Scientists Discover Mechanisms that Allow Bacteria to Become Resistant to Antibiotics.

This is a ribbon diagram of the three-part efflux pump of the Campylobacter jejuni bacterium. Researchers have identified how efflux pumps and reinforced cell walls prevent antibiotics from working on certain bacteria. Photo by Edward Yu/Iowa State University 

 

Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Researchers at Iowa State University have identified the structures and mechanisms that allow bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics.
The study, published Aug. 1 in Nature Communications, described two structures and mechanisms, efflux pumps and reinforced cell walls, that disease-causing bacteria utilize to resist antibiotics.
"We study a lot of efflux pumps to understand antibiotic resistance," Edward Yu, an Iowa State professor in physics and astronomy, chemistry, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, said in a press release. "Cell wall remodeling is also a major mechanism to work against antibacterial drugs. The structure and mechanism depend on the bacteria you're talking about -- and the bacteria will find a way."
Campylobacter jejuni bacterium causes digestive tract inflammation, or enterocolitis, and diarrhea uses a three-molecule efflux pump to avoid antibacterial drugs. The three molecules of the efflux pump work in a synchronized rotation creating three pumps in one structure.
In a second study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the team describe how Burkholderia multivorans bacterium that causes pneumonia or cystic fibrosis remodel and strengthen its cell wall preventing the entry of antimicrobial drugs.
"Overall our data suggest a novel mechanism for hopanoid transport involved in cell wall remodeling, which is critical for mediating multidrug resistance in Burkholderia," the authors said.
The next step in the research process is to understand how to turn the pumps and transporters off to allow antibiotics to work.

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3 Gangsters Dead after Gunfight in Moscow Courtroom Brazen Escape Attempt

 Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Three gang members were killed in a gun battle Tuesday during a brazen escape attempt inside a suburban Moscow courtroom, authorities said.

The incident began during a hearing as five defendants accused of "banditry" attempted to take weapons away from court security guards at the Moscow Regional Court, a police spokesman said. All three suspects, members of the Asian Grand Theft Auto gang, died in the gun battle with security forces.
Two other people, including a 45-year-old man and 40-year-old woman, inside the courthouse were hospitalized, the Moscow region health ministry said.
Lawyer and witness Sofia Rubasskaya said two police officers were also wounded.
"We were at a different session when [I] heard shots fired. More than 20 shots were made. We began to be evacuated. I saw a wounded woman bailiff, her face in blood," she said.
Tatiana Petrova, spokeswoman for the Russian Interior Ministry, said the suspects attempted to seize the guards' guns while inside an elevator.
"Three of the arrested were killed while trying to flee the scene when the elevator was forcibly stopped, two were wounded," Petrova said.
The building was evacuated, and court activities later resumed.
The three defendants were accused of terrorizing drivers in Moscow by disabling motorists' cars with spikes placed on roads, and then shooting the drivers. They are charged with 17 murders and two attempted murders.

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Serena Williams urges black women to 'speak out for equal pay'

Serena Williams attends the Costume Institute Benefit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 1. The tennis star spoke out Monday on Black Women's Equal Pay Day. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

 

Aug. 1 (UPI) -- Serena Williams used her platform this week to encourage black women to "speak out for equal pay."

The pregnant 35-year-old tennis star discussed Monday on Black Women's Equal Pay Day how the gender pay gap impacts women of color the hardest.

"July 31 is Black Women's Equal Pay Day, which represents the number of days into 2017 a black woman must work to earn the same pay a white man made in 2016 -- that's nearly 8 extra months!" she explained on Instagram.

Williams further explained in a lengthy essay for Fortune that black women are "37 cents behind men in the pay gap," or that "for every dollar a man makes, black women make 63 cents." The disparity means the average woman of color has to work eight months longer to earn the same amount their male counterpart does in a year.

"Unfair pay has prevailed for far too long with no consequence," Williams wrote. "Changing the status quo will take dedicated action, legislation, employer recognition, and courage for employees to demand more. In short, it's going to take all of us. Men, women, of all colors, races and creeds to realize this is an injustice. And an injustice to one is an injustice to all."

"Every step forward you take is two steps of progress for womankind," she told women of color. "Let today serve as a reminder that we have a voice. We deserve equal pay for our mothers, our wives, our daughters, our nieces, friends, and colleagues -- but mostly, for ourselves."

