₦airaland Forum

Ijogz K: @Post I fink there are something's that are inevitable. It's called collateral damage. US also do dis in Afghan

And I think you incapable of differentiating between civilians getting killed despite reasonable care taken to avoid civilian deaths and civilians getting killed because the army didn't give a damn whether they got killed or not. In this incident, about 200 civilians were killed while only [b]one [/b]solider was killed. Does that make it appear the soldiers were under tremendous pressure or took much heavy fire when they were setting fire to civilian houses and economic goods?

'WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS AND WILL GET THERE'

Minister of national planning and vice chairman of the National Planning Commission, Shamsudden Usman, has said that the desire of Nigeria to be among the top 20 most developed economies of the world by 2020 may not be feasible, reports the Nigerian Tribune. Mr Usman disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday when he appeared before the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party to explain the activities of his ministry. He said certain important factors were not considered when the idea was conceived at the inception of the civilian administration.

Usman told the PDP that if the nation made 25 he would be a proud man. He pointed out that when the government started the documentation of Vision 20:2020 in 2009, Nigeria was number 44. But by the end of 2011, it had risen to number 36. The minister described that as “progress” and added that he did not want a situation whereby anyone walked up to him in 2020 to tell him that he promised that by that year we were going to be among the top 20 economies. He said the government was doing right things to get the country there.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/353/Minister%3A+Vision+20%3A2020+May+Not+Be+Feasible.html

'IT'S ALL ABOUT NOT WANTING TO DISCOURAGE YOUNGSTERS IF THEIR WORK IS MARKED WRONG'

Teachers at a secondary school in London have been told they must not use red ink when marking homework in case it upsets pupils, The Telegraph reports. The move has been condemned as "political correctness gone wild", with ministers having to deny that the government issues any guidelines on the colour of teachers' pens. Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman took the matter to parliament after a teacher in his Harrow East constituency informed him the secondary school had banned staff from using red ink. "It sounds to me like some petty edict which is nonsense,” he said. “It is absolutely political correctness gone wild.”

Mr Blackman, who dismissed the move as being all about not wanting to upset youngsters, asked parliament whether the government makes rules which "prohibit or discourage the use of red ink for the purposes of marking or commenting on students’ schoolwork". Education minister Elizabeth Truss distanced the government from the policy. It is thought the policy was introduced by the head teacher instead. Blackman declined to name the school responsible but said he would be taking up the issue with the head teacher.

More
http://www.234globe.com/story/350/School+Tells+Teachers+to+Stop+Using+Red+Ink+for+Marking+in+Case+It+Upsets+Pupils.html

'PAIR ARGUED BECAUSE WOMAN WANTED TO RESUME DATING'

A 22-year-old woman in Florida, USA, was Tuesday arrested for domestic battery after she grabbed and yanked on her former boyfriend’s penis during a dispute inside the victim’s residence in Tampa, The Smoking Gun reports. Laquavia Sharelle Wallace had gone to the home of Antonio Marquis Williams to pick up the ex-couple’s daughter, according to a police report. Williams told policemen that the pair argued because Wallace wanted to resume dating—which he wanted nothing of “at this time”.

The argument then turned violent “when the offender grabbed Antonio’s penis with her right hand and began pulling on it which caused pain to Antonio”. Williams defended himself by grabbing Wallace’s forearms “to prevent further violence”. The Manatee County Sheriff’s report does not detail what man was wearing and how woman allegedly accessed his genitals. He refused to press charges but she was nonetheless arrested for misdemeanour battery and booked into the Manatee County jail awaiting a court appearance.

Source
http://www.234globe.com/story/340/Police+Arrest+Woman+for+Violently+Yanking+Ex-Boyfriend%27s+Penis.html

'IT WILL HELP THE VOCABULARY OF STUDENTS'

Some English teachers in private schools in Lagos State have called on the authorities to include scrabble game into the primary and secondary schools curricula, Premium Times reports. They say the exercise will increase the proficiency of students in the English language by developing their vocabulary and spelling abilities. They also believe it will help the students in mathematics since it can enhance their calculation abilities. Adewole Oseyemi a teacher at Christ Apostolic Church Nursery and Primary School, Mile 12, said the game, when introduced, would give teachers less stress while teaching English.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/337/Teachers+Want+Scrabble+in+School+Curricula.html

STATE'S LAST INVASION WAS 1966 AFTER A BOY BROUGHT BACK SEVERAL FROM A VACATION IN HAWAII

If you think they’re yummy and that getting genuine wild ones—as against farmed ones—for your stew is increasingly difficult due to environmental factors like bush burning, you may want to catch the next flight to Florida, United States. Authorities in the sunshine state have been issuing statements and putting state organs on alert due to a snail “invasion”. Even the scientific community has been holding emergency symposia on how to deal with the matter. The Daily Mail reports that 117,000 Giant African snails have been caught since September 2011, when they were first spotted. The snails can grow as big as rats—yes, Nigerians know that.

