Chinese Ebola doctors arrive Africa

China has sent medical supplies worth 4.9m dollars to countries hit by Ebola

Nine Chinese disease control experts have arrived in West Africa to help fight Ebola after departing on Sunday evening and Monday, Sun Jiwen, spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce, said on Tuesday.

China announced on Sunday it would send three expert teams and medical supplies to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to assist in the prevention and control of the Ebola virus, with each medical team composed of one epidemiologist and two specialists in disinfection and protection.

Sun said emergency humanitarian aid supplies have also arrived in the affected countries after leaving Shanghai on Sunday.

The government announced on Aug. 7 that China would provide relief worth 30 million yuan (4.9 million U.S. dollars) to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. It was the second round of Ebola relief from China so far.

Ebola, which spreads through the mucus and other body fluids or secretions such as stool, urine, saliva and semen of infected people, is believed to be very difficult to control.

Four western African countries — Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone — have been hit by the Ebola epidemic. So far, 1,779 cases have been reported, including 961 deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Though the epidemic is currently restricted to West Africa, the WHO warned that the disease is a “public health emergency of international concern” and called for a coordinated international response to prevent the spread of the deadly virus.

Source: Punch

Hollywood stunned by another tragedy!

Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams, who dazzled in such wide-ranging dramatic and comedic roles as alien, nanny, therapist and cartoon genie during a four-decades long career, was found dead in his northern California home in a suspected suicide Monday. He was 63.

The Marin County Sheriff's Department said in a statement that Williams was found unconscious and not breathing in his home around noon. The statement said the investigation into Williams' death is ongoing, but the coroner "suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia."

The Marin County coroner's office said Williams was last seen alive at home at about 10 p.m. Sunday. An emergency call from his house in Tiburon was placed to the Sheriff's Department shortly before noon Monday.

A representative for Williams said in a statement the actor had been battling "severe depression of late."

"This is a tragic and sudden loss," Mara Buxbaum said. "The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time.” See more pictures after the cut...

I just signed this petition

"Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make a good use of it." - John Adams.

Please sign this petition to Support the Continuous Use of St. Luke Church Building as a Church

St. Luke's Church, Bristol Street, B5 7AY was built in 1842 and has been used since then as a church. The current Christian worshippers in the building, The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Covenant Restoration Assembly (RCCG - CRA), has been using the building as a church since 2001. 

Contrary to the initial agreement that RCCG - CRA had with the representative of Home and Community Agency (HCA), Birmingham City Council and HCA are planning to sell this listed building to another party, evict RCCG - CRA from the building, change the primary use of this listed building (after almost 200 years) from being a church and destroy one of the lasting heritage of the City. 

We strongly believe this building should continue to be used for the purpose for which, it was built almost 200 years ago. We believe the current Christian worshippers should be allowed to continue to worship in the building as a church.

Responsible department: Department for Communities and Local Government.

Sign the petition here

Delta State Governor’s Aide Sunny Ofili & Traditional Ruler Die in Auto Crash Today

Asaba (NAN) ― The Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Sunny Ofili, on Saturday died in an auto crash at Utulu near Asaba.
Ofili died along with the traditional ruler of Issele-Uku, Obi Henry Ezeagwuna II.

They died along the Benin-Onitsha highway when the vehicle they were travelling in rammed into a stationary lorry loaded with granite.

The deceased were heading towards Asaba from Issele-Uku in Ezeagwuna’s jeep.

The car in which they were trapped was said to have somersaulted after hitting the lorry, and it later caught fire.

The accident caused a traffic gridlock on the other side of the highway as vehicles were forced to use only one lane.

The Secretary to the State Government, Ovouzerie Macaulay, confirmed the incident.

“It is very sad and shocking,’’ he said.

May their souls Rest in Peace. May God give their families the fortitude to bear the loss.

US Ebola victim Dr. Kent Brantly speaks out for the first time

 Dr. Kent Brantly, one of the two US doctors flown from Liberia to Emory University Hospital for treatment after contracting the Ebola virus in Liberia, has spoken out for the first time. He released a statement from his isolation room in Atlanta where he's being treated. On Friday, the 33-year-old has released his first statement since arriving in Atlanta for treatment last Saturday (He is the first Ebola patient to receive experimental serum, ZMapp). Read his statement below.

