Archaeologists Find Pyramid-shaped Tomb In China

A strange pyramid-shaped tomb has been uncovered under a construction site in central China.

The coffin chamber was discovered in Zhengzhou, Henan Province.

Archaeologists were left scratching their heads after discovering it, along with another cylinder shaped tomb in what they believe is a burial site.

It’s possible that the chamber, stretching almost 100 feet long and 26 feet across, could hail from Han Dynasty (from 202 BC-220 AD), which is widely regarded as China’s golden age.

MTN Announces First Full-Year Loss — $200m Gone In 2016

MTN Group has announced that it lost $200m in 2016 – the first full-year loss of the company in its 22 years of existence.

TheCable had earlier reported that the South African telecommunications company was expecting a full-year loss as a result of the N330bn regulatory fine imposed on it by the federal government.

In 2016, the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) imposed the fine on the telecommunication giant over its failure to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered SIM cards.

In its report, the company said the action of NCC contributed to its loss.

Sagay: NDDC Diverting Funds Meant For The ‘Wretched People’ Of Niger Delta

Itse Sagay, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee (PACAC), has accused the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) of being reckless with funds meant for development.

Sagay alleged that the commission recently bought 70 cars, including eight Super Lexus Jeeps at N78 million each and 10 Landcruisers, each costing N63 million.

He said the vehicles were acquired with funds meant for the provision of water, housing, hospital, schools and infrastructure development in the Niger Delta region.

Sagay spoke at the opening of a two-day national dialogue on corruption organised by PACAC in collaboration with the Office of the vice-president.

“The cars were bought with money from funds meant for infrastructure, water, housing, hospital, schools, without conscience and without a thought for the wretched people of the Niger Delta,” he said.

Equality In French-run Cameroon:English Speakers Fights Back; And The Government Responses With Brutality

PAUL BIYA

YAOUNDÉ, 

Cameroon -Tamanjong Stella is upset because her children's school is closed, a victim of a bitter dispute between English-speaking protesters and the government of this largely French-speaking central African nation.

“The teachers say they cannot start classes until the government has removed the security forces that are posted everywhere,” said Stella, who lives in Bamenda, the capital of one of two English-speaking regions of Cameroon. “I do not know what is going to become of my children without school.”

Months of protests and clashes with government troops have not only forced schools to close, but the Internet also has been shutdown and dissidents have been jailed as English-speaking citizens demand equal rights.

Competition Interlocking Brick VS Normal Brick - MyIB

Why Japanese People Are Wrapping Themselves Up In Cloth

If you don't like tight spaces, you might want to look away now.

All wrapped up

Otonamaki, which directly translates to "adult wrapping", is a Japanese therapeutic method meant to alleviate posture problems and stiffness and it is gaining traction around the country.

The idea for Otonamaki comes from the practice of Ohinamaki, which sees babies wrapped up in cloth in a similar fashion. This is meant to help with their physical development.

Putin: I'm More Experienced And Matured Than Obama

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ruled out a tit-for-tat response after the US expelled 35 Russian diplomats amid a row over hacking.

He said Russia would not "stoop" to the level of "irresponsible diplomacy" but would work to restore ties with the US under President-elect Donald Trump.

Russia's foreign ministry had formally asked Mr Putin to expel 35 US envoys.

The country denies involvement in hacking related to the US election, calling US sanctions "ungrounded".

Press Release: National Housing Programme: FG To Embrace Mortgage System To Ensure Affordability

Dec 1, 2016 - The Federal Government plans to embrace the mortgage system to drive the on-going National Housing Programme when it finally comes on stream, Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, said in Abuja at the weekend. 

Fashola, who spoke after the inspection of sites and building materials production facilities of some of the Private Sector partners in Housing Development in the Federal Capital Territory, assured that when the scheme takes off, government would issue mortgages which would be tied to the incomes of prospective beneficiaries.

Everything You Need To Know About Polystyrene (PS)

What is PS, and What is it Used For?

Polystyrene (PS) plastic is a naturally transparent thermoplastic that is available as both a typical solid plastic as well in the form of a rigid foam material. PS plastic is commonly used in a variety of consumer product applications and is also particularly useful for commercial packaging. Dow Chemical Company invented a proprietary process to make their trademarked and well-known polystyrene foam product “styrofoam” in 1941. The material is somewhat controversial amongst environmental groups because it is slow to biodegrade and is increasingly present as outdoor litter (particularly in the form of foam floating in waterways and the ocean).

The solid plastic form of polystyrene is commonly used in medical device applications like test tubes or petri dishes, or in day-to-day items like the housing on your smoke detectors, the case you used to buy your CDs in, and frequently as a container for foods like yogurt or the red “solo” cup you drink from at a tailgate and/or when you’re losing in a game of beer-pong.

Why New York Banned Polystyrene Foam

New York City is joining a growing group of cities in banning Expandable Polystyrene Foam (EPS). Adam Harris explains what makes this material so worrisome to environmentalists - and appealing to businesses.

