Protests Erupt In The US After Trump Bans Transgender People From The Military

Protests broke out on Wednesday night after Trump announced that transgender people will be banned from serving in the armed forces.
Hours following the announcement, hundreds of angry protesters took to the streets of New York, Washington DC, and San Francisco to show their displeasure. Crowds gathered at a plaza named after the late San Francisco gay rights activist Harvey Milk to protest Trump's ban. They also gathered at the Los Angeles LGBT Center in Hollywood, and also at the famed US Army Recruitment center in Times Square.
Demonstrators across the country held up signs bearing slogans. Words written on them include; "resist", "rise up", "Trans lives are not a burden". They can be heard chanting:  "Stand up! Fight back!" as they took to the streets.
Doug Thorogood and Nick Rondoletto, a gay couple from San Francisco, waved a rainbow flag and held a sign that read: "The only reason transgenders are being banned from the military is for bigotry."
"Haven't transgender people gone through enough? I'm over it!" Thorogood said.
Rondoletto added: "When (Trump) goes for the people with the least rights, I just can't sit back and let that happen."
Among the crowd gathered at the LGBT Center in Hollywood, Los Angeles, there was a US Army Reserve member and transgender man named Rudy Akbarian, 27. Rudy said at first he thought the news of the Trump's order was a joke. The five-year military veteran said he was "heartbroken" to learn it was real.
Another demonstrator, Yael Leberman, said transgender people "are completely adequate to serve" and combat is "not about physical, it's about mental" abilities.
Other protesters marched on foot outside the White House bearing signs which read: "We're here, we're queer, we hate the f****** president".
New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer was among those present at the protest on Wednesday. He addressed the crowd with a megaphone while poking fun at the president who he said had skipped enlisting to serve in the Vietnam war in the 1960s so that he could "hang out at Studio 54".
Actress Alyssa Milano was also among the protesters and she shared a photo from the demonstration on Instagram, telling her followers: "Trans rights are human rights. I was proud to support the LGBTQ community at the #NoTransBan rally."
Brenda Sue Falton, an Army veteran who was among the first women allowed entry to it and whose wedding at Cadet Chapel in 2012 was the first same sex marriage it has hosted, was also present.  Also at the protest was a transgender army veteran and Miss Peppermint, a famous New York City drag queen who appeared on the ninth series of RuPaul's Drag Race.
She addressed the crowd, saying: "It's not that they're afraid of us. You know what they're afraid of? That they're just like us."
Transgender veterans made direct appeals to the president to reconsider the controversial move.
More photos below.

Photos: Sworn Enemies Rotimi Amaechi And Governor Wike Spotted On A Plane Together

Everyone knows Governor Nyesom Wike of River State and his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi aren't best of friends.

But today they had to work together and share the same space as Acting President, Osinbajo arrived Portharcourt on his way to Eleme to inaugurate a Fertilizer plant.

Amaechi and Wike were on the same Chopper from Portharcourt to Eleme.

Scientific Research "reveals" That George Clooney Has The World's Most Handsome Face

Scientific research has "confirmed" that George Clooney has the world's most handsome face, after the 56-year-old actor's features were found to be 91.86 per cent accurate to the Greek Golden Ratio of Beauty Phi - which for years was thought to hold the secret formula of perfection.

Using the theory, computer mapping technology also found Ryan Gosling has the perfect nose, Harry Styles has the most beautiful eyes and best chin, while David Beckham had the most perfectly shaped face. The world's top ten most handsome men according to the research are;

1. George Clooney 91.86%
2. Bradley Cooper 91.80%
3. Brad Pitt 90.51%
4. Harry Styles 89.63%
5. David Beckham 88.96%
6. Will Smith 88.88%
7. Idris Elba 87.93%
8. Ryan Gosling 87.48%
9. Zayn Malik 86.5%
10. Jamie Fox 85.46%

Video: Nigerian Lady Residing In Austria Appeals To Her Ex-boyfriend To "release Her" From The Spiritual Bondage He Put Her

This video making the rounds on social media shows a Nigerian woman residing in Austria, appealing to her ex-Boyfriend, a certain Kevin from Edo state, to release her from the spiritual bondage he has put her since they fell out of love some years ago. Apparently, she traveled to Europe with Kevin but they fell apart. Since their quarrel, she has been falling ill with her body peeling. She says Pastors have told her that it is Kevin that has tied her destiny down. The lady says doctors in Austria have told her she cannot return to Nigeria because she would not survive the weather. She says her parents have reached out to her ex-boyfriend's family to help appeal to the said Kelvin but it has not yielded any positive result. Watch the video below

