Thursday 2 March 2017
Wednesday 1 March 2017
Monday 27 February 2017
Putin says Syria talks in Astana helped revive Geneva
Putin says Syria talks in Astana helped revive Geneva: Talks on consolidating the Syrian ceasefire held in Kazakhstan this year helped jumpstart the United
Sunday 26 February 2017
Saturday 25 February 2017
Cloudflare data leak: How to check if your data is safe and what to do to keep your accounts secure
Cloudflare data leak: How to check if your data is safe and what to do to keep your accounts secure: A serious security vulnerability within Cloudflare, a security and web optimisation platform used by over
Friday 24 February 2017
Watch the prologue for ‘Alien: Covenant’ before the movie arrives in May
Watch the prologue for ‘Alien: Covenant’ before the movie arrives in May: Prometheus wasn’t perfect. In fact, it had countless glaring flaws, but it did manage to reinvigorate interest
Bacon was hot, but boom is turning into ‘bust’
Bacon was hot, but boom is turning into ‘bust’: The bacon boom seems to be ending. Wholesale prices for pork bellies, the cut used
Dollar nurses losses from this week’s Fed minutes
Dollar nurses losses from this week’s Fed minutes: The dollar clawed back some ground on Friday after skidding to a two-week low against
Egypt to import wheat from Russia, Ukraine
Egypt to import wheat from Russia, Ukraine: Egypt’s General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) has signed an agreement to import 360,000 tons
Wednesday 22 February 2017
Friday 17 February 2017
Nigeria Airforce Helicopter Attacked By Boko Haram, Airman Injured
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), said its helicopter conveying personnel on medical outreach programme at Gwoza came under attack by the Boko Haram insurgents.
A statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Group Capt. Ayodele Famuyiwa made available to newsmen in Abuja disclosed this on Thursday, February 16, 2017.
According to Famuyiwa, the Mi-17 helicopter was shot at several times by the insurgents, however, there was no casualty except for an airman that sustained bullet wound.
He explained that the helicopter had departed from Maiduguri enroute the venue of the 2-day medical outreach programme in Gwoza when it came under attack by the insurgents.
“Nevertheless, the pilot was able to fly the helicopter safely to and from its destination to enable the outreach programme continue uninterrupted.
“Following the attack, NAF immediately scrambled a fighter aircraft and helicopter gunship to the location between Bama and Gwoza to neutralise the threat,” he said.
Famuyiwa added that intelligent report by ground troops confirmed that scores of insurgents were killed, signifying that the air attack on the threat location was successful.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that NAF has been conducting medical outreach in the North-East as part of its humanitarian support to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
Saturday 21 January 2017
Donald Trump’s Inauguration: The View From Moscow
Around the Red Square, there were some Russian souvenir dolls that depict Trump, sold alongside others of Putin, but nobody seemed to be interested in the topic when I asked. I did find three events via social networks. At 7 p.m. (11 a.m. in D.C.) at the first event, the H2 bar around Belorusskaya, a central metro station, is pretty empty with a few American and Canadian expats drinking beers. I move to a huge loft not far from the Ritz-Carlton on Tverskaya Street. That’s the same luxury hotel where an uncorroborated dossier claimed Trump was at the center of compromising and salacious behavior during a previous trip.Here, Maria Katasonova, a young parliamentary candidate who ran to represent the nationalist party Rodina in the last Duma elections, organized a gathering, a book presentation (a political biography of Donald Trump) and conference on future U.S.-Russia relations. The place is not particularly full, and a big triptych portraying Putin, Trump and French far-right leader Marine Le Pen attracted plenty of attention from the media.
The ceremony is projected on a large screen but everybody seems more interested in chatting than following the inauguration. Surely there is some genuine interest and support for Trump, but the appearance is more that of a PR event. Not so different, in fact, from the discount day offered to “U.S. citizens only” at Armia Russia, a private company that sells army-branded clothing and accessories, on Trump’s big day. Some Russians, and surely the leadership of the country, may have some real interest in the conduct of the new U.S. President and their future relations, but as for the view from this part of Moscow on Jan. 20, it seemed to be just another day to do some business.
