Voting Election begins in South Africa

Polls have opened in South Africa’s fifth general election since the end of apartheid 20 years ago.

The governing African National Congress is tipped to win, returning President Jacob Zuma for a second five-year term.

However, it is expected to lose ground amid concern over high unemployment and a number of corruption scandals.

The run-up to the vote has been marked by protests and troops have been deployed to boost security.

Wednesday’s election is the first time that those born after the end of apartheid are able to take part and commentators say much will depend on how they cast their ballots.

Siemens buys Rolls-Royce Energy Business

Rolls-Royce said it had agreed to sell its energy gas turbine and compressor business to Siemens for £785m.     

Rolls-Royce said late last month it was discussing a possible sale of the business.     The deal comes as Siemens emerges as a possible rival to US conglomerate General Electric in bidding for French group Alstom’s power business.   

Chinese Premier arrives Nigeria on Official Visit

The Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, arrived in Abuja on Tuesday for an official visit to Nigeria.

The visit is part of a four-nation tour of Africa.

The Chinese premier, who arrived at Nmandi Azikiwe International Airport at 7.15pm, was received by the FCT Minister Sen. Bala Mohammed and Foreign Minister Alhaji Aminu Wali .

The premier, who is being accompanied by his wife and a 129-member delegation, was treated to some cultural dances as part of reception ceremony.

Speaking after receiving the premier, Mohammed said Keqiang, who will also participate in discussions during the World Economic Forum for Africa, would sign six bilateral agreements with top government officials.

He said agreements would cover economic and technical co-operation, Bilateral Air Service Agreement, cooperation on sale of pharmaceutical products and a special facility on

FG Inaugurates Panel on Contents and HND curriculum

The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja inaugurated a Technical Review Committee on Contents and Curriculum of Higher National Diploma.

The Supervising Minister of Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, said the inauguration was part of government’s efforts to meet the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics.

Wike said the committee would review the curriculum and introduce a bridging course to pave way for the recognition of HND holders to reach the highest Grade Level in the public service.

The committee, he added, was to design a programme to enable the polytechnics to award B-Tech Degree which is equivalent to first degree.

He said former President Olusegun Obasanjo pronounced the removal of ceiling from the career progression of HND holders when dichotomy between HND and degree came up in

Jonathan Allowed Insurgency to Fester - Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Tuesday said the era of denial of President Goodluck Jonathan on the magnitude of the Boko Haram menace was over.

Soyinka said the President should have sought international assistance long ago before allowing the situation to fester and escalate.

He accused the President of failing to heed his earlier warnings and addressing the insurgency “very late and lackadaisically.”

He spoke on Tuesday during a global affairs interview television programme, Amanpour, on Cable News Network, monitored by our correspondent in Lagos.

Soyinka described the video released by the leader of the sect, Abubakar Shekau, as  “gleeful obscenity” and called on the international community to intervene.

He said, “President Jonathan should have asked for it (assistance) from the very beginning. I