Tuface Joins Campaign To Free Abducted Girls

#BringBackOurGirls

One of Nigeria's most popular international hip hop star, Innocent Idibia, the one we all love to call Tuface, is not a happy man at the moment.



His source of anger is that almost three weeks after 276 girls were abducted from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, and the apparent lack of interest by the government of the day to expedite actions in rescuing them.



The current trend in Nigeria is #BringBackOurGirls and the man adored by many, has joined both Nigerian and international celebrities to lend a vice to the campaign.



He is taking the position of a father, guardian and concerned citizen.



Read what Tu Baba had to say.

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Ukraine soldiers killed in renewed Sloviansk fighting

Sarah Rainsford reports from eastern Ukraine where pro-Russian supporters are rebuilding barricades
Four Ukrainian soldiers have been killed and an army helicopter shot down by pro-Russian militants near the eastern city of Sloviansk, Kiev says.

It says the gunmen used heavy weapons against Ukraine's units involved in the "anti-terror" operation. Casualties were also reported among the rebels.

The militants are reported to have retreated towards the city centre which is now quiet, a BBC correspondent says.

The rebel stronghold remains sealed off by Ukrainian troops.

Pro-Russian militants have seized government buildings in a dozen or more Ukrainian cities in the east.

Kiev accuses Moscow of supporting and arming the gunmen - a claim denied by the Kremlin.

'Lull in fighting'

Speaking to reporters near Sloviansk, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov accused the militants of trying to ambush government forces on the outskirts of Sloviansk on Monday morning.

Separatist armoured vehicles and a number of rebels were seen in retreat

Pro-Russian gunmen in Sloviansk are maintaining a watchful eye on Ukrainian troops on the outskirts

Residents in the city have been building barricades in preparation for the Ukrainian soldiers' advance
He blamed the rebels for using heavy weapons, including mortars.

The Ukrainian military later said that four soldiers had been killed and about 30 injured.

In a statement, the defence ministry confirmed that a helicopter has been shot down near Sloviansk.

The crew of the aircraft survived, largely because the helicopter crashed into a river, the ministry added. It was the third Ukrainian military helicopter to be downed over the city in recent days.

A BBC team which has reached the centre of Sloviansk says there has been a lull in the fighting between about 800 pro-Russian militants and Ukrainian troops.

Trading accusations

On Sunday, Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk accused Russia of executing a plan "to destroy Ukraine and its statehood".

He was speaking two days after dozens were killed in violence in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa.

"Russia's aim was to repeat in Odessa what is happening in the east of the country," he said, insisting Kiev had not lost control of the region.

The clashes on Friday left more than 40 dead, mostly pro-Russian separatists killed in a building fire.

Russia warned on Monday that failure to halt the escalating unrest would threaten peace across Europe.

Moscow called on Ukraine and the international community to step up "joint efforts" to end "racism, xenophobia, ethnic intolerance, (and) the glorification of the Nazis" - a reference to extremists Russia claims are committing "mass" rights violations in Ukraine.

Kiev describes the claims as blatant propaganda, and instead accuses the Russian authorities of turning their country into an authoritarian state.

Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych was overthrown by pro-Western protesters in February.

Russia then annexed the Crimean peninsula - part of Ukraine but with a Russian-speaking majority - in a move that provoked international outrage.

Despite the latest violence, Ukraine plans to hold a presidential election on 25 May.

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Tuface Joins Campaign To Free Abducted Girls

#BringBackOurGirls
One of Nigeria's most popular international hip hop star, Innocent Idibia, the one we all love to call Tuface, is not a happy man at the moment.

His source of anger is that almost three weeks after 276 girls were abducted from the Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, and the apparent lack of interest by the government of the day to expedite actions in rescuing them.

The current trend in Nigeria is #BringBackOurGirls and the man adored by many, has joined both Nigerian and international celebrities to lend a vice to the campaign.

He is taking the position of a father, guardian and concerned citizen.

Read what Tu Baba had to say.
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

Read More

Boxer Paul Smith Junior, the British super-middleweight champion

is used to going toe-to-toe with opponents and is enjoying the Crucible tussle.



He tweeted: "Watching the gas-cooker on BBC2. Mr @ronnieo147 is the best player to ever pick up a cue. Unbelievable. #Snooker



#snookerworldchampionship"

From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com



Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

Read More

Another Raunchy Video Of Kim Kadarshian's Past Revealed

Despite a past rich with sex scandals, we wonder how kanye west copes with her



One can't help but wonder if Kanye West is under hypnosis or is indeed in love, as his firm resolve to marry Kim Kadarshian remains unbroken. Kim shot into limelight because of a sex tape released, which showed her and American singer Ray-J, having aggressive and unprotected sex.



With another video like this, of her getting downright dirty at a party, we wonder how Kanye West would handle it.

From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com



Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

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Heads to consider scrapping six-week summer break

Head teachers are to investigate the benefits of scrapping the six-week summer holidays.

Proposals to spread holidays more evenly through the year were discussed at the NAHT union conference.

Its leader Russell Hobby questioned whether the current 13-week term structure was healthy for staff, arguing changing it could reduce stress and cut holiday prices for families.

But head teachers wanted more evidence of the benefits of such changes.

The government gave academies and free schools in England permission to vary term times earlier this academic year.

This is due to be extended to all state schools next September.

Support from head teachers means schools would be more likely to make changes to term times.

'Ready to drop'

The move also comes after Education Secretary Michael Gove toughened up rules on parents taking their children out of schools at term times for family holidays.

Now this is only allowed in exceptional circumstances with many parents complaining they face high prices for holidays in peak season.

Mr Hobby said: "One of the things that I'm concerned about is whether the current structure of holidays is also healthy for the people who work in schools as well.

"It seems like, at the end of term, everyone is ready to drop and that actually, not reducing the amount of holiday but distributing it more evenly across the year might be one solution to that."

He added: "However, we don't have any particular liking for every school going its own way.

"We would like to see local or regional co-ordination, but at that point you could also have the opportunity to have a staggering of holidays around the country.

"So if different parts of the country within local authority boundaries or regional boundaries had slightly different holiday times I think that would ease the pressure on the prices of holidays as well."

He said the change would take away some of the excuses that both parents and teachers made about missing school days.

Admissions queues

Mr Hobby was talking at his association's annual conference in Birmingham, where an "education manifesto" of proposals for the next General Election was adopted.

A draft version said: "We propose more frequent, shorter holidays (adding up to the same overall number), staggered across the country on a regional basis to reduce the holiday price premium."

But this will now be qualified by a proper study into the benefits of the changes and the impact on children's learning.

The document also calls for disadvantaged pupils to be allowed to jump school admissions queues. Under the plans they would be given priority over other potential pupils by virtue of being on a very low income or benefits.

If adopted by political parties it could lead to a major change in school admissions and may radically alter the character of some schools.

The thinking behind it is that presently many disadvantaged families are effectively priced out of the catchment areas of good schools by high house prices. This means it is harder for poorer children to attend the better schools.

Mr Hobby says: "Looked-after children currently get priority in admissions.

"What if we extended this right to all children on free school meals, who could automatically go to the head of the admissions queue for any school their parents chose?

"At a stroke, this would limit the house price barrier to good schools and secure more firmly the comprehensive principle of education."

The NAHT resolved to carry out an impact assessment of the policy before presenting the arguments before the main political parties.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "More parents and children have the choice of a good school place thanks to our reforms - the number of children in failing secondary schools has fallen by a quarter of a million since 2010.

"Academies and free schools can already give priority to those children eligible for the pupil premium while maintained schools are able to apply to the secretary of state to do the same.

"The new admissions code is clear that all school places should be allocated in a fair and transparent way."

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Poll shows most want sugary drinks banned from UK schools

Many fruit juices and other drinks contain substantial amounts of sugar
Two thirds of people support a ban on sugary drinks in all UK schools and academies, suggests a poll carried out for the BBC.

The Populus poll of 1,000 adults in Britain also found more than four out of 10 people would support a tax on sugary drinks.

And 59% said warnings on packaging - similar to those on cigarettes - would encourage them to eat more healthily.

Sugar industry representatives said demonising sugar was too "simplistic".

The poll - which was carried out for BBC 5Live's Richard Bacon programme - suggests a majority of people in the UK take a harder line on sugary foods and drinks in schools than government policy, which bans the sale of fizzy drinks, crisps and sweets in local authority-run schools, but leaves the decision of whether children can bring them into schools up to head teachers.

These rules do not apply to academies and free schools which together make up more than half of state secondary schools.

Some heads, including that of one primary school in London, have opted for a complete ban on children bringing in sugary and caffeine-based energy drinks.

