Tupac Shakur loses mum !

© Provided by TIME Inc.Afeni Shakur Davis, the mother of late rapper Tupac Shakur, has died in Sausalto, California, according to the Marin County Sheriff's Office. She was 69.

The Sheriff's Office responded to a report of possible cardiac arrest at Davis' home around 9:30 p.m. on Monday night. She was transferred to a local hospital, where she died around 10:28 p.m.

The Sheriff's Coroners Office will investigate the exact cause and manner of Davis' death, the Sheriff's Office said.

Tupac was famously shot on Sept. 7, 1996 in Las Vegas, Nevada. After six days in the hospital, the then-25-year-old succumbed to his injuries. The shooter was never caught.

© AP Photo/Columbia Pictures, file

Following her son's death, Davis founded the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, and later helped create Broadway musical Holler If Ya Hear Me in 2014, which featured the rapper's music. She also served as the CEO of Amaru Entertainment, Inc., a record and film production company she founded in Atlanta.

In her youth, Davis – who was born in North Carolina – was an activist and Black Panther.

Earlier this year, she was embroiled in a divorce battle with Gust Davis, her husband of 12 years, TMZ reported. Davis filed legal documents in March asking a North Carolina judge to prevent the minister from receiving alimony from Tupac's estate, which TMZ said generates around $900,000 a year.

FBI agent stole $136,000 in service !

A former agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation accused of stealing more than $136,000 in drug money and spending it on cars, vehicle accessories and cosmetic surgery for his wife pleaded guilty to federal charges on Monday.

Scott Bowman, 45, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles to one count each of conversion of property by a federal agent, obstruction of justice, falsification of records and witness tampering, the Department of Justice said in a statement.

"As Mr. Bowman takes responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty, the public should be reminded that FBI personnel are held to the highest standards and misconduct of any kind is taken very seriously," said James Struyk, acting assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office.

According to a written agreement with prosecutors Bowman, in pleading guilty, admitted to misappropriating drug money seized by agents during the execution of three search warrants in the summer of 2014.

Bowman further admitted using the money to buy a 2012 Dodge Challenger and 2013 Scion FR-S coupe and to outfit the vehicles with speakers, rims, tires and other equipment, the court documents show.

Bowman also admitted to spending $15,000 on cosmetic surgery for his wife, according to the plea agreement.

The former agent faces a maximum prison term of several decades when he is sentenced later this year, although federal sentencing guidelines and his plea deal may call for less time. (Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Sandra Maler)

Dead could be brought 'back to life' in groundbreaking project 

Scientists believe that a combination of therapies could stimulate regeneration CREDIT: GETTY 

•  Sarah Knapton, science editor 

3 MAY 2016 • 12:15PM

Agroundbreaking trial to see if it possible to regenerate the brains of dead people, has won approval from health watchdogs.

A biotech company in the US has been granted ethical permission to recruit 20 patients who have been declared clinically dead from a traumatic brain injury, to test whether parts of their central nervous system can be brought back to life. 

Scientists will use a combination of therapies, which include injecting the brain with stem cells and a cocktail of amino acids, as well as deploying lasers and nerve stimulation techniques which have been shown to bring patients out of comas.

The trial participants will have been certified dead and only kept alive through life support. They will be monitored for several months using brain imaging equipment to look for signs of regeneration, particularly in the upper spinal cord - the lowest region of the brain stem which controls independent breathing and heartbeat.

The team believes that the brain stem cells may be able to erase their history and re-start life again, based on their surrounding tissue – a process seen in the animal kingdom in creatures like salamanders who can regrow entire limbs.

Ira Pastor, the CEO of Bioquark Inc. said: “This represents the first trial of its kind and another step towards the eventual reversal of death in our lifetime.

“We just received approval for our first 20 subjects and we hope to start recruiting patients immediately from this first site – we are working with the hospital now to identify families where there may be a religious or medical barrier to organ donation.

"To undertake such a complex initiative, we are combining biologic regenerative medicine tools with other existing medical devices typically used for stimulation of the central nervous system, in patients with other severe disorders of consciousness.

 “We hope to see results within the first two to three months."

The patients will be monitored using MRI scans for several months  CREDIT: CHRONIS JONS

The ReAnima Project has just received approach from an Institutional Review Board at the National Institutes of Health in the US and the team plans to start recruiting patients immediately.

The first stage, named 'First In Human Neuro-Regeneration & Neuro-Reanimation' will be a non-randomised, single group 'proof of concept' and will take place at Anupam Hospital in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand India.

Brain stem death is when a person no longer has any brain stem functions, and has permanently lost the potential for consciousness and the capacity to breathe.

A person is confirmed as being dead when their brain stem function is permanently lost.

However, although brain dead humans are technically no longer alive, their bodies can often still circulate blood, digest food, excrete waste, balance hormones, grow, sexually mature, heal wounds, spike a fever, and gestate and deliver a baby.

Recent studies have also suggested that some electrical activity and blood flow continues after brain cell death, just not enough to allow for the whole body to function.

And while human beings lack substantial regenerative capabilities in the central nervous system, many non-human species, such as amphibians and certain fish, can repair, regenerate and remodel substantial portions of their brain and brain stem even after critical life-threatening trauma.

“Through our study, we will gain unique insights into the state of human brain death, which will have important connections to future therapeutic development for other severe disorders of consciousness, such as coma, and the vegetative and minimally conscious states, as well as a range of degenerative CNS conditions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease,” added Dr Sergei Paylian, Founder, President, and Chief Science Officer of Bioquark Inc.

