​How Maina swindled Abacha familyWhat Nigerians didn’t Know

Fugitive former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force Alhaji Abdulrashid Maina, who is accused of embezzling billions of naira in pension funds, once swindled the family of the late Head of State General Sani Abacha of tens of millions of naira, an informed retired security officer told Daily Trust on Sunday in Kano yesterday. The source said Maina, who had then just returned to Nigeria after a failed school sojourn in the United States, convinced the head of state’s sons to award him a contract to furnish Arewa Suites, which they had just acquired. He convinced the Abachas that he knew a lot about furnishing and interior decoration during his stay in America.

According to the source, the Abachas gave Maina tens of millions of naira to furnish the hotel and he left Nigeria for the US where he converted the money to his personal use. He never furnished the hotel despite collecting down payment, the source said. When Maina sneaked into Nigeria nearly a year later, then Chief Security Officer to Abacha Major Hamza Al-Mustapha had him arrested at the airport. Maina was kept in a military detention facility for many months, the security source said.
Daily Trust on Sunday also learnt from informed sources that Abdulrashid Maina’s father, the late Alhaji Aliyu Biu was a member of the Biu royal family. He spent many years in Sokoto as the Chief Passport Officer at the Nigeria Immigration Service office before he transferred to the foreign service in the early 1990s. He subsequently became Nigeria’s ambassador to Mauritania and later to Chad. In between the two postings, he was also a protocol officer at the State House in Abuja. The late former envoy died in a car accident in 1998, Daily Trust on Sunday learnt. The sources also said Abdulrashid’s surname, Maina, is another name for Alhaji Aliyu Biu. The former pension boss is believed to have relocated his mother to one of his Kaduna houses which were sealed last week by the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Unknown life of Abdurrasheed Maina
On September 24, 2017, four Prado jeeps and a Camry cruised into the town of Potiskum in Yobe accompanied by eight armed police escorts.
The leader of the convoy was Abdurrashid Maina, one of the most talked about figure in Nigeria today, who at that point was declared a wanted man for reported N24 billion pension fund fraud.
Despite being a wanted man, the former boss of the Pension Reform Task Team drove into Potiskium in comfort and under full police protection to pay a condolence visit to the family of the late Dallatun Fika, Alhaji Idrissa Madaki, who had passed on September 18th.
Dr Maina has not been living like a wanted man and findings by Daily Trust on Sunday shows that the man has been enjoying the protection of law enforcement officers who were supposed to effect his arrest.
Beyond nursing plans to contest the governorship elections in Borno in 2019, three months ago, Maina was in line to be turbaned as an heir apparent to the Emir of Biu throne and there was supposed to be a huge ceremony to celebrate it but for strong opposition between other princes who feared Maina would beat them to the throne.
Our correspondent, who visited Biu, Maina’s hometown reported that there are clear orders to residents of the town not to engage with journalists as everyone he approached for an interview was reluctant to do so on account of this order. He was even treated with belligerence in some instances.
However, our correspondent was able to gather that the letter appointing Maina heir apparent to the Biu throne was sent to Abuja and Maina thereafter visited Biu to prepare grounds for his turbaning.
In Biu, evidence of Maina’s ambition are everywhere for all to see. Posters announcing his intention to run for governor with the tag: ‘The Clarion Call, Hope 2019, MAINA Abdurrasheed, (Yariman Biu) Governor, Borno State, are pasted all over the town, including a one-storey building said to belong to him at Dugja Ward along the road to Damboa, which is lavishly pasted showing him in kaftan.
The poster bearing ‘The Clarion Call’ inscription shows him contesting on the ruling APC platform. The other main poster showing him in kaftan does not indicate the party on whose platform he is running on.
While his political ambition might be threatened by the massive corruption allegations against him, his ambitions of taking the Biu throne faces a different kind of threat, the opposition of other members of the ruling house.
Maina is said to the grandson of Mai Madu, who was dethroned as the Emir of Biu and banished to Bauchi. Mai Madu was replaced with his brother, the grandfather of the current emir, whose descendants want to keep the stool in their side of the family and hence the opposition to Maina’s turbaning.
“The dispute, I understand, is in the process of being resolved now at the Emirate level; and as soon as it is finally resolved he will be turbaned accordingly,” a source in Biu told our correspondent.
Another source however thinks that might not be the case in view of Maina’s current ordeal.
“The Emir may either have received orders from above against turbaning him or the Biu Emirate Council may have resolved wisely to put that ceremony on hold until he is cleared of this mess or, at least, the current tension over him is doused,” he said.
But on the political front, Daily Trust on Sunday gathered that Maina had already set machinery in motion and had held meetings with politicians in the state to in both Biu, Maiduguri and Kaduna.
Maina’s interest in politics is not new as he was said to have contested for but failed to win the chairmanship of Biu Local Government in the 1980s.
Being from the South of Borno, which is yet to provide a governor of the state, Maina is thought to enjoy the support of people in his locality.
“Biu people want him among the main contestants of the governorship, in fact the preferred one because, we believe, he possesses the reverence and wherewithal to shift the seat from the Northern to Southern Borno,” a resident of Biu said.
Another resident who spoke to Daily Trust said Maina was a regular visitor to Biu but couldn’t now say in which of his houses he stays when he visits.
“I cannot say in which of his houses he stays; but let me even show you their family house by the Emir’s palace,” he said.
Our correspondent in Kaduna reports that it was easy for Maina to hide in the city at the peak of the manhunt for him as he owns many properties there.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been able to identify six properties which include a two-storey shopping plaza at number 2C Ibrahim Taiwo Road, and a one-storey duplex at Katuru Road and four other houses on Kano Road, Kawo extension.
But it is obvious that Maina does not live in any other properties so far sealed by the EFCC.
An orange seller near the gate of the Katuru Road residence, which has been sealed by EFCC, told our correspondent who visited the place that Maina hardly comes there as it is one of his sisters that lives there.
Kaduna has played a major role in Maina political ambitions.
Late in September, some elders and youths from Borno State converged in Kaduna to persuade Dr. Abdulrasheed Maina to contest for the Governorship seat of Borno State in 2019 and met with his cousin, Aliyu Maina at a guest house. Maina was said to be well aware of what was going on.
Led by Alhaji Abubakar Ali Biu, the delegation said they are of the opinion that Maina’s courage in fighting corruption as the chairman, Presidential Pension Reform Taskforce Team, where he was able to recover N1.6trn both in cash and asset for the Federal government has earned him a reputation among his people.
Leader of Northern Borno Youths Movement Mamman Isa alongside his counterpart in Central Borno Sulaiman Mohammed said Maina who also spoke on the occasion said Maina has a passion to take Borno to the promised land.
Alhaji Aliyu Maina, a cousin to Abdulrasheed Maina, wh0 received them thanked the people and said, “We as a family will consult among ourselves alongside out brother, Dr Abdulrasheed Maina and get back to you. Though it is not yet time for political activities, we shall give you feedback after our family consultation.”
A political associate of Maina who does not want to be named, said the controversial civil servant did part of his graduate programme abroad but could not say in which particular country.
He said though the patriarch of the Main family who was an ambassador is late and had lived in Kaduna, most of the family members have remained in Kaduna.

