Saturday, 16 August 2014

BEYONCE DONE WITH JAY-Z



Beyonce & Jay-Z‘s On The Run ends soon, and speculation is that the couple’s marriage ends with it.

According to Us Weekly, Bey is already making moves towards a separation once the concert ends.

According to the magazine, Beyonce is “done” after the tour’s stop in Paris, France.

The solidity of the couple’s marriage had been called into question ever seen the emergence of the video of the elevator scuffle between Hov and Solange Knowles.

The couple even reportedly stayed in different places during their tour stops in New York and L.A.

Could this be the end of Beyonce and Jay-Z?

AFRICAN ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2014: NIGERIA COMES SECOND

 Nigeria Comes Second As South Africa Wins Tops Table



The gold medal in the female 4x100m relay race was not enough to push Nigeria ahead of South Africa in the medals table of the 2014 African Athletics Championship.

South Africa finished tops instead with ten gold, five silver and four bronze medals, while Nigeria finished second with eight gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals.

Kenya completed the top 3 with 7 gold, 8 silver and 10 bronze medals.

Congratulations to Team Nigeria!

'AFRICAN MINERALS' APPOINTS NEW CEO


African Minerals names new CEO


REUTERS

 Under the agreement with Chinese steelmaker Shandong, the company will gain immediate access to $284 million for its sole project, Tonkolili in Sierra Leone - money that had been earmarked for the second phase of the project's expansion.

London - Sierra Leone-focused iron ore miner African Minerals has named a new chief executive officer and obtained access to $248 million in cash through an agreement with Chinese partner Shandong Iron and Steel Group (Shandong).

Access to the funding will give African Minerals some breathing space as it grapples with lower iron ore prices and the Ebola crisis in West Africa, which have put pressure on its finances.

Its shares have lost about 90 percent of their value this year.

Under the agreement with Chinese steelmaker Shandong, the company will gain immediate access to $284 million for its sole project, Tonkolili in Sierra Leone - money that had been earmarked for the second phase of the project's expansion.

African Minerals has a 75 percent stake in Tonkolili, and Shandong holds the remaining 25 percent.

“Both shareholders have agreed to access the funds in the Hong Kong joint project account... not only for construction capital, but also for general working capital purposes, with immediate effect,” African Minerals said on Friday.

In agreeing to allow access to the funds, however, Shandong requested some changes in management. In response, African Minerals announced the appointment of Alan Watling as its new chief executive after the resignation Bernard Pryor.

The Chinese steel mill also requested that the project's financial and operational management be separated from that of African Minerals, effectively increasing its influence over the project.

“The last few weeks have thrown up a perfect storm of low iron ore prices and heightened concern over the serious Ebola virus disease ... the second quarter has seen our received price fall, putting pressure on our working capital requirement,” Roger Liddell, an African Minerals director, said in a statement.

“With immediate funding secured ... we expect that the operations will continue to grow to their potential.”

Shandong, which has an offtake agreement with Tonkolili, has also made a claim that African Minerals had offered better pricing terms to other Chinese steelmakers, which goes against a clause in its offtake agreement.

African Minerals said it was working with Shandong to agree on the amount, the timing and method of a payment to repair this issue, if required.

The mining company, whose debt amounted to $391 million as of end-March, also said it was looking to refinance an expensive $250 million loan.

“The company continues to evaluate opportunities regarding an optimum capital structure over the medium to longer term,” it said in the statement. “The new management will also be reviewing and putting in place an appropriate longer-term structure and funding for African Minerals.” - Reuters

WOLRD MOVES TO CUT OFF WEST AFRICA AS EBOLA PANIC INCREASES




Millions of ordinary Africans, facing panicky quarantine orders and cancelled flights, are beginning to pay a heavy price for the world’s alarmist myths about the Ebola crisis.

Far from the centre of the Ebola outbreak, airlines and governments are imposing restrictions on African travellers, ignoring the advice of medical experts. Korean Air Lines became the latest example on Thursday, suspending all of its flights to Kenya, a country that doesn’t have a single Ebola case and is located 5,000 kilometres from the danger zone.

Other fear-based reactions are multiplying. Nigerian athletes were placed into quarantine at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in China, prompting them to quit in protest. Ghana is proposing a ban on all “public gatherings.” Zambia is banning entry to anyone from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria, the four West African nations where Ebola is present. British Airways and Emirates have suspended flights to some West African cities, and Ivory Coast is blocking ship cargo to the three hardest-hit countries, raising fears of food and fuel shortages.

The heavy-handed travel bans are provoking sharp criticism from experts at the World Health Organization and Médecins sans frontières (Doctors Without Borders). The flight cancellations are an overreaction that could make the situation worse, hindering the efforts to help Ebola-affected regions, the WHO says.

“WHO disappointed when airlines stop flying to West Africa,” the organization said in a tweet on Thursday. “Hard to save lives if we & other health workers cannot get in.”

Stephen Cornish, executive director of MSF Canada, said the suspension of African flights will heighten the risks of Ebola spreading to other countries, since it will become more difficult to send medical and epidemiological specialists to the Ebola zone.

“We should not be cutting off the affected countries’ lifelines in a misguided effort at home society protection,” he said in an e-mail. “The oversensationalism and hype around Ebola has not helped the public’s understanding of how the disease is spread.”

Some of the panic is due to fears that Ebola could spread by air travel, as it did in one case already, when a Liberian with the Ebola virus flew to Lagos and died there, infecting several other people. But the risk of Ebola transmission during air travel “remains low,” the WHO said in a statement on Thursday.

Unlike influenza or tuberculosis, Ebola is not airborne and can only be transmitted by direct contact with the body fluids of someone who is sick with the disease. “On the small chance that someone on the plane is sick with Ebola, the likelihood of other passengers and crew having contact with their body fluids is even smaller,” the WHO said.

“Usually when someone is sick with Ebola, they are so unwell that they cannot travel. WHO is therefore advising against travel bans to and from affected countries.”

The global health organization is bracing for more panic and fear. “In the coming days there will be rumours all over the world,” WHO senior official Isabelle Nuttall told a briefing in Geneva on Thursday.

The travel restrictions aren’t just hampering the medical response to Ebola. They could also damage the economies of many African nations, scaring away investors and damaging trade.

Economic analysts are already warning that the Ebola crisis could slow the growth rates in the three worst-affected countries by up to 2 percentage points. Some farmers have abandoned their fields, cross-border markets have been shut down and several major mining companies have scaled back their operations or postponed expansion plans.

The Ebola crisis could also create shortages of food, fuel and other supplies because the nearest big port, Abidjan in Ivory Coast, has announced a ban on all ships from the Ebola-affected countries. Some media in Liberia are calling it an “economic blockade.” The country’s authorities have said they are worried that rice importers could be heavily affected by the ban, a Liberian newspaper reported on Thursday.

Liberia and Sierra Leone are especially vulnerable to the economic impact of the Ebola crisis, including the damage to trade and air travel, because they are still recovering from devastating civil wars that ended barely a decade ago.

STILL WORLDS APART DUE TO RACISM

Urban communities remain divided along racial lines. Can that be changed


DRIVING through South Africa can be like taking a disheartening trip back in time. Twenty years after introducing full democracy, the racist geography of the apartheid era is stubbornly unchanged.

Most towns start with a collection of shacks, or perhaps rows of tiny matchbox houses, inevitably inhabited by blacks. A swathe of wasteland follows and then, further along, comes the town proper. Between the two, black people walk through fields or along roads—there are no proper pavements—or sometimes pile in and out of dilapidated minibus taxis en route from home to work. The effects of the Group Areas Act, which physically pushed non-whites to the margins of towns in 1950—at a distance, yet close enough to provide cheap labour—are still evident.

