₦airaland Forum

A Bangladeshi court on Wednesday sentenced two men to death for crimes committed during the country’s 1971 war of independence with Pakistan, officials said.

The Special War Crimes Tribunal handed down the penalty to Moslem Prodhan, 66, and Syed Mohammad Hossain, 64, for killings and atrocities carried out on civilians during the nine-month war.

Prosecution lawyer Tureen Afroz said six charges, including killing of unarmed civilians, were proved beyond doubt against the accused, who were members of an armed militia group linked to the Pakistan army.

“The death sentence can be executed either by hanging or shooting as the government decides,” Afroz quoted the court’s decision as saying.

Prodhan is in custody and Hossain is currently on the run.

Six opposition politicians, mostly from the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party, have been hanged after being convicted of war crimes. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up the special tribunal in 2010.

The Head of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, Motiur Rahman Nizami, and its top-ranking leaders Abdul Kader Mollah, Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and Mir Quasem Ali, and Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, were among those executed.

East Pakistan became Bangladesh after the fighting ended with the surrender of Pakistani forces on Dec. 16, 1971.

An early attempt to prosecute the suspects was called off following the 1975 assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding leader and father of current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/two-men-sentenced-death-war-crimes-bangladesh/

A United Nations employee was busted for robbing four Manhattan banks, all during his lunch hour, authorities said.

Abdullahi Shuaibu, 53, was picked up by cops on Monday and hit with two counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery for the crimes committed during his two-month spree, the New York Post reports.

All four banks are within walking distance of UN headquarters on First Ave. near E. 42nd St., where the Nigeria native works as a journalist for an African news agency, police said.

Authorities were led to the thief after a retired police officer who works at the facility recognized Shuaibu from a surveillance image previously released by the NYPD.

In the first incident, Shuaibu walked into a Santander Bank on Madison Ave. near E. 43rd St. on Feb. 27 and told the teller he had a gun. The bank employee complied and handed Shuaibu an unknown sum of money.

He hit two more banks during the month of March, first striking out at a Bank of America on Third Ave. near E. 47th St. on the 13th. He was successful in robbing a Santander Bank on Third Ave. and E. 63rd St. on the 27th.

During the most recent incident on Monday, Shuaibu walked into an HSBC on Third Ave. and E. 40th St. around 2:30 p.m. and passed a note demanding cash to the teller. The teller did not read the note and asked Shuaibu for identification.

He then instructed the employee to read the note, keeping his hand in his jacket pocket while simulating a gun, police said.

Police arrested him later in the day when he returned to the UN.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/elderly-nigerian-man-robs-four-banks-new-york-photos/#GHRJU4QkMCjBsc1E.99

Hillary Clinton had to eat humble pie twice on election night.

Clinton apologized to President Obama for her bruising loss — right after calling Trump to offer him “congratulations,” according to a new book chronicling her 2016 presidential bid called Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton’s Doomed Campaign.

“Mr. President, I’m sorry,” she said, according to the Washington Post’s review of the book due out Tuesday.

The White House had urged Clinton to concede as Trump claimed battleground states some by slim margins because Obama wanted to avoid a messy recount.

“You need to concede,” Obama told Clinton directly, later repeating the instruction to her campaign chairman John Podesta for good measure, after it became clear that Trump had won Wisconsin around 11 p.m, the book set to be released on Tuesday further revealed.

The directive came after Clinton ignored previous messages from White House staff to throw in the towel.

“Shattered” goes into great detail about the chaos that enveloped at Clinton’s Brooklyn headquarters on the night of Nov. 8. It also spotlights character traits of several campaign officials, including manager Robby Mook and chairman John Podesta.

But, according to the Post, the book conspicuously leaves out details about Russia’s role in the election and whether cyber hacks ordered by the Kremlin had anything to do with Clinton’s loss.

The U.S. intelligence community has concluded that Russia launched an extensive cyber campaign to help Trump win the White House. Congress is currently investigating whether Trump campaign officials colluded with the Russians.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/clinton-apologized-obama-election-night/#Tkza1L0s4LSkEsxy.99

Donna, 31, is the owner of the Anger Room, where America’s despair, pent-up emotion, exasperation and rage towards Trump are all being tackled with the help of a baseball bat.

Ever since Trump was elected President in November, the former restaurant marketing manager has seen a “huge” surge in her business.


She charges $25 for five minutes of smashing up TVs, sofas, desks, computers, potted plants, old videos, printers, pictures and any other item asked for.

Prices rise to about $500 for custom room set-ups, with the most expensive scene so far being a replica of the Oval Office, with a Trump mannequin sat at the desk.

“Forget Donald Trump’s pledge to make America great again,” says Donna, “he’s made America hate again – the bookings have gone through the roof.

“I know the President has spoken about wanting to make American businesses succeed, but he helped mine long before his inauguration.

“There is no fake news or anyone with a fake fuse here. The anger is very real. People leave here feeling a whole lot better, having whacked the hell out of something. It’s like therapy to them.”

Despite being based in a staunchly Republican state, anyone doubting the anger felt toward the President need only take a quick glance at the warehouse’s graffiti to see how some locals feel.

Customers can choose from a whole variety of tools to use, including lump hammers, two-by-fours, table legs, crowbars and even crutches.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/welcome-to-the-anger-room-where-you-can-pay-as-high-as-500-to-express-your-anger-against-trump/

Eddie Murphy’s elder brother, Charles Murphy will be one of the latest celebrities to bow out to cancer after dying from Leukemia at the age of 57 years.

TMZ reports that he died on Wednesday morning in a New York City Hospital.

According to Charlie’s manager, he’d been going undergoing chemotherapy. Family members tell us they’re absolutely shocked because they thought he was getting better.

