The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened to go on strike if the Federal Government sells national assets.

In a statement in Lagos, the union’s Public Relations’ Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ojugbana, advised the government not to sell the assests in the interest of Nigerians.

The statement was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday.

NAN reports that there have been calls for the sale of national assets to cussion economic recession

Ojugbana described the moves as unpatriotic, saying that the sale would further impoverish Nigerians.

He said that it was wrong to solve the country’s short-term economic problem by handing over collective common wealth to a few individuals.

“We will not watch our national assets sold, especially those in the oil and gas industry such as NLNG that has become a huge revenue earner for Nigeria; refineries and shares in the upstream oil and gas JV operations.

“Any attempt to sell these assets will be resisted as PENGASSAN will ensure that every activity in the oil and gas sector is brought to a halt,” he said.

Ojugbana said these assets had been generating revenue and would still generate revenue for the country.

He said that the planned sale was ill-timed, unwarranted and would not serve national interest.

He added that no nation could develop, survive or feel secure after selling all national assets.

Ojugbana said that doing this would further mortgage the future of the country in the hands of few who could take advantage of it to loot the country’s wealth.

He advised that instead of selling the assets, the government should look for other ways of increasing the revenue base of the country, while plugging loopholes and leakages in government’s finances.

The PENGASSAN official urged the three tiers of governments to generate money to revive the economy.

More on this at http://www.bookspen.com/pengassan-threatens-strike-fgs-plans-sell-assets/

Aljazeera reports that one of Zimbabwe's largest and oldest hospitals in the capital of Harare, has temporarily stopped performing elective surgeries because of a critical shortage of medical supplies.

In the latest crisis to hit the cash-strapped African nation, medical staff at the Harare Central hospital have scaled back services. For the time being, they will only treat life-threatening and maternity cases.

The hospital is running low on pain medication like pethidine and injectable morphine.

Zimbabwe has been undergoing an economic crisis for nearly two decades, and the public health sector, which receives only three percent of the government budget, is struggling.

"The economic situation is not good at the moment, starting from what we get from treasury," Peggy Zvavamwe, hospital CEO, told Al Jazeera.

"We cater for that part of the population who rarely can pay for their own medication," she said.

"You find our funds are dwindling, we try to stretch it as far as possible."

The country's middle class and wealthy use the more expensive private hospitals, while President Robert Mugabe and his family go abroad for medical treatment.

Continue reading with pictures at http://www.bookspen.com/zimbabwe-harare-central-hospital-suspends-surgeries/

The 35-year-old reality star took to her app on Friday to publicly endorse the Democratic presidential nominee after reports surfaced that she was "on the fence" about who to vote for.

"A 'quote' of mine was released yesterday causing my phone to blow up by friends, family and every both candidates' camps, so I want to explain the context in which I said I was 'on the fence' about my vote," she started her essay, referencing an excerpt from her recent Wonderland interview published by The Evening Standard.

Despite supporting Clinton at a fundraiser last month -- and even taking a quick selfie -- Kardashian admits that she wasn't always sure about where to cast her vote.

"There was a point when I wasn't 100% sure I was even going to vote in this election; I didn't want to vote blindly," she continued. "But I also thought about how not voting would mean that I wasn't making my voice heard, so I decided to talk to my closest friends and family who I love and trust, to have an open conversation about politics."

Kardashian says she then turned to proud Republican Caitlyn Jenner for political advice.

"She encouraged me to do my research before making my decision and then vote for the candidate whose policies aligned with the things that matter most to me," the mother of two continued. "And so that's what I did. I thought about the things that are so important to me that they outweigh everything else, such as control and protecting women's rights to safe and legal abortion."

"I found that without a doubt, I stand with Hillary. I'm with her. I believe Hillary will best represent our country and is the most qualified for the job," she explained. "This year, I'm not just voting for myself, but also for my children, and I took that into careful consideration when I made my decision."

Continue reading her statement at http://www.bookspen.com/kim-kardashian-vote-clinton-coming-us-elections/

The rapper, who recently claimed he’s slept with three Kardashians in what has been referred to as an obvious bid for publicity on the song “Sauce,” explained his controversial lyrics in great detail to Wendy Williams on Tuesday.

Williams brought up the lyrics “I used to f*ck bitches that Usher Raymond passed off / Then I fuck3d three Kardashians / Hold that thought” before presenting the rapper with a picture of the reality TV family and asking him to name names.

The rapper quickly claimed he and Khloe had s3x after Williams pointed to the famous sister on-screen, saying simply, “Sometimes it gets late at night...” Though Khloe and The Game were once roommates and have been friends for over 12 years, his new public comments on their relationship are pretty gross.

When the talk show host asked about Kourtney and Kim, The Game quickly denied any relationship with Kourt but was more careful in his response about her sister, whom he confessed to dating in a 2014 interview with BBC Radio.

“You know what, this is what I’ll say. I’ll tell you this,” the “Sauce” rapper said, appearing to weigh his words. “Kanye is a really good friend of mine. And they got really, really beautiful kids, and I don’t want to disrespect their family.”

