₦airaland Forum

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar Urges Muslims to pray for Nigeria's Unity

He said that with a tweet an hour ago


source: http://www.vondanews.com/former-vice-president-urges-muslims-to-pray-for-nigerias-unity/

Popular Zambian musician and activist Fumba Chama – whose anti-corruption song Rat in the Pot got him into trouble – has been arrested after he returned from self-imposed exile in South Africa.

His arrest at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in the capital Lusaka, has been condemned by rights group Amnesty International as a “shocking affront to justice”.

“Pilato [as the musician is known to his fans] is not a criminal. He is an activist and artist. He should not spend a single night in jail. He must be released immediately and unconditionally,” it added in a statement.



Chama fled to South Africa in January after receiving death threats over his song, Koswe Mumpoto (Rat in the Pot), which was interpreted as being critical of President Edgar Lungu and his ministers.

The song was a major hit in Zambia when it was released. Chama sang that the ruling elite was behaving like rats that steal food – an allegation which was strongly denied by ruling party supporters.

He was arrested in September 2017 for taking part in a protest against the government’s purchase of 42 fire engines for about $1m (£740,000) each. He fled to South Africa while on bail.

A warrant for his arrest was issued in February after he failed to appear in court on what Amnesty called “trumped up” charges related to the protest.

Mr Lungu took power on a pledge to fight corruption, and denies any wrongdoing.

Chama is a very big name in Zambia, and a controversial social commentator through his music, which is a fusion of rap and hip hop.

Source: http://www.vondanews.com/zambias-popular-anti-corruption-singer-detained/

My brother Mark and I were brought up as twins. We were born on the same day, in the same hospital, but to different mothers. Our mothers became friends during their hospital stay and since they lived a couple of blocks from each other they continued being friends for the first year of Mark’s and my lives. Then Mark’s father discovered that my dad and Mark’s mother were having an affair. The two of them disappeared one night and two months later news came that they had drowned somewhere in the Caribbean.

Being left holding the babies, my mom and Mark’s dad worked out an agreement. Mom would take care of Mark and he would put food on our table. When the news of the runaways’ deaths hit them they decided that the best thing to do was for them to sell one of the houses and move together. They got married and mom adopted Mark and his dad adopted me and I grew up calling him dad. In fact, it wasn’t until we were 13 that Mark and I found out the whole story about our past. People still referred to us as the Stevens twins because we really looked a lot alike. I don’t think we could have been any closer if we’d shared a womb.

Read the full story: http://www.vondanews.com/how-my-twin-brother-seduced-me/

A nude paint that is the largest produced by Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani sold for $157.2 million in New York on Monday night, becoming the fourth most expensive work of art sold at auction.

Painted a century ago, Modigliani’s masterpiece “Nu couche (sur le cote gauche)” fetched the highest price in Sotheby’s history and was the star single lot in the May art auction season in New York.

Read the full story here: http://www.vondanews.com/nude-painting-by-italian-artist-sells-for-157m-at-new-york-auction/

Meghan’s father may not attend the Royal Wedding ceremony of His Daughter
It is unclear whether Meghan Markle’s father Thomas will walk her down the aisle on Saturday as planned.
Mr Markle told celebrity news website TMZ, at his home in Mexico, that he had decided not to attend his daughter’s wedding to Prince Harry.
Kensington Palace issued a statement saying it was “a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle”.
It follows reports in the Mail on Sunday that Ms Markle’s father staged pictures for a paparazzi photographer.
The widely circulated photographs showed him being measured for a wedding suit and looking at newspaper stories about his daughter.
He is reported to have said that he did not want to cause his daughter embarrassment by attending the wedding.
TMZ reports that Mr Markle suffered a heart attack a week ago, although this has not been confirmed by the family or palace.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said: “This is a deeply personal moment for Ms Markle in the days before her wedding.
“She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr Markle in this difficult situation.”
Mr Markle had been due to meet Prince Harry for the first time this week, as well as the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, before walking his daughter down the aisle at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said he understood Ms Markle, 36, was distressed and concerned for the wellbeing of her father, who has been described as a rather shy and reclusive figure.
“I understand it is still very much Meghan Markle’s wish that her father should be there on Saturday to support her,” he added.
People around Meghan Markle are saying she is having to contemplate her father not walking her down the aisle.
The pressure has been absolutely relentless and she and Prince Harry have been concerned for some time about Thomas Markle’s mental state.
He seems to have been rather caught out by the astonishing pressure that fell upon him. Whether by design or accident he fell into this photo agency scam.
We have another example of that unhappy flipside of royalty – which is the extraordinary pressure of the media’s attention.
It’s part of the world which Meghan Markle is joining, it’s just a rather rude and poorly timed introduction to it all.

