Sunday 30 October 2016

Italy rocked by magnitude 6.6 earthquake, the strongest in 36 years


A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.6 on Sunday rocked the same area of central and southern Italy hit by quake in August and a pair of aftershocks last week, sending already quake-damaged buildings crumbling after a week of temblors that have left thousands homeless. The earthquake was believed to be the strongest to strike the country since 1980. A 6.9-magnitude quake in southern Campania that year killed some 3,000 people and caused extensive damage. Some 20 people suffered injuries, most of them minor, investigators said. However, numerous buildings that had resisted the previous quakes collapsed. Crews were responding with helicopters as rockslides blocked many roads, the head of Italy's civil protection agency, Fabrizio Curcio, told reporters.

Thursday 27 October 2016

Man City fans caught in camera destroying facilities at Old Trafford after Man U's 1-0 win


A video and pictures have surfaced showing how angry Manchester city supporters destroyed the toilet facilities at Old Trafford following Man U's terrific1-0 win over Man City on Wednesday night.
Watch the video after the cut.

South African President Jacob Zuma caught sleeping during budget speech


Parliament's cameras caught South African President Jacob Zuma sleeping an hour and 14 minutes into Finance Minister Pravin Gorhan's mid-term budget speech on Wednesday, October 26th.
Watch the clip after the cut

Graphic pictures: Man shot dead outside US embassy in Kenya after stabbing guard


A man has been shot dead outside the US embassy in Kenya after allegedly stabbing a guard in a bid to enter the building. The male was reportedly attempting to get into the embassy in Nairobi this afternoon when he was blocked by the General Service Unit officer.According to Daily Nation Kenya,he grabbed the armed guard and pulled out a knife from his trousers, before stabbing him in the head and chest. He also allegedly tried to take the officer's weapon before being gunned down outside the entrance to the embassy's VISA section on UN Avenue.
More pictures after the cut

Wednesday 26 October 2016

Woman rents her husband out on Facebook for $35 a hour


A woman took to Facebook to rent out her husband with great success. Patricia Wilson of Australia, posted an ad on Facebook, offering to rent her husband out for $35 an hour. Wilson received praise from women around the country for her clever tactics in advertising her husband for sale on Facebook at the low price of only $35. She wrote that he is a certified builder and carpenter, who can fix anything. People actually contacted Wilson and offered to give her husband Ken, work around their homes. Wilson said that she and her husband recently moved from Sydney to Mackay, and her husband was having a hard time finding a job.

New face of Donald Trump’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star


Donald Trump’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star was destroyed by a vandal rendering the fixture completely unreadable, according to Deadline Hollywood. The vandal was dressed in a city construction worker, taking his sledgehammer to the five-point brass star at approximately 5:45 am. The man reportedly said he wanted to remove the souvenir so that it could be auctioned off, with the proceeds set to go toward helping the women who have come forward in recent weeks to accuse Trump of sexual assault.

Parents discover priest sexually abused 5-yr-old daughter after she drew pictures of attacks


A priest who allegedly sexually abused a five-year-old girl was caught when her parents found horrific drawings the youngster had created seemingly depicting the sex attacks . Father Joao da Silva, 54, is accused of launching the horrifying attacks on the girl - who was a student in a class he taught. The girl's parents found the shocking images after their daughter suddenly refused to attend any more of da Silva’s English classes. According to Daily Mirror, she was so distraught that they took her to a child psychologist who suspected sexual abuse and urged her parents to search her room for any signs.Hidden among her books they found six heartbreaking drawings done by their daughter detailing the alleged sexual abuse in horrific detail.

Monday 24 October 2016

Father sentenced to over 1,500 years in prison for raping his daughter


Depraved man Rene Lopez, 41, abused his own child over a four-year period and was sentenced to 1,503 years in prison. Lopez, from Fresno in California, USA, was sent down on Friday and was condemned by a jury on 186 counts of sexual assault in September. His charge sheet also included dozens of counts of rape of a minor and was handed what is believed to be the longest jail term in the Fresno court’s history. The Fresno Bee reported that Lopez’s daughter is believed to have first been sexually abused by a family friend but that, instead of protecting her, Lopez turned her into “a piece of property and used her to satisfy his sexual needs”.

How did he get here???


