World leaders vow to 'extinguish' Ebola

Brisbane - The world's most powerful economies vowed on Saturday
to "extinguish" the Ebola epidemic ravaging west Africa, as the vast
desert nation of Mali scrambled to prevent a new outbreak of the killer
disease.
Despite some hopeful signs from Africa - where Liberia has lifted its
state of emergency and the Democratic Republic of Congo announced
the end of its own, unrelated, outbreak of Ebola - the recent deaths of
three people in Mali have fuelled fears of a new hotspot.
As pop stars recorded a new "Band Aid" single in London to help
combat a disease that has killed more than 5 100 people in Guinea,
Liberia and Sierra Leone, global leaders meeting in Brisbane made no
new pledges of cash.
"G20 members are committed to do what is necessary to ensure the
international effort can extinguish the outbreak and address its
medium-term economic and humanitarian costs," the leaders said in a
statement, as they welcomed the International Monetary Fund's
initiative to release $300m to combat Ebola.
They also promised to share best practices on protecting health
workers on the frontline, as a Sierra Leone doctor with US residency
was flown to be treated at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Described as "critically ill", Martin Salia will be the third Ebola
patient treated at the facility. Both others survived.
"We immediately started preparing the unit and notifying staff
members of this possibility," said Phil Smith, medical director of the
bio-containment unit.
"We've obviously been through this a couple of times before, so we
know what to expect."
Mali situation worrying
The G20 pledge came as Togo, which is coordinating the west African
fight, warned that the world "cannot relax efforts" despite some
encouraging signals on the ground.
Senegal said on Friday it was reopening its air and sea borders with
Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, although its land border with
Guinea will remain closed. The news came a day after Liberia lifted its
state of emergency, announcing huge gains in fighting Ebola.
The Democratic Republic of Congo - where a three-month outbreak of
a different strain of the disease claimed at least 49 lives since August
- declared itself Ebola-free on Saturday.
But attention has now turned to Mali where there are fears that an
isolated outbreak could spark a major crisis after the deaths from
Ebola of three people infected by a Guinean imam who died of the
disease.
A fourth person, a doctor at the Bamako clinic where the cleric died,
is in intensive care with Ebola. More than 250 people have been placed
under observation.
Former colonial power France added Bamako to its list of destinations
subject to Ebola flight checks, and its development minister, Annick
Girardin, was to make an unscheduled visit to Mali on Saturday.
"The situation in Mali is worrying," she told AFP in the Guinean
capital Conakry, saying she would "meet the Malian authorities to see
how we can scale things up."
There is no known cure for Ebola, one of the deadliest known
pathogens which spreads through contact with bodily fluids, but trials
for several possible treatments were announced this week in west
Africa and Canada.
The World Health Organisation said on Friday that 5 177 people are
known to have died of Ebola across eight countries, out of a total
14,413 cases of infection, since December 2013.
Makes humans 'untouchable'
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged "G20 countries to step
up", warning that Ebola's disrupting effect on farming could
potentially spark a food crisis for a million people.
"As rates decline in one area, they are rising in others.
Transmission continues to outpace the response from the international
community," Ban told reporters.
A joint petition from aid groups including Oxfam and Save the
Children urged the G20 to band together to ensure that the right
resources are made available in terms of staff, equipment and funding.
Artists including One Direction, U2 frontman Bono, Coldplay's Chris
Martin and Sinead O'Connor were set to record late into the night
for a 30th anniversary version of the charity single Do They
Know It's Christmas? .
"It's not just about what's happening in west Africa, it could happen
here tomorrow," said rocker-turned-activist Bob Geldof, one of the
forces behind the original Band Aid.
"We can stop this thing, we can allow mothers no matter where they
are to be able to touch their dying children."
Making his way into the studio, Bono hit out at the response of rich
countries, saying if they "kept the promises they make at these big G8
meetings and the like we wouldn't have to be standing here".
Set to air on Sunday before its official release Monday, the single
will be the fourth incarnation of the song, which became one of the
biggest-selling singles ever after its release in 1984 to raise funds for
Ethiopian famine relief.

In-form Cameroon beat DR Congo to qualify for Nations Cup

Yaounde - Cameroon have qualified for the African Nations Cup finals
after Vincent Aboubaker struck 20 minutes from time to secure a 1-0 win
at home to the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday.
The victory in Yaounde, which continues Cameroon's rehabilitation
after their dismal World Cup, sees them finish top of Group D on 13
points with a game to play, four points ahead of Ivory Coast and seven
above the Congolese.
Cameroon lost all three games at this year's World Cup in Brazil and
had their reputation sullied by a player strike over money but they have
resurrected their form in the qualifiers for the 2015 Nations Cup,
winning four out of five games.
Cameroon join Algeria, Cape Verde Islands, South Africa, Tunisia,
Zambia and new hosts Equatorial Guinea in the 16-team tournament,
which will be held from January 17-February 8.