The controversy surrounds pictures of Mr Markle, which were published earlier this month in a number of newspapers showing him in a series of wedding-related activities – apparently unaware he was being photographed.
Samantha Markle, Ms Markle’s half-sister from her father’s first marriage, has claimed she is to blame for the photographs.
“We had no idea he would be taken advantage of. It was not for money.”
Ex-Suits actress Ms Markle’s father is a former lighting director who worked on programmes including the 80s TV show Married with Children and General Hospital, for which he and his team won two Emmy awards.
He and Ms Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, divorced when Ms Markle was six years old.
Mr Markle, who has two children – including Samantha – from his first marriage, filed for bankruptcy two years ago.
His star daughter Ms Markle has previously described him as caring, hardworking and someone who “invested in my future so that I could grow up to have so much”.
She said: “It’s safe to say I have always been a daddy’s girl – he taught me how to fish, to appreciate Busby Berkeley films, write thank-you notes, and spend my weekends in Little Tokyo eating chicken teriyaki with vegetable tempura.”
The wedding will take place on 19 May at 12:00 BST at St George’s Chapel in Windsor.
Ms Markle’s parents were due to meet the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall for tea in the week leading up to the wedding.
With five days to go, Kensington Palace had earlier revealed that Miss Markle will spend her last night before getting married at a luxury Berkshire hotel with her mother, Doria.
Prince Harry will be staying 15 miles away at the Dorchester Collection’s Coworth Park in Ascot, with his brother, the Duke of Cambridge.
On Sunday, Buckingham Palace released a photo of the Queen’s written consent which allows the couple to marry.

Source: http://www.vondanews.com/royal-weddingthomas-will-meghans-father-may-not-attend-the-royal-wedding-ceremony/

Reno Omokri took to his twitter handle to blast the Buhari led administration and the EFCC in Nigeria.
According to him, If the EFCC wants to arrest young men living large without an identifiable source of income, then they should start Yusuf Buhari. Yusuf does not have a job.
Here is the full tweet and some of the replies that will shock you: http://www.vondanews.com/efcc-should-also-arrest-yusuf-buhari-reno-omokri/

Drake and the Migos will start a 41-date outing this summer that kicks off on July 6 in Salt Lake City. The Aubrey and the Three Amigos Tour will criss-cross North America, hitting Denver, Toronto, Miami, Detroit, Nashville, Houston, Oakland and Seattle, wrapping up with two dates at the Philips Arena in Atlanta on Nov. 16 and 17.
The outing will feature two-night stands at a number of iconic venues, including New York’s Madison Square Garden, Chicago’s United Center, Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena, the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and the Rogers Arena in Vancouver.


For more details: http://www.vondanews.com/drake-announces-aubrey-and-the-three-amigos-tour-with-migos/

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, says President Buhari has so far done well in all ramifications and deserves a second term in office. Ngige said this when he spoke at an APC members meeting in Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra.

“I stand before you today to say Mr President has done so well in all ramifications. He will be returned by Nigerians in 2019 in a landslide victory,” he said


http://www.vondanews.com/president-buhari-has-done-very-well-in-all-ramifications-he-deserves-a-second-term-chris-ngige-says/

What a story!

Blakjewelry:
spot on sometimes I wonder if travelling outside the country doesn't spur them on to make the country a better place

Yea I support your idea!

Hmm.....Nice one! :

Hmm.....Nice one!

Nice couple

Administration officials have been instructed to move forward with plans to convene a historic summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore.

The decision is up to Trump, who said on Wednesday he would announce the time and location in three days.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump ruled out the Demilitarized Zone on the Korean border as a potential location for the talks with Kim.
Singapore and the DMZ are the only two places Trump has floated in public as potential venues for the meeting.

The Southeast Asian city-state has been the preferred location among US officials, who saw its neutrality as an advantage over locations closer to Pyongyang.

The White House declined to comment on the summit’s location.

Speaking during a briefing Wednesday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders affirmed that a date and site had been determined.

