3 die in theater collapse

In Argentina

Three people were killed and two injured when a near century-old theater building in Argentina collapsed while undergoing renovation work, police said Thursday.

Three people were killed and two injured when a near century-old theater building in Argentina collapsed while undergoing renovation work, police said Thursday.

The historic building in the northern city of San Miguel de Tucuman collapsed around 8:00 pm (2300 GMT) on Wednesday with heavy traffic in the street outside.

Police first reported one man had been killed but revised the toll after discovering in the rubble two more bodies, those of another man and a woman.

There were no workers in the building at the time and police believe the victims were all passers-by. Two other women were being treated for multiple injuries but were out of danger.

Investigators believe the collapse of the French-style Parravicini theater was due to a problem in the structure that dates from its construction.


It closed in 1995 but had been under renovation for months to turn it into a commercial building

Jury tells Samsung to pay big for copying iPhone design

South Korean technology giant Samsung has been ordered to pay Apple $533 million for copying iPhone design features in a patent case. 

In Summary
Apple reasoned in court that design was so integral to the iPhone that it was the "article of manufacture" and worth all the money Samsung made by copying the features.
The three design patents in the case apply to the shape of the iPhone's black screen with rounded edges and a bezel, and the rows of colourful icons displayed.

Samsung no longer sells the smartphone models at issue in the case.

A federal court jury on Thursday ordered Samsung to pay Apple $533 million for copying iPhone design features in a patent case dating back seven years.

Jurors tacked on an additional $5 million in damages for a pair of patented functions. The award appeared to be a bit of a victory for Apple, which had argued in court that design was essential to the iPhone.

The case was keenly watched as a precedent for whether design is so important that it could actually be considered the "article of design" even in a product as complex as a smartphone.

"We don't think it is supported by the evidence," Samsung attorney John Quinn told US District Court Judge Lucy Koh after the verdict was read in her courtroom in Silicon Valley.

"We have every concern about the determinations about the article of manufacture."

Quinn declined an offer by the judge to send jurors back for further deliberation, saying Samsung would pursue post-trial motions to address its concerns about the verdict.

Juror Christine Calderon said the panel agreed that one of the design patents — the grid of coloured icons — did represent the whole phone, while the other two at issue in the trial were seen as the display assembly that gave the iPhone its look.

She compared it to the Mona Lisa: "you use the paint, but it is not the article of manufacture."

"I had to really think about it," the 26-year-old Calderon, a technical writer, said after Koh dismissed the jury.
"We kind of felt like we ended up at a happy medium."

Long legal road

The case had been sent back to the district court following a Supreme Court decision to revisit an earlier $400 million damage award.
Apple reasoned in court that design was so integral to the iPhone that it was the "article of manufacture" and worth all the money Samsung made by copying the features.

The lower figure sought by the South Korean consumer electronics titan would have involved treating the design features as components.

The jury had been asked to determine whether design features at issue in the case are worth all profit made from Samsung smartphones that copied them — or whether those features are worth just a fraction because they are components.

Apple argued in court that the iPhone was a "bet-the-company" project at Apple and that design is as much the "article of manufacture" as the device itself.

The three design patents in the case apply to the shape of the iPhone's black screen with rounded edges and a bezel, and the rows of colourful icons displayed.

Samsung no longer sells the smartphone models at issue in the case.

Two utility patents also involved apply to "bounce-back" and "tap-to-zoom" functions.
An original trial finding that Samsung violated Apple patents preceded a lengthy appellate duelling over whether design features such as rounded edges are worth all the money made from a phone.

Technology vs Style

Samsung challenged the legal precedent that requires the forfeiture of all profits from a product, even if only a single design patent has been infringed.

The US Supreme Court in 2016 overturned the penalty imposed on the South Korean consumer electronics giant.

Justices ruled that Samsung should not be required to forfeit the entire profits from its smartphones for infringement on design components, sending the case back to a lower court.

