Chinese city Wuhu embraces driverless vehicles

Chinese hi-tech firm Baidu has unveiled a plan to let driverless vehicles range freely around an entire city.
The five-year plan will see the autonomous cars, vans and buses slowly introduced to the eastern city of Wuhu.
Initially no passengers will be carried by the vehicles as the technology to control them is refined via journeys along designated test zones.
Eventually the test areas will be expanded and passengers will be able to use the vehicles.
"They want to be the first city in the world to embrace autonomous driving," said Wang Jing, Baidu's head of driverless cars, in an interview with the BBC's Click programme.
"This is the first city that is brave enough, daring enough and innovative enough to test autonomous driving," he said.
Efficiency drive
Mr Jing said the first phase of the trial would last about three years and would involve restricted areas in the city where buses, mid-size vans and cars would be tested.
After three years, the areas of the city in which the autonomous cars can drive will be expanded and the service will be commercialised to allow some of the three million inhabitants of Wuhu to use it.

After five years, he said, the whole city will be open to the driverless vehicles which will mix with human-driven cars, trucks and buses.
Mr Jing said the city was keen to use robot vehicles because they were a much more efficient way to transport people and goods.
The current model in which many households own a car was a "great waste" of resources, he said, because most of the time private cars stood idle. By contrast, he said, robot cars would be much more heavily used.
A study released this week suggested that greater use of driverless cars could promote congestion. The study by accounting group KPMG suggested the robot cars could be used widely by groups, such as the young and old, who do not usually drive thereby increasing the numbers of vehicles on the road.
Mr Jing said he hoped the Wuhu trial would lead to projects elsewhere.
"We are trying to give the experience and data to the central government so they can see the benefit and that will make it easier for us to push to other cities in China," he said. "We hope it will be a starting point that lets us take it to other countries."
Baidu is known to be working closely with German car maker BMW on the development of control systems for autonomous vehicles. The cars emerging from that partnership as well as others made by Chinese car maker Chery will be used in the Wuhu trial.
Many tech firms, including Google, and car manufacturers are also working on control systems for robot cars.

Source: BBC News

Jail sentence for YouTube pranksters

Four members of the controversial Trollstation YouTube channel have been jailed in connection with fake robberies and kidnappings.
The group were involved in a fake robbery at London's National Portrait Gallery and a fake kidnapping at Tate Britain in July 2015.
The channel, with 718,000 subscribers, has built a reputation for filming staged pranks around the city.
A fifth member was imprisoned in March following a bomb hoax.
"The hoaxes may have seemed harmless to them, but they caused genuine distress to a number of members of the public, who should be able to go about their daily business without being put in fear in this way.
"We hope these convictions send a strong message that unlawful activities such as these will not be tolerated in London," said Robert Short, of the Crown Prosecution Service.

Daniel Jarvis, 27, Helder Gomes, 23, Endrit Ferizolli, 20, and Ebenezer Mensah, 29 were sentenced on Monday at the City of London Magistrate's Court.
All four pleaded guilty to two counts of using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of, or provoke unlawful violence for their involvement in the two hoaxes.
For the charge at the National Portrait Gallery, Mr Jarvis was sentenced to 20 weeks, Mr Mensah and Mr Gomes to 18 weeks each, and Mr Ferizolli to 16 weeks. All four were also sentenced to eight weeks for the fake kidnapping at Tate Britain, to run concurrently.

Trollstation member Danh Van Le was sentenced to 12 weeks imprisonment in March for his involvement in the fake robbery, and also to 24 weeks for a separate bomb hoax.
"Our aim was never to get away with breaking the law," a member of the group known as Light told the BBC at the time.
Light said the group hoped to continue but would "re-evaluate" their approach.
"We are a big influence and we try to use that positively," he said of the channel's large following.

Source; BBC News

Nelson Mandela: CIA tip-off led to 1962 Durban arrest

Nelson Mandela's arrest in 1962 came as a result of a tip-off from an agent of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), a report says.
The revelations, made in the Sunday Times newspaper, are based on an interview with ex-CIA agent Donald Rickard shortly before he died.
Mandela served 27 years in jail for resisting white minority rule before being released in 1990.
He was subsequently elected as South Africa's first black president.
Rickard, who died earlier this year, was never formally associated with the CIA but worked as a diplomat in South Africa before retiring in the late 70s.
The interview was conducted by British film director John Irvin, who has made a film, Mandela's Gun, about his brief career as an armed rebel, the Sunday Times said.

