2 dead as business jet crashes into Ohio apartment building

2 dead as business jet crashes into Ohio apartment building

Rescue crew at the scene of the crash

 

A small business jet crashed into an apartment building on Tuesday, 10th November, 2015,  killing at least two people aboard, authorities said.

Investigators were trying to determine how many people were on the 10-seater Hawker H25 jet, but they confirmed two deaths, said Lt. Sierjie Lash, an Akron fire department spokeswoman.

No one was inside the small brick apartment building or a neighboring home that caught fire, she said.

The jet clipped a utility wire on the way down and burst into flames and disintegrated after impact, Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Bill Haymaker said.

The plane then hit an embankment beyond the apartment building, causing a nearby house to also burn, he said. There were no known injuries on the ground, he said.

A firefighter walks up a driveway as an apartment building burns in Akron, Ohio.

 

Witnesses reported hearing explosions when the plane hit.

"I heard a big bang, and my couch shook twice," said Carrie Willis, who lives several blocks away.

The front of the apartment building was destroyed.

Jesse Moon told WEWS-TV that he was six blocks away when the plane went down and he ran over to the area.

"Everything was gone," he said. "It looked like a bomb exploded."

8-year-old charged with beating 1-year-old to death

8-year-old charged with beating 1-year-old to death

This photo provided by the Birmingham Police Department shows a police mug shot of Katerra Lewis, 26, of Birmingham, who was arrested on a murder charge, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015, in Birmingham, Ala. Police say an 8-year-old Alabama boy is charged with beating a 1-year-old girl to death while they were left home alone as their mothers went to a nightclub, Alabama police said Monday. The mother of the toddler, 26-year-old Katerra Lewis, also is charged with manslaughter for her role in the death of her daughter.

 

A warrant has been obtained against the boy, and Lewis, who is also charged with manslaughter in the death of 1-year-old Kelci Lewis. Birmingham police spokesman Sean Edwards says the girl began crying while the children were left alone and the boy attacked her. Police say the girl suffered severe head trauma and major damage to her internal organs. (Birmingham Police Department via AP)

"This is by far one of the saddest cases that I have witnessed and been a part of since I became a police officer," Edwards said. "This type of irresponsibility on behalf of a parent is totally unacceptable," he said.

Police said a murder warrant has been obtained for the boy who is now in the care of Alabama's child welfare agency, the Department of Human Resources. 

His case will go through the family court system.

Edwards said the 8-year-old was the oldest of six children left alone as their mothers, Katerra Lewis and a friend, went to a nightclub on the night of Oct 11. The 8-year old is the son of Katerra Lewis' friend. The friend has not been charged.

A 6-year-old who was in the home that night told police what happened, Edwards said, and the information was consistent with the toddler's injuries. Kelci Lewis suffered severe head trauma and major damage to her internal organs, police said.

Edwards said the 8-year-old is the youngest murder defendant he's ever been aware of in the Birmingham area.

"I believe the 8 year-old is going to require some intense counseling for the next several years," Edwards said.

He said the mother's punishment is "something she has to live with for the rest of her life."

Katerra Lewis has posted $15,000 bond.

Stephen Colbert calls bullsh*t on Ben Carson’s stabbing story. 

 

 

Ahead of Tuesday’s Fox Business News debate, Colbert has some concerns, mild questions really, mostly about Ben Carson, history and Ben Carson’s history.

“Of course, the stakes of the debate are highest for the two GOP front-runners, Donald Trump and Ben Carson,” but Colbert didn’t want to focus on Trump.

“Now, personally, I think the media should let this pyramid nonsense go and focus on the issues that affect us,” Colbert said, “like, did he really try to stab a dude when he was 14?” Inquiring minds want to know. Since no one will verify the Carson stabbing story, it’s causing the presidential candidate some problems.

CNN went door to door in Carson’s old neighborhood trying to find someone that could come close to knowing that Ben Carson. “Some childhood friends! I can’t believe they would stab him in the back about whether he stabbed them in the front!”

But, the new flavor of the month will draw a lot of attention on Tuesday. Sen. Marco Rubio is the new golden boy, taking Jeb Bush’s seat on the lap of Wall Street, the GOP’s rising star, he said. “The Florida senator looked incredibly presidential in the last debate, thanks to his brilliant strategy of standing next to Jeb Bush.” That is, until the right-wing turns on him

.

