Dwayne Johnson to lead Seal Team 666

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has reportedly signed on to lead a new action film from MGM called Seal Team 666. The Rock will appear in the film which follows an elite group of Navy SEALs who ...well, we can't give the whole movie away

Nadia Buhari's Mother SpitsFire over Jim Iyke

Now that it's clear nothing like marriage is ever going to happen between Jim Iyke and Ghanaian actress, Nadia Buhari, the actress' mother is enraged over the issue. Hajia had thought the relation was altar bound until recently when Jim took to Twitter and publicly declared was nothing of such, leading Nadia to also delete all his pictures and name from her Instagram. Nadia's mum is said to be bitter at the moment that she at every given opportunity, allegedly places curses on Jim for breaking her baby's heart. Now, Nadia who has been talking about settling down and having children, has fallen into the ever waiting arms of her career for solace.

I have attempted GUS three times –Dennis Okike, winner, GUS 10

It was a colourful ceremony last weekend at the Le’ Meridien Hotel, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, when the winner of the popular television reality show, Gulder Ultimate Search Season 10, Dennis Okike was unveiled. Anchored by the task master himself, Chidi Mokeme, the event which has the governor of the host state, Godswill Akpabio in attendance with members of his cabinet also witnessed the unveiling of winner of the one day ultimate fans edition in the person of Comrade Kalu Kalu. He smiled home with an SUV and a mouth watering cash prize. Number one African rapper, MI spiced up the event as he thrilled the audience with his electrifying performance. *GUS Winner, Dennis However, elated Okike shares his experience while in the jungle, as well as what he intends to do with the N10 million prize money. How do you feel as the winner of the 10th edition of Gulder Ultimate Search? I have longed for this for three years. I worked very hard and I prayed to become the winner.. It was not my own personal efforts, God has hand in it, and without God I would not get to where I am today. While the search lasted, you suddenly became daring which was not part of you from the beginning? My parents will always say when you are in a different environment, observe the people, and the environment very well. When I was in the jungle I had to learn from people, and their mistakes, and not to make the same mistake. I learned from my own mistakes too. I kept pushing forward; I never allowed anything to distract me. What was your most challenging task in the jungle? It was the first individual task that we had. I had to go under the log. I don’t want to remember it again. It was very humiliating, but as God would have it, I was second to the last person in the task. It is just that whatever situation you find yourself in, if you think you are actually the last, you nee to remain focus and be prayerful. It’s not how far, but how wel! How would you describe this year’s GUS? Gulder Ultimate Search is a television reality show that takes place yearly. I have tried it for three years. Last year, I got to the final stage, but I was not picked. I kept on trying until I entered the jungle this year. GUS is different from other reality shows, you could see it on TV how it is like. It is glaring for everyone to see. It is not artificial, it is original. Now that you have won teh show, what’s the next level for you? It is God first. He will lead me to my next level. I have lots of ideas, just like every other young man out there. I have to allow God direct my path. Whatever He says I will take it up from there. N10 million is a lot of money, but it does not change anything. If one doesn’t plan well, one will just blow it up, but if you plan ahead of time and you let God take control, you will achieve great success. When you found the Golden Scepter, what came to your mind? The experience was out of this world. It was something every other contestant wanted to experience; God actually helped me to discover the Golden Scepter. There were instances I would have been evicted, but God made me to come out a winner. Finding the Golden Scepter was the climax of it all, and I realised God’s faithfulness in my life. God was actually with me all through. He actually proved that all my fasting and prayers are not in vain. Every effort I put in to get to the last stage actually came to pass. I give God the glory. It was not easy. Who do you consider the most challenging person among the last four contestants? The truth is, finding the Golden Scepter could be anybody; I know Ifunanya has great ability and instinct just as I do, it could have been her. But the point is that it could be anybody. The person I actually believe was going to find it is myself. I know myself to the extent that if I really want to something I don’t care what happen, I go ahead and do it. I told myself that if I didn’t find it, I will not forgive myself; each time I was searching I kept on praying. What is going to change about you now that you have N10 million and a new car? Nothing will change about me, it is just that I am a new personality, money can change your personality. But I am still going to be the same me. Anybody can actually have the same opportunity, but it depends on what you make of it. You can get N10million and in the next six months you are nowhere, but the truth is that I already have plans for myself. But by now you would have thought of what you want to do with the money? The truth is that you don’t make choice in a hurry. I might decide to further my education as an engineer. But along the line, something might just come up, we have too much potential in this country. I will work and pray about it and let God decide for me. What He wants me to do that is what I will do. What were the responses in your family when you won? The joy in my family was out of this world. Tears of joy ran down my mom’s cheeks as well as my siblings. I am the only son and I know what will be going through their minds right now.

