Wednesday, 31 July 2013

FINALLY, APC EVOLVES IN NIGERIA

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FINALLY, APC EVOLVES IN NIGERIA

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated Nigerians on the emergence of the new party, saying with the birth of APC, Nigerians now have an alternative to a ruling party that has taken the people for a bad ride in the past 14 years.

In a statement issued by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in Lagos on Wednesday, APC said its emergence is a victory for Nigeria and for democracy, and that it has now also propelled the country to the league of top democratic nations with two major political parties.

”The journey has been long and tortuous. All sorts of obstacles were thrown into our path by anti-democratic forces, but we were painstaking, determined and unrelenting in our quest for a formidable platform that will allow our country, Nigeria, to achieve her full potentials and join the league of respectable nations.

”With the approval of our merger by INEC and the emergence of APC, today marks the beginning of a new dawn for our country and her long-suffering people. We thank Nigerians both here and in the Diaspora for standing by us. We thank the media for their fairness, and we commend INEC for doing the right thing and for not succumbing to pressures from phantom
political associations that sought to force it to circumvent the law.

”We promise not to disappoint Nigerians who have reposed much confidence in us. We say that contrary to the lies being peddled by the naysayers, we are not seeking political power for the sake of getting it, but in order to use it to empower our people and allow their long-nursed hopes and dreams to become a reality.

”And to those who have vowed to change their names if APC survives for a year, we hope they will live up to their words,” it said.

APC said Nigerians can now look forward to a truly democratic party in the best traditions of what the world considers as the best form of government.

The party promised to unveil, in the days ahead, its membership registration plans to give all Nigerians, especially those who have become disenchanted with the way things are going in the country, the much-awaited opportunity to be part of the country’s democratic process in the true sense of the word.

”We will also be unveiling our plans to turn today’s hopelessness into a time of great opportunities, to reverse the downward slide in our socio-economic development, and to ensure that every Nigerian benefits from the commonwealth, instead of the present situation in which a few fat cats are milking the system dry at the expense of the citizenry,” APC said

A MAN MISTAKEN FOR CAR THIEF SHOT BY FLORIDA DEPUTIES

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SOURCE:CNN

A Florida sheriff says an unarmed man -- mistaken for a car thief and shot by deputies in his own driveway -- is both.

He refused to obey commands and lunged at the deputies who fired their weapons 15 times to subdue him, they say.

Roy Middleton, 60, was hit by two of those rounds in his legs. He is in good condition at a Pensacola hospital after a metal rod was placed inside his shattered left leg.

"The tragedy of this is the noncompliance to the directions of law enforcement officers," said Sheriff David Morgan of Escambia County, Florida. "Had that occurred we wouldn't be having this discussion. It's a tragedy all the way around. He is both a suspect and a victim."

'Like a firing squad'

The bizarre story started Saturday around 2:30 a.m. as Middleton was returning home.

Searching for a cigarette inside his White Lincoln Town Car, he appears to have been mistaken for a car thief by a concerned neighbor who called 911. Escambia County Sheriff's Deputy Jeremiah Meeks and Sgt. Matthew White responded to the call.

This is where the story takes a fork in the road.

Middleton's family said he was not feeling well enough to discuss what happened to him.

But earlier this week, he told the Pensacola News Journal that he first thought someone was joking when they yelled at him to, "Get your hands where I can see them."

He said that as he was turning around to face deputies with his hands raised, they opened fire.

"It was like a firing squad. Bullets were flying everywhere," he told the News Journal.

Deputies feared for their lives

But the deputies involved told a different story.

Meeks fired 12 shots and White fired three times, authorities said. They are now on paid administrative leave. Five of the bullets hit the White Town car, which was parked under a carport in a dark area of the property.

The deputies were in fear for their own safety, according to the sheriff.

"He came out of the car with more of a lunging motion coming out of the car, and the deputies were standing behind him and he had what appeared to be a metallic object in his hand," Sheriff David Morgan said.

Not buying it

But Middleton's family doesn't believe that story. His mother, Ceola Walker, 77, told CNN that her son was holding his car keys with a small flashlight on the key chain. She does not believe he lunged at deputies.

"I don't believe that. He said he didn't. I don't believe that," she said.

She says her son is incredibly lucky.

"They could have hit his upper body, but they didn't ....God just shielded him. I know he did, cause they was trying to kill him," she said.

Andre Lauzon, who lives next door and witnessed the incident, said it lasted less than 30 seconds.

Deafening gunfire

He was out smoking a cigarette on his front lawn when the deputies arrived, he said. His view was obscured by darkness, and at one point he lost sight of Middleton.

But the sound of gunfire, he said, was deafening.

"I'm very surprised that all they did was hit him in the leg," he said.

Timeline, lab analysis

Lauzon says his neighbor may have had trouble getting down to the ground because he was standing between his car and the wall of the carport.

"I don't have any doubt -- even not being able to see what was going on -- that he was complying with them," he told CNN. " Maybe not in the time frame that the officer was looking for -- but it seemed he was complying."

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has taken over the investigation at the request of the Sheriff's Office.

"FDLE investigators are developing a timeline and conducting interviews and crime laboratory scientists are conducting lab analysis," Gretl Plessinger, a spokeswoman for the agency, said in a statement. "Once our investigation is complete, FDLE will provide the case to the state attorney's office. The state attorney will determine whether or not any laws were broken.

Walker said her son takes pain medication for a bad back. The investigation will determine whether that played a role in the incident.

"The message to the public is this was a tragedy," Morgan said. "And it was a tragedy because we had an individual, a citizen, who for whatever reason, either impairment due to alcohol or drugs, or just taking it upon himself not to be compliant to following basic direct orders."

But his mother disputes the sheriff's theory that her son was a suspect and a victim at the same time.

"How can you be a suspect and a victim at your own house? In your own yard, in your own car?" Walker asked.

Barcelona star Lionel Messi will be part of an Argentina squad to face Italy in a friendly in Rome next month to be watched by Pope Francis, coach Alejandro Sabella has announced.
The four-time World Player of the Year is among the 22-strong squad picked by Sabella on Tuesday night to play in the match on August 14.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, is the former Archbishop of Buenos Aires and a lifelong supporter of Argentinian top flight club San Lorenzo.
Argentina squad to face Italy in Rome on August 14:
Goalkeeper: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria/ITA), Oscar Ustari (Almería/ESP), Mariano Andujar (Catania/ITA)
Defenders: Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan/ITA), Federico Fernandez (Napoli/ITA), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica/POR), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City/ENG), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United/ENG), Cristian Ansaldi (Rubin Kazan/RUS), José Basanta (Monterrey/MEX)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona/ESP), Ever Banega (Valencia/ESP), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo/ESP), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter Milan/ITA), Lucas Biglia (Lazio/ITA), Erik Lamela (Roma/ITA).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona/ESP), Angel Di María (Real Madrid/ESP), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan/ITA), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli/ITA), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)AFP
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/argentina-to-play-italy-in-front-of-pope/#sthash.Ig5lRKJ9.dpuf

lMichael Jackson's estate consultant helps AEG Live's defense

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A lawyer for Michael Jackson's estate gave an entertainment industry consultant permission to help AEG Live in its defense of the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the pop singer's mother, the expert testified.