What is causing angst in South Florida is the serious threat posed to agriculture and even human habitat by the crawling creatures. They can attack “over 500 known species of plants” and can chew through stucco, which contains the calcium it needs for shell growth. The state of Florida is cautioning young residents to stay away from the snails and to not be fooled by the “cute” exterior and mistake them for pets. The Giant African land snails do carry a parasitic rat lungworm—because they eat rat faeces—that can potentially lead to illness in humans, mostly meningitis, although no cases have been discovered yet in the US.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/333/Florida+Battles+Giant+African+Snail.html

Did The Sun ask him if he has talked to the Commissioner of Police yet? There can't be a release without confession and atonement, right?

AS THE RETURN OF CINEMAS ASSURES PRODUCERS OF RETURNS ON THEIR INVESTMENTS

At about N1.27bn ($8mn), “Half of a Yellow Sun” is the most expensive Nollywood flick yet, BusinessDay reports. The movie adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel of the same title was shot at the Tinapa Film Studio, Cross River State, SE Nigeria, and the United Kingdom. The film, which is currently in its post-production stage, was directed by Biyi Bandele. It had most of its cast and crew flown in from abroad, featuring some top British and Nigerian actors as Chiwetel Ejiofor (Kinky Boots, American Gangster, 2012, Salt); Thandie Newton (Mission: Impossible II, Crash, The Pursuit of Happiness); and Genevieve Nnaji.

Nollywood is currently placed third in the world in terms of output and revenue. Robert Orya of the Nigerian Export-Import Bank put the revenue the Nigerian film industry has generated in the last three years at between $300 million and $800 million. Victor Okhai, a filmmaker, told BusinessDay that it is expected that the quality of films will improve. He put this down to two factors—the thumbs down constantly received by Nollywood filmmakers at international film festivals and the return of cinemas. He said the return of cinemas which enables the producers to make money outside the pirate-ruled open market also discourages bad production, as flaws get magnified on the big screen.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/325/Half+of+a+Yellow+Sun+is+Nollywood%27s+Most+Expensive+Movie.html

For driving a Golf salon with tinted glasses, Aliyu Abubakar, 30, of Talata Mafara town in Zamfara State, Friday learned that he is to spend the next one month in jail—unless he coughs up the fine. The Punch reports that the prosecutor, Cpl Dalhatu Zalphania, told a magistrates’ court in Gusau that on 11 April, the accused was busted for the crime while driving along Sani Abacha Way in Gusau. Mr Abubakar pleaded guilty. The magistrate, Rabi Bashir, sentenced the accused to one month imprisonment with the option of a fine of N1,000.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/327/Man+Bags+One+Month+Imprisonment+for+Driving+Vehicle+with+Tinted+Glasses.html

'THE CHALLENGE IS TO PRODUCE THE RIGHT GRADUATES'

The fact there are so many unemployed Nigerian graduates is not a testament to poor quality of the degrees awarded to them by Nigerian universities, but is due purely to economics. That is the view expressed by the executive secretary of the National Universities Commission, Julius Okojie. Professor Okojie spoke Thursday at the presentation of a report on Labour Market Observation on Nigerian Graduates in Abuja. He advised Nigerians not to cheapen the country’s educational system by saying that “its degrees are worthless.”

He said people tend to describe Nigerian degrees as worthless because the demand for graduates was less than the supply of jobs in the labour market, adding that the unemployment rate should not be the yardstick for measuring the quality of the graduates. Okojie said Nigerian graduates were not underprivileged and unintelligent but were good and possessed great skills. The NUC boss said the Nigerian education system was good “as it produces intelligent graduates.” He explained that the NUC initiated the survey to understand the needs of the labour market and prepare the students to meet those requirements through proper training.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/323/NUC%3A+Nigerian+Degrees+Not+Worthless.html

'WE WERE MAKING OUT'

Whether it was something said during the Easter service, or what they gave up for lent, or the cold night weather—it was around midnight—we may never know. Immediately after attending Easter Sunday church services, a randy Georgia couple made straight for the parking lot of a nearby supermarket and began having sex in a Nissan 350Z, The Smoking Gun reports. The carport assignation, however, was broken up when a policeman on a “routine traffic patrol” noticed “a silhouette of what appeared to be a female’s head bouncing up and down in the front part of the driver’s seat.”

