Presidency seeks National Assembly’s nod on $500m Eurobond By Adamu Abuh, Terhemba Daka and Segun Olaniyi

National Assembly Complex Abuja.

•Senate warns ministers, MDAs to defend budget or get zero allocation
•Reps move to stop attacks on Nigerians in S’Africa
*Acting president urges closer Nigeria, U.S ties
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday sought the approval of the National Assembly for the issuance of $500 million Eurobond in the international capital market to fund the 2017 budget.
The Acting President, via a correspondence, read by Speaker Yakubu Dogara at the plenary session of the House of Representatives disclosed that Osinbajo sought the issuance of the Eurobond between February and March 2017, subject to market conditions, in order to meet the approved capital expenditure funding plan as specified in the 2017 budget.
In another development, Osinbajo yesterday said the time has come for Nigeria and the United States to deepen the long-standing relationship between the countries based on mutual trust.


The acting president spoke at the Presidential Villa, Abuja while receiving the Commander of the U.S.-Africa Command, General Thomas D. Waldhauser and the American Ambassador in Nigeria, Stuart Symington. Symington said he had just concluded a visit to all the geo-political zones of the country and has concluded, “Nigeria is one of the greatest countries in the world with the potential to change the world.
Waldhauser explained that his visit to Nigeria at this time is about developing further “the friendship and trust that we have in common,” while also agreeing with Osinbajo that the brutality shown by the terrorists is “what we have never seen before.”
Meanwhile, Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday said heads of ministries, departments and agencies of government (MDAs) that fail to defend their budget would be given zero allocation in the 2017 fiscal year.
Saraki urged those concerned to act within the extended period, warning that a few individuals could not delay the appropriation process by refusing to honour the invitations extended to them.
He, however, promised that the 2017 Appropriation Bill would be passed before the second week of March. The House of Representatives yesterday condemned the racist attack on Nigerians living in South Africa.
The House adopted a motion sponsored by Mrs. Rita Orji at a plenary that was presided over by Dogara. It resolved that a delegation be sent to the South African government to warn the people of the consequences of the attacks.

Culled from Guardian

Man known as 'Dr. Death' sentenced to 3 years in prison for selling 3D-printed gun parts

Daniel Crowninshield from California used the technology to illegally build and sell parts for AR-15 rifles

A man known online as "Dr Death" has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison for making and selling gun parts online, as well as owning an unlicensed rifle.
Daniel Crowninshield, 54, from Sacramento in California, operated an illegal firearms manufacturing business out of a metal shop in the city.
Using 3D printing and a computer numerically controlled (CNC) mill, he would manufacture parts for AR-15 rifles to "customers with unknown backgrounds."
Among other things, Crowninshield would create a "lower receiver" which is the part of the rifle holding the hammer, bolt and firing mechanism that combines with a trigger and firing pin. These can cost up to $300 (£241) when bought legally.

An AR-15 rifle (Photo: Getty)

In California, an individual can manufacturer a firearm for personal use (without a serial number) providing it is not sold or passed on to a third party. Crowninshield pleaded guilty to the charges last year in exchange for prosecutors dropping other charges.
In sentencing Crowninshield, U.S. District Judge Troy L. Nunley referred to his actions as a “brazen attempt to circumvent the law”.
U.S. Attorney Talbert stated: “The unregulated manufacture and sale of high-capacity firearms is a serious threat to public safety. We will continue to investigate and prosecute unlicensed gun dealers who circumvent the law.”
Crowninshield would regularly advertise his services online in several gun enthusiast forums where he used the "Dr. Death" moniker.

Culled from Mirror

Ex-Uber employee blows the lid on sexism -Charles White

This former employee left the company after being harassed (Pictures: Twiitter/susanthesquark)

Uber is facing criticism after a blog post from a former employee went viral on Twitter.
Susan Fowler Rigetti, a former site reliability engineer, detailed how she suffered under a sexist boss and an HR department that did not take appropriate action.
She left the company in December and wrote the post last month, it has since been liked 20,000 times on social media.
In the post she writes: ‘I chose to join the team that worked on my area of expertise, and this is where things started getting weird. On my first official day rotating on the team, my new manager sent me a string of messages over company chat.’
Susan has said that the messages said her manager was ‘trying to get me to have sex with him.’

Uber has a history with sexism accusations (Pictures: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

But the post also details that the company did not discipline and even threatened her with dismissal after she reported continued harassment.
Uber has vowed to investigate.
The company has battled accusations that could amount to sexism, including accounts of drivers stalking women passengers and ‘less than comforting’ responses from Uber when reported.
The blog claims that while she was there the female workforce fell from 25% to less than 6% of the total employees.
Susan alleged that the company refused to move the manager because it was a first offence and he was a high performer for the group.
She wrote: ‘Within a few months, he was reported once again for inappropriate behaviour, and those who reported him were told it was still his “first offence”. The situation was escalated as far up the chain as it could be escalated, and still nothing was done.’

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick has pledged to investigate the claims (Picture: REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui)

Uber’s HR then reportedly tried to blame the situation on Susan and tried to threaten her with dismissal.
When she reported that to senior workers she was told that the threatening manager was a ‘high performer’ and no action was taken.

Travis Kalanick, CEO of Uber said: ‘I have just read Susan Fowler’s blog. What she describes is abhorrent and against everything Uber stands for and believes in.
‘It’s the first time this has come to my attention so I have instructed Liane Hornsey our new Chief Human Resources Officer to conduct an urgent investigation into these allegations.

Susan noticed female workforce fell from 25% to 6% while she was there (Picture: Shutterstock)

‘We seek to make Uber a just workplace and there can be absolutely no place for this kind of behavior at Uber — and anyone who behaves this way or thinks this is OK will be fired.’
Arianna Huffington, who is on Uber’s wrote on Twitter: ‘Just talked with Travis & as a representative of Uber’s Board I will work with Liane to conduct a full independent investigation starting now.’
She even shared her personal email address on the site so she could speak with Susan Fowler Rigetti directly.

Culled from Metro UK