The revelation was a surprise to Katherine Jackson, who was sitting in court Tuesday listening to the expert testify that he believed her son would not have earned any money even if he had not died of a propofol overdose.

If jurors decide AEG Live is liable in Jackson's death, testimony by Eric Briggs -- whose company billed the concert promoter $700,000 to prepare his opinion -- could be used to determine how much in damages the company would have to pay to Michael Jackson's mother and three children.

Briggs, however, previously consulted for the Jackson estate in determining a value of it's biggest asset -- the Sony-ATV music catalog that includes the Beatles songs. He testified that before he signed a contract to serve as an expert in AEG Live's defense he sought and gained permission from the Jackson estate lawyer Jeryll Cohen to waive any potential conflict of interest.

"She (Cohen) was well aware of everything that was going on," Briggs testified

A spokesman for the Michael Jackson estate was unaware of the circumstances or reasons why the estate would approve the waiver that could be counter to the interests of its beneficiaries -- Jackson's mother and three children.

An entertainment industry analyst hired by Jackson lawyers testified he was "reasonably certain" Jackson would have earned $1.5 billion from touring before retiring if he had not died while preparing for his comeback concerts in 2009.

Briggs testified that it was "speculative" that Jackson would have even completed the 50 "This Is It" concerts that AEG Live had already sold out in London.

Briggs said that based on what he'd learned from testimony in the case, he believed that Jackson would have died before the first show -- even if he had not suffered the fatal overdose of a surgical anesthetic on June 25, 2009. He cited the testimony of a doctor who said that Jackson would have been dead within a week if he remained under the care of Dr. Conrad Murray.

The Jackson lawsuit contends AEG Live is liable in Jackson's death because it negligently hired, retained or supervised Murray, who was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the pop icon's death.

The Erk opinion included $300 million that he estimated Jackson would have earned from endorsements and sponsorships. But Briggs testified that "significantly negative headlines, drug abuse and other issues" had ruined Jackson's ability to earn endorsement and sponsorship money.

"Q score" data for Jackson, which measures his "likability," became dramatically negative by 2006 -- a year after he was acquitted in a child molestation trial, he testified. More than seven people said they disliked Jackson for every one who said they liked him, he said. Companies would be "very anxious" about putting someone with such a negative "likability" next to their products, he said.

One issue hurting Jackson's endorsement deal potential was his financial debt, estimated to be $400 million at the time of his death, Briggs said.

But Jackson lawyer Brian Panish asked Briggs if he considered that Jackson's assets -- most notably the Sony-ATV catalogue -- were greater than his debts.

Briggs stuttered on the witness stand, saying he was reluctant to discuss Jackson's assets because of a client confidentiality issue. He eventually acknowledged that he had worked for the Jackson estate as a consultant analyzing the value of the music catalog. He signed a confidentiality agreement with the estate, which he said prevented him from discussing it.

His company did, however, clear his participation in the wrongful death case with a Jackson estate lawyer before he agreed to be an expert for AEG Live, he said.

Briggs also said AEG Live lawyers were aware of the potential conflict before hiring him and had no problem with it.

Wednesday is the 60th day of testimony in the trial, which began 14 weeks ago in a Los Angeles County court. The judge told jurors she expects testimony to conclude in mid-September.

NIGERIANS TO DEPOSIT 3000 POUNDS IN BOND: NO OFFICIAL NOTICE FROM THE UK

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, yesterday, said the Federal Government was yet to receive any official statement from its British counterpart over the 3,000 Pounds Sterling cash bond for first-time visa applicants from Nigeria and five other Commonwealth countries.
The other countries are India, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
A statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Ogbole Ode, said: “Federal Government has already conveyed its objection to the bond payment to the UK government, when the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, summoned the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Pocock, to Tafawa Balewa House on June 25.
“If and when a communication to that effect is received, Federal Government will take appropriate steps to reflect its national interest.”

HEAVY BABY WEIGHING 13 POUNDS BORN IN GERMANY

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One of the heaviest babies ever born in Germany was born last week at the University Hospital Leipzig

The baby girl, Jasleen, weighed a whopping 13.47 pounds and measured nearly 23 inches long.

She was born vaginally, not via a C-section, according to a hospital statement.

"We anticipated that the child would be big," said Holger Stepan, chief of obstetrics. "We prepared in advance by assembling a special team (of doctors and midwives) to be ready for any possible complications."

He said he'd never before helped in the birth of such a heavy baby.

The girl's mother suffered from gestational diabetes, which, when untreated or uncontrolled, can cause babies to be born larger than normal.

Her condition was not discovered until the mother checked herself into the hospital while in labor. She had not previously been a patient there.

The hospital said both mother and child are well.

According to the website for Guinness World Records, the heaviest baby -- weighing in at more than 23 pounds -- was born in Seville, Ohio, on January 19, 1879. He died 11 hours later.

HOW HATE TWEETS CAN BE TACKLED

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An advocate for honoring women on British currency was thanked for her efforts on Twitter with dozens of rape threats. A female writer who recently spoke out against rape jokes, almost predictably, got the same treatment.

Meanwhile, Facebook was called to task for not being quick enough to stamp out pages such as "Fly Kicking Sluts in the Uterus" and "Violently Raping Your Friend Just For Laughs."

Hateful words and actions targeting women and other groups are, of course, nothing new. But in our digital age, social media sites must increasingly face the fact that their services have become the new schoolyard or city square, where a majority of friendly discussion and positive interaction comes with an ugly undercurrent of nastiness.

"Expressed hate and abuse is unfortunately part of our society, and it is now also part of our real-time digital culture," said Brian Solis, a new media analyst for Altimeter Group and author of "What's the Future of Business? Changing the Way Businesses Create Experiences."

"As we live the digital lifestyle, our expectations are such that any menace should not only be dealt with accordingly, it should be done immediately."

Feminist campaign sparks Twitter attacks

The question for sites such as Twitter, which on Tuesday responded to a petition to make reporting abusive behavior easier, is how to police hundreds of millions of people, providing a safe environment for some users while respecting the free speech of others.