The police had to be alerted when stunned locals in the town of Murcia, south-eastern Spain, heard a voice coming from a tiny rubbish bin. It turned out that there was a man inside, a Romanian, who had climbed in, apparently mistakenly, thinking it contained old clothes he could take. According to reports, passers-by, who heard the man calling for help, initially ignored it, suspecting it was a candid camera stunt, but eventually somebody called the police, who turned up and confirmed that it wasn’t a stunt and that the man was indeed trapped in the bin.
When he explained that he was stuck, they tried to free him, but failed and in the end had to call in council staff to open the bin manually. This worked and the man was finally freed, without the need to call the local fire brigade. The Police believe he was probably with an accomplice who would have kept watch outside, but ran off when his friend got stuck.

Iraq's parliament bans the import, production and selling of alcohol


Iraq’s parliament has passed a law forbidding the import, production or selling of alcoholic beverages in a surprise move that angered many in the country’s Christian community who rely on the business. The law, passed late on Saturday night, imposes a fine of up to 25m Iraqi dinars (£17,000) for anyone violating the ban. But it’s unclear how strictly the law would be enforced, and it could be struck down by the supreme court. Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol, but it has always been available in Iraq’s larger cities, mainly from shops run by Christians. Those shops are currently closed because of the Shia holy month of Muharram.

EPL week 9 result


Sunday 23 October 2016

Helicopter carrying oil workers crashes in Russia, 19 people killed


Russia's aviation agency says 19 people have died after a helicopter carrying oil workers crashed. The Federal Air Transport Agency says in its statement Saturday that 16 of the 19 passengers on board and all three crew members died in Friday's crash in northern Russia. The Mi-8 helicopter was traveling from Vankor to Staryi Urengoi in the Yamalo-Nenets region when it crashed about 28 miles northeast of Staryi Urengoi. Rescuers found the helicopter lying on its side in the tundra. The agency said poor visibility and strong winds could have been factors. The Mi-8 has been a mainstay of Soviet and Russian aviation since the late 1960s and is widely used worldwide.

174 inmates escape after killing guard in Haiti prison break


A manhunt is underway after 174 inmates escaped from a prison in Haiti following a riot during which one guard was killed, authorities said. The prison break occurred at a facility in Arcahaie on Saturday, said Inspector Garry Derosiers, the national police spokesman. Of the more than 100 fugitives, a dozen have been captured, Derosiers said. The uprising was led by "heavily armed individuals," according to a statement from the Prime Minister's office. It's unclear how the prisoners broke out or who the armed individuals were.
More pictures after the cut

Friday 21 October 2016

Woman deliberately poured cleaning agent into office coffee machine causing colleagues to fall sick


Police in Sterling, Virginia arrested a woman who poured a cleaning agent into an office coffee machine causing several former co-workers to become ill. 32-year-old Mayda E. Rivera-Juarez was arrested today and faces Felony Assault charges. Investigators say the incident happened over the course of several weeks at her former place of employment in Sterling. She is being held at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center without bond.
Using office facilities now is scary!

 Source: Fox 5

ISIS executes hundreds of Mosul area residents


ISIS executed 284 men and boys as coalition forces closed in on Mosul, an Iraqi intelligence source told CNN. Those killed on Thursday and Friday had been rounded up near and in the city for use as human shields against attacks that are forcing ISIS out of the southern sections of Mosul, the source explained. ISIS used a bulldozer to dump the corpses in a mass grave at the scene of the executions -- Mosul's defunct College of Agriculture in the north of the city, the intelligence source said. The victims were all shot and some were children, said the source, who wanted anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media. CNN could not independently confirm the claim.

Married Zimbabwean man commits suicide after being dumped by girlfriend


A Zimbabwean police officer, identified as Constable Marapira, has hung himself after being dumped by his girlfriend. Marapira sent a WhatsApp message to his girlfriend Clarice Sagiya, on Wednesday night, directing her to where to find his body.  According to reports, the victim, who was stationed at Masvingo Rural Police Station in Zimbabwe; said he funded Sagiya’s education, noting that she is a final year trainee teacher at Morgenster Teacher’s College. It was revealed that this incident followed after Clarice’s decision to dump him on claims that she couldn’t be with a police officer anymore as he couldn’t afford her upkeep. The officer responded by killing himself a few metres off the Mvuma-Gweru Road on Wednesday night.

