Nigeria's military vows increased offensive in wake of another deadly Boko Haram attack that kills 60 including women, children and security forces

Joint Military Task Force (JTF)

Breaking News alert from the CC GLOBAL NEWS DESK

Sixty people including women, children and security personnel are said to have died as a result of the latest attack, a pre-dawn raid in Bama, Borno State, in the north.

As the attacks in Northern Nigeria have become more deadly by the group, the Nigerian military has scaled up its offensive against the group, despite misguided outcries from ill-informed, liberal so-called human rights groups based in Europe and the United States.

This latest attack, according to a Nigerian Army spokesman resulted in the murder of 25 police officers, 14 prison officers, 5 soldiers and 5 civilians. Our sources also assert that around 11 members of Boko Haram were killed by members of the Joint Task Force (JTF), who arrived on the scene as cover for the first responder forces.

Correspondents say although extremist attacks have increased in Northern Nigeria, the scale of bloodshed makes this particular raid stand out.

Tuesday's raid in the remote town went on for several hours, the military spokesman said as security forces returned lethal fire without reservations.

Bama's police station, military barracks and government buildings were burned to the ground by the Boko Haram operatives, according to reports and it is believed this has become their trademark, as they seek to shift the blame of excesses onto the security forces.

Reports also state that more sophisticated weapons were recovered from the Boko Haram operatives with an increasing link to the Al Qaeda lineage, with its roots in the Libyan insurgency that toppled late Libyan strongman, Muammar Ghaddafi.

More to follow.....

Again at the risk of its declining credibility, UN Commission seeks to downplay use of chemical weapons by U.S. supported Syrian rebels

UN Sec. General Ban Ki-Moon - More headaches?

By ADEDEJI O. ADEGOKE - CC

The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria has sought to distance itself from comments made (ironically) by one of its members that there was evidence of the nerve gas sarin being used by rebels.

This would not be unexpected as Western nations (led by the United States) scramble to undo the irreparable damage done to the 'credibility' of their support for the Syrian rebels.

Earlier, one of the members of the commission, Carla Del Ponte had asserted that testimony from victims and doctors had given rise to "strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof". 

One wonders why the need for incontrovertible proof" is never exhausted when the shoe is on the proverbial 'other foot'. 

But the commission stressed that it had not reached any "conclusive findings".

The U.S. State Department and the White House (as would be expected) said they had no information to suggest rebel fighters had used sarin.

In recent weeks, Western powers have said their own investigations have found evidence that government forces have used chemical weapons. It should however be noted that this assertion by the former has not been independently validated by any credible non-aligned source.

In an interview with Swiss-Italian TV on Sunday, Ms. Del Ponte, who serves on the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syria, said: "Our investigators have been in neighboring countries interviewing victims, doctors and field hospitals.

"According to their report of last week, which I have seen, there are strong, concrete suspicions but not yet incontrovertible proof of the use of sarin gas, from the way the victims were treated."

Sarin, a colorless and odorless gas which can cause respiratory arrest and death, is classed as a weapon of mass destruction and is banned under international law.

Ms. Del Ponte did not rule out the possibility that troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad might also have used chemical weapons, but said further investigation was needed.

On Monday, the Commission of Inquiry headed by Brazilian Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, issued a statement "to clarify that it has not reached conclusive findings as to the use of chemical weapons in Syria by any parties to the conflict".

"As a result, the commission is not in a position to further comment on the allegations at this time," it said, adding that it would present its findings to the Human Rights Council on 3 June.

It would appear the UN was taken by surprise at Ms. Del Ponte's comments but it is a welcome development within an organization that has increasingly become a laughing-stock among developing nations, who now view it as an all-too-willing accomplice, in the imposition of draconian international resolutions and policies by Western powers. 

Afghan President Karzai admits he received secret cash payments from the U.S.

Hamid Karzai

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The Afghan president has admitted his office received secret payments from the United States, but says the amounts were small and 'used legitimately'.

Hamid Karzai was responding to a New York Times report that alleged the CIA sent suitcases stuffed with cash to the president's office on a regular basis.

It said tens of millions of dollars "came in secret" and cash was given on a vaster scale than previously thought.

The president said the money was for projects such as helping the sick.

"It was used for different purposes: operational, assistance to injured people, rental costs and other goals. This was efficient assistance and we appreciate it," he said in a statement.

He added that the money had been delivered to Afghanistan's National Security Council, which is part of the president's office, during the last 10 years.

