Teach Children Web Risks Sooner, Say Experts

Children are "way ahead" of their parents when it comes to adopting new technology and should be warned about the dangers of the internet at a younger age, the Government's cyber safety tsar has said.

Baroness Shields, the former head of Facebook's Europe division, has warned children should be informed about cyber-bullying and grooming sooner.

Her remarks come as a YouGov poll revealed that 91% of youngsters are using the Internet at least once a week by the time they are eight-years-old - even though on average, parents usually only start to discuss online dangers with their children when they are nine.

She said: "Let's face the facts, just about the time you understand what apps they are using they say 'No, that's way gone mum. I'm on to something else'.

"Kids are constantly using this device to discover new things, which is actually brilliant and liberating and enlightening and exciting in terms of education and opportunities - but at the same time, they have got to tread carefully and parents need to know what it takes for them to tread carefully."

Claire Lilley, head of child safety for the NSPCC, believes parents should be talking to their children "as soon as they start using the devices".

The charity has formed a partnership with O2 to offer children an Internet safety helpline staffed by trained advisors, which can offer advice on the dangers of sites which endorse suicide, eating disorders and self-harm.

Baroness Shields added that although children need to be more aware of the risks associated with the Internet, they should still be able "to explore the Internet fearlessly" at a young age.

France train attack: Talks in Paris to debate security

Calls for tighter security on the railways are to be discussed by European ministers and officials, following the foiled attack on a high-speed Amsterdam-Paris train last week.

Passengers overpowered a heavily armed man and pinned him to the floor. French prosecutors have filed charges against Ayoub El-Khazzani, 25.

UK Home Secretary Theresa May is among those attending the talks in Paris.

France is understood to want tighter security measures.

Questions have been raised about how someone was able to board the train in Brussels carrying an assault rifle, 270 rounds of ammunition, a handgun, a box-cutter and petrol.

'Control mechanism'

Saturday's meeting will include ministers from France, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.

Our correspondent says ideas to be raised at Saturday's talks include:

• Airport-style metal-detectors on some international trains
• More armed security personnel
• Greater information exchange so that destination countries know when a suspect is heading their way

Announcing the meeting, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said: "We must see if we can put in place a mechanism that allows control at airports, in transportation, in a more co-ordinated manner."

Any recommendations from the meeting will be debated first by a European rail security working group on 11 September and then by EU transport ministers meeting on 7-8 October.

Mr Khazzani is accused of carrying out a "targeted and premeditated" jihadist attack.

No-one died in the incident, although two passengers who helped to overpower the gunman were injured in the struggle.

Three Americans and one Briton have been awarded the Legion d'honneur by President Francois Hollande for their bravery, with awards for four more on the train likely to follow.

Mr Khazzani is said to have denied plotting a terrorist attack, saying he found a bag of weapons the night before and planned to use them to rob passengers.

However, prosecutor Francois Molins said his explanation became less clear during questioning and eventually he stopped talking altogether.

Al-Jazeera Journalists Jailed For Three Years

Three Al-Jazeera journalists have been sentenced to three years in jail by judges at a court in Egypt.

Mohamed Fahmy, Baher Mohammed and Peter Greste were sentenced at a retrial for "spreading false news" and other offences.

Fahmy, a Canadian, and Mohammed, an Egyptian, were in court, but Greste, an Australian, had been deported to Australia in February.

Immediately after the ruling, Fahmy's wife, Marwa, began crying. Others sobbed loudly.

Judge Hassan Farid said he jailed the three in part because they weren't registered with the country's journalist syndicate.

He explained that the journalists brought equipment without the approval of security officials into Egypt.

The three also spread "false news" and used a hotel as a broadcasting point without permission, the judge added.

After the verdict, Greste tweeted: "Shocked. Outraged. Angry. Upset. None of them convey how I feel right now.

"3 yr sentences for @bahrooz, @MFFahmy11 and me is so wrong."

He told Al-Jazeera, from Sydney, that he believed an Egyptian appeals court would overturn the verdict.

Al-Jazeera English acting director-general Mostefa Souag said the sentence "defies logic and common sense".

