Dana crash: 40 families petition Senate

Consequent to the refusal of Dana Airline to pay the statutory $30,000 compensation to the families of the ill-fated Dana Air crash, about 40 families of the victims have petitioned the Senate Committee on Aviation to wade into the matter.

According to the enraged families, Dana Airlines’ refusal to compensate the families was as a result of the wicked intrigues of the airline and its representatives.

They also alleged that the names of two of the agrieved families, Ahmad Dukawa and Femi Shobowale, were illegally listed by Dana Airlines, its local and international insurers, Prestige Assurance Plc and Pritchard Insurance/Lloyd’s of London as having been paid $30,000 each.

Addressing journalists in Lagos on Thursday, through their legal practitioners and consultants, M.O Awoniyi & Co, the mourning families said that the management of Dana Airlines deliberately refused to pay for the compensation.

Angry wife stabs hubby to death for accusing her of infidelity

Residents of No. 8 Eze Street, off Okposi Street, Nkaliki, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State are still wondering on what. Could have prompted a woman to kill her husband whom she had lived with for several years.

Occupants of the compound woke in the morning to be greeted with the shocking news that Mr. Yaune Okorji, an Assistant Immigration Officer attached to Ebonyi State headquarters of the command has been reportedly killed by his wife during a domestic violence.

It was gathered that the late Okoroji and his wife, Mrs. Judith Okorji have been having serious marital crisis over infidelity before his sudden demise.

The ‘family war’ we learnt reached a crescendo the fateful day when the late Okoroji accused his wife of having affairs with another man in a hotel.

Sources said both the deceased and his embittered wife all hailed from Ahoada in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Columbia lady gives birth to devil baby,starts walking from from four weeks and produces fire

Black magic and evil spirits have captured the soul of a new-born baby in Colombia who can apparently already walk by himself and produce fire, his own mother has claimed.

Ana Feria Santos gave birth to her son last month, but says her joy quickly turned to fear when she noticed that he had 'several abnormalities' - leading to fears he is the devil in disguise.

She says the boy can already stand up and walk - quite a feat for a child of just four weeks - frequently hides around the house, cackles in an 'adult' way for hours on end and has an 'intimidating' pair of eyes.

The mother-of-five told the RCN Radio station: 'He walks like an adult, sometimes going off and hiding underneath the bed, in a suitcase, in the washing machine or in the fridge.'

Her neighbors in the town of Lorica, near the Caribbean coast, also say he is possessed by a 'malignant spirit' and that he is capable of producing fire.

I started GidiTraffic with just a Handheld and a Twitter Account-----@Gidi_Traffic

Somewhere on the street of Lagos, looking around me, I see numerous youths clinging passionately to their communication gadgets, some laughing, while others had a business-like look on their faces, they all had something in common, they were all youths and they were networking, building strong and long lasting relationships that transcends any bias, be it religious, political, or ethnicity based which promises to transcend the bond of brotherhood!

From Facebook to BBM, via Twitter through 2go to Skype and all other social media platforms, youths are engaging each other, networking and building strong lasting relationships.But One individual who has taken social Media usage to a very positive and extremely fruitful level is no other than the one known as Gidi Traffic. In this interview,Gidi Traffic bares it all on how it all started and how he was able to overcome all barriers. Excerpts Below:

Omotola Jolade Ekeinde's Reality show trailer!!!

I cannot wait to watch Omotola's Real Me.....whooohoooo....starts this coming month. Watch out on Africa Magic.

Unilag Students wins Google App developer contest 2012

Three University of Lagos (UNILAG) students Bolutife Ogunsola, Michael Adeyeri and Willie Aniebiet won the 2012 edition of Google Apps Developer Challenge for the Enterprise/Small Business Solutions category in sub-Saharan Africa.

The students who created the Form+ application software; an interface that creates application forms by just dragging and dropping components. The user can create forms – such as curriculum vitae (CV) or resume submission forms for businesses and coursework submission page for lecturers.

