Driverless cars became a reality in 2017 and hardly anyone noticed

 Driverless cars  became a reality in 2017 and hardly anyone noticed 

On November 7, Waymo announced it would begin regularly testing fully driverless cars—without a safety driver—on public roads. It was a momentous announcement. A technology that had seemed like science fiction a decade earlier became a reality. And the announcement was greeted with a yawn by much of the media and the public—if they noticed at all.

A little more than a year ago, Alphabet announced that the Google self-driving car project was being re-organized as its own independent company called Waymo. Since then, we've seen a steady stream of significant announcements from the company. Days after the re-branding was announced, Waymo unveiled the Chrysler Pacifica minivans that would be the backbone of the company's testing efforts in 2017.

In April, Waymo launched its early rider program, an opportunity for ordinary families in the Phoenix metropolitan area to ride in Waymo vehicles. In June, Waymo signed a deal with Avis Car Rental to help manage Waymo's fleets of driverless cars.

October saw Waymo launch a PR campaign focused on the Phoenix area touting the potential benefits of driverless cars. The same month, Waymo submitted a report to the federal government explaining the various precautions Waymo has taken to ensure its vehicles are safe.

Until November, Waymo's cars always had a safety driver behind the wheel when they were on public roads in Arizona. On November 7, Waymo announced that it was going to start testing cars without a safety driver. There would still be a "pull over" button, but if the software malfunctioned in a serious way, there likely wouldn't be anyone able to grab the wheel quickly enough to prevent a crash.

National Archives: Thatcher and Major clashed over economy

Margaret Thatcher clashed with John Major over his handling of the economy, just weeks after she resigned as prime minister, government files reveal.

The National Archives' document shows the pair had a heated discussion in January 1991.

Mrs Thatcher warned her successor as PM that he was on the verge of making an "historic error" about interest rates.

She was also angry about his plans to abandon one of her signature policies, the poll tax.

Mrs Thatcher, who was Conservative prime minister between 1979 and 1990, had previously made clear Mr Major, who went on to serve as prime minister until 1997, was her chosen successor.

However, as time went on, and Mr Major spoke of his desire for "compassionate" Conservatism, she became suspicious that he intended to pursue his own course.

Mr Major wrote to Mrs Thatcher on Boxing Day 1990 and invited her to a meeting where they might air - and resolve - their differences.

During the meeting, which took place in Mr Major's room in the House of Commons on 3 January 1991, Mrs Thatcher warned that "excessively high" interest rates risked pushing the UK's economy into recession.

She compared the position to Winston Churchill's decision as chancellor in 1925 to fix the parity of the pound at a high level. This led to deflation, mass unemployment and the General Strike.

Thatcher's poll tax miscalculationBirmingham Six prison letter revealedThatcher refused to share flight with panda

"Mrs Thatcher said conditions on the economy were very tough indeed," the official minute of the meeting said. "She believed that there was a danger of repeating Winston Churchill's historic error."

Mr Major retorted that the situation in 1991 "was not remotely comparable".

But in September 1992, his government unsuccessfully prevented a devaluation of the pound and the currency was forced out of the European Exchange Rate mechanism (ERM) - a system for tying the pound and other currencies' values to that of the German mark.

It was a day that famously became known as Black Wednesday and was one of the low points of the premiership of Mr Major, who had been re-elected the previous April.

In the 1991 meeting, Mrs Thatcher made her views clear on Mr Major's decision to scrap the poll tax (officially known as the community charge), a policy that had triggered civil disobedience and riots, as well as a rebellion in the Conservative Party.

"Local authorities would draw the conclusion that it was such a bad tax they could put it up as much as they liked and blame the government," she said.

The National Archives in Kew, London, holds more than 11 million official documents, which are often opened as public records after 30 years. The government is reducing this timeframe to 20 years.

Other documents released by the National Archives reveal that:

Margaret Thatcher once refused to share a flight to Washington with London Zoo's male pandaShe was warned against inviting former US president Richard Nixon to Downing Street in 1980 - six years after Mr Nixon's resignation over the Watergate scandalJohn Major rushed out news that the Queen had agreed to pay income tax, in an attempt to deflect media criticism during her "annus horribilis" in 1992European officials considered plans to write off billions of dollars of Soviet debt in return for nuclear disarmamentOne of six men wrongly convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings branded the British legal system as unable "to spell the word justice"

Fuel Scarcity: Depot And Marketers Association Exposes NNPC's Lies

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) has claimed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) lied to Nigerians on the ongoing nationwide shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol.  The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) has claimed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) lied to Nigerians on the ongoing nationwide shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol.                            

DAPPMA made the claim in a statement issued on Monday. Signed by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Adewole, the statement rejected accusations of product hoarding leveled against DAPPMA members.                  

While DAPPMA explained that it can neither confirm nor dispute NNPC's claim of having sufficient product stock, the association said it can confirm that the products are not in the tanks of its members.                                

According to DAPPMA, there are always hitches in product distribution any time the NNPC assumes the role of sole importer of products. DAPPMA added that 80 percent of the country's functional product receptive facilities are owned by its members and such do not currently hold products.                          

Kachikwu and Baru

"The NNPC imports and distributes products through DAPPMA, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN). Our members pay NNPC/PPMC (Petroleum Products Marketing Corporation) in advance for petroleum products and fully paid up PMS orders that have neither been programmed nor loaded are in excess of 500,000 metric tonnes (about 800,000 liters) as at today and enough to meet the nation's needs at a daily estimated consumption of 35,000 liters.

Our members' depots are presently empty. However, if the NNPC /PPMC provides us with PMS, we are ready to do 24 hours loading/truck out to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians until the fuel queues are eliminated," said DAPPMA. The association maintained that the NNPC has been the sole importer of the product since October for various reasons.

