Omokri to Senate: Don’t criminalize use of social media

AS criticisms continue to trail the ongoing bill by the Senate to censor social media in the country, author and former Special Assistant on New Media to President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, has urged the Nigerian Senate to do away with the bill, stressing that freedom of information is a necessity in any democracy.
The TV host in a series of tweets via his handle, @renoomokri argued that the 8th National Assembly led by Dr. Bukola Saraki, should take a cue from ex-president Jonathan who faced false reports, yet signed the Freedom of Information bill to law and never tampered with free speech. He added that throughout the 5-year reign of his former boss, no one was jailed for speaking his mind.

“I call on the Senate to take a cue from ex-Pres Jonathan who faced false reports yet NEVER tampered with Free Speech”
“Jonathan, at huge political cost to himself, signed Freedom of Information to law. Senate should let sleeping dogs lie!”
“Throughout Jonathan’s presidency, no one was jailed for speaking his mind. The Senate should not reversed that legacy ”
He urged the senate to allow sleeping dogs lie, stressing that he is not sure that president Buhari will assent to the bill if passed by the lawmakers.
“What I know is that ex Pres. Jonathan would never sign such a law if it passes and I believe President Buhari wont either”.
“To the Social Media community: When you cook soup with cannibals you have no one to blame if they use you as meat,” he urged users of social media.
Recalled that Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and other Related Matters, sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ibn Na’Allah, APC, Kebbi South generated reactions on the social media as many alleged that a section of the bill recommended two-year jail term for false publication on the platform.

Kenyan sentenced to 4 years in jail for drug trafficking

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday sentenced a 42-year-old Kenyan, Samira Odhiambo, to four years imprisonment over cocaine trafficking.
The accused was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Nov. 30, on a one-count charge bordering on the offence.
She pleaded guilty to the charge, and the trial judge, Justice Saliu Saidu, had ordered that she should be remanded in the custody of the NDLEA.
The judge, following the guilty plea, had also adjourned the case for a review of facts and sentencing.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Saidu convicted the accused as charged.
“The accused person is found guilty as charged and is hereby convicted.
“The accused is accordingly sentenced to four years imprisonment, beginning from the date of judgment,” he said
The court also ordered the exhibit to be destroyed by the NDLEA within 30 days of judgment.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Mr Fingere Dinneys, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on April 12.
He said that the accused was arrested at the arrival hall of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, during the inward clearance of passengers.
According to the prosecutor, about 3.5kg of cocaine was recovered from the accused during the screening of passengers.
The prosecutor tendered several documents and the drug substance as exhibits.
He said the offence contravened the provisions of section 11(a) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Biafran separatism: MASSOB dissociates self from Onitsha violence

Biafran separatism: MASSOB dissociates self from Onitsha violence

The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has dissociated itself from the last violence that erupted in the commercial city of Onitsha following agitation by a pro-Biafra group.
This comes on the heels of the arrest of seven persons suspected to be members of the Pro-Biafran group by the Ebonyi state police command for engaging in protests in front of the state government house.
In a statement signed by Gideon Iloke, John Nwifuru and Sunday Ezaka, the three zonal leaders of MASSOB in Ebonyi state, the group denied involvement in any violent protest in the cause of the struggle for the actualization of a Biafra state.
The MASSOB leaders also denied the seven persons arrested by the Ebonyi state police command in connection to the protest and a breach of public peace were associated the group, adding that MASSOB under Chief Ralph Uwazuuruike has remained a non violent group concerned with Igbo separatism.
According to Mr. Iloke, the MASSOB leader in charge of Ebonyi central zone, MASSOB is not against any group’s agitation for the actualization of a Biafra state but will not allow its name to be dragged to the mud by a group of miscreants using MASSOB’s name to commit all sorts of crimes.
He distanced MASSOB from recent protests by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in which many lives were lost, adding that they still maintain a non violent stance to realizing their goal, and called on those using MASSOB’s name to commit crimes to desist from it.
John Nwifuru, in charge of Ebonyi North, also denied that the seven persons arrested by the police for protesting at the government house gate were not members of MASSOB and should not be addressed as such and urged the police to carry out proper investigations about them and their mission.
He said MASSOB does not discriminate against any tribe in the country, adding that those who attacked Muslims or Hausa or Yoruba traders were not members of the movement.
They unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the leader of MASSOB, Chief Rlaph Uwazuruike, describing him as a man who has the capacity to pilot the affairs of the Biafra movement without spilling innocent blood.
(Emmanuel Uzor, DAILY SUN)