The New York Times report said: "Wads of American dollars packed into suitcases, backpacks and, on occasion, plastic shopping bags have been dropped off every month or so at the offices of Afghanistan's president."

It quoted Khalil Roman, who was Mr Karzai's chief of staff from 2002 until 2005, as saying the cash was referred to as "ghost money".

"It came in secret, and it left in secret," Mr Roman is quoted as saying.

The report cited unnamed U.S. officials' assessments that there was little evidence the payment bought the influence the CIA sought, and said that the cash was not subject to the conditions placed on official US aid.

It added that much of the money fuelled corruption and went to paying off warlords and politicians with dubious connections.

The CIA declined to comment on the New York Times report, as did the U.S. State Department.

In 2010, Mr Karzai acknowledged that his office had received cash from Iran, but insisted it was part of a "transparent" process. He said the money was not for an individual, but to help 'run the president's office'.

Afghanistan receives billions of dollars in aid, but remains one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world.

Indian math wizard Shakuntala Devi "the human computer" passes on....

Shakuntala Devi

CC BIOGRAPHY DESK

Shakuntala Devi, the Indian math wizard fondly referred to as "the human computer" passed away in the southern Indian city of Bangalore, over the weekend. 

Shakuntala Devi's dazzling computational powers revealed themselves in early childhood but she had no formal education. 

Among her adult feats, she was able to multiply two random 13-digit numbers in a few seconds. 

She once calculated the 23rd root of a 201 digit number mentally in under a minute.

When given a date in the last century she could instantly calculate which day it fell on.

She was featured by Guinness World Records for this facility with numbers.

"God's gift. A divine quality," said Ms. Devi once when she was asked about her ability.

She also said nobody in her family had shown a head for numbers.

"Not even remotely, although my father was a stage magician," she said.

According to reports, he discovered his three-year-old daughter's abilities with numbers when playing cards with her.

He apparently found that she beat him not by sleight of hand, but by memorizing the cards.

Devi was already being called a "child prodigy" when, at the age of six, she demonstrated her skills in a public performance at an university in her native state of Karnataka.

DC Shivdev of an education trust run in her name said Shakuntala Devi "strove to simplify math for students and help them get over their math phobia".

He said her "techniques to simplify math were not used by educational institutions".

"It is a pity that her techniques died with her," he told The Hindu newspaper.

Devi wrote a number of books with titles like Fun with Numbers and Puzzles to Puzzle You.

She also had an alternative career as a successful astrologer, and she often toured to give lectures and offered astrology consultations.

Documentary feature: The innerworkings of the Aryan Brotherhood

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Boko Haram respond to Jonathan's amnesty offer with more bloodshed

President Goodluck Jonathan during a parade

By ADEDEJI O. ADEGOKE - CC

Islamic militant group Boko Haram responded to the amnesty offer from Nigeria's government with more violence and bloodshed over the weekend.

According to credible reports, close to 200 people have been killed with scores of hundreds also wounded as a result of intense fighting between the radical Islamic sect and Nigeria's security forces in the Northern Nigerian town of Baga, near the border with the Republic of Chad.

Sources informed CC that this particular battle showed that Boko Haram had for all intents and purposes increased their attacks on soft targets as well as security targets, even as calls increased from Northern leaders for amnesty to be granted to a group, that continues to murder innocent civilians in cold blood,

This attack would count as the deadliest to-date by Boko Haram since the height of the baseless insurgency in 2009.

More to follow.

Again, English hypocrisy at play regarding Liverpool's Luis Suarez

Defoe 'nibbles' Javier Mascherano

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Yes, it was inexcusable and appalling what Liverpool striker Luis Suarez did today, during the match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield.

But wait a minute. Is what he did something that has never been seen before in the English Premier League?

Well, turns out Luis Suarez just happens to be a 'mere mortal' and as is characteristic of such, they are prone to a moment or two of sheer madness in their much traveled lives.

So then, turns out that seven years ago, Tottenham striker, Jermaine Defoe, was even more blatant when he reacted rather strangely (see the clip below @ 0:39 seconds) to a tackle from then West Ham United midfielder, Javier Mascherano by essentially biting him in the arm after the referee had blown for a foul in his (Defoe's) favor.

Guess what the English FA did to Jermaine Defoe? You guessed it..... absolutely nothing! Worse still, listen to the English commentator assert that Mascherano had "most certainly made the most of it".... seemingly playing down Defoe's disgraceful conduct.

