300 Deer killed by lightening strike

About 300 reindeer have been killed by a single lightning strike at a national park in Norway.

The Norwegian Environment Agency  released pictures on Sunday showing 323 dead reindeer scattered across a field in Hardangervidda National Park.

One of the agency's inspectors discovered the carcasses after a storm passed through.

According to the Agency, it was possible for such a high number to have been struck at once because they were huddled together due to the bad weather.

Hardangervidda National Park is home to Europe's largest herds of wild reindeer.

Samples from the dead animals have also been taken as part of a science survey.

Source: CNN

Ghana's Anti-corruption Hero: Anas Aremeyaw Anas

Sometimes just one person trying to do the right
thing can change the course of history.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas of Ghana is an undercover
investigative journalist with a focus on exposing
corruption, exploitation and human rights abuses.
Last month his work changed the course of
Ghanaian history when he released an anti-
corruption film called Ghana in the Eyes of God,
Epic of Injustice.

“The most powerful weapon against corruption is
transparency and exposure,” says Anas, who was
born in the late 1970s and first trained as a
lawyer. He says the aim of his life’s work is to
“name, shame and jail” people who hurt others
and break the law.
Released in late September, Anas’ new three-hour
documentary has led to the shocking suspension
of seven of Ghana’s 12 High Court judges and 22
lower court judges who were secretly filmed in an
alleged judicial bribery and corruption scandal
which Anas investigated for about two years.
Money, sex, yams and even a goat were among
the alleged pay-offs. In exchange, many robbers,
murderers, drug dealers, rapists and others
allegedly received shortened sentences or went
free.
Anas notably works undercover, usually wearing
disguises and pretending to engage with “bad
people” who he then tries to film committing
crimes.
People rarely see his face. Even when he gives
public talks about his work or receives awards, he
hides it.
Could corruption charges against these judicial
officials be true?
Ghanaians are now waiting for rule of law to take
its course -- for all parties concerned. What
seems to have come to light through Anas’ brave
undercover work is 500 hours of raw footage of
judicial corruption in action, allegedly involving
some 180 judicial officials – judges, magistrates,
court clerks, policemen, state attorneys and bail
contractors!
In trying to block the screening of Anas’ whistle-
blowing film, one High Court judge ironically
argued that showing the film “brings the authority
and administration of the law into disrespect and
disrepute…”
Each of the seven implicated high court judges
has been give a week between now and 11
December to appear before a special Chief Justice
Committee. Anas will also appear for cross-
examination, and some defendants have
demanded that he remove his disguise when in
court.
The five-member Committee has contended
this week that Anas is protected by the Whistle
Blower’s Act. As such, he must not be unmasked
and is also covered by immunity.
While not his first choice, Anas says he believes
working in disguise is necessary, given the
powerful and sometimes dangerous subjects of
his investigations.
Acknowledging his own fear and the hazards of
doing the work he does, Anas advises, “You’ve
got to take intelligent decisions… If you don’t, you
will end up losing your life.” (He usually works
with a backup team of private investigators).
Notwithstanding the risks, Anas says he and all
professional journalists have the responsibility to
keep the public informed about activities affecting
the health of their democracies, and their own
personal lives. Colleagues say his work is driven
by the belief that it is corruption that is holding
Africa back.
Anas Aremeyaw Anas, I salute you.
Culled from Strive Masiyiwa's
Let’s play by a different (ethical) set of rules
(Part 14)

China overturns one-child policy.