"Black women: Be fearless. Speak out for equal pay," the star urged. "Every time you do, you're making it a little easier for a woman behind you. Most of all, know that you're worth it. It can take a long time to realize that. It took me a long time to realize it. But we are all worth it."

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North Korea accuses U.S. of preparing for nuclear war

July 31 (UPI) -- North Korea accused the United States of preparing for nuclear war after two B1-B Lancers flew over South Korea on Sunday.

Pyongyang's state-controlled news agency KCNA claimed Monday the bombers were deployed from Guam for "war practice."

"On July 30, two B-1B strategic bombers of the U.S. imperialists returned to South Korean airspace for war practice in preparation for a nuclear-armed attack of North Korea," KCNA stated. "The bombers flew over Jeju Island in the south, traversed the East Sea [Sea of Japan] and excitedly trained in the dropping of nuclear bombs while flying over Osan," a U.S. air base in the South.

On Sunday, the U.S. military confirmed bombers flew over the peninsula for a drill with South Korean fighter jets, a move Pyongyang attacked in its most recent statement.

"The F-15K fighters of the [South Korea] puppet air force flew together with U.S. imperialist nuclear bombers as shields [for the U.S. aircraft], ready to bring about terrible disaster to a unitary [Korean] people," Pyongyang stated.

Yonhap reported the two B-1B Lancers did fly over the South Korean island of Jeju, Osan, then exited the peninsula after flying over Deokjeok Island on the western coast of the peninsula.

The bombers were deployed more than 30 hours after North Korea engaged in its latest provocation on Friday: the launch of what the regime has claimed is an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.

North Korea also claimed it tested an ICBM, following a missile launch on the Fourth of July.

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Former DHS head John Kelly sworn in as Trump's new chief of staff

President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with the new White House Chief of Staff John Kelly after he was sworn in, in the Oval Office of the White House, July 31, 2017, in Washington, DC. Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general and formerly secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, replaces Reince Priebus. Photo by Mike Theiler/UPI| License Photo

 

July 31 (UPI) -- Marine Gen. John Kelly was sworn in as President Donald Trump's new chief of staff during a closed-door ceremony on Monday in the White House.
A White House statement said the ceremony was held in the Oval Office at 9:30 a.m. prior to a Cabinet meeting at 10 a.m.
Trump on Friday posted on Twitter that he would replace Reince Priebus with Kelly, who served as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
In response to reports that the White House is in turmoil, Trump on Twitter suggested that his administration's accomplishments are evidence there are no problems.
"Highest Stock Market EVER, best economic numbers in years, unemployment lowest in 17 years, wages raising, border secure, S.C.: No WH chaos!" Trump tweeted.
Prior to Priebus' departure, The New Yorker magazine published a profanity-laced interview with newly named White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, who fueled rumors of discord with Priebus.
"Reince is a [expletive] paranoid schizophrenic, a paranoiac," Scaramucci said, suggesting Priebus and White House chief strategist Steve Bannon were behind White House leaks.
Prior to joining the Trump administration, Priebus was chairman of the Republican National Committee and Republican Party of Wisconsin.
Politico reported Kelly has griped privately for months about the disarray at the White House and now his job is to bring order to the chaos -- but one person close to Kelly told the outlet it will not be an easy task.
"I think this is the best and last shot," the anonymous source said. "This is it."

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Football Transfer: Turkey's Super Lig Giant Wants Eto'o Fils

Reports in Turkey suggest that Super Lig giants Fenebarche are courting Antalyaspor’s veteran forward Samuel Eto’o. Despite being 36-years-old, the attacker has shown no signs of slowing down as he notched 18 goals in 30 appearances for Antalyaspor in the previous campaign.

This has not gone unnoticed though as BienSports reports that Eto’o has caught the attention of Fenerbahce.

The Yellow Canaries are looking to bolster their striking department and the report suggests that the Cameroon forward is on the agenda.

According to the report, the side has already made contact with Eto’o and he is expected to travel to Istanbul soon to conclude his move to Ulker Stadium.

Eto’o joined Akrepler ffrom Sampdoria in 2015 and has went on to score 38 goals in 61 appearances.

Should the former Barcelona and Chelsea forward seal the move, he will reunite with his former Indomitable Lions teammate Carlos Kameni who recently arrived from Malaga.

