Violence and targeting of government officials in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, continued Thursday in Bulabulin ward of Biafara area, as gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram sect members shot and killed three Igbo traders in their respective shops by 11am on Thursday.

Projecting calm, poise and a touch of humility, China’s new leader Xi Jinping introduced himself to his country and the world on Thursday, beginning with an apology.

Mr Nnamdi Udoh, the Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA), says Nigeria will change from the analogue method of preparing flight plans to automated system on Thursday.

Warplanes pounded Gaza for a second day Thursday as three Israelis and three Palestinians were killed in fierce fighting which began with Israel’s targeted killing of a top Hamas chief.

Captain Didier Drogba was among the scorers as title favourites Ivory Coast warmed up for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-0 friendly victory in Austria Wednesday.