Mother of 4-year-old girl beheaded in Taiwan pens touching tribute to her

A 4-year-old girl was decapitated by a knife-wielding man in an apparent random attack outside a metro station in Taipei, Taiwan on Monday, March 28.

The girl's mother, Ms Claire Wang has touched many Taiwanese with her composure and loving message to her slain child, even as public outrage over the shocking incident threatens to boil over.

Twitterbot Tay could be the future for Microsoft

Microsoft’s artificial intelligence Twitterbot was designed to answer one question: "Could an AI bot captivate the 18-to-24-year-old demographic in the US for entertainment purposes?"

The answer is "yes," but not in the way Microsoft was hoping.

Twitterbot Tay came back online Wednesday to a warm and raucous welcome on Twitter. The bot was previously deactivated by her engineers for "adjustments," but accidentally reactivated for a brief time during testing, according to a Microsoft spokesperson.

French president drops plan to strip citizenship from convicted terrorists

A controversial French proposal to revoke the citizenship of convicted terrorists has been scrapped.

French President François Hollande announced that he is abandoning the plan, which would involve amending the constitution, amid harsh criticism from human rights groups and members of his own political party.

The proposed measure, announced three days after last November's terror attacks in Paris, has stirred heated debate in France. Initially it drew popular support and was backed by both major parties as lawmakers rallied behind the president’s pledge to destroy the Islamic State.

Concealed guns in church: Mississippi approves Church Protection Act

The Mississippi Church Protection Act, which expands gun rights inside and outside state sanctuaries, passed the state Senate, 36 to 14, on Tuesday. It will now return to the House, whose approval would poise Mississippi to become the ninth state where a permit is not required for concealed carry firearms.

"I wish we lived in a world where this bill wouldn't be necessary," the bill's author, state representative and Baptist deacon Andy Gipson (R), said after the House approved it in February, according to The Clarion-Ledger. The House will now debate amendments introduced in the Senate.

Mississippi Senate passes bill on objection to gay marriage

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi government employees or private business people could cite their own religious objections to same-sex marriage to deny services to gay or lesbian couples under a bill that advanced in the state Senate late Thursday.

Because the Senate made a change to House Bill 1523, the measure returns to the House for more work. It was filed in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling last summer that effectively legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Nine other states filed similar bills this year.

Virus outbreak hits cruise ship in Hong Kong

Passengers of the cruise ship Queen Elizabeth that berthed in Hong Kong on Tuesday are recovering from an outbreak of norovirus, health officials said.

A total of 150 passengers and crew fell victim to the virus that hit the ship earlier this month and five still remain sick on board. Another 27 people are being kept in isolation as a precautionary measure.

What Are You Listening To?

Have you noticed how sometimes you catch yourself saying something and immediately think how much you sounded just like a friend, a co-worker, your spouse, a teacher, your boss, etc.? You said something you’ve heard them say often. Kids are a classic example. Oh dear, that moment when in public a child says something not-so-appropriate that has heads turning and eyes questioning. The deafening

silence and that sinking feeling only the parent knows as they realize that what the child just said was something they heard them (the parent) say.

A 2-Week Plan to Lose Weight, Get Stronger, and Feel Your Best

More often than not, our desire to lose weight before an upcoming vacation becomes a last-minute sprint to the finish line. If you'd like to drop a few pounds before you hit the beach on your next getaway, and only have two weeks to go, read on. We've got some no-fail tips for you to tone up, lose weight, and feel more confident in just two weeks.

Maserati recalls nearly 21,000 cars in China over defect

Italian luxury car maker Maserati is recalling nearly 21,000 cars in China over a design defect that could increase the risk of a collision.
The affected vehicles include the Quattroporte and Ghibli models made between March 2013 and December 2015, state-owned media said.
China's quality watchdog claims a design problem with the floor mat and accelerator could lead to the pedal getting stuck in the working position.
Maserati will replace the pedals.

Ajman fire: Huge blaze hits UAE residential towers

A large fire has hit at least two residential towers in the United Arab Emirates, in the third such incident in a little more than a year.
The fire struck one tower in Ajman emirate, north of Dubai, before spreading to an adjacent block.
Residents were evacuated, but several have reportedly been treated for breathing problems and minor injuries.

3 Syrian children die in fire at Turkish refugee camp

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey's state-run news agency says a fire at a refugee camp near the border with Syria has killed three Syrian children and wounded six other people.
Anadolu Agency says the cause of Tuesday's fire in the camp housing some 20,000 refugees is under investigation. The camp is located near the town of Derik, in Mardin province.
The private Dogan news agency says the children were aged between 3 and 8.
It said a child was also killed in the camp last week in a fire that destroyed 21 tents.
Some 2.7 million refugees from Syria have found refuge in Turkey, making it the country with the largest refugee population in the world.

EgyptAir hijack: Larnaca hijacking 'not terrorism

EgyptAir Flight MS181 was taken over after a passenger said he was wearing an explosives belt.
Reports say the lone hijacker wants to talk to his estranged Cypriot wife, who is now on the way to the airport.

Girl, 7, dies while playing on a bouncy castle

A 7-year-old girl died while using a bouncing castle at an Easter fair, ABC news has said.
The incident was said to have occurred when the inflatable castle at Harlow Town Park, 30 miles (48 kilometers) north of London, was swept away by a strong gust of wind.

Depression Symptoms and Warning Signs

Everybody feels sad once in a while. Depression, on the other hand, is a complex condition characterized by profound sadness, lethargy, feelings of worthlessness, and a loss of interest in social activities. The normal ups and downs of life mean that everyone feels sad or has "the blues" from time to time. But if emptiness and despair have taken hold of your life and won't go away, you may have depression. Depression makes it tough to function and enjoy life like you once did. Just getting through the day can be overwhelming. But no matter how hopeless you feel, you can get better. Understanding the signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression is the first step to overcoming the problem.