Ligue 1 side Marseille have also been linked with the forward.

Goal.com

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Back2School: Association of North West Private Higher Institutions Speaks out

The association of North West Private Higher Institution has issued a Press Release expressing its desire for schools to resume by October 2017. The release was issued on Monday July 24 2017 during a meeting in Bamenda. During the meeting, members expressed their desire for government to grant unconditional amnesty to Anglophones who have been arrested and detained. They also urged Government to engage in a frank dialogue in order to give peace, love and harmony a place of preference.

Here below is the Release

Press Release 

 

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Salary Cuts Announced at CRTV

CRTV General Manager broke the news to workers last Friday July 26, 2017 in a Press Release which indicate that the State owned media shall witness drastic salary reduction in the coming months.

The release signed by Charles Ndongo has had diversified interpretations and is making headlines around the country as well as on social media. This release comes at the point in that that a controversial has been circulating on the social media indicating the huge salaries some General Managers of state corporations including CRTV earn per month. Critics say the decision by Charles Ndongo is just to camouflage the outburst that has gained very wide criticism from the general public.

The announced revised monthly salary for CRTV employees’ factors critical issues like cost of living and the state of the economy, popular opinion holds.

However, public opinion also holds that the salaries  and huge allowances for senior officials (Ministers, Directors and Sub Directors), lawmakers (MPs and Seniors) should also be slashed down.

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Russia orders out U.S. diplomatic staff, may seize properties

The Russian Foreign Ministry, led by Sergey Lavrov, ordered a reduction of U.S. diplomatic personnel in Russia on Friday, saying the move is a response to new sanctions from Congress. File Photo by Mark Ralston/UPI| License Photo

 

July 28 (UPI) -- Russia ordered a reduction in U.S. diplomatic staff in Moscow and other cities on Friday, and may seize U.S. properties -- in response to new sanctions from Congress.

A Russian Foreign Ministry statement requested the U.S. embassy in Moscow and American consulates in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok to reduce its personnel to about 455 in total -- approximately the number of Russian diplomatic staff in the United States.

"This measure is further proof of the Unites States' extremely hostile foreign policy," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "Hiding behind its sense of superiority, the United States arrogantly ignores the stances and interests of other countries."

The ministry also said it would seize a Moscow warehouse and a country home in the suburb of Serebryany Bor that are used by the U.S. embassy.

The actions are similar to the December 2016 expulsion of Kremlin diplomats from the United States and the seizure of two of Moscow's diplomatic compounds in retaliation for Russian interference in the U.S. presidential election. At the time, the Russian foreign ministry recommended that President Vladimir Putin provide a response, but Putin chose to wait in an apparent attempt to build trust with then-incoming President Donald Trump -- a move that Trump lauded.

"Relations with Russia are being dragged down by political infighting in the United States," the foreign ministry added. "Despite Washington's constant outbursts, we have adhered to responsible and reserved behavior and have not responded to express provocations until now. However, the latest events confirm that certain circles in the U.S. are fixated on Russophobia and open confrontation with our country."

The ministry specified that the actions are in response to a vote Thursday in the U.S. Senate which imposed harsher economic sanctions against Russia. The Senate voted 98-2 to pass the bill and send it to Trump's desk. Two days earlier, the House of Representatives passed the legislation by a 419-3 vote.

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North Korean hackers shift focus to stealing money, not secrets Reports say

It has been reported that North Korean hackers are increasingly targeting vulnerable foreign financial institutions, seeking to convert their Internet espionage efforts into a cash cow, according to cybersecurity experts.

UPI reports that  a new report by the South Korea-based Financial Security Institute said North Korean hackers were behind the online theft of $81 million from the central bank of Bangladesh. Internet security experts also said they were able to trace the attempted hacking of Polish banks to hackers in North Korea. Evidence in that case suggested the reclusive communist regime was plotting more than 100 other potential ecommerce robberies, The New York Times reported.

North Korean hackers were also believed to be a part of the global "WannaCry" cyberattack that crippled Britain's healthcare industry and forced major companies to pay ransom in order to have their computer systems unlocked, the BBC said.
The tactic marks a shift from previous hacking attempts by North Korea that did not have a clear economic benefit for the Kim regime. Instead, North Korean hackers mostly targeted institutions to garner secrets from businesses and governments and foster uncertainty. The most notable North Korean hack of that nature was against Sony in 2014.
As international sanctions over its nuclear weapons program continue to pound the North Korean economy, the government of Kim Jong Un has been forced to turn to hacking as a means of generating foreign cash supplies to pay for imports that support its failing domestic economy.

