15 dead as truck conveying cows, passengers plunged into river

http://ift.tt/2n0qQvr

Fifteen persons lost their lives in Adamawa on Sunday when a truck conveying cows and passengers lost control on a bridge and fell into the drying river.

The Adamawa Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the figure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola on Monday. Adetunji said that the accident occurred at about 10p.m. on the Ngurore Bridge on Yola-Numan Road.

He said that before the arrival of FRSC personnel at the scene, the victims had been evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, and Specialists Hospital, Yola.

Adetunji said that the numbers of injured persons had yet to be ascertained.

“I received a call at about 22:00hours on Sunday that there was a crash on Ngurore Bridge on Yola-Numan Highway.

“On arrival at the scene, we discovered that it was a truck carrying cows and passengers that lost control and fell into the drying river,” the commander told NAN.

According to him, six dead bodies were deposited at the Federal Medical Centre and nine at the Specialists Hospital.

He advised motorists to shun night driving as well as avoid transporting human beings and animals in the same vehicle.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2nfrs0L

Erdogan warns Netherlands will ‘pay price’ after minister’s expulsion

http://ift.tt/2niDN1d

A man gestures in front of a flag bearing a portrait of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as Turkish residents of the Netherlands gather for a protest outside Turkey's consulate in Rotterdam on March 11, 2017. Protests erupted in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam late on March 11 outside the Turkish consulate amid a row with Ankara after Dutch authorities banned the visits of Turkish ministers. About 1,000 people waving Turkish flags gathered on the street leading to the consulate, as tensions rocketed over rallies abroad to help Ankara gain backing for an April referendum vote. PHOTO: Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday threatened that the Netherlands would “pay a price” after expelling a Turkish minister and preventing Ankara’s top diplomat from landing ahead of planned rallies.

The crisis with the Netherlands is the most serious yet as tensions spiral between Turkey and its EU allies over the desire of top Turkish officials to hold rallies abroad ahead of the April 16 referendum on a new constitution that would give Erdogan greater powers.

“Hey Holland! If you are sacrificing Turkish-Dutch relations for the sake of the elections on Wednesday, you will pay a price,” an angry Erdogan told a ceremony in Istanbul, referring to the upcoming legislative polls in Turkey’s NATO ally.

“They will learn what diplomacy is,” he growled, adding that what happened “cannot remain unanswered.”

Family Minister Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya was expelled after being prevented from addressing a rally in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam.

Turkish officials said she said she and her entourage were subjected to “rude and tough treatment”.

Erdogan added: “They went as far as to lock the door of the consulate there (in Rotterdam).”

Also this weekend, The Hague refused to allow Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu’s plane to land ahead of a planned rally.

Erdogan reaffirmed his accusations from Saturday that the Dutch behaviour over the Turkish visits was “Nazism, fascism”.

“They will pay the price of treating my citizens, my foreign minister… in an impudent way.”

Indicating that he himself plans to travel to Europe for rallies, Erdogan aded: “I can go to any country I want if I have a diplomatic passport.”

The latest row came after NATO allies Turkey and Germany sparred over the cancellation of a series of referendum campaign events there.

“The West has clearly shown its true face in the last couple of days,” Erdogan said.

“What we have seen in the last days is a clear manifestations of Islamophobia,” he added.

Cavusoglu, meanwhile, has flown to France where he was set to address a rally in the eastern city of Metz on Sunday.

The French foreign ministry has cleared his visit, a French official said.

“I thank France. France was not deceived by such games,” Erdogan said.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mfmAVp

World Bank to raise $1.6b to combat hunger in Nigeria, others (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2mJWP2M

World Bank Group President Jim Yong-Kim on Thursday said the bank was working toward raising 1.6 billion dollars to build social protection systems to end food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa and Yemen.

In a statement made available to newsmen by the Head of Communications, World Bank Nigeria in Abuja, Mrs Olufunke Olufon, Yong-Kim said about 20 million people in Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen were on the “tipping point” of famine.

