One in four UK families have less than £100 in savings,research finds.

Low-income families in Britain hold an average of only £95 in savings and investments, compared to a mean £62,885 that higher income families have, according to new research, which highlights the widening gap between rich and poor.

According to insurer Aviva’s Family Finances report, the savings gap between low and high-income families has increased 25 per cent year-on-year, from £50,072 to £62,790, with UK households facing increased financial pressure from stalling incomes and savings, combined with rising debt and inflation fears.Low-income families typically had £95 in savings this winter compared to £136 the same period last year. Among high-income families, savings jumped to £62,885 from £50,072 last year

Source:www.independent.co.uk\

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Girls can wed at 12 in some parts of the US.

65-year-old man "marries" 12-year-old girl in Times Square social experiment

Lawmakers in America are struggling and battling to overturn some of the country's most archaic laws, which stipulate that children as young as 12 can be married.

SICK, DYING AND RAPED IN AMERICA'S NURSING HOMES

Some of the victims can't speak. They rely on walkers and wheelchairs to leave their beds. They have been robbed of their memories. They come to nursing homes to be cared for.

Jammeh's spy master Yankuba Badjie arrested

Gambia's former head of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Yankuba Badjie, has been arrested, the NIA was involved in the disappearance and torture of critics of ex-President Yahya Jammeh. Mr Badjie is the first of Mr. Jammeh's security officials to be taken into custody by the new government.

More African migrants drown off Libya

More bodies of African migrants continue to be washed ashore in the Libyan city of Zawiya, in the latest drowning tragedy as they were trying to cross the Mediterranean to Italy. 

Nigeria requests $500 million from Trump.

Former Nigerian President General Sani Abacha

A Nigerian economic and social rights group is demanding from the White House an amount of $500 million of stolen funds, which it claims are being held by the US.

Video : Famine in South Sudan; Lives of 4.9 million people in Danger

Famine in South Sudan has left 100,000 people on the verge of starvation and almost 5 million people, more than 40% of the country's population, in need of urgent help, aid agencies say.

People are already dying of hunger, and another 1 million people are on the brink of famine, UN agencies said.

Years of civil war, a refugee crisis, and a collapsing economy have taken their toll on South Sudan since it gained its independence in 2011.

Now the UN World Food Programme and nongovernmental organizations are sounding the alarm, warning that more than a million children are suffering from acute malnutrition

Source:edition.cnn.com

It pays to learn these Etiquette Rules

Good manners are a sign of politeness, regardless of what others may think. Having good manners means speaking properly, using proper vocabulary, restraining emotions, having a neat and clean appearance, and being courteous.

1.4m children' face starving to death - UN.

Due to conflicts and war, almost  one-and-a-half million children are at risk of starvation in South Sudan, Nigeria, Yemen and Somalia as reported by the United Nations' children's agency.

Source:w ww.bbc.co

VIDEO: Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to UN, dies.

Tributes poured in Monday for Vitaly Churkin, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations who died suddenly in New York. He was remembered for his intellect, wit and the pride he took in serving his country.

Churkin died one day before his 65th birthday.The diplomat suffered from cardiac arrest while at the Russian Mission on East 67th Street, a law enforcement official said. He was taken to New York's Presbyterian Hospital, where he died.

Source: cnn.com

Heterosexual couple lose legal battle over civil partnership law

A heterosexual couple in Britain lost their court battle for the right to enter into a civil partnership -- an alternative to marriage that is reserved for same-sex couples in the UK.The Court of Appeal in London rejected a claim by Rebecca Steinfeld and Charles Keidan, who argued they were discriminated against because civil partnerships are not available to people of the opposite sex.
Steinfeld and Keidan oppose traditional marriage because they regard it as a "patriarchal" institution. Speaking outside court, Steinfeld said they were "deeply disappointed" by the ruling.

Source: .cnn.com

Dr. Dr. Daisaku Ikeda- President, Soka Gakkai International.

"We cannot build true character if we allow ourselves to be swayed by passing praise or censure. "Don't concern yourself with petty criticisms! Commune constantly with fine people and improve yourself!" This was the creed by which Mr. Makiguchi and Mr. Toda lived their lives." ( Daisaku Ikeda's "For Today & Tomorrow"; p. 239)

Serious food crisis in Venezuela reflected in skipped meals and weight loss

A mother in Venezuela shows her frustration on how she does her food shopping amid shortages and high inflation in Venezuela: Whatever is cheapest in the season is what her children eat,

Breaking News! NASA to announce 'major' exoplanet discovery.