'Demonised'

But representatives from the sugar industry say it is being unfairly highlighted as the main cause of health problems, in particular obesity.

Dr Julian Cooper, head of food science at AB Sugar, told the BBC: "It's quite simplistic just to demonise one ingredient to the exclusion of all others. We would say that we're probably consuming too many calories and probably doing too little exercise and activity.

"There is probably an over consumption of all calories; not sugar per se."

He added: "There are some products that potentially you can reduce sugar, there's no doubt about it.

"So say for example a tomato sauce that you use for making pasta: if you look at the total sugars in that product, over 90% of the sugars come from the tomatoes.

"So, yes you may have a potential to say 'let's take the 10% out' - once you go below that figure you're starting to remove the tomatoes and personally I actually like tomatoes in my tomato sauce on my pasta."

Under government policy schools under local authority control can only supply drinks listed on a drinks table and states that schools should "remove drinks which have no nutritional value and can cause tooth decay" and should "encourage children to drink water or drinks such as milk and fruit or vegetable juices, which provide important nutrients like calcium, vitamin C and carotenoids".

These food standards do not apply to academies, free schools or to private schools - although they will do from later on this year.

Food choices

But the 5Live poll suggests most adults support a tougher line, wanting to see a total ban on such food in all schools.

And three quarters supported fixed limits on the amount of sugar used in certain foods, with 60% saying they wanted supermarkets to stop promotions on unhealthy food products.

The size of some of the cups Coca-cola is sold in "need to come down" says president of Coca-cola Europe James Quincey
But Dr Alison Tedstone, a nutritionist at Public Health England, said banning such foods and drinks in schools may not be necessary: The Department of Education needs to consider that carefully.

"Actually academies from this year will have the same guidance around food as local authority run schools and so the majority of them are captured by this guidance."

A spokesman for industry body the Food and Drink Federation said: "The food and drink industry is committed to supporting improvements in public health.

"Whether through labelling, education, reformulating old favourites or creating new healthier options, food and drink manufacturers have invested in a wide range of measures to empower and enable consumers to make food choices appropriate to their lifestyle.

"Having eliminated artificial transfats and substantially reduced levels of saturated fat and salt in a wide range of products, many manufacturers are now looking at how they can help consumers to reduce their calorie intake through a wide range of innovative approaches."

From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com



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Archbishop of Canterbury defends faith schools

The Most Rev Justin Welby: "It's an expression of our love and service to the community"

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has defended faith schools, saying they provide education for some of the poorest children in the UK.

Archbishop Welby acknowledged the potential danger of fundamentalists attempting to take control of schools.

However, in a BBC interview he said Church of England schools continued to "love and serve", as they "have done for hundreds of years".

The archbishop repeated his view that the UK is "a deeply Christian country".

Asked about an inquiry into allegations of fundamentalists targeting schools - the so-called Trojan Horse plot - he said: "I can't talk about other faith schools, but it isn't much of a danger in Church of England schools."

He was speaking after Birmingham City Council launched an inquiry into alleged plots by Muslim hard-liners to seize control of school governing bodies in the city.

The archbishop also defended the role of faith schools within the education system, saying they remained "a very good use of social capital".

"The way it's done with Church of England schools is that it's an expression of our love and service to the community," he said.

"People seem to choose these schools in large numbers. They are often in the poorest parts of the country, we seek to love and serve people, as we should, through these schools - and have done for hundreds of years."

A probe has been launched into allegations of a plot to take control of a number of Birmingham schools
National Secular Society executive director Keith Porteous Wood said: "He [the archbishop] fails to point out that his schools, run entirely at public expense, prioritise evangelisation over serving the population who are steadily abandoning his pews."

A spokeswoman for the Church replied that it had first set up schools 200 years ago, some 50 years before the state introduced education for all.

She added: "The Church contributes financially to the running of their schools through improvement costs, along with many hours of volunteering, particularly on governing bodies.

"Church schools do not evangelise but provide an inclusive and effective education with a distinctive Christian ethos which continues to be very popular with parents and pupils of all faiths and none."

Faith schools are run like other state schools but are associated with a particular religion. They follow the national curriculum except for religious studies where they are free to only teach about their own faith.

There are about 7,500 faith schools across the UK, the largest category of which are Church of England followed by Roman Catholic, according to the Department for Education.

'Deeply Christian country'

Asked about the continuing debate about whether the UK remains a "Christian country", Archbishop Welby said Christian faith was reflected in the "whole way we approach our national life".

His comments come after Prime Minister David Cameron wrote last month that people in the UK should be "more confident about our status as a Christian country".

It prompted a group of 50 public figures to write an open letter to the Daily Telegraph insisting that the UK was "a non-religious" and "plural" society.

Archbishop Welby later wrote in his blog that it was a "historical fact" that UK law, ethics and culture were based on Christianity's teachings and traditions.

Returning to the debate, Archbishop Welby said the UK's "systems of justice and health, the way we value people, the basic way we look at the human being and the dignity of the human being, reflects the values of Jesus Christ".

"We are a deeply Christian country in that way," he added.

The archbishop added that he did not agree with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's claim that the Church would be better able to serve its own interests and those of the country if it was disestablished.

But the NSS said: "Archbishop Welby's self-serving claim that this is 'a deeply Christian country' is completely undermined by his own Church's statistics showing Sunday attendance declining."

According to the latest Church of England report, 800,000 people attended its church services on a "usual Sunday" in 2012, approximately half the number that attended in 1968.

From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com



Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

Read More

Poll shows most want sugary drinks banned from UK schools

Many fruit juices and other drinks contain substantial amounts of sugar
Two thirds of people support a ban on sugary drinks in all UK schools and academies, suggests a poll carried out for the BBC.

The Populus poll of 1,000 adults in Britain also found more than four out of 10 people would support a tax on sugary drinks.

And 59% said warnings on packaging - similar to those on cigarettes - would encourage them to eat more healthily.

Sugar industry representatives said demonising sugar was too "simplistic".

The poll - which was carried out for BBC 5Live's Richard Bacon programme - suggests a majority of people in the UK take a harder line on sugary foods and drinks in schools than government policy, which bans the sale of fizzy drinks, crisps and sweets in local authority-run schools, but leaves the decision of whether children can bring them into schools up to head teachers.

These rules do not apply to academies and free schools which together make up more than half of state secondary schools.

Some heads, including that of one primary school in London, have opted for a complete ban on children bringing in sugary and caffeine-based energy drinks.

'Demonised'

But representatives from the sugar industry say it is being unfairly highlighted as the main cause of health problems, in particular obesity.

Dr Julian Cooper, head of food science at AB Sugar, told the BBC: "It's quite simplistic just to demonise one ingredient to the exclusion of all others. We would say that we're probably consuming too many calories and probably doing too little exercise and activity.

"There is probably an over consumption of all calories; not sugar per se."

He added: "There are some products that potentially you can reduce sugar, there's no doubt about it.

"So say for example a tomato sauce that you use for making pasta: if you look at the total sugars in that product, over 90% of the sugars come from the tomatoes.

"So, yes you may have a potential to say 'let's take the 10% out' - once you go below that figure you're starting to remove the tomatoes and personally I actually like tomatoes in my tomato sauce on my pasta."

Under government policy schools under local authority control can only supply drinks listed on a drinks table and states that schools should "remove drinks which have no nutritional value and can cause tooth decay" and should "encourage children to drink water or drinks such as milk and fruit or vegetable juices, which provide important nutrients like calcium, vitamin C and carotenoids".

These food standards do not apply to academies, free schools or to private schools - although they will do from later on this year.

Food choices

But the 5Live poll suggests most adults support a tougher line, wanting to see a total ban on such food in all schools.

And three quarters supported fixed limits on the amount of sugar used in certain foods, with 60% saying they wanted supermarkets to stop promotions on unhealthy food products.

The size of some of the cups Coca-cola is sold in "need to come down" says president of Coca-cola Europe James Quincey
But Dr Alison Tedstone, a nutritionist at Public Health England, said banning such foods and drinks in schools may not be necessary: The Department of Education needs to consider that carefully.

"Actually academies from this year will have the same guidance around food as local authority run schools and so the majority of them are captured by this guidance."

A spokesman for industry body the Food and Drink Federation said: "The food and drink industry is committed to supporting improvements in public health.

"Whether through labelling, education, reformulating old favourites or creating new healthier options, food and drink manufacturers have invested in a wide range of measures to empower and enable consumers to make food choices appropriate to their lifestyle.

