China's fattest man loses 14 stone in just two years

He had a mountain to climb, but China's fattest man has managed to lose 14 stone. Just two years ago, Liang Yong tipped the scales at a whopping 35 stone. His extreme obesity led to serious ill-health and his eventual hospitalisation.

At ease: Yong, from Dazu in Chongqing province, was born 'heavy', according to his father

Then 31, Yong was so heavy that doctors were forced to transport him around the hospital on the back of a trailer.But he now weighs 'just' 21 stone thanks to a healthy diet and regular exercise.

On the move: Yong was so heavy that doctors were forced to transport him around on the back of a trailer

Getting in shape: Yong now weighs 'just' 21 stone thanks to a healthy diet and regular exercise

Diet: Liang Yong shows off his new figure to the cameras after losing 14 stone in two years

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Mursi sworn in as Egyptian president

Mohammed Mursi has been sworn in as Egypt's first civilian, democratically elected president at a historic ceremony in Cairo.

Hours after the ceremony, he was saluted by Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, leader of the military council which is handing over power.

Mr Mursi has promised to restore the parliament dissolved by the military.

In a speech at Cairo University, the Muslim Brotherhood politician said the army must respect the people's will.

He will have to sort out a very difficult relationship with an entrenched military, regional analyst Magdi Abdelhadi says.

The regime of former President Hosni Mubarak is still largely intact and many in it will not work with the new president, he adds.

Overthrown in February last year after mass pro-democracy demonstrations, Mubarak was sentenced to life imprisonment at the beginning of this month for failing to prevent the killing of protesters by the security forces.

Egypt, the biggest Arab nation, is a key US ally in the region, as well as one of the few states in the Arab world to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.

Parliament was dissolved by Field Marshal Tantawi's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf), which assumed legislative powers under a controversial "interim constitutional declaration".

But on Saturday Scaf handed over power to Mr Mursi after a military parade at the Hykestep military base on the outskirts of Cairo.

"We have fulfilled our promise which we made before God and the people," Field Marshal Tantawi said at the hand-over ceremony.

"We now have an elected president, who assumed Egypt's rule through a free and direct vote reflecting the will of Egyptians."

The field marshal, who saluted Mr Mursi and shook hands with him several times, decorated the new president with the Shield of the Armed Forces, the country's highest honour.

In his speech earlier at Cairo University, Mr Mursi said: "The army is now returning to its original role, protecting the nation and its borders."

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RIM(Blackberry) may be looking to Microsoft for a lifeline

There’s a new battle of Waterloo going on, and this time it’s not in Belgium. Canada’s long-time technology standard bearer, RIM, is fighting for survival amidst dismal sales and waning consumer interest. 

With the release of BlackBerry 10 and the accompanying new hardware now pushed back to early 2013 — a full year later than it was originally promised — things don’t look good.

With an uneasy board feeling the ever-increasing heat (surely at Robot Devil levels now) from investors, RIM is now feeling the pressure to consider all possible options to right the ship. On that list: getting into bed with Microsoft.

The relationship could take a number of forms, of course. There’s no doubt that Microsoft would love to acquire a good chunk of RIM’s patent portfolio. Doing so would further protect Windows Phone and give Microsoft additional ammunition in its ongoing licensing “skirmishes” with Android OEMs. Another option would be a Nokia-style collaboration. RIM’s board is reportedly not too keen on giving up the amount of control they’d be required to if Microsoft were to buy a stake in the company and kick in for R&D and marketing expenses.

And don’t forget about Windows Phone 8. RIM could stop developing their own mobile OS, thereby allowing more time and effort to be devoted to higher-margin enterprise products and services.

Would that really be a good idea, though? With an uncertain future and no new OS for at least six months, it’s hard to imagine that competing against HTC and Samsung with Windows Phone 8 would really be any harder than competing with them using an OS that most of the western world has already lost interest in.

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CPC sanctions Shoprite for displaying expired products

The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has sanctioned Shoprite, a South African major departmental store in Nigeria, for displaying expired products in some of its outlets in Lagos. It also commended Nigerian consumers for getting more proactive and cautious in their purchases.

CPC, in the course of the surveillance and enforcement operation, said that it discovered that the departmental store displayed expired products and in-house packaged edible products without expiry dates, pointing out that the affected range of products included pastries, chicken, cheese, pepper, vegetables, and sea foods.

The agency has subsequently removed all the affected products, stating that, given the seriousness of the offence and the dangers it posed to undiscerning consumers, punitive actions were being taken against the departmental store, even though its management expressed deep regrets over the development, claiming it was a mistake.

To forestall a similar occurrence in other major retail shops, CPC has invited the management of major departmental shops from across the country to a meeting with a view to making its position and commitment on consumer protection known to them and to encourage them to self-regulate.

