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George Weah Liberian presidential candidates George Weah and Vice-President Joseph Boakai dominated provisional results released by the country's National Electoral Commission (NEC) on Thursday. The results, however, shows that a vast majority of votes are yet to be counted. First round According to analysts, former world best footballer Weah and Boakai are expected to top the first round of voting, though former Coca-Cola executive Alexander Cummings is considered to have eaten into their support. Bong county, the only county with more than 30 percent of votes counted, showed Boakai and Weah neck-and-neck with a slight advantage on Weah's side. Weah was also leading in Montserrado county, his stronghold, which although just 14.8 percent of ballots have been counted dwarfs Liberia's other counties in representing 778,000 voters. Run-off If no candidate wins over 50 percent of the presidential vote nationwide, a run-off between the top two contenders will be held on November

•BREAKING: Tom Begaye entered his new plea at a hearing in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque as family members of the girl cried. ALBUQUERQUE, NM — A man charged with abducting, sexually assaulting and murdering an 11-year-old girl on the largest American Indian reservation pleaded guilty Tuesday. More than a year after Ashlynne Mike was killed in Navajo Nation, Tom Begaye entered his new plea at a hearing in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque as family members of Mike cried. Sentencing will be held at a later date. Ashlynne's father, Gary Mike, said after the hearing that the case was like a roller coaster ride. "I'm glad this didn't go to trial," he said.  Asked if he had a message for Begaye , Mike paused, tried to hold back tears and said, "I can't now." Begaye lured the girl into his van in May 2016 and sexually assaulted her, prosecutors said. She was reported missing, but an Amber Alert didn't go out in the state until the next day. She w

Rwanda's military routinely tortures detainees with beatings, asphyxiations, mock executions and electric shocks, Human Rights Watch alleged Tuesday, ramping up accusations of serious abuses that have dogged the government over the years. A new report by the rights group describes unlawful detentions in military camps and widespread torture, including tying objects to inmates' genitals. There is "an environment of total impunity" in the small East African nation, with judges and prosecutors ignoring complaints from current and former detainees about ill treatment, the report says. "Research over a number of years demonstrates that military officials in Rwanda can use torture whenever they please," Human Rights Watch's Ida Sawyer said in a statement. Many victims have given up "all hope for justice." Rwandan officials routinely deny such allegations. The country's justice minister and military spokesman did not respond to calls for comment T

First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan has claimed that her foundation Aruera Reachout Foundation, spent over N3.5bn for the treatment of 700 children and adults with heart-related ailments. She, therefore, thumbed down the allegations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that she used her foundation to launder stolen funds. Patience, who is the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, said this in a statement by her Chief Press Secretary, Belema Meshack-Hart, on Thursday. Mrs. Jonathan said her foundation "is a non-governmental established in 2006." The statement added, "Till date, over 700 children have benefited from the Aruera Reachout Foundation, this alone cost the foundation billions, it is not news that the logistics involved in the treatment of heart disease cost over N5m per child. "This demonstrates the caring and maternal nature of Nigeria's former first lady. God has used her as an instrument to positively touch the lives of some of our na

The President of the World Bank Group, Jim Yong Kim, on Thursday said President Muhammadu Buhari asked the body to concentrate on the Northern part of Nigeria. The President made the disclosure while speaking at a conference in Washington DC, United States, US. Kim also advised Buhari to invest in things that would enhance Nigeria's economic growth. Kim said, "You know, in my very first meeting with President Buhari, he said specifically that he would like us to shift our focus to the northern region of Nigeria and we've done that. Now, it has been very difficult. The work there has been very difficult. "I think Nigeria, of course, has suffered from the dropping oil prices. I think things are just now getting better. "But the conversation we need to have with Nigeria, I think, is in many ways related to the theme that I brought to the table just this past week, which is investment in human capital. The percentage of the Gross Domestic Product that Nigeria spends

The managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, has stated that the economy of some West African nations, including Nigeria, is not growing at the same rate as its population. She made this statement on Thursday while addressing the press at the ongoing International Monetary Fund annual meetings holding in Washington. She said, "Sub Saharan Africa (which Nigeria is part of one) is one region of the world where growth is way suboptimal. Those countries 2.5 percent. That is too low for the demographic expansion of the region. "There are different countries if we are to look Rwanda it is a different situation from that of Togo and Ghana is going to be different from Mozambique and so on. "It is still to low for the demographic growth. For that region to take advantage of the demographic dividend of all the young people who are coming up and trying to have access to the economy and have a job, it is too low." Lagarde said the organisation w

Former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, has faulted Nnamdi Kanu's style of agitation which insults those not on alliance with his struggle for Biafra. Kalu said the IPOB leader cannot rule a republic without the support of Yorubas, and other ethnic groups in the country. Featuring on Channels television, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chieftain said Kanu should purge himself of "needless biases and come to terms with the realities of today." According to Kalu, "When you set off to molest people on the road , people are afraid to say the truth I'm not afraid of death or a anybody you know me from my university days I'm still the same person, I don't care what anybody says what matters most to me is justice being applied where it is supposed to be applied. "If Kanu had gone ahead to obey that court order-he was asked not to appear in a public of more than10 persons and the 2nd in command would be the one carrying their Biafra flag nobody wo

 Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari, after it emerged that he told the World Bank president, Kim Yong Jim, to concentrate on Northern Nigeria. Fani-Kayode, in a series of tweets on Friday morning, claimed Buhari sees Nigerians from the South and Middle Belt as "low-lifes, vassals and slaves". He wrote: "President of the World Bank, Kim Yong Jim, has said that @MBuhari told him to concentrate their efforts on northern Nigeria. "Why am I not surprised? After all as far as@MBuhari is concerned southern Nigerians and Middle Belters are nothing but low-lifes, vassals and slaves." Kim had said: "You know, in my very first meeting with President Buhari he said specifically that he would like us to shift our focus to the northern region of Nigeria and we've done that. Now, it has been very difficult. The work there has been very difficult.

The Chairman, Police Service Commission (PSC), Dr. Mike Okiro, has said he did not authorize a letter demoting the Lagos State Acting Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police. PSC's Permanent Secretary, Musa Istifanus, had written to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, about the demotion of Imohimi to his former rank of DCP. The letter had generated confusion and consternation within the leadership of the police, as well as stakeholders. Okiro explained that he had told the IG to ignore the letter written by the commission's Permanent Secretary, Musa Istifanus, about the demotion. "The letter was not authorised by the commission; Istifanus did not write on my behalf. I read the letter too like everybody and I have told the IG to ignore it. The letter was not authorised at all. I will meet with Istifanus about it and find out how the letter came about," Okiro said. The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood,

Felabration In Honour of Fela The Lagos State Government has revealed plans to honour Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti on the 2017 edition of his week-long Felabration. In a statement released by the state's Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, the Lagos state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode said the honour is in line with his commitment to promote art and tourism and to celebrate prominent figures who have contributed to the image and development of the state. Sunday, October 15, marks the concluding part of the week-long celebration of the Afro-beat legend's 79th posthumous birthday and 20th anniversary of his death. The commissioner said that Governor Ambode will also unveil a statue in Fela's memory at  Allen Roundabout, Ikeja on the same day. He also said the Governor will pay a visit to the Kalakuta Museum on Gbemisola Street, Ikeja where he will join Fela's family and devotees to pay homage to the music icon. The commissioner said that the da

Nigeria senate at plenary Photo: NAN Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has asked the High Court of the FCT to restrain the Senate from investigating him. Senator Isah Misua (APC-Bauchi Central) had alleged that Idris collected about N10 billion monthly from some firms and highly-placed Nigerians for giving them security cover. He also accused Idris of extorting money, ranging from N10 to N15 million, from Commissioners of Police, State Mobile Commanders and Special Protection Units Commanders, for favourable posting. The police boss, in a fundamental rights enforcement suit marked FCT/HC /CV/ 3158 /17, prayed the court to declare both the Senate committee, set up to probe the allegations and the conduct of the committee as unconstitutional, null and void. He also wants the court to make an order stopping the committee from inviting him, sitting, conducting any hearing on the allegation , discussing or making any report in respect of the planned probe pending the determi

