Banky W’s house gutted by fire

Nigerian songwriter and singer Banky W’s house has been gutted by fire.

Banky W, whose real name is Olubankole Wellington shared the details with his fans on his Instagram page @bankywellington. He said he and his dog Duke, escaped unhurt.

“Thank God I was awake to smell the smoke. Thank God we caught it early enough and the damage wasn’t so bad. It basically burnt some of the stuff that was around it.


“So awards, portraits, and some small electronics. But thank God, Duke and I are alive and well. We only had to form James Bond and climb down from the top floor balcony LOL  

“Thank God for my neighbours and the amazing workers in and around the compound for helping us escape via the balcony, helping put out the fire, and helping with the aftermath/cleaning.

“Thank God for life. And I’m not even upset.. I’m just grateful for life, health and for the grace and mercy of God. I figure I’m about to have the best year ever so the devil tried to throw a tantrum.

“But not today Satan. Not today, not ever. Now sit back and watch me be great. By God’s grace. Amen. God bless you all.”

The singer whose songs include “Jaiye Orimi’’ and All I Want Is You Feat. Chidinma, recently acted a lead role in the film `The Wedding Party.’’

Xenophobia attacks: FG wants NEPAD Continental to intervene

A man holds a brick near the hostels in the Jeppestown area of Johannesburg where clashes broke out / Mujahid Safodien /AFP<br />

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal, has called on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Continental to intervene in the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

 He made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during the two-day stakeholders meeting and skill initiative workshop for youth empowerment organised by the NEPAD Continental and NEPAD Nigeria.

Lawal was represented by Amb. Roy Ugo, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).


He said that NEPAD Continental as seat of the continent’s development programme in South Africa should design a quick intervention programme to end the attacks on Nigerians.

 According to him, Nigeria and South Africa have several business and economic development partnership which should not be disrupted because of some groups of selfish persons.

He said that the Federal Government would not want to take any drastic action that would negatively affect the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa.

Besides, Lawal charged the NEPAD continental office to engage with relevant authorities in South Africa to do the needful with stringent measures put in place to punish perpetuators of xenophobia to serve as a deterrent to others.

In a response, Mrs Esterine Fotabong, Director, NEPAD continental said that the Government of South Africa has openly condemned the attacks on Nigerians and fellow Africans in the country.

She said that that there would be a peaceful dialogue to resolve the misunderstanding and to continue the peaceful relationship between both countries for a better future.

Fotabong said she would relay the message to the Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD Continental so that quick interventions would be put in place to stop the menace.

Three killed in California plane crash

Three people died and two were injured after a small plane crashed in a southern California residential neighborhood, a fire official said Tuesday.

Authorities had initially reported four dead in the confusion after the small plane went down Monday afternoon and hit two homes about a half-mile (800 meters) northeast of Riverside Municipal Airport.

The FAA identified the aircraft as a Cessna 310 and said the crash occurred “under unknown circumstances.”

Michael Moore, the fire chief in Riverside — a city about 60 miles east of Los Angeles — told NBC that all of the victims had been aboard the plane.


The husband, wife and three teenagers had been headed back to San Jose after attending a cheerleading competition at Disneyland, Moore told The Press-Enterprise newspaper. The wife had been piloting the plane.

 One of the injured was in “very critical” condition, Moore said. The other survivor, a teenage girl, was ejected from the plane and sustained “very minor injuries.”

The two homes that were hit were destroyed, while others nearby sustained moderate damage.

While no one on the ground was hurt, it was nonetheless a harrowing experience.

The plane crashed into David Swinfard’s house, not far from the couch where he was sitting doing a crossword puzzle. He escaped with only a minor burn.

“I thought, I’m going to have to get out of here or I’m going to die,” he told NBC.

Two hurt in French police gun accident at Hollande event

French President Francois Hollande (3rd L) attends the inauguration of the new “Sud Europe Atlantique” (South Europe Atlantic) high-speed rail line, linking Tours and Bordeaux, on February 28, 2017, in Villognon, central France. The new rail link, which will be put into service in July, will allow passengers to travel between Paris and Bordeaux in two hours.<br />Yohan BONNET / AFP

A French policeman accidentally fired his weapon Tuesday, slightly injuring two people at an event where President Francois Hollande was speaking in southwestern France, an informed source said.

Hollande was inaugurating part of a high-speed rail line in Villognon, in the Charente region, when the accident occurred, the source said.

He said the policeman, a gendarme helping to provide security for the president, had inadvertently set off the gun.


“The bullet grazed one person’s calf and then lodged in another person’s leg,” he said, adding that the victims were in a VIP area at the time.

 Firefighters evacuated them but said their injuries were “light”.

Hollande continued his speech after the incident, witnesses said.

