Shift15's Posts
Nairaland Forum › Shift15's Profile › Shift15's Posts
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 (of 9 pages)
 Investment › Re: Fuel Scarcity: 8 Vessels With Petroleum Products Arrive Lagos Ports - Sunnews by shift15(m): 6:26am On May 05, 2015 |
GenBuhari:Point of correction. Obasanjo is APC navigator. |
| Politics › Man Gets 18 Yrs Jail Term For Killing And Eating Girlfriend's Lover Heart by shift15(op): 7:45am On Apr 30, 2015 |
A man who ate his victim's heart after stabbing him to death was sentenced to 18 years in prison by a South African court on Wednesday. Andrew Chimboza, a 35-year-old Zimbabwean national, killed his girlfriend's lover Mbuyiselo Manona on June 2014 in Cape Town's Gugulethu township. Judge Ashley Bins-Ward said that Chimboza had shown no remorse and refused to acknowledge his "unpredictable and uncontrollable rage", the Rand Daily Mail reported. He was found to have no mental illness after being placed under psychiatric evaluation. Psychiatrist Tuviah Zabow told the court that Chimboza said the woman coerced him to kill Manona and that "she also demanded that he present her with the deceased's heart", news website News24 reported. "His memory of the period of the offense was good but he declined to explain why he had sliced up the heart and was found eating it," Zabow said. http://believeafrica.net/man-gets-yrs-jail-term-for-killing-and-eating-girlfriends-lover-heart-p612-108.htm |
| Politics › Indonesia Executed Convicts Sang 'amazing Grace' Hymn As They Face Firing Squad by shift15(op): 7:58am On Apr 29, 2015 |
As they walked to face the firing squad on an Indonesian prison island, eight condemned drug traffickers defiantly sang praise to God, witnesses said, while in a town across the water a group of tearful supporters was also uniting in song. The convicts -- two from Australia, one from Brazil, four from Africa and one Indonesian -- made the long journey from their prison to clearings on a prison island to meet their fate early Wednesday. But rather than bow their heads in defeat and resignation, the convicts all reportedly refused blindfolds and raised their voices in song, including a rendition of "Amazing Grace", until the gunfire from the firing squads rang out. The husband of Pastor Christie Buckingham, who gave spiritual guidance to one of the Australians in his final moments, said his wife told him the men conducted themselves with "dignity and strength until the end". "She told me the eight of them walked out onto the killing field singing songs of praise," Rob Buckingham told 3AW radio in Australia. Across the water in the town of Cilacap, the final crossing point for inmates destined for death on the high-security Nusakambangan island, a small band of mourners held a candlelight vigil, and also sang "Amazing Grace". The haunting sounds filled the night sky, drowning out the sobs of those too distressed to contemplate what was taking place in the jungle-clad hills of the prison island. One man wailed loudly and implored Indonesian President Joko Widodo to have mercy. Another supporter read out the names of each inmate one by one. - 'Like a resurrection' - Owen Pomana, a former convict turned pastor and friend of Australian convicts Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, tried to buoy the spirits of those dwelling on the fate of the prisoners. Moments later, the eight inmates were dead, executed by 12-man firing squads after being tied to posts. Just before dawn, their bodies returned from the island in coffins, some covered in embroidery. Family members could be seen crying, ushered away by friends and supporters to begin the long journey to bury their loved ones. Angelita Muxfeldt, the cousin of Brazilian inmate Rodrigo Gularte, wept as she was led through the large throng of onlookers by Father Charlie Burrows. But others shed tears of joy. The family and friends of Filipina convict Mary Jane Veloso -- who was moments away from being executed with the others only to be granted a reprieve -- rushed to the port to embrace and express their disbelief. Father Harold Toledano, a Filipino priest assisting the Veloso family throughout their plight, had been praying when he heard the good news. "This is a miracle for us," he cried, as Veloso's lawyers and supporters celebrated. "It's like a resurrection for us. She is alive." For the Chan and Sukumaran families, there was no such solace. They had lost their sons, their brothers, after begging for their lives to be spared at every possible opportunity. "They asked for mercy, but there was none," the family said in a statement after the executions. They will bury their loved ones soon, but won't be the first. Barely had the dust settled at Cilacap port when Zainal Abidin -- the sole Indonesian prisoner among the group -- was laid to rest at a nearby graveyard. http://believeafrica.net/indonesia-executed-convicts-sang-amazing-grace-hymn-as-they-face-firing-s-p606-105.htm |
| Politics › Indonesia Executes Three Nigerians, Six Others For Drug Trafficking by shift15(op): 6:30pm On Apr 28, 2015 |
Authorities in Indonesia are preparing to execute nine convicted drug traffickers on death row, including eight foreign nationals, sparking international outrage over punishments that many say are too harsh. But despite the intense opposition abroad, Jakarta intends to move forward with the executions.http://believeafrica.net/indonesia-executes-three-nigerians-six-others-for-drug-trafficking-p597-105.htm |
| Politics › Nigerian Continued Drug Trafficking In Prison, While Chinese Inmate Turns Pastor by shift15(op): 6:20pm On Apr 28, 2015 |
Last moments of the convicted ‘Bali 9’ were filled with intrigues, regrets and defiance. The Nigerian Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise continue the business of drug trafficking while in prison, Chinese Andrew Chan regretted not listening to his parent at tender age, he however became pastor in prison and married his Indonesia heartthrob, Febyanti Herewila on Monday. For Australian Myuran Sukumaran, he was able to discover his painting genius, while single mother Fillipino Mary Jane Veloso used the period of her incarceration to raise her two children. Here are brief profiles of the inmates, who include two from Australia, one each from Brazil and the Philippines, and four from Africa. Myuran Sukumaran A ringleader of the Bali Nine drugs smuggling syndicate, Sukumaran was born in London in 1981 and moved with his Sri Lankan family to Australia when he was a child. He dropped out of university and became involved in the Sydney drugs and party scene. Enticed by the prospect of easy money, in 2005 he helped to organise a shipment of heroin destined for Australia, but was caught and sentenced to death a year later. Sukumaran said the shock of jail prompted him to change his life and he has become a model prisoner, teaching other inmates English and art. He has also become an accomplished artist himself, painting several pictures in his final days on Nusakambangan, the high-security prison island where Indonesia carries out executions. One of his lawyers returned from a visit to the island Tuesday with a painting signed by all nine death row convicts. It was entitled "One Heart, One Feeling, One Love" and depicted a heart in bold colours. Andrew Chan Like Sukumaran, Chan, 31, also hails from Sydney. He was born in 1984 to Chinese-immigrant parents Ken and