We’re told the family would call him frequently, and he’d even joke they were calling too much.

Alongside his work with his younger brother, Eddie Murphy, Charlie Murphy carved out a niche of popularity with numerous roles. Perhaps his most famous role was his sketches on Dave Chappelle’s comedy series, “Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories.”

The Chappelle Show skits retold the stories of dramatic interactions the Murphy brothers had with musical icons Prince and Rick James.

Prior to his death, he was one of the main stars of the Adult Swim series “Black Jesus.”


Read more at http://www.herald.ng/eddie-murphys-brother-charlie-dies-57/#VX5MjR0mLXOCmU5C.99

A husband who was having an affair died in a high-speed drink driving crash while taking his secret mistress home after a date, an inquest heard.

Father-of-two Kadeel Newby, 23, lost control of his Toyota Yaris while driving at 101mph without wearing a seat belt in a manner which was compared to The Stig from Top Gear.

Moments later, the car ploughed into railings, catapulting Mr. Newby and girlfriend Natasha Gregson out of the rear window.

She survived with a fractured skull and a laceration to her liver but Newby died later in hospital from multiple injuries.


This week, Mr. Newby’s wife Korette, 26, was forced to listen to details of her husband’s six-day relationship with Miss Gregson at an inquest into his death in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Mrs. Newby, who had married her husband in 2011, told the hearing that her husband’s behavior had been completely out of character and that she would ‘not judge his 24 years of life based on that’.

The hearing was told how the pair were driving on Chorley New Road in Horwich at 2 am on October 12.

Mr. Newby had earlier picked up Miss Gregson to take her out for the evening in Manchester.

In a statement, Miss Gregson who was not at the Bolton hearing at the request of Mrs. Newby said Mr. Newby had told her he was no longer with his wife.

She said: ‘I had been seeing a lad called Kadeel Newby and he told me he was separated from his ex and had been for about five months and had two children. I don’t normally go for guys with children.


Read more at http://www.herald.ng/cheating-husband-dies-car-crash-taking-mistress-home-date/#mlUALjeVqxUQaJj7.99

Janet Jackson has moved out of the London townhouse she shared with her Qatari businessman husband Wissam Al Mana.

A removal team from Cadogan Tate was pictured carrying several big boxes and what appeared to be a giant picture frame out of the property on Wednesday.

The move comes shortly after it was revealed the couple’s five-year marriage has come to an end, just months after welcoming their first child together.

Said to be worth over £800million, Wissam Al Mana also arrived at the property once over the weekend and as news of their separation became public.

Alongside his entourage, he delivered two huge bags of toys, as well as a number of balloons.

He was then seen leaving the mansion with a bag and a suitcase after his visit before departing in a chauffeured car.

The sister of the late Michael Jackson wed Al Mana in 2012 and their son, Eissa, was born on January 3.

Her recent retreat from the limelight – and the postponement of her Unbreakable world tour last year involving 36 grueling stadium shows – had been put down to contentment with her marriage.

But a close friend of Jackson told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Sadly, Janet and Wissam have decided that it wasn’t working and to go their separate ways.

‘They’re both busy people but determined to be good parents, even if they’re apart. It’s amicable and Eissa will stay with his mother, who is basing herself in London.’

Recent rumors had claimed that Al Mana had helped three-times-married Jackson settle down as she traded fame for a role as a devoted mother and wife before their shock split.

A divorce settlement could be complex and costly as 42-year-old Al Mana, CEO of the multinational Al Mana business conglomerate, is estimated to have a fortune of around £800million – at least four times the singer’s net worth.

It could mean that Jackson will get a huge chunk of her husband’s fortune amid reports their prenuptial stated that for a substantial financial payout the marriage would have to last five years.

When the couple married, there was much speculation, never confirmed, that Ms. Jackson had converted to Islam, fuelled by her appearance in a head scarf.

There were rumors of a split within days of her son’s birth when she was seen in public without a wedding ring but these were discounted at the time.

The singer was briefly married to singer James DeBarge in 1984 but the pair split the following year and the marriage was later annulled.

Her second husband was Mexican backup dancer Rene Elizondo.

The couple wed in 1991 but divorced in 2000, with Ms. Jackson paying him a reported $10 million (around £8 million).

In court papers filed as part of their divorce, Elizondo claimed she was paranoid about privacy and pretended the couple who were boyfriend and girlfriend throughout their marriage ‘because she wanted me out of the limelight’.


Read more at http://www.herald.ng/janet-jackson-moves-ex-husbands-london-home/#dpwjWCtOSikyUB2Y.99

President Muhammadu Buhari’s daughter, Zahra Buhari who got married into the billionaire businessman, Mohammed Indimi’s family took to her social media page to show off the fruits from the president’s farm.

Zahra Buhari took to her social media page to show off the watermelons harvested from her father’s farm.

Along with the photos which she shared on her social media page on Instagram, Zahra Buhari, wiofe of Ahmed Indimi wrote: “Straight from Daddy’s Farm #DauraFarm #Daura #massive #melon#watermelon”

See photos she shared below:

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/zahra-buhari-shows-off-watermelons-harvested-buharis-farm/

Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has said he might not be alive in 2019. He stated this while speaking at a vigil service on the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day last weekend.

According to the Associated Press, the 80-year-old referred to his own death twice in the span of a few minutes at the vigil.

In reference to the 2019 edition of The Catholic Church World Youth Day, which will be held in Panama, Pope Francis told the crowd gathered at the St. Mary Major basilica: “I don’t know if it will be me, but the Pope will be in Panama!”

A few minutes earlier, he drew gasps from the pews when he said: “At my age, we (old people) are about to pass away.”

