How British PM David Cameron goes to work...sometimes!

I'm sure the train is surrounded by MI6 agents...but nice way to travel...

Migrant Crisis: EU, Turkey Close In On Deal

The EU and Turkey said that they are close to reaching a deal on how to ease the migration crisis at a summit in Brussels.

European Council President, Donald Tusk on Tuesday, said that irregular migrants arriving in Greece will be returned to Turkey.

For each migrant returned, Turkey wants the EU to accept a Syrian refugee on a one-for-one basis, and offer more funding and progress on EU integration.

Mr Tusk said that leaders had made a “breakthrough”, and he was hopeful of concluding a deal next week.

He said the progress sent “a very clear message that the days of irregular migration to Europe are over”.

Talks would continue ahead of an EU meeting scheduled for March 17 and 18.

Europe is facing its biggest refugee crisis since world war two. Most migrants came via Turkey, which is already sheltering more than 2.7 million refugees from the civil war in neighbouring Syria.

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Australian Navy Seizes Huge Weapons Cache Headed For Somalia

An Australian Navy ship has seized a huge cache of weapons near Oman’s coast from a fishing vessel bound for Somalia, the navy said on Monday, exposing a possible violation of a U.N. Security Council arms embargo.

The United Nations has a decade-long arms embargo in place against Somalia, which has been mired in conflict since civil war broke out in 1991.

The Australian Navy, which patrols waters around the Indian Ocean as part of an international maritime force, said it had seized nearly 2,000 AK-47 rifles, 100 rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 49 PKM machine guns, 39 PKM spare barrels and 20 mortar tubes from the fishing vessel.

“The weapons were seized under United Nations sanctions, which authorise interdiction on the high seas of illicit weapons destined for Somalia,” the Navy said in a statement.

In 2013, the U.N Security Council eased some of the embargo restrictions, allowing the Western-backed government in Mogadishu to buy light weapons to bolster its armed forces in the battle against Islamist al Shabaab insurgents, who are aligned with al Qaeda.

One Western security source said the street value of the Australian Navy haul appeared to be more than two million dollars.

The Australian Navy did not indicate who was the intended recipient of the weapons, which were found hidden under fishing nets. As well as al Shabaab, some regional states in Somalia operate and equip their own militias without the approval of the central government.

A Somali government spokesman could not immediately comment on the Australian Navy statement.

The Navy said personnel from HMAS Darwin had boarded the fishing vessel about 170 nautical miles (313 km) off the coast of Oman to verify which flag it was sailing under and they determined that it was stateless.

HMAS Darwin is in the region as part of the Combined Task Force 150, responsible for counter-terrorism operations, curbing piracy and drug smuggling.

Oil Workers Shut Down NNPC Operations Over Unbundling

Oil workers have shut down the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) nationwide until further notice following the unbundling of the corporation.

This decision was reached at a meeting of the Group Executive Councils of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which held on on Tuesday, March 8.

After “extensively discussing the pronouncement”, they “observed that the GMD/HMSP totally disregarded due process and failed to engage stakeholders.

“Hence, from midnight today (Tuesday, March 8), all NNPC locations will be shut down completely until further notice. Further directives will be communicated accordingly”.

Speaking in a telephone interview with Channels Television, President of NUPENG, Mr Igwe Achese, said the unbundling process was not transparent.

The Federal Government had approved the creation of seven operational units in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu said that five of the seven operational units would be strictly business-driven in line with global best practices.

The new units include those for Upstream, Downstream, Gas and Power, Refineries, Ventures, Corporate Planning and Services, and Finance and Accounts.

He said each of the units would be headed by Chief Executive Officers; namely Bello Rabiu for Upstream; Henry Ikem-Onih for Downstream; Anibor Kragha (Refineries); Saudu Mohammed (Gas and Power), while Babatunde Adeniran takes charge of Ventures.

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Zuma Promises To Return Confiscated Funds To Nigeria

South African President, Jacob Zuma, says his government will do everything possible to ensure that the monies confiscated by South Africa during Goodluck Jonathan’s regime are returned to Nigeria.

Mr Zuma made the promise while addressing reporters after bilateral talks with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

For over two hours President Buhari and the South African President discussed several issues aimed at deepening the relationship between the two countries.

They also reviewed the over 30 bilateral agreements the two countries had signed over the years.

President told the reporters that the Nigerian and South African governments were working on the matter and that the relevant structures were already recovering some of the loots.

Th South African leader also told reporters that investigations were ongoing to ensure that anything that was illegally taken to South Africa would be returned.

South Africa and Nigeria have good bilateral relations, and strong historical ties dating back from the years of the liberation struggle, but issues of xenophobia is threatening this relationship.

The South African President described xenophobic attacks recorded in his country as ‘unfortunate’, promising to address it ones and for all.