Helen, who spent some four decades running restaurants. Chan started taking drugs when he was 16 and said his parents were unable to control him. Just two years after Chan's parents retired, they were told their 21-year-old son had been arrested in Indonesia for being a ringleader of a heroin-smuggling gang. In jail he has become a committed Christian and, after six years of theology study, he was ordained as a minister in February. On Monday, he married his Indonesian girlfriend, Febyanti Herewila, in a jailhouse ceremony, his final wish before facing the firing squad. Like Chan, Herewila is a pastor. She got to know Chan while helping inmates at the jail on Bali island, where he was until recently imprisoned. Mary Jane Veloso Born to a poor family in the Philippines, Veloso, 30, is a single mother of two boys who insists she went to Indonesia for a job as a maid and was duped by an international drug syndicate. She was arrested in 2009 with 2.6 kilograms (5.7 pounds) of heroin sewn into the lining of her suitcase. Veloso says she was first offered a job by a friend in Malaysia, but upon her arrival she was told the work was actually in Indonesia so immediately flew there. She claims the heroin was secretly hidden in her suitcase in Malaysia. Her sons, now aged six and 12, are spending her final days with her in Indonesia. Her case has attracted huge attention in the Philippines, with near daily rallies of support and world boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao pleading for her life to be spared. Rodrigo Gularte Brazilian Gularte, 42, was arrested in 2004 while trying to enter Indonesia with six kilograms of cocaine stashed in his surfing gear. His family have tried without success to obtain clemency for him by saying doctors have classed him as paranoid schizophrenic, which would normally see him transferred to a psychiatric facility. Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise Nwolise is a 49-year-old Nigerian who was found guilty in September 2004 of trafficking 1.18 kilos of heroin through Sukarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta two years earlier. His clemency appeal was rejected in February this year. The previous month, Indonesia's national narcotics body said he was running a drugs ring in jail, according to Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Okwudili Oyatanze Fellow Nigerian Oyatanze, 45, was sentenced to death for trafficking heroin, also through Sukarno-Hatta airport, in 2001. His clemency appeal was rejected earlier this year. Raheem Agbaje Salami The NDLEA said Salami appears to be Nigerian but holds a Spanish passport and is thought to be also known by the name Jamiu Owolabi Abashin. He entered Indonesia using a Spanish passport under the name Raheem Agbaje Salami. He was caught with five kilos of heroin inside a suitcase at the airport in Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city, on September 2, 1998 and was sentenced to life imprisonment the following year. That was reduced by the high court to 20 years, but he was later given the death sentence by the Supreme Court. Martin Anderson There is some confusion about Anderson's nationality. A spokesman for Indonesia's attorney-general said he is Nigerian but Nigeria's NDLEA said he is a Ghanaian citizen who was born in London in 1964. He was arrested in Jakarta in 2003 and sentenced to death. http://believeafrica.net/nigerian-continued-drug-trafficking-despite-death-sentence-while-chinese-i-p598-107.htm |
| Politics › 'i Am A Talent Hunter, I Put Talents In Office' - Tinubu Brags by shift15(op): 5:55pm On Apr 22, 2015 |
"I am a talent hunter. I put talents in office, I help them," says former Lagos state governor and opposition alliance leader Bola Tinubu, being quite open about his role as one of Nigeria's most powerful political godfathers. "I use the best hand, the best brain, the best experience for the job," he told Reuters after voting this month in a governorship election in Nigeria's economic capital which, as expected, his handpicked candidate Akinwunmi Ambode won. But it isn't only in his traditional fiefdom in the ethnic Yoruba southwest that Tinubu has sought to be a kingmaker. His support for former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari was seen as a key factor in the latter's win against President Goodluck Jonathan in the March 28 presidential election in Africa's biggest economy and oil producer. The pro-Buhari alliance that Tinubu headed, the All Progressives Congress (APC), rallied elites around Buhari in the southwest, Nigeria's wealthiest region. That enabled Buhari to tackle a perception that his support lies only in the dust-blown, largely Muslim north. The religiously mixed southwest had voted overwhelmingly for Jonathan in the 2011 race. So 'The Jagaban', an honorific title beloved of Tinubu's supporters, could have much say in what reform policies the new government will focus on, and who fills which cabinet posts. "The party he led is half of the APC. He can ... lay claim to that power," said Clement Nwankwo of the Situation Room civil society group. "Buhari will feel (an) ... obligation to him." To supporters Tinubu, a Yoruba Muslim, is a wily political operator with a passion for getting the job done and a knack for picking bright, committed technocrats to do it. To critics he is a ruthless godfather who doles out lucrative contracts to his friends' firms, insists on installing his man in office and is capable of sending in street thugs if he fails to get his way. The APC, which came to power on anger over corruption and growing insecurity, has declined to speak publicly about policies. THE JAGABAN The Nigerian practice of political godfathering has long been criticized by rights campaigners as impeding democracy by enabling powerful oligarchs to capture state institutions. But few deny that in Lagos, at least, the former governor managed to fix things no one thought fixable. Under his tenure at the turn of the millennium and that of his successor Babatunde Fashola, a technocrat hand picked by Tinubu, the city scrubbed up dramatically. Trash got collected, crime fell, trees were planted and traffic was better managed. "There were refuse mountains around, tax collection was very low," recalls Folarin Gbadebo-Smith, a former council leader under Tinubu. "But very quickly he seemed to sort things out." Gbadebo-Smith noticed an advantage Tinubu has over other Nigerian "big men" is that you could disagree with him and he listened, changing his mind when faced with a good argument. He also sets high standards, says Lagos waste management head Ola Oresanya, to whom Tinubu gave three months to make a noticeable difference or be fired. "He likes to say 'I promised I would do this, and I have.'" But like other powerful political figures in Nigeria, Tinubu's power resides largely in the huge patronage he wields, which has given him influence over, for instance, the 'area boys' -- Lagos street toughs who run rackets and guard cars. Ingeniously, he gave some of them uniforms and turned them into traffic cops. After he voted on April 11, a group of area boys mobbed The Jagaban, and he lectured them on their disorderly behavior. "If you want me to do something for you, line up in an orderly manner. Then I can share my peanuts," he told them, adding: "some of you have not even voted." A day later, when celebrations erupted outside his home, two groups of area boys got into a fight over money that had been distributed and they began hitting each other with planks of wood, a Reuters reporter saw. But interviewed later, many of them said they loved Tinubu since "he's a man of the common people." A businessman close to him says although Tinubu runs a formidable business empire, he is often short of cash because he gives so much away to oil the wheels of patronage. Yet Tinubu may have less influence over Buhari than he had hoped, argues Kayode Akindele, CEO of consultancy 46 Parallels. "He didn't really deliver in the southwest. It was only a slight lead," he said, compared to the absolute thumping Jonathan received from voters in the largely Muslim north. "The APC, post-elections, is now very northern," he added. That could limit any influence The Jagaban has -- and replicate the north-south rivalry that divided Jonathan's outgoing party. — Reuters http://believeafrica.net/i-am-a-talent-hunter-i-put-talents-in-office-tinubu-brags-p588-114.htm 8 Likes 3 Shares |