Rubio was asked recently what non-political person he wanted to sit down and have a beer with. He answered Malala Yousafzai, who, Colbert reminded the audience is both a practicing Muslim and 18-years-old. “It’s all part of his strategy to appeal to young voters by loitering outside of a liquor store,” Colbert joked.

Checkout Carrie Underwood as she gets sweet, slobbery baby kisses

 

Carrie Underwood's sweet son, Isaiah, is only 9 months old, but he's already got mom wrapped around his tiny little fingers.

The country music singer shared a family video on Instagram that shows just how the wee one charms her. 

"Can I have a kiss?" she asks him as he stands (with a little help) on her lap.

He doesn't hesitate!

"You slobbered all over me," she exclaims with a huge smile. "I don't mind."

And to prove her point, she puckers up again — and again — for more oh-so-sweet baby smooches.

The duo giggle their way through the whole clip. 

 Here is what she said, "Baby kisses are the best thing in the world...I'm so thankful for my sweet angel. He makes my life better in every way!"

Buhari appoints new Permanent Secretaries

Buhari appoints new Permanent Secretaries

 

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of new Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service. In a statement by his spokesperson, Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari appointed the new permanent secretaries and deployed them to various ministries. 

Those appointed include;

1. Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba
2. Alhaji Mahmoud Isa-Dutse
3. Mr. Taiwo Abidogun

4. Dr. Bukar Hassan
5. Mrs. Wakama Belema Asifieka
6. Mr. Jalal Ahmad Arabi
7. Mr. Sabiu Zakari
8. Mrs. Obiageli Phyllis Nwokedi
9. Mr. Aminu Nabegu
10. Mr. Bamgbose Olukunle Oladele
11. Mr. Alo Williams Nwankwo
12. Dr. Shehu Ahmed
13. Mr. Ogbonnaya Innocent Kalu
14. Mrs. Nuratu Jimoh Batagarawa
15. Mr. Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa
16. Mr. Bassey Apkanyung
17. Mr. Louis Edozien
18. Dr. Ugo Roy

The President also approved the deployment of Federal Permanent Secretaries as follows:

1. Dr. Shehu Ahmad – Fed. Min. of Agric & Rural Development
2. Arch Sunday Echono – Fed. Min. of Communications
3. Alh. Sabiu Zakari – Fed. Min. of
Transportation
4. Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba – Fed. Min. of Information & Culture
5. Amb. Danjuma Sheni – Fed. Min. of Defence
6. Dr. Shade Yemi-Esan – Fed. Min. of Education
7. Mrs. Fatima Mede – Budget & National Planning
8. Alh. Mahmoud Isa Dutse – Fed. Min. of Finance
9. Amb. Bulus Lolo – Fed. Min of Foreign Affairs
10. Dr. Amina Shamaki – Fed. Min. of Health
11. Mr. Aliyu Bisalla -Fed. Min. of Industry, Trade & Investment
12. Mr. Bassey Akpanyung – Fed. Min. of Internal Affairs
13. Mr. Taiwo Abidogun – Fed. Ministry of Justice
14. Dr. Habiba Lawal – Fed. Min. of Science & Tech.
15. Dr. Clement Illoh – Fed. Min. of Labour & Productivity
16. Dr. Jamila Shu’ara – Fed. Min of Petroleum Resources
17. Mrs. Binta Bello – Fed. Min of Women Affairs
18. Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye – Federal Capital Territory
19. Mrs. Rabi Jimeta – Fed. Min. of Water Resources
20. Dr. Bukar Hassan – Fed. Min of Environment
21. Mrs. Wakama B. Asifieka – Fed. Min. of Niger Delta Affairs
22. Mr. Istifanus Fuktur – Fed. Min. of Solid Minerals
23. Mr. Christian Ohaa – Fed. Min of Youth & Sports
24. Engr. A.G. Magaji – Fed. Min. of Works & Housing
25. Mr. Louis Edozien – Fed. Min. of Power
26. Mr. Jalal Arabi – State House
27. Mr. Mohammed Bukar – General Services Office, OSGF
28. Mr. Abbas Mohammed – Ecological Fund Office, OSGF
29. Dr. Ugo Roy – Council Secretariat
30. Mr. Aminu Nabegu – Special Services Office, OSGF
31. Amb. Bamgbose Akindele – Political Affairs Office, OSGF
32. Mr. Alo Williams Nwankwo – Economic Affairs Office, OSGF
33. Mrs. Obiageli Nwokedi – Special Duties Office, OSGF
34. Mr. Innocent Ogbonnaya -Career Management Office, OHCSF
35. Mr. S.K.Y. Adelakun – Common Services Office, OHCSF
36. Mrs. N. Batagarawa – Service Policy & Strategies Office, OHCSF

These appointments and deployments are with effect from today, November 10, 2015.

