Nigeria may seek death penalty against child bride

Gezawa (Nigeria) (AFP) - A 14-year-old Nigerian girl accused of murdering her 35-year-old husband by putting rat poison in his food could face the death penalty, Nigerian prosecutors said Thursday.

The trial of Wasila Tasi'u, from a poor northern Nigeria family, has sparked a heated debate on the role of underage marriage in the conservative Muslim region, especially whether an adolescent girl can consent to be a bride.

Prosecutors at the High Court in Gezawa, outside Nigeria's second city of Kano, filed an amended complaint that charged Tasi'u with one count of murder over the killing of Umar Sani two weeks after their April wedding in the village of Unguwar Yansoro.

Lead prosecutor Lamido Abba Soron-Dinki said that if convicted, the charge is "punishable with death" and indicated the state would seek the maximum penalty.

Nigeria is not known to have executed a juvenile offender since 1997, when the country was ruled by military dictator Sani Abacha, according to Human Rights Watch.

Tasi'u entered the court wearing a cream-coloured hijab and was escorted by two policemen.

 

Brides attend a wedding feast at the Kano state governor's office after taking part in a mass weddin …

Her parents, who have condemned their daughter's alleged act, were in the public gallery -- the first time the three were in the same room since Tasi'u's arrest in April, her legal representatives said.

The English-language charge sheet was translated into Hausa for the accused by the court clerk.

Tasi'u refused to answer when asked if she understood the charges.

The case was adjourned for 30 minutes so the charges could be better explained to the defendant, but when the alleged offences were read again Tasi'u stayed silent, turned her head to the wall and broke down in tears.

"The court records (that) she pleads not guilty," Judge Mohammed Yahaya said, apparently regarding her silence as equal to a denial of the charges and adjourned the case until November 26.

 

Sani Garba, 55, stands in the abandonned bedroom of his 14-year-old daughter-in-law Wasila Tasi' …

Activists, including in Nigeria's mainly Christian south, have called for Tasi'u's immediate release, saying she should be rehabilitated as a victim and noting the prospect that she was raped by the man she married.

But in the north, Islamic law operates alongside the secular criminal code, a hybrid system that has complicated the question of marital consent.

The affected families have denied that Tasi'u was forced into marriage, arguing that girls across the impoverished region marry at 14 and that Tasi'u and Sani followed the traditional system of courtship.

According to Nigeria's marriage act, anyone under 21 can marry provided they have parental consent and so evidence of an agreement between Tasi'u and her father Tasiu Mohammed could undermine claims of a forced union.

But defence lawyer Hussaina Aliyu has insisted the case is not a debate about the role of youth marriage in a Muslim society.

Instead, she has argued that under criminal law a 14-year-old cannot be charged with murder in a high court and has demanded that the case be moved to the juvenile system.

Nigeria defines the age of adulthood as 17 but the situation is less clear in the 12 northern states under Islamic law, where courts theoretically have the right to consider people under 17 as legally responsible.

Guidelines for how courts should blend Islamic and secular legal codes have not been well defined.

See The Winner Of Gulder Ultimate Search Season 11

Chinedu Ubachukwu has emerged winner of the 11th edition of Gulder Ultimate Search.

Chinedu beat the two other finalists Cosy Joe & Afolabi Emmanuel to the ultimate prize by being the only person to complete the final task of retrieving the General’s War Helmet. This victory came after the 24-year-old graduate of Petroleum & Gas at University of Port Harcourt successfully navigated his way through the forest and managed to row his canoe across the heavy currents of Aguleri River.

The other two warriors failed in their bids to get to the mysterious destination across the waters.

With this achievement, the native of Anambra State will exchange the treasure for a whopping N10million and a brand new SUV

Super Rich! Singer Kcee acquires customized 2014 Cadillac Escalade fully pimped gold colored

This Guy Is Living Large!!!

Proud Dad! Like Father, Like daughter! Actor, Segun Arinze shows off his baby girl!

The Veteran Actor shared some new photos of his Cute lil' daughter and she looks exactly just like him.

Toria was delivered in Maryland.

WAR! See Two Popular Nollywood actors battle each other for House of Assembly seat

Aactor Bob Manuel Udokwu and Tony One Week Muonagor are both contesting for Idemili North constituency in Anambra ‎State House of Assembly. Tony One Week is from Ugamuma village Obosi and is a member of ACN while Bob Manuel Udokwu who is from Ogidi in the same state,

Who Do You Think Will Win?

LOL! SEE what a Dad did to his son for acting Like a Grown Man!

 Lol..he has Faced One of the many things Adults do see!

SAD!! 23-Yr-old Nigerian Girl Die In Bangkok After her £2,000 Buttocks Implants Goes Wrong!

Joy Williams, 23, from Thamesmead, was described as a 'caring and funny' girl who was 'loved by everybody.

She died on October 23 after travelling to Bangkok to have £2,000 buttock augmentation surgery.

Speaking yesterday from his home in Lagos, Nigeria, Miss Williams's older brother Anietie, 28, said he had been looking forward to her visiting him in Nigeria this Christmas.

He said: 'We don't really know what went wrong, we only know what is in reports in the media.

'She was a very nice and caring person.

'She brought joy to people's lives.

'She was a beautiful girl, loved by everybody. We will miss her so much.'

