CHINESE MAN LIVED WITH TAPEWORM IN HIS BRAIN FOR FOUR YEARS

The British researchers who performed the operation say the parasite had travelled five centimetres from the right to the left side of the 50-year-old's brain during the infection.
They say the 1cm-long creature has never been seen before in the UK and has only been reported 300 times worldwide since 1953.
Known as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, the worm causes inflammation of body tissues - which can lead to seizures, memory loss and headaches.
It is thought to be caught by accidentally eating small infected crustaceans from lakes, eating raw amphibian or reptile meat, or by using a raw frog poultice that is a Chinese remedy for sore eyes.
The Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute said the surgeons who removed the tapeworm reported the patient was now "systemically well".
Effrossyni Gkrania-Klotsas, of the Department of Infectious Disease at Addenbrooke's NHS Trust, said: "We did not expect to see an infection of this kind in the UK, but global travel means that unfamiliar parasites do sometimes appear.
"Our work shows that, even with only tiny amounts of DNA from clinical samples, we can find out all we need to identify and characterise the parasite."
She added that the team managed to sequence the worm's genome for the first time, allowing them to examine potential treatments.
Dr Hayley Bennett, first author of the study from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said: "The clinical histology slide offered us a great opportunity to generate the first genome sequence of this elusive class of tapeworms.
"However, we only had a minute amount of DNA available to work with - just 40 billionths of a gram - so we had to make difficult decisions as to what we wanted to find out from the DNA we had."

Now, that is serious

CIVIL SERVANTS THREATEN NATIONWIDE STRIKE

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria on Friday threatened to call out its members in the federal civil service to embark on an industrial action if the Federal government refuses to accede to its demands over welfare issues.

This threat is coming barely one month after an indefinite strike which paralyzed activities at the Federal Ministry of Education, Inspectorate Offices and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges over non-payment of promotion arrears and other allowances.

BOKO HARAM AGAIN!

The leader of a vigilante fighter group in Nigeria says Boko Haram militants have killed about 45 people in an attack on a village. Muhammed Gava of the Nigeria Vigilante Group said the assault occurred Wednesday in Azaya Kura village in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno state. He told The Associated Press on Thursday that the heavily armed Boko Haram militants surged through the village in several trucks, destroying houses and carting away food and livestock.
The village is about 40 kilometres from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno. The state has been hit the hardest by Boko Haram’s five-year insurgency.

OUR LAWMAKERS ARE 'HABATICALLY DISGRACE'

It's like a new release is on the way from P'square as Peter Okoye react to the new saga in the House of Representative. He said the law makers are 'HABATICALLY DISGRACE'.
I think that is going to be a great line for a new single. lol!

HE BLAMES AFRICA FOR AIDS, EBOLA AND OBAMA

Like seriously, Obama too, we understand the Ebola and the Aids part, they originated from Africa or so they said, but Obama, I don't really see anything Africa about him. A man Nebraska, a town in US erected a road sign that says, "AIDS, EBOLA, OBAMA. THANK YOU AFRICA.

The sign thanked Africa for the Ebola crisis which has claimed more than 5,000 lives; health workers in Guinea are pictured preparing to move the body of a victim who died from the virus

STOMACH INFRASTRUCTURE BEGINS IN BORNO

It's like Ekiti state has set the pace for stomach infrastructure in Nigeria politics, because that seems to be the new style of campaigning. Only that this day one is call ‘Food for All Initiative Programme’.This is an initiative of Governor Shettima, He noted that his government came up with the measure “to enable the citizens to continue with their lives while intensifying prayers for God’s intervention.”
  He stated that the food for all initiative was meant for all people resident in the state irrespective of tribe, religious affiliation, political differences or any other considerations, adding that “government is for the people.”

