newssplashy

[newssplashy]

Jamel Myles took his life on the first week of school following four days of unbearable mockery and shun by fellow students at Joe Shoemaker Elementary School who said he looked like gay.

A 9-year-old boy from Denver in Colorado is reported to have committed suicide after he could not bear incessant bullying by his school mates, some of whom asked him to kill himself because he was gay.

The deceased, Jamel Myles took his life on the first week of school following four days of unbearable mockery and shun by fellow students at Joe Shoemaker Elementary School who said he looked like gay.

His distressed mother, Leia Pierce said: “Four days is all it took at school. I could just imagine what they said to him.

“My son told my oldest daughter the kids at school told him to kill himself. I’m just sad he didn’t come to me.”

Leia Pierce said she only became aware of her son’s condition over the summer when he personally revealed it to her, but little did she know that the youngster was facing problems at school.

 READ MORE: Man kills mother heartlessly, chops the body into pieces

“He went to school and said he was gonna tell people he’s gay because he’s proud of himself,” Leia Pierce added.

She is calling for an action against bullying which has become a dangerous trend among the youth.

“We should have accountability for bullying. I think the child should, because the child knows it’s wrong.

"The child wouldn’t want someone to do it to them. I think the parent should be held (accountable) because obviously the parents are either teaching them to be like that, or they’re treating them like that,” she said.

via Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NEWS

#IFTTT #Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NE

[newssplashy]

A group of 14 human rights organizations have written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding Google kill plans to create a censored search engine in China. Codenamed 'Dragonfly,' Google's plans to create a search engine compatible with China's stringent laws were revealed in August.

A group of 14 human rights organizations have written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding Google kill plans to create a censored search engine in China.

Codenamed "Dragonfly," Google's plans to create a search engine compatible with China's stringent laws were revealed by the Intercept in early August.

The letter, signed by the likes of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, asks Google to clarify its position on censorship and put safeguards in place for whistleblowers.

A group of 14 human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and PEN International, have written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding he reverse plans to launch a censored search engine in China.

News broke in early August that Google was planning to re-enter China after an eight-year hiatus. The Intercept obtained leaked documents showing that firm is working on a new search service, codenamed "Dragonfly," and that Pichai met with a Chinese government official in December 2017.

In their letter, the human rights groups said the plan would be an "an alarming capitulation by Google on human rights," as it would mean accommodating "one of the world’s most repressive internet censorship and surveillance regimes."

The letter demands three things:

That Google kills plans for a censored Chinese search engine.

That the company clarifies its position on censorship in China and outlines any steps it is taking to "safeguard against human rights violations" linked to Dragonfly and its other Chinese mobile apps.

Finally, it asks that Google guarantees protections for any internal whistleblowers.

Google announced it was leaving the Chinese market in 2010 after it detected a "highly sophisticated and targeted attack," the primary goal of which was to infiltrate the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists.

"If Google’s position has indeed changed, then this must be stated publicly, together with a clear explanation of how Google considers it can square such a decision with its responsibilities under international human rights standards and its own corporate values," the letter said.

It added that protections for whistleblowers are essential, pointing out that Google staff were instrumental in raising concerns about its involvement in military drone programme "Project Maven." The company has since set out ethical guidelines on the use of AI and plans to withdraw from the Pentagon project in 2019.

The letter concludes: "As it stands, Google risks becoming complicit in the Chinese government’s repression of freedom of speech and other human rights in China. Google should heed the concerns raised by human rights groups and its own employees and refrain from offering censored search services in China."

Business Insider has contacted Google for comment.

Here's the letter in full:

Dear Mr Pichai

(cc: Ben Gomes, Vice President of Search; Kent Walker, Senior Vice President of Global Affairs)

Like many of Google’s own employees, we are extremely concerned by reports that Google is developing a new censored search engine app for the Chinese market. The project, codenamed “Dragonfly”, would represent an alarming capitulation by Google on human rights. The Chinese government extensively violates the rights to freedom of expression and privacy; by accommodating the Chinese authorities’ repression of dissent, Google would be actively participating in those violations for millions of internet users in China.

We support the brave efforts of Google employees who have alerted the public to the existence of Dragonfly, and voiced their concerns about the project and Google’s transparency and oversight processes.

In contrast, company leadership has failed to respond publicly to concerns over Project Dragonfly, stating that it does not comment on “speculation about future plans”. Executives have also refused to answer basic questions about how the company will safeguard the rights of users in China as it seeks to expand its business in the country.

Since Google publicly exited the search market in China in 2010, citing restrictions to freedom of expression online, the Chinese government has strengthened its controls over the internet and intensified its crackdown on freedom of expression. We are therefore calling on Google to:

Reaffirm the company’s 2010 commitment not to provide censored search engine services in China;

Disclose its position on censorship in China and what steps, if any, Google is taking to safeguard against human rights violations linked to Project Dragonfly and its other Chinese mobile app offerings;

Guarantee protections for whistle-blowers and other employees speaking out where they see the company is failing its commitments to human rights.

Our concerns about Dragonfly are set out in detail below.

Freedom of expression and privacy in China and Google’s human rights commitments

It is difficult to see how Google would currently be able to relaunch a search engine service in China in a way that would be compatible with the company’s human rights responsibilities under international standards, or its own commitments. Were it to do so, in other words, there is a high risk that the company would be directly contributing to, or complicit in, human rights violations.

The Chinese government runs one of the world’s most repressive internet censorship and surveillance regimes. Human rights defenders and journalists are routinely arrested and imprisoned solely for expressing their views online. Under the Cybersecurity Law,[1] internet companies operating in China are obliged to censor users’ content in a way that runs counter to international obligations to safeguard the rights of access to information, freedom of expression and privacy. Thousands of websites and social media services in the country remain blocked, and many phrases deemed to be politically sensitive are censored.[2] Chinese law also requires companies to store Chinese users’ data within the country and facilitate surveillance by abusive security agencies.