"The whole case has been heavily politicized and has not been conducted in a free and fair manner," Mr Souag said.

"There is no evidence proving that our colleagues in any way fabricated news or aided and abetted terrorist organisations and at no point during the long drawn out retrial did any of the unfounded allegations stand up to scrutiny."

Amnesty International condemned the sentences, calling them the "death knell for freedom of expression in Egypt."

Amal Clooney, wife of actor George Clooney, represented Fahmy in court.

Outside court, she called for Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al Sisi to quash the sentences and convictions.

The case began in December 2013, when Egyptian security forces raided the upscale hotel suite used by Al-Jazeera to report from Egypt.

Authorities arrested Fahmy, Greste and Mohammed, later charging them with allegedly being part of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The Brotherhood, an Islamist movement, had been declared a terrorist organisation by authorities and the three were accused of airing falsified footage.

Al-Jazeera and the journalists denied the allegations, saying they were simply reporting the news.

The three men were convicted on 23 June, 2014, with Greste and Fahmy sentenced to seven years in prison and Mohammed to 10 .

The verdict brought a landslide of international condemnation.

The country's highest appeals court, later ordered their retrial, saying the initial proceedings were marred by violations of the defendants' rights.

Egypt deported Greste in February, though he remained charged in the case. Fahmy and Mohammed were later released on bail.

Two Indian sisters to be raped as punishment after their brother ran off with married woman

2 sisters have been sentenced to be raped as punishment after their brother ran off with a married woman. An unelected all-male village council in India also ordered that 23-year-old Meenakshi Kumari and her 15-year-old sister are paraded naked with blackened faces.

The horrific order was revealed by Amnesty International which said the sisters and their family have fled their village in the Baghpat district, just outside of Delhi.

According to news site Zee Media, the sisters' brother Ravi fell in love with a girl from the Jat caste, a higher social caste than Ravi and his family, who are Dalit, once known as the 'untouchables', who are at the bottom of India's caste system.

The Jat woman's family married her off to someone else in February but she later escaped and eloped with Ravi in March.

As punishment, on July 31 a village council decided Ravi's sisters should be raped to avenge his actions.

Since the family fled their village their home has been ransacked.

Sumit Kumar, another brother of Meenakshi, told Amnesty that members of the Jat caste were powerful members of the village council, saying: "The Jat decision is final."

His family fears for their lives if they return. Meenakshi has filed a petition with India's Supreme Court asking for protection.

Meanwhile her father has also lodged a complaint with two national bodies saying he has been harassed by the family of the Jat woman and by police.

They are also worried about the safety of the Jat woman, who is believed to be pregnant with Ravi's child.
Amnesty International has launched a petition calling on India's authorities intervene immediately and protect the two sisters.

In an appeal, Amnesty said: "Unelected village councils such as this are widespread in parts of India.

"More often than not they are made up of older men from dominant castes, who prescribe rules for social behaviour and interaction in villages.

"Nothing could justify this abhorrent punishment. It's not fair. It's not right. And it's against the law."

Source-Amnesty International

‘President will balance appointments,’ Femi Adesina says

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has said that the president is aware of the Federal Character rule and will apply it in his appointments.

Adesina also said that Buhari’s appointments would balance out very soon amidst outrage over a seeming bias towards the North.

Many Nigerians spoke out against the president’s seemingly lopsided appointments after he appointed four more officials from the north on Thursday, August 27, 2015.

Adesina addressed the issue on Friday, August 28, 2015, while speaking on “Political Platform”, a programme on radio station, RayPower.

He said:

“Nobody can fault the fact that the persons appointed were appointed on merits. In terms of the spread, the President has prerogative to appoint and he knows there is federal character. I am sure that there will be balance in the future. These are still early days. At the end of the day, we will have a balance.”“By the time more appointments are made, it will balance out. The President is trying to get the very best of Nigerians. The issue of key positions and no key positions should not be the issue. He gave a deadline of September for the appointment of ministers ‎and he will keep to it.”

See what Femi Fani Kayode thinks of all the political appointments in Nigeria so far

This is what Femi Fani Kayode thinks of all the political appointments in Nigeria so far. He shared this on his Facebook wall this morning. See below...

1. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria - north. 2.Senate President- north. 3. Speaker of the House of Representatives- north. 4. Chief Justice of the Federation- north. 5. President of the Court of Appeal- north. Continue to see the full post

6. Chief Justice of the Federal High Court- north.7. Secretary to the Federal Government- north.8. Chief of Staff to the President- north.9. Chief of Army Staff- north.10. Chief of Air Staff- north.11. Comptroller General of Customs- north.12. Director-General of State Security Services (SSS)- north.13. National Security Advisor- north.14. Director General NIMASA- north.15. Chairperson of the Independant Electoral Commission (INEC)- north.16. Comptroller-General Immigration- north.17. Accountant-General of the Federation - north.18. Commander of Civil Defence Corps- north.19. Chief Security Officer to the President- north.20. ADC to the President- north.21. Principal Secretary to the President- north.22. Senior Special Assistant to the President on media- north.23. Chairman of the EFCC- north.
24. Head of Service- north.
25. MD of Nigerian Ports Authority- north.26.DG of Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC)- north.27. Chairman NDLEA- north.

NIGERIANS WANTED ''CHANGE'' AND NOW WE HAVE GOT IT. NO-ONE SHOULD COMPLAIN BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT OUR PEOPLE WANTED. THOSE OF US THAT WARNED THE COUNTRY THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN WERE INSULTED AND LAMPOONED. NOW WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR CHOICE FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS. WELCOME TO THE NEW NIGERIA.

WELCOME TO ''CHANGE''.

Buhari appoints Secretary to the Govt, Chief of Staff, others

Below is a press statement...

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the following appointments:
Engr. Babachir David Lawal – Secretary to the Government of the Federation
Alhaji Abba Kyari – Chief of Staff to the President
Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd.) – Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service
Mr. Kure Martin Abeshi – Comptroller-General, Nigerian Immigration Service
Senator Ita S.J. Enang – SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate)

Hon. Suleiman A. Kawu – SSA to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives)

The appointments are with effect from  August 27, 2015.
Engr. Lawal, the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation hails from Hong Local Government Area, Adamawa State. He graduated from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree and worked with the Delta Steel Company, Aladja, Nigerian External Telecommunications Limited and Data Sciences Limited before establishing his own ICT and Telecommunications consulting firm in 1990. He is also a member of the Nigeria Computer Society, the Nigeria Society of Engineers and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria.

Alhaji Abba Kyari, the new Chief of Staff to the President holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of Cambridge and the University of Warwick in Law and Sociology. He has worked with the New Nigeria Development Company, New Africa Holdings, African International Bank, United Bank for Africa, Unilever, and Mobil in various capacities over the years.

The new Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Ali holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Criminology. He was military administrator of Kaduna State from 1996 to 1998.

The new Comptroller- General of Immigration, Mr. Abeshi hails from Nasarawa State. He joined the Nigerian Immigration Service in 1989 as an Assistant Comptroller. His educational qualifications include a Masters Degree in Public Administration.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
August 27, 2015

No missing money, NDDC boss tells Buhari; tackles Auditor-General

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NNDC, Managing Director, Mr. Dan Abia, yesterday, met with President Muhammadu Buhari for the first time since issues of funds misappropriation to the tune of N183.7 billion was raised by the Auditor-General of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura, against the commission, stating that the allegation was completely false.

Following an audit report on NDDC from 2008 to 2012, Ukura had said the commission had a case to answer.
Briefing journalists after a meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abia said no money was missing and he also dissociated himself from issues of contract splitting.

He said:

“It is only proper that we should come and brief the President. I requested to meet Mr. President in my capacity as the Managing Director of NDDC. I was not summoned as reported in the media. We briefed the President on our mandate.

“As far as the audited account of NDDC is concerned, how many of us know that the audited account under reference refers to 2008 to 2012? I was not the Managing Director then. Let’s get that the facts clear.

“The second one, on not having assets, I do not know from when to when. On principle, I came to brief Mr. President properly. “Let me assure you that even by the admission of the auditor General, no N180 billion is missing.