“We at the World Bank Group stand in solidarity with the people now threatened by famine.

“We are mobilising an immediate response for Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen. Our first priority is to work with partners to make sure that families have access to food and water.

“We are working toward a financial package of more than 1.6 billion dollars to build social protection systems, strengthen community resilience, and maintain service delivery to the most vulnerable.’’

Yong-Kim said he was also working with the bank’s board of directors to secure the approval of new operations amounting to 770 million dollars, funded substantially through the International Development Association (IDA) Crisis Response Window.

“The World Bank Group will help respond to the immediate needs of the current famine, but we must recognise that famine will have lasting impacts on people’s health, ability to learn, and earn a living.

“So, we will also continue to work with communities to reclaim their livelihoods and build resilience to future shocks. We are coordinating closely with the UN and other partners in all areas of our response.

“We know that resolution to this acute crisis will not be possible without all humanitarian and development actors working together.

“We call on the international community to respond robustly and quickly to the UN global appeal for resources for the famine.’’

Famine was officially declared on Feb. 20 in South Sudan, impacting approximately 100,000 people.

There is a credible risk of famines in Yemen, Northeast Nigeria, and other countries, says United Nations (UN).

Ongoing conflicts and civil insecurity are further intensifying the food insecurity of millions of people across the region, and there is already widespread displacement and other cross-border spillover.

For instance, food insecurity in Somalia and famine in South Sudan are accelerating the flow of refugees into Ethiopia and Uganda.

The UN estimates that about 20 million people in Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia and Yemen are affected.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2mmEN4c

Mass South Korea rallies as final Park impeachment ruling looms

http://ift.tt/2mpoNAW

Pro-government activists shout slogans and wave the national flags outside the Constitutional Court in Seoul on February 27, 2017 as the court holds its final hearing in the impeachment trial of South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye.<br />JUNG Yeon-Je / AFP

Thousands of South Korean protesters held rival mass rallies Sunday over the impeachment of President Park Geun-Hye as judges prepare to rule on the scandal that has rocked the country.

Park was impeached by parliament last December over a major influence-peddling scandal that prompted millions to take to the street for months to call for her resignation.

The case has also engulfed South Korea’s biggest business, with the heir to the Samsung empire and four other top executives indicted Tuesday on multiple charges including bribery and embezzlement.

Park — currently holed up in the presidential palace with her power suspended — expressed “belated regret”, as the Constitutional Court wrapped up its hearings on Monday, with a decision expected in March.

Her lawyers maintain that she was not aware of any wrongdoing and blamed her secret confidante Choi Soon-Sil, who is accused of using her presidential ties to force local firms to “donate” nearly $70 million to non-profit foundations.

The case has bitterly divided Park’s supporters and detractors, who have regularly taken to the streets.

Tens of thousands of anti-Park protesters rallied in Seoul Saturday, some waving banners of the president in prison uniform and chanting in unison “Constitutional Court, impeach Park immediately!”

Several blocks away, another much smaller demonstration demanded the court reject the impeachment against the “poor innocent president”. The mostly middle-aged or elderly supporters waved signs urging the military to “rise up” and dismantle parliament.

While the court’s deliberations could technically take up to six months, local media reports predict the judgement could come as early as next week.

The impeachment motion needs approvals from at least six judges to take effect, after which a presidential election will be held within 60 days. If it is rejected, Park could return to work and stay until the end of her term in February 2018. Choi is on trial for coercion and abuse of power.

The two women became close through Choi’s father, a shady religious figure who was Park’s mentor for years. Park’s own father, dictator Park Chung-Hee, was assassinated in 1979 by his intelligence chief.

The 65-year-old president is accused of colluding with her friend to extract money from local firms as well as letting her handle a wide range of state affairs including nominations to senior posts, despite having no official title or security clearance.

A number of former presidential advisors and cabinet members have been arrested or charged for their involvements in the scandal, including allegedly leaking secret state documents to Choi at Park’s order.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2m7xRJO

Animal population grows at Kainji Lake National Park (Read full details)

http://ift.tt/2llQJG1

The Conservator, Kainji Lake National Park, Alhaji Mohammed Kabuiru, has said that animal population has increased in the park as a result of frequent patrol by the armed park rangers.

Kabiru said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kainji on Friday on the sidelines of the Commemoration of the World Wildlife Day.

The theme of the 2017 World Wildlife Day celebration is: “Listen to the Young Voices’’.

He said that varieties of animals were being sighted in the park.

“Such mammals as lion, leopard, hippopotamus, western hart beast, roan antelope among other varieties of reptiles, snails, varieties of wild birds and insects in their numbers,’’ Kabiru said.

He said that varieties of aquatic animals and fishes also abound in their natural habitat in the rivers in the park.

According to him, elephants are no more sighted in the park because of fragmentation of their natural habitat.

“The elephant migratory corridor has been encroached by farmland and other human activities, along their migratory corridors.

“The elephant population is now cut off as a result of farmland and human activities. That is what happened to elephants that used to be in Kainji 13 years ago,’’ he said.

Kabiru said that every game reserve has its peculiarity.

“Cross River National Park has low-land gorillas because of the vegetation of the place.

“The vegetation of a place determines the animals that are found in any game reserve,’’ the conservator said.

Kabiru, however, said that poachers sometimes carried out their unscrupulous activities by logging, fishing, hunting and grazing.

He said poachers were prosecuted when caught.

According to the conservator, the park receives more researchers (undergraduate and post-graduate students) than people visiting for recreation.

“This year alone, we have received from different parts of the country more than 2, 000 students on excursion and field trips,’’ Kabiru said.

NAN reports that the Kainji National Lake Park is protected for tourism, conservation of its resources, both plants and animals, for the purpose of research and recreation.

It covers an area of 5,340.82 km and was established in 1978.

Its climate exhibits wet and dry seasons from April to November and November to April respectively.

“The park is a typical inselberg landscape with round hills, wide pediments and plains separating them and incised river channels slopping down toward the River Niger valley.

“Some of the rivers in the park include: Oli Menei, Doro and Manyara Rivers among others.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2miL17g

Tanzania bans alcohol sachets…Read full details

http://ift.tt/2lypQLc

PHOTO:Yahoo

A ban on alcohol sold in plastic sachets will come into force in Tanzania this week, the government said Wednesday, as it seeks to protect the environment and curb youth boozing.

The import, manufacture, sale and consumption of the 50 millilitre alcoholic sachets — the size of a double shot and commonly containing gin, rum, vodka, whisky or other spirits — will be banned with effect from March 2, said environment minister January Makamba.

President John Magufuli announced the ban last year.

The sachets sell for as little as $0.25, putting intoxicating liquor within reach of even the poorest while the discarded sachets clog drains and litter the streets.

The sachet ban is expected to upset businessmen, some of whom make huge profits from their sale, as well as drinkers who will be forced to pay more for bottled alcohol, but will be welcomed by religious leaders, teachers and parents.

The easily-concealed bags of booze are especially popular among school students who can be seen sucking on the sachets between classes or at the start of the school day.

In some places the sachets sell faster than soft drinks or donuts and, when discarded, are an eyesore. When the wind blows they float in the sky like filthy confetti.

The sachet ban comes after the government launched an anti-drugs campaign last month.

Several African countries such as Ivory Coast, Senegal, Malawi and Rwanda have already imposed bans on alcohol sachets.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2lTdz6x

Two brothers to die by hanging in Ogun

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

An Abeokuta High Court on Wednesday sentenced two brothers, John Kuku, 45, Fabu Kuku, 33, to death by hanging for armed robbery.

The accused persons who live at OPIC Estate at Agbara in Ogun State, were found guilty of a two-count charge of conspiracy and armed robbery. In her judgment, Justice Olatokunbo Majekodumi said the convicts were found guilty of the offences.

“Having found that the accused persons are guilty as charged on both counts, you shall be hung by the neck until you are dead, may the Lord have mercy on you,” Majekodunmi said.

