Swiss Suggest Their FIFA Probe Could Take Five Years

FIFA, Zurich

Switzerland's Attorney General has suggested that an investigation into alleged corruption at soccer's Swiss-based governing body, FIFA, could take five years.

"Realistically, in all big investigations, longer than five years is bad," Michael Lauber told SRF radio in an interview broadcast on Saturday. "It always depends on how the parties to the investigations work with the attorney general."

Lauber said last month the probe, which began in March, had not yet reached the half-way mark.

FOR THE RECORD: Governor El-Rufai Threatens To Arrest Parents Whose Children Are Out Of School

Governor Nasir El-Rufai addressing the press

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has vowed to arrest parents who refuse to send their children to school. He also threatened to sanction any religious leader that preaches against western education.

Speaking during a town hall meeting with the people of Kaduna Central Senatorial Zone on Saturday, Governor El-Rufai noted that the north was educationally backward, because most parents had refused to allow their children to go to school and acquire western education.

The Governor stated that, with the measures being put in place by his administration to provide free tuition fees, free meals, free uniforms and qualitative infrastructure in public schools, parents have no excuse not to educate their children.

South African Woman Accused Of Trying To Sell Child On Gumtree Charged With Human Trafficking

Infographic: Gumtree says the advertisement was removed as soon as it was brought to their attention (Gumtree)

A South African woman has been charged with human trafficking after allegedly trying to sell a child for 5,000 rand (US$525) on the trading website Gumtree, police say. The 20-year-old was arrested during an undercover operation following a tip-off from a member of the public.

"We met her and there was an exchange of money with an undercover police officer," Hangwani Mulaudzi, spokesman for the Hawks special crimes investigation unit said.

"We arrested her directly."

The 19-month-old boy was in good health and has been taken into care by social workers.

Gas Continues To Flow From Nigeria To Ghana

BBC

Ghana's Daily Graphic is leading this morning on a deal between Ghana and Nigeria over the gas supply. Nigeria had been threatening to cut off most of its gas supply to Ghana by last night if the government failed to clear its debt with the West African Gas Pipeline Company.

Ghana currently owes more than US$100m (£65m) to the company - but it now appears that talks will continue on how to retrieve the unpaid money.

How Agencies Defraud Govt, By Central Bank

CBN Office, Abuja

The Federal Government has uncovered agencies which pay it in naira after collecting revenue in dollar. It has launched a probe into the agencies’ “fraudulent activities”, Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade told reporters yesterday after the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN). NEC comprises the vice president as chairman; the 36 state governors and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor are members.

Some of the agencies, Ayade said, were the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Buhari, Abdulsalami In Closed-Door Meeting

Buhari, Abdulsalami

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met behind closed-doors with former Head of State, retired General Abdusalami Abubakar at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja. The meeting, which was described as strictly private, took place at the president’s office and lasted 25 minutes.

The former head of state arrived the Presidential Villa at 3.30pm and left at 3.55pm without speaking to journalists.

Pistorius Parole: South Africa Women's Group Happy

Jacqui Mofokeng advised the Steenkamp family (Photo: Getty Images)

The group that petitioned South Africa's justice minister about Oscar Pistorious' parole says it is happy it managed to get his release delayed by two months and that it did not happen in August when women's month is marked.

The Progressive Women's Movement of South Africa, which includes the governing African National Congress Women's League, had said that would have been "an insult" to victims of abuse.

"We want to thank the justice minister for receiving our petition and realizing that there was something wrong with parole process," Jacqui Mofokeng, one of the group's leaders, told me.

US Mom Charged With Pimping 12-Year-Old Daughter For Thousands Of Dollars, Gifts And Trip To Hawaii

Jefferson County DA's Office

*DA: Man flew mom, girl to Hawaii for child sex

A Lakewood mother has been arrested and charged with pimping her 12-year-old daughter to an Australian man in exchange for thousands of dollars, gifts and a trip to Hawaii, prosecutors say. Julie Anne Greiner, 43, was arrested Tuesday by Lakewood police. She has been charged with human trafficking of a minor for sexual servitude; pimping of a child and sexual assault of a child/pattern of abuse -- all felonies, the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office said Wednesday.

Explosions Hit Maiduguri Mosque, Many Feared Dead, Injured

Bombings suspected to be by Islamic insurgents

Two deadly explosions on Thursday hit Maiduguri town as a suspected suicide bomber targeted a mosque in a suburb called Mulai. The sound of the explosions echoed over the Borno state capital at about 6:20pm.

Details of the casualties could not be immediately ascertained.

A senior official of the Civilian JTF, who asked not to be named in this report, said the two blasts happened near a mosque in Mulai, some 6 kilometres away from Maiduguri town along the Maiduguri-Biu highways.

Hayatou Starts Work As Head Of FIFA

Confederation of African Football President Issa Hayatou has begun carrying out his first official duties since becoming the new acting head of FIFA last week, following the suspension of Sepp Blatter.  Mr Hayatou arrived at the headquarters of football's world governing body in Zurich earlier today.