He added that the family were still making preparations to bring Miss Williams's body home and that his brother was planning to fly to Thailand and return to London with it.

Miss Williams, who was born in Lagos, settled in Thamesmead with her mother Christie in 2007 and had been to Thailand twice before choosing to visit for surgery.

She initially visitied to the SP clinic, which she found on the internet, on October 14 to have the operation which she hoped would give her a bigger, fuller bottom.

A few days later her wounds became infected and she returned to have corrective surgery to remove the silicon implants.

But she was found dead on the operating table with a three inch-long stitched incision on her tail bone after medical staff found they were unable to resuscitate her.

Thai officials investigating her death believe her operation had been delayed to ensure Miss Williams had not eaten anything beforehand and that as a result the operation began after the clinic's legal closing time of 7pm.

Doctor Sompob Sansiri, 51, is lead away by police after Miss Williams died at his clinic

While in Bangkok she had been staying at the £11-a-night Vabua Asotel hotel which is used by the clinic as accommodation for its patients.

The doctor who carried out the procedure, Sompob Sansiri, 51, was later arrested and accused of negligence after it was found that he had been carrying out night-time surgery without a licence.

He has now been charged with recklessness causing death and could face 10 years in jail if found guilty.

The clinic has been closed for 60 days while investigations are carried out.

Thailand is a world-leader in cosmetic surgery tourism with many companies offering procedures at discounts of up to 60 per cent.

The industry earned the country £2.68billion in 2013 alone.

The most popular procedure in Thailand is dental work such as teeth veneers but customers can purchase packages for breast implants, face lifts and even hip replacements.

Young women are now increasingly going to extreme lengths to get the perfect bottom.

Inspired by the likes of Kim Kardashian more women are undergoing surgery in order to get the same gravity-defying look.

Research from whatclinic.com, a private healthcare search engine, shows that enquiries for buttock augmentation surgery have doubled in a year.

President Goodluck Jonathan Starts His Presidential Campaign With Bag Of Rice!

Hmm..Campaign Selling Point!!

#Shameful! How Fake A Herbalist Slept With a Married Nollywood Actress!

According to a popular Yoruba television programme, ‘Labe Orun’ on MITV, a desperate actress was deceived by a fake spiritualist, when she approached the man for quick fame!

It was further said that the fake spiritualist gave the woman a charm to give to her husband to insert into her private area, but the actress claimed her husband will reject doing such.

However, the spiritualist reportedly offered to help her, which she agreed to and allegedly slept with her in the process. But later, the actress found out that she was deceived by the fake spiritualist!

Awww!! SEE Adorable photo of Obafemi Martins and Cute son having a father-son Moment!

Little Ken is just so so cute!! Ken Is his son with Abigail Barwuah, Balotelli's Sister!

Who Rocked It BEST?? Drake VS Chris Brown!

Hmmm..I guess Its a fair Battle tho..#TeamBrezzy VS #TeamDrizzy??

See Touching Letter by Iranian Woman Hanged For Killing Her Rapist

27 year old Reyhaney Jabbari was executed on October 25th by hanging in Iran seven years after she killed a man that had attempted to rape her. Before she was killed, Reyhaney wrote a very emotional letter to her mother, asking that her organs be donated to those who need them. The letter in full is written below as translated by the National Council of Resistance of Iran:
Dear Sholeh,today I learned that it is now my turn to face Qisas (the Iranian regime’s law of retribution). I am hurt as to why you did not let me know yourself that I have reached the last page of the book of my life. Don’t you think that I should know? You know how ashamed I am that you are sad. Why did you not take the chance for me to kiss your hand and that of dad?