"Having eliminated artificial transfats and substantially reduced levels of saturated fat and salt in a wide range of products, many manufacturers are now looking at how they can help consumers to reduce their calorie intake through a wide range of innovative approaches."
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

Read More

Archbishop of Canterbury defends faith schools

The Most Rev Justin Welby: "It's an expression of our love and service to the community"

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has defended faith schools, saying they provide education for some of the poorest children in the UK.

Archbishop Welby acknowledged the potential danger of fundamentalists attempting to take control of schools.

However, in a BBC interview he said Church of England schools continued to "love and serve", as they "have done for hundreds of years".

The archbishop repeated his view that the UK is "a deeply Christian country".

Asked about an inquiry into allegations of fundamentalists targeting schools - the so-called Trojan Horse plot - he said: "I can't talk about other faith schools, but it isn't much of a danger in Church of England schools."

He was speaking after Birmingham City Council launched an inquiry into alleged plots by Muslim hard-liners to seize control of school governing bodies in the city.

The archbishop also defended the role of faith schools within the education system, saying they remained "a very good use of social capital".

"The way it's done with Church of England schools is that it's an expression of our love and service to the community," he said.

"People seem to choose these schools in large numbers. They are often in the poorest parts of the country, we seek to love and serve people, as we should, through these schools - and have done for hundreds of years."

A probe has been launched into allegations of a plot to take control of a number of Birmingham schools
National Secular Society executive director Keith Porteous Wood said: "He [the archbishop] fails to point out that his schools, run entirely at public expense, prioritise evangelisation over serving the population who are steadily abandoning his pews."

A spokeswoman for the Church replied that it had first set up schools 200 years ago, some 50 years before the state introduced education for all.

She added: "The Church contributes financially to the running of their schools through improvement costs, along with many hours of volunteering, particularly on governing bodies.

"Church schools do not evangelise but provide an inclusive and effective education with a distinctive Christian ethos which continues to be very popular with parents and pupils of all faiths and none."

Faith schools are run like other state schools but are associated with a particular religion. They follow the national curriculum except for religious studies where they are free to only teach about their own faith.

There are about 7,500 faith schools across the UK, the largest category of which are Church of England followed by Roman Catholic, according to the Department for Education.

'Deeply Christian country'

Asked about the continuing debate about whether the UK remains a "Christian country", Archbishop Welby said Christian faith was reflected in the "whole way we approach our national life".

His comments come after Prime Minister David Cameron wrote last month that people in the UK should be "more confident about our status as a Christian country".

It prompted a group of 50 public figures to write an open letter to the Daily Telegraph insisting that the UK was "a non-religious" and "plural" society.

Archbishop Welby later wrote in his blog that it was a "historical fact" that UK law, ethics and culture were based on Christianity's teachings and traditions.

Returning to the debate, Archbishop Welby said the UK's "systems of justice and health, the way we value people, the basic way we look at the human being and the dignity of the human being, reflects the values of Jesus Christ".

"We are a deeply Christian country in that way," he added.

The archbishop added that he did not agree with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's claim that the Church would be better able to serve its own interests and those of the country if it was disestablished.

But the NSS said: "Archbishop Welby's self-serving claim that this is 'a deeply Christian country' is completely undermined by his own Church's statistics showing Sunday attendance declining."

According to the latest Church of England report, 800,000 people attended its church services on a "usual Sunday" in 2012, approximately half the number that attended in 1968.
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

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Read More

Heads to consider scrapping six-week summer break

Head teachers are to investigate the benefits of scrapping the six-week summer holidays.

Proposals to spread holidays more evenly through the year were discussed at the NAHT union conference.

Its leader Russell Hobby questioned whether the current 13-week term structure was healthy for staff, arguing changing it could reduce stress and cut holiday prices for families.

But head teachers wanted more evidence of the benefits of such changes.

The government gave academies and free schools in England permission to vary term times earlier this academic year.

This is due to be extended to all state schools next September.

Support from head teachers means schools would be more likely to make changes to term times.

'Ready to drop'

The move also comes after Education Secretary Michael Gove toughened up rules on parents taking their children out of schools at term times for family holidays.

Now this is only allowed in exceptional circumstances with many parents complaining they face high prices for holidays in peak season.

Mr Hobby said: "One of the things that I'm concerned about is whether the current structure of holidays is also healthy for the people who work in schools as well.

"It seems like, at the end of term, everyone is ready to drop and that actually, not reducing the amount of holiday but distributing it more evenly across the year might be one solution to that."

He added: "However, we don't have any particular liking for every school going its own way.

"We would like to see local or regional co-ordination, but at that point you could also have the opportunity to have a staggering of holidays around the country.

"So if different parts of the country within local authority boundaries or regional boundaries had slightly different holiday times I think that would ease the pressure on the prices of holidays as well."

He said the change would take away some of the excuses that both parents and teachers made about missing school days.

Admissions queues

Mr Hobby was talking at his association's annual conference in Birmingham, where an "education manifesto" of proposals for the next General Election was adopted.

A draft version said: "We propose more frequent, shorter holidays (adding up to the same overall number), staggered across the country on a regional basis to reduce the holiday price premium."

But this will now be qualified by a proper study into the benefits of the changes and the impact on children's learning.

The document also calls for disadvantaged pupils to be allowed to jump school admissions queues. Under the plans they would be given priority over other potential pupils by virtue of being on a very low income or benefits.

If adopted by political parties it could lead to a major change in school admissions and may radically alter the character of some schools.

The thinking behind it is that presently many disadvantaged families are effectively priced out of the catchment areas of good schools by high house prices. This means it is harder for poorer children to attend the better schools.

Mr Hobby says: "Looked-after children currently get priority in admissions.

"What if we extended this right to all children on free school meals, who could automatically go to the head of the admissions queue for any school their parents chose?

"At a stroke, this would limit the house price barrier to good schools and secure more firmly the comprehensive principle of education."

The NAHT resolved to carry out an impact assessment of the policy before presenting the arguments before the main political parties.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: "More parents and children have the choice of a good school place thanks to our reforms - the number of children in failing secondary schools has fallen by a quarter of a million since 2010.

"Academies and free schools can already give priority to those children eligible for the pupil premium while maintained schools are able to apply to the secretary of state to do the same.

"The new admissions code is clear that all school places should be allocated in a fair and transparent way."
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

Read More

Another Raunchy Video Of Kim Kadarshian's Past Revealed

Despite a past rich with sex scandals, we wonder how kanye west copes with her

One can't help but wonder if Kanye West is under hypnosis or is indeed in love, as his firm resolve to marry Kim Kadarshian remains unbroken. Kim shot into limelight because of a sex tape released, which showed her and American singer Ray-J, having aggressive and unprotected sex.

With another video like this, of her getting downright dirty at a party, we wonder how Kanye West would handle it.
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

Read More

Boxer Paul Smith Junior, the British super-middleweight champion

is used to going toe-to-toe with opponents and is enjoying the Crucible tussle.

He tweeted: "Watching the gas-cooker on BBC2. Mr @ronnieo147 is the best player to ever pick up a cue. Unbelievable. #Snooker

#snookerworldchampionship"
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

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Read More

Full Winners List of AfricaMagic Viewers Choice Awards 2014

The 2014 AfricaMagic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCAs) took place at Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday.



Find the winners' list below:



-Best Movie of 2013 – The Contract



-Best Actress in a Drama Award goes to Tope Tedela for A Mile From Home



-Best Actress in a Drama Award goes to Nse Ikpe-Etim for Journey To Self



- Industry Merit Award goes to Peter Edochie



-Best Movie Drama goes to Frank Rajah Arase for The Price



-Best actor in a comedy award goes to Elvis Chucks



-New era award goes to Rita Dominic for The Meeting



-Trailblazer Award goes to: Michelle Bello



-Best supporting actor in a Drama goes to Desmond Elliot for Finding Mercy



-Best supporting actress in a Drama goes to Bikiya Graham-Douglas for Flower Girl



-Best Director goes to Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract



-Best Actor in a Comedy goes to: Osita Iheme – The Hero



-Best Online Video goes to: Amarachukwu Onoh – Mother Tongue



-Best Short Film award goes to: Walter 'Waltbanger' Taylaur – The Wages



-Best Documentary award goes to: Dr Gilbert Chigbo – The Deadwood



-Best Indigenous Language (Hausa): Abba Muko Yakassai



-Best indigenous language Yoruba award goes to: Mercy Aigbe



-Best indigenous language Swahili award goes to: Njoki Muhoho – Mama Duka



-Best Television Series (Comedy/Drama) award goes to: Fred Phiri – Love Games Episode 6



-Best video editor goes to: Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract



-Best sound editor goes to: Obi Emelonye and Luke Corradine – Last Flight to Abuja



-Best Cinematographer goes to: Christian Almesberger – Nairobi Half Life



-Best Writer in a Comedy award goes to: Jigi Bello – Flower Girl



-Best Lighting Designer goes to: Mohamed Zain – Nairobi Half Life



-Best Writer in a Drama goes to: Shirley Frimpong- Manso & Hertey Owusu – Contract



-Best Make-Up Artiste Award goes to: Elayne Okaya – Nairobi Half Life



-Best Costume Designer award goes to: Chiemela Nwagboso – The Kingdom



-Best Art Director Award goes to: Barbara Minishi – Nairobi Half Life

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CHRIS BROWN CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF 200 GIRLS KIDNAPPED IN CHIBOK NIGERIA

American artiste, Chris Brown has joined other international stars such as Keri Hilson, Russell Simmons and several others in the call for the release of the over 200 kidnapped Chibok girls.



