Author: Chief Editor

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has asserted that sexual abuse is so common in North Korea that “it has come to be accepted as part of ordinary life”. The report, on sexual violence in the reclusive country, indicates that North Korean officials including high-ranking party members, prison guards, police, prosecutors and soldiers commit sexual abuse “with little concern for the consequences”. Women rarely report abuse and authorities rarely investigate or prosecute such cases, according to HRW, which said it interviewed 54 North Koreans who had fled the country since 2011 and eight former North Korean officials. Most of the assaults…

Babies born to fathers above 35 years have been identified to face health challenges according to a Standord study published on Wednesday in the journal BMJ. The study linked babies of older fathers with a variety of increased risks at birth, including low birth weight and seizures, though they’re slight. The paper showed that babies born to fathers of an “advanced paternal age,” which roughly equates to older than 35, are at a higher risk for adverse birth outcomes. The study, based on data from more than 40 million births, also suggested that the age of the father can sway…

Manchester United are in talks with Jose Mourinho over transfer targets for both January and next summer’s transfer windows and appear ready to back their manager, Sky Sports News understands. Mourinho remains keen to bring in a new central defender after failing to acquire one in the summer and the club will make a move if the right man becomes available in either of the next two windows. Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld and Leicester’s Harry Maguire were both targeted by Mourinho in the summer but he was not backed by the board, and Maguire has signed a new long-term Foxes contract…

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have advised mothers in Ekiti State to stop the long practice of female genital mutilation (FGM), describing the practice as harmful and sinful to womenfolk. They said there was need to save female children from the pains being experienced after their genital had been mutilated, saying the practice had cost the deaths of millions of African children. The agencies said these in Orin Ekiti, Ido/Osi Local Government of the state Wednesday during a public declaration against FGM in the town. At the ceremony attended by the wife of the…

Nigeria captain John Obi Mikel has not retired from international football, a team spokesman said Tuesday, despite the former Chelsea star being sidelined for the third straight match. Mikel, who plays for Chinese side Tianjin Teda, has not played for the Super Eagles since he led the team at the World Cup finals in Russia in June. He had been given time to recover from a series of injuries but is now back to full fitness yet was not named in Gernot Rohr’s 23-man squad to take on South Africa later this month. “Mikel has not retired from international football,”…

For someone named Ronaldo, taking up professional football could have turned out to be a huge risk, because of the weight of the name. The Brazilian Ronaldo was one of the greatest players to ever play the beautiful game, so when a young Cristiano Ronaldo sped through the left-hand side at Manchester United, he was regularly reminded of the legacy he had to stand up to. Yet, it is a testament to the strength of character of the player who has come so far that he hasn’t just lived up to the reputation of the name, but most certainly surpassed…

Eden Hazard is “looking good” to return for Chelsea against Crystal Palace on Sunday, says Gianfranco Zola. Hazard missed the recent wins over BATE Borisov and Burnley after suffering a back injury in the 2-2 draw with Manchester United in October. Chelsea next face Derby County in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night – live on Sky Sports – but Zola says Hazard is more likely to face Crystal Palace on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League. “He (Hazard) is certainly much better,” said Zola. “I’m not sure today but tomorrow (Wednesday) he is going to be joining us in training. “I…

Two Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) and Development Communications Network (DEVCOMS) have tasked government and donor agencies to shift from curative malnutrition measures to preventive measures. The NGOs gave the advice at media training on the role of journalists in ensuring transparency and accountability in allocation and use of health/nutrition funds on Tuesday in Abuja. Mr Sunday Okoronkwo, the Programme Manager, CS-SUNN, decried the nation’s malnutrition burden, blaming it on the approach adopted by both governments and donor agencies, among others. Okoronkwo said that most of the interventions are geared towards treatment rather than…

Leicester City soccer club owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was on board a helicopter that crashed outside the club’s stadium, the BBC reported on Sunday, quoting a source close to his family. The helicopter crashed in a ball of flames in the club’s car park on Saturday after a Premier League match. Officials from the club and Vichai’s company, duty-free giant King Power International, declined to comment on whether he was in the helicopter when it spiraled out of control and crashed around an hour after the game. According to eyewitnesses, the helicopter just cleared the top of the stadium before it…

Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church worldwide has warned Nigerians and politicians over the unending killings in some parts of Nigeria Oyedepo issued the warning in a satellite telecast of the church’s prayer session for the nation monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja. The Bishop, while urging politicians to repent and have value for the lives of citizens, said if they do not repent after this warning, they would fall down for the sake of the nation. “Politicians be warned, whether in power or not in power. There is no day Nigeria will…