| Politics › 4,734 Officers Out Of 5,000 Failed Intelligence Exam Conducted By New IGP by shift15(op): 4:05pm On Apr 22, 2015 |
Little was known of the new Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase until he was announced by the Presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati announced that President Goodluck Jonathan has approved his appointment as the new Nigeria’s police boss. The new Acting Inspector-General of Police, Arase until his appoint was the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Department of Criminal Investigation. He was in charge of investigation and prosecution of serious and complex criminal cases within and outside the country. He also coordinates crime investigations and prosecution throughout the force. Arase holds a bachelor degree in law and Master’s degree in Public Administration. In 2013, when only 266 police officers passed the Intelligence Gathering test conducted under him out of 5,000 officers that wrote the test, Mr. Arase told newsmen that, ‘not every police officer can be an intelligent officer’. He is believed to be an advocate of proper training for the Nigerian Police Force and will not hesitate to dismiss any officer cannot cope with the intelligence required of Police force. He said concerning the 4,734 officers that failed his intelligence test in 2013, ‘after we carried out assessment test on the officers on ground, we discovered that a lot of them have to go’. Analysts have however raise doubt over the length of period the new Acting Inspector-General will be in the office since the President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari may not be favourably dispose to the person of the new acting Police boss. The new acting inspector-general joined Police force on 2nd December, 1981. He was promoted to Deputy Inspector General in 2012. He was born on 26th of June 1956 in Edo state. http://believeafrica.net/officers-out-of-failed-intelligence-exam-conducted-by-new-igp-p586-114.htm |
| Politics › Fayose Buying Bed From Roadside Furniture Maker In Ado by shift15(op): 3:30pm On Apr 18, 2015 |
Despite the pressure of impeachment on him, Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose seems to be unmindful of the threat. The governor who is loved by Ekiti people for him acts of socializing with common man, stopped at a roadside furniture maker's shop yesterday. Entering the shop of the elated young furniture maker, he was quickly usher into the showroom of the furniture maker. Gov. Fayose check the bed, comment on the quality of work done by the young man and order for four more of the bed which the furniture maker said will be available for collection on Monday. http://believeafrica.net/fayose-encourages-local-furniture-maker-in-ado-p569-108.htm 17 Likes 5 Shares
|
| Nairaland General › Re: Are You Smarter Than Primary 5 Singaporean Pupil? Then Solve This Math by shift15(op): 9:47pm On Apr 17, 2015 |
CountDracula:How did you arrive at that? |
| Nairaland General › Are You Smarter Than Primary 5 Singaporean Pupil? Then Solve This Math by shift15(op): 5:46pm On Apr 17, 2015 |
One word problem from a Singaporean school exam briefly became the talk of the Internet last weekend. It didn't rise quite to the level of "The Dress"—the recent quandary that resulted in accusations of color-blindness across the Internet—but it still gave the education world its own viral moment over the weekend. A viral math question, in fact. Last Friday, the Hello Singapore TV host Kenneth Kong posted a mathematical riddle to his Facebook page with the caption: "This question causes a debate with my wife .... and its a P5 question." The puzzle went viral across the country, with people ranging from perplexed adults to eager teenagers grappling with the simple question: "So when is Cheryl's birthday?" The hysteria wasn't limited to Singapore. The question immediately made the rounds on Twitter—along with the hashtag #cherylsbirthday—and Reddit. It even made its way to the Australian Federation of International Students' Facebook page. Without giving away the answer, here's a good starting point: Albert knows the month, Bernard knows the number. Albert knows that Bernard doesn't know. Look at how many times each date appears. Figure out which month Albert was told, and begin the elimination process. The riddle worried some parents. "P5," known as "Primary 5" in the Singaporean education system, is the equivalent of 5th grade in the United States. Despite Singapore's internationally revered math proficiency, many parents were concerned that the question was far too advanced for their kids. This prompted an investigation of sorts by Mothership.sg, a Singaporean news outlet. The organization obtained official confirmation (spoiler: the answer is included as well) from the executive director of the Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiad. According to the director, Henry Ong, the question was in fact for older "Secondary 3" students, or the equivalent of ninth grade here in the U.S. Ong also admitted that it was "a difficult question meant to sift out the better students." Logical puzzles like this are common in Singapore. The country's math curriculum, which has a strong focus on logic-based problem solving, has been so successful that it's been adopted around the world, including in the U.S. According to the latest report from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)—an exam designed to measure the math, reading, and science proficiency of 15-year-olds globally—Singapore's math competency essentially outshines that of the rest of the world: Singapore scores highest in the PISA 2012 assessment of problem solving, with 562 points on the PISA proficiency scale. Only Korea has a similarly high score. Singapore also has the highest number of top-performing students in problem solving: 29 percent of students reach proficiency Level 5 or 6 (the OECD average is 11 percent). So what makes Singapore so good at a subject with which America's students have routinely struggled? Singapore's math instruction focuses heavily on mastery over rote memorization. Math students on the small island nation perform well because they understand the material deeply—not because they are studying for a specific test. Thus, they react well when "curveballs" are thrown at them in the form of confusing math questions. Furthermore, the instruction of "Singapore Math"—as it's dubbed in the U.S. —uses a "layered" approach aimed at facilitating comprehension. Students digest the subject in stages, from the concrete to the pictorial and eventually to the abstract. This leads to conceptual understanding rather than numerical regurgitation: It's not just about getting the correct answer, but also about explaining one's thought processes. U.S. students have made strides in math proficiency in recent years, but they still lag behind many of their peers internationally, falling at the middle of the pack in global rankings. In the same PISA report the U.S. placed 35th out of 64 countries in math. And even though the "Cheryl's Birthday" question may be atypical of the average Singaporean classroom, perhaps it's still worth asking: Are you smarter than a (Singaporean) 10th-grader? http://believeafrica.net/primary-singaporean-math-question-that-went-viral-p567-108.htm