Forbes take on The Curious Case of MTN's Whopping $5bn Fine In Nigeria

Toby Shapshak ,

Contributor

Against the backdrop of a massive China-Africa trade summit, there is the curious case playing out of South African cellular network MTN’s whopping $5.2-billion fine in Nigeria, the emerging market mobile giant’s biggest region.
The extraordinary fine was imposed in October by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for not disconnecting some 5.1-million SIM cards during a registration process in 2013. Each SIM card was fined 200,000 naira ($1,000), totalling N1.04-trillion or $5.2-billion.
The excessive amount of the fine (37% of MTN’s total revenue and more than double the group’s annual profits) has been the source of innumerable conspiracy theories and much market speculation. Some arguments have been advanced that the weaker oil price (Nigeria is large oil exporter) has forced the new government of recently elected President Muhammadu Buhari to find alternative sources of income.
MTN has lost about 25% of its market value since the scandal broke six weeks ago. On Thursday the company was valued at about $17-billion (ZAR258-billion) after its share price dipped 4.61% on the day.

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On Friday, the corruption-busting Buhari is expected to meet his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma, on the sidelines of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, or Focac, event in Johannesburg, which is being held in Africa for the first time in its 14-year history.

Lagos skyline. Photograph: Toby Shapshak

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Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country with 150-million people, while its economy last year overtook South Africa’s as the continent’s largest. China is rapidly becoming Africa’s largest trading partner; while South Africa and Nigeria do a political dance to assert themselves as the continent’s leading power.
Many analysts see the financially crippling fine as a way for Nigeria to assert its dominance over a South African company, with one calling it a “state-sanctioned mugging”. Others argue that Nigeria’s communication commission is threatening foreign investment with the onerous amount against one of Nigeria’s largest investors, MTN.

See photo of INEC office in Kogi burnt down

Twenty-four hours to the controversial supplementary governorship Election in Kogi State, the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been razed down by some thugs in Dekina, Dekina local government area.
A resident confirmed the development to DAILY POST.
DAILY POST equally learnt that some people went to the premises as early as 2 am, demanding for sensitive materials. Apparently, their inability to have access to those materials made them to raze down the building.
Meanwhile, INEC authorities in the state have clarified that it was only non-sensitive materials that were affected in the arson, assuring that the election will go ahead as scheduled.

Driver in court for allegedly causing multiple accidents

An Ogudu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on Friday ordered that one Salu Skinny, 40, be remanded in prison custody after pleading guilty to causing multiple accidents.
The accused, a driver with a petrochemical company in Eleme, Rivers State, is facing a charge of reckless driving without regard to other road users.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Lucky Ihiehie, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Nov. 17 at about 11:00am, along Ojota-Oworonshoki Expressway in Ojota, Lagos State.
Ihiehie said the accused, driving an Iveco truck, with Reg. No. KRD 274 XD, was travelling to Lagos from Abuja when the accident occurred.
“He confessed to have suddenly gone unconscious for some seconds, resulting into an accident involving three vehicles,” the prosecutor said.
He listed the vehicles as: a Toyota Highlander with Reg. No. KJA 267 CM, driven by one Onyure Bernard and a Mazda bus with Reg. No. LSR 726 XK, driven by Adeyemi Idowu.
He said that the third vehicle was a Mazda bus with Reg. No. SMK 597 XP, driven by Dada Sulaimon.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the alleged offence contravenes Section 19 (1) of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law, 2012.
The Magistrate, Mrs Sule Amzat, then adjourned the case to Dec. 9 for facts and sentencing.

NAN

APC leader in Bayelsa reportedly killed

Gunmen have killed one Diseye Dickson, the APC deputy ward leader at Odi in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government. Residents of the area say the APC leader was killed on Wednesday Dec. 2nd after the gunmen failed in their mission to abduct one Chief Watson Ogoriba, the elder brother to a former two-time member of the House of Representatives, Warman Ogoriba. The gunmen, eight in number and clad in military uniforms, killed Dickson while on their way out of Odi community.