“Africans should realise that they are the same and should avoid conflicts and attacks on each other,” he stressed.

The Nigerian leader also addressed reporters, touching different issues.

On the fine imposed on a South African company in Nigeria, MTN, President Buhari says the Federal Government was worried about the security implication of incident and not the fine imposed.

According to the President, several lives could not have been lost if the MTN carried out the instructions by the regulatory body.

He, however, expressed joy that the South African company had agreed to pay the fine imposed on them.

President Buhari also emphasised the continent’s quest for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, saying “Africa deserves a place in the Security Council seat of the United Nations”.

He also sympathisesd with South Africans on the unfortunate building collapsethat claimed some lives in Lagos and promised to do all to consolidate the relations between the two countries.

The South African leader is in Nigeria for a two-day state visit.

He is expected to address the National Assembly later on Tuesday.

Both leaders will also address the South Africa Business Forum before the end of the visit.

In President Zuma’s delegation are the Minister of Trades and Industry, Rob Davies, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister for Energy, Tina Joemat-Peterson, Minister of Home Affairs, Malusi Gigaba, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Minister of Mineral Resources, Mosebenzi Zwane.

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We Are Proud Of Nigeria – Jacob Zuma

South African President, Jacob Zuma, on Tuesday hailed Nigeria’s role in helping the southern African country during its trying times.

Speaking during a joint session of the National Assembly, President Zuma said “Nigeria’s role in ending apartheid in South Africa must be told endlessly to future generations of our people.

“Nigeria provided solidarity to South Africans to unseat colonialist and we can’t forget Nigeria’s role in reparation for South Africa,” he said.

The South African President, who is on a two-day state visit to Nigeria, also applauded Nigeria’s conduct of the 2015 Presidential election, saying he salutes the courage of all those who were involved in making that election a smooth one for the country.

President Zuma also said that South Africa was willing to work with Nigeria in bringing about a steady power supply and also appealed to Nigeria to join hands with other African countries in defeating the enemy of the continent.

“Economic cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa must be enhanced to enable Africa develop at a fast pace.

“We must diversify our economies to provide more jobs for our people to break away from colonial strongholds.

“Economic cooperation between Nigeria & South Africa must be enhanced to enable Africa develop at a fast pace.

“We need to advance the continental integration and transformation informed by the African Union’s Constitutive Act.

“We need to unite and work together on the issues of peace and security.

“These should include the bringing into operation of the stand by force and their capability. We commit ourselves to playing our part to achieve this.

“Let the citizens of Africa march together to defeat all those forces that bring harm and suffering to our continent.

“Let the citizens of Africa match together towards a brighter future. A future filled with prosperity and happiness.

“South African and Nigeria acting together in unity must play a key role towards the achievements of these goals and objectives,” he said.

The Senate President and the Speaker in their speeches observed that there would be great consequences if both governments do not work together to ensure stability and growth of the continent.

Ease Travel Restrictions

The Chairman of Nigeria’s National Assembly, Senator Bukola Saraki, on his part asked the visiting South African President, Jacob Zuma, to consider easing travel restrictions for Nigerians and reducing challenges of doing business in his nation.

Senator Saraki pointed out that there was disparity in the opportunities investors from both countries enjoy, stressing that Nigerian wanted greater reciprocity.

The Nigerian Senate President also emphasised the need for greater African integration through the easing of trade restrictions, travel restrictions and better policy action towards intra-Africa investment and support.

Promises To Return Confiscated Funds

South African President, Jacob Zuma, earlier said his government would do everything possible to ensure that the monies confiscated by South Africa during Goodluck Jonathan’s regime are returned to Nigeria.

Mr Zuma made the promise while addressing reporters after bilateral talks with President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

For over two hours President Buhari and the South African President discussed several issues aimed at deepening the relationship between the two countries.

President Zuma was accompanied to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, his host.

Read President Jacob Zuma’s full address here.

Photos: Buhari hosts Zuma to a state Banquet; Osinbajo, Atiku, Tinubu in attendance

President Buhari this evening hosted visiting South African President, Jacob Zuma, to a state Banquet at the state house. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, APC National leader Bola Tinubu and Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar were all in attendance. See more photos after the cut...

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Buhari unbundles NNPC into 7 units, names new heads

President Buhari has approved the immediate unbundling of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, into seven independent operational units. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, made this known today March 8th. According to Kachiukwu, the new units are Upstream, Downstream, Gas & Power, Refineries, Ventures, Corporate Planning & Services and Finance and Accounts.

He said each of the units would be headed by chief executive officers, namely Bello Rabiu for Upstream; Henry Ikem-Onih (downstream); Anibor Kragha (Refineries); Saudu Mohammed (Gas & Power), Babatunde Adeniran (Ventures), Isiaka Abdulrasaq Finance & Accounting and Isa Inuwa ‎Executive Head, Corporate Planning and Services.

