₦airaland Forum

have been kicked out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by FIFA after the world governing body and the European association, UEFA, issued a joint statement to confirm that all Russian national teams and clubs have been suspended until further notice following the invasion of Ukraine.

Amid growing pressure from European nations and the International Olympic Committee, FIFA and UEFA confirmed Monday that Russia would have no involvement in the upcoming World Cup playoffs -- Russia were due to play Poland in a semifinal ahead of a potential final against Sweden or the Czech Republic in March -- and that the Russia women's team would be removed from the European Championships due to be staged in England in July.

Spartak Moscow have also been removed from the Europa League, meaning round of 16 opponent RB Leipzig will be handed a bye to the quarterfinals of the competition.

Explosion at Nigerian oil vessel sparks fears of major spill
While the extent of the damage is not clear yet, the boat can process 22,000 barrels of oil a day and store up to 2 million.

Nigeria's Shebah Exploration & Production Company Ltd (SEPCOL) said on Thursday that flames had engulfed the Trinity Spirit floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel following the blast a day earlier.
So far no casualties have been reported, but 10 crew members were on board the vessel before the incident [Screengrab/Reuters]
Published On 4 Feb 2022
4 Feb 2022
A vessel with a storage capacity of two million barrels of oil has exploded off the coast of southern Nigeria’s Delta state, raising fears of an environmental disaster and concerns about the fate of its crew.

Shebah Exploration & Production Company Ltd (SEPCOL) said on Thursday that flames had engulfed the Trinity Spirit following the blast a day earlier. The floating production, storage and offloading vessel can process up to 22,000 barrels of oil a day, according to the operator’s website.

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Images published by local media showed thick black smoke billowing from a sinking ship engulfed by flames.



The vessel was located at the Ukpokiti Terminal, along the coast of the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Joe Sunday, an assistant boat driver, said he was in one of the two speedboats out at sea on Wednesday morning to pick some crew who were due to take time off from work but could not reach the vessel because it was consumed by fire.

“We drove round to see if we could see people but we did not see anybody and the fire was still blazing,” Sunday told Reuters news agency at a port in Warri.

Tiby Tea, chairman of Maritime Union for Nigerian Ports Authority in Warri, confirmed that two boats sent out to the vessel could not find anyone.

“At this time there are no reported fatalities but we can confirm that there were 10 crewmen on board the vessel prior to the incident,” SEPCOL Chief Executive Ikemefuna Okafor said in a statement.

An investigation was under way to determine the cause of the accident, he said, adding that the company was working to “contain the situation”.

Oil spill fears
Nigeria’s regulatory agency for upstream operations, NUPRC, said the explosion had led to a “major fire” and that it had “commenced investigations into the incident”.

“The commission will take necessary measures to ensure that all safety and environmental measures … to safeguard lives and the environment are put in place,” spokesman Paul Osu said.

Idris Musa, director of Nigeria’s National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), told the AFP news agency they were also on site responding to the incident.

Environmental activists were, however, worried about the potential impact.

“There will definitely be a spill,” said Mike Karikpo of the local NGO, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria.

“This is a facility that handles over 20,000 barrels per day … the oil will reach the surrounding communities.”



Since the 1970s, the oil-rich Niger Delta region has accounted for an overwhelming majority of Nigeria’s earnings.

But the region continues to suffer the multiplier effect of decades of environmental degradation, which has eroded livelihoods and deprived residents of basic essentials such as access to clean drinking water. The area’s mangroves and swamps have become uninhabitable for many species and the average human life expectancy is also 10 years lower in the Delta than elsewhere in Nigeria.

Although Nigeria is Africa’s largest crude producer, operating costs are high due to frequent accidents and widespread insecurity, although most accidents take place on land.


There have also been attacks on oil installations in the past, piercing pipelines to take crude oil and increasing kidnappings to obtain a ransom.

Nigerian pirates are also active across the wider and resource-rich Gulf of Guinea region, disrupting shipping in a vast area stretching from Senegal to Angola.

The memorial of the Battle of Adwa in 1935
124 years ago, Ethiopian men and women defeated the Italian army in the Battle of Adwa



On the first day of March 124 years ago, traditional warriors, farmers and pastoralists as well as women defeated a well-armed Italian army in the northern town of Adwa in Ethiopia. The outcome of this battle ensured Ethiopia’s independence, making it the only African country never to be colonized. Adwa turned Ethiopia into a symbol of freedom for black people globally. It also led to a change of government in Italy.

The town of Adwa is located in Northern Tigray, closer to the southern border of Eritrea. Yeha, the capital of Ethiopia’s ancient empire from 980-400 BC, and the monastery of Aba Garima, which was founded in the sixth century AD, are located near the town.

The battle between Ethiopia and Italy took place in the mountainous terrain of the area.

Adwa still stands as witness to what ordinary Africans can do when they come together as farmers, pastoralists, women and rural people, workers and artists. They are able to score a decisive victory against global colonialist forces. Since the beginning of slavery and colonialism in the 16th century, similar battles had occurred around the world. The outcome of every war was the same. Europeans ended up ruling the native peoples of the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Ethiopia stood as the antithesis of the colonial worldview. Regarded as the origin of humankind, it was, according to Harvard professor Ephraim Isaac, “about 10,000 years ago, one single nation or community of a single linguistic group.”

The people spoke an Afrasian language, which is the origin of almost all languages currently spoken in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia.

Ethiopians developed the Geez or Ethiopic writing system. From the fourth century, an indigenous Christianity, Orthodox Tewahido, developed through the synthesis of belief in the Ark of the Covenant, the gospel and ancient traditional practices.

The Kebra Nagast, the national epic that elaborates this belief, provided the basis for the emergence of a Solomonic dynasty that incorporates diverse lands and cultures into one country. Muslim immigrants were welcomed and protected by the Christian king in the seventh century.

In the 19th century, the three successive kings, namely Emperor Tewodros of Gondar, Yohannes of Tigrai and Menelik of Shoa, sought to centralize power.

The road to Adwa
A decade before the Battle of Adwa, European powers had decided the fate of Ethiopia. At the Berlin Conference of 1884-5, 14 European countries divided Africa among themselves. Before the conference, only about 10% of Africa was controlled by Europeans; the remaining 90% was ruled by indigenous and traditional rulers. Italy had a colonial possession over Assab port since 1882. At the Berlin Conference, European colonial powers agreed that Italy could take over Ethiopia as its future colony.

Italy expanded its presence in the Red Sea, an area that had become important since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. With British support, Italy took control of the port city of Massawa in 1885. From Massawa, Italy moved slowly inland, leading to a number of clashes with locals, which culminated in the battle of Adwa. Italy suffered heavy defeats but this didn’t deter them.

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A 1930 painting depicting the Battle of Adwa
Italy’s expansion across Ethiopia was facilitated by the devastation caused by rinderpest—an infectious viral disease—that killed up to 90% of the country’s livestock. Famine and disease wiped out a third of the population between 1888 and 1892. This period is regarded as Kifu Ken, evil days.

Italy took advantage of the devastation. It sought to divide and conquer Ras Mangasha of Tigray and Nigus Menelik of Shoa. The Italians eventually signed the Treaty of Wuchale with Menelik in May 1889. The treaty was written in Amharic and Italian. The treaty would later be the trigger for the battle of Adwa. Menelik was to discover that the language in the two versions of the treaty differed. The Italian version effectively made Ethiopia Italy’s protectorate, in contrast to the Amharic version.

Preparing for war
As the tragic devastation of the Kifu Ken eased, Menelik began preparing for war against the Italians. On Feb. 27 1893, he renounced the Treaty of Wuchale. He then ordered the creation of food depots at major towns along the way to Adwa for the upkeep of his army. The Italians fortified their positions in Tigray, attacking Mangasha at Coatit on Jan. 13 1895.

On Sept. 17 1895, Menelik declared a total mobilization of war against Italy. He called on all Ethiopians to defend their country, family and religion. He ordered every capable person to fight and those incapable to pray for Ethiopia’s victory.

