A woman was seen crying walking next to media people after getting away from the attack against a Hotel in Nairobi. Explosions and gunfire at the hotel complex, Nairobi, Kenya, 15 Jan 2019. [Photo/IC]
NAIROBI -- The number of people killed when terrorists struck an upscale hotel and business complex in Nairobi on Tuesday has risen to 21 after six more bodies were recovered and one injured police officer died in hospital, the police said on Wednesday night.
Joseph Boinnet, inspector general of National Police Service, said at a press conference that a police officer who was involved in the rescue operations succumbed to injuries in hospital while six more bodies were recovered from the scene following forensic work by security officers.
He said 28 people were admitted to various hospitals in Nairobi and confirmed that five terrorists were "eliminated."
The police chief said the 21 victims killed during the attack include 16 Kenyans, one Briton, one American and three unidentified persons of African descent.
He said subsequent investigations by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation have resulted in the arrest of two key suspects believed to have facilitated the attack and are in custody helping the security officers with investigations.
"We wish to reiterate our appeal to all Kenyans to continue cooperating with the police and security agents in their joint efforts to counter terrorism as well as all forms of crime," Boinnet said.
His remarks came after Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta revealed in an address to the nation on Wednesday morning that 14 civilians had been killed and hundreds rescued in the attack at DusitD2 Hotel complex located on 14 Riverside Drive in the district of Westlands in Nairobi.
The Kenya Red Cross said on its Twitter account on Wednesday evening that 19 people are still unaccounted for following the terror attack.
The organization said that a total of 94 cases of missing persons were reported but 75 have been closed positively as of 8:30 p.m. local time.
Somali terror group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they killed 47 people inside DusitD2 Hotel, part of a Thai-owned international chain that appeared to be the chief target of the attackers.
The militants issued a statement online on Wednesday evening, saying the Nairobi attack was a response to the "witless remarks" of U.S. President Donald Trump and his declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and to the "systematic prosecution of Muslims in Palestine." Kenya is one of the strongest allies of the United States in Africa.
Saturday, 12 January 2019
US gov't shutdown enters 22nd day, setting new record
Xinhua
Updated: Jan 12, 2019
Photo taken on Jan 5, 2019 shows the White House in Washington DC, the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]
WASHINGTON - As the clock struck midnight, the US partial government shutdown over disputed congressional funds for President Donald Trump's border wall entered its 22nd day on Saturday, marking the longest government closure in US history.
There is still no compromise in sight, no deal, and no easy alternative.
The president vowed to veto any spending bill that does not contain the $5.7 billion he is demanding to fund a wall on the US-Mexico border, while the Democratic lawmakers vowed to block any spending bill containing any kind of wall funds. Neither side seems willing to back down.
"Trump is facing a Democratic majority in the House that has no interest in funding a wall, or anything like a wall that could give Trump a win," said Christopher Galdieri, an assistant professor at Saint Anselm College.
US President Donald Trump speaks during a "round-table discussion on border security and safe communities" with state, local, and community leaders in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, US, Jan 11, 2019. [Photo/Agencies]
"Trump has decided that it's a wall or nothing, but he has yet to offer House Democrats anything in exchange for it," Galdieri added.
However, the president indicated on Friday that he will not declare a national emergency immediately so as to use the military to build the wall, a move which may well end the standoff but is widely expected to cause fierce legal fights.
"What we're not looking to do right now is national emergency," the president told a roundtable discussion on border security at the White House.
In a new CBS News/YouGov poll released late on Friday, Trump, congressional Democrats and congressional Republicans all got lackluster marks for their handling of the government shutdown.
Only 35 percent of those polled approve of the president's handling of the shutdown, and a majority disapprove. Only 33 percent approve of the Democrats, while relatively more people are unsure, according to the poll.
More than eight in 10 Republicans approve of Trump's handling of the shutdown, while seven in 10 Democrats approve of congressional Democrats' handling of it.
Since the first day of his campaign for presidency, Trump has promised to build a wall along the massive US-Mexico border. While many immigrants head to the United States for economic reasons, Trump has argued that drug smugglers and gangs are among those entering the United States illegally.
The Democrats accuse the president of using the shutdown and border crisis to score political points.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats, made a joint statement earlier in the week accusing the president of "manufacturing a crisis" and calling on him to re-open the government.
Starlings fly over the West Wing of the White House in Washington, US, Jan 9, 2019. [Photo/Agencies]
Since the first day of his campaign for presidency, Trump has promised to build a wall along the massive US-Mexico border. While many immigrants head to the United States for economic reasons, Trump has argued that drug smugglers and gangs are among those entering the United States illegally.
The Democrats accuse the president of using the shutdown and border crisis to score political points.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, both Democrats, made a joint statement earlier in the week accusing the president of "manufacturing a crisis" and calling on him to re-open the government.
Chang'e-4 lunar probe to lay groundwork for human return to moon
Xinhua
Updated: Jan 12, 2019
Yutu 2, China's lunar rover, leaves tracks on the far side of the moon in a photo provided by the China National Space Administration on Thursday. [Photo/Xinhua]
BEIJING - Nearly 50 years have passed since people first stood on the moon. Can we return? How will radiation on the moon affect astronauts? How much water is there? Where did the water come from?
