Scientists grow potato under Mars-like conditions in Peru

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"Preliminary results are positive," the International Potato Center (CIP) said this week after a potato grew under simulated Mars atmospheric conditions in an experiment in Lima.

Potatoes on Mars? Scientists are reporting promising results growing the tuber under conditions that mimic the Red Planet in an experiment in Peru linked to US space agency NASA.

“Preliminary results are positive,” the International Potato Center (CIP) said this week after a potato grew under simulated Mars atmospheric conditions in an experiment in Lima.

The CIP, in a report, said a potato was planted in a specially constructed CubeSat contained environment built by engineers from the University of Engineering and Technology in Lima.

The experiment ran from February 14 to March 5.

“Growing crops under Mars-like conditions is an important phase of this experiment,” said Julio Valdivia-Silva, a Peruvian astrobiologist at UTEC in Lima who previously worked at NASA.

“If the crops can tolerate the extreme conditions that we are exposing them to in our CubeSat, they have a good chance to grow on Mars,” he said, adding that several rounds of experiments will be conducted to find out which potato varieties do best.

Potatoes, one of the world’s largest food crops, are believed to have first been cultivated by the Inca Indians in Peru around 8,000 to 5,000 BC.

The potential ability of potatoes to grow under such conditions could signal promise for food supplies under climate change and extreme environments.

“The results indicate that our efforts to breed varieties with high potential for strengthening food security in areas that are affected, or will be affected by climate change, are working,” said CIP potato breeder Walter Amoros.

The custom environment for the Potatoes on Mars project was based upon designs and advice provided by NASA.

The scientists “concluded that future Mars missions that hope to grow potatoes will have to prepare soil with a loose structure and nutrients to allow the tubers to obtain enough air and water to allow it to tuberize,” CIP said.

They used very dry soils found in the southern Peruvian desert, noting they are the most Mars-like soils found on Earth.

The CIP experiment is set to last five years.

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‘Buhari fit to resume work tomorrow’

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President Muhammadu Buhari is fit to resume work tomorrow, after spending 51 days medical vacation in the United Kingdom, a source in the Presidency has said.

The source, who is conversant with the president’s medical history, at the weekend dismissed the rumour of the President’s incapacitation on account of his declaration that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will continue to function for more weeks, saying President Buhari was as fit as a fiddle.

President Buhari on his return to the Presidential Villa on Friday morning said in remarks to members of the Federal Executive Council and military chiefs, at the First Lady’s Conference Room at the Presidential Villa that “I am feeling much better now. There may however be need for further follow up within some weeks. I deliberately came back towards the weekend, so that the Vice President will continue and I will continue to rest.

That understanding was later reversed towards evening of Friday, when Presidential sources hinted the President will resume tomorrow. That generated reactions, with some Nigerians expressing doubt whether the President has fully recovered to commence rigorous state duties.

Special Adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, in a tweet on his handle at noon last Friday, ‎said the President would transmit a letter to the National Assembly to make his return to work formal, and constitutional.

Meanwhile, Buhari has appealed to Nigerians not to bother visiting the villa to welcome him.  He said, “rather than sending delegations to Abuja to welcome me, may I appeal to our people to continue to pray for the country’s unity, progress and prosperity.”

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

Troops kill two Boko Haram terrorists, soldier feared dead, two others missing

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One Soldier was feared killed and two others missing during a fierce gun-battle between troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and remnants of Boko Haram insurgents around the Gwari/Ganye axis of Borno State.

One Soldier was feared killed and two others missing during a fierce gun-battle between troops of Operation Lafiya Dole and remnants of Boko Haram insurgents around the Gwari/Ganye axis of Borno State.

Spokesman of Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen. Sani Usman, disclosed that the clearance battle, which lasted for over two hours, also led to the injuring of an Army officer and 13 soldiers, before they were evacuated to Maiduguri for treatment.

In a statement made available to reporters yesterday, Usman said two Boko Haram terrorists were killed, explaining: “This occurred when our troops were advancing towards Sa’ada village in their heightened efforts to clear the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in some locations within the area.”

