'Was it homophobia? Was it fear?': Sir Elton John reveals his pain that his father never came to see him perform on stage

Sir Elton John has revealed that he is still hurt by the fact his father, Stanley Dwight, never came to watch his perform before his death.

The music icon admitted that he was never sure of the reason why the former World War II fighter pilot did not attend his shows but hinted that homophobia could have played a part.

Writing in The Times, Elton stated: ‘My father was sealed off from my talent and I never knew why. Was it homophobia? Was it fear?’

Elton previously touched on the subject of his father’s lack of support at shows soon after the birth of son Zachary in 2011.

Sir Elton, who started playing the piano when he was just three and went on to attend the Royal Academy of Music, said his disciplinarian father had no interest in his budding career even though Mr Dwight had also been a keen musician, having played the trumpet.






You know, my father never came to hear me play. Not ever,’ said Sir Elton, who was born Reginald Dwight.

‘He was a tough and unemotional man. Hard. In the RAF. He was dismissive, disappointed and finally absent. I just wanted him to acknowledge what I’d done. But he never did.’


Mr Dwight, had wanted his son to have a more conventional career and steered him towards banking. He then divorced Sir Elton’s mother Sheila when the singer was 15.

The 68-year-old said: ‘It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to relate to kids. He left us, remarried and had another family, and by all accounts was a great dad to them. It wasn’t children, it was me.’

Sir Elton has been in a bitter feud with his mother for the past seven years and speaking to the Mail’s David Wigg, Sheila revealed her initial fall out with the musician stemmed from his anger at her long-standing friendship with his former PA, Bob Halley, and ex-manager John Reid – and desire for her to sever ties with both.

Elton John and husband David Furnish with their children, Zachary and Elijah arriving for lunch at the Club 55 in Saint-Tropez in 2014

‘I had no intention of dropping John and Bob and I told Elton that,’ she said. ‘He told me I thought more of Bob Halley than I did of my own son.

To that I said to him, ‘And you think more of that f***ing thing you married than your own mother.”

Harsh words were exchanged and the pair have not spoken for seven years – although Sir Elton is believed to have sent her a single orchid on her 90th birthday.

Despite the feud, Sir Elton – who is worth an estimated £235 million – is still believed to be paying her bills.

Learnt from Mailonline

4 suspects in the horrific Lekki Phase 1 robbery nabbed

Four of the robbery suspects that stormed Lekki Phase 1 in March, leaving a tale of tears, sorrow and blood, have been arrested by the police in a nationwide manhunt that has yielded fruits.

According to a statement by the Nigeria Police Force, the four suspects were nabbed at different locations in the country including Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and Osun States following a full-scale investigation launched by the force immediately after the incident.

You would recall that on March 12, some deadly armed bandits stormed the exclusive Lekki Penninsula and for over an hour, held residents, passerby and commuters to ransom, robbing a bank and a filling station before escaping through the lagoon in speedboats.

Before they escaped, the killed about five policemen and an unfortunate teenage fish seller.

The attack drew lots of anger and condemnation from Nigerians with many urging the police to do everything within their powers to bring the robbers to book.

‘American Idol’ to end after Season 15

“Idol” worship is coming to an end.

“American Idol,” the most successful TV show of the 21st century and the birthplace of stars like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, will end after its 15th season in spring 2016, the Fox network announced Monday.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Fox Television Co-Chairman and CEO Gary Newman said Monday morning. “We talked with the producers and we all agreed it was time to bring it to an end.”

While “Idol” suffered a precipitous ratings drop the last few years, it has remained a contemporary television touchstone.

It revolutionized the long-standing genre of talent shows by focusing on the invidual dramas of the contestants and introducing judges with attitude — particularly Simon Cowell, whose departure before Season 10 signaled to many fans the symbolic end of the original show.

Judges Keith Urban, Jennifer Lopez and Harry Connick, Jr. watch contestants perform

“Idol” burst onto the air in June 2002 and was an immediate smash, drawing more than 20 million viewers.

By 2006 and 2007 its audience reached a staggering 36 million viewers an episode, reviving the whole concept of water-cooler television. In all, it ruled as the No. 1 show on television for eight seasons.

“Idol” was also one of the first shows to enhance its buzz through social media.

Its ratings had plunged dramatically in recent years as it produced fewer successful performers and the starpower focus shifted toward celebrity judges like Jennifer Lopez, Ellen DeGeneres, Steven Tyler, Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey.

Fox Television Co-Chairman and CEO Dana Walden said there has been “a lot of enthusiasm” among former contestants and judges to come back and help celebrate the final season.

While other shows like “The Voice” and Fox’s own short-lived “X Factor” have taken a bite of the talent-show audience, the “Idol” producers have always said “Idol” did one thing the others did not.

“This is the only show that has produced stars,” long-time judge Randy Jackson said when he left last year. “And that’s what the game is about.”

That list has also included Daughtry, Jennifer Hudson, Jordin Sparks, Ruben Studdard, Adam Lambert and Fantasia.

While the end of “Idol” takes Fox out of the talent show game, following the cancellation of Cowell’s ill-fated “X Factor,” Newman said Monday that Fox wasn’t closing the door on a future return.

“We would need to reinvent the performance show,” he said, echoing a widespread TV industry sentiment that the genre has an oversaturation problem. “But that’s a challenge we would welcome if we had a great idea.”