While the rapper’s attempt at riding the coattails of the famous family is painfully obvious ― if not a bit sad ― his evident respect for his male friends’ privacy over that of his female friends is troublesome. Of course, he didn’t stop there.

When Williams credited the rapper for sleeping with two Kardashians, The Game couldn’t leave things be ― he pushed to name the third woman outright.

Continue reading at http://www.bookspen.com/game-reveals-kardashian-slept/

The Department of Homeland Security granted citizenship to hundreds of people who had previously been ordered deported or removed under different names because of flaws in keeping fingerprint records, according to a report released Monday.

The report from the department’s Office of Inspector General found that nearly 900 individuals were granted citizenship because neither the agency nor the F.B.I. databases contained all of the fingerprint records of people who had previously been ordered to be deported.

Nearly 150,000 older fingerprint records were not digitized or simply were not included in the Department of Homeland Security’s databases when they were being developed, the report said. In other cases, fingerprints that were taken by immigration officials during the deportation process were not forwarded to the F.B.I.

“This situation created opportunities for individuals to gain rights and privileges of U.S. citizenship through fraud,” said John Roth, the inspector general at Homeland Security.

The report comes as members of Congress, Homeland Security and intelligence officials have undertaken a broader examination of the nation’s immigration policy and have raised concern about individuals with ties to terrorist groups gaining entry into the United States. The examination began in the wake of terrorist attacks in Paris in November and the shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., that left 14 people dead in December.

After the attacks, President Obama signed legislation that tightened visa waivers to make it harder for travelers to enter the United States from Europe if they had dual citizenship from Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria, or had visited one of those countries in the previous five years.

About 38 countries, mostly in Europe, participate in the visa-waiver program, which allows their citizens to visit the United States without a visa on trips of 90 days or less. Homeland Security officials have also begun an extensive review of the K-1 visa, also known as a fiancé visa, which allowed Tashfeen Malik, one of the attackers in San Bernardino, to enter the United States.

Officials say the findings illustrate a major security gap.

“This failure represents a significant risk to America’s national security as these naturalized individuals have access to serve in positions of public trust and the ability to obtain security clearances,” Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican who is chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, wrote in a letter to Jeh Johnson, the secretary of homeland security.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, an agency within Homeland Security that oversees citizenship, is supposed to check the fingerprints of applicants for citizenship against a number of databases to make sure that they do not have criminal records or pose a threat to national security.

But since the fingerprint databases are incomplete, the report found that the agency had no way of knowing if the individuals were actually who they said they were.

Investigators found that in more than 200 cases they examined, none of the individuals disclosed that they had another identity or that they had final deportation orders on their naturalization application.

As naturalized citizens, these individuals retain many of the rights and privileges of American citizenship, including serving in law enforcement, obtaining a security clearance and sponsoring other the entry of other foreigners into the United States, the report said.

For example, investigators with the inspector general’s office said during their examination that they learned that at least three people, who became naturalized citizens after having been deported under a different name, had managed to obtain the necessary clearances to conduct security-sensitive work at commercial airports or at ports and aboard ships.

Since being identified, all have had their credentials revoked, the report said.

The inspector general’s report said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency had investigated few of the naturalized citizens to determine whether they should have their citizenship revoked. That agency is now taking steps to increase its inquiries and to digitize all its fingerprint records.

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security acknowledged the issues raised in the report.

But the department’s statement added, “It is important to note that the fact that fingerprint records in these cases may have been incomplete at the time of the naturalization interview does not necessarily mean that the applicant was in fact granted naturalization, or that the applicant obtained naturalization fraudulently.”

More at http://www.bookspen.com/almost-1000-migrants-granted-us-citizenship-due-fingerprint-flaws/

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano has said that his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) will reduce the price of rice to N9000 if elected to head the Federal Government.

Obiano made the statement during the inauguration of the ‘Governor Willie Obiano Support Group’ on Monday, September 19 in Awka.

“Anambra is a case study for good governance. If APGA will be given the opportunity to rule Nigeria a bag of rice will reduce N9,000,” Obiano said through his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chinedu Obidigwe.

“What Anambra has done in agriculture, which resulted in the state having its own brand of rice (Anambra rice) would be replicated at a bigger scale should APGA win the presidential election.

“The state has used scarce resources to resuscitate the state’s economy, leading to infrastructural development and timely payment of workers’ salary,” he added.

Obiano had earlier urged his colleagues not to owe salaries in this time of recession as doing so would amount to looking for trouble.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/obiano-apga-can-reduce-bag-rice-n9000/

A Nigerian footballer who playing for Azerbaijan club side, Shahdagh Qusar FK, Victor Emenayo, is at the center of an age cheat scandal that is threatening to truncate his playing career as the club officials are set to drag him to world football body, FIFA, over allegations of falsifying his age.

Emenayo who claims to be 23-years-old is being investigated by the Azerbaijani football federation after some discrepancies were discovered in his passport with one of them stating that he is 28-years-old, while the club insists he is well above 40.

In a statement where the club says Emenayo is even older than their coach, they also maintain that the striker is '17 times older than the age he is claiming on his international passport.'