"I am writing this update from my isolation room at Emory University Hospital, where the doctors and nurses are providing the very best care possible," he says. "I am growing stronger every day, and I thank God for His mercy as I have wrestled with this terrible disease." Continue...

White House: No End Date On Military Action In Iraq

WASHINGTON - The White House gave vague assurances on Friday that U.S. military involvement in Iraq will be limited in nature, seeking to ease political and public concern about Americans being drawn back into another war. Continue...

ISIS behead Christian children + Horrific pics of ISIS atrocities

 Islamist Militant group ISIS has been killing non-Muslims in many cities in Iraq and Syria in their effort to eradicate the Christian faith in the countries...and they are not sparing children. There's been several executions of believers, including crucifixions and the beheading of children. The children's heads are being erected on poles in a city park according to an eyewitness who spoke with CNN.

"There is a park in Mosul where they actually beheaded children and put their heads on a stick and have them in the park. The world hasn't seen this kind of atrocity in generations" a prominent Chaldean-American businessman Mark Arabo told CNN. 


Watch a video shared by Bobby Powell yesterday on Youtube.

See some of the horrific photos and images of extreme brutality by ISIS on their prisoners. Members of the Sunni Shaitat tribe are taken from their homes rounded up and marched to their deaths. ISIS shared some of these horrific images online. 

Viewers discretion required…

Boris Johnson Wants Zac To Succeed Him Even Though...

Boris Johnson wants Tory Zac Goldsmith to succeed him as London mayor, it has been reported. However the Richmond MP has previously ruled himself out, predicting that to run for City Hall would be a "suicide mission".

According to the Evening Standard, Boris wants Goldsmith to be the Conservative candidate in the mayoral 2016 election. As the newspaper notes, Goldsmith, like Boris, is seen as being independent minded and therefore likely to have broad appeal to Londoners.

Boris revealed earlier this week that he, as expected, will seek a return to the Commons in 2016. If successful it would mean he would serve as both an MP and mayor for a year.

It had long been suggested that Goldsmith would step down in 2015 and allow Boris to take his seat. However Boris is believed to be targeting the West London constituency of Uxbridge. And Goldsmith told the Evening Standard that he intends to seek re-election in Richmond.

However he could decided to step down from parliament mid-term in order to run for mayor.

But Goldsmith told The Huffington Post last year that it would be "a suicide mission" for him to try to follow Boris. Continue...

4 Newly Reported Ebola Cases In Nigeria Are All Linked To Patrick Sawyer

Nigerian health officials wait to screen passengers at Lagos airport. Photograph: Sunday Alamba/AP

Four new cases of Ebola were reported in Nigeria yesterday 08 August, and all of the cases were in people who had contact with Patrick Sawyer, a 40-year-old Liberian-American civil servant who last month visited from Liberia; he died from Ebola last month. Continue... 

E-Cigarette Explosion Kills Merseyside Man

A man has died after his e-cigarette exploded into flames and ignited oxygen equipment he is believed to have been using, fire chiefs said today.

The 62-year-old was found dead in the living room of a property on Penkett Road in Wallasey, Merseyside. Continue...

'Hand of God' pictured emerging from the clouds by photographer in UK

A photographer captured the incredible moment a gigantic 'hand' appeared through the clouds.

David Christie, 38, captured the stunning footage of the fist-like wind funnel as it punched its way through the dark clouds above his home in Kent.

He said: "I love weather photography and I've taken a few pictures of small wind funnels in the past.

"But this was something else. It looked as through there was a huge hand piercing through the clouds - it was phenomenal.

"It really did seem like the hand of God.

"My wife and I are both photographers and we've never seen anything like this."

Mortgages Project - Apply Now!

Housing is one of man’s key needs. Most people would like to own their own houses. Unfortunately, there are far too many obstacles stifling the achievement of this dream of owning their own homes. In spite of Nigeria being Africa’s largest economy with a GDP of $510 billion, the housing and construction sector accounts for only 3.1% of the rebased GDP. Continue...

PTDF Releases list of 2014/15 Successful PhD Candidates

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) wishes to inform the general public that the following candidates are adjudged successful in the combined 2013/14 and 2014/15 PhD interview. Therefore, the PTDF PhD award takes effect from 2014/15 academic session. Candidates are invited for induction programme, which has been scheduled to hold from August 11 to 15, 2014. See the lists after the cut…

Ebola Virus Alert!