Starting today, single-use EPS products including cups, bowls, plates, takeout containers and trays and packing peanuts are not allowed to be possessed, sold, or offered in New York City. Companies have six months to comply or face a fine.

"These products cause real environmental harm and have no place in New York City. We have better options," said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio in a release about the ban.

So why has EPS come under fire? And what is it, exactly? Here's a quick guide to this long-lasting material.

Afghan Brothers Develop Drone to Clear Land Mines

A picture taken July 4, 2016, shows Afghan refugee Massoud Hassani flying an anti-land-mine drone, called the Mine Kafon Drone, in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

LONDON — 

As boys growing up on the outskirts of the Afghan capital, Mahmud Hassani and his brother Massoud saw firsthand the damage land mines did to anyone unlucky enough to stumble across them.

It was the memory of the destruction caused by land mines left over from the 1980s — when Afghan rebels fought Soviet forces — that inspired the brothers to develop a drone prototype to detect and destroy the explosive devices.

Their invention was featured Wednesday in the NT100, a list by Britain-based charity Nominet Trust of innovations that use technology to tackle major world problems.

Orlando Shooting Survivors to Have Medical Bills Forgiven

This photo taken July 11, 2016, shows visitors taking photos and leaving items at a makeshift memorial outside the Pulse nightclub, the day before the one month anniversary of a mass shooting, in Orlando, Fla.

Two hospitals that treated the victims of a deadly shooting rampage at a Florida nightclub in June say they will not bill the survivors for the cost of their treatment.

Fifty-three people were wounded in the June 12 shooting at Orlando's Pulse nightclub that left 49 people dead, making it the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

The parent company of Orlando Regional Medical Center, located not far from Pulse nightclub, said Wednesday it will seek reimbursement from the health insurers of 44 victims it treated, but will forgive any other costs not covered under their policies. The company also said it will not charge the families of the nine people who died at Orlando Regional.

Facebook to Offer Tools to Combat Fake News

The logo of Facebook is pictured on a window at a Facebook Innovation Hub during a media tour in Berlin, Germany, Feb. 24, 2016.

Facebook Inc said on Thursday that it would roll out a number of new tools to prevent fake news stories from spreading on the social media network.

The company will make it easier for users to flag fake articles on their News Feed and will also work with organizations such as fact-checking website Snopes, ABC News and the Associated Press to check the authenticity of stories.

Malawi Announces Africa's 1st Humanitarian Drone Testing Corridor

Malawi's government on Thursday announced Africa's first drone air corridor to provide a controlled platform for drones to deliver needed services to communities.

Alfred Mtilatila, director of the Department of Civil Aviation, said the launch of the testing corridor is largely supported by UNICEF-Malawi as a pilot project using unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS, for transporting dried blood samples for the early diagnosis of HIV in infants.

"We would like to establish a designated area where we will permit different types of unmanned aerial vehicles so that we will be able to come up with the right type of vehicles which can be used for different purposes," Mtilatila said.

Three Social Media Companies In Court On Orlando Shooting

FBI officials leave the Pulse night club, the site of a mass shooting days earlier, in Orlando, Florida, June 15, 2016.

WASHINGTON — 

The families of three victims killed this year during the shooting at Orlando's Pulse nightclub are suing three social media companies for allegedly providing “material support” to the gunman.

The lawsuit, filed by the families of Tevin Crosby, Javier Jorge-Reyes and Juan Ramon Guerrero, alleges that Facebook, Google and Twitter made it too easy for Islamic State jihadists to create social media accounts used to spread their message and raise funds.

Jammeh, For Peace Sake And In The Interest Of The Gambians Accept Defeat

Gambian President-elect Adama Barrow sits for an interview with the Associated Press at his residence in Yundum, Gambia, Dec. 3, 2016.

The winner of Gambia's presidential election says efforts by incumbent Yahya Jammeh to toss out the results are illegal.

Adama Barrow told VOA's French-to-Africa service that Jammeh, who has ruled Gambia for 22 years, does not have the authority to cancel the election.

"He does not have those powers and whatever he is doing is illegal and let him accept defeat," Barrow said in the interview Wednesday. "He called me to say that we have the best election in the world and he should stick to that."

The Plight Of The Gambians As Jammeh Refuses To Step Down

BANJUL — 

Gambian President Yahya Jammeh said he would not step down and condemned mediation by West African regional bloc ECOWAS that aims to get him to leave power after he lost a Dec. 1 election to challenger Adama Barrow.

The comments on state television late Tuesday were a hardening of the veteran president's position after days in which hopes mounted he could be persuaded to hand over power at the end of his mandate on Jan. 18, when Barrow is due to be inaugurated.

Orania,The Whites-only South African own

(CNN)Orania is not prime real estate by any stretch of the imagination.

The settlement west of the Orange River in Northern Cape, South Africa lies on arid and weather-beaten land; baked by the harsh summer sun and frigid through the dry winter. It's farmable, but not easy, requiring strong backs and callused hands.