Ethiopians from every tribe, culture and community answered Menelik’s call. Regional leaders from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds responded unanimously creating an army of 100,000. They had inferior weapons but a strong cause.

The battle
The first showdown occurred at Amba Alagi on Dec. 7 1895, where a relatively smaller Italian army was wiped out. The second encounter was at Mekelle, where the Italians were stationed behind a strong fort. The Ethiopians surrounded the Italians for two weeks and, upon Empress Tayitu’s advice, cut off the fort’s water supply.

The Italian commander agreed to surrender if they would be allowed to leave with their firearms. Menelik agreed that they could leave the garrison unharmed.

But the Italians remained in their strongholds, fortifying their position at Adigrat and Sauria. Menelik was not in a hurry to attack these forts. After two weeks of inactivity, General Baratieri decided to advance for a surprise attack. It was Mar. 1 1896, or, according to the Ethiopian calendar, Yekatit 23, 1888, the day of Saint George. The priests carried the Tabot, a replica of the Ark of the Covenant, a religious icon that symbolises the sanctity of Ethiopia, to the battlefield. The 20,000 Italian and Italian-trained native troops who advanced in three columns fought bravely with their cannons and machine guns before facing a decisive defeat. Causalities were severe on both sides.

One of the key leaders of the Ethiopian forces was Etege Tayitu Bitul, wife of Emperor Menelik. A fearless strategist and brilliant administrator, she led 6,000 cavalry to the war front, and employed traditional music and war chants that motivated the fighting spirit of the warriors.

The impact
The Adwa victory led to a change of government in Italy. Due to public protest and failure of his colonial policy, prime minister Francesco Crispi resigned.

Negotiations between the two countries resulted in the Addis Ababa Treaty. One of its key components was the unconditional acceptance of Ethiopian independence and sovereignty.

News of an African victory spread throughout the world.

Adwa turned Ethiopia into the symbol of redemption and freedom for black people. Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. Du Bois, Bob Marley, George Padmore and others drew inspiration from the African victory. The first Afro-Brazilian newspaper was named O Menelick, publishing pride in black identity and African connection with prominent women writers from 1915-1916.

Adwa connected black people with Africa’s ancient glory and future hope, as Marcus Garvey wrote:

Look to Africa for the crowing of a black king. He shall be the redeemer.

The green, yellow and red Ethiopian flag was adopted by several African countries after colonial liberation and a universal national anthem was created for black people.

Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes, Senior Lecturer, Curtin University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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africa, ethiopia, africa untold, battle of adwa

http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/51335993

Manchester United have signed former Watford striker Odion Ighalo from Shanghai Shenhua on loan until the end of the season.

The deal to bring the 30-year-old Nigeria international to Old Trafford contains no option to buy.

Ighalo, who is still in China but is expected to fly to the UK in the next few days, scored 39 goals in 99 matches for Watford between 2014 and 2017.

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"Odion is an experienced player," said United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

"He will come in and give us an option of a different type of centre-forward for the short spell he's staying with us.

"A great lad and very professional, he will make the most of his time here."

Ighalo moved to the Chinese Super League in 2017, first with Changchun Yatai. After two seasons he moved to Shanghai Shenhua and has scored 10 times in 19 games.

A last-gasp scramble & 'beating Mourinho' - how Man Utd landed lifelong fan Ighalo
His form for his country has been eye-catching, finishing as top scorer in African Cup of Nations qualifying with seven goals, before scoring five at the tournament during the summer.

It is understood there was interest from other Premier League clubs but Ighalo wanted to play for United.

He is United's first senior loan signing since Radamel Falcao's arrival from Monaco in 2014.

Ighalo (left) was picture wearing a Manchester United shirt during his childhood
Ighalo (left) was pictured wearing a Manchester United shirt during his childhood
Earlier on Friday, United ended interest in Bournemouth's Josh King but did sign Southend United goalkeeper Nathan Bishop for an undisclosed fee.

United accept Ighalo does not fit the club's policy of trying to sign long-term targets, such as Bruno Fernandes, who moved to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon on Thursday.

However, this move has been done to cover the short-term injury to Marcus Rashford and they could not go the rest of the season without bringing in a replacement.

England international Rashford, 22, is out with a stress fracture in his back sustained after coming on as a substitute during the FA Cup third-round replay win against Wolves on 15 January.

'He turned down Barcelona last year'
BBC World Service's John Bennett

Back in 2015 after Watford's promotion from the Championship, Ighalo was asked where he was most looking forward to playing in his first Premier League season.

No hesitation: "Old Trafford. It'll be a dream come true to play against Manchester United, the team I supported in my youth". Little did he know what would happen almost five years later.

Odion does a huge amount of charity work for people in Nigeria and he's also still a very talented striker.

It's a left-field move by United and I'm also sure that you'll have read and heard all the negatives so to balance things out let me give you some positives: Ighalo is a natural number nine and a natural goalscorer with pace and power.

Barcelona tried to sign him just 12 months ago because they wanted that type of player. He turned them down.

He is a very strong character, too. The Nigerian got a lot of criticism back home after missing chances when the Super Eagles were knocked out by Argentina at the last World Cup (including abuse aimed at his family) but he came back stronger to finish top scorer not only in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying but also at the tournament itself, ahead of the likes of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez.

Ighalo's proven in the Premier League and will be able to hit the ground running, fitness permitting.

He'll also be a very popular team-mate who will give his all to be a success at United. Nobody will work harder.

It's almost like a homecoming, too, as Ighalo's family has been based in Manchester.

It's a fairytale move for the United fan from Lagos. Now let's see if, not for the first time in his career, he can prove the doubters wrong.

'He's a boyhood fan'
Nigeria football writer Oluwashina Okeleji

Fifteen years after football fans witnessed the collapse of John Mikel Obi's transfer to Manchester United, Nigerians will finally get a chance to see one their own become a Red Devil. At 30, Odion Ighalo becomes the first Super Eagle to move to Old Trafford.

Born in a poverty-stricken Lagos ghetto, Ajegunle, Ighalo is a boyhood fan of United. He watched on TV as his striking favourites Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole helped them to the treble in 1999.

Fans in his West African nation closely follow the Premier League, which recruit some of the continent's best players.

Manchester United has a huge fan base in Nigeria and many believe Ighalo will be a success at Old Trafford having retired from international football on a high in 2019.

Ighalo finished as top scorer at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations before calling time on his international career at the end of the tournament in Egypt.

He produced seven goals to finish top scorer in the qualifying and his five goals and one assist helped Nigeria finish third last summer.

Many expected him to fade away in Asia after leaving Watford for Chinese Super League (CSL) club Changchun Yatai. But his pace, instinctive finish and ability to find space has helped him to relative success in China

Ighalo finished as the 2018 CSL's second-top scorer with 21 goals and despite an injury-hit season he scored 10 goals in 17 appearances for new club Shanghai Shenhua in 2019, helping them to FA Cup success.

DR Congo: Many dead as plane crashes into homes
13 minutes ago
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People rushed to the crash site attempting to help any survivors
At least 27 people have died after a passenger plane crashed into houses in Goma city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, local officials say.

Residents on the ground, including nine family members, were among the victims.

The small aircraft went down in the Mapendo neighbourhood after "missing" its take-off from the city's airport on Sunday morning, North Kivu regional governor Nzanzu Kasivita said.

The officials say 17 passengers and two crew members were on board the plane.

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Air accidents are relatively frequent in DR Congo amid lax safety standards and poor maintenance, and all the country's commercial carriers are banned from operating in the European Union.

What is known about the air disaster?
The Dornier-228 twin-turboprop aircraft - owned by private carrier Busy Bee - crashed about a minute after take-off, a source at Goma airport told the BBC.

The plane had been scheduled to fly to Beni, 350km (220 miles) north of Goma.

