February 15, 2020

Fifteen Children Killed In Haiti Orphanage Fire

February 15, 2020 5:18 pm

Fifteen children were killed when a fire swept through an unlicensed orphanage outside Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince, a judge told AFP on Friday, highlighting the severe shortcomings of the island nation’s child welfare institutions.

Two children died in the blaze and 13 others died at a hospital as a result of smoke inhalation, said magistrate Raymonde Jean Antoine.

The building — which had not been authorized to operate as an orphanage since 2013 — housed about 66 children, she said.

The fire in Kenscoff — a town of 50,000 south of the capital — began shortly after 9:00 pm Thursday (0200

…

Syrian Chopper Downed Over Rebel Area, Killing Crew

February 15, 2020 5:18 pm

A Syrian military helicopter was shot down over the last major rebel bastion in northwest Syria on Friday, the second such incident in a week of high tensions with Turkey.

The attack in a region where Turkish troops and Russian-backed government forces have engaged in multiple clashes came as Washington urged Ankara to look to its Western allies in light of Moscow’s actions.

Syrian and Russian forces have pressed a deadly offensive against the shrinking pocket in the country’s northwest since December, claiming the lives of nine civilians on Friday.

“At approximately 13:40 (1140 GMT), one of our military …

McIlroy Closes In On Kuchar, Woods Lags At Riviera

February 15, 2020 5:17 pm

Rory McIlroy, making his first start as world number one since 2015, pulled within two strokes of 36-hole leader Matt Kuchar Friday as Tiger Woods’s hopes of a landmark Genesis Invitational win dwindled.

Northern Ireland star McIlroy fired six birdies in a four-under par 67 at Riviera Country Club, to share second place on seven-under 135 with Americans Harold Varner and Wyndham Clark, who both signed for 68s.

Kuchar, who started the day with a three-shot lead, posted a two-under 69 that put him at nine-under par 133.

Woods was nine shots off Kuchar’s lead, tied for 45th, after …

Q&A: Testing For Coronavirus In China

February 15, 2020 5:17 pm

A sudden surge in the number of novel coronavirus cases in China has put a spotlight on the ways patients are tested for the illness, from lung imaging to uncomfortable lab tests that are not always accurate.

On Thursday, China saw its largest one-day jump in confirmed cases — adding over 15,000 — after health officials in Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, changed their counting criteria to include those “clinically diagnosed”.

Here’s a look at what that means and how testing for the COVID-19 illness works in China:

– How does China test for COVID-19? –

In China, …

Man Runs Marathon In Apartment In Virus Exercise Remedy

February 15, 2020 5:16 pm

A fanatical runner jogged the equivalent of an ultra-marathon inside his small apartment as people in virus-hit China desperately try to keep fit while cooped up indoors.

The country is at the centre of an outbreak of a new coronavirus, leaving more than 1,500 dead and sparking global alarm, but it is also in the grip of a health drive because the government is aggressively encouraging people to exercise to fight the disease.

With much of the 1.4 billion population ordered indoors and gyms closed, people are competing to outdo each other in how many bottles of water they can …

Turtle

Car-Sized South American Turtle Was Built For Battle

February 15, 2020 2:01 pm

One of the largest turtles that ever lived prowled the lakes and rivers of northern South America from about 13 million years ago to 7 million years ago – and this car-sized freshwater beast was built for battle.

Scientists said on Wednesday they have unearthed new fossils of the turtle, called Stupendemys geographicus, in Colombia’s Tatacoa Desert and Venezuela’s Urumaco region that for the first time provide a comprehensive understanding of the big reptile, which got up to 13 feet (4 meters) long and 1.25 tons in weight.

Stupendemys males, unlike the females, boasted sturdy front-facing horns on both sides …

Supreme Court To Hear David Lyon Appeal On Tuesday

February 15, 2020 2:01 pm

The supreme court has fixed Tuesday for hearing of the application filed by Emeka Ihedioha, a former governor of Imo state, and David Lyon, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Bayelsa state.

Festus Akande, spokesman of the supreme court, confirmed this to TheCable when he was contacted on Saturday.

“Yes it is true. The appeal of Baysela will also be held that day (Tuesday),” he said over the phone.

Ihedioha had asked the apex court to review the judgement which led to his removal as governor of Imo while Lyon also demanded the apex court to re-examine …

Few Corrupt Individuals Left In Nigeria – EFCC Chair Magu

February 15, 2020 2:00 pm

The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, yesterday claimed that the commission has eliminated corrupt individuals in the country except for a few.
This comes as President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Waba, said the high rate of corruption contributed significantly to youth unemployment in the country.
Magu, who made the assertion in Abuja during a nationwide walk against corruption, said the commission was working to eliminate corrupt individuals totally from the county.
The EFCC boss, who blamed mass poverty and insecurity in Nigeria on corruption, said Nigeria’s anti-government forces were leveraging on mass …

Bandits Strike Again In Katsina, Kidnap 84 Children

Bandits Massacre 33 Villagers In Katsina

February 15, 2020 2:00 pm

Bandits have reportedly massacred 33 villagers in Batsari local Government area of Katsina State in a renewed attack.

The suspected bandits were said to have invaded two villages in the council, Tsauwa and Dankar at the time of prayer, around 6:30pm and burnt several houses, animals and properties worth millions on Friday.

The Katsina State Police Commissioner, CP Sanusi Buba who led a joint team of Police, accompanied with the men of ‘’Operation Puff Adda’’, Nigeria Army and newsmen to the two affected villages, confirmed the incident

Buba expressed sadness over the situation, saying about 21 persons were confirmed death …

Osinbajo

We Are Proud Of Osinbajo – Methodist Prelate

February 15, 2020 2:00 pm
The Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence, Most Rev. Samuel Uche has expressed satisfaction with the work of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, noting that, the church is proud of him.

Uche led a delegation of the World Methodist Council including its President, Rev. Dr. Jong Chun Park to the Office of the Vice President on Friday.

Also present at the meeting were Archbishops, Bishops and priests of the Methodist church in Nigeria.

“We are proud of you,” Prelate Uche said, adding that, this is also “because you attended our school”, referring to Igbobi College which was founded …

Buhari

Buhari Promises To Pay More Attention To Universities

February 15, 2020 1:59 pm

President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration will give more attention to improving personnel and infrastructure of universities to produce quality graduates for the economic transformation of the country.

Buhari stated this on the 24th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Abuja in Gwagwalada on Saturday.

Represented by the Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof. Rasheed Abubakar, Buhari said no nation could achieve meaningful development without education.

“In view of this national perception, education will continue to be a high priority item in my government’s drive to transform the economy.

“The task of overcoming the problems of the education sector …

Creative Industry

Creative Industry: Nigerian Govt Approves ₦7bn

February 15, 2020 1:59 pm

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed says the Federal Government through Bank of Industry (BoI) has approved facility of about seven billion naira under its creative industry group.

Ahmed said this at the Greeners Business-to-Business Annual National Economic Dialogue 2020 held in Abuja on Saturday.

The economic dialogue has a theme “Positioning Nigeria’s Creative Industry as Growth Engine of Africa Continental Trade Agreement (AFCTA)”.

Represented by her Special Adviser on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Dr Armstrong Takang, the minister said the fund was approved to a creative group of 35 firms in content production, …

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