Tonto Dike and D’banj dating?

Tonto Dikeh’s name is synonymous with controversy. And the latest buzz that she’s gotten quite close to the hit maker, D’banj in recent times may not make any difference to her. The internet went viral during the week, dropping the bombshell that the controversial actress-turned- singer has been spotted hanging around the Koko master’s Lekki residence at odd hours. *Tonto Dike & D’banj Those in the know said, Tonto is currently recording her new songs at the studio in D’banj’s house. The hit maker is said to be planning to sign her to his Records label as he once stated that if he signs her, she will definitely blow. The new song she’s recording at D’banj’s studio is described as a banger. But guess what! Mouths are wagging that there are more to Tonto’s closeness to D’banj than meets the eyes.

Miley Cyrus writes Liam Hemsworth Love Note

Miley Cyrus has written her ex-fiancé Liam Hemsworth a love letter apologising for her wild behaviour following their split in September. Miley Cyrus has written Liam Hemsworth a love letter. The 'Wrecking Ball' hitmaker has penned her ex- fiancé - whom she began dating in 2010 - an emotional note apologising for her wild antics and raunchy behaviour following their split in September. A source told The Sun newspaper: ''As time has gone on and the anger subsided, Miley has really started to feel the pain of the split. ''She thought about writing some songs, but then decided why not write a letter to Liam to tell him exactly how she feels. Miley admitted to Liam she has pushed him away and said sorry for acting so mad.'' The 20-year-old singer has been romantically linked to music producer Mike WiLL Made It and Rolling Stone magazine heir Theo Wenner since ending her engagement to the 'Hunger Games' star, but she admits she still has deep feelings for Liam and is keen to meet up with him to sort through their differences. The source explained: ''Miley says in her letter she still loves Liam deeply and has asked him to meet up. It could be for closure or it could be to start again, but she just wants to see him and talk things through.''

Sudan woman in Legal Limbo over Refusal to Cover Hair

A Sudanese woman accused of "indecent" attire because she refused to cover her hair remains in legal limbo after a court appearance on Monday. Amira Osman Hamed faces a possible whipping if convicted of violating Sudan's laws governing morality, which took effect after the 1989 Islamist-backed coup by President Omar al-Bashir. The defence asked in September that the charge be withdrawn but the prosecution is still weighing how to proceed, Hamed and one of her lawyers said after Monday's hearing in Jebel Aulia, just outside Khartoum. The court is waiting for the prosecutor to either send the file back to court for additional hearings, or to quash the case, Hamed said. No new date has been set for a further hearing, but one of her lawyers,Kamal Omar, said that "this does not mean the case is finished". Hamed said she thought that her case would not be quashed immediately. "I think they will keep it (active) for a while," she said. "If they want to use it any time they will. I'm not free." Under Sudanese law all women are supposed to cover their hair with a "hijab" but Hamed refuses, saying authorities "want us to be like Taliban women." Her case has attracted international publicity and drawn support from rights activists. She said she was charged after refusing a policeman's order to cover her head while visiting a government office in Jebel Aulia in late August. In 2009, the case of journalist Lubna Ahmed al- Hussein led to a global outcry and spotlighted women's rights in Sudan. Hussein was fined for wearing slacks in public but she refused to pay. She spent one day behind bars but others rounded up with her in a restaurant were flogged.

ASUU: Read The Stories Of Students Who Do Not Want To Stay Idle While ASSU Is On Strike; Share Your Story!