In sprawling Johannesburg, the biggest city in South Africa and its economic heartland, government officials are trying to break down this “spatial apartheid”. City planners have embarked on an ambitious project to “restitch” Johannesburg, aiming to narrow the great distances between the black majority’s homes and their places of work. Getting communities to live side by side with each other will be no easy task. Income inequality and fear of violent crime have the effect of keeping races apart. Government efforts to provide electricity, water and housing to the poor have had the unintended consequence of strengthening apartheid geography by encouraging people to stay put. But the scheme can still make a big difference to people’s lives.

The flagship project in Johannesburg is a stylish pedestrian bridge that will link Alexandra township, where Nelson Mandela once lived and where the slum-like conditions haven’t changed much since, with Sandton, the city’s wealthiest suburb, where a statue of Mr Mandela is dwarfed by upscale shopping malls. These two areas are close as the crow flies, but cut off from each other by the country’s busiest highway. The bridge should have great practical benefits. According to a traffic study, at least 10,000 people walk between Alexandra and Sandton every day. Construction is expected to start next month.

Johannesburg’s “Corridors of Freedom” plan also includes a major expansion of the city’s bus network and dedicated walking and cycling paths, linking areas slated for “mixed-use” (ie, residential and commercial) development. Low-income workers typically spend many hours and big chunks (often up to 20%) of their salaries on transport.

The mayor, Parks Tau, speaks of “a comprehensive transformation of our spatial destiny and a break from our apartheid past.” The city’s promotional material has a more pragmatic promise: “Gone will be the days of being forced to rise at dawn to catch a train, bus or taxi to a place of work.” Some residents in neighbourhoods along the planned corridors have complained of a lack of consultation from the city, and are fearful that crime may worsen as the masses pass by. But these changes are long overdue. A more efficient, people-friendly Johannesburg will be a far better city.

DIVERGENT'S SHAILENE WOODLEY ON KATE WINSLETT, GOERGE CLOONEY AND CELEBRITY CULTURE

‘George Clooney makes me cry,’ says Divergent star Shailene Woodley.
Shailene Woodley is poised to be the next Jennifer Lawrence or Kristen Stewart with her role in teen flick Divergent. She talks about her love for George Clooney and Kate Winslett and why she never wants to be a celebrity.

Is this the next Jennifer Lawrence? Shailene Woodley in Divergent

Shailene Woodley is not your typical movie star.

Despite starring in the new Divergent film franchise, which is tipped to be the next Hunger Games or Twilight, she definitely isn’t in it for the fame.

“I hate when people casually say ‘star’ and ‘celebrity’, those words are like puke in my mouth,” she says.

She finds the thought of being as famous as Jennifer Lawrence or Kristen Stewart “intimidating” and loves her “low-key” life.


She made her big-screen debut in George Clooney’s indie family drama, The Descendants, and reserves the accolade of being a star for her real heroes, like Mr. Clooney.

" I could cry even talking about him.

“As an actor and someone in the public eye, he has a platform and he has taken all that responsibility and more to try and change things in the world.

“He’s the dude who sleeps in Africa and has had malaria multiple times because he’s out there literally stopping wars.

“That’s what makes him a star: not only is he a good actor but he accepts the responsibility and he’s not selfish.”

Where would a teen flick be without a tortured love affair? Theo James plays the obligatory hunk

Even so, she is excited about her role in the latest teen series about a dystopian future (what else?) where humanity has been divided into groups according to personality traits.

Based on the books by Veronica Roth it's thoughtful stuff, but Woodley admits she was mainly drawn to the feistiness of her “badass” character, Tris.

She even learned to let go of her indie sensibilities.

“One day, I had some cheesy action-film line like, ‘You’re mine now’ and I said, ‘That’s crazy, Tris would never say that.’

“And [co-star] Zoe Kravitz said, ‘Shai, you’re making an action film now. Sometimes it’s fun to just do things that don’t make sense in real life.’

“So then it sort of clicked and I was like, Zoe’s right, this isn’t an indie film, it’s a big blockbuster.”

WATCH DIVERGENT MOVIE TRAILER (2014)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sutgWjz10sM

CHRISTIAN SINGERS DARLENE ZSCHECH, ISREAL HOUGHTON AND ELEVATION WORSHIP SONG SETS




Have you ever wondered what songs Darlene Zschech or Israel Houghton or Elevation Worship would sing when they lead worship in their local churches? Despite releasing high profiled worship albums and touring across the globe in helping the church at large worship, many of these worship artists are also local church leaders. On their blogs, websites and facebooks, Darlene Zschech, Israel Houghton, and Elevation Worship have shared with us their Sunday worship song list.

Darlene Zschech, who has fronted many of Hillsong Live's Worship albums, has a recent bout with breast cancer. As a result, she has removed herself from the platform since her operation last December. After months of chemotherapy and radiation, Zschech is back in church leading worship. Recently, on her blog, she has revealed the songs she has included in her worship song set.

Writing on her own blog, Zschech reveals: "For those interested, we sang.. 'Alive in Us' (Hillsong), 'Build Your Kingdom' (Rend Collective.. the BEST and FUN song!!), 'In Jesus Name' (Israel Houghton and myself) 'Hands to the Heavens' (Kari Jobe), 'Your Name /Cry of the Broken' (Paul Baloche and myself) 'It is Well' (Bethel Music).. and heaven visited. It was magnificent. Then, we sang 'Sovereign Over Us' (Michael W Smith). There were a few others woven throughout but those were the main songs for the night."

Israel Houghton, a close friend and producer of Zschech, is the worship leader at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church. Lakewood Church houses US's largest congregation with over 43,500 worshippers attending each Sunday. Houghton has earned two gold-selling albums, eleven Dove Awards, two Stellar Awards, a Soul Train Award, and four Grammy® Awards-for "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album" for The Power of One, "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album" for A Deeper Level, "Best Traditional Gospel Album" for Alive In South Africa, and "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album" for Love God, Love People.

Some time ago on Facebook, Houghton reveals his set list of worship songs he has had led in church. The songs include: "Endless Light" (Israel Houghton & New Breed), "God is Here" (Darlene Zschech), "One Thing Remains" (Jesus Culture), "Jesus at the Center" (Israel Houghton & New Breed), "Greater" (Elevation Worship), and "We are the Free" (Israel Houghton & New Breed).

Elevation Worship is the worship band of Elevation Church. Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, is an Interdenominational multi-site church pastored by Steven Furtick. From 2007 through 2010, Elevation was consistently cited by Outreach Magazine as one of the Top 100 fastest growing churches in the United States.

The band has released three independent studio albums. "We Are Alive" was released in 2008, "God With Us" in 2009 and "Kingdom Come" in 2010. "Kingdom Come" was the band's first album to breakthrough on the Billboard charts, and this was done on No. 5 on Heatseekers, No. 42 on Independent Albums and at No. 17 on the Christian Albums chart.The band signed with Essential Records sometime in 2011. "For the Honor" was released on November 21, 2011 on Essential, which it saw chart success on Billboard. Earlier this year, they just released their brand new album "Only King Forever."

Posted on their website, they have listed their song set from week to week. On one Sunday, here are the songs they have chosen: "Look How He Lifted Me" (Elevation Worship). "God's Great Dance Floor" (Martin Smith, Chris Tomlin), "Jesus Forever" (Elevation Worship), "Great And Mighty King" (Elevation Worshi), and "Jesus I Come" (Elevation Worship).

What is encouraging to see is that many of these worship leaders are not only singing their own soongs in their local settings, but they are also willing to exposed their own congregations to a larger portfolio of song writers and artists.

What is your church's worship song set?