|
| Education › Re: Primary 5 Singaporean Math Question That Went Viral by shift15(op): 5:30pm On Apr 17, 2015 |
Christine01:Check the math question. |
| Education › Primary 5 Singaporean Math Question That Went Viral by shift15(op): 6:34am On Apr 17, 2015*. Modified: 5:29pm On Apr 17, 2015 |
One word problem from a Singaporean school exam briefly became the talk of the Internet last weekend. It didn't rise quite to the level of "The Dress"—the recent quandary that resulted in accusations of color-blindness across the Internet—but it still gave the education world its own viral moment over the weekend. A viral math question, in fact. Last Friday, the Hello Singapore TV host Kenneth Kong posted a mathematical riddle to his Facebook page with the caption: "This question causes a debate with my wife .... and its a P5 question." The puzzle went viral across the country, with people ranging from perplexed adults to eager teenagers grappling with the simple question: "So when is Cheryl's birthday?" The hysteria wasn't limited to Singapore. The question immediately made the rounds on Twitter—along with the hashtag #cherylsbirthday—and Reddit. It even made its way to the Australian Federation of International Students' Facebook page. Without giving away the answer, here's a good starting point: Albert knows the month, Bernard knows the number. Albert knows that Bernard doesn't know. Look at how many times each date appears. Figure out which month Albert was told, and begin the elimination process. The riddle worried some parents. "P5," known as "Primary 5" in the Singaporean education system, is the equivalent of 5th grade in the United States. Despite Singapore's internationally revered math proficiency, many parents were concerned that the question was far too advanced for their kids. This prompted an investigation of sorts by Mothership.sg, a Singaporean news outlet. The organization obtained official confirmation (spoiler: the answer is included as well) from the executive director of the Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiad. According to the director, Henry Ong, the question was in fact for older "Secondary 3" students, or the equivalent of ninth grade here in the U.S. Ong also admitted that it was "a difficult question meant to sift out the better students." Logical puzzles like this are common in Singapore. The country's math curriculum, which has a strong focus on logic-based problem solving, has been so successful that it's been adopted around the world, including in the U.S. According to the latest report from the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)—an exam designed to measure the math, reading, and science proficiency of 15-year-olds globally—Singapore's math competency essentially outshines that of the rest of the world: Singapore scores highest in the PISA 2012 assessment of problem solving, with 562 points on the PISA proficiency scale. Only Korea has a similarly high score. Singapore also has the highest number of top-performing students in problem solving: 29 percent of students reach proficiency Level 5 or 6 (the OECD average is 11 percent). So what makes Singapore so good at a subject with which America's students have routinely struggled? Singapore's math instruction focuses heavily on mastery over rote memorization. Math students on the small island nation perform well because they understand the material deeply—not because they are studying for a specific test. Thus, they react well when "curveballs" are thrown at them in the form of confusing math questions. Furthermore, the instruction of "Singapore Math"—as it's dubbed in the U.S. —uses a "layered" approach aimed at facilitating comprehension. Students digest the subject in stages, from the concrete to the pictorial and eventually to the abstract. This leads to conceptual understanding rather than numerical regurgitation: It's not just about getting the correct answer, but also about explaining one's thought processes. U.S. students have made strides in math proficiency in recent years, but they still lag behind many of their peers internationally, falling at the middle of the pack in global rankings. In the same PISA report the U.S. placed 35th out of 64 countries in math. And even though the "Cheryl's Birthday" question may be atypical of the average Singaporean classroom, perhaps it's still worth asking: Are you smarter than a (Singaporean) 10th-grader? http://believeafrica.net/primary-singaporean-math-question-that-went-viral-p567-108.htm
|
| Politics › 12 Christians From Nigeria & Ghana Thrown Into Sea By Muslim Migrants by shift15(op): 3:04am On Apr 17, 2015 |
Twelve Nigerian and Ghanaian Christian trying to cross to Italy have been thrown overboard by fellow Muslim migrants following a disagreement on religious ground, Italian Police said. The police have arrested 15 Muslim migrants after they allegedly threw 12 Christians overboard following a fight on a boat heading to Italy. The Christian migrants, who are from Ghana and Nigeria, are all feared dead. The migrants involved in the row with Christians were arrested in the Sicilian city of Palermo and charged with "multiple aggravated murder motivated by religious hate". The suspects, who are from the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali and Guinea, were among 105 migrants travelling in an inflatable boat that left Libya on Tuesday. Eyewitnesses told police how the altercation resulted in Christians being thrown overboard, and that some of the survivors had formed human chains to avoid a similar fate. In a separate incident, more than 40 people drowned after another migrant boat sank between Libya and Italy. Italian navy could only rescue four survivors - a Ghanaian, two Nigerians, and a man from Niger - from the sea. They said their inflatable boat had sunk after leaving Libya with 45 people on board. The four survivors were taken to Sicily along with 600 other migrants trying to make the crossing in various vessels. Earlier on Thursday Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said Italy had "not had an adequate response from the EU" about the migrant crisis. http://believeafrica.net/christians-from-nigeria-ghana-thrown-into-sea-by-muslim-migrants-ital-p563-105.htm |
| Politics › Jonathan Supporters Planned To Kidnap Jega - Reuters by shift15(op): 3:30pm On Apr 16, 2015 |
