Twelve Nigerian soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny

Nigeria's army has been under pressure to end the bloody five-year Boko Haram insurgency

Twelve Nigerian soldiers have been sentenced to death for mutiny and attempted murder after shots were fired at their commanding officer in the north-eastern city of Maiduguri in May.

The soldiers were angry after a convoy was ambushed on a road frequently targeted by Islamist Boko Haram militants.
Five other soldiers were acquitted and one was convicted on another count.
All denied the charges at a court martial in Abuja.
Front-line troops often complain that they lack adequate weapons and equipment while there have also been reports that they have not been paid or properly fed.
Last month, a group of soldiers in the north-east refused to fight Boko Haram until they received better equipment, one of them told the BBC.

Analysis: Will Ross, BBC Nigeria correspondent
Boko Haram fighters are well armed and determined. Having been brainwashed with extremist ideology, many are likely to have little fear of death. So the Nigerian soldiers sent to the battered north-east have a difficult fight and need to be well resourced.
But there have been numerous reports of low morale amid calls for better arms and even complaints over pay. Soldiers' wives recently demonstrated in the barracks in Maiduguri in an effort to stop their husbands being sent to the front line.
Shooting at your own commanding officer is an extreme reaction to seeing the bodies of colleagues killed in an ambush and it would lead to a severe punishment in any army. But it is just one sign of the problems undermining the fight against Boko Haram.
President Goodluck Jonathan has promised that better equipment is on the way but given that Boko Haram has been growing for several years, why were the billions of dollars earned from Nigeria's oil industry not spent on giving every soldier the best chance of defeating the enemy and staying alive?

The nine-member military tribunal heard that the incident happened when shots were fired at the commanding officer of the Nigerian Army's Seventh Division, which is at the forefront of the fight against Boko Haram.

The military is battling Boko Haram insurgents in the north-east

The violence has forced tens of thousands of people from their homes

Thousands of extra soldiers have failed to quell the insurgency

Witnesses said the soldiers lost discipline and threw stones at the officer when he arrived at their camp, and shots were fired into the air.
General Amadu Mohammed had to take cover as they aimed their guns at him - firing bullet-holes in his armour-plated staff car - but he was not injured.
Attacks increasing Court President Chukwuemeka Okonkwo said that while the sentences were subject to confirmation by Nigeria's military authorities, there was no doubt about the seriousness of the offence.
The sentencing panel took into account the "likely effect on counter-insurgency operations" of the incident as well as its "implications on national security".
Nigeria's army has been under pressure to end the bloody five-year insurgency - and a state of emergency was declared in three north-eastern states last year.
Boko Haram is fighting to create an Islamic state in Nigeria - and has stepped up its attacks after being pushed out of its bases in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, targeting towns and villages in deadly raids.
The fighting has claimed thousands of lives, made tens of thousands of people homeless and seen the militants make recent territorial gains.

Afghan conflict: Three Nato troops killed in Kabul bomb attack

At least three coalition soldiers died after a Taliban suicide car bomber rammed into a foreign military convoy in the Afghan capital Kabul, Nato says.

Another 16 civilians were injured, Afghan government sources say. A fourth Nato soldier is seriously injured.
The blast took place in heavy traffic on the airport road near the US embassy at about 08:00 local time (03:30 GMT).
The blast comes amid uncertainty over disputed presidential elections and the withdrawal of most Nato troops by 2015.
A statement from the Nato-led coalition confirmed that three International Security Assistance Force members died in the attack.
The BBC's David Loyn in Kabul said they were travelling in an armoured landcruiser. The vehicle was destroyed in the blast.

The explosion reportedly shook buildings across the centre of Kabul

Our correspondent says the explosion shook buildings across the centre of the capital. The blast took place close to the country's Supreme Court.
The AFP news agency reported that foreign troops were seen giving first aid to blood-stained soldiers from the convoy. The nationality of the dead and injured remains unclear.
BBC Persian's Kawoon Khamoosh, who was not far from the bomb when it went off, said many people were in shock following the attack. He saw broken glass in nearby buildings and cars.
Another eyewitness, Ahmad Ajmal, had a narrow escape.
He told the Associated Press news agency: "When I got out of the vehicle and started walking, an explosion happened, the same vehicle I was in is there and destroyed."
Taliban sources told reporters via e-mail and on Twitter that the group had carried out the attack.