CHRISTIAN RETAILER STOPS SALES OF PASTOR'S BOOK

Christian Retailer Halts Sales Of Celebrity Pastor's Book

i


This undated photo provided by Crossway Books shows Mark Driscoll. Driscoll, pastor of Seattle's Mars Hill Church, invites his audience members to hit him with tough questions by way of text message. On Sunday evenings, after his last service, Driscoll answers the inquiries in real time on YouTube.Crossway Books/AP

The daily lowdown on books, publishing, and the occasional author behaving badly.
A major Christian retailer has suspended sales of celebrity pastor Mark Driscoll's book 'A Call to Resurgence'. On Friday, LifeWay Christian Resources pulled the book from its website and stores while it "asses[es] developments regarding his ministry", LifeWay spokesman Marty King wrote in an email to NPR. Driscoll, a controversial evangelical pastor, is accused of plagiarizing sections of the book and artificially inflating his book sales by bulk-buying copies. Driscoll apologized in both instances, calling the "improper citation" an error that was "unintentional, but serious" and the inflated book sales "wrong." LifeWay's decision to halt sales comes shortly after Driscoll was asked to step down from the Acts29 Network of churches. "It is our conviction that the nature of the accusations against Mark, most of which have been confirmed by him, make it untenable and unhelpful to keep Mark and [his church] Mars Hill in our network," Acts29 wrote in a statement. A representative for Mars Hill did not responded to a request for comment.
For the New York Review of Books, Tim Parks writes, "What no one wants to accept — and no doubt there is an element of class prejudice at work here too — is that there are many ways to live a full, responsible, and even wise life that do not pass through reading literary fiction. And that consequently those of us who do pursue this habit, who feel that it enriches and illuminates us, are not in possession of an essential tool for self-realization or the key to protecting civilization from decadence and collapse. We are just a bunch of folks who for reasons of history and social conditioning have been blessed with a wonderful pursuit."

Slate has an adapted excerpt of a new book by the book jacket designer Peter Mendelsund, who describes the slipperiness of the mental images we form while reading: "If I said to you, 'Describe Anna Karenina,' perhaps you'd mention her beauty. If you were reading closely, you'd mention her 'thick lashes,' her weight, or maybe even her little downy mustache (yes — it's there). But what does Anna Karenina look like? You may feel intimately acquainted with a character, but this doesn't mean you are actually picturing a person. Nothing so fixed — nothing so choate. ... Even if an author excels at physical description, we are left with shambling concoctions of stray body parts and random detail. We fill in gaps. We shade them in. We gloss over them. We elide. Our mental sketches of characters are worse than police composites."
For McSweeney's, Arabella Anderson imagines summer bikini tips written by Anne Sexton:

"I have tried them all,

The cotton, the nylon,

absorbing water, rolling in sand,

sticky flakes of broken glass.

We all drown in the end."

DEMI LOVATO REVEALS WHY SHE UNFOLLOWED EX-BFF SELENA GOMEZ ON TWITTER





Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez were thick as thieves earlier this year, but fans were left wondering what made Demi Lovato to unfollow former BFF on twitter./

The 21-year-old appeared on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live on Thursday alongside Jessica Alba, where she took part in Plead the Fifth.

WWHL host Andy Cohen first asked if Demi would sleep with Justin Bieber. Ok, not directly – but near enough.


Demi Lovato has cleared things up about Selena Gomez
“Shag, Marry, Kill: Joe Jonas, Justin Bieber, Simon Cowell.”

To which Demi replied: "I'd kill Bieber. I'd kill Simon. F--k, I'd kill Joe, too!"

But the star then added: No, Joe and I are good friends, so I wouldn't kill him. I'd keep him around."


Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato shared a dinner together at 'Craigs' Restaurant in January

Sin City: A Dame to Kill For star Alba cheekily asked: “Who would you shag?”

And Demi was very adamant it would be “none”.

We’re with you on that one Demi!

After being quizzed on her “most scandalous” moments behind the scenes with her fellow Disney stars, to which Demi refused to answer, she then was questioned about her relationship with Selena Gomez.

Selena and Demi starred in 'Princess Protection Program' in 2009

Cohen said: "You recently unfollowed your BFF Selena Gomez on Twitter. So much speculation about this! Can you tell us why?"

After a little squirming, and Cohen suggesting that perhaps fans had been speculating too much, she said:

"I think it's just one of those things where people change and people grow apart.”

TV MOGUL-SIMON DISPLAYS SAGGY JAWLINE ON EVENING OUT WITH LAUREN SILVERMAN

He can afford all the Botox money can buy.But it seems even powerful TV moguls like Simon Cowell cannot defy gravity forever.
The 53-year-old showed off a remarkably saggy jawline on a date with partner Lauren Silverman, 37. The pair, parents to six-month-old Eric, enjoyed an evening together at Cipriani restaurant in Ibiza. Cowell is relaxing before the next series of the X Factor starts at the end of the month. He has returned to the judging panel – alongside Cheryl Fernandez-Versini, Mel B and Louis Walsh - for the first time since 2010, when he left to concentrate on the American version instead. Cowell has always denied having cosmetic surgery, but has been remarkably candid about use of wrinkle-busting Botox injections to keep his complexion smooth.He once compared the process to brushing his teeth, confessing: "Of course I have had it. I mean, for me, it's like cleaning my teeth, you know? Something makes your teeth whiter or something stops you having lines". He added: "I think you've got to be very careful as a guy, in particular, that you can end up looking really, really weird".

Cowell and Mrs Silverman are believed to have struck up a relationship two years ago after her marriage to millionaire casino owner Andrew Silverman collapsed. Mr Silverman filed for divorce shortly before news of her pregnancy was made public in August last year and her son Eric was born in February.

Cowell’s company Syco Entertainment is now working on a remake of the classic 1930s cartoon Betty Boop. He said: "Betty is an icon, a diva and one of the biggest stars in the world - I'm thrilled to be working with her. Betty, I hope you're going to be a good girl".

EAST ENDERS ACTRESS JACQUELINE JOSSA AND TOWIE STAR DAN OSBORNE ARE EXPECTING A BABY

East Enders actress Jacqueline Jossa has announced she's expecting a child with The Only Way is Essex star Dan Osborne. Confirming the news through their spokesperson, the couple say in a statement: "We're thrilled by our news". The announcement comes just eight months after Dan welcomed his son Teddy in December.

TV couple Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne have announced they are expecting their first child together He adds: "Becoming a father has been the most amazing thing to ever happen to me. I can't believe I'm going to be dad again - I'm truly blessed". A representative for EastEnders has also congratulated the mum-to-be, saying: "Everyone at EastEnders is thrilled for Jacqueline".

The couple has been on/off for the last year, but 21-year-old Jacqueline confirmed their romance had resumed in June when she posted a cosy picture of them cuddling on her Instagram page.

BOKO HARAM SUSPECTED TO HAVE ABDUCTED 50 VILLAGERS

Residents of a Nigerian village on the shore of Lake Chad say at least 50 residents are missing after a raid by suspected Boko Haram militants. A witness told the BBC that 26 people were also killed during the raid on the village of Doron Baga on Sunday. The remote region has poor communication links, meaning news of the raid took days to emerge. Nigeria has been plagued by attacks by the Boko Haram Islamist group in recent years, particularly in the north-east.In April, Boko Haram caused global outrage by abducting more than 200 girls from their boarding school in the remote down of Chibok in Borno state.

It is not yet clear how many people were seized during the attack. Some of the villagers tried to fight the attackers off, but they were unable to stop the raid, a villager elder told the BBC's Hausa service. "The militants then burnt down some houses and rounded up a group of 50 people", he said. "They were mainly women but also included some boys and girls", he added.Other survivors say young men were also taken possibly to be turned into Boko Haram fighters. Witnesses from the village also told reporters about the attack after reaching the state capital of Maiduguri. The Nigerian military has not commented on the attack yet.

CRISIS IN UKRAINE

Ukraine crisis: Russia assures US on aid convoy

"We saw a dozen light tanks speeding past... in the direction of the border... earlier military hardware had even been spotted crossing into Ukraine", reports Steve RosenbergRussia's defence secretary has assured his US counterpart that there are no military personnel in its controversial aid convoy for Ukraine, the US says.It said Sergey Shoygu told Chuck Hagel the convoy was not being used as a pretext to intervene further .The convoy, which aims to aid eastern Ukrainian cities held by pro-Russian rebels, is still stalled at the border.Earlier Russia denied Ukraine's claims that a column of Russian armoured vehicles had crossed the border.

