Cameroon bans pro-independence rallies in Anglophone area

Cameroon has banned public meetings and travel in a mainly English-speaking region ahead of a protest to demand independence for the area.

The South-West region's border with Nigeria has also been shut to block "infiltration" by people threatening Cameroon's unity, officials said.

Pro-independence marches have been planned for Sunday, the 56th anniversary of Cameroon's unification.

English speakers accuse the Francophone majority of discrimination.

Main suspect in Wisconsin ‘Slender Man’ stabbing avoids jail time in plea deal

One of the two teens in the “Slender Man” attack three years ago in Wisconsin took a plea deal Friday to avoid prison time, according to reports.

Morgan Geyser was deemed too mentally ill to be found guilty of repeatedly stabbing her classmate in May 2014..

ABUJA: Nigerian government to connect neighboring countries with rail

Nigerian Government has announced plans to build international rail lines that would connect Nigeria with neighboring countries.

This was made known to us by the Minister of Transportation Right Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, through his Media Director at a seminar in Abuja, while speaking on the strategy being adopted by the ministry in the rail sector.

Young Dolph Critically Injured in Hollywood shooting

Young Dolph  a has been critically injured in a shoot at a landmark Hollywood hotel.

A hip-hop artist - Young Dolph was wounded in a shooting that sent police and paramedics flooding into Hollywood Boulevard’s tourist center Tuesday afternoon.

Young Dolph, 32, was shot multiple times when an argument with three men outside the Loews Hollywood Hotel turned physical, said Los Angeles Police Officer Mike Lopez.

BA probes crew member's anti-Nigerian Snapchat rant

British Airways has launched an investigation after a staff member posted an offensive rant on the social app Snapchat.

The British Airways flight attendant filmed herself before working on a flight to Nigeria. She mocked Nigerian accents and made lewd racial remarks about body parts.

A concerned colleague who saw the video shared it with the Daily Mail.

BA  expects the utmost professionalism from their staff when they are representing British Airways.

Luan Santana Changes his Style to Heavy Metals

Inspired by the FDS shows, Luan Santana has decided to open his new project to the public which is total change of his style to heavy metal. Luan who is currently on tour celebrating his10 years of career in the back country, appriciates the love of his fan base which he says  is too good, Hear him "but there is an hour when you feel something inside and you need to change, take chances ... and guess what? This time has come. So I decided that from today I will dedicate myself body and soul to the style I really love, heavy metal. Keep rocking, babies!".

Trump tweets threats to North Korea after UN meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump twitted on Saturday that North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and leader Kim Jong Un "won't be around much longer" if Ri echoed the thoughts of "Little Rocket Man," an apparent reference to Kim.

Ri informed the United Nations General Assembly holding in New York earlier on Saturday that hitting the U.S. mainland with its rockets was inevitable after "Mr Evil President" Trump insulted the Pyongyang's leader by calling him "rocket man."

Moscow Officials Tally Racist Football Attacks Ahead of World Cup

Nearly 100 cases of racism have been recorded between 2014 and 2016 at football stadiums across Moscow, the Russian capital’s chief human rights ombudswoman said Thursday.

International football and UN officials have voiced concerns over Russia’s efforts to combat racism as the country prepares to host the 2018 World Cup. Moscow-based racism-monitoring group Sova Center recorded more than 200 acts of racism committed by Russian fans between 2012 and 2014.

Greece considers bond swap as it looks to bailout exit

Greece is considering swapping 20 small bond issues for four or five new ones, government sources said, as it prepares to exit its international bailout and resume normal financing operations.

The country has been surviving on rescue funds since 2010 and is anxious to draw a line under its bailout phase next year.

The government is considering a swap that would consolidate the secondary market into a few benchmark issues, replacing 20 separate bonds with a face value of around 32 billion euros, said officials familiar with the proposal.

Nigeria's Amina Yuguda wins BBC World News Komla Dumor award

Amina Yuguda is a news presenter on local network Gotel Television, where she has reported on high-profile news stories, including the Boko Haram insurgency.
She will start a three-month placement at the BBC in London in September.
The award was created to honour Komla Dumor, a presenter for BBC World News, who died suddenly aged 41 in 2014.

Nigeria reverses Self on Biafra terrorist label

It's not surprising that the Nigerian army has changed its mind on last week’s announcement categorising the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) as a terrorist organisation.
At the time, there were quick calls for restraint from across the political divide, considering the history of ethnic tension in the country, as well as the Nigerian army’s human rights record in suppressing unrest.
It was clear that senior politicians and government officials wanted to distance themselves from any violent action that would follow.

ABUJA: Operation Python Dance to be staged every year in South-East – Army

The Nigerian Army on Sunday said Operation Python Dance, which is currently going on in the South-East, would be staged in the region every year.
Deputy Director, Public Relations 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Col. Sagir Musa, disclosed this in a statement entitled ‘The objectives of exercise Egwu Eke 11 (Python Dance II).
The army spokesman insisted that the military campaign was not targeted at anybody, or group.