Sensing their pained reaction, he added: “Who guarantees life? No one. At your age, you have the future ahead of you.”

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/may-die-2019-pope-francis/#kfsuTX2hWoQkyOGY.99

American singer, songwriter, actress, and model, Janelle Monae Robinson says people need to start respecting the female gender more and proposes the idea of withholding sex as a form of protest for women’s rights.

Monae who shares the May 2017 cover of Marie Claire with four others; Emily Ratajkowski, Aja Naomi King, Zoey Deutch and Alexandra Daddario under the tagline “The Future Is Female,” suggests that women should consider conducting a sex strike to advance gender equality.

“People have to start respecting the vagina. Until every man is fighting for our rights, we should consider stopping having sex. I love men. But evil men? I will not tolerate that. You don’t deserve to be in my presence.”

“If you’re going to own this world and this is how you’re going to rule this world, I am not going to contribute anymore until you change it. We have to realize our power and our magic. Because I am all about black girl magic, even though I’m standing with all women. But this year? This year, I am so carefree black girl.”

The concept of a sex strike, also known as Lysistratic nonaction, dates all the way back to ancient Greece.

Though some have attributed this form of protest as a fairly polarizing article with criticism for perpetuating stereotypes that women do not enjoy sex as much as men do, while some others believe this kind of strike enforces the idea that a woman’s body is her most effective power play.

Shortly after the article was published, Monáe cleared up her statements on Twitter, insisting she does not believe sex is a “bargaining tool.”

Monáe also addressed the importance of staying true to one’s self, even if that means defying gender stereotypes.

“It is important for women to be in control, especially when gender norms and conformity are pushed upon us.”

“Women automatically are told that this is how you should look. This is how you should get a man. This is how you should get a woman.”

“You need to fit into all these boxes to be accepted. I don’t subscribe to that way of thinking. I don’t think we all have to take the same coordinates to reach the same destination.”

“I believe in embracing what makes you unique even if it makes others uncomfortable. I have learned there is power in saying no. I have agency. I get to decide.”

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/women-consider-sex-strike-janelle-monae/#tUeUACc0JB70KFWO.99

A passenger was forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight via law enforcement on Sunday after refusing to give up his seat.

According to a person on the flight, the airline needed room on the overbooked aircraft to reposition crew for another flight. But when it couldn’t find enough volunteers, even after offering $800, the airline selected the man, who is a doctor, and several other passengers to deplane.

A video of the incident shows that the man was dragged off the aircraft by police after refusing to comply with their orders.

In a statement to Business Insider, United Airlines wrote:

“Flight 3411 from Chicago to Louisville was overbooked. After our team looked for volunteers, one customer refused to leave the aircraft voluntarily and law enforcement was asked to come to the gate.

We apologize for the overbook situation. Further details on the removed customer should be directed to authorities.”

However, the video has quickly made its way around the internet, with much of the criticism falling on United.

Watch the video at http://www.herald.ng/united-responds-shocking-video-showing-doctor-dragged-plane/

The son of Nigerian immigrants, Jude Okonkwo was accepted to all eight Ivy League schools, joining a growing club of Nigerian teens who have achieved the distinction; Olawunmi Akinlembola, Ifeoma White-Thorpe, Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna, Obinna Igbokwe, and Harold Eke.

The 17-year-old Chaminade High School will have his pick of the elite schools, Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University and must decide where to enroll by May 1st, 2017.

“I’m so grateful that, after all of the work I’ve put in, I’m able to reap the benefits as well and that all those who have helped and watched me see that hard work has truly paid off,” said Okonkwo, who hopes to set a good example for his four younger siblings.

Okonkwo, the son of physicians, aspires to be a neurosurgeon and looked for schools with strong science and medical programs, including those with a combined bachelor’s degree and medical school acceptance. His unweight grade-point average is 98.9.

He also was accepted to Howard University in Washington, D.C.; Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore; Northeast Ohio Medical University’s baccalaureate-medical degree program; Stony Brook University; University of Missouri; Washington University in St. Louis and Wayne State University in Detroit.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/another-nigerian-kid-accepted-8-ivy-schools/

On-Air Personality, Freeze has reacted to the final result of the Big Brother Naija reality TV show.

This comes after Efe who gathered about 16 million votes from fans was announced the winner of the competition.

Freeze took to his social media page on Instagram to caution Nigerians from attributing Efe’s victory to God or prayers.

He wrote on his social media page:

A spectacular win attributed to Efe’s charisma, great personality and popularity. This should not be attributed to prayers. Why call Gods name in prayer for a show where his name is considered a swear word? Or don’t you know that the word ‘God’ is beeped just the same way ‘f..ck’ is beeped?

God is almighty and all sovereign, but when the Bible said let’s give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s this was what JESUS was talking about.

Let’s take time out to ponder upon what is genuine human effort, and what is from God so we won’t be slaves to nations like China, the U.K., Canada, France and Italy which are the least religious countries in the world, yet are far more developed than we are.

A clear biblical example is the case of Pharaoh who worshiped the sun god, yet God revealed himself through a dream to him because Jacob, who was both alive and well while this was going on, blessed and strong in the prayer department, was yet found wanting in physical works, allowing God to give the glory of his revelation to a pagan Pharaoh.

Genesis 41:28 KJV

[28] This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.

Notice that despite this revelation from God, Pharaoh still worshiped the sun God and gave Joseph the daughter of the sun god as a wife.

enesis 41:45 KJV

[45] And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

The problem of seeking only prayers and blessings, is that we become slaves to those who choose to act just like the case of the Israelites in Egypt clearly illustrates. ~FRZ

Let’s remember that prayer is in the revelation equation not in the success equation. ~Bishop Tudor Bismark.