To keep their minds occupied, some undergraduates in Kaduna have ventured into various vocations as the strike by theAcademic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) continues. Grace Ocholi,a 300-level student of English at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that she found a temporary job as afuel pump attendantat a petrol station in Sabon-Tasha area of the city to enable her earn some money until the end of the strike. "Everyone in my house goes out every morning to work, and my younger sisters go to school while I stay home and sleep awaiting for their return. "I am not okay with staying idle so I decided to engage in something useful," Grace said. Another student,Seun Ali,an HND Computer Science student of Kaduna Polytechnic said he worked at a friend'sbarbing saloonto earn some money and to be occupied. Henry Samuelof Mass Communication Department, Ahmadu Bello University, said he was helping his father inselling tiles- something that he had been doing before before he was admitted to the university. "So instead of wasting time waiting for the prolonged strike to end, I returned to continue from where I stopped," he said. The students advised their colleagues to engage in something meaningful while the strike lasted,so as not to fall into the temptation of going into crime due to idleness. It will be reminded, thatASUU has embarked upon an indefinite strike June 30, 2013.The lecturers protest against the FG's failure to honour a 2009 agreement signed between it and ASUU in 2009 pertaining to issues of university funding and improvement of infrastructure in the sector.

Nigeria And Israel Sign Aviation Deal - Now Nigerians Can Fly To Holy Land Directly

Nigeria and Israel signed a bilateral aviation deal, the Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA), that enables airlines from both countries to fly directly to each other without stopovers. Before this agreement was signed, Nigerians, including Christian Pilgrims, traveling to Israel had endure several flight changes, JNS.org reports The agreement has been inked duringa visit of the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to Israel. President is to to meet with Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahuand PresidentShimon Peresto discuss further deepening the countries' bilateral ties. Proponents of the deal hope that the agreement will continue the strong growth of Israel-Nigeria ties. It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan has embark on a Christian pilgrimage to Israel on Wednesday, October 23. He is accompanied by eight governors, seven ministers and three members of the National Assembly. Among them is the Nigeria's Minister of Aviation,Stella Oduah, who also take part in the Piligrimmage, has left for Israel right after she found herself in the center of a corruption scandal.

Teenage driver crushes toddler in Lagos

When three-year-old Ikeoluwa Olaniyi was playing with her friends in her grandfather’s compound in Ire Akari Estate, Isolo, Lagos, on September 3, 2013, little did she know that death was lurking. PUNCH Metro learnt that a teenage motorist, Chinyere Wagbaranta, in company with her brother, Chisom, and a police corporal attached to Police Mobile Force 22, Felix Adebayo, in a Mercedes Benz Sports Utility Vehicle, drove into the compound carelessly, hitting the little girl and crushing her skull. The victim’s grandfather, Adesola Elegbede, who spoke to our correspondent while fighting back tears, said Ikeoluwa was his first grandchild. He said, “Ikeoluwa lives with me and my wife. Her father works in a bank and her mother works with an accounting firm, which are both located on Victoria Island. Ikeoluwa attends a school in Ilasa, which is not far from our house. She stays with her parents during the weekend. “On the day of the incident, I came in and saw her eating yam just outside the main door and told her to go inside. A few minutes later, I wanted to go to my friend who lives a few houses away from mine and Ikeoluwa attempted to follow me but she met some of her friends playing in the compound so she joined them. “A few minutes later, I heard a loud scream that Ikeoluwa had been crushed by a vehicle in the compound. I ran to the scene and observed that the side of her head had been crushed. I saw the vehicle that hit her but the occupants had fled. I carried my granddaughter to Good Health Hospital, where she was declared dead.” Elegbede said he immediately ran to the Isolo Police Division to report the matter and it was there that he met the culprits. He said Chinyere drove recklessly into the compound because she was on a mission to fight one of his neighbours. He said, “I was told that Chinyere and her brother hired the Police Mobile Force member, who is attached to a bank in the area, to escort them to our compound to fight one of my neighbour’s children. “They drove recklessly from Ire Akari Road into my compound and after crushing my little girl, the armed MOPOL aided them in escaping from the scene.” The grandfather said four days after the incident, Chinyere’s parents, in company with the Divisional Police Officer, Isolo, Adamu Ibrahim, and a chief in the area came to apologise over the incident, urging him not to pursue the case. Elegbede, however, berated the police for not handling the case professionally. He said, “When they came to visit me four days later, I was shocked that the DPO escorted them to my place. Why should the DPO be pleading on their behalf, telling me it was the will of God? Anyway, I told them to go and beg Ikeoluwa’s parents because I am not her father. “On September 9, the DPO called me again saying the Area D Commander at Mushin wanted to see all the parties involved but on getting there, the DPO told us to return to his own station. “When I noticed that the case was not being handled properly, I asked the DPO to transfer the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, but he refused to do this. “I am aware that Chinyere is 18 years old and is an adult. I have already started hearing that the police want to manipulate her age, get her a fake affidavit and give her a soft-landing. I will not accept this.” The victim’s grandfather said life had not been the same since the incident occurred. While pointing to the spot where his granddaughter’s blood was shed, he said, “I cannot believe this. We are still in shock. Her mother has had to take leave from work and travel out of the country to take her mind off things. Imagine us losing such a pleasant and brilliant girl?” When contacted on the telephone, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Police Command, Ngozi Braide, confirmed the accident to our correspondent. Braide said the matter was reported as a fatal car accident and that Chinyere had been charged to court.