Click Below to watch video:

http://youtu.be/hQaB3KJP32A

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We don’t know where abducted girls are – Jonathan By Naija Olofofo #PresidentialMediaChat

Almost three weeks after over 200 schoolgirls were abducted from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, President Goodluck Jonathan has said the Federal Government does not know their   whereabouts.

Jonathan said this on Sunday during the Presidential Media Chat in Abuja.

He also spoke on the probe of the Minister of Petroleum Resources,  Diezani Alison- Madueke,  over  the N10bn  she allegedly spent on a chartered jet, the security measures in place for the World Economic Forum, the power  sector reforms and the 2015 elections.

Asked  if  there was  any confirmed information about where the  kidnapped  schoolgirls are, Jonathan replied, "None; there is none."

The President, who said that security operatives were  currently  engaged in a massive search for the girls, explained that information so far provided to security operatives yielded nothing.

He said, "All the information that have  been volunteered to us (about their location, we've used) and we have searched the places. We are using aircraft – helicopters and planes – that have the ability to scan and see what is on the surface. And we have scanned, but we have nothing."

Jonathan added that the government was not negotiating with Boko Haram or any group regarding the release  of the girls.

He said, "You can't negotiate with somebody you don't know; nobody has claimed knowledge of the abduction. Even on the social media that the Boko Haram uses to show what they have done…. As regards these girls, we have not seen such.  Even the spokesperson for Boko Haram has not come to tell Nigerians that they did the kidnapping. So, the issue of negotiation has not come up."

The President, however, assured Nigerians that the government would get the girls back with the support of their parents and guardians. This, he said, was because the Police did not have records of the missing girls.

Jonathan  said, "We actually request maximum cooperation from the guardians and the parents of these girls because up till this time, they have not been able to come and give the Police clear identity of the girls that have yet to return.

"We are pleading that they should cooperate with the  government. We need the identity of these girls and wherever they are, we are talking to all the neighbouring countries – Cameroon, Chad and  Benin Republic, as well as some countries in  North Africa  – so that wherever they take these girls, we will get them back if  we get the maximum cooperation of  the  parents and guardians."

Regardless of the challenges being faced in a bid to rescue the girls, Jonathan said it would not end up being another unsolved mystery.

He said the government was looking beyond rumours, adding that since it appeared   the girls had been taken out of the country,   a team was being sent to look closely at other  nations.

The President said while government was exploring several options to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency, it would not adopt the same approach used to resolve the Niger-Delta crisis.

This, he said, was because, unlike Boko Haram, the "Niger Delta militants were not terrorists."

He said, "The Niger Delta militants approach was quite different from that of the terrorists. The Niger Delta militants were not terrorists. I am not trying to defend them because I am from there.

"Even when I was a Deputy Governor and a Governor,  the then President (Olusegun) Obasanjo sometimes sent for us. And some of the leaders of those boys (militants) used to come. You were hearing that they were agitators in the Niger-Delta and somebody like Asari (Dokubo) that is well known, I saw him for the first time in the State House when I came for a meeting with  Chief Obasanjo. So, they had a reason for their agitation."

Jonathan denied knowledge of the suit filed by  Alison-Madueke seeking to stop the House  from probing her but accused the members  of playing politics.

He said, "I am not aware that the Minister went to court to stop any investigation. And on the issue of the House, there are a lot of issues that have been sorted out and there are issues that are not clear. The minister  has appeared before the parliament more than 200 times.

"In fact, some of my ministers attended 25 per cent of the sittings in parliament. No country can progress when a  minister spends most of the time appearing before the parliament.

"The minister of petroleum has not gone to court to stop them.

"The information we have is that some organisations have questioned   the rationale for the probe . But what I want you to know is that the parliament is made up of politicians. And if you have been following the issue especially in the House, you will know that there is more than politics than work."

The President  asked the House  to rid itself of what he described as "parliamentary dictatorship"

"There is no human being on earth that has not made mistakes. Presidents all over the world are being attacked from the strongest country to the weakest country. But you cannot satisfy everybody. People come after you from different angles. Some people will just set up a magazine or newspaper because they want to face one human being," he claimed.

"I am not trying to protect anybody. Some people talk about jet or no jet. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources is one ministry that because of its activities people pay attention to it.

"The arrangement they have now whether it is costlier than what they used to have, we will find out. We are looking into it. But when somebody wakes up and says the ministry of petroleum is making use of a jet, the ministry of petroleum has always been using jets. Some government functionaries, you can go to the parliament, they have their own. Whether they hire or not, I don't know. Only the judiciary  is always mindful of what they do."

He also spoke on emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, saying  it had been effective in the war against terrorists in the North-East.

Jonathan added, "The state of emergency is effective. Some Nigerians think that when you declare a state of emergency, the political institutions must collapse; the governor will leave, the state assembly will be dissolved, local government chairmen and councillors will leave. That is their own interpretation and as long as those people are there, they feel that the state of emergency is not complete and is ineffective.

"One of the key reasons why we declared state of emergency was  to ensure that security operatives had  some privileges and to avoid litigation.

"Terrorism is not a phenomenon that a state of emergency of  one month,   six months  and one year will solve; except occasional terror.

"We are consulting the security and relevant people and   when we need to extend, we will extend it (state of emergency) because I believe that we are succeeding."

Meanwhile, the Principal of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, Hajiya Asabe Kwabura, was in the early hours of Sunday arrested and quizzed at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja in connection with the girls kidnapped in her school on April 14.

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Etihad Airways puts apartment inside an A380 as part of new luxury travel service King Class: Airline sells $20,000 tickets that include a butler and 3-room in-flight apartment

If you thought flying first class was pricey, wait till you hear about the service Etihad Airways just announced for passengers on its new fleet of Airbus A380 planes.

Called The Residence, a flight between, say, its hub in Abu Dhabi to London will set you back around $20,000 – and to be clear, that's one way.

Of course, for that money you get a lot more than a flat bed and metal knife and fork. The United Arab Emirates airline claims to be offering the world's first private multi-room cabin on a commercial passenger plane, amounting to what is essentially a flying apartment: on board you'll find a living room, bedroom, and en-suite shower room.

Covering an area of 11.61 square meters (125 square feet) and available to one or two well-heeled passengers at a time, The Residence is being incorporated into the upper deck of Etihad's incoming fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft.

The living room boasts a two-seat reclining sofa "upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather," chilled mini bar, dining table, and a 32-inch LCD TV. A touchscreen unit gives fliers full control over the suite's mood lighting and window shading. It can also be used to adjust the seat's position and firmness, as well as control the in-seat massage function.

In the bedroom you'll find an 82-inch-long bed with a 27-inch TV at the end of it. As you'd expect, The Residence is fully Wi-Fi enabled and comes with the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system, controlled via a touchscreen or handset. 

In addition – and apparently for the first time ever in the airline industry –  you'll be served by "a dedicated, trained butler," though what they can offer over an adept flight attendant remains to be seen.

Actually, Etihad is making a big deal out of the butler service, explaining on its website that the carefully selected "hospitality professionals….are undergoing specialist training at the Savoy Butler Academy in London, part of the world-famous Savoy Hotel."  

Etihad Airways CCO Peter Baumgartner said The Residence will "provide the complete range of world-class products and services to cater for the individual tastes of every VIP traveller," adding, "This is the culmination of five years of intensive effort and research into how Etihad Airways can provide an unparalleled VIP experience."

The airline is planning to roll out its new service for high-end travelers in December, starting with the Abu Dhabi to London route. Good luck if you're an economy class passenger hoping for an upgrade…

From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com



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Nigerian Celebrity Contest Femi Adebayo Vs Muyiwa Ademola Vs Odunlade Adekola

And the winner is...?