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Jerry Seinfeld tops Forbes' list of highest-paid comedians

 

Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld arrive on the red carpet at the "SNL" 40th Anniversary Special on February 15, 2015. Seinfeld has been named the highest paid comedian for 2017 by Forbes. Chris Rock and Louis C.K. also made the list. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI| License Photo

 

July 28 (UPI) -- Jerry Seinfeld has taken the No. 1 spot atop the Forbes annual list of highest-paid comedians, ahead of Chris Rock and Louis C.K.

The list, released Thursday, has the Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee star earning $69 million over the past year, thanks in part to a Netflix stand-up deal he signed and syndication checks from hit '90s sitcom Seinfeld.

Coming in second place is Chris Rock, who earned $57 million and then Louis C.K. with $52 million.

All top five comedians listed, including Dave Chappelle in fourth place with $47 million and Amy Schumer, the lone woman on the list, with $37.5 million in fifth place, made big profits over the past year due to deals with Netflix.

Last year's top earner Kevin Hart has fallen to sixth place with $32.5 million, as he has focused more on his film career then taking the stage for stand-up shows.

Seinfeld's lucrative deal with Netflix was announced in January, and includes bringing over his series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee to the streaming service along with filming two new stand-up specials and helping the company develop scripted and non-scripted programming.

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Does sugar make you sad? New science suggests so

Higher rates of refined sugar consumption have been associated with higher rates of depression. Photo courtesy of Pixabay 

 

July 28 (UPI) -- The thought of a cupcake, skillfully frosted with fluffy vanilla icing, may put a smile on your face, but research suggests that, in the long term, a sweet tooth may turn that smile into a frown - but not for the reasons you think. In a new study, published in Scientific Reports, my colleagues and I found a link between a diet high in sugar and common mental disorders.
The World Health Organization recommends that people reduce their daily intake of added sugars (that is, all sugar, excluding the sugar that is naturally found in fruit, vegetables and milk) to less than 5 percent of their total energy intake. However, people in the U.K. consume double - in the United States triple - that amount of sugar. Three-quarters of these added sugars come from sweet food and beverages, such as cakes and soft drinks. The rest come from other processed foods, such as ketchup.
At the same time, 1 in 6 people worldwide suffers from a common mental disorder, such as a mood or anxiety disorder. Could there be a link between high sugar consumption and common mental disorders?
Earlier research, published in 2002, examined the link between depression and sugar consumption in six countries. The researchers, from Baylor College, found that higher rates of refined sugar consumption were associated with higher rates of depression.
Since then, a handful of studies have investigated the link between added sugar consumption and subsequent depression. In 2011, researchers in Spain found that when they grouped participants based on their commercial baked food consumption, those who ate the most baked food had a 38 percent increased chance of developing depression compared with those in the group with the lowest intake. The association remained even after accounting for health consciousness and employment status.
In 2014, researchers studied the association between sweetened beverages in a large U.S. group. They found that sugar-sweetened and artificially sweetened drinks (diet drinks) could increase a person's risk of developing depression. And, more recently, a 2015 study, including nearly 70,000 women, found higher chances of depression in those with a high added sugar intake, but not in those with a high intake of naturally occurring sugars, such as those found in fruit.
Trying to explain the link
We are still not sure what causes depression, but some researchers believe that biological changes are at the root of it. Some of these changes could be influenced by sugar and sweet taste. For example, a study in rats found that diets high in sugar and fat can reduce a protein called BDNF that influences the growth and development of nerve cells in the brain. This protein is thought to be involved in the development of depression and anxiety.
Another possible biological cause is inflammation. High-sugar diets can increase inflammation - a protective reaction of the body, normally directed against microorganisms or foreign substances. While common signs of inflammation, such as redness, are far from a mood disorder, the symptoms that keep us in bed with a cold are much closer, such as low energy and being unable to concentrate. Ongoing research suggests that mood disorders could be linked with inflammation, at least in some cases.
Dopamine is another possible culprit. A study using rats earned headlines for suggesting sweet foods could be as addictive as cocaine. This might be due to affects on dopamine, a brain chemical involved in the reward system. Dopamine is also thought to influence mood. And addiction is itself associated with a higher risk of developing a mood disorder.
Finally, sugar intake could be associated with other factors, such as obesity, which itself is related to mood.
But these associations could also reflect a reverse phenomenon: Low mood could make people change their diet. Sweet foods could be used to soothe bad feelings by providing a short-term mood boost. And low mood and anxiety could make simple tasks, such as grocery shopping or cooking, so difficult and exhausting for the sufferer that they might start to avoid them. Instead, they might opt for junk food, takeout and ready meals - all of which have a high sugar content.
What our study adds to the debate
For our latest study, my colleagues and I put the reverse association idea to the test. We used sugar intake from sweet food and drinks to predict new and recurrent mood disorders in a group of British civil servants. We also investigated whether having a mood disorder would make people more inclined to choose sweet foods and drinks.
We found that men without a mood disorder who consumed over 67g of sugar had a 23 percent increased risk of suffering from a mood disorder five years later, compared with those who ate less than 40g. This effect was independent of the men's socioeconomic status, physical activity, drinking, smoking, other eating habits, body fat and physical health.
We also found that men and women with a mood disorder and a high intake of sugar from sweet food and drinks were at higher risk of becoming depressed again five years later, compared with those who consumed less sugar. But this association was partly explained by their overall diet.
We found no evidence for a potential reverse effect: Participants did not change their sugar intake after suffering from mood disorders.
Despite our findings, a number of questions remain about whether sugar makes us sad, whether it affects men more than women, and whether it is sweetness, rather than sugar itself, that explains the observed associations. What is certain, though, is that sugar is associated with a number of health problems, including tooth decay, type 2 diabetes and obesity. So cutting down on sugar is probably a good idea, regardless of whether it causes mood disorders or not.



