INEC deploys 18,511 Official, Police deploys 25,000 Officers Deployed As #EdoDecides

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has announced that a total of 1,925,105 voters will vote during Saturday governorship election in Edo state – the gubernatorial poll, which would be supervised by over 18,511 officials of the Commission.

Speaking on Wednesday to political parties civil society organisations, nongovernmental organisations, interest groups and other stakeholders in meeting Benin City, capital of Edo state, the Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, assured that the officials had been well trained on issues pertaining to election and electoral guidelines.

Yakubu, who disclosed that accreditation and voting will commence simultaneously, stressed that no voter would be allowed to the polling units with security escort.

According to him, highly placed personalities are not eligible to come with thugs and security men to polling units to vote, just as he said that after voting, voters should leave.

    “Heads of the security agencies from our various inter-governmental agencies meetings have given their assurances that they will provide adequate security for the electorate, INEC and ad hoc staff and materials. “No orderly may accompany these high profile personalities to the polling centres, but where they escort them, they are not expected to display their arms,’’ he stated.

In his contribution, acting Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, assured the people of the state of adequate security, saying that the police had earlier deployed 25,000 personnel to complement those in Edo command.

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Apple Unveils iPhone 7 Alongside 7 Plus With Dual-Lens Camera

Apple today announced the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus at its "See You on the 7th" media event in San Francisco.

The new iPhones feature a 64-bit four-core A10 Fusion processor, stereo speakers positioned on opposite ends of the device, a flush Force-sensitive home button with a Taptic Engine for haptic feedback, and IP67-standard water and dust resistance – but no headphone jack. Wired Lightning in-ear EarPod headphones and a Lightning to 3.5mm adapter are included in the box. Apple is offering Siri-enabled wireless earbuds called AirPods as a separate accessory, available for $159 in late October.

The iPhone 7 features a faster, more energy efficient 12-megapixel rear-facing camera with optical image stabilization, six-element f/1.8 aperture lens, an artificial light compensating flicker sensor, Quad-LED True Tone flash, and enhanced tone mapping. The device also has a 7-megapixel front-facing FaceTime HD camera with wide color capture and auto-image stabilization.

The iPhone 7 Plus differentiates itself from the 4.7-inch handset with a dual-lens 12-megapixel camera featuring all the same features, but is much more advanced, including a wide-angle lens and a separate telephoto lens that combine to create 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom features. The ISP dual-lens camera is also capable of producing live shallow depth of field shots and "bokeh" effects in preview mode.

The smartphones are crafted from anodized aluminum and have a stainless steel Apple logo, and come in a new glossy jet black color, as well as simple "black" (with a black Apple logo), alongside silver, gold and rose gold. The antenna bands are aligned along the edges of the handsets, instead of across the rear like on the previous models, and the volume buttons are positioned directly on the side of the handset (as opposed to inside a recess as per the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus).

Both devices also benefit from a 25% brighter "cinema standard" Retina HD display with wider color gamut, improved color management, and 3D Touch. Audio has also been improved with the new speakers, which include increased volume and better dynamic range.

The A10 Fusion four-core processor powering the two devices delivers up to 40% faster CPU performance, up to 50% faster graphics performance, and better efficiency compared to the A9 chip inside the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. Both the new smartphones come with improved battery life, faster wireless, and the improved water resistance means the iPhones stand up to splashing and even short periods of immersion in water.

Pre-orders begin Friday September 9 and the devices are available to buy in more than 25 countries from September 16. iPhone 7 starts at $649 and comes in 32GB/128GB/256GB capacities. The iPhone 7 Plus starts at $769, also in 32GB/128GB/256GB capacities. All come pre-installed with iOS 10, which is also available for download on September 13.

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus are also available through the iPhone Upgrade Program, starting at $27/month and $32/month in the United States respectively. Apple said the iPhone Upgrade Program will be expanding to the United Kingdom and China.