Maths teacher installs bike pedals under her students’ desks to help them concentrate in class


An imaginative teacher has come up with a novel way of stopping her students from fidgeting - by installing bike pedals under their desks.Bethany Lambeth, who teaches maths at Martin Middle School in Raleigh, North Carolina, noticed several of her students had trouble focusing during her lessons. So as a way of helping them channel their energy, she put the bike pedals in place so they wouldn't lose concentration. Ms Lambeth, 28, who has been a teacher for seven years, said: 'There's an initiative in our county where you can apply for a "Four C" grant - for collaboration, community, creative and critical thinking.
'I'd read an article a while ago about an elementary school that had used these desks, so I applied for a grant to see if I could get them too.

3 things you should never share on social media


The digitalization of information and the popularity of social media may put consumer privacy at risk more now than ever. Some social media users, teenagers especially, may be unaware that the information they share — from their location to their paycheck — could be used for identity theft and fraud. About 92% of teenagers post their real name, 82% list their date of birth and 71% show their city or town of residence on their social profiles, according to Pew Research Center. While oversharing has become a problem, consumers could stop it by being careful what they post on social media.
Here are three kinds of information to never share on social media.

1. Driver’s License Details
Some users may be tempted to post their first driver’s license on social media to boast about their accomplishment or laugh at a silly photo. However, a valid ID card, such as a driver’s license, will contain your date of birth, picture and other personal identifiable information that thieves could copy. Avoid sharing personal information that may lead to identity theft, including your date of birth and Social Security number.

Italian mum kills son after he caught her having an affair with his grandfather


Veronica Panarello throttled her son Loris Stival with electrical cables and abandoned his body in a remote gully in Santa Croce, Sicily. Panarello had tried to pretend her son had been abducted, telling police she had taken him to school and that he had disappeared by the time she came to collect him in the afternoon. Police began to suspect the boy’s mother, judge Andrea Reale was told, when CCTV footage at the school did not back up her story. She was found guilty of the boy’s murder and of concealing a body.
Veronica claims that murdering her son wasn’t all her idea. She blames the grandpa whose knob she was slobbin’. Let her tell it, Andrea Stival conspired to kill the boy after he stumbled upon them having sex one time. Stival is denying everything and plans to sue Veronica for slander.

Thursday 20 October 2016

Indonesia authorize ‘chemical castration’ for pedophiles

Indonesian President Joko Widodo

Indonesia could "wipe out" pedophilia with its new policy of chemical castration, President Joko Widodo has told the BBC. He said Indonesia respected human rights but there would be "no compromise" when it came to punishing such sexual crimes. Indonesia passed controversial laws earlier this month authorising chemical castration for pedophiles. The laws were however subject to fierce debate in parliament. The Indonesian Doctors Association says its members should not be involved as the procedure would violate medical ethics.
Chemical castration is the use of drugs to reduce sex drive and libido, without sterilisation or removing organs. President Widodo said "our constitution respects human rights, but when it comes to sexual crimes there is no compromise".
"We are strong and we will be very firm. We will hand out the maximum penalty for sexual crimes."
He added: "In my opinion… chemical castration, if we enforce it consistently, will reduce sex crimes and wipe them out over time."

Disturbing pictures: Alleged armed robber beaten and tied to a stick


A suspected armed robber who was caught in Benin, Edo State, Nigeria was stripped, beaten and tied to a stick before he was handed over to the police.
Justice served?

Saudi Arabian prince executed for murder


A Saudi Arabian prince has been executed for shooting dead a man during a brawl three years ago in the capital Riyadh, the interior ministry has said. Prince Turki bin Saud al-Kabir was put to death in the capital. No details were given as to how he was executed - most condemned people are beheaded.
The prince is the 134th person to be put to death this year, according to a list compiled by the AFP news agency. But it is rare for royal family members to be executed. The prince had pleaded guilty to shooting his compatriot, the interior ministry statement said.
Announcing the execution, the ministry said it would assure everyone the government was "keen to preserve security and achieve justice". The victim's family refused offers of "blood money" by which they would receive financial compensation in return for not demanding the death sentence.