Women's march on Washington: Hundreds of thousands of protesters turn out for anti-Trump rally
In the US capital, women brandished signs with messages such as "Women won't back down" and "Less fear more love", decrying Trump's stand on such issues as abortion, health care, diversity and climate change.
Many arrived wearing hand-knit pink "pussyhats" - a message of female empowerment aimed at Mr Trump's demeaning comments about women.
The aim of the march is to highlight women's rights, which protesters believe is under threat from the new administration.
It is belived the crowds could end up topping those that gathered for Trump's inauguration on Friday.Actress America Ferrera told the Washington crowd: "We march today for the moral core of this nation, against which our new president is waging a war.
"Our dignity, our character, our rights have all been under attack and a platform of hate and division assumed power yesterday. But the president is not America.
“We are America and we are here to stay."
Rena Wilson, from North Carolina, said she hopes the women can send Trump a message that they're "not going anywhere.Joy Rodriguez, of Miami, arrived with her husband, William, and their two daughters, ages 12 and 10.
She said: "I want to make sure their rights are not infringed on in these years coming up."
March organisers said women are "hurting and scared" as the new president takes office and want a greater voice for women in political life.
"In the spirit of democracy and honoring the champions of human rights, dignity and justice who have come before us, we join in diversity to show our presence in numbers too great to ignore," their mission statement says.Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton praised those attending the march.
She thanked attendees on Twitter for "standing, speaking and marching for our values", adding this is as "important as ever".
The idea for the women's march took off after a number of women posted on social media in the hours after Trump's election about the need to mobilize.
Hundreds of groups quickly joined the cause, pushing a wide range of causes, including abortion rights, gun control, climate change and immigrant rights.
Thursday 12 January 2017
Nnamdi Kanu says Buhari worse offender, cites 1983 coup
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has said that the offences for which he is being tried, do not compare to the 1983 coup d’état which led to the enthronement of Muhammadu Buhari as military head of state.
Mr. Kanu, who spoke through his lawyer in court on Thursday, said the case of treason against him should be immediately dropped.
“He’s a freedom fighter unlike people who overthrew a legitimate government in 1983. The court has no option but to discharge the charges. The court should trash the charges,” said his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, as he addressed the federal court in Abuja.
As a military general, Mr. Buhari, Nigeria’s current president, led a coup d’état that removed the Shehu Shagari government in 1983. Mr. Buhari was later deposed by another army general, Ibrahim Babangida in 1985.
Mr. Ejiofor repeated his point that Mr. Buhari’s comments suggested that the presidency had taken a position on the matter, hence the likelihood that his client will not be treated justly.
Mr. Ejiofor said the evidence before the court do not in any way indict his client of treason and prayed the court to quash the case.
He also asked the court to enforce an earlier ruling by Justice Ademola in December 2015, in which the defendant was granted an unconditional freedom.
“The Biafra agitation predates this present administration. The fact that the Honourable Justice Ademola decided that there was no incriminating evidence against the first defendant, he ordered his release but this was blatantly refused,” Mr. Ejiofor said.He accused the prosecution of playing to the gallery, stressing that the ongoing trial had already been determined by certain persons in high places.
“There is no ingredient of treasonable felony found in the proof of evidence before your lordship,” said Mr. Ejiofor.
Mr. Kanu’s trial had on December 13 been suspended abruptly following a rowdy session created by the defendants. The trial continued on Tuesday.
Mr. Kanu, and three others, David Nwawuisi, Benjamin Madubugwu and Chidiebere Onwudiwe, are facing trial for alleged treasonable felony.
Donald Trump praises company after it was boycotted due to one board member's political donation
Donald Trump has tweeted praise to a businesswoman who donated to his political campaign, drawing more attention to a controversy that the company took steps to avoid.
Mr Trump tweeted: "Thank you to Linda Bean of L.L.Bean for your great support and courage. People will support you even more now. Buy L.L.Bean."
The boot-maker company, on whose board Ms Bean sits, has been the subject of a boycott by consumer activist group Grab Your Wallet after it found that the board member had donated $60,000 to Mr Trump’s PAC, Making America Great Again.