Image copyrightREUTERS
Image caption
A Dornier 228-200 plane operated by Busy Bee seen in a picture taken in March
The cause of the crash is still unclear, but some sources said the plane experienced engine failure right after take-off, the BBC's Emery Makumeno reports from the capital, Kinshasa.

Rescue workers and local residents rushed to the crash site to evacuate the injured and also retrieve the bodies.

It was not immediately known how many residents were in their homes when the plane crashed.

Image Copyright @AFP@AFP
Report
Governor Kasivita confirmed the crash had "cost the lives of our fellow countrymen" and offered his condolences to the families of survivors.

The BBC has contacted Busy Bee for comment.

Amazon plans to sell vehicles online, bypassing dealers
Online retail giant in detailed talks with car manufacturers
MotoringAutomotiveInternet
2 days ago|James Baggott|0

Amazon is in advanced talks with UK car manufacturers to sell vehicles directly to the public via its website.

Manufacturers have confirmed that discussions with the tech titan are ongoing about offering cars for sale on its platform.

It is believed Amazon wants to bypass dealers and fulfil the sales process entirely online – delivering cars straight to the doors of consumers.

Renault UK boss Vincent Tourette said his firm had been ‘in discussions’ with Amazon, but that it had been ruled out because he ‘did not believe in bypassing dealers’.

Vincent Tourette, Renault UK
Vincent Tourette, Renault UK
PSA Group – which owns Peugeot, Citroen, DS and Vauxhall – also confirmed that it has had talks with Amazon.

Tourette said: ‘The benefits they [Amazon] would have is that they would be offering all brands – they would be multi-franchise.

‘Amazon will try to go direct with manufacturers, they want to sell these cars directly. That is what has been discussed.’

He added that he believed Google was also investigating the option of selling cars directly to consumers, hinting that talks had taken place with the search giant as well.

‘I think they are both in project mode at the moment and I am not sure how far down the line they are with it. I think logistics-wise you need strong logistics to sell cars so Amazon would probably be better placed right now.

‘I want to support my dealers, so it is not something I am considering.’

Amazon told Car Dealer Magazine that it would ‘not comment on rumour or speculation’.

Giles Smith, chief executive officer of GForces – a web firm that builds an online sales solution, said: ‘You wouldn’t bet against Amazon – it’s an unstoppable force. But we think customers still want a relationship with a dealer.’

The major advantage online sales portals such as Amazon or Google would have is they could offer all brands in one place, allowing customers to easily compare cars and deals.

In the States, Amazon already offers customers the ability to search and compare vehicles on its site, but not currently the option to buy. Customers can research on the site and are then connected to the manufacturers’ websites for more information.

James Hind, CEO of Carwow, said he had heard Amazon wasn’t keen on the car market and that tests the online retailer had carried out were ‘low impact’.

‘What Amazon are good at is logistics and you can’t get a car in the back of a van or in a warehouse – and they don’t like to rely on others,’ he said. ‘Car manufacturers have invested in dealer networks, and to then bypass them on a site like Amazon and allow them to undercut their network would be very difficult.’. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1373727332778111&id=100004225717733

A 73-year-old woman in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has given birth to twin girls.

Doctors delivered the twins, who were born following IVF treatment, on Thursday.

"The mother and the babies are doing well," Dr Uma Sankar, the woman's doctor, told BBC Telugu.

Mangayamma Yaramati said she and her husband, who is 82 years old, have always wanted children but had been unable to conceive until now.

"We are incredibly happy," her husband Sitarama Rajarao told BBC Telugu on Thursday, hours after the babies were born.

But just a day later, Mr Rajarao suffered a sudden stroke and is currently being treated in hospital.

"Nothing is in our hands. Whatever should happen will happen. It is all in the hands of God," Mr Rajarao had said when asked who would care for the children in case anything were to happen to the couple due to their advanced age



Having children was important to the couple, who also said that they felt stigmatised in their village.

"They would call me a childless lady," Ms Yaramati said.

"We tried many times and saw numerous doctors," she added, "so this is the happiest time of my life."

The twin girls were delivered by Caesarean section, which is the usual method in such rare cases.

In 2016, another Indian woman in her 70s, Daljinder Kaur, gave birth to a boy

Fashola Names One 'Corrupt' Power Sector Contractor
“Pow Technologies Limited, an Abuja based company, was in 2014 awarded a contract for the supply and installation of test and maintenance equipment relays, etc to various NAPTIN regional training centers (RTCs) (LOT15), with the total contract sum of N87,763,302.40, out of which N79,404,892.66 was paid to Pow Technologies Limited”.

BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORKMAY 05, 2019

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) says Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Minister of Power, Works and Housing, has released documents from some of the ministry’s agencies providing some level of details regarding the names of contractors that allegedly collected money for electricity projects but failed to execute any projects.

The group also saiid Fashola inviting it to “inspect a compendium of verified and paid/outstanding liabilities of contractors, kept at the offices of the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited/GTE”.

SERAP confirmed the development on Sunday in a statement by Kolawole Oluwadare, its Deputy Director.

The Ministry’s letter with reference number FMP/LU/R2K/2016/T/40 and signed on Fashola’s behalf by the Permanent Secretary (Power) Louis O.N. Edozien, was sent to SERAP last week.

According to the letter, “Pow Technologies Limited, an Abuja based company, was in 2014 awarded a contract for the supply and installation of test and maintenance equipment relays, etc to various NAPTIN regional training centers (RTCs) (LOT15), with the total contract sum of N87,763,302.40, out of which N79,404,892.66 was paid to Pow Technologies Limited”.

Although the contract was awarded in 2014, only 13 of the 19 items have so far been supplied, with six items outstanding.

The details of the six items that Pow Technologies Limited has allegedly failed to supply were not provided by the Ministry but the letter indicates some of the actions taken by the ministry to ensure “completion of the project, address criminal breach of contract and take remedial action”.

The ministry said that while the contractors undertook to take remedial action, they have failed to complete the project for which funds have been released. The ministry pointed out that it submitted a petition to the Commissioner of Police, Abuja on 13th January 2016, and that the Police instituted a case for the prosecution of Messrs Pow at the Upper Area Court.

The ministry also said it has sought and received legal advice to pursue a civil action at the FCT High Court while a report of criminal breach of contract had been made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“We welcome Mr Fashola’s latest response and the information regarding Pow Technologies Limited, but we need details of names of other contractors that have collected public funds yet failed to execute power projects,” SERAP said.

“We will continue to push the ministry and its agencies to reveal more details of alleged corrupt contractors and companies, as contained in our FOI request. We will continue to pursue our FOI suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos, before Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor, a Professor of Law, who has granted an order for leave in the case.”

Fashola’s latest letter to SERAP reads in part: “I write with respect to the Ministry’s letter regarding details of alleged corrupt contractors and to forward the attached responses from some of the Ministry’s Agencies namely: National Bulk Electricity Trading Plc; National Power Training Institute of Nigeria and Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited/GTE for your information.”

It would be recalled that Fashola had earlier said in response to SERAP’s FOI request that “the Ministry has searched for the requested information on details of alleged contractors and companies that collected money for electricity projects and failed to executive any projects, but we could not find it from our records”.

However, SERAP disagreed with the response, saying: “The public expectation is that government information, when in the hands of any public institutions and agencies, should be available to the public, as prescribed by the FOI Act. The FOI Act should always be used as an authority for disclosing information rather than withholding it.”

In a follow-up letter to SERAP dated March 4, Fashola had promised to “refer the request for details of alleged contractors and companies that collected money for electricity projects and failed to executive any projects to the Ministry’s agencies for necessary action and appropriate response”.

“There may be instances of part-payment against certification of commensurate value for materials and services in achieved contract milestone even though the entire contract is not 100% performed,” he added.