It was one of the most frightening moments of her life. A friend overdosed after taking the powerful painkiller fentanyl, started convulsing on the floor and stopped breathing. Filled with fear, Jessica sprinted to her car outside and seized a pre-filled syringe kept for emergencies. She administered the unconscious woman with an overdose antidote and waited for the ambulance to arrive. "You'll be surprised how quickly someone turns cold," the former drug dealer told Lateline. "They turn purple, they're not breathing, and it's just like seeing a dead body on the floor." 'That's my breakfast' Inside the country towns hooked on prescription drugs. She sold heroin for a decade but refused to sell fentanyl after seeing 15 people overdose. "It's a killer drug," she said. "When I had no heroin, people would ask me if I had fentanyl or if I could get fentanyl. "You can go buy $100 or $200 worth of fentanyl and be smashed. To

Liberia on Thursday awaited the delayed announcement of the outcome of presidential elections as international observers called for the results to be released promptly to avoid stoking tension. Political parties have expressed concern over polling-day hitches on Tuesday, with one calling for a halt to the ballot count. Footballing superstar George Weah and incumbent Vice-President Joseph Boakai are expected to top the first round of voting, according to analysts, though former Coca-Cola executive Alexander Cummings is considered to have eaten into their support with an innovative campaign strategy. If no candidate wins 50 percent of the presidential vote, a run-off between the top two contenders will be held on November 7 -- an outcome deemed a near certainty. The chairman of the Liberty Party, whose candidate Charles Brumskine is also seen as a serious contender, on Thursday urged the "NEC to immediately halt further announcements of election results." In a statement sent to

 If you are not A grade six pupil at Mckeurtan Primary School in Bulawayo allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree using his neck tie at an apostolic church shrine yesterday. Msizi Ndlovu from Emganwini suburb was found hanging from a tree at about 10AM near a stream that divides Nketa 8 and Emganwini suburb. His body was allegedly discovered by traffic police officers who were about to mount a roadblock near an area commonly known as Emagetsini. Msizi was wearing his grey school uniform but his shoes and a satchel with books were placed near the tree. The boy's age could not be established immediately. Family members said they were not yet ready to comment on the matter as they are yet to meet as a family over the incident. News about the incident quickly spread, drawing scores of people from both Nketa 8 and Emganwini suburbs to the scene with residents expressing shock at what they had seen. The residents who comprised parents and some school children patiently

A S   parts of the universe this  Monday, October 9, marked the 50th year Ernesto Che Guevara was summarily executed in a classroom in La Higuera, Bolivia, my mind was on three romantic figures who gave their lives for the love of humanity; Jesus Christ, John Brown and Che. Jesus is the epitome of love, care, peace, sacrifice and calling the sinner to repentance. Che, who was not inclined to religion, and Brown who was quite religious, are the two primary figures I know who were Christ-like in their readiness to sacrifice their lives for the emancipation of the poor, the hopeless, the oppressed and the repressed. The theme of love was central to their beliefs and actions. Che Guevara Brown lived by Christ's injunction: 'Love Thy Neigbour As Thyself'.  For Che: "The true revolutionary is guided by a great feeling of love. It is impossible to think of a genuine revolutionary lacking this quality… We must strive every day so that this love of living humanity will be trans

- The International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety) has outlined various reasons why Igbos don't trust the Nigerian army - The group noted that the official logo of the Nigerian army is written in Arabic/Islamic code, instead of the country's adopted English Language, even as it bashed the Buhari administration for the Army's lopsided composition - The group further alleged that there was a 'northernization' of the commanding positions of the Nigerian army and other military formations in Southeast Nigeria or Igbo Land, and questioned why majority of Muslims were placed in top positions - The group accused the Army of carrying out genocide against the Igbos, and explained that this was the reason why Igbos responded in panic over the free medical outreach organized by the Army in the South-East recently The reasons why members of the Igbo ethnic group don't trust the Nigerian army have been outlined by the International Society for

