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Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has confirmed at least 20 people dead after suspected Fulani herdsmen attacked communities in Guma and Logo local government areas of the state between Monday and Tuesday. Ortom disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Makurdi after the State Security Meeting. He said that out of the number of […]
Ortom confirms 20 dead in Benue attack
Ortom confirms 20 dead in Benue attack
Governor Nasir El-Rufai has granted clemency to 10 prisoners in the state and approved their immediate release. The Governor also granted pardon to Captain Idris S. Mohammed, a retired soldier and ex-convict, who completed his prison term in 1985. The governor’s action is based on the recommendations of the Kaduna State Advisory Council on Prerogative […]
Governor El-Rufai releases 10 prisoners, pardons one ex-convict
Governor El-Rufai releases 10 prisoners, pardons one ex-convict
The Police on Tuesday arraigned a 52-year-old tanker driver, Oladiti Lukman, in an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for allegedly obtaining N400, 000 under false pretence.
Lukman, a resident of Ilekun Ayo Seeni village, Apata, Ibadan, was arraigned on a two- count charge of fraud and stealing.
The Prosecutor, ASP Sunday Ogunremi, told the court that Lukman collected the N400,000 from one Daramola Olubode of 23, Amunigun area, Ogunpa, Ibadan, on the pretext of selling a plot of land to him.
Ogunremi said the offence contravened sections 390 (9) and 419 of the Criminal Code Cap 38, Vol II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abdulateef Adebisi, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
Adebisi adjourned the case till Feb. 13 for hearing.
The post Tanker Driver Docked Over Alleged Fraud appeared first on Independent Nigeria.
Tanker Driver Docked Over Alleged Fraud
The Governor assured all the officers that the state government will continue to cater for their interests.
Speaking when he received the 36 officers, made up of 17 Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs) and 19 Inspectors, Tambuwal commended the officers for accepting to serve as law enforcement officers.
"By agreeing to dedicate your lives to protect us, you have continued in the tradition of your forefathers from this state who have served this nation diligently.
"I urge you to refuse to be infected by anything denting the image of the Police. The entire Police structure is undergoing rebranding as such, I want you to play your part well in enhancing the image," he added.
The Governor assured all the officers that the state government will continue to cater for their interests even after their passing out from training colleges.
Speaking on behalf of their colleagues, ASP Abubakar Shehu and Inspector Yusuf Adam commended Tambuwal for his care and concern for them since from their time in training colleges.
"You visited some us while in training in Jos, and kept regular contact with others who trained elsewhere. We thank you for your efforts, and we assure you that as we start life in the Force, we will continue to make Sokoto state and our families proud," they added.
Tambuwal: Governor tells Sokoto's new officers to rebrand the image of Police
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Beyoncé and Jay-Z's $88 million Bel Air mansion pales in comparison to this architect's latest project.
The most expensive private home in America will hit the market this spring in Los Angeles for a cool $500 million.
The Bel Air mansion was designed by Paul McClean, the same architect who built the $88 million estate Beyoncé and Jay-Z bought in 2017. McClean's contemporary homes have also sold to the Winklevoss twins, Calvin Klein, and Swedish DJ Avicii.
Los Angeles real estate developer Nile Niami bought the hilltop property in 2012 for $28 million and gutted the original 10,000 square-foot house to make room for the mega-mansion, which he dubbed "The One," according to the New York Times.
At 100,000 square-feet, the house will also be one of the largest private residences in the US — but the amenities sound more like a hotel than a home.
Within floor-to-ceiling glass walls, there's a casino, a jellyfish tank, a beauty salon, a nightclub with VIP seating, plus two indoor swimming pools and two spa pools, and an infinity edge moat surrounding the property.
Niami told the Times he included the Gatsby-like amenities "because it's cool."
"Let's say you're a super-wealthy single dude who just sold your company. You've just moved to LA and you don't know anybody, so you hire someone to fill your house with partiers," Niami told the Times. "You want everyone to know who you are, but you don't want to talk to anybody. So you go sit in your VIP room."
Niami expects the eventual buyer will purchase the mansion as a fifth or sixth home and use it like a private hotel when they're in town. The home has 20 bedrooms, seven of which are in a separate building for staff. The master suite measures 5,500 square feet and includes a separate pool, kitchen, and office.
Although McClean is no stranger to designing mansions — over half of his homes are larger than 8,000 square feet — "The One" was a challenge, he told the Orange County Register.
"There are very few homes this size," McClean said. "We had to think of it in a different manner than other homes. We looked at hotels. We even looked at palaces because that's what this is, a modern-day palace."
The most expensive home ever sold to date in the US went for $137 million, while the most expensive home in the world, a chateau in France, sold for $300 million.
