Lol. War of the words between Nigerians and Kenyans over Mark Zuckerberg's visit to each country

It was war of the words on twitter yesterday between Nigerians and Kenyans over Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg's visit to both countries and a debate on which country's food he preferred. Nigerian jollof rice or Kenyans native food. Read more tweets after the cut...

Brazil's first female President Dilma Rousseff impeached; Senate votes 61 to 20 to convict her of breaking budget laws

Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff was impeached today Wednesday August 31 following a 61-20 vote by the country’s senate.

Senators broke into protest, cheers and applause after the electronic voting, which went on for hours, was announced. Pro-impeachment senators burst into a rendering of the national anthem, some waving Brazilian flags, while allies of Rousseff stood stony face.

 

"I will not associate my name to this infamy," read a sign held up by one senator.

68-year-old Rousseff, the country's first female president, will be removed from office and replaced by Vice President Michel Temer, 75. He will be sworn in on Wednesday to serve out her term which extends through 2018.

The impeachment comes two days after Rousseff staged an impassioned defense of her actions on Monday and insisted she was innocent of any wrongdoing in an lengthy speech before the senate. Lawmakers had charged that she breached fiscal rules in an attempt to cover up the nation’s budget woes.

"I know I will be judged, but my conscience is clear. I did not commit a crime," Rousseff, told senators on Monday. "I can’t help but taste the bitterness of injustice."

Rousseff described the impeachment process, which has been going on for about a year, amounted to an illegal coup.  She said the move was aimed at protecting the interests of the country's economic elite and rolling back social programs that lifted millions of Brazilians from poverty during the last decade.

Recalling how she was tortured and imprisoned in the 1970s for belonging to a leftist guerrilla group, Rousseff urged senators to "vote against impeachment, vote for democracy. Do not accept a coup.

Her opponents, however, have hailed the chance to turn the page on a drawn-out political crisis, the country's worst recession and a sweeping corruption scandal at state oil company Petrobras.

About 50 leftist demonstrators gathered outside the presidential palace to show their support.

"We are protesting against the coup and fighting for democracy," said 61-year-old farmer Orlando Ribeiro.

In the center of the capital, extra security and the closing of avenues near the Senate caused massive traffic jams. Police said they were preparing for large protests later in the day.

Lawyers presenting closing arguments could not hold back their emotions as the clock wound down on a crisis that has paralyzed Brazilian politics for months. A lead lawyer for the case against Rousseff, Senator Janaina Paschoal, wept as she asked forgiveness for causing the president "suffering," but insisted it was the right thing to do.

"The Brazilian people must be aware that nothing illegal and illegitimate is being done here," she said.

Rousseff's counsel, veteran lawyer Jose Eduardo Cardozo, retorted that the charges were trumped up to punish the president's support for a huge corruption investigation that has snared many of Brazil's elite.

"This is a farce," he said in a speech during which his voice alternated between shouts and near whispers. We should ask her forgiveness if she is convicted," he added. "History will treat her fairly. History will absolve Dilma Rousseff if you convict her."

Cardozo said shhe would appeal the impeachment through the Supreme Court. Rousseff is the first Brazilian leader to be dismissed from office since 1992, when Fernando Collor de Mello resigned before a final vote in his impeachment trial for corruption.

Christina Milian and her camel toe step out in tight bodysuit (photo)

She looks nice!

Nigeria to experience solar eclipse tomorrow, public advised to remain calm

A solar eclipse will occur in Nigeria on Thursday, September 1, between the hours of 7:15am and 10:03am with slight variations in actual timing across the country, the National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA) said.

A press statement by the Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr Felix Ale, appealed to the general public not to panic or attach any spiritual interpretations to this event. He said the eclipse cannot be observed with naked eyes, as this could cause damage.

In the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, there will be a partial eclipse, with an obscurity of 60 per cent, and the first contact at about 7:17am, with maximum eclipse at 8:32am and end at 10:00am.

Lagos will experience its first contact with the eclipse at 7:15am, with a maximum eclipse occurring at 8:32am and ending at about 10:00am. The Agency has arranged a viewing centre tomorrow to enable members of the public, pupils and students from various schools to view the eclipse using specially designed viewing instruments provided by the space Agency.

The viewing centre which has been set up by the Agency will be open to the public on Thursday 1st September, 2016 from 6:45am for school pupils and students to observe the annular eclipse as part of its continuous programmes to expose Nigerians and students to matters concerning astronomical environment.