China has decided to end its decades-long one-
child policy, the state-run Xinhua news agency
reports.
Couples will now be allowed to have two children,
it said, citing a statement from the Communist
Party.
The controversial policy was introduced nationally
in 1979, to slow the population growth rate.
It is estimated to have prevented about 400
million births. However concerns at China's
ageing population led to pressure for change.
Couples who violated the one-child policy faced a
variety of punishments, from fines and the loss
of employment to forced abortions.
Over time, the policy has been relaxed in some
provinces, as demographers and sociologists
raised concerns about rising social costs and
falling worker numbers.
The decision to allow families to have two
children was designed "to improve the balanced
development of population'' and to deal with an
aging population, according to the statement
from the Community Party's Central Committee
carried by the official Xinhua News Agency (in
Chinese) on Thursday.
Currently about 30% of China's population is over
the age of 50. The total population of the country
is around 1.36 billion.
The Communist Party began formally relaxing
national rules two years ago, allowing couples in
which at least one of the pair is an only child to
have a second child.

Culled from bbc.com

Man Develops Horse-Like Neck

Oh dear!!!

A Chinese man who drank two liters of spirits daily for more than thirty years has developed a tumour around his throat that resemles a horse’s neck, Guangzhou, China.

Hong Shu can’t eat, sleep or breathe properly after ten years ago his body fromed a swelling behind both of his ears and gradually spread to around his neck area. Hong was dubbed as the man with the horse, cow and even camel’s neck.

The man became withdrawn, deeply depressed and began avoiding people. After examinations and X-rays, doctors diagnosed Hong with Madelung disease and blamed his excessive drinking for triggering a disease.

The condition is very rare and characterized by extensive symmetric fat deposits in the head, neck, and shoulder girdle area. In reported case series, up to 90% of patients have a history of chronic alcoholism, and there is a strong male predominance.

Hong consumed up to two litres of Chinese alcohol bajiu a day, meaning he downed tens of thousands of litres of the liquor. At the time of his first operation Hong’s throat was more than15,24cm wide and around 13,97cm long. But after three successive surgeries to remove the fatty tissue Hong can start a new sober life.

Footballers levitate ball during goal celebration.

Footballers or magicians?

Gathering his team-mates around him, Cesar Martinez- without any obvious use of strings - makes the ball float in mid-air before kicking it clear after he had scored a neat goal to put Zamora into the lead against Caracas,

When asked how he pulled off the magic trick, Martinez told GloboEsporte: "I cannot say how we did the trick because we made a pact between the players to never reveal how the magic was done.

"It was something we talked about and I went and did it. I will never reveal the trick because a magician does not reveal his secrets."

He added: "I like doing card tricks with my team-mates, but I do not practice magic. Before the game I had the idea in my head and I decided to go ahead to see how it turned out.

"I worked perfectly and the result was the video you guys saw. I can tell you I have another idea for the next time and I hope it goes as well as this one, an idea to celebrate the next goal."

I hope we see more of such magic celebrations.

Meat can cause cancer!

Bacon, burgers and sausages were this week
deemed to be as big a cancer threat as
cigarettes, according to global health chiefs.
The warning saw processed meat added to the
list of items classified as carcingogenic to
humans by the World Health Organisation. 
It means dietary favourites, including salami,
chorizo and smoked ham, rank alongside arsenic
and asbestos, when it comes to the potential
cancer risk.
Officials said just 50g of processed meat a day
– less than one sausage – increases the risk of
bowel cancer by almost a fifth.