4 Ways Feeling Grateful Can Improve Your Life

Fill your marriage with gratitude: It’s been shown to boost commitment.
Showing appreciation, counting your blessings—whatever you call it, gratitude is a key component of physical and emotional well-being. In fact, feeling thankful translated to better mood, higher sleep quality, and reduced inflammation in heart-failure patients, according to a new study published by the American Psychological Association. And day-to-day perks like these make the habit all the more worth it.

66 Positive Things You Should Be Saying to Your Child

In a world where saying "no" is usually a lot easier than saying "yes," it is important to bring up children who don't feel that negativity has a higher value than positivity. Encouraging words can have a truly lasting effect on your kiddo years and years after you've said them, so we should choose to use phrases that will make them feel good about themselves inside and out, things that will stick with them as words that got them through tough times.

Call for end to albino killings:From $2,000 for a limb to $75,000 for a 'complete set' or corpse: shocking new report on albino killings in Africa

EIGHT months ago the UN hired an independent expert, Ikponwosa Ero, to monitor and track human rights abuses against people living with albinism.

In her first report, which was released a week ago to the human rights council of the UN, she described a surge in attacks on people with albinism who are being hunted for witchcraft rituals. Their body parts had been hacked off with machetes, and there are even cases where their graves have been desecrated.

She noted that since taking on the assignment, there had been reports of 40 attacks across seven countries, but that this represents just a fraction of the total as most are secretive rituals in rural areas that are never reported. And, as if it couldn’t get any more disturbing, some of these attacks even involved the victims’ own family members.

A big driver in the family’s complicity is down to money. Reported prices range from $2,000 for a limb to $75,000 for a “complete set” or corpse.

Driven by superstition
While those that visit the witch doctor are driven by superstition, believing the witch doctors are able to use the body parts in potions to bring good fortune to those who are willing to pay for it, civil society reports indicate that “family members and communities have sold, or attempted to sell, persons with albinism, thereby fuelling the supply side of this macabre trade.

The prices also indicate the involvement of wealthy individuals as they stand in sharp contrast to the average annual income per capita reported in the affected regions.”

These wealthy individuals are just one group of people who drive and support the superstition business in Africa.

Another group are those that capitalise on superstition by selling the wares and amulets needed for ritual practices, offerings or spells. In parts of Togo and Benin in particular, entire market places - such as the Marché des Féticheurs - are dedicated to talismans, dolls and concoctions. A small simple potion usually costs between $5 - $10.

Then there are those that capitalise on the persecution of witches. In Ghana for instance there are at least six “witch camps” which in total house about 1,000 women.

One of these witch camps is Gambaga where women are given protection by the local chieftain - the Gambarrana - and in return, pay him and work in his fields. The Gambarrana however is also the person who decides whether a woman is a witch - and therefore stays or goes - through “powers vested in him by his ancestors”. There are also records that certain male witches had been able to leave the camps after “giving the Gambarrana the sheep and money necessary to leave.”

Witchdoctors
But those that capitalise on superstition the most are the self-proclaimed witchdoctors themselves.

Contrary to popular belief, they don’t always operate in underdeveloped areas, away from prying eyes. They are also clearly visible within Africa’s modernising sprawling cities where flyers and wooden signs stuck on electricity poles or walls tell of a healer that can solve a myriad of problems and ailments.

Their advice, counsel and treatments don’t come cheaply. In Nairobi for example a consultation with a mganga or kamuti can set you back about 6,000ksh ($60) - although there could always be requests for money to purchase “special spiritual materials” which could cost anything.

And, like in the case of the persecution of individuals with albinism, witchdoctors can get dark and very expensive. This happens especially in situations of desperation.

Up to 200 million Africans - one in every five people on the continent - will in their lifetime suffer from mental disorders, yet governments continue to chronically underfund treatment, with less than 1% of already small health budgets channelled towards such illnesses.

In most parts of the continent, people’s attitudes towards mental illness are still strongly influenced by traditional beliefs in supernatural causes and remedies making them easy targets - particularly when they have no alternatives.

Ethiopia and Somalia cases
Traditional healers and religious leaders provide a significant proportion of the care received by the mentally ill.

For example, in Ethiopia about 85% of emotionally disturbed people were estimated to seek help from traditional healers because there were only 10 psychiatrists for the population of 61 million.

The extent to which these healers will milk the individual or family can be extreme.

In Somalia, for example, a known quack in recent years made it his mission to treat the mentally ill, including through the use of hyenas, which some in the country believe can see everything including the evil spirits thought responsible for mental illnesses.

Families would pay the man about $560 to have their relative locked in a room overnight with the animal. By clawing and biting at the patient, the hyena is thought to force the evil spirit out.

Many have been known to die during the process.


source:mgafrica.com

Scientists hail African vegetables as the new superfoods

They may not sound particularly appetising, but the slimy leaves of jute plants, African nightshade and the spider plant may be about to become the latest trendy superfoods.
Researchers have found these plants, which are eaten as traditional foods in parts of Africa, are perhaps some of the most nutritious vegetables on the planet.They claim jute mallow, amaranth leaves, spider plant and African nightshade contain more protein and iron than kale, which has become popular for its reputation as a superfood.
The vegetables are also rich in calcium, folate and vitamins including A, C and E according to some work.
Scientists also believe many of the wild plants eaten by local communities in Africa have health benefits such as potent anti-oxidant qualities.

10 African super foods you need to be eating and drinking right now

1. Teff
Grown predominantly in Ethiopia and Eritrea, teff is a fine grain that packs a serious nutritional punch. It leads all the grains – by a large margin – in its calcium content, with a cup of cooked teff containing 123mg of calcium, about the same as half a cup of spinach. It’s also high in protein, iron, and – unusual for a grain – in vitamin C.
Used to make the traditional flatbread injera which is a regional stable, export of teff grain or flour have been banned by the Ethiopian government since 2006.
No doubt the Ethiopian government has looked nervously at the example of another superfood, quinoa, which has become so popular on the global stage that many people in its native countries – Peru and Bolivia – can no longer afford to buy it. And hunger is a political issue in Ethiopia that the authorities have an extremely low tolerance for.