Meanwhile APC through the Sylva/Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO), have alleged that the killing was carried out by suspected thugs hired by the PDP.

Biafra Protests: Agitation will end if Okorocha, Ekweremadu contest for 2019 presidency – Ohanaeze

This was disclosed by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth wing, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro during an interview.

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  Governor Rochas Okorocha  Pulse 

The youth arm of Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said that the ongoing pro-Biafra agitation would end if notable persons from the tribe could be named as presidential candidates for the 2015 elections.

The group specifically listed Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu as possible representatives for their respective parties, Vanguard reports.

This was disclosed by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth wing, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro during an interview with Vanguard.

“Ohanaeze youths commended the two former military heads of state for their love for the unity of Nigeria through their support for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction,” Isiguzoro said.

“A Nigerian President of Igbo extraction is desirable in 2019 after President Muhammadu Buhari. An Igbo presidency will boost the unity of Nigeria. Former President Ibrahim Babangida said he will back an Igbo if he finds one; but we assured him and other Nigerians that Ndigbo have credible personalities who have the capacity to govern Nigeria.

“If we can get Senator Ike Ekeremadu as a PDP presidential candidate and Rochas Okorocha as the APC presidential candidate in 2019, it will end the cries of marginalization including protests by Biafra agitators,” he added.

The pro-Biafra protests have intensified in the past month and turned violent in Onitsha, Anambra State on Tuesday, December 2, 2015, after 9 people died from bullet wounds.

The ongoing agitations are believed to have been sparked off by the arrest of Radio Biafra boss, Nnamdi Kanu by the Department of State Services (DSS).

Kanu was arrested at a hotel in Lagos on October 17, and reportedly granted bail but never freed.

He was arraigned in an Abuja court on November 23 and the case was adjourned till December 1.

READ: DSS wants to charge Nnamdi Kanu with terrorism

Meanwhile, the DSS is seeking to charge Kanu with terrorism after it accused him of participating in and sponsoring terrorist acts.

Between Cowardice and Intelligence: Biafra: Count me out, says Anyim

ABUJA – Immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim has denied sponsoring the ongoing pro-Biafra protests‎, saying any assertion to the contrary is the handiwork of detractors.
Anyim, a former Senate President who spoke through his Media Adviser, Sam Nwaobasi Thursday, added that he is neither under house arrest nor any form of investigation.
“We find it despicable that some people have taken it upon themselves to disparage, embarrass, ridicule, insult and indeed incite the public against Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, since he left office as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, through publication of bare-faced lies, fabrication of baseless stories and peddling of rumours on phantom issues that make no meaning or sense.
“We have resisted the temptation to join issues with these gangs of debased characters. However, there is a limit to what can be ignored”, Nwaobasi said.
According to him, “Sen. Anyim is not sponsoring, has not sponsored and will never sponsor any protest by any group against the Government or our dear country Nigeria”.
He added that Sen. Anyim is not under any investigation for any such allegation, warning those behind what he described as dastardly and mischievous acts to stop forthwith.
“They must bear in mind that those who rise up against an innocent person are only setting themselves up for a fatal fall”, he added.
An online media portal had reported how Anyim is currently under investigation for sponsoring activities of Radio Biafra as well as pro-Biafra protests.
The portal also added that the former SGF has been accused of taking huge sums from the coffers of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC while in office, which he now allegedly uses to fund the pro-Biafra agitation.

Nigerian President To Discuss Railway, Power Projects With Xi Jinping

ABUJA, Dec 3 (BERNAMA-NNN-NAN) -- President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria leaves Abuja Thursday for Johannesburg to participate in the 6th Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) Summit to be held on Friday and Saturday.

Mallam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President for Media and Publicity, said in a statement here Wednesday that while in South Africa, Buhari would follow up on his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session in November in New York.

"President Buhari had indicated to Xi Jinping, the Chinese leader, at the bilateral meeting in New York that he wanted China to re-commence stalled railway projects under new terms that would see China providing nearly all the financing required," the statement added.

"Of particular interest is the coastal railway project stretching for 1,402 kilometres linking Lagos in the west with Calabar in the east, a project that is expected to be financed with a 12 billion US dollars Chinese loan and which will create about 200,000 jobs.