'Will take some time'

The Pentagon said Mr Hagel had sought clarification on the convoy.It said: "Minister Shoygu 'guaranteed' that there were no Russian military personnel involved in the humanitarian convoy, nor was the convoy to be used as a pretext to further intervene in Ukraine." It said: "Minister Shoygu assured Secretary Hagel that Russia was meeting Ukraine's conditions."Russian armoured vehicles were being deployed close to the convoy outside Kamensk-ShakhtinskyBut Russia insists the convoy itself has no military personnelUkraine insists on a full inspection. Its border guards have arrived at the convoy but have not yet cleared it to pass. The BBC's Steve Rosenberg, who has been following the convoy, says some of the lorries were opened up for the media on Friday, and the main thing that struck him was how empty many of the vehicles were.The ICRC's Head of Operations for Europe and Central Asia, Laurent Corbaz, said: "The agreement... foresees that the trucks will be checked by the customs officers of Ukraine on Russian territory and then be allowed inside Ukraine with ICRC people accompanying the convoy and then unload somewhere in Luhansk and go back to Russia, empty."He said that given the size of the cargo and the security constraints, "implementation is likely to take some time", not in one week and possibly "much longer".Russia complained on Friday about Ukrainian operations in the area. The Russian foreign ministry said: "We draw attention to the sharp intensification of military action by Ukrainian forces with the apparent aim to stop the path, agreed on with Kiev, of a humanitarian convoy across the Russia-Ukraine border."

'Fantasy'

Ukraine in turn said it had partially destroyed an armoured column that had crossed from Russia overnight on Thursday.The alleged incursion was witnessed by two UK newspaper reporters.Russia's defence ministry said the incursion reports were "some kind of fantasy".Ukrainian servicemen guard a checkpoint outside DonetskIt said: "There was no Russian military column that crossed the Russian-Ukrainian border either at night or during the day."The incident prompted sharp words from Nato and the UK.Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said: "We see a continuous flow of weapons and fighters from Russia into eastern Ukraine, and it is a clear demonstration of continued Russian involvement in [its] destabilisation."A museum after shell damage in DonetskThe UK Foreign Office summoned Russian Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko to explain.EU foreign ministers meeting in Brusselsissued a statement saying: "Any unilateral military actions on the part of the Russian Federation in Ukraine under any pretext, including humanitarian, will be considered by the European Union as a blatant violation of international law."Russia's government has consistently denied directly arming or training the rebels.However German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call on Friday to "put an end to the flow of military goods, military advisers and armed personnel over the border".The conflict in Ukraine's east, which has claimed more than 2,000 lives, has intensified in recent weeks.The violence began in April when pro-Russian rebels seized government buildings and tried to declare independence.The Ukrainian military launched an operation to retake the region and stepped up its activities in June.

                                -Source: BBC News

Thursday, 14 August 2014

ALIKO DANGOTE DONATES N150MILLION TO FIGHT EBOLA IN NIGERIA

Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote has donated
N150million to help in the fight of the spread of the
Ebola virus in Nigeria.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote
Foundation, Mrs Adhiambo Odaga announced this at
a media briefing at the Ministry of Health, Abuja on
Monday. She said the money will be available for the
establishment of an Ebola emergency operation
centre in Lagos.
“After bilateral discussion with the honourable
minister and his team, Dangote foundation has
funded the establishment of the Ebola emergency
operation in Lagos, that is being done through
grant from the foundation of just a little over
N150 million,” she said. Continue...
"The strategy that our chairman is deploying is
the strategy to respond and to commend
government for the effort, and to show that all
Nigerians are concerned. We will continue to
discuss with the ministry about what additional
support can be offered.
“And we also have been approached by several
parties who are interested in partnering with the
government, and we would continue that
discussion.”
Odaga relayed Dangote’s call to all Nigerians to join
the federal government in the fight against Ebola,
expressing optimism that the disease would be
contained.
“The choice of the emergency operation centre as
an investment for Dangote Foundation is based
on the fact that is the critical platform through
which the government is coordinating all that is
happening to ensure that the crisis is contained,”
she added.

I HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO COMPETE WITH WHAT WIZKID, DAVIDO - LACE

Singer and ‘Sebi Wo’ crooner Taiwo Agbohunsa
popularly known as Lace has said that he has what it
takes to compete favourably with Wizkid and Davido.
The singer who has been sevarally commended as
talented by industry stakeholders has an album titled
‘ Benin 2 Nigeria’, and is signed on to Dozage Records.
Lace recently released video of a new single, ‘Turn by
Turn.’ Continue...
In an exclusive interview with www.iCampusng.com,
Lace said “the sky is big enough for everybody; you
ask if I can compete at the same level with Wizkid and
Davido, I say yes! I am talented, creative and original.
I have over 80 recorded songs and I doubt if any of
them have such a rich repertoire of songs. I am a fan
of both acts and a personal friend to Olamide. My
songs speak for themselves. I make good music and I
now have quality people working with me. From now
on, you will be hearing a lot about me and my
music.”
Lace has worked with big names in the industry like,
Olamide, Phenom & renowned female producer DJ
Toxic.

Wednesday, 13 August 2014

FACTS ABOUT MEN

1. Men like to barbecue. Men will cook if danger is involved.

2. If you buy your husband or boyfriend a video camera, for the first few weeks he has it, lock the door when you go to the bathroom. Most of their early films end with a scream and a flush.

3. Marrying a divorced man is ecologically responsible. In a world where there are more women than men, it pays to recycle.

4. Men are very confident people. They are so confident that when they watches sports on television, they think that if they concentrate they could help their team. If the team is in trouble, they coach the players from the living room.

5. Men like phones with lots of buttons. It makes them feel important.

6. Men love to be the first to read the newspaper in the morning. Not being the first is upsetting to their psyches.

7. The way a man looks at himself in a mirror will tell you if he can ever care about anyone else.

8. Don't try to teach men how to do anything in public. They can learn in private; in public they have to know.

9. Men love watches with multiple functions.

10. All men hate to hear "We need to talk about our relationship." These seven words strike fear in the heart of even General Schwarzkopf.

11. Men are sensitive in strange ways. If a man has built a fire and the last log does not burn, he will take it personally.

12. Men have higher body temperatures than women. If your heating goes out in winter, I recommend sleeping next to a man. Men are like portable heaters that snore.

13. Women take clothing much more seriously than men. I've never seen a man walk into a party and say "Oh, my God, I'm so embarrassed; get me out of here. There's another man wearing a black tuxedo."

14. Unfaithful men have lower IQs, according to a scientific study.

15. A survey found stated that men spend almost a year starring at women.

16. Half of all women who died from homicide were killed by their current or former husbands or partners.

17. Men lie 6 times a day, twice as often as women.

18. Men don't put your laptops on your laps when its hot, it may cause infertility.

19. In his lifetime, a man spend almost six months shaving.

20. Men with attractive wives report higher level of satisfaction with their marriage, study shows.

21. A 99-year-old man divorced his 96-year-old wife because of an affair she had in the 1940s.

22. smoking can lead to impotence in men.

23. Men were the first to wear heels around the 1600s. Women began wearing them to look more masculine.

 

EBOLA: CANADA OFFERS 1000 DOSE OF EXPERIMENTAL VACCINE TO AFRICA

The Canadian Public Health Agency has offered to release 1000 dose of a made-in-Canada experimental Ebola virus vaccine known as VSV-EBOV which has never been tested on humans but has shown to be effective in the treatment of the disease in animals.


In a statement released yesterday August 12th, the Canadian Health Minister Rona Ambrose said the World Health Organization's Director general, Margaret Chan, has approved of the donation.


The Minister also revealed that Canada will be donating $185,000 to the World Health Organization for the prevention and control of the deadly virus in Africa. Canada has only 1500 of the experimental vaccine and would be sending 1000 of it to Africa. Continue...