Meanwhile, Ify Umenyi, Director General of the Council, has commended Nigerian consumers for their increased visible rejection of actions and situations capable of undermining their consumer rights, saying recent interactions in the social media on the action of the departmental store and that of a mobile network provider, which wiped away consumers’ credits in phones were good examples that must be maintained.

Umenyi enjoined consumers to realise that the prime position of being the king in the market-place would only be realistic when at all times they speak out whenever their rights are being trampled upon, assuring that CPC would always be a reliable platform to seek redress.

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Reps give Dana ultimatum on payment of compensation

The management of Dana Airline has been given seven days to pay part of the compensation fee to families of the Dana air crash victims. The resolution which was reached on Thursday was raised by Yakub Abiodun under matters of National importance.

The airline was asked to pay 30% of the amount of the compensation, as stipulated by the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air, simply known as the Montreal Convention.

The lawmakers also directed all other airlines who had plane crashes in the past to comply with the laws by paying the 30 per cent of the required compensation, or in full where investigations had been concluded. Lawmakers agreed that if the house of assembly did not act in compelling the airline it would amount to irresponsibility on their part.

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Zamfara loses N62bn to illegal mining every year

Zamfara loses over N62 billion annually to illegal mining in the two local government areas of Anka and Bukkuyum, says the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.

Prof. Abdulsalam Nasidi, the Project Director of Centre,disclosed this on Friday in Gusau while presenting a paper titled “Lead Poisoning: Zamfara Experience''.

The lecture was organised to mark the commencement of the Medical Week of the state chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA).

He explained that the death of underage children was traced to lead poisoning resulting from illegal mining activities.

According to him, this was the discovery of a team of experts from the centre, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Zamfara state Ministry of Health and `Medecins Sans Frontieres', an international NGO.

He said that an estimated 10 tonnes of gold was dug annually, while women, many of whom were nursing mothers, were seen carrying their babies to the mining sites and exposing themselves and the children to lead poisoning, resulting to early deaths.

Between 2010 to 2011, more than 400 children under five years lost their lives as a result of lead poisoning, he said.

He said that toward the end of last year, illegal mining activities resumed in the affected areas with many residents using fine lead contaminated powder as cosmetic.

He further said that the team of experts also realised that people in the affected areas, drank lead contaminated water from wells and streams.

“Only borehole water is seen as safe and there were no boreholes sunk.''

The director said that if the state and Federal Governments could harness and invest in the gold deposits in the area, Zamfara would be the richest state in the federation.

He, therefore, advised the state government to invest in controlled mining, agriculture and education.

The acting governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala, who attended the event, expressed the government’s preparedness to partner with organisations toward finding lasting solution to the lead-induced infections in the state.

NAN also reports that the state’s annual budget usually falls between N65 billion and N68 billion, which is a little above what is generated by the illegal miner’s untaxed benefits

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Oil bunkering leader arrested

Security operatives, on Friday, arrested  General Cairo, the leader of a network of crude oil thieves in the Niger Delta responsible for several pipeline bombings against oil majors including Shell and ENI. 

Nigeria is the world's eighth biggest exporter of crude oil but thieves siphon off around a fifth of its output by drilling into pipelines, blasting them open or diverting crude at loading stations, sometimes with the connivance of security forces.

The operations, called bunkering, cost Nigeria's government nearly a fifth of its revenue each year, Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has said. It is also a major cause of oil spills that often wreck the delta's wetlands environment.

The Nigerian military paraded Seiyifa Gbereke, or General Cairo as he was nicknamed, in front of the media, where he confessed to the crimes. There was no independent confirmation of his story told in captivity.

"He led a gang of eight to destroy Agip pipelines and Shell ones around various communities," in the Niger Delta, security forces spokesman for Yenagoa state Lieutenant Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu told journalists.

The delta is a region of swamps and labyrinthine creeks at the heart of Africa's biggest oil and gas industry that has for decades been plagued by insecurity.

An amnesty in 2009 sharply reduced militancy but criminal gangs tapping oil pipelines is a growing problem.

Royal Dutch Shell estimates that bunkering siphons at least 150,000 barrels of oil per day from Nigeria's production.

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Food, fuel price falls ease Kenya inflation

Falling food and fuel prices helped bring down Kenya's year-on-year inflation rate more than expected in June, easing pressure on the central bank to keep its monetary policy tight.Kenyan consumer prices fell 0.77 percent in June, pushing the year-on-year rate to 10.05 percent from 12.22 percent in May, its lowest level since March 2011, data showed.

The consensus forecast in a Reuters survey of 11 analysts was for the rate in east Africa's largest economy to slow to 11.50 percent. "Whilst the CBS (Central Bank of Kenya) was reluctant to cut rates earlier - they focused on the strength of credit demand in April, and the turn in core inflation - we feel they should be somewhat more reassured by this outcome," said Razia Khan, head of Africa research at Standard Chartered bank.