Read more with pictures at http://www.bookspen.com/age-scandal-european-club-accuses-23-years-old-nigerian-footballer-40-years-old/

A horrified cancer patient woke from surgery to discover her vagina has been mistakenly connected to her colon.

A team of surgeons reportedly operated on Jasminka Velkovska to remove a carcinoma from her colon but it was soon discovered that the surgery had gone badly wrong.

Velkovska complained that she has not yet been paid her compensation in full.

She has not received the £25,700 which she claims the hospital had previously agreed to hand out and the woman has now gone on primetime television in Macedonia to talk about what happened to try and put pressure on the hospital’s management into paying what they owe her.

The surgery gaffe took place when Jasminka was a patient at the ‘September 8th’ Hospital in the city of Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, three years ago.

Jasminka told local TV: "While I was recovering, doctors came and asked me if I was passing gas, and I said yes, but it’s coming out of my vagina.

"They told me that it would soon pass and I would be ok, but stuff had started to come out of my vagina and I was feeling scared and it was all very unpleasant."

Staff at the September 8th Hospital took her for an X-ray scan, which showed that her colon and her vagina were indeed tied together - and worse, her carcinoma was still there.

Jasminka needed to have surgery again to remove the growth but she opted for it to take place in another hospital.

Her lawyers and hospital management then reached an agreement outside of court, whereby she would be handed a sum of £25,700 in compensation for her ordeal.

But Jasminka says the money has still not been paid in full and that there are still £8,564 that have not been paid.

Hospital Manager Sasho Stojcev claimed that the hospital cannot pay the damage without a court order, adding that the compensation was only partly covered by their insurance company.

The remaining £8,570, Stojcev says, does not have to be paid off by the hospital. This is reportedly because the compensation was not fully covered by the insurance company and the document allegedly does not state who exactly should pay it.

Jasminka is reportedly unhappy with the hospital’s excuses and said that if they do not pay up soon, she and her family plan to sue the hospital.

See pictures at http://www.bookspen.com/doctors-mistakenly-connect-cancer-patients-vag1na-colon/

A 28-year-old man, Deji Ayoola, who was arrested by the police in Lagos State for theft, has allegedly stolen money from the policewoman interrogating him.

Reports reveal that Ayoola was being interrogated at the Rapid Response Squad office in Alausa, Ikeja, on Saturday, when he allegedly stole N1,200, which fell from the policewoman’s pocket.

The suspect had earlier been arrested by the men of the RRS in the Ojodu Berger area for allegedly stealing from a commuter.

We also gathered that Ayoola allegedly stole a wallet, containing N14,500 from the commuter, identified as Ayodele Akerele, before he was arrested.

More details at http://www.bookspen.com/courageous-suspect-steals-police-interrogation/

A graduate of Political Science, Jehu Kwasu, has narrated how he impersonated the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah and defrauded prominent Nigerians of millions of naira.

Kwasu said his victims included Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church Worldwide, who he claimed gave him N500,000; the Chairman, Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, N1m; Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, N500,000; businessman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, N2m.

He allegedly collected the sums for Internally Displaced Persons.

He said, “I collected N500,000 from Otudeko, CEO, Honeywell: From Admiral Kanu, I got N500,000. I also got N500,000 from Bishop Oyedepo and N2m from Dantata. I also got money from Gen. Wushishi and others.

“I opened a Guaranty Trust Bank account in Bishop Kukah’s name. I registered a SIM card in my name, but used Bishop Kukah’s picture on my True Caller account, so that when I call, his picture would appear (on the recipient’s phone.)”

Kwasu, who is serving a two-month sentence in the Keffi Prison, admitted on Friday in Abuja that he realised over N5.7m.

Police sources said only N1.7m was found in his bank account, adding that the suspect spent most of the money he made on girls and hard drugs.

It was gathered that Kwasu, the son of late Anglican Bishop, James Kwasu, also exploited his father’s name, to extort money from the Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, when the latter was the Speaker, House of Representatives.

The 25-year old explained that he defrauded his victims by soliciting money on phone to cater to IDPs in the country.

The cleric’s son stated that he obtained a passport with the name, Mathew Hassah Kukah Jehu, and also opened an account with the GTB in the same name.

He said, “I called people on the telephone and told them I was Bishop Kukah. I used his picture on my True Caller account, so that when I called people, they would think he was the one talking with them.

“I also obtained a passport in Bishop Kukah’s name which I used to open an account with GTB. The money I realised was paid into the account and I used an Automated Teller Machine card to withdraw it.”

PUNCH Metro gathered that Kukah was alerted to the scam by some people close to him.

The cleric was said to have petitioned the police, which asked the bank to place a “no debit order” on the account.

Following his inability to withdraw from the account, Kwasu was said to have visited the bank to complain, where he was arrested.

Findings indicate that Kwasu had earlier been arrested and remanded in prison for impersonating Bishop Steven Akobe of the Anglican Diocese of Kabba, Kogi State, but was granted bail.

The police said Kwasu had also attempted to extort money from Senator David Mark, claiming to be Akobe.