He said the wounded soldiers were in stable condition, adding that concerted effort was being made to recover the two others missing in action.
He further revealed that when the troops met heavy presence of Boko

Haram terrorists in the area, they engaged them and destroyed the terrorists’ makeshift camps at Gwari and Ganye villages. “The troops had to withdraw to Forward Operation Base at Kerenoa,” Usman added, noting, “to sustain the tempo of the clearance operations of terrorists hiding in remote areas and some villages, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, have been carrying out ambushes, raids, cordon and search operations in the theatre and North-East generally.”

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Outrage over Customs’ threat to impound used vehicles without duty

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Nigeria Customs Service

• Nigerians Groan, Say Policy Will Impose More Hardship 
The recent threat by the Nigerian Customs Services Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), to impound vehicles without duty across the country has elicited harsh reactions from Nigerians, who described it as a move to further impose untold hardship on them.

According to vehicles dealers and private car owners that spoke with The Guardian yesterday, the new directive is only targeted at raising revenue for government, to the detriment of the citizenry.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (Rtd.) has approved a grace period of one month, which commences March 13 to April 20 2017, for owners of all vehicles within the country, whose customs duty has not been paid, to do so.

By implication, vehicle dealers and private owners of vehicles without duty will have to forfeit them to the Customs. But stakeholders say this will further impose untold hardship on the populace, who were hitherto finding it tough coping with the economic recession.

Okechukwu Ogbonna, an importer of used vehicles, who is the Managing Director of Artix Auto Links Services, said the plan “is absolutely ridiculous and rubbish. We have Customs officers at the borders and they allowed the vehicles into the country in the first place. How will the same agency turn around to impound vehicles not covered by appropriate duty? It is ridiculous,” he said.

He said the Customs boss is very confused and lacks the competence to manage the agency.

“This action may result in loss of lives and time, as Customs officers are known for their cruelty and wickedness, when you argue or refuse to give them money‎,” Ogbonna said.

Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Aminu Jalal, has a different opinion, saying the move will ensure that all car importers pay necessary duty and save government losses resulting from smuggling.

Jalal was also optimistic that the decision would strengthen government policy in the sector by introducing sanity to the market, as well as create the market for local assemblers.

Increase Uche, Deputy National President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), also saw it as a welcome development that will give Nigerians the opportunity to regularise their papers with the Customs.

He enjoined affected persons to seize the opportunity of the one-month grace period to pay their customs duty.

Uche said boycotting customs duty is a sabotage to the nation, hence the need for compliance, “so that we can jointly uplift the country.”

A statement by the Acting Public Relations Officer, Joseph Attah, explained that “for the avoidance of doubt, all private car owners, who are not sure of the authenticity of their vehicles Customs documents, can also approach the Zonal Offices to verify with a view to complying with the provision of the law”.

Consequently, all motor dealers and private owners of such vehicles are advised to visit the nearest Customs Zonal Office to pay the appropriate Customs Duty on them.

The Four Zonal Offices of the Nigeria Customs Service are: Zone A Headquarters, No. 1 Harvey Road, Yaba, Lagos; Zone B Headquarters, Kabala Doki, Kaduna; Zone C Headquarters, Nigeria Ports Authority, Port Harcourt and Zone D Headquarters, Yelwa Tudu Road, Bauchi State.

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Lagos Na Wa … The casual rhythm of Lagos…Read full details

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A scene from the play

There is no definitive narrative that can capture the experience of living in Lagos, but stories can be woven around specific patterns and tropes. Lagos Na Wa is premised on one of such: the story of the Lagos JJC (Johnny Just Come).

This is a comedy of errors with a charm that makes it look like a performance thrown together casually.

Hakeem, a young man from Ayetoro, Ogun State, leaves his hometown for the big city. The opening act is about his departure: tearful goodbyes, and confrontation from folks he had impregnated and owed monies.

The emotions of the act are interpreted to the audience via a chorus that swarms and stomps and sings in unison; closing in and opening out in fluid sequences. The chorus members’ costumes suggest it is a crowd watching the departure on the side of the street and interjecting it with their commentary. Many have wrappers hanged around their necks and tied around their chests, a sight typical of languid mornings in small towns and villages of southwest Nigeria.

