Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was held for questioning on Tuesday over suspicions he used his influence to secure leaked details of an inquiry into alleged irregularities in his 2007 election campaign.
It was the first time a former French head of state has been held in police custody and is the latest blow to Sarkozy's hopes of a come-back after his 2012 election defeat by Socialist rival Francois Hollande. The conservative politician denies all wrongdoing in a string of investigations involving him.
Sarkozy arrived early on Tuesday to be quizzed by investigators at their offices in Nanterre, west of Paris, after his lawyer was also held for questioning on Monday.
Nigeria's former central bank chief Lamido Sanusi on Sunday described the president who ousted him as a simple man trying to do well who has been undermined by incompetent and fraudulent aides.
Sanusi, widely respected by economists in Nigeria and abroad, was suspended by President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday over alleged financial misconduct, a move seen by many analysts as politically motivated.
Sanusi has accused the state Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) of misappropriating $20 billion (14.5 billion euros), allegations that earned him powerful enemies across the government.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered new assurances to gay athletes and fans attending the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics next month. Yet he defended Russia's anti-gay law by equating gays with pedophiles and said Russia needs to "cleanse" itself of homosexuality if it wants to increase its birth rate.
Putin's comments in an interview broadcast Sunday with Russian and foreign television stations showed the wide gulf between the perception of homosexuality in Russia versus the West.
A Russian law passed last year banning "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" among minors has caused an international outcry.
Putin refused to answer a question from the BBC on whether he believes that people are born gay or become gay. The Russian law, however, suggests that information about homosexuality can influence a child's sexual orientation.
The law has contributed to growing animosity toward gays in Russian society, with rights activists reporting a rise in harassment and abuse.
International worries about how gays will be treated in Sochi have been met with assurances from Russian officials and Olympics organizers that there will be no discrimination in Sochi, and Putin reiterated that stance.
Dear Compatriots,
I greet and felicitate with you all as we enter the year 2014 which promises to be a momentous one for our country for several reasons, including the fact that it is also the year of our great nation’s centenary celebrations. I join you all in giving thanks to God Almighty for guiding us and our beloved nation safely through all the challenges of the outgoing year to the beginning of 2014.
A new TUC president have been elected. With 356 votes, Mr Bobboi Kaigama was announced the winner on Saturday. He defeated Mr Babatunde Ogun of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria. Ogun got 314 votes in the election monitored by all past presidents of TUC. Mr Augustin Etafo from PENGASSAN emerged as second deputy president, while Mr Bede Opara from Senior Staff of Electricity and Allied Corporation was elected as third deputy president.
The new TUC President, who is the President of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, succeeds Peter Esele.
Kaigama in his post election speech, said that the new leadership would work with the government and private sector employers to improve the welfare of workers.
Esele, the outgoing TUC president hoped that the congress would be taken to the next level by the newly elected leaders.
Other members of the new executive include Mr Sunday Salako from the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institution who was elected unopposed as first deputy president.
President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated Kaigama of on his election. Jonathan hoped that Kaigama and his new team at the helm of the TUC will fulfil this commitment and enhance cordial industrial relations in Nigeria in furtherance of the present administration’s agenda for national transformation.
Justin Timberlake has conquered music, film, and TV, so could politics be in his future? According to a new survey conducted by Public Policy Polling, respondents overwhelmingly chose Justin Timberlake as the musician they'd like to see in the Oval Office, with 34% of those polled choosing the 32-year-old crooner as a pick for prez! Well, he has proven that he looks pretty good in a suit and tie!
Also high on the list, Adele (who’s British and can’t even be president!) and Beyonce, who were named as potential White House residents by 19% and 14% of those surveyed, respectively. One thing the divided political parties have in common: Their mutual hatred for Justin Bieber! Of all the artists mentioned in the poll of 571 voters, the Biebs was the only singer who is disliked by Democrats (54%), Republicans (56%) and Independents (56%) alike!
But he's not alone! Check out the vid to find out which other musicians had poor marks in the political poll!