"Inflation is more definitively on a downtrend, and with the gap between the central bank rate (18 percent) and inflation (10 percent and falling), we think there is an even stronger case to start the easing cycle now." The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics said food and non-alcoholic prices fell 1.91 percent in June, while housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel costs slipped 0.20 percent.

On a year-on-year basis, the food and non-alcoholic beverages index, which makes up 36.04 percent of the total basket of goods and services used to measure inflation, rose 10.53 percent compared with a rise of 14.58 percent in May.

In June last year, the price of food and non-alcoholic drinks rose 22.52 percent year-on-year. "While this is the most volatile category in the CPI, we now have stronger indications that food prices are finally coming down after the sharp increases over the past year," said Mark Bohlund, senior economist for sub-Saharan Africa at IHS Global Insight.

"However, price growth in non-food prices was also slightly lower than our forecast for a 0.4 percent month-on-month expansion." However, some economic analysts said the fall in inflation was still insufficient to push the Monetary Policy Committee to cut rates at the next meeting on July 10. "While these data are encouraging, on their own they are unlikely to be sufficient to tilt the MPC into a cut at the next meeting," Leon Myburgh, sub-Saharan Africa strategist at Citibank.

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7 feared dead as flood sweeps Lagos

Residents of Lagos State were, yesterday, enveloped by flood following heavy downpour that started Wednesday night. A number of houses and roads were submerged by the flood caused by the rain that lasted several hours. 

 Sections of Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway were cut off on both sides by the flood, leading to a gridlock. Many road users were forced to return home or seek alternative routes, while others remained at the spot, waiting for the flood to abate. 

 A portion of Murtala Muhammed International Airport Road by Mobil Filling Station was submerged, as were some areas in Mafoluku, Oshodi. Many residents could not make it to their offices and business places yesterday as most areas in the state were heavily flooded. 

 Vanguard learnt that in some areas, many property were swept away and some major roads in the state were blocked. Some of the worst hit areas include: Popo Igunnu, Jimoh and Ago-Hausa Streets, all in Okokomaiko, Iba Local Council Development Area; Jakande in Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area; Sango, Igi avenue, GRA Ikeja, Gbolahan Bankole Street in Igando LCDA, Aboru; Ipaja-Ayobo, Shogunle, Apapa, among others.

 Aiyepe Street in Itire, Canal Pepple Road, Shomolu, Agbado-Ijaiye, Ikola, Agbado-Okeodo LCDA, Akintan, Cele, Bakery Bus Stop, all in Ejigbo LCDA; Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation , NNPC at Ejigbo LCDA had its fence destroyed during the downpour.

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Faroukgate: Police uncover fresh $10m bribe

Investigations by Police detectives into the $620,000 oil subsidy bribe money collected by Mr Farouk Lawan from oil magnate, Mr. Femi Otedola, have unearthed a wider financial scandal. It was gathered that oil marketers who were indicted in the report recently submitted to the government by the Aigboje Aig-Imoukuede-led panel that probed the fuel subsidy claims allegedly paid about $10 million as bribe to Lawan committee. Scam: Hon. Farouk Lawal seating before House Committee on Ethics and Privileges over $620 bribe Scam at National Assembly Abuja. 

Photo by Gbemiga Olamikan. Vanguard gathered that while the Aig-Imoukuede-led panel uncovered fraudulent overpayments to many of the oil marketers to the tune of N422 billion, all the oil marketers involved and indicted were invited and interrogated by the Lawan committee but were given a clean bill of health.

 It has now emerged that the oil marketers gave bribes in foreign currency to the tune of about $10 million and that over 80 per cent of the bribes given were done abroad as the oil marketers, acting in partnership, sponsored some of the leaders of the House subsidy probe panel to the UK and the US, lodged them in choice hotels and gave them the bribes which influenced their being cleared of any fraudulent practice by the committee.

 Sources told Vanguard yesterday that the decision of the oil marketers to give out such huge bribes to the House committee was to enable them use the clean bill of health report card, given by the House, to counter the report that would be presented by the Finance Committee panel.

 According to sources, police detectives were shocked to find out that the amount of bribe money collected by the Lawan subsidy probe panel to over N15 billion while many House members who hitherto pretended to know nothing of the $620, 000 collected by Farouk, and even lambasted him over the $3 million scam, are neck deep in the $10 million scam. The marketers were said to have settled for the Farouk committee because the Aig-Imoukuede panel was a no go area and bluntly told them they were not interested in taking bribes to influence their finding.

 When Vanguard sought to know what the Police would do concerning the new discovery about the $10 million bribe money most of which took place abroad, it was told that the Police has its ways and that those involved would be found out. Reps summon Otedola to appear on July 3 Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges has summoned Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd, Mr. Femi Otedola, to appear before it on July 3. 