Nasa is to host a major press conference on Wednesday to reveal a 'discovery beyond our solar system.

Wow! Thirteen of the highlights in London Fashion Week:

A round-up of some of the weird and wonderful outfits to have come out of this season's London Fashion Week.

Mary Katrantzou was inspired by 1940s Disney film Fantasia in her latest collection, which saw many of the outfits explode with fantasy and colour. She said the movie "allowed me to dream"

London Fashion Week is taking place, focusing on autumn/winter collections for next year. Canadian model Winnie Harlow, who has the skin condition vitiligo, walked the runway for British designer Julien Macdonald in one of his black gowns with cut-outs at the waist.

Fearne Cotton took to the catwalk to model an all-white PVC outfit for Pam Hogg's autumn/winter collection.

Sisters GiGi and Bella Hadid both walked the runway for the Versus Versace, modeling outfits which had a futuristic look with elements of grunge

The audience squeezed themselves into a narrow corridor for JW Anderson's show, which saw a huge array of styles, from ostrich feathers mixed with silk florals to shiny metalic dresses.

The team behind Ports 1961, who also unveiled their autumn/winter collection, all trained at Central Saint Martins - one of the most famous fashion schools in the world.

You may remember Roland Mouret as the designer who came up with the famous Galaxy dress in 2005, which went on to be worn by the likes of Victoria Beckham and Cameron Diaz. He made a triumphant return to LFW to unveil his 20th-anniversary collection - an homage to his design work so far.

One recurring theme so far this week has been gender fluidity. We've seen men modelling what would traditionally be seen as women's wear and vice versa. Many of the clothing brands have been designed to be deliberately unisex or androgynous. Outfits by Oliver Thame (left) and Robert Sanders were particularly noted for their lack of gender constraints

The Topshop Unique collection had mix-and-match flavour, with the press notes at the event describing the colourful women's outfits as "kaleidoscopic

Five models aged between 47 and 65 staged a protest against the lack of age diversity on the catwalk. Retailer JD Williams supported the protest, which took place on The Strand.

There was one designer who could certainly not be accused of ageism - Simone Rocha. The Irish designer included several models in their seventies in her autumn/winter show

 Saturday morning didn't deter the audience for Hussein Chalayan's show. The designer hasn't shown a collection in London for more than 15 years.

It wasn't all about the outfits on the catwalk, however, as bags took centre stage at the Mulberry 

Source www.bbc.com

Iraq advances on west Mosul outskirts.

Iraqi forces have moved closer to the southern outskirts of western Mosul, on the second day of a fresh offensive against the Islamic State.

North Korea Responsible for Kim Jong-nam Murder, says South Korea.

South Korea has said it believes the North Korean regime is involved in the murder of Kim Jong-nam.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's half-brother was killed at Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur airport last week.

Amazing! “MAPTING” Launched to Increase Youth Participation in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals

A new app has been created to track and map activities that contribute to actualizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Seeds of Hope: Visions of sustainability, steps toward change

A joint collaboration of SGI and the Earth Charter International that has given birth to  “Seeds of Hope” an exhibition that stresses our interconnectedness with the rest of the community of life and the need to broaden our sphere of compassion and concern. It seeks to encourage viewers to overcome feelings of powerlessness and highlights the fact that a single individual can cause positive change.

Heritage Fund to finance free SHS policy – Osafo Marfo

The government is planning to review the Petroleum Management Act to allow for the use of the Heritage Fund to finance the free senior high school (SHS) policy scheduled to start in September 2017.

South African mother stabbed 21 times as police arrest a man.

Rolf discovered his mother dead body in his sister's bedroom after suffering the gruesome attack when a  South African woman, Tanya Wiers, 44 was ambushed in her own home and stabbed 21 times before having her eyes gouged out.

A 7-year-old applied to Google asking for a job—here's how the CEO responded

A seven-year-old Chloe Bridgewater, who lives in Hereford, UK, wrote a letter to Google asking for a job.

"After seeing images of Google offices with their bean bags, go-karts and slides my 7-year-old daughter decided to write to Google to see if they would give her a job," Andy Bridgewater writes on LinkedIn.

Bridgewater provided CNBC with the original letter, addressed to "google boss": Like a skilled job seeker, Chloe discusses her own qualifications ("I like computers") and explains why she believes she would be a good fit for the company and provides references: 

"My teachers tell my mum and dad that I am very good in class and am good at my spelling, reading, and my sums."