The ballads of the opening act are mostly by contemporary Nigerian artists — Timi Dakolo, Wizkid, Olamide, among others — ending with Pray For Me by Darey (featuring The Soweto Gospel Choir). The harmony of that song is, however, butchered by the ensemble in a performance that looks true to what might happen on the street. One is left to wonder how different the energy of the performance would have been if the haphazardness of the costumes and mise en scène was undergirded by vocal perfection.

Hakeem leaves Ayetoro after escaping the mob that wants to punish him for his infidelities, but enters Lagos and falls into the hands of another ’mob’ ready to swindle him down to the boxer shorts that cover his naive butt. Language is an important part of this play, and as the characters switch from the Yoruba and English words of the town to the pidgin and slangs of Lagos, one could appreciate how the lack of proper vocabulary can betray ignorance in a city that punishes it.

Hakeem doesn’t stay naive for long. He teams up with a friend who rescues him from committing suicide and together they swindle residents of the city in a scheme that is a metaphor for that character of Lagos that turns landlords into graffiti artists, painting “This house is not for sale” on their fences. Hakeem falls into the hands of an angry mob and his end, left open to interpretation, is well known to anyone who is familiar with the Lagos rules of engagement.

Lagos Na Wa is intended as part of the 150 plays that will be performed on March 27 by the troupe simply identified as Team Nigeria in its attempt to enter the Guinness Book of Records for the longest performance ever. The perfromance, however, looks in many parts like a rehearsal. In espite of its colourful scenes, it would be a lot more better if the rhythms of the performance were tightened.

• Ifeoluwa Nihinlola is a participant in the ongoing Young Critics workshop organised by the International Association of Theatre Critics and British Council Nigeria as part of 2017 Lagos Theatre Festival

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Maiduguri explosions kill three Boko Haram suicide bombers (Read full details)

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A firefighter stands near a petrol tanker on fire following a suicide attack in Maiduguri on March 3, 2017. Multiple explosions rocked the outskirts of Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri early Friday, killing three suicide bombers, the emergency service and police said.<br />STRINGER / AFP

Explosions in Maiduguri in the early hours of yesterday killed three Boko Haram suicide bombers after one of them detonated strapped Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

The explosion also destroyed two fuel trucks near the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot on Damboa road.

Spokesman of northeast zone of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abdulkadir Ibrahim, said in a telephone
interview with The Guardian in Maiduguri that the bodies of the suicide bombers had been evacuated by the agency’s rescue team workers to the mortuary for identifications.

“The fires of the explosions have been brought down this morning, while evacuation of casualties has been concluded before working hours.”
On how the bombers infiltrated Maiduguri, he said: “Three suicide bombers sneaked into the metropolis through Damboa road about 3am.“They were sighted by Civilian JTF, 250 metres from the NNPC depot, before one of them detonated the strapped IEDs.

“They quickly run and hid near three stationary petrol trucks, where one of them detonated the IEDs and killed all of them on the spot.”He said no civilian or security personnel died in the explosion.

An eyewitness, Abubakar Kaumi, told newsmen at the scene that the blast occurred around 3 a.m.“A woman suspected to be a suicide bomber walking alongside two girls came round the depot.

“They detonated their explosives near some petrol tankers parked there and destroyed the three vehicles.“Gladly, nobody was closed by, so only the three bombers died,” Kaumi said.

The Borno State Police Command also confirmed the incident, stating personnel of Explosives Ordinance Department (EOD) had been deployed to the scene for further protections and cordoning.

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Night Ranti got me hooked to the classics…Read full details

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Ranti Ihimoyan

As she commenced her rendition of J. Strauss Junior’s Mein Herr Marquis, the classic, the atmosphere in the hall grew serene, the audience was very attentive. Then she did the often-heard The Laughing Song; and she was rewarded with a resounding applause by the appreciative guests gathered at that evening of classical music performance at the Banana Island School, Ikoyi. It was no surprise that after the main act, and the guests were asked to request a bonus classic number from the offered menu, the unanimous decision was that Ranti should render The Laughing Song again.

The soprano solo, Ranti Ihimoyan was my favourite performer on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at the Vesta Violins-organised Wednesday Classics (a series of concerts, which holds on the last Wednesday of every month; but on this occasion, was staged in collaboration with-the British Council as part of the Lagos Theatre Festival.