2 Canadian women busted with cocaine worth $22m in Australia while on worldwide cruise

Two Canadian women 23-year-old Melina Roberge and 28-year-old Isabelle Lagacé, who were on a dream world wide cruise were on Monday arrested by the police in Australia, according to a release by the Australian authorities.
Authorities say approximately 95 kilograms of cocaine were allegedly found in the suitcases of the two friends and another Canadian man, 63-year-old man, Andre Tamine who was travelling with them when they arrived in Sydney on a cruise ship. All three were arrested in Australia.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the value of the drugs was $30 million Australian dollars, which is about $22 million in U.S. dollars.
The bust came on the 51st day of a 68-day cruise on the Sea Princess, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. The Star states authorities were prepared to search the ship when it arrived in Sydney after a joint investigation which included the Canadian Border Service Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

They were aboard the MS Sea Princess cruise. Tickets for the MS Sea Princess cruise cost around £8,500

They shared photos from exotic locales around the world including Tahiti, Peru, Bermuda, Morocco and more. "Traveling is one thing ... But traveling with an open mind, ready to taste everything, see everything, learn everything and get yourself out of your comfort zone .. Is probably the best therapy and lesson ever," Roberge wrote in one post from the holiday.

The women had spent the past two months cruising around the world and documenting their lavish holiday on their public Instagram accounts. According to Facebook accounts that appear to belong to them, Lagacé was a waitress at a Longueuil bar and Roberge was a manager at a Montreal jewelry store. According to their Instagram accounts, they began their adventure on July 9 in Southampton, England.

Clive Murray from the Australian Border Forces said the bust came after work alongside US and Canadian authorities.
He said:

"These syndicates should be on notice that the Australian Border Force is aware of all of the different ways they attempt to smuggle drugs into our country and we are working with a range of international agencies to stop them."

AFP Assistant Commissioner Crime Operations Shane Connelly said:

"Today’s successful operation has resulted in three arrests and we will not rule out further activity as we continue our investigations. "The AFP is committed to working with its partner agencies to protect the community by stopping these dangerous drugs making their way to Australian communities, and bringing those responsible to justice."

The trio have been charged with importing drugs and are due in court this week and now face life imprisonment if convicted of drug smuggling in Australia, where cocaine prices are among the highest in the world.

See how Mark Zuckerberg described his meeting with Nigerian celebrities

Billionaire founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg today met with Nollywood actors & actresses, music stars and media personalities

Former Mexican president thrashes Donald Trump on Twitter

Read the rest after the cut...

Kylie Jenner surprises Tyga with a Bentley Truck

19 year old business entrepreneur Kylie Jenner surprised her 26 year old boyfriend, rapper Tyga, with a Bentley truck. He was surprised and appreciated the gift. This comes after Tyga's Ferrari was reportedly repossessed by the car dealers due to non-payment but it wasn't repossessed, Kylie hid his Ferrarri so she could present him with the Bentley. Watch the videos of the surprise and Tyga dancing after the cut...

American actor Tyrese Gibson writes about Mark Zuckerberg 'popping into Africa'

American singer and actor Tyrese Gibson shared a photo of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg with some Nigerians at Tech hub Andela in Yaba and wrote:

"Some people think we're human beings having a spiritual experience it's the other way around - were spiritual beings having a human experience - Mark Zuckerberg randomly popped up in Africa and he's there jogging hanging out and connected with our people - he looks so happy and I'm sure they're doing a lot for his spirit and life - Sometimes you just have to run away to far places and find your balance........... I've seen a few pics and I just love this so much...... Mark I felt the same the people of Africa are just amazing people and souls"

Kylie Jenner puts her bikini bod on display

 Kylie Jenner put her hot body on display in front of the mirror in black bikini. She also took photos with clothes on. More photos after the cut..

Family enjoying riverside picnic in Australia get a nasty surprise when hawk drops live snake on their BBQ

A family fun day out in Australia turned into a panicky affair when an unexpected guest literally dropped in on the picnic party. The incident which was caught on camera shows people gathered around a BBQ as a hawk approaches with a snake in its talons, the bird of prey drops the snake right in their midst leading everyone to scamper off. The video was filmed by Douglas Wong as he enjoyed a family lunch on the River Yarra, in Melbourne. More photos after the cut..