Murky events: Karen Allen, BBC Southern Africa Correspondent, Johannesburg
The events leading up the the arrest of Nelson Mandela, on a dark night near Durban in 1962, have always been murky. In the era of Cold War politics, Mandela, then leader of the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC), was considered a terrorist and a threat to the West.
As Mr Rickard put it, he was "the most dangerous communist" outside of the Soviet Union, although Mandela always denied being a member of the party.
Rumours have circulated for years that the CIA trailed Mandela but the agency resisted previous attempts to shine a light on its alleged involvement in his arrest. Rickard's admission will bring renewed pressure to declassify documents from the time.
The ANC's spokesman Zizi Kodwa said he believed the CIA was still meddling in South African affairs and collaborating with those wanting "regime change".

The future president led the armed resistance movement of the banned ANC, and was one of the most wanted men in South Africa at the time of his arrest.
His ability to evade the security services had earned him the nickname "the black Pimpernel".
He was posing as a chauffeur when his car was stopped at a roadblock by the police in the eastern city of Durban in 1962 and he was detained.
"I found out when he was coming down and how he was coming... that's where I was involved and that's where Mandela was caught," Rickard is quoted as saying.

Source ; BBC News

Female Rapper Discloses Her Love For Sarkodie

Eno
So you may know Eno, the  lady who ‘refixed’ Joey B and Sarkodie’s Tonga and earned some acclaim and happens to be one of the few female rappers around.

Well, she had appeared on eTV’s The Late Nite Celebrity Show yesternight to talk about her career, love life and celebrity crush.

On her career, the Ashaiman based emcee said:

“It hasn’t been that easy for me as a female rapper. Even the industry don’t have category for Best Female Rapper but there’s Best Female Vocalist and Best Rapper and others. Even though there is a category for Best Rapper, the recognition is low. If the industry tries to push us, we will go far and I want to believe the industry felt there wasn’t any lady rappers but I’m here now”. I didn’t come to make a U Turn in the music scene and go away. I’m here for the long haul. Things like marriage won’t stop me from  rapping

I will like to marry a rapper. I love Sarkodie but he is engaged.

When Giovani, the show’s host asked  who her  celebrity crush was, but she revealed:

“I used to fight with my friends over Davido. My friend will be like she is Queen Davido and I will tell her I’m the real Queen Davido. But I’m over that now. I just loved him. But he was just by the way till I found Chris Brown.” adding that, “as for the Ghanaian stars I see them as my brothers, I love Stonebwoy because he is my school mate and area boy. But it’s also interesting to note that my school nurtured a lot of stars. Sarkodie, Yaw Siki, Stay J and MixMaster Garzy”.

Source: gossipmama.com

Haters Will Shut Up After Seeing This Photos Of Diamond Platnumz Hanging Out With Kanye And Hakeem Of Empire

 Tanzanian singer Diamond Platnumz is currently in LA and he has surprised many as he he is hanging out with with American bigwigs such as Kanye West, Neyo and Hakeem of Empire. According to sources Hakeem records with DIAMOND's American Producer.

Check them out;

Shatta Wale outdoors son

Dancehall king, Shatta Wale not too long ago took to his social media platforms to let the world know that he has added a new member to the Shatta Movement Family.

Today marks a special day in his life as his son is officially given a name. Majesty Nii Amarh is the name of his son.

Wale invited some special friends to the naming ceremony

Check out the photos from the naming ceremony.

Prophet predicts Sarkodie, Dumelo's death

A Kumasi-based Prophet has warned Hiplife musician, Sarkodie and Ghanaian actor, John Dumelo to repent from their ‘evil ways’ or risk losing their lives in the next few weeks.

Prophet Emmanuel Gyamfi said on Adom FM’s Entertainment Hall Programme on Saturday that the fastest rapper and the internationally acclaimed actor are targets of several misfortunes for rebelling against God and winning souls for the devil.

“God made me see that he, Sarkodie has rebelled against Him (God) and have been winning souls for the other part, that is the devil and this would happen live for all to see that the man of God said it…,” he said.

According to Prophet of the Emmanuel Power House Chapel, the duo has three weeks to repent from their evil ways as a means of mitigating the punishments meant for them.

The man of God said further that God revealed the impending misfortunes to him in a vision on one Sunday morning when he meditated on the word of God after his devotion.

“In the vision, I saw the hand of God appear from the skies and struck Sarkodie unto the ground…I was the one who helped to his feet…” he narrated.

Prophet Emmanuel continued that God later told him that He struck Sarkodie unto the ground because he (Sarkodie) in recent times has been using his popularity to win more souls for the devil instead of using the talent to praise him.