Among these, DAPPMA said, is the fact that the country currently runs a fixed price regime without any recourse to subsidy claims. It noted, however, that the international price of crude oil is beyond its control. DAPPMA stated that the current price of PMS is about N170 per liter, with the NNPC, importer of last resort, absorbing the attendant subsidy on behalf of the Federal Government.                      

"We understand that NNPC meets this demand largely through its DSDP platform framework. However, due to price challenges on the DSDP platform, some participants in the scheme failed to meet their supply quota of refined petroleum products, especially PMS, to NNPC. This is the main reason for this scarcity," explained DAPPMA.                        

It added that the current exchange rate of naira to the dollar is N306 for PMS importation, stating that banks also charge interest at a rate above 25 percent.

It further stated that this situation puts the landing cost of PMS at N145 per liter, which requires any of its members that imports would have to resort to subsidy claims, a policy already abolished by the Federal Government.

I Thought I Was 74 But Was Told I'm 75, Says Buhari

I thought I was 74 but was told I’m 75, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday stirred up a fresh controversy over his real age when he said he thought he was 74 but was told he was 75. Buhari spoke when the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammed Bello, led a delegation to pay him Christmas homage at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President, joined by state governors and other top government officials, celebrated his 75th birthday penultimate Sunday. He was said to have been born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, present day Katsina State. While thanking his guests for the visit, Buhari recalled the health challenge that kept him away from the country for months earlier in the year and admitted that 2017 had been a tumultuous year for him.

The President said he had recovered well from the sickness because he obeyed his doctors who instructed him to be eating and sleeping well. “But I have explained it to the public that as a General, I used to give orders. But now, I take orders. The doctors told me to feed my stomach and sleep for longer hours. That is why I am looking much better.”

Dollar Drops Below N400/$ For First Time In 7 Months

For the first time in seven months, the dollar fell below the psychological N400 barrier, when the greenback traded at N399 to the dollar in Lagos and exchanged at N395 in Abuja, lower than N410 at which it traded on Tuesday.With the gains made by the local currency in the last five weeks, the naira inched closer to one of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) key foreign exchange policy objectives of an exchange rate convergence.
The naira trades for N375 to the greenback for invisibles and at N307 to the dollar on the FX interbank market, the official window for manufacturers and importers of raw materials eligible to buy FX from this segment of the market.
The last time the naira traded at between N395 and N400 to the dollar on the parallel market was in August 2016.
The significant gains made by the naira on the parallel market, according to market analysts, was a reflection of the improved confidence in the FX market, following the sustained dollar interventions by the CBN since last month.
One analyst also attributed the gains made by naira to the Bureau de Change (BDC) operators that are awash with dollars and with little or no customers to patronise them.
He said several retail customers who used to resort to the BDCs (which realistically fund the parallel market) to fund invisible transactions now get to buy dollars at a lower rate from the banks.
“The BDCs are awash with cash. Remember that the central bank sold about $200,000 to each BDC at some point and they had also bought dollars at high rates which they hoarded, thinking that the naira would remain in a free fall. But with the CBN’s intervention, they are stuck with loads of dollars and little or no customers, so they have stopped buying dollars and are looking for avenues to offload what they bought at ridiculously high rates. Essentially, the speculative attacks on the naira has come back to haunt them and they’ve got their fingers burnt,” he said.
In all, the central bank has auctioned a total of $1.895 billion through forward sales, as well as targeted intervention for invisibles.
This amount does not include its daily intervention of $1.5 million on the interbank market.
The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, on Tuesday expressed optimism about the convergence of the FX rates on the official and parallel markets, stating that the gains made by the naira against the greenback in the last five weeks was not a fluke.
Emefiele said he was happy that the central bank’s intervention was yielding positive results.
“I am happy, indeed very gratified, that the interventions have been positive, we have seen the rates now converging and we are strongly optimistic that the rates will converge further. In terms of sustainability, I think it’s important for us to say that the foreign reserves at this time are still trending upwards to almost $31 billion as I speak with you. And the fact that we have done this consistently for close to five weeks, should tell everybody or those who doubt the strength of the central bank to sustain this policy,” he had said after the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

Nasarawa Increases Retirees’ Pension To N5, 000

The Director-General of Nasarawa State Pension Bureau, Mr. Abdullahi Sani-Oseze, said on Saturday the state government has increased the minimum pension of retirees to N5, 000.
Sani-Oseze, who disclosed this in Lafia, said government made the adjustment in order to make life more meaningful for pensioners in the state.
He said some workers, who retired from active service before the implementation of minimum wage in the state, were receiving as low as N1, 000 as their monthly pension.
Sani- Oseze said: “So we consider the plight of this category of pensioners and reported to Governor Umaru Al-Makura, who directed that there should be an upward review of their pensions.
“No pensioner today in the state receives less than N5, 000 as his monthly pension.”
He said the Bureau had taken measures to address issues of some pensioners, who had not benefited from any payment since the inception of Al-Makura’s administration in 2011.
He said the agency had, through the media, directed that any pensioner, who had not received any payment since A-Makura came on board, should come to the Bureau’s office with necessary documents.
“We have given them one week to come forward with their documents and the response has been impressive.
“Those who were unable to come as at December 22 can still bring their documents after Christmas; we will still attend to them,” the pension bureau chief said.

Philippines tropical storm: More than 130 dead after flooding

Mudslides and flooding triggered by a tropical storm in the Philippines have killed 133 people, officials have said.

Dozens more are said to be missing.

The deaths were reported in various places including Tubod, El Salvador and Munai towns in Lanao del Norte province on the southern island of Mindanao.

"We're are still trying to confirm reports of a farming village buried by a mudslide due to heavy rains brought by the typhoon," said local official Ryan Cabus.

Power and communication lines have been cut, complicating rescue efforts.

