'They ensure each twin baby dies': the secret killings in central Nigeria - The Guardian

The room is filled with the cries of 30 or more babies. Steven Olusola visits each cradle, peering into their eyes in search of illness.

“They fall sick often because they never received any breastfeeding,” says Olusola, who founded Vine Heritage Home Foundation with his wife, Chinwe, 13 years ago. This is a sanctuary, for children rescued from one of the most remote areas of Nigeria, where being born a twin can be a death sentence.

Few Nigerians realise that the killings of twin babies continues. The practice is shrouded in secrecy, says Dioka Bridget, research fellow at the Centre for Igbo Studies, University of Nigeria.

“Many researchers don’t believe this practice takes place in [Nigeria] because it is absolutely absurd and ridiculous. And since most of us believe the stories to be fabricated, there is reluctance to approach or investigate the practice,” she says. “Now, as more media reports confirm [it], it could trigger the necessary investigation.”

First monkey clones created in Chinese laboratory - BBC

Image copyrightQIANG SUN

Image captionZhong Zhong and Hua Hua are being bottle fed and are growing normally

Two monkeys have been cloned using the technique that produced Dolly the Sheep.

Identical long-tailed macaques Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua were born several weeks ago at a laboratory in China.

Scientists say populations of monkeys that are genetically identical will be useful for research into human diseases.

But critics say the work raises ethical concerns by bringing the world closer to human cloning.

We’ve taken Obasanjo’s admonition in good faith – FG (Punch Newspapers )

The Federal Government on Wednesday replied to an elder statesman, Olusegun Obasanjo’s criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, saying it had taken his admonition in good faith.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Lai Mohammed, gave the response in a seven-page statement read to state House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council Meeting.

He thanked the ex-president for the letter.

The Minister said that the administration had no reason to believe that Obasanjo’s motive was not beyond the well-being of the nation.

“We have no reason to believe that former President Obasanjo has any motive beyond the well-being of the nation in issuing his Special Press Statement.

Shelter: America's Homeless Veterans - Al Jazeera

After years of waging war overseas, US veterans returning to civilian life struggle with PTSD, homelessness, addiction.

Roger Schultz served as a cannoneer sergeant in the US Marine Corps. He liked serving in the army, because "I learned how to be a Marine and nothing else. You always had somebody on your side."

Eventually he quit the army to be back with his family, but his wife left him the following year and his life spiralled out of control. Schultz ended up living out of his truck, barely getting by.

In search of a place to stay, he finally checked into a Veterans Resource Center (VRC) in California, which provides housing and group therapy for former members of the military. 

iPhone X screen repair: That'll be $275 - CNN

Hot tip for anyone running out to buy Apple's new $1,000 smartphone: Don't drop it.

The iPhone X, which hits store shelves November 3, is Apple's most expensive phone yet. But the higher price tag isn't reserved just for the phone. Repairs are more expensive, too. 

A broken screen will set you back $275, according to repair costs posted to the Apple web site. For comparison, a screen repair for Apple's new $799 iPhone 8 Plus, costs $169. The figures were reported earlier by MacRumors. 

Those repair prices come down if you splurge for AppleCare+ -- an extended warranty program that adds $199 onto the iPhone X's sticker price.

Crown prince says Saudis want return to moderate Islam - BBC News

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said the return of "moderate Islam" is key to his plans to modernise the Gulf kingdom.

He told reporters that 70% of the Saudi population was under 30 and that they wanted a "life in which our religion translates to tolerance".

The prince vowed to "eradicate the remnants of extremism very soon". 

He made the comments after announcing the investment of $500bn (£381bn) in a new city and business zone.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman made the comments at an economic conference in Riyadh - AFP

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dubbed NEOM, it will be situated on 26,500 sq km (10,230 sq miles) of Saudi Arabia's north-western Red Sea coast, near Egypt and Jordan.

Others May, I Cannot - A call to take a stand and not vacillate

Others may do as they please, I must not do what my fallen nature suggests lest I be drowned - I must do as He pleases. Why should I call Him Lord, Lord and not do what He wants? Others may deceive to receive a blessing from man; my heart is fixed on receiving from God before whom all liars are cast away into eternal burning. Others may follow multitudes to do evil what is that to me? If I must go to heaven my company has to be few for few there be that find the way of life. Though it’s not always easy to be in the minority, the same God who helped Noah to stand told me “His grace is sufficient for me”. The temptations are there, to eat like others, dress like others, live like others but these others who have no cross to bear are not a pattern for me. We cannot keep the same pace – I have a goal, which they know nothing about.