Indian surgeons separate twins joined at the head

Image copyrightAIIMS

Image captionThe twin boys were separated after 16 hours of surgery

Surgeons in the Indian capital, Delhi, have separated twin boys who were conjoined at the tops of their heads.

Two-year-old Jaga and Kalia underwent 16 hours of surgery, and are now in the intensive care unit, doctors said.

A team of 30 doctors carried out the surgery – the first of its kind in India – at a state-run hospital.

The boys were born with shared blood vessels and brain tissues, a very rare condition that occurs once in about three million births.

The director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Randeep Guleria, told the Press Trust of India that the “next 18 days would be extremely critical to ascertain the success of the surgery”.

The twins, hailing from a village in eastern Orissa state, were joined at the head – a condition known as craniopagus.

Even before the operation they had defeated the odds; craniopagus occurs in one in three million births, and 50% of those affected die within 24 hours, doctors say.

Image copyrightAIIMS

Image captionDoctors say the condition of the boys remains critical

Image copyrightAIIMS

Image captionThe twins before the surgery to separate them

“Both the children have other health issues as well. While Jaga has heart issues, Kalia has kidney problems,” neurosurgeon A K Mahapatra said.

“Though initially Jaga was healthier, now his condition has deteriorated. Kalia is better,” he added.

Doctors said the most challenging job after the separation was to “provide a skin cover on both sides of the brain for the children as the surgery had left large holes on their heads”.

“If the twins make it, the next step will be reconstructing their skulls,” plastic surgeon Maneesh Singhal said.

The first surgery was performed on 28 August when the doctors created a bypass to separate the shared veins that return blood to the heart from the brain

INCREASE YOUR VALUE

 

Michael Jordan was born in 1963, in the slums of Brooklyn, New York.

He had four siblings and his father’s earnings were not sufficient to provide for the whole family.

He grew up in a poor neighbourhood. Exposed to mindless violence and heavy discrimination in the slums, he saw for himself only a hopeless future.

His father saw in Michael, a lost soul and decided to do something.

He gave Michael, who was 13 years old, a piece of used clothing and asked: “What do you think the value of this outfit would be?”

Jordan replied,”Maybe one dollar.”

His father asked, “Can you sell it for two dollars? If you can sell it, it would mean that you are a big help to your family.”

Jordan nodded his head, “I’ll try, but no guarantee that I’ll be successful.”

Jordan carefully washed the cloth clean. Because they didn’t have an iron, to smoothen the cloth, he levelled it with a clothes brush on a flat board, then kept it in the sun to dry. The next day, he brought the clothes to a crowded underground station. After offering it for more than six hours. Jordan finally managed to sell it for $2. He took the two dollar bill and ran home.

After that, everyday he looked for used clothing, washed and ironed it, and sold it in the crowd.

More than ten days later, his father again gave him a piece of used clothing, “Can you think of a way you can sell this for 20 bucks?”

Aghast, Jordan said, “How is it possible? This outfit can only fetch two dollars at the most.”

His father replied, “Why don’t you try it first? There might be a way.”

After breaking his head for a few hours, finally, Jordan got an idea.

He asked for cousin’s helpto paint a picture of Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse on the garment. Then he tried to sell it in the school where the children of the rich study.

Soon a housekeeper, who was there to pick his master, bought that outfit for his master. The master was a little boy of only 10 years. He loved it so much and he gave a five dollar tip. 25 dollars was a huge amount for Jordan, the equivalent of a month’s salary of his father.

When he got home, his father gave him yet another piece of used clothing, “Are you able to resell it at a price of 200 dollars?” Jordan’s eyes lit up.

This time, Jordan accepted the clothes without the slightest doubt. Two months later a popular movie actress from the movie “Charlie’s Angels”, Farah Fawcett came to New York for her Movie promos. After the press conference, Jordan made his way through the security forces to reach the side of Farah Fawcett and requested her autograph on the piece of clothing. When Fawcett saw this innocent child asking for her autograph, she gladly signed it.

Jordan was shouting very excitedly, “This is a jersey signed by Miss Farah Fawcett, the selling price is 200 dollars!” He auctioned off the clothes, to a businessman for a price of 1,200 dollars!

Upon returning home, his father broke into TEARS and said, “I am amazed that you did it My child! You’re really great! ”

That night, Jordan slept alongside his father. His father said, “Son, in your experience selling these three pieces of clothing, what did you learn about success?”

Jordan replied, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

His father nodded his head, then shook his head, “What you say is not entirely wrong! But that was not my intention. I just wanted to show you that a piece of used clothing which is worth only a dollar can also be increased in value, Then how about us – living & thinking humans? We may be darker and poorer, but what if we CAN increase our VALUE.”