 

 

Ex Gov Suswam and his commissioner arraigned in court over money laundering charges

Ex Gov Suswam and his commissioner arraigned in court over money laundering charges

 

 

Former governor of Benue state, Gabriel Suswam and his commissioner for Finance, Omodachi Okolobia, were arraigned before an Abuja high court today over allegations of money laundering to the tune of N3.1billion carried out while they were in office. The court granted them bail of N100 million each.

 

 

 

 

SENATE: Saraki mourns as Adedotun Durojaiye passes on.

SENATE: Saraki mourns as Adedotun Durojaiye passes on.

 

The acting clerk of the Senate, Adedotun Durojaiye has died. He died at an Abuja hospital after a brief illness on November 8, 2015. Until his death, Durojaiye, a Lagos born civil servant, was the acting clerk of the 8th senate. He was promoted as acting senate clerk in April 2014.

Meanwhile Senate President Bukola Saraki has released a statement mourning Durojaiye. Read the statement signed by his media aide Yusuf Olaniyonu below

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Monday, described the death of the acting Clerk to the Senate, Mr. Adedotun Durojaiye, as a colossal loss and said he was a civil servant of repute. Saraki in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that late Durojaiye passed on at a time when his experience was needed to move the Eight Senate to the next level. He noted that the Lagos-born civil servant served selflessly and was dutiful in his contribution to the course of national development. Saraki said:

"We in the National Assembly and in particular, the Senate, received the news of the demise of Durojaiye with great shock. He was a vibrant and exceptional public officer. ‎He was there at the inception of this Eight Senate. He conducted the elections of Presiding Officers. We will surely miss his vast experience, his vibrancy and commitment to legislative duties," he said.

The Senate President, however, urged the family of the deceased to take solace in the fact that late Durojaiye lived a life worthy of emulation. "My candid advise to the bereaved family is to strengthen your faith in God. We should also know that death is an inevitable end for all humans. I pray God to give you the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss," While commiserating with the management and staff of the National Assembly over the sudden demise of one of their own, Saraki prayed the Almighty God to grant the soul of the departed eternal rest.

'The coming of Buhari's change agents' - Article written by Shehu Garba

'The coming of Buhari's change agents' - Article written by Shehu Garba

 

 

Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari, Shehu Garba wrote this article about the incoming ministers of President Buhari who will be sworn in this Wednesday. Read the article below 

Before a skyscraper rises out of the ground and becomes a towering edifice, the foundation must go deep into the ground, sometimes as low as 150ft. Month after month, the labourers continue to dig and build, their diligent work taking place completely out of sight. In the same period it takes to complete the foundation of a skyscraper, several duplexes may spring up nearby. Concerned onlookers may wonder about all the time invested in an unseen structure and ask, “But why can’t we see the building you say you are building?”

 During the past few months since he took on the mantle of CHANGE, President Muhammadu Buhari has been restructuring the foundations of the Nigerian government, which have disintegrated and putrefied over decades of mismanagement. He has been busy cleaning out debris and plugging loopholes, before laying new and fresh blocks. When he spoke to them at the three-day retreat welcoming them to the cabinet, the President told the new ministers that “ we have already taken deliberate measures to plug leakages of government revenue and resources.”

The Treasury Single Account (TSA) is one example. Under this new system, all government revenue, income and payments are being handled via one single account which will be maintained by the Central Bank. This way, the government will have direct supervision of inflow and outflow. Cases such as that of Nigerian Maritime and Security Agency, NIMASA (currently under investigation by the EFCC) where billions of dollars were channelled for questionable purposes will be a thing of the past. Nigerians can expect more transparency and less misappropriation of funds by agencies of government. Government will begin to realise her revenue in full measure and agencies will be able to spend only within their budgets.