Officer Nermin Cultarevic on a closer examination spotted driver Jamel Grant, 26, “naked from the waist down to his knees and he had an erect penis, which was in the front passenger’s, Ms Michel Felix Casas’s mouth.” Cultarevic added, “Moreover, Michel’s breasts were naked and Grant was touching them with his hands.” After Cultarevic knocked on the Nissan’s window, Grant and Felix Casas, 21, struggled to put their clothes on. Asked what the couple was doing, Grant said they “were making out”. They both were arrested for public indecency and loitering and prowling. Grant was also hit with a possession charge after claiming ownership of some marijuana found in the vehicle.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/324/Couple+Busted+for+Post-Church+Sex+Inside+Parked+Car.html

WE WERE MAKING OUT

Whether it was something said during the Easter service, or what they gave up for lent, or the cold night weather—it was around midnight—we may never know. Immediately after attending Easter Sunday church services, a randy Georgia couple made straight for the parking lot of a nearby supermarket and began having sex in a Nissan 350Z, The Smoking Gun reports. The carport assignation, however, was broken up when a policeman on a “routine traffic patrol” noticed “a silhouette of what appeared to be a female’s head bouncing up and down in the front part of the driver’s seat.”

Officer Nermin Cultarevic on a closer examination spotted driver Jamel Grant, 26, “naked from the waist down to his knees and he had an erect penis, which was in the front passenger’s, Ms Michel Felix Casas’s mouth.” Cultarevic added, “Moreover, Michel’s breasts were naked and Grant was touching them with his hands.” After Cultarevic knocked on the Nissan’s window, Grant and Felix Casas, 21, struggled to put their clothes on. Asked what the couple was doing, Grant said they “were making out”. They both were arrested for public indecency and loitering and prowling. Grant was also hit with a possession charge after claiming ownership of some marijuana found in the vehicle.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/324/Couple+Busted+for+Post-Church+Sex+Inside+Parked+Car.html

It's Mobile Telephone Network. But they don't use that name. They're simply MTN. The way BP no longer uses British Petroleum and are just BP.

Op is not as bullsh#tty as some here have tried to make it sound. In fact, there is nothing bullsh#tty about it. When he said "nice guy" he explained what he meant - that is key to understanding the article.

WASTE ALREADY SUPPLYING 5MV AT IKOSI MARKET

A huge investment opportunity lies in the waste management sector of the Lagos State economy as it has been identified to have the capacity to produce up to 50 megawatts of electricity if harnessed, BusinessDay reports. Ola Oresanya, managing director of the Lagos Waste Management Authority, told BusinessDay on Thursday that the agency is already exploring the waste-to-energy potentials at the Olusosun dumpsite near Ojota, where it hopes to convert the long decomposed waste underneath the dumpsite into energy.

Mr Oresanya said the waste to energy programme has already taken off at Ikosi Market, near Ikeja, where waste generated within the market is currently supplying 5 megawatts of electricity to the market. Lagos is currently estimated to generate over 10,000 cubic metre of waste daily, the highest in the country, which leaves the state with a huge waste deposit base that can be tapped into for wealth creation and employment generation using the right kind of technology.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/313/Lagos+Eyes+Generating+50+Megawatts+of+Power+From+Waste.html

EX-OIL MINISTER EDMUND DAUKORU, TOO

President Goodluck Jonathan’s special adviser on political matters, Ahmed Gulak, is in a growing list of Nigerian business and political figures who ran or still run secret offshore companies and accounts, Premium Times reports. A cache of documents reviewed by Premium Times and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists indicates that these secret accounts enable these people to either hide their wealth to evade taxes, launder money or commit fraud. Mr Gulak is listed by a company website as legal adviser to Erojim Group of Companies, a contracting firm that claims to supply fast boats, radial systems and naval communication equipment and other military hardware to the Nigerian government.