The world allowed me to live for 19 years. That ominous night it was I that should have been killed. My body would have been thrown in some corner of the city, and after a few days, the police would have taken you to the coroner’s office to identify my body and there you would also learn that I had been raped as well. The murderer would have never been found since we don’t have their wealth and their power. Then you would have continued your life suffering and ashamed, and a few years later you would have died of this suffering and that would have been that.
However, with that cursed blow the story changed. My body was not thrown aside, but into the grave of Evin Prison and its solitary wards, and now the grave-like prison of Shahr-e Ray. But give in to the fate and don’t complain. You know better that death is not the end of life.
You taught me that one comes to this world to gain an experience and learn a lesson and with each birth a responsibility is put on one’s shoulder. I learned that sometimes one has to fight. I do remember when you told me that the carriage man protested the man who was flogging me, but the flogger hit the lash on his head and face that ultimately led to his death. You told me that for creating a value one should persevere even if one dies.
You taught us that as we go to school one should be a lady in face of the quarrels and complaints. Do you remember how much you underlined the way we behave? Your experience was incorrect. When this incident happened, my teachings did not help me. Being presented in court made me appear as a cold-blooded murderer and a ruthless criminal. I shed no tears. I did not beg. I did not cry my head off since I trusted the law.
But I was charged with being indifferent in face of a crime. You see, I didn’t even kill the mosquitoes and I threw away the cockroaches by taking them by their antennas. Now I have become a premeditated murderer. My treatment of the animals was interpreted as being inclined to be a boy and the judge didn’t even trouble himself to look at the fact that at the time of the incident I had long and polished nails.
How optimistic was he who expected justice from the judges! He never questioned the fact that my hands are not coarse like those of a sportswoman, especially a boxer. And this country that you planted its love in me never wanted me and no one supported me when under the blows of the interrogator I was crying out and I was hearing the most vulgar terms. When I shed the last sign of beauty from myself by shaving my hair I was rewarded: 11 days in solitary.
Dear Sholeh, don’t cry for what you are hearing. On the first day that in the police office an old unmarried agent hurt me for my nails I understood that beauty is not looked for in this era. The beauty of looks, beauty of thoughts and wishes, a beautiful handwriting, beauty of the eyes and vision, and even beauty of a nice voice.
My dear mother, my ideology has changed and you are not responsible for it. My words are unending and I gave it all to someone so that when I am executed without your presence and knowledge, it would be given to you. I left you much handwritten material as my heritage.
However, before my death I want something from you, that you have to provide for me with all your might and in any way that you can. In fact this is the only thing I want from this world, this country and you. I know you need time for this. Therefore, I am telling you part of my will sooner. Please don’t cry and listen. I want you to go to the court and tell them my request. I cannot write such a letter from inside the prison that would be approved by the head of prison; so once again you have to suffer because of me. It is the only thing that if even you beg for it I would not become upset although I have told you many times not to beg to save me from being executed.
My kind mother, dear Sholeh, the one more dear to me than my life, I don’t want to rot under the soil. I don’t want my eye or my young heart to turn into dust. Beg so that it is arranged that as soon as I am hanged my heart, kidney, eye, bones and anything that can be transplanted be taken away from my body and given to someone who needs them as a gift. I don’t want the recipient know my name, buy me a bouquet, or even pray for me. I am telling you from the bottom of my heart that I don’t want to have a grave for you to come and mourn there and suffer. I don’t want you to wear black clothing for me. Do your best to forget my difficult days. Give me to the wind to take away.
The world did not love us. It did not want my fate. And now I am giving in to it and embrace the death. Because in the court of God I will charge the inspectors, I will charge inspector Shamlou, I will charge judge, and the judges of country’s Supreme Court that beat me up when I was awake and did not refrain from harassing me. In the court of the creator I will charge Dr. Farvandi, I will charge Qassem Shabani and all those that out of ignorance or with their lies wronged me and trampled on my rights and didn’t pay heed to the fact that sometimes what appears as reality is different from it.
Dear soft-hearted Sholeh, in the other world it is you and me who are the accusers and others who are the accused. Let’s see what God wants. I wanted to embrace you until I die. I love you.

Ebola: Nigerian Dad Sues American Elementary School for Discriminating Against His Daughter

A Nigerian father, Stephen Opayemi has taken a Connecticut elementary school to court for banning his daughter for 21 days from school just because she attended a wedding in Nigeria. The school banned the third grade pupil over Ebola fears despite Nigeria being certified Ebola-free by the World Health Organization and besides, the daughter has not experienced any symptoms associated with Ebola and her health is fine, but parents and teachers were concerned

she could transmit Ebola to other children, the lawsuit says. He asked a judge to order the schools in Milford, Connecticut, to immediately permit his daughter to return to her third-grade class.
The daughter, Ikeoluwa Opayemi had traveled to and from Lagos, Nigeria, between Oct. 2 and Oct. 13, with her father.

African communities in the United States have reported an increasing amount of ostracism since the Ebola epidemic began. At least two speeches by Liberians have been canceled by U.S. universities, and a college in Texas refused admission to Nigerian students over worries about the virus.

A neighbor of the Opayemi family, Prashant Batil, said his 6-year-old plays often with Ikeoluwa and that he believed the school system was overreacting.

“The parents are extremely responsible people, and if they say she does not have Ebola, I would have no reluctance for my daughter to play with her,” Batil said in an interview.

Opayemi’s suit was filed under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The law prohibits discrimination based on someone having a physical or mental impairment, or on the belief that someone has such an impairment.

Milford officials refused the father’s offer to have both himself and his daughter screened for Ebola, the suit says.
According to the suit, a city health official said in an Oct. 15 meeting that the risk of the girl infecting anyone was minor but that she ought to be quarantined because of rumors, panic and the climate of the school.

Find Out Who Tops The List Of 6 Highest Earning Comedians In Nigeria

They may look funny and unserious, but they are laughing to the bank and living large with assets running into billions of Naira. Capturing aptly Ali Baba, the father of stand-up comedians in Nigeria quote, he said “comedy is a funny business, a very big business.”

According to Naijabrain, this is the latest list of 6 comedians in Nigeria that tops the earning list.
Ali Baba

Ali Baba is the richest comedian in Nigeria if not the whole of Africa. He once had a two year endorsement deal with a multinational firm worth N100 million. Over the years he has invested in banking, events management, and entertainment/recreation businesses.
Acclaimed as the godfather of Nigerian comedy Ali Baba who is also known as Atunyota Alleluya Akporobomerere (what a mouthful) is credited with starting the revolution that brought in a wave of comedians such as Basket Mouth, Opa Williams, Julius Agwu, Okey Bakassi, Gandoki, Gbenga Adeyinka D 1st etc.
Ali Baba took comedy business to another height in 1998 when he registered his company, “Ali Baba Hiccupurathird.” That same year he erected three billboards in strategic locations in Lagos: Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island; Osborne Road, Ikoyi and in Marina. He paid N150, 000 for each billboard per year for two years. The billboard carried a simple message, “Ali Baba –Being Funny Is Serious Business.”
Bright Okpocha (aka Basketmouth)