UK weather: Britain to be hotter than Ibiza and Barcelona at 23C by Saturday  

Sunseekers can expect an unseasonably warm few days thanks to a south-easterly wind that will bring higher temperatures CREDIT: OLI SCARFF/GETTY IMAGES

•  Danny Boyle 

3 MAY 2016 • 10:57AM

Britain is set to sizzle in weather hotter than the Mediterranean this weekend, with temperatures of up to 23C.

Large parts of England and Wales can expect an unseasonably warm few days thanks to a south-easterly wind that will bring the higher temperatures.

London is expected to bask in highs of 23C (73F), making the capital warmer than European hotspots including Ibiza, Nice, Barcelona and Istanbul on Saturday.

The average temperature for this time of year in London is 16C (61F) and so the weekend will be seven degrees above average.

The warmer weather for most of England and Wales will be a marked change as spring finally arrives in earnest after a washout Bank Holiday in many parts of the country.

In London, temperatures are expected to reach 16C (61F) on Tuesday, before steadily rising to 21C (70F) on Friday.

The capital is then set to enjoy a weekend with highs of 23C (73F). The warmer weather is due to last into next week, with the mercury reaching 22C next Monday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Mediterranean party island of Ibiza is forecast to see temperatures of 22C (72F) on Saturday, while Istanbul will probably only see 20C (68F) - the same forecast for Manchester. 

Barcelona is forecast to only reach 17C (62F), while the mercury is expcted to nudge to 21C (70F) in Nice.

Walkers enjoy sunshine on the cliffs in Dover, Kent ahead of the unsettled weather over the Bank Holiday weekend CREDIT: GARETH FULLER/PA

Met Office forecaster Emma Boorman said: "On Monday, the temperature is going to be a couple of degrees above what we would expect with highs of about 16C (61F).

"As we go into the middle and later stages of the week, we start to bring in a south-easterly breeze allowing some warmer temperatures to arrive into the UK.

"By Friday and Saturday we are looking at temperatures in the high twenties which will be a welcome change."

UK weather forecast: Tuesday, May 3

The warmer weather comes after parts of Britain have seen late wintry conditions in the last 10 days.

Motorists trudging home from Bank Holiday getaways were warned to expect difficult conditions amid heavy rain and high winds.

A band of wet weather swept south eastwards across Britain on Monday, bringing potential hazards for drivers.

Nigerians can now school in Austria without tears !

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Wale Ojo Lanre Face of a certified Nigerian blogger

Wale Ojo lanre
President Guild of Nigerian Tourism Journalists in Nigeria  has been certified and inducted into Blogger Beer Academy  by Nigerian Breweries PLC
His platform www.waleojolanre.blogspot.com has been identified as one of the very few news platforms in Nigeria with social responsibility etiquette.
He is one of the only 47 bloggers admitted into the Academy from Nigeria .
Born in Usi Ekiti , Ekiti State on 14 April 1967
A graduate of History Education , Adeyemi College of Education , Ondo with A Diploma in Journalism , Ojo - lanre holds a Master in Peace and Conflicts Studies from the university of Ibadan
He was the Chairman Nigerian Union of Journalists Oyo State for six years of two terms .
He was the first person and the only person  to be elected unopposed for a Second term in the history of NUJ in Oyo State .
Ojo - lanre is an associate Editor with Nigerian Tribune with specialization in tourism , travel and hospitality
He is reputed to be the most widely travelled journalist in Nigeria
A believer in domestic tourism
Ojo - Lanre has bagged over 120 awards both locally and international
He is at present a Law Student of the Lead City University , Ibadan where he is the Public Relations Director , Law Students association .
The Students Representatives Council of the Institution conferred on him The Most influential Student of the year .
He  was also a former Chief Press Secretary in Ekiti and served former Governor Segun Oni .
Ojo - Lanre is married and have five children and two grand children

Bishop weds 109 couples

20 hours ago

2 hours ago

Bishop weds 109 couples

Most Rev. Mathew Audu, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Saturday in Masaka wedded 109 couples and urged in-laws not to interfere in their affairs.

Audu, who was on his third pastoral visit to St. Martin`s Catholic Church, Masaka, appealed to relatives of the new couples to allow them to build their marriages.

“As newly wedded couples, you must love each other just as Christ Jesus loved the church and died to set souls free.

“You must respect each other’s feelings; care for each other, share views and reason together in peace and unity.

“You must not allow a third party to come into your matter; always invite God to intervene in your case.

“Ensure that you are coordinated in all your dealings and make the word of God your standard, your pillar, your faith and your hope.

“If you can keep these entire commandments, your marriage will be perfect and other couples will want to copy from you,’’ he said.

The Bishop, who also confirmed 1,390 faithful, blessed 56 Eucharistic Ministers and 76 lectors, saying the blessing would strengthen their faith.

He said that the confirmation and the blessings the members received would energise them to evangelise to people and win more souls into the kingdom of God.

Audu said that confirmation in the Catholic Church was the sacrament which reaffirmed a person’s status in the church.

He advised the members who were confirmed to keep doctrines of the Catholic Church and ensure that they carried out responsibilities given to them diligently.

“The Catholic Church sees confirmation as a rite in which grace falls on the person confirmed as they announce their commitment to God and the Church,’’ he said.

Earlier, Rev. Fr. Jude Maigari, Parish Priest of the parish, said that the mass wedding was a culture imbibed by the church to enable couples with little finances wed in the church.

He encouraged the couples to heed the advice given by the bishop saying it would help them to live in peace and harmony.