Doctor with Ebola arrives in US for treatment

A surgeon who contracted Ebola while working in Sierra
Leone arrived in Nebraska on Saturday for treatment at a bio-
containment unit where two other people with the disease have been
successfully treated.
Dr Martin Salia, who was diagnosed with Ebola on Monday, landed
at Eppley Airfield in Omaha on Saturday afternoon and was taken by
ambulance to the Nebraska Medical Centre.
The hospital said the medical crew that accompanied Salia, 44, from
West Africa determined he was stable enough to fly, but that the team
caring for him in Sierra Leone indicated he was critically ill and
"possibly sicker than the first patients successfully treated in the
United States".
The disease has killed more than 5 000 people in West Africa, mostly
in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leona. Of the 10 people treated for the
disease in the US, all but one has recovered.
Salia's ambulance to the hospital was accompanied by a single
Nebraska State Patrol cruiser and a fire department vehicle - a
subdued arrival in contrast to the August delivery of Dr Rick Sacra,
whose ambulance was flanked by numerous police cars, motorcycles and
fire vehicles.
First sign of symptoms
Salia has been working as a general surgeon at Kissy United
Methodist Hospital in Freetown. It's not clear whether he was
involved in the care of Ebola patients.
Kissy is not an Ebola treatment unit, but Salia worked in at least
three other facilities, United Methodist News said, citing health
ministry sources.
Salia, a Sierra Leone citizen who lives in Maryland, first showed
Ebola symptoms on 6 November but tested negative for the virus. He
eventually tested positive on Monday.
The US State Department said it helped facilitate the transfer of
Salia; the US Embassy in Freetown said he paid for the expensive
evacuation. The travel costs and care of other Ebola patients flown to
the US have been covered by the groups they worked for in West
Africa.
Patient sounds weak, shaky
Salia's wife, Isatu Salia, said in a telephone interview that when she
spoke to her husband early on Friday his voice sounded weak and
shaky. But he told her "I love you" in a steady voice, she said.
The two prayed together, and their children, ages 12 and 20, are
coping, Isatu said, calling her husband "my everything".
Nebraska Medical Centre spokesperson Taylor Wilson said members of
Salia's family were not at the hospital on Saturday, but were expected
to arrive "in the near future".
Sierra Leone is one of the three West Africa nations hit hard by an
Ebola epidemic this year. Five other doctors in Sierra Leone have
contracted Ebola, and all have died.

340 dead in month-old battle for Benghazi

Benghazi - At least 340 people have been killed in fighting for Libya's
second city Benghazi since the launch of a government-backed offensive
against Islamist militias a month ago, medical sources said on
Saturday.
More than 200 of the dead have been soldiers - either members of the
regular army or loyalists of controversial retired general Khalifa
Haftar, the Red Crescent and hospital sources said.
But civilians are also among the casualties, caught up in the crossfire
as troops battle to wrest the eastern city back from the militias that
seized it in July.
All of Libya's three big cities - the capital Tripoli, third city Misrata
and Benghazi - are largely under the control of Islamist-led militias.
In Benghazi, one of them - Ansar al-Sharia - is blacklisted by
Washington as a terror group for its alleged role in a deadly 2012
attack on the US consulate.
Three years after dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled and killed
in a Nato-backed revolt, Libya is awash with weapons and powerful
militias, and run by rival governments and parliaments.
The internationally recognised government has set up base in the
remote eastern town of Shahat and large swathes of the North
African nation are beyond its control.

Three-year-old boy stabbed to death in China

Beijing - A three-year-old Chinese boy died and a girl was seriously
injured when a knife-wielding woman attacked the children on Sunday,
media reported, the latest in a series of assaults against youngsters.
Police detained the suspect, who was aged about 40, and seized a
kitchen knife and a dagger, Xinhua news agency said, adding that
inquiries revealed she may be mentally ill.
The injured girl, who is aged nine, is being treated at hospital, it
added, citing local authorities.
The report on the incident, in Beihai in southern Guangxi region, did
not give details of any relationship between the woman and the
victims.
The attack was the second to take place against children in Guangxi in
recent weeks, after a man stabbed to death four pupils as they went to
school in September. The victims were reported to have been aged
under 12.
Earlier in September, a man stabbed to death three children and a
teacher and wounded several others in a rampage at a primary school
in central Hubei province.
Violent crime has been on the rise in China in recent decades as the
nation's economy has boomed and the gap between rich and poor has
expanded rapidly.
Studies have also noted a rise in the prevalence of mental disorders in
China, with many failing to get proper treatment due to a lack of
resources and qualified professionals.

Baby body parts found in parcel headed for US

Bangkok - The body parts of several babies have been found in a
parcel destined for the United States, Thai police said on Sunday.
A baby's head, several feet and "sheets of skin" - including one taken
from an adult and bearing a large tattoo - were discovered on
Saturday after staff at a Bangkok parcel company scanned the
package.
"They were not from one body but were in small pieces," Police
Major General Chawalit Prasopsin told AFP on Sunday.
"They have been sent for forensic examination to confirm if they were
from babies who died after delivery or in the womb," Chawalit said.
The parts were found preserved in containers filled with formaldehyde
solution, leading Chawalit to speculate they could be for "a collection
or for educational purposes".
Police said they are investigating but did not reveal further details of
where the packaged was addressed to in the US.
Local media reported it was destined for an address in Las Vegas,
Nevada.
In 2012 Thai police discovered six human foetuses which had been
roasted and covered in gold leaf as part of an apparent black magic
ritual.
The grisly discovery was made in the luggage of a British citizen of
Taiwanese origin. They were due to be sent to Taiwan.
In Thai black magic rituals, also observed among some Chinese
communities, preserved foetuses are believed to bring good fortune to
the owner and are often kept in shrines within homes or businesses.