Top 10 High Magnesium Foods You Can't Miss

Magnesium is an essential mineral required by the body for maintaining normal muscle and nerve function, keeping a healthy immune system, maintaining heart rhythm, and building strong bones. Magnesium is also involved in at least 300 biochemical reactions in the body. A deficiency in magnesium can lead to muscle spasms, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety disorders, migraines, osteoporosis, and cerebral infarction. Conversely, consuming too much magnesium typically causes diarrhea as the body attempts to excrete the excess. High magnesium foods include dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fish, beans, whole grains, avocados, yogurt, bananas, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and more. The current daily value (DV) for magnesium is 400mg. Below is a list of high magnesium foods, for more, see the extended lists of high magnesium foods by nutrient density, magnesium rich foods, vegetables high in magnesium, and fruits high in magnesium.

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#1: Dark Leafy Greens (Raw Spinach)

Magnesium in 100g	1 Cup Raw (30g)	1 Cup Cooked (180g)
79mg (20% DV)	24mg (6% DV)	157mg (39% DV)

Other Greens High in Magnesium (%DV per cup cooked): Swiss Chard (38%), Kale (19%), Collard Greens (13%), and Turnip Greens (11%).





#2: Nuts and Seeds (Squash and Pumpkin Seeds)

Magnesium in 100g	1/2 Cup (59g)	1 Ounce (28g)
534mg (134% DV)	325mg (81% DV)	150mg (37% DV)

Other Nuts and Seeds High in Magnesium (%DV per 1/2 cup): Sesame Seeds (63%), Brazil Nuts (63%), Almonds (48%), Cashews (44% DV), Pine nuts (43%), Mixed Nuts (39%), and Peanuts (31%), Pecans (17%), Walnuts (16%).



#3: Fish (Mackerel)

Magnesium in 100g	Per 3oz Fillet (85g)
97mg (24% DV)	82mg (21% DV)

Other Fish High in Magnesium (%DV per 3oz fillet (85g)): Pollock (18% DV), Turbot (14% DV), Tuna (14% DV), and most other fish at an average of 8% DV.

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#4: Beans and Lentils (Soy Beans)

Magnesium in 100g	1 Cup Cooked (172g)
86mg (22% DV)	148mg (37% DV)

Other Beans and Lentils High in Magnesium (%DV per cup cooked): White Beans (28%), French Beans (25%), Black-eyed Peas (23%), Kidney Beans (21%), Chickpeas (Garbanzo) (20%), Lentils (18%), Pinto Beans (16%).




#5: Whole Grains (Brown Rice)

Magnesium in 100g	1 Cup Cooked (195g)
44mg (11% DV)	86mg (21% DV)

Other Whole Grains High in Magnesium (%DV per cup cooked): Quinoa (30%), Millet (19%), Bulgur (15%), Buckwheat (13%), Wild Rice (13%), Whole Wheat Pasta (11%), Barley (9%), Oats (7%).



#6: Avocados

Magnesium in 100g	1 Avocado (201g)	1/2 Cup Pureed (115g)
29mg (7% DV)	58mg (15% DV)	33mg (9% DV)

An average avocado provides 322 calories, half a cup pureed contains 184 calories.

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#7: Low-Fat Dairy (Plain Non Fat Yogurt)

Magnesium in 100g	1 Cup (245g)
19mg (5% DV)	47mg (12% DV)

Other Dairy Foods High in Magnesium: 1 cup (246g) of 2% fat milk provides 10% DV. A 1 ounce (28g or 2 cubic inches) slice of swiss cheese provides 3% DV.




#8: Bananas

Magnesium in 100g	1 Medium (118g)	1 Cup Slices (150g)
27mg (7% DV)	32mg (8% DV)	41mg (10% DV)

 



#9: Dried Fruit (Figs)

Magnesium in 100g	1/2 Cup (75g)	1 Fig (8g)
68mg (17% DV)	51mg (13% DV)	5mg (1% DV)

Other Dried Fruit High in Magnesium (%DV per 1/2 cup): Prunes (11%), Apricots (10%), Dates (8%), and Raisins (7%).



#10: Dark Chocolate

Magnesium in 100g	1 Square (29g)	1 Cup Grated (132g)
327mg (82% DV)	95mg (24% DV)	432mg (108% DV)

1 square of dark chocolate provides 145 calories.

Watermelon Benefits : Banish Away 5 Common Skin Problems With Watermelon!

Nothing screams more summer than a succulent, sweet, red, chunky piece of red watermelon. Resembling to a bright Red Crescent moon, its sweet flesh relieves the heart of a bright sun-scorched summery day. This beautiful contrast of green on the outside and a ruby red inside is a combination of a large number of essential vitamins and vitamins that help you achieve porcelain like smoothness, shine and gloss in your skin. You will be surprised of seeing such watermelon benefits for beauty and health.

Apart from being nature’s very own hydrant and a favourite among weight watchers, the watermelon benefits are bounteous. 93% of water melon being made out of water, this wonderful fruit makes for an amazing fruit to be included in your diet. An absolute no calories snack. It cools and refreshes your skin and gives it a soothing feel.




We bring for you a plethora of ways that you can use to add this fantastic and super cooling fruit to your diet, and a few sneaky cheats to ditch the chemical laden creams and opt for the cooling feel of the watermelon to help your skin glow. Let’s have a look at Watermelon Benefits for Your Skin.

