Thursday, October 9, 2014
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Ebola outbreak: Experimental drug arrives in Liberia
ZMAPP
A consignment of experimental Ebola drugs has arrived by plane in Liberia to treat two doctors suffering from the virus, which has killed more than 1,000 people across four West African countries.
The drug, ZMapp, arrived in two boxes on a commercial flight from the United States carried by Liberia's foreign affairs minister, Augustine Ngafuan, and was unloaded at the VIP terminal, a Reuters witness said.
It will be taken to a hospital in the capital and administered to Liberian doctors Zukunis Ireland and Abraham Borbor, who officials said contracted the disease while attending to patients, including a late colleague.
The world's worst outbreak of Ebola has claimed the lives of 1,069 people and there are 1,975 probable and suspected cases - the vast majority in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - according to new figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Three people have died in Nigeria.
The UN health agency says only about 10 to 12 doses of the drug have been made and this raises difficult ethical questions about who should get priority access.
The doctors will be the first Africans to receive it, although it has been given to a Spanish priest, who later died, and two US aid workers who are reported to have shown signs of recovery.
Authorities are also concerned that ZMapp's unproven status could leave them open to the charge that humans are being used as guinea pigs.
"This is not the panacea to the problem. It is at the risk of the patient," Liberia's assistant health minister, Tolbert Nyenswah, told journalists at Monrovia's main airport.
Information minister Lewis Brown told Reuters the drug merely offered a "glimmer of hope" and its use was little more than a gamble.
Even so, the clamour for it is strong given the contagious haemorrhagic disease is killing more than half of its victims and there is no known cure or vaccine.
"I welcome it. It is very good. Our nurses are dying. If you bring them the medication it will make them stronger to fight Ebola," Monrovian stationery seller James Liburd said.
Sierra Leonean doctor dies
In evidence of the ethical dilemma, Melvin Korkor, the first Liberian doctor to survive Ebola, said he would not have used ZMapp when he was fighting for his life because US authorities said they were not responsible for any adverse effects.
One of the epidemic's most tragic consequences is the toll on healthcare workers, who rushed in only to become infected themselves due to inadequate protection measures or diagnoses of patients that came too late or were inaccurate.
The WHO said this week 170 healthcare workers had been infected and at least 81 had died.
Sierra Leonean doctor Modupeh Cole became the latest medical practitioner to die of Ebola, a health ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
He contracted the disease after treating a patient who later proved to have the virus and died. The country's leading Ebola doctor, Shek Umar Khan, also died last month.
Eight Chinese health workers are in quarantine in Sierra Leone because they may have contracted Ebola, according to the spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Freetown, Xu Zhou.
The seven doctors and one nurse treated patients at two Chinese-run hospitals in Freetown who later died from Ebola.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
TOP TEN BEST CARS FOR WOMEN (2014)
1.Hyundai Accent 2014
The Accent may be Hyundai's entry-level model, but it sure doesn't look the part. Seductive styling and a bevy of standard features compliment the car's miserly yet peppy 4-cylinder engine, the latter backed by one of the industry's best standard warranties. The competition is clearly feeling the heat as we've seen recent improvements in both styling and content made to cars like the Nissan Versa, Honda Fitand Ford Fiesta. Of course, we think the Accent still has the advantage over many rivals in the area of looks, features and ride comfort. From its bright colors to its high-powered standard audio system to its rich 2-tone interior, the Accent scores big in the categories most important to younger buyers. Did we mention the 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty?
2.Toyota Prius c 2014
As the smallest and least expensive hybrid in the Toyota family, the 2014 Toyota Prius C makes owning a hybrid affordable on almost any budget. With a starting price under $20,000, the Prius C is considerably less expensive than the VW Golf TDI diesel, yet it can still accommodate five passengers, has a spacious cargo area and offers more fluid styling then the Prius liftback. Best of all, the Prius C is supremely miserly, attaining a 50 mpg combined city/highway fuel economy figure. While it's not as fun to drive as the 45-mpg Ford Fiesta, the Prius C can be driven solely on electric power for short distances, making it the greenest of the subcompact set.