Many real estate experts cited by the Times are skeptical Niami will find a buyer willing to shell out anywhere near $500 million for "The One."
But even if the mega-mansion sells for half the listing price, Niami would likely still walk away with a huge profit — and perhaps lifelong bragging rights.
Three hundred schools in the basic education sub-sector have been selected for the implementation of the Edo State’s new skills-oriented curriculum that will leverage on Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who said this in his New Year broadcast, explained that his administration was set to implement the reforms in the educational sector starting with a pilot that includes 300 basic schools.
“Our teachers will be supported and the school curriculum adjusted to make it more relevant. We will commence our basic education reforms with a pilot project covering the first 300 schools,” Obaseki said.
He explained that, “In the primary and secondary education sub-sector, we have successfully completed the census of our public primary and secondary schools to ascertain the exact number of schools, teachers, students and infrastructural facilities that exist. We are overhauling our basic education system by introducing technology to our primary schools and enhancing the capacity of our teachers to instruct our children by using modern technology tools.”
According to the governor, the census “will aid us with planned rehabilitation, reconstruction, equipping and management of our educational institutions as we embark on massive rehabilitation and reconstruction work, which will commence in our public primary and secondary schools.”
The new school curriculum also includes themes in social studies that will educate children on the ills of human trafficking, a policy of the state government designed to win the hearts of young ones to join in the campaign against human trafficking and illegal migration.
Obaseki added that “This is the only way to effectively empower our people educationally to enable them compete anywhere in the world,” noting that the novel curriculum addresses the present challenges faced in the nation’s educational sector.
The post Edo Govt. okays 300 schools for New skills-based curriculum appeared first on Vanguard News.
Edo Govt. okays 300 schools for New skills-based curriculum
Shares of Netflix spiked 4.4% Tuesday morning after Macquarie gave the stock a $220 price target.
Shares of Netflix spiked 4.42% Tuesday morning, crossing $200 mark for the first time since October, after Macquarie upgraded the streaming video giant from neutral to outperform.
The upgrade was "part of a broad realignment of views on media," analyst Tim Nollen said in a note to clients Tuesday. "Where we prefer companies with subscription over ad-driven content, and scaled distribution with an international presence. We also appreciate the improving quality of Netflix’s revenue and earnings."
As annoying ads continues to drive consumers to subscription streaming services, Netflix is "miles ahead of its peers," the bank said. Even Disney, which plans to launch its own service and yank its content form Netflix in 2020, "won’t threaten Netflix."
Macquarie now has a price target of $220 for shares of Netflix — 10% above Tuesday’s prices and roughly in-line with Wall Street’s consensus target of $217.
Netflix will report fourth-quarter 2017 earnings on January 22. Analysts polled by Bloomberg, as well as Macquarie, expect the company to report earnings of $0.416 per share. In October, Netflix reported third-quarter earnings of $0.29 per share, lower than the expected $0.322.
"Quality of revenue and earnings are important," the bank said. "We believe Netflix is taking several steps to improve this beyond the market’s obsession with sub numbers to date. On the revenue side, a second round of price increases is now coming through."
Shares of Netflix gained 56.48% in 2017, more than doubling the S&P 500's 19.14% benchmark in the same period.
Finance: MACQUARIE: Netflix is leaps and bounds ahead of the competition (NFLX)
Trump continues to harp on Clinton's use of a private email server, which was a central talking point during the 2016 election.
President Donald Trump launched another broadside against his 2016 presidential election opponent early on Tuesday, tweeting about Hillary Clinton and her top aide, Huma Abedin, over their handling of classified information.
"Crooked Hillary Clinton’s top aid, Huma Abedin, has been accused of disregarding basic security protocols," Trump tweeted. "She put Classified Passwords into the hands of foreign agents. Remember sailors pictures on submarine? Jail! Deep State Justice Dept must finally act? Also on Comey & others."
Trump invocation to "remember sailors pictures on submarine" likely refers to the case of Kristian Saucier, who was a machinist's mate aboard Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarine USS Alexandria from September 2007 to March 2012.
In July 2015, Saucier was charged with taking photos of classified spaces, instruments, and equipment inside the USS Alexandria on at least three occasions in 2009.
Court papers also said Saucier attempted to destroy his laptop, camera, and camera memory card after he was interviewed by the FBI an the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in July 2012.
The investigation began in March 2012, when Saucier's cellphone, with pictures of the submarine still on it, was found at a waste-transfer station in Connecticut.
Saucier pleaded guilty to to one count of unauthorized possession and retention of national defense information in May 2016 and in August 2016 was sentenced to a year in jail, three years of supervised release, six months of home confinement, and 100 hours of community service. He was also given an "other than honorable" discharge from the Navy.