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Eid-el-Kabir: FG declares Monday, Tuesday public holidays

The Federal Government has declared Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 12 and Sept.13 as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Kabir.

The Minister of Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government in a statement signed by the acting Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Muhammadu Maccido.

He enjoined all Muslims and Nigerians in general to support and join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari in his sustained efforts to diversify the economy and progressively accelerate the pace of economic recovery.

The minister said that government was aware of the current economic challenges the nation was facing. He assured that that appropriate steps were being taken to address the challenges.

The minister said that the Federal Government was working to‎ revitalise the agriculture sector and the “Youth Empowerment Scheme” in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

He said that other areas of priority to government included the “The “Change Begins with Me”, a value re-orientation programme, and other social intervention programmes as well as massive capital releases. The minister expressed optimism that the current economic difficulties would soon be over, urging all to continue to support the government toward building a new formidable Nigeria.

He wished all Nigerians a happy Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

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Apple prepares to show off new iPhones and other products

Apple on Wednesday as the company prepares to unveil expected new iPhones and other products at an event in San Francisco starting at 1 p.m. EDT.

Analysts say the new iPhones could help Apple recover modestly from a recent dip in sales. But with few expected dramatic changes from previous models, Apple watchers aren't expecting the kind of big spikes in consumer demand that the company saw two years ago, when it introduced larger screens.

Apple sold nearly 92 million iPhones during the first six months of this year, about 15 percent fewer than the same period last year. This year marks the first time that Apple has seen such declines. Industry analysts say it's because last fall's iPhone 6S and 6S Plus didn't contain many new features or improvements.

Investors are hoping for a bigger boost in sales next year. Wall Street analysts say reports from Apple's Asian manufacturers and suppliers indicate the company has decided to wait a year before introducing a major overhaul of the phone in 2017. That will be the iPhone's 10th anniversary.

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Trump promises huge boost in military spending

Republican Donald Trump vowed to boost military spending by tens of billions of dollars on Wednesday, outlining plans for major increases in the number of active troops, Navy ships and submarines, and fighter planes as he works to convince skeptics in both parties that he's ready to lead the world's most powerful military.

The New York businessman, who has struggled at times to demonstrate a command of foreign policy, also seemed to acknowledge he does not currently have a plan to address cyber security or the Islamic State group.

If elected, Trump said he would give military leaders 30 days to formulate a plan to defeat the group, commonly known as ISIS. And he would ask the joint chiefs of staff to conduct a review of the nation's cyber defenses to determine all vulnerabilities.

Trump's address came hours before his national security acumen is tested at a "commander in chief" forum on NBC.



"We want to deter, avoid and prevent conflict through our unquestioned military strength," Trump declared of his Democratic opponent in his Wednesday speech, delivered inside the exclusive Union League of Philadelphia, which first allowed women in 1986.

The appearances mark an intense, two-day focus on national security by Trump, who has offered tough rhetoric on America's challenges abroad but few details.

The United States currently spends more than $600 billion a year on the military, more than the next seven countries combined.

Trump's rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton, has tried to paint the billionaire businessman as erratic, making the case that his disposition would be a major liability on the world stage.

"They know they can count on me to be the kind of commander in chief who will protect our country and our troops, and they know they cannot count on Donald Trump," Clinton said Tuesday. "They view him as a danger and a risk."

Trump's team has worked aggressively in recent days to turn deflect such criticism back at Clinton.

"She's trigger-happy and very unstable," Trump said of his Democratic opponent, calling her use of a private email server while secretary of state "reckless."

While Clinton and Trump will be featured at the Wednesday night forum, they will appear at separate times and will not face each other on stage. The forum could serve as a warm-up to their highly anticipated first presidential debate, scheduled for Sept. 26 in New York.

Trump will deliver another speech Wednesday evening, at the convention of New York's Conservative Party.