Erojim is a secret shell company in the British Virgin Islands, one of the world’s most notorious tax havens. A former petroleum minister, Edmund Daukouru, and a former head of the Nigeria Ports Authority, Bello Gwandu, are among other key Nigerians involved in this practice, according to Premium Times. Gulak, a lawyer and former Adamawa State legislator, is one of President Jonathan’s closest aides, having worked as director of mobilization in the campaign that returned the president to power in 2011. Click here to read the whole article.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/312/Jonathan%27s+Adviser+Linked+to+Secret+Offshore+Firms.html

MARKETERS STILL SELL PRODUCT ABOVE APPROVED PRICE

Fifty-seven per cent of Nigerians have bought petrol within a range of N100 to N130 per litre, significantly above the official price of N97, the quarterly results of a survey by NOI Polls from January to March has shown. This disparity is more common to places outside Lagos and Abuja. Fifty-four per cent of Nigerians attributed the huge disparity in the price to non-monitoring of the filling stations by government agencies. NOI Polls is Nigeria’s leading opinion polling and research organisation which works in partnership with The Gallup Organisation of USA to develop opinion research in Nigeria.

They conducted the survey via telephone interviews across the 36 states in Nigeria, including the FCT, with a total of 1,512 phone owning Nigerians aged 18 and above, who use petrol. The pollsters asked people a collection of 10 specific questions monthly over the three month period. The first question sought to establish where respondents buy petrol. Nationwide results indicate that the majority (61%) mainly buy petrol from major marketer filling stations, followed by 34% who buy from independent marketer stations. Only five per cent mainly purchase their petrol from petrol hawkers.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/304/57%25+of+Nigerians+Still+Buy+Petrol+Above+N97+Per+Litre.html

RECOVERING WELL AFTER SURGERY

Ngozi Nwosu of the popular comedy series Fuji House of Commotion has been discharged from a London hospital, The Sun reports. The ailing Nollywood actress recently flew to the United Kingdom to have a kidney transplant. She is reportedly doing well after the surgery. It is not yet clear when she will return to Nigeria but pictures show she has dramatically transformed from the emaciated figure she presented in recent times.

Mrs Nwosu had encountered problems raising the needed funds for her treatment. Many of her friends and colleagues in the entertainment industry came to her aid but they could not raise the N6mn needed. Lagos State governor Babatunde Fashola later stepped in and donated N4.5mn after reading of her ailment in a publication. Her friends and corporate organizations raised another N2mn.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/297/Ngozi+Nwosu+Discharged+from+UK+Hospital.html

CHIEF JUSTICE WILLY MUTUNGA SAYS POLL FREE AND FAIR

Kenya's Supreme Court has upheld Uhuru Kenyatta's victory in the 4 March presidential election, rejecting several petitions challenging the vote, BBC News reports. The appeal was lodged by Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Mr Kenyatta's main rival in the presidential poll this month. Official results said Kenyatta beat Odinga by 50.07% to 43.28%, avoiding a run-off by just 8,100 votes. Lawyers for Mr Odinga had told the Supreme Court there was vote manipulation, as well as problems with the registration of voters and an electronic vote counting mechanism.

There was tight security for the Supreme Court decision, with all roads leading to the building closed. Violence after a disputed election in 2007 left more than 1,200 people dead. Kenyatta and his running mate, William Ruto, are facing trial on charges of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court for allegedly fuelling that unrest. They deny the charges. International observers had said the 4 March poll was largely free, fair and credible, and that the electoral commission had conducted its business in an open and transparent manner. Mr Kenyatta has called the election a "triumph of democracy".

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/296/Kenya+Elections%3A+Supreme+Court+Upholds+Kenyatta+Win.html

BRINC - or BRINCS, as SA is already there. Now that's a brilliant one. Might take them a tad closer to the brink, though.

SOUTH AFRICA MAY HAVE GAINED SOME ADVANTAGE, AS THE BRICS HAVE PLANS TO SET UP AN INVESTMENT BANK

An article in the Economist has asserted that South Africa was included in the BRICS because it made for a better acronym than Nigeria. Well, it was originally the BRIC countries—Brazil, Russia, India and China—until South Africa sneaked into the group which claims to represent the world’s emerging markets and act as a counterweight to the G8 and G20, which are dominated by rich-world economies. The BRIC acronym was coined by Jim O’Neill, then of Goldman Sachs, in 2001. Mr O’Neill was looking for a way to convey the fact that much of the world’s economic growth would soon come from Brazil, Russia, India and China.