To better understand the lunar environment and prepare for a human return to the moon, the Chang'e-4 probe, which has just made the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the moon, carries payloads jointly developed by Chinese, German and Swedish scientists to conduct research.
"Our goal is to measure particle radiation on the lunar surface and the risk to people and equipment," said Zhang Shenyi, a researcher with the National Space Science Center (NSSC) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Zhang cooperated with German scientists in developing the first ever instrument to measure neutron radiation on the moon.
Unlike earth, the moon has no magnetic field and atmosphere to protect it from cosmic particles, which could harm astronauts and spacecraft.
"Before a crewed mission to the moon, our detection could help evaluate the harm of radiation, and pave the way for a return and future exploration," said Zhang.
Professor Robert Wimmer-Schweingruber, of the Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics of Kiel University, Germany, said preparing for future human exploration of the moon is an excellent idea.
"If astronauts want to go on to the moon, there are a lot of risks, such as rockets, landing and surviving on the moon. But if everything is okay and the astronauts come back to earth, the radiation on the moon is the only danger that remains in their body. So we need to understand that," said Wimmer-Schweingruber.
The instrument also measures thermal neutrons, which allows scientists to study the subsurface water on the moon.
During the 1960s and 1970s, the United States and the Soviet Union launched many manned and unmanned missions to the moon. After a lull, a new round of exploration was triggered in the 1990s when scientists found there might be water on the moon.
Many scientists believe frozen water might be in areas never exposed to sunlight in the craters of the moon's polar regions. But how much water is there? And is there water in the South Pole-Aitken Basin where Chang'e-4 landed?
"The measurement of neutrons is one of the important indicators to judge whether there is a water resource in the landing area," said Zhang.
The instrument will also detect the content of iron oxide in the lunar soil and study the particle acceleration mechanism of solar storms between the sun and the earth, he said.
Zhang Aibing, also a researcher with the NSSC, cooperated with Swedish scientists in developing an instrument on the Chang'e-4 rover to measure neutral atoms to study the interaction between the solar wind and the lunar surface.
"This is the first measurement of neutral atoms on the lunar surface. With the rover, we can study the interaction between the solar wind and the lunar surface in different terrains," said Zhang.
"Some scientists believe that hydrogen ions in the solar wind may combine with oxygen on the lunar surface to form water. This is a subject we want to study through our measurement," Zhang said.
Chinese scientists are also developing such kind of instrument that could be used to explore Mars, he said.
Johan Koehler, head of Solar System Science and Space Situational Awareness, Swedish National Space Agency, said the exploration of the far side of the moon is a great achievement by China. "We are very happy to be a part of it.
"The solar wind interacts with the lunar surface, and spreads particles around. These particles form the extremely thin atmosphere-like gases environment of the moon surface. And this is the environment that we know very, very little about. The research is very important to extend humanity's knowledge of the solar system," said Koehler.
"There is a theory that water on the surface of the moon is formed by the interaction of the solar wind with the surface regolith. So this is something that the Swedish scientists together with the Chinese scientists want to answer."
Friday, 11 January 2019
DJ SHEXY, IS DROPPING HIS NEW SONG SOON
Djshexy
This is much more gracious year with mama's prayer ....on SOFT .....DIGGING DEEP with DJ Shexy lyrics upcoming artist this is more than you can think listen up on air, blowing the matter on the street. Omu Soft Soft Soft...GBA.
djshexy
Thursday, 7 December 2017
Reekado Banks Teams Up With Tiwa Savage For Addictive New Single, 'Like'
Three years ago, ReekadoBanks dropped "Turn It Up" featuring Tiwa Savage, which served as his first official single under the Mavin Records umbrella. Since then, he's more than proven himself to be one of the best afropop artists out right now.
Today, to celebrate his birthday, the 24-year-old dropped his second official single with Tiwa Savage, the much more confident and infectious "Like".
(Photo: Reekado Banks/Instagram)
(Photo: Tiwa Savage/Instagram)
His third single of the year, following "Kiss Me" and "Easy (Jeje)", "Like" might actually be the strongest of the bunch. Produced by Del B, with assistance from acclaimed guitarist, Fiokee, we totally see this song getting massive airplay this holiday season.
"Like" finds Reekado Banks in his element — singing about a woman — and just like most of his biggest songs, the best thing here is the chorus. On it, Reekado namedrops this year's biggest stars, Wizkid, Davido and Tiwa Savage, seamlessly working in their hit 2017 songs.
Just a few days ago, Reekado announced another upcoming collaboration, "Ole", with the man of the moment, Davido. No word on when it will drop, but if it's as good as "Like" or literally anything Davido's done this year, then we are in for a treat.
The biggest song in the country belongs to DJ Khaled.
Khaled’s single “I’m The One” feat. Chance the Rapper, Justin Bieber, Quavo, and Lil Wayne debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has garnered 84 million YouTube views and 55 million Spotify streams in 10 days. It dethrones Bruno Mars’ “That’s What I Like,” which dethroned Kendrick Lamar’s ‘HUMBLE.” the week before.