Zim's VP linked to Mugabe assassination plot

Johannesburg - Zimbabwe's vice president, once seen as a possible
successor to President Robert Mugabe, has been linked to an alleged
plot to assassinate the 90-year-old leader, a state-run newspaper
reported on Sunday.
An ally of Vice President Joice Mujuru who was recently ousted from
his post as ruling party spokesperson, said the allegations that he
conspired against Mugabe are false. Rugare Gumbo, the ousted
spokesperson, was identified in The Sunday Mail as a plotter against
Mugabe, who has been in power since independence in 1980.
The Sunday Mail cited a voice recording and reported comments as
evidence of the alleged plot, but it did not attribute the information to
security officials or other sources.
Political factions are manoeuvring influence ahead of the annual ruling
party congress next month. Mujuru has come under repeated verbal
attacks from the president's wife, Grace.
Grace Mugabe has assumed an increasingly political role, angering
some party insiders who believe she does not have leadership
credentials in a country struggling with high unemployment and other
social problems.
Gumbo said Robert Mugabe lambasted him during a meeting of senior
leaders of the ruling Zanu-PF party on Thursday night.
"We were accused of attempting to overthrow the president and it was
the president himself who led the charges," Zimbabwe's Daily News
quoted Gumbo as saying. "He says 'we have done wrong and should
leave the party', but this is just a smear campaign to eliminate people
who are standing by the vice president."
Another alleged conspirator named by The Sunday Mail is Didymus
Mutasa, a high-ranking official in the ruling party. Without citing
sources, the newspaper said another alleged plotter had met "potential
hit men" in South Africa and Israel.
Mugabe has often accused foreign powers, particularly Britain and the
United States, of trying to undermine him. Western leaders have
criticised Mugabe's human rights record.

Mauritian referees for Eagles vs. Bafana

Abuja - The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has picked
Rajindraparsad Seechurn of Mauritius as centre referee for
Wednesday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria
and South Africa in Uyo.
This is contained in a statement on Sunday in Abuja by Ademola
Olajire, the Assistant Director, Communications, Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF).
Seechurn will be assisted by countrymen, Balkrishna Bootun as
Assistant Referee 1, Vivian Vally as Assistant Referee 2 and
Parmendra Nunkoo as Reserve Referee.
CAF also appointed Cameroonian Abel Mbengue as Security Officer,
to assist the Match Commissioner, Laryea Louis, from Ghana.
According to the statement, the South African delegation to
Wednesday’s match will arrive in Uyo on Monday evening.
"Although the South African Football Association (SAFA) does
not have the permit to land their chartered aircraft at the Ibom
International Airport in Uyo, the NFF is working round the clock to
ensure permit is granted for their plane before it departs
Johannesburg at 1 p.m. on Monday,’’ it said.
The delegation will be composed of 26 players and 15 officials.
NAN reports that South Africa currently lead Group A with 11
points from five matches, while Nigeria are in second place with seven
points from five matches.
- NAN

11 PDP senators threaten to dump party

Indications that all is not well with the ruling Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) and its caucus in the Senate emerged yesterday,
precisely a week after the senators embarked on work-to-rule.
Daily Sun gathered that 11 PDP senators from the North West
had threatened to dump the party in view of what they considered
the high-handedness of the party. The aggrieved senators told
the party’s caucus that the PDP was becoming an endangered
party in the zone because the opposition All Progressives Con­
gress (APC) had gained ground. They likened the party’s
tickets in the zone to ‘poisoned chalice”, thus corroborating
another Senator, Edobor Uzemere, who hitherto, compared PDP
tickets in Edo State to the “Zimbabwean dollar, which is of no
value”
Meanwhile, the senators may return to the trenches because of
moves by governors of the party to upturn a gentleman’ agreement
reached by the lawmakers, the party and the Presidency.
Recall that a truce meeting convened by President Goodluck
Jonathan in Aso Rock, last Friday, which had in attendance,
PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Muazu reportedly
resolved to ensure that at least two senators per state return to
the chamber in 2015
Indications that all was not well with the party soon came to the
fore when Senate President David Mark announced at plenary
that the caucus would meet in Hearing Room 1 immediately after
the session.
At the meeting, it was gathered that the senators reviewed the
situation, against the backdrop of reports that “the Presidency
would renege on the agreement reached with the lawmakers.
Sources in the National Assembly confirmed, on Wednesday that
PDP governors held a meeting with President Jonathan after his
formal declaration on Tuesday and that the governors, at the
meeting argued that the President should revisit the issue of
automatic tickets for Senators.
“We were told at the meeting that PDP governors met with the
President late on Tuesday and resolved that the party should
allow them to review the issue of automatic tickets to the
governors on a state by state basis instead of granting automatic
tickets to the senators just like that. We see this as a ploy to
outwit the senators and undermine our agreement with President
Jonathan and the party, ”the sources noted.
“We believe that the move by the governors is a fresh bid to
shortchange the lawmakers and reverse the conclusion of the
meeting we held with the President and the party. Senators are
not happy and I can tell you that a number of people are already
contemplating ditching the party,” a source in the National
Assembly said.
The caucus, however, resolved that Mark should act as liaison
between the Senate and the Presidency, and in effect, the party
on further developments.