They were rewarded with Chromebooks and cash amount $20,000. They also won a grant worth $18,000 for their school’s department.

My private jet story, by Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (Source Nigerian Vanguard)

The birthday gift of a private jet presented by a member of Word of Life Bible Church, Warri  and chairman of the committee of the procurement of the jet, Kevin Nwachukwu, to  Pastor Ayodele Joseph Oritsejafor, the head of  the church and the national president of Christian Association of Nigeria, on Saturday, November 10,  has generated a lot of controversy. In this interview, Oritsejafor tells the story of how the jet was acquired.

There is a huge gap between spirituality and actual faith in God. There is the belief that the love of money has taken over Christendom, rather than  the preaching of  undiluted gospel of salvation. Why do you think there is a shift towards prosperity?

First of all, as somebody who has preached the gospel for 40 years, I know that the gospel is a total package—it is for the spirit, mind and body. What has happened through the years is that in every dispensation, there is emphasis that becomes stronger than the others and such emphasis does not reduce the format but add to the format.

Police arrest man for pouring acid on fiancée

A middle-aged man David Suleiman has been arrested by the police in Lagos State for allegedly pouring acid on his fiancée, Chika Egbo and a yet to be identified Okada rider at Ikotun area of Lagos State.

Suleiman who is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti,Yaba, Lagos, was said to have attacked his girl friend, a 300 level student at Enugu State College of Education,  with  acid for  refusing him access to their only child.

Police sources at the state SCID, intimated    Vanguard that trouble began for the couple   when Egbo became pregnant  for Suleiman, and he abandoned her claiming  that he travelled  out of the country, and leaving   her with the burden of fending for herself and the baby.

I sold human parts to churches and ritual killers – Joshua

November 21st will ever remain indelible  in the heart of Oloko villagers as members of the palace guard to the community leader of Ajara Topa community in collaboration with a vigilante group operating in the area arrested a man who allegedly eats and sells human parts to ritualists, operating from a hole he dug under the Gbaji bridge along the Badagry-Seme border.

Joshua Akindele,56, who hails from Etokia Local Government in Ogun State was spotted by one Anthony Amos who watched him crawl into a hole under the Gbaji bridge, confessed that he had been into cannibalism and ritual killing for the past 15 years, after being introduced to the business by a friend who convinced him to stop driving popular motor cycle known as “Okada” which he claimed  profited him a little, but could not sustain him.

Bronze statue of Sir Alex Ferguson unveiled at Old Trafford

A statue of Sir Alex Ferguson, was on Friday unveiled outside Old Trafford, by his wife, Lady Cathy Ferguson. The bronze monument, which stands at 9ft, was made by sculptor Philip Jackson and shows the Scot standing, with his hands folded.

It stands just outside the North Stand, which was renamed the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, to mark his 25th year as the manager of the club.

Former United players like Eric Cantona, Andy Cole, Denis Irwin, Gary and Phil Neville, Bryan Robson, Peter Schmeichel, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Edwin van der Sar and Dwight Yorke were present at the unveiling. Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham sent in pre-recorded tributes, where they showered encomiums on Ferguson.

Study shows that alcohol holding level reduces as you grow older

“Two glasses of wine make me drowsy?” some of you may be scoffing. “I can down half a bottle of Napa’s finest on a minor holiday and barely feel a thing. I once drank a six-pack on in my teenage days and was still awake enough to see my shadow.”

Not so fast, baby boomer. As people age, many believe that they feel the effects of alcohol more easily, and science bears this out.

Dr. Reid B. Blackwelder, president-elect of the American Academy of Family Physicians and a professor at the James H. Quillen College of Medicine at East Tennessee State University, said many boomers drinking around the holidays probably don’t drink that often. “Maybe the last time they had several drinks was a year or two ago,” he said. “They think, ‘Well, this is what I did before, so it should be no problem.’ But that same amount of alcohol may hit them harder.”