Luis Suarez does have a history (but what gifted player doesn't in this day and age), but it smells of the highest form of hypocrisy for the English media to be quick to crucify Suarez when they have in the past enabled thugs like Joey Barton among others.

Yes, Luis Suarez should probably be punished (although Jermaine Defoe was not), but please halt the "lynching and proverbial burning at the stake" as Suarez is merely a young man who needs direction.

If Jermaine Defoe can go on to feature for Tottenham for another seven years (and counting), while also wearing the famed "Three Lions" jersey quite a few times, then there is hope for Luis Suarez and other talented players who "don't quite fit the mode" as the English would want it.

Again, it is important to note here that no one is justifying Suarez's behavior, but just like everything the English FA has done has essentially amounted to either a misguided over-reach or not actually going far enough (the John Terry punishment for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand comes to mind), one can expect them to overreact in this case as well, just to please the English media's cravings for blood.

Expect Luis Suarez to be charged and the book thrown at him.

Sunday beat..... Flavour - Nwa Baby (Ashawo Remix) Video

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Enjoy and have a relaxing Sunday....

Celebrating the rise of Made in Africa technology solutions - Namibia 2013

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Africa’s leading forum for the technology-assisted learning industry, e-Learning Africa, will on May 29th-31st be celebrating the rise of Made in Africa technology solutions in Windhoek, Namibia, at the 2013 edition of its annual conference.

Now in its eighth year, e-Learning Africa will be bringing together a wide range of perspectives on Information & Communications Technology (ICT) for development, education and training. The conference will also be preceded by the annual e-Learning Africa round table meeting of education and ICT ministers from across Africa.

“This year our focus will be on innovation and we are all really proud that some of the most exciting and innovative new solutions in education have been pioneered and developed in Africa”, says Rebecca Stromeyer, founder of e-Learning Africa and Executive Director of ICWE.

Africa is experiencing a technological surge and it is having a dramatic effect on education throughout the Continent. Tech hubs are blossoming, new mobile devices and apps are being designed and produced in Africa, by Africans, and Africa’s e-Learning market is now the fastest-growing in the world.

This local innovation reveals itself in many forms. Expert speakers at the conference will talk on such diverse issues as African MOOCs, e-Learning in refugee contexts, technology’s role in preserving oral traditions and imaginative solutions to lack of broadband access.

The overarching themes of the conference, tradition, change and innovation, set up a tension which these speakers will explore in many different and fascinating ways. Erin Hayba, the Associate Community Services Officer at UNHCR, will show the results of his work in the Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya, where the installation of solar-powered ICTs in 39 schools, and an innovative community-based maintenance and sustainability program, have overcome the traditionally problematic language barriers in the camp and improved the prospects of 80,000 young people.

Mignon Hardie of the FunDza Literacy Trust, South Africa will be talking about the impact of mobile networks on literacy and literature. Her organisation’s creative writing platform shares quality teen fiction among young South Africans and encourages them to share stories – creating their own African content.

China must come to Africa on our terms - Zimbabwe's Deputy PM

Arthur Mutambara

CC GLOBAL BUSINESS DESK

Africa is duty bound to realize it needs to put across its specific conditions when striking transactions with China, Zimbabwe’s deputy prime minister asserted recently.

Arthur Mutambara urged the continent to cease accusing Beijing, apartheid or colonialism for its distresses.

Mutambara said it is about time that Africa puts an end to always taking a “romantic view” of China because it has developed from a “comrade in poverty” to an international enterprise and economic behemoth.

“Why are we not making sure the engagement with China is on our terms, as Africans? Labor skills, technology, value addition,” he posited to delegates at a China-Africa conference.

“The Chinese must come to Africa on African terms. The terms that will allow the Chinese to make money but the terms that will also allow Africa to develop, win-win. China wins, Africa wins.”

He declared that Africa now had been rather fragmented for many decades and it should not degenerate into trying to find excuses all the time for its sluggish development.

“Africans must not blame China or any other power for that matter. We must take charge of our lives, we must take responsibility for our problems and solve them,” he reportedly told delegates at the conference.

“Yes there are things we can trace back to apartheid, to colonialism, but we must take charge of our lives and not justify incompetence by talking about apartheid, colonialism.”

Recently, South Africa has been embroiled in a fierce debate on whether – 19 years on – apartheid can still be blamed for current government policy shortcomings.