We continue our celebrity contest with these three hot and talented actors, still in the Yoruba sector of Nollywood.



Lovers of Yoruba movies will agree that the trio of Femi Adebayo, Muyiwa Ademola and Odunlade Adekola, are about the most sought after in the industry and they have not disappointed.



We want to know how you rate them.

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Full Winners List of AfricaMagic Viewers Choice Awards 2014

The 2014 AfricaMagic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCAs) took place at Eko Hotel and Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday.

Find the winners' list below:

-Best Movie of 2013 – The Contract

-Best Actress in a Drama Award goes to Tope Tedela for A Mile From Home

-Best Actress in a Drama Award goes to Nse Ikpe-Etim for Journey To Self

- Industry Merit Award goes to Peter Edochie

-Best Movie Drama goes to Frank Rajah Arase for The Price

-Best actor in a comedy award goes to Elvis Chucks

-New era award goes to Rita Dominic for The Meeting

-Trailblazer Award goes to: Michelle Bello

-Best supporting actor in a Drama goes to Desmond Elliot for Finding Mercy

-Best supporting actress in a Drama goes to Bikiya Graham-Douglas for Flower Girl

-Best Director goes to Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract

-Best Actor in a Comedy goes to: Osita Iheme – The Hero

-Best Online Video goes to: Amarachukwu Onoh – Mother Tongue

-Best Short Film award goes to: Walter 'Waltbanger' Taylaur – The Wages

-Best Documentary award goes to: Dr Gilbert Chigbo – The Deadwood

-Best Indigenous Language (Hausa): Abba Muko Yakassai

-Best indigenous language Yoruba award goes to: Mercy Aigbe

-Best indigenous language Swahili award goes to: Njoki Muhoho – Mama Duka

-Best Television Series (Comedy/Drama) award goes to: Fred Phiri – Love Games Episode 6

-Best video editor goes to: Shirley Frimpong-Manso – Contract

-Best sound editor goes to: Obi Emelonye and Luke Corradine – Last Flight to Abuja

-Best Cinematographer goes to: Christian Almesberger – Nairobi Half Life

-Best Writer in a Comedy award goes to: Jigi Bello – Flower Girl

-Best Lighting Designer goes to: Mohamed Zain – Nairobi Half Life

-Best Writer in a Drama goes to: Shirley Frimpong- Manso & Hertey Owusu – Contract

-Best Make-Up Artiste Award goes to: Elayne Okaya – Nairobi Half Life

-Best Costume Designer award goes to: Chiemela Nwagboso – The Kingdom

-Best Art Director Award goes to: Barbara Minishi – Nairobi Half Life
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Etihad Airways puts apartment inside an A380 as part of new luxury travel service King Class: Airline sells $20,000 tickets that include a butler and 3-room in-flight apartment

If you thought flying first class was pricey, wait till you hear about the service Etihad Airways just announced for passengers on its new fleet of Airbus A380 planes.

Called The Residence, a flight between, say, its hub in Abu Dhabi to London will set you back around $20,000 – and to be clear, that's one way.

Of course, for that money you get a lot more than a flat bed and metal knife and fork. The United Arab Emirates airline claims to be offering the world's first private multi-room cabin on a commercial passenger plane, amounting to what is essentially a flying apartment: on board you'll find a living room, bedroom, and en-suite shower room.

Covering an area of 11.61 square meters (125 square feet) and available to one or two well-heeled passengers at a time, The Residence is being incorporated into the upper deck of Etihad's incoming fleet of Airbus A380 aircraft.

The living room boasts a two-seat reclining sofa "upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather," chilled mini bar, dining table, and a 32-inch LCD TV. A touchscreen unit gives fliers full control over the suite's mood lighting and window shading. It can also be used to adjust the seat's position and firmness, as well as control the in-seat massage function.

In the bedroom you'll find an 82-inch-long bed with a 27-inch TV at the end of it. As you'd expect, The Residence is fully Wi-Fi enabled and comes with the latest Panasonic eX3 entertainment system, controlled via a touchscreen or handset. 

In addition – and apparently for the first time ever in the airline industry –  you'll be served by "a dedicated, trained butler," though what they can offer over an adept flight attendant remains to be seen.

Actually, Etihad is making a big deal out of the butler service, explaining on its website that the carefully selected "hospitality professionals….are undergoing specialist training at the Savoy Butler Academy in London, part of the world-famous Savoy Hotel."  

Etihad Airways CCO Peter Baumgartner said The Residence will "provide the complete range of world-class products and services to cater for the individual tastes of every VIP traveller," adding, "This is the culmination of five years of intensive effort and research into how Etihad Airways can provide an unparalleled VIP experience."

The airline is planning to roll out its new service for high-end travelers in December, starting with the Abu Dhabi to London route. Good luck if you're an economy class passenger hoping for an upgrade…
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

Read More

Nigerian Celebrity Contest Femi Adebayo Vs Muyiwa Ademola Vs Odunlade Adekola

And the winner is...?

We continue our celebrity contest with these three hot and talented actors, still in the Yoruba sector of Nollywood.

Lovers of Yoruba movies will agree that the trio of Femi Adebayo, Muyiwa Ademola and Odunlade Adekola, are about the most sought after in the industry and they have not disappointed.

We want to know how you rate them.
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

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Read More

We don’t know where abducted girls are – Jonathan By Naija Olofofo #PresidentialMediaChat

Almost three weeks after over 200 schoolgirls were abducted from a secondary school in Chibok, Borno State, President Goodluck Jonathan has said the Federal Government does not know their   whereabouts.

Jonathan said this on Sunday during the Presidential Media Chat in Abuja.

He also spoke on the probe of the Minister of Petroleum Resources,  Diezani Alison- Madueke,  over  the N10bn  she allegedly spent on a chartered jet, the security measures in place for the World Economic Forum, the power  sector reforms and the 2015 elections.

Asked  if  there was  any confirmed information about where the  kidnapped  schoolgirls are, Jonathan replied, "None; there is none."

The President, who said that security operatives were  currently  engaged in a massive search for the girls, explained that information so far provided to security operatives yielded nothing.

He said, "All the information that have  been volunteered to us (about their location, we've used) and we have searched the places. We are using aircraft – helicopters and planes – that have the ability to scan and see what is on the surface. And we have scanned, but we have nothing."

Jonathan added that the government was not negotiating with Boko Haram or any group regarding the release  of the girls.

He said, "You can't negotiate with somebody you don't know; nobody has claimed knowledge of the abduction. Even on the social media that the Boko Haram uses to show what they have done…. As regards these girls, we have not seen such.  Even the spokesperson for Boko Haram has not come to tell Nigerians that they did the kidnapping. So, the issue of negotiation has not come up."

The President, however, assured Nigerians that the government would get the girls back with the support of their parents and guardians. This, he said, was because the Police did not have records of the missing girls.

Jonathan  said, "We actually request maximum cooperation from the guardians and the parents of these girls because up till this time, they have not been able to come and give the Police clear identity of the girls that have yet to return.

"We are pleading that they should cooperate with the  government. We need the identity of these girls and wherever they are, we are talking to all the neighbouring countries – Cameroon, Chad and  Benin Republic, as well as some countries in  North Africa  – so that wherever they take these girls, we will get them back if  we get the maximum cooperation of  the  parents and guardians."

Regardless of the challenges being faced in a bid to rescue the girls, Jonathan said it would not end up being another unsolved mystery.

He said the government was looking beyond rumours, adding that since it appeared   the girls had been taken out of the country,   a team was being sent to look closely at other  nations.

The President said while government was exploring several options to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency, it would not adopt the same approach used to resolve the Niger-Delta crisis.

This, he said, was because, unlike Boko Haram, the "Niger Delta militants were not terrorists."

He said, "The Niger Delta militants approach was quite different from that of the terrorists. The Niger Delta militants were not terrorists. I am not trying to defend them because I am from there.

"Even when I was a Deputy Governor and a Governor,  the then President (Olusegun) Obasanjo sometimes sent for us. And some of the leaders of those boys (militants) used to come. You were hearing that they were agitators in the Niger-Delta and somebody like Asari (Dokubo) that is well known, I saw him for the first time in the State House when I came for a meeting with  Chief Obasanjo. So, they had a reason for their agitation."

Jonathan denied knowledge of the suit filed by  Alison-Madueke seeking to stop the House  from probing her but accused the members  of playing politics.

He said, "I am not aware that the Minister went to court to stop any investigation. And on the issue of the House, there are a lot of issues that have been sorted out and there are issues that are not clear. The minister  has appeared before the parliament more than 200 times.

"In fact, some of my ministers attended 25 per cent of the sittings in parliament. No country can progress when a  minister spends most of the time appearing before the parliament.