The report also classified red meat as 'probably
carcinogenic' – one rank below – but added that
it had some nutritional benefits.
Experts are now urging the public to avoid
processed meat where possible and to have a
bean salad for lunch rather than a BLT.
Processed meat has been preserved, for example
by smoking, and includes ham and pate, as well
as burgers and mince if they have been
preserved using salt or chemical additives.
Experts think the substances added during
processing cause cancer.
These include preservatives such as nitrates and
nitrites – as well as substantial amounts of salt.
Fresh red meat is also strongly linked to cancer
and the WHO categorised it one level below
processed meat, as 'probably carcinogenic'.
But it also provides many nutritional benefits and
is high in protein, iron and vitamin B12, which
prevent tiredness and infections.
Twenty-two experts at the WHO's International
Agency for Research on Cancer, from 10
countries, took the decision after reviewing more
than 800 studies that investigated the links
between red meat and processed meat and
various different types of cancer.
Processed meat was classified as carcinogenic,
based on sufficient evidence in humans that
consumption causes specifically colorectal or
bowel cancer, they concluded.
The classification of red meat as 'probably
carcinogenic to humans' was observed mainly in
relation to colorectal cancer, but links were also
seen for pancreatic and prostate cancer.
The experts concluded that each 50 gram portion
of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk
of colorectal cancer by 18%.
'For an individual, the risk of developing
colorectal cancer because of their consumption
of processed meat remains small, but this risk
increases with the amount of meat consumed,'
said Dr Kurt Straif, head of the IARC
Monographs Programme.
'In view of the large number of people who
consume processed meat, the global impact on
cancer incidence is of public health importance.'
Dr Christopher Wild, director of IARC added:
'These findings further support current public
health recommendations to limit intake of meat.
'At the same time, red meat has nutritional
value.
'Therefore, these results are important in
enabling governments and international
regulatory agencies to conduct risk assessments,
in order to balance the risks and benefits of
eating red meat and processed meat and to
provide the best possible dietary
recommendations.'

1000-year-old Bible retrieved from smugglers

A 1,000-year-old Bible has been uncovered during a police operation in the city of Tokat, Turkey.

The Bible is estimated to be 1000 years old.
A millenium-old book was confiscated along with jewellery and coins after the smugglers were caught red-handed. Three men were arrested after they tried to sell the priceless historical artifacts to undercover officers.
It only has 51 pages or 102 pages left and its cover is seriously damaged
The Bible is written in the old Assyriac language, it only has 51 pages or 102 pages left and its cover is seriously damaged. However, pictures made of gold leafs with religious pictures inside the sacred book are still intact. According to experts, the Bible is estimated to be 1000 years old.
The criminals were harbouring historic artefacts with the intention to sell them
The Bible, 53 coins, two arrowheads and two parts of different rings were sent to a local museum.Theologians now hope the relic will offer valuable insights into the way Christianity has developed in the past century.

Tokat has emerged in recent years as a centre of smuggling activities in rare artefacts, a reputation that was cemented last year when ‘Orphan Man, Standing,’ an authentic oil painting by Vincent Van Gogh, was found in the boot of a vehicle owned by a suspected artifact smuggler.