ASUU strike: Pupils say govt is not serious

As the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities enters the fourth month, some secondary school pupils lend their voices to the general call for an end to the crisis, SAMUEL AWOYINFA reports Secondary school pupils in Lagos have joined other Nigerians in speaking out against the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities. Most of the youngsters believe the Federal Government reneged on the agreement it reached with ASUU in 2009. Therefore, moved by pity for the undergraduates affected by the strike, they demanded that the terms of the deal be honoured quickly so that the latter could go back to the university campuses to resume their studies. While some of the pupils noted that the strike had forced their older siblings, relations and friends, who are undergraduates in various universities, to idle away their time in their respective homes, others argued that the situation had led to an increase in crime rate. Many of the pupils accused the FG of lack of seriousness toward the education sector. They said they were aware that government had never met the UNESCO’s recommended budgetary allocation of 26 per cent to education sector. Vowing never to let the current situation and government’s unfavourable disposition to education affect their future or delay their academic progress, some of the pupils said their parents were already making alternative plans for their education. The majority look forward to either relocating abroad to continue their education or enrolling in private universities in the country. But a few less privileged pupils insist that they want to fulfill their dreams for higher education in public universities since their parents cannot afford to send them abroad or pay the exorbitant fees charged by private universities. A pupil of Dansol High School, Ikeja, Feranmi Olatunji, says that by reneging on its agreement with ASUU, the FG has shown that it does not care about the various categories of students – undergraduate, postgraduate, prospective undergraduate and parents – who are at the receiving end of the lingering crisis. “The action of the Federal Government shows that it does not care about education. If it did, it would honour its agreement with ASUU without sparing any cost. It is a pity that students are the ones at the receiving end. As the saying goes, the idle hand is the devil’s workshop. Some of the students could be tempted to commit crime. The others have become an extra burden to their parents,” Olatunji says. Alarmed by the bleak prospect presented by persistent strikes in the tertiary institutions, Ogwuike Deborah of the African Church Model College, Ifako, Lagos told our correspondent that she already had an alternative plan for her education. “I don’t think I want to be affected by ASUU strikes, which have become a tradition in public universities in Nigeria. Such inconsistency will affect my plans for the future. I do not plan to spend an extra day studying for a degree in Law,” she says. Also, Agbede Olumide of Bachel Model College, Ogba, notes that government’s attitude to education clearly shows that the children of many top government officials do not attend public universities. Worried that his elder sister, an undergraduate of Tai Solarin University of Education, is idling away at home, he says, “She just sleeps, wakes up, eats and spends the rest of the day watching movies. She says some of her friends have started working as waitresses in some eateries in Lagos just to pass the time. “Top government officials can afford to treat education with such levity because their children are studying abroad. It is an act of wickedness to the children of the poor masses.” One of Agbede’s friends affected by the strike has started processing admission into a university in neighbouring Republic of Benin. Just like Agbede’s friend, Seth Omo-Izirein of Dansol High School, would like to attend a tertiary institution outside Nigeria and his preferred choice is the University of Legon, Ghana, where he hopes to obtain a degree in theatre arts. The last thing Omo-Izirein wants is to suffer the same fate as his friend, an undergraduate of University of Lagos, who now wakes up every morning, “playing games and watching television” due to the strike. “I want a four-year programme and not an extended programme. One is not sure if this strike, when it is eventually called off, will not come up again someday,” he says. Ihekwereme Kelechi of Bachel Model College agrees that incessant strikes in public universities due to neglect of education sector by government have driven many people to seek higher education outside the country. “I read an article on the Internet recently and I learnt that Holland has 90 per cent literacy level. Obviously we are lagging behind. That is why our certificates are not valued outside the country. Those foreigners see our leaders and the people as unserious,” she says. Vanessa Osuka of the African Church Model College confesses that she feels bad seeing her brother being on a forced holiday. She says she is disappointed that President Goodluck Jonathan, who was once a lecturer, would treat his colleagues this way. “He is not showing us that he was once a lecturer. If I have my way I won’t attend a public university,” she says. Also, Munachi Ufere, who looks forward to seeking admission in a private university, thinks it is better to go to an institution with the best facilities and complete whatever course one has chosen at the appropriate time. While she describes the FG’s action as “heinous and a disruption of the academic calendar,” Munachi predicts the strike will make some affected undergraduates too lazy to study at home. Although Stephen Olufeko of the African Church Model College wants to attend a public university, he is ‘scared’ of his sister, Gloria’s experience. The latter, who is an undergraduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, is currently idling away at home. He appeals to the government “to release the funds the ASUU is demanding and let the strike be called off.” One can only hope that the voice of reason will prevail and the FG will do the needful, so that the students and lecturers will go back to the classrooms.