TEMISAN: A SHORT STORY

Tokunbo saw her sitting beside the corn seller by the gate of the estate for the second time in two days. Does she always eat corn? He asked himself. Since he saw her yesterday, he is been trying to figure out why a pretty lady like her could stoop so low as to sit with an ordinary corn seller, so Tokunbo decided to know who she is and where she normally comes from, and probably why she does sit with the corn seller.
Temisan, unaware that someone was watching her, paid the corn seller and took her remaining corn and left. She took out her car key from her jean pocket and entered her car which was parked right in front of Tokunbo's car. Tokunbo could not believe what he just saw, he wasn't expecting she will be the owner of the car he was admiring some minutes ago. Temisan drove off, showed her I.D to the security men at the estate gate and drove into the estate. Tokunbo followed her, careful not to let her noticed that she was been followed.
Few blocks into the estate, Temisan pulled over to greet a woman and her kids who also parked to greet Temisan. Tokunbo curiosity was ignited again, she seems to know everybody in the estate, he said to himself.
Temisan got to their house, waited for the gateman to open the gate, she gave the gateman the salutation gesture and drove in. Tokunbo still could not understand why he is interested in who the lady is, but he is not giving up until she knows who she is and why she has so much grip on him.
Tokunbo drove off, with so many questions in his head...

TO BE CONTINUED
  

SOUL SINGERJIMMY RUFFINS DIES AT 78

Legendary soul singer and Motown recording artist Jimmy Ruffin died Monday in Las Vegas, Nev.
Jimmy recorded his first mainstream hit for Motown Records in 1966 with the classic and oft covered soul song "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted," which became a top 10 hit, reaching number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the R&B chart.

HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW BULLETS LEFT HIS AK-47

Segun Fabunmi, a former Divisional Police Officer has claimed that he could not explain how the ammunition allocated to him left his rifle.  Fabunmi, who had been dismissed, is standing trial for allegedly killing one Ademola Daramola and injuring others during the mass protest on fuel subsidy, organized by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, of Nigeria, in January 9, 2012,
Fabunmi, who was being cross-examined by Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mrs. Olabisi Ogungbesan, told Justice Olabisi Akinlade that he neither chased anybody, shot nor injured people.He said: “I did not run after the late Ademola Daramola, may his soul rest in peace. I do not know him. Why would I chase him? It is ridiculous. “I never ran to anywhere neither did I fire any shot at anybody.”
Now that is serious!

WHATSAPP INTRODUCES END-TO-END ENCRYPTION FOR ANDRIOD

WhatsApp has announced that it is implementing end-to-end encryption for the Android version of its app – an unprecedented move that makes it the most secure large-scale messaging service available. End-to-end encryption is more secure than the protocols used by the likes of Facebook Messenger and Google’s Gchat as it means that even WhatsApp itself can’t decrypt users’ messages if law enforcement demands the data.
The encryption itself is being provided by Open Whisper Systems via open source messaging app Text Sure. Open Whisper CTO Moxie Marlinspike told The Verge that work on the implementation began just after WhatsApp was bought by Facebook for $16 billion in February this year.
Following this acquisition WhatsApp users were worried that the acquisition would mean a subsequent loss of privacy, but Koum responded in a blog post saying “respect for your privacy is coded into our DNA”.
“We built WhatsApp around the goal of knowing as little about you as possible,” wrote Koum. “Our focus remains on delivering the promise of WhatsApp far and wide, so that people around the world have the freedom to speak their mind without fear.”

SUPER EAGLES OUT OF AFCON 2015

South Africa, who have still yet to beat Nigeria in a competitive fixture, subsequently finish top of the group unbeaten, while Congo's 1-0 win at Sudan means they will also contest the tournament slated to start in Equatorial Guinea in January
It's so sad that our dear super eagles, the defending champion, won't be part of the race for the AFCON championship coming 2015. South Africa, who have still yet to beat Nigeria in a competitive fixture, subsequently finish top of the group unbeaten, while Congo's 1-0 win at Sudan means they will also contest the tournament slated to start in Equatorial Guinea in January.
I think the eagles need to buckle up and step up their games in subsequent matches, just saying.



 

VIGILANTEES RECLAIM TOWNS FROM BOKO HARAM

HOW EXERCISE CAN IMPROVE YOUR SEX LIFE

 

If you do exercise for the purpose of losing weight only, then you are not utaking thr full advantage of exercise, how about improving your sex life? Exercise is a sure way to look better, that is a plus in your love life, but it also gives you more energy and stamina for your sex life.  I guess you already know how important exercise is to your health, but do you also know that studies have found a direct correlation between physical inactivity and a lack of potency. Here is what studies say you will need to get the most of your sex life:

'UI NEEDS SPECIAL ALLOCATION

 

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Ibadan, Adeyinka Adebayo, has said that for the institution to compete favourably with top institutions in the world, the Federal Government must commit special rehabilitation fund and increase its allocation in the next five years.