The storm gathered strength over the Sulu Sea, bringing winds of up to 50mph, forecasters said.

It was heading west and would be out over the sea later on Saturday, they added.

Emergency workers, soldiers, police and volunteers were being mobilised to search for survivors, clear debris, and restore power and communications.

The Philippines is hit by around 20 major storms each year on average, many of them deadly.

Nobody has come forward for ‘Baby Harry’ who was abandoned in a park

He was wrapped in a white blanket and was taken to an east London hospital.

He is now being cared for by the local authority but police want to make sure that his mother is okay.

He was wrapped in a white blanket and was taken to an east London hospital.

He is now being cared for by the local authority but police want to make sure that his mother is okay.

New footage and pictures have been released showing an abandoned baby who was left in a park when he was newborn earlier this year.In a renewed appeal, officers have released new photos and footage of Harry, taken when he was about one month old.

Detective Inspector Debbie McCormack said: ‘It has now been three months since Harry was found. In that time we have been in constant contact with hospitals throughout London to see if Harry’s mother has sought medical attention but we have yet to identify her. We are growing increasingly concerned for her welfare.

I would reiterate our appeal to Harry’s mum – please come forward and let us know you are safe and if you need care and support, we can help you access this.

‘As you can see from the images, little Harry is doing well but we would urge anyone else with information, or who saw anything out of the ordinary in the Balaam Street area on that morning, to please come forward.’

Trump Signs Into Law U.S. Government Ban On Kaspersky Lab Software

Trump signs into law U.S. government ban on Kaspersky Lab software*

President Donald Trump signed into law on Tuesday legislation that bans the use of Kaspersky Lab within the U.S. government, capping a months-long effort to purge the Moscow-based antivirus firm from federal agencies amid concerns it was vulnerable to Kremlin influence.

The ban, included as part of a broader defense policy spending bill that Trump signed, reinforces a directive issued by the Trump administration in September that civilian agencies remove Kaspersky Lab software within 90 days.

In an attempt to address suspicions, the company said in October it would submit the source code of its software and future updates for inspection by independent parties.

It added that the company was assessing its options and would continue to "protect its customers from cyber threats (while) collaborating globally with the IT security community to fight cybercrime."

On Tuesday, Christopher Krebs, a senior cyber security official at the Department of Homeland Security, told reporters that nearly all government agencies had fully removed Kaspersky products from their networks in compliance with the September order.

Ugandan Lesbians to Be Deported from Denmark

Three Ugandan lesbians are set to be deported from Denmark after Danish authorities rejected their asylum requests citing serious contradictions in their stories, according to RT News.

However, the LGBT community and gay rights activists have criticized their deportation saying they automatically qualified for asylum since they were escaping persecution based on their sexuality.

“Homosexuals risk persecution from other civilians, their families and clan members as well as blackmail and assault. Homosexuals cannot expect police protection if they are attacked, threatened or killed,” said the spokesperson of LGBT Asylum, Hanne Gyberg.

Gyberg told Ritzau News Agency that it is the first time that LGBT Asylum, an international organization fighting for asylum for homosexuals, has faced a deportation of this nature.

Their sexuality was not considered in the rejections and we believe the Danish authorities should look at the cases again,” Gyberg added.

A lawyer representing one of the Ugandan lesbians has requested the Danish Refugee Appeals Board to appeal the decision on her client’s behalf saying she is an active and a known member of the LGBT community, which makes it dangerous for her to go back to Uganda.

On its part, Denmark’s ruling party, Venstre, has condemned, in general, the deportation of people escaping persecution based on their sexuality.

When people are considered to be persecuted in their home countries because of religion, sexuality or something else, we have a special obligation to protect them, Venstre’s spokesman Jacob Jensen said.

The three Ugandan lesbians moved to Denmark seeking refuge following an upsurge in homophobic attacks in Uganda after the country passed an anti-gay law in 2014.

Although it was later ruled as invalid by the constitutional court of Uganda, the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2014 criminalized any relationships between persons of the same sex.

The act condemned homosexuality saying it was a threat to “legal, religious and traditional family values of the people of Uganda.” It also recommended life imprisonment for gay people.

The aftermath of this law was an unprecedented rise in attacks on members of the LGBT community in Uganda, forcing many of them to flee the country.

Armed Robbers Seize UBA Bullion Van In Delta, Cart Away Millions Of Naira

There was pandemonium and panic Friday in Asaba, Delta State capital when daredevil armed robbers numbering over five attacked a bullion van around Koka junction along the Asaba-Benin Expressway and carted away a yet to be disclosed amount of cash, running into as much as several millions of naira.pandemonium and panic Friday in Asaba, Delta State capital when daredevil armed robbers numbering over five attacked a bullion van around Koka junction along the Asaba-Benin Expressway and carted away a yet to be disclosed amount of cash, running into as much as several millions of naira.

According to an eyewitness account, the heavily armed hoodlums, who came in a grey Sienna car, were seen shooting sporadically before overpowering the security personnel serving as escort to the bullion van said to belong to United Bank for Africa, (UBA), and thereafter took possession of the van and emptied its vault and zoomed off to an unknown destination.


A middle-aged man who narrowly escaped the armed robbers' bullets that left his car severely damaged, told our correspondent that "I want to thank God for saving my life. I witnessed how the armed robbery incident started. The whole incident started around 12noon at Koka junction along the Asaba-Benin expressway. The mobile policemen that were escorting the bullion van were overpowered and the driver of the bullion van quickly escaped."

"At this junction, the robbers quickly seized the van and emptied it before leaving. The sporadic shooting by the robbers made people running for dear lives. The incident also caused a serious hold up along the ever busy expressway. Before the police could arrive the scene the robbers have zoomed off with their Sienna car with serious gunshots into the air. I would have been a dead man by now if that bullet had touched me," the eyewitness said.