ASUU strike: Pupils say govt is not serious

As the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities enters the fourth month, some secondary school pupils lend their voices to the general call for an end to the crisis, SAMUEL AWOYINFA reports Secondary school pupils in Lagos have joined other Nigerians in speaking out against the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities. Most of the youngsters believe the Federal Government reneged on the agreement it reached with ASUU in 2009. Therefore, moved by pity for the undergraduates affected by the strike, they demanded that the terms of the deal be honoured quickly so that the latter could go back to the university campuses to resume their studies. While some of the pupils noted that the strike had forced their older siblings, relations and friends, who are undergraduates in various universities, to idle away their time in their respective homes, others argued that the situation had led to an increase in crime rate. Many of the pupils accused the FG of lack of seriousness toward the education sector. They said they were aware that government had never met the UNESCO’s recommended budgetary allocation of 26 per cent to education sector. Vowing never to let the current situation and government’s unfavourable disposition to education affect their future or delay their academic progress, some of the pupils said their parents were already making alternative plans for their education. The majority look forward to either relocating abroad to continue their education or enrolling in private universities in the country. But a few less privileged pupils insist that they want to fulfill their dreams for higher education in public universities since their parents cannot afford to send them abroad or pay the exorbitant fees charged by private universities. A pupil of Dansol High School, Ikeja, Feranmi Olatunji, says that by reneging on its agreement with ASUU, the FG has shown that it does not care about the various categories of students – undergraduate, postgraduate, prospective undergraduate and parents – who are at the receiving end of the lingering crisis. “The action of the Federal Government shows that it does not care about education. If it did, it would honour its agreement with ASUU without sparing any cost. It is a pity that students are the ones at the receiving end. As the saying goes, the idle hand is the devil’s workshop. Some of the students could be tempted to commit crime. The others have become an extra burden to their parents,” Olatunji says. Alarmed by the bleak prospect presented by persistent strikes in the tertiary institutions, Ogwuike Deborah of the African Church Model College, Ifako, Lagos told our correspondent that she already had an alternative plan for her education. “I don’t think I want to be affected by ASUU strikes, which have become a tradition in public universities in Nigeria. Such inconsistency will affect my plans for the future. I do not plan to spend an extra day studying for a degree in Law,” she says. Also, Agbede Olumide of Bachel Model College, Ogba, notes that government’s attitude to education clearly shows that the children of many top government officials do not attend public universities. Worried that his elder sister, an undergraduate of Tai Solarin University of Education, is idling away at home, he says, “She just sleeps, wakes up, eats and spends the rest of the day watching movies. She says some of her friends have started working as waitresses in some eateries in Lagos just to pass the time. “Top government officials can afford to treat education with such levity because their children are studying abroad. It is an act of wickedness to the children of the poor masses.” One of Agbede’s friends affected by the strike has started processing admission into a university in neighbouring Republic of Benin. Just like Agbede’s friend, Seth Omo-Izirein of Dansol High School, would like to attend a tertiary institution outside Nigeria and his preferred choice is the University of Legon, Ghana, where he hopes to obtain a degree in theatre arts. The last thing Omo-Izirein wants is to suffer the same fate as his friend, an undergraduate of University of Lagos, who now wakes up every morning, “playing games and watching television” due to the strike. “I want a four-year programme and not an extended programme. One is not sure if this strike, when it is eventually called off, will not come up again someday,” he says. Ihekwereme Kelechi of Bachel Model College agrees that incessant strikes in public universities due to neglect of education sector by government have driven many people to seek higher education outside the country. “I read an article on the Internet recently and I learnt that Holland has 90 per cent literacy level. Obviously we are lagging behind. That is why our certificates are not valued outside the country. Those foreigners see our leaders and the people as unserious,” she says. Vanessa Osuka of the African Church Model College confesses that she feels bad seeing her brother being on a forced holiday. She says she is disappointed that President Goodluck Jonathan, who was once a lecturer, would treat his colleagues this way. “He is not showing us that he was once a lecturer. If I have my way I won’t attend a public university,” she says. Also, Munachi Ufere, who looks forward to seeking admission in a private university, thinks it is better to go to an institution with the best facilities and complete whatever course one has chosen at the appropriate time. While she describes the FG’s action as “heinous and a disruption of the academic calendar,” Munachi predicts the strike will make some affected undergraduates too lazy to study at home. Although Stephen Olufeko of the African Church Model College wants to attend a public university, he is ‘scared’ of his sister, Gloria’s experience. The latter, who is an undergraduate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, is currently idling away at home. He appeals to the government “to release the funds the ASUU is demanding and let the strike be called off.” One can only hope that the voice of reason will prevail and the FG will do the needful, so that the students and lecturers will go back to the classrooms.