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The Corruption Perceptions Index: See The Most Corrupt and Least Corrupt in the World

 The Corruption Perceptions Index ranked 176 countries on a scale of 0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be very clean).

In the 2016 Corruption Perceptions Index released on Wednesday July 26 by the Berlin-based ​organisation, Somalia was ranked the most corrupt country in the world for the 10th straight year.

Transparency International estimates that, “corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion, cost developing countries US $1.26 trillion per year.”

Chairman of the group, José Ugaz, said in the most corrupt countries, “we often see democracies in decline and a disturbing pattern of attempts to crack down on civil society, limit press freedom, and weaken the independence of the judiciary.”

The 2016 CPI, showed that 122 of the 176 countries ranked finished with a score below 50, which Transparency International identifies as having a “serious corruption problem.”

The countries topping the list are generally clustered in Africa and Central Asia Several war-torn nations, such as South Sudan, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan and Iraq which are ranked in the top 10 

Meanwhile, Denmark (90 points) was ranked as the least corrupt nation in the world for the fifth straight year. New Zealand tied for the top spot, while Finland, Sweden and Switzerland round out the top five.

The Corruption Perceptions Index conducted by Transparency International, commenced in the year 1995.

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One of Ronaldo, Bale or Benzema Could Leave Real Madrid Zidane Says

French tactician, Zidane has revealed that the trio of Real Madrid star men could make an exit from the club considering the situation of the transfer market.

 

Cristiano Ronaldo

 

Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane has admitted that one of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale or Karim Benzema, could leave this summer.

Zidane says he is eager to ensure they all stay at the club, but refused to guarantee anything.

This comes amid the La Liga club heavily linked with Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe. Speaking after Wednesday night’s 4-1 friendly defeat to City, Zidane refused to comment on the race for Mbappe’s signature.

“That question is not for me, it is for someone else,” he told Marca.

“I hope that BBC (Bale, Benzema, Cristiano) remains, hopefully all of them will stay,” he said.

“But until August 31 anything can happen.”

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Wonders: See the World’s Most Lifelike Toy that Speaks, Smiles and Sings

A company has built an intelligent s*x robot that can smile, speak and sing which has given many people pleasure.

The new robot head can speak, smile and even sing

 

A s*x doll company is making a Terminator-style robot head which can speak, smile and even sing – but only in Chinese, The Sun UK has reported.

The report revealed that the prototype of the DS Doll Robotic Head, which is coated in silicone “skin” and is controlled by a smartphone and a PlayStation controller, is the world’s most lifelike mechanical s*x servant.

