US election 2016: Donald Trump and Ted Cruz call for 'one-on-one' after Super Saturday wins

US election 2016: Donald Trump and Ted Cruz call for 'one-on-one' after Super Saturday wins

Following a week of concerted attacks from the Republican establishment, Donald Trump’s grip on the party’s presidential nomination at last appeared to weaken – just barely – last night. Texas Senator Ted Cruz triumphed in two states, Kansas and Maine, at the so-called “Super Saturday” primaries, further cementing his claim that he is the one remaining GOP candidate capable of beating Mr Trump.

Yet his victories have likely come too late to seriously hinder the New York billionaire, who also claimed a brace of states yesterday: a marginal win over Mr Cruz in Kentucky, and a 20-point landslide in Louisiana, which, with 47 delegates, was the biggest trophy of the weekend.

Speaking last night in West Palm Beach, Florida, Mr Trump urged Marco Rubio to drop out of the race, after the Florida Senator suffered another poor set of results, including a fourth-place finish in Maine. Mr Trump added that he would relish the prospect of a two-way tussle with Mr Cruz. “I would love to take on Ted one-on-one, that would be so much fun,” he said.
The Republican results were mirrored by the Democratic race, with Bernie Sanders securing symbolic victories in Kansas and Nebraska, even as front-runner Hillary Clinton conserved her growing delegate lead with 70-23 per cent triumph over the Vermont Senator in Louisiana.

While the states up for grabs this weekend were minor in terms of their delegate count, the results will give a glimmer of hope to those still striving to keep the GOP nomination out of Mr Trump’s reach. In recent days, GOP donors have ploughed funds into an anti-Trump Super PAC, while several high-profile Republicans have come out against the pugnacious property magnate.

On Thursday the party’s 2012 presidential pick, Mitt Romney, delivered a broadside against The Donald, calling him a “fraud”. Mr Romney laid out a plan to defeat Mr Trump at a brokered party convention. While it may be too late to consolidate voters behind a single non-Trump candidate, his rivals could collectively deprive him of the majority of delegates required to sew up the nomination.

Until recently, Mr Cruz was considered singularly unpalatable to many of his own GOP colleagues, yet he now looks increasingly like the party’s only plausible alternative to Mr Trump. On Saturday the Texas Senator topped a straw poll of conservative activists at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland.

With 50.7 per cent in the Kansas caucuses, he also became the first Republican candidate to claim more than half the vote in any state. Campaigning last night in Idaho ahead of that state’s primary on Tuesday, Mr Cruz said: “Kansas, CPAC and Maine are all very different sets of voters, and I think what it represents is a Republican party coalescing against Donald Trump.”

Mr Trump’s opponents are already looking ahead to Florida and Ohio, two delegate-rich, winner-take-all states both set to vote on 15 March, where Mr Rubio and Ohio governor John Kasich ought to enjoy home advantages. Yet while a new poll puts Mr Kasich in front in Ohio, Mr Trump appears to have a double-digit lead over Mr Rubio in Florida. Meanwhile, Mr Cruz is reportedly planning to campaign hard in the Sunshine state, in hopes of knocking Mr Rubio out of the race altogether.

For Bernie Sanders, Super Saturday offered a repeat in miniature of Super Tuesday, with the socialist Senator from Vermont unable to attract significant support in the South, where African-American voters have come out overwhelmingly on Ms Clinton’s side. Her win in Louisiana will have given her almost as many delegates as Mr Sanders’ collected in Kansas and Nebraska combined.

Majority of UK women don't bathe or take a shower daily

Majority of UK women don't bathe or take a shower daily

The majority of women in the UK don’t bathe or take a shower each day because they are too tired, new research has revealed.

The survey also showed that as many as one in three women admitted that they had gone as long as three days without washing or wiping their face or body at all.

Some 57 per cent of women acknowledged the importance of hygiene, but said that they didn't have the time to shower or bathe before bed, and instead opted to freshen up with wipes.

The survey of over 2,000 females by skin care range Flint + Flint also showed that over 60 per cent of women did not remove their makeup before bed after a night out, with 35 per cent of those saying they were worried about getting enough sleep.

Asked whether they washed in the morning, only a fifth of women said they took a shower or bath every day, with over 30 percent revealing they did not wash for three days at time. 

However, 92 per cent of participants said they understood the importance of a skin care regime and recognised that life-style factors such as lack of sleep and dehydration can impact the appearance of their skin.

Almost 90 per cent of women surveyed said they didn’t improve their hygiene because they were too tired in the morning or evening.

The NHS advises that to maintain a basic level of hygiene, a person must wash their face and brush their teeth daily; clean their hands after using the toilet; wash their genital and anal area each day; and fully bath or shower at least twice a week. 