EBOLA OUTBREAK: Ebola Survivors Told To Use Condoms; Ebola Survivors Should Use Condoms Indefinitely, CDC Says

A scanning electron micrograph of the Ebola virus. Credit: Cynthia Goldsmith | CDC; Image source: livescience.com

Survivors of Ebola are being encouraged to use condoms until there is a better understanding of a study that showed the virus lingers in semen for up to nine months. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said sexual transmission of Ebola is "rare" and pointed to areas of Sierra Leone that have very high numbers of survivors and yet have had no recurrences.  

But WHO head Margaret Chan told the BBC there were still questions: "Does it mean they are still infectious or are they just fragments? We don't have the definitive evidence yet. The degree of uncertainty is worrying, that's why we need to take precautionary measures, so we advise survivors to take protection through contraception."

FOR THE RECORD: Sweden Introduces Six-Hour Work Day

Employers across the country including retirement homes, hospitals and car centres, are implementing the change

Sweden is introducing a six-hour day AFP/Getty Images

Sweden is moving to a six-hour working day in a bid to increase productivity and make people happier. Employers across the country have already made the change, according to the Science Alert website, which said the aim was to get more done in a shorter amount of time and ensure people had the energy to enjoy their private lives.

Toyota centres in Gothenburg, Sweden’s second largest city, made the switch 13 years ago, with the company reporting happier staff, a lower turnover rate, and an increase in profits in that time.

Filimundus, an app developer based in the capital Stockholm, introduced the six-hour day last year.

Mathieu Kerekou: Benin's 'Father Of Democracy' Dies At 82

Mathieu Kerekou returned to office in 1996 (Photo: AFP)

Benin's former President Mathieu Kerekou, the man hailed as helping to usher in multi-party democracy in Africa, has died at the age of 82. Mr Kerekou had two spells as president totalling nearly 30 years, first coming to power as the head of a Marxist regime in 1972.

But he accepted the idea of multi-party democracy and stepped down after defeat in the 1991 election.

His willingness to step down was hailed as an example for the continent.

South Sudan Rebel Leader 'Not Ready To Return Home'

Riek Machar AFP

South Sudan's rebel leader Riek Machar says it is not safe for him to go home following a peace deal in the country. The agreement signed in August is meant to see Mr Machar return as vice-president - a position he was sacked from several months before civil war erupted in December 2013.

A transitional government is supposed to take office 90 days from the signing of the deal - which is in five weeks.

Mr Machar, who is currently in the US, told the BBC's Newshour programme that his return depended on security guarantees.

FOR THE RECORD: Nigeria’s Electoral Body, INEC, Structurally Flawed — EU

The Chief Observer, European Union Election Observation Mission, Santiagio Fisas (L), with An Election Analyst, Mr Alexander Matus, at the Presentation of Final Report on Nigeria’s 2015 General Elections in Abuja

The European Union’s Election observation team in Nigeria has said that there are still systemic flaws that could impede the functions of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The EU’s chief observer, Santiago Fisas, noted this as part of the team’s final report on the March and April 2015 general elections.

He spoke to journalists in Abuja to mark the end of its 10 months observance period of the 2015 elections.

Mr. Fisas said that while INEC appeared to have performed impartially despite challenges, its lack of full institutional independence could make it vulnerable to partisan operations.

“The law overly restricts INEC’s powers, rendering it insufficiently effective in challenging inappropriate actions,” he said.

105 MPs Sign Motion To Impeach President Kenyatta

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, President Uhuru Kenyatta and East African Legislative Assembly Speaker Dan Kidega outside Parliament yesterday. (Image source: The Star, Kenya)

Some 105 MPs have signed a motion to impeach President Uhuru Kenyatta over claims he has violated the constitution. Suba MP John Mbadi, who is leading the initiative, said that the exercise is progressing well and he expects the matter to be concluded by the end of this week.

The constitution requires that at least a third of the 349 MPs support the motion before it is introduced in the House for debate.

“Those who thought we were joking should be very afraid because the train left the station a long time ago,” said Mbadi, who is also the ODM chairman, yesterday at Parliament Buildings.

EBOLA OUTBREAK: Sierra Leone Goes Four Weeks Without New Ebola Cases: Official; Ebola May Persist In Semen For Nine Months

Nurses wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) treat Ebola patients at the Kenema treatment center run by the Red Cross Society on November 15, 2014 ©Francisco Leong (AFP)

Sierra Leone has not recorded a single new case of Ebola in the past four weeks, the authorities said, keeping the west African country on course to being declared free of the killer virus next month. The last two known Ebola patients were discharged from hospital in late September, allowing Sierra Leone to begin the standard 42-day countdown to becoming Ebola-free.

"Sierra Leone has no Ebola-positive case recorded in the country for the fourth consecutive week," the head of the government's National Ebola Response Centre, Palo Conteh, said at a press conference, adding that there were no more people in quarantine either.