Trump's Union League address also included his plans to eliminate deep spending cuts, known as the "sequester," enacted when Congress failed to reach a budget compromise in 2011. Republicans and Democrats voted for the automatic, across-the board cuts that affected both military and domestic programs.

Trump has given mixed signals about whether he wants to increase military spending overall.

While Trump has often complained that U.S. forces are not large enough or well-equipped, he's also said that he'd save money by cutting waste and ensuring that contractors aren't getting sweetheart deals because of their connections or lobbying efforts.

His position on the sequester has been even more murky. Trump expressed support for the cuts in interviews in 2013 — even describing them as too small — but seemed to suggest at the time that military spending should be exempt, undermining the sequester premise.

A senior adviser, speaking on the condition of anonymity to share details ahead of the speech, said Trump would ensure the additional spending is fully paid for. The adviser did not explain how, but suggested there would be no need for structural budget cuts to pay for the billions of additional military spending over 10 years.

Even before promising a huge boost in military spending, Trump's plans to cut taxes, expand infrastructure spending and leave untouched entitlement programs such as Social Security already threatened to add trillions of dollars to the federal deficit.

Trying to emphasize his military support, Trump's campaign released a letter on Tuesday from 88 retired generals and admirals citing an urgent need for a "course correction" in America's national security policy. It was aimed at rebutting Clinton's arguments that she would be best positioned to lead the military and reassuring Republicans who have openly worried that his provocative statements might undermine U.S. alliances.

But questions remain, even in his party.

Bob Corker, the Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, repeatedly refused to say directly whether he had confidence in Trump as commander in chief when questioned on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Wednesday.

"I do believe that Donald Trump is growing in his understanding of these issues and I think that he's beginning to get more and more people around him that have a depth of understanding as to the complexities and I'm watching this evolve," he said. He added that, "we'll all make our assessments," in the candidates' foreign affairs abilities by early November.

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Clinton, Trump: He's a national security danger; no she is

Hillary Clinton accused Donald Trump of insulting America's veterans and pressing dangerous military plans around the globe on Tuesday, seeking to undercut his appeal to service families in Southern voting battlegrounds. Trump declared "our country is going to hell" because of policies she would make even worse.

Clinton, addressing supporters in Florida, warned that Trump would lead the nation back to war in the Middle East. And to military vets and their families, she pointed anew to his summertime dust-up with the Muslim parents of a slain American soldier.

"His whole campaign has been one long insult to all those who have worn the uniform," the Democratic nominee said at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Republican Trump, trying emphasize his military support, released a letter from 88 retired generals and admirals citing an urgent need for a "course correction" in America's national security policy. It was aimed at rebutting Clinton's arguments that she would be best positioned to lead the military and reassuring Republicans who have openly worried that his provocative statements might undermine U.S. alliances.

"We believe that such a change can only be made by someone who has not been deeply involved with, and substantially responsible for, the hollowing out of our military and the burgeoning threats facing our country around the world," the military leaders wrote. "For this reason, we support Donald Trump's candidacy to be our next commander in chief."

Clinton pushed back, saying Trump has lagged in securing key military supporters compared to past Republican nominees including John McCain and Mitt Romney. She pointed to her endorsements from retired Marine Gen. John Allen, who blasted Trump at the Democratic National Committee, and former CIA deputy director Mike Morell.

"They know they can count on me to be the kind of commander in chief who will protect our country and our troops, and they know they cannot count on Donald Trump," Clinton said en route to Florida. "They view him as a danger and a risk."

The conflicting messages came as the candidates prepared to appear at an MSNBC forum Wednesday night on national security. While they will appear separately and not be on stage at the same time, it could serve as a warm-up to their highly-anticipated first presidential debate on Sep. 26 in New York.

Campaigning in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Trump vowed to take aggressive action to help veterans at home and confront threats abroad including acts of terrorism from the Islamic State group. He was questioned by retired Gen. Michael Flynn, the former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency who is a strong supporter.

"We are going to solve the ISIS problem," Trump said. "But we have to get back to building our country, because our country is going to hell."