Adebayo said this at the 2014 Convocation and 66th Foundation Ceremony of the institution, held at the International Conference Centre, UI, Ibadan.

A total of 614 candidates, spread over 12 faculties, two institutes and a centre were awarded the Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Medicine degrees during the event.

NINE DIE IN FRESH NASARAWA CRISIS

Nine persons were reportedly killed on Tuesday evening in a gun battle between security operatives and some gunmen in Gidi-gidi along Shinge area of Lafia Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

The incident occurred at about 6.pm.

It was gathered that unknown gunmen invaded the area and started shooting sporadically into the air. This forced residents to alert the police who came and engaged them in a gun duel.

Our correspondent sighted a police Hilux Van loaded with dead bodies driving through the Police “B’ Division junction along Kwandere Road area of Lafia.

EKITI STATE GOVERNMENT STOPS THE PAYMENT OF PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS ALLOWANCES

The Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has directed that the allowances of political office holders in the state should be temporarily put on hold until the government is able to pay all the outstanding salaries and allowances of the state's civil servants.

This development was made known by the Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor took the decision as a temporary measure to make funds available for the payment of workers’ salaries and allowances.

Olayinka, in a statement, on Tuesday, described the roles played by the All Progressives Congress-controlled state House Assembly in the N25bn bond and other bank loans taken by former Governor Kayode Fayemi’s government as unacceptable.

Let hope it will bear favourable fruits for all Ekiti people

 

 

SAN ANTONIO MAN ARRESTED IN NIGERIA MONEY SCAM

A San Antonio man has been arrested for his role in a Nigerian money scam. Police arrested Richard Wiley Tuesday morning.
San Antonio Police spokesman Officer Douglas Greene said Wiley is accused of receiving money from a victim in Arizona.
Greene said Wiley took a cut, then transferred it to a group in Nigeria.
"We want the public to be aware of these situations," Greene said. "If they receive an email or see something online that is too good to be true, as far as promising them a certain amount of money, it is too good to be true."
Authorities say the FBI's Cyber Crime Unit is also investigating the case and more arrests are possible

MARIJUANA TO BE NAMED AFTER BOB MARLEY

It’s fair to say that Bob Marley probably could not have imagined that 33 years after his death, his name would be lent to what is about to be the newest entrant to the burgeoning legal marijuana market. The reggae icon was perhaps the most prominent and outspoken advocate of the drug throughout his life and at the height of his fame. He viewed it as a spiritual and creative force that was probably more likely to be legalized by “Christ’s government” than governments here on Earth.

'VAPE' IS OXFORD WORD OF THE YEAR

The Oxford English Dictionary named “vape” — the word used for drawing on an electronic cigarette instead of a burning stick of tobacco — as its 2014 word of the year.

“You are thirty times more likely to come across the word ‘vape’ than you were two years ago, and usage has more than doubled in the past year,” staff editors said on Monday.

The 2013 word of the year was “selfie,” describing the decidedly less controversial self-portrait taken with a smartphone.

The rise of e-cigarettes was cited as the reason for the skyrocketing use of the word — along with countless debates over the safety of using it long term.

The word appeared to peak this year in April, when New York City banned vaping indoors and the United Kingdom opened its first vape café, The Vape Lab in Shoreditch, London, according to the Oxford statement.

A 1983 article in New Society described the e-cigarette, which had not been invented, in as-yet hypothetical terms and appeared to be among the earliest references to the word vaping in that context, Oxford editors said.

It wasn’t until 2009, however, that the term began to catch on, editors said.

OxfordDictionaries.com officially added the definition in August. The verb is defined as “to inhale and exhale the vapour produced by an electronic cigarette or similar device.”

A derivative of vapour or vaporising, the word can also be a noun describing the action and the device.

The winner beat out a shortlist of runners-up that included bae, a term for a beloved significant other.

The list also included budtender, a person who serves up cannabis in a shop or dispensary, and slacktivism, a combination of slacker and activism that describes supporting causes through low-level activities such a signing online petitions.

So when next you are playing Scrabble or any other word games, feel free to use Vape.