"I was pleased to offer the experimental vaccine developed by Canadian researchers as a global resource to help fight this outbreak," she said, adding that between 800 and 1,000 doses would be donated to the WHO.

The Minister in the statement added that "Canada feels this experimental vaccine is a global resource, so in response we are sharing it with the international community, while keeping a small supply in Canada."


The news comes hours after the World Health Organization said a panel of experts advised that it would be ethical to use untested drugs and vaccines in this raging epidemic, which is several times larger than any previous outbreak.

UTAH TEEN KILLED BY TRUCK WHILE SUNBATHING IN DRIVEWAY

 A 15-year-old Utah girl died after being run over by a pickup truck while she lay sunbathing in the driveway of their home, police said on Monday.


Marli Hamblin, a cheerleader from Syracuse, Utah, who had recently made her high school's squad, was listening to music through her headphones and likely did not notice when her older sister began to reverse the Chevrolet truck towards her, Syracuse police and the family's Facebook page said.

The sister told investigators that she did not spot her sibling as she backed out of the home's garage, police spokeswoman Erin Behm said. She is not being charged in the incident, which police have ruled accidental, Behm said.

Hamblin, who suffered brain damage, died in a local hospital on Sunday.

A Facebook page set up by the girl's family to raise funds for hospital bills, announced late on Sunday that Hamblin had died after being treated for head trauma.

"Our precious Marli is home with her heavenly father," a post on the page said. "Please continue prayers of comfort for this family during this time."

The page includes several photos of a smiling Hamblin, who was blonde and tan.

The girl's grandfather, Ron Hamblin, told local Fox news-affiliate that Hamblin's sister was emotionally distraught over the incident, but the family pushing was through.

"We've been very fortunate over the years to not have any tragic problems, and this is the first," Ron Hamblin said.

Syracuse is about 30 miles north of Salt Lake City.

WOMEN FACTS



#1. Every 90 seconds one woman dies of childbirth or pregnancy





#2. Women speak about 20,000 words a day. That's 13,000 more than the average man.


#3. The smell of newborn babies excites women in the same way an addict craving for drugs enjoys his fix, according to scientists



#4. Women in ancient Rome wore the sweat of Gladiators to improve their beauty and complexion.

#5. The average woman in the UK owns 19 pairs of shoes, but wears only 7.


#6. In Russia there are 9 million more women than men


#7. 40% of births in the US come from unmarried women


#8. Women spend nearly one year of their lives deciding what to wear.


#9. Women cry on average between 30 and 64 times a year, while men cry between 6 and 17 times.


#10. Men lie on an average of 6 times a day twice as much as women.


#11. The youngest girl to ever be divorced was 10 years old.


#12. Men were the first to wear high heels around the 1600s. Women began wearing them to look more masculine.
.
#13. Isreal is the only country in the world to draft women into military service.


#14. Instead of chest pains,heart attacks in women have nausea, indigestion, and shoulder aches.


#15. 4% of the women in U.S are pregnant right now


#16. Women's heart beat quicker than men's.


#17. The woman who underwent the world's first successful womb transplant became pregnant in 2013.


#18. Women spend over 4 years [in total] of their lives menstruating.


#19. Women who snore during pregnancy are more likely to give birth to smaller babies, according to a study.


#20. some women can have genetic mutation which causes them to see millions of more colours.


#21. 30% of pregnant women crave for non-food items, an eating disorder called Pica.


#22. The most children born to one woman is 69. WOW!


#23. Women have more taste buds than men.

RICK ROSS: WALE, MEEK MILL BEEF WAS A MISUNDERSTANDING



Meek Mill's beef with Wale was a "misunderstanding" according to Rick Ross. In an interview withBullet, The Bawse spoke about the social media squabble between his two MMG artists and how he stepped in to resolve the situation.

Meek went at Wale first on Twitter, and Ross interjected immediately. "As soon as the tweets went out, I spoke to both them on the phone," said Rozay. "Those two guys, they're brothers. At the end of the day, they're brothers and it's time to turn up right now. It's time for all of us to turn up and stay turned up, you know what I mean? But it's all love between those two and everybody knows that."
It didn't take long for Ross to get through to them either. After Wale responded to Meek on Instagram, they both went silent on the subject. "That's why you seen whatever was said, the little brotherly jabs and then that was it," he pointed out. "That's all you're going to see."
Settling their difference was about reminding Wale and Meek that MMG is a family unit. "They're two real dudes, two successful dudes, and we all came from the same place", Ross continued. "When I first brought them on the the team, we all drove to our first video set together. It was just us three and I felt we all was at the bottom at the time. You know, Wale was in his new situation, Meek in his first situation, and me in my very first situation being a CEO, being a boss with my own label deal. So we all was on the same flow, and once we mention that, it's all good."
Now that the fight is behind them, MMG's concern is supporting Meek while he's behind bars. The 27-year-old Philly rapper was sentenced to three to six months late last week for probation violation.

UNTESTED DRUGS CAN BE USED TO TREAT EBOLA VIRUS, SAYS THE WHO


Ethical to use untested Ebola drugs, says WHO

The outbreak has killed over 1,000 people
Untested drugs can be used to treat patients infected with the Ebola virus, the World Health Organization says.

The WHO said it was ethical in light of the scale of the outbreak and high number of deaths - more than 1,000 people have died in West Africa.

The statement was made after its medical experts met in Switzerland on Monday to discuss the issue.

But officials have warned that there were very limited supplies of potential treatments.

Dr Marie-Paule Kieny from the WHO said that there has been "unanimous agreement" among experts

The WHO said that where experimental treatments are used there must be informed consent and the results of the treatment collected and shared.

In a statement, it said: "In the particular circumstances of this outbreak, and provided certain conditions are met, the panel reached consensus that it is ethical to offer unproven interventions with as yet unknown efficacy and adverse effects, as potential treatment or prevention."

But the organisation conceded that there were still a lot of questions to be answered including how data could be gathered effectively while the focus remained on providing good medical care.

It was also unclear where the funding for the treatment would come from.

Last week the WHO declared the Ebola outbreak was a global health emergency.


The move came as Liberia said it was getting an experimental drug, Zmapp, after requests to the US government.

But the WHO said there were only 12 doses.

Zmapp has been used on two US aid workers who have shown signs of improvement, although it is not certain what role the medication played in this.

A Roman Catholic priest, infected with Ebola in Liberia, who died after returning home to Spain is also thought to have been given the drug.

However, the drug has only been tested on monkeys and has not yet been evaluated for safety in humans.

What drugs exist currently ?
There a handful of drugs that have been shown to work well in animals.

One is Zmapp - the drug requested by the Liberian government. This contains a cocktail of antibodies that attack proteins on the surface of the virus.

Only one drug has moved onto early safety testing in humans. Known as TKM-Ebola this interrupts the genetic code of the virus and prevents it from making disease causing proteins.

The drug was trialled in healthy volunteers at the beginning of 2014 but the American medicines regulator asked for further safety information. The manufacturer says human studies may soon resume.

Another option would be to use serum from individuals who have survived the virus - this is a part of the blood that may contain particles able to neutralise the virus.

Vaccines to protect against acquiring the disease have also been shown to work in primates. American authorities are considering fast-tracking their development and say they could be in use in 2016. Trials are likely to start soon according to the WHO.

But experts warn ultimately the only way to be sure a drug or vaccine is effective is to see if it works in countries affected by Ebola.

There is no cure for Ebola, which has infected at least 1,779 people since the outbreak was first reported in Guinea in February.

'Hard place'
The Liberian government said it was aware of the risks associated with Zmapp, but the alternative was to allow many more people to die.

"The alternative for not testing this is death, a certain death," Information Minister Lewis Brown told the BBC.

"This is not even the rock and the hard place for us.

"We think those who have been infected should be given the chance to have that tested on them if they give their consent to do so.

"We know there may be risks associated with it," the minister added, "but choosing a risk and choosing dying I am sure many would prefer to see that risk happen".