Fashola’s initial response followed SERAP’s FOI request and suit number FHC/L/CS/105/19 filed in February at the Federal High Court, Lagos. The suit is seeking “an order of mandamus directing and/or compelling Mr Fashola to provide specific details on the names and whereabouts of the contractors who collected public funds meant for electricity projects but disappeared with the money without executing any projects”

Photo: Behold 6 suspected distributors of poisonous ‘Ponmo’ in Lagos
Sunday, May 5, 2019 12:56 pm


Suspected distributors of poisonous ponmo in Lagos

Policemen attached to the Lagos State Police Command have arrested six suspects in possession of poisonous cow skin (ponmo).

Their names are: Adelowo Yinka, 50; Olawumi Onabanjo, 40; Omowumi Wasiu, 43; Adeshokan Taiwo, 43; Iyabo Oluwa, 38 and Taye Kazeem, 40

Presidential election: How Buhari allegedly used Trader Moni to buy votes – Atiku tells Tribunal Published on May 3, 2019 By Seun Opejobi

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, has maintained that the implementation of the Trader Moni initiative by the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government ahead of the just-concluded general polls was a vote-buying scheme.

Abubakar, through his legal team, stressed that the Trader Moni allegedly lacked budgetary backing.

In a petition filed before the Presidential Election Tribunal challenging the outcome of the February 23 election, the former Vice President described the initiative as “illegal and corrupt extra-budgetary spending”.

He alleged manipulations and corruption in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s declaration of Buhari as the President-elect.

Abubakar claimed that in a bid to “improperly influence voters,” Buhari, “using his position as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, commenced a programme or a scheme called Trader Moni, through which the Nigerian electorate, most especially traders across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, Abuja, were, a few weeks to the presidential election, given N10,000 each.

“In spite of the fact that there was no budgetary provision for this scheme; and in spite of public outcry against it, the 2nd respondent (Buhari), through the Vice-President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, went round all the states of Nigeria and the FCT, Abuja, and shared the said sum of N10,000 to traders, thus using state resources to buy votes.”

Trump team sues Deutsche Bank and Capital One to keep them from turning over financial records to Congress


(CNN)President Donald Trump, three of his children -- Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka -- and his business are suing two banks to block them from turning over financial records to congressional committees that have issued subpoenas for the information.

It's the second attempt in court that Trump has made this month to thwart the Democratic-led House of Representatives from investigating his financial history.
Trump prepares to fight back against investigations as Congress returns to work
Trump prepares to fight back against investigations as Congress returns to work
The legal action, filed in New York's Southern District, is against Deutsche Bank, one of Trump's lenders, and Capital One. Both banks "have long provided business and personal banking services to Plaintiffs," Trump's attorneys said.
"The subpoenas were issued to harass President Donald J. Trump, to rummage through every aspect of his personal finances, his businesses, and the private information of the President and his family, and to ferret about for any material that might be used to cause him political damage. No grounds exist to establish any purpose other than a political one," Trump's attorneys wrote in the complaint filed late Monday.
The lawsuit is the latest salvo by the President in efforts to hold off Democratic scrutiny of his business and personal finances, and is similar in legal strategy to actions brought last week against an accounting firm and a congressional chairman.
But Monday's lawsuit had a slight difference from the suit last week, in that neither the House itself nor House members are being sued. The other lawsuit, in federal court in Washington against the accounting firm Mazars USA and the House Oversight Committee, is also attempting to prevent the House from getting Trump's financial records.
The lawsuit in New York claims that the subpoenas the House Intelligence Committee and House Financial Services Committee sent to Deutsche Bank and Capital One aren't valid because they violate banking privacy law and they are not for shaping legislation. Yet at least one other court has said previously that claims like those can't stop congressional subpoenas.
In this new case, Trump's team says it couldn't get access to details of the subpoenas through the House committees and instead learned about them through Deutsche Bank on April 17.
Trump's attorneys say the chairs of the House Intelligence and Financial Services committees -- Reps. Adam Schiff and Maxine Waters, both of whom are California Democrats -- confirmed two banks received subpoenas from their committees for information related to Trump's finances but have refused to provide copies of the subpoenas.
The banks described the subpoenas to Trump's attorneys, according the lawsuit.
Trump snubs checks on power in massive assault on accountability
Trump snubs checks on power in massive assault on accountability
Based on those conversations, Trump's attorneys claim that the committees are seeking all banking and financial records "not just concerning the individual Plaintiffs, but also their own family members," including children and in some cases grandchildren, according to the lawsuit.
Trump's attorneys -- Will Consovoy, Patrick Strawbridge and Marc Mukasey -- said the lawsuit is meant to protect Trump, his family and his business.
"The subpoenas issued to Deutsche Bank and Capital One by Chairpersons Schiff and Waters are unlawful and illegitimate," the statement read. "They seek information going back decades from anyone with even a tangential connection to the President, including children, minors and spouses. Every citizen should be concerned about this sweeping, lawless, invasion of privacy. We look forward to vindicating our clients' rights in this matter."
Deutsche Bank said in a statement it will comply with all subpoenas and court orders.
"We remain committed to providing appropriate information to all authorized investigations and will abide by a court order regarding such investigations," the statement read.
Last week, CNN reported that the bank was complying with a subpoena from New York Attorney General Letitia James for documents related to loans made to Trump and his business. The bank is in the process of turning over documents, including emails and loan documents, related to Trump International Hotel in Washington, DC; the Trump National Doral Miami; the Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago; and the unsuccessful effort to buy the NFL's Buffalo Bills.
CNN has reached out to Capital One for comment.
In a statement, Waters and Schiff called the lawsuit "meritless."
"This lawsuit is not designed to succeed; it is only designed to put off meaningful accountability as long as possible," Waters and Schiff said. "Trump has already said publicly that he is fighting all of the subpoenas from Congress, and that he does not respect Congress' role as a coequal branch of government. This unprecedented stonewalling will not work, and the American people deserve better."
Trump, sons sue to block House Democrats from obtaining his financial records
Trump, sons sue to block House Democrats from obtaining his financial records
CNN reported the committees issued joint subpoenas for the records early this month. Although the full scope of the subpoenas couldn't be determined, the one to Deutsche Bank is for information about loans the bank made to Trump and the Trump Organization, a person familiar with the matter told CNN.
By declining to provide the copies of the subpoenas to Trump's legal team, the Democrat-led committees are preventing the President and his team "from even knowing, let alone negotiating, the subpoenas' scope or breadth," according to the complaint.
The lawsuit comes one week after Trump sued House Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings over his panel's subpoena to an accounting firm that prepared several years' worth of Trump's financial statements.
The congressional lawsuits are more evidence that Trump is making good on his promise to aggressively fight or stall Democratic investigations into his personal finances and business. Last week, the Treasury Department missed a deadline to turn over six years of the President's tax returns to the House Ways and Means Committee.
CNN's Katelyn Polantz contributed to this report.

N94 million naira

CAF Pays Nigeria, 23 Others $260,000 Each For AFCON 2019 Participation
0 April 25, 2019 3:05 pm

Confederation of African Football (CAF) has paid each of the countries participating in 2019 AFCON $260,000 (N94m naira) to finance their preparations for the tournament in Egypt reports Completesports.com.

This year’s Total CAF Africa Cup of Nations will have 24 countries battling it all out for glory.

The aim of the advance payments from CAF is to help federations or associations with smaller budgets to meet the expenses of their preliminary preparations.

The premiums ranges between US$ 4.5 million for the eventual champions and US$475,000 for the teams that will be eliminated at the group stage.

The Super Eagles, considered favourites for the AFCON title are drawn in Group B alongside Guinea, Madagascar and Burundi

Photo News: Borno gets biggest solar plants in Africa
Tuesday, April 2, 2019 3:47 pm



Lanre Babalola

Governor Kashim Shettima’s Borno State is unveiling Africa’s biggest Automated Solar Panel manufacturing plant aimed at setting the stage for the industrialisation of Borno State.

This is coming months after Borno residents complained of lack of power supply. The state govt has built the cheapest, best and biggest solar plant in Africa, beating South Africa and Egyptian large solar plants. At 40MW now and 150MW by 2022, it will supply stable power to their industries.