"Another rail project that will be up for renegotiation is the US$8.3 billion Lagos-Kano standard gauge modernisation project, of which only a segment, Kaduna-Abuja, has reached completion stage."

The statement said that Buhari would also discuss with Xi ways of removing all obstacles in the way of the 3,050-megawatt (MW) Mambila power station, considered a strategic project which was conceived in 1982 but had not taken off.

It added that the Chinese president had informed Buhari of the willingness of his country to finance the whole project through a special loan.

The President would be accompanied to Johannesburg by Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyema; Transportation Minister Chubuike Amaechi and Industry, Trade and Investment Minister Okechukwu Enelamah.

MTN Nigeria CEO quits amid scandal

Johannesburg - The Nigerian telecommunications regulator cut the fine imposed on MTN Group to $3.4 billion from a record $5.2 billion and the chief executive officer in the country quit as part of a wider management shake-up at Africa’s biggest mobile-phone operator.
The shares gained 1.2 percent to R148.49 as of 9:32 a.m. in Johannesburg, valuing the company at R274 billion ($19.1 billion). The stock is still down about 22 percent since the penalty was made public on October 26.
The Nigerian Communications Commission decided to reduce the levy after considering a request from the company, Johannesburg-based MTN said in a statement on Thursday. MTN named Ferdi Moolman, the former CEO of the company’s Iran unit and most recently the chief financial officer of MTN Nigeria, as head of the Lagos-based operations, replacing Michael Ikpoki, who resigned.
The Nigerian regulator imposed the fine on MTN for failing to meet a deadline to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered subscribers. Group Chairman Phuthuma Nhleko took an executive position in November and led negotiations with the NCC after CEO Sifiso Dabengwa quit.
Reduction considered
Nhleko will “immediately and urgently re-engage with the Nigerian authorities before responding formally,” MTN said in the statement. “All factors having a bearing on the situation will be thoroughly and carefully considered before the company arrives at a final decision.”
The initial fine of $5.2 billion was more than MTN’s total sales in Nigeria in 2014 and the equivalent of about 37 percent of the group’s total revenue.
A full payment would have exceeded the revenue the Nigerian government made from oil in the second- quarter, and more than double the state’s non-crude proceeds, according to central bank data. MTN’s largest shareholder, the Public Investment Corporation, in November called on the board to take greater responsibility for the fine.
The company decided to reinstate its previous reporting structures to boost oversight, leadership and compliance across 22 countries in Africa and the Middle East, the company said in a separate statement. Jyoti Desai will be group chief operating officer, based in Johannesburg, while Karl Toriola will be vice president for the West and central African region and Ismail Jaroudi will play the same role for the Middle East and north Africa. Amina Oyagbola replaces Akinwale Goodluck as head of regulatory and corporate affairs in Nigeria.

Oscar Pistorius Found Guilty of Murder by South Africa Appeals Court

Oscar Pistorius at a court hearing in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2013. An appeals court on Thursday found him guilty of murder. Credit Stephane De Sakutin/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s top appeals court ruled on Thursday that Oscar Pistorius, the Paralympic star known as the Blade Runner, was guilty of murder in the 2013 killing of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, overturning a lower court’s conviction on the lesser charge of manslaughter.

The appeals court ordered the lower court to hand a new sentence to Mr. Pistorius, who has already served about a year in prison and is now under house arrest for the previous conviction. A murder conviction carries a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison.

The appeals court sided with state prosecutors on central points, saying that the manslaughter conviction had been based on a misinterpretation of laws and erroneous dismissal of circumstantial evidence.

The court said that Mr. Pistorius, who has said repeatedly that he accidentally killed his girlfriend when he believed his home had been broken into, should have foreseen that his actions would cause the death of a person.

The court did not say where Mr. Pistorius, 29, who has been under house arrest since October, is expected to remain pending a new sentence. He was not present when five judges of the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein delivered their verdict. Ms. Steenkamp’s relatives, who were in court, embraced upon hearing the ruling.

Source: NYT

VIDEO| 337 Sei Whales Found Dead on Chilean Beach

 

 

Posted By: Breaking Times

The coast of southern Chile has become a grave for 337 sei whales that were found beached in what scientists say is one of the biggest whale strandings ever recorded.