Attendance at the concert was a blend of demographics — the elderly and the young, Nigerians and foreigners – a rich mix of tastes and obvious lovers of western classic tunes. Ranti, the trained chemical engineer turned professional singer won their hearts all. I wondered why I had not heard of this beautiful singer before then. My search online revealed that her Yoruba folk song, Iwe Kiko had enjoyed massive airplay on several radio stations. While in secondary school, Ranti won the first place soloist prize in the Shell Schools Competition, and has since been performing at top range classical music concerts in the country and outside. But the other performers of the nine classic tunes selected also performed with grace and panache, and the audience had a full feast.

Without doubt, the classic music scene is thriving with candour in Lagos, and the Vesta Violins- Classical Wednesday session flagging off opening programmes of the Lagos Theatre Festival, was indeed a blessing.Dolapo is also participant in the ongoing Young Critics workshop as part of 2017 Lagos Theatre Festival

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Arsene Wenger hopeful as gunners battle depleted Liverpool…See full details

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Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger / AFP PHOTO / IKIMAGES / Ian KINGTON

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson remains out with a foot injury, while Daniel Sturridge is absent because of a hip strain.Dejan Lovren has not played since 31 January but is back in training and will be assessed ahead of the game.

Mesut Ozil was sent home from Arsenal’s training session on Thursday with an illness but is expected to be fit for today’s match.Aaron Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny return but Mohamed Elneny is out for three weeks with an ankle injury.

“Ever since commentating on the epic 1989 title clincher, this has been one of my favourite fixtures. This season it’s crucial for both managers,” Jonathan Pearce said.

“Jurgen Klopp is getting criticism for the first time. Few were complaining before Christmas.”Philippe Coutinho’s injury, Sadio Mane’s absence, a thin squad and moral-crumpling cup defeats have eroded ambitions for this season. But Klopp must, and will, be given time.

“It’s Arsene Wenger’s 50th and possibly last game against Liverpool, who haven’t done the double against him since 2000.”A win here, a big display against Bayern and a cup victory against Lincoln won’t silence Wenger’s critics. They should be wary of what they wish for.”

“I have no idea what happens in the summer. It is not only Daniel, but a lot of players. Daniel was not in training for eight or nine days because of a virus infection,” Klopp said.

“We have to bring him back to the best shape possible and then bring this season to an end as successfully as possible. Then we will make decisions.

“A lot of things will influence this and we can speak about it when it is time.”Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger on his future and being linked with Barcelona: “Of course I am not looking for jobs in other clubs or jobs off other people.

“I am focused on trying to improve and always trying to see what you can do better and reinvent yourself.”I have been here for 20 years and I had many times the opportunity to leave so I don’t think I have to convince you that my preference has always been Arsenal.”The club is free to make the decision it wants and I will respect that.”

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Osinbajo’s visit: Akwa Ibom people task FG on peace in Niger Delta (Read full details)

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Acting President Yemi Osinbajo being received by Rivers State monarchs at the Port Harcourt International Airport in continuation of Federal Government’s dialogue with Niger Delta people…yesterday<br />

The people of Akwa Ibom State have appealed to the Federal government to review the privatisation of Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) and Nigeria Newsprint Manufacturing Company (NNMC), Ikot Abasi and Itu Councils, respectively.

Speaking during the town hall meeting organised by the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, to seek ways of restoring peace in the Niger Delta, a member of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Otekong Idongesit Nkanga, stressed that the review would settled once and for all the rightful owner of ALSCON.

He noted that the review would create room for sustainable operation of the company, thereby creating job opportunities for the teeming youths of Akwa Ibom, Niger Delta and Nigeria. The two federal government companies have not worked optimally since their privatisation.

ALSCON is involved in ownership problem, which had always led to its closure, while NNMC has not taken off since it was bought over about seven years ago.

The former military governor of the state further call on the federal government to respect the agreement it reached with the state government on taking over and completion of the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the state airport, saying such would also be another avenue of creating employment for Nigerians youths.

Other demands include completion of the East-West road, relocation of multinational oil and gas companies’ headquarters to the state and the region.

Chief Nduese Essien, speaking on behalf of the oil producing communities in the state, described the neglect and marginalisation of Akwa Ibom people as “another case of man’s inhumanity to other man.”

Meanwhile, granting most of the request from the people of Akwa Ibom, The Federal Government has directed that International oil companies (IOCs) operating in the country to relocate their headquarters to their operational base, noting that, this was the best thing to dAccording to him, this move would reduce tension with the host communities and lead to reduction of youth restiveness in the area also. He urged the Minister of State Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu to accordingly engage the International Oil Companies on a way forward.

The Acting President hinted that the Ministry of Petroleum is collaborating with major oil companies on several initiatives including working on illegal refineries to establish modular refineries to produce much better petroleum products.

On the issue of amnesty for the people in the state, Osinbajo said the Ministry of Petroleum and Amnesty office are with the state governments on providing the same benefits of amnesty to the young people in the state.

On the Ibaka deep seaport, the Acting President said is a project the Federal Government also takes very seriously. “As a matter of fact, in the 2017 budget, there is already a provision for the Ibaka port; there’s already N1billion provision. It is a matter we take seriously to partner with the Akwa Ibom State Government.”

He urged the state governments to attract private investment in their states to create opportunity for the unemployed. “The biggest benefit we can obtain is private development; opportunity state governments can provide is only a fraction to what investment can bring. Private investment is a driver of progress everywhere in the word,” he said.

Earlier, Governor Udom Emmanuel had appealed to the Federal Government to integrate Akwa Ibom indigenes that were left out in the amnesty programmes among other many requests.

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SMW re-enacts need for implementation of cybercrime act (Read full details)

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Organisers of the Social Media Week, which ended in Lagos…yesterday PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI<br />

Parents Cautioned On Over-Exposure Of Children To Internet

Experts have stressed the need for the implementation of the Cybercrime Act in the country. The Act became a law in Nigeria in 2015.Panelists, who were gathered on the 4th day of the Social Media Week (SMW) in Lagos, yesterday urged faster implementation, stressing the need for its update to fully assist in the prosecution of violence against women and girls in Nigeria. 
   
Speaking on the topic: “Using Technology and Social Media to Counter Violence Against Women and Girls,” Coordinator, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), Mrs. Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said the issue of pornography should be addressed in the Act and called for legislation that would be consistent with the times. 
 
Mrs. Vivour-Adeniyi said violence against women and girls happen in different ways, hence the need to update the law to curb the occurrence. The Executive Director of Stand To End Rape (STER) initiative, Ms. Oluwaseun Osowobi, said social media contribute to rape and violence against women and girls, which she said had no restrictions, as it could happen to any person of any class and anywhere. 

   
Meanwhile, at another panel session, with the theme: ‘’Parenting in an era of technology,’ a session hosted by Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (WTEC), speakers urged parents to apply wisdom as they train their children in an era of technology. 

The Founder of LagosMums, Mrs. Yetty Williams, said today’s children were born in the computer age; hence positioned to using technology. Human Resource Consultant, Prof Yomi Fawehinmi, said parents should be aware of technologies and allow the children to use them, but should be observant to know when technology begins to distract the children. 
 
“There are the good and bad sides of the Internet. We should not fight our children for using technology, because we will lose the battle. 
“I am not afraid of technology; I am only afraid of those that do not use it,” he said. 
 
According to him, children should be timed on when to go to the social media and maintain a sense of balance between the children and parents. 
He said apart from 13 years being the minimum age for a child to be on social media, parents should also set their own age limit.  
 

Williams noted that in parenting a child, there was always an answer to every question and answers to children’s questions are not far away because of the use of Google, adding: ‘’However, we have to let them know that not everything onGoogle is right or correct.” 

From her perspective, an educational technologist, Dr. Oluwakemi Olurinola, said parents should help introduce the children to sites on the web that would assist them to develop. 
 
Olurinola said children should learn, while having fun on the Internet, with parents monitoring them. “Instill value in them. They need to be monitored, but they should know that monitoring is for love and care. 
 
“We also need to know when to bridge the monitoring and there should be different strategies for different children,” she said.To a counselor at Mirabel Centre, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Mrs. Joy Onoriose, 70 per cent of perpetrators of violence were familiar to the victims. 
 