This thought enlightened young Jordan. Even a piece of used clothing could be made dignified, then why not me? There is absolutely no reason to underestimate myself.

From then on, Michael Jordan felt that his future would be beautiful and full of hope.

He went on to become the greatest basketball player of all times.

How can I increase my own value? I am finding it a very interesting thought. I am sure, you too, will.

Legends Never Quit

PROFILE OF MR BOSS MUSTAPHA -NEW SGF.

Mr, Boss Gida Mustapha is a lawyer, management consultant, politician, business man and boardroom guru of considerable repute. His appointment as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, has been well received, thanks to his vast public sector experience, legal background, extensive travels and contacts in both government and business.
The confidence in the new SGF is well placed.
Born in Adamawa State, Mr Mustapha attended Hong Secondary School, in Hong Adamawa state and North East College of Arts and Sciences Maiduguri Borno state, crowning it with WASC and HSC in 1976.
He earned his Bachelor of Law (LL.B) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1979 and was called to bar in 1980.
From 1980 to 1981, Mr Mustapha did the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) – at the Directorate of Legal Services at the Army Headquarters and was in charge of review of Court Marshall Proceedings.
After his National Service, he joined Sotesa Nigeria Limited, an Italian consultancy firm, as an Executive Director in charge of Administration, leaving in 1983 to join the prestigious law firm of Messrs Onagoruwa & Co in Lagos.
With his law practice having fully taken off, the SGF was appointed Principal Counsel in the firm of Messrs Mustapha & Associates.
His legal interests and expertise includes privatization, commercialization and Liberalization of Public Companies/
Corporate and Government Parastatals.
He was also involved in preparation of varied and miscellaneous banking documents such as Debentures, Guarantees, Mortgages, Bonds and Loan Syndications.
One of Mr. Mustapha’s career highlights was his appointment as a member of Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the defunct Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF), serving meritoriously from 2000 to 2007. At the PTF, he was responsible for production of an up-to-date comprehensive project and programme report, including location, coverage and whether performed, performing or abandoned projects and the production of final report of Assets and Liabilities, examination of the Administrative structure and cost effectiveness of PTF Projects and Services among other duties.
Mr. Mustapha also played key leadership roles at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) serving as Social Secretary and Chairman at the Yola branch.
After his stint at the PTF in 2007, Mr. Mustapha was appointed Principal Partner of the law firm, Adroit Lex. His law practice and the burning desire to serve the larger society conspired to attract the SGF into politics.
At various times, he was member Federal Republic of Nigeria Constituent Assembly (1988-1989), Chairman People’s Solidarity Party-Gongola State (1989-1990), state chairman, Social Democratic Party-Gongola State (1990-1991); he was even a gubernatorial candidate for SDP in Adamawa state in 1991.
He was the Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria from 2010 to 2013. In 2007, he again played a prominent role, serving as the Deputy Director-General of the party’s Presidential Campaign Organization.
His services remained in high demand after the ACN joined forces with other parties to form the All Progressive Congress (APC).
He was a member of NCC and Secretary APC Presidential Campaign Organization Mobilization (2015) and member, APC Transition Committee (2015).
He is also a member, APC Board of Trustees.
In addition to the NBA, the SGF is a member of various professional bodies including African Bar Association (ABA), Commonwealth Lawyers Association, International Bar Association (IBA) and Human Rights Institute (HRI).
But Mr. Mustapha’s accomplishments go beyond politics and the Bar; he is respected boardroom guru, having been appointed into the boards of several companies in the manufacturing and financial services as well as Oil and Gas Sectors.
He is the National Vice President, Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, Nigeria, FGBMFI.
The SGF has travelled extensively visiting no fewer than 30 countries, and always taken interest in how assets are managed in those countries.
He stresses teamwork and the need to focus on the nation’s vision and mission. He also is fond of saying: “Just call me Boss, I don’t have nicknames.”
Mr. Mustapha who is married with children, enjoys golf, lawn tennis, travelling, documentary films, charity work and meeting people.
Until his appointment as DG, he was the Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA.
Source: NIWA website (edited)

The Spike Missile: Has Israel Developed the Ultimate Weapon to Kill Tanks?

Charlie Gao

Security, Middle East

Maybe.

The Spike Missile: Has Israel Developed the Ultimate Weapon to Kill Tanks?

On October 6, 1973, over eight hundred tanks from three mechanized infantry divisions poured over the Israeli border into the Golan Heights. The sheer mass of armor inflicted heavy casualties on the defending Israeli forces; the defending Barak Brigade saw every company commander killed in action during the attack. While Israeli forces eventually did triumph, this experience lead some in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to think about ways of stopping massed tank formations. Eventually, with the help of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, they developed the Tamuz missile. This missile is now known outside of Israel as the Spike Non-Line-of-Sight (Spike-NLOS), and is considered to be the first member of the Spike family of missiles. Since then, the Spike family has become one of the premier antitank guided weapons in the world, with great export success: it currently serves in many of the world’s most powerful militaries, including those of the UK, Germany, South Korea and India. But how does the Spike work? And why is the Spike family so successful?