Omotola J Ekeinde launches her own reality show

Nollywood actress, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, is next on the list of Nigerian celebrities after Jim Iyke to flaunt their own reality TV show with ‘The Real Me’ a reality show on the actress and singer due to hit viewers of Africa Magic entertainment channel, December 6.

According to producers, IFactory Live, the show will be aired for a total of 13 weeks. 

Omosexy as she’s fondly called is quoted to have said ‘You will get to see everything. What we are doing is very real. It’s basically my whole life. The parts where I’m taking care of the kids, the parts where I’m taking care of the home, the parts when I am working, the parts where I’m yelling. It’s crazy. My life is crazy’.

The show we are told was shot in Lagos, London, Ghana, Miami and Kingston (Jamaica).

33-year-old woman tries to suffocate her boyfriend to death with her breasts

A buxom woman has been accused of trying to kill her lawyer boyfriend… with her 38DD breasts.

Franziska, 33 from Germany, who weighs nine stone is accused of ‘attempted manslaughter with a weapon’ after her 13-stone boyfriend claimed she tried to smother him with her breasts and pretend it was a sex game.

She denies the claim saying it was a sex game and he knew what it was all about.

Tim Schmidt told the German court that although they had had a difficult relationship, until then everything in the bedroom had been normal.

‘The incident happened in May – we were having sex,’ he said. ‘She was sitting on me naked and I was kissing her breasts. Suddenly she grabbed my head and pushed between her breasts with all of her force.

Nicki Minaj Takes Lyrical Shots at Mariah Carey: "I'm Quick to Check a Bitch"

Nicki Minaj might have said she'd be down to duet with fellow American Idol judge Mariah Carey, but we know one song they probably won't be harmonizing on: "Hell Yeah," one of the tracks off Nicki's The Re-Up, a re-release of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded that hit stores today.

Ms. Minaj discussed the American Idol incident and, more so, the subsequent involvement by Barbara Walters on Nicki Minaj: My Truth, but breaks it down in this rap—which, by the by, also features a shout out to E! Thanks, girl!

The lyrics: "But you're boring as f--k, though./Why these bitches in the game so cutthroat?/Why they can't just let young Nicki live?/Why they gotta feel the wrath to know Nicki is?"

“Subsidy Remains in 2013…Please Bear With Us” – President Jonathan

Concerning the contentious issue of fuel queues across the country, the President has asked Nigerians to bear with his administration as the government is struggling to get this right.

He however alluded to the fact that part of the problem with the attendant fuel crisis in the country was due to the activities of unscrupulous businessmen who were adamant on hoarding and selling petrol at exorbitant prices wherever possible.

He said, “There is no queue in Benue (Benue Republic), and they get their fuel from Nigeria. However there are queues in Lagos.”

He said, “This situation can manifest in different areas, some people may have the product and decide to manipulate the system so that they can get more money.

“I am asking Nigerians to bear with us. I got the report from the ( Aig) Imokhuede committee on Friday, an advanced copy of the report. The arguments by the marketers is that  it is government that is owing them. (But) the preliminary report we have indicates that they owe the government.

Lagos-Ibadan Expressway: Nigeria sacks Bi-Courtney

Nigeria’s Federal government has terminated the contract concessioning the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway reconstructiona and maintenance to Bi-Courtney Highway Services, headed by the Lagos lawyer, Dr. Wale Babalakin

This development came more than three years after it awarded the road contract to the construction company.

Minister of Works, who announced the termination of the concession this evening, said that adequate measures were taken to ensure that the Federal Government abided by all its contractual obligations.

President Goodluck Jonathan had hinted a possible revocation of the concession at the media chat he had on Sunday.

Arch. Mike Onolememen, the minister of works, who read out a statement to state house correspondents on Monday said “the termination is as a result of serial breaching of the terms” of the concession by Bi-Courtney Highway Services.