"Today's decision flies in the face of a unanimous Supreme Court ruling in favour of Samsung on the scope of design patent damages," the South Korean company said in response to an AFP inquiry.

"We will consider all options to obtain an outcome that does not hinder creativity and fair competition for all companies and consumers."

Apple did not respond to a request for comment.

The key question of the value of design patents rallied Samsung supporters in the tech sector, and Apple backers in the creative and design communities.

Samsung won the backing of major Silicon Valley and other IT sector giants, including Google, Facebook, Dell and Hewlett-Packard, claiming a strict ruling on design infringement could lead to a surge in litigation.

Apple was supported by big names in fashion and manufacturing. Design professionals, researchers and academics, citing precedents like Coca-Cola's iconic soda bottle.

The case is one element of a $548 million penalty — knocked down from an original $1 billion jury award — Samsung was ordered to pay for copying iPhone patents.

Tanzanian varsity develops app to track disease outbreaks

In Summary
AfyaData analyses data collected from the field and submits it to the central server via internet connection..
The software then sends an alert to health officials if any abnormal pattern is identified in the data.
The launch comes at a time the country is intensifying response after deadly Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

AfyaData is mobile and web-based application and can submit information offline including GPS location and photos attached to the data collected.

The launch comes at a time the country is intensifying response after deadly Ebola outbreak in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

SUA vice chancellor Prof Raphael Chibuda said AfyaData will be used to track diseases such as Ebola, Rift Valley Fever, and other infectious diseases.

Related Content

Tanzania boosts Ebola response in border regions

The application, according to the developers, is currently in use by over 400 community members and health officials in Ngorongoro, Morogoro, Kilosa, Malinyi, Ulanga and Kibaha districts in northern and eastern parts of the country.

The software was developed by a team of animal, human and ICT specialists at the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) based at Sokoine university.

The project was funded by a US-based organisation, Ending Pandemics.

It is available for download on Google Play Store.

How Reps laid to rest bill seeking to override Buhari's veto

Peace Corps

Here's the full gist of how Reps members dashed the only hope of reviving Peace Corps bill.

Attempt to override President Muhammad Buhari's veto on Peace Corps Bill, was rejected by members of the House of Representatives on Thursday.

President Buhari, had on February 27, 2018, declined assent on a Bill for an Act to establish Nigerian Peace Corps, citing paucity of funds and duplication of duties of existing security agencies as main reasons.

But the lawmakers felt the bill was popular and going by the trend of unemployment and insecurity in the country, a Peace Corps organisation enacted as government agency would help curb some of the challenges.

Delta lawmaker, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai, while addressing newsmen in Abuja, had said "President Buhari made a costly mistake by declining assent to the bill."

Ossai had vowed to "personally undertake collation of signatures" for overriding the President's veto.

Consequently, the lawmakers, again, began the process to give legal backing to the existing Peace Corps of Nigeria, when Kogi lawmaker, Hon. Sunday Karimi sponsored the bill and it passed first reading on March 21, 2018.

The politics and intrigues...

The interest of the lawmakers, however, started waxing cold, when, members at the front burners were allegedly being "pressurized by the Presidency" to back down on the move.

It was gathered that some members of the Parliament, especially, those from the northern part of the country; those who didn't want to risk a return ticket on the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) under the leadership of the President, and those who  for fear of investigation over alleged corruption,began to bow to pressure.

Hon. Karimi, who sponsored the overriding process through first reading, backed out from the move, leaving the bill to become orphan and kept in limbo, at the mercy of Committee on Rules and Business for two months.

At the risk of final extinction and in a move to allow the bill complete its legislative circuit, the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Emmanuel Orker-Jev, on Thursday prepared the bill for a second reading.