“I can tell you that a date and location are set but beyond that, I don’t have any other announcements at this point,” Sanders said. “But we expect that to be announced here in the next few days.”

Even as Trump on Wednesday sought to heighten expectations for his summit, he acknowledged that the plans could fall apart.

“Everything can be scuttled. Everything can be scuttled,” he said. “A lot of good things can happen, a lot of bad things can happen. I believe that we have — both sides want to negotiate a deal. I think it’s going to be a very successful deal.”

But, he repeated, “lots of things can happen. And, of course, you’ll be the first to know about it if it fails.”

Source:http://www.vondanews.com/trump-officials-prepare-for-meeting-with-north-korea-in-singapore/

Itzpetersv:
What a loving soul
Front page please

Its really a nice gesture from her

The Tesla Model 3 debate received further feed on Tuesday after JL Warren Capital LLC said it has noticed “encouraging signs” of a potential pickup in the pace of production.

Suppliers for the electric vehicle maker’s more affordable sedan have started seeing increased orders, the research firm said in a note to clients. SAS Automotive, a German cockpit manufacturer and assembler with one plant in California, ordered 20,000 display screens for the Model 3 in May, and 10,000 in June from a sole producer in China, according to the research firm.

For the third quarter, the Chinese supplier plans to produce about 58,000 screens, translating to just under 20,000 per month. The number is fairly close to Tesla’s targeted weekly Model 3 production goal of 5,000 cars, a clip the company expects to reach less than two months from now.

http://www.vondanews.com/tesla-full-of-confidence-as-supplier-orders-accelerate/

Itzpetersv:
serious enjoyment o

lol

Nigeria star actress Tonte Dikeh sends a child to school

The star actress posted a picture of herself with a long sermon this morning and an instagram fan with user @Juleychika asked for her help to send her son to school.



Luckily for her, the star actress requested for the school account number and promised to pay the sons school fees till he’s 10 if she confirms the story
Instagram fans were quick to share their thoughts

See more photos:http://www.vondanews.com/wonderful-nigeria-star-actress-tonte-dikeh-sends-a-child-to-school/

see more photos and reactions: http://www.vondanews.com/nigerian-actress-wows-in-latest-instagram-post/

He or She?

Nollywood actress and wife to Singer Banky Wellington (popularly known as Banky W) posted pictures of herself wearing a high-heeled shoe and a flat shoe asking his husband to select between the two

source: http://www.vondanews.com/nigerian-actress-wows-in-latest-instagram-post/

Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha has been named as the Premier League’s player of the month for April.

The 25-year-old scored four goals and added one assist as Palace won two and drew two of their four matches.

Zaha is the first Palace player to win the award since Andrew Johnson in 2004.


The Ivory Coast international received the most combined votes from a panel of experts, Premier League captains and fans to claim the award ahead of six other nominees: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Christian Eriksen, Jake Livermore, Jordan Pickford, Paul Pogba and Raheem Sterling.

“I’m just happy that the performances are coming together,” said the Ivorian.

source: http://www.vondanews.com/premier-league-player-of-the-month-for-april-announced/
“People are actually seeing for themselves that I’ve put in the hard work.”

Is this jesus?

princeade86:
if it is from China, no doubt.

They are good, One of the Best

India continues to reel under extreme weather conditions and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued fresh warnings of thunderstorms, high winds and squalls over northwest India on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Other states including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and West Uttar Pradesh have also been put on alert. Thunderstorms and squalls with expected windspeeds of between 50 and 70 km/h could hit northwest India, IMD warned.

Last week, dust storms and thunderstorms killed more than 130 people. Storms also devastated standing crops in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and neighboring states.

The Delhi and Haryana governments decided to close all evening schools and sent rescue teams to strategic locations. “All evening schools will remain closed tomorrow following the weather warning,” a senior government official told the Press Trust of India (PTI).

The Haryana government has also canceled the leave of all officials in civic bodies across the state.

Delhi Police issued an advisory asking people to be cautious and prevent travel during high winds. “Widespread thunderstorm activities are very likely to occur simultaneously over northwest, central, east, northeast and peninsular India from May 13 onwards,” the IMD said in a press release issued on Tuesday.

The Indian government has approved compensation of nearly 3,000 US dollars each from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to the severe dust storm.

Source:http://www.vondanews.com/thunderstorm-warning-for-north-india/

Microsoft is launching a 25-million US dollar initiative to use artificial intelligence (AI) to build better technology for people with disabilities.