Photos of the model made by Doll Sweet Dolls and EX Doll, has a “stunningly beautiful” face and can listen and answer questions using sophisticated voice recognition software.

 

 

The company is hoping to launch a crowdfunding campaign to help produce an English and Japanese version.

Despite not having a rotatable neck, the robot head will fit all the company’s other doll bodies, which have flexible limbs allowing them to “move as a real person.” Paul Lumb, head of Cloud Climax, says the prototype is the “Bugatti Veyron of VR” and comes with a similarly hefty price tag of around £4,500.

 

 

The company is Europe’s only authorised EX Doll retailer and the makers are hoping to bring the robotic head to the UK at the end of next year

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World's Biggest Fertiliser Plant Goes Operational in Nigeria

 The Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, has announced in a statement issued in Abuja that Osinbajo will be inaugurating the world's biggest fertilizer plant in Rivers state.

 

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo will visit Port Harcourt, on Thursday, to inaugurate the world’s biggest fertiliser plant built by Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited.

Mr Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President on Media and Publicity, made the announcement in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to the presidential aide, the plant with production capacity of 1.5 million metric tons of Urea fertiliser is considered the world’s largest single-train Urea plant.

Eleme Petrochemicals Company Ltd, now Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemicals Limited, was privatised in 2006 after the sale of Federal Government’s 75 per cent shares to a core investor through competitive bidding process.

The  plant has a production capacity of 4,000 metric tons of nitrogenous fertiliser per day. It was built with $1.5 billion dollars.

The  opening of the plant is expected to boost the agriculture sector not just in Nigeria, but also in Africa and beyond.

Akande said fertiliser from the plant would be made available to farmers nationwide at affordable cost.

This will boost crop yield for farmers and help in minimising food grain deficit in Nigeria, Akande said.

The plant consists of 2300 TPD Ammonia plant, 4000 TPF Urea plant, 83 km long Gas Pipeline, and an Export Port Terminal.

The main plant, measuring approximately 40 hectares, is located within the perimeter of Indorama’s existing petrochemical site in Port Harcourt.

The Gas Pipeline for the fertiliser plant was constructed by IEFCL within an existing 15 meter wide Right of Way (“ROW”).

Part of the $1.5billion was used to build a new jetty  at Onne Port on a plot of land measuring approximate 6 hectares

The jetty comprises 320 m long Quay along with terminal infrastructure including all material handling facilities necessary for urea and a urea storage facility with a capacity of 45,000 MT.

The transfer of urea from the fertiliser plant will be by road via an existing road network.

Construction of the new fertiliser plant commenced in early 2013 with commissioning coming two years later than planned. 

 

-NAN

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See What 24,000 Facebook Likes Have Done to a Couple

 A man promised to marry his girlfriend if her Facebook gets as many as 500 likes, however something much more impressive happened.

Amanda Barr and Stuart Gunn

 

Women want longterm commitment, men are resistant – or so the stereotype goes.

While we may all dream of meeting someone who wants to marry us without being paid, bargained with, or badgered into it (wouldn’t it be nice to get hitched to someone who actually wants the same in return), sometimes, things don’t run that smoothly.

That’s the case for Amanda Barr, anyway.

She’s been bugging her partner, Stuart Gunn to marry her for the past ten years, but he’s always put off making the legal commitment.

This week, Amanda came up with a way to finally get a wedding: Facebook.

Amanda managed to get Stuart to agree to marry her if she got 500 likes on a Facebook post.

‘So as many of you already know me and Stuart has Been together now for 13 years we have 3 amazing beautifull children, a lovely home, we are happy and content,’ Amanda wrote on Facebook.

‘The only problem is my last name!! [I’ve] been nagging him for the past 10 years now to get married but no luck such as yet!!

‘So enough is enough now I’m not getting any younger I would love to be married by next year.

‘So Stuart has said if I get 500 likes and 50 shares by the end of this month he will propose this year and set a date for next year.

‘So I need all mine and Stuart’s family and friends to share and like the hell out of this post. LETS GET ME DOWN THE AISLE GUYS.’

The post has since received more than 24,000 likes, and racked up the necessary 500 likes within 55 minutes, so it’s safe to say that Stuart is now officially obligated to tie the knot.

‘I can’t believe it has gone like it has,’ said Amanda. ‘I’ve had messages from Australia, Poland, and America.’