Ongoing negotiations between Ashraf Ghani (pictured) and Abdullah Abdullah have caused uncertainty

Abdullah Abdullah (pictured) and Ashraf Ghani held talks on Monday on how to end the political deadlock

The two candidates vying for Afghanistan's presidency, Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah, have been locked in a dispute over the results of the recent election, which was rocked by allegations of fraud.
The two are now negotiating a power-sharing deal and met on Monday to discuss it.
Correspondents say that Taliban insurgents have taken advantage of uncertainty over the presidential election to launch attacks.
In July a Taliban suicide bomber killed four people, including at least three foreign security guards, in an attack on a key counter-narcotics building outside Kabul airport.
That attack came days after security forces repelled an attack on Kabul airport by the Taliban.
Mr Abdullah himself was targeted by a suicide bomb attack in June, also in Kabul. Six people were killed and at least 22 injured when two blasts hit a rally. He survived unscathed

Genevieve, Toolz, Funke Akindele and more support the Pinkball Run For Cancer

After the launch of the TARA Genevieve Pink Ball Lip Stain on Sunday August 3, House of Tara was glad to support the pre-event Walk against cancer that held on Saturday, 13 September and featured some of Nigeria's brightest celebrities and media personalities including Genevieve Nnaji, Funke Akindele, Toolz, Kemi Adetiba, TokeMakinwa, Seyi Shay, Fade Ogunro, Osas Ighodaro, Lynxxx, Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi, Mai Atafo, Bolanle Olukanni amongst others. They joined the publisher of Genevieve, Betty Irabor and her husband, SoniIrabor. See the photos after the cut...


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Libya migrant boat sinks: Scores feared drowned

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Many hundreds of migrants have drowned off Libya this year

Many migrants have drowned while trying to reach Europe after their boat sank off Libya, the Libyan navy says.

Navy spokesman Ayub Qassem said 36 people had been rescued after the vessel - which carried 250 - went down near Tajoura, east of Tripoli.
"There are so many dead bodies floating in the sea," Mr Qassem told reporters.
Reports are also emerging of another sinking, in which up to 500 people may have drowned last week off the coast of Malta.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) quoted two Palestinian survivors as telling them that the traffickers deliberately sank the boat after an argument on board.
The Maltese authorities have not yet commented.

Bodies of drowned migrants have washed up on Libyan beaches after previous sinkings

There has been a surge in the number of migrants leaving Libya this year, with human traffickers taking advantage of the political chaos.
Rival militias have been battling for control of the country.
The navy and coastguard have few resources and often have to borrow boats from fishermen and other agencies.
Mr Qassem said most of the migrants were Africans and many were women.
One of the 36 survivors was a pregnant woman, he told the AP news agency.
This is the fourth boat carrying migrants from Libya to have sunk in the past month.

Imitation Game wins Toronto top prize

By Genevieve Hassan Entertainment reporter, BBC News

Director Morten Tyldum has described the film as "a tribute to being different"

Alan Turing biopic The Imitation Game has won the People's Choice award at the Toronto Film Festival.

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch stars in the drama about the British code breaker who helped decrypt the Enigma machine during World War Two.
In a message, director Morten Tyldum said it was "an amazing honour" to win the prize.
"For film fans to support the Imitation Game means so much to me, the entire cast and film-making team," he said.
Turing was credited with bringing about the end of the war and saving hundreds of thousands of lives after decoding German Naval messages.
He is also considered to be the founding father of the modern-day computer.
However his later life was overshadowed after a conviction in 1952 for gross indecency when homosexuality was illegal in Britain.
He was chemically castrated and committed suicide in 1954.
Earlier this week Tyldum described the film as "a tribute to being different".
Winners of the People's Choice award - voted for by the public - have previously gone on to win the Oscar for best picture, including The King's Speech, Slumdog Millionaire and last year's 12 Years a Slave.
The Imitation Game's victory suggests it may feature prominently in this coming awards' season.
Sir Ben Kingsley's romantic comedy Learning to Drive, in which the actor stars as a Sikh taxi driver and driving instructor alongside Patricia Clarkson, was named first runner-up for the top prize.
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Learning to Drive was the first runner-up for the top prize