According to the Federal Election Commission, the donation exceeded the PAC’s limit.
L L Bean responded in a Facebook statement that it was "disappointed" to be involved in the controversy just because Ms Bean, one board member of 10, personally chose to support Mr Trump.
“Like most large families, the more than 50 family member-owners of the business hold views and embrace causes across the political spectrum, just as our employees and customers do," executive chairman Shawn Gorman said.
“And as every member of the family would agree, no individual alone speaks on behalf of the business or represents the values of the company that L.L. built."
Neither L L Bean now Grab Your Wallet could not be reached for comment by The Independent.Grab Your Wallet also opposes companies that "do business with the Trump family", including Amazon, Macy’s NASCAR and Walmart.
It was founded by Shannon Coulter after the leaked Access Hollywood tape which showed the President-elect bragging about his right to grab women’s genitals.
She told Maine Public Radio that the consumer group would take L L Bean off its list if Linda Bean was dropped from the board.As fans of L.L. Bean’s products, everybody is hoping that the company is really seriously evaluating whether or not Linda Bean’s presence and contributions to the company are worth the damage she continues to inflict on L.L. Bean’s brand and reputation,” Ms Coulter said.
Companies have been affected by boycotts following praise of Mr Trump. Shoe retailer New Balance suffered a backlash after a spokesman for the Boston-based company said that, under a President Trump, “things are going to move in the right direction”.
Despite a statement to say the spokesman’s comments were taken out of context and that the company does not accept bigotry, the shoe company was quickly adopted by the Neo Nazi movement, with fascist writer Andrew Anglin praising the company’s “brave act”.
Human rights lawyer gives INEC 7 days to make available copies of Ekiti lawmakers’ certificate
activist lawyer, Morakinyo Ogele, has forwarded a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding the copies of documents submitted by members of Ekiti State House of Assembly before the last general elections.
Ogele in a letter dated 11th January, 2017, a copy of which was made available to reporters on Thursday said he could be compelled to file a court action against the electoral body if the documents demanded are not made available to him within seven days.
The lawyer said he was invoking Section 1 (1) (2) (3) of Freedom of Information Act 2011 passed by the Fourth Assembly.
He said the Act allows for scrutiny of the lawmakers’ qualification certificates and forms completed and submitted to INEC prior to the 11th April 2015 State Assembly election.
The Department of State Services (DSS) is also investigating some Ekiti Assembly men over alleged certificate forgery and racketeering but the outcome of the probe is yet to be made public by the secret police.
The letter reads in part: “I humbly request for the information of all the current elected members of Ekiti State House of Assembly prior to the last election of the House of Assembly.Certified True Copies (CTCs) of all educational certificates submitted to your office by the said members. All completed INEC forms completed and submitted to your office within seven days from first appearance of this letter.
“I am requesting for all these due to the poor performance of elected members of the State House of Assembly. Failure to accede to our requests may call for court action.”
Mass murderer says he's been "very damaged" by prison isolation
SKIEN, Norway -- Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik told a court Thursday that his isolation in prison had deeply damaged him and caused him to be even more radicalized.
The 37-year-old right-wing extremist, who murdered 77 people in a 2011 bomb attack and shooting rampage, is serving a 21-year sentence in a high-security prison in southern Norway, where his correspondence is monitored. He has been in solitary confinement since his sentencing in 2012 and has limited access to visitors, mostly by prison personnel, medical staff and a priest.
Dressed in a black suit and tie, the stone-faced Breivik spoke coherently without emotion, saying he agreed with government attorneys who had warned that the self-proclaimed neo-Nazi had become more radicalized in prison.
“I have been damaged by the isolation ... (and) radicalization has been a consequence of it,” Breivik said before a three-judge panel which is reviewing a government appeal against a ruling that his isolation in prison violates human rights. “I have not been a little hurt, I have been very damaged.”
Saying he felt locked in a bubble, Breivik complained about the lack of personal contacts. He is allowed to receive visits from family and friends, but hasn’t received any except from his mother before she died.