 This was disclosed, yesterday, by the chairman of the committee, Gambo Musa, while briefing newsmen on the proceedings of the committee which interrogated Farouk Lawan over Otedola’s allegation that Lawan collected $620,000 as part of the $3 million bribe he had demanded. Musa said this had become necessary to enable Otedola respond to some of the revelations made by Lawan when he appeared before the committee. 

 Lawan who arrived the House Meeting room 4.59, venue of the hearing, at exactly 1.05pm looked relaxed in his white caftan with a white hat to match. However, shortly after saying the prayers and reading his opening speech, Musa ordered journalists out of the venue of the hearing.

 In his opening remarks, Musa recalled how the House reconvened early last January, to address the issue of the Federal Government’s withdrawal of fuel subsidy which had sparked off nation-wide protests. He also recalled how the House had set up the Adhoc Committee led by Lawan to probe the fuel subsidy regime and its disbursement adding that the Committee’s report had attracted applause nation-wide after it was submitted.

 He further recalled how the activities of the Committee had taken a new twist after Otedola had alleged he gave Lawan $620,000 as bribe for the purpose of delisting Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd. from companies indicted for diverting foreign exchange allocated to them by the CBN for the purpose of importing petroleum products. 

 Musa further stated that it was the responsibility of the Committee to unravel what actually transpired during its investigations. He had explained that Lawan had to be interrogated in camera to avoid jeopardizing the Committee’s investigations.

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Chris Brown’s Lovers Team Up — Tell Rihanna To Take Him Back

Chris Brown has been allegedly linked to more than one woman over the past few weeks, particularly when it comes to his reported relations with Karrueche Tran and Rihanna! Now, his ex Draya Michele has reportedly been added to the mix, but it’s not in the way you may have expected! 

 MediaTakeOut recently reported that Chris’ ex Draya has been hanging out with Chris’ current love Karrueche! Draya tweeted a photo on Wednesday June 27 — one of her and Karrueche — with the caption, “Me and @karrueche!!!” One day prior on June 26, Draya and Karrueche both tweeted that they were on a date! 

Could it have been with each other — or are they simply hanging out and plotting against Rihanna now that the pop princess is allegedly looking to get back together with Chris? An older tweet from January is more telling as Draya tweeted a direct note to Rihanna saying, “@rihanna just do it girl, I won’t judge… I promise #jump.” 

This tweet was orchestrated after Chris and Rihanna tweeted their love for one another back in December! The tweet appears to advise Rihanna to go ahead and get back together with Chris! Draya and Karrueche’s connection and intentions are still undetermined, but it seems a bit awkward that two of Chris’ women are getting along so well together!

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The Type Of Man Most Women Won't Date

It's not unusual for people looking for a relationship to keep a mental checklist of qualities they absolutely require in a a partner. But a recent survey by the dating service "It's Just Lunch" found that there's one box in particular that straight women want checked: they want the men they date to have jobs.

 Of the 925 single women surveyed, 75 percent said they'd have a problem with dating someone without a job. Only 4 percent of respondents asked whether they would go out with an unemployed man answered "of course." "Not having a job will definitely make it harder for men to date someone they don't already know," Irene LaCota, a spokesperson for It's Just Lunch, said in a press release.

 "This is the rare area, compared to other topics we've done surveys on, where women's old-fashioned beliefs about s*x roles seem to apply." Or is it? The women interviewed for the press release didn't mention anything about conforming to traditional gender roles when asked to explain the results. Instead, they said they were concerned that they might end up having to support an unemployed man. They also said they didn't want their own activities to be limited by someone else's job status and potential financial limitations.

 One women quoted in the press release reflected that a job was a sign that a man was involved in something, which could indicate a desire for a partner who is active and purposeful, rather than one who would take on the traditional role of the sole breadwinner. Jezebel went a step further, arguing that the survey numbers could be misleading.

 42 percent of the women of counted in that 75 percent camp saying no to unemployed men actually said they might go out on a date with a guy who doesn't have a job: they just probably wouldn't want to date him long-term unless he had some have some sort of plan to secure one eventually. Sounds reasonable enough, argued Cassie Murdoch of Jezebel:

 I'm not sure it's so much about the traditional belief that men should be the financial providers so much as it is about believing that a man who doesn't have job and doesn't have a solid plan to get one probably isn't as desirable as a mate because he lacks ambition or intelligence or some other mysterious quality that we perceive as being necessary in our boyfriends.

 After all, a big percentage of us don't care so much about whether he has a job right this second...it's more about whether he's the type of guy who's proactive enough to find himself a new job and be able to support himself in the long run. 

Still, the new survey joins an existing body of research indicating that women do want a man with some financial resources. One oft-cited study out of the U.K. in 2011 found that women today care more about a man's income and level of education than they did in the 1940s. 