Comedy drama St Vincent, starring Bill Murray as a cantankerous war veteran who finds himself having to look after his neighbour's young son, was the second runner-up.
The People's Choice documentary award went to Hajooj Kuka's Beats of the Antonov which follows the story of Sudanese cattle farmers.
Do I Sound Gay?, directed by US journalist and film-maker David Thorpe, was the first runner-up with Ethan Hawke's musical documentary, Seymour: An Introduction, the second runner-up.
The third People's Choice prize in the Midnight Madness programme went to vampire film What We Do in the Shadows.
Flight of the Conchords star Jermaine Clement, who wrote, directed and starred in the movie, collected the award, joking that the "subject matter" of the film were unable to attend the ceremony because it was during the day.
Kevin Smith horror Tusk and Samuel L Jackson film Big Game were the first and second runners-up respectively.
Speaking at the awards' brunch on the last day of the festival, chief executive officer Piers Handling said it had "been a fun 11 days - the buzz of the city was fantastic".
Artistic director Cameron Bailey added: "It's sad, but it's only 356 days to the next one."

Richard Gere stars in the Oren Moverman film Time Out of Mind

The Toronto Film Festival will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2015.
Other prize winners determined by jury were as follows:

• Award for world or international Asian film premiere: Margarita, with a Straw - directed by Shonali Bose
• Jury prize for best special presentation film: Time Out of Mind - directed by Oren Moverman
• Critics prize: May Allah Bless France! - directed by Abd Al Malik
• Best Canadian feature: Felix and Meira - directed by Maxime Giroux
• Best Canadian first feature: Bang Bang Baby - directed by Jeffrey St Jules
• Best international short film: A Single Body - directed by Sotiris Dounoukos
• Best Canadian short film: The Weatherman and the Shadow Boxer - directed by Randall Okita

Brazil builds giant Amazon observation tower

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The Amazon rainforest is responsible for absorbing tonnes of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere

Construction has begun on a giant observation tower in the heart of the Amazon basin to monitor climate change.

The Amazon Tall Tower Observatory is expected to rise 325m from the ground.
Its instruments will gather data on greenhouse gases, aerosol particles and the weather in one of the largest continuous rain forests on the planet.
Brazilian and German scientists hope to use the data to better understand sources of greenhouse gases and answer questions on climate change.
The tower is being constructed out of steel that was brought thousands of kilometres from the south of Brazil to the site, about 160km (100 miles) from the Amazonian city of Manaus.
Because of its height, the tower will make it possible to investigate the alteration and movement of air masses through the forest over a distance of several hundred kilometres.
"The measurement point is widely without direct human influence, and therefore ideal to investigate the meaning of the forest region for the chemistry and physics of the atmosphere," said Jurgen Kesselmeier, the project coordinator for the German side, quoted on the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz website.
The Amazon jungle is one of the world's most sensitive ecosystems, with a powerful influence on the intake and release of carbon into the atmosphere.
"The tower will help us answer innumerable questions related to global climate change," said Paulo Artaxo, from the University of Sao Paulo and project coordinator for the Brazilians.
The tower will be integrated into an existing structure of smaller measuring towers in the region.
When finished, it will complement a similar observatory built in 2006 that already stands in Central Siberia.

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone: Anger over cleavage tweet

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Deepika Padukone is one of India's most successful models and actresses

Bollywood stars have joined hundreds expressing outrage after a top Indian newspaper published a photo and report on actress Deepika Padukone's cleavage.

On Sunday the Times of India tweeted a photo taken last year with a link to a web photo gallery and caption: "OMG: Deepika Padukone's cleavage show".
An angry Padukone responded on Twitter: "YES! I am a Woman. I have breasts AND a cleavage! You got a problem!!??"
The daily later put out a tweet urging her to consider it a compliment.
The newspaper has since removed the original tweet about Padukone's dress, which she wore to a film launch last year.
#IStandWithDeepikaPadukone trending "Supposedly India's 'LEADING' newspaper and this is 'NEWS'!!??," Padukone wrote on her Twitter account on Sunday.
"Don't talk about Woman's Empowerment when YOU don't know how to RESPECT Women!" she added.
Several Bollywood celebrities and hundreds of fans have come out in support of the actress and #IStandWithDeepikaPadukone was the top trend on Twitter in India on Monday.
"Appalled....shocked and disgusted at the level of disrespect shown. Deepika or any women in the world cannot and should not stand for this!!" tweeted producer, director Karan Johar.
"I just read... about @deepikapadukone retort to cheap sensational journalism, well done girl," actor Arjun Rampal wrote on Twitter.
"Kudos to Deepika for being a strong woman and speaking up!," tweeted fashion designers Gauri & Nainika.
Much of the outrage is summarised by the comment posted by Hindustan Times columnist Madhavan Narayanan.