Wednesday 19 October 2016

Muslim woman savagely lashed for sitting close to her boyfriend


A woman screamed out in pain as she was caned in public after breaking strict Islamic laws. She was one of 13 people to be punished in the Indonesian province of Aceh, with hundreds of people cheering. Each was given between nine and 25 strikes according to the severity of their crime. They were found guilty of inappropriate acts , including khalwat (affectionate contact by an unmarried couple) and ikhtilat (intimacy or mixing) in violation of Islamic bylaws, according to the Antara news agency.
More pictures after the cut

Conjoined twins abandoned by parents at birth celebrates 14th birthday in their hospital home


Twin sisters conjoined at the head who were abandoned at birth have celebrated their 14th birthdays. Veena and Vani have been raised by hospital staff since 2004 after their parents couldn't afford to look after them. They have spent the majority of their life in one room, which has only one window for them to look out of and see the outside world. Their parents, from Hyderabad, India, abandoned them after an initial operation to seperate the pair. According to Mailonline, however, they promised to take them back if the whole process by surgeons gets completed.

Meet the man who has defied gravity and raised his hand permanently to the sky for over 40 years


Extreme religious devotion can be a little shocking to outsiders. Self-inflicted whippings, painful ceremonial piercings, and even self-crucifixion are examples of rituals still practiced by religious devotees today. However, one act of extreme devotion may take the cake for the most bizarre. In 1970, Sadhu Amar Bharati, abandoned traditional lifestyle and decided to completely devote himself to his religious beliefs; in particular the Hindu deity Shiva. Everything was going fine until three years later when he decided his devotion wasn’t strong enough. He wanted to show his devotion in a unique way that would also disconnect him from worldly luxuries. Amar decided to raise his right hand to the sky and keep it there, indefinitely. He’s also told journalists that he intends the act to be a protest for world peace, from neighbourhood to neighbourhood and around the world.

Thai police forces woman to kneel before late king’s photo for alleged insult


A Thai woman accused of insulting the country’s late king was forced to kneel before his portrait outside a police station on the tourist island of Samui as several hundred people bayed for an apology. The woman’s arrest and public shaming on Sunday was the latest of several such incidents since King Bhumibol Adulyadej died last week after a reign of 70 years, plunging Thailand into intense mourning. According to AP,  two police officers led 43-year-old Umaporn Sarasat to a picture of Bhumibol in front of Bophut police station on Samui, where she knelt and prayed, both on the way into the station and the way out. The crowd, some of whom held aloft portraits of the revered monarch, jeered when she first appeared.

EPL week 8 result


Woman aborts her baby to save the life of her brother

Yang Li and her brother Yang Jun

A woman was forced to choose between her brother and unborn baby and she choose her brother. Yang Li, 24, from Hangzhou City, was 12 weeks into her pregnancy, when she decided to give up her child so that she could provide a bone marrow transplant for her brother, Yang Jun, 29. According to Daily Mail, Mr Jun suffers from lymphoma - he was diagnosed in September 2015. The doctors told the 29-year-old that his only chance of survival came in the form of a marrow transplant, to which followed the news that his sister, Ms Li, was a perfect match. Sadly for the 24-year-old, after discussing the potential donation with experts, she was warned that donating marrow would have a significant negative effect on her child.

Monday 17 October 2016

Watch as baby born with no hands learns to eat with her feet


A tear-jerking video of a baby eating with her feet has gone viral after her mum shared it on Facebook. Elmira Knutzen posted footage of her daughter Vasiliny scooping up a bowl of food using a fork wedged between her toes. The video posted this week has been viewed over 37 million times..
Watch the video after the cut

At least 25 inmates dead in Brazil prison clash


At least 25 inmates have been killed in clashes between two rival factions in an overcrowded prison in northern Brazil. Seven of the dead were beheaded and six others burned to death, a police official said. The incident in Boa Vista, the capital of Roraima state, happened during visiting hours. Some 100 visitors who were taken as hostages have been freed and the riot has ended, the reports added. The state government said it was waiting for a prisoner count to confirm the death toll.
The violence started when inmates broke into another section of the prison where members of a different faction were being held, Capt Falkner Ferreira was quoted as saying by G1 website. The prisoners were armed with knives and wooden sticks, a witness said. Reports say there are 1,400 inmates currently in the prison, which has a capacity of up to 740. Brazil has the world's fourth largest prison population, with some 600,000 inmates.