The letter caught the eye of Google's CEO Sundar Pichai, who wrote back with encouragement: "I think if you keep working hard and following your dreams, you can accomplish everything you set your mind to — from working at Google to swimming in the Olympics.

"I look forward to receiving your job application when you are finished with school!"

source://www.cnbc.com

President Akufo-Addo may sack Boakye Agyarko - John Boadu

The Acting General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has disclosed President Akufo Addo may sack Energy and Petroleum Minister, Boakye Agyarko if evidence comes out that he indeed paid a bribe to members of the Appointment Committee of parliament.

“If there is evidence to prove the allegation against Mr. Agyarko, Nana Addo will not hesitate to sack him, he is capable of doing that. We should be very careful,” he counseled.

But in the absence of any such evidence, the National Organiser has dismissed calls by some individuals for the Energy Minister to resign or be fired. According to him, such suggestions should be treated wit the contempt it deserves. He argues, “with the kind of politics we do here and how people can be untruthful to each other, then the president will rule without any minister if he goes by alleged issues”

Retired Ghanaian diplomat, K.B Asante is one of few people demanding the immediate resignation of Boakye Agyarko after Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga has accused him of bribing some committee members. But John Boadu insists, such calls are premature stressing, “we should be very careful of what we are asking for.”

source:www.ghanaweb.com

Great Pose by Lily M

The only Lily in the valley of Africa has taken this great pose to greet her fans out there, kudos Lily M

Online Scam of $72,000 to Africa in Facebook gold deal

Kenneth J. Plonski Claiming he was promised huge amounts of gold by a man from Ghana, a 63-year-old man wired more than $70,000 to Africa, scamming a Bay County credit union in the process, police allege.

A,  Michigan State Police trooper found out from a staff at Copoco Community Credit Union, 4265 E. Wilder Road in Bangor Township, that a member Kenneth J. Plonski had defrauded the institution. Plonski in October 2014 opened a mortgage on a Bay City residence and began making monthly payments. He also opened a Visa gift card with a line of credit secured from the mortgage for $20,000, court records show.

About three years prior, Plonski started playing a farm game on Facebook through which he befriended a man who claimed he lived in Ghana, a country in western Africa. The man told Plonski his father worked in African gold mines and that, because gold was so plentiful on the continent, it wasn't worth much and could be purchased for very little, then sent to the U.S. and sold for a sizable profit, according to the source.

Plonski began wiring money to an African bank, he told police. His Facebook friend started asking for more and more cash, however, telling him more money was needed to insure the gold and to ship it to the U.S.

Plonski on April 22 opened a savings account at Chemical Bank and on several occasions, deposited large sums of money and then wired them to the man, court records show. He last attempted to wire cash overseas on July 15, after he was told by police and his attorney that he was being scammed, court records show.

Plonski on Thursday, Feb. 9, appeared in Bay County District Court for arraignment on one count of false pretenses between $50,000 and $100,000. The charge is punishable by up to 15 years' imprisonment and a fine of $25,000 or three times the value of misappropriated money.

The arraigning judge set Plonski's bond at $5,000 cash-surety and scheduled his case for a preliminary examination for 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23.

source:amp.mlive.com

Judge Jeanine: 'The Supreme Court Will Give Trump the Win'

The 9th U.S. Court of Appeals on Thursday unanimously upheld a temporary suspension of President Donald Trump's executive order restricting travelers from seven Muslim- nations, Judge James Robart, of the Federal District Court in Seattle, issued the restraining order after Washington state and Minnesota both sued.

Promoting black girl books – the story of Marley Emmerson Diaz

11-year-old Marley Emmerson Diaz is an avid reader and loved to read. She read so much that she felt all the stories had a very similar character- caucasian boys with dogs. She needed a new challenging book and wanted to read about black girls like her who were not so popular in the children's literature department. 

Surprisingly, Marley decided to start the #1000BlackGirlBooks campaign which sought to collect at least 1000 books about black girls and their adventures. The campaign has been so successful that she has collected about 8000 books and helped promote the need for more books with diverse storylines for children.