FEAR gripped the entire South-West, last week, when two commanders of the dreaded terrorist group listed as numbers 156 and 176 on the wanted Boko Haram members' list were arrested in the region. The suspects who have made confessional statements include 42-year-old ldris Ibrahim Babawo nicknamed Nagada   and 20 year-old Mohammed Bashir, were arrested in Isua, in Akoko South-East area of Ondo State. From L-r: •Bashir: Boko Haram suspect & •Babawo: Another Boko Haram suspect both arrested in Ondo state Of concern was the scary revelation by Bashir that they invaded the states in the region to cause maximum havoc. The first suspect that was arrested, Babawo, said he came from Bauchi State and was heading for Ibafo in Ogun State when he was apprehended by Police detectives in Isua, Akoko South-East area of the state. He was about to join other sect members who were already in the state. Bashir was equally apprehended within a spate of one week at the exact location where Babawo wa

PHOTO New York-based model Nathaniel Carty was involved in the operation which saw cocaine concealed in suitcases. Nathaniel Carty seemed to have the world at his feet two years ago. Aged 21, the New York-based model had already worked for brands like Puma, Adidas and Coca-Cola. But when he spoke to a Canadian employee of Vice Magazine at a New York bar, it set in motion a chain of events that would see him become a drug courier, now languishing in an Australian prison. Carty, who a judge today found was "completely out of his depth," was among four North American men sentenced for importing more than $22 million worth of cocaine into the country. The drugs were concealed in suitcases on a flight from Los Angeles and intercepted at Sydney Airport. Carty had mentioned to Vice employee Slava Pastuk that he always wanted to go to Australia and was told, "I can make that happen". People had paid for his flights before, so initially he had no reason to be suspicious. Tha

There was tension Thursday in Onumonu Street, Owerri, Imo State, when a Landlord, Paul Oparaugo, his wife and children, stabbed his tenant, Udochukwu Iwuoha to death. The victim, who was said to be the only male child of his parents, was stabbed severally by the furious Landlord and members of his family until he gave up the ghost. Iwuoha, who hailed from Agbaja, Imo state, was to traditionally wed his fiancée on today. They fled immediately after committing the dastardly act to escape the wrath of the mob that had gathered.  A neighbour revealed that, "The incident happened on Wednesday. Udochukwu had told Paul Nwachukwu, stop rearing chickens behind his apartment. He told him that the smell and noises of the chickens were affecting his health; but the family took his observation as an insult. He came back from work around 7pm on Wednesday and met a dead fowl on his entrance door and he went to ask his Landlord who operates a poultry farm close to the victim's window. The Lan

Rose McGowan has suggested disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein raped her. One of the central figures in the misconduct allegations that have engulfed one of Hollywood's most powerful men over the past week, the Charmed and Scream actress, who had previously alleged Weinstein sexually assaulted her in 1997, went further when she tweeted this morning: "HW raped me". The initials were an apparent reference to Weinstein, who has been accused by several actresses and models of sexual harassment, and The Hollywood Reporter said the actress confirmed to them that she was referring to the mogul. She later shared an NBC story, which included quotes from Weinstein, saying: "This is a prime example of how you are being complicit in RAPE CULTURE. DO NOT GIVE RAPISTS A PLATFORM. Damn you." The New York Times has reported that Weinstein paid a financial settlement of $100,000 to McGowan in 1997 over an incident in a hotel room at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. The S

The man who killed 18-year-old water polo player Cole Miller in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley in a random one-punch attack has been sentenced to seven years in prison.Above is the late victim. Armstrong Renata, 23, pleaded guilty to unlawful striking causing death in the Supreme Court in Brisbane. Renata punched Mr Miller in the back of the head while on a night out in the party precinct in January 2016, causing the teenager to fall and hit his head on the pavement. Mr Miller, a former Brisbane State High School student, was walking through a mall with a friend to catch a taxi home when he was set upon. The promising water polo player suffered severe head injuries and massive brain trauma and his life support was turned off the following day. Thousands of people attended vigils and a rally in King George Square to show support for the Miller family shortly after and called for an end to violent behaviour. Renata's co-accused Daniel Maxwell, who started the fight after the pair ha