B’Haram: Death toll in Yobe attack hits 127

 

Members of the boko haram sect

A five-hour battle between Islamic extremists and army troops in the capital of Yobe State killed at least 127 people, all but two combatants, according to reports from army and police officers.

This has raised doubts about military claims that they have the upper hand in Nigeria’s fight to halt an Islamic uprising in the northeast.

AFP reported the stench of rotting corpses from the morgue hung over Damaturu Specialist Hospital on Tuesday, where a reporter counted 31 bodies identified as those of extremists.

Details still are trickling in about the attack, which militants began at dusk Thursday on an army barracks 20 kilometres (12 miles) outside Damaturu, the state capital, where they overpowered the soldiers, seized an armoured car, looted the armoury and set the barracks ablaze with improvised explosive devices.

Jonathan places Oduah on ‘tactical suspension’

Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah

President Goodluck Jonathan may have placed the embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, on  “tactical suspension,” 

A reliable Presidency source   said Jonathan decided on the  “tactical suspension,” hours before the signing of the Bilateral Air Service  Agreement between Nigeria and Israel on Monday.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Mr. George Ossi,  had on October 24 told the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation that Oduah   led a Nigerian delegation to Israel to sign the BASA.

Strike: Education minister, ASUU in secret meeting

Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike and ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Fagge

Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday met with the Academic Staff Union of Universities in Abuja.

It could not be ascertained if the meeting which lasted barely one hour produced desirable results.

The ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Fagge and the minister refused to speak with journalists after the meeting.

NMA blames corruption for low life expectancy

 

The Nigerian Medical Association has said that corruption among those in leadership position is responsible for poor infrastructure in hospitals, resulting in poor health indices and the consequent low life expectancy in the country.

The Chairman of the Osun State branch of the NMA, Dr. Anthony Onipede, said this in Osogbo on Tuesday at a lecture to mark the 2013 Physician Week.

The NMA had earlier visited the House of Assembly where medical checks were carried out on the lawmakers.

Report: Climate change may pose threat to economic growth

 

A farmer and his children plant a field with bean seeds and fertilizer in southern Ethiopia in 2008, a year after severe floods in the country destroyed most of the food crop. Ethiopia is the 10th most vulnerable country to climate change impacts, according to a report by Maplecroft.

• Climate change may be "serious obstacle" to sustainable growth in key cities, says report
• The climate change vulnerability index is published by risk analysis firm Maplecroft
• Nearly a third of the world's economy will come from highly or extremely vulnerable places
• Bangladesh was the most vulnerable country and its capital the most vulnerable city

Boxer and ring official Joe Horn dies

Boxing | South Africa

© Gallo Images

Joe Horn, a welterweight boxer who became an excellent ring official, has died in Johannesburg.

Horn, who fought in the 1960s, was 72 years old when he died on Monday.
He was born in Johannesburg on December 22 1940, and made his professional debut in March 1963.
He twice fought Boela Meyers, the 1960 Rome Olympic bronze medallist, losing on points on both occasions. Their first encounter was Horn’s third professional fight, at the Ice Drome in Durban. The second was at the Ellis Park Tennis Stadium in Johannesburg four months later.
Horn, a southpaw, beat Mickey Ravell, Jannie Jacobs, Gert Maritz, Nelie Hoffman and former SA featherweight, lightweight and welterweight champion Charlie Els.

Genia backs McKenzie to boost Wallabies

Rugby | International Rugby

 Australia's Will Genia believes the hard line approach of coach Ewen McKenzie will see the "most disciplined" Wallaby side he has known also become a winning one.
McKenzie took over from New Zealander Robbie Deans following Australia's 2-1 series loss to the British and Irish Lions in July and it was not long before he sentenced James O'Connor to international exile.

Marshall nervous over code switch

Rugby | Vodacom Super Rugby

Benji Marshall © Gallo Images

Auckland Blues' star recruit Benji Marshall admitted on Wednesday he was nervous about making the transition from rugby league to union in next year's Super Rugby competition.
Marshall was officially unveiled as a Blues player when the squad for the 2014 season was announced, with the 28-year-old moving to the 15-man code after more than a decade with Wests Tigers in Australia's National Rugby League.

Woods believes McIlroy is back on track

Golf | Golf Globe

Tiger Woods believes Rory McIlroy is slowly getting his golf game back on track and predicted on Tuesday that the former world No 1 would claim a breakthrough first victory of the year by the end of December.
McIlroy was on top of the world at the end of 2012, having won the orders of merit on both sides of the Atlantic, but he has had a turbulent season this year on and off the course.
The Northern Irishman changed his clubs in January, a switch that was criticised by several pundits. He is also in the middle of a bitter court dispute with his former management team and, according to media reports, has split from girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki.
"He is playing better and swinging a lot better," 14-times major champion Woods told Reuters in an interview. "You can see that some of the stuff he and his coach are working on are starting to come together.