Still on the issue of government revenue, the prospect of the Nigerian government generating more money through the Nigerian Customs Service is set to increase with the change of management that was effected recently by the Buhari administration. With accountability and integrity at the top, Nigerians can expect that revenue from that agency will double or triple.

The Ministry of Finance just got the customs to repair broken down scanners at the ports to ensure maximum generation of revenue. Officers had left the scanners unrepaired, and in some known cases deliberately sabotaged them so that assessment is done manually to satisfy greed on their part.

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has also begun to implement a programme of increased awareness among Nigerians regarding the payment of taxes. This is being followed by a strict programme of persuasion and enforcement. Within a short while, the Nigerian government will begin to realise a marked increase in revenue from VAT.

All these foundation blocks have been laid to ensure that the Nigerian government has enough revenue with which to make life better for every Nigerian, especially as the price of oil continues to look precarious.

These measures, taken together represent a major push by the President to increase internally-generated revenue, reduce over-dependence on crude oil earnings in a way that will bring stability and predictability in the financing of government programs.

The situation of the economy is not an ordinary one. It is a crisis, a crisis itself inherited by the Buhari administration, and one that cannot be ignored. Two weeks ago, the International Monetary Fund, IMF predicted that the GDP growth in sub-Saharan Africa would fall to 3.75 percent in 2015 which is the lowest in the last six years.

Nigeria along with Angola, the leading oil economies on the continent have been hit hard by oil prices which have gone down by more than 50 percent in the last 12 months.

It is on account of this that the President warned the new ministers of what to expect:

“The work of restoration and renewal is urgent and immense. The expectations of Nigerians are high. Our determination to succeed and change the fortunes of our country must be equal to the challenge.

“I have invited you to join me in this urgent mission for our country. I am convinced that in accepting this invitation you are also equally determined to take part in this patriotic undertaking.

So finally, the underground work is coming to an end. With the inauguration of ministers taking place on Wednesday, it is now time for Nigerians to watch the edifice of CHANGE begin to rise out of a new and strong foundation. Our country’s season of austerity is coming to an end. Life will get better for every Nigerian, in every geopolitical zone of our country.

As President Buhari said in the opening address during the retreat that took place last week, “You are coming on board the ship of governance at an interesting time. So much has been said about the state of our economy. It is expected that we make the running of Government at all levels as lean as possible, avoid waste and conserve resources. As ministers, you must be the vehicle that will administer the change.”

President Buhari, who shrugged off “experts”and their “scientific” predictions to receive a historic mandate- the first time that an opposition candidate defeated an incumbent administration since independence has been speaking of the huge popular expectation of Nigerians who gave this mandate. They are waiting, impatient and agitated.

The new ministers will do well to pay heed to the President’s call for prudence, austerity through the avoidance of the type of extravagance that had weighed down the finances of government in the past. Under the past administration, some ministers had as many as 15 special assistants and so many policemen in tow.

Let the new ministers learn from the President who game a recent directive that he didn’t want have more than eight vehicles in his convoy.

Nigerians should get set to see and experience more of the CHANGE for which they voted overwhelmingly for the Buhari administration if the cabinet avoids micromanaging specifics and kowtowing to God-father interests to join the President in putting policies in place to make the country a favored destination for investors both global and local.

There is little doubt that there is light at the end of the tunnel although it will take much hard work to make it a new dawn.

-Malam Garba Shehu (SSA, Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari).

Oh Oh! Caitlyn Jenner becomes 'Glamour woman' award winner of the year

Oh Oh! Caitlyn Jenner becomes 'Glamour woman' award winner of the year

 

Caitlyn Jenner accepted a Glamour woman of the year award on Monday, telling the crowd that she believes she was put on Earth to tell her story and make a difference in the world.

She said that before she had come out as a woman, she stayed home most of the time. "Now," she said to cheers, "I actually like going out, and being myself."

Jenner described her journey to becoming a woman, and spoke of how he sat down with his children to discuss plans to go public. She said she had realized that perhaps "this is why God put me on this earth, to tell my story ... and make a difference in the world."

Jenner is not the first transgender woman to be a Glamour Woman of the Year; last year, actress Laverne Cox was honored. Still, Jenner's inclusion sparked some backlash on social media.

 

 

Meanwhile, his daughter Kylie Jenner was very casual at the event. She said she had a wardrobe malfunction but still had to be at the event to support her Dad. She said: