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Showing posts from April 19, 2016

Egypt protest after tea vendor 'killed by police'

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Hundreds of people have taken to the streets of Egypt's capital, Cairo, to protest after a tea vendor was allegedly shot dead by police. The unrest erupted after a policeman allegedly killed the man and wounded two others during an argument over the price of a cup of tea. The policeman has been arrested and the case referred to prosecutors. Video footage showed angry protesters overturning a police vehicle while chanting "the police are thugs". Egypt has seen a series of allegations of police brutality in recent months, stoking public anger. The interior ministry said that Tuesday's incident in the eastern suburb of Rehab began with an argument over the price of a cup of tea between several policeman and a street vendor. One policeman opened fire, killing the vendor and wounding two passersby, it added. Photographs showed what appeared to be a man lying still on the floor, covered in blood, surrounded by angry onlookers. Witnesses said the protest

Naira sells at N322 to dollar at parallel market

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The Naira on Monday, traded at N322 to a dollar at the parallel market in Lagos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the currency was stable in the previous week, maintaining value of between N315 and N320 to a dollar. However, the naira traded at N450 and N360 for Pound Sterling and the Euro respectively, at the day’s transaction. The naira also maintained N197 at the official Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rate. Traders at the parallel market said that the proposed currency swap deal between Nigeria and China would shore up the value of the naira when implemented.

China's latest enemy: child stars

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Crackdown on popular reality shows featuring stars’ children, amid concerns over the growth of celebrity culture China  is banning the children of famous entertainers from appearing on hugely popular reality shows, as the country continues efforts to prevent the manufacture of child stars. The ban by the government’s media regulator also covers appearances by the stars’ children on chatshows and reports about them on entertainment programmes, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Monday. Reality shows featuring attractive stars and their well-dressed, fashionably coiffed and often somewhat precocious children travelling or performing tasks together have grown extremely popular with Chinese viewers. However, apparently concerned with the growth of celebrity culture, the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and  Television  ordered in July that producers of the dozens of reality shows on satellite channels cut back on appearances by minors and curt

Africa Returns to the Markets

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This is a guest post by  Allen Grane , research associate for the Council on Foreign Relations Africa Studies program. In early April, South Africa issued its first sovereign bond in over two years. The ten-year,  $1.25 billion bond  was oversubscribed by a factor of two. This is the first international bond issued by a sub-Saharan African nation in 2016. It is likely to be followed by Kenyan, Nigerian, and Ghanaian issuances. The past two years were the most active in the history of sub-Saharan Africa’s sovereign bond issuances. But, due to the state of international markets in 2016, the price of issuing bonds has been too high (near and above 10 percent) for most African countries. These sub-Saharan countries are now trying to take advantage of an  upswing in emerging markets , translating to potentially cheaper issuances. Because these ‘cheaper issuances’ are still high comparative to current U.S. rates, there is significant interest in sub-Saharan markets. South Africa t

Syria conflict: Air strikes on Idlib markets 'kill dozens'

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At least 44 people have been killed and dozens hurt in Syrian government air strikes on markets in two rebel-held towns in Idlib province, activists say. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 37 died in Maarat al-Numan and another seven in nearby Kafranbel. The death toll was expected to rise as many of the injured were in a serious condition, the monitoring group added. Escalating violence in the north-west in recent days has left a seven-week truce on the verge of collapse. Earlier, the head of the main Syrian opposition umbrella group said it had suspended formal participation in UN-led peace talks in Geneva in protest at alleged government violations. Riad Hijab declared that the High Negotiations Committee could not take part while people were dying. The process, he said, was only increasing their suffering. On Monday, 10 rebel groups announced they had begun a new "battle" in response to what they said was a surge in attacks on residential areas an