All appointments take immediate effect.

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Photos: Pres. Jacob Zuma, addresses joint session of the National Assembly

Visiting South African President, Jacob Zuma, addressed a joint session of the National Assembly today March 8th. He was accompanied to the assembly by President Buhari. Continue to see more photos..

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Bobby Brown's sister reveals shocking details about Bobbi Kristina

Bobby Brown's sister Leolah Brown has revealed shocking previously unknown details about Bobbi Kristina's condition when she was found in the bathtub in January 2015, days after it was revealed that she died of drugs, alcohol and drowning. Read what she wrote after the cut...

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Photo: Nigerian Army's Chief of Training and Operations, Major Gen. Yusha'u Abubakar dies in a road accident

Chief of Training and Operations (Army), Major General Yusha’u Mahmood Abubakar and the Acting General Officer Commanding 3 Division Nigerian Army, Brigadier General MSA Aliyu were involved in a road traffic accident along Maiduguri-Damaturu road today, March 8.

According to a statement issued by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, Major General Yusha’u Abubakar died as a result of the incident, while Brigadier General Aliyu sustained injuries and is receiving treatment. Details will follow later.

'Dentist Of Horror' Allegedly Mutilated Scores Of Patients In France

Dutch dentist Jacobus Van Nierop in his dental office in Chateau-Chinon, France, in 2009.

The Dutch dentist was initially welcomed to the rural French town of Chateau-Chinon, which had been without a dental care provider for two years.

Then the horror stories started.

Now Jacobus Van Nierop is standing trial on charges of aggravated assault and insurance fraud, after scores of patients said he caused them injuries since arriving in town in 2008, Agence France-Presse reports. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to as many as 10 years in prison and fined up to $165,000, according to AFP.

The Associated Press has this account from a woman who said she was treated by the "Dentist of Horror," as he has been dubbed in French media:

"One patient, Sylviane Boulesteix, has said she was unexpectedly summoned to the dental office in central-eastern France in May 2012. Without warning, the dentist pulled eight of her teeth out and immediately fixed dentures on her raw gums. For three hours, the elderly woman says she sat gushing blood.

"In the following days, she says Van Nierop refused to relieve her pain. A judicial expert later described a 'cruel and perverse' man whose incompetence made Boulesteix lose several health teeth, go through trauma and suffer irreversible damage to her mouth."

The town of Chateau-Chinon, where Van Nierop is accused of mutilating dozens of patients

According to AFP, some patients said they would wake to find notes asking them to come back for further treatment:

" 'Every time, he would give us what he called 'a little prick' and we were asleep, knocked out,' said Nicole Martin, a retired teacher who lost several teeth to abscesses caused by the horrific operations.

" 'When it was over, we would find a Post-it note saying to come back for an appointment the next day or the day after,' she added."

Martin set up a victims' group to press charges that grew to more than 120 members, according to AFP.

Van Nierop, 51, has said he "suffers from 'psychological problems' including gender identity issues and suicidal tendencies," AFP reports.

He had a blanket over his head when he arrived today at the courthouse in the nearby city of Nevers, AFP reports. He has been incarcerated for the past 18 months.

"What my clients and I expect are explanations," Charles Joseph-Oudin, who is representing some of the victims, tells AFP. "To understand how Mr. Van Nierop could have acted in such a way for so long, how things could have become so bad. Today, we have no explanations. Understanding is the first step of the victims' healing process."

According to the AP, the defendant has "refused to answer questions during the investigation, saying only that the oral health of the people in the region was 'deplorable.' "

Van Nierop was arrested in 2013 but was released and then fled to Canada, AFP reports. He was found in New Brunswick in 2014, extradited to the Netherlands and then sent back to France to stand trial.

According to Vice, the Van Nierop case highlights the problem of France's 192 " 'medical deserts' — areas where the authorities have failed to find successors for retiring doctors." Vice says some 2.5 million people live in these areas.

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Hulk Hogan Testifies In His $100 Million Lawsuit Against Gawker

Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, testifies in court on Tuesday during his trial against Gawker Media, in St Petersburg, Fla

Former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan testified in his invasion of privacy suit in St. Petersburg, Fla., against the media organization Gawker, which published a portion of a sex tape.

The case raises major questions about freedom of expression, privacy and celebrity. That being said — "it really couldn't be seedier in terms of the topic that provoked this suit," as NPR's David Folkenflik told Here and Now.

The news and gossip site published a portion of a tape showing Hulk Hogan (whose legal name is Terry Bollea) having sex with the wife of a former friend. That's accompanied by a 1,400-word graphic description of the extended encounter. Bollea maintains he was unaware that they were being taped, and Gawker says an anonymous source mailed it to the organization.