Breivik was speaking during a hearing reviewing a government appeal against a ruling that his isolation in prison violates human rights.
Last year, Breivik sued the government, arguing that his solitary confinement, frequent strip searches and often being handcuffed in the early part of incarceration violated his human rights.
In a surprise decision, the Oslo District Court in April sided with his claim, finding that his isolation was inhuman and degrading and breached the European Convention on Human Rights, and ordered the government to pay his legal costs.
But it dismissed Breivik’s claim that his right to respect for private and family life was violated by restrictions on contacts with other right-wing extremists, a decision that Breivik in turn is appealing.
The government maintains that Breivik is dangerous and must remain isolated from inmates in the high-security prison in Skien, where the appeals case is also being heard.
Breivik’s lawyer Oystein Storrvik said the control over his communications with the outside world amounts to a “blatant breach of human rights,” arguing that frequent censorship of his letters and long review periods means Breivik cannot keep regular communication with people outside of the penal system.
Attorney General Fredrik Sejersted, representing the government in the appeal, said Breivik continues to spread extremist ideology through his writings, and that all his correspondence should still be monitored and his letters opened. He told the court that Breivik continues to try to find ways of bypassing censorship of his correspondence, including an ad to find a marriage partner.
Sejersted also said that Breivik’s prison conditions are better than for many other inmates. He has a three-cell complex where he can play video games, watch TV and exercise, in compensation for his solitary confinement. He is served coffee and newspapers in the morning, often plays video games on the Xbox console, watches movies and spends much time studying.
Sejersted said Breivik was still “very deeply engaged in his political right-wing, extremely neo-Nazi project,” and should remain isolated.
At the time of the attacks, Breivik claimed to be the commander of a secret Christian military order plotting an anti-Muslim revolution in Europe, but now describes himself as a traditional neo-Nazi who prays to the Viking god Odin.
Six days have been reserved for the hearings by the Borgarting Court of Appeals in the makeshift courtroom in the gym of the prison in Skien, 135 kilometers (85 miles) southwest of the capital, Oslo. They are scheduled to end Jan. 18, with a ruling expected in February.
Boko Haram not defeated without rescue of Chibok girls, says Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his pledge that Boko Haram will not be considered defeated without the rescue of the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by the Boko Haram insurgents.
The President reiterated this in a response to a letter written to him by Ms Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani activist for female education, youngest-ever Nobel Prize Laureate and Co-
Founder of the Malala Fund.
A press release on the letter dated Jan. 10 and signed on behalf of the President by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the press release was signed by the Special Adviser to the Minister, Mr Segun Adeyemi.
The President said that the “Nigerian government is unrelenting in its efforts to ensure the safe return of the Chibok girls who remain in captivity’’.
He said the military, the State Security Service and the other security agencies were intensifying their efforts to ensure freedom for all those who remained in captivity.
Buhari noted that while he could not divulge the details of ongoing negotiations to secure the release of
the girls due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations, the government is committed to their rescue.
the girls due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations, the government is committed to their rescue.
“Be rest assured of the doggedness, commitment and sincerity of the Nigeria’s Federal Government toward ensuring the safe return of the Chibok girls, and indeed all others still in captivity.
The President said the gallant troops of the Nigerian military had recently scored a great victory by seizing control of the Sambisa forest, the last stronghold of the Boko Haram elements who were responsible for the kidnap of the Chibok girls.
On the welfare of the 21 Chibok girls who regained their freedom on Oct. 13, 2016, the president said the federal government had taken over the responsibility for their personal, educational and professional goals and ambitions in life.
“They are being given comprehensive medical, nutritional and psychological care and support, and anyone who has seen them in recent times will attest to the fact that their reintegration back to the society is progressing well.
“The federal government believes that it is not too late for the girls to go back to school, and everything will be done to ensure that they continue the pursuit of their
studies,’’ he assured.
studies,’’ he assured.
Buhari commended Malala for her continuing caring disposition toward the release of the girls who remained in captivity and the welfare of the girls who had regained their freedom.