Ebola's initial flu-like symptoms can lead to external haemorrhaging from areas like eyes and gums, and internal bleeding which can lead to organ failure. Patients have a better chance of survival if they receive early treatment.

Ebola virus disease (EVD)
Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage
Fatality rate can reach 90% - but the current outbreak is about 55%
Incubation period is two to 21 days
There is no vaccine or cure
Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery
Fruit bats are considered to be virus' natural host

                                                                                                                          -Source: BBC News

Tuesday, 12 August 2014

BEYONCE TURNS TO GWYNETH FOR MARRIAGE ADVICE


When Beyonce turned to Gwyneth for marriage advice


 IMAGINARY FRIENDS: Beyonce and Gwyneth

If you care about Beyonce even a little bit, you would probably realise that things are pretty tough for her and Jay right now. You might think to yourself, "Look, I dunno Bey, like PERSONALLY? But I DO know how I'D FEEL if everyone keeps talking about how sh-tty my marriage is and some basic b--ch raps about it (badly) and ends up going viral."

You would be right if you got your empathy on. And you might have your own nuggets of wisdom to share. The only roadblock is, instead of talking the whole thing out with Bey, you can alsoa leave your legit marriage advice at the comments section of every internet story -- hoping that somehow, the universe will deliver the message to its rightful recipient.

It's cool.

But while we are all trying to reach out to Bey in our own way, somewhere out there, (in Southern California, to be exact) someone is actually counselling her through this. That person, of course, is Gwyneth Paltrow.

According to celebrity blog Hollywood Life, the 32-year-old singer is "hiding out" at her BFF's house during her On The Run tour, and has been "leaning on Gwyneth for support and advice on how to best handle her rocky relationship with Jay Z."

But hey, why listen to "anonymous sources" from gossip sites when you can simply IMAGINE how the conversation would've played out? This is exactly what Vanity Fair writer Josh Duboff did and the result is glorious.

Here is a snippet of the imagined conversation for your enjoyment. In fact, it is so shockingly vivid that you'll feel as if you have witness the whole thing yourself:

SCENE: Beyoncé visits Gwyneth Paltrow's house in California.

Gwyneth greets Beyoncé with a glass. "Drink this. It's eel-infused water. You'll feel like a new person."

Beyoncé sighs. "Feeling like a new person sounds pretty good right about now." She downs the drink.

Gwyneth gestures toward a stone slab by the wall. "Sit," she nods. "I know it looks uncomfortable, but, I'm telling you, one week of sitting on stone and your entire essence will shift."

Gwyneth moves into a lunging yoga position. "So tell me about you and Jay. What is going on?"

Read the rest of the imagined conversation here.

BOKO HARAM CRISIS: NIGERIA'S SOLDIERS' WIVES PROTEST


Boko Haram crisis: Nigeria soldiers' wives protest
Government troops are trying hard to defeat the well-armed insurgents

"The wives of Nigerian soldiers have protested against their husbands being sent to fight militant Islamist group 'Boko Haram", a demonstrator has said.

The protest which was at the main military barracks in north-eastern Maiduguri city came as the government vowed to re-take Gwoza town from the militants.

Hundreds of people were killed when Boko Haram seized Gwoza last week, the area's senator, Ali Ndume, said.

Boko Haram is fighting to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.

The BBC's Abdullahi Kaura Abubakar in the capital, Abuja, says he understands that about 100 women protested at the Giwa barracks in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state.

'Throat slit'

It is the latest sign of growing dissatisfaction with the military top brass, he says.

Soldiers have repeatedly complained Boko Haram has superior firepower and they are in position to confront the militants.

In May, some soldiers opened fire on their commander, Maj-Gen Ahmed Mohammed, at Maiduguri's Maimalari barracks, blaming him for the killing of their colleagues by Boko Haram fighters.


Who are Boko Haram?
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has been designated a terrorist by the US government
Founded in 2002
Initially focused on opposing Western education - Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden" in the Hausa language
Launched military operations in 2009 to create an Islamic state
Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria - but also attacks on police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja
Some three million people affected
Declared terrorist group by US in 2013

NIGERIA: HOW LAGOS NURSING MOTHER GOT INFECTED WITH EBOLA VIRUS - DOCTOR

A medical doctor has described how a nursing mother who is one of the confirmed cases of the Ebola virus in Lagos contracted the disease while attending her antenatal care at First Consultant Hospital in Obalende, Lagos where the first victim of Ebola virus in Nigeria, Patrick Sawyerr, died. The lady was confirmed to have the deadly disease after testing positive at the NNPC staff clinic on Muri Okunola street in the Victoria Island area of Lagos.

Speaking anonymously with Punch, the doctor said;
'The lady attended ante-natal at First Consultant prior to the arrival of the Liberian, Mr. Patrick Sawyer. She was delivered of her baby at the hospital after which she was discharged. A few weeks later, Mr. Sawyer came around and was attended to by health workers. He was first treated for malaria, then typhoid, before there was high index of suspicion. He tested positive for Ebola and died. Then the woman, who gave birth at the hospital came back to the hospital for her baby’s immunization. The nurses who attended to Sawyer also attended to her. When she visited the place again last week, she discovered the place had been shut down for proper fumigation as a means of control against Ebola.” he said. Continue...

Seeing that the hospital has been shut down, the lady who had started showing signs of fever proceeded to the NNPC staff clinic which was close by.
'She was first treated for Malaria. However, after some medical tests, there was a high suspicion of Ebola haemorrhagic fever. On Friday, the Lagos State’s emergency response team on Ebola virus came around and took her to the Infectious Diseases Hospital,” he added.

The management of the hospital after confirming she had the deadly virus immediately shut down the hospital indefinitely.


Confirming the doctor's report, the Medical Officer of Health, Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area, Dr. Wale Akeredolu, said the woman's baby has been quarantined and is under surveillance
“The baby has also been quarantined to see if after the incubation period of two to 21 days, she would manifest the symptoms of Ebola.” he said

NIGERIA: EFCC ARRESTS TWO BANKERS FOR N661MILLION FRAUD


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested two bankers for allegedly stealing the sum of N661,000,000 (six hundred and sixty one million Naira) from their employers.
The duo, Samuel Obende, a Branch Manager, and Rabiu Alhasan Dawaki, Head of Operations, both of the Bello Road Cash Center of Union Bank Plc in Kano, abused their positions to perfect the heist. They were saddled with the responsibility for the evacuation and supplying of cash to about seventeen branches of the bank in Kano, Katsina, Kaduna, and Jigawa States. Continue...

In the course of carrying out their duties, they fraudulently conspired and stole the sum N661, 000, 000 (six hundred and sixty one million Naira only).
In an effort to conceal the illegal act, they fabricated accounting entries, which deceitfully showed that all the monies were sent to the respective branches.
Investigation into the fraud continues.

SON OF AMERICAN EBOLA PATIENT SAID SHE'S "SMILING, EVEN JOKING"



The American woman who was infected with the Ebola virus while working with a Christian aid group in Liberia is getting better and is even smiling, her son said today.

Speaking with NBC's Today Show, Jeremy Writebol said his mother, Nancy Writebol, 60, who was evacuated from Monrovia last week and was wheeled on a stretcher into a special isolation unit at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, has gotten physically better


"When she came in on Tuesday last week, we were really concerned that she wasn't going to make it. To see her wheeled out of the ambulance and in, I was on the floor sobbing."
"We've seen her get physically better, her eyes brighten up, smiling, even joking a little bit" he said.

Jeremy, who says he sees his mum twice a day through a hospital window, said doctors told him they are cautiously optimistic she'll recover. Nancy is the second patient to use experimental drug, Zmapp

ACTOR AND COMEDIAN ROBIN WILLIAMS DEAD AT 63

Tributes have been pouring in for Robin Williams, as Alastair Leithead reports

US actor and comedian Robin Williams has been found dead, aged 63, in an apparent suicide.

Marin County Police in California said he was pronounced dead at his home shortly after officials responded to an emergency call around noon local time.