Basketmouth is one of Nigeria’s most recognisable faces in comedy. His annual income consists of several endorsement deals, Globacom (He has been the longest serving Glo ambassador) and several more. His ‘Basketmouth Uncensored’ sells out annually in locations like South Africa, London and the United States. He has been one of the most consistent comedians in the comedy industry. He has also invested in brick and mortar businesses like night clubs. His annual income (life performances, endorsement deals, TV shows etc) is estimated in the range of N150 – N250 million with his flagship ‘Basketmouth uncensored’ showed pulling in over N100 million per annum.
Julius Agwu

The Rivers state born comedian is a vastly talented person combining his comedy talents with acting and occasional song-making. In 2013 he released two singles ‘rejuvenate’ and ‘mama soup’ and took his growing comedy show ‘Crack ya Ribs’ to London. He also organised the ‘Laugh for Christ Sake’ show. He owns real laugh entertainment an event management firm along with choice properties in several states. he is rumoured to be well connected politically and eying a political position in the upcoming elections.
The 40 year old makes his money from live shows, his hosted show ‘Crack Ya Ribs’ and advertisement endorsements. He made around N20 million when he launched his book at age 40 recently. Estimated annual revenue is between N150 – N200 million
Francis Agoda (aka I Go Die)

The comedian I Go Dye is also a businessman extraordinaire. The United Nations Millennium Developmental Goal Ambassador is believed to own a few businesses which include a property and Real Estate Company and a bottling water company nearing completion. The Delta State-born humour merchant acquired N14 million worth White-Diamond Cadillac Escalade Hybrid 2012 Model (Platinum Edition) and a reported N7 million worth Range Rover Evogue.
His annual income is estimated to be around N200 million
Gbenga Adeyinka

Gbenga as well as being a comedian is a well known event anchor and MC. He has a show Laffmatazz and anchors a very healthy number of political and social events all year round. He has a very lucrative deal with Nigerian Breweries over the past few years. He earns between N100 – N150 million per year.
AY

AY is thought to make N1 – N2 million per show and runs A.Y. Live events which basically is an event’s organiser and management firm. His AY show won Best TV Comedy show in 2008; his monthly AY’s Open Mic Challenge has also provided an avenue to unearth fresh talents. Linked to owning a club (or at least working on launching one) he pulls in at least N150 million per annum.
Viewers, do you agree with this list or you think otherwise?

No Big Deal Sweeping Streets In London—– Popular Actress Sola Sobowale

Sola Sobowale otherwise known as Toyin Tomato over a story that she engages in menial jobs in London like sweeping the streets of London for survival. 

The talented star actress who just arrived Nigeria in preparation for her son’s wedding has been off the TV screen for some years and shuttles between Nigeria and the UK. She argued that those behind the story are entitle to their opinion that what matters most is the dignity in labour.

“I did not sweep London streets to survive. I never sweep except it is my house. If people peddle rumours that I sweep the streets of London to survive, so be it. Everybody is entitled to their own opinion. The bottom line is that I believe in dignity of labour but “I have never swept in any land to earn money in my life. But if there is a lot of money to be made in the venture, I would sweep.
I believe in what is called dignity of labour, I can do anything to make money apart from drug trafficking and prostitution. If there is money to be made in sweeping streets from Nigeria to America, I will do the job,” she said.

Zambian President, Michael Sata, dies at 77, In the UK!

He died yesterday October 28th at the King Edward VII hospital in the UK after suffering from an undisclosed Illness.

Mr Sata was elected Zambia's President in September 2011.

May his soul rest in peace, Amen!

SEE: WANT IS GOING ON IN OUR NATION

PDP refuses to give presidential nomination forms to aspirants

Add caption

Abuja - Fresh crisis seems to be brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as two presidential aspirants have accused the leadership of the party of denying them their rights to purchase forms and participate in the 2015 presidential elections, reports .

The two aspirants, Dr. Abdul-Jhalil Tafawa-Balewa and Prof. Akasoba Duke-Abiola had gone to the national secretariat of the party in Abuja to purchase the form but were not attended to.

They were told that the party has reserved the only form available for a sole candidate.



The party leadership had endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2015 presidential election.

Obese kids don't react as well to chemotherapy

A study showed that obesity made young people more than twice as likely to have leftover leukaemia cells. That puts them at a higher risk of the cancer coming back and of death, the researchers said.
The findings could explain why obese young people do worse on initial chemotherapy – called induction therapy – than their peers who aren't obese.
"Induction chemotherapy provides a patient's best chance for remission or a cure," principal investigator Dr. Steven Mittelman, of The Saban Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles, said in a hospital news release.
Negative impact 
"Our findings indicate that a patient's obesity negatively impacts the ability of chemotherapy to kill leukaemia cells, reducing the odds of survival."
However, the current study was only designed to find a connection between pre-treatment obesity and leftover cancer cells. It wasn't designed to prove that obesity was the definitive cause of the poorer outcomes.
For the study, the researchers focused on nearly 200 patients between the ages of 1 and 21 years. About one-third were overweight or obese, as defined by the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers found that those with so-called "minimal residual disease" – leukaemia cells that can be detected by sensitive methods – were more likely to have poor results over the next two to five years.
Worst outcomes 
The patients who were obese and had residual disease had the worst outcomes of all in the study.
"In addition to increasing a patient's likelihood of having persistent disease following treatment, obesity appears to add a risk factor that changes the interaction between chemotherapy and residual leukaemia cells," said the study's co-lead investigator Dr. Hisham Abdel-Azim of The Saban Research Institute in the release.
Gaining weight during the first month of treatment didn't appear to worsen outcomes, the study found.