D’tunes reacts to theft allegation

Lagos - Music producer, D’tunes, has denied the allegation that he
sampled the hook of a song by another artist for Sean Tizzle’s
‘Perfect Gentleman’ song, reports Nigerian Entertainment
Today (NET)
An Ibadan-based upcoming musician, Portah had accused D’tunes of
downloading a number of his songs under the guise of helping him get
a record deal.
He insisted that the producer sampled his hook on Sean Tizzle’s
‘Perfect Gentleman’.
In his reaction to the allegation, D’tunes, who is the CEO of
Difference Entertainment said that it is untrue and unfounded.
He said that they(Himself and Sean tizzle) did not steal anybody’s
song and would never do such.
D’tunes said that he will be coming out in 2015 with an album titled
‘ Hands Of Grace.’

Semen may interfere with HIV gel

Abuja - Semen appears to interfere with microbicide gels to prevent
HIV, possibly explaining why they work in the lab but not in real-life
situations, scientists said Wednesday.
Protein fragments found in semen hamper the work of microbicides
applied to the vagina, said the report in the journal Science
Translational Medicine.
Known as amyloid fibrils, these particles in semen "act like glue to
attach HIV particles to the cell surface and boost viral infectivity,"
said the study led by scientists at the University of California, San
Francisco and the University of Ulm in Germany.
"This effect overpowers the anti-HIV activity of microbicides."
Originally developed for sub-Saharan African
women
These microbicides were originally developed as a way to empower sub-
Saharan African women who may not be able to negotiate condom use
with their partners.
"However, the first generation of microbicides were largely ineffective
or worse, some even leading to increased transmission of the virus,"
said senior author Warner Greene, director of the Gladstone
Institute of Virology and Immunology.
Co-author Nadia Roan, assistant professor-in-residence in the
Department of Urology at the University of California, San
Francisco, said the latest research builds on earlier studies.
"We've shown previously that semen enhances HIV infection, but this
is the first time we've shown that this activity markedly reduces the
antiviral efficacy of microbicides."
The effect was the same among all microbicides tried in the study
except Maraviroc, which is under consideration for use as a
microbicide and is used currently as a treatment for HIV/AIDS.
It acts differently than microbicides that attack HIV itself, and
instead binds to an entry co-receptor on host cells to stop the virus
from entering the cell.
"The results indicate that Maraviroc is a promising microbicide
candidate, and suggest that future microbicides should be tested in
vitro in the presence of semen," said the study.
More work is needed to develop a "compound or cocktail of drugs that
targets both the HIV virus and these amyloid fragments and to test
its effectiveness," said senior author Jan Munch from the University
of Ulm.

Can cellphones cause brain cancer?

Abuja - Swedes who talked on mobile or cordless phones for more
than 25 years had triple the risk of a certain kind of brain cancer
compared to those who used wireless phones for less than a year, a
new study suggests.
The odds of developing glioma, an often deadly brain cancer, rose with
years and hours of use, researchers reported in the journal
Pathophysiology.
"The risk is three times higher after 25 years of use. We can see
this clearly," lead researcher Dr. Lennart Hardell told Reuters
Health in a telephone interview.
His finding contrasts with the largest-ever study on the topic – the
international Interphone study, which was conducted by the
International Agency for Research on Cancer and funded in part by
cell phone companies. That study, published in 2010, failed to find
strong evidence that mobile phones increased the risk of brain
tumours.
Even if the odds of developing a glioma were doubled or tripled,
however, the risk would still remain low.