Our correspondent, gathered that, shortly after the successful operation, some policemen believed to have come from the Delta State Police Command drove the bullion van to the A Division Police Station, Asaba where it was parked for further investigation.

A police source who confided in our correspondent disclosed that the successful armed robbery operation was carried out with insiders connivance.

Several calls put across to the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Andrew Aniamaka, were rebuffed but when contacted as at the time of filing in this report, the state commissioner of police, Zanna Ibrahim said he has not been properly briefed and pleased for more time.

Edo street sweepers protest unpaid eight-months salary arrears

Edo street sweepers protest unpaid eight-month salary arrears

Street sweepers engaged by the Edo State Waste Management Board, under a public-private partnership arrangement, have staged another protest over the non-payment of their outstanding salaries. The protesters, who abandoned their morning duties, lamented that the state government had failed to pay their entitlements spanning seven months.

Armed with placards, the aggrieved workers marched through Kings Square, Akpakpava Road, and made a stopover at the press centre of the Nigerian Union of Journalists before heading for the Government House in Benin. The street sweepers had on November 2 taken to the streets to protest against the non-payment of their seven-month salary arrears.

One of them, Aigbe Jerry, alleged that the affected workers had been disengaged on the excuse that the job had been given to State Employment and Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR), an initiative for empowerment.

Actress' estranged husband says a bad wife kills faster than poverty

Mercy Aigbe's estranged husband's latest remarks on social media makes us wonder if they are ever going to come back.

Mercy Aigbe.  (Press)

Mercy Aigbe's estranged husband, Lanre Gentry might have just thrown some jabs at his wife as their separation trouble deepens.

The hotelier responded to a message posted by Yoruba Nollywood actor, Afeez Owo who asked a question on his Instagram page.

"Which one kills a man faster...poverty or Bad wife? be sincere with your answer, especially ladies," he wrote.

Well, it didn't take long before he started getting responses from a lot of people including Lanre Gentry who responded by saying "Bad wife."

This looks like the crisis rocking the marriage between Lanre Gentry and Mercy Aigbe might not be ending anytime soon.

The feud between these guys can be traced back to earlier in the year when Mercy Aigbe moved out of her matrimonial home with her two children and moved into an apartment in Magodo after alleged domestic violence in their matrimonial home.

It would be recalled that blogger Linda Ikeji had reported of the longtime domestic violence been experienced by Mercy Aigbe and how it had only gotten worse. She also reported that her nasty fight had gotten to the point where the actress had to be admitted to an undisclosed hospital.

The actress after the incident, took to her Instagram page where she put up a photo of a battered woman writing, "Say no to domestic violence. Only a Coward hits a woman! REAL MEN don't HIT!".

Her husband also went on the defensive with a post "say No to the promiscuous and irresponsible women."

We can cast our minds back as this wasn't the first time domestic violence allegations have trailed Mercy Aigbe's marriage. In 2013, it was reported that Mercy Aigbe was beaten up by her husband at a public event.

The estranged husband of Mercy Aigbe had on June, 2017 come out publicly to say he was tired of the back and forth relationship between him and his wife as he would love to make peace with her.According to him, he still loves her and would love for them to end their public spat for the sake of their children.

Security clampdown at The Hague amid fears of further suicides

Investigators at the UN’s war crimes court in The Hague are scrambling to seal security breaches amid fears other inmates will “do a Praljak”, copying the Bosnian Croat warlord who dramatically killed himself with cyanide last week.

Slobodan Praljak’s suicide, carried out in the dock and televised around the world, threatens to make a mockery of the court’s vaunted security procedures.

With Dutch police opening their own investigation, the tribunal has appointed Gambia’s chief justice Hassan Jallow to find out how Praljak, 72, obtained the bottle of potassium cyanide that Netherlands prosecutors said killed him.

The investigation is likely to start with the most glaring breach – the lack of any guard placed close enough to Praljak to snatch the cyanide from his grasp.

Most Hague trials have a blue-uniformed guard in the dock beside defendants: two were deployed to flank the famously irascible Bosnian Serb general Ratko Mladić last month when judges convicted him of genocide for orchestrating the Srebrenica massacre.

Yet no guard was beside Praljak, who was sentenced to 20 years for a litany of crimes against Muslims during the Bosnian war, when he appeared in the dock along with four fellow Bosnian Croat defendants to hear appeals against hefty sentences rejected.

Just two security staff bookended the line of defendants in what was billed as the final act of the court before it closes its doors at the end of this month, and neither noticed the bottle Praljak held in front of him in his meaty hands.

After hearing his 20-year sentence confirmed by appeal judges, the bearded warlord declared “Slobodan Praljak is not a war criminal, I reject your judgment with contempt,” and thrust the contents of the bottle into his mouth.

Only when Praljak, tottering, his eyes glazed, slumped to his seat and announced “I have taken poison” did the judges react.

“There were normally two guards behind the accused … not this time,” said a Croatian official, who would not be named because they are not authorised to talk to the media. “The Croatian press says that perhaps the last day of the Tribunal contributed to the relaxing of rules.”

Investigators will want to know also how Praljak got the poison into the dock despite rules mandating strip searches and X-rays for defendants entering and leaving the court complex. Given the lethality of even small doses of cyanide, officials may count themselves lucky he used it only on himself.

Of concern to investigators is whether other convicts still awaiting appeals verdicts, by a successor court due to start work next month, may be tempted to take similar drastic action.

Suicide has long stalked the Hague tribunal, a byproduct of hefty sentences handed down for horrific crimes in the wars of Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo.

Two Hague inmates, both Serbs, have hanged themselves in the cells of the court’s Scheveningen prison on the Dutch coast. Slobodan Milošević, Serbia’s former president and the Hague’s most high-profile defendant, was apparently able to smuggle an antibiotic into his jail cell to exacerbate a heart condition that killed him near the end of his three-year trial in 2006.

