Month: December 2017

Russia loses £33m satellite over programming error

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Russia lost a 2.6bn-rouble (£33m) weather satellite due to a programming error, the country’s deputy prime minister has confirmed. Meteor-M was launched on 28 November, but the Russian space agency Roscosmos quickly announced that it failed to establish communications with the craft. Roscosmos later stated that the satellite failed to enter into its designated orbit following the launch. Russia’s deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin told the Rossiya 24 state television channel that the rocket carrying the satellite had been programmed with the wrong coordinates. Instead of being programmed to take…

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George Weah wins Liberian presidential election

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Former professional footballer George Weah has won the Liberia presidential run-off with 61.5% of the vote. The country’s electoral commission said he had taken 61.5% of the vote from 98.1% of ballots cast. He beat Vice President Joseph Boakai, who took 38.5% of the vote. It means Mr Weah will succeed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to become president next month, the country’s first democratic transition since 1944. Mr Weah, 51, grew up in poverty in Liberia. He was raised by his grandmother in one of the worst slums of Liberia’s capital…

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India to jail muslims divorcing wives with ‘triple talaq’

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The Indian government on Thursday introduced a bill in parliament aimed at prosecuting and jailing Muslim men who divorce their wives through the “triple talaq”, or instant divorce. Indian muslim women have  complained that ‘triple talaq’ violates their right to equality. In August, the Supreme Court ruled as unconstitutional , the religious practice which allows Muslim men to divorce their wives simply by uttering the word “talaq” three times. Muslim women had petitioned the court, arguing that  husbands who divorce them through “triple talaq”, including by Skype and WhatsApp, not…

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Alabama declares Democrat Doug Jones Senate winner

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Democrat Doug Jones was formally declared the winner of the bitterly contested US Senate race in the southern state of Alabama on Thursday, whittling down the Republican majority in the chamber by a crucial seat. Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill certified the results of the December 12 special election and dismissed claims of voter fraud by the campaign of the defeated Republican candidate, Roy Moore. “This election has been conducted with the utmost integrity,” Merrill told a news conference. “It’s been safe, secure. It’s been credible.” With Jones’ upset…

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Apple begs iPhone users over glitches, offers discounted battery

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Apple on Thursday apologized to its customers for slowing down performance of older iPhone models and said it would discount replacement batteries for some of its handsets. The move by Apple was a response to an uproar from iPhone users — and a series of lawsuits — after news of the battery problems stoked concerns the company was unfairly nudging consumers to upgrade. “We know that some of you feel Apple has let you down. We apologize,” Apple said in a message to customers on its website. “We’ve always wanted…

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Weah wins 62 % of votes for Liberian presidency

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Provisional results just announced by Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC) have placed former international football superstar, George Weah, ahead with 720,023 votes or 61.5 per cent. Incumbent Vice President Joseph Boakai is far behind with 451,088 votes or 38.59 per cent. Chairman of NEC, Mr Jerome Korkoya, announced the results at a press conference in Monrovia. Meanwhile, out of a total of 1,198,984 votes cast in the election, the provisional results of 1,176,203 representing 98.1 per cent were announced on Thursday. Obviously,  no more surprise is expected. Senator  Weah is…

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DAPPMA assures Nigerians of steady supply of petrol

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The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) has assured Nigerians of regular supply of petrol, in spite of the N600 billion owed it by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Its Executive Secretary, Mr Olufemi Adewole, gave the assurance in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday. Adewole said that apart from the N600 billion the NNPC owed DAPPMA members, it also owe the marketers over N800 billion. “Marketers have continued to sacrifice to keep the country wet with fuel, despite over N600 billion debts owed our members and…

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Balopi Botswana queen wins Calabar’s Miss Africa beauty contest

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Botswana queen, Gaseangwe Balopi, 21, has won the second edition of the Miss Africa beauty pageant hosted by the Cross River Government. Balopi emerged the 2017 African queen at the keenly contested event after a fourth round of appearances in different attires by 25 contestants. NAN reports that the red carpet event started at round 10.45 pm on Wednesday night at the Calabar International Convention Centre and ended around 3 a.m on Thursday morning. She is to take home  $35,000 and a Ford Edge Sport Utility Vehicle as her star…

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Bitcoin recovers some losses after its worst week since 2013

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Bitcoin rose 15 percent on Tuesday, recouping about half of the losses it sustained last week, its worst since 2013, as investors who had missed out on earlier rallies bought the world’s biggest and best-known digital currency. While bitcoin investors and analysts believe last week’s decline in its value was a natural correction after a heady run-up in prices, there have been further warnings from market regulators and central banks. Bitcoin fell nearly 30 percent at one stage on Friday to $11,159.93. At 3:09 p.m. (2009 GMT) on Tuesday, bitcoin…

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Olivier Giroud’s wife doesn’t want Everton move – Sam Allardyce

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Sam Allardyce has claimed that Olivier Giroud’s wife is standing in the way of a potential move to Everton in January. The Toffees’ lack of firepower was made evident again on Tuesday as they spluttered to a 0-0 draw against West Bromwich Albion. Aside from Wayne Rooney the club have struggled in front of goal, making a new striker a must for the coming transfer window. Giroud, however, might be barred from swapping Arsenal for Goodison Park if Allardyce’s analysis of the situation is accurate. “I wouldn’t have thought [Giroud…

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