Onoriose said many of the cases of violence happened to young girls who do not know that they had been violated.  She noted that most victims found it difficult or uncomfortable to voice out or come up for counseling, because of stigmatisation. 
   
Onoriose stressed the need for mothers to educate their children on what rape is and build their confidence to report any such cases, saying: “Parents should be sensitive enough to know if their children are being violated and ask the right questions to get the truth from them.” 
 

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Destination…. Obudu Cattle Ranch

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Obudu Cattle Ranch a beautiful escape from city life

With the economic situation in Nigeria, traveling abroad on holiday is no longer a child’s play; dollar has really gone gaga! However, there are still fascinating destinations in Nigeria where you can relax and one of them is the Obudu Cattle Ranch Resort.

Located close to the Cameroon border in the Northeastern part of Cross River State, Obudu Cattle Ranch features a cable car, which gives guests a scenic view of the surrounding, mountains and offers free WiFi to all guests.

The spacious rooms are designed with an adjoining sitting area, which is fitted with plush sofas. Obudu Cattle Ranch room rate is affordable. Each room features an air conditioner, an ornate lampshade, wall arts, a TV with satellite reception, a worktable/chair, and an en-suite bathroom.

The ranch itself features an onsite restaurant and bar that serve a variety of meals and drinks. Outdoor dining is available at the terrace. Guests enjoy swimming session at the outdoor pool, which is flanked by sunbeds and parasols. The resort houses a lawn tennis court, a football pitch, a basket ball court, a world class adventure water park, a well equipped fitness centre, a hot tub/jacuzzi and a well equipped fitness centre. During leisure hours, guests enjoy horse riding, helicopter field view and Village Walk.

Laundry, babysitting, car hire, city shuttle and airport pickup services are provided, though for an extra charge. Onsite and nearby parking are available and the premises are guarded by security personnel.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2m6ajoI

Maiduguri explosions kill three Boko Haram suicide bombers

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A firefighter stands near a petrol tanker on fire following a suicide attack in Maiduguri on March 3, 2017. Multiple explosions rocked the outskirts of Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri early Friday, killing three suicide bombers, the emergency service and police said.<br />STRINGER / AFP

Explosions in Maiduguri in the early hours of yesterday killed three Boko Haram suicide bombers after one of them detonated strapped Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

The explosion also destroyed two fuel trucks near the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot on Damboa road.

Spokesman of northeast zone of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abdulkadir Ibrahim, said in a telephone
interview with The Guardian in Maiduguri that the bodies of the suicide bombers had been evacuated by the agency’s rescue team workers to the mortuary for identifications.

“The fires of the explosions have been brought down this morning, while evacuation of casualties has been concluded before working hours.”
On how the bombers infiltrated Maiduguri, he said: “Three suicide bombers sneaked into the metropolis through Damboa road about 3am.“They were sighted by Civilian JTF, 250 metres from the NNPC depot, before one of them detonated the strapped IEDs.

“They quickly run and hid near three stationary petrol trucks, where one of them detonated the IEDs and killed all of them on the spot.”He said no civilian or security personnel died in the explosion.

An eyewitness, Abubakar Kaumi, told newsmen at the scene that the blast occurred around 3 a.m.“A woman suspected to be a suicide bomber walking alongside two girls came round the depot.

“They detonated their explosives near some petrol tankers parked there and destroyed the three vehicles.“Gladly, nobody was closed by, so only the three bombers died,” Kaumi said.

The Borno State Police Command also confirmed the incident, stating personnel of Explosives Ordinance Department (EOD) had been deployed to the scene for further protections and cordoning.

Vía The Guardian Nigeria http://ift.tt/2mX48Rn

Trump’s attorney general recuses himself from Russia probe…Read full details

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WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 02: U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions (R) answers questions during a press conference at the Department of Justice on March 2, 2017 in Washington, DC. Sessions addressed the calls for him to recuse himself from Russia investigations after reports surfaced of meetings he had with the Russian ambassador during the U.S. presidential campaign. Also pictured is Sessions' Chief of Staff Jody Hunt (L). Win McNamee/Getty Images/AFP<br />WIN MCNAMEE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

US Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced Thursday he would recuse himself from any probe into the presidential election campaign as Donald Trump’s administration moved to cut short a snowballing controversy over its ties to Russia.