He said: “there is no better example of the fact that we are all linked by our common humanity’’.
Police investigate school threat
HAMBURG, NY-- An official for Hamburg Central Schools says all is normal at the high school after a threat was made on social media Wednesday night.
According to a statement by the district, the student allegedly responsible for the threat was identified and police were notified.
Officials say the high school is safe for learning and work.
Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the Hamburg Village Police at: 716-649-9300.Hamburg Central School officials says all is normal at the high school this morning after a threat was made on social media last night @wgrz
Christians who support Donald Trump accused of 'failure in leadership'
The president-elect made clear that he suspected US intelligence agencies of releasing the 35-page dossier, which contained unverified allegations that Russia held compromising information which would render him vulnerable to blackmail.
He also took questions on his plans to give "complete and total" control of his business empire to his two eldest sons to avoid a conflict of interest.
However on Thursday the Office of Government Ethics slammed it as "meaningless" and said it "adds nothing to the equation".
American broadcaster and former General Synod member Christina Rees CBE told Premier's News Hour that she "really did not understand" why high profile Christians were not speaking on the issue.
Trump branded the dossier "fake news" and said it would be a "tremendous blot" on the intelligence agencies' reputations if they were shown to have leaked it.
He also issued a series of tweets in which he denounced the document as "A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE".
"Intelligence agencies should never have allowed this fake news to 'leak' into the public. One last shot at me. Are we living in Nazi Germany?" he tweeted.
Russian president Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the reports were "complete fabrication and utter nonsense" and the Russian government "does not engage in collecting compromising material".
Standing in front of a row of US flags, Mr Trump blamed the creation of the dossier on his political opponents, who he said had "got together - sick people - and they put that... together".
Domestic demand lifts German growth to 1.9pc
The figure released by the Federal Statistical Office was slightly better than Germany's performance in the previous two years, and also alightly above the 1.8 percent growth that the government and economists had forecast. Gross domestic product increased by 1.7 percent in 2015 and 1.6 percent in 2014.
The statistical office offered a rough estimate that the economy grew by about half a percent in the fourth quarter compared with the previous three-month period. However, an official fourth-quarter figure won't be released until next month, and statisticians warned that the estimate should be treated with caution.
Domestic spending once again powered the economy, which is traditionally export-heavy, to stronger growth.
Household spending was up by 2 percent last year and government consumption spending 4.2 percent, the latter partly a result of spending to deal with the previous year's large influx of asylum-seekers. Investment in construction was up by 3.1 percent and spending on equipment such as machinery and vehicles rose 1.7 percent.
Foreign trade had a slightly negative impact on GDP as a 3.4 percent rise in imports outpaced a 2.5 percent increase in exports.
Germany's growth has translated into healthy government finances.
The country had a 19.2 billion-euro budget surplus last year, or 0.6 percent of GDP. That was the third consecutive annual fiscal surplus, down slightly from the previous year's 0.7 percent.
Of the 18 other eurozone countries, only Estonia and Luxembourg are expected to have produced a surplus last year, statistical office head Dieter Sarreither said.
"Despite the stock market crash in China, Brexit, Turkey, Trump and Italy, the economy performed its best growth year since 2011,'' said ING-DiBa economist Carsten Brzeski. "Strong domestic demand has shielded the German economy against most external risks.'' -AP
China appreciates Nigeria's commitment to one-China policy
china highly appreciates Nigeria's move to close Taiwan's office in capital city Abuja, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said Thursday.
"It has completely solved a leftover problem affecting political trust between China and Nigeria and removed political obstacles that have disrupted the healthy development of bilateral relations," Lu said at a regular news briefing.
The Nigerian government said Wednesday it had ordered the closure of Taiwan's office in capital Abuja and the moving of its trade mission to Lagos.
Nigeria has no official relations with Taiwan, but Taiwan has an office in the African country. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Taiwan office has engaged in activities exceeding its capacity and violated the one-China principle.
Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe, which resumed diplomatic relations with China in December, have made correct decisions on the basis of the one-China principle, opening up broad prospects for bilateral relations, Lu said.