3.Toyota Corolla 2014
Toyota argues that the Toyota Corolla is all-new for 2014, but that's a mixed truth. With roomy seating for five, the front-wheel-drive 4-door looks all-new, and its interior is certainly newer and nicer than ever. But the mechanicals include the Corolla's tried-and-true 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and the true-but-tired twist-beam axle rear-suspension setup, both deeply refined but neither revolutionized. Competitors like the segment-leading Honda Civic, the Ford Focus and the new Mazda3 all have something tempting to lure compact-sedan buyers away from a Corolla – even an all-new one – but none of them can match the no surprises, bread-and-butter goodness of a Toyota Corolla.
4.Scion xD 2014
The xD is a compact hatchback from Toyota's youth-oriented Scion brand. While younger drivers will be attracted to the xD's funky exterior styling and sub-$17,000 starting price, this small car can appeal to a wide range of buyers thanks to its flexible interior space and good fuel economy. The 5-passenger 2014 Scion xD can also offer peace of mind with its history of reliability, two years of complimentary maintenance and high resale value. That said, the xD's light has dimmed in recent years amid fresher competitors. The Kia Rio 5-door, for instance, continues to innovate, while the xD lags with an aging powertrain and 4-speed automatic transmission. Likewise, the Nissan VersaNote appeals with a lower price and higher fuel economy, and the Fiat 500L offers Euro charm.
5.Ford Fiesta 2014
The 2014 ford fiesta may be the only american sub-compact that can truly stand up to the honda fit andtoyota yaris. slick eurostyle looks, outstanding fuel economy and true fun-to-drive chassis tuning do the trick. the fiesta also loads on features unexpected in this class, including wild interior and exterior colors, a version of ford's sync infotainment system and a dual-clutch automatic transmission. the ford fiesta is available as a 4-door sedan and a 5-door hatchback, in s, se and titanium trim levels. a new high-performance hatch-only st model joins the line this year, with a turbocharged 1.6-liter ecoboost engine. also new is an available 1.0-liter 3-cylinder ecoboost engine that ford says is the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid on the market.
6.Nissan Versa 2014
for 2014, the nissan versa offers a schizophrenic aspect. the sedan version is uninspiring but best-selling older tech, while the 5-door hatchback offers new tech and a wider array of features. the 2014 versa sedan claims to be the roomiest car in its class, and it remains the least-expensivenew car you can buy with its $12,780 starting price unchanged from last year. add in fuel economy of up to 40 mpg, and the versa looks even more sensible. little is changed this year on the sedan versions other than chassis tuning and some equipment offerings, but the all-new and very stylish 5-door different
7.Toyota Yaris 2014
The 2014 yaris is toyota's least-expensive car. that in itself may be a strong enough proposition for buyers simply seeking cheap, basic, reliable transportation. and in those respects the yaris continues to succeed. but newer, more exciting and better-equipped subcompact hatchbackcompetitors abound. rivals like the chevrolet sonic, nissan versa note, ford fiesta, hyundai accent and kia rio offer powertrains that are more powerful and/or more fuel-efficient, in addition to creature comforts such as heated seats and navigation that are not available on the yaris. the yaris is adequate for those who just want a basic, no-hassle car with toyota's reputation for quality and good resale value. but even in this price-sensitive segment, more appealing cars are fighting for your consideration.
8.scion iQ 2014
the 2014 Scion iQ is among a crop of tiny cars that emphasize high fuel economy, low entry cost and stylish design. Like the Fiat 500 and Chevrolet Spark, the iQ boasts youthful looks and more refinement than the Smart Fortwo. When that latter car arrived in the U.S. in 2008, its toy-like dimensions drew quizzical looks, but now these microcars are gaining wider acceptance. This is especially true in crowded cities, where the iQ excels as a runabout that can squeeze into the tightest parking spots. If your needs focus on highway cruising or ferrying more than one extra passenger, the iQ's size is a detriment, but if you just require an inexpensive and efficient errand runner, the iQ begins to look like an intelligent choice.
9.Chevrolet Spark 2014
1O.Chevrolet Spark EV 2014
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Nigeria: Abuja blast in Wuse district
Nigeria: Abuja blast in Wuse district
Bomb blast hits Banex Plaza, Wuse II Abuja
An explosion has struck a busy shopping district of Nigeria's capital, Abuja, killing at least 21 people.
The explosion was in the capital's Wuse district, near the popular Banex plaza shopping complex, and could be heard from miles away.
It is not yet clear what was behind the explosion. The military and emergency services have been sent to the area.
Islamist militant group Boko Haram has bombed targets across northern Nigeria in recent years.