Another study published last year found that German women increasingly look for men with salaries similar to their own. The reason, again, wasn't that the women wanted a man to take care of them. Instead participants reported that they wanted a mate with equal earning power to avoid the conflict they foresaw arising if their male partners felt insecure about them earning

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Can You Allow Your Spouse Participate In BBA Stargame Because Of $200,000?

People must be high on cheap drugs to allow their spouse go for this show. How can married people expose their n*kedness to the general public all in the name of money? Illicit Affairs and public s*x are all the vices these housemates get their hands full on.

 My spouse would never partake in such a shameful act Can you allow your spouse go for the show because of the 200,000 US Dollars

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Man Forcefully Kisses Mother-In-Law, Attempts To Lick Her......

In an incident that left the whole suburb shell shocked, a Bulawayo man did what one should never even fantacise or think of. Tendai Shoko (28) of Gwabalanda in Bulawayo allegedly attempted to fondle his mother-in-law, Hilda Nyoni (46), whom to him was too beautiful to ignore, so it seems. 

Reports say Shoko PROPOSED LOVE TO HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW sometime this year and was turned down. Shoko could not take NO as an answer and allegedly went on pester her for love. It alleged that last weekend, Shoko went to his mother-in-law’s place of residence in Luveve, in a bid to ‘knock sense’ into her mind, but was turned town as usual.

 Having realised that ‘asking nicely’ was not going bear intended fruits, the son-in-law decided to forcefully grab what he has been longing for. Shoko jumped on top of her mother-in-law before trying to kiss her, it is alleged. 

Without wasting much of the ‘precious moment’, Shoko allegedly fondled the woman’s br**sts and attempted TO LICK HER PR*V*TE, it is reported. The woman eventually managed to set herself free from the man who is almost half her age.

 After notifying her neighbours, she reported the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of her lustful son-in-law. Shoko was not asked plead when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Richard Ramaboea. He will be back in court on 2 July facing aggravated indecent assault charges.

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WICKED WORLD! Yoruba Woman Scalds Step Son With Hot Water(PHOTOS)

The increasing rate of home abuse, wife battery, especially child molestation, maltreating, and abuse now is very alarming and calls for serious and quick intervention by all. I got this story from a friend and though it’s worth sharing.

 Ola in a critical condition as I write is under a serious intensive care in a hospital around Igando area of Lagos. His step-mum who works with the Lagos Internal Revenue Service took laws into and hands and punished him for beating her little daughter by pouring hot water on him while asleep.

 “The argument that led to the sad incident started when my step-mum saw me beat my sister” recalls Ola, she got very angry and wanted to harm me back in anger, she reached for and did all she could physically, I tried to defend myself but she overpowered me. 

She got more furious after my father and some neighbors tried to stop her, and she started scattering the house and even broke bottles. My uncle who also lives around was able to drag her away from the house, and she slept over at his’ that night. 

I was still sleeping on my bed the next morning, when I she walked into my room and bathed me with hot water; I staggered to the living room and saw my father and uncle. 

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I’m having an affair with my Dad’s Sister- [True Life story]

I’m in the middle of an amazing affair with my Aunt. It was just about sex at the start but now it feels like I’m falling in love. I’m 26 and my dad’s sister is 45. She started it and NOT me. She gave me a kiss at a Christmas Party Last year and after She dragged me off to a dark places for more.

 No-one noticed anything; It was only a squeeze but it made me feel brilliant inside. She turned up at my residence the next day and that’s when we started our crazy affair. Her marriage was short of excitement, she said.

 She’d been so bored for so long looking for partner, the way she felt now was, “Anything goes" which I think she find me suitable for the vacancy. It was scary, tempting and surprised to see if she meant what she said. I told myself I was helping her out plus getting some s*x in as well. 

 We tried crazy things in the bedroom that I’d never thought of that before. Maybe she thought it was her last chance to try out some s*xy ideas before old age set in on her. Due to my busy schedule we split up for a couple of months, I see this as an opportunity to cool down so that no one will notice.

 I wasn’t sure if I wanted to see her again, but she appeared on this day and she said that she missed me like mad. She is the most s*xually attractive woman I have ever been with, despite her age she is still outstanding.

 I see this as an abomination and I want out. But she disagreed, Aunt want the relationship to continue 24/7; I think she has fall completely. But I can only guarantee part time basis cos I want to get married soon. What should I do- Mr. J. J.

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Meet 21 Year Old Chibundu Onuzo, The UK’s No.1 Best Black Student Of 2012

Nigeria may be a country in crisis right now, but her citizens are making her proud--especially those in the Diaspora. 