Tuesday's tweet is not the first time that Trump or his surrogates have invoked Saucier's case to highlight the perception that Clinton received special treatment.
Vice President Mike Pence brought up the case during an October 2016 debate with Tim Kaine, Clinton's running mate, arguing that a service member who handled classified information in the way Clinton did would "absolutely" face court-martial, though the Washington Post found it far from clear that would happen.
Trump himself referenced the case, referring to Saucier — a 22-year-old sailor at the time of the photos were taken — as "the kid who wanted some pictures of the submarine."
"That’s an old submarine; they’ve got plenty of pictures, if the enemy wants them, they’ve got plenty of them. He wanted to take a couple of pictures," Trump added. "They put him in jail for a year."
Saucier's lawyer also compared the six photos his client took of the sub's classified propulsion system to the 110 emails classified emails the FBI determined were on the private email server that Clinton used while she was secretary of state.
"It will be unjust and unfair for Mr. Saucier to receive any sentence other than probation for a crime those more powerful than him will likely avoid," Saucier's lawyer wrote in an August 2016 sentencing memorandum.
But the judge in the case appeared to dismiss the comparison as well as the argument that Saucier was being treated differently.
"Selective enforcement is really not a good argument," US District judge Steven Underhill said during Saucier's sentencing. "Those arguments don't really carry much water."
Saucier was not court-martialed, and the FBI did not present evidence that he attempted to disseminate the photos he took. Espionage was not mentioned as part of his plea agreement.
Even Saucier's lawyers admitted that his actions were distinct from Clinton's email usage. Clinton said she did not knowingly send or receive classified emails. Saucier, however, admitted knowing that taking the photos was illegal, with his lawyers saying he did it "out of the misguided desire" to show his family what he did while he was in the Navy.
Intelligence agencies have said Clinton’s account contained 65 messages with information considered "Secret" and 22 classified "Top Secret." Some messages contained data under an even more restrictive “special access program” designation. (Clinton disputed those designations, saying they were the result of overclassification.)
The photos Saucier took were designated "Confidential," the lowest tier of classification, though prosecutors argued he "methodically documented" the sub's propulsion system.
Trump's election brought hope to Saucier's family that the new president would pardon the sailor, but the Trump administration denied a pardon request in June.
Saucier was released from prison and placed under house arrest at the end of summer this year. During a late-September appearance on Fox Business Network, Saucier said he thought "punishment isn't doled out evenly" and hoped Trump would "make right by it."
"I served my debt to society. I did my year and that’s why I waited to speak out about it," he said.
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Stop encouraging militants in Rivers, Amaechi tells Wike
He commiserated with the families of the victims and appealed to the communities affected not to embark on reprisal attacks.
In a statement released by the president's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, on Tuesday, December 2, 2018, the president condemned the killing of 21 residents of Rivers state, and the murder of a traditional ruler in Kaduna.
He commiserated with the families of the victims and appealed to the communities affected not to embark on reprisal attacks.
The statement read, "President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and outrage at reports of killings of innocent persons in Omoku, Rivers State and the traditional ruler, the Etum Numana, Dr Gambo Makama, and his wife in Sango Local Government Area of Kaduna State in the New Year.
"The President, who described the incidents as "reprehensible and unacceptable", directed law enforcement agencies in both states to intensify their current efforts in order to speedily bring the perpetrators to face the wrath of the law.
"'I have always maintained that nothing justifies the taking of the life of an innocent person', he said, adding that 'people in our communities must learn to live peacefully.'
"President Buhari appealed to the communities affected not to embark on reprisal attacks, but allow the security agencies to carry out comprehensive investigations to properly punish the culprits.
"He commiserated with the families of the victims and wished the injured faster recovery."
The Rivers State massacre happened in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of the state where unknown gunmen opened fire on the victims while they were on their way back home from New Year's crossover service on Monday, December 1, 2018.
In Kaduna, the paramount chief of Numana Chiefdom in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Gambo Makama, and his pregnant wife were killed by suspected herdsmen in the early hours of Monday, January 1.
The Etum Numana had been in his hometown of Arak to celebrate the New Year when gunmen reportedly broke into his home around 12:05 am and shot him, his pregnant wife and a third person identified as his son.
Buhari: President condemns 'unacceptable' New Year killings in Rivers, Kaduna
Tonto Dikeh can't get enough of her new look as she thanks the doctor and his team behind her new butt.
On Tuesday, January 2nd, 2018 Tonto Dikeh thanked her surgeon for the work he did on her body. She wished him and his team a happy new year.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MY SURGEON AND HIS CREW. Wish you all a great and fulfilled new year,Thanks for all you do for humanity..Thanks for letting God use you in my life as a great source of Joy!!