At the heart of the problem are the mechanics of policing. The sheer number of users means that flagging misbehavior is like playing a vast, never-ending game of Whac-a-Mole.

"Twitter represents a new medium that the world hasn't seen before," Solis said of the site that supports 400 million tweets every day. "To protect its users, it must invest in automated and manual safety and reporting mechanisms as it grows."

This week, the Bank of England announced that "Pride and Prejudice" author Jane Austen will be featured on 10-pound notes. The move came after a campaign by Caroline Criado-Perez and others.

On Twitter, Criado-Perez wrote that the response got ugly fast: "I actually can't keep up with the screen-capping & reporting -- rape threats thick and fast now," she wrote now. "If anyone wants to report the tweets to Twitter." Some of the accounts she cited have since been suspended.

Eventually, one man was arrested Sunday in Manchester, England.

British police also are investigating a threat of rape and murder made to Stella Creasy, a Labour Party member of Parliament, after she tweeted her support of Criado-Perez.

But activists complained that Twitter didn't act quickly enough. A Change.org petition, calling on the site to add a prominent "report abuse" button, had gotten more than 88,000 signatures as of Tuesday.

The effort prompted Del Harvey, Twitter's senior director for Trust & Safety, to respond Tuesday in a blog post titled "We Hear You."

"We see an incredible amount of activity passing through our systems ...," he wrote on Twitter's UK blog. "The vast majority of these use cases are positive. That said, we are not blind to the reality that there will always be people using Twitter in ways that are abusive and may harm others."

Harvey noted that three weeks ago the site rolled out a tool for Twitter for iPhone that lets users report individual tweets. That feature will hit Web and other mobile systems soon, he wrote.

He acknowledged, however, that putting eyeballs on every offensive tweet is difficult, if not impossible.

"While manually reviewing every tweet is not possible due to Twitter's global reach and level of activity, we use both automated and manual systems to evaluate reports of users potentially violating our Twitter Rules,' Harvey wrote. "These rules explicitly bar direct, specific threats of violence against others and use of our service for unlawful purposes, for which users may be suspended when reported."

The movement, and response, are not unlike a similar recent effort on Facebook.

In May, a coalition of women's groups called for the site to get tough on pages that appeared to embrace hate speech, particularly violent language, toward women.

Facebook responded by rolling out a slate of efforts that, among other things, increased accountability for pages that post content that is "cruel or insensitive."

Speaking Saturday at the BlogHer conference in Chicago, Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg acknowledged the difficulties in policing abusive behavior among the site's more than 1 billion account holders. But she said tools to do so continue to improve.

"We have this really big challenge between free expression, which is really important ..., and creating a safe and protected community," she said. "We take both very seriously.

"The No. 1 thing people can do is when you find content that's inappropriate, there's a report button. Hit that report button because we can look at and take down inappropriate content as long as we see it, and (it) is really an important part of what we're trying to do."

Both the Twitter and Facebook episodes mark what appears to be a shift in online culture. Throughout the Web's history, a certain amount of bad behavior has come to be expected, be it intentionally provocative online trolling or earnest hatred spewed more freely because of the ability to do so anonymously.

But, in 2013, it's become nearly impossible to distinguish where "Web culture" ends and culture as a whole begins. Solis, the analyst, noted that as social media become more and more mainstream, bad behavior that would never be accepted on a sidewalk will increasingly be policed, one way or another, online.

"The idea of 'freedom of tweet' does not supersede law," he said. "Expression aimed at hurting or threatening someone is indeed a threat heard around the world."

11-yr-old maid set ablaze over piece of meat

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11-yr-old maid set ablaze over piece of meat

Policemen at Bode Thomas division of Lagos State command, Tuesday, arrested a woman who allegedly set her 11-year-old house maid ablaze in Surulere area of Lagos, for stealing a piece of meat from her pot of soup.

The maid identified as Ita Bassey-Eno who reportedly escaped death by the whiskers, is currently at the Burns and Trauma Centre of the Gbadaga General Hospital, with doctors battling to save her life.
The victim, Ita Bassey-Eno on her hospital bed....

The victim, Ita Bassey-Eno on her hospital bed….

Although her mistress, a staff nurse at an undisclosed hospital in Surulere, Mrs Nkese Iroakazi, reportedly denied the allegation at the police station, the ailing girl was said to have managed to state that she allegedly poured kerosene on her before striking a stick of matches to set her on fire.

The incident, as gathered, occurred last Saturday at 7, Adeniran Ogunsanya Street, after Ita rushed out of the apartment with fire on her, apparently in an attempt to plunge into a gutter. Unfortunately, she reportedly fell before she could get to the gutter.

One of the residents was said to have succeeded in putting out the fire with the aid of a fire extinguisher, before she was rushed to the hospital.

Eyewitness account

A resident who simply identified herself as Morakinyo told Vanguard: “I was just alighting from the bus when I saw people gathered in front of the building. When I got there, I saw Ita whom we all call Eno on the floor. Then, the flame had been put out.

“Two men who attempted to carry her into a car could not because the skin at that time had peeled off. They had to get a slab, placed her on it and rushed her to the hospital. From what I gathered, the girl has spent barely one month in Lagos before the incident.

“She was brought from her village in Akwa Ibom State last month alongside another girl called Happiness. Since then, we have not seen either of them going to school.

“We heard that while Happiness was in the sitting room, there was a cry from Ita in the kitchen and before she (Happiness) knew what was happening, Ita rushed out of the kitchen and straight to the road shouting for help.

“How could someone who has children of her own treat another’s like this? It was even the residents that alerted policemen who came to pick Mrs Iroakazi.”

95% burns

When Vanguard visited the hospital, Tuesday, a doctor who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed fear about the victim’s condition, revealing that she suffered 95 per cent burns.

“It will take a miracle for her to survive. In any case, we are trying all we can to ensure she gets back on her feet. That will entail some surgeries because her private part was badly damaged.

“Currently, she wears pampers and that area needs immediate surgery after the injuries would have healed.”

Ita was sighted with bandage all over her body, except her face and feet. When a nurse approached her to administer the day’s treatment, she groaned in pains.

As at 3 p.m yesterday, police sources told Vanguard that the suspect would be transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba for further investigation.