"The minister of petroleum has not gone to court to stop them.

"The information we have is that some organisations have questioned   the rationale for the probe . But what I want you to know is that the parliament is made up of politicians. And if you have been following the issue especially in the House, you will know that there is more than politics than work."

The President  asked the House  to rid itself of what he described as "parliamentary dictatorship"

"There is no human being on earth that has not made mistakes. Presidents all over the world are being attacked from the strongest country to the weakest country. But you cannot satisfy everybody. People come after you from different angles. Some people will just set up a magazine or newspaper because they want to face one human being," he claimed.

"I am not trying to protect anybody. Some people talk about jet or no jet. The Ministry of Petroleum Resources is one ministry that because of its activities people pay attention to it.

"The arrangement they have now whether it is costlier than what they used to have, we will find out. We are looking into it. But when somebody wakes up and says the ministry of petroleum is making use of a jet, the ministry of petroleum has always been using jets. Some government functionaries, you can go to the parliament, they have their own. Whether they hire or not, I don't know. Only the judiciary  is always mindful of what they do."

He also spoke on emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, saying  it had been effective in the war against terrorists in the North-East.

Jonathan added, "The state of emergency is effective. Some Nigerians think that when you declare a state of emergency, the political institutions must collapse; the governor will leave, the state assembly will be dissolved, local government chairmen and councillors will leave. That is their own interpretation and as long as those people are there, they feel that the state of emergency is not complete and is ineffective.

"One of the key reasons why we declared state of emergency was  to ensure that security operatives had  some privileges and to avoid litigation.

"Terrorism is not a phenomenon that a state of emergency of  one month,   six months  and one year will solve; except occasional terror.

"We are consulting the security and relevant people and   when we need to extend, we will extend it (state of emergency) because I believe that we are succeeding."

Meanwhile, the Principal of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, Hajiya Asabe Kwabura, was in the early hours of Sunday arrested and quizzed at the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters in Abuja in connection with the girls kidnapped in her school on April 14.
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CHRIS BROWN CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF 200 GIRLS KIDNAPPED IN CHIBOK NIGERIA

American artiste, Chris Brown has joined other international stars such as Keri Hilson, Russell Simmons and several others in the call for the release of the over 200 kidnapped Chibok girls.

Click Below to watch video:
http://youtu.be/hQaB3KJP32A
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Game of Thrones weekly recap: ‘First of His Name’ is a night of firsts

There's a first time for everything — and episode five of Game of Thrones' fourth season, titled "First of His Name," is an hour of firsts.

In King's Landing, a new king is crowned. He is Tommen Baratheon, First of his Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. He is also the first king to sit the Iron Throne in 50 years and actually deserve his position, according to his own mother. For the first time in decades, Westeros has a decent king. A boy king, yes, and a king from an indecent family; but a king with a kind heart all the same.

For the first time in decades, Westeros has a decent king.

Tommen's mother, Cersei Baratheon, Queen Regent of Westeros, swallows her pride and offers her son's hand in marriage to her sworn enemy, Margaery Tyrell, widow of the last king, the wicked Joffrey Baratheon. For the first time ever, Cersei forges true peace with the Tyrells, lowering her guard and pride enough to accept that "family comes first."

Cersei's father, Tywin Lannister, Hand of the King and widely regarded as the richest man in the Seven Kingdoms, finally admits that his family's wealth is no longer as it appears. The Lannisters' gold-producing mines have run dry. They owe countless amounts to the Iron Throne of Braavos, a bank known for backing its debtors' enemies in order to recoup its funds. Tywin, a man who regularly deals from a seat of power, is now forced for the first time to confront financial ruin.

Just northeast of King's Landing, Sansa Stark arrives at the Eyrie and meets her aunt, Lysa Arryn, for the first time. For the first time since her father's beheading, Sansa is in a safe place — or so she initially believes. Now, Sansa must operate under a new identity: Alayne Stone, Petyr Baelish's "niece." She must live under false pretenses in order to survive; not a first for Sansa.

Nearby, Sansa's sister, Arya, travels with the Hound toward the Eyrie. There, the Hound hopes to reap a handsome reward for the safe return of Lysa Arryn's other niece. But Arya's priorities seemingly lie elsewhere. She still wants revenge against every name on her bloody list — including the Hound. But for the first time, Arya sticks her opponent with "the pointy end," to no avail; the armored Hound proves mightier than the sword.

Far north, beyond the great Wall of Westeros, Sansa and Arya's surviving siblings, Jon Snow and Bran Stark, come within inches of reunion, though not for the first time. They unknowingly crossed paths and fought side-by-side weeks ago, in the Gift, Bran in Summer's skin, Jon in the midst of betraying his lover, Ygritte.

Here, they fight separately. Jon slaughters the rogue members of the Night's Watch who raped and pillaged Craster's Keep. It's not Jon's first time killing a fellow brother of the Watch, but it is his first time feeling good about it.

Likewise, it is not Bran's first time warging into a human being. It is not even his first time warging into Hodor. But it is his first time choking the life out of a man. Using Hodor's giant strength, Bran relieves the lecherous Locke of his last remaining breaths, before moving onward with his mission to find the fabled Three-Eyed Raven. Bran marches on with his first true kill under his belt.

Far to the east of Westeros, deep in the heart of Essos, Daenerys Targaryen rules over a legitimate kingdom for the first time in her life. She is no longer in command of a mere "khalarsar"; Daenerys is now the Queen of Meereen, personally responsible for all those she liberated in her march on Slaver's Bay. For the first time, the so-called Mother of Dragons and Breaker of Chains has abandoned the notion of reclaiming Westeros, in favor of ruling over the cities she has freed, caring for the people directly and currently under her charge.

"First of His Name" is the first episode of Game of Thrones' fourth season, and only the third episode overall, in which Peter Dinklage's Tyrion Lannister does not appear. It is also the first time that Tyrion's former squire, Podrick Payne, cooks a rabbit; and the first time that Tyrion's former tormenter, little lordling "Sweet" Robyn Arryn, appears on the show without his mother's breast in his mouth.

Indeed, "First of His Name" was a night of firsts — and yet, given the relentless nature of Westeros and its surrounding lands, it surely won't be the last night of firsts before Game of Thrones draws to a close.

From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com



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Game of Thrones weekly recap: ‘First of His Name’ is a night of firsts

There's a first time for everything — and episode five of Game of Thrones' fourth season, titled "First of His Name," is an hour of firsts.

In King's Landing, a new king is crowned. He is Tommen Baratheon, First of his Name, King of the Andals and the First Men, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. He is also the first king to sit the Iron Throne in 50 years and actually deserve his position, according to his own mother. For the first time in decades, Westeros has a decent king. A boy king, yes, and a king from an indecent family; but a king with a kind heart all the same.

For the first time in decades, Westeros has a decent king.

Tommen's mother, Cersei Baratheon, Queen Regent of Westeros, swallows her pride and offers her son's hand in marriage to her sworn enemy, Margaery Tyrell, widow of the last king, the wicked Joffrey Baratheon. For the first time ever, Cersei forges true peace with the Tyrells, lowering her guard and pride enough to accept that "family comes first."

Cersei's father, Tywin Lannister, Hand of the King and widely regarded as the richest man in the Seven Kingdoms, finally admits that his family's wealth is no longer as it appears. The Lannisters' gold-producing mines have run dry. They owe countless amounts to the Iron Throne of Braavos, a bank known for backing its debtors' enemies in order to recoup its funds. Tywin, a man who regularly deals from a seat of power, is now forced for the first time to confront financial ruin.

Just northeast of King's Landing, Sansa Stark arrives at the Eyrie and meets her aunt, Lysa Arryn, for the first time. For the first time since her father's beheading, Sansa is in a safe place — or so she initially believes. Now, Sansa must operate under a new identity: Alayne Stone, Petyr Baelish's "niece." She must live under false pretenses in order to survive; not a first for Sansa.

Nearby, Sansa's sister, Arya, travels with the Hound toward the Eyrie. There, the Hound hopes to reap a handsome reward for the safe return of Lysa Arryn's other niece. But Arya's priorities seemingly lie elsewhere. She still wants revenge against every name on her bloody list — including the Hound. But for the first time, Arya sticks her opponent with "the pointy end," to no avail; the armored Hound proves mightier than the sword.

Far north, beyond the great Wall of Westeros, Sansa and Arya's surviving siblings, Jon Snow and Bran Stark, come within inches of reunion, though not for the first time. They unknowingly crossed paths and fought side-by-side weeks ago, in the Gift, Bran in Summer's skin, Jon in the midst of betraying his lover, Ygritte.