“Mark said I should come for some money, so I sent my girlfriend. But she was arrested and I was taken to court and sentenced to two months imprisonment or N9,000 fine,” Kwasu stated.

It was gathered that the suspect, who had two female siblings, sold his deceased parents’ house in Kaduna for N10m and lavished the money on girls and a profligate lifestyle.

The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Mustafa, stated that Kwasu was arrested by the men of his command, after Kukah complained about his activities.

The CP said, “We received a petition from Bishop Kukah alleging that the boy had been impersonating him and extorting money from prominent people. So, my men went to work and were able to track the suspect and arrest him. He is a habitual criminal and I would like to advise the public against responding to emails or phone calls from unknown persons requesting financial support for one cause or the other.”

Mustafa also called on the public to report every suspicious phone call and email to the police for investigation.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/graduate-impersonates-bishop-kukah-defrauds-oyedepo-others/

This bride wore seven wedding dresses and they were all amazing back to back.

Noey Chotika, who is an actress, began the mini-fashion show with a gorgeous white, princess gown for her engagement party which, according to Yahoo, took place two weeks before her wedding.

This lucky bride then literally took wedding appearances six steps further, as she wore six more dresses for her wedding celebrations which took [suspense pause] 14 days.

Yep! She had a two-week wedding.

The first dress was a huge white one, with puff sleeves, and designed with an overabundance of tulle, and a long veil.

Then the princess look was completed with a flower crown... a fairy-tale dress that will make even the most indifferent of us crow with admiration.

She then pulled on number two at that same party- a pale pink dress with a thoroughly embroidered design.

For her third wonder, she went for a breathtaking ornate top and skirt combo in a gorgeous blush shade of pink.

The next dress, worn at her traditional Thai wedding was beautifully ornamented, off the shoulder and rounded off with a huge jewel necklace and a broach.

Paired with her bridesmaids' matching pink dresses, the group looked quite the part of a really lavish wedding. Mind you, there were 13 bridesmaids. THIRTEEN!

Up next was the was a backless, beaded dress just to take wedding pictures.

Just when it looked as if it couldn’t get any better, Chotika stepped out in another jawdropping gown for her wedding proper.

A Zuhair Murad gown with an incredible long-sleeved lace bodice, a veil to match, and a massive princess skirt.

The whole of her 13 bridesmaids also changing into sparkly silver crop tops that displayed the names of Chotika and her new husband.

Wedding memories are forever, and this is one heck of a blissful memory to have for the rest of one’s life.

See pictures http://www.bookspen.com/see-bride-wore-7-dresses-wedding-day/

The Archbishop of the Anglican Church in Wales, Dr. Barry Morgan, has called on people to stop condemning homosexuality.

Using his retirement speech, Morgan urged Christians to reconsider their stance on sex in gay and lesbian relationships, Queerty reports.

He also advised people to stop basing their condemnation on the Bible, because there is no "one settled understanding of what the Bible says” on sexuality.

“What all this shows is that within the Scriptures themselves, there are radical shifts in understanding what it means to discern the will of God.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/sex-committed-gay-lesbian-relationship-not-sin-anglican-archbishop/

Earlier this summer, rumors began flying that Superman would be suiting up for another standalone film. Fans last saw the hero feature in a solo flick back in 2013 when Man of Steel hit theaters, leaving fans and critics with mixed feelings. But, now, it looks like those rumors have been proven true. Henry Cavill’s management has confirmed the actor is in development for the much-anticipated sequel.

Speaking with Newsweek, Dany Garcia spoke about her client and said Henry is poised to take Hollywood by storm in a year or two.

“Henry has a big appetite,” she said. “We’ve been in a five-month period of time where he’s re-strategizing, acquiring property [for his production company Promethean], he’s filming [Justice League] now, he’s in development for the Superman standalone… he’s beginning to expand that world.”

Of course, many fans are excited to get some official confirmation on the film. The Wrap was the first site to tease rumors about the sequel as a source told them, “Superman is a top priority for the studio and getting the character right for audiences is of tantamount importance.” Before that, Warner Bros. also hinted a Superman movie might be in the works when they debuted their future film slate for DC Entertainment and noted the schedule allowed for possible “standalone Batman and Superman films.”

Fans learned that Warner Bros. was eager to pursue those iconic superheroes earlier this year when Ben Affleck confirmed he was working on a solo Batman project with Geoff Johns. Recently, the film has teased some exciting updates as Ben confirmed Deathstroke would be joining the DC Extended Universe in his film courtesy of actor Joe Manganiello.

Following Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, it makes sense that Warner Bros. would want to capitalize on the DC Comics all-star. Superman’s popularity surged after the film released, and the character’s inclusion in Justice League has only added to the hero’s hype.

While there is no release date attached to the Superman film as of yet, most assume the film will premiere after the standalone Batman film. Warner Bros. does have two untitled DC film spots on their calendar for 2018 and 2019. Perhaps one of those dates will house the Superman flick?

Sadly, for Zack Snyder, the film will not roll out before Justice League. The director has previously said he wanted Superman to get a sequel before the superhero team hit the big screen.

Continue at http://www.bookspen.com/man-steel-2-confirmed-production/

Reports making the rounds suggest that Arik Air's operations has been shut down following its inability to settle the debt it is owing major oil marketers, reports say.

According to Sahara Reporters, the oil marketers refused to supply the airline fuel - Jet A1, saying it is owing N3b to all its suppliers.

Also, there are insinuations that Arik Air's insurers in Europe have withdrawn, thereby, further incapacitating operations.

A stranded passenger, Chris Amokwu, who spoke to Sahara Reporters around 1pm, said his 7:30 am flight to Abuja is has not come up.

Amokwu also said Arik Air explained that the reason for the shut down of operations was its inability to get fuel, and poor weather conditions.

The spokesman of the airline, Ola Adebanji, however told newsmen that he is not aware of the situtation.

Reports also confirmed that other local airlines were operating, contrary to the reason by Arik, that there is scarcity of Jet A1 fuel.

Arik Air's suspension of operations brings the number to three, following Aero Contractors and First Nation's closure.

More on this at http://www.bookspen.com/arik-air-reportedly-shuts-operations/

Producers of the Fifty Shades movie are set to release the next part of the trilogy.

Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson return as Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele in first "Fifty Shades Darker" trailer.

The second chapter of the "Fifty Shades" trilogy, the movie is based on the worldwide bestselling of same name.

Below is the Synopsis of 'Fifty Shades Darker':

When a wounded Christian Grey tries to entice a cautious Ana Steele back into his life, she demands a new arrangement before she will give him another chance. As the two begin to build trust and find stability, shadowy figures from Christian’s past start to circle the couple, determined to destroy their hopes for a future together.

The movie also stars Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden, Jennifer Ehle, Luke Grimes, Rita Ora, Victor Rasuk, Eloise Mumford and Max Martini, who are joined by Oscar winner Kim Basinger, Hugh Dancy, Bella Heathcote and Eric Johnson.

Watch first trailer and release date at http://www.bookspen.com/fifty-shades-grey-christian-grey-anastasia-steele-return-fifty-shades-darker/

Rumours have been very rave recently that Nigerian singer Ayo Balogun (Wizkid) is dating American Pop star Justine Skye. Many people have found it hard to believe this. In this article we attempt to decipher this stuff once and for all, from recent happenings.

Pop star Wizkid shared a photo of him embracing his rumoured girlfriend US singer Justine Skye on his Instagram page on September 11, 2016.

After posting a photo of him and Justine Skye, Wizkid went on to disable the comments which he knows would be filled with relationship talk and chatter.

Justine Skye recently dropped a new single featuring Wizzy a.k.a Young Pablo and before that there have been intense rumours that the 'Ojuelegba' singer is Skye's lover boy.

While people are looking for hidden clues to prove that Wizkid and Justine Skye are an item I am cocksure that they are dating. Human beings are a creature of habit and last time I checked, despite his chart defying stunts baba nla has blood flowing through his veins.

Continue reading at http://www.bookspen.com/wizkid-confirms-dating-justine-skye/

Kaduna State Government under the leadership of Malam Nasir el-Rufai in its effort to improve the living condition and well- being of the people of Kaduna State has gone into partnership with a waste management expert company, ZL Global Alliance (Nigeria) in the collection of waste in a project called “waste to cash” programme.

At the official launch of the “waste to cash” project at the weekend in Kaduna, the managing director of ZL Global Alliance Nigeria, Mrs Abiola Bashorun, said it was in recognition of the governor’s commitment to keeping the state clean, green and healthy.

According to the MD/CEO of ZL Global Alliance, the ‘waste to cash’ initiative is meant to encourage the people to turn in their waste in exchange for cash, emphasising, “Under the scheme, we shall be paying N1.00 per kilogramme of waste. We, however, expect a minimum of 10 to 25kg per lot.

“The state government under the initiative wants to take its commitment to get job and wealth creation a notch higher. The state government has found that it has a large population of youths and women who are either unemployed or under-employed,” she explained.

The waste management expert further explained that the programme which is scheduled to kick- off on September 14, 2016, will begin with the two major cities of Kaduna and Zaria, then Kafanchan and other towns will join in no distant time.

She disclosed that ZL Global Alliance and the international partners were investing over $1billion into the ‘waste to wealth’ initiative across states in Nigeria.

More on this at http://www.bookspen.com/kaduna-state-government-introduces-waste-cash-scheme-curb-unemployment/

Robin Camp, a Canadian Federal Court Justice faces possible removal from the bench after he asked a 19-year-old rape survivor why she didn’t do anything to protect herself during the alleged attack. The case in question took place in 2014 after the young woman accused Alexander Wagar, of Calgary, of raping her over a bathroom sink at a house party. During Wagar’s sexual assault trial, according to a notice of allegations posted on the Canadian Judicial Council website, Camp, who was a provincial court judge at the time, asked the young woman: “Why couldn’t you just keep your knees together? Why didn’t you just sink your bottom down into the basin so he couldn’t penetrate you?”