Facts About Ebola Virus

Ebola is a very scary disease. It kills most of the time and has no cure.

The good news is that you don't have to get it. 
Here's what you need to know after the cut...

Our pastor lied – MFM

Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, MFM, has accused one of its pastors, Lawrence Okechukwu Amuruche of telling lies against the leadership of the church with his claims that he sought assistance for an eye surgery and was instead given anointing oil and water. Continue...

Jonathan Appoints New CEOs for NNPC & NPDC

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved and appointed new CEOS for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC). They are: 

1. Dr Joseph Thlama Dawha – Group Managing Director, NNPC

2. Anthony Ugonna Muoneke – Managing Director, NPDC 

3. Aisha Mata Abdurrahman – Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment, NNPC 

4. Dr Attahiru B. Yusuf – Group Executive Director, Business Development, NNPC

All the appointments are with immediate effect.

The Presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati also refuted reports that the President is sick, calling the story “mischievous” on his twitter.

Police searching for Nigerian who allegedly committed murder in the UK and fled to Nigeria

 The guy pictured on the right is Jeffrey Okafor, the UK police is searching for him over the 2009 murder of Carl Beatson Asiedu (pictured left – who is also Nigerian). He was stabbed to death in the early hours of August 1 2009 outside a night club after an argument with Jeffery and his friends. Jeffery then fled to Nigeria after the murder. Read the full story from the Independent UK after the cut…

Usain Bolt denies describing the Commonwealth Games as 'a bit sh*t'

Usain Bolt was accused of being “hugely disrespectful to Glaswegians and also to the Scottish people” as the row over disparaging remarks he is alleged to have made regarding the Commonwealth Games threatened to cast a shadow over the event.

The world’s fastest man, who is competing in the 4 x 100m relay having decided against entering in the 100m and 200m, denied yesterday that he had said the Games were “a bit ****” and that he thought the Olympics were “better”. Continue...

More photos of Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo’s Son’s Traditional and Church Wedding

Click here if you missed the first report on this event. Check out the lovely photos below after the cut...

PM: 'We Will Find You And Send You Home'

David Cameron has put illegal immigrants on notice telling them: "When we find you - and we will find you - we will make sure you are sent back to the country you came from."

Announcing a number of new measures to tackle problems of immigration, Mr Cameron said he wanted to send a clear message that those in the UK illegally would not be able to work or have a home. Continue...

Nigerian lawyer suspended for allegedly accusing U.S judges of corruption

For several months, a Nigerian lawyer in Chicago, Illinois, United States, Mr Lanre Amu, tried to get the attention of the American media but no one was willing to tell his story or help him get his law licence back.

Amu moved to the U.S in 1982 with the hope of living the American dream. At the beginning, he enjoyed this dream, earning Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering with distinction. He worked as an engineer in Illinois. Continue...

Carlos Tevez’s father is released after being kidnapped for nine hours

The father of former Manchester City and Manchester United striker Carlos Tevez was kidnapped this morning in Argentina (click here), but has now been released according to reports emerging in South America.

Argentine website TN reported that Tevez’s father was in Moron, an area to the west of Greater Buenos Aires when the incident happened at around 7am local time this morning. Continue...

Cameroon Rescues Vice PM’s Wife Kidnapped by Boko Haram

The Cameroonian Army had in a successful operation rescued the abducted wife of the country’s Vice Prime Minister, Amadou Ali, who was kidnapped by the Boko Haram sect on Sunday alongside a traditional ruler of Kolofata town. If you missed the report, click here.

According to BBC Hausa Service, 16 people died during the rescue operations that lasted for several hours.

Although, Cameroon Information Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary who disclosed the information said government was investigating the matter to establish the actual number of those killed in the military clampdown and rescue operations, the abducted woman was successfully rescued. Meanwhile, a military court in Cameroon has convicted and sentenced 14 BokoHaram members to 20 years imprisonment after they were arrested with weapons in March around Marwa in northern Cameroon.

10 US senators want Nigeria sanctioned over Anti-gay law

TEN senators of the United States (US) are seeking sanctions against Nigeria, over what they described as “a growing trend of laws and proposed legislation targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals in Africa.”