The judge said that the offences committed contravened Section 6(b) and was punishable under Section1(2)( a) of the Robbery and Firearms (special provisions) Act, Cap Rll Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convicts, who had been standing trial since June 2012, had pleaded not guilty to the charges. The duo were arrested and charged for robbing one Mr Kojo Debue of N300,000.

Majekodunmi said the convicts and others at large committed the offence at about 12.00 am at Asaidu village, Ajebo via Obafemi-Owode Area in Ogun.

Majekodunmi said the two convicts who are from Cotonou, Republic of Benin, and others robbed the complainant and his family in their house. She said the duo and one other came into the house of Debue at midnight and asked them to open the door, the complainant’s younger brother Sunday who was living with them opened the door.

Majekodunmi said one of them pointed a gun at the complainant while the others carried the box inside which the complainant kept his money.

“During the trial process, the second accused confessed that it was Sunday, the younger brother to the complainant that accosted them.

” He, then, told them his elder brother was a treasurer of a local contribution group and has up to N1 million at home which they would go and rob.

“He said after the robbery operation they all flee into the bush, when the complainant shouted for help, the vigilante group in the village rushed inside the bush and searched for them.

“During the searching process in the bush, the vigilante group shot one of the robbers, Kasim Olajide on his leg, which later led to his death.

“They also arrested the other two robbers and handed them over to the police at Ajebo while Sunday was nowhere to be found.

“All effort made to arrest Sunday, the mastermind of the alleged robbery proved abortive,” she said.

The prosecution counsel, Mr O. K. Adeniyi said that all the proof tendered convinced the court beyond reasonable doubt that the convicts committed the offences.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2lWrw2d

Aubameyang lost fitness at Africa Cup, moans Tuchel

http://ift.tt/2lKzVbp

Dortmund's Gabonese forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Berlin's US defender John Anthony Brooks vie for the ball during the German Cup DFB Pokal round of 16 football match BVB Borussia Dortmund v Hertha Berlin in Dortmund, western Germany on February 8, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / SASCHA SCHUERMANN /

Borussia Dortmund’s Thomas Tuchel has blamed Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Champions League shocker against Benfica on a loss of fitness at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Tuchel hauled off Aubameyang moments after the 27-year-old missed a penalty in the 1-0 last 16 first leg defeat in Lisbon.

It was one of four clear chances spurned by Aubameyang, the Bundesliga’s top scorer with 17 goals.

“‘Auba’ has been physically behind since returning from the Africa Cup,” explained Tuchel.

“After the missed penalty, I didn’t get the feeling anymore from his body language that he was in a position to score.

“He is a part of the team and I can’t imagine that he had a problem with my decision.”

Goalkeeper Ederson saved Aubameyang’s 58th-minute penalty and Tuchel replaced the mis-firing forward four minutes later.

Having been on fire up to the winter break, the striker has struggled in recent weeks since Gabon’s group stage exit last month at the Cup of Nations.

Aubameyang, who has made no secret of his desire to one day play for Real Madrid, was last month told by Dortmund bosses to stop talking about leaving after two interviews where he hinted at a June exit.

Despite losing in Portugal, Dortmund battered the Benfica goal with 14 shots compared to the hosts’ five.

Aubameyang twice fired over the bar with only Ederson to beat, hit his penalty straight at the goalkeeper and also failed to convert a cross from Raphael Guerreiro from two yards out with the goal gaping.

Benfica’s Greek striker Kostas Mitroglou scored the only goal of the game but Tuchel remains positive about the return leg on March 8.

“We didn’t just play well, we played exceptionally well,” said Tuchel.

“We didn’t pay attention for three minutes, when we went off the boil, and we conceded with their only shot on goal in the second half.

“That’s football, when you play so well, yet still walk off as losers.

“But for days like that there is always the return leg. Shit happens.”

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2kJwtKi

Hafeez lured the boy who came to buy biscuit to his inner shop, raped him through anus

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Friday ordered the remand of a 38-year-old man, Hafeez Yusuf, to Kirikiri Prison over alleged sodomy.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Davies Abegunde, refused the plea of the accused and ordered him to be remanded until next adjourned date.