13 Dangerous Bus-stops In Lagos

Many bus stops in most cities in the country have become havens for criminals and innocent citizens who use them have bitter tales to tell, where they survive attacks.
Like most commercial cities, Lagos has many dangerous bus stops even though checks revealed that few of them have become relatively safe due to Governor Raji Fashola’s Green Lagos campaign.

To help Lagos commuters and other pedestrians stay off harm’s way, Sunday Sun has identified most of the notorious bus stops that should be used with caution.

Berger bus stop: Danger on long bridge
Reputed for its high criminal rate, investigation revealed that hoodlums operate mainly at the Ojodu-Berger bridge, specifically at Kara, a point after the bridge. According to a newspaper vendor who did not want his name in print, the long bridge is extremely dangerous.

“Nigeria is now home and I’m here to make music” – Prezzo

We’ve been caught up in the on and off romance between Goldie and Prezzo, to the extent we have completely forgotten that the Kenyan, is actually a rapper. And the former Big Brother Africa housemate, who met with American superstar, Jay Z, on a recent trip to New York, confirmed he is relocating to Nigeria to continue work on his music career.
“My purpose of visiting Nigeria is to broaden my musical career and work with a couple of producers here,” he said in an interview on Channels TV.
Prezzo also discussed other important issues when he was guest at the TV station, which includes venturing into Nollywood.

#Aluu4: “Thank you, social media” – David Mark finally shows you some love

Senate President David Mark is a man most Nigerians love to hate. Not without good reason: the last time we heard from him, he was condemning social media and asking for it to be regulated.
Well, what a different a few weeks make.

There was a Senate seating yesterday, in which senators expressed outrage over the gruesome killing of four students of University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Senator Ayogu Eze (Enugu North) had earlier brought a motion entitled: “Motion condemning the murder of students of the University of Port Harcourt and one other person at Omuakiri Village, Aluu, Rivers State.” The motion, which was supported by 90 other senators, was adopted by the senate.

60 Nigerians deported from the UK

It is being reported that at least 60 Nigerians resident in the United Kingdom have been deported because of various criminal offences. While some of the deportees had contravened immigration rules, others were deported for their involvement in crimes such as Molestation, stealing, smoking and selling of hard drugs. Some were also deported because they used fake visa or engaged in fake marriages.
Some of the deportees at the airport said they had lived in the UK for long but could not get residence permit. They narrated their experiences to PM News and gave reasons for their deportation.

Bathlomew Sunday, an indigene of Anambra State, southeast Nigeria, said that he lived in UK for nine years but could not get residence permit. Sunday said he had to engage in a contract marriage to get the permit but was later caught by the British immigration, which deported him to Nigeria. He said he was not allowed to take any of his possessions before he was deported, adding that it was at the airport that he discovered other Nigerians were also deported. Sunday explained that the British government made it difficult for immigrants, especially Nigerians, to get residence permit, saying that they didn’t plan to stay there illegally.

40-year-old woman cuts off rapist’s privates

Monju Begum, a 40-year-old Bangladesh woman stopped an alleged rapist in his tracks when she reportedly cut off his penis and then took it to police as evidence.

According to police, Begam’s neighbor, Mozammel Haq Mazi, forced his way into her shanty and began sexually assaulting her.

Investigators say Begum stopped the attack by cutting off his penis  She then placed the evidence into a polythene bag and took it into police as proof that Mazi had attempted to rape her.

BP accepts record $4.5bn in US fines over 2010 oil spill

 

British energy giant BP said Thursday it had agreed to pay more than $4.5 billion in US fines related to the devastating 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, including a record $4.0 billion to settle criminal claims.
"The aggregate amount of the resolution is approximately $4.5 billion (3.5 billion euros), with payments scheduled over a period of six years," BP said in a statement.
BP said it had agreed a resolution of all criminal claims with the US Department of Justice which includes $4.0 billion to be paid in installments over five years. It said $1.256 billion of the $4.0 billion total were for criminal fines.

