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Wednesday, 8 February 2017

Donald Trump' cover on German magazine, 'Der Spiegel' sparks controversy

German magazine, Der Spiegel is sparking a fierce debate after depicting US President Donald Trump beheading the Statue of Liberty on its front cover. The illustration by Edel Rodriguez, who arrived in the US as a political refugee from Cuba in 1980, has prompted both positive and negative reactions across the world.

Rodriguez's image shows a cartoon Trump holding a bloodied knife in his left hand with the statue's head in his right, while blood drips onto the floor. The magazine cover comes amid anger and protests around the world over Trump's travel ban. The controversial order banned foreign nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the US for 90 days, suspended all refugee entry to the country for 120 days and indefinitely suspended entry for Syrian refugees.

"It's a beheading of democracy, a beheading of a sacred symbol," Rodriguez told the Washington Post. He said he drew a link between ISIS and Trump, adding that "both sides are extremists, so I'm just making a comparison between them."

Last November, Rodriguez, also drew a Trump illustration for the cover of Time Magazine during the 2016 campaign, without adding facial features.

"That's the way I see him," Rodriguez told the Washington Post. "I see him as someone that's very angry, and it's pretty much his mouth that's moving all the time, so that's how I tend to show him in some of my work."

Read some comments 'for and against' the depiction of Trump below:

25-year-old man arrested for killing father with an axe in Jigawa

25-year-old Abdulhamid Abdullahi has been arrested by the Jigawa State Police Command for allegedly killing his 65-year-old father, Shuaibu Abdullahi, in Jigawa. The sad incident took place on February 5th while Abdulhamid was trying to attack his brother whom he suspected was responsible for influencing their father from allowing him to get married.
As Abdullahi was chasing his elder brother with the axe, the brother ran into their father's room. This prompted the father to come out to investigate what was going on and Abdullahi mistakenly brought down the axe on his father's head three times.

Shuaibu was taken to a hospital in Birniwa Local Government Area from where he was referred to Nguru Hospital in Yobe, where he was confirmed dead.

Vanguard reports that the Public Relations Officer of the command, Alhaji Jinjiri Abdul, disclosed this to newsmen in Dutse, revealing that the suspect was arrested in Kirikasamma Local Government Area, Jigawa, on Feb. 5 and will be taken to court immediately.

Young MA on the cover of FADER magazine

Rapper, Young M.A is on the cover of The Fader magazine, the Sex Issue. Young M.A. who is best known for her song, 'OOOUUU', explained in an interview with Fader, that the "M.A" in Young M.A stands for "Me, Always." She also talked about women and queer-identifying rappers who are often defined by their gender and orientation first. More photos after the cut...

Nelson Mandela’s oldest grandson expecting first child with wife

Mandla Mandela, the oldest grandson of former and late South African President, Nelson Mandela is expecting his first child with his wife, Rabia Clarke. In a joint statement released Monday, Febuary 6, 2017, through their traditional Mvezo titles - Nkosi Zwelivelile and Nkosikazi Nosekeni Rabia Mandela, it reads:

'We are excited beyond words today to be celebrating not only our first wedding anniversary but also the fact that we are expecting our first bundle of joy (in transit)‚ they said‚ using emoticons to describe their love.

Mvezo Komkhulu will once again experience the pitter-patter of a young Mandela's feet. It's been an amazing year. We are truly blessed‚ and very grateful for all the well-wishes received.'

The pair got married in February 2016. The marriage was the fourth for Mandela. He was still legally married to his first wife‚ Tando Mabunu-Mandela‚ although they are estranged and embroiled in bitter court battles. Mandela’s second and third marriages were annulled.

Tanzanian President to security forces: "Target drug traffickers. Even if my wife is involved, arrest her"

Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Monday told security forces in the country to crack down on the drug trade and said no one should be spared, even if the are top politicians, their relatives or even his wife.
His new drive against drugs follows growing concerns tat East Africa is being used by traffickers. While most Europe-bound Afghan heroin still goes through Iran and the Balkans, a spate of record-size hauls near Kenya and Tanzania has raised fears East Africa is seen as an easier route because of porous borders and weak maritime surveillance.