Drama At CCT As Onnoghen's Witness Comes To Court With Written 'Expo'
However, when Aliyu Umar, the prosecution counsel, asked him to hand over the paper in his hand to Danladi Umar, the CCT Chairman, it was discovered that the paper contained written answers to questions of the defence counsel — known in Nigerian parlance as 'expo'.

BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORKAPR 01, 2019

There was mild drama at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) sitting in Abuja on Monday when a prepared written script was found on one Lawal Olanrewaju Busari, a witness of Walter Onnoghen, the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

Onnoghen is standing trial over allegations of fraudulent declaration of assets.

When the matter resumed on Monday, Onnoghen opened his defence as one of his witnesses, Lawal Olanrewaju Busari, his official driver, took the oath and entered the witness box.

During the cross-examination, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), the defence counsel, asked a series of questions on his relationship with Onnoghen and how he was sent to purchase and receive the forms on behalf of the defendant.

However, when Aliyu Umar, the prosecution counsel, asked him to hand over the paper in his hand to Danladi Umar, the CCT Chairman, it was discovered that the paper contained written answers to questions of the defence counsel — known in Nigerian parlance as 'expo'.

The court, therefore, admitted the script found on the witness as an exhibit.

Earlier, the court admitted the receipt for the purchase of the asset declaration form of the former CJN as evidence D2 and threw out the receipt of the acknowledgement of the declaration form, stating that it was not relevant.

Umar faulted the document tendered by the defence, saying it was not relevant to the case.

Awomolo also asked the tribunal to serve one Mrs. Theresa Nwafor, the Edo State Director of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), a subpoena (witness summon), to appear and testify before the tribunal. The prayer was granted as the witness was asked to appear before the CCT on the adjourned date

The matter has been adjourned till Wednesday, April 3, 2019.

Australia
Melbourne's naturally pink lake delights tourists
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A lake in a Melbourne park has naturally turned pink, drawing throngs of admirers keen to snap a rosy picture.

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The man-made salt lake in Melbourne's Westgate Park has turned a striking bright pink in recent weeks
Image copyrightEPA
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The vivid shade is produced by lots of sunlight, low rainfall and warm temperatures
Image copyrightEPA
Image caption
In those conditions, the lake's algae produces a red pigment called beto carotene
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The result has seen tourists flock to the waters almost every summer since 2013
Image copyrightAFP/GETTY IMAGES
Image caption
Some dress up and colour co-ordinate for their pictures against the pink background
Image copyrightAFP/GETTY IMAGES
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However, authorities ask visitors not to get too close, as the water's high salt levels can irritate sensitive skin
Image copyrightEPA
Image caption
On social media, people also warned others of a pungent "rotting eggs" smell
Image copyrightAFP/GETTY IMAGES
Image caption
The lake's pink colour typically lasts through to late Autumn, until cooler temperatures restore it back to blue
Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image caption
The phenomenon can be seen in other pink lakes in Australia, Spain, Canada and Senegal
All photographs subject to copyright as marked.

This is why a good night’s sleep is so important Bensons for BedsThursday 21 Mar 2019 12:49 pm Share this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via messenger Getting a good night’s sleep is vital for your health (Picture: Getty) ‘Did I reply to that email?’, ‘Have I put the snacks in the lunchboxes?’, ‘I need to order that birthday present. No, seriously, I need to order it by the end of the week.’ It’s hard to pull the plug to unwind and relax enough to slip effortlessly into the land of nod. The stresses of life can weigh heavy on your mind. Emails, texts, streaming and videos calls; sometimes you feel there’s no way to stop the avalanche that comes crashing through to your phone, tablet or computer and that keeps you wired. Waking up after a night of scattered sleep is miserable. More often than not, a night without sufficient rest can leave you feeling stressed, irritable and unable to concentrate. Not the makings of a great day. If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Bensons’ Sleep Wellness Survey found that 75% of Brits often survive on just four hours sleep, and even then it feels like just a few moments. Most people feel like they need seven hours, but in reality get only around 5.8 hours. It’s no wonder we feel short-changed. There are many factors in not being able to get a good night’s sleep: inability to switch off, a snoring partner, newborn baby or an uncomfortait’s ble mattress. Bensons for Beds Sleep expert, Stephanie Romiszewski, urges people to get back to basics and stick to a routine to improve sleep and suggests that technology is one factor that plays a role in people’s struggle with enough shut-eye. ‘The world that we live in now incorporates technology into everything we do, which does have an impact on our sleep,’ she says. ‘All this only makes us less likely to stick to simple healthy routines and to be consistent. There is so much choice and stuff going on these days that we forget about the basics. This can make loneliness and anxiety worse, which also leads to sleep problems.’ BodiTrak technology helps find your perfect mattress for your sleep style It’s a dramatic transformation when you hit that sweet spot of sleep, you can burst out of bed feeling energised and fully armoured to take on the day’s challenges. Exactly what you need when life is moving at 110mph. According to Bensons’ Sleep Wellness Survey 45% of people feel less anxious after a good night’s kip, while 43% have more energy and feel more productive. With punishing schedules, pressured jobs and demanding children, it’s not hard to see why we crave the relaxing sanctuary of bed, and why it’s bitterly disappointing if your longed-for sleep doesn’t appear instantly. But don’t let one difficult night get you down. ‘One poor night’s sleep isn’t going to impact your sleep cycle and life significantly, and that’s really good to know because the worry that people have around this is growing, which only increases anxiety which leads to worse sleep,’ Romiszewski says. Science has proven that sleep helps to give your body a fighting chance against sickness, diabetes, heart disease and better mental health. When you’re well rested you stand more of a chance of maintaining a healthy weight and even better relationships by eradicating your tiredness. Sleep problems are more likely to arise after a disruption, but Romiszewski says that we usually have good recovery modes to bring our body clocks back in check. But if issues continue, it’s human behaviours that’s the cause. ‘Things like going to bed early, lying in, cancelling social and exercise activities to “cope”…all this adaptation actually makes things worse because your body has no pattern or rhythm to follow anymore,’ she explains. Ongoing issues can have serious consequences on health, from higher risk of stroke, diabetes and heart conditions to weight gain and can be damaging to your mental wellbeing. But the sleep expert warns against worrying about not sleeping as this can only make it worse. Instead, she has a few tips that need to be follow consistently. Top five tips from Stephanie Romiszewski, Bensons for Beds Sleep Expert Give yourself permission to go to bed later if you’re not sleepy. It really is ok. Quality sleep is much more important than quantity. And besides, that will come eventually. Get up at the same time every day, seven days a week, even if you have slept badly. If this is a terrifying notion it’s probably an indicator of how unregulated your current sleep is. It does get easier, I promise! Get more light in the day! Light is not the enemy. Yet we are simply told to avoid it at night. Yes, be sensible in the evenings, but why are we getting ready in the dark? Light is the most influential external factor on our sleep/wake cycles and lifts our mood. Artificial is ok too. Napping has become fashionable. And yes, short naps gee you up. But that’s just it, they have literally stolen some of your sleep ‘fuel’. Therefore you need to regain it again if you still expect to sleep a solid eight hours of quality sleep. Get rid of the naps or, reduce your nightly expectations. Once you start this routine, then try some anxiety reduction and relaxation techniques. Mindfulness and anxiety reduction isn’t designed to make you sleep instantly, yet we seem to have that expectation (and are thoroughly disappointed when they don’t). It’s designed to help you avoid stress, and therefore sleep problems in the future. It is a proactive tool, not a reactive one. To prepare for a good night’s sleep, eating the right foods, exercising and making sure your bedroom is comfortable are also vital. Bensons has developed new technology where you can get the perfect mattress for you, using the BodiTrak system. From how a type of pillow changes your sleeping position to the firmness of the mattress, SleepPRO will analyse the way you sleep, where you need support, and give you a personalised sleep profile so you can find the perfect mattress for you, for a perfect night’s sleep.