Recommended: 5 Reasons No Nation Wants to Go to War with Israel

The original Spike missile, the Spike-NLOS, was a pioneering weapon in its field. While television-guided missiles existed before, for aircraft, the Spike-NLOS was the first fielded surface-to-surface missile to use TV guidance. This was because of its original purpose: to stop massed-armor pushes from almost artillery distances with precision attacks. To achieve this, the Spike-NLOS has a tiny fiber-optic cable linking the launching vehicle with the missile, as well as a camera in the missile itself. Through this datalink, the Spike-NLOS operator sees a view of the battlefield. The operator then proceeds to guide the missile to the target. The view afforded to the operator while the missile is in flight allows each missile to act as reconnaissance. The Spike-NLOS launcher can remain fifteen to thirty kilometers away from the target (depending on the generation of missile) while still delivering a precise attack. The TV guidance allows the missile to retarget in flight, as the operator only needs to steer to a different target. It also doesn’t require a “lock” to launch, the operator only needs to know the rough coordinates of the target, allowing Spike-NLOS to act as precision artillery. In a reflection of this role, Spike-NLOS equipped vehicles are assigned to an elite unit of the IDF’s Artillery Corps. Later versions of Spike-NLOS added true homing capability, making the missile self-guiding while also allowing the operator to remain a “man in the loop” and correct and steer the missile mid-flight. It also gives the missile Lock-On After Launch (LOAL) capability. In Israeli literature, this is called “Fire-and-Observe.” Improved cameras (able to see in infrared channels) and laser homing are also included in the latest Israeli versions of Spike-NLOS. They also have the ability to tie into the Israeli command-and-control network, so that data from other sources such as counterbattery radars and drones can help direct the Spike-NLOS to its target.

Recommended: 5 Worst Generals in U.S. History

Operationally, Spike-NLOS has been a great success. It saw significant use in recent intifadas and the Second Lebanon War, as a tool to neutralize artillery positions. The precise nature of the missile proved useful in areas with many civilians. For this reason, the Spike-NLOS has seen significant export success, with the UK buying it under the name Exactor and deploying it successfully in Afghanistan and Iraq in a similar role. The success of Spike-NLOS in the counterbattery role also resulted in South Korea buying itfollowing the 2010 Yeonpyeong attack as a mean to neutralize North Korean artillery positions.

Recommended: Could the Battleship Make a Comeback? ​

The success of the Spike is not limited to the NLOS missile. In the 1990s, trials were undertaken to adapt the Spike missile technology as a smaller weapon, as the IDF needed a new ATGM to replace the aging American M47 Dragon ATGMs currently in use. According to Jane’s Infantry Weapons, the first test firings of this system took place in 1992. First fielded was the Gill missile, known as Spike-MR to the international market. This was a fire-and-forget missile that lacks the command guidance of the Spike-NLOS in exchange for a far lighter launching platform and missile. This version also achieved significant export success, winning Finnish ATGM trials and an order in 2000. This version was also quickly adopted by Singapore and the Netherlands. The Spike-MR can be considered to be a competitor to the American Javelin system, as both consist of similar components and technology. Both have a Command-Launch Unit (CLU) with an integrated Thermal Sight on the launch platform, and both missiles use an electro-optical sensor to home in on their targets. The Spike-MR recently beat out the Javelin in a competition for a large Indian contract.

Rafael has continued to develop the Spike family of missiles. The Spike-LR versionreintroduces some of the Spike-NLOS functionality into the smaller Spike missiles, with the same fiber-optic data-link technology that allows the operator to see what the missile sees. This version entered IDF service around the same time as the Spike-MR, and also achieved significant export success, winning large European contracts, including withGermany and Poland. It is popular as a vehicle-mounted ATGM, replacing the Milan in German use as the primary ATGW for the German Infantry Fighting Vehicle. It also has options to be integrated onto helicopters. Recently, the IDF placed orders for the upgraded Spike-LR2. The newer missile comes with more lethal warheads, and the ability for the new CLU to receive data from other sources.

Continuing development, Rafael released the Spike-SR in 2012: a small disposable version meant for squad-level use. Unlike the Spike-MR, where the soldier uses the CLU to acquire the target, which then feeds the data to the Spike missile, a soldier uses the missile seeker itself to acquire the target with the Spike-SR. The Spike-SR also achieved export success in 2016. The final member of the Spike family is the Spike-ER, which is similar to the Spike-LR with additional range and some other features. It has been used by Israel on their Apache helicopters, as well as by the Finns on a ground mount for coastal defense.

But what makes the Spike so successful at export? The commendable performance of the missile in trials and advanced fire-and-observe features are no doubt part of it. But the largest part is probably Rafael’s willingness to license production of the Spike to the countries that adopt it. When Poland adopted the Spike-LR, the Polish Spike’s rocket engines, warheads and launch tubes were made by ZM Mesko, a Polish company. Similar licensing is happening with the Indian adoption of the Spike-MR.

Overall, the Spike missile series is a testament to the ability of the Israeli defense complex to produce novel solutions to diverse threats. It is one of the most successful export and licensing stories of ATGW to this day, with thousands of licensed Spikes being produced around the globe.

Charlie Gao studied Political and Computer Science at Grinnell College and is a frequent commentator on defense and national security issues

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN DIRECTED BY THE POLICE TO WRITE A STATEMENT:

If the police ask you to write a statement, which they normally do when they stop you on the road and take you to their station or when they invite you to their station, you should know how to write a good statement that will not implicate you.

First, whether you write a statement as a witness or as a suspect, you must understand that your statement is very likely going to be used against you either in court or for the purpose of blackmail by some officers (not all). Therefore, take your statement writing as a serious matter.

Remember that you have right to refuse to write a statement until your lawyer is present. But this normally leads to argument and hostile reactions from the police, and it may likely be a pretext for them not releasing you immediately.

There are no hard and fast rules as to the content of a statement. It is supposed to be what you know in relation to an incident or the reason for you being brought to the station. Since the statement is not just a general view on anything you like, it is important that you know the reason for which you have been brought to the station.

For those who have been suspected of committing an offense, make sure that before you start writing a statement, you ask the officer the offense for which you have been brought to the station. If he tells you that there is no offense, that they just want you to tell them all you know, you can politely say: No, Sir. The police force is meant to enforce the criminal law. Therefore, the police would not have any justification to bring you to the station except if they suspect that an offense has been committed somewhere by somebody – either you or someone else. And you need to know the offense and the person suspected before you could write your statement.

