Paul Ikpe's Blog ❤

​ Image captionConditions were basic at this emergency shelter in Paksong The death toll from the dam collapse in Laos could be much higher than the official figure of 27, local people and aid agencies have told the BBC. Few details of the rescue operation are being released by the Laotian authorities – but a… Continue reading Laos dam collapse: authorities still counting number of dead people

​ Greek fires: Authorities say Residents ‘worsened disaster’ https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.21.7/iframe.html Media captionGreek fires: Survivors confront defence minister over response Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos has told the BBC illegal construction contributed to one of the country’s worst-ever wildfire disasters. He said building by residents between wooded areas was a “crime” that had resulted in blocking escape… Continue reading Greek fires: Authorities say Residents ‘worsened disaster’

​ Serena Williams returned to tennis in February after a year out, during which she gave birth to her first child Serena Williams says she is a victim of “discrimination” as she is the most drug tested American tennis player. The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion made the claim in a tweet on Tuesday, after doping officials… Continue reading Serena Williams says she is being ‘discriminated’ against over doping tests

Image copyrightFACEBOOK/ELIN.K.ERSSONImage captionElin Ersson refused to sit until the Afghan was taken off the flight A stunt by a Swedish activist to stop the deportation of an Afghan refugee has been widely hailed on social media. University student Elin Ersson had booked the same flight as the Afghan and refused to sit down unless he… Continue reading Swedish activist stops deportation of Afghan man

Image copyrightAFPImage captionImages of the aftermath of the attacks were broadcast by state media At least 50 people have died in a wave of suicide bombings and gun attacks in southern Syria, reports say. The attacks took place in and around the government-held city of Suweida on Wednesday, state media and monitors reported. The Islamic… Continue reading Syria war: Suicide attacks in the south kill 50 Civilians

​ Image copyrightTWITCH/JUSTSMURF An Uber and Lyft driver who broadcast videos of his passengers online has been suspended from both car-sharing services. Jason Gargac live-streamed passengers’ journeys on video-sharing site Twitch, where viewers would comment on their behaviour and appearance. Local newspaper the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said passengers were seen kissing, vomiting and gossiping about relatives and… Continue reading Uber driver streamed hidden camera videos on Twitch, got fired

​ Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionChina has seen a number of incidents involving medicine safety in recent years Authorities in China have ordered an investigation into a vaccination scandal as panic grows over product safety. Last week vaccine maker Changsheng Biotechnology Co was found to have falsified production data for its rabies vaccine. The firm has… Continue reading Chinese Premier Li Keqiang calls for crackdown on vaccine production industry against fake products

​ Pakistan election raises fears of ‘creeping coup’ Image copyrightAFP A day before Pakistan’s 11th national election, the country’s dream of undiluted democracy appears to be receding – again. In its 70-year history, Pakistan has alternated between quasi-democracy and pure military rule. In the process it has become embroiled in international conflicts and morphed into… Continue reading Pakistan election raises fears of ‘creeping coup’

Image copyrightAFP/GETTY IMAGESImage captionDingoes are native to Australia and do not often attack humans An Australian woman says she feared for her life while being attacked by two dingoes at an Outback mine. Deb Rundle, 54, suffered wounds to her legs and other injuries during the mauling in Western Australia last week. The mine worker… Continue reading Wild animals called Dingo attacks Australian woman while she was eating

​ https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.21.7/iframe.html Media caption‘It just seemed very surreal’ Canadian officials have identified the suspect in Sunday’s deadly shooting in Toronto as Faisal Hussain, 29. The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said it was releasing his name due “to the exceptional circumstances of this tragic incident”. A 10-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman died after a… Continue reading Toronto shooting suspect that killed 2 identified as Faisal Hussain, 29 yrs

​ Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionNorth Korea has used the Sohae station to launch rockets North Korea appears to have begun dismantling part of a key rocket launch site in the country’s north-west. Satellite images of the Sohae station seen by US-based monitoring group 38 North suggest Pyongyang is complying with a promise made to the US… Continue reading N Korea ‘begins dismantling’ rocket launch site

Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionThe bulldozers moved in at dawn, two weeks after eviction notices were served The homes of about 30,000 people have been demolished in a Kenyan slum to make way for a new $20m (£15m) dual carriage way in the capital Nairobi. The residents, living in part of the city’s largest slum, Kibera, were… Continue reading Kenyan 30,000 slum houses demolished to make way for road

​ Ozil, capped 92 times by Germany, announced he has quit international football Ehrenfeld is a part of Cologne, Germany, renowned for its multi-cultural community. Senol, working behind the till at one newsagents by the train station, represents just that. About half a century ago, his family uprooted from Turkey and came to Germany as… Continue reading Mesut Ozil: Germany divided because of midfielder decidion to leave

​ Ozil could not stop Germany losing to South Korea and going out of the 2018 World Cup at the group stage Germany’s football association (DFB) has “emphatically rejected” allegations of racism from Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, but says it could have done more to protect him from abuse. Ozil, 29, said he no longer wants to… Continue reading Mesut Ozil: German FA rejects Arsenal midfielder’s racism claim

​ Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionThe public are being advised to take every precaution to avoid the extreme heat Japan’s weather agency has declared a heatwave sweeping the country a natural disaster, with at least 65 deaths recorded in the past week. An agency spokesman warned that “unprecedented levels of heat” were being seen in some… Continue reading Japan heatwave declared natural disaster as death toll increases

Image copyrightAFPImage captionSeveral of the boys had previously attended a religious ceremony at a Buddhist temple Most members of the Thai youth football team rescued from a flooded cave will have their heads shaved and don robes to be ordained as novices in a Buddhist ceremony on Tuesday. Their coach will also receive monk’s orders.… Continue reading Thai cave boys to be ordained in Buddhist ceremony

​ https://emp.bbc.com/emp/SMPj/2.21.7/iframe.html Media captionDeadly forest fires rage near Athens Nearly 50 people have died in wildfires burning in the Attica region around Athens, in Greece’s worst fire crisis in more than a decade. According to the local mayor, 26 bodies were found in a yard in the seaside village of Mati, which is at the… Continue reading Greece wildfires: Nearly 50, mostly tourists dead in holiday area

Hundreds of people are missing and an unknown number dead after a dam collapsed in south-east Laos, state media reported. The collapse at the hydroelectric dam in Attapu province late on Monday sent flash floods through six villages, Laos News Agency said. “Several human lives” were lost and “several hundreds of people [are] missing”, it… Continue reading BREAKING! Laos dam collapse: Unknown number DEAD, ‘Hundreds missing’ after flash floods hit villages

​ Nigerians on Twitter reacted angrily to being reminded of the fourth anniversary of the day President Muhammadu Buhari survived an alleged assassination attempt on him. Buhari’s Personal Assistant, Bashir Ahmad had tweeted a photo of the bullet-ridden vehicle as well as a statement issued by the president after his convoy was attacked four years… Continue reading Buhari’s alleged assassination attempt: Stop living in the past, followers blast President

Image copyrightREUTERSImage captionAlexanda Kotey (left) and El Shafee Elsheikh were captured by Syrian Kurdish forces The UK would not oppose the use of the death penalty if two alleged Islamic state members were extradited to the US, the home secretary says. In a letter leaked to the Telegraph, Sajid Javid said he would seek no assurances… Continue reading Islamic State ‘Beatles’ duo: UK ‘will not block death penalty’