Canon Strengthens Its Presence In Nigeria, Three Partner Service Centres To Enhance 'closer To Customer' Strategy

From left to right, Somesh Adukia, Marketing and sales Director Canon CCNA, Sham Doulatram, Managing Director Kontakt, Leye Ajala, managing Director TD, Basil Baby, Director Ensure Services, Anil Nambiar, Service Manager CCNA
Leader in imaging and business solution, Canon Central and North Africa, partners with three local service centres across three major cities in Nigeria to strengthen its presence in Nigeria and drive its “closer to customer” strategy of optimal customer satisfaction. The partnership leverages the local strengths and expertise of Ensure Services, Kontakt and Technology Distribution (TD) to help create a unique business-to-consumer experience for Nigerian customers.

The Canon-authorized service centre initiative is designed to support the imaging community in Nigeria, while creating access to repair and offer support for industry professionals, businesses and photography enthusiasts.

Through these authorized service partners, Canon will offer total after-sales product repair services in eight locations across Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. The service centre will support all B2C products including DSC, DSLR, professional video, OPP inkjet- and Laser-printers, projectors and calculators under the Canon Central and North Africa warranty programme.

The warranty programme is a specialized - first of a kind service, under Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA); a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe.  Within the programme, Canon will offer customers an exclusive 3-year manufacturer warranty for Canon i-SENSYS Laser printers.
Speaking on the partnership, Somesh Adukia, Sales & Marketing Director B2C, Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) said: “The partnership was an important pillar in the brand’s ‘closer to the customer’ strategy which has been one of Canon’s key components for growth in Africa.

“This is a really exciting time to be part of the imaging industry and we’re proud to be raising the bar throughout the market. This partnership clearly amplifies our commitment to bringing our customers closer to our industry-leading products while helping them to maintain the quality that encourages them to have fun with imaging through our ‘Big Partnership, Trusted Services’ motto,” commented Adukia.

“Our setting up of a dedicated entity in Nigeria last year and the introduction of three specialized service providers is our commitment to providing the best possible services to our customers in Nigeria. We are also working towards establishing more collection points for our customers, in case they are located far away from the service locations,” he added.
To communicate the launch of the service centres, Canon will also be launching a series of roadshows – consumer engagement activities and town storms across key locations. The roadshow will visit Ikeja City Mall, Computer Village Ikeja Lagos, Alliu Market Lagos, Aroloyo Market, Lagos GSM village Abuja, Bannex Plaza Abuja, Transamadi road Port Harcourt and Garrison Port Harcourt - from the 26th July to the 2nd August, 2017.

Services centres locations and specialisation:
Ensure Services
Ensure Services is a company present in 26 countries with service delivery as their core business. Ensure Services is present in three cities in Nigeria, and within Lagos they are present in two locations; Isolo and Ikeja. Ensure Services has a Canon-certified and trained team of engineers providing the best class service for customers. Canon has invested state of the art repair and calibration tools with Ensure to provide best quality repair in Nigeria. Ensure also holds inventory of major spare parts for prompt repair and delivery of the products. Ensure will be responsible for providing support to the Photo video and OPP printer range.

Kontakt is a renowned name in the sales and service of professional video cameras and equipment. Canon has invested with Kontakt in specialised tools to provide high-quality product repair. This is the only facility available out of the European region to cater to customers in the professional video, media, broadcast and film industry; namely Nollywood.
Technology Distribution
Technology Distribution (TD) is an established organisation with a service facility. TD will be supporting our customers on Canons OPP ink jet and laser printers across Nigeria.
The Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) warranty program provides for defective Canon hardware, within the three warranty period; allowing hardware repair service to be provided free of charge for different products at authorised Canon Service Centre(s) in countries under the Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) warranty program. To sign up and register products online, customers can visit http://www.canon-cna.com/Support for more information.

