Today's top stories

 

Serena Williams regains top tennis spot  

Published on February 15, 2013 America’s Serena Williams regained the number one ranking in tennis by beating Czech Petra Kvitova in three sets in the quarter finals of the Qatar Open.

Serena Williams: dethrones Azarenka

Williams, will take over from Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka as the world’s top player on Monday, returning to the top spot for the first time in over two years.
The American, who appeared sluggish, out-of-sort, in the game and wasted so many opportunities, rallied when it mattered: coming back from 1-4 in the third set to beat Kvitova 7-5. And to announce herself as the queen of the game, she sealed the game with an ace.
Both players had drawn level in the first two sets, Kvitova winning first set at 6-3 and Serena winning the second also at 6-3.
At 31, Serena’s return to the top spot makes her the oldest woman to achieve the feat.
Chris Evert at 30 was the previous oldest world number one.
Williams, who was on the verge of tears for large parts of the deciding set, was 4-1 down before reeling off six of the last seven games, taking the match with an ace down the middle.
“I’m so sensitive these days, I’m always crying, but I never thought I would be here again,” said Williams, who was crying as she gave her post-match interview.
“When I was down I heard people cheering for me and I don’t get that all the time. I never thought I would be number one again.”
Williams will be the world number one for a 124th career week, a total only bettered by Steffi Graf (377), Martina Navratilova (332), Evert (260), Martina Hingis (209) and Monica Seles (178).
Other Qatar Open results:
Maria Sharapova (RUS x3) bt Samantha Stosur (AUS x8) 6-2, 6-4
Victoria Azarenka (BLR x1) bt Sara Errani (ITA x6) 6-2, 6-2

 

 

 

 

America’s Secret Files: The Untold Biafran story  

Published on February 17, 2013 TheNEWS’ World Exclusive
Forty three years after the Civil War, the Americans have released their dossiers—21,000 pages of diplomatic dispatches by agents of the United States government.
We’ve combed through them all to reveal the Biafra story, the way never done before.

ojukwu during Biafra war

Read about the accounts of prominent individuals like Chief Richard Akinjide, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu himself, General Olusegun Obasanjo and others on the war.
Read Zik’s story on why Ojukwu hated him; why Akinjide said Ojukwu suffered from megalomania; the reasons Ojukwu gave for killing Victor Banjo and others.
Read about the role of a Catholic reverend father, Kevin Doheny, Ojukwu’s intelligence director.
Read why former head of state, then Lt. Col. Murtala Mohammed, wrote a letter to General Yakubu Gowon, saying:
“One wonders at times: why fight to keep Nigeria as one country if two and half million people in a state of the country cannot live together happily…?”
Details in TheNEWS, beginning from Monday 18 February 2013

 

Jonathan wants absconded pension chief sanctioned  

Published on February 15, 2013President Goodluck Jonathan has asked Nigeria’s top bureaucrat, the Head of Service, to commence “disciplinary action against Alhaji Abdulrasheed Maina, chairman of Pension Reform Task Force for absconding from duty.
Jonathan’s action followed a report by the Inspector-General of Police of the difficulties encountered by officers to execute the warrant issued by the Senate for the arrest of Maina.
A Section of the Federal Government’s Public Service Rules lists Absence from Duty without Leave as an act of Serious Misconduct punishable by dismissal.

Abdulrasheed: in hiding

The Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar stated in his report to President Jonathan that after receiving the Senate’s warrant for the arrest of Alhjai Maina, he had constituted a team of detectives under the leadership of a Deputy Inspector-General of Police to find and arrest him in compliance with the Senate’s directive.
The Inspector-General said that the police have since mounted surveillance at Alhaji Maina’s home and Office but has been unable to arrest him because he has gone into hiding and stayed away from both locations since the warrant was issued, leading to his publicly being declared wanted by the Police.
Alhaji Abubakar assured the President that “intensive search” operations were still ongoing for the arrest of Alhaji Maina and that the Police will not relent until he is apprehended and produced before the Senate.
In his directive to the Head of Service, Alhaji Isa Sali, President Jonathan noted that the Inspector-General’s report clearly indicated that Alhaji Maina had absconded from his official duties.
President Jonathan directed the Head of Service to act expeditiously on the disciplinary proceedings against Alhaji Maina and report back to him on actions taken.
The Nigerian senate had accused President Jonathan of shielding the embattled Pension chief, who the Senate wanted to appear before it to explain discrepancies in the pension fund.
Maina had ignored the Senate summons on several occasions, leading to the exasperated Senate to ask for his dismissal and his arrest by the Inspector General of police, M.D. Abubakar.