Stiff New Licence Fees Threaten Tanzanian Blogosphere

Magufuli — pictured on a campaign billboard for the 2015 president elections — has been accusing of seeking to muzzle dissent

Tanzanians have to pay US$900 for a permit to blog, a staggering amount for many in the country, say critics who see the fee as a further bid by President John Magufuli to gag dissident voices.

Tanzania Bloggers Network 

Researchers Warn ‘Ebola For Plants’ Hitting Africa’s Cassava Crop

The brown streak virus is threatening cassava, one of Africa's most vital food crops

A new disease infecting cassava — dubbed "Ebola for plants" — could spell a looming food crisis for Africa, researchers have warned, fearful that the emerging blight could decimate one of the continent's most vital food crops.

Africa is the world's largest producer of cassava, accounting for 57%of a crop that some 800 million people around the world rely on

Japan Team Maps ‘Semi-Infinite’ Rare Earth Reserves

"Rare earths" are found in several high tech products including mobile phones

Japanese researchers have mapped vast reserves of rare earth elements in deep-sea mud, enough to feed global demand on a "semi-infinite basis," according to a fresh study.

Physically Challenged Athletes Rescue Nigeria At Commonwealth Games, Want To Meet Buhari

Roland Ezuruike (sitting) during medal ceremony

• Win four gold medals, set world record, D’Tigers fail again

What able-bodied Nigerian athletes have failed to do, their physically challenged counterparts accomplished yesterday at the on-going 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia.

Gold Coast Commonwealth Games

‘Ideas’ Conference To Grapple With Dark Side Of Tech

The TED conference draws celebrities and thinkers to discuss big ideas

At a conference where thinkers and luminaries gather to discuss world-changing ideas and innovations, the talk is shifting to the dark side.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings is among the speakers at the 2018 TED conference in Vancouver

Tech Sector Frets As US-China Trade Tensions Simmer

With US-China trade tensions running high, critics of Beijing's policies say American tech firms face more restrictions in the Chinese market than their Chinese counterparts in the US. Some analysts fear that consumer technology may be dragged into a growing trade dispute between the United States and China

As US-China trade tensions ratchet up, the technology sector is fretting over the potential for collateral damage to one of America's most important export industries.

Apple recently agreed to abide by Chinese cloud data regulations despite concerns over surveillance of the population

50 Ghanaian ‘Journalists’ Deported From Australia; Sports Ministry Denies Visa Fraud Allegations

The Ghanaians said they were journalists due to cover the Commonwealth Games AFP

Ghana’s sports ministry has denied it had anything to do with 50 allegedly fake journalists getting visas for the Commonwealth Games.

Ghana's Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Pius Enam Hadzide

Rohr’s Preliminary Team List Ready As Eagles’ Camp Opens May 22 In Abuja

Gernot Rohr

Super Eagles’ Manager, Gernot Rohr has already picked the 30 players in his preliminary team list, which he is expected to submit to FIFA mid next month, an official of the team has revealed.

China Says It Protects Religious Freedom, But The Bible Is Disappearing From Online Bookstores

Get them while you can. (Reuters/ Nir Elias)

Just as China pledged to uphold religious freedom, China’s 70 million Christians are finding it harder to get a copy of the Holy Bible.

“The item is off the shelf.” The Bible is removed from a bookstore on Taobao. (Screenshot from Taobao)

Knocks For Presidency As Martin Luther King Family Disowns Buhari’s Award

President Muhammadu Buhari receives award which The King Centre has disowned

Public commentators and thousands of Nigerians invaded the social media space on Thursday, condemning the roles allegedly played by some presidential aides in the controversial award for President Muhammadu Buhari by the Martin Luther King centre a few days ago.

PHOTO NEWS: He's Alive! Come And Celebrate The Resurrection Of Our King!

AS FOR ME, JESUS MAKES ME BETTER

I know that I am a BETTER person NOW: I am no longer ruled by my former lusts and proclivities!

By the witness of the Holy Spirit is see that I have a glorious future. The things which formerly held great attraction for me seem less material now. I see higher purpose for my life. And I rejoice that my sins have been forgiven me.