Brain tumours and phone use
A little more than 5 out of 100 000 Europeans (or 0.005 percent)
were diagnosed with any kind of malignant brain tumour between 1995
and 2002, according to a 2012 study in the European Journal of
Cancer. If the rate triples, the odds rise to about 16 out of 100,000
(or 0.016 percent).
Hardell, an oncologist from University Hospital in Orebro, Sweden,
and his colleague Michael Carlberg matched 1 380 patients with
malignant brain tumours to people without such tumours and compared
their wireless phone use.
People who reported using wireless phones for 20 to 25 years were
nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with glioma as those who
reported using them for less than a year, the study found. Those who
used cell and cordless phones for more than 25 years were three times
more likely to develop one of these tumours.
The study did not show an association of wireless phones with
malignant brain tumours other than glioma.
Participants who recalled talking the most – more than 1,486 hours –
on wireless phones were twice as likely to develop glioma compared to
those who said they used the devices the fewest hours – between one
and 122 hours, the study found.
Case control studies such as this suffer from a number of limitations,
however, the most serious being the need for participants to remember
their behaviour patterns from decades earlier.
Take precaution
Dr. Gabriel Zada, a neurosurgeon at the University of Southern
California's Keck School of Medicine, who wasn't involved in
Hardell's study, advises precautionary measures, such as using the
phone's speaker or a hands-free headset.
But he told Reuters Health the new study failed to answer his
patients' questions about why they developed brain tumours.
"A lot of people ask me, 'Why did I get this brain tumour?'" he
said. "There are a lot of different theories. It's a much more
convoluted picture than just saying cell phones caused this."
In a 2012 study, Zada reported that rates of malignant tumours in
parts of the brain closest to where people hold their phones rose
significantly in California from 1992 to 2006 – although the incidence
of gliomas throughout the brain decreased.
U.S. cell phone use tripled between 2000 and 2010, according to
CTIA - the Wireless Association, which represents manufacturers.
But in the U.S. overall, rates of cancer in parts of the brain that
would be more highly exposed to radiofrequency radiation from cell
phones had not gone up at the time of a 2010 report in the journal
Neuro-Oncology.
Zada believes the current study underscores the need for more
research.
"It is more evidence suggesting a possible association between brain
tumours and cell phones," he said. "But it's certainly not convincing
that cell phones cause brain cancer."
Mobile phones carcinogenic?
A World Health Organisation panel of 31 scientists from 14
countries classified mobile phones as "possibly carcinogenic" in 2011.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission is currently
reassessing the safe radiation exposure limits it adopted in 1996.
Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy, which can be absorbed by
tissues closest to where the phone is held, the National Cancer
Institute says on its website. "Studies thus far have not shown a
consistent link between cell phone use and cancers of the brain, nerves,
or other tissues of the head or neck," it says.
Hardell is one of the few researchers who include cordless phones
when studying cell phones and cancer risk. He believes emissions from
the base stations of cordless phones can be problematic, especially when
users sleep next to them.
Children may be most vulnerable to wireless phone emissions, Hardell
said. They absorb more radiofrequency electromagnetic fields, he
writes, because of their small heads, thinner skulls and higher brain
conductivity.
"Girls tends to put the smart phone below the pillow," he said. "It's
a bad habit to go to bed with your smart phone."
Zada also believes developing brains may be more susceptible and
recommends against sleeping with cell phones.
Nevertheless, he said: "It's hard to make formal recommendations
because the data is lacking. It's not smoking and lung cancer because
it's not proven.

See 2face’s biggest regret

There is one thing Tuface would have changed
if he could change the past, and that is the
fact that he would have wanted to have all his
children from one mother. He revealed this at
a press conference which was put together by
the Black House Media on Wednesday He
said;.
“I didn’t plan for me to have kids from
different women. But it’s happened and I’m
just taking it the way it is. But if you ask me
what I wish, I will say ah, I for like make all
of dem (children) come from one person.
Yes!” .
He further stated that if he wasn’t a musician,
he would have been a footballer.
“You know like I said, me and music, it wasn’t
a co-incidence. So, I have never, never
thought of doing anything else. But there was
one point in time that I was really, really into
football and na goal keeper I be dat time. So, I
been dey think am say if music no work, I go
just enter football just turn to goal keeper
peacefully (Laughs).”
On what makes him different from other
celebrities, he sai;
“Hmmm! I think one of the things that stand
me out – 1. – my gorimapa (clean-shaven
head), my voice, my structure…What I’m
trying to say is you know this thing is a finger
print (Demonstrates with his finger). Two no
dey ever be the same. So, just based on that, I
am me, I am Innocent, I am 2 Face. So, na
wetin differentiate me from everybody be
dat.”

New Zealand rules out first of three Ebola mailbox claims

Wellington - New Zealand police on Thursday ruled out the presence
of the deadly Ebola virus in one of three mystery vials discovered in
mailboxes this week.
Tests on the two other vials have not yet been completed.
The vials were contained in suspicious packages sent to the US
embassy and parliament buildings in the capital Wellington and to a
newspaper office in Auckland.
Although no details have been released about what else was in the
package found in the embassy mail room, the two other parcels
contained documents claiming the blood-like liquid in the vials was
contaminated with Ebola.
However, police said tests in Australia on a small bottle sent to the
New Zealand Herald detected no sign of Ebola contamination.

YOUNG HACKER: MEET THE 4-YEAR OLD BOY THAT WAS ACCUSED OF HÁCKING FBI DATABASE

A 4-year old kid from the Californian metropolis, who must remain
anonymous, was arrested this morning for breaking into the internal
network of the FBI on three different occasions, allegedly to gather
information about his mother’s new boyfriend.
Bypassing all firewalls and security systems in a matter of minutes,
the young boy would have been able to access the databases of the
FBI, the CIA and of various police departments to verify the identity
and official records of his new stepfather.
Bill L. Lewis, the assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los
Angeles Division, announced that the accused’s young age would
certainly have to be taken into account, but that “considering the
gravity of the crimes he committed” and the “consequences that his
actions could have on the credibility the federal authorities”, the
charges had to be serious.
It is still unclear where the boy learned to use a computer, as he lives
alone with his mother, who is an uneducated hairdresser possessing
very little computer skills.
In fact, there wasn’t any computer in the house until last Christmas,
when the mother’s ex- boyfriend gave her a laptop.
FBI agents are still analyzing all the data that they can muster on the
PC and by interrogating the boy, to try to understand how he
gathered the necessary knowledge over such a short period of time.
According to experts, this surprising event certainly exposes a major
breach in the security of the federal organization, showing the
vulnerability of its system to malicious intrusions.
If a 4-year old self-educated amateur can h**k the FBI’s system, we
can therefore assume that many foreign spy agencies or professional
hackers are also easily capable of doing the same.
The gifted 4-year old may look clumsy at first, but he was a good
enough hacker to beat the experts of the federal government.
According to experts, this surprising event certainly exposes a major
breach in the security of the federal organization, showing the
vulnerability of its system to malicious intrusions.
If a 4-year old self-educated amateur can h**k the FBI’s system, we
can therefore assume that many foreign spy agencies or professional
hackers are also easily capable of doing the same.

