👮Police ✅Confirm Militia ☠Groups ‘Armed with AK-47’ in Benue

*'Code red' storm causes Dutch and German transport chaos*

Dutch authorities have suspended all flights to and from Amsterdam Schiphol airport as a severe storm causes transport chaos in the Netherlands. Most rail traffic has also stopped as winds gust at up to 140km/h (90mph). Schiphol, one of Europe's busiest airports, says flights will gradually resume and passengers can still check in. But two departure halls are closed.

The storm is now causing damage and disruption in Germany. Rail traffic has stopped in the densely populated Ruhr. Dutch Twitter users have posted photos of trucks and trees blown over by the gales. Many trees have come down on railway lines. A national transport website, VID, reported 17 trucks blown over by the strong winds.

The Dutch Railways (NS) and operator ProRail said overhead power lines had been damaged by the wind, as well as some railway tracks. An alert on the NS website said: "A hurricane-force storm is raging over our country and causing a lot of damage to the rail network and stations. "NS and ProRail therefore have to stop the train service until further notice. Only Arriva trains in Groningen and Limburg can continue running."

Police have confirmed the existence of armed militia groups in Benue State which they said investigations would reveal soon. Speaking on Thursday during an interview on Channels Television, the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr Jimoh Moshood, countered claims by Governor Samuel Ortom that there was nothing of such.

“Yes, they were armed with AK-47 (riffles); we have records, we have footage and you can’t just start arming people,” he said when he appeared on Sunrise Daily. He also disputed claims that the ranch guards who were inaugurated by the state government were unarmed, insisting that the police have their evidence.

The Force spokesman noted that it was unlawful for any person to be in possession of arm without the consent of the Federal Government. He added that the said ranch guards were meant to take note of any suspicious activity and report to the police, stressing that investigations had revealed that they were carrying prohibited weapons.

Code red' storm causes Dutch and German transport chaos

*'Code red' storm causes Dutch and German transport chaos*

Dutch authorities have suspended all flights to and from Amsterdam Schiphol airport as a severe storm causes transport chaos in the Netherlands. Most rail traffic has also stopped as winds gust at up to 140km/h (90mph). Schiphol, one of Europe's busiest airports, says flights will gradually resume and passengers can still check in. But two departure halls are closed.

The storm is now causing damage and disruption in Germany. Rail traffic has stopped in the densely populated Ruhr. Dutch Twitter users have posted photos of trucks and trees blown over by the gales. Many trees have come down on railway lines. A national transport website, VID, reported 17 trucks blown over by the strong winds.

The Dutch Railways (NS) and operator ProRail said overhead power lines had been damaged by the wind, as well as some railway tracks. An alert on the NS website said: "A hurricane-force storm is raging over our country and causing a lot of damage to the rail network and stations. "NS and ProRail therefore have to stop the train service until further notice. Only Arriva trains in Groningen and Limburg can continue running."

Indian-Origin Doctor Helps Nigerian banker gives birth inside plane

 

Indian-Origin Doctor Helps Nigerian banker gives birth inside plane!*

A 41-year-old Nigerian banker identified as Toyin Ogundipe, aboard an Air France flight, was delivered of a baby boy mid-air about 35,000 feet above sea level and four hours away from the destination. The mother of two who lives in the UK had gone into labour a week earlier than her delivery date, and was in childbirth pains and having contractions about 10 minutes apart.

The baby, who was named Jake, was delivered after a 30-minute labour, Mailonline states. A second-year urology resident, Dr. Sij Hemal, who was also a passenger in the plane, helped with the delivery of the baby half-way through an eight-hour flight from Paris to New York. Dr. Hemal, who spoke to Mailonline, said he was just glad everything went smoothly — and was relieved it all happened before he’d had any champagne.

While talking about his fear, he mentioned that his biggest fear was that the mother could die from bleeding or shock after birth. But looking back, he insists it all went as well as it could have done. Dr. Hemal, who had been on vacation in New Dehli, India, was flying coach class via Paris and New York on his way back to Cleveland, Ohio, on December 17

*Oil spill off China coast now the size of Paris*

*Oil spill off China coast now the size of Paris*

An oil spill from an Iranian oil tanker that sank in the East China Sea is now the size of Paris. The slick covers an area of 101 square kilometres (39 square miles), after almost doubling in size from the start of the week, according to figures released Wednesday by the Chinese State Oceanic Administration.

Chinese authorities said there were four separate slicks that had formed after the Panama-registered Sanchi tanker sank Sunday. The largest oil slick is 48 square kilometres (19 square miles), it added. The Administration did not respond to a request for additional information Thursday.

It had been burning in the East China Sea for a week following a collision with another vessel. All crew members, 30 from Iran and two from Bangladesh, are presumed dead. The Sanchi was carrying 136,000 tons -- around one million barrels -- of oil from Iran to South Korea when it collided with the Hong Kong-registered CF Crystal freighter in the East China Sea on January 7.

Drone saves two Australian swimmers in world first

Drone saves two Australian swimmers in world first*

Two teenage boys were rescued by a brand new lifesaving drone in Australia while lifeguards were still training to use the device. The swimmers, aged 15-17, had got into difficulties off the coast of Lennox Head, New South Wales (NSW). A member of the public spotted them struggling in heavy surf about 700m (2,300ft) offshore.

Lifesavers instantly sent the drone to drop an inflatable rescue pod, and the pair made their way safely to shore. John Barilaro, the state's deputy premier, praised the rescue as historic. "Never before has a drone fitted with a flotation device been used to rescue swimmers like this," he said.

Lifeguard supervisor Jai Sheridan was piloting the device when the alarm was raised. He described the experience as "unreal". "The Little Ripper UAV certainly proved itself today, it is an amazingly efficient piece of lifesaving equipment and a delight to fly," he told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.

Constitution amendment tops agenda as govs meet in Abuja

 

*Constitution amendment tops agenda as govs meet in Abuja*

State governors met on Wednesday evening under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. The meeting, the first of its kind in 2018, was held at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The forum’s chairman and Zamfara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, presided over the meeting that started at about 9 pm.

Top on their agenda is a briefing from the constitution amendment committee headed by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State. The meeting was also meant to consider the health agenda for 2018 which is to get the commitment of governors to universal health care coverage, polio eradication and nutrition among others.