FG expects better economic outlook for second half of 2016

According to a press statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant-Media & Publicity to the Vice President, Laolu Akande
*2nd quarter figures indicate further growth in Agric, solid mineral sectors: *Better than IMF estimates *Reveals highest increase in share of investment in GDP since 2010.
The just released GDP figures for the 2016 second quarter by the National Bureau of Statistics while confirming a temporary decline, has also indicated an hopeful expectation in the country's economic trajectory.
Besides the growth recorded in the agriculture and solid mineral sectors, the Nigerian economy in response to the policies of the Buhari presidency is also doing better than what the IMF had estimated with clear indications that the second half of the year would be even much better.


The Buhari presidency will continue to work diligently on the economy and engage with all stakeholders  to ensure that beneficial policy initiatives are actively pursued and the dividends delivered to the Nigerian people.

The following statement was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr. Adeyemi Dipeolu on the latest NBS report:

"The just recently released data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that Gross Domestic Product declined by -2.06% in the second quarter of 2016 on a year-on-year basis.

A close look at the data shows that this outcome was mostly due to a sharp contraction in the oil sector due to huge losses of crude oil production as a result of vandalisation and sabotage.  

However, the rest of the Q2 data is beginning to tell a different story.  There was growth in the agricultural and solid minerals sectors which are the areas in which the Federal Government has placed particular priority.

Agriculture grew by 4.53% in the second quarter of 2016 as compared with 3.09% in the first quarter.  The metal ores sector showed similar performance with coal mining, quarrying and other minerals also showing positive growth of over 2.5%.  Notably also, the share of investments in GDP increased to its highest levels since 2010, growing to about 17% of Gross Domestic Product.

The manufacturing sector though not yet truly out of the woods is beginning to show signs of recovery while the service sector similarly bears watching.

Nevertheless, the data already shows a reduction in imports and an increase in local produced goods and services and this process will be maintained although it will start off slowly in these initial stages before picking up later.

The inflation rate remains high but the good news is that the month-on-month rate of increase has fallen continuously over the past three months. 

Unemployment remains stubbornly high which is usually the case during growth slowdowns and for reasons of a structural nature. 

The picture that emerges, barring unforeseen shocks, is that the areas given priority by the Federal Government are beginning to respond with understandable time lags to policy initiatives.  Indeed, as the emphasis on capital expenditure begins to yield results and the investment/GDP numbers increase, the growth rate of the Nigerian economy is likely to improve further.

As these trends continue, the outlook for the rest of the year is that the Nigerian economy will beat the IMF prediction of -1.8% for the full year 2016. 

The IMF had forecasted a growth of -1.8% for 2016, however the economy is performing better than the IMF estimates so far. For the half year it stands at -1.23% compared to an average of -1.80% expected on average by the IMF. 

What is more, it is likely the second half will be better than the first half of 2016. This is because many of the challenges faced in the first half either no longer exist or have eased."

See the weird cake a 4yr old boy demanded for his birthday

Benz Packard, a 4-year-old boy from Canada is obsessed with farms so for his birthday, he asked his mum to make him a really special cake. A cake depicting a female cow giving birth to a calf. His mum, Jamie Packard shared a picture of the cake on Facebook and wrote:

"For the last couple of months, Benz has been asking for a "cow having a calf" cake for his birthday. We tried our best to persuade him, in fact I overheard Tyler say to Benz, "a Thomas the Train cake would be cool.. Would you like Mom to make one for your birthday?". To which he replied, "I don't even watch Thomas the train". We tried. So there I sat, Google imaging "cow having a calf cake" and guess what, there were zero results, surprise, surprise! So as I'm moulding rice crispy squares into little hooves I'm thinking to myself, no Mother is ever really prepared for this kind of stuff. And as I'm applying cherry pie filling as afterbirth, I found myself thinking.. Thank goodness it's only family coming to this party!" 

Will you eat this?

Coco Austin bares plenty of cleavage and flaunts hourglass figure in new pic with baby Chanel

The 37-year-old mum shared a photo of herself and her 10 month old daughter, Chanel in matching blue outfits. She looked an eyeful in a dress wrapped around her hourglass figure with plenty of cleavage on show. She captioned the photo:

'Chanel and I work well together in photoshoots! Here's a little candid shot for ya! More to come!'

Kim Kardashian shares unfiltered photos of her psoriasis patches

Kardashian shares unfiltered photos of her psoriasis patches

Wife and mother of 2, reality star and business woman Kim Kardashian shared this photo on her website kimkardashianwest.com with her fans showing how the psoriasis patches looked on her right leg before the image was filtered. She said her psoriasis is hereditary. More photos after the cut...