The study was published online in the journal Blood.

Giggs' club wins record broken

Ryan Giggs (AFP)

Sao Paulo - Rogerio Ceni has broken Ryan Giggs' record for most wins with a single club.
Ceni reached his 590th win with Sao Paulo on Monday night to surpass the mark previously set by the Manchester United midfielder.
The 41-year-old goalkeeper is the world's most prolific scorer in the position with 123 goals. He already has eight goals in this year's Brazilian league as Sao Paulo trails leader Cruzeiro by five points with seven rounds left in the competition.
Ceni, who is set to retire at the end of the year, was a member of Brazil's World Cup squad in 2002 and 2006.
He has played 1174 matches for Sao Paulo.
Giggs ended his Manchester United career with 168 goals in 963 appearances.

Sports Minister wades into fresh NFF crisis

NFF (File)

Abuja - The Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Tammy Danagogo has ordered quick and unambiguous resolution of the crisis threatening to tear the Nigeria Football Federation apart, and directed feuding parties to sheathe their swords in the interest of peace.
Danagogo, at a meeting with top officials of the Federation and the faction led by Chris Giwa, specifically charged that the court case entered into by the Giwa faction should immediately be withdrawn to save Nigeria from impending FIFA hammer.
He also confirmed holding a meeting with President of Confederation of African Football (CAF), Issa Hayatou in Windhoek on Saturday, where the CAF supremo told him in no uncertain terms that FIFA and CAF have had it up to their neck with Nigeria.
“Hayatou told me Nigeria could actually have been stopped from playing the final of the African Women Championship in Namibia on Saturday, but he had to plead with FIFA to stop its Emergency Committee from taking immediate action. He also explained that such an occurrence would have handed the trophy automatically to Cameroon, and people would have thought that being a Cameroonian, he instigated such to favour his country.
“The CAF President was really unhappy with us. He brought out documents which constitute the protocols that every country wishing to be in the international football family had to sign, and which Nigeria signed. Part of these is the fact that disputes in football have to be taken to arbitration, and not civil courts.”


Restating that national interest and the interest of football should be paramount in the minds of those battling for the soul of the Nigeria game, Danagogo directed that the court case should be withdrawn and that both NFF President Amaju Pinnick and Ambassador Giwa should sit down like brothers and discuss firmly on ways to bring to an end the imbroglio.
“I am not interested in who is the NFF President. I am concerned with the interest of our country and the fact that football is such a serious matter for us and a ban from international football would be a disaster.
“I can assure you all that the Federal Government will not take kindly to any individual or group that contribute to an unfortunate situation of Nigeria getting banned from international football.”
The Sports Minister has ordered the parties involved to reconvene at his office on Wednesday afternoon to report back on their resolutions.

Balotelli lifts Reds over Swans

Mario Balotelli (AFP)

 Chelsea have reached the League Cup quarter-finals but had to call for reinforcements to see off fourth tier Shrewsbury Town 2-1 on Tuesday while Mario Balotelli inspired Liverpool's 2-1 comeback victory over Swansea City.
On a night when Premier League West Bromwich Albion were dumped out by second tier Bournemouth, both Liverpool and Chelsea flirted with danger.
Didier Drogba gave Chelsea the lead but the match looked to be heading for extra time when Shrewsbury's Andy Mangan swivelled to fire past keeper Petr Cech with 13 minutes to play.
Nemanja Matic and Willian were promptly summoned from the bench to help quell the uprising and the latter's superb cross caused panic in the defensive ranks and Jermaine Grandison turned the ball into his own net.
Liverpool fans have seen little in Balotelli's performances this season to convince them he could ride to the rescue when the chips were down but he came off the bench to prod home a crucial equaliser at Anfield with four minutes remaining after Marvin Emnes had put Swansea ahead.
A dramatic finale saw Swansea's Federico Fernandez sent off for a late tackle and Dejan Lovren head home the winner after four minutes of stoppage time.
West Brom probably thought they had done enough to force extra time when a Tommy Elphick own goal with five minutes to go at Bournemouth levelled the scores at 1-1.
But it was the hosts who progressed thanks to Callum Wilson's late strike, capping a superb few days for the south coast club after they beat Birmingham City 8-0 in the Championship at the weekend.
Elsewhere, Derby County came from 2-0 down to beat Fulham 5-2 and Sheffield United won 2-1 at Milton Keynes Dons.