Rape and cannibalism is rampant in South Sudan, claims African Union

The African Union (AU) has accused government and rebel forces in South Sudan of extreme violence since the conflict erupted at the end of 2013.
A commission of inquiry found evidence of killings, torture, mutilations and rape, mostly against civilians, as well as episodes of forced cannibalism.
However, it specified that genocide had not been committed during the conflict.
Tensions remain, with a peace deal agreed between the government and rebels in August repeatedly broken.
Tens of thousands of people have died and another two million people have been forced from their homes since the civil war began nearly two years ago.
In its report, the AU said the commission, formed last year under the chairmanship of Nigeria's ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, had identified perpetrators of violence from both sides.
It documented details of brutal killings, abductions of woman and sexual violence among other abuses, mostly committed against civilians who were not taking part in the fighting.
'Drinking blood'
"The commission believes that war crimes were committed in Juba, Bor, Bentiu and Malakal," the report said in reference to the key conflict towns.
Some witnesses in the capital, Juba, told commission members that they had seen people forced to drink the blood and eat the flesh of people who had just been killed.
'Eating grass'
Grass and leaves is all one family with six children has to eat in a village in Kaldak in South Sudan, as the BBC's Yalda Hakim reports
They spoke of seeing the perpetrators "draining human blood from people who had just been killed and forcing others from one ethnic community to drink the blood or eat burnt human flesh".
The report also said that mass graves had been discovered by AU investigators.
The commission is urging an internationally backed, African-led court to bring to justice those responsible for the violence.
Despite the seeming ethnic nature of the conflict, the commission said it found no reasonable evidence to prove that genocide had been committed.
'Limited violations'
Those who committed the atrocities detailed in the report should be brought to justice, presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told BBC News.
Ateny Wek Ateny, spokesman for the President, said human rights abuses were not government-sanctioned.
However, he said there was "inconclusive evidence" that his government was involved, and it was an allegation he "cannot accept".
"I'm not categorically denying that there are limited violations that individuals might have inflicted," he said, adding those responsible would be "brought to book". However, he denied there were any government-sanctioned human rights violations.
"It is not sanctioned by the government, it is the individual that might have taken the law into their own hands," he said.
He said South Sudan will form its own commission of inquiry to investigate.
South Sudan's elusive peace:
At least seven ceasefires agreed and broken since conflict started in December 2013
Nearly one in five South Sudanese displaced by the current conflict, from a total population of 12 million
Former rebel leader Salva Kiir became president of South Sudan, the world's newest state, when it gained independence in 2011
South Sudan has been at war for 42 of past 60 years
South Sudan's men of dishonour
The United Nations has already accused the government and rebel fighters of atrocities and crimes against humanity, and says the situation has only worsened since a peace deal was signed in August.
The conflict was triggered by a political power struggle in December 2013 between President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and his rival and former Vice-President Riek Machar, a Nuer.
But it quickly took on a bloody, multi-ethnic dimension right across the country.
The AU report seemed to dismiss claims that there had been a coup attempt by Mr Machar, instead finding that the unrest began after government-organised killings of ethnic Nuer civilians and soldiers.

Crackdown on London Sex Workers Days to Olympics

The London Olympics is not big business for everyone  —sex workers say they are being cleared from the streets around the stadium to make the area more presentable for the Games.
While Britain’s limp economy hopes for an Olympic boost, police in Newham, the deprived east London borough that is home to the stadium, have closed some 80 brothels in the 18 months to March, according to a study by a local councillor.

“For the last two years we’ve seen a real increase in police activity in relation to sex work in the Olympic host boroughs,” said Georgina Perry, who runs Open Doors, a government project supporting east London prostitutes.
“Some of the women who sell sex have experienced so many brothel closures that they are now working on the street, and that is a much less safe place,” she told AFP.
“Street women are experiencing a lot of police requests for them to move on from the area. They’re not wanted there during the Olympic Games.”
The expected influx of two million visitors for the Olympics has led Prime Minister David Cameron to predict a £13 billion ($20.2 billion, 16.3 billion euro) boost for the economy over the next four years.
But the sex trade looks likely to miss out on any benefits, campaigners say.
Prostitution is legal in Britain, but keeping a brothel is outlawed, as are other related activities such as curb-crawling.
London’s Metropolitan Police have denied that the brothel raids were connected to the Olympics, saying they were “in response to community concerns”.
“Any police activity regarding prostitution has been undertaken as part of normal policing responsibilities,” a police spokeswoman told AFP.
But London’s mayor Boris Johnson openly supports a crackdown on the sex trade ahead of the Olympics.
“We are determined to crack down on prostitution and human trafficking in the run up to the London 2012 Games,” a statement on his website reads.
Scotland Yard said it was unable to specify the number of east London brothels that have been raided and sex workers arrested in the run-up to the Olympics.