Unfortunately, one of the best Android phones isn't coming to the UK

The Droid Turbo is one of this year's best Android phones, and
although we had long suspected that we wouldn't get it here in the
UK, we still held out hope that maybe, just maybe, Motorola
would change its mind.
Those hopes have now been dashed with Motorola France revealing
on Twitter that the Droid Turbo won't be launched in any
European markets.
It's a real shame as the Droid Turbo is an excellent Android
smartphone with a Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM, 5.2-
inch QHD screen and a 21-megapixel rear camera.
But it's also an exclusive to the Verizon network in the US
(though it is also sold as the Moto Maxx in certain Central and
South American countries). Our hopes for a similar situation in
Europe is now off the cards, so all we can do is watch enviously
from across the Atlantic.
Maybe you should opt for Motorola''s flagship Moto X instead

Tinubu denies endorsing any aspirant for Lagos guber race

Former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola
Tinubu has said that he has not endorsed any
of the aspirants jostling to become the next
governor of Lagos State. There has been
speculations in the media that the former
governor of the state had endorsed the former
accountant general of the state, Mr Akinwunmi
Ambode.
But at a meeting with all the 14 governorship
aspirants in the party held on Sunday night,
Asiwaju Tinubu revealed that he has not
endorsed any of the aspirants and that a level-
playing field would be created for all the
aspirants.
Asiwaju reportedly alluded to this while
responding to an allegation raised by Mr Tunde
Disu, one of the aspirants at the meeting. Disu
had raised issues with Tinubu who, in his
opening remarks to the gathered aspirants, had
pleaded for unity among the aspirants,
explaining that the party is faced with the
growing threat of the Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) in the state.
He noted that on account of this threat,
aspirants should endeavour to work together for
the advancement of the party. A source at the
meeting informed that as soon as Tinubu
concluded his opening remarks, Disu asked to be
recognised and pointedly told Tinubu that all
the aspirants made themselves available at the
meeting as a mark of respect for the national
leader.
Disu argued that but for the respect they have
for the National Leader they would all have
stayed away from the meeting in consideration
of the fact that the National Leader had
already anointed one of the aspirants as his
preferred choice for the governorship ticket,”
the source said. But Tinubu was quick to clear
himself of the allegation.
“Asiwaju declared that he has not anointed
anybody and that he considered all aspirants as
equal before him. He also assured the
aspirants of a level playing field at the
gubernatorial primary election of the Party,”
our source added.
In response to Asiwaju’s denial, some other
aspirants took the floor and demanded that
Asiwaju should make a public statement to deny
his anointing any aspirants but Mr Adeyemi
Ikuforiji, Speaker of the Lagos State House of
Assembly who had also declared an interest in
the governorship ticket saved Asiwaju the
embarrassment of a public statement to deny his
backing any of the aspirants.“
Ikuforiji noted in his speech that the rumour
about Asiwaju supporting one of the aspirants
actually emanated from one of the aspirants
gathered at the meeting. He observed that the
particular aspirants have been confusing Party
members with his campaign which hinged on the
fact that he (the aspirant)is being supported
by Asiwaju.
On that note, it was agreed that none of the
aspirant should use the name of the former
Lagos State Governor to campaign again,” the
source explained.

Barcelona gets date for FIFA transfer ban appeal

LAUSANNE — Barcelona's appeal against a one-year transfer ban
imposed by FIFA for breaking youth transfer rules will be heard by
the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Dec. 5.
CAS says it will give a fast-track verdict before the transfer window
opens in January.
Barcelona protected itself against another possible legal defeat by
signing extra players in the off-season window.

Jonathan’s decision to retain senators not binding on me- Suswam

Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, has said
that the decision of the Presidency to endorse
senators for automatic ticket ahead of 2015, is not
binding on some of them as his constituents’ decision
to choose a representative of their choice for the
Senate is sacrosanct come 2015.
Suswam made the declaration yesterday at Adikpo,
headquarters of Kwande council area of Benue
State while launching an appeal fund organised in
his honour by St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Addressing the gathering in his honour, Suswam
stated emphatically that the decision of the
Presidency to endorse senators to re-contest the 2015
general elections is not binding on him, adding that
the decision may have been taken but the
stakeholders had their preferred candidate, therefore
it amount to exercise in futility.
He said: “I wish to reiterate here that the people
of the seven local councils that made up Benue
North-West senatorial district will not heed to this
arrangement and invariably when the chips are down
the people will pick their choice for the Senate come
2015.”
He debunked the accusation of allegedly cornering
delegates at the last delegates ward congresses in
the state against him, describing it as completely
unfounded, urging party supporters to dispel the
insinuation.