“Exercise Egwu Eke II (Python Dance II) is now a scheduled Nigerian Army Exercise to be conducted annually in the South-East Region and is not targeted  at any individual or group.
“Law abiding citizens need not to fear and are advised to freely go about their normal businesses,” Musa said.

Iraq Plans Kurdish Independence Referendum

 

An oil-rich province in the north of Iraq plans to vote in a referendum on Kurdish independence later this month, prompting fears of regional conflict as tensions escalate over who owns a portion of the country's crude.
Kurdish forces have been in complete control of the province of Kirkuk — as well as other disputed areas — since the summer of 2014, when so-called Islamic State swept across parts of Iraq. In addition to being home to much of Iraq's oil, the northern part of the country forms part of Kurdistan, the unofficial but centuries-old home of the Kurdish people. The Kurds have long sought their own state and began to believe it was near their grasp after American troops overthrew Saddam Hussein's Iraqi government in 2003.

North Korea Receiving Russian Supply Despite Sanctions

Russian smugglers are illicitly supplying North Korea with contraband energy and goods, evading sanctions and ignoring concerns about the isolated Asian country’s nuclear tests, the Washington Post reported Monday.
“As the Chinese cut off oil and gas, we’re seeing [North Korea] turn to Russia,” the newspaper quoted an unnamed senior U.S. official with knowledge of alleged Russian smuggling into North Korea on Monday.

Bitcoin's price falls sharply after report China may shut down exchanges

The price of bitcoin fell sharply after a report China's regulators are planning a further crackdown on the digital currency.

Local outlet Caixin is reporting the Asian country is planning to shut down local bitcoin exchanges, according to a Google translation.
Bitcoin's price fell 7 percent midafternoon Friday after the news, according to Coindesk market data.

Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Accuses FBI of Conspiring Against Russia

Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has accused the FBI of planting incriminating material at the Russian consulate in San Francisco.
Zakharova said the FBI had entered the consulate without seeking permission from Russia.
“What was their goal?” she said Friday at a weekly press briefing. “Is it not an attempt by the American special services to arrange an anti-Russian provocation and perhaps either to plant compromising materials in the building or to somehow find them later?”

Ex-Nigerian leader Obasanjo urges Togo change

Anti-government protests have continued in Togo for a third day, with clashes between opposition supporters and police.
The opposition wants President Faure Gnassingbe to step down after 12 years in power. He succeeded his father who governed for 38 years.

PORT HARCOURT, Multi Regional Groups Warn against Move to Re-arrest Kanu

As concerns grow over the ongoing move by the federal authorities to re-arrest leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, groups across the geopolitical zones have described it as  a“costly mistake” and warned of dire consequences.

In a statement issued at the weekend by the Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) and Igbo Leaders of Thought said the federal government which has been floundering with one political mistake after the other should restrain itself from plunging the nation into more crises by angling to re-arrest the IPOB leader.

Trump: North Korea is 'behaving very badly, and it's got to stop'

President Donald Trump on Thursday again refused to rule out U.S. military action in North Korea, telling reporters that the nuclear-armed dictatorship has been "behaving very badly, and it's got to stop."
"I would prefer not going the route of the military, but it's something certainly that could happen," the president said at a White House press conference with the visiting Emir of Kuwait.
Lauding the recent U.S. military buildup in and around the Korean peninsula, Trump said, "Hopefully we're not going to have to use [military force]. But if we do, it will be a very sad day for North Korea."

South Korean Leader Says Putin Has 'Soul of a Siberian Tiger'

South Korea’s president Moon Jae-in and Vladimir Putin Kremlin Press Service

South Korea’s president described Vladimir Putin as embodying the “spirit of a Siberian tiger” in a speech at the Eastern Economic Forum in in the Russian Far East on Thursday.
“Many believe that your spirit, Mr. President, is that of an Amur tiger,” President Moon Jae-in said at the forum’s plenary session.

69-year-old retiree pleads guilty to stabbing wife to death

SINGAPORE: A 69-year-old retiree was on Friday (Sep 8) convicted of culpable homicide for killing his wife with a knife and chopper in a “savage” attack last March.
Kong Peng Yee was initially charged with murder, but the charge was reduced after it emerged that he had been suffering from a brief psychotic episode at the time he killed Mdm Wong Chik Yeok, his wife of 36 years.

Why I won’t be attending Justin Welby’s Anglican summit – Primate Nicholas Okoh

The influential Archbishop of Nigeria is rejecting an invitation to the forthcoming summit of Anglican leaders hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury in October.
Nicholas Okoh rebuked Justin Welby in a letter explaining his refusal to attend, saying he had overseen a ‘repeated failure to preserve’ conservative teaching on sexuality.
Nicholas Okoh is the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria as well as being chair of GAFCON.

Nigeria's praised but unpaid Ebola heroes

In October 2014, Nigeria received universal praise for its swift and efficient tackling of the Ebola pandemic which had struck West African neighbours Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.
But the core team of staff from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) who led the effort have since quit their jobs, because their salaries had not been paid for nearly three years.
"If they play back the clock, they won't get me to do that job again," says Dr Kenneth Madiebo, the 53-year-old medic who dealt with the body of Patrick Sawyer, the first identified Ebola case Nigeria in 2014.

This could be the easiest year to make money since 1993

So far at least, 2017 has proven an uncommonly easy year to make money.
Despite a recent spate of anxiety-provoking events, many major assets are significantly higher on the year. The S&P 500 has risen 10 percent, gold futures are up 16 percent and Treasury bonds (judging by the popular Barclays long-term Treasury bond index) has gained 6 percent.
Nearly four full months remain ahead of us. But if 2017 were to end today, it would go down as the first year in which all three have risen by more than 5 percent since 1993, according to a CNBC analysis of FactSet data.

Putin says sanctions, pressure alone won't resolve North Korea crisis

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia/SEOUL (Reuters) - Resolving the North Korean nuclear crisis is impossible with sanctions and pressure alone, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday after meeting his South Korean counterpart, adding that the impact of cutting oil would be worrying.

Putin met South Korea’s Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of an economic summit in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok amid mounting international concern that their neighbor plans more weapons tests, possibly a long-range missile launch ahead of a weekend anniversary.

Putin denounced North Korea’s sixth and largest nuclear bomb test on Sunday, saying Russia did not recognize its nuclear status.

China's yuan has fully recovered from 2016 and analysts say there's still room to run

At its strongest level on Tuesday, the yuan was changing hands at 6.5151 against the U.S. dollar, pushing gains to more than 6 percent this year, according to Reuters data. The currency's appreciation had quickened its pace in August, marking its best month in 2017.
The yuan has strengthened much faster than expected, and it's even bucked the trend. While other Asian currencies have been falling in the face of rising political tensions between the U.S. and North Korea, the Chinese yuan has actually continued appreciating. Experts say the central bank has succeeded in demonstrating it can withstand downward pressure on the currency by tightening capital controls and with foreign exchange intervention.

Nigeria and South Africa both come out of recession

Nigeria and South Africa, two of Africa's richest countries, are no longer in recession as the economies of both grew in the last quarter.

Nigeria had experienced a long period in the doldrums with five consecutive quarters when the economy shrank.
But with annual GDP growth at less than 0.6%, Nigeria's emergence from recession is slow.
South Africa is still facing big economic challenges despite recording a more healthy 2.5% growth figure.

Lesotho army chief Khoantle Motsomotso shot dead

The head of Lesotho's army, Lt Gen Khoantle Motsomotso, and two other senior officers have been killed in a shootout at a barracks in the capital, Maseru.

Eyewitnesses said the officers burst into the army chief's office and shot him before being killed by guards.
Prime Minister Thomas Thabane has said the situation is now under control and has urged people to remain calm.

LAGOS: Nigeria emerges from first recession in 25 years

Source: PUNCH NIGERIA, September 5, 2017

The nation’s economy has snapped out of its first recession in 25 years as Gross Domestic Product has returned to positive growth.
The National Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday said the GDP grew by 0.55 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the second quarter of 2017.
The GDP shrank by 0.52 per cent (year-on-year) in real terms in the first quarter of 2017, representing the fifth consecutive quarter of contraction since the first quarter of 2016.

U.S. crude rises on returning refineries; gasoline slumps to pre-Harvey levels

 Source: REUTERS, September 5, 2017

NEWYORK: U.S. oil prices rose on Tuesday as the gradual restart of refineries in the Gulf of Mexico that were shut by Hurricane Harvey raised demand for crude, their main feedstock.

The return of many U.S. refineries also ended a spike in gasoline prices, as initial fears of a serious supply crunch faded.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures Clc1 were at $47.55 barrel at 0656 GMT, up 26 cents, or 0.55 percent, from their last settlement.

SEOUL: South Korea, U.S. plan more drills after North Korea nuclear test rattles globe

Source: REUTERS September 4, 2017

South Korea said on Monday it was preparing fresh military drills with its ally the United States and ramping up its ballistic missile defenses in response to North Korea’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test a day earlier.

The United Nations Security Council was set to meet later on Monday to discuss fresh sanctions against the isolated regime. U.S. President Donald Trump had also asked to be briefed on all available military options, according to his defense chief.

BREAKING: Somalia seeks US help over 'al-Shabab uranium mining'

Source: BBC September 4, 2017.

Somalia's government has made a startling request for "immediate military assistance" to prevent Islamist militants al-Shabab from supplying uranium to Iran.
In a letter, Foreign Minister Yusuf Garaad says the militants have captured a region with uranium deposits and have been strip mining the components.