35 Die in Jos Floodings

Many people have died in the flood that followed a heavy rainfall in the Nigerian city of Jos.
The heavy rain forced a nearby dam to overflow, causing a flooding that left at least 35 people dead and destroyed or damaged some 200 homes, the Red Cross reported on Monday.
“We have recovered the bodies of 35 people that drowned in the overnight flooding,” said Manasie Phampe, head of the Red Cross in Plateau state,“About 200 homes have either been submerged or destroyed.”
The confirmed victims so far included a 90-year-old woman and a three-month-old baby, adding that the toll could rise, he said.
“Rainwater and water from the Lamingo dam which overflowed swept across several neighbourhoods in the city,” he explained. “We are still searching for more bodies as many people have been declared missing.”
The downpour in Jos began at roughly 9:00 pm (20:00 GMT) Sunday when many of the city’s residents were at home for the night.
“I have lost seven of my children in this disaster,” said Alhaji Abdulhamid Useini, who described heavy rain pounding his neighbourhood for nearly three hours, which also swept away some of his livestock.
The area coordinator for the National Emergency Agency (NEMA), Alhassan Danjuma Aliyu, called the flood “devastating” and said police and other rescue bodies were searching the affected areas in hopes of finding survivors.
The head of search and rescue committee of the Muslim community in Jos, Sani Shuaibu, said the search was still on for 25 bodies still missing.
“We are still looking for 25 other bodies that are still missing and the figure of the missing may rise as families come forward to register their missing family members,” he said.
“Most of the dead were children between three months and 13 years that were swept away by the flooding in their sleep. We picked the drowned along the river bank… We have two camps where around 700 displaced people are sheltering with little food and water supplies.”
Much of the country has been affected by heavy seasonal rainfall, including Jos in the centre of the country and the economic capital Lagos in the south, where flooding has caused several road closures and other damage.
The rainy season in Nigeria typically runs from March to September.
Last week, at least three people were killed by flood waters in Ibadan, an area where 102 people died following torrential rains last year.
At least 20 people died from flooding in Lagos last year, while 24 were killed after rains inundated a neighbourhood in Nigeria’s largest northern city of Kano.
Nigerian papers have in recent weeks been filled with commentary criticising officials for failing to put in place measures to mitigate the impact of the annual, often severe floods.
The largest cities in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, are overcrowded, with many residents living in haphazardly constructed slums.
Drainage systems are also often poorly maintained and contribute to the problem of floods.
In 2010, flooding affected roughly half a million people in two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 states.

Drug concealed in dredger bound for Nigeria

Argentine authorities have discovered more than half ton of cocaine concealed in a dredger being shipped to Nigeria.
Dogs trained by AFIP, Argentine tax agency found the drugs, weighing 536 kg with a street value of $25 million, at the Ezeiza International Airport, south of Argentina, the AFP reported.
Argentina is a favored transit point for Andean hard drugs.
The cocaine had been tightly packed in 490 brightly coloured bricks and crammed into a heavy dredging equipment scheduled to be flown to an oil company in Lagos but it was discovered by two sniffer dogs — Tota and Gala.
The machinery was opened by officers and it was found to contain 536kg of pure cocaine inside thick walls of lead and steel.
Maria Siomara Ayeran, the director-general of the agency, said the name of the Nigerian company used is fake, as it could not be traced.
However, she disclosed that it was the first time the Argentine government would confiscate such hefty shipment of cocaine ready to be smuggled by air from Buenos Aires to Nigeria.
Ayeran added that investigators had identified the suspects and that the case was immediately handed over to a judge.

Culled from PM News

Killer cop arrested in Lagos

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a police corporal, Pepple Boma, who shot a man to death while on duty at Makoko waterfront on Saturday.
The spokesperson for the command, Ms Ngozi Braide said the corporal, attached to the Marine Police, Oworonsoki Division in Lagos, was being detained at the state Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba.
Braide said that the suspect shot the deceased on the stomach on 21 July at mid day, while on a special duty with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
LAWMA officials, escorted by armed policemen, were continuing the demolition of shanties built on stilts at the waterfront, which the state considered unsafe and a nuisance to the environment.
“The corporal allegedly shot a man in the stomach. The victim was rushed to the General Hospital, Gbagada where he was confirmed dead.
“The corpse has been deposited at the General Hospital, Ikeja for postmortem,’’ she said.
The spokesperson appealed to members of the public to remain peaceful, and gave the assurance that justice would be done.
Culled from PM News.