The bill, which was slated for number one business on the Order Paper of Thursday, May 24, 2018, was captioned, 'A Bill for an Act to establish Nigerian Peace Corps, to develop, empower and provide gainful employment for the youth, facilitate peace, volunteerism, community services, neighbourhood watch and nation-building; and for related matters (HB. 89)'.

Orker-Jev had just started reading the lead debate on the bill, when the chamber, which was half-empty, started witnessing the influx of members, while lobbying became intensified on the floor of the House.

While leading the debate, Orker-Jev said, "Apart from the jobs that would be crested through the establishment of Peace Corps, it will compliment the activities of other security agencies like police and civil Defence to maintain law and order in the country".

Taraba lawmaker, Hon. Rimande Shawulu, speaking in favour of the bill, said there was need for the establishment of the corps to assist other security agencies.

"There is need for us to bridge the gap in internal security. Actually there's a very wide gap in policing of this country," Shawulu, who is Chairman, House Committee on Army, said.

"There are too many ungoverned in Nigeria and there are too many black spots in Nigeria. Nigeria also lacks adequate manpower that could assist the security agencies in intelligence gathering", he added.

Lagos lawmaker, Hon. Rita Orji, was of the opinion that the fund recovered from the Abacha loots should be channelled to funding the Peace Corps.

Speaker after Speaker, the lawmakers took turn to debate, in favour or against overriding the President's veto.

The summary of the line of debate of pro-Buhari lawmakers was that, the reasons given by the President was cogent enough to lay the Bill to rest.

They argued that, having served in the Nigerian Army as a General and serving currently as the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Buhari has first hand information about the security of the country more than anyone else.

Those who were in support of the bill argued that, being a Commander-In-Chief does not place in the shoulders of Mr. President, the exclusive knowledge of security in the country, adding that the Corps could also help in reducing crimes and insecurity if established.

Hon. Ossai, who had earlier boasted to undertake collation of signatures to override Buhari's veto but eventually perceived to have bowed to pressure, said; "The rejection by Mr President gives us the opportunity to redeem ourselves for passing the Bill in the first place."

The Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa (Kano), admitted that the Corps would provide job opportunities to teeming Nigerian graduates but since the President had vetoed the bill, he was in the better position to know what was good for the country.

Buhari's reelection campaign

The House, was however, thrown into rowdy session, when, a pro-Buhari lawmaker from Sokoto state, Hon. Musa Seriki Adams used the platform to campaign for Buhari's re-election.

"The solution Nigeria's security challenges and what will bring lasting peace is not by supporting Peace Corps Bill but by supporting President Buhari to come for a second term"; the move which was resisted through points of order from Hon. Jonathan Gaza (Nasarawa) and Hon. Nkem Abonta (Abia).

Other lawmakers who kicked against the bill were, Hon. Idris Wase (Plateau), Hon. Baballe Bashir (Kano), Hon. Johnson Oguma (Edo), Hon. Adamu Shika (Niger), Hon. Johnson Agbonayima (Edo) and Hon. Benson Babajide (Lagos).

Dogara was helpless

The last minute effort of the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, to salvage the situation could not yield result, as pro-Buhari lawmakers seemed to have been adequately mobilised for a serious showdown.

As if that was all they came to the plenary to do, as soon as the question was pulled by the Speaker and a resounding 'Nay' voice votes rented the air, the pro-Buhari lawmakers were seen jumping up, hugging each other and celebrating that the bill fainted, thereafter, all of them left the chambers, leaving a few others to continue with the rest business of the day.

Any hope?

With the setback suffered on Thursday, May 24, 2018, the Nigerian Peace Corps Bill is therefore left at the mercy of the executive arm of government, which solely reserves the right to recall the Bill and take a second look at issues formulated therefrom.

On the other hand, the Bill, which had already gone through various legislative processes at the National Assembly, would not have much stress in scaling through the hurdles when such opportunity resurfaces in the 9th Assembly, after 2019 general elections.