Grandfather gets first class in UI - It is never too late to shine

A grandfather, Mr Aderemi Alli, was among the 21 first class graduates produced by the University of Ibadan (UI) at its convocation on Thursday in Ibadan.

The university graduated a total of 1,582 students for the 2011/2012 academic session with 243 graduating in Second Class (Upper Division) and 920, Second Class (Lower Division). A total of 135 of the students graduated with Third Class and 203 Pass.

Alli, 57, was among the three first class graduates produced by the institution’s Faculty of Law.

Ovarian Cancer, Symptoms, and Treatment

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer among women, and it causes more deaths than any other type of female reproductive cancer. Ovarian cancer is rarely diagnosed in its early stages. It is usually quite advanced by the time diagnosis is made

The cause is unknown. The risk for developing ovarian cancer appears to be affected by several factors. The more children a woman has and the earlier in life she gives birth, the lower her risk for ovarian cancer. Certain genes defects (BRCA1 and BRCA2) are responsible for a small number of ovarian cancer cases. Women with a personal history of breast cancer or a family history of breast or ovarian cancer have an increased risk for ovarian cancer.

Women who take estrogen replacement only (not with progesterone) for 5 years or more seem to have a higher risk of ovarian cancer. Birth control pills, however, decrease the risk of ovarian cancer.

Studies suggest that fertility drugs do not increase the risk for ovarian cancer.

Hurricane Sandy: Electricity Boss Resigns Over Failure To Restore Power

The chief operating officer of a utility company in charge of electricity supply in some parts of New York has resigned, following failure of the company to restore power two week after super-storm sandy. 

Michael Hervey is the Chief Operating Officer of the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) which had been heavily criticised for its failure to restore electricity for a long period of time.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that devastated Nassan and Suffolk counties and much of the Rockaways in Queens’ area have remained in the dark.

Applying for a US visa? Vice-Consul reveals two reasons Nigerians are denied visas to US

Vice-Consul, United States Consulate, Lagos, Mr. Christopher Richardson, says many applicants are refused American visas because they have not visited other countries.

Richardson spoke at a seminar on the ‘American Visa Regime: the role of lawyers’ organized by the Immigration Lawyers Forum in Lagos on Tuesday.

He said, “The majority of the visa applicants prefer the US as their first outing. This creates doubt, especially when the applicant has not visited any other countries before.”

Richardson also said applicants were also rejected visas because of the kind of answers they give to test questions during interviews.

RIM INTRODUCES BBM TO BBM VOICE CALLS

According to TECHSUPLEX, in their exclusive interview with one of RIM’s directors, he did say RIM hadd plans to continue to support and bring great features to BlackBerry as we know it before BlackBerry 10 promise kept. BlackBerry have introduced the ability to make voice calls between BBM contacts. The Service which is called BBM voice lets you make voice calls over wifi to BBM contacts by simply tapping the call button while in a chat and you’ll start a voice call. BBM Voice will add some great depth to BBM, providing you the ability to escalate a chat to a voice call when the situation calls for it. This feature should be huge in emerging markets or for anyone calling long distance as there will be no long-distance charges.

Additionally, in BBM you’ll be able to see each users status as well so you’ll know who is available for a call and who isn’t. When on a call you’ll see a split-screen view and can still use any other apps on your device. So you can still use the chat function as well as send pictures within BBM or even check email or use the browser.

BBM Voice is included in BBM version 7 which is available in theBlackBerry Beta Zone that’s now open to Nigeria. If you don’t have a Beta Zone account you can register for one here

See more details in the press release below.

Very educative piece...The Nigerian Church is losing its purpose - by Ayobami Oyalowo

Hosea 4:7-9

New King James Version (NKJV)
7
“The more they increased,
The more they sinned against Me;
I will change their glory into shame.
8
They eat up the sin of My people;
They set their heart on their iniquity.
9
And it shall be: like people, like priest.
So I will punish them for their ways,
And reward them for their deeds.