Williams was famous for such films as Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society and won an Oscar for his role in Good Will Hunting.

His publicist said he had been "battling severe depression".

In the past he had talked, and even joked, about his struggles with alcohol and drugs.

Williams had recently returned to a rehabilitation centre to "fine-tune" his sobriety, the Los Angeles Times reported in July.

The local Sheriff's office said Williams was found unconscious and not breathing at his home near Tiburon, north of San Francisco.

"At this time, the Sheriff's Office Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made," police said in a statement.

His wife Susan Schneider asked that he be remembered for the joy he brought to the world

In a statement, Williams's wife, Susan Schneider, said she was "utterly heartbroken".

"This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken," she said.

"On behalf of Robin's family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions.

Watch key moments from the career of Robin Williams

Williams had three children from previous marriages.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, in 1951, Williams joined the drama club in high school and was accepted into Juilliard School in New York, the prestigious American academy for the arts.

There, he was encouraged by a teacher to pursue comedy.

The actor was first known for his zany portrayal of an alien in the 1970s TV show Mork and Mindy, a character first seen in the sitcom Happy Days.

He was a regular stand-up comedian while continuing to act in such films as Good Morning Vietnam, Dead Poets Society, Mrs Doubtfire and as the voice of the genie in Aladdin.

While many of his roles were in comedies, Williams won the Oscar in 1998 for best supporting actor as a therapist in Good Will Hunting.

In a 2009 interview, the actor told Reuters his children often referenced his own struggles with alcohol when he told them off for bad behaviour.

"They went: 'And you had a three-year drunken relapse'. Ah, thank you for bringing that back, my little happy creatures," Williams joked.

In his final Instagram post two weeks ago, he published a photo of himself and his daughter as a toddler with the message: "Happy Birthday to Ms Zelda Rae Williams! Quarter of a century old today but always my baby girl. Happy Birthday @zeldawilliams Love you!"
Williams' star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame has become a makeshift memorial

Tributes have also been left outside the house in Boulder, Colorado used in Mork and Mindy's title sequence

Fellow comedian Steve Martin tweeted he "could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul."

Martin and Williams appeared on stage together during an 1988 Broadway revival of Waiting for Godot.

Comedian and talk show host Ellen de Generes tweeted: "I can't believe the news about Robin Williams. He gave so much to so many people. I'm heartbroken."

Actor Danny DeVito, who worked with Williams in Death To Smoochy, said: "So sad to think about this. Hard to speak. Hard to say. Hard to take.

"All I can think about is what a joy he was to be with. I'm devastated. My heart is broken by this news."

GAME OF THRONES ACTOR DEAD


Veteran actor dies after filming first Game of Thrones scenes

JJ Murphy had joined the cast of Game of Thrones as the oldest member of the Night's Watch

A veteran actor who had just filmed his first scenes for Game of Thrones has died.

JJ Murphy, 86, died suddenly on Friday at his home in Belfast.

Mr Murphy had joined the cast for series five of the HBO series recently, which is largely filmed in Northern Ireland.

He had been cast as Ser Denys Mallister of the Night's Watch. The character was due to appear throughout series five.

Mr Murphy had been expected to film more scenes this summer.

He also had a role alongside fellow Game of Thrones actor, Charles Dance, in the upcoming Hollywood film, Dracula Untold.

The movie was filmed in Northern Ireland in 2013 with a budget of £100m, and is due to be released in October.

Dracula Untold was not Mr Murphy's first experience of Bram Stoker's creation. He played Van Helsing in a 1980 production of The Death of Dracula at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast.

He was well known in Northern Ireland for his stage work having trained at the Old Group Drama School in the 1940s, and as a member of the Lyric Players Theatre.

Belfast born Mr Murphy leaves behind wife Mary, and two children, Joseph and Jane, and granddaughter Sarah-Jane.

His funeral will be held in Belfast on Wednesday.

WOMAN HANGS HERSELF IN FESTIVAL TOILET

Up to 38,000 people attended the four-day event at Matterley Bowl near Winchester

A woman who died at a music festival in Hampshire was found hanging in a campsite toilet, an inquest has heard.

Lisa Williamson, from Bromyard, Herefordshire, was found unconscious at the BoomTown Fair site near Winchester, on Saturday afternoon.

The 31-year-old, who was at the event with her husband, was treated by medical staff on site and taken to hospital but unfortunately, died later.

The inquest, which was adjourned, heard the cause of death was hanging.

Up to 38,000 people attended the four-day event at Matterley Bowl near Winchester.

Last year, Ellie Rowe, 18, also died after taking the drug ketamine during the festival.

IRAQ CRISIS: RAF TORNADOS TO BE READY TO JOIN AID EFFORT


Iraq crisis: RAF Tornados to be ready to join aid effort
The RAF Tornado jets, similar to this one, would not have a combat role

RAF Tornado jets are to be sent for possible use in the aid operation in northern Iraq, where many thousands of people are fleeing Islamist fighters.

The Ministry of Defence said the planes would leave RAF Marham in Norfolk within the next 48 hours.

The bombers will not have a combat role, but could carry out surveillance to assist delivery of aid supplies.

Here, the prime minister is resisting pressure to recall Parliament to debate a military role in the Iraq crisis.

David Cameron's spokeswoman said a recall was "not on the cards", while Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond ruled out a combat role for the UK amid growing calls for military involvement.

Aid drops
Islamic State (IS) fighters have seized territory across Iraq and Syria in the past few months, with continuing reports of the slaughter of Iraqi religious minority groups.

"way or another, these maniacs, these medieval maniacs in the so-called Islamic State have got to be defeated", Jack StrawFormer foreign secretary said.

Among those reportedly being targeted by fighters are Christians and Yazidis in the north of Iraq, where thousands of Yazidi civilians are trapped in the Sinjar mountains without food and water.

Downing Street said helping the trapped civilians was its "immediate priority".

"We have decided to pre-position a small number of Tornados in the region so that they could, if required, use their excellent surveillance capability to gather better situational awareness to help with humanitarian effort," No 10 said, following a meeting of the government's emergency Cobra committee.

It said this would be similar to the role Tornados played during floods in the UK earlier this year.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed the jets, which will be operational by the end of the week, would not be used in a combat role.

"They would be equipped with hi-tech imaging equipment to pinpoint exactly where refugees were so aid drops could be targeted", the MoD said.

Dehydrated, starving and frightened: The BBC's Caroline Wyatt meets Yazidi refugees from Sinjar

The RAF has made one drop of aid to the Sinjar mountains - but aborted a second on Sunday over concerns for the safety of those on the ground. The next is likely to be carried out within the next 24 hours.

No 10 said it would work with Iraqi, Kurdish and international representatives in the area "to mitigate safety concerns".

The UK would also look at how it could play a role in getting equipment to Kurdish forces so they were better able to counter IS, No 10 added.
Many people from religious minority groups in the north of Iraq have been fleeing Islamist militants

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by the IS militants' advance

The UK has spent £13m in total in aid for the displaced in Iraq but the PM has ruled out military intervention

Former Labour Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said sending the jets was a "step in the right direction" but urged the government to look at what further military assistance could be provided.

"One way or another, these maniacs, these medieval maniacs in the so-called Islamic State have got to be defeated," he told ITV News.

The UK government is facing calls to reconvene Parliament to debate the UK's response to the unfolding crisis.

But speaking after the Cobra meeting, Mr Hammond said: "I don't think that's necessary at this time. We are talking about a humanitarian intervention."

He added: "We don't envisage a combat role at the present time."

Mr Cameron, who is on holiday in Portugal, remains "very much engaged" with decision-making on Iraq, his spokeswoman said.

"Our focus is very much on the humanitarian effort at the moment. As such, recall is not on the cards," she said.

'Worth trying'

The US has carried out four rounds of air strikes targeting IS fighters near Irbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Conservative MP Conor Burns, who has written to the speaker of the House of Commons asking him to recall MPs, said he did not know whether they would support military action but it was "worth trying".