Ridiculous:Anambra infested with male sex workers

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Ridiculous:Anambra infested with male sex workers

THERE was a startling revelation, yesterday, that males operate sex spots, just like females in AnambraState. Investigations by the Anambra State Aids Control Agency, SACA, showed that there are 618 female and 24 male sex spots in various parts of the state.
Director of SACA, Dr. Ogochukwu Ndibe, who gave the figures at a harmonization programme for international partners operating in the state, said there are 5920 female and over 500 male sex workers in the state.
On the average, there are 10 female sex workers and 5 male sex workers in a spot.
He said: “There are men who have sex with other men as a matter of preference or practice, regardless of their sexual identity or sexual orientation and irrespective of whether they also have sex with women or not.”
According to Ndibe, local governments where the male and female sex spots were prevalent include Awka South, Awka North, Ihiala, Onitsha South, Orumba North, Nnewi North, Onitsha North, Aguata, and Njikoka.
Anambra, with 7.8 per cent prevalence of HIV, is among the highest in the country, although Ndibe explained that with the support of the state government and the current interest and support of many international partners in the state, the rate of spread of HIV in the state would soon reduce.
He, however, said there was need for all levels of government and the communities to improve on direct funding of the HIV response to achieve the desired result as quickly as possible.

HIV test kits

In the meantime, he said the agency had procured and distributed HIV test kits to 107 health facilities in the 21 local government areas of the state, procured and distributed male and female condoms, computers and four SUV cars for easy movement to all the local government areas,
Chief of Staff to Governor Peter Obi, Professor Chinyere Okunna, who is also the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, is not amused at the disclosure.
According to Okunna, who is also coordinating the activities under the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, the state government cannot afford to toy with the intervention programmes of the development partners, recalling how difficult it was for Governor Obi to woo them back to the state when he assumed office in 2006.
She said: “When Governor Obi assumed office in 2006, no development partner was here. As he settled down, he went after the partners and gradually many of them started partnering with us and the voluntary agencies.”
“As a relatively poor state, we cannot achieve much without partnering with the donor agencies which bring money to match with our contribution to execute projects in all parts of the state. In other to ensure that these projects go round, there is need to avoid duplication in some communities as had been observed in the sitting of some projects.

GAY DIPLOMATS ARE NOT WELCOME IN NIGERIA

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GAY DIPLOMATS ARE NOT WELCOME IN NIGERIA

THE federal government has responded with near adequate conviction, the pressure by Western countries to impose the perverted culture of legalising homosexual lifestyles in Nigeria.

The two arms of the National Assembly have taken uncompromising stands, making a law prescribing a fourteen-year jail term for people caught, tried and sentenced for practising homosexual acts in Nigeria. Our President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, has also made it clear that he would align with the feelings of the Nigerian people and its supreme legislature in ensuring that the law is implemented.

We are, however, worried at the half-heartedness with which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is handling the matter. The Minister, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, while recently re-iterating Nigeria’s decision not to succumb to pressures from the West on this vexatious issue, however opened some windows of possibility and prospects for homosexuality in Nigeria.

First, he begged the West to be patient with Nigeria and allow this lifestyle to take root here and be accepted by the Nigerian people before it would be given a free rein. Second, he conceded that Nigeria would accept gay diplomats to serve in this country.

Our rejection of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) nonsense is total and unequivocal. It is rooted in our cultural, religious and social values as a people. It is taboo, abominable and repulsive. Therefore, we cannot afford to allow the moral fabric of our society to be so degraded by foreign cultures and pressures as to allow these evil acts to become acceptable here some time in the future.

We must also not allow countries that have accepted them to export their gay citizens to Nigeria and use their diplomatic cover to practise it here.

Since our people have chosen to shun gay lifestyle here, we must be uncompromising about it because the reasons adduced are cogent. Homosexualism is a virus that degrades the family and its values, corrupts human cohabitation and offends God. It eventually leads to social decline.

We are a country on the rise to our manifest destiny as Africa’s example to the world. We must get there with our values intact as every great society attempts to do.

The West will never allow a person who is a confirmed paedophile, for example, to work in their country even as a diplomat. If the West cannot be allowed to send such perverts to Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia and Iran, why should they be allowed here?

We say no to gay diplomats in Nigeria. Part of the screening we must conduct before accrediting diplomats to represent their countries here should include checking their sexuality record. We say no, and we mean no!

PROTEST AT IBADAN POLY

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STUDENTS of The Polytechnic, Ibadan Monady, brought academic activities to a halt as they blocked all gates to protest erratic power supply in the institution.

Some of the students who preferred anonymity said: “Power supply has been so terrible in the school recently. We stated our plight to the authority. We have been experiencing perpetual darkness at nights in the school since they carried out a repair work on the generator.

Reacting, the Public Relations Officer of the school Alhaji Soladoye Adewole, said: “We started having problem with students when the power generating set went bad. The generator required overhauling and it is taking time to put it in order.

“We once gave them phone numbers of principal officers so that they could complain and cross-check facts from the school authorities as occasion demanded.

“We understand that the students were not happy about the situation but the matter should have been tabled rather than engaging a protest.”

The angry students were later pacified with a promise that power would be available between 6am and 7am and 8pm to 11pm daily.

HOW CAN TROLL BE TACKLED ON TWITTER

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A barrage of rape and death threats on Twitter aimed at feminist Caroline Criado-Perez, who petitioned to have women displayed on British banknotes -- has sparked outrage in the global media and among the Twitterati.

Following a day-long onslaught, in which Criado-Perez received around 50 sexually-abusive tweets an hour, police finally arrested a 21-year-old man in Manchester on Sunday.

The feminist champion, whose campaign resulted in the Bank of England agreeing to picture Pride and Prejudice author Jane Austen on every £10 bill, tweeted throughout the abuse: "I actually can't keep up with the screen-capping & reporting -- rape threats thick and fast now. If anyone wants to report the tweets to Twitter."

Twitter UK's General Manager Tony Wang said the social-networking company takes online abuse very seriously, offering to suspend accounts, and called on people to report any "violation of Twitter rules."

But the story has ignited a backlash against the site from users and the media alike with more than 50,000 people signing on online petition urging Twitter to tackle Internet trolls.

UK Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper wrote to Wang on Sunday criticising Twitter's "inadequate" response.

In her letter, Cooper wrote: "Despite the scale and seriousness of these threats, the official response from Twitter continues to be extremely weak -- simply directing Caroline away from Twitter towards the police, and, belatedly, directing users to abuse-reporting forms on Twitter."

Writing in The Guardian, columnist Tanya Gold called on "misogynists" to be shamed rather than criticized, describing the Internet trolls as "lonely, fearful and dumb," adding that the emergence of social media "has given the vicious a voice."

Criado-Perez had her own take on the debate being played out her Twitter account. Writing in the Independent on Saturday, she said: "If we stand firm, and shout back as one, we will win."

The BBC's technology correspondent Rory Cellan-Jones argues that Twitter now faces a "tricky dilemma" of protecting free speech while under pressure to "make the network a safer and more polite place."

Cellan-Jones believes Twitter would prefer to see threatening Tweets referred to the police, rather than introduce a "report abuse" button on every post, which would require significant manpower to monitor.