#FreeTheSheeple

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/bb-naija-god-nothing-efes-victory-freeze/

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Worldwide (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, has warned those “destroying the Naira”, that they will not live to enjoy their illicit gains.

Adeboye stated this during a sermon yesterday, at a special Sunday Service organized by RCCG Region 11, Ikoyi/Victoria Island family, at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Onikan, Lagos.

The much-respected cleric, also said he received a revelation from God early this year, but was just sharing it for the first time.

“Those who are deliberately destroying the Naira will make the money but will not spend it,” Adeboye declared.

The Naira has drastically nose-dived in value in recent months, exchanging at over N500 to the dollar, before it began to appreciate lately.

As at last weekend, it suffered further depreciation after it was sold N405 to the dollar at the parallel market.

Recall that the Naira appreciated slightly by gaining N1 against the Dollar last Thursday to sell at N397, but it lost N8 on Friday to go for N405.

Some Forex traders at the Olugbede Modern Market in Egbeda, Lagos, attributed the recent free-fall was caused by the inability of some customers to easily access Forex through the banks.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/god-told-destroying-naira-pastor-adeboye/

A Metropolitan Police Department officer was arrested on charges he engaged in sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl.
Anne Arundel County police arrested 27-year-old Metropolitan Police Officer Chukwuemeka Ekwonna of Glenn Dale on Thursday.

Ekwonna is charged with armed robbery, firearm use, first, second and third-degree assault, third-degree sex offense, reckless endangerment and prostitution offenses, police said.

All of the charges stem from an alleged incident on Jan. 9.

Court documents show the teen told authorities she met a man on social media, and he offered her $80 for sex. After they met and had sex, she said the man pointed a gun at her and took his money back.

This man was later identified as Ekwonna, police say.

Ekwonna had been with the police department for 14 months and was assigned to the Second District.

His police powers were revoked and he was placed on a “non-contact status,” the department said. The department said Ekwonna was terminated on Friday.

No attorney is listed in online court records.

View on youtube; https://www.youtube.com/embed/WN-ks6tTOkQ

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/cop-arrested-after-paying-teenager-for-sex-and-demanding-money-back-at-gunpoint/#7FKMR8EuP0eTVbyD.99

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom has issued a terror alert to its citizens currently living in Nigeria or planning to visit the country to be more vigilant during the Easter period.

This is coming with the increased incidences of isolated pockets of suicide bombings in the North-East.

According to the PUNCH, the Summary and Terrorism section of the British Foreign Travel Advice, which was updated on Friday night, stated, “You should be particularly vigilant around the Easter period.”

It then provided an updated list of possible places that could be targeted by terrorist attacks in the country.

“The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all travel to: Borno; Yobe; Adamawa; Gombe; riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states within 20km of the border with Niger in Zamfara State.

“The FCO also advises against all but essential travel to: Bauchi; Zamfara; Kano; Kaduna; Jigawa; Katsina; Kogi within 20km of the border with Niger in Sokoto and Kebbi states; Jos City in Plateau State; Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas of Plateau; non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states; and Abia State,” the office said.

It noted that there was a continuing high threat from terrorism, adding that most attacks occurred in the North-East, particularly in Borno (including central Maiduguri and along access routes into the city), Yobe, Adamawa and Gombe states.

The British government warned that major Northern towns and cities remained particularly at risk, including Kano, Kaduna, and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.


Read more at http://www.herald.ng/uk-advises-citizens-travelling-10-nigerian-states-easter-period/#2OHMbMgrsz1yml0G.99

Google has announced that it would be introducing a fact-checking tool on its search engine to help users recognize fake news.

In a blog post on Friday, Google said the label identifies articles that include information fact checked by news publishers and fact-checking organizations.

“For the first time, when you conduct a search on Google that returns an authoritative result containing fact checks for one or more public claims, you will see that information clearly on the search results page,” the blog post read.

“The snippet will display information on the claim, who made the claim, and the fact check of that particular claim.”

Google says it may ignore a website’s markup if the fact check claim does not meet its standards.

“For publishers to be included in this feature, they must be using the Schema.org ClaimReview markup on the specific pages where they fact check public statements or they can use the Share the Facts widget developed by the Duke University Reporters Lab and Jigsaw.

“Only publishers that are algorithmically determined to be an authoritative source of information will qualify for inclusion.

“Finally, the content must adhere to the general policies that apply to all structured data markup, the Google News Publisher criteria for fact checks, and the standards for accountability and transparency, readability or proper site representation as articulated in our Google News General Guidelines.

“If a publisher or fact check claim does not meet these standards or honor these policies, we may, at our discretion, ignore that site’s markup.”

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/google-introduce-fact-check-tool-news-publishing/

If you’re thinking of adding a dog to your family, there are now two reasons to go on with it.

A new study has found that being exposed to pets from a young age lowers the risk of obesity and results in fewer allergies.

Scientists say that dogs, in particular, expose children to dirt and bacteria early in life, which creates early immunity, Daily mail reports.

The study, conducted at the University of Alberta, in Canada, looked at more than 700 infants from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development Study, whose mothers were enrolled during pregnancy between 2009 and 2012.

The mothers were asked to indicate whether they owned a pet at enrollment, during the second or third trimester, and three months after birth.

Infant gut microbiotas were studied from fecal samples collected around three months old.

The researchers compared whether the babies were exposed only during pregnancy, or both pre-and postnatally, to no pet exposure.

It was discovered that over half of the studied infants were exposed to at least one furry pet in the pre- and/or postnatal periods, with 70 percent being dogs.

Researchers found that pre- and postnatal pet exposure enriched the amount of two types of bacteria in the gut with more than a twofold greater likelihood of high abundance.