Saudi Arabian authorities starts crack down on foreign pilgrims overstaying Hajj visas


Saudi Arabia on Monday started a crackdown on foreign pilgrims overstaying their Hajj visas, local newspaper Okaz reported. Offenders will have to pay an equivalent of 13,329 US dollars in fine, face six months in jail and deportation, the paper said. Those who transport, recruit or shelter overstayed pilgrims will face up to 26,662 dollars in fine and six months in jail. The visa for pilgrims, or Hajj visa, cannot be renewed. Those with such visas cannot take up jobs or go outside Mecca.
Saudi authorities said round 1.8 million pilgrims took part in the last pilgrimage season. The majority of them were foreigners. Number of pilgrims has been drastically increased after the Mina massacre committed by Saudi authorities in 2015.

Outrage as Oscar Pistorius is secretly freed from jail to attend memorial service of his grandmother


Oscar Pistorius was secretly freed to join his family at a boutique hotel for a memorial service for his grandmother, prison bosses have confirmed. The 29-year-old killer was allowed out of his maximum security prison for four hours last Friday, under armed guard, for the celebration of Gerti Pistorius's life. The shamed Olympian was given 'compassionate leave' to attend the event because he is considered 'low risk' by management at Kgosi Mampuru jail, where he is serving six years for murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The sprinter was one of Mrs Pistorius' 26 grandchildren. As news of Pistorius' leave emerged, reaction appeared predominantly negative amid accusations that the athlete's 'white privilege' and status had led to him getting special treatment.
One woman, Zamachibi Mthabela, wrote online: 'It's so nice being a white male murderer in South Africa.'

Woman-gambler bets staggering $223,000 on Hillary Clinton beating Donald Trump


A mystery gambler appears to be pretty confident that Hillary Clinton will be the next US President - after placing a staggering £183,200 ($223,000) bet on her to win. The 44-year-old woman - who had never placed a bet before - staked the bet, on the Democratic candidate at a William Hill shop in Northumberland on Thursday, Chronicle Live reports. The following day she returned to the branch to place an additional £13,200 on Mrs Clinton to succeed Barack Obama at odds of 1/8. The woman now stands to receive a £205,916 payout - winnings of £22,716 - if the former Secretary of State defeats the controversial businessman Donald Trump on November 8.

Man tattoos his dog's face, claiming it would protect it from cancer


A dog pictured with five tattoos on different parts of its body has caused an outcry with claims of animal cruelty. The dog's apparent owner bizarrely claimed the ink designs would protect the dog from cancer - but later deleted the images after an online storm erupted, Daily Mirror reported. Photos showed the dog with tattoos on its mouth, ears and next to its eyes. It is believed tattoo artist Emerson Damasceno is the owner. He said he believed the tattoos would protect the dog from cancer. The owner's girlfriend also defended him with postings on their social network accounts.  The man later deleted his profile from Facebook and other social network accounts.
It is unclear if police are investigating.

Tyson Gay's 15-year-old daughter killed in a shooting in the US state of Kentucky


Police in Lexington said Trinity Gay was hit in the neck during an exchange of fire between two vehicles in a restaurant car park. She was taken to hospital where she later died, local media reported. Mr Gay, who is from Lexington, confirmed her death to local TV station Lex 18.
"She didn't make it. I'm so confused. She was just here last week for fall break. It's so crazy. I have no idea what happened," Lex18 quoted him as saying.
Mr Gay is the US 100m record holder and is the joint second-fastest 100m runner of all time, behind Usain Bolt. Mr Gay's daughter was also an athlete and competed for Lafayette High School, where she was studying.
Police have launched a murder investigation into the shooting, which happened at about 0400 local time (0800 GMT) outside the Cook Out restaurant in the city, Lexington police said in a statement. Witnesses reported an exchange of gunfire between two vehicles, a grey Dodge Charger and a dark-coloured sports car with tinted windows. Ms Gay - who is not thought to have been in any of the vehicles - was taken to University of Kentucky hospital in a private car.

Thursday 13 October 2016

Father found guilty of raping and killing his 8-year-old daughter after coming to his house for birthday gift

Hiawatha and Hiawayi Robinson

A father was jailed for 100 years after being convicted of raping and killing his daughter. The father, Hiawatha Robinson, maintained his innocence, but he was convicted by a jury despite the fact that there was no DNA evidence to link him to the rape. Robinson, who was convicted of sodomy and murder of his 8-year-old daughter Hiawayi, vowed to appeal the case. Prosecutors said that Robinson was the last one to see his daughter alive. The girl told her grandmother that she was going to visit her father, who promised to give her $150 for her birthday, and then she will be at her cousin's house.