The label proved so catchy that the foreign ministers of the BRIC countries decided to hold a summit in New York in 2006—that is how the BRIC was born as a political institution. There was just one problem with the BRICs: no African countries were included. This was a little embarrassing, as overlooking Africa suggested that the continent was an economic irrelevance and cast doubt on the group’s claim to speak for the emerging world. Two African countries might have been candidates, Nigeria and South Africa. But only one would keep the acronym intact. And so, in 2010, the club of BRICs became the BRICS.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/295/BRICS%3A+South+Africa%2C+not+Nigeria%2C+Included+Because+It+Made+a+Better+Acronym.html

'CP DIRECTS DPO TO PROTECT RESIDENTS'

Following a letter written to the residents of Lambe community in Ogun State, SW Nigeria, by armed robbers who say there were paying a visit soon, the police have moved to fortify the community in order to prevent the robbery from taking place. That is if you believe assurances made by the Ogun State police command. The Punch reports that Lambe residents had woken up on Tuesday to find the short letter written in Yoruba language pasted on walls on strategic streets around the community.

Translated, the letter which has created panic in the community reads, “You residents of this community, we greet you on your preparation. You will soon receive us your friends. If you like, inform the police or the vigilante group or the OPC. You will only waste your lives. The most important thing is for you to cooperate with us by preparing to entertain us when we come. We are your friends, robbers.” Spokesman for the state police command Muyiwa Adejobi said the state commissioner of police Ikemefuna Okoye is aware of the situation and had instructed the DPO of Ajuwon police station to do all that is necessary to protect the residents.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/293/Police+Fortify+Ogun+Community+after+Letter+from+Robbers.html

This is old. Japanese guy, not Chinese. Fellow said he made the picture for art sake - or something like that.

HIGH SERVICE CHARGES FORCING CORPORATES ORGANISATIONS INTO LOW-PRICED RESIDENTIAL AREAS

Faced with empty houses that no one seems prepared to rent, landlords in highbrow areas of Lagos and Abuja are now accepting six months advance rent payments as against three years which obtained previously, BusinessDay reports. Places like Garki, Wuse and Asokoro in Abuja, and Ikoyi, Victoria Island, and Lekki in Lagos, have in the past 12 to18 months seen an over-supply of houses for which there is no commensurate demand, leading to high vacancy rates. BusinessDay had earlier reported high vacancy rates in these areas and estimated the vacancy rates at between 25% and 30% in residential areas of Ikoyi and Victoria Island.

Gbenga Olaniyan, an estate surveyor who is CEO of Estate Links Limited, confirmed recently that one year rent is now the norm in the rental market but 5% of landlords are willing to accept six months advance rent payment. He pointed out that such landlords usually investigated the financial standing of the prospective tenants, apparently to prevent “low net worth” pretenders from occupying apartments, paying the first six months instalment and then living free of charge in the apartments, shielded by prolonged litigations in court. He added that demand for high-end office spaces is softening, as high service charges are forcing many organisations out of corporate office blocks.

For more:
http://www.234globe.com/story/288/Oversupply%2C+High+Pricing%2C+Force+Landlords+to+Accept+Half+Year+Rent.html#

He he. The thing dey vex sweetcheeks, no be small. I under you jor. He may actually outlive those saying he should "just go" here!

'THE BOOK WILL TELL MY STORY AND THAT OF 61 MILLION CHILDREN WHO CAN'T GET EDUCATION'

Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai, who survived being shot in the head by the Taliban in October, has signed a book deal worth about $3m, BBC News reports. The 15 year old who campaigns for girls' education says the memoir is her own story and that of millions of others denied the chance to go to school. Malala was shot by a Taliban gunman inside her school bus in the Swat region of Pakistan after the group denounced her for “promoting secularism. She and her family now live in the English city of Birmingham where she has been receiving treatment.

The book is titled I Am Malala and is scheduled for publication by the end of the year. Publishers Weidenfeld and Nicolson say her memoir will tell what happened on the day she was shot "and the inspiring story of her determination not be intimidated by extremists". The book will also tell the story of her family and the remarkable support they have given her. Since the shooting and her recovery after treatment in Pakistan and the United Kingdom, Malala has received numerous peace awards around the world and 12 July has been designated by the United Nations as Malala Day.

For more
http://www.234globe.com/story/286/Shot+Pakistani+Schoolgirl+Malala+Signs+%243mn+Book+Deal.html

'COVERING THESE AREAS WILL HELP STABILISE THE ECONOMY'

Foreign insurers from the UK are in Nigeria discussing with local insurers and brokers for platforms to provide cover for the emerging risks of terrorism and kidnapping, reports BusinessDay. At least, one deal has been signed between Afro-Asian Insurance, a UK firm, and Insurance Brokers Limited, a Nigerian firm owned by Oladipo Bailey. Before now, other re-insurance brokers from Lloyds of London had visited Nigeria and had meetings with FBN Insurance Brokers Limited and Continental Re-insurance plc, which focused on strategies to develop policies for terrorism, including kidnapping, among others.