Learnt from nydailynewsonline

Tyga, Blac Chyna: Stars' families clash bitterly on Mother's Day

Ever since Tyga abruptly dumped his baby mama Blac Chynalast year, it's been one drama unto another. Matters got worsen when the 25-year-old rapper began dating 17-year-old Kylie Jenner. Fans felt it was a low blow on Chyna (26) who used to be Kylie's elder sister, Kim Kardashian's best friend.

Well, at a point when we thought everything was calm and settled, the families of both Tyga and Chyna went on a crazy rant on Mother's Day with each blasting themselves for being ''immature''.

It all began with Tyga's grandmother's alleged interview praising Kylie and slamming Blac. Enjoy the part 1:


Tyga's grandma, Kim Nguyen:

''We all love Kylie and think she is so much better for Tyga than Blac. Yes she is King’s mum, but Blac just wasn’t a very nice person and Kylie comes from a much better family.

''Tyga adores Kylie and has introduced us to her lots of times. She loves Vietnamese food, so we love to cook it for her whenever Tyga invites us to his home. Blac used to live there, but now it is where Tyga lives with his son King and Kylie is round there all the time. I’m not sure when King sees his mum, but Tyga is a great dad and has never seemed happier, now he is with Kylie. King is at such a fun age and never stops talking. He is gorgeous.''

Grandma also allegedly added:
''No [the age difference doesn’t bother us]. Tyga is only a baby himself, so we don’t see what the problem is. All we care about is that she is a lovely girl, from a well educated family who are a great influence on Tyga.''

Blac's mother Tokyo Toni replies:

People keep coming to me about Tyga family attacking my daughter. Listen up, these are grown ass people doing this and I be damn if I am stopping to any level about it! I don’t know those people and they don’t know my daughter!! So if you are that concerned about what an individual say about her, ‘CURSE THEY A** OUT THEN.’ Otherwise, let those folks do as they may.

They son (Tyga) is a f***ing pervert okay? So why not get mad… they need to get mad at that!!!! No one can stop people fromg saying SH*T OKAY!!! They talked and condemned Jesus so what else can’t be!! I don’t go that low to involve people in my business so if they have gone to the gutter they have to answer to God for their immaturity as adults!!! My daughter (Blac Chyna) is A okay- Believe that. If I could have went off on him, I would have but I got better sh*t to do in my life and so does [Chyna] than be an immature mom!! Thanks for all the heads up everyone. The f**kery is real out here and to f**k them if they attacking mine.. They look like idiots!

Chyna is SELF MADE!!!! No one gave her sh*t!! She been this way all her life!!! Take a note (Graduated and went to college). Bloomed into a real woman/mother!! No one gave her [anything] Not me! Not Tyga! She worked her A** OFF! And still is! Raising a son and is a great mom!! She is an angel and I be damned if I am letting this go unsaid. SHE IS [A] SELF MADE @entreprenuer. Call me her MOM. I am her mom and NO ONE WILL DISRESPECT HER and think I ain’t going to say nothin! Chyna is reserved and chilled- “I’M NOT’ and can care less about these fluke “money grubbing” b*tches (the Kardashians). If Kylie didn’t do her lips, ass and tits, TYGA [WOULD] BE WITH HER SISTER on the low. #IwillNotBeQuiet


Blac's mom adds: They are talking Kylie comes from a better family… how? Her parents are divorced, her dad (Bruce) wants to be a woman, her mom (Kris) is out here messing with some young black dude with birthing hips. Her sister (Kourtney) has 3 kids out of wedlock by a guy who has a drinking problem (Scott). Her other sister (Khloe) is married to a crack head (Lamar Odom) while dating a rapper (French Montana) that she stole from a former friend (Trina).

She (Kylie) is 17 and has already had lip injections. Her old sister (Kim) got famous from a sex tape. They (The Kardashians-Jenner) are no better than anybody!

I’m DONE!! @kinggoldchains (Tyga) ASHAMED of you!!!

Wait up for PART II

Learnt from Pulsengonline

ANOTHER massive earthquake hits Nepal: Four people killed in 7.3 magnitude quake just weeks after 8,000 people died

A massive earthquake shook Nepal this morning, killing at least four people and sending thousands of people in the capital Kathmandu rushing out in to the streets

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 7.3 and struck in an isolated, conservation area 42 miles west of the town of Namche Bazar, close to Mount Everest and the border with Tibet.

A spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration confirmed that at least four people had been killed in the town of Chautara.

Shockwaves were felt over thousands of miles and as far apart as Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, and the Indian capital New Delhi, where buildings swayed for more than a minute and people scurried into the streets.

It comes less than three weeks after a devastating 7.8 magnitude quake killed more than 8,000 people and destroyed hundreds of thousands of homes in the region.

Speaking of the earthquake, Kathmandu-based businesswoman Shiwani Neupane told MailOnline: 'I was on the sixth floor of my office building when the quake hit. We had been discussing re-building of a village...The meeting had just ended, and suddenly, the sofa I was sitting on started shaking.

'At first, we thought it was a slight tremor but in seconds it felt bigger. My mother, father and I were in the office and we rushed towards the door but the building started swinging... Everyone was praying in their own way. Some were calling God's name out loud and others were more quiet.

'I knew the building had been constructed safely, so I kept thinking of that. Once the tremors subsided, everyone ran downstairs. I kept saying, don't run, don't run please because while reporting at the hospital, I had learnt that many get hit badly while running.

'Once we were outside, there was chaos in the street. The ground was still shaking. People were calling their loved ones. We walked right to the middle of the street, and stood there as motorcycles zoomed past us...The ground was still shaking and there was fear in so many people's eyes.'

'Soon, we got on our car, and drove back home... [but] we had to stop in the middle of the road because of another tremor.