Photos Of The University Of Maiduguri Research Team Kidnapped By Boko Haram

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) confirms that Boko Haram militants has kidnapped 10 members of the University of Maiduguri research team prospecting for oil in northeast Nigeria.
NNPC spokesman Ndu Ughamadu said the men, working as consultants, were kidnapped near Jibi village in Borno state on Tuesday afternoon. The village is in Magumeri local government area, about 50 km from the state capital, Maiduguri.
"About 10 members of the University of Maiduguri geology and surveying department were abducted by suspected Boko Haram members,” Ughamadu said.
The kidnapped group included academic staff, drivers and other contractors. The university also said some of its lecturers, who were accompanied by security staff, had not returned on Tuesday from a prospecting trip.
Its spokesman said the university was waiting for a report from security agencies.

Anambra Community Threaten To Sue IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu For Committing Taboo In Their Community

The council of chiefs in Nri community in Aniocha Local Government Area of Anambra has threatened to institute legal action against the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, for allegedly committing a taboo in their community.
The Personal Assistant to the monarch of Nri community, Eze Obidiegwu Onyesoh, Ifeanyi Onyesoh, who spoke to journalists in the community today, said Kanu along with his wife and supporters stormed the community on July 19th without prior information to the monarch. Onyesoh said on July 18th, some persons said to be supporters of Nnamdi Kano visited the monarch to verbally inform them that Kanu was coming for a visit. He said he was the one that received them and he told them to go back and return with a written letter seeking for an appointment.
Onyesoh said the monarch was surprised to hear the next day that Kanu had arrived the town and paid a visit to one Mr. Shadarack Mbanefo who is a subject to the monarch.
“I was the person that received them and so I told them to go and come back with a written letter so that they will get an official reply from the palace since the delegation looked unusual, in that there was no titled person among them. At this point, they all left and what we saw the next day was Kanu visiting Nri community with a huge crowd of his supporters. He (Kanu) went straight to the house of one Chief Shadrack Mbanefo, a subject to the traditional ruler of Nri. The feelers we later got, was that the said Mbanefo claimed he handed over the `Offo Nri ’, (symbol of royalty) to Kanu, and even allowed Kanu to visit the historic “Ohianwehi forest” revered as “forest of life” by Igbo tradition. This forest is believed to be the place the first burnt offering was offered by the Jewish Igbo ancestors when they migrated from Israel more than 2,000 years ago,’’ he said
Onyesoh said Nri people considered Kanu’s conduct as a taboo because no high profile visitor entered the community without first visiting the traditional ruler let alone a sacred place without the knowledge of the monarch. He said Kanu and his supporters later found their way to the entrance of the palace and tried to force it open.
“It was this unruly conduct that made the traditional ruler to telephone the security agents who responded promptly and dispersed Kanu and his supporters. It is a taboo in Nri and equally against the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council Law for a high profile visitor to visit a community without first paying homage to the traditional ruler. The people of Nri and her traditional ruler are not against Nnamdi Kanu and his agitation/aspiration but what we cannot take is for Kanu to come and mess up the Nri culture and tradition under whatever motive. The community will drag him to customary court to ensure that nobody else gives such insult to the community and its heritage’’ he said

Checkout This Throwback Photo Of Kate Henshaw And Emeka Ossai

Actress, Kate Henshaw shared this throwback photo with actor, Emeka Ossai from their modelling days back in 1992 on her Instagram page and captioned it'; "ThrowBackOfLife 1992... With my dear Emeka Ossai in our modelling days...about to hit the runway....Oh, my days.... See freshness!!!! God has and is  still faithful!" See the full photo below

Court To Hear Melaye's Recall Case August 7

The suit, which was originally adjourned till September 29, will now be heard on August 7.

 

The Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday, fixed August 7, to hear the suit that stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from going ahead with the process of Sen. Dino Melaye’s recall.

The suit, which was originally adjourned till September 29, will now be heard on August 7.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba said he was minded to exercise his discretion to hear the matter within the court’s vacation period.
INEC had through its lawyer, Mr Sulayman Ibrahim, requested accelerated hearing of the suit during vacation.
The Federal High Court Abuja, on Thursday, fixed August 7, to hear the suit that stopped the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from going ahead with the process of Sen. Dino Melaye’s recall.
The suit which was originally adjourned till September 29, will now be heard on August 7.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba said he was minded to exercise his discretion to hear the matter within the court’s vacation period.
INEC had through its lawyer, Mr Sulayman Ibrahim, requested accelerated hearing of the suit during vacation.