JESUS SET ME FREE, TO LIVE FOR HIS PRAISE AND GLORY!

HE WANTS TO DO THE SAME FOR YOU!!!

I pray for you that you may experience the full complement of the ministry, power and presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. IT IS AWESOME!

I RECOMMEND JESUS CHRIST TO YOU WITHOUT ANY RESERVATIONS

Air Passengers, Commuters Challenge Over Buhari’s Lagos Visit; Address Delivered At The Official Commissioning Of Ikeja Bus Terminal (FULL TEXT)

Many residents of Lagos are groaning as a result of the vehicular restriction on major roads in the state, compounding the traffic gridlock in the metropolitan city.

Three Years Into His Presidency, Buhari Finally Visits Lagos

The Ikeja Bus Terminal was officially commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Terminal is one of our flagship transport infrastructure under the State Bus Reform Initiative. Image credit: LASG on Twitter

Three years into his presidency, President Muhammadu Buhari finally visits Lagos in what many people termed an historic visit. The president will be in Lagos on a two-day official visit on Thursday, March 29 and Friday, March 30. 

President Buhari arrives at the venue of Bola Tinubu’s colloquium 

Antibiotics Consumption Soars, Fueling Fears Over Superbugs

Drug resistance: the march of the superbugs. Researchers warn that overuse of antibiotics could cause resistance to spiral out of control, to an "unknown tipping point" when the drugs are no longer effective

Global consumption of antibiotics has soared since the year 2000, stoking calls for new policies to rein in usage — and fueling fears that the worldwide threat posed by drug-resistant superbugs will spiral out of control, researchers say.

Google Right To Be Forgotten Ruling Will Have Wide Implications Says Lawyer

Two businessmen want Google to stop linking their names to media reports about past crimes (PA)

A High Court judge’s ruling on litigation featuring two businessmen who want Google to stop linking their names to media reports about past crimes will have implications for everyone, a lawyer says.

ECOWAS Protocol On Free Movement: Experts Caution FG Over Risky Moves

Economic Community of West African States HQ

Experts have warned that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) could break up, if Nigeria does not tactfully handle its concerns over the bloc’s Protocol on Free Movement of Persons.

UN Chief Warns Of Widespread Ills From Global Water Crisis

Afghanistan's United Nations ambassador Mahmoud Saikal, centre, speaks in the General Assembly for the launch of the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development, Thursday, March 22, 2018, at U.N. headquarters. Sitting also are, Secretary-General António Guterres, left, and Movses Abelian, right, an assistant secretary-general. (Manuel Elias/United Nations via AP)

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres put a spotlight on the global water crisis on World Water Day, saying Thursday that over 2 billion people lack access to safe water and more than 3 billion are affected by the scarcity of water.

44 African Nations Sign Pact Establishing Free Trade Area: AU (SEE KAGAME'S KEYNOTE SPEECH FULL TEXT)

A deal to create an African free trade area was signed by 44 AU member states Al Jazeera

Forty-four African countries have signed an agreement establishing a free trade area seen as vital to the continent’s economic development, the head of the African Union said Wednesday.

African Union‏ @_AfricanUnion  Mar 20 Keynote Address by President Paul Kagame @PaulKagame, Chairperson of the @_AfricanUnion, at #AfCFTA Business Forum on Leveraging the Power of Business to Drive Africa’s Integration #AfCFTA2018 @ 

Activists Mount Pressure On ILO To Sever Ties With Big Tobacco

The UN health agency warned that tobacco’s killer toxins also wreak havoc on the environment. 

Tobacco control advocates are mounting pressure on delegates attending the 332nd session of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Governing Body in Geneva to sever ties with tobacco companies.

World Needs ‘Greener’ Water Policies As Demand Rises: UN

In its 2018 World Water Development Report, the UN calculated that an estimated 3.6 billion people live in areas where water can be scarce at least one month per year

Governments should focus on "greener" policies to improve the supply and quality of water as climate change and a growing global population threaten the water security of billions, the United Nations said on Monday.

Countries that are short of fresh water