'I saw patients in Prashuti Griha - the maternal hospital for women - crowded. There was a doctor in slippers and a mask. He looked like he might have run out of a surgery. There were groups and groups of people gathered outside everywhere.



Elsewhere in Kathmandu, parents could be seen clutching children tightly and hundreds of people were frantically trying to call relatives on their mobile phones.

Shopkeepers closed their shops and the streets were jammed with people rushing to check on their families.



Paul Dillon, a spokesman with the International Organization for Migration later confirmed that at least four people had been killed in Chautara.

A rescue team from the agency has begun searching through the wreckage of the little town, he said.

Chautara has become a hub for humanitarian aid in the wake of a major April 25 quake .

Gisli Olafsson Emergency Response Director of humanitarian organization NetHope tweeted: 'Our colleagues in Chautara report buildings collapsing there in the 7.1M aftershock #NepalQuake'.

'People bringing hurt loved ones into the Red Cross hospital in Chautara after the 7M+ aftershock #NepalQuake', he added.

Mr Olafson initially described the quake as 7.1 magnitude because that what how it was initially registered by the U.S. Geological Survey. It was later upgraded to 7.4 before being downgraded down to 7.3.

Aftershocks of 5.6 and 6.3 magnitude hit Nepal less than an hour after the original quake.

Writing on Twitter before her mobile phone battery ran out, Ms Neupane described the chaos that broke out as the earthquake hit.

'We are very scared. Everyone is calling family members,' she said.

'Massive chaos on the street. People running out of homes. Ground is still shaking,' she added.

'The streets are completely chaotic. Blaring horns, people standing in the middle of the street... Chaos has ensued. Ambulances on road. Hope many don't die,' she went on to say.





The quake's epicentre was close to Everest Base Camp, which was evacuated after an avalanche triggered by the April 25 quake killed 18 climbers.

It struck 52 miles east of Kathmandu at a depth of 11.4 miles, according to the USGS, while the April 25 quake hit 9.3 miles below the surface.



Shallow earthquakes tend to cause more damage above ground.

'The shaking seemed to go on and on,' said Rose Foley, a UNICEF official based in Kathmandu. 'It felt like being on a boat in rough seas.'

Aid agencies are still struggling to get reports from outside of the capital.

'We're thinking about children across the country, and who are already suffering. This could make them even more vulnerable,' Foley said.

Norway's Red Cross, which was helping people from the April 25 earthquake at a 60-bed hospital in Chautara in central Nepal, said on Twitter in Norwegian that there were 'many injured, several killed' and added that their hospital tents already has gotten patients.

At the Norvic Hospital in Kathmandu, patients and doctors rushed to the parking lot.



'I thought I was going to die this time,' said Sulav Singh, who rushed with his daughter into the street in the suburban neighborhood of Thapathali. 'Things were just getting back to normal, and we get this one.'

Nepalese people have been terrified by dozens of aftershocks that hit the country in the days following the April 25 quake.



Meanwhile, the impoverished country has appealed for billions of dollars in aid from foreign nations, as well as medical experts to treat the wounded and helicopters to ferry food and temporary shelters to hundreds of thousands left homeless amid unseasonal rains and unreachable with landslides blocking many mountain roads.

'This was a jolt just like the big one last month, though it was not that long,' said Kathmandu resident Avinav Shrestha. 'I was very scared, though. Anything can happen.'

Strong shaking was also felt across northern India. In the Indian capital of New Delhi, people scrambled outdoors while buildings swayed.

Across the Nepalese border in Tibet's Jilong and Zhangmu regions, the Earth shook strongly. Tremors were also felt slightly in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa.

'Rocks fell from the mountains,' Jilong county government vice chief Wang Wenxiang was quoted as saying by China News Service. 'There might be some houses collapsed or damaged. We are now checking on the condition of the people.'

Mountaineers seeking to scale the world's tallest peak have called off this year's Everest season.

The quake came just hours after the Nepalese army rescued 117 people - including two U.S. citizens who had been searching for a missing relative - who had been stranded in trekking villages after the April 25 quake.

The 115 Nepalis and two Americans were evacuated from Syanjen, Kenjing and Langtang Village, where hundreds of people were killed in a huge landslide and avalanche triggered by last month's earthquake.

All of those rescued by the Nepalese Army this morning were stranded in the three popular trekking villages in Rasuwa district.

A series of avalanches and bad weather in the area had slowed the military's efforts to reach those cut off after the April 25 quake. It is not known how today's tremors affected the mission.

'The entire Langtang Valley has turned into a rocky and snowy ruin due to avalanches,' said Uddhav Bhattarai, Rasuwa's district administrator.
Learnt from Mail Online

PSG striker targeted by convicted murderer

Swedish football star, Zlatan Ibrahimovic was once targeted by a convicted murderer Peter Mangs.

Peter Mangs who is also called the 'Malmo street shooter' is currently in jail after he was implicated in 15 shootings in Malmo between 2003 and 2010.

He revealed that he once targeted the Paris Saint-Germainfrontman in Sweden.

This chilling revelation was made in a book by Peter Mangs which he wrote from behind bars.

In the book Mangs reveals how he returned home to get a gun after he saw Ibrahimovic's red Ferrari parked badly.

Mangs made references to Ibrahimovic's eastern European background, claiming in the book that his parking was 'typical Balkan behaviour'.

"I thought there would be a proper hullabaloo in the media if the gent in question were to be shot," Mangs wrote in his book.

Fortunately for Ibrahimovic, he had left the scene before Mangs returned with his gun.