Many ordinary Indian women have also poured onto Twitter to voice their respect for her stand.

Newspaper defence Following criticism, the Times of India tweeted to the actress that the report was meant to be a "compliment": "You look so great that we want to make sure everyone knew! :)"
The newspapers defence, however, failed to placate many and actress Nimrat Kaur tweeted: "Dear @TOIEntertain... with this 'compliment' , I shudder to think who this 'everyone' is you're reaching out to?"
But some tweets adopted a more sceptical approach to the torrent of tweets in support of Deepika.

Padukone, daughter of badminton player Prakash Padukone, is one of India's most successful models and actresses.
She made her acting debut in 2006 with a Kannada film, but found instant fame one year later with her Bollywood debut Om Shanti Om where she was cast opposite superstar Shahrukh Khan.
She has taken the lead in nearly a dozen films and her latest - Finding Fanny - was released on Friday.

At least 44 dead in Nigeria church building collapse, official says

By Aminu Abubakar, CNN

People search for survivors after a church building collapsed in Lagos, Nigeria.

(CNN) -- At least 44 people were crushed to death when a guesthouse at a large church that's home to a famous Nigerian preacher collapsed in Lagos, a rescue agency official said Sunday.

In addition to those killed, there were "130 rescued from the rubble of the collapsed guesthouse at The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations," Ibrahim Farinloye, spokesman for the National Emergency Management Agency, told CNN. "The toll may increase as rescue operation is still ongoing because many people are believed to be trapped under the rubble."

The two-story building is located in the expansive compound of The Synagogue, Church of All Nations, run by televangelist T.B. Joshua in the Ikotun area of Lagos, said Farinloye.

The building came down Friday afternoon amid expansion work on three additional floors.

The rescue operation was delayed by the refusal of members of the church to allow emergency workers from NEMA access to the collapsed building.

"The church members were very aggressive and tried attacking emergency responders," Farinloye said.

Reporters covering the incident were attacked by angry church members, who vandalized a TV camera as a cameraman tried to capture footage of the collapsed building, reporters at the scene said.

Joshua told Nigerian newspapers Sunday that a low-flying aircraft had been repeatedly circling the building and may have been responsible for the building collapse.

NEMA's Facebook page acknowledged the sabotage reports but also noted that two stories were being added to the building without fortifying the foundation of the initial structure. There is a "high probability" this is what caused the collapse, NEMA said, adding that an investigation will ultimately determine the cause.

Joshua, dubbed "The Prophet" for his self-acclaimed healing powers and prophesies, has a large following among Nigerians and followers across the world.

His church attracts thousands of followers who attend his church every week to listen to Joshua's sermons, which are also telecast live on the church's television station.

"People travel from around the world to witness and receive from the mighty work that God is doing in the life of Prophet TB Joshua

Pope Francis warns on 'piecemeal World War III'

Pope Francis prays by the gravestones of the 100,000 Italian soldiers who gave their lives in World War I

A "piecemeal" World War III may have already begun with the current spate of crimes, massacres and destruction, Pope Francis has warned.

He was speaking during a visit to Italy's largest military cemetery, where he was commemorating the centenary of World War I.
"War is madness," the Pope said at a memorial to 100,000 Italian soldiers at Redipuglia cemetery near Slovenia.
The Argentine Pope has often condemned the idea of war in God's name.
Only last month, Pope Francis said the international community would be justified in using force to stop what he called "unjust aggression" by Islamic State militants, who have killed or displaced thousands of people in Iraq and Syria, including many Christians, the BBC's David Willey reports.
In Saturday's homily, standing at the altar beneath Italy's fascist-era Redipuglia memorial - where 100,000 Italian soldiers killed during WWI are buried, 60,000 of them unnamed, the Pope paid tribute to the victims of all wars.
"Humanity needs to weep, and this is the time to weep," he said.