Visitors to the Hague’s fortress-like court building are subjected to X-ray searches, and liquids are supposedly banned, but judges have not introduced more intrusive body-cavity searches, fearing a public backlash.

“It’s like the airport security, it’s not all that intense,” says Dr Eric Gordy, of University College of London’s school of Slavonic and eastern European studies. “If the searches were more intense everybody would complain.”

Some fear the suicide will tarnish the successes of a court that has jailed dozens of war criminals and achieved a string of precedents in international justice, convicting those responsible for atrocities including ethnic cleansing, mass rape and the siege of Sarajevo.

Praljak, a theatre director who became a key leader of Bosnian Croat forces in the early 1990s, was convicted for crimes including the bombardment of the ancient town of Mostar and prisoner abuses. Yet the verdict has been declared a “deep moral injustice” by Croatian prime minister Andrej Plenković, believed to be the first declaration by the head of an EU government in support of a convicted war criminal. “This [suicide] will just cement what was already public opinion about the tribunal,” says Mina Vidaković of Sense news agency which is archiving Hague trial material. “In Serbia and Croatia the establishment and the media are more concerned about the accused than the victims.”

Others think the court’s legacy will survive. “I don’t think this strange and bizarre event will distract from the bigger story of the accomplishments of the tribunal,” said Balkans expert Tim Judah. “Its successes outweigh its failures.”

To Fix Nigeria We must Restructure Our Minds

: *To fix Nigeria, we must restructure our minds –Fela Durotoye*

In this interview with JESUSEGUN ALAGBE, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the GEMSTONE Leadership Centre, Fela Durotoye, says by 2025, Nigeria will become the most desirable country to live in

*_At what point in your life did you decide to become a life coach?_*

First, let me say that what I do today is the work of a nation-builder. A nation-builder is someone who has four characteristics in the form of ABCD. By A, it means someone who accepts responsibility for the well-being of their nation, not just their well-being and that of their family. No matter how well they are doing, if their nation is not doing well, they believe they are not also doing well.

Workers won’t vote for governors who owe salary – Labour leader

The General Secretary, Textile Union Workers, Mr Isa Aremu, on Wednesday, said the 2019 election would be determined by the dignity of labour and commitment in payment of workers’ salary.

Aremu said this in an interview in response to government’s plan to raise workers’ salary after negotiation by the newly inaugurated 30-member committee on new minimum wage.

According to him, governors who refuse to pay the salary of workers as and when due and those who criminalise workers on account of deficiency in skill will not get workers’ votes.

He added that labour would be partisan and political in its interest, based on those who paid salary.

“Dignity of labour will not be ensured if workers are not paid when due. Workers have the right to employment,” he added.

The general secretary said labour would conduct competence test for governors with a view to judging them based on their indices.

“It will involve skills like: ‘do you pay workers when due; Do you engage workers in social dialogue or in dictatorship policies? among others,” Aremu said.

He noted that for the country to properly recover from recession, workers’ salary must be increased.

He advised the 30-member minimum wage committee inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari not to spend more than six months to dialogue as lots of time had already gone by.

2018 Budget Proposal Is Fictitious, Says Abaribe

2018 budget proposal is fictitious, says Abaribe*

The lawmaker representing Abia South Senatorial District, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has described the 2018 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari, as fictitious.

The debate on the 2018 budget proposal started on a dramatic note at the plenary on Tuesday when the first speaker, Abaribe, dismissed the 2018 budget proposal as “fictitious.” The Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, however, retorted by raising a point of order to fault Abaribe for describing a bill presented by President Muhammadu Buhari as “fictitious.” Lawan urged the lawmaker to withdraw the word “fictitious” and use another word that was “parliamentary and acceptable.”

Withdrawing the word, Abaribe, however, insisted on his position, saying, “I am just quoting the Senate Leader from his speech, which said in the 2018 budget was designed to consolidate on the achievements of the 2016 and 2017 budgets. What was done in 2017 when less than 15 percent of that budget was released. Nothing was done and that was why I called it (2018 budget proposal) fictitious.”

Buhari Orders More Money To States Before Christmas

Buhari Orders More Money To States Before Christmas

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed his key finance officials to sit down with representatives of Nigeria Governors Forum to determine how much of their unpaid debts can be released to them before Christmas.

Responding to pleas by the governors who came to the State House on Monday under the leadership of Abdul-Aziz Yari, the Chairman of the Forum asking that the President give a commitment to pay all outstanding debts owed them from London and Paris Club deductions to ease their financial hardships, President Buhari said he was not averse to the payments so long as the treasury can afford it and the economy will not be destabilized.

The Governors informed the President that they wanted his commitment on this repayment so that they could factor the money into their 2018 appropriation plans. In his reaction, the President said that the issues affecting the States were familiar to him.

Also ,

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday inaugurated a 30-member National Minimum Wage Committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The tripartite committee has the task of negotiating a new National Minimum Wage for Nigerian workers.

Former Abia State governor,Orji Kalu says: We'll Force Buhari To Recontest In 2019

*We'll 'Force' Buhari to Recontest in 2019

Former Abia State governor, Orji Kalu, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) will force President Muhammadu Buhari recontest election in 2019.

The former governor, who said this during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, was of the opinion that it was the President’s entitlement to run for a second term.

“President Buhari will run for re-election, not a must but he is going to run. He has to run (and if he says he is not running), we will force him to run,” he said.