Facing calls to resign over newly revealed meetings he held with Russia’s ambassador before the election, Sessions denied any impropriety or that he lied about those encounters in his Senate confirmation hearing.

The Republican US president declared his “total” confidence in Sessions — while adding that he “wasn’t aware” of the contacts between Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and Sessions, who was a senator actively supporting his campaign at the time.

But top US Democrats — unswayed by Sessions’s account of events — maintained their calls for him to step down immediately, accusing him of perjury.

They also called for an independent prosecutor to investigate contacts between the Trump campaign and Moscow, which US intelligence says interfered in the election to hurt Trump’s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Adam Schiff, a Democratic ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, rejected Sessions’s claim that his contacts with Kislyak were unrelated to his work with the Trump campaign as “simply not credible.”

“In the midst of a Russian campaign aimed at undermining our election and as a highly visible proxy for candidate Trump, Sessions would have had to be extraordinarily naive or gullible to believe that the ambassador was seeking him out in his office for a discussion on military matters, and Sessions is neither,” Schiff said in a statement.

“I have come to the reluctant conclusion that the Attorney General should step down,” he said, echoing calls made earlier by the top Democrats in both chambers of the Republican-controlled Congress.

– Focus on Russian diplomat –
Trump has come under increasing pressure over Russia’s interference in the election and alleged contacts between his entourage and Moscow.

Late Thursday he defended Sessions as an “honest man” and accused Democrats of having “lost their grip on reality” and carrying out “a total witch hunt!”

Sessions, Trump said in a statement, “did not say anything wrong. He could have stated his response more accurately, but it was clearly not intentional.”

According to officials, US intelligence agencies and the Federal Bureau of Investigation continue to investigate just how and how much Moscow intruded into US politics, and whether that effort — which US intelligence chiefs say was directed by President Vladimir Putin — involved collusion with the Trump campaign.

Four congressional committees have opened probes into the issue, though Democrats fear that Republicans will seek to bury their investigations to protect Trump’s young administration.

The meetings that Trump aides and supporters had with the powerful Russian envoy to Washington have become a key focus of the probes.

Two weeks ago Trump’s newly appointed national security advisor Michael Flynn was forced to resign amid controversy over his discussions with Kislyak in late December, when the Obama administration was hitting Moscow with retaliatory sanctions and expulsions for its election interference.

On Thursday The New York Times reported that Flynn had also met the diplomat in Trump Tower in December, with Trump son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner also in attendance.

While meetings between political campaigns and diplomats are generally common, on Thursday a Clinton spokesman said there were no meetings or calls between her team and any Russian official during the campaign.

– Sessions met Russian envoy twice –
Sessions’s own meetings with the envoy took place much earlier, in July and September, just as accusations of Russian interference in the election were mounting, according to The Washington Post.

Yet Sessions had told his confirmation hearing in January that he “did not have communications with the Russians” and did not know of any by other campaign staff.

Sessions clarified Thursday that his denial referred to contacts made on behalf of the campaign. He said he met Kislyak in his capacity as a senator, and discussed mainly global politics with him.

Nevertheless, after reviewing ethics rules for his office, he said: “I have decided to recuse myself from any existing or future investigations of any matters related in any way to the campaigns for president of the United States.”

“When you evaluate the rules, I feel that I should not be involved in investigating a campaign I had a role in.”

– Democrats press independent probe –
Despite the swirling controversy, few hard facts are publicly available on what US investigators know and suspect about the contacts and about Russia’s alleged operation to disrupt the election last year.

The New York Times reported two weeks ago, citing US intelligence sources, that three Trump campaign staff had communicated with Russian intelligence officers over the past year.

The White House labeled that report “false” and has accused Democrats, the media and the intelligence community of a political effort to undermine the Trump administration.

Trump’s White House has lobbied the FBI, reportedly the CIA and two Republicans who head committees leading investigations into Russia’s election meddling, to knock down media reports on the alleged links.

That added to Democrat worries that investigations could be tainted, and lawmakers were pressing for an independent counsel to be named to study the web of allegations about Trump and Russia free from political interference.

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