US Company Unveils First-Ever Handheld Drone-Neutralizer Gun (VIDEO)

US sci-tech contractor Battelle has developed a revolutionary gun that can target and stop UAVs dead at a range of just 400 meters using radio signals. It expects to make it available to US government agencies next year.

“The DroneDefender can help protect us from those who may wish to do us harm. It can help us in numerous settings, from the White House lawn to bases and embassies overseas; from prisons and schools to historic sites. It easily and reliably neutralizes the threat,” boasted Dan Stamm, who led the research project for the Ohio-headquartered non-profit company.

© BattelleInnovations / YouTube

UK Govt Contractor Apologizes After Stretch Limo Hired To Move Asylum Seekers

The Home Office said it was "totally inappropriate" for one of its contractors to ferry a group of asylum seekers in a stretch limo

A UK Home Office contractor has apologized for the "clearly inappropriate" decision to hire a stretch limo to ferry a party of asylum seekers from London to Manchester. SERCO said the move had not cost the taxpayer any extra money and that it was a one-off, and that new procedures had been introduced to prevent happening again.

The group of seven Africans was taken in a 16-seat Hummer from the hotel where they were staying while their claims were processed to their new homes, the Daily Mail reported.

Zambia Cancels Weekend Football For Prayer Day

AFP

All domestic football league fixtures in Zambia this weekend have been postponed, as part of a national day of prayer and fasting on Sunday. President Edgar Lungu has asked for a day of forgiveness and reconciliation to be observed, as well as prayers to help combat the social and economic problems that have beset the country.

US FBI Rescues 149 Children, Arrests 153 In Operation Targeting Sex-Traffickers

© Reuters

Working with state and local authorities, the FBI has rescued 149 sexually exploited children and arrested 153 pimps and sex traffickers in a coordinated action across 135 US cities dubbed ‘Operation Cross Country IX.’

The ninth Operation Cross Country effort took place from October 6-10, and was the largest such coordinated action against sex trafficking to date, the FBI said. The operation, part of the FBI's Innocence Lost National Initiative, was aided by other federal law enforcement agencies and the National Centre for Missing & Exploited Children.

Ten Members Of Eritrea Soccer Team Seek Asylum In Botswana

Mass players defections have happened before. Image source: eritrieadaily.net

Ten players from the Eritrean football team are seeking asylum in Botswana, the latest in a series of defections by athletes from a country under investigation by the United Nations for human-rights violations. The Eritrean national team was in Botswana to play a World Cup qualifying match. The players refused to board their plane home on Wednesday and were detained by police, Dick Bayford, who has been hired by the Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights (EMDHR) to represent the players, told Reuters.

"I have been engaged by the movement to assist in keeping the football players in the country after they received reports that there was an attempt to forcibly remove the players from Botswana," he said.

2 Killed, 17 Injured As South Africa Temporary Bridge Collapses

Temporary bridge collapsed in South Africa

At least two people have died and at least 17 have been injured in South Africa after a bridge collapsed over the main highway between Johannesburg and Pretoria. 

The BBC's Justine Lang in Johannesburg says the temporary pedestrian bridge was built of scaffolding and fell on top of at least three cars.

Emergency services are attempting to reach those trapped.

SAUDI HAJJ STAMPEDE: New Tally Shows At Least 1,621 Killed In Hajj Tragedy

An Iranian mourner weeps during a funeral ceremony, attended by thousands of mourners, for some of the pilgrims who were killed in a stampede during the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia last month. (AP)

A new tally shows at least 1,621 pilgrims were killed in last month's crush and stampede during the hajj in Saudi Arabia. The latest count is based on totals provided by officials and state media in 19 of the more than 180 countries that sent pilgrims.

The total is more than double Saudi Arabia's official tally of 769 killed and 934 injured in the September 24 disaster in Mina, a few miles from the holy city of Mecca.

Saudi officials previously have said their tally remains accurate, although an investigation into the causes of the tragedy is ongoing. They have not updated their casualty toll since September 26.

The previous deadliest-ever incident at the hajj happened in 1990, when a stampede killed 1,426 people.

Obama To Send Up To 300 American Troops To Cameroon In Battle Against Boko Haram

Fighting Boko Haram: U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday informed Congress he is sending up to 300 U.S. military personnel to Cameroon

*An advance force of 90 U.S. military personnel arrived in Cameroon on Monday

*The forces will be conducting airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations

*The group has proclaimed an Islamic emirate in neighboring northeastern Nigeria, enforcing a brutal interpretation of Islamic law 

U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday informed Congress he is sending up to 300 U.S. military personnel to Cameroon, the White House said, part of a stepped-up effort by Washington to counter the violent group Boko Haram. An advance force of 90 U.S. military personnel has arrived in Cameroon, an administration official said on condition of anonymity.

The forces will be conducting airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, the official said, adding they would be armed for their own protection.

Obama notified House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, in a letter. The White House released the letter Wednesday.