According to the notice, the judge continued to castigate the young woman openly, suggesting that young women “want to have sex, particularly if they’re drunk.” In a different part of the trial, he said that “[Some] sex and pain sometimes go together…that’s not necessarily a bad thing.”

The news of the judge’s misconduct opened him up to a firestorm of criticism. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation retweeted cartoonist Gary Clement’s response to the controversy.

Camp would acquit Wagar in September 2014. “I want you to tell your friends, your male friends, that they have to be far more gentle with women,” he told Wagar at the time. “They have to be far more patient. And they have to be very careful. To protect themselves, they have to be very careful.” The Alberta Court of Appeal later overturned Camp’s ruling. Wagar’s second trial is scheduled for November.

The Canadian Judicial Council launched an investigation in November 2015 after four law professors filed a joint complaint against Camp, who later recused himself from hearing sexual assault cases. In December, the Alberta attorney general also filed a formal complaint and referred the case to an inquiry committee. The council began its inquiry last week, on September 6. The inquiry will conclude on September 14.

Testifying at a hearing on Friday, Camp, who grew up in South Africa, claimed he had a “nonexistent” knowledge of Canadian criminal law at the time of the trial. “My colleagues knew my knowledge of Canadian law was very minimal…” he said. “Please remember I wasn’t in this country through the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.” Records indicate Camp did not receive training or judicial education on sexual assault law before presiding over sexual assault cases.

Camp’s attorney, Frank Addario, argued Camp is remorseful, and that he has sincetaken steps “to educate himself and gain insight into his beliefs.” Addario conceded that Camp’s remarks were “insensitive and inappropriate,” but that he has since apologized, insisting Camp’s misconduct does not warrant removal from the bench. Camp has openly acknowledged his “knowledge deficit” Addario said. According to a statement of facts, Camp has undergone mentoring, counseling about how victims of abuse respond to trauma, and a course on the history of sexual assault law.

In a letter of support, Camp’s daughter, Lauren, who admitted she has been raped herself, said that her father’s comments were “disgraceful” but that she will stand behind him. Lauren Camp revealed her father is “old fashioned in some ways” and that he does not understand “how women think” but insisted he is not “an inherent or dedicated sexist.” She also wrote that she had seen her father “advance in understanding and empathy for victims, vulnerable litigants and those who have experienced trauma.”

However, Marjorie Hickey, who is presenting the case against Camp to the inquiry, said in her closing arguments yesterday that there is sufficient evidence to remove Camp from the bench. Camp “failed in the due execution of the office of the judge,” Hickey said. Hickey also noted that Camp’s remark that “sex and pain sometimes go together” must have been “particularly belittling” to the woman who survived the alleged rape. The woman, whose identity is protected by a publication ban, was the first to testify at the inquiry, telling the committee that the judge’s comments “made me hate myself” and that Camp “made me feel like I should have done something, like I was some kind of slut.”

The committee will file a report with the judicial council on whether or not it recommends Camp’s removal from the bench. It will then be up to the council to decide if the committee’s decision warrants a recommendation to the federal justice minister.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/canadian-judge-blames-19-year-old-rape-victim-not-keeping-knees-together/

A local source in Nineveh province revealed that the ISIS members have flogged 14 barbers after abducting them from different areas of Mosul, and detaining them for a week.

Sharing more details with Iraqi News, the source informed, “The ISIS members flogged 14 barbers with 20 lashes each, after abducting them from different areas of Mosul, and detaining them for a week, as well as preventing them from working for a whole month,” noting that, “The barbers were flogged for violating the ideological standards of the organization.”

“ISIS threatened to impose strict procedures on those who will violate the grooming regulations set by the organization,” the source added.

It may be mentioned here that ISIS has imposed tight regulations for those working in the profession of grooming in the areas of Mosul, in order to prevent western haircuts.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/isis-flogs-14-barbers-mosul/

It's the biggest game of the Premier League season so far but thousands have been left unable to tune in today's crunch match between the two Manchester clubs.

Sky customers, using the firm's NOW TV box, haven't been able to buy a Sky Sports Day pass.

This pass usually allows sports fans to get all of Sky's channels for a one-off price.

Many Man Utd and Man City fans have taken to Twitter to complain about the issues which appears to say "Something's gone wrong" each time they attempt to buy a pass.

One angry fan posted a message on social media saying: "Was looking forward to watching the sport today but again @NOWTV having issues. Thanks"

While another simply said: "# nowtv 1hr still no sky pass - what a waste of time!!!"

It's currently unclear what is causing the issues but it could be that too many people are attempting to buy the Day Pass at the same time.

To make matters worse the game turned in to a classic, with Man City beating their arch-riivals by 2 goals to 1.

Sky recently announced a big uodate to its NOW TV service.

Called NOW TV Combo the service allows customers to choose their TV package, broadband speed and phone calls without ever having to sign up to a contract.

Sky says Combo users can cancel or tweak their package at anytime.

This means you can speed up your broadband, add channels or get free calls at the weekends by paying a bit extra each month.

But, if times get tough, you can just as easily remove certain services or slow your broadband back to basic speeds.