Flint + Flint owner Maxine Flint said the company was "alarmed" by the survey.

“We were alarmed to hear about the amount of women not looking after their skin by following basic skin care regimes.  It is so important to clean your face daily and moisturise to slow down the ageing process.”

"It’s true that today’s pace of life is fast but surely as a nation we haven’t become too busy to wash!”

Iranian billionaire businessman Babak Zanjani has been sentenced to death

Iranian billionaire businessman Babak Zanjani has been sentenced to death for corruption, justice officials say. He was arrested in December 2013 after accusations that he withheld billions in oil revenue channelled through his companies. He denies the allegations. Zanjani was convicted of fraud and economic crimes, a judiciary spokesperson said at a press briefing. Two others were also sentenced to death and all were ordered to repay embezzled funds. One of Iran's richest men, Zanjani had been blacklisted by the US and EU for helping Iran evade oil sanctions in place at the time. He had acknowledged using a web of companies in the UAE, Turkey, and Malaysia to sell millions of barrels of Iranian oil on behalf of the government since 2010. Before his arrest, Zanjani had claimed international sanctions were preventing him from handing over $1.2bn still owed to the government. He was taken into custody a day after President Hassan Rouhani ordered his government to fight "financial corruption", particularly "privileged figures" who had "taken advantage of economic sanctions".

Abia North Re-run: INEC declares PDP’s Ohuabunwa as winner

Abia North Re-run: INEC declares PDP’s Ohuabunwa as winner

The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, who won four out of the five local government areas in the Abia North Senatorial election re-run, has been declared winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

He defeated former governor of the state and candidate of the Progressives Peoples Alliance, PPA, Orji Uzor Kalu; Dr. David Onuoha-Bourdex of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and Nnenna Nma Lancaster-Okoro of the All Progressives Congress.

Details soon

Shirley Frimpong-Manso wins Best Picture Editor at AMVCAs

Shirley Frimpong-Manso wins Best Picture Editor at AMVCAs

Shirley Nana Akua Frimpong-Manso won the award for Best Picture Editor at this year’s Africa Magic Viewers Choice held Saturday in Lagos.

Miss Frimpong-Manso’s win was a huge statement for Ghana, which failed to go home with a single award last year. The serial winner was not present to receive the award but took to Twitter to express her excitement.

In its 4th year, this year’s ceremony, which kicked off Friday evening with a nominees cocktail party, played host to key industry professionals drawn from the continent’s booming and emerging markets.

Still one of Africa’s biggest nights in movies, the AMVCA acknowledges the contribution made by Pan African filmmakers, actors and technicians to the success of the continent’s film & television industries. It honours the rich entrepreneurial and creative spirit of the African filmmaker.

Winners at tonight’s event received the prestigious AMVCA trophy.

The AMVCA is appreciated by the continent’s biggest players. Organizers maintain the scheme will endeavour to cultivate and inspire new talent within the various Pan African industries through its development programme. Content and technical Master Classes took place prior to the awards.

Ghana’s Patrick Asante of House of Eccentric lost out on the award for Best Costume Design for the Juliet-Asante-directed ‘Silverrain’ while Nana Mensah also lost in the Best Actress (Comedy) category. Juliet Asante missed out on winning the Best Movie in West Africa as well as the overall Best Movie award, which went to Stephanie Linus’ ‘Dry’.

Ghana’s nominated duo of Majid Michel and Van Vicker in the Best Actor (Drama) were beaten to it by Daniel K. Daniel for the movie ‘A Soldier’s Story’.

This year’s ceremony was hosted by South African beauty Minenhle Dlamini and IK Osakioduwa.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS HERE

Best Art Director – Frank Raja Arase for “The Refugees”

Best TV Series – Ariyike Oladipo for “Daddy’s Girls”

Best Makeup Artist– Louiza Calore for “Ayanda”

Best Short Film – Oluseyi Amuwa for “A Day With Death”

Best Writer – Trish Malone for “Ayanda”

Best Lighting – Stanley Ohikuare for “Common Man”

Best Cinematography – Paul Michaelson for “Tell Me Sweet Something”

Best Sound Editor – Marquez Jose Guillermo for “Dry”

Best Picture Editor – Shirley Frimpong-Manso for “Rebecca”

Best Costume Design – Uche Nancy for “Dry”

Best Local Language (Swahili) – Single Mtambalike for “Kitendawali”

Best Local Language (Hausa) – Salisu Balarabe for “Dadin Kowa”

Best Local Language (Yoruba) – Abiodun Jomoh & Jumoke Odetola for “Binta Ofege”