Biologist Vreni Haussermann told The Associated Press Tuesday that she made the discovery along with other scientists in June during an observation flight over fjords in Chile’s southern Patagonia region. The team has been collecting samples since then.

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“This is one of the largest strandings worldwide,” said Haussermann, the director of the Huinay Scientific Field Station, which focuses on marine research. She declined to disclose the conclusions, which will be published by a scientific journal later this year.

The scientific expedition counted 305 bodies and 32 skeletons of whales through aerial and satellite photography in the remote Aysen area between the Gulf of Penas and Puerto Natales. The cause of death of the sei whales is unknown, but human intervention has been ruled out.

Whale strandings are common in Aysen, a region of southern Patagonia where rainfall is nearly constant and rivers plunge from Andean glaciers to the Pacific Ocean through green valleys and fjords.

“They probably died at sea, we don’t know exactly where, but they didn’t just die by stranding,” said Carolina Simon Gutstein, a paleontologist at University of Chile who was part of the team.

Sei, humpback and blue whales, which belong to the rorquals family, are the largest group of baleen whales, and “are not normally seen gathering in large groups,” Gutstein said.

Scientists say the whale die-off might help them find out more about their habits and develop policies to protect them, including the creation of a whale sanctuary in the Gulf of Penas.

The first 37 beached whales were found in April by a team led by Haussermann. They alerted the National Fisheries Service, which launched an investigation in May together with environmental police and the Chilean Navy.

Since the Fisheries Service did not carry out observation flights, the scientists got funding for their own flights in June and August. They were unable to examine the whales because the area is so remote, the coast is so steep and the sea is so rough that it makes it nearly impossible to land. But they were still able to take the photographs to confirm the deaths.

Based on their size and location, scientists believe they are all sei whales. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the sei as an endangered species. Also called pollack, adults can be longer than 50 feet (15 meters) and weigh 20 tons or more.

Between 1999 and 2001, about 600 gray whales were stranded on the North American Pacific Coast from Alaska to Mexico. But scientists say it happened over a longer period of time and in a larger area.

'God pulled me out of mess; I have a happy life free from abuse'- Anita Oyakhilome shades ex-husband, Pastor Chris

Estranged wife of popular Lagos Pastor, Chris Oyakhilome, Anita, yesterday December 2nd, took to her blog to thank God for pulling her out of mess and making her lead a life now free from abuse. Anita and Chris Oyakhilome have been separated since last year. What she wrote below ...

"December is the last month of the year I start every month thankful and for this month of December I am eternally grateful. I am worthy of love, to give and receive. I have value and self-respect, no one has the ability to oppress, suppress or depress me. I am enough and complete in God. My today is better than yesterday.
I have come to a place of wholeness, strength and joy. God pulled me out of mess; I have a happy life free from abuse. No one can take the place of God; he is sovereign and reigns forever. Man is mortal and his days on earth are numbered. When the end comes, it is a glorious thing to return to our maker, to dwell in His holiness and truth. The end of the year brings a rebirth of another year. The death of something can be the rebirth of another thing. All is not lost. Whatever happens in your life, no matter how distressing things might seem. When darkness appears endless, watch out for that tiny spark of light, when you can muster up the courage to thank God for closed doors. In the process of counting your blessings, you find joy!".

Source: LIB

Ebonyi teachers to undergo competency test

In order to improve the quality of education in Ebonyi State, the state governor, Chief Dave Umahi has directed the leadership of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to conduct competence test for all the teachers in the state before the middle of next month to enable government conduct hers.
Gov. Umahi reassured that he will not reduce the state workforce or cut salaries of workers because of the economic situation in the state.
Addressing leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) who paid him a courtesy call at Government House, Abakaliki, Governor Umahi lamented that out of 11 teachers interviewed during state Executive Council meeting, only two passed.
He urged the teachers to wake up to their duties in order to ensure that there is improvement in future WAEC and NECO, adding that a situation where the state continues to lag behind in exam results was unacceptable.
The governor commended the union for their understanding during the agitation by the state NLC for salary increment.
He reiterated his readiness to pay junior workers 100% one month salary bonus and senior ones 50% bonus for the Christmas festivity.
Umahi said each teacher will get a bag of rice for the Christmas celebration as part of the stomach infrastructure introduced by his administration.
He announced that arrangement had been concluded to procure good laptops for all the teachers in the state to make them ICT compliance and that each teacher will not pay more than N2, 000 monthly for the payments.
Earlier, the Chairman of the NUT in the state, Comrade Joseph Nweke said the teachers came to appreciate the governor for his love and commended him for his developmental effort within five months in office.