“I’m The One” has a similar name to Khaled’s previously highest-charting single “I’m On One,” which peaked at #10.
In streams of endless thoughts I ponder on this vast, blessed, complex, bittersweet settlement called Nigeria. Vast in landmass and population, blessed with best brains, endless mineral resources, diverse cultures and languages, yet a strong people we are, complex in our various dogmas of modern religious beliefs, yet respectful to ourselves, bittersweet in our unending displays of strength and resilience from all spheres still ''united we stand, faith in each other we have, peacefully we try to co-habit and progress we strive to get''.
In drifts of consciousness I picture an eagle soaring endlessly to the top. A top barbwired with unending challenges yet we refuse to stoop in our pursuit for our diversity should raise us a calvary strong enough to hold our fort. Our fraternization should proffer viable solutions to our various challenges. Our leadership should not be birtrh righted, our sons should be schooled to be empowered, our daughters schooled to the finest artistry hence placing them on the spotlight consciously. The talking drum roars to unite us just like the confluence in our coat of arms, our dreams cry out to make our land fertile like the green in our flag, our voice cries for freedom just like our horses depicts our strength.
The journey starts with us, between our birth and death, let our choices guide us till we find the last of the mohicans. So indeed we would say what Napoleon said during his exile ''able I was 'ere I saw elba'' let our new Nigeria be our ''elba'' and let our children use Napoleon's palindrome in relation to our context. It starts here, but goes way up to the top. '' IN SPE GLORIA DEI''
In streams of endless thoughts I ponder on this vast, blessed, complex, bittersweet settlement called Nigeria. Vast in landmass and population, blessed with best brains, endless mineral resources, diverse cultures and languages, yet a strong people we are, complex in our various dogmas of modern religious beliefs, yet respectful to ourselves, bittersweet in our unending displays of strength and resilience from all spheres still ''united we stand, faith in each other we have, peacefully we try to co-habit and progress we strive to get''.
In drifts of consciousness I picture an eagle soaring endlessly to the top. A top barbwired with unending challenges yet we refuse to stoop in our pursuit for our diversity should raise us a calvary strong enough to hold our fort. Our fraternization should proffer viable solutions to our various challenges. Our leadership should not be birtrh righted, our sons should be schooled to be empowered, our daughters schooled to the finest artistry hence placing them on the spotlight consciously. The talking drum roars to unite us just like the confluence in our coat of arms, our dreams cry out to make our land fertile like the green in our flag, our voice cries for freedom just like our horses depicts our strength.
The journey starts with us, between our birth and death, let our choices guide us till we find the last of the mohicans. So indeed we would say what Napoleon said during his exile ''able I was 'ere I saw elba'' let our new Nigeria be our ''elba'' and let our children use Napoleon's palindrome in relation to our context. It starts here, but goes way up to the top. '' IN SPE GLORIA DEI''
Gov holds private meeting with Osinbajo at Port Harcourt Airport
It was further reported that Wike and Osinbajo held a brief meeting at the sidelines after the reception formalities.
Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo discussing with Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike at the Port Harcourt International Airport
(Guardian Newspaper)
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has met with the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.
According to reports, the governor met with the acting president on his way to Bayelsa on Friday, February 10, 2017 at a reception held for at the airportIt
was further reported that Wike and Osinbajo held a brief meeting at the sidelines after the reception formalities.
After the private yet quick meet, the Acting President was reported to have departed for Bayelsa State, in company of Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri; former Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, and service commanders
Osinbajo is expected to visit Rivers State on Monday in continuation of his consultation with stakeholders in the Niger Delta.
TambuwalGov sacks Internal Revenue Board
The Sokoto State Board of Internal Revenue has been sacked by the state governor, Aminu Tambuwal.
Aminu Tambuwal
(Daily Trust)
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal has approved the dissolution of the management committee of Sokoto State Board of Internal Revenue.
The State Commissioner of Finance, Alhaji Saidu Umar, in a statement, said a nine-member interim management committee had been constituted, pending when a substantive board would be appointed.
The commissioner urged the new appointees to develop a ”holistic road map” that would strengthen the board.
According to him, the state government will provide necessary support to the new team, headed by Aminu Dalhatu, to enable it achieve optimum results.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Tambuwal had, at a recent stakeholders’ forum, promised to reposition the board to enable it to discharge its responsibilities diligently and efficiently.
See stunning silhouettes on Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington, more on the red carpet
See stunning red carpet looks at the annual Screen Actors Guild awards 2017...
Published:
Olamide Olarewaju
Kerry Washington at The SAG Awards 2017
(FBD
Kerry Washington, Taraji P Henson, Tracee Ellis Ross and more turned heads at The SAG awards held on sunday 29th January 2017.
Taraji P Henson at The SAG Awards 2017
(FBD)
The 23rd edition of the annual event which turned out political with speeches from the stars held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles and the ladies especially dazzled in different designer frocks.
Bold/vibrant colours, monotones, body grazing silhouettes, chic pants and more modern meets timeless looks dominated the red carpet.