According to confidential Google documents obtained by The Intercept, the new search app being developed under Project Dragonfly would comply with China’s draconian rules by automatically identifying and filtering websites blocked in China, and “blacklisting sensitive queries”. Offering services through mobile phone apps, including Google’s existing Chinese apps, raises additional concerns because apps enable access to extraordinarily sensitive data. Given the Cybersecurity Law’s data localization and other requirements, it is likely that the company would be enlisted in surveillance abuses and their users’ data would be much more vulnerable to government access.

Google has a responsibility to respect human rights that exists independently of a state’s ability or willingness to fulfil its own human rights obligations.[3] The company’s own Code of Conduct promises to advance users’ rights to privacy and freedom of expression globally. In Google’s AI Principles, published in June, the company pledged not to build “technologies whose purpose contravenes widely accepted principles of international law and human rights”. The company also commits, through the Global Network Initiative, to conduct human rights due diligence when entering markets or developing new services. Project Dragonfly raises significant, unanswered questions about whether Google is meeting these commitments.

Transparency and human rights due diligence

Google’s refusal to respond substantively to concerns over its reported plans for a Chinese search service falls short of the company’s commitment to accountability and transparency.[4]

In 2010, the human rights community welcomed Google’s announcement that it had “decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn”, citing cyber-attacks against the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists and attempts by the Chinese government to “further limit free speech on the web”.

If Google’s position has indeed changed, then this must be stated publicly, together with a clear explanation of how Google considers it can square such a decision with its responsibilities under international human rights standards and its own corporate values. Without these clarifications, it is difficult not to conclude that Google is now willing to compromise its principles to gain access to the Chinese market.

There also appears to be a broader lack of transparency around due diligence processes at Google. In order to “know and show” that they respect human rights, companies are required under international standards to take steps to identify, prevent and mitigate against adverse impacts linked to their products – and communicate these efforts to key stakeholders and the public.[5] The letter from Google employees published on 16 August 2018 demonstrates that some employees do not feel Google’s processes for implementing its AI Principles and ethical commitments are sufficiently meaningful and transparent.[6]

Protection of whistle-blowers

Google has stated that it cannot respond to questions about Project Dragonfly because reports about the project are based on “leaks”.[7] However, the fact that the information has been publicly disclosed by employees does not lessen its relevance and rights impact.

In relation both to Project Dragonfly and to Google’s involvement in the US government’s drone programme, Project Maven, whistle-blowers have been crucial in bringing ethical concerns over Google’s operations to public attention. The protection of whistle-blowers who disclose information that is clearly in the public interest is grounded in the rights to freedom of expression and access to information.[8] The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises recommend that companies put in place “safeguards to protect bona fide whistle-blowing activities”.[9]

We are calling on Google to publicly commit to protect whistle-blowers in the company and to take immediate steps to address the concerns employees have raised about Project Dragonfly.

As it stands, Google risks becoming complicit in the Chinese government’s repression of freedom of speech and other human rights in China. Google should heed the concerns raised by human rights groups and its own employees and refrain from offering censored search services in China.

Signed, the following organizations:

Access Now Amnesty International Article 19 Center for Democracy and Technology Committee to Protect Journalists Electronic Frontier Foundation Human Rights in China Human Rights Watch Independent Chinese PEN Centre International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) PEN International Privacy International Reporters Without Borders (RSF) WITNESS

Signed in individual capacity (affiliations for identification purposes only):

Ronald Deibert Professor of Political Science and Director of the Citizen Lab University of Toronto

Rebecca MacKinnon Director, Ranking Digital Rights

Xiao Qiang Research Scientist Founder and Director of the Counter-Power Lab School of Information, University of California at Berkeley

Lokman Tsui Assistant Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication The Chinese University of Hong Kong

via Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NEWS

#IFTTT #Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NE

[newssplashy]

A former staff said the employees were shocked by the huge margin that had been slashed from their allowances.

A former employee of defunct BEIGE Bank has disclosed that the new Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited slashed their allowances by over 60 percent.

In an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, the former staff said the employees were shocked by the huge margin that had been slashed from their allowances.

“Our salaries were paid. We were paid last Friday, but we were paid less. We had about 60 to 70 percent reduction. No explanations were given as to why our salaries were reduced.”

READ ALSO: IMF welcomes clean-up of banking sector

“In BEIGE bank we had our basic salary, and we also had our allowances comprising of a number of things. Now about 60% of our allowances were reduced and then the remaining 40% added to our basic [salary], taxed and paid,” she lamented.

On August 1, 2018, the Bank of Ghana revoked the licenses of 5 struggling banks and merged them into one and named it Consolidated bank Ghana limited.

The affected banks included uniBank, Sovereign Bank, Construction Bank, Royal Bank, and Beige Bank.

Subsequently, Consolidated Bank as part of staff rationalization fired about 1,700 out of 3,700 of the workers it inherited from the five collapsed banks.

The affected workers include 700 mobile bankers of the erstwhile BEIGE Bank, while 1,000 are former employees of the Royal Bank, the Construction Bank, uniBank and the Sovereign Bank.

READ ALSO: BoG makes major changes at top management level

Most of the workers who are still at post are living in fear since they do not know their fate because of the staff rationalization drive.

“It’s been exasperating, it’s been full of anxiety, tearful and you don’t want to be in our shoes right now.  About 700 of the micro banking team were sent away last Friday. They are in the process of handing over assets belonging to the bank and say goodbye.”