Watermelon Benefits for Your Skin

1. DIY Homemade Watermelon Toner

Watermelon works as the best natural toner for your skin. It contains Vitamins A, B6 and C. It is a natural storehouse of Lycopene and studies show that Lycopene protects the skin against sun damage and keeps your skin safe from sunburn and sun damage.

To make you very own DIY Homemade toner-

• 1 cup watermelon chunks
• ½ cup water
• ½ orange
• ½ cup rose water

Procedure-

1. Take a mixer and add watermelon chunks and give it a good blitz.
2. Strain the mixture through the sieve and add rose water to the extract.
3. Put this mix in a spray bottle and spray it on your face 2-3 times a day

This toner will cleanse your skin from deep within and thus reduce the chances of pimple and acne to occur. It will also help in whitening your skin.

2. Watermelon for Soft Glowing Skin

Watermelon is the best ingredient when it comes to bringing soft supple and glowing skin. Unknown to many, watermelon is successful at adding life to dead skin, and brings back the lost glow.
To make you skin soft and radiant, you need-

• 1 cup of watermelon cubes
• ½ cup of yogurt.

Procedure-

1. Take a Bowl and mash the watermelon with the help of a fork.
2. Mix in the yogurt and apply this paste on your face evenly.
3. After it dries up wash your face with cold water and pat dry.

The yogurt has lactic acid and moisturizing properties that help in softening your skin and the natural rosy color or the Watermelon adds the radiance and glow to the skin.

3. Exfoliate Your Skin With Watermelon

Did you ever realize that the watermelon you enjoy in your dessert has exfoliation properties too? Bid farewell to dead skin cells that accumulate on the skin and make it look dull. Now, use Watermelon to deep cleanse your skin.

All you need to do is-

• ½ cup of watermelon juice
• ½ cup of Gram Flour
• 1 spoon of Rose water
• 1 teaspoon of Oats

Procedure-

1. Take a bowl and mix watermelon juice and gram flour. Mix well to form a lump free paste.
2. Add the Oats and Rose water and make a smooth paste.
3. Apply evenly on face and neck and let it dry.
4. After the pack dries out remove take a few drops of water and rub the pack in circular motions gently like a scrub.
5. Wash with cold water.

The acid in the watermelon will help you exfoliate your skin. You will see a significant result in the texture and feel of your skin. A smooth and silky feel to your skin is what you will experience after this mask.

4. Watermelon for Treating Acne and Pimples

No matter how many times you wash your face in a day Oil appears after some time magically on your face, to lend a greasy and grimy look. This in turn, leads to pimples and acne. That highly irritating feeling of pimples can be averted using the amazing Watermelon. It’s simple. Here’s how-

• 1 tablespoon Multani Mitti(Fuller’s earth)
• 1 tablespoon Sandalwood powder
• ½ banana mashed
• ½ cup watermelon juice
• 1 teaspoon Rose water

Procedure-

1. Mix Fuller’s Earth or Multani Mitti and sandalwood powder in a bowl with Rose water.
2. Add mashed banana and watermelon juice to the paste and mix all the ingredients well.
3. Make an even paste and apply it all over your face. Keep it on for 15-20 minutes.
4. Wash with cold water.

Watermelon is a moisturizer without oil. This mask will reduce inflammation and make your skin firm. The coolness of Fuller’s Earth and rose water, absorb the excessive oil and soothe the soreness caused by acne and pimples.

5. Watermelon to Cure Sunburn and Remove Skin Tan

How we hate the sun when it burns our skin and makes it red! Sunburn and tanning or discoloration of the skin is a common problem that we all face. The harmful effect of the Ultra violet rays sucks out the moisture of the face leaving it dark and dry. If you face the problem of tanning of your skin Watermelon comes to your rescue.

All that you need is-

• 1/2 cup of watermelon juice
• ½ cup of Cucumber juice
• ½ cup of Lemon juice
• ½ cup of potato juice
• 1 teaspoon glycerine

Procedure-

1. Mix all the juices in a bowl. Add glycerine too.
2. Take a cotton ball and dip it in the juice.
3. Swipe the juice mix with the help of the cotton ball all over your face and neck area.
4. Let it dry. Once dry, re-apply for complete coverage.
5. Wash after 15 minutes post application.
6. You can also use this juice mask for whitening and de-tanning your hands and feet too!

The acidic effect of lemon and watermelon juice will rip off any kind of discoloration while glycerine will moisturize the dryness caused by the lemon and cucumber will give coolness and soothing effect to your skin.

So friends! Now that we all know the watermelon benefits for beauty, it’s time to unleash the beauty secrets of this lovely fruit. Watermelon is blessed with the super ability to adapt itself to all kinds of skin types, whether dry, oily or combination. It helps you enrich your skin and replenish nutrients. Watermelon has a potential and pivotal role to play in enhancing your beauty. So hydrate and nourish your body and make Watermelon a part of your beauty regime and counter attack the effects of prolonged use of beauty products and lack of skin care.

Let the luscious and sweet fruit work its natural magic to leave a rosy skin for you!

Know any more watermelon benefits & tricks that work to give you fantastic results for your skin?

We would absolutely love to hear about them. Feel free to share……