Miss South Africa Is Crowned Miss Universe

*Miss 🇿🇦South Africa Is Crowned miss Universe 2017
Miss South Africa Demi-Leigh Nel-Peters has been crowned Miss Universe 2017. Nel-Peters beat out first runner-up Miss Colombia Laura González and second runner-up Miss Jamaica Davina Bennett for the crown Sunday night in Las Vegas. Nel-Peters, 22, recently earned her degree in business management at North-West University.

During a pre-taped interview, the Western Cape native talked about how her experience being held at gunpoint made her passionate about training women in self-defence. She plans to bring that passion, along with a self-defence program she helped develop, to the Miss Universe platform. During the competition's Q&A portion, the newly crowned Miss Universe was asked about the most important issue she thought was facing women in the workplace.

The competition's top 13 finalists were 🇹🇭Thailand, 🇱🇰Sri Lanka, 🇬🇭Ghana, 🇪🇸Spain, 🇮🇪Ireland, 🇭🇷Croatia, Great 🇬🇧Britain, 🇺🇸USA, 🇧🇷Brazil, 🇨🇦Canada, 🇵🇭Philippines, 🇻🇪Venezuela & 🇨🇳China.

Miss Universe 2017

Man charged with attempted murder of 96-year-old D-Day veteran

A man has been charged with the attempted murder of a D-Day veteran who suffered life-threatening injuries in a suspected claw hammer attack in his home.

Joseph Isaacs, 39, of no fixed address, has also been charged with aggravated burglary in connection with the incident and will appear at Taunton Deane Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Jim Booth, 96, was allegedly attacked at his home in Taunton, Somerset, on Wednesday.

Mr Booth, who was photographed dancing with the Duchess of Cornwall at an event to mark the 70th anniversary of VJ Day, was left with serious injuries to his head and body.

In a statement released through police, his family thanked officers and medical staff.

"He is the head of the family, a dearly-loved father to his four children and adored by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, to whom he's simply known as The Legend," they said.

"He is, and always has been, our own family hero."

On his condition, they said: "Our father is not easily defeated and he grows a little stronger each day.

"We are all now focused on the long process of recovery, which will be helped by the love and support of all those around him."

Mr Booth joined the Royal Navy as a seaman aged 18 and served throughout the Second World War.

On D-Day, he climbed into a fold-up canoe and shone a beacon out to sea so Allied craft could make it to the shore.

Mr Booth was awarded a Croix de Guerre military medal by France for his bravery during the conflict.

Ikoyi Whistle-blower Rejects FG’s N325m, Insists On N860m Percentage.

The whistle-blower that gave information to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that led to the recovery of money from an Ikoyi apartment has insisted he will not take less than 5 per cent of it.
The whistle-blower’s information had led to the recovery of $43m, N23.2m and £27,800 (N13bn) from an apartment in Ikoyi and insists in being paid N860m as being promised by the federal government.
The Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, who was also part of the committee that drafted the whistle-blower policy spoke at an even on Thursday, November 23 where he said someone could be paid less than 2.5 per cent.
He said: “If you blow the whistle and the government recovers cash, you are entitled to between 2.5 per cent and five per cent. The maximum limit is five per cent.
“According to the policy, if you blow the whistle and it is below N500m, you get four to five per cent because the higher the amount that is recovered, the lower the percentage that is given. This is the global best practice.
“If the recovery is between N500m and N1bn, you get three to four per cent (commission).
If it is N1bn and above, it is 2.5 per cent. Indeed, there is a clause that we included in the policy to say that the government may determine the amount to be awarded based on other criteria provided that the amount to be awarded doesn’t exceed five per cent.
In other words, the government may actually pay less than 2.5 per cent but nobody can be paid more than five per cent.”
The Punch reports that Yakubu Galadima who is the lawyer of the whistle-blower insisted that he client will not take anything less than 5 per cent.
He said the amount his client was expecting was N860m and not N325m.
He also said his client must be paid based on the exchange rate f that period and not the current one. Meanwhile, two different men are currently in a fight for the N850 million whistle-blower’s commission from the Ikoyi Mansion cash recovery.
Ownership of the cash took a new twist on Tuesday, November 14, when the principal whistle-blower, Stephen Sunday, alleged plot by some individuals to dissolve his entitlement.

Buhari approves N164.8m fees for Chibok girls in AUN

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the payment of N 164 . 8m for the second semester schools fees of the freed 106 Chibok girls at the American University of Nigeria , Yola .
He has also restated his commitment to the safe return of the remaining girls still in Boko Haram ’ s captivity .The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity , Garba Shehu , said these in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday .
Shehu quoted Buhari as expressing delight at the progress made in the rehabilitation of the 106 girls now in AUN owned by former Vice -President Atiku Abubakar who on Friday resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress .
He said the President made the approval for the payment of the school fees while reviewing the progress report submitted to him in line with his commitment to personally monitor the rehabilitation and reintegration into society of the freed Chibok girls .
“ In line with , the President has approved payment of the sum of N 164 , 763 , 759 (one hundred and sixty four million, seven hundred and sixty - three naira ) for the second semester school fees of the 106 Chibok girls at the American University of Nigeria , AUN in Yola , ” the statement read .

Iran warns Europe: We can increase missile range

The deputy head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards has warned Europe that it could increase the range of its missiles.

In comments reported by the Fars news agency, Brigadier General Hossein Salami said: "If we have kept the range of our missiles to 2,000 kilometres, its not due to lack of technology.

"We are following a strategic doctrine.

"So far we have felt that Europe is not a threat, so we did not increase the range of our missiles.

"But if Europe wants to turn into a threat, we will increase the range of our missiles."

It was not clear whether Mr Hossein was reacting to a particular European action or speech but France has previously called for tough talks with Iran about its ballistic missile programme.

Iran has repeatedly promised the programme is for its own defence.

But the US says Iran is breaching international law, as some of its missiles could one day carry nuclear warheads, something Iran denies.

Head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, said in October that the country's 2,000km (1,240 mile) missile range covered "most of American interest and forces".