In a letter to President Barack Obama, published by The Cable, the senators were seeking a review of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allowed for duty-free treatment of certain imports from Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African countries since 2000. Continue...

Can you help?

Volunteers needed.  I am carrying out a survey to compile the marriage experiences of people who have been married for at least 2 years even if you are no longer married. Are there experiences you think will help others? You never know, someone might be going through what you have been through.  This questionnaire is totally anonymous; however, we do need some general marital information in order to process the results. Please write as much as you can. See the questionnaire after the cut..

  

Sex, Am I getting it right?

Sex has a place in marriage but if it becomes the only positive part of the marriage, it is doomed to fail before it even gets started. Sexual satisfaction is therefore a key component in a good marriage. Yet, the understanding of it is limited and incomplete.

Human sexuality is one of the most beautiful and precious gifts God has given to man and woman. The enemy distorts this gift in men and women to continue his rebellion against God; and at the same time degrade and cheapen what is precious and to pervert what is beautiful into vice, filthiness and obscenities, which culminates in the destruction of innocence, purity and Godly ideals. Infidelity soils and ravages the relationship because the spiritual bonding is ruptured and mutual trust, love and dependency is lost. Continue...

Matthew Ashimolowo's son gets married

KICC Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo's first son, Tomi, got married to his heartthrob, Dorothy Jeneba Kamara at KICC Prayer City in Kent, London today. Dorothy is from Sierra Leone. Their traditional wedding held in London yesterday. I join millions of well-wishers to wish you a blissful, lasting & happy marriage. See more photos from their church and traditional weddings after the cut…

Hillary Clinton 'blamed Bill Clinton's abusive mother'

The former Secretary of State reportedly made the comments a year after the Monica Lewinsky scandal saw the then-President impeached by the House of Representatives, during an interview with Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Lucinda Franks.

The original interview was published by Tina Brown’s magazine Talk in 1999. However, Franks made the decision to water down Hillary’s comments due to the heightened political climate and the media circus surrounding the affair at the time, she claims in her new memoir Timeless: Love, Morgenthau and Me.

Galleys of Franks’ book, due out next month, have since been obtained by the Daily News.

In the extracts, Franks recounts purported quotes from her meeting with Hillary, beyond what was published in 1999, about Bill’s mother Virginia Kelley – a woman Hillary allegedly called a "doozy".

Hillary reportedly told Franks that Kelley hurt her son "in ways you wouldn't believe".

"He was abused," the book quotes Hillary as saying. "When a mother does what she does, it affects you forever." Continue...

Chevening Scholarships now open

The Chevening Scholarships Programme will soon be accepting applications for the 2015/16 cycle. Online applications will open on 1 August 2014 and with the recent expansion of the scheme, Chevening have confirmed on their official page that they will be able to offer more than 1500 scholarships globally.

Chevening Scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations. The programme makes awards to outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the world to study postgraduate courses at universities in the UK. The programme provides full or part funding for full-time courses at postgraduate level, normally a one-year Master’s degree, in any subject and at any UK university.

click here for more information on how to apply.

China shuts meat producer supplying McDonald’s, KFC

In a recent bid to increase health and safety of consumers of meat, China has had to ensure its exports are healthy. Especially in the face of problems such as bird flu and horse meat scandal.

Shanghai has shut a factory of US food producer OSI Group for selling out-of-date meat to restaurant giants including McDonald's and KFC, authorities said on Monday 21 July 2014, in China's latest food safety scandal. Continue...

The rise of solo dining

Do you like to eat alone by yourself in your favourite restaurant? Do you feel guilty sitting alone by yourself at a table while other tables around you are crammed with people? Do you feel upset when other people assume you want company but you just want to be by yourself? Here's something interesting for you to consider...

Sudanese woman Meriam Ibrahim meets the Pope

Meriam was imprisoned for her faith as a Christian in Sudan with a charge of apostasy and had to deliver her daughter while in prison awaiting verdict. She got support and petitions signed in her favour from all over the world as she would have been killed if she was found guilty. She was found not guilty but she had to leave her country, arriving in Italy today. Meriam met with the Pope soon after her arrival in Rome. Continue...

