Japan utility appeals court order to shut reactors

A Japanese utility on Monday appealed a court decision which ordered the shutdown of two nuclear reactors even though they had been declared safe under tougher rules prompted by the Fukushima meltdown.
The Otsu District Court last week issued the ruling, the first since reactors were restarted under a more rigorous safety regime adopted after the 2011 disaster.

The court ordered the shuttering of Kansai Electric’s No. 3 and No. 4 reactors at the Takahama nuclear plant 350 kilometres (215 miles) west of Tokyo.
The No. 4 reactor had been taken offline last month due to an unexpected technical glitch days after it restarted, while the No. 3 reactor was switched off soon after the court order.

A Kansai Electric spokesman said Monday that the utility “appealed the ruling” while also demanding that the shutdown reactors be allowed to restart pending the outcome of the appeal.
The shutdown order, issued Wednesday just two days before the fifth anniversary of the Fukushima disaster, was a blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s bid to bring back nuclear power.

Syria war begins sixth year as US, Russia pull the strings

(FILES) This file photo taken on February 11, 2016 shows Syrian President Bashar al-Assad listening to a question during an exclusive interview with AFP in the capital Damascus.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pledged on MArch 1, 2016 to do his part to ensure a fragile ceasefire holds and offered “full amnesty” to rebels who hand in their weapons. / AFP / JOSEPH EID

00The United States and Russia are pulling the strings in Syria’s five-year war, experts say, pressuring opposing sides and leveraging rival regional powers to reach a settlement. 

 As the conflict enters its sixth year, the embattled regime and fractured opposition are in Geneva for indirect peace talks hosted by United Nations peace envoy Staffan de Mistura.

But the real solution, experts say, is in Russian and American hands.
“The two great powers talk among themselves by phone or in meetings around the world. Then they inform their Syrian allies and de Mistura what they’ve decided,” says veteran opposition figure Haytham Manaa.
“Then, Russia and the US give the regional powers the red lines they’re not supposed to cross. The US bans the Turks from a ground incursion in Syria and asks the Saudis to stop sending arms. Russia does the same thing with Iran,” Manaa tells AFP.

3 Palestinians carry out shooting, car-ramming attacks, shot dead

Three Palestinians carried out two attacks — a shooting and a car-ramming — on Israelis in the southern occupied West Bank on Monday before they were shot dead, the Israeli army said.
“Two assailants opened fire at pedestrians waiting at a bus stop at the entrance of Kiryat Arba (near Hebron). Forces guarding the area responded and shot the assailants, resulting in their deaths,” a military statement read.

“Moments later, in an additional attack, a vehicle rammed into a military vehicle responding at the scene. Forces responded to the immediate danger and shot the assailant, resulting in his death.”
The army said a soldier was wounded in the shooting attack, and three others lightly wounded in the car-ramming.

A military spokeswoman said the assailants used a pistol and a submachine gun.
The Palestinian health ministry named the perpetrators as Qassem Abu Ouda, 30, and Amir Juneidi, 22, from Hebron, and Yousef Taraya, 18, from the nearby village of Bani Naim.

Turkey pounds Kurdish camps after Ankara bombing

This picture taken on March 13, 2016, shows a burning car after a blast in Ankara.
An explosion ripped through a busy square in central Ankara on March 13, killing 27 people and wounding 75 more, with local media reports describing it as an attack. Ambulances rushed to the scene of the explosion on Kizilay square, a key shopping and transport hub close to the city’s embassy area.
/ AFP / Mehmet Ozer

Turkish warplanes pounded Kurdish rebel bases in northern Iraq Monday, the day after a suicide car bomb tore through downtown Ankara killing at least 36 people, the third attack on the capital in five months. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the latest carnage, which reduced cars and buses to charred hulks on a busy road in the heart of the city, wounding more than 120 people.

But Ankara believes one of the bombers was a woman with ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, a Turkish official told AFP on Monday.

White House hopefuls hustle for votes as race turns ‘toxic’

An anti-Donald Trump protester is removed by security during a Trump rally at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on March 11, 2016.
Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump cancelled his appearance at a Chicago rally Friday amid extraordinary scenes of chaos, with hundreds of protesters clashing with the frontrunner’s supporters and police struggling to maintain order. / AFP / Tasos KATOPODIS

White House hopefuls hit the ground in a last-minute push for votes Monday ahead of a crucial new election test, with violence marring Donald Trump’s race for the Republican nomination.

 Dubbed “Super Tuesday 2” by US media, the latest major date in the run-up to November’s presidential election will see Democratic and Republican primary contests in the states of Florida, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina.

Merkel to stay refugee policy course despite vote debacle

German chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech at the last electoral meeting on March 12, 2016 in Haigerloch, southwestern Germany, ahead the regional state elections in Baden-Wuerttemberg.
More than 12 million voters are electing three new regional parliaments for the southwestern states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, as well as eastern Saxony-Anhalt in the so-called Super Sunday polls. / AFP / Thomas Kienzle

German Chancellor Angela Merkel plans no changes to her refugee policy despite heavy losses in state elections at the weekend, her spokesman said Monday.

 “The federal government will stay its refugee policy course, fully determined, at home and abroad,” the spokesman, Steffen Seibert, told a news briefing.

London mayor Johnson blasts Obama over reported UK visit

US President Barack Obama pauses while speaking during a South by Southwest Interactive at the

 Long Center for Performing Arts in Austin, Texas on March 11, 2016. / AFP / Mandel NGAN

London mayor Boris Johnson on Monday accused Barack Obama of “hypocrisy” following a report that the US president is heading to Britain next month to make the case for the UK to stay in the European Union.