"Our missiles' range is 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles), and that can be increased, but we believe this range is enough for the Islamic Republic as most of the U.S. forces and most of their interests in the region are within this range," Jafari was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency.

"Americans are trying to impose new sanctions against the Revolutionary Guards for its missile program, but that is an excuse to harm Iran's economy."

The US House of Representatives voted in October for new sanctions on Iran's ballistic missile programme.

US President Donald Trump has called for allies to join him in stopping Iran's "continued dangerous and destabilising behaviour".
Source: sky NEWS

Yemi Alade Angry At Sarkodie For Disrespecting Her

Music Diva, Yemi Alade is disappointed in Ghanian rapper, Sarkodie for snubbing her managements approach to him for a joint project in the past.

Yemi who recently released the album art and track-listing of her third studio album “Black Magic“ was on the Starr Chat show on Wednesday where she discussed the issue.

She said she was once a big fan of Ghanaian rapper, but has stopped being his fan ever since that event played out which she tagged “unprofessional” attitude.

“I’ve really tried my best to really not go into details but the long and short on why I don’t want to dwell on this is that is super unfair, unprofessional and unkind for international acts or even artistes to have a dealing with anybody and after agreeing to certain things, you don’t come through at all,” she lamented.

“I can count three different countries and three different venues where my team and I had an agreement with the artiste ( Sarkodie ) in particular and he didn’t come through.

“I don’t want to bring in the feminine and masculine inequality we’re experiencing in the industry and I don’t want to link it to that.

I was pained as a person but I’ll say it is almost impossible to promote a project that is supposed to be for two people when the other party isn’t coming through at all, the music pretty much suffers.”

She added that she felt disgraced by Sarkodie ’s attitude, especially after she tried to reach him on three different shows where he performed

Notwithstanding, She further explained that she is not looking for an apology from the Ghanaian rapper and BET winner, that she is “cool and not bothered at all”.

Atiku's Alleged Real Reason For Leaving APC Revealed

Nigerian leading lawyer, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has revealed real reason former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar left the ruling party. 

 Keyamo who took a swipe at Atiku, wondered why the former Vice President could not be bold enough to tell Nigerians why he left APC.

Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, yesterday resigned from the party with different reasons.

But Keyamo believes Nigerians already know that the ex-VP left because he had little chance of securing a ticket in the ruling APC with President Muhammadu Buhari likely to seek reelection in 2019.

The senior lawyer wrote on his twitter handle, @fkeyamo, “The starting point of Atiku’s Presidential bid would have been to simply admit he left APC in search of another party’s ticket.

“Nigerians know that already.

Emmerson Mnangagwa sworn in as president after Robert Mugabe resigns

Zimbabwe's recently fired vice president has been sworn in as leader after more than a week of political turmoil which saw despot Robert Mugabe ousted from power.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, who recently fled the country in fear of his life, made a triumphant return on Wednesday in advance of his inauguration as president on Friday.
The ceremony will bring a final end to Robert Mugabe's 37-year rule.
Mr Mugabe, 93, who had led Zimbabwe from independence in 1980, stepped down on Tuesday after the army seized power and the ruling party ZANU-PF turned against him.

The former president resigned on Tuesday as parliament began a process to impeach him, sparking scenes of jubilation across Zimbabwe.

Hanan Buhari, Youngest Daughter Of Muhammadu Buhari Stuns In New Photos

President Buhari’s youngest daughter and photographer, Hanan Buhari looks absolutely breathtaking in these new photos she released on her Instagram.

Hanan who is also known as Aisha Buhari is reportedly the seventh daughter of the president and her date of birth is August 30, 1998. She schooled at Kaduna International School and her keen interested in photography is a general knowledge.

Her recent photo exhibition which held months back showcased the peaceful and hardworking nature of Nigerians to viewers from around globe.

The exhibition which attracted international community and the stakeholders in the Nigerian art industry was themed ‘Innovation by Hanan’.

Hanan’s collection displayed northern culture while encouraging the younger generation to pursue their passion.

Here are the photos:

source: Instagram

Stay off social media, Omotola advises Banky W, Adesua

Nollywood star, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde has advised the latest Nigerian celebrity couple, Banky W and Adesua, to stay off social media “for sometime.”
Omosexy who has been married for more than 22 years now, gave the advice on Instagram page.The beautiful actress gave this advice on her Instagram page on Tuesday, November 21, 2017, where she said she is rooting for this their new love story.
"Dear Banky and Adesua, After Capetown, everyone leaves...it's just you two. My darlings if possible, stay off social media a bit. Communicate continuously. Preserve your friendship not just your love. Even as you two have now become one, don't forget to respect your individuality. We love you and are rooting for your special Love," she wrote.
This is coming a few days after the wedding between Banky W and Adesua Etomi » which was held on Sunday, November 19, 2017, in Lagos was attended by friends and family members of the couple.
Well, Omotola might just be one of the right persons to be giving advice to the newlyweds since she has been married for over two decades now to Captain Mathew Ekeinde and have four lovely children.

The identity of the mystery guy Malia Obama was kissing at Harvard has been uncovered

Few days ago,  Former President Barack Obama’s eldest daughter, Malia Obama was pictured kissing a mystery guy and also smoking cigarette at her first Harvard-Yale football game.

The identity of the mystery and lucky guy has been uncovered and here DailyMail’s report;

The lucky man in question is Rory Farquharson, a fellow Harvard student who is British, DailyMail.com can exclusively revealThe 20-year-old swapped the UK for the US when he arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, last fall with the three simple words: ‘So it begins’Farquharson attended one of England’s most prestigious and posh schools, Rugby School, and is currently a sophomore at HarvardHe was selected Head of School at Rugby School for the school year 2015-2016.An insider at his former school said he was ‘quite the catch’ and very popularFarquharson played rugby and represented the school at golf. He was also a member of the Blue Bunsen Society, a chemistry clubAccording to his Twitter account, he seems interested in following in the banking footsteps of his father, Charles Farquharson who is a chief executive and director of an investment fund management group in London.