Germany to assist Nigeria in tackling insurgency

Abuja - Micheal Zenner, the German Ambassador to Nigeria, has
expressed his country's readiness to support Nigeria in fighting
terrorism and insurgency.
Zenner said this on Monday in Abuja when he paid a courtesy visit to
the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro.
"We are looking at areas where we can strengthen and forge strategic
partnership as discussed in our last Bi-national Commission meeting.
"Some of the areas discussed during the meeting in October include;
economy, energy, culture, security and migration policy issues.’’
The envoy, who assumed duty in Nigeria about three months ago, said
the visit was part of his familiarisation tour of strategic sectors in
Nigeria.

Morocco dropped as AFCON host

Cairo - The Confederation of African Football have confirmed that
Morocco will not host the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, and punishment
awaits the North African nation.
In a statement after Tuesday’s meeting in Cairo, CAF insisted that
the tournament will hold on the scheduled date of January 17 –
February 8, 2015 despite Morocco’s call for a postponement.
The North African country had requested a shift in date due to the
Ebola outbreak in some countries.

Abductors of Diezani’s sister arrested

THE Rivers State Police Command has arrested a suspected
kidnapper, Benjamin Bob-manuel, who allegedly led the gang that
kidnapped Mrs. Osiya Agama, the sister of the Minister of Petroleum
Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
It was  learnt that Bob-Manuel, who was apprehended on
Sunday at Nembe Waterfront in Port Harcourt, was tracked for
several days before he was eventually arrested.
Agama, who had since regained her freedom, was allegedly abducted by
Bob-Manuel’s gang at Leventis Busstop, along the Port Harcourt-Aba
Expressway on her way home from an evening church service.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, who
confirmed the arrest of the suspect, added that the Bob Manuel’s
accomplice, Whokows Ekine, was apprehended by security operatives on
Monday.
Mohammad disclosed in a statement on Monday that a locally-made
pistol and a Toyota Highlander Sports Utility Vehicle were recovered
from the hideout of the hoodlums.
“The Rivers State Police Command wishes to inform members of the
public of the arrest of a notorious kidnapper the command has been
trailing for some time.
“He is Benjamin Bob-manuel; he was arrested around Nembe
Waterfront on November 9 at about 7.20pm. He is the leader of the
gang that abducted Osiya Agama, the sister to Diezani Alison-
Madueke, sometime in October.
“His accomplice, Whokows Ekine, was also picked today (yesterday)
in Port Harcourt, where one locally-made pistol and their operation
vehicle, a Toyota Highlander, were recovered.”
The state police spokesman explained that the hoodlums had confessed to
kidnapping the minister’s sister in October.
He warned criminals to stay away from the state or risk being caught
to face the wrath of the law.
He said, “They all confessed to the alleged abduction of Osiya Agama.
You will recall without boasting that when the command confirmed her
release, we made it categorically clear that sooner than later, we will get
them arrested.
“Efforts are in top gear to arrest their fleeing comrades in crime,”
Mohammad stated.
Meanwhile, the police in Delta State on Monday said they arrested two
armed robbery suspects at the Asaba tollgate and recovered one Lexus
300 Sports Utility Vehicle suspected to have been stolen from them.
A statement by Mr. Preston Roland of the Police Public Relations
Office, said, “The Special Anti-Robbery Squad Patrol team, while on
duty at the Asaba tollgate suspected and arrested one Adim Mowete
and Efe Idahosa who were driving in one Lexus 300 with number plate,
USL 705 HX.
“On interrogation, the suspects confessed that they snatched the said
vehicle from a pastor in Benin City the previous night. The suspects
also revealed that they were taking the said vehicle to a receiver at God
is Good Motor Park, Asaba, and led the team to the said motor park
where one Clement Edeh said to be an agent to the receiver was
arrested.
“The said Clement Edeh confessed that he came from Benue State with
his master, a Deputy Chairman of a local government in Benue State to
receive the stolen vehicle from the suspects.
“He added that the said deputy chairman escaped from the scene when
he (Clement Edeh) was arrested. The team later proceeded to Benin
City and arrested one Osato Orobosa in connection with the crime.”
In another development, the police in Asaba also said they arrested two
suspected armed robbers while attempting to rob some accident victims
along Benin – Asaba expressway.
The police statement read, “The Dragon patrol team 01 covering Issele-
Asagba/Obulu-Okiti/Issele-Uku, led by SP Anietie Eyoh, while on
patrol arrested one Chiejine Onwuemene, 26, while he was attempting to
rob some accident victims on the highway.
“The suspect confessed to the crime and led the team to their hideout
where they arrested other members of the gang, one Emmanuel Nwafor,
25 and Monday Ngwuzor, 62.”

APC lawmakers threaten to impeach President Jonathan

Lagos - The face-off between President Goodluck Jonathan and
lawmakers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House
of Representatives over the defection of the Speaker of the House,
Aminu Tambuwal to the APC turned dramatic on Monday as the
lawmakers threatened to commence impeachment proceeding
against the President when the House reconvenes.
The lawmakers said they have calogued offences committed by
President Jonathan that could warrant impeachment, reports
NewsDay.
The legislators, who met in Lagos on Monday said they were fully
prepared to go to any length to defend Tambuwal against the
treatment being meted on him after his defection to the APC.