Learnt from Pulsengonline

Daredevils climb to the top of the world's second tallest building for selfie

How far will you go for the perfect selfie?

In the case of Vadim Makhorov and Vitaliy Raskalov, two daredevils in China, they illegally climbed to the top of a new financial centre in Shenzen, China to get their perfect selfie.

The new financial centre is the second tallest building in the world, and the two daredevils fearlessly scale to the very top of the building.

In February last year, Vadim and Vitaliy climbed to the top Shanghai Tower.


You can watch the video below;

Learnt from Pulsengonline

Nathan: Chelsea signs Brazilian wonderkid

Chelsea have beat off competition from some of Europe's premier clubs to secure he services of Brazilian wonderkid Nathan in a £4.5million deal.

Nathan according to reports flew into London in April to open talks with Chelsea and has also passed a medical at Chelsea's Cobham training ground.

The 19-year-old midfielder took to his Instagram to share his delight in joining the English Premier League Champions.





"A dream is coming true! " he writes alongside a collage of photo of him at Cobham.

"First of all I want to thank God for always lighting my way, my dad who always believed in my talent and was a real warrior while helping me to reach my goals, my family and friends who always supported me...

'And I am also thankful to Club Atletico Paranaense, which was part of this journey and where I played for 6 years of my career. Thank you Chelsea for trusting in me, I will do my best to support my team on reaching new achievements. WE ARE ALL BLUE."

The youngster has added 'Chelsea FC' to his bio section on the social media site.

Nathan joins other Brazilian-Willian, Ramires, Filipe Luis andOscar-at Chelsea.

Learnt from Pulsengonline

Benue’s gov-elect storms China, woos Chinese investors

Mr. Festus Mbisiogu, CEO, Blue Diamond Logistics China, was among Nigerians that received the governor-elect of Benue State, Dr. Sam Ortom in Beijing, China recently. Ortom, accompanied by his wife, Eunice, led a 20-man delegation to China to woo Chinese investors to the state. On the entourage was a chieftain of All Pro­gressives Congress (APC), Chief Audu Ogbe.

Daily Sun learnt that the delegation first called at Kaifeng in Henan province, where they were received by the Vice Secretary, Mr. Lin Hengzi. The visit, it was gathered, was to fulfil an earlier promise by the governor-elect during his campaign that if elected, his administration would attract foreign investors to Benue State.

During the visit, Ortom and other members of his delegation were taken around major business concerns in China by Mbisiogu. Among places visited were the China Geo-Engineering Construction Overseas Corporation (CGCOC), China Railway and Airport Construction Company, Henna Water Resources Department, Zheng Zhou City, Qinbei Thermal Power Station, Ji Yuan City, Henan Water Power Engineering Consulting Co. Ltd, and Zheng Zhou Shuang Hui Meat- Packaging Factory, Zheng Zhou City.

In his speech at a meeting with the management of CGCOC, Ortom thanked the company for its cooperation and willingness to transfer their expertise to Benue State. He noted that his target was to meet the expectations of the electorate, asserting that his administration would pay great attention to agriculture by engaging youths in farming. He said as the food basket of Nigeria, his state had no choice but to engage in massive agricultural activities.

He recalled how, as former minister, he attracted foreign investment to Nigeria which he said was made possible by the support of Mr. Festus Mbisiogu. He reiterated that he would continue to sow on the fertile land of already established business link between Nigeria and China as chief executive of Benue State.

In his response, Mr. Yuan Fengjiun, Vice President, CGCOC welcomed Ortom and his delegation and pledged his company’s support towards infrastructural development in the state. He promised to visit Nigeria and Benue State with his team to explore business opportunities.

The delegation was received at the headquarters of China Railway and Airport Construction Company by the International Director, Mr. Jiang Kaicai. The company expressed readiness to assist the state government in the area of transport. The governor-elect assured Mr. Kaicai of government preparedness to do business with the company when he assumed office on May 29.

The next port of call was the Chinese National Corporation for Overseas Economic Corporations where the delegation was received by the Director, Chen Huanhuan. At Henan Water Power Engineering, Ortom emphasised the importance of clean water in the lives of citizens. He said he had, during his campaign, promised to provide clean water for his people. He sought the company’s support in the area of water supply in Benue State.

At a stakeholders’ dinner in honour of Ortom by some Chinese businessmen and their Nigerian counterparts in Guangzhou, Chief Audu Ogbe thanked the Chinese and Nigerian business communities for the honour and commended them for their willingness to invest in Benue State. He said the priority of the incoming government in the state was to engage the youths and the people.

According to Ogbe, agriculture was the key to the growing population of Nigeria. He expressed displeasure over the high rate of poverty in the country, but thanked God for the people-oriented programme of the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari. He assured the audience that the APC-led Federal Government will fulfil its promises to Nigerians, especially, a reduction in the unemployment rate. He said the reason he accompanied the governor-elect to China was to strengthen the bilateral relationship between both countries especially, in the area of trade. He emphasized on the business opportunities in Nigeria and advised Chinese businessmen to take advantage of these business possibilities. According to him, Benue State was the food basket of the nation. He called on Ortom to give agriculture a priority through mechanised farming. In his words, the youths were no longer interested in manual labour, but in modern ways of farming. Responding on behalf of the Nigerian business community, Mr. Festus Mbisiogu congratulated Ortom on his victory as governor of Benue State. He thanked the governor-elect for taking the right step in the right direction by coming to source and engage foreign partners in the development of the state. The Blue Diamond boss recalled how Ortomthen as minister of State for Trade and Investment, located him in Guangzhou city and prevailed on him to repatriate some of his funds which he said led to the establishment of the Shanghai Engineering Works Nig. Ltd, Umuocha Village, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

He regretted that since inception of the multimillion Naira industrial complex, he had not made any profit as a result of the lack of steady power supply. He stated that unsteady power supply was the bane of industrial growth in Nigeria. Mbisiogu urged interested foreign investors to explore the energy sector, adding that the sector had been privatized. He called on the incoming government of General Muhammadu Buhari to sustain and improve on the power reform of President Jonathan.