“Now the banks are fewer so those of us who would not be fortunate to be taken on by Consolidated Bank might have to go to the other banks if there are chances. But listening to UT and Capital bank staff who are still struggling, it puts a lot of fear in me that will I find myself in the career I wish to pursue as a banker or I need to diversify into another field of endeavor,” she added.

via Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NEWS

#IFTTT #Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NE

[newssplashy]

The 47-year-old Englishman is a former accountant and investment banker.

Many Manchester United fans are usually more concerned with what happens on the pitch than who occupies which position in the Boardroom.

However, in recent times, the lack of success in terms of trophies has led to frustrated fans calling out the club’s Executive Vice-Chairman, Edward Gareth Woodward, more popularly known as Ed Woodward.

But how much information do you have about Mr. Woodward’s profile and life?

The 47-year-old Englishman is a former accountant and investment banker and that explains why he has been very successful in bringing in more and more sponsors.

But aside his accounting background, Woodward also has a background in science from his high school and colleg e years.

READ ALSO:

Having attended Brentwood School in Brentwood, Essex from 1983 to 1989, he went on to study Physics at the University of Bristol graduating in 1993. 

Woodward officially graduated as a qualified Chartered Accountant in 1996 after further educating himself in the sector.

He started his career by working in the accounting and tax advisory department of a company called PricewaterhouseCoopers.

He was, however, later to join J.P. Morgan & Co. as an investment banker in the mergers and acquisitions department in 1999.

Woodward continued to advance his career and was an advisor to Malcom Glazer and the entire Glazer family during their successful takeover of Manchester United in 2005.

Following the takeover, the Glazer family formerly hired him in a "financial planning" role.

READ ALSO:

However, Woodward would rise to become Manchester United’s Executive Vice-Chairman following the departure of David Gill in 2013.

Currently, he is the most powerful man on the Man United board, but even he had humble beginnings.

via Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NEWS

#IFTTT #Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NE

[newssplashy]

Of course men want to have sex. But sex isn't ever enough.

Let no one make any mistake about it - sex is one of the littest part of relationships.

Some guys would even argue that it is indeed the littest.

So it is perfectly OK, ladies, even highly advisable to actively seek to be better at sex, to learn tricks and deftness of touch and other things that will always make your man turn to jelly every time your hand  - or any other part - meets his body.

As ideal as that is, though, it would be unwise to think that that is all you need to focus on in a relationship.

One  would expect that this is pretty much obvious but then, a number of women genuinely think in their heart of hearts, that owning a vagina and knowing how to really work it is all that’s needed to maintain a healthy relationship and to keep a man happy and permanently interested in being with them.

As actress, Juliet Ibrahim rightly says in a recent post on her Instagram, "remove sex and a lot of people have nothing to offer in a relationship."

Sometime in September 2017, there was a clip which went round on social media, trimmed off  BKChat NYC’s Youtube channel. That short clip kinda lends credence to the view in the paragraph above.

In it, of the ladies on the show says with a straight face and what looked like serious conviction that;

“I don’t do sh*t for my Nigga… I got p****.

"I don’t do anything for my boyfriend, he [does] everything for me.

"If [your vagina] is this magical, you don’t have to do nothing else.”

 Let’s not even dwell on the blatant ridiculousness of such thought and the apparent ignorance of the mind from whence it came.

ALSO READ: Women what you shouldn't say to your man during sex

Here’s the thing ladies, being in a relationship, or intending to go into one with this idea simply shows that all you've got to give, or the only thing men get for being in a relationship with you is sexual gratification.

And more worryingly, it also limits you to just an ever-available piece of flesh, a [pretty-faced] pleasuring machine and nothing but a safe-keep for your boyfriend/husband’s orgasms.

And that's even if your thing is actually magical.

Of course, as earlier said, every man loves to have a woman who blows his mind in the sheets, but I don’t know if you’ve noticed too, everything in relationships/marriages don’t happen with partners' arms and legs always tangled in bed.

There are many other parts of relationships you need to function in, and men need you to be amazing at these other things, just as you are at ‘throwing that ass back.’

Your partner wants to have a real partner in you, he wants your loyalty and commitment.

He wants to share his experiences and have intellectual conversations with you.

Be the woman that challenges him to do great stuff and inspire him to be the best.

He also wants a woman that gives him a reason to wake up and smile every day, and you can’t achieve all of this with your vagina alone.

Moreover, there’s hardly a woman alive who doesn’t want a man to be there for her, to buy her the best gifts and do all other affectionate things that romantic dreams are made of.

Ladies, it’ll be  inconsiderate and self-serving [at least] to want all this and more but to have nothing else to offer than your vajayjay.

As earlier said, men appreciate bomb head, good sex and all that sexy good stuff, but as you learn to throw it back and work that D, please learn about other things that actually make relationships and marriages work, too.

Your vagina, no matter how magical, isn't and never will be enough.

via Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NEWS

#IFTTT #Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NE

[newssplashy]

"There is a heightened risk of a downside funding scenario, where a deterioration in investor sentiment limits access to market funding," Moody's said, noting that "Turkish banks are highly reliant on foreign currency funding."

Turkish lira slumps once again after Moody's downgrades 20 financial institutions.

The currency had stabilized after its huge slump earlier in August, but is falling once again.

By Tuesday morning, it was trading at 6.3 against the dollar.

You can follow the lira's movements at Markets Insider.

After a week out of the spotlight, the Turkish lira is once again slumping Wednesday as fears over the state of the country's fragile financial system intensify.

Although still significantly stronger than a few weeks ago, the lira has slumped to 6.3 against the dollar by 9.30 a.m. BST (4.30 a.m. ET) on Wednesday, a low not seen in around two weeks.

The main catalyst for the move lower appears to be the decision of ratings agency Moody's on Tuesday to downgrade the credit rating of 20 Turkish financial institutions. In downgrading the banks, analysts from Moody's cited what they called a "substantial increase in the risk of a downside scenario," for Turkey's lenders.