Indian boy has 232 teeth removed

An adult usually has 32 teeth but a rarity occurred when a 17 year old Indian boy had intense surgery lasting over 5 hours to remove over 200 teeth. This condition is referred to as odontoma which is a malformation of the tissues of the mouth and may interfere with the eruption of the associated tooth and disturbances where the dental components are laid down in a disorganized manner. (Caution - some of the pictures below may be distressing). Continue...

Former Homosexual Reveals 'Unmitigated Disaster of Gay Marriage'

David Kyle Foster

This is what David Kyle Foster has to say: 
For over 10 years I lived the homosexual lifestyle, and for 34 years I have not. And there are very good reasons for that difference. To those who suggest that I never was homosexual, my response is, "Does sleeping with over 1,000 men count?"

Oh yes. I was homosexual, though like most, I never wanted to have such attractions. I saw the narcissism and arrested emotional development all around me, and in me. Guys flitting around like Peter Pan were sometimes cute and funny, and certainly non-threatening, but I wanted to be a grown up. I wanted to be a man. I wanted to be strong, solid, stable and reliable. Continue...

Kim Kardashian, Kanye West Divorce Rumours

Photo Credit - May 21, 2014 Reuters

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian haven't been seen together in public much since getting married in Italy in May, so, of course, some are now speculating that their brief wedded bliss is already coming to an end. West has been travelling for his "Yeezus" national tour, while Kardashian has also been travelling, dealing with her various business ventures, and taking care of their daughter, North.

Glasgow 2014: Commonwealth Games begin at Celtic Park

The 2014 Commonwealth Games being held in Glasgow, Scotland was declared open this evening by Her Majesty the Queen at Celtic park. This is the largest multi-sport event ever held in Scotland with around 4,560 athletes from 71 different nations and territories competing in 17 different sports in 11 days of competition, beginning on Thursday 25 July 2014.

The opening ceremony also featured a fund raising appeal in partnership with UNICEF to give aid to children from the Commonwealth nations. Continue...

Some issues to consider in your Marriage

Marriage is a union between two people. Today many people show how happy their marriages are on social websites but statistics today on marriage in the United Kingdom show that this is not the case for most people (Ref).

Many people are  unhappy in their marriages. The reasons for this include but are not limited to sacrificing your marriage for your career and personal ambition, infidelity, abuse and poor communication (Ref).

Being married should not make anyone feel imprisoned or unhappy. It is a companionship that should be mutually enjoyed and not endured. Continue...

An inspirational story!

In a world filled with chaos and various disparities, there are people who initiate a change in their individual circumstances in a bid to affect and change the experiences of others. I would like to highlight the work of a doctor who decided to spearhead a revolution in West Africa with the view of transporting people with health needs requiring emergency services through air transport.

According to her presentation on TEDx, when Ola Orekunrin was a 22-year-old medical student in the UK, her 12-year-old sister became critically ill while visiting relatives in Nigeria. With no medical facility nearby that could treat her condition, the family attempted to arrange an air evaluation. Orekunrin was shocked to discover that not only was no air ambulance available in Nigeria, there was not one available in the whole of West Africa: "The nearest one at the time was in South Africa. They had a 12-hour activation time so by the time they were ready to activate, my sister was dead.” It was then, she explains, "I started thinking about whether I should be in England talking about healthcare in Africa, or I should be in Africa dealing with healthcare and trying to do something about it.” Continue...

Boko Haram kills villagers, RCCG pastor

Scores of people were reportedly killed by Boko Haram in Damboa, Borno State by the dreaded Boko Haram sect, Saturday Tribune gathered in Maiduguri on Friday. The gunmen, sources added, had a field day as Damboa town had earlier been deserted by policemen and soldiers. Read their statement below…

Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother admits she tried to abort Real Madrid star using alcohol while pregnant

The mother of Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has admitted that she drank alcohol and ran until she ‘dropped’ in an attempt to abort him while she was pregnant.

Dolores Aveiro revealed the story in a biography called Mother Courage, which was released in Portugal on Friday 18 July 2014.

In the book, Mrs Aveiro admitted that she tried to abort Ronaldo – who is the youngest of four children – by drinking warm beer and running ’till she dropped’ following the refusal of doctors to carry out the procedure. Continue..