“God through his abundant mercies gave him three weeks to repent from winning souls for the devil or he will die…,” he said.

The Kumasi-based Prophet said further that even if Sarkodie repents from his evil deeds, he would still suffer some misfortune as ‘it is never an easier thing for the hand of God to strike you down.’

“Even if he recovers, there would be great changes in his body…,” the man of God said further.

John Dumelo in Prison  

On the celebrated actor, the Prophet Emmanuel said he has also been threading similar paths like Sarkodie and his punishment would include a serious motor accident and imprisonment.

“John Dumelo would be involved in an issue which would lead to the prison…not even all his wealth and power would save him from this case…,” he said.

Dumelo, he said would never return from prison custody as he would die there.

The man of God who also claimed that John Dumelo had also been winning souls for the evil said he would be involved in a tragic accident.

Reversing the Punishment

The man of God said he was not seeking popularity through the prophecy as he was already an ‘international prophet’ and has been prophesying about several events including the Castro issue.

To reverse the curses placed on the two entertainment personalities, Prophet Emmanuel called on the two entertainment guys in Ghana currently to approach him at his base in Kumasi for deliverance.

“They should come to Kumasi to meet me since I saw the vision and can best work to clear it,” he said.

On Castro and Janet Bandu, the International Prophet said their families are to blame as they did not approach him initially to search for them.

“His family was stubborn if they had approached me earlier, Castro would be out by now, but they consulted Malams and other spiritualists first…they came for my number and has since not returned,” he said.

Ice Prince Recounts When Beyoncé said HELLO to Sarkodie at the BET Awards

Recounting their experience on Y 107.9 FM about a year ago at the BET Awards, Sarkodie & Ice Prince were baffled when superstar, Beyoncé came down the aisle and said "Hi" to Sarkodie.

Confirming this, Ice Prince was totally blown away by the "Single Ladies" hit maker’s approach, saying; "We were sitting down and Beyonce was walking coming towards ourside, Sarkdiewas on his phone and his head was down and she said Hi to this boy and he didnt even know. So I told him, Beyonce just said Hi and you were looking at you phone?"

Sarkodie reacted; I never believed it when Ice said it till now. but when I was at the BET; Ice Prince was sitting to my left and there were these guys who were doing their thing on the stage and I said to myself if we had that opportunity we can make it.”


Reacting to Beyoncé's greeting, the Sarkodie said “I never believed until now; it was unbelievable when it occurred because I never knew it would happen."

YFMGhana.com

Disfigured by war, veteran now says 'I found my place'

LOVETTSVILLE, Va. — Ronny "Tony" Porta was searching for a place where people could see past the disfigurement left by war, where cruel mutterings about his appearance or unfeeling questions about whether such wounds were "worth it" did not exist.

More than two years later, Porta says, "I found my place."

Porta, 28, a medically retired Marine corporal, stumbled upon this northernmost Virginia village in the windy, rolling countryside 55 miles from the nation's capital nearly two years ago. His head, face and much of his body were horribly scarred by a fiery roadside bomb attack in Iraq in 2007 that killed two other Marines. He lost his right arm and was left with only a few gnarled fingers on his left hand.

But in Lovettsville, Porta has been embraced without reservation.

The pinnacle of acceptance comes this Fourth of July weekend as Porta, his wife, son and mother settle into a state-of-the-art "smart" home built by grateful donors on a hill just outside the town limits. "I found the place where I want to spend the rest of my life," he said Wednesday as he watched the finishing touches put to his new home.

A town procession of a color guard, motorcycle escort and local dignitaries will formally deliver Porta and his family to the doorstep of his new house from another he's rented in Lovettsville since 2013. "It's become obviously a major event," said Mike Chapman, sheriff of surrounding Loudoun County, who plans to ride his motorcycle. "Everybody jumped on board."

Lovettsville Mayor Robert Zoldos heralded the celebration for "our adopted hometown hero" in his newsletter.

Before settling in this town, Porta's struggle to re-integrate into American society was emblematic of thousands of scorched, dismembered or emotionally distressed veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars returning to a country where only a tiny fraction of the population has personal experience with the military. Surveys showed an empathy gap separating most of the nation's residents from those who serve in

Yvonne Nelson And John Dumelo Swaps & Wear Each Others’ Clothes

Yvonne Nelson and John Dumelo sure had great fun as they both swapped clothes. John Dumelo wore Yvonne Nelson Clothes while Yvonne wore Dumelo’s Clothes, and oh yeah they started playing around on camera as they wished their friends, fans and family a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

The two close friends had a strained relationship due to their divergent views on the #dumsormuststop campaign.