While restating his confidence in Buhari. He said he has no doubt that the President– elect would deliver on power, as his administration constructed three of the four refineries in Nigeria and so had the capacity to fix the power sector.

He noted that the Chinese government had approved a $10billion grant to Africa, noting that the amount would be spent on transfer of skills and training for industrial development. He called on the incoming government not to allow this opportunity slip off the hands of the nation.

“I call on General Buhari to take advantage of the funds to develop the industrial sector and create employment opportunities,” he said.

Learnt from sunnewsonline

Maryland music teacher pleads guilty to sexually abusing 15 students, mostly in elementary school

A former music teacher in Maryland pleaded guilty Monday to sexually abusing 15 female students in his 27 years on the job, usually in a classroom during school hours.

“This man is a predator; he’s been a predator for decades,” attorney John McCarthy told the Washington Post after dual hearings for Lawrence Joynes.

Joynes’ history of abuse dates back to the ‘90s and spanned two schools he worked in.

Most of his crimes took place at New Hampshire Estates Elementary School in Silver Springs, where he worked for the last 10 of his corrupt career.

There, Joynes put girls in sexual poses and filmed them in his music classroom, later editing the footage into vile videos, police said. He also formed a “lunch bunch” of students, some of whom he recorded as they licked candy canes, and he is accused of getting the name of one victim tattooed on his shoulder.

The 56-year-old music monster also pleaded guilty to abusing a seventh grader at Eastern Middle School in the early ‘90s.

In that case, Joynes created a coded language with the girl to earn her trust, and then gradually escalated a sexual relationship with her, eventually having sex with her every week behind a stage in a music room, police said. He eluded that victim by faking his own death until she tracked him down, NBC Washington reported.

His pattern of perversion finally ended in February 2013, after a federal investigation into a child porn ring led authorities to him. Police believe he was molesting students right up until his arrest.

Joynes will be sentenced in August and faces life in prison.

He had two conduct complaints filed against him at the elementary school, and was once ordered by the principal to stay away from the playground, not sit with students in the cafeteria and not be alone with them in a classroom.

Montgomery County Public Schools spokesperson Dana Tofig said in a statement the school system “has made, and will continue to make, significant improvements to our practices, policies and protocols” relating to abuse allegations.

One of his victims from the elementary school filed a civil suit against the school system last month, saying it mishandled the accusations against the music monster, Montgomery Community Media reported.

“(The schools) did not monitor the situation,” Joseph Williams, who is representing the victim, told the paper. “They allowed a teacher to take children alone, lock the door and spend time with them. To me it absolutely should not have happened.”

Learnt from nydailynews

Moroccan F-16 warplane goes missing in Yemen

A Moroccan F-16 warplane has gone missing while on a mission with Saudi-led forces in Yemen, Morocco’s military said on Monday, and Yemen’s dominant Houthi militia said regional tribesmen shot down the aircraft.

The disappearance of the Moroccan jet and intensifying duels of heavy-weapons fire across the border between the Iran-allied Houthis and Saudi forces could endanger a five-day humanitarian truce due to start in Yemen on Tuesday.

Backed by Washington, the Saudi-led coalition has been bombing Houthi rebels and army units loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 26 with the aim of restoring exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The Houthis’ ties to regional rival Iran have rattled the Gulf Arab states and the rebels remain the dominant force in Yemen’s civil war. Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, regards the Houthis’ rise as a grave threat.

Morocco is one of eight Arab states to have joined Saudi Arabia in the military intervention against Houthi advances against Hadi supporters and has had F-16s stationed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“One of the F-16s of the Royal Armed Force put at the disposal of the coalition led by Saudi Arabia to restore the legitimacy in Yemen went missing on Sunday at 6 p.m. local time,” Morocco’s military said in a statement.

The Houthis’ official news channel al-Masirah said on Monday that anti-aircraft guns had downed an F-16 over in the remote Wadi Nashour area in the northwestern province of Saada, a Houthi stronghold bordering on Saudi Arabia.

The channel showed gun-toting tribesmen on a rocky hillside pumping their fists and chanting, “Death to America!” One man, holding a piece of what looked like aircraft wreckage, said: “God felled this plane. Even though our weapons are basic and modest, we’ll shoot down all their planes, God willing.”

There was no word on the fate of the pilots. A Yemeni Twitter account published photos of what it described as the body of one of the pilots.

In the border conflict, the Houthis said they fired Katyusha rockets and mortars on the Saudi cities of Jizan and Najran near the frontier on Monday, after the Saudis hit Saada and Hajjah provinces in Yemen with more than 150 rockets.

A spokesman for the Najran civil defence department said that a school and house were hit and a Pakistani expatriate was killed and four people were wounded including a Saudi child.

Saudi-owned al-Arabiya television said Riyadh had deployed a “strike force” to its border with Yemen and showed a column of military trucks carrying tanks heading to the frontier.

Brigadier General Zayed al-Assiri said the force was distinguished by the variety of weapons it possessed and the large number of special forces and paratroopers.