(Reuters) - As Muhammadu Buhari closed in on Nigeria's presidency, an aide to election commission chairman Attahiru Jega sent a text message to an independent voting monitor, warning of an imminent threat to the electoral process.— Reuters http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/04/16/uk-nigeria-election-exclusive-idUKKBN0N71KO20150416 5 Likes 5 Shares |
| Politics › Boko Haram: Bad Weather Stops Us From Taking Over Sambisa Forest- NSA by shift15(op): 4:07pm On Apr 15, 2015 |
Nigerian troops will storm what it said was the last remaining Boko Haram stronghold before the handover of power to incoming president Muhammadu Buhari, National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki Rtd said Tuesday. "If not for the bad weather, we would have taken over that forest by now. But we are determined to ensure the Sambisa Forest is liberated and freed before the handover on May 29, God willing," he said. It was believed that most of the 219 schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram from Chibok, also in the northeastern state of Borno a year ago, were being held in the forest. The military said last year that it knew where they were, but ruled out a rescue operation because of the dangers to the hostages. There have since been several claims of the girls' whereabouts, including that they had been split up and sent to different Boko Haram strongholds and even taken to Cameroon and Chad. "A lot of surveillance flights have been undertaken to identify where these girls can be located," Dasuki said, without giving further details. Efforts were ongoing to rescue all the girls before President Goodluck Jonathan hands over power on May 29 to Buhari, Dasuki said in a statement. Nigeria's military, backed by Niger and Chad with support from Cameroon, have in recent months recaptured a string of Boko Haram-controlled towns in the restive northeast. The operations were used as a pretext to postpone February 14 elections by six weeks. Dasuki said at the time that most of the camps would be destroyed before the rescheduled date of March 28. Jonathan's handling of the six-year insurgency and response to the abduction of the Chibok girls was seen as a factor in his defeat to Buhari, a former army general who was military ruler of Nigeria in the 1980s. http://believeafrica.net/boko-haram-bad-weather-stops-us-from-taking-over-sambisa-forest-nsa-sambo-p550-114.htm |
| Politics › Re: Breaking News: Sen. Marco Rubio Declares Interest In White House by shift15(op): 11:50pm On Apr 13, 2015 |
This Marco Rubio guy may be very tough and mouthed. See how he took a jab at Hillary. "Just yesterday, we heard from a leader from yesterday who wants to take us back to yesterday, but I feel that this country has always been about tomorrow," |
| Politics › Re: Breaking News: Sen. Marco Rubio Declares Interest In White House by shift15(op): 11:39pm On Apr 13, 2015 |
The guy is a smooth talker and a newbie like Obama when he contested in 2008. But I am ready for Hillary.... |
| Politics › Breaking News: Sen. Marco Rubio Declares Interest In White House by shift15(op): 11:27pm On Apr 13, 2015 |
| Politics › Xenophobia: South Africans Attack African Immigrants, 4 Killed by shift15(op): 11:55am On Apr 13, 2015 |
Four people were killed and shops owned by immigrants in South African townships in the coastal city of Durban looted and burnt, police said on Monday, as violence between residents and foreign nationals escalated. Those killed include an Ethiopian, whose shop was petrol bombed last week, an African immigrant whose nationality was not immediately known and two South Africans, police spokesman Thulani Zwane said. Hundreds of people fled their homes after the violence broke out two weeks ago, while police said 28 people have been arrested for looting and torching immigrants' shops. "We received reports that some of the shops belonging to foreign nationals were looted and some of them were burnt down overnight," Zwane said. South Africa, with a population of about 50 million, is home to an estimated 5 million immigrants. Some politicians and residents say some of the immigrants are in the country illegally and accused them of committing crimes and taking over local shops and jobs. Some foreign nationals say they are legally in the country, running businesses to provide services for the residents. South Africa's unemployment stood at 24 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014, according to government data. President Jacob Zuma on Sunday called for an end to the violence and directed the police and the home affairs ministers to work with local officials to stop the violence and enforce laws to curb the growth of illegal trading and unlicensed shops. "We reiterate that there can be no justification for attacking foreign nationals," Zuma said in a statement. "Those who are in the country illegally should be reported to the police and they will be returned to their countries of origin in a lawful manner." In 2008, more than 60 foreigners were killed in violence that analysts believe had its roots in tensions over a lack of jobs. South African unemployment is around 25 percent and youth joblessness is nearer to 40 percent. http://believeafrica.net/xenophobia-south-africans-attack-african-immigrants-killed-p531-1.htm |
| Celebrities › Re: See Jennifer Lopez Dress That Created Google Image Search by shift15(op): 8:09am On Apr 12, 2015 |
 |
| Politics › Re: Security Agent Kills Thug Trying To Snatch Ballot Box In Jos by shift15(m): 5:29pm On Apr 11, 2015 |
Alxmyr:This is unprofessional. Rather than this extra-judicial killing he should have been arrested. |
| Politics › Hillary Clinton Launches Presidential Bid On Sunday In Iowa by shift15(op): 8:36am On Apr 10, 2015 |
Hillary Clinton is planning to officially launch her US presidential campaign on Sunday while en route to Iowa, a source familiar with the campaign has confirmed to the Guardian. The former secretary of state is scheduled to declare her second run for president on Twitter at noon eastern time on Sunday, the source told the Guardian, followed by a video and email announcement, then a series of conference calls mapping out a blitzkrieg tour beginning in Iowa and looking ahead to more early primary states. Clinton’s Sunday schedule is booked beginning with takeoff from New York to Iowa, where speculation has centered for weeks that Clinton was focusing attention for an April campaign launch. Her scheduled calls are with advisers in other key battleground states. Clinton’s spokesman, Nick Merrill, did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the contours of Clinton’s campaign kickoff schedule. Another source close to the Clinton campaign confirmed Clinton would be in Iowa in the coming days. Clinton will be the first Democratic presidential candidate to declare for the 2016 presidential election, and is widely considered the frontrunner within the party. Former Senator Jim Webb has launched an exploratory committee, as have several Republican contenders. But Clinton’s declaration of her second run for the White House was expected to send political shockwaves across the world, with the potential for the first female president of the United States. But Iowa, where Clinton finished third behind Barack Obama and former Senator John Edward in the early caucus in 2008, has been seen as a potential weak spot for a campaign juggernaut. A poll released on Thursday by Quinnipiac University showed Kentucky senator Rand Paul, who launched his presidential campaign on Tuesday, leading Clinton by 