Obrafour: GHAMRO Paid Me GHc120 As 12 Years Royalties

Obrafour has been on a media run promoting his Nkontompo record that dropped on June 23.

“In 2010, I sent my then manager Frank to go collect our earnings from the office GHAMRO and he was given GHC 120. So he brought it and I told him there was no need to pursue it again.

“And that GHC 120 was my first earnings after 12 years in the industry. That meant I was earning GHC 10 every year. This includes Pae Mu Ka and all the other hits that had enjoyed massive air pay across the globe.

“But I know there’s a new administration in office now and we are observing and hopes things get better.

The Pimpinaa hit maker opined it was better for Ghanaian artist to stay together than go about their business separately.

“I think its better we stay together and fight for the common goal than working individually but it’s sad we are not that united. Things don’t work properly down here and musicians are hungry.”

The Execution Entertainment boss revealed his Obrafofro album was due this October.

“The album is dropping in October but we haven’t picked a date yet.

“I thought October was OK and I have recorded about 34 songs but we want the best for listeners and I know the team will have a tough time choosing what should and should not make the album.

Top 5 Photos That Got Ghana Talking in First Quarter 2015

The first half of 2015 is has finally been buried and of course a lot happened within the 180 days [from 1st January to 30th June, 2015] among some figures in the country which got people talking.

It is in this light that the top 5 photos that got people talking has been collated for publication on this news site and in no special order.

Check them out!

  1.   AMANDA JISSIH AT VGMA

TV host Amanda Jissih was one of the two hosts on the 2015 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards red carpet. However, her red maxi dress was mostly greeted with backlash from the populace. The comments included the assertion that the costume was not suitable for her body type.



 2.  KINTO BEATEN

Albert Appiah also known as Kinto of the Friday Friends fame was attacked in Accra New Town on Sunday, February 8, 2015 after score of people accused him of being gay. When pictures of him were published online, the usual allegations and vindications became the order as the clock kept ticking away each day. Well, he was nearly beaten to death but has recovered and the rest of the story still remains history.



   3.   KAAKIE IN LIBREVILLE, GABON

Earlier this year [January to be specific], the Extra Large Music act was spotted at a pool side in Libreville, the capital of Gabon after she had rocked a concert in the country over the weekend. Of course “all work and no play…” However, her admirable body outweighed her performance in the West African country on the lips and fingers of many in Ghana as the internet kept talking about her cleavage.



4.    WIYAALA IN MOROCCO

Arguably, one of Ghana’s biggest exports in music. She does almost everything in her own way – very unique in all her endeavours. During the weekend of Easter, the ‘Tinambaynyi’ crooner shared photos her chillaxing along the shores of a beach in Morocco. She shared different pictures of her and those poses got Ghana talking about her again – this time not about an award she had won or an outstanding live stage performance of her.



  5.   TWO THOOZIN

Yes you remember this man right; Two Thoozin – he broke the internet right from 1st January this year when his interview with Joy News on Multi TV went viral. He became the talk-of-town [kept social media active, featured in music videos including one with Edem etc.] Unfortunately for him it perfectly look like what was a promising stardom was short lived.

Yvonne Nelson Glams on Cover of Genevieve Magazine’s July Edition…Finally Talks About Father

The July edition of Nigeria’s leading lifestyle magazine, Genevieve Magazine is out and alluring Ghanaian actress Yvonne Nelson is the cover star.
In the magazine, the YN Productions boss talks about her estranged father, her new movie [If Tomorrow Never Comes], dating Nigerian musician Iyanya as well Ice Prince dating rumor.
Aside this, it also features the magazine’s choice of top Nollywood actresses and an exclusive interview with actor Joseph Benjamin and more.
Cover Credit
Photograper: Lakin Ogunbanwo
Stylist: Dimeji  Alara
Make-up: Bimpe Onakoya Mua
Cover Look: Meena

Stonebwoy Records Song with Ne-Yo…Find Out Title & When It Will Be Out

Winner of “Best International Act: Africa” at the recently-held BET Awards 2015 Stonebwoy is still in the United States of America on business duties following the prestigious ceremony that saw him being honoured.

GlammyNews.com can confirm to you that the BHIM Nation boss is set to release a hit single featuring American R&B singer, songwriter and record producer Ne-Yo.

The song is entitled ‘Go High’ and will be his first since winning the prestigious international award.

‘Go High’ will however be made available for public consumption on Wednesday, July 15, 2015.

Ne-Yo, 35, who won the BET Award for ‘Best Male R&B/Pop Artist’ in 2007 and 2009 is noted for his soothing voice on songs and he is expected to same on the song.