Also, if you were arrested or invited as a result of a petition written against you, you must demand to read carefully that petition before you start giving your statement.

When you start your statement, make sure you explain in your statement the reason for which you have been asked to make your statement. For instance, you can say something like: “I was stopped while driving my vehicle with registration number xxxxx on ________ street in _______ city. After showing my papers to officer xxxxxxx, I was taken to the police station and informed that my car was suspected of being stolen car”

Then you make your statement. You will see that the police will not like this. But you should be able to state the summary of the circumstances that led to you having to make a statement in the station.

I will say more about writing statements at police stations. For now, just get the idea that you should explain why you are making a statement and the offenses you were told you were suspected of. You should state that in your statement before you begin to write other things

POST SCRIPT: The reason you have to state in your statement the reason for making a statement is obvious. Your statement when read by a third party can only make sense in the context of the matter that prompted the statement. So, if you didn’t state the matter to which your statement relates, the police may change the matter down the line. Initially, you thought you were arrested because of stolen vehicle, but the police later charged it to kidnapping. If a judge is reading your statement in a kidnapping case, he will think you were evading the issues. He will think you were dodging the matter that you don’t want to answer the question. And he will form a negative opinion of you based on your presumably inconclusive and evasive statement . So be careful and be wise

The Prostate Mistake Millions of Men Make

PLUS: How to end frequent trips to the bathroom, improve your bedroom performance & keep your prostate healthy for life

 

Your prostate is the master gland to your masculinity. In your 20s, your prostate worked like clockwork. You could drink gallons of water and not need to pee for hours. And when you did pee, you got a powerful stream and a satisfying emptying of your bladder.

And you undoubtedly had no trouble enjoying all the benefits of your intimate relationships.

But as you got older, things began to take a turn for the worse. You’re peeing more than usual during the day… and even getting up 2, 3 or 4 times a night to go to the bathroom.

Believe me, you’re not alone. Urinary issues related to prostate health affect as many as 50% of men by age 60. And by age 80, up to 90% of men suffer from significant prostate issues.[1]

These problems are certainly annoying to say the least. But it’s important to know that ignoring them can sometimes lead to more serious health issues. Left alone, prostate issues can turn a previously strong, confident, virile man into a shadow of his former self.

I’m Joshua Corn, Editor-in-Chief of Live in the Now, one of the fastest growing natural health publications in the nation. My passion for natural health has always driven me to educate people on alternative solutions that are both safe and effective.

Please keep reading, because if you value your prostate health and want to maintain normal urinary function, I have some startling scientific research to share with you today.

It Starts So Innocently, But Then…

You find yourself having to pee more than usual. But you don’t think it’s anything to worry about.

Then you find yourself standing over the toilet bowl waiting to go. And when your waterworks finally do spring into action, you get weak urine flow, discomfort and an embarrassing dribbling.

But still, you don’t think it’s anything to be that concerned about. But as time ticks by, it begins affecting you in other ways.

Not only does this problem have you peeing at all times of the day and night, but it begins creeping into other parts of your life, too. Most notably, your personal life and your intimate relationships. As many men report, these problems eventually end up disrupting their bedroom their life as well.

And as time goes by, things only get worse.

If you’ve ever had this happen to you, you know just how embarrassing it can be. Performance issues like this can make any man feel like he’s lost his mojo.

However age means nothing once you have your prostate health under control.

And this isn’t just mere conjecture. Thousands of men across the country just like you have waved good-bye to nagging, worrying urinary problems.

They’ve rediscovered their health, maintained healthy prostate function, eliminated poor urination… and have rediscovered the intimacy they thought was gone forever.

How have they done this? What triggered such a turnaround?

The European Secret to Restoring Prostate Health & Renewed Potency

For years, doctors in Europe have been using a combination of two all-natural nutrients to address prostate health.[2] As you’re about to see, this powerful double-action approach is safe and amazingly effective — and free of the unwanted side effects that plague other options.[2]

And it’s a solution backed by overwhelming scientific research. Multiple placebo-controlled medical studies have demonstrated just how powerful these two nutrients can be at supporting prostate health and function including:[3-5]

• Increasing urine flow and promoting an empty bladder
• Avoiding straining when going to the toilet
• Promoting healthy prostate size
• Reducing night time trips to the bathroom
• Supporting healthy prostate function
• Making it easier to enjoy bedroom intimacy
• And much more

The “Dynamic Duo” That Can Rejuvenate Your Precious Prostate

When you were younger, you didn’t give your prostate a second thought. And that’s because it worked at the peak of its powers, performing all the vital functions just like nature intended.

Well, I sure hope you’re ready, because you’re about to feel that great again. Using what I’m about to reveal, you can say good-bye to troublesome urinary problems and begin seeing and feeling the incredible results faster than you may have thought possible.

So what are these two superstar nutrients that can give you all of these benefits?

The first nutrient is a potent plant extract made from flower pollen, which is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids and plant hormones. This pollen extract is proving to be one of the most effective prostate-supporting nutrients Mother Nature has ever produced.

Ultrasound Scans Reveal Normal Prostate Size

In a double-blind study published in the British Journal of Urology, researchers gave 53 men with prostate problems either 252 mg of this pollen extract or a placebo for six months. At the end of the study, the researchers found that men taking this extraordinary extract got an average 69% improvement in their symptoms.[3]

To get further evidence of how potent this flower pollen is for prostate health, the researchers looked at specific prostate-related parameters.

First, they took the unusual step of peering inside the prostate gland with ultrasound scanning equipment. They looked at men’s prostates before and after the study to record any changes in size and shape.

