famous for removing her ribs to look like Jessica Rabbit has been warned she needs a corset to stay alive. After spending £80,000 on the surgery, doctors are warning her that her corset may need to be worn at all times to keep her organs in place. The model got the dream body she wanted after having six ribs removed for a thinner waist. For good measure she also had a boob job, facial interventions and a lift to her bottom. This allowed her to get a record-breaking 14-inch waist. However the self-proclaimed “body modification artist” who has also compared herself to a “living cartoon” has been criticised by a health expert during an appearance on Romanian television. The Swedish model had visited the doctor beforehand, but when interviewed by TV hosts Madalin Ionescu and Adelina Pestritu, he said he was concerned about the complications the surgery has on the body – adding that a corset was essential. Pixee said: “It’s recommended to have som...

PROTOCOLS I am honoured and privileged to present the 2016 Budget proposal. This is my first address before this joint session of the National Assembly. I have come here today, not only to address members of the National Assembly, but also to speak directly to the men and women who placed us here. 2. I know the state of our economy is a source of concern for many. This has been further worsened by the unbridled corruption and security challenges we have faced in the last few years. From those who have lost their jobs, to those young people who have never had a job, to the people in the North East whose families and businesses were destroyed by insurgents, this has been a difficult period in our nation’s history, lessons that we must not forget or ignore, as we plan for the future. 3. By June 2014, oil prices averaged $112 per barrel. But as at today, the price is under $39 per barrel. This huge decline is having a painful effect on our economy. Consumption has dec...