“Coming from Uncle Sam, it is a piece of outrageous and exorbitant hypocrisy,” Johnson, a leading member of the campaign for Britain to leave the EU, wrote in his regular column for the Daily Telegraph.

“Can you imagine the Americans submitting their democracy to the kind of regime that we have in the EU?” he asked, adding: “This is a nation born from its glorious refusal to accept overseas control.”

Johnson went on to point out that the United States does not accept that its own citizens could be subject to the rulings of the International Criminal Court and does not recognise other jurisdictions.

Latest polls set stage for another Super Tuesday

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton

The contested-convention movement got mixed news from the latest Quinnipiac polls of Florida and Ohio, two key winner-take-all states in today’s Super Tuesday II primaries. Donald Trump dominates in Florida, Marco Rubio’s last-stand ground and home turf, but only manages a tie against John Kasich in Ohio.
An outright win by Trump in both states will add 165 delegates to his total and put him more clearly on the path to a first-ballot nomination in Cleveland:

Separate surveys of likely Republican and Democratic primary voters in Florida and Ohio show:
Florida Republican – Trump with 46 per cent, followed by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida with 22 per cent, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas with 14 per cent and Ohio Governor John Kasich with 10 per cent.
Florida Democrat – Clinton over Sanders 60 – 34 per cent.

Chicago-bound Amtrak train derails in Kansas, 30 injured

Emergency personnel work on a train that derailed near Dodge City, Kan., Monday, March 14, 2016. An Amtrak statement says the train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago early Monday when it derailed just after midnight. PHOTO www.rt.com900

Several coaches from Amtrak’s Southwest Chief Train 4 traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago derailed about 20 miles (32 km) west of Dodge City, Amtrak said in a statement. There were about 128 passengers and 14 crew aboard.

Thirty people were taken to hospitals in Garden City and Dodge City, Gray County spokeswoman, Ashley Rogers, said. She and Amtrak gave no details on their conditions, but in an earlier statement, the United States (U.S.) train service had said that initial reports were that there were no life-threatening injuries.
Other passengers were transported to a recreation center in Cimarron before being provided alternate transportation to their final destination.

9 Things You Probably Did Not Know About Nigeria

Patriotic Nigerians all over the world, here are 9 things you probably did not know about your beloved country Nigeria. Although Nigeria is always the hot topic of the day, she has some interesting history and facts we should familiarize ourselves with.
Did you know that………………

1.Nigeria is home to seven percent (7%) of the total languages spoken on earth. Taraba state alone has more languages than 30 African countries.
2. The National Youth Service Corps was established by the decree No.24 of 22nd of May,1973, during the military regime of General Yakubu Gowon.

6 Interesting Things You Should Know About Ghana

Ghana is the gem of West Africa, it is a collision of rich and sorrowful history, culture and traditions. it is surrounded by beautiful neighbouring countries that are easy to access. Here is an overview of the particularities of this fascinating nation you have little or no knowledge about.

1. Origin of Name

Ghana has existed since medieval times. Its name comes from the former Ghana Empire of West Africa: “Ghana” was the title given to ruling kings.

Staying Profitable During Slow Seasons

SLOW seasons are a reality in the event planning business and for us event planners in Nigeria, that period of the year is now, the first quarter of the year and after the holiday season. There are not much events now and things appear quiet. The question then is, “what should you do to maximize the period?” and “what profitable things can be done now?”

Here are a few activities to make the “sabbatical leave” a time of charting a new course for your event planning business:

Staying Injury Free

 

Allowing The Knees To Go Forward During The Squat

THE squat is one of my favourite exercises. It can be layered to work many different muscles at the same time and should be on your exercise list.

However, when done incorrectly can very easily damage your knees and lower back.
When doing a squat the wrong way, the knees will move forward excessively towards the bottom of the motion.

This will leave the knees far in front of the toes, which should not happen, as it puts a lot of pressure directly on the knees.
When done right, the movement should be the same as going from a seated to standing position. This means that as you lower your body, the hips are pushed back, allowing the knees to stay fairly stationary behind the feet.

Stand in front of a chair or by a wall if you need something to hold onto for balance.  It may be more comfortable for you to spread your feet out.

Pitfalls Of Success Pride

Praying man at the altar. Image source erikbrewer

A feeling of self-respect and personal worth. Satisfaction with your (or another’s) achievements. The trait of being spurred on by a dislike of falling below your standards. Unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem (personified as one of the deadly sins).

YOU know the scripture, which speaks about how pride goes before a fall. We all know it well really, but how rarely we think of ourselves as being proud.

Most times, you envision pride as having to be loud and pompous, but it is that pride that has been expertly hidden that is more dangerous.
Frankly, unless the Lord uncovers this deadly sin in your heart, you will live oblivious of it and wonder at your lack of grace.

Nollywood Actor, Bryan Okwara Urge Celebrities To Avoid Sharing Their Personal Life On Social Media

Hunky Nollywood actor and model, Bryan Okwara, opened up in a recent interview about his personal life and how much celebrities should share on social media.

The actor revealed he shares just enough on social media and avoids sensitive posts that could harm his career in future.

He said, “I try not to share too much because the thing about too much information is that when it gets back at you not everybody knows why you shared it. Just to avoid mis-haps i would rather not put very sensitive things out there.”