Stonebwoy will be at Club Pisces in Atlanta, GA on Saturday, July 4, 2015 where he is expected to thrill fans for the first time since winning the BET Awards.

READ MORE: BET Awards 2015 Full List of Winners

Source: Yaw Sarpon/GlammyNews.com/Ghana

Miley Cyrus T*pless for V Magazine

Miley Cyrus is t*pless in her new spread for V Magazine...The bisexual singer who is now dating a Victoria secret model used a pineapple as an accessory ..Last month,she covered her
face with a pig mask for Paper magazine.

Who Rock Kim Kardashian vs Nicole Scherzinger

We all know Kim is the queen of crop tops and tight fitting skirts..Nicole Scherzinger ripped off her style by stepping out in an identical crop top and skirt Kim

OMG BBA Huddah Monroe wears see-through bikini - see her nips!

Hot Photos: Nicki Minaj Sizzles in New Photos

Nicki Minaj who is currently shooting a music video ‘All Eyes On You shared these hot photos on her page. More photos after the cut..

Chris Brown-Rihanna Update: ‘Unfaithful’ Singer Still Loves Ex-Boyfriend, Soccer Star Karim Benzema Feels ‘Insecure’

Rihanna has reportedly told French soccer star Karim Benzema that she still loves her former boyfriend Chris Brown. The news comes amid reports that the "Unfaithful" singer and Brown may be considering reconciliation after getting over their tumultuous relationship, which ended in 2013.

“Rihanna does like Karim and enjoys him a lot. He treats her well and he’s such a stud in everything he does,” a source told Hollywood Life. “She told him she won’t break his heart but did tell him she’ll always love Chris.” The 27-year-old singer reportedly disclosed her feelings about her Brown to Benzema after he got jealous seeing Rihanna’s “face light up” during Brown’s BET performance of “Post To Be” on Sunday.

“The look in her eyes, the way she gazed at Chris, was a look Karim’s never seen before,” the source told Hollywood Life. “He told Rihanna all this, and told her he doesn’t feel he can compete with Chris and that perhaps the two of them are better off as friends.

“Karim feels very insecure after seeing Rihanna's face light up as she danced and sang along to Chris' music,” the source reportedly said. “He didn’t even want her to attend the show.”

Brown reportedly signaled to Rihanna during his performance at the 2015 BET Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles Sunday.

“When he saw her in her chair bouncing to ‘Post To Be,’ he wanted to go down there, grab her hand and bring her on stage to dance with him,” an insider had told Hollywood Life. “He wanted to so badly but couldn’t because he didn’t want to put her on the spot like that.”

Benzema reportedly feels that he cannot compete with Brown as there is “just so much history and love between them that will forever connect them for the rest of their lives,” Hollywood Life quoted a source saying.

Since Brown’s relationship with Karrueche Tran ended after the latter discovered in March that the singer had a child with model Nia Guzman, rumors have circulated that Breezy and Rihanna might be thinking about giving their love another chance.

The “Four Five Seconds” singer defended Brown by calling his recent ex-girlfriend Tran “tacky and childish” for slamming him on social media. Rihanna, 27, supposedly didn’t think Tran was a good match for the “Loyal” singer and was happy that the two split up.

If Rihanna and Brown want to get back together, Tran isn’t worried about it.

"...Karrueche’s done scraping her plate and Rihanna’s free to have her leftovers and the headaches that come with it," a source told Hollywood Life in a different report.

Chris Brown Files Paternity Docs Over Daughter Royalty, Wants to Establish Custody Agreement With Baby Mama Nia Guzman: Report

Chris Brown has made no secret of his love for daughter Royalty on social media, and apparently, he's fed up with his baby mama.
According to TMZ, the 26-year-old recording artist has filed legal docs in Houston to establish paternity. The site reports that Brown and Royalty's mother, Nia Guzman, have been fighting over child support and custody of their daughter, whom Breezy first introduced to the world back in April with an adorable Instagram.
TMZ claims that Guzman is asking for $15,000 a month in child support and that Brown is also wanting to establish a clear custody agreement.
PHOTO: Chris Brown celebrates his firth father's day

Instagram
As E! News previously reported, Nia and Royalty are based in Houston, and in April, a source told E! News that the recording artist sees his daughter "all the time."
"He wants Nia and the baby to move to California to be closer to him. Nia is open to it," the source said, adding that "there's no formal visitation schedule in place."
The insider also said that Brown and Guzman have no interest in coupling up, but were "on good terms" at the time.