Two days back we celebrated the achievement of 22 year old Emmanuel Ohuabunwa, news just filtered in that 21 year old Chibundu Onuzo has just been named UK’s Number 1 best black student. The award was given by Rare Rising Stars. 

With this award, she is the first woman to top the list. The 21 year old who got her first book deal at age 1 9, while still an undergraduate student at King’s College London, (she signed a two novel deal with U.K. publishing heavy weight, Faber & Faber), was also profiled by CNN when Nigeria marked her 50th independence anniversary. 

 Her latest book “The Spider King’s Daughter has already started garnering critical acclaim. It has been nominated for the £10,000 more and watch a brief video of her after the jump Desmond Elliott Prize for debut novelists alongside a Booker prize-nominated Oxford professor.

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He Was Abandoned After Machine Spoilt His Hand

When Ifeanyi Okorocha, a machine operator with Therapeutic Laboratories Nigeria Limited, set out for work on March 1, 2012, he was full of life and spirit. But his joy was cut short in the afternoon of the fateful day when the company’s industrial machine chopped off his fingers and damaged other parts of his arm.

 The accident led to his journey to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos. Okorocha, who said the accident occurred about 1.45pm while mixing water with powder, accused the company of abandoning him when he needed assistance most.

 The machine operator said after two weeks at the hospital, his company, located at 372, Ikorodu Road, Maryland, Lagos, asked the doctor to discharge him. But it was learnt that the doctor disagreed and insisted that Okorocha needed corrective surgery, warning that any hasty attempt to discharge him would worsen his condition.

 He also said since the incident, the company had stopped his salary, adding that this had compounded his problem. Okorocha, who spoke with PUNCH Metro in a voice laden with anguish said, “On March 1, 2012, about 1.45pm when I was adding water to the powder, my gloves became wet and slippery. 

After the process, I wanted to open the mixer from the bottom with my right hand when my left hand slipped and fell into the running machine. “None of my colleagues could come and help me while I was shouting for help because they were scared. So, I had to switch off the machine myself and pulled out my hand at the same time. After pulling out my hand, I noticed two of my fingers had been cut off and I also broke my arm.

 “My supervisor rushed me to the company’s private hospital at Ikeja. From there, I was taken to Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi. But after two weeks at the hospital, the company said I should be discharged. “However, the doctor refused. The company stopped paying for my medical bills before the hospital went on strike. 

After the strike, I went back to the hospital, but I was asked to pay before I could be attended to.” But the Administration Manager, Therapeutic Laboratories, Mr. Lawal Ebenezer, said Okorocha was telling lies. Ebenezer said he was not in a position to say whether the company had stopped his salary or not, nevertheless, he said Okorocha was ungrateful to say he had been abandoned by the company. 

 The Admin Manager said, “He cannot say that before me. When the hospital was on strike, the company said I should arrange for a private hospital for him. I was supposed to go and pay some money only to be told he had left the hospital. When I called his line, it indicated it was switched off.

 “For him (Okorocha) to use the word ‘abandonment’ is a wrong expression. We did not abandon him. As for his salary, I can’t talk about that. But for the treatment, I can say he did not say the truth.” Counsel for the family of Okorocha, Mr. Silas Udoh, in a letter addressed to the company’s Managing Director, alleged that the accident occurred as a result of the firm’s negligence. 

 He, therefore, demanded N25m as compensation for Okorocha, failing which his client would take a legal action. The letter reads in part, “We are informed that Mr. Ifeanyi Okorocha had his two major fingers cut off by your industrial machine and as well damaged other parts of his arm and body due to your company’s negligence.

 “Aside from the above, we are also informed that although you took Okorocha to Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi and was admitted there since March 1, 2012, no efforts were made by your company to inform his family up till now, thereby subjecting the family to psychological and mental torture of tracing their son to the said hospital. “Based on the above mentioned facts, we have the instruction of our client to demand from your company the sum of N25m as compensation for the damage occasioned by your company.”

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Gay Lecturer Suspended After Threatening Male Student On Grades

Dr Gambo Abdul, a senior lecturer in the Department of Public administration at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, has been arrested for allegedly harassing a male student Abubakar Abdulkareem into being his gay partner. 

 The student had severally rebuffed the advances of the lecturer who wanted him to be his gay partner but became agitated when the lecturer threatened failure if he refused to succumb. It was gathered that following the threat from the lecturer who is from Minna, Abubakar reported the case to his parents.

 Consequently, the family of the student decided to investigate further and found out that the claim of their ward was true. The student was instructed to play along last weekend when the said lecturer invited him to a hotel located at Eastern Bye Pass in Minna.

 The lecturer made advances and was apprehended and taken to Chanchaga police division. Abubakar told LEADERSHIP that his ordeal in the hand of the lecturer started over two years ago when he was doing his Diploma programme at the University before he gained admission for his degree programme.