“The Office of the Auditor General is a government agency. We shall engage the office and proper record will be strengthened. I said that even before the President that no N180 billion is missing. “Let me also tell you that I cannot be a party to contract splitting. NDDC is a very unique institution; we have a budgeting process.

“Those people that are now crying where were they when NDDC was not having project up till the end of the year.”

Vanguard

World Bank offers FG $140m for community projects and development

The World Bank on Wednesday said it would soon start the disbursement of $140m under its assisted Community and Social Development Project to 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The bank, in a statement issued in Abuja said about $200m (N39.4bn) had been disbursed under the first phase of the project, thus bringing the total amount provided under the programme to $340m.

It said the States that benefit from the additional financing will focus on the most vulnerable households in poor communities in the country.

Anambra, Kaduna and Sokoto states, it added will also be given additional funds.

 

The statement said the additional financing was expected to fund micro-project facilities such as rehabilitation and construction of school class rooms, health centres, clinics and skills acquisition.

 

Others are rural electrification, rural transport, community water schemes, community housing schemes and rural market infrastructure.

 

It gave a list of vulnerable groups that would also benefit from special grants as internally displaced poor persons, marginalised or chronically poor households, widows and the physically challenged.

 

The World Bank Task Team Leader for the project, Foluso Okunmadewa in the statement, stated:

“This project will not only help vulnerable people in the short term, including those in conflict-affected areas, but will also help build and rebuild long-lasting partnership between local governments and communities.

In addition, it will help integrate communities as well as make smart investments in people for the future.

“The first phase of the World Bank funding of the Community Social Development Project, which benefited over 5,600 communities and about two million people in 26 states of the federation, was fully disbursed by December 2014.”

 

 

Punch

Age limit disqualified me from youth corps – Obasanjo

Former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, said he would have loved to participate in the National Youth Service Corps, but was disqualified because of his age.
Obasanjo who graduated from National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN with a degree in Theology, said;

”Somebody wrote me a letter when he got to know that I have graduated from NOUN, he wanted me to do national youth service, but unfortunately for him there is age limit.”

The former President was decorated as Grand  Patron of NOUN Alumni Association at a meeting with the executives of the NOUN Alumni Association, led by Mr Phil Colman, President and Mr Ayeni Olutope, Southwest Vice-President at his Hilltop residence, in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo, in his remarks said the establishment of  NOUN, has presented a unique opportunity for Nigerians to have access to higher education in the country.

He also said that the academic and professional issues  surrounding the accreditation of law course being offered at the NOUN by the National University Commission and the Nigerian Law School would soon be taken care of.

He  also said that law graduates of the University would have opportunity to undergo compulsory one year programme at Nigerian Law School.

The Ogun State chairman of NOUN, Chief Bode Mustapha, in his remarks urged Nigerians to make use of the NOUN opportunity. He stated that the institution has prominent graduates like  the Royal father, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona as a law student and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Governor of Osun State as student of Theology.



Vanguard

South Africa rand hits all-time low against the dollar

South Africa's currency has fallen to an all-time low against the US dollar.

It briefly hit a rate of 14 to the dollar amid concerns about the strength of the Chinese economy, reports the Reuters news agency.

Economies that rely on the sale of commodities - such as South Africa's - have been hit by the slowdown in growth in China, a major source of demand.

The problem was compounded when China unexpectedly devalued its currency earlier this month.

The rand is particularly vulnerable because it is one of the globe's most highly traded emerging market currencies, South African economist Martyn Davies told the BBC.

He added that South Africa's central bank will find it hard to defend the currency against a slide in value, instead the government needs to address some of the fundamental economic issues such as the problems in the power sector.

Up To 20 People Killed In Air Show Disaster

The number of people killed in the Shoreham air crash could rise to 20, police have said.

A crane has been lifting wreckage from the scene of the accident on the A27 amid fears several bodies will be found. 

Police said on Sunday that 11 people were "highly likely" to have died - but they are now communicating with relatives of missing people and admit the number may rise sharply. 

A picture taken moments before the crash shows about a dozen people watching Shoreham Airshow from a former pub on the verge of the A27 - yards from where the plane came down in West Sussex.