Rising above the scrub the town's symbol flutters atop a flagpole, a young boy rolling up his sleeves, preparing to knuckle down and transform this landscape. It's a romanticized image for a romanticized notion: a place where Afrikaners can be Afrikaners. Tough, resourceful and making do; descendants of Dutch settlers and proud of it.

Gambia's Jammeh, Please Give Peace A Chance

Banjul (Gambia) (AFP) - Gambian President Yahya Jammeh will effectively become a "rebel leader" if he fails to leave office at the end of his mandate in January, the nation's government-in-waiting said Sunday.

Halifa Sallah, a spokesman for the opposition coalition that spurred president-elect Adama Barrow to victory over Jammeh in a December 1 poll, said the longtime leader had no constitutional mandate to remain in office beyond January.

"Any president who loses constitutional legitimacy becomes a rebel," Sallah said.

"Anybody who is a military officer or civil servant who refuses to be under another constitutional authority obviously would also become a rebel," he added.

Bana Alabed, Girl Who Tweeted Syria Horrors, Escapes Aleppo With Family

Bana Alabed, the 7-year-old girl who chronicled daily life in war-torn Syria, has evacuated Aleppo with her family.

On Monday morning, pictures and video of the young girl with her mother, Fatemah, at a gathering site set up by international aid groups circulated online.

Ahmad Tarakji, the president of the Syrian American Medical Society, a nonpartisan nonprofit that offers relief to Syrians in need, tweeted a picture of himself holding Bana. He said she was just one of many children who fled Aleppo for the countryside and that his organization was working with the Union of Medical Care & Relief Organizations and others to coordinate a response plan.

Trump's Presidency And The US Dollars

Yes, he says a lot of stupid things… but all of these people say incredibly stupid things. I’m putting my money on Trump for winning the election. Not my ideal choice, but by far the best choice that we have.”

—Doug Casey, April 21, 2016

Seven months ago, Doug Casey, a libertarian philosopher and multi-millionaire speculator, predicted Donald Trump’s victory.

In fact, he was so confident of the outcome, he even placed two separate personal bets on the election.

A $500 bet where he won 5-to-1, and another with a leading investor where he won 100 ounces of silver.

But now Casey is issuing an even more shocking prediction about Trump’s presidency…

Did Sanusi Lie Against The Buhari Administration And CBN?

Muhammad Sanusi II, the emir of Kano and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), recently claimed that the CBN has been illegally funding the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

In his claims, Sanusi said “the CBN-FGN relationship is no longer independent. In fact, one could argue their relationship has become unhealthy.

“CBN claims on the FGN now tops N4.7 trillion — equal to almost 50% of the FGN’s total domestic debt. This is a clear violation of the Central Bank Act of 2007 (Section 38.2) which caps advances to the FGN at 5% of last year’s revenues. Has CBN become the government’s lender of last or first resort?”

Cross River Super Highway: Court Dismisses Communities’ Suit against Superhighway Construction

A Federal High Court in Calabar yesterday gave judgment in favour of the Cross River State government against two communities that dragged the government to court over the proposed 260 km superhighway, one of the signature projects of the governor, Professor Ben Ayade.

The suit with no HM/191/2016 was initiated by the people of New and Old Ekuri of Akamkpa Local Government Area seeking to stop the construction of the superhighway.

But delivering judgement yesterday, Justice Maurice Eneji of High Court 3 dismissed the suit as an abuse of court process.

The judge similarly did not grant the prayer of the applicants to stop the construction of the superhighway.

Allah Is Telling Me My Time Is Up: Gambia's President

Gambians celebrate the victory of opposition coalition candidate Adama Barrow by tearing down a poster of longtime President Yahya Jammeh in the streets of Serrekunda, Gambia, Friday Dec. 2, 2016. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

BANJUL, Gambia (AP) — Gambia's president of 22 years acknowledged his election defeat on state television Friday night, vowing to step down hours after news of the results prompted thousands to celebrate in the streets in an unprecedented display of disdain for his rule.

With cameras rolling, Yahya Jammeh called the winner, opposition coalition leader Adama Barrow, on a mobile phone to praise the election and vow not to contest the result.

"Allah is telling me my time is up and I hand over graciously with gratitude toward the Gambian people and gratitude toward you," Jammeh said.

Surprise Winner Of Gambia Poll Eyes New Cabinet, Reforms

The new president of Gambia, Adama Barrow smiles as he makes a call at his home in Yarambamba, West Coast Region, Gambia December 3, 2016. REUTERS/ Thierry Gouegnon

BANJUL (Reuters) - The winner of Gambia's presidential election told Reuters on Saturday he was keen to form a new cabinet to get cracking with reforms, a day after veteran leader Yahya Jammeh stunned the tiny west African nation by conceding defeat.

Jammeh's statement on state radio sparked wild celebrations in a country he has ruled with an iron hand since taking power in a coup 22 years ago, but doubts persisted over how he would step aside and whether the army would switch its allegiance.