NFC organises training workshop for filmmakers

Abuja -  The Nigeria Film Corporation (NFC) on Tuesday said it would sharpen the skills of filmmakers and other stakeholders in the media industry at a five-day international training workshop.
A statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Brian Etuk, Head, Public Affairs, NFC, said the workshop, tagged "SHOOT'', will begin on November  3 at the National Film Institute, Jos.
The statement said television and radio workers are expected to participate in the workshop aimed at enhancing the visual image and digital transmission.
It listed information and communication officers of federal, state and local governments as well as government and private agencies as other participants for the workshop.
The statement said the workshop would address the challenges of digitisation as the 2015 deadline for migration from analogue to digital broadcasting draws near.
It quoted the Chief Executives of NFC, Dr Danjuma Dadu, and Emeka Mba of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) as assuring that the workshop would prepare stakeholders for the migration.
"Content development is key to a successful digital migration, the professional competence of practitioners and preparedness to deal with the migration,'' the statement quoted Dadu as saying.
The statement also said that participants would be drawn from the UK, France, USA, Germany and Nigeria.
It further said that each participant was expected to pay N45 000 fee for registration as certificates would be issued at the end of the programme.
It also said that the participants would be drilled on digital film production, post production, documentary production, script writing, digital editing, cinematography, photography, lighting sound and production.

Taylor Swift shakes off her country roots for new pop sound!

New York - Moving more decisively away from her country roots, Taylor Swift on Monday released a danceable pop album that the beleaguered record industry hopes will be the year's top-seller.
Called 1989, the year the soon-to-be 25-year-old US music phenomenon was born, Swift's fifth album is accompanied by a methodical marketing campaign that ranges from product tie-ins to meetings with lucky fans.


(Taylor Swift performs on stage at CBS Radio's second annual We Can Survive concert. AP)

Swift, who moved as a child to Nashville and released a debut album with a country base when she was just 16, shifts firmly into pop mode on the latest album by trading her guitar for a synth sound that would, in fact, have sounded familiar in 1989.

Swift whose breakups with celebrity boyfriends have delighted tabloids once again taps into her personal life for her lyrics, but on "1989" the tone is often cheeky and plainly cognizant of the media glare upon her.

"I go on too many dates / But I can't make 'em stay / At least that's what people say," she sings with a chuckle on the album's first single Shake It Off, which is driven by an infectious funk rhythm.

Swift teamed up for Shake It Off and several other 1989 tracks with the Swedish producers Max Martin and Shellback, who worked with her on We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, her chart-topping song from her last album Red in 2012.

Martin has written or co-written some of the major hits of the past 20 years by bubblegum pop stars such as the Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync and Britney Spears.

Swift, appearing Monday on ABC's "Good Morning America" to promote the album, declared that "1989" was her best work.

"I think it's always important to remind your fans why they started listening to you in the first place but, on a new album, give them something truly new," she said.

"I could have made Red twice, done the same thing over again. Instead, I decided to go in a completely different direction," she said.




Industry hopes riding on Swift

Swift is not the only one hoping that 1989 will take off.

So far, this year is on course to be the first in memory without an album going platinum  the certification of selling more than one million although the 2013 soundtrack to the Disney movie Frozen has done so in the course of 2014.

Overall album sales are down by 14% compared with last year, according to industry journal Billboard. The reasons are hotly debated, with some artists and promoters blaming streaming services that discourage casual listeners from buying full albums.

Billboard said the industry was forecasting that Swift's album would sell 800,000 to 900,000 copies in its first week, which would make it the biggest release since Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience in March 2013.

The album leaked online several days in advance. It was listed on file-sharing sites by the title "album inconnu," French for "unknown album," raising suspicion that the leak occurred in the French-speaking world.

But many fans insisted on social media that they would wait for Monday's official worldwide release, a loyalty that may be attributed to the star's assiduous attempts to cultivate her "Swifties."

Swift has enclosed five different sets of Polaroid pictures in the CDs as a way to encourage collectors. Early buyers of the CD are given codes for a lottery to meet Swift, who is also collaborating with a fast food chain and soft drink maker for the album's release.

Folk legend James Taylor who has worked with Swift and is said to have been her namesake recently described her as "a remarkable marketing phenomenon."

The intense marketing is "a hard thing to survive, I think, but she seems to have a very clear head on her shoulders and I think if anyone can, she can make it through and continue to evolve as an artist," he said.

Watch Taylor talk about her new album:

Why do Some people act like animals? You Need To See What a Manager Did to his Singer

 

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According to Ghanaian media sources, budding neo-soul singer, Lady Jay was beaten up by her male manager. He had head-butted the young lady and she had to be hospitalized at the 37 Military Hospital. Reasons for the violence isn't known yet but the police are already investigating the assault. 

Mastermind of failed Aus beheading plot killed in Middle East

File: AP

Sydney - A former Sydney bouncer said to have masterminded a failed plot by Islamic State militants to behead a random member of the public in Australia is believed to have died in the Middle East, Australian media reported on Wednesday.
Mohammad Ali Baryalei, who was believed to be one of the group's most senior members and a top recruiter of foreign fighters, was thought to have died in fighting in Syria or Iraq four or five days ago, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
"We are currently seeking to verify those reports, so I can't confirm them at this stage," Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told reporters.
A spokesperson for Attorney General George Brandis declined to comment on reports of his death.

Abdul Salaam Mahmoud, who belonged to the same street-proselytizing group as Baryalei in Sydney, wrote on Facebook of Baryalei's death, the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported.
"I've just received the news that our beloved brother Mohamed Ali who was recently strongly attacked by Australian media has been martyred," Mahmoud said.
More than 800 police raided homes in Sydney and Brisbane in September as part of a sweeping counter-terrorism operation aimed at stopping what the government said was a plot to kidnap and publicly behead a random Australian citizen.
Australia is concerned over the number of its citizens believed to be fighting overseas with militant groups, including a suicide bomber who killed three people in Baghdad in July and two men shown in images on social media holding the severed heads of Syrian soldiers.