And to their surprise, in just a few short weeks, all of the men taking this specific pollen extract had experienced a reduction in prostate size from when they first started the study! They also found these improvements with the men taking the flower pollen[3]:

• Urinary flow was boosted 71%
• Urgency cut by 76%
• Bladder emptying increased 66%
• Frequency cut by 60%

All told, according to the researchers, a whopping 85% of men in the study reported significant relief from the urinary problems that had troubled them for so long.[3]

It’s Incredible How It Works…

The specific flower pollen extract that produced these remarkable results is a patented version called Graminex®. This is the specific brand I recommend because it works in a number of different ways to help support prostate health and reduce troubling urinary symptoms.[10-13]

First, it relaxes the tiny muscles in your prostate. When you have urinary problems, these tiny muscles spasm and contract continuously. Have you ever noticed what happens when you stand on a garden hose while watering plants in your garden? Water flow gets blocked, pressure drops, and your get a tiny trickle of water.

The spasms and contractions of these tiny muscles act in much the same way as that garden hose. You get weak urine flow, urine backs up in your bladder, and you find yourself peeing for what seems like an eternity. And that’s not all, because weak flow doesn’t just affect the passing of urine…

It Can Also Affect Your Intimate Relationships

Fortunately, this flower extract helps relax these tiny muscles, so in just a short space of time, symptoms can be reduced or even eliminated entirely.[10,11] You get a stronger flow of urine, increased bladder emptying, and a dramatic boost in urinary satisfaction.

Second, by relaxing and reducing the size of these tiny muscles in your prostate gland, it helps support normal prostate size and relieves the annoying consequences.[10,11]

You can go for hours at a time without peeing. You sleep better because you don’t have to get up 3-4 times a night to go to the bathroom. You get a properly emptied bladder because your prostate can push more urine through.

Third, it supports normal levels of the inflammatory markers that affect prostate size.[10,11] This pollen extract is teeming with cooling nutrients that support a healthy inflammatory response. Less inflammation means better urine flow, no burning sensations when you pee and better urinary control.

And fourth, it’s also a powerful fighter of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. High levels of DHT can wreak havoc on your body by reducing levels of free testosterone. The less free testosterone, the more it begins affecting your intimate relationships.[12,13]

The Powerful Plant Sterol That Improves Prostate Symptoms Scores By 350%

While Graminex® flower pollen extract alone has been shown to provide extraordinary prostate relief, there is a second powerful nutrient I recommend for prostate health that you should know about.

Beta Sitosterol is a powerful plant sterol that’s been used to support prostate health in Europe for more than 50 years. Since its discovery, Beta Sitosterol has been the subject of numerous scientific studies. And the results have been nothing short of remarkable.

In a 6-month double-blind study involving 200 men with prostate problems, researchers gave half of them 60 mg of Beta Sitosterol, and the other half got a placebo. They then measured their symptoms using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). This test measures urine flow, frequency, urgency and other symptoms.

The results are startling to say the least. Men who took Beta Sitosterol got a 7.4 point decrease in in their prostate symptom score for a whopping 350% improvement in their prostate symptoms over the placebo group.[6]

What’s more, the men in the Beta Sitosterol group increased bladder emptying by an impressive 54%, while reporting a 35% boost in urinary flow.[6] That meant they were peeing less and were not getting up two, three or more times a night to go to the bathroom.

And over time, things only got even better. In a follow up study, researchers found that Beta Sitosterol kept delivering the benefits. Urinary flow was increased even further and IPSS lifestyle scores improved significantly, too.[7]

Meanwhile, the men in the placebo group actually had worse scores than when the original study was performed.

Perhaps most strikingly of all, the researchers performed a further trial[7] — this time on the men in the placebo group. What would happen if they suddenly gave the placebo participants Beta Sitosterol? Well, they decided to find out. And the results were significant.

Urinary flow was boosted by 21%. And bladder emptying increased by 31% — just by switching from a placebo to Beta Sitosterol.[7]

By themselves, Graminex® and Beta Sitosterol each offer amazing, scientifically-researched prostate support, helping you:[3-7]

Sleep like a baby at night. Get a full night of restful, rejuvenating sleep every night without repeated trips to the bathroom.

Enjoy healthy urine flow. Boost bladder emptying and eliminate hesitation and dribbling.

Rejuvenate your love life. Feel and perform like you did in your 20s… enjoying uninterrupted intimacy.

Restore your male “swagger.” Be the strong, virile, confident guy you used to be before prostate problems reared their ugly head.

Double-Duty Support for Superior Prostate Relief

Besides my work with Live in the Now, I also run a company called Stop Aging Now, which has been making premium-grade dietary supplements for over 20 years.

Working with our Scientific Advisory Board, I’ve created a natural prostate and urination support breakthrough by combining both Graminex® and Beta Sitosterol, along with other proven ingredients, into an amazingly effective and super-convenient supplement called BetaPollen PLUS®.

It’s also incredibly affordable with a price as low as $12.49 per bottle. This way, nearly everyone can take advantage of its amazing benefits.

Price aside, what makes BetaPollen PLUS so exceptional is its unique formula that’s more effective than just about anything else on the market today.

Here’s what makes it superior:

400 mg of Graminex® Flower Pollen Extract, the highly potent and purified extract that has been shown in clinical studies to provide super-potent support for optimal prostate health and urinary function.[10-13]

60 mg of Beta Sitosterol Complex, the powerful plant compound has gained popularity for its ability to support normal prostate size and function as well as cardiovascular health.

A Potent Does of Lycopene, a unique antioxidant that has been shown to support prostate health by helping to protect the delicate tissues of the prostate from free radical damage.[8,9]

Only 1 Pill Per Day, BetaPollen PLUS is so concentrated that you only need one veggie capsule per day, making it incredibly convenient, especially for guys who don’t like taking pills.

Quality You Can Trust, BetaPollen PLUS is made in Stop Aging Now’s own state-of-the-art, FDA-inspected facility located in Florida to meet or exceed stringent U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) standards for quality and purity.

Affordable and Risk Free! This amazing formula is available for as low as $12.49 per bottle for a one-month supply. Plus it ships to you for free and comes with an “any reason” 365-day guarantee of a full refund for up to one year after purchase.