Faces of men who kidnapped a police officer and raped her


Two men were arrested on a charge of rape after allegedly kidnapping a police officer and raping her, according to police in Kansas. Johnson County police said that they have arrested 24-year-old William David Luth of Blue Springs, and 21-year-old Brady Allen Newman-Caddell of Independence, after being accused of abducting the police officer and sodomizing her. Both suspects were charged with two counts of rape and one count each of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sodomy. They were booked into jail, and bail has been set at $1 million each. According to the police investigation, the 20-year-old police officer was abducted about 11:30 p.m. on Friday. She was in a parking lot and on her way to work at Central Booking.

21 Chibok girls released by Boko Haram



Twenty one of the more than 200 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Islamist Boko Haram insurgents in April 2014 has been released to the Nigerian government. The release followed negotiations between Nigeria's government and Boko Haram brokered by Red Cross and Swiss government. It is confirmed that 21 of the missing Chibok Girls have been released and are in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.

Thailand loses her king after 70 years on the throne


For the first morning in 70 years, Thailand woke up without its King. As dawn broke, the streets were awash with grief as the reality of the Thursday evening passing of 88-year-old King Bhumibol Adulyadej began to set in. The tide of pink and yellow, worn as a show of support for his majesty, has now made way for a sea of black. Friday has been declared a public holiday for government offices by the Thai cabinet, according to an announcement on state television. Some of the normally bustling streets of Bangkok are quiet, as stone-faced Thais set out on their morning commutes. On Bangkok's Skytrains, digital screens which normally show loud advertisements have been turned off.

Real Madrid to spend $440 million on stadium makeover


So just shy of 70 years since its inauguration, Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium is getting a €400 million ($441m) makeover after the club and Spanish city's council announced an agreement Tuesday to revamp the team's historic home. The project will see a retractable roof added and construction is expected to be completed by 2020.
"It will be a dramatic transformation," Real president Florentino Perez said, sat alongside Madrid mayor Manuela Carmena. "We will have the best stadium and we are doing it for Real Madrid, our fans and this city.
"This stadium is one of the emblematic icons of our city and we want to make it one of the best stadiums in the world and the undisputed symbol of the strength of our capital.
"It is a happy day for everyone because as a result of the consensus and this agreement, we will see a dramatic transformation of the Santiago Bernabeu."

Wednesday 12 October 2016

Mother of stillborn baby donates more than 2,000 ounces (60,000ml) of breast milk to other mothers


Wendy Cruz-Chan of Brooklyn, New York, who works as a lactation consultant in her company called Wendy’s Doula Services, lost her little boy Killian, three months ago. She decided to begin her “lactation journey” by donating 2,038 ounces of her breast milk to mothers who were unable to breastfeed their babies. Cruz-Chan posted photos of herself using the breast pumps to Instagram. She also added photos of the six children she helped with her breast milk.

Tuesday 11 October 2016

Islamic State confirms death of propaganda chief


Islamic State on Monday confirmed the death of its propaganda chief, whom the Pentagon said was killed in a U.S.-led air strike in Syria's Raqqa province last month. A statement posted online by the militant group paid tribute to Wa'il Adil Hasan Salman al-Fayad, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Furqan. The statement just referred to him by his alias. The Pentagon said last month that a U.S.-led coalition air strike on Sept. 7 had killed al-Fayad. It said he was minister of information, overseeing Islamic State's propaganda, and a prominent member of its Senior Shura Council, or leadership group. IS's statement referred to al-Fayad as head of its media arm. The air strike took place near Raqqa, IS's de facto capital in northern Syria, and targeted al-Fayad while he was on a motorcycle outside his house, the Pentagon said.

Picture of the day


A street vendor in Zimbabwe turns on the style to win customers. In his three-piece suit, matching hat and bow tie, Farai Mushayademo could easily pass for a celebrity musician — if only his job didn't involve dodging cars at a busy intersection in Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, selling bottled water and potato chips to passing motorists.
Another picture after the cut

Norwegian prime minister caught playing 'Pokemon Go' during debate in parliament


Prime Minister Erna Solberg was captured by a photographer for newspaper Klassekampen playing the popular augmented reality game on her smartphone Tuesday during a debate in the country's parliament, known as the Storting. The prime minister told TV2 news she didn't think Grande would mind, seeing as how she was caught on video playing Pokemon Go during a parliamentary Storting committee hearing in August.
"I think that Trine will like that I opened the game while she was at the pulpit," Solberg said.
Grande confirmed as much with an aisle-crossing tweet in support of the prime minister's game-playing habits.
"She heard what I said, we ladies can do two things at the same time you know," she tweeted with a winking emoji.
Grande defended her own game-playing in August, saying: "Some of us have heads that listen better when we can do something brain-dead on the side."