Zambian leader death: No official confirmation yet

Zambian President Michael Sata. (File: AFP)

Lusaka - Zambian President Michael Sata, 77, has died in London where he was receiving medical treatment, local media reported on Wednesday.
There was no immediate confirmation from Zambian officials in the capital Lusaka.
The independent Zambia Reports quoted "multiple sources" among Sata's delegation as confirming that he had died, while the Zambian Watchdog website said it had "100% confirmation" of the president's death.
Sata has long been rumoured to be seriously ill and has not been seen in public since returning from the UN General Assembly last month, where he failed to make a scheduled speech.



He flew to London a week ago for treatment.
Sata made a rare public appearance on 19 September to tell parliament: "I am not dead."
Despite repeated denials that the president was ill, analysts had said a power struggle was already under way behind the scenes for Zambia's top job.
"King Cobra"
When he left Zambia for London, Sata appointed Minister of Defence and Justice Edgar Lungu as acting president.
Vice President Guy Scott has regularly stood in for the president at official events in recent months, but he is of Scottish descent which could make him ineligible to take over the presidency as his parents were not born in Zambia.
Supporters who voted Sata into office in 2011 saw him as a no-nonsense man of action, while for critics, the former policeman, trade unionist and taxidermist was an authoritarian populist.


What is undisputed is that he seemed to revel in scorched earth politics.
Detractors, political foes, the media and even allies frequently came under attack from a man who earned the sobriquet "King Cobra".
He had recently cracked down on political opponents and critical journalists who reported on his long-suspected illness and frequent "working trips" abroad, apparently for medical treatment.
In January 2014, an opposition politician was charged with defamation for calling him a potato, while in June the authorities charged three opposition activists for claiming that he was dying.

Obama: US can't shy away from Ebola battle

Washington - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that the United States can't be seen as shying away from battle against Ebola and must support health care workers who are returning from the front lines in Africa.
Obama did not directly criticise quarantine policies for returning health care workers implemented in the states of New York and New Jersey, but he said monitoring of those who come back from the fight needs to prudent and "based in science".
"We don't want to discourage our health care workers from going to the front lines and dealing with this in an effective way," he said.
Obama said a robust response in Africa will stop the spread of the disease in the United States. He reminded Americans only two people have contracted the disease in the US and both are now disease-free.

Also Read: Nurse who had Ebola to be released from hospital

The president spoke to reporters from the White House after a phone call with one of those patients, nurse Amber Vinson, just after her release from the hospital.

He also called a Usaid team deployed to West Africa and said he plans to meet on Wednesday with public health workers who have been there, or are planning to go, to talk about how public policy "can support the incredible heroism that they are showing".
"America cannot look like it is shying away because other people are watching what we do," Obama said.

"If we don't have robust international response in West Africa, then we are actually endangering ourselves here back home. In order to do that, we've got to make sure that those workers who are willing and able and dedicated to go over there in a really tough job, that they're applauded, thanked and supported.

"That should be our priority. And we can make sure that when they come back they are being monitored in a prudent fashion."

State policies
A hodgepodge of state policies, some of which directly contradict Obama's recommendations, has sowed confusion about what's needed to stop Ebola from spreading in the United States.

While public health advocates denounce state quarantines as draconian and scientifically baseless, anxious citizens in non-quarantine states are asking whether they're at greater risk because their governors and the president have adopted a lesser level of caution.
For the first time, the Centres for Disease Control on Monday recommended 21 days of isolation and travel restrictions for people at highest risk for Ebola - a nurse stuck by a needle while treating an Ebola patient in Guinea, for example - even if they have no symptoms. States are still free to go above and beyond the CDC guidelines.
Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease at the National Institutes of Health, defended the Washington policy on Tuesday, but said that states have a right "to go the extra mile" if they wish.

Also Read: Australia halts visas from Ebola-affected regions

In an appearance on ABC television's Good Morning America, Fauci declined to criticise the more stringent quarantine policies implemented in New York and New Jersey by governors Andrew Cuomo and Chris Christie. "'They're doing it in good faith."
David Fidler, who teaches international and public health law at Indiana University, said, "We have not seen for decades and decades the state or federal government say a whole category is going to be subjected to quarantines.
In fact, such broad quarantines are almost unheard of in US history. Almost always, they have been limited to diseases that are airborne and easy to catch. Public health experts say Ebola is neither.
When a flu pandemic dubbed the "Spanish Flu" infected millions in 1918, major US cities closed schools and imposed strict quarantines.

New York considered quarantining tuberculosis patients in the 1990s, and isolated some who wouldn't comply with treatment.

P-Square's Peter Okoye & Gorgeous Wife Steps Out In Matching Outfits For dinner last night! [Photo

 

Peter Captioned the Lovely Pic; "Lastnight b4 heading out for dinner with my Ije love."