"Their commitment serves the fundamental interests of the people in these countries and is in line with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the international consensus of one China," the spokesperson added.
WWIII WARNING: North Korea has enough resources for 10 NUCLEAR weapons
Kim has been accelerating North Korea’s production of weapons-grade plutonium as well as its ballistic missile capabilities since the collapse of an international non-proliferation agreement.
And he has now amassed 50kg of plutonium since reactivating its Yongbyon nuclear power plant in 2013, according a report from the defence ministry in Seoul.
It comes after some serious sabre-rattling by Kim who boasted in his New Year address Pyongyang was in the “final stages” of test-firing a fully-fledged intercontinental ballistic missile.
North Korea's Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) has a range of 5,500 miles could cause world-wide devastation if its unhinged leader decided to launch an attack.
Siegfried Hecker, a professor of nuclear physics at Stanford University in the US who has visited the Yongbyon plant, said North Korea was capable of producing 80kg of highly enriched uranium each year.
With such an output Kim could expect three new nuclear weapons every 12 months and will have created an arsenal of 50 nuclear warheads by 2020.
The latest South Korean figures do not take into account material generated by North Korea’s programme of secretly enriching uranium which, Seoul says, is beyond its capacities to estimate.
The report also warned Pyongyang was developing submarine-launched ballistic missiles but said the technology was not yet ready for deployment.
It also pointed out that 800,000 extra soldiers had been recruited by Kim’s generals over the last two years to give North Korea a fighting force of 1.28 million troops.
Pyongyang conducted two underground nuclear tests last year, and test-fired 20 missiles of various sizes in an intense period of activity designed to make the rest of the world aware of its growing military ambitions.
It has previously fired ballistic rockets to launch satellites, using similar technology to intercontinental missiles.
US intelligence chiefs are keeping a close eye on military activities after one of Kim’s henchmen accused Washington of provocation.
A spokesman for the for the North Korean foreign ministry said: “The US is wholly to blame for pushing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to have developed intercontinental ballistic missiles as it has desperately resorted to anachronistic policy, hostile towards the DPRK for decades to encroach its sovereignty and vital rights.
“Anyone who wants to deal with the DPRK would be well advised to secure a new way of thinking after having clear understanding of it.”
$8.4m fraud: Ajudua’s trial stalled again
The trial of businessman, Fred Ajudua, over alleged defrauding of former Chief of Army Staff, General Ishaya Bamaiyi in the sum of $8.4 million was again stalled, on Thursday, following Ajudua’s new application challenging the authority of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute him.
Mr. Ajudua is being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly collecting various sums of money from Gen. Bamaiyi while the duo were in custody at Kirikiri Prison, Lagos.
According to the EFCC, the defendant and his accomplices had approached Mr. Bamaiyi, who was facing trial for the attempted murder of Alex Ibru, the late Publisher of The Guardian newspaper, and convinced him they could secure his freedom.
Ajudua co-defendant, Oluronke Rosulu who had opted for separate trial was last year sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Justice Lawal-Akapo.
Ajudua’s trial was originally before Justice Kudirat Jose but was last year transferred to Justice Oyefeso.
At today’s proceedings, Ajudua who wore white caftan opposed EFCC’s effort to re-arraign him on an amended charge.
Ajudua’s lawyer, Mr. S.A Quakers, SAN told the court that under the administration of criminal justice law, the EFCC has no powers to prosecute his client.
Quakers also raised objection against the amended charges stating that his client cannot be arraigned on the new information before the court since the anti-graft agency failed to obtain his witness statement.
EFCC lawyer, Seidu Atteh however countered the argument saying that it was not necessary for the EFCC to obtain statement from defendant simply because the charges were amended.
Atteh pointed out that Ajudua had personally refused to volunteer any statement to the commission over the allegations against him.
In her brief remark, trial judge, Justice Oyefeso insisted that parties should harmonize their arguments instead of presenting them peace-meal.
She adjourned that matter till February 13, 2017 for hearing of argument of both parties.
Reading FC lose interest in Serero because of Bafana ranking
The club has been one of many European clubs after the former Ajax Cape Town star's signature.