Bollea is seeking $100 million in damages from Gawker.

The issue of whether this video is "newsworthy" was in focus in court today. Gawker argues that Bollea's "frequent public discussion of his sex life made the clip newsworthy and thus protected by the First Amendment."

That's a point Bollea rejected under cross-examination from Gawker's lawyer Michael Sullivan, The New York Times reports:

"[Bollea] gently rebuffed attempts by Mr. Sullivan to paint him as someone who carelessly and routinely flaunted his sexuality and his conquests, and for whom even the most intimate personal details were fodder for publicity. Mr. Bollea insisted that any such disclosures in public were purely an act, a crucial component of his 'character' as Hulk Hogan."

Making the distinction between the character of Hogan and the person of Terry Bollea, he says he was playing Hogan in interviews where he discussed personal and intimate details of his sex life, his anatomy and his family.

"I'm kind of concerned about Hulk Hogan's privacy, but you kind of give it away," Bollea testified, according to the Times. "But in the privacy of your own home, no one invades my privacy."

Additionally, Bollea says he didn't have a problem with "news outlets discussing or even writing about the sex tape," The Associated Press reports. "It was only when Gawker broadcast an edited clip of the actual video that he said he began to suffer."

Gawker also rests its First Amendment argument on the claim that the videorepresents events truthfully:

"I am not going to make a case that the future of the Republic rises or falls on the ability of the general public to watch a video of Hulk Hogan f****** his friend's ex-wife. But the Constitution does unambiguously accord us the right to publish true things about public figures."

Conversely, Bollea's lawyers "cautioned that the privacy of many Americans could be compromised" as a result of the case, the Times reports.

Other recent cases have grappled with the issue of newsworthiness versus privacy.

David breaks down why a case about a sex tape could have significant implications for other kinds of news:

"If you're thinking about this from a legal perspective, the idea that a public figure can say what about his or her life you can publish or post and what you cannot is troubling. Because even if one concedes — as most reasonable human beings would — that this isn't something that should be out there, this isn't something he seems to have encouraged the filming of, this is not a video he wanted out there at all. He's not a pornographic actor — he should have the right for his sex ... he has the right for that, in a sense, one would think, not to get out.

"But if you cede that right to individuals to do it, then suddenly news organizations and citizens are suddenly having taken away from them the right to publish what we want. There are consequences to what we publish in this country — if you libel somebody that is something that you face consequences for. But the idea that pre-emptively you can prevent somebody from doing that is really deeply problematic."

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President Obama Meets With Supreme Court Candidates

President Obama has begun interviewing candidates for the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

Sources close to the process say that among those being interviewed are Chief Judge Merrick Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia; Judge Sri Srinivasan, of the same court; Judge Paul Watford, of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals based in San Francisco; Judge Jane Kelly, of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals based in St. Louis; and U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, who serves in Washington, D.C.

The first three are considered leading contenders.

Garland, the oldest at 63, is also by far the most experienced, a moderate liberal, with a long history as a prosecutor prior to joining the appeals court in 1997. In 2013 he became chief judge of the appeals court. Widely respected, he has few political pluses for the president, as he is neither female nor a member of any minority group. In addition, he has a 19-year judicial paper trail for opponents to flyspeck. But he is highly regarded by Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals. Indeed, Utah Republican Orrin Hatch helped secure his confirmation to the appeals court.

Judge Srinivasan, 49, worked in the solicitor general's office in both the Bush and Obama administrations. President Obama nominated him to the D.C. Appeals Court in 2012, and he was confirmed a year later by a vote of 97-0. He has less than a three-year judicial record, which in confirmation terms can be a plus, as now-Chief Justice John Roberts learned when he was nominated to the high court. Srinivasan was born in India and came to the U.S. with his parents as a child; if nominated, he would be the first Supreme Court nominee of South Asian descent.

Judge Watford, 48, was confirmed for a seat on the 9th Circuit in 2012 by a 61-34 vote, garnering both Democratic and Republican votes. In his three years on the court, he has earned a reputation as a smart and careful jurist; indeed, two of his opinions — one a dissent and one a majority opinion — were ultimately vindicated by the Supreme Court last term. If he were nominated and confirmed, he would be the third African-American to serve on the nation's highest court.

Judges Kelly and Brown Jackson are considered to be longer shots for nomination.

Kelly hails from Iowa, the home state of Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley. But she, too, is a relative newcomer to the federal judiciary, and she served previously as a public defender — a job rife with potential political targets for Republicans.

Judge Brown Jackson is only 45, has been a district court judge for just three years, and received a relatively low rating from the American Bar Association at the time of her nomination — enough to get her confirmed but not enough to suggest that she was at that time a legal star. Her political pluses are that she has done well since becoming a judge, is related by marriage to House Speaker Paul Ryan and is African-American.

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