"These people are being beheaded by people from IS, and our only response is to drop some food or water on them," said the MP for Bournemouth West.

Former British army commander Col Tim Collins: "The Islamic State are slaughtering their way through communities and must be stopped"

He said he thought the UK should be involved in air strikes and UK special forces should be deployed.

Tory MP Andrew Rosindell said "air strikes are absolutely correct", while Tory MPs Nick de Bois and David Burrowes have written to Mr Cameron also urging a recall of MPs.

Ex-army chief Lord Dannatt added his voice to the calls, saying it was "not the moment for decision-makers to be on holiday".
Kurdish fighters are trying to hold off the advance of IS militants

He said UK troops might be needed on the ground to help support US military air strikes.

Labour MP John Mann said there was no need to recall Parliament "at this stage" but MPs must continue to follow developments closely.

The US has begun supplying weapons to the Kurdish Peshmergas who are fighting the militants, senior US officials have told the Associated Press.

Mr Burns said the UK should be "answering positively" requests from the Kurds to arm them, and that asylum should be offered in the UK.



Iraq's minorities

Christians
The majority are Chaldeans, part of the Catholic Church
Numbers have fallen from around 1.5 million since the US-led invasion in 2003 to 350,000-450,000
In Nineveh province, they live mainly in towns such as Qaraqosh (also known as Baghdida), Bartella, al-

Hamdaniya and Tel Kef

Yazidis
Secretive group whose origins and ethnicity are subject to continuing debate
Religion incorporates elements of many faiths
Belief that God's will is carried out by seven angels
Most important among them is the Peacock Angel, considered by some Muslims and Christians to be the devil but who Yazidis say was redeemed
Because of this, Yazidis are viewed by some as devil worshippers
There are estimated to be around 500,000 Yazidis worldwide, most living in Iraq's Nineveh plains

Monday, 11 August 2014

KOKOMASTER FINALLY READY TO PROPOSE TO BILLIONAIRE'S DAUGHTER

Lovers of the Koko Master, brace yourself because he may be off the market soon. As much as we would have loved to see superstars D’banj and Genevieve Nnaji tie the knot, it unfortunately did not work out. Bangalee has moved on and so has Genny. In 2012, D’banj was rumoured to be dating Adama Indimi, the daughter of Alhaji Mohammed Indimi – Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources. The pair later made it official to a few friends and family, but later separated. Adama is the CEO of a travel agency – Kauna Solutions. D’bama (D’banj & Adama) are now back together. A source exclusively reveals to KD BLOG that the music star has bought an engagement ring and he is ready to pop the big question.



Recently, the couple were spotted at D’banj’s mother Florence Oyebanjo‘s intimate 61st birthday party. Guests at the family affair were D’banj’s father, his twin brother and sister Kay Switch and Taiwo Oyebanjo-Kayode as well as OAP Dotun Kayode. When the couple make arrangements to wed, it will be a grand affair and trust KD BLOG to bring all the scoop – Congratulations in advance.

EBOLA: NIGERIANS BEG OBAMA TO GIVE INFECTED LAGOS NURSE THE VACCINE

Nigerians on different social media platforms on Saturday asked President Barack Obama to give a vaccine, ZMapp, being developed in the United States to treat a Nigerian nurse, Justina Ejelonu, reportedly infected with Ebola.

 On such websites as Facebook and Twitter, the petitioners begged Obama to release the vaccine to Ejelonu and other Africans suffering from the virus. The petitions were made on the White House website. Ejelonu, who is one of those that were infected with the Ebola virus after treating the Liberian victim, Patrick Sawyer, has said she did not have direct contact with Sawyer’s body fluids. The deadly virus, which leads to death in humans within days from infection, is transmitted through sweat, urine, blood, and other fluids from the body. Ejelonu recounted her encounter with Sawyer in a report on a website, www.southeastnigeria.com.

 According to the website, she said she had checked his vitals and helped him with food because he was too weak, and that the mode of transmission could be from touching the same surfaces as the Liberian. She said, “I never contacted his fluids. I checked his vitals, helped him with his food (he was too weak). I basically touched where his hands touched and that’s the only contact — not directly with his fluids. “At a stage, he yanked off his infusion and we had blood everywhere on his bed. But the ward maids took care of that and changed his linens with great precaution. Every patient is treated as high-risk. If it were air borne, by now wahala for dey (there would have been trouble). I still thank God.” Ejelonu added that the workers’ uniforms and Sawyer’s bedding were burnt afterwards, saying the staff were under surveillance and off-duty till August 11. She said, “Our samples have long been taken by the World Health Organisation and so far, we have been fine. Kudos to my hospital management because we work professionally with every patient considered as high-risk — that’s the training.” The health worker noted that if it were a public hospital, the outcome might have been different, adding that she was however grateful to the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government for their support.

Saturday, 9 August 2014

RAIN AND HIGH WIND SET TO BATTER UK


Remnants of Hurricane Bertha to batter UK with rain and high winds
A driver was trapped in his car for more than an hour because of flooding in Cambridgeshire on Friday

High winds and heavy rain are expected to lash much of the UK as remnants of what was Hurricane Bertha reach the country early on Sunday.

The stormy weather is expected to hit southern England first, before heading north and battering Scotland on Sunday evening and into Monday.

The Met Office has issued a yellow "be aware" warning for some regions.

The Environment Agency urged holidaymakers to check flood warnings before setting off in their cars.

Hurricane Bertha hit Caribbean islands on Monday before dissipating over the central Atlantic.
Homes in Cambridgeshire were flooded after heavy rain

The storm heading towards the UK is a low-pressure system which has picked up moisture and energy left over from Bertha.

Rain had begun arriving in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Wales on Saturday evening ahead of the forecast storms, BBC Weather said.

Parts of the country are expected to see between half an inch and an inch of rain on Sunday.

Wind gusts of 30-40 mph are expected inland and could reach 40-50 mph in coastal areas.

The Red Cross has mobilised hundreds of volunteers who are on stand-by amid fears that people will need to be evacuated from their homes.

Flash floods

Yacht race organisers have re-routed the course of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race, which starts in Cowes on the Isle of Wight on Sunday, to try to avoid the worst of the bad weather.

The Royal Racing Club said it had decided to reverse the course and sail anticlockwise.

In a statement, the club said it hoped the move would "provide a more enjoyable race for all the yachts in the fleet".

Craig Woolhouse, the Environment Agency's flood risk manager, said the heavy rain on Sunday could cause flooding in some areas.
Rescue crews tried to restart cars which had stalled in the floods

He said: "On Sunday and Monday a combination of high spring tides and strong westerly winds brings a risk of large waves and spray and possible flooding to the south-west coast of England and along the Severn estuary.

"If you're travelling to or from holiday then check your flood risk before setting off and don't drive through flood waters."
More than a month's worth of rain fell in some areas

As the storm moved northwards, southern England would be left with brighter, showery weather later on Sunday, a BBC Weather spokeswoman said.

On Friday night, flash floods hit parts of eastern England, causing power cuts; a number of homes had to be evacuated.

Power cuts

In some parts of Britain, more than a month's rain fell, while the Red Cross said it was "on standby" to help anyone affected by the deluge.

Fire crews in Norfolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire worked through the night to pump water out of homes.

Power cuts hit 1,400 properties, but most were reconnected by 02:00 BST on Saturday morning.

A spokeswoman for BBC Weather said the conditions were not atypical for the time of year, but could prove a shock coming after a lengthy spell of warm weather.

Environment minister George Eustice said: "We are working closely with the Flood Forecasting Centre, the Environment Agency, local authorities and emergency services to ensure we are prepared for any potential flooding this weekend."

The regions affected by the yellow weather warnings are: Central, Tayside & Fife, East Midlands, East of England, Grampian, Highlands & Eilean Siar, London & South East England, North East England, North West England, Northern Ireland, Orkney & Shetland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, South West England, Strathclyde, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humber.