Ruminococcus and Oscillospira have been linked with reducing childhood allergies and obesity, respectively.

‘The abundance of these two bacteria were increased twofold when there was a pet in the house,’ said Dr. Anita Kozyrskyj, a University of Alberta pediatric epidemiologist.

She added that pet exposure was shown to affect the gut microbiome indirectly – from dog to mother to unborn baby during pregnancy as well as during the first three months of the baby’s life.

In other words, even if the dog had been given away for adoption just before the mother gave birth, the healthy microbiome exchange could still take place.

The study also found that having pets at home reduced the likelihood of the transmission of vaginal GBS (group B Strep) during birth.

The bacteria can cause pneumonia in newborns and is prevented by giving antibiotics to the mother during delivery.

Past research has shown that pets are beneficial to human health in a number of ways.

Several studies have shown spending just a few minutes with a furry friend can lower anxiety and blood pressure and increase levels of serotonin and dopamine, two neurochemicals that play roles in producing feelings of calm and well-being.

And a study from the American Psychological Association found that pet owners over age 65 make 30 percent fewer visits to the doctor.

Although the researchers say it’s too early to predict how the findings will play a role in the future, Dr. Kozyrskyj doesn’t rule out the concept of a ‘dog in a pill’ as a preventive tool for allergies and obesity.

‘It’s not far-fetched that the pharmaceutical industry will try to create a supplement of these microbiomes, much like was done with probiotics,’ she said.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/two-reasons-loving-dogs-good-health/

The 41-year-old former Spice Girl has obtained a restraining order application against estranged husband Stephen Belafonte, alleging he beat her, got their nanny pregnant and extorted her to take part in threesomes throughout their ten-year marriage.

Mel, who filed for divorce from the producer last month, alleges the abuse began the first year of their marriage back in 2007.

According to TMZ, she claims: ‘Stephen placed both of his hands around her neck, began choking her and slammed her down onto the hardwood floors’ while she was preparing for U.S. talent show Dancing With The Stars.

In the documents, Mel alleges that the abuse became part of a pattern. When she became successful, Stephen ‘would beat me down to let me know he was in charge.’

She also alleges Belafonte ‘punched her and split her lip’ after becoming jealous while she filmed a segment with Usher for the X Factor back in 2012.

Furthermore, Belafonte ‘punched’ Mel and ‘pushed her down on a carpet’ the day before she and the Spice Girls performed at the Olympic closing ceremony.

Mel alleged that her injuries were so severe that her skin was burned from the carpet, adding that she was then forced by her estranged husband to ‘tweet that she injured herself by running in heels.’

So ‘overcome with emotional and physical exhaustion,’ an embattled Mel reveals she overdosed on a bottle of Aspirin back in 2014.

Disturbingly, Belafonte allegedly stopped her from calling the emergency services, with Mel stating he locked her in the bedroom and told her to ‘die b****.’

Along with allegations of continued violence, Mel says Stephen got their nanny pregnant.

Mel states that Stephen made her ‘participate in sexual intercourse with him and random women.’ Worse still, having secretly recorded the trysts, Mel says he threatened to release the sex tapes ‘if she tried to resist the threesomes.’

Mel says she had previously tried to leave him but ‘he threatened me with violence and threatened to destroy my life in every possible way… destroy my career and take my kids from me.’

Read More at http://www.herald.ng/former-spice-girl-mel-b-reveals-shocking-details-abuse-marriage/

United Bank for Africa (UBA), Africa’s Global Bank operating in 19 African countries, has announced the promotion of 3,000 staff members, reinforcing its commitment to human capital investment and career progression, at the current challenging operating circumstances. Promotions were made across UBA’s global network.

In a letter written on Monday, April 3 2017 to Group staff by CEO, Kennedy Uzoka. “Since my recent appointment as GMD/CEO, one of my priorities has been to address the needs of our people. I strongly believe that if we take care of our people, our people will take care of our customers – our ultimate employers.”

“Investment in our human capital is critical to our success. It is a product of our ability to invest for the long term and create an institution that is built to last. It is the bedrock of our determination to be Africa’s leading customer focused bank”.

In addition to the Group-wide promotion, Mr Uzoka unveiled a new Workforce Model and an extension of the existing Group car loan benefit, to 1000 previously ineligible staff. These policies are in direct response to staff feedback from the Employee Engagement Survey, which the CEO says has helped define current and future human capital investment.

The revised Workforce Model democratizes access to leadership roles and opportunities at the bank. All staff – regardless of track – can now aspire to leadership roles, if objective requirements are met. Reforming the Leadership and Service Tracks disparity, which had been a source of frustration for some staff who had to convert tracks to advance professionally, illustrates again UBA’s commitment to creating an environment where talent and merit are rewarded.

Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, congratulated UBA’s executive management, as he noted the current challenging business environment. He encouraged the industry to follow UBA’s lead, in putting its workers first.

“Promoting at this scale and creating career opportunities for staff at a time like this is an indication of industry leadership and worthy of emulation. It is no accident that this is occurring after the announcement of our strong 2016 results and as our shareholders receive dividends later this week. We want all our key stakeholders to share our success.”

The Chairman continued in praise of the bank’s equitable policy, “I commend the bank for creating robust and meritocratic career opportunities for all staff at a time when some in our industry are downsizing or casualizing staff. This is truly remarkable.”

UBA recently announced N384 billion earnings for 2016, an impressive 22% growth over performance in 2015 and also grew profit before tax by 32% to N91 billion. The strong performance also reflects the imbedded culture of customer service, driven by high employee engagement and satisfaction.