Read more: https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/21/good-nights-sleep-important-8918827/?ito=cbshare

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MetroUK | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroUK/

FG closes borders Friday over supplementary polls
Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja by Gbenga Omokhunu, Abuja March 21, 2019 in Election 2019, News Update
0
Elections
Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdrahman Dambazau

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The Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) has ordered the closure of the land borders of Adamawa, Benue and Sokoto States with effect from 12 noon on Friday March 22 to 12: 00 noon of Sunday, March 24, 2019.

Dambazau said the development is to restrict movements across the borders of the affected states during the election days.

A statement in Abuja by the Comptroller General (CG), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Muhammad Babandede, explained: “Further to the re-run of the Governorship Elections taking place on Saturday 22, March 2019, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen (rtd) Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, has directed the closure of Land Borders of Adamawa, Benue and Sokoto states with effect from 12.00 noon of Friday 22, March to 12:00 noon of Sunday 24th March, 2019.

“This is to restrict movements across the borders of the affected states during the election days. The public is to take note and ensure compliance.”

Tuface Idibia bags OAU awardPublished on March 21, 2019 By Fikayo Olowolagba

Nigerian music legend, Tuface Idibia, has been conferred with the award of the Fellow of the school of music by the Department of Music, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.

The 43-year-old singer, who is also a songwriter, record producer and entrepreneur, became the pioneer recipient of the award, which was presented to him at the department’s 1st public lecture and fellowship award on Wednesday.

Receiving the award, Tuface said: “Being the torch-bearer for the new pop movement is a role I do not take lightly. And I am honored to have been found worthy of such noble albeit enormous responsibility.”

Tuface, who was also a guest lecturer, presented a paper on the topic: “2 decades of Afro-pop in Nigeria: The perspective of 2Baba”.

He is a recipient of several awards including five Headies Awards (Hip-hop award), four Channel O Music Awards, BET Award, MOBO Award, Kora Award, MTV Europe Music Award, World Music Award.

it just keep getting better for those who God Almingty has blessed.

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected five bills transmitted to him by the national assembly.

The bills are Nigerian Film Commission bill, Immigration Amendment bill 2018, Climate change bill 2018, Chartered Institute of Pension Practitioners bill 2018 and Digital Rights and Freedom bill.

The president’s decision to withhold assent to the bills was conveyed via a letter read during plenary on Wednesday.

The president’s reasons for not assenting to the bills, as contained in the letter, range from conflicting and duplication of duties of existing government agencies, their destructive nature as well as lack of clarity.

This comes a day after he rejected two bills passed by the legislative chamber . The development brings to 13, the number of bills Buhari has rejected in 2019.

Buhari said some sections of this bill conflict with some provisions of the National Film and Video Censors Board act.

“Section 1 (k) of the bill states that 1% of the proceeds for the television license for the national broadcasting commission shall be paid into a fund to be controlled by the national film commission; it is in conflict with section 16 (1) of the National Broadcasting Commission Act which stipulates the purpose for which expenditure to be generated by NBC may be used.”

Immigration Amendment bill 2018:

The president raised concerns over the “retroactive effectiveness of the provisions of 38 (5) of the bill and the impact of the section on the ease of doing business initiative of the federal government.”

He also expressed concern that the bill will be “destructive to Nigerians in diaspora if other countries were to reciprocate the provisions of section 38 (5) in their immigration laws.”

Climate Change bill 2018:

The president said the scope and guiding principle of the bill “replicates the function of the federal ministry of environment which is charged with mainstreaming climate responses and actions into government polices but does not suggest the scrapping of the ministry.”

He also said setting up a council as suggested by the bill is expensive to maintain “as it amounts to proliferation of government agencies especially when there are existing agencies already performing the proposed functions.”

Chartered Institute of Pension Practitioners bill 2018:

Buhari said he rejected this because the objectives of the Chartered Institute of Pension Practitioners created by the bill are similar to the objectives of the Signified Pension Institute of Nigeria which is already in existence.

“Concerns have also been raised in connection with the propriety of the private investigate panel in conducting criminal investigation as suggested by section 8 (1) of the bill.”

Digital Rights and Freedom bill 2018:

According to the president, this bill seeks to cover “too many technical subjects and fails to address any of them extensively.”

“These areas include surveillance and digital protection, lawful interception of communication, digital protection and retention which are currently the subject of various bills pending at national assembly.”

Michael Cohen warrants show how the FBI can unlock your phone and track your movements
By Kevin Collier and Marshall Cohen, CNN

Updated 0327 GMT (1127 HKT) March 20, 2019
michael cohen pardon email testimony transcript jim himes intv ac360 vpx_00000313
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U.S. Senator Kamala Harris launches her campaign for President of the United States at a rally at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in her hometown of Oakland, California, U.S., January 27, 2019. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
New 2020 poll shows huge gains for Sen. Kamala Harris
Former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke speaks to local residents during a meet and greet at the Beancounter Coffeehouse & Drinkery, Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Burlington, Iowa. O'Rourke announced Thursday that he'll seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
O'Rourke in 2012: The US has an 'extravagant government'
Trump Bolsonaro fake news 03192019
See Trump's reaction when Bolsonaro uses term 'fake news'

Trump: I never was a fan of McCain, I never will be

Swalwell: I'll fight like hell for report to be released

Warren open to different paths to Medicare for All
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 08: Latinos vote at a polling station in El Gallo Restaurant on November 8, 2016 in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles, California. In addition to choosing between Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton for President of the United States, Californians are deciding on 17 ballot propositions. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Latino voter: I'd like to see wall longer and taller
Mike Pompeo joke 03182019
Pompeo jokes about Trump tweeting him out of office
michael cohen pardon email testimony transcript jim himes intv ac360 vpx_00000313
Rep. Himes: There is much more to the Cohen story

Cooper rebukes Trump as social media bashes McCains
Steve King Iowa town hall
Voters call out Steve King after Facebook post: We care
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CNN gets rare look into Trump's re-election campaign
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) leaves while Senior Advisor Jared Kushner leaves meets with the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill July 25, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Rep. Nunes sues Twitter for more than $250M

George Conway reveals why he tweets about Trump

Author: Trump's feud shows power of human jealousy

Docs show Mueller investigated Cohen long before raid
U.S. Senator Kamala Harris launches her campaign for President of the United States at a rally at Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in her hometown of Oakland, California, U.S., January 27, 2019. REUTERS/Elijah Nouvelage TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
New 2020 poll shows huge gains for Sen. Kamala Harris
Former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke speaks to local residents during a meet and greet at the Beancounter Coffeehouse & Drinkery, Thursday, March 14, 2019, in Burlington, Iowa. O'Rourke announced Thursday that he'll seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
O'Rourke in 2012: The US has an 'extravagant government'
Trump Bolsonaro fake news 03192019
See Trump's reaction when Bolsonaro uses term 'fake news'

Trump: I never was a fan of McCain, I never will be

Swalwell: I'll fight like hell for report to be released

Warren open to different paths to Medicare for All
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 08: Latinos vote at a polling station in El Gallo Restaurant on November 8, 2016 in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles, California. In addition to choosing between Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Hillary Clinton for President of the United States, Californians are deciding on 17 ballot propositions. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Latino voter: I'd like to see wall longer and taller
Mike Pompeo joke 03182019
Pompeo jokes about Trump tweeting him out of office
michael cohen pardon email testimony transcript jim himes intv ac360 vpx_00000313
Rep. Himes: There is much more to the Cohen story

Cooper rebukes Trump as social media bashes McCains
Steve King Iowa town hall
Voters call out Steve King after Facebook post: We care
brad parscale trump re-election effort bash dnt lead vpx_00000113
CNN gets rare look into Trump's re-election campaign
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) leaves while Senior Advisor Jared Kushner leaves meets with the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill July 25, 2017 in Washington, DC. / AFP PHOTO / Brendan Smialowski (Photo credit should read BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Rep. Nunes sues Twitter for more than $250M

George Conway reveals why he tweets about Trump

Author: Trump's feud shows power of human jealousy

Docs show Mueller investigated Cohen long before raid
(CNN)Court documents unsealed Tuesday reveal the breadth of technical information federal investigators were permitted to collect on President Donald Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen.