There has been a lot of tittle-tattle lately as well as so many discordant tunes on the propriety or otherwise of jets and gifts to pastors and men of God. The debates have been loud and raucous with so many people speaking from a position of little or no information. A lot of emotive vibes and outrage, for or against the perceived or real manipulations by men who supposedly have been given charge over the souls of millions, has become public fodder. Everyone appears to be venting their spleen wherever you turn.

But what exactly should we do or say? Supporters of ostentatious and obviously manipulative men of the cloak are quick to put the critics in check by quoting “touch not mine anointed” lines ostensibly to show that men of “God” are above reproach and as such “lesser” men have no right whatsoever to criticize or condemn perceived wrong doings of these high men of “God.” But is this the case? Are these men truly above reproach? Is it biblical for the “under shepherd” to feed fat on the flock while the flock groans and hopes for a better day? All these we shall examine in this piece. Let me appeal that this treatise may exceed the usual length allowed for articles on this blog as it comes laden with supporting Bible passages, but I assure you, it will be worth your while. Take a sip of water and follow me patiently.

And plead with your boss at work to learn from it as well if he frowns at you. Who knows, your boss may have unwittingly contributed to purchasing a Limo, Hummer or Private Jet for his Pastor lately.

Yippeeee.....Nigerian banks stop N100 charge at ATM

According to PM News, Nigeria’s Banker’s Committee on Tuesday in Abuja unanimously agreed to stop interbank ATM charge of N100, about 65 cents

Briefing journalists at the end of their meeting in Abuja, the Managing Director of First Bank, Mr Bisi Onasanya, said the decision was in line with “popular trends’’ in other parts of the world.

“Presently when you use the ATM of a bank other than your bank, there is a charge of N100 which is borne by the account holder.

“We have decided that we will work out the modality and ensure that with immediate effect we would pass on this cost to the respective banks which bear the cost of providing services.

“No matter where you are withdrawing your money from, you will not be subjected to any charge for using the ATM.

According to him, the new policy does not cover withdrawals inside the banking hall when the ATMs are not working.

Student, 27, Emerges Winner Of MTN Aeroplane… Prefers Cash Equivalent Of N64m Instead

A winner has eventually emerged in the MTN Ultimate Wonder Promo where a brand new Cessna 182T aeroplane was the star prize. This is notwithstanding the instruction by NCC that all promotions and lotteries by telecommunications companies be stopped with immediate effect.

According to an announcement on MTN Nigeria’s official Facebook page, Miss Ebube Essien-Garricks, 27, a student, won the prize.

The statement reads:

“We are delighted to announce that Miss Ebube Essien-Garricks, a 27 year old student based in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, has emerged winner of the brand new Cessna 182T AEROPLANE in the MTN Ultimate Wonder Promo which ended today!

“When contacted on phone, Ebube said she would prefer the cash equivalent of N64 million. Lucky girl!

Rihanna bares it all for GQ mag!

This Riri Sha......

Nigerian linked with murder in French Alps

British police said on Monday that they have questioned a Nigerian on suspicion of attempting to defraud a British-Iraqi family who were mysteriously gunned down in the French Alps.

Surrey Police said the man, named by a British newspaper as Nigerian-born Abiodun David John, was arrested three weeks after engineer Saad al-Hilli was found dead in his car with his wife and her elderly mother on September 5.

Detectives are investigating claims that John attempted to access 50-year-old Hilli’s bank accounts by telephone after his death, the Manchester Evening News reported.

Around 100 British and French police officers are investigating the deaths of the family, who lived in an affluent neighbourhood of Surrey, southeast England, and a French cyclist who was shot dead near the BMW estate car.

Hilli’s two young daughters survived the attack.

Ncc Bans Telecommunication Operators From Promotions And LOTTERIES- No more bonuses!!!!