I Don’t Want to Sell You a Bottle… I Want to Provide You With a Solution

I honestly want this product to be the solution you’ve been looking for, and I want you to WOW your doctor at your next checkup.

But I’m sure you’ve heard many promises before, which is why BetaPollen PLUS comes with a 365-day return policy.

That’s right, if it doesn’t work, it’s FREE. Even if you’ve taken every last capsule if you aren’t satisfied, I will still give you every penny back — up to one year after purchase. It also ships to you for FREE, so there’s truly no risk!

Order Now & Get Relief Fast!

The great news about BetaPollen PLUS that it is quickly absorbed into your bloodstream, and you’ll start noticing the effects faster than you may have thought possible.

BetaPollen PLUS can:

• Help reduce night time bathroom trips
• Make urination effortless and discomfort-free — no stop and start
• Promote a complete emptying of the bladder
• Allow you to enjoy a healthy, active, virile life again
• Nourish your prostate while supporting normal size

Whether you’re concerned about avoiding trouble down the road or simply increasing your comfort level and quality of life now, BetaPollen PLUS is a smart investment. I hope you’ll give it a try!

Army Promotes Warrant Officer To Captain For “Daring Bravery”

The Army Council has announced the promotion of Master Warrant Officer Garba Abdullahi to the rank of Captain for his gallantry with effect from October 16, an official statement said.

The statement issued by Army spokesman, Brig.-Gen Sani Usman on Thursday said Abdullahi had displayed outstanding qualities of military professionalism to earn the promotion.

It said that Abdullahi, of 159 Battalion of Operation Lafiya Dole, had handled higher responsibility as platoon commander assigned to him by his commanding officer, to the admiration of his superiors and subordinates.

“Under his able leadership, his platoon achieved great exploits of daring bravery and courage for which the Battalion was reputed.

“The 159 Battalion is of one the rugged and most experienced cohesive fighting unit that make up Operation Lafiya Dole.

“The Battalion covers five local government areas in Yobe State and serves as the Brigade’s first line of defence in the northern front adjoining Niger Republic and Borno State.

“The Battalion primarily occupies a blocking position from where it conducts Counter Terrorist and Counter Insurgency operations to defeat Boko Haram terrorists, deny them freedom of action.

“And it assists the civil authority in maintenance of law and order and restoration of socio-economic activities within its area of responsibility,” the statement added.

It stressed that the accelerated promotion was in recognition of Abdullahi’s “gallantry, unprecedented show of bravery, courage and selfless service,” as well as the significant roles he played in all the successful operations achieved by his unit.

According to the statement, since the deployment of the battalion to the theatre about two years ago, the unit had contributed immensely to the decimation of Boko Haram terrorists and was involved in humanitarian activities to host communities.

“The newly commissioned Garba Abdullahi has since been decorated with the badge of his new rank of Captain at the Battalion Headquarters located in Geidam, Yobe State by his Commanding Officer, Lt.-Col. Owoicho Obochi,” he said.

The statement said the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai had congratulated the newly commissioned officer

See Nigerian Billionaire Ezego’s N500Million Mansion And Cars Abandoned Years After His Mysterious Death

 

There is apprehension in Ihiala town, Anambra as a N500million mansion belonging to a late billionaire is abandoned over his connection with the dreaded Okija shrine.

A visit to the village called Uzoakwa in Ihiala town, the home of the late billionaire business mogul, who was known as Chief Victor Okafor aka ‘King of Money’ (EZEGO), showed how his N500m mansion had been deserted after his demise.

What is it with “mystery” money?

It was still a surprise to many in the community that despite the expensive properties and valuables inside the abandoned mansion, robbers have not burgled the place to steal any of them because of the late Okafor’s rumoured issue with the dreaded Okija Shrine which they claimed caused his death.

According to some of the indigenes, there was a mystery behind the abandoned mansion comprising many houses with expensive valuables kept inside which made robbers not to vandalise or tamper with those items.

There were even no security in place as the members of the immediate family including his wife and children have not returned to the mansion since he died some years ago. Exotic properties inside the mansion such golden chairs and tables, expensive fabrics, rugs, electronics, electrical appliances, abandoned vehicles and others worth millions of naira were said to have remained intact because robbers were avoiding the place.

PM Express tried to find out why it was so despite the fact that robbers would have made a fortune from there going by the reported high rate of crime in the area especially in the immediate community. Some of the residents explained that any robber who broke into the mansion may be in serious danger over the story that the Late Okafor had issue with the dreaded Okija shrine.

It was gathered then that Okafor might have attracted the anger of the deity and died due to his failure to come to the shrine to defend himself over a report by one of his kinsmen who reportedly dragged him to the shrine over business transaction which he alleged that Okafor had cheated him.

It could not be verified whether the shrine killed Okafor or not, despite the fact that some believed it happened. However, it was gathered that if any person died as a result of any issue or altercation with the deity in Igbo land such like the Okija shrine, automatically all the properties belonged to that shrine unless certain rituals were performed.

The late Okafor also known as ‘Udu Bunch’ died in December 1999 after he had an accident around Okija town, few kilometers to his village when he was returning for Christmas and to celebrate his birthday. His death came with controversies which led to the collapse of his immediate family and business empire. His wife, Nkechi reportedly abandoned the family and remarried.

The will ‘Ezego’ had prepared was not read because the lawyer who prepared the will one Barrister Barnabas Igwe was brutally murdered with his wife.

5 Reasons No Nation Wants to Go to War with Israel

Robert Farley

Security, Middle East

5 weapons, that is.

5 Reasons No Nation Wants to Go to War with Israel

The technology that binds all of these other systems together is the Israeli soldier. Since 1948 (and even before) Israel has committed the best of its human capital to the armed forces. The creation of fantastic soldiers, sailors, and airmen doesn’t happen by accident, and doesn’t result simply from the enthusiasm and competence of the recruits. The IDF has developed systems of recruitment, training, and retention that allow it to field some of the most competent, capable soldiers in the world. None of the technologies above work unless they have smart, dedicated, well-trained operators to make them function at their fullest potential.