Best Local Language (Igbo) – Paul Igwe for “Usekwu Igbo”

Best Documentary – Remi Vaughan Richards for “Faaji Agba”

Best Supporting Actor – Sambassa Nseribe for “A Soldier’s Story”

Best Supporting Actress – Tunbosun Aiyedehin “Before 30”

Best Actor (Comedy) – Folarin Falz Falana for “Jenifa’s Diary”

Best Actress (Comedy) – Funke Akindele for “Jenifa’s Diary”

2016 AMVCA Trailblazer – Kemi Lala Akindoju

2016 AMVCA Industry Merit Awards – Bukky Ajayi & Sadiq Daba

Best Movie (Southern Africa) – “Lilongwe” by Joyce Mhango Chavula

Best Movie (Eastern Africa) – “Mapenzi” by Elizabeth Michael

Best Movie (Western Africa) – “Road To Yesterday” by Chinny Onwugbenu, Genevieve Nnaji & Chichi Nwoko

Best Actress (Drama) – Adesua Etomi for “Falling”

Best Actor (Drama) – Daniel K. Daniel for “A Soldier’s Story”

Best Director – Akin Omotosho for “Tell Me Sweet Something”

Best Overall Movie – “Dry” by Stephanie Linus

Ghana will pursue investments in oil, gas - Buah

Ghana will pursue investments in oil, gas - Buah

As part of the government’s effort to ensure that the oil and gas sector contributes towards the transformational agenda being pursued by President John Dramani Mahama, major oil and gas projects are still being pursued in Ghana, despite the downturn of crude oil prices worldwide.

This was made known by the Petroleum Minister, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, following the arrival of the FPSO Prof. John Evans Atta Mills (FPSO Atta Mills) on the shores of Ghana on March 2, 2016.

It will produce and store oil from Ghana’s Tweneboa-Enyenra-Ntomme (TEN) offshore oilfields being operated by Tullow Ghana Limited and its partners.

A statement signed by Mr Edward Abambire Bawa, the Head of Communications at the Ministry of Petroleum, and issued in Accra quoted Mr Buah as saying that “the arrival of the FPSO Atta Mills moves us to a sustained production of oil and gas”.

The minister also emphasised that the gas sector was the major game changer for Ghana’s economy and added that “the government is systematically developing additional gas fields and ramping up volumes in existing fields”.

“The President’s vision of ensuring that by 2020 Ghana gets 3,000MW of power will be achieved because we estimate that with the various projects lined up, gas volumes from indigenous fields will be enough to generate over 3,000MW of power,” the statement quoted the minister as pointing out.

It said he noted that significant progress had been made in the implementation of the Local Content Regulation, L.I. 2204.

“Significant local content milestones have been achieved with the enhanced participation of Ghanaians in the procurement of TEN and ENI projects,” he added.

“Participation of indigenous Ghanaian businesses in major infrastructure projects within the oil and gas sector continues to grow.

“For instance, in the construction of the FPSO Atta Mills, Ghanaian companies contributed remarkably. The deck of the vessel, which is lined with hundreds of modules and pipe rack support tools, were fabricated by Ghanaian companies,” it added

He further stated that in the next decade, 80 per cent of Ghana’s source of power would come from thermal generation, with gas as the critical feed stock.

64-year-old Ghanaian woman jailed for smuggling heroin to NY

64-year-old Ghanaian woman jailed for smuggling heroin to NY

New York City prosecutors sentenced a 64-year-old Ghanaian woman to more than two years in prison Friday for stuffing heroin inside dried fish and trying to smuggle the drug-filled treats into the United States.

The fishy smuggler was caught by officials at John F. Kennedy airport with three kilos of heroin, after an attentive customs agent singled her out for inspection upon her arrival last February on a flight from Amsterdam originating in Ghana, the New York Daily News reported.

Rose Amanor's 27-month sentence was short compared to the six-and-a-half years in prison prosecutors originally threatened.

Trying to excuse herself, the woman blamed her son for coercing her to bring the heroin to the US, according to the Daily News.

'I am asking you to have mercy on me so I can go home to my family and enjoy whatever time I have left with my family,' the woman said through an interpreter.

But the judge called her out on what he referred to as an 'incessant number of fish stories' told to authorities.

'I find it totally incredible that Mrs. Amanor didn't know what it was that she was doing,' federal judge Eric Vitaliano said according to the Daily News.

'It certainly was a disrespect for the law, sitting in this courtroom and spinning this incredible tale under oath.'

Amanor, who has been in custody for 13 months, had her request of a sentence of time served denied, and will be deported to Ghana upon her release from prison.