Notably, the FBI made use of Cohen's use of Touch ID and Face ID on his Apple devices, which allow users to quickly log into iPhones and computers by scanning their face or fingerprint rather than typing in a password. Those features are marketed as faster and more secure ways to securely log into one's devices, as it's harder, though not impossible, to replicate someone's fingerprint or appearance.
But that gives law enforcement an additional means to access those devices. In one warrant application for Cohen, an FBI agent requested authorization "to press the fingers (including thumbs) of Cohen to the Touch ID sensors of the Subject Devices, or hold the Subject Devices in front of Cohen's face, for the purpose of attempting to unlock the Subject Devices via Touch ID or Face ID."
READ: Newly released Michael Cohen court documents
While the issue has never come before the Supreme Court, tech civil liberties experts warn that a warrant can compel a suspect to use their face or fingerprint to give up access to an otherwise locked device.
"I hear all the time now how location data is sought by police in a broad, sweeping way," said John Bergmayer, the senior counsel at Public Knowledge, a nonprofit that focuses on technology and legal issues. "I think any of the electronic debris that people leave online on these services is all potentially subject to being used against you"
One warrant requested not simply access to three of Cohen's Gmail accounts, as well as other email accounts, but also some of the wide array of information Google keeps for its users by default, including search history, web cookies associated with an account, device information, and a host of other metadata categories.
Takeaways from the Michael Cohen search warrants
Takeaways from the Michael Cohen search warrants
One affidavit describes how the FBI narrowed down Cohen's temporary location at the Loews Regency Hotel in New York through his cell phone location data. Agents then used a "triggerfish" -- a reference to a stingray, or IMSI catcher, a suitcase-sized device that mimics a cell tower to convince a cell phone to connect and reveal its location.
Prosecutors also made use of a new that Trump law recently signed in order to go after his former lawyer.
Investigators in the Southern District of New York compelled Google to turn over some documents on Cohen, but the tech giant initially "declined to produce data that it stored on computer servers located outside of the United States," according to an affidavit submitted to the court by an FBI agent working on Cohen's case.
Weeks later, Trump signed the CLOUD Act into law, which gave US law enforcement more legal pathways to pursue data stories overseas. The provision was tucked into the $1.3 trillion spending bill Trump signed to avoid a federal government shutdown.
With the new law on the books, federal prosecutors went back to court in and asked for another warrant to get the materials that Google refused to turn over. In an April 2018 affidavit, the FBI agent argued that "providers are required to disclose data even if it is stored abroad" under the new law. The judge approved the new search warrant later that day, giving investigators access to additional information from Google, including Cohen's emails, attachments, address book and files stored on Google Drive.

In 9 Mins, Nigerian Woman, Chiaka Thelma, Gives Birth To Sextuplets In US Hospital
TOP NEWSWORLD NEWS
By Tribune Online On Mar 19, 2019
Chiaka
Thelma Chiaka (pictured with her doctors and health workers) gave birth to sextuplets - two sets of boys and one set of girls - at the Woman's Hospital of Texas on Sunday morning. Photo: The Woman's Hospital of Texas
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A Nigerian woman, Thelma Chiaka, in Houston, Texas has given birth to sextuplets, beating the odds to make her one in 4.7 billion.

Chiaka welcomed two sets of twin boys and one set of twin girls on Friday morning at The Woman’s Hospital of Texas.

All six babies were born between 4.50 am and 4.59 am with weights ranging from one pound, 12 ounces to two pounds, 14 ounces, the Independent reported.

According to the hospital, each of the babies is in a stable condition and will continue to be supervised in the advanced neonatal intensive care unit.

The delivery team, led by Dr Ziad Haidar, Dr Sharmeel Khaira and Dr Israel Simchowitz, have said that Chiaka is doing well too.



While Chiaka has yet to name all of her children, the hospital revealed that she has named her two daughters Zina and Zuriel.

Because having sextuplets is so rare, cases often make headlines.

In 1968, a woman in Birmingham became the first to give birth to six babies at once on the NHS. There were 28 medical staff at the delivery.

Fast-forward to 1983 and Janet Walton also made history by giving birth to the world’s first all-female sextuplets in Liverpool.

Walton wrote about her experience of raising her children in her memoir, Six Little Miracles: The Heartwarming True Story of raising the World’s First Sextuplet Girls, which was published in 2015.

In 9 Mins, Nigerian Woman, Chiaka Thelma, Gives Birth To Sextuplets In US Hospital
TOP NEWSWORLD NEWS
By Tribune Online On Mar 19, 2019
Chiaka
Thelma Chiaka (pictured with her doctors and health workers) gave birth to sextuplets - two sets of boys and one set of girls - at the Woman's Hospital of Texas on Sunday morning. Photo: The Woman's Hospital of Texas
Share
A Nigerian woman, Thelma Chiaka, in Houston, Texas has given birth to sextuplets, beating the odds to make her one in 4.7 billion.

Chiaka welcomed two sets of twin boys and one set of twin girls on Friday morning at The Woman’s Hospital of Texas.

All six babies were born between 4.50 am and 4.59 am with weights ranging from one pound, 12 ounces to two pounds, 14 ounces, the Independent reported.

According to the hospital, each of the babies is in a stable condition and will continue to be supervised in the advanced neonatal intensive care unit.

The delivery team, led by Dr Ziad Haidar, Dr Sharmeel Khaira and Dr Israel Simchowitz, have said that Chiaka is doing well too.



While Chiaka has yet to name all of her children, the hospital revealed that she has named her two daughters Zina and Zuriel.

Because having sextuplets is so rare, cases often make headlines.

In 1968, a woman in Birmingham became the first to give birth to six babies at once on the NHS. There were 28 medical staff at the delivery.

Fast-forward to 1983 and Janet Walton also made history by giving birth to the world’s first all-female sextuplets in Liverpool.

Walton wrote about her experience of raising her children in her memoir, Six Little Miracles: The Heartwarming True Story of raising the World’s First Sextuplet Girls, which was published in 2015.

How Nigeria’s 36 states fare in HIV prevalence

Two South-south states are among the three states with the highest HIV prevalence rate in Nigeria.


Akwa Ibom tops the prevalence rate chart with about 5.5 per cent of its residents living with the virus. It is followed by Benue which has a prevalence rate of 5.3 per cent while Rivers is third with a prevalence rate of 3.8 per cent.

The details were contained in the Nigerian HIV/AIDs Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS) whose result was released last week in Abuja.

The result shows that about one per cent of Nigerians (1.9 million people) are currently living with HIV/AIDs.

This figure, according to the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, moves Nigeria from second to the fourth position among countries battling the HIV epidemic.


With an earlier estimate of about 3.2 million people living with HIV, Nigeria was second after South Africa which ranks first with about 7.1 million people living with HIV.

Announcing the NAIIS result in Abuja on Thursday, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDs (NACA), Sani Aliyu, said the percentage of People Living with HIV among adults is 1.4 per cent (1.9 per cent among females and 0.9 per cent among males.)

The National AIDS survey was launched in June 2018 to determine the true distribution of HIV and AIDS, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in the country.


The survey reached around 220,000 people in about 100,000 households and was conducted between July and December 2018.

According to the survey, the South-south zone of the country has the highest HIV prevalence, at 3.1 per cent among adults.

HIV prevalence is also high in the North-central zone with 2.1 per cent and in the South-east zone, 1.9 per cent.

The three regions with lower prevalence rate are the South-west – 1.2 per cent, North-east – 1.1 per cent, and the North-west zone – 0.6 per cent.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks cells in the immune system, which serves as the body’s natural defence against illnesses.