Boy carrying toy gun shot dead by police

A 13-year-old boy carrying a replica assault rifle has been shot dead by police in the US state of California, the BBC reports. Officers in the city of Santa Rosa say they opened fire after the boy refused orders to drop the rifle, which they believed to be real. The shooting on Tuesday is now being investigated. It comes a day after a 12-year-old boy in Nevada shot dead a maths teacher at his school and wounded two fellow pupils before taking his own life. In the latest incident, two sheriff’s deputies saw the teenager “with what appeared to be some type of rifle”, a news release from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s office said. The deputies called for backup and repeatedly ordered the boy to drop the gun before firing several rounds from their handguns, police said. The boy, who was pronounced dead at the scene, was later identified by his family as Andy Lopez. “He was holding the weapon in his left hand. He began to turn toward his right in the direction of the deputy, and in so doing he moved the gun toward the deputy, and the deputy’s mindset was that he was fearful he would be shot,” Lt Paul Henry of Santa Rosa police said. But the boy’s father, Rodrigo Lopez said the shooting made no sense. “My son lost his life. He’s not alive any more just because of the mistake of somebody.” The replica gun had belonged to a friend, he said. The sheriff’s office said a plastic handgun had also been found in the boy’s waistband. Witness Brian Zastrow told the Santa Rosa Press Democrat he heard seven shots. “First, I heard a single siren and within seconds I heard seven shots go off, sounded like a nail gun,” he said. One man who saw the events unfold said the shooting was over in an instant. “He pulled over to the kid walking and he just opened the door and shot him, three shots,” Ismael Mondragon told KGO-TV. Police Lt Dennis O’Leary said the deputies had been placed on administrative leave pending the inquiry. Sheriff Steve Freitas described the shooting as a “tragedy” and promised the investigation would be thorough and transparent. “As a father of two boys about this age, I can’t begin to imagine the grief this family is going through,” he said. A spokeswoman for the boy’s school described him as “a very loved student, a very popular, very handsome young man, very smart and capable”. Linsey Gannon, assistant principal at Lawrence Cook Middle School, said he played trumpet in the school band. “Our community has been rocked by his loss,” she said. Candles, teddy bears and flowers have since been left at the scene of the shooting. “He was a good kid, he was 13 years old. He didn’t look like a man, Andy, he was a boy,” one friend told local media. On Monday, a 12-year-old boy who has not been named opened fire at a school in Sparks, Nevada, killing maths teacher and Afghanistan veteran Michael Landsberry. Police said Mr Landsberry had tried to coax the boy to drop the gun, enabling children in the playground to flee. The boy then shot and injured two fellow pupils, before taking his own life on the outdoor basketball court. President Barack Obama has recently renewed calls for changes to US gun laws following a series of deadly shootings. However, the BBC’s Alastair Leithead in Los Angeles says the proposals face fierce resistance.