The fate of those watching is unclear.

The pub - formerly the Sussex Pad - was bought by Lancing College, a prestigious boarding school for boys. 

It is understood it is has been converted into boys' dormitories, though it is unlikely any pupils were there during the summer holidays.

The Civil Aviation Authority has said "significant" restrictions on UK air shows are now being brought in amid calls for changes following the crash.

Displays by vintage jets over land will be limited to flypasts, which means high energy acrobatics are banned.

Three victims have so far been named. Matthew Grimstone, 23, was on his way to play in a match for Worthing United with teammate Jacob Schilt and personal trainer Matt Jones, 24.

Some 14 people were injured, with four taken to hospital, after the jet crashed at about 1.20pm on Saturday.

The task of lifting debris comes amid stories from survivors who drove through the fireball.  

Vivien Ayling, 64, was on the road in West Sussex when the 1950s Hawker Hunter aircraft crashed.

She told The Sun: "I saw it coming towards me, head-on. All I thought was, 'I need to get away fast'."

She drove through smoke and flames before stopping her Citroen to look back at the scene, and then driving on to work at a supermarket.

The A27 will remain closed for some days as recovery teams sift through debris strewn over 400 metres where the jet ploughed into the ground. The road will need major repairs. 

Sussex assistant chief constable Steve Barry said: "The plan is for the plane to be moved and then for the recovery to continue.

"The plane needs to be made safe. There are issues around fuel in the aircraft still and there is an issue around making sure the ejector seat is still safe."

The accident happened after the jet failed to pull out of an aerial loop in front of 20,000 spectators.

He was pulled from the wreckage and it is not known whether he activated the ejector seat.

Although pilot error is one possible cause of the crash, investigators are also looking at the possibility mechanical failure was to blame.

An appeal has been put out for members of the public who may have photographed the disaster to come forward.

EFCC chairman accused of diverting N1trillion loot recovered from corrupt politicians

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Lamorde, has been accused of diverting over N1tn recovered from corrupt politicians who forfeited their loots. A man named George Uboh recently petitioned the Senate, accusing the chairman of the anti-graft agency of diverting money recovered from corrupt politicians including former Governor of Bayelsa State, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; and ex-Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun.

The Senate having received the petition which was dated July 31st, ordered its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate the allegations. Both the petitioner and Mr Lamorde have been invited to appear by the Senate committee at Meeting Room 120 of the New Senate Building, National Assembly Complex, on Wednesday August 26th for some questioning.

According to the petition which was addressed to Senate President Bukola Saraki, Mr Lamorde is accused of carrying out many diversions while he served as the Director of Operations of the EFCC between 2003 and 2007 and also as an acting Chairman of the commission between June 2007 and May 2008.

The petitioner alleged that in March 2013, the EFCC boss diverted the sum of N779m out of the total N3bn forfeited by former police chief, Tafa Balogun to the Federal Government. He also alleged that the EFCC boss conspired with some officials of the anti-graft agency to under-remit the former IG’s forfeited funds of about N5.85bn into the Consolidated Revenue Account by holding back about N2.65bn.

The petitioner assured the Senate that he was ready to provide unparalleled evidence to back his allegations against Lamorde. Both men are expected to appear before the Senate by 10am on Wednesday August 26th.

Source: Punch

Late Ooni of Ife’s wives banned from re-marrying...

According to a Palace Chief who spoke anonymously, the wives of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II, by tradition cannot re- marry as its forbidden, they can only be inherited by the new Ooni. This order was prescribed by the Ife tradition since the Ooni is not considered dead but to have transited to a higher realm.

“The rule is general and applies to all Ooni that has passed on and not peculiar to the wives of Oba Sijuwade, the immediate past Ooni. There may not be a clearly defined repercussion against the tradition but it is advisable that the order is obeyed at all times and for all generations. The best that can happen to the Oloris left behind by any late Ooni is for them to remain single or be inherited by the reigning Ooni. Whether the wives are young or old does not matter, what matters is that the tradition must be sustained in the overall interest of the society.” the source said