"After a preliminary investigation we can confirm that 21 people were killed and 17 injured," police spokesman Frank Mba told reporters.
Chiamaka Oham, who was near the site of the blast, told the reporters "We heard a really loud noise and the building shook, and people started screaming and running out.'Covered in blood'
"We saw the smoke and people covered in blood. It was just chaos."
Eyewitnesses at the scene described seeing body parts scattered across the area.
The area was packed with shoppers at the time of the blast, the BBC's Hausa service editor Mansur Liman reports.
Many cars outside the shopping complex were burnt out and many windows were shattered, he adds.
One man told the BBC his driver was killed in the blast: "I was in the complex when I saw that the ground was shaking. I saw my driver dead and a lot of casualties."
Police spokesman Frank Mba said he could not provide details of the nature or extent of the damage.Manzo Ezekiel, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, told AFP news agency: "You can see smoke billowing from the sky. It's a very crowded place."
"Our most important assignment now is to secure lives, secure the crime scene and actually carry out preliminary investigations," he added.
Boko Haram has staged previous attacks in Abuja, but most of its targets have been in the north-east of the country.
In April, more than 70 people were killed in a bomb blast at a bus stop on the outskirts of the capital in an attack claimed by Boko Haram.
The group also said it was behind a car bomb attack near a bus station in the suburbs in May, which killed at least 19 people and injured 60 others.
The group has hit Abuja several times before, including an attack on the United Nations national headquarters in 2011.
It has become a source of growing international concern since the recent abduction of more than 200 girls from a school in northern Nigeria.
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
PLANE MISSING FROM NIGERIA TO GABON MISSING
Plane flying from Nigeria to Gabon missing
A four-seater plane flying from Nigeria to Gabon via Cameroon has gone missing. The plane, owned by US company, Global Aviation, took off from Kano Airport around 6pm yesterday Monday June 23rd and was billed to make a stop over at Doula Cameroon before continuing to Gabon to arrive at 11pm but it never arrived at Doula, Cameroonian Aviation authorities have said. Only an American pilot was on-board.
The Gabon Aviation authorities say the last contact they had with the plane was when it was in Mongo which is a 2-hour flight from the Cameroonian economic capital. Search & Rescue operation has so far not yielded any result but the search operation still continues.
FUNNY NIGERIAN LAWMAKERS
Edo Assembly Crisis: Sitting Stalled As Lawmakers Fail To Resolve Impasse
EDO STATE OF NIGERIA LAWMAKERS
The stalemate in Edo State House of Assembly entered its 3rd week yesterday as all the members of the house, including the four purportedly suspended and other members of the house from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), reporting for sitting.
Unsurprisingly, there was a scuffle in front of the gate as APC lawmakers attempted to stop the four suspended lawmakers from entering the chambers while the suspended ones, Friday Ogierakhi, Patrick Osayimen, Jude Ise-Idehen and Festus Ebea, and the other PDP members, also tried to stop the APC lawmakers from entering the chamber, claiming that some of them were also under suspension.
As the disagreement raged on, the lawmakers gathered and sat in front of the entrance, hoping that impasse would be resolved for proper legislative duties.
At the time of filing this report yesterday, all the lawmakers were still in front of the entrance gate into the assembly with their vehicles parked along Airport Road while policemen took control of adjoining roads apparently to prevent the break down of law and order.
However, the senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Domingo Obende, yesterday condemned the actions of the PDP lawmakers in the assembly who, he alleged, were being “sponsored from Abuja.”
In a statement made available to journalists in Benin City yesterday, Obende said: “I have watched with dismay the happenings in our dear state House of Assembly and I am embarrassed by what some supposed honourable members have been doing. They have turned themselves to dishonourable lawmakers by not complying with a suspension order duly carried out in accordance to their House rules and they have also flagrantly disobeyed a valid court order restraining them from entering the assembly.
“This is a deliberate ploy to destabilise the House and delay legislative activities at the detriment of the people.”
I urge the APC members to be steadfast and continue to be on the side of the law and people of Edo state. All these are to cause crisis in the state and our great party APC. I urge all members of our party to be vigilant and continue to support the good works the Comrade Governor is doing in Edo State.
“We have seen the difference between light and darkness in this state and we cannot now allow them to draw us back. The APC has shown how development can be taken to the people wherever they as can be seen by the unprecedented development the government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has brought to us”
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