LAGOD STATE RECORDED INCREASE IN BLOOD DONORS

The Chairman of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Committee, Adetoun Agbe-Davies, has said the state recorded a rise in voluntary blood donation from 474 units in 2004 to 1,888 between January and June this year.
“From 474 units of blood from voluntary donors in 2004, we had 4,775 units in 2013 and from January to June 14, 2014, we had 1,888 units.
“We hope that more people will take interest in helping others to save their lives,” Agbe-Davies said at the 2014 annual public health screening in Mushin, Lagos, on Monday.

PAY N500 TO WATCH EAGLES VS BAFANA BAFANA

Ticket prices for the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifier between Super and Bafana Bafana of South Africa have been released.Tickets for the match will be sold for N500 (popular side), N1,000 (VIP) and N3,000 (VVIP).he match will take place at the 30,000 capacity Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo, withNigeria would be hoping to make it three wins in a row, having defeated Sudan in Abuja and Congo Brazzaville two-nil in Pointe Noire on Saturday.Eagles have seven points from five games, and will be without the services of Chigozie Agbim, Ogenyi Onazi and Hope Akpan.The fierce encounter is expected to get underway by 6 pm Wednesday
                                                                                                                     vanguard news

SUSPECTED SUICIDE BOMBER BEATS TO DEATH

An angry mob beat a suspected would-be suicide bomber to death after he was accosted at a bus station in northeast. The suspected bomber was stopped as he tried to get into the bus station in the Gombe state capital, Gombe city, where at least eight people were killed in a series of blasts at the same location last month.
"There was a scuffle. He was overpowered by the onlookers who pounced on him in order to assist in making sure his bag was searched," state police commissioner Abdullahi Kudu told reporters.
"Mob action overtook the event but we thank God he was not able to detonate the explosives because he had a remote. The remote was equally recovered."

TAMBUWAL SUSPENDS PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has announced the jettisoning of his earlier stated political ambition to contest for the presidency of the country, citing personal reasons of ‘sacrifice’ and his decision to avoid seeking any political office.

This was contained in a speech by the Speaker titled: “My Political Future, By Tambuwal”, circulated to journalists by his spokesperson, Imam Imam.

THULANI SERERO OUT OF NIGERIA CLASH

Bafana Bafana midfielder Thulani Serero has been ruled out of South Africa’s clash with Nigeria at the Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo on Wednesday, due to injury. Shakes Mashaba will subsequently be unable to call on the Ajax Amsterdam star as South Africa aim to cap off their 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a rare win over the Super Eagles.
Serero injured his hamstring in South Africa’s 2-1 win over Sudan in Durban on Saturday, coming off in the 88th minute

LIQUID SOAP AND TOOTHPASTE MAY CAUSE LIVER CANCER

An additive found in many liquid hand soaps and other common household products has been linked to cancer in a new study.

Triclosan is an antimicrobial commonly found in soaps, shampoos, toothpastes and many other household items.

Despite its widespread use, researchers have identified potentially serious consequences of long-term exposure to the chemical.

Liver fibrosis is where persistent inflammation causes fibrous scar tissue to form around the liver cells and blood vessels. 

Over time, it can cause cirrhosis which in turn can make the liver stop functioning. 

However the researchers stress the findings are also relevant in humans, due to the processes they observed while conducting the study. 

Triclosan is already under scrutiny by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States due recent reports that it can disrupt hormones and impair muscle contraction.

NIGERIA WILL JOIN THE LEAGUE OF RICE EXPORTER: PRESIDENT JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon join Thailand, India and other Asian countries in rice exportation.

He attributes the development to his administration’s strong political will, the deployment of science and technology and the massive private sector investment in rice production and processing in the past four years.

He stated that the country’s food imports has been on the downward trend from N1.1 trillion in 2009 to N634 billion in  December2013

NIGERIA WILL JOIN THE LEAGUE OF RICE EXPORTER: PRESIDENT JONATHAN

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon join Thailand, India and other Asian countries in rice exportation.

He attributes the development to his administration’s strong political will, the deployment of science and technology and the massive private sector investment in rice production and processing in the past four years.