Female banker docked for allegedly stealing customer’s N90m

A 32-year-old female banker, Adejumoke Anthony, who allegedly defrauded one of her customers N90 million, was on Wednesday arraigned in an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.
Anthony, who resides at Lekki area of Lagos State, is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Innocent Odugbo, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in March 2013, at Lekki, Lagos.
Odugbo said that the accused allegedly conspired with others still at large, to fraudulently obtain N90 million belonging to one Mr and Mrs Babatunde Oduewu, a customer at her bank.
The prosecutor said that the alleged offences contravened Sections 285 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded innocent of the charges.
Section 285 provides three years imprisonment for anyone found guilty of stealing, while Section 409 provides two years imprisonment for anyone found guilty of conspiring with others to commit felony.
Counsel to the accused, Mr O. A. Ojo, urged the court to admit the accused to bail on liberal terms.
The Magistrate, Mrs A. O. Awogboro, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N5 million, with two sureties in like sum.
Awogboro said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused and the sureties must have reasonable means of livelihood and must be tax payers.
She also said that the sureties must be resident in Lagos State and their addresses verified by the court.
The case was adjourned till Jan. 26 for mention. (NAN)

San Bernardino shooting: Police kill two suspects after hunt

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Media caption14 people were left dead after the shooting at a community centre in California, this is how events unfolded

Police in California have named two suspects killed after a mass shooting which left 14 people dead at a social services centre.

The man and woman, Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and Tashfeen Malik, 27, were killed in an exchange of fire with police.
Farook had been a county employee for five years, San Bernadino Police Chief Jarrod Burguan said.
The attack took place at an office event on Wednesday. None of the victims has been identified.
The incident marks the deadliest mass shooting in the US since 26 people were killed at a school in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012.
The Inland Regional Center in San Bernadino specialises in helping adults with disabilities and mental health problems, but the shooting appeared to be unrelated to the patients.
Mr Burguan, who said another 17 people were wounded, said police were "reasonably confident" that there were just two shooters.
Both suspects were killed in their vehicle after a shoot-out with police involving 20 officers. A tip-off had earlier led police to a house in nearby Redlands.

The dead man and woman were believed to be a couple, the police chief said. They were armed with assault rifles and semi-automatic handguns and wore military-style clothing.
One police officer was injured, but his injuries are not life threatening.
Three possible explosive devices were found at the Inland Regional Center, where the shooting took place.
Mr Burguan said that Farook had left the event - which was possibly a holiday party for employees or a meeting - "under some circumstances that were described as angry," and returned with Malik.
Earlier, the FBI said it was not ruling out the possibility of terrorism but the situation was still being investigated.
San Bernardino is a city of about 200,000 people, 60 miles (100 km) east of Los Angeles.

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At the scene: James Cook, BBC News, Los Angeles correspondent

As darkness fell, San Bernardino felt more like a warzone than a city in California. For much of the day the air had been alive with the sound of sirens, helicopters and, at times, gunfire.
Outside the social services centre where the shooting began, the wounded were treated on a street which resembled a field hospital.
Suddenly paramilitary-style police, explosives experts and ambulances took off in a wail of noise. They were racing to the scene of a gun battle with the suspects.
For this city, it has been a day of panic and chaos, as people struggle to cope with America's worst mass shooting in three years. By one measure though, there has been more than one mass shooting on average every day this year.
In that respect this was just another day in the United States of America.

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At around 11:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday, the shooting began at the social services centre. Hundreds of people were evacuated as police officers swept through the massive complex and into the residential area.
Others locked themselves in rooms waiting for police to arrive.
"People shot. In the office waiting for cops. Pray for us. I am locked in an office," Terry Petit's daughter texted him from inside the centre.