"There is a heightened risk of a downside funding scenario, where a deterioration in investor sentiment limits access to market funding," Moody's said, noting that "Turkish banks are highly reliant on foreign currency funding."

The note, authored by vice president/senior analyst Carlo Gori and MD/financial institutions Sean Marion, suggests that the Turkish banking sector faces a potential funding crisis:

"In the next 12 months around USD77 billion of foreign currency wholesale bonds and syndicated loans, or 41% of the total market funding, needs to be refinanced. The Turkish banks hold around USD48 billion of liquid assets in foreign currency and have USD57 billion compulsory reserves with the Central Bank of Turkey, which would not be entirely available."

"In a downside scenario, where investor sentiment shifts, the risk of a prolonged closure of the wholesale market would lead most banks to materially deleverage, or to require external funding support from the government, or the Central Bank."

SEE ALSO: Turkey's economic crisis has gone off the radar — but there's a huge chance it could get a whole lot worse

Issues in Turkey started in early August when the Trump administration placed a series of sanctions against Turkey in retaliation for its refusal to release Andrew Brunson. Brunson is an American pastor detained by Turkish authorities for his alleged support for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party and the Gulenist movement, both of which are accused of being involved in 2016's failed coup against President Erdogan.

Those sanctions include the announcement of a doubling of tariffs on metal imports into the US from Turkey, which was the initial catalyst for the great turmoil in financial markets over the past few weeks.

At one point during the worst of the crisis, the lira was down more than 40%.

The lira's collapse has plunged the entirety of the emerging market space into chaos, with contagion causing the likes of the South African rand, the Argentine peso, and the Indonesian rupiah, to slump in response.

via Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NEWS

#IFTTT #Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NE

[newssplashy]

Ladies we have your favourite 'sugar daddies' goals on our photo of the day.

If someone ever calls you a baby boy for life, then it is assumed that you are been compared to Don Jazzy and RMD.

On serious note guys, these guys aren't just veterans in the game but are good looking and probably the best in their individual crafts. On our photo of the day, we've got Nigeria's music producer extraordinary, Don Jazzy and one of Nollywood's greats, Richard Mofe-Damijo in one photo!

Obviously, these guys are outside the country and having a blast which can be seen in the photo. RMD is no longer in his 20s or 30s but trust us guys, this guy is taking good care of himself and looking all fit.Same can be said for Don Jazzy who has remained one of the most admired bachelors in the country.

We love the chemistry and vibes in this photo and we kind want to see these guys switch roles. What do you guys think? Don Jazzy in a blockbuster Nollywood movie and RMD producing the next monster hit song. Yay or Nah?

via Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NEWS

#IFTTT #Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NE

[newssplashy]

Let that woman go.

In every romantic relationship you find yourself in, guys, it is never enough for love, affection and effort to flow from just one side to the other – usually from yours to hers.

Some women are content to be takers, either giving nothing back or offering too little in return, compared to what they get from their romantic unions.

It’s about time you got better from your relationship, too. So you should let any woman go who refuses to do for you, any of the five things listed below.

 1. Doesn’t spoil you

Really, men deserve to be spoilt, too. And while this does not take away from the duty you owe your woman to spoil and make her feel like a queen at all times, it still needs to be said that you, too, need pampering, surprise dates, visits to exotic places, and other affordable comforts that tallies with your present position in life.

2. Doesn’t support you

She should be your number one support and cheer leader. Women are actually quite good at this. If yours isn’t and doesn’t look interested in changing anytime soon, let that woman go, abeg!

You really need and deserve someone who stands by you through the journey to greatness, just as you should be on her journey to hers.

Since we are here, it is important for you to realise that your woman’s life and yours can run concurrently. Never allow her abandon her dreams for yours, neither should you be the one to douse the fire in her eyes. That’s waaaaay worse.

ALSO READ: Ladies, if he does not do these 5 things for you, let him go

3. Doesn’t give you peace of mind

Women need peace of mind from you in the sense that you give them the opportunity to trust your loyalty to them, and your unwavering faithfulness to them.

But guess what? They owe you this duty too! You don’t need a woman who constantly has something to complain about, who lacks the emotional intelligence required to keep you happy, unstressed, mentally stable and content with life.

 4. How about some respect?

Respect is reciprocal. She gives your yours and she deserves hers, too.

5. Doesn’t care about your sexual satisfaction

There are women who overrate the importance of having a vajayjay. They think all they need do during sex is to just lay there and let you have your way. They believe that ‘giving’ it to you is enough work already.

But of course, that’s not enough and you deserve better than a woman who offers nothing but wack sex, and refuses to chance or put in any effort to grow out of it.

via Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NEWS

#IFTTT #Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NE

[newssplashy]

Sad: 9-year-old gay commits suicide after being bullied

Jamel Myles took his life on the first week of school following four days of unbearable mockery and shun by fellow students at Joe Shoemaker Elementary School who said he looked like gay.

A 9-year-old boy from Denver in Colorado is reported to have committed suicide after he could not bear incessant bullying by his school mates, some of whom asked him to kill himself because he was gay.

The deceased, Jamel Myles took his life on the first week of school following four days of unbearable mockery and shun by fellow students at Joe Shoemaker Elementary School who said he looked like gay.

His distressed mother, Leia Pierce said: “Four days is all it took at school. I could just imagine what they said to him.

“My son told my oldest daughter the kids at school told him to kill himself. I’m just sad he didn’t come to me.”

Leia Pierce said she only became aware of her son’s condition over the summer when he personally revealed it to her, but little did she know that the youngster was facing problems at school.

 READ MORE: Man kills mother heartlessly, chops the body into pieces

“He went to school and said he was gonna tell people he’s gay because he’s proud of himself,” Leia Pierce added.

She is calling for an action against bullying which has become a dangerous trend among the youth.