UBA’s commitment to its broader pan-African network was reflected in a series of awards, including five ‘Bank of The Year’ awards for Gabon, Congo-Brazzaville, Senegal, Cameroon and Chad at the annual Bankers Award in London and the 2016 EMEA Finance Banking Awards by leading financial publication EMEA Finance Magazine.

Mr. Uzoka, ended his letter on an uplifting note, urging UBA employees – Lions and Lionesses – to “continue to embody UBA core values daily – in our endless quest for Excellent Service…Delivered!”

This advice is timely as staff enter the final stages of preparation for the Group Chairman’s Forum which commences on Wednesday April 5th and features a series of events, including the Group AGM and the highly-anticipated annual UBA CEO Awards.

During the Forum, the Bank’s senior executives will share and learn from best practices across UBA’s 18 African subsidiaries and its operations in New York, Paris, and London, reflect on Group performance in the past year, and identify ways to enhance growth in the short, medium and long terms.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/investing-people-amid-economic-recession-uba-promotes-3000-staff/

Oando Plc on Tuesday announced a profit-after-tax of N3.5 billion for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2016, returning to profitability after two-year loss.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is against a loss after tax of N47.6 billion posted in the preceding period of 2015.

This is contained in a statement by the company in Lagos.

The result showed that the company posted a turnover of N569 billion against N380 billion recorded in the comparative period of 2015, an increase of 49 per cent.

Its net debt reduced by 35 per cent to N230.6 billion in contrast with N355.4 billion posted in 2015.

The statement reported Mr Wale Tinubu, the company’s Group Chief Executive Officer, as saying that the performance was due to its proactive timely execution of its restructuring programme of growth in upstream division.

Tinubu said that some divestments embarked upon by the company during the period under review resulted in a net debt reduction of 125 billion dollars.

He attributed the company’s return to profitability to focus on dollar denominated earnings.

Tinubu said that 2016 saw the country plunge into a recession for the first time in over two decades.

He added that the company was besieged with liquidity constraints, devaluation of the naira and a slump in oil earnings due to low oil prices intensified by the insurgency in the Niger Delta.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/oando-returns-profitability-posts-n3-5bn-profit-2016/

US President Donald Trump signed a repeal of Obama-era broadband privacy rules, the White House said, a victory for internet service providers and a blow to privacy advocates, media reports on Tuesday.

Republicans in Congress last week narrowly passed the repeal of the privacy rules with no Democratic support and over the strong objections of privacy advocates.

The signing, disclosed in White House statement late on Monday, follows strong criticism of the bill, which is a win for AT&T Inc, Comcast Corp and Verizon Communications Inc.

The bill repeals regulations adopted in October by the Federal Communications Commission under the Obama administration requiring internet service providers to do more to protect customers’ privacy than websites like Alphabet Inc’s Google or Facebook Inc.

The rules had not yet taken effect but would have required internet providers to obtain consumer consent before using precise geolocation, financial information, health information, children’s information and web browsing history for advertising and marketing.

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai praised the repeal in a statement late on Monday for having “appropriately invalidated one part of the Obama-era plan for regulating the internet.”

Those flawed privacy rules, which never went into effect, were designed to benefit one group of favoured companies, not online consumers.”

Pai said the FCC would work with the Federal Trade Commission, which oversees websites, to restore the “FTC’s authority to police internet service providers’ privacy practices.”

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/trump-signs-repeal-us-broadband-privacy-rules/

Coming after a Nigerian won the Voice U.K 2017 competition, a Nigerian model, Mayowa Nicholas, has become the new face of Calvin Klein.

18 year old Nigerian model, Mayowa Nicholas has been unveiled as the face of Calvin Klein’s new underwear campaign.

This endorsement simply attests to Mayowa’s takeover of the modelling industry.

Despite only becoming a model after winning the Elite Model Look in Nigeria in 2014, Nicholas has taken the world by storm, being the first first Nigerian model to grace the runways for Dolce and Gabbana, Hermes, Dior, Prada and Balmain.

See more photos of the beautiful model at http://www.herald.ng/nigerian-model-mayowa-nicholas-becomes-new-face-calvin-klein/

The Shawn Carter Foundation Scholarship provides financial support to high school students as well as undergraduate students entering college for the first time.

The purpose of the scholarship is to help under-served students who may not be eligible for other scholarships.

Students who have either graduated from high school or earned their G.E.D. may apply. Minimum grade point average is 2.0. Students must have a strong desire to go to college and earn their degree. Students must also have a desire to give back to their communities.

The scholarship fund was established by Gloria Carter and her son Shawn Carter (better known as rapper/ business mogul Jay-Z) to offer a unique opportunity to students who have been incarcerated or faced particular life challenges but still want to pursue higher education. The program gives them a chance that most other programs do not offer. The Carter Foundation is a firm believer in helping young people not only reach their career goals but also establish a secure future.

Students up to age 25 may apply. The scholarship can be used for tuition, room and board, books, fees and other college-related expenses. All high school seniors, undergraduate students at two-year or four-year institutions and vocational or trade school students are eligible.

The deadline for this scholarship is usually in APRIL of each year, and the award amount is usually $1,500 – $2,500.

For more details, visit www.shawncartersf.com

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/jay-z-offer-scholarship-students-going-college-first-time/

Billionaire Femi Otedola’s third child, Temi Otedola, has shared a moving story about her only brother, Fewa, who is autistic.

According to Temi who wrote the article on her blog JTO Fashion, she and her siblings found out about their brother’s condition in 2004.

“My mum called my sisters and me into her bedroom. With the composure only a mother can have, she told us that our baby brother, Fewa, had ‘special needs’.”

“While my sisters asked questions, all I could do was think about what this would mean for me, the already overindulged, youngest of three girls,” she said.