Here, they fight separately. Jon slaughters the rogue members of the Night's Watch who raped and pillaged Craster's Keep. It's not Jon's first time killing a fellow brother of the Watch, but it is his first time feeling good about it.

Likewise, it is not Bran's first time warging into a human being. It is not even his first time warging into Hodor. But it is his first time choking the life out of a man. Using Hodor's giant strength, Bran relieves the lecherous Locke of his last remaining breaths, before moving onward with his mission to find the fabled Three-Eyed Raven. Bran marches on with his first true kill under his belt.

Far to the east of Westeros, deep in the heart of Essos, Daenerys Targaryen rules over a legitimate kingdom for the first time in her life. She is no longer in command of a mere "khalarsar"; Daenerys is now the Queen of Meereen, personally responsible for all those she liberated in her march on Slaver's Bay. For the first time, the so-called Mother of Dragons and Breaker of Chains has abandoned the notion of reclaiming Westeros, in favor of ruling over the cities she has freed, caring for the people directly and currently under her charge.

"First of His Name" is the first episode of Game of Thrones' fourth season, and only the third episode overall, in which Peter Dinklage's Tyrion Lannister does not appear. It is also the first time that Tyrion's former squire, Podrick Payne, cooks a rabbit; and the first time that Tyrion's former tormenter, little lordling "Sweet" Robyn Arryn, appears on the show without his mother's breast in his mouth.

Indeed, "First of His Name" was a night of firsts — and yet, given the relentless nature of Westeros and its surrounding lands, it surely won't be the last night of firsts before Game of Thrones draws to a close.
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Police and crime commissioner scheme on probation, MPs say

The concept of police and crime commissioners remains "on probation" two years after the first elections, a committee of MPs has said.

The Home Affairs Committee said poor turnout meant the value of PCCs would be doubted until more people voted.

Committee chairman Keith Vaz also said PCCs should be elected along with their staff to stop them hiring "cronies".

The Home Office said PCCs, who oversee police forces in England and Wales, had brought "accountability" to forces.

In a progress report on PCCs, the committee said it was disappointing that the public had not voted in greater numbers in November 2012, when 15% of eligible voters took part.

The MPs said they hoped turnout would be better at the May 2016 elections.

"Until then, and whilst the nascent work of PCCs is still to have its full effect on the public's perception of local policing, it is inevitable that many will consider the concept of police and crime commissioners to be on probation," their report said.

Trust 'risk'

The committee questioned the manner in which many PCCs had taken on deputies or assistants, warning that the appointments raised "inevitable accusations of cronyism".

Keith Vaz said "urgent reforms" were needed
Mr Vaz said existing police and crime panels - which scrutinise the work of PCCs - should be able to veto appointments.

"Some commissioners have fallen well short of the public's expectations and urgent reforms are needed to ensure that this concept does not put at risk public trust and engagement in the police," he said.

"Deputies should not be cronies that are given their job on the basis of nepotism.

"By electing them on the same ticket we ensure that the public will be able to have their say on someone who often acts with the powers of the commissioner."

Mr Vaz also said police and crime panels should have stronger powers to scrutinise PCCs' removal of chief constables.

And he said all PCCs should "review their auditing arrangements immediately" to ensure their setting of targets did not "promote the manipulation of crime figures".

The committee also recommended newly elected PCCs should be given a month between polling day and taking office to receive training.

Mr Vaz told Radio 4's Today programme: "The jury's still out, but the important point is that what we've not said is: 'Get rid of them'.

"We actually think they ought to be allowed the opportunity of making it better and there are many examples of good commissioners."

He added that the way PCCs were introduced was a "bit of a rushed job" and that changes were now necessary to improve the system.

'Increased awareness'

A Home Office spokesman said there was "nothing to stop" PCCs announcing who their deputy would be in advance of future elections.

"It is a matter for PCCs and the public that elects them," he said.

He said the introduction of PCCs had been a "significant democratic reform of policing", bringing "accountability to how chief constables and their forces perform".

"Public awareness of PCCs has increased greatly, in stark contrast to that of the anonymous police authorities they replaced," he added.

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The 15 Android and iOS games to keep your kids entertained (and quiet)

Children are able to use and understand technology at an early age. They know how to operate smartphones and tablets correctly and get into their favorite apps before they can speak. There are a sea of apps available for every platform, but not all of them are appropriate for children. We have compiled a list of apps for kids, some silly games while others are educational, but all of them are completely child-safe and fun. 

Many of these apps come with in-app purchases. If your children don't understand that they are paying with real money every time they tap one of these, it can cause real problems. Before handing a phone or tablet over to a kid, make sure they don't know the password for your account or have an understanding of what in-app purchases are and that they need to ask before they click. You can also turn off the in-app purchases altogether for iOS. Also look into our guides on best iPhone apps and Android apps. 

Games

Super Why! ($3 for iOS/Android)

Ages: 3-6
Theme: Literacy

Super Why! ($3 for iOS/Android)
The Super Why! app utilizes characters from the popular PBS show by the same name to help kids with reading and writing skills. It features three games that are led by different characters. Kids can help Alpha Pig follow the alphabet path to create words, Princess Presto lays out words kids can trace with their fingers to learn how to write, and Wonder Red teachers children how to find words that rhyme. The app also includes interactive storybooks in which kids are instructed to plug in the correct words to complete sentences. The downside of this app is its fairly expensive price and gameplay that can grow repetitive, so only purchase if your child is younger or needs a little extra help with literacy. It has also been known to freeze and experience audio malfunctions. The newest update claims it has fixed these problems, but it's something to be wary of. 

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox ($2 for iOS/Android) 

Ages: 2-5
Theme: Preschool Studies

Monkey Preschool Lunchbox ($2 for iOS/Android)
One of several Monkey games, Monkey Preschool Lunchbox teaches preschoolers about shapes, counting, puzzles, and colors. Whenever he opens his lunchbox a new lesson comes out. The monkey asks for help in finding all the green fruit, grabbing only eight strawberries, or finding the fruit that starts with the right letter. You can't lose points for messing up, so wrong guesses become part of the learning process instead of something scary. There are a number of different challenges, but it gets boring for older kids with a solid comprehension of letters, colors, and counting. The bright colors and monkey mascot make it engaging for young kids, and the controls are easy for anyone to learn quickly.  

Polar Bowler ($1 for iOS/Android)

Ages: All
Theme: Entertainment

Polar Bowler ($1 for iOS/Android)
Polar Bowler follows a Hawaiian shirt wearing polar bear named PB as he careens through obstacles on an inner tube to knock over pins. PB is assisted by his penguin butler, J. The game is an update of a computer game from 2007, featuring new levels to clear and new ways to win. That doesn't mean this is expansion of the original — the app features fewer characters and levels, despite a handful of new levels.  The game includes a multiplayer function so kids can play with their friends and learn to be more interactive. This is a good game for all ages. The controls are easy to learn and the amount of increasingly difficult levels make it easy to stay engaged, even for older kids. And to curb frustration among younger kids, Polar Bowler includes an option to put up bumpers. There are two versions of this game, Polar Bowler: 1st Frame, which is free but only has a conventional bowling lanes, and the full featured version for $1 with different courses and levels. If you are unsure about how your kid will respond to this game download the free demo on iOS/Android, and see how they do with the controls. If they like the game you can shell out the dollar to get the full version. The paid version offers over 70 levels and no ads, but there are in-app purchases. 

Cut the Rope ($3 on iOS/Android)

Ages: All
Theme: Logic Puzzles

Cut the Rope ($3 on iOS/Android)
An alien named Om Nom has come to earth and all he wants to do is eat candy. It is up to your kids to figure out what ropes to cut and what bubbles to pop to get the candy to the creature with the least amount of moves. Cut the Rope is geared toward older kids because it is a puzzle game but it does force the player to problem solve and think critically. Two skills that are useful at any age. Each level is a little harder than the last and it is easy to become frustrated. Only invest the $3 if your kid is someone who loves getting through problems and will stick with something. There are a few different versions of this game including Cut the Rope: Experiments (iOS/Android) and Cut the Rope: Time Travel (iOS/Android), so the fun can keep going even after you've completed all the levels on the original. The rope cutting never has to end.

Angry Birds ($1 on iOS/Android)

Ages: All
Theme: Strategy/Entertainment

Angry Birds ($1 on iOS/Android)
If you haven't heard of Angry Birds, you have successfully avoided popular culture long enough and it is time to come into the light. The object of the game is to slingshot birds at pigs sitting in small structures in order to kill all the pigs. No one knows what the pigs did, or even if they are evil, but for some reason the birds are not happy with their presence. Levels are like puzzles and each one is harder than the last, but along the way you unlock different birds with new abilities. If your kid is tired of the original Angry Birds, you can branch out to one of many sequels including but not limited to Angry Birds Star Wars and Angry Birds Friends.  