The attack took place in a conference area where the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health was holding a social event, said Maybeth Field, the centre's president.
Farook, who was born in the US, worked for the county as an environmental health specialist, police said. They had no information on whether he had a criminal record, nor further details on Malik.
Colleagues told the Los Angeles Times that Farook had travelled to Saudi Arabia and returned with a new wife. The couple had a young baby, they said.

The mass shooting comes just days after three people were killed at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic.
US President Barack Obama said in response to the shooting: "One thing we do know is that we have a pattern of mass shootings in this country that has no parallel anywhere in the world.
"There are some steps that we could take, not to eliminate all incidents, but to make sure they happen less frequently."

Nigeria has reduced its record MTN fine to $3.4 billion

The Nigeria government has agreed to reduce the hefty fine imposed on MTN to $3.4 billion following lengthy negotiations between the two parties. It’s a cut of 35% from the record $5.1 billion fine the Nigerian regulator had originally demanded.

The Nigerian Communications Commission imposed the fine against MTN, the South African-based mobile carrier, in October for failing to adhere to the regulator’s demand for the mobile carrier to disconnect over 5 million unregistered SIM cards from its network.

Nigeria is MTN’s biggest market and the fine has left the company’s entire business reeling. Since the penalty was made public, Africa’s largest mobile carrier has lost over $5 billion in market value and led to the resignation of its chief executive officer Sifiso Dabengwa. MTN shares eased up by just over 1% on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange soon after the news of the reduction broke.

In a separate statement on Thursday, MTN Group announced a far-reaching restructuring of the bulk of its business across Africa and the Middle East, with new regional management being put in place.

The situation in Nigeria, however, continues to claim victims. Among the changes announced is the resignation of MTN Nigeria CEO Michael Ikpoki who is being replaced by his chief financial officer Ferdi Moolman. Also resigning is the head of regulatory and corporate affairs Akinwale Goodluck. His job will be taken by the company’s head of human resources Amina Oyagbola, who will also retain that position.

At the same the company is still searching for a long-term replacement for Dabengwa.

“This revised structure and strengthened leadership will improve operational oversight and increase management capacity,” Phuthuma Nhleko, who has operated as the company’s interim CEO, said in a statement.

It is not yet clear whether MTN will pay the reduced fine. “The executive chairman Phuthuma Nhleko will immediately and urgently re-engage with the Nigerian Authorities before responding formally,” its statement said. “All factors having a bearing on the situation will be thoroughly and carefully considered before the Company arrives at a final decision.”

MTN has until the end of the month to pay the fine.

Ihedioha blasts Okorocha for planning to spend N600m to decorate Imo for yuletide

The immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, has blasted the Imo State government for planning to spend over N600 million for Christmas and New Year decorations in the state.
Ihedioha in a statement by his media aide, Chibuike Onyeukwu, wondered why Imo should spend such outrageous amount on decorations while citizens had not been paid for months.
“There are several unresolved industrial disputes, while the state’s infrastructure base has collapsed. Today, there is palpable lack of vision for the genuine development of the state, but the government chose to embark on such inciting and frivolous window dressing,” Ihedioha fumed.
Ihedioha said that “despite the prevailing widespread disenchantment being expressed by citizens, who recently called for his immediate impeachment over the alarming rate of hunger and insecurity occasioned by the inept handling of issues of governance and unrepentant deceit so far exhibited by the Okorocha led administration, the governor has refused to repent or address such concerns and other critical issues.”
While saying that “preparations for Christmas celebration is a tradition all over the world,” Ihedioha, however, said, it was “ridiculous and indeed smacks of insensitivity for this government to spend over N600 million on decorations when families can no longer afford their meals and basic needs as a result of non-payment of salaries, pensions and other entitlements.”
He expressed displeasure that Governor Okorocha had refused to constitute his cabinet six months after election, pointing out that there was no local government administration and no functional ministry, department or agency in the state.
“The governor has embarked on several trips abroad to woo non-existent investors with a view to actualizing his failed promises of aggressive industrialization and employment of youths,” Ihedioha said.