Though the popular way of contracting this virus is through vaginal or anal sex, there are other ways. These include sharing of needles or syringes, piercings, tattoos, blood transfusions, semen (cum), or vaginal fluids into open cuts or sores on the body. HIV currently has no cure but can be prevented and managed with proper medication.

Below is the full list of states and their HIV prevalence rate.

I converted the tables to show prevalence in descending order for ease of reading. USE THESE:

States HIV prevalence (%)
Akwa Ibom 5.5
Benue 5.3
Rivers 3.8
Taraba 2.9
Anambra 2.4
Abia 2.1
Cross River 2.0
Enugu 2.0
Nassarawa 2.0
Bayelsa 1.9
Delta 1.9
Edo 1.9
Imo 1.8
Ogun 1.6
Plateau 1.6
FCT 1.6
Lagos 1.4
Gombe 1.3
Adamawa 1.2
Borno 1.2
Kaduna 1.1
Ondo 1.1
Kwara 1.0
Kogi 0.9
Osun 0.9
Oyo 0.9
Ebonyi 0.8
Ekiti 0.8
Niger 0.7
Kano 0.6
Kebbi 0.6
Bauchi 0.5
Zamfara 0.5
Sokoto 0.4
Yobe 0.4
Jigawa 0.3
Katsina 0.3


HIV prevalence according to Geopolitical zones


Zones HIV prevalence (%)
South-South 3.1
North-Central 2.1
South-East 1.9
South-West 1.2
North-East 1.1
North-West 0.6


https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-news/321036-how-nigerias-36-states-fare-in-hiv-prevalence.html

BREAKING: Supreme Court affirms interim forfeiture of another N2.4bn linked to Patience Jonathan


Ade Adesomoju, Abuja

The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed another order of interim forfeiture made by the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court in respect of the sum of N2.4bn allegedly traced to the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

The apex court had, barely a week ago, affirmed an interim forfeiture of the sum of $8.4m belonging to the ex-First Lady and directed her to return to the Federal High Court in Lagos to show cause why the fund should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.


On Friday, in a separate appeal, a five-man Bench of the apex court unanimously handed down a similar verdict on another sum of N2,421,953,522 in the bank account of Lawari Furniture & Bath Limited, a firm which the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had linked to Mrs. Jonathan.

SEE ALSO: BREAKING: Kano Police find body of kidnapped expatriate engineer


Lawari Furniture & Bath Limited had, through its lawyers, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), filed the appeal to challenge the January 12, 2018 judgment of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, which had affirmed the interim forfeiture order of the Federal High Court in Abuja in respect of the N2.4bn.

Boeing grounds entire 737 Max fleet, US too
By . . | Published Date Mar 14, 2019 5:23 AM
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Boeing has grounded its entire global fleet of 737 Max aircraft after investigators uncovered new evidence at the scene of the fatal Ethiopian Airlines crash.

The US plane-maker said it would suspend all 371 of the aircraft.

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The Federal Aviation Administration said fresh evidence as well as newly refined satellite data prompted the decision to temporarily ban the jets.

The FAA had previously held out while many countries banned the aircraft. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued an emergency order to ground Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 9 aircraft after a crash in Ethiopia that killed 157 people.

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“We are going to be issuing an emergency order of prohibition to ground all flights of the 737 MAX 8 and the 737 MAX 9 and planes associated with that line,” Trump told newsmen at the White House.

According to him, the FAA is prepared to make an announcement very shortly regarding the new information and physical evidence received from the site, and from other locations and through a couple of other complaints.

The US earlier said that there was “no basis” to ground Boeing 737 MAX aeroplanes, after a second crash involving the model in less than five months killed everyone on board.

Boeing shares, which were up earlier in the session, fell 2 per cent to 367.70 dollars.

The shares have fallen about 13 per cent since the crash, losing more than 25 billion dollars of market value.

Countries that have earlier grounded the Boeing 737 Max include Singapore, China, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, South Korea, Mongolia, all European Union Countries, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Norway, Argentina, Turkey, Egypt, Serbia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Oman.



Germany declines black box analysis

Germany’s federal agency responsible for investigating air accidents will not analyse the black box from the Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed on Sunday, casting uncertainty over the process of finding out what may have caused the disaster.

“This is a new type of aircraft with a new black box, with new software. We can’t do it,” said Germout Freitag, a spokesman for Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU).

The move leaves unclear the destination of the black box, which may yield vital details of what caused the Boeing Co 737 MAX 8 to plunge to the ground, killing 157 people.

A spokesman for Ethiopian Airlines had said earlier that the black boxes recovered from the crashed plane would be sent to Germany for analysis.

Canada also grounded 737 MAX jets, saying satellite data suggested similarities to a previous crash involving the same plane model.

The still unexplained crash followed another involving a Boeing 737 MAX in Indonesia five months ago that killed 189 people.

Although there is no proof of any link, the twin disasters have spooked passengers, led to the grounding of most of Boeing’s 737 MAX fleet and hammered shares in the U.S. plane maker, the world’s largest.

Shame On Ohanaeze Ndigbo For Endorsing Atiku, Says APC National Auditor
He also stressed the need for the region to work hard to actualise its ambition of getting the presidency in 2023.

BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORKMAR 14, 2019

Ohaneze National President, John Nwodo at Ukehe
Chief George Muoghalu, the National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has berated the Ohanaeze Ndigbo for endorsing the candidature of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He stated this in an interview with This Day published on Thursday.

According to Muoghalu, the Igbo group should have worked towards not repeating the mistake of 2015.

His words: "The endorsement was unfortunate and has remained very unfortunate because the fear we expressed then has come to be. The shame is on Ohaneze now, but we warned against it based on the experience we had in 2015. What Ohaneze has succeeded in doing was to sadly repeat the mistake of 2015.

"It is most unfortunate but it has happened. Fortunately, the President did not relate to us in 2015 based on the endorsement of Ohaneze because he knew that some of us did not agree with them and the same thing is applying now.

"Some of us did not agree with them and will never agree with them. Today, we are exonerated. Our fears are confirmed because they would not have dragged us through the same path we followed in 2015 if they are reasonable."

He also stressed the need for the region to work hard to actualise its ambition of getting the presidency in 2023.

He continued: "It is not about rejecting Mr President, but a case of more people not believing in our party, the APC. However, I have always warned that power is not given but taken. You have to work for it. So, it is clear to us from the South-East that we need to work for power if we want to get it in 2023. It cannot be served on the table to us because it is our turn.

"We have to convince people to win a platform during the primaries and that was why we shouted on top of our voices that for things to be a little easier for the region, we need to demonstrate our commitment to the party to stand on a very high moral ground to make a demand.

"It is obvious that we have the challenge of convincing our compatriot and party leaders on why power should shift to the South-East. We are going to work towards it.

The Nigerian Red Cross has appealed for blood donations for victims of the collapsed building on Lagos Island.

Mr Olakunle Lasisi, Secretary of NRC, Lagos made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Lagos.

Speaking on the hashtags #DonateForItafaji and #savetheitafajichildren trending on social media, to solicit for blood donations from the public, he said the Red Cross would partake in the exercise.

Lasisi added that he spoke with the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service on Wednesday, and confirmed that the information was true.

READ ALSO: PHOTOS : Lagos collapsed building, the morning after

“They said, yes, they are aware of it.

“It was launched by the MD of the General Hospital, so they can have enough blood in the bank to assist the casualties of the collapsed building.

“When an incident like this happens, blood donations is always required to meet the demand of those in need of blood transfusion.

“It is a good opportunity for the blood bank to replenish because there are people who want to assist.

“Some of our members who are due for blood donation will be available,” he told NAN.
https://punchng.com/lagos-collapsed-building-donate-blood-for-victims-red-cross/

Barcelona vs Lyon: Lionel Messi came up just short of matching Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick a day earlier but still scored twice and set up two more as Barcelona beat Lyon 5-1 on Wednesday to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen second leg football match between FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on March 14, 2018. / AFP P