“We should have accountability for bullying. I think the child should, because the child knows it’s wrong.

"The child wouldn’t want someone to do it to them. I think the parent should be held (accountable) because obviously the parents are either teaching them to be like that, or they’re treating them like that,” she said.

source http://www.newssplashy.com/2018/08/sad-9-year-old-gay-commits-suicide.html

#News

[newssplashy]

Collapsed Banks: Consolidated Bank slashed our allowances by 60% – Former Beige staff

A former staff said the employees were shocked by the huge margin that had been slashed from their allowances.

A former employee of defunct BEIGE Bank has disclosed that the new Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited slashed their allowances by over 60 percent.

In an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, the former staff said the employees were shocked by the huge margin that had been slashed from their allowances.

“Our salaries were paid. We were paid last Friday, but we were paid less. We had about 60 to 70 percent reduction. No explanations were given as to why our salaries were reduced.”

READ ALSO: IMF welcomes clean-up of banking sector

“In BEIGE bank we had our basic salary, and we also had our allowances comprising of a number of things. Now about 60% of our allowances were reduced and then the remaining 40% added to our basic [salary], taxed and paid,” she lamented.

On August 1, 2018, the Bank of Ghana revoked the licenses of 5 struggling banks and merged them into one and named it Consolidated bank Ghana limited.

The affected banks included uniBank, Sovereign Bank, Construction Bank, Royal Bank, and Beige Bank.

Subsequently, Consolidated Bank as part of staff rationalization fired about 1,700 out of 3,700 of the workers it inherited from the five collapsed banks.

The affected workers include 700 mobile bankers of the erstwhile BEIGE Bank, while 1,000 are former employees of the Royal Bank, the Construction Bank, uniBank and the Sovereign Bank.

READ ALSO: BoG makes major changes at top management level

Most of the workers who are still at post are living in fear since they do not know their fate because of the staff rationalization drive.

“It’s been exasperating, it’s been full of anxiety, tearful and you don’t want to be in our shoes right now.  About 700 of the micro banking team were sent away last Friday. They are in the process of handing over assets belonging to the bank and say goodbye.”

“Now the banks are fewer so those of us who would not be fortunate to be taken on by Consolidated Bank might have to go to the other banks if there are chances. But listening to UT and Capital bank staff who are still struggling, it puts a lot of fear in me that will I find myself in the career I wish to pursue as a banker or I need to diversify into another field of endeavor,” she added.

source http://www.newssplashy.com/2018/08/collapsed-banks-consolidated-bank.html

#News

[newssplashy]

Tech: 14 powerful human rights groups write to Google demanding it kill plans to launch a China search engine

A group of 14 human rights organizations have written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding Google kill plans to create a censored search engine in China. Codenamed 'Dragonfly,' Google's plans to create a search engine compatible with China's stringent laws were revealed in August.

A group of 14 human rights organizations have written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding Google kill plans to create a censored search engine in China.

Codenamed "Dragonfly," Google's plans to create a search engine compatible with China's stringent laws were revealed by the Intercept in early August.

The letter, signed by the likes of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, asks Google to clarify its position on censorship and put safeguards in place for whistleblowers.

A group of 14 human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and PEN International, have written an open letter to Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding he reverse plans to launch a censored search engine in China.

News broke in early August that Google was planning to re-enter China after an eight-year hiatus. The Intercept obtained leaked documents showing that firm is working on a new search service, codenamed "Dragonfly," and that Pichai met with a Chinese government official in December 2017.

In their letter, the human rights groups said the plan would be an "an alarming capitulation by Google on human rights," as it would mean accommodating "one of the world’s most repressive internet censorship and surveillance regimes."

The letter demands three things:

That Google kills plans for a censored Chinese search engine.

That the company clarifies its position on censorship in China and outlines any steps it is taking to "safeguard against human rights violations" linked to Dragonfly and its other Chinese mobile apps.

Finally, it asks that Google guarantees protections for any internal whistleblowers.

Google announced it was leaving the Chinese market in 2010 after it detected a "highly sophisticated and targeted attack," the primary goal of which was to infiltrate the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists.

"If Google’s position has indeed changed, then this must be stated publicly, together with a clear explanation of how Google considers it can square such a decision with its responsibilities under international human rights standards and its own corporate values," the letter said.

It added that protections for whistleblowers are essential, pointing out that Google staff were instrumental in raising concerns about its involvement in military drone programme "Project Maven." The company has since set out ethical guidelines on the use of AI and plans to withdraw from the Pentagon project in 2019.

The letter concludes: "As it stands, Google risks becoming complicit in the Chinese government’s repression of freedom of speech and other human rights in China. Google should heed the concerns raised by human rights groups and its own employees and refrain from offering censored search services in China."

Business Insider has contacted Google for comment.

Here's the letter in full:

Dear Mr Pichai

(cc: Ben Gomes, Vice President of Search; Kent Walker, Senior Vice President of Global Affairs)

Like many of Google’s own employees, we are extremely concerned by reports that Google is developing a new censored search engine app for the Chinese market. The project, codenamed “Dragonfly”, would represent an alarming capitulation by Google on human rights. The Chinese government extensively violates the rights to freedom of expression and privacy; by accommodating the Chinese authorities’ repression of dissent, Google would be actively participating in those violations for millions of internet users in China.

We support the brave efforts of Google employees who have alerted the public to the existence of Dragonfly, and voiced their concerns about the project and Google’s transparency and oversight processes.

In contrast, company leadership has failed to respond publicly to concerns over Project Dragonfly, stating that it does not comment on “speculation about future plans”. Executives have also refused to answer basic questions about how the company will safeguard the rights of users in China as it seeks to expand its business in the country.