2. Fonio
Native to the West African Sahel, fonio is a drought-resistant grain related to millet, that is high in amino acids and is a favourite in salads, stews and porridges.
Like teff, fonio matures quickly, producing grain in just six to eight weeks, and so can be relied upon in semi-arid areas with poor soil and unreliable rainfall.
It’s rising in popularity among foodies in big cities like New York, but there are also concerns that although large scale fonio exports would be profitable for local farmers, they themselves could end up being priced out of the market.

Judge bans a British father from taking his son to church

A British father has been banned from taking his son to a church after the boy's Muslim mother won a controversial court order preventing the boy from attending.

The father – a non-practising Muslim who has forged close connections to his local Christian community and is divorced from the boy's mother – has been warned that he could be denied access to the nine-year-old if he attempts to take him to church or to a leisure centre it runs.

Now the father, who was born in the UK to Pakistani parents, is challenging the ruling made by District Judge Williscroft at Derby County Court earlier this month.

Women May Age More Slowly If They Have More Kids, Study Says

The more children women have, the slower they may age, new research suggests.

Looking at chromosomes, scientists found that women who have more kids have longer telomeres, which helps slow the aging process. Telomeres are caps of DNA at the end of each chromosome. Like the tips found at the end of shoelaces, telomeres protect chromosomes and their critical genetic information from damage.

Vitamin C reduces risk of cataract progression

Age-related cataract is the major cause of blindness across the world. The primary cause of this disease is still unknown but health experts believe that oxidative stress damages the proteins in eye's natural lens, and the area eventually becomes cloudy.

According to a latest reports eating a diet rich in Vitamin C can slow down the risk of cataract progression by a third.

Chrysophyllum albidum-The Medicinal Fruit

One of the wonderful plant species of Chrysophyllum Albidum, which is popularly known in most Ghanaian languages as ‘alasa, alacha or asaa’ is in season.

In the Southern part of Africa, especially Ghana, children and sometimes adults relish these smallish yellowish fruits.

Pregnant women are often seen savouring ‘alasa’ because it is said to prevent nausea. What is the nutritional value of this sour-fruit which attracts many people, especially children and pregnant women in most of Ghana?

Health Benefits Of Cocoyam

Cocoyam, or Taro or dasheen corm possesses more calories than potatoes. 100 grams of root provides 112 calories. Their calorie value chiefly comes from complex carbohydrates, amylose and amylopectin.

Nonetheless, the roots are very low in fats and protein than in cereals and pulses. Their protein levels can be comparable to that of other tropical food sources like yam, cassava, potato, plantain etc.

Eye-churning photos of juice manufacturing company in Cameroon

The appalling conditions in a popular Chinese juice manufacturing company in Cameroon has been exposed..A worker sneaked in a camera and took photos which showed the dirty floors, water, bottles and more used to manufacture and mix the bottled juice..
It's appalling ..The things we put in our system...

Indonesian woman collapses after she is publicly caned for adultery

An Indonesian woman was carried off in a stretcher after she was caned in public for having sex outside marriage.The young woman was brought to the public stage in Banda Aceh and forced down on to her knees by two guards.

Instead of Jail,Man chooses to wear' I am a thief. I stole from WalMart

A man has chosen to wear a sign proclaiming he's a thief rather than go to jail for the crime in Ohio.

Greg Davenport, 43, of Liberty Township, pleaded no contest this month to a theft charge for stealing from a local Wal-Mart store in December.A Court judge found Davenport guilty - but gave him a choice during sentencing.

Woman escapes with minor injuries after her car falls four stories out of parking garage

A 23-year-old woman accidentally drove off the fourth floor of a multi-storey car park - and survived.Lindsay Cook was trying to pull in to a parking space last Monday when her Audi Q5 SUV suddenly shot forward, police said.

GHANA:Kaneshie Armed Robbery: Police Retrieve Stolen Cash

Two suspected armed robbers who attacked a forex bureau at Mpamprom near Kaneshie with three others have been arrested.

The five-member robbery gang, including a woman, caused confusion and mayhem as they fled the robbery scene with their booty by shooting indiscriminately.
Although a substantial part of the stolen cash has been retrieved, 12 people were injured in the process and have been discharged after receiving treatment at the Police Hospital in Accra.

The identities of the two suspects are yet to be disclosed.

Ghanaians Must Keep The Peace – US Expert

A retired United States diplomat who has dedicated his life to building peace and preventing violence around the world has advised Ghanaians not to take the peaceful environment in the country for granted.

John Graham, who is the Director of US-based Giraffe Heroes International (GHI), said as Ghanaians go into an election in November, the stakes are going to be high and that it is up to the key actors to act responsibly and reasonably to ensure that the country continues to set a leadership example in the sub-region.

3 SA Ex-cops Storm Court With 7 Lawyers...Granted Bail

The three South African ex-police officers arrested for training bodyguards and other personnel of New Patriotic Party (NPP) leaders have been granted bail in the sum of GHC60,000.

Major Ahmed Shaik Hazis (rtd), 54; Warrant Officer Denver Dwayhe, 33, and Captain Mlungiseli Jokani, 45, were each admitted to a GHC20,000-bail with a surety by an Accra Circuit Court after the Police prosecutors presented their case against them.

The three ex-cops, who were picked up at Agona Duakwa in the Central region for acts deemed as a threat to national security by the Bureau of National Investigations, pleaded not guilty to three counts of conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful training and making false declaration when they made their first appearance in court Thursday afternoon.