The Peace Corps of Nigeria which was registered under 'Part C' of the Company and Allied Matters Act of 1992 at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), would continue to exist as a Non-Governmental Organisation, with special consultative status with the United Nations and African Union.

No official statement has been released from the leadership of the Corps in reaction to the latest development, at press time.

But the national commandant of the Corps, Dickson Akoh, had earlier described President Buhari's rejection of the bill as a conspiracy against Nigerian youths.

In the midst of all these, the Police has also failed to vacate the headquarters of the Peace Corps located in Jabi, Abuja, despite the court and Reps orders asking the Force to leave the premises.

UN gives $2m to stem Nigeria cholera outbreak

The UN has allocated $2m (£1.5m) to help tackle a cholera outbreak in the north-east of Nigeria.

At least 50 people have been killed by the disease since the end of March.

There have been more than 400 confirmed cases in Yobe state, where many people live in overcrowded conditions having fled their homes because of the Boko Haram insurgency.

The funds from the UN will help provide safe water for more than 1.6 million people and improve sanitation in the affected communities.

But the UN said more resources were needed especially now rainy season had set in and the risk of outbreaks and spreading of water-borne diseases was higher.

Why Africa’s volcanic soil swells legs

Podoconiosis is a painful condition that affects more than four million people across tropical Africa.

The characteristic swollen legs are caused by long-term exposure to irritant volcanic soils found in countries like Cameroon and Burundi.

One and a half million people in Ethiopia alone are living with podoconiosis.

Gail Davey from Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Addis Ababa University found that simple routines such as washing feet and wearing shoes helped to reduce acute attacks by 20%. She told BBC Health Check about her research:

Algerian blogger jailed for 10 years for spying

An Algerian court has sentenced blogger Merzoug Touati to 10 years in prison for sharing sensitive information with a foreign country.

The court in the port city of Bejaia found Mr Touati, 30, guilty of "leaking intelligence to agents of a foreign country to damage the military and diplomatic interests of Algeria".

The prosecutors have sought life imprisonment.

Rights group Amnesty International has tweeted his picture saying Mr Touati was being imprisoned for simply for posting online:

The conviction is related to an interview Mr Touati conducted with an Israeli foreign ministry spokesman and posted on his blog in January 2017. He has been in custody since his arrest.

However, the court dropped the accusation of inciting armed disobedience against the state, which is punishable by death under Algerian law.

Mr Touati’s lawyer Boubakeur Essidik Hemaili told news agency AFP that his client was innocent as he "was exercising his rights guaranteed by the constitution. He can talk to whom he wants".

Mr Touati will appeal the sentence, according to his lawyers.

The Vice-President of the Algerian League to Defend Human Rights, Said Salhi, expressed his "disappointment" with the verdict.

Ten years in prison is very harsh given the facts."

NDLEA to curb drug abuse through “special raids

In FCT

He explained that the SRS as the name implies involves surprise raids on the traffickers’ black spots and hideouts in the territory such as Zone 4, Bannex, Jabi and other areas in the outskirts of the FCT.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), FCT command says it is poised to curb drug abuse and trafficking among youths in the territory through “Surprise Raiding Strategy” (SRS).

Mr Peter Adegbe, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

He explained that the SRS as the name implies involves surprise raids on the traffickers’ black spots and hideouts in the territory such as Zone 4, Bannex, Jabi and other areas in the outskirts of the FCT.

According to Adegbe, the strategy is part of the agency’s efforts in tackling drug vendors and traffickers in the territory and environs.

He said the command would achieve the goal by ensuring that the demand and supply of both cocaine and cannabis sativa are reduced to the barest minimum.

“Once people, especially the youths, are well informed about the dangers of drug abuse, the demand will drastically reduce and this will affect the supply.

“The command has chosen to tackle the menace of drug abuse and ridding the territory with this new strategy,” he said.

The spokesman said that the menace of drug abuse had become a global concern as citizens particularly young people in several countries were engaged in the act.