Since Google publicly exited the search market in China in 2010, citing restrictions to freedom of expression online, the Chinese government has strengthened its controls over the internet and intensified its crackdown on freedom of expression. We are therefore calling on Google to:

Reaffirm the company’s 2010 commitment not to provide censored search engine services in China;

Disclose its position on censorship in China and what steps, if any, Google is taking to safeguard against human rights violations linked to Project Dragonfly and its other Chinese mobile app offerings;

Guarantee protections for whistle-blowers and other employees speaking out where they see the company is failing its commitments to human rights.

Our concerns about Dragonfly are set out in detail below.

Freedom of expression and privacy in China and Google’s human rights commitments

It is difficult to see how Google would currently be able to relaunch a search engine service in China in a way that would be compatible with the company’s human rights responsibilities under international standards, or its own commitments. Were it to do so, in other words, there is a high risk that the company would be directly contributing to, or complicit in, human rights violations.

The Chinese government runs one of the world’s most repressive internet censorship and surveillance regimes. Human rights defenders and journalists are routinely arrested and imprisoned solely for expressing their views online. Under the Cybersecurity Law,[1] internet companies operating in China are obliged to censor users’ content in a way that runs counter to international obligations to safeguard the rights of access to information, freedom of expression and privacy. Thousands of websites and social media services in the country remain blocked, and many phrases deemed to be politically sensitive are censored.[2] Chinese law also requires companies to store Chinese users’ data within the country and facilitate surveillance by abusive security agencies.

According to confidential Google documents obtained by The Intercept, the new search app being developed under Project Dragonfly would comply with China’s draconian rules by automatically identifying and filtering websites blocked in China, and “blacklisting sensitive queries”. Offering services through mobile phone apps, including Google’s existing Chinese apps, raises additional concerns because apps enable access to extraordinarily sensitive data. Given the Cybersecurity Law’s data localization and other requirements, it is likely that the company would be enlisted in surveillance abuses and their users’ data would be much more vulnerable to government access.

Google has a responsibility to respect human rights that exists independently of a state’s ability or willingness to fulfil its own human rights obligations.[3] The company’s own Code of Conduct promises to advance users’ rights to privacy and freedom of expression globally. In Google’s AI Principles, published in June, the company pledged not to build “technologies whose purpose contravenes widely accepted principles of international law and human rights”. The company also commits, through the Global Network Initiative, to conduct human rights due diligence when entering markets or developing new services. Project Dragonfly raises significant, unanswered questions about whether Google is meeting these commitments.

Transparency and human rights due diligence

Google’s refusal to respond substantively to concerns over its reported plans for a Chinese search service falls short of the company’s commitment to accountability and transparency.[4]

In 2010, the human rights community welcomed Google’s announcement that it had “decided we are no longer willing to continue censoring our results on Google.cn”, citing cyber-attacks against the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists and attempts by the Chinese government to “further limit free speech on the web”.

If Google’s position has indeed changed, then this must be stated publicly, together with a clear explanation of how Google considers it can square such a decision with its responsibilities under international human rights standards and its own corporate values. Without these clarifications, it is difficult not to conclude that Google is now willing to compromise its principles to gain access to the Chinese market.

There also appears to be a broader lack of transparency around due diligence processes at Google. In order to “know and show” that they respect human rights, companies are required under international standards to take steps to identify, prevent and mitigate against adverse impacts linked to their products – and communicate these efforts to key stakeholders and the public.[5] The letter from Google employees published on 16 August 2018 demonstrates that some employees do not feel Google’s processes for implementing its AI Principles and ethical commitments are sufficiently meaningful and transparent.[6]

Protection of whistle-blowers

Google has stated that it cannot respond to questions about Project Dragonfly because reports about the project are based on “leaks”.[7] However, the fact that the information has been publicly disclosed by employees does not lessen its relevance and rights impact.

In relation both to Project Dragonfly and to Google’s involvement in the US government’s drone programme, Project Maven, whistle-blowers have been crucial in bringing ethical concerns over Google’s operations to public attention. The protection of whistle-blowers who disclose information that is clearly in the public interest is grounded in the rights to freedom of expression and access to information.[8] The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises recommend that companies put in place “safeguards to protect bona fide whistle-blowing activities”.[9]

We are calling on Google to publicly commit to protect whistle-blowers in the company and to take immediate steps to address the concerns employees have raised about Project Dragonfly.

As it stands, Google risks becoming complicit in the Chinese government’s repression of freedom of speech and other human rights in China. Google should heed the concerns raised by human rights groups and its own employees and refrain from offering censored search services in China.

Signed, the following organizations:

Access Now Amnesty International Article 19 Center for Democracy and Technology Committee to Protect Journalists Electronic Frontier Foundation Human Rights in China Human Rights Watch Independent Chinese PEN Centre International Service for Human Rights (ISHR) PEN International Privacy International Reporters Without Borders (RSF) WITNESS

Signed in individual capacity (affiliations for identification purposes only):

Ronald Deibert Professor of Political Science and Director of the Citizen Lab University of Toronto

Rebecca MacKinnon Director, Ranking Digital Rights

Xiao Qiang Research Scientist Founder and Director of the Counter-Power Lab School of Information, University of California at Berkeley

Lokman Tsui Assistant Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication The Chinese University of Hong Kong

source http://www.newssplashy.com/2018/08/tech-14-powerful-human-rights-groups_29.html

#News

[newssplashy]

Profile: All you need to know about Ed Woodward, Man United's Executive Vice-Chairman

The 47-year-old Englishman is a former accountant and investment banker.

Many Manchester United fans are usually more concerned with what happens on the pitch than who occupies which position in the Boardroom.

However, in recent times, the lack of success in terms of trophies has led to frustrated fans calling out the club’s Executive Vice-Chairman, Edward Gareth Woodward, more popularly known as Ed Woodward.

But how much information do you have about Mr. Woodward’s profile and life?