Trump promised to fix problems at the Veterans Administration, which has grappled with patient care mismanagement during the Obama administration. Until those problems are resolved, he said he would allow veterans to seek treatment at private doctors or hospitals free of charge.

"Your government is going to pay your bill," he pledged.

Clinton's message was amplified by her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, who promoted his own foreign policy credentials in a speech in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Kaine said Trump is misleading voters on his foreign policy views, asserting he was against invading Iraq despite statements to several news outlets at the time indicating otherwise.

Kaine, who noted his own son's service in the Marine Corps, is a member of both the Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees.

Meanwhile, Clinton's campaign released a new television ad entitled, "Sacrifice," that shows military veterans watching some of the New York businessman's more provocative statements.

The spot includes clips of Trump claiming to know more about the Islamic State group than military generals, and his criticism of McCain, the Republican senator from Arizona and a former prisoner of war. The ad, which features former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland, a triple-amputee who served in Vietnam, also keys on Trump's assertion that he has sacrificed a lot compared to families who have lost loved ones in conflict.

"Our veterans deserve better," reads a line at the end of the ad, which is airing in Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Nevada and Pennsylvania.

Republicans, too, have questioned Trump's capacity to serve as commander in chief. Dozens of GOP national security leaders released a letter last month warning that he would risk the nation's "national security and well-being."

Separately, Trump continued to face questions about his immigration policy a day after refusing to rule out a pathway to legal status for immigrants in the country illegally. He focused on his proposed border wall plan in a Tuesday interview with ABC's "Good Morning America."

Last week in Phoenix, he told a raucous crowd of supporters that there was "one way only" for immigrants here illegally to become legal — to return home and get in line for official readmittance.

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Families seek relatives missing in Gabon’s post-electoral crisis

With hundreds detained and a disputed number of people killed in Gabon’s violent post-electoral crisis, several families in the Central African nation are on a desperate hunt for information on their missing loved ones.

On Wednesday evening, shortly after the final results of Gabon’s fraught presidential elections were released, Bruna had a brief phone conversation with her sister, Carena, that left her feeling very alarmed.

Carena was at the campaign headquarters of Jean Ping – the opposition candidate who has rejected the official election results – in the Gabonese capital of Libreville. Like many Ping supporters that fateful evening, Carena and her mother, Henriette, had gathered outside their candidate’s campaign office to hear the much-anticipated poll results.

Trouble was expected in the lead-up to the August 27 poll and trouble subsequently broke out days later when the Gabonese interior minister finally announced that President Ali Bongo had been reelected, beating Ping by a wafer-thin margin of less than 6,000 votes.

Bruna – a 25-year-old resident of the central French city of Clermont-Ferrand who asked that the family name not be disclosed due to security reasons – had been closely monitoring the events back home. When she got through to Carena in Libreville on Wednesday, she found her sister “panicking”, Bruna recalled in a phone interview with FRANCE 24. “She [Carena] told me, ‘They are firing at us, Ali [Bongo] is killing us.'”

Bruna hasn’t spoken to her mother and sister since, and nearly a week later, the family is concerned about their well-being.

Wednesday, August 31, was a dark night in Gabon’s history. Shortly after Ping declared himself the rightful winner of the 2016 presidential poll, his supporters took to the streets of Libreville, setting fire to the parliament building amid chants of “Ping hey-ho, Ali must go”.

Gabonese security forces proceeded to launch a brutal crackdown on Ping’s campaign headquarters, according to opposition supporters. Days later, photographs of the building circulating on social media sites showed an exterior pockmarked by bullet holes, while office floors inside the building were smeared with blood.

Government officials say at least three people were killed in the post-electoral violence. But in an interview with FRANCE 24 Tuesday, Ping put the death toll at “between 50 to 100”. More than 800 people have been arrested in the post-electoral crackdown, leaving many families scrambling to trace their loved ones.

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