She said that ‘selfishness’ wore off quickly after understanding why Fewa needed constant attention.

Taking care of her little brother ‘entails a great deal of work’, she revealed, adding that often, she would see her mum, Nana, helping her brother with the simplest, yet ‘exhausting’ activities like brushing his teeth, feeding and getting him dressed.

She goes on to say that her brother has grown more independent; he doesn’t need sympathy and is the “most genuine and caring person.”

“This is probably why I have never seen Fewa’s autism as necessarily and totally negative, it is a unique characteristic that adds to the complexity of the person that he is,” she added.

Still, Temi worries about her future, hence why she builds it around her only brother because Fewa still needs 24 hour help. “No matter what I do, I need to build my life with Fewa in mind. My parents won’t be around forever, and his care and well-being will become the responsibility of me and my sisters,” Temi says.

“It is true that consideration for Fewa will always affect the decisions I make in my life. Despite this, Fewa is by no means a burden.”

“These worries do not reduce the immense love I have for my brother who has brought so much joy and shown me the purest form of love.”

To quote The Bard, ‘Love sought is good, but given unsought is better.’ It is Fewa’s unconditional love that has shaped me into the woman I am today – a sister, a teacher, a carer and a best friend,” she concluded.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/femi-otedolas-daughter-paystribute-autistic-brother/

A Rock Hill father is facing charges after allegedly striking his teen daughter with a belt for violating curfew.

Sekari Arrie Feely, 36, was charged with physical assault on Saturday after Rock Hill police responded to reports of a man with a gun.

Sonny Feely is the teen’s grandfather who lives in the home, told NBC Charlotte that his granddaughter showed up at their home around 2 a.m., past curfew, with her boyfriend and a couple friends.

Sonny says she had previously “mouthed off” to her father, 36-year-old Sekari Arrie Feely, on the phone saying, “I’ll do what I want to do.”

According to police reports, Sekari told officers his daughter’s boyfriend presented a gun. However, the supposed gun was later discovered to be a BB gun.

The report says that the teen and her boyfriend say she was knocked to the ground with a belt strike from her father and was struck again.

Sonny admits that his son hit the teen with a belt twice, however he said the teen was not hurt.

The grandfather also noted that his son is a single father and has had custody of his daughter for five years now.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/father-arrested-hitting-teen-daughter-belt/#bpexID0z10jAFrbQ.99

Dangote Sugar Plc has announced a profit after tax of N14.4 billion for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2016, representing an increase of 29.26 per cent.

This was disclosed by audited result issued by the company on Sunday and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

The report indicated that the profit was against the N11 .14 billion reported in the corresponding period of 2015.

“The profit before tax stood at N19.61 billion compared with N16.16 billion achieved in the previous year, an increase of 21 per cent.

“The company’s revenue appreciated to N167. 72 billion against the N101.06 billion recorded in 2015, representing a growth of 68 per cent.

“Seasonal sugar production at Savannah 17,122 tonnes (2015: 6,610 tonnes) Full year refinery production at Apapa 791,800 tonnes (2015: 740,350 tonnes) Group sugar sales volume 778,518 tonnes (2015: 782,000 tonnes.)’’

The report, however, stated that the board of directors recommended a dividend of 60k per share to all its shareholders in contrast with 50k paid in 2015.

Commenting on the development, Mr Abdullahi Sule, the company’s acting Group Managing Director, attributed the performance to improved sales in spite of the current macro-economic challenges.

“We are very pleased with the results for the period under review, our revenue grew by 68 per cent and improve sales volume compared to 2015 despite the current macro-economic challenges,” Sule said.

He said that the company would leverage on its strengths to maximise every opportunity to generate sales, increase market shares and create sustainable value for its stakeholders.

Sule said that the company’s strategy was to become a global force in sugar production.

He said that company was working within Nigeria’s National Sugar Master Plan to end importation and sell more than 1.5 to 2.0 million metric tonnes of locally produced sugar in Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

“As part of this plan we acquired Savannah Sugar in December 2012 and are currently improving its farm acreage and upgrading its production facilities.

“We intend to augment Savannah’s 32,000 hectares in Adamawa State by acquiring and planting a further 150,000 hectares across Nigeria,” he said. (NAN)
JNC / CIA/AFA

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/dangote-sugar-posts-n14-4bn-profit-2016-declares-60k-dividend/#yrYf4CYGXCG3YmsD.99

The White House on Friday released financial disclosure reports for about 180 of its top staffers, including details on the assets held by President Trump’s son-in-law and daughter, who both have advisory roles.

The Wall Street Journal Reported that Jared Kushner, a senior adviser, and Kushner’s wife Ivanka Trump held at least $240 million and as much as $700 million. The report said her business alone is valued at more than $50 million.

Kushner, Trump’s senior adviser, resigned from more than 260 entities and sold off 58 businesses or investments that lawyers identified as posing potential conflicts of interest, the documents show.

But his lawyers, in consultation with the Office of Government Ethics, determined that his real estate assets, many of them in New York City, are unlikely to pose the kinds of conflicts that would trigger a need to divest.

“The remaining conflicts, from a practical perspective, are pretty narrow and very manageable,” said Jamie Gorelick, an attorney who has been working on the ethics agreements for Kushner and Ivanka Trump.

Kushner began selling off the most problematic pieces of his portfolio shortly after Trump won the election, and some of those business deals predate what is required to be captured in the financial disclosure forms.

For example, Kushner sold his stake in a Manhattan skyscraper to a trust his mother oversees. Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump and their three minor children have no financial interest in that trust, his lawyer said.