The 47-year-old Englishman is a former accountant and investment banker and that explains why he has been very successful in bringing in more and more sponsors.

But aside his accounting background, Woodward also has a background in science from his high school and colleg e years.

READ ALSO:

Having attended Brentwood School in Brentwood, Essex from 1983 to 1989, he went on to study Physics at the University of Bristol graduating in 1993. 

Woodward officially graduated as a qualified Chartered Accountant in 1996 after further educating himself in the sector.

He started his career by working in the accounting and tax advisory department of a company called PricewaterhouseCoopers.

He was, however, later to join J.P. Morgan & Co. as an investment banker in the mergers and acquisitions department in 1999.

Woodward continued to advance his career and was an advisor to Malcom Glazer and the entire Glazer family during their successful takeover of Manchester United in 2005.

Following the takeover, the Glazer family formerly hired him in a "financial planning" role.

READ ALSO:

However, Woodward would rise to become Manchester United’s Executive Vice-Chairman following the departure of David Gill in 2013.

Currently, he is the most powerful man on the Man United board, but even he had humble beginnings.

source http://www.newssplashy.com/2018/08/profile-all-you-need-to-know-about-ed.html

#News

[newssplashy]

Dear Ladies, Your magical vagina isn't enough for a healthy relationship

Of course men want to have sex. But sex isn't ever enough.

Let no one make any mistake about it - sex is one of the littest part of relationships.

Some guys would even argue that it is indeed the littest.

So it is perfectly OK, ladies, even highly advisable to actively seek to be better at sex, to learn tricks and deftness of touch and other things that will always make your man turn to jelly every time your hand  - or any other part - meets his body.

As ideal as that is, though, it would be unwise to think that that is all you need to focus on in a relationship.

One  would expect that this is pretty much obvious but then, a number of women genuinely think in their heart of hearts, that owning a vagina and knowing how to really work it is all that’s needed to maintain a healthy relationship and to keep a man happy and permanently interested in being with them.

As actress, Juliet Ibrahim rightly says in a recent post on her Instagram, "remove sex and a lot of people have nothing to offer in a relationship."

Sometime in September 2017, there was a clip which went round on social media, trimmed off  BKChat NYC’s Youtube channel. That short clip kinda lends credence to the view in the paragraph above.

In it, of the ladies on the show says with a straight face and what looked like serious conviction that;

“I don’t do sh*t for my Nigga… I got p****.

"I don’t do anything for my boyfriend, he [does] everything for me.

"If [your vagina] is this magical, you don’t have to do nothing else.”

 Let’s not even dwell on the blatant ridiculousness of such thought and the apparent ignorance of the mind from whence it came.

ALSO READ: Women what you shouldn't say to your man during sex

Here’s the thing ladies, being in a relationship, or intending to go into one with this idea simply shows that all you've got to give, or the only thing men get for being in a relationship with you is sexual gratification.

And more worryingly, it also limits you to just an ever-available piece of flesh, a [pretty-faced] pleasuring machine and nothing but a safe-keep for your boyfriend/husband’s orgasms.

And that's even if your thing is actually magical.

Of course, as earlier said, every man loves to have a woman who blows his mind in the sheets, but I don’t know if you’ve noticed too, everything in relationships/marriages don’t happen with partners' arms and legs always tangled in bed.

There are many other parts of relationships you need to function in, and men need you to be amazing at these other things, just as you are at ‘throwing that ass back.’

Your partner wants to have a real partner in you, he wants your loyalty and commitment.

He wants to share his experiences and have intellectual conversations with you.

Be the woman that challenges him to do great stuff and inspire him to be the best.

He also wants a woman that gives him a reason to wake up and smile every day, and you can’t achieve all of this with your vagina alone.

Moreover, there’s hardly a woman alive who doesn’t want a man to be there for her, to buy her the best gifts and do all other affectionate things that romantic dreams are made of.

Ladies, it’ll be  inconsiderate and self-serving [at least] to want all this and more but to have nothing else to offer than your vajayjay.

As earlier said, men appreciate bomb head, good sex and all that sexy good stuff, but as you learn to throw it back and work that D, please learn about other things that actually make relationships and marriages work, too.

Your vagina, no matter how magical, isn't and never will be enough.

source http://www.newssplashy.com/2018/08/dear-ladies-your-magical-vagina-isnt_29.html

#News

[newssplashy]

Finance: The Turkish lira is diving after Moody's warned the worst is yet to come for the country's banks

"There is a heightened risk of a downside funding scenario, where a deterioration in investor sentiment limits access to market funding," Moody's said, noting that "Turkish banks are highly reliant on foreign currency funding."

Turkish lira slumps once again after Moody's downgrades 20 financial institutions.

The currency had stabilized after its huge slump earlier in August, but is falling once again.

By Tuesday morning, it was trading at 6.3 against the dollar.

You can follow the lira's movements at Markets Insider.

After a week out of the spotlight, the Turkish lira is once again slumping Wednesday as fears over the state of the country's fragile financial system intensify.

Although still significantly stronger than a few weeks ago, the lira has slumped to 6.3 against the dollar by 9.30 a.m. BST (4.30 a.m. ET) on Wednesday, a low not seen in around two weeks.

The main catalyst for the move lower appears to be the decision of ratings agency Moody's on Tuesday to downgrade the credit rating of 20 Turkish financial institutions. In downgrading the banks, analysts from Moody's cited what they called a "substantial increase in the risk of a downside scenario," for Turkey's lenders.

"There is a heightened risk of a downside funding scenario, where a deterioration in investor sentiment limits access to market funding," Moody's said, noting that "Turkish banks are highly reliant on foreign currency funding."