But Marley's story does not end there. The campaign has taken her on a black girl adventure of her own. She was given the opportunity to work for elle.com as editor in residence where she is working on a magazine for tweens. She has also published her own book for Scholastica which teaches children how they can translate an idea into a plan that gets attention and funding to create change. Basically, Marley is not only promoting the black girl literature, she has also become an influencer at the tender age of 11. What is your idea? Instead of talking yourself out of it, perhaps it is better to take a page from Marley' book and do something about it.

source:rising africa.org

Mahama Hails Special Prosecutor initiative

Former President John Dramani Mahama has described the new government’s  initiative on the appointment of Special Prosecutor to deal with corruption as a step in the right direction.

Stop crediting Kojo Antwi for My creative Works-'Kwaisey Pee’

Ghanaian singer Akwasi Opoku popularly called ‘Kwaisey Pee’ is unhappy and has expressed worry about how Ghanaians credit his songs to celebrated musician Kojo Antwi

He questioned why people assume that he bears the same voice with the maestro adding that the only resemblance he has with the ‘Adiepena’ hit-maker is the dreadlocks they both wear.

‘People say our voices sound same, but I will say no, maybe the only resemblance is the dreadlocks, our voices differ, because Kojo has husky voice, and my voice is silky and smooth, so if you know the difference, you can tell,’ he indicated.

The vibrant musician with six albums to his credit, remarked that he loved the legend’s songs when growing up but never planned to sound like him. ‘You see when people want to sound like or kinda copy others, you will see but mine is natural,’ he explained.

The musician who hoped to be a big icon in the entertainment and creative arts industry refused to mention if he is better than Kojo Antwi or not.

John Mahama and the former veep homes

In picture 1 is a sprawling $4.1 million dollar 21 bedroom mansion on a 17-acre land belonging to ....... guess who owns these houses 

Picture 2 is Mahama's $14 million dollar building on a 3-acre land. John Mahama is a crime against humanity.

PICTURE 1 IS A HOUSE IN USA ON A 17 ACRE PLOT FOR 4.1 MILLION DOLLARS

PICTURE 2 A VEEP HOUSE IN GHANA ON A 3 ACRE PLOT FOR 14 MILLION DOLLARS

Source www.facebook.com

Yazidi reveals how she was raped by 12 ISIS fanatics.

 

Yazidi woman who was repeatedly raped by ISIS thugs after they stormed her village said girls as young as nine were enslaved by the terror group.

Nadia Murad escaped from her captors after three months, but said more than 6,500 women and girls have been kidnapped and abused. Before her escape, she was raped by 12 men. Since fleeing to Germany, she has travelled the world raising awareness of the plight of Yazidi women enslaved by ISIS.

Speaking to STV News on a visit to Scotland, where she met  Nicola Sturgeon, she said: 'They took children to training camps and they were killing many others and telling us we would be enslaved.

'We didn't feel valued as humans in their hands. They enslaved more than 6,500 females they took them to different places.

source://www.dailymail.co.uk/

Christians should apologize to gay people-Pope

Pope Francis claims Christians the world over owe apologies to gays and all those who have been offended or exploited by the church, most Catholics have hailed this remark from the pope as a breakthrough in the church's tone toward homosexuality.

"I repeat what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: that they must not be discriminated against, that they must be respected and accompanied pastorally," Francis said at a press conference aboard the papal plane returning from Armenia.

"The Church must ask forgiveness for not behaving many times -- when I say the Church, I mean Christians! The Church is holy, we are sinners!"

As he often does during unscripted moments -- particularly papal news conferences -- the Pope spoke expansively, saying the church should seek forgiveness for a number of historical slights committed in its name.

source .cnn.com

The New Queen Of the Asante Kingdom

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has chosen his 83-year old sister, Nana Ama Konadu, as the next Queen of the Asante Kingdom.

The Asantehene appointed the new Queenmother in consultation with the Head of the royal family. Ama Konadu will be succeeding the late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, who died in November 2016, and has been buried in January 2017. She will appear at the Asanteman Council before Otumfuo announces her as the new Queen Mother at a durbar. Her stool name will be announced later.

Otumfuo’s sister- The new Asantehemaa

Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has appointed his elder sister, Nana Ama Konadu, as the new Asantehemaa.
Nana Ama Konadu will succeed Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, the Asante Queen who passed away at the age of 111 after reigning for 39 years. According to sources, an official announcement is expected from the Manyhia Palace soon. Nana Ama Konadu will be the 14th queen of the Asante kingdom.

Lily M- Check her hairstyle

A nice one there-creativity at its best, She is poised for the best in music, singing, and dancing, A FORCE TO RECKON WITH. Lily M, up and coming musician.