Twitter has already introduced a "report tweet" function for the iPhone and is currently developing the option for the web and Android.

But The Telegraph's chief technology blogger Mic Wright said a report function would allow "any armchair activist to make a vague stand without putting in any time, effort or thought."

Wright recognizes that comment sections on user-generated websites such as YouTube are the "post-apocalyptic badlands of the web... a resting place for the misspelled dribblings of the chronically hard-of-thinking." But he argues the Twitter conundrum is a societal problem not a technology-based one.

The debacle has led to a campaign for a Twitter boycott on August 4 -- International Friendship Day -- and an e-petition for a "report abuse" button on Tweets.

Author of 'How To Be a Woman' and columnist for The Times, Caitlin Moran, proposed a "Trolliday" where Twitter users would tweet the holding message: "Waiting for troll solution."

Columnist Suzanne Moore also called for a celebrity shun of the social-networking site. On Saturday, she posted: "Spread the word. Prominent guys with many followers join in please. It's a gesture maybe but we can try a big Twitter flounce and see?"

SOURCE:CNN

Authorities want answers in boating accident that kills bride-to-be, best man

Posted by Unknown at 00:27 | 0 comments

Authorities want answers in boating accident that kills bride-to-be, best man

Wedding plans have turned to funeral arrangements as New York authorities try to piece together what went wrong in a horrific weekend boating accident that killed a bride-to-be and best man.

"We're looking into every single thing," Rockland County, New York, Sheriff Louis Falco said. "What we're going to do is bring in an accident reconstruction team."

Lindsey Stewart and Brian Bond were planning to marry on August 10.

Mark Lennon, who was to have been the best man in the wedding party, and Stewart disappeared late Friday when a 21-foot Stingray power boat they were passengers on slammed into one of three construction barges strapped together near the Tappan Zee Bridge, 25 miles north of Manhattan.

Stewart and Lennon were thrown from the boat.

Stweart's body was recovered Saturday. But the search for Lennon continued until Sunday morning when a jet skier called police to report a body in the river. Investigators are working to positively identify the body.

It was supposed to be a short boat ride up the Hudson River from the village of Piermont in Rockland County to Tarrytown.

The couple had just dined at a restaurant with friends when Stewart and Bond boarded the power boat, along with three friends.

What went wrong?

Potential alcohol use and poor lighting are key points of interest as authorities look into the deadly crash.

The barge the power boat crashed into had been anchored in the river since April, according to Robert Van Cura, undersheriff of the Rockland County Sheriff's Office.

"The barge had some lights on it; whether or not it was properly lighted is part of the investigation," Van Cura said.

"On a clear, moonlit night, with the bridge lights on, you can see pretty well," said Tom Sobolik in a telephone interview from aboard his sailboat near the accident site.

The moon was last full on Monday.

But Craig and Celeste Kmiecik said they were boating in the area Friday night, and it was dark.

"There was a moon last night, but you really can't see anything," said Craig Kmiecik.

"The barge was not lit up," said Celeste Kmiecik. "We saw that last night coming back to the marina."

Another area resident, Anthony Fowler, said having barges on the waterway were an accident waiting to happen.

"If you put an immovable object that's dark in the path of recreational boaters, you have a recipe for disaster."

Boat operator arrested

Meanwhile, boat operator Jojo K. John, 35, has been arrested.

"We have probable cause to believe that he operated the boat while intoxicated," Van Cura said.

John was arraigned at an area hospital on one count of first-degree vehicular manslaughter and three counts of second-degree vehicular assault. More charges are possible, Van Cura said.

John, along with the others who were not thrown from the boat, all suffered head injuries.

'In no condition to talk'

Bond, the groom, was hospitalized at Westchester Medical Center, said Stewart's stepfather Walter Kosik, who visited him Saturday. "He was in no condition to talk."

A spokesman for the medical center said Bond was in fair condition, with serious head injuries. He was the one who called 911 from the boat, reporting the accident.

For the families, the tragedy was magnified by the pending nuptials.

"She's supposed to be married two weeks from today," said Carol Stewart about her daughter. "It just can't end like this."

Indiana bus crash kills pastor, pregnant wife, chaperone on teen trip

Posted by Unknown at 00:21 | 0 comments

A youth pastor and his pregnant wife were among the three people killed when a bus overturned Saturday afternoon in Indiana, a deacon from the pastor's church said Sunday. The bus was returning from a camp in Michigan, said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.

Chad Phelps, pastor at Colonial Hills Baptist Church, and his wife, Courtney, were expecting their second child next month, Deacon Jeff Leffew said.

The third fatality was Tonya Weindorf, a mother of five acting as a chaperone on the trip, Leffew said.

"They are with God in heaven right now. We know that without a doubt," Leffew said, "but we grieve for the fact that they are not here with us."

The accident injured 19 more people out of about 40 passengers on the bus. A total of eight remained in two hospitals as of Sunday night. One of the injured remains in critical condition, a spokeswoman for Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital said.

Most of those on board were teenagers, according to Indianapolis Fire Department spokeswoman Rita Burris.

Leffew asked for prayers and support as the church and victims recover.

Fatal bus accident in Indiana

Mayor: "Pretty tragic accident"

"We're going to have a long road," he said.

The driver told witnesses that the vehicle's brakes failed as it was trying to make a left turn, Burris said.

The bus ended up on its side on a concrete road barrier with luggage and other debris strewn on the roadway.

"I saw bodies everywhere, kids in shock and disbelief," said John Murphy, who had stopped along the northern Indianapolis road where the bus crashed. "There was an awful lot of blood."

Rose Vorenkamp was driving when she saw the overturned bus and "people running" to help. Having been trained through her job in first aid and CPR, she moved closer and saw what she described as a girl trapped under the bus, bloodied passengers with head injuries and at least one person with a dislocated shoulder.

The fire department noted that four passers-by arrived first to help, including one who helped pull the driver from the bus.

Those helping were met soon by firefighters and crews from 12 ambulances and four helicopters.

Indianapolis police spokesman Michael Hewitt said two passengers were airlifted from the crash, nine were treated and released at the scene of the accident and others were taken to local hospitals.

Family members subsequently gathered at the church, Colonial Hills Baptist, where the bus had been heading.

The scene there was "remarkably positive, very sad, but at the same time very together," Ballard said.

"Some of the teenagers are hurting very badly. You can see it in their faces," the mayor said.

Some people at the church thanked him for visiting and generally appeared strong, Ballard added, surmising that "it's very clear that they are being guided by their faith right now."

Still, the mayor added, they might have some tough days ahead of them.

"The next few days are always very, very painful as they come out of the shock of it," he said.