Race for Latest Class of Nuclear Arms Threatens to Revive Cold War

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The United States,  Russia  and  China  are now aggressively pursuing a new generation of smaller, less destructive  nuclear weapons . The buildups threaten to revive a Cold War-era arms race and unsettle the balance of destructive force among nations that has kept the nuclear peace for more than a half-century. It is, in large measure, an old dynamic playing out in new form as an economically declining Russia, a rising China and an uncertain United States resume their one-upmanship. American officials largely blame the Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, saying his intransigence has stymied efforts to build on a 2010 arms control treaty and further shrink the arsenals of the two largest nuclear powers. Some blame the Chinese, who are looking for a technological edge to keep the United States at bay. And some blame the United States itself for speeding ahead with a nuclear “modernization” that, in the name of improving safety and reliability, risks throwing fuel on the fire.

Houston flooding: Texas declares city a 'disaster zone' after five killed in historic floods

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Houston has been declared “a disaster zone” following the deaths of five people amid historic flooding and record rainfall. More rain and flash flooding is expected in texas after 17.6 inches (44.7cm) of rain fell on one day alone, after 16 inches of rain the previous day. The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has declared a state of emergency as 70,000 people in Houston, the fourth-largest city in the US, have been left without electricity. At least one person who died was found submerged in their car. Flooding has stemmed from rivers and creeks bursting their banks. Rising water has submerged homes and vehicles, forcing people to swim or take boats to safety. At least 1,000 homes have flooded, and temporary evacuation centers have been set up in a large shopping centre. Officials have warned children not to play in water that is likely to contain snakes and ants. “Do not think the city is not seeing you,” Mayor Sylvester Turner told residents in Greenspoint, a

Yoruba actress, Bimbo Thomas reportedly pregnant

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Nollywood actress,  Bimbo Thomas  is reportedly pregnant with her fist child. The Omo Ghetto actress, according to sources is super excited about the prospect of becoming a mother. Though, the identity of the father of her unborn child is yet to be confirmed as she has kept every detail concerning the pregnancy under wraps, it is believed that her U.S-based lover is responsible for it. We reached out to her but she refused to comment on the development saying, ‘I don’t want to say anything about that.’ Nikky as she’s fondly called (a moniker she got on the heels of her role in Omo Ghetto) was spotted last at Monalisa Chinda’s traditional wedding. The University of Lagos Theatre Arts graduate, who currently runs a liquor store on Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos is said to have shelved the public launching of her clothing store in Yaba, Lagos so as to keep prying eyes away from her fresh pregnancy.

Scientists create 'E-skin' that will 'turn humans into walking smartphones'

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 help to monitor your health and heart rate The protective layer of synthetic skin is placed over the skin on the human body and can be used to detect potential health issues. Scientists in Japan have created an amazing 'electronic skin' which is set to turn humans into walking  smartphones  . The incredible invention will track heart rate and a person's general health - and could leave current exercise and fitness apps irrelevant. Researchers in Japan who have developed the 'smart skin' say it could be used in the future to monitor blood oxygen levels, heart rate and the body's overall performance. Scientists from the University of Tokyo have described the e-skin as a "ultra-thin, ultra-flexible, protective layers." And the premise is simple. Read more:   Phones to replace cash in 9 years - the dangers of contactless payments You place the thin film of electronic skin over your own body and it keeps an eye on your heart rate, as

Saraki faces day-to-day trial, as protesters besiege CC

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ABUJA – The Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, sitting in Abuja has ordered a day-to-day hearing on the 13-count criminal charge pending against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. Justice Danladi Umar who made the order shortly before he stood down the matter for hearing by 12noon today, based the decision on provisions of sections 376 and 315 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, 2015. “Let me state it here for both the prosecution and the defence that the trial of the defendant shall proceed on a day-to-day basis till the conclusion of this matter and it will begin from 10am to 6pm”, Justice Umar held. However, the Judge said the court would on each day of the trial, go on break at 1pm and 4pm. Meanwhile, the case was stood-down following the absence of the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, who was said to be handling another matter at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal. Consequently, a lawyer that held brief for Jacobs, Mr. Gabriel Esegin