Refining crude oil in Nigerian will help economy, says IPMAN

Lagos - The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Tuesday said local refining of the nation’s crude remained the only way to stem the effects of declining crude oil prices on the Nigerian economy.
Chinedu Okorokwo, the National President, IPMAN, made the assertion during the association’s zonal meeting and inauguration of the new western zonal vice-chairman in Lagos.
Okoronkwo said that the decline of price of crude oil at the international marketer should not disturb Nigerians adding that local refining would cushion other expenses and boost Gross Domestic Products (GDP)
According to him, more than 243 by-products are associated with crude oil but only three are maximised in Nigeria.
“When we refine our crude locally we harness more products to boost the country’s economy.”
`”We should not entertain any fear on the current decline in crude oil prices globally.”

Also Read: Boko Haram, big oil and the Chad connection

“IPMAN is working seriously to ensure that the proposed three billion dollars refineries in Kogi and Bayelsa come on stream by 2016 to reduce cost of refining outside the country,” he said.
He said that when the refineries come on stream, the nation would continue to build and maintain a healthy external reserves position.
“We are proposing to build two refineries in Nigeria, one in Bayelsa and another one in Kogi, to ease scarcity which is part of the present administration’s agenda.”
“We are in discussion with our foreign investors.”
“We will ensure that the product will get to all nooks and crannies of the country; it will also grow the GDP of the country because capital flight will be reduced drastically.”
“Where Nigerians are spending 60 billion dollars in importing refined products, the proposed refineries will reduce the cost and stress of exporting crude to bring in refined products.”
“It will also create jobs; there will be massive job creation where Nigerian youths will be gainfully employed. It will also stop incessant kidnapping in the country,” he said.

Okoronkwo also said that the proposed refineries would go a long way in supporting the socio-economic growth of the country as part of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

Also Read: Oil subsidy fraud trial resumed today
He said that Nigeria, Africa’s largest crude oil producer, is the biggest importer of refined petroleum products in the continent, creating a lucrative market for refineries particularly in Europe and the U.S.
He expressed confidence that domestic refineries “hold enormous economic benefits for Nigerians and Nigeria.
According to him, IPMAN cannot commit more than three billion dollars without making sure that the refineries will work.
Also speaking, Alhaji Debo Ahmed, the newly-elected vice chairman, western zone, IPMAN, lauded government effort in combating pipeline vandalism and reassured Nigerians of the commitment in ensuring effective monitoring of petroleum distribution.
Ahmed urged member to embrace peace and support one another in moving the association forward stressing that personal wrangling would impact negatively on its interest.
“As a newly-elected member of the zonal office of IPMAN I will ensure that the integrity and harmonisation of members are paramount.”
“I’m going to work with my zonal chairman and national executives to find lasting solution to petroleum products challenges within the western zone,” he said.

See Gobe! Youth Corper Caught Adding Love Portion in Boy Friend's Food

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Youth Corps Member, identified as Chinyere, at the weekend landed in trouble in Asaba, Delta State, when a love potion meant to charm a 32-year- old graduate of chemistry backfired, Leadership reports.


The incident which occurred around Redeemed Junction along Okpanam community road, Asaba, followed a long relationship between the suspect and the young man, who hails from Ibusa community near Asaba. It was said that they started dating while they were both in Lagos, until she graduated and was posted to Asaba for her youth service.

Sources revealed that their relationship encountered some undisclosed issues and the young man broke up, but the suspect refused to let go despite all effort to convince her he was done with the relationship.

It was gathered that the suspect insisted the relationship must continue because she had put in a lot of time.

“I have invested my time and resources into this relationship and you cannot just wake up and tell me you are through with me. If you have done that to other girls before, you cannot try that with me,” Chinyere said.

The victim said on the fateful evening, the suspect reported the young man to his elder sister who lives in Benin, adding that he was called and advised him to let sleeping dog lie after talking some sense into him.

The young man reportedly obeyed his elder sister and invited the suspect to his house situated around Okpanam community where the misfortune happened. The two ‘love birds’ reportedly took a walk down town that night, getting to some point, the young man excused her to purchase a bottle of water and as soon as he walked away, the suspect not knowing people were watching her, reportedly brought out a small can and she packed sand from the spot the young man stood, and immediately jumped into a commercial tricycle and left the scene but was chased and brought down.

The corps member was reportedly pounced on beaten to pulp by an angry mob who witnessed the incident.

It would be recalled that 18 year old Martins Okolo was reported to have slept with his mother after using a local charm on her in Otulu community, Delta state.

See How Father Disgraces His 10-Year-Old, 5ft 9′ Girl Dating Older Men On Facebook & Lying About Age

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5th Grader, Janiya Jones Dating Older Men She Met On Facebook Without Parents Permission Forced To Wear Age Defining Tshirt.
Kevin Jones, the father of the girl pictured above is devastated.
Janiya Jones, a  10-year-old girl in 5th grade with an amazing height of 5’9  was said to have been lying about her age and dating older men she met on Facebook and other social media without her parents’ permission.

As a form of discipline, she was forced to wear an age-defining tshirt that reads,  “I am 10 years old” and “5th Grader” to school.
Her father then shared the uncensored photos on Facebook.
Mr Kevin Jones captioned the photos, Since my beautiful daughter Janiya wants to be grown & lie about her age. Saying she is 14,15,16, & 18 years old. She claims to be in love and going out with a boyfriend, which is completely against my rules!!! I uncovered that she has been doing this for quite some time. She also has snuck and obtained social media accounts, also against my rules!!! 

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