 He said that the said Lecturer was his caretaker which was why he was close to him but decided to stay away from him when he started to make illicit advances towards him. When contacted the police Public relation Officer, Pius Edobo confirmed the incident, adding that the case would be charged to court.

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Seven Young Pupils Die In Nasarawa State After Heavy Rain Storm

AN early morning downpour, on Wednesday, wreaked havoc in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, as seven pupils of Living Foundation Nursery/Primary School were trapped in their classrooms before the rescue team could get there. The pupils were between four and seven years. 

 The rain, which started a few minutes after some pupils had arrived on the school premises, located within Tuntun-Kauri area on the Lafia-Makurdi Expressway, also affected many houses within the vicinity due to lack of proper drainage. An eyewitness told Nigerian Tribune that the classrooms which were erected with iron sheets on waterways could not withstand the force of the torrent and was pulled down suddenly. All seven pupils in the class at that time died instantly.

 It was, however, gathered that some teachers, who were at the school when the torrential rain started, abandoned the pupils and ran for dear lives. Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that the rescue team from the state fire service could not get to the school environment due to bad road and violent flow of water, until it stopped. 

 Confirming the incident in his office, the state chief fire officer, Alhaji Dogara Dalhatu, said about four pupils were confirmed dead during the torrential rain. Dalhatu, who blamed the incident on non-compliance with physical planning regulations, also lamented that the school authorities knew quite alright that it erected illegal structure there. 

 According to him, “I received a call from the Ministry of Works that there was problem around that area and you know we all woke up to a downpour and that signified that there was a problem because of lack of proper drainage. People build on the way of water which is very dangerous. “The report from my men was that there were four dead bodies discovered and they had been deposited at the hospital. 

What they are doing is not good, especially in Lafia here. People do not comply with the rules and regulations guiding the planning and physical structure in the state. We cannot blame government for this unfortunate incident,” he said. The state chief fire officer urged the people to always seek for planning authorities’ approval before embarking on building of any structure with a view to putting a stop to unwarranted death in the state.

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Pepsi and Coca Cola Contain Alcohol! - Researchers

Two global soft drink brands, Coca-Cola and Pepsi have been confirmed to contain minute traces of alcohol, scientific research published in France has revealed. The revelation will cause concern among those who chose the carbonated soft drink for religious, health or safety reasons.

 According to tests carried out by the Paris-based National Institute of Consumption (INC), more than half of leading colas contain the traces of alcohol. These include the brand leaders Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola, while it is mainly only cheap supermarket versions of the drink which are alcohol-free. '60 Million Consumers’, the French magazine, publishes the results of the tests in its latest issue.

 They suggest that the alcohol levels are as low as 10mg in every litre, and this works out at around 0.001 per cent alcohol. But the figures will still be enough to upset the thousands of Muslims who regularly drink Cola because their religion forbids them from drinking alcohol. 

 Those who are teetotal and drink Coke regularly will also be worried, as will those who choose it as an alternative to alcohol when they are driving. Of 19 colas tested, the nine which did not contain alcohol were made by brands including Auchan, Cora, Casino, Leader Price and Man U-Cola.

 Ten which had traces of alcohol in them included Coca-Cola, Pepsi Cola, Coca-Cola Classic Light and Coke Zero. Michel Pepin, scientific director for Coca-Cola France, said: ‘It is possible that traces of alcohol come from the process’ of making Coca Cola according to its secret recipe. 

 He insisted, however, that Coca-Cola drinks were provably ‘soft’ and recognised as such ‘by the government authorities in which they are sold’. Mr Pepin added: ‘Furthermore, the Paris Mosque has provided us with a certificate stating that our products can be consumed by the Muslim community in line with the religious opinions of the Committee of the Mosque of Paris.’

 A spokesman for Pepsi acknowledged that ‘some soft drinks can contain minute traces of alcohol because of the ingredients used,’ although ‘ the Pepsi Cola recipe does not contain alcohol ‘. Both companies suggested that natural fruit can ferment and produce minute traces of alcohol. Coca-Cola was invented in 1886 by the American John Pemberton and was originally patented as a medicine which could cure everything from headache to impotence. 

 It went on to dominate the international soft drinks market and is now a US icon sold in more than 200 countries. However, caffeine is widely considered to be the main stimulant contained in the drink, along with vast amounts of sugar which have come to associate it with a range of health problems including obesity.

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Two Important Keys To Having A Great Marriage Life

Almost every marriage starts out as a huge celebration. Together with their family and friends, each couple is full of hopes and dreams for their future life together. But the road to a happy marriage is far from easy. And as today’s divorce statistics demonstrate all too well, many couples opt not to complete the journey.

 It would be easy to blame our high rate of marital failure on things like not spending enough quality time together, allowing bitterness and resentment to build in our hearts and failing to keep communication lines open. There’s no end to books, articles and seminars that tell you how to improve these and many other aspects of your relationship. 