Land Use Charge: Lagos Moves to Seal Properties of Defaulters

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The Lagos State Government has said that it will not hesitate to seal the properties of residents who default in paying their Land Use Charge (LUC), saying that it may explore the option of prosecuting defaulters according to the Law. The state Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Mustapha Akinkunmi said this on Monday, adding that the government has put in place a variety of payment options which include paying at the bank or the nearest Land Use Charge offices to residents using cash or POS or payment online through credit or debit cards. However, Akinkunmi apologised for the delay in the distribution of the bills this year as he attributed the hiccups to the cleaning up previous data to enable a more robust clearer data sets. He noted that despite the delay in the delivery of the bills, tax payers are still entitled to the usual 15 percent discounted rate if payment is made within 15 days of bill delivery, while others who pay outside the 15 days grace not exceeding 30 calendar days w

Spurs are ready to hunt down Leicester, says Harry Kane

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"We think we can do it, otherwise there's not much point being involved," he said. "Leicester are still in the driving seat being five points ahead but there are four games left and we've reduced the gap. That's all we could have done.This is our dream, to win the title," he said. "Always we try. You must never give up. You can feel every day this season from the beginning was special." "The most important thing is that the performance we showed was perfect," said Pochettino. "It was a big signal that we are there waiting and fighting." Stoke boss Mark Hughes praised a "very impressive" Tottenham, describing them as stronger, faster and more powerful than his team. "Sometimes you have to give credit to the opposition," he added. "They are quick and sharp and have got that edge that chasing major trophies gives you.

I am "impeachable"- Fayose

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Oil prices tumble after Doha talks collapse

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Oil prices tumbled yesterday after a meeting of major exporters in Qatar collapsed without an agreement to freeze output. Brent crude futures fell almost seven per cent in early trading yesterday before recovering to $40.97 per barrel, still down 2.15 per cent since their last settlement. Traders said only an oil worker strike in Kuwait had prevented Brent from tumbling below $40 per barrel, while a cut in U.S. drilling down to 2009 levels had prevented steeper falls there. Also, benchmark U.S. crude futures were down more than five per cent at $38.31 a barrel. Goldman Sachs said the Doha no-deal could result in a “bearish catalyst” for U.S. crude prices, which it forecast would average $35 a barrel in the current quarter. Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has assured that despite the stalemate on crude oil production freeze, the Organisati

Death toll tops 200 in cross-border Ethiopia raid

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ADDIS ABABA, April 18 — More than 200 people were killed and over 100 children abducted by armed men from South Sudan in a cross-border raid into Ethiopia, the country’s leader said. Ethiopian officials blame Murle tribesmen from South Sudan for a series of deadly attacks on Ethiopian villages in the western Gambella region on Friday. “The atrocities committed by an armed Murle tribe from South Sudan claimed the lives of 208,” Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said on state television yesterday evening, increasing the death toll from an earlier estimate of 140. Hailemariam said “mothers and children” were among the dead and, “they also abducted 102 children.” The foreign ministry said over 2,000 livestock were also stolen. The Murle, a tribe from South Sudan based in the eastern Jonglei region close to the Ethiopian border, often stage raids to steal cattle and abduct children but rarely on such a large or deadly scale. “There had been abduction of children and raiding of ca

Xenophobia hits Zambia following accusations of ritual killings

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Foreign business owners in Zambia's capital Lusaka are counting their loses as they were attacked on Monday following accusations that immigrants have been involved in ritual killings. A statement by the Police spokesperson Charity Munganga-Chanda confirmed that some people looted shops belonging to Rwandese nationals after word went round that some people found human body parts in one of the shops belonging to a Rwandan national. She added that a total of four shops had been broken into and officers were trying to stop looting. “More officers in full riot gear have been deployed in the area,” she told a local daily. At least six people have been killed in Lusaka in the past month with body parts including ears, hearts and genitals that had been removed, raising suspicion of ritual killings. Zambia’s president Edgar Lungu said that police had arrested four people over the killings.