Abegunde adjourned the case to Feb. 20 for hearing on bail application.

The accused, a trader who resides at Kareem Oyelade St., Dopemu, a suburb of Lagos is facing one-count charge of sexual assault.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Raphael Donny, told the court that the offence was committed on Jan. 13 at the accused residence.

Donny said that the victim, a 7-year-old boy went to the accused shop to buy some biscuit when he assaulted him.

“The accused lured the boy into his inner shop and defiled him through his anus.

“The victim told his mother when the pain was unbearable for him and the accused was apprehended,’’ he said.

The offence contravened Section 135 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

 

The post Hafeez lured the boy who came to buy biscuit to his inner shop, raped him through anus appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2kwXQu8

We’ll make sure nobody has the gut again to attack us, Iran vows

Trump agrees to honour Obama refugee deal

Smoking hastens menopause, says medical practitioner

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

An Ilorin-based medical doctor, Dr Tajudeen Olawepo, has said that cigarette smoking hastens the commencement of menopause in women.

He told stated this in Ilorin on Friday that studies had shown that smoking hastened menopause by approximately one to two years, regardless of race or genetic background.

He said that in the case of heavy smokers, this could be up to nine years earlier than for average women with certain genetic variations.

He added that menopause occurred when the female reproductive organs, the ovaries, stopped producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Olawepo explained that the symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, depression, forgetfulness, vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse.

Menopause was recognised when a woman had not had a monthly period for 12 months, as long as there was no other reason, he added.

He said menopause happened between the ages of 45 and 55.

He noted that “it is not always easy to confirm that menopause has actually happened , of course, irregular periods and occasional hot flash is a sign that changes are taking place, but timing the actual menopause is not so simple.

“And it’s important to know, not just preventing symptoms in the most appropriate way, but also for contraception.

“However, most doctors advise menopausal women under 50 to continue with their contraception for two years after their last period and for one year if they are over 50.’’

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when her period stops. It usually occurs naturally,
often after age 45.

NAN

The post Smoking hastens menopause, says medical practitioner appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2kwQx5M

Iran retaliates, bans American wrestlers for World Cup through visa denial

Trump threatens Iran over missiles

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened Iran over its ballistic missile test that violated a UN Security Council resolution.

Trump, in his tweets on Thursday, said “Iran has been formally put on notice”..

“Should have been thankful for the terrible deal the U.S. made with them!” Trump tweeted.

The president blamed his predecessor, Barack Obama, for giving life-line to Iran through a 150 billion dollars deal.

“Iran was on its last legs and ready to collapse until the U.S. came along and gave it a life-line in the form of the Iran Deal: 150 billion dollars,” he said on his Twitter handle.

Trump’s National Security Adviser Michael Flynn had on Wednesday threatened Iran over the ballistic missile test, saying that the action violated a UN Security Council resolution.

“As of today, we are officially putting Iran on notice,” Flynn told reporters at the White House press briefing on Wednesday.

The controversial missile test carried out by Iran has been said to be nuclear-capable with the capability of travelling up to 3,000 kilometres and is capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Cruise missiles are harder to counter than ballistic missiles since they fly at lower altitudes and can evade enemy radar, confounding missile defense and hitting targets deep inside an opponent’s territory, the U.S. in this instance.

The Security Council’s sanctions against Iran’s nuclear programme was lifted in 2016 following the 2015 pact brokered by Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia and the U.S.

Under the 2015 UN resolution endorsing the deal, Iran was asked to refrain from work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons for up to eight years.

Under the nuclear deal, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for lifting of most sanctions.

Iran has, however, insisted that the pact between it and the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council as endorsed by the UN, did not mention cruise missiles, insisting that the ban was only for ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

The post Trump threatens Iran over missiles appeared first on Vanguard News.

Vía Vanguard News http://ift.tt/2kwY6ck