Since 1948, the state of Israel has fielded a frighteningly effective military machine. Built on a foundation of pre-independence militias, supplied with cast-off World War II weapons, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have enjoyed remarkable success in the field. In the 1960s and 1970s, both because of its unique needs and because of international boycotts, Israel began developing its own military technologies, as well as augmenting the best foreign tech. Today, Israel boasts one of the most technologically advanced military stockpiles in the world, and one of the world’s most effective workforces.

(This first appeared in 2015.)

Here are five of the most deadly systems that the Israeli Defense Forces currently employ.

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Merkava

The Merkava tank joined the IDF in 1979, replacing the modified foreign tanks (most recently of British and American vintage) that the Israelis had used since 1948. Domestic design and construction avoided problems of unsteady foreign supply, while also allowing the Israelis to focus on designs optimized for their environment, rather than for Central Europe.  Around 1,600 Merkavas of various types have entered service, with several hundred more still on the way.

Recommended: The Real Reason China Has Built a Massive Military 

The Merkava entered service after the great tank battles of the Middle East had ended (at least for Israel). Consequently, the Merkavas have often seen combat in different contexts that their designers expected. The United States took major steps forward with the employment of armor in Iraq and Afghanistan (particularly in the former) in a counter-insurgency context, but the Israelis have gone even farther. After mixed results during the Hezbollah war, the IDF, using updated Merkava IVs, has worked hard to integrate the tanks into urban fighting. In both of the recent Gaza wars, the IDF has used Merkavas to penetrate Palestinian positions while active defense systems keep crews safe. Israel has also developed modifications that enhance the Merkavas’ capabilities in urban and low-intensity combat.

Recommended: Inside America’s Most Secret Submarine Ever 

Indeed, the Merkavas have proved so useful in this regard that Israel has cancelled plans to stop line production, despite a lack of significant foreign orders.

F-15I Thunder

The Israeli Air Force has flown variants of the F-15 since the 1970s, and has become the world’s most versatile and effective user of the Eagle. As Tyler Rogoway’s recent story on the IAF fleet makes clear, the Israelis have perfected the F-15 both for air supremacy and for strike purposes. Flown by elite pilots, the F-15Is (nicknamed “thunder”) of the IAF remain the most lethal squadron of aircraft in the Middle East.

The F-15I provides Israel with several core capabilities. It remains an effective air-to-air combat platform, superior to the aircraft available to Israel’s most plausible foes (although the Eurofighter Typhoons and Dassault Rafales entering service in the Gulf, not to mention Saudi Arabia’s own force of F-15SAs, undoubtedly would provide some competition. But as Rogoway suggests, the Israelis have worked long and hard at turning the F-15 into an extraordinarily effective strike platform, one capable of hitting targets with precision at long range. Most analysts expect that the F-15I would play a key role in any Israeli strike against Iran, along with some of its older brethren.

Jericho III

The earliest Israeli nuclear deterrent came in the form of the F-4 Phantom fighter-bombers that the IAF used to such great effect in conventional missions in the War of Attrition and the Yom Kippur War. Soon, however, Israel determined that it required a more effective and secure deterrent, and began to invest heavily in ballistic missiles. The Jericho I ballistic missile entered service in the early 1970s, to eventually be replaced by the Jericho II and Jericho III.

The Jericho III is the most advanced ballistic missile in the region, presumably (Israel does not offer much data on its operation) capable of striking targets not only in the Middle East, but also across Europe, Asia, and potentially North America. The Jericho III ensures that any nuclear attack against Israel would be met with devastating retaliation, especially as it is unlikely that Israel could be disarmed by a first strike. Of course, given that no potential Israeli foe has nuclear weapons (or will have them in the next decade, at least), the missiles give Jerusalem presumptive nuclear superiority across the region.

Dolphin

Israel acquired its first submarine, a former British “S” class, in 1958. That submarine and others acquired in the 1960s played several important military roles, including defense of the Israeli coastline, offensive operations against Egyptian and Syrian shipping, and the delivery of commando teams in war and peace. These early boats were superseded by the Gal class, and finally by the German Dolphin class (really two separate classes related to the Type 212) boats, which are state-of-the-art diesel-electric subs.

The role of the Dolphin class in Israel’s nuclear deterrent has almost certainly been wildly overstated. The ability of a diesel electric submarine to carry out deterrent patrols is starkly limited, no matter what ordnance they carry. However, the Dolphin remains an effective platform for all sorts of other missions required by the IDF. Capable of maritime reconnaissance, of sinking or otherwise interdicting enemy ships, and also of delivering special forces to unfriendly coastlines, the Dolphins represent a major Israeli security investment, and one of the most potentially lethal undersea forces in the region.

The Israeli Soldier

The technology that binds all of these other systems together is the Israeli soldier. Since 1948 (and even before) Israel has committed the best of its human capital to the armed forces. The creation of fantastic soldiers, sailors, and airmen doesn’t happen by accident, and doesn’t result simply from the enthusiasm and competence of the recruits. The IDF has developed systems of recruitment, training, and retention that allow it to field some of the most competent, capable soldiers in the world. None of the technologies above work unless they have smart, dedicated, well-trained operators to make them function at their fullest potential.

Conclusion

When considering the effectiveness of Israeli weapons, and the expertise of the men and women who wield them, it’s worth noting that for all the tactical and operational success the IDF has enjoyed, Israel remains in a strategically perilous position. The inability of Israel to develop long-term, stable, positive relationships with its immediate neighbors, regional powers, and the subject populations of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip means that Jerusalem continues to feel insecure, its dominance on land, air, and sea notwithstanding. Tactics and technologies, however effective and impressive, cannot solve these problems; only politics can.

Image: Reuters.