Terrorism, as a risk, was before now not given consideration, partly because it is usually funded by government in some jurisdictions on account of the size of risk exposure. But with the upsurge in the activities of Boko Haram, insurers have seen an opportunity and are taking a fresh look at things. According to Chris Davis and Peter De Kersaint Giraudeau, who led the Afro-Asian delegation to Nigeria, insurance coming to absorb the shock by providing risk in these areas would help stabilise the economy and make the environment conducive for local and foreign investments.

For more
http://www.234globe.com/story/283/Foreign+Insurers+Enter+Nigeria+to+Provide+Cover+for+Terrorism%2C+Kidnapping.html

DEFENCE SPOKESMAN SAYS BOKO HARAM FIGHTING ITS LAST BATTLE

The recent increase in terrorist attacks in the northern part of Nigeria and the threat by the terrorists to move into the Southwest are the death spasms of sect in demise, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters has said. Vanguard reports the new Director of Defence Information, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade, Wednesday told defence correspondents in Abuja that Boko Haram insurgents are fighting their last battle, as their defeat is imminent.

General Olukolade said since its establishment, the JTF has identified and destroyed many IED factories, recovered arms, ammunitions and IED materials, arrested most Boko Haram leaders and followers, and repatriated illegal immigrants linked to the sect from Niger, Chad, and Mali, among others. He added that these efforts have made Maiduguri and environs safer and citizens who left at the heat of the Boko Haram insurgency were now gradually returning.

More
http://www.234globe.com/story/281/DQH%3A+Boko+Haram+in+Its+Last+Days.html

NEW DICTATOR TO RULE BY DECREE

Thirteen South African soldiers have been killed, 27 wounded, and one missing, in a clash with rebels in the Central African Republic (CAR), the South African military said on Monday. The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) chief General Solly Shoke told reporters in Pretoria that 200 South African soldiers came up against 3000 rebels in a high-intensity battle that lasted for 13 hours, Independent Online reports. General Shoke said a truce was agreed and SANDF soldiers had to stop fighting after the rebels came with a white flag and apologised for having exchanged fire with them. The general said the ceasefire had not been broken for the past 24 hours.

Meanwhile, BBC News reports that the leader of the Seleka rebels who seized the capital Bangui on Sunday has declared himself the leader of the country and said he is suspending the constitution and dissolving parliament. In a statement that could not be broadcast due to power cuts, Michel Djotodia said there would be a transition period until "credible and transparent" elections, during which he would "legislate by decree". Ousted leader Francois Bozize has fled to neighbouring Cameroon and the African Union has suspended CAR and imposed sanctions on rebel leaders. Armed gangs and looters are reportedly still in the city and the UN says tens of thousands have fled to neighbouring countries.

More
http://www.234globe.com/story/274/CAR%3A+13+South+African+Troops+Killed.html

MALWARE CREATORS CAPITALISE ON PUBLIC INTEREST IN VATICAN SCANDALS

If you hunger for news about the new pope's involvement in clerical child-abuse cases or about how he will deal with other ongoing problems in the Roman Catholic Church, you might be ripe for the latest round of email scams, which exploit public interest these issues, reports TechNewsDaily. "New Pope, Vatican officials sued over alleged sexual abuse," reads the subject line of one email spotted by the malware hunters at Symantec. And the most hilarious, "New Pope Sued For Not Wearing Seat Belt In Popemobile." The messages pretend to come from a "breaking news" email account at a well-known cable news network and invite the recipient to click on a link to read the story.

If you do, you'll be taken to a Russian website in which is embedded the Blackhole exploit kit, a particularly nasty bundle of browser-busting malware designed to infect your machine the instant you first load the page. In other words, you can be infected just by looking at the Web page. That's how the sneakiest drive-by downloads work. There are several ways to avoid being snared by such scams.

* Don't click on links in emails you don't expect, even if they seem to come from trusted sources or friends.

* Run a good package of anti-virus software on your PC. The same goes for Macs, which now get malware too. Symantec's blog points out that its products protect customers against Blackhole.

* If someone tries to entice you with bogus come-ons, sensational news stories or deals that sound too good to be true, laugh, ignore the pitch and move on.

Source:
http://www.234globe.com/story/268/Vatican+Scandal-Themed+Emails+Lead+Readers+to+Malware.html