MTN pushed to appoint regulatory head after record fine in Nigeria


MTN Group Ltd. Has appointed Felleng Sekha to the newly created position of head of regulatory affairs, part of a management shakeup at the wireless carrier following a record $1 billion fine in Nigeria, according to three people familiar with the matter. Sekha previously worked for MTN’s Nigeria unit for almost nine years ending in 2007, according to her LinkedIn page. The account states her present position as managing partner at government relations specialists IQS Strategic Public Affairs. Sekha declined to comment when contacted by phone on Monday.

Monday 10 October 2016

Teen with his head hanging at a 180-degree angle gets life-changing surgery in India


A schoolboy who lived with his head hanging to one side is finally able to see the world 'straight' after life-changing surgery. Mahendra Ahirwar, 13, has a rare condition that made his neck muscles so weak his head hung at a 180-degree angle. His crocked neck meant Mahendra was restricted to just sitting as he was unable to stand or walk and needed help to eat and go to the toilet.  Mahendra, from Madhya Pradesh, central India, was born with a normal neck but as he grew older his bones became weak and his neck began to bend. Life was a struggle. Mahendra's parents even admit they would rather their son die than continue to suffer. Before the operation, his mum Sumitra, 36, said: 'I can't see Mahendra suffer anymore. Watching his life is devastating. He cannot do anything by himself.

Iranian child bride faces execution for killing abusive husband


An Iranian child bride could be hanged within weeks after she was sentenced to death for allegedly murdering her abusive husband. Zeinab Sokian was sentenced to death for the 2012 murder of her husband, when she was just 17.  However, Zeinab married another prisoner while in jail and fell pregnant, and as Iranian law prevents pregnant women from being executed her death sentence was delayed. However, on September 30 she gave birth to a stillborn child in Euromieh central prison in northern Iran, meaning she could now be put to death within weeks. Zeinab, who hails from a small village in northern Iran, was just 15 when she married her first husband.

Samsung stops production of Note 7 phone following reports of fires in replacement devices


Samsung Electronics has temporarily suspended production of its Galaxy Note 7 smartphones following reports of fires in replacement devices, according to South Korean media. Monday's move is a further setback for the technology giant in the midst of its worst ever phone recall crisis.
"[Samsung] still hasn’t confirmed that it has definitely halted production of the Galaxy Note 7 but it has released a statement for the first time today, Monday, in the last hour or so, saying that it is ‘temporarily adjusting the Galaxy Note 7 schedule to take further steps to ensure quality and safety matters’," Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett said, reporting from Seoul.

2Pac’s prison Bible on sale for $54,000


The bible late rapper Tupac Shakur read while he was serving time at a maximum security prison has been put on auction for $54,000. Auction house Moments in Time has The Life Recovery Bible, which Shakur read while spending nine months at New York’s Clinton Correctional Facility on sexual assault charges in 1995. Moments in Time obtained the book from a member of 2Pac’s family. The bible, which is autographed along with his inmate number, is on the auction block for $54,000. If the bible sells, the estate of Tupac Shakur will get the majority of the profits.
Moments in Time have sold plenty of 2Pac collectibles. Last month, an old handwritten lyric sheet of the late rapper’s 2002 song “Catchin’ Feelings” was up for sale. Even 2Pac’s 1996 Hummer H1 vehicle is on the auction block as well.


Ethiopia: Government declares state of emergency as deadly protests continue


The Ethiopian government has declared a state of emergency following a week of anti-government violence that resulted in deaths and property damage across the country, especially in the restive Oromia region. Rights groups say that since last year more than 500 people have been killed in protests in the Oromia region surrounding the capital Addis Ababa. Anger about a development scheme for the capital turned into broader anti-government demonstrations over politics and human rights abuses as the government promotes Ethiopia as one of Africa’s top-performing economies. The government says the death toll is inflated.