Educational

Toddler Teasers: Shapes (Free on iOS/Android)

Ages: Preschool
Themes: Preschool Studies

Toddler Teasers: Shapes (Free on iOS/Android)
Toddler Teasers gets kids ready for preschool with puzzles and games involving shapes, colors, numbers, and letters. The app is laid out so a young child can click around without getting out of the game or ending up at a menu, and the controls are easy enough for anyone to use. There are four ways to play but all of them are educational, and should help with development. Toddler Teasers features over 30 categories, which include shapes, colors, money, symbols, colors, and numbers. The game has puzzles, games, and flashcards to make learning easy. Once kids have been playing for awhile, the app will email report cards to show the categories in which your kids excel or struggle. Once your child starts to outgrow the games, you can give them a  new challenge by changing the language to Spanish or French. 

Free Books ($1 on iOS)

Ages: All
Theme: Reading

Free Books ($1 on iOS)
Free Books boasts that it offers 23,469 classics for less than the price of a cup of coffee. All of the books offered are public domain novels, so it is perfect for a kid with any interest in the classics like Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz. If your child can't read novels yet, Free Books also has a selection of audio books. Users can even switch between an audiobook and an ebook, so kids can listen to a paragraph and then try to read it themselves. If your kid comes across a word he doesn't know yet, he can highlight it and pull up the dictionary. Once you've download the app, you have access to it's entire library. Scrolling through all the tiny pages can be tiring, but it does offer options to change the font, background, and go into night mode. You can rate books to help you remember which ones were your favorites or read reviews to make sure your choice is appropriate for children. Free Books can take up a lot of space on your phone or tablet — depending on how many books you download — so make sure you have some extra space on your device before handing it over to your child. 

Memory Matches (Free on iOS/Android) 

Ages: All
Theme: Memory Games

Memory Matches (Free on iOS/Android)
Memory Match is a great way to keep your mind sharp. The game is laid out like a typical memory game in which you uncover cards to find matches and clear the board. It is an extremely simple concept so you kid might get tired of playing it, but it is something the whole family can play. Games can be chosen by themes, such as shapes, dots, and animals. There are two ways to play, timed single player mode or against another player in multiplayer mode. You can also change the board to have four cards by four cards, 5 x 5, 6 x 6, 7 x 7, or 8 x 8. The app records all scores of anyone who plays on that particular device, which makes it easy to keep track of who you are beating, who is the reigning family champ, and who must be dethroned. Because the game is quite basic, it might become stale for some children, but it's free so there's little reason not to download it. 

GazziliScience ($2 for iOS)

Ages: 5-10
Theme: Science Education

GazziliScience ($2 for iOS)
Science can be a tough subject for some kids, but GazziliScience makes it easy and fun. There are six different areas of the game with a different piece of science to learn. Different characters take kids through lessons about plants, seasons, water cycles, and more. Kids can plant a seed, watch the roots grow, and see the transformation into trees and flowers. Watch how the rotation of the earth changes the seasons and go under the sea to learn about the wildlife. The app has a lot of content, but the actions are repetitive so there is a possibility children will outgrow the games. Each time a kid completes a lesson, they unlock another portion of the GazziliScience Fun Page, an interactive menu in which kids can get stickers and touch on-screen objects to make them move, talk, or dance. 

Ubooly (Free on iOS/Android)

Ages: 5-8
Theme: Interactive Toys

Ubooly (Free on iOS/Android)
Ubooly, which can be described as a less terrifying Furby, is essentially an far more advanced version of a Teddy Ruxpin. But rather than cassette tapes, you can insert your iPhone or iPad into the Ubooly plush toy ($30), which will interact with your kids. It can learn names, birthdays, responds when spoken to, and walks kids through various lessons and games. For example, kids can enter math problems into the iPhone/iPad and Ubooly will work with them toward the correct solution. Ubooly also teaches children science by walking them through easy at home experiments, which make hands on learning at home easy and fun. The toy covers a range of lessons from the human body to Spanish, and has enough content to keep a kid of any age interested. It can also tell stories, jokes, and play music right from your iPad, iPod, or iPhone. And your device is protected in a plush case when plugged into the Ubooly, so you don't need to be as mindful of your child dropping it or scratching it.  

Art/Music

Mini Monet ($2 on iOS)

Ages: 3-10
Theme: Drawing / Art

Mini Monet ($2 on iOS)
Mini Monet lets kids explore a town where they can click on different things to learn about different types of art. Kids have a number of digital tools available to them, such as markers, paint, pencils, and glitter. They can also make custom stickers and stamps. Mini Monet offers 120 coloring pages and a blank pad in which kids can create pictures from scratch. Every week, kids receive a new challenge page and can win stickers for completing said challenges. Every masterpiece can be saved to your child's art book and looked at later or sent to emailed and printed out. Once kids complete a coloring page, they can earn coins and use those to buy new coloring pages or different colors. If you have a little one who wants to play along, Mini Monet offers the magic pencil that ensures they stay within the lines. Though this game says it is appropriate for children up to 10, unless your child really likes to color, there isn't much appeal for all but toddlers. 

Artkive (Free on iOS/Android) 

Ages: All
Theme: Art Preservation and Sharing

Artkive (Free on iOS/Android)
Artkive is the refrigerator door of apps. It allows you to take pictures of your kids' artwork and share it on Facebook or send it to anyone via email or text. This may sound like something you can already do with the camera on your phone, but Artkive offers child-friendly navigation and lets anyone easily edit pictures for brightness or filters. Artkive lets you create a plaque for each picture that includes the child's name, age, and date, so you don't have to try to remember who painted what. You can also upload artwork you like onto the Artkive website and create calendars and books, which could be used to embarrass your children for years to come. A book from 99-105 pages cost $100. Artkive can be used to preserve school work and projects as well. If you have more than one child, you can either combine all the artwork or make separate accounts for each one.

Little Fox Music Box ($3 on iOS/Android)

Ages: 3-6
Theme: Sing-along

Little Fox Music Box ($3 on iOS/Android)
If your child likes to sing and listen to music, Little Fox Music Box is the perfect app. The player can sing along with the Fox and his friends to classics such as "Old MacDonald," and "London Bridge." Each song is paired with a different scene with interactive animals and backgrounds. If your little one is tired of the standard basic songs, head to the fox studio where you can record original songs while Little Fox dances along. This app is not without a major flaw: it's relatively simple for kids to buy in-app purchases. For reasons yet to be fixed, Little Fox Music Box still allows in-app purchases regardless of whether you've have turned them off on your phone or tablet. These purchases appear when users swipes down from the top of the screen–which is easy to do for a child–so parents would be wise to keep an extra close eye on their children while they play this game.

My First Classical Music App ($4.99 on iOS/Android)

Ages: 4-8
Theme: Music Education

My First Classical Music App ($4.99 on iOS/Android)
A great place to start learning about music, My First Classical Music App teaches kids about different genres of music, types of instruments, and historically important composers. The app has a lot of text, but kids can click on paragraphs to have them read out loud and click on pictures to watch illustrations dance and move. Cartoon animals walk kids through what each instrument sounds like and how these are played. Once you child has learned about instruments, you can head over to the composers section and read about the lives and music of famous composers. The app features over 40 recordings of classical music, so they can start to recognize famous pieces of music. After working through the app and reading about instruments and composers, your child can answer questions about the material to test retention. My First Classical Music App is one of the more expensive apps on this list, so only pull the trigger if is something you are confident your child will enjoy for awhile.

Art of Glow (Free on iOS/ Android)

Ages: All
Theme: Creativity / Lite-Brite

Art of Glow (Free on iOS/ Android)
Lite-Brite was a revelation of the '90s that combined the glory of neon, art, and potential chocking hazards. This relic used to be found in every suburban home, but now it has gone the way of Pogs and fuse beads. Art of Glow brings back the national past time digitally — without the choking risk. Every creation begins with a blank black screen and children choose which kind of brush stroke to use, such as stars, hearts, and circles. Choose a color, all of them neon, and draw away. It's like finger painting without the mess. Some of the shapes are animated and will come to life, but all of them are bright and eye-catching, perfect for a young child. After the masterpiece is completed, you can then save them to enjoy later. And perhaps the biggest upside to this app: you won't find those little Lite-Brite tabs stuffed in the carpet.

What are your favorite apps for kids? Sound off in the comments below. 


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