"For the first time I took my time to appreciate my new body(Damn too sexy by the way),I cried,I leaped with joy and all I can say is am so ready to conquer the world with my new found confidence…Thank you so much Dr. Ayo @grandvillemedlaser and thanks to all the pretty nurses & doctors (recovery center) Super thanks to my Executive producer You are awesome honey,Love you so much Mama. Thanks
"#KINGTONTO #MAMAKING #RADICAL4JESUS #KINGTONTOREALITYTV #LINDAIKEJITV #YOU ARE MOT READY YET I TELL YA #REALITYATITSPEAK #EXCITED #MOTHERHOOD #SEXYMUM #SURGERY #COSMESTIC SURGERY #GANG #FULL BODY RECONSTRUCTION #LIPO #NOPASTIC #NATURAL #HAPPYOLDIE #AM ALL FOT MAKING MAMAKING LOOK BETTER #KINGSMOM #2018 #BODY UNVEIL PARRY LOADING 
ALSO READ: Top 5 celebrity scandals of the year
Tonto Dikeh shocked many Nigerians about her surgery, when Linda Ikeji released the teaser from her reality show. In the trailer, the beautiful and controversial actress revealed that she's "going to be having a cosmetic surgery."
"My body is something I have been extremely ashamed of" she further said in the clip as we see her in the nude in an operating room. There are scenes of Tonto Dikeh going under the knife also.
Tonto Dikeh, despite her controversial status is one celebrity with a good heart. She is known to be one of the most benevolent celebrities as she is quick to help the needy.
This was the case as her NGO, Tonto Dikeh Foundation, paid a visit to the Persons living with disability in the Karanmajiji Disable Colony in Abuja to celebrate the United Nations International World Disability Day. In the course of the visit, she shared gifts with the inhabitants of the colony and also spent time having fun with them.
Tonto Dikeh: Actress is so happy because of her new body
Casualties included women, children and some members of the Live Stock Guards who were assigned to enforce the anti-open grazing law and many people were seriously injured.
The injured ones were receiving treatment at the State University Teaching hospital in Makurdi.
The affected communities are Gaambe-Tiev, Ayilamo and Turan all in Logo Local Government Area as well as Umenger, Tse-Akor and Tomatar near Tse-Abi in Nongov District of Guma Local government area.
The Nigerian Tribune learned that the invading herdsmen invaded Gaambe-Tiev, Ayilamo, and Turan around 10:00 am on new year day at the time the people were returning from New year morning service.
It was gathered that the invading herdsmen opened fire on everyone in sight.
Around 3:00 am on Tuesday, the herders were said to have invaded Tomatar, in a guerrilla manner knocking on the door of people houses and gruesomely killing them with machetes as soon as they opened for them while they also attacked Umenger and Tse-Akor earlier on New Year’s Day.
The Nigerian Tribune which visited the teaching hospital Tuesday report that many corpses have been deposited in the morgue
Dr. Gajir Hembao Tsoho of the Department of Surgery BSUTH who spoke with newsmen disclosed that over 30 victims of the attack were receiving treatment at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) with many corpses already deposited at the morgue of the hospital already.
Among the dead seen been brought to the hospital Tuesday afternoon was a father and his two-year-old son as well as a young man who was said to just returned home three days ago after completing his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Some of the villages are now desolate as a result of the villagers fleeing affected communities in droves while those in neighboring communities too have continued to leave for fear of attack by the herdsmen.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Moses Yamu who confirmed the attack on Tse-Akor village where he said one person died and on ether person missing could however not ascertain the number of casualties from all the affected communities yet.
Meanwhile, Governor Samuel Ortom had described the development as unacceptable and unfair even as he called on the federal government to act fast to protect the lives and property of the Benue people.
The Governor who lamented the gruesome murder of innocent people of the state by the invading herdsmen urged the federal government to act fast on this matter to forestall a break out of anarchy in the state.
While noting that there is no going back on the implementation of the anti-open grazing law which was duly passed in the state, Ortom maintained that the blood of those who had been killed by the herdsmen would cry out to the federal government and to God for vengeance.
“Now these herdsmen are coming to invade the land and sending the people running helter-skelter again after we have started the implementation and everybody received it. Those who wanted to leave left and nobody was attacked. This is not acceptable. We are not going to accept it.
“There is no going back on the implementation of this law. This is our land and the law was duly passed by our people. Now, those people who have been killed, their blood will cry to the federal government and if the federal government doesn’t do something, their blood will cry to the Almighty God and I’m sure that God will deal with the situation Himself.
“This is not fair and it is not acceptable. I think this is where the federal government must come in immediately to stop because these people are known. We heard that they met in one state and gathered together and mobilizing to come to Benue. They passed through roadblocks.
“These people are known people and they have sophisticated weapons. So why have they not been arrested all these while? This is the question we are asking. Does it mean that we should allow the people to take jaws into their hands and also buy guns and begin to kill? Is that what we want? There will be anarchy and nobody knows what will happen thereafter. This is not fair.
“We must rise up. Nigerians must rise up the federal government must rise up to protect us because this is not right. They own the security apparatus. The ones that are here are doing their best but there should be more and that is what we are calling for.
The Governor who confirmed that several people had been killed already by the herdsmen disclosed that nine members of the Live Stock Guards were also murdered by the herdsmen.
“Even amongst the livestock guards who were there to ensure that there are no clashes, nine of them were killed and innocent women and children were killed. This is not fair.”
The post Benue: Herdsmen killed 50 in New Year attack appeared first on Tribune.
Benue: Herdsmen killed 50 in New Year attack
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What Amaechi said after close-door meeting with Buhari
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This chicken noodle soup is so delicious and easy to make.
This chicken noodle soup is so delicious and easy to make.
ALSO READ: Top 5 sugar substitutes
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
Chicken broth
Vegetable Broth
1/2 pound chopped cooked chicken breast
1 1/2 cups egg noodles
1 cup sliced carrots
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried salt and pepper
ALSO READ: How to make this gluten-free pancake
Preparation
Step 1: In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter.
Step 2: Cook onion and celery in butter until tender.
Step 3: After 5 minutes, pour in chicken and vegetable broths and stir in chicken, noodles, carrots, basil, oregano, salt and pepper.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes before serving.
Recipes: Cook your own chicken noodle soup
Ohanaeze-Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC) has given reason why people of the South East extraction should relocate their business headquarters to the region. OYC said this would make the region the economic hub of Nigeria. In a statement by its Secretary General, Okwu Nnabuike and National Vice President, Obinna Achionye, the group decried how Igbos […]
Why Igbos should relocate their businesses to South-East – Ohanaeze Youths
Why Igbos should relocate their businesses to South-East – Ohanaeze Youths
The Boko Haram leader dismissed the government's claim that the group is defeated.
In his first video message in months, Shekau dismissed the government's insistence that the group is defeated, claiming that security agencies can do nothing to harm the group's operations.
The leader of Boko Haram's biggest faction spoke in Hausa language through the 31-minute duration of the video where he claimed attacks in Maiduguri, Gamboru and Damboa.
He said, "We are in good health and nothing has happened to us. Nigerian troops, police and those creating mischief against us can't do anything against us, and you will gain nothing.
"We carried out the attacks in Maiduguri, in Gamboru, in Damboa. We carried out all these attacks."
ALSO READ: Buhari needs to be more honest about Boko Haram 'defeat'
The video displayed footage from a Christmas Day attack on a military checkpoint in Molai village on the outskirts of Maiduguri with terrorists shown shooting at soldiers from the back of battered pickup trucks.
Shekau: Boko Haram leader appears in new video, says group is in good health
The new year has been urged in with the usual yearly watchwords from our favorite churches.
Pulse Religion takes a look at some from popular denominations. Here are 12 2018 watchwords from Nigerian churches.
Bishop David Oyedepo’s church, which is popularly known as Winners Chapel, has released his watchword for 2018. It is ‘A New Dawn’. Coincidentally, it was the theme for Shiloh 2017.
Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye’s theme for 2018 is ‘Songs Of Victory.’
Pastor Paul Adefarasin’s church has tagged 2018 ‘the year of becoming!’
Pastor David Ibiyeomie‘s church says 2018 is “Our Year of Expansion!”
Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo’s church welcomes everyone to the “Year of THE NEW.”
Fun fact- the 2018 watchword was released in November 2017. It is taken from the book of Psalm 80: 19 which says “Restore us, O Lord God of hosts, cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved.”
The 2017 watchword was from John 9:4 which reads, “And He said to them,” Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
ALSO READ: 7 awesome Bible verses to help you usher in 2018 the right way
For Harvesters International Christian Church, 2018 is the year of ‘Undeniable Exploits. A year of Breaking New Grounds.’
2018 is ‘My Year of Open Doors’ for this church.
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Love World aka Christ Embassy says 2018 is ‘the Year of the Supernatural!’
2018 is ‘Our Year Of New Heights.’ It is based on Leviticus 26:13 and Philippians 3:13–14.
Pastor Tunde Bakare’s church says it is ‘Our Year of Good Success.’
The watchword is ‘JOY IN SUFFERING’ drawn from 1 Peter 3:14.
New Year: 12 2018 watchwords from popular Nigerian churches
Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni has signed into law a bill removing presidential age limits, a spokesman said Tuesday, clearing the way for the 73-year-old’s expected sixth run at the presidency in 2021.
The controversial constitutional amendment removes the age limit of 75 years imposed on presidential candidates and was pushed through by ruling party MPs last month. It was signed by Museveni on December 27 but not publicly acknowledged until now.
“The president assented to the bill and it is now law,” said press secretary Don Wanyama.
“The previous law was discriminatory in nature but this has been dealt with for the good of Ugandans.”
The amendment reimposes a two-term limit on the presidency scrapped by ruling party MPs in 2005 allowing Museveni, in power since 1986, to run for a third, fourth and fifth term in elections widely criticised as being unfair.
Wanyama dismissed the notion that the law was tailored to allow Museveni’s sixth term as “speculative”.
But veteran opposition leader Kizza Besigye described the law change as part of “a well-orchestrated plan to have Museveni rule for life.”
The post Museveni Signs Bill Removing Uganda Presidential Age Limits appeared first on Independent Nigeria.
Museveni Signs Bill Removing Uganda Presidential Age Limits
A team of researchers at the University of California Berkeley have determined that robots can be capable of such perception. To prove it, they’ve developed a new robotic learning technology that enables robots to think ahead in order to “figure out how to manipulate objects they have never encountered before.”
The team has taken to calling this technology “visual foresight” — but no, it doesn’t give robots the ability to predict the future. At least not yet.
The Berkeley researchers applied the technology to a robot called Vestri, enabling it to make predictions about what its cameras will see several seconds into the future. Equipped with new foresight, Vestri demonstrated the ability to move small objects around on a table without touching or knocking over nearby obstacles. The most impressive part, however, was that the technology allowed the robot to perform the small task without human input, supervision, or prior knowledge of physics.
“In the same way that we can imagine how our actions will move the objects in our environment, this method can enable a robot to visualize how different behaviors will affect the world around it,” explained Sergey Levine, assistant professor at Berkeley’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences — the lab behind the technology’s development. “This can enable intelligent planning of highly flexible skills in complex real-world situations.”
Visual foresight is based on “convolutional recurrent video prediction,” or dynamic neural advection (DNA). According to the team, DNA-based models are able to predict how the pixels in an image will move from one frame to another based on what the robot does. As Chelsea Finn, a doctoral student in Levine’s lab and inventor of the original DNA model, explained, robots like Vestri can now “learn a range of visual object manipulation skills entirely on their own.”
Frederik Ebert, a graduate student in Levine’s lab who worked on the project compared their work with robots to the way humans learn to interact with objects in their environment:
“Humans learn object manipulation skills without any teacher through millions of interactions with a variety of objects during their lifetime,” said Ebert. “We have shown that it possible to build a robotic system that also leverages large amounts of autonomously collected data to learn widely applicable manipulation skills, specifically object pushing skills.”
Levine notes the capabilities of Vestri are still somewhat limited, though additional work is being done to improve visual foresight. One day, the technology could be used to help self-driving cars while on the road, better equipping them to handle new situations and unfamiliar objects.
The technology needs various improvements before that would be possible, though, such as more refined video prediction and methods to gather more specific video data. Following these advancements, robots may be able to perform more complex tasks such as lifting and placing objects or handling soft and easy to deform objects like cloth or rope. Perhaps one day you won’t even need to fold your own laundry — your robot assistant could do it for you.
The post Researchers gave robots the ability to think ahead appeared first on Tribune.
Researchers gave robots the ability to think ahead
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said on Tuesday it would capture Lagos in the 2019 governorship election. The PDP Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr Taofeek Gani made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. “We will shock the All Progressives Congress (APC) by winning the governorship election […]
The post We Will Capture Lagos In 2019 – PDP appeared first on Leadership Nigeria Newspapers.
We Will Capture Lagos In 2019 – PDP
Arsene Wenger moved to allay the fears of Arsenal fans on Tuesday saying he would replace both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil with world-class players should they end up leaving.
Both Sanchez, who came close to moving to Manchester City on the final day of the last transfer window in August, and Ozil’s contracts are up at the end of the present season.
Sanchez’s attitude and commitment to the club have been questioned by fans and some of his team-mates did not congratulate the 29-year-old Chilean after he scored a double in the 3-2 Premier League win over Crystal Palace last Thursday.
Wenger, whose transfer dealings have been a sore point with sections of the Arsenal support, said he would also be on the look-out for players in the present transfer window.
“We are open to any position for the exceptional player that can give us a plus. It depends a little bit on the injuries as well,” said the Arsenal manager on the eve of their match with reigning Premier League champions Chelsea.
“On the other hand it depends if we manage to extend the contracts of the players who are at the end of their contracts in June.
“It will depend on that as well. We have to take the consequences of those decisions and respond to it.
“How we cope with that, first of all we have not lost them yet, and secondly we will respond to that by bringing in players of top quality.
“This club has lost many, many big players and has always responded well.”
However, the 68-year-old Frenchman refuted suggestions he was targeting Chelsea’s Brazil centre-back David Luiz or French international midfielder Thomas Lemar from Monaco.
The failure to sign 22-year-old Lemar back in August led to the collapse of the Sanchez move to Manchester City.
“I don’t want to think about any special names, but these reports are wrong,” said Wenger, whose side are currently fifth in the table, six points behind Liverpool in fourth but with a game in hand.
As for catching runaway leaders City, Wenger said there is the slimmest glimmer of hope for their rivals given their two recent performances — a 1-0 win away at struggling Newcastle United and then a 0-0 draw on Sunday against relegation-threatened Crystal Palace.
“They have shown signs of being less dominant,” said Wenger, whose side are 21 points behind City.
“One of the teams behind need to have a perfect run and they (City) need to collapse a bit.”
The post Wenger Promises Sanchez, Ozil Will Be Replaced By World-Class Players appeared first on Independent Nigeria.
Wenger Promises Sanchez, Ozil Will Be Replaced By World-Class Players
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday came under fire from Iran. Iranian FM spokesman Ghasemi advised him to stop meddling in its domestic affairs. Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Bahram Ghasemi said this in reaction to Trump’s tweets about Iran in which he called the nation ‘hungry for food’. Ghasemi said: “The completely contradictory and haphazard […]
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19th Northern States and Abuja has appeal to the federal government to come up programmes that make its citizens to be patriotic. The Northern CAN in a statement by its Spokesperson, Rev. John Joseph Hayab said government must come up with policies that will help the citizens […]
The post 2018: Come Up With Policies That’ll Make Nigerians Happy – CAN Tells FG appeared first on Leadership Nigeria Newspapers.
2018: Come Up With Policies That’ll Make Nigerians Happy – CAN Tells FG
NAN learnt that most of the residents observed the New Year in the bushes were they are hiding.
NAN learnt that most of the residents observed the New Year in the bushes were they are hiding.
A residents and renowned environmentalist, Mr Alagoa Morris, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the community has been deserted since the crisis commenced on Dec. 30, 2017.
According to him, two persons were killed last July in similar clashes.
Morris urged relevant security agencies to intervene and restore peace to the community.
“Our pain is that this crisis was avoidable; the community leadership had cried out to state government and drew the attention of the security agencies to the raging issues bordering on pipeline surveillance jobs at oilfields in the area but nothing happened.
“The situation would have been nipped in the bud, but here we are, four youths have been lost to the oil industry induced conflict that has left the community in a mourning mood.”
According to him, efforts are on at the community level to resolve the crisis.
Chief Peresho Erefawari, Acting Paramount Ruler of the community decried the frequent clashes by armed gangs in the area and urged the state government to halt the bloodshed.
“The clash was caused by protest by some youths in the community who are aggrieved over their exclusion in the petroleum pipeline protection jobs in the area.
“We have tried in vain to broker truce so that peace will prevail but to no avail,” he said.
In Bayelsa: 2 die in rival gangs clash
A group of Lagosians operating under the aegis of Itesiwaju Ipinle Eko Vanguard have staged a three million man match in the three senatorial districts of the state in support of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led administration. Fielding questions from journalists, the coordinator of the group Mr. Seyi Bamigbade said they also led scores of Muslim […]
The post Groups Hold 3 Million Man March For Ambode In Lagos appeared first on Leadership Nigeria Newspapers.
Groups Hold 3 Million Man March For Ambode In Lagos
Leon Goretzka’s agent, Jorg Neubauer, has denied reports in Spain and Germany, that the Schalke midfielder has agreed to join Bayern Munich when his contract expires in the summer. Marca and Sport Bild both reported that the 22-year-old has snubbed advances from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool. However, agent Jorg Neubauer told Sport 1: “When […]
Bundesliga: Goretzka’s agent denies player has agreed Bayern Munich move
Bundesliga: Goretzka’s agent denies player has agreed Bayern Munich move
The Secretary to the Osun State Government, Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti, has appealed to Nigerians to focus more on issues that will ensure and sustain enduring democratic structures in the country. Adeoti in statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen in Osogbo urged Nigerians to do all within their individual abilities to ensure […]
The post Osun Tasks Nigerians On Enduring Democratic Structure appeared first on Leadership Nigeria Newspapers.
Osun Tasks Nigerians On Enduring Democratic Structure
Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, has reacted to Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s prophecy on Buhari. Mbaka, in his new year message, declared that Buhari would be totally disgraced if he takes a shot at the presidency after his current tenure. Reacting to the message, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain stated that the Lord has […]
Fani Kayode reacts to Fr. Mbaka’s prophecy on Buhari
Fani Kayode reacts to Fr. Mbaka’s prophecy on Buhari
President Buhari's new year address had a few problems which we have taken the time to highlight.
As is the norm at Pulse, we took a fine tooth-comb to the president's January, 1, 2018 address and found the following flaws….
Supply gaps in the petrol value chain first became queues in the first week of December 2017. The government’s immediate reaction was to dismiss the crisis as panic buying.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its GMD, Maikanti Baru, blamed panic buying for the apparent petrol shortages across the country.
As December tapered into Christmas, the queues grew even longer and petrol became unavailable at most gas stations.
Buhari is substantive minister of petroleum. The buck stops on his desk and he should be shouldering the blame for the scarcity of petrol during the yuletide.
In his New Year message, the president deflected blame to marketers and refused to take responsibility.
According to the President; “I am saddened to acknowledge that for many, this Christmas and New Year holidays have been anything but merry and happy. Instead of showing love, companionship and charity, some of our compatriots chose this period to inflict severe hardship on us all by creating unnecessary fuel scarcity across the country.
"The consequence was that not many could travel and the few who did had to pay exorbitant transport fares. This is unacceptable given that NNPC had taken measures to ensure availability at all depots. I am determined to get to the root of this collective blackmail of all Nigerians and ensure that whichever groups are behind this manipulated hardship will be prevented from doing so again.
“Such unpatriotism will not divert the administration from the course we have set ourselves”.
Who were these “compatriots” who chose to “inflict severe hardship on us all”? Who were these “unpatriotic” Nigerians so powerful they held a whole nation to ransom during the festive season?
If Buhari couldn't tackle these nameless guys before the crisis went into overdrive; if the petroleum minister sat pretty whilst a bunch of marketers messed up his ministry and his people and ruined their Christmas for good, of what use is he?
Buhari was supposed to be the tough guy who wouldn’t allow anyone hold him to ransom.
And how come the administration didn’t tackle the crisis headlong until Nigerians could no longer find petrol to buy?
What if Buhari’s New Year script had contained the following words: “As Petroleum Resources Minister and C-in-C, I take full responsibility for the petrol scarcity which ensured that this Christmas and New Year holidays have been anything but merry and happy for Nigerians. We promise that this won’t happen again under my watch”.
What if he had muttered those lines passionately while looking directly into the cameras?
Well, he didn’t.
ALSO READ: Here's full text of president's new year address
In his New Year message to millions of Nigerians, the president missed a golden opportunity to earn another leadership epaulet.
There are no people on earth as patient and tolerant of inept leadership as Nigerians.
For years, Nigerians have endured poor and rudderless leadership from the elite; for years; Nigerians have been pushed to walls and scorned; for years, Nigerians have had no decent road surfaces to drive on; for decades, Nigerians have taken suffering and economic hardship on the chin, mouthing the religious cliché ‘one day, e go beta’, while flocking to churches to seek for a change in their fortunes.
The average Nigerian is the very definition of patience. He's been bruised and battered by government, but he trudges on with his hustle no less.
However, his president doesn’t think so. He gives him no props for his longsuffering.
“We Nigerians can be very impatient and want to improve our conditions faster than may be possible considering our resources and capabilities. When all the aggregates of nationwide opinions are considered, my firm view is that our problems are more to do with process than structure”, Buhari said on New Year’s day.
It was a most insensitive and tone-deaf thing to say in whatever context, on the first day of the year.
President Buhari addressed the nation just hours after his administration was pilloried and bashed for appointing as many as eight dead persons into federal agencies.
Yet there was no space in Buhari’s speech for a gaffe that should thoroughly embarrass the presidency.
The president could have used the opportunity of his nationwide broadcast to apologise for the error and explain why it happened.
But he didn’t.
Hopes of restructuring the Nigerian federation under Buhari, perished on January 1, 2018.
Long live restructuring as a concept or policy proposition while Buhari remains the nation’s number one citizen.
In Buhari’s words: “In respect of political developments, I have kept a close watch on the on-going debate about “Restructuring.
“When all the aggregates of nationwide opinions are considered, my firm view is that our problems are more to do with process than structure.
"We tried the parliamentary system: we jettisoned it. Now there are shrill cries for a return to the parliamentary structure. In older democracies, these systems took centuries to evolve so we cannot expect a copied system to fit neatly our purposes”.
Exactly how not to kill an idea whose time has come.
What else do you think was wrong with Buhari’s New Year address?
Buhari: 4 things wrong with president's new year speech
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