The United Kingdom has stepped up the international military operation against Islamic State group in Syria.

The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, has urged the Rivers State House of Assembly to enact Laws that will make the power sector in the state more effective. Acting Chief Executive Officer of PHEDC, MATTHEW EDEBIE made the appeal when members of the House Committee on Power visited the office of the company on Moscow road in Port Harcourt in exercise of their oversight function.

The crisis rocking telecoms giant – MTN Nigeria – has claimed additional casualties. This follows the resignation of the Chief Executive Officer of the company, MICHAEL IKPOKI. A report says the Head of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs of MTN, AKINWALE GOODLUCK, has also resigned.

The Restoration Campaign Organization of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Bayelsa State has debunked media reports around Port Harcourt, Rivers State, suggesting that the governorship election on Saturday will not hold in some local government areas. In a statement released by the Director of Publicity of the PDP Campaign organization, JONATHAN OBUEBITE, the group condemns in strong terms the reports, which it described as unholy. OBUEBITE said the reports are part of propaganda being advanced by mischief-makers to confuse and make Bayelsa people residing in Rivers State not to travel home to vote in the election on Saturday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has formally opened a criminal investigation against Chief RAYMON DOKPESI of Daar Communication. Chief DOKPESI is accused of conspiracy; money laundering and misappropriation of public funds. D

The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has unveiled plans to set up a special fund to support victims of political violence in the state. The APC governorship candidate, DAKUKU PETERSIDE, dropped this hint in an interview with our correspondent JAMES IGAH in Abuja. PETERSIDE assured all victims of political violence in Rivers state during the last general elections that the party would continue to pursue justice on their behalf.

The All Progressives Congress in Rivers State has expressed sadness over the decision to terminate the overseas scholarship scheme established by previous administrations. The Rivers State Government yesterday said it can no longer continue to fund the overseas scholarship under the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency.

An appeals court in South Africa has reversed the conviction of Olympic athlete OSCAR PISTORIUS. The Paralympian has now been found guilty of murder, which overturns his earlier conviction for manslaughter over the killing of his girlfriend, REEVA STEENKAMP in February 2013.

The pro-Biafra agitation in the South-East and parts of the South-South geopolitical zones continues to generate concerns, with religious institutions calling for immediate intervention by the Federal Government. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria wants the Federal Government to set machinery in motion to resolve the issues bordering on the marginalization and neglect of the South-East and South-South geo-political zone as a means to stem the rising tide of the agitation.

The trial of Pastor TB JOSHUA of the Lagos-based Synagogue Church of All Nations opens today before a Lagos High Court.
Pastor TB JOSHUA as well as other trustees of the church and two civil engineers engaged by them are facing charges over the collapse of a six-story guest house undergoing reconstruction, which killed over one hundred people in September last year.