 It sounds like Stuart will be sticking to his end of the bargain.

‘If 22,000 people reckon I should marry Amanda then I should get on with it,’ he said. ‘It’s about time.’

Getting on with getting married out of social obligation and pressure from the internet. So romantic.

 

***

Via Metro UK

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic Immortalized on Bank Note in Sweden (Photos)

It is barely overstating the matter to say Zlatan Ibrahimovic has attained living legend status in Sweden. He is the country's top scorer and is being immortalised in a statue outside the national stadium.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has his face on currency after being represented on the 1,000 kroner note

Swedish professional footballer, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who played as a striker for Manchester United in last season's English Premier league, has attained living legend status in his country as he has just being immortalised with his face on currency after being represented on the 1,000 kroner note by a Swedish artist.

According to a report by Dailymail, he former Barcelona and Juventus striker who is also in a statue outside the country's national stadium, seemed impressed with the piece, made by photographer Bingo Rimer.

Ibrahimovic who shared the photo showing him posing with a blown up version of the note on Instagram, captioned it; 'You have Benjamin Franklin and you have me,' referring to the statesman whose likeness adorns the $100 note in the US.

 

 

Unfortunately for his fans, the note is not official Swedish currency and is not available, meaning you cannot make a payment with a wad of Zlatans.

It is unlike the official stamps released by Sweden in 2014, with five special edition pieces released of the forward in the yellow of the national team.

However the famously self-confident forward will be pleased with Rimer's choice of note, with 1,000 kroner - roughly equivalent to £93 - the largest denomination available in Swedish currency.


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Here are the Top 23 African Cities with the Highest Number of Billionaires

Africa is indeed producing more millionaires, as the number of millionaires are increasing dramatically judging by the latest report by AfraAsia Bank.

File photo: Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria

 

AfraAsia Bank's Africa Wealth Report 2017 has made a comparison of 23 African cities with the highest number of billionaires as at the year 2016.

 In the list of 23 countries, Lagos, Nigeria's former capital came 4th, only topped by two South-African cities; Johannesburg and Cape Town as well as the Egyptian city of Cairo.

 Here is the list of cities and the number of multi-millionaires they have respectively:

 

1. Johannesburg (incl. Sandton) - 970

2. Cairo - 480

3. Cape Town - 440

4. Lagos - 360

5. Nairobi - 280

6. Luanda - 240

7. Durban (incl. Umhlanga) - 130

8. Pretoria - 110

9. Casablanca - 110

10. Accra - 100

11. Abidjan - 90

12. Algiers - 90

13. Alexandria - 110

14. Windhoek - 60

15. Dar Es Salaam - 50

16. Gaborone - 50

17. Mombasa - 40

18. Abuja - 40

19. Addis Ababa - 40

20. Kampala - 40

21. Maputo - 40

22. Lusaka - 30

23. Marrakesh - 30

 

With no other Nigerian cities listed, the nation’s commercial nerve-centre automatically clinches the wealthiest spot among Nigerian major cities.

The report is the result of New World Wealth’s extensive research covering the wealth market in Africa which report covers wealth, luxury, prime property, collectable and wealth management trends on the continent from 2006 to 2016, with projections to 2026.


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Breaking News: Jeff Bezos, Owner of Amazon.com, is Worlds Richest Man, Bill Gate Dethroned

A new billionaire has emerged today as the world's richest person in the world thereby overtaking Microsoft founder, Bill Gates.

Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon.com, became the worlds richest man on Thursday

 

Jeff Bezos, owner of online retail giant Amazon.com, surpassed Bill Gates as the wealthiest man in the world on Thursday.

 

According to Forbes,  Bezos emerged as the the richest person in the world, with a fortune topping $90 billion for the first time ever.

 

When markets opened on Thursday, Bezos had a net worth of $90.6 billion, putting him $500 million ahead of Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

 

Amazon stock opened up 1.6% on Thursday, adding $1.4 billion to Bezos’ net worth. That was enough to put him ahead of Gates, who was last surpassed on Forbes’ real-time rankings for just two days nearly a year ago by Spanish retail giant Amancio Ortega.

 

Forbes started tracking billionaires around the globe in 1987. Bezos is now the seventh person to hold the title of the world’s richest person and the third American to top the global ranks besides Gates and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)