1 percentage point. (Paul and Webb will also be in Iowa on Friday; Senator Ted Cruz, who announced last week, was there on Thursday.) Clinton has been quietly building a ground operation in Iowa, with a number of staff hires in Iowa including Matt Paul, a longtime aide to secretary of agriculture Tom Vilsack, to run Clinton’s operation, as well as veteran Iowa operative Brenda Kole as political director and DNC deputy communications director Lily Adams. It is understood that Clinton’s campaign headquarters will be based in Brooklyn, New York, following reports last week that office space had been leased in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. Under federal election rules, candidates have a limited window to pay for offices and staffers without declaring their candidacy. On Sunday, while travelling from New York to Iowa, Clinton will declare first not with a speech but on her Twitter account, where she has kept an active presence on political issues. One day later, Florida senator Marco Rubio is expected to announce his candidacy in Miami – almost certain to be overshadowed by Clinton’s tour of Iowa and beyond. http://believeafrica.net/update-hillary-clinton-launches-presidential-bid-on-sunday-in-iowa-p512-122.htm |
| Celebrities › See Jennifer Lopez Dress That Created Google Image Search by shift15(op): 7:24am On Apr 10, 2015*. Modified: 8:00am On Apr 10, 2015 |
Long before Kim Kardashian was breaking the internet Jennifer Lopez was making the internet. Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt has revealed that the headline-grabbing, sheer, plunging Versace dress that the singer wore to the 2000 Grammy Awards was the impetus behind the creation of Google Images. "When Google was launched, people were amazed that they were able to find out about almost anything by typing just a few words into a computer," he explains in an article for "So our co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin - like all other successful inventors - kept iterating. They started with images. After all, people wanted more than just text. This first became apparent after the 2000 Grammy Awards, where Jennifer Lopez wore a green dress that, well, caught the world's attention. At the time, it was the most popular search query we had ever seen. But we had no surefire way of getting users exactly what they wanted: J¬Lo wearing that dress. Google Image Search was born." But the dress wasn't just a landmark in the development of the internet, it was also a significant moment for designer Donatella Versace, who, at the time, was struggling to find her feet as the fashion house's lead designer following the murder of her brother, Gianni Versace, in 1997. "It was an unexpected success," she told the Canadian Press. "The next day she [Jennifer Lopez] was everywhere and people were talking about her in that dress. It was one of those moments like the one that Gianni [Versace] had with Elizabeth Hurley and clothes-pins." For Lopez too the attention was unexpected, with the singer later telling People magazine: "It didn't seem that out there to me. It was a good-looking dress. I had no idea it was going to be such a big deal." http://believeafrica.net/how-jennifer-lopez-grammy-dress-created-google-image-search-and-launch-p511-108.htm
|
| Politics › 'remove Sanctions Or No Deal' - Iranian President Threatens by shift15(op): 1:26pm On Apr 09, 2015 |
Iran will only sign a final nuclear deal if economic sanctions against the nation are removed on the first day of its implementation, Iran's President said Thursday. Six world powers and Iran reached a preliminary deal last week that aims to limit the latter's nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. The United States, however, has stressed that if a final deal is reached with Iran, the removal of any sanctions will come in phases. Negotiators from the United States, Iran, China, Germany, France, Britain and Russia have until June 30 to come up with a final deal. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his government would not surrender to bullying, sanctions and threats, according to Press TV. "We will not sign any deal unless on the very first day of its implementation all economic sanctions against Iran are lifted all at once," he said at a ceremony to mark National Nuclear Technology Day in Tehran. U.S. President Barack Obama faces an uphill battle selling the deal to a skeptical Congress, which has threatened to impose new sanctions on Iran. The No. 3 House Republican leader said a bill to ease any sanctions does not stand a chance in the House or Senate. "The sanctions that were put in place -- again, very bipartisan sanctions passed by Congress years ago that were effective -- the only way to get rid of them completely would be for Congress to vote to ease those sanctions," Louisiana GOP Rep. Steve Scalise said in a radio interview with WWL in New Orleans on Wednesday. "We haven't had that vote. I don't see that passing out of the House. I don't even think it would pass out of the Senate right now." Diplomats announced last week that they'd come up with the framework for an agreement after a marathon stretch of late-night negotiations in Lausanne, Switzerland. The framework includes the easing of U.S. and U.N. sanctions on Iran if it takes certain steps to curb its nuclear program. The game plan Iran would reduce its stockpile of low-enriched uranium by 98% and significantly scale back its number of installed centrifuges, according to the plan. In exchange, the United States and the European Union would lift sanctions that have crippled the country's economy. "It is a good deal, a deal that meets our core objectives," Obama said at the time. "This framework would cut off every pathway that Iran could take to develop a nuclear weapon." It would include strict verification measures to make sure Iran complies, he said. The United States and Iran have a long history of strained relations, which made the negotiations even more significant. Just two years ago, the two countries hadn't talked with each other officially in nearly four decades. http://believeafrica.net/remove-sanctions-or-no-deal-iranian-president-threatens-p505-105.htm |
| Politics › We Are Humbled By March 28th Defeat- Pdp Chair by shift15(op): 2:23pm On Apr 08, 2015 |
The chairman of the outgoing ruling party in Nigeria, Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, has admitted that the result of the March 28th election has taught the party a vital lesson of humility. He however assured Nigerians that the party will rebuild itself and bounce back to take over leadership of the country in the nearest future. In a tweet released by him earlier today, Adamu Muazu, who is popularly called 'the game changer' by the outgoing president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan said, ‘we have learnt some useful lessons with the March 28th elections and (we) want to assure Nigerians, you will see a new PDP. ‘We are humbled by 28thMarch decision of many Nigerians and promise never again to let you down. We will reform our party’ It will be recalled that Adamu was brought into the position of the party chairman to stabilize the crisis ridden PDP following the defection of five governors under on its platform to All Progressive Congress, APC. The defection, analysts say, was the last straw that breaks PDP’s camel back. Adamu, however, thanked Nigerians for supporting the party. ‘Thank you for your support to our party over the years. We will still need a strong oppoisition to keep the new government in check’, he tweeted. http://believeafrica.net/we-are-humbled-by-march-th-defeat-pdp-chair-p496-114.htm |