CEO Satya Nadella announced the new “AI for Accessibility” effort as he kicked off Microsoft’s annual conference for software developers. The Build conference in Seattle is meant to foster enthusiasm for the company’s latest ventures in cloud computing, AI, Internet-connected devices and virtual reality (VR).

Microsoft competes with Amazon and Google to offer Internet-connected services to businesses and organizations.

The conference and the new initiative offer Microsoft an opportunity to emphasize its philosophy of building AI for social good. The focus could help counter some of the concerns on privacy and ethics that have arisen over AI and other fast-developing technology, including the potential for software to perpetuate or even amplify gender and racial biases.

In unusually serious terms for a tech conference keynote, Nadella name-checked the dystopian fiction of George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, declared that “privacy is a human right” and warned of the dangers of building new technology without ethical principles in mind.

Read the full memo:http://www.vondanews.com/microsoft-launches-million-us-dollar-program-to-develop-ai-for-people-with-disabilities/

yanabasee:
With the kind of leaders that we've been electing, we will never get to produce a technology of this kind, even in the farthest centuries to come....

I am telling you

Tweet
The world’s first railless electric train began test operations in Zhuzhou, central China’s Hunan Province, on Tuesday.

It combines the advantages of modern buses with those of trains and can be precisely controlled with a set of virtual tracks laid out on urban roads.

What makes these railless electric trains different?
The railless electric train looks just like tramcar. Based on the amount of passengers, the train can be split into three to five carriages, each carrying up to 100 people.

Powered by electricity, the train can run at a speed of 70km/h, much like modern streetcars, and travel 25 kilometers on only a 10-minute charge.

Although called “railless”, the train follows an invisible “rail” based on a system dubbed Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART), which was developed by CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive. Using sensors, the system can identify painted lines on roads and the train can then plan its own routes and operate without a driver.

With no need for rails and pipelines, the train can run on urban roads like buses and cars, and, although no manual operation is needed when changing lanes or making turns, a driver will be on board to ensure safety.

According to Hubei Daily, the train will run autonomously under the guide of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System in the future.

http://www.vondanews.com/worlds-first-railless-electric-train-given-trial-run-in-china/

Zinedine Zidane has confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo will "be at 150 per cent" for the Champions League final.

Concerns regarding the Portuguese's participation against Liverpool on 26 May were raised after he was substituted at half-time during Sunday's draw with Barcelona having taken a knock to the ankle during the first period.

Zidane eased those fears somewhat with the news that his prized asset had only suffered a sprain, and Ronaldo himself was back at Madrid's training ground on Monday to begin his recovery.

The Blancos coach has also posted positive updates for Dani Carvajal and Isco, who will both be back for the climax of the season
 
That led to Zidane believing his top scorer would be available in Kiev while he also confirmed that he expects Dani Carvajal and Isco to be fit for the clash in Kiev.

http://www.vondanews.com/ronaldo-will-be-at-150-for-champions-league-final-zidane/

Janet Jackson has been one of music’s leading voices since the ’80s, and now the pop legend will be honored with an appropriately prestigious award at this year’s Billboard Music Awards. Dick Clark Productions and NBC announced Monday (May 7) that Jackson will be receiving the coveted Icon Award, which recognizes singers’ contributions.

The superstar is set to get the Billboard Icon Award at the May 20 ceremony in Las Vegas, hosted by Kelly Clarkson. She’ll also reward fans with a performance on the live telecast, her first televised performance in nine years.

Past award recipients include Prince, Stevie Wonder, Cher, Neil Diamond, Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez.

See More:http://www.vondanews.com/janet-jackson-to-get-icon-award-at-the-billboard-music-awards/

The office of the vice president of Nigeria in a sharp swing last night has responded to allegations against him by revealing details of mind squeezing corrupt practices during the Jonathan era and even called it a tip of the iceberg.

The revelation is a slam to some opposition members who accused the vice president,Yemi Osinbajo of making unsubstantiated allegations about grand corruption during the Jonathan era.

According to the statement by senior special assistant on media, Laolu Akande, the Vice President did not at anytime accuse Jonathan in person, but only said the blatant corruption cases were committed during his presidency.

Here is the full statement Undiluted:Click here to read more:http://www.vondanews.com/the-vice-president-of-nigeria-releases-details-of-grand-corruption-of-the-former-administration/