Nigeria escape FIFA suspension

Berne - African Nations Cup champions Nigeria have escaped
suspension from international football for the second time in two
months.
Football's governing body FIFA said on Monday the threat was
lifted after a court case against the Nigeria Football Federation
(NFF) elections held on Sept. 30 was withdrawn.
The dropping of the case paved the way for FIFA-backed NFF
president Amaju Pinnick and his executive to resume their duties
after they were ousted by an interim ruling last Thursday by
Justice Ambrose Allagoa who placed Chris Giwa in charge.
Judge Allagoa said the electoral congress that brought Pinnick to
power was invalid but that ruling was no longer being supported
by Giwa.
"FIFA has today sent a letter to the NFF in which it takes note the
order granted by the Federal High Court, nullifying the NFF
elections of Sept. 30, was definitely withdrawn and that the board
is able to carry out its activities without any hindrance," FIFA
announced in a statement.

Berries for a younger, healthier you

They say dynamite comes in small packages. Well, berries are
no exception.
These tantalising fruits may be small in size, but they’re big in
taste and health benefits.
Whether you like blueberries, blackberries, strawberries or
raspberries, you can rest assured that all the different kinds of
berries are packed with fibre, vitamins, minerals and
antioxidants. Plus, they’re low in kilojoules.
Unfortunately, berries can be expensive. Our advice?
Plant your own, and freeze your summer crop to enjoy your
favourite berries right throughout the year . . .
History
Humans have consumed berries for centuries. In fact, research
published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in
2008 reveals that a variety of wild berries, including serviceberry,
highbush cranberry, chokeberry and silver buffaloberry, were
traditionally used by native North Americans – both medicinally
and as a food source.
Eaten fresh or dried, berries were a tradition in the diets of these
tribal communities, where they were recognised for their role in
promoting health and protection against disease.
According to a review article by Dhiraj Vattem and co-workers
from the University of Massachusetts, published in the Asia
Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2005, the juice of the
cranberry, for instance, was used by populations in North
America as a folk remedy to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs).
To this day, cranberries are still used to treat and prevent UTIs.
Berries were also used medicinally in parts of South America.
Research done by the University of Illinois in 2010 revealed that
Aristotelia chilensis, a small, edible purple-black berry grown in
central and southern Chile and western Argentina, was used in
folk medicine to treat sore throats, kidney pains, ulcers, fever,
haemorrhoids, inflammation, diarrhoea, lesions, migraines and
scars.
Today, berry extracts and antioxidants can be found in thousands
of alternative remedies, supplements and medications.
Health benefits
Berries are an important dietary source of fibre as well as
vitamins (especially vitamin C) and minerals (including folic acid
and potassium) – all of which are essential to human
functioning.
Berries are also a superb source of phytochemicals such as
anthocyanins, flavonols and polyphenols. These powerful
antioxidants found in the berries’ colour pigments are known for
their potential to protect against heart disease, cancer,
osteoporosis and ageing.
It’s been noted that berries seem to play an important anti-
inflammatory role in the body, which helps to protect it against
chronic disease.
Many nutritionists regard blueberries, acai berries and goji
berries as “superfoods”.
How to include berries in your diet
- Pop a few berries, fresh or dried, into a smoothie, or add some
to your favourite breakfast cereal for an antioxidant boost, extra
fibre and a kick of flavour.
- Sprinkle your favourite berries over a salad for some colour and
a hint of sweetness.
- Can’t get yourself to drink enough water? Turn tap water into a
delightful drink by adding a squeeze of lemon and a few berries
for flavour.
- Cut overly sugary, fatty desserts from your diet and indulge in
berries with vanilla yoghurt instead.
- Blitz a handful or two of berries, a dash of ice-cold water, and a
teaspoon of balsamic vinegar in a blender and enjoy over ice
cream.
Tip: The darker and more colourful the berries, the healthier they
are. So, add the dark berries to your shopping basket and eat
them as fresh as possible.

Wande Coal gives Don Jazzy the musical cold shoulder

Lagos - Reports say that Wande Coal during his performance at
the Naija FM Comedy Jam, deliberately left out Don Jazzy’s
name from songs he produced, reports Pulse.ng
Wande performed his hit songs from his Mohits and Mavins
career, including, ‘Bumper to Bumper, The Kick, and Rotate, and
he avoided Don Jazzy’s name.
Wande kept mute, while the fans screamed the name of the Mavin
boss.
Wande Coal is currently promoting his single, Baby Hello, which
has a video with Yemi Alade as the lead vixen.
Wande Coal was signed to Don Jazzy under the defunct Mohits
records, and chose to move with Don Jazzy during his bitter split
with D’banj.
The duo later fell out in 2013, and Wande Coal departed Mavin
Records, unceremoniously to setup his record label, Black
Diamond Entertainment.

PDP loses 6 000 member to APC in Edo

Benin City - About 6 000 members of the Peoples Democratic
Party in Edo State on Sunday defected to the All Progressives
Congress (APC), reports Information Nigeria.
The defectors are from all the wards in Akoko-Edo Local
Government Area of the state.
On hand to receive the the defectors were Secretary to the State
Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, the Senator
representing Edo North Senatorial District, Domingo Obende and
serving lawmakers and aspirants into the national and state
assemblies.

Living spider found inside woman's ear

Abuja - A British pop star had been hearing "rustling" sounds
coming from her ear, when she visited the doctor it was
discovered that a spider had been living in there, the
Huffingtonpost reported.
The 30-year-old woman believes the spider crawled into her ear
when she used air monitors to block out sound on a flight.