"In this war against narcotics, no one is too prominent to be arrested even if they are politicians, security officers, cabinet ministers or the child of a prominent person," Magufuli told the heads of the defence and security forces at the presidential State House.

"Even if my wife, Janeth, is involved, she should be arrested." he added.

Tanzanians have long complained that top officials or those with government connections have often been spared prosecution for corruption and other crimes.

Magufuli has sought to show even those in high office will be held accountable for criminal activity or poor performance. While praising the police chief for suspending 12 junior officers last week on suspicion of drugs trafficking, he however said the campaign must target the financiers and dealers, citing the case of one unnamed drugs trader whose case was taking too long to go through the courts.

"I know some leaders tried to defend him. But we must now start to jail these big drug dealers, instead of just dealing with the little people," the president said.

Madonna gets court approval to adopt two more children from Malawi (Photos)

Queen of pop, Madonna, will be adopting two more children from Malawi. This was confirmed by Mlenga Mvula, a spokesman for Malawi's judiciary who revealed that the country's High Court made the ruling Tuesday. Madonna, 58, already adopted two Malawian children, David Banda and Mercy James in 2006 and 2009. This is in addition to her two biological children, Lourdes and Rocco.

Madonna who was inside the courtroom when the approval ruling was delivered was reportedly very happy with the ruling and could be seen smiling. One of the conditions of the adoption is a home survey report which the court ordered Madonna to provide within a year.

The La Isla Bonita singer previously denied reports that she wanted to adopt again after she visited Malawi last month, saying her trip was for her charity work. Madonna's previous adoptions stirred anger among some Malawians who accused the government of allowing the pop star to skirt laws that ban non-residents from adopting children.

Coffin sellers in Ghana say low deaths affected their sales in 2016

Coffin sellers in Accra have revealed that low-mortality affected their businesses in 2016. In an interview conducted by Ghana News Agency (GNA), to find out how some businesses fared in 2016. The sellers expressed their views on their sales for the year with one of them blaming it on low deaths. Mr Agyekum Darkwah Junior, a coffin seller at the Korle-Bu hospital, said:

'Much as we are not praying for people to die, I must also confess that our livelihood is derived from the number of coffins we sell in the year. The market was not good last year as the nation recorded low deaths compared to previous years. My only prayer is to get more buyers for my beautifully crafted caskets so as to make my investments fruitful this year. I have employed more than eight carpenters so if the market goes low, I would not be able to remunerate them.' he said.

Stephen Kwame Addai, a coffin shop owner at Kaneshie, however, dismissed the notion that the business was quite 'diabolic one' as it thrived on more deaths.

'We do not cause the death of our fellow human beings. Death, whether by vehicular accidents or sickness is natural.'

Emmanuel Abankwaa who works on coffins at Dansoman meanwhile said, the business was a legitimate source of income, as such, a growth in it was very necessary.

'We are not saying people should die but if they die, we cannot give them life but can only help to facilitate their burial,' he said. While Akorli Samuel who deals in coffin production at Lapaz said that the business is 'Truly Profitable'.

'People do not usually buy coffins and keep them ahead of burials. To some people, coffins are scary. Parents should not discourage their children from entering the venture. It is truly a profitable one'.

8year-old boy accidentally shoots sister dead with his mother's boyfriend's gun

An eight year-old boy has shot his five year-old sister to death after they were left home alone with their mother's boyfriend's gun. The mother left them to go to the store when the little boy picked up the gun and fired a single shot at his sister, Serenity Allen, who died instantly.

The police has arrested their mother's boyfriend, Maurice Mobley, 34, after he turned himself in.

Maurice who already has a criminal record as a sex offender has being charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Graphic photos: Woman who had been pregnant for 3 years allegedly gives birth to a goat

According to Facebook user, Simeon Chukwu, a woman who had been pregnant for 3 years allegedly got delivered of a goat at Karaka Community Hall in Rumuowha Eneka area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State recently. Read what he wrote and more photos after the cut...

Beautiful photos of Kim Kardashian and her son Saint West spending quality time together

Kim Kardashian West took to her website to share beautiful photos of herself and son Saint West enjoying a some mother-son time while on vacation in Costa Rica. More photos after the cut...