A standard package which includes basic broadband, pay-as-you-go calls and Sky’s entertainment TV will start from £9.99 per month plus a monthly line rental charge of around £17.

Read all the reactions http://www.bookspen.com/manchester-derby-causes-problems-sky-sports/

Ginger and chili not only add spice and flavor to your favorite dish — they may also help you ward off cancer. A recent study has found that the popular spices have properties that significantly reduce mice’s chances of developing lung cancer due to their ability to bind to a receptor that is also responsible for tumor growth.

According to a study now published in the online Journal of Agricultural And Food Chemistry, capsaicin, a compound in chili peppers, and 6-gingerol, a component in ginger, could work together to lower the risk of cancer, possibly because 6-gingergol binds to capsaicin to form a super-strong compound that inhibits key tumor-growing receptors, The Daily Mail reported.

For the study, the researchers fed mice prone to lung cancer either capsaicin or 6- gingerol alone, or in combination with one another over the course of several weeks. During the study period, all of the mice that received only capsaicin developed lung tumors, while only half of the mice fed 6-gingerol did. However, only 20 percent of the mice that received a combination of both went on to develop cancer.

While ginger and chili may have cancer-kicking abilities together, on their own, the two spices are also impressively powerful. For example, ginger contains chromium, magnesium, and zinc, which help to maintain healthy and normal blood flow. In addition, The American Pregnancy Association recommends consuming ginger in different forms, such as tea or in jam, to help curb morning nausea brought on by pregnancy, and Columbia University researchers say that ginger, paired with bronchodilating medications, maybe help to relax the smooth muscle surrounding airways.

As for chili, capsaicin, the same compound that gives chili peppers their hot flavor, also inhibits a brain pain transmitter which can help to reduce headaches and prevent inflammation. In addition, Chili pepper contains 108 percent of the vitamin C daily requirements per tablespoon, which can help to improve the immune system.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/2-common-ingredients-prevent-cancer/

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday equated Palestinian criticism of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank to "ethnic cleansing," drawing sharp criticism from Washington, its key ally.

In a video disseminated on social media platforms, Netanyahu said he had "always been perplexed" by the claim that settlements are an "obstacle to peace."

"The Palestinian leadership actually demands a Palestinian state with one pre-condition: No Jews. There's a phrase for that: It's called ethnic cleansing," Netanyahu said.

US State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters on Friday that "type of terminology is inappropriate and unhelpful."

"We obviously strongly disagree with the characterization that those who oppose settlement activity or view it as an obstacle to peace are somehow calling for ethnic cleansing of Jews from the West Bank," she added.

Trudeau said Israel's expansion policy raised "real questions about Israel's long-term intentions in the West Bank."

Last week, the US took a stronger tone on Israeli settlement expansion after a military committee approved hundreds of complexes in the West Bank, which the Palestinians hope will form part of an independent state.

The international community maintains that settlement activity in the West Bank is illegal and counter to peace efforts aimed at ending the conflict.

However, the Israeli government rejects such claims, saying Jews have lived in the territory for thousands of years and that settlements do not undermine a peaceful resolution.

Watch Netanyahu accuse Palestine at http://www.bookspen.com/us-rebukes-israeli-prime-minister-netanyahu-ethnic-cleansing-remark/

On Thursday an interesting comment Zlatan Ibrahimovic made in a brief interview with France’s SFR Sport was uncovered.

The former Paris Saint-Germain player was asked by the French TV channel what he missed the most about his time with the Ligue 1 club.

His answer? “I miss my last salary from Paris. That is what I miss.”

The comment has spread through the world media, and Sweden’s Expressen explain they believe there’s a lot more to it.

Expressen say that, according to information provided to them, there’s a dispute between Ibrahimovic and PSG over his final salary.

The legal representatives of both Ibrahimovic and PSG are said to be in talks to try and resolve the case. Should that not work, Expressen say the footballer can take his former employers through the official legal system, and try to get a ruling forcing the French club to pay.

The Swedish newspaper contacted PSG for comment, and press officer Yann Guerin gave them the expected “No comment.”

It’s a shame that Zlatan Ibrahimovic and PSG may now be on bad terms, given what the player did for the club, and how well they treated him during his time there.

Watch the video clip at http://www.bookspen.com/man-utd-star-sue-club-unpaid-salary/

The reality star celebrated the end of a successful kickoff to New York Fashion Week with yet another head-turning ensemble while stepping out in the Big Apple on Friday.

Kim left little to the imagination in a completely see-through mesh body suit paired with military-inspired cargo pants. The 35-year-old mother of two added an edge of femininity with strappy nude heels, but her look wouldn't be complete without the signature denim jacket from husband Kanye West's collection she's been rocking lately.

As for accessories, Kim went incognito in a pair of dark, oversized shades while carrying a chic handbag by her side.

But just because the brunette bombshell has been extra busy supporting her famous family's endeavors, both West's Yeezy Season 4 runway show and younger sisters Kendall and Kylie's collection launch, that doesn't mean she can't fit in a little time with her little ones, North and Saint West.

