MTN Nigeria’s N780 billion fine may be slashed again - Reps

The N780 billion MTN fine may further be slashed, a member, House of Representatives, has said.

The Deputy Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on ICT, Ahmed Garba Bichi, said in Abuja, yesterday, at the sideline of the Nigeria Internet Governance Forum (NIGF), that the legislators were still “consulting” with the executive on how to go about collecting the fine.

He said that though the MTN would pay the fine, “but it may not be the whole thing.”

Bichi said that the ongoing consultation between the committee set up by the House and officials from the ministry of communications on how the payment should be made, was progressing and report would soon be submitted.

“The committee members are going to speak with the company, MTN, as soon they finish their consultations”, he said.

Head coach of Ghana’s Black Stars Avram Grant is waiting anxiously to see if Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan will be fit for the friendly against Guinea in Paris and the AFCON qualifier against Mauritius.

The Ghana captain is feared to have suffered a bad injury as he was substituted just after 10 minutes while in action for Shanghai SIPG in the Chinese Super League on Saturday afternoon.

Details of the injury is yet to emerge as SIPG medical team is diagnosing the extent of damage done to the 30-year-old striker.

SIPG manager Sven Goran Eriksson was forced to apply an alteration to his side early in the game as the former Sunderland striker could not continue the game at the Workers Stadium against Beijing Guoan.

Avram Grant is expected to name his squad for the friendly against Guinea in the coming days but will only do so with the full details of the fitness of his skipper.

The team that will be named for the friendly will proceed to play in the AFCON qualifier against Mauritius on the 6th of June.

Nigerian Artiste, Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo popularly known as D'banj says he will not renew his endorsement deal with Ciroc at the expiration of the present contract.

The artiste, who made the announcement on his instagram page, however, did not give more details for his decision.

"D'banj has decided not to renew his @cirocnigeria endorsement," it read.

He showed a video of himself swaying to his new song while chilling in his pool with his cute dog.

D'banj was announced as a brand ambassador for Ciroc Nigeria in February, 2015 alongside Banky W.

The artiste thereafter took to his social media page to confirm to fans that he really did make the decision.

D'banj's announcement reads: "iambangalee#BreakingNews: D'Banj has decided not to renew his @cirocnigeria endorsement."

Fans had, however, backed the artiste up, encouraging him to start a brand of alcohol for himself, saying "we think he'll name it Koko."

Ciroc is a brand of eau-de-vie vodka made in France and distributed by British based multinational alcohol beverage maker, Diageo. (NAN)

Researchers in China introduce Jia Jia, the 'robot goddess

Robots have come a long way since the days of cartoon character George Jetson’s “Rosie,” who served as housekeeper and maid and referred to her keeper as “Mr. J.”  

Last week, researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China, located in Hefei, introduced the world to Jia Jia, a lifelike female robot that dazzled.

Related: Man's homemade robot looks a lot like Scarlett Johansson

The team said it took three years to design and complete Jia Jia, who boasts a flexible plastic face, long brown hair, arms that move and eyes that roll naturally.

Chen Xiaoping, who served as the team’s director, said that during her design, particular attention was paid to Jia Jia’s eyes, as well as ensuring that her speech was in sync with her lip movements, according to The Independent.

“Hello everyone, I’m Jia Jia,” said the robot, as she greeted the crowd, “welcome.”

The robot, wearing a gold dress, referred to Chen as her “Lord” and advised members of the media to keep back when taking photos so that her face wouldn’t appear too fat.

Related: Most Americans think robots will take our jobs within 50 years

According to Xinhua, Chen said plans are in the works to upgrade Jia Jia with artificial intelligence mechanisms that will allow her to recognize facial expressions, among other things. Chen told the news outlet that he hopes to transform her into a “robot goddess.”

Jia Jia will be featured at the Shanghai International Technology Fair on April 21

I want to become like Michael Jackson - Bukom Banku

Bukom Banku, the controversial Ghanaian boxer says he is not done with bleaching yet, as his aim is to look like Michael Jackson.

Bukom Banku in an interview with Kafui Dey on GhOne TV expressed no regret for bleaching his skin. He added that he would continue to bleach for as long as he desires.

In his own words, the boxer said: “I will continue to bleach my skin and look like Michael Jackson. I like Michael Jackson so I will continue bleaching till I’m fair like him. People haven’t seen anything yet. It is my own skin and I will bleach the way I like”

Bukom in his interview revealed that he likes president Mahama and he is ready to help in his 2016 campaign to win the presidency as they all hail from the North and he considers him a father figure.

The controversial boxer disclosed that he spends close to GH?320 weekly on his bleaching cosmetics weekly.

News of the boxer bleaching caused a public debate when photos of his alleged skin bleaching hit the internet. In rebuttal to his critics, Bukom Banku has decided to switch his ‘fashion sense’ to wearing skimpy shorts to expose his nude shanks.

Bukom Banku, known in private life as Braimah Kamoko is a professional boxer who plays other multiple roles as a musician and an actor.

Why Russia is pulling its troops out

In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced, in a surprise move, that he was pulling the majority of Russian troops out of Syria. He said the aims of the six-month deployment had largely been achieved.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visits Russian President Vladimir Putin in October.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visits Russian President Vladimir Putin in October.
The Russian forces -- and particularly Russian air power -- played a decisive role in propping up Assad at a time when he appeared in jeopardy. Putin telephoned Assad himself to let him know about the withdrawal.
Assad's position appears more secure now than it did in September, when the Russian deployment began and officials said that the terrorist group ISIS and other Assad opponents were its targets.
But Russia may have paid a price for its involvement.
On October 31 -- in an incident that may or may not be related specifically to Syria -- a Russian passenger plane exploded over Egypt's Sinai peninsula, killing all 224 people aboard. Investigators believe a bomb was smuggled on board. ISIS claimed responsibility and posted what it claimed was a photo of the bomb.
And on November 24, Turkey shot down a Russian warplane that had been flying over Syria, claiming the plane had strayed into Turkish airspace and ignored warnings to change course. A pilot was killed.
Russia denied that the plane had violated Turkish airspace. But the US said it had verified Turkey's claim.

In Syria the blood continues to flow, civilians continue to die and the tears keep falling.

This week, a hospital was bombed. Doctors were killed, the building was reduced to rubble, and nearby Syrians were left -- in the middle of a war -- with little access to medical care.
Displaced Syrian children living in a camp near the Turkish border.
Displaced Syrian children living in a camp near the Turkish border.
Syria, a jewel of a country on the eastern end of the Mediterranean, remains convulsed by war, eating itself from within. It is smaller than 17 of the 50 American states, yet it commands the attention of diplomats the world over.
The tide of refugees from the country is threatening to overwhelm the European Union and crush its treasured system of open borders between most member countries.
And after more than five years of civil war, President Bashar al-Assad -- propped up in part by Russian air support -- still clings to power. His enemies remain implacable, and a negotiated solution seems hard to envision.
A truce negotiated in February among some of the groups fighting in Syria now "hangs by a thread," a U.N. official said this week -- and that is putting it generously. It appears to be collapsing.