The bus is believed to be the only vehicle involved in the crash, according to Hewitt.

At least 30 killed in bus crash in southern Italy

Authorities want answers in boating accident that kills bride-to-be, best man

Posted by Unknown at 00:19 | 0 comments

Wedding plans have turned to funeral arrangements as New York authorities try to piece together what went wrong in a horrific weekend boating accident that killed a bride-to-be and best man.

"We're looking into every single thing," Rockland County, New York, Sheriff Louis Falco said. "What we're going to do is bring in an accident reconstruction team."

Lindsey Stewart and Brian Bond were planning to marry on August 10.

Stewart and Lennon were thrown from the boat.

It was supposed to be a short boat ride up the Hudson River from the village of Piermont in Rockland County to Tarrytown.

The couple had just dined at a restaurant with friends when Stewart and Bond boarded the power boat, along with three friends.

What went wrong?

Potential alcohol use and poor lighting are key points of interest as authorities look into the deadly crash.

The barge the power boat crashed into had been anchored in the river since April, according to Robert Van Cura, undersheriff of the Rockland County Sheriff's Office.

"The barge had some lights on it; whether or not it was properly lighted is part of the investigation," Van Cura said.

"On a clear, moonlit night, with the bridge lights on, you can see pretty well," said Tom Sobolik in a telephone interview from aboard his sailboat near the accident site.

The moon was last full on Monday.

But Craig and Celeste Kmiecik said they were boating in the area Friday night, and it was dark.

"There was a moon last night, but you really can't see anything," said Craig Kmiecik.

"The barge was not lit up," said Celeste Kmiecik. "We saw that last night coming back to the marina."

Another area resident, Anthony Fowler, said having barges on the waterway were an accident waiting to happen.

"If you put an immovable object that's dark in the path of recreational boaters, you have a recipe for disaster."

Boat operator arrested

Meanwhile, boat operator Jojo K. John, 35, has been arrested.

"We have probable cause to believe that he operated the boat while intoxicated," Van Cura said.

John was arraigned at an area hospital on one count of first-degree vehicular manslaughter and three counts of second-degree vehicular assault. More charges are possible, Van Cura said.

John, along with the others who were not thrown from the boat, all suffered head injuries.

'In no condition to talk'

Bond, the groom, was hospitalized at Westchester Medical Center, said Stewart's stepfather Walter Kosik, who visited him Saturday. "He was in no condition to talk."

A spokesman for the medical center said Bond was in fair condition, with serious head injuries. He was the one who called 911 from the boat, reporting the accident.

For the families, the tragedy was magnified by the pending nuptials.

"She's supposed to be married two weeks from today," said Carol Stewart about her daughter. "It just can't end like this."

BANK ROBBERY FOILED BY THE POLICE IN RIVER STATE, GUNS SIEZED

Posted by Unknown at 11:33 | 0 comments

The police in Rivers said that it had confiscated 11 guns and other dangerous weapons after foiling an attempt to rob a bank.

This is contained in a statement issued by CSP Frank Mba, the Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, on Sunday in Abuja.

It said that the seized guns included two General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) with 593 rounds of ammunition and eight AK47 rifles with 1635 rounds of ammunition and 57 magazines.

Others are one G3 rifle, two dynamites with detonators and other explosives cans, two gas cylinders with welding accessories, one sledge hammer and one axe.

The statement said that the arms were taken away from three vehicles hidden at a mechanic village at Ihugbo on the East-West Road in Ahoada.

It added that the vehicles — a Volvo S40 car, a Mercedes-Benz Saloon car and a Nissan Pathfinder Jeep — had also been impounded.

It noted that the operation followed extensive intelligence activities carried out by the Rivers State Police Command “in the early hours of Friday, July 26’’.

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, has commended the officers and men of the command for the successful operation.

He enjoined all police commands and formations to step up their intelligence gathering activities to facilitate their efforts to provide adequate security for the citizenry.

The police chief appealed to the public to report all suspicious activities to the police.

Abubakar also urged the citizens to have confidence in the ability of the police to discharge their constitutional duties effectively. (NAN)

SOURCE: VANGUARD

Rain-swollen creek claims 2 lives in North Carolina

Posted by Unknown at 11:28 | 0 comments

A man swept away while swimming in a rain-swollen creek in western North Carolina on Saturday was still missing, authorities said Sunday.

The body of a child who was dragged away by the swift currents was recovered Saturday evening.

The drownings happened after four inches of rain fell over five hours in North Carolina's Piedmont region, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency in Catawba County.

First responders stayed busy racing to save people stuck in fast-moving waters and closed dozens of roads Saturday in the region due to major flooding.

Delilah Lovett, 10, of Charlotte and Juan Alberdi, 48, of Huntersville, North Carolina -- members of different families who were visiting the area together -- were both swimming in what is known as the "bathtub" on Wilson's Creek in Caldwell County around 6:15 p.m. Saturday, the Caldwell County Sheriff's Department said.

Rain, which had already stopped, raised Wilson Creek two feet above normal levels and created "very swift currents," according to a statement from the sheriff's department.

Kayakers found Delilah's body nearly an hour after she disappeared, it said.

"Over 60 rescue personnel including fire, law enforcement and rescue crews are searching a 10-mile stretch of Wilson's Creek for Alberdi," the news release said Sunday afternoon.

Catawba County officials reported 10 swiftwater rescues for residents needing help getting out of their homes and vehicles Satuday afternoon, said Mark Pettit, an emergency official in the county.

Some 52 roads in the inland county had been closed at that point, six of which might not see any traffic for as long as three months, according to Pettit.

Lincoln County -- which is just south of Catawba County and about 35 miles northwest of Charlotte -- saw 8 to 10 inches of rain in a 12-hour period, county emergency management spokesman Dion Burleson said.

First responders had done as many as five rescues by late Saturday afternoon, Burleson said, though things appeared to be on the upswing. The spokesman said the water rescue operation had been demobilized because waters were receding.

source: CNN

Diamanti rules out Juventus move

Posted by Unknown at 07:02 | 0 comments

The Rossoblu midfielder has rubbished speculation surrounding his future as nothing more than "inventions"

Alessandro Diamanti has dismissed reports that he is ready to leave Bologna for Juventus after reaffirming his commitment to the club.

The 30-year-old attacking midfielder, who has scored 16 times in 68 appearances for Felsinei since joining in 2011, has reportedly been the subject of interest from both the Bianconeri and AC Milan.

However, the former Livorno playmaker has moved to distance himself from those stories and looks to have dashed the hopes of his suitors.

"I read so many inventions on my behalf," he revealed in Corriere di Bologna.

"I'm the leader and the captain of Bologna."