Saudi planes also struck Houthi positions in the central city of Taiz and in the oil-producing province of Marib east of the capital Sanaa, which the Houthis captured last September.

DEVASTATION FROM ARTILLERY

Saudi-owned Ekhbariya TV showed Saudi buildings ripped open by apparent artillery shells but said there were no casualties. Houthi TV reported Saudi artillery and air strikes on civilian areas and said 13 people were killed.

At least 10 Saudi soldiers and border guards have been killed by shelling across the border. A Saudi jet crashed into the Red Sea after the start of the campaign in March and both pilots were rescued.

More than six weeks of air strikes by jets from the Sunni Muslim Gulf monarchies have failed to significantly push back the Shi’ite Muslim Houthis and militia and army units loyal to Saleh, who was forced from power by a popular uprising in 2011.

The Houthis accepted a five-day humanitarian ceasefire proposed by Saudi Arabia on Sunday but said they would respond to any violations of the pause.

Riyadh had said on Friday the truce could begin on Tuesday if the Iranian-allied militia agreed to the calm, which would let in badly needed food and medical supplies for civilians caught in zones of conflict.

A group of 17 international humanitarian groups working in Yemen said on Sunday that a five-day truce was not enough to provide sufficient relief to the large number of Yemenis affected by the crisis. They demanded a permanent ceasefire to halt a “rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis”.

The relief agencies also condemned a Saudi warning to residents of Saada province on Friday to leave the area before it came under attack.

“Warning civilians does not exonerate the coalition from their obligation to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and we have seen in the last days that the warnings have not been enough to spare civilian lives,” Save the Children’s country director in Yemen, Edward Santiago, said.

Learnt from pmnewsnigeria online

Kerosene now costs N200 per litre in Yola

Following the scarcity of kerosene in Yola, Adamawa, the commodity is now selling at N250 per litre.

A survey conducted by NAN in Yola on Monday showed that the development had forced many residents to rely on firewood for cooking and other domestic needs.

According to the investigation, the commodity is scarce in most filling stations in Yola metropolis and its environs.

NAN reports that the commodity is only available at the black market where it is sold between N200 to N250 per litre.

The only filling stations occasionally selling the commodity at the government price of N50 per litre were the NNPC mega station along Bank road, Jimeta, and other affiliated stations.

A cross section of the residents, who spoke to NAN, described the situation as worrisome.

Mrs Hannatu Zira, a civil servant and resident of Jimeta, complained that the scarcity and high cost of kerosene had brought hardships on the people.

“We are buying a four-litre gallon of kerosene between N800 and N900, and we are using two gallons in a week.

“The situation is seriously affecting our living and economic conditions,” Zira said.

Another resident, Malam Adamu Kofare, said that he stopped using kerosene for the past two years in his house due to acute scarcity and high cost of the commodity in Yola.

Kofare, who described depending on kerosene to cook as “trickery”, added that he preferred firewood and charcoal, despite their effects on environment.

“Unlike kerosene, firewood is cheaper and available, even though it has serious effect on our environment like deforestation,” he added.

The residents, who expressed concerned over the high cost of the commodity, attributed the scarcity to hoarding of the commodity by petroleum marketers.

They urged the president-elect, retired General Muhammadu Buhari, to adopt measures that would end scarcity and ensure adequate supply of the commodity.

Learnt from pmnewsnigeria online

Alicia Keys, Chris Rock, Lenny Kravitz to guest star in EMPIRE season 2

Season one of Fox's hit series 'Empire' featured guest stars Snoop Dogg, Jennifer Hudson among others, the upcoming season two is set to bring on more big-names as guest stars.

Fox has signed on Chris Rock, Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitzfor roles next season.

Alicia Keys

Other guest stars rumoured to appear on show include Oprah and Common.

The record breaking series is bringing on a different kind of season two which will consist of 18 episodes as against the 12-episode first season.

It will also be split in two parts. With Part 1 premiering in the fall and ending with a cliffhanger, and Part 2 returning in the spring.

Also joining 'Empire' is Ne-Yo, who will be writing music for the season.

Who is excited? Empire returns this fall...

I am excited.

Decomposing corpse chases patients out of wards

Foul odour emanating from a decomposing corpse at the Accident and Emergency Clinic, Orile-Agege General Hospital, Lagos, on Monday, prevented medical workers from attending to patients at the clinic and wards attached to it.

Rather, patients were treated outside a large shed where new patients queued to collect cards before they were eventually taken to different wards for further attention.

When our correspondent visited the hospital on Monday morning, the doors of the clinic, which is located close to the Pharmacy Unit, had been locked and a male ward attendant in purple uniform was seen mopping the lobby with disinfectant. The nurses evicted from their station were also seen shouting at people not to open the door.

A patient who was relocated to the Surgery Ward said it took hospital officials more than two hours to evacuate the corpse.

“I came in here around 5am and there was no power supply at the time. The generator was also not working at the time, but there was no odour. I was already on a drip inside the ward when this foul odour hit the ward. In a matter of minutes, we were all asked to leave the ward. My drip was detached and condemned by the nurses.

“We were all taken outside and we sat on the benches by the Pharmacy Unit. It took them more than two hours to decide what to do with the corpse. I was later dispatched to the Surgery Ward, while others were taken to the Casualty Ward,” he said.

When contacted, the Medical Director, Dr. Afusat Tijani, refused to talk to our correspondent. “I am not allowed to talk to the press,” she simply said.

However, a source who did not want to be quoted because of civil service rule said the corpse was ‘a coroner’s case.’ The source denied that the corpse had been left unattended for three days.

“What happened was that the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit was supposed to have evacuated the corpse, but they said they did not have fuel to get here. The corpse was a coroner case and there was nothing we could have done. SEHMU only came to pick the corpse this morning.

“Patients are being attended to at the moment. The affected section was just the clinic and the patients were taken to another place pending the time disinfection would be completed. We usually wait for 24 hours after disinfecting an area before patients would be allowed to go back there,” said the source.

Learnt from Punchng online

Bloomberg partners UNILAG, LBS for training

Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa is collaborating with six universities, including the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos and the University of Lagos, Akoka, to provide executive training for the advancement of financial journalism.

The partner universities are from three African countries — Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.

The University of Nairobi, School of Journalism, and Strathmore Business School, both in Kenya; while in South Africa, the University of Rhodes School of Journalism, and Gordon Institute of Business Science, are the other four universities.

The BMIA will also focus on executive training programmes to enhance coverage of business and economic development in Africa.

In an email interview with our correspondent, the UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahmon Bello, expressed his delight at the partnership.

He said, “For us at the UNILAG, we expect that we are going to benefit from this partnership. The curriculum developed will have an impact on our existing curriculum in order to enhance the quality of training we offer to our students. We will also take advantage through exposing our people – our members of staff and students – to the techniques to be used, and imbibe them. We may end up developing a specialisation in financial journalism if it becomes necessary.”

Bello added that Nigeria and Africa would encourage foreign investment into the continent, as well as infuse the best practices in business education and journalism.

He said, “The BMIA is expected to enhance financial journalism for adequate coverage of business and economic development in Africa. The baseline is the need to have accurate and analytical reporting of economic situations on the continent. As I mentioned during the launching of BMIA in Johannesburg, South Africa, last year, this is what will enable faster and accurate business decisions by would-be investors within and outside of the continent.

Learnt from Punchng online

KANYE WEST RECEIVES HONORARY DOCTORATE IN CHICAGO

Kanye West accepted an honorary degree Monday from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Now, you can call him "Dr. West".

More than 900 students graduated at the Auditorium Theatre, and rapper Kanye West joined them to pick up his own degree. Some considered him a controversial choice, but he's an undeniable influence on popular culture.

"We dig ideas, we dig crafts. Mix it up, put it forward, put it out into the world. It's your design. And this is what Kanye is all about. He's a real artist, and unafraid. He's unafraid to bring whatever he needs to his palette and put it out in front of an audience," said Lisa Wainright, Dean of Faculty, SAIC.

"Kanye's somebody I've always looked up to growing up in Chicago, so the fact that the two come together for graduation is unbelievable," said Kenrick McFarlane, SAIC graduate.

West was raised in Chicago and got back in town early enough to take in the Bulls game Sunday with Scottie Pippen. He even gave an impromptu performance during a time out. Wife Kim Kardashian didn't join him, she's in Brazil.

"My medium is public opinion and the world is my canvas," West said.

"It was alright. It was pretty mediocre," said Bobby Zehnder, SAIC graduate.

"He did a good job! He spoke about humility, so I think that was pretty polarizing for the audience," said Jennie Crichlow, SAIC graduate.

"When I went on that mission to create in other spaces - apparel, film, performance - it would have been easier if I could have said I had a degree at the Art Institute of Chicago," West said.

This is Kanye's first honorary doctorate.

Learnt from abc7chicago online

Thunderbolt hits five in Ogun school, kills vendor

Five people, including three food vendors, a teacher and a pupil, were hit by a thunderbolt in Ejila Awori Community High School, Ipatira, in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident happened around 12pm while activities in the school were still on.
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The Principal of the school, Mr. O.O. Oshiname, said he was having a meeting in his office when a heavy rain started.

He said, “The incident happened last week Wednesday. I was in my office with the executive of the Parent-Teacher-Association. We were having a meeting.

“While the meeting was on, it began to rain heavily around 11.30am. About 45 minutes after the rain, it began to drizzle.

“Suddenly, a thunderbolt hit and it was so strong that it threw me off balance. The school generator was on, but after the thunderbolt, I asked one of the teachers to turn off the generator.”

He said the teacher, on getting outside saw the five victims, who were under a shade in the food vendors’ corner, on the floor.

The teacher was said to have raised the alarm.

The principal told our correspondent that he went out along with other people in the meeting and saw that the people were lying unconscious on the floor.

“They were all unconscious. It was a pathetic sight,” he added.

However, an hour after the incident, our correspondent learnt that the victims began to come round one by one, but the fruit vendor, Mrs. Felicia Fagbayi, 50, did not wake up.

PUNCH Metro learnt that some Sango (god of thunder) worshippers were invited to the scene of the incident by the people of the community.

The devotees, after making some consultations, were said to have set up a shrine around the site where the victim died.

A source said they demanded the payment of N500,000.

The source said, “The community called in the Sango worshippers and they asked for N500,000. They set up a shrine and forbade people from moving near the place. Their leader said he would need to call his superior. When he came, he gave the community a long list of materials for rituals.

“The school management ordered the pupils to go home until further notice to avoid further tragedy.”

Our correspondent learnt that the corpse was not evacuated from the scene until 7pm on Thursday, more than 24 hours after the woman died.

The relatives of the victim were said to have taken the corpse away for burial.

The husband of the victim, Sunday Fagbayi, said he was not at home at the time of the incident, adding that his late wife was not a victim of any spiritual attack.