He stated that the country’s food imports has been on the downward trend from N1.1 trillion in 2009 to N634 billion in  December2013

STATE OF EMERGENCY TO BE EXTENDED IN AFFECTED STATES

It has been confirmed that Nigeria's government will seek to extend emergency rule in the restive northeast for six more months, the justice minister said Monday, meaning the extraordinary measures will likely be in force for February polls.
President Goodluck Jonathan first declared a state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in May last year, saying the military temporarily needed enhanced powers to crush Boko Haram's Islamist uprising.

INSOMNIA: THE GOOD SLEEP ENEMY

Do you have trouble falling asleep? Do you wake up often during the night and find it difficult to sleep back? Or do you always fell tired when you wake up? If you answer yes to any of the above, you might probably be suffering from Insomnia. Insomnia is a sleep disorder that is characterised by difficulty falling or staying asleep. Insomnia affects everybody at one point in our life.

There are two types of Insomnia, they are primary and secondary insomnia. Primary insomnia is when you are having sleep problem that are not directly associated with other health condition. Secondary insomnia on the other hand is when your inability to sleep or stay asleep is because of other health condition, for example, depression, heartburn, medications etc.

CAUSES OF INSOMNIA
Emotional issues such as stress, anxiety and depression cause half of all insomnia cases but your daytime habits, sleep routine, and physical health may also play a role in your inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Once you are able to figure out the cause, you can easily put a stop to your sleepless night.
These among others are what could insomnia: Stress, anxiety or worry, depression or feeling emotionally hopeless, medications, noisy and uncomfortable sleeping environment, if you spend enough time in sunlight during the day and in the darkness at night, if you try to go to bed and wake up around the same time everyday.
To get rid of insomnia and start enjoying your night sleep, discover which of the above causes is the reason for your sleeplessness and find a way to tackle it. 

Boko Haram Seizes Another Council Headquarters in Adamawa

In what appears to be a reprisal attack, the Boko Haram terrorists on Saturday seized Hong, which is the administrative headquarters of Hong Local Government Area of Adamawa State. This followed closely on the heels of the recent rout of the insurgents in Mubi by the combined efforts of local hunters and civilian JTF, which resulted in killing several insurgents and chasing them out of Mubi and Mahia.

An earlier report published in THISDAY last Wednesday had hinted at the possibility of a reprisal attack on the community by the insurgents.

However, a security source disclosed that the attack on Hong town occurred in the early hours of Saturday after the residents had been misled to believe that the rampaging sect members had fled the area on account of their fear of the local hunters.

JONATHAN CONGRATULATES SUPER EAGELS ON THEIR REVIVAL

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria on their dogged and hard-fought victory over the Red Devils of Congo in Pointe Noire. He said their efforts has revived Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s African Nations Cup Finals. This was contained in a statement by Jonathan’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati.

Jonathan gave kudos to the Super Eagles’ patriotic, determined and very courageous display in front of a very vociferous, aggressive and partisan home crowd which earned them an 2-0 victory  and placed Nigeria in a good position once again for qualification to defend the African Nations Cup which it currently holds at the next year’s finals, now scheduled to hold in Equatorial Guinea.

JONATHAN CONGRATULATES SUPER EAGELS ON THEIR REVIVAL

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday congratulated the Super Eagles of Nigeria on their dogged and hard-fought victory over the Red Devils of Congo in Pointe Noire. He said their efforts has revived Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for next year’s African Nations Cup Finals. This was contained in a statement by Jonathan’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati.

Jonathan gave kudos to the Super Eagles’ patriotic, determined and very courageous display in front of a very vociferous, aggressive and partisan home crowd which earned them an 2-0 victory  and placed Nigeria in a good position once again for qualification to defend the African Nations Cup which it currently holds at the next year’s finals, now scheduled to hold in Equatorial Guinea.

“On behalf of all soccer loving Nigerians, the President heartily commends the Super Eagles for their winning performance in Pointe-Noire which has wiped away the disappointment of their earlier outings in the Nations Cup qualifying series and rekindled the belief of Nigerians in their national soccer team’s ability to bring further glory to the country.

“President Jonathan joins other Nigerians in looking forward  to seeing the Super Eagles complete the task of qualifying to defend their title at the 2015 Nations Cup Finals with victory against South Africa in Uyo.
“He assures the Super Eagles and their handlers that they will have the fullest possible support of the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria for that final qualification match” the statement said.