The news will no doubt delight Bologna fans, with Diamanti becoming a crowd favourite ever since his move from Brescia.

Earlier this month, Rossoblu president Albano Guaraldi had given the Bianconeri a final deadline in their chase for the player, but with that date of July 15 having long since passed, it appears the player is now firmly off the market.

His current deal runs until June 201

He’s a nice guy' – Mourinho insists he has no problem with Wenger

Posted by Unknown at 07:01 | 0 comments

The Blues boss claims that his relationship with the Frenchman has improved during his time away from England and says that he has a lot of respect for the Arsenal manager

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insists that he has no problem with Arsene Wenger and says that the Arsenal boss is "a nice guy".

The two have clashed in the past, particularly during the Portuguese's first spell at Stamford Bridge, when he famously called the Gunners coach a "voyeur".

However, Mourinho insists that he now gets on well with the Frenchman and that their relationship has progressed during his time away from the England.

"He's a nice guy," he told reporters. "I had a chance to meet him much, much better when I left England and I started meeting him in Uefa [coaching meetings], at the Euros, the World Cup.

"I think I met him a few times, we had dinner and so on. When you are not in the same league and when you are not playing against each other, it is easier to get to know people, it is easier to go deeper. It is easy to speak about football. He's a very nice guy.

"I respect him a lot and I will show it always," Mourinho added of his intent to be less antagonistic this season.

"In football, things like this happen. Sometimes, even if you are friends and respect each other, sometimes you say something the other doesn't like and you react but, at the end of the day, I respect him a lot and I have the feeling that he is the same in relation to me.

"I wouldn't bet for one single problem between us."

Suarez signing would make Arsenal title contenders again, says Forlan

Posted by Unknown at 07:01 | 0 comments

The 34-year-old believes that the Liverpool forward can help fill the void left at the Gunners by Thierry Henry's departure and urges Arsene Wenger to keep pursuing his signature

Uruguay striker Diego Forlan has urged Arsenal to sign Luis Suarez if they want to become serious title contenders once again.

As exclusively revealed by Goal, the forward is preparing to submit a transfer request to force a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Depsite Liverpool having so far rejected two bids for from the Gunners, Forlan believes that his compatriot would be the ideal recruit for Arsene Wenger.

"If they manage to sign Luis, then I think, with the players they already have, they would be serious title contenders again," the Internacional striker told reporters.

"Only Luis knows what his plans are but he would be a great signing for Arsenal."

Forlan believes that the Gunners' inability to challenge for trophies in recent years has stemmed from a failure to replace legendary striker Thierry Henry.

"Of course, Arsenal are a very strong team but, for the last years, they have not been able to compete with Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea for the title," the 34-year-old continued.

"They have had very good players but have maybe lacked that one special player who you need to win a league as strong as the Premier League.

"United have had Wayne Rooney and City have had Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez but Arsenal have struggled since Thierry Henry left."

Juve targeting Supercoppa, says Chiellini

Posted by Unknown at 07:00 | 0 comments

Juve targeting Supercoppa, says Chiellini

The defender believes upcoming matches will help the Bianconeri prepare for the traditional curtain raiser and reassured fans that the club's newest signings are adapting well

Juventus centre-back Giorgio Chiellini is targeting Supercoppa glory as the Serie A champions look to kick-off the new season with silverware.

The 28-year-old, who returned from international duty following Italy's Confederations Cup campaign, will take part in the Guiness International Champions Cup in America, along with his team-mates, before facing Lazio in the curtain-raiser ahead of the new campaign.

And he is hoping that their preparation in their upcoming fixtures will leave the Bianconeri in rude health ahead of the Supercoppa clash with Lazio.

"The facilities are incredible, especially considering that it’s a university. In addition the climate is ideal in which to work hard and we’ll do just that. After our holidays, we were eager to reunite as a group and get going again," the defender told Juventus.com.

“Our first target is the Super Cup and the upcoming games will be useful to regain our condition and perfect the movements we haven’t run through for a month or so. Games against sides from other countries help increase your awareness, even though your physical condition still isn’t at its peak.”

Chiellini went on to reassure fans that the club's newest signings, Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente and Angelo Ogbonna have enjoyed a seamless transition to life at the club and suggested that the trio of signings will aid Juve's cause in retaining their Scudetto title.

“Ogbonna’s a new arrival at Juventus, but we already knew each other from both playing in the international side and living in Turin, so he certainly won’t have any problems in settling in. The same goes for Llorente and Tevez, who already speak the language. They both have enthusiasm and desire, which are fundamental ingredients for the new season.”

The Italians commence their Guiness International Champions Cup campaign on Wednesday against Everton.

3 dead after bus carrying teens crashes in Indianapolis

Posted by Unknown at 06:55 | 0 comments

Three people were killed and 19 injured when a bus carrying about 40 passengers to an Indianapolis church overturned Saturday afternoon.

"I saw bodies everywhere, kids in shock and disbelief," said John Murphy, who had stopped along the northern Indianapolis road. "There was an awful lot of blood."

The bus was returning from a camp in Michigan, said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.

Most of those on board were teenagers, according to Indianapolis Fire Department spokeswoman Rita Burris.

The driver told witnesses that the vehicle's brakes failed as he was trying to make a left turn, she said.

The bus ended up on its side on a concrete road barrier with luggage and other debris strewn on the roadway.

Indianapolis police spokesman Michael Hewitt said two passengers were airlifted from the crash, eight were driven to local hospitals and nine were treated and released at the scene of the accident.

The bus is believed to be the only vehicle involved in the crash, according to Hewitt.Please pray for all involved," the Indianapolis Fire Department tweeted.

Fatal bus accident in Indiana

Rose Vorenkamp was driving when she saw the overturned bus and saw "people running" to help. Having been trained through her job in first aid and CPR, she moved closer and saw what she described as a girl trapped under the bus, bloodied passengers with head injuries and at least one person with a dislocated shoulder.

The fire department noted that four passers-by arrived first to help, including one who helped pull the driver from the bus.

Those helping were met soon by firefighters and crews from 12 ambulances and four helicopters.

By then, traffic in the area had been shut down, and all the casualties had been sent to local hospitals. Family members subsequently gathered at the church, Colonial Hills Baptist, where the bus had been heading.

The scene there was "remarkably positive, very sad, but at the same time very together," Ballard said.

"Some of the teenagers are hurting very badly; you can see it in their faces," the mayor said.

Some people at the church thanked him for visiting and generally appeared strong, Ballard added, surmising that "it's very clear that they are being guided by their faith right now."

Still, the mayor added, they might have some tough days ahead of them.

"The next few days are always very, very painful as they come out of the shock of it," he said.