Hushpuppi calls Dino Melaye his favourite Senator as they slam those investigating their wealth

Instagram big boy, Hushpuppi, has backed Senator Dino Melaye who went on an Instagram rant, slamming those who are investigating his source of wealth.According to Dino Melaye ‘Someone will make money, you want to investigate the source of his wealth , when he was poor did you investigate the source of his poverty?’Backing him, Hushpuppi who shared the video wrote;

Senator Dino Melaye blasts those that investigate the source of people's wealth

The controversial Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District went to popular Social Media App – Instagram to criticize people who deemed it fit to investigate the source of other people’s wealth.


"what is actually wrong with people, someone will make money, you say you want to investigate the source of his wealth, when he was poor did you investigate the source of his poverty … come on ??"

Meanwhile , Senator Dino Melaye has while addressing journalists at the end of a plenary session last month, disclosed that 40 Nigerian senators have donated at least 1,260 bags of rice and other relief materials to civil servants in Kogi state a few days after a director in the Kogi State civil service reportedly killed himself over unpaid emolument.Mr. Melaye who was pelted with stones during the Kabba Celebration also called the attention of the Senate to the suffering of civil servants in Kogi State.

Wizkid Impregnates London Manager: Singer's Third Baby Mama Delivers His 3rd Child

wikzid white girlfriend
Nov 20, 2017 – Wizkid Impregnates London Manager: Singer’s White Girlfriend, Third Baby Mama Delivers His Third Child In London

The web went agog this morning with the report of a new baby delivered to singer Ayodeji Balogun.

The singer has officially confirmed that his manager in London, 38 year old Jada Pollock has delivered his third child.

He took to Twitter few hours ago to confirm the report as he announces the birth of the baby boy named Zion Ayo Balogun.

Jada who was already married at the time he met Wizkid reportedly dumped her husband when he got involved in a romantic affair with the singer.

According to an insider, Wizkid’s big mummy as she is fondly called delivered the singer’s third child in London UK on Tuesday the 31st of October 2017.

wizkid third child
With this new addition, 27-year-old Wizkid is now fathering three different kids with 3 different women.

His first babymama, a Nigerian identified as Sola Ogudugu delivers the singer’s first child, Boluwatife .

Tiwa Savage unhappy after she was forced to consider flying economy to get out of Dubai in time for Banky W and Adesua's wedding

Mavin Records Artiste, Tiwa Savage has revealed her “sad state”, as she has been trying to book a flight out of Dubai for Banky W’s traditional wedding, set to hold today.The singer who was in Dubai for the One Africa Music fest, revealed that she was forced to consider flying economy, after all flights were booked as she was in a hurry to at least make it back in time for Banky W and Adesua’s wedding.She wrote on Her Instagram; “Flights are full, even trying to get on economy so I can make my bro wedding tonight”.

Burna Boy declared wanted by Lagos Police (Read Why)

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi declared Singer, Burna Boy wanted and publicly called on him to report to the Police State ASAP for questioning.This was stated at a press briefing today, and it’s in connection with the robbery attack of fellow singer, Mr. 2kay at Eko Hotel.

According to the Police commissioner, ‘4 armed robbers carried out the attack and detectives were able to arrest one of their girlfriends who is identidied as ‘Matejero’ which led to the capture of the others.

During interrogation, the robbers confessed that they were hired by Burna Boy through his manager, Joel Kantiock who was arrested in Zaria, Kaduna State’.

The CP went on to say that ‘they confessed to receiving a part payment of 50,000 naira before the job and another 50,000 was paid to the robbers directly by Burna Boy when the job was done.

At the moment, efforts to apprehend Burna Boy is proving futile but we count on him to make himself available for questioning immediately’.

Prolific Producer, Masterkraft has got Social Media buzzing after he rocked “an incomplete” outfit for Banky W and Adesua Etomi’s Traditional wedding.Folks on Social media assumed that he probably bought the materials (aso ebi) later, and he brought got the last piece.While others say he borrowed Susu’s remaining yard..

For reasons best known to him, Masterkraft decided to make short sleeve shirt out of the ‘expensive’ aso-ebi and wore it over a three-quarter shredded jean and white sneakers.

Nigerians why

A woman who is desperate to look like children's toy has spent a whopping N14million on plastic surgery to achieve her aim.Anella AnA glamorous architect has laid claim to being Poland's first 'living Barbie doll' by undergoing plastic surgery to look like children's toy.

According to Dailymail, the woman identified as Anella An from Poznan western Poland, says her dream is to 'maximise her likeness' to the plastic toy - although the 25-year-old, who calls herself the 'First Polish Barbie', didn't always aspire to look like the children's doll.

Revealing details of all she has done to advance her cause, Poznan said that after having surgery on her nose, she 'couldn't stop' and went on to shell out 150,000 PLN (around £30,000) on having her lips and breasts augmented too - but she insists her tiny waist is all natural.

Speaking on local breakfast TV, the part-time model and shopping enthusiast said: 'It came about very spontaneously. It was not planned at all.

'Everyone has a complex, even small things like hair or something you have to change, and I said that I would like to improve one thing, for example, my nose. And I did it. 'Then I thought about nice breasts and I thought why not, and that was the start.'

Anella, who has nearly 40,000 Instagram followers and divides her timebetween Poznań, Tricity and Munich, added: 'I like strange, weird, and unique things, maybe because I'm weird.'

She added: 'I like people who have something to say, who are charismatic. People who can create something beautiful and are beautiful inside.'

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