PSL giants Kaizer Chiefs have also been heavily linked with the Bafana Bafana international's services thus far.
Serero will become a free agent at the end of this season when he officially cuts ties with Ajax Amsterdam.And while clubs such as Scottish giants Celtic in addition to Reading have shown interest in his services, it seems as if his search for a new home will continue for a while.
This is after Reading confirmed that they won't be able to get the 26-year-old attacking midfielder.
"He's a quality player, and I would like to get him here, but he won't get a work permit. Your country should be in the top 50 before you can qualify for a work permit in England, which is a new rule, and South Africa is in the sixties, so they don't qualify.
"There's nothing that can be done about it," Reading technical director Brian Tevreden told Vice Sports.
Serero left for Amsterdam in 2011 from feeder club Ajax and has played in dribs, and dabs ever since arriving.
John McCain defends decision to hand Russia's Donald Trump dossier to FBI director
Veteran Senator John McCain, a fierce critic and bitter enemy of the President-elect, admitted he had no idea if the contents of the explosive document were true.
But he said he was so concerned about the information contained within the 35-page dossier, which included allegations that Mr Trump had hired prostitutes in Moscow, that he passed the information onto the FBI.He told CNN: “I did what any citizen should do. I received sensitive information and handed it to the FBI.
“I don't know if it is credible or not but the information I thought deserved to be delivered to the FBI, the appropriate agency of government.
“It doesn't trouble me because I don't know if it is accurate or not. I have no way of corroborating that.
“The individual gave me the information. I looked at it. After receiving that information I took it to the FBI.”Mr McCain, who ran for the White House as the Republican candidate in 2008, said he had since found out the FBI had already been made aware of the information in the dossier.
He said: “Late last year, I received sensitive information that has since been made public.
“Upon examination of the contents, and unable to make a judgment about their accuracy, I delivered the information to the Director of the FBI.
“That has been the extent of my contact with the FBI or any other government agency regarding this issue.”The Kremlin has denied all of the allegations and Mr Trump tweeted: “Fake news. A total political witch-hunt."
There is no love lost between Mr McCain and Mr Trump and the animosity between them is well-documented.
The pair clashed last July when Mr Trump called Mr McCain's Vietnam war hero status into question claiming: “He’s a war hero because he was captured? I like people who weren’t captured.”
But Mr McCain did not formally withdraw his support for the billionaire New Yorke until the closing weeks of the election campaign when recordings of of apparently boasting about his sexual conquests were published.
Jesse Jackson Tells Uber to Release Diversity Data, Invest in Oakland
In a letter to Uber’s CEO Travis Kalanick, civil rights leader Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., president and founder of The Rainbow PUSH Coalition, urged Uber to report its diversity data by February 15. Unlike many big-name tech companies, Uber has not released data on the racial and gender makeup of its workforce.
“We urge Uber to ‘lean in’ and join the ranks of technology companies that are reporting diversity and inclusion data,” the January 5 letter states.
Jackson advises Uber to:
- Publicly disclose its EEO-1 report and the racial and gender composition of technical and non-technical workforce.
- Detail the total number of new hires made between 2014 and 2016, and the number and percentage of these new hires from African American and Latino backgrounds.
- Report the gender and racial composition of its board of directors and C-suite leadership team.
- Describe new diversity and inclusion policies and practices, partnerships and initiatives that the company is implementing.
- Describe any additional policies the company adapted to increase diversity and inclusion in the utilization of its products, as well as work with minority and diverse advertising, marketing and professional services firms.
Additionally, Jackson requests that “if and when Uber takes the company public” it takes proactive steps to involve diverse financial services firms and ensure participation in its IPO syndicate.
Uber, founded in 2009 in San Francisco, is valued at $69 billion. Currently, its board members are mostly male, except for Black men — there are none.
The company released a statement on Thursday announcing Bernard C. Coleman III has been tapped for the position of global chief of diversity and inclusion.
Coleman, who is Black, was the chief diversity and human resources officer for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. He was the first-ever chief diversity officer for any presidential campaign of either political party.