Morsy may join Mubarak -- in prison

Posted by Unknown at 06:53 | 0 comments

Morsy has not been seen publicly since the military forced him from office July 3.

The military has not commented on his whereabouts, though a Brotherhood spokesman told CNN he was initially under house arrest at the presidential Republican Guard headquarters in Cairo and later was moved to the Defense Ministry.

Nasser Amin -- a lawyer who met with Morsy's former chief of staff, Refa'a al-Tahtawi, who also is being detained -- told CNN that the former president is being "treated with the utmost respect ... like a statesman."

Yet Amin said that Morsy and others who are being held "can't contact the outside world or lawyers."

The former Muslim Brotherhood leader became Egypt's first democratically president in June 2012 but found himself at odds with the opposition before the military removed him from power and detained him this month.

State media reported he's being held in relation to a jailbreak that took place during Egypt's 2011 revolution but well before he came to power.

Prosecutors, who ordered a probe two weeks ago, said the escape of Morsy and 18 other Brotherhood members (among others) was plotted by "foreign elements" including Hamas, its military wing, the Islamic Palestinian Army and Hezbollah. The Muslim Brotherhood was named as a domestic group that cooperated with those who broke them out of prison.

Morsy -- who local media reports say was in prison for a single day without any formal charges against him -- is accused of escaping, destroying the prison's official records and intentionally killing and abducting police officers and prisoners.

Now he could be headed back not just to prison, but the same one where Mubarak, the ousted dictator he and his allies have long railed against, is being held.

Ibrahim said Saturday that such a move will probably happen, though an investigative judge will make the final decision on Morsy's next destination.

Bloodshed, tensions boil as Egyptian government, opposition trade blame

Posted by Unknown at 06:52 | 0 comments

All agree that scores angry at Egypt's military-backed government and the ouster of President Mohamed Morsy died in late-night clashes in the volatile nation's capital.

But they are of opposite minds as to who began firing first and who is to blame.

Dr. Mohammed Ali Sultan, chairman of Egypt's ambulance services, told CNN that 72 had been killed in Nasr City, an area of Cairo the Muslim Brotherhood has made its base after the group's former leader was forced from power and ordered jailed.

Medics in a Brotherhood field hospital there earlier Saturday had put the death toll at 66, with another 61 on life support and thousands more wounded.

How did they end up in such straits?

Ask the Muslim Brotherhood -- the Islamist group that was sidelined under longtime Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak only to become the country's dominant political force after his forced exit in 2011 -- and its members will say police fired live ammunition on protesters Friday and Saturday.

A wounded protester getting medical treatment at a field hospital said he saw men in plainclothes fire on pro-Morsy demonstrators with shotguns.

He referred to them as "thugs," a term commonly used for young men who support the government and resort to violence.

"Police forces were standing behind them. Also, military forces were outside blocking three entrances to Rabaa Adawiya neighborhood," the protester said, adding he had also seen corpses with gunshot wounds at the hospital.

Yet the prosecutor general's office, according to a report early Sunday on state-run Nile TV, concluded that protesters not only initiated the clashes but also fired live bullets on security forces.

A police spokesman likewise rejected any allegations police opened fire, saying they only used tear gas canisters and were not responsible for the deaths.

Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim offered a similar view during a televised news conference.

The protesters were at fault for starting violence that wounded 14 police, none of whom fired back, he said.

"I want to emphasize here that the Interior Ministry police force has never and will never fire its weapons at any Egyptian citizen," Ibrahim said.

Fresh clashes erupted early Sunday in Helwan south of Cairo between residents there and pro-Morsy protesters, reported state TV, citing witnesses.

Meanwhile, an attorney has filed a lawsuit at a district court in Cairo, asking that the military overthrow of Morsy be overturned. Tarek Al Kashef is basing his challenge on the country's constitution, specifically sections that stipulate that a presidential term is four years and that the president is the commander in chief of the armed forces. A hearing is slated for October 8.

Report: Confrontation over parking spot in Beijing leaves toddler dead

Posted by Unknown at 10:28 | 0 comments

A 2-year-old girl died after a confrontation in Beijing between her mother and a motorist that saw the toddler grabbed from her stroller and thrown to the ground, Chinese state media reported Saturday.

Authorities have arrested the driver and a passenger in connection with the attack, which began Tuesday after a woman who was pushing a baby stroller refused to get out of the way so that they could park, Xinhua reported, citing Beijing police.

The driver and the passenger then got out of their car, with the driver allegedly knocking the woman to ground and then grabbing the toddler from the stroller, the police told the news agency. The passenger also is accused of hitting the woman, according to Xinhua.

The driver, who has been identified by authorities only by the last name Han, was arrested Wednesday at a spa, according to the news agency. His car has been impounded by authorities.

The passenger, identified as Li, turned himself in at a police station, authorities told Xinhua.

The child, whose identity was not released, was pronounced dead at Beijing's Tiantan Hospital on Thursday, Xinhua reported.

Real Madrid confirm Higuain move to Napoli

Posted by Unknown at 10:27 | 0 comments

Serie A side Napoli have completed the signing of Argentine international Gonzalo Higuain from Real Madrid.

A statement on the Spanish club's website published Saturday confirmed that the 25-year-old striker was on his way to Italy.

"Real Madrid C. F. announces that Gonzalo Higuain has been transferred to Naples," read the statement.

"The club would like to express their gratitude for his years of dedication and professionalism, and wishes him luck in this new step."

Higuain, who is reported to have cost Napoli in the region of $50 million, spent six-and-a-half seasons at the Bernabeu and scored a total of 107 goals in 187 appearances.

The Argentine joins a growing list of new signings as Napoli's new manager Rafa Benitez prepares for an assault on both the Serie A title and the Champions League.

Striker Jose Callejon and defender Raul Albiol both joined the Italian club from Madrid earlier this month while Belgian international winger Dries Mertens signed from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven in June.

Benitez has also signed Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina on a one-year loan deal.

Higuain is expected to fill the void left by last season's top scorer in Serie A Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan striker, who scored 29 goals for Napoli last term, joined French champions Paris Saint Germain earlier this month in a deal worth a French record €64 million ($84 million).

Wednesday, 31 July 2013

FINALLY, APC EVOLVES IN NIGERIA

Tuesday, 30 July 2013

11-yr-old maid set ablaze over piece of meat

Monday, 29 July 2013

Ridiculous:Anambra infested with male sex workers

GAY DIPLOMATS ARE NOT WELCOME IN NIGERIA

Authorities want answers in boating accident that kills bride-to-be, best man

Wedding plans have turned to funeral arrangements as New York authorities try to piece together what went wrong in a horrific weekend boating accident that killed a bride-to-be and best man.

Sunday, 28 July 2013

Saturday, 27 July 2013

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