Kim recently took to Snapchat to share a few absolutely adorable videos of her daughter getting into a little mischief as a "ghost." The 3-year-old wears a white blanket over her head, prompting Kim to tell the camera, "Oh no, a ghost is trying to get me and Saint. Oh, no Saint! Are you scared?"

She continues, "Do you think we should be afraid of this ghost, Sainty? Oh my gosh, the ghost is coming alive!" Too cute.

See more photos at http://www.bookspen.com/kim-kardashian-goes-braless-bares-sheer-bodysuit/

Action movie star, writer, director and martial artist Jackie Chan is to be given an honorary Oscar for his "extraordinary achievements" in film.

The US film academy also voted to give the awards to editor Anne Coates, casting director Lynn Stalmaster and documentary maker Frederick Wiseman.

Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs described the four as "true pioneers and legends in their crafts".

Chan, 62, starred in dozens of martial arts films in his native Hong Kong.

He went on to huge international success with hits like Rumble in the Bronx, the Rush Hour franchise, and the animation film Kung Fu Panda

The other three honorary winners have all had long careers in film.

Anne Coates spent more than 60 years in movie editing, winning an Oscar for her work on Lawrence of Arabia; Lynn Stalmaster was involved with more than 200 feature films, including The Graduate and Deliverance; and Frederick Wiseman has made almost a film a year since 1967.

Their statuettes will be presented at the Governors Awards ceremony in November.

more at http://www.bookspen.com/jackie-chan-awarded-honorary-oscar/

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the singing of the national anthem before Thursday's preseason game in San Diego. He wasn't alone in his protest.

Safety Eric Reid knelt beside Kaepernick during the anthem in San Diego. In Oakland, meanwhile, Seahawks cornerback Jeremy Lane sat on the bench during the playing of the anthem, according to the Associated Press. Kaepernick told NFL Network's Steve Wyche on Saturday that he was sitting during the anthem in protest of societal wrongdoings against African-Americans and minorities in the United States.


The Chargers crowd loudly booed the 49ers when they came out on to the field, and once again every time Kaepernick took a snap under center. Kaepernick directed a 15-play touchdown drive on the opening offensive series of the game.

Nate Boyer, a 35-year-old who competed for a job on the Seattle Seahawks last offseason as a long snapper, stood beside Kaepernick during the anthem. Boyer wrote an open letter to Kaepernick on Wednesday expressing his viewpoints, and he told NFL Network's Alex Flanagan on Thursday that they each spoke at length before the game.

"He said he wanted me to come down and listen to what I had to say," Boyer told Flanagan. "He kind of asked for advice on certain things and that meant a lot. And he was very adamant about the fact that 'I don't want to offend the troops, I would just like to see change in our country as far as racial oppression.'

"I told him when he asked me what I thought about it -- that I'd like to see him stand ... and Kap said, 'I also want to stand for the anthem and I think I will sometime but right now I don't feel inspired to do that.'"

The 49ers have supported Kaepernick's right to protest the anthem.

"Players are encouraged but not required to stand during the playing of the national anthem," the NFL said in a statement obtained by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport last week.

http://www.bookspen.com/eric-reid-joins-kaepernick-protest-refuses-stand-anthem/

Lol...Una no dey tire to dey stroke Wenger? Come on! Shey the guy never suffer enough?

eshietIntrepid:
I love deadline day signings, is a day many clubs make wrong signings and wenger is their leader

Wilfried Bony has escaped from an unsuccessful spell at Manchester City by joining fellow Premier League outfit Stoke City in a season-long loan deal on transfer deadline day.

The 27-year-old will bolster a Stoke squad without a win in three Premier League matches this season as he aims to recapture the prolific form he displayed at Swansea City to earn an ill-fated switch to the Etihad Stadium.

More at http://www.bookspen.com/official-stoke-city-capture-bony-man-city/

Joe Hart has completed a season-long loan deal to join Torino after falling out of favour with new Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola.

Details of the deal at http://www.bookspen.com/breaking-torino-sign-joe-hart/

10. Son Heung-min to Wolfsburg

Bought for around £22m this time last year, Son Heung-min's time in England could soon be up. Wolfsburg were rumoured to have agreed personal terms with the South Korean winger last week before reports of a €30m bid for the former Bayer Leverkusen star also surfaced.

Should Julian Draxler be sold to Paris Saint-Germain, as has been speculated, that would give Wolfsburg the funds and the space to pull this one off, although Spurs have played hardball up to now.

See the rest at http://www.bookspen.com/12-premier-league-deals-still-happen-transfer-deadline/

11. Ryan Mason to Hull

Ryan Mason won't still be a Spurs player come Thursday morning, but will the midfielder be donning Hull or Sunderland colours after the window closes? Hull, it's Hull.

The Tigers are thought to be willing to pay as much as £8m to secure Mason's signature.

12. Jay Rodriguez to West Brom or Hull

The future of Jay Rodriguez is still very much up in the air, and a move may or may not happen. Some are claiming that he'll stay at Southampton, others that he's set for a move to Hull and a few still think West Brom are in with a chance.

Sunderland are reported to have already failed in their attempts.