But while quality time, forgiveness and communication are vitally important to creating a happy marriage, if such things aren’t happening, it’s usually a sign of a much deeper problem. And until this problem is addressed, no amount of external behavior modification will work. To get a hint of what this deeper issue might be, let’s take a look at the following Scripture passage: One of them, an expert in the law, tested him [Jesus] with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?"

 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:35-40) I believe that virtually every marital problem can be traced back to one or both partners failing to abide by these two laws. 

The same is true of any relationship. The minute we begin to focus on our own wants and needs over those of God or our partner; we’re destined for trouble. Experiencing communication problems in your marriage? How often do you really focus on listening to what your partner (or God) has to say instead of insisting on more airtime? Feeling bitterness and resentment growing toward your partner? 

When was the last time you brought him or her before the Lord in prayer and truly thanked God for your relationship? Struggling to find quality time together? How about praying with your partner and asking God how he would like you to use your time? As you begin to do these things, you’ll notice that your focus automatically starts to shift away from you and your desires and over to God and your partner. 

As a result, communication problems begin to improve, anger and resentment fade away and you naturally want to spend more time together. Of course, you can’t expect such changes to happen overnight. Your relationship is also bound to face financial pressures, childrearing issues and other problems that are beyond your control.

 But if you commit your relationship to God and make a conscious decision each day to put God and your partner first, your marriage will be able to weather any storm. Not only that; you’ll also have plenty of fun together along the way! ............................................... Have you struggled to find happiness in your marriage? Perhaps it’s time you and your spouse invited God to direct your relationship. If you would like to do so, we encourage you to pray the following: 

 "Dear God, thank you so much for bringing us together as a couple. We know that you have a plan and a purpose for our marriage, and we invite you to forgive the past self-centeredness, come into our lives and relationship and direct our steps from now on. Please give us the grace to put you and each other first every day. Make our relationship a blessing to others. But most of all; make it a blessing to you. Amen."

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45 Things a Lady Want But Might Never Request For

1. Touch her waist.

2. Actually talk to her.

3. Share secrets with her.

4. Give her your jacket.

5. Kiss her slowly.

6. Hug her.

7. Hold her.

8. Laugh with her.

9. Invite her somewhere.

10. Hangout with her and your friends together.

11. Smile with her.

12. Take pictures with her.

13. Pull her onto your lap.

14. When she says she loves you more, deny it. Fight back.

15. When her friends say “I love her more than you”, deny it. Fight back and hug her tight so she can’t get to her friends.It makes her feel loved.

16. Always hug her and say I love you whenever you see her.

17. Kiss her unexpectedly.

18. Hug her from behind around the waist.

19. Tell her she’s beautiful.

20. Tell her the way you feel about her.

(One last thing you need to do to show her

you actually do mean it.)

21. Open doors for her, walk her to her car – it

makes her feel protected, plus it never hurts

to act like a gentleman.

22. Tell her she’s your everything – only if you

mean it.

23. If it seems like there is something wrong, ask her – if she denies something being wrong, it means SHE DOESN’T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT – so just hug her.

24. Make her feel loved.

25. Kiss her in front of OTHER girls you know!

(WE MIGHT DENY IT BUT WE ACTUALLY LIKE AND

KINDA WANT YOU TO TICKLE US)

26. Don’t lie to her.

27. DON’T cheat on her.

28. Take her ANYWHERE she wants.

29. Text message or call her in the morning

and tell her have a good day at school, and

how much you miss her.

30. Be there for her whenever she needs you, and even when she doesn’t need you, just be there so she’ll know that she can always count on you.

31. Hold her close when she’s cold so she can hold you too.

32. When you are alone hold her close and kiss her.

33. Kiss her on the cheek; (it will give her the

hint that you want to kiss her).

34. While in the movies, put your arm around her and then she will automatically put her head on your shoulder, then lean in and tilt her chin up and kiss her lightly.

35. Don’t ever tell her to leave even jokingly or act like you’re mad. If she’s upset, comfort her.

36. When people diss her, stand up for her.

37. Look deep into her eyes and tell her you

love her.

38. Lay down under the stars and put her head on your chest so she can listen to the steady beat of your heart, link your fingers together while you whisper to her as she rests her eyes and listens to you.

39. When walking next to each other grab her hand.

40. When you hug her, hold her in your arms as long as possible.

MAKE SURE SHE KNOWS SHES LOVED.

41. Call or text her at night to wish her sweet dreams.

42. Comfort her when she cries and wipe away her tears.

43. Take her for long walks at night.

44. Always remind her how much you love her.

45. Sit on top of her and tell her how much you love her and then bend down to her face and kiss her while you’re sitting on her. You’ll never know when she needs just a little more love ..

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