“It is disheartening that children at tender age already have problem using drugs.

“There should be deliberate and sustained efforts at educating the younger generation on drug prevention,’’ Adegbe said.

The spokesman said the command would not relent in its efforts to rid the FCT of hard drugs, adding that several campaigns had been held in this regard.

He urged Nigerians especially parents and guardians to give listening ears to their children and youths who were the vulnerable groups against drug abuse.

Adegbe also appealed to residents of the FCT to join hands with the NDLEA in ensuring a responsible society void of social vices.


“The public needs to understand that they should also support the NDLEA in tackling this drug menace,” he said.

Lagos Muslim pilgrims board begins payment for BTA

2018 Hajj

The state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, announced this on Friday in Lagos at a meeting with 19 appointed coordinators to manage pilgrim affairs in the state.

The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced payment of Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) to intending pilgrims for the 2018 Hajj.

The state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, announced this on Friday in Lagos at a meeting with 19 appointed coordinators to manage pilgrim affairs in the state.

AbdulLateef, who doubles as the “Amir-ul-Hajj” for Lagos state, said that pilgrims would be given the opportunity to exchange a minimum of N244,000 for 800 dollars within a two week window.

“We urge the pilgrims to proceed to the pilgrim board’s office at the old secretariat for their BTA without further delay.

“Each pilgrim is entitled to exchange a minimum of 800 dollars for N244,000 at the official rate of N305.00 to a dollar as directed by the Federal Government,” he said.

He advised the intending pilgrims to take advantage of the concessionary exchange rate and to present their receipt of payment and international passport to get their BTA.

“It is advisable that they come forward before the window closes because the dollar rate is higher in the black markets and banks.

“Only fully paid pilgrims are entitled to the official rate and must come with their receipts of payment and international passports,” he said.

He also advised Muslims to use the fasting period to seek Allah’s forgiveness and mercy for themselves and other faithful worldwide.

“You should invest your resources to propagate good deeds and help your Muslim brothers and sisters as much as you can as this is more rewarding in this blessed month of Ramadan,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of the board, Mr Muftau Okoya, emphasised the directive of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) that all intending pilgrims must possess a National Identity Card.


He urged the intending pilgrims to register for the identity cards, while expressing the determination of the state government to ensure a successful Hajj.

Presidential aspirant wants a woman as his deputy for 2019 election

Fela Durotoye

He said he wants a running mate who is also capable enough to fill the president's shoes.

Presidential aspirant, Fela Durotoye, has disclosed that he's currently searching for a female running mate to stand next to him to contest in the 2019 presidential election.

While speaking during an appearance on Lagos-based Nigeria Info FM on Friday, May 18, 2018, Durotoye noted that he believes in empowering women as it is a great way to create a better society.

Durotoye, a management consultant and leadership expert, said his choice of running mate will be a woman who is quite capable to become president in the event something happens to the president.

He said, "I believe in women. I believe in not only giving women opportunities but support to women and I believe that when you support women, more than half of your society, you can only have a better society.

"So women are not less than men but equal partners to men and, more importantly, if you empower that group of people, you'll have an amazing society.

"The gender distribution and gender balance policy that we have is a 50-50 gender balance and there is a very strong chance that, if everything goes the way I would like it to go, my running mate will be a woman.

"I have been very clear and we're currently in the search for a female vice presidential candidate who will not be chosen just simply because she's female, but she'll be competent to be a president should anything happen to the president.

"That tells you the kind of way I feel about women; I think women should be given the greatest opportunities to do great things."

Durotoye to contest with ANN

Durotoye declared his intention to run for president on the platform of the Alliance for a New Nigeria (ANN) on February 22, 2018.

He believes Nigeria has all the resources it needs to be a desirable place for anyone to inhabit, provided it gets the right leadership.

In his declaration speech, he disclosed that he wants to see a Nigeria where old parties with their old ideology of godfatherism would become history.