Ernest Azuzu & J Leo Uche Feature In New Movie " Rough Chase"

An action thriller featuring Earnest Azuzu will soon hit the cinemas, the movie was directed by J Leo Uche.

 

A new movie featuring J Leo Uche, Ernest Asuzu, and Peter Armand Boyo will be released in cinemas soon. Rough Chase was produced and directed by J Leo Uche.
Other cast of the movie include, Grace Onwurah,Jude Osasogie Natty Bruce Idigbogu, Leon Slaborh, and Pierce Mgboke.
Synopsis
Joe's (J Leo Uche) father was killed by his mother's lover Big Mitch ( Ernest Asuzu). At the age of 10, Joe has innocently been on a ROUGH CHASE by the police and the Kingpin of the Cartel Boss king aka Emperor ( Peter Armand Boyo), as they increase the heat on Joe as a witness to his father's death.

Jay Z Slapped By Beyonce's Sister Solange Knowles

.A surveillance camera caught Solange hitting and kicking the hip hop star while Bey watched helpless.

  Jay Z and Beyonce left separately after the brawl

  The trio left the elevator with no smiles

Shocking!Asari Dokubo Insists That There Are No Missing Girls"

Asari Dokubo is still insisting that the Chibok girls are not missing. the Niger Delta activist went as far as organizing a protest to drive home his point. See photos below.

Nigeria abductions: Video of girls 'gives me hope'

A man whose three cousins are among more than 200 schoolgirls being held by Islamist militants in north-eastern Nigeria tells the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme of his reaction to the emergence of a video apparently showing about 130 of them.

The man declined to give his name because of security concerns for his family.
The girls, a mixture of Christians and Muslims, were taken by Boko Haram fighters on the night of Monday 14 April from their school hostel in the town of Chibok in Borno state.
In the new video a group of them is shown reciting Koranic verses, after apparently converting to Islam. Boko Haram's leader then offered to swap the girls who had not converted for imprisoned militants.

Testimony:

When I heard about the video release I was hoping to see one or two or all of my missing relatives.

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I was very emotional and the tears were dropping from my eyes”

But it was difficult for me [looking at the pictures] to see if my cousins were among the girls on the video.

Their dresses were different from what I am used to, the voices [of girls on the video] were different and the environment was different.
If possible I intend to print pictures out from the video to see if my relatives can recognise any of them.
The emergence of the video gives me hope that they are still alive, but in other ways it has made me more stressed.
I was very emotional and the tears were dropping from my eyes.
I was told that some of the girls were deprived of their rights and forced to convert to another religion by force.

The plight of the girls is being followed in Nigeria and across the world

Women have been protesting for nearly two weeks in the capital, Abuja, about the abductions

I have no problem with what a person chooses to do, but I do have a problem if someone is converted to a religion by force.

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We still say that the abductors are human beings and we are begging them to have mercy on these girls ”

That is terrifying - I would never want to force someone to convert to my religion [Christianity].

What I am saying is that these girls are the children of the masses.
They do not have any say in the government; they are not the children of politicians or the children of government officials.
We have never had any trouble with Boko Haram or militants before. We are peaceful and loving people.
I appeal to them to release these girls.
I want to say that we have forgiven [the militants] 100%, even thought they have abducted our daughters for close to a month subjecting them to some anxieties.
But we still say that the abductors are human beings and we are begging them to have mercy on these girls so that they can be the mothers of tomorrow.
Dialogue One day they are expecting to get married and will give birth to at least a couple of children who will be available and useful to society. One day the gunmen themselves may need the help of the children [of] these girls.

Some relatives want the government to talk to the militants, whose leader is seen here in the 12 May video

They are innocent children who do not know anything.
What I want the government to do is employ diplomacy in all the decisions it takes.
There are people across the globe who may know these gunmen. Let's talk to these people in a polite way, in a good and peaceful manner.
Let them first embrace the spirit of forgiveness because if that is done they, the militants in the bush, will be able to come back home and be united with their relations.
And the people of Borno state and the rest of Nigeria will embrace them. They will receive complete forgiveness.
That is what I want the government to do. If that fails, let them try other alternatives.
But dialogue is one of the most important aspects.