| Politics › South Africa Authority Stops Girl From Joining Islamic State by shift15(op): 8:30am On Apr 08, 2015 |
South African authorities have arrested a teenage girl, who was planning to leave the country with the intention of joining the ranks of the ISIL Takfiri militant group in Syria. The unnamed 15-year-old girl was intercepted at Cape Town Airport on Sunday, according to a Tuesday report published by the local English-language newspaper, The Star. The report added that the teenager was found in the business class section of a British Airways flight for Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport. The girl had reportedly been planning to fly to Turkey before travelling by road to join ISIL in Syria. Relatives and friends noted that she had become increasingly politicized in the past month. The teenager’s family initially alerted the police upon realizing that the girl had disappeared. The police then informed intelligence officials, who later notified Minister of State Security David Mahlobo. "We alerted officials at all airports immediately. If we had not been notified in time, she would have left the country. I have spoken to her father and grandfather, who are relieved that she has been found,” Mahlobo said, adding, "We can confirm that she was planning to leave the country with the intention of joining ISIL, and had been actively engaged with social media networks.” The young girl has been released back into the care of her family after being questioned. South Africa’s State Security Ministry said in a statement that it is investigating whether the ISIL has a recruitment network in the country. ISIL has been recruiting female teens from around the world to join its ranks in Syria and Iraq through an online campaign. Female ISIL recruiters use social media forums such as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The Takfiri terrorist group, with members from several Western countries including Canada, France and Germany, controls parts of Syria and Iraq, and has been carrying out horrific acts of violence such as public decapitations and crucifixions against all communities such as Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians. http://believeafrica.net/south-africa-authority-stops-girl-from-joining-islamic-state-p493-1.htm 1 Like |
| Politics › Breaking: 7 Dies In Us Plane Crash by shift15(op): 11:11pm On Apr 07, 2015*. Modified: 11:58pm On Apr 07, 2015 |
Seven people -- including Illinois State University associate men's basketball coach Torrey Ward and deputy athletic director Aaron Leetch -- died when their small plane crashed while heading back from the NCAA tournament final. The aircraft went down overnight Monday about 2 miles east of the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, McLean County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Bill Tate said. That's about 5 miles from the campus of Illinois State, where Ward and Leetch both worked. It was not immediately known who else was on the aircraft. The plane was coming back from the NCAA Final Four championship game in Indianapolis, according to Illinois State athletics spokesman John Twork. "The ISU community is reeling from the loss," Twork said. The last post from a Twitter account that purportedly belongs to Ward features pictures from Lucas Oil Stadium, where Duke beat Wisconsin in the title game. There's also a picture of a small plane with the words, "My ride to the game wasn't bad #indy2015f4." In a statement, Illinois State University President Larry Dietz remembered Ward and Leetch as "well-respected and much-loved colleagues in our athletics department" in the crash near Bloomington. "Words cannot fully express the grief that is felt in the wake of such a tragedy," Dietz said. "We move between shock and profound sadness." A standout player at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in his hometown between 1996 and 2000, Ward played professionally in China alongside Yao Ming before getting into coaching. He was part of the staffs at Jacksonsville State University, the University of Mississippi and, for one year, in China before coming to Illinois State as an assistant prior to the 2012 season. He was promoted to associate head coach in May 2014, according to his official bio. Coming from Arkansas State University, Leetch joined ISU in 2005 as an athletic director for development before assuming a number of other roles through 2011, his bio notes. Leetch left the Illinois school to serve as director of athletics at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, then came back in June 2013 as ISU's deputy director of athletics. He was in charge of the Redbirds' athletics communications and video production units, and had a hands-on role in its football, men's basketball, golf and baseball programs. Athletic Director Larry Lyons described Leetch as "a shining star in the business," while lauding Ward as "a talented coach and recruiter" with a big personality who was loved by fans. "There is no play in the playbook for times like these," Lyons said. "We will miss Aaron and Torrey deeply, and we will support their families in any way that we can." — CNN http://believeafrica.net/breaking-dies-in-us-plane-crash-p488-105.htm |
| Politics › Re: This Dress Caused South African Lawmaker Trouble: What Is Wrong With The Dress? by shift15(op): 10:58pm On Apr 07, 2015 |
harizonal123:Lol |
| Politics › Tinubu Draws Buhari Transition Team List by shift15(op): 9:05am On Apr 06, 2015 |
After a private meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, the President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari may have constitute its transition team which will consist of politicians and private sector players. Buhari’s transition team, which is expected to be announced soon is expected to commence work with the presidency after the governorship and state assembly elections to ensure will focus on the smooth handover from the Jonathan administration to his administration to ensure continuity in governance. Indication however emerged that the National leader of APC, Alhaji Bola Tinubu has drawn up the list of the transition team. A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said he was aware that Buhari wants a good mix of politicians and private sector players as members, and would likely review the list of members already drawn up by former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Tinubu. "I can tell you with certainty that the president-elect’s transition committee will comprise politicians and private sector members. "We are also aware that Tinubu has drawn up a list on who he would like to see on the committee, but Buhari is likely to review the list,” he said. The APC chieftain further disclosed that when the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation was set up in December, Tinubu appointed all the directors on the team until it was changed. "You would recall that we had the likes of Dele Alake, a Tinubu loyalist, appointed as Communications Director and what have you, but he was dropped for Garba Shehu a few weeks later,” he said. On Tinubu’s expectations on the transition committee and key