10 reasons why sugar is your biggest enemy

So you don’t have diabetes nor do you suffer from any lifestyle related disorders like high blood pressure, metabolic disorders, etc. Well, that’s good news but is not a ticket for you to devour sugar in any form. Added sugar is surely harmful to your health, but hidden sugar (the ones that come in your processed foods, pastries, sweet and mithai, etc.) can do damage beyond any repair. So, if you think you need to be concerned about sugar intake only if you are diabetic, then think again. Don’t believe us, here are a few reasons: It sets you up for heart disease: No this isn’t a joke, more than fats, it is sugar that damages your heart and arteries, increasing your chances of cardiovascular diseases and heart attack. Just limiting white sugar in your tea, coffee and fruit juices is not going to help. Remember, even fructose, a type of sugar present in honey and fruits, has the capacity to increase your LDL or bad cholesterol, constrict your arteries, increase blood glucose and insulin levels — all of which can increase abdominal obesity and up your risk for both heart diseases and diabetes [1].heart healthy. It tricks your brain into alcohol and drugs addiction: If you are a non-smoker, non-alcoholic and wish to be the same, stay away from foods that are high in sugar. If you notice closely people who are into drugs, alcohol or any other kind of addiction have a high affinity for junk or other foods that are rich in sugar like pastries, mithai and desserts. Now, here is the link: sugar, releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine in the brain, which increase the affinity towards it and other addictive substances which also act on the same lines of sugar i.e., release dopamine and help one enhance mood [2]. It increases hunger: Eating a pastry, doughnut or two gulab jamuns to satisfy your mid-morning hunger or mid-evening craving might make you eat more during your meal time, no matter how early or late you decide to have the meal. And if you think that sprinting for 10 minutes or so can help burn the calories, you are still wrong. Sugar in various forms (glucose or fructose) doesn’t help to satiate your hunger. In fact, even high level of fructose (considered to be a natural sugar) in the blood can decrease the circulation of leptin and insulin while increasing the concentration of hunger hormone ghrelin. This could be a contributing factor for weight gain and obesity [3]. It makes your liver sick: Foods that we eat breaks down into sugar, mainly of two kinds – glucose and fructose. While glucose is needed by every cell of the body, fructose doesn’t have much of a physiological importance. But fruits, honey and many sweeteners have fructose and that is how it gets into our blood stream. This fructose is metabolised only by the liver and converted into glycogen to be used in future when the body needs energy. But if there is too much of stored glycogen and high level of fructose in the blood, the liver turns it into fat, restricting it to perform its normal functions. This could also lead to fatty liver syndrome and complications of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases [4]. It could lead to various types of cancer: No, this isn’t a vague assumption, but excess sugar could be a marker for cancer. Remember, insulin plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth. Some studies indicate that elevated insulin levels because of consumption of foods high in sugar could be a reason for prostate, pancreatic and breast cancer [5]. It could make you resistant to insulin: This is one of the sign and symptoms of metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of symptoms like elevated blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, etc. Now eating more sugar could mean that more glucose in the blood and so your pancreas would secrete more insulin for the glucose to enter your cells. However, with elevated insulin in the body the cells become immune to insulin, resulting in insulin resistance. This is when there is high blood glucose in the body, indicating to be a marker for diabetes and other metabolic problems [6].

It is bad for your dental health:

There is no denying that sugar is bad for your teeth and one of the prime reasons for cavities. Now, if you are thinking what makes sugar so envious of your teeth, remember sugar is empty calories, and it robs nutrients out of the food. So the sugar that remains in the mouth, especially if you fail to rinse your mouth thoroughly it gives an ideal environment for the bad bacteria to thrive and grow [7].

It leads to obesity:

Now, this should not be a surprise. Since sugar is capable of suppressing satiety and increasing ghrelin, the hunger hormone it is no surprise that you end up eating more, mostly carbohydrate-rich foods that lead to abdominal obesity (in the absence of physical activity). Abdominal obesity is one of the major contributing factors in metabolic disease, heart diseases and also renal diseases [8].

It makes you age faster:

More sugar in your diet will ruin the collagens in your skin and lead to wrinkles and spots that can rob your age and make you look elder than your age. Probably, this is reason enough to make you limit your intake of sugar from your diet [9].

It leads to diabetes:

We kept the obvious for the last. Over time when there is too much of insulin in the blood, and your cells become insulin resistant, the pancreas loses its ability to generate more insulin to meet the demands of the body. This is when blood glucose levels go skyrocketing, and the obvious diagnosis is type II diabetes.