He said, “I was told that out of the five people that were hit, my wife was the only one that died. I don’t believe it was because she had offended anyone that she died.

“I believe it was fear that killed my wife. She was afraid and that was why she died. She was a very religious person.”

The Councillor representing the area in the LGA, Makinde Samson, said the incident was unprecedented in the community.

He said, “Usually, when somebody is struck down by thunder, the belief is that the person may have stolen something and if that is the case, the stolen items will be placed on the victim’s chest. But that did not happen in this case. Those that we invited told us it was coincidental because there was no mark on the woman.”

He said the LGA chairman had been informed of the development.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, John Odubela, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

He said, “It is sad and unfortunate. One person died in the incident.”

The police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said, “The truth is that when such an incident happen, people prefer to keep it away from the police. The command is not aware; it is strange to us.”

Learnt from Punchng online

APC to Jonathan: Only the guilty should be afraid

The All Progressives Congress on Monday said only those who are guilty of crimes against the Nigerian people need to be afraid of the incoming administration.

It assured Nigerians that the incoming Buhari administration will not persecute anyone, contrary to statements credited to President Goodluck Jonathan.

This was contained in a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

APC said, “Those who have played poker with the nation’s destiny must be willing and eager to clear their conscience before man and God.

“That the President-elect is a man of integrity is not an issue for debate, and he has made it clear that he will not be bogged down by endless probes.

“However, the hands of the incoming government will not be tied by those who have chosen to play the victim and exhibit a persecution mentality.

“Whoever has any reason to be afraid must lay bare such reason before Nigerians.

According to the party, under the climate of change which Nigerians have ushered in with their votes, only the guilty needs to be afraid. Those with a guilty conscience, on account of their actions in the public sphere, must clear such so they can be at peace with themselves.

“The last time we checked, this does not fit the definition of persecution,” APC said.

The party wondered why the President chose a public forum to express his fears when he could have done so privately during his meetings with the President-elect.

It noted that since the presidential election was won and lost, the President and the President-elect have met privately a number of times. He therefore wondered why President Jonathan failed to express his apprehensions during those meetings.

The party also said, “Even if the two have not met, the President could have reached out to the President-elect over any fears that he may be nursing, instead of engaging in an action that seems like he was being pre-emptive and seeking to curry public sympathy.”

APC insisted that the priority of the incoming government will be the welfare and security of the long-suffering people of Nigeria. He enjoined all citizens to support the administration in charting a new path for the country – away from the rapaciousness and impunity of the past years.

Learnt from Punchng online

Jonathan’s aides expel journalist from Aso Rock

The embattled journalist was expelled from the Presidential Villa, Abuja, for asking visiting Chadian President, Idriss Derby, a question which authority found to be embarrassing.

Musa had asked the visiting President to explain the relationship between the multinational task force fighting in Lake Chad and the South African mercenaries fighting with them.

Derby simply responded that he had no information concerning mercenaries from South Africa.

Shortly after the visiting President left, Musa was invited into the CSO’s office and his tag was withdrawn.

Security operatives thereafter drove him in a vehicle out of the fore-court of the President’s office through the Service Chiefs’ gate.

When he told the operatives that some of his working tools were still inside the Press Gallery where journalists operate from, the operatives led him to the hall to retrieve his belongings and led him out of the Villa again.

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, was said to have assured a delegation of State House correspondents who met him on the matter that the issue would be resolved appropriately.

As at the time of filing this report, however, Musa’s accreditation has not yet been restored.

Learnt from Punchng online

2 DEAD, OTHERS MISSING AFTER TORNADO HITS EASTERN TEXAS

At least two people died when an EF3 tornado struck eastern Texas on Sunday, authorities said today.

The two deaths in Texas were in addition to at least two in Arkansas, as severe weather this weekend slammed the nation's midsection.

The tornado that hit Van, Texas, a small city in northern Van Zandt County, was confirmed as an EF3 today, local officials said. An EF3 tornado carries winds from 135 mph to 140 mph.

Dozens of people were hospitalized, officials in Van Zandt County said this afternoon, and three people remained unaccounted for, down from eight earlier in the day. The two killed were a husband and wife at their home, officials said. The couple was not identified by name.

Approximately 30 percent of the city suffered damages, officials said today, ranging from destroyed homes to downed trees and power lines. Officials were still working to restore power to all residents.

"My stomach kind of just went in knots when I saw this," one resident said. "I didn't think it was going to be this bad."

Roy Betencourt, who suffered a broken arm during the storm, said by the time the skies darkened Sunday night, the tornado was already on top of him and his family.

"Once the sirens came on, the lights kind of flickered out. They went out. and, as soon as they hit, it was in my backyard," he said.

Don Dunn, superintendent of Van's school district, said several schools were also damaged.

"We feel very blessed that this did not happen during a school day and that I'm not standing up here right now talking to you about any kids," Dunn said. "[I] just ask that you continue to send your thoughts and your prayers to the community of Van."

Van Zandt County Judge Don Kirkpatrick said Van is a "strong community" and "will rebuild."

There were 71 reported apparent tornadoes this weekend, stretching from Iowa to Texas. Besides Van, the areas hit hardest by possible tornadoes were Lake City, Iowa, and Delmont, South Dakota.

In Arkansas, a married couple -- Michael and Melissa Mooneyhan, Howard County Coroner John Gray said, according to The Associated Press -- was killed Sunday after severe weather tore through the mobile home park where they lived. An infant inside the home survived, authorities said.

Tornado threats continued today further north around Detroit and Cleveland.

Learnt from abc7chicago online