By now, depending on the network you use, you must have received a text message from your network provider stating the above. The Nigeria Communication Commission has banned all telecommunication operator from promotion and lotteries,in a public note signed by the Director of Public affairs.  Below is the text of the statement:

BAN OF ALL PROMOTIONS AND LOTTERIES BY TELECOMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS

The Commission has, in recent times been inundated with several complaints from consumers, Industry Stakeholders against the various promotions offered by Telecommunications Operators.


Consistent with its processes, the Commission has carefully evaluated the complaints received especially against the backdrop of sustaining the integrity of the networks, the general interest of the consumers, the socio-economic impact of these promotions on Operators and other relevant stakeholders.

Best Of Nollywood Awards 2012 Winners list

Nollywood paraded some of its brightest stars at the fifth edition of the Best of Nollywood Awards ceremony which took place at the Tafawa Balewa Square auditorium in Lagos on Sunday, November, 11, 2012.

The three hour event which was hosted by actor, Nonso Diobi and ex-beauty queen, Sylvia Nduka, started with a red carpet reception for the stars in attendance, including Desmond Elliot, Gbenga Adeyinka, Uti Nwachukwu, Alex Ekubo, Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, Halima Abubakar, Laide Bakare, Segun Arinze, Doris Simeon, Susan Peters, Sola Fajobi, Emem Isong and many others.

The likes of Joseph Benjamin, Emem Isong, Ayo Adesanya and a host of other film makers were rewarded in different categories.

Below is a full list of the winners

176 Countries Adopt Pact To Curb Illegal Tobacco Trade

A total of 176 countries on Monday adopted what WHO Director-General Margaret Chan called a ``game-changing’’ global agreement to combat illegal tobacco trade.

The pact was ratified at a meeting in Seoul, South Korea, at the WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The agreement came into force in 2005.

``The treaty envisages an international tracking system which aims to halt the smuggling and counterfeiting of tobacco products, a trade which accounts for 11 per cent of the total tobacco market.

``This would cost governments an estimated 40 billion dollars in lost tax revenue,’’ the WHO said in a statement.

ECOWAS donates $382,000 to Nigeria’s flood victims

The Economic Community for West-African States (ECOWAS) has donated the sum of $382,000, about N60 million to flood victims in the affected 19 states of the federation that were recently inundated.

ECOWAS President, Mr Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo, who made the donation on behalf of the commission noted that the donation is in line with ECOWAS mandate to support and show solidarity with people of the sub-region who are going through a disaster.

According to him ECOWAS is the only sub-regional body with a comprehensive Disaster Risk Response strategy and the gesture is an expression of solidarity and goodwill from the rest of the people of the sub-region.

Exclusive: John McAfee Wanted for Murder

Antivirus pioneer John McAfee is on the run from murder charges, Belize police say. According to Marco Vidal, head of the national police force's Gang Suppression Unit, McAfee is a prime suspect in the murder of American expatriate Gregory Faull, who was gunned down Saturday night at his home in San Pedro Town on the island of Ambergris Caye.

Details remain sketchy so far, but residents say that Faull was a well-liked builder who hailed originally from California. The two men had been at odds for some time. Last Wednesday, Faull filed a formal complaint against McAfee with the mayor's office, asserting that McAfee had fired off guns and exhibited "roguish behavior." Their final disagreement apparently involved dogs.

UPDATE: Here is the official police statement:

Samsung Galaxy S III dethrones iPhone as world's top seller

For years tech pundits have been searching for an "iPhone" killer -- a mythical new device that would dethrone Apple's mighty handset as the most admired or popular smartphone.

It may be already here.

For the first time, Samsung's Galaxy S III overtook Apple's iPhone 4S to become the world's best-selling smartphone model for the third quarter (July through September) of 2012, according to new research by Strategy Analytics.

The Galaxy S III shipped 18 million units worldwide, compared with 16.2 million for the iPhone 4S. That's 11% of all smartphones shipped on the planet.