London Is Next! Over 50% ISIS Supporters Vote Britain As Next Terrorist Target

ISIS supporters have chosen London as their next attack target in a new sickening web poll conducted by the terrorist group, where over 50% of it's supporters jubilantly chose Great Britain as the next place to cause mayhem following the recent attack in Belgium airport and metro.
On a forum page, one user set up the question poll:

9 Types Of Common Pain (And What They Say About Your Emotions)

Your emotions may be manifesting themselves as physical pain.

If you’ve experienced any of these types of pain, this is what your body (and your mind) wants you to know.

1. Pain in your head
Pain in your head, like headaches, can be caused by stresses of the day. Take some time to relax and ease the stress every day.

2. Pain in your neck
If you feel pain in your neck, you may have trouble forgiving others or yourself. If you’re feeling neck pain, consider the things you love about people.

3. Pain in your shoulders
Shoulder pain may indicate that you’re carrying a heavy emotional burden. That’s where the saying “shouldering a problem” comes from. Focus in on some proactive problem-solving and distributing some of that burden to other people in your life.

Clinton, Trump win more delegates in Arizona

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton greets supporters during a rally at Rainier Beach High School on March 22, 2016 in Seattle, Washington. Clinton was spending the day in Washington ahead of the state’s Democratic Party caucuses on March 26. 

Under a fresh cloud of overseas violence, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton padded their delegate troves on Tuesday with victories in Arizona and attacked each other’s worldviews as the 2016 presidential contest turned into a clash of would-be commanders-in-chief, reports the Associated Press (AP).

Samsung launches Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge in Ghana

Trailblazers in the smartphone industry, Samsung Electronics have launched unto the Ghanaian market, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

These innovative premium devices are designed to break the rules of what a smartphone can do hence the tagline, ‘Rethink what a phone can do’.

According to Jaspreet Singh, Director of IT & Mobile at Samsung Electronics West Africa, “At Samsung, we have an unwavering commitment to improve consumer experience with every device we introduce. Our latest addition to the Galaxy S range, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have been carefully crafted to reset the rules of the smartphone game. We are throwing the challenge out there for smartphone enthusiasts to rethink what a phone can do and all the answers lie in the new Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge’.

Elephants go on rampage in India kill five people

Two elephant attacks killed five people in back-to-back rampages Sunday and Monday, officials said.
A 40-year-old man walked out of his rural West Bengal state home Monday to find five elephants bearing down on him, said senior forest official Ajay Das.

Jose Mourinho signs pre- contract deal with Man U...will be paid £15m if he isn't appointed by June 1

Jose Mourinho has reportedly signed a pre-contract agreement with Manchester United to take over as the new coach of the club this summer. The Portuguese coach has been linked with Manchester United ever since he was sacked by former club Chelsea in December, but has now signed a pre- contract agreement with Manchester United according to an exclusive report by top Spanish newspaper El País.

Fresh air sold by Vendors in China to combat air pollution

You know how they say the best things in life are free? Well, some people may soon have to pay for the very air they breathe. A practice that is already commonplace in China's Southern Guangdong province. Chinese residents and tourists visit the airy mountainsides to escape the choking pollution of the city, while there, they can buy bags of fresh air from vendors.

Over 800 people quarantined in Guinea over Ebola

The medical authorities in Guinea say they have traced hundreds of people who may have come into contact with the Ebola virus after a fresh outbreak left four people dead in the south east of the country.

Brussels attacks:At least 14 killed and 81 injured in Zaventem airport blasts

At least 26 people have been killed and many seriously injured in terrorist attacks at Brussels international airport and a city metro station.
Twin blasts hit Zaventem airport at 07:00 GMT, killing 11 and injuring 81, Belgium's health minister said.
Another explosion struck Maelbeek metro station an hour later. Brussels transport officials say 15 people were killed and 55 injured, 10 seriously.
Belgium has now raised its terrorism threat to its highest level.
The attacks come four days after Salah Abdeslam, the main fugitive in the Paris attacks, was seized in Brussels.

Man is engulfed in flames after his phone catches fire in his pocket

 
A man became engulfed in a ball of flames after his mobile phone battery allegedly caught fire in his pocket.The incident, which is believed to have taken place in Pakistan, was captured by a witness who watched in horror as the man ran around frantically trying to put himself out.
The man was said to be walking down a road after getting off a bus, and was not aware that his pocket has caught fire.
Suddenly the flames begin to rise and spread up his arm before engulfing his shirt - turning him into a ball of fire.
In panic, he ran in a circle screaming in pain while horrified witnesses attempt to help him put out the flames.

Wired:Chicken eating contest cancelled after competitor chokes to death

A nationwide chicken eating contest at fast-food outlet KFC in Indonesia has been cancelled after a contestant choked to death on a chicken wing,Mailonline reports..

Fredy Jayadi, 45, died after attempting to eat three wings in under five minutes at the restaurant in West Jakarta.Mr Jayadi was taken to hospital after beginning to choke on his third wing. He drank water to try to stop choking, but later collapsed, and was pronounced dead by paramedics.

30 African migrants dead, 500 rescued as EU-bound boats capsizes off Libya shores

At least 30 illegal African migrants have drowned when their boats capsized off the western shores of Libya. According to Libya's Coast Guard, Al-Zawia office, EU-bound three boats loaded with some 500 illegal migrants were intercepted and rescued off Mellitah coast on Saturday, March 19.

WAHALA:kleptomaniac cat caught with dozens of men's underwears and socks

A kleptomaniac cat known as Brigit, has been caught stealing men's underpants and socks by her owner, Sarah Nathan. The 6-year-old Tonkinese cat has stolen 11 pairs of boxers and more than 50 pairs of socks since January. It even prefers matching socks.
Nathan has been attempting to return her neighbors' clothing by placing notes in mailboxes, to no avail. Due to her cat's increasing burglary behavior, she has taken to Reddit to notify owners so they can collect their underwears.

We must all ensure peaceful elections – Kufuor

Former President Kufuor has expressed anxiety about the potential political tension characterizing November’s general elections.

According to him, all political players responsible for the polls must avoid acts that could mar the credibility of the elections.

GHANA:Ever Heard about TroTro Diaries?

Ever Heard about TroTro Diaries? If not, you are really missing great fun on FB.
 In Ghana, Trotro means a public Bus which most people use for their daily commute. About 75% of Ghanaians take trotro  on daily basis. A young Ghanaian Entrepreneur Yaw Odoom came up with this vision on getting people to share their unique experiences in the Trotro. Which led to creating of TroTro Diaries mainly on facebook now with over 21,000 members. And currently working on their website and mobile application. They also engage in projects both online and offline all as part of a bigger vision to improve the public transportation experience in Ghana/Africa.

Eight injured after fleeing driver collides with Uber vehicle downtown: SIU

The SIU has been called to investigate a serious crash in the Financial District that sent eight people to hospital Sunday morning.
The crash occurred near Bay and Wellington streets at around 3 a.m.
SIU spokesperson Jason Gennaro told reporters Sunday afternoon that the collision occurred as police were in pursuit of a fleeing Acura.

Fish curb depression out of your body

Feeling blue? You may want to add fish to your diet as a recent study has revealed that healthy fat found in oily fish, such as salmon and trout, tuna, mackerel, herring and swordfish, can help you with depression.
The new meta-analysis supports the link between intake of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, the kind found in fish, and reduction in major depressive disorder (MDD).

Russia plane crash:Recorders damaged

The flight recorders from a passenger jet which crashed in southern Russia killing all 62 people on board are badly damaged and could take up to a month to decode, Russia's airline regulator said on Sunday.

The Boeing 737-800 aircraft, operated by Dubai-based budget carrier Flydubai, crashed on its second attempt to land at Russia's Rostov-on-Don airport in the early hours of Saturday morning. Most of those on board were Russian.

Foreign students dead in Spain bus crash

At least 13 people were killed when a bus carrying foreign university students crashed between the Spanish cities of Valencia and Barcelona, authorities say.

The students were from at least 19 countries, including many from Europe, as well as New Zealand and Japan.

Indonesian chopper crash kills 12

An Indonesian military helicopter has crashed during a mission to capture the country's most wanted militant, killing at least 12 people.

Congo elections: media shut down for 48hours

All forms of media and communication have been shut down for 48 hours in Congo's presidential election as President Denis Sassou Nguesso aims to prolong his 32-year rule over the oil-rich but economically poor African nation.
Interior Minister Raymond Mboulou wrote to telecommunication companies urging them to shut off telephone, internet and SMS services for 48 hours for "reasons of security and national safety".

Cameroonian woman commits suicide over her partner's infidelity by jumping off a high building

A heartbroken Cameroonian woman yesterday, March 19, committed suicide by jumping off a high building in Lebanon. According to Cameroononline, the woman killed herself after she found out that her partner was unfaithful.

All Nations Uni student arrested for power theft

A 21-year-old student of the All Nations University College in Koforidua has been arrested for engaging in an illegal electricity connection to the sum of GH₡3,417.70.

David Ekemiy, who is currently in the custody of the Effiduase Police was arrested at his residence, Rasta Down, a suburb in the New Juaben municipal assembly in the Eastern region during a routine patrol by the Eastern Regional Loss Control Unit (LCU) team of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) with the assistance of the police last Wednesday.

During the exercise, the LCU team detected that, David had engaged in a Meter bypass where he has connected portions of his loads (gadgets) without them passing through the meter.

Voters in Benin, Cape Verde, Congo, Niger, Senegal and Zanzibar go to polls

Elections are being held in five African countries, while Senegal is holding a referendum on reducing presidential terms.

A presidential run-off is going ahead in Niger even though the opposition candidate is in a French hospital.

Congo-Brazzaville has cut all telecommunications for two days to prevent prevent "illegal publication of results" of its presidential election.

Pastor Turns Almost Half Of His Female Church Members Into Sheeps

South African pastor Penuel Mnguni of End Times Disciples Ministries Church, ordering some of his church members to crawl on all fours and follow him like sheep and they gladly do follow him like a sheep.hmmmmmmm. Wonders they say shall never end.


source:Gossip Mill Nigeria

GHANA:Fire breaks out at Cedi House

                                Ground floor of Cedi House building gutted by fire
One person has been severely injured as a result of an explosion that occurred at the power room of the Cedi House in Accra.

The man who is a worker at the electricity department at the Cedi House happened to be in front of the room at the time of the incident, according to eyewitnesses.

“He suffered severe burns on the right side of his head and part of his body was black when they brought him out of the building,” an eyewitness told Myjoyonline.com.

The 11 Best Foods to Eat for Breakfast

The next time you rush out the door in the morning without something to eat, consider this: Skipping breakfast can set you up for overeating later in the day. A healthy a.m. meal, on the other hand, can give you energy, satisfy your appetite, and set the stage for smart decisions all day long.

"You want to aim for a breakfast that combines good carbs and fiber with some protein," says Erica Giovinazzo, MS, RD, a nutritionist at Clay Health Club and Spa, in New York City. Luckily, your options are plenty. Here's a look at some of our favorite breakfast foods, along with expert tips for making them even healthier.

Pregnancy Medical research Obesity Reproduction Parents and parenting

Mothers who are overweight or obese during pregnancy give birth to larger babies, new research claims.

The study, led by Bristol and Exeter Universities, found that mothers with higher blood sugar – even within a healthy range – also tended to have bigger babies. By contrast, having higher blood pressure during pregnancy causes babies to be born smaller, the international research suggested.

Uefa charges Manchester United and Liverpool over Europa League trouble

Manchester United and Liverpool have been charged by Uefa following disturbances at Thursday night’s Europa League game at Old Trafford.

United have been charged over crowd disturbances, the throwing of objects and stairways being blocked. Liverpool have been charged over illicit chants, setting off fireworks, throwing of objects, crowd disturbances and arriving late for kick-off.

North Korea fires ballistic missiles, US officials say

North Korea has test-fired two ballistic missiles, the latest in a series of rocket launches.
US officials said the medium-range missiles, launched off the east coast, flew about 800km (500 miles) before falling into the water.
Afterwards, the US called for Pyongyang to refrain from raising tensions.
It comes a day after US President Barack Obama imposed new sanctions, following North Korea's "illicit" nuclear test and satellite launch.
His executive order freezes North Korean government property in the United States. It bans US exports to - or investment in - North Korea and also greatly expands powers to blacklist anyone, including non-Americans, dealing with North Korea.

3 Test HIV Positive Weekly

Contrary to the perception that HIV/AIDS is on the decline, indications are that many young people are testing positive on a weekly basis.

This frightening picture was painted by Dr. Dennis Bortey, a senior medical officer at the Adabraka Polyclinic, during a health screening exercise to mark Ghana’s Independence celebration at Adabraka in Accra.

HIV Scare

Trump victory a major global risk, say British researchers

The prospect of Donald Trump winning the US presidency represents a global threat on a par with jihadist militancy destabilising the world economy, according to British research group Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

In the latest version of its Global Risk assessment, the EIU ranked victory for the Republican front-runner at 12 on an index where the current top threat is a Chinese economic “hard landing” rated 20.

Angola's yellow fever death toll rises to 158

(Reuters) - A yellow fever outbreak in Angola that began late last year has killed 158 people, up from 50 a month ago, as deaths from the disease transmitted by mosquitoes accelerate, a World Health Organisation official said on Friday.

There has also been an increase in malaria, cholera and chronic diarrhoea in Luanda and other cities, partly due to a breakdown in sanitation services and rubbish collection, health officials say.

Kenya escaped lion attacks elderly man in Nairobi

A lion has attacked an elderly man in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, after straying from a nearby national park.
The animal became agitated with people hooting their horns and taking selfies, a wildlife official said.
The lion has returned to the park and the 63-year-old man is in hospital, Paul Udoto, spokesman for the Kenya Wildlife Service said.

Apple fires back at FBI over iPhone case

On March 22nd, Apple and the FBI will head to federal court to determine whether or not the government can force Apple to open up an otherwise deeply-encrypted iPhone used by terrorist Syed Rizwan Farook leading up to the San Bernardino shootings.

The lead up to the hearing has been an unending game of back-and-forth between Apple and the government, and Apple has just lobbed the ball back to the other side of the court one last time prior to the hearing.

Ebola kills two in Guinea, says gov't

Two people from the same family have died from Ebola in Guinea, the government said Thursday, as the WHO declared a flare-up of the virus in neighbouring Sierra Leone over.

Test samples from the two patients "revealed the presence of the Ebola haemorrhagic fever virus", the government said in a statement, while officials feared further suspected cases.

"For now, we have two confirmed cases and three suspected cases," it added.

5 Mistakes You’re Making Cleaning Your Ears

Earwax is, well, pretty gross, so it’s no wonder most of us reach for cotton swabs on a regular basis. But here’s the rub: There’s a good chance you’re putting your ears and your hearing at risk with every wax removal attempt.

Why? The eardrum and the little bones of the middle ear—called ossicles—are easy to damage (ouch), and may even require surgery to fix (double ouch), explains Boris Chernobilsky, MD, assistant clinical professor of otolaryngology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. “In the worst case scenario, damage to the ossicles can result in a leak of fluid from the inner ear,” he says. “This would result in severe vertigo and potentially a permanent hearing loss.”
Also, the skin of the ear canal is ultra-thin, and easily injured by just about anything you put in there. “If skin is broken, it can get infected and lead to a painful external ear infection—swimmer’s ear, in lay terms,” Dr. Chernobilsky adds.

If you want to keep your ears in perfect shape, he recommends ditching the following habits ASAP.

1 in 100 Pregnant Women Infected With Zika Will Give Birth to Baby With Microcephaly

Scientists say there’s more evidence supporting a link between the Zika virus and a serious birth defect.

Researchers report that one in every 100 pregnant women infected with the virus during the first trimester will give birth to a baby with microcephaly—an abnormally small head and the potential for neurological issues.

The new risk analysis did have one important caveat, however.

US urges immediate release of student sentenced to hard labor in North Korea

The sentencing of 21-year-old US student Otto Warmbier to 15 years’ hard labour in North Korea was “unduly harsh”, the US state department has said, as it called for his immediate release and experts denounced the country’s legal process.

Spokesman Mark Toner discouraged all US citizens from traveling to North Korea, a longstanding recommendation of the agency, citing the risk of “arrest and long-term detention for actions that would not be cause for arrest in the United States or other countries”.

Ghana ranks 124th in Global Happiness Report

Apparently, citizens of some countries are happier that the citizens of others, but generally majority of the world's citizens can afford some amount of happiness.
And Ghana has placed 124th in the world, based on social equality, wellbeing and life expectancy and economic conditions of citizens.
This is according to the fourth Gallup World Happiness Report, which states that about 75% of the world's population are happy.

UK warns its citizens in Ghana to be vigilant

The United Kingdom has warned its citizens in Ghana to be vigilant following alert of a potential terror attack in Ghana.
National security on Wednesday issued a warning on a possible terror attack, asking Ghanaians to be wary and security conscious.
The warning follows attacks in Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast last week, which killed several people and destroyed properties.

US soldiers warned against traveling to Ghana, four others

The US military has restricted the travel of its officers to five West African countries including Ghana over fears of terror attacks, Reuters has reported.

The directive, according to the media agency, limits informal travel by the military personnel to Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Ghana.

Ericsson and China Mobile Extend 5G Cooperation

Ericsson joins China Mobile's 5G Joint Innovation Center program to accelerate development of next generation wireless networks, which will be faster, more powerful and offer even greater opportunities.

The agreement to broaden 5G cooperation was first announced at Mobile World Congress 2016 in Barcelona.

China Mobile's 5G Innovation Center initiative aims to accelerate the development of 5G by establishing a cross-industry ecosystem and setting up an open lab to provide a platform for new products and applications, and to foster new business and market opportunities.

Ericsson and Vodafone Deploy Cloud-based VoLTE and Wi-Fi Calling

Ericsson and Vodafone Netherlands have deployed the country's first cloud based and fully virtualized Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Wi Fi calling solution.

Wi-Fi calling enables operator voice services to be provided in more locations, such as indoor environments like basements, by complementing macro network coverage. VoLTE offers fast call set-up times and high-definition (HD) voice quality while facilitating a broader range of IP-based communication capabilities, such as video calling over LTE and multi-device support.

Murderers must be executed - EX President Rawlings

Former president Jerry John Rawlings has stated that murderers must be executed and not jailed.

The former military ruler made the statement when the family of the late JB Danquah-Adu, the murdered MP for Abuakwa North, visited him at his residence in Accra on Wednesday March 16, 2016.

JHS student arrested for killing 19-year-old

A Junior High School student has been arraigned before a Ho magistrate court in the Volta region for allegedly stabbing to death Wisdom Amu, a 19-year-old tailor-apprentice on Sunday, March 6, 2016.

The suspect (name withheld) who is in his teens was among three other friends who engaged the deceased in a fight around the Ho sports stadium, when he (the deceased) was returning home from the 59th Independence Day celebrations at Jubilee park in Ho.

Fuel prices up by 5%

Fuel prices have been reviewed upwards, a statement by the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers has noted.

According to the chamber, the review is necessarily to make up for the shortfalls as a result of the increase of price of crude oil on the international market. The changes takes effect today, Thursday, March 17.

Factors That Affect a Woman's Fertility

Most people know that a woman's fertility decreases as she gets older, but even during her most fertile (and otherwise healthy) years, lifestyle choices and external factors can affect a woman's chances of having a healthy baby.

"Women who want to increase their chances of getting pregnant often don't know the best things to do or what to watch out for," says Francisco Arredondo, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist in San Antonio, Texas. Here are some of factors that do (or don't) affect a woman's fertility, and what you can do about them if you are trying to conceive.

Frequent green tea consumption may hamper fertility: Study

New York: Are you a green tea lover? Read this carefully as the cup packed with anti-oxidants and other health benefits may adversely affect your fertility and development in case of frequent use, warn researchers.
In experiments over fruit flies, the team from University of California-Irvine discovered that excessive consumption adversely affected development and reproduction in fruit fly populations.

According to them, one should avoid high dose of green tea or any natural product as nutraceuticals such as green tea, while growing in popularity, are largely unregulated.

"You Are From Africa? Wow! How Do You Live With Giraffes & Lions" - American Man Asks

Yeah, you read right! Yesterday, March 15, a Zimbabwean human rights lawyer & General Secretary, World YWCA, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda was at a hotel reception in the U.S when a man asked her the ignorant questions.

For over twenty years, Mrs Gumbonzvanda (pictured with Hollywood actress, Ashley Judd) has been working on issues of women and children's human rights with a special focus on crisis countries.

US student given hard labour in North Korea

US student Otto Warmbier has been given 15 years hard labour in North Korea for crimes against the state.

Warmbier was arrested for trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel while visiting North Korea in January.

He later appeared on state TV apparently confessing and saying a church group had asked him to bring back a "trophy" from his trip.

North Korea sometimes uses the detention of foreigners as a means of exerting pressure on its adversaries.

Be vigilant; terror threats real in Ghana – Nat'l Security

Ghana’s National Security has warned Ghanaians to remain “vigilant, cautious and curious” because terror threats on the country are “credible.”

The National Security Council served the notice after a review meeting of the security situation in Ghana in the wake of the upsurge of terrorist attacks in the sub-region.

The meeting was chaired by President John Mahama, who is also the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. It was attended by Service Chiefs and all other members of the Council.

President Mahama to visit Scottish Parliament Thursday

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, will on Thursday March 17 visit the Scottish Parliament.

The visit to Holyrood, is part of President Mahama’s wider visit to Scotland, which will include an audience with Ghanaian communities from Edinburgh and Glasgow.

The President will also be presented with an honorary degree by the University of Aberdeen on Friday 18 March.

Doe Adjaho sworn-in as President

Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho has taken the presidential oath as acting president of Ghana following the absence of President Mahama and his vice Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.

President Mahama is currently on an official visit to Scotland. The President’s visit comes at a time when vice President Amissah Arthur is on an official visit to the Republic of India.

The Chief Justice in accordance with article 60(11) of the constitution was in Parliament Wednesday morning to administer the presidential oath.

Marco Rubio drops out of Republican race

He came. He campaigned. But he failed to conquer. That’s the story of Marco Rubio, the Cuban-American senator once touted as Republican’s answer to Barack Obama.

On Tuesday night, he dropped out of the presidential race following a woeful primary performance in his home state of Florida.

When and where it matters the most he failed to match ratings with performance on the campaign trail. Like Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, Ben Carson and Governor Jeb Bush before him, Rubio was consumed by Donald Trump in an apocalyptic fashion, which in itself is surprising.

Dope: UN suspends Sharapova

Maria Sharapova’s failed drugs admission has prompted the United Nations to suspend the Russian from working with the organisation.

Worth an estimated $195 million, Sharapova will be unable to continue her work as a goodwill ambassador with the U.N. Development Programme until the conclusion of the investigation into her admission that she tested positive for the banned substance meldonium at the Australian Open in January.

WHO ‘rates’ Nigeria most dangerous African country by road

World Health Organisation (WHO) has rated Nigeria the most dangerous country by road in Africa.

In a report quoted by Senate President Bukola Saraki, Nigeria records 33,700 deaths in every 100 million people living in the country annually.

This translates to an African record of 60,660 deaths in its 180 million people, every year, a statistic Saraki regarded as “unacceptable”.

16m girls may NEVER read and write, says UNESCO

The UNESCO’s Institute for Statistics (UIS) says‎ 16 million girls, below age 11, will not get basic education, if current trends continue.

Irina Bokova, UNESCO’s director-general, described this as worrisome, saying despite all the efforts and progress made over the past 20 years, statistics show that girls were still being denied the right to education.

“We will never achieve any of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) without overcoming the discrimination and poverty that stunt the lives of girls and women from one generation to the next,” UNESCO said in a report.

2 female bombers ‘kill 22′ at Maiduguri mosque

Twenty-two people were killed on Wednesday morning when two female suicide bombers struck at a mosque in Ummarari village near Molai, outskirts of Maiduguri, Borno state capital.

Sani Usman, army spokesman, confirmed the attack, in a statement saying 18 people also sustained injuries.

“This is to confirm that there were twin person-borne improvised explosive attack carried out by two female carriers in Ummarari village near Molai, outskirts of Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, this morning,” the statement read.

Pastor Bolts With Funeral Cash

The funeral of a prophetess Mary Aku, based in Nsawam in the Eastern region was brought to an abrupt end when her colleague prophet allegedly bolted with the funeral cash.

According to reports, the pastor [name withheld] after church members, friends and sympathizers had given their donations, quickly rushed for the offering bowl and sped off the funeral grounds at Peprah junction in Nsawam.

Kwaku Anoma, son of the deceased who broke the story to Adom News said, his uncle sustained serious injuries when he tried to stop the pastor.

Bishop Obinim’s Range Rover Kills One At Ashaley Botwe? (Photos)

A Range Rover belonging to maverick televangelist Bishop Daniel Obinim has knocked and killed one person at Ashaley Botwe, a suburb of Accra.

Alleged Fake Flagstaff House Worker Arrested

A 48-year old self-styled worker of the Flag Staff House, who defrauded a Quantity Surveyor of GH¢91, 000, has been arrested by the Greater Accra Regional Criminal Investigation (CID) Department of the Ghana Police Service.

A source from the Regional CID told the media that Andy Bampoe Sekyi, the suspect, asked the complainant, Mr Domie Atsu Mawudeka, a Winneba-based surveyor, to offer him money under the pretext of securing him contracts from the Office of the President.

Top 5 foods to lower blood cholesterol

A good diet is necessary to lead a healthy lifestyle. Believe it or not but the diet to eat plays an important role in keeping the cholesterol level in check. One can easily lower their cholesterol levels by doing some exercise with a good diet.

Here are some foods that can lower cholesterol level:

Want flawless skin – try these 5 foods!

Everyone loves to have healthy and flawless skin. But, one needs to have a healthy balanced diet for it. The food that we eat plays a very important role in making our skin healthy smooth, supple and beautiful.

Here are some foods that you should eat for a clear, healthy and glowing skin:

Diet Foods for Weight Loss

Apples:
There's a reason apples are number one on the list! Probably one of the most versatile fall foods around, nutrient- and fiber-rich apples can be used in everything from beverages to main courses to desserts. Apples are the perfect addition to your weight-loss plan, says Karen Langston, a certified nutritionist and board member of The National Association of Nutritional Professionals. Low-cal, full of vitamins and minerals, and full of fiber, apples help maintain your blood-sugar level, staving off cravings for high calorie no-no foods. Plus, the low-sodium content in apples can help prevent excess water weight and retention, Langston says.

Pumpkins:
Pumpkin is not only a super healthy treat, but its also one of the greatest weight-loss foods around, Langston says. Low in calories, but full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, pumpkin is also an excellent source of the important antioxidant beta-carotene. Enjoy it fresh or canned—you’ll still get the same nutritional benefits. You can even have it for breakfast! Langston recommends mixing 1/4 cup of canned pumpkin with cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and a few raw almonds. Need more ideas? Try one of these amazing ways to cook with pumpkin.

Eat Pineapple 3 Times a Day – See What Happen to Your Breasts

You have a problem with droopy and loose breasts? Droopy and loose breasts are quite a normal phenomenon that occurs with age, but you cannot deny that you would willingly eliminate it if possible. Believe it or not, it is possible now, and all you need to do is to eat more pineapples. This problem is even increased by smoking, excess alcohol and coffee, but pineapples can significantly improve it.

Skype for Web upgraded, now supports dialing mobile phones, landlines and more

Skype for Web, the browser-based version of Microsoft’s popular communications software introduced last year, is getting a slew of new features that brings it more in line with its desktop and mobile counterparts – most notably the added ability to dial mobile phones and landlines. The web version also now allows you to bring non-Skype users into a conversation easily, introduces notifications, and lets you watch YouTube videos in Skype for Web itself.

2017 Toyota Highlander

When it comes to the deployment of new technologies in its mainstream, high-volume models, Toyota is one of the most conservative automakers out there. The late-adoption strategy seems to work well for the Japanese brand, however, as it allows it to decide whether such additions are truly worthwhile for its customers. It also helps it to develop and refine such technologies to a high degree before introduction, an approach that helps it to avoid reputation-staining quality gaffes.

The latest recipient of this slow-and-steady R&D strategy is the 2017 Highlander crossover SUV, which is only just now receiving a direct-injected engine, a high-gear-count automatic transmission, stop/start and advanced active safety tech. Set to debut at next week's New York Auto Show, the Highlander also gains a freshened appearance to wrap around all that new hardware, as well as a sport-minded SE model and an expanded range of Hybrid trims.