ASUU strike: Idle students take up menialjobs

Some undergraduates in Kaduna have ventured into various vocations to keep them occupied as the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) persists, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. Some of them who spoke with NAN on Friday in Kaduna said that they had to find something to do, to keep their minds occupied and avoid trouble. Grace Ocholi, a 300-level student of English at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, said she secured a temporary job as a fuel pump attendant at a petrol station in Sabon-Tasha area of the city to enable her earn some money until the end of the strike. “Everyone in my house go out every morning to work, and my younger sisters go to school while I stay home and sleep awaiting for their return. “I am not okay with staying idle so I decided to engage in something useful,” Grace said. Seun Ali, an HND Computer Science student of Kaduna Polytechnic told NAN that he worked at a friend’s barbing saloon to earn some money instead of staying idle at home. Another student, Henry Samuel of Mass Communication Department, Ahmadu Bello University, said he was assisting his father in selling tiles before he was admitted to the university. Samuel said he had to continue manning the business until the end of the lecturers’ strike. “So instead of wasting time waiting for the prolonged strike to end, I returned to continue from where I stopped,” he said. The students advised their colleagues to engage in something meaningful while the strike lasted, so as not to fall into the temptation of going into crime due to idleness. NAN recalls that ASUU had been on strike since June over the non-implementation of a 2009 agreement it entered with the Federal Government on the funding of public universities.

Michael Jackson RegainsCrown as Top-earningDead Celebrity

Jackson who died in 2009, was back on top with estimated earnings of $160 million in the 12 months from October 2012 to 2013. Michael Jackson regained the title of the highest- earning dead celebrity in the past year, easily surpassing Elvis Presley and cartoonist Charles Schulz, Forbes magazine said on Wednesday. After being pushed into second place by Elizabeth Taylor last year, Jackson, who died in 2009, was back on top with estimated earnings of $160 million in the 12 months from October 2012 to 2013. "He earned the bulk of his bucks from two Cirque du Soleil shows, his Mijac Music catalog, recorded music sales and his half of the Sony/ATV publishing empire - which includes the copyright to hits by the Beatles, Lady Gaga, Eminem and Taylor Swift, among others," Forbes said. Presley was a distant second with $55 million, followed by Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip, who came in third for the second consecutive year with $37 million. Taylor dropped to fourth place with earnings of $25 million, a huge dip from last year when her estate pulled in an estimated $210 million with much of it from the auction of her jewels. Reggae star Bob Marley rounded out the top five with earnings of $18 million. The singer, who died of cancer at the age of 36 in 1981, has sold more than 75 million albums in the past two decades, according to Forbes. Nobel-prize winning physicist Albert Einstein, dropped one place to No. 8 this year with earnings of $10 million, while Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera, who died in a plane crash in December at the age of 43, was new to the list at No. 13 with $7 million. Forbes compiled the list by talking to estate managers, lawyers and licensors and analyzing estimated posthumous earnings between October 2012-2013.

Michael Jackson RegainsCrown as Top-earningDead Celebrity

Jackson who died in 2009, was back on top with estimated earnings of $160 million in the 12 months from October 2012 to 2013. Michael Jackson regained the title of the highest- earning dead celebrity in the past year, easily surpassing Elvis Presley and cartoonist Charles Schulz, Forbes magazine said on Wednesday. After being pushed into second place by Elizabeth Taylor last year, Jackson, who died in 2009, was back on top with estimated earnings of $160 million in the 12 months from October 2012 to 2013. "He earned the bulk of his bucks from two Cirque du Soleil shows, his Mijac Music catalog, recorded music sales and his half of the Sony/ATV publishing empire - which includes the copyright to hits by the Beatles, Lady Gaga, Eminem and Taylor Swift, among others," Forbes said. Presley was a distant second with $55 million, followed by Schulz, the creator of the Peanuts comic strip, who came in third for the second consecutive year with $37 million. Taylor dropped to fourth place with earnings of $25 million, a huge dip from last year when her estate pulled in an estimated $210 million with much of it from the auction of her jewels. Reggae star Bob Marley rounded out the top five with earnings of $18 million. The singer, who died of cancer at the age of 36 in 1981, has sold more than 75 million albums in the past two decades, according to Forbes. Nobel-prize winning physicist Albert Einstein, dropped one place to No. 8 this year with earnings of $10 million, while Mexican-American singer Jenni Rivera, who died in a plane crash in December at the age of 43, was new to the list at No. 13 with $7 million. Forbes compiled the list by talking to estate managers, lawyers and licensors and analyzing estimated posthumous earnings between October 2012-2013.