The Kushner Companies, now run by Jared Kushner’s relatives, are seeking investment partners for a massive redevelopment.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer described the business people who have joined the administration as “very blessed and very successful,” and said the disclosure forms will show that they have set aside “a lot” to go into public service.

The financial disclosures required by law to be made public usually give a snapshot of the employees’ finances as they entered the White House.

However, Office of Government Ethics agreements with those employees on what they must do to avoid potential conflicts of interest is not being provided for public perusal.

Those documents will never be made public, White House lawyers said, although the public will eventually have access to “certificates of divestiture” issued to employees who are seeking capital gains tax deferrals for selling off certain assets.

Kushner, for example, received certificates of divestitures for his financial interests in several assets, including several funds tied to Thrive Capital, his brother Joshua Kushner’s investment firm.

He and Ivanka Trump built up companies the documents show are worth at least $50 million each and have stepped away from their businesses while in government service. Like the president himself, however, they retain a financial interest in many of them. Ivanka Trump agreed this week to become a federal employee and will file her own financial disclosure at a later date.

Kushner’s disclosure shows he took on tens of millions of dollars of bank debt in 2015 and 2016, including liabilities with several international banks whose interests could come before the Trump administration.

Kushner has as much as $25 million in liabilities to Deutsche Bank, a prime lender to Kushner family real estate ventures as well as a major creditor for Trump Organization-branded real estate projects. Kushner and his father, Charles, also have liabilities worth much as $5 million to the U.S. unit of Israel Discount Bank. The Kushner Companies have separately acknowledged “long-standing” dealings with two other Israeli banks.

Financial information for members of Trump’s Cabinet who needed Senate confirmation has, in most cases, been available for weeks through the Office of Government Ethics.

The president must also file periodic financial disclosures, but he is not required to make another disclosure until next year.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/jared-kushner-ivanka-trump-worth-700m-combined-assets/

Mike Pence, a staunch Christian, will not dine with a woman alone or attend events that serve alcohol without his wife present.

A profile on Karen Pence by the Washington Post revealed the tidbit about the Second Lady and the Vice President’s married life. The detail was originally from a 2002 profile by the Hill.

The concept of avoiding all possible temptations of the flesh stems from Billy Graham’s 1948 ‘Modesto Manifesto’.

The rule that prohibits a husband from dining with another woman alone does not seem to have an exception for female colleagues.

Graham explained this part of the manifesto on his website: ‘We all knew of evangelists who had fallen into immorality while separated from their families by travel. We pledged among ourselves to avoid any situation that would have even the appearance of compromise or suspicion.’

‘From that day on, I did not travel, meet or eat alone with a woman other than my wife. We determined that the Apostle Paul’s mandate to the young pastor Timothy would be ours as well: “Flee … youthful lusts.”’

The new detail on the Pence’s marriage philosophy spurred some backlash. Some saw the rule sexist because it excludes women from having professional dinners. It also implies spending time with a woman alone is inherently sexual. Others said it was the couple’s own business what rules they set for their marriage.

According to the Indianapolis Star, Mike Pence said during his gubernatorial campaign in 2012: ‘I would say that my Christian faith and my relationship with (my wife) Karen are the two most dominant influences in my life today.’

The Pences’ highly traditional views towards gender roles should not come as a surprise. They have both advocated against gay marriage and have reiterated that evangelical Christianity is a guiding force in their lives.

Mike Pence revealed some of his opinions about gender roles in 1999. He wrote that women should not be in the military according to a column obtained by Buzzfeed.

He used Mulan as an example and accused Disney of creating propaganda to subvert gender roles: ‘Despite her delicate features and voice, Disney expects us to believe that Mulan’s ingenuity and courage were enough to carry her to military success on an equal basis with her cloddish cohorts.’

‘Obviously, this is Walt Disney’s attempt to add childhood expectation to the cultural debate over the role of women in the military.’

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/american-born-christian-vp-mike-pence-treats-wife-like-shes-golden-details/#Bdjsyvod341K4vYC.99

U.S. intelligence sources suggest ISIS and other terrorist groups can build laptop bombs capable of slipping past airport security scanners, Fox News has learned.

The sources fear that terrorists have gotten their hands on sophisticated airport security equipment that allows them to properly conceal explosives in laptops and other large electronic devices, Fox News reported Friday.

That intelligence is behind the recent decision to ban electronics in carry-on bags from flights to the U.S. from 10 airports in eight Muslim-majority countries, Fox & Friends reported Saturday.

The U.S. ban applies to nonstop U.S.-bound flights from 10 international airports in Amman, Jordan; Kuwait City, Kuwait; Cairo; Istanbul; Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Casablanca, Morocco; Doha, Qatar; and Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, the Associated Press reports. About 50 flights a day, all on foreign airlines, are affected.

“Evaluated intelligence indicates that terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation, to include smuggling explosive devices in electronics,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.

The intelligence shows ISIS is among several terrorist groups plotting to put bombs in laptops on airplanes bound for the United States, Fox 5 New York reported late Friday.

Terrorists have had some success before with a laptop bomb, the station reported. Six passengers were hurt on a plane at an airport in Somalia in March of 2016 when a bomb planted in a laptop exploded.

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/isis-plot-usa-banned-laptops-muslim-countries/#Fv2YZJqzxiFsAtEj.99

The porn community on April 1 spared some moments to ‘celebrate’ April Fools Day with a prank that had members (users) scared that their secrets have been exposed.

Users who pulled up a video to watch on the website received a message informing them that Pornhub had activated a new, automatic video-sharing feature:
Image via Pornhub

Needless to say, this supposed “feature” didn’t go over too well with people who were trying to keep their porn-watching habits anonymous:

Read more at http://www.herald.ng/april-fool-pornhub-scare-users-terrifying-trick/