hakdown07

AT the homestretch of the 2015 presidential election, the Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign team challenged then candidate Muhammadu Buhari to a sport contest. When the gauntlet was left unpicked, the team in a follow up, set the internet abuzz with the juxtaposition of the pictures of President Jonathan and members of  his Federal Executive Council jogging and that of not-too-good- looking candidate Buhari. The challenge which came on the heels of simmering conjectures on the health condition of candidate Buhari was aimed at passing one message which is: President Jonathan is healthier than candidate Buhari to carry out the duties of the office of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. But was “health” given a premium in the election?  The vuvuzelas of the opposition party was so fortissimo that not even the yawping of Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state could be heard. They rally-cried “Nigeria sai changi” and people responded wi...

Chester Bennington, the lead singer of Linkin Park, was found dead on Thursday of an apparent suicide a week before the California alt-rock band was due to embark on a US tour.    Bennington, 41, known for his powerful, belting vocals, died at his Palos Verdes home near Los Angeles, the Los Angeles County Coroner's office said.    Spokesman Brian Elias said the death was being handled as an apparent suicide, and celebrity website TMZ, citing law enforcement sources, said Bennington had hung himself while alone at the house when his family was out of town.

A court in Tunisia has banned Wonder Woman, a US film starring a former soldier with the Israeli army, more than a month after it was scheduled to open at cinemas, a legal source said. The film was due to be screened at two venues in Tunis in early June, but the showings were "suspended" following a complaint from the nationalist al-Chaab party. The court finally decided to impose the ban last Friday, prosecution spokesman Sofiene Sliti said. The verdict was only disclosed to the media this week without a reason given for the judgement. Al-Chaab demanded the film be banned in Tunisia because Gadot had defended Israel's 2014 war on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza on Facebook.

India won by 36 runs India - 281/4(Harmanpreeth 171; Villaini 1-19)  Australia - 245 (Villaini 75, Blackwell 90; Goswami 2-26) Mithali Raj's troops aced the defending champions with a sumptuous performance to enter the finals of the World Cup 2017. Rain delayed the start of the 2nd semi-final and by the time the weather cleared, the match had to be reduced to 42 overs per side. Harmanpreeth Kaur produced the innings of a lifetime to help India to a huge total of 281/4 in 42 overs. Opting to bat, India made a mediocre start, losing both their openers in the powerplay. Captain Mithali Raj and Harmanpreeth then stabilised the innings with a 66-run partnership. Mithali was castled by leggie Beams in the 25th over and at that stage, it looked like India would struggle to reach the 200-mark. However, Harmanpreeth took the game by the scruff of the neck and shocked the Aussies. She reached her century by pushing her reluctant partner for a double after dabbing the ball to midwicket. ...

Malaysia has banned state broadcasters from playing the hit single Despacito following complaints about the song's "steamy" lyrics, officials say. A senior minister said the single, featuring Canadian singer Justin Bieber on a remix, was considered un-Islamic. Malaysia has strict censorship laws and has banned sensitive material before. Despacito, by Puerto Rican artist Luis Fonsi, was earlier named the most-streamed song of all time, receiving 4.6bn plays worldwide in six months. "Despacito will not be aired by the government-owned broadcast stations because we received public complaints," Malaysia's communications minister Salleh Said Keruak told AFP news agency. "The lyrics are not suitable to be heard," he added. Meanwhile, privately-owned radio stations have been "encouraged" to "practice self-censorship," he said.

A strong earthquake in the Aegean Sea has killed at least two people on the Greek island of Kos, officials say. The 6.7-magnitude quake hit 12km (seven miles) north-east of Kos, near the Turkish coast, with a depth of 10km, the US Geological Survey said. Several others were injured on Kos, mayor George Kyritsis said. A small tsunami was reported on the Turkish coast. Pictures on social media showed people walking with water lapping their ankles.

During Bill Clinton's entire eight year presidency, he only sent two e-mails. One was to John Glenn when he was aboard the space shuttle, and the other was a test of the e-mail system.