ministerial posts in Buhari’s cabinet, the source who is of northern origin, said people close to Buhari are aware that Tinubu has zeroed in on who should be appointed to the Finance, Petroleum and Justices Ministries, among others, but would be hugely disappointed. "We are aware that he wants to recommend the Deputy Managing Director of Oando Plc, Mr. Mofe Boyo, as Minister of Petroleum Resources; his former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Edu, as Minister of Finance; and someone else for the Ministry of Justice. "But it is not clear what the final decision will be, as Buhari, though reticent and tends to keep things close to his chest, has to find the right balance between meeting the expectations of Tinubu, the five governors who defected from the PDP to APC, and members of Buhari’s team who have been with him during his 12-year quest for the presidency,” he revealed. The source also confirmed that since Buhari’s victory at the presidential election, his residence in Abuja has been besieged by hundreds of well wishers and those seeking political appointments. "They have been dropping their CVs with him. I am sure he has probably received over a thousand of them. But that is the nature of Nigerian politics,” he said. However the President elect has been warned by close associates from the North against yielding too much to Tinubu’s demands, even though the latter was the prime mover behind the merger talks that led to the emergence of a virile opposition in the form of APC. Their argument is that Buhari has already conceded the vice-presidential slot to Tinubu, and so the former Lagos governor should make his demands reasonable. It was learnt that if the realignment of northern forces behind Buhari are not handled with tact, cracks are likely to emerge in the APC sooner rather than later. http://believeafrica.net/tinubu-draws-buhari-transition-team-list-p468-114.htm |
| Politics › Kenya Govt Offers $125,000 For Mastermind Of Garissa Attack by shift15(op): 5:23pm On Apr 05, 2015 |
Sunday, April 05, 2015 The Kenyan government is calling Mohamed Mohamud, also known by aliases Dulyadin and Gamadhere, the mastermind of last Thursday's Kenya university terror attack, according to a tweet from the country's Interior Ministry. The ministry has posted a "Most Wanted" notice for Mohamud in connection with the attack. It offers a reward of 20 million Kenyan shillings, which is about $215,000. "We appeal to anyone with any info on #Gamadhere to share with relevant authorities and security agencies," the Interior Ministry posted on Twitter. Also Sunday, Kenya's Interior Ministry identified one of the terrorists involved in the Garissa University College attack as Abdirahim Abdullahi. Abdullahi's father, Abdullahi Daqare, a government chief in Mandera in northern Kenya, told reporters that his son is missing. Daqare is a Kenyan Somali, he said. His son graduated in 2013 from Nairobi University law school and worked for a bank for two months before he went missing, Daqare said in a phone interview. "I have received reports from people who found information (on) the Internet that my son was one of the terrorists," Daqare said. "I previously told the government that the son is missing. I sought their help to find the whereabouts of my son." He added that the two had not been in contact his the son disappeared. Daqare said he had "really given up on him." On Sunday, families of some of the more than 147 people slain at Garissa University College left a mortuary in Nairobi, Kenya, after identifying the bodies of their loved ones. One woman almost had to be carried out. "Why? Why? Where are you, my children?" she wailed. Horrific stories of survival and tales of massive loss continue to emerge. To survive Al-Shabaab militants blazing through her dorm, shooting and killing classmates, 19-year-old Cynthia Cheroitich went into a closet, covering herself with clothes. Her two roommates hid under their beds. The gunmen called them out. "(The gunmen) told them if you don't know to read to them in the Muslim word, whatever, and then you lie down," Cheroitich said. "And then, if you know, you go to the other side." The teenager didn't see what happened next. She heard it. "They were shooting everywhere," she said. "I didn't want to open my eyes." For the next two days, Cheroitich didn't budge. Unable to get to water, she hydrated by drinking body lotion. When police went into her room -- well after the carnage was done, with 147 dead at the school -- she didn't believe them. Only a visit by the head of the university convinced her that, finally, it was safe to come out. "I was scared so much," she recalled. Al-Shabaab threatens 'another bloodbath' in Kenya Garissa is a town about 90 miles from the Somali border. Al-Shabaab is based in Somalia, but it hasn't confined its terrorism to the lawless nation. In 2013 militants attacked Nairobi's upscale Westgate Mall. Saturday, the terrorist group warned that more carnage is coming, as it promised "another bloodbath" in Kenya. The threat drew a sharp response from Nathif Jama Adam, the governor of Garissa County. "The fallacy and satanic mindset of Al-Shabaab is that in Somalia, they kill Muslims and Somalis," Adam said. "They cross the border here and then say they are killing non-Muslims. That is a tricky way of doing business." He said the militants were "bent on nothing but destruction" and aimed to sow division between Muslims and non-Muslims. "But that is something we need to fight," Adam said. Police in Garissa on Saturday paraded the bodies of men they said had carried out the attack. The corpses -- locked in a macabre embrace and partially wrapped in an orange tarp -- were piled on the back of a pickup truck and driven to a primary school soccer pitch for viewing. A large crowd gathered, despite the baking sun and foul stench. The truck drove up next to the onlookers, so that they could inspect the bodies. Anger seethed in the crowd. Presidents blasts Kenyans who help Al-Shabaab Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta also had some harsh words Saturday for Al-Shabaab, as well as those who supported them. In a nationally televised speech, Kenyatta said the nation's fight against terrorism "has been made all the more difficult by the fact that the planners and the financiers of this brutality are deeply embedded in our communities and were seen previously as ordinary, harmless people." Kenyatta condemned "corruption of the worst and most criminal kind (when) Kenyans ... finance, hide and recruit on behalf of Al-Shabaab." "There is no form of legal penalty, social shaming and godly condemnation that they do not deserve, to the fullest extent," the President said. Describing Al-Shabaab as an "existential threat to our republic," Kenyatta urged his fellow Kenyans to "tell those that believe a caliphate is possible in Kenya that we are one indivisible, sovereign and democratic state." "That fight will never change," he added. "Our forefathers bled and died for this nation. And we will do everything to defend our way of life." Kenyatta declared three days of national mourning for the victims of the attack. http://believeafrica.net/kenya-govt-offers-for-mastermind-of-garissa-attack-p460-1.htm |
| Politics › Re: This Dress Caused South African Lawmaker Trouble: What Is Wrong With The Dress? by shift15(op): 4:22pm On Apr 05, 2015 |
penquin:Na night church you dey go? |