Coleman earned a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University, one of the country’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and an MBA from Trinity University.
Uber’s Chief Human Resources Officer Liane Hornsey said Coleman would be working to “build the right programs and teams that make Uber a great place to work.”
Finish reading the story at The Washington Informer.
US Intelligence chief's statement on Donald Trump Russia dossier leak in full
The US director of National Intelligence has issued a statement revealing a conversation he has had with Donald Trump about the unsubstantiated report claiming Russia had compromising personal and financial information about him.
Outgoing head of US intelligence James Clapper said he expressed his "profound dismay" about the leaked private security company document, and described media reports on the allegations as “corrosive and damaging”.
He added he told Mr Trump it was “not a US Intelligence Community product” and that the intelligence community had "not made any judgement that the information in this document is reliable".Below is DNI Clapper's statement in full:
This evening, I had the opportunity to speak with President-elect Donald Trump to discuss recent media reports about our briefing last Friday.
I expressed my profound dismay at the leaks that have been appearing in the press, and we both agreed that they are extremely corrosive and damaging to our national security.
We also discussed the private security company document, which was widely circulated in recent months among the media, members of Congress and Congressional staff even before the IC became aware of it.
I emphasised that this document is not a U.S. Intelligence Community product and that I do not believe the leaks came from within the IC. The IC has not made any judgement that the information in this document is reliable, and we did not rely upon it in any way for our conclusions.
However, part of our obligation is to ensure that policymakers are provided with the fullest possible picture of any matters that might affect national security.
President-elect Trump again affirmed his appreciation for all the men and women serving in the Intelligence Community, and I assured him that the IC stands ready to serve his Administration and the American people.
Who is Mike Pompeo
current occupation: U.S. representative from Kansas (2011 to present)
Relevant experience: U.S. Army, 1986-1991, cavalry officer, reached rank of Captain; House Intelligence Committee member, 2013-present
Education: U.S. Military Academy, West Point, B.S, 1986; Harvard Law School, J.D., 1994
Potential issues: With the issue of alleged Russian interference in the presidential campaign white-hot in Washington, Pompeo is expected to be pressed on whether he’ll counter President-elect Donald Trump’s conciliatory impulses toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. Pompeo, who opposed publication of a Senate report on the CIA’s interrogation practices, is also likely to face questions about his views on torture, surveillance and his condemnation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton over the 2012 Benghazi attacks.
CONGRESS
Hill Republicans demand probe of media leaks on Trump
By AUSTIN WRIGHT, RACHAEL BADE and JOHN BRESNAHAN
NOMINEE ON KEY ISSUES
Russia and the U.S. presidential campaign
Pompeo’s taken a much tougher line towards Russia than President-elect Donald Trump, warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a dangerous leader.
However, Pompeo’s stance on allegations that Russia mounted a hacking drive in order to try to tilt the electoral playing field toward Trump is unclear. Trump has expressed skepticism about conclusions by the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia hacked Democratic political committees and operatives.
Interrogations and torture
Pompeo sharply criticized the Senate Intelligence Committee’s release of a report in 2014 that found widespread abuses in the CIA’s treatment of war-on-terror prisoners held and interrogated by the agency after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. He said the report unfairly maligned CIA personnel.
“These men and women are not torturers, they are patriots. The programs being used were within the law [and] within the Constitution,” Pompeo said. He also dismissed the Senate report as a “narcissistic self-cleansing” on the part of the Senate panel’s chairwoman, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and warned that it would discourage allies from aiding the U.S. in the future.
It’s unclear whether Pompeo would urge a return to tactics like waterboarding, something Trump advocated as a candidate but may be backing away from as he prepares to enter the White House.
Pompeo was a strident voice on the House’s special committee to investigate the Benghazi attacks, ultimately joining in a statement that blasted former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton more harshly than most of his Republican colleagues.
Iran nuclear deal
Pompeo has been an outspoken critic of the agreement the Obama administration struck with Iran to halt its reported nuclear weapons efforts in exchange for a rollback of international sanctions. He has urged President-elect Trump to abrogate the pact.
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