The note, authored by vice president/senior analyst Carlo Gori and MD/financial institutions Sean Marion, suggests that the Turkish banking sector faces a potential funding crisis:

"In the next 12 months around USD77 billion of foreign currency wholesale bonds and syndicated loans, or 41% of the total market funding, needs to be refinanced. The Turkish banks hold around USD48 billion of liquid assets in foreign currency and have USD57 billion compulsory reserves with the Central Bank of Turkey, which would not be entirely available."

"In a downside scenario, where investor sentiment shifts, the risk of a prolonged closure of the wholesale market would lead most banks to materially deleverage, or to require external funding support from the government, or the Central Bank."

SEE ALSO: Turkey's economic crisis has gone off the radar — but there's a huge chance it could get a whole lot worse

Issues in Turkey started in early August when the Trump administration placed a series of sanctions against Turkey in retaliation for its refusal to release Andrew Brunson. Brunson is an American pastor detained by Turkish authorities for his alleged support for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party and the Gulenist movement, both of which are accused of being involved in 2016's failed coup against President Erdogan.

Those sanctions include the announcement of a doubling of tariffs on metal imports into the US from Turkey, which was the initial catalyst for the great turmoil in financial markets over the past few weeks.

At one point during the worst of the crisis, the lira was down more than 40%.

The lira's collapse has plunged the entirety of the emerging market space into chaos, with contagion causing the likes of the South African rand, the Argentine peso, and the Indonesian rupiah, to slump in response.

source http://www.newssplashy.com/2018/08/finance-turkish-lira-is-diving-after_29.html

#News

[newssplashy]

Photo Of The Day: Chilling with Don Jazzy and RMD has got to be the coolest thing ever!

Ladies we have your favourite 'sugar daddies' goals on our photo of the day.

If someone ever calls you a baby boy for life, then it is assumed that you are been compared to Don Jazzy and RMD.

On serious note guys, these guys aren't just veterans in the game but are good looking and probably the best in their individual crafts. On our photo of the day, we've got Nigeria's music producer extraordinary, Don Jazzy and one of Nollywood's greats, Richard Mofe-Damijo in one photo!

Obviously, these guys are outside the country and having a blast which can be seen in the photo. RMD is no longer in his 20s or 30s but trust us guys, this guy is taking good care of himself and looking all fit.Same can be said for Don Jazzy who has remained one of the most admired bachelors in the country.

We love the chemistry and vibes in this photo and we kind want to see these guys switch roles. What do you guys think? Don Jazzy in a blockbuster Nollywood movie and RMD producing the next monster hit song. Yay or Nah?

source http://www.newssplashy.com/2018/08/photo-of-day-chilling-with-don-jazzy_29.html

#News

[newssplashy]

For Men: If she does not do these 5 things for you, let her go

Let that woman go.

In every romantic relationship you find yourself in, guys, it is never enough for love, affection and effort to flow from just one side to the other – usually from yours to hers.

Some women are content to be takers, either giving nothing back or offering too little in return, compared to what they get from their romantic unions.

It’s about time you got better from your relationship, too. So you should let any woman go who refuses to do for you, any of the five things listed below.

 1. Doesn’t spoil you

Really, men deserve to be spoilt, too. And while this does not take away from the duty you owe your woman to spoil and make her feel like a queen at all times, it still needs to be said that you, too, need pampering, surprise dates, visits to exotic places, and other affordable comforts that tallies with your present position in life.

2. Doesn’t support you

She should be your number one support and cheer leader. Women are actually quite good at this. If yours isn’t and doesn’t look interested in changing anytime soon, let that woman go, abeg!

You really need and deserve someone who stands by you through the journey to greatness, just as you should be on her journey to hers.

Since we are here, it is important for you to realise that your woman’s life and yours can run concurrently. Never allow her abandon her dreams for yours, neither should you be the one to douse the fire in her eyes. That’s waaaaay worse.

ALSO READ: Ladies, if he does not do these 5 things for you, let him go

3. Doesn’t give you peace of mind

Women need peace of mind from you in the sense that you give them the opportunity to trust your loyalty to them, and your unwavering faithfulness to them.

But guess what? They owe you this duty too! You don’t need a woman who constantly has something to complain about, who lacks the emotional intelligence required to keep you happy, unstressed, mentally stable and content with life.

 4. How about some respect?

Respect is reciprocal. She gives your yours and she deserves hers, too.

5. Doesn’t care about your sexual satisfaction

There are women who overrate the importance of having a vajayjay. They think all they need do during sex is to just lay there and let you have your way. They believe that ‘giving’ it to you is enough work already.

But of course, that’s not enough and you deserve better than a woman who offers nothing but wack sex, and refuses to chance or put in any effort to grow out of it.

source http://www.newssplashy.com/2018/08/for-men-if-she-does-not-do-these-5_29.html

#News

[newssplashy]

The stunning Idia Aisien adds another feather to her media cap by being announced as the host for the upcoming Glitz Style Awards in Ghana.

The annual Glitz Style Awards, a celebration of all things fashion and elegance has announced award-winning media personality Idia Aisien as the host for the 2018 edition.

Idia is an award winning media personality who is known for her roles as an international television presenter, model and brand ambassador. She is also the recipient for the 2017 ELOY Awards Presenter for the Year for Terrestrial and online platform.

 The Glitz Style awards is an annual event that celebrates style trend - setting individuals who defy the odds with their fashion style. The 2018 edition of the Glitz Style Awards will be at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra on September 1st and the event is sure to be graced by celebrities and high profile personalities from Africa. The Glitz Style awards provides the opportunity for the fashion industry to celebrate and promote the creative talents in Africa, and we are excited to see Idia nail hosting the award in stunning outfits.  

For more information, visit www.idiaaisien.com 

Instagram handle for Idia Aisien @doctoridia

Press Contact for Idia Aisien Management, The PR Boy @theprboy_

via Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NEWS

#IFTTT #Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ▷NE