Police Free 11 Hostages As Man Robs Bank For Two Hours

A hostage situation at a Jacksonville, Florida bank has ended with all 11 hostages freed and the suspect in custody - despite a tense two-hour stand-off that saw hostages repeatedly threatened with death, police said.

At around 9am an unidentified man entered the Community First Credit Union on West Edgewood Avenue with a dog and handgun and held the place up, cops said.

Police and SWAT teams descended on the bank, where the suspect put his gun to the heads of victims and threatened to kill them 'multiple' times, authorities said.

Sheriff Mike Williams initially wrongly identified the suspect - described as a black male in his 20s or 30s - as DeAndre Shuman.

The Sheriff's Office later confirmed that Shuman was innocent, and said they were working to identify the actual robber.

Mall Of America Introduces Black Santa For The First Time

A black Santa Claus has made the trek from the North Pole to the biggest mall in America for the first time ever this Christmas.

Larry Jefferson will spend four days bringing cheer to children at the Mall of America in Minnesota, becoming the first Santa of color to take part in the seasonal celebrations.

Santa Larry traveled to Minneapolis - presumably by reindeer-drawn sleigh - to take part in the massive event. But despite the extra attention he receives, Larry says he is just another of Santa's many helpers.

'It’s no big deal, I’m still Santa, I just happen to be a Santa of Color.'

Kaduna To Provide Legal Services For Victims Of Sexual Assault

The Kaduna State Government today, 1st of December, 2016 inaugurated its first Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) that would  provide psycho-social counseling, forensic examination, medical treatment and legal services for victims of sexual assault.

Inaugurating the centre located in Gwmna Awan General Hospital, Kakuri Kaduna, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs Amina Sijuwade, said the development was the initiative of the Justice Reform Committee. Sijuwade said that the centre would be run by the Ministry of Justice, in partnership with the Ministry of Women and Social Development, Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders..

Bolaji Abdullahi Becomes New APC’s Spokesperson

Bolaji Abdullahi, a former Minister of Sports is now the new spokesperson of Nigeria’s governing All Progressives Congress, APC.

Mr. Abdullahi succeeds Lai Mohammed who was appointed Minister of Information by President Muhammadu Buhari. Both are from Kwara State.

Presidential Election: Gambia Bans Internet, International Phone Calls

As Gambians go to the polls today, the authorities have shut down the internet and have banned overseas telephone calls.

The BBC’s Umaru Fofana in the capital, Banjul, says post-election demonstrations have also been banned.

The reporter adds that this is the most tighly contested presidential election since President Yahya Jammeh came to power 22 years ago.

The president's main opponent is estate agent Adama Barrow, who has the backing of most opposition parties.

Photos: Corp member and first class graduate who died at Kano NYSC camp, laid to rest in Osun State

The National Youth Service Corps member who died at the NYSC Orientation Camp in Kano State  has been laid to rest.

26-year-old Ifedolapo Oladepo was buried on Thursday, December 1, in Osogbo the Osun state capital, amidst tears and anguish. See more photos after the cut.

Khloe Kardashian's new boyfriend Tristan Thompson is set to be a dad soon judging by the size of ex's baby bump

While 25yr old Tristan Thompson and Khloe Kardashian, 32, are cavorting about like lovestruck teenagers, his ex girlfriend, Jordan Craig is counting down to the day she'll welcome his child. She shared a selfie on Instagram and going by the size of her baby bump, Tristan is set to be a papa anytime soon...

Tristan reportedly broke up with Jordy before he met Khloe this summer and rumour has it that the reality star is having so much fun with her new basketballer beau, she doesn't want the relationship to end even though there's a baby on the way.